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disturbedbydesign · 3 years ago

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The Widow and the Wolf - Chapter 3

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x dark!exWidow!reader

Summary: After Natasha Romanoff took down the Red Room, the former Widows scattered to the wind. Raised to be a killing machine and released into the world with nothing and no one, you decided to use your newfound autonomy to take down the bad guys of your choosing. But now Natasha is riddled with guilt for leaving you on your own. She wants to recruit you, rehabilitate you, make you part of a team again. But the rest of the squad has reservations, and no one is more against you than Bucky Barnes.

Warnings: Graphic violence; Mentions of domestic violence, rape, pedophilia, human trafficking, child sex trafficking; eventual Dubcon (not Bucky); eventual smut; slow(ish) burn enemies-to-lovers. [More warnings will be added as necessary but these are the Big Bads.] 18+ only, no minors.

If you prefer to read on AO3, you can do so here.

Chapter Three

If you had a home, it would be Bucharest, even though you despise the place. It was the first place you went when you got free, because you know he’s here somewhere, conducting his evil machinations from the shadows, shielded by layer after layer of vile men across the globe doing his dirty work. There are plenty of men out there deserving of your particular brand of justice, but no one more so than the Viper. Sometimes you think that, if you can just find him and take him out, you might be able to move on—try to make a normal life for yourself, whatever that looks like. You don’t allow yourself to think about what will happen if you finally achieve your life’s goal and it’s still not enough for you.

You remember everything about the day you learned of the Viper’s existence. You were just 7 years old, one of many little girls packed into a shipping container. You had no idea how long you’d been in there or how long you would be in there. It smelled rancid, and there was never a moment of quiet. Most of the girls were screaming or crying, but a few (like you) were silent, just observing. You don’t know who sold you from your orphanage and shipped you off to Dreykov and you never will. What you do know is that you had no family to miss and no one to miss you, so you didn’t understand what the others were so upset about. From the very beginning, you adjusted to life as a Widow almost effortlessly, which is its own form of tragedy.

Others, though, they were stolen away from people who loved them. This seemed a foreign concept to you when you heard about it from the tiny, sobbing girl huddled next to you in the shipping container—the girl who told you about the Viper, the girl who would become your first and only friend until Dreykov took control of all of your minds. Once you were given the serum, your memories were locked up inside your own heads—none of you could have talked about your past lives even if you’d wanted to. Your words were not your own. You didn’t know what was real and what was planted there. Sometimes you still don’t, and nothing terrifies you more than that.

You have no idea how many little girls the Viper funneled to Dreykov over the years, but it was probably a decent amount. His real bread and butter had always been sex trafficking, and he’s still doing it—on an even larger scale if your intel is correct (which, of course, it is). But he won’t be operating for much longer, not now that you’re so close you can almost taste the venom. You were barely 8 years old when you decided you would kill him, and now you have your chance. You are so close, closer than you’ve ever been, but he keeps slithering out of your grasp. And so you’re in Bucharest, again, looking for answers, again. But you have other business, too—almost as important, if not more so.

You head to the safehouse on the outskirts of the city. The building doesn’t look like much on the outside, but you’ve made sure the inside is comfortable enough for the women and children who live there. The matron greets you at the door and you hand her this month’s envelope, which contains enough cash to feed everyone for the next two months, keep the lights and the water on, and some extra to fix the plumbing issues that have been plaguing the building since you bought it.

The building can house about 40 people comfortably—it’s not nearly enough, and you’re determined to create as many safe spaces as you can, but it’ll do for now. For now, you have to select your charges according to a very strict criteria: they are all women and children (and the children of women) who have been bought and sold by the Viper. Some of them escaped on their own; some of them had assistance from you and the very few people you trust in the city. But all of them have suffered, and all of them have information that you need. Individually, it’s not much, but the more women you talk to, the more pieces of the puzzle you have to work with.

Besides for the cash drop, today you’re here to see the newest resident: Irina, a 19-year-old beauty your Bucharest contacts had managed to snatch from one of the sex clubs. Irina was delivered to the Viper at 12, and her life since then has been an endless nightmare that you can’t think about for too long without feeling physically ill. She’s sitting by the window in the living room, cupping a steaming mug of tea, when you approach her. You walk towards her slowly, and when Irina looks over at you, there is recognition in her eyes even though you’ve never met.

“You’re the Widow,” she says.

“Not anymore,” you reply. “But if that’s what you’d like to call me, go ahead. May I sit?” She gestures to the seat opposite her and you settle in for a chat. “I’d like to ask you some questions, Irina. Is that ok?”

“The others told me you’d be coming.” She speaks softly, her voice hoarse from screaming or crying or both. “I know what you’re trying to do. You’ll never catch him, you know.”

“I disagree,” you say, “but I need more information.”

“Alright,” she agrees, “if you think it will help,” and you begin the gentlest of interrogations.

Irina tells you that for the first several years after she was taken, she hadn’t heard anyone mention the Viper. She thinks that a lot of the girls probably knew about him or came directly from him, but no one would talk about it because it was too dangerous or traumatizing (or both). Things were different at her last club, though. When you ask her how many of the girls at Delirium knew about him, she tells you that several of them had passed through him somewhere along their journey. One of them—one far too young to be working there—even admitted that she’d been with him only two months earlier.

Finally, after all this time, you’ve got a clear line from point A to point B. You feel it in your bones that Delirium holds the answers, that if you can just get in and poke around a bit, you’ll be able to find him. You take Irina’s hands in yours and thank her for her help, and then you hear it: heavy footsteps coming down the hall. No woman or child in the building weighs enough to make a sound like that, and no men are allowed on the premises. You know who it is before you see him.

*****

Bucky watches you enter the building from his position on the roof across the street. His contact had told him that there were whispers of a Widow safehouse at this address, though no one would dare set foot within 10 blocks of the place to find out. Bucky doesn’t believe the rumor, though. He knows you work alone, that you pride yourself on it. He assumes this is just one of many places where your targets meet their ends, and he knows enough about Bucharest to know that there are a lot of men in this city who fit your modus operandi.

Still, something is off. It’s not an empty building. There have been women and children coming and going all morning, and nearly all the apartments seem occupied. Why would you choose to do your dirty work in a place with so much activity, with so many innocents around? That seems not only impractical but beneath even you. He’s lost in these thoughts, checking each window with his binoculars, when he settles on a beautiful young girl staring out the window, looking desperately sad. She turns to look at someone he can’t see, and then he sees you emerge from the shadows and take a seat opposite her.

There’s a softness to your face—a gentle kindness—that knocks the wind out of him. Bucky can’t take his eyes off of you, analyzing your body language and facial expressions to try to figure out what the hell is going on. This is the last thing he expected to see, and he tells himself that this woman must be hiring you for a job—except the woman is nothing but a broken child and doesn’t look like someone who would be taking out a hit on somebody (and certainly not someone who could pay for one).

It’s unnerving, watching you this way, and Bucky is no longer sure that what he’s doing is right. There’s something about your interaction with this girl that makes him feel like a voyeur, witnessing an intimate moment that he should not be seeing but that fascinates him nonetheless. Still, he’s here, you’re his mission—albeit one he took upon himself—and he needs to finish it. By this time, Natasha and Steve are almost certainly on their way, and Bucky needs to get to you before they show up. He went rogue and committed to this plan; now he just has to execute it. He’ll deal with the consequences later.

Bucky makes his way across the street and around the back, where children’s toys litter the small yard of weeds and dirt. When he gets to the back door, he notices that it isn’t the usual ancient rusted lock that one finds on the old buildings in this neighborhood; it’s brand new tech. There’s a pretty decent security camera setup around the building, too.

What the hell is this place?

Bucky has two choices: he can rip the door off the hinges, or he can scale the building and climb in the open window on the top floor. You’re going to be homicidally pissed either way, so he might as well not destroy any property—you may be a monster, but the other tenants here look like civilians, and he doesn’t want to sacrifice their security in his quest to bring you in.

Bucky makes it into the building and weaves his way through the hallways. Along the way, he runs into a few women, and each one of them freezes when they see him. They are shocked and deathly afraid—a look he knows far too well—and they scurry back to their apartments and lock the doors. With his hair cut short, baseball cap pulled down, and leather jacket and glove hiding his prosthetic, it doesn’t seem possible that all of these women would immediately recognize him as the Winter Soldier. That’s what it feels like to him, though, and it’s a gut-punch sensation he does not like at all.

When he gets to the sitting room, the girl you are with has the same look of terror, and for a moment, so do you. But you snap back to yourself quickly—having gone from soft to terrified to hostile within a span of about 15 seconds. Before he can react, you stomp towards him, grab him by the jacket, and hiss, “Not here.”

Bucky hears you speak to the girl in Romanian, “Don’t be afraid, Irina. He’s a friend,” although he knows you think him anything but.

The second you get him into the hallway, you’ve got your knife to his throat. Even with your cold blade nicking his skin, Bucky fights the impulse to disarm you. He doesn’t want to fight you. He knows that he’s intruded on something here, though he doesn’t know what, and he actually feels guilty. He could break you in half if he wanted to, but he lets you pin him to the wall—lets you feel like you’re in control.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” you growl.

“You know why I’m here,” Bucky replies, but he doesn’t know—not really, not anymore. “What is this place?”

“It’s somewhere safe,” you say, “or it was until you showed up. No boys allowed, Soldat. Time to go.”

You catch him off guard when you flip him around and throw him through the nearest door, and before he can regain his balance, you kick him straight through the window and into the yard two storeys below. The fall is nothing to Bucky, and he knows that you know that, but it certainly made a statement. He looks up at the broken window he’d just crashed through and sees you peering out with a satisfied smile on your face.

Bucky calls up to you, “I just want to talk.”

“Bullshit,” you snap.

“I mean it,” he says, and he actually does. “You can pick the place.”

He watches as you consider his offer, weighing your options—you obviously don’t trust him, but it’s clear that the sanctity of this location is important to you. Now that he’s violated it, you can’t just let him wander off. You agree to meet with him that evening—in public, at a club in Old Town.

“Come alone, Soldat,” you call down to him, “and if you tell anyone about this place, I’ll throw you out a higher window.”

Bucky tries to hide his tiny smile but he knows you see it, just like he sees the little quirk of your lip just before you disappear. He hoists himself off the ground and brushes himself off. When he turns to leave, he sees a little girl holding hands with her mother. He has no idea how long they’ve been standing there, but the girl is pointing and giggling at him.

The little girl asks, “What happened to him, mama?”

“The Widow’s bite,” she replies.

*****

“He’s not going to hurt her, Natasha,” Steve says as he prepares the Quinjet for landing.

“She might not give him a choice,” she replies, strapping herself in. “What the hell was he thinking coming here alone?”

“I don’t know,” Steve says. “There’s something about this girl that’s really gotten under his skin.”

Natasha looks at Steve, asking the question with her eyes she wouldn’t dare say aloud, and he picks up what she’s putting out.

“He’s not the Winter Soldier anymore. All of that programming… it’s gone. You know that. He’s just Bucky now.”

Natasha nods in agreement, but a part of her still has questions—not whether the deprogramming worked, she knows that it did, and she trusts Bucky with her life. No, Natasha’s concern is what is going on inside Bucky’s head. He was doing well, he was adjusting, he was finally ok, but the existence of you seems to have triggered something in him that the words never had. The words made him cold and empty and ready to comply, but you—you make him think, and Natasha knows how dangerous it can be to dwell too much on things you’ve left in the past.

When Steve and Natasha arrive at Bucky’s old apartment, it’s empty, but there are small signs of life—the indent of a head on the pillow on the floor in the corner, an apple core just starting to brown. He’s been there, and recently. Natasha and Steve don’t know who he would still have contact with in Bucharest, so they are left with nothing to go on. Bucky knows how to cover his tracks, and he left them just enough crumbs to get them to Bucharest but not enough that they could find him when they got there.

“He wants us to trust him,” Steve says, “to wait for him to bring her back here.”

“I can’t just sit around waiting for something to happen, Steve. I have a really bad feeling about this.”

“So what do you suggest we do?” Steve asks.

Natasha sighs and looks out the window. “I have no idea,” she replies, and that’s when she sees it: a piece of graffiti spraypainted on the wall of a building down the street—a coiled snake ready to strike.

The memory hits Natasha like a freight train. She knows that symbol. She knows what it means. She knows exactly who you’re looking for and it seems absurd to her now that she hadn’t thought of it before.

“Let me make a call,” she says. “I think I know why she’s here.”

#bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes #sebastian stan #dark!reader #dark!fic #the widow and the wolf

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queen-ofsunflowers · 3 years ago

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My favorite moments I've written for Shujin Assassins so far:

Kayano: How do you say ‘unkillable’ in Japanese? (Ren pauses and thinks about it.)

Ren: Korosenai. (The entire class whips around at the sound of Ren speaking.) Korosenai… Koro… sen...nai… Koro...sen...sei? ...Korosensei? Huh?

Nagisa: Korosensei? (Ren pauses. Oh crap, he said all that out loud.)

Korosensei: A pleasure to finally hear more of that voice of yours, Amamiya. Five whole words!

---

Korosensei: Shoot and stab all you want, class! Even with this handicap, I am too fast for you! (Ren looks up and takes the gun from Nagisa.)

Nagisa: Hey, what—

Korosensei: Only in your dreams do you have any hope of getting the deed done— (Ren fires, not aiming for Korosensei but the rope tied to the tree. The rope breaks and Korosensei, stunned, falls. They watch as the rest of the class takes the initiative to attack him, forcing a panicked Korosensei to roll around on the ground.)

Ann: Wow. I didn’t know a BB could break a rope like that!

Ren: It was starting to break anyway.

---

Ren: You’d really help me?

Ryuji: ‘course. We’re friends, aren’t we? (Ren blinks. But they’ve only known each other for like… a week and half. He still smiles all the same.) Ain’t that right, Ren-Ren? (A shiver goes up Ren’s spine at the sound of that nickname. Of all things to call him…) So call me Ryuji, got it?

Ren: Thanks. I think I’ll stick with Sakamoto.

Ryuji: Oh man, that's cold.

---

Kataoka: Does anyone else think it's weird that she’s all over Korosensei?

Ryuji: I dunno. Maybe she’s into tentacles. (Someone swiftly kicks his seat.) OW! Hey! What was that for?!

---

Ann: But we bought those for ourselves! *groan* I was so looking forward to that for later…!

Shiho: I’m starting to think that he just used this lab to feed his junk food habit until payday.

Ren: Why does an octopus need to get paid a teacher’s salary…?

Shiho: Huh. Eleven words now.

Ren: What?

---

(And the door opens before Ren can run away.) Oh.

Ren: Uh… H-Hello. Sir.

Principal: (more warmly that Ren expected) I look forward to your midterm results. Let your mother know that I said hello, would you? (Ren swallows and nods. When he leaves, that warmth disappears and is replaced by ice cold.)

---

Ann grabs Ren’s wrist to pull him back to her.)

Ren: Huh? What’s up?

Ann: Did you really mean all that? (Ren raises a brow.) What you said to those guys back there. About us. Did you really mean it?

Ren: ...Every word. Why?

Ann: ...Like I told Kayano, I always thought I was an outcast because of my looks or the fact that I didn’t grow up here. So hearing all that… Thank you. I really appreciated it.

Ren: No problem. It’s like Ryuji told me. We outcasts have to stick together, don’t we?

Ann: *giggle* Right! ...um, hey. If you want to, you can call me Ann, alright?

Ren: Okay.

Ann: Okay! And… thanks again. ...Ren-Ren. (Ren bristles, turning bright red. Ann laughs out loud, patting his back.) I’m just messing with you!

Ren: Please don’t do that… (Nearly killed him…) Can you maybe… not call me that?

Ann: Okay, okay! (She’s still laughing.) I promise!

---

Nagisa: What did you even do to them?

Ren: I have no idea. I got this really bad headache… and I think I heard a voice in my head? There was this thing… I’m not sure what it was.

Nagisa: Whatever it is, I could help with it. We’ll figure out what it is.

Ren: You don’t have to.

Nagisa: I’m already figuring out Korosensei’s weaknesses. Who knows? Maybe whatever that was

Ren: You’re not… freaked out?

Nagisa: Amamiya, our teacher is a giant yellow octopus. Whatever happened to you is the least strange thing that I’ve seen this year. We can figure out what it is. And hopefully it’ll help us with our assassination.

Ren: *nods* Right! Let’s do this! (He holds out his hand. Nagisa stares at it for a moment before shaking it.)

---

Ryuji: Wow, she’s seriously cute.

Ren: She doesn’t really look like an assassin.

Shiho: Neither do we. But still… I’m curious about what this new girl’s all about. Amamiya turned out to be quite the joker.

Ren: Joker?

Shiho: A wild card! I mean, you didn’t hesitate to jump out a window or off of a cliff.

---

Ann: Uh, no offense but I don’t think your usual tactics will fool Mr. Karasuma. He knows your M.O.

Irina: Don’t you think I don’t know that!? (She sighs.) It’s like a paid escort trying to put the moves on her old man. (Ren shivers at the image.) If I don’t get this done, I’ll have to leave.

Ann: What?!

Irina: C’mere, I wanna try something. (She drags Ann off.)

---

Kayano: Here’s the thing, if they really are related… I mean, don’t you think that Korosensei would’ve known about it?

Fuwa: Hmm… not necessarily.

Ren: Right. They could’ve been separated at some point.

Kayano: Um, that still doesn’t explain why Itona’s human.

Fuwa: Easy. He’s a mutation.

Kayano: You’ve totally glossed over the core issue here!

Ann: Uh, no offense, but the whole separation thing is really kinda cliche.

Fuwa: Hey, no one asked for your criticism.

Ann: If you didn’t notice already, we’re sorta dealing with real life!

---

Sugino pitches and Shindo swings again. The ball hits the bat, and Ren leaps back just in time, flipping backwards and actually sticking the landing.)

Karma: (jumping up to catch the ball.) Oh, now you’re just showing off. Heads up, Nagisa! (He tosses the ball to their catcher, who tags the home plate.

Ren: Maybe.

---

(The whole time Ren had been taunting Takaoka and keeping everyone’s eyes on him, Nagisa had come around to sneak up behind him. The cat and the snake both strike, Ren flipping over Takaoka’s shoulders as Nagisa brings him down to the ground, knife at his neck and a hand covering his eyes.)

Nagisa: Looks like we win.

Ren: Nagisa, you’re using the back of the knife.

Nagisa: Huh?

---

(She jumps onto his back.)

Terasaka: What the hell?!

Shiho: What the heck did you mean when you called me a rabbit?! If I’m a rabbit, does that mean you don’t think I can kick your ass?! Because I can! (Her weight eventually toppled them both over and they landed in the water. Ann laughs as she goes to help them up. Ren moves over to get his glasses from Karma.)

---

Ren: And finally, the grand overachiever himself holding the top spot: student council president Gakushu Asano. He got the top spot in the National Mock Exams, and tends to get perfect scores in just about every subject. He’s the principal’s only son, so I think that might have something to do with it. if we could somehow catch him off guard, surprise him somehow, it could get him to mess up and make a mistake. He’s always been like that as far as I can remember. For example, despite being adept at martial arts, he didn’t remember how to catch himself when he fell after I… might’ve shoved him.

Shiho: You know a lot about Asano. It’s kind of creepy. (Ren only hums in reply. It’s not that creepy when you think about it.)

---

(Ren’s eyes widened. He… He actually did it?)

Ryuji: Way to stick it to that know-it-all, man! (Ren softly smiles.)

Ren: I guess.

Ryuji: You guess? The guy’s ranked nationally! Even Nakamura only beat him by the skin of her teeth!

Nakamura: What was that, Sakamoto?

Ryuji: Uh, nothing! Just sayin’! Ren challenging the King of the Hill is definitely awesome!

---

Ann: Yup! (as she and Shiho take the drinks from the waiter passing them out. Ann takes a sip from hers) C’mon, guys! Drink up! These things are like… super good. So sweet!

Ren: (holding up the water bottle he thought to bring with him) I’m fine.

Ryuji: Don’t mind if I do! (He takes Ann’s, which is still at least a three-fours of the way full. He drinks right from the glass)

Ann: Hey! Get your own!

Ryuji: Too late! My backwash is in it! It’s mine now. I LICKED the glass! (He does so to drive his point home. Ann huffs as Shiho chuckles, downing the rest of her glass.)

---

Karma: Oh, sorry ‘bout that. Let’s see if there’s a way to help you out there. (He gestures over to another classmate, who brings him a sea slug. Karma plops it on the sphere.) This do anything?

Ren: (as Korosensei screams) Karma, knock it off.

Karma: Why should I? Not like he can do anything about it. (Ren pulls himself out of the water and the sea slug off of Korosensei.) Now, I wonder if we could find a creepy old beach hum anywhere. I want to shove Korosensei down his pants. (Ren groans. What the hell…? In hindsight, taking this form probably wasn’t the best idea. Especially around Karma. That is why Ren snatches up Koro Sensei and runs over to Mr. Karasuma.) Hey!

---

Ren: ‘Eliminate the impossible and whatever remains is the truth’.

Fuwa: Hey, yeah! I didn’t know you read Shonen Jump, too!

Ren: I uh...

Karma: He doesn't. I saw him reading a little something else on the way over. Sherlock Holmes, wasn’t it?

Ren: Maybe… ...okay, no. ...It was Arsène Lupin. ...I finished the Sherlock Holmes books a while ago. A friend recommended Arsène Lupin to me and I haven’t been able to put it down.

Ryuji: Nerd.

Ren: You were reading over my shoulder.

---

Ann: Hey, are you okay?

Ren: Yeah… just a little bit of a headache. I’ll be fine.

Ann: How long have you had it? (Ren looks down at the ground.) Ren, how long have you had it?

