#thanks for waiting everyone

[vaya-writes]

Serving the Serpent - 6

Briar owes Lord Isen her life. She works off her debt by serving in his castle. Dealing with the rapidly changing circumstances of her life, she’s not used to anyone paying her much attention. It’s hard when Isen seems set on interacting with her. 

Cis female human with selective mutism x male naga (slow burn, co-workers to lovers, power imbalances, eventual smut). 2900 words. No content warnings for this chapter. Divider from firefly-graphics

Briar settles in to her new role, while preparing for an administrative position.

Previous - Masterlist

Briar’s schedule changes. Again. She supposes that with the secret out, Isen need not bother with discretion. It’s still a shock to her system when her quarters are swapped, and she moves into Amos’ old room. 

If Isen hadn’t let slip his intention to promote her, she’d be terrified at the change. At the insinuation of sleeping in the chamber beside her lord’s. It still scares her. She buries herself in her new responsibilities to avoid thinking about it. The same tasks as before, but narrower in scope. 

It’s not enough to quell her anxiety. Her lessons help – more of them now. Ones on mathematics. Others on house governance. And then, at the end of the day she returns to that gilded chamber. 

The promised job has perks. Ones she tries very hard to savour, in an effort to ignore the sheer size of the task ahead. The first of several pros being her new suite. It contains a joined bedroom and office, and a private bathroom. It’s a quarter of the size of the other noble suites – practically squalid in contrast. But it’s the picture of luxury when compared to the servant quarters. No longer does she have to sleep in stifling heat. No longer does she have to trek though the castle to reach the privy. 

Her room lights with the sunrise, and Briar stirs, stretching out in her new bed. Cushioned by a real mattress and kept warm by the perfect balance of dying embers in the hearth and the few inches her window is propped open, Briar feels at ease.  

She’d never owned a bed. Never slept in one. There’d been a ditch filled with leaves in the colony, and a raised pallet covered in straw and a fur in the servant's quarters. Waking up cushioned by an honest to gods mattress, Briar lets a sleepy smile overtake her face. 

She’s allowed to sleep in. Now in charge of just Isen’s chambers, she doesn’t need to wake at dawn to finish cleaning everything on time. But though her nightmares have eased considerably, she still rises with the sun. Habits are hard to break. 

In the silence of the morning she bathes in a real bathtub. Dresses without scrutiny. Takes her time. The privacy is luxurious. The whole space is luxurious. The job – well. There are still cons. 

She might hold the title of personal aide soon, but in reality, she’s more of a glorified servant. Cleaning Isen’s quarters. Serving his meals. Accompanying him during his work hours (though preoccupied with her lessons, she’s not had the chance to do the latter). 

Dressed and ready, with at least another hour before she’s expected to make an appearance in Isen’s room, she’s restless. She spends some time practicing her lessons. Mouthing letters. Signing them, as she softly sounds them out. It’s easier, with the room to herself, and the world still asleep. She also takes the time to clean her own chambers. Slowly. Silently, for fear of waking Isen. She doesn’t know how thin the walls are, but the longer she is awake, the more on guard she becomes.  

The sky brightens and Briar finds herself waiting with trepidation for Isen’s rising. When her boss still shows no sign of summoning her, Briar worries at her lip, before knocking at his door. It would be time for breakfast soon, and she’s supposed to have his bed made and changed before she joins her lord at the table. 

She opens the door and peers inside. The only sign of Isen is the enormous length of his tail drooping off the side of his bed, twisted in sheets and cushions.   

She clears her throat. Knocks louder.  

His head emerges from beneath a pillow and he squints at her, hair mussed from sleep. “Oh. Hey. Is it that time already?”  

She levels him with a flat stare.  

He looks sheepish. “Yeah, come in, get started.” 

Briar closes the door behind her before moving to the curtains and pulling them open. She also stokes the fire. It’s not particularly cool to her, but she knows that serpent and lizard folk are sluggish in cooler temperatures.   

Isen pulls himself from the bed with a yawn and a groan. He stretches and Briar reminds herself to keep her eyes respectfully lowered before Isen slithers to his wardrobe and choses his finery for the day. Yesterday’s sarong is discarded in a pile on the floor, and Briar adds it to her laundry trolley. 

“What colour should I wear today?”  

Briar glances to the naga unwittingly, before dropping her eyes. She’s not particularly scandalised – there are no parts on display that resemble anything a human might be embarrassed about – but it still feels indecent to be looking at the lord when he’s not yet clothed.  

“I’m not talking to myself, dear, which do you think?”  

