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illumwriting · 2 years

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Negotiations

yogtober day 4. Science. Ridgedog, Lalna, Nanosounds. NanoCoffee/Lividsounds and LividDog/Ridgecoffee SFW. 4,092 words.

Nano arranges a meeting between her past mentor, Ridgedog, and her current one, Lalna. To smooth their pasts over and come to an agreement. Canon divergent, relies on general fandom headcanons about Lalna/Yoglabs/Ridge and Lalna attempting to literally dissect the demigod. On A03. Co-written with an anonymous friend. Preview:

Ridge swallows heavily and digs the nails of one hand into his palm, leaving crescent-marks welling with gold just underneath the surface, but not having actually broken the skin. He's very clearly thinking hard about this. About what he's willing to let go of for the sake of making peace with Lalna. What control of himself he's willing to lose.

"No… no tissue samples." Is what he finally gets out, followed by, "But yeah if, if you keep them out, and agree to let me destroy what you took, I'll allow you to take samples of some things."

Lalna doesn't speak for a moment. Sits in actual stunned silence, drowns it by grabbing his coffee and draining his cup. His eyes finally stop being fixed on somewhere past Ridge, and -really- actually look at and over him curiously and optimistically. A combination of feelings Ridge has perhaps only felt come from Lalna at the same time a very, very small handful of moments.

It wasn't hard to get Ridge to come to their base. Nano has simply pinged the admin, told him that she needed a favor, greeted him outside the building, and guided him in. Making sure to avoid walking past Lalna's lab.

And it was easy enough to get Lalna in the breakroom, tempting him with a fresh pack of Jaffa Cakes if he met her there. She'd made sure she had the keys to the one door in and out.

"Nano, what the 'ell!"

That would be Lalna.

"…I did /not/ agree to this, Miss Nanosounds."

That would be Ridgedog.

Nano points vehemently to the three chairs at the break table, and hands Lalna his promised sweets.

"Sit, both of you."

Ridge looks at Nano, looks at the chair with mild disinterest, looks back to her. He had already started to rise up slightly off the ground when he’d seen Lalna. "Can I just? Sit in the a-"

"Boots on the ground. You know the rules, Ridgedog." Nano has yet to stop pointing.

He groans and taps back down, but still doesn't take the chair.

"I'm not doing it." Lalna grouses, mouth half full, cup of coffee in hand. "You've been trying to get us to apologize for years, and I'm saying no."

"For once, I agree with him." Ridgedog is casting looks at the door, and finally he sighs. "But you've locked us in here, haven’t you."

"Yup!" Nano pulls out a notebook and pen, "You two can make good in whatever words you want, but I'm tired of the bullshit back and forth while you all but ask each other to touch again. You're going to set boundaries. Here. Now. So //sit//."

Sheepishly, and with a second, heavier sigh from Ridge, the two men noisily drag the chairs out and dump themselves into them. Coffee cup and pot are placed on the table, along with the snacks. Lalna slouches down in his chair, legs splayed out in front of him; while Ridge sits neatly with his hands clasped between his knees, leaning forward.

They stare at each other in cold silence, Ridgedog stony-faced and Lalna looking more and more uncomfortable, until Nano is done settling into her chair, a mediator between them, ready to take notes. "This is going to be an exchange. Ridge, you give a boundary, then Lalna gives one. If one of you runs out before the other, then so be it. Just keep going."

"Why-" Lalna's verging on sounding like a child, "Does HE get to go first?"

"Because you're going to whine that you can't think of anything, and he's gonna say that you're the one who kidnapped and dissected him first."

Ridge huffs out a laugh through his nose and yanks his leg back to avoid a kick from Lalna. Alright, that’s as good a cue to start as any. "You… know my basic boundary already,” He says, “No samples. Ever."

And Lalna is already scowling. He crosses his arms in front of him and a snap of tense laughter rolls from him. "You're in the laboratory of a scientist, saying he can go fuck himself with his entire hobby and profession, while being a demigod who can shift at will and can play at being whatever he wants."

His tone is sharp because he really does not know how else to talk.

"I want samples. I'm willing to meet halfway somewhere. No ichor, no organs, no whatever the fuck. Only taken willingly, since I have to say it. Skin, hair, other fluids, I'd like."

Ridgedog flinches. The reminder of what he is, of where he is. That he’d been tricked to be here. In the lab. He turns his head away, tucking his chin into the collar of his coat, sitting up slightly.

"I never said that." Ridge mumbles, directly referring to Lalna saying 'You said I can go fuck myself.'

"Doctor Lalna, I don't want you to examine me in the lens of your profession. I want you to examine me for /fun./"

His eyebrows knit together in worry, that these negotiations would stop before they start.

"I have two absolute boundaries. And 'No samples' is one of them. I cannot compromise on this, I'm sorry."

Lalna seems to flare in place, keeping his arms held tightly against him, an on-and-off sneer flitting into place for moments of cruel thoughts and sliding away as Lalna struggles to remain civil and open.

"You're still asking for the process of examining to be left incomplete and unfinished because of your deep paranoia about myself being able to draw logical conclusions about you in any manner in which you do not perfectly control me! Examining leads to questions, questions need research, and samples allow me to do so humanely and efficiently."

