#red dwarf wall e au

[iiep-wop]

Lil drawing of visor-less Rimmer from my most recent chapter of the Wall-E AU!

[red-wop]

Not actually drawn all the Wall E Au versions of the boys together yet so here's a lil lineup of them all with their final designs in case anyone wanted to see them all together :]

I really need to get some new pens and pencils lolll I don't have nearly enough flesh tone pencils

Also Tumblr messed with the saturation so everyone looks paler than the drawing actually looks 😭😭

[rubydreamsuwu]

Imagine for the red dwarf wall-e au created by @iiep-wop, some kind of blend between It's Cold Outside and Put On Your Sunday Clothes

[hoonieistrash]

ephemeral love

pairing: jack! taehyung x rose! reader (x fiance! jungkook)

synopsis: As an aristocratic young woman, you are to be wedded as soon as you set foot in Philadelphia. Boarding the Titanic, your mundane life started to get twisted with a handsome young artist who saved your life.

word count: 34.5k

genre: fluff, smut, angst, historical, titanic au!

warnings/tags: UNEDITED, misogynistic themes cus it’s 1912 what fun times, dark and obsessive themes, explicit language, SMOKING, cheating, A MESS, a lot and I mean a lot of bad puns and jokes throughout the stories I’m sorry, Jungkook is a fucking asshole, SMUT 

author’s note: LET ME JUST CLEAR SOMETHING UP HERE, English is not my first language so this is probably shit or something also this is my first ever long fic and smut omg. I followed the Titanic’s storyline, My summaries are also shit. I L O V E Taehyung’s RED HAIR SO :))) But I still hope you enjoy reading this mess of a story. keep in mind though, I’m a fucking asshole :)) THIS IS UNEDITED, so thank you for your patience haha! its 2 AM right now and I have my prelims later :) i haven’t reviewed :)) wish me luck 

The gleaming white superstructure of Titanic rises mountainous-ly beyond the rail, and above that, the ochreous-colored funnels stood against the sky like pillars of a great temple. Crewmen move across the deck, dwarfed by the sheer size of the steamer.

The streets were packed with crowds as the large ship was being ready to set sail for the first time today, April.10th,1912. People waved their handkerchief and said their goodbyes to loved ones and friends. The busy street was crowded with lower and middle-class citizens as the employees of the voyage checked their belongings and tickets. 

On the pier, horse-drawn vehicles, motorcars, and lorries move slowly through the dense throng. The atmosphere is one of excitement and giddiness. People embraced in tearful farewells, or wave and shout bon voyage to friends and relatives on the decks above.

With sudden honks of the motorcars, the people looked and went out the way of the cars and carriages of the rich folks of the place. Their automobiles and carriages were adorned by expensive belongings and furnishings, their wealth being displayed for anyone to see.

“Coming through! Get out of the way!” The workers of the voyage shouted as they pushed the people away to give space to the large transportations. One by one, the rich folks have gone out their cars as employees greet them politely and with great care of words, contrasting to the way they treated the lower-class passengers. You went out of the car as the valet guided you out, your hair curled and neatly tied. You aura exudes elegance and beauty and your enigmatic (e/c) eyes shone in the light while your (s/c) skin glow beneath the sun.

“I don’t see what the fuss is all about. It doesn’t look any bigger than the Mauretania.” You stated, unimpressed while staring at the infamous Titanic.

Your large pale blue hat which was adorned by soft white feathers has hidden her face a bit. Your long silhouette pastel blue dress fits your body like a glove, showing your small waist. Red luscious lips curled into a small frown, sharp eyebrows furrowing a bit. 

A handsome young man wearing a slick expensive black suit soon followed, exiting the car. The man, Jeon Jungkook, the heir to the older Jeon’s fortune. He was arrogant and rich beyond belief. Good-looks to brag along with it. 

“You can be blase about some things, (Y/N), but not about Titanic. It’s over a hundred feet longer than Mauretania and far more luxurious. It has squash courts, a Parisian cafe, and even Turkish baths.” Jungkook said. He then turned to the side and gave a helping hand to your mother, (M/N) (L/N), who descends from the very same car.

“Your daughter is much too hard to impress, (M/N)” Jungkook stated, helping the older woman.

“So this is the ship they say is unsinkable,” (M/N) said, staring at the large ship which was the talk of the world for almost a year.

“It is unsinkable. God himself couldn’t sink this ship.” Jungkook said with pride, looking at the ship as he was the host for the (L/N) in this voyage.  

You rolled your eyes when you heard your fiance’s words, your ‘indecent’ action hidden from them while you stared at the Titanic. 

This entire entourage of rich folks is impeccably turned out, a quintessential example of the Edwardian upper class, complete with servants. Jungkook’s manservant, Spicer Lovejoy, is a tall and impassive, dour as an undertaker. Behind him emerge, two maids, personal servants to you and your mother.

The maids went and took the luggage of their mistresses as Jungkook’s valet helped with it. Suddenly, an employee stopped them with a smile.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we have to inspect your luggage.” The old male said softly. Jungkook put his hand inside his coat and took out a five paper bill and gave it to him, patting him in the back. The porter’s eyes dilated at the sight of it.

“I put my faith in you, good sir.” He said, walking away from the porter with you and your mother and towards the Titanic. From behind, Jungkook’s manservant, Lovejoy, gave the employee a list.

“Here, three of the brown baggage is for room 12A and the others with black markings are for 15A. While the leather with a crest is for room 19A. Got it?” The stoic assistant said fastly making the employee confused but before he could ask about it, the former left him with the car. 

“My shawl?” You asked, looking behind you, your arm wrapped around Jungkook’s, gently. Your maid answered with a small smile, “I have it, Miss.” baggage in her arms 

With that, they got in the Titanic, looking around the furniture and design of the large ship. The three aristocrats then went to their own rooms while you, well the maid, unpacked your belongings and put it into the right place neatly. 

“Taehyung, I swear to God. If your cards are not good enough–” 

“It’ll be fine, Jiminie!” 

4 males sat at the table, in the middle, bills and coins from four countries were scattered. This has been going on for a while and sitting on top of the money are two 3rd class tickets for RMS Titanic 

“I can’t believe you bet our entire money on this, Taehyung!” Jimin scolded, grasping his brown hair as the stress got to him and even more when he saw his own cards. Taehyung grinned at him, his fiery red hair framing his handsome face. 

“There are two tickets for the Titanic! How can I not!” Taehyung exclaimed as the other two males in front of them argued in a different language.

Jimin sighed at his best friend’s actions, just hoping that he had a good hand of cards in him because he certainly did not. Taehyung took a card on the pile in front of him, looking at it with a small frown. They then heard the Titanic’s whistle blow, the final warning.

“This is it! The moment of truth boys. Somebody’s life’s about to change.” Taehyung said, looking at the 2 Swedish men.

The males showed their cards one by one, the highest one yet was a pair. Taehyung looked at Jimin who stared at him with expectancy. 

“I’m sorry, Jimin. It seems you won’t be seeing your Ma for a while.” 

The shorter male gaped and exclaimed at that, “What?! What do you mean?! Taehyung, you idiot-!” 

Taehyung then laughed and slammed his cards on the table as it showed a full house, “Because we’re going to America!” 

Jimin’s eyes widened and cheered when the reality finally sank in, hugging his best friend as he shouted the words, “We’re going to America!” 

The two men in front of them shouted in disbelief and annoyance at the outcome. Taehyung and Jimin celebrated their win, hugging each other. The two then looked back to the Swedish men and Taehyung said, “Sorry guys. Three of a kind and a pair. I’m high and you’re dry and…” 

“We’re going to America!” Jimin continued, smiling widely. Taehyung kissed the tickets, then jumped on Jimin’s back and rode him around the pub. It’s like they won the lottery. 

The bartender then cleared his throat, getting the attention of the two young males. “No, you won’t if you boys don’t hurry, cause Titanic will set sail in 5 minutes.” He said

“Shoot!” 

“Hurry! Hurry! Grab the money!” 

The two grabbed the money and were about to run for it when Taehyung’s collar was grabbed by the large male who he was playing with earlier. The latter raised his fisted hand as Taehyung braced himself for the impact but none came, however, a groan was heard from beside him. He opened his eyes and saw that the male punched his other Swedish friend in the stomach

Taehyung smiled sheepishly at the large male then they made a run for it, kit bags on their shoulders, carrying everything they own in the world, and sprinted toward the pier. They tear through milling crowds next to the terminal. Shouts going up behind them as they jostle through slow-moving gentlemen. They dodge piles of luggage and weave through groups of people. Finally, they burst out onto the pier and Taehyung comes to a dead stop staring at the cast walls of the ship’s hull, towering seven stories or greater above the wharf and over an eighth of a mile long. The Titanic is monstrous, something Taehyung hasn’t seen before.

When Jimin noticed that Taehyung wasn’t following him, he ran back and grabbed him, as they sprinted towards the third class gangway aft, at E deck. They reach the bottom of the ramp just as the officer detaches it at the top. It starts to swing down from the gangway doors.

“Wait! We’re passengers!” Taehyung shouted, flushed and panting, he waved the tickets.

“Have you been in the inspection queue?” The snobbish employee asked

Taehyung nodded, catching his breath and pointed to his back where Jimin was, “Me and him just finished. We don’t have lice or any diseases” he replied, cheerfully. The officer looked at them, judging their rugged appearance and worn out bags and clothes. He then sighed and reluctantly took the ticket and reattached the gangway which gave way to them, inside. The two went aboard and stood, looking at the officer as he checked their tickets. The officer glanced at the tickets, then passed Taehyung and Jimin through to another worker. The latter looked at the names on the tickets to enter them on the passenger list. He raised a brow, “ Gundersen. And…  Gundersen..” 

The older male looked at them suspiciously while the two smiled at him, innocently, as he handed them their tickets back and gave them an ‘okay’.

Taehyung wrapped an arm around Jimin’s shoulder and they walked away, “Let’s go, Sven~” 

 The two raced inside, whooping in victory, running down the white-painted corridor of the ship while they grin from ear to ear. 

“We are the luckiest sons of bitches in the world!”

Taehyung and Jimin burst through a door onto the aft well deck, running across the deck and up the steel stairs to the poop deck. They got to the rail and Taehyung started to yell and wave to the crowd on the dock like a madman making Jimin shake his head at his best friend’s antics, knowing full well that he doesn’t know anyone on the dock.

“Let’s go, you crazy man,” Jimin said, grabbing one of his lapels and dragged him away.

The two walk down a narrow corridor with doors lining both sides like a college dorm. Total confusion as people argue over luggage in several languages or wander in confusion in the labyrinth. They pass emigrants studying the signs over the doors and looking up the words in phrasebooks. The two males passed the people and finally saw the room they’re looking for, opening it as two other males were inside.

Jimin then raced and occupied the top bunk while Taehyung introduced himself to the two Swedish men. 

“Hello there, I’m Kim Taehyung, nice to meet you.” He shook one of the men’s hands and turned to Jimin who was laying on the top bunk already. 

“Who said you can be on the top bunk, you little-!” 

The two Swedish men looked at each other, confused as hell, as one asked, “Where’s Sven?” 

By contrast, the so-called “Millionaire Suite” is in the Empire style, and comprises two bedrooms, a bath, WC, wardrobe room, and a large sitting room. Also, there is a private 50-foot promenade deck outside.

A room service waiter pours champagne into a tulip glass of orange juice and hands the Bucks Fizz to you while you look through your newly bought paintings. There’s a Monet of water lilies, a Degas of dancers, and a few abstract works. They are all unknown paintings, lost works. 

You grabbed one of the paintings with a small and contemplating frown, currently occupied by your thoughts, debating on where you’ll put it. The maid smiled at you, her mistress, as she unpacks your clothes and folding it neatly.

“Will you be putting the paintings on the wall, Miss?” 

“Yes, this room needs more color,” You said, walking around the room and placed the painting on the wall.

Jungkook was out on the covered deck before entering through the doorway to your room, he then saw you in the sitting room. He frowned a bit when he saw the odd paintings on your couch and bed. 

“Those mud puddles were certainly a waste of money.” He said, looking at it with a small scowl. 

“You’re wrong. They’re fascinating. Like in a dream… there’s truth without logic. What’s his name again…? Picasso” You replied, looking at the cubist’s paintings. 

“He’ll never amount to a thing, trust me, Sweetpea… Well, at least they were cheap.” Jungkook said, going towards you as you sat down in your vanity, feeling tired with Jungkook being in the same room as you. A porter then appeared, he wheels in Jungkook’s private safe into the room on a hand truck.

“Put that in the wardrobe.” He ordered and followed the porter towards the wardrobe, watching it be placed gently.

“The paintings smell so brand new. Like they built it all just for us. I mean… just to think that tonight, when I crawl between the sheets, I’ll be the first–” Trudy, your maid said but was cut off when Jungkook entered the room again. 

“And when I crawl between the sheets tonight, I’ll still be the first.” He said, looking at you with a sly glint in his eyes, a faint sign of smirk on his pink lips. Trudy blushed at the innuendo and quickly excused herself out of the room. 

Jungkook walked towards you and put his hands on your shoulders as he gripped it a bit, looking at you through the mirror. It was an act of possession, not affection.

He smiled, “First and only, forever.” 

The warm and soft smile on his face did not match the tight grip on your shoulders. You winced a little at that as you frowned at his words.

“I’ll be seeing you later then, Sweetpea.” Jungkook bid, ignoring your obvious wince, and with that, he went out of the room. The heavy atmosphere which you only felt, thickens. It was always like this, tense, making it hard to breathe but it was almost as if you’re the only one feeling it. Or maybe they also feel it, they just don’t want anything to do with it.

Taehyung and Jimin leaned far over the railings, looking down at the sea. In the glassy bow-wave, two dolphins appeared, under the water, swimming fast like the ship, just in front of the steel blade of the prow. They do it for the sheer joy and exultation of motion. Taehyung watched the dolphins and grinned. The breach, jumping clear of the water and then diving back, crisscrossing in front of the bow, dancing ahead of the juggernaut. Jimin grinned and looked up ahead as he pointed to the horizon.

“I can already see the Statue of Liberty, albeit small though.” He said cheekily as Taehyung chuckled. The latter climbed up the railings, letting go of the ropes and cheered loudly as possible, “I’m the king of the world!” 

“…and our master shipbuilder, Mr. Andrews here, designed her from the keel plates up.” An old handsome man, Ismay, talked but you didn’t listen. The table was surrounded by people of your kind, rich people.

Ismay seated with Jungkook, you, (M/N), Molly Brown and Thomas Andrews in the Palm Court, a beautiful sunny spot enclosed by high arched windows.

“Well, I may have knocked her together, but the idea was Mr. Ismay’s. He envisioned a steamer so grand in scale, and so luxurious in its appointments, that its supremacy would never be challenged. And here she is, willed into solid reality!” Andrews said, slapping the table, not used to the attention he was getting.

“Why are ships always being’ called “she”? Is it because men think half the women around have big sterns and should be weighed in tonnage?” Molly asked as the table laughed at that except for you, who awkwardly smiled.

“Just another example of the men settin’ the rules their way.” She added. After a while, the waiter came to take orders. You took out your cigarette holder, bored and anxious, you lit it, inhaling the smoke. 

(M/N) glared at you and said, “You know, I don’t like that (Y/N).” 

Jungkook stopped mid-sip of his brandy and narrowed his eyes at you, who ignored them.

“She knows,” Jungkook said firmly, taking the cigarette away and putting it out quickly. You glared at your fiance who was now ignoring you, talking to the waiter on their side.

“We’ll both have the lamb. Rare, with a little mint sauce.” He said, the waiter nodded and went back to give their order to the chef. Jungkook then finally turned to you and uttered out with a smile like nothing happened, “You like lamb, don’t you Sweetpea?” 

Molly, who was watching the dynamic between them smiled sarcastically at Jungkook who caught her gaze.

“You’re going to cut her meat for her too there, Kook?” and before he could answer, she swiftly turned to Ismay and asked a question.

“Hey, who came up with the name Titanic? You, Bruce?”

Ismay nodded, “Yes, actually. I wanted to convey the sheer size. And size means stability, luxury, and strength–”

“Do you know of Dr. Freud? His ideas about the male preoccupation with size might be of particular interest to you, Mr. Ismay.” You commented while Andrews chuckled, trying to preoccupy his attention with the soup in front of him. 

“My God, (Y/N). What has gotten into–” (M/N) said but you stood up and excused yourself, stalking away.

(M/N) looked back to the embarrassed man with a horrified look on her face, “I’m terribly sorry for that.”

Molly smirked and looked at Jungkook, “She’s a piston, Kook. Sure you can handle her?” 

Jungkook smiled back at her, tense but he acted unconcerned, “Well, I may have to start minding what she reads from now on, Mrs. Brown.”

Taehyung sat at one of the benches in the deck, bathing in the warm glow of the sun, Titanic’s wake spreads out behind him to the horizon. He had his knees pulled up, supporting a leather-bound sketching pad, his only valuable possession which was filled with his pieces. With a Conte crayon, he draws rapidly, using sure strokes. 

A man has his 3-year-old daughter standing on the lower rung of the rail. She leaned back against his beer barrel of a stomach, watching the seagulls, as he explains how the propeller works. The sketch captures them perfectly, with a great sense of the humanity of the moment. Taehyung is good. Really good. Jimin looks over Taehyung’s shoulder. He nods appreciatively, smiling.

Yoongi, a scowling young man watching the crewmember coming by, walking three small dogs around the deck. One of them, a black french bulldog, and Yoongi thought that it was among the ugliest creatures on the planet.

“That’s typical. First-class dogs comin’ down here to take a shit.” He growled with a deep scowl. Taehyung looked up from his sketch and smiled sarcastically at him.

“That’s so we know where we rank in the scheme of things.” He said making the blond man looked at him, his scowl faltering a bit. 

Yoongi chuckled deeply from his chest at the poor reality, “As if we could forget.” 

Taehyung replied with his own chuckle and introduced himself to the man, “Kim Taehyung, nice to meet you”

The pale and shorter blond male grasped his hand in a firm hold and shook it gently, “Min Yoongi. Likewise.” 

Taehyung nodded with a smile, happy that he made a new friend. He then let his big brown eyes wander across the deck but he stopped. He stared at the beautiful young woman with softly curled (h/n) hair and a baby pink silhouette dress. Taehyung was unable to take his eyes off of the young woman, he continued his staring.

They were across from each other, about 60 feet apart, with the well-deck like a valley between them. You were on your promontory, he on his much lower one. You stared down at the water with an unreadable look on your face. Taehyung watched you unpin your elaborate hat and take it off. You looked at the frilly absurd thing, then tossed it over the rail as it sailed far down to the water and was carried away, astern, a spot of pink in the vast ocean. He was riveted by you. You looked like the main heroine in a romantic novel, sad and isolated. 

Jimin taps Yoongi on the shoulder as they both looked at Taehyung who was enamored and in awe at the sight of the young lady on the upper portion of the ship. They both grinned, shaking their heads at the young artist.

You turned suddenly and looks right at Taehyung. He was caught staring, but he didn’t look away though his heart was beating a bit too wildly. You did, though, looked away but looked back at him after a while, your eyes met across the space of the well-deck, across the gulf between two different worlds. 

Taehyung then saw a young man wearing a slick suit, complementing his looks, walking towards you, grasping your arm in his hand. You jerked away from him as you two argued in pantomime. The beautiful lady stalked away after a bit, leaving the man alone with himself for a second or so, looking agitated, but he goes after you, disappearing along the A-deck promenade. Taehyung stared after you, dazed.

Yoongi scoffed at the young man and said, “Forget it, boyo. You’d likely have angels fly out of your ass than getting next to the likes of her.” 

You looked into empty space as you sat on the round table, flanked by people in a heated conversation. Jungkook and (M/N) laughing together, while on the other side Lady Duff-Gordon was holding forth animatedly. You didn’t hear what they were saying, staring at your plate, barely listening to the inconsequential babble around you. Beneath the table, you held a tiny fork from your crab salad. Poking the fork into your skin, harder and harder every time, drawing blood. Mind in chaos, your emotions all over the place. 

After the party-dinner, you walked towards your room, smiling at the passing people politely. You were composed, nothing like what you were feeling inside. When you got to your room, you closed the door. Standing in the middle of the room, looking at your reflection. You stood there, just looking at yourself with hatred, self-hatred. And then–

A primal, anguished cry claws at your throat. You ripped off your pearl necklace, which explodes, the pearls flying across the room. In a frenzy, you tore at yourself, your clothes, your hair then attacked the room. You fling everything off the dresser as it flies, clattering against the wall with a loud sound. Hurling a hand mirror against the vanity, it cracked violently. You looked around the room, panting deeply, and glaring at the ruined room as it matches with your mind.

You ran out of the room, shoving the people away from you as tears rolled down your pretty face. You ran along the B deck promenade, disheveled, your hair flying and sticking out from the immaculate hairstyle you wore all evening. Your cheeks streaked with tears but you were also angry, furious even! Shaking with emotions you didn’t even understand… hatred, self-hatred, desperation. A strolling couple watched you pass them, shocked at the emotional display in public. 

On the deck, Taehyung lay on one of the benches gazing at the stars blazing gloriously above him an ethereal pattern for everyone to see as he thinks artist thoughts. He smoked a cigarette, blowing a small mist into the cold air, slowly disappearing after a while. 

Taehyung’s eyebrows furrowed when he heard footsteps nearing him, he sat up and looked around. You run up the stairs from the well-deck, you two were the only ones on the stern deck, except for Quartermaster Rowe, twenty feet above them on the docking bridge catwalk. You, though, didn’t see the red-headed male in the shadows and ran right past him.

You run across the deserted fantail, breath hitching in an occasional sob that escaped from your quivering lips, which you tried to suppress but to no avail. You slam against the base of the stern flagpole and cling there, panting. You stared down at the black water, voices whispering to you to do something, to end your misery.

The disheveled young woman started to climb over the railing, hitching your long heavy dress up and climbed clumsily, almost slipping. Moving carefully when you got out, you turn your body and getting your heels on the white-painted gunwale, your back facing the railings, facing out towards the darkness of the night. 60 feet below you, the massive propellers are churning them into white foam, and a ghostly wake trails off toward the horizon. 

You straightened your arms a bit, leaning forward to the empty air, looking down. Your dress and hair were lifted by the wind of the ship’s movements. The only sound you heard, above the rush of water below, was the flutter and snap of the big Union Jack right above you. 

“Don’t do it.” A deep and firm voice called out. You gasped and looked back, tears blocking your vision from seeing clearly.

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer!” You shouted, more tears welling up. Taehyung saw the tear streaks on your cheeks in the faint glow of the lights and frowned slightly at the sight. 

“Take my hand, I’ll pull you back in.” 

Your eyebrows furrowed at that and snapped back, “No! Stay where you are! I mean it! Or I’ll let go!” 

Taehyung stared at your desperate eyes, screaming for help. He shook his head.

“No, you won’t” 

The young (L/N) frowned, “What do you mean ‘no I won't’? Don’t presume to tell me what I will and will not do. You don’t know me.”

Taehyung shook his head again, his red hair swaying a bit at the movement, “You would have done it already. Come on, take my hand.” 

You were confused, you couldn’t see him very well due to the tears and from the faint light. You were about to wipe your tears with one hand to see better but almost slipped so you went back to grasping the rail bars tightly, facing away from Taehyung.

“You’re distracting me, go away!” 

Taehyun smiled softly at her, “I can’t. I’m involved now. If you jump, I’ll jump in after you” 

You scoffed at the idea, “That’s absurd! You’ll kill yourself.” 

Taehyung shook his head, taking off his jacket, “Don’t worry, I’m a good swimmer.” After that, he starts undoing his boot’s shoelace.   

“The fall alone will kill you,” You jabbed

“It would hurt, I’m not saying it wouldn’t. To be honest I’m a lot more concerned about the water being so cold.” Taehyung replied making you look down to the dark waters, reality slowly sinking in. You looked back at him, a frown playing on your lips.

“How cold?” You stammered out, looking back at Taehyung 

“Freezing. Maybe a couple of degrees over.” He said, unlacing his other shoe after removing the other one.

“Ever been to Daegu?” the male asked

You gave the man an odd look, the normality of the question perplexed you as you shook your head, “No…”

“Well they have some of the coldest winters around, and I grew up there. Once when I was a kid me and my father were ice-fishing out on lake… ice-fishing is where you chop a hole in the–” 

“I know what ice-fishing is!” 

Taehyung smiled sheepishly at you, “Sorry. Just… you look like more of an indoor girl. Anyway, I went through some thin ice and I’m tellin’ ya, water is that cold… like that right down there… it hits you like a thousand knives all over your body. You can’t breathe, you can’t think… least not about anything but the pain.”

He then sighed and continued, “Which is why I’m not looking forward to jumping in after you. But like I said, I don’t see a choice. I guess I’m kinda hoping you’ll come back over the rail and get me off the hook here.”

You stared at him with a confused and weirded-out look, “You’re crazy…”

“That’s what everybody says but with all due respect, Miss, I’m not the one hanging off the back of a ship here,” Taehyung replied. He then went closer to you slowly, testing the waters.

“Come on. You don’t want to do this. Give me your hand.” He said, offering his hand to the young woman. You stared at him as if he escaped from the madhouse but when you finally saw his eyes clearly, it seemed to fill your universe. There was pure warmth swimming within them, swallowing you whole that you almost forgot the cold air nipping on your skin.

“O-Okay…” You muttered, grabbing his hand gently. Taehyung held your hand firmly, feeling the soft cold skin on his.

“I’m Taehyung. Kim Taehyung”

You turned around with his help and with a quavering voice, you replied, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Kim” 

The male smiled at you while you started to step out, now that you have decided to live, the height absolutely terrified you. Overcome by vertigo as you shifted your footing, climbing up. As you start to climb out with the help of Taehyung, your dress got in your way and one foot slips off the edge of the deck, making you lose your footing.

You plunge down quickly, letting out a piercing shriek. Taehyung gasped at the sudden movement but quickly grasped your hand firmer than before, the sudden weight made him jerked toward the rail painfully. You barely grabbed the lower rail with your free hand, gasping as your heartbeat wildly inside your ribcage. Looking at the male, your frightened look made Taehyung gripped you tightly.

“Help! PLEASE!”

The Quartermaster Rowe, up on the docking bridge heard the scream and headed for the ladder, alarmed.  

Taehyung bit his lips, his arms straining at the pull of gravity on you two. He let out a tired, “I got you. Don’t worry. I got you…” 

Taehyung holds your hand with all his strength, bracing himself on the railing with his other hand. While the man held you, you tried to get some kind of foothold on the smooth hull. Taehyung tries to lift your body over the railing as he felt his arms getting tired. You couldn’t get any footing in your dress and evening shoes, and you slipped a little from Taehyung’s grip making you scream, scared to death at the feeling of no solid ground beneath your feet. 

The young male awkwardly clutched you by whatever he can get a grip on as you flail, gravity pulling you down. Miraculously, he finally gets you over the railing. You two fell together onto the deck in a tangled heap, spinning in such a way that Taehyung winds up slightly on top of you as your breaths ragged because of the terrifying moment.

The Quartermaster Rowe got down to the deck and ran to the fantail then saw the tangled couple on the deck floor.

“Hey, what’s all this?!” 

The Rowe ran towards you two and pulled Taehyung away from you, his eyes widening when he saw you, a disheveled and crying aristocrat. Your dress was torn from all the kicking, and the hem was pushing up above your knees, showing one ripped stocking. He looks at Taehyung, a shaggy steerage man with his jacket off, and the first-class lady clearly in distress, and started to draw conclusions. Two seamen chug across the deck to join them. 

The Rowe glared at Taehyung and said, “You! Stand back! Don’t move an inch!” then looked at the two seamen and quickly ordered them

“You two! Fetch the Master at Arms” which the two men quickly did and ran back. Taehyung gaped at the Rowe and shook his head, “N-No! It’s not what it looks like!” 

“Shut up, vermin!” 

