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b-radley66 · 7 years

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Game of Thrones: Alderaan—A Hike in the Wood

For @sl-walker

Little longer.

Chapter 4: A Good Walk Spoiled

Maul realizes that he is laughing as he hasn’t in a while as he and Dani walk deeper into the wilderness, their feet moving easily on the primitive trail. The morning sun had burned off the chill, the day is warm, but not unpleasantly so. Both of them are sweating from the exertion, but neither are breathing heavy. He concentrates on Dani’s story of someone called ‘the Dragon,’ who apparently is her boss. As she tells the story, he watches the wistful expression in her purple eyes grow.

Apparently the Dragon is a bit more than just a boss. He finds himself envious of the Corellian for the time spent in her company. His eyes widen as he realizes he feels no other emotion from listening to the stories. None of what Bail and Breha have described, when lounging in the bed on summer mornings—teaching him about different emotions. Including the negative ones. Especially the one called jealousy. Something he is not sure that he has ever felt.

On a whim, hoping that he is not intruding, he allows his own version of an empathic resonance—albeit a passive one—to open. The emotion that he receives from her is so rich, yet so unfamiliar. He has to close it off again. He cannot describe the feeling. He has only felt something similar to it before. A feeling denied from Bail, when Bre had suffered her first miscarriage. His sharp scientist’s mind tries to analyze the emotion. He stops as the sensation of another word seeps into his mind through her resonance. A word in another language.

Abeeyah. He starts as a brief glimpse of a vision comes into his mind, of a very tall man, taller even than Bail looks down at a sleeping child with crimson skin and brown and blue curls. Looking down at her with sadness in his piercing blue eyes. He shakes his head, dispelling the vision. This is not mine. He realizes that she has stopped walking.

She stops talking as she walks into the first layer of the Wood. She looks up in awe at the trees stretching to the heavens. His own version of empathy swells with her spillover. The sensation is rich as he looks and sees her eyes transitioning to the black—the emotions not the same as the night of the dance and other times.

He sees her eyes tear as she stretches her neck back to try and see the tops of the trees.

“Maul,” she whispers, “this is beautiful.”

Maul smiles as the pure joy swells around him as her own resonance moves from ‘standby’ mode. The joy at the untrammeled beauty. The same joy that he had felt the first time that he had walked in these trees with Bail Organa, hand-in-hand.

It seems only natural for him to take her hand in his. He is surprised at the warmth. She turns and looks at him. He moves his other hand to her hair, to the crown of twisted vines and purple flowers he had fashioned for her on a brief rest stop. A stop in which she had inhaled several small bars of a sugary brown substance.

Okay. Many bars. In fact a whole bag. She had rolled her eyes at his smirk. “You try living with a metabolism like mine. You’d be eating your weight as well, bud,” she had said, as she tossed him another strip of the jerky that she had brought. A spicy, unfamiliar meat that he had never had before, but had caused him to make a note to find it again.

He smiles in the present as he watches her straighten the crown. She had rested against him while he had twisted the vines together, explaining how the purple nightstar with its gold center was a symbiote with what they would see when they reached their destination. She had never seemed bored as she listened to his explanation, occasionally asking insightful questions.

They had dozed for a few minutes. He had awoken with his arms about her middle, the skin of her back where she had raised her shirt a bit against his. He had jumped up, causing her to awaken. She had said nothing at his discomfort.

His eyes widen as he realizes that there is a rhythmic tapping sound. Not just a sound, but a sensation in the center of his forehead. He realizes that Dani is rapping her knuckles gently on him.

“Alderaan to Maul,” she says.

“Sorry,” he mutters. “What did you say?”

“Just asked what this was,” she replies.

“Only one of my favorite spots on Alderaan. It is simply called The Wood,” he says. Several hundred thousand acres of old growth forest. The last remaining stand of this type of wood on the planet.”

She reaches out and touches the nearest tree. “Is this burlwood?” she asks.

He smiles. “You’re familiar with it?” he asks, his curiosity piqued.

“Yep. Or at least the Corellian version.” She grins cheekily. “Not very rare. Used in furniture. Plus it makes a damned good nightstick.”

He raises an eyebrow. “It is a type of defensive club used by law enforcement and security forces. Or at least it used to be. CorSec are traditionalists. They don’t use police droids much and they don’t like stun staves.” She looks away. “One in the hands of a master once saved my life, when I first started out.” She shakes her head at the memory. “The Drall security forces—those that aren’t affiliated with CorSec, use a small version almost exclusively, rather than blasters. They are tiny, but whenever they pull that club out, everybody stands down.”

Maul listens, fascinated. She realizes she has been doing most of the talking. “Like I said. Not too rare. Actually one of the few trees that grows on all the Five Brothers.”

He smiles. “This is very rare. Very regulated. Only a few permits a year are granted to harvest—mostly the ones that are the ones that are close to the end of their lifespan. It is a much superior wood than Corellian varieties. Much harder.”

He winces at the pedantic pronouncement. His eyes widen as a grin spreads across her crimson features.

“I’ve heard that Alderaani wood is harder. I might want to try it out,” she says. One of her lids close and open suddenly. “Especially the adopted Alderaani variety.”

He finds that it is suddenly hard to breathe again, as she touches his chest briefly.

Maul realizes that she is suddenly blushing as well. They continue to walk in silence. Maul stops after a few minutes. They have come to a clearing. A clearing that is not supposed to be there. Not supposed to be here and never this large. They stand in silence as they look at the field of stumps.

“Maul,” Dani says, “I thought you said that harvesting was only of the ones about to die. Surely there aren’t this many.”

“There isn’t,” he replies tersely. He calms. “I haven’t seen a permit request in months,” he says.

She looks up at him, a sculpted blue eyebrow raised in a question mark.

“It is one of my jobs. I do the scientific and ecological review of environmental permit requests.” He returns her gaze. “I am not just another pretty face,” he says with a grin.

“Never thought any different, handsome,” she says. They stop as a loud cacophony splits the peace of the wood. They look at one another, then as one they turn and run towards the noise.

~=~=~=~=~=

Dani can feel the anger rising from Maul as they look towards the operation that is ravaging another part of the Wood. A cutter droid slices into a tree. Dani touches his shoulder as he peers through his macrobinoculars at a large pile of harvested and limbed trees. She tightens her arm around him.

“Maul, dear, let’s call it in,” she says.

“I have to do something,” he says quietly.

Dani shakes her head. “We are outnumbered, love.”

The sound of blasterfire stops their conversation. Dani’s eyes widen as she sees the man holding the smoking blaster.

Holding it over the slumped body of a worker. One who does not appear to be one of the large thugs playing lumberjack dressup. Another is brought forward and forced to his knees.

Dani snatches the macrobinoculars from Maul. Her heart sinks as she recognizes the tall man with the blaster. She allows herself to slump her head in her hand.

“I can’t let it go, Maul. I have to do something.”

He looks at her curiously. “Why the change of heart? Why can’t we wait for reinforcements?” he asks.

“Because that murdering asshole is one of the king murdering assholes on my world. He will not stop until he has murdered all of those workers.”

Maul feels his eyes narrow. “There is something else, isn’t there?”

She closes her eyes. “He is a reminder. A reminder of the last time that I had to be saved by anyone. Of a time when I hesitated.” She watches his eyes track to where her right hand rubs absently on her left bicep.

A pale scar, from what looks like a knife, can be seen in the crimson skin.

“Dani, this isn’t even your world—it is mine...,” He stops as she places her finger over his lips.

“Yeah, but it is spillover from my world. Plus, I am cop—a peacekeeper on your world. It is what I do.”

She pulls out a holocomm, punches a sequence. “Dammit,” she starts.

“What?”

“Can’t get out,” she replies.

Maul nods. “Yes. There is an anomaly in this area. You can’t make local calls around here.” He grins— a wolfish expression that causes a twitch in certain areas on Dani. “You can get a out-system call out.”

She rolls her eyes, punches a different sequence. She takes a deep breath as a representation of a four-pointed star with one in the center appears above the device. Only for a moment. A craggy-faced, older human with piercing blue eyes replaces the symbol. Dani sees Maul’s eyes widen in what looks like recognition. She ignores it.

A voice comes out of the speaker. A voice that she knows can move heaven and earth on a whim.

“So. How is my newest former Inspector? A former Inspector who was supposed to be on Drall a week ago for a conference.”

“Put a sock in it, Dragon. Jad is on Alderaan.”

His expression darkens. “How do you know?” he asks.

“I’m looking at him being a murdering scumbag at a bunch of innocents.”

She sees him punching buttons. “I don’t have anyone I can get there soon, love,” he says.

“Just let the Alderaani know, Draq’. I have to move.”

“Wait, Daaineran, you can’t go in alone.”

“No choice, Procurator. No time.”

Draq’ starts to speak, then stops. “There are a couple of folks headed back to the Mother that might be useful. One of them has been staying on Alderaan.” His eyes lance her. “They are both survivors.”

Dani looks at Maul. He nods in recognition.

Draq’s voice cuts into her senses again. His voice has a quality that she only rarely hears in it.

Worry.

“I’m serious, Inspector. I need you to wait,” he says.

“No can do, Dragon. Gotta go sow some chaos.”

“Goddamnit, Dani.” She kills the connection and throw the comm over her shoulder.

“He sounds nice,” Maul says dryly.

“Yeah. Sometimes I think that ‘goddamnit’ is my actual first name.”

“He’s not wrong. You can’t go in by yourself.”

“Yeah. It is kind of what I do. Part of my charm.”

She feels Maul touch her cheek. “Is it really? Or are you trying to exorcise something? A demon or two?”

She closes her eyes. “No. I don’t have time for this. You will stay behind. I know you have a lot of skills, but somebody has to stay and wait for your cops to pull their thumbs out and get here.”

She kisses him quickly. “Plus, you are a member of the ruling Elder Family of the planet. If it is one thing I learned in cop-school, it’s you don’t have royals charging in where angels fear to tread.”

She smirks. “Especially if they have a very prominent place in the Queen and Viceroy’s bed.” He matches her smirk. “I am pretty sure that Queen Breha will make me dig my own grave if I let you come in. I don’t want to do that. My hands blister easy if it involves anything more than using a blaster, a knife, or certain family religious artifacts.” She looks at him. “Or certain adopted Alderaani wood.”

He rolls his eyes. She takes both of his hands in hers. “Plus, you might have to come get me out, if I prove myself a real pain in the ass to these nice people.”

“Imagine that.”

“Yep. I am a Dragon’s daughter,” she says quickly. He doesn’t say anything, but nods once.

Dani opens the small pouch at her waist. She pulls a blaster and checks it. His eyes recognize Mandalorian workmanship. She sees his look. “Name-day gift. From a half-Mandalorian.”

She starts to turn. “I’m giving you ten minutes, Daaineran,” he says evenly. “Not a second more. I don’t hear from you or see you, I am coming in.”

She starts to speak, thinks better of it. She moves her face to him, and places her forehead against his.

Before he can say anything else, she is gone, the outer flannel shirt dropped on the ground in her wake.

#game of thrones: alderaan #sl-walker’s universe #dani faygan - original character #maul #star wars

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incarnateirony · 3 years

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With this while WB sale and CW possible involvmsnt...do you see this effecting them doing a Mass renewal, like the usually do?

I feel like shows like Nanvy Drew, the DC universe ones, Walker are going to be fine (especially aince Walker has their spin off coming, Nancy Drew has their spinoff in Tom Swift).

Could this maybe "force" shows like The Flash, Legends, Riverdale and Dynasty to possibly end this year (since their all on the 5th to 7th season)

Thanks for the help

OK so, if you had asked me this a week ago, I would have said, IDK man, maybe they're rebranding into the old people network like people are talking about. But the AA representation panel as their only event really made me raise a brow (more nexstar than the WB spinoff demerger-merger).

But now? I dunno. Either way obviously they're going to renew a bunch of content. But.

What strikes me is that they picked one of the shows with top, prime, young, demo (and poc to boot, with focus on representation). I don't know if the poc/rep thing is authentic or not, maybe "corporate virtue signaling", but... demo.

Demo jumps out.

Because demo was the whole damn problem. And why people thought they might lean into older audiences, because their demo on most shows were ass.

Their demo leaders right now:

All American 0.20

Superman & Lois: 0.19

The Flash 0.17

If they keep going with the demo model, which even CW itself used to adhere to (with a limit), these are their three big ones they'd like to keep on hand. These would be their prime properties.

That leaves the following in 0.07-0.12: Walker, Naomi (new, will decline), Legacies, LoT, Batwoman, 4400, Dynasty, Riverdale

That's the most likely renewal bloc if they go on demo. But then their move would also be how to *improve* demo. Because they shouldn't be down to this point where to get something resembling a semi-full block, they need to even endure 0.07, much less the handful of others at 0.05. Not sure if Nancy Drew will stay on, spinoff or not. That may be another reason to close it down, actually.

CW needs about 10 shows to fill a prime schedule, 12 with Pedo saying they're extending to Saturday, and in theory there's Sunday but lol that being an actual primetime block didn't really survive. Let's work on 10

AA 0.2

SL 0.19

Flash 0.17 (sudden drop to-)

Walker 0.12

Naomi 0.12

Legacies 0.9

LoT 0.9

Batwoman 0.8

4400 0.7

Dynasty 0.7

Riverdale 0.7

So I guess. Yeah. This is basically a full list working on demo. They might need one more if they really move into Saturday like Pedo said. But that also says nothing for other shows TBA, any other pitches. Any one of the last ones there under Batwoman could be knocked out.

