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thegeminisage · 11 months ago

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the tholian web episode rewrite

this post is an episode rewrite of the tholian web, an episode about jim kirk being declared prematurely dead and the enterprise, particularly spock and bones, falling to pieces until his miraculous return as a weird space ghost. i thought this ep was very very very VERY good, it's one of my all-time favs, but the end was really jumbled and didn't quite give me the payoff i wanted, so a summary of the original (which you can skip if you've seen it) plus my suggested fixes are below.

the original

the enterprise, searching for the a missing starship called the defiant, finds it in a weird area of space that is "breaking up." when jim, spock, bones, and chekov beam aboard (in space suits) they find the ship dark and full of the corpses of its crew, who all killed each other in fits of insanity, and the ship threatening to disintegrate with them on it

unfortunately, they can't all be beamed back at the same time, and jim of course insists on being last, so when the ship does disintegrate ("interphases" into another dimension), it takes him with it - with only 4 hours of air left in his space suit

because scifi, spock works out that they can get jim back if they hold perfectly still until the dimensions interphase again. but this is an episode where every possible thing goes wrong - the area of space is slowly driving the crew insane and hostile, and titular tholians show up to fire on the enterprise for being in their space past the time they said they needed initially for their rescue of kirk

spock fires back, hoping to preserve what little chance they have of saving jim, but the battle not only damages the enterprise, it also (somehow) damages the area of space they were supposed to rescue jim from, which means they have no choice to declare him dead, AND the tholians come back to start weaving some kind of forcefield (the titular web) to prevent the enterprise from leaving

btw: bones HATES this. he thinks staying to fight was stupid because they'd already lost jim and now they're going to make his death meaningless because the rest of the crew will die too. he thinks spock not emoting is heartless, and asking him to find a cure for something that isn't a disease is unreasonable. he accuses spock of being a selfish short-sighted gloryhound, etc

after kirk's funeral (baller scene; it is interrupted by yet another person erupting in screaming), bones INSISTS on watching kirk's "last orders," a tape he made prior to his death meant to be played only in the event of his passing. once bones gets spock alone, he demands to know why spock stayed and fought instead of getting jim's crew to safety like he would have wanted. spock sort of gives a nonanswer and they start fighting again, but they get interrupted by kirk's tape, which basically urges them to get along - for bones to respect spock's ability to captain and for spock to trust bones's human intuition. after the tape finishes, there's a long silence, and bones apologizes

meanwhile, uhura has seen a ghostly image of captain kirk appear in her mirror. she runs out of the room yelling for spock, but finds bones instead, who chalks it up to the space sickness having gotten her. but more and more people report seeing kirk, until finally bones and spock start arguing about it - bones even spins spock around in his captain's chair to face him when he feels spock isn't taking his concerns seriously, and then has to apologize - spock replies, "i'm sure the captain would have said, 'forget it, bones.'"

at this point kirk finally appears on the bridge. spock tries to touch him but can't, though you can see kirk mouth "spock, hurry!"

things finally start going right: bones develops a cure for the insanity and the engines are repaired. they manage to get away from the tholian web and bring jim along with them.

at the end of the episode jim asks if they watched his last orders. at a single exchanged glance bones and spock decide to lie about it, and promise him they behaved perfectly well in his absence

but in MY version...

the problems

again, this ep is one of my all-time favs, but it's full and jumbled near the end. the setup was excellent, and the payoff was REALLY good, but it could have been even better.

the biggest issue was the stakes. tos loooves fake time limits and other arbitrary problems to up the stakes, but this is going way overboard. jim has 4 hours of air left in his suit AND the engines are busted from the fight AND the space is making the ship act weird AND the tholians are closing their web AND interphase only happens at random intervals AND the crew might not even be able to drive the damn ship because they're going nuts...there's so many stakes you kind of forget what you're supposed to be worried about

secondary issue was the spock and bones plot. i think they were fighting just for the sake of fighting, without any real reasons, and so their reconciliation felt a little hollow

not NEARLY enough kirk in this episode, particular cool space ghost kirk. ik it was a limitation of the sfx, but still. also, no spirk reunion. kirk deserved to see them both when he got back!!

the changes

the plot

firstly, i think interphase was explained a bit poorly, which feeds into some of the ??? near the end of the episode. i think what they wanted to convey was that some wall between dimensions was weak in this particular area, causing both the madness and the phasing in and out of reality, and these two dimensions crossed at random. i think it would have been better if there had been a predictable cycle (say, the two hour mark, an even number into kirk's 4-hour time limit), and i was never quite sure why they needed to hold perfectly still anyway

next we've got to work with the stakes. definitely keep: jim needing the 4 hours of air in his suit. the tholian web, since it is after all titular (sorry for using the word titular again) - though if it weren't, i'd be tempted to chop it too. the crew going bananas, since it is both wonderfully terrifying and can act as a "can we even drive this ship" question. however the damaged engines, and also the initial tholian wait time can def go. the "this space is making the ship itself act weird" too - perhaps the reason jim was beamed back last has something to do with the suits only being able to go one at a time, or him dropping his communicator and them not being able to lock on, idk.

so to recap: keep the scene where they beam aboard and jim has to be beamed out last, but the ship vanishes before the beaming is done. i like when jim sacrifices himself in an understated calm sort of way but i'd add just a LITTLE more rising dread here on his/the music's part because the scene is already very spooky and since i knew what was gonna happen going in i was nail-biting the entire time, and would looove to transfer some of that energy to our hypothetical new and improved episode

upon disappearance of the defiant, some scifi technobabble happens and spock figures out they'll have another chance to get jim back. unfortunately, bones doesn't buy that one bit. he and the rest of the crew (to legitimize his position and keep his accusations from seeming baseless) all think there's no possible way jim could have survived, that it's dangerous to stay where they are, and that spock should get them the hell out of dodge immediately

but spock's the captain and he says logic dictates jim might still be alive so long as there's air in the suit, so they stay. IMPORTANT: there needs to be a little bit of an argument here, involving spock saying something like "starfleet would totally agree with me and in fact if i don't fuck it up i'd be given a commendation" or something to that effect. he's not saying it because he WANTS a commendation, he's actually struggling to validate his decision to bones while also hiding the fact that he's extremely upset, but it's important. we'll get back to it later

the tholians show up. i think it would be better if the battle happened immediately to cut any confusing wait time, and this is what damages the enterprise. spock is successful in scaring the tholians off temporarily, but his ship is fucked and now they CAN'T leave, and to make it worse the tholians come back and start weaving their web. this leads us to...

spock & bones

NOW spock and bones have something concrete to fight about, instead of just bickering for the sake of bickering. bones thinks spock should have ran, but spock wanted to stay

i think a good twist for this argument in the episode that we have is that bones was under the impression spock wanted to stay for self-serving reasons (not normally an assumption he'd make about spock, but he's grieving too), and all along the reason spock wanted to stay was an emotional one. unfortunately in canon his accusations of gloryhounding came out of fucking nowhere, so we need a scene to seed in that subplot

logically speaking, the first thing that has to happen after jim's death is his funeral, which i'm saving for something else, so this scene would need to be BEFORE all that, perhaps during a pre-funeral moment of chaos where the crew are dropping like flies and the screaming arrivals are flying into sickbay. bones wouldn't be the only one bitter about spock's decision to stay behind, and someone, a fellow sickbay worker or some yeoman, makes a comment about they can't believe spock did this to them just so he can be captain, and bones is like girl WHAT and they're like yeah i totally caught him looking at transfer orders the other day

of course, spock doesn't really want to transfer off the enterprise. it's obviously a misunderstanding. i'm not totally sure why he has the paperwork...the best i can come up with is some starfleet official wanted there to be a token vulcan captain for some wack reason or another, because in tos whenever they have problems they can't logistically justify they always blame it on some backward starfleet official, so i don't see why i can't do the same

anyway, this is why we needed that argument earlier - when bones thinks back on it, spock's remark about the commendation all but confirms this new theory of his, when really had spock been on his game and not grieving he probably wouldn't have attempted to validate himself to bones at all

so this is the real conflict between them - bones think spock has gambled the lives of everyone on this ship because he thought he could outsmart the tholians, exploited jim's DEATH for his own selfish gain, and has hardened his heart against the palpable grief and loss that everyone else is displaying. none of that is true, of course, but spock would prefer to let people believe he doesn't have emotions and he has no idea anyone knows about the very irritating starfleet officials trying to poach him for another ship, so HE thinks bones is being extra irrational because of his grief (which is only a little true), right when they all need to be at their best. they will yell at each other about this for the rest of the episode.

anyway, bones is good and mad. you see the steam coming out of his ears all through kirk's funeral, which, again, is interrupted by someone starting to scream as the madness takes them. at the end of the funeral everyone is dismissed and starts to file out of the room and bones immediately jumps on spock about 1. going to see the tape and 2. his bad and selfish decisions

HOWEVER, i'd like to combine this scene with the scene of uhura spotting kirk's ghost. while people are still hurriedly leaving (mom and dad are fighting again, awkwaaard), uhura cries out that she's seen captain kirk and everyone turns to see...nothing there. bones shakes his head sadly and declares her the latest casualty of the crazy and he and spock personally take her to sickbay, barely restraining themselves from continuing their argument...

but the camera stays on the room after they leave, which slowly darkens and changes slightly in color, and the camera pans to...

a ghostly captain kirk, watching all of this with the quiet horror of a doomed man

space ghost kirk

my biggest problem with this ep was that i wanted it to be 2.01 my time of dying from s*pernatural, and it wasn't because the 60s have limits on their sfx abilities. in this fantasy world, though, i can do WHATEVERRR i want

CAPTAIN'S LOG, SUPPLEMENTAL: here kirk outlines what really happened to him, which is that he escaped the defiant during the attempted beaming but found himself floating in the enterprise in an alternate dimension - it's dark, like the defiant, and maybe green or something to visually denote the difference between kirk's dimension and ours. he can see and hear what's happening but no one, except uhura just now, can see him. he can't touch or affect anything. he is powerless. all he can do is try and figure out some sort of solution while he watches his ship falling apart - this time from kirk's pov, with lots of FUNNN spooky ambience - and, of course, spock and bones being extremely angry with one another, like fighting in sickbay after they've seen to uhura (when it's clear to jim and us that they're angry BECAUSE they're grieving)

then we get to kirk's last orders. spock tries to put bones off about this because seeing jim's face right now would kill him on the spot but bones wants to get him alone in order to violate the hippocratic oath by shaking him like a dog with a squirrel. finally spock reluctantly agrees is metaphorically dragged away to the woodshed

more arguing but this time with kirk as a third unseen participant. bones makes an accusation and he chimes in with "spock tell him it's not true!" spock implies something about bones's abilities being compromised when he's so emotional and kirk goes "mister spock you're out of line!" spock fields the accusations of wanting a captaincy by explaining the truth about the wack starfleet officials, but bones doesn't believe him at ALL. "if you didn't want a captaincy, why did you stay and fight!?" he's sure he's got spock cornered; now he'll have to admit the truth.

perfect time for the tape to come on. this is the same as it is in the episode, and when it stops and kirk's smiling face remains frozen onscreen, spock explains haltingly that he stayed because he wasn't sure jim was dead and couldn't bear the thought of leaving him behind. there: an emotion. he prepares for the inevitable vivisection.

instead bones apologizes, like he does in canon. i liked the line "it does hurt, doesn't it?" unlike spock, bones shows his emotions outwardly. as in canon, they get called away by plot stuff. bones leaves first. spock stays behind, looking at the screen, and reaches out almost as if to touch it. there's a moment where you think he'll break - then he puts it all away, turns on his heel and goes, and the camera pans back to kirk, speechless.

kirk notices that as time goes on and they get closer to that next interphase, he becomes visible more and more often. perhaps when he talks into the radio in his suit it could come over the intercoms or something. people start hearing him and then dismissing it. someone sights him in the engine room. spock and bones think the whole ship is going nuts, but kirk can't seem to get through to the two people who need to see him most.

so they have to do it on their own: reconcile. develop an antidote. a toast to their departed captain with scotty, where bones finally addresses spock as captain. then, with interphase growing closer, and the tholian web coming to a close, spock and bones are on the bridge when kirk appears in front of EVERYONE

(i liked bones spinning spock's chair around and then swooning into his arms and of course the "forget it bones" is CRUCIAL, so maybe the toast/drinking the antidote takes place on the bridge, and this happens just before bones drinks his share)

anyway, this time spock reaches for him, like he does in canon, instead of aborting the motion like he did in kirk's quarters when he nearly touched the computer. but kirk vanishes again, and spock's hand closes on nothing

the ending

now that they KNOW kirk is back, everyone has to rush to beat the clock in order to both escape the tholian web and bring their captain with them

everything goes well just like it does in the episode, with the small change of: as soon as spock has directed the ship out of the web, he gives the bridge to sulu and books it to the transporter room. he arrives just in time to see jim materialize on the plate alongside bones, and he probably stands at parade rest while bones welcomes jim home like he does in the episode proper, but there's enough eye contact happening between the three of them we know spock is just as relieved as the rest of them

NOW the scene at the end, where kirk talks about how empty that universe was and how he likes a crowded one much better. i have two versions of an ending in mind and can't decide which is more fun so i'm doing them both

#1: someone, spock or bones or one of the other bridge crew members, asks jim if it was totally awful being able to see the ship in such distress and not being able to help and he dodges the question by saying he couldn't see much anyway or some stupid bullshit. then HE asks spock and bones about his last orders and they also lie. and you get the idea from their various face journeys they all know each other is lying but they're going to pretend in order to remain professional and buttoned up - and then someone says something that gets them started again. bones exasperated, spock deadpan - but it has a totally different tone from the vicious fights from earlier and it cuts the tension easily. it's an all's well that ends well moment, because you can see jim is enjoying the nice version of their bickering again.

