#my time at sandrock fic

[asirensrambles]

Leaving the Nest

Logan and Serena see Andy off on his first monster hunt without them.  It's an emotional parting.

@Pathea, let me adopt Andy if I marry Logan, I'm begging you.

"Ya sure ya got everything? Y'have enough water, plenty of bullets? I'm sure ma's got some extra ones over by the-"

"Logan!" Serena cut him off.

Logan jumped before looking over sheepishly.  Shaking her head fondly, Serena walked over to her boys,

"I swear, I leave you alone for all of two minutes and you turn into a mother hen." Andy snorted, standing next to Rambo the Second, "Please, Cluck, Doodle, and Doo hover less."

Logan threw up his hands, "Excuse me for wanting to make sure my son is fully prepared for his first ever monster hunt without us."

Although his tone was light and teasing, Serena could hear the undercurrent of genuine fear in her husband's voice.  After handing the blanket over to Andy, she took Logan's hand in her own and squeezed.  He squeezed back, holding on for dear life. Andy got the blanket tucked away, then turned to his dad,

"Don't worry Pa, it'll be fine.  'Sides, I'm not going out all on my own, Elsie'll be there too."

"I know," Logan sighed. "Just...be careful? A'right?"

"I'll be careful, promise," Andy replied. Serena said,

"You'd better get going. I know you're supposed to meet Elsie soon." She took her hand back from Logan to hug Andy. He'd sprouted up recently, and was finally taller than her. "I love you kiddo."

Andy hugged her tight, "Love you too, Ma."

He turned to Logan, who pulled him into a crushing hug.

"I love you kid,"he mumbled into Andy's shoulder.

"I know, Pa.  Love you too."

Having said his goodbyes, Andy swung up onto Rambo the Second before waving over his shoulder and taking off for the ranch. Serena heard a sniff at her side.

When she turned to look at Logan, tears were trailing down his cheeks.

"Oh honey," she whispered, moving close to hold him.  Logan buried his face in the crook of her neck, and clung on tightly.

"I know he's capable and been out on hunts before," he mumbled, "but so had my Pa."

Even after close to a decade of marriage, Serena still learned new things about Logan that shattered her heart into pieces. Of course he'd be seeing the parallels between their son's first monster hunt without him and his father's last monster hunt, that was also without him.  Her mind went back to the first time Andy got sick shortly after the Duvos affair, and how strongly Logan reacted then.

"He's not alone though," she soothed, "Elsie's going with him -she's more than capable- and they're taking Daffodil too."

Logan nodded, "Yeah, you're right," he heaved a sigh and lifted his head.   Serena raised a hand to wipe the tears from under his eyes.  She was rewarded with a watery smile that tugged at her heart strings, "I dunno how ya put up with me sometimes."

Serena lifted herself up onto tiptoes and kissed his cheek, "Cause I love you."

Even after so long of being together and hearing it countless times, Logan still occasionally get the same dopey smile he'd given her the first time she said 'I love you.'  Serena thought it was the most precious thing in the world. Logan pressed a kiss to her forehead, then rested his against hers,

"I love you too, darlin'."

The moment was broken by the impatient lowing of their yakmels.  Serena sighed,

"Work calls."

Logan pulled her in for one last kiss that made Serena's head spin, before letting go and getting started on the morning chores.

[sandrockbandit]

ficscrap 01 [logan/builder wip]

He felt it as soon as the ground beneath evened out into well-traveled rock, and it pricked a needlewave of anxiety in his stomach. 

His horse had thrown a shoe. 

It was a laughably small thing. It barely should have been anything at all. 

("Oughta set out a decent bit of this payout. Go see Hugo and Cooper in the morning," his father mused. He rubbed his jaw, examining his mare. She eyed him right back, soft. "The lady's metalwork is looking a little worn."

And of course, Howlett never did much without reason - locked away in his head as it could be at times - but Logan had spent the walk back home imagining the freshly forged pair of daggers Hugo had been slaving away over. They'd cut much nicer than his current ones, for sure.

"What for? She'll hold out, I reckon." Bemused but not obstinate, he caught his father's gaze with the questioning tilt of the chin. In return, Howlett laughed.

"Son, you and I can hold out. Horses are built to be cared for, and they're liable to burn right out if you don't - you keep your steed healthy and it'll do the same for you." 

Leaning over to give Whiskey's coat a pat, he winked. 

"It's old wisdom, Logan. Favors for favors.")

Although he led a patchwork band of very different people, only a single soul among the gang was a half-decent farrier, and she was resting off an injury. Now, it wasn't one of those things Logan had thought to consider when he first set out on the rough path he did; life out on the dunes had kept only the really important things like water and shelter and spite on the forefront of his mind.

But Whiskey threw a shoe, and Logan wasn't stupid - strong and quick and dependable as she was, a discrepancy like that could easily become an injury.

An injury, for a horse, was just a stone's toss from fatal. 

Casting his gaze across the rolling sand hills and occasional juts of rock, Logan pulled his hat low over his eyes, scowling. With all the shimmers on the horizon, he imagined he could almost make out the very edges of the Cooper property. Fancied leading Whiskey right up and having her refitted right there, like old times. Like when his old man would be right there at his elbow, and his own gelding there besides, and nothing mattered as much as it did these days because everything was alright.

Stupid. (It stung, the thought.) He huffed out a wry, shallow breath.

For all his bluster and every promised gol weighing on his head, Logan couldn't rightly say he enjoyed the hassle of banditry. Unfortunately, these days conducting everyday business tended to involve the business end of a pistol. And as with anything, he adapted, always adapted. 

No professional farriers. Whiskey was built to be cared for. He'd be a fool at best to go knocking on Hugo's door. 

But maybe...

Maybe one of those Builders?

He'd watched from time to time as they fixed up the bridge. They'd taken his water tower stunt and undone it just like that. Two options, both lively and hardworking, and seemingly able to craft just about anything anyone could draw up crude schematics for. The one with the goggles was based further within the town, he reckoned - risky.

But the other one..  

(Acrid smoke on the breeze; Haru's latest had hit like a train, rending the tower to scrap. And she, she'd just left the workshop, frozen in her tracks. Dark eyes meeting his, her hand flexing uncertainly on that pickhammer of hers. Surprise, in those eyes. Curiosity? 

It could have been anything he saw in that gaze, right before he beat his retreat. He knew for sure it hadn't been hostile.)

The other builder, alone across the tracks, would do fine. Casting his memory back, searching for a name, he came up empty. No matter. 

He'd see to it that the exchange measured fairly in the end. Favors for favors.

[aviaryworkshop]

Juno Laurent: a pretty boy with an ugly past. Sandrock was his clean slate; he’d finally found a home for himself, a community that welcomed him with open arms, and work that actually helped those he cared about. He could finally relax… right? He wanted to believe so, but the bandit who hijacked his train showed him kindness, and Juno couldn’t help but stick his nose where it didn’t belong.

ch 4 is up! give it a read if you'd enjoy a Logan/male builder slowburn <3

[lafaiette]

Me falling in love with the shy, traumatized doctor and the super soldier with a broken moral compass from a niche solarpunk game, already planning 3+ fics about them

[skiitter]

Mmmmm a mtas fic where Logan writes the builder anonymous letters with tips on how to handle certain monsters when he sees her struggling and, knowing the crucial role she is apparently playing in saving Sandrock, wants her to succeed.