I imagine, 4400 first unless they are HELLBENT on getting it to order size despite it being one season in (it's digitals are somehow even more impressively garbage-nothing than Walker.) Next would be Dynasty--it's post-marketable, it's digitals are trash and there's no 1B netflix deal for it to coast on anymore. Riverdale actually has good streaming value. So, there's that.

It looks like Nexstar is going to be looking to push its solid products. If Flash ends, it won't be due to pressured cancellation, it'll be to the creatives being tired. Respectively speaking, the first 3 are the only ones even CLOSE to where "top CW shows" should be clocking in demo compared to the previous year (with top shows being 0.3, other good performers still rounding up to it) but THAT is a piss poor show because decline should be 15%, not... 33%. Or 50%. Or, with ones like Walker, 66% unto its own numbers YTY.

Like congrats guys, everyone successfully boycotted CW and did what was intended: kick the parent companies in the shins so it was no longer monetarily valuable for them to play their hollywood accounting games. Also a raised eyebrow at ATT deciding to spinoff sell Warner products because streaming failed to actually make back the investment money they projected and even after the spin-out they're still 40B in the hole which. I doubt we were *all* of the impact of but I am glad to have added piss to that bin, and everyone else should be, too.

Anyway. The idea that old shows will be "forced" to retire when they're the strong performers in digitals AND demo... honestly doesn't track. The real question is, how much of CBS' garbage logic is Nexstar gonna stomach while they drive viewership of the stations they own into the dirt, how far are they gonna lean into demo and representation and all the things we saw out of the panel event announcement.

CW did the shit that it did, mostly with CBS products, bc CBS was one of two major parent companies bankrolling it in a deal to host their content for a mix of aftermarket revenue, tax evasion and creator fuckening. WB did it too but had something resembling more integrity on the cancellation lines of its products. However, they're both going to be minority owners soon, and Nexstar has vested interests in keeping classic TV stations relevant. That's why I had been worried about turning it into the geezer network but here we are picking out their top young demo show and giving it a poc rep panel. So. Holy shit.

Guys, the corporate nutkicking might have worked. Like a lot.

There's a chance we're going to go back to seeing shows get cancelled for being bad and doing bad, rather than watching the struggle ensue embarrassingly for years.

They're probably gonna lean into marketing AA/its spinoff more now. We'll probably see a few more products a year. Let's just spitball and say 3 shows this year. We'll give 12 slots instead of 10. There's still a few to get cut. Then repeat next year, especially with The Winchesters, and SPN as a former top demo contender that held the network together like glue, and already with an episode order commitment, for 2023--and probably a few other shows. Jared's pipedream of developmentally catching up to Jensen if he even gets a real greenlight at all. Lmao. Sorry buddy best luck to catch the 2024 train. But we'll say 2 others with the Winchesters.

So over 2 years, we'll see 6 new shows. Riverdale, Dynasty, 4400, Batwoman will probably be the first 4 to get punched out. But at that point, it's anyone's game between Walker and LoT, especially depending on what announces ending, timeslot expectations, and more. (eg, 8P is historically better than 9P on demo, that's just how it works. So legacies 0.9 and Walker 0.12 are respectively about the same in demo, for example.)

I'm flipping a coin here based on observation, because at the end of the day, we haven't gone through this before. But based off that panel... we'll see. Like I said, demo is ALWAYS what counts. This fandom just got a really weird idea of what that looked like in recent years with the network crash after SPN, and wincels nonsensically trying to be the whacky flailing tube man about raw audience even if that whole audience is comatose 70 year olds that left their TV on, I think that's gotten lost in the mix. If Nexstar *doesn't* turn it into a geezer network, then yeah. Start expecting shows to get chopped off at more balanced demos (and probably less of a CBS save line than before).

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trixree · 3 years

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fic things that I am up to:

Since the semester started up, I've been ridiculously busy between school and work and general life-shit. I promise I haven't abandoned any of my WIPs, but I wanted to give yall something more tangible besides just promises to tide you over. So, look below the cut for more info on what I'm working on and when I estimate things will be done, and thank you all for your continued support! (Pssst: if you follow me for One Piece content, I have a new One Piece WIP in the works. peep below for more info.)

I've never made it with moderation, chapter 2

4000k and counting Yeah, it should be longer by now, but I decided that I wanted to tell part two of this story from Cody's POV so I'm having to re-write a decent chunk of what I already had. My hope is to have this story finished by the end of September.

Folklore

1200k and counting This is a commission for the amazingly, bafflingly talented @sl-walker who is letting me play in the Blackbirds sandbox!!! (I know, I can't believe it either!) It'll cover various clone-POV's in the Blackbirds universe in the wake of certain recent events. I'm aiming to have this drabble completed by the end of the week, fingers crossed!

Why Not's and How To's, chapter 9

1000k and counting Next up on your previously-scheduled drama: Obi-Wan comes home to find Maul Upset, Fox Upset, and Anakin Upset. Also, Cody has a request for the vode's lawyer. Est. completion by the end of September.

The Kids Are Not Alright

7000k and counting This is my take on the Baby!Batch AU, wherein the Bad Batch are all about sixteen developmentally and Echo signs on as their ori'vod. It'll be a one-shot, probably around the 11k mark when it's complete, and it is most definitely a fix-it. No romantic pairings, but past Echo/Fives. Est. completion is up in the air.

please let the devil in

1500k and counting My aim with chapter two is to have it complete by the first week of October. What better month for monster-fucking? I've got a full outline down and I'm really excited about this one, especially as the official Spooky Season draws near. I really enjoy Halloween, okay?

Sink

500k and counting A modern magical realism AU. Sanji is a witch, Zoro is sea-touched, and neither of them know who (or what) the fuck this Luffy kid is, but an argument can be made that he's a literal god. Which. is very not okay, in Sanji's opinion. Aiming for mid-late October on this one!

#trixree writes #thank yall for your patience and your love!!!

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onwardintolight · 3 years

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Sorta tagged by @sl-walker (I think we’re mutuals? Either way I wanted to give it a try!)

- Back when I was a preteen/in my early teens I frequented TheForce.Net fanfic forums and some other forums too

- I guess I missed the wattpad era completely, even now I only have a vague idea of what it is? I wasn’t really involved in fandom/fanfic writing while I was at university and throughout most of my twenties so that’s probably why

- I decided to challenge myself to write something smutty a couple years ago, but I didn’t get very far haha. It will never ever see the light of day. Might give it a try again someday though

- I don’t do roleplay anymore, but I briefly dabbled in it back when I was on the forums. There was a LotR themed one that I tried out, but it got boring pretty quickly as I never really got how it worked and there’s only so much excitement that can happen when you’re an Elf wandering contemplatively around Rivendell

- Aren’t all fics self-indulgent to some extent? There’s nothing wrong with that, we’re just writing what we most want to write. Some of my fics could be said to be especially self-indulgent since writing them was literally a form of self-therapy for my C-PTSD. I’m really proud of those

- I make outlines for multichapter fics but rarely for one-shots

- I don’t really mind editing—I’m pretty good at it and find the majority of it mildly enjoyable—but formatting and getting something ready to post is a chore

- I wouldn’t mind being a professional writer someday, in fact I’ve thought a lot about it and could definitely see myself doing it, but it’s not necessarily a life goal

Tags: @authortist , @thedeviousdo , @exo-l-atina , and anyone else who wants to give it a try! Here’s the template:

#fic writing #writing stuff #thoughts

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radramblog · 3 years

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More Inevitable Hot Takes- MTG Announcement Day edition

I only have myself to blame for this one. I forgot this was upcoming, and I went and blathered about dumb preview cards from most of a month ago anyway. Well, now I’ve got to spend two posts in one week talking about Magic cards. Woe is me?

Once a year, WoTC has a big day where they announce, like, everything for the next year’s releases. And with the picking up speed of set releases, there’s a lot there, and thereby I have a lot to talk about.

To be clear, I’ve deliberately avoided Magic Twitter and Magic Reddit for these announcements. Tis a silly pair of places.

Standard Sets 2022

In order:

Kamigawa Neon Dynasty is very concerning, as one of the people who’s a genuine big fan of the original Kamigawa block. The thing is, I like Kamigawa, with it’s spirits and artwork and samurai and the like. I like cyberpunk, with the aesthetic and the themes and the music. I’m not sure I’m going to like the two combined. We better see some fucking weird-ass spirits, and I’ll only be slightly annoyed if they’re cyber-ghosts or whatnot as long as they maintain that bomb-ass art design.

We have a new plane and a set to go with it, which is cool and nice. Urban Fantasy is a thing Ravnica already did, to be honest, but if I had to guess, Streets of New Capenna is going to be a much more low-fantasy, noir-y take on the genre. I think I saw something about Azra returning, which is cool. That one on the key art looks…very Ob Nixilis-y, though.

And then we’re going back to Dominaria and actually doing The Brother’s War, again? I think Urza block was about that arc, though the Dominaria United set might be like, before all that nonsense. They might have given details, I wouldn’t have seen them, I’m going based on someone’s TL;DR. I’m excited to finally have a Mishra card that isn’t the Time Spiral one, though I’m concerned about how they’re going to make an Urza and a Mishra that are both powerful enough for the iconic characters but not so powerful as to be dominant in the Standard they’ll be legal in.

So, so much Universes Beyond

I think the four Warhammer 40k precon decks is kind of exactly what I was hoping we were going to get for that particular crossover. Just enough to get fans happy and make some fun new cards, not enough that there’s a ridiculous influx of Tyranids into Magic’s annals. I’d be interested to see what regular Magic cards translate well into these decks, seeing as they’ll have to be 40k-ified.

I feel similarly about the Baldur’s gate Commander draft set. I remember fans of that particular D&D spinoff were frustrated with the lack of representation in AFR (I think Minsk was like the only thing they got), so now they have a whole set to work with. Ultimately, D&D is now already, and interminably a part of Magic’s multiverse, and more from those particular realms isn’t going to make anything super fucky. Also, Commander Legends was cool as hell, and this is going to be another one of those, so that’s a plus.

And…a Lord of the Rings set? Like, a full set? I’m assuming whatever got them 40K also got them rights to tabletop LOTR, seeing as Games Workshop has run the LOTR tabletop game for a while. Like with D&D, the medium-high fantasy of LOTR crosses over pretty well into Magic, so I’m not worried about that kind of cockup making things Feel Weird. I’m a little confused about the legality of the set, though, seeing as it’s in Arena, but not Standard legal, but it is Modern legal? What and why and what about Pioneer or Historic?

Secret Lairs

Few hits, few misses, though I remember seeing spoilers from a few that aren’t on this list. Presumably, the Art Series: Johannes Voss, Thomas M. Baxa, and Purrfection and Math is for Blockers were announced separately? Anyway.

Hits: The Kamigawa Ink cards look drop-dead gorgeous, holy shit. Add in the fact that I already play two of those cards and that the others are all cards I like? Might have to get that one. Math is for Blockers is a fun lineup though I don’t…really get the theme? Both Artist Series look incredible, though I’m not huge on the card lineups.

Misses: PURRFECTION would be great if it wasn’t apparently a convention exclusive and also if the art of cats were on cat cards. It’s cute as fuck, but eh. The old-format walkers are frustrating, but I’m not as against them as a lot of people are- like they’re ugly, but not worth throwing a fucking fit over. I weep for any new player staring one of these down, especially if they barely understand planeswalkers in the first place and/or haven’t seen one of these particular ones before. Also, the art is kinda just ugly.

And then there’s the Universes Beyond ones. Fortnite and Street Fighter, both with new cards that will eventually have regular versions (which leads me to wonder if TWD will do the same). There’s a clear attempt here to hit the zoomers and the boomers in the community, though the former probably won’t have the money to afford the Secret Lair if they’re burning all their cash on V-Bucks. It’s…not a great look? Like I’m not opposed to cartoony art styles (the Goblins Kaboom SL looked great!) but Fortnite’s in particular looks like dogshit in my eyes and I’m not looking forward to seeing it in a Magic frame. Street Fighter I’m more excited for, because I like Street Fighter, and because they confirmed Chun-Li is going to have multikicker which is kind of perfect. Obviously we’re going to have to see the cards, but in one case I’m dreading that, and in the other I’m welcoming it.

Other Cards

We have more Challenger Decks, for Pioneer this time. The decklists are already out, and they look pretty solid! The Challenger Decks have been pretty cool previously, a really solid set of lists that only needed a bit of tweaking to be FNM-viable, but they were held back by the fact that they were often released not long before rotation. With Pioneer being a non-rotating format, this is going to be great for getting people into the format.

Another Double Masters set is…egh. It’s another thing that’s not for me, I can’t afford to whale on that shit. With shipping and conversion those packs end up ludicrously expensive in Perth, and I’m pretty sure I only got to play with one the first time. Also, this one is going to have all the collectable nonsense of 2020/21 Magic, which is going to be A Lot.

And another Jumpstart. Eh. Don’t cock the shipping on this one up and it’ll probably be okay.

Commander Collection Black is here, and the list is already out. The Green one ended up way overpriced, but at least in this case the cards are all super playable. Actually, they were for Green too, I think, but hey there’s a Deluge reprint and a flip Lilli, so. I kinda miss the Signature Spellbook series already, though.

Finally, Unfinity. Another Un-Set. Unstable was a fucking incredible set, both on a comedic level and as one of the sickest draft formats in a long time, so I’m excited to see that one followed up. On the other hand, Unsanctioned kind of landed with a dull thud. Apparently though, they got some of the folks from LRR (among others) to help write names and flavour text for this set, and I love those guys to death, so I can at least guarantee the comedy element will be present for this one.

Other stuff?