Lalna makes a slightly strangled sound, and that scowl etches deep into his face and eyes as he -bites- his own tongue literally and figuratively, forces his phrasing to be less combative.

"What… What if I can take samples of allowed things. While you are present. They stay in sight. You can destroy them yourself at the end of each… session."

"No… no tissue samples." Is what he finally gets out, followed by, "But yeah if, if you keep them out, and agree to let me destroy what you took, I'll allow you to take samples of some things."

"Do clarify what your non-scientific brain classifies as tissue? I already am very aware of your regenerative capabilities, and am going to assume briefly, to speed this discussion up, that you are worried what I might do if I figure that out. It's the key to killing /a god/, to speak plainly. "

Lalna is -not- being malicious. it is the -softest- irritated tone. it is -informative- and -inquiring-.

"If I killed you, Ridgedog, what would I have left to pursue and study? If I put your skin and muscle and organ tissue under a microscope any more than I already have, what do you have to fear if you believe us mortals cannot comprehend the thing that gives you that spark of divinity?"

He’s getting… some sort of strange, affectionate passion in his words. It's certainly still a man who wants to rip Ridgedog apart in a cruel manner for the thrill of it but- These words almost sound… /Reverent./ Lalna has sat up, leaned forward; but the chair under him creaks and he seems to startle out of it.

"…Sorry. Carried away. Ahem. Definition of tissue, please?"

That was… certainly interesting to hear. Ridge isn't sure how to feel about how Lalna just acted. He's, frankly, ignoring all that stuff about 'your tissue samples contain the key to killing you, right?'- instead focusing on what was said after the words 'what would I have left-'

And thoughts are echoing in his mind, of other humans who have expressed obsession with him.

Parvis.

And Ridgedog is really, really damn close to just losing himself in his own thinking again. Lalna leans forward, the chair creaks. Ridge comes back to reality.

He realizes he started staring at some point during Lalna's speech, and averts his gaze again. The fabric weave on the shoulder of his coat is so much more soothing.

"Uh, my… my definition of tissue is one that excludes hair and nails, basically. I will also allow you to take samples of the outer layers of my skin. Full list of things you're allowed is- skin, hair, nails."

"That's agreeable to me." Lalna is back to being awkward, almost defensive as he realizes the ball is in his court, as he realizes it is his turn to set one of these boundaries.

"I have to say something now, huh…"

It -really- shouldn't take him this long to think of something, right? But any action he can think of that he does not want has stemmed directly from something he has done to Ridge first- anything that he might ask for, something that he does not deserve- His expression has shifted, pained and hurt and lost and so uncertain.

He realizes too late that he’s putting all those emotions out there for Ridge to see. Slams back down the shutter to them, tries to collect his scattered thoughts and put something out there that doesn't sound utterly /pathetic/.

"My life. I want this to stay out of my personal life. Nano, Ryth, Xephos- all my relationships. This… whatever we're negotiating here, has to stay in the sterile space of my lab or… //your// homeworld. No one else involved unless we both agree to it. No mention of it outside of this group that is here, present in the building, now."

Oh good! That's a quick, complete answer for Ridge to give.

"I promise. We involve nothing and no-one except for your lab or my world. And if we want someone else besides Nanosounds to have knowledge of this, we have to discuss it. And we both have to agree."

He looks a little more at ease now, slouching forward, back to his previous position. Hands clasped between his knees. His turn.

"I'm sure you can imagine me placing down this line as well, but you will not touch my heart. At any point."

Lalna's not sure why he feels such a wave of relief when Ridge agrees. Maybe it was his brain, instinctively thinking about how Ridge had brought up Lalna's research papers in the past and fearing that Ridge still wanted revenge for those-

Revenge. He should say something about that. In a minute.

"Yeah, no- don't worry. What exactly does that mean for you, so I don't have to suffer through giving another asinine apology after a vicious beating?"

There's a small laugh from Ridge. Not mocking anyone either. Just, laughing at how poorly-planned this whole thing was, how quickly Lalna admits that their past was rife with bullshit.

"Let's see, okay. If you have my chest cavity open and you brush against it with your hand or a tool or something? That's fine! It happens. However, if a hand or tool /rests/ there, for any length of time longer than, let's say, two seconds? /That/ is not allowed. Is that agreeable to you? If I think you touched my heart with actual /intent/, I will react. And this will partially be an instinctual reaction, and for that I apologize."

"Oh, I can work with that." Lalna sounds delighted, being given such wiggle room around something off-limits that he was sure to -brush- the edges of. Ridge's heart was always like that for him, a temptation that sits there and leads him astray down the path away from factual and perhaps actually useful science, into bizarre desire and immorality. Into Mad Science.

It was one of his favorite things about Ridgedog.

"Hopefully keeping our mood light-” He’s settling, actually settling now into how he can be when he's chilled out. "My second boundary is this- No provoking of me like… back then, and certainly -no- things like that. Ever. Mostly for Nano's sake, more than my own."

He's tiptoeing around the words of harsh violence and quite frankly vile details of their actions against each other for the sake of Nano, but Ridge would know -exactly- the lines they had both crossed. Even though they might have previously agreed to, or silently just stopped, or even like just now, are working to deal with it- It worries Lalna enough that he needs this in writing.