A few minutes later. Taehyung was being detained by the burly Master at Arms the closest thing to a cop on board the ship. He was handcuffing Taehyung while Jungkook was right in front of Taehyung, and he was furious. He has obviously just rushed out here with Lovejoy and another man, his friend and business partner, Jung Hoseok and none of them have coats over their black-tie evening dress. Hoseok, a businessman Jungkook was talking to earlier, a handsome man who still has his brandy snifter offered it to you, who was hunched over crying on a nearby bench, but you waved it away. Jungkook was more concerned with Taehyung, he grabbed him by the lapels, glowering at him. 

Jungkook was absolutely furious! How dare this peasant touch his fiance! You were only his to touch, who does this rat think he is! The nerve of this poor man touching another man’s property, he should have his head on a plate for what he did!

“What made you think you could put your hands on my fiance?!” Taehyung ignored the male, observing you in the corners of his eyes. Jungkook noticed this and scowled at Taehyung.

“Look at me, you filth! What did you think you were doing?!” The young aristocrat shouted at Taehyung, his grip tightening on his lapels. The redheaded male pursed his lips in anger, trying to control his emotions, locking eyes with the glaring aristocrat

You frowned at that, exhausted. You stood up and moved closer to the two, trying to tug away Jungkook’s tight grip on Taehyung’s straps.

“Kook, stop! It was an accident!” 

Jungkook turned to you and laughed sarcastically, “Accident? Really? That’s the stupidest thing I heard-!” 

You bit your lip, your ears burning in embarrassment to what you will say next, “It is stupid but it’s true! I was leaning over and… I slipped” 

The young woman made eye contact with Taehyung for a second before looking back at Jungkook. 

“I was leaning way over, to see the… ah… propellers. And I slipped and I would have gone overboard… and Mr. Kim here saved me and he almost went over himself.” You explained making Jungkook loosen his grip on Taehyung’s lapels. The young aristocrat looked at you in disbelief.

“T-The propellers? You wanted to see the propellers?”

The Hoseok sighed at (Y/N)’s words, “Women and machinery do not mix well.” 

The Master of Arms looked at Taehyung with an untrusting look on his face still, “Is that the way it is?” 

Taehyung glanced at you, your eyes begging to not tell them what really happened earlier and nodded without hesitation, turning to the man. 

“Uh-huh. that was pretty much it.” 

Taehyung then looked back at you, eyes looking a bit longer, taking your features in. Now you two have a secret together.

The Hoseok smiled a bit and patted Taehyung’s back, “Well! The boy’s a hero then. Good for you son, well done!” He then turned to Jungkook who was staring at Taehyung with a hint of a small scowl on his handsome face. 

“So it’s all’s well and back to our brandy, eh?” He added and Jungkook nodded a bit. Taehyung then was uncuffed by the Master of Arms while Jungkook held you in his arms, feeling your cold skin with his hands. 

“Let’s get you in. You’re freezing.“ He muttered to you, leading you away and leaving without a second thought for Taehyung. Jung Hoseok looked back to Taehyung and called out to Jungkook, “Maybe something for the boy.”

Jungkook and you not getting too far away when the former heard what Hoseok said, he looked at Taehyung then to his personal servant, Lovejoy.

“Oh, right. Mr. Lovejoy, a twenty should do it.”

You frowned softly at him and said, “Is that the going rate for saving the woman you love?” 

Jungkook raised a brow at that, looking at his fiance’s tired but still beautiful face. He stared deep into your eyes and pursed his lips a bit. 

“(Y/N) is displeased. What to do…”  Jungkook tutted and turned back to Taehyung. He appraises him condescendingly, a steerage ruffian, unwashed and ill-mannered. Born and destined die as a waste, nothing worthwhile.

“I know” He muses and smiled tightly at Taehyung. “Perhaps you could join us for dinner tomorrow, to regale our group with your heroic tale?” Jungkook added.

Taehyung was about to decline but then his eyes turned to (Y/N) and agreed without thinking. 

“Sure. Count me in.”

Jungkook nodded, “Good. That’s settled then” Kook turned to go, putting a protective arm around you, walking away with Hoseok following and the other workers going back to their posts, leaving Taehyung and Lovejoy.

Taehyung turned to the manservant who was about to follow his master, “Can I bum a cigarette?”

Lovejoy smoothly draws a silver cigarette case from his jacket and snapped it open. Taehyung took a cigarette, then another, popping it behind his ear for later. Lovejoy lights Taehyung’s cigarette with an indifferent look. Jungkook’s manservant let his eyes trail the male and locked with his unlaced boots.

“You’ll want to tie those.” Taehyung followed where Lovejoy was looking and stared at his unlaced boots.

“Interesting that the young lady slipped so mighty all of a sudden and you still had time to take off your jacket and shoes. Mmmm?” Lovejoy retorted as his expression was bland, but eyes, cold. He turned away to join his master. Taehyung sighed, arching his neck and holding it with one hand while blowing a cloud of smoke out, tired.

You sat in your vanity, looking at yourself and changed clothes for bed. In the corner of the mirror cracked, you saw Jungkook enter the room. The male looked at the disarrayed room with a frown. Your fiance slowly walked towards you. 

“I know you’ve been melancholy, and I don’t pretend to know why,” Jungkook whispered, unexpectedly tender. From behind his back, he handed you a large black velvet jewel case, you took it, numbly.

“I intended to save this until the engagement next week. But I thought tonight, perhaps a reminder of my feelings for you…”

You slowly opened the box, your eyes widened at the sight of the necklace inside, in all its glory. It was huge, a malevolent blue stone glittering with an infinity of scalpel-like inner reflections. 

“My God… Jungkook. Is it a–” 

Jungkook smiled at your reaction, happy with it, and nodded. “Yes, it is a diamond. 56 carats.”

He takes the necklace and places it around your throat. He turns you to the mirror, staring from behind you. 

“It was once worn by Louis XVI. They call it Le Coeur de la Mer, the–”

“Heart of the Ocean… Jungkook, it-it’s overwhelming.”

Jungkook stared at your reflection in the mirror, admiring the way the necklace complimented your soft (s/c) skin.

“It is for royalty. and we are royalty, (Y/N)” His fingers caressed your neck and throat. He seems to be disarmed by your elegance and beauty. His emotions, for the first time, unguarded. The wall he built for years crumbling in your presence. 

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t and couldn’t give you. There’s nothing I’d deny you in this world. Just open your heart to me, (Y/N).”

You looked at yourself, the necklace heavy on your neck. In your eyes, it was not a necklace but a dog collar. Something that will bind you more to Jungkook. A collar that proves his ownership of you.

As the next morning came, you walked into the sunlight right in front of the deck. You were stunningly dressed and walked with purpose. You carried yourself with dignity and elegance. You unlatched the gate to go down into the third class. The steerage men on the deck stopped what they were doing and stared at you, confused and in awe of your beauty.

The social center of steerage life was stark by comparison to the opulence of the first-class, it was a loud, boisterous place. There are mothers with babies, kids running between the benches, yelling in several languages and being scolded in several more. There are also old women yelling, men playing chess, girls doing needlepoint and reading dime novels. There was even an upright piano and Yoongi was playing around it.

Three boys were shrieking and shouting, scrambling around to chase a rat under the benches, trying to whomp it with a shoe and causing general havoc. Taehyung was playing with a 5-year-old girl, drawing funny faces together in his sketchbook. Jimin on the other side was struggling to get a conversation going with an attractive Norwegian girl sitting with her family at a table across the room.

“English? Maybe Korean?” 

The Norwegian shook her head and said with a heavy accent, “No, no. Norwegian. Only.“

The woman’s eyes caught something in the room, looking at it with surprise. Jimin followed where she was looking and did a double-take. Taehyung who saw Jimin’s expression also followed, curious, and saw you, coming toward them. The activity in the room stops, a hush falls. 

You suddenly felt self-conscious as the steerage passengers stared openly at this princess, some with resentment, others with awe. You spot Taehyung and gave a little smile, walking straight to him. He rises from his seat to meet you, smiling. 

“Hello Taehyung” 

Jimin and Yoongi were floored. It’s like the moment when the slipper fits Cinderella. The two did not believe that this princess was here in the third-class deck and talking to Taehyung.

“Hello again” Taehyung soothed. You then looked around, the people never removing their eyes on you. You smiled sheepishly and turned back to look at him.

“Could I speak to you in private?”

Taehyung tilted his head, confused, but nonetheless nodded, “Of course. After you.”

He motions you ahead and follows. Taehyung glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised, meeting the eyes of his friends as he walks out with you leaving a stunned silence behind.

Taehyung and you walked side by side in the A-deck. Passing people reading and talking in steamer chairs, some of whom glanced curiously at the mismatched couple. He feels out of place in his rough clothes. They are both awkward, for different reasons. 

“So um. You got a name?” 

You looked at him and nodded. “(Y/N) (m/n) (L/N)” 

Taehyung stared at you, joking a bit, he said “That’s quite a mouthful. Gotta write that down later.” 

You, though, did not laugh nor looked amused, looking nervous. The air was filled with an awkward silence. 

“Mr.Kim–” You started but Taehyung cut you off

“Taehyung” He corrected 

“Taehyung… I feel like such an idiot. It took me all morning to get up the nerve to face you.”

The male smiled at you, trying to ease some tense air around them, “But here you are.” 

“Here I am. I… I want to thank you for what you did. Not just for… for pulling me back. But for your discretion.” You recalled as you two walked through the open hall.

“You’re welcome, (Y/N)”

You sighed, frustrated. “Look, I know what you must be thinking. Poor little rich girl. What does she know about misery?“ 

Taehyung stopped walking and looked at you with furrowed brows making you stop too. 

“That’s not what I was thinking. What I was thinking was… what could have happened to hurt this girl so much she thought she had no way out.“

You bit your lips at his reply, trying to blink tears away, and turned around. “I don’t… it wasn’t just one thing. It was everything. It was them, it was their whole world. And I was trapped in it, like an insect in amber.” You walked away making Taehyung follow. 

“I just had to get away… just run and run and run… and then I was at the back rail and there was no more ship… even the Titanic wasn’t big enough. Not enough to get away from them. And before I’d really thought about it, I was over the rail. I was so furious. I’ll show them. They’ll be sorry!”

Taehyung sighed at your words, “Uh-huh. They’ll be sorry. You’ll be dead”

You stopped and lowered your head. Eyes tearing up, trying to suppress it. 

“Oh God, I am such an utter fool.” You lamented, Taehyung going up beside you. 

“That penguin last night, is he one of them?” The red-head asked with a quirk of his eyebrow. It was then your turn to furrowed your brows, looking at the male who was waiting for your answer.  

“Penguin? Oh, Jungkook. Yes, he is one of them.” 

Taehyung hummed, “Is he your boyfriend?“ 

You chuckled humorlessly, “I’m afraid it is something worse.” and showed Taehyung your engagement ring, the sizable diamond shining in the light. The male whistled lowly at the sight of it. 

“God, look at the size of that thing! You would’ve gone straight to the bottom.” He let out but you did not laugh, still in your thoughts. A passing steward scowls at Taehyung, who is clearly not a first-class passenger, but you just glared at him and he walked away.

“So you feel like you’re stuck on a train you can’t get off ‘cause you’re marryin’ this fella.“ Taehyung stated, after clearing his throat when the awkward silence won’t disappear, which you agreed to. 

“Yes, exactly!” 

“Then don’t marry him.” 

You sighed at Taehyung’s blunt answer and shook your head. 

“If only it were that simple.” You let out

The male replied with a, “It is that simple.”

 The young lady looked at Taehyung and frowned at him then looked down to the floor. 

“Do you love him?” He asked another question making the lady glared at him

“That’s rude. You shouldn’t even be asking me this. Do not judge me. You haven’t seen my world.” 

He raised a brow at that and muttered, “Why can’t you just answer the question?” You laughed nervously and fakely as you tried to get away from the male who followed you. 

You then looked back at him and said, “This is absurd! You don’t know me and I don’t know you and we are not having this conversation at all.”

“You are rude and uncouth, and presumptuous. And I am leaving now.” You added, anger and embarrassment filling you.

Taehyung stared at the rumbling woman in front of him with amusement, a teasing smile on his face as he got the answer to his question. 

“Taehyung… Mr.Kim. It has been a pleasure.” You bid, emphasizing on Mr.Kim and shook his hand. 

“I sought you out to thank you now I have thanked you–” 

“And you’ve insulted me.” Taehyung cut off, with an amused look. You smiled tensely and replied, “Well you deserved it.” 

“Right” Taehyung mused out

“Right.” You repeated with furrowed brows. Your hands still connected and shaking. Taehyung looked down at their moving hands with a small smile and looked up back again.

“I thought you were leaving?”

You realized and removed your hand away from him, clearing your throat, turning back around to walk away.

“I am.” With a tight smile still on your face, annoyed.

You turned around to face Taehyung, stopping on your tracks to go back to him, and said, “You are so annoying.” 

Taehyung chuckled at your words as you started to walk away again. You then realized something and looked at Taehyung who was just standing there, watching you pace around with an amused smile as his hands were in his pockets.

“Wait.” You said a frown present on your beautiful face. You walked closer to him.

“I don’t have to leave. This is my part of the ship. You leave.” You argued, pointing to the other side as you faced Taehyung who looked down at you, smile still intact.

Taehyung laughed sarcastically at you and leaned against the rope beside him, “Oho-ho-ho! Well, well, well. Now who’s being rude”

You opened your mouth to retort, shocked at the male’s words. You chuckled out in disbelief. The topic annoying you, wanting to change it immediately. The brown leather sketchbook caught your eye and you took it from him.

“What’s this stupid thing you’re carrying around anyway?” You asked, agitated making Taehyung look at his sketchbook and shrugged. 

You flipped through the pages and paused, looking up to Taehyung who stared down at you, the height difference between you two showing.

“What are you? An artist or something?” You asked, flipping through more of the pages and walked to the benches.

“Well… These are rather good…” You commented with a softening voice, admiring his works. Taehyung followed and sat next to you, watching you while you scanned through the pages. 

“They’re very good actually…” You added. Taehyung’s sketches were each one an expressive little bit of humanity: an old woman’s hands, a sleeping man, a father, and daughter at the rail. The faces are luminous and alive. His book was a celebration of the human condition. 

The young lady looked back up at Taehyung and said, “Taehyung, these are exquisite works” with awe in your voice

“Well, they didn’t think too much of 'em in Paree,” Taehyung replied, a small smile in his pink lips. 

“Paris? Huh, you do go around for a poor–” You stopped your words, looking at Taehyung with shame on your face. 

“I mean… For a person with limited means–” 

Taehyung chuckled at your words, “It’s okay, you can say it. A poor guy.” 

You didn’t reply, ashamed of yourself though Taehyung seemed to not mind it one bit. You flipped through the pages of his sketchbook when…

“Well well” 

You came upon a series of nudes. You transfixed by the languid beauty he has created. His drawings of these naked women were soulful, real, with expressive hands and eyes. They feel more like portraits than studies of the human form almost uncomfortably intimate. You blushed, raising the book as some strollers go by, hiding it from their view. 

You cleared your throat, “And these were drawn from life?“ 

Taehyung nodded, amused at the young lady’s reaction. 

“Yup. That’s one of the great things about Paris. Lots of girls are willing to take their clothes off.“ 

You didn’t reply to his words but continued to flip on the pages of the sketchbook. 

“You liked this woman. You used her several times.” 

Now it was Taehyung’s turn to turn bashful, stumbling on his words at first as he tried to explain it to the young aristocrat

 “N-Nothing like that. You see, she has beautiful hands.” Taehyung said, pointing to the drawing of her hands to emphasize his point. The lady just hummed in response, teasing the young artist.

“I think you must have had a love affair with her…“ You teased, smiling at him cheekily. Taehyung laughed at that, shaking his head at the sudden playfulness of the young lady.

“No, no! Just her hands.“ 

(Y/N) looked down at the drawings as Taehyung explained further, “She was a one-legged prostitute, you see” 

He flipped to another page as you ‘ugh’-ed ghastly at the image, Taehyung laughing at your reaction. 

“Oh…”

“She has a good sense of humor, though” He added. Then he seemed to remember something and turned the page once again, “Oh and this lady”

“She used to sit at this bar every night with every piece of jewelry she owned, just waiting for her long lost love” Taehyung explained as you looked at the drawing of a ragged woman with fancy jewelry on her clothes and skin. 

“Called her Madame Bijou,” He said making the (h/c) haired lady look at him. 

“Look how her clothes are all moth-eaten” the artist added. You chuckled at that. Taehyung was quiet for a bit, admiring the woman beside him as you admire his drawings and with a whisper, you uttered out, 

“You really do have a gift Taehyung. You can see people.” 

You looked at him with a small smile. Taehyung gazed at you in return, a smile on his lips.

“I see you” 

That stare his eyes magnetic and pulled you in without warning. Your eyes, though, turned coy and rivaled his magnetic stare with your own.

 You smirked a bit and asked, “And?” 

Taehyung stared at you with a serious look, “You wouldn’t have jumped”

Your smirk fell at his words, your face turning sour as thoughts rapidly run into your mind.

You and Taehyung strolled down the aft, passing people who were relaxing on the deck chairs, bathing in the soft glow of the sunset.

“You know, my dream has always been to just chuck it all and become an artist… Living in a garret, poor but free” The young lady muttered with a soft voice, a wistful smile on your pink lips.

“You wouldn’t last two days. There’s no hot water, and hardly ever any caviar” Taehyung teased, a smirk appearing, but you got angry, spinning around to face the male.

“Listen here, buster. I hate my caviar! And I’m sick and tired of people dismissing my dreams with a chuckle and a pat on the head” You said out with a small glare.

Taehyung’s eyes widened at that, not meaning to upset you, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” 

You softened your glare when you saw Taehyung’s face and nodded, “Well, alright. I don’t know what it is but there’s something in me, Taehyung. Whether I should be an artist, or, I don’t know…. a dancer. Like Isadora Duncan…. a wild pagan spirit…” You trailed off, looking at the beautiful sunset. It was a magical moment, the glow making you look more ethereal than ever as Taehyung gazed upon you with a soft look.

“Why can’t I be like you, Taehyung? Just head out for the horizon whenever I feel like it.” You smiled, looking shortly to the male to smile at him before going back to admire the setting sun.

“Well it wasn’t easy at first but you’ll get used to it and it was beautiful. There was this pier and I always sell my artworks there for 10 cents apiece.” Taehyung replied, breaking his daze, now looking at the sun. You looked back at him, a smile on your face as dimples appeared on your cheeks ever so softly. 

“Say we’ll go to that pier. Even if we only ever talked about it.” You said with a grin and Taehyung thought for a moment, a soft smile on his face

“No, we’ll do it. We’ll drink cheap beer. We’ll ride on a rollercoaster till we throw up” Taehyung listed down, You giggled at his ideas.

“And we’ll ride horses on the beach, right on the surf. But we have to ride it like a real cowboy. None of that sidesaddle stuff!” He added making you look at him in disbelief as big and bright smiles rest on both of your faces. 

“You mean, one leg on each side?” You asked in astonishment. Taehyung nodded with a laugh.

“Can you show me?” You asked with a bashful smile.

Taehyung nodded easily, returning your shy grin, “Sure… If you like.” 

You then have this determined look on your face as you exclaimed, “Teach me how to ride like a man!” 

The male couldn’t help but laugh, “And chew tobacco like a man,” He said with this adorable western cowboy accent you ever heard. You giggled, adding, “And spit like a man!” Copying his accent

“They didn’t teach you that in finishing school?” Taehyung asked sarcastically with a teasing quirk of his dark eyebrow.

You laughed at his words, “No”

He smirked and grabbed you, pulling you with him.

“Come on, I’ll show you!”

Your eyes widened in fear and thrill while he pulled you along the side, walking to the railing.

“What?! Taehyung, no!”

“Come on!”

“Taehyung–!”

“It’s easy!”

“I couldn’t possibly–”

Taehyung looked at you and smirked, “Watch closely” and spit, it arched over the water. You were impressed, disgusted, but also wanted to laugh so badly when Taehyung looked back at you with the cutest smile as if he did not just spit on the water

“That’s disgusting!” You exclaimed but your smile did not waver

“Alright, your turn!” He chirped a boxy grin still intact on his face.

You looked around to see if anyone was watching then turned to the railing and spit, quite pathetically.

“That’s pitiful! Come on, you really have to hawk it back. Get some leverage to it!” Taehyung instructed, facing forward as he demonstrates it with you following his actions

You hawk and spat, a little arch going at it as it fell in the water. Taehyung nodded, “Well that’s better but you really have to hawk it out” 

“Really? That’s better?”

Taehyung nodded, a smile on his face when he heard your hopeful voice. You turned to him, your face alight but suddenly you blanch. He saw your expression and turned around. (M/n), a Countess and Molly Brown has been watching you two hawk out spit to the water. You became composed, instantly, looking at your mother and stepping away from Taehyung a bit, smiling to the women.

“Mother… May I introduce, Kim Taehyung”

An awkward and tense silence filled the air while (M/N) studied Taehyung with a disgusted look on her aged face.

“Charmed, I’m sure” (M/n) replied after a while still looking at Taehyung. Taehyung has a little spit on his chin which he quickly wiped off, Molly grinned at him. (M/n) did not look amused and looked at him as if he was a bug, a dangerous one that should be squashed immediately. 

“Well, Taehyung, it sounds like you’re a good man to have around in a sticky spot–” Molly said but was cut off by the bell of their meal call.

“Why do they insist on always announcing dinner like a damn cavalry charge?” She added making you smile a bit tightly.

“Shall we go get dressed, Mother?” You asked your mother then you turned to Taehyung, “I’ll see you later, Taehyung”

They walked away to the other side, Taehyung heard (M/N) scold her daughter “(Y/N), look at you! Out in the sun with no hat! Honestly!” 

The Countess exits with (M/N) and you leaving Taehyung and Molly on the deck. Molly looked at Taehyung and said, “Son, do you have the slightest comprehension of what you’re doing?” 

Taehyung looked at the older woman after he finished gazing at your fleeting back, “Not really” he said, cheekily. A smile, still prominent on his handsome face.

“Well, you’re about to go into the snakepit, I hope you’re ready. What are you planning to wear?” Molly asked as Taehyung looked down to his clothes then back at her, his smile faltering. 

“I figured. Come on” Molly sighed out as she grabbed his arm and dragged him away

Men’s suits and jackets and formal wear are strewn all over the place. Molly, having a fine time. Taehyung was dressed, except for his jacket, and Molly was tying his bow tie.

“Don’t feel bad about it. My husband still can’t tie one of these damn things after 20 years… There you go.” 

She picks up a jacket off the bed and hands it to him. Taehyung put on the jacket with Molly’s help, “I was right! You and my son are just about the same size” She said, smiling at Taehyung who returned it gratefully, looking at himself in the mirror. 

“Very nice~,” He said, admiring the entirely different man in the mirror. He turned to Molly and smiled at her, gratefully. 

“Thank you, Miss Molly” Taehyung uttered

Drifting strains of classical music were heard even from a couple feet away from the main entrance. By Edwardian standards, Taehyung looks stunningly beautiful and blended in with the stuck-up crowd. Dashing in his borrowed white-tie outfit, right down to his pearl studs.

A steward bows and smartly opened the door to the First Class Entrance, “Good evening, sir.” 

Taehyung played the role smoothly, nodding at the steward with just the right degree of disdain. 

The handsome, newly well-dressed male steps in and his breath were taken away by the splendor spread out before him. Overhead is the enormous glass dome, with a crystal chandelier at its center, glowing a beautiful golden light. Sweeping down six stories is the First Class Grand Staircase, the epitome of the opulent naval architecture of the time.

And the people, the women in their floor-length dresses, elaborate hairstyles, and abundant jewelry and the gentlemen in evening dress, standing beside their women with one hand at the small of the back, talking quietly.

Taehyung descends to the A-deck, several men nodded a perfunctory greeting. He nods back, keeping it simple. He felt like a spy, on an important mission, to save his lady from the villain.

Jungkook comes down the stairs, with (M/N) on his arm, the two covered with expensive jewelry. They both walk right past Taehyung, neither one recognizing him. Jungkook nodded at him, one gent to another, but Taehyung barely had time to be amused. Because just behind Jungkook and (M/N) on the stairs was you, a vision in red and black, your low-cut dress showing off your neck, that was adorned by a shiny necklace, and shoulders, your arms sheathed in white gloves that come well above the elbow. Taehyung was hypnotized by your beauty, stealing a breath from him.

You saw Taehyung, his usual messy red hair was slicked back as it showed his handsome face. You smiled at the man, walking towards him, one hand hitching your dress a bit. He imitates the gentlemen’s stance, hand behind his back and stretched out the other to you. You extended your gloved hand and he takes it, kissing the back of your hand. You were flushed, beaming noticeably. You can’t take your eyes off him. Your heart beating strangely faster with him.

“I always wanted to do that since I was just a lad” Taehyung informed, a bright boxy grin on his lips. You returned the smile, just as bright, giggling a bit

You cleared your throat a bit, remembering something, “Kook, surely you remember Mr. Kim” 

Jungkook looked back at (Y/N) then at Taehyung, caught off guard at the male’s different appearance, looking more of a human being than a dirty rat on the streets, the young aristocrat thought.

“Kim! I did not recognize you.” 

Jungkook studied him and nodded condescending, “Amazing, you could almost pass as a gentleman.” 

(M/N) stared at the man, still with an unimpressed look as she and Jungkook walked away with (Y/N) and Taehyung following. They walked towards the reception room at the D-deck as the party descends to dinner. They encountered Molly Brown, looking good in a beaded dress, in her own busty broad-shouldered way. 

Molly grinned when she sees Taehyung as they are going into the dining saloon, she walks next to him, speaking low: “ Ain’t nothin’ to it, is there, Taehyung?”

He nodded, “Yeah, you just dress like a pallbearer and keep your nose up.“

The older woman chuckled at the truth of it and said, “Remember, the only thing they respect is money, so just act like you’ve got a lot of it and you’re in the club.”

As they enter the swirling throng, Molly left them for a while and socialized with the other who came up to talk. (Y/N) leans close to him, pointing out several notables.

“There’s the Countess Rothes. And that’s Jung Hoseok… the richest man on the ship. His little wifey there, Madeleine, is at my age and in a delicate condition. See how she’s trying to hide it. Quite the scandal, ain’t it.” You whispered to Taehyung who listened in amusement at your words.

You nodded to another couple and began again, “And over there, that’s Sir Cosmo and Lucile, Lady Duff-Gordon. She designs naughty lingerie, among her many talents. Very popular with the royals.” 

Jungkook becomes engrossed in a conversation with Kim Seokjin and Colonel Kim Namjoon, while (M/N), the Countess and Lucille, Seokjin’s wife, discussed fashion. (Y/N) picots Taehyung smoothly, to show him another couple, dressed impeccably.

“And that’s Benjamin Guggenheim and his mistress, Madame Aubert. Mrs. Guggenheim is at home with the children, of course.” You told Taehyung everything you know because, in your life, that’s a habit rich people like to do, ruining and gossiping about others.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Jungkook was accepting the praise of his male counterparts, who were looking at you like a prize show horse, nodding and gazing up and down at you.

“Jeon, she is splendid.” 

 Jungkook nodded, liking the fact that these men know who you belong to but hate that they were staring at his wife fiance, “Thank you.”

Namjoon then commented, “Jungkook’s a lucky man. I know him well, and it can only be luck.” 

(M/N) stepped over, hearing the last. She takes Jungkook’s arm, somewhat coquettishly and said, “How can you say that Colonel? Jeon Jungkook is a great catch.”

The entourage strolled towards the dining saloon, where they ran into Jung Hoseok going through the ornate double doors.

“Mr. Jung, Madeleine, I’d like you to meet Kim Taehyung.” (Y/N) introduced, Hoseok grabbing his hand, shaking it with a smile while his wife nodded at them.

“Nice to meet you, Taehyung. Are you one of the Kims of Seoul?” He asked, remembering his partners, Kim Seokjin and Kim Namjoon.

“No, the Daegu Kims, actually,” Taehyung replied.

Hoseok nodded as if he had ever heard about it then continued to look puzzled. Madeleine leaned closer to you and whispered girlishly with a coy smile, “It’s a pity that we’re both spoken for isn’t it.” then turned to smile at Taehyung, straightening up. 

Like a ballroom at the palace, alive and lit by a constellation of chandeliers, full of elegantly dressed people and beautiful music from the small orchestra. As you and Taehyung entered and moved across the room to their table, Jungkook and (M/N) beside you. They sat down at the large table filled with rich people. 