Well we have a date for the Netflix series. I have a hard time believing it’s actually happening. When I first started playing was around when rumours and announcements were still happening regarding a full-on movie, and that basically didn’t go anywhere. So it’s a little surprising to have a solid, actual time frame for Magic Story Content in Video Form. I haven’t kept with the story for a fair bit at this point (since Dominaria, tbh), so I’ve got no idea if it’s been any good, and as to whether this will be any good. Considering apparently Gideon’s in the lead, my hopes aren’t huge.

The only other thing is Pins. I like Pins. I have a bunch of them on my bag. I would like to get more Magic pins. So this is good.

And that, I think, is the sum total of it. These announcements always end up with a combination of excitement, trepidation, and dread, but I think this is leading more on the positive end of that spectrum. There’s still way too many fucking sets, but I think that is largely at Hasbro’s feet. The money machine must keep churning, after all. Maybe someday Magic and WoTC as a whole will be able to unshackle themselves from that particular constraint, but I am not holding my breath.

#ramble #mtg #hot takes

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sumrtm · 4 years

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* hey buds , i’m kuromi ! comin’ straight from the midwest with an intro written way below the influence b/c time & responsibility is not real at this point so why not let the blunts smoke me ? i’ll be playing summer , who i affectionately named after my favorite singer & favorite movie character , but failed to incorporate any of their traits while she was coming to be . i thought it’d be fun to bring her in as a new student since she’s taken on a new persona over the summer to cope with the trauma of her parents’ divorce , so she’s an incoming junior ! she’s still a work in progress but below the cut , i’ve done my best to sum her up for ‘ya !

* summer verona , welcome to dillon university . has anyone ever told you you’re kendall jenner’s twin ? no ? well okay , i heard you are twenty - one & a junior at the university . we hope music theory & composition isn’t kicking your ass too much , especially since you’re a base on the cheer team . see you at the next game , sum & cis female + she / her .

* character influence ⤻ the characters i shaped her personality from & what attributes of theirs she holds .

brooke davis & haley james of one tree hill .

two huge sources of inspo entirely . from brooke , she shares the shaky family life due to her parents’ divorce after 30 years after her father’s infidelity came to light , as well as the cheerleader trope where she comes off as the cliche sl*tty , dumb , & 'genki girl’ cheerleader who has actually got some deeply hidden depths . much like haley , she has an embarassing middle name ( it isn’t bob , but summer bear verona is almost as bad . . the plights of having southern parents ! ) , is very sweet natured , & extremely astute .

summer finn of (500) days of summer .

summer finn’s influence is kind of contradictory , but so is sum , so it oddly makes sense to me . sum’s always been very quixotic & enthralled in love & what it entails , but she’s never let anyone close enough to actually experience it herself , even if the opposite person was in love with her . she loved love , but there’s always been a fear of love due to the open opportunity for rejection , but her parents’ divorce only made it worse , & now , she doesn’t believe in it at all . she shares summer’s now emotionless girl trope , as she’s purposely enigmatic & manic pixie dream girl - like after her parents’ crumbled marriage . however , it’s not actuality , & sum can be overemotional at times behind closed doors . with her relations , sum sends a lot of mixed messages & will say she wants one thing but act as though she wants the opposite . she can be childish in that sense , but ultimately believes she’s protecting herself from ending up broken like her mother .

cassie ainsworth of skins .

cassie’s influence serves as a deeper look into the underbelly of summer — she’s got low self esteem , suffers from major depression , & anxiety . it’s such a constrast from what she used to be , however , so she acts the opposite of how she feels in front of others & uses alcohol & sex to keep those demons from coming to surface .

* the cheerleader ⤻ summer @ dillon university on a surface level .

full name : summer bear verona . the younger of seven & the verona’s rainbow baby , sum was named after the season her parents got married in , which also happened to be their favorite season .

birthdate : 2/20/99 .

astrology : pisces sun , aries moon , sagittarius rising .

birthplace : baton rouge , louisiana , usa .

hometown : houston , texas , usa .

parents : walker bear verona , celia rae verona ( née : banks ) .

religion : christian .

sexuality : recently discovered she’s bisexual after a summer sling with another girl before college began , but aside from drunken makeouts for insta stories @ weekend ragers , she’s in a closet bolted from the inside b/c of her family’s unfortunate beliefs .

love language : physical touch , acts of service . she is very action oriented as she thinks words mean absolute shit while also choking on her own .

major : double major in music theory & composition & creative writing .

cheer team affiliation : due to standing at a majestic 5′10 , she’s a base although she does it begrudgingly . her mother attended dillon & was a cheerleader herself , but she also met her father while he played on the football team , so sum’s relationship with it as a whole is complicated . however , she loves the perks that come with being a cheerleader , with emphasis on the attention .

hobbies : reading , fitness , songwriting & creative writing , music composition , & singing . she currently uploads self - composed music to her youtube channel using only garageband . her “claim” of sorts is clairo , & she uploads very often .

* connections ⤻ my deepest needs to fulfill summer’s social life .

summer fling , f .

the girl summer owes her sexual awakening to in terms of women . sum was back & forth between houston , dillon , & lousiana over the summer with her parents divorcing , leaving plenty of room for this fling to occur . things ended sourly on summer’s end when it got too overwhelming , & she ghosted . with the discovery that they go to the same school , summer has gone out of her way to avoid them , but can’t help the way the hairs on the back of her neck stand up , the rapid beating of her heart , or the way she craves them whenever she sees them .

mutual crush , m / nb .

someone she’s been crushing on since school started after they met at the tail end of summer during tryouts . they’re partially why summer fling ended , & have kissed while drunk at a party before , but it’s not gone further than that yet ! this is definitely a slow - burn type of relationship .

high school ex , m / nb .

her first & arguably only serious r/s . this person must be a texan native , or at the very least , attended high school in texas as sum’s from houston . they dated their senior year after being friends throughout high school , & maintained a long distance r/s in their freshman & sophomore years of college , though it ended due to infidelity . we can discuss the culprit !

#quad , f / nb .

three girls sum isn’t seen without who call themselves the “quad” for obvious reasons . they’re inseperable & travel in a pack at almost ALL times . they’re constantly on each other’s feeds & lives , at every party , every event , etc. may or may not be bad influences on each other .

* these are just a few ideas , but i’ll also reblog wanted connections as well , & i’d love to fit sum into w/e you have in mind !

#friday:intro #trauma tw #anxiety tw #depression tw #i got this done in (1) go which is a RECORD for me but i'm so happy to be here with y'all so we had to do it !#i genuinely can't tell if it's informative enough or not but we hungy for plots so i hope it is .#🥺 .

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inqorporeal · 5 years

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Inq's Fic Rec List (2019 Holiday Edition)

Been a while since I did one of these! In no particular order:

i guess i'll know when i get there

Writer: @eisoj5

Rating: M

Completed

Fandom: Star Wars

Bodhi Rook/Luke Skywalker

Details: Rogue One Everyone Lives, Hurt/Comfort, Post-ANH, Bodhi-centric

Review: Bittersweet and saucy by turns, following Bodhi through the course of the Original Trilogy. Has some absolutely lovely moments, and while trauma recovery is at the core of the plot, there's plenty of very real humour

A Test of Time

Writer: @imrisah

Rating: T

In-progress

Fandom: Dragon Age

Dorian Pavus/Iron Bull

Details: Webcomic format, Modern Setting, College Drama

Review: An inventive presentation of the Dragon Age characters (including main character OCs) as students and staff around a university. The art style is wonderful and the writing is superb.

indomitable heart

Writer: @wrennette

Rating: E

Completed

Fandom: Star Wars

Obi-Wan Kenobi/Jango Fett

Details: Canon divergences (multiple), Dooku mentors Obi-Wan, Mandalorian politics

Review: It's fun. The Galidraan fiasco is averted, Obi-Wan still trains Anakin but it turns out better, shit happens as it will but differently

Hondo Kenobi

Writer: StarWarsSyl

Rating: G

Completed

Fandom: Star Wars

Genfic

Details: Found family

Review: Hondo is a sneaky bastard and might have a crush (not that he would ever admit it). When he finds a Force-sensitive kid, he knows just whom to give it to.

Lostlings

Writer: StarWarsSyl

Rating: T

In-progress

Fandom: Star Wars

Genfic

Details: Found family, canon compliant, OCs in the spotlight

Review: The follow-up to Hondo Kenobi. It's the only fic I've found so far that addresses what happens to the people of Coruscant during and after Order 66 -- and the Jedi who manage to escape.

No Heroes on the High Seas

Writer: @spell-cleaver

Rating: T

Completed

Fandom: Star Wars

Genfic

Details: Original Trilogy, AU: Pirates of the Caribbean

Review: Star Wars but swashbuckling style. The setting translates amazingly well and the conclusion is satisfying.

A Bounty of Brothers

Writer: @shadowmaat

Rating: T

In-progress

Fandom: Star Wars

Genfic

Details: Canon-sort-of-compliant, Boba gets adopted by a group of his brothers on Geonosis, OCs in the spotlight

Review: Fun shenanigans when Surge Squad tries to hide the fact that they've adopted Boba off the field; a great array of OCs who are easy to like

Current of Fate

Writer: @feybarn

Rating: T

In-progress

Fandom: Star Wars

Obi-Wan Kenobi/Jango Fett

Details: Time travel, Prequels Trilogy fixit

Review: Two fics running in tandem, giving Obi-Wan and Jango's individual points of view. It's kind of fun to swap back and forth getting both points of view simultaneously

Epic Love

Writer: lajulie

Rating: T

In-progress

Fandom: Star Wars

Genfic with established relationships

Details: Sequels fixit, Canon Divergence

Review: Funny, lovely, kind of heartbreaking at times. One of my favourites featuring the OT crew.

Double Agent Vader

Writer: @fialleril

Rating: T

In-progress

Fandom: Star Wars

Genfic

Details: Canon Divergence

Review: Every so often I go back and reread this collection of connected one-shots. They can be heavy at times, but in a way that's easy to process.

Witness Me

Writer: @sl-walker

Rating: M

In-progress

Fandom: Star Wars

Obi-Wan Kenobi/Maul

Details: Canon Divergence, Maul changes allegiance after TPM, Found Family

Review: This is the fic that caused severe problems for me when I was supposed to be packing for a move because I couldn't put it the fuck down. Absolutely engaging.

#fic rec list #i want to kick whoever designed the mobile interface because it's a complete disaster and the only thing more frustrating is Photoshop

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sl-walker · 1 year

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I was so confused when I saw your cop post, because at first all I could see was the cartoon at the top and I was like "sl-walker is pro-cop???? What?? Since when?????" and I thought I slipped into an alternate universe or something lol

The curse of the automatic post-cut!

HA! Yeah, no. ACAB. Always.

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thornyrose463 · 4 years

Text

The Transfers (Riverdale one-shot)

This is a Riverdale (CW TV show) one-shot. The gifs are not mine. I found them here on tumblr. All credit goes to the rightful owners.

I would like to thank @amazingphanisnotonfire-imagines for making an Instagram profile for my original character Hannah Pearson.

Summary: Hannah Pearson is a member of the Southside Serpents and Sweet Pea's girlfriend. After Southside High shuts down, she transfers to Riverdale High with the other Serpents.

Rating: T

Warning: Swearing and mild sexual content

Cast

Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones

Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz

Jordan Connor as Sweet Pea

Willa Holland as Hannah Pearson

Drew Ray Tanner as Fangs Fogarty

Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge

KJ Apa as Archie Andrews

Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom

Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle

Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper

Skeet Ulrich as FP Jones

Danielle Campbell as Emma Walker

Author's note

This one-shot is set in an alternate universe where Jughead didn't break up with Betty after she did the Serpent dance, Jughead and Toni never kissed, the Black Hood got Betty to choose his victims but didn't make her end her relationship with Jughead and her friendship with Veronica, Archie and Veronica didn't break up and Veronica didn't start dating Reggie, Alice, Polly, Cheryl, Kevin, Toni, Fangs, and Principal Weatherbee never joined the Farm, the Farm never kidnapped Betty, Toni, Cheryl, and Fangs were never kicked out of the Serpents, the Pretty Poisons don't exist, Toni and Cheryl didn't break up, Jughead and the rest of the Serpents didn't start playing Gryphons and Gargoyles, FP and Alice never dated or had an affair, the Stonewall Prep storyline never happened, and Principal Honey was never hired.

On the Heathers casting sheet, which you can find on Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's Twitter page, Sweet Pea wrote the initials NM, and Fangs wrote the initials FF. Based on that, we can assume Sweet Pea's first name starts with the letter N and his last name starts with the letter M and Fangs' first name and last name start with the letter F. I chose the name Nathan Montgomery for Sweet Pea and the name Francis Fogarty for Fangs.

Jughead Jones led Toni Topaz, Sweet Pea, Hannah Pearson, Fangs Fogarty, and the rest of the Southside Serpents through the doors of Riverdale High School. Sweet Pea gripped Hannah's hand tightly as they walked down the hallway. Toni and Fangs walked beside Sweet Pea and Hannah, glaring at anyone who looked at them the wrong way.

The Serpents stopped walking when they saw the table that Veronica Lodge, her boyfriend, Archie Andrews, and Kevin Keller were standing behind.

Veronica smiled. "Friends! On behalf of the students and faculty here at Riverdale High, welcome to your new school! To ease this transition, I've set up a registration desk, where you can get your locker assignments, class schedules, and a list of sports and extracurriculars. We encourage each and every one of you to drink deeply from the cup that is fair Riverdale."

"Stand down, Eva Perón!" Cheryl Blossom yelled, walking down the stairs, followed by Reggie Mantle and a group of girls in blue and gold cheerleading uniforms.

