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chubbyooo · 4 years ago

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Blurred Lines: Cursed Past Chapter 88 - The Monster that Lay Within

hey sorry I've been so slow lately my motivation has been messy for a bit but may start to get better also sorry not sorry for this XD Kyradia gives in to escape from the Sisters clutches

Kyradia was hyperventilating as they moved her towards the table her eyes darted around as the Nightsister chief snatched her saber “hmmmm I see you were one of the success stories” Kyradia tried to grab it but her muscles still weren’t working leaving her to just watch

Zash tutted moving up to her with a devious grin “I wouldn’t go that far Chief Tzsuo” she put a hand on Kyradia’s shoulder, Kyradia could immediately feel the anger building up inside her “she had a certain nack for insubordination and sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong” she shoved Kyradia forward against the table with the restraints

Kyradia could feel herself losing control as she began to see flashes of that cave, the mist, and her. Tzuso chuckled “well let’s find out where the sisters went wrong I’m sure you wouldn’t mind helping us Zash” Zash shook her head moving towards Kyradia

No no no she was not going back there she couldn’t be tied up but she couldn’t let it out but she didn’t know how to stop it, she saw green mist begin to pour out of her eyes as her muscles tensed up; it was too late and it was out the monster was here

https://open.spotify.com/track/3TnGabS1ylWPNOTa2kJBDn?si=_SJ16bV1R3C44TH6jrIpnQ

The feeling in her arms and legs returned as her mind came to one goal fight, she sprung up and kicked Zash back sending her flying across the room. Immediately Nightsisters descended on her there were nearly thirty in here but they were the ones outnumbered, the closest five came at her trying their best to restrain her.

But Kyradia moved with insane speed grabbing the first one's arm and then bending it out of shape to a resounding snap, she used her momentum to throw the sister at two of the others as she pounced on a fourth.

She grabbed the sides of her head and slammed them against the floor until they stopped struggling and stood to see many more now descending on her, the fifth seemingly had a better idea and brandished a spear. She lunged at Kyradia before she could do anything, the spear only slightly piercing her flesh, Kyradia snarled at her grabbing the spear out of her hands and jumped towards her slamming it deep into her head.

She had no idea where Zash and the chief were but she didn’t care as she snarled at the nightsisters trying their best to restrain her, ten or so more had surrounded her and decided to try and take her at the same time. One lunged forward trying to grab her from behind but was met with a surprise as Kyradia strode behind her and sweeped her legs stepping on her skull.

The others seemed to learn from this all going to attack her at once grabbing at her to try and restrain her but to their surprise Kyradia only used this against them grabbing two of them and using their weight against them to slam them into the other many cracks and breaks coming from the sisters, then proceeding to make sure each of them stayed down.

Still a few had a hold on her and more surrounding her every second they began to push her to the ground but Kyradia wasn’t going to allow it using all her rage and anger to channel a current of electricity all over her body. As the sisters closed in she let it out with a resounding boom sending them all flying into burned crumpled heaps on the floor, Kyradia looked around the room and her eyes set on the Chief Tzuso who’d stolen her weapon.

She bared her teeth and dashed over as Tzuso drew a blade of her own, as Kyradia was supposed to collide with her she disappeared into the mist reappearing behind her but Kyradia sniffed the air sensing her there pulling Tzuso towards her with the force. She used the momentum of the pull to lay a loud punch into Tzuso’s skull causing her to fall back nose gushing with blood, Kyradia stalked her prey as Tzuso tried to stand up looking to put some space between them. Kyradia growled at her grabbing at her long frizzy hair and slamming her back against the ground leaving a small indent of her there, she saw her blade on the chief's belt and snatched it up quickly. Tzuso’s eyes were wide, clearly realizing the magnitude of her mistake Kyradia got in close and snarled at her, the green mist pouring out of her mouth and eyes before igniting her saber through her skull.

There were just a few stragglers left now looking like they were ready to run but Kyradia wouldn’t let that happen, she threw her saber across the room cutting down three sisters in one fell swoop as she ran at another slamming her hard against the wall punching at her until she fell to the ground

She turned around catching her saber as it returned to her, just one left she thought Kyradia hadn't seen her hiding under the table. Kyradia strode over chomping at the bit the sister quickly realised she’d been spotted and meekly tried to run away, Kyradia pulled her in with the force the sister falling to the ground in front of her pleading with her to stop. Kyradia felt herself twitch as she raised the blade and slammed it down, she took a deep breath as the mist finally receded from around her and she closed her eyes for a second.

But in the silence she heard a laugh a familiar laugh, her eyes darted over to Zash who had watched the whole thing “well well this is certainly telling Kyradia and here I thought you’d gone soft” Kyradia felt the rage build back up as she threw her saber at Zash. But to her surprise just before the Saber would impact Zash’s form dissipated with that same green mist, no no no she was learning their ways she had to stop her she had to find Ashara and Malora.

She turned around but gasped as she looked at the scene in the room, blood and bodies everywhere, every sister that had been in here now lay dead on the ground. Kyradia felt herself shiver as she dropped to the floor, her hands starting to shake, she’d done it again she’d let out her true self and this is what it wrought. She felt her eyes well up with tears; she truly was just a monster, her body was covered in their blood as she let out a gutteral scream, a few minutes later Ashara and Malora rushed into the room.

Ashara gasped looking at the carnage in the room and Kyradia in the middle of it sobbing, Ashara rushed over cradling her “Kyradia are you ok?! What happened!?” Kyradia continued to sob her words not really forming into sentences as Malora looked at the corpses

After a little bit of comforting Kyradia managed to speak “I’m so sorry th-they were going to tie me up and” she took a long pause a solemn look in her eyes “I made another mistake Ashara, Zash is right I really am just a monster” Kyradia began to sob again as Ashara took in the information

Ashara rocked her back and forth “hey it’s ok this wasn’t your fault they did this right this isn’t your fault” Kyradia shook her head at Ashara clearly not agreeing

Kyradia sobbed and sobbed “they were going to tie me up and I just couldn��t go back so I let it out and then” her breath was shaky as she spoke “I killed them all” Ashara nodded doing her best to comfort her as Malora came over

She bent down doing her best best to act comforting “I will say Kyradia it doesn’t seem like your fault, clearly you’re dealing with some kind of post traumatic stress and it triggered you when they wanted to ‘tie you up’ for anyone that would be tough” Ashara nodded at this as Kyradia began to take a few deep breaths

She took a deep sigh “I still did it though I chose to let it out, I let Zash get to me and my trauma I’m so sorry” she didn’t understand why they were giving her sympathy

Ashara shook her head sternly “don’t you dare apologize for whatever they put you through that wasn’t your fault and this is not the same ok, Zash knows how to push your buttons it’s her fault not yours” Kyradia didn’t respond clearly not convinced

She sighed “I should be stronger I shouldn’t let her get to me” she knew this would happen this was all her fault

Malora spoke up “weakness is what makes us people Kyradia our ability to better ourselves is what puts us above people like Zash” Kyradia didn’t feel above Zash not with all the dead bodies around her

Ashara helped her up “she’s right Kyradia, I’m adamant this is not your fault and you know I’d rightly call you out for your other mistakes we’re going to fix this ok” Kyradia nodded not believing her at all “now let’s get out of here, get back to Odessen you need a break” Kyradia nodded maybe she wasn’t qualified to stop Zash…

Terri was half asleep when her comm blared to life “TERRI get the ship ready the Commander has caught up with us and she... oh my god Terri she” she trailed off as Terri jumped to life getting the ship ready for Zash

Terri responded “what happened Zash don’t worry I can take it” she set the ship ready for takeoff

Zash took a deep breath “she killed them all Terri, we had her captured and she just went crazy I barely got out alive” Terri gasped in shock she didn’t think the commander was capable of that

A few seconds later Zash darted onto the ship and into the cockpit breathing heavily “alright go we may not have much time, I’ve never seen her like that before” Terri nodded and quickly piloted the ship into orbit plotting coordinates to anywhere else

Terri turned to her “what do you think happened I thought she was just after us” Zash sat down next to her putting a holo on the console

Zash sighed “see for yourself, but I’ll warn you it’s pretty graphic” Terri shivered she didn’t think she wanted to see that

She swallowed hard “I’ll take your word for it” she guessed she was wrong to think the Commander may be good she really had just been trying to trick her...

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theshatteredrose · 5 years ago

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Turquoise Lotus Father (Treasure Seekers Saga 2) - Chapter 3 - Etrian Odyssey 5 Fanfiction

AN: Another short chapter, but the next one should be longer. Hope you enjoy nevertheless!

Ao3 | Wattpad | FFNet

Chapter 3:

As soon as they had finished breakfast, Drayce and Caelem made their way from the Crescentia and outside. It was such a nice day that Drayce decided they should walk to the Iorys markets. The fresh air would help to relieve the remnants of that troubling dream he had, and it would allow Caelem to release some of his pent-up restlessness.

It was also a good opportunity for Drayce to get to learn more about his guildmate.

“Feel free to tell me to shut up if I’m being nosy,” Drayce said as he glanced at Caelem as he walked beside him. “But is it ok to ask about your family?”

“Hm?” Caelem murmured with a curious expression. He didn’t look uncomfortable, so it didn’t appear to be a touchy subject for him. “What about them?”

“Have you been in contact with them since leaving on your journey?” Drayce inquired.

A look of realisation immediately appeared on Caelem’s face. “Oh, I only have a grandmother at the village now. My older brother had already left on his journey. I don’t know where he is, but I have heard from him a couple of times. The beginning of his journey…was smoother than mine, it seems.”

Upon noticing the pained undertone to Caelem’s voice, Drayce immediately interjected with words of reassurance. “You’re safe now, so try not to dwell on it anymore, ok?”

“Ah, I’ll try,” Caelem promised with a small smile.

“So, your brother. What is he like?” Drayce continued, folding his arms behind his back in what he hoped was a playful way to hide the fact that he had clenched his hands at the word “brother”.

Caelem tapped his cheek as he looked skywards, attempting to find the right words to answer him. “Hmm…He’s pretty serious and yet bursting with energy all the time. Very restless and always needs to be on the move.”

