#the dragon dancer

[lunarmoonanons]

The Red Mother

🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕

Jaehaerys and his children take a trip north. In crowd of people YN sees a familiar face.

🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕

Masterlist

During a bright morning in 72 Ac, King Jaehaerys flew with two of his children across Westeros. His oldest son, and his favorite daughter. Though YN was not of his blood, she was his daughter and his most beloved child. He would never say it to his other children, whom he loved, but he adored YN the most. He longed for her to call him ‘father’ and for her to stay with him for the rest of his life. 

This was one Jaehaerys’ many incursions across his kingdom. He wanted to show the people his strong family, his children he was so proud of, and especially YN his dragon caller. The people needed to see their dragons and their valyrian ancestry and magic. To know that their king and his heirs were strong. 

Besides which, Aemon had just claimed Caraxes so he could follow his father and sister on his own dragon. YN rode behind him on Balerion, the dragon she would always choose. Yet nowadays she would refrain from flying as much due to the dragon’s old age. Jaehaerys knew she adored the black dread. How she adored all the dragons, and had this connection to them that he could never fully understand. That was beyond him, yet he never loved her any less because of it. 

Soon they arrived in White Harbor, the only port city in the North. Where house Manderly sat and would welcome the King. Soon he and his children would fly to Winterfell and the wall, but here was where the most population was. They landed in a clearing, a necessary feat since Balerion was so large. Their entourage of knights and noble lords arrived quickly behind. The City greeted them with applause and cheers. YN smiled and waved and looked her best, though her heart was not in the mood. Jaehaerys had noticed the smile not reaching his daughter’s eyes, but he focused his attention on the head of House Manderly who greeted him warmly. 

YN found herself staring at the mothers and daughters in the crowd. Today was particularly hard for her since today is the anniversary of when her mother left her alone in this foreign land. A small girl of six years all alone, the last image of her mother being that of red eyes and red hair. Whispering about her brother whom she said was in the north, the north of north where ice burns like fire. She missed her mother, she missed the shadow city, and the dark mountains where she was from. She even missed the fire and abstract shadows on the wall. 

“Your mind is elsewhere.” Aemon chastised and nudged her slightly. 

YN composed herself and nudged him back. “And your mind is on your wife, so you focus on that firstly.” 

“I can focus on two things. And so can you. Pay attention or father won’t let us fly anymore.” Aemon replied and turned his head back to his father. 

YN looked at the crowd and for a moment the breath left her lungs. She saw someone in the crowd. Red hair and red eyes hidden behind others. She remembered the last image of her mother and could swear that this was her. She felt the urge to run away from Jaehaerys’ entourage and go to this figure. But before she could fathom the thought any further Aemon tugged her arm and she was brought back to the present. 

“Come, your majesty. We have prepared a feast for you and your men. You shall be well looked after.” The head of the house welcomed and led her father toward his home. 

YN took one last look at the crowd but the woman was gone. She felt tears prick at her eyes but blinked them away before any others could see. 

~~

The Manderlies did know how to take care of their guests. There was dancing and loud talking, music and food, and all of it could not distract YN from what she saw earlier in the day. Jaehaerys and Aemon sat to her right talking and not paying attention to the 18 year old girl. The head of house Manderly took a look at the girl and then to Jaehaerys and complimented the king on his daughter. 

“Forgive me my King, but as beautiful as your daughter is, she does not share the same beauty as your and your son share.” The Head asked. “I am not familiar with the story of how you came across such a lovely girl.” 

“I found her on the King’s road as it was being constructed. She conducted a miracle and called the Black Dread to her side and proved herself to be of the Dragon’s blood. As my family and I are.” Jaehaerys smiled at the memory. “I was blessed with her. And I will not have anyone else take her from my side. She belongs with me.” 

“She is his favorite.” Aemon joked and nudged his sister. When she did not react he turned fully to her and looked at her faraway gaze. “YN?” 

“I have to get some fresh air.” YN stated and stood from her seat. She kissed Jaehaerys on the cheek and found her way outside the main hall and to the stables. 

Her mother was on her mind and her home memories flashed about her. She missed home, she missed her brother, she missed everything. The only person she felt she could talk to was Balerion, but he was sleeping or flying high above. Most likely sleeping. He was home but he was her first home. 