“Tell us of the accommodations in steerage, Mr. Kim. I hear they’re quite good on this ship.” (M/N) said, looking at him from her place.

Taehyung was seated opposite to you, who is flanked by Jungkook and Thomas Andrews. Also at the table are Molly Brown, Ismay, Colonel Namjoon, the Countess, Kim Seokjin, Madame Aubert, and the Jungs. 

“The best I’ve seen, ma'am. Hardly any rats.” Taehyung replied, making the table laugh. You then motion surreptitiously for Taehyung to take his napkin off his plate.

“Mr. Kim here is joining us from third class. He was of some assistance to my fiance last night.” Jungkook informed the people at their table. He then looked at Taehyung and said to him, as if talking to a child, “This is foie gras. It’s goose liver.” 

Whispers were heard around the table, Taehyung becoming the subject of furtive glances. Now they’re all feeling terribly liberal and dangerous.

Seokjin leaned to Madame Aubert to whisper in her ear, “What is Jeon hoping to prove, bringing this… bohemian… up here?” 

The waiter then came over to Taehyung, “How do you take your caviar, sir?“

Jungkook intervened, “Just a soupcon of lemon… it improves the flavor with champagne.” smiling arrogantly at him

Taehyung smiled back then turned to the waiter, “No caviar for me, thanks. Never did like it anyway.” looking at you who smiled at him, knowingly. Jungkook noticed Taehyung looking at his fiance and with a furrowed brows watched you smile at your lap, with confusion and anger as he gripped his fork. 

“And where exactly do you live, Mr. Kim?” (M/N) asked

Taehyung looked at her and said, “Well, right now my address is the RMS Titanic. After that, I’m on God’s good humor.” 

The salad was then served, Taehyung reached for the fish fork. You gave him a look and picked up the salad fork, prompting him with your eyes. He changes forks.

“You find that sort of rootless existence appealing, do you?” The older (L/N) asked

“Well… it’s a big world, and I want to see it all before I go. My father was always talkin’ about goin’ to see the ocean. He died in the town he was born in and never did see it. You can’t wait around, because you never know what hand you’re going to get dealt next. See, my folks died in a fire when I was fifteen, and I’ve been on the road since. Somethin’ like that teaches you to take life as it comes at you. To make each day count.” Taehyung said, you gazed at him with a look, eyes softening. 

Molly Brown raises her glass in a salute, “Very well said, Taehyung”

Colonel Kim Namjoon raised his glass, “Here here” and (Y/N) followed, looking at Taehyung

“To making it count.” You said with a smile. 

(M/N), annoyed that Taehyung has scored a point, pressed him further.

 “How is it you have the means to travel, Mr. Kim?”

“I work my way from place to place. Tramp steamers and such. I won my ticket on Titanic here in a lucky hand at poker. “ He trailed as he looks at you with enigmatic eyes

“A very lucky hand” He added

Namjoon nodded, agreeing with Taehyung and said, “All life is a game of luck.”

Jungkook looked at his friend with a stern look, “A real man makes his own luck.”

Namjoon shaking his head at his long time friend but nonetheless continued to talk to Taehyung.

Dessert has been served and a waiter arrives with cigars in a humidor on a wheeled cart. The men start clipping the ends and lighting it. 

“Nest it’ll be brandies in the Smoking Room.” (Y/N) said lowly to Taehyung as Namjoon stood up 

“Well, join me for a brandy, gentlemen?” He invites 

(Y/N) then added, “Now they retreat into a cloud of smoke and congratulate each other on being masters of the universe.”

Taehyung stifled a smile at you and straightened up when he heard Namjoon call him. 

“Joining us, Taehyung? You don’t want to stay out here with the women, do you?” 

Taehyung actually does, but…

“No thanks. I’m heading back.”

Jungkook stared him down and nodded, “Probably best. It’ll be all business and politics, that sort of thing. Wouldn’t interest you. Good of you to come.” with that, the gentlemen exited. 

(Y/N) looked at Taehyung who stood up, brushing his suit, “Must you go?”

 Taehyung smiled at you, holding your hand as he slipped a paper on your hand sneakily. 

“It’s time for my carriage to turn back into a pumpkin.” 

(M/N), scowling, watched him walk away across the enormous room. (Y/N) surreptitiously opened the note below table level. It reads: “Make it count. Meet me at the clock”. 

You smiled and quickly hid the paper, waiting a bit before following Taehyung, excusing yourself. 

You crossed the A-Deck foyer, sighting Taehyung at the landing above. Overhead is the crystal dome, he had his back to you, studying the ornate clock with its carved figures of Honor and Glory. It softly strikes the hour.

The (h/c) haired lady goes up the sweeping staircase towards him. He turns and sees you, he smiled.

“Want to go to a real party?” 

The crowd was led and alive with music, laughter and raucous carrying on. An ad hoc band is gathered near the upright piano, honking out lively stomping music on fiddle, accordion, and tambourine. People of all ages are dancing, drinking beer and wine, smoking, laughing, even brawling.

Yoongi hands you a pint of stout and you hoisted it. Taehyung meanwhile dances with 5-year-old Cora or tries to, with her standing on his feet. As the tune ends, you walked up to them and leaned down to the little girl and said, “May I cut in, miss?” 

Taehyung smiled at you then at Cora, “You’re still my best girl, Cora” 

Cora scampers off while you and Taehyung faced each other. You were trembling as he took your right hand in his left. His other hand slides to the small of your back. It is an electrifying moment, their hearts beating wildly. 

You looked at Taehyung and whispered, “I don’t know the steps.” 

He smiled at your practical mind, “Just follow my lead. Don’t think”

The music started and they were off, dancing with each other for the first time. A little awkward at first but you then started to get into it. You grinned at Taehyung as you started to get the rhythm of the steps.

“Wait, stop!” You bend down, pulling off your high heeled shoes, and flung them to Yoongi who caught them with a shake of his head and a small smile. Then you grabbed Taehyung and they plunge back into the fray, dancing faster as the music speeds up.

The scene was rowdy and rollicking. A table got knocked over as a drunk crashes into it. And in the middle of it, you were dancing with Taehyung in your stockings. The steps were fast and you shined with sweat. Space opens around them, and people watch you, clapping as the band plays faster and faster.

Jimin and Helga danced ignoring the need for a common language and just enjoyed each others’ presence. He whirled her, then she responded by whirling him too. Jimin’s eyes went wide when he realized that she was stronger than him. 

The tune ended in a mad rush, Taehyung stepped away from (Y/N) with a flourish, allowing you to take a bow. Everyone cheered and applauded. You were suddenly a hit with the steerage folks, who’ve never had a lady party with them.

They moved to a table, flushed and sweaty. You grabbed Jimin’s cigarette and took a big drag. You were feeling cocky. Jimin was grinning, holding hands with Helga. 

“How are you two doin’?” Taehyung asked Jimin who smirked at him.

“I don’t know what she’s saying, she doesn’t know what I’m saying so we get along just fine,” He said, smiling at Helga

Yoongi walked up with a pint for each of them, You chugged yours down, showing off.

“You think a first-class girl can’t drink?“ You asked, a growing smirk on your pretty lips. Yoongi shook his head at you, a smile playing on his face. He grew fond of you, it was almost like you were his long lost sister, who was richer than him anyway…

Everybody else was dancing again, and a man crashes into Yoongi, who sloshes his beer over your expensive dress. You gasped then laughed, not caring one bit, but Yoongi lunges, grabbing the man and wheeling him around. 

“Fuckin’ bastard! Watch where you’re going!” 

The drunken man comes around, his fists coming up and before anything happened, Taehyung leaped into the middle of it, pushing them apart. 

“Boys, boys! The lady’s alright, don’t get all pissy!” He said making Yoongi looked at you which you replied with a reassuring smile, he relaxed a bit and sighed. Yoongi stood there, all piss and vinegar, chest puffed up. Then he grins and claps the man on the shoulder. 

“So, you think you’re big tough men? Let’s see you do this.“ (Y/N) said. In your stocking-feet, you assumed a ballet stance, arms raised, and goes up on point, taking your entire weight on the tips of your toes. The guys gape at your incredible muscle control. But then you came back down, your face screwed up in pain. You grabbed one foot, hopping around. 

“Oooowww! I haven’t done that in years.“ You complained as Taehyung caught you before you lost your balance with everyone laughing.

The door to the well-deck opened a few inches as Lovejoy watched through the gap. He sees Taehyung holding you, both of you laughing. Lovejoy closed the door then retreated back to report back to his master. 

The stars blazed overhead, so bright and clear you can see the Milky Way. (Y/n) and Taehyung walks along the row of lifeboats, still giddy from the party and they are singing a popular song “Come Josephine in My Flying Machine”. 

“Come, Josephine in my flying machine and up she goes! Up she goes! In the air, she goes. Where? There she goes!”

You both fumbled the words then broke down laughing. You two reached the First Class Entrance but didn’t go straight in, not wanting the evening to end. Through the doors, the sound of the ship’s orchestra wafts gently. You grabbed a davit and leans back, staring at the cosmos. 

“Isn’t it magnificent? So grand and endless,” you asked, going to the rails and leaned on your arms on it. 

“They’re such small people, Taehyung… my crowd. They think they’re giants on the earth, but they’re not even dust in God’s eye. They live inside this little tiny champagne bubble… and someday the bubble��s going to burst.” 

He leans at the rail next to you, his hand just touching yours ever so slightly. It is the slightest contact imaginable, and either one of you can only feel the square inch of skin where your hands are touching. 

“You’re not one of them. There’s been a mistake.” Taehyung said making you look at him with an amused raised brow

“A mistake?”

He nodded, ”Uh-huh. You got mailed to the wrong address.“

You laughed and nodded in agreement, “I did, didn’t I”

 Then at the corner of your (e/c) eyes, you saw a bright light pass above. (Y/N) looked up and pointed with a smile, “Look! A shooting star!” 

Taehyung also looked at the magnificent sky and with a quirk of his lips, “This was a long one but my father used to say that whenever you saw one, it was a soul going to heaven” 

(Y/N) twinkled like the stars above, “I like that… But aren’t we supposed to make a wish?” 

Taehyung looked at you and found that you were suddenly very close together. It would be so easy to move another couple of inches, to kiss you. Oh, how Taehyung wants to do it but it would be wrong. You seemed to be thinking the same thing, looking down briefly at his lips then up back to his eyes. Taehyung’s breath hitched as he saw the brief flick of your eyes. 

“What would you wish for?” He whispered

After a beat, you moved away, smiling sadly at him and said, “Something I can’t have…”

“Goodnight, Taehyung. And thank you.” You whispered to the night and left the rail, hurrying to the First-Class Entrance. Taehyung looked at you go, feeling conflicted.

“(Y/N)!” He called out but it was too late. The door shuts and you were back in your world while he was left in his.

It was a bright clear day the next morning, sunlight splashing across the promenade. (Y/N) and Jungkook were having breakfast in silence in their private area, the tension is palpable. Trudy, in her maid’s uniform, poured the coffee and went inside, leaving the two alone again.

“I had hoped you would come to me last night.” Jungkook started, not looking at you, eating his breakfast.

You looked up but went back to staring at your plate and cut the food into small pieces, “I was tired.”

Jungkook stopped his movements, stopping mid-cut and looked up, glaring at you. “Yes. Your exertions below the decks were no doubt exhausting.” 

You stiffened at his words but switched back to your usual unbothered facade, “I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me.” 

The man growled, his dark eyebrows arching into a glare as his eyes screamed, anger. 

“You will never behave like that again! Do you understand? And I don’t want you hanging around that dirty little rat again, you hear me!” 

You glared back, matching his anger and said, “I’m not some foreman in your mills than you can command! I am your fiance–“ In one swift and alarming movement, Jungkook exploded and swept the table making the breakfast china and all of its contents fly as it crashed unto the wall and floor at the sheer force. He moved closer to you in one shocking moment, glowering over you and gripping the sides of your chair, so you were trapped between his arms. Leaning to you, his eyes were wide with fury and teeth grinding against each other.

“Yes! You are! As my wife…  in practice, if not yet by law. You will honor me! As a wife is required to honor her husband! I will not be made a fool of! Is this in any way unclear?” Jungkook glowered as he stared deep into your eyes. You were trembling, heart, beating fast but not the same rhythm when you were with Taehyung, no. It was pure fear. 

You shrink into the chair. You see Trudy, frozen, partway through the door bringing the orange juice. Jungkook followed your eyes and straightened up when he saw the maid. Without any words, he stalked past the maid, entering the stateroom, leaving you with tears threatening to escape your (e/c) eyes.

Trudy quickly went to the mess and tried to fix it. You followed her actions, crouching beside her, still trembling. 

“I’m sorry, Trudy. We had a little accident…” 

Trudy looked at her mistress and frowned, stopping you from touching the broken china.

“It’s okay, Miss.” but you did not stop. Trudy tried again, “Miss, please don’t touch it. You might cut yourself” 

You finally snapped back to reality as you slumped to the floor and tears freely flowed down your soft cheeks. You hid your face in your hands. Trudy looked at you, a deep frown on her face, worried deeply. 

Inside (M/N)’s suite, You were being dressed for the day and is in the middle of wearing your corset with your mother’s help. The tight bindings on your corset showing (M/N)’s fury.

“You are not to see that boy again, do you understand me (Y/N)? I forbid it!” She blurted out. 

“Oh, stop it, Mother. You’ll give yourself a nosebleed.” You muttered and gasped slightly when you felt the harsh tug of the corset. (M/N) turned you around, making the younger look at her.

“(Y/N), this is not a game! Our situation is precarious. You know the money’s gone!” 

You scoffed, “Of course, I know. You remind it to me every day.”

(M/N) glared at her daughter and said, “Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts hidden by a good name. And that name is the only card we have to play.”

(M/N) turned you back around and continued to lace your corset up. You glanced down to your feet, sucking down on your waist, a frown present on your pretty face.

“I don’t understand you. It is a fine match with Jeon, and it will ensure our survival.”

“How can you put this on my shoulder” You muttered, feeling angry and sad at the pressure of your mother.

You turned around again to say something but stopped when you saw the pure fear in your mother’s eyes. 

“Do you want to see me working as a seamstress? Is that what you want? Do you want to see our fine things sold at an auction, our memories scattered to the winds? My God, (Y/N), how can you be so selfish?” (M/N) asked, tears burning her eyes. 

“I’m being selfish? Me?! You are being unfair, mother–!” 

“Of course it’s unfair! We’re women. Our choices are never easy.” (M/N) uttered out, pulling the last lace and tied it securely. The maids then went inside the room, placing the dresses the two will wear on the bed. For the rest of the time you were being dressed, it was quiet and tense. Neither of you two was talking, only the thoughts running on your mind occupied you.

At the divine service, Captain Smith was leading a group in the hymn of “Almighty Father Strong To Save.” You and your mother sang in the middle of the group, looking at the pamphlet in your hands.

Lovejoy stood at the back, keeping an eye on you. He noticed a commotion at the entry doors and quickly gone out. Taehyung has been halted there by two stewards. He has dressed back in his third-class clothes and stood there, hat in hand, looking out of place. 

“Look, you-you’re not supposed to be in here.” A steward said, pushing him back. 

“I was just here last night… don’t you remember?” Taehyung pleaded. He saw Lovejoy walking towards them and looked at him hopefully, pointing at him.

“He will tell you!”

Lovejoy went out and stood in front of Taehyung, “Mr. Jeon and Mrs. (L/N)  continue to be most appreciative of your assistance. They asked me to give you this in gratitude–”  He held out two twenty-dollar bills, which Taehyung refuses to take.

He shook his head, “I don’t want money. I–”

“-and also to remind you that you hold a third-class ticket and your presence here is no longer appropriate.” Lovejoy continued as Taehyung sighed in annoyance. He looked past Lovejoy and saw (Y/N) but you did not spot him. 

“I just need to talk to (Y/N) for–”

Lovejoy cut him off and turned to the stewards, “Gentlemen, please see that Mr. Kim gets back to where he belongs.” as he gave the twenties to them. “And that he stays there” The tall servant added.

The stewards nodded, “Yes sir!” and turned to Taehyung, “Come along” as they dragged the male away who struggled, shouting for you. Inside the room, the younger (L/N) did not see it, singing in the choir but your mother did, nodding appreciatively to Lovejoy who made eye contact with her, smirking ever so slightly.

Taehyung, walking with determination, is followed closely by Yoongi and Jimin. He quickly climbed the steps to B-Deck and stepped over the gate separating 3rd from 2nd class.

“She’s a goddess amongst mortal men, there’s no denyin’ that. And I like her too, she’s like a sister to me but she’s in another world, Tae. She’s closed the door.” Yoongi said, looking at the young artist. Taehyung moved furtively to the wall below the A-Deck promenade, aft. Jimin agreed with Yoongi.

“Yoongi is right, Taehyungie. (Y/N)’s an angel but sometimes we just have to move on. Haven’t you think that she may also don’t want anything to do with us?” 

“It was them, not her.” He said firmly and looked around.

“Ready?… Go.” Taehyung said, ignoring their words. 

Yoongi shook his head resignedly and puts his hands together with Jimin in the same position, crouching down. Taehyung steps into Yoongi’s and Jimin’s hands and got boosted up to the next deck, where he scrambles nimbly over the railing, onto the First Class deck.

“He’s crazy I tell you,” Yoongi said as he watched Taehyung run 

“Love makes you do crazy things, Yoongi…” Jimin commented as a small smile on his face but a bit worried about his best friend. 

Taehyung sneakily walked in the deck, looking around for any workers he has to avoid. He then saw a lone coat jacket on one of the benches. He swiftly took it and run off, searching for you.

On the other side, a 21-year-old Junior Wireless Operator hustles in and skirts around Andrews’ tour group to hand a Marconigram to Captain Smith.

“Another ice warning, sir. This one from the “Baltic”.” 

 “Thank you, Sparks.” Smith glanced at the message then nonchalantly put it in his pocket. He nods reassuringly to you and the group.

“Not to worry, it’s quite normal for this time of year. In fact, we’re speeding up. I’ve just ordered the last boilers lit.” He reassured the group. 

Andrews leads the group back from the bridge along the boat deck, seeing the lifeboats. “Mr. Andrews, I did the sum in my head, and with the number of lifeboats times the capacity you mentioned… forgive me, but it seems that there are not enough for everyone aboard.” You said, worrying.

“ About half, actually. (Y/N), you miss nothing, do you? In fact, I put in these new type davits, which can take an extra row of boats here. But it was thought… by some… that the deck would look too cluttered. So I was over-ruled.” Andrews said, a frown in his face.

Jungkook scoffed and slapped the side of the boat with his cane, “Waste of deck space as it is, on an unsinkable ship!”

Andrews smiled at Jungkook’s faith in his work, “Sleep soundly, young (Y/N). I have built you a good ship, strong and true. She’s all the lifeboat you need.”

As they are passing Boat 7, a gentleman turns from the rail and walked up behind the group. It was Taehyung. He tapped (Y/N) on the arm and you turned, gasping when you saw him. He motioned to follow him and you quickly cut away from the group toward a door that Taehyung held open. You two duck into the gymnasium.  Taehyung closed the door behind you and glanced out through the ripple-glass window to the starboard rail, where the gym instructor is chatting up the woman who was riding the bike. You and Taehyung were now alone in the room.

You looked at Taehyung and remembered your mother’s words and your fiance’s outburst, you frowned.

“Taehyung, this is impossible. I can’t see you anymore.” You reasoned, trying to move away and exit the room.

He shook his head and held you by the shoulders, looking deep into your eyes and breathed out, “(Y/N), I need to talk to you”

You furrowed your eyebrows with a sad frown, “No, Taehyung, no” And looked at the window with a worrying glance, “Taehyung… I’m engaged. I’m marrying Jungkook and I love him.” you added, glossy eyes hinting your sadness. Your tone makes it seems like you aren’t even trying to convince Taehyung but yourself. 

Taehyung wore a skeptical grin, “(Y/N) you’re no picnic… you’re a spoiled little brat even, but under that, you’re a strong, pure heart, and you’re the most amazingly astounding girl- woman-I’ve ever known and–”

You frowned once again, “Taehyung, I–” and moved away but Taehyung stopped you before continuing quickly.

“No, wait. Let me try to get this out. You’re ama…” He stopped for a bit, breathing deeply.

“I’m not an idiot. I know how the world works, I got 10 bucks in my pocket and I know I have nothing to offer you, (Y/N). I know that. But I’m too involved now. You jump, I jump, remember? I can’t turn away without knowin’ that you’re goin’ to be alright. That’s all I want” Taehyung said, his last words almost a whisper, looking at you with the utmost sincerity that it made your eyes gleam with tears. 

The male was open and real, unlike anyone you have known. 

“Well, I’m fine. I’ll be fine, really” You whispered, Taehyung leaning closer to you.

“Really?” He asked again as your gaze shifts uneasily

“I don’t think so. They’ve got you in a glass jar like some butterfly, and you’re goin’ to die if you don’t break out. Maybe not right away, 'cause you’re strong. But sooner or later the fire in you is goin’ to go out.” Taehyung caressed your cheek, you looking up at him, swallowed hard and with a quiet voice, “It’s not up to you to save me, Taehyung.” 

He nodded

“You’re right. Only you can do that.” Taehyung said, leaning a bit closer than before but you stopped him with your hand touching his.

The young aristocrat stared at him, eyes hiding what you really felt, “I’m going back, leave me alone. Please, Taehyung, for both our sakes, leave me alone.” and tear yourself away from him, going out the room. Taehyung’s sad eyes followed you and after you were out of sight, he hung his head in defeat, jaw clenched.

The most elegant room on the ship, done in Louis Quinze Versaille style. You sat on a divan, with a group of other women arrayed around you. (M/N), the Countess Rothes and Lady Duff-Gordon are taking tea. You were silent and still like a porcelain figurine while the conversation washes around you.

“Of course the invitations had to be sent back to the printers twice. And the bridesmaids’ dresses! Let me tell you what an odyssey that has been…” (M/N) informed the other ladies. 

In your thoughts, you saw yourself when you were a four years old girl, wearing white gloves, daintily picking up a cookie. Your mother correcting your posture, and the way you held the teacup. The little girl was trying so hard to please the woman, her expression serious. A glimpse of (Y/N) at that age, and the relentless conditioning, shows the pain in becoming an Edwardian geisha. 

Finally, you have decided. You nonchalantly spilled the tea unto your immaculate dress, stating, “Oh, looked at what I have done.”

In the dusk light of the sun, as if lit by the embers of a giant fire, the ship looms, Taehyung was there, right at the apex of the bow railing, his favorite spot. He closes his eyes, letting the chill wind clear his head. His emotions in ruins.

He hears your voice, calling out to him.

“Hello, Taehyung” He turned around, shocked as he saw you. You bit your lips and gave a sheepish smile, “I changed my mind.” 

A broad warm grin expanded on his face, looking at you with a soft glint in his equally warm eyes. Your cheeks were red with the chill wind, and eyes sparkling like diamonds. Your hair blew wildly about your face.

“Jimin said you might be here–”

“Shhh… Come here”

You walked up to him as he put his hands on your waist. Like he was going to kiss you. “Close your eyes.” 

And you did, and he turns you to face forward, the way the ship is going. He presses you gently to the rail, standing right behind you with a soft smile. Then he took your two hands and raised them until you were standing with your arms outstretched on each side. You were going along with him and when he lowers his hands, your arms stayed up… like wings.

“Okay, you can open them now” He whispered to your ears, his deep voice affecting you deeply.

(Y/N) gasped. There is nothing in your field of vision but water, it’s like there was no ship under them at all, just the two of them soaring. The Atlantic unrolls toward you, a hammered copper shield under a dusk sky. There were only the wind and the hiss of the water 50 feet below. You grinned.

You leaned forward, arching your back. Taehyung puts his hands on your waist to steady you, leaning his cheek to the side of your head.

“Come Josephine in my flying machine…” Taehyung sang softly beside your ear, the same song you two sang when you left the party making you giggle gently.

You closed your eyes, feeling yourself floating weightless far above the sea. You smiled dreamily, then leaned back, gently pressing your back against his chest. He pushes forward slightly against you.

Slowly he raised his hands, arms outstretched, and they meet yours… fingertips gently touching then their fingers intertwined. Moving slowly, their fingers caress through and around each other like the bodies of two lovers.

Taehyung tips his face forward into your blowing hair, letting the scent of you wash over him.

You turned your head until your lips were near his, you lowered your arms, turning further until you found his mouth with yours. He wrapped his arms around you from behind, and you kissed like this with your head turned and tilted back, surrendering to him, to the emotion, to the inevitable. Kissing, slowly and tremulously, and then with building passion. You slowly caressed the back of his neck, pulling him into you to deepen the kiss.

Taehyung and the ship seemed to merge into one force of power and optimism, lifting you, buoying you forward on a magical journey, soaring onward into a night without fear.

Like in a dream, the beautiful woodwork and satin upholstery were designed expertly. Taehyung was overwhelmed by the opulence of the room, he sets his sketchbook and drawing materials on the marble table. You giggled at his nervous face and said, “This is quite proper, I assure you”

“Will this light do? Don’t artists need good light?” You asked the young artist

Taehyung looked back at you with a sly grin after he admired the place and with a really bad French accent he said, “Zat is true, I am not used to working in such 'orreeble conditions.” 

You giggled, shaking your head. Taehyung then saw a painting on the wall, going towards it in awe, “Monet!” 

He crouches next to the paintings stacked against the wall. You followed him and asked, “You know him?”

“Yes, isn’t he great… the use of color? I saw him once… through a hole in this garden fence in Giverny.” You nodded, smiling at him. You then went into the adjoining walk-in wardrobe closet. He saw you go to the safe and start working the combination. He let the other paintings fascinate him.

”Jungkook insists on lugging this thing everywhere.” 

Taehyung frowned a bit that the mention of your fiance, he looked around to distract him from the jealousy he felt. 

“Should I be expecting him anytime soon?” He asked and you walked towards him with a velvet case on your hands.

“Not as long as the cigars and brandy hold out.” You opened it and removed the necklace, then held it out to Taehyung who took it nervously.

“What is it? A sapphire?” He asked, studying the necklace. 

“Diamond. A very rare diamond.” You said then looked at him with a nervous glint in your eyes. You licked your lips.

“I want you to draw me like one of your French girls. Wearing this.” Taehyung turned to you.

“Wearing only this” You added with a smile. The man’s eyes widened at your declaration. He nodded slowly, gulping, “I-If that’s what you want” 

Taehyung arranged the couch where you will lay on later while you get ready. You draw the butterfly clip out of your hair. You shook your head and your hair falls free around your shoulders. In the sitting room, he was laying out his pencils like surgical tools. His sketchbook is open and ready. He looks up in his seat when you came into the room, wearing a silk robe and your hair laid down, framing your face.

“The last thing I need is another picture of me looking like a china doll. As a paying customer, I expect to get what I want.” You instructed, acting as one of the snobbish rich folks which made Taehyung smile. 

You hand him a dime and steps back, parting with the robe. The bluestone laid between your breasts. Your heart was pounding as you slowly lower the robe and Taehyung’s situation wasn't any better, in fact, his heart was pounding at his ribcage that he thought, it’ll jump out any second. Taehyung looked so stricken, it was almost comical. The robe drops to the floor. 

You laid on the divan, “Tell me when it looks right to you.” you posed, settling like a cat, one arm beside you and the other outstretched.

Taehyung’s dark eyes scanned you and snapped out of his thought when he remembered, “Uh… just bend your left leg a little and… and lower your head. Eyes to me. That’s it.”

Taehyung started to sketch but when he looked up and meets your eyes, he almost dropped his pencil as you stifled a laugh.

“I believe you are blushing, Mr. Big Artiste. I can’t imagine Monsieur Monet blushing.” You teased a smirk present on your beautiful face

Taehyung sweats as he grinned shyly, “He does landscapes.” Despite his nervousness, he draws with sure strokes, and what emerges is the best thing he has ever done. Your pose was languid, your hands beautiful, and your eyes radiate energy.

When he finished, he signed the drawing. You, wearing your robe again, leaned on his shoulder, watching him. You gazed at the drawing, marveling at the piece of art. Taehyung is, with no doubt in your mind and heart, was a brilliant artist. He has X-rayed your soul. 