Veronica sighed and looked at Jughead before facing Cheryl.

"There's the school spirit I so fondly remember," Jughead said sarcastically.

"Cheryl." Veronica acknowledged, glaring at the redheaded girl. "No one invited Fascist Barbie to the party."

"Wrong, Veronica. No one invited Southside scum to our school." Cheryl said, crossing her arms over her chest.

The Serpents tensed.

"Listen up, ragamuffins!" Cheryl yelled.

"Ragamuffins? What kind of insult is that?" Hannah asked.

Hannah was tall and slender. Her long brown hair was parted in the middle and styled in loose curls. She was wearing an unzipped black leather jacket with the Southside Serpents symbol on the back, an unbuttoned long-sleeved green and white plaid flannel shirt over a white tank top, dark blue denim jeans, and black combat boots with black laces. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft brown eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a pretty peach colour. She had a double-headed snake tattoo on her left arm, but it couldn't be seen underneath her jacket. She didn't have any other tattoos besides her Serpent tattoo. She didn't have any scars or birthmarks. She didn't have any piercings.

Hannah was 16 years old. She joined the Serpents when she was 15. She did her Serpent dance to Warrant's song Cherry Pie. She lost her virginity to a guy her age one night at a party shortly after she joined the Serpents. They weren't romantically involved. It was just a hookup, nothing more. At some point, she and Sweet Pea realized they were attracted to one another and started dating.

Cheryl looked at Hannah with raised eyebrows and then started speaking again. "I will not allow Riverdale High's above average GPA to suffer because of classrooms that are overcrowded with underachievers, so please do us all a favour and find some other school to debase with your hard-scrabble ways." She looked the Serpents up and down with a fake smile on her cherry red lips and held her hands together in front of her.

"Why don't you come over here and say that to my face?" Toni asked angrily, moving towards Cheryl. Jughead, Sweet Pea, Hannah, and Fangs followed her, ready to fight.

Cheryl got in Toni's face. "Happily, Queen of the Buskers."

"She is just asking to get her ass kicked," Hannah muttered to Sweet Pea. She was about to lunge at Cheryl, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Okay, guys, can we just put our differences aside and start over?" Archie stood in between Toni and Cheryl. Hannah's gaze went from being focused on Cheryl to being focused on him. "A clean slate?" He looked between Cheryl and the Serpents.

"You don't speak for the Bulldogs, Andrews, and need I remind you that these greaser snakes showed up at your place trying to kick your ass," Reggie said, giving Archie a pointed look.

"Happy to finish what we started." Sweet Pea threatened, shoving past Toni and moving towards Reggie. He stopped in his tracks when he felt Fangs and Jughead's arms hold him back.

Veronica stood in between Reggie and Sweet Pea, putting a hand on Sweet Pea's left arm. "I'm so over the toxic masculinity in this hallway right now," she said loudly, her voice full of annoyance.

"All right, that's enough pomp and circumstance! Everyone, get to class now!" Principal Weatherbee yelled.

Reggie backed off.

Veronica took her hand off of Sweet Pea's arm. He began to walk towards the staircase. Jughead shoved him, causing him to pick up the pace. He could make out the rustling of papers as he and the rest of the Serpents walked down the hallway.

"Stupid Northsiders," Sweet Pea grumbled.

"It's okay, babe. Everything will get better." Hannah said, rubbing Sweet Pea's arm and getting him to calm down. "And if it doesn't, we'll just kick their asses," she added. He laughed.

Hannah walked into the math classroom. Math was her last class of the day. Once the clock struck 3, she would be able to get on her motorcycle and go back to her trailer.

None of the other Serpents had math at this time of day besides Jughead, who was sitting next to a girl with fair skin, blue eyes, and long straight blonde hair tied up in a high ponytail wearing a white t-shirt, an unbuttoned pink cardigan, dark blue denim jeans, and beige ankle-length boots.

The girl was named Elizabeth Cooper. She was Jughead's girlfriend. Hannah met her at FP's retirement party. She was as sweet as apple pie and was one of the few Northsiders Hannah could stand to be around.

Hannah sat on the other side of Jughead and smiled at Betty. "Hey, Betty."

Betty smiled back. "Hey, Hannah."

The teacher wrote an equation on the whiteboard and explained it to the class.

Hannah listened intently while writing in her notebook. Despite what people like Cheryl and Reggie may think, she was actually pretty smart and cared about getting an education.

The clock struck 3, and Hannah left the classroom and walked out to the parking lot. She got on her motorcycle and drove to her trailer.

Betty laid in her bed, cell phone in hand, browsing Instagram. The name Hannah Pearson showed up in the list of suggested followers. She tapped on Hannah's profile picture and checked out her profile. Hannah had 99 posts and 85 followers and was following 100 people. At the top of the page, there were pictures of Hannah, a picture of Hannah's black Honda CB550 motorcycle, and a picture of the outside of the Whyte Wyrm.

Betty scrolled down the page and saw a close-up of the Serpent tattoo on Hannah's left arm, pictures of Hannah and Sweet Pea, and pictures of Hannah, Toni, and Fangs. She couldn't help but smile at how cute Hannah and Sweet Pea were together and how close Hannah and her friends were.

Betty hit the follow button. A few minutes later, she got a notification saying that Hannah had followed her.

A few weeks had passed since the Serpents transferred to Riverdale High. The Bulldogs and the Serpents had been in their fair share of fights, and Principal Weatherbee had banned the Serpents from wearing their leather jackets and showing their tattoos. Sweet Pea had to wear a turtleneck in order to cover his tattoo, much to the amusement of the rest of the Serpents.

Hannah was talking to Fangs in the student lounge. She stifled a laugh as Sweet Pea walked in. "You look great, babe."

Fangs turned around and burst into laughter.

Sweet Pea was wearing a white turtleneck underneath an unbuttoned blue and white plaid flannel shirt with long sleeves, dark blue denim jeans, and black combat boots with black laces.

"Shut the fuck up," Sweet Pea grumbled, making his way over to Hannah.

Hannah tried to conceal her smile. "It suits you."

Hannah was wearing a grey tank top underneath an unbuttoned red and grey plaid flannel shirt with long sleeves, dark blue denim jeans, and black ankle-length leather boots with silver studs on the buckles. Her long brown hair was styled in loose curls. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft brown eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a pretty peach colour.

Fangs smiled. "Yeah. It...Um…It brings out the colour of your eyes."

Sweet Pea shoved Fangs.

"It's really not that bad. I've seen Fangs wear much worse." Hannah said.

"Hey!" Fangs exclaimed, offended.

Hannah kissed Sweet Pea. "You would look good in anything, I promise."

"Thanks, but that doesn't make me feel any better." Sweet Pea said.

"Are you guys busy tonight?" Fangs asked.

Sweet Pea shook his head. "No."

"Do you want to go see Love, Simon at the Bijou with me?" Fangs asked.

"I was going to invite Toni, but she's too busy trying to get with Cheryl Bombshell." Fangs rolled his eyes.

"Sounds like fun. We'll be there." Hannah told Fangs.

That night, Sweet Pea, Hannah, and Fangs arrived at the Bijou in Sweet Pea's truck. Sweet Pea held Hannah's hand as they walked in and found their seats.

Fangs nudged Sweet Pea and Hannah. "Guys, look."

Sweet Pea and Hannah turned around.

Toni was sitting next to Cheryl. She made a flirtatious comment, causing Cheryl to blush.

Hannah smiled. "Aww, how cute!"

Cheryl and Toni became a couple a few weeks after their date.

Principal Weatherbee lifted the ban on Serpent jackets and Serpent tattoos, and the Serpents started wearing their jackets to school again.

Betty and Jughead lost their virginity.

Hannah stood beside Sweet Pea, laughing at something stupid he had said. Fangs was on the other side of him. Jughead was in front of them. She looked around the park and saw Cheryl standing next to Toni and laughing. She smiled.

Jughead's father, FP Jones, whistled, getting the attention of the Serpents.

"Listen up, now! All right, listen up!" FP yelled.

"Some 60 years ago, the very first Serpent meeting took place on these same riverbanks. Now, it makes sense that this is where we gather now, where I…Where I say my goodbye. Jughead, would you step up here, son?" FP asked.

The crowd started muttering.

"What the fuck is going on?" Hannah whispered to Sweet Pea.

Hannah was wearing her black leather jacket with the Southside Serpents symbol on the back, an unbuttoned long-sleeved blue and black plaid flannel shirt over a black tank top, dark blue denim jeans, and black ankle-length leather boots with silver studs on the buckles. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft brown eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a pretty peach colour. Her hair was straight.

"I have no idea. To be honest, I thought we came here to get drunk and celebrate how far we've come." Sweet Pea said.

Hannah laughed.

Jughead walked towards FP.

"What are you doing?" Jughead mumbled.

"What I should have done a long time ago," FP muttered.

"I'm retiring from the Serpents." FP announced. The muttering got louder. "For real this time."

FP put his arm around Jughead's shoulder. "Now, my boy has never stopped fighting for this crew. Hell, he almost died for it." He turned to face his son. "That's why I'm giving you the mantle."

The crowd cheered. Sweet Pea hit Fangs, making him wince.

"And now, as your first official duty as Serpent King…" FP nodded to Toni, who made her way towards FP and Jughead and handed FP a red leather jacket with the Southside Serpents symbol on the back.

"I think you know what to do with this." FP handed the jacket to his son. Jughead smiled.

"All right, all right," Jughead muttered. "All I can say is…I love you, Dad. And the Serpents will not die out. Not on my watch."

The crowd cheered.

Cheryl walked towards Jughead, and they smiled at each other as he gave her the red leather jacket.

"Welcome to the Serpents, Cheryl." Hannah said.

Cheryl smiled at Hannah before making her way over to Toni and kissing her.

"One more thing." Jughead pulled out his cell phone. "We have a new Serpent Queen." He called Betty.

Fangs started dating a girl named Emma Walker.

Emma was a Northsider. She was on the cheerleading squad with Betty, Veronica, Cheryl, and Toni. There were no other Serpents on the cheerleading squad besides Toni.

Jughead finished writing Anatomy of a Murder, his book on Jason Blossom's death and the effect it had on the people of Riverdale. It made it to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list.

After their lunch date at Pop's, Sweet Pea and Hannah went back to his trailer.

Hannah walked into Sweet Pea's bedroom. Sweet Pea followed her. He shut the door.

Hannah took off her black combat boots, dark blue denim jeans, black t-shirt, and Serpent jacket, leaving her in just her black lingerie.

Sweet Pea left a trail of kisses on the side of Hannah's neck, rubbing his hands up and down her legs. Hannah groaned in pleasure, taking off Sweet Pea's clothes, leaving him in just his boxers.

Hannah straddled Sweet Pea's body as they laid on top of the bed. She kissed down his body, creeping closer to his boxers. Sweet Pea flipped them over so that he was on top. The two kissed each other all over as they made love.

Sweet Pea and Hannah collapsed on the bed next to each other.

"You up for round 2?" Sweet Pea asked.

Hannah rolled on top of Sweet Pea. "Definitely."

At the beginning of junior year, Hal and Alice got divorced, Emma and Fangs lost their virginity, Hiram and Hermione got divorced, FP became the sheriff of Riverdale, Veronica opened a speakeasy in the basement of Pop's, Cheryl lost her virginity to Toni, Hal and Hiram were sentenced to life in prison, Alice and FP's son, Charles Smith, shut down the Farm, Hermione got people to stop playing Gryphons and Gargoyles, burned every single copy of the player's handbook, and arrested the Gargoyle Gang, Gladys and Jellybean moved back to Toledo, Fangs' mother succumbed to her illness, Toni's grandfather died of old age, and Pop Tate died of old age.

After the fall of the Gargoyle Gang, a new gang arrived in Riverdale. They were called the Scorpions. Each member wore a black leather jacket with a big red scorpion on the back. They dealt drugs and street raced for sport, just like the Ghoulies had.

The Serpents and the Scorpions were enemies.

At the beginning of senior year, Fred died in a hit-and-run accident after stopping alongside the road to help a stranded motorist.

Friday, June 21, 2019

It was the night of the senior prom.

The dance was being held at the Five Seasons.

Veronica, Betty, Cheryl, Hannah, and Emma had gotten ready for the dance at Betty's house.

The limo Veronica had rented pulled into Betty's driveway.

Archie, Jughead, Toni, Sweet Pea, and Fangs stepped out of the limo and stood in the driveway, waiting for Veronica, Betty, Cheryl, Hannah, and Emma to step out of the house.

Archie was wearing a black suit, a white dress shirt, a black necktie, and black dress shoes with black laces.

Jughead was wearing a black suit, a white dress shirt, a black necktie, and black dress shoes with black laces. His beanie rested on top of his head.

Toni was wearing black high-heeled sandals and a strapless black dress with a floor-length skirt. The sweetheart neckline showed a hint of cleavage. Her long brown hair with pink highlights was styled in loose curls. The curls were pushed out of her face but still left to fall down her back. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft brown eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a light shade of berry pink.

Sweet Pea was wearing a black suit, a white dress shirt, a black necktie, and black dress shoes with black laces. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone. His Serpent tattoo was on full display.

Fangs was wearing a black suit, a white dress shirt, a black necktie, and black dress shoes with black laces.

Archie's jaw dropped when he saw Veronica walking towards him. "Wow. You look stunning."

Veronica was wearing navy blue high-heeled sandals and a navy blue floor-length dress. It was strapless and had a sweetheart neckline. The neckline showed a hint of cleavage. The top was folded pieces of soft fabric, and the bottom billowed when she walked, giving her the appearance that she was flying. A small silver chain with a tiny diamond hung low on her chest. Her shoulder-length wavy black hair was in an elegant updo, leaving her neck bare. Her brown eyes were framed by long dark lashes, her lips were plum and shiny, and her cheeks were rosy.

