#I remember my father taking me on the fishing trip | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

josiesullysblog · 1 year

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It’s You

~AGED UP Neteyam x Na’vi reader

~Fluff, kissing, angst, touching, grinding

~Proofread?-no

~Summary- Sun boyfriend x moon girlfriend!!

***

Neteyam met you when you were both thirteen. You were by the water trying to catch a fish with your bare hands. You laughed as you played around, his eyes staring at you with curiosity.

Didn't you know that wasn't an efficient way to get a fish? He came closer, though your back was still towards him. He had his bow in hand and was trying to help you out. “Maybe I could help you out!” you turned quickly glaring at the boy. “I don’t need a boy's help,” you continued back at trying to get a fish, “oh.”

Neteyam stared at you more, “Well are you gonna leave?” you looked at him to which he shook his head, “I can't leave you out here by yourself!” you scoffed, “I can take care of myself just fine,” as you turned you tripped over yourself, but as you fell Neteyam quickly grabbed you.

You both looked at each other, not making a sound before you got out of his arms. “Did my brother send you?” you titled your head, “if he did, you don't have to stay.”

Neteyam smiled, “Nope! No one sent me I just wanna stay,” He didn't know why he wanted to stay with the girl, but he wanted to make sure she was okay. You crossed your arms looking at him, “Fine you can stay,” Neteyam smiled, “but you have to listen to everything I say!” You smiled big as you expected him to say no, “That's fine!”

“So what are you gonna do?” he said as he came up next to you, “well I wanted to go deeper into the forest!” you started walking quickly, “Wait up!” Neteyam tried matching your pace, “I wanna make a pretty bracelet, like the ones my mom always wears. But the beads are a little further out!”

You smiled thinking about the bracelet, “why not have your mom or dad get the beads?” you shook your head, “they can't, they are helping my sister.”

Neteyam nodded, “And the rest of my family are too busy helping her to notice me, so i’m going to get them myself,” you started playing with the flowers around you, “what's your name?” Neteyam asked as he watched you, “[Y/n], what's yours?”

“Neteyam,” you nodded, “cool,” you both kept walking till you finally stopped, “Right there do you see them?” you smiled big as Neteyam’s eyes sparkled at the colorful beads, “Since I was so gracious and let you tag along, you go get them!”

Neteyam shrugged, “That's okay with me,” you watched as he carefully stepped over rocks, as the beads you wanted were on high trees, and took a good climber to reach.

Although you were initially annoyed that the boy tagged along, you found him useful. You were by yourself most of the time, with your parent's attention on your younger sister. She was born, sick that's what you like to say. She was more prone to sickness, and that meant a lot of the time your parents were focused on making sure she was alright.

Your older brother, who seemed the only person to remember you, became like a mother and father to you. Though you saw him as overprotective, you knew he meant well.

“Be careful,�� you said as the boy climbed higher, “when I get down you have to give me a gift for doing this!” you laughed at him, “Okay!”

As he kept going, you both were unaware that you were being watched. Neytiri and Jake were out for a quick walk when Neytiri noticed Neteyam in a tree.

“This boy is trying to kill me,” she said as she stomped closer, Jake right behind looking around to see if any of his other kids were there to see a girl. He immediately stopped Neytiri, “I think he’s trying to impress a girl,” a smile appeared on his cheeks.

Neytiri laughed, “Putting your life in danger is no way to impress someone,” she turned when she noticed Neteyam was down, he handed you the beads to which you smiled, “What's my gift,” you smiled, “What do you want?”

Neteyam thought, “I want to be friends!” Jake laughed watching the boy, “Okay that's fine with me!” you said before turning, “now you have to walk me home, that's how you treat your lady friends.”

Neteyam nodded, “I was gonna do it anyways,” as he led you back he couldn't help but smile. You were beautiful, his eyes couldn't leave you. He kept wondering where you’ve been his whole life.

“Is there something on me?” you laughed as you approached where your family slept. Neteyam shook his head, “No, there's nothing on you,” you then titled your head, “Then why are you staring so hard?”

You laughed harder as you realized the blush appeared on his cheeks. “You're cute, Teyem!” you noticed your brother coming and sighed, “I have to go, but I’ll see you tomorrow?” Neteyam nodded, “Of course!” you smiled before turning around but facing the boy again and kissing his cheek, “bye Neteyam!” you ran towards your brother as the boy stood there smiling.

“Who was that?” Your brother, Alo, said as he watched the boy walk away, “my friend,” you said as you sat down and started getting the beads ready, “the chief’s son wants to be friends with you?”

“Yeah, is that a problem?” you loved your brother but sometimes he could be so annoying, “just watch out, guys don't wanna be friends with girls just cause,” you nodded, “okay.”

Neteyam couldn't wipe the smile off his face, the cutest girl kissed him on the cheek. He smiled on the way to his family, smiled as he help Kiri clean up, and smiled as he saw his parents come home. “Neteyam you seem happy,” Jake beamed as Neytiri rolled her eyes, “I had a good day, sir!”

Nothing could knock him off the tower he was on, “hm I see,” Neytiri said but before she could question more Tuk was in her arms taking her attention away.

The next day, Neteyam was forced to watch Tuk, though he didn't mind any other day, today he wanted to see you. “Do I have to?” he whined as he watched Tuk run around, “Yes, your mother and I have important business,” he sighed, “what do you have going that you so badly want to leave?” Neytiri asked the boy.

“Just wanted to hang out with a friend,” Neteyam said as Jake smiled, “what kind of friend?” Lo’ak ears perked up laughing as he saw his brother go red, “Neteyam has a girlfriend!” the boy laughed loud. Neteyam groaned, “Lo’ak shut up!”

With all the loudness, Kiri was the only one to notice your presence. “Hi,” the girl waves at you, “hello,” you said as you kept your hands behind your back, “is Neteyam free?” you said as you watch him argue with his brother.

“One minute,” she walked over to Neteyam yanking his tail, “you free?” Neteyam held his tail as he turned to yell but was hit with your face. You smiled as his eyes laid on you, “you free?” he faced his parents with begging eyes, “Twenty minutes.” Jake said as he watch the boy run towards you.

You both walked away as Neteyam grinned like an idiot. “Thanks again for helping me yesterday,” you told him as you stood in front of him, “I wanted to give you a gift,” you grabbed his arm before placing a bracelet on it. It had the same beads he gave you yesterday, and a sun gem right in the middle of it. “Like it?”

The boy smiled, “I love it! Thank you,” you nodded, “I made us matching ones,” you showed the one you had on your wrist, “I let you be the sun since you always have that smile on,” you said. “And I have a moon gem!” you beamed at the boy.

“These means were close right, like best friends?” you shrugged, “Sure,” Neteyam laughed, “Neteyam!” the boy turned and saw his mother, “I gotta go,” you hugged him, “See you later,” you walked away as Neteyam’s eyes stayed glued to you, you were perfect to him.

As the years went by, the closer you became to Neteyam. Wherever you were, he was close by, and the other way around. He was your best friend, he knew everything about you and you knew everything about him.

Your stomach moved every time he smiled, you nicknamed him, “Sun,” because his smile was so bright it made you happy. He was your everything and besides your brother, the only other person to notice you.

“Hey Mom,” you smiled as you noticed the bags under her eyes. Your sister has gotten worse over the years, “Nene, how are you feeling?” you smiled sadly, as the woman called for your sister, “It's [Y/n].”

She made a sad face, “Go check on her,” you nodded as you quickly went to, “Nene, how are you feeling?” you immediately grabbed a bowl of warm water and a towel. You smiled as you helped her up and started cleaning her, “worse,” the girl said.

“I’m only gonna get worse,” she gave a sad smile, “don't say that,” you said, “you’ll get better, you always do,” she shook her head, “not this time,” You knew she was getting worse, everyone knew. You just didn't want to come to terms with it.

“You can't leave, me and you still haven't adventured the forest, or picked berries that mom would never let us eat,” you rambled as you set the towel down, “you're going to get better and we’ll play together again,” tears fell from your eyes. “I need you, sissy.”

You didn't like talking about your family, it was a sore spot. Besides Mo’at, no one else knew how bad your sister actually was, well Neteyam did. You cried countless nights to him about her. How you wished you had more time with her.

That you feel bad for your parents and your brother, but Neteyam has always had this calmness to him that makes you feel better. “When you and Neteyam have children, you have to name your daughter after me,” your sister said softly.

You had gotten up to get her food, she had become so weak she can't even walk to have dinner with the clan. “What makes you think that we're gonna have kids?” she sighed, “he always picks you up in the morning, and you both have this lovesick face on all the time.”

You blushed as she spoke, “See, all I did was mention him, and you smile.” you nodded, “he is very cute.” as you both spoke your mother came, “Has she eaten?” you nodded, “have you cleaned her?” you nodded, “I’ve done everything, mom, you can rest.”

“No, I can't but thank you,” she kissed you on the head, “head out and go have fun,” you nodded as you decided to head to the pond. You thought about everything, you and Neteyam, your family. Neteyam was like your family, though your brother would say different.

He doesn't like Neteyam, you don't know why but he has something against the boy. “You could do better,” you groaned just thinking about it.

You were twenty now and could make your own choices. You’ve known Neteyam since you were thirteen and if Neteyam was, “Just trying to get in your pants,” he would've been done something.

You just believed your brother saw you more like a daughter than a sister. That's why he acts the way he does, but as your feelings for Neteyam grow the more you realize he gonna have to deal with just more than Neteyam stopping by.

“Hey,” you heard fast feet behind you, Neteyam smiled at you, “You were gonna leave without me?” he said dramatically, “I thought you had training,” you smiled big at him as he hugged you, “finished early,” his eyes looked into yours as he smiled.

“What,” you said smiling at the boy, “nothing your eyes are just pretty,” you giggled, “thanks,” you let go of the boy and started walking, “how’s your sister,” you sighed thinking about her, “not too good, but she spoke much more today!”

You tried staying positive, “what did she say?” you blushed thinking back to what she said, “she wants me to name my daughter after her,” you said causing the boy to laugh. Neteyam only ever saw himself with you, nobody could amount to your beauty.

To your laugh, your walk, the way you talk, or the way you move. The way his name comes out your mouth, the way your eyes sparkle when you see something or someone you love. Nobody could ever be you, and he knew if he ever mated with another, he’d be searching for you in them.

“Your daughter would have a beautiful name then,” you nodded, “yeah she said you’d be the father,” Neteyam couldn't help but beam. “Is that so,” you faked pushing him away, “She obviously knows you have great taste.”

You laughed, “That's enough,” you both approach the pond and you immediately picked up speed. Neteyam watch as you dipped your toes in, watched how your hips moved side to side. He most definitely was going to give you a child.

He wanted to provide for you, make you happy, and be an amazing father and dad. He wanted to be the best thing to happen to you if your brother would let him. Neteyam tried hard to make the boy like him. He was polite, he treated you right and brought you home every night. Neteyam didn't have a big ego, but what was there to not like about him?

He was the perfect person for you, so he thought maybe your brother was projecting. That's the only reason he could think of, “Gonna join me?” you cut his train of thought off, “of course.”

Though you both never said it, both of you knew you’d end up together. Even if your brother said no, or Neteyam was constantly focusing on his training. At the end of the day, you two were meant for each other.

You splashed water on him, “what's got you thinking so hard,” the boy smiled, “just the future,” you nodded, “scared?” the boy sighed, “Kinda, but I know I’ll be okay,” you stood in front of him, “I have you,” he said moving a braid out your face.

“Hm,” you got closer, “what if your parents find you a mate,” you always teased the fact Neteyam was meant to be the next clan leader at him. Cracking jokes about how his parents will find him, someone, if he doesn't.

“Guess all your Tsahik training would go to waste,” he said getting closer to you. “A shame,” you smiled, “a real shame,” Neteyam said before closing the gap. He grabbed you by the waist to bring you closer, you straddled his lap placing your hands on his chest.

His hand moved to your hair, as he broke the kiss. “Fucking perfect,” he said as he yanked your head backward, showing off your neck. As he kissed your neck, you moaned out loud. Smiling to yourself you started grinding down making the boy hard.

He brought himself back to your lips, “your beautiful,” he whispered. You smiled but that smile was taken when you felt Neteyam being ripped away from you. “What the fuck are you doing?” Your brother hissed at you both. “Fuck.” was the only thing going through your mind.

***

Hey guys!! I’m so excited for the summer, I’ll finally have a consistent posting schedule!!! I’ll be posting next weekend, till then!!

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billthedrake · 6 months

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FISHING TRIP

(mmmmh)

(hmph) Can't sleep either, buddy?

[quietly] No sir.

Guess this bed is kind of hard.

It's not that Dad. I'm... well, I'm kind of horny.

When are you ever not... oh jeez, yeah you're rock hard all right. I thought I took care of this bad boy pretty well.

You did, Dad. Only, I was thinking how we have the place all to ourselves. Not having to hide this.

We have all week, Will.

It gets me hard hearing you say that, Dad.

(growls in bedroom voice) Well, we have all fucking week, son.

I like hearing you cuss.

Yeah?

It's a strange thing I guess, but growing up you never did around us. Even if you got real mad.

(Breathes excitedly) I'm fucking you, Will. So you'll probably be hearing a lot of inappropriate things from my mouth.

Fuck!

God that dick's so hard... pressing into me. Come on, son, feel me up.

Love it Dad.

Scoot closer... there, that's it. Feel your old man's cock.

It made me sir.

Damn straight. Made you and took your cherry.

Best night of my life Dad.

(Kisses)

Fuck... you're pretty hard, too, sir.

Listen to who's talking like a sailor now.

(Laughs) I remember you grounded my ass the first time I dropped the f-bomb.

You were testing our authority. Cocky little shit.

I was just craving some attention, Dad.

(More kisses)

Damn, boy. You kiss your cheerleader girlfriends like that?

Unf, fuck.... I usually have to go softer with them, Dad. More like this... (soft, slow kissing) See...?

You can feel it, right, Will?

Oh yeah. That made you even harder. Jesus, that cock is like steel now, Dad.

Can't believe I can get up again already, actually. I'm 48 and not a teen.

You're a stud, Dad. A real fucking stud.

Damn... those fingers feel nice, son. OK if we just take our time? Just feel each other like this before getting to the main event?

(chuckles) What's the main event, Dad?

You know damn well, you little tease.

(More kissing, longer this time)

You like that, sir.

Goddamn, buddy. That cheerleader kiss of yours drives me wild.

Is that what is, Dad? The "cheerleader kiss"?

I'll say. French kissing your father like we're on a first date.

Oh fuck!

Guess that's your magic button, buddy. I can feel that steel rod in my fist twitch like crazy.

One of my buttons, sir. You keep showing me more.

It's just day one of our fishing trip.

Almost day two. What time is it even?

I dunno. Three? Four in the morning? We've not even been here twelve hours and we've already had sex twice.

Gonna make it three times, sir?

Grr... fuck, yeah. (kisses) You know, your mother and I never have sex three times in a night.

Real honeymoon sex, right, Dad?

You got it, buddy.

(more kissing)

Nice, Dad... I think you're getting the cheerleader kiss down, yourself.

(chuckles) I got some more experience in the sack than you, remember?

I can't forget. You got a thirty year head start on me, sir.

Hmm... damn you have an incredible bod, buddy. Just leave feeling ya up.

Feel away sir. Won't ever get sick of it. Promise.

(Kissing)

I'm leaking now.

Yessir. So wet.

Hm, why don't you climb on, buddy? Or are you too sore?

A little sore. But a good sore, you know?

I do.

(Surprised) Dad... you ever... you know, get fucked?

It's been a while, buddy. But there have been a couple of men who've done me like that. Years ago.

Maybe I can... if you'd let me.

It's probably gonna happen, son. This week. But right now, I really need inside ya.

Yessir.

Inside my baby boy.

Not a baby anymore, Dad.

That you're not, kiddo. Big stud jock.

God, you're so hard... and wet.

My lacrosse jock son.

(chuckles) You like being a lacrosse dad?

In more ways than one. I love being there for ya, Will.

I love having you there, Dad. At the games. And after.

Fuck. You're so tight. Even still.

I'm glad. Want this to be good for you, Dad.

You have no fucking idea, baby boy.

Three times in one night, Dad. I have a pretty good idea.

I'm gonna have a hard time keeping up with you, stud.

We'll see Dad. You can hold your own... fuck, you feel big.

I'm not too big, son.

You try sitting on one this size. Shit.

We don't gotta, kiddo.

Like hell we don't. Just let me go slow.

You got this, Will.

Unngh.

That hole is real fucking wet.

You made it like that, Dad.

What did you call it? Honeymoon sex.

Fuck!

Oh yeah, you're opening up for me buddy. Yeah... just like that.

Fuck me, Dad.

And we got a whole week of this.

A whole fucking week, sir.

If I can get it up after a day of this.

We'll probably need some sleep too, Dad.

Probably.

(bed rocks)

God, yeah, Dad. Pump into me.

Ride me, son. Ride your daddy.

I love holding onto you, sir. All of you.

I'm not a lean young jock like you.

You're perfect, Dad. All of you.

(bed rocks harder, springs squeaking)

God fucking damn.

Ung! You got some real power behind that beef. Fuck!

(grins)

(lets go of his cock)

Too much?

Don't wanna cum yet. At least not before you.

It's gonna take me a little longer this round. Sorry, kiddo.

Take as long as you want, Dad. You're in me, and that's all I care about.

Fuck, that ass is incredible. Wet and silky.

Better than mom?

You should ask me that, kiddo.

I know. Just like getting you worked up.

(bed squeaking)

Holy... fucking... shit... son!

UGGGH

(bed sounds slow down, then stop)

Whoo... let’s take a break.

Yeah.

(soft kissing)

Gonna roll us over buddy.

Yep. You're more a missionary guy, Dad?

At least to finish off. I like doing the driving, you know.

Yeah, I know.... UNNGH... fuck yeah, Dad. Nail my ass.

You... got it... kiddo. Daddy needs a fuck.

Not been four hours since our last.... oh shit.

That your spot, kiddo? Daddy gonna punch your spot?

(incoherent moans)

Let it out, baby boy. Just us up here in this cabin....

Oh Dad! Oh fuck.

Father and son... fucking like bunnies. Like newlyweds.

I'm gonna...

Let it all out, son.

Oh fuck, OH FUCK!

Your dad's cumming too, Will. Cumming up your sweet hole.. GODDAMN!

(heavy breathing, then kissing)

That was incredible, Dad.

You got that right, son. Jesus.

No... don't pull out yet.... I like having you on top of me.

I'm not too heavy?

A little, Dad. But I like it.

Oh fuck... shit. I can feel your cum between us.

Ha. I can smell it too.

(kissing)

You getting sleepy, buddy?

Not really. I guess we have an early morning ahead. What time we gotta get up for fishing.

There's probably not much fishing gonna get done this week, is there, buddy?

No sir. Just fucking and sleeping.

Six more days of it.

You're getting soft, Dad.

I told ya, buddy. I'm 48. And that was round number three.

No, I like it. For real. Like feeling you slip out of me.

You're something else, kiddo.

Can I ask a favor of you, Dad?

(settles back down onto the mattress) Sure, Will.

This week, sometime... I want you to share a secret with me.

You mean something other than the fact I'm fucking my own son?

(chuckles) Besides that.

I'll think it over. Think of something.

Tired?

Fraid so. You drained it out of your old man.

Just tell me if I'm being a pest at any point.

You're not being a pest, Will.

(softly) You asleep, Dad?

(groggy, deep voiced) Not yet. Not far off.

Can I feel your cock one more time?

Um hm.

Nice. I like feeling it soft too. My dad's cock.

Hmmm.

Love ya, Dad.

Love you, too, son.

#drakestories

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misterier · 7 months

Note

Hi! Can I request enemies to lovers relationship with Jack Marston and tall Male reader? (Or at least taller than him). It doesn't have to be long, head cannons are fine :)

oo yeah ofc!! I went for head cannons in storyish form so it hope it's not too goofy, also my dyslexic ass read john at first so sorry it took a bit

high honor jack marston is my pookie the idea of him with low honor hurts me so high honor it is

also sorry for pushing the charthur agenda but it's burned deep within my soul, I must release it

also spoilers ig for the first & second game but if your requesting jack you prolly already know all that

i grew up lovin' the marstons and they mean the world to me sorry if i get rambly and long with his hcs</3

Jack Marston<3

-With Jack, it's more rivels than actual enemies, and it likely starts when the two of you are teens; maybe you live in some ranch across from his.

-Your mothers or dads are friends, so they're a little concerned. As far as they know, two teenagers forced to hang out should be great friends.

-Jack is 100% a little mama's boy, so when he's not hiding out reading, he's helping her do housework and complaining about you. It's not like he's got a good reason to hate you either; he just doesn't like you.

-Abigail's heard, John's heard, Uncles heard, and even the dog has heard.

-The entire dinner table is tired of his constant whining about hating your 'annoying' ass.

-Hell, even his aunts have heard whenever they ask about his nonexistent social life, Mary-Beth seems to think it's a crush the way he gets so flustered, rambling on about how much he hates you, but he denies it in an instant.

-Equally, you hate him as well, bragging about your height difference. Every time you're forced over to his house to hang out with him in his room (despite his pleading to not leave him alone with you), you'll put his books on the highest shelves.

-His father was once given permission, and assuming some quality time together would fix your relationship, he takes the two of you fishing. (Jack, of course, complains, asking why he was stuck doing the two things he hates most, fishing and spending time with you.)

-During that trip, John warns you to look out for branches so you don't bash your head in. Jack prays you would so you'd shut up and stop looking at him like that.