“Date it, Tae. I want to always remember this night” You whispered making Taehyung gulped, the nervousness he felt earlier, coming back, he nodded. He dates it and gave it to you, looking up at you as you stared at him. You leaned closer and pecked his lips, sharing a soft kiss.

You, meanwhile, scribbles a note on a piece of Titanic stationery and crosses to the safe in the wardrobe.

You put the diamond back in the safe, placing the drawing and the note on top of it. Closes the door with a clunk

Inside the smoking room, Lovejoy enters from the Palm Court through the revolving door and crosses the room toward Jungkook. A fire is blazing in the marble fireplace, and the usual fatcats were playing cards, drinking and talking. He sees Lovejoy and detaches from his group, going to him.

“None of the stewards have seen her.” 

Jungkook scowled at him, “This is ridiculous, Lovejoy. Find her”

Back to your suite, the (L/N) was fully dressed now, returned to the sitting room. They heard a key in the lock. You quickly take Taehyung’s hand and leads him silently through the bedrooms. Lovejoy enters by the sitting-room door. 

“Miss (Y/N)? Hello?” He then hears a door opening and goes through Jungkook’s room toward yours.

You and Taehyung came out of your stateroom, closing the door. You lead him quickly along the corridor toward the B deck foyer. You were halfway across the open space when the sitting-room door opens in the corridor and Lovejoy came out. The valet sees Taehyung with you and ran after them.

“Come on!” 

You and Taehyung break into a run, surprising the few ladies and gentlemen around. You led him past the stairs to the bank of elevators. They run into one, shocking the hell out of the operator.

“Take us down! Quickly!” You ordered. The Operator scrambles to comply, Taehyung even helped him close the steel gate. Lovejoy runs up as the lift starts to descend. He slams one hand on the bars of the gate. You raised your middle finger to the annoying servant of your fiance, sniggering, Taehyung gazed at you oh so fondly, chuckling at your actions as Lovejoy disappears above while the operator gaped at you.

Lovejoy emerged from another lift and runs to the one Taehyung and you were in. The Operator was just closing the gate to go back up. Lovejoy ran around the bank of elevators and scans the foyer… no Taehyung and (Y/N). He went to the stairs that goings down to F-Deck.

A functional space, with access to several machine spaces (fan rooms, boiler uptakes). Taehyung and you were leaning against a wall, laughing.

“Pretty tough for a valet, this fella.” Taehyung rasped out

“He’s an ex-Pinkerton. Jungkook’s father hired him to keep him out of trouble… to make sure he always got back to the hotel with his wallet and watch, after some crawl through the less reputable parts of town…” you explained with a smile, gazing at Taehyung

“Kinda like we’re doin’ right now– uh oh!” He cut himself off when he saw Lovejoy.

The valet spotted them from a cross-corridor nearby. He charges toward them. Taehyung and you run around a corner into a blind alley. There was one door, marked CREW ONLY, and the male flung it open.

You two entered the roaring ran-room, with no way out but a ladder going down. He latches the deadbolt on the door, and Lovejoy slams against it a moment later. Taehyung grins at you pointing to the ladder.

“After you, m’lady~”

You two came down the escape ladder and look around in amazement. It is like a vision of hell itself, with the roaring furnaces and black figures moving in the smoky glow. Running the length of the boiler room, dodging amazed stokers, and trimmers with their wheelbarrows of coal.  

You run through the open watertight door into the boiler room as Taehyung pulled you through the fiercely hot alley between two boilers and they wind up in the dark, out of sight of the working crew. Watching from the shadows, you saw the stokers working in the hellish glow, shoveling coal into the insatiable maws of the furnaces. The whole place thunders with the roar of the fires. 

Back with at the smoking room with amid unparalleled luxury, Jungkook sat at a card game, sipping brandy.

“We’re going like hell I tell you. I have fifty dollars that say we make it into New York Tuesday night!” Namjoon said, with his own brandy. Jungkook looks at his gold pocket watch, and scowls, not listening. 

The furnaces roar, down at the boiler room, silhouetting the glistening stokers. Taehyung kissed your face, tasting the sweat trickling down from your forehead. You two kissed passionately in the steamy, pounding darkness.

They entered and run laughing between the rows of stacked cargo. You hugged yourself against the cold, after the dripping heat of the boiler room.

They come upon Kim Seokjin’s brand new touring car, lashing down to a pallet. It looks like a royal coach from a fairy tale, its brass trim, and headlamps nicely set off by its deep burgundy color.

You climbed into the plushly upholstered backseat, acting very royal. There were cut crystals bud vases on the walls back there, each containing a rose. Taehyung jumps into the driver’s seat, enjoying the feel of the leather and wood.

“Where to, pretty lady?” 

You smiled, “To the stars”

Your hands then came out of the shadows and pulled him over the seat into the back, making Taehyung laugh. He landed next to you, and his breath seems loud in the quiet darkness. He looks at you and saw you smiling. It was the moment of truth.

“Are you nervous?” He whispered

You smiled a bit at Taehyung, “I am more than okay, Taehyung”

He returned your smile, caressing your soft cheek. Taehyung studied you for a moment, how the faint glow of the light shined on you making your eyes glow with warmth swimming inside it. 

“You’re so beautiful, (Y/N)” 

You took his hand and kissed his fingers, “Put your hand on me, Taehyung…”

His eyes narrowed at your words, looking deep into your (e/c) eyes as he saw the desire behind it. He leaned closer, brushing his lips against yours. You leaned forward, catching him off-guard while you deepened the kiss. The cold lips of yours made Taehyung shiver, desire started to creep upon him. He laid his body on top of you which you welcomed, enjoying the weight and warmth he offered. 

One of his large hand trailed up to your chest, squeezing the soft breast which earned a whimper. You broke the kiss, a thin string of saliva connecting you two as you panted, “Tae…” You called out. The soft and needy voice made Taehyung crazy.

“Fuck, love…” He uttered out, connecting both of your lips together once again in a more frenzy manner than before. Taehyung licked a soft stripe on your lips, asking for permission which you granted willingly. The warm appendage met yours in a swirl as you moaned at the contact.

“Mhhmm~” 

Taehyung groaned in satisfaction at your lovely mewl, wanting to hear more. He broke off the kiss and went straight to your neck, kissing it with his wet lips. His hands trailed up and down at your body, making you burn in desire. You ground your hips up, the dull ache you felt made you impatient and the feeling of his hardening length pressed in his thin pants against you were not making it better for you. Taehyung tilts his head in pleasure, closing his eyes at the sudden movement.

“Ahh..” 

You heard his deep voice, his moans were definitely a new favorite for you. Taehyung opened his eyes, looking deeply into you with half-lidded eyes, licking his lips. 

“You’re so pretty, Taehyung” You whispered against his lips, he smiled and shook his head, playfully.

“I guess you haven’t seen yourself, love”

You giggled, Taehyung nuzzling his face against your cold skin once again then begun to kiss down to your body. Your breath hitched, watching him slowly go down on you. 

“We really need to get you out of these clothes…” You heard the male say impatiently, gathering it up in his hands and sliding it off you. 

The heavy dress was off you in seconds, you didn’t know how he did it or how he managed when you needed multiple hands just to fix it. Taehyung gazed at your half-naked body, a thin layer of white undershirt was all you wore. Your nipples peaked against the thin white fabric, Taehyung gulped at the sight as he raised a hand. He ever so slightly touched the hardened bud making you gasp in surprise. He groaned at your reaction, the sight making his blood go straight south. 

“You’re killing me here, (Y/N)…” He groaned out, leaning against you to gain some friction. You bit your lip at his words and action, the unfamiliar pleasure washing over you.

“Please touch me more, Tae…” You whispered back to him, raking your soft hands through his red hair, Taehyung relishing at your touch. 

Noticing his unfocused attention, you let your hands wander around his body, trying to memorize every detail in him. You touched his back to his chest and then down to his torso. You let your hands stop just before going to his hips, giggling softly at Taehyung’s small impatient whine. 

You took pity on the young man above you and touched him. Your eyes turned half-lidded at what you felt, he was definitely not small.

God, he was huge and so fucking hard. You gulped, the outline of his cock against his pants made you hungry and made you want more. 

You caressed his cock through his slacks, Taehyung’s pants and small moans made you wetter. You pressed your thighs together, trying to ease the throbbing heat. 

The red-haired male noticed it, he raised a warm hand to your thigh and squeezed it then moved it, making you open your legs wider. You blushed at the sudden movement and tried to close your legs but Taehyung gripped your thighs, pinning it down against the rough surface of the car’s leather. 

“You should see yourself from this view, love. You look like a masterpiece, so ready to get fucked by my cock” Taehyung’s lust laced voice made your throbbing heat ache even more. 

You clenched at nothing when you heard his words, you bit your lips and lifted your hips at meet his. 

Taehyung sighed, his cock was so hard that it was actually painful. How can you be so perfect…

He removed one of his large hands off your thigh and to his crotch, palming himself as he watched you through his slightly wet bangs due to his sweat. You panted at the intensity of his eyes, you couldn’t help but copy him. You let your hand wander around your body, tweaking your hardened buds while you tried to hump Taehyung but ended up humping nothing but air as he moved a bit to watch you more carefully. 

Taehyung growled at your desperate actions, slamming his hands back to your hips, gripping it tightly. 

“This is all mine, mine to touch, mine to play with.” He massaged your body, going over you as he left nothing untouched. Taehyung leaned closer to you, attaching his lips to your neck again and marked you. You felt one of his hands go lower, going to your pubis as he stroked your mound lightly. 

You moaned, closing your eyes tightly. Taehyung touched your clit against your underwear, fondling at it as the fabric gotten wetter with every stroke. The press of the wet fabric and Taehyung’s finger, rolling slowly against the bud, was making you crazy.

“D-Don’t be such a tease, Taehyung..” 

He smirked against your bruised neck, bitting at it again, leaving the already red skin turn violet-ish. His long fingers passed through the band of your underwear and touched your wet lips. 

“A-Ah…”

“Fuck, you’re so wet…” 

Taehyung quickly ripped the underwear of you and throwing it on the car’s carpeted floor.

He brushed against your lips then opened, you felt the sudden gush of air making you shiver. Taehyung’s middle finger made contact with your clit again, pressing and kneaded it more harshly. After a bit, you felt his fingertips prodding your entrance, wiggling itself inside slowly.

“Fuck–!” 

He chuckled at you, “My, my~ What a dirty little mouth you have, love” 

You let out a whimper at the intrusion, Taehyung prepping you for something bigger later. His long finger settled inside your heat, waiting for you to adjust. You nodded, cueing that he can move. Taehyung groaned at your tight heat while he pumps his finger slowly. He added another when he saw you adjusting and whining for more. His speeding fingers made noisy squelches that it embarrassed you at how wet you became, you grasped his hair and pulled in into a kiss.

Long fingers pumped in and out of you in a frenzy motion that it made your body rock with the rhythm. Your one hand went to his wrist, feeling the frantic movement of Taehyung. You looked at him and saw him looking so impatient and the subtly twitching of his cock inside his pants was so delicious.

“Taehyung, take me already” 

He groaned at that, he removed his fingers out of you. Your juice coating his hand and in a swift, he raised it to his mouth and sucked on his fingers, never breaking eye contact with you. He removed his fingers with a soft pop, he licked his lips. You were enthralled at the wet appendage, oh how much you want to feel it against your clit but that’s for next time. You need him to fuck you right now. 

“You taste so good, love. I’ll eat you up like my last meal–”

“Tae, just fuck me!” 

Your little outburst shocked the male but he smiled after a while, kissing your nose. The soft affection is definitely different from how his hard cock pressing at your pussy. You both moaned at the contact. Taehyung quickly got out of his pants and boxers, leaving him naked in front of you. 

He held his cock with one of his hand and positioned it to your entrance, he looked at you through his lashes with small uncertainly. 

“You ready?” 

“Yes” 

You let out a deep breath, waiting for Taehyung to move. Taehyung entered your heat, hissing at the tightness. He laid his forehead against your collarbones, eye tightly shut, relishing at the feeling. The slow entry of his cock was painfully pleasurable, the burn of the stretch made it addicting.

You felt really good, a soft squelch echoed as Taehyung entered you and the tight grip of your pussy to his dick was too much. He groaned in surprise when you clenched down on him. His eyes opened widely at that, not expecting it. 

“Move, Tae…” 

He nodded against your neck, kissing the closest skin. Taehyung slowly pulled out half-way then slammed back at you with a firm pump. 

“Fuck…” 

“Mhmm”

His cock was hot and throbbing against your walls. As he fucked you, the wet sounds of your pussy swallowing him back in eagerly reached his ears. He groaned, the fact you got so wet for him made him go even harder. He leaned down and took one of your nipples into his mouth, rolling it with his skilled tongue, making you gasp at the added pleasure. Your breasts bounced in time with his thrusts, Taehyung watching you, mesmerized, but his thrust never flailing. He then angled his thrust, hitting your soft spot making you cry out, your back arched at the burst of pleasure. Taehyung chuckled against your wet skin.

Your walls clenched around his cock, the pleasure too much for you. He grunted, he doubled his speed and began to fuck you roughly.

The blunt tip of his cock hitting your g-spot every hard thrust he made your pussy fluttered around him in anticipation. 

“T-Taehyung…” You whimpered out, your hips arching to meet his hard thrust, eye-rolling back at the white pleasure he offered. He then reached between your thighs and found your clit with his thumb. The bud was hard and swollen, making it easier to roll with his fingers. The way his long fingers toyed with the bundle of nerves, his thumb stroking it back and forth, has you hurtling over the edge.

“A-ah. Ah! Tae-Taehyung,” you choked out, his name falling from your lips over and over again like a mantra. Suddenly, you gush around him, your cum coating his cock. Clenching tightly against him and the gush of wetness was enough to send Taehyung to his own orgasm.

“(Y/N)–!” He moaned out, eyes shut as his eyebrows furrowed at the pleasure raking his body, making his body twitch involuntarily. He kissed you, lips smacking loudly against yours.

Fingers fondled roughly at your clit as his thrust became sloppy, letting you ride your orgasm along with his. His shaft pulses inside you before you feel him shoot rope after rope of white cum into you. A soft sigh of pleasure leaves your lips, his warmth filling you up from the inside as he coats your walls white with his cum. 

Taehyung let his body rest against you, you smiled tiredly at that. Your soft hands caressing his hair and back, feeling him still shiver at the aftereffect of his orgasm. 

You looked at him, pulling his face towards you to let him face you. You looked at his flustered face, sweat coated his hair and forehead slightly.

“You are trembling… Are you okay?” 

Taehyung kissed your hand that was close to his lips, smiling against your skin. His big brown eyes staring deeply at your (e/c) ones.

“I am more than okay… I love you, (Y/N)” 

You smiled shyly at him, bringing him closer to kiss him softly. He smiled into the kiss, his own hand caressing your face. You hugged him close to you, fearing the time where they will take him away from you but for now, he is here. Taehyung’s with you.

Inside your suite room, Jungkook entered inside and looked for you. He scowled at the empty room, looking at the moved divan with suspicion. 

He walked towards the wardrobe where the safe is, his tall figure gliding confidently across the room. Jungkook glared at the open safe. He walked closer when he saw a piece of paper on top of the velvet black box. He got the paper out and stared at it with fury bubbling inside of him. He gripped it tightly, crumpling it a bit. 

The drawing of you mocked him and your little letter sends him hurling to the edge, 

Darling, now you can keep us both locked up in your safe.

-(Y/n) 

Jungkook crumpled the note then moved to the drawing, hands taking it as if to rip it in half, with a vice grip on the paper. He stopped himself though, looking at the drawing. He smirked evilly, looking straight at your realistically drawn eyes. 

“No no. I have a much better idea.”

You two got dressed after calming your wildly beating hearts and resting your tired bodies. Taehyung kissed your cheek, helping you button your dress up. You giggled at the affection as you buttoned the last one and nudged him to the door, the male opening it and went out. Taehyung faced you, offering his hand with a small bow with a smile. 

You smiled, grabbing his hand and went out of the car with his help, “Thank you, good sir, ~” 

Taehyung bowed his head a bit with his charming boxy smile, closing the car door behind you, “Anything for the pretty lady~”

The two of you laughed at your antics then Taehyung held your hand with a comforting grip, guiding you two out of the place still giggling under your breaths. People and workers watched the couple with raised brows and a small disapproving frown at their actions, blatantly showing affection in public.

Taehyung stopped when you two reached the deck, moving closer to you with small chuckles escaping him. His nose bumping against yours lovingly, his smile warm and contented. You returned his smile, arms wrapping around his torso. You two swayed to the unheard music, basking in the warmth of your two bodies offered. 

You and Taehyung stood in the corner of the deck in each other’s arms. Breaths of clouds around you in the now freezing air, but neither of you even feel the cold, too caught up in each other’s loving eyes. 

“Once this ship docks, I’m running away with you” You whispered against his lips.

Taehyung smiled playfully, “Are you sure? It might just be your adrenaline talking” He teased. You nudged him a bit, his playful smile turning softer.

“I know. It doesn’t make any sense. But that’s why I trust it.” You replied, smiling up at him. 

“Then we’ll run away, far from anyone you know. We’ll live in a small house. Just the two of us and that will be our new beginning” Taehyung muttered then pressed both of your lips together. You smiled through the kiss, hand going up to his hair to deepen the kiss. You two kissed each other with passion, ignoring your surroundings and focused on each other. 

In the crow’s nest above you two, a male saw you two. He nudged his co-worker with a small smirk. 

“Hey Cor, would you look at that” 

The other male looked at where the other was looking and scoffed, rubbing his hands together for warmth, “They’re bloody warmer than we are that’s for sure”

“Well if that’s what it takes for us two to get warm, I’d rather not, you’re one ugly bugger” 

The two laughed at that, but then the former’s expression fell. Glancing forward again, he does a double-take. The color draining out of his face. In about 500 yards away, a massive iceberg right in their path.

He reaches past the other male and rings the lookout bell three times, then grabbed the telephone, calling the bridge. He waits precious seconds for it to be picked up, never taking his eyes off the black mass ahead, terrified. 

“Pick up, you bastard!” 

The phone was then picked up and the male explained everything. It was there where everything went to shit.

Workers dashed through the halls in frenzied motion, the urgency of the moment thickening the air. In the steerage, Jimin walked out, looking at what’s the commotion was all about. He yelped when he saw dozens of rats running towards him. He jumped out the way and watched in surprise as it runs past him to the corridor. 

In the stateroom where Yoongi was sleeping, he rolls over his bunk bed and drops into cold water. 

“What the fuck-!” He shouted angrily, feeling the cold water sip into his thin clothes but then stopped, looking at the ground where he sat. 3 feet of ice-cold water flood into his room and was steadily rising up. 

He pulls the door open and stepped out into the corridor, which was also flooded. Jimin was running toward him, yelling something in Busan dialect. 

“What the hell is happening, Jimin?” 

“I don’t know! The portmen are in a rush outside and there were rats running out of here!” 

Yoongi groaned at that and told Jimin to alert everyone. The two started pounding on doors, getting everybody up and out. The alarm spreads in several languages. After getting everyone up, Yoongi and Jimin were in a crowd of steerage men clogging the corridors, heading aft away from the flooding. Many of them have grabbed suitcases and duffel bags, some of which are soaked.

“If this is the direction the rats were runnin’, it’s good enough for me,” Yoongi muttered, Jimin shaking his head at his words.

In the forward deck, you and Taehyung looked at the dark. Leaning to the railing, gazing at the large iceberg. The red-haired male noticed your distress and grabbed your shoulder, pulling you close to him.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay. It looks nothing to me”

You looked at Taehyung, a frown playing on your lips. “Has it damaged the ship?…” You asked, remembering the limited lifeboats in worry.

Taehyung smiled reassuringly at you, “It didn’t seem like much of a bump. I’m sure we’re okay.” 

You nodded, wanting to believe Taehyung’s words but the anxious feeling was getting to you.

Inside the B-deck, Ismay, dressed in pajamas under the topcoat, hurried down the corridor, headed for the bridge. An officious steward came along the other direction, getting the few concerned passengers back into their rooms.

“There’s no cause for alarm. Please, go back to your rooms.” He said but was stopped in his tracks by Jungkook and Lovejoy.

“Please, sir. There’s no emergency–” 

Jungkook scoffed at that, “Of course there is! I have been robbed, call the Masters at Arms.” 

The steward stopped and stared at Jungkook, shocked at the news. Jungkook glared at him, “Now you moron!” 

“Y-Yes, sir!” 

You and Taehyung came up the steps from the well deck, which were right next to the three men. They stare as the couple climbs over the locked gate.

A moment later Captain Smith rounds the corner, followed by Andrews and Carpenter Hutchinson. They have come down from the bridge by the outside stairs. The three men, their faces grim, crush right past Taehyung and you. Andrews barely glances at you.

“Can you shore up?” 

“Not unless the pumps get ahead.” 

The inspection party then goes down the stairs to the well deck. Taehyung looked at you with a small frown, “It’s bad…” 

You looked at Taehyung with alarm, “We have to tell Mother and Jungkook”

The male sighed, “Now it’s worse…”

You smiled sadly, “Come with me? You jump, I jump, right?”

Taehyung smiled back at you, he couldn’t say no to his girl, “Right”

The two of you then run through the door, going inside the ship. When you two cross the foyer, entering the corridor. Lovejoy is already there waiting for you in the hall as you two approach the room.

Lovejoy looked up from his pocket watch, nodding a greeting to you and ignoring Taehyung, “We have been waiting for you, miss”

He let the two of you walk ahead of him, and from just behind Taehyung he walked. He smoothly slips the diamond necklace into the pocket of Taehyung’s overcoat, expression never changing.

Inside your and Jungkook’s suite, you two saw him and your mother along with the Masters at Arms and two other stewards. Your eyebrows furrowed at their presence but shook it off, wanting to tell them the news about the ship. You cleared your throat, “Something terrible has happened”

Jungkook nodded, a glare playing in his handsome face, “Yes, two things dear to me have disappeared this evening. Now that one is back” He stopped for a moment to look at your directly at your eyes then scowled at Taehyung who’s beside you.

“I have a pretty good idea where to find the other.” Jungkook nodded to the Master at Arms, looking at Taehyung.

“Search him” 

The Masters at Arms gone to Taehyung with a hard glare, remembering him from the incident a couple of days ago. “Coat off, mate.”

 Lovejoy who was still behind Taehyung pulled on his coat roughly. The red-haired male scoffed at that and shrugged his coat off, reluctantly. The Masters at Arms then begun patting him down. Taehyung glared back at the young aristocrat who sat in the divan. 

“This is bullshit” 

You watched the scene with shock then turned to Jungkook who watched it with a stone-cold face, “Jungkook, you can’t be serious! We have something bigger happening and this–”

“Is this it?” The man cut you off, showing your diamond necklace to everyone in the room. You gaped at the sight in disbelief. Taehyung looked at it, shocked, then shook his head.

Jungkook smirked and nodded, standing up, “Yes, that’s it,” he said as he went to you. 

The bulky male turned to Taehyung, “Now don’t make a fuss” and started to cuff him. 

Taehyung struggled and looked at you with wide eyes, “No! (Y/n)! Don’t you believe it! It’s not true!”

You were silent for a moment but then you looked at Jungkook, who looked down at you as if you were a fragile porcelain doll, “He-he couldn’t have” You said uncertainly.

“Of course he could. Easy enough for a professional. He memorized the combination when you opened the safe.” Jungkook explained, tucking a stray hair behind your ear.

“But I was with him the whole time.”

Jungkook gripped your face with a cold and hard glare and said lowly for her to only hear, “Maybe he did it while you were putting your clothes back on.”

Taehyung struggled and looked at you with desperation, “They put it in my pocket, (Y/n)!”

Lovejoy scoffed and looked at the tag of the coat, “It’s not even your coat. Property of A.L Reyson” He read and gave the coat to the Masters at Arms. There is a label inside the collar with the owner’s name. 

“This was reported stolen today”

Taehyung looked at him then at you with anguish, “I was going to return it! (Y/n)–!” 

You looked away from Taehyung, feeling betrayed, hurt, and confused. You moved away from him and closer to Jungkook. Taehyung shook his head, frowning at your action. He started shouting for you as Lovejoy and the Master at Arms drag him out into the hall. You can’t look him in the eye.

“(Y/n)! Don’t listen to them! I didn’t do it! You know I didn’t do it! You know it!”

You were devastated, hearing his voice made you want to believe Taehyung but the evidence being displayed right in front of you was too much. Your mother walked towards you, laying a hand on your shoulder. You cried, hiding your face in your hands. Jungkook placed a warm hand on the small of your back, making you flinch a bit.

“It’s a good thing Jungkook was quick on his feet or you’ll just fall even more for that rat’s tricks, (Y/n)” 

For a couple of moments, you have been sat down, tired from all the crying and happening altogether. From the inside, you could still hear all the shouting and fumbling outside. (M/n) looked at you then to Jungkook as she stood up.

“I better go get dressed. Jungkook look after her for me.” With that, your mother went out of the room. Jungkook’s grip on you tightened, you winced. He suddenly stood up, facing you as you looked up at him in confusion. A sudden force made you look to the side, the sharp sting on your cheek burned. Jungkook has slapped you. You cradled your cheek and looked at him, he was fuming. Eyes colder than anything you saw. 

“If you haven’t been such a little slut, this wouldn’t have happened! If you just honored me–!” He cut himself off then gripped your shoulders tightly.

“This is all your fault, (Y/n).” 

Before Jungkook could continue, there was a loud knock on the door and an urgent voice. The door opened and their steward puts his head in, looking at Jungkook.

“Sir, I’ve been told to ask you to please put on your lifebelt, and come up to the boat deck.”

Jungkook glowered at him, “Get out. We’re busy.”

The steward persisted though, coming in to get the lifebelts down from the top of a dresser.

“I’m sorry about the inconvenience, Mr. Jeon, but it’s Captain’s orders. Please dress warmly, it’s quite cold tonight.”

He then turned to you and gave you the lifebelt, “Not to worry miss, I’m sure it’s just a precaution.” The steward said 

Jungkook snatched the other lifebelt from him and scoffed, “This is ridiculous.”

After it, Jungkook’s entourage comes up to the A-deck foyer. He was carrying the lifebelts, almost as an afterthought. You were dazed like a sleepwalker, following Jungkook.

“It’s just the God damned English doing everything by the book.” The young Jeon hissed out, looking around. (M/n) looked at him and scolded, “No need for such language, Mr.Jeon.” then turned to Trudy, “Go back and turn the heater on in my room, so it won’t be too cold when we get back.”

The maid nodded and went back to the room.  Andrews entered, looking around the magnificent room, which he knows was doomed. You, standing nearby, saw his heartbroken expression. You walked over to him and Jungkook goes after you, an untrusting look on his face. 

“I saw the iceberg, Mr. Andrews. And I see it in your eyes. Please tell me the truth.” You said to the older man. Andrews looked at you with such sad eyes.

“The ship will sink.” 

Your eyebrows furrowed, the truth still hard to swallow even if you knew it.

“You’re certain?”

“Yes. In an hour or so… all this… will be at the bottom of the Atlantic.”

“My God.” Now it is Jungkook’s turn to look stunned. The Titanic? Sinking?

“Please tell only who you must, I don’t want to be responsible for a panic. And get to a boat quickly. Don’t wait. You remember what I told you about the boats?” Andrews said, a small sad smile on his face

Yes, I understand. Thank you.”

Andrews goes off, moving among the passengers and urging them to put on their lifebelts and get to the boats. Jungkook grabbed your arm, pulling you to him. Now that he knows that the ship will sink, he became anxious. 

“Let’s go, (Y/n)”

On the side of the deck outside, the violinist raised his violin to play, looking at his fellow musicians.

“Number 26. Ready and–” The band has reassembled just outside the First Class Entrance, port side, near where the steward was calling for the boats to be loaded. They strike up a waltz, lively and elegant. The music wafts all over the ship.

Jungkook, you and your mother came out of the doors near the band and saw the stewards lowering the boats.

“Right! Start the loading. Women and children!” The appalling din of escaping steam abruptly cuts off, leaving a sudden unearthly silence in which his voice echoes.

