#his voice is also very grouchy and rough and angry sounding

[somethingexcessivelyphallic]

Hihiii what’s ur karkat voice hc???

KARKALICIOUS 😎

[ficsandcatsandficsandcats]

“If you interrupt me one more time, so help me god.” + “ Tell me what you want” with Geralt pretty pretty please ?

Fandom: The WitcherPairing: Geralt x ReaderWord Count: 1,871Rating: ETaglist: @heroics-and-heartbreak @whatevermonkey @mynamesoundslikesherlock @magic-multicolored-miracle a/n: Now here we have some Definitely Smut action for you. Enjoy!

You’d promised yourself that you were just going to watch.

You knew that Geralt snuck away because he wanted the time alone and that he took his meditation very seriously, but there was something about the sight of the usually commanding presence looking peaceful that piqued your curiosity until you found yourself stealing away after him into the forest. You’d taken your lessons seriously and though there were a couple of close calls, he never realized you were after him. When he found the familiar clearing and seated himself, closing his eyes to focus on his breathing, you watched, hiding behind a tree.

Your eyes hungrily traced the planes of his face, sharp angles softened in repose. The strong nose and the beautiful lips. The silver hair that gently rested on his shoulders. The usually furrowed brow resting though you could see the grooves in it built from years of glaring. The striking, yellow eyes that looked intently into yours…

Wait.

You spun behind the tree though you both knew he’d seen you and could hear the way your heart pounded.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice not angry as you’d expected but just a bit resigned. You slunk from behind the tree and walked towards him, eyes on the ground like a child who’s been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. If you were Jaskier you would have tried to play it off as happenstance or charm your way out of it, but you weren’t the silver-tongued bard. You were just a red-cheeked woman.

“Y/N, if you can sit quietly you can stay,” he said and you looked up at him, eyes shining with excitement that he wasn’t sending you away. You scrambled over to a nearby fallen tree and perched on it, trying to seem calm though you knew he knew better. He gave you a small smile and then closed his eyes, returning to center.

Or at the very least, trying to. But he couldn’t block out the sound of your heartbeat. Or the catch in your breath as you watched him tense and relax the muscles of his neck. Or, most distracting of all, the scent of your arousal. He knew that no one, likely not even you, could be aware of it but it was all be could focus on which was doing the opposite of calming him down. Which made him cranky.

“If you interrupt me one more time, so help me gods,” he snapped after the 10th attempt at grounding himself only to get swept up in thoughts of what he wanted to do with you. Your eyes widened in shock.

“I haven’t said anything!” you argued. He sighed heavily, running a large, calloused hand through the wavy silver hair.

“I know,” he relented, “You’re just… very distracting.”

“Well I don’t know how to be less distracting than sitting here like a literal bump on a log,” you argued, throwing up your arms in exasperation, “I can go!”

“No, don’t,” Geralt said quickly, surprising himself with his vehemence. He usually preferred his solitude but having you near, though maddening, was also oddly calming in its own way.

“Tell me what you want,” you said, getting a bit grouchy yourself. You were startled by the intensity of Geralt’s gaze as he considered your question. The striking eyes peered into yours and you could see him grappling with something, though you weren’t sure quite what. You’d traveled with Geralt for some time now and while there were moments you caught him smiling at you or gazing at you with an unreadable expression, you often told yourself he was just happy to no longer be alone. But the way he looked at you now was something different. It wasn’t about not being alone, it was about being with you. And gods, did you want to be there with him too.

“Come here,” he said, his tone pleading and you were eager to comply, hopping down from your perch to walk over to where he sat. He took your hand and gently guided you until you were sitting across from him, mirroring his kneeling pose. One hand gently cupped your face and still you saw the conflict in his eyes, a part of him that struggled to know if this was ok, if he was asking too much. You licked your lips and his eyes caught the quick glimpse of your tongue, a look of yearning in his eyes that gave you the courage to reach a hand into the long, silver hair and press your faces together. His arms quickly wrapped around your waist and pulled you onto his lap where you could see the hardening length against your thigh. You moaned into his mouth and he tasted the need you felt for him, angling his body so you straddled him and could pressed him between your legs, clothed bodies grinding against each other in a pantomime of coupling.

He was surprisingly gentle though unrelenting, from the way he kissed you, tongue probing and learning the taste of your mouth and the rough brush of your teeth against him, to the way he caressed you, hands roaming slowly and pressing against you firmly as though he were a blind man seeing through touch alone. His lips traveled down your neck, learning the spots that made you gasp as his hands roamed up your skirt and you felt the rough grip against your knee then thigh then sliding, possessively and intently, between. At the first brush of his fingers against your folds you choked out a little laugh and he began to pull his hand away but you grasped his wrist and held it firm. His eyes sought yours for understanding and you gave him a kiss.

“It’s just… sometimes something feels so good it’s actually ridiculous,” you tried to explain, “Like you know how sometimes something is so bad you just have to laugh? The same can happen for something so good. Just… keep doing that.”

Geralt shook his head a little, still clearly confused but he did not stop when you barked out another little gasping laugh that melted into a moan as he laid you back on the ground and his fingers slipped inside of you.

“So wet,” he murmured against your collar bone, a brief stop on his path to your breasts. He tugged the fabric that separated them from his mouth quickly, rending the fabric. You opened your mouth to protest and declare that he would be replacing that shirt but your head fell back and you gave a lusty moan as his clever mouth pulled the tip of your breast into his mouth, laving at the nipple as he continued to thrust his fingers inside of you, teasing you with dual sensations and leaving you a trembling mess that would have satisfied him if you did not inspire such an insatiable need in him.

Your orgasm snuck up on both of you, your cries tumbling out of your mouth faster than he could catch them with his and he was out of his trousers before the last wave of pleasure hit your body. He took himself in hand and you swallowed hard at the sight of him. You’d always suspected that he would be, well, a lot, but the plain proof of it gave you pause. Geralt stroked himself a couple of times though he was more than hard enough, just taking the time to enjoy how you looked spread before him, soaking wet and still slightly shaking. When the golden eyes roamed up to your face he laughed at the pensive, determined expression on your face as you stared down his cock.

“What?” you asked.

“You look like you’re going into war,” he explained, still smiling down at you in a way that was endearing and somehow even sexier. Why men felt that they needed to glare and pout to be sexy when a broad smile was the quickest way to get you weak at the knees escape you. Not that you’d been immune to his usually stern looks.

“Well I suppose I am a little bit. That’s alright. I will close my eyes and think of Cintra,” you said, dramatically screwing your eyes up tight for effect. Geralt laughed and you felt him brush the head against your entrance, your back arching to meet him on impulse.

“If you’re worried, this doesn’t happen. I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, his voice soft and his hand finding your face again. You opened your eyes quickly and gave him an aghast look.

“Oh this is happening,” you insisted, spreading your legs wider for emphasis.

“Good,” he murmured as he stole another kiss. You felt him press himself inside of you, slowly, stretching and filling you so gently, as he kissed you and helped your body relax and take all of him without any pain as he’d promised. Once inside he held still for a moment to let you adjust to the size of him and he stared into your eyes, holding you as close as two people can physically be, just gazing into them with a thousand words that didn’t need to be spoken because you felt them. You felt him. You rolled your hips back, forcing a guttural moan from his lips and the eyes shifted from adoring to hungry as you lay beneath him, primed to be devoured.

His thrusts were still gentle, moving slowly at first, methodical in his movements as he learned what angles drove the best sounds from you and when you flashed him an impatient look he followed the silent command, rutting into you faster and harder. Your nails pressed crescent shaped marks into his shoulders that he would wear as a badge of honor for days and when you came this time he saw it approaching, felt the way you clenched around him and when you cried out his name it triggered his own release and he marked you in turn, biting down on your neck, the moans sliding out through his teeth and your bruised flesh.  

He rolled off of you and pulled you with him so you rested against his chest, one hand placed above his fast-beating heart.

“Why did you follow me?” Geralt asked after you’d both caught your breath.

“Oh I just wanted to look at you. Oh, that sounds weird doesn’t it…” you said, and you felt the low rumbling chuckle shake his body, looking back up at his face to see him shaking his head.

“You don’t have to sneak after me. Just ask,” he said.

“If I had asked would you have said yes?”

“Probably not.”

You rolled your eyes and sighed.

“Well then I guess I’ll just keep sneaking after you,” you said simply. He gave you a little swat and then eased the sting with a gentle massage.

“Hmm,” he said, a sound that suggested he didn’t enjoy that plan.

“What’re you going to do about it, Geralt?” you asked, “Punish me?”

One eye slid open, peering at you from the side, and he heard your heart skip a beat. Oh yes, you’d be getting nice and punished soon.

But first, a nap.  

[seventfics]

Barking Dogs

Written for @witcher-rarepair-summer-bingo

Prompt: Laundry day Relationships: Roche/Ves Rating: T (Swearing Language) Content Warnings: None Summary: Roche and Ves have a yelling match about her inappropriate vest, again.

Read on AO3

* * *

It’s laundry day in the Temerian resistance camp, and Roche is sewing up Ves’ vest.

“What the fuck are you doing to my clothes?!”

Half the members of the camp turn their heads at the high scream. The other half goes about their day, unfazed as their fearless commander shouts, “by the gods, woman, your cleavage is a menace on your life. I don’t fucking care if you stab me for fixing it myself, alright?!”

