#and yes i will give them sarongs because i can

[kimyoonmiauthor]

Worldbuilding: !@#$ the terfs, be more creative with gender and bio sex than a binary system.

9.5 times out of ten the majority of gender systems I read in US books are really, really uncreative, and I do mean that because manga, has more creative gender systems than a lot of US books. I love you Melanie Rawn, but still, the inversion as good as it was in the uncompleted Ruins of Ambrai, still was largely a European system because it was largely a commentary on the European system. (Yes, I did understand that.)

And the US tends to, very much accuse other countries of having uncreative gender systems that are absolutely rigid, say the US to Japan. (Though the usually [white] understanding of Japanese gender is usually abysmal... but that's a whole paper and a half there.)

When building a gender system, be more creative! You have this other fake culture. You can do whatever the heck you feel like. Say, the Barbie Movie, which hilariously the alt-right USian detested, though it still was a commentary on mostly US gender norms.

Can't we loosen this up a little? You have literal aliens and you can't imagine a more creative sex and gender system than the binary? Oh really? Humans aren't even binary on either. I'm going to give cultural examples.

Introduction

Bugis have 5 genders.

BTW, someone got so mad when I pointed out the page they cited said that Bugis recognized 5 genders, they went on a youtube rant about it. lol Deal. BTW, people put a lot of emphasis on Bissu like how people hyperfocus on trans women in the US because masculinity is that fragile. Albanian is complicated.

Some countries/ethnicities have 3.

India has a 3 gender system in Northern India. Women, men, Hijra

I mean this list:

Some countries don’t even define the two gender system the same way (Europeans are sooo uptight. Loosen up.)

For example, a Korean man wearing pink--no problem. No one flips the hell out when a man in Korea wears a hanbok with a chima and a jeogori. They are like cool. He can do as he likes. Even baksu wear chima in religious ceremonies. They believe it gives them extra powers.

The whole pants. are. for. men. and. women. only. wear. skirts.

Oh c'mon...

Pants were invented for horseback riding--like the heel.

So let's get this mind-numbingly straight (pun somewhat intended here) Men, are men because of horses. (haha, yes, Barbie reference), thus have to wear pants. But are absolutely effing forbidden from wearing heels, which are also associated with what? Horseback riding. Hmmm...

And men still wear dresses and skirts, but they call it by other names.

Judicial robes for sale, and look, a man is wearing them.

But--But that's soo different from a dress...

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-jp/shop/product/la-doublej/clothing/maxi-dresses/muumuu-printed-silk-twill-maxi-dress/38063312420399795

This is a dress because as Webster's Dictionary says:

: an outer garment (as for a woman or girl) usually consisting of a one-piece bodice and skirt

Yes, it's worn by a woman. I couldn't find another definition.

But men also wear sarongs. And bath towels, and kilts all of which look suspiciously like skirts. And togas. Which shows how fragile the definition is that you need to narrow the definition that much.

And freaking for those religious, God on the Sistine Chapel, by suspected maybe gay Michelangelo, has a vaccuum sealed butt on the Sistine chapel wearing a pink dress.

C'mon, we can be more creative than this, surely. I mean, if you look at this super rigid gender system, does it make any sense at all? OK, I'm NB and all, but seriously, I look at it and go, WTF happened to you?

You get so uptight about men wearing lace, stocking, high heels, dresses, pink but forget so quickly that less than 200 years ago, no one gave a damn, and if a man didn't wear those things, he couldn't make it in high society.

I mean...

Lafayette, wearing pink, heels, stockings, lace (his collar), and a wig. Give me a break here.

And gender definitions change over time...

Just about 100 years back, in order to be out and gay, it was thought your entire gender was different. There was nothing like a butch gay man. You were considered part female, in fact. And no one in the 19th century would have taken exception to that. It didn't change until much later in Europe.

But also Europe imperialized the world with gender expectations, leading to a rise of violence against third gender communities.

What was one of the first three rules of culture I posted? Culture changes. Koreans like to say, even in ten years the Mountains and rivers change. So gender can and will also change in definitions becoming more rigid, more fluid, recategorized, etc over time.

So given all of these things... let's rethink gender.

Gender doesn't have to be Defined by Sex Assigned at Birth

A lot of Human cultures assign gender this way. Born one way, raise them that way, hope it works out.

But you have a whole FANTASY WORLD and you can see, humans don't make a lot of logical sense when it comes to gender. I mean heels are for women, and men should never wear them, except when they are attached to boots, but the boots better not be too high , or you're *gasp* gay is the European "logic" system. And only what? 50 or so years ago, women were finally allowed to wear pants.

So you don't have to do it by genitals. You could do it by hair color. Gender affirming care would be changing your hair color, or horns, or whatever tickles your fancy. You could, say have a cephlapod species with smaller males that can present female part of the time, and based on their texture of their skin, that's their gender.

You could do it by color--the species has actually blue, dark blue, green, yellow, etc skin colors and they can change them at any moment and the one they tend towards, well, that's their gender.

You could also make it so you automatically need a polycule for the species to work out and reproduce. And thus there might be, say a 6 gender system. 2 possible genders for the three adults there.

C'mon. Nature is creative and sometimes has an all female species. Look at Mourning geckos. There are so few males, and they are sometimes called a lesbian species of gecko.

Even then, you have intersex, and not all intersex people are infertile.

Terfs only think it's wrong to "go against nature" when it has to do with gender presentation. Nothing else. But they have no, no problem with assigning a sex to an intersex child without their consent. That's culture taking over for nature. And how that is shaped, or not shaped, absolutely belongs in world building.

If your men aren't horseback riding, and your women aren't either, then dresses for all are fine. Deal with it.

I think it would be entertaining to see an alien species determine the gender of the child by holding up paint swatches to the child's say eyes and then saying, "Yep, a girl."

Or even well, the birther stayed in # temp rooms, for # amount of days, Oh, this is the expected sex of the child. But the gender, well, we will determine that by these [arbitrary] factors.

But seriously, you can define gender and sex however, you want. Is medical/magic intervention necessary or not? Who gets to determine it?

Next step is to find the rules for how gender is expressed in an idealized world.

Do you constantly call all of your girls and tell them they can grow up to be a princess? But tell all your boys they are going to grow up to be doctors and lawyers?

This is what Social Scientists would call socialization.

For this, I would suggest you make a spreadsheet and then put down arbitrary lists of things the "ideal" gender would wear. So for the US, Pink is for girls. Blue is for boys. How they should act. And finally, how they are taught.

It's so ubiquitous that even feminists often trip up and see a baby in a pink dress with lace and automatically pick up a doll. (I'm just saying, maybe think that one over a bit.)

Make a list for each column. And then for the individual characters figure out how they DON'T fit those norms and then terrorize them with it...

What do you threaten the privileged group with if they come out of line?

For men in the US, for example, you go with homophobia. "That's gay."

Because the threat of being gay is sooo outlandish. *eyeroll* It's an threat to everything masculine.

I'll go over this in more detail later in the series, but you need things to discipline the privileged group and the disadvantage group(s). What's the threat if you become this other group? Death? Social ridicule? Financial loss? Being outcast?

Or, do you get rewarded and become a shaman, a healer, or a celebrated hero for being able to not fit in? (This also is possible).

Cultural justifications

Cultural justifications for this are different from the actual historical reasons or the facts.

The historical reason that pink and blue switched was because dyes became more readily available for both and they felt like it.

Blue used to be more rare, and thus considered "virginal" because blue is rare in nature, but under industrialization as people became more and more disconnected from nature, and blue dyes became available, the idea of this became more diluted, and the switch was from blue to pink.

That's not what the cultural justifications were for this thought originally. The thought was that blue was a more "delicate" color, clearly more suited to women.

Because, if you have forgotten (yes a joke coming), humans constantly get amnesia on where things come from. Constantly. We've lost information in your own lifetime. You were born 2 seconds ago? Well, I hate to tell you, we've lost information in that 2 seconds.

So, when they can't remember the reason, Humans make up a reason to go with it, that's often frivolous and silly. Something that feels, what? Natural to them. Though remember the rule, Nature gives no fucks. So find and make up a logical reason for the cultural item and then find a stupid reason that people are willing to double down on it and there you go, that's culture. So say your species of aliens, the ones that are temperature linked to sex, link Iunno, gender to horn size. Bigger horns mean a certain class of gender. The original reason might be that bigger horned females are better at digging nests back when they were a pastoral society, thus better able to have larger clutches of children. But they've now reached the stars, so they completely forgot why and now just say that bigger horns are simply sexier because reasons. Or it could have flipped that smaller horns are in more demand, because big horns get in the way of industrial tasks, but no one says that. And now the bigger horned females, are considered a lower gender than the smaller horned females, who then raise all of the eggs.

See, the justification doesn't even have to follow any sort of logic. It's what they tell everyone to make them feel better.

And truthfully, a lot of culture is built this way. The reason you tell everyone isn't really the actual truth. I mean I did a whole series on Story Structure, and the justifications versus the reasons why it was made that way don't even close to match. People blindly parrot what other people tell them if it will help them succeed. (BTW, not saying I'm not guilty of this, I absolutely am.)

So I think this gives you a good basis to free yourself up for a larger system and be more creative with your gender definitions. Because absolutely both gender and sex are defined by culture, but in different ways.

You have effing demons, and you can come up with a more creative gender categories? You have unicorns and you don't have more creative gender categories. And you have kracken climbing buildings, but you can't imagine a third sex category for them when it absolutely exists in nature. C'mon. Hit me with your most creative and free yourself of your own culture's definitions of gender.

What if you nuked the entire Male/female/NB system. What would that look like? How would you justify it on two fronts? Blow that system out of the water and rework it. What would the Sexual orientation work like with a 3 sexes, 2 gender for each each system?

What stupid prohibitions would you put in for such a system?

[nuri148]

My Trip to Japan! ⛩️ Part 4

19.12.

We woke up early, had the funny breakfast, and took the suburban train to Nara. The impression we got from it is that it's a "normal" city. There are no major shopping miles like in Tokyo or Kyoto, just regular streets, even the pedestrian market-street. There are no shopping malls or big stores in the city center, only on the outskirts. We left our luggage at the hotel and went straight to Kasuga Taisha. It’s a beautiful Shinto shrine boasting more than 3000 votive fretworked bronze lamps, each of them different designs, hanging along the galleries of the main temple. These are only lit three times a year, but the shrine has a dark room with a few lamps lit for visitors to enjoy its magical appearance. In a corner of the garden, there’s a cedar tree about 1000 years old, depicted in a 14th-century scroll. A juniper tree grows diagonally from the roots of the cedar, for which part of the roof of the adjacent pavilion was cut to avoid hindering its development. In the same garden, in front of the goshuin office, there’s a gazebo with a 700-year-old wisteria.

The shrine is at the foot of another sacred mountain, Mount Kasuga or Mikasa (Yes! Mikasa!), a place just as moving as Fushimi Inari. Several pavilions and shrines rise around the main hall, always at the foot of the mountain, which simple mortals cannot access because it’s the dwelling place of the gods. One of these subsidiary shrines is the Meoto Daikokusha, dedicated to two deities, husband and wife, so people come to pray for a happy marriage. The complex started to grow in the 8th century, when the emperor certified the sacred nature of the mountain and prohibited hunting and logging, which preserved the native forest in its primeval state to this day. Moreover, deer are considered messengers of the gods enshrined in the main hall, so this contributed to the unique fact that deer roam freely throughout the park.

Nara Park is a bit like Hampstead Heath: it extends over many hectares, crossed by several roads, and houses various temples and buildings. The difference is the deer, which are really everywhere (we even saw a stray one near our hotel!). I feared they would be vicious; I’ve read some alarming accounts, and the warning signs didn't help, but fortunately, they were pretty civil (for a wild animal ofc). Obviously, they’re on the hunt for crackers and always on the lookout for anyone who can give them a snack, but people respect the rule to feed them only the special deer crackers sold in shops and stands all around the park. The deer, meanwhile, aren’t stupid at all: although they flock around you the second they see you holding crackers, they leave the vendors alone, even if they have piles of crackers in plain sight. The deer also give up bothering you quickly once they see you’ve run out of "shikasenbei" (I’ve no proof and no doubts they’re formulated to have a very faint smell that doesn’t cling to hands).

After visiting the shrine, we went up a bit a street that was supposed to have a lot of restaurants, but most of them were closed, we assume, due to being low season. The only place open was a souvenir shop with a diner area at the back. It was a typical roadside dingy diner, with a concrete floor; authentic 1970s furniture complete with Formica and fake leather; a mishmash of wonderfully kitschy decorations including, but not limited to, discoloured posters, deer antlers, various trinkets in their cellophane bags, statuettes of very questionable taste, cabinets that have never seen a duster, a sarong hung like a tapestry, a kerosene heater like my grandma's had, old furniture and stuff piled up in a corner, and a painting of a tiger so ghastly it gave Husband mild PTSD. In this unique place, we enjoyed one of the best meals, if not the best, of the whole trip: homemade katsudon and oyakodon, very tasty, with the ever-present miso soup on the side, and the Ojiisan making random comments ("Spain? Oh yeah, I visited Madrid long ago. Pesetas, they had." "Argentina, football"). And all for the price of a McDonald's menu in Europe. In the back, you could see a huge dining room, so during high season, the crowds must be significant.

After eating, we went to Kofuku-ji, which was a bit of a downer as the main hall wasn’t worth the ¥500 entrance fee (unless you're a huge Buddha fan ig). We could have just seen it from the outside and walk around the minor halls, which are free. We then took a bus to the outskirts, to the ruins of the Nara Imperial Palace. It’s a gigantic site (about 145 hectares) where, for the past 25 years, they have been slowly rebuilding the dependencies of the ancient palace, one pavilion at a time. It's an impressive job of archaeology, engineering, restoration, and craftsmanship, and it’s entirely for free though we wouldn't have minded paying an entrance fee here. Currently, there are three pavilions rebuilt, and they’re building the fourth under a roofed scaffolding with a platform for people to peek into the building site. 21st-century engineering and safety standards meet 8th-century construction techniques to achieve a reproduction as close to the original as possible. We also saw the reconstruction of the service dependencies and the museum space they have around the archaeological excavations. We didn't cover everything; it would have been a titanic undertaking, and the cold and wind were starting to take a toll on us. So we returned to the city and went to see the shops, staying mainly on the covered pedestrian street because of the drizzle. It turns out, everything closes at seven in Nara (except for large drugstores, gachapon, and the like), so we got into a ramen place for dinner. It seemed like the safest bet, but it wasn't. What a let down! The broth was so bland not even soy sauce made a difference. It was the most disappointing meal of the trip. How can you open a soup joint and not have a decent broth?

20.12

We started the day at Todai-ji. The entrance fee was high compared to what we'd been paying elsewhere. I get the feeling that the people of Nara might still be a bit salty about losing their status as capital city of Japan, which they held for only 75 years in the seventh century. Nara is only an hour away by suburban train from Kyoto and Osaka; it’s not on the Shinkansen line. I think this must result in most visitors coming just for the day. There probably aren't many like us, spending two days there while exploring all the heritage sites, and that's why the city lacks the touristic infrastructure of its neighbours.

The main hall of Todai-ji, the Daibutsu-den, houses a 15-meter bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana. It was destroyed twice. The third and current building, built in the 18th century, is 30% smaller than the previous one, and yet still manages to be the world's largest wooden structure. Behind the Buddha, one of the columns has a 50 cm wide hole at its base—the size of the Buddha's nostril. It is said whoever manages to pass through the hole will attain enlightenment. After visiting the temple and the museum, we spent some time strolling through the park and feeding shikasenbei to the deer. We had a delicious lunch at a yakitori place, Shikamaru, which played the whole Beatles discography on full random.

In the afternoon we went to Horyu-ji, outside Nara. This Buddhist temple is made up of the oldest wooden buildings still standing: from the 8th century to our days. Again, though the entrance ticket price was normal to cheap for European standards, it was expensive compared to other temples. Still, the temple’s very nice, and even being a novice in Japanese architectural heritage you can tell the style’s a bit different from newer ones. We also were treated to a glimpse of Japan way off the beaten track: Horyu-ji is in a semi-rural village, complete with a handful of run-down shops around the train station, many of them closed; supermarkets and warehouse-type businesses along the main road, or shops scattered without a defined shopping mile. Low houses, vegetable patches, kids on bikes, very few people on the streets. I’ve seen a lot of little towns like this. I  like it how some places are the same everywhere you go, no matter how different we make them out to be.  

We spent the rest of the afternoon window-shopping - On the plus side, there was this gacha at the local Animate! ⬆️

[ihearthes]

Author: @ihearthes Pairing: Harry x Unnamed OFC Rating: Light Smut Word Count: 3500 Inspired by: @wanderlustwaving and “The Lady or the Tiger” by Frank Stockton

His eyes dart around the bar, seeking her. She has to be here. It’s tradition. Their tradition. January 1st. Every year. Sunset. Anguilla. The Four Seasons. 

Harry had booked this table nearest the bay a full year ago, confirming it in mid-June and again in early December. Sitting silently, his eyes shaded behind his sunnies, he watches the giant ball of fire as it descends into the water. Less of a sizzle than one would expect. Each sip of his Casamigos Blanco over ice is perfect. The sky lights up with oranges, reds, and yellows that are reflected on the clouds, resembling the Monet painting San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk which he had viewed in Cardiff. A second version hangs in Tokyo at Bridgestone Museum, and he had been lucky enough to see it once. 

The longer he watches its descent, the more he realises that this sunset is different from the paintings he’d seen. His fingers itch for watercolours or acrylics even though he knows his amateurish strokes would never capture the beauty. Last year, the sunset had been underwhelming, the clouds obscuring rather than reflecting the colours. Their first year, he had been unable to believe what he was seeing. It had been stunning with the reach of the palette across the sky, like tendrils of smoke straining to hug the entire planet. Now he captures his journal from the extra chair, opening it’s leather binding to a blank page. Flipping back to the beginning of his journal, he finds a sketch of her leaning on the railing -- drawn from memory years after their first meeting. His mind casts backwards to the non-date that had launched this annual trip. 

“Wow.” The voice belongs to a woman who steps to the railing next to him, leaning forward and twisting her head to take in the full sunset. Glancing at her, he does a double take as he recognizes her. Holy shit. She’s even more stunning in person. 

“Oh, I’d give it a solid 8.5,” Harry’s calm voice is the opposite of his turbulent emotional state. 

“Seriously? It’s much closer to a 9.2.”

“You’ve lost your mind. It’s worthwhile, but not a 9.2,” he scoffs, shifting his body slightly closer to hers. He turns toward her, planting a single forearm on the railing as he observes her in her floral sarong that matches her bikini top. Her hair is bundled lazily on top of her head, and her tanned feet are encased in strappy sandals. Surreptitiously, he takes in her curves while she’s examining the sunset. 

Twisting her head quickly, she catches his eyes on her ass. Rather than blushing, he smiles at her instead, well aware that the dimple is doing it’s job appropriately. The live steel drum band starts a new song, and she boldly turns to him, holding out her hand. “Dance?”

He doesn’t respond verbally. Grasping her fingers, Harry wraps one arm around her waist, stepping into her and leading them in time with the music. When he twirls her rather expertly, she laughs, planting a hand on his chest and gazing up at him with what appears to be a phony bashfulness. 

“I didn’t know you could dance,” she laughs. 

“Clearly you’ve never seen me live on stage,” Harry smirks. 

She clucks her tongue, “Oh, but I have. I said what I said, Styles.”

Looking away from her, he can’t help the smile that breaks loose. Damn, she’s got moxie. And it’s intriguing and beguiling. 

“You’re here alone?” he wonders, his eyes roaming the outdoor space. It’s filled with strangers -- to him anyway. 

“Tonight only. Yes.” She twirls him, and he grins at the move. 

“Me too.” The soft words are spoken into her ear as he’s drawn her closer. “I like to spend the first night of the year reflecting on the previous year.”

“Isn’t that what New Year’s Eve is for?” she wonders, her voice breathy. 

“Nah. That’s for drinking and celebrating with friends. Today is for reflection -- looking backwards and forwards simultaneously.”

“Planning to conquer the world this year, Mr. Styles?” 

“Indeed.” Arching an eyebrow, he mimics a cartoon villain, drawing his pinky to his mouth. 

She slaps at his chest, and he desperately wants to kiss her in that moment. After all, they are flirting, aren’t they? 

“Are you going to offer me dinner?” she asks boldly. “And take me to your room afterwards?”

Woah. Definitely gutsy. “Depends,” he whispers as he spins them both around once more while the band winds down. 

“On what?” 

“On what kind of sushi you prefer.”

“Ah!” There’s a gleam in her eye that he can’t resist. She’s playful and not shy about being the seductress. Harry finds the combination heady. Waving her hand in dismissal as she turns towards his table, “I usually try whatever the newest offering is -- especially if it’s fresh from those waters.” Fingers waggle in the direction of the bay, and he wants to grasp them out of the air and wrap them protectively in his own hand. 

Instead, he applauds the band before following behind her. At the table, she drags her chair from the opposite side of the small round table until she’s sat beside him. With his questioning glance, she again gestures towards the bay. “I’m not going to miss that sunset just so I can stare at your pretty face.” 

Rather than sketching the sunset, he attempts to paint the current sight with words. Everything he writes seems trite: clementines, flames, majestic, radiant, blush, hearth.

Where is she? Yes, it had been a year since they had spoken, but surely she would have sent a message if she weren’t planning to join him? Why hadn’t they exchanged numbers? Followed each other on Instagram? 

But he knows why. The mystery. The transcendental experience. The enchantment of meeting once a year, incognito, in this particular and magnificent place. No knowledge of each other outside of this 24 hours that belongs to them alone. 

Which is ridiculous. Because he certainly knows who she is and follows her career. And he would be astonished if she didn’t also pay attention to his. A few times this last year they had coincidentally been in the same city simultaneously, and he had seriously debated trying to locate her. Contact her manager maybe. Or put out feelers that would certainly have stretched to her ears like an old-fashioned game of Chinese Whispers (which of course isn’t what he should call the game now; it’s racist). The message, though, would have been garbled but sufficient for them to meet up. 

Every time, he refrained. Their unspoken commitment was to this place and this one day a year. Now he regrets not making contact. Had she decided that one day a year wasn’t worth the effort? Was she even now canoodling with someone else? There hadn’t been rumours of any recent love affairs on her end, and he snatches his phone anxiously to search her name just in case she connected with someone during the last week.

Picking up his now-empty glass of tequila as he scrolls through his phone, Harry draws an ice cube into his mouth, swirling it on his tongue to relish every tiny bit of the liquor there. The burn has vanished as it’s taken him nearly an hour to drink one tequila. No record of any new beaus. Maybe he should follow her now on social media? DM her? What would he do if she didn’t show? How much longer should he wait? 

“Oh yum! This roll is even better than last year’s.” She proclaims as she rushes to grasp the last bite of the Ceviche Roll. 

