#jace channing
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THE BAD BATCH: THE RUNAWAY
Chapter 50 - Scruffy
Ugh, I'm so so so sorry it took me so long to write this! I hope it was worth the wait!
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Calli knew right away that Hunter would not want the tooka cat, nor an animal of any kind, on his ship. There'd been a few instances when a member of the squad would ask to have a pet and Hunter would immediately shoot down the idea without a second thought.
One example was when Wrecker asked if they could keep the rathtar that once belonged to a crime boss that they helped the Republic take down. They'd found out she'd been aiding the Separatists financial wise, and this was enough for the Republic to send their best team in to arrest the woman and without her leadership the entire operation collapsed. When Wrecker set eyes on the rathtar, it was love at first sight. Cue him going to Hunter and at first the Sergeant thought he was kidding and laughed off the question, but when he saw that Wrecker was in fact serious, he immediately said no. When asked as to why, Hunter laughed again, this time at the absurdity of his brother asking this in the first place. He spouted off numerous reasons, the first and foremost being that a.) The rathtar wouldn't fit in their itty-bitty ship and b.) rathtars are a carnivorous animal and one simple careless mistake, and they'd end up being that thing's lunch.
"Well, Calli would be an appetizer." Crosshair quipped, unable to resist himself. That smart remark earned him a punch to the shoulder.
There was one instance when Hunter let a pet on board, and that was simply because he didn't know there had been one on the ship until it had been discovered. The culprit: Tech. He'd smuggled a bunch of Felucian Fireflies he'd caught in a container during the first mission Calli had done with the squad on the planet these insects inhabited. Why? "To study them of course." That had been Tech's reasoning when Hunter had found out about them. You may wonder how Hunter finally figured out his little brother had a secret stash of fireflies. The answer: when he and the rest of them woke up to find dozens, no hundreds of them flying around the ship.
Tech at first denied that he had any involvement, and even tried to pin the blame on Crosshair or Wrecker who were known to be pranksters. But when Hunter went into Sergeant mode, Tech couldn't bring himself to deny any further. He was very hesitant, but eventually admitted that "one or two" had "possibly" escaped the small habitat he'd built. But he reasoned that without proper temperature and food, they'd quickly die and that'd be the end of it. Of course, Tech didn't think that they'd find a suitable place to lay eggs and even if they didn't, he didn't think they would survive.
Well, this was one of the rare times Tech had been utterly, utterly wrong. And Tech hated being wrong. That's why he sunk so low as to blame someone else and avoid the humiliation. Needless to say, Tech was in trouble and Calli was given a break from scrubbing carbon scoring duty.
But Calli reasoned that this wouldn't turn into a total disaster. Since this tooka cat was injured, he wouldn't cause as much trouble as most cats would. She told herself that she wouldn't get attached to him, just treat his wounds and give him food, then let him go. Calli could do that, right?
Hunter would still have a fit though, which is why Calli needed to come up with a fool proof way to sneak the cat aboard the ship, past the lounge where no doubt the boys would be hanging out, and into the med bay.
Calli's plan: Hide the cat in the satchel she'd brought with her that had had a fresh change of clothes she could change into after her time in the bacta tank. It would only be for a few minutes at most, and the material was a breathable-ish fabric. Just to ensure the cat wouldn't suffocate, Calli used the knife she always kept stashed in her boot to slash a few cuts into the fabric near where the cat's head would be so that it could get a good supply of oxygen, and she hoped it would pass for just random cuts from the wear and tear that came from using something a lot.
"Is this really necessary?" Jace couldn't help but ask as Calli slowly lowered the tooka cat into her bag that was resting on the dirt path with the top open, and the small animal was back to being weak and almost lifeless, using its last bit of strength in making friends with the two teenagers.
"Yes! I told you, Hunter doesn't like animals on the ship. Plus, Tech would back him up with some stupid rant about "natural selection" and that I should just let "nature takes it course". Crosshair won't back me up 'cause he's mad at me, which just leaves Wrecker, and well - he'll just play mediator and won't be much help. So, you see, this is the only way to help Scruffy." Jace blinked and looked from where he'd been petting the tooka to help keep it calm as it shakily observed its new temporary surroundings.
"Scruffy?" He repeated, and his mouth twitched as he tried to not smile at the name, which Calli noticed, and heat made its way to her cheeks.
"Yeah. You know, cause... cause he's a boy and he's... scruffy looking..." By now Jace was holding back a chuckle, because in all honesty the name was cute and the fact that Calli came up with it just made it a hundred times cuter, but Calli didn't know this and so retaliated by slapping his arm with an annoyed scowl to mask her embarrassment, "Shut up!" She snapped before standing up and gesturing for him to do the same.
After taking ahold of the satchel's strap, Calli slowly lifted the bag off the ground, making sure to not jostle it too much. The cat barely made a move as Calli lifted the strap over her head so it would rest on her right shoulder and across her chest with the bag resting against her left thigh. The fact that Scruffy didn't make much of a fuss was both relieving yet a concern also, and this prompted Calli and Jace to get back to the ship quicker.
As it turned out, Calli cut up her only satchel for nothing, as when they got to the ship there was no one inside. After checking every room, the last being hers, Hunter's, and Crosshair's bunkroom, Calli noticed a data pad laying on her bed, which hadn't been there when she left. Upon picking it up, the screen came to life and there was a message that read:
Phntm's Tw and Thr wer gting antsy, so we wnt on a wlk. W'l b bck b4 sunset; pray I dn't hrt them. Lmk when u gt bck. ~ Phntm Ldr.
Translation: Phantom's Two and Three were getting antsy, so we went on a walk. We'll be back before sunset; pray I don't hurt them. Let me know when you get back. ~Phantom Leader
"Ok, why are a lot of letters missing from this?" Jace couldn't help but ask, wondering if the data pad was malfunctioning. He didn't expect Calli to chuckle at his question.
"It's a sort of system we have when sending messages to each other. I know taking out letters might not seem like a clever trick, and to normal people it would be easier to decrypt, but to droids - especially those stupid B-1 droids, it'd take them longer figure out what the heck we're saying. They might think the message is messed up and ignore it all together, even. And Phantom Leader, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are our code names we use in the messages - I actually suggested that when I joined the team." Jace raised his eyebrow.
"Why Phantom?" Calli shrugs, though a hint of pink dusts her cheeks.
"Well, it's random, so there wouldn't be ties to us... and it sounds cool - at least in my opinion."
Their conversation was brought to an end by a pitiful little "mew" coming from Calli's satchel and they were reminded why they came here in the first place. Calli handed off the satchel to Jace and told him to go to the med bay while she sent a quick message to tell her brothers she was fine so they (a.k.a Hunter) wouldn't worry.
Once that was done, she went to the med bay where Jace had taken Scruffy out of the bag and placed him on the bed, in a littler bed he'd made with his jedi cloak, and he was giving the cat gentle scratches on his head while looking up at Calli with a worried expression when she walked in.
"He's not looking to good." Jace said grimly, and Calli frowned while walking over to the bed to get a closer look at Scruffy. His big eyes gazed up at Calli and she almost swore they pleaded for her to help.
"Jace, get a bowl of water," Calli instructed, and she began combing her hair back with her fingers and pulled it up to a high ponytail while continuing, "- but don't put a lot though because we don't want him to drink too much at one time otherwise, he'll get sick."
Jace nodded once. "On it."
While he did that Calli gathered all the supplies she thought might be useful and deposited them on the small table next to the bed. By then Jace had returned from the small kitchenette with a bowl half filled with water and set it down by Scruffy who hadn't moved much since being put in his makeshift bed.
At first, Scruffy didn't show any interest in the water, but then his little nose began moving as he sniffed the air, and his head lifted in the direction of the bowl, which was roughly four inches away and he looked to be contemplating whether or not to force himself to get up and satisfy his thirst. Calli chose to help him and slid the bowl closer so that all Scruffy had to do was keep his head lifted, and much to her and Jace's satisfaction Scruffy's tiny pink tongue darted out and skimmed the water tentatively, and that little taste was all it took.
Calli let him drink for roughly thirty seconds before taking the bowl away, not wanting him to throw all that water back up. She handed it to Jace, then reached for the med scanner to see just what Scruffy's current condition was.
"He's got heat stroke. Lots of cuts, a couple bite wounds, he must have gotten in a fight with other cats. Severely dehydrated, malnourished," Calli set down the scanner and gave Scruffy an affectionate pat on the head while sighing, "- poor thing." She muttered.
"I can force heal the cuts and stuff." Jace said and surprisingly Calli didn't disagree, unlike the last two times he volunteered to use force healing.
"Sounds good. I've been unconscious the last two times you've used it so I'm interested to see how it works. Just let me flush the wounds out with sterile saline." Calli's lips pursed as a thought came to mind that might hinder her ability to do that, "The only problem is how am I gonna make sure he stays still and doesn't flip out."
"I can keep him calm." Jace told her, and that's all the reassurance Calli needed, not questioning how he'd keep Scruffy calm. She remembered how he'd got Scruffy to trust him with the force, and pretty much figured he'd do something similar in this situation as well.
After putting on some gloves, Calli got to work. She first cut the fur around the areas of the wounds to have better access to them, then one by one cleaned each one. Jace did his part and kept Scruffy relaxed, connecting through the force and transferring his sereneness to Scruffy. He also watched Calli and was impressed at how calm she herself was. Barely batting an eye at the blood, and some of the cuts were showing signs of infection, yet this didn't bother Calli in the slightest while Jace felt a little woozy - and he'd been training to be a healer!
Eventually Calli finished her part, she allowed Jace to step in. Now as Calli had said before, she'd never seen force healing in action, and you could say she was curious to see it. She watched as Jace's eyes closed and his hand hovered over a cut on Scruffy's side. He went into a sort of trance as he focused on the wound, and Calli was figuratively at the edge of her seat as she waited for something to happen.
Her eyes bugged out of their sockets when new flesh began growing, covering the wound inch by inch until it had completely disappeared - as if it hadn't been there in the first place!
Calli almost went into what she and her brothers called "Tech mode", wanting to ask several questions - one of them being how an invisible force had such a capability. It defied everything she'd been taught by the Kaminoans (and Tech) in the field of medicine and healing. Then again, this ability was possible by people who could move things with their mind, and that in itself was mind - boggling if you thought about it too much.
Jace couldn't help but feel slightly pleased at how awed Calli was and might have exerted himself a little more than necessary in order to show off. In the short time they'd known each other, Jace sometimes felt inferior to Calli. She was smart, strong, clever, and not to mention pretty (he'd never admit that he thought that though). Calli's confidence in everything she did was enviable, as Jace didn't have nearly as much in himself.
It wasn't jealousy or the need to one up her that made Jace push himself even when he felt his energy drain. If anything, he just wanted to impress her, which wasn't a bad thing, right? No, save for the fact that by the time he finished healing the final wound, he nearly toppled over and would have face planted on the floor if not for Calli catching him by the arm.
"I'm-I'm ok." Jace insisted, but the words were slurred together and Calli huffed out a dry laugh.
"Sure, you are." She said sarcastically while making him sit down in a chair I'm going to go out on the limb here, and say force healing takes a lot out of you, huh?"
"Kinda." Jace admitted with a weak chuckle, and Calli did as well before leaving him to rest in the chair while she went to give Scruffy more water.
Once that was done, Calli suggested they hang out in the lounge and watch holovids, figuring that the boys wouldn't be back for another couple hours. She knew Hunter would push his brothers to their limits on the hike, so they'd all be tired and crash by the time they got back.
They settled on the lounge while Scruffy laid on Jace's robe that had pretty much become his new bed. Calli didn't want to chance that Scruffy would claw the leather. He seemed to like Jace's cloak though, as he curled up into the fabric and promptly passed out. The tooka cat was already looking ten times better, but was still lethargic from the heat stroke, which is why Calli didn't want to leave him alone in the med bay.
Unfortunately, Calli and Jace were so engrossed in the show they'd been watching that they didn't pay attention to the time, so when the boarding ramp began opening, they both jumped up from their seats and looked at each other with panicked expressions, then at Scruffy who also startled at the sudden noise and the fur on his back stood up as a low growl came from his mouth.
The next ten seconds were spent scrambling to find a hiding spot for Scruffy. Calli and Jace were whisper shouting at one another, asking each other what to do. When Calli's eyes landed on the basket that once had the bread Padme had bought (Calli and Jace had snacked on the rest during their holovid watching), she made a split-second decision to use that to hide Scruffy. It wasn't the best plan but given the circumstances it was all they could do. Calli gave Scruffy a little pat on his head and gently shushed him before placing the basket over his little nest, making sure to tuck any part of the cloak that stuck out.
Calli barely made it back to the couch where she shoved Jace back into his spot and resumed the holovids, so that when the four male member s of the Bad Batch lumbered in, it appeared that they had just been hanging out this entire time.
All eyes were on her and Jace the second they entered the room, and you'd think Calli was hiding spice and not a harmless little animal by how nervous she was, though she hid it quite well in Jace's opinion, compared to him at least. The second Hunter looked him in the eye with that stern look of his, the poor boy felt like he'd crumble.
Wrecker was the first to verbally acknowledge his sister's return, smiling at her.
"Hey Scar, how ya feelin'?" He asked while the Sergeant continued to wordlessly stare at Jace, picking up on his frantic heartbeat and wondering why the young Jedi looked so nervous. Calli noticed and subtly looked at Jace with concern, fearing he'd fall to pieces if they stayed in this room for very long.
"Uh good." Calli replied while subtly giving Jace a look that said "keep it together". She of course understood the effect of Hunter's intense staring - it could make even the most tough of people crack, her included. Calli used to be immune in her early days with the squad when Hunter would give her the "dad stare" as she called it, when she was more strong-willed and obstinate, years of being on her own giving her such an edge. But little by little, she mellowed out, as her life now had more structure and discipline, though her fiery nature was still very much there. The only downside was in instances like this when Hunter would give her this "no nonsense" type look and she'd concede defeat, and like when she got drunk on Coruscant and wound up scrubbing the outside of the ship without Hunter having to tell her to do it.
But Calli was determined to not break this time. Tech picked up on the nervous tension in the room and asked Calli if everything was alright.
"Uh, yeah. We were just hanging out, right Jace?" Calli answered and she looked pointedly at Jace while saying that last part and he looked at her with wide eyes. Was she seriously expecting him to lie to these people? He was no liar, after all Jedi don't lie - a majority of the time at least. Jace had never told a lie so far as he could recall, and especially not to four guys who were physically and undoubtably smarter than he himself. Heck, they've threatened to kill him and for the first time Jace felt as if the force wouldn't be enough to protect him should they ever follow through with such a threat. Still, he didn't want to leave Calli hanging.
