#rather than just Disappearing and Reappearing In The Tank

[nsuyeula]

Okay I'm in the depths of RWBY brainrot and yet also have a crippling addiction to pokemon sleep so fuck it RWBY X POKEMON PARTNER HEADCANONS!

Ruby Rose & Shaymin (Skye Form)

It seems fitting that Ruby would have a Mythical Pokemon as her partner, considering she has silver eyes (which is considered rare and very powerful). Shaymin (Skye Forme) is a speedy Grass/Flying type, which fits well with Ruby's Semblance. Shaymin can also instantly purify toxins, and can release the purified substance it processes in a violent, explosive burst - not so disimilar to how the power of silver eyes can nuke the Grimm.

Weiss Schnee & Ninetails (Alolan Form)

Obviously, Weiss was going to have an Ice Type Pokemon. According to legends, nine noble saints were united and reincarnated as Ninetails, and each of its nine tails has its own unique type of special mystical power. Maybe I'm stretching just a little bit, but it fits with her Seblance that relies heavily on the use of Dust (various forms of power) and how Glyth's are only inheritable via bloodline.

The Alolan form Pokedex entry also states that it possesses a calm demenor, will show themselves to the virtuous who are lost, and can not forgive those who cause harm - which I also think is a good reflection of Weiss's character in the later volumes.

Yang Xiao Long & Pangoro

Originally, I considered Taurus for Yang's companion because of their Anger Point's ability (Raises attack power when dealt a critical hit), but they didn't really fit Yang as a person, so I instead went with Pangoro. Alongside their Iron Fist ability (boost power of punching moves), they are kind to those it considers their friend - despite being quick to anger sometimes- and do not tolerate those who pick on the weak.

Being a Fighting / Dark type, they also acts as a nice tie to both of Yang's parents.

Blake Belladonna & Liepard.

Out of all the cat pokemon, Liepard fitted Blake the best. The Dark type feline can disappear and reappear without warning and is known to attack silently and from behind, plus is famous for being moody (thought Blake does develop past that archetype in later volumes). Liepard and it's pre-evaluation are commonly used by the grunts of Team Plasma in the Black & White games, which works well with Blake's origins with the White Fang.

Jaune Arc & Meowstic (Male)

Male Meowstic's have a strong defensive instinct compared to their female counterparts and prefer to offer support rather than attack, which compliments Jaune's role as a tank, tactician, and healer rather than an combatant. Not that they aren't capable of inflicting serious damage if needed to protect themselves or others. It can harm itself as a side effect of using too much psychic energy, which you could connect to how Jaune is able to give his own Aura to help others, even at his own detriment.

Side note - but Meowstic's pre-evolution Espurr is such a pathetic, bug eyed little bean who I think encompasses V1-V3 Jaune perfectly.

Pyrrha Nikos & Lucario

Being a Fighting / Steel type, Lucario already was an obvious choice for someone like Pyrrha, who is an extremely skilled combatant and also has control over metal with her Semblance Polarity. Beyond that however, I also picked Lucario as they are one of the most popular Pokemon of all time, regularly in the top 10 of popularity polls, which I think fits with the image Remnant has of Pyrrha - the pride of Mistral; the Invincible Girl. Together. Pyrrha and Lucario would be a picturesque and fearsome partnership, one that would have won other the hearts of many during their four consecutive wins of the Mistral Regional Tournament.

Nora Valkyre & Tinkaton

This one was obvious and was one of the pairings that spurred me to waste hours making this post. Their signature colour is pink, they both carry hammers and can lift over 100kg with ease. Despite strength being their defining characteristic, Tinkaton is highly intelligent, which is reflective of an aspect of Nora that lies underneath her silliness and bravo. The pokemon is also very daring, if a little reckless, which would contribute to how the huntress only sees herself as someone who can only be strong and hit stuff.

Lie Ren & Lurantis

The Bloom Sickle Pokémon fits the Pistol Sickle weilder mostly just on visual vibes. Pink Flower based Mantis Pokemon with the Pink Aura, Lotus Symbol, quiet Huntmen? Chef kiss. But a little bit of thought did go into pairings these two beyond aesthetic reasons. A pokedex entry talks about how maintaining Lurantis's vibrant petal colours is a true test of its trainers' attentiveness, which reflects Ren's nature to contemplate and observe. It's pre-evolution Fomantis is nocturnal and hates having their naps interrupted, which is a fun little link to how development for Ren's personality started from how Nora was a morning person while Ren wasn't.

Oscar Pine & Eevee (Shiny Version)

This one I put a lot of lore reasoning into. Eevee are the most adaptable of any pokemon, being able to evolve into eight different forms of differing types. They can also start to adopt the face of their trainer. Pokedex entries describe the pokemon as having a irregular genetic makeup, and is viewed to hold the secret to evolution as a whole.

All of this ties in really nicely to Oscar's role as a reincarnation of Ozma, taking on his soul after the passing of Ozpin. While their souls will merge together eventually - as with all previous reincarnations - I like to think that is the point their eevee's evolve, acting as the last reflection of the individual who once was. I also specifically chose for all of Ozma's reincarnation's eevees and subsequent eeveelutions to be shiny's, symbolising their connection to something greater and more magical than other morals.

For a little added headcanon tidbit - Ozpin's eevee evolved into an Espeon.

Penny Polendina & Scizor

Beyond the fitting-ness of the type matching - Steel matching Penny being a Android, and Bug fitting her Allusion of being Pinocchio, Scizor also works well as Penny's partner in lore also. Scyther can only evolve into Scizor when traded while holding a Metal Coat, which you could theoretically tie to how Pietro traded part of his soul and Aura to create Penny. The pokemon also represents Atlas as a whole - surrounding itself in technology and metal at the expense of disconnecting itself from the rest of the natural world.

-

Think there is an image limit to posts, so I'll stop there before it gets too long, but maybe I'll do another post for other RWBY characters some other time

[awalkingballofanxiety]

Tessa's blood

Some people have pointed out that the solver holograms have imperfections, and the blood on Tessa has been pointed out to be very inconsistent, so I went back and watched ep 6 at .25 speed to see if I could find any other imperfections.

It disappears and reappears multiple times in the same like 10 seconds, when all the drones are together. V doesn't even seem to be able to see the blood in the picture from her perspective. The pattern for her blood also doesn't change when she kind of just sprays it everywhere. The blood on the sentinel that bit her is consistent too, even when there no other drones around and it doesn't make sense to bother projecting it, especially if the solver is already messing the blood up that much. While I'm unsure of whether Tessa is actually Tessa, the vanishing blood isn't what struck me as weird. It is very bright red, which happens when it is oxygen rich. Considering the air is kinda sorta toxic and the most evidence of an oxygen tank I could on her is a tiny compartment on her shoulder, it seems weird that her blood would be saturated.

Also, that's a lot of blood, and it's a different shade from the blood on her arm.

The blood just kind of explodes from her arm too, like if you popped a water balloon more than coming out of any wound. Now, hypothetically, if she is a solver hologram, what if the blood that she spills everywhere was just created by the solver on the fly and exploded everywhere. That would explain it being rich in oxygen when sprayed everywhere, but being a lot darker when on her actual arm. It would also help explain why the blood stains on her clothes don't change after she cuts herself. Also, a considerable amount of the blood comes from her uninjured palm rather than where she actually cut herself.

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #458

I am finally up to Heat 10 in Hades. You know what this means?

…

...Yeah, probably not. So I'm gonna tell ya!!!

It means that I can use the Extreme Measures condition in the Pact of Punishment all the way up to Hades himself. As for what Extreme Measures does... it gives the bosses at the end of each section an enhanced set of moves that seem to do more damage, more frequently. Megaera starts fighting alongside her sisters, Alecto and Tisiphone. The Hydra gets an arena that isn't a single island, but rather, a set of small islands with magma in between, and the ability of its head to detach from its neck. Asterius gets a shiny new suit of armor and an enhanced move set, and Theseus gets a high-speed chariot, which is essentially a tank equipped with machine guns and bombs.

None of these things have done much to slow me down up until this point. However, I'm finally at a high enough heat to enhance Hades's moves, and... well...

You know the part in his first hit point bar, where he'd normally summon super elite enemies? Yeah, uh... now he summons actual mini-bosses – tougher versions of them. Versions of them that also disappear and reappear seemingly at random, making them hard to track down and defeat. His attack sequence has expanded from one spear sweeps to two. On his second hit point bar, Cerberus joins the fight for a brief moment, and Hades can heal himself. He attacks more frequently, too, and summons those green grasping urns more frequently.

...He also now has a third hit point bar. And in that one... it's basically like the second hit point bar, except he attacks even more frequently, heals even more often... and also it's dark. The visibility of the environment is significantly reduced, which means those grasping urns can really sneak up on you, and so can his exploding skulls. So... the screen is very noisy while also being obscured, which presents a significant obstacle for my executively-challenged brain. So far, I've gotten my ass handed to me spectacularly each time I've fought him like this, which has broken my streak of over 30 consecutive victories.

...It's exciting to think like I still have more learning and growing to do!! I remember when I was first starting my quest to get a victory on the first run of a fresh save. I remember getting overwhelmed by Megaera on her own, in the same way that this new Hades fight is overwhelming me now. Therefore, I know that as long as I practice, it's just a matter of time before I stop being overwhelmed, which will allow this version of Hades to fall to me, too.

...I can't wait to show you when it happens!!!

Someone came along to watch me as I played through the first run with Extreme Measures maxed out!! Like... an actual person, not just a bot or someone trying to scam me with “channel art” that they want me to pay for that doesn't actually exist. I block and report both kinds of interactions, though, with the “channel art” scammers, I usually try to give them a chance to turn around and watch the broadcast like a normal person instead of mistaking my kindness for stupidity and trying to get money out of me.

...I gotta wonder if these “channel art” scams actually work. They usually pop on, pretending to be interested in your content, and then they tell you that your channel is boring and needs more art to really “stand out from the crowd”, followed by something like, “you should look at my portfolio!” Then, presumably, if they're successful, you pay them for art, and then they take the money and disappear without actually ever giving you the art. It's very lame. And... I gotta wonder who falls for it, and if there's a way to prevent people from falling for it.

At some point today, I went out with M on both a lunch date and on a mission to get my prescriptions filled sooner than usual; if things go as expected, J and I will leave for the plane trip to Oregon, in memory of Daniel. We will fly in J's little airplane from our side of the United States all the way to the opposite side of the United States.

I'm excited and scared at the same time. On the one hand, it'll be lovely to see so many new places and to have so many opportunities to take lots of awesome photos for you~!! On the other hand, this will be a significant departure from J's usual routines, and... he gets overwhelmed in response to that a lot more easily than I do. I'll be there to help him through it, but... all the same, I think he's gonna have a hard time of it. Also... I'm gonna be away from M and from all my cats for a really long time, and... like... that's gonna be hard.

...I remember going to Washington, D.C. to meet those who have a hand in building your world, in an effort to try to save your life. J and I spent three days there, and we were both pretty frazzled by the end of it. This is gonna be a lot longer than three days, and some of it will involve us camping (don't worry – an external battery will be brought so I can still use my CPAP), so... it's not gonna be quite as comfortable as then, even. And we're gonna be away from our loved ones at home even longer.

Then... y'know. There's also the possibility that something happens in the air. The weather out in the Midwest isn't like the weather in the East Coast, where I live, and... I don't really know what to expect. J knows what he's doing, but... at the same time, we know all too well how things can seem fine until they aren't. Rest in peace, J's first airplane. Or... rest in pieces, as it were...

...At the time, it didn't seem like a big deal. But seeing the footage after the fact and realizing all the things that had to go right for us to walk away from that without at least getting grievously injured... goodness...

Still, despite the trepidation, I'm looking forward to going. I have a feeling like we're both gonna emerge from the other side of this, changed somehow. For the better, I think.

...Watch over us, okay...?

Aside from that... not much else occurred today. I tried to be emotionally supportive to several folks in my social circle today, but... I can't really know to what extent I helped them at all. Two of them are in dire situations that I can do nothing about, and another one is also having a hard time that he cannot tell me details about, which is valid and fair. At the end of the day, all I can do is try to show them that I care about them.

...Like in your world, there are a lot of arbitrary barriers between people and the things they need in order to live. I think that if these barriers didn't exist, the world would be a much gentler place overall. We as a species are more than capable of eliminating these barriers. But... we also have a whole system, built by generations and generations and generations of unresolved trauma, that tell the people in power that some kinds of humans are less deserving of life than other kinds of humans, and... a significant number of the people who aren't in power consent to being cogs in this system, because they are traumatized enough to agree.

...The reality of it is far more complicated than I've described just now. But... that's the general oversimplified gist of it. We have more than enough for everyone to have what they need. We're just trapped under the thumbs of people who need “big number go up” in order to feel safe and good about themselves, to such a horrifying extent that it's literally putting everyone else on the planet in existential crisis. I wish it would stop.

...I wish I knew what to do in order to make it stop. If there was something kind I could say or do to make them fall to their knees and weep with the realization that they never needed to be the richest or the most powerful in order to be loved and safe or to have meaningful lives. To make them fall to their knees and weep at the realization of the sheer number of people they've hurt. To make them turn around, and make a different choice.

...But the truth is, no one can make anyone do anything. We all have free will to use or to misuse. I think... all I can do is try my damnedest not to misuse mine, and hope that it inspires others to try not to misuse theirs.

Well. I suppose that's all for today. I should stop writing now and start getting my things ready for bed so that I can -actually- go to bed at 11:00pm tonight. I have work tomorrow, so I'll get to see Tr and maybe Ka, and I don't wanna be a zombie for it.

I love you so much, and I hope you're taking good care of yourself over at the Edge of Creation, or... wherever you are, really. Try to make good choices out there, Sephiroth. Try not to misuse your free will; you never wanted to be someone who hurts others. No one ever starts out wanting to be someone who hurts others; we just get tricked into thinking like doing that is the only way we can be safe or loved. We are all susceptible to the conditioning we receive as children, unless we have support to help us break free.

Stay safe. I'll write again soon.

Your friend, Lumine

[caffeineivore]

Medianoche

Liminal spaces, pt 2. M/N, PG13-ish

Everything they said about Texas was fucking true, and he'd been driving through the damn state for a day and a half with a shitty four-hour nap somewhere in the middle, and he was still within its borders.

Working for a moving company means that Noah sees a lot of time on the road, hauling anything from furniture and electronics to someone's fancy-ass fish tank complete with tiny underwater castle, Nemo, Dory and the whole gang. This trip includes curio cabinets full of highly-insured antique knick-knacks and fine china and some fancy artwork, all from some dearly-departed old lady's grand estate in Aspen, en route to her son's home in Freeport, and honestly, he would rather have hauled another damn fish tank. The responsibility of transporting old, fragile, irreplaceable rich-people shit sits differently than hauling someone's generic IKEA set cross-country.

Texas traffic is an absolute nightmare in the greater Houston area, and in the interests of saving time, Noah powers through what would have been dinnertime to continue on well into the outskirts, but by time the roads around him are finally in some semblance of "normal", it's full dark outside and his stomach is growling louder than the hard rock he's blasting on the radio. He's in the middle of freaking nowhere, of course, and for another fifteen miles, doesn't see so much as a freeway exit. Finally, though, a blue road sign with the fork and knife symbol for food pops up ahead, and he signals, turns right onto an exit ramp that leads down into a small side street.

There's a tiny tin can of a building ahead, where his truck takes up three spots in the stingy little parking lot, and in place of a name, there's simply a neon sign with a picture of what might optimistically be called a sandwich. But every single light inside is lit up, and the door pulls open easily. A faded handwritten sign tells Noah to sit anywhere he likes, and he makes his way to the deserted counter, rings the bell.

"Buenas noches," The woman who emerges from behind the swinging double-doors is tall and tanned and buxom, wearing a candy-pink blouse just a few shades lighter than her smile. She says something else in Spanish, and Noah only surmises that it's a question based on the quizzical look in her forest green eyes.

"Do you have a menu, darlin'? I'm hungrier than a bear out of hibernation."