It's an hour of loud arguing back and forth, of Ves tearing new stitches free as Roche keeps slapping her hand away to re-stitch his work again.

By the time it starts raining—because gods forbid a single day be clear and sunny in Novigrad—the vest is a tattered mess, and everyone has gone inside their cave hideout to tarp up their things.

“Ves.”

“Bastard,” she spits heartily onto a puddle.

Roche sighs. “Ves.”

“What! That was a good vest and now it’s fucking ruined. I'll have to buy a new one.”

“I can cover the cost.”

“Hah! Like you’ll cover my breasts?!”

“Ves,” he sighs again. The rain has picked up enough that they’ve moved under a tree, both of them refusing to have this conversation in front of the other soldiers. “What don’t you understand about how armor works? I don’t want you to be reckless in the field with a huge open target.”

It’s the same argument they’ve been having for weeks now, since she’d jumped into a fight against heavily armored Nilfgaardians and her arse had been saved by the swing of Roche’s and Geralt’s interrupting swords. She’s sick of it.

“Don’t you trust that I’m aware of my huge open target?! That I don’t use it to my advantage, because it’s the first thing an attacker will go for?” Ves paces under the sagging tree's canopy, her boots muddied up to her ankles. “And what if I want to look good while I’m stabbing a man’s eye out for ogling me in the middle of the battlefield?!”

Roche rubs his face with both his hands. “That is the most unorthodox method of combat I’ve ever heard. It's ridiculous.”

“It works for me.”

“It worries me.”

“Why?” A scowl settles firmly on her face, but her heart beats fast, confused between a soldier’s shame and a friend’s concern. Lately, Roche treats her like she needs watching. Like she’s not a full grown adult with a body count to make her commander proud.

But his attention is also the most anyone’s ever given her, with respect to her ability and her strength. Not because she is a woman who knows how to fight, but because she is a person who knows how to fight well.

And he worries about her anyway.

“You know what, fine," she says before Roche gives a proper answer. "Here. You ‘fix’ this one and you promise to leave it alone after.”

For this, Ves takes off her only other vest, the one she wears, to hand over. Underneath it is just the thin trappings of a white undershirt soaked through. Might as well be shirtless at that point, with how uncomfortably itchy it makes her skin, so she throws that off as well with a frustrated growl.

As she stands there, topless in the rain, Roche nods a very serious and solemn, “fair,” and gets to stitching.

Ves blinks. She crosses her arms, the movement putting a slight lift on her chest, but Roche keeps working on the vest as if she weren’t the most beautiful, young woman this side of the Pontar river—in her humble and true opinion.

Plenty of the men at their own camp ogle, which they learn they can’t get away with. Being the only woman in Roche’s highest and most trusted command catches everyone by surprise the first time they meet her. But Roche never ogles. He grumbles under his breath, exasperated at everyone’s damn one-track minds. He never blames her for catching their attention either. He just grumbles.

“I don’t understand you,” she says harshly over his head. They’ve worked together for years and still she does not know his thoughts. There is no other man she would follow into battle, even if she disagrees with him lately.

No other man ignores her subtle flaunting so genuinely.

“Ves.” He lays her vest on his knee and looks up at her. His expression is serious, so she lets go of her anger for just a second to hear him. “I care about you. A great deal. Probably more than I should,” he mutters more to himself, but she catches the end of it and slaps his arm, laughing.

That's more like the old Roche she knows. The one who yells at recruits for not knowing a pike from a fucking halberd or how to wield either without poking someone's eye out. That's the Roche who will keep on yelling as he teaches the boys through trial and error, never giving up on them, though it would be a lot less trouble for him if he did.

“You’re a softie is why. Can’t help but pick up strays." She grins, all teeth. "Geralt thinks he picked you up, but we both know you're the one who roped him into your little circle of grouchy dogs.”

“You’re not a stray,” is his quieter huff.

“Yeah. A stray would leave. You can’t get rid of me.”

Roche smiles. He won't give up on her and she won't leave him alone. That's the price of loyalty, one they've willingly payed a dozen times over. Saving each other's arses is stubborn ingrained habit now.

She sits beside him, watching him carefully pin the last stitch of a thick underlayer of cloth to her vest that would cover her chest better. Not completely, she notices with a raised brow. He’s no tailor, but she might call the narrower opening of her vest tasteful—playing with her strategy for offensive distraction, while allowing more protective coverage.

He hands her the refurbished piece of armor and she hums, rubbing the damp thing between her fingers.

"Well it's not terrible, I guess." As she admires it, Roche startles her with the heavy throw of his overcoat over her shoulders. “Huh?”

“It’s raining, and you’re bloody cold,” he says, pointing at the very obvious indication of the chill on her chest.

“You were staring!” What would otherwise enrage her to learn, she laughs into the sleeves of Roche's soap-smelly coat. And if her face feels a little hot, she hides it with an admonishing, “Commander.”

He rolls his eyes so hard it hurts her head. “I’m not acting as your superior officer right now.”

“Roche,” she corrects. And stops, not quite knowing where to go from here.

It’s laundry day. It’s raining. Their clean shit is ruined and in need of a second evening's wash. Her vest is a thread mess and she’s holding Roche’s overcoat like a pillar of stone in unstable ground.

“So you care about me?”

“Of course I do. You’re—” Roche cuts himself off, glaring at the ground like enemy spies would spring up from it. Then his eyes move their glare to her. Her chest to be exact. It carries none of the usual interest a man would show her. Rather, it feels like he’s angry at some invisible affront her breast has caused him.

“I’m...?” Ves asks casually, though her face is beet red at his sudden staring.

“It’s complicated.”

“Fah! That's an understatement if I ever heard one. You ruin my clothes as a favor to me, offer to buy their replacement, do a decent job of actually stitching something up when that doesn't work, and then you glare daggers at my cleavage like it called your mother a whore. You're a complicated man.”

They could call him complicated. They could call him a foulmouthed, pigheaded worrywart. A man indifferent to her wiles, and someone she really, really wants to rile up with her wiles sometimes—right now, actually. If she could gather up the courage.

Well. Roche does always say she’s impulsive. And they are seated thigh to thigh, if only her stupid, blushing face didn't betray the air of coolness she is trying to wrap around herself.

So she kisses the corner of his lips, ending it with an almost nervous, “Was that complicated too?”

He leans back from her, his eyes wide in surprise. “A little." His voice is rough to her ears. "And...if I disappoint you?”

For a moment, her heart drops. A trickling fear called doubt grows in her head—that how he cares for her is not the way she does for him. That she's misunderstood something crucial in their closeness.

But his muted laugh sounds pained to her ears, like he thinks he isn’t enough in this. She wants to stop it.

Ves meets his eyes. She keeps their stare until the backdrop of the trees and the rain fades to nothing, and all she hears is his soft breathing. “You could never disappoint me. Send me into a blind fury when you turn laundry day into recreation time, maybe," she quips, "but not disappoint.”

He still looks unsure after, and to that, she takes his hand in hers and squeezes it.

She’s fought beside him when the odds were at their lowest. Even gone against him when things didn’t feel right, and taken her discipline afterwards with her head held high, like a soldier should. But to wrap her fingers over his, the way ordinary civilians do with each other, is not something she’s ever done. Her own hand shakes, clammy and unused to holding anything that isn't a weapon in their grip. It is a lot like his.

"I don't know what I'm doing," she says in a tone as if that's his fault. His low grumbling complains, "and you think I do?" at her, but he keeps their fingers linked tightly.

When they return to the hideout, half the camp looks up inquisitively, wondering why the commander doesn’t have the imprint of a fist on his face. The other half goes about their day, unfazed that their illustrious Ves is wearing the commander’s overcoat.

[morston-trash]

The Last Sunrise

I honestly can’t remember if I have ever posted this on here. This is the work that I am the proudest of. It also tore me apart to write it. 

Spoiler warning to anyone that hasn’t finished the game; it contains end of game spoilers. 

Proceed with caution. 

--------------------------------------

The gunshots faded into the distance but didn't cease altogether. The hunt was still on, just for someone else that had decided to leave while they had the chance. Whether they would actually escape or not, that was another matter. The men that were in the, once glorious Van Der Linde gang, were very persistent. The remaining men were more than likely in pursuit on horseback.

John could almost hear the whoops and hollers of the men as he fled. His heart slammed against his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. All he could do was keep running, even though his legs threatened to give out. He finally collapsed, falling against a nearby tree. There he lay, working frantically to catch his breath.

"Go to your family," Arthur struggled before starting the climb upwards.

"Arthur!" John hissed.

"Go on, get out of here and be a god damn man," Arthur wheezed.

"Y-you're my brother..." John hesitated, reluctant to leave the man.

"I know..." the older man said before climbing up.

That interaction was burned into his skull, playing over and over again in his mind. He couldn't believe that he had left him. He hated himself more than he could ever express. Arthur had always been there for him. He had always been there to help him, to bail him out of the mess he always got himself into. He had just left him there to die. Hot tears threatened to fall, but he refused to let them fall.

"Be a god damned man..." John choked back sobs.

He stood, his legs threatening to give out once again. Without thinking, he ran back in the direction in which he had left his savior. He ran as hard as he could. Just hoping and praying, for the first time in his life, that he would make it there in time. He could barely breathe but he was willing to endure it. John was determined. He was going to get back to Arthur, one way or another.

