#I haven’t drawn anything smiling critters in a while

[hypnautic-cereal]

Woe, WitchCraft Wednesday be upon you✨

[lovesicklooney]

Dropping a short story inspired by an AU I saw from twitter/X about the smiling critters. Mainly between Dogday and Catnap.

TW: The following contains Yandere’s, Obsessive/Stalker behavior, Possessiveness, if these make you feel uncomfortable please scroll away. Thank you.

“For you” ☀️x🌙

“To my dear, sweet kitty.

You may not know me but I very much know you. Before you came, I was alone. I was lost. I wasn’t me.

But then you came and changed that… your charming smile, your sense of fashion, the way you talk, your smell, you’ve changed me. You made me realize that I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t free. I wasn’t me… until I found you.

The way I was before couldn’t draw you to me the way I was drawn to you… I couldn’t catch your eyes. I did what I could. I striped myself of the façade I’ve spent hiding behind. The next time you see me, I’ll be born anew.

I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine.

Sincerely, your secret admirer.”

Catnap looked down at the paper he held in his hands, the note written in red ink he found taped to his front door. He had only been in town for a week and already has a secret admirer… Catnap felt a mix of emotions about the letter. He didn’t know who wrote this, nor why would anyone have such feelings towards him. He was… very unsettled after reading the note.

He looked around before he headed inside his place, locking the door behind him. Catnap was still processing what he read in the letter, his mind racing as to who could have sent it. Could it be a friend as a joke? Was this person serous? Let’s look back… he only been here a week after staring his tattoo shop, he only really met a girl named “Crafty” and a guy named “Kicken” after meeting them when he first opened his shop. They’re a nice couple, so it couldn’t be them right?

Click

Maybe this was some kind of joke… yeah. Yeah, it’s probably nothing. Crafty did say that Kicken loved to play pranks. But how would he figure out Catnap’s address? Should he take this to the police? No… they probably wouldn’t do anything about it anyways…

Click

Catnap sighed, pacing around his living room isn’t going to do him any good. He folded the letter and set it down on the small table beside the couch before flopping down onto it. Catnaps stomach growled as he pulled out his phone, he wasn’t in the mood to cook. Pizza sounds nice.

Click Click

Kicken was jamming out to music while he was cleaning the kitchen, washing dishes after finishing dinner. Crafty finished wiping down the table before walking over to Kicken and hugged him from behind as he finished up the dishes.

“Thanks again for cooking, babe.”

“No worries babe. You just rest and I’ll wrap this up.”

Crafty lingered around Kicken for a minute before she spoke up again.

“I’m worried, Kicken.”

“Worried about what?”

“About Dogday… he hasn’t acting like himself over the past week, and he stopped answering my phone.”

“Do you think something happened?”

“I don’t know what’s going on in his head right now… I haven’t spoken to him in two days.”

Kicken stops what he’s doing and turns to comfort Crafty.

“How about this… I’ll swing by his place tomorrow before work and check in on him?”

“I’m comming too.”

“No you’re not, you have that big presentation in the morning. I’ll drive by his place tomorrow before work and see how he’s doing.”

“Promise?”

“I promise, baby.”

The two shared a light kiss, concerned for their friend’s behavior. It’s true Dogday had been acting off ever since Catnap came to town. He’s been a lot more quiet lately, seemingly keeping to himself when he’s around his other friends too, not just Kicken and Crafty. Dogday had been spending more time on his phone, he hadn’t shown up to play any sport games with his buddies anymore. And now he’s probably hiding himself away in his home.

“I just… hope he’s okay.”

The sky turned dark as the sun set, leaving the small town in darkness followed by the light illuminating from the full moon.

The orange dog was humming a cheerful tone to himself as he moved around his home, his curtains opened to allow the moonlight illuminate his living room. Other than the moonlight, he started a simple fire within his chimney to help keep him warm. He carried some stuff from his room to the living room, old clothes and other junk. His bright blue and yellow jeans, his orange jersey jacket, all a bunch of useless crap he didn’t need anymore.

His sun pendant swayed as me bounced around, grinning from ear to ear as he tossed his old clothes into the fire. Watching them burn before him. He didn’t need them. He didn’t have to keep pretending to be that kind of person anymore. His tail wagged eagerly behind him, wearing simple back shorts up to his thighs and a baggy purple shirt one size too big for him, loosely exposing his shoulders.

He took a deep breath before letting out a relieved sigh… he’s never felt this content before. He felt free… for the first time in his life he felt like he was free to do whatever he actually wanted. Turning back into his room, what was once plastered with unnecessary bright colors that gave him headaches were now painted dark red, a crimson color to match his new decor. Everything felt just right, everything felt like it was finally what it’s meant to be. But it is still… missing something.

Him

Dogday flopped down onto his bed, giggling to himself like a schoolgirl who just got asked out by her crush. He looked up at the ceiling with a love struck expression on his face, his hands resting over his chest as he gazed up at the dozens of pictures he took of his beloved he captured over the last few days. Photography was always one of his favorite passions growing up, who would have thought it paid off in the best way. Dogday captured many… many pictures of Catnap from the day they first crossed paths…

Dogday was just minding his own business when he walked past a new shop opening up, a tattoo shop nonetheless. But it was the owner of the shop was what caught his attention the most… the way he moved, the way his tail swayed behind him, the faint scent of lavender he picked up as he watched him walk pass by… he didn’t know why or how… but with just one look and he was smitten over him.

One week later… Dogday finally gathered the courage to confess to his sweet kitty through a letter. A simple notice that he was finally gonna make his move. The fire was dying in Dogday’s living room, unlike the fire that burned in his heart every time he so much as thinks about Catnap. Dogday couldn’t wait…

“I’ll see you soon… my dear pretty kitty~”

[t-tyrants]

FRIENDS NOW :)

Wrote a lil creepypasta based on the two pictures I drew of Zipper.  I haven’t written any pastas in a while so I hope u enjoy!

Like almost everyone on twitter, I too have spent my quarantine time playing the new animal crossing. It has been a really good distraction from the chaos of the panicking world. It was probably the only thing keeping my mental health from jumping off a cliff. While I am only 24, I still was part of the at risk group. Having a weak heart, I have had to be very careful of my own health fo my whole life. I didn’t really want to die right now, so I’ve been mulled up in my flat, getting paranoid over every cough. The only thing that had been keeping me from overthinking is animal crossing.

Making friends with the animals visiting my island had been my main focus. No critter was allowed to leave my humble abode without having all their dreams and hopes fulfilled. Some of my favorites were Mischka, Raymond and Lolly. What can I say, I like cats? Of course, I visited some of my real friends’ islands too. But while I could do most of my work home office style in a few hours, many of them didn’t have that privilege. Lizzy was out there, saving lifes, Matt was getting yelled at by customers and I was just sitting on my ass, playing video games. Sometimes I felt bad about it. Sometimes I was simply thankful. They were all very tired but they still took some time out of their life to check in with me. After all this would be over, I would try to make it up to them. 

Still, all I could do now was talk to animals, get some peaches, catch some fishes and draw new clothes. Day in, day out. It started to feel like routine. So when the easter special event started, I was hyped. Sure, those were pretty much the same game mechanics as before but i was way more interested in the elusive Zipper T. Bunny himself. I have had never played an animal crossing game before so I wasn’t aware that he was a part of the game. I had spent hours finding eggs all around the island just to get a few dialog lines from that weird bunny. Of course, I was pretty sure that this wasn’t a bunny. The big zipper, the unmoving eyes, the forced happiness - whoever was under this suit was doing a job and would prefer to be at home. 

But that wouldn't stop me. I tried talking to him again and again in hopes of getting a new line of dialog. Still, I knew it was a game. I knew that Zipper wouldn't just get out of his head and show me his real self. But I was convinced that there had to be some sort of easter egg for the curious players. There had to be. I had spend so much time working for the easter event, I didn’t even notice that the real deal was getting closer too. 

I woke up gasping for air from a nightmare I forgot just as quickly. Looking at the alarm clock, I could see it was 2:54 AM, Sunday. It was easter. I got out of bed, there was no use trying to fall asleep now. Instead, I walked to my couch and turned the switch on. Getting comfy between the couch cushions, I walked up to Zipper. “Happy Easter,” I chimed into the darkness of my flat. I didn’t talk to Zipper, I just stood next to him, as all of a sudden, I could feel tears in the corners of my eyes. The game had been a great distraction but now, at 3 am, it all came crashing down on me. 

I was lonely, I was stressed, I was afraid. 

And all I could do is play a game and run after a rabbit. 

“Aren’t you tired?” A dialog prompt. I rubbed the tears from my eyes and looked up. “Not really,” I sighed as I answered with ‘No’. “Why?” Zipper asked. Now this was something different. “You are very persistent. Don’t you have anything else to do?” I leaned closer to the TV as I pressed ‘No’ again. Zipper was finally talking. This was what I had hoped for all this time. “You aren’t going to stop bothering me?” Ha, you wish. I pressed ‘No’. Zipper T. Bunny turned towards me. Not my character. But me, behind the TV screen. He grabbed my character’s hand. They just stood there, quietly looking towards me, swaying a tiny bit with the wind. They looked so cute. What a cute thing to include in the game. Now if I only could get to photo-mode… 

“What do you want from me?” The dialog field was unexpected. Instead of three options, a keyboard popped up. This was my chance. I started typing frantically. “Who are you? Why do you wear a suit? What do you do when you aren’t working for this easter event? Who are you really? Can we be friends?” The keyboard disappeared. I hadn’t even pressed ‘send’. How strange. The game stopped. Nothing moved. No more music. Did I break it? Mashing all buttons, nothing happened. Before I could get up, a dialog field popped up. “Do you really want to know who I am?” I pressed my back into the couch. ‘Yes.’ “Do you really want to be friends?” Holy shit. “Of course,” I called out while pressing ‘Yes’ again. 

The dialog disappeared again and all was quiet. All but a weird buzzing. As it grew louder, suddenly the TV started to flicker. Was it breaking right now? I was uncovering the most interesting, literal easter egg and my TV wanted to destroy it all for me? 

The screen turned red. The green, lively island was gone, replaced by some weird, red mush. But Zipper T. Bunny and my character were still standing there. Still, they too had changed. I stared, mesmerized. His head was gone. The bunny suit head. But beneath it… was nothing. Just empty air. At the neck, red liquid left the suit, dirtying the otherwise radiant yellow. I was so intrigued by this change which was entirely inappropriate for a children's game, I hadn’t even looked at my character. It’s pupils were gone and blood had started pouring out of her eyes, nose and mouth. 

Now, I was searching for some sort of easter egg but this was too much. Who would even put something like this into animal crossing? What if a small child stumbled across this? This would traumatize them and ruin a whole video game franchise and pobably stuffed animals for them. Maybe even the whole concept of eastern. 