-Whenever Charles is able to visit them, sometimes Jack will find him and his mother talking outside in the dead of night, speaking of a man he can only just barely remember the silhouette of--Jack sometimes is glad he can't remember those days when he sees how frustrated his father gets about his past—mostly when his mother mentions the man who had apparently been like his father's brother. It's a painful name to speak in their house, and he refuses to even ask anymore now that they hardly mention him anymore.

-The gist of you and Jack's fighting is just petty arguments and insults. His mother warns him about things like that, saying it's not healthy for a boy his age to be so bitter towards another who's done nothing to him, insisting he tries to make friends.

-He tries to listen to his mother; as much as he teases her, just like his father, he respects her greatly and looks up to her, and if she told him to do something, he'd do his very best to listen to her wishes.

-Jack does a bit better at keeping his insults to a minimum. The two of you are nothing near friends, but y'all slowly stop it with actual hurtful comments.

-Just like annoying ol' uncle grew on his father, he was beginning to tolerate your presence until he and his mother were taken by the government while his father hunted down his old 'family'.

-Once they're home, you're not around anymore, and neither are your parents. You moved due to fear of being caught up in all that, and he's bitter about it.

-The day John and Uncle die, your family sends their condolences.

-For as long as his mother is alive, he does his damnedest to keep the ranch alive and working despite her deteriorating health. Tilly visits a bit more when Abigail gets worse, and her husband tries to help—a respectable man even with his high class—though Jack refuses, wanting to take care of it all himself.

-The day his mother dies breaks him--the only blood family he had left.

-He enhatrets all his fathers' things, nobody to stop him from looking through it, he finds journals, and he reads the older one first confused by the handwriting that he was sure wasn't his fathers chicken scratch, but he reads it anyway, admiring each drawing and word, some even speaking about the writers conflicted feelings about still longing for a woman but beginning to feel himself crave a man, willing to let go of her if it means he has the chance to be happy again--queerness had never been something shamed upon or uncommon in his house, he'd heard of it from hangings and his parents speaking about it being wrong that they'd be hung for love--telling Jack that he shouldn't be afraid to love who he wants and to fight for it.

-The fancy writing nearly seems to abruptly stop when things begin to get dark. Switching to his father's writing gives him an appreciation for his father and what he's been through, but even through that, he can't help but crave revenge. He always was an angry young man.

-He wants to put Edgar Ross' death behind him, trying to be a functioning man of society as his mother wanted for him, though his hand still itched for his gun.

-The land was becoming too dry; there wasn't much he could keep alive, and he needed money, so he decided to try and find work. Not many would take him due to his father's name, so he usually hangs around the blackwater bar to sleep in the rooms above it, only visiting his home on weekends to take care of the house and the graves.

-Eventually he finds work, by some old fella speakin' about how desperate this man was for a ranch hand and how it was nearly sad how much they needed it.

-Late at night, he shows up on your doorstep, looking for work after all these years. You would have laughed in his face if it wasn't obvious how much both of you needed this.

-Similar to Bonnie and John's situation He lived on your property for a while, though there was enough room in your house for him, so he worked for you and slept in the guest room.

-There's no room to argue like you did as children. though only nineteen, the two of you are much more grown than you'd like to be with both of your families gone. Now it's only a few quips and jabs.

-There's no women working for your ranch, so you have to trade 'womanly' chores. Jack used to help his mother with hers, so he doesn't mind, but he forces you to help as well.

-You two become friends, despite still bullying each other a little. Him joking about you hitting your head when walking into the barn (you're tall, but not THAT tall), and you telling him his eyes will go bad from staring at those small print books all day.

-The closer friends you two become, the more possible your relationship is to become romantic. Neither of you are sure when you figured out you were in love with each other; it sort of just happened.

-You kissed his cheek goodnight once before you parted ways with him in the living room to return to your bedroom eary and it became tradition. For months, that was how the two of you parted. The next day, before he left to go back to his family's ranch to clean it up, he called you over to his horse—taller than you—for once and kissed your forehead before turning quickly and spurring his horse off.

-As socially awkward as he is, he's very open, flirting with you, not very romantic, but then again, you two aren't exactly romantic; if anything, your relationship is more of a mean friends with benefits kind of situation.

-If you genuinely want to call it a relationship, you'll have to bring it up to him, or he won't really notice or care.

-If you want to be lovers, he'll accept it. You two still have separate rooms, and yet you fall asleep in his most of the time.

-Even if you can read, he likes reading you, with his back against the headboard and your head on his shoulder. he likes feeling taller than you, though he obviously isn't.

-This man tried nailing broken boot heels to his to make him taller and ended up twisting his ankle and falling flat on his face.

-Learns to deal with and accept the fact your taller, though hes unnaturally bitter.

-Everytime he heads home, times becoming less frequent now. He sits at the foot of his mother's grave and talks about you and his life; he brought you once but never did it again, he prefers his visits to his family's graves to be private.

-Even years into your relationship, he won't stop praying you'll bash your head on the doorframe. The day you do, he marks it on his callender and calls it the day he became a happy man, ignoring your unofficial anniversary and calling it a close second.

#jack marston #jack marston x male reader #jack marston/male reader #rdr1 x male reader #red dead redemption x male reader #jack marston x reader #kacey cant tag for the life of him #im alive omg

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ell0ra-br3kk3r-writes · 1 year

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The Phoenix and the Crow

part eleven

pairing: (hinted) kaz brekker x fem!reader

genre: netural

el's thoughts: this was the hardest part to write... and the shortest haha but it's here and done so there ya go. please remember to comment and reblog :)

masterlist

The wind made Y/N’s hair dance wildly around her as she leaned her hip against the side of the ship. She had heard all about the uprising privateer’s flying ship but had never got the chance to be abroad. Her eyes closed as she relaxed at the feeling of the cold wind around her. She felt free and untethered while in the air, the same feeling she had felt the first time she rode her horse across the palace grounds.

She circled around to look across the deck of the ship, mentally doing a head count of everyone on board. Nina stood beside Inej listening to whatever the suli spoke of with much interest. Jesper and Wylan were glued to each other's sides while they looked out at the water, pointing every once in a while to a fish they saw. Toyla stood at the wheel while Zoya paced the quarter-deck before waving her hands every so often to push the ship a bit faster. Kaz sat on the steps up to the quarter-deck with his leg stretched out in front of him, they made eye contact for a moment before Y/N smiled gently and looked away.

“Catch me!” The small voice was heard over the strong autumn winds that blew around them as the young child threw themselves into Y/N’s arms. She laughed and spun her brother around the best a ten-year-old could do to a six-year-old.

“Oooh a stowaway on my ship?” She bounced him onto her hip to keep him up. He shook his head fervently as peels of laughter fell from his small pink lips. “You know what I do to stowaways?” She spoke in a loud voice making it deeper to fit the character she acted out. The little boy laughed louder, “No! No! Please!”

“I’m sorry, young man, but it must be done!” She giggled as she tossed him into the giant pile of leaves their father gathered that morning. They both laughed louder as she threw herself down next to him.

The familiar clicking of a cane sounded from behind her and dragged her out of her memory. She didn’t need to turn around to feel him stand behind her.

“You look better.” His voice was clipped but still seemed kind. Kind enough when coming from the bastard of the barrel that is.

She scoffed, “What did I look bad before?”

Kaz shrugged, and the corner of his lips quirked upward. “You look healthy.”

She turned bashful now knowing the fact that he noticed her lack of strength the last few days. “I feel better… Must’ve been the hallucination, honestly.”

“What did your toxin trip reveal to you?” He leaned closer on his cane, hardly noticeable but her sharp eyes caught it—the curiosity in his eyes. The same tiny spark of hope that she felt in her chest reflected in his eyes. But before she could give in and tell him what she saw in the hallucinations the Darkling’s voice echoed in her mind again. And instead of sharing and being open, taking the same step he did, the words that tumbled out of her mouth were the words that had been repeated to her all throughout her years at the Little Palace.

“Hope is dangerous. Clouds your judgment.”

She didn’t tell him what she saw, how could she? She hardly knows this man despite the fact that her brain thought otherwise. She knows more about him than he knows of her. She’s pieced together some of his past and her heart ached for him. Life wasn’t fair and it was obvious in both of their lives.

Y/N turned to look up at him as he leaned on the railing beside her. The need to tell him had come back and only grew stronger when she noticed the same curiosity across his face. “The Darkling. That’s who I saw.” It wouldn’t hurt to share some of it. “Reminding me of everything I could never have despite my childish wishes and dreams.”

“From where we stood it looked like he reminded you just how powerful you are as well.”

She shook her head, “He reminded me of the monster he made me.”

“The Phoenix is hardly viewed as a monster. From what I’ve heard you’re just as much a Saint as the sun summoner. The most powerful inferni to walk the earth.” Kaz didn’t look at her as he spoke, only kept his eyes trained on the sea below them, his voice was almost teasing.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to be known as powerful because of my gift or- or because of the Darkling, or because of fear. I… I want to be powerful because I moved forward despite the odds. If people were to fear me, I want them to fear the name I built for myself.” She squeezed the rail under her hand. “I envy you for that reason… if I were to speak honestly.”

This caused him to look down at her, confusion swam in his eyes.

“You created a name for yourself, a name that brings people to their knees.” The pair smirked at the memory of the Dime Lions’ gambling den. “Literally.”

A warm feeling grew in Y/N’s chest at the easiness of the conversation. There was nothing strange or awkward about talking to him, she felt like she could tell him anything even though she knew it was best not to. She wondered if he felt the same ease of the conversation or if it was all just in her head, but from the look in his eyes and his relaxed shoulders, it was safe to assume he felt it.

“It’s fake.” A dark look flashed over Kaz’s face as the words fell from his lips. “My name, it’s fake.”

Y/N only nodded, moving so her back was against the handrail. “Kaz is a fake name?”

“Brekker.” His eyes met her’s for a moment before looking away. “Brekker is a fake name.”

She hummed, “We all do things for reasons only we know.” Twisting her fingers around each other, she sighed. “There are plenty of things I’ve done that if I had taken the time to actually think it through… I wouldn’t have made those choices, but in the end I’m standing here today and I wouldn’t be if I hadn’t made thoes choices. So, I wouldn’t change anything.”

“I wouldn’t-” Kaz was interrupted by Toyla shouting that they made it. Inej, Nina and Zoya all walked to one side, waiting for Y/N.

The inferni gave Kaz a tight smile, “Well, I’m off.” She pulled her shoulders back as she walked to where the other girls stood waiting.

Kaz watched in astonishment as the girl with whom he had just carried an intimate conversation with slipped back into the formal behavior that came with being a soldier. It was as if she had put back on a stoic and formal front, slipping back into her all too familiar mask. It was as if Y/N had only allowed herself a short break from such a pretense for those few private moments with him.

~*~*~*~

taglist:@rachelcarroll1819 @xcharlottemikaelsonx @khaleesihavilliard @simrah1012 @foulkryptonitepeanut @astridyoo15 @queenofshinigamis @peakyispunk @jahayla-parker @maliciousbrekker @brekkershadowsinger @winstonthecow22 @lee-says-things @bunneex @writingmysanity @sleepynightchild @madnessinwrighting @romanticvampire

#kaz brekker #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker x you #kaz brekker x y/n #six of crows #six of crows x reader #six of crows imagines #shadow and bone #shadow and bone x reader #shadow and bone imagines #ellora.writes #fic: the phoenix and the crow

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siphoklansan · 11 months

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700 Followers Milestone Celebration🎉

Introducing…

꧁𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝗺𝗼𝐥𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡꧂

༄ชรินทร์ กมลนัฐ༄

“Could that be a fish-tail swishing behind his legs?”

Height : 178 cm.

Birthday : 17th of July

Homeland : East of Scalding Sands

Best Subject : Defense Magic

Club : Pop music club

Talents : Khon Dancing

Hobby : party, watching plays

Likes : going out, playing wood wind instruments

Dislikes : carelessness and cockiness

Favorite food : any type of noodle dishes (bonus points if they have lotus roots in them)

Least favorite food : artificial butter or ingredients in desserts

꧁𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜꧂

"𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞" The ability to put someone in a trance. The trance will show their darkest fear or deepest desires, depending on Charin’s intentions. The victim will be put in a trance when Charin summons a large lotus on the ground (kinda like a booby trap). If the victim steps in the lotus then off they go into dream land, they’ll just stand there with pale and dull eyes, completely still. The longer they take to break out of the trance, the more energy it consumes from both Charin and the victim.

The victim can fall unconscious if they’re in a vulnerable mental state or they take too long to snap out.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧 : Warriors are adorned with talisman (tattoos) , giving wearers resistance to black magic and blot. And also some resistance to normal physical damage (ex. a normal blade, a bullet)

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝗺𝐚𝐧 : Charin is half merman. Though he can’t transform into a one, he possesses a skill that can swim just as fast as any merman.

꧁𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝗼𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧꧂

I originally planned a second ability for him. He can summon tiny lotuses that can heal minor injuries if you eat them. It’s like a family thing, since he comes from a family of healers and such, but I decide to cross out the idea.

Charin is also based on the literature piece Ramakien like Anan! He’s inspired by the character…..*drumroll please*….Muchanu! (มัจฉานุ). Muchanu is the son of Hanuman, they’re both Yakshas. But Hanumna uh did the devil’s tango with a mermaid so yeah..there’s Muchanu🧍‍♀️

I originally planned for Charin to be based off Hanuman (หนุมาน), but I decided to go for Muchanu for shits and giggles. I just think the fish tail is so cute I couldn’t pass it up.

If I remember correctly, Muchanu is a goody-two-shoes and is kinda like a side character. I don’t think he had that much screen time.

I created Charin because I had a feeling that if I was in Twisted Wonderland, alone with no magic and no one that’d speak my native language, I’d be lonely as hell. So Charin is like a comfort character to me<33

His hair resembles a lotus (doesn’t really look like it but yeah) it’s not a blooming lotus though. And his hair is not a bun.

His big ears represents Yakshas that are related to monkeys(?) (or just monkeys. They draw monkeys pretty similar to yakshas (in the literature piece)

The swirl-pattern on his cheeks is something I notice in a lot of monkey character designs. Or maybe I’m tripping and I’m remembering it as something else but I swear I see it from time to time😭

꧁𝐀𝐛𝗼𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧꧂

Since Charin is (half) merman, he loves water sports! He loves going to the beach, go diving in the deep sea, he surfs too! He goes to the local beach so often that the people (and workers) there know who he is.

Charin’s a very fun guy. He loves to party too (he gets along with Kalim well too, and they’re both in the pop music club!) But he’s not that energetic to the point that it’s suffocating, he knows when to have fun and when to stop.

As the body guard of Anan, he doesn’t seem to be strict at all. It’s not because he doesn’t care about his job (maybe), it’s because…well….could any one actually beat Anan? Jokes aside, he may have a baby face and is fun to be around, but he’s actually way stronger than he looks. His father’s lineage are warriors that served the King of Yakshas, so I guess that’s where he got his skills from.

But hey, don’t get scared now! He’s a pleasant guy, he wouldn’t start a fight unless you give him a reason to. Though…he wouldn’t say no to a spar or two. Show him what you got, he won’t judge! Charin’s not the type to play dirty too, unless the situations are dire, of course.

Charin, ever the mysterious guy. You wouldn’t even know he had a fish-tail until later. He likes to hide his tail for unknown reasons.

Charin has a habit of being flirty, but that’s just a part of his personality. He doesn’t even know he’s flirty! And he’d get so confused that someone caught feelings. Hm? What do you mean you like him? He thought he was just being friendly…

YOU GUYS….THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 700+ FOLLOWERS🎉💓💓 I can’t believe I got this far omg😭 I’m so glad you guys stuck around even though I don’t post that often hjkggjgkgh I have so many things in my draft that I wanna post! You can check my agenda post (in my pinned post) to take a look!! I had so much fun on this app. The community is great and I’m already looking forward to posting more content (ง'̀-'́)ง I had A LOT of fun drawing my OCs (Anan and Charin) and I get to share it with you guys!!!<333

Lmk if you have any questions about Charin, you can barge into my ask box and ask away!♡´･ᴗ･`♡

I would also like to end this by saying that if you are knowledgeable about Ramakien and you would like to correct some information in this post (or my other oc’s post) PLEASE DO!! I haven’t read about Ramakien in a longgg time, so feel free to correct me on anything! I’d appreciate it SO MUCH!<3

#twisted wonderland #twst #disney twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #twst oc #twisted wonderland oc #original character #twisted wonderland original character #☂︎︎siphok-museum☂︎︎#my little bby is here!!#THANK YOU FOR 700 FOLLOWERS AGAINNN<333333 #I LOVE YOU ALL MWAH MWAH

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clarepreed · 3 months

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Fade Part Five: Fated End

Story Content and Summary - 9,243 words. On a visit to meet Deirdre's family, someone from her past attempts to take matters into their own hands, potentially extinguishing her light forever. Torsades de Pointes, on-site resuscitation by both humans and fae.

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four

“Where are we going?” Archer laughed, eyeing the washed-out dirt road they’d just turned down. “And I’m glad I’m driving; would your hatchback make it down this road?”

“I’m pleased that neither of you asked me to drive my car,” Asa said from the back. “And Fae wishes that we were not in the car at all.”

Deirdre turned to look at the carrier buckled into the empty seat next to Asa. A quiet mew found her ears, and she saw Fae move restlessly behind the mesh of the carrier. “Oh, poor little one. Would you get her out for me, Asa? I’ll hold her.”

A moment later, his long arms reached between the front seats, Fae’s furry gray body caught gently in his hands. Deirdre scooped the kitten from him and brought her against her chest, cooing soothing words into her ear. A few seconds later, Fae started purring, evidently no longer concerned by the harsh rocking of the SUV.

“This road is not maintained on purpose,” Deirdre explained. “There’s another road on the other side of the mountain, with a guardhouse. It adds over two hours to the trip. This is a service road with a gate about halfway down. I will get us in. The road is like this to discourage visitors.”

“Doesn’t deter four-wheelers, it looks like,” Archer noted, his eyes on the road.

“No.” Deirdre laughed. “That’s what the gate is for. Not much has changed… when I left, human teenagers were passing the ‘No Trespassing’ signs with great regularity. Of course, you must remember; we do want some interaction between fae and humans.”

Archer glanced over at her and smiled. His warm eyes held contentment and his posture seemed relaxed despite the rough road.

“So…” Asa spoke from the back, his tone droll. “Forgive me, but could you explain again why your kind wants some of us to know about you? Aside from the part where you fell in love with my brother and fished him out of the lake.”

“Our magic, ánh, is dependent on humans believing magic or fae exist. It’s why we often provide financial backing to publishers of fantasy novels and movies.” Deirdre sighed and scratched Fae between the ears. “Of course, some creators have turned out to be not worth the effort.”

“She’s talking about wizards,” Archer interjected for Asa’s benefit.

“Didn’t that get an entire wing of an amusement park?” Asa asked.

“Yes, but the author has a heavy dose of the human obsession with all of you being the same. Fae don’t limit other fae’s gender identity or expression. Or lack thereof.” Deirdre turned to look back at Asa. “I am appreciative that you two are not so rigid.”

“You can thank our parents,” Archer clarified, his voice soft as he kept his eyes trained on the rough dirt road. “They raised us to believe that differences are beautiful.”

“Our mother was half Egyptian,” Asa continued. “She experienced racism growing up. And our father was Catholic in a Protestant town. They were strong people who chose to be open-minded when they had every reason to be angry and suspicious of others.”

“I wish I could have met them,” Deirdre murmured, her eyes on Archer’s profile.

“They would have liked you,” Asa assured her. “You could have flown in front of them. Dad would have crossed himself and then asked if you were an angel. Honestly, it was the first thing I thought, and I haven’t been to Mass in… twenty years.”

The SUV slowed, and Deirdre turned to hide her blush and spotted the imposing panel that cleaved the road in two.

“We found the gate.” Archer sounded bemused.

“That looks like a wall,” Asa corrected. “A gate is something which can be moved.”

“I can move it,” Deirdre announced, turning again to Asa. “Will you hold Fae while I take care of the gate? Archer will need to drive through and then I’ll close it again.”

She deposited Fae into Asa’s outstretched hands. The kitten stretched her limbs, wiggling and squeaking her displeasure until Asa sat her on his lap and rubbed her ears.

“Okay, you’re opening it and I’m driving through and you’ll close it behind us?” Archer asked. He eyed her with something like awe. “Don’t, uh, pull a muscle.”

She blew him a kiss as he slowed the SUV to a stop, then slid down out of the vehicle, glad she’d dressed for the occasion in leggings and deck shoes. The packed dirt under her feet felt soft in spots, speaking to recent rain. Picking her way carefully through the ruts, Deirdre walked to the sheet of steel and touched it with the palms of her hands. “Pe’erta!”

Light pulsated from her chest and ran down her arms, sinking into the cold metal. She heard the rending shriek of metal on metal and the gate shuddered, sliding to the right on a dirty track. Should have taken the extra time to go around, she thought, her arms shaking and sweat sprinting out over her body as she walked along with the gate. The mechanism fed off of the magic of the town hidden in the forest or she wouldn’t have been able to open it at all. Still, by the time she got the gate open enough for Archer to drive through, she leaned on the gate, winded and shaking.

Deidre heard an SUV door open, and Archer came around the back end. He shoved his hands in his pockets, stopping just in front of her.

“Is there anything I can do to help with that, love?” His posture and face bled concern, taking in her wilted appearance and no doubt feeling her struggle through their bond.

“It is too heavy for even brute strength,” Deirdre stated, wiping her brow on her sleeve. “No offense meant.”

“Oddly enough, I was not offended.” Archer grinned, though she could tell he was still worried. He walked up to her and gently took her arm in hand. “If we left it open, could someone come back and close it behind us? Asa was in there muttering about your heart, and I can feel how much of an effort that was for you. You’re shaking.”

