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razorblade180 · 3 years

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Interdimensional Moms pt4

Part 3 here! <-

The tales had be interesting. The tales had even been emotionally gripping, yet all of them so far didn’t seem to register at the moment as Ruby’s teammates looked at her with the same excitement she used to give her own mother during story time. Ruby couldn’t help but give a little smile.

Ruby:I take it you’re ready for my turn? You do know it’s not exactly a sunshine and rainbows story, right?

Weiss:We figured as much, but....

Yang:You’re so different! From the moment you showed up I could just feel it in my gut. You have this...presence about you. Not to mention intsene confidence.

Blake:Yang is right. You said you beat your Salem when your seventeen. That’s...scary if I’m being honest. Such a drastic departure from any of our worlds.

Ruby:*red* Hehehe ummm I guess I’m just awesome? Really I don’t think it’s the most outstanding feat. At least by my worlds standards I suppose. I mean sure, I’m consider cream of the crop there too but there’s talented people and challenges all over that would put me through my paces still. I’m just...me.

Weiss:Sigh...honestly, I suppose that means our own skills must pale in comparison to our counterparts.

Ruby:Mmmm I wouldn’t say that for sure. My Yang would kill me if she heard this but there’s something about the one right here that has spark I dig.

Yang:Really?

Ruby:Uh huh. Can’t put my finger on it but I think you take her if you want it bad enough. As for Weiss....couldn’t tell ya. Haha, I know better than anybody to not underestimate the power of mother, and you pumped twins out.

Weiss:Not sure if those are pity points or real ones but thanks either way.

Blake:You don’t even have to tell me I’d lose. Just gave an entire story about me an my condition.

Ruby:Don’t feel too bad about it. I can’t imagine much reason for you two to fight for any reason. You’re both too reasonable to not reason with yourself.

Blake:Aw I’m touched.

Yang and Weiss:We aren’t....

Ruby:Hahaha I’m just saying! So, I guess I take things from the top like you all? From what I learned from all of you our Beacon experiences really are more or less the same, not counting certain interactions between a bookworm faunus and an adorkable blonde knight. Enrolled early, blew up the entrance, Weiss was rude, Yang ditched me, all the same beats.

Yang:There’s no super badass change like you beating Cinder the night of dance and making our entire lives easier?

Ruby:Ha! I wish I was that legit. No, I was very much the young girl tripping in heels that night. Vytal festival came around and was attacked, then Beacon fell. Pyrrha was lost and so was Penny. Difference being that was my last time seeing her, unlike Weiss’s story apparently.

Weiss:Yeah that...that’s a little bit of shock to be frank. Sorry.

Ruby:No worries. Not like you did anything and it was decades ago for me now. After that day is when I started to get a bit more serious I think. I had always taken being a huntress seriously and never slacked of in trying to live my dream. However, my perspective may have honed in on just how do or die life his when you’re the one choosing to walk into unknown danger. Team RNJR’s first and only mission, save the world!

Yang:Sub mission: Flirt with Jaune Arc.

Ruby:*blushing* We do not choose who we fall in love with it. But yes, that may have been a personal pseudo mission for me. He’s my first friend at Beacon for crying out loud and I you know.....thought he was cute then too.

WBY:Yeah that checks out.

Ruby:What does that mean!?

Weiss:Ruby, even my Ruby admits to finding Jaune attractive and having a crush on him back in the day.

Blake:Same.

Yang:I already went into enough detail on how my little sister feels about Jaune. Your just the reality where you pounced on the opportunity and never let go. Struck when the iron was hot and none of us were around; sly fox.

Ruby:Gee you make it sound underhanded. It isn’t like I intended to actively pursue him. Everyone was really sad and stressed traveling to Anima. There was a tension in the air. One that really strained us. I did my best to keep focus, but a leader is only as put together as team. Ren and Nora confided one another as usual and I tried being there for Jaune because seeing him emotionally shut down was rough; so I did my best to be there for him. Then...he ended up being there for me and I was the one who needed comfort. All the airing out and late nights just...led to....*red*

Blake: “Breaking the tension?”

Ruby:I guess that’s one way of putting it. We were lonely. I hid my feelings best I could under the veil of comfort in the moment. Not that needed to. He made it pretty clear that he wanted me in the same way I wanted him. I just the two of us were too scared to ask for promises we weren’t sure we could keep so we loved in the moments we could, so to speak.

Weiss:If it wasn’t under dire situations, all that sounds oddly romantic.

Ruby:Right!? Looking back at it makes the entire thing seem romantic but I definitely wouldn’t wish a similar experience on anybody! I guess it’s what I wished for when I fantasized huntress life huh? Things obviously got better along the way. Our relationship got a bit more serious right before we got to Haven. Then Tyrian and other crazy stuff happened that threw all of us into panic mode again before slowly getting better again by a lot.

Yang:We showed up?

Ruby:Bingo! You and Weiss, met Oscar, and then eventually Blake came back. Things were on the up and up.

Weiss:Uh, Haven attack?

Ruby:We lived, up and up. Yeah you got stabbed but you know...that’s not new I’m sure.

Weiss:Yeah I have the scar and I’m still little pissed.

Ruby:Valid. Anyways, so my Atlas experience was different as hell. There was no formation of Remnants armies like Weiss spoke of or even between two kingdoms like Blake. Yang, what happened yours again exactly?

Yang:Nonsense. Cinder showed up with lackeies but not Salem’s lackies. Those people showed up separately, then Adam came back from wherever the hell he- a lot! A lot of people showed up for different reasons but also the same reason and to be frank, we all almost got shot by the military for being in bases that quote unquote, “didn’t exist.”

Ruby:Man I wish we traded. That at least sounds crazy enough to be fun. Just a rollercoaster in the dark basically. My experience was probably as hectic, but also way more streamlined. We showed up, and then all hell broke loose. Specially a mass grimm invasion lead by Cinder and her annoying associates. We were there for about three weeks updating General Ironwood and getting our barrings together when it happened. I wanna call it a hit and run tactic but it was clearly planned in advanced. Mechs were hacked again, traitors in the military, grimm lying in wait before hand; it was chaos! All for the relic.

Blake:Who was the maiden?

Ruby:Never met her. By the time we got there, Ironwood was panicking because she had vanished, taken right from under his nose. It was some young girl apparently, really young. The attack on Beacon looked like child’s play to this. Mantle got attacked, grimm were on the chains, they tried dropping Atlas to the ground; all a diversion for a relic. We all should’ve died, and yet, we didn’t. Winter and Weiss weeded out traitors, huntsman and military held the line, Yang bested Hazel with Nora, Qrow and I cut down Tyrian! Ren, Blake and Jaune helped the kingdoms while Ironwood struck down Watts. Nobody was in the mood to die that day. There wasn’t gonna be another Beacon. By all means, we were pissed. Even Raven showed up of all people.

Yang:What!?

Ruby:You can’t attack a kingdom without the world knowing. Especially when traitors leak info. Honestly she came for you though, or she never left to begin with. Couldn’t tell ya. Thanks to Maria I had a bit more handling with my eyes. That helped a lot. Without them and Os-

She stopped herself, choking on the words. The zest and excitement of recalling the heroic feats of her friends dimmed slightly with her smile. Her joyful smile became bittersweet like the memory.

Ruby:Then there was Oscar, the real warrior on that flamed filled night. That battle had to have been three days at least. We were so driven, and so tired. I was tired, but Cinder, Neo, and the others with her at the time weren’t; always showing up at the worst time. I managed to push Cinder back in a fight but grimm and others still swarmed. We were at a point that grimm very well might’ve did us in and the villains didn’t have to push any harder. But Oscar changed that. Hehe, what’s it about country folk that makes people like him and I not hesitate to grit our teeth? That dork looked at me, gave me the biggest smile on the the steps to Atlas, and then he left. His hair went white as he twirled the cane and then he left, forever. Oz came out, and he left nothing to the imagination. “Limited magic” my butt. He obliterated grimm and made a barrier aroma Atlas while everyone else cleared Mantle long enough for the world to send reinforcements. Salem didn’t get the relic, but she got the maiden and thousands of casualties. Oscar being one of them. Also, Whitley....he was in critical condition for a very long time.

Weiss:What do you mean...critical condition?

Ruby:Everything happened so fast Weiss. Panic was high, buildings fell....a piece on him. I wasn’t there but when I eventually found you, you were nearly hysterical and banged up. By some miracle he lived even though we could not reach him and he did not get aid for awhile. We thought him dead. It was only after everything we learned somebody got him. Being rich never paid off more than with medical bills. Thanks to youth and medicine he can still walk, but he can only do so much before being tired. He also left Atlas. The cold hurts.

Weiss:So, I run the company because he can’t?

Ruby:I wouldn’t put it that way, but it was one of dozens of reasons that made that goal stronger for you. Relax though, both of you get plenty of time to be witty siblings like I told you earlier.

Weiss:I know. It’s just, I guess it’s hard imagining Whitley hurt like that. I don’t think I could handle it.

Ruby:You definitely teetered in the moment. Knowing that happened though probably gave you anger and grit to fight the entire battle. You were a beast. Scarier than Winter. Anyways, that hollow victory was a real wake up call for the world. They didn’t know about Salem and we never told society in earnest. Cinder and other conspirators were enough to make Remnant work together to boost defense. Relief went to places that needed it and I, became the face of hope. Haven, Argus, Atlas, even people from Vale got to chattering of a particular group of people who always seemed to answer the call for help. Then the towns in between chattered. Yours truly had been carving a name in the history books and was only gain popularity the moment I stepped into Vacou, alone.

Blake:Alone!?

Weiss:What!?

Yang:Where were we!!!!!?

Ruby looked at surprised faces around the table, smiling tenderly. She looked down her dress and pulled out the cross she wore around her neck. Her thumb traced its edges as her mind began wandering down an old path paved with emotions raw to the core.

Ruby:I’ve always felt different. Not just because of my eyes but that there was just...a certain spark that never stopped going off for as long as I remember. There are plenty of people who can’t bare to watch others suffer, but there are fewer people I believe that truly feel the agony of other people’s pain. Beacon, Haven, Atlas, Argus; there was no place I went that I didn’t see the faces of others lamenting, and I didn’t make me want to grieve. Atlas took so much out of all of you and I just felt so....driven to stop that ache. For everyone’s sake, but mine as well. I wanted the world to finally get to the happy ending. Enough trauma had be sowed for a hundred lifetimes, so I went on ahead of everyone. I never doubted you all would follow but I wanted to get ahead of the curve and take on as much of the suffering I could do others wouldn’t. If the world wouldn’t give me a miracle than I’d be it myself for everyone else.

Yang:That’s suicidal! Salem wanted you specifically!

Ruby:It’s not like I went marching up to her door and said “1v1 bitch, I’m here” no, I just chose to move forward quicker than what we were all doing. Believe me, all of you were upset when you caught up, after I had already saved Vacou. *smiles* I really like that place. I told the people it was the next target and all they did was double down on pushing back. I managed to pin down the Summer maiden before the villains and thanks with the city on alert, there wasn’t a shift in the sand that didn’t go unnoticed. I got the jump on Mercury and Emerald, personally paying them back. Can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It didn’t take long before they realized how screwed they were with them being outed like this and Cinder having the nerve to retreat before hand. Both of them threw in the total, outing the plan against Vacou. A wipeout of a win. Not to mention they told me the location Salem’s little hiding hole.

Weiss:We missed all of that?

Ruby:That’s what happens when I leave in the dead of night and running on adrenaline. Like I said before, people were tired. As much as all of you wanted to hoof it, other’s were relying on you. Atlas almost dropped for gods sake. Eventually when you all caught up it was at a good time. Soloing was rewarding but difficult. Fortunately Sun, Neptune, Ilia, and a few other familiar faces were close by if I needed an extra set of hands. My little stunt earned the anger of everyone for awhile.

WBY:Yeah no shit...the leader left.

Ruby:Yang was the most upset, followed by Uncle Qrow, and you Weiss. I was ready for the blowback. Jaune and Nora saw me though and bursted into tears. Hehe, wasn’t ready for that. Felt terrible and cried back. To prevent that stunt again, my Yang convinced Raven to link me. A couple days of apologizing and rest smoothed things over. It also gave time for just a few close friends and colleagues to get together for an assault on Salem’s castle. A few were apprehensive about it at first but at the end of the day I was going. That attitude was infectious apparently. You guys, actually everybody, they started getting this hunger to end it all. Maybe it was the high of victory? Regardless, it sent me racing to the end with those that I loved most.

Yang:You’re a real “my way or the highway” kind of Ruby. I don’t get how that explains what made you so...elite.

Ruby:I’m not sure what to say. A fight needed to to fought so I fought it. A cry for help was heard so I ran to it. A grimm needed slaying so I slayed it. People needed me to win so I didn’t dare think of losing. Dying was never option, even when it stared me right into my eyes. I had things I wanted to do and people I wanted see for years to come. I guess...I am strong because of the fact I want things my way. A moment I’m not giving it 110% is a moment wasted. After all, a huntress is all I ever wanted to be.

A single dream she wanted since birth. The never ending desire to be the hero in stories told to her many nights ago. That’s all it ever was. That’s all it’s ever been. Even in meadow of beautiful red roses, one would be the rose that captured the eyes of many, that bloomed stronger than the rest. As simple as it was, that had to be the answer here. Weiss, Yang, and Blake were in front of that flower. The Ruby Rose that simply bloomed stronger than the rest. The one that clung to her dream as if letting go meant dying itself. The devotion was inspiring, yet also overwhelming. If this was Ruby they had lead them that day in the Emerald Forest, could they have kept up? Could she be the leader they followed? No, they couldn’t have. Something deep down inside them gave them that answer. No matter how she looked and how much she loved, this Ruby Rose was cut from a cloth they simply weren’t off. The same as others, but oh so different.

Weiss:You’re....kinda a monster, you know that right?

Yang:Seriously, I’m so...floored. It’s intimidating.

Blake:Not to mention humbling. I used to think I gave it all I had. Now I’m not so sure.

Ruby:Oh don’t be like that you three! You’re all living proof there was more than way to go about life, this war! Everything you gave was enough because you’re done with it! Nobody failed. Besides, I...am far from ideal. The assault was challenging. Getting around hoards of grimm and making it to Salem was hell made real. Neo tried taking another shot at me but Yang held her off with help. Everyone pushed the obstacles in front of me out of the way as I went to Salem herself. Cinder had been abandoned by her and stripped of a lot of her powers. Angry and desperate, she tried killing me again as a way to prove worth. I beat her. However, I let her walk away.

Yang:What!? Why would-

Ruby:Naive, I was...naive okay? She was all spent and though I hated her, I just couldn’t. Not when I looked into her eyes and saw that same hunger I had to claw and scream at my dream until it was in my hands die inside her. We both knew from this point on there was absolutely nothing she could do where this ends her way. All she worked for turned burned to ash. So I gave her the choice to not burn up with it. Cinder swallow her pride and then fled. A part of me couldn’t help but rationalize killing her didn’t solve or justify any of my beliefs or desires. It would’ve done it because I hated her like she hated me. That was the dumb logic of a seventeen year old who never quite learned to take things slow.