Veronica smiled and gave Archie a peck on the lips. "Thank you, Archie."

Archie walked towards the limo. Veronica walked beside him. He held the door open and took her by the hand, helping her get in the backseat.

Jughead's jaw dropped when he saw Betty walking towards him. "Wow. You look incredible."

Betty was wearing pale pink high-heeled sandals and a pale pink dress with a floor-length skirt and a sweetheart neckline that turned into off-the-shoulder sleeves. The neckline showed a hint of cleavage. A small silver chain with a tiny diamond hung low on her chest. Her long blonde hair was styled in barrel curls. The curls were pushed out of her face but still left to fall down her back. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, soft pink eyeshadow, and nude lip gloss.

Betty smiled and gave Jughead a peck on the lips. "Thank you, Jughead."

Jughead walked towards the limo. Betty walked beside him. He held the door open and took her by the hand, helping her get in the backseat.

Toni's jaw dropped when she saw Cheryl walking towards her. "Wow. You look beautiful."

Cheryl was wearing red high-heeled sandals and a red dress with spaghetti straps, a v-neck, and a floor-length skirt with a slit in the right side that reached the middle of the thigh and revealed her right leg. The neckline showed a hint of cleavage. A small silver chain with a tiny diamond hung low on her chest. Her long red hair was styled in barrel curls. The curls were pushed out of her face but still left to fall down her back. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft pink eyeshadow. Her lips were cherry red.

Cheryl smiled and gave Toni a peck on the lips. "Thank you, Toni."

Toni and Cheryl walked towards the limo. Toni held the door open and took Cheryl by the hand, helping her get in the backseat.

When Sweet Pea saw Hannah walking towards him, his jaw dropped. "Wow. You look amazing."

Hannah was wearing green high-heeled sandals and a green dress with a v-neck, two spaghetti straps criss-crossing over the open back, and a floor-length skirt. The neckline showed a hint of cleavage. The sides of the dress were cut out, exposing a teasing fraction of skin. Her Serpent tattoo was on full display. Her long brown hair was styled in loose curls. The curls were pushed out of her face but still left to fall down her back. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft brown eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a pretty peach colour.

Hannah smiled and gave Sweet Pea a peck on the lips. "Thank you, Sweet Pea."

Sweet Pea walked towards the limo. Hannah walked beside him. He held the door open and took her by the hand, helping her get in the backseat.

When Fangs saw Emma walking towards him, his jaw dropped. "Wow. You look gorgeous."

Emma was tall and slender with fair skin and blue eyes. She was wearing lavender high-heeled sandals and a strapless lavender dress with a sweetheart neckline, an open back, and a floor-length skirt that flared at the hips with a small train. The neckline showed a hint of cleavage. Her long brown hair was styled in barrel curls. The curls were pushed out of her face but still left to fall down her back. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft pink eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a pretty coral pink colour.

Emma smiled and gave Fangs a peck on the lips. "Thank you, Fangs."

Fangs walked towards the limo. Emma walked beside him. He held the door open and took her by the hand, helping her get in the backseat.

The limo drove down the road.

Riverdale High School

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

2:00 p.m.

It was graduation day.

The ceremony was being held in the auditorium. The graduates were sitting in the first row. They were clad in blue graduation gowns and blue graduation caps with gold tassels. The guests were sitting a little farther back.

Betty was the valedictorian. She walked up to the podium and gave a speech.

"Have you ever read a good book or a good story, and when you're on the final chapter and the final page, you feel a sadness you can't explain?"

"Sometimes, if you're lucky, the story or book will have an epilogue or a sequel. I stand here before you, my fellow graduates, to tell you that although this chapter in our lives has ended, the story is far from over."

"We are all still so young. We have time to fall in and out of love and to make mistakes. We still have the opportunity to fail and succeed and to change our minds like we change our clothes. There are tears of sadness running down some of your faces. Why? This isn't the end. This is the beginning of something amazing."

"For some of you, maybe it's college. Maybe it's your dream job. Maybe it's getting married and starting a family. Or maybe it's finally accepting who you are and not being afraid of who you could turn out to be."

"Just promise me one thing. Don't forget what these past few years have brought to your life. Don't forget about the people that taught you all about friendship, bravery, and courage. Don't forget about the smiles and frowns, the laughter and tears, and the breakups and makeups. Don't run from your mistakes. Learn from them and embrace them. I wish you all the happiness in the world. I can't think of a group of people that deserve it more."

Thunderous applause followed Betty's speech.

Betty returned to her seat.

Principal Weatherbee announced that diplomas were going to be handed out. He started calling names.

"Archibald Andrews."

Archie made his way towards the stage. He shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking his diploma back to his seat.

A few more names were called.

"Cheryl Blossom."

Cheryl made her way towards the stage. She shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking her diploma back to her seat.

A few more names were called.

"Elizabeth Cooper."

Betty made her way towards the stage. She shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking her diploma back to her seat.

A few more names were called.

"Francis Fogarty."

Fangs made his way towards the stage. He shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking his diploma back to his seat.

A few more names were called.

"Forsythe Pendleton Jones III."

Jughead made his way towards the stage. He shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking his diploma back to his seat.

A few more names were called.

"Veronica Lodge."

Veronica made her way towards the stage. She shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking her diploma back to her seat.

A few more names were called.

"Nathan Montgomery."

Sweet Pea made his way towards the stage. He shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking his diploma back to his seat.

A few more names were called.

"Hannah Pearson."

Hannah made her way towards the stage. She shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking her diploma back to her seat.

A few more names were called.

"Antoinette Topaz."

Toni made her way towards the stage. She shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking her diploma back to her seat.

A few more names were called.

"Emma Walker."

Emma was the last to graduate. She made her way towards the stage. She shook hands with Principal Weatherbee and the superintendent of the school board before taking her diploma back to her seat.

Principal Weatherbee addressed the crowd. "Everyone, please rise."

The crowd stood up.

Principal Weatherbee turned to the graduates and said, "Graduates, please move your tassels from right to left."

The graduates did as they were told.

"Congratulations to the Riverdale High School class of 2019!" Principal Weatherbee exclaimed.

The graduates threw their caps in the air.

THE END

#fanfiction

6 notes · View notes

okimargarvez · 5 years

Text

PENDING ISSUES

Original title: Questioni in sospeso.

Prompt: Penelope is forced to change team.

Warning: none.

Genre: drama, family, romantic.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, BAU team, O.C.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: oneshot 53 in Garvez collection.

Legend: 💏😘🔦🎈.

Song mentioned: Quando ritornerai, Tiziano Ferro.

GARVEZ STORIES

PENDING ISSUESS

She can't believe it, but there is no room for any uncertainty, no doubt. The e-mail, with a lot of official virtual "stamps", seems to make fun of her with all those high-sounding and cold words. But... but it could be a joke of some technician colleague.

The blonde woman moves away from the screen, as if it possessed an evil spirit, had a life of its own. Almost. She starts browsing her phone contacts, discarding them one by one. In the end, she decides to open the door and head towards Prentiss's office. She doesn’t have time to knock that her friend, as well as chief of the unit, is already there, standing with a pained look. Penelope then understands how sadly real it all is.

-Garcia...- says the brunette, inviting her to come in with a wave of her hand. The blonde drops into the chair on the other side of the desk.

-So that's true. They are really doing it, as with JJ eight years ago.- she only says, with a resigned and not too depressed tone, not how much anyone would have expected from one who hates (hate to say the least) changes.

Emily takes a moment before nodding, only in the eyes can one sense the anger at the helplessness she is forced to bear despite her high position, which she also detested so many times, precisely because of the decisions she was forced to make... and now she can't even use it to prevent the team from losing an important piece of their chessboard, so that the family doesn't loses the glue that holds them together. -Penelope, I'm sorry, I tried to do everything, but...- the friend shows her that there is no need to justify herself, she already knows.

-How long have you known?- she asks her rather, sensing, despite her naivety that it is part of her charm, far more than Prentiss would like.

-A week.- she admits, in a guilty tone, lowering her eyes for a moment to a stack of papers on her desk. The most prominent cases. Cases that she won't be able to solve, Penelope thinks, sighing.

An awkward silence follows, something that between the two women hadn’t happened since the time of the attempted murder of the brunette.

-We have to tell others.- it is the latter who breaks it. For the first time, the informatic technician seems really shaken by the news. She shakes her head, vehemently denying, silently protesting with those dark yet strangely unclear eyes. -I know, I understand what you're thinking. But they have the right to know, don't you think?- turned this way, the question is different; the friend can only agree. They stand up almost in sync, Garcia waits for the one with the highest position to come out first. Prentiss overlooks the balcony and immediately meets Rossi's eyes. -Guys, we need to talk.- she announces gravely. JJ can't help staring at her two best friends, passing from one to the other all the time. It is clear to everyone that their IT has something to do with it, but how specifically, how much does it involve them personally, this cannot yet be said. -Meeting room in five minutes.- the woman turns, placing a hand on Penelope's shoulder and the two start to walk, turning their backs to the others. They don’t therefore notice how each one quickly abandons their activity, saving documents, putting the cap on the pen and hurrying to reach them. The last to enter the round room is Matt, less than a minute later.

-We are all here.- says Rossi with a warm and calm voice. -Talk.- he takes matters into his own hands, because he understands that Emily is in trouble. She has the same look as when they unjustly arrested Reid.

-There is no painless way to say it.- she begins, making them fear the worst. -Garcia, Penelope- she corrects herself -will be transferred to another unit next week.- six mouths open up almost simultaneously. Then, six pairs of eyes rest on the shapely blonde, who can't stand all those looks and feels faint. She tightens her wrist, planting her nails in the flesh, without the others being able to notice it. It was a method she had discovered to manage anxiety when panic seized her after Battle had shot her. She hadn't used it for a while, since the last anniversary.

A few seconds of silence, full of disbelief. Then a storm of questions is unleashes, more or less all together; overlapping words, different voices all united by the same pained tone.

-How?- JJ. She already has tears that press at the corners of the eyes to get out. Penelope sees her again, in a kind of deformed flashback, while she tells her for the first time that she considers her as part of her family, shortly after having shot the killer policeman; while they are accessing the CIA's encrypted files and fails to take possession of Prince William's phone number; as she walks, beautiful in her mother's white dress, heading for Will, on the lawn of Rossi's house.

-Why?- Spencer. The youngest of the team, immediately looking for a reason, a motivation, which however was not there. Or rather, it was there, but it was certainly not the one he wanted to hear. Penelope remembers perfectly the day he entered her office, bringing her a brioche as a gift and she declared her eternal platonic love; or that time he made a dollar appear from behind her ear, astonishing her almost more than Henry and Jack; and again his look of gratitude when she had shot a false nurse, Baylor, and when he had got out of the elevator, after he had risked becoming the three hundredth and last victim of the Believers, despite the past years.

-When?- Tara. The psychologist and university professor with whom she had been in love at first sight (as with Kate). How forgetting the enthusiasm with which she had received her arrival and the joy she had felt when Hotch had confirmed that the research was completed, there was no need to conduct other interviews; or when she had given her that carrot, which she had decided to keep and not to eat.

-Where?- Matt. That man as intelligent as he is charming and likeable. Penelope revisits various moments in a disorderly way: the phone call in a panic when the team had not responded to her numerous calls and the car ride to the accident; the friendly malice when he asked her if she had a tattoo and where; finally the sweet sensation of tranquility when they danced together at the wedding of Krystall and the older agent.

-Who?- Rossi. He himself, who has always detested the bureaucracy, wonders who the culprit is, who is behind what he perceives as a real crime against the whole unit. Losing Garcia would be as if the team's heart were rudely torn off. The young blonde remembers perfectly how the Italian-American treated her in the beginning, and feels something stirring at the thought of how he is now a real father to her, and he even told this to her.

Only one remains silent, quiet, doesn’t open his mouth. But his eyes are screaming, his eyes are the only one that really pierces her. Luke. Oh, Luke. Thinking of him as agent Alvez would be much more convenient, because when he becomes Luke, he makes her think of Roxy, the kitten-shaped anti-stress that he gave her, his jokes and provocations, the way he had kissed her on the cheek before hugging her, or he had taken her hand in Bradenton, or he had stolen her remote-control, he had consoled her in court, in front of the SUV with the body of Walker, he had involved her in the gift for Phil. Phil... No, better think of him as Alvez.

Emily leaves them a few seconds to recover, so she begins to answer their questions as much as possible. -It's a direct order from the Director.- she explains. -It hasn’t yet been specified the destination, in fact, in all likelihood they will come to take her directly from here and we will never know.- even worse than what had happened with JJ. Who was there at the time, catches the connection and winces. -There is not a how, nor a why. Or, like the rest, we cannot know it.- the brunette crosses her arms, considering the matter closed. There is really nothing else to add.

Everyone seems to understand it, yet, they each struggle to control themselves. A familiar sound awakens them from the trance they had fell into. Garcia grabs the phone and reads the message. -There is a case.- she says, trying to sound normal, but she just can't.

Everyone thinks the same thing. Their last case with her.

* When, will you come back? Tell me when, will I can see you...

It is a case that doesn’t require the use of the jet, fortunately. So, they can take care of it by staying close to the base. They work sitting around the round table, like the time they were been awake all night to find a proof that had exonerated Spencer and allowed them to simultaneously save Diana.