She glances up again. He’s holding up two sheaths of fabric. One a cobalt blue and the other a forest green. Both would complement his silvery complexion well.   

‘They both look nice.’   

“I can’t wear both.”  

She rolls her eyes. Points to one. ‘Blue.’  

He wraps it around his waist with a flourish before tying it into a knot. “Thank you, dear.”  

Briar turns away, hiding her discomfort at his saccharine tone. She finishes making the bed and leaves with the old linens.  

“I’ll see you at breakfast.”  

The meal in question is not far off. Briar needs only deliver her load to the laundry before making a beeline to dumbwaiter. She collects Isen’s breakfast, nestled beside her own.  

The days when Isen eats alone, he asks Briar to join him. On days like these he eats at his desk, in the privacy of his room. Today his tail is wrapped around the table, and he wiggles the tip enticingly as Briar enters.  

“Sit with me?” 

She serves him, before crossing the room to fetch a chair from elsewhere. 

Isen pouts at the action, but it’s mostly in jest. She thinks. Regardless, his hurt is quickly forgotten as he asks Briar about her plans for the day. They’re no different from any other day this week, but she still answers, dutifully. 

‘I will clean the floors. Then I will meet with Lockwood.’ 

“What has he planned for you today?” 

‘Reading and writing. Then counting. Then, if we have time, I will follow him.’ 

“Do tell, what has he been working on as of late?” 

Briar pauses to finish her food. It’s hard to sign when her hands are occupied.  

‘He tours the castle. Speaks to the heads. Receives their reports. Some verbal, some written.’ 

Isen interrupts. “What does he do to the castle?” 

She frowns. ’Walks. Looks.’ 

“Do you mean survey?” 

She nods. The meaning is close enough. The pair don’t always have time for Isen’s sign lesson, but he makes up for the absences with his boundless curiosity; always seeking to fill the gaps in his knowledge.  

“And what does he get from them?” 

She lets out a sigh. Then checks herself, embarrassed by the slip. “Words. Knowledge. Sometimes paper.” 

“Oh, like a report?” 

She nods. Frowns. ‘You know what Lockwood does.’ 

He shrugs. “Then consider this an impromptu lesson. So, what does he do after the survey?” 

‘He adds to his report. He says that he gives you one every week.’ 

Isen winces. “Detailed things they are. I appreciate the stock count records, and the copies of employee leave requests and such, but I do wish he’d just add them to the archive, unless they’re particularly pertinent. Especially since he has the authority to handle most things he crosses.” 

Briar shrugs. ‘Tell him.’ 

It’s Isen’s turn to frown. “I don’t want to risk missing out on any important information.” 

‘You miss out on everything you don’t have the time to read.’ 

He stares for a moment. “When you put it like that...” Isen tilts his head from side to side, considering. Then produces a piece of paper, scrawling a note in his messy writing. He pushes it towards Briar. “Can you read this yet?” 

It takes Briar a long time to decipher the letters. Her face stays impassive, but she’s shocked by his unruly print.  

She can read the smaller words. And some of the phonetic longer ones. She understands that the note is a request, but doesn’t parse enough of the meaning, with a few too many words and letter combinations unfamiliar to her.  

Briar turns the note sideways, and points out the words she doesn’t understand. 

He reads alongside her, murmuring each one: ‘please... expense... invoices... archive... receipts... require– you knew that one? Just checking?’ Finally, he sits back. “Can you sign it for me?” 

Hesitant, Briar shakes her head. She feels out of her depth, and her cheeks burn as she moves to explain why. ‘What is...’ she points to some of the words. 

Ever patient, Isen takes his time pointing to each of them. “Stock take records are a list of things we own. In particular, things we use and consume. Like food. We have to take stock of it so we know how much more we need to buy.” Isen explains the concepts of invoices, receipts, stock take, and expense reports to Briar. When she’s had a moment to digest the information, Isen prompts her again. “So, do you think you can sign that to me?” 

She frowns. Shakes her head. ‘I don’t know the signs for...’ she points to the new words. Some she can translate. ‘Archive’ makes sense to her. ‘Forward’ means ‘send’ in this context, she can replace that. But she looks at the other words with a frown. 

“Why don’t I invite Arol to lunch today?” Isen suggests. “He knows some Serpentine Sign. Perhaps he can show you how he would sign it.” 

She straightens at the idea. It’s still unnerving, communicating with the other lords at Riversreach. Or anyone, really. Especially her bosses. But this would be a chance for learning she could appreciate.  

‘Yes please.’ 

Isen covers his smile with a hand. “I’ll see what I can do. So, does this note make enough sense now?” 