As I wanted to get up and take my phone to document this mess, I could feel it all of a sudden. Cold breath hit my neck. Cold breath, followed by even colder hands that crawled over my shoulders. I froze, unable to even move my eyes from the display. I could feel the icy nails scrap over my skin, seemingly carefully not to draw blood. My whole back was covered in goosebumps. “So….” The voice was raspy and deep. “Do you really wanna be friends?” I had to suppress the urge to laugh nervously. This was really happening. The bunny suit on TV was twitching. The hands slowly wandered up to my neck. “Of course,” the words left my mouth all of a sudden. The hands stopped. “Are you sure?” Relieved that my neck was still untouched, I decided to go all in. “Absolutely. That’s why I tried talking so much to you before.”

Silence. The whole room seemed frozen. It felt like hours had passed when the voice returned. “So you really had fun with the easter event?” The voice sounded softer and quieter. “Yes,” my voice was quivering too. “Would you mind… if I stick around even when easter is over?” There was a lot of sadness in his voice. For a split second, I felt like the two of us were just the same. Lonely, stressed, afraid. 

“You can stay as long as you want to,” I said, driven by this realisation, only to regret it right away. I didn’t know what I just agreed to. I should have asked questions. But as soon as the words had left my mouth, the hands were lifted from my shoulders and the cold breathe disappeared. I was still stuck in place, frozen. 

I didn’t know how much time had passed but it felt like I was woken up again when the music started playing from the TV again. I looked up, it was all back to normal. My island was back, my character looked as always and Zipper T. Bunny, head and all, was turned towards them. There was a dialog box open. As I read it, I didn’t know what to feel at all. Was I scared? Happy? Confused? All I knew was that I should get back to bed. I quickly shut off the switch and walked up to my bed. As i hid beneath the covers, pressing my eyes closed, trying to fall asleep, Zipper’s last words just wouldn’t leave my head. “FRIENDS NOW :)” 

When I woke up a few hours later, the flat seemed to be frozen. Absentmindedly I ran up to my heater, trying to get some warmth into these rooms. It was already put on the highest setting. I walked up to my kitchen window and opened it. I was expecting to see snow with this temperature but outside, it was warm. I kept the window open as I turned around to look for clues. Not sure what to do, I decided to check up on animal crossing again. Starting the game, there was nothing pointing towards last night's weird occurrence. Talking to Zipper, he was back to his old tunes and none of the villagers seemed to be changed either. I was nearly convinced that this was a bad dream, when i opened up the album and saw a new pictures. 

Staring back at me from the TV was Zipper T. Bunny holding my hand, head missing with a crude smile drawn over the empty space.

With tired eyes, I smiled back the picture. It was comforting in a strange way. Somehow, the flat felt less empty now. 

Just a little colder. 

[youcancallmeelle]

Log cabins and sexcapades: Sweet Pea x OC (NSFW)

Life in Riverdale had gotten tense over the last two months, especially with the constant fear of the Black Hood looming over everyone and casting a shadow over everything positive.

So, as a way of escaping the anxiety of a crazed murderer for a week, my friends, my boyfriend and I were on a little retreat on the far side of Sweetwater River in the woods, a huge leap away from hooded killers, frightened teens and a Sheriff that was doing a shocking job of catching whoever it was.

It was sunny in Greendale, the grass truly was greener on the other side and the birds were chirping in harmony (something I hadn’t heard in weeks). A friend of Jughead’s, Veronica Lodge, had borrowed us her fancy log cabin in the centre of the woods as a kind favour, her and Archie had stayed behind while Betty opted to join us with her boyfriend and other Serpent associates.

According to Jughead, the cabin cost Hiram over a million dollars to have built and even had a big, private pool in the back, along with a huge garden area for parties they frequently hosted for Lodge Industries or other business ventures.

We’d travelled the short distance in a knackered van that Toni had borrowed from her Uncle Todd, we all fit in it comfortably with enough space for our few bags and supplies for the week long holiday in the cabin. We’d all become touchy towards the end of the journey, the heat becoming unbearable with six bodies crammed into a confined space in the height of summer.

Escaping to the middle of nowhere meant being at one with nature and unfortunately I wasn’t a huge fan of the outdoors and the pests it seemed to include, they were drawn to me like a magnet.

“Fuck sake, I’ve only been out of the van for two seconds and I’ve already been bitten by a stupid bug!” I seethed and hit the back of my thigh in irritation, trying to rid my skin of the critter who was attempting to feast on my blood.

“You wanna smack that ass for Daddy again?” Sweet Pea smirked teasingly down at me with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows, I grinned back and circled my arms around his neck.

“Yeah? Does Daddy like that?” I taunted back, hearing the disgusted groans coming from our friends as they unpacked the van and overheard our little conversation.

“Please, you guys, just wait until you get into your room!” Fangs whined and hauled his rucksack over his shoulder, throwing Sweet Pea our shared duffle bag and hitting him in the chest.

“Don’t be jealous, Fogarty, play your cards right and we’ll let you join us.” I beamed and he rolled his chocolate eyes, flipping me off while Sweet Pea roared with laughter.

“No amount of alcohol or money could get me into bed with you two, I don’t have the stomach for some of the things you get up to behind closed doors.” He grimaced and took Toni’s bag from her, offering to carry it since she’d overpacked and made it heavier than her.

“And open doors!” Betty added, talking about the time she’d walked in on Sweets and myself going at it in one of the stalls in the women's toilets of the Whyte Wyrm.

“Whatever you say, Fogarty.” I shrugged and turned my attention back to Sweet Pea, nuzzling under his neck and biting at his throat which evoked a groan from him.

“Man, I’m going to destroy you later.” He declared loudly, reaching behind me to shove his hand in the pocket of my tiny, denim shorts and grabbing a handful of my ass. “You’re not gonna know what’s hit you, not unless it’s my cum on your face.”

“Do you two have no shame?” Toni asked, stepping around Betty and Jughead to stroll over to us with her camera in hand, obviously planning to capture every moment of this retreat whether we liked it or not.

“Same applies to you, Toni, you can join us too.” I winked at her while Sweet Pea began assaulting my neck in front of our friends, finding my pulse point pretty quickly and sucking a bruise into the skin which I hoped would fade before we returned to Riverdale.

“Babe, you couldn’t handle me.” She informed me, looking me up and down while I smirked back suggestively.

“Fuck, I’m totally picturing you both going at it.” Fangs sighed happily from beside us, closing his eyes and holding Toni’s bag over his groin. “Holy fuck, it’s a hot thought.”

“Dude, that’s my girlfriend!” Sweet Pea growled defensively, throwing a threatening look Fangs’ way.

“You’re a pig.” Toni chided and slapped his arm in disgust, he chuckled but followed her up the driveway to the entrance of the luxurious cabin that was made from a warm shade of wood and mainly glass.

“This place is amazing!” Betty blurted and we all began to trail behind them, Sweet Pea still trying to grope my backside and kiss the sensitive parts of my neck while I giggled like a school girl.

“We’re gonna take some insane pictures, Betts. Just imagine all the prints we can make!” Jughead suggested to her and tilted his head to soak up the sun, the key to the cabin clutched in his hand.

“I know, Juggie.”

“Don’t pretend you’re here for the art, Jones. We all know you’re gonna bone Betty like no tomorrow, I bet you’re buzzing to have a room to yourself without FP being next door.” Sweet Pea bellowed, shoving Jughead in the side playfully.

“We’re not animals like you guys.” Betty retorted smartly, causing a round of ‘oooh’s’ to echo through the air from myself and our friends.

I’m pretty sure everyone’s mouths dropped open the moment Jughead unlocked the door and motioned for us to join him inside, the decor of the cabin was breathtaking and I span in a circle to take it all in.

“How the other half live, aye?” I muttered and admired the expensive art that hung on the cream walls, the fur that was draped over both of the couches and the huge TV that was on the wall with an Xbox beneath it that the boys would get plenty of use out of.

“Shotgun the biggest room!” Toni yelled and raced up the stairs with Fangs on her heels since they were both sharing with each other, it wouldn’t surprise me if they hooked up at some point this week, it was a known fact that sometimes Toni dropped her ‘more into girls’ rule and they had a friends with benefits situation going on, especially when they were going through a dry spell.

“Come on, let’s pick our room.” Sweet Pea urged and tugged on my hand, dragging me out of my daydream and pulling me up the stairs.

“Great, I bet we end up with the room next to yours, lucky us.” Jughead complained, beginning to unpack groceries into the cupboards and fridge with Betty.

“Tough shit.” Sweet Pea said back, slapping me hard on the backside as we made our way up the flight of stairs and to the second level of the cabin where we quickly found a free room which happened to be in the corner opposite the room that Toni and Fangs had chosen.

“Wow! This whole cabin is awesome, Sweets! Look how big the bed is!” I squealed happily and threw myself on the memory foam mattress after I’d kicked off my Converse, splaying my arms out with a huge amount of extra space left on the mattress. “These sheets are amazing, I need some.” I sighed and closed my eyes, sinking further into the silky, aubergine sheets.

“This is going to be the best week ever, have you seen the en-suite?” He wondered and shut the door behind us, dropping our bag to the floor and pointing to the generously sized bathroom attached to our room while kicking his combat boots off.

“We’re so making use of that shower later.” I grinned and looked through the cracked door to see a shower cubicle made from frosted glass, a huge sink within a granite countertop and a toilet. “Come here, I’ve been dying to touch you properly since we got out of that stupid van.” I reached out for Sweet Pea and he wasted no time in clambering onto the bed. He spread my lean legs with both of his calloused hands on my knees, settling between them and locking his lovely lips with mine.

“I’ve had a boner since I saw you in those shorts, baby.” He spoke against my mouth, running his hand down my side and teasing the waistband of my shorts with his fingers. “Although, you may as well not be wearing anything they’re that short.” I gasped when he began sucking at my pulse beneath my ear, gently tugging on the lobe until I decided that I wanted to be in control; it was an activity I didn’t get to indulge in very often because he was hardly ever willing to give up the dominant attitude.

Sweet Pea had just begun to descend lower down the column of my neck and to my throat, nearly sinking his teeth into the flesh before he changed his mind and kissed my jugular instead.

“Not so fast.” I breathed when he tried to reach for the buttons on my red flannel, I pushed hard enough on his chest to distract him from undressing me and I managed to lock my legs around his waist to flip us over on the bed with me settled on top of him. “You don’t get to be in control all the time.” I scolded when he began scowling at the motion of me grabbing his wrists and pinning them next to his head.

“You don’t seem to have a problem with me being in control when you’re bent over and tied to the headboard of your bed with me ploughing into you, kitten.” He smugly replied and I cracked a smile, the thought of him taking me from behind was enough to make me rock my hips against his covered erection.

“Please don’t cum in your pants, I haven’t even started having fun with you yet.” I pouted playfully and he growled, trying to move against the weight of me baring down on his wrists while continuously rolling our hips together, our underwear, his jeans and my shorts the only things between our sexes.

“Take those god damn shorts off.” He demanded and I giggled at his frustration, loosening his wrists and moving off him to plant my feet on the floor.  I made sure to give him a little show as I popped the button on my shorts, wiggling my hips and turning away from him to slide them down my thighs, bending over to peel them off the rest of the way.

I could clearly feel his eyes on my scantily covered backside when I threw my shorts to the floor and I braved a glance at him from over my shoulder, he was sat up on the bed and his eyes were a deep shade of brown, darker and more primal than usual and his tongue had come out to wet his bottom lip.