A nod from Ridge. Small, short. But an agreement.

"What I do on absolute instinct aside, I will not ever try to… harken back to things like /that./ Neither of us are like that anymore."

He huffs, thinking his words through, "Reacting because you put your hand on my heart for too long is okay; either of us doing /those/ things again, is not."

"But yes, I agree. I will not feed into that part of us. To the best of my ability. Is that agreeable to you?"

This was an important one for both of them, Ridge could tell; and he wanted to give Lalna a chance to refute or amend his statement.

Lalna considers this for a moment, chewing on the inside of his cheek and lips quirking in the way of ‘I thought of something snarky’. He takes a moment to adjust it-

"Seems we can both only guarantee to /try/. Which is fine, yes. My introspections indicate that if… this particular rule is broken, any resulting consequences would be better handled and doled out by Nano." He looks at her, and she gives them both an even look and a nod.

"You both almost done?" She chirps, taking that moment to roll her wrist and check on them both. They'd been talking for some time now, and Lalna's coffee pot was nearing empty.

"Almost, I have several more actually." Ridge says, unclasping his hands for a moment to adjust his cravat, "But they're things I'm much more open to negotiating. Not hard boundaries like those other two."

"I'd need you to ask me every time you want to do these, Doctor, and not try to spring it on me. And I'd need to give my explicit permission before you continue. Don't cut me open, or attempt to view my insides in general, without getting the OK from me."

His hands are back where they were, and he's looking at Lalna's forehead, as opposed to trying to make eye contact. He's feeling more confident, but it seemed to make Lalna uncomfortable last time he tried looking the other man in the eyes. So he doesn't.

Lalna rolls his eyes, and this time the snark slips. "Ugh, really? Do you not know by now I want to cut you open every time you set foot in this building?"

He winces after it comes out- slouches down even further in his chair.

"I mean. Yeah. Sure. I'll ask. You need to ask then too, if you feel like stomping all over me to get your emotions out or doing some awful thing back to mimic what I've done to you. You always go overboard on it."

Well, Ridgedog is no longer looking at Lalna. Time to look at the floor again! A small start passes through his body when he hears Lalna's admission. He may have been aware of the scientist's pervasive desire to cut him open, but it was another thing for Ridge to hear it directly from the man himself. He swallows heavily before speaking.

"Th- Thanks. And yeah, I'll absolutely ask if I'm thinking about doing that. Uh, sorry for 'going overboard' in the past. I know my… reactions can sometimes be disproportionate to the offense."

"And I'm certainly not without blame for getting carried away and forgetting to view you with some semblance of… humanity. On my end."

Lalna taps his foot, a sign he'd like to perhaps not dwell on it.

"Well, that was technically one of mine piggy-backing off yours. Go again."

Ridge looks relieved, finally hearing Lalna apologize for something. It had been irking him, how he’d come in here and been forced to compromise- to find halfway ground for something that Lalna had started, all because of his former apprentices' insistence that they work it out. "The next thing is kinda related to the last one? It's just that, if you write anything down, I want to know that you're doing so."

"Ridge." Oh. Wonderful. Lalna sounds so -whiny-. And he’s absolutely doing it on purpose- using it to cover up the fact that he's saying antagonizing things and making himself seem like a victim here. Never can let Ridge have a moment of peace. "Do you want me to tell you when I piss? What is this?" Lalna waves his hand around the room as if to indicate the thought of his lab littered with notebooks on tables, lined with shelves that house notebooks, waves at the book that Nano is holding- "Here's what I don't write down: the things that don't mean shit to me. If you care that badly, be my guest and read my notes after, but no destroying. You've already made sure that my good name in science is ruined; I haven't been able to publish anything since then."

Ridge’s head tilts slightly at the way Lalna says his name.

"And this is /my/ body we're talking about, Doctor. I will leave your notes intact, but I want to know what you're writing about me."

He leans back a little bit, his arms moving to cross over his chest, and he raises an eyebrow. There is no smile on his face. "Have you considered writing about something that /isn't/ me, actually?"

Nano can't help but -snrk- at that, as Lalna goes back to looking at anywhere but Ridgedog, and a flush works its way across his complexion.

"…No-maybe-no." He whines, "You're my star subject! Everything else is dull, uninspired! There’s a thousand and one things in this universe, and somehow they all can be connected to you-"

"You're doing it again, Lal." Nano taps him lightly on the leg with her pen.

"-A-h--." Lalna hides his face with one hand. "Forget I said anything. You can read my notes, yeah. Go again so I can think of less stupid things to say."

The characteristic eyebrow is raised further, and an amused smile appears on Ridge's face. A noise, probably a laugh of some kind, almost escapes his mouth at the scientist's apparent embarrassment, but he holds it back. His face falls back into something more neutral, and he crosses one leg over the other. "Got it, moving on! Now, these next things aren't so much /boundaries;/ as they are me stating what you are /allowed/ to do. If I am in the lab room, for a session, you are absolutely allowed to study and touch the outside of my body."