Ren: ...Since the mastermind called, saying he poisoned everyone. It’s just a small one, Ann. I’ll be fine.

Ann: Liar. You know what happens when you get those headaches, though. Don’t act like none of us noticed. I saw your phantom try to come out when that guy had Karma. Ren, I know it’s hard, but you need to keep calm.

---

Ren: Ryuji, you’re-- (Ryuji puts a hand over Ren’s mouth, shushing him.)

Ryuji: I’m fine. It’s just a fever. Ann and I split the drink, so if she’s fine, then I’m fine, too. (Ren takes Ryuji’s hand off of his mouth.)

Ren: Ann barely drank any of it at all. You drank most of it. The virus is deadly, Ryuji.

Ryuji: I don’t care! It’s like everyone said earlier. I’m the fastest in the class. I can’t just sit and wait for help while this creep gets away with it. I don’t care if I’m sick, I’m not gonna let everyone down!

Ren: Ryuji--

Ryuji: Please. Don’t tell anyone. Especially Ann… I think she already blames herself for what happened to Shiho, I don’t want her to blame herself for not stopping me earlier, too. (Ren bites his lip but nods either way. Once Ryuji decides to do something, it’s hard to stop him. But still… He really hopes that they can get that antidote.)

---

Ren thrashes against whoever’s holding him and loudly screams, dropping to his knees and letting it all go. He doubles over, catching himself on forearms as wind whips around him.)

“Nagisa, back away from him! NOW.” (There’s a blue light streaming around him, travelling up his body as the voice in his head now echoes in his ears.)

“I am thou, thou art I. Thou who would accept blasphemy for the sake of thine own justice, call upon my name and release thy rage!” (Ren shakily pushes himself up, his knees feeling like they’re about to give way as he stands. The light shifts and morphs into a figure behind him.) “Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou shall be chained down to Hell itself!”

(A single name appears in Ren’s mind.)

Ren: ARSÈNE!

#shujin assassins au #assassination classroom au #assassination classroom #persona 5 #persona 5 au #ren amamiya #kaede kayano #korosensei #nagisa shiota #ann takamaki #ryuji sakamoto #shiho suzui #karma akabane

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boxedblondes · 5 years ago

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killing eve fic recs

since we’re all yearning HARD after the s3 finale, i thought i’d share some of my personal favorite ke fics (in alphabetical order by author) to maybe, possibly, help fill the void until season 4!

we tried the world; good god, it wasn’t for us by agentpolastri (@topeve)

rating: G

warnings: major character death

summary: They jumped together. When do they not?

↳ i never ever ever read fics with a major character death warning, but mei is just such a fantastic writer i had to give it a try. this fic is SO exquisitely beautiful and heartbreaking. i’ve read it several times and it never fails to punch me square in the chest. i don’t have enough words to express how much i love this piece.

i don’t have a choice (but i’d still choose you) by agentpolastri (@topeve)

rating: T

warnings: major character death

summary: It’s the ending they didn’t want, but knew was coming anyways.

↳ well....... she did it to me again. idk what else to say about this except the line “she feels like a sunset.” makes me craaaaaazy

(if you need something a little happier after these fics, i could be your excuse for a lover is also wonderful)

this is what you wanted by dollsome (@dollsome-does-tumblr)

rating: T

warnings: none

summary: Villanelle goes to Alaska. Set after the season two finale.

↳ essentially v goes to alaska and absolutely hates it. a creative, funny, and lighthearted take on what could have happened post-s2.

you know i'm such a fool for you by dollsome (@dollsome-does-tumblr)

rating: T

warnings: none

summary: Eve waits. Villanelle hallucinates. Set after 2x02.

↳ this was one of the first KE fics i ever read, so it holds a special little place in my heart. short, sweet, and very, very gentle.

Tell Me by dollsome (@dollsome-does-tumblr)

rating: T

warnings: none

summary: Eve and Villanelle catch up on what they've missed. Set right after 3.08.

↳ essentially, the girls FINALLY have a conversation about everything they haven’t talked about. a soft, cathartic little fic to fill the post-finale hole in all of our hearts.

touch and go by etymology

rating: not rated

warnings: none

summary: “Why are you in my hotel room at 3 a.m.,” says Eve. “I could not sleep,” says Villanelle, shrugging. Eve narrows her eyes. “Are you kidding me.”(Or, the one where Eve keeps hiding Villanelle from the authorities.)

↳ also one of the first KE fics i ever read. this one is short, soft, and gets their dynamic just perfect.

there are no rules when you show up here by glitteration

rating: E

warnings: sex stuff, dubious consent (kind of), ambiguously violent ending

summary: this is why we can't have nice things, darling. (eve goes ahead and hops out of the frying pan only to launch herself straight into the fire. post-s1 fic, told entirely through phone calls. working title in my gdocs was "the one with all the problematic phone sex")

↳ there is a lot of phone sex in this which, although problematic, is also very hot. the characterization in this fic is so on-point, and the dialogue is both funny and believable – which is often a delicate balance.

your body hurts me as the world hurts god by GucciAspirin

rating: M

warnings: sex stuff

summary: "I think of you when I look at the sky. I think about how we share it with so many other people - when it was clearly meant for just the two of us." // Villanelle wants closure

↳ another entry into the collection of lovely, sexy villaneve fics. this one also deals with the aftermath of the s1 finale.

tie me to your longing, I'll tie you down to mine by nextgreatadventure (@next-great-adventure)

rating: M

warnings: sex stuff

summary: These are all things Villanelle remembers. She doesn’t know if any of it meant love, but surely it meant something. It was not nothing.

↳ my comment on ao3 for this fic is: “I’m officially quitting my fic writing career because this is THE best villaneve fic out there, goodbye. :’)” and i think that’s all i need to say.

this dark world is precious to me by nextgreatadventure (@next-great-adventure)

rating: M

warnings: sex stuff

summary: Eve dreams of so many things after Rome.

↳ this is the kind of fic that leaves you wanting more once you’ve finished reading it. it is sexy and complex and extremely well-written. i’ve reread it so many times in the past year and it’s just as good every time.

If at last we be true by pengukat

rating: E

warnings: sex stuff

summary: My contribution to the "Eve doesn't stab Villanelle, they bone instead" repertory of works.

↳ i am.... suddenly realizing how many of the fics on this list are explicit. anyway, this one is perhaps the best sexytime villaneve fic of them all.

two wills (one mirror holding us dearer now) by poiesis (@weirddyke)

rating: E

warnings: sex stuff

summary: "I don’t want to be around you. / I don’t want to drink you in. / I want to walk into the heart of you / And never walk back out." Nico Alvarado, 'Tim Riggins Speaks of Waterfalls' – post-series, eve waits for the inevitable

↳ idk what to say about this. sometime after the s1 finale, v breaks into eve’s house (again) and they finally give into their mutual sexual attraction. it’s both hot and incredibly well-written – aka the best kind of fic.

of villages, and other places that villanelle would like to burn to the ground by silent_h (@yesokayiknow)

rating: T

warnings: canon-typical violence/death, animal death summary: canon divergence au, of course (but maybe not in the place that you were expecting)

↳ after the s1 finale, eve and v go on the run and “accidentally” take irina along for the ride. this fic is written in second person pov, and the stream-of-consciousness style is just gorgeous.

feedback loop by silent_h (@yesokayiknow)

rating: T

warnings: none

summary: (season 2 episode 2 spoilers) the person you have called is not available. please try again.

↳ a lovely, dreamy look into eve’s mental state after 2x02. second person pov again!!!!

One Hundred Minutes of Normality by variousflumps

rating: M

warnings: none

summary: In which Eve and Oksana watch a movie. Finding Nemo, to be precise. "For the next" – Eve checks the back of the DVD case – "one hundred minutes you and I are going to pretend that the following things are true. One, neither of us is a psychopath. Two, we both strongly disapprove of murder. Three, I never stabbed you, four, you're not even thinking about stabbing me back, and five, we're dating and have a perfectly normal, healthy relationship. I need one hundred minutes of normality or my entire head is going to explode. Do you want popcorn?"

↳ THEY FINALLY WATCH A MOVIE!! (but they mostly ignore it in favor of having the world’s most chaotic get-to-know-you conversation.) funny, sexy, and incredibly full of life.

and of course! what’s a reclist without some self-promo. my own KE fics can be found right here. comments and feedback are ofc always appreciated ♥️

#FINALLY done with this #please let me know if any of the links are broken :)#killing eve #fic rec

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olliepig · 4 years ago

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Centre Stage - chapter 9

As ever, massive thanks to beta extraordinaire @willow-salix for all her help on this.

The whole fic can also be found on AO3 here.

************************

“Not wanting to be rude, but can I just ask why there’s so much glitter everywhere?” Selene enquired, ignoring Scott’s snort of laughter as she took in the dressing room surfaces that were all caked in a fine sheen, carefully selecting a seat that seemed relatively free from the worst of it.

“Ugh, it's from The Nutcracker. Sorry, it gets everywhere,” Cat apologised, undoing the ribbons of her shoes and starting to pull bits of tape off her toes. “We'll finally get rid of it all in about October and have a few weeks of respite before we start all over again. I was vaguely sparkly til about February this year which was a new record. Some of it comes home with me every day so just be careful where you lean or sit.”

“Thanks for the warning, I’m not sure glitter is the best look for me,” Selene laughed.

“Yeah, it doesn’t exactly go with the all black, scary witch look does it?” Scott jested, dodging the pointe shoe that Cat had just handed to Selene for the express purpose of lobbing at him.

Virgil and Cat exchanged smiles and rolled eyes as their companions bickered good naturedly, knowing that their earlier peace had been well and truly shattered.

“So, how was it this afternoon then?” Scott asked, effectively changing the subject as he casually flung himself into a chair and made himself at home.

“It was great, wasn’t it?” Cat replied, turning to smile warmly at Virgil as she wondered fondly how Scott somehow always managed to look like he owned the place no matter where he went or what he was doing

“Yeah, Lily had a great time and she’s really excited about seeing the show tonight so I think we made a little girl very happy,” Virgil elaborated.

“I think so,” Cat agreed. “She’s a good little dancer too. She did really well so it’ll be interesting to see how she gets on as she gets older.”

“Do you think you’ll keep in touch with her?” Selene asked, spotting some costumes on a rail in the corner and heading over to investigate, quickly followed by Scott.

“I don’t know,” Cat admitted, looking up as she massaged her foot absentmindedly, trying to release some of the knots in the muscles now that her long day of rehearsals was finally over. “I’d like to but it might depend on circumstances a little. I’m not sure how much I could actually do to help her at this stage aside from some private coaching, but it’s not something I’ve ever done before so I wouldn't know where to start.”

“I’m sure she’d love whatever help you could give,” Scott encouraged, pulling a tutu out from the costume rail and holding it up against himself. “How do I look?”

“Like an idiot,” Virgil declared, turning back to Cat before anyone else could speak. “Based on today, I’d say you’d be a great coach. You did so well with Lily and her mom told me that you were the best teacher she’d had so it’s not just me saying that either.”

“You’re too kind,” Cat blushed, busying herself in her task to avoid having to make eye contact with anyone, uncomfortable with the praise.

“Not at all,” Virgil pressed. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a more patient teacher myself either, so it’s not all one sided.”

“Wait, what?” Scott spluttered incredulously before Cat had a chance to answer, his brain catching up with the implication of what Virgil had just said. “Cat was teaching you, too? I thought this was about Lily getting to be a fairy for the day, not you getting ballet lessons?”

“It was,” Virgil explained equably, rather enjoying his brother's response. “But she was worried that Cat would feel left out if she was dancing with Mark so I agreed to be Cat’s prince for a while.”

“He was very good at it too,” Cat continued, throwing a big smile at Virgil. “Next time I need a partner, I definitely know who I’m gonna call.”

Despite initially feeling that dancing so closely with his brother's girlfriend was perhaps crossing a line that he wasn’t very comfortable with, in the end Virgil had thoroughly enjoyed his time in the studio. It had come as no surprise to him that ballet was nowhere near as easy as Cat made it look; during the afternoon, he had discovered muscles that he didn't even know existed and a nagging suspicion was growing that they would all be aching in the morning.

“I did nearly knock you over a couple of times though,” he grimaced, remembering the shriek Cat had let out as she’d overbalanced and nearly fallen.

“You’ve still got a better record than Mark some days,” Cat laughed as her foot let out a loud crack. “He’s dropped me so many times that I’ve given up even counting any more.”

“OK then big guy,” Selene piped up, jumping up and holding out her hand “Show me some of your moves.”

A knock on the door interrupted any answer, quickly swinging open to reveal one of the ballet masters from the company, on the hunt for Cat.

“Sorry to bother you when you’ve got guests,” Gary started apologetically, nodding a greeting to the other occupants of the room, his eyes widening slightly as he realised who they were. “Irina’s back has just spasmed and she’s out for tonight. Steven was wondering if there’s any chance you could step in for her?”

“Of course,” Cat answered without hesitation, her eyes meeting Scott’s in a brief apology before turning back to her colleague. “Is she OK?”

Having three guests who had travelled a long way to go out for dinner and drinks that night complicated things slightly, but there had been no question in her mind as to whether she would do it. Injuries that meant a missed performance weren’t that common but they were a hazard of the job and it was up to the rest of the company to pull together when they occurred.

“She’ll be fine in a few days. It seems to be nothing that some rest and heat won’t solve,” Gary informed her, watching her shrewdly, knowing what was likely going through her mind.

“Well that’s something at least,” she agreed as she began to wind her hair back into a bun, relieved that nothing more serious had happened.

“Do you think we’d be able to get tickets for tonight?” Virgil asked, glancing over to Scott and Selene and receiving matching nods of agreement.

“I’m not sure,” Gary replied. “I think it’s a full house but I can check it with the box office and if there’s no availability, we can arrange for you to watch from the wings, seeing as it’s exceptional circumstances.”

“That would be great, thanks,” Selene smiled, sitting herself back down and wondering what happened next.

“Right, is there a studio available?” Cat asked, taking charge of the conversation, her mind already running through what she would need to do in order to be ready to perform in a few hours’ time. “I’ve not danced it with Ivan before so we’ll need to run a few things before the show.”

“The Ashton is free for you,” Gary advised, his hand already on the door handle. “He should be on his way up there by now so just pop up as soon as you’re ready.”

“Perfect,” Cat acknowledged, giving Gary a nod as he took his leave before turning to her companions. “Sorry about this. It’s not exactly how I thought we’d be spending the evening. You guys are more than welcome to still go for dinner if you want and I can catch you up later?”

“Don’t be silly, of course we’ll stay and support you,” Scott told her, placing a quick kiss on her cheek, keen not to disturb her too much as she grabbed her phone and started typing out a quick message. “If there’s anyone in the world that knows a thing or two about plans being derailed by work, it’s us, so you really don’t need to worry.”

“Agreed,” Selene added. “Anyway, I’ve always fancied a night at the ballet so it’s worked out pretty well if you ask me.”

“Definitely,” Virgil nodded his agreement. “I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

“What’re we actually going to be watching tonight?” Selene asked, watching Scott carefully as he hovered around, clearly with something to say.

“Coppelia,” Cat replied absently, finishing the text she was sending and grabbing a nearby bag, tipping several pairs of pointe shoes onto the floor before joining them herself, her mind working overtime trying to decide which ones she should wear that night.

“But that’s three acts,” Scott cried, his horrified tone making her look up in surprise as he crouched down beside her. “Are you sure you’re going to be OK doing that?”

“I’ll be fine,” Cat reassured, slipping a hand around the back of his neck and pulling him toward her, their foreheads resting together in a pose that had always brought them comfort. “I’ve just messaged Mark asking him if he’ll grab me some dinner from the canteen and there’s only a couple of pas de deux that I need to go through with Ivan so it shouldn’t take long. Then I can have a bit of a rest before I need to start getting ready.”

“OK, well, so long as you’re sure,” Scott conceded, pulling back to allow her continue what she had been doing.

“It’s not the first time I’ve stepped in at the last minute, nor will it be the last,” Cat smiled, seeing the tension leaving Scott’s shoulders as he continued to sit beside her, now idly playing with the ribbons from a pair of discarded shoes.

Selene and Virgil exchanged looks, impressed at how Cat had seamlessly handled Scott’s overprotective nature.

“Is this something that you have to do quite a lot?” Virgil queried, interested to find out more of the workings of the company now that the tension had died down a little.

“Every so often,” Cat shrugged, finally finding a pair of shoes that she thought would do her for the evening, quickly slipping them on and tying the ribbons as she spoke. “We have multiple casts for every ballet as well as understudies so there’s always going to be someone around to take over if an injury happens. My main concern just now is that I’ve not danced the bloody thing for about six weeks so I might be a bit rusty in places.”

“How do you remember all the steps?” Selene asked as Cat shouldered her bag and hustled them out of the room, handing Scott a rehearsal tutu to carry as she did so.

“Muscle memory,” Cat shrugged, as they made their way down the corridor towards the studios. “We do so much practice that when the music starts you don’t even need to really think about it. In an ideal world, we’d have a chance to run the whole thing before going on tonight but that’s not going to happen.”

She paused as the lift doors slid open, waiting for everyone to get in before continuing, shooting a quick smile of reassurance at Scott as she spoke.

“I do need to have a break at some point so I’ll just need to think my way through it. In the past, I’ve just listened to the music and it’s all come back so I’ll probably do that tonight. It’s like rehearsing but without the sore feet,” she laughed, pleased to see that at least Virgil and Selene were nodding along as if they understood her, even if Scott looked slightly lost.

“Visualisation is such a powerful thing,” Selene agreed as the lift let out a loud ding, signalling their arrival.

“Yeah, it’s great,” Cat smiled, leading them through more corridors and past an impressive looking fitness suite that had Scott and Virgil wishing they could stay and investigate it further. “It was something we were taught at school and I remember thinking it was complete rubbish at the time but the older I’ve got, the more invaluable it’s become.”

“Is that cos you’re getting a bit creaky now?” Scott teased, dodging a well-aimed elbow from Cat.

“You tell me, old man,” she shot back to sniggers from Virgil and Selene. “If I’m creaky, that must make you practically geriatric.”

“Shocking,” Scott countered, clutching his hand to his heart. “That’s no way to talk to your elders.”

“Oh, shut it, you,” Cat grinned, pushing open a heavy door and ushering them into a large, airy studio, nodding a greeting to the young Russian dancer already present who was to be her partner for the night.

Wondering what she had done to deserve such a supportive boyfriend and surrogate family, Cat could only smile as she watched them taking their seats at the front of the studio before turning back to her task, pushing all other thoughts out of her mind.

-x-

“Do you think they’ll get the flowers delivered in time?” Selene asked quietly as they waited outside the dressing room for Cat to emerge, all three of them having been kicked out while she got into her first costume for the night.

“I hope so,” Scott replied, checking his watch as a nearby speaker announced that it was fifteen minutes until curtain up. “They’ve never let me down before but I’ve never had to order them on the day of the show either so I don’t know.”

“Is it just me or are they five minutes early?” Virgil asked, his own watch showing twenty minutes until the show was due to start.

“Maybe they’ve met you at some point?” quipped Selene with a wink.

“It’s a theatre thing,” Scott replied knowingly, cutting his brother off before he could defend himself against the accusation levelled at him. “I don’t really know why but apparently it’s just how it’s done.” “Theatre folk are weird,” Selene agreed with a shrug just as the door behind her opened, revealing Cat looking every inch the ballerina that she was. “No offence,” she added, turning to the dancer.

“None taken,” Cat accepted smoothly. “Shall we get going then?”

Scott smiled, her hand warm as she slipped it into his on their way down to the stage. He could hear his brother's voice from somewhere behind him as they crossed the giant scenery dock, telling Selene about some of the scenery that he had no doubt been looking at earlier in the day. It almost seemed funny to him that these surroundings no longer seemed strange to him when he had only been a part of this world through his association with Cat for a few months less than a year.

“How’re you feeling?” he murmured as they made their way ever closer to the double doors that would lead directly to the stage.

“Bit nervous,” Cat admitted, grateful for the immediate squeeze of support that he gave her. “There’s a lot of people out there tonight and I don’t want to let them down.”

“You’ll be brilliant,” Scott reassured her. “I don’t just think, I KNOW you’ve got this nailed down in your head so just go out there, enjoy yourself and the story will shine through.”

“Thanks,” Cat smiled. “What would I do without you to support me?”

“Exactly what you did before you met me,” Scott grinned. “You’d go out and absolutely smash it because that’s what you do best.”

Unable to argue, Cat just smiled as they reached the heavy doors, letting Scott hold them open as they waited for Virgil and Selene to catch up. Entering the darkness of backstage, it took a moment for their eyes to fully adjust as Cat led the way behind the stage, greeting other dancers as she went.

Virgil found himself completely transfixed by the cathedral like space before him. Everywhere he looked, there was something else demanding his attention. A beautifully detailed town square stood on the stage, illuminated by row upon row of lights hanging on battens high above as dancers clustered in groups performed stretches that made him hurt just to look at, while others warmed up turns and lifts on the stage, hidden from view of the audience by a pair of enormous red curtains.

“This place is amazing,” he whispered to Scott as they walked, letting the girls go on ahead. “I can’t believe you never told me how huge it was.”

“I never really thought about it,” admitted Scott. “The first time I was here I was a bit distracted by a certain someone, and then it just became normal I guess and I stopped really noticing it.”

“Trust you,” Selene called over her shoulder while Cat did her best to stifle a laugh.

Unrepentant, Scott just grinned back, standing by his statement as Virgil shook his head helplessly, knowing that his brother was unlikely to ever change.

“I’m going to have to leave you guys here I’m afraid,” Cat informed them, a member of stage management appearing to usher her guests to their seats in the wings.

“Good luck,” Selene told her, giving her a quick hug, the nervous energy of her friend crackling around her.