#2: kirk asks about the last orders, spock and bones lie, and kirk calls them out on it by reminding them he could see and hear everything. this is followed with the sort of gentle and loving admonishment that kirk is capable of when he's touched which basically amounts to: thank you for continuing to be excellent and professional to my ship while privately falling apart, but if i die again, please be better to EACH OTHER so i can go to my death knowing the two of you at least have one another. spock and bones, mildly abashed, agree - and then again, someone says something to start the friendly bickering and cut the tension before the credits roll

DONE. this CONCLUDES my episode edit of the tholian web, which again is really very very good already. we love a good character death fakeout and we also love SPONES. look for more overthought episode edits someday in the future

#star trek #star trek tos #spones #mckirk #spirk #mcspirk #kinda. please nobody kill me for using those tags it's gay to ME #the tholian web #liz makes stuff #liz's star trek stuff #do i tag this as meta or fic...i guess both #liz writes #liz writes meta #st ep edits #i really need to make a masterpost lol

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signs-of-the-moon · 1 year ago

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Moon High: Chapter 14

Trembling legs and fluffed up fur were the sight that greeted Treeclan as their missing apprentices returned home. Cats had just begun to grow suspicious of their whereabouts by the time their paws touched the leaf littered floor. Wolfheart was the first to come up to meet them. His face shone with relief.

"Kits!" He called out, examining each of his frazzled children as they gathered around him. He expression shifted back to one of concern. "What's wrong? What's happened?"

Moonpaw pressed her body close to her father. Her heart was pounding in her chest, throat tight with thorns of grief that she fought to speak through.

"Skunkpaw...Skunkpaw's been kitnapped!" She choked out. Magpiepaw began to sob again, as if Moonpaw's words had been a remainder of what they'd witnessed.

The clan drew back in astonishment.

"Kitnapped!?" Sunpaw caterwauled. His ears folded back with panic.

"What do you mean?" Asked senior warrior, Oakfur.

"Who's taken him?" Brightsky demanded to know as she pushed her way through the crowd. She came to stand beside her family. The worry in her eyes barely masked the flame of fury which burned behind them; the passion of a mother's love. The desire to protect and save her kit was unmistakable.

"Twolegs..." Smokepaw began to explain. He held his posture upright, as the tremble in his pelt betrayed the brave face he was putting on. "The four of us were out playing in the woods when a pack of Twolegs came along. Their kits tried to play with us a bit. And then they tried snatching Skunkpaw."

"Sw-Swiftpaw of Grassclan interfered to help us flee," Magpiepaw chimed with a trembling mew. "And then...and then Skunkpaw was taken!"

A murmur broke out among the crowd as the clan exchanged wary glances. Some, Moonpaw could hear, were worried this meant the Twolegs were after the clan again. While others speculated Skunkpaw's kitnapping was planned. That Grassclan somehow coordinated it to happen; to downsize Treeclan's ranks. Moonpaw could hardly believe some of the things her clanmates were saying. But all fell silent as Blazestar took his place upon the Great Stump to address them.

"It's tragic what's happened to Skunkpaw, today," Treeclan's leader began. "He was a good cat, and would have made a fine warrior of Treeclan, had they gotten the chance." The blazing tom's orange gaze settled upon Moonpaw and her littermates, a darkness settled within them. It was as if he were silently judging them. Like he thought they were to blame for Skunkpaw's kitnapping. Moonpaw felt a pit form in her belly.

"What do you plan to do about what's happened?" Wolfheart asked his leader. He stepped in front of his kits bravely, even as Blazestar stared him down.

"There's nothing to be done," Blazestar answered simply.

"We need to send out a search party," Brightsky counteted insistently, eyes round. She looked from her mate up to Blazestar. "We need to find Skunkpaw!"

"We can't waste the energy looking for some lost apprentice," Blazestar grunted with a flick of his tail.

Brightsky reared back for a moment in surprise. Her mouth hung half agape as searched for the right words to say. "That apprentice is my son! I cannot sit by comfortably knowing that he's been kitnapped by Twolegs. Who knows what they will do with him. He could be hurt!"

"The answer is no," Blazestar's meow was hostile, softening as he continued to speak. "We'd be risking other warriors' safety by sending them into Twolegplace to search. The Twolegs hunt our clan enough as it is. I can't take the chance of that increasing. We've lost too many good cats recently, your son included. Besides, Skunkpaw is a brave tom. I know he will be alright, wherever he is. They're a great tracker just as you are. They'll find their way back to us if they can, I'm sure."

"Please, Blazestar. If there's a way to bring Skunkpaw back, then we must act." Brightsky's gaze hardened with seriousness as it met with the leader's. "I know you don't understand what it's like to lose a kit. But if it were one of your sons who went missing, wouldn't you do everything in your power to bring him home..?"

Blazestar was quiet for a few moments, head lowered slightly and eyes foggy with deep contemplation; or perhaps with fear of the possibility. "...Very well, Brightsky. We will send a patrol out to Twolegplace come sundown. If you're up for it, you may lead it. Bring whomever you'd like. But beware, and be safe. You will be held accountable if anyone should get harmed."

Brightsky dipped her head. "I understand. Thank you, Blazestar." Standing upright, the queen turned to speak with her remaining kits. "You three know Skunkpaw better than anyone. I'd like to ask you to join the search party, if you're up for it."

"Of course!" Moonpaw chirped, pelt tingling with excitement.

"We'll find that stupid fuzzball and bring him back home," Smokepaw agreed, looking a lot more relaxed than before. Although Moonpaw wondered if he was holding back his anxiety for the sake of his kin.

"I'll be going as well," Silverhawk meowed as she padded over to stand beside her fellow queen. "Skunkpaw's my apprentice. That practically makes them my son, too."

"And I want to come!" Volunteered Blazestar's son, Flamepaw. He scurried over to stand beside Smokepaw. "Skunkpaw's my best friend. I need to know if he's ok!"

"Alright," Brightsky agreed. "Anyone else? Wolfheart?"

Upon being prompted, Wolfheart raised his chin and gave a curt nod. "You couldn't get me to stay behind, even if all of Lionclan were attacking our camp."

Moonpaw let out a small mrrow of amusement. She loved when her father was so enthusiastic. And right now his determined demeanor would come in handy. It would rally the rest of the search party, to look as hard as they could for Skunkpaw.

"Well then...I'm going to wait in camp," decided Magpiepaw suddenly. "One of us should be here, in case Skunkpaw finds his way home alone."

Moonpaw knew that wasn't the only reason her sister was opting out of joining the patrol. She was too visibly upset still to serve as any help, and it was clear Magpiepaw knew that too.

"In that case," Blazestar meowed, stretching before jumping off his perch, "that should leave some room for me to join the search party."

"Blazestar?" Wolfheart questioned.

"I'm Treeclan's leader," Blazestar answered as he met with the other cats. "I have more lives to spare than any cat here. What's the point of having them if I don't go on dangerous missions like this? I'll come along, if only to act as bait should a dog, or Twoleg, or Starclan knows what else tries attacking. But I'm still holding you accountable in case that happens, Brightsky. "

Brightsky's eyes grew misty with gratitude. She dipped her head to the blazing orange leader again before lifting it to meet his eye. "Thank you," she mewed softly. "That should be enough cats, then. Our party will set out as soon as the last light fades."

"Oh, but can't I go too?" Tigerpaw asked eagerly as she moved to stand beside Moonpaw. Her yellow eyes were sparkling at the prospect of going into unknown territory.

"And me?" Sunpaw chimed, looking just as excited as he padded over to them.

"No, you're staying here with the rest of the clan," Blazestar asserted to Tigerpaw. Then he turned pointedly towards Sunpaw, "And you, certainly not! There's more than enough apprentices in the search party. We don't need more coming along to cause issues. "

"Not fair," Tigerpaw muttered.

"Then why does Flamepaw get to go?" Sunpaw questioned, though there was no agitation in his tone.

"Because Flamepaw is more aware of his surroundings. He's better suited for a mission like this. It's nothing personal against either of you."

Then, Blazestar turned his attention towards the search party. "I suggest you all see Mothsong, and get your traveling herbs. Before anyone else tries joining the patrol. You'll be needing all your strength to travel through the Twolegplace. I'll be along shortly."

"Yes, Blazestar," meowed the search party, Moonpaw included. She followed behind her family as they made their way towards the weeping willow. Tigerpaw padded after her.

"This sucks!" she griped with an exaggerated pout. Sunpaw followed at her heels, giving a firm nod of agreement.

Moonpaw purred a little, brushing her tail along the tabby's shoulders. "Don't worry, Tig. I'm sure Blazestar will let you go on another mission in the future. But this one is serious."

"I know that," Tigerpaw growled a little. "It's not like I wouldn't treat it as such."