The dark-haired man approached where he had left Arthur. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. Arthur. Was he still alive? He climbed up the ledge, dread rising inside of him. He didn't know if he could do this. John pushed on, he was going to do this. His eyes scanned the area, searching for the man.

"A-Arthur?" He somehow managed to call out, sounding like a scared child.

He heard an angry groan in response, it had to be him. Only Arthur could make a simple sound seem so grouchy. He followed the noise to the source. The sight that greeted him shattered what was left of his stone heart. There sat Arthur leaning against the stone wall behind him, bloody and bruised from the fight that must have occurred after he left. The older man shot him a look of pure disbelief and annoyance.

"I... I told you to get out of here... Go to your family..." The dying man muttered, barely able to take a breath.

"I can't leave you, Arthur. You're my family too..." John cried, unable to keep the tears from falling.

"Y-you're... A mess... Marston," Arthur coughed.

"Don't I know it?" John laughed in an attempt to control his tears.

Arthur struggled to sit up just a little more. These were his last moments and the pair both knew it. John wished that he could stop time, that he could save his oldest friend. But he couldn't. Instead, he just sat there beside the other man, enjoying the silence. Before this moment, he had never understood what Arthur enjoyed about it so much, but now he completely understood. He understood everything now. It was as if the other man had opened himself up without saying a word. There they sat, Artur's final moments being spent in silence as they watched the sunrise together this one last time. John was painfully aware that he could no longer hear the struggling wheezes coming from Arthur trying to catch a breath. He had passed. John couldn't bring himself to look at the shell of one he had cared for so deeply. Instead, he sat there beside him. Watching the sun climb into the morning sky.

John thought of all the times they shared, just like how Arthur wanted to spend his last moments. It hurt like hell, but it brought the man some comfort. When Arthur saved him from the wolves, drinking around the campfire, all of the many times they had ridden together, their ride to get Jack back. That reminded him of something Arthur had once said.

"We can't change what's done, we can only move on," The now dead man's voice echoed in his ears as if he was talking.

He couldn't help but smile despite the tears that ran down his scarred face. That man had truly been the most selfless person he had ever known. Beyond that rough, sarcastic, intimidating exterior he was really just another hurt soul that loved helping people. Even if it took him until the end of his life to realize it. John forced himself to get up to face reality. Arthur was gone, all that left of him was his corpse and the memories that everyone had of him. His eyes dropped to the shell of the man, his chest feeling like a bear had torn into it. His dull eyes were still open, looking at the rising sun. He brought his hands to the face of his trusted friend, closing his eyes. John dropped to his knees, unable to hold up the facade of being strong. The tears flowed freely, unable to be contained or controlled any longer. His head dropped. He stayed there, unable to move. Without any prompting from him, a pained scream came forth from his throat. He didn't care if the gang heard him, if the Pinkertons heard him, he just didn't care in that moment. He couldn't bring himself to care.

The man heard the sound of pebbles being kicked behind him, someone was coming upon him. He stumbled into a standing position before drawing his gun and turning to face the source. His vision blurry, he could barely make out the image of Charles, the man Arthur trusted most out of the gang. That was still alive anyway. He sniffled and lowered his gun, trying to compose himself. It was fitting, he was feeling and acting just like the child he was when he met the man that now sat dead beside him. Both of the men nodded in agreement, no words needed to be exchanged. They already knew what needed to be done. Charles lifted the body of his trusted friend. John followed as the dark-skinned man carried him away from the place that he took his last breath. The pair walked in silence, both feeling more comfortable that way. They had never really talked much, the only things they had in common being small bits and pieces of the past few months and Arthur. They were both sad about the other man's death, but John was taking it the hardest of the two. Charles had a more private way of mourning, as well as a more considerate way of showing appreciation for the lives of those around him.

Charles led the way, placing Arthur on the back of Taima. He grabbed the reins and started to lead the horse. John followed, reluctant to stray away from the body. They walked away, the rays of the sun chasing away the cold of the hilly region. The walk was quiet, tranquil. This morning was the calm after the storm, and yet they couldn't wait for it to be over. They arrived a short distance from where the heroic man had spent his final moments. They were on a cliff, basking in the sunlight. It was a beautiful spot.

"This spot, it's beautiful..." John mumbled.

"Arthur would have wanted to be buried somewhere like this. Facing west. So that he could look at the sun and remember everything," Charles barely more than whispered.

The pale man had hardly heard the other, but he knew what had been sad. He was right, their fallen friend would have loved a spot like this. It was a beautiful spot, surrounded by a stunning view of the landscape. Had Arthur been alive, he likely would have been taking in the jaw-dropping sight with his journal in his hands. Tears threatened to fall, but he fought the now-familiar sensation. John didn't think that he could cry anymore but he didn't want to risk it. Charles pulled out his small, collapsable shovel from his saddlebag. The darker man removed his friend from the back of his horse before placing the body in the shade of a nearby tree. John couldn't help but watch, noticing the expression of pain that crossed his face. It was unusual, he had never seen him show this much emotion. Arthur had touched all of their hearts, he had saved them. There was no greater man, in their eyes anyway. He may have been a criminal, a murderer, a thief, but he had done it all to help the entire gang. But the bastards had turned on him, on all of those that saw how crazy Dutch really was.

"You should get out of here, get back to your family. I'll take care of him," the other man motioned to the body of their lost friend.

The grieving man could only nod numbly. He didn't want to leave, but Arthur trusted Charles in life and he was sure that this would have been what the man wanted. John turned away and began to walk away reluctantly. He walked back the way they had come, each step taking him a little further from the man who had saved his life countless times. The raven-haired man just wanted to throw himself on the ground, to scream out curse after curse, but it wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't bring Arthur back. Instead, he kept forcing himself to take step after step. Towards where Sadie had taken his family to safety. Another person that Arthur had trusted a lot, despite her having only been with them for a few months. But Arthur's judgment was not misplaced. The two had been more alike than anyone other than themselves could notice. John could see that now. It's funny, you only really start to notice and pay attention to things when they are no longer there. John cracked a sad smile at the thought. He felt so stupid, but at the same time, he felt partly to blame for Arthur's death. If he hadn't left him, maybe he would have still been alive. He could have fought off the one that killed him. They could have gotten him out of there. They could have tried to help him get better. The invasive thoughts swirled through his mind like a tornado.

"We can't change what's done, we can only move on,"

The man looked around for the source of the voice. It was like a whisper in the wind. Even beyond the grave, the man was looking out for him. Those words brought some comfort to the man, but not enough to prevent even more tears from falling. He struggled to not fall down onto his knees.

"D-damn you, Morgan. You selfless bastard..." the man sniffled.

He moved onwards despite the pull he felt to return to the corpse of the man he called brother. Each step made it harder to fight the urge. The urge to be there with Arthur. The sound of voices brought him out of his thoughts.

"We can't leave yet! They are still coming!" a woman yelled shrilly.

"We don't know that, they might have caught them." another woman reasoned.

"Momma, where's papa?" A young child asked.

"He's coming sweetie, he'll be here," the first woman soothed.

John recognized those voices, they were the voices of his family and Ms. Sadie Adler. He followed the voices out of the bushes. Sadie had her gun drawn, pointing at John. Once she recognized him, she lowered her weapon. Abigail ran towards him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. He hugged her back, realizing just how much he had missed her. Jack came running over and clung to him tightly.

"Papa! Papa!" the boy yelled joyously.

"I'm here, I'm here..." He reached a hand down to grasp the boy as well as his lover.

"Where's Arthur?" Sadie asked, knowing the answer but needing confirmation.

Arthur had told her about the tuberculosis. She knew that he was going to die. Seeing John walk over wearing his hat confirmed it. But she needed to hear it.

"He, uh... He didn't make it. Charles is burying him on a ridge not too far from where he..." John swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence.

Sadie nodded, a dull pain searing through her interior. Arthur had been one of the best men she had ever met, seconded only by her late husband. She was going to miss him dearly. She turned her attention to the reunited family. She had fulfilled her promise to the man, she had helped them get out. They could go on living their life free from all of the madness that had just ensued. Sadie, on the other hand, didn't quite know what to do. She was more of a ghost than a person.

The Marston family loaded onto the wagon that was waiting for them, to take them to their new future. One hopefully free of bounties, robbing, murder, and Pinkertons. John was in the driver's seat with Jack between him and the woman. John turned to look at her as if asking if she was to be joining them. She just shook her head, waving them off. The man nodded, before signaling for the horses to start moving. There the family went, onwards towards their new life, their second chance. All thanks to a man named Arthur Morgan.

[glassprism]

hi GP! i love your blog :) i was just wondering - i didn't see it anywhere in your tag, so i hope i didn't miss it somewhere, but did you ever post a review/thoughts about Howard McGillin as the Phantom? i'd love to hear your opinion!

I haven’t, which is probably because my memory of his Phantom is of one that was consistently, obnoxiously aggressive. Part of this might be because of his vocals: he has a rough edge to his voice that alternates between making him sound kind of elderly and kind of grouchy. But a lot of it is the way he acts and the emotions he seems to convey with his singing. He’s angry in ‘The Mirror’, he’s angry while yelling “SING FOR ME!”, he’s angry in ‘I Have Brought You’, and he spends the majority of ‘Music of the Night’ looking pissed that Christine has invaded his personal space or something. (No wonder she looks so nervous in that scene.) Even his movements in ‘Why So Silent’ come off overly brusque, though there’s a bit of hilarity involved since he doesn’t open the Red Death jaw often enough.