“Break a leg,” Virgil added, giving her a hug that she was almost certain could crush the air out of her entirely if he wanted.

Watching as Scott wordlessly took her in his arms, their foreheads pressed together once more, Selene squinted slightly, revealing the black aura surrounding the dancer slowly becoming blue and then red as his presence calmed and grounded her, releasing the nerves and replacing them with focus for the job ahead.

All too soon, Scott had to let go, a final few whispered words of encouragement finding their way to her before she was gone, moving into her world on the stage. His eyes tracked her every move as he was ushered away, feeling strangely like she was going somewhere he could never follow.

“She’ll be fine,” Selene reassured him as they took their seats, seeing the way that his brow was knitted together in worry. “I think you’re more worried than she is.”

“I know,” Scott sighed. “It’s just hard knowing that there’s nothing I can do to help.”

“You’ve already done more for her than you know,” she smiled, giving him a reassuring pat on the leg. The atmosphere continued to crackle around her, reaching a crescendo as the stage was cleared, the unmistakable sound of the orchestra beginning to filter through the giant curtains that separated them from the public spaces of the theatre.

A hush fell on the wings as the overture played, the chatting and joking between colleagues that had been going on around them now replaced by focus as everyone concentrated on their particular roles to ensure the performance went off without a hitch. Sitting quietly, Scott couldn’t take his eyes off Cat as she stood talking quietly with Ivan, hands flying animatedly as they illustrated their discussion, clearly still working out some of the finer details for their performance. When the conversation was over, a quick hug and high five preceded his departure, heading purposefully around the back of the stage and leaving her alone, looking somehow smaller and more fragile than he thought she ever had.

As the whir of machinery beside them signalled the lifting of the curtains, he watched as she took a deep breath, calming her breathing before reaching down to check her shoes one final time. A few steps back and forward on pointe seemed to relax her as she listened intently to the music, waiting for the exact right moment to open the door of the set in front of her and disappear into her domain, a round of applause from the audience greeting her arrival.

-x-

It was a different Cat that greeted them at the end of the curtain calls, flying into Scott’s open arms for an all too brief embrace before being swept away again, a multitude of friends and colleagues demanding her attention as she rode the adrenaline high of a job well done.

“How is she even still upright after that?” Virgil wondered, thinking back to his own brief experiences in the studio earlier in the day and how exhausting they had been.

“Sheer bloodyminded determination,” Scott replied knowingly, watching her fondly as she talked to the director of the company, experience telling him that it wouldn’t be long after they got back home that she’d crash completely, likely falling asleep curled up next to him, her head balanced on his shoulder. “At least she said that today had been an easy day.”

“I think her exact words were ‘only five hours of rehearsals’,” Selene chipped in. “Remind me to talk to both of you at some point about what the word ‘easy’ actually means, because I’m not sure either of you understand it properly.”

“Well, the rehearsal I saw certainly looked pretty tiring,” Virgil agreed as Scott good naturedly rolled his eyes at her, the memory of the panting heap of dancers that followed their performance of the pas de deux earlier still fresh in his mind.

“Ya know,” Selene added, a glint appearing in her eye. “If she’s able to do that after dancing all day, I think she might actually be fitter than any of you guys.”

“You’re probably right there,” Scott agreed cheerfully as invited guests who had been seated in the auditorium began to filter onto the stage, their eyes wide with wonder at the sheer scale of it, suddenly remembering when that had been him.

Spotting Cat now deep in conversation with a woman and child, Selene nudged Virgil who had become distracted and was closely inspecting one of the lighting booms standing in the wings. “Is that Lily and her mum over there?”

“Sure is,” he smiled, enjoying seeing her excitement as she inspected Cat’s tutu and headdress, delicately reaching out to touch the material as if it might break.

“Should we go and say hello?” Scott asked.

“Give them a few minutes,” Virgil advised. “She’s so excited about meeting the dancers and I don’t want to distract her attention. They’ve earned it.”

“Good call,” Scott agreed, watching his girl with interest as she hurried into the wings, returning a few moments later with a pair of pointe shoes and presenting them to Lily as a souvenir of the night.

“She’s good with her, isn’t she?” Selene mused as the girl’s squeals of delight carried across the stage to them.

“She's been great all day,” Virgil agreed. “She’ll be a brilliant coach one day, I’m sure of it.”

Scott nodded his agreement, wondering why he’d never even considered what Cat might do once her career on the stage was over. He’d always known that dancers careers were short and that Cat would kill him if he even suggested that she might be more than halfway through hers already, but what might happen next was something that they’d never thought to discuss before.

“There was something I wanted to talk to you about actually,” Virgil said, cutting into a daydream of her no longer being tied to London and moving to the island with him. “It’s not directly related but I think it might be something she might be interested in.”

His interest piqued, Scott’s attention snapped to his brother, wondering what he was about to suggest. “Go on.”

“Well, we had a pretty good chat earlier about funding for the arts and ballet in particular, and she said that there was a real issue with access for kids from deprived backgrounds,” Virgil explained.

“OK...” Scott encouraged, suspecting he knew where this was going.

“She said that there would be lots of kids out there like Lily who are talented but won't ever get the chance to make a career out of it because it’s too expensive,” Virgil elaborated, “so I was wondering what you thought about setting something up that could help with that?”

“Now that’s not something I’ve ever really thought about,” mused Scott, the logistics immediately beginning to run through his head.

There was already a well funded branch of Tracy Industries that was responsible for all manner of humanitarian and conservation projects around the globe, along with providing funding for numerous scholarships and internships to help give talented people from less privileged backgrounds the opportunities that may otherwise be denied them. A fund for the arts wouldn’t be beyond their usual remit, he thought, and it would certainly broaden their horizons somewhat.

“It’s not something we need to make a decision on immediately,” Virgil added, sensing the cogs turning in Scott’s brain. “It’s just something I thought could make a real difference to people.”

“It’s a good idea,” Scott agreed, liking the sound of it more and more as it settled in his mind. “We’ll run some numbers and take a look at what the logistics might be and we can make a decision from there.”

“What’re we making a decision on?” asked Selene, wandering back over from where she’d found herself engaged in conversation with some of the stage management.

“Just an idea for some charity stuff,” Scott answered quickly, keen not to get drawn into a further conversation, especially as he could see Cat beckoning them over.

Looking around the stage as the others made small talk with Lily and her mum, Scott’s mind continued to turn over Virgil’s suggestion, unable to deny that it was a good idea and one that Cat in particular would be excited about. A smile flitted across his face as he thought of how pleased she would be when he told her about it, solidifying his decision to keep it to himself until it became something more tangible.

“I think it’s time to get out of here” Cat declared, gathering up her large bouquet as the group said goodnight and the remaining guests were shepherded off the stage.

Scott nodded in agreement. It had been an amazing night that had given him much to think about but for now, there was a beer with his name on it somewhere out there and he was very keen to get out of the theatre and find it.

#Scott Tracy #Catriona George #selene tempest #Virgil Tracy #thunderbirds fanfiction #thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds 2015

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ifyouknowme-stayaway · 5 years ago

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A body swap Assassination Classroom fic would be chaotic between two people, but have you considered all of E class getting swapped withe each other?

For reasons unknown, they all get swapped with each other, and while Koro-sensej, Karasuma, and Irina know, they can't tell their parents and family because how do you even explain that kind if stuff.

Thankfully, it only lasts for three days.

Unfortunately, it lasts for three days.

Like, we all know the kind of normal stuff from those kinds of fics, the whole trying not to act out of character and stuff. But have you thought of the skills they should/shouldn't have as that person?

Like, even though Maehara knows Isogai better and can therefore stay in character more easily, it's a good thing Isogai and Hara were the ones who were switched with each other. They're both good with kids, and are awesome at cooking, so their families are... less suspicious of them. Hara isn't as creative with money as Isogai, but she is crazy good with her hands and improvising. Isogai gets to have a good three days in Hara's life. He does, on the other hand, discover the way some people treat Hara because of how she looks. It sucks, and he promises himself that he'll make sure not to let things like that slide if he can help it. Being told those kind of things hurt, and are also annoying.

Maehara gets switched with Mimura, and while Mimura is at first ecstatic to have gotten switched with one of the most popular guys in class, man did he underestimate Maehara. Seriously, the guy may act all smooth but he really does blush easily, not ignoring the fact that there's just so much attention on him! Maehara also isn't used to living like Mimura, because really, how do people live without the validation of being liked by girls and guys alike? How does he live without people to respond to his pickup lines and do cute couple things? How do you function without the sound of two disasters (aka older sisters) and excessively teasing each other?

Fuwa and Takebayashi switch, and just. Fuwa absolutely hates the high expectations and radio silence Takebayashi's family gives her. Takebayashi doesn't get how to be as open and enthusiastic as Fuwa, like doesn't she get tired of being that openly passionate? They end up having a long conversation where Fuwa admits that being that open and happy is a little tiring, and Takebayashi admits that he does want to be praised and appreciated sometimes.

I do want to try brainstorming for Nagisa and Karma switching, but they're both really different and there are a lot of ideas out there already. I don't think I can think of any that haven't already been thought up by someone else. So, I'll do Karma and Nakamura getting switched (yes, this has also probably already been done a lot, but I just want to do this)

At first it seems like a simple thing, they're both pranksters and troublemakers, they joke around a lot, should be easy to impersonate each other. Except it isn't that easy to get used to what the other goes through, is it?

Karma doesn't know how he's supposed to interact with Nakamura's family, since he rarely talks to his own parents, and has no idea how to deal with her older brother. He's used to lonely silence, covered up by video game music and his own voice (he sometimes talks to himself, it's just a small habit). An entire family with high/low expectations for him? He's not sure how to respond with them never expecting a joker like him to do well and their disappointment that he doesn't do as well as they want him to.

Nakamura should have an easier time, since she doesn't need to fool Karma's family and friends (his parents are travelling, and he doesn't actually have any friends outside of E class), but it's still hard for her! Because Karma's picked fights with like, everyone in half the alleys at some point. And don't get her wrong, Nakamura's good at fighting, she can take down a fair few of her classmates without too much trouble, but a bunch of thugs who are older than her? That's a bit of a challenge! She's lucky that switching then came with all the fighting instincts Karma's been building up for years.

Wow, that was a lot longer than I thought it would be. On to the next two, we have Sugino and Nagisa. They both take about an hour to get used to their new bodies ("Nagisa, how do you function with being so small" "Why are your arms so strong" "Your hair is so long, Kayano, come here and please teach me how to tie it better" "Sugino help me your baseball instincts make me want to catch or hit basically everything").

Then, there is the angst. Nagisa is surprised by Sugino's family, which are pretty outdoorsy and, ignoring the fact that his mom really wants him to tell her basically everything, is pretty much perfect. Except his little brother, who definitely can't be trusted as much as Sugino can be when it comes to secrets. Sugino definitely needs a more than a moment to figure out Nagisa's sorry excuse of a mother, because yeah, his wants him to tell her everything even when he'd rather keep it quiet, but Nagisa's mother is so much worse. He wishes he could give Nagisa a hug and also a new family, and maybe tell Karma to give Nagisa's mom a small dose of fear, but he doesn't. He wants to get mad or talk back at her, but he doesn't. This is Nagisa's body, Nagisa's life, and all he can do is his best to keep damage at a minimum. He plays along with what she wants, says what he thinks is the right thing to say at the right times, and tries to stay out of trouble, for Nagisa's sake. Maybe get her in a good mood and put them on better terms for when Nagisa has to deal with her again, so he won't get hurt as much. He still hates her, though.

Hmm, Kanzaki and Hazama. Kanzaki is used to high expectations and strict parents, but not Hazama's kind of strict. Her father was the kind of person who went quiet when he was angry, so being screamed at by Hazama's mother was honestly terrifying for Kanzaki. Really, she was scared out her mind by her screeching. Hazama is smart and can handle almost anything that gets thrown at her, but acting all sweet and kind like Kanzaki? Nope, she tries her best but it's pretty unconvincing, seeing Hazama's used to acting dark and scary as opposed to Kanzaki's much sweeter nature. Let's just say that she was lucky Kanzaki's older brother noticed she needed help and covered for her without asking questions. He also doesn't want her to get in trouble, even if he says it's just because he doesn't want their parents to get mad and go out of his way to stay out of trouble.

There are still a bunch of other combinations and stuff, but I think I'm done with this for today. Please say what you think of this, and add on with your own ideas if you'd like!

#ansatsu kyoushitsu #assassination classroom #karma akabane #akabane karma #nagisa shiota #rio nakamura #shiota nagisa #kotaro takebayashi #kanzaki yukiko #yukiko kanzaki #yuzuki fuwa #kirara hazama #sumire hara #yuuma isogai #hiroto maehara #mimura koki #sugino tomohito #sugino

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7r0773r · 4 years ago

Text

Paris Stories by Mavis Gallant

". . . . When I was your age, about, my mother was dying of . . . I wasn't told. She took a ring from under her pillow and folded my hand on it. She said that I could always sell it if I had to, and no one need know. You see, in those days women had nothing of their own. They were like brown paper parcels tied with string. They were handed like parcels from their fathers to their husbands. To make the parcel look attractive it was decked with curls and piano lessons, and rings and gold coins and banknotes and shares. After appraising all the decoration, the new owner would undo the knots." (Irina, p. 45)

***

". . . . I've discovered the limit of what you can feel about people. I've discovered something else," she said abruptly. "It is that sex and love have nothing in common. Only a coincidence, sometimes. You think the coincidence will go on and so you get married. I suppose that is what men are born knowing and women learn by accident." (The Moslem Wife, p. 104)

***

A woman can always get some practical use from a torn-up life, Gabriel decided. She likes mending and patching it, making sure the edges are stsraight. She spreads the last shred out and takes its measure: "What can I do with this remnant? How long does it need to last?" A man puts on is life ready-made. If it doesn't fit, he will try to exchange it for another. Only a fool of a man will try to adjust the sleeves or move the buttons; he doesn't know how. (Baum, Gabriel 1935-[ ], p. 183)

***

Barbara called her sister-in-law "the mouse." She had small brown eyes; was vegetarian; prayed every night of her life for Alec and for the parents who had not much loved her. "If they would just listen to me," she was in the habit of saying—about Alec and Barbara, for instance. She never complained about her compressed existence, which seemed to her the only competent one at times; at least it was quiet. When Alec told her that he was about to die, and wanted to emigrate, and had been provided with a house but with nothing to run it on, she immediately offered him half her capital. He accepted in the same flat way he had talked about death—out of his driving need, she supposed, or because he still held the old belief that women never need much. She knew she had made an impulsive gesture, perhaps a disastrous one, but she loved Alec and did not want to add to her own grief. She was assured that anything left at the end would be returned enriched and amplified by some sort of nimble investment, but as Alec and his family intended to live on the capital she did not see how this could be done.

Alec knew that his sister had been sacrificed. It was merely another of the lights going out. Detachment had overtaken him even before the journey south. Mind and body floated on any current that chose to bear them. (The Remission, pp. 199-200)

***

". . . upon the beached verge of the salt flood . . ."

She did not say this. Her lips did not move; but she had the ringing impression of a faultless echo, as if the words had come to her in her own voice. They were words out of the old days, when she could still read, and relate every sentence to the sentence it followed. A vision, clear as a mirror, of a narrowing shore, an encroaching sea, was all that was left. It was all that remained of her reading, the great warehouse of stored phrases, the plugged casks filled with liquid words—a narrowing shore, a moving sea: that was all. And yet how she had read! She had read in hotel rooms, sprawled on the bed—drugged, drowned—while on the other side of the dark window rain fell on foreign streets. She had read on buses and on trains and in the waiting rooms of doctors and dressmakers, waiting for Bonnie. She had read with her husband across from her at the table and beside her in bed. (She had been reading a book, in a café, alone, the first time he had ever spoken to her. He had never forgotten it.) She had read through her girlhood and even love hadn't replaced the reading: only at times. (August, p. 279)

***

By now, after a few days, she might have known them for years. She came into their lives dragging her existence like a wet raincoat, and no one made a move to keep her out. She called them by their Christian names and had heard Bonnie's troubles and hinted at plenty of her own. Bob referred to her as Moonface because she was all circles, round face, round brown eyes. The first impression of American crispness had collapsed. Her hair often looked as if mice had been at it. The shirtmaker dresses were held together with pins. Dipping hems had been stitched with thread the wrong color. She carried foolish straw baskets with artificial flowers wound around the handle, and seemed to have chosen her clothes with three aims in mind: they mustn't cost much, they must look as if anybody could wear them, and they must be suitable for a girl of sixteen. She did not belong in their lives or in the Paris summer. She belonged to an unknown cindery city full of used-car lots. She sat by Flor's bed, hunched forward, hands around her knees. "I know how you feel in a way," she said. "Sometimes I feel so depressed I honestly don't like going out on the street. I feel as if it's written all over me that something's wrong. I get the idea that the mob will turn on me and pull me apart because I'm unhappy and unhappiness is catching." She seemed genial and lively enough, saying this. She was fresh from a different world, where generalized misery was possibly taken for granted. Bob said that Moonface was stupid, and Flor, for want of any opinion, had agreed, but could Flor be superior? She would have given anything to be a victor, one of that trampling mob. (August, p. 296)

***

Doris was proud of her education—a bundle of notions she trundled before her like a pram containing twins. She could not have told you that the shortest distance between two points was a straight line, but she did know that "hostility" was the key word in human relations, and that a man with an abscessed tooth was only punishing himself. (August, pp. 297-98)

***

As an inventor of a great number of imaginary events Grippes knows that the reflection of reality is no more than just that; it is as flat and mute as a mirror. Better to sound plausible than merely in touch with facts. (In Plain Sight, p. 346)

#mavis gallant #book quotes

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kentuckywrites · 5 years ago

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Imperium: Sylvalum

Scio dolorem tuum. (I know your pain.)

It had taken centuries, long and grueling centuries, but the planet was recovering. They had focused on the three continents affected the most by the war: Obi-liv’isk, Siy’valis-um, and Call’dive-ros. In that time they had never seen one of his people. That single fact was enough to make him miserable, for deep down he missed them. Thankfully the feeling was deep enough to go unnoticed by the planet.

Of the most affected continents, Siy’valis-um was the closest to its former glory. It once possessed a similar ecosystem to Prim’ala-dor’ias, but now harbored unseen creatures, more dangerous and predatory, None of the creatures dared to harm him. The planet made sure to tell them what he was.

He walked close to the continent’s greatest lake, along where the water met the land. The water was opaque, but he knew it wasn’t deep, wasn’t one of the many harborers of unseen enemies. He stared out at the expanse, at the old cervus that drank from the shallows. He felt nothing and feared nothing.

The immovable water splashed at his shoes.

“I sense something troubling you, my avatar.”

“We have been together for centuries, and yet we are lonely, and we are tired.” He admitted quietly.

“...Yes, we are. I have neglected you in lieu of rebuilding what was destroyed.”

He turned then, and he faced the gigantic green orb, the mightiest of the continent’s “trees”. However, unlike most its wildlife, the orb housed a planetary parasite, one that had tried to destroy the planet once and for all.

The planet had no name for it aside from the Everqueen. Its planetary guardian, the Endbringer, had trapped it inside halfway though the rebuilding process. The Everqueen slept within it, trapped, contained.

It sent chills down his spine. Oh, how the planet had screamed in pain upon its arrival. To think it could’ve killed everything in its wake and not felt satiated.

“We do not blame you, old friend. You have been working hard these past years.”

The ground quivered beneath his feet.

“But I have neglected your wellbeing. For that, I give my deepest apologies.”

There was silence, and then, a sudden exclamation.

“What if I created a tangible form for myself? A humanoid, so that I could accompany you across my continents. We would be together, physically and mentally.”

“Are you sure that wouldn’t strain our mind?” He asked, concerned but intrigued.

“Even if it did, I owe this to you. You have been alone, all this time.” The wind came to a stop, and he heard the whispers of the creatures around him, saw the wisps of pollen fall to the sand. “I will need your help, however. I can only accomplish this at the Beacon, and I will require components from the land to create this form. I can supply the miranium, but you are free to choose whatever you feel will create the most beautiful form.”

He grinned. When was the last time he had been truly excited by something? Finally, he would not be alone, the planet would be there in a physical form to walk alongside him.

“We will need time,” He said, “But we are willing to help you.”

“Excellent,” The planet whispered lovingly, “I will see you at the Beacon, old friend, and together we shall create something beautiful.”

Three months had passed since Pongo disappeared.

L bestowed the news to everyone Pongo considered a friend, and word quickly spread that one of Elma’s own trainees had left BLADE for good. Rumors were abundant; some claimed he had been picked off by an indigen, others wondered if the surviving Ganglion had taken him hostage. And some yet saw right through L’s news - some believed he wouldn’t be gone for long. They knew how dedicated he was to the Interceptors and said he just needed time away to destress, and one day he’d come back as chipper as ever.

L abandoned hope early on that Pongo would ever return. But he kept that notion under careful wraps, especially in front of Lin and Elma.

He was with them both in the commercial district when they got the BLADE-wide emergency notification. Nearly every squad was being sent to Sylvalum to monitor the Noctilucent Sphere. L didn’t need to read the rest of the order to know why.

The flight to Sylvalum was tense. The sky was now crowded with Skells of all shapes and sizes, some carrying large supply crates. When L was close enough to the continent to see the sphere, he saw it shake, he heard a roar loud enough to echo across the ocean. He followed Elma and Lin, who landed near the edge of Lake Ciel. A whole operation had been set up there, with BLADEs going back and forth between tents and small construction points with supplies and information and weapons strapped to their belts. Elma got out quickly, her long sparkling hair catching some of the breeze, and the three of them proceeded towards the largest tent.

