#Ransom of Red Chief

[travsd]

On O. Henry, Vaudeville and the Vitagraphoscope

The writer known as O. Henry (William Sydney Porter, 1862-1910) covered a lot of ground in his relatively short life: small town druggist, bank clerk, Texas ranch hand, hotel cigar vendor, prison inmate, government bureaucrat (draftsman for a land office), and writer/editor/publisher with one foot in real literature, one foot in pulp. Like Thomas Wolfe he was a native North Carolinian. The bulk…

[elsewhereuniversity]

"Sing us a song, and we will decide if you should be allowed to stay," the looming presence says menacingly. "We are in need of another human after the other one met an unfortunate end." You gulp, and take a deep breath. "This is the song that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends..."

[illustration-alcove]

Ivan Semenov’s illustrations for the collected short stories of O. Henry.

[bambikisss]

FAVORITE PRIVILEGES:: CHOI SAN

Inspiration: Money Heist: Korea

Song: Deja Vu - ATEEZ, The Ring - ATEEZ

Summary: After your normal day at work is interrupted by ATEEZ taking over the government office, you try your hardest to keep your head down and wait until it all ends. However, one of the criminals has their eyes on you.

Story Warnings: Use of guns. Getting held for ransom, attempted assault. Unprotected sex (wrap it up, people), spit, use of nicknames (princess, baby, etc), he calls you a whore once, oral (both receiving). Of course, let me know if I forgot something.

A/N: So, I had a hard writer's block and so I got this idea while watching season 2 of Money Heist Korea. Plus, I found this picture of San's titties.F/N= friend's name and Captain is HongJoong. THIS IS STRICTLY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES

Times were hard, as of recently.

Crime rates were at an all-time high and unless you could afford to live in the high-end gated communities, then you were at risk every day for something to happen to you. Citizens had been begging the government to come to do something for such a long time, demanding that they be saved from the never-ending crime. Only after one of the lawmakers' wives was mugged did they begin to do something. They began to crack down on crime, dropping the rates down a large amount. However, it came with a cost: the government began to hog money. They stopped doing any sort of program that would help lower-income people, claiming that the money was to be used for helping keep the crime rates down. This caused many lower-class people to move and let the upper-class people fill in for them in the communities. You couldn't believe how fast your friendly neighborhood changed: people you had known for almost all of your life were moving away from the capital and leaving you to deal with the rich, snobby families who had formed an HOA just to try and kick you out.

You were in the upper middle class, working for at the capital's bank vault. You were an assistant to the chief of the vault, following him around from 9 am to 6 pm while he yelled at his many subordinates. You felt bad for them; the chief was totally in love with you and if anyone came at you with a tone that wasn't sweet then they'd be screamed at. When it came to everyone else, he was so short and rude.

"You know, Y/N, you're my favorite. You know how to do your job properly," you held back the urge to roll your eyes at your boss's "compliment," thanking him as you both walked through the lobby. For it being the middle of spring, you woke up that morning shocked that it was freezing. You were going to back inside and change, but you realized that if you did, you'd be late, so you bit the bullet as you knew after work you were going out with some coworkers and wanted to dress nice. Now that your boss was eyeing your outfit with his pervy eyes, you were regretting it. "Mr. Myung, please stop staring at Ms. Y/N's legs." You both stopped in your tracks to see F/N making his way toward you both. He had been transferred to the vault from being in the secret service, which pissed off Myung more than ever; if there was going to be someone who called him out on his shit without the fear of being fired, it was F/N.

F/N always had your back when it came to your boss, giving you a voice when he knew you couldn't use yours. You had a feeling he was going to try to make a move on you due to his passing flirty looks and comments, which you welcomed. "Here. I know how much you like this cake," you thanked him as he handed you a Red Velvet cake, promising to eat it during your break before walking away with a pouty Myung.

Around midday while you were taking out the cake, you received a notification to join the staff in the lobby, which was strange to you; there was no staff meeting scheduled for today, and why meet in the lobby of all places? You shook it off though, making your way to the downstairs lobby. When you did meet with everyone, you noticed how confused they all looked, asking each other if they knew why they were there. Before you could text your boss to see if he knew why, a loud gunshot rang through the lobby, making everyone drop at the loud echo. "Stay down on the ground!" You felt your eyes widen as 8 masked gunmen entered the room, shooting up at the ceiling once more. You felt horrified, worried that they were going to hurt you all. They promised that they wouldn't if you did what they said, which you all agreed to do; move against the wall in two groups, get on your knees, heads down, and hand over any phones. You tried to hold in your tears as you placed your phone into the bag, your boss whispering at you harshly to stop your sniffling. The masked man who was gathering the phones stopped in his tracks, crouching down in front of him as he gripped what little hair the man had left.

"She can cry if she's scared. You need to be the one shutting up before I make you." You didn't even bother to look up as your boss agreed, placing his head back down as the man moved on, continuing to gather phones. Once he was done, a loud clap echoed as one of the other criminals spoke. "Alright. I think it's time we build some trust. You've done what we've asked this far, so we should at least be aqantiences throughout this experience." Everyone looked up as the men removed their masks, showing their faces with confident smiles.

"If you need a name to call me, you can call me Captain. I chose the name based on my love for pirates growing up."

"So you mean to tell me that they're doing this to fulfill some sick childhood pirate fantasy? Give me a break," Myung whispered aggressively next to you, making Captain halt his speech. He raised an eyebrow, making his way over to grip your boss's face to meet eye-to-eye aggressively. You could see it in Captain's eyes; it was like he was possessed by a demon. The way he was just acting was so different from the way he looked at your boss. "What was that?" You listened to your boss whimper as Captain gripped his face tighter, smiling at him like a lunatic.

"Just that...Y/N's knees must really hurt! S-she definitely needs a break from sitting on them," Myung stammered out, glancing at you for support. You couldn't help but feel betrayed; to save his own ass, he was willing to shove you into the hands of a criminal. Captain glanced at your knees, indeed seeing some bruising forming. He released his grip on Myung's face before calling over one of his men, telling him to take you to the office and keep you there. You carefully stood up, stumbling behind him as he led you away from everyone towards the office that you had been in so often. You thought about making a run for it as you passed the fire exit before you noticed the heavy machinery he was carrying. You knew that if you ran, he'd either catch you immediately or kill you on the spot, and with how Captain's eyes looked, you didn't want to take any chances.

After you were locked in the office, you slumped against the wall, shaking as you cried. You didn't know what was going to happen to you and now that you were separated from everyone else, you worried for their safety as well. You rushed to the desk, picking up the phone to try and call for help, before halting when you heard the silence on the line, not the familiar dial tone. "Don't even bother trying to call for help." You jumped as the door closed behind a man, the locking sound being the only thing that broke the silence that came after he spoke. "All the phones that are connected in the office have been shut off, so you can't reach anyone, princess."

The man was tall and bulky, obviously built well. He had a slit in his eyebrow, and a small lip piercing at the corner of his lip that you would've missed if it didn't glimmer in the sun. You would be lying if you said you didn't find him attractive, but your fear overcame your underlying lust. He unzipped his jumpsuit, letting the top half fall as he stretched, his white tank top ridding up which gave you a chance to look at his abs. He caught you looking as he returned to his normal stance, chuckling as he walked closer to you. You backed away as he stalked closer, only stopping when your back hit a nearby bookshelf. "How are your knees?" You looked at him in confusion at his question before you remembered what was said to even get you in this predicament, telling him that you were alright. He nodded before his radio went off, telling him to meet the rest of the criminals in one of the nearby offices for a team meeting, signaling the end of your first interaction. As he walked back to the door, you stopped him as he reached for the doorknob. "What should I call you?"

You had a feeling that you were going to be dealing with him often, so you wanted to know what to call him. He chuckled as he found your sudden question cute, shaking his head before he opened the door, turning to face you before saying "San." You nodded as he closed the door behind him, leaving you alone in the office.

San came to check on your throughout the rest of the day, taking you to the bathroom when you needed to go and took you to and from your work shifts at printing money with the others. While the others all slept in sleeping bags in the hallways, you were placed to sleep in the office under San's watchful gaze.

You woke up from one of your naps to see San leaning against the wooden desk, chewing on the red velvet cake F/N had given you. He must have not seen the fork that was next to the container, holding the cake in his hand as the frosting coated his fingers and his lips. When he met your eyes he smirked, licking the frosting slowly off his lips before placing the cake back into the container, keeping his eyes locked with yours. "Well, looks like sleeping beauty is awake." He approached you slowly, crouching down to meet your face as his frosting-covered hand rested on his knee. You bit your lip as he placed his thumb into his mouth, licking off the frosting slowly. He made it look so lewd; his tongue made sure to move around his thumb to clean up every single spot of frosting before humming at the sweet taste. You couldn't help but feel jealous, wanting to lean forward and lick the rest of the frosting off of his hand.