That only earns him another quizzical look, but damned if she's not a sight for sore eyes. There's an endearing spray of freckles across her nose and when she tilts her head, the lights pick up the glossy chestnut tints of her hair, tied back in a practical ponytail. Noah mimes eating a sandwich, taking a sip of a drink.

"Tienes hambre," she says slowly, and he nods in agreement. Whatever that means.

"Sure. Surprise me. I trust you."

She hums something to herself, then pours him a cup of coffee in a sturdy white mug, slides it across the counter. It's hot and strong and he gulps it down black as he watches her disappear back through those double-doors.

It's perhaps a few minutes later when she reappears like a benevolent goddess, and sets down a generous-sized sandwich in front of him, its bread crisp and crossed with grill marks and still slick with melted butter. "La medianoche," she tells him, and waves a hand at the wall clock which reads the hour of midnight.

Noah is too busy inhaling possibly the best fucking thing he's ever tasted before in his whole natural life to look at the time. The bread is grilled crisp on the outside but is sweet and pillowy-soft around decadent slices of ham and roast pork, sharp mustard and melty cheese punctuated with the sweet-salty bite of sliced pickles. In his peripheral vision, she refills his coffee cup, then leaves the bill at his elbow. He pulls out a twenty-- roughly twice the bill-- and shouts a "Keep the change, sweetheart!" over his shoulder as the food and coffee give him a new lease on life. Maybe with luck, Grandma's creepy antique shit will make it to its new home before whatever undoubtedly haunted artifact decides to rise up and possess his soul from the trailer of the truck.

He makes it to his destination sometime the next day, and takes the night off to rest at a decently nice hotel, and his dreams sound like lightning storms and smell like roses and fresh bread. He sees her in his mind as he sleeps-- that gentle smile, that statuesque figure draped in emerald silk rather than pink calico. The next trip takes him west, and somewhat impulsively, he passes through that stretch of lonely Texan road again. It's not too much out the way, after all.

In broad daylight, though he's quite certain it's the same exact road, there's no blue road sign, and no neon sandwich atop a tin can diner shining like a beacon anywhere on that stretch. It's as though the place and the girl sprung to life, only at midnight.

Only when he needed them.

[storiesofsvu]

Escape Ch 3

Warnings: Language. Smut

“Hey baby!” You greeted, a bright smile on your face as you grabbed the bottle of Lagavuilin down from the shelf, “Didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

“Shitty trial…didn’t want to be alone.” Casey replied, your face fell at the downtrodden feel she gave off. 

“You okay?” Your voice was softer, your hand squeezing hers while you dumped much more than a double into her glass.

“Yeah.” She looked up at you, small smile on her face that you reciprocated. “S’long as your here.” Your heart warmed at the statement, you’d spent a fair amount of time together already, you knew you meant a lot to each other.

Casey was quick to relocate her frequented bar to yours, always taking the stool at the corner of the bar as hers as long as you were working, most of your time together was brief. Either she would stop in for a quick drink while you were working, or you grabbed coffee during the middle of her work day, despite the original kiss (and a multiple smattering of others spread through your time together) you had yet to spend a night together, conflicting schedules in the way. Not that any of that stopped the emotion flowing through you, you knew it was risky, wasn’t ideal to fall for someone so quickly, but there was something about her that just tugged you down that rabbit hole faster than you could imagine.

“You make me weak, y’know that?” You muttered, grabbing a basket from the back of the bar, “Chicken bite? I’m not gonna finish them.” She smiled at the sentiment as you dropped the basket in front of her, quickly dashing off to help make drinks for the servers. It was Friday night and the bar was packed, she knew before she showed up that you’d be busy, but something about the way you sought out her eyes every free moment you had made her feel better, the small smirk on your lips warming her. 

It was just past 11 pm when you disappeared into the back, processing that afternoon’s cash out before the evening bartender had taken over. The night had slowed down, there wasn’t a need for three of you behind the wood any longer. When you reappeared your hair was loose, your regular black attire replaced with a soft purple tank, bag thrown over your shoulder, you gave Casey a wicked grin as you approached her.

“You done?” She questioned, already knowing the answer.

“Yeah, I start early on Fridays, first cut.” The remaining bartender slid a round of shots and a drink towards you as you rolled your eyes, you’d already done a couple shots with Casey throughout the night. You called out a quick thanks as the two of you sunk the shots back, it was when you were finally done your drink that Casey turned to you, a gleam in her eye.

“Any chance you wanna get out of here?”

“Thought you’d never ask….” You replied, laughing at how fast she was to settle her bill. Since her apartment was only a short walk away, you ended up back there rather quickly, her hand linked in yours, pausing to kiss you sweet lips at every red light the two of you encountered.

It wasn’t a night surrounded by burning passion, a night that moved fast and quick, with barely a moment to think. It was a night surrounded by emotion, softness, the little whimpers escaping either of your lips as you made your way through Casey’s apartment, more intoxicated with each other than the need to get each other undressed. There wasn’t a reason you’d waited this long before sleeping together, you’d just simply been happy with how incredible you made each feel outside of the bedroom it wasn’t a top tier item to pursue.

Casey slowly tugged off your tank top, her lips briefly leaving yours, eyes full of passion and fire at the sight of your exposed skin. You were quick to pull of her shirt, arms dancing behind you to drop your bra to the floor, it was only a matter of minutes until you were bare before each other.

“You’re so goddamn beautiful.” She murmured as her hands traced down your body, smiling at the way your hips shot up off the bed, your breath gasping as her hand trailed through your folds. A moan of her name escaped your mouth, she sat up, wanting to take in the view of you writhing beneath her while she finger fucked you to oblivion. Her fingers sunk into you, a groan leaving you, your head thrown back into the pillows, relishing in the touch you’d wanted for so long, her touch hitting parts of you that you could barely imagine. She sped up the speed of her hand, letting the heel of her hand press against the sensitivity of your clit in the process. Your walls fluttered around her fingers, voice yelping through the room at the feeling of your orgasm washing over you, panting in satisfaction.

“Fuck…” You breathed, taking a moment to try and gather yourself, rolling your eyes at the sound of Casey chuckling over you. “You’re so fucking perfect.” You muttered, quick enough to flip her over that she giggled before you buried yourself into her pussy. You moaned heavily at how fucking delectable she tasted, the sweetness assaulting your tongue heavier than anything in years, the smell of her making you completely wet and weakened again. Her hips thrust up against your mouth when your lips wrapped around her clit, your fingers beginning their decent into her, causing her to grasp against your hair, a whimper of your name escaping her mouth. You smirked against her, feeling her body shake uncontrollably against you, whines leaving her mouth while she grasped heavily against you. 

Softly, you kissed her thigh, your lips trailing your way up her soft skin, eventually settling against her lips, hands cupping her face, relishing in the smile she had on her lips. A small groan left her as her tongue broke into your mouth, tasting herself against you, you smirked against her, letting her tongue dance against yours as she pulled you tighter to you.

“Can you stay?” She whispered into the quiet room.

“‘Course.” You replied, snuggling deeper against her. You were asleep faster than she’d expected, your breath regulating against her as she curled against you, ecstatic at the feeling of your body against hers. 

***

The next morning it was the smell of coffee wafting throughout the apartment that roused you from your slumber. As much as you hated the fact that Casey wasn’t next to you, you were at least thankful at the smile she gave you as you moved into the kitchen.

“Smells delicious.” You greeted, pulling her into a kiss.

“I can only take thanks for the coffee, breakfast is ordered in.” She gestured towards the take out containers holding fruit layered pancakes, a hefty amount of syrup accompanying them. 

“Y’know, you’ve gotta be careful Case. Keep shit like this up and I might just fall in love with you.” She laughed at your response, not wanting to admit she was teetering over the edge as she pulled you into a kiss, lips meeting yours with ease. You hummed in satisfaction against her, “Did you eat yet?” Your voice was soft as she shook her head.

“Wanted to wait for you.”

“God you’re going to be the death of me.” You murmured, giving her lips a deep kiss before moving over to the coffee machine, pouring yourself a cup while Casey pulled plates from the cupboard. You spent the rest of the afternoon buried in each others arms on the couch, lips tracing every inch of each others bodies, laughing over stories you told each other. You groaned heavily around 7pm, pushing yourself up against Casey’s body. 

“You okay?” She questioned, hand stroking the side of your face.

“I’ve gotta be at work in an hour.” You tugged her to you, deeply kissing her, hand burying into her hair. “I really….really like you. I hope you know that.” You felt your heart tear apart at the statement, wanting nothing more than to be able to fall completely in love with her. You could feel how much she felt about you already, the emotion more than apparent through your friendship.

“I really like you too…” She trailed off, giving you another kiss, “Amber…I know it hasn’t been long but I really, really care about you. I need you to know that.” You gave a soft giggle before you gave her a soft kiss.

“I know that. But I do have to go.”

“I know.”

“I’ll text you when I’m done?” You gave her one last kiss, eager to feel her lips against yours while you made your way off to the bar. You may have laughed and joked with the regulars and guests throughout the night but the only place your brain could think of was Casey’s lips. The way she made you feel absolutely incredible, the soft smile she gave you, the way she tugged you to her when she needed you. You were weak. You were beyond head over heels. You were completely and totally in love with her and you didn’t know how you were supposed to tell her so early

[quillinthedas]

Dwarves and Magic in Dragon Age

SO I am a devotee of dwarves in pretty much any media that provides them, and Dragon Age is no exception.  My most canon-y Warden and Inquisitor are both dwarves, and the greatest sadness of DA2 is that I have to play a human, which I would never play if literally any other race is an option.

I am also deeply fond of stabbity rogues, because I love the speed and the skill set in real-time battle play.  So both Warden Commander Natia Brosca and Inquisitor Mahliel Cadash are duel-wield rogues. 

The PROBLEM is that, especially in DA:O, abilities in the general rogue tree really act like magic.  And in DA2, the more you fight Carta assassins, the harder it is to explain their speed and invisibility skills without magic being involved, even if provided by potion or bomb. 

So I have my own little pet theory of how dwarves have abilities that APPEAR magical but AREN’T.  Instead, they are based in the “stone sense” that Surface Dwarves are said to lose, and how this is really a “Titan Sense.“

Bear with me, I am going to ramble about dual wield dwarven rogues and their connection to the Stone.

DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS

First, I recognize that a number of issues with the rogue abilities looking magical were actually fixed in DA2 and DAI, where they throw bombs and spikes instead of clearly using magic.  But I like this theory, and it’s my headcanon so.

There you go.

The rogue tree that I find the most incongruous when playing a species that can’t use magic is the DA:O Ranger ability set.  How the hell is a dwarf magically summoning an animal AND magically powering up said animal?  In fact, it’s so magic-based that I think it should be a closed tree for dwarves, annoying as that would be with one entire class already blocked.  I played a dwarf Ranger for a while and it felt incredibly off.  So I’m just kicking that one to the side.

This leaves BARD which is similarly very magical in design, but I’m going to nudge it more toward the DAI Artificer class. less singing and dancing, more concoctions to the face. Still a stretch for a dwarf, though.

This leaves us with DUELIST and ASSASSIN.  With DAO:A we also add LEGIONNAIRE SCOUT and SHADOW.

DUELIST abilities I find very lore-friendly for dwarves, being based primarily on skill.  I grant it a pass. In fact, I think it dwarves should be better at it than humans or elves.  More in advantages and disadvantages, below.

ASSASSIN, however, provides speed bonuses that can’t be explained by “and so the dwarf runs really fast suddenly.”  This becomes more of an issue in DA2 with the introduction of the Carta Assassins and their ability to disappear and reappear, which is shared by the general rogue Backstab skill.  So how does this work without magic?  In my headcanon, it’s because of stone-sense, and how stone-sense appears to be more of a Titan-sense, post DAI: The Descent (my beloved).

Dwarven warriors work perfectly with the concept of a link to the stone: they grow heavier, stronger, can tank.  But rogues are different.  Rogues gain speed, strength, and flexibility.  So their connection to the stone must be more about lift and bouying than weight and tanking: they are lifted by the stone and taken back, making their feet more sure on the ground and making them hard to trip up or throw back while also allowing them to move faster along the ground.  Combined with the abilities of an artificer - smoke bombs, essentially - the abilities of dwarven rogues can appear to be magic.  They’re so fast moving along the stone that they are literally hard for the eye to follow. 

Similarly, some of the abilities in SHADOW can be explained by a connection to Titans providing a skill that would otherwise be unavailable to non-magic users: the ability to disappear (or rather, the speed to be unseen).  In DAO the character clearly actually disappears; if we ignore the mechanic and go more for how it works in DAI (ie, that it is essentially an artificer ability, since they throw a bomb for concealment), then Shadow fits a dwarf rogue’s skill set without the need for magic.  Similarly, DAI redesigned Mark of Death as a chemical thrown at the enemy rather than a magical sigil.

Just as Ranger shouldn’t be available to dwarves, I also believe that LEGIONNAIRE SCOUT shouldn’t be available to any non dwarven character.  Legionnaire Scouts are essentially rogues that pick up some tanking abilities - an interesting match to the idea of the connection to Titans making certain dwarves hardier.  There’s no reason that it should work with humans or elves, however; the power set specifically deals with connection to the stone.  (In the DA RPG that I desperately want the book for but I am not a millionaire, only dwarf rogues can pick up this specialization, as it should have been in the first place).

(Why NOT give dwarves a specialization only for them since they have no access to an entire class other races have?  Hmmmm?  Bioware???)

DRAGON AGE 2

Tragically, one can’t play a dwarf in DA2, but Varric’s Archery skillset happens to work well with the idea of the Stone giving dwarves enhanced strength and a lower center of gravity to hold a solid stance.  But also, Varric could HAVE NO stone-sense, and that’s why he’s the world’s slowest rogue (sorry, babe, but you are the pokiest). 

The use of smoke bombs makes the general rogue abilities more accessible to dwarves, but only if there is a reason they can move so damn fast that we can’t see them.  That reason?  A connection to the Titans that allows them to move faster across land.

DISADVANTAGES and ADVANTAGES

Since I like the idea of different species actually having different advantages and disadvantages, I’m fond of the idea of dwarves not doing well in situations where they aren’t in contact with stone.  Walking across a wooden bridge would feel like floating without real control.  Running across roofs made of plant materials, jumping on the backs of creatures - they would lose that certainty of step and have to work hard and practice to do those as well as other rogues. Does the top of a man-built tower count as stone?  (It better, I don’t want Natia sliding all over the place in the archdemon fight.)

On the other hand, speed and steadiness would build faster than other species, and they would be able to develop some tanking abilities a la Legionnaire Scout which other rogues can’t access.

And dwarves can see in the dark.  I never understand why the popular fancanon is that elves, who live above ground, see in the dark, rather than dwarves, who literally...live in...the dark....places....

So if you want a creepy sheen in the night, get ye a dwarf.

[superpaperclip]

I Never Planned (on someone like you)

After like a month, chapter 2 of the Javid fake dating AU is here! Sorry for the wait, life got in the way. CW for brief mentions of blood/injury and alcohol at the end.

Ch. 1  | Read on AO3

***

For the remainder of the week, David and Jack spent a lot of their free time together, getting to know each other. David would sit at the counter in the coffee shop during Jack’s shift, then Jack would walk him home. They would wait for each other after class and study together in the library. It was during one of those study sessions that they expanded on their plan. 

“Alright, this is what I have so far.” David said, pulling a notebook from his bag and flipping open to a page filled with notes, plus a small sketched calendar. He ignored Jack’s snickering. “So we have the party this weekend, on Saturday. That’s where we’ll tell Sarah and her girlfriend Katherine that we’re together. But we’ll also need to tell your friends, unless you’d prefer to tell them one at a time?” 

“We can tell most of them at the same time in two weeks. We’re gonna be hanging out at Race’s apartment on Friday, just our group and any partners that want to come.” 

“Alright, that’s what we’ll do. Now, we will have to go on dates and display PDA. We have to have a conversation about what levels of PDA we’re comfortable with. And, we can’t end the ‘relationship’ too early or people, at least my sister, might be suspicious. I don’t like to date around. But I think we’ll be fine if we keep it up for a few months. Once it’s been long enough, we can fake an argument and break up.”

When David looked up from his notebook, Jack had an odd expression on his face. David brushed it off, choosing instead to flip to the next page in his notebook. 