Blake:....I don’t think it’s dumb. Naive for sure, but maybe that’s good? Even my Ruby, she never wanted to act on hate. She didn’t. Salem lives.

Weiss:Mine sent her soul to be at piece instead of passing a cruel judgment.

Yang:As a person who’s seen what you looked like with nothing but vengeance inside, I can say it doesn’t fit you. Before that day you had a warmth inside you to even foes that were somewhat admirable. You chose to leave Cinder’s fate up to those who had that hate and Salem was undone by her own doing at the very end. That’s what really makes you special Ruby. That’s why you’re called an honest soul. Good will is your nature.

Ruby:....Hmm, you sure know how to butter me up. *scratches head* I guess that part of me is uni-I mean multiversal. Strangely, that makes me feel better, to a degree.

Weiss:Do we even have to ask what happened to Salem at this point? I doubt the story ends with you loosing and having to retreat.

Ruby:Who’s to say it doesn’t? I could’ve been beaten to death before the gods themselves descended down to revive me with awesome power.

Yang:....Did you?

Ruby:Wh-No! Haha, I made her an immortal statue.

Blake:I-It was that easy?

Ruby:Well I wouldn’t call rushing into hell’s castle easy, or Salem. I lit her up at least a dozen times. My head pounded from each use, I was tossed around a bunch, magic is annoying, and not to mention running out of ammo. I left nothing to the imagination in that fight. If it were easy then I wouldn’t be rooting my horn and my age doing it. I was so tired I blacked out afterwards. I woke days later with a sore body and the title of “Remnant’s Savior.” Apparently beating Salem had weakened the grimm everywhere and all of you made sure who was to be thanked for it. That’s the tale of how I saved the world with my friends. Love, trust, elbow grease, and a lot of bullets. Before the final battle, Ozpin had struck a deal with everyone involved. In return for saving the world, he’d cut ties with us.

Yang:Seriously? What brought that about!?

Ruby:Good or not, he lied and was a schemer. Sure I was gonna try to save the world regardless of his interference but there wasn’t a person alive that didn’t to finally take a step towards the future after all this. All of us finally had time chase dreams and help the world the way we wanted to before all of this. Blake begin mending hate, Weiss took back her company, if Yang wasn’t with Blake then she was seeking more answers to Raven on wild adventures.

Yang:You mean Raven still left after all that!?

Ruby:In her defense, both of you made everything fucking awkward when she was around. It’s like you both wanted to talk about something but knew any subject was a land mine so you all you ever did was...stare, like weirdos. Glad that’s in the past. She just lives with dad now and you two now to hold a conversation. I dare not ask for more. I’d be a granny by the time I did.

Yang:Sigh...I don’t know what I expected. Shit it the fan several times and children were born before mom and I found solidarity and understanding. What did you do afterwards? Your goal was already met.

Ruby:Like hell it was! I started busting my butt traveling around the world, visiting every place to help in anyways I could. Ren and Nora tagged along for awhile before going off to make an orphanage in Anima near Ren’s old village. That left Jaune and I to do our hero thing.

Yang:As well as other things....

Ruby:Hey, what can I say? We were young and going up in the world. By the time I was nineteen, I was now a married to my partner and best friend.

Weiss:Uhhhh-

Ruby:He’s my partner on RNJR and you’re my BFF, gosh did I really need to explain that hehe?

Weiss:I just had to make sure. Crazier twists could happen.

Blake:Wow you married young. Not that there’s a problem but I’m surprised. Then again you also dated earlier than my Ruby. Hehe, weapons were on her brain for a long time.

Weiss:No kidding. When I learned about you crushing on my brother I was shocked to find out you liked anybody in general. Especially a person who isn’t a weapon nut in the slightest.

Ruby:*shrugs* All you’re telling me is I’m clearly the most impatient or impulsive Ruby you all know. Don’t know how that happened. Maybe I was dropped as a baby or had one too many coffees growing up?

Weiss:I’m willing to bet it’s both.

Ruby:Ruuuuude. So yeah, that’s...the story of how I saved the world and married Jaune. We even built a home just outside Vacou, overlooking the kingdom and neighboring town in the distance where Maria grew up. Yeah, that’s me....more or less. All the triumphant parts anyways. Anything later on is......

.......

Blake:R...Ruby? You okay?

Ruby:Nope, not really. *clenches cross*

Yang:......You know, I never really got religion, especially after learning the truth. It just seemed completely hollow when you learn of the real gods, ya know? However, I changed my tune a bit after being a parent and then some more when uncle Qrow died. It was never really about the truth behind if those other gods were real-

Ruby:It’s the piece of mind in believing in a better place for loved ones and having people watch over you. It’s truly based on blind faith in every sense but that’s okay as long as it gives peace of mind, to stay strong. Yeah....that’s why I wear this.

Yang:If that’s the “why” then I guess the unavoidable question is what happened?

The reaper leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh. Ruby brushed her hair out of her face while her face went pale. Then, Ruby’s eyes, her teammates watched a pair of stunning silver eyes dim, becoming akin to a clouded mirror.

Ruby:Being a huntress was all I wanted. The plan of having a family and settling down never appealed to me much. I feel, I felt like being in the field was where I was meant to be. It’s where I was most myself in a way. So the day I learned that I was pregnant was more than a little upsetting and terrifying, until dad and time itself filled me with the most genuine joy I may have ever experienced. Dustin Arc Rose, my first born son. He opened a door to a world and life I never knew I wanted to be apart of. Then...that door was shut minutes after, when Cinder and Neo stole him right from my arms. I couldn’t do a single thing about it other than blackout. That single act of good will I showed, it did nothing but kill me inside. The same way I did to her.

WB:.....

Yang:Ru-Ruby....your eyes.

Ruby:Hmm? Are they clouded? Funny, I would’ve thought your Ruby would’ve had a similar change. Maybe that’s a world exclusive thing, or a testament to the will you Ruby has to endure. Clouded eyes on a silver eyed warrior means the person has lost the desire or rather the mindset of persevering life. Be it their own life or wanting to end another’s life out of resentment, strife. My entire world fell apart when I woke up and learned nobody was able to retrieve Dustin. I was in pieces, Jaune was broken, nobody was the same. There wasn’t a soul we didn’t know that hadn’t tried to find a lead, but we never did. He was just...gone; and I couldn’t cope at all.

Weiss:I don’t think any mother could. Ruby, I’m so sorry that happened to you.

Ruby:I’m sorry too. I lashed out in anger, and shut people out. My eyes clouded and I dove into my work for a little over a year doing nothing but searching aimlessly as I took and every job back to back. The more time went by meant the more people eventually had to go back to their own, and it drove me up a wall inside. No one could reach me. I didn’t want anybody to. Not even Jaune. I....*teary eyed* I left him alone in house. There was no part of me that could even attempt to understand his pain because I was drowning in mine. I was told he tried his best to catch them at the hospital. I never hated him for not succeeding but I...he... I just, I can’t. I don’t know what I thought. All o knew was I didn’t even want him to touch me. How cruel is that? *hugging herself* I made him drown in despair in the same way I was. I wasn’t home so often that I never realized he eventually left it abandoned to live with dad. Yang and Blake I didn’t even show up to your wedding. Jaune did that much. Hell, Raven attended. Ruby Rose as a person didn’t exist any more. I was only a wandering huntress looking for answers or the challenge that might’ve ended me.

Blake:What changed?

Ruby:Oz, he did what nobody else dared to do. He fought me. I don’t think he thought twice about it. He was prepared to accept all the anger I kept inside until I eventually broke down into tears like I’m trying not to do right now. Thinking about that time is still, extremely difficult. Oz let me lament, encouraging me afterwards to finally except the fact Dustin was gone and that I needed to process it properly. First I went to you Yang, in order to have a my big sis to lean on. Can you guess how that went?

Yang:With me holding you tighter than I ever had before.

Ruby:*smiles gently* I don’t deserve you. You and Blake then came to patch with me where everyone else waited for me and helped me face Jaune. That may have been the hardest thing I’ve done. Grieving or not, the fact that I left him in such a state. I know what that does to people firsthand and yet I left. For the first time in over a year we embraced and finally grieved together. The next two years were spent trying to heal and cope. During my time away the world had fully acknowledged me. I even got a proper nickname, but it all felt hollow. Imagine that, achieving your dream but not caring? If that’s not salt in a wound then I don’t know what is.

Weiss:What’s your title?

Ruby:I am the person people want to see when evil comes to cut their story short. I am a symbol that their tale still has more to tell. Remnant has named me The Storyteller. Curtsey of Maria, who spread the name around. Healing was slow and most nights I felt a pain in my heart, but then everything changed. One moment made me dare to try again to open that shut door in my life. *looks at Yang* I held your son in my arms. Sweet little Kovu.

Blake:*smiles* Kovu? Now I wonder who named him?

Yang:*red* Huh...how about that? Hehehe, wish I could meet him. I know he isn’t technically mine but I can’t help but feel all warm now. Also I can’t believe I named him that!

Weiss:I can. Veronica’s middle name is Nala.

Yang:Okay, maybe not marrying Blake was a win? Clearly I can’t be trusted to not name my children after other cats.

Blake:The wrong kind of cat too. I’m a panther faunus, not a lion. Even if they’re blonde that’s still false advertising of what they are.

Ruby:Well Yang was the one giving birth so you lost a majority of the option to complain.

Blake:That is fair.

Weiss:You gave birth to Vee, so I think that solves who picked her first name.

Ruby rested her head in her propped up hands that rested on the table. She felt exhausted reliving that chapter of her life mentally. Still she managed to smile, then smile bigger. Her eyes unclouded and a warm feeling filling her again. What Ruby said earlier about what made her different may have reign true, but her friends could since that there was now more to it. Ruby had spiraled into an unimaginable tragedy, yet was able to bounce back thanks to loved ones. To smile as she does, it was truly a strong sight to see. Even if she wasn’t fully aware of that.

Ruby:Carmine Arc Rose, my second born and the first child to call me mommy. Followed many years later by itty bitty Garnet. He’s my little man, five years old while is big sis is seventeen now.

Yang:Damn! That’s a gap. Oh, also congratulations. Almost forgot that part. I’m glad you got to be the super awesome mom that-

Ruby:I am easily C-teir.

Yang:Oh come on! What!?

Ruby:Listen, I know I got on you all for calling yourselves bad parents, but I will hear no debate about me understand!? I flop a lot of times.

Weiss:That doesn’t make you a C-teir. That makes you a new mom, silly.

Ruby:*grumbling* I agree to disagree but thank you. It’s just a lot okay. Too much to dive into honestly.

Blake:Summarize. Give us an abbreviated version.

Ruby:Ummm so Carmine is real special kid. The absolute love I have for her is unbreakable but gods damnit if she isn’t the most... “me” I could be! In a way similar yet different from myself, Carmine has always had this sense of urgency in her and a love for the world around her. She recognizes that it’s a fragile piece we have and just how hard I’ve worked with everyone to make it. I could tell that from her when she was five. I’d sound crazy, but the fact she used her eyes at the age proves I’m not.

Yang:She has silver eyes!? Why didn’t you bring that up?

Ruby:I thought that was obvious. All of my kids were born with then. Unlike her baby brother though, Carmine was a weird little kid. She didn’t socialize well. Still doesn’t, she’s kinda comes off rude and cold because of her bluntness. She doesn’t really express all her feelings or understand others fully. One might call her a little cold but the passion she had to protect life itself is a testament to how much she cares. Carmine is also a genius fighter. To put in perspective, people use the same nickname for her that they used for Pyrrha.

WBY:Oh....

Ruby:Yeah! It’s not hyperbolic to say ever since Carmine is far beyond any skill I was at her age since she turned thirteen. You called me a monster earlier but no, I merely gave birth to a beast. I mean she could pass the huntsman exam at fifteen if I didn’t make her wait. I can’t call her arrogant, she talks with confidence because she has that right by all means. Still, besides her face, that’s where the similarities start separating; besides terrible grades in general stuff. We’ve never been in step completely. To put simply in her own words, “What I am is a hero, while she is a huntress.” That good will and mercy I try to give everyone isn’t how she rolls. It drives a real wedge that has resulted in us not going on missions together.

Blake:Is she...killing?

Ruby:She has before, and it had valid reasons entirely, but I also know for a fact she is more than capable of bringing down people without taking that step. Not all cases are that intense thank goodness. Her overall aggressiveness is the root of the problem. You don’t have to put you back into it when handling thugs. They aren’t Hazel.

Yang:Ooo okay, yeah I’m seeing what you mean now. It’s like that one comic you always read!

Ruby:Sigh...yeah she channels a bit of Batman energy and I need her to not do that all the time. I suppose being an honest soul isn’t particularly hereditary. It always feels like we aren’t enjoying each other’s company these days. I can’t blame her though. So....you know how all of you have had one serious problem that has both destabilized yourself as well as the kids and their relationship to you? *clouded eyes*

Weiss:Wait...you loosing a child wasn’t that?

Ruby:Oh it was. It just so happened that it never ended. It grew day by day. Night by night. Jaune and I were cautious with Carmine. Going as far to give her contacts and giving birth to her off the record and not at a hospital. Just in case Cinder came back. Well, Cinder and Neo came back, with my Dustin.

Nobody said anything. What do you even say to that!? All they did was let out a stifled breath and tried to gauge Ruby’s look of guilt.

Ruby:Yet again we had gotten too comfortable. It happened when Carmine was thirteen. I don’t think Garnet was even one yet. That’s when the cruelest realization hit me. My son had been alive and hearing about how his so called mother being a person who saves everyone, yet she never came for him. She had moved on, letting his eyes become clouded with such seething hate for the world she did save; the children she had after. It’s been four years since the day he attacked Carmine and helped grimm try to invade Vacou. To this day it’s been a life of staying on gaurd, searching for them as they popped up countless places to tear Remna- to tear me down and I can’t decide what part hurts the most. The amount of anger that prevents me from killing Cinder in a blink of an eye, or looking at my daughter who has told me herself that she is going to kill her older brother because I’m too weak to do so. That I’m in no way as good as the world believes me to be. *puts hood up* Like I said, C-teir mom, at best.

Blake:That’s- you can’t- there’s no way for you to reach him? Maybe if you-

Ruby:He looks at me the same way Neo and Cinder do, Blake. They raised him to hate me. Besides, he hurt Carmine. She’s just not gonna let that slide and frankly I shouldn’t either. Carmine acts tough and for the most part is, but gets terrified like everyone else. In many ways she’s still just a young girl that I wish had never chosen to become a huntress. If I had it my way she’d just be a normal girl with normal knees; but her mother’s weakness and inexperience wrapped her up in yet another war. It’s ironic. I barely remember mom and yet I ended up putting my family in very similar situation as if she lead instruction. Happy endings, I’m not sure if I get-

Yang:You’re better than mom....

Ruby:......