San must've had the same thought as you, holding his ring finger to your lips. He moved his finger along your bottom lip, his eyes darkening as you licked the small amount. He felt his boxers tight around him as you leaned forward wrapping your lips around his finger, your tongue moving to clean the frosting. San had to hold back from fucking you right then and there, biting his lip as you kept eye contact with him, only breaking it when his walkie went off from HongJoong telling him to report for a meeting. He cursed softly as you moved away from his finger with a wet pop, looking up at him with doe eyes. San took a second to process what you had just done before standing up, shooting a wink your way before leaving the room. He wiped the frosting off of his hand onto his pants as he walked down the hallway, trying to calm down. Even though you both hadn't exchanged a lot of words throughout the interaction, he could tell that you wanted him just as much as he wanted you.

San cleared his throat before he entered the crowded room, meeting the eyes of his friends. They didn't seem to notice the white smudge on his pants, nor how quiet he was, which he was thankful for. "San, how is Y/N doing? I want to put her back with everyone else as soon as possible."

That made San snap from his thoughts, asking what HongJoong meant. HongJoong looked at San like he had grown a third head, pointing to where all the other hostage's sleeping bags were. "Y/N doesn't get any special treatment. I kept her separate so that everyone would trust us more. Now that they are used to the routine we've created for them, Y/N can go back with everyone." San wasn't fond of the idea of not being able to have some alone time with you, wanting to get to know you more and maybe follow up on what you had done in the room before he left. Call him crazy or a hopeless romantic, but San knew what he wanted.

San knew he couldn't change HongJoong's mind, agreeing to escort you to your work shift and then move your sleeping bag to be with everyone else. He knew that while he may not have the opportunity to have you alone, but he would still be able to see you around. He took every opportunity he could to walk by you or interact with you, which you actually didn't mind.

One night while you were trying to fall asleep after a shift, you were woken up by a tap on your thigh, making you jolt awake. As you quickly sat up, you were met with San smirking at you, placing a finger to his lips as he shushed you. "Come with me, princess." You nodded quietly as he helped you up, leading you back to the office. When you both entered the room, he placed his gun down before he turned to you, admiring how you looked in the moonlight. "I missed you, princess. I never got to apologize for eating your cake."

You sighed as he smiled at you, easing the tension in the room. San had let you see a different side of him; sure when someone crossed him or anyone else, he could get angry, even sometimes as bad as HongJoong. But, he let you see how sweet he was. It made you wonder how someone as sweet as him ended up in such a situation. If you had met him outside of him holding you and your coworkers' hostage, you probably would've dated him; heck, a part of you still wanted to despite the situation.

You couldn't remember what made you grip his face and smash your lips into his; only remembering the sweet taste of cake on his tongue and the way his hands gripped your hips. You moaned into the kiss as he pressed your back against the door forcefully, the kiss turning rough and passionate as his hands roamed your body. He wanted to touch you like this since the moment he saw you, and now that he was, he wasn't going to let this opportunity go.

San began to kiss down your neck, murmuring your name as you gripped his hair. "Calm down, princess. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," he chuckled against your neck as he left a mark before pulling back to press his lips back to yours. He ripped away your top, chuckling darkly as the buttons scattered around the room. You loved the way San was treating you; like he was desperate for you. He wanted you and would do anything to have you. It made you feel dizzy as he tore away your bra, tossing the ripped fabric behind him as his lips wrapped around one of your breasts. He sucked gently as he met your eyes, his skillful tongue playing with it as his free hand played with your other one. At one of your loud moans of his name, San paused before cutting you off with a kiss, shoving his tongue to meet yours to shut you up. "As much as I love the sounds you're making for me, princess, you gotta be quiet. I don't think you want everyone to hear about how the good girl is in the office fucking a criminal."

You squeezed your legs around his body, letting your eyes roll back as he bit your bottom lip. "Such a bad girl, you are. Over here about to ride and cream all over a criminal's cock. Such a whore," he placed you onto the desk as he removed his jumpsuit, leaving him in his tight boxers. You placed your hand on his body, admiring his toned body; his large pecks, his chiseled abs, his strong V-line. It was like a wet dream. San watched as your hand slowly moved down his chest, gripping the top of the bottom half of the jumpsuit. He raised an eyebrow as you got off of the desk, sinking to your knees as you took the pants down with you. Only when you began to kiss around his clothed cock did San run a hand through your hair before tilting your head back. "Open your mouth."

You did as he said, whimpering when San spit down into your mouth. He pushed down his boxers as he tapped his cock against your tongue, mixing your saliva with his cock before pushing into your mouth, pressing the back of your head against the desk as he filled your throat. "Breathe through your nose, baby. Show me what his slutty throat can do." You moaned at his words, the vibrations making San toss his head back as he pulled out, giving you a moment to breathe before he began to fuck your throat. He gripped the side of your mouth as he moved faster, cursing under his breath as he felt himself become close. "Let me cum down that throat, princess. Milk me dry," his thighs began to tense up as he came, tossing his head back as he repeated your name. He took a few moments to gather his breath before looking down at you, breathing heavily as he praised you; "my good girl" ''you did so well for me''

He helped you up, kissing you messily as he moved you against the wall. You hastily removed your skirt and panties, whimpering against his lips to hurry up and fuck you. He gripped your hips as he pressed his chest against yours, his eyes scanning your face. You believed he was looking for any hesitation; to see if you truly wanted him. "Say it, Y/N. Say that you want me."

"I want you so much, San, please." As soon as the words left your lips, San's eyes darkened once more, kissing you roughly as he picked you up. He broke the kiss with a wet pop, placing you onto his shoulders as he pressed your back against the wall. You gripped his arms as you glanced down at the floor, scared of falling down from his shoulders. San looked up at you, kissing your thigh to get your attention. "Keep your eyes on me, baby. Don't look anywhere but at me, I've got you." You nodded as you stared into his eyes, moaning softly when he licked a long stripe up your pussy. You tossed your head back as he began to tongue fuck you, the vibrations from his moans making you moan louder. You didn't care that someone could walk by and hear you, only concerned with the man who had his face in between your legs while you were propped up on his shoulders.

"That's it, Y/N, keep your eyes on me. Look at me while I eat out this beautiful pussy." He hummed against your folds, chuckling as one of your hands moved to press against the ceiling as the other gripped his arm, rolling your hips to meet his tongue. "San, I'm going to cum, fuck," you moaned softly as he sped up, begging for him to not stop.

You choked out his name as you came, San's grip on your thighs becoming tighter to make sure you didn't fall as he licked you through your orgasm. You felt like you were on cloud nine, not fully realizing that San was moving from the wall to the desk, gently moving you from his shoulders to place you on top of it. You laid back against it as San kissed your stomach, rubbing your sides as he waited. When you did come to, you placed your hand into his hair, running your hands through it. He hummed against your chest before looking up at you, sticking his tongue out at you jokingly, making you laugh. He kissed up to your lips, pressing his body against yours as he kissed you gently, cupping your face as he did. "Are you ready for me now, baby?" he hovered over your lips as he met your eyes, his free hand moving to stroke himself a few times. You nodded, letting out a small "please", making San moan. "If you keep talking to me like this I'm gonna cum fast." he pressed another kiss to your lips before pulling back, pressing himself to your entrance.

He wrapped your legs around his waist, pushing into you slowly as you tossed your head back, moaning at the stretch. You brought your head back up as he filled you up, biting your lip as you watched San's reaction; sweat on his forehead, hair sticking to his face, his tongue sticking out as he moaned. San couldn't think straight, wanting nothing more than to fuck you senseless. He licked his lips before he began to move his hips, moaning at the wetness that was now coating his cock and the front of his thighs. "Fuck, Y/N, goddam baby. Such a tight pussy." He hooked his arms under your legs, moving his hips faster as he pounded into you.

"San, oh my god, fuck!" your hands searched around for something to grab onto, choosing to hold onto your breasts, making him moan loudly. "Fuck, you're so hot, Y/N. Such a good girl, letting me pound into this perfect pussy. Sucking me in like your life depends on it, fuck." San felt like he was drunk, not being able to focus on anything else than how you were tightening around him. He moved one hand to play with your clit, moving your other leg to his shoulder so he could move deeper, making you moan even louder. "Fuck, gonna fill you up, Y/N, come on. Cum for me so I can fill up this pussy." You let your eyes roll to the back of your head as you came, your mouth drooling as San filled you up afterward.

You tilted your head to see San, moaning softly as San pressed a kiss to your knee, breathing heavily. "Look how fucking satisfied my baby looks. So hot," he chuckled, placing your leg carefully back down before picking you up, flipping you over so your chest was against the desk, your ass now pressed against his still-hard cock. You whimpered his name as he pushed back into you, his lips moving up your spine as his hand went into your hair, tugging your head back so you could see him in the reflection of the window. San looked so hot to you, making you clench around him before confidently saying "One more time."