"Mhm." Was all Jace managed to get out, his lips pressed into a line, fearing that if his mouth opened the truth would come spilling out. Calli mentally face palmed while flashing her brothers her best "everything is a-ok" smile.
Crosshair sighed dramatically. "This is boring." He said in a flat tone before making his way to the bunks, but he stopped when something to his left moved. His eyes snapped in that direction, along with everyone else's and landed on the basket resting by Calli's feet. He pointed to it, "What's that?" He asked and Calli scoffed as if she was offended.
"Duh, it's a basket." She replied and then she smirked, "You losing your sight in your old age, Crossy?" The sniper's eye twitched at the annoying nickname, but before he could bite back with a remark of his own, Hunter stepped in with another question.
"Why is the basket moving?" Calli opened her mouth to blurt out the first lie she could come up with, only to be interrupted by some light scratching coming from said basket that now was at the center of everyone's attention, which Calli didn't want, but it was kind of hard to ignore the noise.
"Uhhh, so, how was the walk?" Calli tried asking in a loud enough voice in an attempt to block out the scratching noise, which seemed to only get louder and louder. "See anything interesting?" Suddenly a loud, drawn-out yowl came from the basket, followed by more scratching which was an obvious signal that Scruffy wanted out from his little prison.
Both Calli and Hunter moved at the same time, lunging for the basket. But before Calli could stop Hunter, Crosshair had trapped her in his arms and prevented her from doing so.
The basket was lifted from the ground and Hunter was met with a very ticked off tooka cat, whose back arched as he let out an angry hiss aimed at the Sergeant who despite freeing him was a stranger.
"What the heck is that ugly thing?" Crosshair questioned while still holding a thrashing Calli, perplexed by the angry furry thing that continued to growl lowly from the back of his throat at the big people surrounding him. In hindsight the poor thing looked less like a cat and more like something a mynock dragged in.
Calli had tried her hardest to preserve as much of Scruffy's fur as possible, but a lot of it had been matted beyond help or in the way when cleaning the wounds so she wound up cutting quite a bit off, so there were patches of shorter fur that added to the overall derpyness of Scruffy's appearance. Add in the ears that looked too big for his head, his chicken like legs, and a single tooth sticking out of his lower jaw - well let's just say Scruffy was a sight to behold.
That didn't mean Calli wouldn't come to Scruffy's defense. "He's not ugly!" She exclaimed, "...Just had a rough day, that's all."
"Calli..." From the tone of Hunter's voice, Calli knew that a scolding and lecture were imminent, but she wasn't about to let that happen - not without explaining herself first. She stomped on Crosshair's foot, so he'd let her go (while saying a few colorful words) and bent down to scoop Scruffy into her arms and he calmed down some now that one of his humans was with him. But he continued to eye the weird looking dude before him (Hunter) though in all fairness Hunter mirrored the expression.
"Look, I know this looks bad but hear me out-" Hunter didn't let her finish.
"Get that thing off my ship." He ordered, and Tech looked at Hunter with insult written all over his features.
"Your ship?" Hunter sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose, a headache beginning to form. Despite this Calli began pleading her case.
"Hunter, he's sick! Jace healed the cuts and stuff, but Scruffy's still dehydrated and hungry and recovering from heat stroke. Plus, he's missing a leg, see?" Calli adjusted the cat in her grasp to show the limb - er, lack of one. "I want to build him a new one and then I promise I'll let him go!"
"Bull." Hunter retorted flatly, and Calli's frown deepened, "You're going to get attached to "Scruffy" and won't want to get rid of him, like Wrecker did with that rathtar. And I don't want another disaster like the fireflies." Hunter looked at Tech when saying that last part, and the goggled clone pretended to not hear him, tapping away on his data pad but you could see the tips of his ears turn red regardless.
"That's not gonna happen, I swear. I'll not take my eyes off him for one second. Just for our last couple days here, then Scruffy should be good to go by the time we have to leave. Please Hunter. I'll do anything." Wrecker could see how strongly Calli felt about this and came to her defense.
"Come on Sarge, let him stay!" He said while going over to Calli's side and looking down at the little furball with a smile. "He's kinda cute!" Wrecker reached out one of his large hands for the cat to sniff, which he did and then proceeded to nuzzle, making Wrecker "aww". Hunter's teeth gritted.
"Not helping, Wrecker." Instead of backing off, Wrecker and Calli both gave Hunter their best puppy dog expressions. It was amusing for everyone else, save for a certain Sergeant.
"Pleeeeeeeeease?" Hunter liked to think he was a tough nut to crack, and that puppy dog eyes wouldn't work on him. But as Wrecker and Calli looked at him with their big, pleading eyes, he felt his resolve crumble. He blamed it on the fact that he felt guilty for allowing Calli to go on that mission without backup and that it's his fault she got hurt. He shouldn't have let his brothers convince him that everything would be fine. Yes, guilt is what made him say the next few sentences.
"Keep him in the med bay." Hunter said sternly, and siince this was basicallu his way of saying yes, Calli and Wrecker mentally cheered and shared a fist bump. But Hunter wasn't finished, "And if he breaks anything, you have to work to pay it off, got it? And I don't want that thing anywhere near my bed." Calli nodded
"You got it. You won't regret this, I promise!"
"I already regret it." Hunter muttered under his breath, and Calli purposely ignored that statement, too ecstatic about the little furball in her arms that was allowed to stay to care if Hunter grumbled about it. But he wouldn't be the only one to make comments. You can probably guess who spoke next.
"What kind of name is Scruffy?" Calli turned and glared at Crosshair. Their recent argument was still raw and fresh in her mind, and this prompted her to not hold back and say something especially harsh in response. Her lips turned up in a coy smile before replying to his question.
"Well, I thought about naming him Crosshair Jr because he was kinda moody and not the best looking, but I figured that would be an insult - to the cat I mean." Crosshair's left eye definitely twitched, much to Calli's satisfaction. As if having a little animal in his ship was bad enough, those two were still very much angry with each other, so life would be a living hell for the next little while until they eventually made up and became friends again.
But the cat would keep Calli occupied and thus maybe they could enjoy the last two days of their vacation so long as Crosshair kept to himself and brooded in any room of the ship that Calli wasn't in.
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When nighttime rolled around, Calli and Jace had a plan to take shifts keeping an eye on Scruffy throughout the late hours, making sure he drank water every so often and maybe eventually they'd get him to eat something.
Hunter was laying down in his bunk when Calli walked in, and he raised a curious brow as she yanked the blanket off her bed and took the spare one from the drawer underneath her own bunk.
"What are you doing?"
"Jace and I are going to stay with Scruffy, otherwise he'll bug out being alone in an unfamiliar place." Calli answered while adding her pillow to the pile of things in her arms, and she was to occupied looking for her datapad that she didn't see Hunter almost fall out of his bed (while still laying down, mind you.)
"Wait, you're both staying in the med bay? Alone?" It was the whole trip to Coruscant debate all over again. Except Hunter might actually have an aneurism this time. He was out of his bed and waving his hands like a crazy man, "Uh uh, he's sleeping on the opposite end of the ship and that's that." Calli rolled her eyes.
"Come on Hunter. Can't you cool it with the overprotectiveness? It's getting old. Why can't you just trust me when I say that nothing will happen? More specifically, I don't want anything to happen."
"I trust you, but I don't trust that Jedi. He sleeps in the spare bed in Wrecker and Tech's room, end of discussion."
"We'll wake everyone up with all the going back and forth, you know that Hunter." Calli tried to reason, knowing that with Hunter's sensitve hearing, it would doubly affect him as any little noise could easily wake him up, "It makes more sense for us to both be in the med bay. If it makes you feel better, one of us will be sleeping on the bed and the other on the floor."
"That doesn't make me feel better." Hunter replied bluntly.
"Will you both please shut up." A gravelly voice snarled from the other bunk, "I'm trying to sleep here." Instead of apologizing, Hunter whipped around and pulled Crosshair into the conversation.
"What, you're telling me that you don't care about this? You're the one who threatened to off him at one point." Crosshair removed the arm that had been covering his eyes (he'd done that when Calli barged in and turned on the bright lights, and stared blankly at Hunter, then Calli, debating what to say, after all he was still pissed at Calli but at the same time knew she was capable of defending herself. He just didn't feel like saying anything nice, but he also wanted this conversation to end as he agreed that this overprotectiveness thing Hunter had going on was indeed getting old.
"Calli's not a child, even though she acts like one." There, he was supportive yet still made a dig to show that he wasn't going to accept defeat in their little disagreement. He felt the need to add something else though, "That Jedi tries anything, and she'll give him what for. Then we each get a turn teaching him a lesson."
"He's not gonna do anything. If he wanted to in the first place, he'd have done it when I was black out drunk. Like Cross said, I can kick Jace's butt, and he knows that too. Not that I'm agreeing with Croissant or anything, I'm just making a point." Yep, another eye twitch. "Hunter, I don't want to argue about this. Please don't make a scene."
"Oh no, please do." Crosshair couldn't help but say. Yes, Hunter being protective wasn't that entertaining but having a full-on freak out - that was entirely different. It was then that Hunter realized that maybe he was being a little neurotic and this was one of the rare times his face turned red from embarrassment, and this was enough to make Crosshair smirk, which only further embarrassed the Sergeant.
"Fine, go." He said shortly, and he rolled on his side facing away from Calli so as not to see the triumphant smirk on her face.
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Calli walked into the room and tossed the spare red blanket at Jace, and it was his face that caught it, but he chuckled regardless. That quickly stopped though when he saw Calli toss her pillow on the ground, followed by the mat she grabbed from the cargo hold, and lastly her blanket.
"Uh, I was going to take the floor and let you sleep on the bed." He confessed and Calli shrugged, making no move to put her things on the bed where Scruffy was currently sleeping at the foot of.
"Well, I was planning on giving you the bed and me on the floor."
"It's your ship."
"Tech would disagree. Look, I'm used to sleeping on less than comfortable places. I've passed out on the hard, metal floor of this ship cause I was too lazy to get up and go to my actual bed. I'm sleeping here, and that's final." To prove that this conversation was over, Calli plopped herself down on the mat and silently challenged Jace with her eyes to defy her. He held up his hands and accepted defeat.
"Fine. But I'll take the first shift watching Scruffy and that's final." He crossed his arms and mirrored Calli's defiant stare, "So there." Calli tried not to smile, but for a second her annoyed facade dropped and that was enough to let Jace know that she wasn't truly upset.
Their little "moment" was ruined when the door to the med bay opened unexpectedly slid open and standing on the other side was a sheepish looking Wrecker who was holding a sleeping mat and blanket of his own.
"Room for one more in here?" He asked and Calli felt a flash of irritation, though it wasn't towards Wrecker specifically.
"Did Hunter put you up to this? I told him we were fine."
"N-No..." Wrecker tried to say, but he wasn't the best of liars and when Calli gave him a look that showed she didn't believe him he deflated a little and began massaging the back of his head like he always did when he got embarrassed, "- ok yeah, but I figured I can also help look after the little guy. Three of us means we can divide shifts three ways and we can get more sleep that way. No offense but you're pretty scary when ya don't get enough rest." "I brought snacks?"
"Ugh fine, but only because I'm too tired to argue." Wrecker smiled and squeezed himself through the small doorway. He closed it behind him and decided that it was more spacious by the door, so after tossing the bag of snacks to Jace, he began setting up his sleep space. "If you start snoring, I'm kicking you out, got it? There's a reason you and Tech have your own room."
"Hey you snore too, ya know." Calli scoffed, not liking that he brought this up in front of Jace who was smart enough to not interfere with the argument that was imminent.
"Only when we camp outside during missions and my allergies act up." Calli said in defense, and she hoped that would be the end of it.
"Yeah, and it's loud enough it scares any animals away." Wrecker then turned to Jace as he began recounting what he thought was a hilarious story, "Once, she let out a big snore and it woke Tech up, and he was in a tent on the other side of the camp. And when Tech sleeps, he's dead to the world." Calli was beyond embarrassed - bordering on mortified - and in an attempt to stop Wrecker she began hitting him with her pillow.
"He - doesn't - need - to - know - that!" She exclaimed while hitting him once after every word, nailing him in the face a few times then he successfully blocked her attacks, laughing at her flustered state. Even Jace couldn't help but chuckle, amused at their sibling antics and for a brief moment sadness clouded his features as he wished he had what they had.
He didn't know much about his birth family, only that they had died when he was young in an accident and so even though he was too young, the Jedi Order was willing to take him in earlier than they did with most younglings. Padme's parents had been the one to arrange it, as they were his next of kin. And he had no siblings so far as he was aware. The Jedi Order was all Jace knew - he had no memory of his family. It was only by chance that he learned of his origins when shortly after becoming a padawan that he and his Master had been assigned to go help Padme with some negotiations of some trivial matter. Padme had seen holo pictures of Jace's parents in her childhood home and the boy was the spitting image of his father. And when he said his name, Padme knew it was her cousin.
Eventually Calli stopped her pillow assault, and she decided that sleep would be the only way for her to escape this.
"You know what, I'm tired. Goodnight." Calli declared and she flopped down on her mat facing away from the boys. But two seconds later she sits back up and seems to pull out a blaster from nowhere, shooting the single light on the roof and engulfing the room in darkness, being too lazy to get up and turn it off the normal way. Somehow Scruffy didn't jump at the noise, not even the slightest flinch came from him.
Wrecker didn't express any shock - it's not the first time someone used such... a unique way to kill the lights. Crosshair like to practice his sharpshooting in what some might consider an unconventional way and Calli adopted the habit much to Tech's dismay.
Now Tech will have something to fix tomorrow, thus curing his boredom.
These guys don't appreciate me enough.
Jace of course was still new to this squad's peculiar habits, so Calli's action did surprise him, his hand instinctively going to his lightsaber at the sound of a blaster bolt, but in the split second before it went dark, he saw it had been Calli who fired it which made him both relieved and confused as to why she did it.
But Calli was out like a light (hehe) within seconds of her head hitting the pillow.
○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○
She was back in the lab. Her arms and legs were strapped down, like always.
Her peripherals catch movement and Calli's head jerks in that direction, expecting to see Nala Se or one of her assistants. But it's not one of those terrible long necks. No, it's another surgery table, and to Calli's horror, Crosshair is the one occupying it. He's also restrained.
Calli tried calling out to him, but somehow, he didn't hear her. Or maybe since he's angry with her, he's choosing to ignore her. Noises on her other side catches her attention, and when she looks, she finds the rest of the Bad Batch, who are each strapped down in their own surgery table. But like with Crosshair, they didn't acknowledge her. There was also someone else. Jace. He does look at Calli, and there's nothing but fear in his eyes.