[sanddusted-wisteria]

Quiet Moments in Sandrock, Pt. 2

"...What happens when stars die?" Wisteria murmured suddenly, cutting through the silence. Qi glanced over at her solemn expression, moonlight illuminating a distant, wistful look in her eyes. He knew that he’d already told her about this before. She already knew. There was something hidden beneath her question, but he wasn't sure what. "Well, it depends on the star," he replied quietly, opting to go with the shorter version of the explanation. "Smaller ones like our Sun will gradually lose their outer shell and become a white dwarf. And that will eventually fade into a black dwarf." He pointed up at Betelgeuse. "On the other hand, larger stars like Betelgeuse will collapse so violently that they trigger a massive explosion. And all their mass gets blown away at a tremendous speed. All that's left of it is a black hole." Wisteria let out a quiet hum. "So...eventually, they all disappear from sight." Qi was about to reply with a yes, but he suddenly felt that part of him come to life. A completely irrational and unscientific part of him. A part of him that he still couldn't place or name. The part of him that somehow knew Wisteria better than he himself ever would. And suddenly, he understood why she asked. "That is true..." he began again. "But they all leave behind a proverbial...legacy of sorts." Wisteria turned towards him, an eyebrow slightly raised. "And what's that?" "Starlight," he whispered, as he saw it reflecting back at him in the depths of her eyes. "The light emitted by a star doesn't suddenly stop traveling after it dies. It keeps going. Even thousands of light years away." He turned back out towards the infinite sky. "Many of these stars might already have died. We'll never know. But...their light will continue to be visible to us for thousands of years." He looked back down at Wisteria. "Temporary, but irrefutable proof of their existence." He felt something stir in his chest as a soft smile lifted Wisteria's lips. "That...that's nice."

Bonus:

[fangbangerghoul]

Ao3 Masterlist

ALL OF MY FICTIONS: MDNI, 18+

Starfield Tales

Updated: 04/24/24 Word Count: 155,010

Ghoul series:

1. Neon City Delights (completed) TW: Drug use, SA, Cannon Violence

Walter Stroud has finally decided to talk to you (Main character) like you are a person at Constellation. So, to prove to yourself and the companion the association has assigned to you as of late, Sam Coe, you now get to walk the streets of your hometown to complete a mission with your lead. What happens at the Astral Lounge doesn't need to be told, right?

2. Settling with the Stars (completed) TW: Cannon Violence, Alcohol

Being grounded to a planet is worse when you know you could be out doing something better with your time. Sarah Morgan wants our main character to lay low while others have been out doing quests of their own. How has our main character been settling with their down time since their near-death experience at Neon City?

3. Fleeting Pleasures (completed) <Masterpost> TW: Violence, Murder, Addiction, CNC

Our characters Crimson Fleet Arc. After going undercover our main character now has to balance who they are versus who they have to be and the line starts to blur. (Sam Coe x MC x Delgado)

4. Cellar Door (on hiatus) TW: Grief, Isolation, SA

"This famous linguist once said that of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words in all of history, 'cellar door' is the most beautiful." - Karen Pomeroy from Donnie Darko

To discover the unknowns of time, space and the grand universe like a true adventurer was everything to the Constellation members but at what cost? In this small epic discover what eternity really means with our main character.

5. Heavy Metal Lover (in progress) Tw: cannon violence

Ghoul and Delgado are back! Ghoul is stealthy, aggressive, indulgent, and stubborn as hell. Delgado is rough, creative, intimidating, and a manipulative Crimson Fleet leader. These chapters will be windows into Ghoul's Crimson Fleet life if the ending of Fleeting Pleasures never happened.

This takes place separately from Fleeting Pleasures in a universe where Ghoul finds her footing within the Crimson Fleet. This AU is a year after Ghoul joining the Fleet and the Constellation and Sysdef foregoing any hold they felt they had on her.

Starfield Shorts

Offbeats/One Shot's:

Capacity Limit (Sam Coe x fem!reader) TW: Bondage, Cannon Violence

Reader and Sam Coe are on a mission to eliminate Spacers and Reader keeps picking up too much shit.

Tear You Apart (Pirate Sam Coe x fem!reader) TW: CNC, Facefucking, bondage, light forced voyeurism, it's very explicit and it's a pirate being a pirate so just be wary. This isn't your Sam Coe from Kansas anymore.

You are now Starborn in search for the remnants of what you have left behind in your new current universe. You rush to be reunited with a new version of those you cared deeply but things go awry.

soft leather and spurs (softdom!Sam x fem!reader) Tw: praise kink, soft breeding kink, language?

You are leaving the bar for the night after playing a game of let's meet like strangers with your favorite cowboy.

Bonus Stories:

Ghoul Adventures (Halloweenedition, in progress)

This Halloween edition of Starfield tales takes our Main Character and some of the crew of Constellation on a spelunking adventure in search of what is causing all of the spooky rumors at the local citizen outpost.

Ghoul Files (a miniseries in progress) TW: Smut (I honestly don't think I have anything too hardcore in this series to tag, I will update if that changes)

This is the start of entries from Ghoul's life. Not all entries will be cannon to the current series. These entries are also little tidbits to hold you over in between chapters and series! Some will be Crimson Fleet oriented; some will be regular Ghoul activities!

Ghoul's Time at Sandrock

Short 1000 words or less chapters:

That Damn Rock (completed) fem!builder x Owen Tw: Fluff, slice of life, maybe a smooch

Builder, Ghoul is struggling with gathering materials.

What Did I Get Myself Into? (completed) fem!builder x Owen TW: Fluff, slice of life, fun stuff

Builder Ghoul tries to socialize like a normal Sandrockian.

Baldur's Gatekeep, Gaslight, Gouge Eyes 3

Collection of BG3 inspired Fics:

Thorny Feelings (completed) OC Ghoul x Bearlytolerable's OC Valentine Blanche TW: smut, anal, cunnilingus, light bdsm, magic

Valentine follows his dear friend Ghoul out into the woods away from the camp of companions they've been traveling with in Faerun.

100 Followers Celebration - Bloodweave (completed) Gale x Astarion Tw: fluff, hurt/comfort kind of

While the party is taking a short rest; Astarion and Gale strike up a conversation.

100 Followers Celebration - Calm Nights (completed) Halsin x Astarion x Ghoul Tw: bathtub, relaxation

Halsin, Astarion, and Ghoul finally settle for the night into a paid room for the night after long voyaging.

[caffiend-inated]

I just finished my 2nd year with my builder getting 1st place for the entire year and getting builder of the year award, fixing the towns issues, doing 4+ commissions everyday, making big bank…..all while pregnant, girlboss behavior

I just imagine Fang telling her to please take it easy for the rest of the pregnancy and she nods then jumps off a small building

[allsketchesnononsense]

Made PJ in My Time at Sandrock

She's still a gremlin but she's alot more Tolerable in this AU

But she still makes Qi regret letting her into the research center anytime she can

[bearlytolerant]

Fandom: My Time at Sandrock

Rating: M

Pairing: Fang x F!builder

AO3

Chapter 1: a visit

Summer, 104

Sage

—

Sage stepped off the bus from Portia as a cloud of dust floated up into the air and she reeled back breathing it in, eyes watering and nose tickling. She sneezed into her sleeve and reopened her burning eyes to be greeted by Logan. Taller than her by at least half a foot, and eyes as blue as the oasis, Sage understood why her twin sister was immediately magnetized to the man the day she saw him. On a wanted poster no less. It still made Sage chuckle to this day.

Logan stole her suitcase right out of her hand and beamed at her.

“Where’s Violet?” She asked.

“I’ll give you one guess.”

“You need to make her take days off.”

“You think I can make her do anything? She’s as stubborn as a boxing jack. Worse actually.”

Sage sighed. “Yes. She is.”

“She says you ain’t much different.”

“Perhaps. But have you considered there is a reason she gets that first place trophy every year?”

“She told me once, that you let her win.”

“I’m here to tell you she’s lying.”

Logan chuckled at that while curling his hand around his belt buckle. “Well, come on, maybe once she sees you, she’ll realize her commissions can wait.”

“I do admire your optimism,” Sage said as she trailed after Logan.