"Oh?" Lalna perks up eagerly. Unslouches, just a touch, moves his hand back down to rest on his thigh where Nano had tapped him. "What do you mean, a session? That sounds like the same bullshit as not taking notes. If you're in my lab, you're in my lab."

“You're the one who used the word Session first, Doctor." Ridge takes a breath, a moment to recall Lalna's exact words from earlier. "'-They stay in sight. You can destroy them yourself at the end of each… session.-' That's what I mean. Like, don't bring out the magnifying glass while I'm having a snack in your break room, y’know?" He tries not to think too hard about the way Lalna phrased his last sentence.

"Oh. Right. Lab Session is what I was saying there - if I were cutting you open." Lalna laughs slightly at what sounds like Ridgedog making a joke and talks with his right hand, motioning. "Here, let me make it clear. This building is the base. It's mine and Nano's. Down the hall-" a point to his left. "Are the labs. Mine is labeled, and has several rooms. I can promise your safety outside of there unless you give me the go ahead."

Ridge follows his gestures, nodding faintly. It still makes him wildly uneasy, to know what Lalna does and does not count as his Lab. And that Lalna is using the phrase 'his safety' to refer to not being allowed to touch him. "And I'm drawing a difference between me just existing in your lab, and me agreeing to a session or examination. You may always observe me, though."

"Observations and existing, like now. Exams and sessions like you've seen-" Lalna nods to Nano- "-her do. I can agree to that. I may never go to your world, but similar immunity would be preferred then." He looks into the bottom of an empty cup and at an empty pot and lets out a little sigh. "Personally, I don't have any further limitations that I wish to propose… Easier to work around whatever the test subject wants and play off of that."

"Immunity will be granted. And actually, I just thought of one more thing I'd /really/ prefer if you did." See, Ridge had grimaced slightly at some of Lalna's wording just then. Frankly, a lot of wording he'd been letting slip had made him uncomfortable. But he was willing to ignore them!

Not that one.

"Can you at least not /verbally/ refer to me as 'Test Subject'? That's just rude."

Lalna blinks, has to think for a minute back on his own sentence. "Huh. Sorry. Slipped out, didn't mean it in a derogatory sense just then, so don't get pissed at me. I'll keep that to sessions too." He's starting to get antsy. "Anything else? I really, really need to start a pot of friggin' coffee again. Soon."

"Thanks Lal-/na/." he sighs back, his body language relaxing again. But not too much, as he hopes Lalna doesn't notice how stilted the second syllable of his name had been just then. How almost tacked-on it seemed. How Ridge had almost just called him 'Lal'. Like he would have done before. When they were friends. "And no, that's it really. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head."

Lalna does notice. Softens. Blames the massive amount of talking they've been doing for his next words. "Lal is fine. I was just angry at you still when I told you that couldn't call me that." A long pause. "Sorry, Ridge. Thanks for giving me another shot."

A soft, genuine smile is on Ridge's face now. It's something Lalna has seen a few times before, but not often. "Thanks Lal, for giving me one too."

Lalna lets the niceness sit between the both of them. Tries to meet Ridge's eyes and realizes that the -pleasant- feeling that attempts to wash over him is something he's not quite ready for yet. Stands abruptly, grabs the pot, and beelines to his coffee maker.

"Ok, that's enough sappy bullshit. Ridge, fuck you and your stupid sense of goodwill. Nano, fuck you for bullying me into this. Open the damn door and get out." He's not really that angry, but he needs to let the vitriol out with his back turned as he dumps an excessive amount of grounds into a filter.

Ridge is about to retort, but Nano snaps her notebook shut. "Alright, you heard him. Out you go." The keys jingle as she rises and unlocks the break room door, holding it open it for Ridge and then following him out.

As she escorts him back to the entrance, Ridge is complaining. "That was so stressful, and I /still/ had to fucking compromise on my two biggest, simplest boundaries and-"

Nano puts both hands on her old mentor's back, shoves him lightly over the threshold of the base. "Yeah, but Lalna's happy, and you know he'll stick by his words. Maybe next time you stop by, you two can even manage to hold hands!"

He pulls an unhappy, but friendly face at her, sticks his tongue out. "Sorry, he's your romantic problem now. Just don't -ever- trick me like that again, ok?"

"Never promising! Go home, you big, stupid goofball. Think about all the progress we've made today." They pause, and both look at each for a long moment, a small, silent sadness hanging in the air.

"I'll get him back." Nano breaks it fiercely. "Lal's still in there. Your friend. Don't forget that."

"I don't ever." Ridge gives her a smile, one weighed down with all the things he'd been through, and a small, two-finger salute. "Good day, Miss Nanosounds. Take care." (Of Lal, he doesn't say.)

"Take care." (Of yourself, she doesn't say.)

And then he's gone, and Nano is locking the doors.