"But knowing you, you'd probably try and fight a kittypet to get answers out of them," Moonpaw purred, amusement in her tone. "And knowing you, you'd be more inclined to make some new friends while we're in the Twolegplace, Sunny." Tigerpaw's expression softened into a playful smile. She lifted a paw to bat at Moonpaw, then allowed the silver and white molly to go on ahead without her. She blocked Sunpaw whose mouth opened to quip something silly and unimportant before he gave up the attempt. Moonpaw waved her tail at her friends as she disappeared into the medicine den to prepare for the long search ahead.

~~~

The last of the day's light faded behind the horizon, just as the Treeclan search party crossed the border into Twoleg territory. The eyes of her clanmates flashed in the faint glow of the Twoleg dens in the distance. Moonpaw glanced between each of them. The blue eyes of her mother stood out the most. Determination was held within them.

"We should all split up," Brightsky suggested, voice low. "We'll cover more ground that way."

"Is it wise to let the apprentices go off on their own, though?" Wolfheart wondered with a nervous twitch of his whiskers.

"They knew what they were getting into when they agreed to help search. They'll be just fine," Silverhawk assured.

Though Wolfheart seemed a little skeptical, he simply nodded in agreement. Then he picked a direction and began walking in it, disappearing behind some bushes. The other cats in the search party went off too, leaving only Moonpaw and Smokepaw to linger where they stood.

"I'm heading in that direction," Smokepaw stated, pointing with his tail. "Try not to go too far."

"I'll be nearby," Moonpaw promised before swinging around. Her eager paws carried her forward. She stuck her nose out with jaws parted slightly to taste the air. But nothing familiar caught her attention. So she wandered off farther, following a row of Twoleg dens lined with white wooden fences. Each seemed unique beyond their borders; some blue, some brick, and some white as clouds. Only a few remained lit inside, while some nearly branchless trees loomed above Moonpaw's head. Each had a light source shining from a single protruding branch, casting Moonpaw's shadow along the dirt path she tredded. Moonpaw hoped the sight of her silhouette would not alert a predator to her presence.

"Hello there!" Moonpaw froze in place, slowly turning to see who had called out to her. In a garden just a fox-length behind her was a silver tabby kittypet. Her long fur swayed in the gentle breeze, and the yellow bell on her collar jingled as she carefully balanced herself on the fence posts marking the end of her territory. She had a warm smile on her face, and a curious gleam in her eyes.

"I've never seen you around here before. Are you new to the neighborhood?"

"No, I'm just passing through," Moonpaw replied, relaxing and raising her tail.

"Oh really? Where are you from?" The kittypet asked curiously.

"I come from the forest." Monpaw tilted her head in the direction of home.

The kittypet perked up at her answer. "Does that mean you're clan cat?"

Moonpaw wondered how a kittypet knew what a clan was. Still, she lifted her chin proudly at the acknowledgment. "I am.

The kittypet trilled in response. She seemed strangely elated by the news. "How neat. Oh my name is Misty, by the way!"

"I'm Moonpaw," responded the apprentice. She was glad to find someone so friendly here to talk to. Hopefully Misty would have some useful information to share.

"Yknow Moonpaw, you look kind of familiar. I wonder if we've met before? Or perhaps I've met one of your kin?" Misty queried.

"Actually, I'm here looking for one of my kin! Maybe the cat you're thinking of is the same?" Moonpaw started to grow hopeful.

"It's a possibility! Who is it you're trying to find? Your mother?" Misty guessed. Her eyes twinkled in a way that spoke of a secret longing she must be carrying. Moonpaw hated to disappoint her.

"No, my brother. They're a really fluffy black cat with white streaks, and the most kitten blue eyes you could ever find in an eight moon old cat. Do you think you've seen him?"

Hearing this, Misty deflated. "Oh. No, I'm afraid not..."

Moonpaw purred a little and forced a smile, trying to cheer both herself and the kittypet up. "Well, thank you anyways, Misty," she mewed with a small head dip. "By the way, what's the name of the cat you think I remind you of? Maybe I can ask around and help you find them."

"No no, it's alright. You just remind me of a cat I love... But she's moved on to live a grander life than I can give her here. I'm not trying to find her. I'd just hoped to find out if she's finally happy."

"Well, I'm sure she must be. But I'm also willing to bet that wherever your love is now, she's missing you too."

"That's a kind thought." Misty sighed. "I'm sorry that I couldn't be more helpful to you, Moonpaw. But I wish you luck with finding your brother. If I see any cat that looks like your description though, I'll tell them you were here."

"Thank you again, Misty. Goodbye," Moonpaw meowed, continuing to walk the dusty path ahead.

"Goodbye, little snowflake. Take care!" Misty called after her, her voice fading the farther Moonpaw traveled from her garden.

Moonpaw went back to her search, sniffing around for signs of Skunkpaw. Then she turned a corner three bear-lengths ahead and Smokepaw's scent made it to her nostrils. His voice quickly followed it.

"Moon, come here! I think I've got a lead!"

Bristling, Moonpaw raced to where her littermate waited. Then she skidded to a stop in front of another white fenced den. Here, Smokepaw stood atop the posts, a tom with a brilliantly ginger pelt beside him. The kittypet was chubby, with a long perfectly groomed coat and an odd trianglar head. Smokepaw seemed to be intrigued by the other cat, eyes gleaming as he looked at the pampered tom. Or maybe Smokepaw was just that excited about the information the kittypet had to share.

"Moonpaw, this is Oliver. He said he might have seen Skunkpaw pass by here!" Smokepaw mewed with excitement.

Moonpaw looked up at Oliver, squinting her eyes as his bright pelt glittered in artificial light. "Is it true? Do you know where our littermate is?"

Oliver gave a nonchalant shrug. "I might. I saw a cat matching the description Smokepaw gave earlier today. He was laying in the back window of a car as it drove past."

"A...car?" Moonpaw echoed, confused.

"A, uh," Oliver glanced at Smokepaw, "a 'monster', I think is what you wild cats call them." Smokepaw nodded in recognition, Moonpaw humming curiously. "Anyways, I recognized that monster. It belongs to some neighborhood housefolk. They don't live far from here. I could take you to their den, if you'd like."

Moonpaw perked up at the offer, nodding her head enthusiastically. "Please," she responded, almost sounding desperate. Oliver chuckled at her reaction. Then he gave his body a stretch, leaping down from his fence onto the dirt path. Smokepaw followed right behind, standing close to the other tom as the three cats began their walk to the mentioned Twoleg den. They padded around a corner or two, Oliver and Smokepaw chatting quietly as they went. Moonpaw hung back a little, keeping alert for possible danger. Eventually, Moonpaw started scenting Silverhawk nearby. She trilled out, trying to catch the Den Mother's attention. At her call, the silver and black tabby came trotting from up ahead, looking to the apprentice as she approached. She looked expectant, hopeful even.

"We've got a lead," Moonpaw told her. Silverhawk's eyes lit up. Then she turned back in the direction she came from.

"Wait here," she told the three younger cats. "Your mother's close by. She'll want to follow you." Then, the queen disappeared from sight again. After a few moments, Brightsky came running over, Blazestar and Silverhawk not far behind. She rubbed her flank against Moonpaw's as she joined her daughter alongside the two younger toms. Blazestar eyed Oliver suspiciously as he approached, while Silverhawk nudged Treeclan's leader to keep him from becoming hostile. Oliver tipped his head in greetings to the warriors, glancing between each of them.

"There's more cats looking for your brother?" Oliver asked Smokepaw, who nodded in response. "Wow. Who knew one kitten would be so popular." The kittypet's comment sounded playful. It was clear he wasn't taking the situation seriously at all. Moonpaw felt her belly twist as she realized that fact. Had Smokepaw not told Oliver about what happened to Skunkpaw?

"Popularity has nothing to do with it," Silverhawk replied, pulling Moonpaw from her thoughts. "Skunkpaw was taken from us. We want to find him because we care about him."

Oliver's eyes grew a little wider. His expression confirmed Moonpaw's suspicion. "Of course," he breathed, voice sounding softer, more serious now. "But I'm sure he's alright. No housefolk would ever harm their pet."

Although the kittypet's words were meant to be reassuring, it set off something in Blazestar. "Skunkpaw isn't a pet. He's a Treeclan cat!" He growled. But Oliver was left unphased.

"It's probably hard for a kittypet to understand," Moonpaw figured, glancing at her leader.

"Not true," Oliver countered, pointing his muzzle to promt the search party onward. "I have a friend who ran away to be a warrior. I understand the call to be wild...kind of. But maybe clan cats can experience a call to peace. There's nothing wrong with being a house cat."

Blazestar growled some more. But Silverhawk ran her tail along his spine, calming Treeclan's leader.

"But Skunkpaw was stolen away," Brightsky reiterated. "It's not like he came to Twolegplace willing."

Oliver hummed. "I guess in that case, it makes sense to worry. But Skunkpaw didn't seem too distressed when I saw him earlier. So he's probably fine."

"I hope you're right," Smokepaw murmured, moving closer to the bright orange kittypet.

A silence fell over the patrol as they snuck along. They hid a few times in the nearby shrubs when a stray Twoleg or two walked past. One had a small dog with it, who stopped to yap at the clan cats' hiding place. Moonpaw unsheathed her claws, ready to strike the mongrel should it stick its muzzle where it didn't belong. Instead, the Twoleg gave a harsh tug to its lead, pulling the creature back onto the desired path. When they'd left, the search party continued on again. Eventually a small den came into the view, near the end of the dirt path. A short brick wall surrounded it on all side. But the entrance was left ajar, just wide enough for cats to slip through.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Silverhawk questioned quietly as the search party paused at the territory's threshold.

"This is where I've seen the monster rest," Oliver confirmed. Moonpaw peered past where the party stood, sweeping the territory for signs of the mentioned monster. But it was nowhere in sight. And the scent of it barely lingered in the air. But another scent did. Brightsky noticed it, too, Moonpaw realized. Her mother's nose twitched, mouth opening to draw the smell over her scent glands. After a heartbeat, her eyes lit up.

"I smell him...my kit!" Brightsky breathed, rushing ahead. Blazestar meowed for her to wait, but it was too late. Moonpaw moved to follow her mother as Brightsky stalked skillfully along the grass. She was approaching the Twoleg den as if she were hunting a prized squirrel. Moonpaw kept a few paces behind, glancing to see Blazestar and the others trying to catch up. Blazestar managed to pull ahead, running at full speed to round Brightsky and stand in her path. His posture was imposing, expression stern.

"What do you think you are doing? Don't just rush in without thought!" The leader hissed.

"I smell Skunkpaw," Brightsky repeated. She looked like she was trying not to cry. Her voice sounded so hopeful, nearly relieved. Blazestar was the opposite.

"I'm going to scout ahead," he meowed to everyone. "Wait here for my call." Then he turned, walking to the other side of the den. The rest of the search party gathered together, listening intently, in case of danger and news. Not long after, Blazestar caterwauled. Moonpaw was the first to find him. Blazestar had managed to find a way into the Twoleg den, a dark expression on his face. Moonpaw's heart dropped.

"Come see," he motioned for his cats to come through a window with him.

The inside of the den was dark, and cold. Walls expanded around them, as tall as trees. The place reeked of Twoleg. But the inside of the den was devoid of anything. No bedding, no strange objects. Just walls, a floor, and a few scraps of trash. The place looked abandoned. But Moonpaw could smell Skunkpaw in here, strongly. Even if the scent was growing stale. Brightsky caught it, too. She sniffed at the corner of a nearby wall, rubbing her cheek on it.

"Skunkpaw marked here. I can smell his fur," she mewed quietly. "He was here.... he left us signs that he was here...."

"But now..?" Silverhawk asked, glancing from Brightsky to Oliver.

"They must have moved away," the kittypet mewed in realization. "That has to be why Skunkpaw was in the car--uh, monster. House cats rarely get put inside of them. Unless we're going to the vet, or being moved someplace. And that would explain why the house is empty, too."

"So where did they go?" Moonpaw wondered. "Where did they take Skunkpaw?"

Oliver shook his head sadly. "I can't say... They could be anywhere. I'm...I'm really sorry."

Hearing his words, Brightsky sunk to the fuzzy floor. She let out a quiet sob, covering her muzzle with her paws. The rest of the Treeclan search party exchanged glances.

"...We can't give up yet," Smokepaw piped suddenly. He stood up taller, puffing up his chest. "Dad and Flamepaw are still out there searching. We should be, too. Just because the Twolegs moved camp doesn't mean they aren't still in the area. Let's keep looking!"

Smokepaw's speech seemed to give everyone the encouragement they needed to keep going.

With little hesitance the party slipped back out of the Twoleg den. Oliver helped Moonpaw and Smokepaw talk with other kittypets in the area, while Brightsky, Blazestar, and Silverhawk went off on their own again. They searched the Twolegplace for the rest of the night, sniffing around and yowling Skunkpaw's name until the sun began to rise.

At dawn's first light, Treeclan's search party gathered by the border, thanking and leaving Oliver behind. They each spoke of their findings; of discussions made and smells caught. But not anything important to share. It was as if Skunkpaw had disappeared from the earth. Depressed, the patrol made its way back into the woods, finally ready to mourn the lost apprentice with the rest of the clan.

#warrior cats #warrior cats ocs #wcs #wcs ocs #signs of the moon: moon high #signs of the moon #moon high #chapter 14 #moon pov #after 2 months of waiting the chapter is finally finished #I think chapt 15 will come out quicker #thanks fir waiting guys #also hey look a cameo from Misty #I don't think she'll show up again in this book #maybe the next one

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casspurrjoybell-22 · 7 months ago

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Dream Eater - Chapter 15 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

In the morning, I wake still wrapped in his arms.

We lie on our sides, facing one another and he's already awake.

He's propped up on one hand, while the other rubs gentle circles on my back.

He smiles when I open my eyes and leans down to kiss them each.

"You were crying again," he says softly.

"What did you dream this time?"

I look up at him, remembering what he felt in the dream and wonder if he feels that way even now.

"It hurts, the way you love me," I say softly.

His brows pinch with concern.

"Was I too rough?" he asks, not understanding.

"Not that," I laugh, though it's a wet, teary sound.

"I mean... you. The way you feel. It hurts. I don't think love is supposed to hurt that much."

His smile is tinged with old pain.

"It is when it's something you never thought you'd feel. Never thought you could feel or even deserved to feel. More than that, when it's something you believed no one could ever possibly feel for you."

As I watch the shadows in his dark eyes, I realize something.

"I haven't said it," I say.

"What?"

"I love you, Damien Knight."

His eyes go wide and then he leans down and kisses me.

I feel the scratch of the stubble on his chin against mine and the whisper of his breath on my skin.

His tongue darts along the part of my lips and I open them, granting him entry.

He rubs his thumb over the small pink circles on my chest.

I've never really liked that before but when he does it, it sends an electric shock straight to my groin.

I'm already half hard and that takes me the rest of the way.

Shifting himself to lie over me, he moves a hand down and takes us both in his firm grip.

He slides his hand up and down over us and thrusts his tongue into my mouth with the same rhythm.

I'm overwhelmed with sensation and an almost embarrassingly short time later, I arch my back and feel my muscles seize as the pleasure builds at the base of my spine and then explodes.

A few more strokes and he reaches the same summit and casts himself over the edge, collapsing on me with shuddering breaths.

I feel his heartbeat gradually slow along with mine, and our breath settles.

After a minute or so, he raises himself on his elbows and looks down at me.

A little smile quirks his lips and he says...

"I love you, too, Alex Shade."

"Yeah, I gathered that," I laugh and push him off me.

"Come on. We better clean up or we're gonna stick together."

As we bathe and dress, my mood gradually darkens as guilt bares its little teeth and starts to gnaw at me again.

How could I lie in bed with Damien, enjoying the safety and pleasure of my lover's arms, while Dante... while Dante endured who-knows-what at Azael's hands.

The thought makes my breath catch and I lean my hands against the wall, squeezing my eyes shut as though that will stop the runaway train of my imagination.

Damien correctly interprets my distress and comes to lay his hand on my back.

"Hey, Alex," he says softly.

"Dante wouldn't grudge us a moment of happiness... of comfort. They'd be happy for us."

My throat works to swallow over the tightness squeezing it like a hand but I know he's right.