Deirdre dropped her hands from the gate. “I could call someone. Tell them I cannot close it.” Dread settled heavy in her chest. She did not want to tell her family and friends that she could not perform this task. That she was too weak to do so.

“Incoming!” Asa called from within the SUV.

Deirdre looked up. Sure enough, a figure moved in the distance. A fae man, wings pumping powerfully as he flew toward him.

“Looks like someone is coming to help,” Archer said, relieved.

The fae man drew closer, and Deirdre noticed his hair: long, golden, and unrestrained. A sinking suspicion made her reach for Archer’s hand, gripping it tight.

“What is it?” he asked her, concern replacing his relief. “Or, who is it?”

“Atmos.” Deirdre curled her free hand around the end of the gate until her fingers turned white. “My ex.”

*** Archer held on to Deirdre’s hand and considered the approaching man. Whatever Asa’s descriptions of Deirdre in flight were, this was the avenging angel. Cut straight from the hyperbolic artwork of White Christianity, the man’s face was a study of haughty contempt as he landed, gracefully barefoot, taking in Archer’s SUV, then his person, then his hand around Deirdre’s.

The sculpted pink lips twisted. Then he looked at Deirdre and his features relaxed, longing flaring in his blue eyes before that, too, faded.

“Atmos,” Deirdre almost drawled, and Archer’s brow twitched.

Atmos’s mouth pulled into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, exposing white teeth as he folded his wings and stalked toward them. Archer saw the rear passenger door of his SUV pop open, and Asa climbed out, his eyebrows lifted. Tall and broad through the shoulders, Atmos stood in front of them—too close, Archer thought—seeming to attempt to both intimidate Archer and disarm Deirdre, all while accomplishing neither.

Everyone fell silent. Then the man’s face paled and twisted into a dark scowl, and Archer had his first actual misgivings.

“Deirdre? Ánrhen mit antó?” Atmos’ shock and meaning were clear, even if only half of the words were familiar.

“Archer, this is Atmos Thoniel Deu O’r Perëndierdők Noordttang. Atmos, meet my bonded mate, Archer James Neal.” Deirdre stared up at the fae man, a challenge in her light eyes. “Behind you is Archer’s brother, Dr. Asa Neal.”

“Oo expothan se yitabib?” Atmos stared at her, his throat working.

“Asa is a cardiologist.”

Atmos’s head jerked back, and Archer felt Deirdre’s discomfort like something he could taste. He squeezed her hand, then cleared his throat to get the fae man’s attention. “So sorry to interrupt. Atmos, it’s nice to meet you. Would you do us a favor and close the gate behind us? I’m sure you’re aware that I can’t.”

The other man, looking as though he sucked on a lemon, gave a curt nod before looking down at Deirdre. His face relaxed again and his voice gentled. “Deirdre, if you had called, I would have come and opened the gate for you. You shouldn’t exert yourself. I’m surprised your human doesn’t know that.”

“Let’s get in the car, Archer,” Deirdre said, before Archer could open his mouth. “Asa. Fae is in her carrier? Atmos can see to the gate.”

Atmos reached out and put his hand on her arm, stilling her. “Fly back with me. How often do you get to—”

“I am tired, Atmos. But thank you for the offer.” Deirdre shrugged her arm free, and Archer walked with her to meet Asa.

“She’s in the carrier,” Asa said. “Do we need to be concerned about—”

“No.” Deirdre shook her head. “Let’s go. Atmos has the gate.”

Archer handed Deirdre up into the SUV and closed the passenger door. As he walked around to the other side, he felt the fae man watching him. He climbed into his vehicle and closed the door, and Deirdre heaved a sigh.

“Atmos is an aggressive, selfish prig.” Her blunt words, so different from her usual demeanor, made Asa snort.

“Seems like it,” Asa said. Archer started the ignition and popped the emergency brake. In the rearview mirror, he watched Atmos shed golden light as he slid the gate closed.

“Is he going to cause problems?” Archer asked, darting his eyes to Deirdre. She seemed to have recovered, but he couldn’t help but be concerned.

Deirdre sat in silence for a long while until she said, quietly: “I don’t know.”

*** “This is my parents’ home,” Deirdre spoke softly as Archer parked the SUV away from the house, beside a small detached garage. Then she fell silent, her fingers plucking at her seatbelt.

“It’s beautiful.”

She couldn’t have said which man spoke, but they were right. Large, built from stone and wood, covered in trailing ivy and surrounded by tall trees. So many trees that the property lay in deep shadow. Her parents’ home looked like a castle and a fairytale cottage combined. She also recalled the series of smaller cottage homes scattered throughout the forest behind their home. One of them had been hers for decades.

“How is it that this entire area is pixelated on Google Maps?” Asa wondered.

“It’s all about who you know.” Deirdre unbuckled the seatbelt and reached for the door. Archer’s hand came over and found hers.

“It will be alright, love.”

Dierdre nodded, afraid to look at him lest she cry. She could feel the telltale tightness in her eyes and upper lip. Opening her mouth to speak, she realized her throat was thick with emotion.

“Take a deep breath, Deirdre.”

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, feeling the catch of her tense muscles as she did so. She released the breath and drew another, her lungs expanding further as the tension released incrementally. A third breath, and she opened her eyes, her fingers relaxing their unknown white-knuckle grip on Archer’s hand.

“It wouldn’t do to have an attack in the car before I manage to see them,” she quipped weakly, her voice shaky.

The front door opened, and light spilled out onto the front walk. A tall woman in long skirts stepped out onto the path, peering out at the SUV. She turned and motioned toward the house, and an equally tall man stepped out behind her.

“They’re eager to see you, Deirdre.” Archer squeezed her hand, then released it. “Go. We’ll be right behind you.”

“I’ve got Fae in her carrier,” Asa said from the back seat.

Deirdre opened the door and slid down, the ground soft where she landed. She closed the door behind her and walked slowly through the leaves, her eyes on the dear, familiar forms of her parents. She felt tenuously tied to her body, watching in surprise as her parents met her halfway.

“Deirdre…” Her mother’s smooth, beloved face suddenly crumpled, but it was her father who reached out, pulling her the last few feet and folding her into a hug. Then he shifted, adding her mother into the circle of his arms. “Oo ti’ahi!” Youcame!

“Oo wilde ni? Ky’ issem?” You wanted me? As I am?

“Ĉia, anak.” Always, daughter.

Deirdre’s tears spilled over, soaking her father’s shirt. He kissed the top of her head, just as he’d done when she was young.

“Who are these human men, Deirdre?” her father asked, switching to English.

She pulled back, eager to introduce them, but her mother beat her to it.

“That one is Deirdre’s ánrhen, Liam. Can you not see it? And this must be his brother; I can see it in their faces.” Her mother dashed tears from her eyes, then reached over and did the same for Deirdre. “Alright, daughter. Please, introduce us.”

Her father rubbed her back and released her, and she reached for Archer, pulling him close. “Am’an, Ap’an, this is Archer James Neal, my ánrhen, and this is his brother, Dr. Asa Neal. Archer and Asa, these are my parents, Tvaris and Liam. I will teach you their full names later, I promise.”

Archer and Asa shook hands with her parents, twin charming grins on their faces. “Sir, ma’am. I’m so happy to meet you.”

“Please,” her mother said. “Call us Tvaris and Liam. You are family, both of you. And please, come inside. You may leave your shoes just inside the door. And please, bring in the creature, too. Who have you brought, Deirdre?”

“That’s Fae, Am’an. My kitten.”

Her parents escorted them to the door, gesturing for them to enter. Deirdre found Archer’s hand again and looked up at him. A genuine smile lit his face, and her chest filled with warmth. “I’m glad you are here,” she whispered.

“So am I. I’m even happier that things seem to be going well.” Archer squeezed her hand.

“And I’m glad you’re here, Asa. I’m glad that my family can meet Archer’s.”

Asa smiled at her before he set Fae’s carrier down and bent to untie his shoes.

“Here comes Foraoise and her family,” her mother said, continuing to speak in English for Archer and Asa’s benefit. They watched Deirdre’s aunt, uncle, and cousins land near Archer’s SUV. Unlike Deirdre’s own mother, Foraoise had several children, ranging from a few years younger than Deirdre down to a toddler clutched gently in her father’s arms. “She’s been eager to have you visit, Deirdre.”

Deirdre stooped to rescue Fae from the carrier, holding the kitten close as she curiously sniffed the air. “She came to see me at my store, Am’an. I… regret that it was tense.”

Her mother ushered everyone into the open-plan living space, filled with plants and sofas, chairs, stools and other places to sit, many of which were backless. She led Archer to a loveseat and sat Fae on her lap, intending to allow the kitten to explore. Fae crouched there, her tail swishing as she watched unfamiliar people enter the house and move about the room. Asa sat on a stool close by, resting his ankle on the opposing knee.

As she sat there on the sofa, watching her mother and Foraoise embrace each other and the children spill into the space, ignoring their father’s warning to watch their wings, Deirdre felt a fluttering sensation in her chest. Her next inhalation hitched. Archer turned to her, his lips close to her ear. “Are you okay?”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Archer ran his knuckles up and down her arm in a soothing gesture. Another slow breath, reminding herself that this was her family, and they loved her. Static sparked behind her closed eyes.

“A little overwhelmed, I think,” Archer said, in response to a question she hadn’t heard.

“Böcē!” Foraoise called out to her children. “Oo hawadyra! Hawadyra!”

“Neko!” A tiny someone had spotted Fae. Deirdre opened her eyes, expecting to see the toddler run her way. Her fingers curled protectively around Fae’s soft body.

“Deirdre o kwaneko. Oo hawadyra, Yuima!” Foraoise’s chosen mate called out, reigning in the little girl and directing her outside with a firm grip on her tiny hand. Deirdre watched them regretfully as this unfamiliar cousin toddled back out the front door.

Asa caught her eyes as she sagged against the sofa. One of his dark eyebrows arched and he leaned forward, hands opening in a silent question. Deirdre leaned forward again and Archer immediately started rubbing her back in slow, discreet movements. Sighing, she extended her wrist to Asa, bracing herself against the questions and concern of her family. His fingers touched her gently, finding the place where her pulse fluttered. As Asa counted heartbeats, Deirdre closed her eyes again, giving in to the slow, deep rhythm of her breath.

“Oo mit parigia,” she heard her father say, his voice pitched low. “You are with family.”

Á tereciùin, she thought to herself. Be calm.

Another moment passed, and Asa gave her back her wrist. “Fast, but you’ll do. We should all talk about calm, happy things, I think.”

Archer kissed her temple, and she opened her eyes. Her parents and Foraoise sat on cushions on the floor, gentle concern stamped on their faces. She was relieved that no one looked terrified or upset.

Did I make something out of nothing all these years?

“Would anyone like herbal tea?” her mother asked. “Tisane, rather?”

“Do you still… Do you have blackberry—”

“I do!” her mother said, rising. Her face flushed pink, and she offered Deirdre a gentle smile. Her eyes glistened. “I always k-keep it for you, Deirdre.”

*** Early the next morning, Archer leaned against a doorframe and pulled socks onto his cold feet.

“No shoes,” Deirdre whispered. ��There is moss.”

“Warm moss?” Archer asked, rubbing his eyes. He winked at her, softening his complaint before he regretfully stripped off his socks.

“Come!” Deirdre stood in the doorway of the little cottage she’d called home years ago, the early morning light soft as it dropped in around her. She offered him a wide, beaming smile and extended a hand. “Quick, before Fae decides to join us and we spend our morning trying to catch her!”

“Alright!” Archer hurried after her, her enthusiasm igniting a smile on his own face. “Where are we going?”

“The meadow!” Deirdre tugged on his hand and then released it, hurrying down the path ahead of him. She wore an unfamiliar, ankle-length dress in deep blue, with a low back and bishop sleeves. Archer jogged after her, surprised at her pace as she darted through the trees.

Before long, the trees grew sparse, and the moss crept artificially onward, spreading into a large open meadow before being gradually replaced by tall grass. Deirdre slowed to a stop, her back flexing and her wings erupting from her shoulder blades. His breath caught as they unfurled and she shook them out, stretching them to their full span. She spun toward him and beat her wings; the wind stirring his hair until she lifted off, hovering a couple of feet above the ground.

“It is safe here,” she said, as he took a few more steps toward her, reaching for her hands. She let him catch her, tipping forward until their lips met. He inhaled through his nose, the crisp outdoor scent melding with her familiar herbal aroma. Her lips were soft and warm against his.

With a giggle, Deirdre broke free, wings pumping and carrying her higher. The morning light bathed her as she tipped her head toward the sun. She hovered there for a moment before she let her wings flutter and dropped gently to the ground.

“How does it feel?” Archer asked, his fingertips grazing the fringes of one of her gossamer limbs. They felt like insect wings, only stronger; smooth on the edge, slightly textured on the surface.

“Like stretching out a mild cramp that I’ve had for months,” she confessed, shrugging her shoulders and rolling her head gently from side to side. “And then, once I’m over that, freeing.”

He moved his fingers to the line of her jaw, tracing her soft skin. “I wish you were free to fly all the time, love. Perhaps… If you wanted to come here—”

A zzzt sound distracted him, followed by the quietest thump. Deirdre grunted, then staggered, and he reached out, catching her by the waist as an odd, distant pain lanced through his shoulder. When he looked down, however, he couldn’t see anything wrong. No blood on his shirt, nothing to account for the pain.

“Oh.” Her voice, barely audible. He looked at her, then followed her gaze to her left shoulder, where a fat dart protruded from her exposed skin. She blinked and looked up at the sky, her brow furrowed. “Atmos?”

“Deirdre!” Archer’s hand hovered over the dart, shock making them both dull-witted and slow. Deirdre blinked again and brought her right hand up to wrap around the shaft. She jerked it free, swaying. Archer gasped. “Damn, I don’t think you should have—”

“We need to get to cover,” Deirdre muttered. Her wings folded and folded again, disappearing behind her back. She shook her head, hard, then grabbed his arm. “Archer! We need to get back beneath the trees!”

Archer grasped her by the elbow and turned, breaking into a jog and propelling her in front of him. Her hair whipped in a sudden strong breeze.

“ATMOS!” Her voice sounded different; an amplified roar that he wouldn’t have known it was possible for her to make. “WHAT WAS THAT? INDUV’E OO?”

Silence, but for their harsh breathing. Deirdre slowed as they entered the treeline, her eyes trained up and the dart still clutched in her fist. Archer stepped close behind her, trying to shield her smaller body with his as he, too, scanned the trees for white wings and golden hair. He pitched his voice low. “How do you know it was him?”

“He makes them,” she whispered. Her head bent and she brought the dart up for inspection. His eyes followed the delicate lines of metal, glass, and feathers.

“Deirdre,” Archer said, his concern tightening into fear. “That is a syringe.”

The syringe dart was beautiful, considering what it was. He would have expected something plastic with garish fletching, but this looked like a steampunk contraption from a cosplayer’s dream. Deirdre’s fingers curled tight around the barrel.

“I don’t know what was in it,” she whispered. Her hand trembled.

“We need to get you to Asa,” Archer urged, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Uneasiness swept over him like a wave. “How do you feel? Deirdre?”

“I…” Deirdre’s hand opened, and the dart fell silently to the moss. Archer felt dizzy, then shook his head and realized it was Deirdre whose equilibrium was failing. She wrenched her head back and gasped: “Atmos! What have you done?! Archer, Archer…”

He turned her gently so he could see her face. She’d gone pale, her eyes unfocused. Her breath came in rapid gasps. He could almost feel her shortness of breath, her discomfort, as pain cut through his own chest. “I’m going to carry you back. Just take deep breaths for me, love.”

“Archer…” Deirdre swayed and her palms pressed to the center of her chest. Her voice dropped in volume, raspy and thin. “My chest hurts… I’m… Archer. He’s killed me.”

Her legs folded.

“Christ,” Archer snarled, bending to gather her in his arms. “I’ve got you. I’ll get you help!”

Instead of responding, her body went limp in his arms. Archer started running, trying to stay on the mossy path as he shuffled her in his arms and looked at her face.

“Deirdre? Deirdre!” Her head lolled over his arm, her lips white. Internal klaxons shrieked, and he gasped for air as he ran, wincing as her head bounced. Instinct pricked his scalp and his eyes shot toward the canopy. Atmos hovered flew above, dressed in white linen and trailing motes of gold. “YOU!”

The fae man dove, avoiding a tree branch and then coming alongside Archer. Archer gnashed his teeth, unable to do anything with Deirdre cradled against him. To his surprise, Atmos wept, a trail glistening down his sculpted cheek.

“She has you,” the other man said. “You have to understand; she will survive the surgery now.”

“There won’t be any surgery!” Archer exploded. Atmos’s face pulled into a sneer, but Archer continued. “She needs help, Atmos! Get help! She thinks she’s dying! What was in that syringe?!”

Archer stumbled over a tree root, his arms tightening reflexively on Deirdre. Atmos reached out to steady him, releasing his shoulder before Archer could think to shrug him off. “Amiodarone.”

Asa will know what that is.

“GET HELP!” Pain arced again across his chest. In his arms, Deirdre shifted and took a rattling breath. He slowed to a stop, tipping her so that her face fell back into view. Her eyes were open to slits, only the whites showing. She moved again, the muscles in her legs tensing and her lips parting. Her arms jerked. Archer couldn’t breathe. His lungs wouldn’t move, and black spots drifted across his vision. He couldn’t—

Archer dragged in a lungful of air, his chest heaving. He looked about for Atmos, but the other man was gone. “ASA! HELP!” His scream cracked his voice and sank into the silence of the forest. Archer kneeled with Deirdre, stretching her out on the moss, his hand carefully lowering her head to the ground. The delicate skin of her eyelids and lips had taken on a blue cast.

His fingertips skimmed across that purple skin. “No…” Archer smoothed her hair back and tipped up her chin, leaning close to her lips. She felt distant again, absent despite her body stretched out before him. He relied on that even more than Asa’s previous descriptions of agonal breathing and movements. This time, when he held his ear close to her lips, he could tell she’d stopped breathing.

Anguish made his movements jerky. He snapped up, hands shaking. Deirdre already looked dead; still in a way only the dead were still, her face discolored, body awkwardly positioned on the moss. A panicky sob erupted from his mouth as he patted his pockets, belatedly looking for the cell phone he hadn’t brought with him. Then he gasped and clasped his hands together, interlocking his fingers and pressing them between Deirdre’s breasts without remembering to landmark.

“Please, Deirdre… One!” He pushed down hard, remembering the plastic click of the dummy in Asa’s office. This was not that. This was using his strength on someone he would have never otherwise even bruised voluntarily. His weight in his arms bent her ribcage, forcing her sternum down into her faulty organ, the only part of her he could ever regret. She made a noise, a huffing gurgle that cut through the silence, but he kept going, bobbing over her slight form as his head swam and his eyes blurred with unshed tears. “…nine, ten! ASA! TWO, three, four, five…”

Beneath his hands, her body twitched, shoulders shrugging and her bare feet rocking side to side. Her legs drew up slightly, and her jaw worked, the blue of her eyes briefly visible in the corners before the slits showed only white again. “Uh… uh… uh… uh…”

“…two, three fourfive…” Too fast. He made himself slow down and concentrate. Since he’d met her, he’d reviewed CPR guidelines. Two inches. He’d reviewed them, though if he were telling himself the truth he hadn’t pictured himself actually here, in this forest, beating her heart. “ASA! HELP! PLEASE! No… Ah, one, two, three…”

“ARCHER!” His brother, shouting from just down the path.

“HERE! WE’RE HERE!” Archer’s voice broke, and a tear dropped onto his hands. He kept his hands at their vital task, pumping and pumping, his desperation a dangerous distraction. He looked around wildly, hoping to spot his brother. Then his gaze jerked back down to Deirdre’s darkening face.

Asa’s heavy breathing and muffled footfalls made Archer lift his head again. His brother sprinted down the path, carrying the medical bag and AED they’d brought with them just in case. “I’m here! I’m here, Archer! Don’t stop! Tell me what happened.” Asa dropped to his knees across from Archer and quickly unzipped his bag.

“Atmos…” His voice came out garbled, and he concentrated on silent chest compressions for a few seconds until he could speak. “He injected her with… amiodarone?”

“Amiodarone.” Asa kept his voice suspiciously even as he snapped nitrile gloves onto his hands. “You’re certain?”

“Yes!” He kept thrusting his hands into her chest, his eyes darting between Asa and Deirdre. Her shoulders shrugged each time he pressed, making her chin nod. “She fainted. Then she started twitching… making noises… She stopped breathing, Asa!”

“Pause compressions, Archer.” Asa’s voice, calm and gentle, broke through his rising panic. Archer lifted his hands just off her chest, watching as his brother pressed two gloved fingers hard into her throat.

“She’s… not here. It’s different from when she’s asleep. I don’t know how to describe—”

“Archer, take a deep breath and start compressions. Can you keep doing them for me while I secure her airway?”

Archer resumed the harsh beat before Asa finished speaking. His eyes trailed wildly up and down her pallid body as her legs twitched again. Her abdomen bulged rhythmically each time his hands descended. Her hands curled like pale, dead things in the moss. Asa brought out a familiar plastic case and plucked out a curved plastic airway. Meanwhile, Archer kept pressing down, nauseated with fear and the sensation of pushing hard on such an important part of her.

“Fae medics are on the way.” Asa tipped Deirdre’s head back and used his thumbs to open her jaw before slipping it between her teeth and turning it one hundred eighty degrees. “Atmos showed up at her parents’ home and said she needed help, though he did not exactly tell them what he did.”