“Ladies, please. Step into the boat.” He ushered.

Finally, one woman steps across the gap, into the boat, terrified of the drop to the water far below. One woman from the crowd scoffed at the action and spoke to the person beside her

“You watch. They’ll put us off in these silly little boats to freeze, and we’ll all be back on board by breakfast.”

“My brooch, I left my brooch. I must have it!” Your mother remembered, about to go inside.

She turns back to go to her room but Jungkook takes her by the arm, refusing to let her go. The firmness of his hold surprised her. 

“Stay here, (M/n)” Jungkook said

Your mother saw his expression and knows fear for the first time.

Lovejoy and the Master at Arms were handcuffing Taehyung to a 4-inch water pipe as a crewman rushed in anxiously and almost blurts to the Master at Arms–

“You’re wanted by the Purser, sir. Urgently.”

“Go on. I’ll keep an eye on him.” Lovejoy said and pulls a pearl-handled Colt .45 automatic from under his coat. The Master at Arms nods and tossed the handcuff key to Lovejoy, then exits with the crewman. Lovejoy flips the key in the air, catching it.

Taehyng sat, chained to the water pipe, next to the porthole. Lovejoy sits on the edge of a desk. He puts a .45 bullet on the desk and watches it roll across and fall off. He picks up the bullet.

“You know… I believe this ship may sink.” He said, walking closer to Taehyung. 

“I’ve been asked to give you this small token of our appreciation…” Then suddenly landed a hard punch on his stomach, knocking the wind out of Taehyung.

“Compliments from Mr. Jeon Jungkook.“ Lovejoy flips the handcuff key in the air, catching it and put it in his pocket. He exits the room leaving Taehyung gasping, handcuffed to the pipe.

The Lightoller was filling up the boat closest to Jungkook and you as you two watched the commotion.

“Women and children only! Sorry sir, no men yet.” This scared the people on the ship, muttering among themselves.

You watched the farewells taking place right in front of you as they step closer to the boat. Husbands saying goodbye to wives and children. Lovers and friends parted. Nearby Molly was getting a reluctant woman to board the boat.

“Come on, you heard the man. Get in the boat, sister.” 

“Will the lifeboats be seated according to class? I hope they’re not too crowded-“ (M/n) started 

“Oh Mother, shut up!” (M/n) freezes at your words, looking at you with surprise.

“Don’t you understand? The water is freezing and there aren’t enough boats… not enough by half. Half the people on this ship are going to die.” You continued, glaring at her.

Jungkook rolled his eyes at your outburst, “Not the better half anyway.”

His words struck you like lightning. Taehyung was in the third class, Jimin and Yoongi too. They don’t stand a chance. You glared at Jungkook and spat out, “You unimaginable bastard.“

“Come on, (M/n), get in the boat. These are the first-class seats right up here.” Molly said, practically hands her over to Lightoller, then looks around for some other women who might need a push. She then turned to you, “Come on, (Y/n). You’re next, darlin’.” 

You looked at Molly then to your mother but all that occupied your mind was Taehyung. You shook your head making your mother stand up in disbelief and anxiousness.

“(Y/n), get in the boat this instant!” (M/n) shouted, her eyes screaming of fear in what you will do next. She can’t lose you too.

“Goodbye, mother.” You said running back. Jungkook grabbed your arm but you pulled free and walks away through the crowd. Jungkook though catches up to you and grabbing you again, roughly.

“Where are you going? To him? Is that it? To be a whore to that gutter rat?” Jungkook mocked, a scowl appearing on his face.

You stood your ground, glaring back at him, “I’d rather be his whore than your wife.” 

He clenched his jaw and squeezed your arm viciously, pulling you back toward the lifeboat. But you pulled out a hairpin and jabs his hand with it. he lets go with a curse and you run into the crowd. 

“Lower away!” The Lightoller said

“(Y/n)! (Y/N)!” (M/n) shouted, seeing you run back inside the ship.

“Stuff a sock in it, would ya, (M/n). She’ll be along.” Molly reassured, pulling her back to sit down.

You run through the clusters of people, wanting to lose Jungkook. You looked back and a furious Jungkook coming after you, your eyes widened. You ran breathlessly up to two proper looking men.

“That man tried to take advantage of me in the crowd!” You said, pointing to Jungkook.

Appalled, they turn to see Jungkook running toward them. You ran again as the two men grab Jungkook, restraining him. You run through the First Class entrance.

When Jungkook broke free, he runs after you again. He reached the entrance but runs into a knot of people coming out. He pushes rudely through them. 

Jungkook got in, and down to the landing, pushing past the gentlemen and ladies who are filling up the stairs. He scans the A-deck foyer but you were already gone.

Taehyung pulled on the pipe with all his strength but it was not budging. He hears a gurgling sound, he looked down and saw water pouring under the door, spreading rapidly across the floor.

“Shit”

He tried to pull one hand out of the cuffs, working until the skin was raw… but to no good. 

“Help!! Somebody!! Can anybody hear me?!” He shouted, looking at the closed door with a scowl. 

“This is going to be bad.” He muttered to himself.

The corridor outside was already deserted. Flooded a couple of inches deep. Taehyung’s voice comes faintly through the door, but there was no one to hear it.

In the first-class corridor, Andrews was opening stateroom doors, checking if the people are out.

“Anyone in here?” He called out then you appeared, disheveled.

“Thank God, Mr. Andrews! Where would the Master at Arms take someone under arrest?!”

The older male looked at you like you were crazy and by the looks of it, it was no where far from it.

“What? You have to get to a boat right away!” 

“No! I’ll do this with or without your help, sir. But without will take longer.” You said, looking at him hopefully. The older man sighed, beat.

“Take the elevator to the very bottom, go left, down the crewman’s passage, then make a right.”

“Bottom, left, right. I have it.” You said, running off

“Hurry, (Y/n)!”

You run up as the last Elevator Operator who was closing up his lift to leave. The man saw you rush towards him and said, “Sorry, miss, lifts are closed–”

Without thinking, you grabbed his collar and shoved him inside. “I’m through with being polite, goddamnit!! Now take me down!!”

The operator nodded, scared, and quickly closed the gates and started the lift.

Through the wrought-iron door of the elevator car, you can see the decks going past. The lift slows. Suddenly ice-cold water is swirling around your legs. You screamed in surprise and so does the operator.

The car has landed in a foot of freezing water, shocking the hell out of you. You clawed the door open and splashes out, hiking up your floor-length skirt so you can move. The lift goes back up, behind you, as you look around.

“Left, crew passage” You muttered to yourself. Spotting it and you slogged down the flooded corridor. The place is understandably deserted. You were on your own.

“Right, right… right.”  You turned into a cross-corridor, splashing down the hall. A row of doors on each side.

“Taehyung?! Where are you! Taehyung!” 

Taehyung who was hopelessly pulling on the pipe again, straining until he turns red. He collapses back on the bench. realizing he was screwed but then he hears you through the door.

“(Y/n)?… (Y/N)!! I’m here!” 

You heard his voice behind you. As you spin and run back, locating the right door, then pushing it open, creating a small wave. You splashed over Taehyung and wrapping your arms around him.

“Taehyung! Taehyung, I’m so sorry!”

 Taehyung nuzzled his face on top of your crown, sighing in relief. He then moved a bit away from you and looked at you, “That Lovejoy guy put it in my pocket”

“I know.. I know, Tae”

He smiled at you but then the gurgle of water snapped him out of it. Looking at the rising water then back at you, “See if you can find a key for these. Try those drawers. It’s a little brass one.”

You kissed his face and hugged him again, then started to go through the desk. Looking around the desks and drawers.

“So… how did you find out I didn’t do it?”

“I didn’t. I just realized that I already knew it.”

You two shared a look, then you went back to ransacking the room, searching drawers and cupboards. Taehyung sees movement out the porthole and looks out, a lifeboat hits the surface of the water, seen from below.

You stopped trashing the room, and stood there, breathing hard. Looking at Taehyung and said, “There’s no key”

They look around at the water, now almost two feet deep. Taehyung has pulled his feet up onto the bench then looked back at you, “Go find help”

You nodded, “I’ll be right back!”

“I’ll wait here…” Taehyung said, looking at the swirling water then at the cuffs. You run out, looking back at him once from the doorway, then splashes away, water hindering your movements. 

You splash down the hall to a stairwell going up to the next deck. Climbing the stairs, your long skirt leaving a trail like a giant snail. The weight of it was really slowing you down. You ripped at the buttons and shimmied quickly out of the thing. You bound up the stairs in your stockings and knee-length slip, to find yourself in a long corridor, part of the labyrinth of steerage hallways forward. You were alone here. A long groan of stressing metal echoes along the hall as the ship continues to settle. You run down the hall, unimpeded now.

“Hello?! Somebody!” 

You turned into the corner and runs along another corridor in a daze. The hall slopes down into water which, shimmering, reflecting the light. The margin of the water creeps toward you. A young man appeared, running through the water, sending up geysers of spray. He pelts past you without slowing, his eyes crazed…

“Please help me! We need help!”

He doesn’t look back. It is like a bad dream. The lights flickered and gone out, leaving utter darkness. A beat. Then they come back on. You find yourself hyperventilating. That one moment of blackness was the most terrifying of your life.

A steward then runs around the nearest corner, his arms full of lifebelts. He was upset to see someone still in his section. He grabs you forcefully by the arm, pulling you with him like a wayward child.

“Come on, then, let’s get you topside, miss.” 

“Wait! I need your help! There’s–!”

“No need for panic, miss. Come along!”

“No! We’re going the wrong way!”

He wasn’t listening to you and he didn’t let his grip falter with every step. You grind your teeth in anger. You shouted in his ear making him look at you and when he turned around you socked him straight in his nose. Shocked, he lets you go and staggered back, cradling his bleeding nose.

He glared at you, “Oh to hell with you!” 

“See you there, buster!”

You spat after him as he runs away, holding his nose. You spat at him, just like how Taehyung taught you.

You turned around, saw a glass case with a fire-ax in it. You broke the glass with a battered suitcase which is lying discarded nearby and seizes the ax, running back the way Taehyung is. At the stairwell, you looked down and gasped. The water rose and flooded the bottom five steps already. You went down and had to crouch to look to the corridor to the room where Taehyung was trapped.

You plunged into the water without hesitation, the water up to your waist… and powered forward, holding the ax above your head in two hands. You winced at the pain from the literally freezing water.

Taehyung has climbed up on the bench and was hugging the waterpipe. You waddled in, holding the ax above your head. Taehyung would’ve laughed at the sight of you but now was not the time. 

“Will this work?”

“One way to find out”

You two were both terrified but trying to keep panic at bay, he positioned the chain connecting the two cuffs, stretching it taut across the steel pipe. The chain is of course very short, and his exposed wrists are on either side of it.

“Try a couple practice swings.”

You heft the ax and thunks it into a wooden cabinet. Heaving as you pulled it off.

“Okay, now try hitting the same spot again,” Taehyung instructed. You nodded and swings hard. The blade thunked in four inches from the mark. Taehyung nodded and gestured you to the cuff.

“Okay, that’s enough practice”

He winced, bracing himself as you raised the ax. You had to hit a target about an inch wide with all the force you can muster, with his hands on either side. You gulped, looking at Taehyung with worry.

“You can do it, (Y/n). Hit it as hard as you can, I trust you.” Taehyung said, trying to sound calm. He closed his eyes and so does you as you swing down.

THUNK! 

You opened your eyes, gingerly and saw Taehyung smiling at you with two broken cuffs. You dropped the ax, your strength leaving you because of the terrifying moment.

“Nice work, there, Paul Bunyan. But next time let’s not close our eyes before hitting, yeah?” Taehyung teased with a smile. He climbed down into the water next to you. He can’t breathe for a second. 

“Shit! Excuse my French, love. But that’s cold!” Taehyung winced at the cold water. You sighed in relief then he grabbed your hand in his, “Let’s go”

You two wade out into the hall. You started toward the stairs going up, but Taehyung stopped you. There was only about a foot of the stairwell opening visible. “Too deep. We gotta find another way out.”

The widest passageway in the ship, it is used by crew and steerage alike and runs almost the length of the ship. Right now steerage passengers move along it like refugees, heading aft. The wooden doorframe splinters and the door bursts open under the force of Taehyung’s shoulder. Taehyung and you stumbled through, into the corridor. A steward, who was nearby herding people along, marches over.

“Hey, you! You know you have to pay for that! That’s–”

“Shut up!” You two yelled at him, running off.

Taehyung leads you past the dumbfounded steward. You two joined the steerage stragglers going aft. In places, the corridor was almost completely blocked by large families carrying all their luggage. A woman gave you a blanket, more for modesty than because you were blue-lipped and shivering.

“Here, lass, cover yourself.” 

Taehyung rubs your arms and trying to warm you up as you two walk along. The woman’s husband offers you a flask of whiskey.

“This will take the chill off.” He said as you took the flask and gulped down quickly. You then offered some to Taehyung who grinned down at you and follows suit.  Taehyung tried numbers of doors and iron gates along the way, finding them all locked, he cursed under his breath.

With Jungkook, he scanned the crowds for any sign of you. He grinds his teeth at that then looked at Lovejoy who rushed towards him through the aisle connecting the port and starboard sides of the boat deck.

“She’s not on the starboard side either,” Lovejoy informed.

“We’re running out of time. And this strutting martinet… And they’re not letting men in” Jungkook muttered, watching the Lightoller.

“The other side is letting men in, sir”

“Then that’s our play. But we’re still going to need some insurance. Come on” Jungkook said, going to the other side with Lovejoy following him.

 Below the deck, Jimin was with Helga and her family, waiting for the stewards to open the damn gate. Yoongi was also waiting on the stairs. After a while, Jimin heard Taehyung’s voice calling out.

“Jimin! Jiminie!” 

Jimin stood up and saw Taehyung with you running towards him. He met Taehyung halfway and embraced him like his brother.

“Where were you? I was worried sick!”

“Jimin we have to get out or we’ll be gurgling salt-water in a couple of minutes. Where’s Yoongi?”

Jimin pointed to the stairs and Taehyung saw him, pushing the iron-gates with a glare. The stewards went up to him and shouted, “Women and children only! No men!”

The terrified men who did not understand what they were saying pushed the gates. The stewards closed it, with a huff. 

“Lock it!” One ordered as they locked the iron-gate. Yoongi growled at them, “What the fuck are you doing, ya bastard! There are children down here! Let us up, so we can have a chance!”

But the crewmen are scared now. They have let the situation get out of hand, and now they have a mob. Yoongi gave up and pushes his way back through the crowd, going down the stairs. He rejoins Taehyung, you and Jimin.

“It’s hopeless that way.” Yoongi huffed, glaring at the direction he was at earlier.

“Well, whatever we’re goin’ to do, we better do it fast,” Taehyung said. Jimin turned to Helga and gestured to him and his group, hoping the young woman understands him

“Helga, come with me. I am lucky, I can get you out of here along with your family” He said but Helga shook her head, kissing him one last time she then moved back to her family. Jimin looked at her sorrowfully, “I’ll never forget you.”

He turns to Taehyung, who leads the way out of the crowd. Looking back, Jimin sees her face disappear into the crowd. He looked face forward again, focusing on getting out.

In the suite of Jungkook and you, Jungkook opens his safe and reaches inside. As Lovejoy watches, he pulls out two stacks of bills, still banded by bank wrappers. Then he takes out “Heart of the Ocean”, putting it in the pocket of his overcoat, and locks the safe.

“I make my own luck.” He muttered. Jungkook turned to Lovejoy who nodded at him and put his .45 revolver in his waistband, “So do I”.

Jungkook smirked at his loyal servant and nodded, putting his money in his pocket.

Taehyung, you, Jimin, and Yoongi were lost, searching for a way out. You four pushed past confused passengers… past a mother changing her baby’s diaper on top of an upturned steamer trunk… past a woman arguing heatedly with a man in Serbo-Croatian, a wailing child next to them… past a man kneeling to console a woman who is just sitting on the floor, sobbing… and past another man with an English/Arabic dictionary, trying to figure out what the signs mean, while his wife and children wait patiently.

You all came upon a narrow stairwell and gone up two decks before you were stopped by a small group pressed up against a steel gate. The steerage men are yelling at a scared steward.

“Go to the main stairwell, with everyone else. It’ll all get sorted out there.”

Taehyung watched the same scene and loses it, “ God damn it to Hell son of a bitch!!”

He grabs one end of a bench bolted to the floor on the landing. He started pulling on it, and Yoongi and Jimin pitched in until the bolts shear and it breaks free. You figured out what they are doing and cleared a path up the stairs between the waiting people.

“Move aside! Quickly!”

Taehyung and Yoongi run up the steps with the bench and rammed it into the gate with all their strength, it rips loose from its track and falls outward, narrowly missing the steward. Led by Taehyung, the crowd surges though. You stepped up to the cowering steward and says in your most imperious tone: 

“If you have any intention of keeping your pathetic job with the White Star Line, I suggest you escort these good people to the boat deck… now.” 

The scared steward nodded dumbly and motioned them to follow. You all burst out onto the boat deck from the crew stairs just aft of the third funnel. You looked at the empty davits.

“The boats are gone!”

You then see Colonel Namjoon escorting two scared women out of the room. You quickly run up to him, “Colonel! Are there any boats left?”

Namjoon looked at your bedraggled state with wide eyes and nodded, “Yes, miss… there are still a couple of boats all the way forward. This way, I’ll lead you!” 

Taehyung grabbed your hand as you all run out. Outside the band was still playing music on the side of the deck. They run by them with Yoongi looking at them weirdly, “Music to drown by. Now, I know I’m in the first-class.” He said sarcastically

The crowd is sparse, with most people still aft. Jungkook slips his hand out of the pocket of his overcoat and into the waist pocket of Murdoch’s greatcoat, leaving the stacks of bills there.

“Now, we have an understanding then?”

Murdoch nodded curtly, “As you’ve said”

Lovejoy then moved up to Jungkook and whispered to his ear, “I have found her. She’s just over the portside She is with him” 

Jungkook’s eyes widened and looked at Lovejoy then to Murdoch. The latter was looking around fakely, “Any more women and children? None?” He said and looked at Jungkook as if hinting that he can go to the boat now.

Jungkook looked at his boat longly. This was it. He can be saved. This was his moment of truth.

“Goddammit to hell! Come on!” He growled and walked away from the boats and to where you were. He and Lovejoy head for the port side, taking a short-cut through the bridge.

On the port side,  Lightoller is getting people into the boat. He keeps his pistol in his hand. Twenty feet below them the sea is pouring into the doors and windows of B deck staterooms. They can hear the roar of water cascading into the ship.

“Women and children! Only women and children! Step back, sir!” The Lightollet said, pushing the men away from the boat. Even with Taehyung’s arms wrapped around you, you were still shivering in the cold. Taehyung looked around the place, frowning at the porters. His eyes then met Yoongi’s and Jimin’s.

“You better check out the other side” 

Jimin frowned a bit but the two nodded. “Once this is over, let’s not ride any more ships, Taehyungie.”

Taehyung smiled a bit at Jimin as the two-run to the other side, leaving you and Taehyung alone with the other people.

You looked up from his arms and said with a frown, “I’m not going without you.”

Taehyung shook his head, “Get in the boat, (Y/n)”

“Yes, get in the boat, (Y/n).” The familiar voice of your fiance called out from behind you. You gasped and whipped around and saw Jungkook glaring at Taehyung with Lovejoy not far behind him. Jungkook’s eyes went to you and it widened at your appearance. You were there standing, shivering in your wet slip and stockings, a shocking display in 1912.

“My God, what happened to you. Here..”

Jungkook pulled you to him, removing his coat and draped it around you. Taehyung frowning at this but did not say anything.

You let him put his coat on you, the cold air was not something you welcomed right now. 

“Hurry, ladies! Step into the boat! Hurry!” The Lightoller shouted again.

“Go on. I’ll get the next one.” Taehyung said. You shook your head, looking at him

“No! Not without you!” 

You didn’t even care that Jungkook was there. He watched you two with clenched jaw, fury, and jealousy swirling inside him. Jungkook leaned down to you and whispered lowly so you three were the only one can hear it.

“There are boats on the other side that are allowing men in. Taehyung and I can get off safely. Both of us.”

Taehyung smiled reassuringly at you and nodded towards Jungkook, “See, I’ll be alright. Now get in the boat, we have our own boat to get to”

“Get in. Hurry, it’s almost full” Jungkook ushered you, looking at the boat.

The Lightollet grabbed your arm and pulled you in the boat. You reached out to Taehyung, your fingers brushing against his for a second then you found yourself stepping inside the boat. Everything was blurry and time felt too fast. 

“Lower away!” 

The two men watched you as the boat descended. You looked up at them with tears streaks in your cheeks.

“You’re a good liar” Jungkook whispered lowly at Taehyung

“Not as good as you” Taehyung replied, still looking at you. 

Jungkook looked at Taehyung from the corner of his eyes then back at you, “I always win, Taehyung. One way or another.” Then he fully turned to him with a smile. 

“Pity I didn’t keep that drawing. It’s going to be worth a lot more by morning.” Jungkook added, sneering at him and went away. 

Taehyung didn’t reply, still looking at you. He didn’t want to waste any second looking away from you. This was his last sight of you, he wouldn’t waste it.  The ropes going through the pulleys as the seamen started to lower. All sound going away. Lightoller giving orders, his lips moving, but you only heard the blood pounding in your ears… this cannot be happening… a rocket burst above in slow-motion, outlining Taehyung in a halo of light making him look painfully ethereal… Your hair was blowing with the wind as you gaze up at him, descending away from him… you saw his hand trembling, the tears at the corners of his eyes as he gazed at you with such sadness, and you just couldn’t. 

Your tears rolled down your cheeks, you continued to look at him. Then you suddenly lunges for the railing close to you, getting out of the boat. The people screamed at you, scared and surprised at your actions. You scrambled to go over the railing as the boat you were just in descended without you. You were back in the Titanic.

“No, (Y/N)! No!!” Taehyung shouted and quickly run towards the A-deck you landed. Jungkook also saw you jump and he was absolutely furious and in disbelief. You were so willing to die for this man, that gutter scum. He was overwhelmed with rage, all thought going away except for that one fact.

Taehyung runs quickly as possible to the A-deck, banging through the doors and sprints to the stairs. He saw you, also running towards him.

You two met at the bottom of the stairs as you collided into a tight embrace. Taehyung pulled away, grabbing your face with his hands, looking at you with tears in his eyes. He kissed you repeatedly, scolding you at the same time.

“Why did you do that, (Y/n)? You’re so stupid! You’re so stupid…” Taehyung kissed you, you felt the desperation and tears in his kiss. You looked at him, breaking the kiss. You smiled through your tears. 

“You jump, I jump, right?” 

Taehyung leaned his forehead on yours, the adrenaline still kicking in his body, “Right.” 

Jungkook came in and runs to the railing. Looking down, he sees you two locked in an embrace. Lovejoy comes up behind Jungkook and puts a restraining hand on him, but he whips around, grabbing the pistol from Lovejoy’s waistband in one swift move.

He ran along the rail and down the stairs. As he reaches the landing above them he raised the gun. Screaming in rage, he fired the gun.

The carved cherub at the foot of the center railing exploded. Taehyung pulled you towards the stairs going down to the next deck. He fires again, running down the steps toward them. A bullet blows a divet out of the oak paneling just behind Taehyung’s head as he pulls you down the next flight of stairs.

Jungkook steps on the skittering head of the cherub statue and tripped, going down the floor with the gun clatters across the marble floor. He gets up, and reeling drunkenly goes over to retrieve it.

The bottom of the grand staircase is flooded several feet deep. you and Taehyung came down the stairs two at a time and run straight into the water, fording across the room to where the floor slopes up until you two reach dry footing at the entrance to the dining saloon.

Jungkook reels down the stairs in time to see Taehyung and his fiance splashing through the water toward the dining saloon. He fires twice. Big gouts of spray near them, but he’s not a great shot.

The water boils up around his feet and he retreats up the stairs a couple of steps. Around him the woodward groans and creaks. He whipped his head to where you two were running off, “Fine! Enjoy your time together while you can!”

Lovejoy arrives and stopped beside Jungkook. The latter then remembered something and laughed angrily. Lovejoy watched him with surprise, “What’s so funny?”

Jungkook sneered and looked at him, “I put the diamond in my coat. And I put the coat on her!”

Then he got an idea, he looked at Lovejoy with a sick look on his face, he grinned, “If you can get it, I’ll give it to you”

Jungkook handed the pistol back to Lovejoy and went back upstairs. Lovejoy thought about it for a  moment then dove into the water. Water up to his waist.

Lovejoy moves among the tables and ornate columns, searching… listening… his eyes tracking rapidly. It was a sea of tables, and they could be anywhere. A silver serving trolley rolls downhill, bumping into tables and pillars.

He glances behind him. The water is following him into the room, advancing in a hundred-foot wide tide. The reception room is now a roiling lake, and the grand staircase is submerged past the first landing. Monstrous groans echo through the ship.

The two of you crouched behind a table, somewhere in the middle. You see the water advancing toward you two, swirling over the floor. The two of you crawled ahead of it to the next row of tables.

Taehyung looked at you and whispered, “Stay here” He moves off as Lovejoy moves over one row and looks along with the tables. Nothing.

A cart rolls toward you and it hits a table and the stacks of dishes toppled out, exploding across the floor and showering you. You scrambled out of the way and Lovejoy spins, seeing you. He moves rapidly toward you, keeping the gun aimed– but Taehyung tackled him from the side, they slammed into each other then towards the table. Crashing over it and toppling to the floor, landing in the water. 

Taehyung and Lovejoy grappled in the icy water with Taehyung ramming his knee down on Lovejoy’s hand, breaking his grip on the pistol, and kicks it away. Lovejoy scrambles up and lunges at him, but Taehyung punched him in the gut, right in the solar plexus, causing the taller man to double over.

“Compliments from the Daegu Kims.” He said, panting then slammed Lovejoy to the ornate column, making him slump into it, stunned.

“Let’s go!” Taehyung grabbed your hand and you two run off. You two run through the galley and you spot the stairs. You started to go up but Taehyung grabbed your hand and leads you down.

You two crouch together on the landing as Lovejoy runs to the stairs. Assuming you have gone up (who wouldn’t?), he climbs up two at a time.

You two waited for the footstep to disappear. A long creaking groan. Then you hear it, a crying child. Below you, then you two gone down a few steps to look along the next deck.

The corridor is was awash, about a foot deep. Standing against the wall, about 50 feet away from you was a little boy, about 3. The water swirls around his legs and he was wailing. 

“We can’t just leave him,” You said and Taehyung nodded. He scooped up the kid and they run back to the stairs but there was a torrent of water coming out, pouring down the stairs rapidly. It was too powerful for them to go against.

“Come on” Taehyung gestured to you.

Charging to the other way down the flooding corridor, they blast up the spray with each footstep. At the end of the hall are heavy double doors. As Taehyung approached them he sees water spraying through the gap between the doors right up to the ceiling. The doors groan and start to crack under the tons of pressure.

“Back! Go back!” He said, alarmed. You pivot and go to where you came from, taking a turn to the cross-corridor. You saw a man coming the other way. He sees the boy in Taehyung’s arms and cries out, grabbing him away from Taehyung. He started cursing him in Russian. He then runs to the side with the boy–

“Wait! No, not that way! Come back!” You shouted after them. The double doors blasted open, a wall of water thunders into the corridor. The father and child disappear instantly.

You two run as a wave blasts around the corner, foaming from floor to ceiling, racing towards you. It gains on you two like a locomotive. The two of you made it to a stairway going up. You two go up the stairs, the white water catching up to them. On top of the stairs was the iron-gate, Taehyung slammed against it. It was locked.

A terrified steward standing guard on the landing above turns to run at the sight of the water thundering up the stairs.

“Wait! Please help us! Unlock the gate!” Taehyung called out but the stewards ignored him, running up the stairs.

The water wells up around you and Taehyung, pouring through the gate and slamming you two against it. In seconds it is up to your waist.

“Please! Help us!” You called out, stopping the steward on his tracks and looked back at you two, the water pouring in rapidly.