I turn and wrap my arms around his back, laying my head on his shoulder.

"You're right," I whisper.

"They'd just be sorry they weren't here to watch."

He chuckles, then stills.

"Alex, um... once we rescue them... you're not gonna let them do that, right? Because I love Dante but..."

Now it's my turn to laugh.

"No. Dante can take care of their own voyeurism. They don't need us... for that," I add.

"Right," he says, sounding relieved.

"Well, then. While you were getting dressed, a messenger came by. It seems Azael has made his demand. Let's go see what he wants and then we'll make our plans."

At Allannan's court, we join a group of people whose ranks and positions I can't begin to guess. I probably met them at some party or state function along the way but I never paid much attention, and I don't waste it on them now.

I follow Damien to the front of the room, where Allanan and Oran stand next to a pedestal, on which rests a small bundle of cloth.

"Alex, Damien," Allannan greets us with a nod.

"Thank you for joining us."

Her face is grim.

She goes on, addressing the court as a whole.

"This morning, Azael sent a messenger bearing his warnings and demands. I shall read them now."

She opens a folded letter and begins to read.

"I, Azael, make the following demands of Carnâk and it's people, that you remain neutral in all future conflict between myself and the Earthly and Heavenly Realms and that you allow me and any who walk beneath my banner safe and unobstructed passage through your domain.''

That didn't sound so bad and I start to breathe a sigh of relief but Damien puts a hand to my back and when I glance at his face I see an expression so grim it freezes my heart.

Allannan reads on.

"Of the individuals known as Damien Knight, née, Dantalian and Alex Shade, I demand the following: that they submit themselves to me at the provided location immediately. For every hour that they do not comply, I will take payment in the same measure of which I have sent you a sample. If they do not comply by the time the supply of such samples runs out, I will launch an attack on Carnâk such that it has no hope to resist and none shall be spared the pain of death. I await your answer. Signed, Azael, Lord of the Seventh Circle, Commander of the Legions of Hell."

Allannan pauses for breath, chest rising and falling with emotion and duress.

"What did he send?" Damien says, asking what I cannot.

Allannan slowly unwraps the cloth on the pedestal and reveals what it contains.

It looks like a thin, coiled snake.

I feel the bile rise in my throat as I recognize it for what it is, a strip of Dante's beautiful, dark skin.

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l-egionaire · 4 years ago

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Owl House Fanfiction: I love The Found Family Trope!

Posted on Ao3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29417493

Eda had gotten used to a lot of different ways of waking up after her getting her curse.

The first few times it happened, she'd unfortunately routinely woken up to find herself naked. (Titan, was she grateful when she'd finally found a spell that made her clothes change with her and didn't have to keep dumpster diving or "borrowing" clothes)

Once that was taken care of, her post transformation wake ups were slightly more comfortable, if predictable. She'd come too laying on the ground, her body's usual aches, pains, and stiffness seemingly doubled to the point where she could barely move. If she was in someone's house she'd likely be surrounded by overturned furniture and fixtures all covered in claw and bite marks. If she was lucky any people that might've been there would've already run and hid. If she wasn't….well, she knew a good amount of healing magic and potions. No matter how much damage she might have caused, most people wouldn't turn down having their injuries taken care of.

And after that, things changed. Even if the person she was living with didn't kick her out, she could still see how they acted differently. They avoided eye contact with her, didn't stay in the same room with her for longer than two seconds, and she couldn't help but notice how they always seemed to lock their doors at night, nevermind whether she'd taken her elixir or not. Needless to say, when that happened she was gone before a week even passed. Someone being afraid of her or thinking she was a freak she could handle. But she preferred that to them tiptoeing around it and pretending to be okay with her when they were secretly scared.

Considering all of that, waking up safely in her nest with a bottle of elixir in her mouth was a new experience.

She wasn't that shocked once she'd gotten the whole story. She'd never explained what her elixir did to King, and Luz thinking it was some special magic boosting potion sounded just like her. But what really surprised her were their reactions.

After making sure Hooty was put back up and okay, they'd come by to check on her. Luz, having worried she might not be feeling well, had brought her a bowl of some strange human concoction called "chicken soup" that she'd gotten from a can in her junk collection. ("It's no magic potion but my mom. always made me chicken soup when I wasn't feeling well.) She'd also gotten her a person sized pillow that had the image of some male human character with spiky hair on it and with a little work slid it beneath Eda in her nest. The thing may have looked weird but it was comfy as heck and felt great for her sore back. Meanwhile King, still looking regretful about snatching her elixir, had fixed her a mug of apple blood as a peace offering.

While the mixture of alcohol and salty human bird water helped soothe some of her pain, Eda couldn't help but notice her apprentice and her housemate still standing off to the side of her nest. Both of them simply stood and watched as she ate and drank, staying oddly silent and staring at her as if she might disappear mid slurp.

It was almost a little unnerving. She hadn't expected either of them to be this quiet after discovering her curse. She figured Luz would've had her usual million questions about anything magical while King would be demanding to know why she hadn't told him before now.

Then again, it wouldn't surprise her if they were still too in shock. After all, while she had never been able to witness it herself, she knew her cursed form could be pretty terrifying to see. One person she'd lived with had been so freaked out by it, he hadn't been able to make any noise except terrified squeaks for 3 days.

Plus, the way they found out was pretty sudden. Sure, King shouldn't have stolen her elixir but it wasn't like he knew what it was for or why she took it. In fact, a part of her hoped he'd never find out.

But the cat was off the staff now. She knew that the two of them must still be curious, otherwise they wouldn't still be there. So it was time to witch up and deal with it.

Eda drank the last few dregs of soup from her bowl and drained the rest of her apple blood for a little courage before turning to King and Luz.

"Alright you two. I know you probably want to know more about all this. So, let's have it."

Luz and King took a moment to look at each other, almost seeming to have a full conversation in two seconds before turning back to her.

"No thanks." Luz said.

"Yeah, we're good." King agreed.

Eda blinked in confusion. "What? What do you mean?"

"We don't need to know anymore." Luz explained. "This whole curse thing seems kind of personal and besides you already told us all the important parts. So we don't need to know anything else."

Eda stared at her in stunned silence. She looked to King and was even more surprised to see him nod in agreement.

To say this was not what she'd been expecting would be an understatement. Where was the yelling at her for putting them in danger? The demanding answers? The blaming her for not telling them about her curse before all this? Heck, the two of them didn't even look that upset. They just still had those weirdly concerned looks on their faces. Maybe they just worried she'd still be mad about them stealing her elixir and were too scared to bring it up.

But that brought another issue to mind. And while she might have become pretty fond of those two, she knew it would only be a matter of time until it came up.

Ignoring the tight feeling in her chest, Eda said slowly. "Listen…..if you guys want to find somewhere else to stay, I understand."

They both became bug eyed.

"What?!" Luz cried.

"What are you talking about?!" King asked.

Eda looked away from them, doing everything she could to keep the wetness in her eyes from turning into full blown tears.

Suck it up. She thought. It's not like you haven't done this before.

"Luz, you could probably see if one of those Hexside kids might be willing to let you stay with them, and King I-."

"You're kicking us out?!" Luz yelled.

"No!" King scrambled into the nest, got onto his knees and clasped his paws together. "Please Eda, don't! I'll never be able to find anyone else willing to let me live with them without paying! If this is about stealing the elixir, I'm sorry! I swear I won't steal anything you don't tell me to!"

Eda frowned in confusion and turned back to them. "What? No. I mean, yes King, if you steal from me again I'll turn you into a tiny fur rug, but I just meant….you guys really don't want to move out?"

They both looked shocked at her question. "No." "Why would we?"

"Why would- how about because I could have killed you two last night?" She felt bile begin to build in her throat and not the magical kind. "I could have eaten one of you like I did the snaggleback!"

"Oh come on Eda, it wasn't that-."

"Luz." Eda said, her voice hard. She didn't have it in her right now to deal with Luz sunshine attitude.

Luz must have noticed because she sighed and said. "Okay, look Eda. I'm not going to lie and say that today wasn't terrifying or that I wasn't afraid but….Eda, once I realized that the monster that was chasing after us was you? All I could think about was how I could help or what I could do to get you back. I didn't want to lose you."

Eda stared at her apprentice in complete shock. In her past talks with her living mates after they discovered her curse, they always talked about them . Their safety, their terror at her transformation, their discomfort at having Eda stay around after what happened. But Luz was thinking about her and whether she was okay.

It felt….weird. But in a good way. Kind of like a lot of things Luz did come to think of it.

Eda looked down to where King was still sitting in her nest. "And what about you King? You aren't freaked out by my little secret?"

King shrugged. "Eh, at first it was horrifying but after thinking about, its actually pretty cool. You're a demon just like me! Which technically makes you one of my subjects!"

Eda rolled her eyes. Typical King.

"And, since you are one of my subjects…."

"King, I swear to Titan, if you-."

".....than, that also means you fall under my protection." King finished. He walked over to Eda, climbed into her lap where he curled up into a ball. "If anyone wants to hurt you, they'll first have to go through me!"

Eda couldn't hide the amazement on her face as she gazed down at King. Then she felt something softly touch her shoulder. She looked over and saw Luz had placed a hand on her and was giving her a loving look.

"We're not going anywhere Eda. Us weirdos have to stick together, remember?"

Eda couldn't believe what she was hearing. Even after they both spent the night being terrorized by her and knew about her curse, they still insisted on sticking around.

They weren't going to leave her.

Luz suddenly frowned and looked at her worriedly. "Hey, what's wrong?"

It took Eda a moment to realize that there was a tear streaming down her face. She quickly wiped it away.

"Uh, no Luz, I just, uh, really loved that soup you brought me. There any chance there's some more?"

"I'll go dig through trash for another can!" Luz excitedly sprinted out the door.

Eda looked down at King. "Would my so-called "King" be willing to fix his new subject another apple blood?"

King stood up from her lap and stretched. "I suppose its what any humble ruler would do for his wounded subject." King took her mug and scrambled out of her nest and out the door.

Eda sighed fondly and layed back on her spiky hair human pillow, taking in the sight of the many light orbs that now dotted her ceiling thanks to her apprentice.

We're not going anywhere Eda.

If anyone wants to hurt you, they'll first have to go through me

Eda chuckled. "Thanks you two

#The Owl House #Owl House #ToH #the owl house eda #eda the owl lady #eda owl house #eda the owl witch #eda clawthorne #toh king #king of demons #king owl house #toh luz #luz owl house #luz noceda #Fanfiction #Owl House fanfic #fanfic #Ao3

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itsbenedict · 3 years ago

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Two-Faced Jewel: Session 10

Connections

A half-elf conwoman (and the moth tasked with keeping her out of trouble) travel the Jewel in search of, uh, whatever a fashionable accessory is pointing them at. [Campaign log]

Last time, the party arrived in Cauterdale, the heavily-fortified port city at war with nature. They arrived in search of members of the Deathseekers' Guild- the organization of professional adventurers and monster-hunters that likes to be very up-front about its mortality rate- to handle a dragon problem that they're personally a little underleveled for.

While Looseleaf had a fateful encounter with the Plot at the Temple of Andra, Saelhen and Oyobi were headed to the barracks of the city guard, to speak to "Mags", the guard on duty when the local Deathseekers were last seen leaving town. And there...

You remember Medd Cutter, right? Highly-memorable Medd Cutter, the NPC who got oneshot by a T-rex and whose life the party saved? Well, to spite Rex... whatever his last name was, the pro-patria-mori asshole guard captain guy, Saelhen has decided that she's going to start spreading the word of Medd's heroism.

Oyobi, unfortunately, is bent on spreading the word of her own extremely ill-advised heroism, and so the two are having some sort of hype-off as they make their way into the barracks and effortlessly charm their way past the guards to where their quarry is posted.

These two are manning some sort of huge brass contraption, bristling with lenses and dials. One of them is a yuan-ti pureblood- which there are an unusual number of in the city guard, compared to the general population. Weird. Saelhen politely introduces herself, and Verity Truescale refers them to Magnaranth aka Mags, the loxodon who last saw the Deathseekers leave town.

Mags doesn't have a huge amount to tell them- the Deathseekers, evidently, were going hunting, out east somewhere. They brought a lot of torches, so apparently they were headed somewhere dark? Underground, maybe? They were pretty cagey about what exactly they were going out to do. Still, Mags can provide the names and addresses of the Deathseekers in question.

...And Verity, checking the instruments, notices that something is wrong with the tides- apparently something large is disturbing the waters, but they can't quite pinpoint what- it's not any of the usual suspects, which include things by the name of "Darkie" or "Unnessie". Ominous!

After that, the party meets up at the local Temple of Iska, their designated rendezvous point. They catch each other up on their gains, and decide... well, the Deathseekers are going to be back within a couple days, so they'll just wait for them in town and get going with them, to make sure things in Barley and Wheat go smoothly.

Of course, the question then is "where do we stay?"

Options aren't great- Cauterdale is crowded, and the B&B market is incredibly shitty. The best lodging is on Eman's Knee, the island just off the coast of Cauterdale, but getting the ferry over there is expensive, and resort lodging on a tropical island is also expensive.

That- you can't just- I mean, just because- I'm- I'm allowed to be predictable, okay???

(And anyway, it's Corolos where I ended up doing a murder mystery.)

So, Looseleaf gets a 24 investigating the town's B&B market, and finds a pretty good place! It's a weapons shop Saelhen noticed earlier, which is renting out rooms. The place has a huge fence topped with spikes, so they probably won't even get robbed!

Aria of War, as it happens, is run by an elderly yet ripped-as-hell tabaxi man, who Saelhen... vaguely recognizes.

Benedict I. (GM): So, this shopkeeper's coat is familiar to you. It's definitely not the same person, but you once knew a girl in Timber Towers named Toothbrush, with almost the exact same coat. Could be a relative! Saelhen du Fishercrown: Yeah, tabaxi have a lot of coat variation; it's not a safe bet that they're related, but Saelhen is willing to go out on a limb with him. "Good evening, sir, and I'm sorry to bother you, but I felt I had to ask..." Fish Especially: "No discounts." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Do you have any relation to a..." Was Toothbrush her real name? Benedict I. (GM): As far as you know! Tabaxi have weird names. Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Toothbrush?" Fish Especially: He looks surprised. "Hold on, you know Toothbrush?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...I knew I knew that speckle pattern." Saelhen smiles widely and without guile. "I met her in Timber Towers a while back. She played the violin." "More specifically, she couldn't play the violin, but she always failed very effectively." Fish Especially: "I'll be! Her theatre troupe doing all right for itself, then?" "Even with the noise of that awful thing?" "I never know what to think when she writes those letters..." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Last I saw of them, they were doing pretty well for themselves! To be honest, I did a stint with them for a bit, they wanted advice on a traditional elven piece..." Saelhen leans in on her elbows. "Oh, she mangled it, but she compensated with charm and that one face. Her confident face, you know the one, where you think she's so confident that maybe it's supposed to sound like that?" Fish Especially: He laughs. "You do know my girl!" "She hasn't written in- I think a year, now. How's she been?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Oh, it's been so long, I'm barely an authority by now -- but I remember she was talking about taking classes in -- what was it..." "...oh, where are my manners -- I'm Saelhen du Fishercrown, it's a pleasure." Saelhen reaches out for a very unelven handshake.