San raised an eyebrow as you spoke, leaning forward carefully to press his chest to your back. "Say it again, Y/N." You confidently said it again, your desire for him giving you a boost of confidence. San smirked before kissing your shoulder, pulling out before slamming back into you, setting a rough pace. "So my good girl is out here making demands now, isn't she? Is my good girl going to become a bad girl over my cock?" You nodded as his hips began to meet your ass, his hands both slapping it before he spread your cheeks, watching as his cock continued to disappear and reappear while he fucked you.

You gripped the desk as San fucked you, mumbling things out in a daze as he did. You were drooling onto the desk, begging for more of his cock as he fucked you, which made him groan. "Am I fucking you so good that you've become so cock hungry, baby? Can't even fucking talk straight and drooling onto the desk."

"Yes, you're fucking me so good, I'm fucking coming." You tried to keep your eyes open as he began to snap his hips, slamming into your G-spot as you came. You let out a broken scream of his name, San coming right afterward as he leaned forward to shove his tongue into your mouth, kissing you messily as he breathed heavily. "Fuck, I love you, Y/N goddam," he spat into your mouth, holding your body close as he filled you up. You leaned more into his warmth, closing your eyes as he left wet kisses along your jaw, praising you gently. After a few moments, he pulled out, watching as both of your cum leaked from your pussy, making San moan, forcefully tearing his eyes away so he wouldn't get hard again. He cleaned you up with a napkin before putting back on his jumpsuit, helping you get dressed afterward.

"San, my shirt and bra are ripped. What am I going to wear?" you asked him, showing him the ripped fabrics. San bit his lip before he told you to wait a moment before leaving the room, returning later with a red jumpsuit like the one he was wearing. He helped you into it, smiling softly. "You look good in red, Y/N." You gently shoved his shoulder, making him laugh before he picked back up his gun, tilting his head to the door. When he noticed your hesitation, he asked what was wrong. "Well, what am I going to do when the others ask why I'm wearing this?" San hummed in thought before shrugging, saying "If anyone gives you a hard time about it, tell me." He offered you a smile as he opened the door, leading you back to the others for your work shift.

The others did ask why you were wearing a jumpsuit "those criminals," along with why you weren't with everyone else sleeping. You tried to make up excuses, trying to get through the shift. However, while you were exiting the bathroom, Myung grabbed your arm, tugging you to an empty hallway. "I know you're fucking that pretty boy, Y/N!" You tried to deny it, Myung punching the wall next to your head in response. "I was going to head into the office to try and call for help when I heard you moaning that asshole's name."

You felt a cold wave rush over your body at his words, trying to come up with an excuse to calm him down, not wanting the others to hear. "I can't believe you, Y/N. After knowing me for so long, you reject my advances but you bend over for some dick from a criminal?" You tried to apologize when you paused at his words. He was more upset that you had sex with someone who wasn't him than the fact that you had fucked your kidnappers. You shoved him back, telling him to screw off before you began to make your way back to the others. Before you could turn the corner, Myung roughly grabbed your hair, pulling you back against a wall. He pressed his arm against your throat, screaming at you for disobeying him. You watched as he raised his hand, almost as if he was going to slap you. But, before he could, his hand was grabbed by San, who pulled your boss back roughly, pushing him to the ground. San had an almost dead look on his face, pointing his gun at your boss who was now begging for his life on the floor. "If I ever catch you about to hit her again, I'll kill you on the spot."

San kept his eye on you more closely after that situation. The others began to spread rumors that you were in a relationship with him, which you always denied. However, you found yourself thinking about it at night. Did you want to date San? He treated you well and cared for you. Besides the fact that he was holding everyone hostage, you loved him.

You loved him.

You wanted to go on dates with him, wake up in your bed the next morning with him- you wanted to be with him.

->

When San came to you a week later letting you know that he was going to escape with the others later that night, you felt your heartbreak. You had grown so attached to him, so the idea that he was going to disappear sort of broke your heart. "I enjoyed getting to know you, Y/N. I hope we can meet again, someday," San smiled sadly at you, feeling the same way. He cupped your face, leaning down to place a kiss on your forehead. You gently gripped his wrist, closing your eyes before taking a deep breath, meeting his eyes again. "I want to come with you, San...."

"Y/N...If you do, there is no coming back." San let his thumbs rub your cheeks, scanning your face. While San did want for you to come, he wanted for you to know that if you did, you couldn't come back; you would have to start brand new. However, you didn't care; if you had to move far away, then you would do it. If you had to change your name and go through the 4 years of college again, then you would. And if in the end, you regretted it, then you at least did something you wanted to. "San, I want to come with you. I love you."

San nodded, pressing another kiss to your forehead before sighing. "When the red siren goes off, you have to go to the back, we'll be leaving there." You nodded, going back to the sleeping bag area, laying down but you didn't fall asleep. You were about to change the rest of your life forever.

Around midnight, a red siren went off, waking everyone up. You watched as everyone rushed to the doors as police sirens rang through the place, letting you know that the police were there. You slipped through the crowd before running to the back loading dock, where San and the others were packing up the freshly printed cash you all had been printing for the past few days. When HongJoong saw you, he glanced at San before sighing. "Are you just going to stand there or can you lend a hand?!" You snapped out of your daze before helping them place the bags into the truck. Once all the bags were in the truck, San helped you get inside before closing the door. "You know you're an accomplice now, right Y/N?" you nodded, gently holding San's hand, making him smile.

"But, I get to be with San. So, it's all worth it."

[stiltonbasket]

ALSO, BEFORE I FORGET!

please don't kidnap Bingqiu's daughter. *teary emoji* I want as much as the next person for Shen Yuan and Bingge to have their own kid, but please please please, don't make that kid Bingqiu's kidnapped daughter, they deserve their happiness.

OR, if you are going to kidnap her, let it be temporarly, something like:

Bingge, grabbing Bingqiu daughter with a single hand like she's a hissy cat: Look, Qinglan, we can make a better version of this.

Shen Yuan, about to jump over: PUT HER BACK WHERE SHE CAME FROM, ALSO, YOU'RE CHOCKING HER-

Shen Hengxia (aka Bingqiu baby) could eat Bingge for breakfast, so there's no need to worry about her. If Bingge ever kidnapped her, it would be a "Ransom of Red Chief" type of situation--he'd be paying her dads to take her back by day 2. Not that they would ask for payment, but Hengxia is a little hellion in comparison to Bingge's four relatively well-behaved children. 😂

But more seriously, Bingge would never so much as approach a child born to Bingmei and SY!Shen Qingqiu, much less kidnap one. He saw fatherhood as a means of "surpassing" Bingmei, because he assumed that SVSSS's Luo Binghe lost the chance to be a father when he married Shen Qingqiu. If he ever found out about Hengxia, the mere fact of her existence would break Bingge's heart.

As I mentioned in previous asks, the version of Luo Binghe we see in A Wife by Any Other Name is a) mired in self-hatred due to his role in Qin Wanyue's death and Ning Yingying's postnatal depression, b) incredibly lonely, as he's been distant from most of his wives since Luo Nianzu's birth out of fear of causing another death, and c) under the impression that his own birth and Su Xiyan's death were the results of rape or rape by deception, as he knows nothing about his origins aside from what the Old Palace Master told him.

The Old Palace Master also led him to believe that demon-human pregnancies were inherently deadly for human birthing parents, and that Hua Zhihan (the Little Palace Mistress) was incredibly lucky to survive her pregnancy. By doing so, the OPM hoped to limit the number of children Luo Binghe fathered so that his own grandchild would enjoy greater favor in court, and encourage Luo Binghe to consider having future children with the Little Palace Mistress.

Bingge was suspicious of the Old Palace Master's intentions, since Ning Yingying's doctors had informed him that postpartum depression was fairly common in new mothers and had nothing to do with a child's parentage. As a result, Bingge took a chance and decided to let Qin Wanyue have a child; and as of the beginning of AWBAON, he still holds himself completely responsible for her death, Su Xiyan's death, and Ning Yingying's continued illness.