Anticipating his want, she makes an attempt to translate. ‘Please forward... money reports,’ she substitutes, ‘to the archive unless they require my approval.’ 

Isen grins openly. “Good. You’re to deliver this to Lockwood today when you see him next.” 

She nods, cautious, but a part of her pleased at the prospect of being able to help Isen with his work. Even if only as a messenger. 

Lockwood is less pleased to receive the note. It’s taken a while, but Briar is beginning to be able to read his face. The slight twitch in his forehead that signifies exasperation. The tension in his jaw when he’s considering his words carefully. Finally he purses his lips and turns to Briar. “Would you like to help me with the archive today? It would constitute part of your lessons.” 

Curious, she shrugs. Nods.  

Lockwood crosses the room and pulls a folder full of loose paper from one of the shelves. “These are records from this year. I’ll show you how to sort them by type. And once you’ve done that, you can put them in chronological order.” 

It’s slow work, considering most of the forms aren’t labelled, and she can barely read. A third of the papers aren’t written in common, and she has to put those aside for Lockwood to worry about. Honestly, Lockwood ends up doing most of the work. But when it comes time to order the papers, he lets her lead.  

It’s a slow process. If Lockwood wasn’t busy with other work, she imagines he’d be impatient, watching her sort and re-sort. Check and double check the numbers. Until finally, after about an hour, she submits her work for the dark elf’s approval. 

“Good.” He comments. He barely adjusts anything, just sorting in the forms with other languages. Until finally he has a tidy pile sitting on the desk for Briar. Then he crosses the room and pulls a hefty tome from his shelf. “You’re to start copying the forms into this book. Leave a blank page for any not written in Common.” 

She glances at the pile before her and winces. This looks like a job Lockwood had been neglecting. Still, she contents herself that she’s been of use today, helping Isen with a suggestion, and Lockwood with administrative work. Knowing that she’s practicing skills that Isen actually wants her to use pleases her. 

It might be months before she’ll be ready for her own administrative duties. Thinking that far ahead bothers her, so she doubles down on the work she is given.  

At least, that’s the impression she had. It’s thrown out the window when Isen greets her the following morning.  

He yawns and crawls out of bed. Gives her a sleepy smile before disappearing into the wardrobe. She’s making quick work of the bedding when he speaks next. 

“Fern and Pryden are back today for a meeting.”  

Briar keeps her face blank. At least she no longer delivers meals to the intimidating pair.  

“I want you there.” 

It takes her a moment to process. When she does, she nearly drops the pile of linens she’d scooped up. She recovers quickly, downplaying her surprise into a blink, and a raised eyebrow. She tilts her head. ‘Why?’ 

He shrugs. “It’s part of your training. Lockwood knows not to expect you until afterwards today.” 

Briar puts her back to Isen while she works, not letting him see the anxiety creeping into her eyes. She flinches hard, when he surprises her from behind, placing his hand on her shoulder. 

“Relax. You’ll do fine. All I need you to do is watch and listen. You can bear the wine if you like, keep the attention from yourself?” 

She hates that he can read her so easily. Shrugs off his touch and nods. Stands straighter, and finishes straightening his desk, before leaving to fetch his breakfast. 

Once out in the hallway, she lets her face fall. Bites down hard on her lip, and forces the air into her lungs. Like Isen said, all she had to do was serve drinks. Watch. Listen. What was the worst that could happen? 

She’s recomposed herself by the time she brings their meals back, though is marginally stiffer. Isen pretends not to notice, chatting with his usual ease, changing the subject smoothly.  

Time trickles by too quickly. She focuses all her attention on eating her breakfast. Then on finishing her duties. She spends extra time cleaning the floors. Anything she can do to distract herself. Because all too soon Isen is standing from his desk and gesturing that she follow.  

Dutifully she trails after him, keeping her eyes cast low. The meeting is in the dining hall, over lunch. It looks as if somebody has already set the tables. Briar recognises Elsie delivering the meals. Dinah and Fern are already seated. Isen gestures to the wall behind his seat. “Stand there. Pour the wine when requested.” 

‘Yes, my lord,’ she bows her head.  

He nudges her before she leaves. Meets her eyes as he signs. ‘Watch. Listen.’ 

She nearly blinks at his display. In all her time teaching him sign, it hadn’t occurred to her that he might use it back.  

‘Yes, my lord,’ she repeats. 

When she stands by the wall, Fern is appraising her. She hadn’t missed Isen’s little display, and is watching with narrowed eyes.  

Briar drops her gaze immediately, shaken by the scrutiny.  

Arol trails in next, and eventually Pryden makes an appearance. When they’re all seated, Dinah produces a book and quill. “If you’re quite ready, Pryden.” 