--

Davey Jacobs was very cute, Jack decided, when he rambled about the details of their fake relationship, trying to be all clinical facts and very little emotion. That just made it even more special when he flushed while talking about dates and showing affection. Jack rested his chin on the palm of his hand, staring at Davey while he talked. Jack wasn’t sure why he had suggested this ruse. Yeah, he wanted to get back at Race, Albert, and Crutchie, but he had never thought he would go this far. Maybe there was something about Davey…

“Hello? Jack? We need to discuss our limits on affection- what we’re comfortable with, what we definitely don’t want to do, things like that.” Davey waved a hand in front of Jack’s face, breaking him out of his daze. Jack blinked, refocusing on the conversation.

“Huh? What? Oh, yeah. We need to talk about kissing.” Jack watched the blush reappear on Davey’s cheeks and felt something stir inside of him. We’re just friends, he reminded himself. No, not even friends. We’re just two guys who’re trying to fool their friends. The relationship is fake. That’s the whole point. 

--

The night of the party, David paced in his living room, trying to calm his nerves. He was supposed to pick Jack up at 8:30 but, as usual, he had been ready to go an hour early. After emptying his closet and frantically asking Sarah for help (why did he care so much about how he looked?), he chose a pair of jeans that Sarah insisted on, which were frankly too tight, and a dark blue button up shirt with small white flowers. He folded the sleeves up to his elbows and cuffed his jeans. 

“Settle down, bro. What are you so worked up about? It’s just a party. I know you don’t get out much, but it’s really not a big deal.” She got an odd gleam in his eye, and looked him up and down. A slow smile spread across her face. “You really like Jack, don’t you? That;s why you’re so nervous. You want to impress him.” David nodded his head, deciding it was better to go along with Sarah’s assumption than to correct her. He just kept fiddling with his sleeves, adjusting and readjusting the length. 

Eventually, it was time for David to pick Jack up from his apartment. He and Sarah had decided that he would take their car, while she would catch a ride with Katherine. As he drove, David drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, trying to focus on the road and not the party. One problem at a time- get to Jack’s apartment, get to Bill’s house, where the party was being held, and then concentrate on pretending to be a couple. He could do this.

--

Jack sat on the steps of his apartment and ran the sleeve of his flannel through his fingers as he waited for Davey and resisted the urge to run back inside and change his clothes. After much deliberation, he had settled on a pair of distressed skinny jeans, a plain t-shirt, and a flannel tied around his waist. He knew it wasn’t the best outfit, but he hoped it would be fine for the party. No matter how poor his fashion sense and how much he wanted to impress Davey, he was absolutely not going to call Race, despite what wonders he could undoubtedly work with Jack’s closet. Jack would never live it down. He could dress himself for one party. 

As he was ruminating on the teasing he would’ve gotten had he called Race, a car pulled up and Davey got out, opening the passenger side door. Once Jack was in the seat, Davey’s got in the driver’s side and pulled away. 

Jack could’ve cut the tension in the car with a knife. This was going to be their first time out in public as a couple, so he had expected some nerves. But he didn’t anticipate how bad it would be. Eventually, Davey cleared his throat and spoke.

“Ok, let’s go over the plan. I don’t know when Katherine is picking Sarah up, so I don’t know who will get to Bill’s house first. Whoever it is, we’ll all have a chance to mingle and talk to other people before the four of us meet up. When we do, I’ll introduce you as my, ahem, boyfriend. Bill’s family is very well connected, so you’ll probably be able to meet some important art world person, or people. There are some big names from journalism who will be there as well, so I’m gonna keep an eye out for them. We should probably stay together for most of the night, though, to keep up the charade.” 

Jack nodded and murmured his assent in the appropriate places, but his mind was elsewhere. He was focused on Davey’s profile, studying his face. He didn’t know when he would get another chance. Before they knew it, Davey had turned onto Bill’s street. Already, the party was in full swing. Music could be faintly heard coming from the house, and people were sprawled across the porch, undoubtedly drinking. Jack saw Davey’s shoulders tense as they approached. He started to reach over to comfort Davey, but paused with his hand in the air. Would it be weird? Were they at that stage of their ‘relationship’ yet? He didn’t know. Slowly, he put his hand back in his lap. 

There were no spots open on Bill’s street, so Davey parked around the corner. As they walked toward the house, Jack felt his hand drift towards Davey’s. He kept pulling it back, sensing that affection would only make him more tense. They walked up the steps of the porch, greeting the people, all in various stages of drunkenness, sitting on various surfaces. Jack opened the door, and they were hit with a wave of sound. The music was so loud they could feel it in throughout their bodies. 

Inside, people were dancing or trying to talk over the music. Almost everyone had a drink of some kind, and some had a slice of pizza. Davey quickly grabbed two sodas from the kitchen, giving one to Jack, then took a seat on a couch in the living room. Jack didn’t know what to do. Would Davey want to be comforted or left alone? He saw the tension in Davey’s shoulders, the hard line of his mouth, the way his eyes darted around the room, and made his decision. Quietly, he sat next to him and gently placed his empty hand on Davey’s. Jack felt Davey jump in surprise, then relax. Slowly, Davey turned his hand over and laced their fingers together. Jack smiled. 

“You don’t like parties, huh? Me either. I don’t like all the strangers. I’d rather get together with my friends, even if they can get pretty noisy.” Davey nodded appreciatively.

“I’ve never liked loud, crowded spaces, parties especially. They agitate me.” There was an odd look in Davey’s eyes, Jack thought. He didn’t know what to make of it. Fortunately, or unfortunately, he didn’t get much time to ruminate on it. At that moment, Sarah ran up to them, dragging another woman behind her. Davey tightened his grip around Jack’s hand and they stood up, hands still clasped together.

“Dave! Jack! There you are! Guys, this is my girlfriend Katherine. Kat, my brother Dave and his boyfriend Jack.” Jack regretfully had to let go of Davey’s hand to shake Katherine’s.

“Hey Kathy, I’m Jack, and this is Davey.” As soon as Davey shook her hand, his hand was back in Jack’s. He squeezed once, and Jack squeezed back. 

“Nice to meet you two! David, Sarah has told me a lot about you. Nothing bad, don’t worry.” Katherine smiled at Davey, who returned it.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, too. My sister likes to talk. Well, I suppose gush would be a more accurate description.” Sarah rolled her eyes and hit her brother in the shoulder. At that moment, something across the room caught Katherine’s eye. She muttered that she would be right back, then disappeared into the crowd of people. A few seconds later, she reappeared with two guys following her. 

“Sarah, Dave, Jack, these are my friends Bill and Darcy. Bill here is the esteemed host of this wonderful party.” Pleasantries were exchanged around their little circle, everyone tanking Bill for throwing the party. Jack glanced at Davey, who was looking at him. Jack started to smile, but something behind him caught Davey’s attention, His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to say something. 

“Jack-.” Before he could finish, Jack felt a body push against his back, making him stumble forward and crashing into Davey. When he got his feet under himself again, he pulled back to see that his soda had spilt on Davey’s shirt, and Davey had clutched his own can hard enough for it to break. Various people muttered curses as Katherine and Darcy ran to get towels from the kitchen. 

“Bill, is there a bathroom where we can clean up?” Jack asked hastily.

“Down the hall, second door on the right.” Jack pulled Davey through the crowd, following Bill’s directions. After kicking out the couple who’d been using the bathroom to make out, Jack directed Davey to sit on the small bench. Grabbing the hand towel, he started dabbing at Davey’s shirt, attempting to get the soda out.

“Look, Jack, you don’t have to do all of this. Besides, I’m pretty sure it won’t come out. I’ll wash it tonight.” 

“Well, you shouldn’t have to spend the rest of the night in a soda-y shirt. Here, you can wear my flannel.” He untied the sleeves of his flannel from his waist and handed it to Davey, then turned his back. There was a minute of shuffling before Davey told him he could turn back around. When he did, he felt like the breath had been punched out of his lungs. Davey looked very good in Jack’s flannel, unfairly good. The fabric stretched across his chest and hugged his biceps. Jack’s mind was clouded with the knowledge that Davey was wearing his shirt.

“-you ok? Jack? Look, I cut my hand, so I’m going to find a first aid kit.” The mention of injury snapped Jack out of his daze, and he grabbed Davey’s hand to inspect the cut. There was a thin, angry red line across his palm that was slowly leaking blood. He quickly grabbed a handful of toilet paper, pressing it to Davey’s hand, then dug through the cabinet for the first aid kit. 

Opening the kit, he grabbed Neosporin, gauze and medical tape. He expertly rinsed and bandaged Davey’s hand, wrapping the medical tape around his gauze-covered palm. After putting the first aid kit back, they both exited the bathroom. 

For Jack, the rest of the party passed in a blur of Davey is wearing my shirt. They stayed for a few more hours, leaving around 1 in the morning. Davey didn’t have anything to drink, so he drove Jack home. More than slightly buzzed, Jack watched as Davey’s face was illuminated and darkened in the uniform pattern of the streetlights. All too soon, they had arrived outside Jack’s apartment.  

“Um, thanks for lending me your shirt. And for helping clean up my hand. Oh, here’s your shirt back.” Davey started unbuttoning the flannel, but froze at Jack’s outburst.

“No! I mean, keep it for tonight. You can give it back to me later. Besides, it suits you.” Jack swallowed thickly, sure that he would pass out if Davey took off his shirt. Instead, he fumbled with the door handle, managing to open the door. Before he could get out, Davey grabbed his arm.

“I don’t usually like parties, especially when I don’t know anyone, but that was enjoyable. Thank you. Really.” Under the soft light of the moon and the harsh light of the streetlamps, Jack could see Davey blush a deep red. Jack smiled, both at the confession and Davey’s subsequent embarrassment. 

“No problem. But remember, you still have to hold up your end of the bargain. The get together with my friends is next weekend. I’ll text you the details.” They sat in silence for a minute before Jack opened the door and stepped out. 

“Thank you again for coming with me. I… I’ll look forward to your text.” Davey looked like he wanted to say something else, but he didn’t say anything, so Jack just closed the door and entered his apartment. Once inside, he went to his window and pulled back the curtain, watching Davey drive away.

***

Tag list: @mousies @mulletbilly @mylifeincharacters @jelloguts (If you want to be added or removed from the tag list, just send me an ask!)

[lemonlushff-iy]

Inspired by @thunderpot​‘s BEAUTIFUL art...I’m working on a birthday present for her. I have an outline. I’m 50 pages in. I’m powering through this like no other and it’s been a BLAST. 

I can’t keep calling it Atlantis though, or else the name is going to stick...So...I need help. 

Kagome and Sango are scientists and treasure hunters, looking for a new clean energy source. Kagome’s hair-brained idea? Let’s find Atlantis! Little does she know the world she’s about to fall into... (horrible summary but I’ll deal with that later)

Unedited excerpt below!! 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Kagome paused, adjusting the strap on her purse as she looked up from the trashcan. It was a lovely day - the salty ocean air filled her nostrils and the warm sun caressed her tanned skin of her exposed back. A gentle breeze ruffled her midnight tresses, and she nervously tucked a strand behind her ear. His accent was thick and indiscernible. Not quite Greecian...but...something more. Mysterious.

“Excuse you?” she replied, confused by the man before her. Long, thick, inky hair…deep, cerulean eyes with just a fleck of gold in the left iris. His body was lean - his muscles ropey, as if he were an experienced swimmer. 

Made sense given that this was an island over a hundred miles away from Santorini. Nothing but vivid blue seas for miles. 

She had been getting lunch with her fellow colleague, researcher, and best friend, Sango, when this man just…Came up to her out of nowhere!

“That dive you’re planning to do with your friend,” he continued, his eyes serious. “You shouldn’t do it.”

“Were you listening in on us?” she replied, incredulously as she took a step back, away from him. 

“Kinda hard to not,” he shrugged dismissively. “You’re rather loud.”

“Excuse you?” she repeated, trying to not let him grate her nerves. She didn’t know who the hell he thought he was, but he had no right telling her what she could or couldn’t do. And, on top of that…how fucking rude is it to…to…eavesdrop on a random stranger’s conversation and then snidely comment on how loud they are! 

“You won’t find it,” he continued, unperturbed. “You think you’re the first ones to come here looking for Atlantis? Hardly,” he scoffed. “You should just go home.”

“Yeah?” she bit back, now more than a little annoyed with this rude stranger. “And what makes you so sure we won’t?”

He just smirked and turned away from her. 

“Just am. Go home while you still can, Kagome.”

“That sounds like a threat,” she yelled after him as he started walking away.

He paused, looking over his shoulder back at her. 

“Not a threat. A warning. Take your friend and go home.”

***

“Take your friend and go home,” Kagome mumbled under her breath, slipping a tank top over her head as she thought back to earlier that day. 

“Still upset, huh?” Sango commented, an amused smile tugging at the corners of her lips. 

“You weren’t there Sagno,” Kagome bit back as her friend squeezed a dab of toothpaste out onto the dry bristles of her frayed toothbrush. “He was so...cocky...and... condescending! And! And! He was listening long enough to know not only my name, but also the fact that we’re looking for Atlantis!”

Sango just rolled her eyes, allowing her friend to rant about this mystery man as she brushed her upper teeth, watching Kagome’s arms wave around animatedly as she retold the story. Again. For the tenth time. 

Kagome watched her friend pull her hair around to the side of her neck, leaning over the sink to spit the white foam of her toothpaste into it. “You’re obsessing,” Sango finally replied, pointing her toothbrush at her friend. “Men have, and always will, be condescending to us. We’re treasure hunters, Kagome. Not teachers. This is a male dominated field. They are always going to look down on us. Why do you suddenly care what this one random guy thinks?”

“I don’t care what he thinks!” She shot back, pulling her hair into a bun at the top of her head. I’m just...pissed at him! He doesn’t know us and he’s just...just assuming that we can’t do it? Who the hell does he think he is!”

“No one,” Sango sighed. “He’s a no one you are spending way too much time and energy on. Forget him,” she encouraged, beginning to brush her teeth until a thought struck her. “Do you like him?” she gasped, her words coming out garbled as she spoke around the toothbrush hanging limply from her mouth.

“O-of course not!” Kagome sputtered, brushing off her friend. “He was rude, and condescending and--”

“--And attractive and you haven’t stopped talking about him like...once since you got back. I think you have a thing for assholes,” Sango smirked and Kagome reached out, grabbing a damp towel off the rack and threw it at the other woman. Sango just laughed and caught it, chasing after Kagome as she stomped out of the cramped bathroom into their small room, turning on the fan. Even at night, the humid air clung to them like a sticky sap. 

“I do not have a thing for assholes!”

“Yeah? Then what word would you use to describe Hojo?”

Kagome was silent for a beat before snapping back, “cheater. I would describe him as a cheater.”

“So...Asshole?”

Kagome just glared back at her friend, her ire raising with each passing second. 

“Listen, Kags...Don’t let this guy get in your head. You’re a smart, strong, determined woman. We’ve ignored nay sayers all our lives. Why stop now?”

“I know,” she sighed, thinking back to the serious look in the mystery man’s hauntingly blue eyes...All blue, except for that one, beautiful fleck of gold. She wondered why he had it...Genetics? 

Sango was right. 

She was spending far too much time focusing on this guy when she should be getting sleep. 

***

“Fuck!” Kagome swore, sitting back down on the bench in the small boat they had rented, next to Sango, peeling out of her wetsuit. The sun had almost set, the last warm rays of light nearly hidden beyond the horizon. “I thought we would find more out there than that…”

Sango handed her friend a towel, raking her fingers through her hair to work out the knots in her long black tresses. 

“Bad dive again ladies?” their skipper, Miroku, asked in his thick Grecian accent. They would have preferred to have done this without him, but unfortunately...he came with the boat. 

“Yeah. I’m disappointed too,” Sango bemoaned, nodding as Kagome stood, running the terrycloth towel over her wet body. Her skin puckered, turning into gooseflesh as a breeze swept over the ocean water, caressing her body. 

“I’m not giving up hope yet. Everything we have researched so far has told us that the gate should be here.”

“I know,” Sango sighed. “Hey...did...did that place kinda give you chills?”