“Fuckin’ hell” He muttered and raced back down. He pulls a key ring from his belt and struggled to unlock the padlock as the water fountains up around them. The lights shorted out and the place was plunged into darkness. The water rose over the lock and the steward was doing it by felling through it.

“Come on! Come on!” Taehyung shouted, looking behind them. Suddenly the gate swings open and they were being pushed through by the force of the water. You made it to stairs on the other side of the landing and followed the steward up to the next deck. You two run-up to the seemingly neverending stairs.

Murdoch, at the other side of the ship, was no longer in control. The crowd was threatening to rush the boat. They push and jostle, yelling and shouting at the officers. The pressure from behind pushes them forward, and one guy falls off the edge of the deck into the water less than ten feet below.

“Give us a chance to live, you fucking bastards!” Yoongi shouted but Murdoch fired his Webley twice in the air, then points it at the crowd.

“Stand back! I’ll shoot any man who tries to get past me!” He shouted back, looking at the crowd. Jungkook sneered at the man and stepped towards him, “We had a damn deal!”

Murdoch pushes him and points his gun to Jungkook and shoved his other hand in his pocket, throwing Jungkook’s money towards him, “Keep your damn money! Get back!”

The man behind Yoongi pushed him, shoving him forward. Muldoch saw the movement and shoot blindly, hitting Yoongi right in his chest. He collapsed, Jimin grabbing him before he can hit the ground. Jimin looked at Muldoch with disbelief and a hard glare, tears threatening to spill. 

“You fucking bastard! How could you!” Jimin yelled as he hugged Yoongi close to his chest. The younger man looked at him, his tears hitting Yoongi’s cheek. Jimin watched as Yoongi’s life slowly fade away from his eyes.

“Yoongi… Yoongi-hyung…” Jimin called out, his sobs escaping him. Yoongi used his last strength and laugh lowly, “You finally called me hyung, you little brat…”

Jimin watched as his friend slowly dies in his arms, the latter’s blood staining his skin. Jimin tried to deny reality and shook Yoongi softly, “Hyung?… Please no… You have to wake up, you shouldn’t sleep here. We have to go… I’m going to be a millionaire and I’ll get you the fanciest bedroom… s-so please wake up.”

But Yoongi didn’t answer him.

Jungkook and Muldoch watched the scene in horror as the latter turned to his men and saluted smartly. With a swift press, he shot himself in the head. He drops like a puppet that it’s strings got cut and topples over the edge of the boat deck into the water only a few feet below. Jungkook stared at nothing in horror because the man was just a couple of feet across him, his blood splattered across the air, the smell filling him.

Jungkook’s eyes looked down at the water, fear, and dread filling him as he watched Muldoch’s body bobbing in the dark water. The crew then rushes the last few women to the boat, trying to push past the reality to the back of their brains.

“Any more women or children?” 

Jungkook snapped out of it and looked around. He then saw a lost young girl who was crying in the middle of the chaos. He ground his teeth and scooped her up in his arms. 

“Here’s a child! I’ve got a child! Please I’m all she has in this world” Jungkook said to the steward and he nodded, pushing them boat onto the boat. He sat down with the child in his arms. Jungkook looked at Jimin and Yoongi still on the floor, ‘too bad, you have such terrible luck’

Thomas Andrews stood in front of the fireplace, staring at the large painting above the mantle. The fire was still lit in the fireplace.

The room was empty except for Andrews. Behind him, You and Taehyung run into the room, out of breath and soaked. They run through, toward the aft revolving door… then you recognized him. You saw that his lifebelt was off, lying on a table.

“Mr. Andrews? Won’t you even make a try for it?” You asked softly. A lone tear slips to his cheek. The older man smiled bitterly, “I’m sorry I didn’t build a stronger ship for you, young (Y/n)”

“It’s going fast. We have to go” Taehyung whispered to you and you nodded. Andrews then gave you his lifebelt and smiled.

“Good luck to you, (Y/n)” You hugged him and said, “And to you too, Mr. Andrews”

Taehyung pulled you away and you two went out of the room through the revolving door. You two run out and into a dense crowd. Taehyung pushed his way to the rail and looked at the state of the ship. The bridge was underwater and there is chaos on deck. The red-haired male helped you put your lifebelt on. People stream around you, shouting and pushing.

“Okay… we keep moving. We have to stay on the ship as long as possible.” Taehyung said and dragged you with him after securing you into the lifebelt. You two moved past through the panicking crowd.

On the port side, collapsible B was picked up by water. Working frantically, the men tried to detach it from the falls so the ship won’t drag it under. Colonel Namjoon hands the  Lightoller a pocket knife and he saws furiously at the ropes as the water swirls around his legs. The boat, still upside down, was being swept off the ship. Men start diving in, swimming to stay with it.

Jungkook sat next to the wailing child, whom he has completely forgotten. He watched the water rising around the men as they work, scrambling to get the ropes cut so the ship won’t drag the collapsible under.

Jimin looked at the rising water and tried to carry Yoongi with him, moving away from the water. He slumps and saw a stray lifebelt and quickly put it on as the water raised around him.

The part of the ship then plunges to the water, partially swamping the boat, washing it along the deck. Over a hundred passengers were plunged into the freezing water and the area around the boat becomes a frenzy of splashing, screaming people.

As men were trying to climb into the collapsible, Jungkook grabbed an oar and pushed them back into the water.

“Stop! Get away! You’ll swamp us!”

Jimin, swimming for his life, gets swirled under a davit. The ropes and pulleys tangle around him as the davit goes under the water, and he was dragged down. He struggles to free himself and then kicks back to the surface. He surfaces, gasping for air in the freezing water. He then looked around, alarmed.

“Yoongi-hyung?! Where are you?!” Trying to swim in the cold water, he looked around the freezing ocean.

Collapsible A is whirled like a leaf in the currents around the sinking ship. It slams against the side of the forward funnel. Jungkook growled at the people.

“Row! Row, you bastards!” He shouted to the crew on the boat. Jimin was drawn up against the grating of a vent as water poured through it. The force of tons of water roaring down the ship trapped him against it, and he was being dragged down under the surface as the ship sinks. He struggles to free himself but cannot. Suddenly there was a concussion deep in the bowels of the ship as a furnace exploded and a blast of hot air belches out of the ventilator, ejecting Jimin. He surfaces in a roar of foam and kept swimming, tired and cold.

You and Taehyung clambered over the A-Deck aft rail then, using all his strength, he lowers you toward the deck below, holding on with one hand. You dangled for a bit, then falls. Taehyung jumps down behind you. They join a crush of people literally clawing and scrambling over each other to get down the narrow stairs to the well deck… the only way aft.

Seeing that the stairs are impossible, Taehyung climbs over the B-Deck railing and helps you over. He lowers you again, and you fall in a heap. Seokjin, now three sheets to the wind, happens to be next to you. He hauls you to your feet. Taehyung drops down and the three of you push through the crowd across the well deck. Near you, at the rail, people were jumping into the cold water.

The ship groans and shudders, scaring the people on board. The man ahead of Taehyung was walking like a zombie.

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death–” Taehyung heard and tried to walk past him

“You wanna walk a little faster through that valley, fella?” He scoffed and squeezing through the man, dragging you with him

The stay cables along the top of the funnel snapped, and they lash like steel whips down into the water. Jungkook watched as the funnel topples from its mounts in shock. Falling like a temple pillar twenty-eight feet across it whomps into the water with a tremendous splash. People swimming underneath it disappear in an instant.

Jimin, a few feet away, was hurled back by a huge wave. He comes up, gasping… still swimming. The water pouring into the open end of the funnel draws in several swimmers. The funnel sinks, disappearing, but hundreds of tons of water pour down through the 30-foot hole where the funnel stood, thundering down into the belly of the ship. A whirlpool formed, a hole in the ocean, like at enormous toiler-flush. A man, just a couple of feet away from Jimin, swims in a frenzy as the vortex drew him in. He was sucked down like a spider going down a drain.

Jimin, nearby, swims like hell as more people were being sucked down behind him. He manages to get clear. He’s going to live no matter what it takes. He swam up to the boat where Jungkook was, he tried to get himself up. Jungkook was about to push him off but Jimin looked up at him, lips blue and cheeks covered by frost-bites.

“Please help me…” Jimin whimpered out. Jungkook scowled but decided to be the bigger person. Jungkook took Jimin’s cold hands in his and pulled him up to the small boat where not many people were in anyway. The wet male shivered and coughed, some of the other people gave Jimin some dry clothes to wrap himself around

“T-Thank you…” Jimin uttered out, trembling at Jungkook’s feet. The younger male scowled once again and tutted, not saying anything. 

You and Taehyung struggled to climb the well deck stairs as the ship tilts. Seokjin, a bit drunk, puts a hand squarely on your butt and shoves you up onto the deck.

“Sorry, (Y/n)!” Seokjin shouted through the screaming people

Hundreds of people were already on the poop deck, and more were pouring up every second. Taehyung and you clung together as you two struggled across the tilting deck. As the bow goes down, the stern rises. In the boats below, which is just off the stern, passengers gape as the giant bronze propellers rise out of the water like gods of the deep.

People were jumping from the well deck, the poop deck, the gangway doors. Some hit debris in the water and were hurt or killed. On the poop deck, you and Taehyung struggled as the angle increases. Hundreds of passengers, clinging to every fixed object on deck, huddle on their knees around. Pulling himself from handhold to handhold, Taehyung tugs you along the deck.

“Come on, (Y/n). We can’t expect God to do all the work for us” 

You two struggled on, pushing through the praying people. A man lost his footing ahead and slid toward them. Taehyung helps him up. The propellers were twenty feet above the water and rising faster.

Taehyung and you made it to the stern rail, right at the base of the flagpole. You gripped the rail, jammed in between other people. It was the spot where Taehyng pulled you back onto the ship, just two nights… and a lifetime… ago. The lights flickered, threatening to go out. You gripped Taehyung as the stern rises into a night sky ablaze with stars. Around you, all you saw were faces beginning to accept their doom. On to your left, you saw Helga. She looked at you briefly, her eyes infinitely sad.

Passengers lost their grip on to whatever they were holding on to and slid down the wooden deck like a bobsled run, hundreds of feet before they hit the water. Trudy, your maid, slips as she struggles along the railing and slides away screaming. 

The propellers were 100 feet out of the water and were still rising. Panicking people leap from the poop deck rail, screaming and hit the water like mortar rounds. A man falls from the poop deck, hitting the bronze hub of the starboard propeller with a sickening smack.

The swimmers look up and saw the stern towering over them like a monolith, the propellers rising against the stars. 110 feet. 120.

On the boat, your mother watched the scene with horror and dread remembering you. Were you safe? Please let my daughter be safe.

The stern of the ship, almost four hundred feet long, falls back toward the water. On the poop deck, everyone screamed as they felt themselves plummeting. The sound goes up like the roar of fans at a concert

Swimming in the water directly under the stern was a few unfortunates shriek as they see the keel coming down on them like God’s bootheel. The massive stern section falls back almost level, thundering down into the sea and pushing out a mighty wave of displaced water, slamming to the people below.

You and Taehyung struggled to hold onto the stern rail. They feel the ship seemingly right itself. Some of those praying taught it is salvation.

“We’re saved!”

Taehyung shooked his head, grimly. Pulled down by the weight of the flooded bow, the buoyant stern tilts up rapidly. They feel the rush of the ascent as the fantail angles up again. Everyone is clinging to benches, railings, ventilators… anything to keep from sliding as the stern lifts. People start to fall, sliding and tumbling. They skid down the deck, screaming and flailing to grab onto something. They wrench other people lose and pull them down as well. There is a pile-up of bodies at the forward rail. 

“We have to move!” Taehyung shouted. He climbs over the stern rail and reached back for you. You were absolutely terrified to move. He grabs your hand.

“Come on! I’ve got you!” He said, pulling you over the rail. It was the same place he pulled you over the rail two nights earlier, but going the other direction. You got over just as the railing was going horizontal, and the deck vertical. Taehyung grips you fiercely, afraid to let go.

The two of you gripped each other and the rail side by side, looking straight at the black water, waiting for anyone to slip. one the corner of you guys, you saw Seokjin gripping the railing. He nodded a greeting, “One hell of a night, huh”

You nodded back, unsure. You then looked back at Taehyung. “Take a deep breath and hold it right before we go into the water. The ship will suck us down. Kick for the surface and keep kicking. Don’t let go of my hand. We’re gonna make it (Y/n). Trust me.” He said and you nodded, gripping his hand tighter.

“I trust you” then the deck started to descend in a rapid motion. The screaming of people slowly went silent as they were sucked into the ocean. Bodies were whirled and spun, some limp as dolls, others struggling spasmodically, as the vortex sucks them down and tumbles them.

Roiling chaos of screaming, thrashing people were all there was. Over a thousand people were now floating where the ship went down. Some were stunned, gasping for breath. Others were crying, praying, moaning, shouting… screaming.

You two surfaced among them but barely had time to gasp for air before people were clawing at them. People were driven insane by the water, 4 degrees below freezing, a cold so intense that it was indistinguishable from death by fire. 

A man pushes you under, trying to climb on top of you, senselessly trying to get out of the water, to climb onto anything. Taehyung punched him repeatedly, pulling you free.

“Come on! Swim, (Y/n)!” 

You tried, you really did. but your strokes were hindered by the lifebelt you wore. It was heavy, pulling you a bit. You two broke out of the clot of people with Taehyung pushing you to safety. Taehyung looked around, searching for any type of floatation. He has to get you out of this cold water. Taehyung stroke rhythmically, the effort keeping him from freezing to death.

“Look for something floating… Anything, wood, or some debris. Just anything…” His stuttered because of the cold, shivering.

You whimpered, “It’s so cold, Tae….”

He frowned and answered softly, “I know, I know… Help me, here. Look around”

His words kept you focused as you looked around you. Just a couple of feet away, you see something. You pointed at it, shivering, “W-What’s that?” 

Taehyung turned to you and looked at where you were pointing at. You two went to it. It was a piece of wooden debris, intricately carved. He pushes you up and you slithered onto it belly down. But when he tried to get up onto the thing, it tilted and submerges, almost dumping you off as you yelped at the sudden motion. It was clearly only big enough to support you. He clings to it, close to you, keeping his upper body out of the water as best he can. Your breath floats around you two in a cloud as you two pant from exertion. A man then swims toward you, homing in on the piece of debris. Taehyung glared at him and warned him.

“It’s just enough for this lady… you’ll push it under.”

“Let me at least try… or I’ll die soon”

“You’ll die sooner if you come any closer”

The man stopped at Taehyung’s words and nodded as he swims off, “I see. Good luck to you” 

The boats were overloaded and half-flooded. Men cling to the sides in the water. Others, swimming, were drawn to it as their only hope. Jungkook, standing in the boat, slaps his oar in the water as a warning.

“Stay back! Keep off!” He shouted. Jimin shivered in the boat, looking at Jungkook slam his ore in a man’s head, splitting it open. He looked at him, seeing the younger man wasn’t even guilty for it. He thanked God that he arrived earlier on the boat or that would’ve been his fate. Jeon Jungkook was definitely a demon in a tuxedo. 

You and Taehyung still floating amid the chorus of the damned. He sees the ship’s officer nearby, he was blowing his whistle furiously, knowing the sound will carry over the water for miles.

“The boats will come back for us, (Y/n). Hold on just a little longer. They had to row away for the suction and now they’ll be coming back.” Taehyung muttered quietly. You nodded, gripping his cold hands in yours. His words helping you, as you shiver uncontrollably, your lips blue and your teeth chattering.

“Thank God for you Tae…”

You and Taehyung drift under the blazing stars, the water was glassy, with only the faintest undulating swell. You can actually see the stars reflecting on the black mirror of the sea.

Taehyung squeezed the water out of your long coat, tucking it in tightly around your legs. He rubs your arms. His face was turning white because of the frostbite but he paid no attention to it, focusing on you instead.

“It’s getting quiet…” You said

“Just a few more minutes. It’ll take them a while to get the boats organized…” Taehyung muttered back to you, looking straight to your eyes.

You were unmoving, just staring into space. You knew the truth, there won’t be any boats. Behind Taehyung, you see an officer has stopped moving. He was slumped in his lifejacket, looking almost asleep. He has died of exposure already. Taehyung noticed where you were looking and started again, “I don’t know about you, but I intend to write a strongly worded letter to the White Star Line about all this.” 

You chuckled weakly at his words, forgetting the cold for a bit. Your laugh was like a gasp of pain, you found his eyes again in the dark.

“I love you, Taehyung”

Taehyung shook his head at your words, “No, (Y/n). Don’t say your goodbyes. Don’t give up now. Don’t do it”

“I’m so cold…”

“You’re going to get out of this… You’re going to go on and you’re going to make babies and watch them grow and you’re going to die an old lady, warm in your bed. Not here. Not this night. Do you understand me?” Taehyung said, firmly as he can with his stuttering voice.

“I can’t feel my body…”

Taehyung gripped your hand making you look at him, “(Y/n), listen to me. Listen… Winning that ticket was the best thing that ever happened to me.” His breath hindering him from talking. It was too painful now but he continued.

“It brought me to you. And I’m thankful, (Y/n). I’m so thankful.” His voice was trembling because of the cold water which is working his way to his heart. But his eyes were unwavering, looking straight at you.

“You must do me this honor… promise me you will survive… that you will never give up… no matter what happens… no matter how hopeless… promise me now, and never let go of that promise.”

You stifled your tears, nodding, “I promise”

“Never let go”

“I’ll never let go, Taehyung. Never”  You gripped his hand and you lie with your heads together. It is quiet now, except for the lapping of the water. 

The stars reflect in the glassy surface, and the two of you seemed to be floating in interstellar space. You were absolutely still. Your hands were locked together. You were staring upwards at the canopy of stars wheeling above you. The music was transparent, floating… as the long sleep steals over you, and you feel peace.

Your face was pale as the faces of the dead, you knew you were dying, the cold numbing you. You parted your lips, barely moving them as you sang Taehyung’s song

“Come Josephine in my flying machine” 

The stars looked beautiful above you, the Milky Way a glorious band from horizon to horizon. Then a shooting star flares across,  a white line on the dark sky. Your hair was dusted with frost crystals, your breathing was so shallow, you were almost motionless. Your (e/c) eyes track down from the stars to the water. On the water, there was a silhouette of a boat crossing the stars. You saw men in it, rowing so slowly the oars lift out of the syrupy water, leaving weightless pearls floating in the air. The voices of the men sound slow and distorted.

Then the lookout flashes his torch toward you and the light flares across the water, silhouetting the bobbing corpses in between. It flicks past your motionless form and moves on. The boat is 50 feet away, and moving past you. The men looked away. You lifted your head to turn to Taehyung, your hair frozen to the wood.

“Taehyung…” You gasped out so quietly that it was slightly inaudible. You lifted your free hand and shook the male slightly. He didn’t respond. You gently turned his face toward you. It is rimed with frost. 

He seems to be sleeping peacefully, still looking as ethereal. But he was not asleep. You can only stare at his still face as the realization goes through you. Your tears bubbled in your eyes, the burning of your eyes contrasted to the cold.

“Oh, Tae…” you breathed out, feeling all of your hope, will, and spirit leave you. You looked at the boat. It was further away now, the voices fainter. You watched them go. You closed your eyes, all reason to try seemed to leave you. And then… your eyes snapped open. You raised your head suddenly, cracking the ice as you ripped your hair off the wood. You called out, but your voice was so weak that they don’t hear you. The boat is invisible now, the torchlight, a star impossibly far away. You struggled to draw breath, calling again.

You struggled to move. Your hand, you realized, was actually frozen to Taehyung’s. You breathed on it, melting the ice a little, and gently unclasps your hands, breaking away a thin tinkling film.

“I’m sorry, Taehyung… I promised you and I’ll see you again someday.” You choked out, releasing his hand. You watched sadly as he slowly sinks down to the water.  He seems to fade out like an angel returning to heaven where you can’t go just yet. 

You rolled off the floating wood and plunges into the icy water. You swam to the officer’s body and grabbed his whistle. You started to blow the whistle with all the strength left in your body. Its sound slaps across the still water.

The search party whipped towards the sharp sound and ordered the men to row back, “Row back! Row!”

You kept on blowing as the boat comes to you. You were still blowing when the officer hauls you to the boat, taking the whistle from your mouth. You slipped into unconsciousness and they scramble to cover you with blankets…

On the afternoon of the 15th, Jungkook was searching through the faces of the widows lining the deck, looking for you. The deck of Carpathia is crammed with huddled people and even the recovered lifeboats of Titanic. On a hatch cover sits an enormous pile of lifebelts.

He keeps walking toward the stern. Seeing Jungkook’s tuxedo, a steward approached him.

“You won’t find any of your people back here, sir. It’s all steerage.”

Jungkook ignored him and continued to search among the people, huddled in the benches.

 You were sipping hot tea. Your eyes focused on him as he approaches you. He barely recognizes you. You looked like a refugee, your matted hair hanging in your eyes.

“I’ve lived. How awkward for you”

Jungkook sighed, “(Y/n)… Your mother and I have been looking for you–” You held up a hand, stopping him.

“Please don’t. Don’t talk. Just listen. We will make a deal since that is something you understand. From this moment you do not exist for me, nor I for you. You shall not see me again. And you will not attempt to find me. In return, I will keep my silence. Your actions last night need never come to light, and you will get to keep the honor you have carefully purchased.” You glared at him, cold and hard like the ice which changed your lives.

“Is this in any way unclear?” You asked. After a long silence on Jungkook’s behalf, he started.

“What do I tell your mother?”

“Tell her that her daughter died with the Titanic.” You stood up, turning to the rail, dismissing him. Jungkook’s face was stricken with emotion that never even appeared on his face until now.

“You’re precious to me, (Y/n)” Jungkook whispered. You scoffed at him.

“Jewels are precious, Mr. Jeon.” You said harshly. Jungkook stared at your back with such sorrow and emotion. It can be seen that in his own way, the only way he knew, he did truly love you.

After a moment, he turns and walks away.

On the 18th you have sailed to America on your own. You looked at the Statue of Liberty, welcoming you home with her glowing torch. It is just as Jimin saw it, so clearly, in his mind. 

Several hundred police kept the mob back. The dock is packed with friends and relatives, officials, ambulances, and the press– Reporters and photographers swarm everywhere… 6 deep at the foot of the gangways, lining the tops of cars and trucks… it was the 1912 equivalent of a media circus. They jostled to get close to the survivors, tugging on them as they pass and shouting over each other to ask them questions.

You were covered with a woolen shawl and walking with a group of steerage passengers. Immigration officers were asking them questions as they come off the gangway.

“Name?”

You looked at him and said, “Kim. Kim (Y/n)”

This was your new beginning. The new beginning that was robbed from you by time. It was supposed to be you and Taehyung… Doing all the things he promised you, all the things he told you about. Doing all the things all normal couples do. 

You sighed, breathing the air. You smiled a bit, looking around. It was okay. You’ll see him again, someday. But for now, you have to do the things you promised him.

You opened your eyes and you saw the familiar design of the Titanic, the echoing sound of music in the distance was nostalgic. The music was vibrant now, and the room is populated by men in ties and tails, women in gowns. It was exquisitely beautiful just like how you remembered it.

The crowd of beautiful gentlemen and ladies turned as you descend toward them. At the bottom, a man stands with his back to you… He looked so familiar, so heart-achingly familiar. The man turns and it was Taehyung, smiling, he holds his hand out toward you.

“I see you’ve kept your promise, love.”

“I have so much to tell you, Tae”

“I’m here, (Y/n)”

[iiep-wop]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH IT'S ACTUALLY INSANE HE LOOKS SO FUNKY I LOVE HIM

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

Fan art for @iiep-wop of their Wall-e au Rimmer, I liked him a lot!

[nanouogg]

The Red Dwarf 30 Day Challenge

Day 2: A Rimmer Centric Episode

Rude alert!  Rude alert! Rimmer FanGirl in sight! This is not a daffodil.  Repeat:  This is not a daffodil! (obviously!)

So... How do I choose between Holoship and Terrorform?? (I keep “Thanks for the Memory” for an other day.)

I suppose Terrorfor is a better episode :

-          Kryten’s scout is the cutest robot in the univers beating BB8 and Wall-E.

-          The Lister/Cat chat on the computer

-          The scene… THE scene… « is it me ? Or is it suddently got rather hot in here ? »

But I’m gonna choose Holoship. The episode doesn’t lack cult scenes and lines :

- “ Lister to Red Dwarf”, - “I just want to say ... that over the years, ... I have come to regard you ...as ... people ... I... met.”

Nor rather hot scene.

But mainly there’s that dialogue :

“RIMMER: Look at me. What do you see? LISTER: Tell me. RIMMER: You see a sad and lonely guy. A guy who left home at sixteen to become an officer and a gentleman, and ended up as a chicken soupmachine operative. Is it any wonder my father had four strokes? Is it any wonder he used to sit by the window and dribble? I did that to him. Me! LISTER: That doesn't make you a failure. RIMMER: It does in my parents' eyes. It does in my brother's eyes. It does in the eyes of everyone with eyes.”

This says everything there is to know about Rimmer and his behavior. It’s much more subtle thant his self-loath monster, especially since it comes from himself.

Which leads me to my main complain about the show.

I don’t care about continuity in Red Dwarf (when I’m usually nitpicky on that matter), but I really mind the way they handle characters growth or rather their non-developpement.

I’ve seen several interviews where cast and crew hid behind the sitcom format to justify their characters’ frozenness(?) but now they seem to change their mind on the subject (it’s obvious for Cat in Promise Land and Lister at the end of M-Corp).

But Rimmer always seems to lose at that game. He’s probably the one who has the most centric episodes. Each time, he has that kind of revelation about himself, or he learns that he can be loved despite what his family thaught him, he overcomes his nevroses, he’s beeing selfless or even brave (Holoship, Out of Time, Stoke me a Clipper, The Beginning ...) and yet, each time, the show retcon it.

It even seems to me that Chris Barrie plays him even bitter than before (although he says that he plays him more laid back). In the first series, he had some soft/sweet moments to balance his anger. Now I miss that. Even at the end of the Moonlight scene he still seemed perplexed/quizzical(?).

That’s so unfair and frustrating.

Jour 2: Un épisode centré sur Rimmer Alerte Rimmer FanGirl!! (des fois que le reste du blog laisse un doute sur le sujet) Alors... Comment choisir entre Holoship et Terrorform?? (Je garde Thanks for the Memory pour un autre jour.)

Je suppose que Terrorform est un meilleur épisode en soi: - l’éclaireur de Kryten est le robot le plus mignon de l’univers, devant BB8 et Wall-E - le dialogue Lister/Cat sur l’ordinateur - la scène... LA scène... “est-ce que c’est moi, où est-ce qu’il fait très chaud d’un coup?” Mais je vais plutôt choisir Holoship. L’épisode ne manque pas de scènes et répliques cultes: - “ Lister to Red Dwarf”, - “I just want to say ... that over the years, ... I have come to regard you ...as ... people ... I... met.”

Ni de scène où il fait chaud.

Mais surtout il y a cet échange: “RIMMER: Look at me.What do you see? LISTER: Tell me. RIMMER: You see a sad and lonely guy. A guy who left home at sixteen to become an officer and a gentleman, and ended up as a chicken soupmachine operative. Is it any wonder my father had four strokes? Is it any wonder he used to sit by the window and dribble? I did that to him. Me! LISTER: That doesn't make you a failure. RIMMER: It does in my parents' eyes. It does in my brother's eyes. It does in the eyes of everyone with eyes.” Dialogue qui dit tout ce qu’il y a à savoir sur Rimmer et son comportement, bien plus subtilement que son monstre d’auto-mépris, d’autant que ça vient directement de lui.

Ce qui me permet d’en venir au principal reproche que j’ai à faire à la série. Autant je lui excuse les erreurs de continuité qui m’importent peu dans Red Dwarf (alors que je suis très tatillonne sur le sujet d’habitude), autant j’ai énormément de mal avec la gestion des personnages et de leur évolution ou plutôt de leur non-évolution.

J’ai entendu plusieurs interviews des membres de l’équipe prenant comme excuse le format sitcom pour justifier la non-évolution des personnages et maintenant ils reviennent dessus (en particulier pour Cat et on le voit très bien pour Lister à la fin de M-Corp).