Yang:Yeah I said. Look I love Summer Rose but at the end of the day she wasn’t around, not that she didn’t want to be, but it’s the truth. Several years of pleasant childhood memories and a lifetime of grief is what she left me, and all you got were tales you should’ve experienced first hand. Ruby you have spent seventeen years loving your daughter unconditionally and being there for her no matter if it’s for better or worse. Yeah you might not being doing it perfectly and I have no idea how to even fathom your predicament, but at least you are there trying. Take it from me, that’s all a daughter ever wants from their mother. It’s also what makes a pretty kick ass dad. *smiles* Chin up, hero. Your story isn’t over yet after all.

Silence filled the air and Ruby’s throat ran dry. Ruby pulled out her scroll to go to her pictures and displayed one of her favorite photos for everyone to see. It was Carmine’s fifteenth birthday. Ruby didn’t lie about the resemblance. the girl had short blonde hair that stopped halfway down her neck in the back and was longer in the front, reaching shoulders. Like her mother, the tips of her hair transitioned to red. The beautiful young woman tried to her hide her smile but her gleeful silver eyes were practically twinkling with joy as Ruby hugged her tightly from behind and a tall, more solid version of Jaune was smushing one of Carmine’s cheeks with an overly dramatic kiss to it. A tiny child no older than three at most was in his big sister’s arms. Garnet had his mother’s hair and eyes but something about the chubby face definitely showed Jaune’s features. The child had red frosting on his face and was reaching eagerly for more cake somewhere out of frame.

Yang noticed the girl took page from her father and wore some regular cargo shorts, but clearly didn’t lack flair by wearing a red crop top that showed off a fresh tattoo of the Arc crest on her toroso. Knowing her sister, that tattoo was most likely practical. The family looked happy, proud; and the mother of it currently sat across the table crying with her head face down in her hands cwhile Weiss and Blake hugged her from each side. Roses may have thorns, anyone who knew roses knew a simple truth. They’re still fragile flowers.

Yang:(Carmine Arc Rose. For you and your mother’s sake, I hope things go well)

xxxx

Though Carmine seemed cold by nature, people were quick learn the opposite. The most recent learner of this was a scared little girl that held on for dear life. It was nighttime, nothing but the sound of pouring rain and the distant glow of red and the warmth of Carmine holding the girl against her body while she sprinted through a mud ridden forest. The little payed no attention to the pain in her side, but the glow of roses, eyes, and flames through her tear filled eyes.

Beowulves chased frantically but then severed immediately by something the girl couldn’t understand, but it looked like the person carrying her. The dead beasts brought no comfort. Not when more followed close behind.

Girl:I-I’m sc...scared!

Carmine:Don’t look at them sweetie, it’ll be fine. Just keep being a brave little girl.

Girl:M...Mommy was back there.

Carmine:.....I know, she’ll be just fine. Your village, there are plenty of people there that will be just fine! Huff..... You got a name?

Mary:Mary.....

Carmine:Oh that’s a beautiful name, Mary. You know I was almost a Mary? Yeah my grandma was a really amazing person and I almost got named something similar to her. Mary is a very strong name!

Mary:You’re a liar! I’m sad, not strong. I want my mommy! Everything his dark and hurts and I want her!

The girl began painfully crying as Carmine followed her trail of roses to avoid getting lost. Things were getting worse. The storm raged and she could feel this girl burning in her arms. Not to mention the unsettling warmth the mixed with the cold rain against her body and dripped to puddles below. Any grimm near by could only be dealt with by many copies of her nearby, but that would only go so far when fear was out full force. Carmine’s boots felt like cement, but she still ran.

Carmine:Mary, you know what do when I miss my mommy? I sing! Yeah, my mom sings the best lullabies that made me feel super strong when I was little! It’s a magic song that makes everyone strong. How about I sing it you and they can sing it your mommy later okay!? But you have to close your eyes to really focus on the words!

Mary:*sniffling* Okay....

Baby deathstalkers swarmed the path made ahead as small Nevermores dove at her. Out of options, Carmine broke from the path, trying to rely on memory to go towards the safe zone while also singing lyrics to her favorite song.

Dream of anything; I'll make it all come true.

Everything you need is all I'll have for you~

Carmine never wavered. No matter how badly her lungs her or nearly slipped, she kept singing all the way to her destination where several other clones were seen racing towards with more civilians to injured or young to go themselves. An orphanage where Nora and Ren stood outside rushing people in while Jaune was keeping the grimm at bay. The sight brought a little ease.

Don't worry, I've got you; nothing will ever harm you.

I'm close by, I'll stay here; through all things, I will be near~

Carmine finally reached Nora and passed off the girl who’s grip weakened overtime. A few lyrics in and Carmine knew she was singing mainly for herself.

Carmine:Get her medical attention! I’m gonna go and find more! There’s still-

Jaune:Wait, it’s too dangerous!

Carmine:I know! That’s why I have to go! That fire is spreading and there’s stragglers pinned down! Dad.....I’m pinned down!

Jaune tensed up and looked at Carmine. No scraps on her and her clothes only soiled by others. It didn’t take long to realize. The man resisted the urge to run out to the ruined town and stood firmly.

Jaune:Carmine...end it. We’ll worry about the consequences later.

Carmine:....Okay.

Across the woods amongst the flames the real Carmine stood bleeding and bruised in front of two Beringel that charged over the vanishing corpses of their fallen with more grimm, her sword stabbed into the ground supporting her weight. Behind all living people that remained finally managed to flee. All except for a woman trapped by house debris. The woman watched this young huntsman stand proudly again. She wasn’t sure what happened next. All she heard was one sentence.

“Close your eyes...” before everything went white. Next thing she knew, Carmine was lifting debris off her as rain and wind washed away any evidence. A relief she didn’t care about in the slightest. She neither had the strength, or the time too. Much like Carmine, who began to pant and teeter. It was clear to the woman that whatever just happened didn’t come without cost as she watched the girl fall to her knees. Though she tried moving, Carmine was spent.

Carmine:Don’t worry...we’re safe....let’s-

Woman:Go...

Carmine:Huh?

Woman:I...my legs. Everything...I can’t move. Just go. I d-don’t think I’d las-

Carmine:Don’t talk like that! The hard parts over! I can-

Woman:Barely walk. *smiles* It’s okay. I don’t blame you. You fought hard.

Carmine:.....I...I’m sorry. *teary eyed*

Woman:Say, I know that face anywhere. Your Lady Rose’s kid. Funny, I thought your eyes were red? My daughter, Mary, she loves your mother. Makes me kinda jealous hehe, but hey I love her too. *crying* Do you know if Mary made it? She was wearing-

Carmine:A black dress, pink ribbons in her hair...

Woman:Yes! Is she safe? I saw you- one of you carry her off.

Carmine:...She’s just fine.

Woman:Good. That’s all....that.....

The woman never finished her sentence. Carmine’s body fell limp on the ground, facing the rain. Even with the cold downpour she could feel the warmth of her own tears, containing her emotions best she could as she looked through her clones eyes to watch Nora take Mary away from the survivors and out of sight to not stir further panic.

Carmine wasn’t sure how long she layed there, but it was long enough for Jaune to find her. The man didn’t say a word. The town was in shambles. Grimm were still fading and his daughter looked tired, but not in serious condition. Unlike the those who didn’t make it. Jaune put Carmine in his arms, carrying her away to safety.

Carmine:......Does mom ever save them all?

Jaune:No, but that never stops her from trying; or mourning.

She clenched her father’s shirt and let herself be fragile, to be a Rose.

Carmine:Next time. Mom and I, we’ll both get it right next time. A happy ending for all!

Jaune:Yeah, I know you will. Together....

#rwby #rwby au #the void #jaune arc #ruby rose #weiss schnee #yang xiao long #blake belladonna #carmine arc rose #rwby rosebud #rwby lancaster

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fakeloveaskblog · 3 years

Note

(Hi, me again. I’m sorry that the blog isn’t getting much attention because it definitely deserves it, you come up with really nice stories and I love reading your updates. I hope the regular people come back soon but in the meantime I have another ask for Janus. (I was holding back because i was worried that other people weren’t getting a chance to send asks but I will happily send more as I love seeing characters respond to my asks, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.) hope life is treating you well and have a great day!)

Hi Janus, First of all you are not a hateable person in any way shape or form even though some people do hate you their opinions are not universal so you shouldn’t worry about Logan’s parents hating you just because your parents do.

Secondly try not to freak out too much, if you try your best to be your amazing, loveable self than I’m sure they will absolutely love you. Don’t worry about playing to expectations they want to meet you not some idealised “perfect” version of you which would honestly probably be fairly boring because your imperfections are what make you, you and you are incredible so don’t try to hide or change that for the sake of pleasing other people.

Also if the worst happens and they don’t like you, which is perfectly fine and wouldn’t be you fault some people just don’t click, then as long as you are civil with each other it shouldn’t be a problem, it will be disappointing because it’s important to you to have Logan’s parents like you but at the end of the day Logan’s opinion of you is the only one that matters because he is the person that you are dating.

This is all under the assumption that they won’t like you which as I said before I don’t think I’d likely. Now hopefully that should help somewhat with your nerves, if you are still worried, which is a perfectly reasonable thing to feel, maybe ask Logan and Patty to reassure you as they know Logan’s parents well and can give you more information, I personally find I always feel better when I have all the facts but that might just be my autistic brain talking so it might not help you much. Just remember that no matter what happens Logan will still care about you.

(I also have some words for Remus)

Hi Remus congratulations on sleeping with Janus, that sounds like a big deal for you so I’m glad it went well. This is the lawnmower ghost by the way here with more fun fact to brighten up your day first of all did you know that cellphones have ten times the bacteria on them that the average public toilet! Also roughly 250,000 deaths are caused by medical error each year and last but not least did you know when a group of rats living in close quarters get their tails tangled together (this can happen for many reasons), they’re called a rat king! That all for now but I will return with more at some undisclosed point in the future. Bye!

(aw thanks <3 glad to hear the asks are making u happy also don't worry if multiple people send asks about the same thing i most of the time make sure to use all the asks C:)

Remus was laying on the couch with his mouth half full of chinese takeout (including the box it came in). Rowan was laying on the other side. they were casually kicking at each other while watching tv.

He burst out into cackles when he read the first sentence of our message “Ro! Ro! They said I slept with Jannie!”

“I am an adult. Such childish jokes does not humor me!! I am a mature being!!” She replied while holding back chuckles.

“But uh yeah” He fiddled with his hoodie sleeves “I- I never got a lot of sleep- or well not a lot of safe sleep when I was with uh Os....spending the night with Jan.....meant a lot”

He and Rowan listened as you listed the facts. Remus got a mischievous grin on his lips.

“Ro-boat give me your phone!!”

“You are not licking my phone to get it’s bacteria!!!”

Remus launched on top of her to try and get her phone but she pulled her arm away so he couldn’t reach while bonking him on the head with her other arm. He pouted.

“You’re boring. I’m drawing 1000 rat kings and you can’t stop me”

“Why would I stop you??? Unless you’ve created a magic that let’s you create life out of drawings”

The twins locked at each other and silently nodded. They both jumped up from the couch to go and look for spells that could turn drawings into life.

“Hello” Janus mumbled back.

They were sitting curled up against Logan’s side. Their boyfriend had noticed their unease and changed to the backseat of the car to comfort them.

Logan nodded along as you spoke “Well it certainly sounds like your friend here speaks nothing but facts. You are indeed not at all hateable”

He leant down to press a kiss to Janus’ forehead which made them muster a half smile. “So you are basically telling me to act natural? I suppose if me and Lo’s parents will meet more times it would be good if they met the actual me. But- well it’s totally not at all like if i start acting natural I will get nervous and as you know I become so incredibly honest when I’m nervous! Just the world’s biggest truth bomb! People love it when they’re obviously lied to right to their face!”

“I liked it”

“Really now?”

“I found it intriguing, even cute if I may say so”

“Oh great I will charm your parents with my cuteness”

“That’s how I did it” Patty butted in from the front seat “Oh look there’s our old school!”

By now they had driven far enough to get into the outskirts of the couple’s childhood town. She pointed out at an old middle school. The kind where the swings were left broken for months and the books where old enough that their parents had once used them. It was the only one in town.

They drove past a supermarket where groups of teens where hanging around. A knock off burger king followed. The closest mall was 45 minutes away. The cinema even further away. There were however 2 churches somehow. Hopefully in one of them, in the prayer bench right in the corner, the small pencil drawing of Logan and Patty holding hands was still carved into the wood.

Janus deflated like a small weasel “Great. We’re almost there”

Your message continued. Logan was still nodding along.

“I must admit my parents liking you isn’t even that important to me. Though it would be a bonus if they did, which I am sure they will”

“Your invisible friend is right, we should have probably told you a bit more about them beforehand. They’re just really nice okay” Patty assured “They used to be punks when they were our age and they lived in New York y’know during the 80′s so I don’t think you’ll exactly baffle them”

Janus squeezed his boyfriend’s hand and sent him puppy snake eyes. He put on such an extra look he looked like a wet puddle “Do wyou pwomise you’ll still cware about me?” He had to hide the genuine question in sarcasm.

“No doubt about it. Always. No questions asked” He replied in his most serious tone.

Janus took a deep breathe and did rapid hand stims to try and psych himself up. He sat up a little straighter from his deflated position.

“I will totally do this. I will totally completely definitely be able to do this and it will go greA-”

Janus was flung into the seat in front of him as the car stopped abruptly. He stopped himself with his hands and looked around with his breathe hitched in his throat to see what had happened. Patty’s hands still lingered on the steering wheel but her eyes were focused on a house across the street.

The house had been decorated to the ninth with colorful Christmas lights blinking from every tree in the garden. The lights were on in the windows and music could be faintly heard.

“They’re having a party” Patty said without looking away.

Logan reached out and took her hand. He pressed a kiss to her skin before gently moving his thumb up and down to comfort her.

They stayed in silence as Patty continued to look into the house. She saw two older people as well as 3 kids. The oldest was at most 10, the only one of her siblings she’d actually met.

“They wouldn’t recognize me anyway” She mumbled as she turned back to the road and continued to drive.

Logan kept holding her hand for the rest of the short car ride. His parents lived only a few blocks away after all. It was a smaller house. It stuck out like a very healthy thumb with it’s rich garden. His dad took meticulous care of every tree, plant and vegetable. (One of Logan’s first experiments had been trying to see what kind of music would make the plants grow the fastest. His dad had been very proud)

Janus looked a little green as they got out of the car. They leant against their boyfriend’s arm to not run away and hide in a deep dark bog. Patty was the one that knocked.

The door opened. Logan’s parents had similar neutral expressions on their faces as their son usually had. Their son nodded at both of them while greeting and they nodded back. Before he launched into their arms and they both embraced him. They hugged him so hard they nearly lifted him off the ground, which was impressive since he was taller than both of them.

Once they’d finally let him out of the hug they both went to hug Patty. The mother cupped her cheeks and beamed as she said “Hello deary. You’re looking as gorgeous as ever”

“Aw you’re not looking half bad either. I like your new glasses”

They both let out OhohOHohO sounds as they moved their glasses up and down at each other as if to wave.