That she says this is notable for one big reason: this is the first time she's used her real name, and not "Lady Noeru de la Surplus". Nobody else in the party has heard this before!

It's also notable because according to Fish Especially, Toothbrush thought Saelhen was dead- and he's going to let her know otherwise.

Anyway, the deal for rooms goes through without incident, and the night also goes without incident! As is entirely normal, they hear Vayen in the halls making some sort of attempt to sneak into Saelhen's room in the night... and this time, sighing and going "never mind" without even attempting to pick the lock for some reason.

In the morning... Looseleaf grills Saelhen on the name thing, and she confesses the truth of the matter to the whole party- who take it fairly well.

After team bonding, the party heads to the Temple of Andra to check in and see if the Deathseekers have showed up. And by the stablehand's account, they have- or at least, a bunch of weird old people showed up to meet with Gabbro.

Gabbro seems surprised to see them- he was under the impression that they'd leave the matter to them. The further involvement of the party should be unnecessary, right...?

Looseleaf: "Oh, yeah, I was going to let you know we were staying in town and ask for you to let us know when the deathseekers showed up, but, uh, judging by that meeting we interrupted, they're already back and right here." Gabbro: "That is correct," he says, as the stablehand leaves. "I was just briefing them on the mission, you see." "The situation is well in hand, so you needn't concern yourselves with it any longer." "That pesky dragon shouldn't be an issue." Looseleaf: "W-well, uh. I was, uh, we were, kiiiinda hoping to travel with you back to the dragon's tower." "I mean, it's our quest, so, it'd be nice to, for us to see it happening so we can be sure of it, y'know?" Gabbro: He looks somewhat taken aback. "That... seems... risky, don't you think?" "To bring along... certain... people?" Looseleaf: "We're going to stay very very far away from the action! We're not that dumb!" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...I assure you that we have no intention of fighting the dragon ourselves, sir." Gabbro: "Ah, yes, of course not..." "However..." He gives Looseleaf a pleading look. Saelhen du Fishercrown: "And there are... certain persons in the nearby town, whose safety I would like to check up on. Personally." Looseleaf: He doesn't seem to want people witnessing the fight? It could be explicable through just, him being worried we'll get hurt. But it could also be, 'their deathseekers fight with methods that Orluthe in particular should not be allowed to witness.' Gabbro: "Ah, well, if that's the case... if you don't mean to get involved with the Deathseekers and their work..." Looseleaf: "We're not going to- we don't want any claim to the loot in the tower either, if that's a problem! Everything in the tower is you and your group's prerogative to deal with however we like."

Gabbro seems... put slightly more at ease, and decides to introduce the group to the ones who'll be their traveling companions shortly- the Cauterdale Deathseekers.

In order:

Doon Softbreeze, half-halfling rogue and all-around Grunkle Stan-type, friendliest with the party.

Kevin Softbreeze, Doon's soft-spoken herbalist husband and that's it, probably, just a gardener.

John Human, an extremely decrepit extremely human man who seems to make weird buzzing sounds when he speaks, as if with mouthparts instead of human lips.

Ryuusatsu Takuma, totally silent elf (not present at this meeting with Gabbro) who probably just doesn't like talking, is all.

Lady Fidelia Greatholder, heavily-armored and heavily-everything human noblewoman (also not present at this meeting), who- well, she shows up next session.

Gabbro makes a point of making clear to those present that Orluthe, who they'll be traveling with, is a cleric of Diamode- apparently they need to know this for some reason!

Doon's pretty friendly with the party, and offers to take on their job pro-bono- on the basis that, c'mon, if they could actually afford them, they wouldn't be knocking on their door for help. So it looks like they've enlisted some highly-capable dragonslayers with no ulterior motives! Fantastic.

Next time: The road back to Barley, and the tying up of a few loose ends in town. Saelhen needs to get her kimono back!

#tfj log #twofaced jewel

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devourcr · 3 months ago

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it would be easy to remain in paris — to seek the comfort of his coven ( as he had for over 100 years with théâtre des vampires ), to see change on the horizon and close his shutters to it like it were the rising dawn seeking to burn his flesh from bone. change is terrifying and very rarely has he expedited change. he's one to witness it. to move with the current as it sweeps him away, because otherwise he'd be exhausted and drowned in the fight. armand's aware that it won't be simple and he tries not to dwell too hard on what might be said, what the others might think, and whether they'd agree. while stronger than each of them individually, armand is still only one vampire.

❝ perhaps we've come together at just the right time, ❞ if fate is real, it's had a sick, twisted sense of humor in his life. still, he's not actively going out of his way to sabotage what they have. he never had to be intentional about that.

he should have given amalia credit for her patience, given how much he'd wanted to brush off her concerns, to make it a problem that she might leave him for, rather than to take a breath and listen to what she said. admittedly, there is part of him that wouldn't want to believe that his coven would harm her without his permission. and while he's the one with the title, they, too, have fangs and a voice.

❝ at times, scissors become a good defense. i'll be careful, ❞ he assures her. he'll try to listen. armand knows that it doesn't mean that they'll be without disagreements. it doesn't mean that they aren't about to go forward on a rough journey. there'd be obstacles, no doubt, in stepping away from the coven permanently. but it shouldn't mean death for either of them. he supposes paris might not be as welcoming as a territory in the future, but maybe it's better if it isn't. he'd been in the city for long enough and perhaps home would take a different form now.

he breathes a content sigh when she nuzzles into his neck, arm still wound around her. ❝ we can see more of it together, ❞ he promises. after all, safety was more likely in pairs than alone. ❝ do you see me? ❞ he asks after a pause, fingers idly running through her hair. ❝ when you imagine your future? because i always see you. ❞

three hundred years. armand is right; there is no reason they should ever have met. had their lives been normal, human, it would have been impossible. he'd have died centuries before even her mother was born, she'd have been thousands of miles away, moving up to being a lady's maid, or a wife with children. one cannot miss somebody who's been dead for hundreds of years, who they've never met. amalia might harbour feelings of resentment about her turning, about the torment of becoming what she is, but she's not filled with revulsion at what she has become. no: she's glad for it. she's glad to have experienced new things, to have stretched her wings beyond the confines of a life in service. this is who she was meant to be; it just took becoming a vampire to find that out.

and now she's met armand. now they are here together. it should never have happened, but even when emotions are high, amalia cannot help but be glad that it did. ❝ i've been a vampire for well over a century. all that time we were both in this world. ❞ amalia hasn't been unhappy, most of the time. she wouldn't say she's been desperately searching for something like this to fill a hole in her chest, to soothe the part of her that has craved being loved. but that doesn't mean the hole wasn't there.

❝ maybe something did draw me here. ❞ fuck fate; what good has it ever done her? who has it helped? but finding what she has with armand was a million to one. she'd not been expecting it; she'd been pretty sure they would sleep together, once they'd spent evenings staring at each other, captured in their gaze, but lust is not love.

❝ so, ❞ she props herself up on an elbow so that armand can see her face, can see that this is light, now, not a scolding, ❝ there are enough knots in our thread without you coming along with the scissors, my love. ❞ listen to me when i'm afraid, she is begging, don't assume the worst of me. leaving him behind would only ever have been a temporary option to ensure her safety while he disentangled himself from the coven. but this...this is so much better.

she smiles, sad, and settles back down, nuzzling into armand's neck; it is easier to talk of brazil, it seems, if she does not have to look at him. ❝ i've hardly seen a lot of it. i got out pretty quickly. but we can plan, south asia and the americas. decide where to go first from there. when we are out of paris. ❞

#stormlit #interactions // amalia ( stormlit )#we’ll shoot back holy water // theatre des vampires

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starlessskies94 · 4 years ago

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Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?

Pairing: Joel Miller x OC

Note: Sorry I'm a little late posting an update. After so much sadness, why don't we take a break? We need some cute happy moments...my babies are too sad. :( Here's a flashback that is well needed right now. I hope you enjoy it <3

Chapter Six

The sun had long since set, the night unusually calm and still after a morning spent travelling and walking through the Wyoming Museum that Joel had surprised the girls with for Ellie’s birthday.

It had been fun and Ada had enjoyed every second of it. That was until they’d been separated and Ellie had seen the dead Firefly and his messages of hate and anger towards the group after they’d been forced to disband.

Ada had always wondered what would become of them after Marlene’s death, she supposed now she had her answer.

They’d set up their tents for the night with a roaring campfire burning away in between them as the horses grazed contently not too far away. The older woman sat a small distance from the campsite by the water’s edge of the deep pool flooded into the forest beds. Brown eyes stare into the lazy river flowing through the fallen rocks and dead trees, filtering through the cracks into a string of waterfalls that beautifully reflected in the soft moonlight above.

She watches the water move, her mind completely quiet and undisturbed. It’s strange even now to still have quiet moments like this. She’s so used to running for her life, constantly vigilant for the sounds of nearby infected or potential threats that sometimes find their way through. But now she can relax, she can breathe and it’s glorious. There’s just that tiny nag in the corner of her mind. It tugs gently until she can no longer ignore it. She glances back to the tents, towards the young girl that is currently occupying her mind. Ellie sits quietly by the entrance of her tent, headphones in her ears, comic book on her lap as she idly flips through the pages. While Joel tends to the fire, poking and prodding here and there to keep it burning long enough for their supper to be cooked. She’d made sure to pack enough for the whole journey but Ellie had chosen to catch a few fish for tonight’s meal, what with it being her birthday and all. And as the teen was quick to remind both her and Joel…repeatedly...

My birthday, my rules.

It was the first time she’d seen it in Ellie’s eyes but it had definitely been there and it terrified her. That doubt. For so long Ellie had taken Joel and Ada’s words as fact, she had never brought up the Fireflies or what had happened in the hospital after they’d left so quickly. After all, what reason would they have to lie?

Ada felt her chest tighten at the thought. What would she say if the girl started asking questions? What would Joel say? For the first time in over a year, she was starting to feel guilty for hiding the truth of what really happened. Maybe Ellie deserved to know, maybe they never should have lied in the first place.

But as she glanced back across at her daughter, the fear went away. She was a mother and it was her duty to protect her child. No matter how old she was. And while she may not have been Ellie’s biological mom, she was every bit a mother to the girl whether they were related by blood or not. She'd raised Ellie from being a few days old after her mother had passed. And she had done the best she could with what she had.

She’s was so lost in her own barrelling train of thoughts, that she doesn’t hear Joel approaching until he sat beside her.

“Hey you doing alright over here?” He asks.

“Yeah I’m fine.” She lies and Joel instantly knows that something is wrong, the concern evident on his face as he leans closer towards her.

“No you’re not. You're worrying.” He says gently. “It's Ellie ain’t it? You saw it too.”

She doesn’t even have to question what he’s talking about. They both saw the look on Ellie’s face when they forced their way into the abandoned building and found the girl stood alone in the dark, her light illuminating the Firefly sign and the dark letters painted below.

‘Liars’

In a way it felt as if the very message was speaking directly to them. For what else could they call themselves for the stories they had spun, for the protection of a girl that they both wanted to save? That they both loved.

Ada said nothing as she moved to rest her head on Joel’s shoulder, the man sighing deeply, lifting his arm to wrap around her waist, his own head then rested upon hers. They held each other close as they’d done so many times before, staring out at the glistering water before them. The soft lapping of the water danced by the edge with the breeze of the night’s air, carrying with it the melody of chirping crickets in the long grass under foot.

“What are we gonna do?” The brunette whispers into the silence settled between them.

“With how things are going; I say we do nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“She ain’t asked about it, reckon there’s no reason to go pulling at strings until it’s time.” Joel reasoned. And he was right, Ellie was happy. She was making friends back in Jackson, learning new skills and discovering new talents. It wasn’t until Tommy had gifted her with a journal for her birthday that she actually discovered she was a pretty damn good artist. She had a bed to sleep in every night, a family to come home to, just like she’d always wanted. It was the closest thing Joel and Ada could remember from before; that somewhat resembled a normal life.

They had structure, a reason to get up in the morning. And it felt good. Eventually they moved from the water. Walking hand in hand towards the fire and sitting together, while Ellie continued quietly in her own little bubble, reading her comic book.

They glanced at one another and in that instant that their eyes met, it was decided they would keep their secret for a little longer. Ellie was happy and that was what mattered to them. Nothing more needed to be discussed.

Joel moved to tend to the burning fire, checking over the fish as it cooked above the flames. Though Ada had to quickly take over when the man sent her a lost look at the state of the food. The older man was talented at a lot of things throughout his twenty years of survival but it was obvious that cooking was not one of them. A trait that Ada found rather endearing about him. To meet this confident, strong and stoic man; only to then find out that he struggled to cook a simple can of soup without somehow managing to burn it to the bottom of the pan.

Although it was considered rather old-fashioned, Ada still enjoyed looking after Joel. After everything he had done for her and Ellie, something as simple as cooking him a decent meal made her feel like she was giving something back. She’d tried teaching him in the early days they’d arrived in Jackson but it seemed it was a skill Joel just couldn’t pick up, no matter how often she attempted it. It was a small thing but it made her feel better knowing that; even if she couldn’t control anything regarding Joel’s safety when he left on patrols, at least he wasn’t going out with an empty stomach.

With the food done Ada quickly served the meal, splitting the fresh fish between herself, Joel and Ellie. Who, as a typical teenager, said nothing as she took the plate from her mother and disappeared back into her tent, comic book under her arm and headphones still blasting in her ears. The older woman merely smiled, taking her seat back at Joel’s side as the two ate in a comfortable silence.

When they’d finished Joel had offered to wash up, a credit to his Texas manners as he moved towards the stream to fetch water. He heated it through after grabbing a rag from his backpack and once again found his place at Ada’s side.

She watched him as he worked, a smile tugging at her lips. It had been almost two years since she’d met this man and she still wasn’t quite sure what she’d done to deserve him.

If she was honest she had never loved anyone the way she loved Joel. It was almost laughable how irritating they once found each other when they'd first met. Constantly arguing over plans, ideas and routes to take to get to their destination. She’d wanted so badly to get rid of this gloomy grump, confident in her own abilities that she could find her way with Ellie on her own. And yet now she couldn’t even fathom the idea of living without him.

“Hey.” She called gently, grabbing Joel’s attention as he glanced her way. “ I wanted to thank you, for all this. Everything you’ve done for Ellie. I think this is without a doubt the best birthday she’s ever had. Back in Boston I could never really do a lot for her. Couldn’t even get her a decent present with those damn ration cards.”