Then she walked in and Calli's blood ran cold. Almost immediately she feels the stinging in her arms, those horrid needles piercing her skin. Her initial reaction is to try and scratch her arms, but the restraints prevent her from doing so. Calli begins to hyperventilate and thrash around.
"CT-9901, we have deemed you to unstable for duty and you are therefore decommissioned." These are the words Calli had dreaded to hear and hearing them actually voiced made her heart sink and the panic grows worse.
Calli tries screaming but no sound comes from her mouth. When she looks to her brothers for comfort, they're not there anymore. She's all alone. Suddenly it goes dark, and that's Calli's breaking point. She hated the dark.
"Let me out of here!!!" Calli shouted at the top of her lungs, and this time her voice works. "Crosshair! Hunter! Please!!" There's no response, and Calli is being consumed by the darkness-
○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○
Calli's eyes shot open, and she lets out a silent scream while bolting up from the mat, only to be met with darkness again. Oh no, she's back in her little prison on Kamino. No, not again. Calli curled into herself, bringing her knees up to her chest and burying her face in the crook of her arm, and a whimper left her mouth before she could stop it.
"Calli?" She jumped at the voice that came from the darkness, and a second later she felt the presence of someone right next to her. Calli blindly tried to punch at whomever was there, and the mystery person stopped her by grabbing her wrist. "Woah, hey easy. It's me."
"Jace?" Calli said in a shaky voice, and the hold on her wrist disappears, and Calli missed the comforting warmth. Two seconds later the room is illuminated in a faint green light, the source being Jace's lightsaber. Concern was written all over his features as he met Calli's eyes, which were unfocused as she was still unsure of what was real and what wasn't, "What are you doing here?"
"We're in the med bay. Remember, we're taking care of Scruffy." Jace gently reminded her and Calli's forehead wrinkled as she tried to remember.
"Scruffy..." She whispered, and then her eyes widened, "Wait where's Wrecker?! He's in trouble, I saw it - they all were!"
"Shh. It was just a dream, everyone's fine. Wrecker ate all the snacks and was still hungry, so he went to go get more food."
"No-no, they're in trouble! She's gonna hurt them and you!"
"No one's going to hurt anybody." Calli couldn't believe this and shook her head violently while also beginning to scratch her arm, still feeling a stinging sensation - she didn't know that during the nightmare she'd already begun scratching her arm and that's what was causing the sting. Jace stopped her with his free hand though, as some of the cuts had been deep enough to draw blood and more scratching wouldn't be good.
Jace could sense Calli's anxiety increasing, and he worried that she might have a panic attack. As he wracked his mind on what to do, never really having been around anyone who had one. Needless to say, when Wrecker made a reappearance, Jace was relieved as maybe he would know what Calli needed. He also had a lamp, which was a better light source than his saber.
"Hope ya like popcorn, Commander Goldie Locks, cause that's all we got left." Wrecker stated as he walked in, yet when his eyes landed on Calli's huddled form and Jace (a.k.a Blondie as Wrecker had dubbed him), the container holding two bags of freshly made popcorn was dropped and he rushed to the other end of the small room - in two big steps - crouching in front of Calli with his expression mirroring Jace's, "Oh no, did she have another one?"
"If by another one, you mean nightmare than yes." Jace answered since Calli was to out of it to do so. She didn't even acknowledge her brother, when just a minute ago she had been worried about his whereabouts. Calli's breaths were coming out in short gasps. She was trying everything in her power to calm down, as she didn't want to have a full-blown panic attack in front of anyone, especially someone she's only known for a few weeks.
"I-I should go get Tech-" Wrecker tried saying and he made a move to stand but Calli stopped him.
"NO!" She shouted, before clearing her throat and lowering her voice, "No, just-just give me a minute, I'm-I'm fine." Calli stuttered out, yet she had begun rocking back and forth, which didn't help her claim. Despite trying every technique, Calli couldn't calm down, and while she heard voices talk to her, they sounded muffled and far away.
Suddenly she felt something warm and furry nudge her leg. Calli couldn't bring herself to unbury her face, which didn't sit well with Scruffy, who had leapt down from his perch on the bed and crept up to the girl's side. He wasn't deterred though, and nudged and wormed his way into Calli's lap, and he began purring very loudly. Scruffy continued to nudge and rub Calli's hand, an obvious sign that he wanted to be pet.
Somehow through all the turmoil going on inside, Calli both felt and heard Scruffy's purring, and she found it somewhat soothing. Jace sensed some of her anxiety lift, and encouraged her to focus on Scruffy, even gently guiding her hand to Scruffy's head so she could pet him.
Scruffy was all for the pets and when Calli even scratched behind his ears, oh it was like heaven for him. When she stopped for a second, he'd bump his head and even lick Calli's hand, impatiently asking for her to continue. Both Wrecker and Jace were surprised at the effect Scruffy was having on Calli, yet at the same time relieved that they didn't need to wake one of the others up to help.
Eventually Calli's eyes lost the faraway look in them, and she was able to be more aware of her surroundings, specifically the two people looking at her with worried expressions. By then Scruffy had passed out from the bliss, and Calli finally noticed him.
"You alright?" Wrecker asked in a surprisingly soft voice, and after letting out a shaky breath Calli nodded.
"Yeah... Yeah I think so." With the way both were looking at her, Calli wanted to curl up into a ball again. It's bad enough having nightmares, but the pitying looks were just as worse. She shifted in her spot and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "Sorry about that."
"You have nothing to be sorry about." Jace told her firmly, and he looked at Wrecker, "Maybe she needs a glass of water?" Wrecker nodded and after giving Calli a gentle and what he hoped was comforting pat on the shoulder, he got up and left the room, leaving the two teens in an awkward silence.
Calli shut her eyes and dropped her head back until it hit the wall behind her with a quiet thump, snapping Jace out of the reverie he'd been in. He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't think of anything to say, as he still didn't know Calli very well and wasn't sure if she'd snap at him if he tried to comfort her. Not that he was well versed in such things anyway. His gaze settled on the scratches on her arm, and his immediate thought was to force heal them, but he remembered how Calli said she trusted bacta and med patches. She might have let her off the hook for healing her before, but figured it was better to treat her cuts the old-fashioned way.
He briefly left Calli's side to gather the needed supplies before settling back down. When he opened the bottle of antiseptic, Calli tensed as the smell reached her nostrils, triggering flashes from her nightmare to resurface.
"Put that away!" Calli hissed, shifting farther away from Jace and pressing herself into the corner, in the process making Scruffy fall off her lap. The cat meowed, voicing his annoyance before slinking away and going back to his little nest.
"I-I just wanted to treat your cuts." Jace said, but he put the cap back on the bottle regardless, not wanting Calli to break down again. Calli's eyebrows furrowed, not understanding what cuts he was referring to, until he pointed to her arm, and she saw the numerous scratches. Calli sighed and banged her head on the wall again, this time out of frustration. This wasn't the first time she scratched her arm raw during a nightmare, hence the reason why some scars were fresher than others.
Calli hesitantly scooted back to original spot and held her arm out, silently allowing Jace to resume his task. After giving her a small smile, Jace reopened the bottle of antiseptic and he watched Calli's reaction from the corner of his vision as she got a whiff of the smell. She tensed like before but didn't shrink away, which encouraged Jace to continue. After putting some of the sterile liquid on a cloth, he gently took hold of Calli's hand, both as a way of keeping her arm in place and for comfort as he dabbed her skin. Calli drew in a sharp breath as the antiseptic stung, and she unwittingly squeezed Jace's hand, but she didn't pull away and allowed the Jedi to continue.
As Jace worked, he couldn't help but glance at Calli's face every few seconds. He wished he could take away Calli's pain. He'd do anything to see that spark that was usually in her eyes and that mischievous smirk that put butterflies in his stomach.
Once that was done, Jace wrapped a bandage over her cuts, using the same gentleness as when he cleaned the cuts. Calli was unused to such treatment, and it made it somewhat easier to accept his help. Gentle was not in the Kaminoan's vocabulary, and Tech - or any other medic in the heat of a battle - well, they were more focused on keeping you alive than worrying about your comfort.
After making sure the bandage was secure, Jace hands lingered on her arm, which Calli noticed and this prompted her to brave a glance at the young Jedi, up until that point keeping her gaze on the floor. She was prepared to thank him, but when her caramel-colored eyes met his emerald ones, suddenly talking was very hard to do. Jace was faring no better, Calli always having this effect on him the minute they met. His hand had a mind of its own when it left her arm and traveled up to her face, tucking a strand of hair that had stuck to her face that was once wet with tears behind her ear. Calli shivered at the contact, but it wasn't because she found the gesture unpleasant. In fact, his touch was comforting, which surprised Calli because she didn't usually like being touched unless she initiated the contact. It was less so with her brothers, as Wrecker was prone to hugs and brotherly shoves, but that's because she knew them. It was different with Jace, however, and Calli couldn't explain why.
Before Calli could think more on the matter, Wrecker came in, and after scooting slightly away from each other it was then that Jace and Calli realized he'd been gone for way longer than necessary to get a cup of water. He had a cup, but the steam coming from the top told them it wasn't water.
"I uh, made you some tea. It's probably not as good as Tech makes it, but..." Wrecker drifted off, becoming very bashful as he shrugged before sticking the cup out for Calli to take. Even though Calli felt like crap, the fact that Wrecker went through the trouble of making her tea made her smile a little bit, which was a win for the strong clone.
Calli blew on the steaming liquid before taking a small sip, just the warmth of it giving her comfort. It didn't have quite the strong flavor that Calli usually preferred, and there was no milk, but because she knew Wrecker put his heart and soul into making it, Calli looked appreciatively up at her brother.
"It's perfect." She told him, and Wrecker grinned.
Calli told the boys that they could get some sleep, as she'd most likely be up the rest of the night so she might as well be the one to watch Scruffy. But neither Wrecker nor Jace wanted to leave Calli alone, and the former said they could watch holovids until they got tired.
They sat in a row on the floor, backs against the cabinets, the order being Wrecker, Calli in the middle and Jace at the end. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it worked. Scruffy joined in on the little watch party, alternating between all their laps, even Wrecker's!
At some point during the night, Wrecker looked at his sister and Scruffy who was sleeping in her lap, and he found himself wondering if Calli would be able to say goodbye to the little guy when they left. The gears began turning in his head, and by the time morning came around he had a plan that would ensure that Scruffy would stay with the team. All he had to do now was wait.
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I hope you guys liked the chapter! Again, sorry it took me so long to finish it!
I also hope you love Scruffy, both the cat and the name! It just came to me. I got carried away and have already drawn a few sketches of him, pictured below.
Anyways, that's all for now!
(The little squiggly lines are meant to represent his purring)
Scruffy is a cute, derpy little thing. And is Calli's new bff. I hope you find him as adorable as I do!
Bye!
~B.C.
#star wars#star wars bad batch#star wars tbb#the bad batch#star wars the bad batch#star wars clone wars#crosshair tbb#hunter tbb#tech tbb#wrecker tbb#tbb fanfiction#the bad batch fanfiction#callistafett#jace channing#scruffy the tooka cat#tooka cat drawing#tooka cat#clone trooper oc#clone oc#clone wars oc#clone trooper#naboo
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I've read so much action manga to an extent where I think whenever any character is having thoughts about using their full power, they're gonna die. :P
#man i don't wanna lose any of my favs :'(#eli in the last panel tho#reminds me of vasco when jace was hurt by that channing guy#lookism#webtoon#lookism webtoon#manhwa#manhwua#webcomic#lookism manhwa#webtoon lookism#incorrect lookism#eli jang#warren chae#lookism eli#lookism warren#chae wonseok#lookism 408
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Magic: the Gathering
Part 3 of Sokeefitz: the Gathering. Part 1 here. Part 2 here.
Written for day 2 of Sokeefitz Week: family, hosted by the aemazing @xanadaus and @gay-otlc
Also a big thank you to @uni-seahorse-572 for listening to my rambling about this fic
Word count: 3.9k
Tw: swearing, food
Taglist (lmk if you want to be added/removed!): @stellar-lune @gaslight-gaetkeep-gayboss @kamikothe1and0lny @nyxpixels @florida-fruity-frog @poppinspop @uni-seahorse-572 @solreefs @never-mourn-the-good @rusted-phone-calls @when-wax-wings-melt @cotyledon-tomentosa @good-old-fashioned-lover-boy7 @dexter-dizzknees @abubble125 @blossomsxgalorex @callum-hunt-is-bisexual @callas-pancake-tree
On Ao3 or below the cut!
“I’m bored,” Keefe signs, sighing heavily.
“What, is Tammy Boy refusing to talk to you again? What is this, the second time this week?”
“No! Well, yes--but no! I don’t want to argue about Tam’s stupid bangs.”
Fitz rolls his eyes, going back to his book. Keefe doesn’t know what he’s reading this time but it could be a history textbook for all it cares.
Foster, the beautiful angel he is, asks, “Do you know how to shuffle a deck of cards?”
Keefe shakes its head, bouncing up and down on the couch.
“Hang on. Give me one second.” Foster pulls a side table in front of it and starts rummaging through drawers in an attempt to find some cards.
It takes several drawers and many seconds before Foster announces, “Yeah, I guess this’ll work,” and drags a chair over to sit across from Keefe.
Keefe takes the deck of cards--which has “Magic: the Gathering” written on the back and five small differently-colored dots on a brown background. There’s more details, but Keefe finds a card that’s backwards before it can fully process it.
But, when it flips the card over, it also has a picture on it. “Ooh, who’s this?” it asks Foster.
“Keefe, did you ever learn how to read?” he answers.
It looks at the card to find “Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy” at the top.
“Exile, Jace is kinda hot.”
“I know, right? I’m glad I don’t have a Jace, Cunning Castaway because that’s more than enough motivation to make you or anyone else for that matter become a pirate.”
Keefe doesn’t hear half of what he says, as it’s destroying the deck Foster set in front of himself, trying to find another one.
And he does, but this one only has one side, is shiny, has a red background and is named “Chandra, Bold Pyromancer.” It holds it in front of Foster’s face, who understands immediately.
“Now you understand why I’ve been trying to teach you how to play.”
Keefe nods.
“Hey, Fitz. Do you want to learn how to play too?” Foster asks.
“I’m good.”
“Show him Jace,” Keefe suggests.
Foster stands up and places it in the place between the pages where a bookmark would rest. “You sure?”
“This’d make a good bookmark.”
Foster snatches it away from him, clearly overprotective of Jace. As he should be.