“Chills?” Kagome pressed, raising her leg onto the bench to dry it.

“Yeah...I don’t know Kags...I just...I felt watched down there. I know it’s crazy, but I swear I felt like something was watching our every move. Maybe we should...just...move on to the next site. The place is so creepy anyways…”

Kagome just rolled her eyes. That place? Creepy? And what would be watching them? Fish? She loved her friend dearly, but Sango was overreacting. It was a little unsettling looking around ruins, sure…but she didn’t think for one second that it was creepy. Besides...They had planned to spend two more days exploring the area before moving onto the next spot.

“Nonsense,” she soothed, tossing the towel back to her friend. “It’s nothing we haven’t seen a hundred times before. Our permit is good for a few more days...I think we should stick with the plan. Head back first thing in the morning. Maybe breathing in all that air from the tanks got to you? I feel it in my bones, Sango. This is the place. I just know it!”

Sango shot her an uncertain look, but just shook her head as Miroku moved inside the cabin, reappearing a second later with a bottle of champagne and three flutes. 

“Enough of this! You are starting your adventure!” he grinned. “Why don’t we pop some champagne in celebration? What do you say ladies? It’s a perfect night to drink a little bubbly at sunset! We can all get to know each other better, since we will be spending quite a bit of time together,” he finished cheekily. 

Sango just narrowed her eyes at the man, and told him they were not interested in drinking at the moment. Instead, she sent him to turn on the ignition and begin the trip home. She hoped they could make it back before the sky completely blackened. 

“Hey,” Kagome soothed when they were alone again. “I promise...two more days. I’ll be with you the whole time. Everything will be fine. It always is, right?”

“Yeah,” she sighed, still unable to shake the eerie feeling that they were being watched. 

Little did she know how right she was...nor did she notice the black haired head poking out of the waves, watching the unwelcome explorers pull away from the sight. Keen, blue eyes narrowed as they disappeared from sight, a single golden fleck glimmering in the last rays of light. 

That’s it for now...Hopefully it’s enough to spark some ideas?!

It was supposed to be a one shot. Then I wanted to keep it under 60 pages. Then 100. Now I just want it to stay under 130 pages. I’m already 50 pages ( 17478 words) in...I should stop pretending I can keep things short. 

ART:

https://thunderpot.tumblr.com/post/617420192100827136

https://thunderpot.tumblr.com/post/617850310848872448/idk-kags-i-felt-watched-down-there-maybe-we

PLZ HALP GUYS I SUCK SO HARD AT TITLESSSSSSSS AND YALL CAME UP WITH A WORTHY SACRIFICE LAST TIME WHICH IS DOPE AF!

[chubbyooo]

Blurred Lines: Cursed Past Chapter 83 - The Rage of Failure

she's finally here the last of the main 4 force users she took her time :P Kavaraa comes face to face with the emperors wrath

Kavaraa felt herself shudder as she was taken back to the throne when she last fought Zoyin, she hadn’t won that fight either she felt the pain of the stab wound every day and now she was here were they even prepared to stop her. 

Zoyin looked around the space and frowned flourishing her saber now coated in the green mist, she sniffed at the air and looked towards where Kavaraa and Theron hid

Kavaraa ducked down turning around “I think she can smell us or something” Theron had ducked down too making little noise, their breath shortened as they could feel Zoyin’s presence stalk the area, Kavaraa focussed doing everything she could to mask their presence.

After a few minutes Kavaraa felt Zoyin’s presence fade she did want to face her but on her own terms, she let out a sigh of relief and looked over the ridge not seeing her anywhere “ok she’s gone we’re fine” she turned but her eyes widened as she saw from nothing the mist in front of her coalesce into Zoyin’s form her eyebrow raised.

She scowled “Oh I wouldn’t go that far” they both jumped back as Theron drew his blaster, Zoyin rolled her eyes “oh please you really think that pea shooter could hurt me” she flourished her blade “If I was expecting anyone here it wasn’t you Jedi what are you doing here” Kavaraa was doing her best to keep calm

Kavaraa stammered drawing her own blade “I could ask you the same question what business do you have on Vallereth” Zoyin towered over both of them poised and ready for a fight, Kavaraa knew the fight was inevitable but she still had to try

Zoyin glowered at them “I don’t believe that’s any of your business but I certainly have more reason to be here than a Jedi that stab wound must’ve done more damage than I thought” Kavaraa shuddered at the thought of it but frowned at her

Zoyin had never been a liar she must genuinely not know about the archive so then why was she here? “Believe me I’m more than ready to stop whatever evil thing you’re doing, I thought you’d have learned a lesson after losing last time” Zoyin stance changed becoming stiff and furious

Zoyin clenched her fists “I did not lose! That bitch Kyradia somehow cheated, and I’m not going to let that happen again you two have interfered with my plans for the last time” with that Kavaraa saw the green mist swirl around her ready for battle

https://open.spotify.com/track/5eFxwmqKrHpSQDOEIFYlgY?si=6kY07G08Rn-evAmUWKfa0g

Zoyin moved forwards with purpose striking at Kavaraa who defended the best she could, Theron did his best shooting at her from a distance but she raised her arm and a green transparent wall seemed to absorb them causing Zoyin to twitch unnaturally.

Suddenly she disappeared into the mist and Kavaraa just managed to catch her when she reappeared behind slashing towards her, as the blades clashed she gritted her teeth and snarled “you’ll find I’ve learned a great many things since the last time we faced off I’m finally embracing my heritage” Kavaraa had to create some distance between them concentrating on the dusty ground between them raising up a pillar separating them

Kavaraa rolled over to Theron as Zoyin burst through the pillar, Theron shot at her but again she seemed to create some form of force shield “so what’s the plan Kavaraa we’re in way over our heads” he was definitely right this was going to take at least some training and research their first priority should be to survive

Kavaraa breathed heavily “I don’t know she’s using the force in a way I’ve never seen before” Kavaraa began to concentrate throwing any rubble and debris she could find to break the shield “we just need to outlast her and then regroup she was too powerful last time I fought her and that was with Lana to help I’m not sure we stand much of a chance” it was true Zoyin was like a walking tank those who’d fought her usually would only have survived, Kyradia and Vaylin were the two people who’d been known to beat Zoyin clean and she certainly didn’t have either of them.

Theron nodded as Zoyin walked towards them slowly “Ok you distract her I got a few ideas” Kavaraa nodded as Theron dashed to the side, Kavaraa moved backwards towards the cave Zoyin had emerged from continuing to throw rubble at her eventually she saw Zoyin wince and the shield dropped

Kavaraa lunged forwards not wasting the opportunity letting out a number of strikes in quick succession pushing her back a bit and the last catching her shoulder which she barely registered on her face. Kavaraa decided aggravation would be a good distraction “It’s over Zoyin Valkorion is dead you lost, whatever grand plan you had has failed” Zoyin snarled at her but then seemed to disappear

Kavaraa thought it’d worked for a second but Zoyin quickly reappeared behind trying to slice into her “I have you to blame for that my entire lifes work for nothing because of some stupid jedi” she continued to vanish and reapear around Kavaraa causing her to have to adapt as if she was being attacked on all sides “I’m going to enjoy gutting you, it’s a good thing you came right to me” Kavaraa could feel herself tiering out as Zoyin circled her 

But then she noticed Zoyin cry out in pain as a blaster bolt hit her in the back, she snarled, turning around giving Kavaraa the opportunity to try and disarm her of her saber. She concentrated using her strength and flipped it out of Zoyin’s hand before she could turn back around, maybe she did have the upper hand “You’re the one hiding, the great unbeatable Zoyin hiding in a wasteland” Theron clearly had a plan she had to keep up the distraction

Zoyin shook her head closing her eyes “I wasn’t hiding you fool I was training” Kavaraa watched as the mist coalesced in her hand forming a blade “I’m far beyond any Jedi or Sith” she continued her assault as Kavaraa defended against the conjured weapon “I will not let the Sith’s rules cage me anymore they were weak only Valkorion saw through that and you took that away you will all pay for your ignorance” Zoyin pushed the blade down knocking Kavaraa off her feet

Zoyin went for a stab but Kavaraa rolled out the way she went to stand but felt herself thrown against the wall an intense pressure coming from Zoyin “you’re nothing Jedi everything you are is held back by your teachings you’re complacent and can’t even protect your own people” Kavaraa felt anger build up in her for the first time in a long time and tried to quell it calming down as Zoyin pulled Kavaraa into her grip “ah there it is the hypocrisy of the Jedi I sense your anger if only you used it you’re so weak” her grip tightened as Kavaraa noticed Theron sneaking up behind her

Kavaraa fought through the pain and slammed her elbow into Zoyin’s ribs a resounding crack coming from both their bodies, Zoyin stumbled but didn’t drop Kavaraa as she did her best to speak “I pity you Zoyin you’re so consumed by your rage you don’t know how to deal with your failure” Kavaraa didn’t enjoy taunting but it was necessary right now

Zoyin snarled but before she could tighten her grip any further Kavaraa watched as Theron threw something against her that began beeping, her eyes widened as she dropped Kavaraa rellising Theron had planted a sticky bomb on her. She scowled “Coward! This isn’t over” with that she vanished into the mist down the cave the sticky dropping to the ground, Kavaraa’s eyes widened as she dashed down the hill to Theron turning around and concentrating on caving in the cave entrance

Kavaraa let out a sigh of relief “that should hold her for a little bit thanks you really saved my skin” Theron nodded smiling

He looked around “just a little homemade bomb, we should get out of here before she gets back right” Kavaraa nodded and they began dashing back to the ship

They had to work out what Zoyin was here for “that was way too close we need to know what she’s here for and why she’s here for it, she was way more powerful than last time” Theron nodded as they dashed away hearing rumbling form behind them

He was already messing with his datapad “yeah no kidding, we need to ask the archivists when we get back and next time we need backup I don’t think the shoddily made sticky bomb trick will work again” Kavaraa nodded as good a plan as it was it only saved them for the time being

Kavaraa held her chin “Shassa said most the archivists weren’t home they may know more and probably be more trained in the field” Kavaraa hoped they got back soon she didn’t know what Zoyin was doing but it was probably bad.

They arrived back at the ship thoroughly out of breath and quickly punched it back towards the moon, Kavaraa took a deep breath “Theron it’s ok to stay here and deal with this right I’m not being crazy” Theron sighed as he piloted the ship

He nodded “yeah she has always been a threat leaving her here could be very bad, I don’t like it but we’re going to have to deal with her first” Kavaraa nodded she had wanted to stay here longer but not like this how were they going to beat Zoyin they’d hardly made a scratch

Kavaraa took a deep breath “I’m not sure we can tell the alliance either Kyradia has a rather sorted history with her I doubt it’d be the easiest way to take her down” Kavaraa knew their history was murky too but compared to Kyradia and Zoyin they were basically best friends

Theron frowned “she has beaten her before but you’re right I’ve seen the Commander fighting emotionally as have you it can get messy” Kavaraa let out a sigh of relief glad Theron agreed with her

Kavaraa saw the moon come into view “alright as soon as we get back we should do everything we can to find out what she wants with Vallereth” whatever ancient civilization lived here it had some powerful secrets....

[espercr---archived]

✶ - 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆'𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 

     gentle disclaimer that i’m going off of her age as opposed to actual years . this is to keep the focus on her & plot points in her life , rather than events in the universe(s) she inhabits - although i do have ideas about when these events occur adjacent to the mcu , so i will add in little notes about that as i go . also this is going to be incredibly long - so it’s going under a read more . things may also change with plotting / the addition of mains - so this will be a living document , & i will add things accordingly . 

𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 - hope is born in london , england to newlyweds ardella & damien baxter , a biochemist & engineer respectively . she spends her first 2 years growing up in the city , but with little faith on the way her parents decide to take advantage of the farmhouse ardella recently inherited in the states . 

when hope is the age of 3 , faith is born , & her family is living happily on the outskirts of a little farming town - brightside , tennessee . growing up in the country is paradise - she spends her time exploring the woods , caring for animals , & helping her mama in the kitchen . it’s not until later that she realizes she’s just a bit lonely - especially once faith starts to pull away from her .

at the age of 11 she meets winfield , the boy who will be her best friend for life . he is a bully , initially - but with some convincing ( & her mama’s famous triple chocolate muffins . ) he gives her a chance . . . & from then on they’re thick as thieves . before their friendship , hope was rather shy & reserved - but with his encouragement she quickly blossoms into much more of a socialite .

her life is looking up until the age of 14 . she discovers her parents have been killed in a lab ‘accident’ at their place of work , a company she knows next to nothing about . it only occurs to her later that maybe there was a reason for her parent’s secrecy . not knowing better , the sisters wrongly assume that the ‘social worker’ that comes to collect them means well - really , she is connected to the deaths of their parents , & they are taken to an illegal testing facility to be experimented upon . once it’s clear that these people mean them harm , hope does her best to fight back & protect her sister - but . . . really , at this point she doesn’t stand a chance . 

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 - she learns that the woman who kidnapped them is dr . bianca white . she doesn’t know it at the time , but this woman used to work with her parents . what she does know pretty immediately , is that she is bad news . hope is convinced to make a deal with her : allow herself to become their willing little lab rat , or allow her sister to receive the same treatment . it’s a no brainer , hope chooses to comply . 

by the age of 15 there’s been little to no progress & her captors are becoming impatient . their experiments become more & more ruthless . faith has started to detach herself from both hope & the world in general . she’s angry with her sister , for making no attempt to escape or fight back at all - unaware of the deal she has made . it’s at this point they are seperated entirely - & experimentation on faith begins , however hope is oblivious to this . she needs to believe these people are keeping their promise . faith becomes even more resentful of hope every day .

just after her 16th birthday she’s told faith has died . the scientists have a hunch - their energy readings show a correlation with hope’s emotions , negative ones in particular . so they provide the most negative stimulus they can think up , even if it is a total lie . faith is alive & well , however she’s been manipulated into aligning herself with her captors . what her torturers hadn’t planned on , is just how volatile hope’s reaction would be . the energy behaves like a sizable bomb - freeing hope & injuring everyone within the blast radius . finally , she is able to fully access the abilities she’s been developing for the past two years . she’s on a warpath to escape the facility & free the other victims , putting an end to the experimentation for good . in the meantime , dr . white escapes with faith - cutting her losses . 

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐇 - wealthy journalist , kit armington , is tasked with reporting on the facility’s illicit activity & takes pity on hope - taking her in as a foster child . during this time hope endures questioning by the police , the press , & eventually several hearings as a witness . dr . white is presumed dead - hope believes she murdered her , & despite how much hatred she holds in her heart for that woman . . . this really tanks her mental health & self image . she feels like a disappointment to everything her mother stood for , & vows to never use her abilities again . . . she doesn’t even try , for fear of hurting anyone . 

at 18 hope has completed her education through home schooling  , testing out of high school & with kit’s financial aid - she enrolls in college . it’s there she meets christina , & . . . these two have a rocky start . as roommates they clash - christina is a bit of a shut in & a neat freak . . . hope is disorganized & has fallen in with the partying crowd - which is atypical for her , but trying to drink away the pain seems a lot better than having to feel it all the time . it’s not until a late night heart to heart that they finally see eye to eye . hope convinces christina to come out with her & live a little - christina keeps hope from overdoing it . they balance each other perfectly , & make a great team - this never changes . it’s at this point christina begins to develop an unrequited crush on her best friend .

𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐑𝐘 ( domestic abuse tw ) - the pair graduate at the age of 22 & begin their journey of opening a bakery together . they receive the condition that if they can raise half of the funds necessary , kit & christina’s family will match the sum in equal parts . the pair head to new york , christina working as an accountant & hope working two waitressing gigs . it’s at this point she starts dating a guy that’s no good for her - as christina would remind her frequently . she’s not proud of her time spent with him , but she’s also infatuated with the illusion of love - especially considering all she’s been through . it’s at this point she’s reunited with winfield , who is down on his luck trying to make it as an actor in the big city . she takes him in , after some convincing - but is understandably vague about the circumstances of her disappearance . one day she returns to the apartment with a blackened eye - & though she tells him not to , he goes after her abusive boyfriend . hope follows , walking in on the violent confrontation . seeing her best friend being beaten to a pulp triggers her powers for the first time since her escape from the facility - effectively putting a stop to the brawl , & exposing her powers to winfield . he convinces her to use them for good - & once again becomes her trusted confidant . at this point she can barely lift a feather without her emotions being supercharged - but this changes with time & practice . 