“I’ve missed you my love.” A whispering voice floated upon the air, making YN look up and freeze upon the sight in front of her. Her mother, not red but in the image of what she looked like before she placed her strange necklace upon herself. YN was shaking as she stepped forward slowly, then quicker. And though she was not far away YN felt herself going miles before she wrapped her arms around her mother. 

“Mama.” YN cried and hugged her tighter. She felt relief as her mother wrapped her arms around her daughter and stroked the girl’s black hair. 

“My daughter. My sweet girl. Have you remembered what I’ve taught you?” She asked and pulled back. Without her necklace, which made her look young, YN saw the age on her mother’s face. She did not look like a crone, but YN memorized the lines on her face and the thinness in her cheeks. 

“I want to go home. I want to go back to the shadow city. Mama please.” YN begged and looked for comfort in her mother’s face. 

“I know. I know my love. You must have so many questions for me. But now is not the time.” Her mother dropped her arms and placed a kiss on her daughter’s forehead. “I cannot stay.”

“No! Please. I need you. Where have you been? Why did you leave me? Why did we leave home? Why does fire not burn me? I need you to answer my questions! I need you.” YN demanded and tried holding on tighter. But her mother pulled away and gave her one last gentle touch to her tan cheek. 

“I know. But you must be left here. I cannot stay.” She stepped away, whispering something that made YN fall to the ground on her knees and stare helplessly at her mother. 

“Mama! Mama please! I want to go home! I want to go home please!” YN begged and sobbed but to no avail. Her mother turned and disappeared into the nightly shadows. Wrapping her strange necklace around her neck and letting her hair turn red and young again. 

YN sobbed and hit the ground. Praying to someone, anyone, but no one would hear her. No one but Jaehaerys, who found his daughter on the ground sobbing and hitting the ground. He rushed forward, dropping to the ground with her and taking her in his arms. Shushing her and holding her tightly. 

“My daughter. My YN, what has you crying like this?” He asked and looked around but no one else was there, he bade his men to stay back and not look upon them. 

“My mother. My mama. She was here. She was here and she left me.” YN cried and cried. 

“My girl there is no one here.” 

“She was here. I wanted her to take me.” YN looked at him. Jaehaerys who had a concerned and worried look on his face.

“Take you? But my girl why would you want to leave?” 

“I wanted her to take me home. I want to go home.” YN whimpered and looked at the sky. “She left me. She left me again. I have no one.”

Jaehaerys sighed and kissed her forehead. “You have us. You have me. I cannot replace your mother but I cannot let you go. I love you dearly. My child. My girl. Come let's go inside. I’ll have you lie down. Then you can tell me everything.”

YN finally stood and let him guide her to a room. She knew she shouldn’t have said so much to Jaehaerys. But she couldn’t help it. She loved her adopted family. She loved Jaehaerys but he couldn’t be her home. She no longer had her mother. She ached for her mother. She ached for home. 

She wished she was home.

[rockoyu]

dragon dancer doodle

[hauntedbythenarrative]

to think that we could stay the same

Two slow dancers, Mitski//House of the Dragon (2022-)

[knaveofdoodles]

Tempora for @domalomn

[goromimii]

The Promenade 1370s DR

The chill of the surface air sent shivers through my skin every night. The first days beneath the sunlight I shed tears for the first time - from pain and an ache…I knew I did not belong in this realm. ─ Vierith

The book cover as if it was a Legend of Drizzt novel :)

[ghoulgeists]

WOAH..!! new oc? Her name is piper :)

[madcat-world]

Honor the Suns - YigitKoroglu

[cryptidstealingyourcreditcard]

httyd characters as dancers because i’m a dancer and i said so

hiccup: raised in a family of ballet dancers, sucked at ballet but found out he’s amazing at tap

astrid: modern, but it borders on hip hop

snotlout: breakdancing, but he has a secret love for musical theater (if anyone find out he will hunt them down and make sure they stay silent)

fishlegs: lyrical, occasionally jazz and musical theater

ruffnut and tuffnut: acro, emphasis on contortion. they often threaten to run away to a circus

heather: contemporary, ballet, and hip hop

johann: irish dancing

dagur: ballet. he’s not embarrassed by it but if anyone makes fun of him he will harm them

viggo: ballet, but he’s very condescending about it. if he sees someone dancing next to him he will try to one up them

ryker: hip hip, emphasis on calisthenics

mala: aerial silks

[amartbee]

I couldnt resist the VEGETA DANCE!

it's minute 3:15, as if didnt watch it a million times by now.