Inside, Secretary Nagi and Commander Vandham were bent over a table with a hologram projection. Both looked concerned at its contents. When the three of them entered, only Nagi looked up to acknowledge them.

“Elma. Good, let’s get you filled in,” Nagi said, beckoning for all three of them to wrap around the table, get a better look at the hologram. L understood that it was meant to be a replica of the Noctilucent Sphere, its circular dimensions and its hollow inside. Somehow life had come to inhabit the inner sphere, plantlife and a few sparse indigens.

And of course, there was the Everqueen. But they probably didn’t know how it got inside such a tiny sphere.

Vandham grunted as L passed him to get a better look at the hologram, feigning innocence at its contents. Lin went around with Elma and stayed on Nagi’s side of the table.

“As you know, the Noctilucent Sphere is home to a very large and very dangerous indigen,” Nagi explained, “We’ve been monitoring it closely since we’ve discovered it, and unless it’s disturbed from inside, it tends not to move. But something in the past few days has awakened it, and it seems determined to escape.”

“Damn thing’s causing such a ruckus in there that it’s hard to say whether or not it’ll actually bust out,” Vandham piped up, rubbing his moustache with the inner part of his thumb. “But we’re betting that it will, and soon. Hence the BLADE-wide operation.”

“And nothing akin to this has happened in the past?” Elma asked, “I find it strange that it chooses now of all time to try and escape. Was there some kind of stimuli that aggravated it from inside?”

“None that we know of,” Nagi replied somberly, “If we knew, that would make things much easier on our end, because at least then we could attempt to reverse its effects.”

“So the entire operation that’s on guard outside...that’s precautionary if Pharsis escapes?” Lin said, tapping her chin with her finger. “It’s a good amount of manpower, but -”

“It isn’t enough?” Nagi cut in, “Yes, that’s our greatest fear going into this. However, Elma, you were on to something before, and that’s why we’re assigning you and Irina’s team to head into the sphere and gather intel.”

L’s eyes widened. That was a suicide mission, going into the cage of the very monster that had almost killed Mira thousands of years ago. And yet he seemed to be the only one there with any semblance of anxiety. Lin almost appeared excited at the prospect of going into the sphere.

“I’m all for the idea of gathering intel on how to stop this, Commander, but if I might pose a concern: who’s to say the Skells landing in the opening won’t trigger Pharsis to destroy the sphere?” Elma said, arms crossed.

Nagi took a deep breath, his shoulders stiff. “This is a risk that we have to take if we are to avoid certain catastrophe. I’m not especially keen on the idea myself, but I knew you and your team would be willing to tackle it, potential consequences and all.”

Elma and Lin both nodded. Lin looked to L, raising an eyebrow when she realized he hadn’t agreed along with them. He cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention towards him.

“We have a pen’s ink as to what is disturbing the Everqueen,” L told them, trying to ignore his voice cracking, “And we may know how to halt its escape efforts.”

“Why didn’t ya pipe up before, then?” Vandham nudged him with his elbow, a stronger gesture than L anticipated, and one that almost knocked him off balance. “Tell us what ya know!”

All eyes were on L as he did his best to provide an explanation while leaving out the private details, skewing truths where he could. “The Everqueen arrived with the intent to devour the planet. We remember the Endbringer creating its prison to halt its advances, and so the Endbringer would have the necessary strength to fortify its bars again.”

“You mean the Telethia,” Nagi confirmed, “That resides primarily in Noctilum, no?”

“It’s a reasonable assumption to make, though I’ll admit to having seen it fly over Sylvalum before,” Elma said, “Is there any way the Telethia knows that Pharsis is trying to escape? And if not, how would we be able to contact it in time?”

“She most certainly has awareness of the problem on our palms, but her strength on her own will not be enough. We know what the Endbringer requires, but...it is a great distance away from our current position.”

Elma paused, pursing her lips. “How much longer until Pharsis breaks out of the sphere?”

“We can’t be sure,” Nagi said, “At this rate, her escape seems likely within the next twenty four hours. But that’s prone to change considering her strength in this endeavor.”

“Is that enough time to get what you need to the Telethia?” Elma turned to L, crossing her arms.

L paused. There was hope in her expression, in everyone’s eyes. The lie was too convincing, perhaps because it came from a Miran native, perhaps because L was a good liar, perhaps because they needed to hear that there was a way to stop this before it killed them all. But L left out the part about not knowing where the Endbringer’s missing puzzle piece was.

After all, how could he know where Pongo had gone?

But he continued to lie, because Lin’s smile was too excited. Because they needed good news.

“That is quite enough and more!” L said, earning nods from everyone in the tent.

“Then get out there, take whatever and whoever you need,” Vandham ordered, “Just get back here as quick as ya can, huh?”

“Yes, sir!” L rushed out, ducking beneath the tent’s entrance and heading to the outside. Sylvalum’s crisp air greeted him, a sharp presence carrying secrets never heard. L had good memories of this place, having memorized Lake Ciel’s coastline, having befriended many of the indigens around him in the past. They probably knew what was happening just as much as the humans did. L blinked, but kept his eyes closed for a prolonged amount of time, just letting himself go to Sylvalum’s twisted sense of peace.

And that was when he heard it.

The wind changed. Before, it had been playing a gentle song, a whistle barely registered past the screams of the Everqueen. But now there were words mixed in with it, words that L almost didn’t pick up on. Was it even right to call them words? The wind was telling him to turn around, go to the edge of the operation, be quiet. L turned and walked, making sure that his movements were not suspicious. Elma and Lin hadn’t exited the tent with him before, providing the perfect opportunity to go alone, to investigate whatever Sylvalum was trying to hide. It wasn’t a far walk to the edge of the operation, and hardly anyone was there. L ducked away behind a stray tent, looking for what the wind was guiding him towards.

A hand pressed down on his inner arm.

L spun around, mouth open as he was about to ask who, what, why. The wind went silent.

Pongo grinned at him. It was sad, hardened almost, but it was still Pongo’s grin. L barely had time to register the fact that Pongo, the physical Pongo, was standing in front of him before they were hugging each other. Pongo buried his head into L’s chest, and L’s head dangled down, an awkward angle to bend thanks to their height difference. His hair smelled of fresh rain and dampened soil, the water and its earth. They didn’t pull apart when Pongo spoke.

“Are you okay, L’Cirufe?”

What else had L expected him to say? They pulled apart, and L saw Pongo’s tears, a mixture of fear and regret. L kept his hands on Pongo’s shoulder - both for Pongo’s sake, and because L was so scared that he wasn’t real, that if he was he was seconds away from disappearing again.

“We are alright, now that you have returned,” L smiled wide, “We would ask you about your adventures, but time is not to be had.”

“I know. I am not sure I would have come back so soon if it had not been for…”

They both looked up at the sphere, how it shook with the Everqueen’s rage. Nothing needed to be said then. All L knew was the feeling of Pongo’s vest beneath his hands, and the ever increasing tightness in his chest. When Pongo tore his gaze away from the sphere, he wiped his eyes and nose with the back of his sleeve.

“I think we both know how to keep her from escaping,” Pongo said, “But I will need your help to get to Cauldros -”

“No.”

Pongo paused. “L’Cirufe, what other choice do we have? She is going to slaughter everyone here - all of humanity, every indigen, every continent. I cannot let history repeat itself.”

“You will die if you continue down this beaten path,” L argued, his hands tensing on Pongo’s shoulders, “We will not let you do this. You will lose yourself to its power and -”

“I do not care what happens to me,” He interjected, “The planet is not the same as before. It is weak, and if I do not give myself up to it then Mira will never be able to recover. It would never have the time to. This is the most viable option, and I am willing to sacrifice myself for it.”

L took a deep breath, forcing himself to look away. Times were different, that he could understand, but time couldn’t erase the possibility that Pongo would be reduced to what L had become. A living weapon of Mira’s design, out of control and out of touch. Mira could still use Pongo’s body to inflict its will. The Everqueen was not its only target.

“How do you know that it will not use you to carry out any other schemes?” L asked, after the silence had tried to hold them down again.

“I have no way of knowing that,” Pongo admitted, “All I can do is trust that Mira will use my body to restore the balance. Mira is angry at the human race, yes, but more than anything else right now, it...it just wants to be safe. And the Everqueen is the most direct threat to that.”

“If we cannot convince you of the dangers...then we would have no choice but to accompany you,” L said softly, unable to mask the pain in his voice.

“Count us both in, too.”

Pongo’s eyes widened and L turned around, realizing that Elma and Lin were now standing behind him. Elma’s arms were crossed over her chest, her crystalline brow furrowed with a deep confusion, a desire to understand something bigger than herself. Lin ran past L and quickly wrapped her arms around Pongo, who reciprocated just as quickly, even picking her up off the ground and swinging her around in a circle. They both laughed like no time had passed between them.

“How much of the conversation did you drop the evening on?” L asked Elma, saddened that Pongo and Lin’s laughter was doing nothing to improve his mood.

“Most of it,” She said, “Although I’m still trying to piece together what exactly you were talking about. You kept speaking as if Mira - the planet - is some kind of sentient being, one that’s capable of controlling Pongo. Is this true?”

L couldn’t bring himself to answer - it wasn’t a truth he was willing to speak. It was Pongo’s right, and Pongo’s choice. He waited for the raven-haired Interceptor to put Lin down, whispering something quickly before turning to Elma. Traces of his happiness lingered on his lips, but it was too easily tainted by the weight of the situation.

“Yes,” Pongo said, “Mira is a sentient being. I am still trying to figure out what exactly it is, but I can now say with certainty that it created me as a vessel to communicate with humanity. It told me how I can weaken Pharsis and prevent her from escaping.”

“Which is why you have to go to Cauldros,” Elma concluded, “L, I thought you needed to communicate with the Telethia in order to stop Pharsis.”

“We do,” Pongo said, “But...okay, how do I explain this...you know how we have been mining miranium from the planet for the industrial district? Miranium is like the blood of Mira - take too much of it at one time, and the planet will grow incredibly weak. Right now, it is too weak to communicate with the Telethia directly, much less any of the other indigens inhabiting the continents. Hell, Mira only just had the strength to talk to me three months ago, and even those conversations have been few and far between. Since it does not have the strength it needs to command the Endbringer, I will have to go to Mount M’Gando in Cauldros and -”

“And rejoin with the planet,” L mumbled, unable to make eye contact with Pongo. He could feel Pongo’s gaze on him regardless.

“Mira used a lot of miranium to create me. If I were to give my miranium back to Mira, it could use what I have to tell the Telethia to fly to Sylvalum and keep the Everqueen at bay,” Pongo finished.

“Wait, but that would kill you!” Lin cried, “You’re saying you have to sacrifice yourself for this to work!”

“You’re certain that there’s no other solutions?” Elma asked.

Pongo shook his head. “It is too late to tell humanity to stop drilling, and if we were to swap myself for some indigens, it would wipe out an entire continent and then some.”

“You must have a lot of miranium in your body,” She said, a thought spoken out loud, “What about your left arm?”

To L’s surprise, Pongo chuckled at the resurfaced memory. “That is definitely not miranium. A lot of it is in my own bloodstream, especially my heart.”

L finally had the strength to look back up at Pongo, at Elma and Lin. Lin looked as if she were on the brink of tears, and L couldn’t blame her. This was the only way, the only option left to pick. It was no wonder why Mira was mad at humanity - humans had drained it of power, and now they were going to pay the ultimate price. Either the planet’s most beautiful creation would die, or everyone would. Of course the path was clear to Pongo, who would sacrifice himself at every turn to keep friends and strangers alike safe from harm. But to Elma, to Lin, to L…

This was too much.

Elma broke the silence, which L hadn’t noticed was there to begin with. “If this is the only way, we’ll accompany you to Cauldros. Ganglion activity there is still prominent, and we can’t have any distractions.”

“Yeah…” Lin’s response was drawn out, hesitant, “We’ll go with you. There’s no way you’re doing this alone.”

“Thank you both,” Pongo smiled, and suddenly Lin was hugging him again, and he was hugging her back. L could barely hear Lin’s whisper, buried deep in Pongo’s shoulder.

“I only just got you back…”

When they pulled apart, Elma got out her comm device, calling who L assumed to be either Nagi or Vandham. “Change of plans. We’re heading to Cauldros to call the Telethia. Keep us updated if anything changes.”

“Same to you,” Nagi’s voice was scratchy over the intercom, and Elma quickly put her comm device back into a pocket in her armor - which, how did her armor even have pockets? That was the least of L’s concerns, though, and he pushed the thought away.

“Alright then,” Pongo said, facing everyone with a cheerful determination, “To Cauldros.”

#xenoblade x #Imperium: Sylvalum #okay seriously does TF Elma's armor have pockets #also Yay For Sacrifices #I'm gonna have a FIELD DAY with this last chapter #hard to believe we're coming up on Imperium's one year anniversary #I hope this has been a fun ride though!#it's definitely weird for me to be writing a short story

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mikosdreams · 5 years ago

Text

HEAR ME

CHAPTER NINE: HELP

- Kim Namjoon starring as Choi Woojun

- Green Viridiana starring as Irina

- Doh Kyungsoo starring as Rey Minho

- Hwang Stephanie starring as Yon Lilo

[START OF NEWS] It has been twelve months since the Ulits have arrived on Earth and ten months since the citizens around the world fight against police, protecting and caring for the otherworldly beings. Due to this inconvenience, the police have been unsuccessful in containing any specimens, people refusing to work with police make it ten times harder. The United States President feels that they are here to harm us but other presidents disagree, North and South Korea Presidents going as far as refusing to work with the United States until they back off on searching their homelands. Japan, Australia, and many islands have stepped forward saying they welcome these aliens with open arms. This making them a safe place for the aliens and untouchable by the ones that one to hurt them, these places going across the screen are helping Aliens and keeping them out of United States hands. Even when a lot of people are accepting of these worldly beings, a lot are also against them. Many cities and towns are divided by the people, aside from helping and a side harming. Which side are you on? Are you accepting of a new species or against otherworldly? [END OF NEWS]

Woojun turns off the television making Irina turn towards him in surprise, "I was watching that." She states as she watches her husband button up his shirt. "You been watching enough news, get dressed. We promised Lilo and Minho we will be at their wedding, it is safe enough to go now." He speaks as he watches her get up off the couch and walk over to him. Her nimble fingers working his tie around his neck as she stands close to him, "I know it is, I just need to know my fellow people will be okay." She whispers into his ear and planting a kiss below his ear, pulling away and heading to the room as she smiles to herself. Irina loves Woojun, it didn't feel like they have been married for twenty-two years but they were. Irina pulls a dress out and a pair of heels.

Rapid knockings reached her ears as she finishes curling her hair, Irina quickly getting up and making her way down the halls to Woojun. Panic wraps itself tightly around fear as she could hear three voices and one being her husbands, none sounding happy. She turns the corner to see two men in navy blue uniforms and badges, her skin tightens making her unable to move as she watches them try to manipulate Woojun but it wasn't working. "You have no warrant, you may leave now." Mr. Choi spat back at the officers as his jaw tightens, "We don't need the warrant to search for the thing." A young officer shot back but Woojun knew he was wrong. "To search my property you need a warrant signed by a judge if you don't leave I will call the head office about this harassment." Woojun stood his ground as he pulls out his phone as he speaks, ready to call the higher-ups about this inconvenience on his day.

The older officer waves his hands as he pulls his partner back, "No, sorry for the trouble. Have a nice day, sir." The officer was quick to apologize and leave with the younger. Woojun slams his door shut as he dials a number and runs a hair through his hair, "Woojun-" Irina's voice catches his attention. The tanned man whips his head towards the hallway to only have his heart jolt in pain to see his wife in tears, "Baby, it is okay." He whispers as he walks over to her and pulls her into a hug as a voice finally answers. "Lilo, tell Minho something for me." Woojun answers as Irina wraps herself into her lover's hold, "Code Ulits, please be quick." He hangs up and holds his wife close before pulling away.

"We need to go and we need to do it now." Woojun lifts his wife's head up and placing a soft kiss on her lips before pulling her to the garage, fear of losing Irina rushes through his body as he helps her into the car. He needed to get Irina to Minho's house, untouchable grounds for police and a haven for Ulits. He opens the garage door going to the alleyway instead of the street, hoping the police didn't know as he pulls out and starts using the back roads to Minho's. Irina grips his free hand tightly as she looks in the mirrors, hoping they were safe as they were a mile off from help. Irina felt like she was going to puke as she shows Minho's place surrounded by police of all kinds and Minho standing in front of the large iron gates, fearlessly facing the people before him as Ulits watch from behind the safety of the walls.

Lilo standing at the edge of the block caught Woojun's attention and heads her way, Lilo gets in as they drive behind Minho's place. "There is a parking lot and there is a part that goes down, we have to walk it but it is hidden and takes us to the manor." Lilo says with a big smile as she points to a parking unit across the street, "Are you sure?" Woojun asks as he pulls in and slows down to look for the spot. "Yes because the door looks like a fire escape, there!" She says as she points at the door that literally looks like a fire escape and graffiti on the side of it, they park as close as possible before getting out. "Why are the police there?" Irina whispers as they look around themselves, making way to the secret tunnel. Lilo pulls out a key and unlocks it before helping them in and locking it behind them. "Someone didn't like Minho helping the Ulits and now they are trying to get in but Minho being police drop out and a successful lawyer, knows what he is doing." She smiles as she held Irina's hand and help them down the dim pathway, "Don't worry about Minho. He has been doing this since he found you in that wreckage, he will never give any of you up." her voice filled with confidence as she walks up some stairs.

She let them into the manor and locks the several doors behind them before making way to the front to see Minho's back, still standing against the police. "Irina-" Lilo's voice reaches her ears that making her turn to the young girl, "You raised him well if you never entered his life and never showed him so much love like you did and have been. I don't think he would be doing this, this is because of you and all your love." She smiles at the Ulit with so much happiness and love. Irina's tiger eyes drift to Minho as she thinks about Lilo's words, how far this man has come from his childhood. Becoming what he wanted to be, an anchor and a home. Minho was the start of the helping hands, a tidal wave of making a difference. Irina looks over at Woojun if it wasn't for Yukina breaking her heart than she would not be with Woojun that held her close to him or her life here on Earth. With people's help, one step at a time, everyone can make a difference.

(END)

@queenqk

@taehyungsbabyvamp

@babybangtanxo

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doeeyeddarlingxo · 5 years ago

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Myriad Misadventures - Chapter 53

The Myriad Misadventures of a Midgardian Queen-In-Training - Chapter 53

AO3 | Previous | Next

Word Count: 1509

Pairing: Loki/Reader

Rating: T

Myriad Misadventures - Chapter 53

Thumpthumpthump.

Your eyes flutter open to...nothing. A dark, fuzzy surface clouds your vision - Oh. You must have fallen asleep under the blanket.

Emerging, you blink once, twice, but your eyelids still feel heavy. Catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, you see why - they’re pink and slightly swollen, still bearing the effects of last night. You clutch the top of your robe as you call through the door. “Yes?”

You’re not opening up without checking first who’s there. Not after everything that happened with Walden.

“It’s Meg, milady. May I come in?”

“Oh, yes, of course.”

You try to smile as you unlock the door, but it’s no use. Her jaw drops the second she sees you. “(Y/N), are you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, I just - I just had some trouble falling asleep last night, is all. Did I miss breakfast?”

“No, milady. You have fifteen minutes to get ready.”

“Thank you.” She hands you an envelope, pea-green. “What’s this?”

“One of the king’s attendants bade me give you this. I believe it is from his majesty?”

Her leaking interest inspires a wave of nostalgia - she reminds you so much of Carlie. Still, this is one letter you’d rather read alone. “Perhaps. Meg, would you do me a favor and please pick out a dress for me? I have no idea what to wear.”

“Of course.” You can’t help but feel slightly guilty at the disappointment in her tone, but you don’t stop her as she makes her way into the next room. The envelope is small, and from it you pull a notecard, the same color. You trace the elegant print with your finger, murmuring the words as you read.

Lady (Y/N),

You are welcome to attend breakfast with the other women, if you wish; however, given the circumstances, if you’d prefer to have food sent up to your room, you may. Just send down one of your maids with a written request.

I would be very pleased if you would join me for dinner this evening in my private quarters. Again, send one of your maids down with your response within the hour.

~ L . L .

“Should I tell him yes?”

“Hm?” You turn around to see her in the doorway of your closet, a dress draped over her arm. “You - “

She blushes. “Forgive me, I couldn’t help but overhear you reading it.”

“Oh. Right. I’m not sure I should - I mean, maybe he’ll have changed his mind.” It’s an awful attempt at an excuse, but you don’t really care. After everything you said last night - what could he possibly want to see you for? To send you away?

If that’s the case, you should be happy. All you’ve wanted this whole time was to get back home. And it’s relatively early: Irina and Rosa and Rhea are all still here. You could watch the last two get rejected from the comfort of your living room couch. You could hug Carlie again, hear Dad calling you “Bean.” See Erik graduate - has it really been three years already? You feel as though you arrived yesterday.

But now there’s him. He kissed you, you remember. Regardless of the fact that you kissed him first, he kissed you and then sent you away - was that just part of the act? A way of luring Walden into the open?

It didn’t feel like a lie.

He’s the god of lies, you idiot. You really think you, of all people, would be able to see through him?

“Are you alright, (Y/N)?” Meg’s voice snaps you back into consciousness. “Here, hold on to my hand.”

“No, that’s alright, I - oh. Thank you.”

“Perhaps it would be best if you broke fast up here, after all,” she says, sitting down next to you. “You seem a bit dazed.”

You bite your lip. She has a point. The dizziness from when you first woke up hasn’t faded in the slightest, and you’re grateful that Meg is there to help you back to the bed. You clench and unclench your hands around fistfuls of soft gold fabric, trying to steady your breathing. “Yes. All right, you’re dismissed for the morning, Meg.” A thought occurs. “Unless you want to join me for breakfast.”