Janus stayed awkwardly right at the start of the hallway. They didn’t know if they were supposed to take their jacket off or not. Until both of the parents turned to them.

The dad held out his hand “And you must be Janus?”

“Last time I checked yes. The real one too. Not a clone” Janus blurted back while taking his hand.

He let up into a hearthy laugh, nothing like Logan’s. “Well I’m Kenneth and this is Christy”

“Nice to uhm meet you”

Kenneth looked like a rocker from the 80′s had randomly aged 30 years. He had long greying hair and a band t-shirt under his knitted cardigan. Christy had thick glasses with flowers on them matching her flowery jumpsuit and the kind of curly hairstyle a grandma would be jealous of. She also had both her arms absolutely filled with tattoos.

The hallway was small and cluttered with framed movie posters and abstract art filling the walls. The house smelled of salmon and roses.

“So” Christy clasped her hands together “Have you committed any arson together yet? Thrown any bricks through windows?”

“Not yet” Logan replied.

She jokingly pulled in his ear “Unwise son unwise I say. Couples who run from pigs together stay together”

Janus was nervously pulling in the beads in his hair while unsure of what to say. christy waved it off.

“It was just a joke dear. Don’t worry. Oh look at the time. It’s almost Donald Duck time, we should go to the living room”

They passed the dining room that was half connected to the kitchen and a very messy room they liked to call the “interest room”. Let’s just say Logan had gotten his neurodiversity from his mother’s side of the family and she changed interests about 2 times a year. Right now she was really into sculpting poisonous plants, so the half finished statues were filling the room.

Kenneth turned the tv on while the rest sat down on the couch. The cartoon which played every year on Christmas at the exact same time started the exact same way it did every year. Janus stuffed a ridiculous amount of raisins into his drink because the only thing keeping him calm was cramming food into his mouth.

He looked over to Patty and Logan who sat cuddled up under a big blanket. They had the side of their heads leant against each other and every now and then they both somehow turned their heads at the exact same time to kiss, like they could feel deep down in their bones when the other felt smoochy.

Janus pulled their beanie further down on their head as they forced back a feeling akin to jealousy. They really wanted some boyfriend cuddles right now but they were far too scared of his parent’s thinking lower of them, or worse thinking they were disgusting for it. They knew Patty and Logan were far from a straight couple but they were still a guy and a girl.

So Janus sat there for the entire hour and awkwardly sipped on their drink. Every conversation or funny comment that was said sounded like static to them.

Eventually they were pulled up from the couch and dragged out into the dining room. The table had 5 chairs around them. Kenneth had made the napkins look like flowers. There was a wine bottle on the table which everyone shared. Janus was still a bit zoned out as Christy welcomed everyone to dinner and told them the first part of the meal was out in the kitchen. It wasn’t until they had started to eat some of the eggs, salmon and herring on their plate they were able to zone back in into the conversation.

The walls were covered with shelfs. They were all filled to the brim with stuff. If it wasn’t stacks of DvDs it was CDs or books. There was a shelf dedicated to the crafts Logan had made as a kid for his science experiments, several photoalbums and a collection of star trek DvDs that were labeled as extra important since the show was their son’s special interest. There were even some of Patty’s art’s and crafts on the same shelf like they were just as proud of her creations even if it was mostly amateur collages and bead bracelets.

Patty was telling them about some recipes she’d been making. About how Logan had researched a bunch of science about yeast so he could help her make bread. There was a comfortable lul in the way they all talked that made Janus feel like he had forced himself into a situation he wasn’t supposed to be in.

Until both Christy and Kenneth turned to him. They were both sitting on the opposite side of the table.

“So, just out of curiosity here, how did you and Logan meet exactly?” Kenneth asked.

Obviously they both already knew. Logan had called them nearly everyday while he had just started to crush on Janus since he could tell it was a really serious crush and also he wanted to gush.

Janus looked for words but found none that fit “It was at work” They finally got out “We had a lot of shifts together”

“He would start to stammer every time I asked if he wanted me to make coffee for him as well” Logan added. He reached out to place his hand on top of his partner’s but Janus moved his hand away.

“Aw I remember when me and Kenneth actually got to talking 2 hours after meeting, it was at a bar concert so there wasn’t much time to speak, he was tripping over his words like a wet rag”

“I was quite literally a wet rag actually. It was very sweaty in those bars. And Christy looked so....If i may use some newer terminology” He looked over to Logan who nodded at him “‘very pog and fab’“

“I had shoplifted hairspray from walmart and was using the plastic bag as a shirt” “She was using a plastic bag as a shirt!” They said at the same time.

Janus was keeping their eyes on their plate “I like your movie collection. It’s uhm interesting. Please go on about for a long time....” They added quietly “so i don’t have to talk”

The couple tried to come up with some movies in their collection to recommend to them. Logan had been clear about them liking reptiles, philosophy and scooby doo after all. But Janus mostly mumbled out some vague civil response.

For the rest of the main dinner Janus continued to stay out of the conversation. All while eating the sausages, ham and meatballs. All while the Christmas porridge began to cook on the stove. There was an anxious feeling gripping around their throat, they were sure if they started to speak they would say something wrong and ruin everything.

The rest of the people there chatted on without them anywhere. They compared their wordle streaks and discussed which dog Patty and Logan should adopt with the same importance as discussing adopting an actual child.

Christy clasped her hands together “Does anyone feel for coffee?” She looked at Patty “Or hot chocolate?”

“With marshmallows?”

“With marshmallows!”

They moved over to the living room. Logan set a cup of hot chocolate in front of Janus and held back the urge to kiss them on the forehead. Christy, Kenneth and their son all drank solid black coffee with exactly half a cube of sugar in it.

It had started to darken outside. Kenneth went to get a lighter for the candles and when he returned he was also carrying a photo album. He sent a look to his wife which made them both snicker. He sat down next to her and moved his hands around her upper arm while she held up the photo album.

“Logan?” Christy asked with a smile.

“Are you planning on showing pictures from my childhood?”

“Yes!”

“Well they are just previous states of my self. Nothing unusual about it. Sure”

She moved the album to the middle of the table so everyone could see clearly and opened it up to a page. The first photo Janus saw was of Logan, maybe 7 years old, focusing very hard on making a volcano in a sandbox while Kenneth helped by handing him play shovels.

Honestly if it wasn’t for the familiar look of concentration and the dark blue eyes Janus probably wouldn’t have recognised him. Aside from him being a kid and super short, he was also very thin. Gaunt even. His black hair reached down far past his shoulders. His glasses were ridiculously big for a kid. He had bangs????

“I didn’t know you used to have long hair?” Janus mumbled to him.

“I was attempting to look like my dad since I thought he looked very cool”

“You thought? You no longer think so?” Kenneth pretended to wipe a tear away “Guess my cool days are over”

“Indeed. Very sad. A true tragedy” Logan replied sarcastically.

The next photo showed a just as tiny Logan dressed up in a Data cosplay. His parents were wearing matching generic star trek costumes to not steal his spotlight. They seemed to be at some con. The tiny Lo had his usual monotone expression but his arms were blurry from flapping.

The family happily explained to Janus the memories surrounding the different photos as they continued to show them. He still didn’t respond with more than general nice words.

Christy was about to turn the page but suddenly hesitated. She glanced at Janus before looking to Patty “Dear, you start coming in in these next pictures”

Patty waved it off “It’s fine, thanks. It’s just Jannie”

“Alrighty then”

A series of photos showed Patty and Logan in the living room. Blowing out candles, opening gifts, etc. There was a banner saying Happy birthday to Lo for turning 12. It was kind of amusing to see Patty be the taller one of them. She’d apparently always been on the fuller side so it literally looked like she could pick him up and throw him out the window if she wanted to.

Even though her smile looked genuine it didn’t look happy. Maybe happy wasn’t the right word. She looked out of place. Uncomfortable. Like she was constantly waiting for something to happen.

“Oh. Right. It was the first birthday party where it wasn’t just my parents and me. It was an incredibly happy day” Logan said in his dry tone.

“That’s nice” Was all Janus got out as a response.

Patty looked at the clock “Gosh I think I have to go. I was meeting up with some of my friends, y’know the lovers from my cosplay club, at a restaurant not far away remember? I’ll be back tomorrow so don’t start eating breakfast without me!!”

Christy and Kenneth both leaned in to give her quick hugs “Of course not. we would never miss out on your life changing pancakes”

They all said merry Christmas to each other and Logan gave her a kiss before she stood up to leave. Janus’ eyes had widened in a panic. He pressed his lips so tightly shut his skin nearly turned white. He shoot up and excused himself to go after Patty.

“Jannie! Great!” Patty exclaimed as she saw them. She was standing in the hallway fixing with her dress “Can you help me with my tits? I do not let my Logie stick a syringe into my thigh every other day to then not show off the fruits of my labor”

“I thought you injected the E” They replied while helping her.

“Needles are scary!!”

“Then take it in pill form???”

“No!! Then I wouldn’t have Logie cuddle and comfort me for being so brave about the needle every other day!!”

“Understandable then. You didn’t tell me you were going away!! You can’t just leave me with Logan and his parents!? I will die! They will kill me! They will roast me like a pig over the fire!”

Patty finished finicking with her dress and took out her phone “I did tell you” She showed some of their text messages.

“.......Okay....You might have told me. But I forgot!! Patty! Dear Patty cake! You can not do this me! Mercy please think mercy fully!”

“Honey please” She cupped their cheeks and made them met her eyes “Take a deep breathe. It will go fine. They already love you, trust me, I can tell. They loved you the moment they saw that you made Logan happy in ways only a few people ever can”

Janus placed their hands on top of hers and sighed “But what if I say something wrong? What if I get too close to Logan? What if they think I’m disgusting?”

“They won’t! I promise they won’t. I really get your fear. I made Logan keep quiet about us for a few years. I was scared because we both thought we were two gay guys together, and Logan had never thought about liking guys before meeting me. But his parents never thought any ill of me even if they could have easily taken it as me converting him. He’s told me that the morning after we had told them we were a couple the first thing they asked him was if he needed any date or gift ideas. And the second thing they asked was if they had to have a talk about how to have safe sex”

“My parents would never take it that well”

“Neither would mine”

Patty looked unusually serious as she continued.

“I had to run away when I was 16 because of the fear of being forced into conversation therapy. You know that. They took me in here without question. When I told Logan I was trans I was sobbing out of mind ‘cause I was sure that meant I would end up homeless and drug addicted and selling my body and all alone until I died, because that’s what my parents told me happened to all trannies” She let up into a chuckle “After comforting me Logan’s first thought was to ask if that meant he was straight. And his second thought was to promise he would make sure I would never end up alone. It was Christy who took me shopping so I could get a whole new wardrobe that actually felt like me. It was them who fought for literal years so I could get hormones. It was them who assured me my parents hadn’t always spoken the truth. If they can take me transitioning and Logan going from identifying as gay to straight to bi and poly in a few years I assure you they can take you kissing Logie”

Janus leant into her arms and she hugged them in return. She rubbed her hand up and down his back.

“It’s okay. I get that the fear doesn’t go away. Sometimes I still see hell in my dreams. But you’re allowed to feel safe, you should be able to”

They took a deep breathe and nodded. They reminded themself of the things you had said earlier.

“I hope you have fun with your kinda girlfriends. Merry Christmas”

“Merry Christmas Jannie”

She moved out of the hug and kissed them before leaving. Janus stayed in the hallway for another minute, slowly breathing in and out. They went back into the living room and sat down next to their boyfriend.

They were still looking at photos. Logan was gushing about the photos he and Patty had from prom. He was in a suit with star trek earrings in. She had on a dress and her hair was reaching to her neck. For the first time in all of the photos her smile looked as real as it did nowadays.

(They hadn’t actually gone to prom. Patty had been vehemently hated by all of the boys in their class ever since she was like 7 and Logan hadn’t felt like making his fists bloody on prom night. So they had just dressed up and gone to the nearest Applebee's before stargazing all night)

Janus hand shook a little as they reached out and placed it on top of Logan’s. Their boyfriend sent them a warm look as he intertwined their fingers. Their voice was even more shaky as they spoke up.

“So if I remember correctly and if I am still in the same timeline you uhm asked me how me and Logan meet, correct?”

The parents nodded “Don’t tell me you lied about meeting at work. Did you meet in the hospital? At a weirdly themed party? Prison?”

“Oh no. Nothing of that cool sort. It was actually very boring. I just- I said it so vaguely. To be honest it took a week after meeting him until I felt anything for him” Janus confessed.

“Let me guess. Did he tell you facts about black holes? Does usually work perfectly for flirting right Logan?”

“Infodumping about black holes have been proven to only work with women actually. To the men I usually tell them about the names on all the bones in their body. For nonbinary people it usually helps to mention some form of slug and or baked good I’ve made”

Janus squeezed his hand “Well Logan came up to me while I had gotten stuck reading the backsides of the books about reptiles while working. He asked if there was anything wrong with the books. In a panic told him I liked snakes....The next day during our lunchbreak....He was wearing a star patterned tie and he was beautiful.......And he was reading a book about snakes....He told me....He told me he didn’t know that much about snakes but now he wished to know more so we could discuss it together....He told me he liked talking to me....He told me he hoped learning about my interest would mean we would speak more often....It was the kindest thing anyone had done to me....I fell in love instantly”

Christy and Kenneth both let out similar replies. Something about “Aww” And “That sounds like our Logan”

“It’s always a good reminder when we hear that we were able to raise him right. Or not raise him exactly. That we let the good parts of him that where always there blossom” Kenneth said.

Logan smiled at his partner “It’s funny. I fell in love the day after. There were these group of young teens that sometimes comes to the library during school hours. I think during their lunch. I usually didn’t pay them any mind unless they were playing loud music. But Janus grabbed me by my arm while they were there and asked me if I could also tell. Tell that those kids were skipping lunch because they were afraid of being bullied. Tell that they were hungry. He got this wonderful wide almost sinister smile as he asked me to help him steal all of the cookies from the breakroom so these kids could get some food. It’s not unusual for me to get minor or even major crushes but from the first instance of my heart beginning to beat faster after he said that I knew it was far more than that”

Janus leant their head against his shoulder “I still give them a few dollars so they can get lunch every time I see them”

“I know you do. I love you for it. And for the other tiny things that eventually turn into big things that eventually turn into never wanting to lose you”

Logan hesitated but Janus nodded as they met eyes. He leant in and gave them a quick kiss right on their lips. It tasted like herring but it was worth it.

A ringing came from the kitchen. All three of the family members got up at the exact same time and said almost in unison “The porridge!”

They came back with 4 bowls of Christmas porridge and sat them around the table. Christy looked at Kenneth and poked at his cheek

“This year I will get the porridge almond! You have had your fair share of almond wishes already. Time for me to wish for a grandchild!”

“Please tell me you’re planning on only wishing for a grandchild between Lo and Patty” Janus replied.

She smiled “...Sure”

They ate while discussing black holes and the latest space pictures. Janus got to the bottom of the bowl and saw an almond sticking up. They took it and held it up. Everyone did a civil little clap and gave them time to think up a wish.