“Like what you see?” I asked and pivoted on my heels, standing close to him from next to the bed and running my hand down the sharp definition of his jawline before taking one step back and beginning to slowly undo a button at a time of my flannel. “Nuh uh, hands off.” I commanded when he tried to take over and he dropped his hands to my thighs in a tight grip, his stare focused on my chest that had become revealed from beneath the shirt.

“Fuck.” He mumbled to himself when I pushed the flannel down my shoulders and I didn't even get the chance to fully remove it before he’d pulled me down to his level and latched his mouth to my naked chest, his tongue swirling over a nipple. I was extremely thankful that I’d chosen to go braless and I think Sweet Pea was too, I whimpered when he bit down on the opposite nipple and he smirked against my skin.

I chewed on my lip and climbed back on top of Sweet Pea, straddling his hips and running my warm hands beneath his t-shirt. He pushed himself up on his elbows to grab the tattered neckline of the clothing to remove it and once it was off, he threaded his fingers through my long hair, tugging me down again and greedily kissing me. I couldn’t get enough of his intoxicating taste or the feeling of his body against mine, we’d spent the majority of the drive whispering in each other's ears about what we planned to do to each other once we got here.

“I wanna sit on your face.” I revealed and pushed on his broad chest again, his back flat against the covers and feet planted firmly on the floor, he had his usual smirk plastered across his face at my desperation and need for his skilled mouth.

“Then what are you waiting for?” He provoked and I shrugged the flannel off completely, it was thrown somewhere in the room and soon Sweet Pea had grabbed my ass to guide me towards his face while I tried to push the crotch of my underwear to the side.

Unfortunately, just as I reached Sweet Pea’s chin, the sound of rowdy voices outside of our door heightened in volume and I should have expected nothing less than for one of our friends to barge in on us without knocking.

“Oh my god!” I shrieked at the action of our door being clumsily thrown open by Fangs who seemed unphased at the sight of his two friends about to engage in a sexual act and I jumped off Sweet Pea then held his discarded t-shirt to my bare chest so my breasts weren’t exposed to him.

“Bro, get the fuck out!” Sweet Pea bellowed, taking a protective stance to shield my body from his best friend and do his best to intimidate him so he’d leave us be.

“You can fuck later, come check out the pool!” He gushed and Toni appeared from behind him, her hand covering her eyes and I noticed that she was in a black, mesh bikini with what seemed to be one of Fangs’ long t-shirts over the top.

“Yeah, come on! You can bang any day of the week but you can’t swim in a millionaires pool on a regular day, let’s go!” She begged and I sighed as did Sweets, we were defeated and outnumbered.

“She’s got a point, Sweets.” I grumpily muttered, climbing off the bed with the flannel still covering my modesty. “You can leave now, we’ll meet you all down there.” I waved them away and they shouted in victory, Toni hopping onto Fangs’ back and both of them disappearing down the hall in a fit of giggles.

“I’m starting to think I’ll never not be sexually frustrated.” Sweet Pea complained from his position of the edge of the bed while he watched me get completely naked and dig my bikini from out of our bag, he was studying me intently and there was still an obvious rise in his jeans when I threw his swim trucks at his shirtless chest. “We should have just stayed home and let them all come here, at least then we could fuck in peace.”

“You’re so dramatic, we literally had sex this morning.” I laughed and pulled the triangular cups of my bikini down over my breasts, tying it at the back securely.

“That was hours ago.”  He defended and stood up, unbuckling his belt and unzipping his jeans, they fell to his ankles and he kicked them off. “Look at this.” He pointed to the front of his boxers and I had to bite my lip from laughing, his dick was almost peeking from the waistband from being so hard.

“Think of something unsexy, like Fangs’ ass.” I suggested through hidden laughter, making sure my bikini bottoms were tied tight enough so they wouldn’t come undone.

“Okay, it’s going down.” He breathed and tugged his boxers off, replacing them with his black swim trunks and I teetered over, standing on my tip toes and kissing the tattoo on the left side of his neck. “Fuck! You did that on purpose!” He exhaled when I felt him harden against my stomach once more, I bit my lip and looked between us.

“I’ll meet you downstairs once you’ve got a hold of your situation.” I told him with a sly grin, retreating backwards and away from his riled stature.

“Yeah, get out of here in that fucking bikini.” He demanded, pointing to the door.

I made my way down the staircase and out towards the back of the cabin where I could hear the sound of music and Toni yelling at Fangs for splashing her, I stepped through a set of glass, double doors and onto some decking.

“What’s all the screaming about?” I asked when I saw Toni sprawled on the poolside bed with Fangs in the water, some Clubmasters hiding his bright eyes and water droplets covering his defined torso.

“Fangs is pissing me off, he keeps splashing me with water because I won’t get in.” She told me and rested her head back, I lay on the lounger next to her with my butt in the air and chin resting on my folded arms.

“And why won’t you get in?”

“Because the chlorine fades the pink in my hair.” She replied and shielded her eyes from the sun, I hummed in response. “Where’s Sweet Pea?”

“He can’t get his dick to behave.” I muttered casually and both of them gagged, Fangs submerged himself beneath the water to escape the conversation regarding Sweet Pea and his permanent erection. “Where’s Betty and Jughead? I highly doubt they’re going at it already, there’s too much to explore.”

“You’re spot on, they picked their room and left to go for a walk, apparently they want to be out this evening to look at the fireflies.” Just as Toni spoke up of their whereabouts, Sweet Pea sauntered outside in his just swim trunks, dog tags and sunglasses.

He was tempting, he looked good enough to eat and I had to ignore the heat pooling between my thighs when my eyes were drawn to the dip of his hips and the dark trail of hair the lead beneath the material of his trunks, I so badly wanted to reach my hand in and play with him.

“I’m not even looking at you.” He told me firmly when he saw me staring and averted his eyes, spotting Fangs in the water and stepping down the pool before his body misbehaved for the hundredth time since we arrived.

“Nice of you to join us.” Fangs teased and splashed him with the water, Sweet Pea wiped his face and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. “What kept you?” Fangs played like he didn’t know what was causing Sweet Pea distress but his mischevious grin gave him away and he received a wave of water his way.

“Pass me that ball, babe.” Sweet Pea pointed to a football next to our lounger, I reached down and threw it to the boys so they could play and leave us to sunbathe.

Toni was rubbing her legs with oil that smelt like coconut and it wafted under my nose everytime she moved, she undid her bikini top and manoeuvred her arm to cover herself before turning to me.

“Can you put some tanning oil on my back, please?” Toni begged and waved a bottle of oil in my face, I nodded and kneeled up to move myself over to her side of the lounger, sitting behind her and pushing her hair over her chest as not to get it greasy.

“I’m so jealous of how fast you tan.” I told her while rubbing the oil over her shoulders, massaging it into her neck.

“The perks of having Mexican blood, babes.” She quipped and moaned when I rubbed a knot out of her back, it wasn’t until I heard the boys go quiet that I lifted my attention to them where they were still in the pool.

They were watching us and looked to be in a trance as I ran my hands down Toni’s arms, the slickness of body oil beneath my palms and thus causing her skin to project a golden sheen.

“What are you looking at?” I suspiciously inquired and they both gulped, still focused on us. “Seriously, what’s up with you both?” I pressed and stopped rubbing Toni’s shoulders, they snapped themselves out of their trances and Fangs lifted his eyes to mine.

“We probably shouldn’t be aroused at the sight of you both taking precautions against the sun, but you know, we are.” Fangs confessed pervertedly and Toni gasped, I grimaced at them both. “It’s like my fantasy of you both going at it from earlier is actually happening, feel free to continue.” He persuaded.

“You’re both disgusting, you’re such guys.” I scolded and they shrugged, Sweets moved to the edge of the pool and rested his chin on his knuckles.

“I agree with Fangs.” Sweets decided and us girls looked at each other, knowing that we had the boys exactly where we wanted them and that this could be fun.

“If Betty and Jughead prematurely come back then you can explain this was for your wank bank, Fangs.” Toni voiced, adjusting herself on the lounger so that she was kneeling opposite me still topless and on display.

“I thought you told me I wouldn’t be able to handle you in bed.” I jeered and looked her up and down, the sight of her in just some bikini bottoms making my mouth water, Toni was attractive and she knew it. I had no interest in girls or any sexual feelings but knowing that my boyfriend was getting a kick out of it was a sexy thought, it had always been a fantasy of mine to try some things with a girl and it being with Toni made me feel at ease.

“I guess we’ll see.” She purred and pushed me back, moving to straddle my hips with her short legs on either side of my body and pin my arms above my head, her lips hovered near mine before silently asking my permission to kiss me.

I lifted my head to attach my mouth to hers and we quickly fell into a rhythm of gentle kisses, I dropped my hands from over my head and they began wandering up the backs of her smooth and oiled thighs to her hips, then up over her toned stomach to grasp her face.

Toni reached behind me without breaking our kiss and tugged on the strings of my floral bikini, easily undoing them and helping me slip the top off. I swept my tongue over her bottom lip with the desire to taste more of her and she granted me access, reaching up to cup my breasts and roll her thumbs over my nipples.

Having her touch me intimately was strange but erotic because she was so used to the act of being with another woman that she knew exactly where to touch me, my head fell back against the padded lounger when she moved her mouth to my neck and lightly trailed one finger down the valley of my breasts and to the edge of my bikini bottoms.

“Holy shit.” I heard Fangs swear in awe when Toni’s hand dipped beneath the fabric and Sweet Pea uttered something too, both of them enjoying spectating us as we lived out Fangs’ dream in nothing but our bikini bottoms.

“Damn, girl. I’m not sure who wants this more, you or them.” She mocked me when she ran her finger between my lower lips, collecting the wetness on the tip of her index finger and spreading it over my clit, I bucked my hips into her hand and searched for her mouth to deeply kiss her, the ends of her pink, highlighted hair tickling my skin sensually.

She began to use her mouth to tease over my chest, her tongue flicked out to taste a nipple and I tilted my head to glance at Sweets whose eyes were locked on the way Toni was touching me, he swiped his tattooed thumb over his mouth without blinking.

Sweet Pea’s patience and easy going attitude dissipated in the blink of an eye once Toni caused me to let out a heavy moan, her finger not yet breaching me but teasing to the point where I was close to begging.

“Enough, Topaz. I’m scared you’ll change her sexuality, she’s mine.” Toni stopped on Sweet Pea’s command, the pleasure of her touch so cruelly taken away as he lifted himself from the pool and headed over to us with Fangs trailing behind us.

“No need to be so threatened, SP.” Toni remarked.

I lay back lithely and she removed herself from me, standing up to pull on the t-shirt she’d initially stolen from Fangs to cover her torso.

“That was so hot.” Fangs stated and his eyes flickered between myself and Toni, whereas Sweet Pea quickly moved to kneel between my legs on the lounger.

Both of the boys were visibly aroused and ready to move on, Fangs seemed to be hiding a pretty impressive package of his own but nothing compared to my Sweets.