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 - at the age of 25 Hope’s Bakery is open for business . winfield has his own place , just across the street & she is practicing vigilante justice when the sun goes down . it’s this chunk of time i use as a default for most of her interactions . ( in comparison to the mcu , i place this before the winter soldier . ) this is her situation until the beginning of her first arc - effectively , her status quo . virtually untrained , all alone - but determined to do some good . 

𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝟣 . 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 - mercenaries start turning up to kill hope . not her vigilate alter ego , stellar jay , hope b . baxter . at first she thinks her identity has been compromised , but that’s not it . following the clues , she learns it’s dr . white - back from the dead . she’s become aware of her vigilante routine , & wants to cash in on her lab project . the mercenaries were a test , to see what she could do - & gauge whether it’s worth trying to recruit her . hope , of course , isn’t happy about this . especially when dr . white decides to use christina as leverage . this would be a great time for any close friends / potential romantic partners to discover her secret - since this is where she’s at her sloppiest . there’s a lot of stuff left loose here for mains / additions to canon - but eventually , hope has a final showdown with bianca white & discovers that her sister is alive & well & pretty evil . she’s asked to choose her own freedom for chris’s life , however with winfield’s help she is already safe . dr . white shifts bargaining chips - threatening faith’s life , who is now thoroughly betrayed . the sisters do the impossible , working together to take down bianca - who is remorselessly dispatched by faith . . . who disappears as quickly as she reappeared in hope’s life . 

needless to say chris , hope , & win all go to therapy after all of this . 

𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝟤 . 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐖𝐄'𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐃𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 ? - now 26 , hope spends this arc trying to find faith & convince her to come with her  & stop killing people ,  please . her sister has taken to freelance mercenary work - so hope isn’t too pleased . it becomes very clear that faith always felt outcasted & unwanted in their family , especially from ardella - who only seemed to praise hope . this resentment isn’t easily cracked , but hope does her best . it doesn’t quite work , but seeds are inevitably planted in faith’s mind - maybe her sister isn’t the pretentious perfect princess she built up in her mind . hope is a guilty hero after all , constantly in battle with her desire to do good & reluctance to use the full extent of her powers . she’s convinced her mother would be disappointed by her violent approach . so faith enlightens hope . . . their mother wasn’t who they thought she was . 

she caused the explosion that killed her , their father , & a whole department of scientists . she sacrificed herself & others to prevent a dangerous substance from being utilized by the wrong group of people . their parents worked for the same facility that kidnapped their children - dr . bianca white was their boss , & had been blackmailing them for years . ardella finally had enough , & decided to end it . 

hope had always held her mother up on a pedestal , idealizing her , & holding herself to impossible standards . . . now she’s the bigger person , with no body count & the knowledge that her pacifist mother was capable of so much destruction . 

𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄 - adding this little bit in here , because the only thing that could make hope’s mental health tank even further at this point is christina & her cat pumpkin turning to ash at her feet . she does all she can to cope , helping her community , reuniting what’s left of families , & providing food through the bakery for people in need . but when things quiet down ? she flees the city to spend some alone time in her hometown . this would be a great time for any potential friends / romantic partners to check up on her . . . or even stay for good . not much to do for 5 years , after all . she gardens , picks up a stray dog & names her honey , bakes a lot , just sort of . . . lets the scars heal over . by the end hope is 31 .

𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝟥 . 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 - now that the world’s back on track . . . hope quickly learns that faith is back in action , now a fully formed villain . hope is taking it upon herself to take her down , but it’s not going to be easy . this arc is a bit of a question mark , but it will inevitably end with faith finally admitting that she wants her sister back after all these years . 

& that’s the full timeline for now . that’s what hope is dealing with while she’s chatting with your muses . . . so be kind to her , she’s going through a lot . help her out , teach her how to fight - hold her when she cries ! & most importantly - come plot with me so your muse can be factored into these arcs ! 

[pb1138]

Fictober Day 3: Bait, feat Blackwall and Gemma

“Milady… I must admit to having some… reservations… about this plan.”

Gemma tsked as she arranged her potions along her belt. “Oh, tush. It’ll be fine.” She flashes him a brilliant grin as she moves onto her quiver to count and straighten her arrows. “We all know the plan, right?”

The Iron Bull lets out a low chuckle, his whetstone grinding slowly against his sword. “Oh yeah. It’s gonna be sick.”

“I’m afraid I must agree with Blackwall, Inquisitor. This plan is riddled with danger.”

She rolled her eyes at that and hefted her quiver onto her back. “That’s why I asked you guys specifically along. Blackwall and The Iron Bull are our strongest tanks, and you’re our best healer.” She gave them a thumbs up and a cheeky grin. “We got this, guys. Relax.”

With that, she dropped a smoke bomb and disappeared into the shadows. Blackwall looked at the other two, his own worry reflected in at least Solas’s face, and the three men crept to the treeline to wait. Solas stood poised, staff raised to cast a barrier spell when she reappeared, and that at least gave him some small semblance of peace. A small, teeny, tiny, miniscule, almost nonexistence semblance of peace.

He could see her, just barely. The slight shimmering against the far tree line was just distinct enough to catch his searching eye. On bated breath, he watched as she made her way to her position in the field, in the far corner of the clearing from them but far too close to their target to ease his mind.

It happened quickly. With an explosive arrow, her disguise was cast aside and the signal given. Solas was quick to throw the barrier up around her, and not a moment too soon it would seem. No quicker than the barrier was up did the area around Gemma explode in a blast of fire before the high dragon let out an ear-splitting screech. Solas moved through the trees toward the center of the battlefield while Blackwall and The Iron Bull made their move, The Iron Bull to the dragon’s rear and Blackwall directly across from Gemma’s current position. It happened quickly—Gemma’s volley, Solas’s blizzard spell, The Iron Bull’s War Cry—all within what felt like the blink of an eye.

And then Blackwall was running, his sword raised, a battle cry of his own pulled from deep within him.

The diversion seemed to work, because while he and The Iron Bull charged, the dragon’s attention was kept squarely turned in the opposite direction, in Gemma’s direction. They both of them managed to strike fast and true, for all the good it did them. The only thing they seemed to be able to do was piss the beast off. The damage they were doing was negligible, no matter how long or hard the battle went.

“We’ve got to retreat!” he yelled over the roaring of the creature.

“Aw, come on! We’ve got it on the ropes!” The Iron Bull’s pout was practically tangible between his grunting.

“Inquisitor! We have to retreat!”

“No! We’re so close! I know it!” He cast a furtive glance in her direction, assessing her damage. Despite Solas’s best efforts to keep any of them from harm, her right arm was sporting a rather serious-looking burn that seemed to be causing her great pain as she knocked her arrow. Both her potion belt and her quiver were dangerously low, maybe a dozen arrows left and two healing potions.

“Gemma!” That got her attention. “Please. We cannot win this fight!”

She looked at him with no small degree of pain and turned her attention back to the dragon. No longer could he afford to give her his attention because the beast was lashing out at both The Iron Bull and him. The dragon screeched with such volume and high pitch that it dazed him, left him stumbling in a stupor until all of a sudden, he was in the air, and then he was sliding along the ground, a sharp, stinging pain in his side. Vaguely, Blackwall could hear someone’s voice, but his mind was having great difficulty sorting through the information at hand. When the world came back into focus at long last, he was greeted with the shiny dome of Solas, hovering over him, could feel the wash of magic across his body, stitching him back together.

“Inquisitor! We must leave, now!”

Well at least someone agreed with him.

“Go! We’ll cover you!”

Hands were on him, pulling him to his feet. His arm was swung over Solas’s shoulders as the (surprisingly strong) man helped him get away, casting a flurry of spells over his shoulder in their haste. They retreated into the thick underbrush, not stopping for several minutes until they found a small clearing. Groaning, Blackwall sat down with Solas’s help. Solas moved quickly to set up his healing equipment, muttering under his breath about hairbrained schemes and a lack of preparation. It wasn’t until then that Blackwall realized his plate was no longer on his body, and a quick glance at his wound gave him a good clue why:  he’d been cut cleanly where the dragon hit. Likely, his armor had been ripped from his body. Swallowing hard, he laid his head back and looked up at the canopy overhead. “I’ve had worse,” he tried to joke.

“You were nearly ripped in two,” grumbled Solas.

“Eh. Just a flesh wound.”

He could feel Solas’s incredulous stare and could not hold in the slightly hysterical chuckle that bubbled inside him. Solas shook his head and grumbled, setting about cleaning and treating the wound.

A rustling came from the underbrush, and as if on instinct, a barrier flew up around the two of them.

“Solas, quick!”

Solas was on his feet quickly, rushing towards The Iron Bull’s voice, and Blackwall pulled himself to sitting, an icy cold fear gripping his heart. Within moments, they burst back through into the clearing, but he couldn’t see. “We must get her stabilized, place her there—”

“What happened?”

The Iron Bull shot him a pained look over his shoulder as he laid Gemma’s small body down. “She wasn’t—We weren’t—”

It was growing hard to breathe through his fear, his heart pounding in his ears. “Is she…?”

“No, not yet.” Solas was leaning over her, his hands glowing with the efforts of healing, running along her small frame almost frantically.

“Not yet? What does that mean, ‘not yet?’ Are you saying she could—”

“If you keep distracting me, perhaps!” His voice was sharp, biting.

The Iron Bull came to sit beside Blackwall, looking a vision of misery. “I… I tried to get to her, but I wasn’t… I wasn’t fast enough.”

Blackwall shook his head, struggling to keep his cool. “It wasn’t your fault. We never should have attempted the attack in the first place.” Though he could not tear his eyes from the blood upon her lips, the red a stark contrast to her blue tattoos, he patted The Iron Bull’s arm reassuringly.

While they waited, The Iron Bull moved to stitch up Blackwall’s side to spare Solas the need to heal him. Once he was put back together, they both turned to watch in silence as Solas worked. It felt as though years passed before her lovely multi-colored eyes opened, even longer for her to look around, but when she did, they all three let out a collective sigh of relief. “Thank the Maker,” Blackwall whispered.

She swallowed hard, smacked her lips a few times. “I feel like shit,” she whispered.

“I should think so, Boss. That dragon fucked you up.”

At The Iron Bull’s bluntness, she smirked. “Not as bad as we did it, right?”

“Is that all you can do? Joke? Maker’s balls, I don’t believe you!” Blackwall threw his hands up. If he’d not been injured, he would’ve gotten to his feet and walked away, but as it were, he folded his arms across his chest and looked away.

The Iron Bull and Solas seemed to know what was coming, so they slipped away quietly. For a long moment, silence passed between Gemma and Blackwall, only the ambient sounds of the forest to fill the void. Then, finally, she whispered a soft, “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Sorry for what, Gemma? For getting injured? For almost dying? For taking us into that fight in the first place even though I told you I didn’t like it? For what?”

She sighed softly and reached out for him, her hand lying in the grass a good two feet away from him. “Yes. For all of it. I’m sorry. But it’s fine, yeah? We’re all alright.”

He sucked his teeth and cast her a glare, but at the open way she was staring at him, his anger softened. With a heavy sigh, he reached over and joined his hand with hers. “This time.”

She nodded slightly and squeezed his fingers. “I promise, love, I’ll be more careful from now on. We’ll be more careful.”

“That’s all I ask,” he whispered. It took some doing, but he scooted close enough to her to take her head in his lap. His gauntlets tossed aside, he ran his fingers through her hair and looked down at her, his heart swelling with affection. “I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you, Gemma.”

Grinning softly, she reached up and pressed her hand to his cheek. “Oh?”

He pressed his face against her palm and smirked. “Do you know how embarrassing it’ll be to carve your tombstone? ‘Died in the line of duty. As bait. For a bigass dragon.’”

She giggled then flinched and sighed. “You’re right. That would be a shame.” Then with a sly grin, “We’ll have Varric do it instead. He’s good at spinning stories like that.”

Blackwall rolled his eyes at her. “Yes, well, let’s wait a few years before we have to hire his services. I’m an old man, Gemma. My heart can only take so much before it’ll give out.”

She snorted and tugged on his beard playfully. “Is that another grey streak, I see?”

He laughed and pulled her knuckles to his lips. “With you? It very well could be.”

[aintgonnaleaveyoumikey]

Pairings: Trikey Rating: M Summary: They fell into a pattern, an infinite loop. To break it, Michael has to stay or Trevor has to let him go. Post main story pining and a suggestion for why Trev is so bitchy when he’s found throwing grenades in his driveway. [AO3]

.*Breaking Chains*.

Trevor pulled the pin and for a brief moment, it was like holding sundown in the palm of his hand: fleeting. And then he let it go.

The subsequent bang brought with it a flash of gold, a rumbling in his eardrums and bones...and the routine appearance of a black sedan pulling up garage-side in the dusty street. He watched it come to a stop—watched while the scent of cash blew into a slum and a lamb fell into a shark tank.

He wasn’t sure which he’d rather be.

Fuck.

There wasn’t enough liquor in the entire world now, not that there ever had been or would be when it came to Michael fucking Townley. It was the same feeling, whether he wore the clothes of a lover or a traitor, whether he had the swagger of youth in his step or a decade of mistakes written between the wrinkles now creasing his features. Mikey: always two steps out of reach with meaningless promises, a mirage of water in a parched wasteland of loneliness.

And yet, there he was. Again. And again and again and again and...

Despite the futility of it all, cracked lips met the whiskey bottle while Trevor’s eyes rolled back with his head. Bottoms up, he drank deep to will away the ghost now leisurely approaching, as if another unannounced visit to Sandy Shores was no more than a Sunday stroll around the block.

“T. Hey.”

His lashes parted again to a pair of black birds soaring over the colors of dusk and without facing the apparition, Trevor blindly set the whiskey down behind him. “I’d get out of the way if I were you.” He pulled another pin free and breathed a singsong, “Thank fuck I’m not you, though.”

Toss. Bang. Gold. Rumble.

Sundown after sundown.

“Guess this is what fun in the desert looks like. Heh, wish I’d known about it when we were playing house here.” It was a joke, both the sarcastic-laden suggestion and how it could still pierce Trevor’s heart despite knowing its jest.

“Mmhm, yep.” Still refusing to offer even the hint of a glance over his shoulder, he reached back for the booze. “Your life in Plastic Town isn’t playing house though, right? Sugar Tits, how do you live in such denial?”

With the kick of a polished shoe to the driveway, Michael squinted and sucked his teeth. His shoulders were loose, hands stuffed in his trouser pockets and he jingled his keys before giving off an airy sigh. “Some things never change, huh...”

The laugh that erupted from the depths of Trevor’s throat went short-lived and preceded another swig of liquor stinging its way down. “Now if those ain’t the truest words ever spoken.” At last, he turned and thrust the bottle toward his visitor. “You’ll always be an entitled prick, for instance.”

“Oh for Christ’s sake, T, can we just—”

“Disappearing for ten years and then just showing up whenever it suits the frequent swingin’ of your moods. Must be nice, Mikey.”

“Look, man.” Shrugging, Michael pulled his hands free and slid the tinted shades from the bridge of his nose. They folded with a pointed snap. “If you wanna keep throwing grenades and pissing off your neighbors, that’s fine by me. I can go get lost for another ten if it’s what you want.”

Ouch.

Trevor peered at Michael for long enough to err on awkward silence, before his arm finally fell with the whiskey sloshing as consequence. “You are an asshole.” He relented, however, the anger that shaded his tone dissipating in the bat of an eyelash. “So what favor do you need from ol’ T this time, mm?”

Michael’s brow twitched but he wasn’t quick enough to inquire.

“What? What else would bring you to my ever humble abode again, if not to inconvenience me in some beyond annoying way?” Trevor’s fingertips caressed over grooves and smooth edges, turning the next grenade around in his hand. If his dear compadre over there wanted to do this ridiculous dance every week, they’d dance. Every week. Until it got boring, of course.