Fitz smiles, making butterflies flutter in Keefe’s stomach with that movie star grin.
“Do you want me to play?” he asks, looking up from his book for the first time in the last millennia.
“Well, Keefie will be angry if I win so I’d like to try to avoid that. At all costs. Because then it’ll never play any games with me ever again.”
“Fine. Teach it how to shuffle while I finish my chapter. I’ll join you when I’m done.”
I’m willing to bet his whole book is one giant chapter. Just a feeling.
“Alright,” Foster allows, coming to sit in front of Keefe once again. “This isn’t actually that hard. Step one is the most difficult. Split the deck in half, approximately. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”
Keefe is fully tempted to count out half just to piss Foster off, but figures it’s a bit too early in this conversation for that specific brand of its bullshit.
“Then you’re gonna hold each half in your hands like this,” Foster holds the cards with a thumb on the short end, his index finger curled up on the back of it, and the rest of his fingers on the other short end.
It takes a second of finagling to get its hands into position, and Keefe figures out why Foster wanted to teach it. If it’s holding things, it can’t sign.
“The first few attempts will be yucky, but you’ll figure it out after like a dozen tries. Now it’s just a matter of building up your index finger’s first knuckle because I legit have, like, little calluses from when Amy and I used to play.”
Keefe does as he instructs before asking, “You and Natalie used to play?”
“Not with these decks, but yeah. All the time. You didn’t know this?”
“No.” Keefe tries again to shuffle, more gracefully than the first but by no means elegant, “I am an expert now.”
“Yes, indeed you are,” Foster replies.
That’s when Fitz miraculously joins them, sitting on the couch next to Keefe because the chairs are not good for his knee. That or he wants to see what cards Keefe has. Not as though it would help all that much when he doesn’t know what the cards would do.
Lots of words on these fuckers.
“Okay, what the Exile are we doing?” Fitz asks, head resting on Keefe’s shoulder.
Foster thinks for a second before deciding, “Let’s start by picking colors based on their basic philosophies. You get two colors to make a standard sixty card deck, and I have enough of these so you don’t have to fight if you both want the same one although I’ve met both of you so it seems unlikely. And please don’t pick the same colors as the other one just because you feel like being an ass.”
“I want all the colors. I want gay,” Keefe signs.
“You get two. If you’re on your good behavior, maybe you’ll get to move up to a tricolor deck. Maybe. So let’s get started. There is an official order of the colors, so I’m going to start with white’s philosophy. White represents order, peace, and I’ve made you play DnD--which was also made by Wizards of the Coast, by the way--they’re just a bunch of lawful goods.”
Keefe fake gags, knowing Fitz is just such a lawful good. When he wants to be. And Alvar is six feet under.
“They’ve got some mean cards in there, including a whole lot of flyers,” Foster continues. “Then blue, despite you thinking it’ll be a watery color, really isn’t. There are certainly some decks themed around that, but I only have one commander that uses it that way. The others are either artifact or pain in the fucking ass by using instants and sorceries and flying creatures to just shut the other player completely down decks.”
“Alright, that’s slightly less boring.” Keefe notices Fitz is blushing harder than usual. “Oh, my stars, Fitz. Are you gay for the blue deck?”
“I’m not saying it’s Jace’s fault…but it’s Jace’s fault.” He picks up the card lying on the table. “Wait. He’s a telepath?”
“Yeah,” Foster replies condescendingly.
“Stars fucking exile.”
“I didn’t make the card. Apparently you running around the Lost Cities looking for me inspired Wizards of the Coast to make a card based on this kid who kept popping up in the news everywhere.”
I mean, they do look kinda similar. Fitz is definitely more tan, but there is a resemblance, especially when you consider that the little picture can’t show all the small details.
“That…doesn’t sound right. But okay.” Fitz nods.
“Moving on,” Foster continues, “Black is like zombies and vampires and using your own health to make yourself stronger. Blue/black is definitely fun, but mono black…eh. I’m not a fan, personally. Red. Red is fun. It’s fast and it’s one of the easier colors to play. It also has a lot of chaeos and fire and all that fun shit. Direct damage and dragons.”
“Fun shit indeed,” agrees Keefe.
“Then, finally, we have green, which is just a little slower than red but about as easy to play. It features gigantic creatures and trample which allows any overflowing damage to go to the player you’re attacking. So. How are we feeling?”
Foster grabs Keefe’s freshly shuffled deck and starts separating it into its blue and green parts.
Fitz answers, “Definitely blue and maybe white.”
Keefe is tempted to pick blue/white but those don’t sound fun. “I’m still mad I can’t make it gay but I guess I want Chandra and the Aggressive Mammoth I saw while shuffling so that’s…red and green, right?”
“Yep. And that’s exactly what I predicted you two would take. Now. How to play. There are five main card types--land, instant, sorcery, enchantment, and creature, and we will be ignoring artifacts and planeswalkers for the purpose of this lesson, I’m sorry, but Jace will be able to stare into your soul from here.”
Foster takes both Jace and Chandra away, and Keefe is kind of tempted to wrestle them out of his hand.
It holds itself back though. Save that for after the game.
Foster explains, “Lands create mana to allow you to cast the other card types. The cost is displayed in the top corner that isn’t the name of the card because I know you struggle with left and right so we’re gonna phrase it that way. And like this one,” he reveals a Shivan Dragon, “is four of any color plus two red so you need six total. You really don’t have to count beyond seven in this game.”
“Fuck. I don’t know if I can do that,” Keefe signs.
“I can help you out with any conversions of mana cost or strategies or special abilities like this one,” he shows a Volcanic Dragon, “has haste. Which may or may not be defined on the card because I’m not looking at it but it basically means it can attack on the turn it’s cast. Everybody else has summoning sickness on their first turn.”
Keefe signs, “I’m superior!”
But Foster has to burst its bubble. “Lots of creatures have different abilities like this so don’t let yourself get too confident yet. I realize as I’m saying this that it’s extraordinarily futile. And, uh, an important ability both of you will probably have come up is flying. Flying creatures can only be blocked by other creatures with flying or reach. I don’t think there’s anything with reach in here, if either of you do, it’s probably you, Keefe, but I don’t know anymore.”
“Okay,” Fitz nods.
“One more important aspect of this is how to actually win. The goal is to be the last one alive. You start with 20 health and between direct damage like shock or creatures like the canopy spider, that’s gonna get whittled down pretty quickly. So to know how much damage a creature does or can take, you look in the bottom corner like with this guy,” Foster shows us the canopy spider still in his hand, “is a 1/3. That means when he attacks, he deals 1 damage but he takes 3 in a single turn to kill.”
“Pretty accurate to real spiders, then,” Fitz remarks.
“And then there’s a giant spider who’s a 2/4 and a mammoth spider who’s a 3/5 so I’d say yeah. They aren’t in this deck, but I’ve played with both before. Fitz, I know you’d love to read the entire rules manual before we start but I think this is a good enough intro for us to start if you don’t have any questions.”
“I feel like I don’t know enough to even know what questions to ask.”
“Yeah, that’ll work. You’ll figure it out. Do either of you want to go fir--” he notices Keefe’s hand already raised excitedly. “Why do I even ask anymore?”
He gives it its preshuffled deck, although it does one more shuffle just in case. It doesn’t trust anyone, least not Foster, enough to think they haven’t rigged the deck.
“Draw seven cards. If you like them, keep them. If not, you can reshuffle and draw seven new cards. We aren’t playing yahtzee so don’t even start trying to argue those rules. Technically you’re supposed to reduce it by one if you take a mulligan, but house rules say otherwise.”
While he explains, Foster shuffles Fitz’s deck, then gives it to him. “Same thing, my dude. The general guidelines are if you have between 2 and 5 lands and the color of the lands matches the color of the spells you have, you should be good. Also you want some cheap cards in there. And the vibes to be right. If you want me to check, I do have eyeballs.”
“Nah, I’m going to be reckless,” Keefe says, pulling away from Fitz’s prying eyes.
In its hand, it has a Vorstclaw, just a little guy at 7/7; a 2/2 Goblin Smuggler with haste and can prevent little guys with power 2 or less from being blocked; a forest and a mountain; an Overcome which gives creatures +2/+2 until end of turn and trample, a 3/2 boring Fearless Halberdier; and that ever-glorious 8/8 Aggressive Mammoth which gives everybody trample.
“Oh, I forgot!” Foster interrupts. “Just one quick note: you can only put down one land each turn unless a card specifically says otherwise. Like, uh, Aesi, Tyrant of Dire Straits.”
“I don’t have one of those,” Keefe signs.
“I know. They’re a blue/green living in a commander deck. But they’re the first one I thought of, okay?”
“...fine.” Keefe puts down a single forest after much debate and then can’t do anything else. So it’s Fitz’s turn.
“Is this a good starting hand or not so much?” Fitz asks, sliding it over to him on the table.
“It’s a little dangerous, but you’ll probably be able to make it work. It’s up to you. And make sure you draw a card at the beginning of your turn.”
Keefe tries to take a card, but nearly gets its hand slapped away. “You went first. You don’t get a card on your first turn.”
Keefe pouts.
Fitz simply puts down an island before being rendered incapable of doing anything, giving the turn back to Keefe.
Keefe draws a card, this time without the threat of bodily harm, and gets another boring Fearless Halberdier for its troubles. It puts down a mountain--so exciting--and then it’s Fitz’s turn once again.
He draws a card, puts down an island, and then it’s Keefe’s turn once more. This game is so captivating. Just gonna keep trading lands to put down.
Except it’s out of lands.
It draws its card, a boring 2/2 goblin assailant that it can manage to pay for so puts cer down in front of itself, asking Foster, “I can’t attack with cer yet, right?”
“Does ce have haste?”
“No…that’s lame.” It declares it Fitz’s turn, having nothing else it can do.
Fitz draws his card and whispers, “Psst, Sophie. Do I want to use this?” He carefully slides over a card so Keefe can’t see what it is.
“You could but I wouldn’t. It’s playing green. Wait for it to pull out something a little bigger,” Foster answers.
“And risk taking damage this next turn?”
“Yeah. You’ve got 20 of them. Don’t worry about it.”
“...okay. I’m trusting you. Don’t make me regret this.” Fitz decides, declaring it Keefe’s turn.
It draws its card, getting a mountain to place on the battlefield immediately, and casts a Fearless Halberdier. “Attack with Goblin Assailant, 2/2.”
“Fitz, you can’t block, I mean technically you could interfere with that card you just showed me as long as it’s an instant, but I wouldn’t recommend it. So you’re down to 18,” Sophie says, reaching across the table and turning Keefe’s Goblin Assailant ninety degrees.
Fitz glares at Keefe.
“I know. And it’s your turn.”
Fitz draws a card, looks at it, places it, a plains, on the battlefield, then uses that plains and also the two other islands he has to cast a phantom warrior, a little guy who’s a 2/2 and can’t be blocked. Ze’s a little fucking bitch.
When given back the turn, Keefe draws its card, fixes its Goblin Assailant, and does the same as Fitz except it’s a mountain and it’s casting a Goblin Smuggler, the little guy that’s the 2/2 with haste.
“Attack with all three of my dudes. Goblin Assailant, 2/2, Fearless Halberdier, 3/2, and our new one here, Goblin Smuggler, is a 2/2.” It turns each one as it reads the cards off.
“Rude,” Fitz mutters.
“Fitz, If I were you, I’d block the Halberdier with your Phantom Warrior.” Foster says.
“I can do that?” Fitz asks at the same time Keefe asks, “He can do that?”
“Yep. Both will die in the process though.”
Fitz does as Foster suggests, and this is an act of war.
Fitz still takes 4 damage from the other creatures, bringing his total down to 14. Then it’s his turn once again.
He draws and casts a cloudkin seer, a little 2/1 guy with flying that lets him draw a card.
All Keefe knows is that it probably isn’t a land because he doesn’t put it directly onto the battlefield. And then it’s Keefe’s turn again.
It draws a Rubblebelt Recluse, a big little guy who’s a 6/5 that attacks each combat if able. Like it wouldn’t already do that.
Then, it casts the other Fearless Halberdier in its hand, partially because that’s pretty much all it can afford and also to replace the one Fitz killed.
“Attack with Goblin Assailant, 2/2, and Goblin Smuggler, also 2/2.”
Fitz blocks the Smuggler with his Cloudkin Seer, killing them both and takes the other two damage, bringing his total down to 12.
Fitz draws and places down an island on his next turn, casting an Octoprophet, a nice-sized little guy who’s a 3/3 and lets him see the next two cards in his deck. Then he throws the turn back to Keefe, terrified of his inevitable demise.
Keefe draws an Engulfing Eruption to deal 5 damage directly to a creature.
I guess that’s what Foster meant by direct damage. Cool. I wonder if you could build a deck solely around that. Probably.
Keefe, having no patience whatsoever, decides to just kill the Octoprophet with the Engulfing Eruption while it has the chance.
“Was that really necessary?” Fitz asks.
“Yes.” answers Keefe. “And now it’s time to attack with both my dudes. 2/2 Goblin Assailant, 3/2 Fearless Halberdier.”
Fitz can’t block any of the damage, and he’s down to 7.
On his next turn, he draws his card, then casts a Fortress Crab.
Foster interrupts his thinking process by asking, “May I make a suggestion?”
“Sure, why not? I’m close to death anyway so it doesn’t really matter.”
He points to his cards. “Cast this and this.”
“This and this” are apparently an unsummon on Keefe’s Fearless Halberdier and a Haazda Officer, a little 3/2 guy who’s functionally the same as the Fearless Halberdier except for an ability that doesn’t get used and the fact it’s white, not red.
Then, it’s Keefe’s turn once again. It draws a forest, places it down, does a little happy dance because he can cast something, and that something is a Rubblebelt Recluse. Just a little 6/5 guy that has to attack each turn if able.
But summoning sickness makes it unable, so Keefe decides to hold on to its soldiers for the first time since this game started. Having nothing else to do, it unwillingly declares it Fitz’s turn.
Fitz draws a card, buries it deep into his hand, and casts a fortress crab, a 1/6 designed to be as annoying as possible for Keefe.
But then it’s its turn once again. And it draws a forest. And it dances again. Now it can cast the Aggressive Mammoth that’s been burning a hole in its hand since it drew it before the first turn. So now it has an 8/8 with trample that also gives all other creatures it controls trample.
In its excitement, it forgot to actually put the forest down, so it adds that to the battlefield before attacking with its Rubblebelt Recluse 6/5. This gets blocked by Fitzy’s new crab. Crab is officially dead and the Rubblebelt Recluse is completely fine.