It was just a short stretch to walk from the bus stop to Violet’s workshop. But it was enough for Sage to realize she’s over dressed, roasting under her long sleeved shirt with a matching belted harness and cape. Her trousers were loose at least, and laced boots knee high to keep all the sand out. But every piece of her outfit was too much black for a desert sun. She mumbled an almost inaudible incantation to keep herself cool while lagging behind Logan’s long-legged stride, hoping he hadn’t noticed. Though, the man probably knew their family secret. Still, better to be safe.

“Does my sister have to run to keep up with you?” Sage commented when they arrived at the gate.

She steadied herself on the fence to catch her breath and wished she would’ve kept up her training with Arlo the past year.

Logan laughed. “I have to run to keep up with her!”

He held the gate open and Sage peeled herself off the fence to follow him into the yard. Somehow she believed that what Logan said was true. Violet was always flitting about like a bee, buzzing along to her next task. Veering to the right, past the stables, Sage spotted her sister slouched over, painting steady strokes of blue onto some flower boxes. Her white shirt sleeves were rolled up to her muscled shoulders, sweat shining in rivulets that trailed down her tanned triceps. Sage was similar in build, though she’d been kissed more delicately by Portia’s summer sun, her freckles less prominent.

“Hey Darlin’, look who’s here,” Logan said.

Violet glanced up from her work, her dark blue locks pulled back into a thick braid while a few strands framed her face, her grin spreading wide as the bright sunlight glinted off her nose ring. The brightness almost obscured the freckles that dusted her nose and apples of her cheeks. She set the box aside, wiping her hands on her red and white striped work apron and threw her arms around Sage. She wrapped her sister up in a long, overdue hug and squeezed. When they finally parted, a string of half dried paint clung to her shirt and Violet swept it away with a chuckle.

“You want to take a tour of the town?” Violet asked. I need the paint to dry on those boxes so might as well give you the lay of the land.” She plucked her leather work gloves off and pocketed them in the front of her apron.

“You act like I’ve never been here before.”

“A weekend at the Blue Moon Saloon and the church, mostly cluttering up your schedule with wedding duties is hardly what I’d call getting a feel for Sandrock. Besides, Mi-an, Wei and I have spruced up so much more since you were here last month.”

“Very well, show me your pride and joy,” Sage said with a smile and Violet clapped enthusiastically.

Violet practically vibrated with joy. “You’re gonna love our little town, Sage. Can’t wait to show you around. Maybe I can even convince you to move here, yet.”

—

The valley stretched as far as her eyes could see but Sage’s drifted up to the sky. Inside the tram cart, she imagined herself flying and free. The way the fluffy clouds swirled on the horizon, soaking up the sun's rays and glowing in orange, with ruffles of purple, made her wish she had wings. She was ready to float on air after a day of endless introductions and small talk.

“It’s gorgeous up here.” She dangled her arms over the side of the cart and watched a bird flit across the sky and disappear behind a distant peak.

“It is,” Violet replied from beside her with a little sigh.

“Can’t believe you built this.”

“Me neither. I didn’t do it alone though,” she continued. “The Sandrockers are just always working together to pull through for me. They’re good people. Real good.”

“They are. The way you talk about this place, plus the views and the warmth of the people—makes me want to leave my old life behind and live here.”

“So why don’t you?”

“Because—well, Vi.” There was only one reason really but she didn’t know how to say it. “I just can’t.”

“You can. You’ve told me time and time again how you’ve never wanted to be a builder. So, why don’t you stop holdin’ yourself back and start working toward your future? Logan and I would be more than willing to get you settled in here.”

“You would?” Sage cocked her head sideways at her sister.

“Of course.” She grinned while throwing her arm around Sage’s shoulder. “Plus you know me, I always want you around. It would be so nice to have you here in Sandrock. You could come with me to Saturday night story time with Owen and Sunday fireside meetin’s that always end up with a little party back at my place and—”

Violet launched into a speech of activities to participate in together as Sage turned back to the view. The sun sunk halfway below the horizon, brushing the sky with hues of pink and orange that had her believing her sister's words. She could move to Sandrock. Minus all those activities she was planning.

There was nothing holding her back. Well, nothing except her misplaced hope that he might return.

—

Sage pulled fresh rolls from the oven and slid the tray on top of the stove. The savory scent of caramelized onion and garlic she added to the dough before it baked filled her nose and her stomach rumbled.

“That smells heavenly,” Violet told her in a sing-song voice and then the doorbell rang.

“Did you invite someone over for dinner?” Sage asked.

“I sure did. But it’s a surprise so you’ll just have to wait and see.”

“This better not be a blind date. You know I’m not ready. I didn’t come here for that.”

Violet booped her nose and chuckled. “Not a date. I promise. He’s a friend and I just think you’d get along. He’s quiet. More than you, even. But he’s real kind.” She hurried towards the door but stopped in the frame and glanced back over her shoulder. “But it wouldn’t hurt to put the feelers out.”

Sage inhaled deeply to keep from shouting at her sister and turned back to the rolls. Violet disappeared and Sage reminded herself that her sister’s intentions came from a good place. Sweet even. Another deep breath and she noted that the tops were perfectly browned and ready to serve and smiled to herself with pride. She dug around in the cupboards for a basket to put them in and spotted one high up on the refrigerator and climbed the counter, stretching herself across the small gap. The tops of her fingers curled around the basket. She teetered but regained her balance, snatching the basket and clenching it against her chest, she crouched down and then jumped to the floor.

She busied herself with setting the table and then stirred the stewed mushrooms on the stovetop. Adding just a hint of extra cilantro, she left them to simmer a tad more while tossing the alfalfa salad with a few extra fresh veggies and a light vinaigrette. She set the salad bowl on the table with tongs and returned to the stovetop just as her sister ushered in the most beautiful man with blue eyes and long silken black hair she’s ever laid eyes on. He was nearly as tall as Logan but much more slight, dressed in a simple white button up and slightly tattered trousers, she gathered before averting her gaze. It’s rude to stare, she reminded herself.

“Sage, I want you to meet Doctor Fang,” Violet said.

The name sounded so familiar but she couldn’t quite place where she’d heard it before. She raised her hand in a small greeting. An awkward wave. “Hi,” she said.

Doctor Fang’s expression was unreadable as his eyes fell on her. A raven suddenly swooped in from behind him and landed on his shoulder. It whistled then said, “Pretty bird! Who’s this?”

“It’s—the builder’s sister,” Doctor Fang said in the softest, most comforting voice Sage had ever heard. She wanted to wrap herself up in it like a cozy blanket and fall asleep under the stars.

Picking her jaw up off the floor, Sage blinked. “That’s right. I’m Vi’s sister, Sage” she said to the bird.

“This is—X,” said Doctor Fang.

“Well it is a pleasure to meet you, X.” She offered a small smile. “And you, Doctor Fang.”

“Now that we’ve got all the introductions out of the way,” Violet clapped excitedly, “let’s have a seat, dig in and eat!”

Sage slid into the chair next to her sister and filled her plate with salad and then buttered her roll liberally, delighting in the way the softness just melted in her mouth as she took a bite. Meanwhile Violet told a story about her most recent adventure. Something about trying to collect cactus flowers for Doctor Fang when a boxing jack (which Sage had heard about plenty of times but fortunately had never come across) knocked her on her ass. Thankfully Logan had been at his outpost and spotted her in time to assist. Violet and Logan took turns telling the story of his heroic save and Sage listened while filling her stomach with the delicious foods on the table. By the end of their storytelling, Sage was done eating and collected her dirty dish from the table. She didn’t learn a thing about Doctor Fang because he barely said a word. Not like he could really get a word in edgewise anyway.

Eventually Logan and Violet dropped their plates in the sink and she was surprised when the Doctor joined her, drying the dishes she'd set in the drying rack.

“The rolls—did you make them?” He asked as he pulled open the cupboard, stacking the plates he'd dried.

“Yes,” she replied.

“They were very—good.”

“Thank you,” she said as she worked at cleaning the pot next.

