#imperious Lex

[stahlsonne]

I continue the topic of useless talent - Hieronymus Flexx from oblivion

He even looks like the original :D

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

Hieronymus Lex: Money absolutely does not buy happiness.

The Gray Fox: You're probably just spending it wrong. Give it to me and I'll show you how it's done.

[somewherefornow]

[jetslay]

Lois & Clark by Steve Pugh. (From Superman: Red and Blue #6 & Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1) 

[planet-gay-comic]

Love in the Changing History of Ancient Rome

The love between a merchant's son and a gardener slave is a striking example of the fluctuating history of homosexuality in the Roman Empire. It stands as a symbol of hope and resistance in the late Roman Republic or early Imperial period. While not necessarily accepted, romantic relationships between men from different social strata were not uncommon. The two men likely had to live their love clandestinely and discreetly.

In the early Roman Republic, homosexuality between men was accepted and even considered normal. Mythology and art depicted relationships between men and gods that celebrated homosexuality. Several Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were associated with homosexuality, such as Eros, the god of love, who was often depicted with a young man.

However, Roman laws became increasingly repressive over time. In the 1st century BC, laws like the Lex Scantinia and the Lex Iulia de Adulteriis prohibited homosexual relationships between free men and between married men or men in domestic partnerships. The Lex Papia Poppaea granted tax benefits to married men and women, which led more people to marry and made homosexuality less acceptable.

The reasons for the tightening of these laws were multifaceted, including the rising influence of Christianity in the centuries after Christ, which viewed homosexuality as a sin. Additionally, homosexuality was believed to undermine the discipline of the Roman army and the traditional family.

Attitudes changed once more in the Late Antiquity. Homosexuality became increasingly accepted in Roman society, particularly due to the growing influence of paganism, which led to greater tolerance of homosexuality.

The polytheistic nature of paganism may have contributed to this reacceptance of homosexuality during a time when Christianity was no longer the dominant religion. In a polytheistic religion, there is no single source of authority that could prohibit homosexuality. Instead, there are many different gods and goddesses associated with various values and beliefs. Additionally, it was a period of change and uncertainty, during which people may have become more open to new ideas and convictions.

Text supported by Chat GPT 3.5 and Bard

These images were generated with StableDiffusion v1.5. Faces recalculated with inpainting.

[momachan]

"Lex freaking Luthor... Inter-planetary villain and cake thief? That Lex Luthor?"

Future State (2021): Superman. "Superman Vs Imperious Lex"

That's canon. 😄

[bnbc]

Character Arc: Isabella von Valancius

tysm for starting this @fuchsiareign, I really want to jump in so I tag myself LET'S GO

and before I dive into WORDS tagging @leadflowers @lylakoi @vitanithepure to talk about their RT's character arcs!

Isabella von Valancius, "I never asked for this" Hero Arc

The Fool >>> The Strength >>> The Hermit

The Fool

A daughter of psyker, born on board the Black Ship, Iza had little chance to keep her life, yet, she was lucky. A group inside Astra Thelepatica needed people with a high chance of psy-manifestation to test and train. Years spent in Scholastia Psykana facilities gave Iza a fair amount of loyalty indoctrination… and a couple of examples of people twisting the letter of Lex Imperialis to better serve its spirit: the start of her personal collection of Iconoclast icons.

After a sanctioning that went wrong and blocked out a major part of her potential, she was trained as a telepath and assigned to Navis Imperialis, where she had her moment of triumph and thus attracted Theodora's attention.

Needless to say, Isabella wasn't ready for the task, and when she had to take responsibility for the dynasty and protectorate, she had only two people to rely on: Abelard and… an image of the only Rogue Trader she knew. And, for a long time, she tried hard to be Theodora v2 in image, in mannerism, and sometimes even in action.

The Strength

For a long time, Iza treated 'Isabella von Valancius' as a construct, she stopped to believe in her titles as soon as Abelard's voice pronounced them dissolved in the air. Yet she was stuck in the role of Rogue Trader and had to play it as well as possible because she was a big fan of living.

But then something happened, and by something I mean "Comorragh". Stripped of all her wealth, influence, and regalia, of her image, of her people, Isabella was left with what she was. And it turned out that a bald psyker who has nothing but the adamantium will and talent for commerce and negotiations is pretty damn good for surviving the horrors of Dark City.

She made it, she saved her people, and she stopped them from killing each other (oh they TRIED). The person who came back from Commorragh knew her worth and her strength. Isabella still respected Theodora but chased her shadow away from her ship. She never asked Abelar to introduce her since then.

The Hermit

The power corrupts, but the power was never something Isabella wanted. All she wanted was peace, and maybe she could have found it as a Rogue Trader, but among other things, she was a psyker.

Her power started to grow after the Night of Change aka the night she became a Rogue Trader. After meeting a certain birdie Isabella reached her predicted potential… but didn't stop there. As not to write an essay: she suffered, and she suffered, and she suffered a lot.

So at some point, she prepared an heir and regents and exiled herself to a small house surrounded by miles and miles of nonhabitant space, and got the biggest luxury an Imperial citizen can ever afford: peace. She left the Expanse as free and unruly as it was before her arrival, but her protectorate was safe, stable, and a better place even for those who were considered second-grade citizens.

Isabella's condition was getting worse, so after about ten years, she decided to end her life.

[comicsclois]

Future State: Superman vs Imperious Lex #3

[rarepears]

Dec 2023 Masterpost

tywin lannister x sung jinwoo

Shen Jiu turns into Shen Yuan’s pet cat when he falls asleep AU

shen yuan’s wifebeam hits the entire imperial city and there are Consequences AU

batman and his hermes collection AU

imagine if SVSSS was set in Game of Thrones Yi TI crossover AU

korean american adoptee sung jinwoo AU

shen yuan enters shen qingqiu's body in a different way AU ft. giving birth

In Jinlan City Luo Binghe makes Shen Yuan half paralyzed and blind so that the two can play househusbands AU

 star wars meets narnia AU

bnha endeavor X Willy Wonka AU

shang qinghua and shen yuan transmigrate as tianlang jun and Si Xiyan AU

Percy Weasley raises tom riddle AU

Sung Jinwoo and Alfred co-parenting bruce wayne AU

Yue Qingyuan turns into capybara because of a curse AU

endeavor and lex luthor thoughts AU

a tom riddle that was raised by shen yuan and luo binghe AU

endeavor's manwhore teenage phase AU

Shen Yuan is born as Tywin Lannister's eldest son AU

sung jinwoo treats couponing as an extreme sport that he places gold in every time AU

bruce wayne adopts all of the baratheon bastard children because why not AU

endeavor and family's forced vacation into star wars AU

AU where SJ is Ning Yingying's biological father

shen yuan enters shen qingqiu's body in a different way AU ft. giving birth

[brother-emperors]

Huh. so i like both crassus and agrippa and i’m thinking there is Something there. do you find any similarities between the two ? love your art + commentary <3

oh man, I sure do!

it's one of those thoughts that I'll have to spend a year untangling because right now I'm thinking about it while I've got Martial Law Architecture Politics on the mind, and I'd have to do more research on Rome as a Physical City and the Politics Of Roman Architecture in the Late Republic and then Early Imperial to really. pin a specific thought down that isn't centered on vibes. but this. oooooh. there is something awful happening here.