Her eyes widen. “Lady - er, (Y/N), I could never!”

You shrug. “You don’t have to, I just thought maybe you were hungry.” You hand her the envelope and letter, gently folding her fingers around the smooth green parchment. “If you don’t want to, though, that’s okay. Could you maybe please take care of this for me?”

She nods. “Of course. And I’ll have breakfast sent up at once.”

“Thank you.” Watching the doors swing shut behind her makes you feel lonelier than ever. You would take a walk around your room, maybe open the windows, but you still feel a little lightheaded, and a tad bit short of breath. Your journal is on your nightstand, though. Pulling it over, you begin to write.

I’m so confused. And I’ve never felt more homesick. I want my mom. I want my dad. I feel like a little kid saying that, but there it is: I want my mommy and daddy. I don’t know who to trust; even Meg makes me nervous. And then there’s the kiss. When I came here, I was positive I’d be the first one out. But now I’m one of the last four: half the girls who were originally here are gone. Does that mean I have a chance? And a chance at what? Do I really want...whatever it is he’s offering? The crown? Universal hatred by the rest of my species?

“You don’t look pale.”

Your head snaps up, your hands automatically moving to shove the notebook beneath your pillow. “What are you doing here?”

He scans the walls of your room, avoiding your gaze as though disinterested. “Seeing as how half of the Chosen have already been dismissed as unsuitable, it is in my best interest to ensure the rest of you aren’t felled by disease and what not.” At this, he stops pacing, but still refuses to look at you. You stare pointedly at your knees - two can play that game. “Your serving girl - Margaret - practically knocked me over in the hall. She said you nearly fainted.”

“She helped me sit down before I had the chance to.” You try to ignore the way your pulse quickens as he draws nearer to the bed.

“Thank goodness for that.” His eyes flicker up and down, and you realize, with no small amount of embarrassment, how disheveled you must appear. You reach out self-consciously to grab the blanket, holding it up to your chest.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, I - ”

“Are we really on that? Again?”

You let out a short, soft laugh. “After three years, I can’t even get some of the staff to stop calling me Lady (Y/N). I assumed titles were fairly important.”

“You didn’t seem so concerned with titles before last night.” He reaches out, the tips of his fingers just skimming your jaw, and you flinch ever so slightly. He notices, and pulls back, darkness leaking into his eyes. “You’re still angry.”

“No,” you whisper, but your voice is raspy, and the word is lost. You clear your throat and try again. “I’m not angry. I’m hurt."

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh?”

To his credit, he does look genuinely contrite, enough so that you almost forgive him.

Almost.

“You were never bait, (Y/N). If I’d known what that monster was…” His hand clenches around a fistful of fabric. “Do you remember that night in your hometown? The ball?”

“You felt...felt that I needed you.”

He nods. “I still do.”

“Oh.”

He looks as though he wants to take your hand, as though he wants to hold you, soothe you, and you find yourself wishing with all your heart that he would.

But he doesn’t, and you’re too proud to ask.

“I don’t regret the opportunity to banish him from the palace, but if I could turn back time and do so in a way that didn’t invade your privacy and sense of security, I would in a heartbeat.”

You wait a moment, allowing it to sink in. It’s a perfect apology, and yet…

“I appreciate you saying that.”

His face drops, though he appears unsurprised. “But?”

“But I don’t know if I can forgive you completely. Not just yet. I just…” You look down, picking at a rare loose thread in your comforter. “It’s going to stick with me for a while.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know how it is for Asgardians, but for humans, an event like that...even an attempted attack like that is traumatizing.” You look up again. You have the urge to apologize, because you don’t want to be mad at him, but that urge is outweighed by the part of you that is still just hurting. “I just need time.”

He nods. Reaches for your hand, then hesitates, thinking better of it. “As long as it takes.”

#loki #loki/reader #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction #loki x reader #doeeyeddarling #myriad misadventures #fish fork

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thecarnivorousmuffinmeta · 4 years ago

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What if Bella had met the Volturi's as a child? What would it change and what ties do you think it would have?

It’d change a fair amount, as in, the entire plot of Twilight would have been derailed. Or, that is, it might change nothing at all.

So, we have three options here.

Nothing Changes

Bella is an extraordinarily delicious child visiting Italy and the small medieval town of Volterra.

If Bella doesn’t happen to be on the tour, probably whoever’s looking at her sighs, looks longingly at her delicious blood, and then walks away. The Volturi do not lose control in their own city.

Bella goes on her merry way and Twilight presumably happens. Except maybe Bella goes to Alice, “Oh yeah, Volterra, I went there once. Nifty place, nice buildings.” Alice stares.

Bella’s Eaten

Bella’s an extraordinarily delicious child whose mother thinks it’s a great idea to sign them up for the tour of Volterra castle. It’s a very exclusive tour you know! Bella’s eaten almost immediately, she’s probably fought over, Jane gets one limb and Alec gets another.

Years later, Edward arrives in Forks, his personal purgatory where he listens to the banal thoughts of teenagers. Bella Swan does not arrive. Edward continues to be miserable and depressed.

The Cullens have a game of baseball with James, Laurent, and Victoria. Unfortunately, James recognizes Alice, and is intrigued enough to come after her. Unfortunately, Alice is a vampire and not a human with human relatives to hold hostage. The Cullens murder him, Laurent flees to have sex with the sexy Denali ladies, and Victoria swears vengeance upon Jasper.

Unfortunately, her gift tells her that any attempt to murder Jasper will end up with her dead. Jasper doesn’t give her the time needed to plan. He hunts her down and murders her in cold blood.

Carlisle has the world’s worst weekend.

Edward is still depressed and concludes this is why vampires are abominations without souls. Irina gets to keep her boyfriend, he cheats on the diet and leaves within the year. Irina drowns herself in rebound sex with pretty mortals to try and feel better abou tbeing dumped. It doesn’t work.

Aro Discovers Bella

And this is probably the route you were thinking of.

Perhaps Aro’s taking a midnight stroll with Renata, perhaps he catches Bella on the tour, but somehow he manages to meet her and happens to brush her hand. Suddenly, eating Bella is off the table forever.

Bella’s gift isn’t game changing in the way Alec and Jane’s were, necessarily, but it is something Aro does not want falling into enemy hands and something he may one day need.

He’d probably do something similar to what he intended to do with Alec and Jane. He’d leave her to live her mortal life, keep close tabs on her, and turn her when she’s a young adult (probably around twenty).

Which means Bella returns to America, probably tailed by Demetri, and has no awareness that she is at some poing going to become an immortral blood drinking creature and move to Italy to become a member of an ancient vampire sect.

Bella moves to Forks, she has a run in with Edward Cullen who very nearly eats her, Demetri calls Aro to say “we have a problem”. At first, Aro isn’t too concerned, he’s delighted to hear that Carlisle’s alive and well and my god he has a coven now. Given Edward is Carlisle’s progeny, Aro is probably sure Edward will leave the city completely to avoid temptation and the others will quickly move on.

Edward’s back within the week. He attends school. He sits within a foot of Bella Swan in Biology class.

Demetri at this point probably summons Bella out of school in the middle of Biology with no warning, gets her the hell away from Edward, and has to come up with the world’s most ridiculous lie of why she should never enter within 20 feet of Edward Cullen ever again.

Demetri is a federal agent and Edward is under suspicion of being a sexual predator and serial murderer. Here are all the women who have disappeared in various towns the Cullen family have lived in.

Bella is of course horrified and shocked, but given Edward’s reaction in that first Biology class and his weirdness in the second one...

Aro calls Carlisle. It’s a very awkward talk. Carlisle apologizes for not writing in forever he got... distracted. Aro says it’s fine, no big, CARLISLE MISSED WATCHING THE MOON LANDING WITH HIM. But regardless, Aro is calling to ask him what the fuck.

Aro tells him about Bella, Carlisle is very uncomfortable with this girl having no choice but to become a vampire and no idea what’s going to happen to her, but there’s no talking Aro out of it. He’s even more uncomfortable that he has been begging Edward to skip town but, for some unknown reason that is perhaps pride, Edward is refusing.

“All these worlds are yours,” Aro undoubtedly says, “Except Europa, attempt no landing there.”

In other words, hands off Isabella Swan.

Carlisle tells Edward. Edward is appalled and conflicted. At this point, he’s unwillingly fascinated by Bella but has not yet decided he’s in love. He doesn’t quite have her Carlisle persona crafted yet and so she’s not the saintly figure deserving of worship. Right now she’s just this plain, boring, girl who dared to smell delicious.

So, a part of him thinks it serves her right. Now she will suffer for all eternity as he does. More, he can save face, the monster inside him can go back to sleep for her days are number and he can pretend he’s the wonderful person everyone thinks he is. Everything will remain as exactly as it is. EDWARD IS FINE, THIS IS FINE.

Another part of him panics. First, this girl is condemned to the worst future imaginable. Not only is she becoming a demon, but a blood drinking demon at Blood Drinking Demon HQ. More, if she becomes a vampire, no blood for Edward. And remember, this is a scent he would scour the world for. Edward salivates over the thought of her blood, obsesses over it constantly, and fantasizes over how he will devour her. Suddenly, Edward may not be able to eat her. In canon, the option of eating her is always on the table, and some part of Edward is always thinking about it, always leaving it open. Here, it’s soon to be gone.

Edward probably sneaks into her room at night to watch over her sleep. Telling himself he’s protecting her from meteors but also realizing that he’s there to test his own will power and ponder over the future in which he quietly eats her in the middle of the night.

Now, this can go two ways

Bella wakes up, and that guy Demetri said is a sexual predator targeting her is IN HER BEDROOM LOOKING SCARY AS FUCK. Bella undoubtedly screams bloody murder and tries to hit Edward with something.

Edward panics at the noise and eats her. Then when Charlie comes running he eats Charlie Swan too. The house is an utter blood bath, Edward stands there in a daze knowing the monster inside him has won. He no longer looks anything like Carlisle Cullen (this is a thing Edward does).

Probably though, Demetri is there. Which means Edward has heard his thoughts from the beginning. While Edward has the overconfidence of Gilderoy Lockhart, and tells Bella things like the laws of physics not applying to his driving or that he could beat Jasper in a fight with both hands tied behind his back, usually when push comes to shove he knows where he stands. (He tries to fight Jane in Volterra, it doesn’t go well, and he acts very meek at being confronted by Jane, Felix, etc. When he fights Victoria, he doesn’t fight at all, but just blathers nonsense and it somehow works out for him.)

So, while Edward will tell Jasper later that he totally could have taken Demetri, he’s not going to try.

So, instead, Demetri goes, “Hey buddy, looking for a midnight snack?” and Edward shuffles and petulantly asks, “Aren’t you looking for a midnight snack?!” Edward’s here to protect Bella, you see. Demetri just nods, of course, Edward’s here to protect Bella.

They stare at each other.

Neither leaves.

Eventually, Edward slinks away, feeling very disgusted with himself, angry and Demetri, and internally raging that he didn’t get to eat Bella.

Demetri calls Aro and notes that they’ve got to turn the girl. Demetri cannot watch her 24/7 and this boy is 100% going to eat her. Aro hops on a plane in record time, bringing Renata, and makes an awkward visit to both Carlisle and Bella.

Aro tells Bella the truth about Edward which is... a little different but also pretty scary, the truth about what’s going to happen to her and why it’s important, and anything else she wants to know.

I imagine Bella quietly and stoically accepts her fate.

Edward doesn’t get to eat Bella Swan. He feels very conflicted about it and is filled with self-loathing that he’s conflicted about it. I imagine the Madonna complex he holds for Bella blossoms at this point, and he later comes to Italy with the intent to free her from the Volturi clutches.

This doesn’t work out.

Knowing Edward, his attempts increase in desperation until, finally, he does something very illegal in an attempt to free her and make up for damning her to this life.

The Volturi are forced to execute Edward.

Carlisle gets yet another awkward, terrible, phone call from Aro.

#twilight #twilight meta #twilight headcanon #twilight renaissance #aro #the volturi #bella swan #demetri #carlisle cullen #edward cullen #anti edward cullen #anti edward/bella #meta #headcanon #opinion

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rorahkeepgoing · 8 years ago

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Think i’ve barely mentioned how the sisters accomplish their spy job, so here i’ll try to show it, exposing a little of the main connection between the whole thing i’ve been shitposting around and the mysteries behind XCX (hope you can catch the winks).

Backstory

Special sis (p1)

Special sis (p2)

THE ELITE SPIES

*click music while you read*...[for ambient(?)]

*or here if there’s nothing to do (?)*.

youtube

They main propuse of the Shostakova’s sisters was to become spies, they born for it. All their life was specially dedicated to be the best.

Their education was based on a current program called “the prodigy child” but taken even further in a 24/7 program. The study time for each subject was strictly controlled by the scientist, even with induction during sleep to keep the stimulation in the neuronal cells to linking more while activate them. It covered all types of a level university subjects from an early age following a detailed study of the reception and assimilation of info that could hold a child.

The food was also rigorously controlled according to their age, weight and the activities that were to exercise for the efficiency in the nutrients ingestion.

They learned everything in 7 basic languages. Eventually became polyglot, understanding almost any idiom with the general basis around languages estructures.

The main purpose of their educational development was to use it as a further tool in the work of spying, since they had to investigate, analyze, deduce, interact, move and even defend themselves or murder if circumstances became risk.

For the interaction part, they incidentally became actresses, generated by a method of facial, tonal and corporal mimesis. In a room full of mirrors and cameras, the girls faced endless social trials recognizing emotions, moods, people with high self-esteem and low. At the time that they advanced with their corporal extension to the answer to the society also they became experts of human reading, identifying all the perceptible factors they projected to the most susceptible candidates that could provide a better and more optimal collaborations. A very useful tool to approach people and use them.

They also learned from these ancient methods based on the traditional ninjas. Women with these kind of training were called Kunoichi and their main method who distinguishing them from men was the use of seduction and the handling of poisons and substances with which they used to achieve their mission. In all, they were also highly efficient hush assassins.

Following these means, the girls resorted to paralyzers, poisons, drugs, even micro bacteria to control high-risk situations to get a job as clean as possible. They often were the responsible to make all their substances, the suppliers were often the managers who controlled the RKR although they could also take advantage of the chemicals they had at hand.

They needed to be painstaking when was about to kill. It as to be the minimum as possible, and in any case they had to resort to it was due to the circumstances they were found in. Their care into not leaving evidence was very meticulous, or nonetheless to ravel the evidence under the environment where were found, often making it appear the responsible were others. Killing had to be very clean, one silence shot, avoid bloodbaths as posible, fast and effective.

They were specially careful with their appearance, using from simple wigs or hair extensions, dyes, makeup, pupils to more sophisticated devices capable to generate the illusion of modifying facial features. Their special biological nature made them suitable for the use of substances that were just being tested for the modification of skin tone, hair and eyes. Something like a mimeosome, But in an orthodox way to an organic being. That’s why they were a blank canvas: no freckles,no beauty points, no tattoos, no scars or any singular feature that describes them. These features can be added and removed easy with makeup, so that is what they used to use. Indeed, they had lot of scars only visibles in a low level frequency of light.

The purpose was obviously, to not be detected, not to allow traces for they to gave some type of whereabouts of them, their origin or the people in charge, none possibility for blackmailing and such. Practically their task were to be ghosts, with no trace of existence. Hence the use of a myriad of identities created or taken.

It is worth mentioning the technology and the ways of spy were mainly through the systems hacking and sometimes the penetration (convince to the personnel of the interior to collaborate), reason why to have people trained to act the old school with the ability to perform the previous two were doubly effective.

They were never rewarded with money for their work by the RKR part, who, despite the fact that they obtained great profits, were only concerned with providing them with necessary supplements such as clothing, places to stay, necessary articles and equipment for some missions, necessary makeup among other things for their identity transformation, false documentation, transport, weaponry, etc.

The food ran on their own, so Rox always used to master their skills and get the food for free, used to say for live the money wasn't necessary, just be smart and confidence. Generally, she had no interest in money more than the use of it and its purposes. Despite this, Roxanne had numerous bank accounts around the world with distant names where she accumulated large sums of money that she hacked from other bank accounts, many of them, so it was not a matter of being poor either. Much of the money was given to the RKR to continue with the investment (and that they didn't ask but were quite good with the extra wealth). What was left was used to generate alliances, in the end, the world was moving through money.

Since the beginning of the encroachment with Elma's arrival to Earth, Natasha and Roxanne's parents were involved in the matter getting information from the vessels called mimeosomes up to 2 years after the birth of the second test (Nat). From there it was not much of a problem for Matahari to get some of the remaining information about the purpose of Elma's intentions, unfortunately she died with the secret at being considered as a traitor to the RKR.

Roxanne had a real early participation to detect the nexus that was working for such a program, however just after the execution of their parents she was entrusted to be totally in command of her younger sister (time she took to forge valuable contacts around the world) to lead a more concentrated education that will help them to be more productive and discard less useful subjects such as art, dance, music, etc.

Rox did not consider any kind of matter as useless, yet she didn't have the time to pay so much attention on them. If through the time in any of their missions it was necessary to rely on such knowledge they would have to inquire into them.

This was the case when Natasha had her own separate missions to derive information from Sakuraba Industries through the girls she could contact, interested passionately for trending things like fashion, music and boys. Always researching the target was important to establish a successful contact with the "link-ppl" so she took the identity of a model and some backup dancer from some kind of artist to become their friend.

Obtaining and generating their own mimeosomes had been easy for the RKR, but the process of the consciousness suspension was one of the last things they managed to do because of the setbacks caused by Roxanne, who had been commissioned to explain the origin of the purpose behind the salvation of the human race and steal the configuration codes for the consciousness preservation. Task she did and did not report, once again, causing another execution for betrayal.

Natasha was the one who ended up getting the materials, codes and, failing that, helping to recreate their own Lifehold-system since the world had only managed to manufacture three in total to sustain the life of the whole planet.

------

Throughout the spying process they also exposed all kinds of sub projects that were in an illegal way. Infinity of tests with artificial intelligence, or on trained soldiers, simple passers-by without any important skill, or bodies that remained in coma to carry out a way to over-exploit a mechanical body with more resistance to a certain type of exhaustion.

(and there’s more... with skells and the arcs, connections with some members like Lin’s parents, Irina and Lion, Gwin, Maurice, Vandham, HB, Doug, Hope, Nagi, Bozé, Lao, Yelv (when Natasha is In the art) and some NPCs like Justin along some criminals.... and don’t forget the winks around others corsses... im afraid i can show all that tho... is too much... and going to return to the comic thing SOON ENOUGH)

#i FEEL like writing today!!! º3º)9 #bored. ya know~ ¬u¬#sorry for recycling my own material... wish i could draw like before but... ya know #... im sure i miss something here...#anyways:#shostakova sestry #natasha (cross)#roxanne (cross)#about character info #text post #My art stuff #xcx #Headcanon #hell #backstory cross

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drink-n-watch · 6 years ago

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It’s still snowing. Yesterday was a pretty nice day. A bit grey but warm and pleasant. Today it’s snowing wet snow and there’s this biting cold wind blowing everything about. Once again, it’s a great day for Mononokean. I’m going to miss this little show after next week. I hope they make more.

While we’re on weather, I finally got some rain. Too late to save any plant life in my yard given everything already died except the couple of trees I’ve been struggling to keep alive. Then again, half an hour of rain probably isn’t enough to break a couple of years worth of drought anyway. I’d definitely appreciate some more. In the meantime, we should probably discuss the episode.

I’m very proud of this

This week’s The Morose Mononokean was a straight continuation of last week’s episode. We catch up with everyone still on that cliffside and find out that Komon has been taking care of these bird Yokai for years, waiting for them all to learn to fly before sending them back to the Underworld. Now the time has finally come, except for one small chick that can’t seem to get off the ground.

I really liked the design of these bird Yokai. The single lag and rold up ear/wings somehow created the perfect blend of weird and familiar.

I know. I kind of thought it was adorable how their wings rolled up like that, though I found the single leg thing a bit disconcerting. Still, these yokai designs were really cute.

It’s cuter in motion

Komon also threw out a touch of exposition, mentioning that the Mononokean had had a human employee before Itsuki but that person had been frightening and violent towards Yokai. I’m not sure if we’re meant to believe this was Hanae’s mysterious dad. The implications were certainly there.

Yes, more implication and no answers. I’m guessing this is going to be the season final material given how this episode ends it seems like Abeno is going to investigate this most recent lead and now that we know there is a classified situation they kind of have to tell us eventually what happened. I’m really quite curious about where this is going to go.

For the moment though, Abeno and Hanae just put the information away for later and decided they’re going to try to teach that last bird to fly.

what a nice guy

Yada yada, contrivances and bam he could fly all along! I know I’m making it sound bad – and it was a very contrived scene, but it was also quite sweet.

Sweet, but kind of expected given previous stories and his ‘attempt’ at flying was just too comically bad to be real. This is the kind of scenario that is cute enough to watch but not overly memorable. When I look back at season two of The Morose Mononokean, I’ll probably forget these birds even existed because my memory is going to latch on to the political situation and Hanae’s father as the more important take-aways.

When Hanae was yelling like a maniac, Abeno mentioned that he could hear him from a great distance and called him a siren. I just thought that was a particularly nice way to put it. Almost suspiciously nice. The Abeno I know would have told him to keep it down or called him annoying. Maybe he would have compared him to a Banshee or a wailing demon, but a Siren? Then again Abeno was also flapping his arms around trying to show the little bird how to fly. When it comes right down to it, he’s really a soft touch.

where is this going…

Speaking of soft touch, they really were going out of their way to show Abeno’s soft side this week. Komon throwing the sock away and then Abeno deciding to give it back to the birds afterward just kind of added to the feeling that Abeno is a little bit of a push over sometimes and has definitely softened from the character we met back at the start of season one.