“Feel free to fuck off, I highly doubt you want to see me fuck my girlfriend. Actually, I don’t doubt that but just do one, I want to enjoy her to myself.” Sweet Pea directed him without taking his eyes off me, hooking his fingers into sides of my bottoms once Toni and Fangs had dispersed to no doubt have some fun of their own.

“Did you like watching?” I asked timidly and lifted my legs for him to pull my bikini bottoms off my feet, he tossed them aside and moved down to work in a similar pattern to how Toni had.

“It was very sexy to see you squirm like that under Toni, but nobody but me will ever have the pleasure of making you cum.” He possessively answered back against the skin of my abdomen and pressed a light kiss to each of my hip bones, licking a trail up one of my thighs and kissing his way up the other until I was wriggling, pushing myself up to his face only to be met with denial. “Tell me what you want, gorgeous.”

“Your mouth.” I exhaled unevenly, reaching down to thread my fingers through his hair and scratch at his scalp. Apparently, Sweet Pea was feeling generous because he gave in and kissed me directly on my clitoris, proceeding to lick a stripe through my wet labia. “Sweets.” I moaned and arched off the lounger, not caring that we were outside in open view.

He reached up to grasp my left breast in his hand, squeezing and flicking his tongue against me in a way that made me mewl and whimper like he was performing the most barbaric act upon me.

“You’re such a good girl.” He whispered against my lower half and guided two of his slender fingers inside of my dripping channel, finally satisfying the craving to be touched.

He had every spot memorised and I stole a peek at him from where he was nestled between my thighs, he looked back at me with his mocha eyes and dug his thumbs in my thighs, pushing my legs back to get his tongue deeper inside of me. 

“Sweets, I’m cumming.” I quivered against him and my knees fell to either side of his head as my orgasm washed over me in gentle waves of rapture, the moisture seeping onto his still moving fingers while he gently sucked on my clit to work me through it until the end. 

He waited until I’d calmed myself down and then pressed a couple of kisses on the insides of my thighs, sitting up with dishevelled hair, cleaning his mouth with his forearm and wiping his sodden fingers on his swim trunks, his erection straining against the navy fabric. 

I curved upwards to pull the material down over his hips and thighs, seven, thick inches sprang before my eyes and Sweet Pea removed the shorts so that he was completely naked with me. 

“I’d return the favour but I don’t think you’ll last.” I teased him and reached to grab his length, he was hot and heavy in my hand. I managed to pump him a couple of times before he grabbed my wrist, pushing me onto my back and pulling me to him by my hips. 

“I just need to be inside of you.” He enlightened me, losing his focus momentarily to get comfortable and palm himself to relieve some tension, he then ran the leaking, pink tip of himself through my lips to gather lubrication, easily slipping in. “You feel so good, baby.” He praised me and rested his hands on either side of my head to keep his weight off me, his hips rolled against mine and he buried himself to the hilt. 

I kissed him hard and cried into his mouth when he hitched my legs around his hips, somehow managing to get deeper inside of me and brush against my g-spot with each paced thrust

He kissed the corner of my mouth and ran his lips over my jaw, nibbling the skin and holding me impossible close to his frame. I clawed at his shoulders, surely leaving angry, red marks that he wouldn’t be able to hide without wearing a shirt. 

We ended up in a multitude of positions, the sun lounger proving to be more comfortable than a bed and I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt for us having sex on Hiram Lodge’s property, the latest position entailed me riding him like no tomorrow. 

“I love the feeling of your cock inside of me, baby.” I spoke lowly and his eyes snapped shut, captivated by the feeling of my snug walls wanting to milk his thick cock for all it had and the burning need for release.

“Don’t say shit like that.” He rebuked and caught my hips in a bruising grip, the filth that left my mouth easily driving him near to climax like it always did. 

He clutched my backside in his hands and moved me against him faster, his pubic bone rubbed against me and stimulated my sensitive nerve, I tangled my own fingers in my hair and arched my back, welcoming my second orgasm. 

It wasn’t long before Sweet Pea had flipped us over again and was taking me from behind (his favourite position). My chest was pushed into the padding of the lounger and I’m certain that our friends would be able to hear our moans from inside of the cabin, even over their own noise that they were making. 

Sweet Pea’s stamina was slowly decreasing and his own end was nearing, I began to move in synchronization with him and he grunted, dropping his head to my shoulder and curving over my body while continuing his irregular thrusts.

“I want you to finish inside of me.” I begged for the fulfilment of having him spill deep inside of me, something we didn’t delve in to often but I needed to feel him fill me with his cum, I wouldn’t get the same satisfaction if he finished somewhere on my body. 

He managed for a couple of more minutes before he stiffened against my back and groaned into the curve of my shoulder, his hips stuttered to an eventual stop after he’d let out multiple spurts of thick cum into me, the feeling was severe. 

Sweet Pea pulled himself out of me and I moved back to rest on him tiredly, my back pressed against his sweaty chest and I stretched an arm up to curl it around his neck and turn his face to mine for a deep kiss, he turned his attention back to between my legs where his cum was trickling down my thighs. 

“Want a taste?” He asked and ran the tip of his finger through my lips, collecting up a drop of our mixed releases, I nodded eagerly and he lifted his finger to my swollen mouth. 

I held his wrist and sucked on his fingers, feeling his limp dick twitch in excitement against my lower back. The combination of sweet and salty was enough to have me craving another round, Sweets too by the way his cock was now semi hard. 

It was then that I knew we’d be christening every available surface in this cabin before we left and maybe delving into more activities involving Fangs and Toni, our week long getaway taking a whole different turn. 

[thisway-imagines]

Hii!! Can I request HCs of how would characters act when falling in love and how they confess their feelings to s/o? If possible, Sothe (he’s mainly from Radiant Dawn and I know you haven’t played it but he deserves more love ;-; but i don’t want to bother), Conrad and Boey // PS. Good luck!!!

Good morning!! Of course you can request these lovely boys - I have watched halfway of RD so I believe I can still write for him!! Thank you for your luck, I’ll need it <33 I hope I write Sothe well enough for you, it’s a little bit angsty, but if you want me to rewrite for him then I’ll do it!!

(also i am a complete suck up for Conrad hahaha)

Sothe

This boy will always be prepared to do anything you ask of - whether it is to get supplies, get some food for little critters in the forests, or just have a pleasant conversation.

However, Sothe may be a little bit awkward when you talk to him - he’s slightly embarrassed if you ever just call him just to have a sweet little chat about his wellbeing.

Sothe will be much more protective of you without realizing it - he simply just doesn’t want to lose you so soon in this cruel war.

If you are battling your enemies at just a slight disadvantage, then immediately you will see your enemy dead in a blink of an eye - after that, Sothe quickly comes in to reprimand your reckless actions.

Arguments about your safety often became heated. Micaiah usually has to mitigate the consequences. But when she isn’t there… then it gets more heated than usual.

“[Name], you almost died to that Begnion soldier! Why couldn’t you be a little bit more careful?”

“Well, I’m sorry, Sothe! But I was doing perfectly fine before you came in and got my kill!

He scoffs. “You were obviously with a disadvantage there! It’s my duty to protect you whenever you can’t do it yourself!”

You feel hurt that Sothe thinks that you can’t handle yourself in the battlefield. “But I was perfectly capable of handling myself before! Why can’t you see that, Sothe? I’m not some kind of object you always have to guard all the time!”

This shocks Sothe, and you almost feel tears building up in your eyes. Before you could turn and walk away from him, Sothe grabs your hand.

“What do you want now, Sothe? Haven’t you already gotten enough satisfaction from mocking me?”

He flinches, but pulls you towards him into a hug. You widen your eyes to look up at him, but eases into the hug that he gives you.

“[Name]… I know that I seem harsh and overprotective sometimes but - you really mean a lot to me. More than you can ever think of… so please. I can’t bear to lose you…! Don’t hate me for this, but… I love you. And I want to protect you forever.”

Conrad

When you see Conrad in love, you will see this boy falling deeply in love.

Look up the definition of puppy love, and you’ll see Conrad’s name in it.

He’s willing to do anything for you - if you were busy, he’ll offer to help patrol for you, help cook with you, do the army’s laundry for you - Conrad is prepared to give his all to you!

In battle, you will see him gallantly defeating foes in front of you with his mask on. He’d be extremely graceful but merciless on the battlefield, proclaiming: “Prepare to die, foul beings! Whoever dares to face me in battle shall fall to my lance!” You giggle at how adorable but valiant he is being, and he gets a major boost of confidence when you do.

With his mask but now outside the battlefield, he’s the most suave and confident man you know. He’ll be bringing you flowers and the such (while madly blushing behind his mask), saying: “These flowers reminded me of you, [Name]. I hope they bring a smile to your face.” Conrad’s such a flirt with his mask on, but…

Without his mask on, he’s a bashful young boy again. He will follow you around whenever you have any duties around camp, helping you around with such tasks and engaging in a nice conversation with you. Whenever you would tease him about how cute he is, he turns extremely red and stutters a lot. This causes you to laugh, and Conrad is further drawn into you than ever.

Celica, being the ever observant younger sister she is, takes notice of Conrad’s infatuation for you. Like you, she teases him endlessly about whether she’ll get a new sister or not soon, and all this poor boy can do is melt into a puddle.

But Celica is extremely supportive as well. She helps Conrad to gain his confidence to confess to you, and he’s so thankful for her help all the time.

Eventually, you’ll see Conrad walking towards your direction shyly - he sharply breathes in to calm himself when he sees you skipping over to him.

“Conrad! It’s so good to see you! Is there anything that I can do for you?”

His face is burning at this point, but he takes both of your hands into both of his, and loudly exclaims:

“I cannot hold these feelings in any longer…! I-I love you, [Name]! I promise to stay by you forever, and be the knight that you deserve…”

You’re shocked at how bold and sudden his confession is, but if anything, you’ve only fallen for him even harder. Conrad is truly your unpredictable and loving man.

Boey

Boey becomes a bigger dork than he already is when he’s around you.

He tries to be smooth and gives you cheesy pick up lines, but he always adorably fails because of either: 1. He becomes to nervous and forgets the lines or 2. Mae laughs at him when he tries to do so.

Gods, he gets so very frustrated. However, when he sees the mirth in your eyes and your joyful laughter, it makes up for every mistake he’s done. 

Whenever Celica’s team has to pass through a wave of terrors or a large group of Necrodragons, the poor boy is trying extremely hard to stay composed and brave in front of you. Nonetheless, if he gets too scared, you let him cling onto you - his clinginess is probably one of the cutest things, honestly.

On the battlefield, he also shows off a lot more. 

“Look at this, [Name]!”

He’ll show off his cool fire magic and any new spells that he’s learnt over the course of this journey. Sometimes he may be caught off guard while showing off though, and you rush to his aid if that happens.

He honestly just loves how strong and admirable you are… When he talks to you, you can see how his eyes soften and his face has a darker shade to it.

Mae and Celica both pester him to confess his lover for you already. Mae impatiently says: “C’mon Boey. We love you. But we’re also sick of how you’re doing nothing! Let’s do it already!” while Celica laughs gently, agreeing with Mae’s words but also reminding Boey that he can take more time if he needs it.