By this point, Bingge knows a few ways for a couple to have a biological child without either of them having to carry the baby, but he's in no state to consider going down that road with Shen Yuan, or to cope with the fact that Bingmei had a child with his Shen Yuan after marrying him. ;-;

[seasonsofcapri]

New Fic: Tie Me Down, Set Me Free

Title: Tie Me Down, Set Me Free

Ship: Damen/Laurent 

Creator: @kiseopingu | Shigure_Natsu (AO3) 

Rating: Mature

Word count : 14,319 words

Warnings/Tags: Alternate Universe - Historical, Action & Romance, Canon-Typical Violence, Kidnapping, Angst with a Happy Ending, Auguste Lives (Captive Prince), Overprotective Auguste (Captive Prince), POV Alternating

Prompt #: 24: "Basically the Ransom of Red Chief. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ransom_of_Red_Chief for the basic premise) With either child Nicaise or adult Laurent as the kidnapping victim. For Nicaise, it's Laurent who is given the ransom note but is perfectly aware of what a pain in the butt he can be; for Laurent, it would be Auguste , or Aleron or Hennike, who is the king or who is in charge of the family fortune and who knows full well what an ass adult Laurent can be? Could be canon time or another AU. Nikandros and Damen are the kidnappers? (For some perfectly good reason) or maybe not Damen, but Nikandros (or maybe Lazar? Maybe Kastor?), then maybe Damen is a lawman who is trying to convince Laurent to pay the ransom--or that the kidnap victim somehow snags into the story and causes in a lot of trouble Either way, Damen and Laurent end up together."

Summary: "When Damen gets hired by his family's sworn rival to help track the man's younger brother, he doesn't expect the road to lead him to familiar places, and familiar faces. As for Laurent, his path to freedom is clear. It's only a matter of creating an opportunity to reach it.

As past and present slowly merge, both Damen and Laurent are forced to contend with their truths, whether they want to or not."

Read it here on Ao3!

Don’t forget to kudos and comment to show our wonderful creators your love!

[saintmeghanmarkle]

The Ransom of Red Chief by u/jahazafat

The Ransom of Red Chief Harry has nothing to worry about with security. Anyone who got a hold of him would certainly send him packing as quickly as possible to be rid of his constant crying and complaining. The only media interest these days are pictures his wife arranges and pays tabloids to provide. It's quite obvious the drama concerning Archie's skin color was wither it would turn out as green as Meghan's. Nothing to do with race, it was more personal than that. Just as with David and Margaret the big wigs at the palace knew this girl was unfit. Royality is a behavior that comes from within. Meghan simply doesn't have it. And let's pay homage Oprah's culpability in the shenanigans. Her nomination for best supporting actress in The Color Purple doesn't hold a candle to her performance when interviewing Meghan. She will forever be remembered for that. The look of astonishment and hands up in the air was well rehearsed and edited. She's a worldly educated woman and knows where babies come from. She knows why Meghan's skin is lighter than her own. She knows why Harry has red hair and she doesn't. She's so full of herself she didn't even question why she was invited to a Royal Wedding where the only family and or friend of the bride was her mother. Even she was Markled. post link: https://ift.tt/yAXZTtI author: jahazafat submitted: December 06, 2023 at 06:31AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[megamindsupremacy]

Avatar: The Last Airbender Fic Recs (Part 1)

Where the stars do not take sides by witchofendor

When Azula is nine, she becomes an only child. She hears the Fire Lord call for Zuko's life, and in the morning, her mother and brother are gone. Azula may be young, but she isn't naive. She knows what happened to them.

Which makes it all the more surprising when Azula tracks the Avatar down and fights his group of peasant friends, only to find herself staring into an eerily familiar face.

-

The sundered sea by aloneintherain

It was a sight Hakoda never thought he would see: a firebender dressed willingly in fur, cradling an Earth Kingdom girl, the both of them laughing with an Air Nomad.

Their thoughtless joy. The easy way they touched each other. Three different benders, laughing in the Southern Water Tribe, as if they belonged there. How could any of it be real?

Or: several months after Kya’s death, Hakoda gets a glimpse of the future.

-

Do you hear the people sing? by generic_username

The Fire Nation has only rebelled once in its long history. They are a proud people, and a loyal one. They do not turn against their own for no reason. They protect their own.