“Ah, I know that feeling!”

Caelem made a noise that was similar to a chuckle and nodded his head. “Hah. I’ve been told that I look just like him. He’s a couple of years older, though.”

“Ah, maybe he’ll travel to Iorys for the labyrinth, too,” Drayce pondered aloud before he turned to give Caelem a smile. “It would be nice for the two of you to meet after being separated for a few years.”

“Yeah, it would be,” Caelem agreed with a nod of his head. He then turned to look at him, a small smile on his lips.

However, that smile abruptly dissipated and Caelem stopped dead in his tracks, prompting Drayce to do the same.

“….Um,” he murmured, looking alarmed.

“Hm? Something wrong?” Drayce immediately asked, concern also beginning to build in his chest. Surpassing that…ache he would get.

“It’s just…you looked pale all of a sudden,” Caelem answered, his worry palpable and obvious.

Drayce felt himself wince and he inwardly chided himself for worrying a guildmate yet again. Damn, again? It just wasn’t his day, was it?

“Oh, I do? Weird,” Drayce said as he rubbed his cheek with his hand absentmindedly. He then waved a hand dismissively and turned in the entrance of the markets. “Anyway, we’re at the markets now. Let’s find you something useful, yeah?”

“Sure,” Caelem replied, seemingly a little hesitant.

But he soon caught up with him and kept close as they pushed through the bustling shoppers and throngs of busybodies. Drayce was actually grateful for the crowd, though he soon realised that Caelem wasn’t exactly comfortable being around so many people. So, he ensured that the two of them stayed close, Drayce even reaching out to take Caelem protectively by the elbow and pulled him toward him in order to avoid someone walking into him.

Thankfully, Syrik’s stall wasn’t that far into the market.

“Syrik!” Drayce called out cheerfully as he waved with one hand, the other keeping a firm hold on Caelem’s elbow. “How’s business?”

Syrik turned at his voice and a broad smile made its way upon his lips. “Ah, welcome! I’ve heard you’re an official explorer now.”

“Yep. Everything done by the book,” Drayce replied with a smile and motioned to his guildmate next to him. “My guild is even growing. Meet Caelem, he’s my new guildmate.”

“Oh, a Therian. Pleasure to meet ya,” Syrik greeted merrily.

“Y-you, too,” Caelem stuttered out and bowed his head slightly in greeting. Though, he had a light blush to his cheeks. Easily embarrassed, it seemed. Just one of his charms.

“So, what can I do for the two of you today?” Syrik asked as he turned his attention toward Drayce.

Drayce nudged Caelem forward slightly, though kept a hand on his back. “We’re looking for a blade for Caelem here.”

Syrik grinned from ear to ear. “Well, you’re certainly come to the right place! Managed to get my hands on some new wares. Be sure to check them out!”

Drayce just had to chuckle at the shopkeeper’s enthusiasm and he gave Caelem another gentle push. “Go ahead, Cal. Pick any you want. Don’t worry about the price.”

Caelem’s ears had dropped slightly to rest against his head, apprehensively. “If you’re sure. D-don’t go anywhere, ok?”

“I’ll be right here,” Drayce immediately promised.

That seemed to ease Caelem’s worries and his ears immediately perked up. He nodded his head before he turned to follow Syrik to look at the types of weapons he had to offer.

And just as he had promised, Drayce stayed exactly where he stood. He, of course, couldn’t help but look around. At the goods laid out on tables and sheets upon the ground. Weapons, armour, bottles of medica. There were also jewels and crystals. Those found on the first floor, if he wasn’t mistaken. Seemed that Syrik catered to both explorers and locals. Quite the entrepreneur.

A few moments of just browsing was broken by the return of Caelem. And cradled in his arms was a long, slender blade. “Hey, how did we go? Picked something you like?”

With his ears perked straight up and a smile of barely restrained excitement on Caelem’s face, he nodded his head. “Y-yes! “

Drayce had to laugh. He looked happy and excited. Good for him!

“Well, that’s great!” Drayce said in return before he turned to look over at their shopkeeper. “How much, Syrik?”

“That’s 500en, please~” Syrik answered, absolutely thrilled with the prospect of a successful sale.

Caelem’s excited expression faltered slightly as he looked at Drayce with worry. “Is that too much?”

Drayce shook his head as he reached into his coat to pull out the necessary cash. “Not at all! Here you go, Sy. Is it ok if I call you Sy?”

Syrik eagerly counted his payment before he smiled broadly. “With this amount of money, you can call me anything you like~” he playfully said in return.

“Fair enough!” Drayce laughed before he gave the shopkeeper a friendly farewell salute. “Thanks for the help, Sy. We’ll catch you later.”

“Hope to see you again soon~!”

Caelem kept a firm grip on his new weapon as they navigated their way through the crowds to the exit of the markets. “Th-thank you for buying this for me.”

“Hey, don’t sweat it,” Dryace immediately replied as he slipped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him toward him playfully. “You look eager to try it out for yourself. Why don’t we grab Blayke for some training when we get home? I’m curious to see what that blade can do against my Decoy Bunkers.”

Caelem eagerly nodded his head. “Yes, I would like that.”

Good to get some practice in before they head into the labyrinth again. It would ease Caelem’s mind, as well. Drayce was certain the he was keen to be of use to them or something along those lines.

“Um…” Caelem continued again. “Can I tell you one more thing?”

“Of course,” Drayce immediately replied.

“W-well, it’s just…therians have…tails,” Caelem stuttered awkwardly.

Drayce blinked. That surprised him, honestly, and he resisted the urge to turn around to look. He was inquisitive, sure. But not rude. “Do you?”

With his cheeks flushed lightly in both shyness and embarrassment, Caelem nodded as he kept his gaze forward. “We tend to keep them hidden,” he explained. “They, ah, can get in the way. Especially in battle. So, we…ah, kept them hidden in our pants and stuff.”

Again, that surprised Drayce immensely. “I legit did not know that,” he replied honestly. A frown soon tugged at his lips, however. “Isn’t that uncomfortable, though?”

“It can be sometimes,” Caelem answered honestly. “And, well…”

“Well, inside the Crescentia there’s no need to hide,” Drayce interjected. “I want you guys to be as comfortable as possible.”

Caelem was definitely pleased to hear that, and it swiftly occurred to Drayce why he brought up the subject, despite how uncomfortable it made him; he was looking for permission. Honestly, Drayce wished someone told him sooner so he could have brought it up himself!

“I’ll keep my tail hidden in the labyrinth, though,” Caelem commented. “But it’ll be nice not having to inside the Crescentia.”

Speaking of the labyrinth; damn, he had forgotten to pick up more Adriane Threads. He wanted to ensure that each member of his guild had one on them whenever they entered the labyrinth. Just to be on the safe side. He should turn around and get it. But he didn’t want Caelem to walk back to the Crescentia by himself.

Ok, Drayce would walk him home first and after he was safe inside, he’d just turn around and race back. No big deal.

As soon as they reached the gates of the Crescentia, Drayce made a noise as if he had just a realisation. “Shoot, I forgot something. Head on inside. I’ll just race back real quick.”

Caelem blinked. “Ah, ok.”

Drayce nudged him toward the stairs before he turned back in the direction of the markets. “Tell those worry-warts that I’ll be back soon!” he called out as he jogged away.

As he reached about half way to the markets, crossing the path that lead toward the labyrinth, a small brown blur caused him to pull to a stop. He glanced down to notice a rather familiar chicken pecking at the laces of his boots.

“Hm? Deloris?” Drayce murmured aloud before he looked at his surroundings. If there was a chicken about, that meant that her keeper was close by. Hopefully, at least.

Sure enough, another familiar figure appeared from the entrance of the labyrinth, a small following of chickens at his heels. It was actually quite a sight to see. So many pecking and clucking chickens happily following behind a guard.

“Oh hey, Virgil!” Drayce greeted.

Virgil lifted his head and a smile soon appeared on his lips. “Oh good, I was hoping that I would bump into you today.”

Drayce tilted his head to the side and turned to face him fully when Virgil reached him. “Yeah? What’s up?”

“Come, I wish to show you something,” Virgil unexpectedly requested as he half turned toward the labyrinth. “Just by the entrance.”

Drayce blinked. “Of the labyrinth? Sure.”

He followed Virgil along the path and scaled the stairs that reached all the way up to the entrance of the labyrinth. His curiosity piqued when Virgil lead him down a small side path. Still close to the guarded entrance of the labyrinth, yet somehow still hidden.

Amongst the greenery of moss and shrubbery stood a tall, stone rune. Weather worn and grey, the stone held ancient hieroglyphics, engraved meticulously. Though he could not read them all. Just the word “forest” that repeated five times. There was a line of small crystals, spaced evenly apart. All a pale white in colour. All except two at the very bottom.

It was a rune stone. And it had to be attached to the labyrinth somehow.

Drayce openly gaped at the stone as he carefully approached it. “This…?”

Moving to stand beside him, Virgil chuckled lightly. “It’s known by a few names; Stair Jump, Warp Crystal. However, I prefer to call it Heart of the Forest. It’s a stone pillar that is believed to allow parties to warp straight to certain floors. Unfortunately, it seems that it requires finding and activating certain crystals. That is what the scholars of the Council believe.”

Drayce counted the crystals. There were thirty of them. So, did that mean there were…thirty floors of Yggdrasil. Man. That was a lot. And he had only mapped one so far!

“Warp to certain floors,” Drayce murmured as he studied the rune, though dare not touch it in case he accidently warped himself into the labyrinth. “Man, that would make trekking in the labyrinth so much easier.”

“So far, we have only access to the second floor from here,” Virgil explained as he motioned to the two bottom crystals.

Drayce nodded his head. “Yeah, we heard that there isn’t an official pathway to the third floor. But obviously people are getting there somehow.”

There was a sigh of exasperation from Virgil. “From what I understand some just brazenly climb the side of Yggdrasil.”

Drayce chuckled. “Honestly, that doesn’t surprise me. Would also explain why the Council is desperate for an official and safe passage to the next floor.”