Archer groaned involuntarily, a broken sound that echoed. Deirdre’s eyes were closed again, the blue cast even more noticeable as it tinged her features. The plastic piece between her teeth held her mouth open, and he could see how blue her lips were around it. Asa leaned in again, this time with a mask attached to a large bulb.

“You’ll pause every thirty compressions,” Asa said, his voice steady. “I will give her two breaths and you immediately start compressions again. Pause now.”

Archer’s momentum stuttered, and he ground to a halt as Asa squeezed the bulb. There was the sound of plastic crumpling and the whoosh of air. He felt Deirdre’s chest rise and fall under his hands. Another breath, and then Archer rolled his weight over his hands. He dug his hands into her sternum and—

*** Asa couldn’t be sure what told him to pull back, or why he listened, but he jerked away, dropping the bag-valve mask and breaking contact with Deirdre just before Archer sucked in a pained breath and a flash of light nearly obliterated Asa’s vision. He saw them both as burning silhouettes, her body bowing up slightly from the moss, his back arching and his head falling back.

Then the light vanished, and Archer collapsed onto his back, groaning. Asa lurched forward and pressed his fingertips against Deirdre’s carotid artery.

One one thousand.

Two one thousand.

Three one thousand.

Four…

The seconds ticked by.

Ten one thousand.

His lips pulling into a thin line, Asa bent over Deirdre, wove his fingers together, and pressed the heel of his bottom hand against her sternum. Rolling his shoulders over his hands, he began a series of rapid, deep, professional compressions. Then he spared a glance for his brother, sprawled on his back next to Deirdre. Archer’s chest rose and fell rapidly, fingers digging into the moss. “Archer?”

The younger man groaned again and tried to push himself upright, only to collapse back to the moss. “Deirdre…”

Asa glanced around to see where he’d dropped the mask. His eyes stopped on her cyanotic face and he quickly lifted his hands from her chest and tipped her head back. Pinching off her nostrils, he covered Deirdre’s slack, cool mouth with his own and gave her a breath. He gave her a second to exhale before blowing into her mouth again, rounding out her cheeks. Then he returned to chest compressions. “One, two, three, four…”

“Nellä!” The cracking of small branches overhead masked the crunchy sound and feel of Deirdre’s cartilage under his hands. He looked up, his compressions unfaltering as he searched for the source of the sounds. Then, a fae woman dropped into the moss beside him, followed by a fae man. Their wings whipped up a breeze that stirred hair and Deirdre’s skirt, and he watched as they deposited duffles and cases on the ground. Their wings folded neatly behind them. The man and woman both wore backless tunics, scrub pants, and gloves.

Archer pushed himself onto his hands and knees, panting as he stared up at the newcomers. Then he crawled over to the side and retrieved the bag-valve mask.

“I am Dr. Eḥāyi.” Echeyee. The woman reached took the mask from Archer, pressing it to Deirdre’s face with her fingers lapped over the younger women’s chin. The fae doctor was tall and broad-shouldered, with smooth dark skin and silver-streaked hair braided into a crown.

“…twenty-nine, thirty.”

Dr. Eḥāyi gave the bag two squeezes and then sat it to the side, dragging one duffle closer as Asa resumed chest compressions. “You would call me an emergency physician. This is Nurse Imala.”

“…nine… Dr. Neal, cardiologist. Deirdre has a condition I would call Romano Ward. She was injected with an unknown amount of amiodarone. There has been one… apparent magical defibrillation.”

Nurse Imala laid his hand on Deirdre’s ankle as Dr. Eḥāyi connected the mask to an oxygen canister. A green glow crept up Deirdre’s leg, disappearing beneath Deirdre’s dress. Asa forced himself to keep his focus on the rhythm, depth, and recoil of his compressions. Imala called out: “Dr. Eḥāyi, she needs to be intubated! Tilā suur naysai.”

“I will intubate.” Eḥāyi gave Deirdre two more breaths from the bag. “Dr. Neal, can you continue chest compressions?”

“Yes. One, two, three…”

Imala lifted his hand, and the green light lingered. “I’m going to get her on the monitor and then I will start an IV. I need to see this rhythm.”

“… eighteen, nineteen, twenty…”

“You are ánrhen?” Eḥāyi asked Archer. His brother sat on his haunches a couple of feet from Deirdre, his face gray with distress.

“Yes,” Archer forced out, his voice hoarse. “Archer.”

Asa finished the round of compressions. Eḥāyi delivered two more breaths with the bag, still speaking to Archer. “You must hold her hand, Archer. You are life support. Do you understand? I will tell you when to let go and when to hold on.”

“One, two, three…” The cartilage in her chest crunches and crackled as he worked. The sounds weren’t anything he hadn’t heard before. Still, he grit his teeth, trying to think of her as a patient and not as family.

Archer swallowed audibly and moved closer. He sat beside Deirdre, his knees bent and his ankles crossed, and took her hand tenderly in both of his. “It’s alright, love. I’m here.” His voice, tender and loving, barely rose above a whisper.

Asa’s compartmentalization cracked.

*** Archer clutched Deirdre’s cool hand and pushed back the dizziness clutching at him. His mind set out a search in every possible direction, trying to find her. In the short time they’d been bonded, he’d already forgotten what it was like not to know her. If she was at work and he at a café, he sensed her. If one or both slept, they were still there.

But she wasn’t, not now.

Certainly, her physical body remained. Sprawled on the moss, ghost pale but for the purple mask of her face. Dr. Eḥāyi lay on her side beside him, one hand supporting a metal device she’d wedged into Deirdre’s open mouth. Her other hand delicately clutched a long plastic tube with a cuff on the end. She ran it down the side of the metal scope, seeming unperturbed by the rocking movement of Deirdre’s body.

Asa still performed chest compressions, his hands making a soft thumping sound as he pushed the heel of his hand into the lower part of her sternum. Deirdre’s chest sank beneath the pressure of his hands, dipping and then popping back up each time he rose over her. The force of his hands sent a puff of air out of her open mouth with each thrust.

As Eḥāyi fed the tube down Deirdre’s throat, Nurse Imala brought over a pair of sheers, intending to cut down the center of her dress. He quickly examined the neckline, then said: “Archer, we’re going to pull her dress down to her hips. You take that sleeve, and I’ll take the other.”

Archer quickly released her hand and slipped his fingers inside the top of her sleeve. Asa lifted his hands as the two of them pulled her dress off her shoulders and down her arms, exposing her breasts and the reddish bruise between them. Archer pulled her hand free from the sleeve and pushed the fabric down to her hips.

“I’m in,” he heard Eḥāyi say.

“Here are the others!” Imala called out. Two more fae medics walked down the path, rolling a gurney. Archer spared them a glance and then returned his attention to Deirdre. The whites of her eyes were still showing, gray set against the lavender of her skin. Eḥāyi slipped a plastic strap beneath and around Deirdre’s head and used it to secure the tube. Then she connected the bag to the tube, squeezing the bag twice before handing the responsibility off to one of the new medics.

“This is Sertse and Shavsan. Our patient is Deirdre. This is her ánrhen, Archer. And this is Dr. Neal.” Eḥāyi continued to talk, but Archer’s attention drifted back to Deirdre.

Without her dress hiding the movements, he could truly see the effect of compressions on her body. The upper left quadrant of her chest, close to the center, sank nearly twice a second as Asa pumped her chest. The skin of his hands looked splotchy from the effort, while hers bloomed with bruises. His fingers inadvertently brushed one of her brown nipples. Her breasts wobbled with each thrust, the force telegraphing down to her abdomen in waves that crested against her puddled dress.

Imala leaned in and applied a white pad to Deirdre’s upper right chest, quickly smoothing it to her skin. Eḥāyi applied the other, working around Shavsan, who had Deirdre’s other arm extended onto a white cloth he’d spread in his lap. He tied on a tourniquet, cleaned the crook of her elbow, and pressed his thumb just below. He had a cannula inserted by the time Eḥāyi called out: “Pause compressions.”

Asa sat back on his heels, breathing hard. Alarms filled the air, and Archer watched as his brother leaned forward to look at the monitor.

“Torsades de Pointes,” he said, his hands already back in place before Eḥāyi could speak. Archer looked at the monitor, but he couldn’t make anything out of the wobbly, chaotic lines.

For a few seconds, the only sounds were Asa’s breathing, the thump of his hands, and Sertse squeezing the bag. Deirdre’s lips around the tube still looked blue, and he gripped her hands tight.

“We will shock her now,” Eḥāyi said. “I’m charging to two-hundred.”

“Archer, you must not touch her,” Imala said., detaching the bag. “Please, back away three feet.”

“Imala, you will switch with Asa. Pads are charged, everyone clear.”

Archer laid her hand on the moss and backed away, watching as Asa raised his hands and scooted back and Shavsan lowered her arm to the moss and held an IV bag at shoulder level.

“Administering shock.” Eḥāyi pressed a button on the monitor and Deirdre flinched, her eyes closing and her head lolling to the side. Imala slid in front of Asa and resumed chest compressions. Her stomach popped up as her chest sank. Sertse reconnected the bag.

Asa took the IV bag from Shavsan and held it aloft.

“Shavsan,” Eḥāyi said. “Administer one milligram epinephrine, and then in two minutes two grams magnesium IV push.”

“Administering epinephrine now.”

“Do you agree, Dr. Neal?” Eḥāyi asked.

“Yes. And, respectfully, you have the lead,” Asa responded. The mask of his features slipped, revealing the grim expression beneath. “Your species, your code.”

Deirdre’s arm moved, pulling against his grip. Archer leaned forward, his eyes darting to her face, then to the monitor, then to Asa. Before either of them could speak, her chest arched and her shoulders jerked.

“Sit her up!” Eḥāyi commanded, as Sertse disconnected the bag and Imala paused chest compressions. “Her wings are—”

Archer slid his arm beneath her shoulders, heaving Deirdre’s torso from the ground. Her head fell back on his arm, the tube jutting out from her lips. He felt her wings tickle the underside of his arm as they unfurled, flopping and jerking behind her. Sertse took one wing and Eḥāyi the other, stretching them carefully out to either side.

“Lay her flat, quickly!” That came from Asa. Archer complied, easing her limp body down onto the moss. To his shock, he realized that the formerly lush, green moss had died beneath and around Deirdre, turning brown and dry. Imala’s long-fingered hands continued chest compressions, mercilessly pounding into her chest at a rapid rate. Sertse reconnected the bag and forced an oxygenated breath into Deirdre’s lungs.

Archer reached for her hand again, cupping her small hand in his larger one. Her nail beds were lavender now, like her eyelids.

Eḥāyi crouched between Sertse and Archer and laid her hand on Deirdre’s forehead. “Naneun a cervein o Deirdre.” Light ran from the doctor’s chest down her left arm, sinking into Deirdre in pulses.

She looked up at Asa. “I seek to protect her brain.”

He nodded, his expression solemn. “Thank you. That is something I would wish to do for all of my patients.”

“Administering two grams magnesium now,” intoned Shavsan.

Deirdre’s arm pulled against his grip again. He held tight, his own heart pounding as her eyes opened to white slits again and her lips sneered around the tube. Her legs moved, drawing up, caught up in her dress. Eḥāyi crouched down at Deirdre’s hips, pulling her dress down a few more inches so she could press her gloved fingers into the crease of Deirdre’s thigh. Archer’s gaze darted back to her face. Her irises were showing now, her eyes staring dully up at the canopy.

Close your eyes, love. I can’t take it.

His eyes burned, and he blinked, dislodging a single hot tear. It ran down the side of his nose before slipping over his lips and dripping from his chin. He massaged her palm with his thumbs, stroking her lifeline as though he could milk more time from her. The pain tugged at his heart, drawing life from the organ and sending it down his arms and into—

“It’s happening again!” he gasped. It was the only warning he could give before lightning struck the top of his head and everything went black.

***

“Archer!” Voices and harsh alarms drew him back from the dark.

“…asystolic. Administer another milligram epi and then I want you on bloodwork. Imala, suction her. Sertse, I want you on compressions…”

“Archer!”

“Confirm her pressure, Imala and then Shavsan, I want you to administer that norepinephrine. Is he breathing, Dr. Neal?”

“Yes, he—Archer, open your eyes!”

The voices all boiled down to one. Asa, sounding worried. He felt the dry rub of gloved fingers beneath his jaw and reached up to swat them away. Asa—he assumed—caught his hand and squeezed it tight.

“Am I sick?” Archer’s voice cracked, his throat so tight it hurt to talk. A chill took him, and he forced his eyes open. The gesture stung, and he squeezed them shut again. “Was there an accident? What’s that sound?”

His body ached, and his chest felt heavy. He felt as though he’d been bedridden with a bad flu, or perhaps pneumonia.

“How do you feel, Archer? Just lay there and rest, please.”

“As though I’ve been in an accident,” he said, aware that he sounded peevish. On top of everything else, anxiety seeped in, making his heart race and sending up alarms. More feelings sank in. Loss. Grief. Archer rubbed the grit from his eyes and peeled them open again.

Asa leaned over him, his face tense and ashen. His brother reached out and gently patted Archer on the cheek, a tender gesture that startled him. His eyes shifted past Asa’s face, catching movement up in the blurry tree canopy. Archer blinked several times to clear his vision.

A beautiful man hovered in the canopy, wings beating slowly, creating a breeze that stirred his long, blonde hair. Even from that distance, Archer could see the man’s tortured expression. For his part, Archer felt an uncharacteristic flash of white hot rage that made him push himself up to a seated position and snarl: “What is he doing here?! GO!” Gasping, Archer registered other fae alight near the man, their hands raised warily.

His brother tried to calm him. “Archer—”

“Silence the alarm, please.” Eḥāyi’s voice cut through his anger.

Deidre.

Archer twisted, forcing himself to look at the scene beside him, ashamed that she hadn’t been his first coherent thought. Asa gripped his shoulder. Deirdre still lay on her back on the dead moss, wings akimbo beneath her. But she looked much worse. Her skin gone dry and waxen, her hair shades lighter and brittle. He could see the veins around her wrists and count her ribs, as though she’d lost weight in the time he’d been unconscious. Her eyes, open and staring, irises muddy and colorless. Lips slack around the tube delivering oxygen to her lungs. Sertse’s hands between her breasts, forcefully pushing her sternum down over and over again, making her slim shoulders jerk and her stomach seesaw in and out of a bloat.

Archer reached for her hand and that’s when he saw them… bits of insect wings littering the ground. Feathers, of a sort. Crumbled. With each compression, her shoulders shrugged and her wings moved, and opalescent shards flaked off, littering the dry ground.

Archer hunched over her cold hand, agony building as pressure beneath his skin. “Asa, she…”

“I’ll speak to you plainly, Archer. If you wish it.” Asa gripped his shoulder too tight.

“I do.” His words bit into his throat like gravel.

“Deirdre’s heart is in what we call asystole. This is when there is no electrical rhythm. We cannot defibrillate asystole, as the purpose of defibrillation is to disrupt dangerous heart rhythms. What we do instead is provide chest compressions and administer medications to assist the heart in achieving a shockable rhythm.” Asa paused and took a deep breath. Archer’s heart hollowed out. “I cannot account for her change in appearance… I’m not optimistic, Archer. I’m so sorry.”

“Deirdre is not gone!” A woman’s voice, ragged and grief-stricken, broke in at the end of Asa’s explanation. Movement beyond the tableau in front of him dragged his attention away from the resuscitation efforts. Tvaris, Deirdre’s mother, broke through the crowd of fae he hadn’t noticed assembling. Nearly all tall, unlike his Deirdre, though otherwise they were diverse in shape and color. Each with beautiful wings. He wished he could have seen them together in other circumstances.

Liam stepped in front of her and took her by the arms. “Sēs, ánrhen.”

“He doesn’t know how—”

“Her mother’s right,” Nurse Imala interjected. “Your bond is intact, so we will continue our efforts until that changes.”

“Her brain,” Asa blurted, his hand going to his mouth when Archer glanced at him.

“We do not heal like humans, Dr. Neal.” Eḥāyi’s eyes shifted from the cardiac monitor. “If, perhaps, she had been discovered already cardiac arrest instead, with an unknown amount of time having passed, then things would be different.”

Archer hunched forward, Deirdre’s hand pulled against his abdomen. He tried to picture her as she’d been such a short time before. Aloft, glowing with happiness and freedom. And love. All destroyed.

“Why?” The question came out too quiet for anyone to hear. He gripped Deirdre’s hand tight, his eyes squeezing closed. He dragged in a deep breath. “WHY?!”

The forest fell silent aside from the sound of the bag-valve mask and Sertse’s exertions over Deirdre’s still chest.

Then, a voice from above.

“I am a fool, and I did not believe it would kill her.”

***

Atmos pumped his wings, just enough to keep himself aloft. Fae warriors hovered close by, though as of yet they’d made no moves to detain him. Atmos knew what the humans did not; he wasn’t being detained yet because his Intention might be needed to keep Deirdre alive. For similar reasons, a crowd formed below, creating a large semi-circle around the scene of his crime. Family, friends, neighbors, officials. Well-wishers and on-lookers. His own mother stood in the back, white-faced with her fist pressed to her lips.

Within the semi-circle, the forest was dying; brown moss, trees with brittle branches and falling leaves, bodies of insects that flew unawares into Deirdre’s sucking desire to live. He could see a faint rainbow flowing from the crowd, a channel of involuntary aid drawn from the heart light of everyone there. She’d pulled the most from her ánrhen, knocking the man unconscious to stabilize her heart.

It isn’t working, he thought, his hands curling into fists. His love lay sprawled on her back, a faded shell of herself. Any human would have been long declared dead. Most fae. His cruel, careless miscalculation had shown him something he’d never understood before: Deirdre was strong.

His mind briefly flashed back to when they’d parted; an argument. Shouting, tears. He’d attempted to restrain her, she’d injured him. Other fae intervened and Deirdre collapsed and had to be cardioverted. After, for years, he’d tried to see her, and she turned him away each time. Atmos tried to move on. Buried himself in his work. Sought pleasure from others. Today, however, when he’d seen her entering their village, something inside him snapped.

First, he found a list of medications contraindicated for Long QT Syndrome. The very first item on the list was amiodarone, and though he’d taken hours to research the other options, he’d decided this would be the easiest to get and the easiest to administer without getting caught before it took effect. He would dose her, then take her to receive medical care once she’d collapsed. He knew her parents would want her to have the surgery; when better for such a thing to occur?

Breaking into the human ambulance had been easy, and he already had his darts at his disposal. He’d bet, correctly, that she would resume her old habit of flying in the meadow in the early mornings.

But Atmos had not expected her to deteriorate so quickly. Or for him to freeze with panic and remorse as soon as Deirdre retreated into the trees and collapsed in Archer’s arms. And he most certainly had not expected this.

After the discharge of ánh, her heart rate had not gone back to normal. It did not even continue its ineffective beat. Deirdre’s heart stopped. And Atmos made himself watch as the fae medics forced oxygen into her lungs and pumped the oxygenated blood around her body. Harsh and ugly, the procedure left purple marks on her chest. The medic’s gloved hands shoved rhythmically into Deirdre’s naked chest, her sternum sinking deep. The motion displaced air, organs, and tissues, pushing her chalk-white stomach up, rounding it out over and over again, her belly button riding the crest of that artificial wave. Each hard compression bent her shoulders slightly toward her collarbones and made her nipples sway back and forth. Her thighs trembled and her feet rocked side to side. Her hands, fingers curled limply toward her palm, moved incrementally with each thrust.

Even from his position, he could see the discoloration of her face, her lips slack around the endotracheal tube the medics inserted. He could see the way her body grew gaunt and her hair paled and her wings crumbled.

I’ve killed her.

There would be punishment, though he couldn’t imagine it would be anything worse than this.

The human man regained consciousness, his grief telegraphed by the set of his shoulders and the way he pulled her hand into his stomach, as though to soothe the hurt he felt deep inside. Atmos heard the man speak: “WHY?!”

Without thinking, Atmos answered: “I am a fool, and I did not believe it would kill her.”

The answering sound could have been a sob or a laugh; either way, it was ugly.

Before either man could speak again, the tone of the cardiac alarm changed and Dr. Eḥāyi called out: “Pause compressions, ten second analysis!” Her eyes stayed on the monitor as multiple hands pressed to Deirdre’s ravaged skin. Green, white, and pink light spread across Deirdre’s body.

“V-fib!” Dr. Eḥāyi’s voice betrayed her excitement. Sertse and Imala resumed CPR. “Charging the defibrillator to three-hundred sixty…”

The human doctor reached for his brother. “Archer, you can’t touch her while they—”

A bright blue light burst from the center of the semi-circle, cutting off the doctor’s words. Deirdre’s back bowed, arching off the forest floor. Sertse and Imala both jerked and fell back, mouths open in a silent cry. Her ánrhen, Archer, seized up, his head falling back as his arms tensed. Connected to Archer by a hand on his arm, Dr. Neal followed suit, his eyes rolling until the whites of his eyes showed. The light brightened to near-blinding, and then it snapped off as suddenly as it had appeared.

One by one, Sertse, Imala, Archer, and Asa collapsed to the ground beside her.

The forest fell silent.