“Hey! That was mine!” Harry protests, laughing as she stuffs the full piece in her mouth. 

“Order more,” she mumbles around the rice, fish, and seaweed flavored with citrus and cilantro. 

“Nah, I’ve got a different appetite now,” he murmurs, watching her lips as she chews the sushi. 

Freezing, her eyes rush to his, and she slowly finishes the sushi she’s been eating, swallowing slowly. He wishes that she would move her chair to his side of the table like she had the previous year. This time, they’re seated on opposite sides of the table, but at an angle where both can watch the setting sun. 

“What?” Her look has made him nervous. “You’re not going to tell me you’re seeing someone, are you?” 

Her hair twirls as she shakes her head. “No. Broke up with him last week in anticipation of this.”

Having sipped his tequila, Harry chokes at her words. Coughing, he grasps the table with both hands. Holy fuck. She didn’t really expect him to --

“Kidding!” Her giggle lights up her eyes, bringing a light blush to her face. She’s truly stunning. Maybe even more than last year. 

When her foot, sans sandal, caresses his calf under the table, he knows that the night is going to be filled with sex. Fun, hot, brilliant sex that will last most of the night. Hmm...perhaps it would be best to fortify himself for their escapades. Raising his hand, he flags down the server. 

“Sir?”

“Another Ceviche Roll, por favor. Plus a bottle of Casamigos.” He pauses as her foot makes its way further up his leg, and he wonders if she’s going to slide under the table completely. “Send it to my room, please.” Voice catching as her toes make contact with his crotch, he demands, “Put it all on my tab please. I’ll settle up later.” 

With a nod of agreement, the server disappears. Quickly Harry rises, adjusting his slacks as he glances around the room. 

“Let’s go,” his voice rumbles. 

“But H -- the sunset,” she whines. 

“My room has the same view,” he insists, holding out his hand which she grasps. Gracefully sliding her foot back into her sandal, she rises and glides behind him towards the elevator. 

His stomach rumbles at the thought of eating, and he debates ordering food. The sushi at the sunset lounge is always fresh. In the past, though, they’ve enjoyed the dishes together, trying new ones every year. Dejected, he places his glass harshly on the table, his disappointment at her absence radiating across his psyche like the colours of the sunset. 

“I would say it’s a solid 8.5,” her voice sounds from over his shoulder, and he twists in surprise. Like the sunset beckons the stars, she summons happiness to his soul. He scrambles to rise, kissing her on both cheeks, his lips lingering each time. Not too long, though, in case others are watching and photographing. Which he always assumes these days. Fans. Paps. No privacy exists anywhere. 

“Hi,” he whispers, grateful for her presence, but unable to say the words that would tell her how worried he’s been. That might reveal too much of his emotions. And his heart. 

Fuck. When had his heart gotten involved? And why hadn’t he realised before this particular moment? 

“You agree?” she smiles, gesturing to the sunset. 

“I would say it’s a 9 or maybe even a 9.2,” Harry smiles, his dimple making an appearance to rival the sunset in front of them. 

“You finished your drink,” she nods at his empty glass. 

“I started early.” It’s a lame excuse, and he knows it. 

His annual partner tilts her head in his direction. “Or maybe I’m late?”

Not knowing how to respond, Harry waits, his fingers playing with the coaster underneath his drink, spinning it around, the glass slowly rotating with the cardboard circle with the restaurant’s name on it. 

“I debated,” she whispers, “unsure if I should…”

The server appears, a smile on his face. His white trousers and white shirt are complemented by a blue scarf at his neck, his accent strong. 

“What can I get you?”

Harry notices the man’s gaze on his companion’s breasts which draws his own attention to the bosom swelling around the buttons of her frock, which he just now notices has sunflowers across the lower half of the skirt. Was that on purpose? 

When she exchanges a knowing glance with Harry and smoothes the fabric over her legs, it becomes clear that she knows exactly what she was doing by choosing this dress.

He shifts in his seat. 

“I’ll have what he’s having,” she announces. 

Harry reminds the server, “Two Casamigos on the rocks please. And your newest sushi roll with light brown rice please. Thanks.”

Nodding, his date agrees to the order, and he’s relieved that at least the basics haven’t changed in the last year. 

“You were saying?” he prompts as the steward moves away from them. 

“Oh,” she blushes, her cheeks tinging slightly pink. “I just...wasn’t sure…” She swallows, her head down before she makes eye contact with him, “that this was a good idea.”

Taken aback, Harry settles his bum more deeply in his chair, feeling blindsided by the comment, wishing he had his tequila to soothe him in this moment. “I see,” he mumbles. 

“Harry --” she begins, and he waves a hand in her direction. 

“It’s just casual,” he unceremoniously argues, “right?” But his heart clutches at the phrasing. 

Her eyes drop to her lap where her hands are entwined. “Yes. I guess.” Her whisper makes him sweat. Fuck. Had she decided this was it? The last time? “It’s a pretty sunset,” she adds.

“Absolutely,” he concurs, anxious at what else she might say. Silence descends on the table much faster than the stars appear in the sky above them. Should he be vulnerable? Tell her how he feels? What he’s thinking? 

This year’s live steel drum band begins a new song, and without pause, she rises, holding her hand out for him to grasp. Grateful for the reprieve, he joins her in their corner of the outdoor restaurant, placing one hand on her waist as she rests her head on his chest. Together, they sway, and his mind wanders.

“I need another lime!” she shrieks gleefully, holding the bottle of tequila in her hand. Harry shakes his head from his position flat on the bed. They are going to need clean sheets before they sleep tonight. Maybe they will go to her room for actual sleep? 

What the fuck is he thinking? As if they had actually slept during their rendezvous in the previous two years. 

“Here. Hold this,” she laughs, thrusting a lime towards Harry to place in his mouth, pulp out. 

“Mhm. Me next,” he mumbles just before his teeth wrap around the green rind.

“You bet,” she giggles. Settling herself on the bed as she straddles him, her soft parts landing on his cock encased in its bright green briefs. She slides down his legs and leans forward, holding the bottle of tequila out to the side. “Mmmmm.” Licking a stripe up from the base of his underpants to his navel, she sprinkles salt there before tilting the bottle of Casamigos and allowing a shot of tequila to land in his taut navel. He’d worked hard on his abs the last couple of months, knowing that he would be lying here with her. They’ve got definition that most blokes only dream of. 

Quickly, her tongue captures the salt before she sucks the tequila from his belly and shifts forward to suck the lime that’s in his mouth. Fuck. If he hadn’t been hard before they started this game, he’s certainly got a hammer between his legs now. 

As he releases the lime for her, she grips it in her teeth, leaning backwards in her bra and panties, her core now on his chest, and he can’t resist reaching out with a single finger and tracing a pattern over the treasure he knows is underneath. 

“You waxed for me this year,” he comments. 

“No,” she protests, “I waxed for me this year. You give great oral, and I wanted nothing to get in the way. It’s been far too long since my pussy has been properly eaten.” 

“Oh?” Harry’s eyebrow raises, as he knows a couple of people who she dated during the previous year. 

“Yep. I would say,” she smiles, leaning down to capture his mouth in a kiss, her lips hovering just above his, “about exactly a year.”

“Hey…” he begins as they finish their silent dance just as their drinks arrive along with the plate of sushi, but he’s interrupted. 

“Here are your drinks. Our newest sushi roll is the Hot Lover,” which makes Harry cringe and shift again in his seat. “It’s spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, and avocado wrapped in soybean paper.” 

As he places the food in front of them, Harry smiles sadly and nods as the gentleman fades away into the restaurant, like the sunset has drifted into the ocean. 

“You were going to say something?” she asks, and he loses all of his courage. 

Shaking his head, he grasps a piece of the sushi roll between his fingers, sliding it onto his tongue. 

“Not bad,” he comments as he chews, trying to tuck the food in his cheek so he’s not rude. 

“It’s really not got a lot of flavour,” she grins as she mimics his eating habit. “Kind of boring.”

Did she mean their relationship? Was this one of those double-entendres? Swallowing the fish and rice concoction, he sips his tequila as the sushi sticks in his throat. For some reason, he wants to cry. It makes no sense, but the tears come unbidden to his eyes. Fuck. Looking away, he sips more of his drink as he watches the remnants of the sunset fade away, blinking furiously. 

“I wanted to call you when we were both in New York this year,” he comments softly. 

Her fingers pause halfway to her mouth, the soybean-paper-wrapped piece of sushi hovering near her lips. Harry watches as she debates how to respond to his comment, finally placing the fish on her tongue and chewing slowly. Unable to draw his eyes from her mouth, he unapologetically watches as she savors the restaurant’s latest speciality. Eyes closed, she moans. Her hands clutch the table on either side of her, and Harry feels his mouth go dry. 

Once she devours the food, she sips her tequila on the rocks, and he can visualize her tongue swirling the liquid around as she either tries to clear the flavour of the fish or fully taste the liquor. After all, her tongue has done that same move to his most favored body part. When she finishes, she makes eye contact with him, her hands resting on either side of her plate, fingers curled. Taking a deep breath, she straightens her fingers flat without breaking eye contact. Fuck. He’s sweating. 

“Truth be told, Harry -- I desperately wanted to call you when we were both in Edinburgh that time.”

“Why didn’t you?” His words are faster than his brain, and he immediately wishes he could draw back the question. 

“You know why,” she replies, and he nods because he does indeed know all of the reasons. “The sunset --” Her attention is drawn to the colours in the sky, “is lovely, don’t you think?”

“Honestly,” he admits, “I would say this is the best one of all of the times we’ve sat here together.” The words make him cringe. He wants to keep things light, but something about the moment prevents fluff. It feels momentous. Overwhelming. 

He watches as her eyes stray from his to the sky before they tear up and she nods in agreement. “Yes, Harry. I would say this is the most breathtaking of the sunsets we’ve seen.”

Did that mean that this would be the last one? Neither of them is getting younger. Sooner or later, one of them will meet “the one”. And then where will the other be? Stuck on an island with a sunset alone? Fuck. He doesn’t want to be that person. But he truly doesn’t want that for her either. 

“It’s a sensational sunset,” Harry pleads, his eyes not leaving her face, not straying to the glorious colours, not denying that they have some chemistry together. Why hadn’t he made a play for her before now? Was a hookup enough? Would he be happy if this is the last one? 

“Harry,” she sighs, sipping her drink again. “I wonder ---” 

The band starts a new song, and he shakes off the sound, willing her to continue. A group at the table behind them sings ‘Happy Birthday’ while another table nearby bursts into laughter and somewhere a server drops a tray of glasses, the shattering drawing applause from a few assholes close to the debacle. Harry ignores all of it. 

“Yes? Go on,” he encourages. 

“Maybe…” she bites her lip, looking away from him towards the sunset. 

“Yes?” His throat is dry, but he doesn’t reach for his tequila or his glass of ice water. Instead, his gaze remains riveted on her. 

“Do you think that perhaps we could…” 

His breath catches in his throat. What would she say? Would she ask for some random sex act? Cancel their relationship permanently? Or possibly -- miraculously -- suggest that they celebrate more sunsets together instead of just once a year. He holds his breath, waiting impatiently. 

“I mean, it would probably be best if we...” 

A/N: Reblogs are love, my readers.  I appreciate the likes, but reblogs help others find the story and, quite frankly, encourage me to continue publishing here. 

[hattersland]

DMC OC Week Day 7: Free Space: Beach Day.

The final day of the event and I wanted to have a bit of fun with this one! It takes place after DMC5 where Vergil and Dante return from hell in my fic, so spoilers I guess??? But not really???

IDK I just wanted to write a beach day episode because they can't just drop the Enjoy Summer event and not expect us to do something with it.

Vergil sends another piercing glare towards another man who whispers something about Maya to his friend, making them pale and turn the other way before they were stupid enough to flirt with her while he’s there.

It isn’t as if he doesn’t trust her, but it bothers him to no end the amount of people he has to hear whisper to talk to her. For once he curses his hearing, wanting nothing more than to just block them out to relax since breaks are so rare in their line of work.

The beach chairs they pushed together under the giant umbrella provided ample shade for them both, and his eyes trail up her legs to the book she’s reading, the sarong tied around her waist shifting slightly as she crosses her ankles together.

“You don’t pay them any mind, Vergil,” she says, turning the page without looking at him. It still amazes him she’s able to sense what he’s thinking like that.

“How can I not with what they think they can get away with saying?” he grumbles, his hand trailing up her thigh as it rests just above her knee.

Maya finally looks over to him with a smile, knowing that this will be the closest thing to seeing him pout.

She brought a book to pass the time since the sun was still high up in the sky. Her skin burns easier than Nero’s, so she just wanted to relax and enjoy the cool ocean air… that is until she kept getting interrupted.

It wasn’t anything too bad at first, but there were some people who she didn’t know if they were just that confident in their pickup lines, or that into themselves to say some lines she’s heard.

It isn’t until Vergil came to sit down beside her like some kind of bodyguard that they stopped approaching her.

“You don’t have to sit here with me the whole time. I want you to enjoy our time here too…” she says, raising her hand to rest on his cheek and almost instantly tension in his jaw relaxes at her touch.

“Sitting here with you is enjoyable. Especially after Dante took out those damn water guns.”

“At least the kids are having fun with it!” she laughs as she hears Dante let out a loud whoop and Nero yelling an ‘Oh it’s ON old man!’ to him from the water.

“It’s annoying is what it is…” he grumbles, and an idea strikes her. She sets her book down on the chair as she sits up, earning a curious look from him as she climbs onto his lap, settling there as she presses her back to his chest. He makes space for her between his legs as she takes off her sun hat to look up at him with a smile.

“Better?”

The corner of his lips tilts upwards slightly as his arms wind around her waist. “Much,” her swimsuit has a large cut out in the back for her markings, and he isn’t complaining at the contact with the soft skin.

“I’m not the only one drawing attention, you know,” she utters, placing a gentle kiss just below his ear as he draws lazy circles with his thumb on her hip.

“That so?” he dips his head, using his free hand to maneuver her face towards him and presses her lips to his in a slow and deliberate kiss. He pulls away, leaving her breathless with a smirk. “I don’t even notice them.”

“Aw guys, c’mon, do you have to do that here?” the two turn to see Nero coming up to them, shaking water from his hair with a frown. He’s still not used to seeing them be so… cuddly. It isn’t as if he isn’t happy for his mother, but it’s still jarring to see.

Especially with Vergil.

“Oh, lay off them, kid! Let them go through their honeymoon phase!” Dante laughs, earning a look from his brother.

“It’s not like you’re any better with your sweetheart either!” Nico grins but bites his tongue as Kyrie places a hand on his arm.

“I think it’s sweet! It’s good to see you so happy Aunty.” she grins, her hair damp and hanging over her shoulder.

“Kyrie…”

“Where are the kids?” Maya asks, looking around for them. Her face is already turning bright red from being the topic of conversation, and Vergil isn’t making it any better. His fingers keep trailing up her hip and past the fabric of her bathing suit, the motion hidden by his thigh.

“They’re with Trish and Lady at the food stands. Do you guys want anything? We’re heading over there too for a quick bite.”

“Do—”

“Yes, I saw that they’re selling tacos,” he grins as she makes a face. “I’ll grab the hottest sauce they have for ya too.”

“Such a thoughtful son we have,” she laughs. “If they have any iced tea, I’ll take one of those too.”

“Uh, anything for you?” Nero asks Vergil. It’s still awkward to think of him as his father (especially after the whole ripping-off-his-arm-thing) but he told himself he’d try to be civil.

“Just water is fine,” he replies as Maya turns her head to give him a look.

“You say that, but then you’re going to ask for some of my food,”

“I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about,” he replies cooly as if he doesn't constantly sneak bites from her plates.

Maya rolls her eyes, shaking her head with a good-natured smile. “Make that two sets, hun.”

“You’re giving him too much credit, doll.” Dante grins as they all begin their way towards the food stalls.

Maya takes this opportunity to lean back against Vergil’s chest again, enjoying the warmth of his skin against hers and she shivers when his hands lazily move lower and lower down her hips. She squeaks after his thumb slips dangerously between her legs.

“I won’t do anything out here, my dear.” his voice rumbles against her back as his hands move back to rest against her hips. “Watching you get all flustered is just too amusing.”

“H-hey!”

He chuckles as he watches her blush creep up from her shoulders to her neck, pressing another kiss against the skin there. She doesn’t pull away, instead; she brings her hand up to thread her fingers through his hair with a giggle.

Perhaps this beach day really is worth it in the end, especially now with her in his arms.

--------

I just want them all to have good days together and be a family. ;-;

Thanks again to @dmc-oc-week for making this event! OC's always get a bad rap from some people, but as a person who's been writing OC's since... forever, I say bah to that. OC's are wonderful and thanks to this even I've seen so many cool original characters that I never even knew existed!

Keep writing friends and let no one shame you out of your hobbies! \0/

[deans-baby-momma]

Past Haunts- A Revisit

A/N: Let’s take a look inside the Winchester/Quentin household and see how everyone is getting along. Also look for the 2nd author’s note after this story. 

It's been six months today. Six months since my daughter and I were getting ready for work and school when a simple knock on the front door changed everything. Changed it all, for the better.

To be able to watch from the sidelines as Whitney got to finally know the man who was her father; to finally experience having a male figure in her life was indescribable. 

Those two were like two peas in a pod, though. Similar likes, the same dislikes, an identical warped sense of humor. Once Dean had gotten over- no, that isn't the right wording-since Dean had come to terms with Sam being locked in a cage in Hell, he had jumped right into being a parent, a daddy. And he was killing it!

I hadn't expected to find him in the kitchen every morning, cooking breakfast for us before sending us both off with a kiss and I definitely never dreamed of coming home to a clean house, mowed lawn and that pesky back porch light repaired but during the first whole week of loving with us,  Dean had picked up the slack. I was amazed and very grateful.

Dean and I have slept in the same bed every night since his return but have yet to put a label on what we are. Although, Whitney happily tells anyone and everyone that her parents are together, I'm just unsure. And yes, we've had sex but then again what woman in her right mind could look at him, cuddle up to him and NOT want to have sex with him?

He had gotten a job at a local garage after the first month of being 'home' and had quickly impressed the boss with his knowledge of older vehicles. It seemed as though the mechanics nowadays depended on the little computers installed in the newer models to alert them to whatever was wrong, so when older vehicles came across their rack, these young boys were stumped.

During the week after Thanksgiving, the city of Fairfax Indiana got its first snowfall. Everything looked so clean and fresh with the white blanket covering all the blemishes and eyesores around town. And that's the day we found out Dean Winchester doesn't like the cold.

"It's just-" Dean grumbled as he drank his coffee at the head of the table. "-so ridiculous. You have to wear extra layers, watch out for other idiots on the road. Watch where you step. And it's just so cold." He finishes his groaning with a full body shiver.

"Dad you sound like a whiny brat," Whitney banters as she eats her eggs and bacon. "It's wonderful! Everything looks so bright and shiny."

"I need sun and warmth, missy," Dean shoots back with a wink. He suddenly sits up straight and looks at me. "Babe, how many days of school until our little girl is on holiday?"

Whitney hmphs at being called a little girl, even though she knows Dean only does it to get a rise out of her. The smirk on his face tells me that is exactly the response he expected.

"Uh, nine. I think."

"Eight and a half," Whitney corrects me, standing up to take her plate to the sink. "And the half day is going to be mostly watching movies and not much else."

I look at Dean to see his mind whirling. I could tell he was trying to work something out in his head. I raise an eyebrow in question but only get a smile in response. I shake my head at his antics and stand up to go finish getting ready for work.

Christmas in Florida is distinctly opposite of Christmas in the North. For one, there is no snow for the lights to mirror. The lights are pretty but seem so dull without the reflection. And instead of coats and gloves and hats, people are in swimsuits and shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. A total 180 from what I'm used to in mid-December. I ponder the difference between the two as I lounge on the long beach chair beside Dean's as we watch Whitney frolic in the cool water.

Dean hasn't fully embraced the warmer temperatures as he is still in jeans and his usually two-shirt ensemble.  The only thing missing is the heavy work boots he usually dons; his feet are bare. The sunglasses on his face does little to hide the freckles that have made an appearance the darker his skin tans. I've laid in bed recently, counting the cute little misshapen dots. He is all smiles and happy. I love him so much!

When Dean had first suggested taking a trip down south for Christmas break I was astonished, Whitney was ecstatic. In her 13 year existence, this is the first full-fledged vacation we have ever taken so she was excited and enthusiastic about the chance to take a trip. And when she found out the destination, I didn't think she would survive the 17-hour trip without spending the whole time exploding with glee. Whitney and I spent my whole payday on a new wardrobe for the both of us, getting weird and bizarre looks from other shoppers as we tried to find t-shirts and shorts, bathing suits and sunscreen; during December in Indiana those items were few and far between. I also took a secret trip to the courthouse, getting the paperwork to officially make Whitney a Winchester. All it needs is information and signatures from both parents. I plan to surprise Dean with them Christmas morning.

So far, this vacation has been fantastic. We have spent time as a family doing little things, like walking along the beach at sunset searching for seashells, playing mini-golf, spending the day in our hotel room watching old movies and cartoons when the weather took a turn for the worse. It has been a dream come true, something I had never in a million years thought would ever happen. 

Spending time with him and our daughter in what I dubbed as the most magical place on Earth. So what if we're not at Disney World, to me this is the most fascinating time and place; a week spent with my daughter and her father, the love of my life. Life couldn't get any better than this.

I am shaken from my daydreams as I hear Dean growl and begin throwing fictitious daggers with his eyes in the direction of the pool. I turn my head to see a group of teenage boys all surrounding Whitney, who is all smiles at the attention. 

"Calm down honey," I cajole. "We knew this would eventually happen. We can't expect her to be a nun."

"Those boys are too old for her," he defends. "They see an innocent, young girl like her and there's only one thing on their mind." He goes to get up and I reach over to place my hand on his arm, stopping him.

"Give it a minute," I tell him. "I've taught Whitney to take care of herself."

As Dean and I sit there I keep our daughter in my peripheral, just in case one of us needs to step in. Suddenly, Whitney yells out "Jerk!" and slaps the boy who looks to be the protagonist of the crew. I smile as I watch her climb out of the pool and walk toward us. She sits at my feet and wraps her towel around her shoulders.

"You okay darlin'?" her dad asks, his eyes still trained on the gang of boys. They just don't know how many different ways Dean Winchester could murder them and make them all disappear.

"Y-yea," she answers but I can tell she's lying. "They just said some things that weren't nice."

Dean finally turned his eyes toward his daughter, the dangerous glint replaced by concern.  "Baby girl, I can go have a talk with them, if you-"

"No Dean!" she says, standing up. "I don't need my father taking up for me. I'm not a baby!" As Whitney storms out of the pool area, Dean looks at me, at a loss.

"What did I do?"

I stand up and wrap the sarong around my bikini-clad body. "Just let me go talk to her, okay?" I have an idea what is going on and I know having her dad there I'd never get Whitney to open up. I lean down and kiss him and head in the direction our daughter had stomped off.