“It doesn’t work for everyone, though,” Virgil informed him. “It seems that individuals need to encounter the crystal located on the threshold of the stairs.”

Hmm, that made sense. Only those who had reached that crystal and activated it someway would be able to warp to that floor from this rune stone. Only those strong enough to reach that floor or area earned the right to use the rune stone as transportation.

He would need to ask Shashi about it later. Perhaps a Celestian was the one who invented something like this?

“Ah, I see. Thanks for showing me this, Virgil,” Drayce said in gratitude before he smiled and glanced down at his boot when he felt a familiar pull at his laces. “And Deloris, too.”

Virgil chuckled as he bent down and scooped Deloris into his arms and sat her on the crook of his arm. Of which she happily perched on. “Sorry if we took up some of your time. “

Drayce immediately shook his head. “Not at all. This is interesting. I’ll be sure to look into it further.”

“Take care.”

“You, too.”

With his following of different coloured chickens at his heels, Virgil turned and made his way from the labyrinth. He must be off duty now.

Drayce watched him leave until he turned to look back at the rune stone. Thirty floors, huh? What could possibly be hidden within the labyrinth? What treasures, secrets? It was…both daunting and thrilling to think about.

Ah, but standing there daydreaming about possibilities wasn’t getting him anywhere!

Right. Time to head back to the markets to pick up some Adriane Threads and then head back to the Crescentia to prepare himself for a trek to the second-floor tomorrow.

As Drayce strolled down the path leading away from the labyrinth, a prickly feeling on the back of his neck made his stop and look over his shoulder. But there was nothing there for him to look at.

Hmm? Strange. He thought someone was behind him. Must have been imagining things.

He turned and continued on his way. That prickly feeling, however, remained. He hoped that he was just being paranoid. Nothing more.

Hopefully…

#Etrian Odyssey #etrian odyssey 5 #fanfiction #turquoise lotus father #the treasure seeker #Angelward Guild

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worryinglyinnocent · 6 years ago

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The Real Housewives of Storybrooke

A ficlet series based on this premise here, following the lives of Storybrooke’s elite wives, with all the scandal, bitching and backstabbing that goes on behind the scenes of high society…

This verse is open for prompts!

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[Part One][Part Two] [Part Three] [Part Four] [Part Five] [AO3]

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BELLE

It was late on Sunday morning when Belle opened her eyes to bright sunlight streaming in through the cabin’s bedroom window, and she had to smile at having been so thoroughly tired out the previous day. She and Cameron were certainly making the most of their weekend without Bae, and although Belle loved her stepson as if he were her own, it had been nice to have some time alone to revisit the insatiable appetites for each other that they’d had just after they began their relationship.

The bedroom door opened, and Belle turned over to see Cam entering with a breakfast tray, his robe cinched loosely and showing a delicious sliver of chest. She licked her lips, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Somehow I don’t think that’s in anticipation of the French toast.”

“Well, I’m sure that the French toast will taste wonderful, and after yesterday I think I need to keep my strength up.” She ached, but it was a pleasant ache, the type caused by a day of rediscovering everything that she adored about her husband’s body. “But you’re correct. There are other things on the menu that I’m rather excited to sample.”

Cam handed over the tray before getting back into bed beside her and snagging a strawberry off her plate.

“Hey, get your own!”

Cam just grinned at her and took another berry. “You love me really.”

“Yes, I do, that’s the entire problem.” She continued to eat, feeding bites to Cam as she went along. Once she was done, she rested her hands on her stomach with a satisfied little grunt and gave a giggle as she came to a realisation.

Cam gave her a look over the top of his coffee cup. “What’s tickled your fancy?”

“You, hopefully, soon enough.”

“Minx.”

“You love me really.”

“That, my dear, is the entire problem.” He leaned over and kissed her, licking the sweet syrup off her lips, and Belle sighed with happiness as she pulled away.

“I’d just realised that this is the first time all weekend that I’ve actually thought about getting pregnant.”

“Considering what we’ve been doing all weekend, I consider that to be something close to a miracle.”

Belle laughed. “Well, it’s made me hopeful. Mrs Potts said that she was sure that something would happen as soon as I stopped worrying about trying to make a baby and just started enjoying being with you again. And even now that I’m thinking about it, I’m not stressed about it. Even if nothing happens as a result of this weekend, I’m hardly likely to regret this, am I?”

“Well, I’m certainly not going to.” Cam slipped his robe off and kicked it out from between the covers. “Do you think I can make you forget all about getting pregnant again?”

Belle laughed, welcoming him into her arms with a deep, fierce kiss.

“Let’s see if we can do that, shall we?”

Later on, whilst Cam was still dozing, Belle slipped out of bed and grabbed his robe, tiptoeing through the cabin to stand on the deck outside, overlooking the river that flowed at the back of the property. It had been a wonderful weekend and it wasn’t over yet. Idly she wondered how Bae and Emma were getting on with their revision sessions. Exams started next week, but then there would be a glorious summer stretched out in front of them, and Belle couldn’t wait. Tilly had already booked herself in for a visit to her godfather, and by proxy Robyn. No matter what happened biologically as a result of this little love-nest, there was so much in the future to look forward to.

And maybe Mrs Potts’ words would ring true after all. Belle made the mental promise to herself that she would not buy a new pregnancy test this month. If it happened, it happened, but for now, she didn’t want any doubts clouding this moment of bliss.

She felt arms come around her and Cam’s mouth press a kiss to her neck.

“Fancy a dip before dinner?”

Belle unfastened the robe and made to slip it off her shoulders. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”

REGINA

Roland’s birthday party at the aquarium had been an unmitigated success, although incredibly exhausting. Still, seeing all the children leave with their party favour bags and smiles on their faces made it worthwhile in the end.

Robin came over with a paper cup of coffee from the cafeteria just as the last guest was picked up and left the carpark.

“You know, I love Roland but I’m very glad he only has a birthday once a year,” he said.

“Yes. It’s like Christmas. It happens so infrequently that you block out all the memories of the last one and make all the same mistakes again. And also, because it’s only once a year, you go overboard to make up for the fact he has to wait another twelve whole months for the next party.”

Robin just looked at her with a raised eyebrow and Regina laughed. “Ok. I go overboard.”

“You do. But I’m very grateful that you do. I would never be able to handle something like this on my own.”

He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. Roland, sitting in the entrance area re-enacting Baywatch with plastic dolphins, looked up for a moment and then returned to his game, uninterested in what the grown-ups were doing.

Regina smiled. “Thanks for putting up with my exuberance.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Their moment was cut short by Regina’s phone ringing and she heaved a sigh, fishing it out of her coat pocket. Robin looked at the phone and then up at Regina.

“Is there a reason why you brought your work phone to the aquarium with you?” There was nothing accusatory in his tone, but Regina herself had admitted often enough to bringing her work home with her more than she should, and she’d enlisted his help to try and get her back on the straight and narrow.

“No. Just habit I suppose.” She looked at the caller and grimaced.

“Who is it?”

“Fiona,” Regina muttered darkly. She went to answer the call, but Robin closed his hand over hers.

“It’s a Sunday. Whatever it is can wait until you see her tomorrow. Nothing can be so important that she needs to interrupt your weekend.”

“Unfortunately, your definition of important and Fiona’s don’t always match up, and if I don’t answer now I’ll just spend all evening wondering what it is she wants to talk about. Best to get it over and done with now.”

She answered the call just before it cut to voicemail. Since Fiona was nominally her superior, she would normally put on a bright and polite telephone voice when she dealt with her, but today her greeting was a flat ‘what’.

“No hello, Regina dear? I do hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Well, now that you mention it…”

“Oh yes, I forgot, it’s little Ronald’s birthday today, isn’t it?”

“Roland, and yes, so if we could wrap this up sharpish so that I can get back to that, which is something I’d much rather be doing than talking to you, I’d be much obliged.”

“Of course, of course. I was only calling to warn you that Belfrey Developments are coming in to discuss their new planning proposal tomorrow morning. It’s a bit last minute, but everything only got pushed through yesterday.”

“What? I thought we’d blocked their planning proposals!” In fact, Regina knew that the council had blocked Belfrey Development’s plans to build over 100 new homes on Storybrooke’s rapidly diminishing green space because she’d headed up the blocking campaign herself.

“Yes, I know, you did a wonderful job on it, darling, but there are powers higher than us at work here.”

“You mean they bribed the head of the council.”

“Now, now, Regina.” Fiona tsk-ed down the phone and Regina really wished that she was in the office at that moment so that she could throw something at her colleague. “Don’t be so cynical. I’ve seen their new proposals and you know, they really would be bringing a lot of benefit to the community.”

“So, they bribed you as well as the head of the council.”

Fiona’s honeyed tone changed.

“I was simply ringing to inform you,” she snapped before hanging up.

Regina smiled. “Well, that got rid of her, but I hate dealing with Victoria Belfrey. Why the blazes couldn’t she stay tearing up Seattle instead of spreading her wings across the country? Is she determined not to stop until there’s not a single blade of grass left in America?”

“Quite possibly.” Robin put an arm around her, guiding her towards the aquarium doors and calling for Roland to follow them. He packed up his dolphins in the blink of an eye and came over, grabbing Regina’s hand and beginning to babble on about how brilliant his party had been, especially the dolphin show, culminating in a heartfelt ‘thank you Regina!’ that made all the stress of hosting the event completely worth it.

Maybe it was time to leave the world of local government behind and go into high-end party-planning as a living. Before she did that though, she was going to have to get through a meeting with Fiona Ebony and Victoria Belfrey. Regina was absolutely not looking forward to Monday.

#rumbelle fic #rumbelle #outlaw queen #Belle French #Regina Mills #Mr Gold #Robin Hood #Series: The Real Housewives of Storybrooke #Is that the vaguest semblance of plot I see on the horizon?

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doublerumnukacola · 6 years ago

Text

Drowning (awake pt2)

Trigger warning: Panic Attack. Message me if you want a chapter summary and can’t read this. The scene start and end are bolded.

The second time she awoke, she could feel a few things. Her left side was aching and burning, her head was pounding, and she needed to pee. Very badly.

She sat up slowly, the med-x having worn off some time ago. She rubbed her eyes, wiping the grit away and blinking to adjust to the dim light.

