#she was more fun when she was just a normal archaeologist sorry.

[mummer]

a good man goes to war probably the Most doc who episode of all time. The epic highs and lows of moffat. it’s possible that trying to combine your screwball high flying funky star wars homage episode with your self serious very important character and plot development episode is stupid and does not work… or maybe it does? But of course combined with one of the most insanely dumb plot reveals of all time, to have ever happened on this earth. But also karen gillan acting down. But also… flesh baby. Look how they impregnated my girl literally probably the most fucked up and evil thing to happen to a companion like whatttt is this? BUT ALSO THE INTRO OF VASTRA AND JENNY AND STRAX. But also flesh baby…..Unless flesh baby is secretly awesome? im coming around to flesh baby. But also amy trapped in a well george lucas gave his girls more agency in the 70s moffat you freak. Is this episode legendarically terrible is it Really cool and awesome and ambitious and doing the most all the time are there themes. Can we unpack this. No. Like it’s literally all in service of some stupid bullshit really.. But what if it wasnt

[one-idea]

I love your wado ichimoji pov posts! Your only in whisky peak and show devotion well in an inanimate object well "my dumass son" (affectionately) *less than 2 weeks after starting to travel with others, the captain still believes after them losing badly*: I have 2 to protect now my son and a little king. What I'm really looking forward to 1. resignation at some point is that Sandai Kitetsu is going to continue to be here 2. the treasure trove of Timeskip on Mihawk's creepy would produce 3. sibling time with enma (Christ they have been made by the same person but wados going to be the only voice of reason between the 3).

Thank you so much!!! Sorry this took me a hot minute to respond to.

I really love that au and I want to work on it more.

As I am only in Thriller Bark I can’t speak in earnest about all of your ideas (yet) but I can hit one.

1. Wado excepting that Sandai Kitsune is here to stay.

They come to a begrudging understanding at the end of Whiskey Peak. Wado still doesn’t like Sandai and hopes Zoro gets ride of it, but at least Sandai has respect for the captain now.

It’s Alabaster where Zoro learns to cut steal when the two finally start to have a smidgen of respect for each other. After all Zoro uses all three blades to cut steal, if Sandai was truly a weak blade she would have broken by now.

Through Jaya and Skypia all three blades are focused on protecting Captain and crew. Gaining respect for some of the other crewmates (namely Robin) though throughout it all Wado is still waiting for Zoro to find a better sword.

It isn’t until Water 7 and Enies Lobby. When all three blades are in unity fighting to save one of their own. Because their King and Master wants the Archaeologist back. Because the King has lead them to an incredible fight, a test of their Skills. Because their King keeps asking them to do the impossible with total confidence that they can, they won’t let him down. (The sea train is going to be fun)

It isn’t until Yabashiri is destroyed that Wado realizes she wasn’t ready to lose either companion.

It’s been so long since she had traveled with companions who had voices. These were the first blades Zoro had, besides her, that had distinguishable voices. To hear one of those go out rattles both Wado and Sandai.

The rust man could have grabbed any of them but he grabbed Yabashiri. Her voice was gone. It takes sometime for both Wado and Sandai to come to terms with that.

While Wado is still annoyed with Sandai and her violent tendencies, she’s mellowed under Zoro’s care. Her bloodthirsty now matches his own. And while she does occasionally cry out for blood, it’s normally because of a threat to King or crew. She no longer calls for the blood of just anyone, only outside threats. Problem is those threats haven’t always attacked them yet. (Sandai’s more of a if we kill it before it can attack it can’t hurt them, sort of protector)

Wado and her still butt heads, but Sandai made it this far as a Grade blade, she’s not going anywhere soon.

Once in Thriller Bark, once they gain Shushi, another one of the 21 Great grade blades, a fully realized black blade, and Wado’s sibling to boot. Things get shaken up again.

Where Wado is motherly and protective of her dumb son’s dreams and loved ones. Aligned with Zoro in dream and crew, knowing him the longest and living up his values.

And Kitsune is Zoro’s bloodthirstiness. His violence but also protective fury. Zoro changed her from pure bloodshed to reflect his own violence. She reflects his more aggressive side.

Yabashiri was quite. One to follow Wado’s lead but still had its own personality. In that offered caution. She reflects Zoro’s observation. The ability to tell what is and isn’t a threat and when to act.

Shushi is different. Shushi already had a master take it to the full extent of its power. He is stronger and more durable. Increasing Zoro’s strength and forcing the others to rise to his level. Zoro cannot take this blade farther, rather he must rise to meet its strength and durability. Harding himself and his other blades to become the strong unbreakable protector of the crew.

Wado and Sandai are not (yet) black blades they can still grow and rise with Zoro’s power. Shushi is both a greatly needed boost and a challenge to rise to. He often thinks back on his prior master and compares Zoro to him. (He is quite pleased to be wielded by a descendent of his beloved Shimotsuki Ryuma)

Once I get to Zoro training with Mihawk I’ll talk more about them. But it’s going to be really fun to write all three swords interacting with Yoru. But it’s also going to be hard on Wado. Up until then Zoro favored her as his one sword style blade. But after his time with Mihawk it switches to Shushi. A stronger more durable blade. While the switch makes sense, I’m sure it was a hard transition for both Wado and Zoro. And I’m excited to write on it.

I am so excited to get to Wado and get Enma. It’s a needed change for Zoro to push forward. While Enma has great power on its own, it’s not yet a permanent black blade. There is still room to grow and strengthen along side Zoro. Shushi couldn’t grown anymore. Zoro had mastered it, he rose to the challenge and surpassed it. Now he needs to bring his own blades to the top.

(I really hope one of his blades becomes permanently black by the end of the show. I want it to be Wado)

Right now I’m in Thriller Bark, but the platform im watching on only has the show up to Marineford/ASL adventures so once I get through all of that, I will either rewatch all pre-time skip and start writing my Wado Ichimoji POV au and Reverse Strawhats while I wait for the platform to put up more episodes or I’ll crack and get a new subscription to watch post time skip. Only time will tell.

[odybee]

G/t Secret Santa Gift

@sugarthegecko hello! I'm your Secret Santa. I'm sorry it took me this long to get this gift to you, things have been a bit hectic where I am.

I wanted to try something new and wrote a one shot! It also comes with a few colored sketches I made along the way of the two antagonists. I will put the drawings at the end of the story. Hope you enjoy!

---===+===------===+===------===+===------===+===---

Hadotrauma

Word count- 3854

Contains: Intentional fearplay, implied vore (let me know if you think I should add more here, this is my first time posting something like this)

---===+===---

It was a beautiful day to be beneath the waves. The normally dull weather that hangs over the Bermuda Triangle was set to clear for the entire week, leaving uncharacteristically safe conditions for a reconnaissance mission that Jack had been losing his little mind over for months.

A small vessel carrying a family heirloom, a gold-crested lock box dating back a few hundred years, had gotten hit by a stray wave, forcing the captain onto a lifeboat as his ship capsized and quickly sank. The good news is that the captain survived, which is how Jack got enough information to take the job at all. His recounting of where the boat was when it went under was spot on too, which is especially nice because finding out where the wreck is was only half the battle for this particular job. See, in escaping the ship with his life, the captain wasn’t able to get the lockbox, meaning it went down with his ship. The family it belonged to was less than thrilled, to say the very least.

And that’s when Jack heard about it. The family was willing to pay a fortune to whoever stepped up and got the box back; not that Jack was diving for an extra paycheck. Even before he had decided he wanted to be a marine archaeologist, he'd been enamored with stories of the mythical Bermuda Triangle. Tales of monsters appearing from its shadowy depths, however unrealistic, were something he liked to think about to keep his job interesting when things got slow. He could just see a megalodon’s lifeless eye peering up at him from the inky water, just waiting for him to get close enough to-

“Helloo, Jack? You there?” A voice sounded from the receiver in Jack’s mask, making him jump a little in surprise.

“M-Huh? Sorry Lori, yea, I’m here.”

“Good. Please try to focus? There could be sharks or marlins.”

“Of course, my bad.”

Lori is Jack’s assistant. A bit of a hardass, but he’s been getting through to her lately. Once the nerves of jumping into the water and sinking into the dark wear off and it’s just the two of them, she can be really fun to talk to. For however long the communications decide to keep working in their masks, that is. Water pressure doesn’t play nice with lightweight electronics.

As the silent descent continued and Jack made a mental note to complain to his manager, a boxy silhouette began taking form in the sea of shadows beneath him. A thin line of bubbles excitedly glimmering in the glow of Jack’s headlight made its way up from the shape,  meaning they were right on target.

“Bingo! You got an eye on it, Lori?”

“Sure do. Here’s hoping my camera’s still works, I just got a new lens for it.”

“Camera? Ooo, we actually gonna try to get a picture of a sea monster?”

“As much as I’d love to, no. Our clients just said they wanted to see where the box ended up. Plus, it’s great publicity. Tourist subs don’t get this far down. I’ll send you a postcard from the kraken’s stomach if we end up finding one though.” Lori fidgeted with the bulky tool as she descended a little ways above Jack, ensuring that nothing was gunking up the lens.

“What? You can’t get eaten! I’d be all alone down here..”

“A great white shark once said, ‘fish are friends, not food’. You can be friends with the kraken, or you can join me in its belly.”

“Yea yea, I bet the fish would be fresh in there anyways.” Jack made first contact with the wreckage now just beneath his feet as Lori playfully responded in disgust. The white plating of the boat’s hull barely had time to erode, much less allow algae growth, so it almost looked like it could float again. And it probably could have, were it not for the captain’s incompetence. Jack had thought it sounded strange for just one stray wave to send a boat under so quickly, so it was likely that the poor guy just didn’t do proper maintenance on the vessel’s coolant pipes and didn’t want to admit it. Nothing short of a missile could send a boat down that easily otherwise.

Feeling satisfied with his inspection of the boat’s port side, Jack made his way up to the open door of what appeared to be the helm. Peering in, there looked to be a small ladder leading down from right behind the captain’s controls.

“Okay, I’m gonna start looking for the box. You coming?”

“Yea, just getting some pictures of the outside first. Let me know when you find it so we can swap out. The two of us might clog up the cabin if we both go.”

“Aah, good thinking. Alright, I’ll let you know.” And into the wreckage he went.

---===+===---

“What the hell is that? Some kind of malformed angler fish?”

“I’m trying to tell you dude, it’s a human! I saw another one swim into that wreck, too!”

Nac layed low to the seabed, shyly pointing a claw at a tiny figure as it waved a cone of light around in the water. Every now and then it would suddenly flash an even brighter light from a box in its hands, then swim off to flash it at something else. Nac had to suppress a startled flinch in his tail at the brightness.

Nac’s more squid-shaped friend Rel rested in the seabed alongside him, squinting in confusion at the little human as it floundered about, flashing its light seemingly at random. “I didn’t know humans had lures, nor that they came down this deep. Are you absolutely positive that it isn’t just a big angler? I’m hungry.”

“Yes! Positive! I’m pretty sure that one’s ‘lure’ is just another human gadget, which I’ll bet is how they got all the way down here too. Cool, right?”

“Yea, I guess,” Rel sighed. “Oh well, they’re small but they’ll have to do. Dibs on this one,” he finished as he tried to take off from the sand. But before he could get anywhere, Nac latched onto one of his tentacles and held fast.

“Ugh, what is it Nac?”

“Jeez, chill out for a second, dude! We never get to see humans down here. Could we at least..” Nac’s tail twitched a bit as his eyes lit up. “Could we at least mess with them a little first? You’re hungry, I’m bored, it’s a win-win!”

Rel pulled back and put two fingers up to his chin, mulling over Nac’s proposal. “Mmm fine. But I’m taking both of them.”

“What? Hey! I’ve never tried human either, dude! Share!” Nac pouted, his claws subconsciously digging into Rel’s flesh.

“Ow! Okay, fine! I’ll take the one closest, you take the one in the wreck. Now would you please let go?”

“Sounds good, buddy! Have fun and don’t get hooked!” Nac exclaimed as he bolted off into the dark.

“Right.” Rel moped, staring at his prey. The passengers on this boat were supposed to have been his anyway! How was he supposed to know that it was only empty because the one thing he sank it for had gotten away?

Whatever. Perhaps this really would be more fun.

---===+===---

“What was that?”

Lori’s voice came on suddenly after silence had taken hold of the comms for a good ten minutes, making Jack bump his head against the ship’s hull. Ow!

“If you mean the sounds coming from the boat, that would be my head slamming against the hull.”

“No no, it wasn’t a sound, just..” Lori went quiet for a moment. “Nevermind. I’m seeing things.”

“We can call the expedition early if you want,” Jack checked his oxygen gauge. “I could do with a fresh tank anyway. We’re gonna have to make stops on the way up.”

“It’s fine, just keep looking for the box. I’m done out here.” Lori swiveled her head around as she made her way up to the door that Jack’d swam in through, but she couldn’t see anything. It was all black past the cone of her headlight, which was beginning to feel uncomfortably small. “Could you hurry up please? The water isn’t getting any warmer.”

“Sheesh, alright, hold on. I just need to- Ah! There it is! Lori, I found the-”

…

“Hello? Jack, you there?”

But the comms were nothing but static. It wasn’t exactly a surprise; these microphones were in desperate need of an upgrade. But something didn’t feel right this time. Something felt terribly, terribly wrong. There was a shadow, some inky blot that kept just to the corners of her eyes. It could be a shoal of fish, but then, why would it move like that? It’s almost as if.. As if..

Lori jumped violently as a few rhythmic knocks sounded from the boat’s main body, a signal that she and Jack had come up with the first time their microphones cut out to make sure they could still keep track of each other in the wreckage. She swam close to the hull to return the knocks, and as she did so, something brushed past her foot.

Immediately, Lori flipped around and prepared to bop a shark in the nose, but nothing was there. It was still just water, sand, and the void beyond her light, unknown and unyielding. She could feel her heartbeat start to pick up, the claustrophobic confines of her suit seeming to constrict her body in nervous warmth.

Just then, through the static of Lori’s mask, Jack’s voice started coming back through. “Hellooo? Loriii? Lori Dory Oreo, you there?” 

Lori steadied herself, the relief of hearing Jack’s voice overshadowed by the intense need to stay completely on alert as she took a moment to respond. “Jack, I think something is here.”

“Uuh yea? There is a boat, maybe some fish, and this totally awesome box that I’m coming out to let you take a picture of.”

“No, Jack, I mean something is in the water. I think it’s watching us.”

Jack laughed in cruel dismission. “Oh haha Lori. Good try, but I’m not that easy to scare. Good on you for taking the opportunity while we’re here, though!”

“Jack, seriously. We have to go right now. Screw the bends, we just need to-”

“Need to what?” 

… 

“Lori? Did this stupid thing cut out again?”

“It sees me.”

“What? What sees you? Lori, are you okay?”

…

“Lori, come on, this isn’t funny anymore. I’ll be out in a sec, just hang ti-”

…

The feed cut to static once more, leaving Lori completely alone, staring at two huge, luminous yellow eyes like a guppy in floodlights. She wanted to move, wanted to swim up and out of the water with all her might, but she simply couldn’t. The thing’s gaze froze her muscles into place, as if the water itself had turned to ice.

Without warning, a ginormous clawed hand shot out from the black shroud, enveloping Lori’s entire body before she could even scream.

Lori wasted no time in thrashing against the creature’s flesh with everything she had. The utility knife that’d been clipped to her belt was instantly freed, wildly slashing an escape into the walls of her pale prison. The creature loosened its grip in response, but only just enough to let Lori’s head pop out while it squeezed the life out of her. Even as dark spots began taking up her vision, she dared to look up at its face.

Dark, navy blue skin beautifully complimented the yellow eyes of a face that looked insultingly human, apart from two long, pointy ears. Long, white hair unfurled from the top of its head; each lock a set of tangling waves to further drown Lori’s hopes in. But she was too exhausted to fight now; any oxygen she had was forced from her lungs. Unwilling to gaze into the creature’s maw, she let the last of her waking moments be spent looking into its eyes.

She wondered why it looked so disappointed.

And all went dark.

---===+===---

“Lori? Lori?! Goddamnit, this stupid microphone! One second Lori, I’ll be right out!” Jack called into the dark cabins of the boat, his fists banging against the walls as he made his way out. In all his panic, Jack hadn’t realized that he made a wrong turn somewhere along the way, placing him on the starboard side of the hull’s interior.

Right where he could see a huge, perfectly circular gash that’d been punched into the ship’s metal plating.

“What the hell?! But he said-” but he had no time to waste. He had to get out of the ship right now, and he figured the breach should be just large enough to let him through, even with all his gear on.

Without a second thought, Jack grabbed the edges of the hole and prepared to hoist himself out into the open water. He only needed one mighty kick, and then he’d be able to find Lori and get the hell out of he-

“Hello~”

..!

Jack snapped his head up at the sudden noise, only to be met face-to-face with some massive thing with a human face. It had a long, toothy grin on its pale, scarred countenance, and every one of its teeth looked sharp enough to cut diamond.

…

Jack retreated back into the boat.

He clawed onto any surface he could in an attempt to force himself deeper into the ship’s body, desperate to get away from the thing just outside the paper thin walls. Jack could hear it chuckle as he clamored away, but just as he had clung onto a door, the thing started sucking water out through the breach. The force of the current was so strong that Jack’s hands were ripped away from the doorframe, sending him careening into the beast’s terrible jaws.

Rather than being instantly ripped apart, Jack growled into his mask as his stomach was met with several rows of teeth and his tank clinked against the thing’s lower set. The sharp points were catching on the fabric of his suit, just barely avoiding cutting into his skin. In an attempt to regain his bearings, he curled up and placed his hands against the monster’s lips, desperately trying to ignore the fact that he was about to be bitten in half.

“Nac, would you quit toying with it? I’m still hungry and the sun will be down soon.” another voice suddenly chided from somewhere behind Jack’s head.

“One shecond,” the sharkish creature responded, its voice rattling through Jack’s skull like a bell. “Itsh really hutting uh a hight!”

The other voice gained an edge in its tone. “Don’t speak with your mouth full.”

Jack’s fruitless struggle against the shark’s jaws suddenly came to a halt as it plucked him out of its lips like a cherry stem, thankfully with all of his lower body intact, except the utility knife that was supposed to be clipped to his hip was gone. Fingers were wrapped around him just as he tried to kick away, and there he continued to squirm.

“I said it’s really putting up a fight! See? Look at this one go! Even now it’s still wiggling around.”

“Yea, they tend to do that when they’re about to die. Speaking of, you should really be getting on with it.”

“Whatever dude, I was getting to that!”

The hand holding Jack’s entire body in place loosened up, allowing his blood to run cold and fast at the sight of an approaching maw. His headlight served to reveal every gruesome detail he hadn’t been privy to from the beast’s lips, including bits of viscera stuck between its three rows of teeth.

What if thats-

“OH MY GOD, WAIT, WAIT! PLEASE!” Jack pleaded through his mask after suppressing a gag. But his cries didn’t even reach the shark, not even a flinch came of its ears.

Flippers met the surface of the monster's tongue. It was too soft to push off of, not that anything he did would allow him to escape. The shark’s gills were probably quivering in anticipation, waiting to bring him down, down, down. What more could he do but jam his eyes shut and.. and..!

“STOP!!”

…

A pause. It seemed to last an eternity. Jack’s mouth had opened, but he didn’t know why. Let alone that it had released a sound loud enough to rival the thing he was about to be silenced by.

…

“Nac, please. This is getting old. And why do you look like that? It doesn’t taste that bad.”

The monster, henceforth known as Nac, once again plucked Jack out of his jaws, then brought Jack to the front of his face. The two stared at each other, both some strange mix of horrified and confused.

“Did.. did you hear that?” Nac spoke, almost in a coo. “I think it just talked to me.”

“Oh sure, Nac, because that makes complete sense. Listen, if you don’t want to eat it that badly, just give it to me. No need to make up such utter nonsense.”

“No, really!” Nac’s voice shot up again. Jack felt like he was going to implode. “I think it made a word! Like, a word word! Listen, I bet it can do it again, see?”

Jack was abruptly turned around and presented to a second enormous creature with a human face, this one having a tentacled lower half and extremely long hair. If the lack of care Nac had in handling Jack’s body didn’t kill him first, then surely his heart would pound hard enough to escape from his chest.

The other creature raised an eyebrow at Jack, then sighed and leaned in so he was close to its ear. He supposed that meant he was supposed to speak, but the words weren’t coming out. The lump in his throat just wouldn’t al-

“Ow! QUIT IT!” Jack yelled, feeling three rough taps against the top of his helmet. The navy blue creature in front of him jumped slightly. Jack froze in place.

“See! I told you!” Nac barked as his friend pulled away.

“B-but, how is that even-” it paused. “I’ll be.. Right back.”

The other monster’s tentacles disappeared into the abyss, leaving Jack and Nac alone together. For a moment, they just stared at each other in silence, but Nac was quick to fill it with a torrent of questions and niceties.

“This is so gnarly, dude! Oh my god, hiii! I can actually say that now and it isn’t weird! Do you think it’s weird to talk to fish? Rel says it's stupid because they can’t understand what you’re saying, so it’s even more weird that you of all things would be able to talk back! Do you have a name? Do humans even have names? Do you guys know any other fish like us? Go on, talk!” 

Nac’s smile returned to his face, somehow even larger than it’d been when Jack was trapped halfway inside of it. This couldn’t possibly be happening. It had to be some sort of decompression-induced fever dream. In just a moment, Jack would wake up to Lori squawking at him to get back on the boat.