She bit down on her lip while she scrubbed, channeling all her focus into cleaning. She almost forgot that Doctor Fang was with her and that she’d left him in silence for a decent length of time. But she only had one dish left.

Sage wiped the last dish clean and handed it to Doctor Fang. The walls shook and there was a low groan that

filtered through the floorboards as she briefly grazed his long fingers in the dish exchange. Flushing red, she muttered an apology. But Fang acted like it was nothing.

“I must—return home,” he said as another moan, much louder and longer than before, washed over them.

Sage refused to be left in the house with her sister and Logan, so at the risk of sounding desperate she asked, “can I please walk you home?” She cringed.

“Yes,” he stated simply, unaffected by the sounds going on around them. Or at least appearing not to be anyway.

Sage wished she had half his decorum.

“Thank you,” she breathed, following after him as he made his way toward the door.

The cool air washed over her as she sighed with relief, easily keeping pace with the Doctor as he led the way to his home in the night.

—

“You live in the clinic?” She asked once he stopped just outside the door, one hand pushing on it, letting the light spill out, grazing the top curve of her black boots.

“Yes,” he said simply. One foot was in the doorway, the other with her.

She wasn’t sure if he was waiting for her to go or for her to come in. Each minute passed made her second guessing worse.

“Come in!” Squawked X. “Don’t be shy! Shy!”

“X! Be quiet,” Doctor Fang said softly.

Sage took that as a sign.

“Wanna go back?” X squawked again.

Sage stared at the two of them a bit baffled. “Not particularly. I need to find something else to do while—” she hesitated. There was no need for an explanation. He was a stranger. They owed nothing to each other. “I hope you two have a good night,” she said instead and turned around.

“Thank you.” Fang’s words were a whisper of a hand on her shoulder but as she glanced back, the door clicked shut as the clinic bathed her in its warm red lighting.

Sage knew she couldn’t go back to her sisters just yet and she didn’t want to go to the Saloon. There was just too much noise and brightness there and she was far too exhausted from the day. She wandered over to the bench, situated between the clinic and the Golden Goose, and took a page out of her good friend Mint’s book. Curling up with one arm under her head as a pillow, she closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

But it wasn’t long before she dreamt of the Rogue Knight again. He had pinned her to the ground, his sword at her chest and his laughter echoed as his mask melted away. The kind brown eyes of a betrothed betrayer mocked her. She thrashed and glanced away, not wanting to see the face behind the mask. Pain rippled through her nerves as the edge of his blade tore through her clothes and nicked her skin. Then he plunged it deep. A sharp intake of breath and she threw her eyes open, jolting upright. Five years gone and she hated the hold he had on her even after all this time.

X was pecking at her shirt and she didn’t mean to swat at him. “Wanna go back!” He was shouting over and over as she came to, blinking. It was still night.

She sat up and X landed on the shoulder of Doctor Fang. “Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yeah. I just—I had a nightmare. I’m sorry.”

Doctor Fang stared at her, tilting his head quizzically then turned away. He gestured for her to follow. “Come with me.”

[alihostyalohomora]

Blurred Vision, a MTAS Logan romance fanfic

I present you my first MTAS fanfic ! 16 chapters are out actually, with more than 75k words and a lot of Logan fluff (and smut). --- Summary : An accident at the valley of Whispers made our builder almost blind. She can only see blurry silhouettes on the light. Since, she feels fragile, and she feels useless, struggling to keep her job as a builder and only keeping it thanks to an arrangement with Mi-an and Rocky. But the worst thing about being blind, is to have been unable to see the face of the old mill mysterious stranger, that day. ---

The downside of wearing a protective suit was the inability to wipe away the dripping sweat from one's forehead. And sweating, she was a lot. She needed those aluminum scraps nonetheless, so she did her best to endure the unbearable heat in her suit and keep on salvaging the materials. It was close to midday, and the sun was beating down hard on the Valley of Whispers.

Another major flaw of the protective suit was that it would alter certain abilities, notably hearing. Which was probably the reason she never heard the pack of masked fiends arrive behind her before it was too late. When she noticed them, they were already lighting a bomb and aiming at her. But lighting a bomb in an area full of toxic gas was definitely not the best thing to do. Before they could launch it at her, a massive explosion occurred, and all things went black as she was violently thrown backwards.

When she regained consciousness, she first thought it was nighttime, for she saw nothing. She groped for her weapon but could not find it. Anxiety ran through her veins. How much time had she been unconscious and at the mercy of the nearby monsters? She then noticed that she was having a hard time breathing. Her suit has lost its impermeability. She was breathing toxic gas. 

Panic succeeded anxiety. She still saw nothing, and the harshness of the acid gas ran into her breaths. She needed to move, and quickly. Desperate, she whistled. She was pretty sure her horse had fled with the explosion. But after what felt like an eternity, she heard the muffled sound of hooves on the sand.

“Dybet!” she whispered, relieved. She felt the gentle warmth of her mare's nostrils against her hair. Slowly, she rose to her feet, steadying herself against her mount. She then struggled to get into the saddle, and she succeeded only thanks to the adrenaline that only a deep survival instinct could summon.

"Take me home" she implored to her horse.

Whether or not her mare understood her command, she set off, and she could only allow herself to be transported. She did not remember when she fell unconscious again, but when she woke up, she was still in the saddle, weakly lying on Dybet's neck.

"Builder!" 

She heard the cry but couldn't reply. She felt hands lifting her off the saddle. Amid panicked screams from several people she did not recognize, she sensed her suit being removed. 

"Go fetch Dr Fang! NOW!" 

She passed out. [Read more on AO3]

[asirensrambles]

Desert Encounters

After rescuing the mayor, the builder wants some peace and quiet.  She goes out to the desert to camp for the night as a get away.  While there, she has an unexpected encounter.

Serena could not fathom what had driven her to want to camp out in Logan's gang's old base.  Maybe it was a desperate  need to just get. away.  From everything.  Sandrock was lovely, but it sometimes felt so small.  No matter how far up or out or around she went on the mesa, it felt like the town was still right there.  Whenever she went to bed, there was the sound of the machines clanking and gurgling as they worked through the night, as well as her animals.  Serena just wanted some quiet.  After she, Justice and Unsuur had cleared out the cave of creatures and Logan's crew,  Serena had stayed behind to gather materials and scrap from around the cave.  

There had been an overwhelming sense of quiet and peace as she worked alone in the cool rock walls.  Maybe it was that quiet that had driven her to trek back out to the cave with her backpack full of camping gear.  The machines had all been shut down, sandwall raised, and Elsie was coming over to care for Flop Mop, Chick, A, and Dee. Although Serena wanted some peace and quiet, she also wasn't stupid and had left a note on both her workbench and dining room table listing where she was going and when she planned to be back in case anything happened.  

For now, the Yakmel transport had let her off at the furthest stop it had.  It was still a trek to the central camp cave itself though.  When she got back to the cave, Serena was relieved to see none of the desert animals had made their way back to the cave yet.  She meandered her way back to the main cavern, and started setting up camp.  She unrolled the bedroll and piled on extra blankets.  Rummaging around the cave yielded plenty of scrap wood from crates and various materials for a camp fire.  One of the most surprising things about moving to Sandrock was how cold it got at night, considering it was a desert and she spent most of her days baking in the sun.  At night, however, Serena was burrowed under a pile of blankets.  

Once camp was set up, Serena pulled out the sandwich dinner she'd packed for the evening and quickly polished it off.  Dusting off any crumbs, she stood up and headed back to the entrance of the cave.  The sun had fully set by now and the stars were out in full force.  The sight of the night sky was awe inspiring.  In Serena's home city, there were too many lights to properly see the stars. Even in Sandrock, there were enough streetlights on throughout the eventing that the stars were still somewhat obscured.  However, out in the Eufala, there was nothing to dim their shine.  The stars were numerous and thick, almost like a sea.  Serena reached up to the seemingly close enough to touch stars, but as she did, they seemed to move farther away.  There was a metaphor in there somewhere if she cared enough to look.