All of this means that scenes where he’s angry lose any sort of impact, because his angry!Phantom is exactly the same as his normal!Phantom, just louder. It’s what happens with ‘Stranger Than You Dreamt It’ and ‘Wandering Child’, where he gets much, much shoutier and frenetic, but is otherwise the same. His ‘Final Lair’... actually, his ‘Final Lair’ started off all right, with some good moments of pitiful tenderness combined with aggression. But as the scene continues, he descends into continual screeching, and that’s about it. At least he doesn’t do airplane arms during the kiss (he actually has some good shaky hands). But even his “Go now!” is just full on yelling.

This is not to say that he does not have some good moments. There are points in ‘The Mirror’ and ‘Music of the Night’ where he does a commendable job of being hypnotically seductive; in ‘Stranger Than You Dreamt It’, he has a nice moment of weepy vulnerability near the end (though he then ruins it with a freakishly scary “COME WE MUST RETURN!!!”). His ‘I Gave You My Music’ is surprisingly decent as well for the same reasons... and gets ruined for the same reason as STYDI, as he finishes it with a bunch of manic gesturing and screaming. He also had a way of rubbing his legs and chest in ‘Point of No Return’ that very effectively conveyed his repressed lust, and his surprised, confused reaction to Christine unhooding him in that same scene is very good. But it really just makes me mourn for his potential, since the other 90% of his acting is just angry!Phantom.

So that’s why he ends up a firm ‘Indifferent’ on my list, because when all your Phantom consists of is screaming rage, it’s boring at best and harmful to my eardrums at worst. Perhaps he was better on other nights and runs (the September 1999 video is supposed to be one of his best recorded performances), but I’ve heard the same negative reviews from many different fans over the years, so... eh.

[tricks-up-my-sleeve]

((okay so spoilers for s8 ep 18 aka on the road to friendship under the cut w/ a bunch of spoiler tags just in case))

So uhhh this episode was everything I wanted? A lot of it’s subtle things, but, I’m ghkjlhgfd I’m not crying you are. I don’t do horse analysis or reviews or anything like that I grew tired of those types of things ages ago bc it personally gets to a point where it sucks out the fun for me but I’m just gonna make bullet points of all of my thoughts. Mainly involving Trixie and how this episode ties into my portrayal of her. Probably others too, though.

The little magic show at the beginning? Wonderful. I love these two performing together.. and together in general. Twi & Caddy even agree on how they’re such a good duo.

Speaking of which, Twi complimenting Trixie with a huge smile? HERE. FOR. IT.

Flurry Heart watching the show was adorable. Also the inclusion of Granny Smith was of course great.

“Doing a show with you is almost as much fun as counseling students at Twilight’s school.” Almost? I’m disappointed. It’s not the first time I’ll be disappointed in Glim this episode, but we’ll get there. She’s still loved.. but it gets rough.

Loved how Hoo’far called Trixie “Miss Powerful” and her reaction to it. Just cute and silly.

TRIXIE’S. LOVE. FOR. HER. WAGON. I didn’t expect this to be a big plot point in the ep or really ever brought up, but I was so thrilled because that’s always been a small part of my Trixie. She loves her wagon. It may be small and cramped (and also, it apparently has a pretty fucked up doorknob) but it has sentimental value. It means a lot to her. I loved this so much. Not once did she stop and consider trading it for something that a lot would look at and assume was superior.

Moonwalking Trixie.

Trixie bringing up how traveling gets pretty lonely a few times in this ep. Pretty much something that’s easy to guess or assume, but that’s also something my Trixie hasn’t been too shy of admitting, either.

Trixie!!! Levitating!!! Herself!!! She obviously learned that from Starlight. Although we didn’t see it much, I’m so fucking thrilled that we see that Trixie’s been improving her magic. An issue I had with To Change A Changeling (which is just a nitpick) is that they really don’t bring that up. Personally, ever since All Bottled Up, I’ve definitely been convinced that Trixie actually has strong potential for magic, given the right teacher. Glim Glam succeeds there. I could go more into detail to why I think this is but I’ll spare you.

Trixie on the couch in Starlight’s office. I don’t even have to say anything. Just perfect.

I love how Trixie painstakingly made room for the both of them in the wagon. To it’s credit, looking at it paused, it at least isn’t as small on the inside as it is the outside. It has an entire cannon in there. It seemed like she set up two beds for them? Perhaps at least one of them was makeshift? It’s hard to tell, since Star brought stuff and then she set up hammocks. It did look slightly cozier in there before the extra luggage, though. What I guess I’m getting at, is that although it’s a tight squeeze, it’s good to see that it can at least fit two ponies, although it’s not entirely ideal. 

Seeing the inside of the wagon’s been a thing I’ve wanted for ages. I could sit and look at every little thing in there and just smile for a while. Super cute.

Trixie really is sweet and considerate, you know. Seriously. Asking if Starlight is sure she doesn’t want to ride instead of walking with her, and giving her more than one chance to back out on the trip if she wants to.

THE SONG. Tell me I’m biased, I don’t care. This is my favorite horse song. I’ve waited patiently for pony Trix to sing... and it’s just.. all so fucking cute. Too much to take in.

More of Trixie’s magic shown in her shielding Starlight. Love it.

“For untold seasons yet to come, our friendship will be here!” “For nine, at least.” FUCKING. WOW. That’s clever but it also hurt my heart. Especially since my favorite friendship duo has only known each other for three of those seasons thus far, and ultimately it’ll only be four. Too soon, Glimmy.

Trixie talking about how she learned the hard way about life on the road and saving bits and all that. I like that. It shows her more mature side, and that she’s a little street smart from experience. Usually she’s kinda shown as less mature than Starlight, and this episode shows the flip side, which I really like.

I love how she’s adamant on buying hay cakes (Haycakes? They’ve used the word pancake before, though. What’s the difference?) from her preferred stand. Like.. me too, Trix. Clearly there’s a higher quality in the line that’s actually got ponies in it.

This is where Trixie and Starlight really start to argue like a married couple. Here I thought Applejack and Rainbow Dash took the prize for that. This is so domestic tho.

The first argument, at least, is short lived. I really liked that. Trixie sighs, presumably not wanting to push farther to where she hurts Starlight’s feelings. Love how she says “No, of course not.” and continues to apologize for getting snippy. She’s really improved on being.. to put it lightly, less bitchy. It’s what I love about watching her, and while To Change A Changeling was hilarious, that was my other nitpick. She had an attitude almost the entire time.. but it was funny, and I wouldn’t go as far as to call it OOC, so I wasn’t mad. The reason Trixie appeals to me so much is that she’s definitely a much nicer pony, but she’s still her. She hasn’t seemingly changed overnight from the first time we saw her, but she’s definitely made an effort. She’s quite the sweetheart when she wants to be.

I love how Trixie states that it’s taken her years to collect all of her magical items. I just think it’s neat. Also, rightfully getting offended when her stuff is called junk.

Coward Trixie returns. This is definitely me looking too deep into it but personally I’d like to think that yeah, after the Ursa event, I’d be scared of animals outside, too.

Starlight snoring and Trixie outright performing in her sleep. Lmfao. I’ve said this like fifteen times already about other things but I love it.

I relate to these tired and grumpy girls, but even I would have made sure to save some food / juice for my pal. Well.. maybe the juice was definitely out of spite. Wish I could scold her, but I would’ve done the same thing.

The grouchy magic show hurt me to watch. It was still funny though. Again, definitely arguing like a married couple. Two tired, angry friends trying to work together is just never gonna turn out right.

I love their voices in the “Practice makes perfect.” “Not today it didn’t.” exchange. So sassy. So higher pitched. Those faces, too. Lol.

Starlight throwing all of Trixie’s shit out followed by Trix yelling “You can HAVE IT ALL!” Oof. Almost like I’m watching a breakup right before my very eyes. Also the way she runs off. These poor hopeless gays.

STARLIGHT GLIMMER CONFIRMED WORST GIRLFRIEND. I’mjustkidding. Naturally I saw this coming from a mile away, but still. Wow. Ouch. I do like though how it seems to be consistent that she can be defensive of her bad decisions. Not really realizing that what she’s doing is wrong.

TRIXIE FREAKING OUT, THEN BEING BROUGHT TO TEARS BECAUSE STARLIGHT TRADED HER WAGON. This hurt me more than you could imagine, but what hurt me even more is that Starlight didn’t even flinch, and was completely insensitive about it for a while. Yikes. I already went into how much I love Trixie’s attachment to her wagon, but this killed me.

Also, pretty sure that selling or trading somebody else’s stuff is illegal, Star. Trixie shouldn’t have beef with Hoo’far. She should just be planning a lawsuit against Glimmer instead.

Am I just crazy or stupid? When Trixie tells Starlight that at least the wagon wouldn’t have traded her away, I was like, yEAH, you’re valid. Tell her. It made total sense to me. Then Starlight just responds with “That’s ridiculous.” Like?? It wasn’t to me? I sound silly now bc I get the joke, it’s an inanimate object, but what I’m trying to get at is that Trixie was pretty much trying to say that if Starlight really was her best friend she wouldn’t have done that.