Wait..

“LORI!” Nac’s ears twitched as Jack piped up again. “Where is Lori?!”

Nac’s slit eyes seemed to stare straight through Jack at the question.

“Aheheh, erm, uh, well, about that. The other human, they’re..” Nac looked around as though trying to catch her swimming away. “Theeeyyy’rrreee- oh! They’re right there! See? Rel has them!”

Nac turned Jack and pointed into the dark, where two yellow spots preceded the return of the second giant creature, Rel. In its hand was the comparatively small, black-and-silver form of Lori, lying completely still.

“O-oh my god. Oh my GOD! LORI! LORI!” Jack began squirming again, wanting nothing more than to make sure his friend was okay. But the shark held firm.

“Calm down, this human is fine.. Somehow. I felt its heart beating through this extra layer of skin you wear. Is it how you two managed to get down here?” Rel quizzed Jack, who had ceased struggling to lock eyes with the thing holding his friend.

“I-I, just..” Jack checked his oxygen gauge. Less out of necessity, and more out of habit for the sheer fact that not a bone in his body wanted him looking these monsters in the eyes. Forty-five minutes remaining, miraculously. He steeled himself, “Could you please, please bring us back up? I need to know if she’s okay.”

“Eh? Why would we need to go up?” Nac swam to Rel’s side, turning Jack along the way so that both monsters were in his view. “Are you trying to leave?”

“No! No, we just.. Our tanks only have enough time left for a few stops, and I don’t want Lori to get the bends. It might kill her if we don’t take our time.” As much as he wanted to get out of the water, Jack knew that it would only make matters worse if he wasn’t careful. Though he couldn’t see Lori’s actual condition, he chanced a guess that it wasn’t great if she’d passed out. Even if the monsters were just toying with him again, asking for their help was a risk he had to take. It didn’t seem like either of them wanted him gone anyway.

“Right.” Rel said promptly, though he looked at Jack like he’d just grown an extra head. “And, what exactly does that mean? Can’t you breathe here?” “..What?” Jack felt like he’d been slapped in the face. What kind of a question.. “N- Okay, you know what, wait. How about this. I’ll explain everything on the way up, and if you really want to, we can chat on the boat. I’ll also let you know when to stop and go, that way we can avoid barotrauma. Does that sound okay?”

…

“Yea, sure dude! Sounds good!” Nac, surprise surprise, put on a big stupid grin once again.

“I.. Suppose so. Just, don’t try to leave. Okay?” Though it seemed like Rel had composed himself, his eye twitched a smidge as he looked at Jack again.

Jack shrank back a little. “No problem!”

Jack wasn’t sure how long either of their composures would last in the long, cold journey back up to the surface, but he had to hope that it would be enough time for him to at least see Lori awake again. He himself had questions for the two sentient fish men he was somehow communicating with, and he had to admit that it was a bit exciting. Never once did he think that the stories he’d been told as a child were anywhere close to reality, and yet here he was, wrapped in the claws of a megalodon and conversing with a kraken, all while being in one piece. Of all the things to come of this trip beneath the waves, only one was certain.

It was going to be a long way up.

---===+===------===+===------===+===------===+===---

(This last drawing is a reference to a Spongebob scene. Just seemed in-character for a guy like Nac)

[presidentdisastraofgallifrey]

Rating Every Nu Who Episode: Season 6

A Christmas Carol: 9/10 this episode is so sad and sweet and hopeful and about how you have to live now because if you save life for later you'll never get to it.

The Impossible Astronaut: 6/10 and thus begins one of my least favorite arcs that could have been so interesting but isn't. Does get some points because seeing him die and then running into him immediately is funny.

Day of the Moon: 7/10 loses some points for the arc but as an episode is actually pretty fun. I like the Silence.

The Curse of the Black Spot: 8/10 this episode is fun and a nice break.

The Doctor's Wife: 5/10 I really wanted to like this episode, and it has some fun moments, but as a whole feels a little random and outside everything else.

The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People: 4/10 no. Just no. It might stand ok on it's own but as a lead up to anything is very not good.

A Good Man Goes to War: 0/10 one of my least favorite episodes ever. Suddenly Amy has been kidnapped for months, and now she has a baby, but it's not really here and also is River who was taken in by these people that will never be mentioned again but then also taken away by the Silence and raised specifically to kill the Doctor? Nope. River deserves a better backstory and more of her own life, as implied by being a professor and archaeologist. Even Amy deserves better than being reduced to being kidnapped for her baby.

Let's Kill Hitler: 2/10 this one gets a couple points for a lead up that might be interesting, but it is WAY too unlikely that River had all of the following happen in her childhood: (1) raised by a group of people who changed her name to match their language conventions (don't remember their name, sorry), (2) was raised by the silence to kill the Doctor, (3) was abandoned by the silence despite them still wanting the Doctor dead and nearly died on the streets, (4) spent the rest of her childhood somewhere near enough to Amy to be best friends and apparently living a normal enough life to have a best friend, and (5) by college back to being controlled by the Silence. Also absolutely every plot point except the tiny people in the assassin ship is awful.

Night Terrors: 6/10 I mostly like this one actually but there's a paradox that really bugs me: apparently George's anxiety is only triggered by overhearing his parents debate sending him away, but they were only discussing that in the first place because of issues that were apparently caused by said anxiety. Still a sweet story, but it bugs me.

The Girl Who Waited: 8/10 I like future!Amy SO much better than current Amy, but also feel like this is one of the only episodes where Amy really gets to be her own character at all.

The God Complex: 9/10 the worst fears thing is fun, I don't care how little sense it makes.

Closing Time: 8/10 this was a fun break. I like that he speaks baby.

The Wedding of River Song: 2/10 the points only being for the interesting all-history-at-once alternate universe. The plot is awful and I hate it and if their wedding isn't really a wedding but him giving her instructions (or something like that, it's been a while), then when did he tell her his name as previously established? It's the worst and I hate it.

Bonus Character Rating:

Eleven: 7/10 he's kinda fun.

Amy: 1/10 she's worse than last season.

Rory: 1/10 he's kind of just furniture.

River: 6/10 she's still fun but I feel like she lost a lot of agency and personality in this arc.

[beck-a-leck]

Smooch Prompt 12 with Perry and Molly from HMAP?

Oh my gosh, Nonny, I don't know how long this ask was sitting here, so I'm sorry if it's super late!

Again, I haven't played AP, so my characterizations might have been a bit off. But I thought the flower festival on the church grounds would be the perfect place for Molly and Perry to need to sneak off for some secret smooches.

Enjoy!

💋💋💋

Perry equally liked and disliked the Flower Festival. He loved seeing so many people from town in the churchyard, and he loved the gentle perfume of the cherry blossoms on the spring breeze, and he adored watching the delicate pink petals unfurl in the sun. But also, the pastor wished he could see more townsfolk in church at times that didn’t revolve around cherry blossoms blooming, and happy couples holding hands and wandering off at dusk for some ‘not as private as they think’ smooching in the corners of the church yard.

He had to admit to some jealousy, to feeling lovelorn when this romantic festival came around. Unfortunately for him, romance never seemed to be in the cards. He wasn’t sure if people here assumed because he was a holy man, he was celibate, or if perhaps the available dating pool in Harmonica Town just wasn’t deep enough for him too.

Most days he didn’t mind. He loved being the town’s pastor, and even if many residents didn’t come to church as often as he might like, that didn’t mean he life here wasn’t fulfilling. He had many friends, and some people he considered close enough to be family. But any time a romantic festival like the Flower Festival came around, there was a part of him that saw couples holding hands, walking arm in arm, stealing quick kisses, and it ached for the same.

Perry’s heart gave an excited little skip when he saw her walk onto the church grounds. Molly had been in town for a year now, and she was doing quite well on her farm. Perry wasn’t certain how, but he almost felt like he could attribute the farmer to a lot of positive changes he had seen in Harmonica Town over the last year. Molly moved in, and suddenly the world felt a little brighter.

… or perhaps that was just his crush speaking.

He couldn’t say specifically when he’d started feeling this way about the new farmer, but sometime between her regular visits just to say ‘Hi’ and a little help she’d given him last year helping a parishioner Perry had started looking at Molly differently. Of course, by then it was too little too late. Half the eligible men in town were also pursuing the farmer, and compared to some of them, Perry didn’t stand a chance. Last he knew, Molly and Calvin were an item, but… he didn’t see the archaeologist come in with Molly.

Maybe he was going to meet her here.

Molly made her rounds through the church yard, chatting with everyone, but it still didn’t look like her date had shown up, even when everyone else began pairing off and walking around to take in the cherry blossoms. Perry watched curiously as Molly stood by herself near the church. She didn’t look like she had been stood up… more that she was trying to gather her courage. Well, there were still a couple single stragglers milling around.

Then Molly started walking towards Perry, and his heart gave an excited leap before he scolded himself. She just hadn’t come talk to him yet, she was just coming to say ‘hello.’

“Evening, Perry!” True to form, her normal, friendly greeting.

He returned her smile. “Good evening, Molly. How are you?”

“Good, great even.” She looked around, was she nervous? “Nice weather, tonight, huh? It’s really beginning to warm up. And the blossoms look great, huh? Maybe I’m just imagining it, but I think they look prettier than last year. Or… more robust?”

Perry admitted that the trees did seem to be thriving this year, but they’d had a very favorable spring so far. No unexpected, late cold snaps. “It seems Harmonica Town is growing again, it’s been nice seeing so many new faces in town recently.”

“Yeah, it’s been fun…” Molly cleared her throat and then said in such a quick jumble, Perry almost didn’t understand, “Hey, Perry, do you wannagolookattheblossomswithme?”

“What?”

Molly repeated her request a little slower, looking more nervous that he’d ever seen her before. And Perry wanted to jump and shout ‘YES!’ while another part of him muttered dully that she was probably just asking because she didn’t have another date. But he ignored that pessimistic part of his brain, smiled, offered his hand, and said, “I would like that.”

And arm in arm they wandered into the growing dusk, meandering between the trees, looking at the blossoms. They talked, mostly small talk at first, until Molly stopped and took both his hands in hers. She looked deeply into his eyes.

“Listen, Perry, I, um… I don’t know how to say it… but well… I really like you. I have for a long time, but I’ve been too shy to say anything, or do anything. I was wondering… well, I hope that maybe you might feel the same about me.”

Perry’s brain shut down for a good ten seconds as he processed Molly’s words. She liked him too! And not just as a friend or neighbor, but she like liked him! He realized he had been silent for far too long when Molly’s face fell, and she dropped his hands.

“I-I’m sorry if I’ve made things awkward. I just wanted to tell you, and be honest with my feelings. I-it’s okay if you don’t feel the same way. I don’t want us to not be friends, but I understand if maybe that might make things weird. We could… we can… well… I should probably go.”

And Perry’s brain finally kicked into gear. “No wait!” he caught Molly by the wrist. “I-I’m sorry, I just had to process… It was just so sudden and unexpected.” Perry laughed nervously. “I feel the same way, Molly. You’re more to me than just a good friend and neighbor. I… I really like you too.”

Molly’s face lit up. “Really!”

Catching Perry off guard, she threw her hands around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. Perry froze up again, he hadn’t been expecting that. Molly stepped back, and even in the dark he could tell she was blushing.

“Sorry, that was probably a bit too much too fast.”

“No, it’s okay, I was just caught off guard again.” He wanted to kiss her back, so badly, but he hesitated.

The kissing wasn’t the problem. It was more of the location. Perry was fully aware that just a few yards away other people, couples and families, and his parishioners were walking through the cherry trees, and anybody could come up on them at any moment. And something felt incredibly inappropriate for the Pastor to be found kissing his girlfriend in the middle of a festival hosted on the church grounds.

He knew how little privacy there was out here, despite what some people thought the trees and darkness might offer.

“Come with me.”

He took Molly by the hand and led her through the trees, past the other couples snuggling up on blankets under the trees, and led her back to the church. They slipped in through the side door, into blessed privacy. Nobody would bother them in here, nobody would think to even look for them inside the church after hours.

“Now,” Perry pulled Molly close, “We were in the middle of something, weren’t we?” he leaned his head close to Molly and she tilted her chin up until their lips almost brushed. But Perry held back just long enough to ask, “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes, please.” Molly breathed.

[gottawriteanegoortwo]

Yancy x Illinois - First Impressions Aren’t Always the Best

I decided to try properly writing Yanois, just to see how I’d manage it. After rewatching Illinois’ scenes, I think he would get on the nerves of the Yancy I write at first.

Word Count 2,122

(Read more because Illinois talks so much...)

-

Happy Trails Penitentiary was renowned for its rehabilitation initiatives. They had a wide variety of classes and visitors to help prisoners. Educational courses, chances to learn new skills, pen pal projects. Many prisoners would never have the opportunity for such experiences, and it was an integral part of helping them prepare for a better life outside of prison when their sentence was finished.

There was one visitor that most prisoners in Yancy’s ‘Gang’ adored. His name was Illinois, a renowned adventurer and archaeologist. Between his job in the university and research trips, he only had time to visit once every few months. It worked in his favour, as those that wanted to visit were able to to hear the various stories that Illinois was more than happy to tell. Not only that, it would encourage the small ‘fan club’ among the younger prisoners.

It was one of the few events that Yancy avoided. Something about Illinois rubbed him the wrong way. He was so arrogant and cocky, acting like the world revolved around him. It wasn’t an act, either. Yancy had spotted Illinois speaking to the Warden on his first visit two years earlier, and he acted the exact same way as he did in the talk that happened that day. After that, Yancy decided he didn’t want anything to do with the adventurer. But if Illinois were to ever become an inmate? Yancy would make sure Illinois had the snot beaten out of him within the first week.

Unfortunately, a lot of the Gang were of the opposite view, especially those around Yancy’s age. To them, Illinois walked straight out of an adventure movie and lived the ideal life. What prisoner didn’t dream of going exploring in uncharted territories? It meant that they would frequently share Illinois’ tales in rec yard when he came to visit. Yancy would roll his eyes, but keep quiet. Let them have their fun.

Today was the day that Illinois visited the prison. It had been over three months since the last visit, so there was an excited buzz among individuals in the Gang. Yancy spent the morning bracing himself. There was a talk after lunch that the others would go to, which would mean the rest of the afternoon and evening would be nothing but historical chatter and “Illinois is so cool!”. He would grumble, but he would keep that to himself. It wasn’t fair to deflate their excitement. He went to the library, found some random book and focused on that for the day. Then, once they had their excitement, it would die down and Yancy could enjoy more casual conversation.

Which was the plan… Until Bam-Bam pleaded for him to go to the last talk of the day. It turned out that his shift clashed with the talk everyone else they knew went to, and he didn’t want to go alone. Begrudgingly, Yancy closed the book, returned it to the shelf, and followed Bam-Bam. A flaw of being a loyal friend was knowing when to swallow your pride and do something you would rather not do.

-

When you go to something with low expectations, it can be incredibly difficult to feel the time was used in a worthwhile manner. Some might have memories of a teacher they hated, or a family gathering they had been dreading. This was a similar position to what Yancy found himself in. One of the ‘classrooms’ had been adjusted slightly to allow various displays to take center stage, with the chairs in neat rows in front of it. Bam-Bam and Yancy claimed two seats at the back, allowing the greaser to slouch in the chair with his arms crossed. Then, once more prisoners had arrived, the talk began.

On and on Illinois went, droning endlessly in that slow drawl. Yancy wished he had a TV remote to speed up the talking a fraction. Was Illinois focused on making sure everyone could understand him, or did he want to prolong the joy of hearing himself talk? It might have been more tolerable if Bam-Bam wasn’t genuinely engrossed in the lecture. They could have made amusing comments throughout. Instead, Yancy was stuck. Sure, history was interesting, but Illinois really drove home the stereotype of boring history teachers. The ‘adventures’ even sounded cliché and fake. Maybe he should have taken the book with him after all...

A painfully slow half hour passed. Once the talk was over, Illinois would literally open the floor to the other prisoners. The chairs would be pushed aside and those that wanted to look at the items Illinois brought were welcome to do so. Yancy was dragged along to view the pieces. Most of the articles were dated to be approximately eight thousand years old. What caught Bam-Bam’s attention was a stone carving that vaguely resembled a cat.

“Ahhh, I see the ‘White Jaguar’ has caught your attention.” Yancy had to repress a shudder at the smooth voice interrupting their own questions back and forth. Illinois stepped over, resting an arm against the perspex container. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she? A miracle we even found her in the first place. She was why I wasn’t able to visit like I said I would last month.” Bam-Bam’s eager question had Illinois chuckle and shake his hand dismissively. “Oh, I’m sure you two gentlemen have much better things to do than hear about how I nearly lost my right hand in my most recent adventure.” When Bam-Bam insisted otherwise, Illinois smirked (and Yancy nearly gagged).

“If you insist. While on our recent dig, I noticed one of the ruins had a floor panel that looked a little different from the rest. It took a little persuasion, but I got that pesky stone up. There, sprawled out before me, was a staircase leading down into the earth. I picked up one of the torches and made my way down. Slowly, I delved deeper into the darkness. One step gave way under me to set off a series of poison-dipped darts, but I was able to dodge them all without breaking a sweat.” Illinois continued, dramatically regaling every single trap that he encountered until he found the White Jaguar. When taking everything around it, he surmised that the owner of the house had been a thief. The jaguar motif was familiar, as he had noticed something similar in a nearby cave that had been repurposed at the time as a sacred spot.

“- Now, this heart of this cave was still guarded by ancient jaguar spirits. They rattled the large statues as I approached, obviously sensing the treasure I carried. In the middle, there was a jaguar’s head carved out of stone. Its jaw was open wide and I couldn’t help but feel as though it was just the right spot for this precious lady. But then, skeletons of what I assume were magic users from an era long gone by pounced and tried to wrestle the statue off me, but I was too fast for them. At last, I reached the carved head, put the White Jaguar in the mouth… and the stone head moved, trapping my arm in a ferocious bite!” He gestured to the cloth wrapped around his right wrist. It was unwrapped just enough to show the healing bite marks. “It had the strength to bite it clean off, but relented when it realised what I had done by offering my arm as blood payment to return -”

“Wait wait wait.” Yancy’s interruption had Bam-Bam elbow him, but it didn’t stop the objection. “That can’t be right. If youse managed to bring this back to where it’s meant to be, why the fuck is it here?”

“An excellent question. This is my recreation of it. I am no thief. I return artefacts to where they belong. Archaeology has a rotten connection with thievery, and I try to rectify the mistakes of my predecessors.”

“So then this entire thing could be bullshit!” Yancy scoffed. “Bam-Bam, this guy just got bitten by someone’s dog and has made this pile of baloney to hide that.”

“Are you accusing me of being a liar?”

“Well, I ain’t calling you a ‘truther’, that’s for sure!”

Yancy was ready for a proper argument. In fact, he was hoping for one. Instead… Illinois laughed, and it wasn’t that typical ‘cocky chuckle’. It was a bright, genuine laugh. He could almost see Bam-Bam go starry-eyed at such a rare moment. Typical Yancy. Getting more attention from Illinois when he wanted to rile him up.

“I suppose it all does sound rather suspicious when you put it that way. Let me show you something.” Illinois gestured for the pair to follow him toward a display of photographs. Instead of pointing to these, he instead reached for his briefcase. A small photo album was pulled out. Yancy noticed that it was dated three months prior. While Illinois flipped through it, both prisoners could see what looked like an area that had been dug up. It matched the pictures in front of them of an excavation site. At last, Illinois found what he was looking for.

“One Guardian Jaguar, complete with the White Jaguar in its mouth. As you can see, the teeth have fresh blood on them. It was an… Oddly tranquil sight, despite the unfortunate situation.”

“So then why act like these are the real deal? People just take youse’s word for it?”

“Normally those that attend my talks know that what I show are my artistic recreations for purely educational purposes. I suppose I do take for granted that those who attend here are invested regulars.” Illinois gave a small shrug. “It’s an easy mistake to forget to remind people who might be new to my talks. I’m sorry if you thought I was a fraud, but I am the real deal. Too good to be true, yet here I am.”

“Yeah yeah, ‘sucks that I’m perfect as shit’, I get it. Least you knows not to make that mistake again.” Yancy rocked back on his heel with the intention of turning and walking away.

“Now now. I can’t let you walk off like that. Take this.” Another item was pulled out of his briefcase. “I made this smaller model of the White Jaguar as a ‘first draft’. I was intending on using it as motivation to my first-year students but… I think it should stay here with you.” Illinois took the opportunity to reach for Yancy’s hand. The small clay model was gently placed in it before Illinois curled Yancy’s fingers over it to keep it in place. His hands stayed where they were as he continued, “We think the White Jaguar was a symbol of good fortune. Perhaps it might bring you some good luck.” He smiled at Yancy, only to have the moment broken by the guard announcing that there were five minutes before the prisoners had to return to their cells for the afternoon count. Yancy took the chance to quickly leave the room without as much as a ‘goodbye’. At least his friend, who introduced himself as Bam-Bam, quickly thanked Illinois before darting out.

A few more questions were asked of him by other prisoners and curious staff; and then it was time to tidy up to bring everything back to the university. It was only when he reached the White Jaguar model did Illinois hesitate. There was something about that abrasive prisoner he couldn’t put his finger on. Was it because he seemed uninterested in the adventurer? Or was there something else? It was a rare moment that Illinois wished he’d had an excuse to chat to the prisoner longer. Maybe not here, but somewhere quieter. Just the two of them.