To save her neck from craning up to stare, Serena laid down on the still barely warm sand.  For the first time in months, maybe even a year, on her back starting at the the stars, Serena felt an urge to paint.  Huh.  Who knew all it would take was the vast infinity and wonder of the universe to return that creative spark.  She lost track of time staring up at the stars, letting the peace and silence wash over her and basked in the serenity of the moment.  Eventually, it got too cold to be outside, so she made her way back into the caves.  Serena stoked the fire, checked there was plenty of scrap wood gathered, then settled into her bedroll to sleep.

------

Something woke Serena up, but she didn't know what.  Thinking it might be one of the creatures from earlier, her hands drifted to the daggers next the bedroll and tightened around the handles.  A clatter of rocks sounded very nearby.  Serena craned her neck trying to look towards the sound without moving so as not to draw attention to herself.  Serena strained her ears, and could just make out the distinct sound of footsteps.  The her heartbeat roared in her ears, drowning out the sound of footsteps.  Trying not to panic, Serena tried to figure out who it might be.  Best case scenario, Justice or Unsuur had come out after her after finding one of the notes.  Worst case scenario, well...

As Serena lay still, heart racing, a figure stepped into the dim light of the fire.  The light reflected off pale, almost white blond hair, and a very distinctive horned hat was silhouetted by its light.  Serena's breathe caught in her throat as she realized it was, indeed, Logan.  Her pulse skyrocketed, hands turning clammy around the dagger in her grip.  Even with fear induced adrenaline coursing through her veins, Serena couldn't deny that a small part of her was curious about Logan, even excited at the idea of maybe getting to talk to him.  Ever since poking around town with Elsie, Serena was convinced there was more to the Logan thing than people would realized, or were admitting to.  Maybe this could bring some answers.  Or get you killed, a small voice of reason piped up.  Serena ignored that voice.  If he wanted her dead, it would have have made a lot more sense to have already killed her, she reasoned. "Pretending to be asleep works a lot better when you aren't staring at someone," Logan said.

Serena startled so violently one of her daggers went clattering across the rocks and sand.  Realizing the jig was up, Serena sat up and leaned forward to retrieve her dagger.  She could feel Logan's gaze on her the whole time.  Unbidden, the memory of Logan's train heist flew to the forefront of Serena's mind.  For some reason, her mind dwelled on the moment when they'd locked eyes.  She'd never seen someone with such bright blue eyes before.  Now, knowing he was watching her, she could almost picture those eyes again.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. 

Serena gestured to the fire, bedroll, and backpack, "Camping.  What are you doing here?"  Immediately she wanted to take back the question.  He was probably collecting everything she had forced him to leave in his hasty exit.

"Making sure nothing got left behind," he said, confirming her thoughts. Serena nodded, at a loss for what to say or do now.  Logan made the next move for her by plopping down next to the fire, at a distance Serena considered dangerously close.  He said,

"Hell of a place to camp." "It's quiet." Logan tilted his head quizzically, and Serena continued,

"I dunno, Sandrock is so small you know?  No matter where you go, someone is always around, or within eyesight.  Most of the time it's fine, right?  But recently I've just felt...smothered."  She shrugged, "After the whole, uh-"

Serena tried to think of a way to say 'Rescuing the mayor you kidnapped,' in a way that wasn't.  Ya know.  That.  She finally settled on,

"After the incident here the other day, I stayed behind to collect some resources and materials while the Civil Corps took the mayor back to town," Logan nodded as though to say he was still listening.  Serena went on,

"It's the most peaceful I've felt in weeks, so I decided to come back and spend the night here to just get away for a bit.  So, yeah..." she trailed off.  She was wondering why she was sharing this with Logan of all people.  Maybe it was because he was a stranger, maybe because she didn't have to see him every day.  Maybe she just needed someone to talk to.

"Makes sense," was all Logan said.  Silence descended and Serena was trying to think of what to say or do next when Logan suddenly started coughing violently.  Deep, hacking coughs that seemed to be settled in his chest.

"Are you okay?" Serena asked, genuinely concerned.  The cough sounded pretty bad.  Her mind flashed back to what she, Mian, and Elsie had learned about how Logan's father died.  when they were doing their sleuthing Logan.  Had he been poisoned recently too?  Her heart dropped unexpectedly at the thought.

"Yeah, just all the sand and dust," he said, waving his hand at the cave around them.

Serena squinted at him, "That sounds worse than a, 'just some sand and dust' cough." 

Logan lifted a shoulder, "Had a cold a while back.  Haven't been able to shake the cough since."

Unexpected relief washed over her.  He wasn't poisoned, just a cold.  Suddenly, she remembered the vial Fang had given her yesterday at his biweekly medicinal testing.

"I've got something for that, hang on."  Serena reached over to the belt pouch she'd taken off before bed and rummaged in the pocket she kept medicines in.  Vials clanked against each other until she found the right one.  Serena held it out to Logan, who regarded it with suspicion and skepticism.  "Here, it's cold medicine." 

Logan raised his eyebrows.

Serena rolled her eyes, "It's from Fang, I tested it yesterday.  Totally safe and fine, this go around."

"You realize that makes me trust it less, right?" "Are you gonna take it or not?" Logan hesitated, weighing something to himself before taking the vial.  "How much of this do I take?" "Whole thing."

He eyed the vial suspiciously before shrugging and downing the whole thing.  Serena had no idea how he managed to do that while leaving the mask in place over his face, but it was impressive.  Logan handed the empty vial back over.  He was regarding Serena with an odd look.  Finally, he said,

"What do you mean you 'tested it' for Fang?" his voice was oddly tight.  It reminded Serena of when she tried to keep her teeth from chattering.  It suddenly dawned on her with the way he was curled close to the fire that he was probably freezing.  The clothes Logan had on were the same ones she'd seen him in before with the mayor, which while they seemed well-suited for the desert day heat, didn't seem to offer any protection against the cold. 

Outlaw or not, Logan was cold and recovering from being sick.  Right now, Logan didn't seem frightening or evil, or any of the things the Sandrockers said about him.  He just seemed like an exhausted young man, desperately trying to get warm.  Strangely enough, her heart went out to him.  Serena had always been a sucker for lost causes with a maternal instinct that liked to flare at the strangest of times.  Reaching into her backpack for one of the extra blankets packed there, she responded,

"Wednesdays and Fridays Fang has different concoctions out to try.  Sometimes they're awesome and work super well like that one - hah!" -Serena held up the blanket she'd been fishing for triumphantly- "and sometimes they temporarily turn my skin blue.  Or make me gassy," she pulled a face, "That was not a fun afternoon, but at least it was over quickly."  Serena stood up and walked over towards Logan with the extra blanket in hand.

He started at the movement and eyed her warily as she came closer.  As she got within a couple feet of him, her rational brain caught up with instinct brain.  Instinct brain had said cold person, drape blanket around and burrito.  Rational brain was catching up and realizing this might not be the best idea when it came to a wanted outlaw.  Well, it was too late now.  Heart in her throat, Serena closed the remaining distance, trying to ignore Logan's stare threatening to burn holes in her.  Somehow, he'd managed to tense up even more; hand closer to the gun at his waist.  Doing her best to ignore that small detail, Serena shook out the blanket from it's careful folding and draped it over his shoulders.  Even with the hat and mask, shock was plain as day on Logan's face.  

"What's this about?" he asked, voice strangely hoarse.

She shrugged, "You looked cold," and retreated back to her bedroll, picking up one of her mom's quilts to wrap up with as she sat down closer to the fire and Logan. 