The revelation that the bird could fly all along brought back Aois warning of “not taking too good care of them”. Komon had made the birds too comfortable and now one of them didn’t want to leave anymore. He’ll have a tough time getting use to life in the Underworld but the mundane world is dangerous for Yokai. I couldn’t help but wonder if this is what Abeno’s doing with Hanae. Or at least what he’s worried about. Making Hanae too comfortable and putting him in danger accidentally.

That’s a nice connection and probably fairly true given the lengths Abeno has gone to protect Hanae at times. It means Hanae isn’t even aware of half the danger going on around him.

t be fair Hanae was pretty clueless before meeting Abeno

The story of Komon and her birds ended on a heart pulling note. Turns out the little guy was faking it not because he was scared but because they had all agreed that one of them would stay behind to take care of Komon in return. And now that it was all out in the open, he finally just got to make the decision for himself and chose to go home, to the one that’s always been there for him. It really was quite adorable but I won’t lie, it made me feel a little lonely.

This one still doesn’t have the emotional clout of something like Natsume, but occasionally it really does deliver these moments that hit the right note. I enjoyed how this story wrapped up and the emotional notes it hit.

With just one episode to go, The Morose Mononokean plunged us back into the greater story arc with some more mystery afoot. Curious about what Komon had said, Abeno askes the Mononokean about a previous human employee and the mononokean replies that there has never been such an employee and Komon must be confused.

to be fair, Komon does look like she gets confused…

The scene is obviously suspicious but is the Mononokean simply lying or was that previous employee not quite human (or not quite an employee?)

I often wonder about the Mononokean and its messages. They sometimes seem suspiciously timed or convenient and certainly they are sparse on details. I often wonder whether Abeno is actually the master as his title says given it seems the Mononokean is the one calling the shots for the most part. It is an intriguing question for the future.

Of course, there’s no point in arguing with the Mononokean so Abeno simply let it go and went to file his report running into the Legislator who’s once again decided to fake an injury. The leislator doesn’t have much more information, but he mentions having heard of some incident involving White Sands prison that could be related. This said, the details of the incident are classified and getting their hands on them will likely catch the attention of the Justice and the Legislator.

of course this guy may be the worst one of the three

Seems like this was quite some incident indeed. I guess we have one more episode to find out about it. Or maybe we can forget all that and have a beach special!

I’ll pass on the beach special but I do want to see if Abeno chooses to go sneaking into the prison. Honestly, I kind of think he has to. Otherwise, why even raise the possibility. But given Hanae can’t go into the underworld at the moment, I’m left wondering whether this is going to end well or rather, just how badly wrong will it go.

Really loving this season of The Morose Mononokean.

I am too. I’m already missing it a little bit.

I take it back…

Here’s some more cuteness for you guys including assorted birdies and fuzzy for Karandi!

The Morose Mononokean Season 2 Episode 11 with Karandi and Irina It’s still snowing. Yesterday was a pretty nice day. A bit grey but warm and pleasant. Today it’s snowing wet snow and there’s this biting cold wind blowing everything about.

#anime #blonde bishie #Collab #comedy #episodic #morose mononokean #slice of life #supernatural #yokai

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apprenticemages · 7 years ago

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Hinamatsuri once again hits one out of the park… I take a look at this week’s carrots… and I try my hand at poetry! All this and more after the jump! The shows that I am watching are in bold, shows my wife and I are watching together are in bold italics. Question marks denote shows not watched yet (during the premiere weeks), and strikethrough marks dropped shows.

3D Kanojo / Real Girl Ep 8

What a mess… Turns out that Iroha isn’t as cool as she thought with Tsutsui being anywhere near Ayado. Even just holding her hand while he’s treating a burn sets her off. And of course, from her point of view, it’s all Tsutsui’s fault… There’s been hints all along, but I think this ep cements my thoughts that she’s got a streak of self centeredness. She keeps expecting him to change – and while he’s trying hard to work things out, he honestly is socially inept. And she just doesn’t get that, she isn’t even trying.

I did enjoy watching Takanashi stomp Ishino’s advances into the mud. She has become something of a friend to Tsutsui & Co., but she’s also shamelessly using them for her own ends. She deserved that.

Anyhow, cliffhanger time… Iroha ran off into the woods after seeing Tsutsui trying to help Ayado, and now she appears to lost.

Comic Girls Ep 7

Poor Kaos-chan. One step forward, one step back… she just can’t catch a break. Every time she makes progress, she discovers another flaw in herself.

Why did it take me so long to figure she’s a HUGE idol otaku? I mean we’ve all seen her figure collection any number of times. And if you look over the left, though you make have to look at full size, that grouping of three looks to me to be a Love Live homage.

Best Girl Tsubasa rocks her glasses… And speaking of her, both she and Ruki outed themselves as otaku this episode. That leaves only Koyume (and I guess Fura-senpai) not outed. I guess I should have expected that.

Crossing Time Ep 7

This week… a girl composes haiku while waiting at the crossing. I spent most of the episode cringing for two reasons… First, what she was composing was much closer to senryu than haiku. Second because they were just so awful. Though it’s hard to tell how much was the intention of the production staff, and how much was an artifact of translation. That is, was it translated literally or poetically? I suspect the former.

Though I did appreciate her frustration with not being able to produce a finished poem in one go. It took me a long time to appreciate just how much work goes into even a simple haiku. Actually, I think any Creator can appreciate that.

If you’re wondering what she was going on about when she was talking about a seasonal word – that’s called a kigo, and is vitally important in classic haiku.

Her final poem… I think there’s something good in there, but after fiddling with it for a couple of days I haven’t been able to find it with certainty. What I ended up with was this:

Snow drifting A crossing gate bars love

It drops the sense of love than cannot be restrained… But maybe brings in a sense of impatient waiting? Or maybe not. And yes, I know the syllable count is off, it’s a work in progress. If anyone cares to take a swing in the comments, feel free! I’d love to see what folks come up with. (More information about haiku from a previous posting.)

Hinamatsuri Ep 7

Hina’s segment was laugh out loud funny… I’m impressed as hell that they can keep returning the same schtick and still make it so engaging. Nitta and Utako’s segment was… I don’t know quite how to put it. Happy and sad, but not bittersweet? Nitta has certainly transitioned from player to seriously looking to build a family, but doesn’t quite grasp that it’s not quite that easy.

And someone on Twitter pointed out… The end title card has changed. On the left, the original – with Utako behind the bar. On the right, she’s absent after this week’s events. What’s going on here? will she still be in OP next week?

But once again… Anzu steal the show. Not a tearjerker like last week’s ep, but no less powerful. OK, OK, when she was bathing the onion ninjas weren’t attacking in force but there were a few scouts sneaking around.

I’ve seen a name plaque on a kid’s door in plenty of anime… But it was a real kick in the feels for Anzu’s to be the one from the shed she lived in at the homeless camp.

Worth reading: Matt & Irina’s joint review of episodes 6 & 7. Be sure and stick with it all the way to the end.

My Hero Academia 3 / Boku no Hero Academia 3 Ep 7 (Ep 45)

It turns out that the League Of Villains has adopted a new strategy. They’re not out to kill heroes (or at least that’s not now the whole of their strategy), they’re out to destroy them. And by handing the pro Heroes a decisive defeat and kidnapping a student, they’ve succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. The public is questioning and criticizing UA. The teachers are UA are questioning and criticizing themselves. Of course, discrediting heroes is an ancient trope in the comic book world, but I find myself curious to see MHA‘s take on it.

The split between the students is interesting… It was pretty predictable that Lida would take the “let’s follow the rules” position, but the others appear to be wavering. Deku of course won’t waver long – he’s never let the rules stand in the way of doing what is right.

And it’s very cool to see Yaoyorozu’s powers be used in interesting new ways.

Worth reading: Luminous Mongoose over at Anime Junk takes a look at the ‘edgy’ characters in MHA, and what makes them so: Revelry in the Dark – The Refined Edginess of My Hero Academia.

Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori Ep 6

As I said last week, I was about ready to give up… But this week gave us a ton of history and backstory on Rokuhoudou, Kyousi, and Tokitaka. We knew Sui had a business background, but I found it interesting that Tokitaka has been (still is?) an artisan (a potter) rather than a salaryman. I don’t find it all surprising that he became Rokuhoudou’s cook, almost all of the talented artisans I know IRL are also very good cooks. All the talented Makers I know love nothing better than the see stuff meant to be used actually being used…* The fusion of seeing someone enjoy the food you cooked on plates you made? That just has to be powerful as all hell.

A few years back our local SCA culinary group was the pastry/bread team for a feast and we all had to bring our own rolling pins. Of the twelve pins, eleven of them had come from the hand of the same woodturner. He was at the feast, and when I told him about this he had to come to kitchen and see… and was grinning like an idiot the whole time. Pleased as punch to see his stuff getting used.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Ep 6

OK, we knew Pito was messed up… But who could imagine that messed up? Though M-san (who we know have a name for – Asougi Goushi ) himself isn’t exactly a shining example of mental health.

Either way, now we know at least the basic plot for the remainder of the season.

Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai / Tada Never Falls in Love Ep 7 Tada-kun has reverted to its usual way of doing business… All about the loves and emotions of everyone who isn’t the show’s main couple. This week, a quadruple dose of unrequited love. And while Nyanko Big can’t vocalize his feelings, there’s no damm reason why none of the three humans can’t do so.

Yata at For Great Justice dropped Tada this week, and I’m starting to get mighty tempted myself. I listed it as a keeper mid-season because last week’s ep seemed to show they were going to start making progress, but this week blew it.

However, this is cool:

https://twitter.com/Surwill/status/999725355333226496

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Ep 9

This week’s carrots… Being bet during a game of Blind Man’s Bluff. And am I the only one who thinks that “This Week’s Carrots” would be a cool name for a band?

Anyhow, this week – another training camp ep. (They’re really pounding the tropes in here, aren’t they?) And finally Trainer-san gets off his dead ass and acts like a trainer with a clue. Seeing that Spe-chan‘s consideration for Silence is holding them both back, he finally confronts them. And they both realize that the other is not only their dearest friend, but their closest rival. Both of them run their little horse girl asses off – and handily beat the others, even with their head start.

It’s kinda annoying sometimes… Uma Musume seems to really badly want to be a proper sports anime, but doesn’t (or won’t) put in the work to sustain the tone.

Also, just now… Arby’s (who has a history of anime references on Twitter) tweets about Uma Musume…

https://twitter.com/Arbys/status/999681432166350848

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Ep 6

Honestly, this week’s ep seems to have been mostly forgettable… When it came time to write this review, I pretty much couldn’t remember anything other than the gift scene at the end. Looking around the rest of the web, it becomes clear that I couldn’t remember because pretty much nothing happened.

I should be clear though… In this kind of semi-anthology/slice-of-life romance series, that’s not actually a glaring flaw. It’s pretty much par for the course in that genre.

I do sympathise with Nafuji though. I’m the oldest of five, and there’s seven years between me and my original youngest brother and sixteen years between me and my actual youngest brother. (Which sounds funny… But the explanation is simple, my parents had an unexpected late life (by the standards of the day) child.) I was in fourth or fifth grade when I grasped the truth about Santa – but my parents made it Very Clear that I was to keep my lips zipped for the sake of my younger siblings.

=========

And that’s this week! Remember, between the holiday weekend (which we traditionally spend geocaching) and preps for and recovering from the Kitsap Medieval Faire, there will be no weekly posts on the 30th and the 6th. I may or may not get some editorial content out, that just depends on time and energy.

So, what did you think of this week? Care to take a swing at poetry? Drop a comment and let’s chat!

Spring 2018 – Week 7 Hinamatsuri once again hits one out of the park... I take a look at this week's carrots...

#2018 Spring Season #3D Kanojo #Comic Girls #Crossing Time #Cutie Honey Universe #Hinamatsuri #My Hero Academia #SAOA:GGO #Sword Art Online #Tada-Kun #Uma Musume #Wotakoi #Yotsuiro

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voyagerafod · 7 years ago

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Star Trek Voyager: A Fire of Devotion: Part 4 of 4: Hotter Than Hell: Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Almost as soon as it became clear that the Class-4 cube, while not destroyed as they had hoped, was not pursuing them, Tom Paris got to work on building a second Delta Flyer. As is usually the case, the second Starfleet/Borg hybrid shuttle was finished considerably faster than the prototype. In Tom’s opinion, this one was even better than the first, though some of the improvements were ones he had planned on making to the original before it had been sacrificed to get Captain Janeway and her team onto the cube.

“The asteroid field is densest over here,” Tom said, pointing to a display. “You want to take a test run through that mess?” Harry Kim said. “You doubt my skills?” Tom said. “Not really,” Harry said. “I’m just not sure we should taxing her so much so soon. This is the Flyer II’s first time out.” “As good a time as any to see if she can handle tight spaces,” Tom said. “Okay, if you say so.”

After a few circling runs around the larger rocks of the field, Tom levelled the Flyer out, and was prepared to call it a day, when the proximity alert noise sounded. “There’s a vessel coming up fast off our starboard bow,” Harry said. “Shields,” Tom said. “Range, 50 kilometers.” Harry said. “10. It’s pulling along side.” Tom glanced out the viewport to see the vessel pulling up. It was slightly smaller than the Flyer, sleek, with a clashing color scheme that Tom would never have thought of for the Flyer, with good reason, but wasn’t offensive to his eyes. “Nice ship,” he said with some sincerity.

“It’s scanning us,” Harry said. Tom opened a hailing channel to the ship. “This is Lieutenant Tom Paris of the Delta Flyer II. Please identify yourself.”

A feminine sounding voice replied, though Tom knew better than to make assumptions. “Vectored exhaust ports,” the other ship’s pilot said, “accelerated driver coils… Your vessel must be fast.” Whoever it was sounded impressed, and Tom couldn’t stop himself from gloating a little.

“Well, I certainly like to think so,” he said.

“Check your scanners,” the other pilot said. “You’ll see a comet on the other side of the asteroid field. I wonder which of our ships could get there first.” “Sounds like a challenge,” Tom said, smiling.

“Are you going to accept?”

“Tom, no,” Harry said

“Tom, yes,” Tom said. “This is a test flight, right? What better way to test the new ship than to see how it stands up to a little competition.” “Oh Jesus tap-dancing Christ,” Harry muttered.

Tom chuckled. “Okay, that’s a new one. Where did you pick that line up from?”

“So?” the other pilot said impatiently. “You’re on. Are we going to count to three or-” The other ship took off at maximum impulse, cutting off Tom’s question.

“Oh, so that’s how you wanna play it huh?” Tom said, before pushing the throttle forward. It didn’t take long for them to catch up to the other ship, but right away Tom noticed something about it that could give them an edge of over the new Flyer.

“She’s a lot more maneuverable than we are,” he said. “Well,” Harry said. “If we’re going to go through with this, I might as well point out we can even the odds. The new impulse thrusters.” “Now that’s the spirit Harry,” Tom said. “Let’s do this.”

The ship lurched slightly from the sudden burst of speed that came once Harry activated the new thrusters. Within seconds they had closed the gap with the other vessel to just fifty meters.

“Bring the backup generators on-line,” Tom said, “and reroute power to the thrusters.”

The Delta Flyer II surged forward, easily passing the other vessel. Tom felt the huge grin on his face and glanced back to see that Harry was smiling now too. He was about to suggest to Harry that he shouldn’t worry so much about the new Flyer, when he saw out the port side viewport that the other vessel's starboard nacelle was on fire. As the ship was flying through a vacuum at the moment, that was naturally a point of concern.

“Uh oh,” Tom said. Harry looked down at his console and hit a few buttons. “The other ship’s cabin is filling with nyocene gas,” he said. “Stand by for emergency transport,” Tom said.

The sound of a transporter beam filled the cabin, and Harry, emergency medkit already in hand, was there when the pilot, an alien woman, materialized. She leaned against the nearest bulkhead, coughing while Harry ran a medical tricorder over her. “You okay?” Harry said. “I’m fine,” the pilot said between coughs. “I guess this rules out a rematch.” Tom and Harry shared a look, the latter looking surprised, but Tom wasn’t. He was a pilot at heart, and he knew one of his own when he saw one.

“What happened?” he said. “My power transformer overloaded,” the pilot said. “We could probably find you a spare back on Voyager,” Harry said. “That’s our primary ship.” “We were about to head back there anyway,” Tom said. “This was just supposed to be a test flight.” As Tom expected the pilot looked more hurt hearing that than she had over nearly being poisoned with nyocene. “You’re telling me I lost a race to a prototype?” she said. “Ugh, I am never going to hear the end of it back home.” “We won’t tell,” Tom said as he manipulated the controls to turn the Flyer around. I can’t wait to tell B’Elanna how well the new impulse thrusters worked, he thought. “I’m Tom Paris, by the way. My co-pilot and good friend here is Harry Kim. What’s your name?” “Irina,” the pilot said.

---

“I’ve been looking forward to my holodeck time all week,” The Doctor said, trying to walk away from B’Elanna Torres, wishing he hadn’t decided to leave his mobile emitter on the desk for this shift. “Why can’t you borrow three hours from someone else?”

“Yours are the last piece to the puzzle,” B’Elanna said. “Tom and I have finally managed to get a weekend off together. I’ve been trading favors with members of the crew so that we could get the holodeck to ourselves. Even Sam, Seven, and Naomi gave up theirs for the week.” “Ah, a romantic getaway,” The Doctor said. “Exactly,” B’Elanna said. “Well, unfortunately for you I’ve chosen this week to indulge myself in a new hobby. Something human doctors have been enjoying for centuries.”

“Oh for the love of…”

“It’s called golf,” The Doctor said, picking up a ball and club he’d replicated for himself. “I’ve already booked a tee time.” “Well,” B’Elanna said, sounding dejected. “If your tee time is more important than our happiness, our first chance to be alone in months…”

The Doctor knew a guilt trip when he saw one. Unfortunately, unlike viruses, energy weapons, or weather, B’Elanna’s sad face was not something he was immune to. He put down the ball and club. “Fine,” he said, “you can have my three hours.”

“Thank you,” B’Elanna said.

---

The next window of communication with Starfleet was still over a week away, but Seven of Nine couldn’t help but notice that Samantha was nervous. Since the window would be relatively short, and there were many crewmembers with loved ones back home, a lottery of sorts was held, and Samantha had drawn a low number, meaning she would be among the first to contact someone during said window.

“Sam,” Seven said, “Are you worried about introducing me to your parents?” “Worried? No, well, yes, to Mom. Dad should be okay. If he’s there I mean, he re-enlisted when the Dominion War started and the last letter we got from home said he was still in command of the John Laurens. And, well, honey, there’s something I should’ve told you awhile ago and, um…” “Sweetie, you’re babbling,” Seven said. “You told me to let you know when you were babbling.” “Yes, well, you know me. My babbling capabilities are infinite,” Sam said with a nervous chuckle. “If this is in reference to the death of her brother at Wolf 359,” Seven said, “you told me about that already. I don’t doubt that the situation may be uncomfortable initially, but once Linette Wildman understands that I have been free of the Collective for three years now-” “There’s something I left out,” Samantha said, looking embarrassed, and slightly chewing on her lower lip the way she did where there was something she knew she should say, but was unsure how.

“What do you mean?” Seven asked. “Uncle Doug wasn’t just my Mom’s brother. He was her twin brother,” Sam said. “I don’t understand why that… Oh,” Seven said, taking several moments longer than she cared to admit to make the connection. She might not have made that connection at all, had she not spent the past three years sharing a vessel with a set of twins, the frequently rumor-plagued Delaney sisters. Jenny and Megan. The two often worked in astrometrics during Seven’s regeneration cycles, but despite their infrequent meetings she had come to respect them as officers and as scientists. She was also very aware of the deep bond between the two, and that was why she was suddenly nervous herself about speaking to Samantha’s mother.

“Oh dear,” Seven said, unable to think of anything else to say. “I know it’s been years since Wolf 359, but Annie, she was still a mess when I left for Voyager, I don’t know if my having been MIA for three years with no idea if I was alive or dead made it worse or not, but it certainly didn’t help.” “Did she say anything in the letters you got from the Alpha Quadrant?” “No,” Sam said. “I know she’s alive, and at home, but she didn’t actually send me any messages herself, that was all from Dad.”

There was an uncomfortable silence that followed. Sam took Seven’s hands in hers and gently squeezed. Seven squeezed back.

Whatever happens, she thought, she’s Sam’s mother. Treat her with respect, no matter what she says to you. Remember that anything she might say is motivated by a type of loss I could never understand.

---

The Delta Flyer and Irina’s ship made it to Voyager’s shuttlebay safely, and as soon as Irina had been cleared by both The Doctor and Tuvok to move about the ship except for certain restricted areas, she and Harry immediately got to work on repairing her ship from the inside while Tom worked on the outside. The officers in charge of the shuttle bay made it clear that faster would be better, and Harry didn’t blame them. Between the regular shuttles, the Flyer, and Neelix’s old ship, the place was constantly more crowded than Federation safety standards allowed for. It had been that way for years, and this new vessel was only compounding the matter.

“Could you hand me the viridum injector?” Irina said to Harry.

“Sure thing,” Harry said. “Let’s see, where is... Ah, here we go.” He handed the device to Irina who took it and applied it to her console with a smooth, swift motion. Harry sat in the seat next to her’s. “Comfy chairs,” he said. “My co-pilot certainly thinks so,” Irina said, not taking her eyes off her work.

“Your co-pilot?” Harry said.

“I was on my way to meet him when I ran into you,” Irina replied.

Harry realized that Irina wasn’t giving him much to do in terms of help, but he also needed to stay since some of the equipment she was using was Starfleet equipment that he would need to take back once repairs were complete. Lacking an actual task, he decided to settle on some small talk. She might not reply but it was better than nothing.