They closed their eyes and thought. Their mind immediately went to Remy. Remy who was probably all alone with their abuser all day and night. Remy who was in constant pain. Remy who Janus didn’t know how to help.

Janus silently wished that Remy if nothing else at least could have a happy Christmas. Hopefully the universe would listen even if Christmas day was technically almost over.

“I’ve made my wish”

“Getting the almond during your first year here must be a good sign. Right honey?” Kenneth asked.

Christy nodded back “Indeed dear. A great sign in fact. Very scientific”

They stayed by the couches for a few more hours. Janus let Logan move his arm around them and pull them close to his side. He liked to roll the beads in their hair between his fingers.

They played card games and talked about why Janus had decided to become a librarian and what kind of literature they liked. Which of course made them infodump about 18th and 19th century philosophers. Kenneth knew a surprising amount of them since well he used to be a punk, he had read some theory.

That just made Janus even more excited and they got the urge to flap while speaking. They held it back but Logan noticed the way his partner was vibrating and flapped his own hands to encourage them. It made Christy play with the loose parts of her hair, which was her main happy stim.

The clock had nearly turned 12 and Logan had absolutely destroyed them all in every single card game they had played.

“Kids maybe it’s time to turn in for the night. Us ancient oldies can’t stay up this long normally” Kenneth said.

“We had assumed you were going to share Logan’s room but we have a very comfy blow up mattress if you want that” Christy added.

“No uh I can stay with Logie. That’s fine”

“We can leave the dishes for tomorrow. If the porridge grows legs while we’re asleep well that’s just a scientific achievement”

Logan hugged both of his parents “Merry Christmas mom” “Merry Christmas dad”

Janus wasn’t expecting any hugs but both Christy and Kenneth held out their arms for him. He leant into their embrace. Logan joined in so it became a group hug.

It felt comforting, and warm, and....safe. Janus wasn’t used to feeling like a part of a family, but he certainly didn’t dislike it.

After a little bit they all moved out of the hug and said their goodnights. Christy and Kenneth went to the bedroom on the first floor while Logan lead janus up to his bedroom on the second floor. Aside from his room all there was up there was a cleaning closet and the laundry room.

The room wasn’t that big, especially not since stacks of books were covering large parts of the floor. The rest was taken up by a desk, a star themed bed, several bookcases and an entire corner dedicated to all of his Star trek merch.

“I ran out of space for books in me and Patty’s apartment so I began shipping my unused books to here” Logan explained.

“Is that Spock’s face on your pillow?” Janus asked while eyeing the pillow filled with kiss marks.

“Don’t you judge me mx. Monsterfucker”

They couldn’t help but notice the cute photos of kittens hung up on the wall, the myriad of non Spock pillows on the bed and the fluffy blue carpet on the floor.

“You and Patty shared a room for a while didn’t you?”

“She was the one who convinced me to put up all those glow stars on the ceiling” Logan turned off the light and the entire ceiling lit up in soft greens and blues from the constellations up above.

“Cozy”

Logan loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt to get ready for sleep. He leant down and kissed Janus, making them freeze with getting their shirt off, before letting out a flustered chuckle.

“I told you they’d like you” Logan murmured.

Janus moved their arms around his shoulders “I know darling. You were right, you usually are”

“Mhm! They’ve never disliked any of the partner’s I’ve brought home. It was very unlikely you would break the pattern”

“They’re nice people. I’m..I’m glad you had them as parents. If uh that makes sense”

“I understand”

Logan unbuckled their belt while kissing them. They were left in their undershirt and underwear. which was what they usually slept in. Lo just slept in boxers because he was like his own personal heating already. They cuddled down under the covers with Janus pressing close to their boyfriend’s chest and with his arms around them.

They let out a content sigh and moved their finger along his skin “It’s warm”

“Mhm” Logan replied with closed eyes.

“And the food was really good”

“Mhm”

“And this bed is really comfy”

“Mhm”

“And I can’t sleep”

Logan opened his eyes and glanced down at them “well if my dearest snake can’t sleep then neither can I. Want to see a magic trick?”

Janus let up into a smile “Sure”

Lo turned to lay on his back and moved his hand to fumble around on the nightstand. He opened the small cabinet and took out a bottle of lube “Ta-da. Magic” He said in his monotone voice.

His partner let up into a wave of laughter while playfully pushing his face away “You stupid bastard”

“What else are you supposed to do on Christmas night. Is it not a holiday of magical experiences”

That just made them laugh more.

“Only if you want to”

“What if someone hears?” Janus half teased.

“Honey I’ll make sure no one does”

“And how would you do that?”

“Oh you know, I always have my ways”

Janus sat up on their knees and put their hands on either side of his head “My little darling” They murmured before kissing him. Logan parsed his lips and welcomed the kiss as he trailed his hands up under their shirt.

“How are your bathrobes this fluffy?” Janus asked, just a bit mesmerized.

“My mom has good contacts with textile ladies” Logan replied while putting his own.

He got up from the bed but Janus stayed laying down. He pulled in their wrist to get them up but they pulled back so he landed face down on the sheets.

“C’mon we gotta go shower before going to sleep” Logan murmured.

“I wanna cuddle though” Janus put on a fake pout while hugging him.

“We can cuddle in the shower”

“But your bed is so nice”

“Do you just want to be carried to the shower?”

Janus took off the pout “Yes please”

He picked them up and carried them bridal style down the stairs. They held each other close in the shower and Logan got to shower all the parts of their body that they adored with kisses, which was most of their body.

The warm water had rubbed out the last bits of sleepiness from them. So they sneaked to the kitchen to make some tea. They kept making each other laugh over stupid things and then laugh even harder when they tried to keep quiet.

The laughter died on Logan’s tongue when he opened the cup cabinet. He froze for a moment. He shook it off and took out two cups.

“You good?” Janus asked.

“Yes. I...The cup I usually use wasn’t in it’s normal place. It just....It reminded how long it’s been since I lived here full time...How the house goes on without me”

Janus moved their arms around his waist and stood on their toes to press a kiss to his cheek “Now you have your own home”

“Mhm. Still is a bittersweet feeling”

“I get it hun”

Logan put on some water before placing his hands on top of Janus’, their hands were comfortable placed right on his tummy. He relaxed his head against theirs and let them move him around in a sort of dance. The moonlight streamed in through the thin blinds.

The water plinged that it was done and they both made some tea. Janus choose lemon flavor and Logan dark berry flavor. They cuddled up shoulder to shoulder on the couch and listened to the first bird songs of the morning.

“Honey” Logan began, his tone even more serious than it usually was “Me and Patty have been talking about...things”

“Things? I know you’re looking to adopt a dog but that dog can not be me Logie! I’ve told you! Ugh! This is totally a very common problem for me!! Definitely totally very much!”

“No dear” He looked down into his tea “As you know a while back Patty told me she felt satisfied and wasn’t looking for any more surgeries and well obviously that means we can now save money for other things...future plans...and that sort...And you also know we’ve been looking to get pets and eventually in the future a kid so well. We’ve been thinking about saving up for a house”

“How fancy” Janus replied, unsure of how this concerned him.

“Yes. And it has a lot of benefits! We will be able to have guest rooms for lovers! Or future partners! And we will be able to invite more people over for dinners and parties! It will most likely only be a single floor house, not something awfully big. But still it will be...Ours...It will be something we can grow for the rest of our lives”

“Well I’m happy for you then”

“We’ve been wondering if you would want to move in?”

Janus nearly spat out his tea “What?”

“I love you honey, and Patty really enjoys your company. If I was legally allowed to marry a second person I would ask for your hand in marriage no doubt. It will of course be some time before we’re able to buy a house. I just wanted to lay out the idea. It will always be your choice”

“I...” Janus tapped their fingers against the cup “I...Logan...I’m sorry...This is kind of a lot...We haven’t even been dating for an entire year”

“I understand”

“No. I. I really enjoy sleeping over at your apartment. I enjoy eating breakfast and reading the newspaper and taking out the trash and all that domestic stuff...But I enjoy having my own place I know I can go back to at any time..If that makes sense?”

“It does”

Janus took a sip from their tea and thought about waking up every day pressed between Logan and Patty. Thought about stumbling up to drink water at 3 am to be meet with one of them unable to sleep stress baking or working. Thought about being able to go into the other room and kiss their cheek whenever he wanted to. Thought about every day being like a sleepover until it turned into normality. A lovely normality.

He took a sip from his tea and smiled at the thought. He leant his head against Logan’s shoulder and closed his eyes.

“Well I suppose I’ll have to think about it”

#i have 0 idea how the fuck americans celebrate christmas btw. i just based it on my countrys traditions #mini fic #thanks for the ask #gosh i am very sick rn #sanders sides #loceit #logan sanders #janus sanders

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yuvon-writes-letters · 3 years

Note

Hey guys :)

Maybe I'm going chronological for one time, so I can sort my thoughts easier.

Yeah, Goldie's much mire active than I would've thought, too. But they did all those things to keep me alive and kind of save, since we still don't know who they are exactly working against. (I mean, we don't know who Goldie exactly is either, but you get my point)

Honestly, I am pretty sure the TSB timeline is continuing, at least if my theory that Goldie just set me back in an alternate timeline is true. In this case I feel sorry for TSB, though..Extremely sorry. He still was 'my' Jake back then, even though he acted weird in the end (maybe was manipulated by entities). I mean, if what he wrote was true he went with authorities. And in the end..this could've been his downfall.

And yeah, maybe I'm not exactly safe, but I just have to go back. If I go, and if I lose my job, I have some things to sort out. And Jake luckily agreed with me that clearing up my desk isn't the worst thing I can do before leaving. We're still thinking about a location, which I could luckily deside myself. Max agreed on that. Even though he still has some doubts. (I mean, of course...His cousin opened the door with bruises all over her face.) He did promise to not ask any questions until I feel ready, though. That gives myself and Jake some time to figure that out.

And also, Jake is right! We have three Jakes and three smart people. YUVON. And of course Goldie, like you said Yu :) And some information about the previous timeline. (And that was it with being chronological)

So yeah, like I said, Max and I'll go. And I also think we can be pretty certain now that the message came from Goldie not the MWAF (which is relieving). I saw the messages and they didn't make Jake the bad guy. I honestly just don't think I can quote them yet. (They're too good, but I probably start daydreaming if I do) But they talk about Jake being an important part of my life and my heart and Max protecting me when he cannot. My dear cousin jumped to conclusions when he saw my bruised face. About Max' phone...I'll probably throw it in a river or something if he brings it with him. I told him not to, also because of Jake (he's not only worried about the MWAF apparently...He didn't exactly say it out loud, but I think it's pretty obvious) but he loves this device.

And I emphasize with you about the being kidnapped thing, you'll manage it, I know it :) And if I need to jump dimensions and box some sense into your Crow-Crew xD

No but for real, you can do that. I know it :)

Jake, find a good point in time to talk to her. But do it :)

Otherwise, I still think the 'underlying desire' theory is a possibility! But, like always in the moment, we could be wrong.

As for my stasis, I really do not wish to talk to more people who think I've been kidnapped. And I am a bit scared that could somehow lead to either them or me being in more danger again. But for now we have to wait.

I for now will pack some important things and paper & pens xD I don't want to leave y'all behind :P

Liska🐾🔥

[A screenshot is glued to the back of the letter and the quick sentence "Jake wants to talk to Jake" is written above]

Hello Jake, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am not quite sure in which way Liska will handle giving you my message, but she promised me to not read it for now.

I don't know whether she told you before or not, but as far as I am concerned she realised I am not only worried about the MWAF chasing her.

With me breaking out of this stasis I am sure that my followers aren't that far behind. And I know you can't do anything from where you are, but cross checking way to protect her doesn't seem to bad to me. Especially since we are similar but still fairly different from each other. At least it seems like that from what I have read.

For my part, I recently improved and updated Nym-OS which allows me access to Liskas whereabouts. If Yuvon should read this, she knows and agrees to it.

Still I am yet stuck on one little detail: I am trying to help Nym-OS in counterattacking. So, even though I am sure you already knoe this yourself, Nym-OS gets the ability to access location of the people attacking Liskas phone. I am almost done with that, so we are able to see a bit easier if and where people are that could be a danger.

Do you have any other ideas for ways I could help? Or even improve what I am doing momentarily. I wouldn't normally ask this since I know and trust my skills, but I think that this is fairly different from a 'normal situation'.

~ Jake

Lis,

Um. I don't know if you've seen the newest person to send in a letter, but we now have an issue.

Jessy, if you're reading this, I was sort of trying to avoid talking about this right away but I'm sort of trapped in a weird place, and Jake's here too because I'm a dumbass. I did not, so you know, let him read your letter or my reply. I figured you wouldn't want that. Sorry for dancing around the issue earlier :/ But at least you can get a good sample of the complete insanity we go through on the regular now!

Yeah... you're getting thrown into the deep end right now, aren't you. Sorry. There's no way to ease into this. You should probably either stop reading these entirely or start reading the letters from the beginning, so this will all at least make some sense. The first letter should start with the words "To whoever reads this," just so you know you get the right one.

Back to you, Lis. Yeah, I feel pretty bad for TSB Jake too. I honestly can't imagine being in his position right now.

Alright. So, you can choose the place. Great! There's way less chance of you being caught that way...

Tragedies just seem to be happening to all us Duskwood detectives, recently, don't they? Rai is chronically overworked and barely has time to sleep, I'm stuck in this hellhole and I've been forgotten by most everyone, you were shot, and poor Matt died and... well.

I never knew him, but I feel really bad for him :(

You could give Max half the truth. Tell him you have a stalker, and he's starting to get physical. Jake has been trying to help you get away from the asshole. It's not even a lie, just... not the full truth. Because. You know. The whole truth is completely fucking insane.

Writing to Jessy just put into perspective how insane everything is, I think. Gimme a sec.

Oh, fuck. My Jessy just texted me. Great timing.

Jeez that whole thing with me leaving myself out was just a joke XD If I knew you and Jake would take it so seriously, I'd never have said anything. I'll steer clear from now on.

Yeah, okay, definitely Goldie. That makes way more sense. I don't think you have to be quite so drastic as destroying the phone. Just get him to leave it at home for the trip.

Ahaha, thanks. I don't think that's necessary, though. Actually, seeing future!Jessy's perspective has caused a bit of a paradigm shift. I think I might need to reconsider what all to tell and not to tell the Crow Crew. I just sort of default to keeping things secret, now, but you've seen how well that worked for me with you and Rai, and with Jake.

Again, you probably should wait for them to contact you first, but you WILL need to talk to them when that happens. What you say to them and what you don't is up to you.

Pack a couple different pens XD We're all a bit long-winded.

That's all from me :)

(The handwriting changes to Jake's.) Hallo, Lis.

Yuvon refuses to tell me what precisely she means about Jessica. Was she somehow contacted by an alternate version of Jessica? If so, how?

I am glad it was Goldie who contacted Max. Yuvon's suggestion for an excuse seems a good one, as there are far less things to remember that way. You simply need to oversimplify everything.