Blood in the Arena: The Spectacle of Roman Power, Alison Futrell

the closing line on Crassus here ('whose unusual habits cannot be taken as evidence of regular practice in Rome.') followed immediately by the opening line on Agrippa, which hallmarks the departure from 'unusual habits' + 'architecture profiteering' into institution is. uh. chilling! because while Crassus may (or may not) have 'owned a majority of Rome,' at one point, it's Agrippa who has undertaken a different version of the same concept in a way that gives Marcos Era Architecture Politics.

which is, ofc, not to downplay slavery in the Late Republic, or anything Crassus was up to, but it's the shift in concept and theme from the Late Republic to the active nation building of the Early Imperial era that's very. hm! interesting! horrifying! I will be turning this around in my head for at least a year!

(like, manumission is frequently cited by clowns on twitter as a reason for why Roman Slavery Wasn't So Bad Actually. incorrect! manumission was a tool to encourage people to keep their heads down and stay in line! but. you can see from the Augustan Era changes that even the potential social mobility of slaves + their political weight was a Problem because of the lex Fufia Caninia, etc. Rome is a machine that eats itself.)

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

BY LEX MCMENAMIN

Upon news of Kissinger's death, the internet celebrated possibly more than it did after the last elderly imperial death, but that celebration has been darkened by the basis for it. Joshua Hill posted a video from the 2010s of Kissinger being “unrepentant” about the deaths of Cambodians, where Kissinger’s personally approved carpet-bombing campaign still wounds and takes lives from cluster bombs left there more than 50 years later. (The US provided the same sort of bombs to Ukraine this year.) C-SPAN posted footage from 2016 of Kissinger defending his role in Vietnam. A biting missive from the late Anthony Bourdain — painful enough given that Kissinger got almost twice as long on this Earth than Tony — got posted over and over again.

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

Methredhel: There is a price on your head.

The Gray Fox: How much? 

Methredhel: One hundred septims. 

The Gray Fox: Is that all? I shall have to annoy the good Captain more. Soon it will be a thousand. 

Methredhel, under her breath: For a thousand, I would turn you in myself.

[kaleidoscope1967eyes]

Dark Prince Luke Thoughts™:

Tagging: @stonegoldsxcrxt, @myevilmouse, @spacesurfing, @laserbrains, @ancient-stardust, @hansonveggieclub, @fandom-gal44, @starobi, @dailydragon08, @lex-the-flex, @rogue-kenobi, @princessxkenobi, @demigoddessqueens, @micheleamidalajedi, @lukefics, @xo-yucky-femcel-bunny-xo, @rogue-kenobi

Buckle up, this one's a long one!

Warnings: suggestive stuff at the end, but nothing descriptive

Your wedding was, to put it simply, extravagant. What else would you expect from the literal Crown Prince of the Galactic Empire?

Luke was initially against making the event of your marriage a spectacle for the entire galaxy to see; he would have preferred a small, private ceremony on Naboo with only your loved ones present.

Palpatine, however, had other plans. Not only would your wedding be a way to demonstrate the immense wealth of the Empire, it would also generate immense sympathy and support from the public.

Luke was without a doubt the galaxy's favorite bachelor--closely followed by the suave but scandalous Prince Han of Corellia--as well as the Empire's golden boy. By marrying a beloved member of the notoriously rebellious Alderaanian nobility, Luke would prove the unity of the galaxy under Imperial rule.

You and Luke were essentially engaged before you even had a chance to get to know each other. Palpatine had ordered for every eligible bachelorette from the galaxy's wealthiest and most powerful families to be presented to the young prince so he may choose a bride. Luke did not have a say in this, but he feared what would happen to the poor girls if he refused to take part, so he reluctantly agreed to it.

Choosing you was actually an act of rebellion. As a member of a lesser Alderaanian noble house, you were accompanying Leia as her aide, and neither of you truly wanted to be there. You weren't meant to be an option. When Luke held his hand out to you--not Leia, not any of the other princesses or heiresses, you--the galaxy stopped. This wasn't supposed to happen, but the look in his eyes told you it could.

Just because your marriage was arranged doesn't mean it was a loveless one--in fact, you were the power couple of the Empire. You were attracted to him the moment you first saw him in person, and you quickly fell for each other over the course of your wedding preparations.

Despite his mysterious exterior, he only ever treated you with kindness and respect--he was nothing like the entitled, spoiled prince you envisioned in your mind. You could tell there was light beneath the dark exterior the Empire forced upon him. He simultaneously respected your space while acknowledging your existence in a way that made you feel like you were more than just a 'lesser noblewoman.' And he was so, so, beautiful.

You were so genuine and real with him in a world where most people weren't. You didn't blindly worship or despise him--you treated him like a person, an equal. Because of this, he felt a strong desire to protect and cherish you, and as plans for the wedding were underway, he made sure you were treated like the beautiful, powerful princess you were meant to be.

You shuddered at the thought of just how much your outfit cost. Your hair was done up in elaborate braids decorated with pastel-colored flowers from your home planet. A tiara of pearls and diamonds encircling a corusca gem adorned the top of your head, and from it extended a veil of intricately woven Alderaanian lace. The dress itself was crafted from the galaxy's finest shimmershilk and embroidered with glimmering, crystal-encrusted designs. It hugged your figure beautifully, the skirt trailing elegantly behind you as you walked down the aisle.

Luke's outfit was equally as stunning: he wore a sleek black military uniform decorated with a crimson sash and various medals signifying his rank. A cape of cyrene silk draped across his shoulders, a reference to his Naboo heritage. As a final touch, a silver crown resembling rays of sunlight sat upon his head, reinforcing his almost deified status in the galaxy.

After over a year of planning, the time came for your wedding. It was the event of the century--every holonews station held countdowns to the day it would be broadcasted live. It felt like the entire galaxy was on the edge of its seat in anticipation.

The ceremony took place in the Senate Plaza as opposed to the Imperial Palace, as your marriage symbolized the unity of all nations, cultures, and planets under the influence of the Empire--even the rebellious ones.