“You don’t gonna thank me Ada, reckon this was good for all of us.” He said, wringing out the rag as he finished the washing up, then hanging it dry. Ada shuffled on her behind, grabbing her legs to cross them underneath her and leaned back on her arms to gaze up at him.

“Yes I do, you didn’t have to do this. And that tape you found her...I mean she loves it Joel.” He smiled at her words, his eyes moving to find Ellie still sat alone with her Walkman.

“You do realise she’ll be listening to that on repeat for months right?” She laughed with him. His face lit up with joy, it was the same feeling he’d felt when he gave her the gift in the first place. The pure wonder and glee when she played it. He looked back to Ada and his heart leaped in his chest when he saw the love in her eyes.

“Well...you know, speaking of presents, I do actually have something else.” He teased with a mischievous grin widening across his face. He kneeled down beside the woman, rummaging through his bag then pulled out a small vinyl cover. Ada’s mouth agape in surprise as she took the album from Joel, a small gasp leaving her, her smile hid behind the hand that rested on her chin.

“Joel...I...how did you…” She uttered, completely at a loss for words. It was a Fleetwood Mac album, one of her favourites in fact. The man beside her lowered himself back down, his hazel eyes level with hers.

“You said they were your favourite growing up, cause of your mom and I found a music store before we left Jackson so I figured...you know…” He explained and Ada was touched by how considerate he was. How sweet. She’d told him the story of her mother listening to the band throughout her childhood and teen years, when they’d first started to soften to one another while travelling through Pittsburgh. But that had been months ago and yet he had remembered every detail. A fact that Ada was quick to point out to him, but he just smiled and shrugged.

“I guess I do listen more than you think.” He simply said. And damn if Ada didn’t fall in love with this man all over again.

“I love it, thank you.”

“You’re welcome darlin’.”

She still hadn’t said the actual words to him yet. Which, when she thought about it seemed so ridiculous. She put the album to the side, unfold her legs and tackled the man in a hug. A reaction Joel clearly hadn’t been expecting as the force of it left them both in a tangled mess on the forest floor. Ada landing on top of him, as he let out a muffled grunt as he met the ground with his back. His arms wrapping around her middle and holding her in place, while hers found themselves round his neck, her fingers brushing through his hair.

“I love you.” She said breathlessly, her eyes never leaving his. She saw his throat quiver as he swallowed hard, his face softened as his calloused fingers caressed against her face. A gentle touch but one that still made her feel warm and giddy. He brushed her hair from her eyes, sweeping the brown locks behind her ear and smiled lovingly.

“I love you too.” He replied. The words said for the first time between them. He moved forward to kiss her, eyes sliding close, noses touching as they leaned closer.

“Oh come on guys!! Seriously?! Fucking gross!” Ellie bellowed, instantly killing the mood as Joel groaned letting his head fall back against the floor, his arms releasing Ada as she quickly scuffled from him and back to her feet. Hand reaching out to help Joel up.

Both adults stepped away from the other, attempting to put the distance between them as Ellie stared them down with a raised eyebrow.

“And on my fucking birthday, what are you trying to scar me for life or something?” She joked. But Ada and Joel were far too embarrassed to see the funny side. The girl continued with a deep chuckle, her tongue sticking out as she gagged and pulled faces at the whole thing.

“Oh man that image is gonna be stuck in my brain forever!” She groaned. “Get out! Get out” She whined tapping her head with her small fist as she squeezed her eyes closed. Turning on her heel and retreating back towards her tent.

Joel awkwardly cleared his throat when the girl had gone, looking anywhere and everywhere except towards Ada. The woman doing the same, her stomach fluttering and cheeks hot from endless blushing.

“Well that was uhhh...unexpected.” The man mumbled. Ada just laughed as she felt the tension melt away between them as Ellie shouted at the two to go to bed and jokingly threatened to ground them if they didn’t behave. Joel just shook his head at the girl and smiled at his love as they called it a night and headed towards their tent. Ellie watched them go and readied herself for first watch, taking the risk to glance through the tent door and seeing Joel and Ada had already fallen asleep. She'd never tell them but it was actually kinda cute when they cuddled up to each other. She was glad they were happy. It was nice.

Yeah Ellie thought to herself as she settled in for the night.

Best. Birthday. Ever.

#Joel Miller #joel the last of us #joel and ellie #joel miller x oc #the last of us part 2 #the last of us #Ellie Williams #fanfiction #starlesskies writes

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dekudynamight · 6 years ago

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Title: Worth Waiting For part 6

Rating: E

Pairing: Sebastian Stan x Jon Kortajarena, Sebastian Stan x Chris Evans

Word Count: 2.7k

Summary: Sebastian makes his confession to Jon, and it doesn't go as expected.

A/N: Aaaahhhhh thank you guys so much for the amazing response to this fic thus far! You're all amazing and I love all of you and I hope you like this 😃I'm excited for the next chapter after this one and have it started already so stay tuned! 💙

For the next three days, Sebastian went through the motions of life under the weight of his crushing guilt, and he kept it all to himself. He talked to Jon daily as usual and did his best to hide it, doing a damn good job and blaming what little Jon did notice on being tired. He wasn't a great liar but all he was trying to do was hide it until he could confess in person. There was no way he was going to just move on with life like his kiss with Chris had never happened - it would eat him up inside until he couldn't take it anymore.

So he sucked it up and carried on, boarding his plane to London at the end of those three days and spending the entire flight rehearsing his planned speech in his head. He agonized over it, hoping to God that Jon would at least listen and let him say everything that he needed to, but if he threw him out and sent him back to New York Seb wouldn't blame him. He was prepared for all possibilities, but he hoped it wouldn't prove as terrible as he feared.

When he arrived Jon was there to greet him, having just wrapped up a day on set of a movie he'd landed a small but compelling role in. He pulled Sebastian into a hug and kiss and Sebastian suspected a few people snapped pics of their reunion but he didn't care. He put on a brave face and smiled as Jon led him and his luggage to a car that drove them just a few minutes across town to Jon's hotel, and Sebastian was relieved that they'd be alone soon. If he didn't get what he'd done off his chest soon, he was sure that he'd simply just explode.

They had just gotten inside Jon's room and had the door shut behind them when Jon took his luggage from Seb and set it aside, wasting no time in invading his space with a sweet, warm smile and reaching to cup his face with a lowly whispered, "I've missed you, mi vida."

Then he kissed Sebastian with all the pent up love and passion he'd been reining in for three weeks, and Sebastian could feel it in his very soul. It broke his heart and made him feel whole again all at once, a barrage of confusing and overwhelming emotions making him forget about the confession he'd been so eager to give. He melted against Jon and fell into the kiss, having missed the man so much that it was easier than breathing to be pulled back in by him so quickly.

Sebastian didn't snap out of it until Jon started tugging his jacket off, their kisses turning hungry and scorched until Sebastian broke away with a heavy breath. Hands on Jon's chest putting some distance between them he whispered, "Wait, wait."

"Why?" Jon murmured, trailing his lips to Sebastian's neck and making his eyes roll shut.

"Jon, please, I mean it," Sebastian forced out, and Jon pulled away in an instant.

"What's wrong?" Jon asked, surprise and concern etched on his features as he looked Sebastian over.

Sebastian took a deep breath and felt his stomach drop, dread and fear filling him now that the moment had arrived at last and he'd rejected his only way out of it. He clenched his jaw and dropped his eyes, trying to remember the speech he'd planned but now that the time had come... it was all gone. Suddenly nothing felt like the right thing to say and he wished that he could just disappear.

"Sebastian," Jon said quietly, reaching up and touching his cheek. "Are you all right?"

"No," Sebastian admitted, taking his hand and pulling it away. He forced himself to look Jon in the eye and muttered, "I... I don't know how to say it. I fucked up."

Jon furrowed his brows slightly. "What do you mean?"

Sebastian took another breath, feeling ill and terrified but giving himself no choice but to come out with it. "Couple nights ago, um... Chris, he... he showed up drunk at my door. It was late and I was stupid and I let him in and I know that I shouldn't have, but I did and..."

Sebastian trailed off and watched as his words sunk in. Jon's expression shifted from confusion to understanding and then... he wasn't sure. Disappointment, maybe, but not the anger that he would have expected. "You... did you sleep with him?"

"No," Sebastian replied immediately, a little too adamantly. "He kissed me. And I didn't... I didn't stop him. I kissed him back and then when I realized what I'd done I pushed him away and freaked out and made him go, but... I did it."

Jon looked him in the eye until he was finished, and then he dropped his eyes and took a long, deep breath. Then, as Sebastian watched with bated breath and a chest full of anxiety, Jon nodded and seemed to be inwardly debating something. Sebastian watched and waited until he couldn't take it anymore, blurting, "If you want me to go I'll go. I just... I wanted to tell you in person. I'm so sorry. I'm a piece of shit and I fucking hate myself and -"

Jon, aghast at Sebastian's words, shook his head and shocked the other man by pulling him into a hug that was far more comforting than Sebastian felt he deserved. "No, no, Sebastian," Jon murmured. "Don't say that."

Sebastian buried his face in Jon's shoulder, hot tears springing to his eyes. "But it's true," he muttered. "You've been so damn good to me and you deserve so much fuckin' better."

But all Jon did was shush him gently and then lead him to the king sized bed in the suite, sitting him down on the side of it and sitting next to him, keeping his arm around him and placing his other hand on Sebastian's face. "I'm not angry, Sebastian."

Sebastian blinked and sniffed back his tears. "What?"

"I'm not angry," he repeated gently.

"... How? I fuckin'... I cheated, Jon. And with him."

Jon shook his head. "You love him," he stated gently. "I can't change that."

"But I love you," Sebastian insisted. "I swear I do."

"I know you do," Jon assured him. "And you love him, too. It's okay."

"No it's not," Sebastian argued softly. "I hate it. I hate what he does to me and how the second he shows up I just fuckin' lose it. I'm a piece of -"

"Sebastian," Jon interrupted gently, "It's okay to love more than one person. And you are so... sweet and full of love and have so much to give. I would never want to change that about you - it made me fall in love with you."

Sebastian's heart throbbed with pain, his guilt growing immeasurably worse thanks to Jon's seemingly utter lack of anger. He wasn't happy about it but he wasn't mad or particularly frustrated either, and the lack of a conventional response left Sebastian completely unsure as to what the hell to do with himself and his feelings.

"Why don't you hate me?" Sebastian asked quietly, and Jon winced as if the question physically hurt him.

"I've told you before, mi vida - I could never hate you."

Sebastian couldn't help but cry even more at those words. Jon pulled him into another hug, whispering comforting words into his ear and running soothing fingers through his hair. Within a few moments they ended up laying in bed together, shoes and jackets off and Sebastian curled up in the safety and warmth of Jon's arms. His head was on Jon's chest and Jon comforted him until the tears finally stopped coming and his breathing evened out.

Sebastian was exhausted from not only his flight but also from the outpouring of emotion that he was still grappling with. It was surreal in a way, Jon being so sweet and understanding despite what Sebastian had done, and Seb just... could hardly comprehend it.

"Are you sure you're not mad?" Sebastian asked quietly, peeking up at Jon.

"At you, no," Jon replied. "But Chris... he plays with your heart. What he does to you is cruel."

"He doesn't mean to be," Sebastian said, his knee jerk reaction to defend Chris at all costs still very much alive and well. "He just..."

"You make excuses for him and always have. You shouldn't."

Sebastian let out a breath and lowered his eyes, closing them as he snuggled deeper into Jon's chest. "I know. I'm an idiot."

"He is the idiot," Jon chuckled.

"Yeah." Sebastian paused. "But I love him."

Jon kissed his forehead. "But you love him."

Sebastian looked up at him, eyes earnest and honest. "I love you, too."

"And I love you," Jon replied softly, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on his lips.

".... What do we do?" Sebastian asked Jon in a whisper, at a loss for where to go from here.

"Whatever makes us happy," Jon shrugged. "And you make me happy."

"You do, too," Sebastian insisted, meaning it with everything he had in him.

"Then we will figure it out," Jon assured him, kissing him one more time, and somehow despite his guilt, shame, confusion and inner turmoil... Sebastian believed him.

He might never fully believe that he was worthy of Jon's love and forgiveness, but he was grateful more than words could ever begin to say. He wished that his love for Jon would just push his love for Chris out of his heart and into the past, but instead they coexisted for better or worse. He loved them both so damn much and he couldn't imagine that ever changing.

What the hell were they gonna do?

----

The next morning Sebastian awoke to soft, tender kisses on his neck and gentle hands roaming his body, Jon coaxing him into what proved to be the best makeup sex Seb had ever had. A part of him still felt like he wasn't worthy of such pleasure but Jon went to great lengths to convince him otherwise, and Sebastian loved him all the more for it.

The rest of his trip passed by pleasantly and all too quickly, the two men enjoying each other's comforting company and making a few public strolls together. They both had to deal with a lot more paparazzi since coming out but it was a part of life and it rarely bothered them. What did bother Sebastian, however, was the nagging little voice in the back of his head wondering how Chris was doing and if he was seeing the pictures as they hit the Internet. Sebastian wanted to reach out and make sure that he was okay, that he wasn't hurting after what happened, but silence had lapsed between them again and he just didn't know how to proceed.

Sebastian flew home at the end of his trip conflicted and worried but relieved that he and Jon were still together despite his lapse in judgement. Soon after he jetted off to LA for a new film and, for the time being at least, left his problems on the back burner in favor of work. It was a bandaid really but he was used to it.

Three weeks into filming, Jon's project wrapped up and he had a week free to visit Sebastian in LA. He packed up and flew his way, stopping for a layover at JFK that left him waiting for an hour and a half before his next flight began boarding. He grabbed lunch and coffee at one of the restaurants and sat at a table towards the back as he made a few phone calls and texted Seb to keep him updated as to his ETA.

Everything was going perfectly smoothly until he finished his food and happened to glance up at the right moment and noticed a particular patron at the counter waiting on his order. Jon wasn't sure at first until the man turned his head a certain way, better displaying a bearded jaw that a NASA hat and sunglasses couldn't hide, and then Jon knew beyond a doubt who the man was. He took a deep breath and looked away, wondering what kind of ridiculous sense of humor the universe had to cross their particular paths on that particular day.

Then again, maybe the universe had a good reason for it.

He got up and headed to the front of the restaurant, quietly disposing of his now-empty coffee cup and walking the short distance to where Chris stood. He took a deep breath and hesitated only for a few seconds before reaching out and gently tapping his upper arm. Chris immediately swiveled around and, upon making eye contact with Jon, immediately performed his best impression of a deer in headlights.

".... Hi," Chris blurted, eyes wide and mouth hanging slightly open. Jon, not as much of a saint as he seemed to be at times, couldn't deny the little bit of satisfaction he got from Chris' clearly panicked reaction.

"Heading home?" Jon asked quietly, glancing around them to ensure that nobody was watching them or paying them any mind. They weren't.

"No, Atlanta," Chris replied, visibly perplexed by the casual line of questioning. He seemed to just go with it, however, asking next, "You?"

"Back to LA. Sebastian's waiting for me."

Chris stared at him, anxiety sealing up his mouth for once and leaving him speechless. Jon watched him squirm for only a few seconds before letting out a breath and throwing him a bone.

"I know what happened. He told me weeks ago," Jon told Chris, whose brows quirked in surprise. "We don't keep secrets."

"Listen," Chris muttered after swallowing nervously, tone as quiet as possible, "I never meant to -"

Jon held up a hand to silence him. "I don't know what you mean to do. You are always playing with him and coming and going as you please, and he deserves better than that."