Huh… Was this what an attraction felt like? He joked about others falling in love with him so often, he wasn’t sure if this was payback for never returning interest in others. He was drawn toward a prisoner that seemed keen to dismiss his hard work and reputation. And worse! Illinois didn’t even know his name!

Then again… A good adventurer always loves the thrill of a mystery. Maybe he could try and find that prisoner next time he visited. Now that the university was open again, he’d be able to drop by more frequently…

--

For what it was worth, Yancy also had a mystery on his hands.

Namely, how to get away from Bam-Bam - who would not SHUT UP about their prolonged conversation with Illinois - and half the gang - who were incredibly jealous Yancy got a gift from the Illinois!

He dropped his head against the chow hall table with a low ‘thunk’. This was the opposite of getting the others to stop talking about Illinois around him!

[duskowithapen]

Five Times Eve Baird Said Jump

Fandom: The Librarians

Relationship: Platonic Eve Baird and Cassandra Cillian

Read on AO3

Read on Fanfiction

Read Part One

Part Two

CILLIAN

Cass thought that the whole ‘jumping from a great height’ was just a one-time thing. It wasn’t. At least she had something softer to land on than Ezekiel did. Originally for Writer’s Month Day 13: Music

“Why can’t I ever go to a museum for normal reasons!” Eve lamented, and Cassandra hid a wince.

“Uh…”

“Don’t answer that!” Eve snapped, banging on the locked door once more before turning around to survey the cramped storage room. “Alright, please tell me that you worked out exactly how that grave robber was controlling the rock dudes?”

“Dr Nair’s not a grave robber, he’s an archaeologist,” Cass explained, “And as far as I can tell, the lute is like a remote. Playing the right notes in the right order wakes the shabti up, and then another set of notes makes them obey the player.”

“Archaeologists are just legal grave robbers,” Eve muttered as she started pulling at a half-open cabinet. Cassandra took her place at the door, leaning down to look at the lock. It’s times like this that she wished Ezekiel was here.

The Clipping’s Book had sent her and Eve to the Grand Egyptian Museum. It wasn’t finished yet – the building was mostly completed bar the outside cosmetic stuff, but the interior and exhibits still had a lot of work to be done on them before the grand opening. The article had been about the newest archaeological find that was to be the crowning piece of the opening – the largest collection of intact shabti, life sized and incredibly detailed, along with intact musical instruments and scrolls containing Pashedu’s dissertations on magic. It was those dissertations that put them into this mess. Eve and Cass had only been in the museum for maybe ten minutes, dodging escaping construction workers and archivists before being caught by the shabti and their master.

Dr Rashida Nair, the main archaeologist in charge of the dig, had been quite upset with how his finds were being treated and accredited. None of his colleagues believed in the myths of Heka’s Lute – a 19th Dynasty instrument given to artesian Pashedu. The deity of magic, before Isis gained that domain, was so impressed with the mans’ skill that he granted Pashedu the ability to bring them to life with the lute. Dr Nair decided to prove his colleagues wrong and regain Pashedu’s dissertations at the same time. Cass had been able to decipher that much from Dr Nair’s research notes before the man himself found them.

A loud crash shocked Cass out of her reverie. Eve stood before the cabinet, now on its side, with hands on her hips. In the wall, almost level with the ceiling and almost two metres over Eve’s head, was an air duct. “What do you say to getting out of here, Cass?”

She walked to Eve’s side and frowned. “Uh, I don’t know if I can get up there.” While she’d become a lot fitter in her time as a Librarian – thanks to her drill sergeant of a Guardian – she wasn’t exactly a gymnast.

“You can if you climb on my shoulders,” Eve said, already crouching.

That was easier said than done.

Cass wobbled on Eve’s shoulders, feet wrapped around her back and fingers probably holding onto the blonde hair a lot harder than necessary. “I really don’t feel very comfortable up here!” Her mind immediately flickered to all the ways this could go wrong – how injured they would both get if she fell – what would happen if they landed on the corner of the cabinet –

“I’m not going to drop you, Red. Trust me.” Eve still sounded way too nonchalant as she stepped onto the cabinet, hands wrapped around Cass’ calves. “If you stand, do you think you could unscrew the vent?”

She squinted. “Yeah, I’d just need something like…” One of Eve’s hands moved away from her leg, making her yelp, and reappeared with a Swiss army knife.

“This?”

“Yes, that’s perfect!” Cass squealed and waved her arms as Eve’s hands grabbed her feet and pushed upwards. After a moment, she recovered enough to press her hands against the wall and look down. Eve glanced up with a smirk.

“You gotta stand on my shoulders, Red.”

“But you could give me a little more warning first,” Cass grumbled. Eve’s hands stayed around her calves as she balanced on strong shoulders. She started on the screws, dropping each one into her pocket.

“I really need to get you your own pocketknife, same with Stone, if he doesn’t already. Everyone should have one. Although I’m pretty sure Jones has it covered with his lock picks…”

Cass pulled out the final screw and tugged at the vent grille, almost dropping it in surprise. It was lighter than she thought it would be. Carefully, almost overbalancing, she balanced it on top of the cabinet further in the corner. “Alright, now what?”

“Now, we crawl.” Eve grabbed Cass’ feet again and pushed.

She yelped. The air vent seemed a lot smaller now that she was trying to climb into it. It took a lot of wiggling to get herself in there, since the duct was only about five centimetres wider than her shoulders on either side. Once her legs were in, Cass twisted onto her side as best as she could and looked back. “Again with the no warning!”

There was a huff of laughter. “Sorry, Red!”

“How are you going to get up?”

Eve didn’t answer. Cass heard a handful of footsteps, a bang of shoe against metal, a grunt and suddenly there were hands on the edge of the vent. A couple of soft thuds reverberated through the wall as Eve used her feet to help propel herself upwards, before her face appeared in the opening. As Eve pulled herself the rest of the way in, Cass took a moment to admire the play of light and shadows against the muscles of her arms. Even though she sees Eve as an older-sister/mother figure, she could still appreciate a strong woman – she’d always been a little weak for them.

After a moment of struggle, Eve was fully in the vent, blocking the light with her broader shoulders. “Okay. Cass? Think you could work out how to get to the roof from here? I’m pretty sure Nair’s got a helicopter up there – the rock dudes were taking the scrolls upstairs, not down.”

“Well, the room they put us in was on the ground floor, south side based on how the light was coming in through the windows as we passed…” Cass mused to herself. In the close confines of the vent, she couldn’t indulge in the full extent of her synaesthesia, but she could still see the building floor plans Ezekiel had found for her. He’d been bitter about being kept back by the cold he’d gained from his and Eve’s dip into the Indian Ocean, but he could still hack into the museums systems. “Considering the building layout, the size of the lower exhibition halls, the current level of construction and the position of the loading dock compared to where we are… if we head straight along this duct, then take the second – no, third left, that will lead us to the larger main vent that runs straight from the main lobby of the museum to the loading dock. They haven’t finished the north wall, so the vent will open up there. We can get out and use the outer scaffolding to reach the roof. That should stop Dr Nair or the shabti from noticing us.”

A hand clasped her ankle for a moment. “Well, lead on Red. Let’s go stop a grave robber.”

As the two started army crawling through the vents, Cass heard Eve mutter – “I honestly thought I’d be dealing with mummies when I said that…”

****************

Cass had a much better appreciation for Ezekiel if this is what he went through on some of his heists. She was regretting wearing a short-sleeved top now, with her elbows red and raw from the crawl through the vents, and her knees aching under her tights. Eve seemed to be faring better, but the back of her shirt was damp with sweat, and there were bleeding grazes up the back of her upper arms. She’d saved Cass from falling a dozen metres into a ventilation shaft leading to the basement when she hadn’t noticed the gap in the vent. The grazes came from her lunge to catch Cass’ waist, and then the desperate pull upwards. They’d both been a lot more careful after that.

Eve nudged her. “Ready to start climbing?”

Looking up, Cass swallowed. The scaffolding resembled a fire escape – metal platforms connected by ladders – but a lot skinnier and creakier. “No,” she sighed, “But we’re going to be doing it anyway.”

The climb wasn’t as nerve wracking as Cass thought it would be. Eve climbed up after her, in case she slipped, and as long as she didn’t look down, it was almost fun. Partway up, as they inched across a beam to get to the next ladder, Eve tapped her. “Hey Red, what’s that?”

Cass squeezed past the pillar of large orange buckets and smiled. “It’s a waste thing, I think. Jake was telling me about them. It’s so that the builders can send waste down without having to carry it – kinda like a garbage disposal.” The long tube was made out of buckets as wide as the chutes had been inside, all stacked together with the bottoms removed.

“Huh.”

Then they cleared the last ladder.

The building was shaped vaguely like an angled rectangle. The back of the museum was wider than the front, and the connected front courtyard extended far enough to make the entire thing look like a triangle without the point. The roof itself was made up of six upward-angled roof sheets, running perpendicular to the front of the museum, resembling a fan. In the middle was a row of concrete sheets, splitting the museum into front and back and angled opposite to the rest of the roof. This was where Dr Nair had set up his helicopter. A line of shabti holding scrolls were slowly climbing out of a maintenance hatch under the musical instructions of the doctor.

Eve tapped her. “Okay, if I make a distraction, do you think you could get the lute off the doctor and, I don’t know, turn the shabti off?”

Cass frowned. “Maybe… Magic tends to follow the concept of duality, so if I play the activation notes backwards, it should stop the shabti.”

“Should? I don’t like should.” Despite her joking tone, Eve looked concerned.

“I am relatively sure. Worst case, it does nothing.”

“If it doesn’t work, you might need to break the lute,” Eve said after a moment. She spoke over Cassandra’s protests. “I know, preserving history and all that, but we need to stop these shabti, so let’s hope that your music theory works.”

“Alright…” The reverse notes would work – just like the natural world, magic follows a set of rules, and according to those rules all Cass would have to do was reverse the notes. She liked rules. They were like quadratic equations or linear functions – they had one right answer. No grey areas.

“Anyway, I’m going to head to the other side of the roof – once I get to that roof section there,” here, Eve pointed at the section one space from the furthest edge, “I want you to head along this side and duck behind the raised section the helicopter’s on. Once I see you there, I’ll distract the shabti long enough for you to get the lute.” There was a pause, and Eve glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “Are you going to be okay getting the lute?”

Cass knew Eve was thinking about the last time Cass played distraction, and the injury she’d gotten. Frustration made her tone sharper. “I’ll be fine Eve. I can handle one archaeologist.”

A calming hand rested on her shoulder. “I know you can Cass. I just – I’m always going to worry about you. Same with Jones and Stone. Same with Jenkins, same with Flynn. You guys are my charges. I’ll always be concerned.”

“I know that,” Cass responded, “But you’re also going to have to trust us to do our job. I can handle this.”

Eve gave her a sharp nod and breathed in deep. “Alright. Remember, wait until I get to that fifth section, and then go.”

The two women split, and Cass watched with envy as Eve steadily, gracefully, crept along the edge of the roof. The second her feet hit the fifth section, Cass was off. Her steps may not have been quite as sure, but she still made a steady pace towards the helicopter. Dr Nair wasn’t paying attention to anything but the scrolls and his lute, fingers picking at the strings almost absentmindedly as he barked orders at the shambling shabti. The sound of heavy stone feet hitting the concrete roof masked any noise Cass could make. Hidden behind the last section, she wondered about what kind of distraction Eve would make. Eve always had a gun on her, so maybe she’d shoot something? Or maybe she’d use something else – in her time as Guardian, Eve had learned the importance of not damaging artefacts, so she might try something that wouldn’t harm the shabti. There was some construction stuff on the far edge, perhaps she’d throw something?

As it was, all of Cass’s guesses were way off. Eve sprinted towards the helicopter, not trying to hide her approach in any way. At the last minute, she veered around a shabti, snatched the scroll it held, and sprinted across the roof. As she ran past Cass’s hiding place, Eve shot her a wink.

“Hey, Doctor!” She yelled, “I’m pretty sure this scroll is valuable – be a shame if I tore it!”

“Shabti!” Dr Nair screamed, strumming a rapid tune on the lute, “Stop that woman! Collect the scroll without damage!”

Instantly, the shabti dropped whatever they were holding and ran towards Eve with all the speed they could muster – which, admittedly, wasn’t much.

“I read somewhere that papyrus dissolves in vinegar – maybe I should test it!” Eve yelled in response, darting to the edge of the roof. With a wave, she jumped off the edge. Cass stifled her shock with her hand. Eve is fine, she reassured herself, there’s probably scaffolding on the other side, she’s just jumped down a level or something. She’s fine.

Most of the shabti were gone now, with the last of them only a few metres away. Cass took her chance.

Dr Nair only noticed her arrival as the lute slipped from his hands. It was a surprisingly heavy instrument, Cass noticed as she stumbled away. The doctor lunged at her, but suddenly Eve was there, catching his arms and locking them behind his back.

Not for the first time, Cass wondered what the hell Eve learned in the military.

“Play the notes!” Eve shouted, one eye on the shabti who had reversed their path and were now headed in their direction.

It should be noted that Cass has never really played an instrument before. Once her parents realised how mathematically and scientifically inclined she was, things like the creative arts – music, painting, dancing, drama – all slipped to the wayside. Thankfully, the activation notes for the shabti weren’t the most difficult piece of music to play… and the ancient Egyptian lute only had two strings. Her fingers slid along the long neck of the lute, tassels tickling her arm. Cass winced as the strings tore at her fingers, but that first note still rang out.

The shabti stopped.

Another note, with fingers just a little bit higher. A longer note with fingers closer to the oval-shaped body of the lute. A couple of quick notes – not as quick as the doctor was able to play them, but a close enough facsimile – higher than others played. The whole tune was a discordant mess, given that it was being played backwards, but Cass was pleased to see that it seemed to be working.

As the final note was strummed, the doctor was shocked out of whatever stupor he had fallen into. “You idiots! You’ve destroyed everything!”

Eve hauled him around and let him go, putting herself in between Cass and the archaeologist who was practically frothing at the mouth. “I’m pretty sure the museum will see it just a little differently considering we’ve stopped you from running off with their artefacts.”

Dr Nair laughed hysterically, backing further down the roof. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you? What you just played wasn’t to turn them off or whatever you thought it was – it was to destroy them.”

Cass’s breath caught in her throat. Magic lies on duality. The activation notes didn’t turn the shabti on, it brought them to life. By reversing the notes… Cass essentially ordered them to die. Spinning around, she saw the shabti, still clustered around them and the helicopter, started to glow. Orange lines etched themselves into the hieroglyphics and filled their eyes. Even as she watched, the orange seemed to grow darker.

Eve grabbed her arm. “Cass, we need to go!”

Further down the roof, the doctor had already gotten to the maintenance hatch – it slammed shut inches in front of Eve’s fingers. She could barely hear Dr Nair’s laughter. A frown pulled at her face. “Well, that was rude.”

Then Cass was being pulled away again, back to where they got to the roof in the first place. Glancing down at the lute still in her hand, she went pale. She had brushed up on a little ancient Egyptian before coming here – and those looked a lot like a countdown etched in glowing orange on the bowl of the instrument. “Uh, Eve?”

“Cass, we need to hurry up!” Eve started to climb down the scaffolding, but Cass pulled her back.

“We’re not going to have time!” She waved the lute closer to her Guardian’s face, and when there was no comprehension, she huffed. “This is a countdown!” And they didn’t have very much time.

Eve glanced down for a second, then to her left. A strange look came over her face. “Cass, we’re going to need to jump.”

My Guardian has gone mad. “Eve, are you crazy?! That’s like a twenty-metre drop!”

“Not if we take the slide.” And then Eve had an arm around her waist and was pulling her over the edge. The thump of their feet hitting the scaffolding made Cass’s teeth rattle. To their left was a bright orange bucket-tube.

“Oh no. No, no, no!” Cass looked on helplessly as Eve guided herself into the tube.

“It’ll be okay Cass. I’ll catch you at the bottom if I need to.” And then Eve was gone. The tube shuddered. There was the echo of Eve crying out in… excitement?

Cass sighed. Of course her Guardian was an adrenaline junkie. A flash of orange caught her eye. There was a curved squiggled shape on the lute. Nine. It changed. Eight. Again. Seven. Cass shuffled into the tube. Held the lute to her chest. Took in a deep breath.

Eve’s voice came from the depths of the tube.

“Just jump Cass!”

She jumped.

At the bottom, she spluttered as she sunk into a sand dune. After a moment, Eve’s smiling face appeared above her with a helping hand. “That was fun, right?”

No one would blame her for immediately tugging her Guardian into the sand and trying to bury her, right?

[kazimakuwabara]

Parfait

Summary: Nami and Robin are caught in a trap... but are being treated quite well. Just a small little friendship drabble of these two bonding.

***

Nami has been abducted on more than one occasion because of her good looks, or her navigational talents, or even her thieving skills, and is normally lavished with presents, a beautiful space to rest in, and delicious food. This time is no different, except that Robin has been taken as well, which to Nami, is a nice bonus.

Nami is trying not to be excited about being abducted with a friend, because really they have been kidnapped, and perhaps she should treat the situation with more levity.

But Nami trusts Luffy and the rest of the crew to come rescue them, so she's really not that concerned.

Not too much.

And Robin, even wearing a Sea Stone collar, doesn't seem to be concerned either, as she nibbles away at a large parfait. It is filled with strawberries, cream, and a nice looking sponge cake.

"And you say this happens to you almost every time someone abducts you?" Robin asks, her calm voice calling Nami from her thoughts.

Nami, seated on a large flamingo shaped pool floaty, nods her head. She and her inflated flamingo shaped raft, float lazily in the pool, and idly she touches her tows to the edge of the pool and pushes off, headed back for the stairs.

"Pretty much... they all want something from me so they abduct me and then do stuff like this..." Nami answered waving her hand vaguely around the setting.

"Oh, well I'm sorry if our rescues are too prompt for you to enjoy this place to the fullest," Robin says, smiling and laughing with amusement.

Nami slips out off of her flamingo, and into the pool. She takes the stairs out, grabbing a lavish towel as she goes, and walks to Robin, sitting across from the archaeologist with a wet plop.

Nami blows some wet hair from her face, "I'd much better be slummin' it on the Sunny any day... if you can that slumming it!" Nami tilts her head and smiles sweetly, "It is nice to be able to be alone with you though. This should be more fun!"

"Flirting will get you nowhere," Robin says, tilting her head and smiling saucily, "I'm not sharing my parfait."

Nami flushes, and laughs, "I wasn't flirting!"

Robin chuckles, and eats another mouthful of her treat, delighting in making the younger woman squirm. It's an easy thing to do for a woman of her experience.

Nami laughs again and reclines in the chair. She eyes Robin's parfait, now suddenly interested in the treat. Robin takes another pleased mouthful, and Nami sighs, leaning forward, "Okay I cave. Gimmie a bite."

"No," Robin says with a prim smile.

"Please?" Nami says, her face going soft and pleading.

"I am deeply invested in a robotic shipwright of ours, so your beautiful face will not persuade me to part with this parfait, not even a bit," Robin says simply.

Nami puts a hand to her chest, "But I'm your beloved Nakama... also trapped in this terrible place with you."

Nami stops talking, and her feigned sorrow falls from her face, "Wait you mean Franky?"

"This "terrible place," is better than the ritziest hotel I've ever seen, and I've been to a lot of places," Robin says taking an extra large bite of her parfait. She takes a moment to chew, and then swallow, before adding, "Ask our host to make you one. He's watching us with a camera... call out to him and he'll have one made for you."

"You didn't answer me about Franky!" Nami says, as if hearing Robin's answer is life and death.

Robin chuckles, "Oh you're right... I didn't!" And she says nothing more.

Nami sulks, "I don't want a parfait from our captor."

"Oh? That's too bad, this one here is quite delicious," Robin simpers.

Nami makes a disappointed huff, "...I don't want my own... But I do want a bite of yours!"

Robin laughs, delighted. She looks at Nami, as if considering to actually give in. Nami perks up hopefully.

"You are like a little sister to me," Robin says softly, and unexpectedly, "if I ever had one... I'd want her to be like you. How lucky I am to be apart of this crew and to have met everyone. Every day... you fall fulfill me in a way I did not expect."

Nami's face flushes and her eyes get a little watery, "Robin..."

Robin smiles, and scoops up another spoonful, "But still, no."

"OH, COME ON!"

When Luffy, followed by and incensed Sanji, breaks down their door, to rescue the two girls, Nami is sulking as Robin polishes off the last bite.

Despite not getting her way, Nami finds this experience of being captured, the best.