Who was now staring at the fire and looking anywhere but Serena's direction, which was odd considering he hadn't taken un-trusting eyes off her this whole time.  Pretending like nothing had changed with her giving him the blanket, she continued on about her 'drug testing,'

"I think the worst was some weird red swill.  Knocked me out for an hour.  I mean, not literally, I was just completely exhausted and wiped."

Logan resumed staring at her again, "Why on earth would you test out that kind of stuff?"

"Cause when it works, it's fantastic.  Pros outweigh the cons," she shrugged. 

"You're insane."

"Eh, maybe."  Serena reached over to her pile of scrap and grabbed a couple more wooden planks to add onto the fire. 

"But Fang's a solid guy and his heart's in the right place.  He really does  want to help people.  Anything that works he gives me a copy of the recipe and a free sample.  As far as business people in Sandrock go, he's not too bad.  Unlike other people I can think of," her tone turned bitter at the end thinking of Yan and his actions.

Logan tilted his head, "Seems like you've got a particular person in mind."  Serena sat up on her heels and clapped her hands together so fast Logan started and shuffled back slightly,

"SO, Yan is a bitch ass mother fucker and I should have let Rocky kick his teeth in my first day in Sandrock," Weeks of pent up anger and frustration about all the bullshit Yan had pulled since her arrival burst forth in a tirade.  Logan listened wide-eyed, still leaning away ever so slightly.  As the rant continued, he seemed to recover and settled in for the long haul.

Serena almost felt bad for Logan; he couldn't' possibly have known the can of worms he was opening, but she also didn't care.  Bad gas travels fast in a small town, and no one else seemed to share her deep seated loathing of Yan.  There were months of pent up frustration and anger that finally had an outlet, and by Peach she was going to use it.

"So then, he has me and Mi-an finish his commission, right?  Which fine, whatever, as long as I get paid, I guess.  BUT THEN, this FUCKING ASSHOLE didn't tell us we'd need this one particular manual for it.  Does he give it to us like a decent human being would if you're finishing their work? Nooooooo, we have to pay him for it." 

She continued venting her frustrations about the man's complete and utter lack of willingness to contribute to any and every town disaster and crises that had happened since her arrival to Sandrock, and overall attitude in general. 

"And like, Mi-an tries to help Owen out right?  Cause she's a decent fucking person, but Yan has to be an asshole and ruin that too," with the heaviest air quotes and a flood of sarcasm, Serena went on, " 'I'm not running a charity shop here,' is all he has to say.  You're right, what you're running, Yan, is an extortion racket!" Serena slumped back down, feeling the winds of anger that had been filling her sails die down.    

"Huh," Logan said.  "I kinda knew he was a shiester, but I didn't realize he was that much of one." 

"I hate him," Serena said passionately.  "I think he's the only person I've ever hated." 

Logan curled in on himself, pulling the blanket around him more tightly, "I'm sure he's not the only one."

Serena shook her head, "Nope, I cannot think of a single person I've ever felt this negatively about."

"Stop," he said, voice low, "Just- you don't have to lie, okay?  Or be scared to say it or anything.  Trust me, I understand."

"Understand what?" Serena asked, baffled.

"Why you hate me."

Serena frowned.  Did she hate Logan?  Hate didn't seem like the right word.  She'd never felt the rising tide of rage around him or at the mere mention of his name the way she did Yan.  If she thought about it, usually when people had brought up Logan what she'd felt was curiosity and confusion.  He had an end game, that much was obvious and it drove her nuts to have no idea what it was.

Especially after the sleuthing adventure with Elsie and Mi-an, Serena had more questions than ever.  Even when the water tower was blown up, Serena hadn't been able to muster up the anger and disappointment the rest of the town had, only puzzlement.  Yeah he'd robbed trains and stuff, but that was the first act he'd taken that really seemed to put people's lives at risk.  And even then, people could have just left.

"I don't hate you," Serena said decisively. 

Logan's head whipped up to look at her, eyes brimming with questions. Pulling her own blanket tighter, Serena picked up a scrap of wood and began tracing shapes in the sand, unable to look at him,

"I don't hate you," she repeated, "What I feel about you is...confusion.  I don't understand you.  I don't know why you're doing what you're doing, and I don't like that it causes my friends grief."  Serena sighed, "But I also think....I think you have a reason." She finally looked up and met Logan's eyes.  They were brimming with emotion as she went on,

"I can't fathom as to what that reason might be.  But I think- I don't know, it seems important.  Like," she twisted her free hand in the air looking for words, "It's like there's some bigger picture.  It's almost, almost like a puzzle?"

Serena tilted her head thinking for a moment.  Logan sat silently, letting her gather the thoughts. 

"Yeah, it's like a puzzle.  I know there's a bigger picture, and I can tell that all of these things are part of something else," her voice was stronger as the analogy took firmer shape, "But I don't have the box.  I don't have the box to know what the final thing is supposed to look like."  She pointed at Logan, "You, on the other hand, have the box and know what the picture is supposed to look like," he opened his mouth to say something, but Serena held up a hand, "I'm not going to ask you what the box picture looks like.  I don't want to know.  Plausible deniability and all that, right?"

Serena trailed off, staring into the distance.  Her thoughts were unfinished, there was something else to say, but she couldn't for the life of her order the thoughts swirling through her head enough to tease it out.  Once again, Logan sat silently, as though sensing there was more to be said.  Finally, the thoughts coalesced enough for Serena to pull out her final point,

"I want to see the end game, what the puzzle ends up looking like.  I'm just- I don't know what it will cost.  Who all might get hurt along the way," Serena pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped the blanket around them.  "And that, that scares me," she said in a small voice and turned to look at Logan.  "I don't scare easy."

He gave a wry grin, "Oh I'm aware.  Not many people Civil Corps members would chase after an outlaw into the desert, let alone builders."  The grin quickly vanished as he looked down at his hands, "It'll be worth it, it has to be," he almost whispered.  Logan looked back up at Serena, "I'm sorry.  It- I-," he sighed, "This isn't what I wanted.  But it has to be done."

Serena nodded, "I understand."  Silence fell between the two, both lost in their own thoughts.  Eventually, Serena couldn't hold back the yawns.  Logan seemed to notice and said,

"I should be going."  He stood up and made to give the blanket back, but Serena shook her head,

"Keep it, I have more. And before you go-" she reached into her medicine pouch and pulled out a couple extra vials of cold medicine, "take these.  I can get more," she added hastily when it looked like Logan was going to argue.  He shrugged, took the vials, and started walking back out of the cave the way he'd come.

"Logan!" Serena called out.

He turned around, "Yeah?"

"Take care of yourself, okay?"

Logan chuckled, "Sure thing builder, you too."

"Serena," she said.  "My name's Serena."

"Take care, Serena.  And thank you.  For everything."

A shiver went down her spine hearing Logan say her name.  Serena shoved that reaction very firmly into a box and slammed the lid shut.  To distract herself, Serena rearranged her bedroll and blankets before burrowing into them.  The way Logan said, 'everything' made her think there was a thanks in there for more than just the blanket and medicine.  Thanks for what?  Talking to him?  Not hating him?  Seeing his side in a weird twisted way?  Head swirling in a jumbled mess from her meeting with Logan, Serena stared at the fire until sleep overtook her.

[gamergirl929]

The Shattered Urn (Amirah x Reader)

After a near death experience, Amirah puts a noticable amount of distance between her and the builder, what could this mean for their realtionship?

If there was one thing you hadn’t expected after your brush with death, it was Amirah to avoid you like the plague. 

The two of you had been best friends before you took your tumble over the cliff's edge, now however she went out of her way to avoid you, unwilling to look you in the eye, even though you’d try to catch her gaze at every Fireside Meeting. 

You sigh in defeat as the woman makes a beeline up the stairs toward her shop, your shoulders sagging. 

You jump slightly when a hand settles on your shoulder, a hand belonging to none other than Arvio, Amirah's younger brother.  

“Don’t worry Y/N, she’ll come around.” 