I love how Trixie doesn’t accept the flattery from Hoo’far like she normally would bc she’s real pissed. To be fair, though, it’s really not his fault. I mean.. okay, a little, considering he should have known that it didn’t belong to Starlight, and that the trade needed to be given the okay by Trixie. He’s not a bad guy, though.

TRIXIE LYING IN FRONT OF THE CART FOR HOURS BC NO WAY IN HELL IS SHE LETTING THIS GUY TAKE IT. AMAZING. Give it up for his patience, too.

Starlight finds out that you win some and you lose some with the bigger caravan. Also, I love how she didn’t realize how fucked up stuff was when she was with Trixie and having a good time. Her regret sinking in seems about right. You can see her start to miss her.

“Sometimes travelling together is hard.” “But you reminded us that you can also make it fun!” Definite lesson that these two needed. Obviously Starlight was breaking before hearing that, but those big sad eyes she gets after. Regret.

“What are you two doing?” “Taking a stand! By lying down!” Lmao. Never change, Trixie.

“Best friends who share a deep bond but weren’t prepared for the emotional challenges of traveling.” Oh, definitely. Really feel like their first trip should have been a short one. Possibly with more planning ahead of time.

Best. Friendship. Chant.

“Only true friends would be willing to act so ridiculous for one another.” Aww. True.

“At a certain point, I don’t even like travelling with myself.” Line I really liked. Also Starlight saying that it’s harder than she thought.

Despite their exchange about knowing not to do it again, eh, still not wanting to completely rule out the thought of them travelling together in the future. Like I said, with more precautions taken, pretty sure they could’ve been just fine. Mainly reserving a room at an inn, since the big issue really just seemed to be them getting crabby sleeping in the wagon. Would’ve preferred it if it kinda gave that lesson and had Trixie say that they’ll know how to handle it next time, with both of them saying yeah, but let’s not make that anytime soon.

Trixie and Starlight almost killed an old man.

That’s it, if anyone even read through all of that. Can’t really say much more. This may or may not be my favorite Trixie episode. I’ll have to give it some time, but I loved almost everything about it. (No Second Prances is my current favorite I suppose, due to it also validating a lot of how I viewed Trixie at the time, and still do.)

Like I said.. it’s just really refreshing to see her take on a more mature stance than Starlight for the most part, since other episodes usually show the exact opposite. Not that Starlight is incredibly mature in her own right, but she does usually take that role when it comes to her dynamic with Trixie. I love any chance we get to see Trixie, but in episodes like To Change A Changeling, sometimes I worry that they don’t give her enough credit. She’s not a complete incompetent bitch, and to be fair, I don’t think she ever really has been. I won’t go into how I personally view her flaws, though. Guess that could be another post.

Until next time. Hopefully there is another next time. Starlight’s line in the song about nine seasons still has me all fucked up and I need help. Maybe one day I could go back and do these for past Trix episodes.

[gospacegay]

LTRTIHEW: Part Nineteen

The title stands for “Longest Rusame Thing I Have Ever Written”. Ohoho! What is France up to?

First Chapter: https://gospacegay.tumblr.com/post/165808913233/lrtihew-part-one

Previous Chapter: https://gospacegay.tumblr.com/post/166625068258/lrtihew-part-eighteen

There is swearing, fluff, eventual smut, insanity, and lord knows what else

Later, Ivan and Alfred were at the airport eating ice cream cones. It wasn't that they wanted to be there. Between the two of them, neither one knew a single word of Mandarin. The insanely busy international airport was the only place they could find workers that knew foreign languages. They became lost at least three times just getting back to the airport.

“I don't know what the hell you guys were talking about back there. I hope that grouchy bastard realizes his interest rate is like, physically impossible.” Alfred commented, between licks of frozen treat. “He will come to his senses. A visit with friends really clears the mind.” Ivan replied sagely, double meanings abound. “Friends? Dude, he hates everyone. Everyone one in there hated each other, well kinda. I don't... think you hate me. You haven't tried to stab me in forever.” Alfred rambled, ice cream vanishing quickly.

Ivan took his time with a single scoop of vanilla, chuckling softly. “That is true, Alik. I have not been stabbing you at all. I must be sick.” he joked, not too heavy on the sarcasm for once. “I'll asked Dr. Stab-a-lot herself to give you a check up.” Alfred replied quickly. Ivan froze, the thought of his insane little sister haunting him. “Please don't.” Ivan requested softly, barely heard.

“We're breakfast bros, big guy. I wouldn't sick Belarus on you like that.” Alfred assured with a rough pat on the back. People looked them strangely. A fully dressed Russian military commander and a blatantly American business man eating ice cream on a hello kitty bench was an odd sight after all.

Ivan's life was quick to shift back to regular patterns. Work, eat, sleep, morning tea on his porch... It was repeated for three weeks. Ivan was lost in the routine, ignoring the growing anxiety in his mind. It was all that stupid American's fault, inviting him out to that party. He never said what kind of party, where it was, or even the time. Worst of all, most of the UN members would be there. Ivan had personally invaded, insulted, or offended every member of the UN at least once since it's formation. To even think of including Ivan in parties was social suicide on Alfred's part.

Staring at forms from the government, Ivan could feel his palms sweating. He hated being like this, all tied up in knots inside. It was a day before he was heading off to the USA, and he couldn't remain calm  at all. He was the Russian Federation! He was the most nuclear armed nation to ever exist. He wasn't allowed to be nervous before parties. Ivan mentally scolded himself, sitting a little straighter. The phone unexpectedly rang, startling the Russian.

“Hello?” he answered, heart still going. “Heeey buddy... What's... Going on?” a very drunk America slurred. He sounded absolutely wasted. As Ivan pondered how to exploit this, the voice on the phone continued “So. No party. I don't know what happened... but fuck... it's all fucked.” “What?” Ivan asked,  struggling to pull words from the inebriated rambling. “China agreed to negotiate the payments... awesome? Then he said... It was oh my god, like... so awful. Then everyone read the e-mail... now they won't come to my party.” Alfred whined.

Political intrigue was always interesting. Ivan decided to actually pay attention. “E-mails?” he asked, hoping for a response below yelling level. “China, that ass, fuckin'... released old videos from Guantanamo Bay... Human rights violations... and England was all wanker this, bloody that. The UN guys think I'm some kind of monster. The only guy coming is France...” Alfred continued forever, becoming less coherent.

“Alfred, drinking does not dull the pain of rejection.” Ivan chided. He was a hypocrite of course, with his own alcohol on the desk. The thought of a vulnerable drunk America only in the presence of France was concerning. France was far from being a rapist, at least in modern times. Drunks, male or female, still had a tendency of ending up in France's bed. The very thought made Ivan angry enough to crush his phone. Alfred was his... comrade? Close acquaintance? The label wasn't important right now. Ivan didn't allow such questionable people near his... associates.

“... So. I cancelled the party. Only creepy fuckers were going to show up anyway.” Alfred concluded, briefly more clear. “Very well. I will be coming over regardless.” Ivan replied, glancing at his government purchased plane tickets. Coach seats, of course the cheap bastards would send their own kin overseas in such frugality. “What?” Alfred asked, surprised as ever.

“My plane tickets cannot be refunded. I will not be putting them to waste.” Ivan explained honestly, omitting a few extra things. Things like horribly maiming France, or cutting off his fingers until he sings the Russian anthem... again. It would feel so liberating to release this toxic thirst for vengeance instead of bottling it up.

There was groaning on the line, then a long “Fiiine. I'm not entertaining you though. Fuckin' wrecked.” This was a good invitation as any other to Ivan's ears. A brief sense of relief washed over the previously nervous Russian. He was welcome for a visit, and his host clearly wasn't upset. It was a novel sensation to be wanted somewhere, like that first juicy bite into a fresh fruit.

Ivan was packed and out that night. It had been a hassle to switch flights to an earlier departure. Dealing with a crying child on an express coach flight was hellish. The jet lag of going half way around the world was dragging him down. None of this mattered. It was nearly morning in Washington DC when a sleep deprived Ivan arrived on the patio of America house. The lights were on inside despite the mercilessly early hour. Not even the sun had roused from his slumber yet.

Breezing past the unlocked front door, Ivan saw what he had feared. France had wrapped an arm around an unconscious Alfred on the couch, watching a film with french subtitles at low volume. Spain and Mexico were also passed out in arm chairs, snoring softly. America's hair was done up in embarrassing pink bows, a mess of red, white, and blue glitter dumped on him.

“Hello Russia, I see you came early for the party.” France greeted softly in french, enjoying himself too much like always. “What have you done to America?” Ivan demanded in the same tongue, tensed. “Oh, I had my fun, as did the others. I think I had much more fun though.” he replied coyly, winking. Oh no. Russia was too late. France had defiled yet another nation under vulnerable circumstances! That vile creature! That untrustworthy bastard was going to die!

[mylittledragonhoard]

Fic: A Growing Trust - Chapter 1

Semi prequel to A Sign of Trust.

AO3 Link

Kili has met a number of different sea creatures while working at Erebor Aquarium, but now he meets a mermaid for the first time.

It's a rather painful but definitely unforgettable first impression.

A cellphone rang loudly in the quiet room, the shrill sound scaring away an otter that happened to be swimming passed the underwater window at the exact moment.

Thorin Oakenshield reached for it without looking away from the computer screen he'd been focused on for the last hour. The computer was an ancient thing, but then again, so was Thorin in many ways. His hand hit something that was definitely not his phone, and as soon as his eyes saw the dark brown coffee spilling from the mug, he cursed and stood up so fast that he knocked his chair over. It wasn't fast enough to keep from getting soaked, but at least it wasn't hot anymore.