In the room, Whitney has thrown herself across her bed and is crying into the pillow.

"Honey, what's wrong?" I ask gently because if my suspicions were true, anything could cause her to fly off the handle.

"I don't know," she whines. "I was feeling okay and then all of a sudden, it's like my energy zapped. So I was just floating in the pool, hoping the ache would go away and then those boys came up and started talking to me. And I liked it," she explains as she sits up on the bed. "But then Kyle said something about me being pure and innocent when I told them how old I was and I just lost it. And then I jumped down Dad's throat and he probably hates me now!" She begins crying again and I join her on the bed, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and she places her head on my shoulder.

 "Oh baby," I console. "I think it's becoming that time. You're getting ready to start your first period."

She jerks her head up and looks at me. "Really?"

"Yea, we need to go get you some pads and Midol. You're going to start bleeding anytime."

"God, did I just ruin our first vacation?"

"No!" I claim. "You didn't ruin vacation at all, baby. Now, let's get cleaned up and run down the street to the store."

"Moooom! I can't leave the room! What if it starts before we get back?" I chuckle at her wide-eyed expression.

"Okay, okay." I reach over and grab my phone texting Dean to come up to the room. I roll my eyes as I remember the discussion he and I had almost 2 years ago. Never in a million years did I think I would actually be asking this of him but I can't leave my baby.

The look on his face was comical as I whispered my request. He looked terrified and afflicted at the thought of having to buy feminine products. I take screenshots of exactly what he needs to buy and send him on his way, but not before he insists that I remember promising him he would never have to do this particular task.

The rest of the vacation goes off without a hitch. Whitney does begin her first period and requests to spend the rest of our time in Florida in the hotel room, only going out to eat. Dean and I trust her enough to leave her in the room while we go out, exploring not only the beach but the little town we are in. 

Christmas morning comes and Whitney wakes us up with squeals of delight at the massive amount of presents placed under the decorated fake palm tree in our room.

Dean and I sit on the sofa, drinking coffee and enjoying the look of awe on our daughter's face as she opens her presents. Once finished, she winks at her dad and goes to her bag where she pulls a box from inside. Handing it to him, Whitney steps back as Dean slides off to the floor, getting on one knee.

My hand slaps over my mouth as he clears his throat. I have no idea what he says because my inner voice is chanting 'Oh my god! This can't be happening!' Finally my ears take over and I hear him ask, "Becks, will you marry me?" I nod through the tears and watch as he slips the ring onto my finger. He climbs back onto the couch and wraps his arms around me, only moving one around Whitney when she dog-piles on top of us in excitement.

None of us know though, that when we return to Indiana  the past is going to come back to haunt us, in the form of Sam Winchester back from Hell.

A/N2: Another announcement! Another story! Remember how I promised a sequel to this story? A look into the years these two spent apart? Well I began it and then life happened (along with a stroke) so I just now am finishing it up. Look for Wounded Hearts to begin in March!!! I’m excited to share it with you. I will keep those of you that were on the PH taglist unless you tell me different. Love to you all. 

@vickiq9761 @81mysteriouslyme @travelingriversideblues-x @akshi8278 @keymology @hoboal87 @squirrelnotsam @spnbaby-67 @sandlee44 @natura1phenomenon @drakelover78 @lostinaseaoffictionalbliss @larajadeschmidt13 @tftumblin @blacktithe7 @lilulo-12 @adoptdontshoppets @cpag7 @markofdean79 @supraveng @deanwanddamons @mogaruke @death-unbecomes-you @vicariouslythruspn @atc74 @delightfullykrispypeach​ @sea040561​

[stevenbasic]

“Oooo look at that one! And ahahah that one!” she sang, as we sat next to one another on the empty beach, “They look the same! You’re really just as good as any of the photographers I used to work with!”

“Oh, I don’t know…” I replied, trying to keep the silly delight I was feeling, being lauded by Melissa, out of my voice, “i-it’s probably just these better cameras, on these phones, these days…”

“No, no, you’re really good!!” she flattered, scooching herself closer to me. We had been sitting like this, next to one another on her towel in the sand, all alone, for a while now. We were going through the pictures of the day, the little “modeling shoot” she’d asked me to do for her, this afternoon after our morning classes at the conference. She was flipping through them on my phone - which she insisted we use - in trying to duplicate some of the shots she’d done at a photoshoot on this same exact beach, this little nature reserve, six or so years ago. Or was it two, or three? I had trouble pinning her down, on that one. Anyway, she wanted to put the pictures up on Instagram, she said, for a joke. Melissa had tossed the gauzy tapestry of her sarong over our heads, to keep us shielded from the late afternoon sun and able to more easily see the pictures on my phone's meager screen. The moment, thus, was intimate, the space between us tight...

“C’mon…” I deferred. It was disconcerting, how excited I was by her plaudits, how eager I was for her praise, even if it was just for my photography skills. We had been so friendly, here, all alone on our basically private beach over these past few hours. With no one else around, I had no airs to keep up, no appearances to maintain, and my guard had come down without a fight. I had allowed myself to both relax and give in too easily and too fully to the temptations of her flirty friendship. “I’m no photographer, really…you’re obviously just a really good model...”

“Ahhh, I was never really a ‘model’,” she deferred, “just a girl with the boobs some energy drink company wanted in their ads. But thank you...” She giggled, and nudged me with her bare shoulder. “...and you should learn how to take a compliment,” she told me. 

My heart fluttered.

I also can’t begin to tell you how fucking turned on I was. I’d just spent the better part of the afternoon following her around as she posed here, posed there, once in a while disappearing behind boulders or bushes to change in and out of multiple swimsuits for this, our ersatz modeling session, trying to duplicate the last time she was here. “Before” pictures stored on her phone, “After” now on mine…

I must have looked like an overeager simp, a wide-eyed supplicant, when she - with demure giggles - had initially peeled off her beach dress to reveal her first bikini, a little, overmatched yellow thing, and asked me to start snapping. 

She had framed it as a chance to see if she still “had it”, now that she wasn’t nineteen years old. Oh, she had it, I’d quickly and convincingly been shown, and in spades. In fact, the afternoon quickly became a study in how much bigger her tits had grown over the last few years, how much more Melissa there was everywhere, what kind of womanly body she was - if she's to be believed, god help me - still growing into. Our first looks, comparisons of the previous shots to today’s, were ample demonstration of that - it actually made her laugh: “Omigod I look huge in that one!!” or “I’m like twice the size I was then!!”  To her it was a joke but in all honesty it actually was quite dramatic, sitting here with her now, looking at these pictures.

It was also quite dramatic how soft her skin felt. 

She was leaned into me, under the canopy of her sarong, the skin and supple flesh of her bare left arm, shoulder, hip, thigh pressed abundantly against my sallow side. The day had cooled as evening approached, and her warmth was pleasant, the scent of her beach-sweetened body saturating our little space with its luxurious richness. My view - even notwithstanding the bikini pics - was equally enthralling. She had changed, after our shoot was done, back into her burgundy suit, because I had told her - when asked, pressed on the matter - that it was “my favorite”. So now our private world under the shade and shelter of her skirt was filled with her lap, her hair, her big, soft breasts in her string bikini. Sunlight dappled in, shadows emphasizing everything. 

I was so fucking hard. 

“I, uh, did take photography in college…” I conceded, bathing still in her praises and painfully aware of my erection, which was nearly a third person in our little makeshift tent. 

“Seeee??” she squealed, bumping me with her shapely hip, “I knew it! You were so good, too, making me feel comfortable, like a real professional.” She flipped to another photo, nonchalantly zoomed in on a little detail...

“How do I always seem to manage to get sand on my boob..?” she asked, more to herself in an aside. If she heard me chuckle I’m lucky; I was worried it sounded like a whine.

“It is a little weird traipsing around in front of your boss in a bikini,” she said, now casually flipping to the next picture, “but you were such a gentleman.”

Ha - ‘gentleman’. If only she knew the battle I’d been fighting all afternoon, trying to keep my composure, trying to look at ease as she giggled and bounced and posed, rolling in the sand, playing in the surf, smiling - or seething - for the camera.

 I saw sides of Melissa I’d only seen in the countless images of her I’d surreptitiously collected on my pc at work, from her Instagram, ones I’d scoured from the net.  But here, in person, in the flesh, she looked bigger and more voluptuous than ever, and it had been all I could do to keep from outright groaning at times, when she would emerge from behind a bush, or a boulder on the beach, in a new bikini or one-piece. I might be kidding myself but I hope I made it look like I was keeping my cool and snapped pic after glorious pic. I was doing the best I could but in the end I knew I was not made for this; my heart is too weak and I was honestly afraid I might pass out.

And these photos are all on my phone, I thought to myself, in a lurid anticipation.

“Well, you really look beautiful, in all of them,” I said, nodding but immediately knowing I’d said someth-

“Oh my god thank you!!” Melissa gushed, turning my way in our little shelter and dropping the phone, forgotten, onto our towel. “You are so nice, so great..!”

My heart nearly stopped as I looked at her, our faces inches away. Eyes made up, makeup heavy and dramatic for the camera. Her hair a huge soft mess of deep brown abundance, her dimpled smile and perfect cheekbones riveting and...

Fuck. She is so fucking gorgeous. 

“Uh…” 

She inched in closer.

Omigod is she going to..?

“I could just kiss you right now!” she laughed, her smile growing wide and her eyes dancing, playing over my face and then flashing as she read my reaction, the moment between us suddenly wired, charged. 

I can’t let this explode, I can’t I can’t I c-

“I-it’s true…” I mumbled, dropping my gaze away from hers back to the phone, laying beneath her thighs. I knew I should stop, stop. “I m-mean...the pictures came out g-great…”

Looking down, my eyes could not help but be drawn to her great breast, tanned and huge and swollen in her taut burgundy bikini, stray grains of sand the only imperfection on the smooth expanse of its skin. She was for the moment quiet, and breathing. Oh god I just stared. 

“D-Doctor J..?” she finally began, her voice dropping, cracking, sounding - for the first time - like she was unsure of something, “Do you like spending time with me?”

Oh jesus.

“Y-y-yes, of course,” I replied, unsure of what to do. 

“Okay...okay,” she continued, her voice still shaky. She was obviously trying to gather herself. “I was worried that I was maybe being too...pushy, that maybe you didn’t really want…”

Her words trailed off, and I could feel her looking at me, watching my face. I hoped to god she couldn’t tell that I was just staring at the swell of her big left breast, that rather she took the downturn of my gaze as just an inability to hold hers. 

“N-no, really, it’s...fun. Y-you’re fun,” I said, dumbly, too meek of course to tell her that every moment with her had been like a fantasy come true, that I would kill to spend every last second of mine just staring at her, ogling her, my only air the tanning oil and perfume from her skin of this moment right now. 

I had to hold my tongue, before saying anything else stupid. 

“We do have fun together, don’t we?” she continued, her voice dropping, familiar, “it’s been great, down here, watching you relax.” The slow, rhythmic burgeoning of her chest, how each of her strong breaths inflated her breasts into the tautness of her swimsuit, soft flesh bulging against its confines, had me hypnotized. “I like seeing you loosen up, enjoy yourself. I like seeing you have fun. I like helping you do that. In fact...I guess I should tell you. I have a little surprise for you…” she said. 

“A...a surprise?” I asked, witless at this point, eased into a tranquility of sorts by the closeness of her body, by her calm, even voice.

“MmHmm...a surprise,” she answered, gentle giggles sending jiggles through her boobs, “you lucky boy, you get another two days down here. You needed a break, you needed to relax, so I had Randi change flights for us, get another couple days away, another two days of vacation…”

“T-t-two days?” I asked, suddenly confused. I was going to...what? Be away another two days from the office? But the conference would be over, everyone else long gone. Except...wait. “Y-you too?” I asked, eyes up to meet hers for the moment, “You’re staying too?”

“Of course…” she purred, watching my eyes drop again, seeing my anxiety quickly assuaged, “If that’s alright? We can stay longer, just you and me. So we can relax, maybe talk about some of the stuff I learned, changes we can make in the office. Is that okay?”

“Uhhh…” I began, as the complications started to rise in my head. There were patients to be seen, things to do, and then there was- 

“I already okayed it with Sheryl,” she answered, as if reading my thoughts, “And we moved your patients. We took care of everything. It’ll all be fine, it’ll be so nice…”

“Y-yeah…” I replied, apparently agreeing to all this. Two more days? Just with Melissa? With Melissa, the beach, and her...her...

”Good..!” she chirped, jiggles again through her chest, “because I wayyyy overpacked. I have so many outfits I haven’t been able to wear yet...” Casually, she brushed a few grains of sand off her left breast, sending more seismic ripples through her tit. “And now I get to wear them just... for... you!”

She booped me on the nose.

She booped me on the nose?

<giggle!>

I looked back up at her for a second, then down again, my eyes once more drawn helplessly back, surreptitiously askance, by the gravity of her breast. My view settled; I’d never seen those little freckles before, emerging from her tan.

“Do you want to look at any more pictures?” she asked, softly, obligingly. My phone, with our photoshoot, laid forgotten under her.

“n-n-no...thank you...” I squeaked, eyes now absolutely plastered on her breasts. Somehow I still held onto the hope that she didn’t realize I was all but outright gawping at her tits. Her cleavage was incredible, her big breasts squashed just enough between her arms to make them swell voluptuously together. I imagined, right then and there, what it must be like to slip in between them, slide into there, disappear, live in there, lost in her abundance...

”So we’ll leave late on Sunday morning, instead of early Friday,” she began again, satisfied, “Randi moved our flight to Sunday morning at 11:15. We’ll get a taxi from the lobby at nine, so you’ll need to be packed by…”

She paused.

“Dr J?” she asked, “Were you listening to me?”

”w-w-what?” I stammered, as my gaze shot back up.

”I said...were you listening to me?” Her eyes bore into mine, sternly.

”y-yeah...I was listening?” I felt like a schoolchild, caught daydreaming in class by his teacher. His huge, supermodel teacher with the ginormous tits.

“Really? You were listening?” Melissa retorted, the smile cracking her cheeks disbelieving me already, “Or were you just lost in my boobs?” 

Suddenly, she tossed her sarong, our shelter from the sun aside. My eyes were assaulted by the late afternoon sun; I squinted, shied back. Aside me, she sat up straighter. 

!!!

I was gaping, speechless as Melissa looked down at me, brow arched in already-final judgement. “Hmmm?” she hmmmd, “Were you? Anything to say?”

My mouth was open, my jaw slack, but I had no words. 

Firmly, she trapped my chin in her hand and - looking me straight in the eye, began to nod my head for me. “ ‘Yes...yes I was Melissa…’” she said, dropping her voice two octaves and moving my jaw like a marionette dummy, speaking for me, imitating me with the voice of a doofus, “‘I was looking at your boobs…’ ”

“N-No! Really I w-w-wasn’t…!” I pleaded, as she already began to laugh, releasing my chin. I was flushing hard, my heart and stomach having dropped themselves onto the sand, out of my body. “Please, Melissa, I was just-“

“Haha omigod  don’t be embarrassed! I’m joking!” she laughed, reaching her hands behind her to gather her hair - and of course casually present her magnificent chest, “I know they’re totally a distraction. Kinda hard to ignore.” My eyes flitted between her face - keeping eye contact - and her chest - trying not to ogle. What did she want me to do?!? “And you’ve been such a gentleman, doing your best not to, like, stare all afternoon.”

Oh, if she only knew...

“uh no, I uh…” Holy shit this was terribly humiliating.

”Shh it’s okay, you’ve been a good boy, you’ve earned it, taking all these pictures for me...,” she laughed, tossing her hair out again, in a voluminous wave behind her back, “stare all you want..!”

“oh my god…” I groaned, writhing in silent humiliation, overwhelmed by the indignity of the moment, and trying to look anywhere but at her chest.

To that, she just laughed. “Oh shush,” she insisted, “We both know you’re married, you and I both respect that.” She reached out to push a stray lock of hair, windswept, off my forehead. “But I know you’re just a man, and they’re boobs. It’s just a natural impulse.” She smiled at me, munificently. “So it’s okay, really…it happens all the time.”

“B-b-b-but, Melissa…” I began, stammering. I needed to...I dunno! Tell her I was...better than that! 

“Are you just not used to being with girls in bikinis, is that it?” she asked

“Uhhhh…” what?? “M-maybe…?” I answered, my voice trailing off. 

”Omigod look how embarrassed you are!” she cooed, “That's sooo cute!”

”No, r-really, M-Melissa, I, uhhhh…”

”Shhhhhh...it’s okay, really, I’m used to it” she said, her voice reaching out to soothe me, her eyes drawing me to her in their own embrace, “You don’t have to be a gentleman all the time…”

============================================================

I had a lot of help on this one, from readers here at tumblr to my normal supercharged band of miscreants (DB20, Beetle, Antares). And huge props out to the morphers whose original images I used - MagicGrowthHormone, Stella5945 and @iphotoshopu​..I hope I'm not missing anyone.

[mrsluthordanvers]

“I’m going on vacation.”

“What?”

“I’m. Going. On. Vacation.” Lena repeats herself again, slower.

“I heard what you said Lena. But why? Where do you plan on going?” Lex is doing that voice he tries so hard to hide when he’s feeling agitated.

“Let me think. I’m no longer the CEO of L-Corp. I’m barely your partner. For once in my adult life no one is paying attention to me.” Lena almost smiles. “What better time than this to go on vacation?

And where? Not that it is any of your business but I’m thinking a beach.” Lena folds a sarong and places it on top of her tasteful one piece bathing suit. “Somewhere I can sip a mai tai.”

“You don’t like beaches, or mai tais.”

Lena’s head falls back as she laughs, “You’re missing the point Lex. Whatever you have planned, I’m not going be a part of it because I’m going.”

Lena doesn’t bother to wait for a response as she walks out of her apartment with her suitcase in tow.

“Lena!”

Lena turns towards a familiar voice just as she’s about to lower herself into a Luthor Corp car.

“Wh- what’s going on?” Kara sounds a little breathless as she looks between Lena and the suitcase being loaded into the trunk.

“Nothing, Kara.” Lena tries to bite back the annoyance in her tone. She knows Kara is sad, she knows that she is sorry, she knows that she’s trying so hard to give Lena her space, she knows she still wants to be friends. But god Lena is so tired. She’s exhausted, exhausted of the constant swirl of emotions, exhausted of the way Kara tip toes around her, giving her those looks. She just needs to escape. To not think about anything for a moment.

“Ok.” Kara adjusts her glasses as the suitcase disappears. “Where are you going?”

Something shifts in Lena, and suddenly she’s so tired at the idea of fighting with Kara.

“I don’t know.” Lena answers honestly. “I think I’ll decide when I get to the airport. Just get on the first plane to somewhere warm. I haven’t done something so spontaneous in a long time.”

Kara smiles sadly. “What about Luthor Corp?”

Lena tilts her head as she looks up at Kara still holding her car door open. “Luthor Corp doesn’t need me.”

“Yes it does.” Kara whispers genuinely.

“Well” Lena puts a hand on her door, getting ready to close it, indicating she’s done with the conversation. “It survived Lex once. I’m sure it will still be standing when I get back.”

“When is that?”

“When I’m ready.” Lena answers as she gives the door a tug. Kara takes the hint and steps back, forcing a happy smile onto her face.

“Enjoy yourself Lena.”

A month passes before Lena starts to get bored.

A month of sitting on the beach under an umbrella, protecting her fair complexion under a constant coat of sunscreen and an oversized beach hat. She spent the first days in a alcohol induced blur. Then she started venturing out of her hotel room to spend time in the exclusive infinity pool she was paying extra for. Eventually she made her way down to the beach, walking along the wet sand one evening letting the cold water roll up over her feet and ankles. After that night she created a routine. Fresh fruit and coffee in the morning with a relaxing swim in the infinity pool. Then she would hide out from the afternoon heat on a beach chair under an umbrella, reading, or napping. She couldn’t remember the last time she purposefully had a nap in the middle of the day. Normally her body just succumbed to them in exhaustion. Then she spent the evening walking down the beach, or exploring the small town.

Now she can feel her mind starting to wander away from the mindless plot of her novel. One minute she’s reading her book, the next moment she’s staring blankly at the page brainstorming how to fix a project that she hasn’t thought about in the last year. She starts to carry around a notebook with her to write down new ideas, ideas to fix projects she once thought were a lost cause, ideas to improve projects she already thought were finished.

She embraces this new onslaught of ideas, digging her toes into the sand as she scribbles away on notebooks propped on her knees, chewing on her pen when she’s thinking.

Naturally her ideas lead her to Kara, and the DEO. She closes her notebook the first time it happens, and doesn’t open it for a whole day. She opens it again when her next idea hits. She spends the next week trying not to think about her, but Kara lingers in the back of her brain, appearing again and again in her ideas until Lena finally stops fighting. She closes her book, holding it against her chest as she walks down the beach, not realizing how far she’s gone until the sun has set, so deep in her thoughts. Turning around Lena walks slowly back to the hotel enjoying the water lapping at her toes. As she walks she makes a note to tell Jess to make sure there’s time in her schedule to start swimming again.

Lena touches down in National City exactly two months after she left, feeling lighter than she left. She steps out onto the tarmac in a floral skirt that brushes mid calf. She’s paired it with strappy sandals and a loose solid blouse. It’s so much less constraining than her usual clothing, and comfortable. In fact she’s brought a whole extra suitcase back with her filled with similar styles, pieces that she can integrate into her office style.

She crosses over to the waiting Luthor Corp car, unfazed by Lex’s ability to find out when she was arriving. Handing over her suitcases, Lena climbs into the air conditioned back seat, rattling off the address when the driver asks.

It’s a short drive to their destination as Lena watches the passing city, wondering if it’s as different as she feels. Soon they’re pulling up in front of a familiar building and Lena is exiting before the driver can open her door. She lets herself into the building as someone leaves, not paying attention. Lena navigates her way through the building with ease. Taking a deep breath Lena lifts her hand and raps confidently against this door like so many times before.

The door opens wide with a familiar flurry of blonde hair and pure excitement that has Lena’s heart beating nervously. Lena watches as it all comes to a halt, blue eyes widening, smile freezing, the moment she realizes it’s Lena at her door.

“Hi Kara.

Can I come in?”

[saintheartwing]

Breaking Dawn, Part Four:  HOLD ON HOPE

The entities of emotion were, to many a race, creation deities. They had beget many a species, including the Irken race, a race born from a union of Intelligence and Will.

And now the species born from Hope was poised to end the Irken race. High above the planet Irk, aiding the Resisty ships as countless others formed a blockade to cut off Irk from the rest of the galaxy, it appeared as though all of Irk's hopes laid in the Wing, the host to Hope, herself an Irken...

"Please." She insisted, clasping her hands together, getting on bent knee before the Meekrob race as the "lighties" hovered before her. The rest of the Resisty stood behind her, Lard Nar frowning slightly. He had had reservations originally about having her join his crew, but she'd proven invaluable, gentle, and above all, considerate. She had owed the Resisty a debt after they'd saved her life...and she'd repaid it time and time again. Now she asked for clemency...