The atmosphere is tense, Penelope feels eyes on her about every ten minutes, but ignores everything to concentrate on her work. She rejects the thought that this time it's really over, that it won't be just for two weeks, like with that witch (Barnes). Her fingers beating on the keyboard mark the thoughts of many of her colleagues. They all speak less than usual; they only open their mouths when they have something concrete to say.

On the second day Prentiss is forced to separate from them for other "pending issues", so she defines them. Bureaucracy, surely. She locks herself in her office. Rossi and Dr. Lewis have already drawn the right conclusions; perhaps the others too, but one just can't get it. That's why, when he leaves the room after hours to go to the toilet, Agent Alvez is stunned to stare at a line of people, mostly women, mostly blondes, queuing outside the office of the chief of the BAU. When another woman, who looks like a clone of the others, comes out, without knowing how, he manages to precede the next one and slip inside.

-Luke!- Emily exclaims, in truth not too surprised. She doesn't even ask him what he does there. She waits patiently for the outburst.

-Who are all these girls?- he begins to ask, but inside he already has the answer, he just needs to have the courage to take it out. -Are you replacing Garcia while she's still here with us?- here it is, as she imagined. Indignation, anger, disbelief and disappointment.

Prentiss gives him a particularly maternal and understanding look. -There is no replacement worthy of Garcia, Luke.- he nods, immediately agreed. -But life goes on unfortunately. It doesn't matter who dies, or who goes away. How important it is.- the woman just shudders. -The leaders want a name by Friday. Someone else will have to find the addresses of the unknown subjects.- she tries a joke, but with little conviction.

The man remains silent. He's trying to get over it. But he can't do it.

-Alvez, listen to me well, because I will say it only once: don’t behave with the person who will take the place of Penelope...- seeing his shocked gaze, she hastens to add: -…yes, it is so, however bad it sounds. I've replaced Hotch, you've replaced Morgan, and someone will replace Garcia. Not in our hearts, it is obvious.- another nod of assent. -But professionally, it's so. So, I repeat, don’t do to this person, who has no fault, what Garcia did to you. Don't make her feel in the wrong place. Penelope did it as self-defense, to protect herself, and she didn't last long.- a slight smile grazes the lips of the Latin. -I have my doubts about how it would work with you.-

** When, will you be with me? Tell me when, tell me if... inside you, I also live a little, or not...

They solved the case, but the week is not over. Theoretically, there are still two days. Garcia made the decision, perhaps a bit selfish, but justified, to shut herself up in her bunker, to breathe a little. She knows that the attentions of her colleagues are irrefutable proof of their affection, but... but they are suffocating her. They make it all that much more difficult.

The worst thing is not go away. But staying and seeing the others disappear, she thinks, shaking her head, struggling with herself.

She jolts when she hears a knock on the door, the outer one, but she recovers quickly. -Forward, human.- she says aloud, while the first of the two armored doors closes behind her. -Speak and reveal your identity.- she stills to type words and codes and doesn’t divert attention from the main screen. But from the sound of footsteps she understands that it is a man. Ankle boots. She restricts the search to two subjects. Simmons or Alvez.

A large hand rests on her backrest. Then a voice, strangely weak. -Garcia...- she so surprised that she stops for a moment, but doesn’t turn to look at him. An awkward silence follows, which forces her to say something, any bullshit is better than that deafening nothingness.

-Luke? If you need some information I warn you that I am already off duty...- it sounds like one of her usual jokes, but lacks intensity. -Although I could make an exception, if it's just a small thing...- she can see him evaluate her words and move to the left, leaning on her desk, like Derek did.

The man takes a breath, clears his throat, procrastinates in every possible way. -Yes, well, I wanted to talk to you about... your transfer.- this time Penelope takes her hands away from the keyboard and can't avoid showing a hint of fear. Of all the subjects she could face and seem calm, indifferent, he went right to hit that. The woman holds her breath until her head begins to turn.

-Huh.- she strives to avoid at least looking into his eyes, convinced that he would be able to read them inside everything. Indeed, she is sure of this. Practically from the beginning, since they met and did this not push her to curl up like a hedgehog more?

He opens his mouth without saying anything, spreads his arms. -Is there anything you can do to avoid it?- he asks, finally. It could have been much worse. She sighs with relief, a little too noticeable. Luke watches her for a moment, finally deciding not to venture too much.

-Of course, I could hack the system and create a thousand slowdowns...- she replies, immediately lighting a smile on his lips. -I could go on like this for months, but they'd find out right away, who's behind it, I mean- once again she escapes his gaze -and in the end, I'd still have to go away.- her tone is a little too tough, but it is the only way left to save herself. -So I don't think it's worth it.- she folds her arms, waiting for his reply.

-But it's not fair.- it's the big phrase that comes out of him. The man feels stupid, but it is certainly not the first time that this happens when he is with her. -They can't treat us this way.- she merely stares at him, doesn't go to him in any way, doesn't make it easier for him. -Do they know that we are not just a group of people working together? We are a family and...- he hesitates for a moment, perhaps realizing that it is the first time he has said it aloud, even if he thought of it often and especially when Barnes tried to make him say something to discredit his colleagues and he realized how much he was willing to fight for the team -and we need each other-- he spits it out in the end, surprising her positively. Even if she would have preferred the opposite.

-Alvez, really, I appreciate your interest, but... it has already been decided.- she feels the need to release his anxiety in some way. -Nothing can be done to change things.- if he doesn’t leave by himself in a hurry, she will be forced to throw him out with badly manners. She knows perfectly the movement that runs through her belly, she knows what the consequences will be.

-It's not possible, I refuse to accept it.- but Luke behaves incredibly stubbornly. -How can they not realize that without you the percentage of cases solved will be reduced?- this time she doesn’t resist, she bursts into laughter with some bitter nuance, given by the inability to believe in the veracity of his words, which for a while she eliminates the risk of collapsing in front of him and ruining everything.

-Don't you think you're exaggerating now?- she realizes that her lips have folded into a grimace similar to the one he made when she called him "Newbie" or treated him "badly”. -Of course, I'm good, but...- he interrupts her. For him it is not conceivable that there is a but after such a statement.

-You are more than good, you said it yourself, no?- he blushes slightly, remembering that day, not long ago, in fact, that he had expressed his appreciation for her abilities, without hiding behind a joke , this time; and the way she had answered. Dios, it shouldn't be legal to flirt so subtly. -You're great.- Penelope is silent, barely closing her mouth, always red, always inviting. -And in any case, we have seen in those two weeks in which it seemed that the BAU was destined to disappear and also in those days when you were in San Francisco...- he begins to argue, as a perfect lawyer. His father would be proud of him.

-I'm sure anyone who chooses Prentiss will be worthy of occupying my place.- the woman replies, taunting herself. -And that you all will make it through this.- he nods, but gets a little closer to her chair, perhaps not quite consciously.

-But managing it and running like a train, they are two different things.- the man is not intentioned to give up. It tilts slightly downwards, always unaware, under the terrified look of her.

-What is it, Luke, why do you care so much?- she decides to go straight to the point. She will not be able to get rid of him with the good ways, now it is clear. -Did something happen?- she hopes to turn the matter around him, his problems, anything to keep him away from her.

Luke opens his mouth, considering whether to say directly the first thing that went through his head. -You ask me why I care?- it sounds like a question, but it really isn't. His tongue passes over the teeth. -I told you, we are a family and... no one will ever be at your level.- it's not all what he wanted to tell her, but one step at a time, something is better than nothing.

At least he gets a smile not too much felt, certainly not comparable to her true smiles full of joy, like the one when she had seen Roxy for the first time, when he had shown her his gift... -Thank you, I'm flattered.- it sounds so... fake. -But now, if you allow me, I need to finish this job.- actually they are just paperwork that she could complete even from her house, because they will take away her access tomorrow. -I don't want to leave anything... unfinished.- he further reduces the distances and stares her with such intensity as to paralyze her. Leaving it, you will still leave something unfinished. You will leave this story in abeyance, what is between us, it will remain forever undefined, we will never know how it could have gone. You're not just abandoning the unit, you're letting go of your family, the people who love you... me.

But, of course, he doesn't say anything of what's on his mind. -Ok.- almost neutral tone. -Even if I can't understand how you can have took it so well...- he chooses to be magnanimous. It's late, Roxy is waiting for him, maybe a midnight walk will help him clear his head. -... good night.- he whispers in a slightly sweeter tone, wishing to place a kiss on her hair, or even on her cheek, he could be satisfied with it.

-Night.- she echoes him, and as soon as he is out, she bursts into tears, overwhelmed by the wave of pain that has done nothing but go up and down her body since she received that damn e-mail.

*** Tell me about you, when you are alone at night and you never sleep...

She didn't even try to sleep. She knew it would be completely useless, she would "wake up" the next morning (or a few hours later, because when she went under the covers the first lights were already visible) with a terrible headache, more tired than she had just stayed up late, as she had actually done.

She preferred to try to take her mind off, reading a book, one of those that usually obliged her to finish it, no matter that she had other commitments, that she should go to work or eat. It worked, but only briefly.

Here, she is parking her Esther for the last time, pressing the elevator button and go down to the fourth floor. She caresses every detail with her eyes, every fragment that manages to capture about those places where she experienced so many different emotions...

She came very early, to avoid meeting the others. She knows it is a cowardly, unjust thing, but she just can't make it to greet them, to live a moment like that. No, she would burst into tears, flood the bullpen. Better to avoid. Better this way. They will forgive her, perhaps, a day not very close.

She crosses the desks area, deserted; she observes them one by one, recognizing the owner of each with affection. She tries hard not to dwell too much on the one with dog statuettes, her gifts, of course. She sighs and continues down the stairs to Prentiss' office. She is the only one already present. She opens the door without knocking.

-Are you already here?- asks the other woman, but she has already understood everything. Damn profilers. Why is it so easy to love them and fall in love with them?

-Yes, I... I'm sorry, Em', I can't do it.- she shrugs. -You know I hate goodbyes. Will you explain it to the others?- the brunette just nods, not particularly convinced. When Penelope comes out, she understands the reason.

They are all there, standing, waiting for her. She feels a hand caress her shoulder. She turns to Emily, who smiles slightly. Together they go down and join the rest of the team. No one talks for a few minutes, then the hugs begin. JJ, sobbing, hugs her tightly, whispering -How could you think of leaving without saying goodbye?- but not demanding an answer. Tara waits for her turn, but is dragged into a female hug. Men observe in the background. The BAU women promise to remain friends and sisters, no matter what happens. And they know that they really mean it.

So, after at least fifteen minutes of giggles, interspersed with tears and anecdotes, they leave her free. And the first one she meets is Spencer, the man who didn't love hugs. He has changed his mind, deeply. They don't exchange a single word, because they don't need it. They have always been kindred souls. They remain hugged for a long time, it seems that there are no other people besides them. To the point that someone starts to feel far more than a pinch of jealousy, and doubts and uncertainties resurface.

When, finally, with the enormous joy of that someone, they separate, it is the latecomer that welcomes her in his arms. Theirs is a patently friendly and fraternal gesture, there is no room for ambiguity, not even trying to strive. Matt strokes her hair and feels her trembling. For this reason, he holds her a little longer.

Then it's Rossi's turn. Not even when Morgan left, he felt all this pain. Because he knew it was the best choice, he didn't want Hank to grow up as Joy, without a father, and as bad as it was, it was pretty easy to accept. But not this time. No, it was all so wrong. -Kitten, oh, kitten...- he sighs, almost in a rattle that suddenly reveals his age.

Only one remains. Why does she always end up putting him last? It is so obvious that he feels as the fifth wheel on the wagon. Fortunately, he doesn’t know that she is used to keeping the best, especially when it comes to food, but also to reading, lastly, to be able to do it... to enjoy it better. In fact, she tries to avoid everything, knowing that she is just fooled herself. Luke drags her in a hug that can be defined with a single adjective: tragic. After a second of stiffness, Penelope abandons herself to his grip and deflates like a balloon, pouring all the tears on him, that she was able to hold back up to that point. It was his fault. His hand that caresses her back so delicately, like her mother did when she was little. And the heat emanating from his body. Its natural scent, which also reminds her of Roxy. And then simply because it's Luke. Luke, and not Alvez. For his part, the man rocks her as if she were a child, making her sway more or less like when they danced slow at Rossi's wedding. In his head he confesses everything. In his head he pleads with her, on his knees, tearing his hair as in Greek tragedies, to not go, because he can't live without her. He wouldn’t even have joined the BAU if he hadn't known a colorfully dressed computer technician, terribly sexy in body and spirit.

It is the sound of a cell phone to revive them. The others would never have had the courage to separate them. What was between them, of whatever specific form it was, was so obvious. Emily pulls out her cell phone and sighs. Everyone knows what it means.

There is a case.

This time they won't have Garcia's abilities at their service.

The woman breaks away from him (and it hurts, without the almost, it hurts her body) and looks at her family one last time. She starts to walk towards the elevator, but they follow her and stay there, staring at her, until the doors close and lead her away, away from her family.

**** When will you return, when? Or will you always be away?

The months pass, so fast and anonymous that, if he stops to think about it, it's almost scary. Garcia is regularly in touch with them, at least once a week, especially through the chat she herself created on WhatsApp. Of course, it is not the same thing, but again, it is better than nothing.

This is what Luke repeats every morning to force himself to get out of bed, he, who had always been an early riser, super active even at dawn. Roxy tries to console him, but this time not even her can help him.

He finds himself more and more frequently re-reading her messages. He caresses the words with his fingertips, smiling with melancholy sweetness. He doesn’t allow himself to think of a single thing: that he misses her (here, he has just done it). He tries to settle for something, but it's hard.