Especially their Prince.

~~~ Basically this was a What if the Fire Nation said Fuck Ozai and rebelled AU. along with a sprinkling of world building built in. Enjoy!

-

Half in the shadows, half burned in flames by r_astra

“They say you tried to kill the Firelord,” Hakoda says. "Why?"

Zuko doesn’t know how to answer. Because I hate him. Because I love him. Because he wants to see the world burn. Because he knotted one hand in my hair and cupped flames against my face with the other.

Because my mother is dead.

Because my uncle is dead.

Instead, he shrugs tiredly and says: “Someone has to.” -

This is a gift (it comes with a price) by witchofendor

They had spent hours and hours drilling and preparing the servers upon the importance of everything being perfect for the new fire lord. This was fine. Jin was good at her job. She could handle one fire lord. Expect that wasn't the fire lord. That was FUCKING LEE!

-

Salvage by muffinlance

Mid-Season-One Zuko is held ransom by Chief Hakoda. Ozai's replies to the Water Tribe's demands are A+ Parenting. Hakoda is… deeply concerned, for this son that isn't his, and who might be safer among enemies than with his own father.

-

absence of heat, excess of destiny by they callmesuperboy

Sokka is born in the dead of winter with a red dragon curling down the left side of his back.

Zuko is born in the sweltering heat of summer with a sword down his spine.

—

He doesn’t want to talk about it when their gazes turn on him. They make assumptions— is it someone he left behind in the Fire Nation? He looks away when he agrees with them.

Toph brushes past him when they all part ways. She says, “I know you’re lying.

-

For hearth and home by haircrescendo

[There’s a child underneath Fire Lord Zuko’s desk.

He doesn’t realize this until he sits down and tiny hands wrap themselves around his ankles, and Fire Lord Zuko definitely does not shriek and backpedal away at the unexpected touch.

He definitely does do that but Gou, the single guard he’s agreed to let shadow him, is kind enough not to mention it.]

Or,

In which Fire Lord Zuko is a total mess and somehow people manage to love him for it anyway.

-

Burn cream for cats by bladehuntress

Spirit goes quiet, and people don't worry, but they should. Then Spirit stops being quiet, and that's when people start worrying, even though they don't need to anymore.

-

equivalent exchange by haircrescendo

[“Are you dead?” Are the first words that come out of Zuko’s mouth.

Lu Ten winces. He’s barely adjusted to the idea himself, but he still wasn’t expecting Zuko to reach that conclusion so fast. He can’t lie to him.

He nods.

“I am.”

“But you’re real.”

“Yeah. Real dead.”

He tries for a joke but Zuko bursts into tears instead.]

Or, Lu Ten makes a promise, Lu Ten dies. Lu Ten comes back

[talktomeinclexa]

The Royal Guard

By: TalktomeinClexa

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Gun violence, Blood and Injury

Status: WIP

Summary: Princess Clarke of Arkadia is kidnapped by mercenaries while on a visit to one of the kingdom's cities. Her abductors treat her well enough, but everything becomes more complicated when their client orders them to execute her. Lexa thought this was just another job. High risk, high pay. But when push comes to shove, will she betray her orders or her heart?

***

Chapter 3: Complications

The servants stepped aside as King Jake strode down the corridors on autopilot, an ashen look on his face. A valet, too focused on moving a precious vase so it stood exactly in the middle of an 18th-century marble dresser, almost bumped into him before jumping as if he had been burned.

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” he stuttered, his tomato-red face angled toward his feet.

But the king’s mind reeled with the news whispered in his ear by one of his advisers a few minutes before. Already ten steps away, he waved dismissively without turning back to acknowledge the apology. Or his fault in the matter.

He stormed inside a well-guarded room on the second floor of the Palace, where part of his Council had assembled.

“What do we know?” he asked, the door still ajar behind him.

If he had had any hope the whole situation was but a mere sick joke, it died at the sight of the faces looking back at him, suffused with gravity.

“My men are going through the scene as we speak,” Charles Pike said. Once the king had taken his place at the head of the table, the Chief of Intelligence continued. “We know Her Royal Highness Princess Clarke was kidnapped half an hour ago while she was leaving Reim’s Art Museum. At least five masked individuals entered the museum, subdued the guards, and opened fire. Two of the princess’s bodyguards were critically injured. Major Byrne also is in surgery, although her wounds are not life-threatening. She reported that the Princess wasn’t hurt during the attack and bravely surrendered so their lives would be spared. The curator, Mr. Wallace, is still in shock but suffered no harm.”

King Jake nodded at the unimpassioned report, his jaw clenching when Pike mentioned his daughter surrendering. Regardless of what the Geneva Convention said, if he caught the people who had dared to go after her, there would be hell to pay.

“Have the kidnappers contacted us? Asked for a ransom of any sort?”

Pike shook his head, his brows furrowed. “Not yet, Your Majesty. We are monitoring all channels for contact, either with us or between them and possible accomplices.”

Nature had blessed the Arkadian monarch. Tall, intelligent, with deep blue eyes, flaxen hair, and a strong jaw worthy of a Hollywood actor, King Jake had spent years in the Army before ascending to the throne. Even at 50 years old, he remained fit and handsome, but the news hit him hard, making him suddenly look every bit his age.

Everyone knew the king and queen adored their daughters. Few royal families were as united and warm, in public and in private. If anything were to happen to Princess Clarke, her parents and younger sister would never be the same again.

Keep reading

[andydrysdalerogers]

Following Team Orders ~ A Steve Rogers -Formula One AU

Pairings: Steve Rogers x OFC Olivia Williams

Formula One

It's the top of the top, best of the best, most intense racing in the world.  There are only 20 drivers at a time that can race. 10 teams that get sponsored. Twenty-three tracks around the world to test the skills of these drivers and crown one champion.

No woman has ever won a race.

And Liv is given a chance to prove them wrong.

After Bucky Barnes, a driver for Red Bull, is injured at Bahrain, Olivia Williams has the chance of a lifetime: be one of six female Formula One drivers in the history of the sport.  Liv has been racing since she was 5 and she takes the opportunity to become one of the elite 20 drivers in the world.  Bucky sees her potential.  His racing partner does not.

Steve Rogers is the number 2 driver in the world behind his chief rival, Ransom Drysdale. He thought this would be his year, racing with his best friend Bucky and taking on rival Mercedes. Until Bucky is hurt during the first race of the year.  They are bringing in a rookie to complete the team.  And Steve is not happy.  Because a woman has never succeeded in this sport, and he sure isn't going to let the beautiful and tenacious Olivia bring his year down.

Now, he has one year, 23 races, two rivals and one attraction that could make or break his chances at the championship.  They just need to follow team orders.  But will they be able to when they take a chance at following their own hearts?

Warnings: A-N-G-S-T!!! Smut (eventually), car crashes, death, degrading speeches, a mean Steve Rogers, an even meaner Ransom Drysdale, fluff

Chapters:

Bahrain

Saudia Arabia

Australia

Emilia Romagna

Miami

Monaco

Montreal

Silverstone

Austria

France

Series Break

Spa-Francorchamps

Netherlands

Monza

Sochi

Singapore

Austin

Mexico City

Las Vegas

Sao Paolo

Sao Paolo - Part 2

Abu Dhabi

Epilogue

One Shot: He's a Yankee Doodle Sweetheart; but She's his Yankee Doddle Girl

Cast

Olivia Williams (Gal Gadot) – rookie driver for Red Bull, youngest daughter of racing legend David Williams

Steve Rogers - veteran driver for Red Bull

James "Bucky" Barnes – veteran driver for Red Bull, injured in first race and becomes Olivia's crew chief

Andy Barber – team principal Red Bull

Ransom Drysdale – principal driver, Mercedes, Olivia's former boyfriend

Lance Tucker – second driver, Mercedes

Lloyd Hansen – owner, Mercedes

Sam Wilson – Steve's crew chief and other best friend

Frank Adler – Olivia's best friend and mechanic- team Red Bull

Johnny Storm – shameless flirt – driver – team Ferrari

I will start posting this one once a week on Wednesdays! I'm adding in my normal tag list but please let me know if you want to be added or removed

Taglist:

@patzammit @slutforchrisjamalevans @texmexdarling @jennmurawski13-writes @firephotogrl74

[fearsmagazine]

ABIGAIL - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures

SYNOPSIS: A group of low-level criminals are brought together to pull off a caper - kidnap and babysit overnight the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, the pay-off is a $50 million ransom. The hideout is an old isolated mansion. They try to settle in for the night but the rules go by the wayside as, one by one, the gangsters grisly and mysteriously meet their demise. The gloves come off and when they confront their prisoner, to their mounting horror, they discover that they’re the prisoners and are locked inside the mansion with no normal little girl.

REVIEW: Occasionally, screenwriters attempt to breathe new life into the vampire mythos by blending genres into their screenplays. While many of these scripts start off with a great promise, the final product often falls short of expectations. However, there are a few notable exceptions that have managed to capture the essence of the vampire genre. Examples include "The Lost Boys," "Innocent Blood," "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," and "Vampires," the last two based on novels.

In Stephen Shields and Guy Busick's screenplay for ABIGAIL, elements of O. Henry's classic short story "The Ransom of Red Chief" and the 1990's film "Home Alone" converge, driven by the urban legend of Abigail's gangster father and tales inclusion of vampire mythology. The screenwriters incorporate subtle nods to Agatha Christie, creating humorous moments in the film. They skillfully weave in references to numerous films and TV shows, including "Reservoir Dogs," "Innocent Blood," and Kevin Durand's involvement in the vampire series "The Strain." The narrative is multi-layered, as the writers creatively rework the vampire myth to suit their story. What truly captivates the audience is Abigail's character arc and the motivations behind her actions. At its core, the story delves into a child's yearning for parental attention or the lack thereof, intertwined with the guilt experienced by parents. This complex exploration of parenting, children, and vampires sets ABIGAIL apart as a refreshing take on these themes since "The Lost Boys."