Hundreds of thousands--if not millions--of spectators surrounded the venue, desperate to get even a glimpse of the royal couple. Security was tight due to fears of potential rebel interference. While there were handfuls of protestors in the crowd, nothing escalated beyond shouts of 'death to the Empire!'

As there had never been a royal wedding quite like yours in the recent history of the galaxy, there was no real precedent for how things were supposed to be, so the traditions you followed were amalgamations of ones from various cultures.

The two of you walked hand-in-hand down the aisle, followed by a procession of your family members and close friends: the Naberrie family behind Luke, and the Organa family behind you. Also present were Ahkelar and Arakhmil, his bodyguards; Sabé, his childhood governess; and Mon Mothma, your political mentor. The presence of your loved ones symbolized how your marriage would unite your two families--more importantly, assimilating them into the Imperial Family.

The premier Coruscanti philharmonic orchestra played a fusion of traditional Alderaanian and Naboo folk music as you made your way down the aisle, and onlookers cheered as they waved Imperial flags and showered you with flower petals.

When you reached the altar in front of the Senate Building, your entourage stopped to kneel behind you, and you and Luke turned to face each other, hands intertwined. The love in his eyes and gentle smile he gave you made your heart weep. Whatever your future as an Imperial Princess had in store, you would always find solace and comfort in him.

The officiant of the wedding ceremony was none other than the Emperor himself. You did your best to maintain your composure; his presence was absolutely sickening. Adjacent to him stood Darth Vader, the human incarnation of a shadow, if he truly even is human. Thankfully, you had your soon-to-be husband there to keep you focused and calm.

Palpatine began with a speech about the glory and righteousness of the Empire, how it brought together two people destined to rule the galaxy with the strength and power of their love. In typical Palpatine fashion, it was moving and captivating on the surface, but it was little more than thinly-veiled propaganda. His declarations of peace were merely metaphors for submission. The most obvious was how he spoke of a bride's devotion and duty to her husband, how she must remain obedient to him--a subtle but direct threat to the Alderaanians viewing the ceremony.

"Do you, Lady Y/N of Alderaan, pledge your life to Prince Luke of the Galactic Empire and take him to be your husband?"

"...I do."

"And do you, Prince Luke, Heir to House Palpatine and Crown Prince of the Galactic Empire, take Lady Y/N of Alderaan to be your bride?"

"I do."

Darth Vader stepped forward, presenting the rings that would cement your status within the Empire--by putting them on, you would exchange your freedom for limitless power. The rings had matching flamegems, glowing and pulsing with the heat of a miniature star. Taking your hand in his, Luke slipped the ring onto your finger, and you followed suite for him.

"May the two of you remain forever faithful to one another, and may you uphold the legacy of the Imperial Family with your benevolent leadership and a surfeit of children. With the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife, Prince and Princess Consort of the Galactic Empire."

Luke placed his hands on the side of your face, whispering 'I love you' and kissing you deeply. The crowed cheered even louder than they had before as you and Luke embraced each other.

The wedding ceremony was followed by an even more extravagant reception within the Senate Building. You and your new husband had changed into attire more suitable for engaging in the festivities: you wore a sultry evening gown with a plunging neckline and striking slit along the side, and Luke wore elegant, loose robes showing off his toned physique. It was near impossible for anyone to keep their eyes off you; you were without a doubt the most attractive couple the galaxy had ever known.

The party was filled with lively music, dancing, exquisite food and drink, and plenty of company. Prince Han was causing quite the riot. The two of you spent time socializing with your friends and families, but you also had many, many guests to greet and thank for attending. You met with dignitary after dignitary, spending more time making small talk with strangers than you did partying. In a rare instance of kindness, Vader insisted on taking over to let you enjoy the moment. The greetings stopped shortly after.

In spite of how reserved he usually was, Luke absolutely adored getting to show you off on the dance floor. You were his gorgeous bride, his beloved princess, his first and his only love--the one person he never had to worry about losing. The smile on your face and the sound of your laughter as he waltzed with you was enough to keep him happy for the rest of his life.

Representatives of every star system were responsible for presenting the royal couple with a wedding gift unique to the resources and cultures of their planets. Naboo had gifted a Guarlara mare and stallion named Veré and Set, whose names were taken from a famous folktale about eternal lovers. Aside from being exclusive symbols of nobility, Guarlaras mated for life and therefore represented true love; as you and Luke were avid lovers of animals, you were elated to receive such beautiful creatures.

Your adoptive aunt and uncle, Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail of Alderaan, presented you with a pair of droids who had served Padmé Amidala during the Clone Wars: R2-D2, an astromech droid, and C-3PO, a protocol droid. "They will serve you well on your new adventures as a married couple," Princess Leia told you. You understood what she meant--the droids were specially modified for untraceable, clandestine communication.

Much to your horror, Orn Free Taa of Ryloth presented you with an enslaved lethan twi'lek woman in what was to be the scandal of the century. You had no choice but to accept; not only would rejecting her create a rift between the economically important planet of Ryloth and the Empire, but it would have her thrown back into the treacherous slavery underworld. Luke ensured you and the woman, whose name was Yuna Dawani, that he would arrange to have her become a free and fully paid employee of the royal household.

The festivities lasted deep into the night, and by the end of it all, you were exhausted. However, that didn't stop you from enjoying your wedding night--as soon as you returned to your shared chambers, you relished in spending the rest of the night in each other's arms, passionately making love to one another.

[photogirl894]

"Sun and Rain Part 2: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 21

"Discomfort and Doubt"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: Holy crap, why did this take me so long?? 😫

I do apologize for being away from this story for a bit! Things got crazy at the end of the school year, then I started summer break and I've been a little busy since the start of that, as well. Plus, I've had a bit of writer's block in the middle of that, so that didn't help either 😒

Well, we're back with our favorite Clones and things are ramping up for the Imperial gala, which we'll be getting to next time! This is a long one to make up for the wait, so I hope y'all enjoy!! 💜

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @cole-kenxbi , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx , @idoubleswearimawriter , @techs-stitches , @fantasyproductions

《 Chapter 20

》 Chapter 22

All chapters (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: Emotions are running high for many as the Bad Batch and Koriena Force make final preparations for the upcoming Imperial masquerade gala.

In a dark hallway, Rina was running from a pursuer who had ill intentions. They called out for her and carried with them a container filled with chemicals they wanted to use on her, which was never going to happen. They had sent two others after her, who were chasing her even faster. She ran as fast as she could. There was no way they were going to use those chemicals on her. It was dangerous and there was no telling what it would do to her. Her heart was pounding as she kept going and ducked into another room. She had to get away.

"It's no use, Rina! You know you can't hide from us!" one of the people chasing her cried out.

"I can and I will," she muttered to herself as she slammed her hand on the door console and made it close, locking it afterwards.