I do not, unfortunately, entirely believe that Yuvon was joking when she made that comment, based on previous comments and her ongoing guilt. I can't understand sometimes why she feels the need to lie so much. It is difficult for me to read people, much less her.

I will speak to her eventually. Early tomorrow, perhaps, if nothing else rears its head. Yuvon looks tired, and I am also admittedly not at my peak. I sincerely hope she does not wake up as early as she does every single day. It may get somewhat taxing, what with the lack of coffee here.

I think that is all from me to you, Lis. If you would kindly find a way to send the next section to my counterpart without looking at it, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you :)

—Jake and Yuvon

Jake,

It is a pleasure to meet you as well, despite the unusual circumstances.

That our pursuers may be freed from the stasis is a logical conclusion. Seeing as the last known location I had on them in my universe was approximately five hundred miles from Duskwood, they will likely be some of the first to free themselves from the stasis. I do not believe I need to warn you that time is of the essence.

It seems as if I am a small distance ahead of you in the development of countermeasures, perhaps because I have had more linear time to develop them. If you are where I think you are at in the development, you likely have or will soon hit a bug you cannot pin down that makes the pinpointing mechanism simply refuse to work at all. Presuming your and my version of NYM-0S are similar enough, the issue should lie in the public bool set in line 132 of the third part of the targeting script, the script that decides what constitutes a target; you have it defaulted to "false" where it should default to "true".

As for additional countermeasures: I was attempting to work on a rudimentary automated system of pattern detection when I was brought here. Essentially, its function would be such that it would be able to triangulate using the locator features already installed to find a rough estimate of where their headquarters might be. However, I have not found any way thus far to eliminate outliers, and as such the feature is currently next to useless. I am no longer able to work on the code, but perhaps you will have more luck than I did.

That is all I can think of for the moment on that subject. However, I have an odd theory on what may be part of the reason we vary so. If you have a moment to spare, please answer me this:

When I was very young, back when Mother was still around, she took me to a doctor for odd behaviors. This included not looking people in the eyes, but there was a list. I was given a diagnosis; if you had the same experience, you should likely know which one.

Did you have this experience? If so, please prove it by stating what the diagnosis was.

Do not worry if you do not know what I am talking about; I would rather you did not guess. Simply state that you don't know. It will confirm my theory.

Good luck with your pursuers.

—Jake

(The letter tucks itself in the paper clip with the others.)

#duskwood letter game #yuvon writes letters #duskwood #duskwood game #duskwood everbyte #duskwood jake #lis #this isn't precisely a puzzle #it's a genuine question on jake's end #you aren't expected to answer unless your jake is the same

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writingoneshots · 4 years

Note

Lucci x reader story! he's fighting the urge to fall for reader but fails miserably

Lucci’s cookies

It's been a long time since I managed to write an OS and I am glad to be back again. Thank you for all the requests during my absence.

I hope you're all doing alright! Ps: I did not go missing because of Corona - I suddenly got some sort of a skin disease, which I am trying to get rid of since a few weeks and it's really strenuous to work or even live with it and the meds knock me out pretty good too. I cannot promise to update this blog on a more regular basis but I will do my best :)

Ps: if there is anyhting you guys want me to write, feel free to request it. I got really excited to see some MM and Avenger requests!

- 1.735 words - cuteness, nothing too romantic or smutty, just a little story of our CP0 boy meeting a woman (you! hihi)

Lucci was on his way to the CP0's new boss. The whole crew has never seen this man before but they knew that he was not someone to make angry. Even though Lucci didn't really care about him or being on time, he didn't want to have any problems with the new guy from the very beginning, so he tried to arrive at the meeting place before the new boss did.

On his way to the meeting point, Lucci spotted a new bakery opening in one of the side streets. A few people came out with freshly baked bread and apparently some baked sweets. He could smell some vanilla aroma and a warm scent of herbs as well. Deciding to have a quick look, he went to the window of the little shop and peeked inside. An older woman exchanged her money with some fresh baked bread and looked happy about an offer to taste some marmalade cookies. Lucci's favorite. Being too focused on the cookie, he needed a few seconds to realize that you were waving at him. When you managed to get his attention, you smiled happily and motioned for him to come inside. He hesitated first but chose to just have a look and maybe try one of these cookies. Thousands of different scents suddenly hit his sensitive nose but Lucci was already used to it. What he wasn't used to was the smell of lavender in the room. When he looked up to you, offering him some of those marmalade cookies, he forgot about himself for a quick second. Your (H/C)-colored hair was tied up in a sleek ponytail and your shiny (E/C) eyes looked at him with excitement first but it quickly changed to worry. "Are you alright? Don't you like strawberry marmalade? I also have chocolate cookies or ones, with coconut cream?", you pointed to a fresh batch behind you and smiled a bit at him. Lucci shook his head softly and took one of the marmalade ones, tasting it right away. Even though he tried his best to stay calm and not show whether or not he liked it, Lucci couldn't hold back his excitement for this treasure he just ate. "It tastes wonderful..", he looked up to you, and there it was again. Your scent. Lavender and the calming scent of an ocean. It hypnotized him. Trying to get out of this trance, he shook his head and cleared his throat. "I am sorry.", he turned around and went to the door, "I am in a hurry. Thank you for the cookie." Without another look back, he left the shop and didn't realize that there were people already waiting outside. He has seen their faces many times, knowing that they feared him, which is probably why they decided to wait outside instead of being in a shop with him.

Not too much later, he caught himself thinking about that cookie, then the scent of the cookie, the scent of you and then..you. He shook his head as if this would get rid of his thoughts and looked up to his new boss, who watched Lucci with a raised eyebrow. "Am I boring you, Rob Lucci?", he approached the man slowly and stopped when he stood right in front of Lucci, who shook his head slowly again. "No, I was listening." The boss giggled slowly and sighed, "I wish I had your brain.. must be pretty relaxing." After stepping back again, he continued to explain their plan to enter a pirate base on an island nearby. But before they left, he needed to taste the other cookies too. No! He shouldn't go there again. You could be there and this would deflect him even more. Your scent was triggering some nerves inside of him and he didn't like that.

When the boss ended their meeting, he looked at Lucci and gave him a warning sight, "Don't you dare to decide to do anything on your own. You all need to work as a team or this plan won't work out. Do you understand me?" Lucci had to admit, that it made him mad to hear this man talk to him like that. He was way stronger than his new boss but he wasn't interested in a fight as he just wanted the boss to shut up and leave him be. "I do. Can I leave now?" The boss sighed annoyed and nodded, "You better leave right away before I completely lose my cool." Even though he was really close to just laugh at that comment, Lucci kept his mouth shut again and just turned around to leave. Walking in a normal pace away, Lucci could still feel his glare like daggers in his back. On his way back to his room, he decided to visit the little shop again and realized that a few men seemed to cause some trouble. "I wanted to taste one of these cookies now and not tomorrow!", he growled at her and pushed a container, which was made of glass, down the counter. Lucci could have caught it easily but he couldn't care less about a container, which wasn't his. Instead of wasting his time on an item, he just entered the shop and stood right behind those three men. One of them felt someone's presence and turned around to curse them out of the building but froze when he saw Lucci. The man quickly tapped onto the second man's shoulder and went a few steps back. Lucci looked at the second man, who went as many steps back as he could before pressing himself against the wall. Now there was only one more left. He looked at the man, standing right in front of him, still demanding some of your cookies, not paying attention to his surroundings at all. Weakling.

Lucci went a few steps forward and almost hovered over him with their height difference. You looked up to Lucci, a little bit nervous and scared because you already have your first drama on the very first day in the bakery shop. The man realized how quiet it had become and turned around, quickly before freezing completely. Tilting his head a little, Lucci eyed the man from his toes up to his face and narrowed his eyes, "Are you bothering that lady?" The man shook his head really fast and still couldn't say a word. "Did you break this glass?", Lucci asked him and put his hands casually into his trousers' pockets. The man nodded and swallowed his own saliva a bit too strenuous. "You know, what you have to do.", Lucci looked at him and straightened his head again, looking at the man full of disgust. He just nodded fast again and took out all his money, putting it on the counter before walking out fast.

You looked after the three men and were glad Lucci didn't hurt them or that the shop didn't get any more damage than just the glass container. "T-thank you... You can have the money. I don't need it.", you looked at him and sighed relieved. Lucci just shook his head and looked around. Wiping a few pieces of glass out of his way, he looked up to you, "So.. you really don't have any more cookies left?" With a slow but soft headshake, you looked at him sadly. "I am sorry... I don't. But I will prepare a box filled with different kinds of cookies for you, which you can have tomorrow, if you'd like?" Thinking about it, Lucci nodded and just turned around to leave, "I will pick it up tomorrow evening after I come back from a mission. Have it ready by then." "Wait! What's your name?" "Lucci.", he said and left again. - Lucci was too exhausted. Not only did this mission last longer than expected but he also wasn't allowed to hunt down the enemy as he usually would. This time it was all about patience and waiting for the enemy to get caught in a trap. When he figured that their enemy was too dumb to exist, he gave up the urge to beat him up on the way to his new boss. When he finished all the explanations and ignoring his boss's annoying comments, he decided to visit your little bakery shop. Hoping that it wasn't closed yet, Lucci almost sprinted to the side street and realized that he was too late. Before he could turn around to leave, the door of the bakery opened and you peeked out of the barely opened door, "You're here! I prepared your box!" Lucci couldn't help but smile and just went into the little shop, closing the door behind him. Looking around to see where you went, he enjoyed the silent moment of him being surrounded by your amazingly calming scent. Lucci closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, calming down as soon as he inhaled the warm breeze.

When you tapped on his shoulder, Lucci just turned his head to you and frowned at the sight of two boxes, "I just need one." "Oh.. the other one is just a basic meal with some bread.. I didn't have time to cook more but I hope you like it.", you smiled a bit nervous at him. After Lucci gave her a questioning look, you explained to him that it was not healthy to only eat cookies on an empty stomach and that a strong man needs a real meal. Lucci nodded at that and as he took the two boxes, he froze when you leaned over to kiss his cheek once softly. "Thank you.. for.. helping me yesterday..", you gave him a nervous smile, while your cheeks got a slight tint of red color. Lucci looked down at you and couldn't help himself but to think you're really adorable. Even though he wasn't the type of man to be interested in any romantic or cute things, he appreciated the effort. "Thank you, ..?" "(Y/N)", you told him your name with a weird amount of confidence. He nodded and raised an eyebrow when you smiled happily at him again. "I will return these boxes tomorrow.", Lucci announced and went back to the door again.

This was the first of many nights, in which he promised to bring the boxes back, always hoping to receive more of those kisses of yours.

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addierose444 · 4 years

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Back to Campus: Spring 2021

It has been 10 long months since I last stepped foot on the Smith College campus (or out of my home state for that matter). I am now officially back! Hooray! As I said in a recent post, I was prioritized for early arrival due to my job in ResLife as a Community Advisor. As I only just got here and am far from being settled in, this post is mostly just about the process. Hopefully this year I will actually post a room tour of sorts! (Last year, I literally only posted a photo of my emptied out room).

Back in mid-December, I signed up for an arrival slot (2:00 on Friday the 22nd of January). I was so excited about returning to campus that I started packing quite a while ago. To make the packing process easier in the future, I created an extensive packing list. To read my college essentials guide, click here. On Friday, my dad drove me to Smith. Before returning to campus, we stopped by the house of some family friends to grab the rest of my dorm essentials. Since Massachusetts considers my state (Vermont) high-risk, I wasn’t allowed to move directly into my spring housing. At this point in time, Massachusetts and Hawaii are the only states with low-risk status.

My house, Parsons, has been using Discord for our virtual house community. You can read about the other apps I use in (remote) college here. As I was the first one on campus, I decided to keep my residents updated on the check-in and quarantine process. This was not part of my job in ResLife, but it definitely felt relevant to that work. Even though I am a returning student and in ResLife, I didn’t fully know what to expect and figured others would appreciate a student’s perspective. I was already planning on writing this blog post but decided to just compile my updates here. For starters, I didn’t see the need for a total rewrite. I also thought it would be a fun and different post style. Lastly, I think there is value in knowing what people are thinking in the moment rather than just reflectively. Note that my updates are written to my Parsons residents and weren’t edited to reflect the audience of this blog. I did add some additional images to this blog post, but most were also sent via Discord.

Friday @ 1:19

Parsons in real life!

Friday @ 4:07

Just a quick update. I have moved into my quarantine location and thought I would let you all know a little more about the check-in process from a student's perspective. All official information can be found in an email titled "IMPORTANT ARRIVAL INFORMATION". You basically just enter the CC, present your OneCard (unless you are a new student in which case you will receive yours), follow the arrows, and do what you are told. The whole process is quick and easy. The COVID test is painless (you can feel it though) as the swab doesn't need to go super deep into your nose like with other tests. While I strongly advise showing up at your scheduled time, if you are a little bit early, you may be able to check-in anyway. (I checked-in about 20 minutes early without an issue). The only hiccup I had was that I got the wrong room key (my correct room number but for Park House). As it's hard to hear people with masks on, be sure to check the envelope containing your room key and bracelet before leaving the ResLife table (to avoid going around the CC for a second time like I had to). I think check-in will only get better and even going around twice was still very quick and easy. If you have concerns and would like to talk to me about them, feel free to send me an email or direct message me here on Discord. As for moving things into Parsons, it was exhausting as no one was allowed to help me. When you arrive at Parsons, someone (possibly me) should be there to greet you (and make sure you don't stay over an hour). (Some of you may also meet me in the CC as I will be helping distribute keys). See you soon!

Friday @ 5:02

As for the quarantine location, I am currently quarantined in the Ellery Inn. The other location is the Fairfield Inn & Suites. You can get to either location by way of a free shuttle. (Your ticket is the bracelet you receive at check-in). Students sit far apart with masks, but I personally felt more comfortable having my dad drop me off at the hotel. It is also worth noting that both hotels are within walking distance. The bracelet is also important so that staff in the house know you are allowed to be there. (If you have approved guests (low-risk state), I think they also get bracelets). I haven't learned the whole color-coding system, but my bracelet is red and lists my Parsons and Ellery rooms. My quarantine room is actually really nice. I have a comfortable king-sized bed and my own bathroom. When you arrive you get a bag with a few snacks, water, activities from OSE, and general information (including the wifi password). I will keep you posted on the food situation as dinner is yet to arrive. I will momentarily post the menu that was in my welcome bag. Hopefully, these updates are somewhat helpful or interesting. Let me know if you have specific questions.

Friday at 5:15

Still waiting on dinner (to be delivered before 7), but here are the aforementioned snacks.

Friday @ 5:34

Dinner! Will let you know how it is soon, but my roommate from last year has said "The chicken is very tender!". Basically what happens is the people delivering the food knock loudly on the door, announce "dinner" and leave paper bags outside your room. Breakfast for tomorrow was also delivered.