Mais Rimmer semble être toujours le grand perdant à ce jeu. C’est surement lui qui a eu le plus d’épisodes centré sur son personnage. A chaque fois il a ce genre de révélation, il apprend qu’il peut être aimé contrairement à ce qu’il a appris de sa famille, dépasse ses névroses, fait un acte altruiste ou courageux (Holoship, Out of Time, Stoke me a Clipper, The Beginning ...) et à chaque fois la série revient sur cette évolution et fait comme s’il ne s’était rien passé.

Il me semble même que Chris Barrie le joue de manière plus aigrie, même s’il dit le jouer plus détendu. Dans les 1eres saisons il avait des moments assez ...doux qui compensaient ses colères, ça manque dans les dernières saisons. Même à la fin de la scène de la Lune et du Soleil, il n’a pas l’air complètement convaincu.

Je trouve ça tellement injuste et frustrant.

[toastydehmer]

Colors Ask

Original list can be found here! Though some of these were doctored up a wee bit just so I could make better sense of them.

[RED] What are you most passionate about? How did this passion develope?

My passion has been creating these ideas and worlds and AUs or even just overarching plots to stories I'll probably never write. It started with my voracious habit to read - something I probably do WAY too much of if I'm too be honest. As I read I would theorize and extrapolate from what the story told so far and I guess it became a habit. Now I look at fandoms I like or pairings and suddenly and writing down notes, sketching designs, and looking up references for this whole new Alternate Universe just because I can. I love it!

[ORANGE] How many pieces of fruit do you aim to eat per day? What do you actually manage?

Uh, I don't eat often bub. A meal at McDonalds is enough to fill me up for an entire 24-hour period. I eat fruit when my body craves it which tends to be about once a week to every other week.

[YELLOW] What's your happy place? Real or fictional?

Okay. That 'happy place' idea is utter bullshit. When I get an anxiety/panick attack, I don't go to a tranquil place in my mind and start to feel better. That doesn't help because guess what, an idle mind is the perfect playground for personal demons. Happy Places probably exist but they don't do jackshit once you're already in one and besides, I couldn't never keep my thoughts straight enough in the middle of an attack to make a decision.

[GREEN] Do you prefer indoors or outdoors? What's your favorite flower to smell?

Indoors during winter and late autumn, outdoors the rest of the year. I like to just lay in the grass when the sun is high on a clear, breezy day and bask in the light like a cat. As for flower... hell if I know. A flower is a flower to my brain.

[BLUE] What is your favorite mode of long distance transportation? Have you ever been on a plane? If so, what was it like?

Uh, car. I've only been a plane plane twice (nearly passed right out walling to my seat the first time I was so terrified) but both were utterly boring. The book I brought with I finished before half the trip was over. Though it was fun seeing the clouds, I think they would get boring after so many trips. And besides, in a car trip on my own, I can play whatever music I want however loud I please.

[INDIGO] What's your top three names? Would you ever consider having children?

I actually have a list in Google Drive because my boyfriend and I had started talking about the possibility of having kids sometime in the next five to ten years. Looking at it, it's hard to choose but it follows a pattern of a Latin, Greek, or Irish word that had meaning.

Daughter: it would be Eirini (Greek: Peace), Elpida (Greek: Hope), and Nadur (Irish: Nature).

Son: Anam (Latin: Soul), Rioga (Irish: Royal), and Nostrum (Latin: Ours).

[VIOLET] What's your favorite cake flavour? Are you any good at baking?

Chocolate hands down. If it's chocolate you got me. And yes, I am very good at baking. My two favorite recipes are Red Velvet cake with Cream Cheese frosting and Flour-less Chocolate Torte. Both arevcompletely from scratch mind you, frosting and all. So god damned delicious.

[PURPLE] Do you support the Royal Family? Who is your favorite historical figure and why?

Royal Family? Well, I don't know anything about them instead of Royal Family how about President? And no, I do not support a large portion of Trump's decisions mainly to do with his methods and the nuances of those decisions.

Also, I don't really have a favorite hostiorical figure? Or even one I like? To me they're like one big tapestry that details the human race, one which is still continually being added to. They are a part of the whole. Which to put in layman's terms means I like history overall more than any singular person involved.

[PINK] What is your favorite animal? Zoos or farms?

CATS!!! I love house cats, big cats, wild cats, domesticated cats, exotic cats, local cats, cats, cats, cats! But not the musical, lol. But I'd rather see cats in their natural habits. Hells, I'd rather see all animals in their natural habits when considering non-domesticaed animal breeds. I don't like either of them if the purpose is to just visit the animals in them.

[TURQUOISE] Do you like being in the sea? What coastal town is your favorite to visit?

Hm. I was born and raised in the land of ten thousand lakes and have only ever been to the coast twice, the Gulf of Mexico and the Southern Californian coast in specific. I was able to wade into the ocean when I went to the Gulf but I don't think that would be a good choice to base my decision on as I was stung my floating remnants of jellyfish and then didn't risk going in again after that. To make things easier, let's go with large bodies of water in general, to which the answer is a wholesome yes. I love to swim and float in the water.

[MINT] Do you like astrology? Do you consider Pluto a 'real planet'?

Ah. This question. I do occasionally practice witchcraft when I have a good purpose to do so - such as making a charm for a friend, cleansing my home, and other such things. Astrology is part of what I do so yes, I like it in the sense that it helps me work or stronger correspondences. As for Pluto....bot really. Pluto is a dwarf planet by scientific standards. In my practice, there isn't much to tie it to outside of a person's sign related to it. It's hard to work with it because of this as all the other planets (substituting earth with the moon here) have ample correspondences.

[CRIMSON] Have you ever broken and bone before? Do you enjoy going to the dentist?

Hell no to both questions. Next!

[AMBER] Do you have a license to drive? If now, how do you get around?

Yes I do! I have a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsberg edition. My first car, used it be my dad. I've had it for just about two years now and I keep her in tip top shape as much as a possibly can! Just wish I had a proper garage so I could do my own small repairs and work on her.

[LIME] Do you like monkeys? Do you believe the theory of evolution?

No, I don't really care for monkeys. And from a scientific standpoint, yes I do.

[TANGERINE] How tall are you? Do you ever wish you were taller or shorter?

I am literally just a hair below 5'11" and for a woman my age where I live, that is really tall. I match height with most men I've met. But I do sometimes wish I was shorter just because my height and stature paired with my resting bitch face tend to intimidate or slightly scare people when they first meet me. I often have to explain that, "No, I'm not angry, this is just my normal look when I'm not really feeling any specific emotion. You're fine, I swear. I just look like this." And I'm a gentle giant. Think BFG if you know it. I'm the one who will jump in to protect and be a meat shield for someone else but am unable to raise a hand for my own safety. People being scared of me just makes me feel really damn sad and depressed.

[AZURE] Which gender and sexuality do you most identify with?

Uuuuuuh. Hm. Well- that is kinda a hard question? For gender I think the closest I can relate to is genderfliud. I don't have any body dysphoria but I do know there are times I feel way more masculine than feminine. The reverse is just as equally true. And then there are times where I don't feel like I have a specific gender. Sexuality can make this kind of hard to pin down for me. Put it this way. I am panromantic but I find males sexually arousing much more than I do females. And for those curious (unlikely anyone) I'll go by any pronoun. He, she, it, they/them, I really don't give a fuck.

[BEIGE] What is your favorite pop/soda? Do you enjoy alcohol?

P E P S I. Coke is an abomination, something which my boyfriend heavily disagrees with the heathen... I don't....really like to drink often. Alcoholism kind of runs in the family and due to that, I'm more likely to form a codependency on it as well. My family on my Dad's side is heavily German if that helps make more sense. But I do enjoy sweet wines the very few times I allow myself a glass, no more than two.

[CORAL] What is your favorite Disney movie? Who does it better, Disney or Pixar?

You- you can't just ASK me this!! I grew up on Disney! To pick a favorite would be blasphemous of me!!! Also, if that didn't make it clear, Pixar can suck my sack. Disney for the win.

[SAPPHIRE] Do you wear any jewelry? What do you think looks best on other people?

I wear a silver ring on me right middle finger everyday 24/7 and only take it off during my job or when I'm going into any amount of water. I used to wear earrings as well but I lost my silver pair and I can only wear gold or silver. Yes, I have tried to nail polish trick and hypoallergenic. No, I couldn't get either to work with me. My ears would still puss around the non-pure metal earrings. Now I only wear any of my other earrings when I'm doing something special and never for more than a few hours or so.

[GOLD] What do you consider your biggest achievement? When was the last time you won (at) something?

Ah, achievements, things that

[iiep-wop]

Drew season 1/2 Rimmer and Lister meeting start of AU Wall-E!Rimmer and Lister because why the hell not

Also these are now Wall-E!Rimmer and Lister's designs if anyone's curious (because it's my AU and I can do what I want lol)

[red-wop]

Working on Cat and Kryten's designs for the Wall E Au!!

Lore drop with them soon :D :D

Just a lil treat for you guys for when we finally do meet them

[shinobicyrus]

“Familiar Face”

My submission for Phanniemay Day 8: Clones. Surprising myself, instead of Danielle I decided to write a short with my oc Samuel, loosely inspired by kikaiz’s Reverse Trio AU. 

Those first fleeting moments of consciousness as she was spilled out on a cold floor felt less like being born and more like falling into a drugged sleep. A brief moment of lucidity for a life more felt than half-remembered. Crowded halls lined with locker banks, homework, tests, the pressure to fit in and failing, hormones and a quiet heartache. A boy with glasses, a NASA cap, and a goofy-shy smile like a-

She grasped for it and failed, floating through the lab in a fog of numb unreality. Sterile walls, chemical smells in her nose and soakinghher hair, too-bright light blurring away details in a wash of intense white. White walls. White floors. The thin white rubber mat that was her bed. The white leotard that left the pale, white skin of her arms and legs bared and accessible for masked figures in white surgical garb. 

Strapped to an examination table. To a chair that reminded her of the dentist (what does it mean if you dream about going to the dentist? Jaz...someone she knew dabbled in those stupid dream interpretation books)

The inquiries of metal. Little prods and cuts. Needles slipping in and watching her own blood fill a glass syringe; sometimes ruby red, other times viscous and glowing witchlight green.

The tests hurt. She knew that intellectually, but not in that bone-deep, animal panic way. She was numb to it but still hoped it would clear the fog and wake her, but they didn't dig deep enough. She suspected in some back corner of her brain that it had something to do with the things they kept injecting into her, burning numbness through her veins and ink biting into her wrist. The side of her head (shaved recently, but she can’t remember when). Two blocky, jet black digits etched to partner with the crisscrossing red lines on the white canvas of her limbs.  

Mom always said she’d kill me if I got a tatto-

She never felt tired but slept when they told her to- a hope somewhere at the bottom of this well of drugged haze that if she did, she would finally wake up in a home she’d nearly forgotten, back in her room, going downstairs to a cooked breakfast and leaving the dream of the lab on her pillow to dissolve like a broken cobweb.

Sleeping in too late. They were waiting for her. The one with dark dreadlocks and the other with a smile that lit up when he saw the stars. 

Danny?

“Sir, I’m reading unusual theta-wave fluctuations.”

“Adjust the dosage.”

They made their voices clear through the fog with punctuation of scalpel and shocks. She obeyed because the metal was the only time things felt real. 

“Float one meter above the deck. Now, point-five more.”

“Phase your hand through this wall- hold it there. Push it further in.”

“Hold your invisibility and remain perfectly still during the scan.”

“Fire at those targets. Good. Control: increase their speed by thirty percent. I want faster acquisition.”

They were testing her limits. Training her for something. Like in the basement of her mom and dad’s labr-

“Transform.”

“I said do it, Four. Comply.”

I’m...going...ghostly?

(Tucker’s laugh. Maybe we should work on that, Sam.)

Tucker?

“Up the dosage. Twenty milligrams. Just do it.”

Tucker?

A few times she caught sight of a boy she didn’t know in the polished metal of an instrument tray, or in the glass of a window. Young. Short haired. A backwards number four inked into the side of his head. The face floated, ghostlike and unseen, between two men watching her in the window. One in a pristine white white white always white I’m drowning in white suit and dark sunglasses with another man in green fatigues and a chest crowded with ribbons. 

“My God, I have a son that age.”

“Respectfully Colonel, you don’t. Four was decanted less than four months ago. Don’t let it fool you into thinking it’s human.”

“But the briefing said it’s...a hybrid? Half ectoplasm and half human DNA?”

“Humans share seventy percent of their genes with slugs. Mathematically, the menu at a French restaurant is more human than that thing.”

(”Not human, not ghost...” Spectra crooned.)

“Uncle Sam isn’t paying you a hundred million dollars for escargot, Director.”

“No he is not, Colonel. Control: release the specimens.”

A section of the plain white wall slides open and a pack of three creatures float out, swimming in empty air and bombing with swishing tendrils and demented smiles. A lesson enforced at the end of a needle: Class One Malefactors “Oh come on Sam, ectopusses is the perfect name for th-”, circling around the room with the aimlessness of animals set loose in a space larger than they’d been held in.

The intercom crackles. “Four: You are cleared to engage.”

The fight felt so familiar, a moment of lucidity in the violence cutting through the perpetual fog. She flew towards one faster than it expected and punched it hard into the wall, another roared a challenge and charged at her. Instead of dodging she willed herself intangible and let it fly through her, going solid just as it passed so she can grab a bundle of its tentacles, swing it around, and slam it into the third.

They crashed in a confused tangle of babbling shrieks and too-many limbs. She raised a hand a fired a bolt of raw power- splattering the pair into a steaming mess of green goo over the white walls. The first she’d hit launches off the wall towards her, and her intangible feet slipped down through the floor, still leaving of her top-half solid enough to grab the ectopuss Malefactor and slam it on the floor once, twice, and the third time bursting it into a steaming mess. 

The streaks of green ruining the sterile white is satisfying in a way she could not articulate. She thought it was the first time she remembers smiling ever in a long time.

“Well I’ll be damned. That’s one scrappy little slug.”

The intercom again. “Release Subject Two.”

A new section of wall opens behind her. This time with the suggestion of something wrapped in glowing blue chains and a white tarp. A buzzing, electronic click powers down the chains, and the medical tarp reserved for cadavers was shredded by a glowing green skeleton, everything below the ribs missing, save for a pair of upsettingly familiar eyes crammed into two sockets.

“Two. Four. You are cleared to engage.”

They both look at the spot on the wall where the voice came from, then each other. The skeleton moves first, faster without the extra mass slowing it down and more comfortable in the air. It’s voice is a wail echoing in empty bones, slashing wildly with bony talons. 

One slashed across her side, tearing the leotard. Her blood is green today, leftovers glistening on the skeleton's clawtips. It cut through the fog, and she laughed as she dodged the follow-up strikes.

“Come on, dazzle me!”

It’s fast but reckless, vicious but too simplistic. It’s easy as learning combos in Immortal Kombat, her boys groaning as she performs yet another fatality to learn its patterns, catch it by the wrist in the middle of a wide slash, and tear the bony arm out of its socket. 

The bone of its skull had a 02 etched into it in the same font as her tattoo. She learned this because she saw it before her boot crushed it like a piece of old pottery.

“Sir, I think we should halt the test here. We’re showing elevated-”

“If it can’t handle the stress here, it’s not good to us in the field. Release Subject Three.”

At first she’s not sure what she’s seeing. A darting green light that could fit in her palm, darting in erratic patterns that leave little neon trails in the air. It doesn’t wait for an order to attack- she saw nothing but the afterimage of a streak and is hit with a fastball, dense like a dwarf star

“Red dwarfs make up most of the stars in the galaxy” he’d said, laying down on the ground next to her and pointed at the sky. “It’s actually pretty amazing just how rare our sun i-...”

Another hit in the solar plexus drove the wind out of her, it blinks like a firefly, bobbing away lighting-fast and going for her head. 

She lifted her hand and fired a burst of green, wide and imprecise but enough to stun it, she backhands it and it scatters into a dim green mist. 

At first she thought it was over, but the mist still hungin the air, swirling and collecting itself until it formed the shape of a young girl in a lime-green jumpsuit, white haired, green eyed and-

That. That face. 

She knew that face. 

The girl in the mist wavered like a mirage, her face distorted like a funhouse mirror. It hissed wordlessly at her with bulging, mismatched eyes, face sloughing like runny paint. 

There’s no strategy, no clever follow-up. She roared and tackled Three, driving it into the ground with an inhuman shriek.

Whatever flimsy consistency held it together collapses under his fists. Ectoplasm singed his knuckles, each blow molding the creature’s into something blissfully unrecognizable until the shifting, bubbling mass of green- began to reshape itself back into-

“STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!” 

Straddling on top of it, holding it down and phasing with it whenever it tried to slip away, she kept pounding the notmenotmenotme until the mist condenses into the consistency of abused wax, a vaguely human-shaped puddle of bubbling green. 

“Four! Stand down! That’s an order, Four!”

She shoved away the melted arm that tried to reach for her and saw something in the puddle. Another person looking at her, in the reflection of the puddle of what used to be Three. 

That boy again. Young. Too young. Hair chopped short for the backwards tattoo on the side of his head. His face contorted into disgust and horror and fury.

She punches it again. “YOU.”

Again. “AREN’T.”

“ME.”

Pain explodes in Samuel’s fist and he tumbles backwards, clutching it close and biting back a scream in his teeth even as he lands badly. Blind and in the dark.

A light clicks on and he winces, squinting. Legs kicking, trying to push himself upright with only his feet and elbows. 

“Sammy! Sammy!” 

A pair of hands on his shoulders, steadying him. His eyes adjust enough to see Danny, looking strange and bare without his glasses. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. You’re okay. Just breathe.”

He does his best to follow the advice. He looks around, everything coming back as the last of the haze clears. He’s on the floor in Tucker’s room. It was...it was just a guys’ night: pizza and video games and bad sci-fi movies and talking about thoughts and fears in the safety of the dark. 

Tucker’s standing next to his desk lamp in boxer shorts with cute Lovecraftian monsters on them, blinking owlishly without his contacts. “What’s going on?”

“I...” Samuel looks up and sees a massive crack in the mirror above Tucker’s dresser. A fractured, spiderweb pattern with flecks of green in the center. “I think I was sleepwalking.”

“More like nightmare-punching.” Danny holds out his hand, palm up. “Show me.”

Samuel agrees without thinking, taken off balance by his sudden assertiveness. Danny’s in pajama pants and a hole-ridden Star Trek t-shirt that probably should have been thrown out two years ago. His injured hand is an imitation of a dead spider- curled and twitching. He tries not to jump when Danny’s warm hands take his and turns it over. 

“You’re bleeding.” 

“I’ll be fine. I heal fast.” 

“You should still put it in like...ice or something,” his brow furrows with worry. “Does it hurt?”

“I’ve had worse.” He says, and doesn’t miss the way Danny is looking at the scars on his arm. 

Tucker crouches next to them. Samuel is so crowded by well-meaning concern he is simultaneously chafing under it and willing to do anything to keep them from leaving. “I’m sorry about your mirror.”

He shrugs. “It’ll probably be weeks before either of my parents notice. If they ask I’ll just say I did in like, a fit of hardcore protest against our bullshit appearance-obsessed culture, or something.”

“Does this mean you won’t be wearing make-up, then?” Samuel asks. 

Tucker rolls his eyes and pulls out a black compact from somewhere, which is a feat because he’s still only wearing boxers and it is distracting.”My makeup isn’t to look pretty it’s to rage against the Man, Sammy. Huge dif.”

“Sam?”

Amazingly, Samuel doesn’t wince. “Yeah?”

Danny is still cradling his hurt hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”

From his angle on the floor the mirror is just showing a fractured, broken image of Tucker’s room all thrown in lamplight and midnight shadows. He’s not entirely sure what he’d see if he stood up and looked into it- but he’s grateful that if he had to have a horrible nightmarish flashback, he didn’t do it someplace where the first thing he’d see when he woke up was Samantha’s face. 

“Can we just...stay up for the rest of the night? I don’t really think I can manage sleeping, anymore.”

“Yeah, sure.” Danny smiles at him. “Of course. Anything you want.”

Tucker puts a reassuring hand on Samuel’s shoulder...and using it so he can push himself up and announces. “Welp. In that case, I should probably put on some pants.”

[unfolded73]

This Graceful Path (2/19)

Summary: Emma has just moved in with Mary Margaret and started working as a deputy in the Storybrooke sheriff’s department when she meets Killian Jones, the town’s introverted harbormaster. When a prominent Storybrooke resident is found murdered, Emma tries to juggle solving the case with new friendships, parenthood, and romance. A Season 1 Cursed!Killian AU.

Rating: Explicit per CSBB guidelines (violence, sex). If you are someone who uses my usual distinction between M and E to decide whether to read something I wrote, this is more of an M on unfolded73’s scale. The sex, when we get there, is not extremely graphic in nature. Same with the violence.

Content Warning: This fic contains two major character deaths, one of which is S1 canon and one of which is not but happens in this chapter.

Total word count: ~ 75,000

Acknowledgements: Thank you to @j-philly-b for betaing this monstrosity. Thank you to @caprelloidea for all of the read-throughs and cheerleading; not sure I could have written it without your excitement early on. Thank you to @teruel-a-witch for the original prompt on tumblr which sparked this fic. Thank you to @pompeiiablaze for the wonderful art which will accompany later chapters. Thanks to the CSBB mods ( @sambethe in particular, who had to look at my check-ins) for your support and for enduring my neuroses.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 – AO3 Link

Chapter 2

“No night shifts, my ass,” Emma grumbled, driving slowly down Main Street in the town’s single police cruiser. Not that she could have refused when her boss was volunteering at an animal shelter, but it was never a barrel of laughs to pull a double shift. She squeezed her eyes shut briefly, blinking away her exhaustion, and reached for her coffee cup.

The streets were damp with rain, the few streetlights reflected on the pavement in greens and reds. Emma signaled and turned the corner, her eyes darting from building to building as she watched for any suspicious activity, just as Graham had instructed her to do. Not that anything was going to happen. Nothing ever happened.

She waved to Mr. Clark as she drove past the pharmacy where he was locking up. He raised his hand in return, only to double over as a sneeze shook his body. “Sneezy,” she muttered to herself, remembering Henry’s theory of his dwarf alter ego.

Still, even with all the quirkiness of Storybrooke, even though the mayor hated her and was determined to make her life miserable, Emma mostly felt good being here. She felt like she was making a positive difference in Henry’s life, giving him some small fraction of what she owed him after bringing him into the world only to leave him to be adopted by someone like Regina Mills. It felt nice to have a friend like Mary Margaret and to have a job that was respectable, like she was finally getting her life together.

Without really being conscious of where she was driving, Emma ended up in front of Regina’s enormous house. Most of it was obscured by the tall hedges that ran the length of the front of the property, but Emma knew that what was beyond those hedges was a lavish home. Columns rose on either side of the front door, holding up a balcony that Scarlett O’Hara could stand on and not look out of place. Above the line of hedges, the stark black of decorative clapboard shutters stood out against the white paint of the house itself.

This was something she definitely could have never given Henry: a mansion to live in. He didn’t want for any material things, even if his mother was cold and withholding of her affection. Emma looked up at what she thought was his window, where he was no doubt fast asleep. Not for the first time, she wondered what he would have been like if she had raised him. Would he be happier, more well adjusted, even if he’d been poor? Or would he just have a whole different set of neuroses to deal with?

Movement caught Emma’s eye, and she shifted her focus to another one of Regina’s upstairs windows, just in time to see a dark figure emerge from the opening.

“What the hell?” Emma muttered. As she continued to watch, the shadowy figure made its way down the slanted roof below the window, before dropping silently to the ground below.

“You’re a pretty agile burglar, I’ll give you that,” she said as she got out of the car, gripping her nightstick tightly in her hand. Her thoughts turned to Henry, and she felt a shock of terror slide down her spine as she imagined what might have happened to him while she stupidly sat outside in her car. She felt a cold certainty, unlike any she’d ever experienced, that she was capable of anything to protect that little boy.

Standing behind the bushes that protected the view of the house from the street, Emma heard footsteps approaching down the driveway, and she readied her nightstick. As soon as the person cleared the row of hedges, she struck him hard in the abdomen, dropping him to the ground.

The man lay at her feet and groaned, and Emma took in his clothes and hair with dawning realization.

“Graham?”

“Emma,” he gasped, struggling to his feet. “What are you doing here?”

“I was patrolling like you told me. I saw you sneaking out of Regina’s window, and I thought you were an intruder or something.” She glared at him as he struggled to stand erect. “But no, apparently it’s that in this town, volunteering at the animal shelter means fucking the mayor.”

“I wasn’t…”

“You weren’t what?” She folded her arms across her chest.

“Okay, I was, but you have to understand…” He gaped at her for a moment. “I do volunteer at the animal shelter.”

“This is the woman who wants to keep me from my son. Who’s been scheming to get me out of town since I got here, and you… gross.” She turned around and headed back to the car, then spun on her heel to face him again. “I saw you come out of that window, and I was terrified that someone had hurt Henry,” she said, her voice shaking.

“I’m sorry,” he said, looking stricken.

“Save it.”

~*~

Tilting her head back, Emma poured the shot of tequila down her throat. With a shudder, she brought her other hand, holding a lime wedge, to her mouth and bit down.

“So what did you say then?” Mary Margaret asked. They were sitting across from each other at the small table, the lights in the apartment low.

“I think I said, ‘save it.’ Or maybe it was ‘fuck you.’ I don’t remember.” Emma reached for the tequila bottle and poured out two more shots. Her chair rocked slightly on its uneven legs as she shifted forward.

“Graham and Regina. Huh.” Mary Margaret eyed her refilled shot glass but made no move to pick it up. “That’s a weird couple. Have you talked to him since?”

“No, I had the day off today since I worked a double shift yesterday. And I mean, I don’t care, he can do what he wants, but she’s his boss. Also, she’s made it her mission in life to make mine a living hell, so I can’t help but feel a little betrayed.”

“Are you sure that’s the only reason?”

“What are you talking about?” Emma said, licking the webbing between her thumb and pointer finger and picking up the salt shaker.

“I think you like Graham a little bit.”

“He’s my boss. I don’t fuck my boss; I learned that lesson years ago.” She took another shot: salt, tequila, lime. “But apparently Graham’s never heard that rule before.”

Mary Margaret reached for the salt shaker. “Okay, if you say so.”

“Besides, I think we’re focusing on the wrong person here. You’re the one who’s about to start a torrid affair with a guy who wants to leave his wife for you.”

Shuddering after her own shot of tequila, Mary Margaret grabbed for a lime wedge and bit it. “He’s not going to,” she said softly. “He changed his mind.”

“What?”

“David’s going to try to make things work with Kathryn.”

“Since when?”

“Since last night, when he asked me to meet him at the toll bridge, and then showed up only to say that he’d decided to try to patch things up with his wife.”

“Oh, Mary Margaret, I’m so sorry.” Emma refilled their shot glasses again. “Men are garbage.”

“I think you might be right about that.” She put her head in her hands. “Emma, I did something.”

“What?” Emma pulled one of Mary Margaret’s hands away. “Mary Margaret, what did you do?”

She winced. “I slept with Victor Whale.”

“He’s the doctor you had a bad date with, right?”

“Yeah. I ran into him after David rejected me, and… oh, Emma, why did I do that?” she moaned, covering her face again.

“Because you were feeling hurt, and being wanted by someone made you feel better. It’s okay, Mary Margaret, you’re an adult, you’re allowed to sleep with who you want. You shouldn’t feel bad about it.”

“Yeah, except he’s not really who I wanted to be sleeping with.” She picked up her shot glass and looked at it as if she was debating the wisdom of putting more alcohol in her body.

“I know.” Emma sighed.

“I’m a terrible person.”

“You’re really not. You opened up your heart, and it got stomped on.” Emma threw back another shot, not bothering with the salt or lime this time. “That’s why opening your heart up is a bad idea.”

Mary Margaret blinked, swaying a little bit in her seat. “Wow. That’s harsh.”

“Getting your heart broken is harsh. That’s why I’ve decided not to do it anymore.”

“So you’re never going to open yourself up to love ever again,” Mary Margaret said flatly. “Really.”