Part Six

#resus writing #female resus #fantasy resus

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tinselxoxo26 · 2 years

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𝓐𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓰𝔂 𝓸𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝑰𝑰

[𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚎: 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚢]

Part 1

➺ 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀/𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 1𝗛, how does it feel to be the backbone of a field trip? No cuz the way that they would prepare everything beforehand is admirable. Somewhere new? *memorizes the whole map to make sure we don't get lost 🗺️* Don't know where to eat? *does a whole FBI investigation on the best places to eat 🧐* Already discussed the exact time to meet at a spot? *arrives 2 hours early to explore the whole location 👀*

➺ 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗼/8𝗛 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, Ik this has been said so many times before but srsly y'all would laugh at anything related to seggs/dark humour. I can literally draw two circles and a long rectangle in the middle on a piece of paper, show you my drawing and watch you crumble apart less than a minute. They also save random memes/pics related to seggs in their camera roll, I wonder what do y'all search history are like 👁️👄👁️ (I love y'all thou 🥰💕)

➺ 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿/4𝗛 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, how does it feel to be the mother figure of the group? (yes again Ik this has been mentioned a lot) I would see y'all worrying about smtg all of the time if you went out with your friends and would carry a medium sized bag with everything inside it. Wet wipes? ✔︎ Band aid kit? ✔︎ Sewing kit? ✔︎ Extra clothing? ✔︎ Pens? ✔︎ (and the list goes on)

➺ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 humour are so funny in a weird way. Idk how to explain, it's like I get your humour but I don't??? When you do explain to me it gets 10x funnier ngl. When they give you advice, you should listen their advice. Pisces are known to be the grandmother/grandfather of the water signs, their intuition are usually on point. Yes they can be delusional at times but developed pisces placements are wiser than ppl give credit for.

➺ 2𝗛 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺𝘀/𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 are rlly serious about their food. My father has this placement and when the cooked fish was served to our table, he instantly saw that there's smtg wrong with it. He used a spoon to break it apart and found out that the fish was straight up frozen before it was cooked. Cuz usually you have to defrost it before cooking. If it wasn't for him my family wouldn't notice that there's smtg wrong with it. He would also take us to go to random restaurants and would critic their foods once the bill was settled.

➺ 𝗚𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🤝 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, I've seen this play out where they would talk to anyone or finish a whole book in a day instead of doing their assignments (coming from someone who also have 3H placements and gemini venus)

➺ 𝗟𝗲𝗼/5𝗛 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 🤝 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗻𝘀/𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 5𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. Not rlly surprised tbh as Leos are known for their childlike spirit. They might also keep their stuffed animals/toys from their childhood or display them in a shelf/case.

➺ 12𝗛 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺𝘀 can be rlly private, again not a surprising thing but I just find it interesting of how SOME, not all of them, can be private to the point of telling their friends to block out their faces, not showing up on picture day or just hiding behind ppl, not being involved with social media platforms like twitter, instagram, tiktok etc. (Obviously depending on their other placements in their birth chart it manifests differently)

‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ ‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Anyways that will be all that I have to say, thank you for whoever took the time to read this, remember I'm not a professional astrologer so don't take this personally!!!

🄼🄰🅂🅃🄴🅁🄻🄸🅂🅃

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jarondont · 5 months

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Chapter 1!!!

So I finally finished Ch. 1 of my book Smoke from the Fire- the first installment in The Reign of the Revolution series :DDDDD

Remember that NOTHING is final (but this is what I'm likely going to stick with), and also due to personal reasons this is the only full chapter I'll be sharing. I'll share snippets of certain scenes, certain lines of dialogue I like, or anything else like character-related stuff, but I won't be sharing any more full chapters :(

Word count: 2,056

Anyways, I hope you like it!

Let's begin, shall we?

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

In my life, I’d made a lot of mistakes.

But none quite as bad as this.

All I could do now was close my eyes, clench my fists, and hope that they wouldn’t find me.

Because if they did, I was as good as dead.

---

In case you haven’t seen the overabundance of wanted posters with my name on them, let’s begin with an introduction.

My name is Silas Crow. Guilty until proven innocent; wanted dead or alive.

It’s not that I’ve led a life of crime. Quite the opposite, actually. Up until a few years ago, my parents and I had been living a simple life on the island of Cartris—a territory of Losca, just a little south of the mainland. Popí was a fisherman, although he liked to call himself a sailor. Mimá would sell the fish he caught. She was also well-educated, so she’d reserve some time every day to teach me. When I didn’t have lessons, I’d often go on fishing trips with Popí or help Mimá at the Cartris fish market. Sometimes, Popí would even take us to mainland Losca for a week. We’d sell fish there—at the larger market, so that we’d get more money.

It was a peaceful life. But that was before Endox came around.

Emperor Endox II had been a horrible ruler since about three years ago—shortly after his twenty-eighth birthday, when he killed his father to get the throne for himself, and with him, his mother, since she tried to protect him. Everyone put up with him at first, since we knew how dangerous he was. But then things started getting out of hand.

A few months ago, news spread throughout Losca that Endox’s wife, Meralina, had been brutally murdered by him after they had an argument about matters regarding their son, Prince Faelen. What matters, no one knew. In fact, rumor had it that the man who told this story in the first place was never seen nor heard from again.

Endox only grew more unfair and selfish since then. Taxes had always been high for us peasants, but Endox wasn’t satisfied. A few weeks ago, he raised them impossibly high, and for what? So that he could benefit off of the people’s hard-earned money. He raised them so high that many peasants started dying of starvation.

By then, we’d had more than enough, so we protested. A simple, bloodless protest. But since so many peasants had gathered for the protest, we had Estraham Castle surrounded, and the emperor’s troops panicked.

So they attacked.

The March on Estraham marked the beginning of the Loscan Revolution. Hundreds of lives were lost that day: the emperor’s troops—twenty-seven; the peasants—over three hundred.

My parents included.

It had been one of those weeks where Popí took us to the mainland. But this time, instead of selling fish, we were there for the protest.

If only we had realized beforehand what a mistake that had been.

I could still hear the gunshots; the screams of innocent protestors. Later, I’d find out that only about thirty of them made it out alive. I could still see the horror on my mother’s face as my father was shot square in the chest, blood spewing violently from the wound. I still felt her fingers digging into my arm as she begged me to leave, to save myself.

Then she, too, was shot. The bullet lodged itself in her leg, causing her to cry out in pain and collapse to her knees.

“Mimá!” I screamed, an agonizing mixture of fear and sorrow building up in my chest.

Mimá grasped her calf where she had been shot, but she gathered up her strength to look at me one last time. “Go, Silas, please!” She cried. “Find the Nemesis. Find Hunt. He’ll help you.”

“No!” I yelled, tears streaming down my face. “Come with me, please—I can’t lose you, too.”

“Go,” she whispered, her voice cracking from the pain.

Then she was shot again. As the second bullet struck her in the back, I heard myself screaming, crying, begging for her not to leave me.

Yet she did.

The last words Mimá said to me were, “Vei livé, Silas.”

Live free.

Those words were since etched into my mind.

I vaguely remembered running away, ignoring the pain in my shoulder as a bullet ripped through my flesh, and pushing through the crowd that was rapidly falling around me. I ran, and I didn’t look back.

After what seemed like hours, I found myself in a small alley. I touched my injured shoulder with my other hand, and it came back soaked in blood. Ripping off a strip of cloth from the bottom of my trousers, I wrapped it tight around the wound and knotted it. That took up the last of my energy and willpower. Leaning my head against the stone wall, I slid to the ground and closed my eyes.

Vei livé, Silas. Vei livé…

And it all came flooding back.

That was it. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Tears streamed down my cheeks as great sobs shook my body. They were gone. My parents were gone, along with far too many others.

And I was alone.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, nor did I care. I remembered hearing voices outside the alley and the stomping of boots. The emperor's troops, no doubt searching for anyone who escaped. They never found me, but if they had, I wouldn’t have fought back. What was the point?

Then I remembered what Mimá had told me to do—to find the Nemesis. I wasn’t sure what that was, but one thing was certain: I couldn’t let any of their deaths be in vain.

So I stood and brushed away my tears, hearing my mother’s voice in my head once again.

Vei livé.

“I will, Mimá,” I whispered. “I promise.”

---

Days passed, then weeks, but it felt as if the March on Estraham had happened only yesterday. The streets were plagued with the emperor’s soldiers, or the Dekhrinn, as they had come to be known—Loscan for people of terror.

They accepted this name—in fact, causing terror was their main goal. Whenever they saw the Dekhrinn coming, people hid away in their homes, shut the curtains, and locked their doors. And yet, every day, someone would disappear, usually in the dead of night. But no one dared to fight against them. They were too terrified.

As for me … I lived off of whatever I could find. And I had come to discover just how many alleys Losca’s capital city, Cyvalos, had.

Alleys that were perfect for hiding.

As the stomping of boots drew closer, the only thing I could focus on was the racing of my heart in my ears. The voices became more and more defined until they stopped right outside the alley.

“Have you found anyone?” a deep voice asked.

“No, sir,” a second man said.

“Names.”

“What?”

“Tell me their names,” the first one demanded, irritated.

I heard the crinkling of paper, and I took that opportunity to slightly peek my head out from the shadows. Four Dekhrinn were positioned just outside the alley, their armor shining red and gold. Loscan colors. Two of the men stood off to the side, one twirling his fingers nervously and the other rocking back and forth on his heels. Another Dekhrinn stood with his back to me—the one who had fished the piece of paper out of his pocket. The last man stood in front of him, a badge on his shoulder making it clear that he was the one in charge.

“We were assigned four revolutionaries, sir,” said the man with the paper. “Fenerias Hunt, Annwyl Cadarius, Eraka Orelein, and—” he hesitated. “And Silas Crow.”

So they were looking for me.

“You still haven’t caught Crow?” growled the man in charge. A pause, then he mumbled, “The next time I ask for a report, that Silas boy should have been brought to the emperor, alive or dead. Is that clear?”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Good.” With that, I heard his boots stomp away.

The other three Dekhrinn let out a long exhale as soon as he was out of earshot. For a few seconds, all was silent. Then the man with the list of names yelled, “Well? Don’t just stand around! Find them!” and he, too, stomped away.

The two other Dekhrinn shuffled closer to the alleyway entrance. I ducked into the shadows, my heart pounding.

“How do they expect us to find them?” one wondered aloud. “Losca is huge. They could be anywhere.” Silence, then he prompted, “Henrik?”

“What?” The other man—Henrik—asked.

“Do you ever wondered what would happen if we … you know, ran away?”

Henrik was silent for a beat. “Don’t say that. You never know who’s listening.”

“Yes, but …” There was a shuffling of feet. “Endox—”

“The emperor, Keflas,” Henrik corrected. “Show some respect if you want your head to stay attached to your neck.”

“If the emperor hears what I have to say about him, he’d behead me anyway,” the man named Keflas mumbled. “I think … well, don’t you think he’s a bit unfair?”

I had half a mind to run up to his face and yell, you think? but I forced myself to take a steadying breath.

Keflas continued, “I’m scared, Henrik. Just the other day, Sigourney’s husband disappeared.”

Henrik grunted, finally opening up to conversation although he still sounded a bit uncomfortable. “I heard about that,” he said. “Rumor has it that he was turned in by his own brother. They say you could hear his screams from the other side of the castle.”

Keflas shuddered. “Whatever he said, he probably didn’t deserve and end like that.”

“Exactly, which is why you should shut up before someone hears you!” retorted Henrik.

Keflas mumbled an apology. “Maybe we should start searching.”

Henrik muttered his agreement, and I heard their feet stomp away.

I slowly peeked my head out again, checking to make sure they were gone. Once I was sure that the alley was empty, I tiptoed out of my hiding place. This was my chance.

I ran as fast as I dared out of the alley—or tried to. Halfway out, I tripped on a root and fell on my face with a thud.

“Did you hear that?” came Henrik’s voice from the other side of the alley.

“Dakhas,” I cursed quietly. How could I be so stupid?

“Someone’s in there,” said Keflas.

I cursed again, then stood and quickly brushed myself off. Maybe I could still make it out without them finding me.

“There he is!” Henrik yelled.

I glanced behind me. Henrik and the other Dekhrinn from earlier—the one with the list of names—were running towards me while Keflas called for more soldiers.

That settles it, I thought. Time to go.

I sprinted out the alley.

Blood rushing in my ears and the Dekhrinn only a few paces behind me, I turned a corner just as a gunshot rang out. A bullet whizzed past me, just missing my ear.

I paused only for a second. Almost there, I thought to myself.

I kept running, pushing past confused passersby whose eyes widened when they saw who were behind me. I just had to get to the docks.

To the Nemesis.

As it came into view, I paused for a second to catch my breath, resting my hands on my knees. After weeks of searching, I had finally found what Mimá had told me to find. The Nemesis was what seemed like a large trading vessel. Why she asked me to find it, I didn’t know. All I knew was that I had to get aboard, or else I was dead meat.

“Hey!”

Oh no.

I glanced behind me and saw not two, but eight Dekhrinn running after me, pistols drawn. I eyed the docks again, but it was too far of a run. They’d shoot me down before I even got close.

To my left was a bustling fish market that seemed to go on for miles. If I mixed in with that crowd, they’d never find me.

I whispered a request for the Nemesis to stay at the docks for a little longer, then raced toward the fish market with eight Dekhrinn hot on my heels.

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

So, what'd you think?

Also, keep in mind the names of the three revolutionaries (excluding Silas) they're searching for. These characters are important later 😉

(So is the prince but he comes in in book 3)

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spicechica · 3 days

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Ernst Robinson x Fem Reader AU Part 2

“Poor girl. I couldn’t imagine a young one like her surviving in a place like this,” their mother whispers. “We supposed she must be from a previous shipwreck. But, I don’t think she has any memory of it,” replied Fritz. You stare out at the half sunken ship in the middle of the sea, feeling as if it’s history repeating itself. You, a young child, barely a teenager, washed up on this island with no memory, no knowledge, and just a large antique chest that had warped from water damage, along with a few pieces of wreckage from the ship that had washed up as well. It was a mystery though how you possibly survived.

“Now sweetie, how long have you been here?”Their mother asked. “I don’t know…It’s hard to keep count after so long.”, “Well, do you know your age?” You shake your head in response. You knew you must have been around eight when you first washed up on the island, but with no calendar or watch you never really kept track of your age span. From the look of you though, you must have been about fourteen or fifteen, but who knows, you couldn’t even remember your own birthday if you wanted to.

“They said you needed help…I could help you if you want.” You stutter with your words, still unsure if you should trust these people. “I say you only have a few days before that ship is gone. If you could try to collect supplies, I could help you survive.” “Yes, thank you. Boy’s come with me.” Ernst and Fritz go with their father to the ship to collect supplies while you stay back with their mother and sister.

After a couple of hours, and a few trips back and forth from the ship, you were able to help them set up a small tent from some old wreckage and a large cloth, also starting up a fire for them to keep warm. It was strange. These people were different then you imagined, they were kind, sweet, and welcoming….a family. You forgot what that was like.

You sigh and shake your head, you couldn’t get too soft around these people. “Thank you, for helping us today.” Ernst sits next to you, offering you a piece of fruit he collected from the ship earlier. You take the offering, but scoot away a little. “It’s a miracle you survived here for so long. How did you do it?” You stay silent for a moment until you finally respond. “Well, I didn’t do it alone.” Ernst turns his head in confusion. “When I first washed up, I had no memory of where I came from or how I got here. The only clues I had were an old chest engraved with a name, and…this.” You pull out a small gold locket from under your clothes, opening it showing an old baby photo that had slowly faded over the years.

“I remember I cried that day. I was so young, and so clueless, I knew I wasn’t going to survive a night. In the beginning, I was just eating whatever I could find or reach. I was tired, weak, and always had to sleep on the beach because I was too afraid an animal would eat me.”

“That sounds terrifying,” Ernst said. “It was. Until, I met someone. An island folk. He was tall and dark and carried a spear on his back. I thought he would hurt me, but he didn’t seem to be bothered. He didn’t speak any English either. I remember following him everyday, watching as he caught and killed things for food, watching as he sharpened and mended his knives and spear.”

“I then tried myself. Practicing everyday how to catch a fish without falling into the water or it slapping me in the face.” You and Ernst both chuckled. “After a while, I was able to adapt to the island and survive. I was able to build my place in the trees and hunt my own food. But soon, the man left, and I haven't seen him since.”

“So, some mystery man you met one day helped you survive.” You nod in response. Ernst scoffed in disbelief. “I’m just surprised, girls are usually terrified and weak-” Ernst screeches as you begin to squeeze his hand with your strong grip, cutting his circulation. “OW! OW!, Okay, Okay!” Ernst gasps as you let go, watching as the color in his head turns back to normal. “I guess I was wrong.” He chuckled.

You give him a small smile as you roll your eyes, taking another large chunk from the fruit, the juices running down the sides of your mouth. You didn’t really have any proper table manners.

*Thank you all for the love and support on my last post. I'm thinking of making this into a full fanfiction. If you have any other story ideas or headcanons my inbox is open 😊*

PART 1

#Ernst Robinson x reader #stranded 2002 #stranded #ernst robinson #neil newbon #fanfic #island au #fanfiction #astarion #AU #Ernst with an island girlfriend #What's better than that 😩#fyp

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television-overload · 4 months

Text

[FIC PREVIEW]

2023 NCIS/Tiva Christmas!

Here's the first scene of my upcoming Christmas fic! I'm hoping to have it finished by Christmas, of course. Let me know if you want to be tagged! It will also be posted to AO3 (ContentsPriceless).

I'm actually gonna edit this to take out anything mentioning Ducky's funeral, now that we know they'll cover that this season, so you get an ultra-rare pre-editing peek 😅

I'm sure I'll write a tribute fic at some point, maybe a fix it if we don't get cameos or at least a hefty mention of Tony and Ziva .

“Daddy, Daddy! I can see the glaciers!” Tali announced excitedly, her face pressed up against the small airplane window.

Tony DiNozzo smiled and peeked over her head of wavy brown hair to catch a glimpse of the snow-covered Alaskan wilderness below. “You remember what you learned about glaciers in school?” he prompted.

“Uh-huh! They’re like frozen rivers that move down the mountains!”

“Something like that,” Tony chuckled. “You’d better sit down and buckle up, Tals, we’ll be landing soon.”

The nine-year-old obeyed, sitting back in her seat where her legs didn’t quite touch the ground—though the way she’d been growing lately, it wouldn’t be long.

“Can I have your phone to take pictures?” Tali asked once she was properly buckled, the seatbelt tightened by her father until he deemed it sufficient.

With an exaggerated sigh, Tony fished the device out of his back pocket and handed it over. “Don’t take too many, we need to save some space for pictures of all the other cool stuff we see.”

With his daughter occupied, Tony turned his attention to the woman sitting in the aisle seat beside him.

“Hey, you doing alright?” he asked in a low voice, placing a hand on her knee.

She had been shifting uncomfortably for the last hour or so of their flight, unable to get positioned in a way that took the pressure off her back. They had broken up their journey from Paris with a day’s respite in New York City, where they were able to catch up with some of Tony’s extended family. Tali, in particular, loved seeing the sights and stuffing her face with giant slices of pizza. But still, it put a lot of strain on Ziva’s body.

“I am starting to rethink what a good idea it was to travel so extensively while pregnant,” she spoke with a grimace, rubbing her rounded belly in comforting circles.

Tony hummed in sympathy, his fingers finding her lower back and massaging there as best as he could in such a confined space. She sighed in relief, her head falling against his shoulder and her eyes drooping shut.

“In our defense, when we planned this trip, we didn’t know you’d be five months pregnant,” he said softly with a teasing lilt to his voice.

It was true. They had almost given up on the prospect of having another child, promising that if it didn’t happen before Tali turned ten, they would stop trying. But finally, after years of negative tests, they got their positive, and Tony and Ziva were overjoyed. Tali, too, was looking forward to having a baby brother or sister. The high pitched squeal she had emitted when they first broke the news proved to them that she would be the best big sister a kid could ask for, and she had slept with a copy of the ultrasound in a frame beside her bed ever since.

But when they first started planning this trip almost a year ago, they had not planned on an additional passenger in utero, which definitely complicated things a little. After Gibbs visited them in Paris for the holidays the year prior, they knew they wanted to be with family. That had been the first time they’d seen him since Ziva had finally been reunited with Tony and Tali, and there was a lot of joy to go around. Tali had taken to calling him Grampa Gibbs, and in almost no time at all, they were like two peas in a pod.

“I can’t wait to see everyone,” Ziva murmured, a small smile pulling at her lips. “I hear Jimmy is bringing Agent Knight.”

“I’m glad,” Tony said, “it will be good for him to have her there, I think.”

Although the shape of their makeshift family had changed a lot over the years, love was still at the heart of it, that was the only thing that mattered. They’d met Jessica Knight only once, at Ducky’s funeral a few months back, but the consensus was that she was a great match for Jimmy, and she seemed to get along with Victoria too.

It had been a reunion of sorts with everyone coming to pay their respects to the beloved M.E., even Abby who sadly wouldn’t be able to make it to Alaska this Christmas. This year would be strange, without Ducky there to verbosely share stories of Christmases of old. His warm smile and even warmer hugs would be greatly missed by all who knew him.

After a few more minutes, a voice came over the speaker instructing passengers to take their seats for landing, and Tony pressed a kiss to Ziva’s temple.

“You hear that?” he said, his lips brushing against her hair, “Only a little bit longer, hon.”

-.-.-

... to be continued

Tag list: @benedettabeby @earanemith @happygirl-0408 @hopeless-nostalgic @indestinatus @loudlooks @nicolem194 @putthekettleon @slippery-soapbox @tivafanfic @tonysziva

#i'm having a lot of fun with this one #ncis #tiva #ziva david #tony dinozzo #tali dinozzo #my fanfiction #tiva fanfiction #ncis fanfiction #ncisxmas23

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formulauno98 · 2 years

Text

Once Upon a Time in Miami | Chapter One

You're the new Director of Communications at Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team and it's your first weekend on the job, in Miami.

Word Count: 9.7k

Warnings: None

Author’s Notes: Sorry it's long but I hope you like it! Disclaimer, purely fiction, no-one is married in this alt-universe.

Thursday PM

“C’mon Y/N, you can do this…” you repeat to yourself, taking a deep breath and mentally preparing yourself as you take a step off of the plane.