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett masterfully orchestrate a symphony of tension, action, and shocks that ebbs and flows like an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride. Their ability to consistently surprise and engage the viewer stems from their skillful framing and editing of sequences, coupled with the captivating performance of actress Alisha Weir, who portrayed Matilda in the 2022 adaptation of the musical. Her portrayal is simply outstanding here.

The mansion in which the characters are hiding serves as an integral character in the film. The production design is remarkable, creating a subtle yet tangible atmosphere. While there were a few scenes in the third act that raised questions about potential escape routes, my engrossment in the film at that point prevented me from giving them much thought.

The combination of practical and digital effects in the movie created some truly impressive "wow" moments, especially in the fight sequences. The dental design and contact lenses used for the vampire look were particularly well done. My favorite scenes were the visual sequences showing the destruction of the vampires—a real treat for die-hard horror fans.

The film's musical foundation is a harmonious blend of classical melodies and a gripping score composed by Brian Tyler. Tyler, a renowned composer with a rich portfolio of screen and television scores, has masterfully created musical movements that seamlessly intertwine with the classical selections, escalating the film's action and horror. In other moments, his score complements the actors' performances and heightens the suspense and tension of the scenes, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

The film features a talented cast with extensive horror experience. Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kevin Durand, Kathryn Newton, and William Catlett have each starred in multiple horror films, bringing their expertise to the project. The cast also includes Matthew Goode and Giancarlo Esposito, who add their unique talents to their characters, enhancing the film's energy. This exceptional ensemble cast delivers a thrilling viewing experience, creating captivating characters that engage and entertain the audience.

ABIGAIL offers a "fangtastic" combination of a caper story and a vampire tale. It's one of the best horror-thrill rides I've experienced in theaters this year. In fact, I haven't had this much fun with a horror movie since "The Lost Boys" or "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn." Not since Macaulay Culkin faced off against bumbling heist men has a kid's involvement in an action film been so entertaining. Yes, it's a bloody film, but families with tweens should venture to their local cinema for a killer good time.

CAST: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito. CREW: Directors - Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett; Screenplay - Stephen Shields & Guy Busick; Producers - William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, James Vanderbilt, Tripp Vinson, and Chad Villella; Cinematographer - Aaron Morton; Score - Brian Tyler; Editor - Michael P. Shawver; Production Designer - Susie Cullen; Costume Designer - Gwen Jeffares Hourie; Prosthetics Designer - Matthew Smith; Dental Prosthetics - Dominic Mombrun; Visual Effects Supervisor - Andre Bustanoby; Visual Effects Companies - NEXODUS, Crafty Apes, & DNEG. OFFICIAL: www.abigailmovie.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/AbigailMovie/ TWITTER (X): www.twitter.com/UniversalHorror TRAILER: https://youtu.be/cOHf2qUZYBs?si=Kd0YefSxfpfRGpHd RELEASE DATE: In theaters April 19th, 2024

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[guenole-rainbird]

O. Henry Reading list

I've read 100 Hundred O. Henry stories over the past week. The aim was to get a good understanding of the themes and tropes present in his writing and also to find stories to adapt beyond the most popular ones (And also to show-off with a pretty number).

Reading list (In order of reading):

20 Years

Hearts & Minds

The Cops & the Anthem

The Ransom of the Red Chief

The Caliph, Cupid & the clock

Mammon & the Archer

A retrieved Reformation

The furnished Room

The Count & the Wedding Guest

Hearts & Crosses

The Romance of a Busy Broker

American Stories

A municipality Report

A Man About Town

A Cosmopolite in a Cafe

The Last Leaf

A Service of Love

Tobin's Palm

Springtime a la Cart

By Courier

The Coming Out of Maggie

The Cactus

Girl

One Dollar's Worth

Witches Loaves

Between Rounds

The Skylight Room

An Adjustment of Nature

Memoirs of a Yellow Dog

The Love Philtre

The Green Door

From the Cabby's Seat

An Unfinished Story

Sisters of the Golden Circle

Lost on a Dress Parade

The Brief Debut of Tildy

The Poet & the Peasant

Babes in the Jungle

A Ramble in Aphasia

Proof of the Pudding

Conscience in Art

Transcient in Arcadia

The Robe of Peace

The Duel

Innocents of Broadway

The Princess & the Puma

The Badge of the Policeman O'Roon

The Girl & the Graft

Psyche & the Psyscraper

A lickpenny Lover

The Third Ingredient

The Purple Dress

The Roads We Take

Make the World Kin

Brick Dust Row

A Strange Story

The Trimmed Lamp

A Call Loan

The Pendulum

Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen

The Guilty Party

The Detective Detector

A Little Talk About Mobs

Suite Home & their Romance

A Sacrifice Hit

A Newspaper Story

Two Recalls

Tommy's Burglar

An Odd Character

A Houston Romance

The Legend of San Jacinto

The Pink Flask

A New Microbe

Whiskey did it

Nothing New Under the Sun

The Barber Talks

Did you See the Circus

A Story for Men

How he got in the Swin

When the Train Comes in

The Girl & the Habbit

What You Want

While the Auto Waits

The Prisoner of Zambla

The Clairon Call

Aristocracy vs. Hash

Lord Oakhurst's Curse

The Rathskeller & the Rose

The Marry Month of May

The Social Triangle

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Duplicity of Hargraves

According to their lights

Fickle Fortune: How Gladys Hustled

The Voice of the City

Newspaper Poets

The Snow

How Willie Saved Father

In Mezzotint

The Mirage on the Frio

[maryversusthemovies]

The Spandex King of L.A. is delighted when his wife is kidnapped by two bumbling criminals, less so when he's blackmailed by two even more incompent criminals. It's "The Ransom of Red Chief" in high 1980s Memphis-Milano decor.

Starring Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, Anita Morris, and Bill Pullman. Directed by Jim Abrams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. Written by Dale Launer.

Episode 120 - Ruthless People

https://sites.libsyn.com/398906/episode-120-ruthless-people

[sophieswundergarten]

I have been wondering about Auguste (the highly suspicious and creepy little boy from S2), and I really feel like there are only two options

1. He is Just Like That. All of the time. He was serene and weird before Curtain got to him, and spent his time wandering around Northern Italy just lying to people and generally creeping them out because he was bored. This is why no one is looking for him; his parents are glad that at least he isn't convincing the neighbors he's a ghost and they need to make sacrifices to him. Again. His family probably assumes it's a ransom of red chief situation not knowing that by some stroke of luck Auguste and Curtain are getting on incredibly well. They keep waiting for him to get sent back, but every day that he isn't is another day they don't have to keep him from talking the local kids into starting a another cult.

2. He is the most insane little terror when he isn't Happy. He has zero attention span and no volume control and is probably up a tree the moment you take your eyes off him. Either his parents were trying to get him to watch some tv so he'd siT STILL FOR FIVE SECONDS and that's how Curtain got him or his family as a whole decided to visit the compound and Curtain was like "There's no way that I'm about to let that kid go make a mess of my beautifully arranged gardens, so might as well keep the whole family" But after he dealt with them he realized the kid was gone again. He's chasing the alpacas. He's in someone's cabin. He's on the roof. It takes Jackson and Jillson five hours to hunt him down. And then Curtain just keeps him around as a reminder that if he can make that kid Happy, he can definitely take over the world.

Or maybe he just keeps snapping himself out of the Happiness because he's a little spaz and it requires constant maintenance to keep him calm

[thebreakfastgenie]

Mash really should have done a Ransom of Red Chief episode where Frank Burns gets captured and he’s so annoying the North Koreans beg them to take him back. I think it should be in season 4 or 5 because it should really be Colonel Potter. Call it like The Ransom of Red, White, and Blue or something.

[the-delta-42]

Upper Decks

Upper Decks

Beckett Mariner glared down at the screen of the padd on her desk, 25 years after meeting Tendi aboard the USS Cerritos, she had risen through the ranks, whether she had wanted to or not, and was given the command of the USS Shran, a light escort that was based upon the Magee Class. They were scheduled to meet the USS Cerritos above Galorn III, namely, to pick up the Shran’s Chief Engineer and Chief Medical Officer.

Beckett had not spoken to her mother, the Captain of the Cerritos, in twenty years, after she forced Beckett to transfer after she caught her with Commander Ransom. She shouldn’t dwell on the past, not when the Federation was at War with the Klingons. J’mpok withdrew the Empire from the Khitomer Accords because the Federation refused to fight the Undine with them.

Beckett was broken from her musings when the ship shook, jumping to her feet, she exited her ready room.

“Report.” Barked Mariner, her eyes going to her first officer.

“Four Klingon raiders just dropped out of warp, Captain.” Said Commander Pera, a Vulcan female.

“Just four?” Asked Mariner, before she turned and faced the view screen, “What are they planning?”

“Sir, the first Bird-of-Prey is coming about.” Said the Helmsman.

“Raise shields, red alert.” Said Mariner, sitting in the captain’s chair, “Full power to phasers and arm torpedoes.”

“Phasers locked and torpedoes armed, Captain.” Said the Tactical Officer.

“Fire.” Said Mariner, frowning as the raider exploded.

The other three raiders didn’t turn around, or even acknowledge the loss of one of their number.

“Well, that’s not suspicious at all.” Said Mariner, getting to her feet, “Track their trajectory.”

“They appear to be heading P’Jem, Captain.” Said the Helmsman, “Should I lay in a pursuit course?”

Mariner was silent, before looking at her first officer.

“A Vulcan Ambassador is going to P’Jem, isn’t he?” Asked Mariner, making Pera frown.