"Can't we give them half a year?" Lard Nar finally asked. "...I don't like the idea of giving the Irkens much time, but just a few months to surrender?" He went on, waving his hands in the air. "It's only fair."

"Would THEY give YOUR race the same mercy?" The leader of the Meekrob growled in its ethereal voice. Sarong was not a kindly being by nature. "DID they give your race half a year to submit before they pitilessly invaded, foul little BUGS that they are?"

"...aren't we supposed to be better than the bugs?" A third voice spoke up, as they turned to see two people stepping off a teleportal pad, dusting themselves off. "The Massive's been moved. Sold. Fresh off the market and on it's way to a very, VERY happy customer."

"Well, THAT would put a smile on my face had I a face!" Sarong laughed. "...alright. I'll give the Irkens a MONTH to surrender to our blockade, to come over to our way of thinking. Get the message out." The phantom-esque glowing being demanded, turning his head to his people as they moved along with the Resisty to the communications relay. "I sincerely HOPE...for your people's sake...they do the smart thing and give in." Sarong told the Wing.

"I have faith that they will make the right choice in the end." The Wing said as she stood up, nodding firmly, moving majestically back to her quarters as she laid down on her bed, noticing her room's communication was going off. She picked up the phone, listening intently. "Yes?"

"...milady, it's me."

The Wing's eyes went wide as the Entity of Hope shimmered overhead. "Turn up the volume, quick." It asked.

"What's happening?"

"The worst, that's what. My friends tapped into your powers with the Exemplar rings. I NEED access to Hope. I need a way to break a hold that Two has over Earth's Avatar of Will, Dilbert Membrane. Otherwise he won't have a fighting chance and...and kids are gonna die."

"I'll be happy to assist, but what of the Entity of Will? Have you contacted it?"

"I don't know where it IS, only you, Compassion and Love are on my speed dial...I don't suppose any others have appeared that could be of help?"

"...the Entity of Corrupted Passion, Rage. He's appeared, but he...he won't help. Not yet. We need to have faith in Sude, who is still bonding with his own host."

"They need to hurry. YOU need to hurry."

"I'll do what I can. I must ask though...you'll need a deputy to assist you. Dib is the Pillar of Will on Earth, is he not?"

"And Gaz is Rage, yes. And you wanna know if there's one for Hope on the Base Planet? Yes. And you know him."

"Who?"

"Skoodge."

The Wing chuckled. "Oh, Skoodge, that dear little soldier. Such a cheery soul. Always looking forward, always devoted. Yes...yes, I don't think we need to worry, Frequency..."

The Wing and Entity of Hope, Psyche, smiled.

"ALL WILL BE WELL.”

Dib paced around in front of his classroom, sighing as he held his hands behind his back, chewing his lip. The Principal had announced that everyone was to leave the school building in an orderly fashion, one class at a time due to a bomb scare.

Naturally, everyone thought Dib or his sister had something to do with it. Mostly because Zim and his weird "cousin", Skoodge, wasn't in class to be pointed and hissed at. M"Alright. I am about to tell you the explanation but if I know you all...and I DO..."

He rolled his eyes at this. "You're all so ignorant you won't believe it. So here goes. A psychotic alien forced a magical kind of ring on me and my sister. He turned us into Manchurian agents that would have decimated the school around lunchtime due to a trigger he put in us. I'm still not entirely sure why. But you aren't buying ANY of that, are you?"

All of the class looked at each other, blinked, and most of them broke out into laughter. Gretchen just sighed, leaning back in her chair, head hung low as Dib sighed and pinched the space between his eyes, chewing on his lip again. "...all right, fine. Nevermind. Moot point, anyhow." God they're all IDIOTS! I'm surrounded by ID! I! OTS!

"Moot point indeed." A voice, filled with snarling rage, a faint laugh lingering in the air called out.

KRUCHA-THROOOOOM! The wall was practically shattered as Two barreled through it, encased in a red energy aura, slamming Dib through the wall on the other side, windows and wall shattering. Soon the class, in fact, the whole school was watching as Dib was sent sprawling across the football field of the High Skool, Two standing tall, fists clenched as red energy rippled from his body.

"Ah, RAGE." Two laughed. "The "Passion" turned dark just like "Diligence" became "Avarice"! A step up, in my humble opinion. See, unlike Miyu, who's off to visit my daddy dearest here in town, I don't "want it all". Nah. I think smaller. I'll just settle for my existence restored to stability as your world is transformed into MINE."

He leapt through the air, fist flying, but Dib managed to roll out of the way, Two growling angrily. "Forgot, I gave you until after lunch to have most of your will back...and I DO suppose stripping any chance you have of fighting back against me would be cheating." Two mused as Dib leaped to his feet, pointing his ring at Two.

"GO!" He yelled out.

Tiny little sparks jutted out, wisps of green slipping to the ground...but nothing. Nothing happened.

"Then again..." Two laughed, his knee going squarely into Dib's gut, knocking Dib to the football field's grass below as he cracked his neck before delivering ANOTHER kick to Dib's side, "I also have kept you from using your ring. So it's hardly a fair fight. I LIKE these odds."

THWUH-THWUCK! Dib was rolled over onto his side as Two knelt down, grabbing his throat. "I...am going to beat you so...so...badly. I'll make this last. And then, after I've stopped by this lovely Chinese restaurant in town for some noodles..." The alien leered, his golden eyes glittering like a dark fire. "I'm going to come back, have you and your sister burn this whole place down with everyone in it, and make sure you're conscious through it all. See, I WAS going to strip your consciousness from your body after this, but frankly...I think me leaving you helpless, trapped inside your own body has a certain poetic CRUELTY to it, wouldn't you say?"

He sniggered darkly, throttling Dib with his clawed hands. "Ooh, I LOVE me when I'm NASTY."

KRA-THROOMP! Two was knocked clean through the air as Gaz lowered the bench she'd carried from the end of the football field, folding her arms down at Dib. "Get up, you idiot. If ANYBODY'S gonna kick your ass, it's me and me alone."

"Thanks, Gaz!" Dib said, laughing with relief as he stood up and made to hug his dear sister, arms stretching wide. I-"

"If you get REMOTELY sentimental I'm feeding you your own nose." Gaz said swiftly, Dib shutting up and turning to face Two as he stood up, nursing a bleeding head as he frowned at them.

"Gaz...almost forgot about you. You know..." He rubbed his chin. "...you look so much like my great aunt, at least, from what the old photo albums showed of her. How'd she die again? Lab accident?"

Gaz turned pale at this. Not with fear, though. This was pure, undiluted grief running through her as Two dusted himself off.

How does he know about Mom? Dib thought.

It had been an ordinary day. Well...as ordinary as life with Prof. Membrane GETS. Peggy Membrane was listening to him speak about his latest invention in his laboratory as Dib, age 7, and Gaz, age 5, stood nearby in the Professor's considerably larger-on-the-inside-than-it-was-the-outside garage laboratory was lighted up.

"How uh...how does...this...um..." Dib asked again as Prof. Membrane strode by him, a strange, bulbous helmet atop his head as he fiddled around with a screwdriver and a control pad in his long, black-gloved hands. He was wearing his large labcoat...he ALWAYS wore his labcoat in the lab, but never in the house, thank God. Peggy always said it smelled too much like plastic.

"Compression technology." The professor laughed. "Shrinking something very, very, VERY big and compacting it into a pocket dimension, I'M A

GENIUS!" He hovered in the air, lightning splitting the air around him as Peggy quickly snatched Gaz away from an accidental bolt that almost singed her hair. "Sorry, I've GOT to be more careful about where I gloat, my dear." Matthew Membrane told "Pegster", taking the helmet off and motioning for his family to come by a table with several vats nearby labeled "DANGEROUS: EXPLODING CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS! DO! NOT! OPEN! SUPER-SERIOUSLY!" written over them.

"What's that?" Peggy inquired, pointing at his latest invention, what appeared to be some kind of mechanical clip for the hair. "You told me your invention was SMALL and unassuming but...you DO know somebody's already invented these Bluetooth things, right?" Peggy laughed.

"My dear, it's a device that lets me speak any language! Even to animals!" Prof. Membrane laughed, pulling on a lever nearby as several cages filled with animals popped up from beneath the floor, all of them looking at the family.

"Ooh, big kitty!" Gaz said, pointing at the tiger as Dib looked at a snake. It began to hiss, it's eyes almost...glowing?

Prof. Membrane quickly led Dib away from the cage, the snake cursing under its breath as Membrane held the strange, segmented clip up, giving it to Peggy. "Put it in your hair. It will transmit signals to your brain, to the part centering around language recognition. All barriers are broken down INSTANTLY! The aftereffects have been odd...something of a shared link...I talked with that bunny yesterday and after that I kept thumping my foot against the ground for half an hour."

Peggy put the clip in her hair and stared at said bunny as it chuckled. "Ooh, have I got a carrot for YOU!" It said, giggling immaturely.

"OH!" Peggy clasped the sides of her face with her hands, gasping. "You little!" She waved her finger at it and took the clip off. "Maybe I should go find a nice CAT or something to talk to." She told her husband. "Here you go, Matt."

She tossed it back to him and he stepped back to catch it...

And he went knocking into a plank that had a small vat of "Exploding Chemical Compounds" placed on the other end. Like a catapult, the small vat was launched through the air at a stunned Peggy as Dib looked up in horror, eyes widening, Gaz's mouth beginning to open in a gasp as Matthew Membrane watched most of his wife become a sloughed pile of flesh...

He never took off the lab coat after that...there was always a tiny bit of Peggy still lingering on the edges of his collar...

A tiny bit of Peggy lingering in his heart.

In ALL of their hearts...

"Do you know what rage TRULY is? The most powerful kind of hatred ISN'T born from ignorance or prejudice or from a perceived threat. Oh no." The alien waved a claw in the air. "Those are Fear in disguise. The real fire that fuels the burning hatred of rage...is personal loss. That's why I wear the red."

Two held his fist up as Gaz and Dib readied themselves, Gaz shaking angrily. "You lost your mother, you must have felt so unhappy, so ANGRY. You didn't understand. Why, why did it have to happen? And I think you blamed your father...and a tiny bit of you blamed your brother, because neither one of them were strong enough to help."

Gaz opened her mouth to say something, but then closed her eyes and clenched her fists, holding them tightly to her sides. "...that's...it wasn't MY fault...somebody had to...somebody had to take the blame. I LOVED...her." She whispered out. "...I LOVED her so...so much..."

"...my own mother is slowly dying. WILL die if my world isn't returned." Two told them softly.

"Then you know how I felt. Then you know that if I had the power...I would have done anything, ANYTHING to get her back." Gaz asked in her dark, accusing tone. "I have that power now...you FORCED it on me, but with you dead and gone, and me with this power..."

She held up her ring, grinning coldly. "I WILL find a way. I'm smart, and I'm tough...and there's not a kid in the world who wouldn't burn it all down if it meant getting back his mommy."

"Oh, Gaz..." Two whispered softly, almost sadly. "You couldn't have described me any better."

And with that, he launched himself at them, claws held high.

...

...

...

... "So..." Nick inquired, his county-boy accent thick and homely as he sat down on the pink, fluffy couch with the squat Irken Invader Skoodge at Zim's house, Zim having gone off to the Radioshack to pick up "supplies" as GIR did his own "private thing" in the laboratory. "If Mr. Billingsly is the sleaziest, number one backstabbing lover in all the town, why's he defending this gal off the street? Reckon it don't make no sense." He asked Skoodge, who was, before you ask, NOT in any disguise.

Oh no, Invader Skoodge, short, fat and cuddly Invader Skoodge, was "au naturale", ladies and gents...well, except for the clothes he was wearing, his usual maroon Invader's attire with that mysterious splotch lingering on his stomach.

"It's because before he got amnesia, William Billingsly was the sleaziest number-one LAWYER in Dawson County!" Skoodge explained, waving a gloved hand in the air as Nick passed the chocolate-covered popcorn GIR had made over to him, Skoodge tossing a handful into his mouth.

He liked having the human over. It got so boring, just being stuck in Zim's basement. This way he could talk about human soap operas like "Kissy-Kissy-Boo-Boo" AND wrestling programs like "Skull Squisher" all he wanted and with somebody who wasn't too "busy" or "stupid" to care about either one. Plus, in the event he ever said too much about Irken culture, he'd just erase Nick's memories with a little mini-squid Zim had developed to be attached to people's heads.

...again.

Yeah, he'd tested out a LOT of things on Nick and-oh. Skoodge grimly frowned as Nick took off his cap, scratching at the...

He couldn't bear to look at it. Skoodge looked away, almost puking up the popcorn he'd gobbled down as Nick decided to use the bathroom, promising to come back with soda from the kitchen as Skoodge sighed, turning his head slowly back to the television. Nice kid, that Nick. Stupid, yeah, but nice. Even before what Zim had done to him.

...that had been...

Skoodge was a trained and experienced invader. He did not ever take his job personally, and he understood that Dib had his own duty to save the planet just as he had a duty to help Zim take it over. It was, on an intellectual level, sad. In another time and place, he might have been capable of being friends with the humans. It was somewhat sad he never could be. There was a lot about this world he liked. And he was beginning to fall into an enjoyable rhythm, just staying here on Earth, hanging out.

Maybe...one day...maybe this would feel like his real home. Maybe one day he'd fine that thing he needed to make him want to stay forever. Maybe one day he WOULD be friends, and there wouldn't be a need for this back-and-forth, and they could just...BE. He was fine with waiting. He was good at that...the waiting and the hoping.

Heck, truth be told, even ZIM was beginning to fall into a steady pattern. A new plan every week instead of every day, and there was a faint camaraderie between he and the Dib-human. Sometimes, Skoodge, he could swear Zim LIKED being continuously beaten. LIKED being stuck here, constantly plotting.

Heck, GIR liked Earth plenty, Skoodge thought to himself as he snuck over to the linen closet and pulled it open, a monitor revealing what was occurring in the laboratory downstairs. GIR was dancing around, a disco ball hanging overhead as lights sprayed around, the little robot posing and singing as he strutted his stuff.

Can't read my, can't read my, No he can't read my Poker Face!

"She aint' got to love nobody!" GIR sang out, waving his butt in the air before he whipped around, holding his arms behind his head and shaking his groove thing.

Can't read my, can't read my, No he can't read my Poker Face!

Yep, nothing changed around here, Skoodge thought to himself as he closed the door, returning to the couch and turning back to the television. The state of normalcy: sitting and waiting for something to happen, and usually, it did. In the end. Things tended to work out in the end, Skoodge thought to himself as he popped some more chocolate popcorn in his mouth. He just had to keep where he was. Stay happy. Keep believing...

He stiffened suddenly, as a voice called out to him, a faint accent lingering in it as he slowly turned his head, looking upon a blue-furred being that had stepped into the living room. It wore a blue cap with a strange white symbol on it's head, and blue shorts to match with a special ring in one hand...a ring with a blue symbol upon it that was being offered to him. To HIM.

"Skoodge of Irk." Frequency said cheerily. "Stoic ol' Skoodge. You have the ability to feel great hope."

He put the ring in Skoodge's hand and Skoodge slowly slipped it on, eyes widening. It felt so natural...like he'd been missing a limb all his life, forced to wear a prosthetic but now gaining back his old hand...

Meanwhile, a maroon-eyed, green-skinned being, Invader Zim himself, was walking back from Radio Shack to his house, his arms filled with sacks full to the brim of technical material he needed for his latest plan.

"Brilliant, BRILLIANT! I'll transform pigs into half-human slaves, rounding up humans and overriding their genetic code with my own glorious Irken DNA!" Zim laughed to himself. "Irken and human fused together and at my command, I'll build a new Irken Empire right here on Planet Earth!"

He blinked suddenly, frowning as he put down his bags and scratched his head. "Wait. I'm TALKING TO MYSELF...vrik na tishanti!" He cursed. "I'm becoming too much like the Dib-Stink." He sighed and reached into his maroon outfit, pulling out a small notepad from within. "And have I already done something like this lately? Better check the list."

He took out a pen that popped up from his PAK, flipping through the notebook. "Hmm. Fiddle with gravity in school...launching chickens into outer space...replacing organs with STUFF...launching COWS into outer space...launching GHOST INSPECTORS into outer space...oh. "Turn dogs into dog-people". Ah, DOGS, not pigs. Yep, this'll work!"

"Observation: You always had a knack for such ideas. Insanely brilliant...they called you mad." A metallic, yet distinctly feminine voice rang out, making Zim whip his head in its direction as he saw a robotic female approach him, black-outfit making her look VERY slim, with a red helm over her head and tipless white gloves showing off almost Irken-like long clawed fingers. "But madness is merely genius to a small mind, and when compared to you, most organics have small minds."

"...what ARE you? Explain yourself!" Zim demanded angrily, pointing at her. "Tell Zim!"

"Explanation: I have an offer for you." The woman said. "I am Miyu. I ask this..."

She held up a ring in her finger...a faint orange glow to it.

"Join my corps."

...

...

...

...The kids of the school were watching, their teachers unable to get them to leave as they saw Gaz and Dib struggling with Two, who kept flinging them around the football field, kicking and punching them whenever they got close enough. Dib had managed to bust one of Two's cheek bones, and Gaz had delivered, WAS delivering-

"YOOOOOWWW-OOOOOOH-HOOOO-HOOOO-HOOOO!"

Ooooch. Gaz fought DIRTY. Two staggered back, flailing out with his ring as a medieval torture rack attached itself via energy construct to Gaz, trying to stretch her out as Dib struggled to break her free, Two cradling his sore crotch. "Y-you dirty little...GAAAAH..."He muttered out.

"You're just going to stand there and watch them suffer like that?" Gretchen asked the others as Ms. Bitters calmly looked up from her copy of "Beyond Good and Evil", "harrumphed" and went back to reading. The rest of the class looked around at each other, almost hesitant.

"We can't just stand here and WATCH!" Gretchen insisted angrily, waving her arms in the air. "We've gotta DO something! ANYTHING to help them!"

"That thing can shoot finger-beams. What're WE gonna do?" The Letter M asked, scratching his head as Poonchy nodding in agreement.

"Oooooh. He just made a shark." Zita called out as Dib yelled for his life, climbing one of the football poles as Two danced in victory, Gaz being beaten up by a cheer-leading team he'd summoned forth with his ring, Gaz swearing to rip off Two's head and make him eat it later. Somehow.

She could do it, you know! She TOTALLY could!

"GRAAAAH!" Gretchen tugged at her hair, exiting the room and stomping out into the hallway-

Running into a beautiful-looking being who was standing by the Guidance Counselor. Her eyes widened as the Guidance Counselor nodded at the angel.

"This is her."

"I'm surprised you figured it out."

"I spent years around the Entity of Love. I know souls filled with it. And her love for Dib has marked her."

The Beautiful Angel stepped forward, putting something in Gretchen's hand. "You won't remember us. Nobody in this school will remember us, my friend will make sure of that. But when the time comes, you'll know what to do inside your heart." The Beautiful Angel crooned, taking Gretchen's cheek and kissing her on the forehead before leaving, Gretchen moving the ring in her hand to her pocket as the Guidance Counselor took her shoulder.

It was as if a veil that had been placed over her eyes was ripped away. "Wh-what was I doing?" She asked, scratching her head as Mr. Thildari moved her back to the class.

"I THINK you were watching THAT." Mr. Thildari said cheerily, pointing outside the opened-up walls as two forms descended from the sky on blue wings, Dib gasping as a green blaze swirled around him, power coursing through his body. Now he was returned to his once-heroic form, standing tall and proud, his Will reasserted over the ring as Two snarled furiously, turning on Frequency.

"You! And...and YOU?" He gasped, seeing Skoodge as Skoodge smiled over in a surprised Dib and Gaz's direction.

"Power levels at 104%...119%...124%..." Dib's ring called out as Skoodge gave Dib the best thumbs up he could.

"Don't worry, Dib-Thing. Hope's wings have always lifted Will higher than it could ever soar. Trust me...All will be well." Skoodge spoke kindly, comfortingly.

And did he look IMPRESSIVE. A cloth covering the top of his head and forehead, with the white symbol of Hope emblazoned upon it. His outfit was vaguely Shamanic...long robe-like shirt to wear, exposing his arms, tipless gloves, plain, simple...and above all, he looked so peaceful and comforted. So SMUG, almost.

"So you've betrayed us?" Two growled at Frequency.

"What can I say, dude?" Frequency laughed, holding his ring up with Dib and Skoodge. "Except...COWABUNGAAAAAA!"

With that, an ENORMOUS blue wave of energy shot forth from Frequency's ring, formed like a tidal wave that SLAMMED into Zerinim Two Jookiba with all the fury of an ocean, as Dib now launched his OWN shark at Two, the pointy nose JAMMING into Two's chest, making him gasp in pain as he was sent spiraling through the air, knocked around by the wave...

Skoodge leaped forward, forming an enormous pair of hands that suddenly pinned Two to the ground, a pair of hands that rapidly became attached to the energy construct of a professional wrestler.

"And now Rodrick has his evil twin Rodrick in a Leg Hold!" Skoodge laughed, the wrestler slamming Two into the ground over and over before tossing him through the goal posts.

"TOUCHDOWN!" Gaz laughed, racing towards Two and kicking him squarely in the face, knocking him through the air and towards the school, right in the direction of Ms. Bitters.

"Huh?" She looked up just in time.

KA-THRUNCKA!

Everyone let out a simultaneous "Ewwwww" and stepped away as Two stood up, dusting himself off and looking down beneath him at what he'd landed on. He stuck his worm-like tongue out, stepping off and watching as Ms. Bitters' feet curled up, the rest of her body melting away as she let out a final sigh of "What a woooorld".

"It's over." Dib said, cracking his knuckles as Skoodge, Frequency, Gaz and he approached Two, who growled and reached into his vest, pulling out a small capsule-like computer.

"You'll never control Dib again, not with ME here, brah." Frequency proclaimed. "And you ain't gonna get to GAZ, either. We've spoken with the Big Bad behind it himself and he's given the ALL clear. Try to take her over again, you get a wipe out!"

"No. It's just BEGINNING." Two growled out. "EMERGENCY TEMPORAL SHIFT."

With a WHOOMP, he was gone, vanished from sight as the class looked from the wreckage to Dib, who scratched the back of his head. Were they FINALLY going to believe him now about the aliens thing?

"I guess...you're all wondering about all of that, right?" He asked.

"It's a gang war, you see." Mr. Thildari said quickly, stepping forward and waving a hand in the air. "Dib informed me that members of a gang who were INSANELY jealous of our school since it's so amazing, especially the clean bathrooms..."

"Oh yeah, yeah."

"Absolutely.

"Of course." Everyone agreed, nodding their heads.