#yogtober2022 #ridgedog #lividcoffe #nanosounds #nanocoffee #lividsounds #ridgecoffee #lividdog #yogslash #yogfic #SWyogs

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westernskynaida · 8 years

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Counting Stars

Characters: Xeph, Ridge, Sjin, Sips, Nano, Ryth, Lal, Parv, Strife, Zoey, Martyn, Lom (using shortened names to keep them out of the tags)

Ships: Ridgephos, Ridgecoffee, Zoesounds, Rythna, Littlena, Nanomadia, Sjips, Zoethian, Parvill, Ridgesounds, Ridgian, Rythsounds

Word Count: 4165

Note: This story came about from listening to this song. It was also written for Valentines Day last year. As a big note, as noted there are a lot of ships and characters and a lot of it may not make a lot of sense but these are headcannons and ships between me and my friends. Hope you enjoy

Lately I been, I been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard Said no more counting dollars We’ll be counting stars Yeah, we’ll be counting stars

Ridgephos

“I have work to do, friend…”

Ridgedog rolled his eyes at the spaceman who was leaning on a table, looking over a large sheet of paper he assumed was a blueprint for the next base he planned to make when he had the chance. “And you’ve told me that how many times Xeph and I’m still not dropping it?”

The blue eyed man glared over his shoulder with a sigh. “Ridge…”

“Don’t go giving me that story about how it’s been so long since you’ve been home that you don’t celebrate it anymore. I can ask Zoey and she’ll tell me otherwise.” Ridge smirked seeing the blush appear on the others cheeks. He started to sputter and he held a hand up. “Now now, I know you two didn’t do anything but let me have a chance to show you something.”

Xephos’s eyes narrowed before glancing at the sheet on the table. He gave a short nod before Ridge pulled him close, making him squeak and the two disappeared with a pop as the Reaper laughed.

I see this life Like a swinging vine Swing my heart across the line In my face is flashing signs Seek it out and ye shall find

Ridgecoffee

Lalna was working on a small box that he had found in one of his chests. Kim had taken his screwdriver not too long ago, telling him if he wanted to figure it out that he’d have to do it the old fashion way. He flipped the box over a few times before groaning and shoving it away from him. He stood, stretching from the sitting position he didn’t realize he’d been in for so long.

“Hey puppy.” A voice cooed behind him and a pair of arms wrapped around him, making him chuckle. He glanced over to see the smirking Reaper resting his chin on his shoulder. “Can’t figure out the box?”

“Not yet Ridgey…” Lalna sighed. “Working on it.” He paused, frowning slightly. “What are you doing here?”

“Had a bit of a surprise for you.” Ridgedog’s smirk grew as he pulled Lalna closer to him, making the labcoated man squeak. He chuckled. “Oh come on, you trust me right Lalna?”

“Of course.” Lalna smirked back at him. “You know I’m curious.”

Ridge hummed slightly, pulling his coat around the both of them. “Come on pup. I think you’ll enjoy this.”

With a soft pop, the two disappeared from the room.

Old, but I’m not that old Young, but I’m not that bold And I don’t think the world is sold I’m just doing what we’re told

Zoesounds

The redhead was laying on the bed, tapping her foot to unheard music. On the other side of the room the ravenette was flipping through a book while tapping at an item on her wrist. The two were in a comforting quiet.

Zoey sat up quickly, smiling wide. “Bubblegum!”

Nano jumped, nearly dropping the book she had. She chuckled, turning to her. “Yes?”

Zoey bounced on the bed excitedly. “We should go!”

The reaper gave a small smile, getting up and walking to her. “My princess…you want to?” The redhead nodded, still smiling wide. She chuckled. “Well I can’t say no to that face, can I?”

Zoey jumped off the bed, throwing her arms around her, making Nano giggle. “Yay! Oh yes! It’s going to be so much fun!

Nano chuckled, walking backward to help Zoey off the bed. “Come on my little Mushroom. Let’s go.”

Zoey nodded, pulling her through the door excitedly.

I feel something so right By doing the wrong thing And I feel something so wrong By doing the right thing I couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

Rythna

“Scientist.”

“Mage…”

Rythian’s brow furrowed, looking over to the quiet scientist. He propped himself up and gave a small smile. “Scientist?”

“I’m…just thinking…” Lalna said glancing back at him with a soft smile.

“You want to go, don’t you?” Rythian asked, scratching at his chin.

Lalna rubbed his arm before giving a small shrug. “Only…only if you want to Ryth-.”

“Let’s do it.” The mage sat up, making Lalna jump. The man’s green eyes looked at him curiously. Rythian put a hand to his face speaking quietly at first. “Nether, I can’t believe I’m doing this but, let’s do it.” Lalna jumped to his feet excitedly, making Rythian chuckle. The scientist looked him over with a curious expression. Rythian grabbed his mask, giving him a curious look. “What?”

Lalna chuckled. “Are you feeling alright Ryth?”

The mage stopped, halfway through putting his mask on. “Yes?”

“I'm…just making sure.” Rythian’s eyes narrowed, making Lalna laugh. “I’m just…you seem more excited than I am about this…”

“Fair enough.” Rythian shrugged as the blonde’s smile grew, and finished putting on his mask before opening the door. “You’re excited about going so why not.” He held an arm out, motioning to the door. “Scientist.”

Lalna smiled, hurrying to him. “Oh don’t get impatient mage.”

Lately I been, I been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard Said no more counting dollars We’ll be counting stars

Littlena

“Come on little one.” Martyn was stood watching a small plant that was potted on the table in front of him. The small sprout had started to show above the dirt. He smiled turning to the man that was sitting at the desk working on a camera he’d given him a while back. “Lalna?”