You frown, watching as she disappears a the top of the stone stairs leading towards her shop and out of sight.  

“I hope you’re right Arvio.” You frown, glancing at the boy who gives you and smile.  

“Well, I AM right! You’ll see!” He says before giving your shoulder a pat and making his way towards his own shop.  

You stare at the set of stone steps leading to Amirah’s shop and sigh, turning on your heels and making your way towards your own workshop, intent on getting some work done before night fell.  

************************************************************************

Before you knew it, a week had passed, a week of tolling away in your workshop, moving between your shop and the Commerce Guild more often than not, only venturing into town to deliver finished commissions and occasionally go for a bite to eat at the Blue Moon Saloon.  

“Y/N, you really need to take some time off.” Owen says as he places a plate in front of you.  

You shrug.  

“I’d really like to upgrade the size of my workshop, and that requires gols.” You sigh, sipping your Yakmel Milk.  

Owen hums, crossing his arms across his chest.  

“Are you sure that’s ALL this is about?” He asks, a brow arches and you huff, knowing full well that he was alluding to Amirah.  

“I’m sure.” You mumble, and he shakes his head, his hand resting gently on your shoulder.  

“Just try and take it easy, okay?” He asks, giving your shoulder a squeeze and you nod.  

“I’ll try Owen.” 

He nods, patting your back before moving to the bar where a slew of customers are waiting, among them, Amirah and Arvio the boy sending you a wave, whereas his sister simply glances in your direction. 

You sigh, turning your attention back to your food, your fork prodding at the meat on your plate.  

Grace meanwhile, leaves the register, the blonde heading towards you when you wave her over.  

“Can I get this to-go?”  

************************************************************************

You again threw yourself into your work, and before you knew it, your workspace had been upgraded, a wide expanse of land that had surrounded the workshop was now yours.  

Your first thought was to celebrate, but the one person you wanted to celebrate with was avoiding you as much as she possibly could.  

You swallow hard, your eyes finding the roof of Amirah’s shop that you could barely see poking up above a number of the buildings in town.  

A surge of courage settles in your chest, and before you realize, you’re headed towards town, with one destination in mind. 

Despite the fact that many had attempted to speak with you, you remained silent, pressing onwards towards Amirah’s shop, only stopping once the door to her shop closed behind you.  

“I’ll be with you in just a moment.”  

You smile, realizing how much you’d missed the sound of Amirah’s voice.  

“I’m not going anywhere.” You say, the woman noticeably stiffening at the sound of your voice.  

She swallows hard, caressing the finished urn in front of her before slowly turning around, her purple orbs meeting your Y/E/C’s.  

“Hi.” She whispers, her voice soft.  

You take a step towards her, running a hand through your messy hair.  

“He-Hey.” You stammer nervously, your heart racing in your chest.  

The room falls awkwardly silent before you clear your throat.  

“Did I do something wrong?” You ask with a frown, the sight of it making Amirah frown sadly.  

She shakes her head. 

“No, you didn’t.” She whispers.  

You take a step closer, the woman unbothered by the closing proximity between the two of you.  

“Ever since the accident, you’ve been avoiding me.” You say, shuffling from foot to foot.  

She sighs, her gaze downcast as she stares at the wooden floor beneath her feet.  

“I know.” She mutters and you again step closer.  

“But why?” You ask, your dirty, sand covered shoes now coming into view. 

She shrugs, unable, or unwilling to explain her reasoning.  

Her head snaps upwards when gentle hands settle on her shoulders, your frowning face coming into view.  

“Am... Please.” You whisper, subconsciously caressing her collarbone, something that makes her breath hitch.  

Suddenly, and without warning, she cups your cheeks, her smooth, soft palms meeting your sun kissed skin. 

“Am?” You rasp before she pushes herself up on her tiptoes, her lips mere inches from yours for a beat before she leans in, closing the distance between you.  

Your breath hitches, your hands finding purchase on her waist as you kiss softly, the woman smiling against your lips when you kiss back.  

Her arms hang loosely around your neck as she tilts her head, changing the angle of the kiss.  

The woman lets out a squeak when you easily lift her into the air, pressing her against a nearby wall, your lips hovering inches away from hers.  

You surge forwards, your lips meeting again, the kiss much different from the tender one you’d shared moments before.  

You kiss passionately, the woman gasping softly as you pin her wrists against the wall behind her, her legs wrapping around your middle. 

A sudden crash causes the two of you to jolt apart, your eyes widening when you realize the crash had been the newly crafted urn, which was now shattered on the wooden floor.  

You turn your attention away from the urn and back to the woman you’d had currently pinned against the wall, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her cheeks pink.  

She, despite the fact that the urn she’d been working on was shattered, giggles.  

“At least the client won’t be coming to pick that up for another day or so.” She says, her legs tightening around you.  

“Now, where we were?” She whispers, leaning back in, her lips meeting yours again.  

Her hands settle on your shoulders, grabbing fistfuls of your shirt as you kiss passionately.  

When air becomes a necessity, you pull apart, neither going far as you lean your forehead against hers.  

“Wow.” She whispers and you smile, lightly bumping the tip of your nose against hers.  

“Yeah.”  

The room falls silent, the sound of your and Amirah’s heavy breathing being the only sound, that is until our break the silence.  

“Why were you avoiding me?” You ask in a whisper, the woman cupping your cheeks tenderly, her fingers tangling in the fine hairs at the base of your neck.  

“I was...” She pauses her throat bobbing, but a light bump of your nose against hers again wills her onward.  

“I was scared.”  

Your brows furrow.  

“Of what?” You ask and she sighs, her thumb tracing the curve of your jaw.  

“I was scared, that if I continued to let you get close, I’d lose you. I thought that if I put distance between us, and something happened to you, it wouldn’t be as painful...” She confesses, her voice soft and uncertain.  

You shake your head as you place her gently on the ground.  

“You could never lose me.”  

She sighs, pulling back to look into your Y/E/C orbs.  

“But I already almost did.” She whispers, her voice cracking slightly.  

You lean forward, your lips brushing hers as you whisper.  

“Well, I guess I have more reason to be careful now.” You whisper, tilting your head back to kiss the tip of her nose, her nose crinkling in response.  

“I’m sorry that I frightened you.” You whisper, your eyes fluttering shut as you rest your foreheads back together.  

“Just, be careful from now on, alright?” She whispers softly and you smile, pressing a tender kiss to her lips.  

“I will. Now, what do you say we head over the Blue Moon?” You smile, the woman’s lips splitting in a grin.  

“I’d like that very much.”  

[sandara-and-coco]

𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒖𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍

"Hold on tight." 

And so she did, hands tight around his neck. Unable to look away from her savior's profile as he picked her numb body up she thought,

What a kind face.

[lafaiette]

I finally found Pen's Chinese romance lines :')

(You can find more comparisons here and here by the way)

First, something sweet to start with: Jasmine calls Pen, Burgess, and Miguel "uncle"! (叔叔)

Jasmine to Andy: Uncle Peng Hu thinks he's the most beautiful man in the world. We can secretly put a mirror in his room, so he'll look at it all day long and we can sneak out to play!

And now, I'll start with the Romance Quest - I included only the Chinese version of the dialogue happening after giving him the Heart Knot, because the post is already pretty long!