She slowly backed away from the door, still in a defensive stance in case they managed to come through. She figured they wouldn’t blast through the door; that would be too much of a hassle for them. She heard them come up to the door, there were beeps from the console followed by them frustratedly realizing that the door was locked. They spoke in hushed tones, quiet enough that Rina couldn't make out what was being said. Then she heard a whirring sound, a click and then a beep from the door console, the red light on it switching to green. She cursed to herself. They'd gotten the hacker to override the door. She should've known…and now, it looked like that maybe she would have to fight her way out.

The door slid open and the two chasers who'd been after her suddenly leapt into the room and they each grabbed her by an arm, quicker than she'd anticipated.

"Let me go!" Rina shouted.

"Stop fighting," one of them said as Rina struggled against their grip.

The third person walked in, the bottle with the chemical concoction in their hands at the ready. Rina's heart rate spiked at seeing it and the person drawing nearer. She fought harder against those holding onto her, but they weren't letting up. How she wanted to scream for help. Specifically, for Wrecker. If he were there, he could take care of them with no problem. To her dismay, he wasn't there. He and the boys were off on yet another mission. She was left to her own devices, but, as the person with the chemicals drew nearer, it looked like she wasn't going to get out of this one.

With an angry grunt, she yelled at the person as they approached, "I'll die before I let you use that on me!"

"...oh, will you get a grip, Rina? You'll get your color back, but this needs to be done!"

In the refresher room of the Aurora, Kida stood before Rina, rolling her eyes at her friend and unamused at the fact she had to sic Kimber and Lex on Rina to stop her from running. In her hand, Kida clutched a bottle of color stripping solution that she intended to use on Rina’s hair…and Rina was being less than cooperative.

“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Lex warned Rina, who was still struggling against her and Kimber’s grip.

Just then, Irys walked into the room, holding a datapad. “I see you managed to capture our little fugitive,” she commented.

“Oh, bite me, Irys,” Rina replied flatly.

“Look, even though we stole his invitation, the doctor from Balmorra could very well find another way to get into the gala,” said Kimber. “He saw you and would recognize you immediately, even with a mask on.”

“Your hair is a dead giveaway, so we have to get rid of the color,” Kida added.

With a frustrated growl, Rina shot back, “Well, he saw Boss Lady, too! Why aren’t you coming for her hair and stripping it?”

Giving the solution bottle a shake, Kida told her, “Kimber’s hair color is much more common, which means she’ll still blend in just fine.”

Rina let her head fall forward and heaved a loud, heavy and exasperated sigh. “I must be out of my mind,” she muttered under breath. Then she lifted her head up and said reluctantly, "Fine, do what you gotta do…but I’m dyeing my hair again after the gala."

“You’re going to be fine. It’s not the end of the world,” said Irys.

Rina just mumbled in response.

Loosening her hold on her friend, Kimber looked to the other ladies and asked, “Is it that bad?”

Lex answered her, “Rina isn’t a fan of her natural hair color. She thinks it doesn’t suit her.”

Getting more uncomfortable with the whole situation, Rina just waved her hands around and blurted out, “Can we just get this over with before I become sane again?”

Kimber gave her a reassuring pat on the back and then said to Kida, “We leave her in your capable hands, Kida, and if Kori wakes up, we’ll watch him until you’re done.”

“You ladies are lifesavers,” Kida commented as she started unscrewing the cap to the bottle.

While Lex and Irys left the room, Kimber stole one more look at Rina and noticed how uncomfortable she appeared. She really did not want to do this to her hair. The unique coloring of her hair was a huge part of her personality and in doing this, it was almost taking that away from her, even though she knew she could easily dye it again later. Kimber felt she needed something to help her through this, so she told Kida to hold off on starting for just a minute and took off from the room. She made her way to Rina’s room on the ship and grabbed something she knew would offer Rina some comfort. Once the object was acquired, she ran back to the refresher.

“Rina…I think you need this,” she said to her friend, holding out the black and blue sweetblossom-laced tooka doll named Kicker that belonged to Rina, having been given to her from her sweetheart, Wrecker, months prior.

Seeing one of her favorite possessions, Rina’s unhappy scowl softened, touched at the fact Kimber had thought to bring that for her. She reached out and took the doll, running her thumbs over the fuzzy fabric. Then she brought it up to her face and deeply inhaled the sweet aroma of the sweetblossom inside that almost right away began to calm her nerves.

“You know me so well, Kimber,” she stated, her tone now more pleasant and at ease.

“That, I do,” Kimber answered as she flashed her a smile and then exited the room.

As she made her way down the hall, her comm device chirped and she heard the voice of her beloved speak through it, “Kimber, we’ve got the gear and supplies from Cid ready. Where are you and the girls?”

“We’re all on the Aurora,” she answered him.

“We’ll make our way there,” he said.

She grinned to herself. “I’m counting down the seconds until I see you.”

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to say?”

She snickered, knowing he’d pick up that she’d referenced words he’d said to her before. “Well, maybe I wanted to say it this time, my love,” she replied. “I’ll see you soon.”

She pocketed her comm device and remained standing in the hall for a brief moment, taking in the fact that she was now alone. The boys were on their way, Kida was with Rina and then Lex and Irys were off elsewhere in the ship. Being alone made her thoughts begin to wander and a familiar temptation rose up within her; one she still wasn’t sure why she continued giving in to. Nothing had come from it, which she knew from the beginning would be the result anyway. But she couldn’t shake the feelings she was having, so she decided to duck into Rina’s room, which she knew was unoccupied. Then she took out the encrypted holopad she kept with her now instead of in her pack. Her head fell back against the door for a moment after the door closed.

"I can't believe I'm doing this again," she whispered aloud as she went over and sat down in a chair in Rina's room.

She took a deep breath and activated the device to record her message. Then she spoke, her voice low, "Hey, Crosshair…it’s me again. I really don't know why I keep doing this. My other transmissions haven't resulted in anything from you, which I knew would be the case anyway. I'm sure you probably don't care to hear from me. I mean…why would you? You most likely see me as a traitor…but I promise you, I want nothing but the best for you. That's all I've ever wanted." Her throat tightened and she could feel the tears coming to her eyes, so she rapidly blinked to keep them from falling. "When will this end, Crosshair? When will you open your eyes and come home? I don't know what the Empire did to you to make you turn against us…but if I had known this was what would've happened, then I…I would've accepted Tarkin's offer to join the Imperial army."

