#csrr

[guerrerense]

Plow Train Beneath Elephant's Head por David Blazejewski Por Flickr: Conway Scenic Railroad's plow train has battled their way up the mountain with ex Lamoille Valley (originally Central Vermont) Russell snowplow 4211 leading the way and is seen here at MP 85 on the former Maine Central Mountain Subdivision just starting back east to head down the mountain home. Partially visible at left is the little Queen Anne style Crawfords station built in 1891 sixteen years after the opening of the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad up through Crawford Notch. Its primary purpose was to serve the Crawford House Hotel that had been built nearby in 1859 (for the second time) and was the largest of all the great 19th century New Hampshire resort hotels at the time it was erected. At 1900 ft Crawfords is the summit of the line and they climbed some 1400 ft in the 25 miles since leaving North Conway on grades of up to 2.2%. Immediately above the lead unit can be seen the famous rock formation known as Elephant Head. CSRR GP38s 255 and 252 providing the horsepower are right at home here having been built in November 1966 for the Maine Central Railroad as part of an order of 13 of the model which were the first batch of second generation diesel locomotives purchased by the road. They both regularly operated here for the first 17 years of their lives until the last thru freight ran in 1983 after Guilford purchased the MEC and shuttered the Mountain Sub. In fact 252 had the ignominious duty of leading the final YR-1 from Saint Johnsbury on September 2, 1983. 255 came to Conway Scenic in 2022 and still wears her Vermont Rail System red paint from her nearly two decade second career as Clarendon & Pittsford 203 after having being sold by MEC successor Guilford Transportation in the early 1990s. 252 meanwhile was the last one in service on successor Guilford Transportation, lasting more than three decades, and having seen her other dozen siblings retired and scrapped or sold. She came to Conway Scenic in March 2010 along with GP35 216 in a trade with Pan Am Railways for FP9s 6505 and 6516 that would become Pan Am's OCS power. Crawford Depot Carroll, New Hampshire Monday February 17, 2025

[sijssjsbssjsnsnnskbskwns]

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Reader Idea’s For You!

~Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman~

~Y/N~

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Reader

Crossover: Kill Your Darlings X Life After Beth

Plot’s For These Idea’s: Life After Beth or…Kill Your Darlings

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Zombie!Reader (instead of just beth turning into a zombie you do as well)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Nancy Downs!Reader (your Nancy downs from the craft)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Scarlet Witch!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Vampire!Reader (inspired by Abigail 2024)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Siren!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Veronica Mayday!Reader (your Veronica mayday from helluva boss)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Female!Alastor!Reader (your Alastor from hazbin hotel but female version…to blend in you have a human disguise so you blend in…the only thing that sticks out is your wide smile and your red eyes)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Sapphire Witch!Reader (scarlet witch powers but dark blue)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Gothic!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Amethyst Witch!Reader (scarlet witch powers but purple)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Telekinesis!Reader (how strong is your telekinesis?…well very very powerful…you also have the power to fly)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Atmokinesis!Reader (Weather manipulation)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Emerald Witch!Reader (scarlet witch powers but green)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Depressed!Reader (your very quiet you don’t like to talk or socialize with others…your introverted and anti-Social, you wear dark clothes and makeup)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Male!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Demon!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Jennifer Check!Reader (your Jennifer check from Jennifer’s body)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Psychopathic!Ghostface!Reader

Lucien Csrr X Zach Orfman X Chorokinesis!Reader (plant manipulation)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Rose Witch!Reader (scarlet witch powers but dark pink)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Blind!Mute!Reader (your 100% blind and mute…as for your blindness it’s not a normal blind it’s a toph beifong kind of blind)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Yandere!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Na’vi!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Cartoon Cat!Reader (your cartoon cat created by Trevor henderson but female version)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Golden Witch!Reader (scarlet witch powers but golden)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Maleficent!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Famous!Actress!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Cruella!Reader (Cruella 2021 version inspired)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Dragon!Reader (inspired by Siveth from DragonHeart: vengeance)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Pyrokinesis!Reader (fire manipulation)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Ahmanet!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Enchantress!Reader (enchantress from suiside squad)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Marmaid!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Werewolf!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Ghost!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Female!Ink Bendy!Reader (your ink bendy from bendy and the ink machine…but female)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Raven!Reader (Raven from Titans 2018)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Tarrakinesis!Reader (element manipulation)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X British!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Russian!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Female!Sonic!Reader (your not a hedgehog you just have his powers…Sonic from Sonic the hedgehog movie)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Emotionless!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Agatha Harkness!Reader (your Agatha Harkness from Wanda vision)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Dimitrescu!Reader (your lady Dimitrescu basically)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Tall!Angel!Goddess!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Billie Eilish!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Female!Micheal Myers!Reader (you just act like Micheal Myers)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Escape Lab!Reader (you have scarlet witch powers but orange)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Harley Quinn!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Photokinesis!Reader (light manipulation)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Half-Zombie!Reader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Daki!Reader (your Daki from demon slayer)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Deaf!Reader (your 100% deaf so you use sign language or a notepad)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Nezuko!Reader (your Nezuko from demon slayer)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Wednesday!Reader (Jenna Ortega version)

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Violent!Zombie!Raader

Lucien Carr X Zach Orfman X Feral!Vampire!Reader (inspired by Abigail 2024)

(A/N: Hello hope this inspired you if you want more inspiration go see my other posts it’s recommended!…you can also you use these ideas on Wattpad if you wanted to!…or just here on Tumblr just a suggestion!…I also made y/n au profiles so you might get an inspiration of what y/n might be or look like…Remember you can use these ideas anyways….YOUR WELCOME! :)

[ixesese]

Need to vent, sorry

I just.

Feel alone

Alone

everyone I csrr about lesves

And yk, the one im starting to maybe, idk, Crush on ig, I feel they dont care either

Like everyone

everyting I do I garbage, not even sci STARLO IS good. Its sit

Puréshit

And I cant even stay haooy all the time and say the right shit to make everyone Happy and kusy not be boring but i am

I am

Im boring aren't I?

Just LET ME TO die and I'll be fie

No bothers no shitty stuff

If I didn't exist or i was forgotten, everything would be perfect

I cant even vent with anybidh because they dont care or they are away or dont listen

This is all mt fault for even feeling sad

Im alone.