[angrykittenz62]

Got these fun commissions from @cyberdragoninfinity as part of her pay what you want Yu-Gi-Oh series! I think she still has some slots open so go check her out.

[lunarmoonanons]

The First Wedding

🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕

YN watches as her little brother Aemon gets married to his beautiful bride

🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕

Masterlist

It was an exciting day for the entire kingdom, celebrations all over the capitol for the royal family. It was the wedding day for the prince and pride of Dragonstone: Aemon. He was to be married to Lady Jocelyn Baratheon. The Boy of Five and Ten was the pride of his family, at six feet tall he had embodied the grace of a Targaryen prince. Everyone in the Keep was excited, no more so than the eldest adopted princess, YN. She loved her brother and was very happy that he liked his bride to be and that he would be married. 

Though Jaehaerys did want to marry his son to his deceased daughter Daenerys, and when that fell through at her death, he turned his eye toward his adopted daughter. It seemed logical the dragon girl would marry the prince of Dragonstone. But for some reason they never arranged the two to be married. Maybe the king always wanted his little girl to remain his little girl. Now at six and ten, she was the eldest and most beautiful non targaryen the realm had known. The girl was adorned in a gold dress and a crown on her head. She looked like the epitome of a princess. 

During the middle hour, there was some worry. The prince had not left his rooms and the ceremony was coming closer. The king had started to worry , and the queen had sat outside his rooms trying to coax him out. But nothing made him respond. YN had rallied her younger siblings to the right area. The prince had still not come out of his rooms and finally YN had had enough and marched her way to his room. She saw Alysanne standing outside the door talking to her son. But YN was more direct. She knocked on the door and waited for a moment before announcing herself. 

“Aemon? It’s me. Please let me in.” YN coaxed. Resting her palm against the door and waiting. 

“...come in…” Aemon finally said after a minute, making YN sigh in relief and open and close the door quickly so that no one would enter but her. She turned around the room and found him sitting on the bed staring out his own window. 

She let out a breath through her nose and went to sit beside him. Once next to him she wrapped her tan hand in his pale one. He rested his head ontop of hers and breathed shaky breaths. She didn’t say anything and rubbed her thumb on his hand. The two sat in silence as the older girl tried to soothe him quietly. He didn’t say anything, just kept staring out the window. It felt peaceful and calming. But there was that lingering feeling of worry that YN felt for her brother. He liked his bride to be, they got along well and it seemed this marriage would be successful. So why was he hesitating to leave the Keep? 

“You know… I used to assume we would be married.” Aemon finally spoke up. That made 

YN pulled back and looked at him. “I was supposed to marry Dany… I don’t know why father never arranged for us to be together.”

“Aemon… You know I love you dearly.” YN said slowly, bringing a hand to cheek to turn his face toward her. “But we are not meant to be. You’ll always be my little brother.”

“I’m frightened to be married.” He whispered and looked into her eyes. 

“Are you afraid to be tied down? Afraid that you’re too young to be married?” She asked, rubbing her thumb on his cheek. 

“...What if she doesn’t like me? What if we grow apart and our marriage is loveless and hateful?” He asked shakily. 

That made YN sigh and bring his forehead down to hers. “She would be lucky to have you. You two have known each other for years, and you get along quite well. I do not doubt that your marriage will be loving.”

“But what if our marriage falls apart after a few years? If we love now then fall out of love and are trapped in a marriage that produces only misery and our children suffer and-”

“Aemon.” YN interuppted. “Worrying about the ifs does nothing. You make your life and marriage what you want it to be. Attend to your wife and love her with all your heart and I’m sure your children will see that you are a loving man.”

“...I’m afraid.” He whispered once again.

“I know. But I am here to hold your hand through the fear. You are not alone in this.” YN said standing up. She turned to him and held her hand out to him. “Now let’s get you married.”