She slid one leg carefully out of bed, and then the other, resting her feet on the wooden floor. She needed to figure out where she was in relation to a toilet.

She looked around, she was on the second floor of somewhere, the only thing there was a bed and the stairs down. She made her way down, starting to recognise the surroundings. Finally, she made it to the ground floor and saw the familiar desk of Nick Valentine. Which meant, if it was dark enough, she could slip out the front door and relieve herself in the little alley.

She returned successful. It had been well after sundown, and Nicks neon sign had even been turned off. All to her benefit, considering that she realised too late the only thing she was wearing was the ratty tshirt she'd exchanged for her Vault suit. That and the filthy bandages that were wrapped and taped all up her body.

She closed the door behind her quietly, turning towards it to make sure the lock didn't make a sound as it shut.

“Well, I go up for a smoke and when I turn around, you’re gone.” A voice behind made her jump out of her skin. She whipped around to see Hancock, sitting on the desk. She had to wonder where Nick and Ellie were. “Still pulling the same crap.”

She rubbed her head, that's right. There was a door up there. Nick really needed to put a lamp up there, she hadn’t seen the balcony door at all. Even if she had, there was something unsettling about pissing on a balcony.

“I was gone a second.” She replied tiredly. His eyes dipped over her, a smirk on his face. She flushed, pulling the shirt down. “And where are my clothes?”

‘Sorry, Sunny’s orders. Gotta let that wound breathe for awhile. Got no complaints from me.”

“Where's Nick and Ellie? You scare them off?” She asked, moving to the chair in front of the desk, the same one she’d sat in when she first spoke to Nick about what happened…

“Down at Power Noodles, I think I was making the girl nervous. Not many in Diamond city are used to seeing ghouls. Especially not one as handsome as yours truly.” Hancock explained, his grin falling a little. “And I can't exactly take a stroll around the market. Guards get funny around masked figures.”

“Gotcha…” Sole muttered, leaning back against the chair. “So the sooner we leave the better.”

“Hold up, Sister. We ain't moving until your leg’s better.” Hancock cautioned. “We’re dead if I have to rely on you to so much as run the bases.” She chuckled, smiling over at him.

“Well, damn. You saying I'm going to have to miss the big race? But what about little Timmy! He needs a role model!” Hancock gave a little shake of his head. She sighed, Deacon would have loved that.

“It was med-x I gave you right?” He asked. “I want to know for future reference, because I want what you’re on.”

“Speaking of which…” She said slowly, gesturing to her leg. “Could use a pick me up.” He nodded, pulling out a syringe he’d kept handy for this. She flinched as he moved toward the afflicted area. He looked up.

“Really? Flinching from this? I saw Sun pull out a splinter twice this big from you.” He said in surprise. “This is nothing.”

“Just… OK get it over with.” She started, looking away and focusing on a poster on the opposite wall.

“So when you gonna tell me how this all happened?” Hancock asked. “All egghead would tell me was you fought off fifty Mirelurks and a deathclaw.” He chuckled to himself. “Not saying you couldn't, but you learn to take what he says with a grain of salt.”

“You’re right not to trust him.” Sole smirked. “It was a hundred Mirelurks, and two deathclaws.” She turned back to him. “You done there yet?” He grinned back at her.

“Been done for awhile, I was just admiring the view.”

“Not much of one at the minute,” She said with a raised eyebrow, “Can't imagine ‘festering wounds’ are a turn on. And if it is, consider me concerned.”

“Fishing for compliments are we?” He asked sitting back on the desk, arms crossed. Sole sighed, as the pain faded once more. She stood up, stretching out the stiffness in her limbs.

“Well I haven't caught anything yet.” She replied. Hancock coughed, watching her saunter back towards the stairs, the shirt just covering her ass…

“Just let them happen, sunshine… No use trying to dig em out of me.” He said, trailing after her. “But keep it up and compliments will be the last of your problems.” She turned back on the stairs, smiling.

“Bit far from town for a tour.” She joked.

“Hey, didn't I tell you my touring days were over?” He asked, fuzzy memories resurfacing. Maybe there was something to this sober shit.

“Vaguely, but I don't remember a reason…” She replied, continuing up the stairs. Then, her foot slipped.

She lost her balance, hitting the stairs and freezing to the spot.

“Hey, you ok there?” Hancock asked, smirk replaced with concern. “Gotta be careful.”

“Yeah…” She replied, still glued to the spot. Her heart started to pound. “I’m ok…” She swallowed, trying to move, but she was paralysed, adrenaline starting to coarse through her veins. Her chest tightened. Hancock said something behind her, but she couldn’t hear him. There was a ringing in her head, buzzing static that drowned out everything… Things were going fuzzy, darkening around the edges of her vision. There were panicked voices above her, she felt s though she was falling beneath waves, drowning...

Then a hand grabbed her, yanking her off the stairs. She couldn't even scream, her nails raking over the wood leaving bloody trails.

She started to come to on the bed below the stairs. She was sat up, barely aware of how she got there. She blinked, trying to focus, and saw the amber glow of Nick's eyes as he spoke to her. His voice broke through the water she was drowning beneath.

“Kid! Come back to us, you’re safe, start breathing like it.” He urged, keeping eye contact. She took a shuddering breath, the vignette around her vision fading. Her chest started to relax it's tight grasp on her diaphragm. She took a deep breath, the static buzz quietening. Heartbeat slowing...

“Yeah, safe…” She murmured. Nick smiled in relief, resting an arm on the bed. He was kneeling beside the bed so they were eye level.

“Still in one piece?” He asked, checking that all the bandages had stayed in place, examining her wounds with a professional discipline.

“Physically? For the most part.” She joked, still feeling a weak tremble throughout her body. “Emotionally? Anyone's guess.” Nick nodded knowingly. She looked around.

“Where’s Ellie?” She inquired, trying to change the subject. Nick stood up, brushing off his coat.

“Staying with Piper until this place is a little less cramped…” He said carefully, an amber eye glancing towards the ghoul in Nicks chair, keeping himself amused playing with his knife. Hancock glanced back, the blade pinned between his fingers.

“Should my ears be burning, Nicky?” He asked.

“They would if you still had ears.” Nick countered.

“What's that? Couldn't hear you over the pot calling the kettle black.” Hancock shot back casually. He turned back to the knife at hand, turning it in his fingers.

“And here I thought some of this atmosphere would rub off on you, but looks like you aren't going to make detective anytime soon.” Nick noted. “Otherwise you’d noticed I still got both shell-likes.”

“Come over here, I’ll fix that for you.” Hancock warned, pointing the blade at him.

There was moment of tense silence, before both broke out laughing. Sole smiled, it was nice to see. Hancock sheathed the knife, atom only knew where, and stood up, stretching.

“Thanks for putting us up, Nick.” Sole said gratefully.

“Yeah, we’ll be out of your lack of hair soon enough.” Hancock said, sidling up to the pair.

“Look who’s talking.” Nick rebuked. Sole smiled. Hancock and Nick both glanced at each other. It looked like the double act was cheering her up.

Story List

#fallout #fanfiction #fallout fanfiction #hancock #nick valentine

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multifandom-damnation · 7 years ago

Text

I never wanted to change

In my life, I’ve found that you have to unlearn a lot.

I never expected my life to change so much. I’m 17 and already, I’ve gone through changes that other boys my age could only marvel at.

I’ve never wanted to change, but to better suit the people around me- I’ve had to.

It seems cruel. You spend so much of your life trying to please people, and then it’s all turned around and you end up changing who you are to please others.

My hands, the same, but much different.

My words? Sometimes, I don’t even know if I’m the one saying them. They seem so odd to me, like ill-fitting teeth.

I don’t know how to fix it, really. People tell me to fight, but I never wanted that. I just wanted to be left alone.

That’s all I still want.

I never wanted to fight, not for me, not for the city, not for anyone. I just wanted to be a normal kid, going to school, cheating on tests, pranking teachers with whoopee cushions and stink bombs, changing the speakers to play “The Macarena” for the recess bells. Competing in gymnastics tournaments, going ice skating at Christmas, studying for finals, going to the circus and watching the jugglers making balls fall in different patterns and acrobats fly across the stadium with every daring leap.

I think my life started to change when Dick’s parents fell those agonising feet to the hard circus floor and collapsed in a silent and unmoving pile of blood and tears and broken bones-

I could never remember which sound was worse- the crunch of their bodies as they collided with the woodwork or Dick’s bawling pleas for them to wake up.

I look down over the city, my city, and I realise that I’ve changed with it. That fast food place had never been there. Neither had that office building. And Wayne Enterprises had never been so large or so brightly lit.

The idea that we are all meant for “something greater” is foolish. Childish, even. The card’s we are dealt are the cards we must play. Thinking you can change your hand is just wishful thinking. I can do anything I want with my metaphorical cards, except change them.

But just because I ‘can’ doesn’t mean I ‘should’.

I leap off the building I was perched on, like a bird, like a bat, and fell the 20 meters into open air so I can open my wings and glide through the streets from far above. I’m on patrol and even though deep thinking and reminiscing is encouraged in our little family, I have work to do.

Work like protecting my city. The city I only ever wanted to see from the streets and pathways with my feet firmly rooted to the ground. Only wanted to watch the heroes beat up criminals and stop crime. Only wanted to understand why they did what they did within the safety of my room and four walls.

But I found out too much, got in too deep and I had to change everything about myself in order to survive.

An alarm goes off and I land, searching for the disturbance. The Gotham city bank has its windows smashed and lights flashing. My eyepiece detects 12 armoured men, 8 armed hostiles, 4 unarmed and shovelling stacks of money into duffle bags to be loaded onto a cart then shoved in the back of a van.

An average bank robbery then. Nothing interesting.

I stand on the edge of the roof, five seconds away from dropping off and gliding to the bank to smash through a window and land on the ground.

Gunfire explodes through the air, the scent of gunpowder strong, even from here.