[simptasia]

lost characters based solely on how i portray them in my text post memes

jack: constantly crying and/or screaming. no emotional stability. no social skills. terrible bedside manner. endearingly bland. into powerful women. loves the red sox... a lot. daddy issues. doesn’t believe in himself. has shitty tattoos. being crushed under the weight of everybody’s expectations. more or less hot. he is not cool at all. repressed attraction to guys. chronic hero syndrome. adorably embarrassing as a dad. passionately and violently overreacts to the mere concept of people believing in things. mansplains but in a non malicious way because he is literally that oblivious. gets into fights a lot. dissociates in mirrors. gets injured a lot but doesn’t wanna make a fuss. thinking about caves

kate: desperate need to protect women. bi. is frustrated by jack and sawyer’s personalities but wants to fuck them oh so much. rowdy. feminist. biceps. will call you out. is love with claire and jack and sun and- she has a lot of love to give. she can be ur angel or ur devil. exasperated. doesn’t understand astrology but she’s trying. she’s the slytherin friend every hufflepuff needs. uses guns. doesn’t know how to cook. go to relationship advice is “dump him” or “suck his dick”.  just because you put things in her vagina doesn’t mean you know her. gemini

hurley: sad clown. haha laughter! hiding real pain! has debilitating mental illness. he’s doing his best to stay positive. virgin. genuinely kind soul. overwhelmed by food. awkward around girls he likes. much smarter and wiser than anybody thinks, including himself. a special boy who we all love. says dude a lot. the only valid rich person ever. doesn’t like himself. sees dead people. kinda silly. also he’s fat (but i don’t joke about it in a cruel way)

sawyer: compulsive need to nickname people. from the south. bewildered by charlie’s english slang. covering up vulnerability with jokes and being mean. loves juliet. is an asshole but a loveable asshole (this varies, mostly he’s an asshole). conventionally attractive to the point of boring. got a Thing going on with miles. can’t stand daniel being smart around him. babies freak him out. treats animals poorly

locke: very supportive and new agey type. i’ve made two jokes about him encouraging people to jack off, that wasn’t on purpose but Okay. he doesn’t know what its like to have friends. he says Deep Sounding but odd things. he’s super duper into nature. he suffers. he’s very forgiving of ben to the point of absurdity and he desperately wants ben to love and fuck him. or maybe they are fucking. Who Knows. he loves knifes

sayid: sexy, suffering shannon fucker. he doesn’t respect boone. his life is an endless parade of misery culminating in going on autopilot. respects women

jin: he has no idea what’s going on and his life revolves around sun

sun: beautiful. perfect. very passionate about gardening

claire: bi. frequently ignored. cutesy and sweet. super into astrology and new age stuff. her cheery demeanour can only hold on so long before she loses it. kinda dumb. has baby. vanilla, at least for now. loves charlie but is kinda frustrated by him. goes feral and “kitten thinks of murder all day” sums it up

charlie: that he needs attention and validation to survive would be a gross understatement. bi. trans. punk. stupid. english. really horny and slutty. adores music more than anything. drug addict (again, i refuse to be cruel). severe jealousy issues. inferiority superiority complex. hates himself but will get offended if you hate him. can’t take any form of criticism. is bewildered by sawyer’s american-isms. bit of a madonna whore complex. smol but will go the fuck off like a terrier nipping at ya heels. catholic and riddled with catholic guilt. goofy and obnoxious and he knows it. passive aggressive. terrified of bees. nice ass. mood swings. did i mention he’s short? anyway here’s wonderwall

ben: ugly. just plain terrible. beaten and bruised. seething with rage and pain on the inside. virgin. liar. just causes problems on purpose. resembles a lemur or rat, rodents in general. loves bunnies. doesn’t think sex is real. just a really bad idea for him to be around juliet. has no friends. doesn’t care about other people. says creepy shit just because. he knows he’s a terrible person. killed people. the friend nobody likes and a general nuisance to the other characters

(also my literal first text post meme about ben was a joke about him eating his parents??? 2014 sapphire, i wanna talk...)

juliet: mom friend. seems very calm but she’s screaming on the inside. basically she’s the This Is Fine meme. depressed. has big tits. low-key kinky. feminist in a very gentle way. has no ill will towards kate and will only fight her for fun. concerned for daniel’s well being. has no chemistry with jack. loves sawyer. flat measured calm way of speaking. she’s breaking apart at the seams but will offer you a nice glass of water :)))

michael: has a son..... uh...... enjoys minecraft?

(i’m sorry)

desmond: scottish. drinks. easily and constantly confused. magic psychic time powers, like visions and electromagnetic dimensional stuff. easily angered. fucked off by the concept of time and destiny in general. hhhhhhhot

smokey: Hello Fellow Humans I Promise This Is My Own Skin Haha

miles: bi. aro. loves money (trying to fill the hole in his heart with money and things). emo/punk. pretends not to care but he really does care. thinks emotions and romance are dumb but of course is emotional... and kinda wants love. but not that he LIKES you or anything. exasperated. thinks everybody else is weird. kinda slutty or at least trying to be. masochist and into BDSM. mean to daniel for no reason. daddy issues. resting bitch face. jaded, bitter and salty. responds to romantic things dan or char say with vulgar or mocking comments. grew up poor. can hear dead people. trying too hard to be edgy. deadpan snarker. Fuck Off I’m Not Sad Don’t Look At Me [cries only around the audience and his mom]

walt: becoming older than 10 was when things went downhill for him

shannon: seems vapid but is more than that. deeply insecure. feels she can’t do anything right. constantly put down as worthless by other people. yeah she’s sad but she Looks Great. wants sayid to pound her (mood)

(gee, that was dark)

richard: very old and ageless. sees ben as a son figure. really not holding it together. seems smart but he has no fucking idea whats going on. cult mindset. quips curtly back at miles’ vulgar jokes. in love with miles based on very little interaction. misses his dead wife. has a cute giggle. is also hot. overwhelmed and just wants to go into the jungle and scream

frank: doesn’t understand what anybody is talking about. the only normal person here. doesn’t understand these kids today with their weird kinks. just wants to sleep. pilot. bit of a conspiracy theorist

boone: bi. stupid. soaked in blood a lot.  (L I T E R A L L Y all of my boone jokes are about him being dumb and bi and horribly injured and combos of those. i haven’t even made any incest jokes! what the actual fuck)

ana lucia: “[with tears in her eyes] DO U WANNA FIGHT??”. highly volatile. lesbian. bros with jack but will roast him. angery, sad and underloved

daniel: bi, agender, neurodivergent, just, just especially brain weird. The Scientist trope but kind of a shitty scientist. smart. in love with charlotte. in love with desmond. likes rats a lot. talks weird and soft spoken. withdrawn and polite but with bursts of bitterness. his mom won’t let him live the live he wants to live. time travel weirdness. loves music. gifted kid burn out. has a mental and emotional collapse. thinks a hydrogen bomb will solve all his problems. skinny. touches people a lot. he’s not okay. romantic. overwhelmed. memory problems. his lack of life experience and softness is used to contrast miles. takes some statements literally. pretty vanilla (for now) and doesn’t know what certain kinks are. likes that charlotte is Tough & Rowdy. doesn’t swear much. bad hair. was unhinged in college. has radiation poisoning

libby: neurodivergent and in love with hurley

eko: yeah... i’ve legit only used him for jokes where charlie says something EXTREMELY vulgar and eko says “go to church”

charlotte: bi, loud, passionate, beautiful, angery, knows All The Languages, huge nerd, loves daniel and thinks he’s a Snack, outspoken feminist, archaeologist/anthropologist and wants to explore some fucking ruins, The Lost Lenore trope, loves chocolate, exasperated, great smile, subtly insecure, doesn’t get that she could just tell daniel how she feels, has had many indiana jones like adventures (off screen, of course), for example: crashing her dirtbike into all 7 wonders of the world

danielle: french and unhinged, has seen some shit

alex: just a young lady with no chill

jacob: suffers from terminal apathy. has little understand of human behaviour. doesn’t care about people. he just plain sucks. has no endearing qualities. causes many problems. beats the shit outta richard. doesn’t like technology. so removed from humanity that he’s a touch uncanny valley

christian, eloise, charles and anthony jokes each have their own kind of flavours but fuck it, i’ll sum them all up as: contemptuous cunts who deserve to die

aaron: just a baby boy. does baby things. has like 5 parents

vincent: a dog. a good boy. does he know more than he lets on? is he mysterious? no, he is just a dog

[earthbovndmisfit]

Kiss me, Mister Joestar! (fanfic)

A Victorian gay man is madly in love with the sweetest gentleman. His love for him is so overwhelming that everyone around them seems to have noticed it already, including said gentleman's wife, who our sweet gay icon has become close friends with...

Is Jonathan really /that/ painfully oblivious to it all? Or could there be something more going on...? Whatever it might be, it's driving Robert insane, and things start getting even tougher on the matter for Speedwagon after the birthday party the Joestars threw for him.

A story written for Speedwagon's birthday, as you can tell by now.

Happy belated 156th birthday, you sweet dork!! <3 (posted it on the 16th on Ao3 but forgot to bring it here orz)

* * * * *

Pairings: Jonathan/Erina /&/ Jonathan/Speedwagon

* * * * *

More details and the whole fic under the cut... (if Read Mores don’t work for you and you don’t want to see this post, feel free to block the ;long post tag)

Notes: The story is set in 1889, a little less than a year after the events in PB. It’s also an AU where Jonathan lives. Everything went down the same as in canon, save for the fact that Dio died in Windknight's Lot (or at least he hasn't come back since). Jonathan's and Erina's honeymoon went as smoothly as it should have. Jonathan is also now an archaeologist, working on his many different researches on Aztec culture mainly. The rest more or less remains the same as in canon, including Speedwagon being helplessly in love with Jonathan.

In this story (and any other of my stories involving the Ogre Street gang), the Kenpo Master will be referred to as Li. That's the name I've given him: Li Jiang. I also have this headcanon that "Tattoo" is not the red-head's name, but a nickname he adopted after getting that trademark tattoo on his face (his name being Stephen O’Moore, but he's still addressed as Tattoo most of the time for his own personal reasons anyway).

Fun fact I just realized while writing this story: Just like this year's (2019) Oct 16th fell on a Wednesday, 1889's Oct 16th also fell on a Wednesday (cue a loud OH MY GOD).

Warnings: There’s a depiction of tobacco smoking. There are also a few mentions/depictions of pregnancy, and the usual cursing our dear Robert has us used to. Also “mentions” of period-typical homophobia.

Soft chuckles and giggles could be heard coming from behind the closed doors of the tea room. A bit of a feat, considering how espacious the room was. Inside, two blondes comfortably sat in the large, cushioned, armchairs around the tea table, talking about all sorts of stuff over tea and pastries, filling each other in on the other’s news and sharing a laugh every now and then and just enjoying each other's company like they would normally do on evenings like this. It was getting late, and the time to say goodbye for the night was getting closer.

"I enjoyed spendin' this evenin' with you, Miss Joestar. As always, it was a wonderful one!"

"You don't have to keep up the formalities, Robert. We have been friends for how long now?" She made a brief pause. A rhetorical question that both knew didn't need an answer. "Just call me Erina." A kind smile graced her delicate features. He nodded, still feeling a bit inadequate to address any of the Joestars by their first names, but he couldn’t simply say no to them. "And, the feeling is mutual. It is always a pleasure to have you here. I just wish Jonathan could have been able to join us today."

"He's still workin' on that thesis, isn’t he?" A soft nod of her head was given in response.

"He says he is almost done with it. It is also due next week’s Monday, so he has had to work extra hours on it these past days." There's a sense of pride in her voice despite how much she wished she could have had more time to spend with him as of late.

"I'm completely sure 'is 'ard work 's gonna pay off." It always did. Jonathan was truly a hard working man, not only on the battlefield, but also in everything he did, always giving his all. Not to mention how passionate he was about his field.

"I have no doubts about it. Now, about that week’s Wednesday..."

"Oh. Please, don't burden yourself with that!" The man was quick to reply. "It 's nothin' special at all!"

"Come on. Don't be silly, Robert." The lady offered an even warmer smile and put her hand on top of Robert's as it rested on the table, giving it a soft and friendly squeeze. "It is all the opposite to 'nothing'. And it most certainly is special, too. And I'm completely sure Jonathan thinks so, too." Well, there was no arguing to that as Speedwagon could almost hear the brunet echoing his wife's words while giving Robert a pat to his shoulder. Still…

"But, Miss Joest–" Erina gave him a look and Robert tried again. "Ahh. Sorry... Erina. Blimey. It 's just, I... I wouldn't want t' impose and be a burden t’ any of you..."

"And you won't be. Never have been such, and I assure you that will not be the case either. Besides, this will be the first time we get to celebrate your birthday together, and I know Jonathan is just as excited as if this was his own birthday." She let out a soft chuckle, and she withdrew her hand, placing it this time on top of her pregnant belly. "And I can tell this little one is excited, too." Robert couldn't help a fond smile at all that. He certainly couldn't –and wouldn’t either– let any of the three down in any possible way. Not in this life or the next one (and every other lives that could come after that).

"Alrigh', but only if you're sure this 's not a hindrance t' you or Mister Jo–.... T' Jonathan."

"You have my word on that. Please, come visit us again for the date. And bring your friends, too. The maids will make sure everything is ready for the occasion. You don't have to worry about anything at all besides gracing us with your presence and having fun." She added with such a kind tone to her voice that it made it impossible for Speedwagon to add any "buts" to the conversation.

“I swear you two are too kind t’ me sometimes…”

“You deserve it.” She added with absolute honesty. “You have always done so much for us, and for Jonathan, mainly. It is the least we can do for you.”

“It’s nothin’ grand. I’m just doin’ my part on repayin’ Jojo for all ‘is kindness and everythin’ he’s done for me since we met.”

“You always make it sound like everything you do for us is insignificant, Robert, but I assure you it is not. We truly appreciate all of your actions. And I know you are so very special to Jonathan as much as he is to you.” Robert couldn’t help the blush that was now creeping up to his face, even though Erina voicing that sort of knowledge she had was not new by now. She had long ago found out about his true feelings for Jonathan, never having any issues with it at all.

Erina was fully aware of how easy it was to love Jonathan, and she also knew some of the story between Robert and him. She had also been perceptive enough to understand that there was something more to those apparent “codes” in Robert’s general appearance, which was far different from that of most gentlemen in England. That had been something Robert gladly explained for her as their friendship grew and both became more comfortable around each other, letting her know that, indeed, there was a meaning to them all, and that he had always had a liking for men. Whatever fear or worries he could have had until then about letting her know something as delicate as that faded away almost immediately after informing her of his situation as she never made any sorts of disgusting comments, nor gave him any weird looks nor treated him poorly, like many others would have probably done. All the opposite, all he ever got from her was sympathy without any kinds of judgement, and all her support.

And it never ceased, not even after he finally caved in, some time later, and admitted to her his undying feelings for Jonathan. It didn’t take her by surprise when he did, though. Then again, Robert had always had a tendency to be quite transparent about his feelings for the gentleman even when he tried not to. It had always been crystal clear that his admiration for him went far beyond a simple friendship, and that there was so much more that was still left unsaid. Something deeper. Something vastly more meaningful and everlasting. And she fully supported it.

“I will not take any attempts of refutals, Robert, and you know it.” She promptly added, not allowing him to downplay his own acts of love towards them but, mostly, towards Jonathan once more. The blond let out a soft whine, hoping the pink dusting his face would go away soon.

“You are mean, Erina…” He simply jested this time, leaning back into his chair.

“If that is what is going to take to make you understand just how special you are to us; how special you are to Jonathan, then I will be the meanest lady you will ever meet.” She said, her tone playful, but her words sincere. And Speedwagon could see that very well in her clear blue eyes.

“I truly do not deserve a friend like you.” A soft chuckle in the shape of a huff punctuated his words. He then picked up his cup of tea, sipping the last of it’s contents so he could take his leave.

“You are a wonderful man. You just haven’t realized it yet.”

“Wish I could believe that. I mean, it ‘s not that I doubt you or anythin’!! It ‘s just...” Robert averted his gaze, unconsciously letting his head hang a little. His tone sounded defeated, and Erina could tell the reason why.

“Jojo is fully aware of how wonderful you are, too. He just...” She sighed softly, unable to find the right words for it. “He can be a bit oblivious to the signs if you are not direct or clear enough with him sometimes. Especially at moments like this, when his mind is fully absorbed by something else.” Both remained in silence for a moment. Erina’s soft hand once more offering a reassuring touch to the back of Robert’s scarred one.

“I… know. I… I just wish I ‘ad the guts t’ finally be open with ‘im and just tell ‘im ‘ow I feel.” The man didn’t do much to lift his head, slipping his eyes closed for a moment instead. Erina could feel the muscles in Robert’s hand tensing up a little under her palm, right before he lifted his head. There was pain in his eyes. “I’m scared t’ death that he might find me disgustin’ and will not want t’ see me ever again.”

“Fear of rejection is the most normal thing to feel in this type of situations. The views most people have regarding people with ‘a different taste’ than the rest does not help much on that matter, but it does not mean everyone will turn against you, and I’m almost certain you know that very well after all the experiences you’ve had, and all the people you have met around the globe.” Her tone was soft, reassuring. Even with his lack of an interest in women, it was easy for Robert to see why Jojo loved her so much. “I’m afraid I don’t have the exact answer you are looking for, but I know in my heart that, no matter what, Jojo will never think any less of you.” The pain was still visible in his gaze, but he seemed to be a bit more at ease after hearing that.

“Thank you, Erina. You are an absolute saint.” The woman then shook her head, lightly.

“I beg to differ. I just want you two to be the happiest possible.”

“And you say you’re not a saint, eh…?” Both blondes shared a soft laugh and Erina withdrew her hand once more. “Well, looks like it ‘s time for me t’ go.” Speedwagon stood up from his seat. He straightened his waist coat and adjusted his frock coat before he picked his hat and put it on his head. Erina stood up as well.

“The carriage that will take you home is waiting for you.” To which Robert could only stare at her; his eyes widening a bit and his mouth slightly agape.

“What? Blimey, that won’t be necessary. I can just–”

“I told you before: I will not be taking any negative responses for an answer.” She cut him short with that gentle tone of hers and a matching smile.

“One day, I don’t know ‘ow, but one day I will repay you two for everythin’ you’ve done for me.”

“Until then, please, be kind and accept these small displays of gratitude of ours.” Truly, there was no way they could dislike each other.

It took Robert some effort to convince Erina not to walk him to the main entrance of the mansion, but he did it. He worried too much over her and her pregnancy sometimes. It was almost comical in an endearing way just how much Jonathan and him resembled each other on that matter. However, and all that aside, the truth was that Erina was in her 8th month of pregnancy, almost the 9th, so moving around freely and without getting easily tired was not as simple as before, so she had to take it easy, mostly for the baby’s sake.

Not long after saying their farewells for the night –and Robert saying farewell to little Jojo as well–, and after greeting the coachman that was going to take him home, Robert was finally on the carriage, leaving the Joestar state. As the place began to disappear behind them, one of Speedwagon's hands went up to the chest pocket of his coat. He could feel the squared shape of the envelope Erina had given him earlier that day, shortly after he’d arrived. It was a little letter Jonathan had left for him to make up for his absence that day. He hadn't read it yet, and he was completely sure nothing out of the ordinary was written in it, and yet…

"He really took some time outta 'is day t' write this for me, huh...?" He mused under his breath, and the sole thought made his heart flutter. He was so madly in love with that man it was almost unbelievable.

With that image of Jonathan, as busy as he was, taking some time for him and writing that letter with him in mind, still lingering in his head, Robert leaned back into the cushioned seat of the carriage. He wanted to read the contents of the letter, even if there was nothing more in it than Jojo’s heartfelt apologies for missing his visit and the promise of properly making up for it and seeing him next time, but he knew any attempts of actually reading it would be futile with the lack of proper lighting inside the carriage. He let out a sigh and took his hat off, placing it on the empty seat beside him. He made himself comfortable –as comfortable as a big, 5’11” tall man like him could get in a space like that– and tried to get some sleep.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

About a week later, the same carriage was seen making it’s way back to Liverpool. This time, though, there were two more passengers travelling along. The trip, unlike last time, felt a lot shorter. Probably because this time Robert had his Ogre Street mates with him all along to kill some time. Or maybe because, this time, he knew what Jonathan had wanted to tell him in the letter.

Just as Robert had expected then, there had been nothing particularly grand in it. It had been full to the brim with sincere apologies and all as well filling him in on some of the news of his everyday and stuff about his most recent work. What had made him feel a bit too anxious in anticipation, though, had been a line that Jojo added near the end. Something about a big surprise. Of course, it was a bit too much of a stretch that that could mean… what Robert kind of thought (more like, wished) it could mean, and he knew it. But still, that didn’t make much to ease that feeling that was pooling in the pit of his stomach, and he felt kind of silly about it. Being so excited over something that was most likely not going to happen, was he even for real? He questioned himself over and over again since reading that letter the morning after he’d left the Joestar mansion days ago, and still did now as the three guests were led into the mansion by one of the butlers while another took their baggage to the designated rooms upstairs. The first butler then took them into the banquet hall, where their hosts were awaiting for them.

Even though this was not the first time Tattoo and Li visited the Joestar estate, that didn’t change much that feeling of inadequacy the three of them were always victims of whenever they visited. This place was so huge and imposing. Regardless of the kind nature of Jonathan and Erina, always making them feel welcome, it was near impossible for folks with much less fortunate backgrounds such as the three of them not to feel that way, like they were completely out of place. Never in their lives they would have imagined they would set foot into a majestic place like this unless they were raiding it...

The big double doors of the hall were pushed open by the butler guiding them through the mansion and he stepped aside, so the group could come in. The first thing Robert saw as he stepped into the room was Jonathan’s beautiful smile.

“Robert!” The younger man greeted, excited, waving his hand –manners and 100% proper and sober Victorian etiquette were still not his forte, huh– and rushed towards the newcomers. “You came! I was worried you wouldn’t!”

“There ‘s no way on Earth I’d ever let you down, Jonathan.” Robert took his hat off and offered a gentle smile of his own while secretly trying to hide the soft blush he felt was threatening to creep up to his cheeks at the sight of his favorite gentleman smiling so bright at him. The taller man then grabbed him by his shoulders in a gentle manner, showing just how excited he was to see him again after so long.