Thanks to these 2 girls, he now finds himself waiting at the bonfire that the team has made to settle down at night. It’s your turn after his shift ends, so he waits patiently for you as time passes.

Once you come out of your tent to keep patrol, you see him looking into the fire, lost in thought. You smile and wave a hand in front of him, almost scaring him.

“[Name]!” 

“Haha, it’s nice to know you’ve snapped out of it. You should go to sleep now, Boey. I’ll keep you all safe next.”

With a blush, Boey says nothing. But instead, he pats the space next to him and tells you to sit down next to him.

Curiously, you plop down next to him and look at him. Boey hopes that the fire isn’t making his blush visible, but slowly, he laces his fingers with yours and looks down to the grass. Then eventually, he looks at you.

“I… You’re an amazing person, [Name]. I cannot think properly when I’m beside you, and every day you only make me fall in love harder for you. I love you, [Name], and if you love me back, I promise that you’ll be the happiest person alive when you’re with me.”

[badcowboy69]

A Driving Plan

Here’s a little story that’s going to open up an entire set of new, exciting possibilities for my courier and his partner.  It’s also my coming back into writing once more.  It’s been too long and hopefully this sort of absence won’t ever happen again.  Please give this a read and don’t worry it’s sfw lol    It’s just under the cut due to length.  As always this features my courier six, Travis Blackfox and his partner, Riley White who belongs to @zoey-and-dakota    Enjoy!

The light from the setting Mojave sun filtered through the drawn tan curtains covering the penthouse windows of the Lucky 38.  For some the day was finally coming to an end, but for many others it was only beginning.  One of those many was Travis Blackfox, co-ruler of New Vegas.  Humming to himself, he poured two glasses of red wine to get this evening started.  As he shoved the cork back into the bottle a smile tugged at the corners of his moustache hearing the chuckles coming from the other room.  Tonight was one of the little traditions he and his boyfriend, Riley, participated in each week.  After dinner was ate and things cleaned up, the couple would take the elevator to the penthouse.  There they would have drinks and share the company of Mister House, the mysterious being on a computer screen.  

Although for Travis it wasn’t that big of a mystery anymore.  After the second battle for Hoover Dam was won by Travis and his allies, House explained to him who he is and his mechanics.  At first Travis was baffled as to how a person could not only be alive after two centuries, but continue to function and control things.  With House now fully trusting Travis enough, he granted the courier permission to see the special isolation chamber where he “resides” via video imagery.  He then continued to explain in further detail his past role in the world as well as future aspirations.  

It was then Travis was offered the opportunity to continue living in the Lucky 38 and be co-ruler over New Vegas and its affairs.  Travis was taken aback by such a monumental request and gift and was unsure on how to respond.  Seeing he shocked the courier into silence, House went on to tell him that no matter what he chooses he’ll be taken care of for the rest of his life regardless.  Travis didn’t have to stay chained down living in the casino forever if he didn’t want to.  Not really having anywhere else to go or truly call home, Travis agreed.  He had everything a person could ever want and then some, but always stayed humble and generous through it all.  

As Travis entered the room, he gave a polite nod towards the green screened image of Mister House before handing a glass of wine to Riley.  Taking a seat next to his partner, he then raised his glass towards their host.  “Here we are in another exciting pre-war discussion!  What’s the topic gonna be for tonight?” he asked while taking a small sip of his drink, grimacing from the tart taste.

“We were talking about travel and places visited,” Riley replied as he leaned against the couch, casually crossing his legs.  “Robert here was telling me about his camping trips to Zion Canyon.  I know you’ve been there a few times.  Mind sharing some stories?”

Travis suddenly frowned and began plinking his fingers against his glass for a moment making Riley frown as well.  He knew every time Travis did that meant he was anxious about something.  Riley hoped he didn’t hit a nerve or put Travis on the spot with his innocent question.  

Taking a breath, Travis nodded slowly.  “A’yup, been there lots of times.  It’s beautiful.”  He paused and turned his attentions to Mister House.  “You’d be pleased to know it’s untouched by radiation.  There’s a few mutated critters of course like yao guai and cazadors.  Waters are fresh and clean, though.  Lots of game to hunt and fish to catch.  The Tribals that live there are great.”  He then paused for a few moments before lifting his head and holding Riley’s gaze with his.  “I’d so love to take you there, but it’s a long ways on my bike and I don’t think you’d be willing to go that kind of distance on it,” he said softly, almost defeated, making Riley understand Travis’ mood change.  

“Bike?  You’re still tooling around on that thing, Travis?” House chimed in.  “After all this time, especially with a partner, I thought you’d have a truck or car running by now for the two of you.  With your ingenuity I’m sure you could have salvaged something suitable to traverse the terrain in.”

“Ain’t any vehicles out there good enough for me to do anything with,” Travis grumped, dropping his gaze to the floor and taking a mouthful of wine.

“You mean ain’t any out there you haven’t already blown up,” Riley jested and gave his partner a playful nudge in hopes to make light of the suddenly touchy subject.  “You have to admit, you trashed a lot of vehicles that could have had potential.”

“Travis the TNT Terror of the Mojave has destroyed all possible salvageable vehicles?  Why am I not surprised,” House said dryly while Travis cleared his throat uncomfortably.

“Ain’t blew up the good ones,” Travis muttered giving House a resentful glare.  “Those that got blown up were needin’ to be properly kilt and all.”

Patting Travis on the leg and giving his knee a reassuring squeeze, Riley turned his attentions back to House in hopes to defuse the topic he feared would get heated soon.  “There are plenty of vehicles around out there if you can even call them that anymore.  Whatever the bombs didn’t destroy the elements finished the job.  Hardly any have interiors left to speak of.  Those that did aren’t exactly in easy places to get them out let alone work on them.  From what I’ve seen, it would take weeks if not months to gather up enough parts from many different cars and areas to rebuild something.”

“A’yup…cars ain’t like the motorcycles which are everywhere and easy to get around.  And even though the NCR got their trucks and stuff I’m sure they ain’t willing to hand over parts just so’s I can get a car going.”  Travis twitched his moustache in annoyance not liking the direction this conversation suddenly shifted.

However, House didn’t reply and the lack of his typical sarcasm made an uncomfortable silence fill the room.  Quirking an eyebrow Travis looked up at the screen where the stoic image of Mister House stared back at him.  Travis knew it was only a photograph, but the eyes seemed to be boring into him and it made the courier begin to fidget.

Riley began to pick up on Travis’ unease and he frowned not exactly sure what to say or do.  Giving Travis’ knee an affectionate squeeze, he then took the last mouthful of wine and set the glass down on the floor.  “So…where did the NCR get their vehicles from?” he began in a feeble attempt to break the silence.

After a few long moments of silence, House’s suave voice finally came through the speakers.  “Tell me, Riley…do you still remember how to drive?  Or did you even do so back in your days?”

Rubbing the back of his neck before sifting his fingers through his red hair, Riley gave a nod.  “Yeah.  Yeah I do remember, but I might be a bit rusty at it,” he laughed.  “I mean it has been over two hundred years after all.  I’m sure driving might have the same concept as riding a bike where once you learn you can always do it…but I don’t think if I were to do it again that I’d have too much to worry about.  I mean, there’s no more traffic laws or anything so I’m sure my crappy driving would be overlooked.  Hell, it would probably be praised!”

Once again House grew quiet and this time Riley questioned it.  “Robert, is everything ok?”

“Travis,” House said after long last, completely ignoring Riley’s question.  “Would you be so kind as to go into my old bedroom?  I’d like for you to fetch something for me out of the limited edition Nuka Cola protectron.  It is still there isn’t it?  I know you have a fondness for all things Nuka Cola related and I know of your disdain for those robots as well.”

Glancing at Riley first Travis shrugged and nodded slowly in uncertainty.  “Yeah, it’s still in there.  Why?”

“If you please, head to the robot and press the center button on its chest.  It’ll be the one bearing the logo for Nuka Cola.  Bring me what you find inside.  That is of course unless you already discovered it with all your poking around.”

“No, I ain’t discovered nothing with my poking around,” Travis grunted as he got to his feet and loped out of the room muttering under his breath.  He hastily climbed the stairs and headed towards House’s old bedchambers.  The robot in question stood near the doorway as it no doubt did for centuries.  However, it now had a Legion centurion helmet on it and was holding a spear thanks to Travis’ redecorating.  Pressing his finger against the button that House instructed him to do, Travis half expected the thing to come to life.  Instead a small compartment on the robot’s chest opened with a soft pop.  Furrowing his brow Travis looked inside to find a small brass key.  

Snatching it between his thumb and index finger, Travis looked it over trying to figure out what made it so special.  Not seeing any marks or indications as to what it might be for, he turned and made his way back downstairs.   As he stepped into the room, Riley turned to look at him, his eyebrows raised curiously as to what it was that Mister House needed Travis to go and fetch.  

Travis gave him a crooked grin and shrugged before holding the key up towards the monitor.  “Got it!”

“Splendid!”  House exclaimed so suddenly that Travis and Riley jumped from being startled.  “Now then, I’d like you to take the elevator down to the sub-basement area.  That was where you witnessed the upgrades I had given my Securitrons years ago in preparation for the batte.  Once there I will give you instructions on what to do next.”  With that House’s image instantly vanished from the monitor bathing Travis in its pale green light.

Travis turned to Riley who was already standing and stretching.  “I take it we’re off to a new adventure?” he asked, stifling a yawn as Travis stepped towards him.

The courier shrugged and stuffed the key into his pocket.  “I have no fucking idea,” he grumbled.  “I’m almost scared to find out what this is for.  With my luck it’ll be for some creepy ass robot.” “Well, whatever it is we aren’t going to find out about it staying here.  Come on, what happened to your sense of adventure?  I thought you always liked exploring and discovering new things?” “I do, but when it comes to stuff from House I got every reason to be concerned.  He’s the one that hired me years ago to deliver that stupid package that what got me killed.  Remember?”

Riley sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest as he followed Travis up the stairs to the elevator.  He could tell his partner was slowly starting to become unreasonable and irritable.  However, he knew from experience it was best to ignore him and eventually Travis would get back to normal.  Although Riley didn’t know House as long as Travis did, he felt the man wasn’t sending them on some wild, pointless mission.  It had to be something really exciting and special for House to suddenly have Travis find some long forgotten key.

Reaching the elevator Travis jammed his finger against the call button with a grunt.  “This really better not be something stupid,” he complained while the doors slid open allowing them entrance.

“Have some faith in the man, Travis.  I know that placid image on the screen we deal with doesn’t give much away emotion wise, but I picked up a hint of excitement in his voice when you showed him you had the key.  I don’t think he’d be excited if this was something stupid.”  

Travis waved it off and kept his gaze on the floor as he toed the carpet with his boot.  Riley patted him on the shoulder and leaned close to lightly kiss him on the cheek.  “Regardless of what this is all about, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Once the elevator got to its destination and the doors slid open, Riley let out a low whistle at the sight in front of him.  This was one area of the casino Travis had not shown him and it was truly something to behold.  Stepping out of the elevator put them onto a large balcony with a force field wall.  It was overlooking what appeared to be a training area of sorts with cement half-walls with targets on them.  Various sized ammunition shells were scattered on the floor as was large crumbled chunks of cement.  Along the walls were tables with what appeared to be a random assortment of tools, weapons, and more ammo.