Would it ever get boring, though? The name inked on Trevor’s bicep suggested he already knew the answer, but his imagination could deflect and chase a proverbial butterfly all it liked.

“Nah, it’s not...it’s not like that, T. Come on. I was in the neighborhood and felt like dropping in.”

“In the neighborhood.”

Rocking to and fro on his soles, Michael remained aloof and let his gaze wander. “So, uh, drinkin' with me is an inconvenience?”

Trevor scoffed and cocked his head. “When you speak in bullshit innuendos, yeah, a bit.” The final pin hit the ground with a soft clang and the shell went rolling toward the street. Boom. “Buuuut I never did like doing shit the easy way, so let’s get a move on, porkchop.” He approached with a slap to Michael’s arm, his fingertips pressing inward then and trailing down to the small of his back. “Let’s get a drink.” The words spilled from Trevor’s lips in a dangerous half purr. “Make up for a whole seven days of lost time.”

Michael’s face turned in slow motion until the tips of their noses nearly touched, his eyes half-lidded and the curl of his dark lashes prominent. He spoke just as softly then, a whisper riding out on his breath over the scent of mint and cigarettes. “Whatever it takes, Trevor.”

And that was that.

The pair approached the trailer door without so much an acknowledgement of Ron sitting on the porch, tinkering with some dilapidated tinfoil hat device as per usual. He’d have enough sense to leave soon anyway. ...Maybe. Then again, maybe not. Whatever the case, Trevor had one fuck to give at present and if Ron wanted to linger about while the whole universe rattled and his voice sang to the gods, so be it.

Wouldn’t be the first time.

His gaze met Michael’s while Phil Collins’ “I Don’t Care Anymore” played on the kitchen radio.

...Nor would it apparently be the last.

~

“I love my life,” declared a vapid voice, while cigarette smoke drifted in lazy tendrils through a conspicuous melancholy looming over the bed.

Outside, the sun had long relinquished its reign to a sea of diamonds, the moon a giant glowing pearl cradled in the lap of glittering celestial fabric. It was strange to think that Sandy Shores and Los Santos existed under this same sky, and even stranger that for ten years, Trevor and Michael had too—as separate and distinct as their places of residence. It was strange that neither yet moved now to trade the view of a rusty metal ceiling for the stars outside, strange that each found some vestige of comfort lying beside the other in less than favorable conditions.

Such was life, though: the very one Michael spoke of.

“I love it,” he repeated in a whisper, his eyes unblinking for too long.

Though an empty can was present on the nightstand next to him, Trevor flicked accumulated ash over the side of the bed. His right arm was raised and resting against a wafer-thin pillow, the crook supporting his head. The cigarette met his lips and he drew on it once more, while music no one was listening to continued wafting from the opposite end of the space; it was just Pat Benatar, anyway...

Only when the glowing orange line threatened to burn into the filter was when he put the smoke out, stretched, and finally turned his face. “So. What’s next, cowboy? Mm?”

Michael kept his attention trained on the ceiling, several moments of mock consideration passing before he answered, “The Yellow Jack?”

“...The Yellow Jack,” Trevor repeated in disdain.

Squinting, Michael licked his lips. “All right. The bar next door.”

When that suggestion was met with a huff out the nostrils, he sat up in annoyance. “The meth lab then. A fucking...road trip to the mountains, tennis at the god damn beach. Let’s steal a fucking plane and fly it until it burns up in the fucking atmosphere, I don’t know, T. What the fuck do you want me to say?”

“It’s the same shit every week, Mikey. Think about that.” Trevor pushed himself to stand at the bedside, and bare-ass naked, peered down at his companion humorously opting to remain covered by a thin sheet. “You’re not stupid. You just love denial.” From there, he itched at his groin and strutted to the bathroom for a piss while calling out, “Always have, always will.”

“Fucking whatever, man.”

It wasn’t long before Trevor reappeared in the doorway. “So, the Yellow Jack. And after that, the lab, the mountains, the beach. Then we fly into the sun. And then?”

“And then what?”

“How long would you say is too long, Michael? To wait for someone.” Trevor wandered to the closet and swatted at a pair of moths. “Ten years?”

Silence.

“Or is it twenty?”

Silence.

“Mm, I see.” He slid into the greatest treasure ever found at Binco—his prized pink leopard print briefs—and continued dressing. “Looks like the Yellow Jack Inn it is, porkchop.”

“Trevor.”

“Hurry the fuck up or you’ll be walking. I’m ready to stomp out some redneck ass, relieve myself of some fucking pent up aggression.”

The front door swung open and closed, Trevor’s voice muffled and permeating from the porch.

“Ronald, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Everything, Trevor!”

“It’s one week,” Michael answered at last, to no one. “One week is a long fucking time.”

He dragged out the process of cleaning himself up and donning his clothes, simultaneously hoping and dreading that he’d taken too long. To no surprise, though, Trevor still sat waiting in the truck when he finally made it outside.

~

Climbing to the roof of an abandoned motel while intoxicated was both a stupid idea and cheap thrill. Driving hours to the desert to run from a reality he’d given everything up for was a fitting parallel, so naturally, Michael went along with it.

He stood at Trevor’s side under a million stars and stared into infinity itself.

“I want to love my life, T.”

“Yeah.”

“So I should stop. Man, I gotta stop, it’s...”

“Yeah.”

“And we should probably...”

“For sure, Michael.”

They were quiet for a long while in a universe only big enough for two, each wondering in a drunken haze if the other knew what the hell he was even talking about. And then they questioned if they even knew, themselves.

At some point, their pinkies entwined first to test the waters, and the other fingers followed, threading together tighter and tighter yet. Was this holding with possession before letting go forever, or the intention of never letting go at all? The answer remained irritatingly elusive.

In any case, when the first rays of sunlight embraced the horizon once more, Michael’s eyes opened to find himself back in a bed which both did and didn’t belong to him. He elongated himself in a stretch, pointed his toes downward, and then looked to Trevor—watched while he took steady breaths in his sleep, focused on his barely parted mouth, and felt the magnetism drawing him in.

He used to feel this pull on his heart, twenty years ago.

Michael leaned over slowly. Their noses touched, the space separating his lips from Trevor’s closed to mere millimeters and just before it became none, a familiar ghost posed a familiar inquiry.

What’s next, cowboy?

He stopped short of consummating the kiss.

Get a drink. The Yellow Jack. The bar next door... Michael’s gaze drifted to the side. Actually feel alive for a few hours and then return to the life he should love, must love—the life he gave up everything, gave up Trevor for.

...How long was too long to wait for someone?

And how long was too long to burn in the inferno of a self-made purgatory?

He withdrew; got up, got dressed, walked by Ron passed out on the porch couch with a beer in hand, and slid into the car. It was only 6AM and the heat was already suffocating, but that wasn’t a new feeling for Michael. He turned up the AC, pulled onto the dirt road, and drove.

It wasn’t until he reached the entrance ramp of the highway when he noticed how silent the world was outside of his mind, so he reached for the radio just in time to once again hear Phil Collins singing about how he didn’t care anymore. Must be nice.

~

He was becoming a true creature of habit. That was what Michael decided when he found himself strolling up a dusk-colored desert driveway exactly seven days after the last time he found himself doing the same thing...after a previous seven and another seven before then, and more yet. But he wasn’t the only one. In the same place, entertaining himself with the same activities, was the same person as always.

And that was when it occurred to him, the infinite loop: redundant and reiterating, comfortably uncomfortable, never a change or deviation. And in it, with no foreseeable end and no clear beginning, they were both stuck.

Michael slid the shades from his face and closed them with a snap. “...T. Hey.”

“I’d get out of the way...”

His freshly polished shoes remained in place and he said nothing more, simply opted to watch Trevor’s avoidance of him while he kept tossing grenades and drinking straight from the bottle. Someday, Michael thought, he might be strong enough to stay. Or perhaps Trevor might be strong enough to finally let him go. The latter was the path of least resistance, and what he strangely both dreaded and hoped for.

But when his eyes fell to his name inked on a bicep, he studied it for some time. And then finally... “T.”

“Time for the weekly drink, the weekly argument. The Yellow Jack, the bar next door...” Shrugging, Trevor set the whiskey down. “Let’s get a move on, porkchop. Make up for that lost time, mm?”

Michael huffed with a shake of his head. “A week? Or ten years of it?”

Raising his chin quickly, Trevor looked to him but Michael pivoted and let his footsteps carry him back to his car.

“I dunno, T. But I’m going back to the roof of the motel to try to figure it out.” The alarm disengaged with a chirp and as the door opened, he cocked his head. “You comin’?”

Trevor hesitated, scrutiny worn with conspicuous measure across his features. At last, his shoulders rose and his apathy was almost believable when he capitulated. “Ah, sure, why the hell not?” He tossed the bottle over the fence and strutted to the passenger door. “Would break up this fuckin’ monotony anyway.”

Michael breathed a laugh. “Yeah.” When he slipped into the seat, he changed the radio station to something new—some kind of electronic noise kids these days listened to. “I was thinking the same thing.”

As they drove down the street, Trevor put his feet on the dashboard and pressed his thumbs together. “So. This is really the end of us getting drinks, Mikey?”

“Shit, T. The end, the beginning.” Michael’s right hand slipped off the steering wheel and fell open-palmed between them. “Who fuckin’ knows anymore.”

It was a moment before Trevor’s fingers entwined with his own. “Good enough for me, Michael.” A beat. “For now.”

“For now,” Michael echoed. He drove past the motel and chased the sun until the last of its rays bled into the darkness—without ever letting go of Trevor’s hand, without Trevor ever letting go of his.

Hey. Maybe it was a start after all.

~

// Thank you for reading! This is my first story for this pairing and fandom. I’m sorry for any mistakes.

[aweebwrites]

Found

Part 1: Lost

_________________________________________

“Dammit!” Kai growled as he stormed away, the small girl with dark hair and wide eyes looking at him confused as he did.

She clung to the towel he wrapped around her after saving her from almost drowning. She suppose he has to go… While she made her way back to her village, Kai was getting as far away as possible. He slipped up yet again. He knew she would make him think of her but he couldn’t leave her to die, despite his bad lungs. He may be many things but he wouldn’t watch a child die. He’d rather die trying. He scratched at his arms, a habit he’s carried along with him these past 7 years. His arms were covered in surface scars from the bad habit. He quickly approached his hidden bike in the nearby swampland then swung himself on, a bag of necessities strapped onto the back. His head jolted up at a low, barely audible hum before he retreated further into the swampland, sharp brown eyes looking around. He spotted something white approaching, a vehicle it seemed. A familiar figure was on the back, glowing blue eyes scanning the area. Zane.

Zane used the scanner Nya programmed into his systems to search the swampland for Kai. It was pure luck when Nya sensed him near by, just the next village over. They had just stopped a few bandits from attacking the village after visiting in hopes of finding Kai there. They rarely get a hit in a city after all. It was always remote areas. Cue them dropping in just to see the bandits about to attack and taking care of them in a few minutes. They had tried not to be upset with their hopes being dashed but it’s just the state of things. For over 7 years now they have been chasing Kai down, never seeing more than a glimpse of his back, never getting more than a few feet away from him. For a ninja (they refused to refer to him as anything less than a ninja) who seemed to think he wasn’t good enough, he certainly was professional at hide and seek. They could go entire months without a single hit and as soon as a few minutes. Even then, he always gets away. This was their chance. They’ve never been this close to a hit before. They decided to fan out, surround the area and move in.

They had to get him here and now or else their future chases look even more faded than it already did. Zane stopped his Glacier Cruiser then hopped off, moving towards the strange form he spotted, ready to freeze if necessary. He held his breath then batted the large leaf aside, blinking at the abandoned motorcycle. He looked it over then spotted something. It was a kunai, one only they as ninja possessed, attached to the handle of the bike. This was Kai’s bike then. Once a ninja, always a ninja. They may not know if he had his elemental powers though. Lloyd had given up his golden powers but they all saw the fire rush out of the temple that day. There was a 50% chance it went to him but there was also a 50% chance it went to someone else. Zane switched to thermal reading. He had been seated on it recently. Which meant he was still in  Zane’s area. He looked around and spotted footsteps disappearing into the swamp itself and frowned. That way was too obvious and they’ve fell for that trick enough times as is.

“I’ve spotted his bike but no signs of him yet.” Zane reported into the comms.

“Don’t let him trick you. He’s crafty.” Nya reminded him.

“I’m pretty sure he knows by now.” Jay pointed out and Zane focused on picking the right path to follow.

He blinked, hearing his Glacier Cruiser rev. By the time he got back to the road, his vehicle was already far ahead, a familiar figure on the back.

“This is why these things have GPS.” Zane says before running after the vehicle. “Guys, I have him heading eastbound on my ride.” He informed the others.

“On our way.” Cole responded as Zane continued the chase on foot.

Kai dropped down from the tree he was in moments later, landing on his feet.

“Well, there goes my good suit.” He says, adjusting his bike then took a look at it. “Nice try Zane.” He says, removing the tracker on the wheel, wondering when he even put it there.

He then made his way as far away as possible, thinking of which village to revisit. Maybe he would visit a smaller scale city, maybe drop by their parent’s old shop. Who knows? He rubbed at his chin, feeling the light stubble there. Maybe get a shave while he was at it… He sighed as he kept his eyes on the unpaved road. He left that live behind a long time ago and it was the best decision he ever made. They’re all heroes. They saved Ninjago countless of times. They would have never been able to do it with him there. He even heard Lloyd became the Green Ninja, became Ninjago’s treasured savior. He even glimpsed him on tv once or twice. He got big abnormally quick but he did it. He took down Garmadon and the overlord. He had purpose. He was strong. His throat itched near painfully. Shit.

He pulled over and collapsed to his knees and hands, coughing heavily as he gripped his chest tightly. Shitshitshit! He coughed even harder, nothing but smoke escaping his lungs, taking away his ability to breathe. His eyes burned from the smoke leaving his mouth and nose. Shit! His vision was going spotty as he wheezed. His hands gave out from under him, leaving him to collapse into the vegetation. His chest /burned/ so bad. His vision wavered as smoke kept leaving his lungs. He knew better to think about these things yet still he… His vision faded to black.

________________________________

When Kai came to, it was to the feeling of his chest hurting him. He was breathing heavily but not as harshly as he always did after an episode. Apparently six years of this odd sickness wasn’t enough to teach him to keep his eyes ahead of him, not behind. He blinked his eyes open slowly and peered around.  It appeared as if he was in some kind of cottage. He sat up slowly, grunting as his chest ached with the slow, careful movement to do so. Where was he? He heard footsteps approach and was immediately wary. A woman stepped in then, having tall, wavy black hair, wearing a sort of blue battle kimono. Strange.

"You're awake. That's good." She says as she walked over.

"Who are you?" He asked, looking her over.

"You can say… I'm a friend." She says with a secret smile. "I found you on the outskirts of the village. You seemed to be having difficulty breathing. My husband had that same problem so I thought I would help you recover." She says, gesturing to a tank next the the bed and Kai blinked, realising that there were tubes attached that reached into his nose.

"I wouldn't do that." She says once he reached up to take it out. "Your lungs are heavily damaged with smoke. You'll need to keep it in for a while until they can recover." She told him then walked over with the glass of water she held.

"Here. Drink it slow." She offered and Kai was hesitant but he took it, taking slow sips.

"I can't stick around." He says once the glass was empty.

"That's fine. We just have to make sure your lungs heal up nice before you go. No use of going when you've lost your breath after a few steps." She says, taking the cup and standing. "Get some rest. I'll have something for you to eat soon." She says, offering him a kind smile before going.

Kai watched her go with a frown. Something was oddly familiar about her. He gently laid down again, his ever present exhaustion reappearing. Just a moment of shut eye wouldn't hurt, right?

_________________

'Maybe next time, you can do it right.'

I'm trying to! Please let me prove that to you!

'Perhaps it is best you do not reach your True Potential, or else someone could get hurt.'

I- I wouldn't hurt anyone! I just wanted to be useful! I just wanted to do something!

A scream came and Kai whipped around to see Nya on the ground.

'Nya!' He rushed over even through it took 10 steps to make one.

He dropped to his knees next to her as she sobbed quietly.

'Nya! Are you alright?!' He asked her worriedly, hands trembling as he hovered over her.