“I know, I know!! But still! I was just...worried, you know?” Jonathan rubbed his cheek a little before he loosened his grip and hugged the man instead. Something quite improper, especially between two men, but it was something that Speedwagon couldn't find any reasons to complain about. He returned the hug in a very similar manner, enjoying every second of it, unconsciously memorizing the smell of Jojo’s lotion mixed with his own flowery scent. A true delight to his sensitive nose. "I'm so happy that you're here." His voice was low as there was no need to raise it with how close they were from each other, Jonathan practically whispering those words into his ear. Robert felt his legs go a tad weak, but they didn't give in, mostly thanks to Jonathan’s strong but tender embrace. He knew Tattoo and Li were going to tease him on end about this later but, fuck it, he couldn't care less about that.

“And I am truly ‘appy t’ be ‘ere, you big sap.” He replied in a lighthearted way, adding that last bit in an attempt to play it cool and not completely give himself away, even though he was almost completely sure at this point that everyone in the room –save for the object of his affections, unfortunately– were well aware of the true nature of his feelings for Jonathan. The brunet finally pulled away from the hug and properly greeted Li and Tattoo as well, shaking hands with them and exchanging kind words and genuine smiles. Erina also came to greet them all, in a much more proper manner than her husband, but just as warm and kind as him. Those two were nothing at all like most other rich folks Speedwagon had ever met before.

“How’s little Jojo doin’ today?” Robert asked, his gaze falling down to Erina’s pregnant belly for a moment.

“Wonderfully!” She replied; her smile never fading away. “And quite excited, too. They have been kicking a lot today.”

“They are excited because they knew Uncle Speedwagon was coming today.” Jonathan added as he moved back to Erina’s side, draping an arm around her shoulders. That sweet smile of his in full display once more…

...And Robert couldn’t help the blush on his face. Not just at that beautiful sight, but at what Jonathan had just said.

“Uncle…?” He echoed, and the couple’s smiles grew wider and even warmer.

“That’s correct!” They both said almost in unison.

To think Erina and Jojo considered him good enough for such an important role in their child’s life… Lord, he felt so undeserving.

“I honestly don’t think I’m the most fit for the role, but I’ll ‘appily do my best t’ not disappoint any of you!” The smile gracing his features mirrored those on the couple’s faces in every possible way, showing just how touched he genuinely was. Having known Robert long before Jojo had come into his life, Li and Tattoo found it truly sweet to finally see him being this happy, and surrounded with so much love, even if not everything about it had been going the exact way their mate wished. They knew the kind of man he was underneath that tough and rough exterior he was very well known for in all of the slums, and knew how deserving he truly was of every single ounce of it. Both of them placed a hand on each of Speedwagon’s shoulders as a sign of that, smiling at him and at the Joestars as well, and the man returned the gesture with that genuine smile of his as well.

“We are so happy to hear you say that. Now, please, don’t stand there and come take a seat!” Erina added and walked over to the huge dining table. Jojo led them to it as well. Some of the maids had already come in and were already getting everything ready for the meal, bringing in the dishes for them all to enjoy.

“Hope you have a good appetite today!” Jojo exclaimed as he pulled the chairs out for their guests. “The staff worked hard on all this, so I hope the food is to your taste.” And he finally sat down as well once everyone was in their seats; the maids and butlers putting the many plates of hot food on the table before each one of them and getting everything ready for everyone to enjoy their meals. Once they all had finished their food, they all went outside and took a walk around the majestic gardens surrounding the mansion, enjoying the beautiful views and the still gentle breeze of the first month of Fall.

The reunion went down as smooth as expected so far: A shared high spirit, lots of fun and interesting stories about many different subjects shared by everyone, genuine laughter and smiles, incredibly tasty food (and many different dishes to sink their teeth into, too). A pleasant time they all deserved and had been looking forward to as well.

Low tea time then came, and they were all greeted in the tea room by a different part of the staff working at the mansion. Hot beverages, all sorts of delicious pastries, the perfect lighting. Everything was ready by the time they got there. Everyone took a seat and soon after, the tea was served.

“This ‘as been such a lovely day,” Robert finally said sometime later, visibly touched by the heartwarming gesture of the Joestar couple towards him and his old friends. It was hard to believe that, this exact day, one year ago, he had been spending the day in the streets, just wandering around aimlessly, killing time and causing trouble... “and I wanna thank you both for everythin’. I still don’t know what on Earth did I do so right t’ deserve you both in my life.”

“Just being yourself. That’s what you did.” Jonathan replied with that gentle smile of his aimed at the blond, who was sitting right beside him. Erina nodded. “I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to say this before, but I think you already know it: You are one of the persons I admire the most. You are so very special, Robert. And I hope you haven't forgotten about the surprise I mentioned in the letter." Jonathan's words, as usual, didn't fail to paint the blond’s cheeks a sweet tone of pink that, hopefully, was not easy to notice. And, the reminder of the letter only served to make that blush last a little longer.

Jojo stood up and walked over to one of the cabinets in the room. From one of the drawers, he pulled something out, something he had previously put in there himself for this moment, and asked Robert to come over, which he did. Everyone's eyes followed them, curious as to what Jonathan had gotten him. Not even Erina knew, as Jonathan had insisted all the time that it was a surprise. Meanwhile, Robert was inwardly pleading for his heart to stop pounding so hard in his chest. Once he was before Jonathan, he was presented with a light-gray small box –though it could very well just be that anything looked small in Jonathan's hands–. It was a bit flat and there was a lavender ribbon on top of it. He nodded, encouraging Robert to open his present right away.

"I hope you like it." The nobleman added, expectant for the other's reaction, watching him open the box, revealing an elegant sterling silver pocket watch –a hunter-case one–, attached to a silver chain. The thing looked so expensive it felt so alien in Robert's hand.

"Jojo, you didn't–"

"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to." He finished his sentence with a kind smile. "You deserve so much more than this, but I hope you like it nevertheless!"

"Are you kiddin' me? I love it!" He beamed. And he wasn’t lying. He did love it, but not because of how fancy and nice it looked. It was because it was a present from the man he loved so dearly. He could have gotten some cheap trinket from him and his reaction would have been entirely the same.

"I'm so happy to hear that! And there's one more thing. Take a look inside." His index finger pointing at the watch. Robert did as requested and carefully opened it. On the back of the lid there was a set of numbers engraved, written in beautiful cursive. It was… a date?

"Jonathan. This ‘s...?" Jonathan nodded.

"The date of the day we met for the first time." And Robert froze on the spot. Of course, there was the ‘embarrassing’ part attached to the memory –that of Tattoo, Li and him trying to gut Jonathan alive while the young man had been doing nothing but seeking for an antidote to save his Father’s life, something that the three ruffians still felt terrible about–, but there was also a unique feeling to it, as that had also been the day that this man had come into his life, ready to change everything in it for good: His views, his wrecked and reckless ways, his life style and the way he perceived life and the world around him, the way he perceived himself, showing him that he was worth something, showing him that there was so much more to life than what that little underworld in the slums had to offer. The day he had so fiercely fallen for this ‘rich boy’ that was nothing like the rest, the one who was a true gentleman in every possible way. The one that had captivated his heart like no other had and that Robert was absolutely convinced was the one and only love of his life.

The blond couldn’t find any words to say. He was genuinely speechless, with his gaze fixed on the engraving for a little longer as the memories and the swirl of emotions engulfed him whole. It was such a ‘small’ detail, but one that meant the world to him, as it showed and left no doubts about Robert’s importance in Jonathan’s life. The moment he raised his gaze, meeting Jojo’s, his eyes were visibly glassy, and that was something that didn’t escape Jonathan. He didn’t make any comments on it, though, figuring it would make Speedwagon feel uncomfortable and exposed so, instead, he pulled him into a tight hug.

“Happy Birthday, Robert.” He said in a soft voice. Speedwagon leaned into the hug, wrapping his arms around Jojo’s larger frame.

“Thank you… Jojo…” He replied in a similar manner, trying his best to choke down his tears, and doing a fairly decent job at it. When the hug ended, they both went back to the table and enjoyed the rest of the evening along with the rest of their friends and family. Outside, the night had fallen over the vast Liverpool skies.

Ever since this celebration had been planned, it had been agreed by all of them that Robert, Li and Tattoo were staying over for a few days after that. There were plenty of guest rooms in the mansion, so having them over would definitely be no issue at all. Since they weren’t going back to London tonight, there was also no need to rush anything, and so conversations and all sorts of activities went on for a while longer than they usually would on a regular visit. Time went fast by, and it was getting really late. They were all tired after such a long and fun day, so everyone went to their respective bedrooms, ready to call it a day.

“Erina, dear.” Jojo called once they were alone in their room. Something seemed to be bothering him.

“Yes?”

“…It might just be me but, did you notice anything different in Robert later today?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know how to describe it, but it felt like…”

“Like something was off?” She looked at him; her soft hands rested on her belly as she remained sitting on the edge of their bed.

“Yes. Yes, something like that.” He said after a moment of pondering about it. “Do you know what it could possibly be? I don’t recall him mentioning any issues before or anything that could be bothering him.” He inquired, hoping she would know something he didn’t and could tell him about. Maybe the two of them had talked about something that could be troubling him during his previous visit?

Erina let out a soft sigh and lightly shook her head.

“Oh, Jojo.” She looked into her husband’s eyes. Even through the dim light from the oil lamp on the nightstand he could see that look she would always give him whenever he was missing something important that was a bit obvious. It wasn’t a condescending look at all. All the opposite, really. “You have not noticed it yet, have you?”

And her words threw him off. Completely.

“Notice...what?”

“I could tell you, but I think it would be best for you, and for Robert, that you find that answer out for yourself, dear.”

Jonathan continued staring at her; his thick brows knitted together. He was infinitely puzzled still. She stood up and walked towards him. She cupped his face in her hands and gently pulled him closer, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

“Look. I won’t mind if you want to go and talk with him. Knowing him, I’m sure he is going to be up for a while longer, and I’m convinced he will appreciate your company through the night.” Which was something both knew for sure. It was no secret that Speedwagon was a night owl, and him staying over at someone’s place probably wouldn’t change that the slightest. Jonathan nodded. He then kissed Erina in return before he left.

Meanwhile, a few doors down the hall, in his room, Robert was leaning against the door frame that led to the balcony. He had already taken his coat and waistcoat off, both of which he had left on the footboard of the four poster bed. The turmoil inside his head (and heart) had gotten considerably worse as hours had ticked away, so he had opted for making himself comfortable –as comfortable as one could in that condition– and take a breath of fresh air while, a bit ironically, having a smoke, hoping that would soothe him enough so he could get some sleep later that night. He lit a cigarette and stared outside, softly humming to a tune he had heard some time ago, when he visited the Caribbean. His room had quite a nice view of the gardens their whole group had walked through earlier. They looked so different under the moonlight, but still as beautiful as before. It was a really nice change from the urban landscapes he was so used to back in London. He remained like that for a moment, enjoying the chilly but gentle wind of Fall. His tie was undone, and his shirt was open, allowing that chilly wind to gently brush against the exposed skin of his scarred chest. He put the cigarette between his lips and slipped a hand into the pocket of his trousers, producing the silver pocket watch Jonathan had given him earlier, idly fiddling with it and running his fingers over the smooth surface as he took a drag of his cigarette. His gaze was fixed on the timepiece now and he could see the way the moonlight shone so beautiful on it’s surface. His mind, suddenly, decided to go back to earlier that day, to that moment when Jonathan had hugged him for the second time, and he felt that rush of emotions strike him all over again.

“You’re such a bloody fool, Robert…” He whispered to himself. Being so madly in love with a nobleman. And not just that, but a married gentleman. His friend’s husband at that. And, while said friend was absolutely okay with those tender feelings he had for him, and even encouraged him to take the next step whenever he felt ready for it, if he ever did, he still felt so silly about it all. He had no leads that Jonathan was… well, like that. No leads or hints that he had somewhat of a taste for men, like an invert man such as Robert did. And not just that, but he was also scared to death of not only being rejected by the man he loved, but he was also scared of being seen by him as nothing but a disgusting pervert as well. The sole idea of Jonathan telling him that he didn’t want anything to do with him anymore was frightening and painful enough to make the former thug want to keep his mouth and heart shut as much as he could, as much as it hurt. He’d rather remain a close friend and be by his side always, until the very end, than risk losing him forever…

A soft knock on his room’s door echoed through the room, dragging him back to the present time.

“C’mon in.” Speedwagon raised his voice enough for the visitor to hear and slipped the watch back into his pocket. He looked over his shoulder when he heard the door open and then click shut a second later. Even in the darkness that was engulfing the room now that the oil lamps were off, he could still make out the huge silhouette of the Joestar heir walking towards him. The blond turned on his heels, failing to realize just how ‘improper’ he must have been looking at the time (etiquette wasn’t always his forte, especially with an upbringing like his and the fact that he was still a man from the worst part of the slums). “Oi, Jojo.” He greeted, raising his hand a little.

“H-Hey.” He said once he got to Speedwagon’s side, mirroring that gesture.

“I thought you were with Erina. ‘s somethin’ the matter?” He asked, genuinely curious, and even a tad worried.

“No, no. Everything is fine! I mean, not everything, but yes. Just...”

“Are you sure? ‘cause this ‘s definitely not like you.” His concern growing deeper. “Do you need t’ talk, perhaps?”

“Yeah, I guess...” His voice trailed off. He looked, and sounded, so lost for a moment. Robert had no clue what this was all about, but he was going to try his best to be of aid. “It’s about earlier…”

Oh…

“Yeah…? What ‘bout it?”

“I couldn’t help but notice that something was kind of, well, off with you…”

“...”

“Erina noticed it, too. I tried to ask her about it. She seems to know something, but she wouldn’t tell me anything. She said it would be best for us to talk.”

Robert couldn’t help a soft chuckle, exhaling a bit of smoke in the process.

“Don’t get me wrong for what I’m ‘bout t’ say, please, but that woman ‘s an absolute angel. I can truly see why you love ‘er so much.” He admitted as he looked away into the horizon once more. Jonathan smiled in response, finding no fails or lies in that whole statement about his sweet Erina. His gaze followed Robert’s and, after a moment of silence and even a little of hesitation, he tried again.

“So…? Something’s been bothering you…?” He asked cautiously, not wishing to upset Speedwagon in any possible way. The blond hesitated to respond, taking a couple seconds to think, and re-think, his answer. He suddenly felt cold, as if his blood had been drained from his body, and a chill ran down his spine as realization fell down on him. There was no turning back now, was it?

“...It ‘s not like there’s somethin’ botherin’ me per se… It s just… somethin’ else. Somethin’ that’s been goin’ on for quite a long time now and that I, shamefully, ‘aven’t had the ballocks t’ be frank ‘bout it.” He admitted, unconsciously taking another drag of his cigarette before putting it off on the ashtray that was sitting on top of the bureau by the door. Jonathan’s face was colored in concern after hearing those words. It had to be something quite undesirable if it had lasted for so long while also making Speedwagon want to keep his mouth shut on the matter all this time, he figured.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner about it?” His voice reflecting that same concern that was plastered all over his face. “I would have helped you out as soon as you told me!” There was a tinge of pain in Robert’s features, and the moonlight made sure Jonathan didn’t miss that as the shorter man turned to look at him.

“Haven’t you noticed it yet, Jojo...?” The brunet remained silent, trying to piece it all together.

“I…” He stammered. Robert gulped hard and locked eyes with him. It was now or never, right? Right.

“I love you.”

“What…?”

“You ‘eard me right!” He nearly shouted. “I love you, Jonathan…! I love you so damn much! And I always ‘ave ever since you came into my life all that time ago...” He said, trying to keep himself collected as much as he could. His fists were clenched into tight balls at his sides while hot tears threatened him, stinging his eyes. Jojo stared at him, wide eyed, and at a complete loss for words. “I’d been keepin’ that t' myself all this time ‘cause… ‘cause I was scared t’ death of losin’ you. I still am!” He took a deep breathe. It was still hard for Robert to conceive that a ruthless gang leader such as himself could be this vulnerable before someone else, but here he was, exposing himself once more, though in a completely open manner this time for a change, confessing all those feelings he had tried so hard to keep to himself. “I don’t expect you t’ return my feelings. Bloody ‘ell, I will even understand if you don’t wanna see my disgustin’ arse ever again, and I promise I will never show m’self ‘round ‘ere anymore! I just… I just… really ‘ad t’ let all this out somehow before it ate me alive whole...” The pain was almost tangible in his voice as he uttered all those words.

And, suddenly, all those signs Jonathan had seen countless times coming from him before made so much sense. So much more that he couldn’t help but feel so inept, and like the biggest fool around for being so painfully oblivious to it all while even Erina had noticed it so long ago but, also, for having forced himself to keep his own feelings towards this man before him locked away…

“I’m...sorry for disappointin’ you and not bein’ who you thought I was, Mister Joestar…” He spoke again, even shaking a little, and he lowered his eyes, bringing back the formalities now that his chances of being on the list of undesirable people in this household had increased exponentially...

...Or so he thought.

“What on Earth are you talking about!?” The younger male grabbed him by the shoulders, making him raise his head and look back into Jojo’s face. There was a glint of something in his eyes. Something that Speedwagon could not quite read at first but that seemed like… pain? He had no time to ponder too much about it as Jonathan immediately pulled him into yet another tight hug, though, this time he was holding on to him like his very life depended on it, yet careful not to crush him in the process. “There is no way you could ever disappoint me!!” He sounded hurt, and he legitimately was. “The only one I am disappointed with is myself for being so blind and not being able to return your feelings sooner…” He paused, trying to find the right words to voice what was going on through his mind. “...I think I’d known about it all for a bit. I just… didn’t say anything for that same reason: I was afraid of being wrong in my assumptions and losing you forever! And, also, Erina… I… I didn’t know how she would react to the news that I had a special fondness for you, a special fondness as intense as that I have for her, and I didn’t want to make her feel like I didn’t love her anymore, much less now that she is carrying our baby.” The brunet tightened the hug a little; his fingers gently digging into the fabric of Robert’s shirt as he finally opened up, his hot tears rolling down and soaking Robert’s shirt. There was nothing but absolute honesty in his every word, and Robert could easily notice that. “I was so confused because I love her so much, and never have stopped loving her either. At first I was not aware that it was possible to love two different persons in the same manner, and so fiercely, at the same time. It… It took me a while to figure that out on my own and, still, I decided to keep quiet about it because I didn’t know how to bring it up to her, and how to bring it up to you as well. I tried to convince myself that… all of this, all those signs you gave off… as well as everything I was feeling… that it was all in my head. Guess I only made a fool out of myself in the end, didn’t I?”

Robert pulled Jojo away just enough so they could make eye contact once more. It broke his heart to see his gentleman break down like this.

“Jojo... dear. Lord…” He struggled to find the right words to say and could feel his own tears finally rolling down his face. There was so much in what Jonathan had just said that he could relate to in his own way... “You ‘aven’t done anythin’ wrong! Besides… It 's also my fault that you didn’t know for sure just ‘ow much I’ve always loved you until now! And I’m really sorry ‘bout that… I really wish I ‘ad the guts t’ be open with you ‘bout that sooner instead of tryin’ t’ hide it all and pretend nothin’ else was goin’ on...” Both men, remained in silence for a moment, still close to each other. It was then that Jonathan spoke once more.

“I guess… that makes both of us a pair of fools…”

“The biggest of ‘em all, I’m afraid…” Both of them shared a soft laugh despite those tears still wetting their faces; their foreheads pressed together as they did. One of Jojo’s hands went up to tenderly cup Speedwagon’s chin with his thumb and index finger.

“Robert… May I…?”

“Goddamnit, Jojo…” Robert let out a soft huff and cupped Jonathan’s face in his hands; his little smile not fading away the slightest. “Just fuckin’ kiss me…!”

Jonathan tilted Robert’s face slightly to the side, allowing himself a better access. His other hand went to rest on the small of the blond’s back, and he finally pressed their lips together in a long awaited kiss that Robert gladly returned in the same loving manner, both of them pouring into it all those feelings they had been holding back for so long.

They remained in each other’s arms for a little longer after the kiss ended, refusing to let go just like that.

“Would you… stay with me tonight? I mean, only if you think Erina will be alrigh’ with that. I wouldn’t wanna get on ‘er bad side ever.” Robert whispered as he rested his head on Jonathan’s chest. He could hear the soft rumble that was his chuckle. They both knew very well that Erina could be quite scary when she wished to.

“That will be completely alright.” He said with a full smile on his face. “We should go inside, though. It’s getting colder, and I don’t want you to catch a cold or worse!”

“This is nothin’ compared t’ what Ogre Street ‘as me used to, darlin’.”

“Yeah, I suppose so, but... About that, I know that you along with Tattoo and Li have turned down the offer of moving in with us countless times already, but I must insist once more.”

“I told you, dear, we don’t wanna be a nuisance t’ either of you.”

“But you wouldn’t be! Besides… I want. No, I need Erina and you, my two loves, by my side.” Speedwagon let out yet another soft chuckle.

“Blimey... You’re really the biggest daisy I’ve ever met, Jonathan.” He said fondly, “But I will gladly take you up on that this time. Little Jojo might need their Uncle ‘round when they arrive, and I’m sure Erina might appreciate some friendly company as well. And, much like yourself...” He stood on his tiptoes, gently bringing Jojo’s face down by his chin a little. “...I also need my one true love by my side.” His voice soft, sealing those words with yet another kiss under the pale moonlight.