Aemon let out a breath and wiped his face. He stood to his full height and towered over his sister by several inches. He grabbed her hands then pulled her into him. Hugging her tightly as he rested his hands on her waist. YN waited a moment then pulled back and held his face in her hands. 

“This will be one of the happiest days of your life. Try to live in the moment. And try to show your joy. The fear is momentary. The joy will last a lifetime.” YN said and kissed his cheek. “She’s lucky to have you.”

“I would’ve been lucky to have you…” Aemon whispered. 

“Don’t think about that. Think about what is.” 

She held his hand and brought him out of the room. Baelon was waiting there with their mother and father smiling at the sight of the two of them. Baelon came forth and gave his brother a tight hug then patted him on the back. Jaehaerys kissed the side of YN’s head and brought her forth. Alysanne grabbed her hand and smiled at her daughter. When they made their way to the sept, YN stood on the groom's side of the aisle and held a hand on Baelon’s shoulder. Aemon stood at the center and fidgeted waiting for his bride. And she was a sight to behold. Her hand was up in a beautiful do and wrapped around an antler tiara. Her white and gold dress wrapped wonderfully around her body. YN thought she was beautiful. 

The vows were simple and beautiful. A mix of Valyrian traditions and some Seven faith customs. Alysanne was crying throughout the ceremony and Jaehaerys held her hand as she did. YN felt so proud of her brother and felt the tears prick as she watched one of the people that she loved the most get married to someone who loved him just as much. She remembered back to when he was a child and he would hold onto her skirts and beg for her attention. 

When the ceremony was over, it was time for celebration. The feast table was held in front of the iron throne, YN sat near her brother and laughed amongst them. The food was plentiful and the music was beautiful. As YN laughed at Baelon’s joke, she felt soft hands touch her shoulders. Looking behind her she saw the bride smiling at her. Jocelyn leant down and hugged her tight. Resting her head against hers. 

“I have heard you saved my marriage. Convinced my husband to face his fears and marry me.” She kissed YN’s cheek and hugged her tighter. “I am grateful to you. I am glad we will be sisters.”

“The Targaryens are fortunate to welcome you to their family.” YN said and kissed her hand. 

With that, Jocelyn stood to her full six foot height and pulled her husband to the dance floor. The two held each other's hand tightly and started the first dance. YN smiled and watched her brother dance with his wife. Baelon teased Alyssa as she sat in an uncomfortable dress. Joking that he should dance with her and show her off to the crowd. Alyssa responded by punching him in the arm. Jaehaerys was enraptured with Alysanne and YN felt very content to see her family together. 

Later in the night Aemon came up to his older sister and held a hand out to her. YN smiled and stood up, letting him lead her to the floor. The two started the dance around each other and speak in hushed tones. Words that only exist between the two of them. 

“You know you remind me of my brother.” YN said. 

“Baelon?” 

“No. My older brother. My birth brother. Devran.” YN smiled sadly at the memory of her brother.

“...Where is he?” 

“He went north. Mama wanted him to find our ice kin. Whatever that means.” 

Aemon looked troubled at the thought of YN having a brother before him. Someone she was biologically connected to. Someone who had claim to her before he did. He felt such possessiveness over her, that burned at the thought of her brother. He reached forward and pulled her close, looking deep into her eyes. 

“You’ll always be my sister. No one can take you away from me.” Aemon stated looking rather encroaching. 

YN did not notice his state and smiled, touching his face once again. “I’ll always be there for you. I love you dearly Aemon.”

He smiled at that and kissed her forehead. Bringing the two together as they always would be. The floor danced around them. YN pulled back and reached her hand out​​ to Jocelyn, who smiled and grabbed her hand. YN brought Aemon’s and Jocelyn’s hands together. Joining the two before her eyes. They looked adoringly at each other. YN stepped away. Not seeing the adoring stare they gave her.

@ladyodium @electronickingmentality

What YN looked like during the wedding:

[the-banished-one]

The Dark Dancer

[ararebreedstory]

Baela and Moondancer had Cole shitting enough bricks to rebuild Harrenhal.

[clarkdiamont]

Even if you don't like to dance, know that if you met these three, you would start...