“Starting a war?” Riley jested as he adjusted his glasses while turning his attentions to a computer and schematics piled high on the central table of the balcony.

“This was where some of House’s newly upgraded Securitrons showed off their weapons and junk,” Travis said dismissively.  “I really hated it when House sent me down here for the first time to watch the trials.  I know if it wasn’t for them we probably wouldn’t have won the battle, but they still give me the creeps.”

Riley smirked knowing his partner’s disdain for robots, but he did happen to catch a glimmer of fascination for the place in Travis’ blue eyes regardless.  Just then a crackling sound came over a speaker on the wall.  “Are you two down here yet?” House asked with slight impatience in his voice.

“A’yup, we’re here.  What now?” Travis asked while flicking some empty shotgun shells onto the floor.

“Head to your left and activate the computer on the wall.  The password is ‘rosebud’.”

Riley smirked at the possible reference to a pre-war movie, but seeing Travis’ bored expression he knew it went over his head.  As he followed Travis to the terminal, he made a mental note to explain it later on back in the Presidential Suite.  He would also have to ask House if the movie might be somewhere on holodisc or file for he and Travis to watch one night.

Once at the computer, Travis’ fingers flew quickly over the keys and prompted the machine to life.  After a few more clicks a screen appeared asking for the password.  Once inputted, Travis hit the enter button and waited.  The computer next began to make a soft whirring sound as it processed the information.  A beep soon indicated the password was accepted which was followed by a loud and unexpected grinding of gears.  

Unsure of what was going on or what to expect, Travis and Riley took a few cautious steps away from the computer.  Much to their surprise, the wall in front of them began to slide open revealing a steel door.  “Reckon this is where the key comes in,” Travis remarked as he dug in his pocket in search of the key.  Finding it he placed it in the hole and looked over his shoulder to Riley.  “You ready?” he asked getting a wide-eyed nod in return.  Travis turned the key until a satisfying click announced the door was unlocked.  Taking a deep breath and holding it, Travis cautiously turned the knob and gave the door a slight push open.

Both men waited as if anticipating a pack of rabid molerats to come pouring out of the room any second, but none came.  In fact, nothing happened for that matter.  “Well, I guess this is it,” Travis said with a slight bit of unease in his voice.

Riley detected it and clamped his hand on his partner’s shoulder.  “Don’t be so nervous.  You’ve known House for all these years and from what you’ve told me he’s always been generous towards you.  He might have a few rough edges and is snarky, but so is the best of us.  I’m sure he means well.” Travis snorted.  “Yeah, the man’s all heart.  Ah well, reckon we might as well get this over with.” and with that Travis gave the door a hard shove making it bang loudly against the wall.  Cautiously reaching inside the dark room, Travis groped around the wall feeling for a light switch.  Finding it he flipped it on and waited.  Long moments went by until at last the soft buzzing from fluorescent lights could be heard.  The bulbs closest to the door blinked and flickered until they came on and the rest followed suit for what appeared to be the length of at least two football fields.  

“Holy shit,” was the phrase both men seemed to gasp at exactly the same time.  Travis rubbed his eyes as if they were truly playing tricks on him.  Riley sort of copied the action by removing his glasses and examining them to make sure they weren’t faulty in some way.  Placing them back on he let out a long, low whistle seeing that the scene before him remained the same.

The room was surprisingly huge, way larger than either man might have expected.  The floor was made of white marble which shone dully in the fluorescent lights.  Various advertisement signs made out of metal hung on the walls along with a few neon ones which worked for the most part.  A workshop of sorts was in one corner stocked with a variety of tools,shelves, machinery and parts to who knows what.  On the opposite corner from the workshop, was a small bar area that seemed to be fully stocked with various liquors.  However, none of decor or set ups were important as the true reasoning behind this room quickly became the focal point.

What was stunning them so much and having them stand with eyes wide and jaws slack was the small collection of pre-war vehicles that were scattered throughout the room.  The collection wasn’t huge by eccentric millionaire pre-war standards, but for the current condition of the world, this was a very big deal.  The moderate collection consisted of three cars of different styles, one golf cart, and one truck.  They were all in perfect condition as best as could be expected for being over two hundred years old and untouched.

Riley was the first to break the shocked silence by taking a few tentative steps forward towards the closest vehicle.  It was a small blue golf cart with cracked leather seats which were once white, but now yellowed with age.  A pair of fuzzy dice, also yellowed, hung from the mirror and there was a vertical crack down the center of the windshield.  “Damn, this really is a treasure trove!  Never in my wildest dreams did I think this is what House wanted to share with us.  Wouldn’t it be great if this thing still worked?  Hell, wouldn’t it be great if all of these still worked?” he asked as he continued looking over the cart, blowing at the dusty dashboard which in turn made him sneeze.  However, the question went unheard as his partner had wandered off doing his own thing.   

Travis was towards the left gravitating in fascination to a sporty looking red car.  He never saw a vehicle quite like this and it made him think of a spaceship.  It was a low to the ground single seater car with a glass bubble top.  The surface was quite dusty which in turn dulled the paint, but it still looked to be in great shape.  Unfortunately all four tires were flat and one of the rims was bent as a result making the car slant at an angle.  Travis frowned seeing that and kicked at the tire in disappointment with the toe of his boot. Hearing a low whistle behind him, Travis turned to see Riley sauntering his way with his hands stuffed in his pockets.  “Holy shit, a Cherry Bomb!” he exclaimed in amazement while bending to look through its clouded glass.

“Did you ever have one of these?” Travis asked as he wiped away the ancient dust gathered on one of the torpedo shaped headlights.

“No, but saw a few tooling around the neighborhood.  Man, these things were fast on the open roads.  This…this is amazing.  This entire room is simply unbelievable!”  He straightened his posture and leaned against the car while continuing to gaze around the room to see what other vehicles were down here.  Near where the golf cart sat was a green pickup truck.  It was no surprise its tires were flat, but it also had a large oily looking stain under it making Riley frown some.  “Looks like that one is out of commission.”

“Yeah…” he began ruefully while heading towards a sleek black four-door sedan.  “All these cars…ain’t never seen them in this fine of shape.  Not even the ones I saw in those isolated spots out in the Mojave.  Seen plenty in storage in garages and stuff, but they were ransacked.  These all have possibilities, but I don’t know much about them…well…other than they blow up real good.”

Riley snorted and joined his man at the black car.  “Well, promise me you won’t blow these up.”

Travis turned to him grinning broadly.  “Aw hell, you take away all the fun.”   Wrapping his arms around Travis’ waist, Riley brushed his lips lightly over his cheek before resting his chin on his shoulder.  “You have the entire Mojave to blow up.  I’m sure you can find it in your heart to spare these vehicles.”

Humming in mock thought Travis shrugged and leaned back against him.  “Well…I reckon I can make an exception this time,” he laughed.

“Hello?  Are you boys there yet?” House’s voice suddenly echoed through the room.  

Looking around trying to figure out where the voice came from, Riley was first in spotting a small intercom near one of the work benches.  Tapping Travis on the shoulder he pointed it out.  Arching an eyebrow, Travis loped towards the intercom and pressed the call button.  “A’yup, we’re here,” he drawled.  “Dang this is off the fucking charts, House.  I had no clue about any of this.  Surprised you ain’t mentioned it before!”

“Of course I didn’t, you ninny!”  House snapped.  “You always carried on and on about those damn motorcycles of yours.  Once the battle was over and we started planning on getting New Vegas and the surrounding areas back in shape I completely forgot all about this room.  It’s funny how after all these years a random conversation sparked it.”

“Well, it’s certainly impressive,” Travis admitted as he watched Riley drifting over to a long, pale blue car that was lifted up on four sturdy jacks.  “What is it you’d like us to do with this newly gained knowledge?”

“Fix them!” House barked.  “Do I even have to suggest that?  Ever since I met you all you did was talk about travel and that only increased when you started to reinvent the motorcycles scattered around the Mojave.  When that dolt NCR sniper finally left, your talks stopped for the longest time and I never knew how to bring them up.  I am not one for coddling, you know this.  I knew you’d figure things out on your own eventually.  You have a passion, Travis.  You are a bright lad and you’ve come so very far.  I suppose once again through your passion I’d like to see mine brought back to life.  I don’t know what sort of condition of the vehicles are in, but hopefully you’ll find at least one or two that you can get running again.  Regardless of being well protected these past two centuries, I’m sure they still suffer from neglect.  This could be a great project the both of you can share in.” Travis was stunned beyond words and stood staring at the intercom with his mouth slightly agape.  All the years he’s known Mister House, he never really knew the man to be anything other than sarcastic.  He always seemed to manage to make Travis feel like a dumb hick more often than not.  That alone made Travis not want to spend much time discussing things other than business.  He jumped feeling Riley’s hand on his shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts.  “Are you kidding me?  It’s perfect!  I mean…umm…how do we even get a car out of here?  Fixing one ain’t gonna serve any purpose if we can only drive around down here.”

House let out a long and exasperated sigh.  “Did you even stop to think how the cars got down here in the first place?  I sometimes wonder if that bullet took away more than your memories, courier.  Go down to the far end of the room and you’ll see another computer monitor on the wall.  It has the same setup like the one you used to get in here.  Behind the wall will be a mile long tunnel leading up to a sealed entrance that is similar to one you see in Vaults.  Use the key I gave you on the control panel and it’ll open to the outskirts of New Vegas.  I don’t know what the situation is for the entrance on the other side, however.  It could be covered with debris and if that’s the case I’ll send some Securitrons over to clear it out.  Maybe you should take one with you anyway in case the door opens to something unpleasant.  For all I know a pack of deathclaws made their nest in the area.”

Travis heard Riley groan at the very notion there might be deathclaws around and it made him chuckle.  “Yeah, good point.”  He paused for a minute, his finger hovering over the intercom button.  Taking a deep breath he pressed the button and said, “This is mighty generous of you, House.  I mean, this was obviously something you’ve been wanting to share with me for a while.  I’ve been a right idjet and I can’t thank you enough for this unexpected surprise.”

“It’s not your fault,” House replied, his voice sincere instead of the dry sarcasm that Travis was generally so used to.  “We are both a little to blame in that matter.  Plus I know you had your mind wrapped around Benny, the Platinum Chip, the battle…and afterwards there was simply so much to take care of.  Don’t worry about any of that.  What’s done is done and it’s all water under the bridge so to speak.  You have done so much for me and all of New Vegas, I can’t thank you enough.  Consider this a very well deserved added bonus you should have got a long time ago.”

A long bit of silence then followed which caught Riley’s attention.  He watched Travis carefully chewing on his lower lip, his mind no doubt zooming a million miles an hour trying to find the right words.  He knew Travis had an uneasy sort of relationship with House and was no doubt confused by the obvious attempt to start anew on a more positive note.  Dropping his arm over Travis’ shoulders, Riley gave him a squeeze and answered instead.  “You certainly are giving back some nostalgia to me in doing this, Robert.  We both thank you.” “You are most certainly welcome.  Hopefully something down there will be salvageable.  Anyway, it’s late.  I best bid you two goodnight for now.  I will look forward to hearing about any updates and progress.”