Final notes: This story took so long for me to get it done from start to end, but it's finally here!

This is, I think, the first time I actually write something for the lovely jonaeri/jonawagon ot3~ :'D I also loved writing those bits with Robert and Erina together. They were super fun, and I also loved the idea of Robert happily telling her about the gay codes from that time and just kind of getting her into that little secret world, not only because Erina is the ultimate ally, but also, because, given the taboos in Victorian England, it's pretty much a given that Robert usually had to keep a lot of things from most people, sometimes friends included, so he really appreciates those time whenever he's allowed to be himself and is able to share some of that with others. Needless to say how much I love writing jonawagon and putting them in sweet and cozy scenes~

I can honestly say I'm pleased with how this story turned out, but I would definitely love to hear your thoughts on it!

Feedback, likes, reblogs and everything else (shares outside of Tumblr and Ao3, too) are always encouraged and highly appreciated!!

Thanks for reading!

[lunnamars]

somebody wants you - chap 1

First attempt to write about LuNami, one of the ships I love the most!

A quick reminder that English is not my primary language, so forgive me for any mistakes. 

And our daily disclaimer: obviously, I don't own anything in One Piece because if I did, Luffy and Nami would already be together. Yeah.

You can read in AO3 and FFNET.

Chapter 1 - fissure

“Why the hell did you come with me, Luffy?”

Nami had been wondering that since the moment she left Sunny. Usually, the redhead tended to do the same activities during the time they stopped to recorder the Log Pose, especially while no fuss was yet to be settled. And as she believed that today would be no different, she thought she’d just need to divide the money between the crew members, say goodbye to everyone and go looking for her beloved clothing stores.

The magnetization would take around forty-eight hours, so it would be enough time for her to enjoy the city center, looking at stores after stores very calmly and still enjoy a little bit of the festival that would happen the other day.

I mean, if it weren't for the captain at her side.

For some reason, Luffy had stated loud and clear that he’d make company to Nami today and that "please, Usopp and Chopper don't cry" ("But they are already crying, Luffy.") because they would definitely explore the island together the next day.

That was an hour ago. Incredibly, neither Robin nor Sanji joined her and only the captain actually remained. Not that she minded spending time with the boy, quite the contrary - discreetly, Nami always tried to take advantage of any opportunities to be with him when it appeared.

After all, when you love someone, spending time together is always welcome.

Yeah. Love.

Not a crush, not an infatuation, let alone an affection from very close friends.

Currently, it was much more than that and Nami would no longer deny it.

The girl has been in denial for so long that since she finally managed to admit to herself that no, all this affection and concern can’t be just friendship, everything seemed to be much lighter. And it is not as if the whole world knew too - only Robin (and for the record, it was not of her own free will) because, let's face it, Nico Robin, unfortunately, is a very perceptive person.

Oh, and a certain pirate woman too.

So, as she knew that her archaeologist friend knew, Luffy's unexpected company could only be…

"Robin! She said that you needed my help!!". He happily exclaimed.

Sure. And in what exactly, Robin?

"I see... and she said what kind of help I needed?"

Nami was facing the fitting room mirror looking at the reflection of a completely electric Luffy running from side to side. As the redhead has been around for a long time, the captain's hyperactivity was nothing new, but she knew that the girl at the store was about to go crazy with so much random yukata that he picked it up and threw it in her hands.

"Tomorrow's festival! She said that you really wanted to go, but that neither she nor Sanji could help you choose the clothes, so she said I could and here I am! Nami, Nami ... look at this yukata? What do you think of this? Look at this one!! It's that-

"BE QUIET!!". Nami screamed and Luffy pouted.

"Namiiii-"

She had no option - she had to hit his head. And it's not that the navigator got angry by the captain's fussiness, but that she knew very well why Robin had suggested it and why Luffy had accepted it. But honestly, she just wanted to have a peaceful day.

She just wanted to have one day without thinking about Monkey D. Luffy.

But okay, Nami is a grown woman. Her times of throwing a tantrum with the boy and being angry because of her own feelings were no more. If fate (Can I also say that fate is called Robin?) decided that today she would have to endure all the shenanigans of her best friend, so be it. She is much more than her unrequited feelings.

Their friendship is much more than her unrequited feelings.

In reality, the redhead never got to confess. Today she can identify that these feelings have always existed since the moment Luffy put the straw hat on her head, but it was only five months ago that she finally realized. Coincidentally, when she met Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress.

The navigator admits how childish she was - what she deciphered that could have been a serious crisis of jealousy. Nami never thought that she could feel this much jealousy in her life and it almost ended the spirituality of the Empress's visit. Right from the start, the redhead didn't like how Hancock talked to Luffy, how she hugged him, how she looked at him, let alone how she said over and over again that she was going to marry the boy.

This caused her to simply raise hell inside the Thousand Sunny, raging at anyone at any time and even being rude to the woman. Obviously this didn't go unnoticed by the captain and Nami is almost sure that it was the first time that Monkey D. Luffy called her out seriously, which left her feeling so apprehensive and guilty that, in the end, it was enough for her to wake up.

"I don't know what's your problem, but you're not acting normal. Hancock is our visit and she's my friend. I will not let anyone mistreat her, not even you, Nami."

On the same day, the navigator addressed the empress alone, apologized and gave a lame excuse that she didn't even remember, but she knew that the words of the beautiful pirate would be forever marked in her mind.

"I know you don't like me because you're in love with him. I completely understand and don't judge you. But deep down, you know you’re not enough for him, don't you? Don’t get me wrong, I’m saying this it's what I see. He’ll always have to save you and you will never be able to really pay for everything he did, don't you think? Are you sure you could live in such a relationship?"

Few things have hurt Nami deeply - the impotence in the face of the murder of Bell-mère, the inability to save her village from Arlong, the need to discard a good part of her childhood for a greater cause… and now, the words of Boa Hancock. Each sentence felt as if the empress was sticking a knife into her chest and turning. The raw truth of the shichibukai's words remained with Nami in the same way that her tattoo remained on her arm after all this time.

She remembers how much she cried that day hidden in the bathroom after the party for the Kujas pirates ended. Deep down, she knew it was all true - she loved Luffy more than anyone could imagine, she knew that he really always found a way to save her from any situation even if she didn't ask, but that she was always with a heavy heart because at any moment, what the hell would she do if he got hurt irreparably because of her own weakness? She knew it was an unbalanced relationship.

She knew all this.

It hurt to finally stop pretending to herself and at the same time discover that she really wasn't enough.

However, the other day, Nami was a totally different person with Hancock and the entire crew. No more angry faces or snarky remarks - she tried to be as nice as she could, since the empress, despite giving a dirty look at the two women on the crew, did no harm to the navigator. Besides, Nami was fully aware that she was acting like a child just because Hancock was right in all of her observations and all the redhead could do was just accept it.

Besides, it's not like Luffy has any idea what it means to like someone more than a nakama. Nami didn't even have to confess to know that the captain didn't really see her that way. Few words were necessary to confirm this fact and she would be lying if she said that his firm denial about the mere idea of ​​possibly being married to her had not hurt her either.

This escaped from his mouth shortly after Hancock's departure when Usopp and Chopper were messing with him about what he thought about marriage and romantic relationships since the beautiful pirate left no doubt about her true intention with Luffy. One word leads to another and Usopp, incredibly impertinent, asked if he had already thought about this type of thing about his female crewmates.

"Haa? No!! Robin is too old and Nami doesn't always do something fun. I don't think it would work, shishishi."

It really took the redhead by surprise - so much that she couldn't even hit him in the head for being rude. The reaction (or lack of) did not go unnoticed by the Straw Hats, much less by Luffy. He had the usual silly and innocent smile on his face, but when he realized that Nami just stared at him with no expression, the captain became confused and soon he started to panic thinking that his friend would hit him and "please Nami, don't do anything, sorry, sorry"-

In fact, the navigator did nothing. After a few seconds, she merely gave a fake laugh and agreed with Luffy ("Maybe you're right, Captain."), but everyone realized that since then their relationship has changed almost imperceptibly just because Nami was good at lying. But secretly, everyone was trying to fix this "something" that seemed to have been broken in the past few months, but that nobody knew exactly what it was.

Not even Nami knew. She tried to not show anything, but unconsciously, she started to avoid fondling with Luffy's hair (although she is often unsuccessful), tried not to wear the hat anymore when he puts it on her head, started to draw maps more often in the library, walked away when they were to close. Still, she still enjoyed every moment she could have with the rubber boy while maintaining a safe distance between the two. Since then, Nami has been stuck in this duality of wanting to get close, but at the same time to move away.

It's not as if an abyss had formed between them, but there was a slightly open fissure so that she knew where she should be when he was completely out of her reach.

It was also unnecessary to say how much she cried hidden in the bathroom for two days. And that's when Nico Robin found out. Nami really had no intention of telling anyone - it would be the secret she would keep under lock and key. But Robin... Robin was very observant and intelligent. Obviously, she noticed how Nami came back with puffy eyes in those two days that followed the captain's statement.

On the third day, the navigator cried on her friend's lap.

Initially, Nami tried to be as discreet as possible, but something told her that Luffy had noticed and since the Empress's fateful visit, the captain tried to get close to her whenever he could. She got tired of telling the boy that it was okay, that she hadn't been upset, that he doesn’t need to worry, but for some reason, he still persisted.

The funny thing is that Luffy, in one way or another, taught her and showed her several things, including what was a broken heart.

"Luffy, honestly, you didn't have to come. You could have gone for a walk on the island with Usopp and Chopper, no biggie. And tomorrow, I just intended to stop by the festival and go back to Sunny."

The girl sighed heavily as she smoothed the boy's dark hair. Of course she wanted to spend time with him (while not - and she gave a double sigh because nothing seemed to make sense in the last few months), but Nami would not impose her presence on someone who wasn't in the mood to enjoy it. Initially, she felt super offended and enraged every time she thought about how they almost never go out just the two of them during stops around the islands because he always ran to be close to Usopp, Chopper or Zoro, but nowadays she simply accepted that this is how it is.

Deep down, she wanted him to yearn for her company just as she craved for his, but you can't have everything, right? Luffy's friendship is one of the most valuable things that she possessed and she definitely would not lose everything due to selfish desires on her part.

Luffy accepted the pat on his head and just tilted his face expressionlessly.

"You don't want me to stay here, Nami?". His suddenly serious tone really surprised her.

"Of course I want. I just don't want to make you do something you don't want to do, you idiot. I can manage here without any problems. I'm sure you would rather go exploring the island than to look at clothes with me, nee Lu-"

"Would you prefer Sanji instead?". Luffy asked in his characteristic blunt way and Nami was startled again. I usually want your company, you idiot in a hat, the redhead thought, holding on the urge to roll her eyes.

"Haa? I didn't say that. I just meant that you would have more fun if you had gone with Usopp or Chopp-"

"Yoshi!! If you don't mind, then let's continue, Nami!! There are still other yukatas here that I separated- Oe, Nami! What time is the festival? Do we still have time??". The boy opened his eyes comically and Nami held on tightly to keep from laughing. He himself just said that the festival was tomorrow and has already forgotten. It's almost impossible to be upset with you, you fool!

“Calm down, Luffy. The festival is only tomorrow. Let's do this way: you finish helping me choose a yukata for the festival, then I buy you ice cream and you're free, what do you think?”

"Ice cream?? I want ice cream, Nami! Now?"

Another hit on the head.

"Didn't you hear what I just said, you moron??!! AFTER!!”

Luffy pouted and Nami almost gave in but preferred to keep her scowl on. The captain really managed to be uncontrollable when he wanted to.

"Okay, but you have to help me too, Nami! I’ll need clothes to go to the festival and you always say that I dress badly, but I’ll show you that you’re crazy and wrong."

"Are you going to the festival?? Why?? And… c-c-crazy? …CRAZY??"

The redhead raised her arm to beat Luffy up, but he was faster - he threw the yukatas on the floor and ran. But before leaving for the men's store, he looked at Nami from head to toe and said in a simple and cheerful way something she never imagined hearing from him.

"You look very beautiful, Nami! I think this is the best you have tried so far!! Shishishi."

And she could neither answer nor prevent her face from blushing.

.

.

.

.

.

バカ baka.

[pondernce]

Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 3

A/N: So this thing keeps getting longer and longer, so this chapter is really the first half. But anyway, I hope you enjoy! Big thanks to @julesbeauchamp​ (even in her absence :( ) and @curlsgetdemgurls​ for their support and encouragement to actually write the thing!!! 

Chapter 3

After her escape to the eastern Mediterranean, Claire had been lucky enough to find not only a flat in London, but a roommate who soon became one of her closest—and only—friends. Geillis Duncan was everything Claire was not, at least when it came to her personal life. The door to her room seemed constantly revolving and Claire couldn’t fault the scot for it. She only questioned how a physician had so much time to find all those gorgeous men.

 Geillis tried to share the wealth, so to speak, to get Claire to take her up on her offers to head to this pub, that opening, or this party. Normally she refused. But seeing James Fraser again warranted more than a mere bottle of Rioja on her couch.

 And that was how she found herself slightly tipsy and tugging on a dress she hadn’t worn in ages. It’s fitted frame clung to her chest in a way she normally avoided (aided by one of Geillis’ push up bras), and grabbed hold of her hips, nipped in as it was at the waist. Claire had always loved the dress. It made her feel like a vintage star, gossamer bell sleeves and dramatic cleavage, despite the more modest hemline. She slipped on her heels and looked up when Geillis wolf whistled.

 “And here I thought I’d have to help ye, but my my. Ye clean up well, Beauchamp. Pity ye’ve a closet full of jumpers.”

 Claire rolled her eyes and attempted to ruffle her curls into a slightly less bent shape. She really should have taken her bun out ages ago. “Oh sod off, my jumpers are flattering. I’m teaching now, I can’t get away with… this. I’m surprised you can at the clinic!”

In truth, she knew it was out of character for her to get so dressed up. The few times in the last months she had been out with her roommate, she’d worn jeans and a fitted jumper, or perhaps a blouse and jacket. Never a dress. And certainly no heels. Seeing him today had reminded her what it felt like to be wanted like that. She tried not to think about that time often, but when lost in those deep blue eyes she couldn’t help it. She’d been almost squirming, torn between desire and discomfort, in her bloody classroom.

 With a huff, Claire looked back at Geillis. “I just… I wanted to get out. Maybe finally partake in the fun. It’s been—“

 “Aye, far too long! But ye don’t need to excuse yerself. I just wish ye’d tell me what happened today. Usually, I’m the one asking ye to come out.”

 The memory of ruffled red curls caressing tanned shoulders flashed before her eyes, and Claire failed to shake the ghost from her mind. “I um…” she could feel the flush on her cheeks, creeping down her neck and dangerously low along her bodice. “I just need a night out. You know?”

 Geillis hummed, seeming to give in. Although her gaze gave away her suspicions. “Well then. We’ve a new place to try. Somewhere hopefully we willna find any of yer students!” Laughing, she spun out of the room and grabbed her coat, impatiently urging her roommate along.

 With a last gulp of her wine and a final tussle of her hair, Claire followed her out of the flat in a cloud of perfume and the clicking of towering heels.

 —-

 “Ye seem a bit lost there…” Jamie called out, leaning against the slightly crumbling wall of one of Nicosia’s many ancient buildings. In the late afternoon sun, the city wasn’t exactly bustling with life, but the old town still boasted shops and stalls, among which he’d found this gorgeously out of place creature. She turned and for a moment he was entirely lost in the startling hue of her eyes. Not brown, just shy of gold. Fine whiskey through a crystal cut glass, sparkling back at him.

 She looked surprised, those eyes wide in her slightly flushed face. “I’m sorry? I’m not lost, just wandering around… playing tourist. Aren’t you?” The crisp vowels of her posh accent were in such contrast to her own, and he wondered if she was as confused as he.

 “A Sassenach? And ye ended up touring the city alone?” His tone softened, even as he stood up off the wall and stepped a bit closer to her. Jamie was no monk, but he’d never understood the need some in his company felt to relentlessly chase after girls, to take them home every time they had leave. Perhaps he would have had he ever seen her. “Dinna take that the wrong way, aye? I’m wandering alone myself. Just nae a tourist.”

 She nodded, held her ground, and for that Jamie felt all the more entranced. “You’re hardly from here. I’ve lived in Edinburgh, I recognize a Scot.” She smirked a little, those eyes dancing at him, challenging him. “And I know Sassenach is not a nice name.”

 “I meant ye nae offence,” he laughed, shaking his head softly. A few sun-bleached curls fell over his brow. They hadn’t been this long since before he enlisted. But in recovery here among the medical corps and troops on loan to the UN Peacekeepers, no one cared if Colonel Fraser’s hair grew out.

 “Just… Well ye confused me there, an English lass here. And ye did seem lost. This street goes nowhere, just takes ye to a plaza with no exits and a very cranky old woman.” He winked, or he tried to.

 It made her laugh and shake her head, the blush on her cheeks growing. “I wanted to see the city, although the beaches are lovely….” she looked up at him and he saw her debate with herself, and give in. “My uncle is an archaeologist, so I grew up quite familiar with ruins. I couldn’t pass up a day trip here. Now, what is a Scot doing in Nicosia?”

 Filled with curiosity akin to wonder, Jamie’s smile grew. “Ye’ll have to tell me more about that…” he pushed his hand through his hair, watched her eyes flick to the flex of his bicep. “I’m on leave from the military. There’s a couple of bases here, and it’s a better vacation than a Scottish spring.”

 They talked and walked (out of the dead-end little land and along wider streets, up narrow allies and to the parapets of the ancient walls), and he relished every word that fell from her lips. At sundown he convinced her, rather easily, to join him at a small restaurant. He tried to show off, ordering in Turkish, only for the woman to roll her eyes at him and make sure Claire got what she wanted too, her English accented but clear.

 Jamie learned so much about this strange woman, and also so little. She spoke of her travels and her uncles and of the myriad of places she’d lived. Of her hobby in botany and alternative medicine that was rapidly becoming a career. But never truly of herself. His curiosity lingered.

 Claire touched him first, taking his hand as they sipped their wine, letting her foot tap his under the table.

 It was all too easy to fall. To forget.

 He kissed her outside the bistro, and along the walls. She kissed him against the Famagusta Gate, pressed her petite frame to his, molded herself against him. In those moments, they both were lost.

 “Come back with me,” Claire murmured it, looking up at him almost upside-down, her back to his front and his arms guarding her against the soft breeze. “I have to get a ride back Kayalar... “ she looked up at him, turning out of his embrace. There in the shadow of Girne Kapısı, Jamie imprinted the image of her in his mind forever.

 “Aye, I’ll come,” his smile was flirtatious, his hands wrapping her hips and drawing her back against him. “How could I say no to ye?”

 —-

 Jamie glanced around the packed bar with a small sigh. Every inch of the place was crammed with uni students, eager to celebrate the start of the year, the return to their mates, and their newfound freedoms. John was among them, dancing between two girls with abandon. The lad could move, Jamie had to admit that. His slightly outrageous dancing and warm smile had drawn girls and blokes all night. It had been fun until those girls started circling him as well.

 “Are you starting this year as well?” Perky brunette number three, a friend of blond number two, smiled up at him. He had to credit them for being bold and confident. No use in squashing that, so he finished his beer and nodded.

 “Aye. In law.” he looked a bit bored, glanced back at John, and then down at the girl. “Sorry, what did ye say you were studying?”

 She pursed her lips. Good, better she thinks him an arse than doubt herself. “Nursing. I think. My sister does it and she likes it well enough.” She pushed her hair behind her ear. Christ, even the batting of her lashes.

 He needed to get out of here.

 Holding up his pint so she could see its sorry state, Jamie nodded to the bar. “Excuse me…”

 There was no refuge there, crammed against the counter and fighting for the attention of the older man behind the counter. A bloke slammed into his shoulder, sputtering an apology and nearly spilling his drink. “Careful aye?” Jamie sighed, helping the lad right himself. He felt so bloody old standing there, slightly too sober and having none of the chaos around him.

 As he closed out he finally got John to look at him. “I’m heading out!” hopefully his motioning to the door was enough to make it clear, but he was sure he wouldn’t be missed.

 Outside he could at least get his bearings, shake the ringing of the base from his ears and take a proper breath. The night was still early and so he walked, taking in the area around Kings. In truth, he’d never explored London. He’d never explored much in any place, except for one glorious day in the Eastern Mediterranean. He couldn’t think of that, of her, now.

 With a sigh, he turned up a street and spotted a calmer, near empty bar sporting the sort of plush leather couch his flat sorely lacked. Perfect. Whiskey on the mind, the former soldier wandered in and up to the bar. For a moment he simply waited, staring at the polished copper bar top, and a pair of delicate, feminine hands resting on it. “Whiskey neat,” he murmured, “Glen Moray, if ye’ve it.” He assumed they did, given the bottles covered the wall behind the man.

 Settled in his waiting, Jamie almost missed the soft gasp of the woman to his left. “Sorry, did I bump ye--” he stopped, lost for the second time that day to the melt of her whiskey eyes. “Claire?”

 Without thinking he reached out to grab her upper arm. It was meant to be reassuring but he watched her almost flinch away.

 “Jamie,” she smiled, something brittle and fractured. “Why aren’t you out with... “

 “All the other children celebrating the start of the term?” He arched a brow and laughed softly. “I’m nae a kid, Claire. Hardly younger than ye, ye ken.”