[ohmightydevviepuu]

fanbinding:  operation tulips (your two lips should kiss)

a couple of years ago i had the absolute honor to work with @carpedzem​ on this masterpiece for the CS Valentine’s Day Role Reversal:

together, we brought operation tulips to life from this magnificent image that already tells a story.  my job was just to narrate it.

after that, i got a prompt from @katie-dub​ and decided to revisit this little corner of perfection, and that got us before the evening’s gone away.  a little sequel, of sorts.  and--while i was doing that--katie worked up this brilliant little prequel for all of us who have a little tinkerhook in our hearts:  distractions (before she was mine).

so now i bring you this, a first experiment in bookbinding:

it is a dos-a-dos (double-sided) accordion binding with a pamphlet stitch, typeset in Garamond pt 14 and printed on cream vellum (70#). 

[briansolomonauthor]

Not Every Job is Glamorous

Not Every Job is Glamorous

Nor is every photograph glamorous. The photo that I hoped to present is locked up in a quagmire of computer technology. Instead, I offer this image that I made more than a week ago of Conductor Jeff cleaning Conway Scenic Railroad’s train before the weekend rush. Tracking the Light posts daily, even when the computer fails to function as hoped.

[lassluna]

Work in Progress Wednesday

Thank you to CSMM Discord and @hollyethecurious wonderful idea of a Feed Your WIPs February. So I am currently working on the final part of  Its a brand new day, (it's never too late to start) that was part of my contribution for @csrolereversal last year with the lovely @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713.’s lovely aesthetic. I think I am almost done so with any luck this will be dropping on Valentine’s day. 

“But if you do have a secret admirer, all you have to do is have someone watch the door and see who they catch outside. That’s how all the cop shows do it.” He declares. “You can call it Operation Valentine.”

He shakes his head. It seems ridiculous, having his own apartment staked out for this mysterious admirer? That was going too far.

“Who would I even have to watch the place?” He asks, not at all considering it.

“Emma tells me that she pays local neighbors when she has to leave stake outs, why don’t you ask her what to do?” Henry asks.

“Yeah Killian.” Belle says pointedly. She’s still smirking at him like he’s supposed to know something that he clearly does not. “Ask Emma if she could possibly know how to catch your super secret admirer.”

[glart]

LORD SOMEONE DOUSE ME IN HOLY WATER I AM GNAWING AT THE BARS OF MY CELL I COULD TAKE CSRR KF HIM

happy Halloween take this Rand i drew months ago

[clockadile]

I am a bit over the wire getting this done but it’s here! Thank you so much to @theonceoverthinker for being patient with me as my days got busy and my paint refused to dry fast enough.

She put together a wonderfully fluffy story with a few details I wish I’d had time to elaborate on in art! Read her accompanying story A Winter’s Snowball, our contribution to the valentines week @csrolereversal READ HERE

[delightfully-difficult-pirate]

Freaky Friday the 14th (1/3)  (CSRR)

The amazing @mariakov81​ posed me quite a challenge with this @csrolereversal​.  She made some amazing art and this gorgeous banner and I can only hope I have done her idea justice.

Rating: PG-13

Part 2

                                                         ~*~

     “He’s not going to propose,” Emma told to herself as she carefully applied a thin line of eyeliner along her eyelid. “He wouldn’t be stupid enough to propose on Valentine’s Day”

    Not after all the times she’d expressed annoyance at the commercialized fake holiday.  He knew how dumb she thought proposals on Valentine’s Day were.  Just couple’s giving into the forced romanticism retailers and expensive ad agencies had shoved down everyone’s throats since January.  Decisions made in haste that would only backfire in the long run.

    “He better not propose.”  Emma placed the cap back on her eyeliner with a little more force than necessary.  

    She loved Killian, her boyfriend of two years, she really did… but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to take a walk down the aisle.  She’d only settled down in the small town of Storybrooke, Maine, a few years ago after a lifetime on the move.  Emma loved the quaint, seaside town.  She had many friends, a job she loved, but Emma still had a fear that one day, she would no longer be welcome and be forced to leave.  It was an irrational fear, she well knew, but after the turbulent life she’d had, it was hard to believe that she’d finally found a welcoming home.

    And such a wonderful partner in Killian.  He was an intelligent man who actually listened to her when she told him something.  He was not, she told herself, an idiot and therefore would not propose while they were out to dinner.  There was no need to work herself up into an anxious mess about something that would not, absolutely not, be happening.  

    Except…

    He’d been acting oddly for the past few weeks.  He’d start to ask her something, stop, and then tell her to forget it.  Or change the topic.  Two weekends ago she’d walked into a room where he and their friend David had been talking, only for them to go completely silent.  It had just been for a moment, but that moment was enough for Emma to realize that they’d been talking about her.

    Later, she’d mentioned all of this to her best friend, Mary Margaret, who’d squealed with joy and suggested that Killian was going to propose soon.  And no matter how much she rejected the idea she couldn’t get it out of her head.  

    Killian arrived exactly at 6:45pm, knocking on her front door like he didn’t have a key to her apartment and the sound sent butterflies through Emma’s stomach.  She unceremoniously opened the door as she pulled the zipper up on the tall, black leather boots she’d decided to pair with the short, red dress she was wearing.

    “Need help, love?”

    Emma shook her head as she stood.  Killian already held her warmest wool jacket and like a gentleman, helped her into it.  She gave him a quick kiss in thanks.  Killian himself was bundled up against the cold in a long, navy blue pea coat with a black beanie on his head.  It must be really cold outside for him to eschew his wide array of black leather jackets in favor of something more sensible.

    After she locked her apartment door, she turned and asked, “So where are we going?”  

    Killian held the door as they exited her apartment building. “A pub opened up down by the harbor a few weeks back, called The Hope and Anchor.  Eric says their onion rings are the best he’s had in ages.”

                                                          ~*~

    The pub was fantastic.  It had been built in an old wharf warehouse and even though it had been renovated, they had obviously tried to retain as much of the original feel as they could. She’d half expected it to be decorated in an over-the-top nautical theme, but had been thrilled to be wrong.  There was a heavy anchor propped up in one corner and ship-in-a-bottle behind the bar, but other than those, the walls were covered in an eclectic assortment of items she’d come to expect from any New England pub. Except this one did have some absolutely amazing onion rings.

    “Don’t tell Granny, but I do believe these are the best onion rings in the state,” Emma said as she grabbed another onion ring from her plate and popped it in her mouth.