[hothotmiso]

[sentientcave]

Let's Riot!

When the Reader St arena gets bought out from under them by Morgan’s vengeful ex, Pippa Graves, The Reader St Riots suddenly find themselves without a practice space. Pippa may say she’ll play nice, but Morgan knows that she’ll either have to get back under Pippa’s manicured thumb or the whole team will be out on their ass in no time. Problem is, the only other practice space around that’s not booked up to the tits belongs to Jo Price, captain of the Femme41, and well… Morgan has a bit of ugly history with her too.

Still, Jo’s at least a little more reasonable than Pippa, and Morgan may hate to beg, but she’d hate to see the Riots disbanded more. And well, maybe there’s room for a little cooperation, especially when their teams get along so well.

Contains: Lesbians! Almost everyone is a woman (Alex is NB and there are like. A few men mentioned.) and most of them are gay, OCs: Readers and OCs from a bunch of my projects and also Bambi and Bricks who belong to the esteemed @dragonnarrative-writes , Roller Derby!, complicated dating histories, this is just a fun little palette cleanser because I got sad working on one of my other projects lmao, alcohol consumption, cannabis consumption

~3k - 18+ MDNI

“Frank, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”

“Come on, sweetheart, calm down—”

“I am calm!” Morgan snapped.

Chelsea quickly put an arm in front of Morgan and dragged her back a step. Calling Morgan sweetheart was a great shortcut to her blowing her top. “You are definitely not calm.” She looked back at Frank. He stood between them and the doors to the arena, a short, balding man that looked a bit sweaty and nervous in the low light. “You couldn’t give us any notice?”

“Look, I’ll return your deposits for the month—”

“That’s not the issue!” Morgan's brown eyes flashed with fury, her jaw tight, like she wanted to bite the man, which would be distinctly unhelpful.

Chelsea dragged her back another step. “It is a little the issue. What happened? We’ve never had any trouble, we’ve always paid on time, there’s no reason why you’d drop us like this.”

“New owners,” he said weakly. “I’m sorry, they cancelled everyone. You were just at the bottom of the call list, and you got here before I could.”

“New owners! Since when was it for sale?”

“Hell if I know. They don’t tell me shit either. All I know is that Gerry came in here with some blond bi—" He thought twice about his wording, giving Morgan another nervous glance. "--Woman and she’s the boss now.”

Morgan walked in a tight circle, looking up at the sky, hands on her hips. This wasn’t happening. It didn’t have to be her. Maybe it was some other blond woman with money to burn. “Fuck.”

The doors behind Frank opened. “Oh, hey sugar,” a too-familiar voice rang out, southern accent distinctive. “Fancy meetin' you here.”

Morgan turned around sharply. “Pippa.”

Chelsea groaned. “Oh here we go.”

“Go back to your office, Frank. I think I’ve got this from here.” Phillipa Graves patted Frank on the shoulder and walked past him. “Morgan, I’ve missed you. You never return my calls anymore.”

“Is that what this is about?” Morgan shifted her grip on her bag, glancing toward the parking lot. Bricks and Doll were lingering at the edge, talking to each other and looking back with worried expressions. They knew the history between Morgan and Pippa well enough to be wary of what might happen next. “You’re gonna steal our practice space because I won’t call you back?”

“Aw, honey, don’t be like that. We’re all big girls. I figure we can learn to share. Why don’t you join us tonight? And early next week we can grab dinner and make a new schedule. I’m sure there’s a way to make sure we’re all… satisfied.” Pippa twisted one of Morgan’s curls around her finger, leaning in close. Even ready for practice, she looked perfect as always, more like she was about to model for a roller skate advertisement than actually practice. Sleek blonde hair swept back in a low braid, a tight pink tank top, leggings that clung to her thighs, pads on, skates off, preparation interrupted by all the fuss she was certainly expecting.

“I’m the one that does the scheduling, usually,” Chelsea interjected. “Maybe it’s us that should get dinner.”

“If you like,” Pippa said smoothly, barely sparing Chelsea a glance. “The more the merrier, of course. Though I do have some personal business to talk over with Morgan too. Suppose it can wait.” She tapped Morgan under the chin with her first knuckle. “Come on, sugar, practice with us. We’re not so bad. And you’re all already here, ain’t you?”