“Ambassador Sokkath is going to P’Jem,” Responded Pera, “But he did not give a reason why.”

“He was collected by a Starfleet Vessel, correct?” Questioned Mariner, folding her arms.

“Yes, Captain,” Said Pera, “The USS Dragon.”

“Well, the Dragon’s crew have faced enemies of the Federation lately,” Said Mariner, sitting down in her chair, “I’m sure they’ll be able to deal with a few raiders. Stand down Red Alert. Resume course to the Cerritos.”

“Aye, Captain.” Said the Helmsman, “Course laid in, we are ready to go to warp.”

Mariner hummed, before saying, “Engage at warp 3.”

Beckett leaned back in her chair, the Shran wasn’t her first Command, and she’d be damned if it would be her last.

UP

Captain Freeman stood on the bridge of the USS Cerritos, awaiting the USS Shran’s arrival.

“You’d think her fifth Command would mean she’d turn up on time.” Muttered Lieutenant Commander Boimler, as he glared at his console.

“I’m sure Captain Mariner,” Said Freeman, making Boimler scowl, “has a good reason for being late.”

“Captain, the USS Shran has just dropped out of warp,” Said the Operations Officer, “They’re hailing us.”

“On screen.” Said Freeman, before the image of the Shran’s bridge was shown to everyone.

“Sorry, I’m late.” Said Mariner, her tone showing she was in a bad mood, “We’ve been encountering several Klingon Raiding Parties on our way here.”

“Raiding Parties?” Asked Freeman, frowning, “This deep in Federation space?”

Mariner sighed, “We’ve already dealt with as many as we could, and we’ve forwarded the message to ESD. They’re sending other ships to deal with them.”

“So, you’ve been giving the Shran a test run.” Said Freeman, folding her arms.

Mariner nodded, before looking Freeman in the eye, “As much as this conversation is enjoyable, I need my CMO and Chief Engineer, the sooner, the better.”

Freeman nodded, “Lieutenant Commander Tendi and Commander Rutherford are already in the shuttle bay. We’ll clear them for departure.”

Mariner nodded, before jerking her head at her Security Chief, who ended the transmission.

“Well,” Said Billups, leaning forwards, “She’s certainly changed.”

“She lost her previous command last month,” Said Freeman, turning to face her crew, “She’d been on the front lines for the past, what? Five years?”

“Well,” Said Boimler, looking upwards, “it’s 2409 now and the war with the Klingons started in 2405, so yeah, almost five years.”

“The Bakersfield was lost during an Undine attack a few months before the war,” Recounted Freeman, “then she Captained the Gallant, which was lost at the start of the war with the Klingons, then there was the Irwin was decommissioned after Klingons gutted the inside of it, the USS Destiny was destroyed at the Battle of Pahvo two years ago. Now, She’s had been given command of the USS Shran.”

“Didn’t she lose her first Officer in that battle?” Asked T’Ana, when the Operation Console pinged.

“Rutherford and Tendi are on the Shran, Captain.” Said the Operation Officer, before doing a double take, “Ma’am, Seven Klingon Battlecruisers are decloaking.”

“Shields up, Red Alert.” Ordered Freeman, unknowingly being copied by Mariner, as the Shran fell into position with the Cerritos.

“Arm Quantum Torpedo bays, power phasers.” Said Mariner, scowling, “Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!”

The Klingon’s fired at the two Starfleet vessels, hitting the Cerritos before she could raise her shields fully.

“Captain, we have a hull breach on deck five.” Said Boimler, as the ship shook.

“We’ve taken heavy damage to our port nacelle.” Said the Operation’s Officer, before her console overloaded and sent her flying, her neck breaking as soon as she hit the wall.

“We’ve lost power to weapons, Captain.” Said the Security Officer, as Billups transferred Operations to a backup console.

“Our shields are buckling.” Said Billups, as the ship shook again.

On the Shran, Mariner was commanding her crew to take the offensive, having the ship weave around and in between the Klingon ships, making them unwittingly fire on each other.

“Increase power to weapons,” Said Beckett, as the Shran dodged a torpedo, “Let’s make them forget about the Cerritos.”

“The Cerritos has sent out a distress signal, Captain,” Said Pera, looking down at her display, “They can’t go to warp.”

“They’re a sitting target.” Growled Mariner, before getting to her feet, “Helm, get us between the Klingons and the Cerritos.”

“Aye, Captain.” Said the helmsman, as the Shran rocked under another torpedo.

“Hull breaches on decks three through six.” Reported Billups, while Boimler held onto his console as the ship shook.

“The entire Engineering deck has just depressurised.” Said Billups, shock colouring his words, “They-they’re gone.”

There was a second’s silence, before Boimler’s console pinged at him.

“Captain, there are five more warp signatures inbound,” Reported Boimler, tapping his display, “It’s Starfleet.”

“Captain,” Said Mariner’s Operations Officer, “Star ships Challenger, Kirk, Rideout, Terev and Texas have all dropped out of Warp.”

“Give them a brief,” Ordered Mariner, turning in her chair, “keep it short, keep it clear.”

“Aye, Captain.” The Lieutenant responded.

“The Klingons are breaking off.” Said Boimler, as the last of the Birds-of-Prey went to Warp.

“Good,” Said Freeman, getting to her feet, “I want a full damage and casualty report.”

Boimler nodded, as the Captain left the bridge.

“Captain, the Challenger is hailing us.” Said the Operations Officer, looking at Mariner.

“On screen.” Said Mariner, placing her hands behind her back.

“This is starting to become a habit, Captain.” Said La Forge, leaning back in his chair, “I thought we’d all put saving your ass behind us.”

Mariner laughed, “To be honest, I was more concerned about the Cerritos.”

“From what my engineer tells me,” Said La Forge, “The damage is mainly superficial, although, she may not want to go to warp any time soon.”

Mariner frowned, before Pera leaned over, “Captain, Commander Rutherford has completed his analysis of the Cerritos: if they attempt to go to warp before repairs are complete, the warp core will detonate.”

“Which is the last thing we need.” Said Mariner, before looking at La Forge, “Captain, my chief just completed his report.”

“If the Cerritos goes to warp, she’ll explode.” Said La Forge, grimly, “I’m already having an engineering team head over, your presence is needed elsewhere.”

Mariner nodded, before looking at the helmsman, “Set a course for the Zibal System, Warp 5.”

“Aye, Captain.” Said the Helmsman, before the Shran jumped to warp.

“Commander, you have the Conn.” Said Beckett, heading for her ready room.

“Yes, Captain.” Said Pera, taking the Captain’s chair.

Beckett dumped herself in her desk chair, letting out a low groan. The computer beeped, alerting her of a new message. Beckett smirked, weakly, before straightening up.

“Captain Ramsey,” Purred Beckett, rest her chin on her fist, “to what, do I owe the pleasure?”

“Sarah’s gotten into a fight.” Said Amina, making Beckett’s face fall, “Again.”

“What kicked it off this time?” Asked Beckett, leaning back in her chair.

“I don’t know,” Said Amina, running her hand over her face and pinching the bridge of her nose, “she won’t tell me anything, except that she was provoked.”

“Well,” Said Beckett, leaning forwards, “I’ll be home soon, hopefully I’ll manage to drag something out.”

Amina smiled and leaned towards the camera, “I hear you’re going to the Zibal system.”

“A couple raiding parties have been spotted there.” Said Beckett, resting her chin on her fist again, “Should be a slap and dash operation.”

“Here’s hoping.” Said Amina, before she looked away from the computer, “Sarah, how long have you been standing there?”

Beckett saw a 15-year-old girl walk into view, Sarah sported a black eye and a cut lip.

“Sarah,” Said Beckett, her tone flat, “What happened?”

Sarah shrugged, resolutely looking at the ground. Beckett sighed through her nose, “We’ll be having this conversation when I get back, young lady.”

Beckett said her goodbyes and hung up, before she looked at the pile of PADDs on her desk. The door chimed, making her look up.

“Enter.” Said Beckett, looking over the PADDs.

“Department evaluations, Captain.” Said Lt. Cmdr. DeSoto, carefully placing the PADD on Mariner’s desk.

“Thank you, Commander.” Said Beckett, silently dismissing him.

DeSoto remained in front of Mariner’s desk, looking at her expectantly, making Mariner sigh again.

“What is it, Commander?” Asked Beckett, leaning back in her chair.

“Some members of the crew have been… ‘discussing’ about the nature of Lieutenant Commander Tendi’s assignment here, especially considering her background…” DeSoto trailed off, as Backett got to her feet.

“Sixteen years ago, I was impaled with a poisonous stalagmite on an away mission, Tendi is the reason I’m still here today,” Said Beckett, looking out a window, “She’s also been exiled from her home because she’s sided with the Federation and not the Klingon Empire.”

DeSoto was looking at his feet.

“Dismissed.” Said Beckett, running a hand down her face.

DeSoto quietly left her ready room, as Beckett groaned.

UD

Rutherford fiddled with his implants, his bionic eye flickering over the warp core, vaguely aware of someone approaching him from behind.

“Commander.” Said Captain Mariner, getting a smile from Rutherford.

“Captain.” Retorted Rutherford, turning to face her, “It’s been a while.”

“Yeah,” Confirmed Mariner, folding her arms, “it’s like the Argentina or Puerto Rico all over again.”

“Nah, things aren’t going to be that bad again.” Said Rutherford, wincing slightly when Beckett brought up the incidents during the Dominion War.

Beckett looked at the warp core, “Tendi settling in, okay?”

“You could ask her yourself.” Was Rutherford’s response.

“She’s locked herself in sick bay, saying something about familiarising herself with the crew’s medical records.” Said Mariner, watching the gasses in the warp core swirl.

“I’ve just finished.” Said Tendi, making both Mariner and Rutherford jump.

“We seriously need to put a fucking bell on you.” Gasped Mariner, her hand on her chest.

“Tried that, Rutherford got in trouble for bringing the bedroom into work.” Said Tendi, as Rutherford went red.

“Aw, Sammy’s grown up.” Teased Mariner, smirking at Rutherford.

UD

Commander Boimler looked down his nose at the Ensign in front of him. She reminded him of Beckett in far too many ways.

She was acting all high and mighty and seriously needed to be knocked down a peg. Boimler looked at the PADD, “Ensign, you disobeyed standard protocols during an away mission.”

“Only because you decided completely ignore their constant pleas for help.” Retorted the Ensign, folding her arms.

“Ensign Ramsey, I am not the one under investigation,” Snapped Boimler, glaring at her, “you deliberately disobeyed orders, you deliberately gave the natives unnecessary equipment, and you got an Officer wounded because of it.”