Her attempt to keep from getting emotional failed and the tears fell down her cheeks. Through her quiet crying, she continued, "He had threatened to kill all of you if I refused, but I knew if he did, then at least we would all die together. But this…having you apart from us, resenting us and having tried to kill us…this is a fate worse than death to me. If I had known this was what would happen; if I could do it over again, then I would've taken Tarkin's offer to save you, Crosshair. Then, at least, you'd be safe and still with your brothers." She brushed her tears away, taking a deep breath. "I don't know if anything I say has any effect on you at all, but I need you to know that these are the things that are on my mind every moment we're apart. Not a day goes by where I don't think of you and miss you so much, it nearly kills me." She paused again for a moment, wanting to say a thousand more things and ask a hundred questions, but she knew there would be no point to it. Instead, she said in conclusion, "Know this, Crosshair: no matter where you go, no matter what you do…you'll always be my brother and I'll still love you. That'll never change…goodbye."

With that being said, Kimber ended the transmission and it sent. Most likely never to be watched, but she didn't care at this point. This was the only way she was able to cope with Crosshair’s absence and betrayal. It probably wasn't the smartest idea, but she felt she wasn't able to really talk about it with the Clones, so it was the best she had.

She put the holopad in her pocket and sat there for a minute, mulling over everything she'd said. Shortly after that, she heard baby cries coming over the ship's sound system, which meant Kori was now awake. Guess it was time to take care of the baby like she'd promised Kida. Carefully, she snuck out of Rina's room and made her way to Kida and Kori's room.

Though, as she walked inside the room, she found Irys already there, rocking the baby up and down in her arms.

"Oh! I heard him crying and thought I’d come check on the baby. I didn’t know you were already here," Kimber stated as Irys watched her walk in.

"Yeah, I happened to be close by," said Irys, continuing to rock Kori, who was starting to calm down.

Kimber just gave her a nod and moved to leave the room.

"I know what you were doing, Kimber."

She halted in front of the door. "What?" she asked.

With unwavering eye contact, Irys stated, "I know you were sending a message to Crosshair."

Kimber was shocked. How did Irys know? "I..I wasn’t--" she tried lying.

"You don’t need to lie to me," Irys interrupted her. "I walked by Rina’s room and overheard some of the things you were saying. It didn’t take me long to figure out what you were doing."

Hearing that, Kimber knew she couldn't talk her way out of it. Irys has figured her out. Instead, she sighed and explained, "I didn’t tell him where we are or anything. Plus, I’ve been using the encrypted holopad that Rina gave me a long time ago, so he can’t trace the transmission."

Irys's head whipped back to face her, her eyes widening slightly. "You’ve been using it? You mean you’ve done this more than once?"

Kimber rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "Twice, actually," she admitted.

Then it was Irys's turn to sigh with exasperation. Setting Kori, who was now calm, back into his bassinet, she said to Kimber, "I don’t think it’s wise of you to be doing that."

"I know," said Kimber, hanging her head briefly. Then she lifted her eyes again. "It’s just…he’s like my brother. I love him and I miss him so much."

"I understand," said Irys, coming around the pram to stand in front of Kimber. "I’m not surprised that, despite what he’s done, you miss him and you’re trying to still reach out to him." She laid a hand on Kimber's arm. "You’re a good person, Kimber, with a very kind heart. Your compassion and trust is something few in this galaxy deserve yet you offer it freely to just about everyone you meet. You trusted us, a group of women with questionable and shady backgrounds, and now look at us…you helped us change for the better. With the way you talked about your boys when we first met, it doesn’t surprise me that Crosshair’s betrayal has affected you so much and you’re still holding onto the hope that you can get him back."

Kimber tried to muster a small smile in acknowledgement of Irys's reassuring words, but failed to keep it and she hung her head again in sorrow.

Removing her hand, Irys went on to say, "Though, I wouldn’t let that hope cloud your judgment. The reality of it is: Crosshair made his choice and it’s likely that continuing to pull on the thread that you can get him back will end in disastrous results. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will," said Kimber. Then she placed a hand on Irys's shoulder. "Please don’t tell any of the lads about this. I don’t know how they’ll react, especially Hunter. I know we promised to not have secrets between us, but…he doesn’t ever want to talk about Crosshair and I know it’s because he’s hurt just as badly as I am. I’m just handling it differently than him."

Irys bowed her head. "I won’t say a word. I still would advise you not to keep this from Hunter or your squad for long, but your secret is safe with me." Then her face fell a little and her tone turned solemn. "You’re not the only one who has to mask their real feelings around those they care about."

Kimber's hand fell away and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What did Irys mean by that? "What do you mean? What do you have to hide?" she asked.

For once, Kimber saw Irys appear hesitant and Irys turned her gaze away and replied, "I may be highly intelligent…but let’s just say that my heart doesn’t always act in accordance with my brain."

"I’m not sure I understand," said Kimber.

The Togruta woman closed her eyes and her head hung just a little more. "Meaning I care for someone against my better judgment...someone whom I know already cares for another."

Kimber found herself a bit stunned at this revelation. She'd never thought Irys had feelings for anyone since she'd never said anything. Kimber was about to ask who it was, but then Irys looked up at her with sorrow in her eyes Kimber had never seen from her and an almost knowing look. Something about the look she was being given gave Kimber the impression that she knew who it was Irys was referring to. She began to reflect on those in their group. It couldn't be any of the Bad Batch. Irys had never really showed romantic interest in any of them; the only one she interacted with the most was Tech, but he didn't have feelings for someone else like Irys said, so it couldn't be him. That left the Koriena Force. Well, all of them all had feelings for someone else, so that didn't seem to help. Kimber began to think of those in the squad that Irys seemed to interact with the most; the ones Irys seemed to have a closer relationship with...and then it became clear to her, realizing there was only one Irys seemed to show the greatest care for.

"Lex," she said aloud.

Irys got the tiniest sad smile on her face as she simply responded, "Yes…Lex." Then the smile disappeared and she hugged her arms across her chest. "I can’t let my true feelings be known, not when I know she’d never reciprocate them." When she looked back at Kimber and saw the sympathy in her eyes, Irys waved a dismissive hand and, going back to her normal demeanor, told her, "There’s no need to pity me. I accepted this a long time ago. She and I are still close friends and that’s all that matters to me."

The words Kimber was hearing from Irys were beginning to sound all too familiar…as she herself had once heard such words from another Clone Lieutenant some months before. Her heart began to ache and she put a hand over her chest.

"Do the other girls know?" she asked.

Irys shook her head. "No. I've carried this secret alone for a while." She sighed quietly and then went on, "That’s why I’ve pushed so hard for her to embrace her feelings for Echo. He’s a good man and I know he’s someone that can restore her faith in love, if he feels the same. I know he can make her happy and that’s what I want most for her is just for her to be happy. I can’t do that for her, not in the way she needs. What she needs from me is my friendship and I’ll gladly give her that for the rest of our lives."