Well, maybe zae’s a little annoyed. So is Keefe.
And it’s Fitz’s turn once more. He draws a card, then casts some Coral Merfolks in a desperate attempt to block as much damage as possible.
2/1s really are not going to do much when everything Keefe controls has trample.
Bracing for impact, Fitz gives the turn back to Keefe for the last time.
Keefe has spent Fitz’s turn trying to do the math on how much damage it can possibly do in a single turn, and survey seems to say that it’s more than enough. Especially when he throws a sorcery into the mix.
It draws its card, only a little sad it won’t get to use this Shivan Dragon this game. That has to be saved for a future game.
Keefe casts Overcome, which is a sorcery that gives all of its creatures +2/+2 and trample, as though they didn’t already because of the Aggressive Mammoth.
“Attack with Goblin Assailant 4/4, Rubblebelt Recluse 8/7, and Aggressive Mammoth 10/10.”
“Well, that’s just a few points of damage there, love,” Fitz remarks.
“Yeah, and everybody has trample. Can you get Foster to double check some rules for us?”
“Sophie!” it calls to Foster who has wandered away for some reason.
“Yes?” comes his response, probably from the kitchen.
“I’ve got two 2/1s and a 3/2 and Keefe has some dudes with trample. I was just wondering how incredibly dead I am.”
“Well, whatever Keefe’s creatures’ strength combined minus four blocked points is how much it does to you. I don’t know if that’s the answer you want, but it’s the answer I’m going to give.”
“So, uh, just 18 damage, right? Just a few?” Fitz asks, doing the math for Keefe.
“Yeah, let’s go with that. I don’t want to do addition today,” signs Keefe.
“I’m dead. I am very dead. I am at like negative 9 levels of dead.”
“I am victorious!”
“What you are is a pain in the ass.”
“Yeah, that too.”
“Just hang on one second before you start your victory dance that’s suspiciously similar to Goblin dancing.”
“But why?”
“Because I said so.”
Ah, yes. The inarguable argument. Sounds like he doesn’t care enough to actually debate with me. Rude.
Seemingly on cue, Foster re-enters the room, and sets a plate with a glorious cake in front of Keefe.
Fitz has never particularly tried when decorating a cake. Beyond frosting and sprinkles, of course. This one is no exception.
But Keefe won’t argue because, well, it’s cake. You don’t argue with cake. Because then you won’t get any future cake.
“Consider this payment for your art lessons last weekend. And also for your victory,” Fitz says.
“Thank you, Fitz. It is much appreciated. I will now devour the entire thing like I’ve never eaten anything in my life.” Instead of cutting a slice, Keefe just takes a fork and starts demolishing the cake from the outside.
“You know, you could save some for breakfast tomorrow.”
“The future is meaningless. The cake is now,” it signs with chocolate-crumby hands.
“Keefe, uh, you got a little frosting,” Foster gestures to his cheek, and Keefe tries to swipe it off, undoubtedly smearing more frosting in the process.
“Let me help,” Foster says, leaning closer until he licks the frosting away, kissing it on the way back down to his chair.
“That was my frosting!” Keefe screeches.
“Then maybe you should’ve protected it better.”
#the jace thing gets even funnier when you learn the first appearance he has on a card was drawn by jason chan#yes /that/ jason chan#the one that does the canon book covers#this was so much fun to write#i'd gladly do more#do people want more?#i've done 4 mtg games including this one now#and my title makes sense! it may have taken three days but there is sometimes a method to the madness#sokeefitz week 2022#kotlc#kotlc fanfic#sophie foster#fitz vacker#keefe sencen#sokeefitz
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#i wish#jace chan#陳凱詠#2021#cantonese#it's funny i was thinking act posting this one a while back and then yesterday it came on in the supermarket
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TOO HOT TO HANDLE.
PART III
Bangchan x reader. (s)
Too Hot To Handle Masterlist
Synopsis: You and Chan become contestants in a reality dating show, Too Hot To Handle. (11,7k words)
Author's note: Season 3 is done! See you on the next season :)
YOU: $0? [Facepalms] So, where do we go from here?
-
The bright sunny day is not working to cheer everyone up after the shocking announcement that there's no money left in the prize fund.
You've been sitting outside with Chan, holding each other's hand and trying to process everything while looking at the beautiful view of the endless sea and the surface of water glimmering under the sun.
Chan has been quiet for too long and it's concerning. You decide to break the silence, shaking his hand and saying, "We spent too much money, babe."
He sighs and rubs the back of your hand with his thumb, "Too much."
You don't want to put salt on the wound but it's time to face the the truth that you both fucked up.
"We let them down. We let everyone down," you say with a heavy heart.
He looks at you and sees you in the eyes, "I'm sure there'll be a way to make it up to them."
He doesn't sound that confident with what he said but you're grateful that in a time like this, he tries his best to comfort you.
"And we'll show them that we have a genuine connection," he says with a soft smile.
You return the smile and put your other hand on your clasped hands, "We took a big step last night."
Physical connection is not that new to you but after last night, you can feel that something shifts between the two of you into something that is peculiarly new yet familiar at the same time.
"I feel closer. I feel more connected to you," you honestly tell him the changes you felt.
"That's true," he agrees with a smile that is more brighter and hopeful than before.
You take the chance to comfort him this time and sweetly smile at him, "We got each other," you remind him.
It's you and him versus everyone. For better or worse, through ups and downs, you face it together. You may be at the bottom now but you're sure you both will be back on top, together.
"Always," he says.
He brings your mouth close to his mouth and kisses it, "Since day one."
That makes you take a look back. You've been going through so much together and it makes you realize that with him, you feel like you can do anything.
Together you are invincible.
-
YOU: I feel terrible for what I did but at least, now I no longer doubt the feelings I have for Chris. It feels real now and it's scary... in the best way.
-
In the afternoon, Lana calls everyone to the cabana.
Chan hasn't recovered from the announcements from this morning yet so he's not keen to know what's coming his way, he has an inkling that it's not good for him and you.
Just like you read his mind, you place a soft kiss on his neck and wipe the lipstick mark you left on it with your thumb.
"We got each other," you whisper.
Chan is grateful for you, you've been so open and understanding, even though he's a hard-shell type of person, you make it hard for him not to let you in.
The chime comes and Jace gags in response. The melodic chime is certainly, anxiety-inducing.
"The prize fund is currently at $0," Lana announces as if everyone has forgotten about it.
"However, there will be more tests and opportunities to replenish the prize fund," she further informs.
It's like everyone is collectively letting out a big sigh of relief and getting a breath of fresh air at the mention that there's a way to return some money into the pot.
"I'll commence the first test," Lana continues.
Chan gets stressed once again and so is everyone. Test means he's not doing great, test means that it's not going to be easy, test means bad.
The worst thing that could happen is his name got called by Lana for that test.
Like he manifested it into reality, Lana does call his name along with yours. He sees you look at him and feels bad that he can't show a brave face to you.
"I gifted you watches as an incentive to connect on a physical level for the right reasons. Yet you have shown a complete disregard for my gift and your fellow guests."
He looks at you and you put on a thin smile for him, he puts his arm around you to pull you closer, he needs something to hold on to.
"Therefore, drastic action is required," Lana sternly says.
-
CHRIS: I've messed up. Big time. [Deeply exhales]
-
Deep down, you know you deserve what's coming for you but you don't want to go home, no, not yet.
"You both..." Lana drags her words to heighten the suspense.
You and Chan still have some growing to do as a couple and if Lana is kind enough to let you stay, you'd be very grateful. If not, then... it's not like you didn't see this coming.
You have to own up to your mistakes so whatever happens, you will try to accept it.
"... have 12 hours to prove you can connect on a deeper, more emotional level."
You feel a little lighter knowing that it's not an elimination but it's not time to be relieved yet, you're still waiting for the catch.
"If you fail to get a green light in those 12 hours, your time here will be terminated."
There it is. The catch. This is you and Chan's biggest test yet. There's no wasting time, you have 12 hours to prove or you go home.
"Your time starts now!" Lana announces.
-
YOU: This is going to be a challenge for us. We've never really talked about our emotions.
-
It's going to be harder for Chan.
He realizes he rarely talked about his feelings with you. His default setting is to show affection through actions so he is never good at verbalizing it.
"I don't want to go home," you tell him, cuddling on the sofa outside, "I want to spend more time with you."
He holds your hand and puts it close to his chest, "I don't want to go home either but I just—"
He inhales air and finishes his sentence, "It's not easy for me, talking about emotions."
"We can try," you say with your fingers lightly caressing his bare chest.
You tilt your head to face him, "You know what? I'll start," you volunteer.
He puts your hair away from being blown by the wind and holds it there for you, "Yeah?"
"Remember when we first met and I made you tell your name again?"
He nods as the recollection of it plays in the back of his head.
"I pretended not to hear it because I wanted those lips near me," you confess with a giggle.
He can't tell if you're trying to get a green light or just want to make him feel better, either way, he finds it adorable of you.
You check your watch and pout seeing that it's not turning green, "Well, it's worth a try," you say with a laugh.
As he breaks into laughter, he pulls you close and kisses you on the cheek.
"No need to hurry," you playfully say.
You rub his back and place a sweet kiss on his neck, "We still have like ten hours to get a green light."
That only reminds him to hold you tighter, he needs it more now than ever after knowing that he possibly wouldn't be able to do it again.
-
CHRIS: I find it hard to open up and talk about my feelings. Not sure I can do it.
-
With time keep slipping out of your hand, and your heart is getting worried.
You give Chan space and time to be on his own, organizing his thoughts and maybe it'll help him find the courage to talk about what he truly feels.
You remind yourself that it'll not be his fault if both of you end up getting eliminated. So you let go of the guilt and prepare yourself for the worst outcomes.
Before he leaves for his workshop, you pull him aside and warmly hug him.
"I really like you, Chris," you murmur.
You look up and softly smile at him, "I care about you."
You don't want to pressure him but you want to let him know that whatever happens, you will have no hard feelings nor hold a grudge against him.
"I know it's tough for you to open up but if you weren't ready, it's okay. If we got sent home, that doesn't mean things between us are over, you know that?" You say with a smile.
"I know," he lowly answers.
You stand on your tiptoes to plant a long kiss on his cheek, "Don't pressure yourself, okay, baby?"
He nods and hugs you back, locking you in his big arms because this might be the last time you embrace each other like this.
-
YOU: This is more difficult than I thought. At that moment, I think we might be going home.
-
"That dress looks good on you, darling!" Dani praises you as she watches you checking your appearance on the big mirror in the dressing room.
"Yeah?" You ask yourself why bother looking this good on your last night in the retreat.
"Yes," you suddenly shout.
"I want to look good when I get eliminated," you take a jab at yourself and laugh.
"Nah..." Lola groans, "Don't say that!"
Dani props her chin with her hand and looks at you, "You're going to get that green light tonight," she says.
The boys are back from the workshop not long ago but they're all coming back with paints on their bodies. Chan is still showering and it'll take more time to get dressed.
You're waiting for him by the fire pit, sipping your wine while half-heartedly listening to Pierre, Alicia, and Olivia talking.
As you're sipping on your second glass of wine, Chan comes and holds his hand out at you.
"I believe we have to talk," he says to you.
You put your glass down and take his hand, feeling more nervous now than before.
"I'm rooting for you guys!" Alicia mutters with an encouraging smile.
Chan takes you somewhere quiet and sits on the bench that overlooks the sea with the reflection of the moon drawn on the surface of the water.
There are still three hours left to the time limit but it's never too early to start and try to open up.
"You want me to start again?" You ask because he's been so quiet even after you both get the privacy to talk.
He cracks a laugh and puts an arm around you, "Yeah, sure."
You lick your lips and try to articulate your feelings as best as you can. You look him in the eyes and just pour your heart out to him.
"I like you. I like that I can be myself around you. You understand me, you put up with a lot of shit to be with me..." you pause to let out a laugh, "I'm happy that we became closer."
Chan can't stop smiling as he listens to you speaking your heart out. You can see the fondness in his eyes and you also hope that he gets the sincerity in your words.
"And I think... this is a good chance for us to talk about how we feel about each other," you conclude.
-
YOU: I can tell him more things that I like about him but sadly, time is not on our side.
-
It feels great hearing what you thought about him but at the same time, Chan feels burdened to be as open as you.
He's aware of how much you've shared with him while he gave you so little in return. He owes you a lot and it's time for him to settle that debt.
"You look gorgeous," he starts with a compliment.
You reach for the collar of the baby blue linen shirt he's wearing and compliment him back, "So do you."
You rest your hand flat on his chest and dreamily sigh, "You look good in colors other than black and white, you know that?"
He grins at that and nods, "I'll wear more colors."
"Okay, good," you say with gentle pats on his chest.
It's not time for small talk, time is running out. Chan grits his teeth and starts talking, trying to empty his heart through words.
"I'll be honest with you," he begins.
He sees you swallow air and nods, "Okay."
"I haven't completely opened myself up to you."
"Mm-mmh," you hum in response.
He takes your hand and holds it tightly in his hand, "The last relationship I had..." he refrains from sharing too many details on his past.
"From that relationship, I got myself a trust issue out of it, and as much as I like you, it's hard for me to trust you. I got haunted by my experience with trusting someone with my heart..." Chan takes a moment to collect himself and not lose it completely to his emotions.
"I didn't think that I'd get here and find someone like you in here," he says with a low laugh.
You lowly laugh along with him, "Yeah."
"I feel extremely lucky to find you and I realize now that it's not fair that I compare you with my former partner. She might have caused me a trust issue but that doesn't mean you'll do the same to me," he says.
A smile blooms on your face and he feels your hand in shaking in his hold.
"I genuinely am feeling stronger emotions for you which I haven't felt in a long time," he earnestly says with a sincere smile.
His heart feels so much lighter and emptier now, that only means he has more space for these new feelings he has for you.
Chan's heart is full of warm feelings and other than that, it fills with hopes.
-
CHRIS: It's been such a long time since I've opened up like this with anyone but it feels so natural with her.
-
"I like you so much," Chan says while squeezing your hand in his.
It feels good to know that your feelings are reciprocated. You've been tormented inside and you keep it bottled up inside you, now you can let it go.
"I'm so excited for us," he adds with a smile.
Then the chime comes and you glance at your watch to see that it turns green.
You both did it and you didn't mean to cry but your eyes are like bursting dams right now, tears are flowing down your face. He immediately pulls you into a hug.
"I wasn't ready to go home yet," you croak with tears caught in your throat.
"Me too," he says.
He holds you for a moment and whispers into your ear, "Are we going to kiss or what?"