The warm, cloying air hit you immediately, Miami was exactly as hot as you had remembered, even at 7 o’clock in the evening. When you’d been offered the role of Director of Communications of the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team you had expected to travel but spending your first day on the job in Miami had come somewhat as a surprise. HR had given you the choice, fly out to Miami a few days before the inaugural Miami Grand Prix or hold off and start on the following Monday. You always liked a challenge so thought that the former route would be a good baptism by fire. They had promptly sent you a work laptop and phone so you had been able to get up to speed with every project that was currently underway.

You moved through the airport quickly, arriving at baggage claim in record time. You couldn’t help but smile at the huge Formula 1 billboards scattered around the airport. You were joining one hell of a money-making operation and a large part of your new role would be securing the funds to keep the team at the leading edge. Brokering deals between sponsors and the team was a key part of the business and it would be your job to ensure everyone was happy.

Exiting baggage claim you spotted a smartly dressed man holding a board up with “Y/N” written across it.

“Hi, I’m Y/N,” you say as you approach him.

“Good evening ma'am, nice to meet you. My name is Carlos and I will be your driver throughout your stay here in Miami. Please allow me to take those.” He gestures towards your two rather large Rimowa suitcases.

“Lovely to meet you, Carlos. That’s so kind of you, thank you very much.” you blush as it does seem like a lot of luggage for a four-day trip. HR had warned you of the possibility that you may need to travel straight to Barcelona after Miami and to pack enough to last a few weeks so you’d taken your trusty suitcases and packed them to the brim.

You followed Carlos as he cut through the throng of people, leading you to the parking garage to a rather glossy Mercedes S-Class. He opened the door for you and made quick work of putting the suitcases in the trunk as you ducked into the back seat.

“I know this shouldn’t come as a surprise but what an incredible car!” you exclaim, sinking back into the luxurious cream leather seats.

“Only the best for the best team.” Carlos winked as he backed out of the parking space.

You chatted away to Carlos as he sped along the twisting overpasses that exited the airport. He was a Miami native and full of travel tips and places to visit during your short stay. As you gazed out the window you took it all in. Miami was a strange place, a clash of cultures with glossy high-rise condos on one side and down-to-earth bodegas set behind. You’d visited a few times before and knew which side you preferred. You hoped to be able to escape the built-up areas for a little post-race fun.

As you pulled up to your hotel it sunk in. You had one night to compose yourself and then would meet the team tomorrow morning, ahead of qualifying. Having worked for Porsche for quite some years, working your way up from a Marketing Assistant to Comms Director you were more than familiar with motorsport but Formula 1 was a different kettle of fish. Fortunately, you had a fair amount of knowledge to draw upon as your father was an avid follower of the sport and you’d grown up watching stars such as Alonso and Raikonnen battle it out on track. It was surreal to think that Alonso was still racing to this day.

Check-in was breezy and you found your room easily with the help of a very friendly bellhop. Your hotel room was simple but luxurious with a large cloud-like bed, marble tub, and floor-to-ceiling windows with a breathtaking view out across the harbour. There was no point in unpacking your suitcases but you took out a few of the outfits you had planned for the next few days.

In a bid to beat jet lag you decided to make it an early night, running yourself a bubble bath and cosying up in bed in a fluffy white towelling robe.

Friday AM

You woke up bright and early at 5:00 having slipped off to sleep quickly and forgetting to close the curtains. It was still semi-dark outside but car headlights were flashing from the boulevard below. You didn’t need to be at the track until 9:00 for a welcome breakfast so had plenty of time to get ready.

You were never the kind of person to feel nervous about getting dressed for work but today felt different. All team members were expected to wear a branded uniform on track and you were no exception, however, you were yet to receive it so would have to improvise for today. Luckily you’d brought options and tried on three different looks before settling on a simple pair of navy trousers and a navy shirt. Accessorising with a tan leather belt and sling-backs, you felt confidently chic, if a little old before your time. You’d blow-dried your hair and done full glam, hoping to make a good first impression.

You grabbed your handbag and made one final fit check in the mirror before making your way down to the hotel lobby.

As promised, Carlos was waiting outside to take you to the track. It was an easy fifteen-minute drive from here and you got there in no time at all. You’d seen hundreds of GPs in your time, however, you weren’t quite prepared for the hustle and bustle that met you at the paddock entrance. Everywhere you looked things were being wheeled in, from tyres to huge crates, journalists waiting lined up with cameras, snapping away to capture a glimpse into paddock life.

You made your way to the security gates as you needed to have your photo taken for your pass.

“So you’re joining Mercedes huh?” said the security guard, his tone seeming unimpressed as he snapped your photo.

“Yes, I’m super excited to be joining at such an interesting time.” You said tactfully.

The man laughed, “You could put it that way, those guys haven’t won all season.”

“Well I’m sure things will turn around in no time, I’ve heard they have some star engineers back in the factory. We’ll figure it out.” You winked.

He shrugged, not convinced by your optimism “Let’s see. Here’s your shiny new pass ma'am. Director of Communications, fancy.”

As he handed you the glossy purple pass you inspected your photo.

“That’s actually not so bad, I’ll have to come back to you when I need to renew my passport,” you laughed, putting the pass around your neck.

“Well, it’s not hard to take a great picture of someone so beautiful. Good luck on your first day.” he chuckled as you made your way through the gates.

“I try my best” you blushed, silly as it felt, your confidence was buoyed by the compliment.

Walking through the entrance you started scouring the horizon for the Mercedes logo. HR had asked to meet you in the hospitality building for a welcome coffee. Finally, you spotted it, right at the far end.

As you made your way through the paddock you recognised a few familiar faces, the drivers surrounded by a sea of cameras and eager fans angling for a selfie. It was only 8:45 but music was already pumping, Bad Bunny making sure you remembered where you were in the world.

You finally reached the hospitality area, a glossy room that you couldn’t believe was temporary. Although you were early, you spotted a small delegation at one of the tables with stacks of paperwork. Hedging your bets that this was HR, you approached them. “Hi, I’m Y/N, the new Director of Communications. I'm supposed to meet with HR at 9:00 and wondered if you might be them.”

An older blonde woman stood up to greet you, “Oh great, lovely to meet you Y/N, you are absolutely talking to the right people. I’m Pamela, I believe you spoke to my colleague Holly on the phone?” she gestured at a younger blonde woman sitting at the table.

“Oh yes, lovely to meet you both.” you shook their hands.

“Please take a seat and let’s get everything we need signed right away. I already have your contract but I’ll need you to sign this NDA and waiver.”

“Sure, thank you for organising everything,” you sat down and began to read through the paperwork in front of you. It was all pretty standard for this industry, the NDA (non-disclosure agreement) forbade you from sharing company information and the waiver asked that you agree to work hours outside of your contracted forty.

“If anything is unclear, please let us know.” Pamela said.

“Thank you, it should be all straightforward.” you continued reading.

Satisfied with the paperwork, you grabbed the pen and signed on the dotted line.

“Perfect, thank you Y/N. Welcome to the team,” said Pamela, filing the contracts away in a glossy branded folder. « Now the only thing left is to get you your team uniform. Holly will be able to help you with this if you follow her. »

Holly stood up, “Would you like to grab a coffee or a drink before we go? Once we go upstairs it might get rather full-on.”

“Sure, that sounds good.” You stood up and followed Holly to a rather snazzy barista setup.

“Hi, what can I get you?” the girl at the counter asked.

“Just an espresso for me please” You always liked your coffee strong, it was the only thing that bolstered your spirits on long working days.

“No problem, one coming up.” The girl turned to the machine and started busily making your drink.

You made the classic first-day small talk with Holly, discussing if she’d ever been to Miami before (she hadn’t) and how hot it was (extremely).

The barista handed you a small cup with your espresso. You smiled as you noticed that even this was branded. This industry never missed a trick with branding opportunities.

“Great, so if you’ll please follow me Y/N, let’s get you your uniform.” Holly gestured towards a staircase you hadn’t noticed on your way in.

Leading you up some rather neat wooden steps, you follow Holly through another communal meeting room to an office. Inside, there was a white table with clothes and shoe boxes laid out.

“Right, so our uniform consists of a white shirt, black trousers, trainers and a black parka.” Holly gestured at the table, “We received your sizes and have brought those, along with one size smaller and one size larger to ensure a perfect fit. I will leave you for a moment to try them in privacy and if you need a mirror there’s one on the back of this door.” She gestured towards a door on the adjoining wall. “When you’re done, please come and grab me from next door.”

As Holly left the room, closing the door you came through behind her, you looked through the clothes laid out. You figured it would be most sensible to start with the sizes you requested, feeling a bit awkward as you undressed in the middle of the office. As you slipped on the black pants, you were pleasantly surprised to find they were a perfect fit, hugging your butt in all the right places. The shirt was a little tight so you reached for the larger size.

Just as you turned around to face the mirror and button your shirt, the door burst open, revealing a very surprised, tall brunette man. You immediately recognised him as Toto Wolff, the Team Principal, aka your new boss.

“I’m so sorry, I was looking for my assistant.” he stammered, blatantly taking an eyeful of your rather see-through lace balconette bra, as you hurriedly pulled your shirt together, then awkwardly looking away towards the window behind you.

“No worries, you’d see more on the beach,” internally you were mortified but outwardly tried to downplay it. “Holly from HR said I could try these in here, I hope that’s okay? I’m new, it's my first day today.” You tried to salvage the awkward situation having successfully covered your almost naked breasts.

“I suppose that’s true, but you don’t often go to the beach with your colleagues in our line of work.” He laughed, breaking the tension and stepping into the room.

“Does that mean we’re not hitting South Beach at our team briefing later?” you smiled, a glint in your eye.

“If only.” His embarrassed expression dissipated into a warm smile, his eyes crinkling “It’s absolutely fine to be in here though, I’m so sorry again. So if today is your first day, you must be Y/N?”

Surprised he knew about new starters, you replied “Yes, I’m the new Director of Communications.”

“Lovely to meet you Y/N, we’re looking forward to having you join us. I’m Toto by the way, the Team Principal and CEO. I’m sure we will be working very closely together.” he reached out a hand to shake yours, again rather awkwardly, “ I think my assistant has put some time in for us later today before the team briefing, maybe we can do a real introduction then?”

Shaking his hand, you laughed “Nice to meet you too Mr Wolff, that sounds good to me.”

“Please, call me Toto and I’m sorry again for walking in,” he apologised again, a blush creeping across his face.

“Honestly, don’t worry Toto, these things happen and you weren’t to know I was in here.” you reassured him.

“Well, I will leave you to try on your uniform. See you later Y/N,” he said, ducking awkwardly back out of the door.

Smiling, you bid him farewell, “Nice to meet you and see you later!”

“Likewise, welcome to Mercedes Y/N.” he grinned, closing the door behind him.

You continued to try the rest of your uniform until settling on the perfect fit, thankfully this time uninterrupted. Of all people, you couldn’t believe it had been the team principal to walk in on you half-naked, the man you had been most nervous to meet. Although you were beyond mortified and regretting your choice of transparent underwear, it had at the least broken your nerves. Nothing could now be worse or more embarrassing and he had been very apologetic.

Ten minutes later you emerged from the room with your chosen pieces in your arms, making your way to the room next door where Holly was waiting. “Hi Holly, I’ve tried everything on and settled on these,” you said, gesturing at the clothes in your arms.

“Great, can I just grab those and note the sizes so that I can get five sets ordered?” She extended her hand towards you, taking the clothes and shoes and noting the sizes down.

“Five? Wow, that’s a lot more than I was expecting!” your eyebrows raised.

“Trust me, in places like Miami and Singapore you’ll thank me.” Holly laughed and handed you back the pieces you had chosen.

“That’s true I suppose, should I put these on for now?” you asked, trying your best to fold the shirt whilst holding onto the trousers and trainers.

“It’s totally up to you, however, you feel comfortable. You can leave your clothes in the office where you changed if you’d like. We don’t have any other new starters today so no one will go in there. Once you’re done, perhaps could you please make your way back downstairs?”

“Except for Toto.” you thought to yourself. Choosing to stay quiet on that particular encounter you replied “Great, thank you, I’ll just go and change and then meet you back downstairs.”

You made your way back to the room to change, this time choosing to face away from the doors just in case. Folding your carefully chosen first-day outfit you regretted the amount of time you had spent this morning choosing an outfit no one had seen. Stepping back and inspecting your new uniform in the mirror you were pleased, it was a good fit. Fitted without being too tight but fitted enough to showcase your gym-honed body, all in all, a good uniform that you wouldn’t hate wearing every day.

Satisfied with your new look, you made your way back downstairs to the hospitality area where Pamela and Holly were both waiting for you with a now full table.

“Doesn’t she look great!” Exclaimed Pamela.

“I know!” Said Holly, their colleagues nodding in agreement. “Welcome to the team!”

“Thank you, very excited to be here.” You blushed, not used to the compliments.

You spent the next hour in hospitality meeting an endless stream of new faces, trying to mentally keep track of everyone’s names and positions within the company. It seemed as if everyone and their mother was coming in for a cup of coffee to start the day. Engineers, mechanics, logistics, they were all there. Finally, it was time to meet your direct team, the Communications department, a group of eighteen people who you would be overseeing. You were met with a sea of friendly and enthusiastic faces, as well as some surprise at how young you were to be stepping into such a prestigious role. When you had been offered the role, you were aware that your predecessor was retiring and knew that the team wanted someone younger with a fresher perspective.

Introductions were short and sweet as Holly was adamant she needed to whisk you away for your meeting with Toto Wolff. Of course, she was not aware that you had already met him earlier this morning and you hoped that it wouldn’t be too awkward.

She led you back upstairs, into the room where you had gotten changed, knocking on one of the doors Toto had burst through earlier, “Toto, I have someone for you.”

“Yes, come in” called out a voice from inside the room.

“Hi Toto, this is Y/N, our new Director of Communications. Y/N, this is Toto, our Team Principal, and CEO. I will leave you two to get acquainted.”

“Hi Toto, nice to see you again.” You said with a smile, causing Holly’s eyebrows to raise in surprise as she exited.

“Hello Y/N, likewise. I still must apologise for this morning, I am very sorry if I caused you any distress. It’s not the way I normally like to meet my new members of staff. Please have a seat.” He gestured towards the seat facing him.

“Honestly, no worries at all. We’re all grown-ups and you didn't know that I was in there.” You sat down across from him, “I must admit I was a little nervous for my first day but it has definitely broken that. I’ve spent the morning meeting the team and they’ve all been lovely so far.”

“I’m glad to hear it, I pride myself on the fact that our team is one of the friendliest in the paddock. We work hard but ultimately we like to feel like one big family.” He smiled. “So, tell me about yourself Y/N? I know that you have come to us from Audi, so not so different. And before we get into it, can I offer you a drink?”

“Water would be great please,” you continued to tell him about your previous role as he poured you a large glass of iced water from a branded carafe. As you spoke you couldn’t help but be a little unnerved by him. He was an extremely tall, imposing man, even sat down behind a desk and you could sense that he was someone you would not want to get on the wrong side of.

“So what made you want to join our team?” He leant forward, not breaking eye contact and giving you the impression he was trying to psycho-analyse you.

“Well, I fancied a change of pace and I’ve always enjoyed the travel aspect of my career and this opened up that opportunity. My father was an avid Formula One fan and I have followed the sport since I was a child so it felt right.”

He leant back, folding his arms, still gazing into your eyes. “Interesting. Well, we certainly travel around a lot Y/N. You’ll have to bring your father to one of the races once you are settled in.”

You laughed “That was the first thing he asked when I landed this role, when can I come?”

Toto smiled, you couldn’t help noticing that he really was rather handsome. His white Mercedes shirt was cut to perfection to showcase his muscular arms and broad chest. “Everybody’s family says that, including my own. You would think they would be fed up with it by now but no.”

“I suppose it’s the nature of the job.” You smiled, echoing his body language and leaning back into your chair, “So Holly mentioned that we have a team briefing this afternoon. Obviously I do not have anything to add at this stage but I would like to introduce myself, would that be the appropriate time?”

“100%. I will introduce you and then we can take it from there. I am aware that you have, how do you say? Jumped out of the frying pan into the fire? It’s not an easy way to start but I hope you will start to get the measure of how we work and the expectations from our sponsors.”

“Great, that sounds good.” you replied, satisfied that at least there was some kind of plan. You continued discussing the ins and outs of your role for the next twenty minutes, Toto assuring you that although this weekend was going to be a sharp learning curve, he understood that you were new to the company so was willing to give you a grace period.

As you wrapped up you started to make a move from your chair, “ Thank you so much for your time Toto, I really appreciate the warm welcome. I will leave you alone now as I know you must be a very busy man.”

“Not at all, it’s been my pleasure. We will be working very closely together and I hope that you know my door is always open at any time.” He got up to show you out, his imposing stature even more evident.

“Thank you, Toto, I’m looking forward to it.” You made your way out, pleased that your meeting had not been too awkward following the morning’s encounter.

As you exited his office, Toto called out to you, “The uniform looks great by the way!”

And there it was, the awkwardness was back. You turned around, trying to hide your blush “You would say that, we’re twinning!” You inwardly cringed at your response but it seemed to win over Toto who was laughing as he closed his office door. Hot-footing it back downstairs you weren’t sure what to make of your new boss. He had an air of authority but equally seemed receptive to having a laugh. He was also incredibly handsome, more handsome than someone in motorsport had business being.

As you made your way down the stairs, you were met with a small camera crew. Not sure whether you should be in the shot, you tried to skirt around the edges when you were suddenly whisked to the side by a harassed-looking Pamela.

“Y/N, I am so sorry but I realised we forgot to ask you to sign one more document, the waiver for you to feature in the Netflix documentary, Drive to Survive. It is unlikely they will want to heavily feature you but it is standard practice for all of our employees as they can then have free reign to film all areas and not worry about having to avoid certain faces.”

“Sure,” you had forgotten about Drive to Survive, one aspect you were less keen on. You had no ambition to be in the public eye and the documentary had transformed certain team members into TV stars. Even Toto had not been so much of a household name prior to the show. Hoping to give a good impression, you signed without protest, praying that you would not be featured. You knew that as Director of Communications you would undoubtedly be involved as it was a huge part of the team image, but hopefully you could keep behind the scenes and manage things from afar.

You spent the rest of the morning being briefed by various teams on how they worked with the Communications team. Time flew by and it was lunchtime before you knew it. You had a lowkey lunch in the hospitality area with a few members of the Communications department who would be working under you. They were noticeably nervous about eating lunch with their new boss so you tried to put them at ease by asking them about Miami. It emerged that everybody was excited and hoping to get to the beach on Sunday evening if the race went well for the team. You crossed your fingers that Sunday was going to be a success.

Friday PM

As the afternoon rolled on, the team got into practice and everyone was very much focused on the task at hand. You shadowed your team, learning where you would be needed on qualifying and race day. It was almost an overwhelming amount of information to process but once you got used to the structure of the team, it felt familiar.

The atmosphere in the post-practice team briefing was lively and boisterous after Lewis and George had performed above expectations with everyone excitedly chatting about the positive results. You heard a door open and a hushed tone took over the room. You turned your head and saw exactly why. Toto has entered. You could see from the way the noise dampened as he entered that the team had a huge amount of respect for Toto.

He made his way to the front of the room and clapped his hands together, “Well, firstly I would like to say thank you and well done to everybody. These results are the best we have had all season and I know how much hard work, blood, sweat and tears have been put into making the car more drivable.” A small burst of applause broke out and he paused, “But I think we should all be aware that we should not be complacent, good performance in practice is one thing but qualifying and the race are different beasts. We need to continue to push tomorrow and on Sunday and get back on top, where we belong.” Approving nods went around the room as he continued to assess the day's performance, highlighting the good as well as areas of improvement.

The discussion continued for quite some time, with active participation from the team. You were impressed with how collaborative the team felt, Toto was right, it was like a big family. As he wrapped the practice analysis, he looked over towards you and gestured for you to come and join him. Gingerly making your way to the front of the room you turned to face the team.

“Last but not least, it is my pleasure to introduce you all to Y/N, our new Director of Communications,” he paused for another round of applause and murmurs of welcome, “She is joining us from Audi’s racing team and we are very much looking forward to welcoming her to the family. I am sure many of you may have already met today but I would like you all to make her feel welcome and introduce yourselves if you haven’t already. She will be key in preserving our brand image and communicating our values to the wider world, including sponsors.”

“Thank you Toto, I am thrilled to be joining the team and I look forward to tomorrow and Sunday.” You kept it short, unsure what else to add but Toto beamed away and seemed happy.

“So, that brings today to a close, I look forward to seeing you all bright and early tomorrow. I have a good feeling and I think we will soon get back on top.” Toto once again clapped his hands together, signalling the end of the briefing. The team immediately began to file out so you followed suit.

“Y/N,” called a voice from behind. You turned around to face none other than Lewis Hamilton.

“Oh hello, you must be Lewis?” You said politely, well aware of who he was.

“Yes, nice to meet you. I think we’ll be spending a lot of time together moving forward and I just wanted to introduce myself and welcome you to the team before the crazy of the weekend.” He held out his tattooed hand to shake yours.

“Lovely to meet you, I appreciate that. I expect I’ll be bugging you to film social media content, wear watches and drink Monster all the time from now on.”

He smiled, “It’s never a bother, I know how tricky it must be to manage those relationships. It’s good to have someone with a new outlook. Toto mentioned that you would be a little younger than Sarah, your predecessor, and I think it’s a good thing. She was amazing but times have to change.”

“That’s interesting to hear, I’ve heard a lot about Sarah. Feels like big shoes to fill.”

“Indeed,” Toto suddenly loomed out of nowhere, “She was an incredible team leader and I know that the team will miss her a lot. But as Lewis said, it is exciting to get a fresh perspective.”