“We’ll have to talk it over.”

“Course. Y’all come on in when you’re done talkin’.” Pippa winked at Morgan and sauntered back inside.

Chelsea sighed, elbowing Morgan as they walked over to the others. The rest of the team had gathered around Bricks, her height marked among the group of shorter women. “You’re gonna have to sleep with her.”

Morgan rolled her eyes. “I’d really rather not.”

“She’s not going to be reasonable,” Billie pointed out. “She’s pure evil. She’s the head of the PTA at Ellie’s school, and she runs that shit like the navy. She’s gonna bend us over a barrel to get what she wants.”

“Have you ever tried not having antagonistic relationships with your exes?” Bricks asked. “Because that’s what I do, and no one has bought a whole arena just to fuck with me.”

“Yet,” Doll said reassuringly. “It could still happen.”

“The whole team is awful,” Bambi said. “One of them works in my office, and she’s a real— Well, I don’t like her.”

“Harsh words, DB.” Bricks propped her hands on her hips. “We can suck it up for one night, a free practice is a free practice. And if you have to flutter your eyelashes at her the whole time, you’re gonna do it.” She pointed at Morgan accusingly. “This is your fault.”

“It is not!”

“It is,” Chelsea said solemnly, fixing her pink bun from on top of her head to low on the nape of her neck to fit under her helmet. “Pussy game is clearly too strong. Maybe try being a worse fuck.”

“She can’t.” Bricks gently turned Morgan around so that she was facing the doors, and nudged her forward a step. “She doesn’t know how.”

Chelsea turned fully toward the others, walking backward. “Alright, drills only, we’re not going to let them goad us into a scrimmage, they’re gonna play dirty as hell with no refs, and we can’t afford an injury this close to a game. Keep it loose, and if anyone hassles you, come to me, or come to Bricks. Do not tell Morgan or she’s gonna punch someone and we’re gonna lose our space for good.”

“I’m not!”

Bricks laughed and caught Chelsea’s arm, spinning her before she hit the edge of the door. “Yes you are, Morgan. Stay on your best behaviour. Maybe even try being charming.”

Bunny nudged Dancer, grinning. “If you’d joined up last year, like I told you to, you could have been here for the whole explosion. It was great.”

“Great?” Billie asked, raising her eyebrows. “Were we watching the same breakup?”

Bricks glanced over her shoulder warningly. “Save it for drinks, ladies, or Morgan’s gonna make us skate line drills till we drop.”

They dropped their bags along the benches and geared up, watching the Shadows zip around the track. The Shadows were mean, not just on the track, but off too, in that sugar sweet way that left you wondering if you were just reading into it. They were a pretty well-rounded team, and coordinated, thanks to Pippa. She did nothing in half-measures. It seemed impossible that she’d be able to raise children, run school events, coach a junior team as well as an adult one, somehow have a job on top, and still have time to run around keeping two relationships secret from each other for nearly eight months, but Pippa was the kind of woman who really could have it all.

The Riots were… A good team. Pippa had poached two of their players during the breakup drama, and Pepper had moved back home to take care of her grandmother, and they were still trying to get back to where they had been a year ago. Kitten Caboodle and Break Dancer were pretty solid for fresh meat, but with a small team and only four of them with more than a few years experience, it was rough going out there. Hard not to get demoralized when Kortac had beaten them 240 to 60 during their last game. No one’s fault really— Bunny and Sweetpea had been out sick and neither Kitty or Dancer were prepared to jam more than a few rounds with players that rough. They’d gotten shaken, so Morgan and Billie had done most of the jams. Nobody and Freddie Kruger had just torn right through their weakened pack while Morgan and Bill tried to wrestle their way past Queenie.

Once Dancer and Kitty got more confident, they’d be hard to catch. Kitty was tiny, and Dancer was agile, but they both needed more time. Doll and Bambi, who had joined a little over a year ago had turned out to be a highly effective set of blockers— Small, but sturdy and hard to knock down. When they were out on the track with Bricks or Chelsea, they were nigh impossible to get past, which would leave their fourth blocker free to assist the jammer, in an ideal world.

The ideal world simply had five more players in it. Maybe more, since no one but Morgan and Bricks made it to every game.