Everything loses its importance when he sees her (it is she, she has no doubts, his heart has recognized her first than his eyes) walking in the park, in flesh and bone, not a fucking message, even a vowel or a short call. He heads towards her feeling like being reborn. It's Sunday, there are no cases to solve. He smiles, just before she notices his presence.

-Hello.- he says, containing himself slightly. She looks at him strangely.

-Hello.- she repeats. The man notices with pleasure that she is wearing one of her floral-themed clothes. He feared that in the new place (whatever it was, since she could not say anything, extra top secret mission) they had forced her to completely change appearance, to homologate her to the mass. Not that he wouldn't find her beautiful, this never.

-How are you?- he asks her. The woman understands that he is really interested in her answer.

-Pretty good.- she seems sincere, the man thinks. -And you?- she doesn’t give him time to reply. -Few days ago I met Lisa and... she told me that you two are no longer together.- silence. -Since six months.- she doesn’t mask in any way the accusatory and disappointed tone. Does she believe that others know it?

-Yes.- he shrugs. -It’s happened.- Penelope opens her beautiful brown eyes and glares at him. -I'm fine, really. Did she tell you it was a common decision?- they start walking again, a little too far for Luke's taste.

-Something like that.- she grants to him.

-Do you want to take a cup of tea with me?- he asks her, even to force her to stop mulling over his relationship with Lisa. She nods. In truth, she accepts only for get real information about the girl who replaced her. The man keeps the door open, making her passing first and enjoying a certain view accordingly. He is able just to avoid helping her sit down. If they had been in a restaurant though, he would surely have done it. They order and he doesn't notice at all the attempts of approach of the waitress, a beautiful curly woman. His former colleague is convinced that it is because he is still in love with Lisa.

As soon as they are alone, she throws herself away. -Then, let's not talk around it. How is she?- but he plays the role of the naive, a part that he does very well.

-How is who?- he asks, frowning.

Penelope shakes her head and sighs, annoyed. -How is the new girl.- she precises.

-Oh.- a shadow passes into his eyes. -You mean Sophie.- Sophie, repeats the woman in her head. Even the name sounds sweet and nice. Luke understands that he won't get away easily. He should say everything. -Well, she is very young, I think she is about the age of Spencer.- he starts to explain. -She graduated in computer science at MIT.- that is, like her, if she hadn't given up everything after her parents died. -It is very organized, precise... nice.- still not enough. She wants more. -Smart.- he adds then. Of course, Emily wouldn't have chosen any unprepared.

-Well.- she sounds like a demanding professor who expects more details to give 30/30 and laudation. -I'm happy for you.- the curly maid comes back, who serves them, almost pouring the contents of Penelope's cup on the table, as too intent on staring her partner. But it is only a dilation, a temporary suspension. -And then?- she asks him, in fact, almost malignant and pleased to put him in difficulty.

-Then what?- she doesn’t understand if he is really so stupid.

-How she is... aesthetically, I mean.- she gestures, pointing herself. It is destined to end badly, there is nothing to do. Needless to oppose fate. -Physically.- she adds.

-Oh.- another embarrassed pause. -She is blonde.- to this adjective, he suddenly starts to giggle, without a sensible reason. Penelope doesn’t catch the fun side. -High. Thin.- ok, this is too much. True, she asked it, but...

-Fantastic.- she comments. She stands up and risks to overturn the entire table. -Now... I have to go.- he grabs her quick hand like an iguana's tongue when sees a prey to catch. What a beautiful image that came to his mind.

-But we haven’t yet drunk our tea.- he says, quietly, rationally. Perhaps he thinks that this is enough to keep her here, to make her hear the praise of Sophie, blonde, thin, tall, smart... She is behaving like an idiot, even if only in her head.

-It doesn't matter, some other time then.- she instead replies, with a sad and resentful tone.

But he doesn't let her go. -Penelope.- he never calls her by name. He manages to capture her attention.

-What?- she snorts, falling back into her chair. The patrons who followed the entire scene as if they were shooting a famous Argentine soap opera, immediately stop, pretending to be very busy.

Luke is still holding her hand, but he has moved to cover her fingers. -Sophie is smart, nice, pretty, but it's nothing comparable to you.- he declares with tone and above all an intense look. That look. She slips her hand from his.

She stares at the amber liquid in front of her, almost hoping to see the answer to her problems inside. -Uh, I appreciate the attempt, but you've always been a bad liar.- the man bangs his fist on the table. Give to this cup of tea a medal, it has survived more attempts than those to assassinate the president of the United States in any VHS action movie.

-It's not a lie, I'm serious.- the man insists, trying to catch her eyes; but she doesn’t grant him. She is not so stupid as not to know how it would end. -She can’t fill the void you left.- he continues undaunted. -She will never replace you.- does he not understand that every sentence of it is like a stabbed in her stomach? Why is he not silent? -It’s clear?- he asks her instead, suddenly being hard.

-Yes, clear.- she teases him and it's a good feeling. He was no longer used to it. -But now I really have to go...- she stands up and leaves him alone, shaking his head; actually in the company of Abraham Lincoln.

***** When will you return? Just tell me if, only if, if you're still just here...

It's ironic. It has been another three months since he last met her, that she only let him in that bar, and he had a thousand reasons to do what he is only now finally accomplishing. And yet, it was enough to talk about the thing with someone totally foreign to the story. Sophie, dear Sophie. Prentiss was naturally right. It wouldn't have been right to blame her. No, not really. Also, because she helped him. Without her, not as good as Garcia, but... in short, without her he wouldn't be here.

He wouldn’t be able to spy on the woman he is in love with while she is working, she exchanges a few words with her colleagues, she looks for a second her phone and smiles. Perhaps another wouldn’t have been able to observe her so comfortably, but he was a former hunter of men. This was his bread and butter. He missed that thrill.

So different with those normal clothes, from mere mortals, exactly as she had imagined, but always she, always sexy. Sometimes the content of a book is so strong that it doesn't matter which cover it represents. She looks like a manager, her hair straight and without frills, her wardrobe completely gray. Better than beige, he thinks, smiling. Even the glasses are dark, black, though. Above all he observes the way she interacts with colleagues, how her smiles are forced and fake. She seems so fragile and lost, like a fish out of water. He stays in his post so long as his back is in pain.

But it's worth it and every pain vanishes when he finally sees her come out of that door, immersed in a multitude of anonymous people. Even in this costume she stands out like a butterfly in the midst of moths. He leaves his hiding place and walks to meet her. -Garcia.- hearing her name, she jolts, bringing a hand to her chest.

But she has recognized the voice. -Alvez, you made me take an heart attack.- she reproaches him with familiarity, immediately putting him at ease. -What are you doing here?- what she doesn't ask instead is how the hell did he get here since her work place is a secret assignment.

But Luke looks different from last time. Stronger and more aware. Yes, really aware. She begins to tremble, and not just from the cold. -I came to surprise you.- he smiles, but it's not one of his good, sweet, tender smiles. -See, it's a bit 'that I don’t hear from you...- there is malice in his voice, malice of those who want something more than just having fun flirting.

But she tries to ignore it. -I have been very busy.- any sentence, the first one that came to her mind. It looks like it's out of a bad movie. -I'm not yet used to the rhythms of the office...- but she doesn't last long. At the end, she falls into those eyes. -Why do you look at me like that?- the man tries to contain himself, but it's too hard, a losing game.

-Nothing, just... you're so different that I almost don't recognize you.- so spontaneous, so devoid of filters. So damn Luke. Shit. Shit. Shit.

She's clever enough to hide the battle that's happening inside her. -Even!- she exclaims in a somewhat exaggerated and shrill tone. -I only wear ordinary mortal clothes.- just the same words he had used in his head. -So... how are you?- she only asks him to change the subject, and he understands it.

-Do you mean me or the team?- this time he's too smart, the right opposite of naive. She shrugs her shoulders. -Both are pretty good, Sophie is integrating, but, you know...- he had to name her, yes, he just couldn't help it. Blonde, smart, skinny, MIT graduate...

She speaks to block the destructive flow of one's thoughts. -Yes, "she can’t replace me" and bla bla.- she sighs. She's tired, she hates this job, she really hates it, it's worse than the other to the cybercrime unit. Much worse. -Listen to me, Luke. I know she won't replace me, there's no need for you to insist.- a yawn escapes and she doesn't try to hold it. -As Rossi said once, there are many agents who have entered and left the team, and everyone has had their own identity, a role of their own.- this time it is she who looks him in the eye. -An own path.- and she manages to put him in difficulty.

-Yes, but...- she shakes her head.

-I'm tired.- she says then, since he really doesn't want to get there. -Tomorrow it will be another very heavy day.- silence. -If you came here for another reason, then, talk. Otherwise...- it sounds like the last warning before declaring two people husband and wife. But what damned thought is this? Luke inadvertently shakes his head to chase it away. If he begins to imagine Penelope in white dress, is over. -...I would like you to let me go home.- she concludes.

Luke understands that he must jump in, now or never. -Penelope, you don't understand. I'm not here on behalf of the team, I'm not here because the pace of case resolution is slowed down, despite all of Sophie's efforts.- a selfish thrill of pleasure in hearing him say it. What kind of person has she become? She wasn't like that before. -I didn’t come here as a former colleague.- she focuses on his words, to forget what she feels.

-No?- she looks around. It is getting dark. The night falls quickly in this part of the city. Quick as a killer on his victim. -Then, I just don't get there.- the man nods, confusing her if possible more.

-I don't miss you just as a colleague.- he starts to talk freely. -I miss you as a person. I miss hearing your voice, your jokes, seeing your smile, meeting your eyes... I miss your presence at O'Keefe and... I miss you so much.- Penelope opens her eyes, mentally listens again to what he has said, convincing herself that she has misinterpreted, then accepts it, but with some premises.

She approaches his face, but only to smell his breath. -Luke, did you drink before you got here?- she asks. -Are you sure you feel good?- she places a hand on his forehead, which is not warm. She's not teasing him, maybe; she really believes it.

-Yes, fuck, I'm fine, and no, I'm sober.- he bends over her, but with other intentions. - Do you need further proof to believe it?- her expression is like a yes. He doesn’t let her respond and gives her a short kiss. She doesn’t even have time to realize that it has happened, that it is already over.

But nothing, her fears are much stronger than he could imagine. -I think I understand what's going on, you're a little dazed because you haven't accepted the situation yet.- she explains in a perfectly reasonable tone, unable to eliminate the sensation of the man's lips on her body. She will never forget it. Oh, Luke, why did you do it? -It happened to me too with Derek.- he looks at her as if she had three heads, so he slaps his forehead, having to vent his frustration.

-According to you I would have kissed you just because I'm in the denial phase?- he tests her and she nods.

-Yup. I probably would have done it too, except that Morgan was married and that was the reason he had to leave...- he is almost tempted to silence her with another kiss, a little longer, a little longer and explicit. But he wants her to kiss him back the next time. He wants to feel her completely immersed in their gesture.

-Enough.- he exclaims with an authoritative tone, what he had when he was head of a team of recruits in the rangers. -Don't say another word. Did you come here by car?- he grabs her by the arm, not very gently.

-Yes, because...- without needing to say anything she understands and leads him to the car. Not even a second to take a breath, he pushes her in, but instead of the passenger. He sits behind the steering wheel and closes the doors. The car is not Esther, so she can't run away. It is one of those minivans that companies lately love to give to their employees.

He turns to her. -Penelope, I didn't kiss you because I'm confounded, crazy or unable to accept reality.- he allows her a moment to metabolize. -But simply because I'm in love with you, and if I can't have you in my workplace... I want at least have you in my life.- he has said, he has really said it. He is not so stupid as to believe he can find a way to bring her back to the BAU. But there is not only that way to see each other.

He sees from the way she looks at him that she is beginning to believe him. -Luke, you're not serious...- she's challenging him to deny. And he is in.

-You really need another demonstration...- he leans forward to grab her chin between two fingers and kisses her again, longer, then taking her hands to rest them on his chest, so she can feel the beat of his heart, while his hands hold her face. This time Penelope kisses him back, passing a new level, passing the baton to their tongues, until both of them are in oxygen debt.

-Did you come on foot?- she asks, and her whole attitude has changed. Luke nods. -Then I'll give you a ride to your house.- but she's sitting on the wrong side. He grabs her hand and places a kiss on the back of it. An ancient gesture that suits on him terribly.

He turns on the engine, but after a few miles he breaks the silence, which in this case is not due to embarrassment, as in the previous ones. -What are you thinking, honey?- a nickname is enough to make her vibrate like a jackhammer. She can now stop denying having wanted to hear it from the first time he called her chica.

She tells him the truth, instead of censoring herself like she would have done less than five minutes ago. -I still can't believe that you... It seems absurd to me.- she is not talking at all about only the physical aspect, and the man understands it perfectly. It is as if, after kissing her, her mind was cleared. Now he sees everything with such lucidity.

-There is nothing absurd.- he places his hand on the gearbox to down shift from third gear to the second and after a few moments feels a sweet weight. -You are a wonderful person and I am sure that your new colleagues have already noticed.- she accepts the compliment, but doesn’t want to talk about work.

-I don’t know. It is very different from the BAU...- how could it not be? She feels stupid for having expressed such a foolish thought. But the way he looks at her, as soon as they find themselves at a busy intersection, it reassures her that he doesn't think it at all.

-I know, baby- a new nickname, it sounds so different from those coming out of Derek's mouth -but you don't have to feel alone. You will always be part of the team and you can come to the evenings at O'Keefe... as my girlfriend.- he blushes to the tips of his ears, but he is satisfied with himself as never before.