The scientist wasn’t paying attention, making the tree spirit chuckle. He walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Lalna looked up from the camera, his screwdriver still attached to one of the corners. “Hey Martyn!”

Martyn shook his head. “You’ve been working on that thing for hours Lalna…”

“I know but I wanted to make sure it was working for tonight.” Lalna looked back to the camera working with the camera few more moments before Martyn reached over his shoulder pulling it out from in front of him. “H-Hey!”

“You never did say where we were going.” The spirit said with a small smile, giving him the camera again.

“To be honest, flower, I don’t entirely know myself. Just the word of mouth has been to meet up somewhere for a special treat.” Lalna flipped the camera over, checking the viewing screen before smiling wide. “Well, suppose now’s as good a time as any.”

He pushed from the table, making Martyn step back with a curious expression. Lalna walked past Martyn a bit, stopping and holding a hand out. Martyn shook his head with a smile. “We’re heading out?”

Lalna nodded and Martyn hurried to him. The two hurried out the door.

Lately I been, I been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard Said no more counting dollars We’ll be, we’ll be counting stars

Nanomadia

A loud bang from the TV the two girls sat before, making them scream loudly and cling to each other. After a moment the two of them started to laugh and the blonde lowered the owl hat she was holding in front of her face. She looked to the hooded girl next to her with a wide smile. “There’s the laugh I miss!”

“Still hurts Lom…” The voice was quiet and somewhat strained, making Lomadia’s smile soften.

“I know Kim…just take it easy.” She looked back to the screen, the image frozen on the bloodied face of the monster in the move. She shook her head with a sigh. “You know we are such scrubs.”

Kim gave a small chuckle. “I know…we called that he was going to jump out and we still jumped!”

Lomadia shook her head, falling back to the back of the couch. She looked to the hooded figure, before going to put her arm over the other’s shoulder. Kim inched away with a small sorry making the blonde sigh. “Kim, listen -.”

“I told you it’s gotten worse Lom…” The smaller girl’s voice was pained. “I…don’t want you to get infected…please.”

Lomadia frowned. “And now you’re being such a damn scrub yourself Kim!” The smaller girl squeaked, looking up quickly which made the hood fall. A purple of different shades had spread, covering her face. One eye was still the soft gold while the other had turned a dark brown – near black. She flinched at the brighter light which Lomadia quickly shut off for her sake. “I told you I’d stay by you didn’t I?”

“Well yes but -.” Kim sighed, pulling the hood back.

“And I’m going to do that.” Lomadia stood up to find the pair of gloves that had been given to her by Ridgedog not too long ago for this situation and put them on, quickly reaching a now gloved hand out to the girl on the couch. Kim gave her a confused look from below the hood. Lomadia rolled her eyes. “I’m taking you somewhere. Don’t make me call Ridge to teleport you. I know you don’t want that.”

Kim gave a tiny smile before taking Lomadia’s hand and the two left the room quietly, but the happy energies could be felt between them.

I feel the love And I feel it burn Down this river every turn Hope is our four letter word Make that money Watch it burn

Sjips

The door to the room crashed open, making the man lying on the bed spring off with a loud yelp. The grey skinned man in the door gave a laugh before moving into the room. Sjin blinked his eyes wide.

“S-Sipsy? What are you doing? Why did you scare me like -.”

“Shut up you bastard. Let’s go.”

“G-Go?” Sjin blinked quickly, finally standing where he had fallen.

The grey man walked over to him, throwing an arm over his shoulders. “Remember our mantra, you bastard! Big Money, Big Women, Big –.”

“Big Fun.” Sjin finished with a smile. “Of course that’s the Sipsco mantra, Sipsy!”

“Well, we’ve made the big bucks and we don’t really need the big women.” Sips smirked at him, leading him toward the door. “So the next thing is going to be the Big Fun, wouldn’t you say so?”

“W-Well sure but -.”

“Not butt’s but your butt, ding dong.” Sips made it to the door with the farmer and pushed him through. Sjin squeaked from the quick movement, turning to his grey skinned partner. He opened his mouth and Sips smiled wide. “Come on you bastard! You’re going to love it.”

Sjin blinked, his surprised expression softened and he nodded as his boss moved further ahead. “R-Right Sipsy.”

Old, but I’m not that old Young, but I’m not that bold And I don’t think the world is sold I’m just doing what we’re told

Zoethian

A grew wolf lay in the corner of the room, his ears perked up as the white robed mage walked into the room carrying a food bowl. The wolf wagged his tail as the man put the bowl of food down. “There you go Ghost Jr.” He chuckled as the wolf licked his fingertips before moving to the food bowl.

“You’re as good with Ghost Jr as I am with the Mooshrooms Enderboy.” Rythian chuckled as Zoey walked over to him, putting an arm over his shoulder. “Where have you been all day anyways?”

“Had to have a chat with Lalna…” He sighed. “He mentioned something was happening tonight and was wondering if we’re going.”

The redhead smiled. “Well are we?”