Later on, worn out and sweaty from practice, crammed into the biggest booth at a diner that was roughly equidistant between everyone’s homes and the arena (and the young man that worked the fryers had a massive crush on Sweetpea, which meant everyone got more fries), they debriefed.

“That’s gonna be tricky for me to stomach long term,” Morgan admitted. “I’m gonna sleep with Pip if I have to be too nice.”

“You don’t actually have to sleep with her, you know,” Bricks said.

“No… I’m gonna.”

“We can find somewhere else,” Billie suggested. “I don’t want Morgan and Pip to get back together, it was so annoying when they were. All in favour of Morgan not fucking Pippa, say aye.” She raised her hand to note the measure.

“Aye,” they intoned together, all raising their hands as well.

“Simone says the Femme41 practice out of Jo’s warehouse now. Pippa did the same thing to them eight months ago. I bet they’d let us skate there.” Bricks tossed another fry into her mouth. “If someone behaves herself.”

Morgan scoffed. “It’s impossible for me to date another one of her girlfriends, her relationships hardly last the weekends now.”

Bunny mouthed the word Pippa at Kitty and Dancer.

“Then you won’t have a problem asking her,” Chelsea said. “Maybe bake her something nice as an overture. A pie or something. You make good pies.”

Morgan winced. “We have a game against them this weekend. We could ask her all together.”

Billie shook her head. “No, this one’s on you. Captain to captain conversation. You have Chelsea’s schedule key, you can negotiate for a time that works.”

“And if she says no? She hates my guts.”

“Wear something low cut and bake her a pie,” Bricks suggested. “Maybe just go wearing nothing but an apron.”

“I’ve got one that says Born To Be A Lesbian Housewife,” Doll said. “You can borrow it. It’s very frilly.”

Bambi giggled. “I’ve got one that says Vagitarian.”

Doll laughed too, knocking her head against Bambi’s shoulder. “That’s way better, Morgan, borrow that one.”

"I'm not going to-- Did you people hear me when I said she hates my guts?"

"She still has eyes, Morgan," Bricks said. "And you have nice tits."

"If you don't sort this out, we might have to disband to other teams. And I don't want to. I like you guys." Chelsea looped an arm around Kitty. "We started this team because we wanted to get together and have fun and challenge ourselves without it getting so damn competitive or mean. Bill and I are not going back to the Shadows, and there's no way Bricks wants to go back to Kortac. So put on your big girl panties and a cute dress, and charm Jo into sharing the warehouse with us. Got it?"

"Got it." Morgan sank back into her seat with a groan. I'll talk to her after work tomorrow."

"Good," Billie said, a note of finality in her voice. "Now, did anyone else watch Game of Dragons last night? I have opinions."

By the time Morgan got home, walked Laika, showered, ate cold leftovers out of the fridge and stepped out on her balcony with a joint, it was well past dark, and she was bone tired. Jo was out on her own balcony, feet up, smoking a cigar. She was a thick, barrel chested woman, wearing a tank top and jeans, cigar in one hand, glass of whiskey in the other. Her hair was longer than usual, tucked behind her ears, like she'd been growing it out. It had been a while since Morgan saw her without a hat on.

They acknowledged each other with a curt nod, and Morgan settled into her swing chair, tucking her feet up underneath her. Laika went to the railing to give Jo the biggest, saddest eyes she could.

Jo maybe didn't like Morgan much, but it was hard not to like Laika. The big goofy rottweiler loved almost everyone, and knew exactly how to get what she wanted (big sad eyes, a few pathetic whines, a raised paw, if need be). It was only a minute before Jo was up and leaning over the railing to give Laika a pet.

Usually they didn't speak. The smallest things seemed to spark up into fights between them, and Morgan found it was easier just to keep their interactions to a minimum.

So it was a surprise when Jo spoke first. "Rough night?"

"Yeah. You could say that."

"Want to talk about it?"

“Thank you for pretending to care, but not really.” She grimaced. It really was the perfect opportunity to ask, but it was hard to shake the habit of brushing Jo off.

Jo snorted. “You know, I really preferred fightin’ to this cold shoulder treatment.”

“That’s because you’re a disagreeable sort of woman.”