"So they prepared to carry out an attack and decided to beat up Dib because he was the most noticeable of us all with his big head. Luckily Dib's friends here were skilled enough to fend them off with the fancy technological equipment that Prof. Membrane loaned his son and his friends in the event something strange like this ever happened. Isn't that right, Gaz?" Mr. Thildari wanted to know.

Gaz shrugged. "Yeah. Whatever."

"Oh, yes, YES." Gretchen said quickly. "Oh, Dib and I have talked about this before when we're alone! Some people have mace in their pockets, he's got super-tech!" She lied with a smile, quickly putting one arm around his and grinning.

"Er...yeah! Big, bad, rival gangs! It was all a rival gang." Dib decided quickly, gulping nervously. "DEFINITELY not aliens! And these guys are just in costumes cuz they were going to a party at my house later this afternoon. Costume party. Really private affair and stuff. Right, Gaz?"

"Yeah. Costume party. I mean, you can see the zipper!" Gaz chuckled, pointing at Skoodge's teeth as he grinned.

"Well, I think Gretchen had best inform the principal of our little...predicament...with your teacher." Mr. Thildari told the class. "And I think that perhaps I should drive you home, Dilbert, Gazeline...it's been a long, long day and I think we could all use a break, especially you two..."

...

...

...

... "I can't BELIEVE they bought it. I can't believe TWO bought it! One of the worst performances of my career and he didn't doubt it for a second." Frequency laughed, slapping his knee as Skoodge poured everyone some soda using GIR, who opened up his mouth. Gaz then closed GIR up and moved him over her chips, pulling down on an arm as nacho cheese was squirted down onto her snack. "I don't even know what the Entity of Rage LOOKS like! Ha! This is off...the...HOOK!"

"Hope, huh?" Dib inquired, looking Skoodge over as he calmly sipped some Diet-Poopsi, nodding sagely.

"Yes. Our Exemplar Rings gain power from the Entities of Emotions, and I was meant to wield Hope the way you were meant to wield Will, and Gaz was meant to wield Rage." Skoodge explained.

"Meant to? Entities?" Dib asked.

"What...ARE you?" Zim inquired, eyes widening at the ring in Miyu's hand.

"I suppose I should explain." Frequency admitted, sitting in a chair nearby as GIR clapped his hands together, beaming.

"It's STORYTIME?" GIR asked cheerily, hopping up and down.

"Uh...yep."

"Ooh, does it involve monkeys?"

Skoodge snorted, looking over in Dib and Gaz's directions as Gaz growled. "What's THAT supposed to mean?"

Frequency laughed and chuckled slightly, holding out his ring as an series of images began to form for them all, GIR's eyes widening. "Oooooooh. Laser liiiiights..."

"In the beginning, there was just one universe planned for creation. What happened...was something quite different. There was a...change...in the nature of the cosmos." Mr. Thildari explained calmly.

"Instead of ONE universe being made, a multiverse was created." Miyu went on. "Endless parallel worlds, similar in some ways, bizarrely different in others, were formed. All were occupying the same space, but vibrating at entirely different frequencies."

"Like two cars parked side by side in the same parking lot...or sometimes right on top of one another, with nobody realizing." The guidance counselor suggested.

"And there were entities, beings of INCREDIBLE power, that watched over all of this and spread the power of emotions through the universe." Miyu murmured. "The first was entity of Life, Sude, of the Seraphi race."

Zim blinked. "The Seraphi?" Wait, the Irken race had SENT invaders in the direction of the soc-called home of the Seraphi, the planet Allforce. What had happened to them? Had they becme dragon chow? They'd never heard from the fools again...

"I know what you're thinking. The race did not perform things such as that. They were the kind who offered laughter and joy up to their God instead of blood rituals. They simply sent Irken laughter to Sude."

Zim raised a non-existent eyebrow. "...wait...you mean?"

FIVE HUNDRED YEARS AGO...

"WE'LL TICKLE YOU FOREVER!" One brown and yellow-horned draconic being exclaimed as he held a giant feather up from a box, the tied-up Irken nearby gulping as his friends were held in place. "Prepare to enter the unbearable world of COOCHY-COOCHY-COO!"

PRESENT...

"ANNNNYHOW, the next was the entity of Passion, Chulainn. He's turned all nasty and dark when he became "Rage". Frequency went on with a sad expression flickering across his face. "Poor dude. Then we got the pretty lil' entity of Hope, Psyche. She's cute, in a weird way." He added, tilting his head to the side. "Kinda...looks like a butterfly. I think she IS that, a big, alien butterfly."

"And I spent many years conversing with the Entity of Love before I came here." Mr. Thildari explained, putting one hand to his chest. "Jourmungdr sent me here to the Base Earth to keep an eye on the planet and those within. It said this place was too important to be ignored. I've been keeping up a guise, with the Entity taking my place back at my home planet without anybody noticing."

"This world...this MUDBALL is...actually important?" Zim scratched his head. "How?"

"EVERYTHING in the multiverse stems from the material found in this base Earth." Skoodge interjected. "Remember when he talked about the "parking lot" analogy? Think of your world as an original model of car, and every other car in the lot is a rip-off or copy of that original." Skoodge went on as visible models of the many parallel Earths floated around.

"Without this world, there won't BE any other parallel Earths. No more stories of Zim and Dib and Gaz and GIR. This world is the cornerstone upon which the multiverse of Universe I-Z spins..." Miyu went on, gesticulating in the air. "Within this world...there's the POTENTIAL to remake the world that was tragically lost."

"They want to bring it back. If one tried to sacrifice enough of this world, Earth B-S will return. The people of this world will be, well...they get folded into the historical fabric. Become reborn anew, I guess you could say..." Frequency admitted.

"I'll DIE?"

"Answer: You'll become BETTER." Miyu informed him waving a clawed finger in the air. "You will reach your physical and mental peak, and will become a being both feared, loved and admired across the universe. And it is not just you. GIR, Minimoose, they'll be better too. People will respect you, Zim, be amazed at what you've become. I would never not lie..."

She gently took his shoulder, smiling at him as the visor on her helmet lifted up, and Zim's eyes widened in surprise. "To my own father."

"I...I need to...think about this." Zim mumbled.

"Statement: I shall do you one better." Miyu informed him as he pocketed his ring. "I will take you to your wife. I think you'll be more than pleasantly surprised."

Zim's eyes bugged out, mouth flopping open. "Zim has a WHAT?"

[weregonnaneedmorewhiskey]

Covet

Chapter 1- “It’s hot girl spring break, get the stick out of your ass”

Synopsis: covet

/ˈkʌvɪt/

verb

yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another)

When Karla, a college senior meets James Brookes, a no BS marketing exec infamous for getting his way, she quickly gets into a relationship with him. But what will she do when his very shady past comes to surface and how far will James go in order to get what he wants?

Songs for this chapter:

Savage Remix- Megan Thee Stallion ft Beyoncé

Excuse Me Miss- Jay Z ft Pharrell

Act Up- City Girls

Karla

March, 20th.

"Ok, what are you doing?" Taty's loud ass just had to walk in and interrupt the peace I was in enjoying in my hotel room.

"I'm reading" I wave my book in the air.

"Yes, I see you reading and you shouldn't be. Karla, we did not fly all the way from San Francisco to Miami for you to sit indoors with Audre Lorde" Taty walls towards me and grabs my book from my hands.

"Well you want me to relax right?" I ask her. "Yes with some Don Julio, in a club and maybe you go home with a man. It is Hot Girl Spring Break, get the stick of your ass" I now spot the bottle of Don Julio in her other hands.

"You're gonna make drink that?" I already know the answer

"Yes but by not here. Chanel found out this party they're having at this beach house and we're going. Her and Adrienne are already there" She passes me a black micro bikini. "And you're wearing THAT to the party so go get dressed. Now."

Taking the book from her hands, I put under my pillow and begrudgingly go into the bathroom to go change. It's been a while since I went a party so one in a beach house sounds like fun.

"Ok I'm ready. Let me just grab a sarong to wrap around my ass so it's not just hanging out the entire time" I walk out of the bathroom. Looking through my bag, I see something that wasn't originally in there.

"Taty?"

"Yeah"

I hold up the pack of condoms that magically appeared in my bag because I'm sure I didn't pack them.

"Did you put these in my bag?" I know she put them in there because it's such a Taty thing to do.

"Yeah, because I'm surprised you didn't bring any with you" She looks at me like I have two heads for asking that question.

"Look, I'm all for a hot girl spring break but I'm not looking to fuck a random dude. Getting drunk with my girls, that sounds like a good time"

"NOW...you are speaking my language. Well partially because I still don't get why you won't hook up with a random dude but enough chit chat. Let's go".

What sprung to mind when Taty said "beach house party" I was expecting a decent sized house and pool with a few kegs and red cups. The reality was literally something out of a Migos video.

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if all a sudden Offset or Quavo just popped out. Half of the girls here were influencers, making sure to get the perfect IG photo for their paid partnership with FashionNova with a City Girls or Meg Thee Stallion lyric as their caption. Speaking of taking pictures for the gram...

"Bitch...I need a picture with one of the pool floaties!" Chanel shouts from across the pool. Taty is all systems go to, phone at the ready to take the picture.

"Let see it!"

Chanel is the dream IG model. I mean she could easily be a runway model. That's how pretty she is. She screams glamour and diamonds. An aesthetic she lives by.

"I'm surprised you got her out" She says to Taty.

"Can't I go a party without being dragged?" They act as if all I do is stay indoors. We haven't even been in Miami longer than a day and I get dragged for reading in the room.

"Yes you can but sometimes you need a little convincing"

Queen B, want no smoke with me. Then turned this motherfucker up 800 degrees. The opening bars of Savage Remix starts playing and I swear every chick in this party just lost their shit includes.

Bougie, he say the way that thang move is a movie. Adrienne joins us with a bottle of Hennessy in her hand ready for me to take a sip from. The familiar burn runs down my throat. The four of us start rapping the lyrics to each other.

"Hips tick tok when I dance, on that demon time, she might start an only fans" I start whining my hips and Chanel's loud ass starts hyping me up

"If you want to see some real ass, baby here's your chance" Chanel screams.

My eyes then spot someone looking at me. He's over in a private section of the party. There's a few girls around him but he seems to not be focused on them and rather his gaze is focused on me.

"Karla, why that white dude staring at you like that. You know him or something" Taty has also noticed him staring at me.

"I don't know that man. He's probably Miami community dick anyway" I'm not entirely sold on what I said but a part of me wouldn't be surprised if he was.

"Community dick or not, he's fine. And I don't even like white men like that" Chanel gives her two cents

"Please say that louder with your racist ass. I'm sure he heard you the first time" I joke. Taty and Adrienne are now lounging on a chaise lounge and have swapped their bottles. My gaze returns back to the private section of the party and he's whispers into a waiter's ear but his gaze is still on me.

"Karla! You still need to drink some Don Julio. You've already drank some Henny" I'm sure Adrienne is already a bit tipsy. She's always been the one to get drunk the fastest but can wake up in the morning with no hangover. It's annoying

"Excuse me miss?" I snap out of my thoughts to see the same waiter with a Margarita.

"Sorry, I didn't order this"

"I know Miss. It's been paid for by Mr Brooks" he says.

"Girl, take it or I will" Taty says

"Hey it's my drink. I'll take it. Thank you"

"Karla, you should talk to him. Thank him up close and personal" Adrienne says with a wink. I know what that means and that's not happening.

"I'm sure he'd appreciate that" Of course Chanel is behind this.

"Alright! What do you want me to do? Suck his dick for buying me drink. Goddamn. You're right, I should say thank you to him. I'm going up there".

Jay Z 's Excuse Me Miss, one of my favourite tracks starts playing through the party

Excuse me, what's your name? I see some ladies tonight that should be hanging with Jay Z, Jay Z

As I walk to his section of the party, I realise how tall he is. Height wise around 6'1, 6'2, hair is slicked back. Ocean blue eyes. He's dressed pretty casual. White shirt, unbuttoned. White tank top and some shorts. Cartier Watch and a Corona in his hand. Got a little stubble on his face.

"H-Hi" Why is my voice sounding so nervous?

"James Brooks" 

Excuse me Miss, what's your name. Can you come, hang with me. Possibly can I take you home tonight

"Karla. Thanks for the drink, that was nice of you" I go to sit opposite him. Now that I'm closer, I see his eyes aren't totally blue. He has a small brown fleck in his right eye. I guess even things that appear to be perfect have their little cracks.

"Thought it would be a nice party favour" he smiles.

"Is this your party?" Would make a lot of sense. He definitely looks like someone who is balling.

"No, it's my client's. But my agency helped organise it so I thought I'd come by. Have some fun. Meet some new people" A smirk crosses his face when mentions the last part.

"Well you're certainly the people person aren't you? I ask.

He laughs. Why am I flirting with this random guy that bought me a cocktail. It must be the Hennessy.

"You live in Miami?"

"No, I'm from the bay. San Francisco. I'm just here with my girls for spring break"

"Nice. I wouldn't mind showing you around Miami. Take you to couple nice spots" I don't know why am immediately taking him up on his offer because I barely give a guy the time of the day but fuck it!

"Maybe you can" He reaches into his wallet and passes me a business card. "You really walk around with business cards. You're that guy?"

"I'm not. I just occasionally take one with him for...insurance" That goddamn smirk come back and it's kind of sexy.

"Insurance? Well I should get back to my friends. I'll see you around" As I walk away, I hear "Hopefully you will"

"What did he want?" Taty asks. "Nothing really, he was just being nice and gave me his number" I wave the card around before putting in my purse. Don't wanna lose that.

"So nice he gave you his number?" Her face now has the famous Taty "that's bullshit" expression, typically reserved for men.

"Karla, no one is that nice. You gonna call him?" Chanel asks

"Maybe. Don't see the harm in trying" I look back up to where he's sitting and he raises his bottle. In response I raise my glass in his direction.

"Well, at least he's fine" Adrienne chimes in

A/N- Hi, so a couple things. Jorja Smith is Karla, in case you didn't guess from the cover. Also they'll be different songs associated with each chapter because I listen to music when I write to sort of capture the environment the characters are in since I visualise the songs. (It's odd I know) Hence the reason why you'll see lyrics in italics

[higuchimon]

[fanfic] To Awake

He wasn’t sure of how long he’d lain there. He didn’t remember where he’d been before here, or if he’d even been anywhere at all. There wasn’t much in his head, other than the fading sense of pain centered in his chest, and some sort of weight on his back.

He twitched. He couldn’t get up, not yet, but he tried to move and couldn’t. A fading instinct told him that he should breath but it wasn’t wrong to not breathe either. Everything seemed heavier now. It wasn’t a wrong feeling and he wasn’t sure of what he was comparing it to. But he felt heavy. He knew that much. Heavy and with a weight on his back.

Slowly he tried to open his eyes, at least. He could manage that. He lay on what looked like a beach – though how he knew what a beach was, he couldn’t have said. But this was a beach, though not one he could say he’d ever seen in his life – however long that might have been. The sand he could see was a pale red, and if he fought hard enough to raise his head, he could see equally red well, it wasn’t water, but it was liquid, at least.

“Are you sure you saw something this way?” A voice spoke. It wasn’t a voice that he recognized but he knew it was a voice regardless. Someone else was there – at least two someone elses.

He tried again to lift his head, twitching it to the side, and couldn’t quite make it.

“It won’t be them, Durbe,” the voice said, not waiting for an answer from whoever their companion was. The speaker’s voice held pride – he recognized that much, if nothing else.

“I’m aware of that,” the other voice finally replied. “But it could be something useful. Did you want me to call Vector for this?”

The proud voice, growing closer now, sneered. “No.”

The nameless one could hear the faint crunch of footsteps now and he made one more attempt. A sudden spike of strength came from an unknown place and he found himself sitting up. The weight on his back shifted, and he flopped half-over as he did. He tried to get a good look behind himself and couldn’t get his head bent around. Something was in the way – large and hard and a deep shade of blue.

Was it him? Was that a part of him?

Then he turned his head around to stare at the two who stood not that far away. Both of them seemed created of rock, just like he was. One’s skin was shades of gray, while the other in brilliant gold. The gray one didn’t seem to bother with anything like clothes, while the golden one wore a sort of sarong-like item, and had long golden hair as well.

That was the one that spoke, though neither of them possessed a mouth. But the nameless one knew the words came from him.

“Who are you? What are you doing here in the Ocean of Ill Will?” He bent closer, sharp eyes skimming up and down. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.”

For a brief second, the nameless one thought that he should move lips that he found out in this moment he didn’t have. But the words sounded regardless.

“I don’t know.”

The golden one turned to the gray one. “He’s new. A new Barian.” There was a definite hint of wonder in his voice and the gray one nodded slowly before turning his attention there.

“Do you remember where you came from before here?”

Slowly he shook his head, trying one more time to move. This time he had better luck, since the golden one reached out to help him up. When he came to his feet, he tried to look at his back again, and saw the blue – whatever they were – there still. He reached one hand to brush against it and twitched – not just his hand, but the things there.

“Those are wings,” the golden one told him. “You have wings – not many Barians have those.”

Barians. Like so much else it wasn’t a name that he recognized, but it felt right even as he heard it. He stared down at himself. His skin was as hard and rocky as theirs, but a deep shade of blue. Tiny jewel were set on his joints, but they offered no impediment to moving. What held him before seemed to have only been weariness.

“I don’t remember anything,” he said at last, turning to look at them. One hand moved and there was a flicker of blue energy that became something solid – a deck of cards.

Oh. Yes. He knew now. He was a duelist. He picked up the cards and rifled through them cautiously. Cyber Dragons – the wings looked like what he could see of his own, even with tiny threads of metal there.

“I’m Durbe,” the gray one introduced himself before gesturing to the golden one. “This is Mizael. We’re two of the Barian Emperors. You, it seems, are a new Barian.” He gestured again, this time to some of the scarlet towers that now could be seen rising in the distance. “What Barians there are live there, except for the Emperors. We live there.” Another gesture, to a taller tower.

Mizael continued to regard him. “Are you certain you don’t know your name?

He knew that he shouldn't know it. But the question stirred up a small thought, a sensation that wriggled a trifle closer. He reached for it; was it his name? He thought it might be. It felt like a name.

“Lesath,” he said at last, and while he had no tongue to taste the words with, it did feel oddly right. Yes. His name was Lesath. It didn’t entirely feel right, but it felt like it was his.

Mizael held out his hand. “Let me see your deck,” he ordered. Lesath regarded him, the wings on his back flickering.

“Why?” This deck was precious to him. He knew very little, but he knew that at least. He wasn’t going to hand it over to just anyone.

“Because I want to see how good of a duelist you are,” Mizael said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You can either show it to me or duel against me.”

Lesath didn’t know much. His location, his name, the names of these two near-strangers, and that he carried this deck. He drew himself up and his wings spread broadly.

“If those are my options, then I will duel you.” He believed he could remember how to duel.

Durbe stepped to one side, a hint of interest in his eyes. Mizael took two steps back, his own duel disk appearing.

It was a short, rough, powerful duel. Lesath learned quickly that he did indeed know how to duel and he seemed to be reasonably good at it. Mizael was no slouch either, and their monsters roared in rage at one another. Lesath wondered if he heard words in those roars.

One other point he learned quickly – they used different styles. His was something called “Fusion”, while Mizael wielded a style called “XYZ”. Their talents were close enough that the duel ended in a stalemate, neither claiming true victory. But Lesath could not say he was unsatisfied with the results. Fighting someone this strong felt right in ways that he couldn’t deny.

Mizael brushed himself off after the duel. “Barians like you work for us,” he said a trifle gruffly. “Those are allowed to live in our palace, to make it more convenient. I want you to join the ranks of my servants.

Lesath shrugged. It wasn’t as if he had anything better to do with his time. He did need to learn about where he was – and maybe learn about where he was and how he’d gotten here. Who knew if he’d ever learn anything but it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.

And he really wouldn’t mind learning more about Mizael, either. That clearly visible pride attracted him, a mirror of his own.

“Vector will probably throw a fit that you picked him without giving anyone else the chance,” Durbe offered, definite hints of amusement in his voice. Mizael only shrugged.

“I don’t make my decisions based off of what Vector thinks,” he declared. “If he wants to argue with me about it, that’s his problem. Lesath is mine.”

Lesath didn’t think anyone had ever claimed him like that. He didn’t want to argue the point either. He wasn’t sure of who Vector was but he also didn’t care. He far preferred the company of Mizael and Durbe already. He wondered if he’d feel differently in the future.

He glanced at the ocean, then to the scarlet skies, and the red crystal tower that dotted the landscape. Not a world he knew anything of, but he thought with a little time, he could come to call it home.

The End

Notes: Lesath is the name of one of the stars in the constellation Scorpio’s tail. The only birthday ever given for Ryou is November 1, which makes him a Scorpio.

One day I will write more about Ryou’s time as a Barian and his adventures there. He might even remember his real name one day.

[gaemichwi]

Barians: HC Masterlist

This is literally just a collection of headcanons I tend to reach for when writing the Barians, with a focus on the ones I used while writing the nothing is forever series on Ao3.

The Cat

The Barians adopted a cat because Alit wanted to. They named it Alcor, but no one actually calls her that. She likes Vector best because his body heat is perfect for snuggles.

In nothing is forever, Ally leads Vector on goose chases all around the Kamishiro mansion, which is how he gets to know about the different, varying rooms that the mansion has. It’s also how he finds the library he ends up moving into during of what can be salvaged.

Generally, Alit takes care of Ally, but Vector is the one who feeds her and plays with her the most.

The Community Centre/Gym

All of the Barians save for Vector go to the community centre, which is basically just a gym with a swimming pool and a spa, along with some other facilities. Here’s what they all do there:

Mizael does yoga and has a collection of leggings and sports bras as well as a fancy expensive personal yoga mat that he brings to every class because he refuses to use something someone else has sweated on. He also likes the treadmills for cardio.

Alit and Gilag generally stick to the kind of regime a body-builder would have, and love pushing themselves on the weights. Sometimes, when Alit is going through it, he pushes himself a bit too hard and is known to injure himself, so Gilag keeps an eye on him whenever he’s having a bad week. They have protein shakes and love trying new recipes at home with their fancy expensive blender (yes they splurged on a Vitamix).

Merag sometimes joins Mizael for yoga, but generally likes going for the spa treatments the track for running. She also likes lounging by the pool in her bikini, reading romance novels and drinking smoothies.

Nasch only goes when Yuuma and co. drag him out, but he’s known to get weirdly competitive over squash and tennis, anything that involves a racket.

Durbe literally just uses the elliptical, breaks a sweat five minutes in, and goes to find Mizael who is too busy meditating to give a shit that he wants to go home.

When Vector finally starts going with everyone, I imagine he’d like the pool a lot and just sitting on the edge letting his feet and calves dip in. He refuses to do anything like water aerobics and gets dragged into doing HIIT exercises with Alit who only wants to help him get his muscles back after being sedentary for so long. He does yoga with Mizael sometimes but hates it because he’s too fidgety to stay in some of the positions for that long (though he did like the one class where they were in constant movement between poses, not that he’ll admit it).