Finally, Kimber couldn't hold back anymore and she threw her arms around Irys, hugging her tightly, which slightly startled Irys. "I’m sorry, Irys…," Kimber said, "...but it’s sweet of you to support her feelings for Echo. You really love her that much, don’t you?"

She felt Irys's arms slowly come up and hug her back and then Irys answered, her voice catching just a little, "I do."

Kimber's arms tightened to try and comfort her friend. "To care that deeply for someone enough to let them go and find happiness with another is incredibly selfless. I admire that about you," she reassured her.

Her mind once again wandered back to Jesse, now seemingly understanding what he went through with her. It seemed easier to sympathize when it was someone else involved instead of herself and not feeling that guilt of having to reject the other. Both Jesse and Irys were in love with people who would never return their feelings, but they were strong enough to accept that and even encourage those they loved to be happy with others. That level of noble loyalty and devotion to someone, despite the pain of unrequited feelings, was unlike anything she could ever imagine.

Kimber pulled back and placed her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Will you be okay?"

With an assuring nod, Irys told her, "Yeah. Don’t fret over me."

Just then, Kimber's comm beeped again and they both heard Echo's voice speak, "Look alive, Kim. We're approaching the Aurora."

"I'll let the ramp down for you guys," she replied. She gave Irys a nod and then left the room.

"Is all of the Koriena Force present?" then came Tech's voice. "We shall need to continue planning for the upcoming gala."

Kimber said into the commlink, "They're here, yes, but Kida is currently putting Rina through torture, so we might need to wait a bit."

"Why is Kida torturing Rina?" she heard Wrecker asked worriedly.

She chuckled. "Not literally, Wrecker. She's fine. Kida's just having Rina do something she finds unpleasant, but it's necessary. You'll see when you get here."

Then a smile crossed her face as Hunter's voice responded, "Be there soon, sweetheart."

About an hour passed before Kida emerged into the back room of the ship and declared with a flourish of her arms to the Koriena Force and the Bad Batch, who had since arrived, "My work is now complete."

Rina came out from behind her looking the most uncomfortable anyone had ever seen her, her cheeks bright red and her attention directed at the floor. The purple in her hair was gone and it was now a darker blonde color.

"Wow…so this is your natural look, huh?" asked Lex, who was lounging on the sofa next to Echo.

"I don't believe we've ever seen it," Irys commented to Lex.

"Shut up…," Rina mumbled.

Wrecker made his way over to her and Rina immediately wanted to curl up and roll away like a Droideka. Not Wrecker, she was already so embarrassed. She hated her natural hair color and now he had to see it.

He leaned from side to side to get a good overall look at her hair and then asked, "Rina, why do you look like that?"

Unsure of what exactly he meant, she asked, "My hair or my face?"

"That look on your face," he answered.

"I hate my hair…," she grumbled.

"Why? I think you still look amazing!" he cried out with a huge smile on his face.

Then Kimber spoke up from behind him, "Yeah, I think your natural color still suits you."

"Even I concur with that assessment," added Tech.

Omega ran up next to Wrecker and said with a heartwarming smile, "I think you look cute!"

"You look great, Rina. Don't worry so much," said Lex.

Kida smirked at Rina and just said, "See? I told you."

Rina blushed again at the support she was getting not only from her now sweetheart, but her friends, as well. She had also seen approving nods from Hunter, Echo and Irys, too. "Thanks, guys," she shyly replied to them.

"Now that that's taken care of, let's get to work and finalize our gala plan," stated Hunter. "What do we already know so far?"

Tech spoke up first, "The details from the gala invitation were that it is being hosted by Senator Gume Saam, the representative of the Techno Union in the Galactic Senate, on his home planet of Tibrin. Cid informed us that it's going to be a front for Imperial negotiations regarding the assets of the collapsed Trade Federation and Techno Union. Our objective is to gather as much intel from the gala as possible."

Raising her hand in the air, Kida said, "I already have half our outfits done."

"Already? It's only been a week," said Hunter.

She just smirked again and replied, "Yeah...I'm just that good, Hunter darling."

He simply gave her an impressed look.

"The first thing we need to determine is how we're getting in," stated Rina, folding her arms across her chest as she and Wrecker came over to join the others. Then she turned to Tech and asked him, "Hey genius, you duplicated those invitations yet?"

Straightening his goggles, Tech answered, "Indeed. There are now seven invitations in our possession."

"Though, even if we have invitations, that might not be enough," said Lex. "We gotta have a reason to have them and, if we're not any sort of Imperial higher-ups or emissaries of the Trade Federation, it could arouse suspicion."

"I agree," added Echo, bringing a hand up to his chin in contemplation. "If we're going in undercover, we need a good enough motive to be there."

"I don't think it'll work pretending to be certain Imperial personnel, not with a team of our size," Irys put in.

Omega stepped up. "What about the entertainment? All parties need music or something to distract the guests."

Wrecker said in reply, "None of us play any instruments."

With a bob of his head, Hunter stated, "Well, actually…Kimber does sing."

Kimber's eyebrows shot up at him making that revelation and all eyes were suddenly on her.

"You can sing?" asked Echo.

It hadn't even occurred to Kimber that Hunter was the only one who knew that about her. She had sung at a bar on Kuat when she and Hunter stayed at an inn some time ago, but after that, she'd never had any occasion to sing around the others.

"I can, yes," she answered timidly.

Pointing at her, Rina cried out, "That's it! Cid can contact an informant and get Kimber lined up as one of the entertainers and the rest of us can be her entourage."

Hunter turned to Kimber and asked, his tone calm and soft, "Do you agree to this, Kimber?" There was also a subtle apologetic look in his eyes as if trying to imply he was sorry for even bringing up her talent in the first place.

While she desperately wanted to say "no", it was seemingly the only good enough choice they had that would work. With a heavy sigh, she said back to him, "Yes, I'll do it."

He gave her a small, reassuring smile in return.

"You said there were seven invitations?" inquired Kida.

Tech said to her, "That is correct. Irys, Omega and I will remain on the Aurora to assist with the mission as well as to monitor your child, which leaves you, Hunter, Kimber, Echo, Lex, Rina and Wrecker."

While tapping her chin in thought, Irys suggested, "Kimber will have to be on her own if she's going to be singing, but it may be prudent to split everyone else into teams. That way, we can cover more ground and therefore, possibly gain more information."

Rina looked up over her shoulder and inquired, "What do you say, big guy? You and me wanna be backup in case things go south?"

With a giddy smile, Wrecker pumped his fist and proudly answered, "Oh yeah!"

Echo then said, "I can sneak off eventually and find an access terminal to the Senator's primary computer. I'm sure he's bound to have loads of information I can gather."

"Lex can go with you and watch your back," said Irys.