A flaming arrow flies through a window and screams could be heard as it burst inside. Heat and whistles on my right and a flaming woman is carrying a rowdy redhead by his shoulders. He’s shooting arrows into the building. Roy and Kori

A whistle on my left and Red Hood lands a few feet from me. “We got this covered” Came through my com and a salute is the only recognition I get as Jason jumps off the building to follow Arsenal and Starfire, guns already firing.

I can’t be bothered telling him to go in non-lethal.

I wonder when that changed?

I shrug it off, instead spinning on my heel and talking off in the other direction.

Almost double checking to make sure I the Outlaws are alright, I soar through the musky Gotham air to land on a perch far enough away that the sounds of gunshots and screaming were just a distant memory. I can’t be bothered checking to see if they can handle it. I never have. I wonder now if that’s weird. Shouldn’t I be concerned for my brother and his merry band of renegades?

No. Jason has never been the type to need people to worry about him. He would never appreciate it. He would much rather solve his problems with bullet casings and fists, only worrying about the damage done to his bloodied knuckles after the fact.

I’m on a fire escape, perched on the ladders top rung of unit 486. The sound of car alarms and sirens echo far below me, the gunshots from Jason’s position disappearing on the wind.

I can hardly see the roads below me. I wonder what it would like to fall, to leap off the building and plummet to a deep and endless slumber before I pull up at the last minute to wind whistling in my ears, leaves and grime flying up to meet me as I land safely on the dirty streets of Gotham.

Although, I have a feeling that if I were to jump, I would hear nothing but the ring of a circus song like the dreaded toll of church bells, the shocked gasping of the audience like a tidal wave of despair and the screams of my brother like an oncoming storm as he finds me in a pool of my own blood and broken bones and begs me to wake up.

I wonder how Dick can fly the way he does when everyone he loves is always falling.

I have a feeling he doesn’t do it very well.

There is always a blank hesitation behind his confident eyes when he sees one of us leap off a building too merrily, before his eyes sparkle as though the darkness had never been there in the first place when he assuredly follows us down to the rapidly approaching pavement with a bright smile plastered on his face like a galaxy of stars.

A scream echoes from an alleyway, and I let go of the ladder to fly towards it. A flash of yellow and green soars past me before I could, and I watch as the last flecks of Damian’s costume disappear behind the walls of the alley. I hear the quick hiss of blades and the glinting of swords in the darkness.

I used to worry that Damian would tarnish the name of Robin, like reddening rust ghosting over diligently polished steel. But now I know that he can use whatever he wants because Robin needed to change.

For better or for worse, I could never decide.

The screaming had stopped, replaced with hushed thank you’s and the zing of Damian’s grapple. I didn’t bother looking, didn’t bother listening for the police sirens of police cars when the GCPD finally come down. It was always funny to watch them rage over how the bat-brats had taken another catch, but I wasn’t in the mood tonight.

I just wanted this night to be over so I could fall into the dark embrace of my bed and stop thinking.

That could mean one of two things, I realise now.

It could mean falling into the warm folds of my covers, the blissful softness that my pillows allow and the peaceful silence that is an empty Wayne Manor in the much too early hours of the morning. It could mean a night of heavenly darkness and the forgotten moments between falling asleep and waking up, or the cosy afterglow of a successful night of patrol that leads to comforting dreams full of soft colours and cloud jumping like a blessing from Hypnos.

Or it could mean the agonizing screaming as my own mortality rushes up to meet me, the darkness enveloping me like a suffocating and unescapable gas that takes my breath away and turns the world chrome. It could mean falling into sleeps warm embrace, only to have my doom reach me and to never wake up again, or to have everything that makes me who I am ripped away like paper in a shredder until I literally do stop thinking and my body dissolves into the ether.

The concrete floor looks in inviting, like a spring-loaded pad for a gymnastics trick.

Looking around, I realise that everything I can see is… momentary? The buildings, the statues, the cars, the roads, the homes, the families- all temporary.

Nothing ever seems to stay the same. Thinks are always changing. Always decaying.

Everything is temporary.

My life is temporary.

I’m temporary.

I’m flying before I know it, sailing through the dark skies. Maybe I’ll see Bruce on patrol. Maybe Alfred convinced him to stay in. Maybe Dick took on the cowl and became the Dark Knight for the midnight hours.

No, I see his bright blues flipping around and showing off to the stars. I can help but laugh as I hear his whoops of joy as he relishes the freedom he has when he is out here, in the darkness, with nobody but the cosmos and the smiling eyes of the dead watching him from their place in the sky.

I touch down on a construction site to watch him, one that hadn’t seen work in months due to Gotham’s poor weather and unsanitary conditions.

It’s Gotham. What else do you expect?

I watch Dick twist and turn until he summersaults high into the air and falls down over the edge of a roof, the manic giggling of an over-excitable child echoing through the street. At least he enjoys these late nights. At least he’s ok.

My com beeps, and a message quietly comes through. It’s Bruce.

“Quiet night tonight.” Same tired, gravelly voice. At least that hasn’t changed. “Come back in half an hour and maybe you can get an extra hours sleep tonight.”

“Affirmative.”

“Okie Dokie!”

“Of course, Father.”

“We clocked out ages ago. Night B.”

“I’m just doing some late night jumps. I’ll be home soon. Don’t wait up for me.”

“Yes, sir. Steph, who say ‘okie dokie’ ever?”

“I do, Cass! It’s funny. Make fun of Harper! Who the hell says ‘affirmative”?

“Shut it blondie, a superior came into work today and I had to say that about 50 times. I’m stuck in the mode.”

“Sure Harpo, if that’s what you’re telling people.”

“I swear to god Steph don’t make me zap you- “

“Girls! That’s enough.”

The same routine. Out of all the things in my life that are changing, I hope this isn’t one of them. I hope this is the one, everlasting constant.

I don’t need to reply. They know I’m here, know that I’m too tired to care and too tired to speak. I can only think. Sometimes, I feel like my own thoughts are my own undoing.

My “Kryptonite” as Kon would say. He would laugh. I’d just roll my eyes and silently agree.

My life is an hourglass. Constantly turning and turning, grains falling towards the end, only to be swept up and turned around to start again in a continuous pattern of pain and fear and suffering as my grains of sand reached the very last turn.

It is a blinking star. In one cosmic moment, I will be blown out like a candle wick by the universe and have everything end around me like the snuffing of a flame as the world ends to a gruesome and non-existent chalk.

It is an ocean. Waves come in to rip away any fleeting moment that might bring any sort of light, any happiness and just drags it back out to drown in the murky depths and transform into a nightmare of despair and overpowering fear.

It is a storm. Clouds draw me in with the enticing of sweet melodies and sunshine, warping into a dark and painful scream as I try to claw my way through the sickly sweet explosions of both distress and melancholy as the eye swallows me whole.

My life is the blink of an eye.

Soon, it will be 2050 and I’ll still be the same person and I don’t know if I’ll be happy then or if I’ll just be the same as I always have been.

Full of highs and lows.

But my life isn’t all bad.

Of course, it’s mostly full of lows, lows so deep that sometimes I can never see myself crawling out. But where the lows are bleak and deadly, there are always highs that float me back towards the light.

My life is a fireplace. Flames that lick and burn, I am the warm and deadly encounter when you get too close, comforting and secure in the way I glow. I am the heat that radiates off of wooden logs and crackles in your ears like a softly spoken melody.

It is a cup of coffee. An exponentially warm porcelain that you hold in your hand and keeps you company on cold nights alone in the dark or mornings where your only company is the rising sun. I am the steam that rises up to fog your glasses, obscuring your sight of what you don’t want to see.

It is a stream. A babbling brook, flowing in a constant and reassuring pattern from the beginning to the end, gentle and soft in the roaring of the soft lapping waves as you dip your feet into the water and the cool and calming nature runs between your toes.

It is a book. Different with every page you turn, yet more and more of the same. I am the gasping amazement and the soft tears that blur the words as you turn faster and faster to get to the end and find out why you picked up the book in the first place.

I’m tired, but I don’t care. I want to stay with my city the little while longer.

My city, more earth than air. Soil and trees reaching up to the clouds and snow peaked mountains and mist in your lungs. It’s tangible.

All my life, I had thought that when I die, I will go somewhere like this. Somewhere tangible. But what if there is no afterlife? What if I don’t go anywhere? What if I just… stop?

I try not to think like that, but sometimes doubt creeps up on me.

My com beeps, and I don’t even need to answer to know it’s Dick. “Hey Timmy,” he yawned, fondness dripping through his voice like warm honey, “Why don’t you come home now?”

“Give me 5.”

“Sure. I’ll leave your window open. See you when you get home Tim.”

The city expanded out before me, and I free fell off the scaffolding until I am at a distance to the floor so I can open my wings, wind whipping through my hair and whistling through my ears like the Pied Piper.

The streets are empty. Shutters are closed and lights are off in homes. A baby cries every now and again, and a parent’s grumble is the only reply as they get out of their warm and cosy bed to tend to their bundle of joy.

These people, the ones behind the closed shutters and darkened rooms are the ones I fight for. The reason I stick around and fight.

Death has never been something I have wanted, but it is all around me. It follows me like an inky mist that will one-day swallow me whole and reunite me with those I have lost. Even though death is such a common thing, I still want to save others from that fate.

I still want to fight for my right to live. I still want to fight for the life I deserve. I still want to fight for my family, for the ones I love.

I still want to fight to keep my head above the water.

It's been a slow night for me. I think I might head home.

The lights of the Manor were on when I get there, illuminating the house like a beacon. A beacon of hope in the dark night. How ironic.

Sliding in through my bedroom window, I could smell Alfred’s hot chocolate from the kitchen.

If I didn’t have any reason for me to exist before, there is no way I’m missing out of a cup of Alfie’s hot chocolate.

I can hear Dick laughing, the keys on the piano playing a soft melody through the marbled foyers. The chandelier is working again, light spilling in through the gap beneath my door. Harper must have fixed it. Clapping and feet stomping on the floor and Damian’s strangled but laughed protests give way that the girls are trying to get Damian to dance. Fat chance.