The phone rang again, reminding him of its annoying existence, and this time he reached between some loose and now soaked papers to pluck it from its hiding place. He flipped it open. He hadn't upgraded to one of those smart phones yet, and he was staving that time off for as long as he could. Sometimes it felt like the world was progressing too quickly for him. "Yeah?" He said into the phone.

His face shifted into an unhappy frown. He had a formidable stature, and he'd been told many times by his staff that his frown was epically intimidating. He never tried to be, but he had a stressful job. Like now. "A what?" There was an obvious tone of disbelief held in his tone, but he'd never known his staff to lie. "I'll inform Oin immediately. Arrival time?" Alert eyes swept toward the clock on the computer screen. "We'll be ready." He promised before hanging up the phone.

He left the room after that, computer work and spilled coffee completely forgotten. There were more important things to worry about.

"Oin!" He shouted even as he moved down the hallway, a corridor made of cement and light grey paint. It gave off a cold impression, but these halls were home. Half of them were supporting a tank of some sort, so they had to be strong.

He found the man in question sitting in the staff lounge, nursing a cup of tea. The room was a fair size with a rectangular table and chairs shoved underneath. There was a fridge for meals and a microwave and oven to heat them up. They'd just installed a dishwasher after years of Thorin having to listen to his staff harp about it.

"What is it?" Oin Tement asked as he sipped from his cup. He was older than Thorin was, but seemed to accept new technology more readily. His salt and pepper hair was a little skewed and he looked tired, but Thorin knew he'd been up early to visit a few of their residents.

"We have a new arrival coming. ETA in an hour." Thorin explained as he stepped through the room to come to a stop at a wall. On it hung a large white board where staff left notices and notes that were important and others that weren't. It also held a schedule of everyone's shifts. "I'll grab Kili. He can help us." Kili Durinson was one of his best employees.

"Injuries?" Oin prompted as he set down his tea and stood from his chair, easily reading the urgency in Thorin’s demeanor.

"Numerous." Thorin grunted as he turned around to look at his veterinarian. "We're looking at possibly ten feet."

"Dolphin? Seal? Another manatee?" Oin questioned even as he studied Thorin's face. There was a look in the man's eye that Oin hadn't seen before, and he didn't know what to make of it.

"No. You're never going to believe it."

***

The sound of his scrub brush against the wall of the manatee enclosure was beginning to grow hypnotic as a shirtless young brunet man continued with the task he'd started just after sunrise. The manatee enclosure wasn't normally on his rotation of duties, but since he didn't have a particular assignment to do, he'd taken up the task.

Eventually, he pulled away long enough to wipe the sweat that had collected on his forehead and scratch the tip of his itchy nose, unknowingly leaving a slight smudge of dirt and green algae behind. Deceptive brown eyes turned to look up into the sky, changing from dark to green as the sun hit them. It was only reaching mid-morning, but it was already hot, which was standard for Erebor this time of year.

The enclosure was large, but not very deep so the water had warmed with the sun. His shirt had been sticking to him and making him hotter so he'd tossed it over the side to retrieve later, but now he had to contend with his sweaty hair sticking to the back of his neck. He'd had it long at the beginning of the summer season and had thought it smart to chop it all off. It was getting shaggy now and wasn't long enough to do anything with. He missed being able to tie it up off his neck.

Something bumped into his side and almost pushed him back into the four and a half feet of water he was standing in. A smile lit up his face as he looked down to see the large manatee floating next to him. "Hey pretty girl." He rubbed the top of her head, fingers sliding across rough grey skin. She'd been named Lady, but Kili always liked to give her special attention. "Did you wake up just to supervise me?" He cooed at her, knowing how much she slept in a day. His movements through the water and the sound of his scrubbing must have roused her.

Whether she understood him or not, she bobbed her head in the water a couple of times making him laugh, the light sound easily carrying across the calm water of her enclosure.

"Thorin needs to put you on the payroll then, hm?" He sunk his hand below the surface so he could scratch at her whiskered chin and snout, making sure to touch her on the side of her body that she could feel.

She'd been struck by a boat about a year before and had suffered paralysis along one half of her body. One of the other handlers spent a couple of hours a day with her for physical therapy, but Tauriel wasn't due until later in the day.  Erebor Aquarium normally didn't house their animal guests permanently since they were a rehabilitation center, but there were a few exceptions and she was one. She had such a sweet personality and was friendly to everyone.

He felt her lips move to explore his fingers, laughing again when she made a disappointed grunting noise when she didn't find anything to eat.

"No treats right now, petty girl. Maybe I'll swing by later and give you something. How's that?" He asked, knowing that she had plenty of food along the bottom of her enclosure that would satisfy her until he could return.

She tilted her head back to look up at him, her whiskered snout twitching just slightly as she peered at him with her one good eye, almost imploringly. There was no way anyone with a heart could stand up against such a look, and Kili faltered right away. If he'd had any of her treats on him, she surely would have gotten them all. "You manipulator." He laughed instead and rubbed her chin again. Her eye closed as she soaked up the attention.

"Kili." The voice of his boss made Kili look up and across the enclosure where Thorin stood leaning on a rail on a level that overlooked the area. The man looked rather grumpy, but Kili knew he'd been having a few stressful days.

"What's up boss?" He flashed a grin at the man even as he continued to shower Lady with affection.

"I don't pay you to flirt with the girls." Thorin's frown lifted just a little. He was a serious man, but his sense of humour was amazing once he got going.

"Have you seen this face, Thorin?" Kili leaned down so he could rest his cheek on Lady's head. She squealed happily and bumped his cheek with her nose. "There's no way I could resist."

Kili easily saw Thorin roll his eyes. "Sometimes I worry about you." The water carried the muttered comment over to Kili as clear as if it had been spoken right next to him.

"Well, you and my mother can start a club then. She thinks I need to stop playing with animals and look for an actual human relationship. I think she wants grandkids or something." Kili gave Lady one last pat before making his way through the water until he reached the older man. "Now I doubt you came all this way to interrupt my flirting." He smirked once he was standing below, reaching a hand up and grasping Thorin's when the man reached down and grabbed him. There was a perfectly good ladder to his right, but this was much more fun and Thorin always indulged him.

Despite Kili being six foot, Thorin hauled him out of the water as if he weighed nothing, but that was a perk of lifting heavy animals and supplies on a daily basis. The man was strong.

As he landed on the observation deck, water pooling at his feet, he spied his boss' shirt. "Uh...having a bad day, Thorin? You're supposed to drink your coffee, not wear it." He teased as he wrung the water from his shorts so he'd drip less.

He looked up and saw that Thorin wasn't smiling. Kili knew the different between Thorin's tired frown and Thorin actually angry, and the look on the man's face now was somewhere in between. "Thor?" Kili prompted when he realized it was concern. That shouldn't have been new considering the animals they brought in. Thorin worked hard to ensure that they saved and rehabilitated as many as they could because he cared. He was always concerned. But this seemed different somehow.

"I need your help with a new arrival." The man began. "Dwalin and his team should be here in about half an hour now." He let out a long breath, rubbing his fingers through his long hair before gripping the strands tightly, "I’m told the situation is pretty dire. Dwalin's called me a couple of times to keep us updated. The creature's pretty malnourished by the looks of him, and he's either been attacked by something or was caught in a net. Fins are gone and there's a lot of blood." He grumbled, sounding grouchy, but Kili knew it was how Thorin dealt with things when he had a lot on his mind. "He was found stranded along the coast near Lake Town. We'll know more once we get him into Oin's clinic."

"Shit." Blood was never a good thing to hear about, and Kili's heartbeat accelerated just a little more as his adrenaline kicked in. It was always like that when a new rescue came in. "How big are we talking?" His mind began to go over which tanks were available and their sizes.

"With his tail, could be up to ten feet."

Ten feet meant heavy. "Are we going to need the crane?" He wondered, automatically looking across the floor to where the modified backhoe was parked. They used it to lift the heavier creatures that came into their care. It was safer for both parties.

"There won’t be any room since we’ll have to take him directly to OIn’s medical area. They used the wheeled stretcher, and between Dwalin's team and you and me, we should be able to use the harness to carry him the rest of the way into Oin's medical bay. Oin's already got everything he needs ready."

Kili scowled in confusion, his frown almost rivalling Thorin's because of the sharp angles of his face and his darker features. "That's only six people, Thor. What the hell are we moving? A large dolphin? A small whale?" He crossed his arms and stared at the older man.

"No," Thorin replied, "A mermaid."

***

A large vehicle that could have been mistaken for a moving truck hurtled toward the Erebor Aquarium facility as fast as it could without putting anyone in danger. It’s sides were painted dark blue in the shape of a wave along both sides and bright white along the top. On the sides in green lettering, the name and phone number of the aquarium had been printed in large lettering in case people found injured sea life that needed rescuing.

Unlike other pieces of technology that Thorin used, the truck was only a year old and big enough to transport most aquatic animals. Thorin always made sure the best equipment was used when it came to the animals they brought.

Was a mermaid considered an animal? Kili wondered, barely registering the thought as it swam through his mind. He was still trying to wrap his mind around Thorin's news and hadn't been able be to process much.

A mermaid.