You completely forgot that the rules do not apply and you're allowed to kiss him. You hurriedly wipe the tears on your face with the back of your hands.
Chan doesn't hesitate to kiss you when you believe you look ugly from crying. He leans in and kisses you softly, brushing his lips as if he were telling you how you feel with it.
Your heart is heavy and quivering as it carries so much love inside you. You like him so much and it feels so good, it's so good that it's scary.
When he pulls away from the kiss, Chan holds your face and looks at you, tenderly wiping your eyes with his knuckle.
He's softly laughing as he says, "I can see now that you're just a baby."
He caresses your wet cheeks with his thumb as he fondly looks into your eyes, "just a baby, my baby," he says.
You pout yet smile at his words. There's no use to deny it when he can see everything now.
"My baby girl," he delightfully sighs and presses a long peck on your lips.
Sure you feel relieved you get to stay in the retreat but the best thing about all this is getting to know each other better, emotionally.
"Good job," you tell him with a smile.
"Good job," he says back to you.
-
YOU: Watching Chris open up and comfortably share his feelings makes me feel like I can understand him now. Also, it makes me fancy him more and more [smiles]
-
Chan didn’t expect everyone to wait for them to come back from their talk.
The resentment they have is nothing compared to the friendship they have sewn in time with both you and him. They look at him in anticipation of whether he passed the test or not. They're tucked in their beds and watch him as he walks to his bed with you trailing behind him.
"So...?" Pierre asks.
Chan can't contain his excitement anymore, he grins and says, "We got the green light!"
Everyone cheers for him and you, clapping with pride. Jace hurls a cushion at Chan as he shouts, "Congrats, Aussie boy!"
Alicia comes to his bed to hug you, "I told you. I'm rooting for you!"
Dani hugs her pillow in front of her and asks, "So, did anyone say anything?" She asks in curiosity.
"She told me she likes me," Chan answers without the slightest of embarrassed saying it out loud.
"Did you say it back to her?" Pierre asks.
"Of course!" He shortly replies.
You lay on your stomach on the bed, facing everyone, "It was really hard to begin with but he opened up to me."
"Aww..." Lola coo in response then lightly applauds for you.
"At least we don't have to worry about them rulebreaking now," Luke comments.
"Because there's no money to spend to begin with," Pierre adds.
Everyone is laughing the shared pain away. But with the promise that Lana will return some money through tests and you both passed one tonight, everyone gets hopeful again.
-
CHRIS: I'm so glad we're making progress. I'm so proud of her and me. We both got so far [smiles]
-
It's like you both got a fresh start at a new life.
Even with zero dollars on the prize fund, you feel happy to get to spend more time with him in the retreat. Yesterday was a torture and that only reminds you to use the time wisely.
But it's not like you can't keep yourself away from him you're smitten, you have butterflies fluttering in your stomach.
After last night, you talk about things deeply and openly, you talk more about your future together that it gets you giddy
You're straddling him on the bed and hovering above him, putting a safe space between your faces. You admire his beautiful face, trailing your fingers on his facial features, eyes, nose, and plush lips that lure you to kiss.
"Now that I'll be coming with you to Australia, where will you take me first?" You ask out of curiosity.
Chan has been resting his hands on your thighs and not letting them go anywhere. He looks up at you and answers, "My home."
You're giggling because your dirty mind can only think of one thing, "So we can—"
"I'll introduce you to my family," he slices through your sentence and takes you aback.
This seems that serious to him and you usually choose to step back when things get this serious, however, you're feeling excited about it instead.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I want them to know about our relationship," he casually says.
"Ooo... relationship," you point out the thing he just said and wonder if it accidentally slipped out of his mouth or he meant it. You bet it's the latter from how he gets so flustered and laughs at it.
"Why? Do you have anything else in mind?" He asks with a sly smile.
You look away from his eyes as he catches on your dirty thought, "You know what I'm thinking."
He sits up on the bed so he can hold you and you wrap your arms around his neck, "Well, before we do all that, I'll lock you in my room and we'll have lots of sex," he murmurs, then places a hot kiss on your neck.
You lowly moan at how his soft lips feel on your skin, sending a tingle down your spine.
"Oh, you have no idea what's coming for you," he seductively whispers with his breath tickling your ear.
He then switches to the other side of your neck and places a longer kiss with his tongue lightly licking the skin, leaving a wet kiss mark on it.
The emotional connection only heightens the sexual tension between you and him yet it feels like you've reached a new level in your relationship.
-
YOU: It's HARD! I like him so much therefore it's getting harder to resist him.
-
"Whoa, whoa, what am I walking into," Pierre says as he busted you straddling him on the bed.
Without getting up from his bed, Chan calmly responds with a joke, "There's no harm in losing more money."
"Damn right," Pierre replies with a laugh.
With someone else in the room, the tension is slowly fading out and you get off his lap, sitting next to him instead.
Chan notices that Pierre is smiling at himself and he knows that there must be something.
"What's up?" He asks while putting his arm out so you can rest your head on it.
"Alicia and I are going on a date later," Pierre replies.
"Oh, wow, that's great, man!" Chan offers his hand for a fist bump.
"I'm excited for you, Pierre!" You add with a gleeful smile.
But instead of bumping his fist at him, Pierre collapses onto his bed. It's the first time Chan sees him being this nervous, "Why are you so nervous?"
You're giggling next to him, "You've been sharing a bed with Alicia for so long," you add.
Pierre groans and holds his head with both hands, "Ugh... I don't know."
"Just do you, enjoy it, man," Chan suggests.
Pierre sits on the bed again now, "Yeah, you're right."
He gives Chan his fist bump now then gets up from the bed, "I have to get ready for the date now. See ya!"
"Good luck!" You shout at him before he gets out of the door.
It must be nice to get on a date with you but Chan understands that he has to earn it here. He looks at you and he can see that you're wishing for the same thing.
"We'll get our time," he tells you.
"Yeah," you reply with a smile.
"Come here! Hug me, baby girl!" He pulls you into a tight hug and flips over so you're under him now.
"I want to kiss you," he says as he looks at you.
You put your hand on his lips and glance at it, "We can't. We have to be good."
It's like the roles are reversed now. It's him playing the bad guy now and you're playing the good girl now.
"You're right," he says, he chooses to bury his head in your neck instead.
-
CHRIS: Lana, we’ve been good so please get us on a date too!
-
Lana throws a party tonight.
You're tired of guessing what she's trying to celebrate and if she has something behind it. The worst has happened, you want to enjoy tonight.
"What are you wearing tonight?" Chan asks while you're drying your hair.
"Uhm... nothing," you mindlessly answer.
He puts his arm around your neck and playfully puts you in a chokehold, making you laugh in response. He then nuzzles his nose into your hair and asks again, "I want to match my clothes with you."
"Aww... that's so cute, Chris!" Lola comments from the other end of the vanity table while putting make-up on her eyes.
You turn your head around and jokingly say, "Then... wear nothing."
He wraps his hand around your neck and tilts your head to the side so he can bite on your shoulder, "Just tell me what color!"
You're laughing as you try to get his hand away from you but he keeps ticking your neck with his nose. In the end, you both settle with his favorite color, black.
You're fixing the straps of your dress while looking at the mirror in the bathroom and Chan is leaning against the sink, running his eyes up and down your body.
"You're so gorgeous," he compliments with a grin and those cute dimples.
He bites his fist when you check the back of your dress in the mirror by turning your body to the side.
"Gosh, I'm the luckiest," he sighs.
You get flustered and say, "Stop it!"
Pulling him close, you turn him around and make him look at both of your reflections in the mirror. Not going to lie, you like what you see.
You turn to look at him and then say, "Damn! We look good!"
He looks back at you and smiles, "We look good together."
Without warning, he puts his arms around you and carries you out of the bathroom.
The party had just started when Pierre and Alicia were coming back from their date. Everyone is being nosy with their questions yet you can't help to get nosy as well.
"Tell us everything!" Lola demands.
From the look of it, Pierre and Alicia look happy and it makes you just as happy for them, everyone seems to feel the same way as well.
"It was nice. We went on a boat and enjoyed the sunset," Pierre says.
Alicia nods along to his words, "Then there was a funny question at the end," she says, then leers at Pierre.
Pierre cracks a laugh before answering, "I asked her to be my girlfriend."
Dani, being the one invested in the story, impatiently asks, "What did you say, Alicia?"
Alicia leers at Pierre again and smiles, "I said yes."
It's like watching a sports game and the home team scores, sending everyone into a celebration. Glasses of drinks raised to the air for a toast.
"To Pierre and Alicia!" Jace leads the toast.
"To Pierre and Alicia!" The rest repeat after him and take a sip of their drinks.
-
YOU: Well, unlike us... [chuckles] Pierre and Alicia are the most committed couple in the retreat so I couldn't be happier for them.
-
Instead of being jealous, Chan is happy for Pierre and Alicia.
He's happy to see his closest friend in the retreat happy and it's not like Chan is not happy, he is happy with you. He looks around and they're just as happy even though the prize fund is still at zero.
He holds you close and kisses the top of your head, "I'm so happy."
"Me too," you murmur with your head resting on his chest.
The music abruptly stops and Chan kind of guesses what comes next. There she is, the ultimate cockblocker and party crasher Lana.
Everyone already knows where to go and they drag their feet to head to the cabana. You sit next to Chan, putting one hand around his waist and the other clasped with him, resting it on his leg.
The money is at zero now but that doesn't make everyone less nervous, if anything, there's an anticipation for what Lana is going to announce this time.
Chan's heart skips a beat the second the cone lights up, signifying her arrival. She skips on greeting everyone and calls for both of your names.
You look at each other to exchange a mix of panicked and confused looks.
"On your previous test, you were able to access your true feelings for each other, proving to me that your connection is more than skin deep," Lana says.
That's good news and the applause everyone is giving toward both of you confirmed it.
"However, actions speak louder than words."
Chan hates it when that word comes in the sentence: 'however' because that means, Lana has bad news to tell.
"Tonight, you will both be put to the ultimate test, a night in the private suite."
Remembering that you both failed on the same test and knowing you both have to go through it again. Chan feels the pressure already and he sees you wince in response to that.
"If you refrain from breaking any rules, you will win back $100,000 for the group."
Everyone is cheering at the amount of money you can win back from it but your last failure reminds them not to haste to celebrate.
Chan notices a few pessimistic faces among the group and he understands that. But he knows that it's time he pays everyone back for the damages he did to the prize money.
"We'll try to win back the money for you guys," Chan earnestly says with you nodding along in agreement to his words.
"Please, make your way to the suite!" Lana orders.
He offers his hand to help you get up from the sofa and keeps holding your hand.
Jace nods at Chan to encourage him, "Don't mess up, 'kay? You got it!"
"Wish us luck!" You say to everyone for the last time.
-
CHRIS: This is it. This is the big, ultimate test.
-
The second you both enter the private suite, you throw yourself at him.
Thank goodness that he is quick to catch you and steadily holds you against him to keep you from falling. You loop your both hands around his neck and warmly hug him.
You pull away to look at his face, "We can do it," you murmur with a soft kiss on his cheek.
He returns the kiss but his lips land on your jaw instead, "for that to happen, we shouldn't have a bath."
You pout at him and say, "But I still need to have a bath. I'm dirty."
"You are dirty," he says with a sly smile.
You narrow your eyes at him and put your forehead against his, "Are you dirty?"
It's like a deja vu watching you get undressed in front of him, doing it so confidently like he isn't there and looking at your enticing body with dark, lustful eyes.
"You can join me or..." you nonchalantly say as you step into the tub.
"You can just watch," you continue as you lower yourself into the water, flashing him a naughty smile as you lean back in the tub.
Chan has seen and experienced this scene before but he doesn't like how it ended. This is why it's called a test, see if he can take it and come up with a better result than before.
"Atta, boy!" You exclaim as he starts to take his clothes off.
You intently watch him taking every piece of clothing on his body until there's none left. Your eyebrow raises as your eyes flick down there.
"Hi, there," you playfully talk to his semi-hard member.
Everything about you evokes the rebellious side of him, he just wants to do whatever he wants and pleases. He reminds himself that he needs to control himself and the money that he can win back from doing it.
With one foot down in the tub, Chan can already feel the heat of the moment.
-
CHRIS: When it's just the two of us the sexual tension goes...[Sighs] It's high!
-
Jumping onto the bed, you crawl over to get something from the tray of sex toys on the bedside table.
You know which one you want to get and take it with you as Chan dives onto the bed next to you. You waste no time straddling him, "Put your hands above your head!"
He ignores your order and laughs at you instead. He chooses to disobey you so you take both his hands and put them above his head, you cuff them with handcuffs.
"I'm sorry," you tell him with no hint of regrets whatsoever in your apology.
You look at him and smile in satisfaction that he's laying helpless underneath you.
"You've been very, very bad, Chris," you say in a low, sultry voice and run your fingertips down his bare chest.
He takes a deep breath and looks back at you, "I've been bad, so?" He dares you with a smirk.
As expected, he will disobey you and dare you to do things to him. He's enjoying it and you're more than willing to play along.
You crawl over to the side and use the opportunity to bring your ass close to his face while you take another sex toy from the tray.
You sit down on his crotch, intentionally hard, and enjoy the low groan he lets out. You show him the long, leather whip in your hand.
You put the end of the whip under his chin and used it to tilt his head to look at you, "Do you admit to being a bad, bad boy?"
Instead of answering, he bites his lips and fiercely looks at you. Taking him off guard, you slap his chest with the whip.
"Answer me!" You order.
He slyly smiles and refuses to answer again. You start to slap his chest and abdomen with the whip, making heart-shaped marks on his pale skin.
You decide to get off him and lay on your side next to him, "I'm going to keep doing it until you answer me," you taunt him as you drag the end of the whip down his thigh.
You lean into the side of his face and lowly whisper into his ear, "Answer me, Chris."
He shakes his head and you immediately land a slap on his inner thigh twice that he gasps in response. Feeling mischievous, you slip the whip under his boxer and rub him there.
"Will you answer me now, mmh?" You ask.
He catches you off guard now, rolling on the bed and putting his body on top of you. He buries his head deep in your neck while kissing you there.
"Oh..." you breathlessly moan as he bites on your neck.
Chan is always afraid to put his whole weight on you but you don't want to have it another way, so you put your legs around him and let him collapse on top of you.
He looks at you but his eyes are centered on your lips, "Do you want to kiss me, mmh?"
He alternates it by placing kisses along your jaw and finishes it with a sweet kiss on your cheek, "Actually, there are a lot more things I want to do to you."
-
YOU: Our prize fund is zero so that means there's no money to lose... [bites lips]
-
Chan keeps his handcuffed hands in front of him as you unlock it for him. He puts it back on the bedside table and sees you still straddling him.