A tentative knock on my door and some shuffling bring me out of my reverie. “Hey Tim, you in there?” It’s Cullen. Harper must have brought him on her way home. “I think I heard you come in. If you are, I was just asking if you wanted to come down and join us? Alfred is making hot chocolate and Dick convinced Bruce to play the piano. It’s really fun.” A pause “If you’re not there, I suppose I’m just talking to myself, huh?” Silence and retreating footsteps. He’s a good kid.

I’d better go and join them.

Life is only a temporary thing in the great span of the universe. Once the Grim Reaper comes to welcome me, I will greet death as the old friend that it is. But until then, the world still needs a little bit more Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne.

And I will still be here to give the world what it needs. I never wanted to change. But after a night of reflection?

I’m glad I have.

Because I’m nothing if not a Bat. And Bats?

Bats never give up

Hi! So, this is a gift to @identityconstellations , who was feeling a little down and existential, so I thought I would write this to cheer her up. If Tim turned out suicidal, that was not the intention, so I apologise. I love you Stell x I used her words from a conversation we had and tried to incorporate it. This is also the first time I’ve ever written a 1st-person perspective fic, and I have to say that I’m actually really proud. I know it’s shit, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. (Thanks to @zinziinziiin and @the-casual-cheesecake for attempting to edit this monstrosity. I know I fucked it up and ruined Tim, but I hope I fixed it somewhat) Bye!

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bonniebird · 7 years ago

Text

Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern (Part Two - The little wooden soldier)

AN: So this will contain MAJOR spoilers for people who haven’t read the books. Also this is super au in the fact that Jonathan is way, way out of character.

You guys seemed to like the first part so I’ll keep the parts I have and post them and then if it gets more popular I might write newer parts.

Amyelia was jerked awake by a horrible grinding noise, a panic rose in her stomach as the lock on the front door began to shake violently and hushed voices filled the air.

Unsure of what to do Amyelia rose to her feet and waited. As soon as the door handle dropped to the floor Amyelia ran from the living room and into the bedroom. Several footsteps echoed through the loft, Amyelia crawled onto her stomach and slid herself under the bed.

There was barely enough room for her to breath, just as she was out of sight the bedroom door burst open and four feet, clad in black leather boots, walked across the floor stopping mere inches from Amyelia's face. She covered her mouth to stop a terrified scream slipping past her lips.

"Alec you said we'd find him here." The set of feet to the left of the room stomped towards the door closely followed by the second pair. Amyelia let out a quiet sigh of relief as the door started to shut.

"Wait Jace." The second pair of feet returned and Amyelia closed her eyes praying silently that they wouldn't find her, the sound of metal scraping against wood forced Amyelia to jerk her eyes open.

A pair of piercing blue eyes framed by dark, black hair were gazing at her, a second set of blue eyes joined them. No one moved and Amyelia swore she could feel the seconds pass by.

"Who are you?" The dark haired boy asked. Amyelia whimpered and attempted to shuffle away from the boys but found she had nowhere to go. Panic washed over Amyelia as the dark haired boy attempted to reach for her. The second boy vanished causing Amyelia to divert her attention from the boys grabbing hands and follow the footsteps of the other boy who was now stood next to her.

The bed slid across the room Amyelia attempted to shuffle along with it, but was grabbed by the second boy just before she could escape his grasp.

"Get off me!" Amyelia screamed trying desperately to get the boy to let go but no matter which way she twisted his grasp on her didn't loosen. The black haired boy crossed the room in a few steps a silvery blade glinting in his hand, Amyelia snapped her eyes shut refusing to take in the scene before her.

She was stupid enough to trust another human being with her life. A surprised cry filled the air and the next thing Amyelia knew she was flung hard against the wall as the boy who was holding her was ripped away from her.

Jonathan had arrived and he looked furious.

He threw the blond boy out of the room and held a blade menacingly towards him.

"GET OUT WAYLAND." The boy was about to dive for Jonathan but the dark haired boy pulled him out of the building, as soon as he was sure the pair had gone Jonathan hurried over to where Amyelia was cowering and dropped to his knees.

"I'm sorry." He whispered he went to pull Amyelia into a hug but hesitated.

"What happened?" Amyelia asked wincing as she tried to stand up but was forced back down by Jonathan's strong hands, pulling at her arms. He pulled of his jacket and balled it up placing it against Amyelia's head. Amyelia gasped as she took in intricate tattoos that were visible through his white t-shirt, she blushed when she saw the satisfied smirk on Jonathan's face.

"Jace Wayland... he's not to be trusted, I thought we were safe here." Ameyelia didn't press the matter any further for two reasons. One Jonathan looked so angry, Amyelia began to wonder if he'd have another outburst like he had in the alleyway, the day before and two Jonathan's face was very close to hers and she was starting to notice just how incredibly handsome the fair-haired boy was.

*******

"Jonathans' holding a girl captive." Jace declared as he entered the old police station where Magnus, Luke and the rest of his pack were waiting for the two Shadowhunter's to return.

"You know he's holding her captive or you assume he's holding her captive." Luke asked sternly as he rubbed the top of his nose with his fingers.

"She hid from us, he probably told her were dangerous." Jace snapped back, Luke was getting worried by how continuously Jonathan attempted to get to Jocelyn and how successful he was last time.

He'd managed to get a letter to her, filled with drawings and runes that had Luke stumped but the silent brothers were convinced they were runes that forced Demon's from Mundane bodies. She was now convinced that Sebastian needed her help. Jace however just wanted to kill the boy and Luke couldn't really blame him.

"That's not enough evidence to ask the Clave for backup in retrieving them from the residence Jace, you know this." Luke sighed.

"She's clearly malnourished and In need of a bath... she was locked in the building, if we hadn't known the loft was there we wouldn't have found her until she left." Alec mumbled quietly, his paribati smiled thankfully at him. Luke had to give the pair their dues they were still hurting over the loss of Max, Robert had left Maryse after Izzy had been badly injured during a patrol. If it wasn't for Clary's runes she would have died.

"That's better, boy's you need to wait until I get orders from the clave to bring him in, he's sick... I know what he did, it hurt us all but you need to be rational about this." Luke fixed Jace with a hard stare before hurrying off with Magnus informing him of what he was planning to do.

******

"Jonathan, it's stopped bleeding, I'm ok really." Amyelia smiled gently at Jonathan who was fussing over the wound she'd received after being rammed into the wall.

"I didn't mean for you to get hurt..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and sank back into the sofa making Amyelia bounce on the uneven springs, a silver chain caught her eye and before she could stop herself she pulled on it.

A small wooden toy soldier in a tiny glass jar was suspended from the chain. Jonathan pulled it off and let Amyelia inspect the detailed toy soldier, decorated with detailed marks similar to Jonathan's tattoos. He watched her, carefully ignoring the images Sebastian showed him.

"It belonged to... a friend." His voice rumbled darkly a sign, Amyelia had come to realise in her short time with Jonathan that meant she was pushing her luck. She smiled and quickly dropped the toy into his open palm.

"It's very beautiful." She muttered, Jonathan was still for what seemed like hours but was only a few seconds before leaning over and placing the toy around her neck.

"I use it as a reminder; I won't be like my father... I will never hurt people I love like he did, not again." His eyes lingered on the toy and Amyelia could see something dark flickering inside Jonathan's black eyes.

She reacted without thinking and leaned across the sofa, pressing her lips to his. She wasn't sure what to do next as she'd never kissed someone before and Jonathan seemed to freeze and stiffen complete which made her panic a little.

As she began to pull away one of his hands tangled into her hair pulling her face back to his, his lips brushed against hers waiting for her to respond to him, her body obeyed without her control as his other hand wrapped itself around her waist and pulled her against him. He pulled away suddenly and stood up still Holding Amyelia tightly to his well-toned chest.

"Stay close to me." He commanded with such authority that his body seamed to vibrate. Amyelia nodded as he pushed her behind him. The front door burst of its hinges as Jonathan pulled two short blades out from under the small coffee table, they began to glow when he muttered something to them. Amyelia clutched tightly to Jonathan as the Jace boy stepped into the room, closely followed by the woman from the photo in Jonathan's bedroom.

Within seconds Amyelia could see the resemblance's between the woman and her rescuer. He looked just like her, but his eyes were black, and his hair was blond. She was wearing a simple green dress that stopped below her knees, her neck was covered in licks of black markings like Jonathan's.

"Jonathan, please calm down... give me the girl." She smiled gently and held a hand out expectantly. Jonathan took a step back and tucked an arm around Amyelia shielding her from the intruders view.

"NO, why are you here." He snapped trying to herd Amyelia towards the door which was now unguarded.

"You're sick Jonathan, the silent brothers read your papers and Luke's at the Halls now... Maryse, she doesn't forgive you but she understands that you weren't acting as yourself...please son let me help you." The woman began to cry as Jonathan backed away from her advancing steps.

"He doesn't touch her." Jonathan said dangerously pointing a blade at Jace who was leaning lazily against the wall.

"She goes back to her family." Jace snapped slowly. Amyelia clutched at Jonathan who twitched as if trying to stop himself from moving.

"No, she stays with me." Jonathan said forcefully, the lady indicated for Jace to leave who did after hesitating and muttering he'd be outside the door and sat down on the sofa causing Jonathan to back up across the room away from her.

"Jonathan, may I talk to the girl, please." She asked kindly, the warmth in her smile was the same Amyelia felt while under the gaze of Jonathan. The boy hesitated and glanced at Amyelia who was staring in fascination at the lady.

"If she wants to talk to you." Jonathan's reply caught the woman by surprise, she watched with wide eyed fascination as Jonathan turned to face Amyelia.

"Don't leave." She squeaked, Jonathan nodded and pushed Amyelia in front of him but wrapped an arm around her waist possessively. The green eyed woman took this as a good sign and smiled at the girl hoping she would relax.

"What's your name darling?" Amyelia was surprised by the simple question.

"Amyelia... but Jonathan calls me Amy" She whispered. The green eyed woman smiled in delight.

"I'm Jocelyn and I'm the resident Shadowhunter of Brooklyn, were taking Jonathan to the New York Institute Maryse Lightwood is in charge there and has a room for you... has he told you anything about us?" Amyelia frowned and shook her head, Jocelyn nodded and carried on. "Right, well then why are you here?" Jocelyn asked bluntly.