“So, tell me about where you’re from,” he said. “It’s a small trinary system, about half a parsec from here,” Irina said.

“Three suns,” Harry said. “Wow. We have systems like that where I’m from, but as far as I know, none of them are populated. Did your people originate there, or is it a colony?”

“Are you always this inquisitive?” Irina said, smiling. Oh, she thinks I’m flirting, Harry thought. Better dial it back. “I’m a Starfleet officer. We’re all about questions. Knowing the unknown is what drives us.” “That almost sounds like a recruiting speech.” “Well, it’s part of the speech yeah,” Harry admitted. “But I wasn’t asking you to join us or anything.”

The sound of a ladder being ascended cut off any reply. “Your new power transformer is installed and ready to go,” Tom Paris said as he climbed into the cockpit area. “Thanks,” Irina said. Harry couldn’t help but notice her smile had widened when she spoke to Tom. “Your impulse drive is a real beauty,” Tom said.

“I designed it myself,” Irina said, leaning back in her seat with an almost human like display of pride.

“I couldn’t help but noticing your warp system seems so rudimentary,” Tom said. “Warp’s fine if you like going fast in a straight line,” Irina said. “But to me that’s just physics, not flying. Besides, for the kind of flying I’m here for warp is not a factor.” “Pun intended?” Harry said.

Irina rolled her eyes, and moved on without acknowledging Harry’s comment.

“The race course is only two billion kilometers long,” she said.

“Race course?” Tom said, sharing a look with Harry. I’m intrigued as well, Harry thought.

“You don’t know?” Irina said. “We’re not from around here,” Harry said.

---

B’Elanna could tell when Tom was excited even without seeing his face. He walked in a certain way she could never really adequately put into words, but nonetheless, she knew it when she saw it and when he walked into the briefing room after having requested a gathering of the senior staff, she saw it.

Once he started explaining what he wanted to do, she understood why.

“It’s called the Antarian Trans-Stellar Rally,” he said, pointing to a map that he had called up on the monitor. “Three segments, covering 2.3 billion kilometers.” Harry, standing next to Tom, spoke next. “With obstacles ranging from dwarf star clusters to K-class anomalies.” “Two-man crews, and most importantly, each ship is limited to sub-light speeds,” Tom said, his excitement threatening to get the better of him “It is the ultimate test of ship design and piloting skills.” “Not to mention a serious drain on Voyager’s resources,” Tuvok said, looking down at the PADD Tom had handed him before the start of the meeting. “You’re suggesting we reassign 15 crewmen to modify the Delta Flyer?” “The race has very specific guidelines,” Tom replied. “All of the ships have to use enriched deuterium fuel, which the Flyer’s not equipped to do, but Irina, she’s that pilot we rescued, she agreed to lend us a fuel converter.” Chakotay’s face suggested he had the same concerns that Tuvok did, but the Captain gave no visible indication of what she would say. B’Elanna herself wasn’t sure if she wanted her to give Tom the okay or not. The timing was too close for her comfort; Tom could complete the race and still make it in time for their weekend on the holodeck, but if just one thing went wrong with the Flyer during the course…

“Captain,” Tom said, “this race is more than just a sporting event. Until recently this region was a war zone. Four different species fought for nearly a century to control it.” “Now,” Harry said, “for the first time they’re competing peacefully. To commemorate the new treaty that ended the war.” “This race embodies everything the Federation values,” Tom said, “a peaceful coexistence, a free exchange of ideas-” “I think it’s a great idea,” Janeway said, much to B’Elanna’s surprise, and based on Chakotay’s face and Tuvok’s raised eyebrow to theirs as well. The Doctor, who had been there the whole time but didn’t seem to care, finally was paying attention, though he didn’t say anything.

“You do?” Tom said, looking unsure if he should be glad the Captain accepted his pitch, or disappointed that he didn’t actually get to finish it. “You do?” Tuvok said. “Absolutely,” Janeway said, smiling in a way B’Elanna hadn’t seen since before the Unimatrix Zero mission. “This competition is just the sort of break we need. It’ll give us the chance to make some friends, which we could always use more of in this region, and give the crew a chance at some real R&R. Request granted.” She gently tossed the PADD Tom had given her back to him. “Thank you, Captain,” he said. “One thing, gentlemen,” she said. “Now that we’re in this race, we’re in it to win. After all, Starfleet’s honor is at stake.” She winked at Tom and Harry before heading for the door. “Don’t worry,” Tom said. “It’s in good hands.” “No pressure, right?” Harry said jovially. Tuvok simply followed the Captain while Chakotay started reading his own PADD, presumably to brush up on whatever information Tom hadn’t gotten to do to his premature victory. “Obviously I will insist that you have a full stock of medical supplies on board,” The Doctor said. “I won’t even bother pointing out the potential dangers of this race course, since you doubtless already know and, to borrow a phrase, don’t give a rat’s extremities.”

Tom and Harry headed out, and B’Elanna followed, the three making their way first to the turbolift, then to the shuttlebay. “So, I didn’t get the chance to meet Irina, or look at her ship,” she said. “She’s not going to give you too much trouble I hope.” Tom chuckled. “Yeah, I’m not too worried. I’m just glad she’ll be on her own ship and not flying with me.” “What do you mean?” B’Elanna said. “Let’s just say our new friend is a bit of a flirt,” Harry said. “Oh, really,” B’Elanna said. “That’s putting it mildly,” Tom said. “I didn’t pick up on it at first because I thought she was just talking about her ship. I must be getting soft in my old age.” “I don’t have to worry about her trying to poison me and merge with you, do I?” B’Elanna said. Tom sighed. “One time that happened.” “I can confirm that Irina is not some crazy A.I.,” Harry said. “Well, not an A.I. anyway,” he added with a smirk. “I assume you let her down gently,” B’Elanna said.

“I tried to. I mentioned you, by name, when I said I was with someone. That only made her flirt more though. I eventually lied and said we were already married to try and get her to back off.”

“Didn’t work I take it?” B’Elanna said. “Not even a little,” Tom said. “She’s one of those types I guess.”

“Not to be mean, Tom,” B’Elanna said, “but didn’t you hook up with a married woman or two before we got together?” “I was kind of hoping you’d forgotten about that,” Tom said. “There’s the silver lining for you, Tom,” Harry said. “Irina probably won’t try to frame you for murder.” “Really? You’re going to bring that up?” Tom said.

“Look,” B’Elanna said, putting her arm around Tom’s waist, “just tell her I used to be a terrorist and that I know how to handle sharp objects. That should get her to back off.”

“One can only hope,” Tom said. Before the three of them made it to the shuttlebay, B’Elanna realized something about the phrasing Tom had used earlier in the conversation. “Hang on a sec,” she said, “what did you mean by ‘already married?’”

---

“And that’s why I’m not going to be Tom’s co-pilot for the race anymore,” Harry said, raising his drink at the table in the mess hall he was sharing with Seven, Samantha, Joe Carey, and Sue Brooks.” “Leave it to Tom Paris to get engaged by accident,” Brooks said.

“Given the volatile nature of their relationship,” Seven said, “I would’ve predicted homicide before matrimony.” Harry and Sue each stifled a laugh, while Samantha playfully punched Seven in the arm. “Honey, that’s not fair,” she said. “Am I wrong?” Seven said. “Look,” Harry said, “let’s just be happy for my best friend, shall we? He’s going to win this thing, then as soon as they get back, wedding.” “Will they be back in time for the window of communication with Starfleet?” Carey asked. “No,” Harry said, “the window lines up with the post-race ceremonies. But they both drew high numbers in the lottery anyway, so it kind of doesn’t matter this time.” Seven looked like she was about to say something, but her eyes shifted at the sound of one of the doors to the mess hall opening, and the Delaney sisters both walked in, talking about something. “Excuse me,” Seven said. “I have a matter to discuss with the Delaneys. I will see you all at the Delta Flyer launch.” “Okay sweetie,” Samantha said.

“Something about astrometrics?” Harry said. Samantha looked back and forth, seeming unsure how to respond. “Well, I don’t know if I should say anything.” “This about your Uncle?” Harry said. “That obvious?” “Seven didn’t know your Uncle and your Mom were twins before now?”

“It never came up,” Samantha said. “And honestly it didn’t seem all that relevant. If I’d known when we started dated that we’d be able to talk to home in just a few short years I would’ve told her then. I think Annie is really worried that my Mom’s not going to like her.” “That’s normal I suppose,” Carey said. “I was nervous first time I met my in-laws.” “Yeah,” Samantha said, narrowing her eyes. “Pretty sure your wife didn’t used to belong to a people who killed one of your relatives.” Carey nodded. “Okay, fair point. Our situations really aren’t that similar at all.” “Look,” Harry said, “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Your Mom will understand that Seven had no control over her actions when she was a drone, and regardless Seven wasn’t even at Wolf 359.”

“Knowing and accepting are two different things, Harry,” Samantha said. “But I hope you’re right.” She glanced over at Seven, speaking to the Delaney sisters. “And hopefully those two can give her the insight she’s looking for.”

---

Janeway listened as the coordinator of the race, Antarian Ambassador, O’Zaal, relayed his concerns regarding the race that her people had just entered. When the Ambassador had first requested this meeting she’d been concerned that he would request that her people bow out, leaving the competition to races from the formerly war torn region, but it didn’t take long for those concerns to be assuaged.

“One of the species in the race, the Aksani, want to host the post-race ceremony, and say they will break the peace if refused. But it had already been agreed upon that another species, the Chessu, would host it. This is quite the mess, Captain.”

“It sounds like it,” Commander Chakotay said.

“The peace is so fragile,” O’Zaal said, “every decision I make, no matter how trivial, is looked upon as symbolic.”

“Winning is easy,” Janeway said, “governing’s harder. It’s a story that happens all too often. Even in my world’s history. Maybe we can help you.”

“I was hoping you could,” O’Zaal said. “Your people are new to this region. With no ties to any of our races, you’re in the ideal position to be an arbitrator.”

“The easiest thing to do,” Janeway said, “is to provide neutral ground for the pre- and post-race activities. Our mess hall is designed to be adjusted in a hurry, we can have it ready to accommodate the launch party in under an hour.” “I was hoping you would say something like that, Captain,” O’Zaal said. “I cannot be accused of showing favoritism to the Federation seeing as before yesterday I never even knew you existed.” “I’ll tell Neelix to prepare for guests,” Chakotay said, smiling.

---

“I look ridiculous in this,” B’Elanna said, looking down at the white, gray, and black uniforms she and Tom would be wearing on the Delta Flyer for the race. “Any particular reason we couldn’t wear our regular uniforms? Or even our civilian clothes?”

“You look great, B’Elanna,” Tom said, looking around at the crowd of aliens and Starfleet personnel mingling in the mess hall for the pre-race ceremony. “Oh. There she is.”

“Who? Oh, Irina. She seems friendly.” “Too friendly,” Tom said. “Remember, far as she’s concerned we’re already married.” “You don’t really think she’d be so brazen as to flirt with you right in front-” B’Elanna stopped talking when she saw the look Irina was giving Tom as she approached them. “Okay, I guess she will be.” “Like I said,” Tom whispered, “she’s not a bad pilot, but she’s not so good at taking a hint.”

“Tom,” Irina said, extending her hand, which Tom took and shook politely. “Good to see you before the race. And this must be B’Elanna Torres. Pleasure to meet you.” She offered the same hand to B’Elanna as well, smiling. If she’s faking being nice to me, B’Elanna thought, she’s a damn good actor. Hell, with a smile like that I’d consider dating her.

“Nice to meet you,” B’Elanna said. “Looking forward to see what you can do in person.” “That’s right,” Irina said, “I’d almost forgotten, you’re Tom’s co-pilot now. Any particular reason Harry Kim couldn’t make it?” B’Elanna looked at Tom, who was laughing nervously. “Oh, nothing major,” Tom said. “I just remembered that I hadn’t taken the missus out in the new Flyer yet, and this is as good an excuse as any.” That was weak, Tom. “In a way, this ship is kind of like our baby,” B’Elanna said, putting an arm around Tom’s waist, and hoping she could save him from further embarrassing himself with bad excuses. “Well,” Irina said, “I’ll try not to be too hard on your baby then. I do still intend to win, after all.” “Yeah, well,” Tom said, confidence entering his voice, “we’ll see about that.” He smiled, and B’Elanna could tell that he was not faking it. He really expected to win. That didn’t worry her though. The Delta Flyer II was a great little ship, and while she hadn’t contributed as much to it as Tom or Seven of Nine or Harry had, she was still proud of it.

“Oh, speaking of things to look out for,” Irina said, her gaze falling on one of the other pilots, a blue-suited one staring out the viewport with his arms crossed, making a point of not talking to anyone. “His name’s Assan. He was a fighter pilot in the wars, one of the most ruthless. I doubt he’ll outright cheat, but he’s going to be as rough as he thinks he can get away with, I’m sure of it.

“Oh, hey, I see Joxom,” Irina said, changing the subject so quickly B’Elanna almost didn’t register it. Irina ran over to another alien, one the same species as her, and gave him a more than friendly hug. She and Tom shared a look. “I wonder if he knows-” “Tom, be fair. Her species could be polyamorous,” B’Elanna said. “Maybe,” Tom said. “All the same, the more he’s around the more comfortable I’ll be.”

“It’s not like you to be this judgemental, Tom,” B’Elanna said. Tom chuckled. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s focus on winning the race, then on getting married once we win.”

“Damn straight,” B’Elanna said. “Oh, before I forget, Seven has been helping with race preparation in astrometrics.”

“She told me about that, actually,” Tom said. “Said she’s analyzing the course to find ways to cut time. Already sent a few ideas to the Flyer’s computer. Too many ideas really. Is she nervous about something? This doesn’t seem quite like her.” B’Elanna took in a deep breath. “Well, from what I hear, she’s going to be talking to the in-laws during the next communication window with the Alpha Quadrant.” “Ah,” Tom said. “Wants to make a good impression on Sam’s parents?” “You didn’t remember?” “Remember what?” “Sam lost an uncle at Wolf 359. Her mom’s brother. Twin brother, actually.” “Oh, shit,” Tom said. “Yeah,” B’Elanna said.

---

Under most circumstances, the sight of more than a dozen fully armed starships lined up facing each other would be a sign that something terrible was about to happen, but to the pilots of the smaller vessels lined up for the race it was an impressive send-off. Tom looked at the ships, a line on the port, and a line on the starboard. Voyager was at the far end of the port side line up, it’s clean white hull standing out amongst the various shades of dark grey and light brown vessels making up the rest.

“On the one hand,” Tom said, “it’s a shame Harry is going to miss this. On the other, this is going to be one hell of a story for us to tell the grandkids.” “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Lieutenant,” B'Elanna said as she did a final pre-flight check. Tom couldn’t quite remember the last time he’d seen her this excited about something. Certainly it had been before her physical therapy after having a number of Borg implants removed. He still winced sometimes thinking about how that must’ve felt. She didn’t like talking about the experience, and he respected that choice, but he couldn’t help his curiosity.

“Ready to bring that impulse drive online?” Tom said. “Been ready for a few minutes,” B’Elanna said. “I didn’t want to start them up too soon. We’ve still got a few stragglers coming in before the race starts, and I don’t want to waste an ounce of fuel. And before you say anything, yes I know we have more than enough to cover the race, but I don’t want to take any chances.” Tom smiled. “Whoever thought we’d live to see the day when B’Elanna Torres was the cautious one.” “Eight years ago I never imagined I’d be taking pride in a Starfleet designed engine,” B’Elanna said. “Things change.”

“Well, hopefully your hatred of losing hasn’t,” Tom said. “Oh, we’re going to win,” B’Elanna said. “Don’t doubt that for a second.” Once the pre-flight check was done, Tom waited for the signal. A few moments later, the sound of Ambassador O’Zaal, speaking from Voyager’s bridge on an open channel to all vessels involved in the race, filled the cabin.

“Welcome to the first running of the Antarian Trans-Stellar Rally. This moment marks a hopeful point in our shared history, a chance to put aside old animosities and come together in a spirit of peace and friendly competition. Good luck to all of you. Prepare for the starting signal.”

A few seconds later, Voyager fired a low-yield photon torpedo that detonated a few hundred meters in front of the starting point. “And we’re off,” Tom said, pushing the throttle forward.

---

Seven of Nine found herself grateful for the distraction as she listened to Neelix excitedly announce updates on the Delta Flyer’s progress in the race over the ship’s comm systems from astrometrics. She operated the consoles, leaving the theatrics to the much more suited crewmember. She doubted she could muster up quite that much enthusiasm if she tried. It was much easier to be so emotionally free when it was just her and Samantha.

Much better to think about this than about what to say to my mother-in-law, Seven thought, as Neelix shouted gleefully about the Flyer taking a strong third place. That put them well ahead of the next nearest challenger, with relatively little distance separating it from the two in the lead; Irina and Assan.

The sound of the door to astrometrics opening caught Seven’s attention. The Captain and Lieutenant Kim walked in but didn’t say anything, instead leaning against a pair of consoles and watching Neelix announcing the race. Seven wondered why they couldn’t just listen over the comm like everyone else, but decided that asking wasn’t worth the effort. The answer wasn’t that important. She looked at the screen, watching the icons representing each vessel, focusing on the gold icon representing the new Delta Flyer.

“You certainly have a knack for announcing, Neelix,” Captain Janeway said. “It’s all in the delivery, Captain,” Neelix said. “Though I have to give your people much of the credit. Remember when Kes and I were monitoring all those Earth programs a few years ago when we found ourselves thrown back to your world in the 1990s?” “Ah yes,” Janeway said, smirking. “The day my fascination with time travel started its sharp decline.” “I picked up a few things from some of your sports programs,” Neelix said. “Oh, looks like the Flyer is coming up on the Möbius Inversion.”

---

“The Inversion’s supposed to have level 6 subspace distortions and gravimetric shear,” Tom said. “We’ll have to be careful around that.”

“It covers the last third of this leg of the course,” B’Elanna said, “so being careful inside the wormhole will be easier said than done.”

“You know,” Tom said, looking at the Möbius Inversion as it grew larger in the viewport, “it occurs to me that statistically speaking we have run into way too many wormholes here in the Delta Quadrant. Kinda makes the Bajoran one seem less special.” “I haven’t really thought of it that way,” B’Elanna said. “Usually I just end up being disappointed that none of the ones we come across are a shortcut home.” Tom shrugged, and was about to mention that on the positive side one of those wormholes did at least knock two years off their trip a while back, but the Flyer began vibrating slightly as it approached the event horizon of the Inversion.

“Hold on tight,” Tom said, gripping the controls tighter than he probably should’ve. “The radiation of the Inversion is going to block Voyager’s sensors,” B’Elanna said. “They won’t be able to track our progress until we reach the other side.” “That should only be about fifty meters away,” Tom said.

“Forty meters away,” B’Elanna said a few seconds later, “and the two lead ships right ahead of us.” “I can see them,” Tom said. “A little too close for comfort seeing as I don’t need sensors to do that.”

“And close together too,” B’Elanna said, “but I think we can get through them. I’m reversing our deflector polarity. It’ll repel their shields. Why wait for an opening when you can make one?”

“Sounds too risky,” Tom said. “Too risky? Who are you and what have you done with my fiancé?” B’Elanna said as she moved to another console and began manipulating controls.

“What’re you doing?” Tom said.

“Deploying auxiliary thrusters,” B’Elanna said. “We’ll need the extra maneuvering power to get through the gap.” Tom opened his mouth to protest, but decided it wasn’t worth it and refocused himself on flying the ship. It shuddered violently but briefly as it sped in between the two lead ships, knocking them aside slightly but not enough to throw them completely off course. Tom was grateful for that. He would hate to win by having the competition exploding behind him. “That was way too risky,” Tom said, turning to look back at B’Elanna. “I hate to sound rude, but I’m the pilot, I’m the one who should be making those calls.”

B’Elanna did look upset at first, like she was about to argue, but whatever counterpoint she was going to offer evaporated before she could say it. “I saw a chance and I took it,” B’Elanna said, quietly. “You’re right though, you’re the one flying this thing, I should’ve asked.” “Good,” Tom said. He smiled and added, “Great move by the way. We have a comfortable lead now.”

“Attention all racers,” Ambassador O’Zaal’s voice said over the Flyer’s comm. “There’s been an accident. Stay in order and shut down your engines.” Tom did as instructed quickly, hoping that whatever happened wasn’t serious. He glanced back at B’Elanna and could tell by looking at her that she was worried that it had been her fault, and that whoever was wounded had been on either Irina or Assan’s ship when they blew past them in the Inversion.

---

With O’Zaal just a few steps behind her, Janeway entered sickbay where The Doctor ran a medical tricorder over a wounded Joxom, Irina’s co-pilot.

“Report,” Janeway said. “His condition is stabilizing,” The Doctor said. “I should be able to start dermal regeneration in a few hours.” “This was Assan’s fault,” Irina said, standing near the biobed where Joxom was being treated. “Why do you say that?” O’Zaal said.

“He collided with me so many times my shield generator overloaded,” Irina said. “Joxom’s console exploded. He’s lucky he’s alive.”

“Janeway to Tuvok, have the pilot Assan brought to the briefing room, ASAP. Ambassador, I imagine you’ll want to be there as well.”

“Want, and need, Captain,” O’Zaal said. “We need to get as full a picture of what happened as possible.” Janeway nodded. “We’ll want Tom and B’Elanna as well. They were ahead of both ships, their flight data might have picked up information we need for the investigation. Irina, come with me.”

“Of course,” Irina said, taking one last long look at her co-pilot before following.

---

“The only thing I’m guilty of,” Assan said, sounding smug to Tom, “is coming in second. A situation which will be remedied in the next leg.” If he has any concern for Joxom at all, Tom thought, he’s hiding it well.