 “I know. I know that…” she bit her lip, and all Jamie could think was of how terribly he wanted to replace her teeth with his own.

 The bar was nearly empty, only the soft clink of glasses and the quiet murmur of a few patrons surrounded them, muffled by the rich hardwood and supple fabrics of the furnishings. It was intimate, posh. An absolute contrast to the airy furnishings of the room they’d shared that night in Cyprus.

 As the silence stretched on, Claire found her words. “I never expected to see you again. You said you were going back to war,” her eyes refused to settle on his, dancing about the room. “You said a lot of things, actually. Nothing that promised you’d ever be in London.” The opposite, in fact.

 Jamie waited, registering the pain in her voice and the guilt that flared up, not unlike the old wounds he’d sustained in the war. “Aye, I did. I was a coward then, I’ll admit that. But seeing ye again…” He smiled, stepped closer to her, almost taking the last of her space. The polished metal bevel of the bar prevented her from backing away. “Seeing ye again is more than I allowed myself to dream of, Sassenach.”

 Her heart leaping into her throat, Claire finally met his eyes. “You left.”

 “I had to. I couldn’t be in that room with ye and face the future I’d signed up to, having met ye… Knowing that I could have so much more than a life at war. Christ Claire, ye ken how I felt about ye!”

 The bartender glanced between them as he set Jamie’s whiskey down, arching a brow. The aggravated whispering had evidently caught his attention. “Everythin’ alright over here? Do you need another martini, miss?”

 She shook her head, breaking her gaze with Jamie and abandoning the words resting on her tongue. “No. Thank you, really. Excuse me,” flustered, she pushed past him and Jamie let her go. Against his better judgment, he let her go again. He watched unmoving as she all but speed-walked to the other side of the bar and a pretty redhead in a booth. When they got up to leave he sighed and sipped his whiskey, finally settling at the bar.

 —-

 ‘We need to go,” Claire’s heart was still pounding in her chest as she fought to process Jamie’s words. That night she had been the one to open her heart, to let him see all the shadows in herself along with the light. She’d trusted him, foolishly, and he’d never shown that for him it might have been too much. Not until the next evening. For him to admit to feeling… well, she assumed he felt the same as she did.

 And it was terrifying.

 “What?” Geillis frowned, glancing at her empty glass. “Ye went to get more drinks and now we’ve got to go? What happened, Claire?”

 “I’ll explain but can we just go, please? I’ll explain at home.”

 “Ye better. Ye look like ye’ve seen a ghost.”

 She pursed her lips as she shrugged on her coat. “Perhaps I have. It feels like it.”

 Although Claire was normally grateful for the proximity of their flat to everything, including Geillis’ preferred cocktail lounge, but at the moment she wished for more time. Processing that night, and Jamie’s declaration would take longer than the three blocks offered. Lost in her thought, she almost missed their door entirely.

 “Claire,” she felt Geillis’ hand on her arm, guiding her into the door. “Alright, spill. I willna be sitting here for these dramatics. There canna be two drama queens in this house, love.”

 G always was dramatic, as fiery as her red hair, while Claire was the voice of reason. Despite their close friendship over the last two years, she rarely confided in Geillis about her past. Over the years she’d admitted the whole debacle with Frank, why she ran from Boston. But she’d kept mum about Jamie. And why? Why was he, for all the brevity of their time together, so much more significant? Perhaps because that day was the first time Claire had ever felt truly seen for herself, and that night the only time she’d ever felt so thoroughly worshipped. Or worshipped at all.

 “I ran into someone at the bar. A student of mine,” she watched Geillis grin and shook her head. “G, focus. Yes, he’s gorgeous, but it’s more than that.” Claire slipped off her heels as she sat on the couch, drawing her knees to her chest.

 “I met him before, when I spent time with my uncles after leaving Frank. I’d taken a week for myself while they were on a dig, took a trip over to the Turkish side of Cyprus.” She sighed, almost wistfully. “It’s such a beautiful island. It was supposed to be a trip for myself, alone, to heal from what happened with Frank--”

 “But ye met a man,” Geillis nodded, coming back into the living room with two drams of whiskey.

 Accepting the liquor gratefully, she nodded. “I did. Jamie. He was a soldier on medical leave, for a month or so there… He never truly said what had happened to him, only that he was in Afghanistan. But the scars… God, G, his back had to have been completely torn apart. They were still healing when we met.”

 She closed her eyes, recalling the feeling of his back under her hands, the strong muscle marred by deep gauges, some still red and angry even in the half-light of the moon. “He never told me much about himself at all, actually. I suppose I didn’t realize that until it was over. But I told him everything, G, things I’ve never told anyone. And he didn’t just listen. He made me feel… loved.” she blushed, shaking her head.

 “I’m a fucking idiot, aren’t I? I fell in love with a man I knew for one day,” she scoffed, tipping the rest of the whiskey down her throat in one gulp. “Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, I thought he felt the same! I can’t explain it, but it seemed like… there was something there.”

 Claire seemed to deflate then, resting her cheek on her knees as her eyes closed. “I’d never felt shame like that. Not for having a one night stand, but for giving so much of myself-- of my trust-- to someone who could just walk out of my life.”

[theshatteredrose]

Turquoise Lotus Father (Treasure Seekers Saga 2) - Chapter 2 - Etrian Odyssey 5 Fanfiction

AN: Shorter chapter this time, sorry for the wait~

Ao3 | Wattpad | FFNet

Chapter 2:

Night had soon fallen, and when it did, the wind picked up outside. Strong, but not alarming. It did rattle the windows and the high-pitched howling was easy to be mistaken as something ungodly to be outside, dwelling in the shadows.

Normally, the sound of howling wind didn’t bother Drayce. But tonight, after spending about an hour trying to settling into bed to sleep, he found himself feeling restless. He couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason why.

Whatever the reason, he decided to get up and do something useful rather than rolling about in bed trying to sleep. Perhaps the restlessness was the result of the discovery of his grandfather’s office. He had managed to clean it up the best he could, but the shelves and bookcases were left as they were.

Those case notes and folders were just begging to be read.

So, the office was where he found himself wandering to as he left his room, mindful to be quiet so not to disturb the others as they slept. Hopefully they slept peacefully.

As he stood before one of the bookcases, he soon realised that they didn’t appeared to be organised. Reference books mixed in with case notes and documents. His grandfather was never a very organised man. He would use the worlds “Organised Mess” to describe the chaotic state he would often leave a room when researching. It may appear to be a mess to one person, but he knew where everything was.

Or so he claimed.

Either way, flicking through the documents and books, and rearranging them into Drayce’s own version of an organised mess would pass some time, and hopefully tire him out enough to get some sleep.

Some of the case notes were interesting, though. They appeared to be hunting for caches of jewels and gold even back in grandpa’s day. With how accessible, yet inaccessible the Yggdrasil labyrinth was, it made sense that no-gooders and criminals would try to hide their stash within.

A soft, timid voice pulled him from his musings. “Drayce?”

Drayce stiffened slightly from surprise and immediately turned around. “Fae?” he questioned when he saw Faelen standing in the threshold of the door, looking somewhat sheepish. “What are you doing up? Is something wrong?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Faelen replied with a shrug, though still looked mildly sheepish. “The wind outside is annoying.”

“Ah, I see,” Drayce said with a sympathetic smile. “I couldn’t get settled myself.”

Faelen walked into the room and over to the desk, and took a seat on the high-back, leather covered swivel chair. “What are you doing?”

“Just sorting out the bookcase for something to do,” Drayce answered as he closed the folder he had in his hands and placed it back upon the shelf. “They appear to be books on supposed materials that can be found in the labyrinth. There also appears to be case notes of Grandpa’s previous projects.”

Faelen tilted his head to the side and his ears gave a curious twitch. “Case notes?”

“Archaeologists and treasure hunters can sometimes be hired by others to search for missing family heirlooms or find information on missing ancestors,” Drayce explained. “Some people aren’t able to search for themselves, you see. So, they hire someone who can.”

“Oh,” Faelen said, the intrigue in his expression noticeable. “Will you do that, too?”

“I hope we will one day, yes,” Drayce said before he shot his guildmate a smile. “What do you think? Ready to be a master detective?”

Faelen laughed and leaned back into the chair, idly twisting from left to right. His gaze fell upon the somewhat organised desk and reached out to pick something up. It was a small picture frame.

“Drayce? Who’s this?” he asked.

While Drayce knew what was contained within the photo frame (he had cleaned the desk after all), he still approached the desk and leaned over to have a look himself. “Hm? Oh, that a photo of my grandparents.”

“He looks fun,” Faelen said as he pointed to his grandfather, who stood in the centre of the photo, grinning from ear to ear, with an arm around his grandmother’s shoulders. Proudly showing her off, it seemed. “Was your grandfather a dragoon?”

“Still is.”

“And your grandma?”

The smile on Drayce’s lips dimmed a fraction upon the realisation that his grandmother had passed on. And grandpa had thrown himself into a mission soon after. To grieve, in his own way.

“She used to be a fencer,” he answered. “One of the best, they say. She was the love of Grandpa’s life.”

Faelen quickly caught on and glanced up with nothing but sympathy in his eyes. “You miss them a lot, huh?”

“It’s only natural,” Drayce replied with a small smile and leaned back.

Faelen silently looked at the photo for a little while longer before his expression turned into that of pain and his ears even drooped a fraction. “Dray?” he murmured as he placed the photo back onto the desk. “Do you think I’ll find Sarkis one day?”

Drayce tilted his head questioningly to the side. “Sarkis? Is that the name of your brother?”

Faelen nodded his head, his eyes still downcast. “Yeah.”

“You’ll find him one day,” Drayce immediately reassured as he turned to perch himself on the edge of the desk, close to where Faelen sat.

“I hope so,” Faelen murmured softly.

It was difficult to find someone who didn’t want to be found. That was something his father used to say. But Drayce wasn’t going to say that to Faelen. Not now.

“You will,” Drayce said as he reached out to rest a hand on his shoulder. “I know you will. You’re brothers, after all. You will be together again one day.”

Faelen glanced up finally and smiled at him. “Thanks, Drayce.” He suddenly tilted his head to the side in curiosity. “Do you have a brother, Dray?”

“No, I…”

A sharp pain in the centre of his chest caused Drayce to hastily remove his hand from Faelen’s shoulder to grasp at his chest. His shoulders hunched forward and his furrowed his brow to stare at the floor in front of him.

That pain…?

“Wh-what’s wrong?” Faelen stuttered loudly and fearfully grabbed onto his arm.

“No, it’s nothing,” Drayce instinctively replied. However, he still held onto his chest.

“B-but…” Faelen spluttered, seemingly on the verge of panicking. “Did I say something wrong?”

“What? No, of course not!” Drayce immediately replied, unconsciously straightening his posture. He hadn’t meant to scare the kid like that. He certainly didn’t want him thinking it was his fault somehow!

“It’s nothing, really,” he continued to insist with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “I just…get a pain every now and again. It’s nothing to worry about. I guess…I do have a brother. A couple of them. Blayke is like a brother to me. So is Ashton. And now, so are you.”

Faelen didn’t look wholly connived with his reassurance, but he did perk up when Drayce admitted that he saw him as a brother. That seemed to make him really happy. “Really?”

Drayce smiled and reached over with his hand to ruffle his hair playfully. “Yes, really. It’s late. Let’s both try to get some sleep.”

“Ok,” Faelen relented and hoped up out of the chair. He, however, gave Drayce a worried look, his eyes trailing down at the hand he still held against his chest. “Are you sure you’re ok?”

“I’m fine,” Drayce insisted as he pulled his hand away from his chest and pushed to stand up straight. “Don’t worry about me. Now, let’s get to bed before Ashton goes on the rampage, hm?”

“Kay,” Faelen finally agreed.

As compensation for scaring the guy needlessly like that, Drayce decided to walk him to his room to ensure that he was comfortable for the night. Only when he said goodnight to Faelen and closed the door to his room, did Drayce stop and frowned. He pressed a hand against his chest once more and stared at the hardwood floor.

That pain…why did he get it whenever someone mentioned the word “brother”?

“Drayce…”

Drayce all but leapt a foot in the air at the familiar, but sudden voice behind him. “Woah, dude! Don’t sneak up on me!” he yelped as he spun around to find himself face to face with Ashton. “I’m heading to bed now, I promise!”

However, instead of a look of parental agitation at Drayce being up past his bedtime, there was a look of subtle concern on Ashton’s face. “…Are you all right?”

Drayce blinked. “Huh? Of course. Why shouldn’t I be?”

Ashton didn’t verbally reply, instead his eyes travelled down toward Drayce’s chest area and it was then that Drayce realised that he was still idly rubbing his knuckles against his chest.

Drayce immediately clenched his hand into a fist and forcefully dropped it to his side. “It’s nothing,” he insisted yet again. “Really. I’m…heading to bed now.”

Much like the expression of disbelief that Faelen wore, Ashton didn’t look remotely convinced. And yet in his eyes, there was also a sense of…pain? Guilt?

“Alright,” Ashton said finally. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Drayce replied as he tensed his back, turned on his heel and made his way to his room.

… … … … …

Despite his best efforts, Drayce did not sleep well last night.

He had a rather disturbing dream. He couldn’t remember what it was exactly. Just that…it hurt his chest. All he could really remember was reaching out a hand to someone and the desperate fear that they were being taken away from him. And there was nothing he could do about it.

That person…the one being ripped away from him felt…connected to him somehow.

…It was just a dream. A bad dream. Everyone got them from time to time, right?

When he finally climbed out of bed, he realised that it was later than when he would normally get up. And he couldn’t help but wince and throw on a set of clothes to make himself look presentable.

After what happened last night and now sleeping in? He was sure Ashton was worried. Faelen, too, probably. He really hated worrying others needlessly like he had done last night.

He had…better be on his game today so not to worry them further.

As Drayce stepped out of his room, he was greeted by the sight of Kamali as he walked down the stairs. Before he could call out in greeting, Kamali turned his gaze toward him and his face lit up with a smile.

“Oh, good morning.”

“Hey, morning, Kam,” Drayce returned.

As Kamali reached the bottom step to the second floor, he tilted his head to the side, his long purple hair falling over his shoulder as he did so. “You slept in late today. Is everything alright? You weren’t up all night cleaning your new office, were you?”

Drayce held back a wince and shook his head. “Not last night, no. Only for a couple of hours because I couldn’t get settled in bed. But this morning I was so comfortable I didn’t want to move.”

Kamali seemed to accept that excuse as he gave a light airy laugh. “Oh, I see.”

“And what of Shashi?” Drayce asked as the two of them headed down stairs together. “Was he in the library all night?”

“I think brother tried to stay up all night but Ashton would have none of it,” Kamali answered, a half smile on his lips.

Drayce had to chuckle. “Ah, good ol’ Ash. It’s nice that they’re such good friends.”

Kamali unexpectedly coughed into his hand. “Um, yes.”

“Hm?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Drayce wasn’t convinced, but didn’t press any further as they had reached the bottom step. And he could hear the voices of the rest of their guildmates in the dining room. Breakfast was stilling served, thankfully. It would be, like, devastating to miss out on Ashton’s breakfast!

He would have saved him some, sure, but it was more fun having breakfast with everyone.

“Hey, morning, guys,” Drayce greeted cheerfully as he walked into the bustling room.

He got a series of “Good morning!” in return and he quickly made his way over to his seat, where a plate of breakfast sat waiting for him. No doubt Ashton’s doing.

“So, what we got planned for today?” Blayke asked as Drayce sat down at the table.

“I’m thinking that maybe we could spend the day getting Crescentia somewhat cleaned,” Drayce answered. “There are more of us now and there’s no need to leave the place covered in dust and cobwebs.”

Blayke nodded his head in acceptance, but a rather suspicious expression slipped across his face. “And you might find something of interest?”

That wasn’t really a question.

Drayce smiled broadly. “Dude, you know me so well! Besides, Shashi and Ashton are still cleaning up the library. Kam, I get the feeling you’ll be dragged into it, too.”

Kamali tried to laugh but it kinda came out as a tired sigh. “I already have been. I’m just taking a break now. Fiorello is also there.”

“So, we will return to the labyrinth tomorrow?” Zohar ask, seeking clarification.

“That’s right.” Drayce then glanced over in Caelem’s direction, sitting next to Blayke and poking idly at his food. “Cal, hey, up for a trek in the labyrinth tomorrow?”

Caelem stiffened and immediately looked over at him. “Yes!” he answered enthusiastically before his expression dropped and his ears folded against his head. “But…”

“Are you worried about those bandits?” Blayke was the one to ask, his face creasing into a protective frown.

“Ah, well, no, not really,” Caelem replied slowly. “It’s that I don’t have a weapon anymore…”

Oh, that was right. They didn’t find a weapon with Caelem when they first encountered, and then saved, him.

“Did you have a blade before?” Kamali asked.

“Yes, but it was taken from me when those bandits captured me.”

Drayce felt himself bristle protectively and he was certain that Blayke did the same. “Did it hold any sentimental value?”

Caelem shook his head before he shrugged. “No, not really. It was my first blade but I was hoping to search for a new one when I entered Iorys.”

“Well, that’s good,” Drayce said as he felt himself calm down. “Why don’t we head to Syrik’s shop straight after breakfast?”

Caelem blinked. “Ah, now?”

This time, Drayce shrugged. “Sure, why not?” The sooner Caelem get a weapon for himself, the better he would feel.

“You just want to get out of cleaning,” Blayke accused, his tone holding no bite though.

Drayce feigned outraged. “Why, I never!”

Caelem seemed to relax more, even going as far as chuckling. “Sure, let’s go after breakfast.”

[kagetsukai]

Drops of Satina: Day 18 - Distance

Raphael Trevelyan belongs to @out-of-the-embers​

Excerpts of correspondence between Hannah and Raphael as they travel around Thedas and miss each other terribly. 

Words: 2048 || Read on AO3

My Darling Hannah,

My life is agony. Whoever decided that Western Approach was a good place to inhabit was mad and I would like some words with them. It’s incredibly dry here and the temperature never stay the same for more than a few hours. Some days it’s terribly hot and other days I have to wear my jacket for warmth. It’s insane. And let’s not mention all the sand; it must’ve seeped into every crevice of my body and no matter how hard I try, I can’t get rid of it. I long for a bath, but that won’t happen until we’ve reached our next destination. At least Varric understands and commiserates with me.

I miss you dearly. I know it’s only been a week since the last time I saw you, but it feels so much longer than that. I really miss our daily walks around the gardens - it’s made even more acute by the fact that there’s almost no plant-life around here. I did come across a flowering deathroot and picked a few buds to send with this letter. Didn’t you mention once how purple was your favorite color? I hope you like them.

Are you well? Were you able to travel safely? I do trust Cullen and his men, but I can’t help worry about you; there’s too many horrible people who do awful things just for a laugh. I hope to hear from you soon, because I desperately need to know you’re alright.

Yours, Raphael

=============================

Dearest Raphael,

I must confess, your dramatic depictions of the Western Approach had me giggling like an idiot. Surely, it can’t be that bad? I’ve never been to a real desert so I can’t say if I agree with your description, but I do hope you got to have a better time than what you’ve described. If not, I’m sorry for your discomfort. If it makes you feel better, I really appreciated the deathroot flowers you’ve sent me - did you know they are hallucinogenic and are used by some as a form of intoxicant? I caught someone eyeing the petals, so I had to hide them in my engineering journals. I hope you don’t mind.

To answer your questions, I am well. As much as I’m thrilled to be out of Skyhold and seeing the world, I desperately miss my own bed. I forgot how much I hate sleeping in tents. That being said, I’m currently in Caer Bronach to look into repairs to the castle, so at least I get to sleep in one of the rooms here. I’m amazed how much lack of proper maintenance can put such a young stronghold into immediate decrepitude. I got to inspect other Fereldan places as well, but I doubt you care to read about it - this isn’t an official report after all. The most important part is that I’m almost done with Inquisition properties here and I’ll be traveling to the other side of Frostbacks soon. Judging by how angry Lily got over the bridge in Exalted Plains, I’m sure to find a doozy.

I will admit, I can’t wait to be done with all inspections so I can be back in Skyhold and awaiting your swift return. I never considered myself the waiting type, so I place all the blame squarely on your shoulders; considering you have strong and capable shoulders, I’m sure you can handle it. I miss you terribly, too. I just don’t have a reason to laugh as much when you’re not around to do dumb things at the most inappropriate times. I also miss having you around during mealtimes - things just don’t taste the same without you adding your salted garlic paste. And really, I just miss your kisses. Your kisses are the best.

Hannah

 [added in a rushed scribble]

Ps. Chargers just arrived with summons to go directly to Western Approach. They are to escort me to Griffon Wing Keep so I can oversee urgent repairs and construction of a bridge through some horribly noxious area. If I’m lucky, I’ll see you there - I cannot wait.

=============================

My Darling Hannah,

I tried to postpone our departure from the Griffon Wing Keep until you’ve arrived, but Lily would not be convinced. Logically, I understand that the sooner we’re done exploring western Orlais the sooner we can be back in Skyhold, but my heart wanted the gratification of seeing you immediately. I hope you received the note I left for you with Rylen; he was terribly amused by it and poked fun at me, that cheeky bastard.