"Father sent hunters after me; Jonathan saved me and let me stay here." Amyelia felt Jonathan's body move closer to her as if his closeness could shield her from the pain her memories were causing her. Jocelyn's eyes grew wide.

"Your father... he works for Raphael?" The Shadowhunter asked with a new found urgency. Amyelia nodded.

"He's sort of my uncle I guess, but he doesn't believe I should be under my father's care." Amyelia explained. Jocelyn turned to Jonathan and smiled.

"She is the vampire, Nephlim hybrid that your father spoke of... I didn't believe her birth was any more than a myth but we can take her with us if she would like to be trained... but if she wants to leave you need to let her." He face turned stern and Jonathan's arm tightened around Amyelia's waist, she could feel him leaning into her, inhaling her scent.

"I'll come with you, its ok." Amyelia whispered to him relived that he'd relaxed at her words. Jonathan dropped his head onto Amyelia's neck and watched Jocelyn leave; the pair could hear her talking to Jace. Once she was out of sight Jonathan tilted Amyelia's face to his and let his lips brush against hers.

"I wouldn't let you go any way Amy." She tensed as Jonathan's dark eyes flashed dangerously.

#jonathan morgenstern #jonathan christopher morgenstern #jonathan morgenstern x reader

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wenttworth · 8 years ago

Text

I’ve had this written for a couple of months now (along with like 3k more words for it). Basically, I like a lot of the role reversal AUs out there but definitely prefer those where they’re not entirely switched (Viktor didn’t idolise Yuuri throughout his career and is a lot more successful than Yuuri). Hopefully I’ll continue it properly (one part for each episode???maybe???) but also I know myself it’s very likely that it won’t happen.

REVERSE AU

Pt 1 || Pt 2

It was Makkachin who decided for Viktor, in the end. He’d been struggling to stay awake whilst watching the stream of the Japanese National competitions to keep an eye on his fellow competitors, and when the last competitor flew over the ice to begin his short programme, he was dozing off with his head between Makkachin’s shoulder blades.

Whether by some sixth sense possessed only by the most astute of animals (of which Makkachin certainly was) or just because a bird happened to fly past the window, Makkachin bounded up and began barking, and by the time Viktor had calmed him and his hand was firmly around his muzzle he was wide awake again. The figure on the screen captivated him immediately.

He was aware of Katsuki Yuuri, as a fellow, more senior, solid, though not necessarily incandescent, competitor (a word that had been used several times for Viktor’s own performances). But something had always held him back from really paying attention. He’d never even properly studied his skating, though his background in ballet meant his step sequences were the envy of the entire community. Simply put, he was an entirely different skater from Viktor, who prided himself on his flawless jumps and brushed the step sequences under the rug even though Yakov always criticised him for it.

In all honesty, Viktor had never felt he had a reason to improve his step sequences. He still finished on the podium every time he competed, had a notable string of gold medals and trophies nestled between his silvers and bronzes. But with his heart almost pounding out of his chest and his eyes fixated on the screen as Makkachin gave muffled yips through Viktor’s hands, he knew what he wanted. He wanted to make people feel the same way he did right now, to tell a story rather than just astonish people with his daring leaps.

Katsuki Yuuri didn’t always make the cut for Grand Prix or Worlds, and Viktor had always been preparing alone or being interviewed when he was on the ice if they did compete together, but Viktor knew that if they competed one after the other, Viktor’s performance would be lackluster and shallow compared to this.

“How crazy would it be?” Viktor asked Makkachin as Katsuki Yuuri made his final pose looking directly at the camera with a seductive quirk at one corner of his mouth, and Viktor swallowed, trying to ignore the heat that rose to his face. When he made his way to the kiss and cry, Viktor let out a (quiet) wail, falling onto his back and pulling Makkachin onto his chest. “Would Yakov be angry? Disappointed? I wouldn’t be able to stand disappointing him, Makkachin.”

Makkachin snuffled at his neck before giving him a sloppy kiss.

“Ok, let’s work through this logically. I have money. I’m only twenty-three so it’s ok if I make mistakes. And if it turns out to be a complete mistake I can always come home and ask Yakov to take me back.”

Makkachin whined and Viktor grinned. “We’re going to Japan, Makkachin.”

It took a few weeks to get Makkachin vetted, his furniture put into storage and to work out where Yuuri would be. He was surprised when the research revealed that Yuuri had now officially retired--although he was four years older than Viktor his masterful performances suggested he probably still had a season or two left in him--but it was also the best-case scenario. What better time to start coaching than just as he retired? He wouldn’t have to give up the lifestyle, perhaps even relax and take in the scenery without the stress of competing. And Viktor, even though at the older end of the spectrum at this stage, was still a rising star. He was sure anyone would want to coach him.

Although his resolve was set, it was still difficult to tell Yakov, who’d been his coach for a little less than a decade. In fact, Viktor almost cried when he told him, and insisted again and again that it was nothing against his coaching, he just needed Katsuki Yuuri to teach him how emotions could be felt through skating.

Which was a little like he was telling Yakov that he was a robot, but no matter. He promised he would stay in touch, gratefully accepted when Yakov offered to drive him to the airport to see him off, and clung to him with a hug before saying goodbye.

“I hope you realise that you’re risking a lot here, Vitya,” he said, and Viktor rolled his eyes. “I’m serious. Katsuki has never coached before, has never been consistent in his winning and has real problems with his nerves.”

“I’m not asking him to coach me to be technically perfect. I can do that by myself.” Probably the wrong thing to say, as Yakov went an unhealthy colour somewhere between red and purple. “I need him to teach me how to make people feel through my skating. When… when I watched him skate, I felt something. Here.” He pointed at his chest.

“I hope you’re not throwing away your career because you’ve gotten a crush,” Yakov growled.

Viktor laughed lightly. “It’s already gone past that,” he said, before giving his ex-coach a final hug. “I know you can get me to the top, Yakov. But I want more than that,” he said in his ear, before kissing his cheek and pulling away.

Yakov was still the unhealthy colour, and Viktor was sure that he could hear angry shouting all the way up in the air.

Viktor arrived at precisely ten in the morning after generously tipping the taxi driver who had somehow understood Viktor’s halting Japanese and helped him unload his various suitcases even as Makkachin yapped and leapt around him. It was a beautiful building nestled in greenery and the beach close enough that seagulls cried above him. He walked into the main room--it felt a bit odd to walk into someone’s home, but it was also an inn into which he needed to book.

“Need to make a good first impression, Makkachin,” he said, and for once Makkachin seemed to listen, not leaping onto the small woman who greeted them with reckless abandon.

“Hi!” he said, opting for English as the safest language. He gave the woman a beaming smile. It was well-practiced; he could always make older women fall for his long hair and smile. “I’m Viktor Nikiforov. I’m here to ask Katsuki Yuuri to be my skating coach!”

She paused, frowning before nodding. “I will get Yuuri. Meanwhile, would you like the onsen?” she said in accented English.

“Onsen?”

She paused again. “Hot springs.”

He’d only been in Japan a couple of times, once for a competition, and once when his connecting flight was delayed a couple of days, and the hot springs were always something he wanted, but never had time for. “I’d love to!” he said, beaming again, and the woman’s eyes softened.

Another member of staff approached and led him through the doors to a corridor before telling him through which door the baths were and taking Makkachin’s collar with a quick scratch behind his ears. “We can keep an eye on the dog out here,” she said.

“Thank you,” Viktor said. “He’s very friendly.”

By the time he’d washed off the grimy feel of too many hours on a plane from his skin and hair, and relaxed into the warmth of the spring, his muscles were turning into useless jelly and his eyes almost closing. He could get used to this, could only just imagine how good it would feel when soothing the ache of hours of practice. Katsuki Yuuri was lucky to have grown up with this in his back garden.

It startled him when the door flew open and Yuuri almost tripped as he came into view, looking at Viktor with an entirely shocked expression on his face. He looked different to how he was on the ice, not as noticeable or stunning as when he brought the attention of the entire public to the lines of his body and the flow of his limbs. He was more homely without the slight squint that, though most people assumed was to channel even more sexiness into his routine, Viktor was fairly sure was because he couldn’t see clearly enough. His coat was thick enough to ward off the chill from the snowfall hid his slim waist and the curve of his hips, but Viktor knew them well enough.

Viktor was almost as shocked. He’d expected to have an hour or so to prepare exactly what he was going to say.

He stood up and held out his hand. “Yuuri!” he called out in greeting. “Starting from today, I’m your student!”

----

#vikturi #victuuri #yuri on ice #viktor nikiforov #my writing #katsuki yuuri #reverse au

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seedy250 · 8 years ago

Text

Wiring motorcycle fog lights through gritted teeth.

This winter I have found a couple of occasions when I have been in riding conditions that have made me clench a lot more than just my fists.

I couldn’t see the road edge in the dark. I couldn’t see the road edge in the fog. I couldn’t see the road edge in the snow. Or all of them at once. Car brake lights refracted over everything and I was mildly concerned that I was not half as visible as I would have liked to be. So I decided to remedy that.

So... I spent hours on the internet mentally preparing myself for the task and found there are two main areas of discussion: which light and how to wire them.

Which light? Lights are so cheap, just buy something from China and try them. I got something from Amazon that was less than a fiver. It arrived eventually with a corner of the box caved in and the shortest lead on the back but I tied it direct to the bike battery and it looked muy bright.

As I said, this is for fog: both seeing the side of the road and being seen. So I wanted a rear (red) light as well to make me more visible. As luck would have it I had a £3.00 Ring trailer light in the garage. I tried that on the battery too, also blinding. So far so good.

Then we come to the wiring.

I have a Honda Silvering 600 superduper scooter. It is the least cool bike on the road. It may not even class as a bike. I don’t care. It’s great.

Until you want to wire in some fog lights.

So having wasted hours online looking at wiring diagrams and forum posts and trying to understand relays and hot leads and reading endless comments about being careful and getting a professional to do it, I took the path of DIY least resistance and clicked “buy now” on the:

Complete Spot / Fog Light Wiring Loom Harness Kit with On/Off Switch For Motorbikes / Motorcycles / Quads Sold by Alchemy Parts for a cheeky £26.99.