    Killian brought his hand up and thoughtfully stroked his face. “That’s a tall order, Swan, asking me to keep a secret from the matriarch of our lovely town,” he said softly.  “I’m going to need something in return.”  

    Emma rolled her eyes at her boyfriend’s antics. “And what do you have in mind as payment, to keep this damaging information to yourself?”  

    “What about…” Killian took a slow sip of his rum, “you agree to be my Valentine?”

    An unbidden blush spread across Emma’s cheeks.  She’d never been someone’s Valentine before.  

    Emma reached across the table, grabbed Killian’s hand and gave it a tug. Taking the hint, he leaned forward enough for her to kiss him. “Is that all?” she whispered against his lips.

    “Move in with me.”

    He said it so softly that at first, Emma wasn’t sure she’d understood him correctly.  But as soon as she figured out that he had, in fact, said what she’d thought he’d said, she jerked back.  

    “What?”

    Hand scratching behind his ear, Killian looked a bit sheepish as he repeated himself.  “I want you to move in with me.  We spend every night together, unless you’re working, and half of my closet is full of your clothes, so it doesn’t make sense to keep living apart.”

    He continued to ramble on about all the benefits of them living together, but all Emma could concentrate on was the sinking feeling in her stomach.  

    Why did he have to bring this up now?  On today of all days?

    He knew…          

    “I…” Emma started, but paused when she realized she had no idea what to say.

    Killian caught her hesitation and stopped talking. He started at her, obviously confused.

    “Emma, what’s wrong?”

    A surge of anger washed through Emma and she pushed herself away from the table.

    “Wrong?  What’s wrong?” she snapped. “You know… you know how much I hate it when people use this holiday as an excuse to make big life decisions.  It’s stupid and cliché.”

    Killian blinked, taken aback.

    “Emma, I’ve been wanting to ask you for months…”

    “And you couldn’t find some other time to ask? Why did it have to be today of all days?”

    “Why does the day matter?” Obviously frustrated, Killian ran his hand through his hair.  “I know you hate Valentine’s Day because of the forced emphasis on romance and love, but it’s just another day.  It doesn’t have any bearing on my desire for us to live together. I asked just now because I finally had the courage to do so.”

    Hearing that cooled Emma’s anger, as if a cold bucket of water had been poured over her. She felt ashamed at the way she lashed out.  She needed to get out of there before she could do more damage to their relationship.

    “I… I’m sorry,” was all she managed to say before she stood and fled from the pub.

                                                         ~*~

    Killian continued to stare at the door his girlfriend had just ran out of, not yet fully comprehending what had just happened.  He’d expected Emma to be hesitant, at first, at the suggestion that she move in with him, which he understood.  She valued her space.  Living on her own represented independence.  Strength.  He figured he’d need to convince her that living with him wouldn’t make her any less strong or capable of taking care of herself.  

    But in all the scenarios his anxious mind had concocted about how asking could go wrong, her freaking out about it being Valentine’s Day was not one of them.

    I should go after her, he told himself.  

    With a sigh, Killian tossed back the remaining rum in his glass.  He pulled enough cash from his wallet to cover the tab plus a generous tip and dropped it on the table.  He gave the bartender a casual wave as he left.

    “Bloody hell,” he swore when the biting wind hit his skin.  It had started to snow and a fine dusting covered the ground.  With the collar of his coat pulled up as far as he could get it, Killian set forth following Emma’s footprints.  He caught up with her after a few minutes.  However, he didn’t think she would welcome his presence at the moment, so he hung back.  

    “I probably look like a stalker,” he muttered.

    Regardless, Killian was determined to make sure that Emma made it home alright, so he followed at a leisurely pace. Not that Emma needed protection and he knew she would have a right fit if he suggested that she couldn’t take care of herself.  She was more than capable of doing so.  He was just… being an idiot.

    When Emma turned down the street to her apartment, Killian admitted to himself that he needed to go home himself.  That would give Emma the night to think about the possibility of them living together.  He’d call her in the morning and suggest breakfast at Granny’s.  

    Resigned, Killian turned and headed home.  

                                                            ~*~

Part 2

(I may need to speak to my therapist about why I always write Emma as someone who hates holidays... projection much?)

[guerrerense]

Snowbound At Sawyers - Take 1 por David Blazejewski Por Flickr: Back when I was younger the Conway Scenic Railroad was a strictly seasonal operetion and would largely shut down during the winter months. In recent years however it has become a year round operation running trains to Conway all winter long and for the first time this winter running trains through Crawford Notch in the snow. Not wanting to miss out on the chance for some snowy winter shots along the old Mountain Sub I made the trip up on the long President's Day weekend to try for some snowy images. Alas the Saturday trip featured just CSRR 255 solo with five cars meaning the return trip which is the better chase photographically would be long hood forward which just didn't interest me. Regardless, I did make the trip up through the Notch for a few signature shots and then called it a day. However, I'd specifically chosen this particular weekend since the railroad had trains scheduled on back to back days so I held out hope Sunday would be better. And indeed when I awoke in the morning the predicted snow was coming down and things were looking up when I saw that the railroad had MUed both of their GP38s for the trip to Crawford. With 252 trailing I was looking forward to the return chase east later in the day with the classic pseudo Maine Central schemed loco leading. Alas....this hoped for redemption was foiled when the railroad soon realized the snow was accumulating too fast and with no plow train running ahead of them it was too risky to head all the way to Crawfords so they decided they would travel only as far as Sawyers River and run around there...but it would get even worse later....so stay tuned. After pausing to pick up a trackman in Bartlett to ride out to assist with shoveling switches they have finally made it as far as they'll go here at MP 74.8 (as measured from the former Portland Union Station) on the old Maine Central Mountain Subdivision. The snow is still coming down, and you can see how deep it is covering the siding which is actually to the left of the train though you'd never know! Ultimately they would be stopped here for about two hours and instead of attempting to traverse the siding and completely run around the train they dug out only the west switch and then cut off the lead unit and ducked it into the siding and then pulled the train by with the second unit in order to let the former lead unit couple up to the rear end to lead the train back. On the rear of the train is CSRX 210, the third and most recently acquired dome car on the railroad. Built by Budd in 1954 for Northern Pacific's famed Northcoast Limited, it came to the Conway Scenic in 2022 from the defunct Orford Express dinner train in Quebec. From 1877 to 1928 the 8 mile long Sawyers River Railroad (a logging operation) connected here although the MEC agency at this spot was closed in 1921. Two historic structures survive to this day, the section men's car house (blocked by the train) and the foreman's dwelling in the distance at left, both now privately owned. One interesting fact is that the house used to also be located on the right (north) side of the mainline but was moved across in the 1950s when Route 302 was relocated. Not wanting a private grade crossing here they chose to move the home instead! Sawyers River Harts Location, New Hampshire Sunday February 16, 2025

[theonceoverthinker]

A Winter’s Snowball (CS Role Reversal)

Summary: It’s unusual for love to be in the air just outside of a ball meant to inspire it, but that’s how the Charming family has always worked, hasn’t it?