Kili knew very little about them aside from they were usually deep sea dwellers and always did their best to avoid humans. Unless this was a younger one who'd gotten too curious and had somehow been injured. He knew tail fins were worth a lot as some people believed they had magical properties that could cure illnesses. People would believe anything.

Kili chewed his thumbnail nervously as he waited with Thorin and Oin just outside a large bay door where the truck would drive in so they could unload. It was the closest area to Oin's medical room and that meant less moving for everyone and hopefully less stress on the mer.

As the truck got closer, everyone grew aware of a loud high pitched screeching sound, and it made Kili frown thinking there was something wrong with the vehicle. It only grew louder as Dwalin approached, and Kili had never known a vehicle to make that kind of noise. The suspension was the best money could buy, and though this mer was long, Thorin seemed sure that it wouldn't weigh much. "What's that noise?" He finally asked, looking between the two older men.

They were both focused on the incoming truck. "That would be our new guest." Thorin responded.

"They have quite the range of sounds." Oin explained when he saw Kili's eyes widen. "Be prepared to get screamed at while you help us get him into my lab. And watch out for his teeth and claws."

"I will." Kili promised, though wondered if he should have found some earplugs before now.

He didn't have time to leave his spot before the truck finally pulled up. The screeching was louder, but now Kili could tell it was coming from some kind of animal and not a machine.

Thorin directed Dwalin into the bay while Oin and Kili hurried inside to be ready when the backdoor was opened. It did so the moment the vehicle had stopped, and a young redheaded man named Gimli jumped out, quickly followed by his father Gloin. They both had matching red hair that had frizzed in the heat, or gotten messed up while loading their squirming burden. And now that the backdoor was open and no longer muffling any sound, the screeching was almost unbearable.

Kili peered into the back of the truck where a large stretcher was situated in the middle. It was long and wide enough to be able to accommodate a number of aquatic creatures, but Kili could see that it hadn't been made in mind for something like a mermaid. It was too wide to properly restrain the twisting occupant on top, and aside from the multiple straps crisscrossing along the top of the form, what looked like towels and a tarp had been wrapped around the body. The creature was completely hidden from view, though Kili could see the body thrashing within his confines as it snarled and shrieked. Usually blinding an animal would help calm it down, but apparently it didn’t work for mers. He also noted a harness that was regularly used for lifting dolphins and such laid out underneath the shifting form already. The material was smeared with a lot of blood.

Gimli saw him looking as the redhead bent down to pull a metal ramp out from beneath the truck. "Better this way." He grunted with an annoyed scowl as he secured the metal slat so they could wheel the stretcher down it. "The claws on this thing are sharp and he keeps trying to bite but we managed to restrain his arms with towels and the tarp." He muttered before he worked with his dad to detach the hooks and straps that kept the stretcher in place inside the truck.

"The stretcher's too wide to fit through our hallways." Gloin complained and Kili looked to see that the man was right. Their hallways weren't meant to have large marine creatures transported through them. If anything needed medical assistance, then Oin would normally see them in their enclosures.

Dwalin and Thorin will take the middle when we need to lift." Gloin ordered, speaking up over the noises the creature was making. Thorin was strong, but standing next to Dwalin made him look tiny in comparison. It made sense that they'd be taking the most weight if it came to that. They were cousins but looked nothing alike what with Thorin's long hair and Dwalin's shaved and tattooed head. It was in their scowl that Kili could see the family resemblance. Not that he'd ever mention that out loud to either of them.

"Nori and I will take the back where we can attempt to control the tail." Gloin continued before turning to Kili, "You and Gimli take the front, but like my son said, you watch out for those claws. They'll shred you if he gets the chance."

Kili nodded as everyone waited for Gloin and Gimli to pull the stretcher down the ramp. Thorin and Dwalin moved in to help as it was heavy and they didn't want it going too fast.

Once everyone was in position, Oin nodded in satisfaction and turned to head toward his medical bay.

Gloin and Nori began to push from behind and that left Kili and Gimli responsible for manoeuvring the large and heavy equipment around without hitting anything. The moment they moved the stretcher, the mermaid thrashed wildly in an attempt to get free. The screeching had turned into snarls and downright howling.

"Someone's not very happy." Gimli muttered through gritted teeth as he and Kili carefully shuffled away from truck so the others could follow.

The weight was a bit of a surprise, but then the tails of mermaids were rather long and the stretcher weighed a fair amount too. It would have been easier to move without it rocking with the creature's movements.

"This one's more ornery than Thorin is without his morning coffee." Nori snickered from the back. "And I see he's wearing it rather than drinking it today."

"Shut up before I let this mermaid scratch your eyes out." Thorin grunted from behind Kili. "If I had to ride with your ugly mug, then I'd be screaming too."

Chuckles erupted from both sides of the sling but were quickly cut off at a particularly loud growl.

They'd gone as far as they could anyway. Now it was time to lift using the harness. On either side of the material were two steel poles that could be grabbed by human hands or attached to the crane. Kili had done this before and he always took front left so he could carry with his right arm which was stronger than his left.

"Alright boys." Gloin instructed and on his count they all lifted together.

The mermaid was none too happy about being moved and amped up his efforts to get free.

It was slow progress as the creature inside twisted around and used his tail for leverage. Both Gloin and Nori almost had their poles ripped from their grasp as the mermaid's tail thrashed back and forth in an attempt to hit either one of them. Gimli and Dwalin were muttering curses under their breath the entire time.

"I thought you said he was almost dead when you found him." Thorin was speaking to Dwalin from over the harness.

"He was until we got him into this thing." Dwalin's voice was gruff in reply. The man was actually a teddy bear normally, though he was a little stressed out at the moment. "That's adrenaline for you."

"I'll have a sedative ready as soon as we get him settled." Oin broke in as they neared his medical lab, having overheard the conversation.

Kili just felt bad. Not only was the screeching painful on their ears, but it sounded painful to make too. It was growing hoarser the longer it went on. He'd never been able to listen to an animal in distress, and while he was still on the fence about how to classify a mermaid, he couldn't just stand there and do nothing.

"Hey buddy," He began as he licked his lips, ignoring the scoff from Gimli. "We're just trying to help, okay?" He kept his voice light and as calm as he could. They'd had many frightened animals come into the aquarium and talking soothingly would sometimes help. "Oin's an awesome vet, and he'll get you fixed up so you won't be in pain anymore." He promised.

"Don't waste your breath." Gimli mumbled, "I doubt he understands you. He'd probably rather eat you."

"How about you be quiet. He's calming down." Dwalin hissed lowly from behind Gimli.

Kili paused for a moment and realized Dwalin was right. The screeching had lessened now and wasn't so piercing to the eardrums. He focused on that as they finally entered the medical bay. "Almost there, buddy." He promised, seeing the table set up. It was custom made out of aquarium glass and was about half a foot deep so it could hold water that was needed for some patients. It was adjustable, and right then it took up most of the room so that Oin could check over and treat his injuries before he was placed in an enclosure.

"Carefully lift so you don't hit his head or shoulders on the edge." The vet instructed all of them. "I'm going to need him restrained. He seems like a fighter."

They all hoisted the harness higher and set the body down onto the table as gently as they could.

Just as they made a move to open the harness, a blood stained hand darted from between the folds of tarp and towels and grasped tightly around Gimli's wrist. The redhead cried out in shock which startled everyone else and they all dropped the harness. The mermaid had ripped free of some of his restraints.

Kili's first reaction was to reach across the table to help his friend out and he did so with his left hand, completely exposing his forearm.

"Kili watch his teeth!" Thorin bellowed the warning but it was too late.

The sting came right away and shot right up Kili's forearm to his shoulder. He jumped in surprise to get away but found that he couldn't move his arm. The mermaid had latched on tightly.

Looking down at the creature for the first time, Kili completely froze in shock as he came face to face with startlingly blue eyes set in a human face framed with red stained blond hair that immediately had Kili thinking of the sand and ocean along the beach of their facility. He had the same facial features as a human did even eyebrows and regular ears.

Kili had seen pictures of mermaids but had never seen one up close or in real life, and the fact that he looked so human was so surreal.

Then Kili focused on the sharp teeth in his arm. He couldn't see just how sharp they were, but he'd been bitten by animals before and he couldn't recall it stinging this much. Blood was beginning to well up from the puncture wounds and trickle down Kili's skin, but Kili hardly noticed because he was still staring at that face. Something had sliced across the bridge of the mermaid's nose and there was dark bruising and scraped skin along the left side of the creature's face. Kili looked into those watery eyes glaring at him in an attempt to be intimidating, but all Kili saw was fear. This creature was more terrified than angry and he was defending himself in the only way he could.

When the mermaid noticed he was looking, he growled low and as threateningly as he could. The blood that had gathered at the corners of his mouth began to froth with the action.

"Fuck. Kili hold on." Thorin was somewhere behind him but the sound of his voice spurred Kili into action again. He didn't want them to scare the mermaid any more than he already was.

"It's okay." He said to his boss and the other men in the room, but he kept his eyes locked on the mermaid's. He was sure he could see tears forming within the blue, making them glassy and reflective of the lights above them. "He's just frightened and acting in self-defence." He explained before smiling at the creature. The sting had become a burning sensation now and Kili's hand was going cold. "Hey buddy. You're okay. I know you're confused and afraid, but we're only trying to help you, okay?" He promised, voice a little shaky because of the pain, but he managed to work through it. He had the urge to reach out with his other hand and maybe smooth down some of that hair, but then he realized he'd probably get a few fingers bitten off if he tried.