We’re in the Forbidden Oasis and it could not be more different from the Western Approach. It’s still technically in the middle of a desert, but this place has canyons shaded from the sun where all sorts of waterfalls and verdant pools sit in a warm shade. I took the liberty to soak in one of them and it was glorious. I wonder if you’d like it here. According to Lily there isn’t anything to build so she won’t be requesting your presence, which I’m sad about, but perhaps it’s for the better; I loathe the thought of you traveling through the desert. Still, I miss you dearly. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve seen you last and I’m starting to suspect it will be even longer before I see you again. This expedition is shaping up to be long and arduous. I just hope you’re well.

With all my kisses, Raphael

=============================

Dearest Raphael,

Thank you for the lovely note you left me at the Griffon Wing Keep; it brought a smile to my face. Granted, Rylen decided to be a little shit and make fun of me for my reaction, but he changed his tune once I reminded him he’s just a man and can feel pain just like the rest of us. Perhaps I shouldn’t have kicked his balls, but maybe he’ll learn the lesson quicker that way.

Anyway, I now understand why you hated Western Approach so much. This place is so dry, my face has turned into a prune! By the time you see me again, I’ll have aged 20 years and I’ll no longer look youthful; I hope you’re prepared to court a grandmother, because that’s how I will look from now on. At least the area is interesting and should keep me occupied for a while.

Speaking of which, I know I had originally estimated it would only take me a month to attend to everything, but with the exploration of the Western Approach and increased workload, I doubt I’ll make it back to Skyhold anytime soon. Just judging by my initial sketches, I’ll have to stay here for an extra month to make sure everything is done correctly; who knows if something else doesn’t crop up while we work. I hear Lily might be returning to the Griffon Wing Keep at a later date so maybe I’ll get to see you here instead of Skyhold? I would very much like that. As much as I enjoy Rylen and Krem for company, I terribly miss having you around. Can you imagine having a date on the dunes? Sand would get everywhere, I’m certain, but I’d still enjoy it.

I’d like to thank you for all the little flowers you’ve sent with the last letter. They are so pretty! They’ve joined all of the other blooms I keep in my journal and now, whenever I open it, they make me think of you. And they still have the scent! They’re wonderful, so thank you once again.

I hope you’re well and you continue to be well. I cannot wait to see you next, because I miss you dearly and it’s horrible how long I have to be without you. Maybe fates will bring us together soon.

Yours, Hannah

=============================

My Darling Hannah

It’s been a while since my last letter, because we’ve been slowly exploring the entirety of the Hissing Wastes and haven’t been back to the main camp in what feels like an age. Yes, you read that right. Hissing. Wastes. In case the name isn’t a good enough clue, the place is an even larger desert than the Western Approach with even less friendly flora or fauna. The wind blows at extreme speeds and everything is so grey and muted, I think I’m sad just from looking outside my tent at night. I suppose it’s an important spot to the Inquisition, though in my humble opinion, I’d just let it fall by the wayside. Why does Lily have to be the one to look at this stuff? Can’t we send some archaeologists to excavate the dwarven ruins? I suggested that once and Lily only got annoyed with me. I thought it was a good idea, but oh well.

I wonder if you’re still at the Griffon Wing Keep. Judging by my count, you’re probably done with your work and heading back to Skyhold as we speak, though I do hope you are still there when we arrive later this week. Maybe that way we could escort you back home? I’d love that, I won’t lie. I miss you so damn much. Normally I don’t mind traipsing around Thedas with Lily, but being away from home is really difficult this time; not only it’s a longer trip than any before, but I now have a reason to want to return. I wish all of this was over already, so I wouldn’t have to travel so much. I miss our daily chats. I miss you.

Always yours, Raphael

=============================

My Dearest Raphael,

I miss you, desperately. It’s been too long since we’ve kissed or held each other or even talked, and I’m going a little crazy from this clutching feeling in my chest I associate with not having you around. I hate the fact that we’re apart and there isn’t much we can do about it. I cannot wait to be back at Skyhold with you, so we can go back to some semblance of normalcy. I’m done with being on the road and constantly sleeping in a bed that isn’t my own. I’m done and I want to go home.

Instead of Skyhold, I’m in Exalted Plains. When Lily first told me of how Master Wardell completely neglected his duties when constructing this bridge, I hadn’t expected this level of incompetence. I mean, it’s a functional bridge, but with the kind of resources we are given, he should have been able to repair this gap properly and in no time. Thankfully, the team I already have here is hard-working and not afraid of challenges. Once I draw up new plans and divide up the responsibilities, all work will be done fast. I hate that I have to once again clean up Wardell’s messes, but it can’t be helped. At least this is the last of it.

I hope you are well. I hope you are taking care of yourself. I hope to see you soon.

Yours, Hannah

=============================

My Darling Hannah,

We are on our way home. We just passed through Exalted Plains and I got to admire your handiwork in person - you’ve done a fantastic job here, dearest. Lily is also happy with the results, but I’m sure she’ll want to thank you in person, so I’ll let her speak for herself. Still, I’m proud of you. This bridge and what you’ve done in the Western Approach proves that you are the right person for the job and I’m so glad you are finally recognized for your hard work.

I will see you soon, my darling, and I cannot wait. Lily wants to stop by Emprise du Lion to take care of some dragons, but once we’re done, we’re coming home. I cannot wait to see your beautiful face again. I miss you so fucking much. We will be together soon.

Forever yours, Raphael

=============================

Raphael,

I came back to Skyhold two days ago and I am thrilled beyond words to finally have my own bed back. I cannot wait to have you back as well. I spoke to Leliana and she said you should be home within a week, so I won’t be making this letter long. I miss you and I’m looking forward to seeing you again. Be safe.

Yours, Hannah

[eggsyunwinftw]

Dr Jones? (Indiana Jones Imagine)

Because there just isn’t enough content for the gorgeous Indiana Jones. Hope you enjoy this, and I’m sorry it’s been so long. I truly appreciate you all for sticking with me. If you have any prompts, I’m happy to take them for other characters as well <3 Enjoy!

TW: Threat, violence, excessive descriptions of Indiana’s muscles

“Dr Jones?” You poked your head around the door of your colleague’s classroom, smiling despite yourself when you saw him bent over his desk, fascinated by sone notebook that he shoved in his briefcase as soon as he saw you enter.

“Y/N! Good to see you!” He sat up straight and cleared some space on his desk, which you immediately perched on, smoothing down your dress and looking around the classroom, eyes settling on a bookcase filled to the brim with novels and textbooks, practically creaking under the weight.

“I just wanted to borrow a book - and say I’m glad to see you back,” Dr Jones left frequently for his archaeological digs, and you were pleasantly surprised whenever he returned.

He gestured towards the bookcase, smiling over his glasses as you walked towards it, running your finger down the spines. Your eyes locked on one old battered copy of a book, and you gently pulled it from the shelf.

You raised an eyebrow at the man sat opposite you.

“I didn’t take you for a fiction lover, Dr Jones,” You held up the book as he read the title.

“The Lost City of Paititi - that’s an interesting one. Old, too. The only copy of it in the world…” You watched his eyebrows furrow slightly as he jotted something down on his notepad.

“And I’m full of surprises, Y/N. Just because I teach about the history of the world doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy make-believe...”

You smiled, putting the book into your bag and heading for the door.

“For an archaeologist, you’re surprisingly fun,” You teased, and he rolled his eyes at you, shooing you from the room.

“You’re cruel, Y/N. Enjoy the book.”

You left his classroom and wandered to your car, where you pulled out the book and began to read. The yellowed pages were crisp in your hands; they were faded with age and covered in notes, from Dr Jones himself.

***

You saw Indiana the next day, as you wandered to your classroom to prepare for your first lecture of the day. The archaeologist rushed down the corridor, clutching his briefcase with a death grip.

“Christ!” You cried as the two of you collided, sending you sprawling to the ground in a pile of books and papers.

“Damnit! I’m sorry -” He looked up at you, suddenly realising who you were, “- Y/N!” He smiled, a charming grin that set your heart racing. He pushed his glasses back up his nose and helped you to gather your papers. The book he’d lend you had slid across the hall, landing at the bottom of the staircase. You picked it up, slipping it back into your bag and moving to help Indiana with his briefcase.

He was already bent over it, shoving items into it with a desperate vigour. You barely caught a glimpse of its contents (something small that shone in the bright overhead lights) before he snapped the case shut and got to his feet.

“Sorry, Dr Jones. I didn’t mean to -” He shook his head, squeezing your wrist in reassurance.

“Not your fault. I’ll see you later, Y/N.” He smiled at you and was gone. You noticed that he was walking faster than usual and that he had a slight limp.

More importantly, he was hobbling in the exact opposite direction to his classroom.

Narrowing your eyes, you let it slide, vowing to keep a close eye on your colleague.

***

Dr Jones must have secretly had an excellent taste in books. As an English professor, you loathed to pass up a book recommendation, although Indiana’s last few suggestions had appeared impossibly boring.

“Pottery in Archaeology? Sounds… riveting.” Indiana could tell you didn’t mean it, so you carefully placed the book back on his shelf. You were sat in his classroom with a steaming mug of coffee, listening to him murmur about artefacts as he sporadically passed you books.

“You sound so interested, Y/N. I hope I’m not boring you,” You rolled your eyes and shoved his shoulder, turning to face him.

“Come on, Dr Jones. You must have something exciting to tell me. Discovered any civilisations lately?” he chuckled like he was in on a secret you were unaware of.

“Just ancient rocks for me. Life of an archaeologist.”

You were curious about the book he’d lent you; it appeared no one else in the English faculty had heard of it. You had scoured the campus library for any record of such a text, and none had appeared. There was nothing you could find, apart from an obscure telegram about an increasing underground interest in the gold hidden in the lost city.

Perhaps Indiana was telling the truth. Maybe it was one of a kind.

The pages were crisp and yellowed with age, with Indiana’s scribbles in the margins. Some of the words were obscured by splotches of water. The book was older than you could imagine, and the thought of it being the only one of its kind made your heart race with excitement.

***

A week passed before you saw Dr Jones again. This time, it was three o’clock in the morning and your landline was ringing.

Groggily, you stumbled out of bed and grabbed the phone, mumbling a hello.

“Y/N? Thank God,” Indiana’s voice was instantly recognisable even with the crackling of the phone line.

“Indy? What’s wrong?” He didn’t reply for a second, and you began to wonder if you were dreaming. Until a loud knock could be heard at your front door, and you jumped, suddenly alert.

“Just stay inside, okay? Don’t move, don’t answer the door.” A loud crash could be heard from outside.

You backed away into the corner of your living room, still holding the phone.

“WHat’s happening? Indy, who’s outside?” You could hear rustling over the phone like he was getting ready to leave.

“It’s okay, doll, I’m coming. They want the book, keep it safe -” The line cut out, and all you could hear was silence on the other end.

Outside your house, the intruders appeared to have gone quiet. You stood still, rooted to the spot, clutching the phone to your chest and breathing heavily.

Silence.

You moved backwards, creeping to the door to run back to your room. You gripped the phone tighter. Your heart pounded. Slow, slow, slow.

The window in front of you shattered and glass flew across the room. It sliced your face and you stumbled backwards. You let out a scream as a tall man stalked towards you, followed by a burly henchman and a woman with a gun. You struggled backwards, your silk pyjamas catching on the wooden floor. The man yanked you up and grabbed your throat, his breath hot on your skin.

“Where is it?! You gasped, black spots appearing in your vision. Just tell them! Your mind screamed, but something overpowered it - something that trusted Indiana Jones more than you had expected.

You spat at the man holding you, desperately trying to shake off his grasp.

With courage you didn’t know you had, you kicked him in the shins and when he stumbled backwards, you ran - down the hall, and into your room where you slammed the door and leant against it. Your heart pounded in your chest, veins flushed with adrenaline.

“Open up!” The woman yelled, her fists pummelling the door. You shook with fear; what could you even use as a weapon? There was nothing in the room apart from your lamp, and… the book!

You launched yourself across the room, snatching the weathered copy of Indiana’s book and showing it in a box under your bed. Just as you turned to face the door, the invaders shoved through and strode towards you.

Grasping your hair in one hand, the woman pulled you to your feet before throwing you down on the other side of the room.

“Jesus, Lena - don’t mess her up too bad. We still need the goods,” She rolled her eyes at her burly companion, but instead of attacking you again, she crouched beside you, a small knife in the palm of her hand.

“Tell us where the book is, and we’ll let you go. Maybe we’ll let your adventurer friend live too…” You furrowed your brow in confusion.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” The men hissed and one reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small revolver. The woman must have heard them cock the pistol because she shook her head almost imperceptibly and moved her knife to your arm.

“Not yet. I want to make her talk.”

***

Indiana Jones looked incredibly out of place in your quiet suburban neighbourhood. He had his usual suit trousers on, paired with a white shirt and a battered fedora that cast a formidable shadow through the streets. He felt his bag with one hand and made a mental inventory of its contents - a handgun, a bullwhip and a flashlight.

Your house stood across from him, slightly isolated compared to the other homes in the suburban neighbourhood. From the outside, it appeared entirely normal, but the pile of shattered glass at the side told a different story.

He crept to the door, reaching into his bag for the spare key you’d given him weeks ago. Unlocking the door as stealthily as he could, he stepped into your hallway, following the quiet groans and murmured threats to your bedroom. Back pressed against the wall, he took a breath and began to orchestrate his plan.

---

“Still not talking, professor?” You shook your head, somehow staying lucid despite your swimming vision. The larger burly man moved towards you, gripping your chin between two fingers.

“Just give us that book - and we can let you go. Maybe you’ll even get some of the gold,” You ignored him, turning your face away but he didn’t let go; in fact, he raised his fist and slapped you across the face. You felt blood leak from your nose and you sprawled to the floor, letting out a defeated cry.

The woman shook her head, picking up her knife once again and holding it at your chest.

“Last chance. Give me the book. I swear to God, I will kill you -” You felt panic chill your blood. Last chance…

The knife moved closer to your chest at the silence. Breathe. Just tell them, you thought, but you couldn’t make yourself give up that stupid book or Indiana.

Closer now, you could feel it poke against your sternum when -

The knife was yanked away by something - a whip? Oh God, a whip. A man in a fedora stood in the door, reeling in his bullwhip and holding a pistol towards to gang.

“Get out,” He hissed, in a frightening twist on a very familiar voice. You looked up in shock and saw Dr Jones, his shirt ripped and his gun cocked, moving towards the attackers as they backed away.

“Indiana Jones…” You heard the woman murmur, and he advanced further towards them.

“Leave. You don't wanna know what happens when you don’t follow my orders,” The burly man looked smug as moved towards Indiana, who suddenly pulled the trigger and got a clean shot at the man’s leg. He howled, and his cronies grabbed his arms and began to pull him from the house.

Indiana bent down next to you, tucking the smoking shotgun into his bag along with the bullwhip. He reached out, almost as if to hold you, but quickly pulled back and instead cupped your cheek.

“Jesus, doll, are you okay? I’m so sorry -” You shook your head blearily, and gently leant your head against his shoulder.

“S’alright,” You muttered, and he chuckled, lightly petting your hair.

“C’mon, my cars outside. I’m taking you to my house.” He picked you up, and through the hazy fog about to take you under, you shook your head and grabbed his shoulder.

“The book!” You called out. He shot you a confused look and then his eyes widened. Moving with a practised ease, he reentered the bedroom swiftly, following your shaky hand as you pointed to the book’s hiding spot.

He pulled it out and placed it in your hands; the pair of you left the room as Indiana grabbed a dress from your closet and your briefcase.

“Thanks, Indy…” You murmured, feeling close to unconsciousness.

“It’s alright, doll. Thanks for keeping the book safe - I just wish you hadn’t had to get hurt,” You shook your head, nuzzling further into his chest.

Your eyes slipped shut and you finally let the darkness take you over, from the warm strength of Dr Jones’ arms.

-

When you woke up, you were curled up in an unfamiliar bed, a shadowy figure perched next to you in an armchair. Confused, you sat up slowly as your head began to pound.

“Where am I?” You slurred, and the figure reached out a hand to grasp yours.

“My house, Y/N. You’re safe here,” You nodded, beckoning him onto the bed. He sat beside you, flicking on a light despite the sunshine sneaking under the blinds. In his hands was the book you’d nearly died to protect.

“I’m glad the book’s safe,” Indiana shook his head, gently wrapping an arm around your shoulder.

“I’m just glad you’re okay. If I’d known they’d come after you…” He trailed off and you placed a hand against his cheek.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline or the woozy state of your brain, but you felt another burst of courage. Turning to face Indy, you pressed your lips to his.

He was shocked for a moment, but a calloused hand grabbed your waist and kissed you hard.

When you pulled away, he leant his forehead against yours.

“You know, I need someone to come with me and track down those bastards,” You grinned against his lips.

“Sounds good, Jones. Sounds real good.”

[ourshyartcollection]

Humans are weird: the reality engine (part 2)

This is the continuation of the last one enjoy, and since the last one explained what the engine did to humans get ready for some wild sh*t to go down.

you have been warned, have fun and enjoy

After she collected her things Tarv made her way to the auditorium entrance and entered in her access card to the event; she then met up with Klecsh who was in the middle row of the seats.

“Tarv hey!, what took you so long?, the unveiling’s about to start.”

“Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t find you the crowd was too big, lucky for me you have a habit of making noise.”

“Hey!”, the ones sitting behind us shushed as the lights began to dim and as the lights shined on the stage revealing a strange sheet covered object and the surprise guest speaker, “Gasp, that’s Prof. Kellabaris, I can’t believe it.”

“Wait who?”.

“They’re the leading human archaeologist in the known galaxy,” Tarv was genuinely amazed that Klecsh actually did research that was relevant to the assignment, “They've discovered more human artifacts and history then any other archaeologist in the history of history itself.”

“Wow, you actually did some research for once, normally I do all the work while you just play dating sims on the net.”

“Yeah your welcome, now quiet and let the hottie on stage speak,” of course that’s how she was interested in researching them.

“My fellow sapient compatriots of the galaxy, I Prof. Kellabaris, here I stand before you, not as a great explorer, but as a simple scholar”, they spoke with such confidence and charisma that they could easily be mistaken as royalty, “for years of my life I’ve dedicated myself to the discovery of humanitys greatness, even if it means going through their waist bins,” a small amount of the audience chuckles.

“But I digress, ladies, gentlemen, and those of indeterminate gender, I present to you what might be the most significant archaeological I’ve ever uncovered,” they pulled away the sheet revealing revealing a stunning and ethereal white and gilded stone cylinder, four meters tall and etching akin to a computer chip with chunks of large chromatic crystals of bismuth growing randomly from it and its beauty awed the audience to near silence.

“I see you are all speechless, as was I when I first uncovered it on my home planet of Vas’shaka; but its appearance isn't all to take from this piece of precursor ingenuity, for this piece of stone might have, in actuality be a piece of the reality engine itself!”, the auditorium soon became a frenzy of whispers and mutterings as the interest and curiosity of the people grew.

Tarv turned to her friend, only to see Klecsh looking at her with a look of dumbfounded amazement, “You think its true, do you really think this is an actual piece of the reality engine itself?!”, she spoke with more excitement the the day she won a date with her favorite celebrity.

 “I don’t know Klecsh but were definitely gonna pass our assignment to-”, an explosion of pitch-black electricity emerged from the artifact onstage striking the metal scaffolding of the auditorium ceiling which instantly vaporized in the spots the arching black electricity hit. The audience was in a panicked frenzy as they trampled and shoved one another whilst trying to squeeze through the small auditorium doors; the professor themselves where escorted off the stage by staff.

“Tarv, Tarv!, come on we have to get out of here!, lets go!”

“Klecsh it no use!, everyone is in too much of a frenzy got actually leave, just look!”, Tarv pointed at the entrances clogged with people trying to flee, “but there’s an exit backstage we can leave through there!”

“Are you mad, what about lethal artifact that’s blasting lightning everywhere!?”

“As long as were not wearing metal we’ll be fine, now hurry!, if that thing gets anymore unstable it might-”

“Look out!”, Klecsh pushed Tarv down onto the floor, she was about to yell at her until the noticed the her bag completely frozen along with the seat it was laying on.

“What in the-”

“Liquid hydrogen, it leaking from the thing on stage and it’s spraying everywhere!”

“Shit Klecsh this is bad!; the backstage exit is a no-go now and if that thing’s holding liquid hydrogen then it’s pressurized!”

“Meaning!?”

“If the electrical discharge doesn’t kill us, the pressure explosion will and with the amount it leaking best estimates about half a minute before it explodes.”

“What do we do!”

“Take cover!”, Tarv and Klecsh both ducked down behind the seats as the artifact exploded with a deafening blast that shook the entire auditorium causing its ceiling to collapse; after the blast Tarv found her friend lying still next to her, “Klecsh?, Klecsh!”, she placed her hand on Klecshs chest search for a pulse from one of her hearts, “Oh, thank the precursors your just unconscious from over stimulation.”

Tarv look onto the stage where the artifact lay shattered, she began to rise until a arm reached out from within the artifact; in terror she ducked down and looked at it through the cracks between the seats. A strange figure began to rise, although the dust from the blast made it hard to see it clearly she could just about make it out; it was tall covered in a strange robe, its hair reached its shoulders in length. Without warning the creature snapped its gaze to her, its eyes glowing with a unnatural color; she broke line of sight with it and quickly placed her hand over her mouth while clutching her unconscious best friends hand for a semblance of security.

When she ignored her fear and looked again the creature was gone and just as the rescue teams arrived.

To be continued                              

Part 3: https://ourshyartcollection.tumblr.com/post/174298998934/humans-are-weird-the-reality-engine-part-3