He pats the space next to him, "Come here so we can cuddle!"
You shake your head and put your hands on his chest, "No, I like it here. I like sitting on top of you," you say with your eyes enchanting him to gaze back at them.
He puts his hands on your thighs, fingers teasing the hem of the short sleeping dress you're wearing, "Is this your favorite position?"
"Uh-huh," you answer and put your hands to hold your hair in a makeshift ponytail.
"You want to be on top, huh?"
"Yeah, I'm good when I'm on the top," you tell him with your head slightly tilted to the side and your lips curl into a naughty smile.
"Is that true?" He asks, allowing his hands to move up to your waist and hold you there.
"I can show it to you," you dare him.
Seeing you straddling him like this only gives him the glimpses of what you'd like fucking him and he bet it'd be so good. Swear his cock twitched just now from remembering how good it is inside you.
Now you're sitting on his crotch and there's only a layer of clothing that separates him from what he wants, he believes you can feel how his cock is achingly hard for you.
"Maybe next time," he kindly refuses no matter how much his body wants to scream yes.
"Why not now?" You ask with a low giggle.
You make it so hard for him that he has to lift you off him and lay you down next to him. Without giving you time to escape, he puts his arms and legs around you, limiting the things you can do around him.
"Stop teasing me," he presses a wet, long kiss on your cheek.
You helplessly try to get out of his hold while giggling but failing.
"Baby," you softly call.
You hold his chin in your fingers and turn your head at him, "I want to sleep naked tonight."
-
CHRIS: The longer they let us alone together, the more I want to do things to her [raises eyebrow]
-
Even after the morning comes, it doesn't mean that the test has been done yet.
Somehow, you wake up naked and find yourself snuggling to Chan who's just as naked. You don't want to force your brain to work just yet.
It seems like he's awake already as he puts his hand on your back and runs his fingers down your back, light and fluttering, lulling you back to sleep.
Realizing that the test is not over yet, he gets away from you only so he can lay next to you and easily places kisses on your bare back.
You delightfully hum every time his full lips make contact with your skin, warm and soft, making you tingle inside.
"You're so beautiful," he hums.
He then starts another trail of kisses from the nape of your neck and down your spine. He stops before he gets tempted to go lower than your waist.
"So soft, so beautiful..." he sighs with so much frustration as if he saw something he couldn't perceive.
Chan decides to prop both hands on each side of you and kisses your neck as he's hovering above you, waking you up with sweet, gentle kisses.
"Wake up, baby," he softly calls you.
Wanting more than just kisses, you pull him close so you can feel him whole, his body on your body, skin-to-skin. It feels rather more intimate than sex.
He puts all of your hair away to the side so he can pepper your shoulder with kisses, "Morning," he says in between kisses.
You smile with eyes closed and croak, "Morning."
There's not much time left in the private suite and you both have to face everyone soon.
"How are we going to tell them?" You meekly ask him, feeling the anxiety already.
He gently caresses your cheek with his knuckle, "I'll do the talking," he simply answers.
You overlap his body with yours and put your arm across his chest, "Can't we just stay here?" You innocently ask with a low laugh.
"We can stay a little longer," he consoles you with a kiss on your forehead.
As much as you want to stay, it's time to face the truth once more.
-
YOU: Last night was... special. The best night I ever had in the retreat. [smiles]
-
While holding Chan's hand, you wake slow walk on the way back to the villa, and meet everyone in the bedroom.
Everyone is looking a bit antsy even though they're still in their beds. They stop talking once they notice you're back from the private suite but they seem to be scared to ask the important question.
Chan gestures to you to sit on the sofa instead of on the bed next to the table where Lana is sitting still so prettily.
Before Chan can open his mouth and speak, Lana gets ahead of him, chiming on the table next to you.
"Last night, you faced your ultimate test," Lana skips the morning greeting and goes straight into business.
"As a couple, if you could refrain from breaking any retreat rules, the prize fund will be increased from $0 to $100,000."
You grimace at that because anything could happen at this point.
"However..."
Lola gasps at the mention of that word and hides behind the duvet. It's your turn to gasp as Lana calls your name.
"Even though you were successful in sexually arousing Chris, he was able to hold firm and respect the rules of my retreat."
Applause and cheers erupt from every corner of the room. You hate that Lana exposed you for what you did in the private suite but it won't stop you from celebrating as well.
"Which means that the prize fund now stands at $100,000," Lana updates.
More cheers and whistles are coming from everyone at the announcement that you both gained half of the total prize money back.
"I am so proud of you, babe!" Dani says to you.
You blow her a kiss as a token of gratitude and look at Chan, he's looking as proud as you are.
"This is what I call growth," Pierre comments with a smile.
"Yeah, that's true," Lola agrees.
Everyone gets quiet as Lana continues talking, "As a reward for showing restraint and putting the interest of the group above your own, you will be going on a date."
You turn to look at Chan and smile, feeling so proud of both of you. You look around the room and ask, "Can I hug him, now?"
They are all laughing before answering, "Yes."
You walk up to Chan and he welcomes you into his arms, holding you so tight while lifting you off your feet.
It feels good to do good and get rewarded for it, you lean close to murmur, "I'm so proud of you."
"I'm so proud of us," he says back with a kiss on your cheek.
-
YOU: The last few days have been so hard for us so I think we deserve this date and I'm just so excited [grins]
-
To be honest, Chan is nervous.
Yes, he's happy and excited for the date. What he's worrying so much about is the talk he'll be having with you and he wants to make sure that he gets his emotions across.
It's important that you know his feelings for you.
His face lights up as you walk toward him, he helps you board the boat to get to the other small island where the date will be.
"Gorgeous," he sweet compliments as he brushes your hair and tucks it behind your ear.
"Thank you, baby," you mutter and take his hand to hold it.
The two of you take a short walk to where the date has been prepared, a cute little picnic with a bottle of champagne chilled in a bucket of ice which Chan can easily pop open.
"Mmh... My man is so strong," you playfully praise him.
You take one of the champagne flutes so he can fill it for you, "What are toasting to?"
He thinks for a moment, "Mmh... for passing the ultimate test?"
You chuckle and nod in agreement, "For passing the ultimate test!"
You both clink your glasses together and take a sip of the bubbly wine.
-
CHRIS: We both know that we have a strong physical chemistry between us but I need to know if we have a strong connection as well. I want this to last.
-
The sun is slowly sinking into the horizon, painting the sky with stunning bursts of flaming gold colors.
Even Chan is here, in one of the most beautiful places he's ever been, he thinks that what makes it so special is because he's with you.
"Have you realized that it's been me and you since day one?" Chan asks.
You fix your hair and prop one hand next to you, "Yeah," you answer while nodding.
"We've been going through such... a long journey," he says, emphasizing how rough it has been for the two of you.
You nod again and softly laugh, "You know, with other people, I would push them away and keep moving forward. I never once in my life thought I would find 'that someone'."
This is why he's comfortable around you. He shares a piece and you share one piece of you too, it's never going one way with you. Everything is fair and he thinks this is what good communication is.
"As you know, the last relationship I had... it was ugly but in here, in this retreat, I learned how to confront my emotions and open up to someone," Chan shares his piece of him with you.
You're looking at him with eyes that match the soft smile on your face while tucking away the hair getting blown by the wind.
"Also, this retreat helps me put things into perspective," he continues, "I'm able to show sides of myself that I didn't know I had."
You take a sip of your drink and nod again, "Just like I said when people get into my space, I'd normally push them away."
You put your drink away before continuing, "But the fact that I met someone that I like... that makes me feel emotional and vulnerable."
Chan would be lying to say your words aren't making him feel the slightest bit emotional as well. He can feel the sincerity in your words, they are pure and heartfelt.
"I wonder if we're compatible moving forward in the outside world," you finish.
He takes your hand and holds it in the space between you and him. He then clears his throat before speaking.
"Now it's time where I can tell you and it would be wrong for me not to say this..."
His heart hurts as every bit of emotion is getting squeezed out of him into words but he wants to tell you everything, baring it out for you so you know his true feelings for you.
He looks into your eyes, it gives him the confidence to go on and say, "I genuinely do love you."
You close your eyes and break into laughter, it's not the reaction he hoped for but he waits for you to say something.
"I can't believe I came here and fell in love..." you say with a sheepish laugh.
You stare into his eyes and squeeze his hand as you say, "I love you too."
It feels like a ton of weight has been lifted off his chest. He thought he would be bound and confined the moment those words were out of his mouth, instead of that, Chan feels like he's been set free.
-
CHRIS: When I arrived here, I didn't mean to meet a girl and tell her I love her. I'm a changed man and it's because of her [smiles]
-
Seeing him happy makes you happy.
The happiness only doubled knowing that the feelings go both ways. Never in a million years have you ever thought you would be falling in love with a guy like him.
Chan is a gentleman, he's kind and sweet, he's very thoughtful and caring, and he has everything that you're not looking for in a man.
But he changed you and made you realize that you deserve a better man. Meeting him and being with him is a blessing like a star falls right onto your lap.
"I always told myself I'm better single and do my things, but with you, I feel safe, comfortable, and powerful at the same time," you let your thoughts out loud to him.
You swallow air to not let the tears get in the way of you speaking your heart out to him, "The best thing is, with you, I feel more reassured and that's something that rarely happens."
The way he's looking at you now is the most beautiful view you've ever seen and you want to imprint it in the back of your head. You also want to bottle this precious moment so you can treasure it for life.
Chan has been quiet for a moment then he lets out a sigh, "I feel like I've won the lottery," he says.
This has been a long journey but you're grateful that you come out of it together, stronger and on top of that, in love more than ever.
Both of your watches chime at the same time and you glance to confirm that it's green.
"Oh?!" You look at him with a surprised face.
Chan smiles and crawls over to you, "Thank you, Lana!" He shouts.
The kiss feels special and it's ultimately because this kiss marks the beginning of your relationship, the first one of many, and hopefully, the start of a long-lasting relationship.
-
YOU: I'm the... [squeals] I'm the happiest girl in the world [gleefully smiles]
-
Everyone else is already sleeping when the two of you decide to sneak out to have one final swimming lesson.
Again, it's not a lesson and you both promise to not spend any money. You're doing it as tonight is the last night of the retreat.
Nothing is going to change even when the show is over but it doesn't stop you from feeling sentimental about it.
"It's going to be weird not waking up next to you," you sadly say as Chan hugs you from the back.
He rests his head on your shoulder with his hands wrapped around your waist, "You'll be coming home with me, remember?"
You nod but what you actually meant is how the outside world would be different than here. We have the stupid rules here but everything is much simpler and happier here, you're afraid of losing it all once you step out of this retreat.
"I'm just glad we won back the money," you say, shifting it to a much brighter topic.
"Or else we wouldn't have money for our flights home," Chan jokes.
Your shared waves of laughter are making ripples on the surface of the pool water.
"Who is going to win the money though?" You ask in genuine curiosity.
Chan shrugs in response to your question, "Definitely not us," he says.
Considering that the two of you are the big spenders in the retreat, you wouldn't even dare to think that there's the possibility of winning the prize money too.
To be able to come home with a man you are deeply in love with is already a big win for you.
-
YOU: I don't care about the money. I got what I want, I got my man [smiles]
-
"Good morning, friends!" Lola cheerily greets everyone the second the lights turned on.
Staying up until late last night causing him to feel sleepy, he keeps sleeping with his head buried in the pillow. He can feel you slipping your hands around him to spoon him from behind.
"Morning, Channie baby," you softly call him by his Korean name.
He told you about it last night, the name only his family and his close friends are allowed to call him with that name.
You are, of course, more than allowed to call him that. It feels strange to hear it at first but he likes the sound of it, especially the affectionate tone you're using.
He takes your hand and kisses it, putting it close to his chest as he tries to get a few more minutes of sleep. The sound of the melodic chime is enough to make him refrain from going back to sleep.
"Good morning, everyone!" Lana greets, sounding exceptionally kind even though she speaks in the same robotic voice.
"Morning, Lana darling!" Claire replies with a cracked voice.
"Welcome to the last day of the retreat," she announces.
Everyone sadly groans which is quite shocking compared to the first day of the retreat, now everyone is not wanting to leave.
His head snaps at you and it reminds him to soak up every minute left in this retreat with you.
"I will be announcing who the finalists are shortly," Lana further announces.
Everyone's ears perk up at the announcement, finalists in 'plural', which means there is more than one candidate to win the prize money.
Everyone else is secretly guessing who's going to win it but with his bad record, Chan chooses to sit back and wishes everyone the best of luck.
"It's the last day!" Luke remarks, still in disbelief of it.
"Let's make it the best one!" Dani adds as she yawns into her hand.
"And let's spend the whole money today," Chan jokes even though he's slurring his words.
"Funny, Aussie boy!" Jace says as he tosses a cushion at him.
-
CHRIS: I fully trust that Lana will choose the right person to win the money and I'm okay that I'm not it, Lana, I have no hard feelings [laughs]
-
"It's the last day so I'm going to wear the tiniest bikini."
Chan hears what you're saying since he's in the dressing room to take something out of his closet.
"Oh my, Gosh!" He responds to what you're saying.
You're chuckling and look at him as he stands across the room, "I'm putting another test on you."
He walks over to your chair and puts his hand around your neck, that way he can angle your head as he pleases. He attacks one side of your face with small kisses.
"Stop being so cute," Claire says as she hollowed her cheeks to apply some colors to them.
"Yeah, stop it before you spend some money," Alicia playfully adds.
Chan lets you go because he needs to go to the bathroom to style his hair, he finds Jace in there, putting his long blond hair into a small bun.
"Who do you think is going to win?" He asks.
It's the third time someone asked him the same question and he'll remain diplomatic about his answer, "Whoever wins I'll be happy for them."
Jace respects his answer and does not further press him to give a name but Chan gets curious about his answer.
"Who do you think?" He turns the table to him.
Jace sits on the edge of the tub and watches as Chan combs his hair in front of the mirror on the sink.
"I think it's you, Aussie boy."
Chan snorts in response, he figures that Jace wants to entertain him with his answer.
"Hey, the one who made a lot of mistakes is the one that is most improved," he defends his answer, proving that he's actually serious about his answer.
"Yeah, nah, I don't think it's me, mate," he refuses his answer to entertain the idea that he has a chance to win it.
"That's just my opinion," Jace says with a nonchalant shrug.
-
CHRIS: If it were up to me, I think everybody would win here but it's not, it's up to Lana. [Shrugs]
-
It's the time in the cabana again.