The glare held within those blue eyes lessened just a little and adopted a more confused look to them, and Kili felt the firm grasp around his arm loosen slightly. They blinked and a tear trickled down the creature's right cheek.

"Can you understand me?" Kili had to wonder about that. It couldn't have just been his tone, could it? He would have to find out later as they had other priorities that came first. "You're really warm, buddy." Kili noticed, able to feel heat radiating off the mermaid and knowing it wasn't right. "You're really sick, and we just want to make you well again." He had no idea if the mermaid could understand him for sure, but he kept trying since it seemed to be working.

Until there was movement from behind Kili and the mermaid suddenly lurched back with a panicked squeal. His teeth dislodged from Kili's arm, blood splattering both his face and Kili's as he attempted to fling himself away in a mad scramble for safety. Sharp claws tried to grasp the lip of the table and weak arms attempted to hoist himself up, but the mermaid didn’t make it far before he collapsed. His eyes drooping as he attempted to fight off unconsciousness for as long as he could.

Kili was bewildered at the sudden change and turned around for an explanation. He found that while he'd distracted the poor creature, the others had held his tail secured to the table so that Oin could inject the sedative into the mer's side.

Thorin was suddenly beside Kili with a towel and wrapping it around his bleeding arm. Kili was still looking at the struggling mer though, and ignored his boss' enquiries about if he was okay.

Those blue eyes had managed to focus on Kili as the creature began to succumb to the drug.

"You're safe." Kili promised quietly, and watched as hooded blue eyes blinked more and more slowly until they finally fell closed and remained shut.

Only then did he allow himself to be fussed over.

***

After a trip to the nearest hospital and an express order from Thorin to go home which he completely disregarded, Kili found himself back in Oin's medical bay. It was nearing late evening, and Kili had relieved the doctor for the night after another order he wouldn't be disobeying.

"If anything changes, you call me." Oin even pointed a wrinkled finger in Kili's face. His hands had been wet and his skin had pruned. "I have my cell and I'll be sleeping in the bunker." The bunker was a room next to Thorin's office that housed two sets of bunk beds. This wasn't a job that could be left unattended so someone was always on night rotation, and sometimes the staff slept overnight or crashed after a long shift.

After explaining to Kili that he would need to wet the mer's tail every so often, Oin finally left to get some much needed rest, leaving Kili alone to watch over their newest patient.

The brunet had pulled Oin's uncomfortable office chair and situated it right beside the table the mer was stretched out in, and once he'd swiped a couple of books on mermaids from Thorin's little office library, Kili was set for the night.

He'd been sitting there for three hours already and hadn't read one word in any of the books despite having opened the first one and having it on his lap. He couldn't stop staring at the mer.

The mer had been cleaned up of both his and Kili's blood, but those tangled golden strands were still stained pink in places. In sleep, or rather unconsciousness, his features had relaxed as much as they could considering he had a fever. Occasionally his face scrunched up as though he was having a nightmare. When that happened, Kili would get up from the chair and talk to him and run water over his tail until he settled again. The brunet didn't know if he was helping at all, but he hoped so.

He looked startlingly young now that he wasn't snarling and attempting to bite anyone's hand off. He didn't look that much older than Kili.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Thorin's sudden voice made Kili jump in his seat, and his head swung toward the door where his boss was standing with a scowl on his face.

Kili's eyes dropped to his lap and the book he hadn't been reading. "Reading." He lied and gave the man a cheeky grin because he knew damn well that wasn't what Thorin meant.

The man scoffed as he stepped farther into the room, stepping up to the table where their new guest lay and grabbing the medical chart that Oin had left. "Do you ever listen to a word I say?" He sighed in exasperation as his eyes shifted to glare at Kili.

"Sorry what was that?" Kili asked and got a smack on the back of the head with the medical chart for his trouble. "Ow!" He rubbed the area, "Look, the good doctor needed to sleep or else he was going to curl up right next to our friend here." Kili motioned to the mermaid with his head, "I swear I saw him eyeing the table to see if there was room for the both of them, Thorin."

"That still doesn't explain why it's you here." Thorin grumbled. "You bled almost as much as he did." He looked over the black and gold tail before grabbing the small sprayer that Kili had been using and sprayed a fine mist over the scales.

It had taken Oin three hours to clean, disinfect, and stitch up all the lacerations where fins had been lost along the tail. Not to mention the large jagged slice along the creature's right side. Now the poor thing was lying in about two inches of water, hooked up to medications to fight off the raging infection coursing through his system and fluids since he was dangerously malnourished and dehydrated. It was disheartening to see the protruding ribs and gaunt face.

Among the other IVs and wires that were monitoring his vitals, a tube had been forced into the mer's nose that delivered air directly to his lungs to give him an easier time of breathing. Kili had asked why it had been his nose and Oin had explained that the mer's teeth would have destroyed a throat tube. Kili's arm, numb thanks to his own medication, could attest to that.

Kili leaned back in his chair, "There is a mermaid lying right here. How could I be anywhere else?" He pointed out.

"Hm." Thorin grunted as he put the sprayer back, but that was all he said.

Kili sighed and slouched a little. "What do you think happened to him?" He asked quietly.

That brought forth a tired sigh. "Same thing that always happens to mermaids who get too close to the wrong kind of human. His fins weren't ripped off like they would have been if he'd been caught in a net."

"I was hoping that's all it was." But Kili wasn't delusional. He'd known what had happened the moment he'd laid eyes on the smooth knife markings. Whoever had stolen the fins had cut down right to the scales. "He looks like he's only around my age."

A chuckle escaped Thorin, "He's most likely older than I am." He commented before motioning to the book in Kili's lap. "Haven't you read anything?"

Kili flushed. "I was distracted!" He insisted before closing the book. He'd read it eventually. "So mermaids age differently?"

"Yeah. He's probably almost three times your age. Oin plans to send some tissue samples to a lab to find out for sure. He's still a young adult at any rate."

"How can you tell?"

"He doesn't have facial hair yet." Thorin pointed out, "But he's lost the gills that all juveniles have."

"They lose their gills when they get older? Mermaids grow facial hair?" Kili wasn't sure why he was surprised by that, but he was. He turned to that angelic face and tried to picture it with hair the same colour and the gold on his head. It wasn't too bad.

"I think you need to do a bit more research."

Kili already knew that. "I want this assignment, Thor."

"Why?" The older man's voice was suddenly sharper than it had been before, and Kili found himself being scowled at, Thorin's blue eyes like ice.

Kili blinked and didn't say anything for a moment. He'd seen that look and heard that tone before, but it had never been directed at him. It had only ever been directed at anyone who'd tried to come in and mess with the place or the staff. It meant Thorin was being protective, and this time he was being protective over the mermaid.

Kili was glad someone was.

"Because I want to make sure he heals." Kili stated confidently. "When I looked into his eyes today, all I saw was fear. It was heartbreaking." His eyes flicked back to the unconscious mer's face. "He needs help and I want to make sure he gets it." There was conviction in Kili's voice. "I swear I saw tears. I didn't know mermaids could cry." He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he had to at least try.

"They can." Thorin ran a hand down his face, and Kili noticed how tired he looked as well. It had been a long and tiring day. "And just like their fins, people believe they're magical too."

Kili scoffed and flopped against the back on the chair. "It's times like these I'm ashamed of being human." He mumbled as he looked back at the mer.

"But you are human, and you're a good human." Thorin relented, "Someone needs to show him that not all humans are bad."

Kili was hopeful. "Does that mean I get the assignment?"

"You realize what a commitment this is? Mermaids are not like the animals that we regularly look after."

"I practically live here anyway." Kili grinned. He knew it was probably going to be the biggest commitment in his life so far, but it was something he felt he needed to do. And he wanted to do it. "You know I got through to him. He did calm down when I spoke to him."

Thorin snorted quietly. "That's all I need. Another one who won't listen to me." Kili probably wasn't supposed to hear that part. "I'll make you a deal. If he survives, he'll be your responsibility." Thorin gave in.

"He'll survive." Kili had faith in him. "He's a fighter, remember?"

"I do." Thorin's eyes drifted to Kili's bandaged arm with a frown, but it was gone a moment later. "I have no choice anyway. Nobody else working here’s stupid enough to stick their arm out in front of a creature with sharp teeth."

"Or brave enough."

"I'm going with stupid."

"You know I'm your favourite, Thor." Kili beamed when the man rolled his eyes.

"Yeah but nobody else is supposed to know that. You included you brat." He turned toward the door. "Get some sleep when Oin comes back. The mermaid's going to be in here for a while, so you can take that time to study those books. I think you're going to find this a bigger task than you believe it to be."

"I'll take my chances." Kili had his mind set and there was no changing it now.

"We'll see whose stubbornness lasts longer. Yours or his." Thorin smirked before waving. "Good night Kili."

"Night Thorin." Kili watched him leave before turning back to look at the mer, getting up from his chair and standing over the table. "Hear that buddy? You definitely have to get better. There's a lot we need to learn from each other, okay?"

The only respond Kili received was a flicker of golden eyelashes that matched the hair. But he didn't mind. Smiling to himself, Kili returned to the chair and settled in for a long night by opening the book he'd been holding.

He had a lot of research to do.