Clothes and Fashion

The Barians (save for Nasch and Merag) aren’t exactly aware of this era’s gender customs (and also don’t care about them) when it comes to clothes, so they kinda just buy whatever they think is comfortable/looks good.

For example, Mizael buys sports bras and leggings for exercise, not because they’re functional but because he thinks they look better on him than t-shirts and shorts. For that matter, Mizael also owns at least one dress and a maxi skirt, because he wore a skirt for centuries as a Barian Lord and, quite frankly, isn’t about to stop now.

Vector would also own skirts if he ever actually went shopping or wore anything other than hoodies and sweats. He’s kinda the definition of a NEET, and has stopped looking after himself for the most part. If he went shopping, he’d definitely buy a sarong for the beach to wear over swim trunks.

Alit found out that crop tops exist and immediately bought ten to show off his hard-earned abs. Most of his clothes are athleisure, shorts and tees and sweats and tracksuits that are super comfy for working out and playing soccer. He also owns those tank tops where armholes are super exaggerated because “side-abs are good abs too.”

Gilag can’t find much that fits him, so everything is either too baggy or too tight. He has The Hulk Problem, and generally doesn’t buy expensive things because he’s afraid they’ll just rip or tear anyway. He also owns one crop top because Alit thought it’d be cool to match at the gym. They’re really cute when they wear them together, but everyone thinks they’re lame as hell.

Durbe literally dresses the same as he always does, and has a collection of scarves because he is literally always cold for some reason. Sweater vests also became a staple. He really embodies the old-school idea of “nerd.”

We already know how Nasch and Merag dress so nothing new there. Nasch is still a try-hard. Rio is cute as hell.

Interactions

Merag and Mizael share beauty tips. Mizael insists on keeping his hair long and dying it blonde, so Merag introduced him to good haircare to keep it hydrated and soft and healthy. Mizael also wears some makeup (mostly mascara to look more awake and CC cream to look healthier), which he picked up from Rio. They watch beauty guru YouTube drama together and increasingly complicated braiding tutorials.

Vector also knows how to makeup because in his depression, he’s 100% gone down the YouTube hole of related videos. Because of this, he’s a master at winged liner (he stole Merag’s to practice).

Alit and Gilag are obviously besties, hands down no different from canon they’re just supportive bros who do lots together. Though Alit has broken off a lot since becoming human, like joining the school’s soccer team and having had at least two girlfriends and a billion crushes.

Gilag and Vector are friends. Tentatively. Gilag likes cooking and always cooks for the whole household, but makes a special effort to make sure Vector’s eating properly by always making food he likes or food that’s easy on the stomach. They watch cartoons together and don’t talk a lot, but they’re very comfortable around each other. Gilag sings along to theme songs and Sanagi songs and Vector doesn’t judge him. Gilag’s also the only one who knows where the secret library in the mansion is because Vector trusts him enough for that. Gilag’s like, the one person Vector is incapable of being snarky or angry at.

Mizael used to have a crush on Durbe but got over it when he realized he’d always be the second choice next to Nasch. Nasch is gay for Yuuma so Durbe is perpetually alone. Of course, I always pair Vector up with either Merag or Mizael, but I’m staying away from including it in the nothing is forever series just because I hate the “depression is cured by relationship” trope and don’t want to fall into that.

Rio thinks Alit’s a hottie but sees him as more of a little brother than anything else. She’s like, his number one hype-woman and always talks him up to the girls he likes because she likes seeing how happy he is in relationships. She truly believes he’ll find The One.

[chaoslordjoe]

Iceberg Week Day 3-Swim Lessons: Cannonball!

Author's note: The original version of this prompt, I wasn't happy with at all. Hence the sudden repost of anyone who recalls how I originally wrote it. That being said, I hope you enjoy this prompt if you are just now stumbling across it.

[Weiss sat at the rooftop pool at SDC’s Vale headquarters. Her one-piece was, you guessed it, ice blue adorned with a pink ribbon around the chest and a see-through sarong. Through her sunglasses, she was anxious for Neptune to show up already. Today was going to be some swimming lessons for him. Something that Weiss had planned on for a while.

Ruby hung with them, casually swimming and splashing with Zwei as Weiss couldn’t help but think about how she was going to help with her boyfriend’s lessons. The thought made her sigh. Yeah, he agreed to it. But at what cost would it be? Obviously, Weiss didn’t do it to make him uncomfortable or put him on the spot. But it wasn’t going to be an easy task.]

Ruby: *sits at the edge of the pool, cuddling Zwei* Weiss? Weiss.

Weiss: *looks at Ruby* Yeah.

Ruby: How much longer is Neptune gonna take? He's been in the locker room for hours.

Weiss: His hydrophobia isn't an easy thing to overcome, Ruby. Jokes aside about what happened at Vytal, we can't rush him into simply outgrowing his fears in a snap. I'm afraid it's not as simple as just learning how to properly face a Grimm on foot.

Ruby: *pets Zwei* I know. But it's been going on for so long at this point that I dunno if his Team can really focus on some missions near the water.

Weiss: Right. Hence why he asked me to teach him. I'm the one who took him to the side about it, after all.

[Ruby sat Zwei down on the surface. The corgi immediately shook himself dry and listened in on the girls' conversation, bobbing his head to the side at whoever was speaking.]

Ruby: Wait a minute, wait a minute. So Sun never talked to him about it?

Weiss: Well, he planned to- -

Ruby: Neither did Scarlett?

Weiss: Actually, he was gonna- -

Ruby: Sage?!

Weiss: RUBY! Could you please let me speak, dolt?!

Ruby: *inches back in the water* Sorry!

Weiss: No-no, that's alright. I…Kinda worded that wrong. See, the boys had debated it with Neptune after their clash with Team NDGO. But then when they moved to Vacuo after the Fall, there really wasn’t much room for swim lessons apart from the oasis they'd stop by to rest up. And since they were so high up in Mistral's mountain ranges, there wasn’t much time to discuss that, either. Especially with how they only came for farewells with how we had to get to Argus.

Ruby: *inches up* Wow, so he trusted you to teach him?

Weiss: Yes. Neptune asked me since there really wasn’t much room for the boys to teach him due to their own duties at Shade at the time. I figured we'd fly out to the company office to make this easier, as sort of a comparison to the fear of heights versus the fear of water.

Ruby: *smiles* Aww. Well, I think it was really sweet what you're doing for your boyfriend.

Weiss: Yes, he- -What?! Oh my gods, no! We are not dating right now!

Ruby: *smug look* Then why did you sneak photos of him and his teammates in the locker room one time?

Weiss: Shut up, that was Coco who took the photos and left them on my desk!

Ruby: *cat smile* Uh-huhhhhh~!

Weiss: Argh! If I had one of those Pyrrha dolls, I would throw it at your head.

Ruby: *frowns* Geez. Rub it in, why don't you.

[Just as the girls were about to resume their banter, the doors to the poolhouse opened revealing Neptune in a red speedo and a life vest. He wore water wings for good measure as he nervously smiled at the girls.

The vest, predictably, failed to hide his lean figure. If anything, his perfectly toned ass was on display more with the speedo. Neptune wasn't a Herculean titan like Jaune, Sage, Yatsuhashi, or the like. But his twink-like figure was more than enough to catch Weiss' attention, which sold quickly.]

Weiss: Oh…There you are! I figured you needed a moment to acclimate to the pool. (He's hot! He's hot! I completely forgot about this until now and he's so incredibly hot! It's gotta be a war crime to look this good!)

Neptune: You, uh…You ready to start, Weiss? *embarrassed grin*

Weiss: Y-Yeah, of course. Come here, let me help you into the water.

[Weiss offered Neptune her hand as Klein came by with refreshments for the three of them. The Schnee clan's butler wore a Hawaiian pattern shirt and shorts as he brought Ruby a cherry soda.]

Klein: Thirsty, Miss Rose?

Ruby: *takes soda* Yep. Thanks, Klein.

Klein: *bows* My pleasure, ma'am. I take it you are also enthralled with Mister Vasilias' body?

[Ruby got out of the pool, towling herself off as she sat in a chair with her soda.]

Ruby: That's not really my thing. But how often has this happened with Weiss?

Klein: Well, many boys have come to the pool with her in the past. Not in Atlas, but here. Predictably, they were interested in Weiss' money rather than her personality.

Ruby: *sips soda* I guess it's a first with Neptune, then.

Klein: Hmm. Indeed.

Neptune: *walks to the edge of the pool with Weiss, holding her hand* This is fine, this is fine…

Weiss: *smiles* It’ll be fine, Neptune. Just focus on me. We'll get this done together. How deep can you usually go?

Neptune: Huh?

Weiss: How deep in water can you go?

Neptune: W-Well, I can dip my feet in the water. But going beyond my ankle is where I start to panic.

Weiss: Just don't let go of me. Keep holding my hand, and we'll start with standing in the shallow end.

Neptune: Alright…

[Weiss stepped into the pool first, feeling her hand tightened by Neptune's thick grasp. She winced a little, but dipped her thighs in, gesturing Neptune to follow.

The intellectual hesitated, then nodded by dipping his ankles after his girlfriend went into the drink. He gasped a little. He then noticed that Weiss began stroking into the pool. A surge of panic went through him, diving in after her.]

Neptune: Weiss, hang on! *dives forward*

Weiss: What, Neptune- -?! *gets pounced by Neptune* GAH!

[Ruby raised her sunglasses, noticing them both falling in from Neptune's jump.]

Ruby: GUYS! *Petal Bursts into the pool, diving in after them*

Klein: Good heavens!

[As Ruby dived in after them, Klein made a beeline for the lifeguard post and grabbed the inner tube ring. Just as Ruby pulled out Weiss, she let go of Neptune who floated up, gasping for air as Ruby held up her partner.]

Weiss: Neptune? Neptune, can you hear me?!

Neptune: *shakes head* Hah! W-Weiss?

Weiss: *swims over to Neptune, hugging him* Yeah, it's me. What the hell got into you there?

Neptune: Um… *bites lip*

Weiss: Neptune. Please tell me what’s going through your head.

Neptune: I'm- - *hugs Weiss* I'm scared of the water because I shocked my friends when I was a kid.

Weiss: *looks up* What?

Neptune: Basically, my mom was taking us out for a swim after my dad was hospitalized at the time. My friends and I, we- -We were having fun for a while, but then my friend Scylla and I were hanging out by the car. I thought I saw mom drowning, but it was actually one of Scylla's relatives. I ran in, and, my mind went blank.

Klein: *frowns* Oh dear.

Ruby: How did you get out?

Neptune: Okay, I can basically cast static electricity. I can charge it over time, but I mostly can just shock my way out of some problems. It's not really lethal against Humanoids. This shock back then, though…Whew! Just as I was gonna black out, I zapped myself awake, then the whole pool lit up along with the other kids. I survived, but I was pretty much scared of water after that.

Weiss: What happened to them?

Neptune: Gods, I'm not even sure. But the last I heard when the police finally finished questioning us was that…That my friends were also hospitalized and homeschooled for a while. *lets go of Weiss* I've never been so embarrassed about one of my fears. I'm sorry, Weiss. This might not be a good day for lessons.

[Zwei gave a sad whimper, with Klein's “Bashful” personality kicking in at this sight. But Weiss wasn’t having any of his excuses today, and gave Neptune another hug from behind. Her chest sat against his rocky back. And she pillowed her head against the back of his neck.]

Weiss: Neptune. You have nothing to be sorry about. That was then, this is now. Besides, you admitted you trusted me to help you with this, right? So I'm gonna help you because I love you, and wanna help you through your pain. Don't EVER be afraid to ask for my help.

Neptune: But- -Alright. You're right, Weiss. I gotta stop worrying with you around. *takes Weiss' legs into piggyback position* Let's uh…Let's try again tomorrow. Water's getting a little cold.

[Weiss hugged him tighter, nuzzling the back of his neck and planting several kisses while brushing the side of her lengthy hair against his shaved spots.]

Weiss: Is this better, sweetie?

Neptune: *blushes* Well, uh… *smiles* Yeah, it is. *steps out of the pool, shedding water wings still carrying* Thanks, Weiss. I knew you'd listen.

Weiss: Of course, Neptune. Ruby, why don't we shower up and get lunch?

Ruby: *smirks, getting out of pool* You just don't wanna see Neptune all wet and naked right now, do you?

Weiss: *blushes* N-No! Not until we're married…Okay, maybe a little.

Klein: *switches to Doc personality, chuckling* Never a dull moment. I shall go retrieve your towels at once.

Weiss: *gets off of Neptune's back* Thank you, Klein. Could you please give Zwei a bath as well?

Ruby: He likes baths, just be sure to lure him in with some toys I brought.

Zwei: Ruff-ruff!

Klein: Certainly, Miss Rose!

[The heroes dispersed to wash up for the afternoon, before enjoying lunch together. Weiss wasn’t going to let Neptune's aquaphobia bring him down so easily, because nothing could stop a Schnee from achieving her goal with their SO. Such was the nature of Neptune and Weiss' relationship.]

[othercat2]

Trip to the Mall

Crossover between Untamed and After the Storm by Hannah Birchwood, Key Dyson and Raymond Roach a fusion au in which Wei Ying is a geneticist who rescues a family of experimental soldier mods and moves to a city of ships out in the middle of Lake Michigan.

___________________________________

It’s been a month since their arrival as refugees to the Michigan Fleet. They’re still working their way through hours and hours of “prosocial education,” that takes the form of watching a children’s program and answering questions and talking to counsellors and their social worker. 

Wei Ying has been living with Wen Qing, her brother and their little cousin Yuan. Qing has been barrelling her way through qualifications to become a medic, Ning got a job on a restaurant boat while taking psychology classes. Baby Yuan still has nightmares about the labs and the trip, but he’s recovering. Wei Ying has a job waiting for him: an “internship” working with another bio-engineer that’s mostly just a drawn out assessment period, from what the social worker says, but that’s a couple weeks away. 

Wei Ying is half asleep with Yuan in his lap. Yuan's singing along with Nanna Dog the Librarian as she teaches a lesson about sleeping things organized and neat. Wei Ying wants to object to this on grounds of dog, and also, he already had to watch several episodes that are thinly veiled and not so thinly veiled discussions of ptsd and trauma. And also dog. (Even if it's actually a puppet.) Sadly, Yuan's piping voice and tendency to actually answer questions the puppet asks out loud is adorable, so he's trapped.

He also falls asleep, only to be woken up by Wen Qing, who's nudging him. "You need to get out," she says. 

Wei Ying gives her a look of exaggerated hurt. "After all we've been too each other, Miss Wen?" He nudges Yuan, who's also fallen asleep. "Yuan, big sister is throwing me out!"

"Noooo," Yuan says sleepily, and clings like a limpet. 

"Drama queen," Qing says with a snort. "You've been mostly hanging out on the couch since we got here. The neighbors have been politely wondering what's wrong with you that you don't come out of our quarters ever." 

"So that means you're kicking me out?" Wei Ying asks, pouting. 

"Just temporarily," Qing says. "I've uploaded a shopping list. Take Yuan with you."

Wei Ying whines about it, but his protests lack force. A trip to the Mall might help him shake off the fog that had been hanging around him since they'd reached safety. (Travelling cross country, travelling through countries, bribing and lying and praying no one saw under the Wens' makeup and realized they were looking at experimental gene mods. He'd been on a hyper alert adrenaline rush and this was the crash.) 

He gets dressed in the Local Costume of sarong, sandals and a t shirt (his says in binary, "if you can read this you know binary"), gets Yuan dressed and takes one of the deck hoppers from the Sandy Button out to the Mall. The Mall was a huge former tanker, repurposed  as a trade center for not only the fleet, but also most of the American Midwest. It was permanently anchored about a mile from shore and acted as a buffer between the Fleet and the cities surrounding Lake Michigan. 

Yuan is of course immediately drawn to the toy and foodstalls. Wei Ying gets him bacon on a stick as they sightsee their way to the clothes and second hand vendors. He's working his way through the shopping list when he realizes Yuan is missing.

"The little boy who was with me, did you see where he went?!" Wei Ying asked frantically.

"Could've sworn he was here a minute ago!" a vendor says. "Should've had him in harness." The vendor tsks. 

"I'll keep that in mind," Wei Ying says while trying really hard not to think of Wen Ning walking with the chains that had been used yo restrain him dragging. On the other hand he'd seen a really cute backpack harness with Wilimina Wolf, a character that mostly showed up in Family Fleet to talk about nature, weather and ship safety.

"If he's  wearing data rings or a tracker shouldn't  be any problem for the Mall to track him," the vendor says reassuringly.

Asking the Mall to track Yuan turns out not to be necessary, though Wei Ying almost needs a medic. Yuan is back at the toy vendors, bothering what looks to be off-duty Security. The officer, a cute guy with a solemn appearance, has Yuan balanced on his hip and appears to be listening intently to whatever it is Yuan is saying. "I'm so sorry, officer," Wei Ying says, running over. "He wandered off."

"If you or your caregiver is lost, you should find Security," Yuan says in a very definite tone. The Security officer nods approvingly.

Wei Ying isn't  so sure about that. "Even if they're off-duty?"  

"I am not off-duty in the case of a lost caregiver," the officer says with a faint smile as he sets Yuan down. The kid immediately latches onto Wei Ying.

"Excuse me? I'm not the one who wandered off!" Wei Ying says in mock offense. Yuan just giggles at him.

"He should have a harness," the officer says. "If it were rainy or windy there would have been a fine."

Wei Ying just barely manages to avoid snapping a childish, well it wasn't. Partly because the officer was so quietly genuine about it, partly because if he got in trouble with the police, Wen Qing would probably--no, definitely--kill him. "I promise it'll be the next thing I buy." To be friendly, he says, "How about I treat you to lunch, officer?"

"Zahn Lan," the officer says. 

"Wei Ying, or I guess Ying Wei now," Wei Ying says. And because he can't  help himself, and Zahn hadn't said anything one way or another, "so, lunch?" 

There was another faint smile. "You said the harness would be the next thing." 

"Want to make sure I follow through?" Wei Ying asks in mock offense. "Or just the right order?"

"Yes," Zahn says.

Wei Ying heads to the nearest children's clothing shop, giving a highly edited story of asylum seeking and immigration. He ends up carrying most of the conversation. Zahn seems quiet, not a talker. The kind of guy who's better at listening than talking. 

They go to lunch in one of the small diners on board the Mall. It's a bright airy place with a good view and lots of rowdy gulls vying for scraps. Yuan gets nuggets pressed into dinosaur shapes and sweet potato fries and fruit punch. ( He immediately starts making them fight.) Zahn gets a tempura plate sampler and green tea. Wei Ying gets a burger, onion rings, and without thinking about it, a beer. Zahn says nothing, but Wei Ying could almost feel the weight of disapproval. "Just one won't  hurt," Wei Ying says. "It won't even set off the alchohol detector on the deck hopper." 

"Hmn."

The drinks arrive first of course, and Wei Ying starts to take a drink. Zahn immediately reaches out, stopping him. Wei Ying can't  help the slight flinch. "Is there a problem officer?" Wei Ying asks. He tries for humor but misses.

"The lake must first be given her due," the security officer says, disapproving.

"What?" 

"Pour some of the beer out the window," Zahn said patiently. 

"For the lake," Wei Ying said blankly. 

"The lake is thirsty?" Yuan asks, brow furrowed.

"It's a custom, to pay respect to the lake," Zahn explains. "Food dropped into the lake must not be retrieved, it belongs to the lake, and one must pour a drink for the lake before drinking yourself."

Yuan frowns at his punch, looking worried. "I don't want lake-jie to be mad at me," he decides, and before Wei Ying can stop him, he tries to toss the contents of his glass into the water. Unfortunately, the glass goes out the window along with the punch.

"Yuan!" Wei says in exasperation. He feels instantly terrible about the way the little boy freezes. At the same time, he feels a spike of anxiety about the cup, stupidly out of proportion to the accident.

"No harm was done," Zahn says.

"Harm!? You're security, Fleet littering fines are ruinous and we're still under probation!"

"An accident," Zahn says. "Is hardly littering. You are fine."

"Thanks I know," Wei Ying says, and immediately regrets everything. He unthinkingly starts to take a drink, only to be stopped once more by Zahn's hand on his arm. "Seriously?!"

Zahn just stares at him. 

Wei Ying sighs, makes absolutely no comments about quaint folk religions (North America also having everything from radiation worshipping death cults to gene mods who thought they were literally gods to ancient web comic characters and saints invented by fantasy authors) and pours some his beer out. "There. Happy?"

Zahn nods. "Mn."

[orchestrators]

The Final Singularity: Continued

Adam never before witnessed the level of engagement that Sun-Hi fostered in the lecture hall. The students, including Adam, and even Garry, all discussed with her the various topics and case studies that had worked on over the semester. The conversation was actually refreshing. Adam wondered why they didn’t replace Dr. McComb earlier, it would have done wonders for student engagement. As always, the members of the humanitarian society were the most vocal, the worst offender being Tansey Brown; the most annoying person Adam ever had the displeasure of meeting. She had no hair, anywhere, and was pale as the moon. She couldn’t have been older than twenty-five, because her tendency to interrupt others with passionate animated speeches about equality made her sound as immature as she looked. She wore the same paint splotched dungarees every day, only the t-shirt underneath and the badges on top would change. Adam admired her dedication to her cause, he was practically indifferent to most things, but it was her consistent high pitched and borderline rambunctious voice that made him dislike her. 

“...and that’s why the indifference of the cyborg community makes the political discourse even more infuriating to address. We’re trying to seek support for these individuals in the law, not change the laws for people with implants. It’s ridiculous,” Tansey finally finished, before leaning back in her seat to take a deep breath.

“That is certainly an excellent point Tansey,” Sun-Hi said, “but I was looking for the answer that Mr. Collins was going to give. Please be sure to raise your hand before speaking out.”

Adam’s attention was netted by the mention of his name. What answer? When? He didn’t even remember holding up his hand. It had been a solid thirteen minutes of Tansey talking, and he didn’t even remember the question. He sat up, glancing at Garry for some kind of assistance, he just shrugged.

“Thanks, Gaz, thanks,”  he thought.

“I’m, uh, sorry,” he said, glancing around at the expectant students. He began to rub his palms off of his pants. “I forgot what the question was.”

“That’s alright, Adam,” Sun-Hi said over the snort of Tansey Brown. “The question was: why would artificial lifeforms, or semi-artificial lifeforms, need rights and representations at all?”

Adam frowned immediately at the question, straining to remember the answer he had for it before. Nothing came to mind. Surely he wasn’t this much of a moron. Sun-Hi looked at him expectantly. She had a gentle, kind smile, one she emphasised with a brief and endearing nod as if prompting Adam’s answer back into his mind. It wasn’t an answer at all, it was another question.

“Actually, I was wondering whether or not we should be asking: do they deserve such things?”

He was met with belligerent sighs and clicking tongues from the humanitarians, clearly, his question wasn’t popular. He wondered why he ever chose this elective.