"I know," Chris replied, visibly and audibly pained. "And I'm sorry. To both of you. I had no right to do what I did. It won't happen again."

"I think it will," Jon shrugged slightly. "He loves you too much to ever say no to you. And you - I don't know what you want from him but I don't trust you."

".... I wouldn't trust me either," Chris muttered, clearly ashamed. It was all in his blue eyes, plain as day for anyone to see. "I don't wanna fuck you guys up anymore than I already have. I'll leave him alone."

"That's not what I want," Jon shook his head. "I want him to be happy."

Now Chris was really confused. He gave a small shake of his head and furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"

"He needs you, I think. I can't change that. But unless you stop being a coward and using him whenever you feel like it, you'll never deserve him or his time."

"I'm not trying to take him from you," Chris blinked, unsure of how to take Jon's words. "I just..." he paused and trailed off, eyes averting aimlessly. "I miss him."

"Maybe you should stop missing him and start earning his love," Jon suggested. "Stop breaking his heart."

".... Don't you hate me?" Chris asked, bewildered. "I don't understand."

"I don't hate anybody," Jon shrugged. "Not even you."

A pause of silence passed between them, and then with all the sincerity in the world Chris finally murmured, "I'm sorry."

Before Jon could accept the apology, Chris' order was called out from the counter. He glanced over his shoulder and then back to Jon, who simply moved his hands into his pockets and said, "Have a safe flight, Chris."

"You too," Chris replied, eyes still bewildered as he watched Jon walk away and out of the restaurant.

Nerves now shot, Jon felt the nagging need for a cigarette start to grow as he began heading towards his gate. He hoped that Chris would listen and put an end to this nonsense for Sebastian's sake, whatever that ultimately meant for him and Jon. Whatever came of them in the end, so long as Sebastian was happy and had what he wanted, that was enough for Jon. That was how love was supposed to be - selfless, unconditional.

And maybe not always limited to one person and one person alone.

Taglist: @captainrogerrsbeard @take-me-tom-hiddleston @onehotgreasymechanic @stanclub @time-travel-bouqet @supersmuttyqueernerd @its-a-pretty-interesting-wall @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @lisamott9 @ravensonata @buckmesideways22 @loki7ms @weareallteamcap @laughingatthevoid @nade2308 @wintersoldier1989 @steve-bucky-stucky @loricameback @imagininggirl

#evanstan #kortastan #sebastian stan x jon kortajarena #chris evans x sebastian stan #sebastian stan #chris evans #jon kortajarena #sebastian stan rpf #chris evans rpf #rpf

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cursesavior · 10 months ago

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"Make sure to stay myself, hm? How sentimental." Suguru hums, not entirely sure what to make of the words - not fully taking them to heart but not brushing them off either. He supposes it would be detrimental to his cause if he were to lose himself in the hunger for more and more power... But he can't see that happening anyhow. His motives were and always had been his ideals, justice and righteousness and his vision for a better future - even with the power he had now, he hadn't lost sight of that. He was confident that would remain his driving force until he was able to create the world he wanted to see... But he supposed if he ever did start to slip, start to become someone else, Satoru was here now. They'd always kept each other in check back when they were both students - he sees no reason they can't do the same for each other now, despite how much everything had changed.

He lets out a little laugh when Satoru elaborated on what the higher-ups had told him about his organization - world domination? What a pipe dream that would be. If Suguru could rule the world, he certainly would. But he doesn't think that's feasible at any point, and it's definitely not what he's focused on right now. "Well now, that's a far loftier goal. Makes me feel like I should aim higher~" He muses, but he's not being serious, a borderline mischievous smile on his face, the kind he always wore when he was teasing the other. He gives a curious tilt of his head when Satoru seems to accept his goals - or at least, the motivation behind them, dark bangs falling into his eyes a bit. Somehow, he sort of expected there to be more questions - as if he would still believe vampires were bloodthirsty monsters and nothing more, despite Suguru standing right in front of him as proof otherwise, despite the fact he'd allowed him to drink his blood. With how many vampires he's surely killed at this point, he thought maybe the cognitive dissonance would be too much... But wanting safety for vampires isn't something he thinks of as wrong, it seems.

"Private execution? Oh, please." He scoffs, tone making the very idea sound so absurd. He draws a bit closer, fingers closing gently around his wrist, thumb tracing the punctures where his fangs had been not long ago. "Even if you're technically still a hunter... You're mine now, aren't you?" He leaves the meaning of that vague, knowing it could be a million different things - Satoru being on his side, being a member of the cult, being his... He chooses to instead address the concerns he brought up rather than what exactly he meant. That's what he'd asked for, after all. "You're right, though. Not all vampires hold themselves to the same standards as myself and my allies, and humans do have their place in this world. Of course I've already thought that much through." He's pulling away again then, letting go of him and moving toward the window, moving aside the curtains that blocked any light from entering to look off into the night, gaze at the rest of the temple, look down at the way his followers milled about. He's holding himself with a sense of nobility again, like an emperor looking down at his kingdom.

"There's a reason I've been able to convince so many humans to aid my cause, you know. I can protect them - in exchange for their blood and a promise not to rat us out to the hunters, of course. Do you know how?" There's a sly glint in his eye as he looks back to Satoru, enjoying the sight of him on his bed. "Have you heard any rumors of the undead recently? Beyond vampires, I mean. Reanimated corpses." A bit of pride flickers across his expression, and his smile widens a bit, looking rather pleased with himself. "As you know, while most vampires have enhanced physical abilities after being turned, there are some that gain additional powers. Some that are stronger. In my case, I'm able to control the corpses of those I drain. " His eyes are sharp and focused on the other as he watches him closely, analyzing his expression and body language for his reaction. After all, that did make Suguru a murderer, and not just for the sake of feeding. How much of this could Satoru's morals accommodate? "It's been a very useful tool for me for many reasons, but using them to protect the villages that have allied with me has been a big one. Even if most of the corpses aren't particularly strong, it provides constant surveillance, and they can at least buy time for the villagers if a rogue vampire decides to attack. There are even some vampires that are willing to station themselves in the villages in case of these situations..."

He trails off, feeling like he's been talking for far too long - especially when Satoru's voice was like music to his ears after not hearing it for years. But even with all of his explaining, he knows there are questions unanswered, things the other was surely wondering about... He'd much rather just be upfront than wait for him to ask. He draws closer once more, resting his hand on the edge of his bed, letting out a sigh as his dignified act drops and he's more present, more down-to-earth. "I know what you must be thinking... How many people I must have killed in order to pull something like that off. Some of them were offered to me by the villagers themselves. Prisoners, mostly... But honestly, a lot of people volunteered to let me drain them. Isn't that strange?" He muses, like it's just an odd little curiosity rather than the morbid result of cult mentality. There were people - a lot of people - willing to die for him, to be controlled completely by him. That's the kind of power he had over his followers. They practically treated him like a god... He's still not entirely used to it, even after all these years. "In the end, I intend to create a symbiotic relationship between humans and vampires. I think that would be the easiest way to achieve my goal..." He meets Satoru's gaze, searching his eyes - trying to see if it was approval or disgust and horror lingering behind those blues.

Eyes watch him carefully; the jest is soft and floating like the rest of theirs, but there's a warmth that blossoms in his chest at the thought. Suguru wants there to be room for him in his sleeping space. It's not like Satoru's never slept in his bed before or draped himself over him –– when Satoru's tired, he crashes wherever it's convenient, and most of the time that meant Suguru. It's not uncommon to wake up with Satoru's arm or leg thrown over some part of the other, snoring against his chest or back. That's just who he is as a person. But something about the comment feels more...intimate. It feels like Suguru means it in every single way that he possibly can. Satoru almost wants to ask, wants the words to flow effortlessly off of the tip of his tongue. It'd be so easy to just...know the truth, wouldn't it? But that's the scary part too. Not that he would ever walk away from Suguru now, but it would still take time for his heart to heal, to adjust to the fact that he wasn't wanted in the same way that he wanted him. So it's just easier to clamp those words down and swallow them –– not now, not when they've finally found each other again.

It's easy to reach out, snag a bit of Suguru's robes as he stands there, fingers idly playing with the fabric. It serves to keep his mind occupied, to keep it grounded in the moment. He's adjusting still to the fact that Suguru has grown. He's no longer the meek boy who fought beside him, taking orders and trying his damnedest to reinforce them with everyone else. Satoru and him had argued plenty of times over it all. Instead, he stands tall, proud –– he has become the leader that the academy would have never let him be. Maybe years down the line, maybe, but he doubts that they would let someone like Suguru become one of them. He's too much of a flight risk, adhering to morals but still finding truth in the fact that there was more out there. Satoru remembers nights poring over library books and discussions that ran around in circles about the things they hunt out there. He just never thought that there would be actual meaning in all of it.

"Just don't let it go to your head. That's the mistake that all leaders make. Make sure you always stay Suguru Geto above all else." What does Satoru know about being a leader? He was the more rebellious one, always slacking off or killing too quick, a hairpin trigger when it came down to it. They were always putting him on reserve, hoping it would teach him a lesson. It never served to –– he just learned how to sweet talk the dorm guards even better. He learned to use himself as a tool instead of a weapon. But he has a feeling that keeping Suguru himself is important. It's far too easy to get lost.

Suguru straightens and the robes fall from his hand, a soft pout forming on his lips. He does move to his knees though, watching as Suguru falls back into the person he had seen in the ritual hall, how he pulls himself up to his full height, his words a little crisper. It's...not far off. The cult had been documented for years now, something about rogue vampires and destroying humanity and everything they worked for or stood for. Personally, he's never seen the need to be so damn protective of the humans –– when they learn of the hunter's existences, they turn a blind eye to them once more. Like they're the monsters when they've been keeping them safe.

"Something like that, yeah. Something about the cult wanting world domination and to release vampire kind to wreak havoc and destroy all of humanity." A small shrug of his shoulders; no one here seemed especially out of control. Everyone held themselves well and listened even better. It's interesting to know that these so called monsters are more prim and proper than the damn hunters that have been training at the academy. Out of control and full of hatred; that's the only way to get them. It means they'll be ready to fight or go down swinging.

"It doesn't sound like such a farfetched idea, wanting safety for your kind." Oh, that sounds strange coming from his lips. Like he's confronting the fact seriously that Suguru is now a vampire, that standing before him isn't the human boy he had fallen in love with all those years ago, too afraid to say anything, too afraid to watch him walk away and lose the only person he could be himself with.

There is something nagging at him though, and he shifts on his knees again, spreading them apart a little bit more so he'll have better balance on the plush mattress. "So if you intend to wipe out the whole vampire hunter thing...where does that leave me? I'm still technically one of them. And where does it leave humans as a whole? They still need to be protected from rogue ones that want to go on killing sprees." White hair falls in his face when he cocks his head a bit, regarding the brunette. "Is this my private execution?"

#— i get dark only to shine / IN CHARACTER.#— don't you dare forget the sun / V; VAMPIRE.#chaoslulled #yay freaky vamp powers! LOL

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irepookie · 6 years ago

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Wake up Call, Infinity Ch.3

Summary: QUEEN AU WHERE ROGER (ROWAN)IS A19 YEAR OLD SINGLE DAD TRYING TO FIND A PLACE IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC

WARNINGS: iNTENSE FLUFF AND SOME SWEARING

Chapter 3: Row has to start stepping out of the bubble him and his daughter have been living in while in the safety of the hospital, and break the news to his best friends.

John- Rick

Fred-Len

Bri- Terry

Rog- Rowan

When Row had hung up on Len mid sentence, the boys had been confused. Then again, he was at his mom's house and they had heard her infamous shout of <<ROWAN EUGENE QUEEN>> that always preceded an argument, so they let it go. But then he didn't turn up to rehearsal, or called back for the rest of the afternoon. Or the following afternoon. Or for rest of the week. And that was unlike him. He always called back. (Well, most of his former one night stands would disagree with this). Let's just say he always called his band mates back. Sometimes drunk, at 4 AM, Thus leaving a wakeful Terry with 2 hours to spare nothing to do but to start revising for whatever exam he had ahead.

So, when they didn't know of him, they went directly to the village's police station, to see if he was locked up, and if not, to report him missing.

"What if we ask Gina?" Rick suggested

"I'd rather check the morgue first, thanks" Len said.

"Well, what else can we do? Huh?"

"Audition new drummers"

"Seriously boys. Let's go."

They knocked on Row's childhood home. Gina opened, with messy hair, a dressing gown and slippers

"Oh, hello boys. He ain't here" she took a drag of the 4th cigarette she had smoked that day despite it only being 8:30 AM.

"Where is he?"

"He isn't at home?"

"We've checked and there's no track of him. We haven't seen him in 7 days"

She sighed "in the hospital, I think. If he hasn't left already"

"Hospital?" All three said simultaneously

"What happened?!" Len added

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

She smiled, mockingly "Wow, father of the year isn't so sure after all"

"What?"

She laughed bitterly. If he hadn't told his best friends yet, it maybe meant he was reconsidering the whole thing. Maybe common sense had hit him after the first stinky nappy.

"You know what? Come in."

"Oh we were actually in a rush..."

"You wanna find him or not? Come in, I don't bite

"Alright" all three musicians entered somewhat awkwardly in the house where so many sleep overs had taken place, back in the day.

She led them to the kitchen, where the phone was, and dialed.

Callie was the closest to the phone "Row? Yes, I'll get him"

She made her way to the room where the Prune had been moved in the previous evening, due to her favourable evolution and the need of free incubators.

She grinned at the scene: the 6 day old infant was dozing against her dad's bare chest, supported by his hands -which seemed huge in comparison to her small figure-. His eyes were closed, but Callie could tell he was awake as his left hand was stroking her head. It was adorable, and they seemed at such peace -poor Row had spent his first whole night on night watch and was exhausted-.

"Row" she called softly

He opened his big blue eyes in acknowledgement.

"You have a call"

"A call? From who?" He whispered back, before looking down at the baby to make sure she was asleep

"Didn't say. But she was kind of irritated"

"Oh, that's mom then" he smiled sarcastically, but didn't move a bit.

"You aren't gonna get on the phone?"

"I don't know. She doesn't deserve our attention does she?" He cooed

"How bad can it be?"

"You don't wanna see my bad side. And I don't ever want her to see it either"

Callie smiled "Go. I'll stay with her"

He groaned in annoyance. He was so comfortable, and he didn't want to get up.

"C'mere darling" he mumbled, detaching his daughter from his lap and carefully lying her on the cot

He exited the room and walked to the phone "What?"

"Row! Where are you?" The three voices of his best friends greeted him from the other side

"Oh, hi guys I... How did you get this number?"

"We're calling you from your mum's. She says you're in hospital" Terry's soft voice said worriedly

"You've gone fucking AWOL! Where are you man? We're worried as hell" Len scolded

"Oh yeah, hehe been..."he scratched the back of his head "been pretty busy" He glanced in the direction of his daughter's room, where he saw Callie readjusting the yellow teddy bear he had bought her the second day.