Rythian blinked looking at her quickly. “Well…I mean -.” The mage looked at her as she giggled, and moved over to the desk and sitting on the top of it. She smiled at him, swinging her legs slightly. His eyes softened and he chuckled. “Well…I suppose we could. Did you have anything planned, princess?”

Zoey smiled wide, hopping off the desk again. “Nope!”

Rythian chuckled, smiling behind his mask. His eyes widened as the redhead rushed forward and grabbed his hands, tugging him toward the door. She was talking quickly, mentioning that she had Fishton with her and questioning about who might be there and after a moment, they were out the door.

And I feel something so wrong By doing the right thing I couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly

Ridgian

Rythian was sitting at his desk, a couple books open in front of him. He looked between them, taking notes on a scroll that was already nearly halfway full of his scribbles. He rubbed his eyes, leaning back in his chair and groaned when he felt his back pop. He reached toward his chest, closing his eyes, feeling the pearl above his heart.

“Hi Rythian.” The mage jumped, nearly falling out of his chair. The voice who had startled him started to chuckle. Rythian sighed, straightening up and glaring at the coated man that was now standing next to him and lifting one of the books on the table. “I see you’re working on something…” The man smirked, glancing at him from the corner of his eye, which seemed to have a playful twinkle to it. “Again.”

“Yes, I am.” Rythian reached up and grabbed the paper from the Reaper’s hand, making the other man move behind him. His eyes narrowed, trying to watch him while still working on the scroll.

“Well, what'cha working on?” Ridge leaned over his shoulder, the smirk still wide on his face.

Rythian closed his eyes, pausing in his writing with a sigh. “A spell.”

“What kind of -.”

“Ridgedog…would you mind if I asked why you’re here?” Rythian remained calm, hoping that the Reaper had a good answer for interrupting his –

“Glad you asked Rythian!” The Reaper spun Rythian’s chair around, making the mage grip the seat with wide eyes. Ridge was leaning forward with a playful expression. “There’s a place I want to take you to and it’s going to be a blast.”

“Ridge I have -.” Rythian tried to start.

“Work I know, but it’ll just be an evening and once it’s over – if you’re not having a good time, I’ll bring you right back.” Ridge tilted his head. “Deal?”

Rythian’s eyes narrowed, watching the Reaper’s unchanging expression. He turned his head slightly. “Fi-.”

“Great!” Ridge pulled him to his feet and smiled wide. “Off we go then!”

“Ridge! Wait! You can’t just -.” A snap of the fingers later and a small pop, the two of them disappeared.

Lately I been, I been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard Said no more counting dollars We’ll be counting stars

Parvill

The room was quiet, two people on opposite sides. One, a blonde, sat in a chair, reading a boring looking book. The cover read something about business. He sighed, flipping through the page as a man in a black shirt popped up behind him. The dark haired man opened his mouth, taking in a breath and the blonde held his hand up making him stop.

“Parvis. Speak softly and do not yell in my ear.” He glanced up, his green eyes flashing slightly.

The darker haired man pouted, putting his chin on the back of the chair he was on. He whined. “But Will…”

“You can speak, just don’t shout.” Will said, shaking his head. He went back to reading his book.

Parv thought a moment before putting his hands under his chin, still resting it on the back of the chair. “Strifey…I finished reading up on my spell and was wondering if we could go to a placey-place.”

Will stiffened, closing the book. He closed his eyes with a sigh, rubbing his eyes. “Parvis, what did I say about speaking like that.”

The band member looked up a moment, thinking. “That it makes me seem like a child. That if I’m wanting to be a blood mage that I need to act more like an adult.” He tilted his head. “That about right?”

Will’s lip twitched as he looked over his shoulder to look at him. “You missed one bullet point there.” He put the book on the table nearby and turned to face him better. His voice had developed a slight growl. “That I can never seem to say no to that pesky voice of yours…”

Parv’s eyes lit up. “Then that’s a yes?”

Will sighed. “I suppose it – WAH!”

The other man had grabbed him, practically pulling him over the chair and toward the door. Will was attempting to remove his arm from his grasp but failed as they got closer. Parv was going on about where they could go and stopped at the door, smiling wide. “This way Strifey-kins! Let’s go!”

Will rubbed his eyes with his free hand but followed – not that he had much of a choice – Parvis out the door.

Lately I been, I been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard Said no more counting dollars We’ll be, we’ll be counting stars

Ridgesounds

“Voxel…” The reaper looked up from the book he was reading, seeing the ravenette in the doorway. She smiled at him, moving closer to him. “Are you ready to go?”

The reaper pulled the glasses off his nose with a smile, waving his hand making it disappear. He nodded to her and smirked. “I’m ready Kimmy. Have you spoken to the others?”

She nodded. “Everything should be in place and the last minute touches are being dealt with.”

The two reapers hugged before the maroon coated man held her at arm’s length with a smile. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Let’s go Kimmy. I don’t think they’ll start without us but I’d love to get a good seat.”

Kim giggled, seeing the smirk that had crept along his face. She shook her head, grabbing him by the arm, making his smile grow. “Let’s get to it then Mister.”

The taller pulled her into a hug, giving her another kiss before smirking. He held a hand out, readying to snap his fingers. “On three. One…two -.”