It had good(ish) reviews and there are a couple of shaky YouTube videos of people installing it. They all seemed to think it was OK and fairly straightforward. Lying b@st&rds.

Now I’m guessing that you, my one reader, have made it this far because you too have bought this kit and ended up staring at it and wanting to weep hot salty tears of frustration. (If you have bought one and are not weeping, you are a hard individual indeed.)

I wept on the inside, then decided to HTFU and get on with it.

Here’s the kit and lights. So full of promise. So unexplained.

The first thing I did was make a cup of tea. With it in hand I looked at the “instructions”.

Having scrutinised them I realised they were not instructions at all but clues to the frustrations ahead. To save you the suspense they are...

Nothing on how to attach crimp-on waterproof connectors. Or anything else for that matter

Colour co-ordination not actually co-ordinated (yes, my white lead now does not connect to white)

Female-to-female and male-to-male connections. Wait, what?

Slight problem (for me) with getting a front fog light connector to reach the rear mudguard

Slight problem getting the battery connector to the battery which is under the seat, terminals on the inside.

And all the usual setbacks that befall the common-or-garden diy mechanic.

If you are a Silverwing owner I don’t have to tell you about stripping the bodywork but if you ride something *normal*, you are missing out. Really.

Here’s the stripped Wang with the loom laid out. I decided to connect the lights while my brain worked out a plan of attack.

Let’s talk about the connectors. You get two crimpable pins, an empty connector body and a green wedge.

And no instructions on the process to get them together. Can’t be that hard.

The body fits into the loom and is handily numbered 1 and 2 to help get the right leads together. I used the extension flex to judge length, stripped the wires on the front fog (now down to about six inches) and wondered how it all fits together.

Ah-hah, thinks I, wires in body, crimp on pins and snugly fit in. All the write ups say “don’t use pliers”, so I didn’t. I used my Halfords stripping and crimping tool. It was useless. I used pliers.

Ta-dah. Oh. That didn’t work. I realise that the idea is to push the pins through the red rubbery orifices (i.e from the back and through) then use the green wedge to seat them in place. that’s just the sort of thing that would be handy to have written down, in something we could call “instructions” for instance. Hmmm.

Crimpy pins looking a bit shagged once I got them off again. Another dry run and it looks like the already short (red/black) cable needs to be shorter. Snip, snip, strip, strip, crimp, crimp, shove, shove. Seems to fit...

I must have been so pleased that I forgot to take a pic. Imagine that there are two pins sticking out in the next picture. You shove them in really firmly (really firmly) as above and I think they depress two tiny tabs so you can slide in the green wedge. (Trust me, this will make sense if you have the kit.)

Oh yes, the green wedge goes in this way up. Working that out was quite a chore. Don’t thank me.

Shove this into the other connector to seat everything and that is a major hurdle over. You could now use a multimeter to check if it works but, I don’t know how to and as I’m on a roll now I just hope it works. And stop for lunch.

If you are still with me, thank you. At this point I was excited. The lights were connected to the loom, the loom was on the floor, the bike bodywork was scattered about the garage, the wiring diagram bore little relation to reality and I was about to start the bit I’d been putting off.

I find in any job there is something I am putting off and I find numerous other things to do to avoid this one aspect. In this job it was choosing which wire to splice the switch cable into.

I’d been looking and thinking and researching and worrying and generally not getting on with it. It needs to be a “hot” wire that is triggered by the ignition. Whilst I can say that last sentence, I only sort of understand it but I am not certain about it.

I realised once that this was done the rest of it would fall into place, so I grew some balls and got on with it.

Just looking at the wiring at the front of the bike made me feel a bit nervous. Maybe a cup of tea first.

That’s a big bundle of wires that look like they are not keen on being poked with. Internet to the rescue: when searching I found this link to Honda’s universal wiring colours. Thank you Honda, thank you.

For some reason I’d thought to splice into the driving lights but became waylaid by a post about the indicator hot wire colours and took the plunge on using the orange-coloured indicator wire (if you are slapping your forehead, you are over qualified for this post, leave now).

So, yes that wire strippy clip thing. I had looked at the instructions - I mean “the clues” - and sort of got it. See...

“The positive wire of the parker side light”. See? No, nor me, yet.

The clip needs a tiny screwdriver to open the lid of it. If you worked that out from the picture, you’re a better man than I. I thought the picture was of Eurotunnel or something. Anyway you prise open the little red “clip” and it should look like this

The bike wire lies parallel in that channel, the metal blades bite into the wire and make a connection. The naysayers say nay to this as it will cause “electrical gremlins” in 18 months time. (Roald Dahl came up with gremlins, interesting fact).

Anyway, I had planned a very robust soldering in - it may yet happen - but I want to know if the damn things work and it’s been three hours now. I clip it on the orange cable. Nothing catches fire, so that’s a success.

I connected the battery leads fed to battery with crocodile clips for easy connection. The loom now runs to the connected front light, the second light connection (my rear light) is doubled back and the flex from an old pressure washer connected.

At the rear the flex is twisted onto rear light leads. A screwdriver handle is shoved between the rear light leads for insulation. Honestly. You’ll see in a minute.

In the excitement I had attached the switch to the handlebar which was easy enough to fit (but did later involve sawing off about an inch of the plastic handlebar cover). I opted for the left side.

Finally I had to work out which lead went to the switch and which went to the hot wire. To test this I pulled back the plastic covers and held the ends together with offcuts of wire.

I know, I know but the instructions/clues suggest that this white cable attaches to a white cable, I get that. However. Both white cable ends have a female connector. The male connector is on a black lead.

I had to see if it worked and they still had the same-sex connectors on and I didn’t want to get in to splicing and soldering until I was sure..

I try to think through it logically but it doesn’t make sense. I just think I’ve got a wrong lead. To save time I rig up the bodgiest of bodges to test it.

The most hokey circuit was ready. It was amateur even by my standards. I put the key in and turned the ignition on. No flames yet. I turned on the main lights, paused, then flipped the switch.

Nothing happened. Sigh.

Just what I feared. I thought about it for a bit (that is, made a cup of tea) and went and got my multimeter. I was planning to test the draw on the battery although I was not quite sure how, my plan was to attach the probes and twiddle the dial until something happened. As I walked back to the garage I remember that the crocodile leads weren’t great.

I tested the battery 11.3v, battery is OK.

I tested the current through the leads 0v. Hurrah.

I got new crocodile leads (from a beginners electronics set, I believe. It was a bit advanced for me). Now we had current in the circuit.

Ignition....lights....fog lights....nothing.

Then a dim light went on in my skull. At least one bulb was working, ho ho. I’d connected the switch to the indicators not the main lights. I hit the indicator...

LET THERE BE LIGHT(S)

(See, I told you there was a screwdriver holding the rear leads apart. The cardboard strip on the floor is all the fixings required to put the Silverwing’s front bodywork on. Madness.)

So, there we are. It works. The right wires are were connected and I was mightily pleased. I made a cup of tea.

Actually I realised that I needed bigger heat shrink than I had and also connectors for the cables. So a mad trip round the shops procured an exceptionally expensive box of various diameter shrink tubes but no connectors, so I decided to solder the wires and seal them with the shrink wrap.

That was enough for one night <ripple dissolve to next day>.

So the first task of the day was to get the cables routed through the body so that I could clear a bit of space in the garage and get things tidy for the great solder.

If you own a “normal” bike, that is, something not covered in acres of brittle plastic, dotted with different types of fixings, then this next bit isn’t for you. Lucky sod.

My first attempt employed the old jiggle the coat hanger technique. Got it through, ziptied the cable to it, pulled it back and the cable came off.

So I jiggled the coat hanger back through and tried the old bit of string method

See - a cable attached to some string attached to a coat hanger. Just like they do at a Honda dealership. (Do you like my custom made Silver Wang insignia, it’s unique?)

Obviously this was a rubbish idea and I just thought I’d take the body off. Actually it took less time than expected and threading the cable through this time took approximately 20 seconds. So, kids, don’t cut corners to save time: it’s a loser’s game.

There are loads of gubbins under there but it was actually easy as was putting everything back together. With that all done I cut the cable to length, unfortunately not quite the right length. Not quite to short but almost. Sigh.

Now it was getting exciting. The rear fog needed to have the screw holes slightly widened to fit 5mm Allen bots, as did the holes in the mudguard. Easily achieved with a drill or tap. The front light is in place but will need fine tuning once it’s all set up. So I twisted the wires in place, connected the battery and we still had light. Garage joy.

Next I had to solder the twisted wires together. Something along the lines of:

Cut off random connectors

Put heat shrink sleeve on one wire

Worry that wire’s getting a bit short

Twist bare wires together

Twist all other wires together. One connection at time, or you’ll forget which is which, trust me

Heat soldering iron. Tin tip and remember that on my iron only about 1mm square gets hot enough to melt solder

Try solder. It melts. Hurrah.

Hold soldered tip to connection and happily blob solder all over it before moving iron away

For the first time in many attempts, this works:

Nice, eh? Do the same at rear but this time, thanks to too-short cable, squatting on haunches fumbling in the dark recesses of the bike.

Done. Test lights. Still working.

Go to put heat shrink down. Spot I’ve put one piece up the cable rather than one on each wire. Er, how about I try some insulating tape under the wires...

Test. Still working.

Slide single heat shrink over insulating tape and heat with lighter. Melt stuff.

Do the other two connections. They look, as may be said in South Wales, tidy.

Once everything is done, test the lights. Bingo.

And relax.

At this point the hard part is over. My to-do list for the weekend is:

Zip-tie cables into place

Adjust front light and heat shrink connector. The supplied tube is too small to cover the connector, you might want to taper it like this so it slides over the wires:

I’ve also noticed that you need a really fat piece to go over the other connector. Not quite sure how I’ll tackle that.

Reattach front bike bodywork and screen. Tedious but now not too time consuming

Take it for a ride and make sure it does the job in the dark

All for another day...

#Honda #Silverwing #FJS600 #Wiring #Motorcycle #Auxiliary #Fog #Lights

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