AO3             Fanfiction.net

A/N: Hello, OUAT fandom! It’s great to be back, and just in time for the @csrolereversal!

What? Did you think you’d get rid of me so easily? As if! 

AND LOOK AT THE AMAZING ARTWORK THAT INSPIRED THIS, YA’AL!!! ALL of the props in the world to my super awesome artist, @clockadile. Clockykins, what can I even say? I love this artwork. It’s an incredible mix of the classic Captain Swan aesthetics as well something so new and fun! The watercolors are gorgeous, and give off this amazing fairy tale feeling that works so well with all things OUAT! It really helped me to make this piece the quirky thing that it is.

()()()()()()()()

If there was one thing that Snow White was more certain of than anything in regards to her daughter, it was that she did things her own way. It’s what Snow loved about Emma the most -- Emma was hardly the ambiguous type, always upfront with her feelings and at-the-ready to follow her gut and her heart. 

David joked that it was something the two of them had in common, and Snow wholeheartedly and unashamedly agreed with the sentiment, proud of all that it entailed, especially because in so many respects, they truly were different in so many other things. 

For instance, they had different approaches to their kingdom’s grandest of celebrations.

Balls were fun for Snow and David -- remarkable events with elegant dances, decadent food, and encounters from all over the kingdoms of the world that brought with them memories the attendants would have for life. Rooms came alive as conversation, lights, and music beamed all throughout their castle. Snow was positively invigorated by everything about them, from the planning phase to the final bits of cleaning the castle’s halls up.

However, while they were fun for Snow, they weren’t so much for Emma, as she was often one to tell them. It wasn’t that she hated her dresses, the idea of dancing, or even the socializing -- quite the contrary in those respects, since she loved those things at times where balls weren’t being held. 

No, what she disliked was actually what Snow loved the most -- the grandeur of it all. Emma compared balls in their castle to what would happen if an entire circus or bazaar was shoved into their dining room, calling it “too much to handle at once.” In her defense, she wasn’t wrong. Balls could serve as courtship openings, family reunions, dances, and managerial work all at once.

Oh well, not every daughter was like her parents. She supposed it couldn’t be helped.

At least Emma was like her where it counted.

That’s the conclusion Snow reached upon seeing Emma playing in the snow of all things from the balcony, in any case.

While Snow loved balls with all of her heart, even she wasn’t about to say no to a short break from one after a few hours, and few spots in the castle served better to hide away in during those breaks than the balcony just outside the ballroom. It was private enough where she could get a moment to herself, yet close enough to the festivities that if she was needed, she could be there within moments. And the view from this balcony in particular was simply gorgeous. Their castle was blessed with a luscious garden, and while the snowfall that started this morning and persisted until the start of the ball had covered the lovely bushes of flowers there, it left the ground with a beautiful blanket of snow amidst the garden’s many arches and gazebos that was quite the sight to take in all the same, and much of it was captured so well by that balcony’s vantage point.

Snow had spent a few minutes there by herself, enjoying both the quiet that now surrounded her and the cold and crisp nighttime air. It was so peaceful there that if not for the ball inside, she’d have been content spending the entire evening out there.

But all of the sudden, that placid atmosphere was interrupted when she heard a sound from down below.

It was a man’s yelp.

Immediately, Snow’s attention moved to the previously peaceful ground.

Her speedy reaction was rewarded when she saw a young man emerge from below the balcony, now hurrying across the formerly clean landscape. 

“Y-your Majesty!” he cried, his right hand massaging his shoulder where a bright spot on his otherwise dark navy jacket appeared to be.

And then she heard a second, quite unorthodox sound.

It was her daughter’s voice.

“For the last time, Killian, it’s Emma!” Emma barked through a chortle. Something then flew from her form to his, something small, and something fast, but something Snow also couldn’t quite see -- that is, until it hit him in the chest.

Yes, the man -- Killian -- filled in the remaining blanks of her sight with another yelp.

“Bloody hell, that’s cold!” he shouted, as what was clearly now a snowball made contact with the space just above his ribs.

“Not used to the winter?” Emma asked, the hand that held her snowball now resting against her hip.

“Not at all,” Killian answered, seemingly coming down from the chill that the snowball birthed in him. “My work tends to keep me in warmer climates.”

It made sense, now that Snow thought on it. The way he was dressed spoke of a military profession, and if Snow remembered correctly from his introduction alongside his brother earlier in the evening, he was a lieutenant.

Hmm. A princess and a lieutenant -- how unorthodox. 

Snow wasn’t surprised though -- after all, this was her daughter.

And they looked cute together.

“But,” Killian continued, “I will say, though the winters here are merciless, they are indeed beautiful all the same, just as you are, Your Highness.”

Instinctively, Snow’s hand shot to her mouth.

Killian seemed to instantly tell what he has done wrong as well, as a sound -- not of any existing tongue, but one that could only come from the worst of realizations -- left his mouth not three seconds after he addressed Emma.

Bless this young man’s heart -- Snow knew he was quite earnest and liked him already, but she knew her daughter well, a Emma was never one for royal titles.

“I-I!” Killian started saying, trying to cover up his tracks.

But Emma crouched to the ground and rolled up another snowball, clearly not about to let him get away with it.

“Looks like the lesson hasn’t sunken in yet,” Emma said, seemingly very excited about what was to come once more. “Good thing you like the winters here, because here’s another taste of them.”

Killian tried to catch the snowball with his hands, but was woefully unprepared for Emma’s speed. After all, lieutenant or not, no one could compare in a snowball fight to the girl who cornered her own father when she was only nine.

And so another snowball hit him, this time square in the chest. Another followed seconds later, just above Killian’s right bicep. A third hit just seconds after that, this time on his left knee. 