“Well, I will use this weekend to gauge where we are at and let’s see.” You replied.

“I can’t wait. Lovely to meet you Y/N,” Lewis made a move towards the door, “I had better head off for some shut-eye.”

“Nice to meet you too Lewis, sweet dreams,” you turned to Toto, “Thank you for the glowing introduction, it was a little daunting getting up there in front of so many new people.”

“I know, I hope I didn’t put you on the spot there, as you may have guessed, they are very excited to have you on board.” He smiled down at you, “I suppose I should also get going, we always try to have an early night before qualifying.”

“That’s good to know, I am feeling a little jet lagged so will also make an early night of it.” You started walking towards the door, thinking that Toto would be staying behind but instead he followed you, asking, “Are you getting a car back to the hotel?”

You turned back towards him, “Yes, I think my driver, Carlos, should be waiting for me, I dropped him a message as we were wrapping the briefing.”

“Efficient, I like it. Well, I need to go and take care of a few things before I head off. Are you okay to walk back to the parking lot alone, or would you like me to walk with you? It’s getting dark outside,” His eyes showing genuine concern.

“That’s really kind but I should be fine, I did the same route in the morning so hopefully I can figure it out,” you made your way out, not sure what to make of his offer. As a new member of staff, you didn’t want to show any weakness but equally didn’t want to come off as rude so you added, “Thank you so much for offering though,”

“If you’re sure, get back safe okay?” He paused at the bottom of the stairs that would take him back to his office, “And thank you for not saying anything about this morning to Holly or Pamela, HR would not be kind about it.”

You laughed, “Don’t worry Toto, it was as awkward for me as it was for you and I figured it’s better off being our little secret. Let’s agree to never speak of it again.”

“Well, I appreciate that, it’s a deal.” he winked at you, “Goodnight Y/N.”

“Goodnight Toto.”You made your way back to the paddock, which was somewhat emptier than earlier but still bustling with people. Glad that you hadn’t taken up Toto on his offer, you made your way quickly back to the parking lot.

You set your sights on the familiar silver Mercedes saloon where Carlos was patiently waiting “Hi Carlos, thank you so much for waiting for me.”

Opening the door for you, Carlos replied “Good evening ma’am, my pleasure. How was your first day?”

You chatted away to Carlos as he drove you back to the hotel. It hit you as you entered the lobby just how tired you were and you decided to forgo dinner in place of an early night. Making your way back up to your room you reflected on how your first day had gone, aside from the flashing the boss, it had been smooth sailing and you couldn’t wait for Saturday when you could really get stuck into the role.

Saturday AM

Jet lag was definitely going to be an issue, you woke up at three o’clock, four o’clock and five o’clock before realising that there was no way you were dropping back to sleep so you made the executive decision to head down to the hotel gym. Slipping on your favourite workout fit, pink shorts and a matching sports bra, you made your way down the elevator and through the heavy glass doors. Unsurprisingly the place was empty so you made the most of it, running for half an hour and then moving onto the free weights.

Pumping your music through your headphones you hadn’t noticed that you were no longer alone in the gym and got quite the shock when you turned around to see Toto making his way towards the weights bench. He made eye contact so you slipped your headphones off.

“Good morning Y/N, I didn’t expect to see anyone down here. No one ever comes this early so I always make the most of it.” He said, clearly looking at your skimpy pink outfit up and down.

Glancing back at him, clocking his tight black tee and grey workout shorts, you responded, “Morning Toto, I’m sorry, I can leave if you prefer to work out alone. I just couldn’t sleep, still a little jetlagged.”

“No not at all, please don’t go on account of me, there is enough space for us to work out together and I could do with a spotter.” He said, gesturing towards the weights bench.

You smiled politely “Well if you’re sure. I’m not sure if I am the best spotter if you lift as much as I’m thinking you do but I'm happy to help.”

“How much do you think I lift?” He smirked, “For all you know I might be bench pressing ten kilos.”

“Something tells me that’s not true.” You laughed, “Let me know when you’d like me to help, I have two more sets to do and then I can be all yours.”

“Perfect, and if you ever need a spotter, I am here too.” He smiled, getting onto the treadmill to warm up.

You felt a little awkward continuing your squat set but it would have been weirder to stop and start another exercise so you made a start.

“You have great form, you know.” You turned around to see Toto running on the treadmill, watching you intently.

“I try my best,” you replied, still unsure of what to make of this man. Was he just being friendly or was there a spark? Surely it would be extremely unprofessional for him to flirt with his new colleague, especially one who reported directly to him.

“I can see that.” He smirked yet again, “Sorry I will leave you alone to finish your sets.”

You powered through your sets, hyper-aware of the fact that you were now being watched, praying that your shorts weren’t too see-through every time you bent down. Eventually, you finished and glanced over to Toto who was sitting on a weights bench wrapping his hands.

“I’m done so all yours,” you wandered over to him.

“Great, thank you Y/N. Could you please stand behind my head?” He got onto the weights bench, lying back with his head at one end and feet firmly on the floor.

“Sure, I’ll be here if you need me.” You made your way over and got into position, standing directly over his head as he reached his arms out to the barbell. “How many reps?”

Toto glanced up at you, “Twelve, think you’re up to it?”

“Sure, let’s go.” You got into position, hands hovering ready, clocking the double plates on the barbell. This guy was strong. “Shall I count you down?”

“That would be very helpful.” Toto wrapped his hands around the barbell.

“3, 2, 1, Go.” Toto proceeded to lift the weight, his face strained in concentration. As he reached his twelve reps he began to slow, having reached his limit.

“Eleven, Twelve.” He counted his last two lifts and placed the barbell back on the rack, satisfied with his set, “I now rest for two minutes.” He stayed flat on his back, out of breath, looking up at you, making you suddenly aware of the fact that he was getting an eyeful of your underboob from this particular angle. Tactfully taking a step back, you glanced down at him.

“That was impressive Toto, but maybe next time you can try and bench more than ten kilos?” you grinned, hoping he would take the ribbing the right way.

“Very funny.” he cracked a smile, “Maybe you can try and squat five?”

“Touché” you replied, enjoying this light banter. “So how many sets do you do?”

“Just three, I don’t do too much but I try to do enough to stay in shape in my old age.” he said effusively.

SIlently thinking to yourself that he was doing more than enough, you smiled, “Three is plenty and you’re not old!”

“How old do you think I am Y/N?” he said, a cheeky glimmer in his eye.

Catching onto his playful banter, you replied “That’s a trick question. If I have to answer, you do too.”

“Okay, but you go first.” he smiled, clearly enjoying messing with you.

“I don’t know, forty five?” you shrugged your shoulders.

“Close, but not quite. One more guess.” he teased.

“Okay, forty seven?” you guessed again.

He smiled, “Closer, I’m fifty. So definitely old.”

“Wow, okay, well then I hope you’re flattered that I shaved five years off of that. The only reason I didn’t say younger is that I know you’ve been with the team for quite some years and unless you were a baby Team Principal I took a punt” you glanced down at him, hoping you’d said the right thing.

Still smiling, he looked as if he was sussing you out, “Very logical. I’ll take that, five years is okay.”

“So how old do you think I am?” you gazed down at him.

He deadpanned “Not a day under seventy three.”

“Oh my gosh, how did you know?” you laughed, feigning surprise.

“I’m the Team Principal, it’s my job to know everything.” he winked at you, “I’m kidding Y/N, I saw your CV, I know exactly your age.”

Surprised he had even seen your CV, you smiled at him, “With brilliance like that, I can see why you’re the boss.”

“Maybe I can teach you a few things.” his gaze hardened, “Two minutes is up, time for the next set.”

You repeated the process twice through, until he could lift no more, sweat pouring off him.

“Thank you very much Y/N. It was good to be able to do my full workout without my trainer. Perhaps I will see you more in the gym?” he eased himself up, mopping his brow with his t-shirt, flashing you a glance of some surprisingly solid abs.

Snatching your eyes away you replied hastily “Yes, perhaps. Let’s see how the jetlag situation goes.”

“You’ll get used to it, don’t worry Y/N. It takes some time but we all do.” his brown eyes filled with concern.

“I hope so, thank you Toto. That certainly woke me up. Now I had better go and get ready for the day.” You turned around, making your way towards the double doors to exit.

“Me too, I’ll see you at the track.” he waved goodbye.

Saturday PM

Having taken your time to get ready that morning and catch up on the deluge of emails that had already come your way, you made your way to the track for what would be your first quali. As Miami was a new track you were to pay particular attention to the worldwide press and corporate sponsors’ race day experiences, with some of your team assigned to the Yacht Club and Beach Club areas to keep an eye on.

Now feeling like a seasoned professional, you scanned your pass at the gates and made your way to the Mercedes Hospitality Area, where you were greeted by Holly.

“Good afternoon Y/N. How was your evening? Did you manage to get out and about?” she bounced up to you, clearly not as jet-lagged as you were.

“Hi Holly, it was nice thanks, I actually went straight to bed. How about you?” you replied.

“Ah, jet lag? You get used to it, I promise.” she said, “Can I get you a coffee or anything?”

“Yes, I hope so! That’s fine, thanks, I try not to after lunchtime.” you knew caffeine was a slippery slope and you hoped to get through the day without it.

“If you’re sure, perhaps then I can show you up to your office?” Holly gestured back towards the spiral staircase.

“My office?” your eyes widened, “I didn’t think I had one, I thought this was it.”

“Oh no, you have an office in a prime spot.” she laughed. “Come with me, I’ll show you the way.”

“Great, very handy!.” you followed her up the stairs where you had gone yesterday and made your way through the room where you had changed and towards Toto’s office. She stopped short of his door and turned to a door just to the left, entering into a compact but sleek workspace.

“Wow, this is neat,” you exclaimed, looking around. It still blew your mind that this entire building was essentially a glorified trailer. You had a glossy white desk, black leather chair and acrylic laptop stand. Opposite was a black leather sofa and a small drinks fridge, stocked full of iced water and soft drinks. You immediately felt right at home, confident you would be able to work easily from here.

“I hope you like it, apologies I didn’t bring you here yesterday, I didn’t want to overwhelm you. It’s up to you where you work but when things get going it’s useful to have a space to escape to and crack on.”

“It’s perfect, thank you, Holly. Perhaps I might stay up here for the next hour or so until I’m needed in the garage?”

“That’s no problem, please make yourself at home.” Holly left, closing the door behind her, “I’ll see you later.”

“See you later,” you called out, not sure if she heard you.

Just as you had gotten settled in and put your head down to work your phone buzzed with a text.

Hi Y/N. I’m sorry to bother you but there is a situation down at the Marina and I’m not sure how best to deal with it.

It was Tom, the Partnership Manager, who worked on your team. A little unnerved by the vague insinuation of a situation, you replied.

Okay, I’m on my way. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be there.

You gathered your laptop, a notebook and phone and rushed out of the door, smack bang into a very tall and solid man’s chest. Throwing your hands up in your face instinctively, he grabbed your arm mid-air stopping you from falling backwards from the force of the thud.

“Y/N. We have to stop bumping into each other like this.” you looked up to see Toto looking down, his large hand still wrapped around your wrist.

“I’m so sorry Toto, I’ll check both ways next time I open that door.” you stammered, freeing your wrist, a little unnerved being so close in his proximity.

“No worries, I’m a big boy, I can take it.” his eyes widened realising how his words sounded, “Sorry that was crass, you know what I mean. It didn’t hurt, don’t worry about it.”

You blushed at his comments, not sure what to say. “I know what you meant. Well, I had better get going, my team needs me down at the marina.”

“Okay Y/N, I’ll see you back in the garage then.” he now looked bemused.

“Sure, see you soon Toto.” you half ran away, fifty percent from embarrassment, fifty percent because you were late, hoping that the tall Austrian was not watching you.

Having successfully located your Partnerships Manager, Tom, it became apparent that the situation in question was none other than the famous fake marina. You’d seen it everywhere on social media but were surprised to see that it was somehow worse in real life. The vinyl water was pixelated and looked ridiculous alongside the fake boats. Tanned men in polo shirts and women in skimpy bikinis paraded around on the glossy decks, clearly making the most of their five-figure tickets as you sought to rectify the situation.

One of the key team sponsors was not happy with the bottle service on their yacht and was threatening to pull their involvement if it was not improved for race day. Fortunately, you were able to successfully smooth things over with the promise of two paddock passes and made it clear to the waitstaff that they needed to prioritise your guests. Tom was clearly grateful for your help and support and looked considerably calmer as you diffused the situation.

“Thank you Y/N, I was in above my head on that one,” he walked alongside you, back to your office, “Nothing I said appeased them”

“Ah, that’s where our paddock passes come in handy Tom,” you smiled, “They’re like gold dust round these parts.”

“Well that’s good to know for the future, hopefully, they will sort the marina next season!” he grimaced, “I can’t believe how expensive those tickets are.”

“It’s Miami, they were always going to be,” you paused and turned around, “Although even I must admit it’s bizarre to have fake water in a city full of waterways.”

“That’s what I said to everyone!” he exclaimed. “Well thank you again, I am going to head over to the Beach Club next and check in on what’s going on there.”

“Great, thank you, Tom, if you need me for anything I am going to be in with Marketing for the next hour.” you smiled at him.

“Thank you Y/N, hopefully not. I’ll see you soon,” he called out as he walked off into the throng of people making their way to the further corners of the track.

Thankfully the afternoon passed with no further drama and quali went just as well as the team had dared to hope, with Lewis scoring P2 and George P3. The team briefing that followed was equally as positive as the evening before and you were impressed with how everyone in the team discussed their highs and lows. Hanging around afterwards, you met several more new faces, including George Russell, the team’s other star driver, who seemed equally as friendly as his counterpart.

Eventually, the team started to dissipate and sensing it was time to go you started to make a move towards the door before a deep voice called out to you. “Y/N, did the guys invite you to our dinner?” It was Toto.

You turned back to face him, surprised to see he had changed out of his Mercedes uniform and into a pair of beige chinos and a light blue linen shirt. He looked rather dashing and a touch less intimidating. “Oh no, no one mentioned it to me, is it happening now?”

Toto caught up with you, “We’re heading out now, it’s a little tradition that we try to go for one team dinner with everybody per calendar month. Somewhere lowkey and casual where everyone can let loose and bond as a team.”

“That sounds lovely,” you paused, feeling foolish about what you were going to say next, “The only problem is I only have this.” you gestured down at your uniform. “Won’t it look a little conspicuous when you’ve all changed?”

Toto smiled kindly, “Yes, of course, well if you go now you can stop off via the hotel to change?”

“Great, I’ll ask one of my team to text me the details,” you said, returning his grin, “Thank you, Toto, it’s very kind.”

“Perfect, see you there.” Toto turned to another member of staff and you could hear him asking the same. It was nice that he took so much time to talk to his employees and foster the team spirit. You were starting to gauge the way this team was run and you could already tell it was much less toxic than the one you had left behind.

Sunday AM

You woke up late the next morning feeling warm and fuzzy. As the race was not until eight-thirty that evening you’d enjoyed a lie-in. Last night you’d all gone to a down-to-earth steakhouse, a little out of town. It had been a good opportunity to get to know everyone a little better and you were surprised to see that even Lewis and George were there, chatting away to anybody who would listen.

As you had gone back to your hotel to change, you'd arrived a little later than everyone else and they had no qualms about all squashing up to make space for you, taking your place with the rest of the Senior Management. You’d enjoyed a pleasant chat over dinner with the Strategy Director and Chief Engineer with Toto interjecting every so often. You admired the way that after plates had been cleared he worked the room, making sure to mingle amongst even the junior staff. You tried to follow suit and did some of your own networking, checking in on your team especially. All-in-all a good experience and one that you looked forward to again.

Mindful of the fact that you needed to bring your a-game today you made sure to keep the drinks minimal and switched to soda and lime pretty early on in the night. A few of your colleagues were edging towards tipsy but you were glad to see that people seemed to be sensible.

Getting ready for the day, you took a little extra time doing your hair and make-up as last night Toto had warned you that Netflix would be filming some scenes in the garage. It seemed silly but you wanted to look as good as possible if you were in shot. Satisfied with your appearance you made your way down to the lobby and into the garage where Carlos was waiting. Having your own driver was a perk you had not expected and one which you’d quickly grown accustomed to. Greeting Carlos and ducking into the backseat, you could not quite believe your luck.

Sunday PM

Carlos kindly dropped you right at the paddock gates meaning you were able to go straight in. Having eaten brunch in your room you decided to go directly to your office and catch up on your work, grabbing an espresso on the way. As you made your way there you noticed a certain buzz in the building that had definitely not been there on Friday or Saturday. It was certainly race day.

Comfortable in your new chair and now stuck into work, you were thankful that there were no more hiccups this afternoon and your main priority was ensuring some content Lewis had filmed with Tom Brady went out in good time with the correct information. Satisfied with your team’s efforts you closed the lid to your laptop and leaned back, staring into space, pensieve.

A knock on the door snapped you out of it and you looked up to see a red-headed woman peeking around the door. “Hello Y/N, we haven’t met yet but I’m Toto’s EA, Lara. He would like to see you before the race, are you free now?”

“Nice to meet you, Lara, sure I can do now.” you stood up, gathering your things, “Is he next door?”

A voice called out “Yes I am.”

“You can hear me?” you asked incredulously.

“Crystal clear.” you could hear a deep, throaty chuckle, “The walls are thin and you are extremely loud.”

You made your way around to Toto’s office, Lara disappearing back into the main communal area.

“So no private phone calls?” you asked, taking a seat opposite him.

“There are no secrets in this team,” he said, looking smug.

“Noted. What’s on the agenda this afternoon?” you asked, trying to stay professional.

“I’d like to get your take on Netflix. As it stands they have asked if I am available to spend a full day with them in a few weeks.” he paused, looking unsure of himself, “They want to film another gym scene as they say the last one was very popular on social media. What do you think? I think it’s a bit weird, no? I would rather concentrate on the racing.”

“Hm, on one hand, those scenes make you more of a character, more personable but on the other, we only have limited screen time as a team. Would you not rather use the day to focus on Lewis or George?” you said tactfully.

“That’s exactly what I’m thinking, why would anyone want to see me when they can learn more about our stars? His brow furrowed, “I know that some of the other team principals relish it but it’s not my thing.”

“I have heard on the grapevine that you have quite the legion of fans though? It could make sense, especially if they are spending the same amount of time with the other Team Principals. We don’t want you to look starchy in comparison. We have to play the game a little.” You weighed it up, “I think let’s pencil it in for now. I will try to find out if they are doing the same with the other teams.”

“Okay, I had better get practising then, I have to keep up appearances.” he said, “Maybe you can be my spotter again?”

“Absolutely not.” you flatly refused, “I’ll be there behind the crew, making sure they don’t catch you only lifting ten kilos.”

“Let’s see,” he said, in a tone that implied you were not wiggling your way out of this one.

“Is there anything else you would like to discuss while I’m here?” you asked.

“No I think that is all, Lara will put it in the diary.” he folded his long fingers together under his chin, “I’ll let you know if there is anything else.”

“Thanks, Toto,” you bid him goodbye and made your way out.

“See you later,” he called out.

Now at T-1 Hour, you made your way back to the group hospitality area where you had set up some of your team for the race. The social team would be down in the garage gathering content, the sponsorship team down in the Yacht Club, and the press team with the drivers doing the media circuit, leaving you with the marketing and merch team. The race would be shown on a big screen within this space, giving you the bizarre experience of watching the race on TV despite being trackside.

Keeping an eye on the press and social media feeds you were satisfied with the way content had been delivered so far this weekend. Ironically the top performing post across all platforms was one of Toto sipping a cocktail by a pool. You made sure to note this down to bring up in your next meeting.

Soon enough it was lights out and away we go, the race a tense and noisy affair. Thirty-two laps in, Lewis managed to take the lead, leading the rapturous applause around the room, however, one unlucky safety car later and he dropped back to second. As the chequered flag was waved, Lewis took a respectable P2 and George a P4, having been just pipped to the post of a podium finish by Carlos Sainz. They were arguably the best results of the season and you hoped this was the turning point for the team.

You quickly made your way down to the garage to cast your eyes on the post-race interviews. Sky Sports had already grabbed Toto who was looking thrilled with the results. Wrapping his interview up, he came over to you.

“So your first race day, what did you think?” he asked, looking at you expectantly.

“It was great, there was a real buzz in the air. I’m so glad we’re back on top, where we belong.” you gestured at the TV repeating the footage of the podium, Lewis spraying a huge bottle of champagne everywhere.

“I hope so.” he smiled warmly. “Let’s see what next week brings.”

You couldn’t help but agree with him on that one, it seemed a little pre-emptive to dare to dream for a win. “Indeed.” Smiling back at Toto you realised that you were running late for Lewis’ photocall, “I have to dash but let’s catch up properly on Monday.”

“Sounds good, I hope you get out to see some of Miami tonight.” he replied, “It’s a fun city.”

“Let’s see.” you laughed, wanting nothing more than to crawl into your bed.

“Another early night?” he winked at you.

“Maybe,” you said shyly, knowing full well that is exactly what you were going to do, any minute now.

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someinstant · 1 year

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So I had to watch the last two episodes of ANDOR on my phone because first I was taking a bunch of teenagers on a trip to DC, and then I was in a cabin with my family on the edge of a swamp and my sister is only up to episode four and no one else has watched the show. Thus, last night I was able to finally sit down and watch episodes 11 and 12 on a television, and now I have a few Thoughts I would like to share:

Remember how in episode 8 Bix and Brasso are talking about Maarva's decline, and Bix says she fell? Brasso asks how, and Bix says she was trying to see if the drainage grate on Rix Road was open-- because she wanted the Rebellion to be able to go into the hotel and take on the Empire. And she says it with that sad little smile, like, We know all know she's imagining things, she's on her way out, but wouldn't that be nice?