Chinese: Well... little weakling, you gave me this Heart Knot. I thought about it seriously... You have always been nice to me. You often praise me, give me gifts, and help me run errands everywhere. Maybe I have really found the one, the most special person to me. Someone who loves me as much as I love myself! Oh, this is so surprising to me... Little weakling, before we go further with our current relationship, I have to speak with you. I have to make sure you are sincere to me! Everyone knows that I am a golden bachelor. If you are with me just to show off and make yourself look good at some workshop awards ceremony, I will not allow it! What I want is true love... And I still have to understand if my fascination with you is not just for your body, but also for your personality… Yes, that's right. All this time, I called you "little weakling", not because of contempt for your figure, but because I couldn't take my eyes away when I saw your small body without muscles. It’s like seeing an uncultivated land with unlimited room for exercise. It’s so charming! There is only one way to test whether there is love between us... and that is - Fighting! An adrenaline-filled battle! Drenched in sweat, bloody, and bare-knuckled! Yes, the fastest way to get to know someone is to fight with them! Builder: 1) Then let’s go! -> Pen: Good! Let's meet tomorrow at the gate of the Paradise Lost ruins. Let's fight side by side to destroy those robots from the corrupt era and beat fierce drumbeats on their remains with our fists! I’ll go first! Remember to wear protective gear and be prepared. All for romance! Builder: 2) After falling in love... shouldn't you go on a date? -> Pen: Haha, that's what ordinary people do. I don't care for those old-fashioned ways of falling in love. Only when fighting can I feel truly alive! Builder: 3) But we have already fought many times... -> Pen: Many times?! It's never enough! I'm a fighting expert! For me, this is true love, nothing else but pure fighting and strong love!

Meeting Pen in front of Paradise Lost: Here you are, little weakling! I've been waiting for you for a long time, and I'm a little bored... Let's not waste time, let's hurry in and kill everyone! Get ready, little weakling! Let's show those robots real fighting skills and send them all the way back to their corrupt era! Not bad, little weakling, you have been exercising recently! Robot, take my blow! Punch! Fighting with you... makes my heart surge! That move is awesome, little weakling! Don't let them escape, leave no one behind! Haha, fighting with you is more exciting than I imagined! The thought of being able to "seal love" with you and fight these robots to confirm our relationship... my heart is beating fast! Let the battle become more intense! Come on, let's go in! Awesome, little weakling! It's been a blast all the way. Now there's only one last step left to make our date today even more perfect - Yes! That's it! A powerful elite monster! Come on, little weakling! Show your fists and give the big robot in this corrupt era the coolest blow! Haha... so refreshing... This feels so right... Little weakling, what do you think? I’m having too much fun today... ha, wait! I got it, the most important step is missing!

English: I'm afraid this moment cannot last forever… We must return to the hustle and bustle of city life… But let us always remember this place. Our lovers cocoon where, for one brief evening, the world was ours... Outside Paradise Lost: Goodbye, my love! Expect to see me again soon… I'll swing by your place later for a major make-out sesh!

Chinese: I really want to stay with you for a while longer! But I have to go protect Sandrock. Let us remember this moment and this feeling. No one can take away the energy of this love... … Goodbye then, my dear! I'm looking forward to seeing you next time …… I will definitely have a more exciting date with you!

English: You fell from a cliff and survived? Did someone help you? Or did you simply claw your way back to safety, and crawl to my feet just to see me again. You truly do love me, don't you? Chinese: You fell off a cliff and came back alive? Could it be that someone more powerful than me saved you? Alas, I missed an opportunity to protect you.

English: Knight, Protector, Enforcer, Big Daddy Love Sponge… I go by many names. Chinese: Besides, Knight is just a title. Guardian, Big Brother, Heart-throb... these are my titles!

English: Alright… fine. You want the truth? You can't handle the truth! But… here it is anyway: Miguel totally brainwashed me! Yeah, that's it… He told me, uh, Duvos rules and stuff, and… I was in a bind! I have multiple obligations! Do you have any idea how expensive the holidays are when you're shopping for twelve separate lovers who all think they're my one and only? Plus with Sandrock failing… I had no choice, I needed the money from his scheme… He said if I protect him, he'd give me a portion of his dirty money. Now that I think about it… say, do you think he could be some kind of high level Duvos operative? Certainly seems like it. Not trying to do your job for you or anything, though…

Chinese: Okay, okay, let me tell you... [Player's Name], your pal Peng Hu didn't know anything before he met that bad guy Miguel! Just eat, sleep, and protect the town every day. Until one day he told me that he was working for Duvos, trying to win me over, and saying a lot of things that made sense... I was short of money at that time, so I fell into his trap. Anyway, I am also a part-time worker. What is the difference between working for Sandrock and working for Duvos? Besides, with Sandrock being the way it is, I was saving myself. He asked me to protect him. As long as I did it, I would get a share of the embezzlement money. So I got involved in all this. Could that guy Miguel be a senior member of Duvos? An agent? Maybe he really is! Of course, that's the job of your militia group [Civil Corps], so I won’t say more.

English:

Builder: "How could you do this to me?" Pen: "What can I say, sometimes country trumps love…" Builder: "Please stop…" Pen: "I'm sorry, gotta fulfill my KPI, you understand!" Builder: "I still love you." Pen: "I know." Builder: "You were ugly anyway!" Pen: "Ooph, that might have hurt a mere mortal, but I know you know deep down in your heart that it's not true!" "Hm… to finally face you as my true self… it's invigorating! Now quit playing hard to get, Skinny, and take your place at my side!"

Chinese:

Builder: "How could you do this to me?" Pen: "What else can I do? The Empire is more important than love." Builder: "Don't do this to me..." Pen: "Sorry, [Player's Name]. This is my job, and I have to earn enough performance [points]!" Builder: "I never stopped loving you." Pen: "I know." Builder: "I stopped loving you a long time ago anyway!" Pen: "Haha, that doesn't hurt me. ["That sentence has no deadly effect on me."] Don't deceive your heart, you must still love me deep inside!" "Today I can finally face you with my true identity, and I'm actually very happy. Who doesn't want to be honest with his lover, little weakling? Why don't you come to my side, eh?"

English: I heard from someone in the capital that they experimented on him to make him stronger. Chinese: I heard that someone in the capital specifically conducted experiments on him, that's why he is so strong.

English: Ha! Know one thing about me, Skinny: any declarations I made on behalf of us was true. I make no mistakes, neither in war nor in love. You want proof? Well, it's not like I go around giving everyone nicknames! No… you were special in that regard. Perhaps it was always our destiny to be together… But I'm afraid that thread of fate has been cut short. I have chosen my country over love. Such is the duty of a Duvos Knight. …That's what you wanted to hear, isn't it…?

Chinese: Haha, one good thing about me is that I put real feelings into every relationship. I don't like to give people random nicknames either! Perhaps, ever since the moment I called you little weakling [Skinny Arms], you were destined to be my one and only love. It's just that we're different, and I had to sacrifice our relationship for the greater good of my country. Are you satisfied with this answer?

English: "Goodbye, [Player's Name]. It was... fun. Chinese: Farewell, [Player's Name]. This time it's for real. You're free.

The Protector's description, called "Guardian of Love" in Chinese:

A very delicate bracelet that protects the wearer's wrist. Wearing it gives the wearer a feeling of being emotionally confined. Perhaps this feeling is similar to what Peng Hu often said, "Marriage is a boring bondage".

Pen's letter in Chinese:

Dear [name], I've had a little more time to think lately in this so-called Atara Maximum Prison, and I'm more than a little sorry that I couldn't bring you along to accompany me. Well, it's my fault. Anyway, you are still the most beloved lover I have ever been with, and one of the few that I continue to miss even after a breakup. So, I'm going to forgive you. Yeah - I forgive you.I don't think there's a chance we'll ever be together again. You're just doing what you're supposed to do in your position, so there's nothing to complain about. I should have tried my best to recruit you from the beginning, and it would have been the best way to keep you with me. Of course I don't blame you, you're indeed excellent. I also left you a final challenge. In some ruins, there are a few of my most valuable things, and if you can get them, they're yours. It should be easy to get there, using the tricks I've taught you. My dear little weakling, this is the last time I'll call you that, I believe in your abilities. Remember, don't slack off on your training. We won't meet again. (but 后会无期 can also mean "meeting at an unspecified/unclear date")

WELP, what more can I say :'D

[theharlotofferelden]