“Goodnight,” both men replied almost in unison making Travis smirk as he clicked off the intercom.

“Well…reckon we got a whole lot of work ahead of us now, huh?” Travis asked while stifling a yawn.

Riley put his hands in his pockets and made his way back towards the pale blue car he was looking over earlier.  He bent to look under the car then began feeling the tires.  “Out of all of them this one might have the strongest possibility of being resurrected.  There’s nothing indicating leaks that I can see.  Being up on heavy jacks might have very well saved the tires, especially the rims.”  

“Chryslus Corvega,” Travis read off the nameplate located on the car’s grill.  

“This is the kind of car I used to have.  I really hope we can get it to operate.” “Do you know how to fix one?”  Travis asked while opening the driver door and taking a seat.  Running his hands over the cream colored steering wheel he looked over the buttons and levers on the control panel wondering what they all could be for.  Other than the radio everything else was foreign to him.

Opening up the passenger door and sliding in next to his partner, Riley felt a faint smile dance on his lips in excitement.  It’s been ages since he’s sat in a proper vehicle.  “Not hardly, but I’m sure with your ingenuity and all the books around here there’ll be something somewhere that can assist us further,” Riley chimed while opening up the glove compartment in search of a possible owner’s manual.  “I’m afraid the best I can offer is light maintenance and of course the skills on driving it.”

“Lots of potentials and possibilities with this thing,” Travis said, leaning back against the seat while moving his hands over the wheel and making humming sounds like he’s heard the trucks of the NCR make.

Riley chuckled at Travis’ antics then scowled seeing the manual was not in the compartment.  “If we can get this thing running…” Riley began, but drifted off not daring to get his or Travis’ hopes up too high.  

“When we can get this thing running the trip down the Long 15 to the big waters won’t be just a dream of mine anymore.  I mean, ain’t nothing stopping me anyways, but I don’t want to go alone and you ain’t too keen taking that long of a trip on the back of my bike.”

Going quiet for a moment Travis mulled over the possibilities in his mind before continuing.  “Four doors…lots of room inside,” Travis encouraged while fingering the keys that still dangled from the steering column.  “Plenty of room for supplies.  Lots of room for our tent.  Hell…back seat’s so big we could just sleep on it instead….fuck on the back seat for all that matters.  So much dang room…we can even take Rex with us.”

“Travis, we can take whatever you like with us.”  Riley began to bite at his thumbnail for a moment before taking a deep breath and clamping his hand on Travis’ thigh.  “Let’s do this!  Let’s clean up this place and get started on getting this thing running again.  It’ll be a bit awkward for me to remember how to drive one of these, I mean, it’s been centuries,” he chuckled and smiled more seeing the excitement shining in Travis’ crystal blue eyes.  “Just don’t be angry if I hit something.”

“Riles, what the hell are you gonna hit in the desert? A fucking cactus?

“Hey, that fucking cactus can do serious damage I’m sure!  Then it’s settled.  Let’s get a good night’s sleep and we can start on this project after lunch tomorrow.  Sound like a plan?”

“It’s perfect!” Travis exclaimed excitedly while getting out of the car.  Taking a long, slow gaze around the room at his newly acquired treasure, he nodded proudly and put his hands on his hips.  “A’yup, this is gonna be great!  Mornin’ ain’t gonna come soon enough!”

To be continued….

[sunriseoverastorea]

Home

♬ Jeremy Soule - Far Horizons

Day 5

I think it's been five days—but I could be off, one or two. Been out of it a lot. And now I'm finally out of the doctor's office. Hosta thinks I'm hilarious. Refusing to stay in bed, but with nowhere to be. I can't just sit around waiting to heal. I have to explore, even if I can't get very far. Today, I saw Hosta's bakery, and she gave me this tart wedge thing. Then I stopped at what constitutes a general store here, and bought myself better clothes with money from Telford. They're still not what I'd choose to wear, but at least I have pants now, and boots that fit me. And sturdy leather gloves—to hide my hands with. Telford is fascinated by my prosthetics, and swears he won't tell anyone about them. I don't have much choice but to trust him.

 She sits on her cot in Telford's practice, slowly, painfully bending her legs, and tucking them up against her chest. She maneuvers a crudely cut copper coin between her fingers, concentrating on keeping the coin in motion. Time and again, it falls to the wrinkled bed sheets, and she sighs softly, watching her fingers fold and clench around the coin, lethargic as if weighted beneath a mile of water. Seized by frustration, she hurls the coin across the room, where it dings harmlessly against the front door, and she pounds her fists against the bed, crying out in the sudden flash of pain that sears across her burns.

Day 10

Got my own place now. Funded by Telford, of course. Paid a month in advance for a room in the inn. He let me take a bunch of his books with me, and my reading is improving, if very slowly. Their language may strongly resemble ours, but their alphabet does not. Not in the slightest. Anyway, I get to see the crappy bard that Hosta's always talking about. He plays downstairs in the tavern, so I'm gonna try and listen every night, learn whatever I can from his tall tales. There's so much to learn—an entire world to understand. I feel like it hasn't sunk in yet. If it weren't for the complete lack of magic, I wouldn't even know I had left Tyria. I have to keep reminding myself that this is an alien land. I am stranded, many of my most valuable possessions lost. I don't know what's going to happen to me, but just as in Tyria, it seems I can't look back. Only ahead, at what bridges I haven't already burned.

She perches upon the stairs coming down from the second floor of the inn, and watches the bard attentively. An older man, with a plain face and plain clothes, but a rich, sonorous voice. Gnarled fingers strum effortlessly upon a fine lute, and stories of fallen kingdoms fill the hush of the tavern, seeming to bring life back to the worn wooden walls, reminding them they were once great trees. Marea strains to understand the even more melodic lilt of the Middle-Earth accent when sung, and every now and then, her concentration is shattered—blackness and silver stars fill her vision, assaulting her in rare moments of peace, and she jerks her face away, trying to hide, though the void always returns in time, a lingering tune that she can't get out of her head, that haunts her with its sweet, empty melody.

Day 30

I've memorized some of the bard's stories. A few of Telford's books, too. Not much else to do than read and listen. I've talked some with the townspeople, though I try not to be too friendly. They all know who I am, the strange foreigner from the south that showed up looking like she just rolled out of a bonfire. I don't want to accidentally do anything that will arouse suspicion. I should have the upper hand here, but without guns and magic, and with my skin too fucked up to move fast with a dagger, I can't risk a witch hunt. The people are nice, though. Curious, but harmless, so far. In a lot of ways, talking to them is just like talking to someone in Tyria. The farmers talk about their crops, shopkeepers gossip, and kids stare at me and whisper, until I lunge at them and go 'boo!' Then they scatter like roaches, good riddance. Still, even with all they have in common on the surface, these people feel different. I can't put my finger on what it is. Every time I think I understand them, some small thing puts me back to square one. One of those teenage habit-things tried to steal a cupcake from Hosta yesterday, and when she spotted him, he ran off laughing with his prize, and she only shook her spatula and yelled at him. Just let him go without a fight. I guess it's not that strange. I guess.

She goes downstairs in the wee hours of the morning. Dreams interrupted by starry space, she seeks respite in the waking world, though her eyes droop with the weariness of many sleepless nights. She sits at the empty bar, staring at the sparsely stocked shelves. She perches on the edge of a table, rolling a salt shaker between her hands. She crouches down before the fireplace, ashes still simmering faintly, and in those ashes she sees a thousand twinkling universes. So she quickly turns away, and spies a pile of bags by the double front doors. Atop them rests a small harp, fit to be carried around with ease while slung over one shoulder. It fits perfectly in her hands, the arms on either side formed of delicately carved ivory, silver strings glinting like pale silk spiderwebs.

She closes her eyes, imagining the practiced caress of the bard's knotted old fingers, and she strums a chord. The fleeting music fills the shadowy silence of the deserted tavern, and a smile finds it way onto her face. It feels as if it has been years since she smiled. Even while she looks to the future, the reality of a new reality weighs heavily on her shoulders, and as she clumsily plinks out pretty tunes on the harp, that weight is lifted, and suddenly she can breathe again. Breathe as she did on the deck of the Horizon, high in the skies of Tyria, far from that world and the next. As if she were in her own bubble of space and time, and nothing but the rain could touch her.

A hand grasps her shoulder, and she yelps in surprise, fingers slipping and striking a comically hideous chord on the harp. The bard comes up behind her, one eyebrow raised over a crooked smile, and throws open the front doors, where a horse-drawn wagon loaded with hay awaits him. Marea steps back, watching in confusion as he grabs the bags by the door and throws them up into the wagon, then climbs aboard himself, raising a hand to wave goodbye as he perches upon a golden bale.

“Wait!” The wagon pulls away, the clopping of horse hooves echoing upon the cobblestones of the silent town. “You forgot this!” Marea takes a few hurried steps after the bard, harp held aloft, but her nerves scream in protest, and the man is growing farther away by the moment. He gazes up at the dawning sky, perfectly at peace without his ivory harp. And Marea stands in front of the inn with her new prize, clutching it tightly to her chest.

Day 50

Came to the first town I've seen since leaving Archet. Been practicing a lot between there and here, so hopefully they'll comp me a room at the inn. Sleeping outside here is lovely, but I can't shake the feeling that I'll be unpleasantly surprised by some hitherto impossible threat, native to Middle-Earth. Not that I've found any reason to worry about that here. Almost everyone's been fucking harmless. But there's plenty of time for the universe to prove me wrong. I'm heading south, to a place called Rohan. I've heard the name before, but I don't know where—it almost sounds like a dream, to me. An unreal concept. But I know I've heard it, and if I need a direction to travel, I might as well go there. I have the bard and his tales of 'riders' to thank for that.

Marea plops her butt in a chair on the makeshift stage in the tiny village inn. Only the cook and four grizzled men occupy the room, so hardly a crowd, but even still her skin tingles with nervousness, and she knows her hands would be leaden if she could feel them. She clears her throat, and strums a starting chord, followed by a dramatic, fully unintentional pause, before finally she spits the words out. She sings one of the bard's simpler tales, a silly song about forest critters stealing food from each other, and when she finishes, she promptly gets hit in the eye with a copper coin. The offering seems to be in lieu of clapping, as one of the gruff men stares at her expectantly.

“Thank you, thank you,” she blurts out, shoving the penny down her bodice. “You're too kind.”

The man grins, whether because of her stage presence or the fact that his money went to rest beside her boobs, she will never know. She isn't offered a free room that night, but after singing an hour of songs with her best attempt at a legible accent, she buys herself a bowl of hot meat stew, and cherishes every savory bite after weeks with only roots and berries. When she has licked up every drop, she finds herself a little shelter beneath the trees outside the village, inspects her injuries to ensure none have worsened, then lies down her head in the lush green grass, and dozes with the crickets under a bright full moon.