Despite every part of her upbringing telling her she shouldn’t Snow couldn’t help but laugh as she watched the scene before it. 

“Emma, Emma, Emma!” Killian yelled. “That’s your name! I promise to Poseidon that that’s all I’ll ever call you from now until my dying days! As far as I’m to ever concern myself with, the only name you go by is Emma! Will that suffice?”

Snow could hear her daughter chuckle as she approached Killian.

“Well,” she said, “when you put it like that, how can I say no?”

Killian’s breathing was so loud that Snow could hear it from the balcony, but while it was heavy, the last thing she expected to see was him fall to the ground from exhaustion.

That made it all the more startling when that’s exactly what happened.

“Killian!” Emma cried, her tone quickly shifting from lighthearted to worries as she now ran over to help him. Snow covered her mouth, now in freight, not daring to utter so much as a call in their direction out of fear of distracting Emma from aiding him.

This man -- he seemed so healthy. There was no way he could just collapse like this, could he?

Then again, Snow knew more than most just how powerful diseases could be in this world. It was certainly possible, and especially in this kind of weather.

Killian was right -- this weather was indeed merciless. But hopefully, it would make an exception this one time.

As Emma was checking on Killian’s situation, that’s what Snow prayed for.

Thankfully, with Emma’s help, it seemed like Killian could at least stand. Snow sighed in solace as she watched them rise from the ground, snowflakes sticking to their clothes, imprinting themselves onto them like fingerprints to a blade. 

Few things were ever as much of a relief as seeing someone come through a scare like that. And though she cared for Killian’s fate, Snow was especially relieved for Emma’s sake. The guilt of feeling like one caused the death or even pain of another was something Snow would never even wish on her most vicious of enemies, let alone her own daughter. Words couldn’t begin to say how good it felt to know that Emma wouldn’t feel that way tonight.

“Thank you, Emma,” Killian said, just barely audible enough for Snow to hear. “I’ve worked with strong sailors before, but you’ve quite the powerful throwing -- and apparently, lifting -- arms on you.”

“And don’t you forget it,” Emma retorted, smiling and winking all the while.

Killian slowly stood back from her, as if testing his balance after his fall. Fortunately, he looked to be stable enough standing on his own, another relief in a moment filled with them. He and Emma smiled at each other, and Snow relaxed her elbows upon the balcony’s edge.

“I promise you I shan’t again.”

Emma turned and looked out towards the rest of the snowy garden, possibly in search of a bench or something they could sit down on.

Snow was tempted to call out to them and see if Killian needed any further assistance as opposed to letting him linger on outside in the cold, but before she could, she saw something in Killian’s right hand. It was obstructed by the night’s sky, but she knew what it was.

Oh, Emma!

Killian smirked. “But,” he continued, “I’ve quite the strong arms myself, and one thing you ought to know is that there’s only one thing a man can say after enduring an attack like that -- revenge is a dish best served cold!”

And with that last sentence, a muted snowball flung through the air and landed right in the middle of Emma’s back.

It was now Emma’s turn to yelp, and yelp, she did.

“Eep!” she screamed, jumping forward, only to trip and land face first into the snow. 

Snow covered her mouth again, though unlike the previous times, she was unsure if it was out of shock, amusement, fear -- for Killian’s sake, that was -- or all three.

“You sneak! You planned that!” Emma shouted.

Killian’s smile had grown into a smirk so large, it bordered on a grin.

“Aye, love. Charming though you may be, I can’t let you get away with your crimes so easily.”

Despite Killian’s retaliation, Emma met it with a smirk as she got up and wiped the snow away, half shocked and half cocky. 

“Something you ought to know, Killian -- Charming is my father, not me. I’m more of the vengeful type too. So trust me when I say you’re going to PAY for that!” 

“Assuming you can hit me again,” Killian cheekily retorted, now smirking at her as he rolled another snowball into his grip. Snow realized as he did so that one of his hands was fake, but he was so adept at it that she hadn’t even noticed it. She wondered if Emma did. “Looks like I’m adapting quite well to these winters, aren’t I?”

“I’d say so, but let’s put it to the test, shall we?”

“Ready whenever you are, Emma.”

Emma said nothing, simply crouching down to grab another snowball of her own.

And then, the fight began. 

Killian took off running, making sharp turns as he ran through the gardens, with Emma hot on his tail. The garden’s smaller space kept the game exciting, and kept them close to each other the whole time. 

Snow had a feeling they liked it that way.

She certainly did. 

For minutes on end, Snow watched them run around, laughing as their various snowballs hit and missed each other without reason or rhyme. It was so exciting to watch that she had completely let the time fly away from her, perhaps for too long given her role at this ball.

And someone took notice of her absence.

“Sn-o-ow?” David called in a sing-song fashion, walking out from behind the curtain onto the balcony, and gently pulling Snow close to him. “I was wondering where you went off to. And where’s Emma? It’s almost time for desser-.”

The finale of that sentence never came, as David grew quiet upon looking out into the expanse of the garden below them, clearly realizing what he was now bearing witness to.

As David studied the two of them, Snow eyed him warily. It was always impossible to tell how David would take things regarding Emma’s love life, and especially under such unconventional circumstances, even Snow was at a loss for how he would react.

After a pregnant pause that followed his glance at Emma and Killian, David looked to Snow, and then back to them, and then back to Snow.

“Are they having a snowball fight?” he finally asked, more confused than any other emotion Snow could so much as hope to discern from him.

“Yes, they are, David,” she answered, careful to keep pride and support in her tone.

David nodded. “Okay. Just wanted to check.”

Then, his reaction came out, and in a way Snow never expected it would -- he smiled.

“You know,” Snow said, positively beaming from his reaction, “when I pictured our daughter falling in love, I probably should’ve considered that beating whoever it was over the head with something was a possibility.”

“You didn’t?!” David cried, mock surprise littered in his voice.

Snow playfully smacked David’s chest, but settled back into his embrace not five seconds later.

“At least the snow won’t leave a scar, unlike the one my lovely Snow did,” he continued.

Feigning shock, Snow turned from him, her mouth agape and a hand to her collarbone. “Are you trying to get kicked out of this ball? Because if you are, know that you’re going to have a far worse time outside than they are if you do.”

David kissed her temple.