IT'S CASSIAN. CASSIAN USES THE DRAINAGE GATE AND GOES INTO THE HOTEL AND TAKES ON THE EMPIRE TO HELP BIX. HE'S THE FUCKING REBELLION, MAARVA. My whole heart, jesus.

When Cass stops by his adoptive father's funerary stone (and gives that sweet, sad half-smile that Diego Luna can just break me with), his fingers and hand are all bloody, and I couldn't figure out why-- and then I remembered he'd been bare rock climbing with Melshi to escape patrols on Narkina 5 in the previous episode, and I wanted to kiss the continuity supervisors for this show on the mouth, because actions have weight and consequences, and injuries take time to heal, and of COURSE Cassian is marked by Narkina 5. Of course it bit into his body the same way it bit into his soul.

The folks over on the A MORE CIVILIZED AGE podcast are absolutely right: Cassian is a water-type Pokémon. The man is always in association with water: breaking out of a dam-slash-base that holds back a sacred river on Aldhani, hiding his money and weapons in a shower in the hotel and then arrested by the sea when he tries to run away to Niamos, marooned in a prison surrounded by water, caught (like a fish in a net! LIKE MEERO'S 'ARE YOU A FISH' SPEECH WITH BIX!) by fishermen by a lake on Narkina 5, finding out Maarva has died while the waves crash on Niamos, listening to Nemik's manifesto as the rainstorm comes down on Ferrix, wading through the water of the Rix Road drain to get to the hotel to liberate Bix-- the water imagery is just there.

And you know why? DO YOU KNOW WHY? It's because water is fucking impossible to pin down. It flows. It shifts. It can freeze solid, become a vapor, bring life, drown the unwary-- it's necessary to life, and antithetical to it. It takes the shape it's forced into. You want an elemental association for a spy? It's fucking water.

In conclusion, I hate everything, Tony Gilroy et al are monsters, I HAD MY CASSIAN ANDOR OBSESSION UNDER CONTROL YOU BASTARDS WHY DID YOU HAVE TO MAKE THIS SHOW SO GOOD.

The only good news is now I have about eighteen months to write an ABSURD amount of fic to fill the void Wednesdays will now represent.

#andor #andor spoilers #episode 8 spoilers #episode 12 spoilers #whole season spoilers honestly #cassian andor is a water pokemon #cassian andor #my beloved space disaster #this is a tony gilroy fanpage now

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michael-after-hours · 1 year

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First Time for Everything

Summary: Ace Merrill isn't unlike everyone else in aspects of he's always had a first time for everything in his life, even if he tries so hard to deny he ever had a first experience with anything.

His most recent and jarring experience is with Richard 'Eyeball' Chambers, his best friend and the real leader of their little gang.

Warning: mentions of past child abuse and child neglect, underage drinking and smoking(it's stand by me we should know these fellas aren't quite adults yet) homophobic language (it's like the 50s), Ace being a typical asshole, mental breakdowns. Mentions of self-harm, and mentions of losing a loved one. Child abuse, bullying, it... it's ace merrill...he can only be oh-so nice.

Notes: I just think they're kinda fruity✨

Ace Merrill always had his issues, his ups and downs, highs and lows in life. While contradictory to what he spews and boast, he's fallen on his ass screaming and crying for help more times than he has tripped and walked it off.

Ace was only five years old when he was back handed by his father for "Being too loud". He still feels the sting of it, how he fell to the ground and a ways away from his father.

He remembers his mother rushing to pick him up and scolding his father only for her to get back handed as well and take Ace with her to his bedroom. That was the first time he was ever back handed.

Ace was only eight when he was picked up by his pants and nap of his shirt, then chunked into the water by an older cousin.

He couldn't swim yet and was trying to teach himself to fish while at a lake house of a relatives for the thanksgiving holidays. Screaming and crying, wailing gasping on water.

He went under three times and only came up a fourth time after an Uncle jumped in to get him. He was eight the first time he nearly drowned, and thankfully the last time.

Ace was ten when he was left at school alone for three hours. His mother was in the hospital due to sickness, and his father off too drunk to remember to pick him up.

He told the ladies at the front office someone was coming to get him, and he didn't need to ride the bus home...only to walk the long long walk home.

It was a crisp autumn evening, the sun vanishing quickly and the walk to his house had no lights and he didn't have anything to ride home on.

Hot wet tears stained his face that day he dragged himself home, scared, alone and hungry and let himself in the house that was left abandoned for the night. He was ten the firs time that happened, but it wouldn't be the last.

Ace was thirteen when he was offered a ride home during winter.

A boy named Richard Chambers, a smile that was so warm it could've melted the snow, and a laugh so intoxicating it made Ace smile.

He rode a little bicycle, ruby red, an "Early Christmas gift" from his relatives down south who couldn't make the trip this year for him. It has room for someone to stand on the back.

"I normally take my little brother home, but he went home with some friends, and you live near me!" He happily told him.

Ace gladly accepted the offer and held on tight to Richard as they went up and down the large hills. Ace basked in how it felt like they were gliding, flying down the long stretches of hills and oh how he and Richard laughed and ran out of breath when they got to Ace's house. He was thirteen when he made his first ever friend.

Ace was fifteen when he experienced his first major loss in life. His mother passed away from her illness.

Ace didn't actually know what she passed away from, none of them really did. She would get more clumsy and forgetful, pass out more and more, nearly caught the house on fire....

The doctors said it was a stress induced illness. so ace took it upon himself to help her more. he learned to cook, clean, do laundry, wash dishes properly, how to keep the house tidy, and do his school work, and have dinner done in time for his lousy father to get home.

The stress free environment was never stress free however, since his father loved using him and his Mother as his punching bags after a bad day, and everyday was a bad day to that man.Ace swears he put his mother in an early grave, and he was fifteen when he lost the only person to ever protect him, he was fifteen when he vowed to hurt his father for taking away his mother. It was the first time he ever lost someone he truly loved.

Ace was fifteen when Richard joined him at the funeral. It was spring and beautiful, the perfect time for his mother to pass. "You said she always did love spring, now she'll be immortalized in it." Richard told Ace.

"What do you mean?" he croaked out, voice weak from the crying he'd been doing for the past week.

"On you know, every time you think of her, you'll think of spring, and how beautiful it is, and how nice the flowers are....That's what I do when I think of my aunt, the flowers of spring on her grave.." Richard always had a way with words, and the words made Ace cry again, and just as the fresh tears fell from his face and a sob broke out of his mouth and echoed in the still silence of the funeral, you could hear thunder and the sound of rain starting to pour down on the church while Ace wailed his heart out for his Mother. The stormy gloomy weather matching his mood. It was the first time he felt a hole in his heart and wailed until he couldn't talk.

Ace was sixteen when he learned how to replace a razor blade on his shaving razors. Ace learned quick how sharp they are and how you have to be careful with them, or how you can easily hurt yourself by accident on them. He learned that pants covered up bruises and cuts, and during the winter months when he dawns long sleeves for warmth no one questions it.

Ace learned that the thighs were the best and easiest place to cut, and how to pinch the skin. He learned having a scolding hot shower or bath that turned him a pretty pink made him bleed more. He learned the relaxation that would come with hurting himself. He was seventeen when he hurt himself to feel a litlte something. It was the first but not the last time he hurt himself on purpose.

Ace was seventeen when he felt the world collapse beneath him. He was told to get his shit together or it was off to the military with him by his Father's wrathful hands.

He discovered the joys of drinking, and smoking not just a month earlier, along with the joy of cutting and stabbing. He was seventeen when his father broke a bottle over his head and pushed Ace out of the house.

He was seventeen when his father pushed him out of a moving car at night and made Ace limp home.

He was seventeen when Richard found him....crying by the lake, and offered him his hand and a shoulder to cry on.

Ace was seventeen when his father skipped town suddenly, leaving Ace to live home alone, and with his uncle....who ran the junkyard. He was seventeen when he stabbed someone, and did a damn good job of hiding the body.

It was the first time he killed someone, and hopefully the last.

Ace was Eighteen when life got better again. Richard had formed a gang, or as he called it "A group of the local outcast Ace" and outcast they were.

Drinking, stealing, threatening, vandalizing, raising hell and smoking a pack a day nearly. They all got names that weren't their own. Ace was no one, he was John Merrill, but now? Now he was Ace...

He was special, everyone wanted an Ace for a full deck of cards, people would love and adore Ace. He was Ace Merrill, and he kicked Richard off the pedestal of leader and appointed himself the new leader, calling Richar, "Eyeball". Why? His eyes did this adorable twitch, that made Ace chuckle every time he watched his eyes wiffle and droop, twitch and make him shake his head.

He was eighteen when the cobra gang formed. It was the first time he felt alive.

Ace was eighteen again when he got a girlfriend. She only lasted about a month? Maybe two...Ace kept her around as eye candy, she was some cheerleader chick the guys bragged about who gave good favors in return for cigarettes and booz.

She was hung up on Ace like he hung the moon itself but he couldn't stand her in his lap. Or how she giggled, he hated her, she filled him with a blind rage so much so he back handed her in front of everyone one night. Screaming at her to "SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH!!" Well she didn't like that and broke up with him, and none of the guys really agreed with it. He didn't care he brushed it off.....

Until Richard pointed it out. "Ace...hey man....your acting like my dad..." His dad, Mr Fucking Chambers....no better than Ace's now dead and gone dad. Ace thinks thats the first time he really truly felt bad for hurting someone, if only due to it concerned tone from Richard.

Ace was on his seventh bottle of beer and nearly done with his pack of cigarettes when he realized how shaky he felt. How he couldn't breath, how the world spinning and seemed loud around him.

How his skin felt tight and how nothing felt like he was really there and living.

The cold air of autumn felt colder than before but welcoming, and he felt hot and sweaty, he fell off the porch steps he was on and stumbled around aimlessly before falling to his knees, unaware and oblivious to his surroundings. Ace could feel himself breathing heavy as his heart pounded in his ears before he felt like he was puking out sobs with how they didn't want to come out.

Gagging and choking on them before he wailed and screamed. He still doesn't know why just that he had clawed at his arms so badly they were red and a few spots bloodied. He remembers the coldness of that night and then the warmth and reassurance of being rocked and soothed. He couldn't breath until later and apologized profusely. It was his first, and not his last breakdown.

It wasn't until the cold harsh winter that would cover the ground in snow rolled around that Ace had to dial a lot of things back and realize a few things. He and the boys....

Didn't ever do anything during winter. Spring thought mid Autumn was their peak rebellion time, of being horrible. Winter? No one wanted to get to wild, they drank more and smoked more, flirted more and went out to diners and stole a bit more on occasion, but mostly it was a "Buckle down for school" time sadly.

Ace...ace wasn't doing good in school. How bad was it? .....He was getting by with the skin of his teeth levels bad. So here he was at the kitchen table, getting tutored from Richard in math and biology.

"So you have reading down, and spelling, history is perfect...Hey you should do that!" Richard was going through the study rubric of what all Ace was good with, so far he sucked ass with math and biology. "Do what?" Ace spoke dryly as he got up for a beer, popping the cap off as it fell onto the counter with a little tink sound.

"Go do something with history! You love the stuff, even when Mrs Johnson says your being a lazy screw off you pop off to her the right stuff! Stuff we never even know about!" Richard had that beautiful warm smile that got Ace to crack a small one before slumping in his chair.

It was the first time he considered life outside of Castlerock.

Winter break rolled around, and ace Somehow passed midterms of "See what you know" with flying colours except in math. His biology improved! But...math still suffered severely he didn't care much though. "So why are you so good with history and reading anyways Ace? Of all the things, i'd always expect you to be bad at those...no offence."

Richard always spoke the truth when it was just the two of them, and while they were once again at Ace's house, this time he was making homemade hot chocolate, yes homemade hot chocolate, for the two of them, it felt...odd. "Hmm? Oh uhhh...mom, she always...She always read big books to me, and would hold me as we listened to those radio dramas you know.." He vaguely explained as he stirred the pot holding the warm coco.

"You never talk about her...she was so sweet, why dont you talk about her Ace?" Richard seemed genuinely curious, and Ace couldn't fault him nor blame him for that. He didn't say anything just poured the hot coco into two mugs for them both, it wasn't until after he poured them he realized it was the quote on quote 'wedding' mugs his mom got for her and his father, back when they were happily married that is.

It was just matching mugs, Something with flowers...If you placed the mugs just so, next to each other it would make a cute heart.

"I just...She was...I just don't like living in the past." He stated. "You barely live in the now Ace...it doesn't hurt to talk about the past I mean..don't you ever wonder where your dad is?" Ace snapped, he didn't even mean to he just did. "HE'S IN THE GROUND WHERE HE BELONGS!" A loud bang on the table, shaking it as some coco swirled, then spilled over the sides, and a choked gasping cry left him as he covered his mouth shaking.

"...John....Hey...I'm sure that's true but...It's okay, he deserves it...come here." Ace wasn't budging and so Richard pulled the chair to him, the sound echoed in the house as it skid across the hardwood floors, and stopped when he was thigh to thigh with Richard. It was the first time he talked about his past, but not the last.

on one of them..his first one, the rest he neglected, or shoved off and away until they left him.

"Yeah im gonna get heeaaad~!!!" This made both of the boys burst into side holding laughter. Barely able to contain themselves from such a shit joke about getting head from some chick. "Okey, okey, really tho...like making out...you gonna kiss her?" Ace got slightly serious after their fit of laughter.

"....Ace I don't know how to kiss a girl.." This took Ace aback. He always thought Richard was more of a ladies man...least he saw him as such. He was handsome, sweet, a bit of well a dick at times but that added to his charm Ace felt. "Oh...that's okey, I haven't either." He foolishly confessed to him.

"You've had more girlfriends than me and haven't even kissed one!! HA! Fucking fairy!" Richard was laughing hysterically again as tears pricked the corners of his eyes. "Hey! Your one to talk! Least I've had some! You barely got the town whore to kiss your cheek! Fucking Jennett McNEeeeerrrr that CUNT what a biitch.." This earned Ace the pleasant sound of Richard wheezing from laughter, and Ace was going him soon after.

"FUuuck mee! Oh Ace...fuck man, uggh...okey...I have an idea though...why not practice on eachother?" Ace burst into more fits of laughter until his eyes fully fell on Richard who seemed dead serious and had that sly grin on his face.

"...Really? Thats faggy.." He stated taking another swig from his bottle. "Yeah, and? You wanna be good at kissing girls? What are you a pansy?" Without a moment's notice Ace took another swig of his drink and launched himself at Richard.

Half on him, half off, hands cupping his face as he pulled him towards him and littered sloppy breathless kisses all over his lips. Richard joined quickly as he dropped his bottle and pushed Ace on the grass cupping the blond's face as he moaned and whined into the kiss. It went on for what felt like hours but it quickly died when they pulled away for air. "You taste really good..." Richard breathed out. "Yeah you too..." Ace returned to him, panting and realizing they had a lot saliva over their lips and face. Seems they were a bit messy with this whole kissing thing.

"Wanna go again?" Richard barely had time to gather himself before Ace was back ontop him kissing him deeply and letting a few giggles escape them both as they started tussling on the grass.

It was a month til Summer, and just four days before Graduation. Ace was sitting in the Principles office, leg bouncing up and down as his right hand covered his mouth, the other held a death grip on his bag.

Something about his grades and passing, he was terrified. He didnt want to be held back again, he dididn'tant to be alone again, he dididn'tant to deal with any of them at all.

"Merrill John? Come here now please" Oh he felt sick, he could feel his lunch wanting to come out the way it went down. He felt sweaty yet was freezing to death, his heart was pounding, and his breaths were severely uneven.

"So John, take a seat," He fell into the chair in the small office. Looking around seeing normal things. Books, files, couple plants, small trinkets, normal office no different than the counsellors. "So You have been doing wonderful in History, as well as English which is good! Your Science/biology has greatly improved to where your passing.....now your math." Oh god.

Oh god no, not the math, it cant be that of all fucking things, MATH!? That will be his downfall he SWEARS! MATH! OF ALL THINGS!!!

"It's still quite low, but the good news is-" He didnt hear the Principle, he already dropped his bag and pulled the trashcan that was in his office to vomit into. Gagging a few time before his lunch came up.

"Christ almighty Merrill! Now! Do you need the nurse before we continue? John! God son calm down, your not failing!! You passed math! The grading period is done! You passed!! Your extra curricular dont count towards graduating calm down!!! Go To the nurse! Take the can with you!!" Ace gave an extremely weak nod before puking again, he couldn't help it sadly. All this stress, all this anxiety and worry came out in the form of him sweating and puking, better than crying and weeping he supposed.

He did get to lay down for a bit in the Nurse's office with an ice pack, so that was nice, and Richard took him out as congratulations for passing math finally.

"Took you til graduation but hey! You made it!!"

He did..he did make it didnt he?

Graduation went as well as anyone could have predicted. Which was shockingly well! Ace wasn't even the trouble maker there! It was some other guy named Adam....who thought it would be funny to steal a few awards and hide them, making everyone sit around for an extra hour.

Ace and Richard didnt mind, sneaking close to eachother to talk and make fun of everyone, already reminiscing about thier prom that they barely attended, and what all they would be doing after graduating.

"thinking about getting a job out of town maybe...or in town and moving one day." Richard told him. "Yeah? sounds good...sounds good..." Ace told him. "What about you Ace?" "Hmmm? Oh uhh...I dont know...maybe work at the mechanics shop for a bit...." He wanted to go with Richard, where he went he wanted to follow, where he would go he wanted to be there with him. Where Richard went he wanted to be there home, to welcome him, or vise vera.

"Im gonna miss our study days.." Ace weakly confessed. "Dont have to! Might go to college and we can help eachother!" Collage...he forgot all about that, college...oh what would he do with College? What would he go to school for.. "Heh..yeah college..yeah...." the conversation ended quickly after as everyone was ushered into the Gymnazium where graduation was being held.

Richard passed with a very high score, all things considered, and Ace passed with an Honors in history and english...

He passed with honours in two of his classes...

The summer was hot as always, even when it was heading back into fall, but while speeding down a strip of the well known and worn path of Castlerock, hte Cobra gang was once again rasing hell for one last time, yelling, screaming, causing hell for one last time.

Why the last time? Well Ace was starting work soon, as was Richard, and they found a college the next town over, offered dormitories, and thier work would be in that town. So this was the last time to raise hell before making the long drives to work and start college.

The summer was full of swimming, fun, fights, more theft, and of course, Richard and Ace being together constantly. That brat of Richard's brother even joined them a few times.

As the day was winding down to a final end, and everyone was dropped off, Richard stuck with Ace walking with him to his house. "So...You wanna admit it?" He asked out of the blue. "Admit what?" Ace sounded confused as he said this. "Admit that your a homo, a fairy like my brother teased you about~" Ace could deal with meny meny things, but Richard getting that chim in his voice? He couldn't ever deal with it. "NO! Im not!! Fucking door won't open!" Ace always fumbled whenever Richard made him flustered, he couldn't help it the guy had him wrapped around him like string.

"Come onnn~ Admit it Acey!" He leaned against the door nearly pinning Ace against the door as he gave him a quick little kiss.

"Im not!!" Ace finally got the door open and rushed inside with Richard following closely behind. "I think you are! We always make out! Kiss! I know you've gotten off to me and well come on what guys moan each others names and give each other hand jobs Ace!?!" Richard had a very valid point to all that..

"Its not! Its! Its not! Not!!! Its only faggy if you fuck another guy!!" Ace was red now. "Oh so you giving me head in the car at lovers peak doesn't mean anything~" Oh he had a point.. "NO! IT! No it doesn't!! You have to...to penetrate them...you know...like with girls.." Ace told him.

"Well i mean...we got time, got all night, next week we start getting ready for collage~ dont see why not...Come onnn John!!" Ace didnt sya anything he just stared at a spot on the floor while leaning up against the wall. He wasn't expecting this tonight.

"I dont know..." He softly spoke out. "I'll be gentle! i wont hurt you!" "Yeah but we dont even know how to do that! Why do you think we've stuck with hand jobs! And Whos gonna penetrate who Dick!" Ace was yelling and more scared and anxious than anything, "How about I take care of you on the bed doll~" "NO! Not tonight no!! fucking goddamn whisky always makes you a horndog!" It didnt take Ace long to march upstairs to his room.

"There's a first for eveything you know Richard..." Ace sighed out and laid by Richard. Both glowing in the aftermath of thier orgasms, thier first, penetrate orgasm at that. "Yeah...yeah there is....fuck..." Ace recovered fairly fast from his orgasm, and was smoking, while Richard laid our catching his breath. "What do you mena theres a first for eveything?" Richard asked him. "Oh you know....first time to fall, first time to hurt yourself, first time to....lose someone..first time to...smoke, to drink, to nearly drown, to kill, to...to everything." He had a sour taste in his mouth suddenly. "First time to love~ First time to fall in love and last time, first time to kiss the most handsome guy in all of Castlerock, first time to moan your name and you mine, first time to go on a date, first time to cuddle~" Richard was curling up on Ace dragging him down to get him to go to bed with him and put his cigarette out.

Ace gave in and put it out before cosying up against Richard in the bed.

There really was a first for everything wasn't there?

#stand by me #ace merrill #stand by me fanfic #ace merrill fanfic #fic #ace x eyeballs #ace x richard #i dont remember their weirdly cutesy shipname....#not beta read at alllll #kiefer fans come get yalls JUICE #kiefer sutherland #i want this fic SEEN DAMNIT #fact! ace merrils name is john...and he was only 16 when he tormented the bkys in the film!! i had lkts to do and go off of✨️✨️

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