Day 100

Horses are fucking awesome. God damn, if I ever go back to Tyria, I absolutely have to hunt one down and take it for myself. There's gotta be someone in the world that still has horses, or else we wouldn't all remember them so well. Right? Anyway, this ones name was Lila, but I'm renaming her Indigo. Another play on Inigo, I know, real creative. But she's kinda colored that way—like me, she has a black mane, but it shines blue when it catches the light just right. She's so beautiful. Smaller than a lot of the horses I've seen, but full of energy, and crazy. The other day she went off after a bunny for miles, and I could barely get control of her. Could say it's just because I'm inexperienced, but I think she's extra spunky. And to think, I didn't even have to kill anyone to get her. Just walked off while no one was looking. These people are so damn trusting.

She sits on the edge of the well in the town square, carefully tuning her harp. She must be very careful about it, since she was never properly taught, but she learns quickly through trial and error, and if she doesn't do things in the most practical way, at least she adapts herself as needed. A few families have gathered before her, waiting for the show. A starting crowd of fifteen, the largest she's had.

“May I have your attention,” Marea interjects through the chattering crowd, who immediately go silent and stare at her in confusion. “The accent works wonders, huh?” she jokes, to which the people only stare some more. “Today I will be testing out a new song on you guys, not the classics you know and love, but something that really comes from the heart. So if it sucks, be honest with me afterwards, okay?”

A lone voice calls out from somewhere on the street: “'Sucks?' How would it 'suck?'”

“Not important!” Marea chimes cheerfully, rolling her eyes, and with a careful flick of her damaged fingers, the tale begins.

Day 150

These people love the Ode to Ascalon, holy shit. I'm getting free rooms and meals and kids are singing along with my own accent. I can almost see why people think kids are cute, for the first time in my life. People even recognize me in some places—I step through the gates and they go hey, that's the foreign bard with the one red eye! Damn straight I am, harping my way right into your hearts. I've never been involved with music before this, but it seems I've got a knack, especially when I put my own words into it. I still feel like I'm attracting too much attention, sometimes. If these people saw me the way the Ferny family did, when I first arrived, I'm sure they'd turn on me in a second. But as long as the gun and the prosthetics are tucked away, I'm just a woman from a distant fishing village with odd mismatched eyes and a knack for made-up myths. Although Ascalon is neither made-up nor myth. I wonder if they'd feel differently, knowing it was real.

She sits at the bar of yet another tavern, braiding her hair while she awaits her morning meal. Her once-charred locks reach her shoulders now, and although the braids are stubby and stick out a bit goofily, she's missed having them. Now her frizzy dark halo will stay closely plaited to her skull, out of her eyes, right where it belongs.

Alongside her hair, her body has been healing, too. The skin of her back and her legs is hideous—without the advanced medical knowledge of Tyria, there was nothing to be done except cut away the dead skin, and keep what remained from becoming infected. A patchwork of leathery browns and reds covers her concealed flesh, and she tries to think of it as resembling the bark of a sylvari. But when she looks at her reflection, and confronts the pale whiteness of her chest to the mangled mess of her back, she can't help but feel a certain repulsion. Far worse than the scars of whippings and fights that she once had. Where once she was a map of of brutal tales to tell, now she is the chewed-up and spit out remnants of one tale, one story, a story that still haunts her when she closes her eyes, so that sometimes, she forgets to blink. And when she does blink, those eerie stars rush at her, and she flinches away, much to the concern of those around her.

She can't tell anyone about the visions. As it is, she is only strange. Strange only raises eyebrows. But madness raises weapons.

Day 200

It came upon me so suddenly. I reached the pass between the mountains, just like I was told I would. There was a great tower, easily the most imposing thing I've seen since coming here, but I kept to the shadows and the trees, since it was mentioned at the last town that a powerful wizard resides there, and being a powerful wizard is a much bigger deal here than in Tyria. I'll make it a mystery for another day. All the better to reach my destination.

Though at first I was hesitant to believe I actually made it, it's been a few days now, and there's no questioning that I'm here. I'm on my way to the capital, I think. Most of the people here don't speak the same language as the humans I've been dealing with, so it's been difficult getting around, but they're still nice enough. I've sang a few songs for them. I like to look at them, in as non-creepy a way as possible, because they're familiar. Blue eyes and blonde hair, a fair number looking like they just got back from bench pressing a charrcopter. If I needed more assurance than the land itself, that would do it.

Indigo races across the plains, long grasses parting for her obsidian hooves. In the distance, Marea spots a gaggle of other horseback riders, and waves to them, spirited in the crisp evening air. At first she receives no reply, but after a moment, one man waves back to her, shouting something unintelligible, and Indigo gallops on, over rolling hills bordered all around by massive white mountains. Where the Shiverpeaks are imposing, these craggy, snowy peaks seem to beckon her onward, onto horizon after horizon, forever chasing the last gleam of sunlight as it passes beneath their crystalline pinnacles.

Before she reaches the city, she pauses by a rushing river so Indigo can drink, and she splashes her face with the chilly water. She licks it off her lips, and she tilts her head back to the pale rosy sky, the wind snapping her cape through the air.

“'A place of verdant plains and roaming horses, nestled between two great mountain ranges and a wide, flowing river.' Welcome to the homeland, Marea,” she whispers, a broad smile lighting up her face. She gets on her horse, and they turn towards Edoras, the city on a hill only a mile in the distance. They ride the fading light to a place to rest for the night, and many nights to come.

Day 300

I almost feel sorry for Raigar, that he had to leave this place, for whatever reason, and travel to Tyria. Sure, it isn't perfect. It's backwards and poor in comparison to what I know. But at the same time, there is so much—spirit. There's a wholeness to the people that Tyrians lack. Even when they fight and they suffer, there's none of the bitterness I know from home. If I could call it home. I don't know how I'd get back. And I don't want to go back. I'm learning the speech of the Rohirrim, very, very slowly, but it's not as important in Edoras, since more people speak the common tongue here. They still sound extra funky, as I must to them, but they enjoy my music and I enjoy their fleeting company, so it's not a problem. They take great care of Indigo in the stables, so I never have to worry about her. And there's so much open space—endless open space. It's like something out of a dream. I may not have a ship, but I have a horse and rolling fields. And I think that's more like flying than anything I've experienced before.

She starts the hike around noon, and finally reaches the lookout point in early evening, when the sun is just beginning to sink in the sky. Halfway up one of the smaller mountain peaks, the breeze blowing her long braids behind her, she feels like she beholds the entirety of the world before her. She can see from range to range, river to river, she can see Edoras and half a dozen other villages scattered like crumbs in the distance. Only a fraction of Middle-Earth, an impossibly small grain of sand in the stars of the void. But it is the only world she needs.

It hits her suddenly, and wet tears are streaming down her face. Warmth fills her veins from head to toe, and her heart swells with emotion. She clutches her hands to her chest, and she laughs and she sobs as happiness overwhelms her. She can't say why she is happy, only that her bliss is complete, she watches the sky darken and flush with color as the sun sinks ever lower, and she silently cries that it should never leave her. For when the sun leaves, she feels in the pit of her stomach that she will lose it. She will lose the sun, and though it will rise and set every day to come, it will never be the same, and she will long for the joy that she felt in that moment, for the rest of her life.

Gazing out over the mountains cast in burnished golden light, she feels as if she were lost in a beautiful dream. And if only she could remain lost forever, she would never want for freedom again.

As the sun dips below the mountain peaks, casting the valley in shadow, her ecstasy fades. Even the memory of it grows faint, though she will never forget that it happened. She wipes the last tears from her cheeks, and starts down the path, carefully picking her way through rocks and gravel. About halfway along, she pauses, hearing the crackle of footsteps in the woods nearby. It could be anyone, out for an evening walk, just like her. But for some reason, she finds herself immediately drawn off the trail, into the copse of trees, treading light as a fawn as she searches for her fellow wanderer.

He stands in a small clearing, and gazes at a lone little sapling sprung up through the grass, in contemplation. Tall and broad-shouldered, with long golden hair framing his angular face, in which striking blue eyes are set like sapphires. Though he wears the clothes of the noble Rohirrim, the face is unmistakable, and Marea nearly shouts out his name before she manages to tear herself away, fleeing back to the trail and all the way down the mountain, her mind racing with a thousand questions and confusions.

Later that night, she closely watches the entrance to the city. She sees him return on horseback, greeted warmly by name by villagers and vassals. As he passes her tavern, he catches her eye for a moment, and time seems to stop—she prays that he will recognize her, that he will say her name as Tyrians do, that he will leap off his mount and sweep her up in his arms because he has missed her so much, his dear friend, his sister.

But clear blue eyes merely glance over her, and he continues up the road, high into the city.

She doesn't sing that night, or the next night, or the night after that. She climbs the mountain trail, and she stares out over the plains and the hills, and she waits for that beautiful dream to return. But she can see nothing but Raigar's face in her mind's eye.

Day 310

I'm going back. I have to. I'm so confused. I had never felt so, so happy, so at peace, until I came here, and now it all feels so wrong, just like Tyria does. Raigar is here. He is still here. But he left! He left a long time ago, and barely even remembers this place. I don't understand. How can there be two of one person? Did something happen to him? But it doesn't matter how it happened, because here, he doesn't know me. And I can't live in a world like that. It's one thing to leave behind your best friend, another to find him again, but be a stranger to him. I feel like I should've seen this coming. Something was gonna fuck up my stay in Middle-Earth. And of course it's a Tyrian, if I could call this Raigar that, since I guess Tyrian Raigar isn't even Tyrian, technically. But yeah. Going back. I have a hunch and I desperately hope I'm right, 'cause if I'm not, I'm trapped here.

She rides for months, only pausing so she and Indigo can rest. She stops in no towns, she eats in no taverns, the picturesque countryside races by in a blur that she can't be bothered to look at. All she sees is the path ahead of her, and the void on either side of it, shooting stars filling her chest with cold dread. Yet she keeps her feet firm in the stirrups, and clenches her teeth to stave off the terror of what's to come.

Day 370

I left Indigo with Hosta. She wasn't home, but I wrote a note, and I know she'll take good care of her. I wish I could bring Indigo with me, but I can't imagine what the void would do to an animal, if this is what it does to me. Not worth the risk. I suffer because I understand what I've chosen to do. Wouldn't be fair to make a horse go through that.

At sundown, she hitches her belongings on her back. Like a pack mule, buried under a huge bulging bag, with a sheet of white metal, her prized Horiz remains, strapped over top of it. She strides through the clearing where she crashed a year ago, heading due north. The forest grows thicker, untouched for decades, if not centuries. A small patch of woodland mysteriously avoided by the locals, who likely never even realized it was there. And in the heart of this overgrown grove, she finds a standing stone, two stories tall, almost completely buried in vines. Although the air is still and lifeless as only it can be in a land without magic, the second her forehead touches the stone, the breath is knocked out of her.

In the moment before she goes, she hears Raigar's voice in her head, and suddenly she remembers a series of waking dreams from long before, when she was still over the Unending Ocean, in search of the otherworldly storm that would take her out of Tyria.

You'll get there. And then you'll know what home is.

“You,” she says quietly, even as a wail of panic builds in her throat, voice trembling. “Home is wherever you are.”

And this time, instead of falling into the abyss, she dives.