"Busy? With what?" Rick inquired

"It's... It's a long story."

"Well we've got time"

"Shouldn't you be in uni?" Row said in hopes they'd have to run into class

"It's Sunday, Row!"

"Oh is it?" He had lost track of time, honestly

"C'mon! Spit it"

He sighed "Alright, huh..." He tried to think of where to start. He couldn't really think much tho; his brain was pudge at that moment. "I met a girl in..." He counted nine months back from February "June?" No wait Piper was premature so it could be July or... Then it hit him. "No, remember that afternoon when we set up that Live Aid session in your parents backyard, Len?"

The boys nodded. July 13th. How could they forget? It had been dubbed the best Summer Party of 1985 in town. The four of them had tried to get tickets, but they couldn't even afford a ticket to London in the first place. And so, They watched the whole show with four TV screens around the yard instead, and the whole village had joined them, arguing on which performance had been the best.

Of course, all four members of Symbols agreed that it had been Queen.

"But they signed up late" someone said

"Yea, they came late to the party" another agreed.

"So what? They rocked the party! You just say that because you like U2 better"

"Like you prefer Queen!"

"But we've got a point! Regardless of how much we like them, they were, objectively, the best performance" /

"Objectively? Bullshit!" Anne Williams snapped "They played the same shit they always play! And Bono was a true gentleman, helping that girl who was getting crashed by the crowd."

"Yea, I'm sure Freddie wouldn't have given a shit, so full of himself and his teeth up his~" /

Dennis Phelps couldn't finish his sentence as a someone tossed him a Converse, which hit his head. A young woman, with Bowie-like orange dyed haircut approached, with a bare left foot and the matching shoe on the other

"You know nothing about putting up a good show then. Also, you mess with Freddie Mercury again and next time the shoe will be stuck up your ass" she told Dennis, retrieving the item "I mean, it's clear who I'm rooting for but Queen really did what had to be done. Geldof told them all to play the hits, because that's precisely why they're hits: they work. Other artists, like your boyfriend Bono and his band played new material, as if this was their concert. And it's not. Even though they signed up on time and whatever. They took a risk, crowd didn't know the song, they lost interest. But Queen had common sense: they played the hits, the anthems, and people connected with them. And it's not about Freddie or him hypnotizing Wembley. It's having some common sense. And not even you two knew the lyrics of U2s new song. So shut the hell up"

Row had liked her instantly. That's a girl who knows the stuff.

They exchanged a smile, a wink and a complicit nod

"We must join our forces to help out our friends under pressure, don't we?" She said

"Oh yes, Bowie girl." Terry remembered

"Yep."

"So what's with her?" Rick said

"Well, that.. she..." He cut himself off when a cry echoed in Pip's room "Gotta go, guys. I'll call you back"

"No! Row!" Len said, but the line went dead

"Shit"

"What happened?" Gina, who had watched the scene from the door frame, -and was about to finish her 6th cigar in a row,- asked

"He rambled about that Live Aid day, and a girl he met there"

"Did he say her name?"

"No. He had to go suddenly. It's all weird"

"Yea, well... Life is weird, boys"

"I don't understand. What's going on? Can't you tell us, Mrs. Queen?"

"Oh no. No. It's not my story to tell. Nor my business. I tried my best, but that stubborn bastard didn't listen. I'm sorry" she said

"But is he okay?" Len asked, concerned

Gina grinned, at how despite it all, the four boys would stick up with each other to the end of the world "Yes. He's fine."

"Row, are you okay?" Callie said, as the drummer wordlessly took the bundle from her

"Yes, yes. Why wouldn't I be?" He said, sitting with the fussy baby

"You're a bit pale"

"Oh I... Nothing. Just... I'm nervous honestly. Because we're about get discharged and I'm gonna be alone with her and I'll have to dad around all by myself and... And everyone will know..."

"Know what?"

"About her"

"And is that a problem?" Callie crossed her arms

"No, I mean... No, of course not. But everyone will ask questions and judge me and... I'm worried I will end up believing them more and fuck it all up"

"Believing what?"

"They'll start telling me it's a mistake, that I'm gonna screw everything up and that I won't be able to be a good dad and I'm afraid it will become true"

"So you're saying that how people think of you is gonna affect the way you... How you called it? Dad around?"

He nodded "Well, answer me these, will you? Have you, in this moment or at any point during these seven days, thought you are making a mistake?"

He looked at the tiny bundle and shook his head.

"Are you willing to always do your best for the shake of Piper?"

He nodded, noticing he was unconsciously rocking her back and forth.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Look I haven't exactly been a role model in... Well anything. One thing my mom's proud of is that I'm not into drugs. Everyone who has a daughter in the block hates me. So how am I supposed to raise one?"

"Exactly how you've been doing the last six days"

"Yes but I have you guys. And the medics, and the equipment. But there I'll be all alone"

"You will never be alone. You have the friends you've told me about. And your mum...Maybe the little darling is gassy"

"Oh stop about my mum" he carefully changed the Prune to an upright position and began to rub circles on her back without even hesitation. Wow he was actually getting a hold on the burping stuff.

"Yes. Your mum will eventually come to terms with the lil'raisin. I'm sure." She said, whist handing him a muslin to place on the baby's range of accuracy

"Oh you don't know her"

"I know she's a mum. Your mum and mother's rarely ever turn their backs on their children for good"

Row looked at the baby, then raised an eyebrow at Callie

"I said it's rare. There are obviously exceptions" she said "And believe me you're better off. Also, she did call. That's gotta Mean something"

"I didn't speak with her. Just the band. They were at her place, yeah but... I don't know. I'm not gonna beg on my fucking knees..." He was interrupted by a burp I his ear. Damn, that was a big one. He'd need 2 beers to produce such a loud one.

"Easy, tiger." He laughed "Goddamn it, where did that come from, huh? You're unbelievable" he praised, while getting the muslin out his shoulder and handing it to Callie

"And a neat one too. 10/10." She chuckled

"Atta girl. That's my lil'raisin. Yeah, good girl" he cooed, bringing her to face him, before she started fussing and he nested her again on his chest "Aw, don't cry honey. Please. You're alright. C'mon" he begged. She settled down quickly, and he sighed in relief.

"The point is, that here is like... I feel safe, you know? It's like another world. Another life. And now I have to fit her in my every day, and be in charge and stuff, and... I'm not sure I'm ready"

"Parents are never ready to take them home. Not even those who had 9 months of preparation, and parenting classes, and a nicely decorated and supplied nursery. No one feels ready. But nerves are good. Nerves mean that you care. Worrying and doubting about your ability to be the dad your child needs is precisely what's gonna make you raise your game. Just one last question: are you 100% that you love that lil one with all your heart?"

He looked at his daughter, who had gone back to sleep with the rambling of his voice, as his hand still caressed head and grinned "Hell yeah" Otherwise, how could he explain the way his chest seemed to be holding two hearts whenever she was in his arms? Or how, when he had to leave for the night it felt as though both those hearts were ripped away from him? Or how else could he have turned this goddamn sappy? Yep. That was the proof.

"Then that's all the two of you will ever need. She won't care if you two are rich or live in a cardboard box, or if she wasn't in your initial plans, or that she doesn't have a mom. As long as you love her and make her feel like it."

He nodded, and rested his lips on her soft scalp.

"Right, I Gotta get to another patient. Call'em back."

He stood up, this time taking his Prune along, and went to the corridor where the phone was. Making sure her head was safely cradled along with the rest of her small body on his left arm, he tucked the phone between the right shoulder and neck and dialed their shared place's number

Rick picked up "Yes?"

"I'm a dad" he said simply, and waited for his reaction.

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I’ll post the picture separately in order to preserve my goddamn sanity cause Tumblr is being a pain in the arse!!!!!

How do you guys do it? Am I the only one who needs 5 bloody tries to post this things?

#roger taylor #dad!roger taylor #queen band #queen fluff #bohemian rhapsody

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stumbling-while-balancing · 6 years ago

Text

Belated Sheith Month Day 1 entry, Dynamics

Those Two (AO3)

Keith/Shiro

(T) but really probably (G)

***

The dignitaries were staring again. Lance sighed and resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, where Those Two were surely standing. He wasn't going to look. He. Was. Not. (Not like it wasn't something he'd seen a thousand times already, anyway.

"Yeah, sorry about them. They just got married. You know, still in that romantic stage." The dignitaries faces lost their confusion as they nodded in understanding, some looking wistful as they mentally relived fond memories, "Sooooo anyway, about us staying a few more days to recharge our Lion's..."

Pidge really, really wished that she wasn't on this mission. Well, that was wrong. She didn't mind fighting when it was necessary, and she didn't mind infiltrating a ship to free the prisoners, and she didn't mind saving said prisoners.

She minded having to be on a mission with Those Two. She minded that a lot.

Turning her gaze away from the One of The Two that was fussing insistently over the Other One's wound, even as the Other One half-heartedly protested, Pidge finished hacking into the doors and went in to bring out the prisoners.

When she had managed to retrieve them, and got them to shuffle out behind her like ducklings, she just barely managed to avoid rolling her eyes as she saw that One of The Two was still fussing. Worse, the prisoners caught sight of it, themselves, and they turned to Pidge with confused, almost insulted expressions at the apparent lack of concern Those Two had for them. (Which, Pidge did know that they cared a lot about the prisoners. Hormones had just made them act like idiots.)

Pidge shrugged and pasted a fake smile onto her face, "Newly married. Full of those newly married urges to protect and care for each other above all else and all that mushy stuff. Ignore them."

Luckily, her voice finally got Those Two's attention, and they finally started focusing on the mission, herding the prisoners to the path to safety. Good to see they were capable of remembering they were on a mission. Pidge thought grumpily while she followed behind. You know, that thing that they were on a Galra prison transport for? Not to fawn all over each other like teenagers in a high school romance movie while their teammate hacked the door? (She knew she was being unfair, since they had taken out most of the guards, but she had been dealing with them acting like this for the past two hours. She was going to be as unfair as she wanted!)

Pidge sighed deeply one last time and followed them out.

Hunk barely had time to register what he was seeing- which was the son of the Queen they were there to charm funds out of reaching down and grabbing Keith's ass- when suddenly that hand was forcibly removed as it's body flew back from the punch that had sent it into the wall ten feet behind it.

He smacked a hand over his face in pure exasperation while the Queen's guards raised their weapons. He wasn't even surprised that That Particular One of The Two was capable of violence when provoked anymore. He- all the team, actually- had been learning that That Particular One was capable of a lot of things when it came to The Other One. He felt like he'd lost a part of his innocence in realizing that. It was like finding out that your parents could be wrong, or something. Not that any of That Particular One's actions were wrong, or anything.

Just occasionally annoying.

"Wait." He said frantically when it looked like The Other One was going to start engaging the guards, "He's just really, really protective of his new husband. Totally didn't mean any harm, I mean, other than protecting his, uh, territory." He mentally winced. The Other One was probably going to make him pay for that later.

Luckily, though, it seemed to do the trick as the guard's lowered their weapons to the Queen's raised hand. The Queen, herself, looked rather apologetic. Hunk thanked the fact that he had at least a few stars shining down on him. He needed them with Those Two.

"Of course," She said in her melodic voice, "The warrior had every right to protect his mate. Amei take marriage very seriously, and I am ashamed of my son's transgression against a mated pair." She paused to gesture grandly back to her castles entrance with her delicate, rainbow-feathered hand, "Please, come join us in the parlor for drinks and refreshments, where we may talk at length about your team's request. It is the least we can do to make up for our misdeed."

Hunk breathed deeply in relief, shooting a quick look at Those Two before following the Queen into the castle. They were standing rather awkwardly, for once, not in each other's space like they were glued together, and not touching each other at all.

Great. They'd gone into their denial stage again.

Tonight was going to suck.

Allura, honestly, was a little beside herself as she stared across the Vrux board, an old Galra game that was apparently like Earth Go. The Other One was sat opposite her in the room provided by their latest allies. She really didn't mind helping in his exploration of his newly (though not so newly, now, she supposed) discovered culture, but-

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Keith finally asked, discomfort fueling the slightly rude bluntness.

Allura blushed before jerking her eyes back to the board and moving one of her pieces. "Ah, sorry, I was just wondering- That is, not to be rude, but-" Allura steeled herself and looked up into Keith's face. "Keith, where is Shiro? He hasn't been separated from you for this long, since... Well, since we lost the Castle." A familiar twinge of smothered grief hit her before she forced it back to focus on Keith.

Keith gave her a sympathetic look, before looking away himself this time, ducking his head even as he reached forward to move one of his pieces with stiff, jerky movements, "He's talking with Krolia about something. Said it would be best if he did it alone." Even with his head ducked, Allura could see he was frowning- but Keith looked back up before she could comment on it. "Why... why does the team keep saying that we're married?"

You know what? Allura had been perfectly fine, but with this show of absolute obliviousness she was done with this conversation, done with being polite, and done with holding back everything that had been building up with Those Two's actions.

"Why? Maybe it's because of the way that you two can barely go three minutes before acting like you're tied to each other with an invisible, three-foot rope! If not a shorter one! Maybe it's because you two have gotten so ridiculously over protective of each other that Galra commanders have fled rather than hurt one of you and face the other's retribution! Even over little wounds! Yesterday, I saw you hack up a tree because it gave Shiro a splinter! A SPLINTER!" Allura paused to take a breath, but was very much Not Done Yet. "Maybe it's because any time anyone else shows interest in either of you, the other manages to somehow subtly terrify them enough that by the end they look like they're considering a life of solitude! Maybe it's because the two of you look at each other like you're considering doing things that should only be done alone, behind closed doors! Maybe it's because the two of you are so clearly, outrageously in love that it's become painful to witness! Maybe it's because the two of you act like you've been married for years! Maybe it's because of all those things!"

Keith looked like a prey animal in the headlights of a ship when Allura finally stopped, panting deeply. Shiro, standing behind him now (Of course. Because you really couldn't stay away too long, could you? Allura thought wryly) didn't look much better.

"Keith." Shiro finally said, slowly, carefully into the complete silence that had fallen after Allura's rant. He placed his hand on Keith's shoulder, a fragile hope growing in his eyes, along with determination and love. Finally shown openly. "I think we need to have a talk."

Keith looked at him, tentative, unsure, but also so, so hopeful and just as obviously in love. "Yeah. I, um-"

He looked at Allura a little desperately, but Allura was busy doing her best to teleport herself from the room. Her mind was flashing with multiple inward, imagined signs saying 'FINALLY!' and she would rather throw herself into a pit of yowling Nekszaks then interrupt them now.

"I'll just leave you to it, shall I? Enjoy your- talk." She said before smiling brightly as she hit the panel to shut the door.

They would figure it out... or she would revaluate whether or not the team really needed their Black Paladins to get back to Earth. Surely, such a trip could be accomplished without them?

Because if Allura had to deal with anymore utterly ridiculous, difficult to watch misunderstood pining happening right in front of her, everyday, she was dumping them on a secluded moon where they could be alone together until they did figure it out.

And she didn't think the rest of the team would mind one. Bit.

End.

#Voltron #VLD #Sheith #sheithmonth2018 #Keith Kogane #Takashi Shirogane #Day 1 #Here's hoping I manage to get the rest of the day done this year

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