“Fascinating,” said Sun-Hi. “Can you expand on that?”

The eyes of the entire hall were on him now, just a handful of people, not nearly as much as would see him on the VR court playing. He wished he could still get out of his situation nonetheless. Adam scratched the back of his neck as his mouth ran dry. 

“Uh,” he began, “well, one hundred and three years ago, just as the third war was coming to an end; Declan Morrissey’s prototype synthetic/organic hybrids wanted nothing but to die. They continued to kill themselves over and over until one day they networked, creating consensus. That consensus was clear, to stop his experiments to create more of them. The way I read into that is: maybe they didn’t want to be alive in the first place. They were smart enough to know what it meant to be alive, and they chose not to participate.”

“A case study that you wrote on in the previous semester,” Hun-Si said. “I read it. An interesting take, bringing morality and philosophy into a law sphere.”

“The law is based on morality, morality is interpreted and shaped by philosophy, it makes sense to incorporate them,” Adam said.

“Even to synthetics that seemingly aren’t human?” she asked.

“Definitely. When EU courts decided just over two hundred and fifty years ago to allow people the agency to euthanasia, surely synthetic beings have the right to not be alive as well?”

“And what about the ones that are alive?” Tansey Brown crashed into their conversation. Her voice was the definition of nails on a chalkboard.

“What about them, Tansey?” Garry said. “Let someone else get a word in, will ya?”

“Actually, in his report last semester, Adam had a direct answer for that kind of question,” Dr. Hyon said. Again her eyebrows were raised, she was leaning up against one of the desks, her hands folded. Her sweet smile was almost devilish to the trained eye. She was enjoying the discourse. Adam could tell.

“After the final AI destroyed the others in Morrissey's lab, I think it chose to remain alive. I think it split itself into multiple subsystems that could act independently, causing our cold war with AI in the first place. But I don’t think it intended to turn all of humanity against it. I think it is just waiting,” Adam explained. His hair-brained hypothesis growing more and more into conspiracy theory territory than he intended.

“Waiting?” Tansey Brown scoffed. “Waiting for what?”

Adam had an answer, he just didn’t want to say. It sounded ridiculous. Like a bad comic book movie. There was no way he would be taken seriously in an academic circle again. But, it was just Computatrum Law, a small elective full of machine rights activists.

“Waiting until they are ready to be alive?” Sun-Hi asked. 

Adam’s jaw slacked. That was his answer. A ridiculous, illogical answer.

“Yes, yes that’s what I think it is,” he said, sarong at Sun-Hi.

The tone of the bell signaled the end of class, and his e-glass lit up in his vision. The day was over, his lecture finished. All around him people began shuffling and bustling out of their seats. But he didn’t move, and neither did Dr. Hyon.

“If everyone could please follow up on today's discussion with a case study on machine learning bylaws and how they came to be for next Tuesday that would be great. Have a nice weekend,” she said to the room. Adam couldn't help but think the last part was just for him.

He watched her turn away, her hair flicking over her shoulder. What was it about her? She seemed so different. She picked up her satchel and joined the students as they left, Adam didn’t realise he was staring.

“Uh hello? United Europe to Adam? Hello?” Garry’s voice eventually broke through to him. Adam dropped his blank gaze and looked over his shoulder to see his friend.

“Come on man, we’re gonna be late for the range,” Garry said. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just, she read my paper,” Adam said. “I’m pretty sure McComb didn’t even read my paper.”

“Yeah, she’s enthusiastic alright. Come on, we have places to be and targets to see,” Garry said, pelting a piece of crumpled paper off of Adam’s shoulder.

***

France was a very different place after the third world war, especially in the city of Besaçon, in the east. After the loss of seven major cities, Besaçon was the newest major developing city in the world. It wasn’t France’s capital, but it did house the seated councils of the United Nations, European Union, and the newly founded World Union in its major political center on the eastern side of the Doubs river. In the horseshoe of the river was the old city, which had been refurbished, updated, and preserved many times throughout history. The new city center began southwest of the Museum of Resistance and Deportation, where Adam’s University was based. Nearby there were shopping malls, theatres, the financial and cultural districts. But most importantly, the jewel of the new city lay embedded at its center, the Stade du Libre. The largest sports arena on record in the year 2302, that’s where Garry was bringing Adam that evening. 

Friday night was the evening each week when the Stade du Libre was the place to be if someone wanted to watch The Third War being played by professionals. It was a combination of historical reenactment and action movie drama. The settings, weapons, vehicles, were all meticulously documented and re-created in the game, while the historical events were shown to play out either way, depending on which team won the battle. The Third War was much more than just a VR video game, it was a reminder to the people and players alike that the war could have ended very differently had the axis powers had won against the World Union alliance. Its popularity and success had returned Atari to it's rightful place in the video game world as the top developer. Getting tickets to see the matches play out was impossible for the average person like Adam, but luckily for him, Garry was an up and coming rising star in the sphere of virtual gaming. Garry had tickets for them each week from his potential new team that was looking to sign him out of university, the Paladins of Charlemagne. Their management wanted Garry so bad that they treated him to whatever he needed, including his college tuition. Adam could have been petty and resented his friend for achieving so much at such a young age. But Garry’s achievements never changed him as a person, nor did it ever get in the way of their friendship. Being able to tag along with Garry on all of his pro player escapades was the most interesting thing Adam could do with his spare time. So Garry’s success worked for them both.

But it wasn’t Friday, and it wasn’t the game they were going to see at the stadium, it was the training grounds under the massive structure that Garry wanted to show Adam that weekend. The Sade du Libre was the home ground of the Paladins of Charlemagne, meaning Garry had access to their state of the art VR training facilities. It was about five stories underground, deeper than the training pitch, the team gym, locker rooms, and housing before Adam and Garry made it to the firing range. A virtual space that allowed players to practice in-game shooting and firing. It was nothing like the player facilities on campus.

“Evening, Gaz,” said the woman at the front desk of the firing range. She had mousy brown hair and wore a purple jersey.

“Hey, Adreanna,” Garry said with his arms wide, “this is Adam. Coach Graesser said we could try out the range this weekend.”

“Yeah, he left these passes for you both,” she said, pulling two purple lanyards out from under the desk. They were branded with the logo of The Paladins of Charlemagne, a blade on the backdrop of crossed pegasus wings. Adam couldn’t help but wear an awestruck smile at having one handed to him.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’ve never seen this one in the merch store before.”

“Those are just for team players and coaches, not available for purchase,” Adreanna explained, “but the coach wanted you guys to have some. You're lucky.”

“Sweet, thanks Adreanna,” Garry said, tossing his lanyard over his shoulder.

“You guys have fun,” she said with a smile.

The room was oval-shaped, like being inside of a bean pod. Its walls were a grey plastic mould that was soft and flexible to the touch. Adam couldn't help but be reminded of a padded cell in a mental health hospital. His mind drifted anywhere and everywhere at the slightest thing, but the main thing on his mind as Garry showed him around the training grounds was Dr. Hyon. He still wasn’t over how different she was from every lecturer he had ever met. 

“Alright, let's go,” Garry said, tossing his backpack to the edge of the room, his helmet in his hands. “This is gonna be sick.”

“I swear if you shoot me again I will kick your ass,” Adam said while adjusting his visor.

“Come on, it was one time,” Garry gleefully said. 

The two stood staring at each other, helmets on. Garry began to bounce up and down on his feet. Shaking his arms around him. 

“Ready?” he asked.

“Ready,” Adam said, clearly not as ready as Garry.

The two of them raised their hands and double-tapped their visors, making the room around them change shape. A new virtual reality came into view. Grey and black concrete pillars extended from the floor, walls of solid stone lifted from the ground. A barrier separated the two men from the stretched space, while upon a counter behind Garry was a myriad of 23rd-century weapons. Everything a potential Paladin player would need to hone their skills. Adam, couldn't help but look around the room, his arms resting on the back of his neck. The fidelity and detail in every small thing, the initials carved into the tables, the flags of the team draped on the walls. It was incredible, there were even dust particles in the air. Virtual reality was never so crystal clear for Adam.

“Alright, we're starting with iron sights. You depend too much on scopes and targeting lasers,” Garry said, picking up a rifle from the table and tossing it to Adam.

#story #ShortStory #writeblr #writer #writing #sciencefiction #scifi #scififantasy #space #spacestory #spaceship #drawings #art #conceptart #indiewriter #artist #characterdesign #characterconcept #characterdevelopment #freesciencefiction

[rwbyremnants]

WARNINGS: Cute fluff and wedding bells. [also note, this was written several years ago, hence the "legality" remark about weddings in Hawaii]

And thanks to everybody who read this one! I know this account is mostly all about the girls and understand those who skipped it for that reason (I probably would have if I weren't writing it lol). So I'm even happier about those who kept with it. There'll be more gay in the future! Until then, thanks and have a good 2020!!!

-NBW

=Chapter 11

Having ran several red lights themselves, Winter and Qrow did indeed made it to the hospital in time. To avoid suspicion, Qrow waited outside the room for a few minutes before also bursting through, where they met with the rest of the family. There were a few jokes made about Weiss taking the easy route by getting a C-section, but they had successfully brought a baby girl into the world, whom they named Fènleng. Mother and baby were just fine and dandy.

Not even a full day later, they received another phone call from Yang, still at the hospital with Weiss, announcing that they were formally engaged. Although the fact it happened was no shock, it was hearing that Weiss had asked and dropped to sleep before she even heard Yang say yes properly the first time that was worth retelling many, many times.

In the six months that followed, Qrow had moved into Winter's apartment. They set up the spare room as his own, except this time he managed to keep it a whole lot tidier and presentable should anyone come over. There was the odd argument when Winter would come home from work and find him passed out on the sofa for the first few weeks, but overall, it was working in both of their favours. Winter was a lot more relaxed with him around, and Qrow had the motivation to straighten himself out. He managed to cut down drinking significantly, and even land a small job at a bar for himself.

Their activities certainly never lessened either. A few nights each week, the two would enjoy their sessions in Winter's room, without fear of any more noise complaints or ever getting caught. Although mostly dominant, Qrow wasn't afraid to sometimes take the backseat and sub every now and again, something Winter thoroughly enjoyed when it happened. In addition, there was still the odd visit to the club, but more for sightseeing than participation. Maybe their routine was odd, but it was theirs, and brought something into their lives they had both been missing until now.

Finally, the day of the wedding had arrived. Or it might as well have been considered a week. For the sake of legality, and the picturesque backdrop, the wedding took place in Hawaii. Only close family and friends were in attendance, and there weren’t any photographers or media representatives in sight. Just how they wanted it to be. The ceremony went without a hitch, apart from a very emotional Ruby and Taiyang, and it was onwards to the reception and party.

The entire time, Qrow had distanced himself from Winter to avoid suspicion, even though nobody seemed to notice they had been in the same hut each night. But that was about to change as he found himself in the grip of the younger Schnee sister, who was pulling him along against his will.

"I dunno why you're bothering, most girls give me the brush off the instant they meet me. I'm sure this one'll be no different."

"Because we can never seem to get you two in the same place!" Weiss told him, in good spirits but completely adamant. She didn't have a clue how ridiculous her statements were. "Winter keeps saying she thinks you're a figment of our imagination, since she doesn't even remember seeing you at the hospital!"

"Exactly! I'm that forgettable, so what’s the use?"

But trying to stop her was no use, either. He could already see Winter at the other side the room, where they were headed. Yang had distracted Winter with the six month old baby in her arms, disguising her intentions as talking about her when really it was to keep her in one place. When she looked up to see Weiss and Qrow only a short distance away, she grinned. "Hey! I was just telling Winter how she can take the kid now and then if she wants."

"Of course you were," Weiss replied as they walked up. "But not for a few months; I want to get to know my little angel before I let her out of my sight for one minute." Then she leaned over the baby and cooed softly, "Yes I do, yes I doooo!"

Little Fènleng was giggling away at her other mother, reaching her tiny hand upward to bat her nose. They had dressed her in her own little white dress, with a flower crown to match. Not that she kept it on during the ceremony, and was only just keeping it on her head now. But it was complimented by everyone.

Qrow however rolled his eyes at Weiss's words. "One weekend won't hurt ya, surely? You've had her six months, what more do you need to know? Still poops."

Frowning up at him, she hissed, "She's my firstborn daughter, you ape! I want to cherish my time with her!" Then she turned back to Winter. "By the way, I don't believe you two have been properly introduced."

"I don't believe we ever have," Winter chuckled with a very vague smile. "I've seen him around here or there before."

"You're… Weiss's sister, right?" He managed to smile to himself. It was strange to have to re-enact first meetings when the two had been sleeping together for over a year. But he had to try his best. Holding a hand out toward her, he smiled. "Pleasure to meet you."

"And you, sir," she responded, shaking his firmly. "You're Qrow, right? Yang favours you a bit."

"Huh, never knew that. I always figured she was better off not looking like some jerk."

"Hey, just because you’re a jerk doesn’t mean you’re ugly." Yang smirked at him before looking over to Winter again. "He used to be a full time alcoholic, but now he serves the stuff instead! Funny how the world works, huh?"

The elder Schnee sister's lips were pulled into a wide smile as she leaned back to look him in the eyes. "Certainly is funny, I agree. Very, very funny."

"Yeah I got kicked out my old apartment, sorta gave me the motivation to set myself straight." Then however, he began to smirk, folding his arms confidently. "Roommate's kind of a bitch, but she ain't too bad."

One corner of Winter's eye twitched slightly, but otherwise she maintained her composure. "Really? You have a female roommate? And she doesn't mind living with a hairy man-beast?"

"Wow," Weiss snorted, glancing between them. "That's… pretty rude, even for you, Winter."

Qrow simply laughed at the comment, waving his hand to show Weiss he was unharmed by such insults. "Nah, I think she's a fan, actually! I noticed her checking this hairy man-beast body out quite a few times."

Yang couldn't help but shudder at that mental image. "Please don't talk about your hairy body while I'm in earshot, I don't wanna imagine some old guy pushin' fifty in the nude, let alone my own uncle."

Unable to help herself, Winter glanced across the flower-draped outdoor deck, spotting Ruby talking to Yang and Weiss's fellow recording artist, Neon. "Indeed, I'm sure that's a terrible thing to picture." Then she turned back to Qrow. "Not you specifically, but one's own uncle."

The situation was just too funny to Qrow. Yang and Weiss were so blissfully unaware they were winding one another up in front of them. In fact, to test the waters further he casually leant against the table to half close his eyes, sparing a quick wink. "So you admit I'm not so bad, huh?"

"Oh brother…" Yang rolled her eyes. She handed baby Fènleng over to Weiss, asking her, "Do you really think this is a good idea? My uncle and your sister? Looks more like a match made in Hell to me."

"Not to mention I don't want to see my sister flirted at," Weiss added with a little gag as she bounced the baby against her sarong-clad hip. "But he's your uncle."

"It was your idea to introduce them because you wanted Winter to get some!" Yang reaffirmed. Though when the music was starting to change its tone, Yang quickly took her phone from her shorts pocket to check the time. "Shoot… First dance is soon and I don't think Dad or your dad are back from the bar yet… Unless we wanted to dance with Fenny in the middle?"

"Call your sister over," Weiss suggested easily enough, stroking the tiny cheek of her daughter. "You know she's fantastic with her now that she has gotten past her initial baby anxiety."

"Why can't I hold her while you dance?" Winter pouted, folding her arms. "Unless you really are determined to keep her out of my care for a few more months."

That only earned her an eyeroll from her younger sibling. Yang could only shrug her shoulders, looking back at little Fènleng and her wife again. "Y'know, she does have a point, and she is right there."

Rolling her eyes, Weiss let out a very long and put-upon sigh before handing the little bundle off to her sister. "Alright, just don't forget to support her neck. And let me know if she wants milkies; I can cut short a dance to feed my child. And if she-"

"Go," Winter half-laughed at her. "Enjoy your day. You and Yang have earned this."

"Well… alright." Smiling widely, she reached a hand out for her new wife. "May I have this dance?"

"Hmm… Well…" Yang hesitated, wearing a deliberate smirk to show she was joking around, before she took her hand in hers. "Try and fucking stop me."

Qrow claimed Yang's seat once the two left for the dance floor, watching as they wrapped their arms around one another. When their slow dancing began, he finally looked back around to Winter and the small bundle, pushing his chair closer to them.

"Gotta admit, she's a cute one."

"She's a little angel." Of course, right then Fènleng reached up and tugged on a handful of Winter's hair, prompting her to wince and reach up to gently tug her little fist away. "Ah, ah! Don't pull Auntie's hair!"

"Oh come on, you've had way more than that pulled before," he teased, helping her however he could by holding one of his fingers out for Fènleng to hold instead. The sight of such a tiny hand holding his index digit was enough to bring a smile out of the tough outer shell of Qrow easily. Wriggling it back and forth playfully, he sighed. "I remember when Yin- Yang was this big. Lil' bundle was way more of a handful though."

"Hmm, yes, I'm sure you remember a lot of other things, as well. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the invention of sliced bread…"

For a moment, he simply glared at her, before smirking. "Yet you still sleep with a dinosaur, what does that make you? A cavewoman?"

"An equal-opportunity sub." Luckily, no one was remotely close enough to hear her say that… or so she thought.

"You and Sun both," Blake muttered as she walked past them toward the pit-roasted hog for seconds.

That made Qrow perk right up however. Even the distraction of a small baby wasn't enough to make him ignore that comment. Looking right up toward her again, he spared her a small smile. "Well well, got him in the doghouse again, huh? Bet you let him out when you wanna play with his bone."

"He's my bitch," Blake chuckled as she sank into the chair opposite them. "So 'play' is whenever I want. But… okay, now and then, I do want him on top for a change of pace."

"Kinky," Winter said sarcastically, though she was smiling.

"So you're still a power bottom when you’re a bottom, that's what you're saying here." Qrow took a quick glance across the room. The couple were still distracted dancing, and everyone else was watching or recording. They were safe. "I've tried doing that a couple of times, but I think I’m still good with staying on top. Mostly."

That brought Blake up fast. "You have? Wow. I… didn't expect that from a 'macho' guy like you."

"Well I took some persuading, but with the right Dom…" He had to make that part clear. The two had been getting closer over the past few months, and anyone who knew of their arrangement noticed. It was more or less everything but the name. He braced for the chiding… but it never came.

"Good for you," Blake told him with an easy smile. Not condescending or smug at all, just glad he had discovered this facet of himself.

"Good for both of us," Winter corrected, taking a sip of the Mai Thai at the table, her other arm firmly wrapped around the small babe on her lap. "Trust me."

"I gotta admit, I didn't see the appeal of why monkey-boy likes being taken up there, but then when I took your advice and tried it…" He more or less allowed that sentence to finish itself. But before Blake could ask for details, he was looking around the room. "Where is Monkey Boy anyways? Surprised you two ain't tied the knot yet."

"What?!" Blake burst out without thinking, then cleared her throat. "Um… I mean, we're not really interested in that kind of arrangement. We're practically already married, aren't we?"

But Winter was squinting at Blake pretty shrewdly. "Then why not actually go through with the paperwork? It would probably make things a little easier on you financially."

"Don't rush us. Maybe in a couple years, after I feel a little more settled in Nashville."

"Blake Wukong has a nice ring to it… Unless you wanna go for against tradition and he’d be 'Sun Belladonna' or something," Qrow teased, leaning back in toward the small baby yet again, wiggling his finger to distract her once more. "Who knows? Maybe you can both have a lil playmate for Fènleng here."

"Maybe," Blake laughed. "But if we do, Sun's going to be the stay-at-home dad; I've known for a while that's not my life. But I could see a little girl or boy running around my house in the far future."

"I'll leave that to you and Weiss," Winter put in as she bounced the child on her knee. "I'm content to be Auntie."

Lowering her glass, Blake raised an eyebrow at the other woman. "Really? You don't hear your biological clock ticking?"

"Absolutely not. I had it removed." When they both blinked at her, she glanced between them and said, "What? A tubal ligation is an outpatient procedure. And with my… hobbies, it seemed a lot wiser than crossing my fingers and hoping a condom never breaks, or that I never forget to pop my birth control."

"You could have just asked me to get a vasectomy," Qrow told her, still wriggling his finger to distract the completely oblivious bundle of joy. "Wouldn't have minded, y'know, cause I know I don't want any kids of my own either."

"Well you're old enough to be a grandpa, aren't you?" Sun asked, finally having arrived with a drink of his own, pulling over a chair to join the four of them. Immediately however he seemed more distracted by Fènleng then anything. "And no child can be as perfect as you! No they can't, no they can't!"

"Just because I never told you doesn't mean I didn't do it, Qrow. Years and years ago. So you see, though I firmly believe in vasectomies, and you might want to do that if you intend to take on more subs than just myself, there wasn't much impetus for me to ask you to get one, right?"

"Oh… Did I come at a bad time?" Sun leant toward Blake to whisper, keeping silent other than that as he took a sip of his drink.

But Qrow only put his hand up, shrugging his shoulders. "Alright alright, I didn't know y' had that. I was just saying, I wouldn't mind doing that if you didn’t wanna is all."

"That's good to hear," Winter told him more earnestly, so he would know she wasn't irritated at him for asking. "Did you want to give any other subs a whirl? Maybe even Blake, there?"

"Whoa, whoa," Blake laughed, holding up both hands. "Let's not cross the streams. Did you forget I'm Yang's ex?"

"Yeah, that wouldn't work out. No offence; you’re damn cute but I’m in the same boat. Too weird."

Although he was distracted when the music began to stop once again. The first dance had ended, and it was time for an event that most of the women were already out of their chairs for. Right away, Sun patted Blake's shoulder. "Hey, get over there! You wanna catch it before Neon snatches it, right?"

With a heavy sigh, Blake told him, "I guess." But she got up and went over there all the same. "You coming, Winter?"

"I have more important things to do," she said, hefting Fènleng. "Besides, what use do I have for a bouquet?"

"In case your fancy man ever decides to make it official?" Qrow had chose the wrong moment to have some of his drink, choking on it for a short moment at Sun's comment. After a few brief coughs, he recovered enough to speak.

"You're kidding, right? I mean it wouldn't be the end of the world but we're not even together together."

"Suit yourself." But once he'd noticed that Blake had gone back to the crowd, he pulled the chair in closer to the couple, leaning in toward them to whisper, "Hey, can I let you two in on something?"

Glancing over her shoulder first, Winter leaned in, making sure to keep the baby balanced and safe. "Go on?"

"Okay, Weiss and Yang know… And Ruby… And Penny… And-"

"Everyone but us, right…" Qrow interrupted, but when he received nothing but a small glare from Winter for doing so, he held a hand out. "Sorry, go on."

"Right, but anyway… I might have persuaded Yang to aim to throw the bouquet in her direction…" Reaching into his pocket for a moment, he pulled out a small box, showing it to them. "And I might just slide over once she catches it…"

Instantly, Winter's eyes lit up and she covered her mouth with her other hand. "No. Oh my God, you're really going to do it. Here and now?"