Emma put her head down on the table, then lifted it again quickly when it started to feel like the room was spinning. “I don’t know, it… doesn’t seem worth it.”

“You’ve built those walls sky high, haven’t you?” Mary Margaret said with a hiccup.

“What are you talking about?”

“The walls that you’ve built around your heart to protect yourself. I know you’ve had a lot of people let you down in your life, Emma: your parents, and the foster parents who abandoned you, Henry’s father… I understand why you’re so closed off, but you can’t close yourself off to the possibility of love.” She shook her head back and forth firmly. “I won’t allow it.”

Emma laughed, even though Mary Margaret’s words stung. “You won’t allow it?”

“Nope.” Mary Margaret reached out and took her hand. “You deserve love in your life and so do I. Don’t ever forget that.”

~*~

Emma blinked in the bright sunlight that refracted through the police cruiser’s windshield. In an effort to avoid Graham, she’d offered to do an early morning patrol despite the hangover that was pushing against the backs of her eyes. Now, lacking any sunglasses to protect from the harsh glare, she was regretting her decision.

She drove a circuit that led past the docks, and on a whim, she stopped the car. She’d never actually been down to the harbor before, which it occurred to her was a little bit ridiculous. Getting out of the car and slamming the door, she walked down to the edge of the water and looked out at the horizon for a moment, shading her eyes.

There were a handful of boats docked in their moorings, most of them fishing boats, or so it appeared to her admittedly untrained eye. Which made sense, given the large cannery building that dominated this end of the town. She wondered how many Storybrooke residents were out on the water right now in other crafts, bringing up nets of fresh fish from the ocean.

Emma’s stomach rolled over. Probably not the best idea to think about fish while hungover, she chided herself.

As she took a few more steps down the dock, Emma managed to trip over her own feet, stumbling a little bit before righting herself.

“Careful, lass, I’d rather not have to dive into the water and save you if I don’t have to.”

Emma looked over in the direction of the voice. Killian Jones was approaching her, and she felt herself flush at her clumsiness.

“Pretty sure I could save myself, thanks,” she said.

His eyes raked down her body, taking in the badge at her belt. “You’re the new sheriff’s deputy?”

She held out her hand for him to shake. “Emma Swan.”

“Killian Jones,” he responded, grasping her hand in his. His handshake was firm, his hand warm. Emma took in his face, realizing with a sinking feeling that he was even more handsome up close than she’d thought when she glimpsed him at Granny’s. His eyes were very possibly the bluest she’d ever seen, all the more striking under his thick, dark eyebrows and long eyelashes. He wore another black t-shirt, this time with a leather jacket over top of it. Emma did her best to avert her eyes from the chest hairs she could see peeking out from the v-neck of his shirt and met his gaze. “What brings you down to my neck of the woods?” Killian asked.

Emma snorted. “This is about the only part of this town that isn’t woods. I’m doing a routine patrol, thought I’d explore the docks; I hadn’t had a chance to come down here since I moved to Storybrooke. You’re the harbormaster, right?”

He smirked. “Ah, so you’ve heard of me?”

“Just that you’re the harbormaster,” she hedged. “It’s a small town; seems like everyone knows everyone around here.”

“I should probably confess that I’ve heard of you as well,” he said.

“Anyone who reads the Storybrooke Mirror has heard of me, thanks to Sidney Glass,” she responded. The tabloid journalist, who seemed to be in the back pocket of the mayor, had published some of the sordid details of Emma’s past in the paper.

“That paper is good for little more than wrapping fish.”

Emma shrugged his reassurance off. “It was just Mayor Mills trying to shame me into leaving town.”

“Well, I’m happy to see that she failed.” He flashed her a flirtatious smile. It struck her that he was being a lot more sociable than Ruby had indicated he was capable of.

“So tell me, what does a harbormaster do all day?”

Killian glanced out over the water. “Not enough to keep me all that busy. Inspect the boats, log their passage plan, collect docking fees. Stay near the radio in case there’s trouble,” he said with a head tilt back at the small, squat building behind him that he must have emerged from.

“You aren’t near the radio now,” Emma pointed out.

“There’s never any trouble.” Killian waggled his eyebrows at her, making her laugh in spite of herself. Breaking eye contact, Emma caught sight of his left hand, hanging loosely at his side. Or rather, at the hard plastic prosthetic that he had in place of a hand.

Killian immediately noticed the line of her gaze. “Yes, I’m lacking an appendage,” he said, lifting the false hand briefly. “But I assure you the rest of them are all in perfect working order.”

Emma rolled her eyes at his innuendo even as she flushed, embarrassed that she’d been caught staring. “I dated a guy once who lost a leg in Afghanistan; it’s no big deal,” she said, and then cringed. Apparently, if anyone between the two of them was conversationally challenged, it was her. “Have you lived in Maine long?” she asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject. “Judging by the English accent, I’m guessing you’re not from around here.”

He shrugged, staring out over the water. “I’ve lived here long enough.”

Emma frowned at his vague answer. “Okay, then.” She cleared her throat. “I guess I should head back to the station.”

“It was lovely to meet you, Emma Swan,” Killian said, taking her hand and kissing the top of it like he was out of some Jane Austen novel, leather jacket notwithstanding. Emma studiously ignored the little charge she felt at the dry press of his lips to her hand, but that charge was immediately replaced with confusion as Killian jerked back from her, stumbling a little in his haste.

“Killian? What’s wrong?”

He opened his mouth and no sound came out of it. Shaking his head as if to banish a vision before his eyes, he finally spoke. “I apologize. I… I’m not sure what came over me. I saw…” He shook his head again and almost seemed to sway as if he had a sudden case of vertigo.

“Woah, let’s get away from the water before I have to save you,” she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him back from the edge of the dock. “You should sit down.”

“I’m fine,” Killian said, pulling his hand out of hers and backing away. “It was a momentary episode, I assure you. If you’ll excuse my rudeness, I must return to work.” Before Emma could say anything more, Killian beat a hasty retreat.

“God damn this town,” she muttered, returning to the squad car.

The rest of her patrol proceeding without incident, Emma returned to the station reluctantly. She sat down at her desk, trying not to draw the attention of Graham, who was closeted in his office, but no such luck. As soon as he noticed her, he jumped up from his desk and came out into the main part of the station.

“We need to talk,” he said.

“I really don’t think so.”

“Emma, I just want to explain—”

She stood up from her desk. “Look, we’re all adults, and who you’re in a relationship with is your business, twisted as it might be. But I can’t help but think that you kept it a secret from me on purpose because you know it’s shitty, hiring me while you were screwing the woman who has made me her personal nemesis since I came to this town.”

“I should have told you before you accepted the job,” Graham said.

“Yeah, you probably should have.” She crossed her arms. “And it’s none of my business, but sleeping with your boss never ends well.”

“I know, I …” He approached her, looking agitated. “I can’t feel anything.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m trying to feel something.”

She smirked. “Yeah, I get being closed off, I really do. But I can’t imagine being with Regina is the answer. Although like I said, not my business.”

Graham gripped her arm, almost hard enough to hurt. “You don’t understand. I can’t. Feel. Anything.”

Up close like this, Emma could see small beads of sweat on his face. He looked pale. Impulsively, she reached out and touched his forehead. “Shit, Graham, you’re burning up.”

He jerked back away from her. It was so like the way Killian had reacted when he kissed her hand that it felt almost like deja vu.

“Graham? What’s wrong?”

“Did you see that?”

“See what?” Emma took a tentative step toward him.

“A wolf.”

She almost laughed. “A wolf? Indoors?”

“I’ve gotta go,” he muttered. “Keep an eye on the station.” Grabbing his jacket off a hook, Graham ran out of the building.

“Graham!” she called, trying to decide whether to chase after him in spite of his instructions. Uncertain, Emma sat back down at her desk, her eyes trained nervously on the door.

~*~

The trees towered overhead, spires rising to a point of focus far, far above in the open sky. The sun was setting, twilight stealing over the forest like a blanket. Animals crept quietly through the undergrowth, prey avoiding the predators that sought them. There was a loamy scent, a smell of earth and decaying leaves, that filled his nostrils. It might have felt intimidating to some, the dark of the wood, the call of the wild, but it settled Graham. Made him feel a little less like insects were crawling around underneath his skin.

My prey is beloved by all the kingdom. I need someone who won’t be blinded by that. Someone without compassion, someone who’ll have no qualms carving a heart out and bringing it back for my collection.

Somewhere, a wolf howled. Graham felt a pull in his gut, a seeking of his true home. He wanted to howl too. A shiver ran through him, reminding him that he was tired and heartsick. (No heart to be sick. No heart at all.) He dragged his forearm across his face to wipe away the sweat. Under his jacket, his shirt clung uncomfortably to his back.

There’s one thing that I ask that you do after you kill me. Please deliver this to the Queen.

He could smell something else now. Blood. Death. Blood that should have made him hungry (not him, the wolf, should have made the wolf hungry) but instead it turned his stomach. Something was wrong. He smelled blood, and something was very, very wrong.

Graham ran.

As he came into the small clearing, strangely, the first thing his eyes settled on was the shovel. The dirt-covered metal didn’t belong here in the dark of the wood. He stared at the curve of the blade, knowing what was at the edge of his vision, knowing and not wanting to look, not wanting to see.

This isn’t her heart! This isn’t a human heart! What did you do?

There was so much blood. Holes in the suit, holes in the body (the heart), and so much blood. Graham fell to his knees and bent over, the palms of his hands connecting with the blood-soaked soil, his eyes looking into the lifeless eyes of Mr. Gold. 

Chapter 3

[abutterflyobsession]

Doctor Who AU Part 30

prelude/one/two/three/four/five/six/seven/eight/nine/ten/eleven/twelve/thirteen/fourteen/fifteen/sixteen/seventeen/eighteen/nineteen/twenty/twenty-one/twenty-two/twenty-three/24/25/26/27/28/29/ao3

The day was soft and gray, a smooth layer of clouds spread across the sky. The sweeping fields of tall green grass were more vibrant without undiluted sunlight bleaching them. The air was cool, heavy with the smell of rich, damp earth.

A few stray drizzling drops of rain fell onto a square patch of dirt that had been cleared of grass. Already a few tender sprouts had pushed themselves up from the loose dirt, undeterred by the loss of the previous generation.

The loose patch of earth shifted.

The newborn sprouts trembled.

A distant flash of lightning lit up a corner of the sky, bright and silent. The wind had died down to a sigh, the world going still in anticipation.

Thunder rumbled and crashed, the wind picked up sharply, blowing in dark clouds, lightning flashed again, and the patch of earth began to heave upward, as if the ground were taking in a breath.

Thunder brought rain crashing down.

The dirt rose up.

A gnarled hand thrust its way into the open, just as another flash of lightning burst overhead, turning the hand into a black silhouette of clawing roots.

“Alright,” a muffled voice said, “did that look as cool as I think it did?”

“Totally.”

Sunny squished through the mud in tall boots, an umbrella held in one hand, a camera in the other. Dawn trudged in from the opposite direction, similarly equipped.

“Ah, the crops are doing so well this year! The nerds are ripe for picking!” the Doctor called from somewhere out of sight.

“I'm going to hug you when I get out of here!” Bog called back, struggling in the mud.

“Just you try it, mudball.”

“These are going to look so cool when we put these clips together,” Dawn said, tucking the camera away in its bag, “How's this one fit, Boggy?”

“The legs are on the right way around this time,” Bog said, clawing his way out of the mud, shaking rain drops and momentary double vision out of his eyes.

“That was one time,” the Doctor shouted, still not visible.

“She's putting newspapers down in the Tardis,” Dawn explained, “she's tired of cleaning mud out of the wiring.”

“She made me get in the cracks with a toothbrush,” Sunny remarked, resting his umbrella on his shoulder so he could grab Bog's hand.

Dawn took Bog's other hand, “Okay, and pull!”

The arm Sunny was pulling on snapped off at the elbow.

Bog looked at the yellow liquid oozing out of the stump.

Sunny looked at the arm he was still holding by the hand.

“Bog . . .?” Dawn began.

“I'm out,” Bog snapped. He slumped forward into the mud.

Sunny finally came to himself and dropped the arm, flailing backwards to get away from it.

“This one a better fit?”

Bog squinted. Dawn's bright face and fluffy halo of hair coming into focus as she bent over him. The sunlight was bright, the outline of it around Dawn was blinding and Bog threw a hand over his eyes.

“He's a shade plant, remember?”

A shadow fell over him and he looked up to see the Doctor had unfurled an enormous yellow and red beach umbrella.

“He needs some sun,” Dawn insisted.

“I need a drink,” Bog's voice was hoarse and his mouth was dry. He wondered if that was a good sign or bad sign. Every time he tried on a new body and felt good it usually ended up that his nerve endings were dead or something.

The Doctor poured a cup of water over Bog's head.

“Not what I meant.”

“But it's what you're going to get, my teetotaling tuber. Plants don't drink hard liquor and it therefore follows that you don't drink it either. Anyway,” the Doctor crouched down, the umbrella closing in further on them, “how does it fit?”

“Gimme a ruddy minute, love,” Bog wheezed, feeling his lungs reluctantly inflating, the rigid segments of bark on his chest shifting with each breath.

“Don't smother him,” Dawn chided.

She pulled the umbrella a little further away so the world was a little less smudged yellow and red. There were some green smudges too now. Bog flexed his hands, his joints moving easily, and touched his thumb to his fingertips, feeling the softness there. That was an improvement, definitely.

“Peach fuzz,” the Doctor said, taking his hand and twisting it this way and that, “for a tree you've got really soft hands. The insides, anyway. Backs are still nice and crunchy. Imagine if you hit someone with that. Total annihilation. They'd be picking splinters out of their face for months.”

“Mm,” Bog took the Doctor's hands in his, savoring the newly returned sensitivity in his fingers. It had taken six tries to get his hands right, to turn them from stiff, thick roots to something that he could imagine using to play the guitar with again. He could feel the callouses on the Doctor's palm, the chipped coat of polish on her fingernails.

“He's getting touchy-feely again,” the Doctor called to Dawn, “maybe we need to reboot him.”

“I keep telling you,” Dawn sighed, “that's normal.”

“How's the connection?” the Doctor freed herself and shone the screwdriver in Bog's eyes, “Any lagging? Double vision? Double sensation? Teeth growing in sideways?”

“Nope. Help me out of here and let's see if everything stays where it should.”

“Your ears sliding off that time was weird and disturbing,” Dawn grimaced.

“Then why are you keeping them in a jar?”

“. . . science?”

“Hey, man,” Sunny took Bog's hand, “if your arm falls off again I am done. Completely done. I'm almost at my limit of zombie body horror.”

“And how do you think it feels to be me?”

“If I planted your arm,” Dawn said thoughtfully, “would it grow another Bog? Would it be a tiny Bog? A pocket Bog?”

“Neither your nor your sister are allowed to play with my genetic material without my permission. I thought we established this. And there has got to be an easier way to do this!”

Bog struggled to pull free of the ground, snapping the tiny rootlets that had spread out around the body while it grew. It stung where they broke off, leaving tiny yellow droplets of blood beading on the skin. The skin was still segmented bark, but patterned to be smoother and not grate together so badly at the edges. Only a Cheem body could be grown using the methods Bog and the Doctor had worked out from the data in the primrose. It would take years for a body to slowly take on a more human structure.

“Maybe we should try pods,” the Doctor said. She was pulling hard, but Bog's arm was still attached, “big old pods, bodysnatcher style.”

“Why didn't you make that suggestion half a dozen bodies ago?!”

“I was thinking trees, not peas.”

“Stupid!” Dawn smacked her forehead with the heel of her hand, knocking her glasses askew, “We got too hung up on plants and forgot all about the human aspects! A pod would be so much easier to program a template into and minimize the need for roots to gain nutrients because the body would be suspended in--”

“Miracle-gro?” the Doctor suggested.

“Hate you,” Bog muttered, getting to his feet and brushing dirt off. After the first attempt at growing and piloting a new body Bog had quickly figured out how to add a simple, separate, fabric-like growth in the shape of pants.

“Good, good, the cheekbones came out nicely,” the Doctor nodded in satisfaction before reaching up and pinching Bog's dirt-encrusted cheeks.

Bog was embarrassed to feel himself blush, but also pleased. The body felt real. Almost as if it were him and not just a remote-controlled drone. His real body—real self—was still firmly rooted to the inside of Roland's former Tardis. With a thought Bog could be pulled right back into that prison. Right back into reality.

“Someone is in loooove,” Dawn giggled.

“I'm allowed to appreciate an aesthetically pleasing face!” the Doctor huffed.

“It's the first one I've ever seen you appreciate, sis. Or consistently recognize.”

“He's easy. He's the one covered in bark.”

Bog smacked the back of her head.

“Hey!”

“Oh, so sorry. My reflexes must still be off kilter.”

The Doctor punched him in the stomach.

“I hope this isn't standard courtship stuff for Time Ladies,” Sunny said, standing on his tiptoes behind Dawn so he could rest his chin on her shoulder, “I bruise easily.”

“Sunny, I've seen you fall off a ten foot wall and walk away without a scratch. I'm theorizing that you're either an alien with enhanced resilience or a sudden leap in human evolution.”

“Don't disrespect my skills like this. I am one hundred percent token human and have collected enough bruises and broken bones to take down an elephant before I reached true mastery of parkour.”

“It isn't natural, it just isn't natural. And these bizarre courtship rituals are exclusive to my sister and her lovesick Larch.”

“I'm going out on a limb here and guessing Larch is some kind of tree.”

“Limb,” Dawn snickered, “that's a good one.”

Bog's leather jacket still fit.

Was it 'still' when the body he was wearing had never worn the jacket before?

His tattoos were gone. No, again, the tattoos had never been inked into the tough skin of this body, on the twined bundles of roots that mimicked the shape of arms. The hands he flexed had never picked up a guitar, the feet that were digging their toes into the dirt had never walked on Earth.

Because they weren't on Earth at the moment.

“One of seven Earth-like planets orbiting a dwarf-star called Trappist-1, recently discovered by Danish scientists,” Dawn had explained, “rather less sunlight than Earth, but suitable for a weird Bog garden. Humans will start colonizing in the thirtieth century. Until then it's like your own personal planet.”

Bog had viewed the scenery on the monitors, his interest piqued by a brand-new, untouched planet, “Can I name it, then?”

“Frank,” the Doctor immediately suggested, “or Earthy. Not Earth. Nearth. Frank Nearth. Frank Nearth the Second.”

“You are not allowed to name anything. Ever.”

“What's wrong with New Earth?” Sunny asked.

“Already taken. Or will be,” Dawn shrugged.

“Also that's totally boring,” the Doctor added, “hey, what about calling it Broden? Planet Broden.”

“Never mind,” Bog said, “we're not naming the planet. Not if I have to deal with this.”

Now Bog stood outside Roland's hair salon Tardis, watching Trappist-1 sink behind the horizon. A pristine planet, untouched by the industry of humans—or any intelligent species—and a cheap hair salon was parked in the middle of a grassy meadow, a neon 'open' sign blinking red and blue in the growing dark.

“I guess we've got a keeper,” the Doctor said.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I don't seem to be shedding anything important.”

The Doctor took Bog's hand.

And stabbed his fingertip with a needle.

“Yup,” she said, ignoring Bog's yelp, “nerve endings are good.”

“Wasn't there some nicer way of checking that?!”

“Don't be a sapling about it. You're not even bleeding.”

“Hmf.”

“Connection is holding. Since you're real body is hooked up to a Tardis you're very unlikely to experience signal loss, no matter where or when you might be. All data you collect in your avatar body will be relayed back to the original so even if the avatar body is damaged you won't lose any—any . . . “

The Doctor stammered her way to a stop when Bog brushed his fingertips over her cheek. Was it the newness of his body that made it seem that his fingers were more sensitive than before? Or maybe it was just the novelty of touching a person with affection.

“I guess . . . I guess that's a nicer way to check nerve sensitivity,” the Doctor remarked awkwardly. She hitched up her shoulder and squinted her eyes when Bog's hand traveled down her neck, but it was only a few moments before she was leaning into his touch, eyes half-shut.

“This really is me, isn't it?” Bog asked quietly, “My body? My hand?”

“Do you want me to be scientific of philosophic about it?” the Doctor had her arms folded tight in front of herself, making no move to reach out to Bog, “I've got a good repertoire built up.”

“I wouldn't mind a straightforward comforting lie.”

“I'm good at lies. Bad at comforting.”

Bog let his fingers coast over the back of her neck, counting the vertebrae that made gentle rises in her skin. The contact helped him feel real. It made the Doctor feel real. She was a strange being, too big inside for him to fully understand, too quick for him to catch unless she stood still and let herself be caught. She was always running and even now, in this moment, it didn't feel like she had really stopped.

“New bodies . . . I've had loads. They come with memories of worlds you've walked a thousand times, but never walked before. At least you get to say the same height. I had to lower all the shelves so I could reach things without a step ladder.”

“Doesn't it bother you? Not to be yourself anymore?”

The Doctor shrugged, “Sometimes there are things you're glad to leave behind.”

Bog's fingers had been pushing the Doctor's hair back behind her ear and he paused, looking at the familiar shape of unfamiliar hands.

Hands that had never held a gun.

“I see,” Bog gently rubbed away a smudge of dirt near the Doctor's hairline, “I see.”

“You wake up and it all begins again. There's the whole universe, new again, waiting for you, and you've got a brand new set of eyes that see everything differently than you've ever seen them before. I'm glad we got your eyes right. I was afraid we might get the wrong shade.”

“Hm,” Bog toyed with the lapels of the Doctor's coat, “this is all a new beginning, is what you're saying.”

“Things begin and end every day. Some are just more noticeable than others. Today you set a clock to count down the ten years, more or less, until you're avatar is more human than Cheem. And I've set my own timer . . .”

The Doctor looked out over the fields and Bog followed her gaze to Sunny and Dawn. The two were pulsing the light on the end of Dawn's screwdriver to attract fireflies. Or some sort of firefly creatures. They actually looked more like flying, glowing spiders.

Bog tugged on the Doctor's coat, making her turn away from the scene. Dawn and Sunny were beginning something, something bright and fresh. They carried their own hurts and worries, but the both of them were fundamentally sound and happy in a way that Bog and the Doctor could never be. Sooner or later Dawn's path would diverge from her sister's.

“She's not gone yet,” Bog said softly.

“That's one of the things about being a Time Lord,” the Doctor said, her head lowered, hiding her eyes in shadow, “you see more endings than you should.”

“Doesn't that just mean you see more beginnings, too?”

The Doctor looked up, slight frown on her face while she took in his words. Something seemed to click into place because she laughed, her painted lips twisting into a reluctant smile, “I think I'm starting to see why I keep you around, Bog.”

“I thought it was for my good looks.”

“I guess you're alright. For a tree. I wonder if you'll turn red and orange in the autumn, because that would be spectacular.”

Bog tugged on her coat, pulling her closer as he bent down, “You're completely bizarre.”

He gave her a brief kiss, confirming that the nerve endings in his lips were functioning properly. He took a breath and looked into the Doctor's eyes. It was hard to say whether the stars he saw there were a reflection of the night sky or from the vast universe she carried within her.

A sudden thought tickled Bog and he laughed.

“What?” the Doctor drew back.

Bog pulled her back, “I was just thinking, technically, that was my first kiss.”

Dawn let the twelve-legged insect dance over her hand while it followed the light from the screwdriver, “It wants to play! I thought it was like fireflies and it was a mating thing, but it's just that he wants to play, like crows. What smart little things.”

“Pretty too, in their weird way,” Sunny picked one out of his hair and shooed it back into the air.”

The two of them stood, knee-deep in grass, surrounding by the winking of the insects and the steady light of the stars. It was cool and the wind was rustling mysteriously in the grass.

“Is it over, then?” Sunny asked, holding Dawn's hand while they watched the sky.

“I guess it is. For the moment.”

“You'll take me back and drop me off in time for my shift, just like none of this happened.”

“I guess.”

Sunny's chest felt tight. Dawn was going to go whirling off into the stars. He would be stuck on Earth, just like before, except this time he would know that he was stuck. Before it was just life. You walked on the surface of the world and knew that anything beyond that was out of your reach.

“I mean,” Dawn took his other hand and swung their hands back and forth a little, “if you want. But after your shift ends . . . are you free?”

The cord tied around Sunny's chest broke and fell away, leaving him able to breathe freely again. The shy look on Dawn's face, the puffs of her hair nodding in the breeze, the sparkle of light glittering from under her eyelashes . . . she was beautiful. She was new. Her sister was like some ancient stone, craggy furrows worn into her by time and trouble. Dawn, just like her name, was new, just peeking over the horizon. Sunny wanted to follow her and see new things together.

“Well,” Sunny could only barely keep himself from grinning, “actually, I kind of have a family dinner I have to help set up. Big deal, the whole family, aunts, uncles, cousins. Even an army of plant people could stop us.”

“Oh,” Dawn dropped his hands, drooping a little, “yeah. Can't skip out on family. I guess we'll just—”

“But,” Sunny took her hands again, “are you free to come to the dinner?”

“Your family dinner?”

“Yeah, we're all allowed to bring dates, but only if we're super serious. No casual flings allowed. It's my grandma's rule. Family only.”

“Family only?”

“Yeah, well,” Sunny's face was suddenly hot, “I mean, I don't know how this is going to end up, but . . . I'm—I'm kind of serious. About you.”

Dawn's face lit up brighter than all the stars and lightning bugs around them. She grabbed Sunny by the shoulders and pulled him into a kiss, pushing away all her thoughts about the terrible revelations of the last few days while she slid her fingers through his hair.

Those were endings.

This was a beginning.

Not Exactly The End

I plan to do several epilogues to fill in some details. But, basically, this is over. Y’all got any questions you want answered that were in the main story? Lemme know and I can incorporate them into the epilogues.

thank you all so so much for reading this super random crossover and enduring endless tree puns

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NEW RED DWARF WALL E AU CHAPTER UP FINALLY!!

Finally getting to meet Cat and also getting to the proper shippy phase gang, enjoy!!!

[iiep-wop]

So yall remember that Red Dwarf Wall E AU I was working on right??

the one I definitely didn't get massive writers block on and give up posting for a solid 5 months despite having most of a chapter written just with lots of gaps which I still need to fill in

Well burnout came up and distracted me (as well as my exams lol) but I have various parts of a chapter which I think I am happy with

And I know the chapters were usually about 5000 words each, but I am tempted to post the first scene of this chapter solo, this scene being about 1000 words, just so I can post something because it has been a hot minute since yall have gotten anything Wall E AU related and I want to ease myself back into updating a lil bit, especially since its the hols and I actually have time to spare for once in my life.

So the main reason for this post is just to see if a shorter chapter would be alright with everyone and also to let you all know to keep your eyes out for a potential update soon :D

[iiep-wop]

Y'ALL THE NEXT WALL-E AU CHAPTER IS DONE!!!

So you guys remember when I made that post saying I'd just upload the first thousand words of this chapter, I ended up getting a load of inspiration and then wrote the whole thing lol

Burnout is gone babyyy

Anyway more of this nonsense with these idiots <33

[iiep-wop]

More random Lore stuff for the Wall-E AU :D

Lister/ WALL-E lore

-This is what the inside of Lister's storage container house thing is supposed to be laid out like, the dimensions are probably not accurate at all to what size it would be but yk

Also it's supposed to be decorated very similarly to Wall E's actual home, hence the picture from the film for reference

It's supposed to be small and kinda cramped but I don't think it comes across like that in my sketch lolll

-To clear up any ambiguity, Lister was dating Kochanski before everything happened

-The storage container already sort of doubled up into a moving house type thing (because it's on wheel treadmill type things (I think that's what those are called)) in order to make it easier to cover a larger area without people trekking back to the workers centre every evening

-Kochanski, Petersen and the others helped Lister decorate and most of the furniture is salvaged

Rimmer/EVE lore

-an EVE isn't supposed to have a visor like Rimmer does

-there is supposed to be more than one EVE

-EVE's have been to earth before but Rimmer specifically hasn't ever been

-after a set period of time, an EVE can leave and enter the pod at will

Cat, Kryten and Holly lore when we finally meet them!!! (Next couple of chapters and we should have finally met them all)

-Cat will be the last character of the original ones to be introduced btw