“No, I know my wife. She would never kick me out of a ball, and if she did, I would just take her with me.”

Snow chuckled as she once more snuggled up to David and looked out at Emma and Killian in the garden. 

“Do you think we could take them in a snowball fight?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” David answered. “We’re the ones that taught Emma to throw a snowball in the first place.”

“That may be so, but she’s better at it than you.”

David scoffed, though his smile betrayed him. “She got lucky once, and you two have never let me live it down since then. I could take her.”

“He’s good, too. You should’ve seen him get the jump on Emma earlier.”

“Whose side are you on?!” David teased, nudging Snow.

“I’m just being realistic!”

The two of them broke down in laughter, watching as Emma and Killian came together in much the same way.

A powerful gust of wind brought Snow’s attention back to the fact that outside of their little bubble, there was still a ball going on, one they were needed at more than they were on this balcony.

Snow sighed as she sadly looked at David, who was already giving her the same look she knew she herself carried. Balls were wonderful, but she was starting to understand why Emma found herself able to ignore them so easily in favor of having such a wonderful time outside.

From atop the balcony, Snow could see Emma snuggle into Killian’s side, nuzzling her face into an unmarred part of his uniform for warmth while his arms surrounded her. Despite that chill, they looked so warm together.

Still, all it took was another gust to remind Snow that while it was lovely outside, it was indeed cold, and these winters were gorgeous, but intense all the same.

“We should make sure they come inside,” Snow said. She didn’t know how she’d broach the topic, especially since it meant revealing that they’d been watching the two of them for however long they’d all been out here.

Thankfully, before Snow needed to put too much effort into it, David beat her to the punch, at last breaking the silence between the two couples for the first time.

“Hey, guys!” he shouted.

Never before had David seen two people stop what they were doing faster than Emma and Killian as they jumped apart from their embrace and straightened their postures to face David. It was almost enough to make Snow keel over in laughter.

David smirked. 

“They’re serving cake now, and it’s going fast,” he continued. David then turned to Killian. “The first thing you should know about Emma is that she cannot ever be held back from her desserts without serious repercussions.”

The smirk dissolved into a smile, one that grew as he saw the tension drop in both of their shoulders. Emma smiled at him, moving closer to Killian once more.

Killian let himself smile as well.

“Well, in that case, we shall be right up!” he called out. “Can’t have Emma going without a slice. She has too good of an aim to chance the consequences.”

Emma started laughing, a laugh that Snow recognized well. It was a laugh that spoke of such happiness, such hope, and Snow couldn’t be happier to hear it. 

From below them, Emma and Killian made a start for the nearest entrance back into the castle, and while Snow and Charming came back into the ball, Snow made a point to request to one of the servants that a set of matching towels be brought to the door closest to the garden. And while the servant gave her a look, all Snow could do was smile and shrug.

After all, her daughter did things her own way, and as it turns out, so could she.

[mariakov81]

Happy Valentine's Eve, guys! 😋 It's my turn now to contribute to the wonderful event organised by @csrolereversal! ❤️ Which makes me feel both nervous and excited. I'm really excited because I can't wait to read the story by amazing @delightfully-difficult-pirate based on my weird idea. 🙈 The idea was - sometimes to understand another person better you must put yourself in their shoes....or... maybe their body?

So please find chapter 1 of the story here and my drawings below! (More to come with the next one)!

[allons-y-to-hogwarts-713]

Its a brand new day, (it’s never too late to start)

Here is my second of two art pieces for the Valentine’s Day 2020 event for @csrolereversal​! This one is a lot lighter this time with candy, paper, cookie, and coffee hearts instead of real ones this time.

The lovely @lassluna​  wrote a wonderful, adorable, two-part CS coffee shop au fic to accompany it. She posted part one so far which I’ll link below, and if you’re seeing this on a reblog, check back with the original post for an updated description with links to both parts when she posts part 2.

Here’s the summary from her post:

All Killian Jones wants is to survive this February as painlessly as possible. Hopefully without telling his best friend he loves her. That would be a disaster.

It’s made all the more difficult when he gains the attention of a secret admirer.

Asdfghjkl here are the fic links: FFN, Ao3, tumblr. ch1

Go give her fic some love!

[courtorderedcake]

For my heart and my love, @snowbellewells, who is a dream on a foggy night's wing. I love what you write, I love what you wrote, and I love you.

Thanks for not telling anyone about how soft I really am. 😘

For @csrolereversal, 2019, Happy Halloween 🎃!

Keep your hearts safe and your eyes open, for who knows what lurks in the murky streets...

[lassluna]

Its a brand new day, (it's never too late to start) 1/2

All Killian Jones wants is to survive this February as painlessly as possible. Hopefully without telling his best friend he loves her. That would be a disaster.

It’s made all the more difficult when he gains the attention of a secret admirer.

AN: Thank you so much @csrolereversal​ for hosting this wonderful event yet again! I am so happy to be a part of it. Thank you @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713​ for making such a beautiful pic set as well as being a beta reader to this story. It was so fun working with you.

 FFn Ao3

“0815?” 

The door doesn’t open. Killian curses under his breath, scrolling through his text messages. The landlord had sent him the new code, but he was sparse on details on how to get it to actually work.

“#0815?”

Nope. 

Killina sighs loudly, glancing at his watch, knowing that he was going to be late if he doesn’t open this bloody door. He takes a drink of coffee to settle his nerves. 

Empty. Bloody perfect.

“#815.” He’s about to start pounding his head on the door. His brother always said he was hard headed, perhaps he can just break the door down. 

Why the hell would anyone prefer this bloody contraption rather than a key like a normal bloody person?

He wonders how much he’ll get fined for breaking down his own door to his own shop. It’s far too early for these shenanigans and he is already out of coffee. 

“Wow, when Belle told me you hated the new key system she wasn’t kidding,” says a voice behind him. He sighs loudly, face pressed to the door.

He typically loves to see her face in the mornings, but today was already putting him in a foul mood. He didn’t want to say something he’d regret to her of all people.

“Good morning Swan,” he says rather annoyed, because the only thing worse than being locked out of his own bloody coffee shop, was if someone was watching him struggle to open the damn thing. “Not to say I don’t love to see your face so early in the morning, but why are you here?” He says, catching a glimpse at the blonde leaning against her car.

“I was in the neighborhood,” she responds. There was something in her voice that warned him she was up to no good. Most likely plotting to get a free cup of coffee. She always gets free cups of coffee.