“You’re doing a poor job of defending yourself,” O’Zaal said, visibly nervous. “We may have had something to do with this too,” B’Elanna said. “We grazed both of their shields in the Möbius Inversion.”

Tom felt as much as saw all eyes in the room turning on him and B’Elanna; Assan, Irina, Tuvok, the Captain, O’Zaal all looked at them, surprised at B’Elanna’s declaration of guilt. Tom doubted very much that she was to blame, but he had to admit that he was clearly too biased on the matter. He hoped as much as believed that this was not her fault.

“Intentionally?” Janeway said. “It was a tight course,” Tom said, “everyone was flying very aggressively.”

“Your team is not responsible, Captain,” Irina said. “My generators were already overloading when they made contact.”

“Perhaps none of you is to blame,” Tuvok said, looking down at the PADD in his hands. “My security team found a device interfaced with her ship’s shield generator.” Tuvok touched a button on his PADD and a picture of the device in question appeared on the main briefing room monitor.

“What is it?” Janeway said. “According to Lieutenant Anderson’s analysis,” Tuvok said, “it is a phase inverter, designed to cause a system overload.”

“It’s hard to believe someone would go this far just to knock a competitor out of the race,” Janeway said, though to Tom’s ears she didn’t sound confident of that.

“This may be more than a simple case of cheating, Captain,” O’Zaal said, sounding worried. “I think someone’s trying to end the peace.”

“Maybe I’m missing something here,” Janeway said, “but we’re talking about a single act of sabotage. How does that threaten your treaty?”

“By itself, it wouldn’t,” O’Zaal admitted, standing up and starting to pace with his hands behind his back. “But we’ve received threats of a more serious nature.” “From whom?” Tuvok asked.

“Groups opposed to the alliance,” O’Zaal said. “Arms dealers, isolationists, political extremists. Up until now I wasn’t sure how seriously to take them.”

“Clearly they post a security threat,” Tuvok said. “Yes, yes,” O’Zaal said. “We’ve done everything we could to protect the racers, but that might not be enough. I don’t want to risk any more lives. We should cancel the race or at least postpone it until we can guarantee everyone’s safety.”

Tom didn’t like that idea one bit. Even setting aside that he and B’Elanna were in the lead, this race was of vital symbolic importance to the inhabitants of this region of space. Giving in to extremists, assuming that’s who was behind the sabotage instead of just some cheater, could only hurt the peace in the long run.

“No,” Irina said. “If we stop now we’ll be letting these extremists win.”

Exactly what I was thinking, Tom thought.

“She’s right,” Assan said, without a trace of the egotism in his voice he’d had in everything else Tom had heard him say.

O’Zaal didn’t look optimistic, but he nodded. “Very well then. If that’s the consensus we’ll resume tomorrow as scheduled.”

---

“There you are,” Harry Kim said as he saw Tom, B’Elanna, and Irina walking side by side in the corridor, clearly on their way to the shuttle bay. “Congrats on taking the lead, Tom. I was sorry to hear about Joxom though. Glad to hear he’s recovering.”

“Thank you, Harry,” Irina said.

“By the way, did you get my request?” “What request?” Tom said. “I was about to tell you,” Harry said. “I asked if I could be Irina’s new co-pilot while Joxom recovers.”

“Oh, that’s very nice, but you don’t need to-”

“Well, hey you still want to win, don’t you?” Harry said, smiling. “This is payback for me replacing you with B’Elanna isn’t it?” Tom said. “Only a little bit,” Harry admitted. “But also, Irina did us a solid with that converter, and I’d hate to see her have to drop out. I checked with the race officials, and they say it’s all good, so long as Irina herself signs off on it of course.”

“Um, sure,” Irina said. “Though my ship’s damaged, so it may end up being an empty gesture.” “You don’t know our Harry,” Tom said. “Once he’s set his mind to something…”

“He’ll not only fix your ship,” B’Elanna said, “he’ll polish the bulkheads.”

“Well, okay then,” Irina said, smiling. “Welcome aboard Lieutenant Kim.” “I’ll try not to gloat too much when we win,” Harry said to Tom. Tom just shook his head. “Humans,” B’Elanna said, rolling her eyes. “Says the half-human,” Tom said, playfully poking B’Elanna in the arm. Harry laughed at them as he and Irina made their way to her ship while the others went to the Delta Flyer.

---

With the race back in full swing, Tom and B’Elanna held onto their lead, but Irina and Harry, as well as Assan, were doing an admirable job of catching up. At least they were until Harry suddenly noticed that Irina’s ship was gradually losing speed.

“We’re slipping,” Harry said. “Assan just pulled ahead of us.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Irina said. Something in her tone made Harry uneasy, but he got distracted by an alert noise from his console before he could think of reasons why that might be.

“I’m reading malfunctions in the EPS relays,” he said. “But we double checked all of them last night.”

“We must’ve missed something,” Irina said. “At this rate, we’re going to be out of the race in a couple of minutes.” Harry wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but the way Irina said that suggested she wasn’t all that concerned about losing, a complete 180 degree turn from where she’d been last night while they’d worked on her ship together. Now he was certain something was wrong.

“I think I can reroute power through the impulse manifold,” Harry said.

“No,” Irina said suddenly, reaching out to stop him. “Why not?” Harry said, fully suspicious now. “It could damage the reactor coils,” Irina said. “I was in engineering before I was an operations officer,” Harry said. “I know for a fact that reactor coils have nothing to do with impulse manifolds.”

“These systems are different than what you’re used to,” Irina said, looking out the viewport and continuing to operate the controls as normal.

“Why-” Harry’s question was cut off by another alarm sound. “I think it’s the injector ports,” Irina said, bolting out of the pilot’s chair and heading for the back of the ship. Harry looked at his console. “No, it’s an overload in my console,” he said, pushing himself back just in time to avoid the explosion. The same kind of explosion that had injured Joxom. Harry found himself wishing he had a phaser with him. “This wasn’t an accident,” he said, turning to look at Irina, who now held a weapon on him.

“I’m sorry Harry,” she said. “I really am.” A hologram, a dead woman, a Borg, the wrong twin, now this, Harry thought. If I believed in a God I’d think he was punishing for thinking about other women than Libby.

“So this is one of those days then,” he said aloud. He wanted to be angrier than he was, but really he was just disappointed in himself for having fallen into a trap. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell me why you sabotaged your own ship twice.”

“I don’t mind at all, actually,” Irina said. “I don’t need to kill you to accomplish what I came to do. If I did, you’d already be dead.” “Fair point,” Harry said, hoping that Irina didn’t catch his glance towards the pilot’s console. He wasn’t quite close enough to just reach for it, but if he was quick enough he could leap to it and turn the ship fast enough that the inertial dampeners wouldn’t compensate and Irina would hopefully lose her balance. It was a huge gamble, so he needed to do the math in his head to ensure the best chance of success. The longer Irina talked...

“If you’re hoping to call for help,” she said, gently motioning her gun at the communications panel which happened to be next to what Harry was actually looking at, “don’t bother. I disabled it before we launched. You won’t be able to fix it in time.”

“In time for what?” Harry said. “For the Delta Flyer to reach the finish line,” Irina said. Then she sighed. “Okay, that was too cryptic. I said I’d tell you, so I will. When the Delta Flyer passes the finish line, it will be passing very close to more than a dozen ships full of people, all congregating for this ‘peace’ Ambassador O’Zaal keeps going on about.” “You’re one the extremists,” Harry said.

“I prefer to think of myself as a purist,” Irina said. “Some of us were happier when all the other species were separate. We don’t want to be like you and your Federation.” “The way you were flirting with my best friend, in front of his fiancee no less, you certainly could’ve fooled me,” Harry said, not caring that he’d revealed the truth about Tom’s marital status. He was pretty sure now Irina didn’t actually care.

“I needed someone to deliver the explosive,” Irina said. “Who better than a show-off pilot who wants to win a big race?”

“The fuel converter you gave us,” Harry said. “It’s a bomb. How the hell did we manage to miss that?”

“Your friend Tuvok might’ve caught it, but you never actually had security look at the device I gave you. Sloppy work, Lieutenant junior grade Kim,” Irina said, practically spitting every syllable of Harry’s name and rank. “I’ll be sure to pass that information along to Commander Tuvok,” Harry said. “Once your Captain guarantees my safety, I’m sure you will,” Irina said.

Now’s as good a time as any, Harry thought. He opened his mouth as if to reply to what Irina had just said, but then lunged for the console. A blast from Irina’s weapon grazed over him close enough that he could feel the heat of it, but she had clearly missed. He then lunged at her as she tried to right herself after the sharp turn, and despite their equal height, he had Starfleet hand-to-hand combat training to fall back on. Granted, he had only barely passed that exam, but it was enough and within seconds he’d wrestled the weapon away from Irina. He stepped back, the weapon levelled at her while she was still on the floor, propping herself up with her elbows. “You’d better shoot me,” Irina said. “Because if I get that gun back-” “Give it a rest,” Harry said, turning the pilot’s chair with one hand so that he could see the console and keep her in his peripheral vision. “You may have disabled your comm system, but this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to get creative in contacting another ship.”

---

The Delta Flyer shuddered suddenly, which gave Tom pause, as they were nowhere near an obstacle that could do that. “We’re being scanned by some kind of modulating pulse,” B’Elanna said. “It’s from Irina’s ship.”

“Maybe it has to do with why they slowed down all of a sudden,” Tom said. “They must need help. Their comm system may be down if this is how Harry’s trying to get in touch with us.”

Tom wanted to win the race, and Assan was mere meters behind him, but he knew that if it came down to it he’d choose rescuing his best friend over crossing that finish line first without hesitating. He already was prepared to turn around when B’Elanna continued.

“There’s something odd about the amplitude,” she said. Soon a sound filled the cabin, and Tom recognized it immediately. “Morse code,” he said. “What?” “It’s an old style of communication they used on Earth back before even radios were in regular usage. Harry’s trying to send out an S.O.S.” “I do know what S.O.S. means,” B’Elanna said. “They’re in trouble.” “Preparing to bring us about,” Tom said, looking at the small monitor next to his console. “Put the modulation on my screen.” B’Elanna did so quickly and as Tom turned the controls he used his knowledge to parse out what Harry was sending. It wasn’t an S.O.S., he could tell that much, the pattern didn’t fit. “Fuel converter rigged?” he said in shock. “Rigged? How?” B’Elanna said. “I don’t know, that’s just Harry’s message. Fuel converter rigged.”

B’Elanna began rapidly tapping buttons on her console. “The converter is leaking veridium isotopes.”

“Why didn’t the computer warn us?” Tom said. “The on-line sensors have been tampered with,” B’Elanna said, “but we have a bigger problem. I don’t think I can contain the leak. The veridium is already reacting with the warp plasma.”

“That’ll cause a warp core breach,” Tom said. “We’d better eject it.” “Too late to eject the converter,” B’Elanna said. “We’ll have to eject the core.” “Once we do we’ll have less than a minute to clear out of range,” B’Elanna said. “I don’t think we’ll make it,” Tom said, feeling surprisingly calm given the circumstances. “Neither will anyone else within a million kilometers. There’s a nebula near by. I’m taking us towards it.”

“How will that help? Besides taking us out of range of all the ships at the finish line I mean,” B’Elanna said. She had obviously figured out as much as he had that the dignitaries there were the target of this explosion.

“It’s a J-class,” Tom said. “Filled with ionized gas. Should contain the explosion.” “So much for our wedding plans,” B’Elanna said. “Well, let’s just hope our heroic deaths earn us both a place in Sto'Vo'Kor,” Tom said. “I’m not giving up just yet,” B’Elanna said. “I’m still trying to get the ejection subroutines on-line. Looks like Irina sabotaged that too. I’ll make sure to tell her she did a good job of hiding what she did before I wring her neck.”

“Warp core breach in twenty seconds,” the computer’s voice said.

“Just one more… got it!” B’Elanna said. “Warp core ejected!” “Nine, eight…” the computer continued. “It’s in the nebula,” Tom said, pulling the controls as hard as dared. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon,” he muttered to himself as the countdown reached zero. “I love you,” he said as the shockwave caught up to the Flyer.

---

Janeway graciously accepted the consolation from Ambassador O’Zaal as Assan’s ship flew past the finish line first. She was about to thank him for the opportunity when Voyager shuddered slightly. “What was that?” Neelix said, his presence in the mess hall being why Janeway hadn’t known until now just how far behind the Delta Flyer had fallen. “Janeway to the bridge, report,” she said after tapping her comm badge. “That was the shockwave of an antimatter explosion,” Tuvok said. “Approximately 1.2 million light years from here. “I’m on my way,” Janeway said, handing her glass of champagne to Neelix before heading for the door.

As soon as she reached the bridge, Tuvok informed her of the situation as best he knew it. That the Delta Flyer had changed course suddenly, that Irina’s ship with Harry Kim on board had inexplicably stopped before the end of the race, and that the Flyer’s position was currently unknown but that it was last spotted near the site of the explosion.

Janeway wasted no time in ordering that they go immediately to find them, fearing the worst. “Captain,” Seven of Nine said “we’ll be passing by Irina’s vessel on our path. Shall we bring her and Lieutenant Kim aboard?”

“Good thinking,” Janeway said, “Do it.”

A few moments later, Harry’s voice came over the comm, calling for security to the shuttle bay. Janeway gave Tuvok a nod, and he left the bridge without a word. “Well,” Janeway said, worry about Harry and why he needed security fighting with concern for Tom and B’Elanna for control of her focus. “This day took an odd turn.”

---

Seven of Nine found herself in the regretful position of wishing that Tom and B’Elanna had been more injured when they and the Delta Flyer had been recovered. She believed that she could use concern for her shipmates as an excuse to avoid what was coming, but she just couldn’t do that to Samantha. This moment was very important to her.

“So, I hear the post-race festivities are still on,” Samantha said, leaning against the bulkhead. She, Seven, and Naomi waited outside astrometrics for Ensign Brooks, who was in line ahead of them, to finish. “Correct,” Seven said. “It would appear that Irina’s plans failed in more ways than one. Her homeworld’s government seems more willing than ever now to contribute to the peace.”

“That’s good,” Sam said. “Mom,” Naomi said, “are you sure Icheb can’t join us?” Sam smiled as she stroked her daughter’s hair. “Sweetie, your grandma’s already going to have a lot to take in. Seeing you for the first time, me getting married again… I think introducing her to an adopted grandson at the same time might be a bit much.” Perhaps I should let the two of you speak to her alone, Seven thought of saying, but inwardly scolded herself for thinking it. She hated feeling this uncomfortable about something that should be a positive.

“Okay,” Naomi said, grudging acceptance in her voice, though Seven had already heard her say the same thing in the same way only a few hours ago. Naomi was not shy about sharing her disappointment.

“You okay, Annie?” Sam said. “You look a little nervous.” “Because I am,” Seven said. “Though I suppose that is a fairly common human response to such situations.”

“You’ll do fine,” Sam said. “To be honest, and Naomi you are not to breathe a word of this to anyone, it’s my Mom I’m worried about. Like I said before, she was never quite the same after Uncle Doug died. I’d be lying if I wasn’t terrified about how she’ll react when she sees you.” “Don’t worry, Mom,” Naomi said, trying to reassure Samantha in a manner Seven found endearing. “Grandma will see how nice Seven is. She won’t be mad once she knows that Seven isn’t a Borg drone anymore.”

“We’ll see,” Sam said, “we’ll see.”

The sound of the door to astrometrics opening caught Seven’s attention. A smiling Ensign Brooks stepped out, though she did appear to have been crying as well. “You’re up,” she said. “You okay, Sue?” Sam said. “Oh absolutely,” Brooks said. “I just saw my nephew for the first time. He was born just a few weeks after we ended up in the Delta Quadrant. I was so happy to see him I cried. I know it’s silly-”

“Hey, hey,” Sam said, “it’s perfectly normal. Don’t do this to yourself. And don’t worry, you’ll see him in person someday soon, I know it. With as many years as we’ve been shaving off the trip home lately, I bet you’ll be there to see him off to the Academy.” “You know what?” Brooks said. “I think you’re right. Have fun talking to your parents, Sam,” Brooks said.

“Thanks,” Sam said. After taking a deep breath, she added, “All right, let’s do this.” Sam, Seven, and Naomi entered astrometrics. Megan Delaney was standing where Seven normally would at a console as far from the viewscreen as she could get. It was a good chance anyone on the other end of the communication could still see her though, but someone had to be there in order to handle the adjustments required to keep the communication link stable. “I’m arranging the call as we speak,” Megan said. “I’ll have your parents home comm on the screen in under a minute.” “Thanks, Megan,” Sam said. Seven felt Sam squeeze her hand as the image on the astrometrics lab screen went from a black screen with the Federation logo, to brief static, to a woman’s face.

“Hi, Mom,” Samantha said, smiling. “Samantha, it is so good to see you again sweetheart,” Linette Wildman said, smiling, but looking tired, like she’d just woken up from oversleeping. “I was hoping I’d hear from you soon once we found out you were alive from your EMH.”

“It’s great to see you too, Mom,” Sam said. “Where’s Dad?” “James wasn’t able to make it back,” Linette said. “He wants me to send his love though.” “Right, I’d heard he came out of retirement after the war started,” Sam said. “That’s right. He decided to stay after the Dominion surrendered though, and I can see why. We lost a lot of experienced Captains during the war. How’s Nancy?” “Your sister’s fine,” Linette said. “Anti-social as usual.”

So far so good, Seven thought. “Mom, I’ve got a few people I’d like you to meet,” Sam said, gently nudging Naomi to stand in front of her. Naomi smiled nervously and waved at the screen. “Hi, grandma,” she said. “Well hello there, Naomi. You really have grown so fast haven’t you? And I can see you have your father’s horns. You are just so adorable.” Seven allowed herself a small smile.

“Thank you,” Naomi said. Linette’s smile rapidly faded when her gaze shifted to what would be her left. “You must be the new spouse, I suppose,” she said.

“Mom,” Samantha said, “This is Annika.” “A pleasure to see you, Mrs. Wildman,” Seven said, trying not to sound as uncomfortable as she felt by the sudden shift in her mother-in-law’s tone.

“Uh-huh,” Linette said, not sounding convinced. “So, Sam, is there any reason the Borg has to be here? Can’t I just talk to my daughter and granddaughter?” Seven glanced over and saw the expressions of happiness on Sam and Naomi’s faces fade almost simultaneously. “Mom, Annie and I are married. She’s part of this family. She has every right to be here. If this is about Greskrendtregk-”

“A little bit, yeah,” Linette said. “Is three years all it takes for you to get over a man you have a child with?” “It’s more complicated than that, Mom,” Sam said. “I know this is a complicated situation but-” “It shouldn’t be,” Linette said. “You were already married. I can’t believe the Federation would let this thing you have going with this Borg stand.”

Seven saw Sam’s face starting to turn red, though whether it was from embarrassment or anger at how her mother was behaving, she couldn’t tell. She took a deep breath, and responded. “Mom, would you want to be the ones to tell the Denobulans, or the Elerians, or the Sklorno that their relationships are invalid?” she said, referring to only three of the numerous polyamourous species that held membership in the Federation. “And besides, Greskrendtregk moved on too when he thought I was dead. Ktarians process emotional trauma faster than humans. He’s sent letters, we’re fine. You make it sound like I just left him for some random woman.”

“No, not random. A Borg. The people who killed your Uncle and his entire crew at Wolf 359,” Linette said.

And there it is, Seven thought. A part of her had hoped this wouldn’t come up, but deep down she knew it was inevitable. Seven heard a soft whimper, the sound that Naomi made when she was trying very hard not to cry. “Maybe I should leave,” Seven whispered to Sam.

“What were you thinking, Sam, really?” Linette said before Sam could respond. “After what happened to Doug? After everything the Borg have done to the Federation all it takes for you to forget is one of them to come along and shove her tits in your face-” “Mom!” Sam yelled, sounding angrier than Seven could ever remember her sounding in the several years she’d known her. “You have no right to talk to her that way. She wasn’t there, and even if she had been she was a drone. She had no control over what she did while she was a Borg. But she’s free now, and she is my wife. She is a part of this family. If you don’t like her, fine, but do not talk about her that way. Especially don’t talk about her like she’s not here.” “Okay,” Linette said. “What do you have to say for yourself then, Seven of Nine?” I have never been this uncomfortable in my entire life, Seven thought. “Um, well,” she said, “I’m sorry for what happened to your twin. I can’t begin to imagine how-”

“No, you can’t,” Linette said. “You’ve only been human for, what, three years now?” “Oh my god, Mom, please stop,” Sam said, her head in one hand, the other holding Naomi close. Naomi clung tight to Sam’s leg, looking as uncomfortable as Seven felt.

“I think I have the right to know what kind of woman she is, Samantha. She is my daughter-in-law now, like it or not.” “It has been approximately three years since I was freed from the Collective, yes,” Seven said. “Yet you still talk like one of them. How do I know one day you won’t try to jam one of your assimilation devices into my little girl’s neck?” Seven never got the chance to respond, as Sam slammed her hand down on the console to cut off the channel. Seven winced at the sound of the impact. As loud as it was, Sam must’ve hurt her hand when she did so. “Sam?” Seven said, reaching out to touch Samantha’s arm. Sam was taking in deep breaths, her eyes closed.

“Mom,” Naomi said softly, “why was grandma being so mean?”

“She’s a- she’s never been the same since her twin brother died, sweetie,” Sam said. “She wasn’t always like this, I swear,” she added, looking at Seven when she did so.

Seven pulled Sam in close for a hug. “I’m so sorry that didn’t go as you’d hoped,” she said. Sam didn’t say anything, she simply started crying.

#a fire of devotion #Part 4 #chapter two #star trek voyager #sam7 #fan fiction

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