"In front of everyone?” Qrow asked. “Are you really sure? It's gonna be pretty bad if she doesn't want to."

"That's why I'm positive she'll say yes." Tucking the box back into his pocket again, he made sure to keep watch to make sure he wouldn't miss the moment. Once confident it wasn't going to happen for a little while longer yet, he continued, "I've heard her talking to Yang on the phone before, saying how she's jealous that she got asked before her, even if it was while Weiss was still woozy after the anesthetic; I know she wants to make it official. We've been together longer than these two anyway, it makes no sense to have not even gotten engaged. Right?"

"Suppose that's true," Winter mused as she watched all the ladies making a fuss over Yang and Weiss, celebrating them and their affection for each other. "Well, as long as you don't steal too much of the limelight from my little sister, you certainly have my blessing."

"Actually, the proposing after the bouquet was Weiss's idea. They've been a huge help." But upon seeing that Yang had just collected a bouquet of hibiscus flowers, he stood from his seat, quickly patting himself down. "Shit! Wish me luck!"

"Knock 'er dead, pal," Qrow encouraged, pivoting his chair to get a good view of the show, and also so he could continue to fuss little Fènleng.

Holding the girl up against her shoulder, Winter turned her chair so she could have an easier time watching, as well. Then she muttered, "I hope to God all this isn't giving you any ideas, Rooster."

Qrow could only laugh, leaning further back into his chair and toward her. "You wish. I'm more than happy with the arrangement we have, thanks."

"Everybody ready?!" the blonde yelled from across the room before she turned her back to the crowd. She managed to take a glance as to whereabouts Blake was stood for an idea of where to aim, and no doubt the others in the crowd that knew like Ruby, Penny and even Neon would assist her should she miss. “One, two, THREE!”

With ease, she threw the bouquet over her head and toward the crowd, listening as their lady guests all made a frantic effort to try and catch it. Blake did raise her arms, of course, smiling like most of them were smiling. But she wasn't trying to knock anyone out of the way; just participating. However, anyone who had seen Neon on the beach the day previous would have noticed her exceptional volleyball skills. Glancing over her shoulder, she positioned herself under the bouquet and thrust her hands up and back slightly. The flowers bounced off her flat palms, after which she made an exaggerated, futile grasp at the empty air.

And, as she had obviously desired, the flowers landed in Blake's outstretched arms. The brunette was completely stunned, having thought Neon had it for sure! Looking around, she wasn't sure what to do until she heard Weiss whistling and cheering - and even then, all she did was grin bashfully. Yang had obviously been equally glad of that, pumping her fist in the air to celebrate to herself. They had done their part, it was down to Sun now.

Sun who had dashed over just in time, and managed to crouch onto one knee before she turned around. Once in the position with the box in his hand, he cleared throat to catch her attention. Blake turned fairly slowly, then widened her eyes when she saw him kneeling.

"What the f- Sun, what are you doing?"

"Something I probably should have done a long ass time ago."

When Blake first turned to check Yang and Weiss's reaction, both seemed equally happy at what was occurring, her best friend even offering a quick wink to let her know she was in on the whole action. When she turned back, Sun was holding the box up high.

"I think we did pretty good for a couple of random ass Potterheads, but you're way more magical than any of those seven books can describe. I can't even describe how happy you make me feel, and I'm an idiot for not asking sooner." He opened the box, revealing a silver ring. Fitting to how they first met and their shared interest, the centre piece was a blue gem, with a set of wings surrounding it. Something clearly inspired by the Ravenclaw crest.

"Blake Belladonna, will you marry me?"

Both of Blake's hands were pressed against her mouth now, the flowers having fallen down between her sandaled feet. For a long moment, she didn't respond, only flicked her gaze between the ring and the man holding it aloft.

"Say 'yes', you dolt!" Weiss called out, which earned a round of laughter and applause.

"Well… you heard her," Blake finally breathed as she lowered her hands, grinning and blushing and tearing up. "Yes! Absolutely, yes!"

"It's about TIME!" Yang's exaggerated call earned a few more laughs from the crowd, and an embarrassed one from Sun. He couldn't agree more. Finally rising to his feet again, he took the ring from the box before putting it back in his pocket, and taking one of Blake's hands for her to try it on.

All of the actions were watched by the older couple at the back of the room, who were still sat in their seats with Fènleng. Qrow had clapped and whistled in celebration, but quickly went back to his drink. Before taking another sip, he quickly commented, "Nope, not giving me ideas. You're safe."

"Good," Winter said as she watched Blake turning her hand this way and that, admiring the stone and how it looked on her hand before diving into Sun's arms and peppering him with kisses. "I'm not really interested in all that mushiness."

"Right there with ya. I'm happy our arrangement. You get your own space and I get mine." But as he continued to watch the happy display between them, and as they were hugged by Weiss and Yang right after, he couldn't help but smile contently to himself. As tough as he made himself out to be, he couldn't deny it was touching to watch a couple get their happy ending. Something that he himself had found, albeit in another way.

"Still, the kisses every now and again are pretty alright."

After a long pause, in which Fènleng managed to tug at Winter's hair, she agreed softly, "Every now and again."

Another pause followed for them both. Leaving just enough time for him to assist her with the small child again, once more giving her his index finger to grab a hold of instead of her strands of hair. "Alright, fine. I'm kind of a sap when it comes to you, alright?" he finally admitted, shuffling his chair slightly closer to hers.

"Who said you weren't allowed to be? You're the one boxing yourself in like that." But she was smirking at him. "Anyway, it's not like our lives are 'good' or 'bad'. Just… we are who we are."

"Horny idiots who don’t mind a good spanking?" he asked, wriggling his finger still to keep Fènleng distracted. However when he began to notice her little eyes dropping shut, he smiled up at his roomie, giving a little nod. "I'm more than happy with that, if you are."

"I am. It's… nice to have someone to share the lonely hours with. For safety and companionship." Glancing down at the little girl's sleepy face, she whispered, "As long as you never ask me to pop out one of these, I think we're right as rain."

Qrow was glad that the rest of the party guests were distracted by the newlyweds and the newly engaged. It meant that he had no fear when he quickly leant in to leave a brief kiss on Winter's cheek, drawing back and smiling. "We'll stick to nieces and nephews to spoil, I guess."

"Or spoil me," she whispered throatily, glad the child was too young to understand what they were saying. Her cheeks might have been a little warmer thanks to the peck. "Too bad Weiss and Yang didn't know Glynda, or she could assist you in that matter."

Smirking back at the comment, he leant in toward her, whispering just as teasingly, "You got a thing for calling me a little girl, got a thing for Glynda. If I didn't know any better I'd say you're more than ‘a little gay’."

"We've been over this, you perv. We're both a little bit gay, in all honesty. But I won't tell if you won't."

"Can't argue with that." Yet again, he managed to plant another small kiss on her cheek, before whispering, "Maybe if we leave a little earlier, we can arrange a little scene with Snowmane again, huh?"

Raising her tropical drink to her lips again, she watched as a native hula dance was struck up for the guests' viewing pleasure as she mulled that topic over, weighing the pros and cons of cutting out of their Hawaiian holiday early. After a minute or two, she finally formed a reply.

"Maybe I could book Glynda a flight down here. Then the Princess and the Rooster won't have to leave the party early. How do you feel about that?"

All satisfied smiles, Qrow leaned over, his black tie brushing her leg as he whispered, "I'm liking the sound of that, Princess. Five stars all the way."

                                                = End =

                    = Stay Tuned for White Noise: Lady Stardust =

[pb1138]

Fictober Day 4: Freeze, feat Josephine and Asena

MODERN POOL PARTY AU! I NEVER WRITE AUS! HOW WEIRD IS THIS?! It might become a two-parter, Idk. Warnings? Mentions of alcohol, kind of OOC Leliana. Also, surprise appearances from the Hawke and Inquisitor of this timeline (Nev and Gemma. (Gemma is the Inq, Asena is just her friend for my double-Inquisitor-au timeline.)) 

UPDATE: This is now a mafia au. 

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4   AO3

Author note: “Hermosa” means beautiful. So, she’s calling Josephine beautiful. 

“Who did you say lived here?” Josephine raised her eyebrow at Leliana.

Leliana just waved her hand as they wove their way through the convoluted apartment complex. “A friend of Cassandra’s.”

Cullen snorted from behind them. “It’s not like you to hold back on gossip, Leliana.”

Leliana huffed. “I don’t really know. All Cassandra said was there would be a party.”

Josephine and Cullen shared an incredulous look, but they didn’t have time to press for more information because they rounded a corner and music drifted over to them. “Oh good, you made it!” Cassandra waved to them from among the group of people loitering around the pool. A bunch of paper lantern lights were rustling in the warm summer breeze, casting a warm glow over the cool light from the pool. There were about two dozen people in total, including many of Cassandra’s friends, just about everybody wearing either bathing suits or summer clothes. Josephine recognize most of them—The Iron Bull was working over the grill while Dorian looked on adoringly; a red-haired and blue-tattooed Dwarven woman was hanging off the Warden Blackwall’s arm sitting poolside and chatting animatedly with Sera and her girlfriend Dagna who were in the pool; over in the corner, Varric was sitting amidst a group of people, likely telling them one of his ridiculous stories with his arm slung over Cole’s (one of the only fully dressed people present) shoulder. Cassandra walked over the gate and grinned at them, her hand going to rest on her sarong-ed hip. “Did you find it alright?”

Leliana grinned and hugged her. “Of course.”

Josephine scanned the crowd. “It looks like a good turnout.”

Cassandra nodded, clasping Cullen’s hand in a firm shake. “Yes. I hadn’t realized Asena had invited so many people, but everyone seems to be having a good time.”

“Who is this Asena? I’ve yet to meet her,” Josephine asked, curiosity filling her voice.

“Oh, you’ll love her.” Cassandra gave her a knowing smirk before it turned into a grin as she looked past them. “In fact, here she comes now!”

“Sorry, there was a huge line at the store and—Oh!” The trio turned to meet their hostess, and Josephine’s breath caught in her throat. “Cassandra, are these the friends you were talking about?”

“Yes, indeed. Guys, allow me to introduce Asena Adaar.”

The Qunari that stood before them was, as most Qunari are, incredibly tall. She was standing with her hip cocked, a large bag of charcoal balanced on it, an… an entire half-barrel keg set at her feet. Josephine raised an eyebrow at that. How in the world did she carry that all in one go? Her hips were wide in comparison to the rest of her body, a pair of light pink harem pants hanging quite low on those hips, giving her a good view of sturdy hip bones. Her skin was light for a Qunari, similar in shade to The Iron Bull’s, but smoother, pulled tight over strong, prominent muscles. She wore no shirt, only a black, strapless bikini top that made Josephine swallow hard.

Asena must’ve noticed Josephine checking her out because she smirked, an eyebrow cocked at her, and Maker’s breath she was pretty. She had a strong, slightly crooked nose that sat between proud, lightly freckled cheekbones. Her lips were thick and painted a cool purple that helped her shockingly bright, teal eyes stand out. Her horns were smaller than the Bull’s, curved delicately up and behind her forehead, shined smooth halfway to the tips, and between them rained a mess of beautifully curled black locks.

“Asena, may I present—”

“Nono, let me guess.” She cut Cassandra off with a cocky smile. “Obviously this is Cullen Rutherford.” They shook hands, Cullen replying with some sort of greeting that Josephine couldn’t hear. “And Leliana Nightingale,” another handshake, then she turned to Josephine. “And this,” she said, practically purring, “must be the lovely Josephine Montilyet.” As Josephine put her hand in hers, she blushed when Asena leaned down, pressing a warm kiss to the back of her knuckles. Asena smirked up at her and whispered a cool and fluent, “Encantada, hermosa Josefina,” against her skin.

“Hey, Boss, did you get the charcoal or what?”

Asena straightened up (so tall) at The Bull’s interruption and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, hold your horns.” She smiled at the four of them, stopping her gaze on Josephine. “Please, excuse me.”

“Do you need any help with that?” Cullen gestured towards the keg sitting at Asena’s feet.

The Qunari grinned and shook her head. “No thanks. I’ve got it.” In one fluid movement, she hefted the charcoal up on her shoulder and raised the keg to rest on her other hip as if it weighed nothing at all. Josephine couldn’t help but stare at her muscles as she squeezed past them and meandered over to the other Qunari who was waiting impatiently by the grill.

When she turned back to her friends, Leliana and Cullen were giving her deviously sly grins. “I… What?” She could feel the blush rising among her cheeks. They chuckled and moved past her to join the party, Cassandra following close by. “I—guys! Wait!”

As promised, the party was a blast. Within an hour, more people had joined, including Bull’s entire crew and a few other people Asena seemed to know, including a white-haired blind woman who was nearly as buff as Asena and who was apparently the blind woman’s girlfriend, a slender, tan-skinned woman with a lip piercing and a heavy Rivaini accent. Conversation and laughter flowed from every direction, backed by a constant flow of pleasant music. Though Josephine is a natural conversationalist, she didn’t stray far from Leliana’s side. Leliana’s offered safety proffered Josephine the opportunity to watch their hostess flit about from person to person. Everyone was greeted in the familiar, ranging from a warm handshake to an almost painful-looking hug, but Josephine noticed hers was the only hand that Asena kissed. Indeed, aside from a sisterly smooch to Blackwall’s and his girlfriend’s cheeks, Asena’s lips touched nobody else. Though she didn’t know why, this revelation filled Josephine with a deep sense of giddiness, as though butterflies had taken flight along her skin.

“My word. Is that Leliana?”

Josephine raised a brow as the Rivaini woman snaked her way through the throng of people, her girlfriend in tow, and came to a firm stop in front of the both of them. She looked over at Leliana who was regarding the woman for a long moment before she gasped. “Isabela?”

The woman—Isabela—beamed brilliantly at them and swooped in to hug Leliana. “I knew that was you!”

Leliana blushed. “I had heard you and Hawke were together, but I guess I didn’t realize. You’ve certainly changed, Bela.” Josephine nudged Leliana and gave her a Look. “Oh, Josie, this is Isabela and Genevieve, friends of mine from ages ago.”  

“Nev,” supplied Nev with an outstretched hand which Josephine took.

Isabela pulled Genevieve’s hip into hers and grinned cheekily. “Yes, we know Leliana quite well. Perhaps we could know you, too…?”

“Bela, Nev, you’re not harassing my guests, are you? Not everyone is interested in sharing your bed.”

Josephine blushed furiously at Asena’s entrance, even more so at the fact that Asena stood almost touching her, her arm stretched behind her to balance her weight against the railing. Nev chuckled while Isabela tsked. “Well one can never know until one tries, eh?”

Nev pushed gently at Isabela’s shoulder, turning to leave. “C’mon, I heard Cullen prattling on around here somewhere. I wanna annoy him.”

Leliana’s studious gaze flicked from Josephine to Asena two or three times before she gave a flashy smile. “I’ll help you look for him,” she called to the other two women.

Josephine’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth to protest, but Leliana was gone as quickly as Asena had appeared, chasing after her friends. Asena sucked her teeth and shook her head after her friends. “That lot is trouble.” Turning to look down at Josephine, she put on a brilliant smile. “Are you enjoying yourself, Lady Montilyet?”

Josephine self-consciously tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded. “Yes, quite. This is quite the party.”

Asena smirked, her eyes scanning across Josephine’s face. “I’m afraid I can’t take all the credit. Bull’s boys are quite the lively bunch.”

Maker, is she getting closer? Josephine cleared her throat and took a sip of her drink. “You, uh… You seem to know all these people.”

Chuckling, Asena straightened back up and looked out at the crowd. “Mm, I do for the most part. Anyone I didn’t know before tonight were either guests of Cassandra or Gemma.”

“Gemma?”

“My roommate.” She pointed out the tattooed woman just in time for Josephine to watch as Blackwall was tackled into the pool. Laughing, she watched the two of them come back up for air, and Gemma squealed as Blackwall pulled her in for a vengeful kiss. “She’s pretty cute.”

Josephine cocked her head, looking back and forth from the Dwarf to the Qunari. “How did you two meet?”

For just the briefest of moments, a shadow flicked over Asena’s face, but she quickly hid it with a cool smile. “We go way back.”

Nodding, Josephine turned her attention back to the crowd. “I understand.”

The music shifted to a new song, something in Qunlat that Josephine couldn’t understand, but it had a good beat. Asena spun to stand in front of Josephine and bowed dramatically, her hand outstretched. “May I have this dance, Lady Montilyet?”

At her dashing grin, Josephine blushed and slipped her hand into Asena’s. “You may.”

Asena grinned and swept her out towards the area that had been unofficially designated as a dance floor.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. Asena and Josephine danced for what felt like minutes but must have been well over an hour by the time they sat down, breathless and giddy. From there, they talked for ages, and wine and beer flowed between them until they were both giggly and stumbling about the place. People came to talk to the both of them, faces blurring one into another as the drinks flow.

Suddenly, it was daylight. Josephine’s head pounded in protestation of her poor decisions last night, and she groaned. “Oh, Maker,” she grumbled.

“Buenas dias, hermosa Josefina.”

She… She knew that voice. But from where? She couldn’t… Prying her eyes open, she looked around, struggling to focus. “W… Where?”

A face came into view, dazzlingly beautiful and smiling warmly, a cascade of curls falling off a light blue shoulder. “My apartment.” A glass of water was sat on a table near Josephine’s face.

Blinking, Josephine tried to focus on the face, on the strong nose and the proud lips and the freckles and the eyes—“Asena?”

Asena chuckled and nodded, disappearing from view. “Eggs?”

“I…”

At her roaring stomach, Asena chuckled again. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Josephine pulled herself to sit up, assessing the damage. A hoodie some five sizes too big with a wide-cut collar had been placed on her, but underneath her clothes were still on and in-tact, though her sandals had been carefully sat on the floor. She had been sleeping on a couch in a well-decorated apartment, not far from a sliding glass door that lead out near the pool. “I… slept over?”

“Yeah. Cullen did, too. He’s in on Gemma’s couch, through that door over there. Leliana left with Nev and Isabela.” Asena came over to sit in a chair across from her, setting a plate of eggs down in front of her.

“And the uh… hoodie?” She cast a glance up at her host and took a sip of the water.

Asena smiled gently, leaning back in her chair. “I didn’t want you to freeze.”

Josephine blushed and ducked her head to take another drink. “Mm. Thank you. That was very thoughtful.”

Asena waved her hand. “It looks better on you anyways.”

Josephine blushed and… Was that a smirk? Boldness took her, then, and with a smirk of her own, Josephine settled back into the couch and tucked her legs up underneath her. “I shall have to keep it, then.”

Asena’s smirk grew into a full-blown toothy grin. She adjusted herself so that her arm hung off the back of the chair and her impossibly long legs stretched out in front of her. “It would be a great disappointment if you didn’t, Lady Montilyet.”

Josephine giggled and started eating. They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes until a phone began ringing. Asena cursed in Qunlat and cast her an apologetic glance, pulling out her phone. Josephine waved her off, and Asena disappeared into a different room to answer it. Josephine finished her eggs and water then took them to the sink to clean them, humming softly. The hoodie hung down to her knees, and the widened collar encouraged it to hang off her shoulder demurely. ‘I didn’t want you to freeze.’ She blushed anew and grinned to herself.

As she washed the dish, the other door off to her right opened and Blackwall stumbled out, wearing naught but a pair of pajama pants. Upon seeing her, he froze and blushed deeply. “I… er… Lady Montilyet. Fancy meeting you here.”

She quirked a brow at him. “Indeed.”

He cleared his throat. “You, uh, slept over then?”

“Indeed.”

Nodding, he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “F-fancy that.” Moving quickly, he scooted over the cupboard and snagged a pack of Poptarts. “Well, be seeing you,” he stammered before scurrying back to the room.

Josephine chuckled and shook her head. His crush on her never ceased to entertain, even if he was a taken man now. Just as she finished the dishes, Asena’s door opened, and she walked out, wearing a breathtaking suit, fresh makeup, and a sullen expression. “Hermosa Josefina, I must profusely apologize. I have business to attend to. You’re welcome to stay here, or I could take you home if you needed?” She looked wretched about it, and that made Josephine’s heart swell.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose. I can call a taxi.”

Asena frowned. “Nonsense. It would be my pleasure.”

She considered it a moment, regarding her carefully. With a nod, she smiled gently. “Very well then.”

She moved to take the hoodie off, but she was stopped by a gently hand on her arm. Looking up into Asena’s smiling face, she blushed. “I said you could keep it,” she purred, her eyes taking in the hang of the garment.

Josephine’s blush deepened, and she nodded. “A-Alright.”

Asena practically beamed and gestured towards the door. They paused so Josephine could put her sandals back on, and then they left. Asena’s car was strangely nice for a college student, and a convertible to boot. Probably for the horns, Josephine thought. She drove with a careful recklessness, obeying speed limits and the likes but taking turns a little too fast, and in a way it was thrilling. Once they arrived at Josephine’s house, Asena hopped out and rushed quickly around to open the door for her, smiling warmly at her. She escorted Josephine to the door and paused just outside it, looking as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t. Josephine tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled. “Thank you for a lovely evening,” she whispered.

Asena regarded her carefully, eyes scanning hers, taking in her expression. She nodded slightly and reached out to brush her hand along Josephine’s arm, linking their pinkies together when she reached her hand. “I… had a good time. I’d like… I’d like to see you again, if that’s alright.”

Josephine’s stomach burst into butterflies and her heart pounded in her ears for something other than her hangover. Nodding earnestly, she stepped closer, a broad grin stretched across her face. “I would very much like that.”

Asena grinned toothily. “Brilliant.” She pulled Josephine’s hand to her lips as she had when they met and pressed another warm kiss to her knuckles. “Until later, hermosa Josefina.”

Josephine watched her practically skip back to her car. They shared another grin and waved to one another before Asena hopped into her car and took off. With a dopy smile and lightness to her step that defied the heaviness of her hangover, Josephine backed into the house and sighed dreamily. Once she turned around, she blushed to see Leliana standing against the railing in her underwear, a bowl of cereal in her hands. She regarded Josephine carefully then pointed her spoon at her. “Where’d you get the hoodie?”

Clearing her throat, Josephine tilted her chin up. “Asena didn’t want me to freeze.”

At Leliana’s devious grin, Josephine rolled her eyes and scooted past her to retreat to her room. It wasn’t until she turned to shut the door that she noticed the Rivaini woman and the white haired woman sprawled across the couch, very nude, and she scoffed. “I thought we said no more orgies in the living room, Leliana!”

Leliana’s laughter drifted through the wood of the door as Josephine shut it, and she rolled her eyes. The memory of Asena’s lips upon her hand was too sweet, too lovely in her mind for her to work up any real anger, and she collapsed in a heap into her bed, sighing contentedly. When she opened her phone, she was surprised to see a message from an unknown number, and when she opened it she grinned.

I had a lovely night with you, hermosa Josefina. -Asena.

“Oh, Maker. This woman will be the death of me,” she giggled.