Lex's eyes widened. "Wait, what?" she questioned. "I--I don't think…."

"I'm okay with that," said Echo. He looked at her and a pleased grin crossed his face.

Seeing his smile made her feel warm inside, but at the same time, she wanted to turn away, which she did. A week prior, she had finally realized for herself that she had fallen for Echo and that whole notion scared her. Ever since her unfortunate fallout with Dune and his betrayal long ago, she was terrified of opening her heart to another man, even one as kind and wonderful as Echo. Since the night she'd gone to him in the medical room, she'd ended up only avoiding him when she could, even though it pained her to do so. Irys suggesting she go with Echo on the mission was going to make that difficult.

Her reaction did not go unnoticed by him.

After hearing Irys's suggestion, Kida leaned into Hunter's arm and said in a flirtatious yet teasing tone, "That just leaves you and me, handsome. We can scope out the crowd together."

Hunter simply grinned back in amusement. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

"You just want an excuse to flirt with all the Imps," said Rina.

Kida replied nonchalantly, "Maybe…but if you seduce a man the right way, you can get him to spill all his secrets. It's an effective method."

"All right, looks like we've got our plan," said Hunter to everyone. "Tech, Irys and Omega will stay aboard the Aurora to monitor the mission and assist when needed. Kimber is our ticket in as part of the gala's entertainment. The rest of us will go in under the guise as her attendants. Once we're in, Kida and I will mingle through the crowd and keep our ears open for any useful intel. Rina and Wrecker will do the same and serve as backup for Kimber if things go wrong. Echo and Lex will stealth out and find the Senator's primary computer and gather as much information from there as they can. Is that understood?"

"You got it, boss," answered Wrecker.

"Hear you loud and clear, Sarge," added Rina.

Then Tech said, "Now that our plan is finalized, might I suggest we sort through the gear and supplies we acquired from Cid?"

"Good idea, Tech," said Omega with her usual big smile.

"I don't know why you are so eager. You're not going to need any of the supplies," he replied to her.

"I know. Doesn't mean I still can't be excited," she said back.

Hunter grinned at Omega's enthusiasm and then declared, "Let's go then."

He led the way and everyone moved to follow him. However, as Lex got up to move, Echo spoke her name and she halted in her tracks. Why did she have a feeling this was going to happen?

When he approached, he asked, "Have I...done something wrong?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

He went on to say, "Ever since the night you came to me in the med room, it seems like you've been avoiding me. Then just now when Irys suggested you go with me on the mission, you looked uncomfortable. Did I overstep that night or have I offended you?"

She should've known he would notice her behavior, but she couldn't allow him to think it was anything on his part. Shaking her head, she told him, "Echo, it isn't you. It could never be you." When he looked surprised, she said, "The problem is me…and I just can't talk about it right now." Without another word, she quickly left the room and followed after the others.

Echo opened his mouth to call after her, but then decided against it and let out a quiet sigh. He didn't understand what was wrong. Everything had seemed fine that night in the medical room when she'd opened up to him...it had all felt right. Now, she was shutting him out. He wanted to know why, but he also knew it would do no good to push her. He would respect her privacy for now, but soon, he would do his best to get answers from her.

Around a corner ahead, Irys had stayed behind and overheard everything. Lex had run past her and didn't even notice she was there.

"Lex…you hard-headed idiot…," she thought to herself, shaking her head in frustration.

The road those two were on was going to be a long one.

Kimber sat on the bed in her and Hunter's bunk, now just in her blacks, attempting to rebraid her hair as she waited for Hunter. They all had gotten the supplies and gear ready to go for the gala in the coming week and Cid, in remarkably quick time, was able to secure her a spot in the gala's entertainment lineup under the pseudonym Kahna Sora…and that was what was making her anxious.

She knew it was the best option for the mission in order for them all to successfully get into the gala, but…why did it have to be her? Why did she even agree to it? Would she even be able to do what was needed of her? She couldn't understand where all this self-doubt was coming from, but she couldn't shake it. Her fingers fumbled clumsily with her hair, which messed up her braid and she groaned in irritation, pulling it all apart again.

"My love?"

A familiar voice she loved brought her back to reality and she found Hunter sitting beside her on the edge of the bed, now also in just his blacks and looking her over with concern.

"What's on your mind?" he asked her, laying his hand on the small of her back. "I can tell something's bothering you."

"My role for the mission…I don't think I can do it," she admitted.

Taken aback, he inquired, "Why not? You've sung in public before. This won't be any different."

Turning to him, she responded, her voice rising slightly, "I did that willingly and this time, I'm singing in front of a bunch of Imperials. I'm there to amuse people who are wreaking chaos across the galaxy and who knows how many atrocities all of them as a collective have committed. Not only that, I'm doing it alone!"

Clearly hearing her frustration as well as sensing it, he assured her, "You may be by yourself on a stage, but sweetheart, you know you won't be alone. Rina and Wrecker will be there and same with Kida and I. You know we won't let anything happen to you."

"It just…feels so wrong," she said, hanging her head.

He brought her closer and rested his head against hers. "I know it does, but everyone believes in you. You're strong and capable; you've done undercover missions before, which is how I know you'll get through it again. We all have your back and if it'll ease your worries, we can have Kida add more armor and weapons to your dress to ensure you'll be protected."

Kimber rotated her head and nestled into his neck, inching closer against him for comfort. "Please don't go far from me, Hunter," she pleaded with him. "If somehow things go wrong, I need to know you'll be there."

Gently, he urged her back and lifted his head so he could look at her and he told her to turn around. She turned her back to him and he pulled all her long hair into his hands and began carefully braiding her hair, having noticed her distracted attempts at trying to do it herself moments before.

As he weaved the locks of her hair between his fingers, he told her calmly, "Kimber, you know I'll come running to your side immediately…but you also don't need me to." He saw her turn her head to try and debate what he said, but he stopped her by saying, still in a patient tone as he continued braiding her hair, "Just listen to me. You are a soldier; skilled, brave, resourceful and smart. It's okay to be nervous, but you've done this before. Your first undercover mission, you met Wat Tambor, a Separatist leader, and still stood your ground and even pulled a blaster on him without any fear."

"That was a stupid move on my part," she stated.

"But it was still a move that not only proved your loyalty to Echo, but that you were truly a soldier who belonged with us," he said back. "You are fully capable of handling things on your own and you fought to make me see that a long time ago. I'm not about to forgo that now." He tied the end of her braid and pulled lightly on her shoulder, making her turn to face him as he then took her hands in his. "If things go wrong, I will still fight everyone at that gala to make it to your side and I'll protect you with everything I've got...but you don't need me. Should the mission go south, I know you'll be able to take care of yourself. You and I both know it took me a while to bring myself to trust that because all I could think about was keeping you safe."