“That’s the spirit, pet. But you can do better than that. C’mere.”

Morgan glared at her. “No. I’m good where I am actually.” She looked the other way, puffing on the joint. She could ask tomorrow. She wasn’t in a mood to deal with anyone else tonight. Having to smile and play nice with Pippa had been bad enough. She needed a good sleep before she could even pretend to be friendly to anyone else.

She startled when Jo’s thick fingers plucked the joint out of her hand. “Hey! I didn’t invite you over here.”

“Your weed’s better than mine.”

“Probably because I grow it myself. What do you want?”

Jo sat down on the solid little coffee table in front of Morgan, holding her cigar and whiskey glass in one hand. She leaned forward, glass resting lightly on her knee, bleeding condensation into the denim. Mixed drink, then, not straight whiskey. Jo drank the better stuff neat. “Pip called me today.”

“Oh yeah?”

Jo hummed, offering the joint back, blue eyes stern. “Don’t be coy, if you’re fuckin’ her again I’d rather know than get blindsided bumpin’ into her in the hallway.”

“Did she tell you we were?”

Jo’s jaw clenched tight. “She said she was lookin’ forward to seein’ you tonight.”

“Well I’m sure it was super nice for her. She bought my team’s arena. I am gonna have to start fucking her if I want to keep our usual practice slots. She made that… Well about as clear as she ever makes anything.” Morgan handed the joint over again. “So not very, but I still got the gist of it.” She scrunched up Laika’s ears, humming. Laika’s tail solidly thumped against Jo’s shin, bridging the space between them.

“Extortionist,” Jo scoffed.

“Yeah. Pretty much. Bricks said you might take pity on us if I asked nicely. I know you practice out of your warehouse.” Morgan lifted her eyes back up to Jo’s face.

“Is this you askin’ nicely?” Jo leaned forward slightly, her soft stomach spilling over her belt a bit, biceps flexing as she leaned more weight on her arms. “You can do better than that. Not so much as a please.”

“It was not me asking nicely. I had no intention of talking to you until tomorrow, and I’m still not asking until I’ve had at least four hours of uninterrupted sleep.”

“Surprised you’d come to me.”

Morgan looked away first, just like she always did. Jo had an intensity to her that was hard to match, blue eyes drilling into her own like she was looking for faults she could use to crack her open entirely. It was much easier to study the freckles on the top of her shoulder, just above the pinup girl sitting on the curve of a crescent moon that looked rather a lot like her ex wife, Sadie. “I wouldn’t if I had literally any other option. But I have to admit that you are slightly more tolerable than Pippa. Even if you do park half in my spot and fuck squealing college girls at all hours of the night.”

“You don’t need the space. You have a bike.”

“So that gives you the right to park your big-dick pickup truck wherever you please?”

“Sure does, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart! We have one conversation that doesn’t make me want to punch you, and you have to ruin it.”

She grinned, shifting back again. “Not being very nice to someone you want to ask a favour from.”

“I’m not asking the favour until tomorrow. I’m too grumpy to be nice tonight. You invited yourself over and plopped yourself down in front of me and started smoking my weed.” This was not helpful. Why did Jo always manage to get her this worked up? She drew in a centring breath. “No, you’re right, I should be nicer.”

"I did bogart your joint," Jo conceded. "That's on me." Rather than hand it back, she took a long drag, the cherry burning bright all the way down to the folded cardboard filter, and dropped the remains in the ashtray. She leaned forward again, cupping the back of Morgan's neck with a strong hand, and blew smoke directly into Morgan's face. She grinned wickedly when Morgan spluttered a bit. "What's wrong, pet? Thought you wanted me to share better."

"Maybe I am better off negotiating with Pippa," Morgan grumbled, swatting Jo's hand away.

"Hm. Maybe. Why don't you think about how you'll ask me about practice space tomorrow, and I'll get out of your hair." Jo stood up, gave Laika another pat, and climbed back over to her side of the balcony without another word.

Morgan ushered Laika inside, fuming again, and furiously got ready for bed.

She was sure of one thing; Jo Price was going to make a truce between them nigh impossible.

Title card made on Canva - Image Credits: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 (Stickers are Canva assets) Dividers by @/cafekitsune