'No!' She yelled as she looked up at him, half of her face burnt.

Kai woke up with a yell on his tongue as well as thick smoke. He coughed heavily, ignoring the hand on his back, guiding him to lay on his side.

"Clear your mind and try to take deep breaths." The woman from earlier told him, rubbing his back in soothing motions as he struggled to do anything but hacking his lungs up.

It burns! He couldn't breathe! Was he going to die like this?

"Listen to me Kai. It burns, I know it does and it's hard to breathe. Focus on that alone." She urged and Kai was too out of it not to listen.

His eyes burned and watered, just like his mouth, his lungs feeling as it they were about to explode. But the longer he focused on the suffocation and the burning, there more it ebbed away. Soon he was wheezing weakly, the smoke dying down completely but his lungs and eyes still burned as he tried not to pass out, spots dancing in front of his eyes.

"That's it. Just keep breathing." She urged and Kai nodded dumbly, limp against the bed.

It took almost half an hour for the shock to leave and for his body to calm itself down- but once it did, he frowned.

"Wait." Kai says then tried to get up.

"No, you shouldn't get up as yet. You're-"

"I don't give a damn. I have a question for you." Kai says, narrowing his gaze and sitting up anyway, grunting as he did. "How do you know my name?" He asked and she looked surprised then guilty.

"You're working with the ninja, aren't you." Kai says in realization, wondering how long it will take for them to get here and how far he could go in the condition he was in.

"Kai, listen-"

"Answer the question." He says, cutting her off, all out glaring at her now.

"Yes. But it is for your own good son. If things continue this way-"

"Son?!" Kai says shocked, flinching away from her and looking her over.

That's why she looked so familiar! But- But-

"Please Kai. If you let this continue like this, your powers will kill you." Maya whispered to him, holding onto his hand.

Kai didn't know what to think. What to say. It was all too much. He looked to her, looking hurt.

"Where did you and dad go?" He whispered and Maya knew the question was coming but it didn't make it any heavier on impact.

"We didn't leave you two alone by choice. I'm not sure how much you've heard about the time twins Acronix and Krux but Krux took us away. Your friends saved us, Nya saved us." She whispered and Kai's eyes flashed amber as he gripped his head, knowing that Nya could see him now.

'Kai!' Her voice echoed in his head.

He ignored Nya and looked back to his mother as she continued.

"We've been helping you search for them ever since. It was bad luck how I ended up finding you. But I'm glad you did. This was much worse than when your father had it." She whispered, worried.

"Dad had it too?" He whispered and she nodded.

"For a short while, yes. Your elemental powers act according to your mentality. If your state of mind is toxic then your powers will also be toxic. To you. Please let us all sit down and talk about this. Your negative feelings you hold against yourself, towards the others are hurting you." She pleads and Kai frowned.

"It's not like I have a choice. I can't go anywhere in this condition. Talking…" He swallows uncomfortably. "Hurts almost as badly as breathing." He whispered.

"It's for your own good and if you choose to not be apart of the ninja then they promised to stop chasing you." She told him and Kai only nodded.

He knew this day would come. He just hoped he could have kept running for a moment longer. He just doesn't understand why they wanted him still. They were successful as is. In absolutely no time, he could hear the familiar ship touchdown.

"Kai?!" Kai winced then looked up at Nya who looked back at him with eyes filled with tears.

"Hey… Sis…" He says with a sheepish grin and she launched herself at him, making him grunt in pain.

"Oh! Sorry." She says, pulling back before snuffling, the tears pouring down her cheeks. "It's just… It's been so long! I was beginning to think…" She coughed then and Jay was immediately by her side.

"Hey, take it easy. Don't work yourself up." He says soothingly and she struggled to catch her breath, while Kai looked at her in horror.

"You weren't the only one suffering Kai." He looked up at the male that walked in, guessing he was his father. "Did you think Nya would be happy without her brother?" He says to him softly and Kai frowned, really thinking she would be.

"How could you think that you idiot!" She yelled at him breathlessly then took a deep breath. "It's my fault all of this happened. It's my fault you left. If I hadn't been so weak then and not gotten myself kidnapped-"

"No, I should have protected you. None of this was your fault. If I had been a better brother-"

"What are you talking about?!" She says cutting him off this time. "You were the best big brother I could ever ask for! It was why I wanted to be like you, to be a ninja. I knew I couldn't be so I became the samurai instead so I could protect myself and you!" She panted afterwards before coughing up water.

"Ny-ya." He coughed out, wanting to reach out to her but their mother was holding him back.

"Keep going. The only way to make this stop is to work out all your issues." Ray insisted, going to his daughter's side.

"You shouldn't have to protect me. If I were stronger, if I wasn't so weak, you wouldn't need to. If I could do things right I-" He cut himself off to cough, smoke starting up in his lungs again. "I could have purpose! I could be of use! I just-" He wheezed, the smoke getting thicker.

"I just wanted to help. I thought becoming the Green Ninja would give me purpose again! That I could-" He cut himself off to cough heavily, lungs burning. "I could finally do things right!" He wheezed out, and Maya turned up his oxygen.

"Kai…" Nya took a moment to take a huge gulp of air. "Your only flaw was that you gave yourself too little credit. You were… You made mistakes but it made you you and it worked out for you." She says, slowly catching her breath.

"Nya is right." Kai's breath hitched as his old Sensei walked in, the others behind him. "The blame falls on me." Wu says, lifting his head to look at his former student.

"I still have much to learn as a Sensei but my gravest mistake was letting things come as far as they did." Wu says as Kai outright stared.

His chest was really-

"It may hurt but you still need to breathe Kai." Maya says, snapping him out of it and he took a deep- painful- breath.

"You were right Sensei-"

"I was wrong." Wu says, cutting him of, surprising Kai. "Had I not let my own emotions blind me, I would have seen the impact of my words while there was time to fix it.. He slipped off his hat.

"It was my misdeeds that has drove you away from your family, from your place among us. And for that, I apologize." He says, bowing before Kai.

He felt overwhelmed.

"But- but I…" He stuttered.

"But what?" Maya asked, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

Kai opened and closed his mouth several times.

"It… This all feels too good to be true…" Kai says, looking down at his lap with a frown.

"Yeah well you better believe it!" Jay says angrily, despite the others trying to shut him up. "I can't believe you thought you weren't any good! News flash: you've kept us on a wild goose chase for 7 years. 7 YEARS!" Kai blinked owlishly at Jay.

"Well he isn't wrong. I mean, that takes skills. If I had the power to disappear like you do I'd be the ultimate ninja." Lloyd says with a smirk.

"But you… You're already…-"

"I wish. We all know being a ninja is being all sneaky and secretive and stuff. You've got that in spades! You're the real ninja here." Lloyd says with a smile.

"It would be nice if you trained us in your ways." Zane says with a shrug.

"You've managed to completely Eva every single trap we could think of for 7 years. As a Nindroid, I find that highly impressive." Pixal agrees though Kai didn't know who she was.

"Face it buddy, you're the best one of all of us here. And we missed yah. I can't work out with Jay because he's too weak and Nya puts me to shame. Plus, I miss your horrible taste in music." Cole says and just like that, the others began listing things off that they missed about him.

Could he really have been wrong this entire time? Could he really… Have a place here. He found himself smiling as his heart warmed pleasantly, the feeling spreading all over. The others watched in awe as he began to glow and float, no doubt unlocking his true potential after so long. Once he slowly lowered to his feet, he was wearing the fire version of the gi they wore, blinking at his hand that was on fire. He looked on bashfully as they all clapped and cheered for him before flipping his hood back with a smile.

"See? Even destiny wants you to be a Ninja. So, what do you say?" Nya asked him, reaching a hand out to him.

He looked down at her hand then his own. Taking her hand would mean becoming a ninja again and leave his life of doing odd jobs and running behind. It… Doesn't sound as bad as he thought. He took her hand and she beamed up at him.

"Now let's go get you cleaned up trash man." She says and he huffed but let her drag him outside towards the Bounty.

Wu, Maya and Ray watched the others excitedly trail behind them.

"You know things will be much harder than just him agreeing to be a Ninja again, right?" Ray says to his old friend who nodded.

"I know, friend. This time, I'll be the one to do things right." Wu says before walking out as well, both parents following behind him.

_______________________________________________________

(Idk if it’s because I’ve been distracted while writing this but it feels rushed. I may rewrite it because of that. Also guys if you ever want to hit me up I’m gonna be on the Ninjago City Server pretty often from now on. Anyway, I hope this wasn’t too bad!)

[shadowdianne]

Ok, I started to write this with a very different scene in my mind but then it ended up morphing into this and well, who I am to write things differently?? The writer? Nah, don’t think so Xd

This was more or less prompted by @onhowtobecrazy thanks to Endo’s tagging on this picture.

Enjoy!

PS: I tend to focus more on worldbuilding. Today I didn’t Xd

“What do you think?”

The question, rising towards the arched ceiling the vault had, didn’t made Regina stumble as she finished prepping what would soon be a fighting space but she turning and looking at Emma as the blonde descended the last steps of the stairs did.

Over the years, Regina had grown accustomed to seeing Emma change; from the assured woman to the meek rag doll that had been too painful to stay for, Emma had been a kaleidoscope of change and yet, no Dark One accessories or Savior-like foolishness could have prepared the brunette when she saw that the question came attached to the loss of something that had been a staple on Emma’s look that Regina could do nothing but gape.

The long locks, the ones that almost seemed to scream princess ancestry on the blonde’s blood, were gone; replaced by not exactly a buzzcut but close enough and a far too cheeky set of bangs that only framed the green gleaming eyes in a way Regina found herself swallowing, her magic spiking deep within her. A slight smile curving her lips, Emma kept staring at her, hands deep on her jacket’s pockets, the one that had made a reappearance after the papers had been signed and a ring had found its way to the bottom of the ocean.

Licking her lips, trying to gain herself some time, the brunette took a few steps towards the blonde, taking into her appearance, in the way she now stood, almost looking taller, prouder. She had heard from her that she needed, wanted, a change, but she would have never thought that this would be the change on itself and, as juvenile as some part of her considered it to be, she couldn’t help herself on thinking that, in a way, it seemed appropriate.

Fingers itching, begging her to raise her hands and touch the soft short locks, Regina took a deep breath, answering the still-there smile with one of her own.

“I think it suits you.”

And it was true; it suited Emma in a way that she would haven’t considered it possible. It made the defined lines of her collarbones stand even more beneath the jacket and the tank top. Yet, it wasn’t just that but what it brought from inside the blonde; the way she moved, the way she smirked at the compliment, at the way Regina needed to remind herself that they were supposed to be practicing rather than… staring. Gone was the doubtful blonde, the one that would move away when Regina moved closer to her and the brunette wondered briefly if the other woman had been like this before Storybrooke, before magic and curses had transformed into their new normal.

“Stand there.” She instructed, pressing her lips together as Emma complied, smugness never disappearing, walking towards the end of the small corridor that linked the potion brewing station with the chamber of hearts.

Shaking her head, compelling herself to focus once more on the matter at hand, the brunette rolled her shoulders, forcing her magic to lower itself to a soft simmer rather to the bubbling sparks that had begun to bite her insides.

It was the novelty, she thought; the same kind of surprise that she still felt whenever Emma sought her out. Over the years after Henry’s departure Storybrooke had fallen into a sort of gray light, the carefully constructed friendship they had created shattering day by day with the way the younger woman kept making herself unapproachable. Now that she was back, crowned and with all the realms at her disposal that, had changed.

It would pass, and she needed to refocus. Moving her head in slow, tight circles, the brunette set her eyes on the other woman, instructing the sparks to travel from her chest to her hands. She could sense Emma’s own power beginning to travel the distance that separated them; the scent of ozone growing heavy as she inhaled.

Even her magic felt different, she thought in an almost afterthought and she needed to steady herself before she nodded, signaling the beginning of the battle, the charges their magic created insulated by the multiple guards that covered the place.

It didn’t take long for her to lose her footing, Emma’s attacks ruthless, still far too broad, but still quick and much bolder than what Regina was accustomed to see coming from her. Swallowing and diving as she moved forward, trying to regain the lost terrain, she felt a hand at the small of her back, the touch feather-like but still burning as she had mere seconds before she was able to redirect the blast that tinted her sight with dirty-white magic.

She didn’t quite make it, her fingers circling the wrist and lifting it just as Emma spun her, making her face her in what felt a much smaller space than it had seemed a moment before.

Breath hitching, Regina clenched her teeth as Emma tilted her head, their magic sputtering before it disappeared once more beneath their skin, spent.

A part of her, a small part of her, knew that congratulations were in order: it was the first time Emma had truly managed to win and yet she remained silent as Emma’s eyes kept looking at her, a question there. One Regina knew already far too well; one they had already danced around above shared lunches and date-like dinners.

They hadn’t truly talked about this, not really. Longing glances and pregnant pauses were easier than an actual conversation and actions could only do so much, but Emma seemed to almost be vibrating with the question, with the way she still kept her hand halted, Regina’s fingers still circling her wrist.

But they didn’t talk about it; they never had, and so Regina pulled Emma’s hand until she both flushed to her chest, the movement causing Emma to stumble just the tiniest bit as she licked her lips; eyes roaming the new look. A new one, one she found herself liking far too much.

As an answer, Emma simply lifted her chin, the hollow of her throat turning more pronounced as she took a few deeper breaths.

“Stop me.” The words came out not like a plead but almost as if they were a last resort and Regina could feel her magic returning, circling her bones. And if felt far too much like a feverish dream.

“What makes you think I want that?”

By the time Regina crashed her mouth against Emma’s purple fog was already rising around them, the guards titillating as the brunette called them off.

-.-

For all her bravado when they finally reappeared in Regina’s room the brunette could feel how Emma was trembling; her hands stilling as Regina freed the hold she had on the blonde’s wrist. Yet, when the older woman eyed her a grunt was the only answer she had before she let her magic re-center her, burying her fingers into short, short locks; the tickling sensation of the hair against her fingertips merely fueling her. Trailing her fingers down, across Emma’s cheek, she brushed the underside of Emma’s bottom lip with her thumb as she moved backwards, just enough so she could see the woman’s face. Pupils dilated, the blonde’s teeth peeked as Regina pushed her mouth open, the glinting white biting into her thumb for a moment before the brunette closed the distance once more; drunk on the feeling.

They had been dancing around this for years, far too many and it was almost risible that what had broken the seams had been a mere haircut but, in a way, it suited them just as good as the change of look did to the blonde. A far too easy decision but one they hadn’t thought the possibility before. And so Regina moved her hand slightly lower, nails digging into Emma’s neck just so the blonde hissed into her mouth, stumbling backwards and carrying Regina with it, her hands finally beginning to tug at Regina’s own clothing, at the blouse she had chosen that morning; far too silky and making any friction almost an impossible. Her free hand clutching the blonde’s jacket, the bite of the zipper against her palm a reminder of the clothes they both still wore, Regina smiled as she stopped, her lips gliding against Emma’s the result messy, far too messy.

It wasn’t until Emma began to move her hands once more to her front, the angle awkward as they were far too close for her truly be able to unbutton the blouse, that she tutted, the hand at the blonde’s neck rising once more, clenching around the blonde’s hair and pulling it until the woman winced.

“Let me.”

Emma’s eyes were laced with white, silver almost and there was a moment in where Regina doubted the blonde had truly registered her words. However, she complied at the end, a short sharp nod the answer she got before Emma lowered her hands to her hips, fingers pressed against her skin but unmoving.

They would need to talk after this; after whatever this was. Regina knew it in the same sense she knew that Emma would probably doubt herself the second they ended it but she had spent far too long wanting more, wanting this, to be able to focus in nothing else than the way her bed stared back at her over the blonde’s shoulders. Smirking, she took a few deep breaths and called for her magic, pushing the blonde until the only thing the woman could do was shorten the distance, the back of her legs hitting the edge of the mattress with enough force to almost fall into it. Which was, precisely, what Regina needed.

It had been far too long since she had let herself be selfish after all and, judging by the way Emma braced herself, her lips colored with what Regina could only guess was her own ruined lipstick, she too needed it. Moving forward, she called forth her magic, the warmth on her fingers growing as she draw a lazy line over the blonde’s tank top. Cinders rising but smoke never settling, the fabric began to fall, clothing turned ash.