“You received a minor scrape to your knee.” Said the Ensign, making Boimler go red.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your time in the brig.” Snarled Boimler, prompting two security officers to grabbed Ensign Ramsey’s arms and all but dragged her out of the room.

Boimler glared around his office, it was Ransom’s, before the former First Officer had been killed in a fight with the Klingons. Boimler understood that Ransom had been placed on probation because command found out that he and Mariner were having a sexual relationship, which prompted Mariner’s transfer to the Bakersfield. Boimler had heard how Mariner has risen through the ranks on the Bakersfield, eventually becoming the captain of the ship, before it was lost during an Undine attack, then she Captained the Gallant, which was lost at the start of the war with the Klingons, then there was the Irwin, decommissioned after Klingons gutted the inside of it, then the Destiny came into the picture, destroyed at the Battle of Pahvo, when the Klingons tried to take the system two years ago. Now, Mariner had been given command of the USS Shran, an experimental escort that could change the tide of the war.

Boimler thought that Mariner was too reckless to be placed in command of such a powerful ship, however his concerns had been ignored. Tendi and Rutherford had requested transfers to the Shran, leaving Boimler alone on the Cerritos. It didn’t help that Boimler was only the acting first officer, until Starfleet supplied another one.

Boimler wanted to see his friends again and to meet the woman who’d all but replaced Beckett.

UP

The Shran rocked as a torpedo struck the hull of the saucer.

“Minor hull damage Captain,” Reported Pera, looking at the screen, “The Encarta has lost their port nacelle and the Tripoli is losing anti-matter containment.”

Beckett gripped the arms of the Captain’s chair, before scowling and standing up, “Ready the graviton displacer.”

The bridge crew stiffened as Mariner said that.

“But, Captain,” Said Pera, looking up at Mariner, “It’s untested and potentially dangerous.”

“Commander,” Began Mariner, “I think this situation, where our intel was horribly wrong and the Klingons are cutting through us like a knife through warm butter, justifies it’s use.”

Pera frowned, but nodded, “Aye, Captain.”

Beckett turned back to the view screen, just in time to see the Oakland explode. Beckett swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, “Fire.”

All the Klingon ships suddenly all congregated in a small area, allowing Starfleet to all focus on that little area and watch as one ship severely damaged another. It lasted the length of a minute, before all Klingon ships had been destroyed.

“Set course for Earth, Maximum Warp,” Said Mariner, before heading to her ready room, “Commander you have the Conn.”

“Aye, Captain.” Said Pera, as Beckett left the bridge.

Beckett dropped herself into her desk chair and buried her face in her hands. Amina had been on the Oakland, after Beckett sent a request to Starfleet command. Sarah was back on Earth Space Dock, waiting for both her mothers to come home, as far as Beckett knew, Claire was still at her post on the Cerritos. Beckett sighed and let the tears fall.

UP

Sarah’s leg bounced as she watched the Cerritos and the remains of Battle group Epsilon enter Earth Space Dock. She noticed that the Oakland wasn’t with the fleet, she watched the bulkheads that led to open space, waiting for the other California-Class star ship to appear. The bulkheads closed, leaving Sarah to stare at the remaining ships. The Shran looked as if it’d been dragged through a supernova. The Cerritos had lost power to her nacelles, although that could be because they had cut power to the engines.

“USS Shran now docking at air lock six.” Came the automated voice over the intercom of ESD. Sarah got up and started walking to the airlock to greet her mother, “USS Cerritos now docking at airlock twelve.”

Sarah stood in front of the airlock door, waiting for it to slide open.

Beckett watched her crew disembark the Shran, opting to help Security with removing the dead from the ship. They’d lost seventeen crew members during the battle with the Klingons, seventeen people who wouldn’t be going home to their families.

“The last of them have been bagged up.” Said Tendi, making Beckett look at her.

“I couldn’t name them.” Said Beckett, returning to watch the rest of the drew, “I can’t name anyone on this ship beyond my senior staff.”

“It’s not your job to know everyone who dies, Beckett.” Consoled Tendi, standing next to her captain.

“No, but it makes me feel a little better.” Retorted Beckett, before running her hands down her face, “God, where have the years gone? I could’ve sworn it was just yesterday you’d first stepped onto the Cerritos.”

“I wish.” Smirked Tendi, as Beckett spotted Pera. Her first officer was smirking at something. Beckett frowned, Pera was a Vulcan and she’d never known her to disregard what she’d learnt before Starfleet.

“Mariner to Earth Space Dock.” Said Beckett, tapping her commbadge, “I’m going to need all members of my crew to be screened for Undine DNA, ASAP.”

“Beckett?” Asked Tendi, looking at her friend.

“A Vulcan doesn’t smirk.” Stated Beckett, stalking towards the turbolift, “Grab a Phaser, I think we’ll need them.”

Tendi stiffened, before quickly nodding. She discreetly fetched two Phasers from a wall compartment and handed one to Beckett. Mariner holstered hers on her hip and approached Pera, just as a group of security officers arrived.

“Pera,” Said Beckett, slowly, “Why are you smirking?”

Pera froze, before scowling, “How careless of me. I suppose I have overstayed my welcome.”

Before anyone could react, Pera beamed out and escaped. ESD suddenly shook as if a ship blew up next to the station.

“What the hell was that?!” Demanded Mariner, after steadying herself.

“An Undine Bio-Ship blowing up.”

Mariner and Tendi turned to look at the source of the voice and Mariner’s breath caught in her throat.

“I suppose this is a bad time to tell you I’m your new Tactical Officer.” Said Jennifer Sh’reyan, tilting back on her heels.

“I would say welcome aboard, but I’ve literally got half a functional ship.” Said Mariner, looking at the spot the Undine vanished from.

“That’s the second one in three days.” Said Jennifer, “The crew of the Dragon encountered an Undine and Bio-Ship in the Pjem system.”

Mariner frowned, before stalking towards the air lock, “Might as well get the debriefing out of the way before seeing to the ship.”

“Is she usually in such a bad mood?” Jennifer asked Tendi.

“No, she’s just lost her spouse.” Responded Tendi, “and she has to break that to their daughter.”

UD

Mariner sat in her ready room; Sarah had been settled into a guest quarter. She had told her, and it hadn’t gone down well. Leading to an argument, which led to Mariner looking through various Starfleet profiles in a search for a new first officer.

Mariner dismissed Jet, Fletcher, Castro and Casey. Jet was already assigned to Deep Space 3, and Fletcher and Casey were so full of their own bullshit that they would pose a danger to the crew. Castro, while looking fine of paper, was currently undergoing treatment after a Klingon surprise attack killed the majority of the crew she’d been placed in command of.

Mariner winced; she knew that feeling all too well. Her door chimed.

“Enter.” Said Mariner, focusing on the PADDs in front of her.

“The CMO sent me up to check on you.” Said Jennifer, dropping some food on Mariner’s desk, “I’ve also completed the Tactical and Security review. The Graviton Pulse is still operational, but it’s now fused to the ship. Phasers and torpedoes are at 90% capacity and the shield grid is optimal.”

“Hmm.”

“Captain, I know it’s not my place to say,” Said Jennifer, making Mariner look up at her, “but Commander Boimler is up for transfer, since the Cerritos is being decommissioned.”

“I’ll take that suggestion for consideration.” Said Mariner, “until a First Officer is appointed, you, as Second Officer, will perform their duties. Understood?”

Jennifer snapped into a salute, “Ma’am.”

“You didn’t need to salute.” Said Mariner, after a second, “Dismissed.”

Jennifer nodded and quickly left the ready room. Beckett groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose, twenty years sober. Romulan Ale never felt more tempting.

UD

Boimler frowned as he read the message on his PADD, he’d been requested as the first officer on the Shran. He absently felt the shuttle exit warp.

“We’re almost at the Shran, sir.” Said an Ensign, checking the controls.

A ping alerted them to the Europa, Gagarin and Earhart dropping out of warp around the shuttle. Another ping alerted them to the Shran arriving at the rendezvous point.

“Shuttle Amadeus, we’re ready and wait your arrival.” Said the Shran’s communications officer.

“Acknowledged Shran,” Said the Ensign, “making entry now.”

Boimler sighed, before folding his arms. The shuttle shuddered as it entered the Shran’s shuttle bay, before touching down on the deck. Boimler exited the shuttle, stopping at the sight of Jennifer.

“Lt. Cmdr. Sh’reyan, it’s good to see you.” Greeted Boimler, stopping in front of her.

“Like-wise, Commander.” Responded Jennifer, gesturing for Boimler to follow her, “Come on, the captain’s waiting.”

On the bridge, Mariner frowned and looked at the PADD in her hand, “Helm, fall into formation with the strike force, be ready to head to warp as soon as the Buran arrives with the Clarke.”

Mariner watched at the Edison, Somerville and Shenzhou fell in line with the Shran.

“Captain, the Glenn’s suffered a malfunction in one of their nacelles,” Said the comm officer, “they’ll be delayed for at least a couple of hours.”

Boimler and Jennifer arrived on the bridge, as Mariner got to her feet, “Acknowledge the Glenn and alert the Buran that we’re waiting on their orders.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Mariner turned around and looked at Boimler, “Commander.”

“Captain.” Responded Boimler, “May I ask about the mission?”

“We’re waiting on a signal from the Imaga system.” Said Mariner, gesturing for Boimler and Jennifer to follow her into her ready room. As soon as the doors were shut and sealed, she spoke, “The Klingons have somehow managed to get their hands on, and harness, a doomsday machine. The grew of the Dragon are infiltrating a Klingon Base, in the hopes of finding some weakness that we can exploit.”

Boimler frowned, before nodding, “So, we go in guns blazing and try and destroy an indestructible, planet killing device.”

“No, we’re to engage any and all Klingon ships.” Corrected Mariner, “If this goes well, we may be a step close to ending the war.”

“Captain, the Glenn has arrived with the Buran and the Clarke.”

“Acknowledged, we’re joining you now.” Said Mariner, heading towards the door.

“Set a course for the Imaga system, warp seven.” Ordered Boimler, sitting in the chair next to Mariner.

“Course laid in, sir.”

“Engage.”