“You’re always in the neighborhood when I’m on staff Swan.” She shrugs, approaching him with an unusual spring in her step and a smile. “Aren’t you awfully cheerful,” he notes. Typically Emma Swan doesn’t function at 6 a.m without at least 3 cups of his mocha latte with cinnamon, free coffee or no.

He should know, after being best friends with someone for 3 years, he’s pretty much an expert in Emma Swan.

They’d met on one of her cases, him at a bar next to a man who was hitting on anything in a skirt. She’d sat beside the man in a very pretty skirt. He’d said something offensive to her and had his hand up her dress.

Killian had tried to defend her when Emma Swan made it clear that she didn’t need anyone defending her. She’d hauled the man off to jail at that very spot.

She’d thanked him right after, for coming to her aid even if she didn’t need it. For a moment it seemed like maybe, something could happen.

But it didn’t. She showed up at his coffee shop Bean Around the World the next morning and he offered her a free cup, they’d been friends ever since. 

Just friends and nothing more.

Except for the fact that he was in love with her, of course.

“Couldn’t miss seeing you grumpy, Mr. Early Bird,” she teases. “Besides it’s the first day of the New Year!” She steps in front of him and eyes the electronic lock.

“It’s the 6th.”

“New Year doesn’t start until Monday, Killian,” she says, and within a moment she has the damn door open and is just smiling like she’s so damn proud of herself for breaking into his shop. “Come on, I need my hot chocolate like now.”

Killian rolls his eyes. “Is this a robbery?”

“Absolutely; Give me your coffee or I’ll lock the door again.” He’s helpless but to cater to her demands. So, he starts up the little cafe while Emma rummages through the lending library Belle, his manager set up in the back of the shop. 

Before long, the machines are warming up, and he has a tall travel mug of Emma’s special mocha latte ready. Judging by her running boots, he has a feeling she’s going to need to be on the move. He decides to throw in a bear claw for good measure.

“For my favorite former thief,” he says, bringing it to her table. Killian glances at his watch, they had a few minutes before he had to officially open.

“I’m the only former thief you know,” Emma points out. She takes a sip of the drink and a big bite out of the pastry. “Have you done anything for your New Year’s Resolution?” She asks. 

It catches Killian by surprise, this is the first year Emma had so much as mentioned New Year’s Resolutions, she’d mentioned wanting to make one when they watched the ball drop together at her apartment drinking too much champaign and eating all of the Christmas cookies Liam had sent them.

She’d thought it was just her drunken sugar rush talking, but here she was mentioning it again. He shakes his head.

“What was yours again?” She asks. 

Telling the woman I love that I do in fact love her.

“Learn a new language,” he replies. “But after what Henry told me about the Duolingo bird, I don’t exactly trust it,” he admits.

“Henry has an active imagination,” Emma agrees. 

She too is fond of the boy that comes into the coffee shop after school. His mom is a lawyer in the plaza and so he often spends a bit of time here reading and doing his homework. 

“What was yours?” Killian asks. She looks at him, meets his eyes in a very intentional gesture. It feels oddly intimate.

“Trying something new,” she admits with a soft smile, one that brings a sense of warmth to his bones. It makes Killian desperately want to kiss her.

But he doesn’t, because that would ruin everything.

“So something besides your mocha hot chocolate?” He assumes quickly, looking away before he does something he regrets.

“Uh...yeah” she says just as quickly. “New coffee orders sounds just up my alley,” she says, shoving what’s left of her pastry into her mouth and downing the rest of her coffee. 

“Great, I’ll have something new and interesting waiting for you next time you show up!” He announces happily. He’d hounded Emma in the past about expanding her horizons, but she was a stubborn one. 

“Sounds like a plan,” Emma agrees before quickly exiting the shop.

It leaves Killian with an odd feeling like he missed something.

// 

Belle shows up to the shop a quarter before 3, smiling brightly as she clocks in. 

“Good Morning, boss,” she says, putting her apron on. The apron was unnecessary since managers weren’t usually the one behind the coffee machines, that she left with some of the younger baristas working.

“Belle, you don’t have to call me boss.” Not that his words matter since she always ignores it anyway. 

“So I didn’t see the door broken so I assume you got in ok, Boss?” He nods.

“Of course I did. I told you it would be fine, didn't I?” He insists.

“Emma opened the door didn’t she?”

“Why did the new landlord replace the bloody lock anyway?” He says in annoyance. “The old one was working fine!”

Except for the way the key kept getting stuck, and the door would sometimes lock when it wasn’t supposed to. They’ve had some awkward moments getting locked out in the middle of a delivery. So it needed an upgrade, it didn’t mean they had to make it robotic.

“It might be because he kinda hates you,” Belle retorts. “And he knows you don’t do well with computer systems.”

Killian grumbles in agreement under his breath. The bloody monkey who’d bought the strip mall last year always did have a thing against him. He was always coming up with some new idea to make everything more difficult. Only reason they hadn’t been evicted was because the leasing contract had been airtight thanks to Regina Mills. The best contract lawyer in town, considering she had the very same contract he knew it was good.

Besides, she definitely wanted to keep her favorite coffee place and after school stomping ground of her only child.

 “I’ll call him and see if we can’t get a better system in place,” Belle assures him. “Maybe he’ll think I’ll agree to a date if he stops being so annoying.”

“Ruby would have a bone to pick with him if you did,” he supplies with a smirk. “What would I do without you?” She shrugs happily.

“You can return the favor by coming to my Valentines Day party,” she tells him with a pointed glance. It doesn’t surprise him, Belle has been talking about throwing this party for months. He just had no desire to attend, Belle was his friend, and had it been for any other holiday he’d definitely be in attendance.

Valentine's Day, however, he had no desire to be surrounded with happy couples basking in their joy. Perhaps he was a scrooge, but it would just be too much for him.

It would tempt him too much into saying something he’d regret to Emma.

“Come on Killian!” Belle insists. “You don’t have to bring a date, you can just be there, get drunk, and eat lots of candy.”

“As tempting as that offer sounds, I’ll pass. Good luck with your party, and your shift. I’ll be back tomorrow,” he tells her.

He can hear Belle call out a response, but it’s lost in the sound of people in the small cafe.

//

Killian is exhausted when he gets home. He desperately wants a shower. He smells like a dark roast espresso. He’s so tired that he nearly misses it, but the bright color catches his eye. 