Friday @ 6:18

I was initially quite worried about the food situation (during quarantine) as I am a picky eater and didn't get to choose the meal. (It's all based on the food preference form). The first dinner was much better than I feared. The chicken had flavor, was tender, and was fully cooked. The greens were also tasty. The potatoes could have used some ketchup but were pretty good when eaten with the chicken. I don't really like beets, so I just ate a few to try them. They didn't have much flavor but were well cooked. As for the cookies, they had good flavor but were very hard. Overall, I was unnecessarily worried about the food situation but am definitely excited to get out of quarantine to pick my own food among other things.

Friday @ 6:26

Tomorrow's breakfast! Looks pretty good other than the fact I hate bananas. I am most excited about the vanilla soy milk. I just don't get why we get plastic bottled water at each meal.

Saturday @ 11:51

Lunch for day two in quarantine has arrived. Another gripe that I have is that we get a new full set of plastic silverware at each meal. It's the compostable kind, but I don't think it's going to be composted. So far quarantine is boring, but not that bad. There is a TV in the room with cable and Roku. Make sure you pack your quarantine bag carefully as you cannot leave your room until you get an official release email from ResLife. The rooms (at least mine) have a mini-fridge, so if you have food or medications that require refrigeration, not to worry. We got an email today saying that we will be released on Monday at the latest. I initially had the impression we'd get out on Sunday and yesterday it sounded like we may get out today. I am obviously hoping to get out sooner rather than later, but I'll just have to wait and see.

Saturday @ 5:57

Dinner day two. Even though I have been busy with a French essay, I am definitely getting restless here in quarantine.

Saturday @ 6:38

Yesterday's dinner was better than today's, but this one wasn't too bad. The tortillas were dry, so the meal was better and less messy without them. My main critique is that while the beef had good flavor, it was tough. I also think yesterday's greens were a little bit better. Here's what I got for tomorrow's breakfast. I am hoping to be released from quarantine tomorrow, but it could be as late as Monday. Quarantine releases are at noon or 4 pm.

Sunday @ 9:15

I passed my initial COVID screening! (Still waiting on my official release email from ResLife). Just for a reference point, I took my test a little before 2 pm on Friday and got the results email at around 11 last night. (Basically, you get an email letting you know that the lab results are available and are given a registration code to set up your account).

Sunday @ 11:45

Well, I am still in quarantine, but at least lunch has arrived. Noon is fast approaching, so I might not be getting released until 4.

Sunday @ 12:33

I finally received the official release email from ResLife!!! I can leave as soon as 1 pm and must be moved out by 4 pm. Like with arrival, there are shuttles every half hour. Starting tonight I will be ordering my food through the Grubhub app and picking it up myself. I also have another COVID test scheduled for tomorrow.

Sunday @ 1:17

I am officially back at Parsons! (I decided to walk instead of taking the shuttle). Feel free to continue asking questions, but I think this is the end of my arrival updates. See you soon!

#college #Smith College #spring 2021 #check-in

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filthysweetie · 5 years

Text

James Bond drabble

Prompt: “Dear Diary...”

missed a day >.< this one is begging to be a longer story, but i had to cut it so i can finish packing...note that there’s a brief description of torture in this one.

Edit: This now has a sequel here if anyone wants to read it :)

———

Dear Diary,

Let it be known this is done under duress. Apparently, not being a bloody field agent does not get you out of psych evaluations and ‘recommended’ methods to cope with ‘high stress levels’ and ‘worrying tendency to identify job performance as self-worth’. I bet they didn’t make Boothyard do this. You get kidnapped once and then everyone suddenly thinks you’re a delicate flower.

Hell, Bond got kidnapped (I guess it’s just called captured when they’re agents…which actually is now making me quite offended that when I was taken it was called kidnapping) on 7 of his last 15 missions. I don’t see him writing a damn diary about it! (Although god, imagine that.) Besides, what’s the point of keeping a diary if it’s mandated and also!! Your psychiatrist will be reading it? Maybe I should start writing in code. 01000110 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01000100 01110010 00101110 00100000 01011001 01100101 01101110 00101110 ——— “What is…that?”

Q turned, not the least bit surprised to see James standing there behind him. He had a mission coming up and was obviously ready for his kit. Q did a little ritual over the case, always so sad to see the fine pieces of machinery go when the chance of them returning was so dismal. Instead of focusing on the kit, though…Q followed his eyes to the little journal on his desk. It was covered in stickers (most of them shiny, some of them hello kitty gifted by a little one on the tube who got three on before he or her mother noticed) and attached in the pen holder was a pen with a fuzzy feather top. It was rainbow.

Can’t blame the man for noticing it, it was a rather stark deviation from the normal color pallet and maturity level of Q’s desk.

“Oh, that old thing?” Q pat the top with a little more force than necessary, “my psych assigned diary. I figure if they choose to treat me like a child I may as well oblige.”

James took a moment before speaking, “And what, pray tell, made them think you need it?”

Q blinked, “Does that mean you’ve done it too?” That was a bit of a surprise. The double-o agents seems to thrive on their disregard of ‘normal’ coping, of medical, and of psych all together.

“Answer the question, Q.” James had the audacity to roll his eyes.

“Now I’m very curious,” Q can’t help it, “what do you write in it? About the girls you like? About more interesting ways to destroy my tech?”

“Mostly survivors guilt.” James says, nonchalant.

Well, that answers that, “Oh…” damn it, now he’s obliged to answer James’ question regardless of if this is an interrogation tactic or not. He gives a half shrug, “Dr. Yen assigned it after the kidnapping.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know, I thought it was all very much over the top as well.” Q fights a sigh, “Now your kit—”

James shakes his head, “No, wait, you were kidnapped?”

Q blinks, ignores the chill that goes down his spine; “I knew they didn’t release that on the official channels but I assumed you’d know none the less.” Q clears his throat, “Now, your kit.”

James quiets then, but there are a lot of questions behind his eyes. Who’s to say if Q focuses on his tech a bit more than he normally would. ——— Dear diary,

I didn’t realize it had been kept quite so secret. I should have known, we are a spy organization. But I was {Q hesitates over the word, crossing out kidn and captu wishing suddenly that he was using his standard pencil instead of this purple inked mess of a pen} gone for 11 days. I guess I figured they would have told the double-os at least, maybe brought them in to help find me. Not that I needed anyone’s help, of course, I mean I got out of there myself, didn’t need anyone rescuing this damsel.

But the fact that {Ja is scribbled over fully; must remember that this will be read} there were agents I’m the primary handler of that didn’t notice at all. What excuse were they told when I wasn’t on the comms? Would they have just kept been given excuses until the forgot to keep asking?

My cats were fed, at least. Moneypenny thought I would come back, or at least held out enough hope to not sell my apartment and put my cats in a shelter after 11 bloody days.

R had been searching non-stop—bless her, I think she needs this exercise more than me. Poor girl looked like she hadn’t slept since I’d left; keeping all the missions on track while searching for me. It was her and Riley and Sunil that found me on the security footage after I got out of that place and got me a pickup. It’s not like I was forgotten or anything. {Why do I feel forgotten? Q stares at the line in it’s stark purple ink for a long moment before crossing it out. He doesn’t want to talk about that with himself, let alone Dr. Yen.}

Regardless. R has finished debriefing me on all active missions that I’d missed some portion on, and overall everything is going well. Testing of the new laser pen fell behind during my absence but it’s to be expected. It will give me something to do tomorrow when most of my active agents are in transit. ——— “Q, Sir, we really need you in the pit.” Laila said, standing at the threshold of his office, seeming a bit more frazzled than normal. There are no alarms (auditory or silent) going off around her, so the attitude was a bit perplexing.

Q puts the soldering iron down on it’s stand and takes off the magnification glasses, replacing them with his own, already getting up and heading towards her, “What’s the matter?”

“Sir, one of the agents is being belligerent; requesting to speak only to you before moving forward with his mission.”

That’s a new one; “Alright then, transfer the secure line to my station please, Laila.”

It’s always nice, walking out to the floor, seeing his people working away. Standing at the center of it is like being cocooned within the greatest minds of London. It’s safe.

“Yes?”

“Q”Jame’s voice is instantly recognizable, “I’ve arrived in Paraguay and will be rendezvousing with the contact at 1430.”

Q waited. Nothing.

“And?”

“That is all.”

Q blinked, glad that James couldn’t see the confusion that must certainly be coving his face, “You called me away from my prototypes to give me a standard mission update that you could have given to any one of my people?”

“Had to make sure you were still around, Q”

“Still—” it clicks, “Oh. Well. Yes, I am very much still around.

“Good.” Is that a smile in his voice or is Q projecting? “I’ll check in again after the rendezvous.”

Q’s throat clicks, dry; “I’ll be here.” ———— Dear Diary,

When will this little experiment be over? It’s been a half month! I haven’t got much free time at all, and wasting it in this damn book isn’t helping anyone. Least of all me. ————— “I notice you haven’t actually written anything about the kidnapping?” Dr. Yen asks, looking through his entries with a clinical eye.

“I much prefer to call it capture.” Q says in leu of an answer. The sticker covered mess looks silly in her hands, but she seemed to have enjoyed his take on ‘making it his own’ even if he’d been doing the antithesis of that. Granted, some of his minions have added stickers to it too—so next to hello kitty is a ‘back it the fuck up’ sticker in fancy script with an old school desktop monitor showing the phrase, and a sparkly unicorn that Trevor insists is from his kids but Q has his doubts. If he leaves it on his desk unattended, when he comes back there are always new stickers. No one ever opens it, respecting some privacy that doesn’t really need respecting (it’s not like there’s anything of substance in there), but it’s a nice gesture none the less.

Dr. Yen smiles, “Of course,” Q wishes she were a bit more of a dick like Dr. Reynard had been—it was easier to dismiss someone when they were being an ass, “I notice you haven’t written about your capture—or escape for that matter—at all. There are some references to it, but no detail. Do you have any thoughts on why that is?”

Q takes a sip of tea. It is nice that these meetings are uninterrupted tea time—though he could do without the conversation.

“There’s nothing important to say about it.” Q set the mug down, making sure to be gentle about it, “it’s all done, and I don’t exactly plan to get kidna—captured again.”

Dr. Yen gives an amused smile, “no one really plans to get captured at all.” Then, “Sometimes the act of writing down an experience”—she stopped using ‘traumatizing experience’ a while ago, Q did not have a traumatizing experience, thank you—“can solidify it in our reality. It may be difficult to do that at first, but once it is solidified, we can begin to process it in a healthy way.”

“It’s already written up in the after-action report.”

“Yes, but that was what happened, not how it felt to be going through those things.”

Q rolls his eyes, “do you want me to write a soliloquy on how sad and lonely it was and how I felt abandoned by MI6 and made peace with my death? Or maybe how it transformed me in ineffable ways and I have a new lease on life?”

It was so annoying to lay on that perfect level of sarcasm to have it disregarded so thoroughly, “If that’s how you feel, yes.” God she’s so earnest.

“Well it wasn’t” Q snapped out. He picked up the mug again and took another sip. Setting it down extra soft, with barely a ‘clink’ on the glass table, “Excuse me, I must be more tired than I thought.”

“Not to worry,” Dr. Yen smiled, “your job is stressful any given day of the week, it’s certainly understandable. Please do give it a thought though as you go through this week. Sometimes putting things to paper allows our minds to ‘get it out of our system’ instead of having it linger in our subconscious.”

“Very well. I will give it some thought.” ———— Dear Diary,

Lets give it the old college try, shall we?

I admire James Bond. He’s one of our best field agents, though his record for returning his tech is abysmal. He seems to come back from the brink of death more times than a cat and never seems to let it affect him. Always ready for the next mission.

I want to be like that. He’s been through so much, the loss of M, the burning of his home, the burning of so many false starts at a normal life, and he comes back and he may be battered but he’s still whole. Undoubtedly whole. I get kidnapped once and now I can’t even get a good nights sleep unless I’m folded awkwardly on the little couch in my office, and of course that sleep is poorer for other reasons.

I know I’m capable, I know I can destroy countries and get myself out of most any situation that I find myself in, but I didn’t realize exactly how that situation would affect me. I haven’t lost confidence in my abilities, but maybe loss of confidence in my security? Is it just a waiting game to see when I’ll next be thrown into the back of a van, drugged, and then wake up in a windowless room, IV in my arm strapped to a chair with no fucking idea how much time has passed? When will I next find myself threatened and beaten? The soles of my feet slashed, so dehydrated that I can’t put my head up without feeling dizzy?

Obviously I can survive it. I have.

The thought of it happening again…it’s terrifying. And it can happen at any time. And I thought I admired James because he looked like a good lay. Maybe it’s because he seems unbreakable and I worry I’m already broken. ———— Q stared at the pages for a long time. Was he supposed to feel hollow?

He tore them out, crumpled them like a secret and then lit them on fire. This was a spy organization after all, no point in letting that level of weakness get out. ———— Dear Diary,

Laila got a new corgi puppy. Despite being a cat person, I have to admit it’s quite cute.

#007 #james bond #q #00q #if you squint #drabble on #i fancy myself a writer #tw: torture #dear diary

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dessarious · 5 years

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Summer Solstice Pt1

Okay, first I’ll apologize for not updating any of my fan fics tonight. Overtime and sleep deprivation apparently destroyed my brain and all it will concentrate on is future parts of OS&NB and some original ideas. I’ll get back at it bright and early tomorrow and hopefully have some longer chapters for you guys. It the mean time I thought I’d post the first part of an original story from a fantasy world I created. Again, sorry for the wait.

Dess turned away bored as she listened to Seth bargain with the vendor. She had never liked dealing with people and that went double for people who tried to jack up prices if they thought for one second you could afford it. She tried to remember how she had managed before she found Seth and shuddered at the thought. There was that time she got so frustrated she beat a baker badly because he tried to charge her five times what he’d charged the person in front of her. She had lost her temper a little. On the plus side, everyone in that town remembered her so she generally didn’t have to bargain for anything on her brief trips there. Listening to Seth try and get a fair price for feed for the horses was trying her patience.

She caught site of a familiar strut across the street and scowled in hatred as she recognized the bastard. Geht was a slaver. In fact he’d tried to sell her once. That had not gone well for anyone. He had not changed much, same cocky grin same stupid strut. His clothes were finer than she had seen them. Silk unless she missed her guess. Where had that ugly two timing ass gotten silk? She did not believe for one second he had come up in the world. She watched him talk to the butcher across the street and watched him flash gold. Stupid, now the butcher would at least triple his prices. It begged the question though, where had he gotten gold. Geht had always been a bottom feeder; catching and selling the lowest people possible. The ones no one would miss. They were also the ones that most people did not want. Servants were all well and good, but most wanted some that had been raised as servants. Having to train someone that was found in the gutter of society was not something most of the wealthy class was willing to do. So he would end up selling them to miners or other hard labor task masters for barely enough to feed himself. He got off on the pain of those people though; the money was honestly just a bonus. Dess began to edge closer making sure to stay out of his line of sight.