He tosses her a smile. “Of course, my lady. Today I’ve returned from Greenraine. Zyla sends her regards, Isen.” 

“I’m sure she does,” Briar’s not sure, but she thinks there’s a tinge of bitterness to his tone.  

She struggles to follow the conversation. Pryden fills Isen in about new laws being made in another territory. Arol discusses the preparations for Spring – logistics that Briar doesn’t understand the need for. Dinah mentions an up and coming company, competitors, a monopoly, alternative trade routes – all things Briar might have heard the words for but barely grasps the meaning behind, if at all. 

Isen takes it all in stride, sometimes nodding, with little comment. Other times making suggestions, giving orders, asking clarifying questions. All the while Briar serves the wine.  

When the meeting is over, she trails after Isen, who returns to his office. 

He takes a seat at his desk, and looks at Briar, expectantly. “Do you have any questions?” 

A wave of fatigue washes over her. She barely understood a single thing that was discussed, she wouldn’t even know where to begin with questions. She knows that she’s being trained for an administrative position, but the urge to shrink away, to play the silent and dumb card is so tempting.  

She could just say no. Pretend that she doesn’t have jarring gaps in her knowledge.  

But Isen looks so expectant. Like he wants her to have questions. Like he wants to discuss the meeting.  

She closes her eyes and lets out a sigh. It’s a force of effort to let Isen stare at her like that; exasperated, vulnerable. 

She takes a long moment to consider before opening her eyes. Isen still waits, patiently. 

‘Who were they?’ 

A smile spreads across his face. “I’m so glad you asked.” 

Next

[redpapercraness]

all four of my sonic 3 movie trailer redraws in one spot 🫡

[darc-la-farse]

JUNIOR YEAR!!! I BELIEVE IN YOU!!

[e-turn]

links to some translations under the cut

и заодно выложу пару любопытным образом перекликающихся переводов потрясающих фанфиков!

тьма нынче обретает жизнь великолепного автора @/goodlucktai

и еще одна покорив��ая меня зарисовка rem - а тени пусть уходят

[unforth]

Gentle reminder that very little fandom labor is automated, because I think people forget that a lot.

That blog with a tagging system you love? A person curates those tags by hand.

That rec blog with a great organization scheme and pretty graphics? Someone designed and implemented that organization scheme and made those graphics.

That network that posts a cool variety of stuff? People track down all that variety and queue it by hand, and other people made all the individual pieces.

That post with umpteen links to helpful resources, and information about them? Someone gathered those links, researched the sources, wrote up the information about them.

That graphic about fandom statistics? Someone compiled those statistics, analyzed them, organized them, figured out a useful way to convey the information to others, and made the post.

That event that you think looks neat? Someone wrote the rules, created the blogs and Discords, designed the graphics, did their best to promo the event so it'd succeed.

None of this was done automatically. None of it just appears whole out of the internet ether.

I think everyone realizes that fic writing and fanart creation are work, and at least some folks have got it through their heads that gif creation and graphics and moodboards take effort, and meta is usually respected for the effort that goes into it, at least as far as I've seen, but I feel like a lot of people don't really get how much labor goes into curation, too.

If people are creating resources, curating content, organizing the creations of others, gathering information, and doing other fandom activities that aren't necessarily the direct action of creation, they're doing a lot of fandom labor, and it's often largely unrecognized.

Celebrate fan work!

To folks doing this kind of labor: I see you, and I thank you. You are the backbones of our fandoms and I love you.

[n0anix]

whatever *domesticates your Carnivàle Lecroux*

[eunnieboo]

i've been working on my next graphic novel! it'll be another sapphic romance. please look forward to it ❤️

[hornetvoid]

"moments like this make me glad to be awake."

[dreamaboutwhathappens]

what a year the past seven months have been

[somnimagus]

My page for @sheikahzine; about Impaz's duty to her village, empty of people and full of memories.

[id in alt text]

[the-storyteller78]

“Though I never thought that it would come to this…”

[lucabyte]

Yeah, that about sums it up.

[overcastedsays]

I think at that moment we were all feeling like Jamis

(GO READ TIGER, TIGER BY @pepurika!!! IT'S SO SO GOOD AND STILL GOING ON)

[krazieka2]

Here's a big old Fire Emblem Search & Find I did for the FE3H Masquerade Zine! Find the Golden Deer, but see if you can't find the rest of the students as well! For the ultimate challenge, see if you can't name every character! (Disclaimer two characters are NPCs with no names)

[decembermoonskz]

📝 request update

[astearisms]

may you find peace 🌾