It's a bright red shimmer bag with golden hearts all over. Inside was a large white mug. It had “Be Happy” written in black and gold font. He picks it up gently, both confused by its presence and knowing that it’s for him. Why else would it be outside his door? He looks around quizzically, as if something else in the empty hallway could give away the purpose for this gift.

There was nothing.

He scratches behind his ear nervously before returning inside with his mug. Honestly he’s not too sure what to do with it. He considers putting it in his cupboard with the rest of his coffee mugs, but that feels odd considering he didn’t even know if he should keep it.

Emma always mentioned how vacant his mug cupboard was considering his occupation. He always seemed to leave his at work and they wind up mixed in with the rest of the ones at work. The first time it happened, Henry had tweeted about it. Now it’s become a game his regulars play: collect all the pictures of Jone’s coffee mugs.

It definitely drummed up business, but at the cost of having but three mugs of his own. (All of which were Emma’s)

 It made Killian think that maybe....

But he quickly swept the thought away. 

Emma certainly didn’t leave this here for him, she’d have just brought over another mug if she thought he was lacking. Something like this...it reeked of someone with romantic intentions, how else explain the golden heart wrappings?

And Emma certainly didn’t have romantic interests in them, it was simply impossible.

Emma Swan was a woman who took what she wanted, so if she fancied him, he is sure he would know by now. 

Then again, he thinks, Emma Swan being the tough bad ass Bail bonds person she was never liked discussing feelings or emotions. She told him bits and pieces about her past, but her feelings and emotions behind it remained closely guarded.

She was a woman who kept her emotional cards close to her chest. She’d spent a very long time getting over her issues over being abandoned as an infant, even longer getting over her ex abandoning her and framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. 

She was brave and strong, but was also terrified of being abandoned. 

If it’s not Emma, Killian wonders who could have possibly left this mysterious present behind. 

Belle maybe? Only her apartment was the opposite direction of his, and it seemed out of character for her to leave it rather than give it to him directly. Especially since she secretly had a girlfriend. 

There were a couple neighbors who always smiled when he looked their way, but one was married and the other was carrying her fiance’s child. They both seemed unlikely but not impossible.

 There was always Granny, owner of the diner across from his cafe with her obvious flirting, he didn’t often visit the diner, but he always enjoyed the occasional waffle when he was a bit hungover. Every time he visited she would shamelessly flirt with him, but she was very direct. Also, he had a hunch it was just to make her granddaughter, Ruby, uncomfortable.

(Vengeance for Ruby’s refusal to introduce her grandmother to her secret girlfriend he supposed)

He considered asking Emma her opinion, she was an avid investigator after all, but something occurs to him.  

He doesn’t want to give Emma the wrong impression. The last time he’d shown interest in someone else, Emma had started to pull away. He hadn’t understood it at first, but Emma was trying to give him space to date, to be happy without getting in the way, which was absolutely absurd. She was his best friend and would continue to be for as long as she’d have him. No relationship would change that.

           The last thing Killian wants is to make that happen again. So a decision is made, he isn’t going to tell Emma, he’s just going to hope that someone made a mistake, or that it was a one time thing. 

Perhaps the mysterious gift giver was just someone in the apartment complex that had left it at someone’s door at random.

//

It was not random. A few days later he finds a teddy bear with a rose in the same spot outside his door.

//

“Good Morning, Swan,” Killian greets sarcastically leaning against the bloody immovable door. 

The new code he’d tried to set up still wasn’t working, he’d finally run out of mugs (except for the mystery one of course), and there was another gift left this morning.

He could hear her car pull into one of the staff parking spots. The unreasonable caffeine deprived part of his mind told him she was here to laugh at his inability to open doors, remember his coffee mugs, or find secret admirers. 

Not that Emma was aware of that last bit.

“Just wanted to make sure you got in ok, and maybe catch up.” she assures him. “No coffee?” She asks. He shakes his head.

“Didn’t have a clean mug,” he admits. “I left mine here yesterday.” 

Well he did have a clean mug, but Emma would notice a new mug. 

“Oh,” she replies a bit disappointed. “Well...you really need new mugs,” she says, moving towards the door. “And to stop leaving yours at work. I think the collection has reached 15 at this point.” She reminds him.

He knows she’s right. He also can’t help but be annoyed with how easily Emma opens the door. “How the hell do you do that?” Killian asks. He’s convinced the landlord programmed it so that he couldn’t open it but anyone else could with ease just to make him insane.

“Magic.” She says with a grin. He disappears into the darkness of the cafe as he does his usual opening procedures, but he doesn't forget to make Emma her beverage. Her new beverage. He needed to pick something Emma would like, but still push her outside her comfort zone.

He decides to start her off with something in her ball park.

“White mocha latte,” Killian announces. She’s on her phone and looks stunned by the drink put in front of her. “You wanted to try something new, right?” Suddenly he feels very nervous and regrets just not bringing her her favorite beverage.

“Yup,” Emma says sternly. “Of course.” She takes a big sip. “It’s great, super sweet,” she confirms.

“It’s popular with the caffeine lovers but coffee haters,” he confirms. 

“Right ok,” she says, sipping on it some more. “Are you on for Netflix tonight?” she asks. 

Killian nods. 

He’d almost forgotten about it. Netflix with Emma was the highlight of his week, they usually got pizza or chinese and picked something at random and just watched it all night long. 

Belle used to ask him if anything happened between them on these late night platonic dates, but it never did. Nothing worth mentioning after all.

Which was fine. It was great even. They were best friends.

Last week they’d had to skip it when Emma got called away on an assignment, but this time would be fine. 

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

[clockadile]

“Checking the sky above him, he found no clouds. Just an empty blue sky. He closed his eyes, willing his mind not to fail him again, to seize control over himself. But when he opened them again, the shadow was still there.” -Dead in the Water, Chapter 2

I am proud to present the main piece for my collaboration for @csrolereversal with @wellhellotragic as we wrap up Chapter 2 of Dead in the Water. She did an amazing job taking my work and making it both chilling and heart-wrenching and just absolutely beautiful. I could keep gushing but I don’t want the description to run on too long. So please read and enjoy! And an extra special thanks to @darkcolinodonorgasm for organizing the event!

Read Ch2 on AO3 and Tumblr Ch1 AO3 and Tumblr Ch1 Art