-Luke Alvez, are you really asking me that?- it is at this point that the man understands how it is necessary to go to phase two (or three). He puts the arrow and approaches a clearing lit by a single lamppost. She watches him, his every move, trying to figure out what he wants to do. He gets out, slams the driver door, goes around, opens the passenger door and gets her down too. Then he sits down, taking her in his arms, intertwining their legs and starting to kiss her again from the point where they were interrupted. At one point, Penelope opens her eyes and leaves his mouth. A loud pop is heard. -Oh, Luke, I feel something solid, and I don't think it's the gearbox.- yes, from her position it would be a little impossible.

He nods, staring at her intensely. She lets herself melt, she doesn’t oppose. -Yes. Now do you believe it?- because there is something presses against her thigh, it's a bit hard to ignore it or consider it as her hallucination.

-I think I do.- she throws all the air out and a little cloud forms between their faces. -It's a good thing that this is a company machine, otherwise you would have already laid me on the back seats, right?- it's a joke, but she is also profoundly serious. The mix between candor and malice is decidedly explosive and it is only thanks to twelve years of Catholic school if Luke doesn’t concretize the words of his girlfriend.

-Touché.- he says, moving back to his seat. The rest of the journey continues in silence. When they see the apartment building where his apartment is located, they both feel their heart skip a beat. He parks, she goes down, but not to take his place. He grabs the keys and sets the alarm on, blocking all the doors, including the trunk. She accompanies him to the door. This gesture, which usually belongs to males, excites him even more. He smears her against the jamb, but the handle planted in her back prevents her from letting go completely. -Are you sure you don't want to stay?- he asks her between kisses. Penelope is really tempted. A little more pressure in the right places...

-Mmm, no, I really can't, there's Sergio alone and then...- a spark in her eyes -on the first date you shouldn't even kiss your pretender, you don't know?- he catches all the hints and bends the face in a pout childish.

-Then, I have to give you the good night.- he sighs, but instead of bending down to catch her lips, he opens the door. -Listen, Roxy, how disappointed she is...- the dog is actually staring at her as if asking her what she is doing there, outside, in the doorway.

-You are a bastard, Alvez.- and so they enter the house. Roxy searches her, as if she hasn't seen her for a year (well, almost). And when the dog finishes, the owner starts again, precisely from his gray blouse.

-I always wanted you to wear one to remove it...- he whispers in her ear. Here, everything has its positive sides, she is able to think. -If you want me to stop, as hard as it is, literally hard, if you understand what I mean... I'll do it.- ruined, with these last words Penelope is ruined. -If you don't feel ready...- she grabs him by the neck and overturn the situation.

-What the hell.- now he too is bare-chested. -But remind you that tomorrow I have to get up early.- the echo of Luke's laughter accompanies her up to the moment before sleep catches her. How peacefully you can rest, when nothing is pending.

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#garvez #criminal minds #cm #penelope garcia #luke alvez #BAU team #penelope x luke #luke x penelope #garcia x alvez #alvez x garcia #tiziano ferro #quando ritornerai

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b-radley66 · 7 years

Text

Game of Thrones: Alderaan - The Castoffs

From a prompt by @sl-walker Ahsoka showing up on Alderaan as a survivor, meeting Maul and Obi-wan.

NOTE: There are some adjustments in relative ages here from canon and my ‘verse. Ahsoka is 14, while Croft and Dani are 25. Obi-wan is 30. This is canon to sl-walker’s verse only if she says it is. Maybe someone will continue it...hint, hint.

Maul spins as Obi-wan is about a step slow on the block with the composite staff. Maul hears the smack of his new wooden staff on the back of the Jedi’s calf. Kenobi goes down in a heap.

Maul twirls his gift from a member of the Corellian Security Service and holds it in the ready position under his arm. His eyes take in the sight of his opponent slumped on the ground, the borrowed staff across his knees.

Maul waits patiently for his erstwhile teacher and sparring partner to rise for another round. His eyes narrow as he realizes that Obi-wan cannot meet his eyes. Maul centers himself as he wonders if the remaining Council has decided that he is too dangerous to try and teach.

He decides to forge ahead. “Obi-wan,” he says, his voice dry even to his own ears, “you are usually more of a challenge.” He grins tightly. “A little bit more.”

Obi-wan starts, then has the grace to look sheepish. “I am sorry, Lord Maul,” he says formally. He manages to rise with only a slight hitch due to his screaming calf. “I am a bit distracted.”

Maul nods. “What is it? Anything that I can help with?”

Obi-wan quirks a smile. “I don’t know. Perhaps you can help me hide a body.”

Maul doesn’t smile, but allows a tiny hint of amusement in his voice. “I think that the area of the sproutlings of the Wood might be good. No one will be able to explore there for quite some time. How big is the body?”

The Jedi’s blue eyes widen for half a second, but his ginger mustache twitches slightly after that half-second. “About your size. Much more hair and much more Corellian snark.”

Maul takes a deep breath as he wonders whether he should be relieved or not that he is not the reason for Obi-wan’s distraction. Instead, he smiles slightly. “Ah. The Corellian that you brought back briefly that helped out in the wood. He didn’t seem to say much, snark or not.”

Obi-wan nods. “I know. He was...reserved. I only know him a bit, but Padawan Croft has a bit of a reputation for being somewhat stubborn; something his Master knew how to deal with, very effectively.”

“Yeah. She also knew how to talk to me without talking down to me.”

Maul looks up and Obi-wan turns at the quiet voice from the entry of the salle. Maul recognizes a bit of the same drawling inflection that sometimes marks Dani’s speech, particularly when she is angry. He watches as Obi-wan gathers himself. Maul allows him a moment as he turns his gaze full on to the new arrival.

His gaze is met with calm green eyes that examine him just as intently. Maul realizes that the Corellian has much less hair than he did the first time he had seen him. His dark and gold mixed hair and beard are neatly and closely trimmed. Croft is dressed in only the leggings and undertunic of a Jedi, in dark blue. A leather lightsaber belt with a row of sharp teeth decorates his hips. He sees Obi-wan’s eyes lock on the device on the opposite side from Croft’s lightsaber. A very large Corellian blaster.

“Forgive me, Padawan Croft, but I might have missed the memorandum. The one that told you could sever your Padawan braid and relax the dress code,” Obi-wan says, his own voice bereft of moisture.

Maul’s eyes widen as he notices this, as well, but doesn’t know the significance of it.

For the first time, there is a hint of a crooked grin over Croft’s features—just for an instant. “Didn’t think that I needed it anymore. Didn’t think I needed the trappings of childhood.”

Obi-wan digests this. His eyes harden. “That’s interesting. Especially since you seem to be doing a good job of acting like a child.”

Croft’s own eyes flash with anger. For a brief moment, Maul feels a slight tremble in the Force. He realizes that neither he nor Kenobi had sensed Croft’s arrival. He turns his head to the side as a much brighter light intrudes into his sense. He notices a smaller being standing behind Croft, as if trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.

He turns his concentration to the volley of words. “I knew that you had tremendous responsibilities, Master Kenobi,” Croft says. “I figured you had enough teaching responsibilities with your pet project.” At this, he looks pointedly at Maul.

Kenobi steps in front of Maul. “That is none of your business, Croft. Master Windu left it to me as to decide what to do with you; whether you could take the trials of Knighthood, or continue to train under me. You are making it very easy to choose.”

Croft is silent for a moment. “I don’t know if that is your decision any more, Obi-wan,” he says quietly, but with a definite edge. “I don’t know if I owe allegiance to the Jedi any more, or its little rules. I think that I may only owe anything to the Code; to live my life by it.”

“Taliesin,” Obi-wan says softly. “What do you think you will do? We need to stick together.”

Croft looks away. Maul is struck by the sadness that flows over his features. Sadness tempered with resolve. “I have heard that Master Ti might still be alive in the Cron Drift. Just rumors, but I think that I need to check them out.”

Kenobi’s voice is gentle. “Taliesin, I have heard so many rumors about Jedi out in the galaxy. We can’t go chasing after all of them.”

Croft’s anger flares, again for that brief second. Maul marvels at his shielding, if that is what it is. “I know ‘we’ can’t. ‘We’ aren’t. ‘I’ am,” he says, the sharp edge back to his voice.

Maul watches as he and Obi-wan stare at each other, both refusing to back down. Maul hears a word in a high, very clear voice.

“Bait.”

He sees a small orange hand touch Croft on his arm, as its owner steps around. A small Togruta, her Jedi robes appearing to be too large for her stands next to Croft. The lightsaber on her waist fits her, he notices. He watches as a mixture of fear and awe play over her features as she looks between Obi-wan and Taliesin. Maul notices another emotion flash as well. A smirk grows as her eyes lock with Croft’s. Understanding passes between them.

The understanding of survivors. His eyes lock on the headdress of sharp teeth that adorns her forehead. Teeth very similar to those on Croft’s gunbelt.

The young girl, who couldn’t be more than thirteen or fourteen, steps away from Croft. She stands straight; Maul realizes she is taller than he thought, but very skinny. He smiles as she bows to Kenobi.

“Master Obi-wan. I am Padawan Ahsoka Tano. I am at your disposal, but I do beg that you consider my clan-master’s ideas.”

Maul looks at Obi-wan. Being exposed to the Jedi for the time that he had, he had come to recognize some of his emotional cues. Maul sees amusement, mixed with sadness, playing over Obi-wan’s handsome features, before a warm smile joins them. Obi-wan bows in return.

“Hello, Padawan Tano. I wasn’t aware you had been chosen.”

Ahsoka looks down, her eyes closing. “Yes,” she says. “Master Plo had chosen me, just before...” She trails off. “He was my Finder,” she finally whispers.

Maul sees Obi-wan blink rapidly, as if something is in his eye. “I know, little one,” he says quietly. His face seems to brighten as he sees Croft move behind Tano and place his hands on her shoulders.

The young Corellian, who is maybe a half-decade younger than Obi-wan, looks down at Ahsoka with pride. “Master Obi-wan, I ask that you take Ahsoka as your Padawan.” He closes his eyes, clearly struggling with something. “I am not experienced enough to teach her. I can take care of myself, but she deserves someone who can teach her.” He grins.“She is stubborn, argumentative, a know-it-all who absolutely has to have the last word, but she is powerful in the Force. She will be a much better Jedi than I ever could be.”

Maul sees the powerful eyeroll from the future of the Jedi.

Maul realizes that tears are now flowing from the Corellian’s eyes. Ahsoka turns, protest on every centimeter of her face. Croft winks at her. She pulls him into a tight embrace.

Maul watches as Obi-wan takes several deep breaths. Maul knows that he struggles with his own path, much less the fate of other Jedi. He has sensed that Obi-wan is tired, that he has been lost since the Cataclysm.

“You’re right in some respects, Taliesin,” he says. “I don’t know if we have an Order any longer. I don’t think that I can make your decisions for you. And I think that you already have proven that you have been a good teacher for Ahsoka, even if you aren’t her Master.”

“I think that there is only one thing that I can actually do for you.” Maul’s eyes widen as Kenobi draws his saber and ignites it. Maul sees Ahsoka ignite hers as well.

Croft drops to his knees without a word.

“I guess since you cut your own damned braid off, this might go quicker, if less dramatically,” Obi -wan says as he walks slowly towards Croft.

He reaches Croft, who looks up expectantly, but without fear. Obi-wan swings his saber and gently mock-taps on either side of Croft’s head. “By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub you—“ He stops as Croft gestures.

“I was born Jame atin Blackthorn,” the Corellian says quietly.

Maul watches Obi-wan pause, then nod.

“I dub you, Jame Blackthorn, a Knight of the Jedi Order of the Galactic Republic.”

Blackthorn is barely able to stand before a small predator leaps into his arms and hugs him tightly.

Obi-wan watches with amusement. “I think that Ahsoka will have a large say in what form her training takes. She might be best served by being out in the galaxy with you, looking for other Jedi. The remaining healers say that both of you are cleared with the new Drall therapies—that you shouldn’t be affected by any more outbreaks.”

Maul watches as Obi-wan corrals the new knight over to the corner.

Ahsoka Tano’s overlarge blue eyes fall on Maul. She walks over and says, “Hi.”

He bows. “Hello. I am Maul.”

She returns his bow. “Tal says that Master Windu says that...”

“Ahsoka,” both Blackthorn and Kenobi shout, matching annoyance in their voices.

“I was just going to say, that he said that you were working with Master Obi-wan,” she says with an eyeroll and an imperious tone at her elders.

Maul releases his own breath. “That is right, Lady Tano,” he says.

She looks at him curiously. “I am not a Lady,” she says. “I am just a Padawan. A brand new one at that.”

“It is how we speak on my world, Padawan.”

Her eyes lock on his features. “Is Alderaan your world?”

His remaining heart clinches as he answers. “Yes. Yes it is.”

A feeling of warmth, other than for his world suddenly suffuses his entire being as a warm voice breaks in. “There is no one better to show you this beautiful world, Ahsoka,” the voice says.

Maul smiles as Dani Faygan stands in the doorway. She walks in. As she passes Blackthorn, she reaches up and brings the new knight’s head to her shoulder in a quick embrace.

She turns to Kenobi. “Sorry I missed the shindig, Master. But Draq’ Bel Iblis might have a different idea of how our world’s Covenant might be used.

Jedi and Noble alike gape at her direct pronouncement; at the unfamiliar term.

Jedi Padawan is less impressed as she rolls her eyes. “Great. He’ll have an even bigger head, now.”

#sl-walker’s universe #fusion #game of thrones: alderaan #maul #obi-wan kenobi #ahsoka tano #dani faygan - original character #taliesin croft-original character #canon only if sl-walker says so

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