As she got close enough to hear, she also got close enough to smell, which she could have done without. It was obvious he had not changed his hygiene habits since gaining money. The smell of body odor, which had to have taken decades to build up, was the same as she’d remembered. Unfortunately it was made even worse by the cologne he had found somewhere to try and cover it. She had not been aware they made a stench so terrible. The poor butcher had tears in his eyes. He worked around dead animals all day and looked ready to throw up. He wanted no more than to end the transaction so he could find clean air, but Geht being the windbag he was wanted nothing more than to talk. Specifically about his new wealth.

“It’s great; I’m getting paid twice for the same slave. Her family is willing to pay any ransom I name and the one who hired me to grab her is beyond wealthy. I figure I’ll get her there then see how high I can make him go.”

Oh yeah, that was a great idea. Get the object he wanted in his sight and then try to cheat him. On the plus side it looked like Geht would not be around much longer to bother anyone. The ransom was another matter. It was smarter than she would have given him credit for, but then again she didn’t know the details of the money exchange. Most likely he hadn’t thought it through and would have the girl nearby for that too. She should just stay out of it. There were hundreds of slavers and thousands of slaves what good would it do to intervene? She had almost convinced herself to walk away when Geht’s lapdog came out of the inn leading a woman in silk. She was bound and gagged with her feet free so she could walk. How stupid did he have to be not to change her clothes? Any slaver seeing her was likely to try and kill Geht to get her. There were plenty of people willing to pay for a slave that was noble born, and there was no doubt that she was noble born. The way she held herself spoke of a dignity and haughtiness only found among royalty. Dess almost thought it showed her own bad personality until the girl locked eyes with her. Dess remembered that look. It was a pleading look begging someone, anyone to do something. There was no way she could just walk away from that look. Damn.

“We following them?” Seth had walked up behind her. She had not even heard him because she was focused on the scene in front of them. At sixteen he had seen more than his fair share of misery as well. He would be willing to do just about anything to help someone in need. Dess was more selfish though she did have a hard time walking away from certain situations. This happened to be one of them.

“Gather all the supplies and take them to that cave up by the range. I’ll trail them and see what I can do. You can follow but if you do be careful not to leave traces. Geht’s a moron but his lackey is a good tracker.” She would have told him to stay in the cave, but Seth thought she was trying to baby him when she did things like that. She was not but she did not want to piss him off by saying that she could work better without worrying what he was doing and if it would get in her way. For the most part they had been with each other long enough that it was not an issue, but when the stakes were this high she really didn’t want to take chances. He was apparently of the same mindset.

“I’ll stay at the cave and make sure everything is ready. I do not feel like chasing you around the country side today.” Dess grinned at him and clapped him on the shoulder before turning away and getting her horse. Geht had not seen her but to be safe she stayed in the shadows between buildings as she watched them prepare to leave. Once they started off she stayed a good distance behind them, tracking them rather than staying close enough for them to spot her.

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Solstice could not believe that no one was willing to do anything to help her. Slavery was an abomination, which was why it was outlawed in Paldar. She had to keep reminding herself that this was a different kingdom with different laws, but that did not help her understand all the people who simply turned away and pretended not to see what was right in front of them. She just didn’t understand how anyone could see such suffering and do nothing. Her father had instilled a deep sense of justice and right and wrong in her. As the king of Paldar, Mathis had made sure all his children understood all his decisions and laws. Solstice had been a good student, though she was beginning to realize that understanding laws and classes didn’t help her understand people at all. Looking at everyone that had turned away from helping her, she had originally been mad. The more it happened she had to wonder at the mindset behind it. She was a princess. She had never had a problem giving orders and having them followed. If she had seen someone being carted off as a slave she would have ordered their release. It was that simple. Of course she would have an army to back her if needed. Until this had happened she had never felt powerless. She definitely didn’t like it.

Walking from the inn to the stable she held her head high. She was a princess and she would act like one no matter her circumstances. She tried in vain to catch the eye of someone, anyone, but they all seemed adept at not seeing what they didn’t want to see. She heard Geht boasting loudly and glared at him. That’s when she saw her. She was certain in was a girl even though she was in boys clothes. She had enough experience with her twin sister to be able to tell the difference. What shocked her was that she did not turn away or drop her gaze. She looked Solstice straight in the eye, and it stunned her. Not because she was the first person who had in this town, but because of the commiseration and heat in the look. She understood Solstices situation and wanted to help, she could see it. The girl turned to glare at Geht in pure hatred. She either really hated slavers or she knew that bastard personally. Possibly both. A boy walked up behind her and she saw them talk. After giving him money the girl went to get her mount from in front of one of the shops. Solstice thought she had been forgotten but she had been around trackers, had learned the basics of tracking herself, and she noticed that the girl kept them in her peripheral vision and she groomed her horse and checked to any issues. To most people it would just look like she was taking good care of her horse but Solstice could see the tension and occasional glances that said she was paying much more attention to them than to the animal. It gave Solstice hope, until Geht put her on her horse and started out of town. The girl did not follow and Solstice felt betrayed, and helpless. She hadn’t felt either to this extreme before and she did not like it.

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Dess waited until full dark to make her move. Geht had not changed his preferences for sleeping out of doors. She wasn’t sure why he always picked places it was easy to infiltrate without being seen but she was glad for it all the same. In the fall it would have been a bit more difficult to not make noise, but in full summer, with hundreds of trees to offer cover she had been able to get to a point that she could see into the camp without being detected. It was honestly sad how easy he was making this. They had gone to sleep without banking the fire which was good for her. She was much more worried about the girl making sound than anything else, but anything could happen.

Once she was sure they were asleep she moved in closer. This was stupid, really stupid. It was none of her business and she should have just kept going. But no she had to play the bloody hero because the girl had looked lost and she’d seen the hope flare in her eyes. Stupid, beyond stupid. She kept cursing herself the entire time she had been following them, and as she snuck into the camp site the inner dialog got more and more profane. She crouched down next to the girl and covered her mouth immediately to keep her from giving them away. The second Dess touched her, the girl started awake. The fear and panic in her eyes made Dess even madder. She honestly hoped in that moment that Geht would wake and attack them so she’d have a reason to kill him. She got herself undercontrol by reminding herself that his employer would likely torture him for days.

Dess held a finger to her lips and watched recognition flare in the girl’s eyes. She nodded and Dess moved to undo her bindings. Now for the fun part, getting out of here without making enough noise to wake the dead. In her experience royalty, especially women, could not do anything quietly. She really should have grabbed the horse first just in case, one more thing to wish she’d done differently. Instead she leaned down as closes as she could to the girl’s ear and whispered, “Follow as close as you can and try to step where I step. And try not to make more noise than necessary.”

Of course their ideas of necessary might be different but Dess hoped her desire to get away would make her more cautious. Getting another nod she helped pull the girl to her feet then turned and put her hand on Dess’s shoulder figuring it would be the best way to lead her. She was completely shocked when that contact was the only way she could tell the girl was following. She honestly did not think she could be that quiet wearing skirts. Dess lead her to where she left her horse before saying anything else.

“Wait here.”

“Where are you going?” Oh yeah there was a definite command in that tone, she was definitely royalty. Dess hated being told what to do or being second guessed. This was going to be fun.

“I’m going to get your horse unless you would rather leave it and make our chances of getting caught higher by doubling up on mine.” She didn’t wait for a response before heading back to the camp.

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Solstice bristled as she was left standing by herself. How dare she talk to her like that? She was more annoyed that the girl thought she would not understand why a second horse was necessary than by the tone. Though honestly she was not happy with that either. No one spoke to her that way, not even her siblings. As she stood there fuming her anger started giving way to fear. What if she did not come back? What if she was captured? Solstice had not heard her even though she had been awake but what if that was a fluke? What if the horse made too much noise? Her mount was well behaved but who knew what an animal would do if spooked. All these fears running through her mind made her all but oblivious to her surroundings and she almost screamed when the girl tapped her on the shoulder. Spinning around she glared, daring her to say anything. The girl just handed her the reins. Her look was, if Solstice was not seeing things, one of compassion. Solstice could not help but wonder again who she was. She had not been able to stop thinking about her since they had made eye contact and she did not know why. They mounted up and headed out into the dark.

“Can I ask where we’re going?” She whispered even though chances they were being followed were slim. The girl blinked at her, Solstice thought she looked surprised, before she answered.

“There’s a cave near the range we can hole up in for now. I want to see what Geht does when he finds you gone before we do anything else. Just to be safe.”

“You know him?” Solstice could not hide her curiosity once the girl used her captor’s name. The hatred that heated her gaze was frightening and Solstice immediately wished she had not asked.

“I do.” That was it but the hatred and contempt in her voice was immense. Solstice could not honestly remember feeling anything so strongly. They continued until almost morning, passing through the forest with surprisingly little noise. Solstice had to admit she was impressed with the girl’s obvious comfort and knowledge of the area and the wild in general. She stopped suddenly and cocked her head listening. Solstice opened her mouth to ask what she heard but the girl held up her hand to forestall her. Solstice was not happy about the gesture and fumed silently until the girl let out a curse.

“Follow me; stay as close as you can if you want to stay alive.” That was definitely not on the list of things Solstice wanted to hear right now. She did not have time to dwell on it however because the girl set her horse to a gallop and Solstice had no choice but to follow. A couple minutes later Solstice heard a high pitched screech. Her horse no longer had to be urged and it was keeping pace with the girl’s steed. Up ahead she saw the boy that had been in the market waving at them frantically. Like they needed more encouragement. His look suddenly turned panicked.

“Dess look out!” She turned to see what he saw and pulled her bow from its spot on her saddle.

“Keep going get to the cave no matter what do not stop.” Solstice would have argued but her horse was not about to let up. She was still shocked when the girl, Dess apparently, pulled her mount up short and turned to face whatever was after them. When she reached the cave the boy helped calm her horse and get her down. When she turned to look for Dess she almost had a heart attack. She was pretty sure she did scream. The creatures bearing down on them were hideous, Solstice had never heard of anything like them before. Their wings were bat like, leathery, the skin looked to be covered with coarse hair but she was not close enough to be sure, and did not want to be close enough ever. They sort of reminded her of birds the way their body was formed but without the grace and majesty. Dess was stopped in the middle of the clearing, arrow knocked, and waiting. Solstice could barely breathe as she watched the creatures come at her. She had to admire Dess’s bravery, she was certain she would have turned and run by now. As it was she could barely keep herself from calling out to shoot. What was she waiting for?

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Dess sat ready waiting for the Chuaru to come in range. She could easily hit them from here but her arrows would not pierce the skin. Best not to waste the effort. It was a full pack, eight total, bearing down on her and her mind whirled trying to figure out why. Chuaru never ventured this far west. Never. She could only come up with one explanation and she really hoped she was wrong. The lead Chuaru was bearing down ahead of the others and Dess took aim. Taking a deep breath she released and was relieved when the arrow found its mark. The creature fell, already dead from a shot in the eye and through the brain. Dess lined up another shot.

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Solstice was amazed by her calm and skill as Dess picked off the creatures one by one. The last one was only feet away from her when her final arrow took it in the chest and her horse actually had to move to the side to avoid its body as it crashed to earth. She let out the breath she had been holding as the boy gave a shout of exultation. He ran out to meet Dess

“That was amazing! The best shooting I’ve ever seen.”

Dess was not even paying attention she was staring east frowning. She knelt by the creature that had almost landed on her and pulled a medallion from its neck, then started cursing foully. She had quite a vocabulary; Solstice had to give her credit for that.

“Inside now.” She led her horse constantly looking back the way they had come, with the boy praising her aim and skill as he replayed the entire thing verbally. “Seth.” He looked at her expectantly. “Shut up and get inside.” Solstice was stunned by the cold manner and harsh words but the boy just grinned and darted into the cave.

“That was not necessary.” Dess just looked at Solstice. That’s it, but it made her uncomfortable enough that she took her reins and led her horse inside without another word. Once they were in Seth and Dess used a lever to block the entrance with a large boulder. The cave was a good size and well lit with torches but Solstice was not happy about being closed in.

“So what were those things? Other than ugly and stupid.” Seth tried for a joke but Dess frowned at him.

“What makes you think they are stupid?”

“You were dropping them one by one and they just kept coming.”

“That’s not stupidity, it is determination. They were on a mission and they were going to complete it or die trying. The thing we need to worry about is who or what could make them so determined.” She looked at the medallion in her hand and frowned. “These Chuaru were elite fighters. I wish I knew why they came this far west, and who they were actually after.” She met Solstices gaze as if seeking the answer.

“I didn’t even know what those things were; they couldn’t have been after me.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Do you have any idea who the buyer Geht had for you was?”

Solstice shook her head. “He never mentioned a name, just talked about how rich he was going to be between the rest of that payment and the ransom he was extorting from my family. Not that he is likely to survive that meeting.” Her siblings would probably kill him themselves.

Dess sighed and traced the design on the medallion in thought. “We should probably get some sleep. We’re safe enough here for now. I hope.” She turned and walked to the back of the cave without waiting for a reply, deep in thought. Solstice stared after her wondering what exactly ‘I hope’ meant but did not honestly have the courage to ask.

“Don’t mind Dess, she’s never one to look on the bright side. It’s all doom and gloom. I’m Seth by the way.” He held out a hand then put it down quickly thinking he might have offended her.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Solstice.” She made the same gesture and he took her hand with a lopsided grin. Solstice liked him immediately, he reminded her of a couple of her brothers. Dess on the other hand.

“Any idea why she’s so worried about a threat that she destroyed?”

Seth shrugged. “Not a clue, but I wouldn’t discount her paranoia; it’s saved both our lives more times than I can count. If she’s worried there’s a reason. Whether she shares that reason is another matter entirely. She tends to keep details to herself unless there’s a real need for anyone else to know.”

“She’s your sister?” Solstice thought it was a good theory but Seth just laughed.

“No, she picked me up in a village when I was twelve. I was living on the street. I don’t know why she decided to have me tag along with her to be honest. I thought she was going to kill me at first.” He cocked his head in thought. “She saved my life instead. No telling where I would’ve ended up if she had just left me where I was.”

“What about your family?”

“Don’t have any, at least not that I know of. My first memory is being in an orphanage. Dess is my family, she’s all I have.”

“And she doesn’t have any family?”

“Not that I know of, though to be honest she’s not really open about most things. She’s a little better with me most days but I’ve learned there are certain topics that are off limits. Basically any questions about her past are met with glares and silence, but that’s not really different from any other questions now that I think about it.”

“I can still hear you, you know. “ Dess had rolled up in her blanket and sounded moderately exasperated. “You two need to get some sleep while you can. It’s probably going to be a luxury from now on.” Solstice looked at Seth but he was frowning at Dess. When he met Solstice’s gaze there was wariness and a touch of fear.

“We better do as she says. She’s usually right about these things.”

He wandered to his own bedding before Solstice could ask which things exactly he meant. She yawned and realized how tired she was. Deciding she wanted sleep more than she wanted to be obstinate she pulled her own blanket off her horse and lay down close to the fire. It had been a long and draining night. She was asleep before she hit the ground.

Kofi

#original characters #original worlds #original work #fantasy

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