“What…”

“Just wait.”

And Emma waited, muscles locked but never looking away as Regina made her sat, lowering her hands as she did so, spreading the fire as she pulled her knees apart, her fingers grazing the jeans and freeing the blonde’s legs in the process as she positioned between them, kneeling so she could still look at the blonde’s eyes, completely enraptured by the way Emma kept completely still, breath coming in quick puffs of air.

More skin showing, Emma squirmed as her bra appeared, Regina biting her lip as she did so; deciding to not keep it with just a fickle of her wrist. The fire didn’t mar the blonde’s skin but there were still reddish marks from where Regina’s nails grazed, promising but far too slow.

She didn’t stop until the only article of clothing that covered Emma was the leather jacket, the cut still covering the blonde’s chest but only barely as she breathed in, her knees trembling as Regina splayed her fingers over the slightly chilled skin.

“Much better.”

I’m a tease no matter what, right? So, this might be 2k longer, but I will post it in due time back at A03. 😉

[umbureraakademi]

Introductory Note About the AU & Other Chapters & Face Claims

-a/n start-

[Potential spoilers for anyone who hasn’t seen or finished TUA Netflix series but seriously how could you stop yourself from watching such a captivating show.]

Word Count: 1423

Whew that was one hell of a writer’s block.

-a/n end-

Chapter 24

3 Months After

Diego and Monica sat in his car as they have been for the last 15 minutes, parked by the Hargreeves mansion debating whether or not being there was a good idea. 

“Look, I know it’s your birthday but I’m really not sure about this.” Monica protested for the nth time as Diego’s patience was waning thin.

“Whatever happened to birthday privileges?” Diego said, trying to make light of the situation although he was this close to angrily driving Monica home and not speaking to her.

“Didn’t I give it to you this morning?” Monica responded with a teasing wink, and when Diego let out a frustrated sigh, started the engine, and placed his hand on the stick shift she panicked a bit. “Whoawhoahoa, Diego. Just hear me out before you start your angry driving okay?” she said and internally sighed a sigh of relief when he stopped. “It’s just that Klaus is organizing this party seemingly from out of nowhere since you said so yourself you guys haven’t even seen each other since your dad’s funeral. I get the feeling this party is more about him than some joint birthday celebration for all you guys. And let’s not forget the fact that he hates my guts.”

“Well if he wanted a party all for himself he should have said so.” Diego said matter-of-factly. “If he says it’s a birthday party for all of us, and that includes me, then of course I’d bring my girlfriend to my own party.” 

“Honestly, it’s kind of unnatural for you to actually be interested in this.”

“Klaus wouldn’t shut up about it. He literally called me everyday. Every. Fucking. Day. I get the feeling if I didn’t show up he’d never let me hear the end of it.” Diego said, a thoughtful pause following before he continued, “Besides, this would be a good time to introduce you to Mom.” he said softly.

Monica’s heartbeat picked up significantly when he said that. Of course, they had talked about it the moment Diego finally decided he would go after he denied Klaus five times and his brother just wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. But every time he mentioned wanting Monica to meet the only other woman he cared for the most about asides from her and Eudora she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Days before Diego had begun briefing her on Mom and his family since, although Klaus had talked about it with her before, he was always so vague since his family wasn’t exactly his most favorite topic in the world. 

Luther was Diego’s least favorite sibling since every word that came out of his mouth always managed to make his blood boil. He almost never stops talking about his 4 years on the moon, and he’s inhumanely big and greatly insecure about it.

Monica knew Allison for the movie star she is as she had watched a few of her movies, and she was hyped up about meeting this particular famous sibling. Although, Diego mentioned he wasn’t sure about Allison actually being there due to her busy schedule or the added fact that she’d probably rather spend her birthday with her daughter if her ex-husband allowed it, instead of in a house full of bad childhood memories and her estranged siblings. 

Five was a strange case because after disappearing when they were younger he had reappeared all of the sudden the time their dad died in their ever so rare occasions of being gathered together. The thing is when Five reappeared, he was still 15. Diego told her Five had disobeyed their dad’s orders not to time travel way back and he jumped into a future where everyone was already 30. Unfortunately, no matter how Five tried to go back, he just couldn’t. Eventually he had given up and decided to make do with living in the future with his now older siblings. It had been two years since that mess and now he’s turning 17 with everyone turning 32.

Vanya was the sister Diego didn’t pay much attention to mainly because he didn’t appreciate the book she wrote exposing their family secrets. She was the only one without special abilities like them and had always been left out. When Monica asked if they were sure she didn’t have any abilities that were just latent even until now, Diego looked at her like she was crazy.

Pogo was their dad’s right hand man, or more appropriately, his right hand chimp. He had assisted their dad in monitoring and training them as kids and Diego found him to be annoying, though he was better at paying attention to them than their father ever was.

Then last but not the least, sweet and caring Mom. When Diego had showed Monica a picture of her in his phone her initial thought was how could she look so young when her “kids” were in their 30s? Then he mentioned she was a robot created by their father to raise and nurture them, which made sense and Monica thought if they had a talking chimpanzee in the family then of course they had a robot Mom. Another important detail Diego mentioned was because she was, in fact, a machine that had been running ever since they were kids, like other machines she started showing signs that she wasn’t in peak condition anymore. 

The way his eyes grew dark when he told her that and how difficult it was to call her a “machine” for lack of a better term was a tell-tale sign that Diego thought Mom was more than just a robot who took care of them.

“Well, you at least told Klaus I was coming right?” Monica asked. There was a silence as Diego just stared at her blankly, and Monica didn’t like that. “Diego?” she said warningly.

“C’mon, let’s go.” Diego responded, hastily removing his seatbelt and stepping out of the car.

“Diego Hargreeves!” Monica protested, as if saying his full name would stop him from making a run for the front door. She quickly undid her own seatbelt and got out of the car to catch up to Diego, tugging him by the arm so he was forced to look at her. “Diego did you or did you not tell your brother I was coming to your party?” she demanded.

“What’s he going to do about it when you’re already here?” was Diego’s response.

“You’re not answering the question but I could take a hint.” Monica said as she folded her arms in front of her, glaring at Diego.

“Just relax, okay? I’m sure everyone else is going to like you.” Diego said reassuringly as he rang the doorbell. “If Klaus hasn’t already told them how his ex is now dating one of his brothers.” he added jokingly, earning a punch on his shoulder from Monica. Suddenly the door swung open and there stood Klaus in his usual black tank top and tight leather pants, only this time he was bringing around a bright pink feather boa.

“Bro--oh great, you brought her.” the way Klaus’ expression had quickly changed from excited to unhappy was laudable, but all Monica was feeling at the moment was uncomfortable and wanting to be anywhere but near this man.

“Of course I brought my girlfriend Klaus, it’s my birthday.” Diego defended.

“Our birthday.” Klaus corrected, folding his arms as he eyed Monica. “Will it be too late if I asked you to leave?”

“Klaus.” Diego warned and Klaus gave off a defeated sigh as he opened the door wider and motioned for them to come inside with much less enthusiasm.

“Fine. Get inside, everyone else is already here. I’m going to need a smoke.” he said, not waiting for Diego and Monica to step inside the big mansion themselves as he walked off, heading for the common room.

“That started off swimmingly.” Monica commented sarcastically as she looked at Diego, who already took a few steps inside. He turned to look back at her and held out his hand, offering it to her as if to guide her into the house.

“It’s just Klaus being Klaus. C’mon.” he said, urging Monica to take his hand.

“Well, I guess there’s no turning back.” Moncia sighed, taking the offer and stepping inside, and as Diego entwined his fingers with hers she still couldn’t help her heart fluttering at the gesture even if they had already been dating for a few months.

“Don’t be so dramatic. What’s the worst that could happen?”

[sindrafalcone]

Adventures in Babysitting pt.1

Fandom: BIGBANG/ Choi Seung Hyun x reader

Synopsis: A babysitting job turns into something unexpected...

Warnings: none

Author’s Note: To whoever requested this... thanks for your patience! It’s not exactly what you asked for, but it’s just where my brain went with the idea. I hope you still like what I managed to come up with. :) The other parts will follow as I finish them.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. This story contains fictional representations of real people. None of the events are true. This is from an American standpoint, so some of the situations may not happen the same way they might in Korea. I make no money from the writing of this fictional work.

Masterlist 

The fingers of one hand drummed out a dull rhythm on the table, while the fingers of the other used your mouse to scroll through what seemed like an endless abyss of job listings. Honestly you loved your day time job working in an art museum, but it just didn't pay enough to live comfortably in the big city. So you regularly took side jobs to pick up the slack, usually as a babysitter.

Since it was a Friday, the one-night sitter jobs were normally plentiful and paid fairly well. Lots of rich moms and dads were willing to pay out a good bit of money in order to have someone come and stay with their little ones so they could have a fancy night out. Or, at least, that was usually the case... tonight you were finding nothing that was worth the time or the effort.

You sighed, taking a break from looking at the screen to rub at your tired eyes and take a sip of your coffee. It was a little late to be consuming caffeine, but you knew that if you ever managed to find a sitting job that you'd need it after a long day at the museum conducting tours.

Glancing back at your computer, you saw a “NEW JOB” posting flashing on the screen. Hastily you set the cup down and leaned forward so you could scan through it. Hopefully it was something good and you could snag it before someone else did. The world of online babysitting services could be surprisingly cut throat.  

Needed: One time sitter, overnight at hotel, $2000...

“Two thousand!” you gasped out loud. Why on earth would they pay so much? Sure overnight jobs paid more, but that was way out of the ordinary. There had to be a catch... you kept on reading.

... must speak fluent Korean...

Ah, there it was. Must be an out of town businessman or diplomat, especially if they were willing to pay that much. Luckily for you, you'd had a friend in college who was obsessed with Kpop and talked you into enrolling in the Korean language courses along with her because she “needed someone to practice with”. It had come in handy only a few times in your life, but it had never paid off quite like this.

Quickly you pulled out your phone and dialed the number on the screen, not wanting to lose this opportunity to someone else.

The man smiled smugly as he swiped the screen on his phone, ending the call. “I think I just fixed our little problem.”

“Oh?” asked another masculine voice from the living room where he was sprawled out on the sofa, his socked feet propped high on the back of the furniture as he scrolled through Instagram. “How'd you manage that?”

“I found a babysitter!”

You fidgeted nervously as the elevator took you slowly, floor by floor, up to the Penthouse suite of the hotel. Ever since you'd arrived and explained to the front desk staff your reason for being there, you'd felt on edge. Judging  from the pay for this job, you knew that you'd be going to one of the upper floors... but you'd never expected to get off the elevator all the way at the top.

The doors finally slid open, snapping you out of your uneasy trance. You walked out into the hallway, smoothing your hands unconsciously down your outfit, trying to press out any wrinkles that might have been there. You weren't sure what to expect, so you'd chosen to dress in a dark pair of tailored jeans & a colorful, floral tank top with a gray cardigan over that. You'd topped it off with a pair of red patent leather ballet flats... comfortable, respectable looking, and still good enough to chase a toddler if you needed to.

To your surprise, there was a man standing out in the hall who looked as if he were guarding the door beside him. The only other door in the hallway had no one in front of it, you noticed. As you got closer, he finally greeted you.

“Babysitter?” he asked you in Korean, a wry smile on his lips.

You nodded in return. “That's me.” you tried your best to smile.

“Stay right here for a second, I'll let them know you've arrived.”

He opened the door to the room and disappeared, leaving you to shuffle from foot to foot anxiously. After about five minutes, the door popped open and he reappeared.

“They're ready for you.” he smiled as he held the door open for you.

“Um, thanks...” you said quietly, passing him and walking into one of the most opulent hotel rooms you'd ever seen in your life. (Which, honestly, wasn't very many.)

Sleek, modern looking furniture sat in a huge living room, all situated around floor to ceiling windows that offered a fantastic view of the city below. You noticed that there was a kitchen unit off to your left that was probably larger than your entire apartment. To the right of that, there was a dining area which held a table big enough to seat eight people. That was when you caught sight of the well dressed man heading toward you with his arm outstretched in a friendly greeting.

“Hello.” he smiled at you, his eyes crinkling slightly at the edges. As you shook hands he bowed slightly. “My name is Seungri, pleased to meet you.” his voice was like honey, perfectly pitched and smooth as he spoke in English.

“__________.” you told him timidly. “Nice to meet you as well.”

He gestured you toward the table where you saw there were refreshments already waiting. The table held a full tea service for three... three teapots, cups and saucers, as well as a four-tiered cake stand with an assortment of tiny sandwiches, desserts and fresh fruit.

After he'd seated you at the table properly, Seungri motioned to the other man already sitting across from you. “And this is Jiyong.” he said, while sitting down beside him.

“Hi.” Jiyong gave you a little wave as he smiled mischievously.

“Hi.” you smiled back, your heart skipping a beat. Seriously, what was with all these good looking men?

Seungri poured the tea & once that was finished, you began discussing business. As you ate and drank you learned that there would be a small room provided for you that was within the suite, originally a servants quarters. You'd be staying the night and would receive pay before you left the next morning. They seemed to be fairly certain that you wouldn't need to leave the suite at all.

“You can of course order room service for you both if either one of you gets hungry.” Jiyong told you. “Just charge it to the room.”

Your eyes must have given away your surprise, because he grinned.

“And you can call the concierge if you need anything else. He'll get it for you.” Seungri smiled as well. “Is there anything else you need clarification on before we leave for the night?”

You hadn't missed the way he said 'we' and inwardly sighed to yourself. Why did all the cute ones have to turn out to be gay?

“Um, where is he? I mean, it might be easier on him if he meets me before you guys leave. It'll be a bit of a shock if some random person turns up and you two are gone, don't you think?”

They both had the decency to look sheepish and guilty at the same time.

“That... that might be a problem.” Seungri said carefully while Jiyong just tried to contain his giggles.

“Why is that?”

“He's locked himself in his room and refuses to come out.” Jiyong managed to say, in between chuckles.

You just stared at them in disbelief. What kind of parents were they that they would let their kid lock themselves in their room?

“There was something he wanted to do earlier that we didn't get to.” Jiyong explained further. “And now... he's pouting because we're going out.”

“More than likely, he's asleep right now. He might venture out later, and he might stay in there all night.” Seungri told you, frowning at Jiyong. “You might just get to hang out in a fancy hotel suite and get paid for it... no actual babysitting required.”

You weren't sure what to say to that, so you kept your mouth shut because you really needed the money. After clearing up a few other things, they excused themselves from the room leaving you alone for the night. And not long after they left, someone from room service arrived to clear away the tea things.

You spent the next hour and a half all alone. For a while you just admired the view from the window as it really was breathtaking, even in the dark the twinkling lights of the city were nice. Then you'd explored the kitchen, curious to see what sort of things were in there. You weren't all that surprised when the only thing you found in the fridge were a few bottles of water. You were a little shocked, however, at the rather large selection of wine stocked both in a separate, smaller wine cooler and in a nearby rack.

“Someone really likes wine...” you mumbled to yourself as you slid a bottle out of it's place to look at the label. “Someone with very expensive tastes.” you squeaked in shock, carefully putting the bottle back where it came from.

Not wanting to snoop any further, you finally resigned yourself to watching television. You'd only gotten half way through the show you were semi-watching, when you heard a door pop open from somewhere down the hallway. You didn't think much of it until you heard footsteps headed your way & only looked up from your phone when they suddenly stopped.

Standing at the edge of the living room area stood a man, average in height but far from average in looks. If you had thought the first two guys were good looking, this one was immaculately elegant. He was dressed in pajamas with a robe thrown on over them but not tied, and he was wearing slippers on his feet as well. His dark black hair stuck out this way and that, he was obviously fresh from a shower, but that did nothing to detract from his appearance.

“Who are you?” he asked in tentative English, arms folding across his chest defensively.

“I... um,” you hesitated, caught off guard by both his sudden appearance and his unique handsomeness. “I'm the babysitter. Who are you?”

“Apparently...” his perfect lips thinned into a dangerous line. “I'm the baby.”