“Voxel.” Her own smile had grown into a small smirk. She held a hand out, mimicking his own. “I’d like to do it this time. I’m a bit rusty.”

The coated man smiled, nodding as he lowered his hand. The girl snapped her fingers and the two of them disappeared from the room.

Take that money Watch it burn Sink in the river The lessons I learned Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

Rythsounds

The door burst open, Kim’s eyes wide with excitement. “Shadow! Shadow!”

The mage sitting at the table jumped, nearly tossing the book he had borrowed from a library. He chuckled, putting the book down before looking to her. “Yes Kim?”

“Shadow I just heard from the others that there’s this thing tonight and we should go!” She said nearly bouncing to him. “Lalna said he was taking –.”

“Slow down Kim.” He chuckled, pulling her into a hug and smiled at her. “Now where are we going?”

Kim took a breath, relaxing in his hug. “Well…I don’t really know…it’s been set up for everyone and we were all told to meet there…” She gave a small smile looking up to him. “Lalna’s bringing his camera for his scrapbook.”

Rythian blinked, thinking a moment before kissing her forehead. “Alright Kim we can go. You said everyone’s going to be there?” He gave her a curious look.“

“Well…at least I’m guessing so…when I came to get you I was seeing a bunch of people coming and going places so I think they were getting ready for it.” Kim rubbed her arm, smiling sheepishly. “So…are we still going?”

Rythian nodded, pulling her close. He gave another chuckle before moving to get the mask he had nearly forgotten on the table. “We’re still going.” He chuckled as Kim wiggled out from his hold and hurried toward the door. He paused, tying the mask. “Kim, you know where we’re going right?” She didn’t answer as she hopped excitedly in the door. “Kim?”

“Hmm?” The black haired girl smiled. “O-Oh, yeah! Definitely know where we’re going!”

Rythian shook his head following the excited girl out the door.

Lately I been, I been losing sleep Dreaming about the things that we could be But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard Said no more counting dollars We’ll be, we’ll be counting stars

A large hill overlooked a lake below that had many people sitting along the incline. The water’s surface was reflecting the starry sky above. The older children were playing at the water’s edge, giggling and throwing water at each other. There were younger but they were staying with their respective parents – who were scattered around the hill. A set of blonde twins were sitting some distance away from the larger group of people – laughing at something the other said while making extreme movements with their hands. Gingers, blondes, brunettes, there were many that were along the incline of the hill – many of which were throwing smiles and similar gestures to their own twins. Among the twins, sitting somewhat further than the many doubles, were others who they shared a small wave to many of the others but stayed to their own groups.

At the top of the hill, sat four people – two blondes, a brunette and a red head – watching the ones that were mingling below. The brunette looked to the blonde below her. “I…guess that Void Room came in handy, huh?”

The blonde giggled. “You said Discord made it?”

“Yeah….don’t even get me started…” She shook her head. “Not that I mind since we can use it for something nice like this for all of us.”

The redhead near them smiled. “You can say that again.”

“We just need to make sure it doesn’t use too much energy if we do use it.” The other blonde said with a small smile.

“Of course.” The brunette looked over the hill. “The boys never did say what was going to happen…”

“Just told us all to be here for it.” The redhead moved closer to the blonde and put her head on her shoulder. “Everyone seems excited for it at least.”

Before anyone could say another word, the world seemed to dim again around them and a small light began on the horizon. A moment later it exploded into streams of light – at first white streams which soon changed to different colors of reds, blues, yellows and greens. The children by the water squealed in delight as they ran to their parents. More lights began to erupt from the flame on the horizon. It continued on until there seemed to be a flowing rainbow of colors above them. Lights shifting and changing as they moved across the sky, spots of the dark sky would show through some of the thinner areas – the shining stars seemed to make the colors twinkle more than when they first flew across the sky.

And within moments – it was over. The noise from the groups below had died down to quiet whispers as the streams that had shimmered across the sky seemed to melt into the darkness above.

The four girls smiled to their respective partners before smiling to each other. The held a hand out, and the four of them put their hands on top of each other. The gave a small cheer before they began to giggle, hugging each other before separating.

The brunette fixed the glasses that were falling down her nose, with an annoyed cross-eyed look before smiling. “We may not be able to do this often but we should see about doing it again.”

“I’ll have another show for you when the time comes!” A voice above them made them look up. The long creature of many animals smiled wide at them before curling up and disappearing with some confetti.

“Of course he will.” The blonde with longer hair shook her head.

“That’s Discord for you…” The blonde nearest the brunette shook her head.

The four shared another look before falling back to the hill with laughter. The rest of the group below them began to grow louder, their discussions mingled together again as the children gave excited calls to the ones across the hill and they all quickly made their way to the water’s edge – some more sheepishly than the others.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” The crowd said loudly, making the area erupt in light laughter.

Take that money Watch it burn Sink in the river The lessons I learned

#yogslash #ridgephos #ridgecoffee #ridgena #zoesounds #rythna #littlena #nanomadia #sjips #zoethian #parvill #ridgesounds #ridgian #rythsounds #nanothian #westernwritesthings #holy cripes thats a lot of tags #ridgedog //

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