She very lightly scoffed and nodded. "Yeah, it sure did," she commented.

"I don't need to worry about that anymore," he told her. "The many missions we've been on together as well as seeing you lead the Koriena Force have fueled the trust I have in you to do things on your own without me having to be there. I know you'll be okay. You'll enchant those Imperials with your voice the same way you did with me and keep them distracted enough for us to complete the mission. You can do this. I believe in you and I need you to believe in yourself. Got it?"

Kimber smiled gratefully at Hunter, overwhelmed with love and touched at all the words of affirmation he had just given her. It still amazed her how much he had grown since their relationship first started; from hardly ever considering putting her in any danger to now completely trusting her to hold her own in a dangerous situation. He always knew the right things to say to help calm her down and quell her fears.

With a small nod of her head, she replied, "I will, Sergeant."

Pleased, he grinned and bowed his head.

"Thank you," she said.

"Of course. I love you and I'll always be here for you," he said back.

She laid her head on his shoulder again and said as she felt his lips touch the top of her head, "I love you, too."

Then he shifted backward towards the head of the bed, laid down on his back and then held out an arm to her. "Come here," he invited her.

Promptly, she accepted and laid down beside him, laying her head on his chest as his arm came around her, pulling her closer. His hand came up and held hers that was resting on his chest, as well.

"Forget your doubts, Kimber," he said softly. "You don't need to be afraid. I'm here…and I always will be." Then he placed a kiss on her brow.

Kimber lifted her head and lovingly kissed Hunter's lips before laying back down, now feeling content and protected in the safest place she knew: in the arms of her Hunter.

[bluewren]

OC Kiss Week: Rain

Lex is my OC, Eilan belongs to the lovely @delicatefade. We have each other's OCs living in our heads now.

Fandom: Dragon Age

Some context: This is in an AU where Lex is a member of the Chargers. Taking place sometime after they started dating and at Skyhold together.

wc: 612

~

The desert sun has been beaming down on Lex and Eilan for several hours. It feels like they passed the same dried up birch tree several times on their way back to Griffin’s Keep. They passed the same crumbled bridge that once supported the Imperial Highway. It could have cut their travel time by half if they had lived in an earlier age. This section of the massive land bridge has since dropped into the valley, and the couple has to walk around it. At least the rotting bronto husk doesn’t look familiar, the heat hasn’t taken all of Lex’s wits away from him. It feels like they’ve been walking all afternoon. He’s delighted that the map is telling him that Griffin’s Keep is along this path. They should be catching sight of shelter by the evening and be there to partake in the driest supper imaginable. Food variety is limited in the Western Approach.

"Hm, why is it that whenever you tell me about your adventures it's always slaying demons and dragons, and yet when I come along it's delivering parcels," Eilan asks. "Oh yea?” Lex chuckles. ”You want to fight a dragon?”  “Maybe.” She smiles with a playful list towards one side.  "You're not getting anywhere near a dragon, miss never-even-thrown-a-punch."  They continue walking, unfortunately their canteens are now completely emptied, with no spring in sight, and some distance to cover.  Eilan is the first to be fatigued. "Come on. Let me carry you." Lex holds his hand, palms up for her to rest on.  “I’ll be fine,” Eilan insists, splaying out her hand. “You’re not much trouble to carry.” “Lex, you can be stranded if you wear yourself out.” Eilan slows to a stop and gasps for breath, one hand on her hip to support herself. “I just need to rest for a moment.” “Alright." Lex looks around for shade but finds none. "We'll get cooked if we rest here. Let's find a better spot." Lex feels a droplet of rain hit his shoulder. The sky suddenly turns gray. It feels like one of the few times today that whatever god causes things to happen in this world is finally being merciful. Lex laughs. He opens his arms wide to catch as many droplets falling from the sky as possible. It undoes his hair, drenches his clothes, weighs on his legs, but now he feels giddy and rejuvenated from being caught in the rain. "No time to argue." Lex swoops Eilan off her feet.  Eilan yelps when her feet leave the ground. Lex carries her in his two arms and dashes. The world turns into a blur. The only thing that he can discern clearly is the sound of Eilan’s voice. Lex can feel Eilan’s arms tightly wrapped around his neck, feeling like she’s scared of falling if she lets go. Luckily the ground is mostly flat, there’s little worry of tripping. He holds on to her tight until they finally get under the bridge. He breathes a sigh of relief when they finally make it to shelter. His lungs feel like they’ve collapsed after that sprint, though somehow he’s still able to laugh. Adrenaline is still racing through his veins as he finally slumps himself over the stone wall. Eilan’s wringing water out of her clothes, drenched from head to toe. Still she manages to dry herself enough to sit down comfortably beside Lex. “We’ll probably be stuck here for a few hours but,” Lex cups Eilan’s chin in his hands. He brings Eilan close to press a kiss to her lips. He feels the water on her skin, and droplets falling from her hair onto his arms.

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

Succession AU Thoughts Pt 4

Been thinking about how Lex will be all 'oh my sweet baby sister is safe! I was so worried!' after the abduction, until eventually Lionel puts the pieces together and calls him on it. And Lex will initially try to obfuscate but ultimately drops the pretense.

"Well, it worked, didn't it?"

He doesn't even see the fist that cracks against his jaw, sending him sprawling backwards onto the couch.

"You dare!" Lionel roars, furious. "You would endanger your own sister?!"

"Jesus," Lex hisses. "There was never any danger, pop. I had everything under control--"

"CONTROL! You hired thugs to lay hands on your sister. On your family!"

"I didn't do anything you wouldn't do--!"

"She is your family! Your family is all you've got, boy. It has always, always been us against the world. The strength and safety of this family has always been paramount! And yet you pull a stunt like this..."

"What was I supposed to do?" Lex blusters. "She was going to squeeze me out, I wasn't about to take it lying down--"

"Then you rally your allies, shore up your defenses, plan your countermove! Just like I taught you! You do NOT abduct and drug your sister to keep her out of play."

Lionel draws himself up, smoothing down his ruffled hair and straighting his collar.

"I thought I raised two intelligent, responsible children. But it seems I raised only one. You're a fucking coward, Alexander."

"What? Dad--"

"When your sister was going to blast you into oblivion, at least she had the cajones to do it to your face, instead of skulking about in the shadows, as you have."

Lex scoffs. "Oh, come on--"

"I've let you run amok for too long, son. That ends today." Lionel looks down his nose at Lex. "You're out. Lena is in."

That earns a laugh. "Right."

"Oh, and I mean you're out of everything. No more board, no more operations, no more inheritance." Lionel steps in Lex's space, glaring imperiously down at his son.

"You played your last hand-- and you've still lost."