You're sad that it's going to be over soon but God! You're so glad that soon you'll not be hearing that melodic chime again. It's like hearing a soundtrack to a horror movie.
"Hello, everyone!"
"Hey, Lana," you reply, suppressing your anxious groan coming out of your mouth.
"I have been collecting data since you arrived and have now conducted my final analysis," Lana informs.
You can't tell what everyone is feeling right now, it's a mix of anticipation, anxiety or relief, sadness or happiness, everything is there.
"As you are aware, there was a prize fund of $200,000 allocated to aid your development."
You wince at the mention of the word 'was' and it brings back your not-so-finest moments in your head.
"The prize fund stands at $100,000."
"Whoo!" Lola whoops, "That's a lot of money, baby!"
"And it was very hard to gain," Chan playfully comments, sending everyone into laughter.
"Like literally," he adds.
You cover his mouth with your hand to stop him from embarrassing himself more and let Lana continue.
"There are three places in the final."
Now everyone is assessing each other for their possibilities to win the money. You're definitely not going to make the cut with how much you spent in the retreat.
-
YOU: It's clearly not going to be us. We're the antagonists in this show [chuckles]
-
"Following my rules alone isn't enough to win. The finalists are those who have shown personal growth during their time at the retreat."
Oh, wait? Personal growth?
If we're talking about personal growth, everyone can see how much Chan has grown since the first day of the retreat. People would think that it's a biased opinion but you believe that Lana sees it, or you hope so.
"The first finalist is..."
You're secretly praying that Chan's name gets called, it's not much about winning, he deserves to be in the final with the journey he's been through in this retreat.
"Pierre and Alicia."
It's kind of expected and everyone is clapping for them because they deserve it. You watch as they're hugging each other and looking so cute it makes you cooing adorably.
"The second finalist is..."
You continue to pray in your heart for one name to be called by Lana, you even have your hands clasped together and close your eyes as you deeply wish for it.
"Jace and Lola."
Again, everyone is clapping because they're genuinely made for each other, they complement each other in a way like no other.
"The third and final finalist is..."
For the last time, you wish and pray as hard as you can in your heart. You never wished for something this badly so for the first time in your life, please let—
"Chris."
Your mouth hangs open in response while he pulls you into a hug. You're at a loss for words for a moment until he pulls away from the hug.
You get teary as you see him standing up to take his place on the final, feeling so proud of him and the man he has become.
"Pierre and Alicia, Jace and Lola, Chris, one of you will walk away with $100,000."
Chan offers his hand at you so you can hold it while he's standing up in front of you. You can't fight the tears that are already pooling in your eyes.
"And the decision will be made by the remaining guests."
"Oh, my God!" You quietly gasp while dabbing the tears in the corner of your eyes.
"Will the shortlisted guests please leave the cabana while the voting takes place," Lana orders.
Chan bends down to hug you since he has to leave. He presses a long kiss on your cheek and caresses your cheek, "I'll see you soon, yeah?"
You nod with a smile, "Okay."
-
YOU: Oh, I don't care if people think that I am being biased but I saw his growth, every day in this retreat. My vote is going to Chris.
-
The dressing room is crowded because everyone is getting ready for the last party in the retreat. Everyone is wearing white per the dress code announced by the staff.
Chan pulls you to the bedroom to have some alone time before he gets to be separated from you because the finalists have their special entrance to the party.
He sits down at the end of the shared bed and then pulls you down onto his lap.
"I can't believe that I'm one of the finalists, it's... mad!" He says in disbelief.
You put your hands around his neck and look at him, "You deserve it, baby."
He takes a deep breath as though he was swimming in deep water. He then runs his hand in your hair and affectionately brushes your hair.
"Whatever happens, I'm happy, I'm winning," he says.
You nod.
"I'm going home with a girlfriend," he shyly says with his dimpled smile.
That gets you flustered as well and it seems like it has just sunk in you that you're dating him now, "oh, shoot, I have a boyfriend now," you say with a shocked laugh.
He hugs you as you both laugh at the sudden realization, he buries his head in your neck to drink in the scent that gives him a sense of comfort.
He allows his hands to trace down your sides and adores every curve of it, "Mmh... You look stunning tonight," he praises.
"Spin for me," he demands.
You get off his lap and elegantly raise your hands above your waist before spinning around on your feet to show him the whole look.
"Do you like it?" You ask.
"Oh, love it!" He answers with a dramatic, overwhelmed eye roll.
You sit on his lap again and let him rest his head on your chest, on the soft mounds of your clothed breasts. There are only hours left until the retreat ends but his hands are already getting impatient as they're teasing the zipper of your dress.
"Can't wait to take this off of you tonight," he murmurs with his lips grazing your cleavage as he speaks.
You're lowly humming in response and cradle his head close to your chest, "Anything you want," you tell him.
Those words are sending his mind wandering off and away from his head. He's not thinking about the money at all, all he can think about are the things he wants to do to you.
"You can do anything you want later," you say again with your fingers softly scratching the back of his hair.
"Now that's a real prize," he says with an enthusiastic smile.
-
CHRIS: Winning or not, I'm leaving in love [smiles]
-
You sit next to Claire and Nick as the rest of the guests are waiting for the finalists to come and join the party.
"It's sad, isn't it?" Dani says with a sad smile from the other bench.
"It's coming to an end, yeah," Claire shares with a pout.
You've been meaning to not feel sentimental about it but now everyone is feeling the same way, you can't help but have your say about it.
"It's bittersweet, you guys," you say.
Everyone is nodding in agreement and Luke initiates a toast to start the last party in the retreat. The talk continues with everyone sharing their memories here, happy, sad, or funny ones, also everything in between.
Mac has to abruptly stop talking as the finalists are about to enter.
A round of applause welcomes all five of them. First is Pierre and Alicia, and following behind them are Jace and Lola. Last but not least is your number one man, Chan.
You scoot on the bench to make space for Chan to sit on and welcome him with a hug.
"Missed you," you murmur even though you have only been separated from each other for less than an hour.
He caressingly kisses your cheek and puts his arm around you, you reckon he needs the comfort from how nervous he looks right now.
"Got all my fingers crossed for you," you whisper to him.
"Yeah?"
"Uh-huh!" You answer without a beat and grin at him.
You hold his face by the jaw and place a kiss right on his dimple, hurriedly wiping the lipstick mark with your thumb after.
The melodic chime comes from the cone and it's going to be the last you hear of her, Lana.
"During your time at the retreat, I have observed you all commit to the process, acknowledge your failures, and show significant change."
You nod and smile, "Thank you, Lana!" You sincerely say from the bottom of your heart.
"The time has now come to announce the winner of the $100,000 prize."
You put your heads together and hold each other's hands on his lap, letting go of everything all at once, and no matter what happens, you are happy with each other.
"Pierre and Alicia, Jace and Lola, Chris, please stand!" Lana orders.
-
YOU: At the end of the day, I'm leaving as a changed person and I'm in a relationship with a man I love. And that's something I have never imagined in a million years. [Brightly smiles]
-
Chan isn't that optimistic he would win the money.
Yet he feels so nervous Chan has to take a deep breath before getting up from his seat without letting go of your hand.
"You got it, baby," you mutter to him with a squeeze on his hand.
He peers over his shoulder to look at you and flashes you a grateful smile.
"Your fellow retreat guests have voted," Lana continues with the announcement.
Chan looks at the other finalists, at Jace and Lola, and the other way, at Pierre and Alicia. He never thought he would be considered as one of the finalists, he's still in denial about it.
"The person in third place is..."
His heart is beating faster and faster he starts to wonder if he's going to have a cardiac arrest.
"Jace and Lola," Lana announces.
Chan's head snaps in the direction of Jace and Lola who are embracing and congratulating each other despite they do not win the money.
-
CHRIS: I'm on the top two... [deeply inhales] not expecting this at all. If I win, it wouldn't be my own because she played a big part in my growth in the retreat.
-
Lana doesn't give him time to relax as she continues to the next announcement.
"Pierre and Alicia, Chris, one of you has been chosen to check out of the retreat with the prize fund."
He squeezes your hand in his hand hard enough that his knuckles turn white. He needs it, he needs something to hold on to.
"The winner who will be leaving with $100,000 is..."
Who doesn't want that much money? But honestly, it's not going to be a loss if he didn't win it. It's been one hell of a journey and an emotional one, he made friendships and experiences of a lifetime here.
"Pierre and Alicia."
He did end up not winning the money but he doesn't feel like losing at all. He's reeling from it and only aware of himself when you hug him so tightly.
-
CHRIS: Couldn't be happier for Pierre and Alicia.
YOU: [Nods] Yep, they definitely deserved it.
-
"Congrats, you two!" Chan takes his turn to congratulate the winning couple.
"So happy for you, man!" He says as he gives Pierre a big hug.
The celebration continues with them popping open bottles of champagne and spraying everyone with it. You hide behind Chan as Pierre is aiming the bottle at both you and him.
"You're dripping!" You exclaim, seeing his face sticky and wet with white wine.
You help by wiping it with the back of your hand while he brushes his hair to the back.
Chan looks around and sees that everyone is having fun and happy, there's nothing he wishes more than his. It's a memory he'll treasure for life.
Everyone settles back to their seats as Lana has one announcement left.
"Your time at the retreat is over and therefore, the rules no longer apply."
Chan is turning to you but you're looking the other way, you walk over to the other side and he sees that you're coming over to someone.
Chan and Luke can only laugh as you share another kiss after the retreat ends with Dani.
Luke has to pull Dani away from you to not let the kiss continue while Chan pulls you from behind.
"Okay, that was hot," He says with an impressed smile.
He puts his arms around you and pulls you close, "But it's my turn now."
You giggle at him and waste no time to kiss him, opening your mouth to let him kiss you deeper, relishing the craving he has for the taste of your lips.
-
CHRIS: We never thought we'd get this far.
YOU: [Nods] Yeah.
CHRIS: [Looks at you] I'm proud of you.
YOU: [Shyly smiles] And I'm so proud of you!
-
The sounds of the fireworks going off startle you and you both turn around to see them lighting up the sky in bright, colorful sparks.
He's hugging you from behind as everyone else is also watching the wondrous view. His heart feels full yet he wants more of it, he knows that the only way he can get more of it is by sharing it.
Chan brings his mouth close to your ear and says, "I love you."
You turn around to look at him with a confused look on your face, "I'm sorry what?"
It's the explosive sounds of the fireworks and the music playing that make it hard for you to hear what he said the first time.
He raises his voice a little louder and says again, "I love you."
"What?" You raise your voice even louder than him against the constant explosion in the distance.
Chan laughs because it reminds him of the first day you met. He can tell you're not pretending to not hear it this time, he tries again by pressing his mouth close to your ear with his hands cupping around his mouth, "I love you!"
You coo at him in response and turn around to face him, "I love you too."
He captures your lips in one long, lingering kiss and lets out everything in him, freely and intensely. He's not afraid to let go now because he knows that's the only way to love you fully.
And no one can stop him, not now, not ever.
-
CHRIS: No more Lana. No more rules.
YOU: [Looks at Chris] And that means...?
CHRIS: Get in here!
YOU: [Kisses Chan] [Moans]
CHRIS: [Let go of the kiss] [Looks at the camera] Can I go now? Cause she needs to be f—
-
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taglist: @svintsandghosts @abiaswreck @septicrebel @cursed-mars-bars @ppiri-bahng @drhsthl @tangylemonade @bluenights1899 @thisisnotstraight88 @elizalabs3 @avyskai @is2cb977 @simeonswhore @marvelous-llama @linovely @jisungsleftcheek @hanjisbeloved @luvsskzs @knowleeknow @army-stay-noel @djeniryuu @bigsobs4skz @toplinehyunjin @channies-luv @foxinnie8 @biribarabiribbaem @dalamjisung @moasworld @sherryblossom @fawnpeaks @lukeys-giggle @obeythemasters @primoppang @devilsmatches @skz-streamer @freckleboilix @idkluvutellme @laylasbunbunny @cherry-edibles @cutiespaghetti @yourmercibeaucoupsblog @hanjisunginc
#stray kids smut#skz smut#bangchan smut#bangchan x reader#skz x reader#stray kids imagines#skz imagines#stray kids scenarios#skz scenarios#skz fics#skz fanfics#kpop smut#kpop fics#kpop fanfics#seospicy smut#too hot to handle series
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Can we have scenario of All Lookism boy in the bath house like they are having a meeting in the bath house. (Yenna is also there as Her papa is bathing her)
Eeeeeeeeeeee. You are a genius. You know that right?
My brain? Rotting. My response? Stupid. Execution? Poor. Glee at writing this? IMMEASURABLE.
SOS Men of Lookism: Urgent Bathhouse Meeting
Part 2 here
It's not often they're all called into a meeting together, and even less when everyone attends. They each receive a mysterious note with 'Urgent: meet at Central Seoul Bathhouse' along with their secret code. Guess it really must be important for this person to use their emergency signal.
The bathhouse was filled to the brim, and divided in 2 sides. There was no immediate obvious division, with members from all crews split.
On the right, a number of exceptionally breathtaking men were half sitting languidly in the water. The steam and heat left them hazy and half-lidded, their muscular bodies wet and slick.
Droplets of water and sweat sliding down their sculpted chest and chiselled abs, their skin and tattoos glistening in the low light.
They made for an impressive presence: Daniel, Jay, Vasco, Zack, Jace, Vin Jin, Johan, Jake, Samuel, Sinu, Ryuhei, Xiaolong, Eli, Warren, Hudson, DG, Gun, Goo, (young)Gapryong and Taesoo. Even newly joined member Jihan Kwak, and little Eugene was perched hesitantly amongst them.
Gun glances over, checking out each of his previous successor and the potential gathered here. He nudges Goo, wondering why his secret friends are scattered but receives a shrug in response.
Vasco and Jace are glaring at Vin Jin in his goggles with distrust. It pains them to be sitting on the same side as him, no matter the cause.
Even flanked by members of Allied, Daniel looks nervously at DG. He tries to discreetly make out a shape under the water. To see if it was as monstrous as he remembers. It still haunts him how big it was.
Xiaolong on the other hand was rearranging his towel - unusually covered up compared to everyone else. Ryuhei, ever the nuisance, tries to yank at his towel which results in slaps being thrown his way.
Meanwhile, Jake (pointedly ignoring Gapryong) and Sinu are eyeing up Samuel suspiciously. His chest... it was astonishingly large. Was it fake? Did he get implants? Sinu weighs up asking about it. Yeonhui never really showed an interest in chest sizes but it never hurts to ask...
Johan, to Zack's right, is trying to ignore the guy's concerned looks. He's here for business, not a reunion. Although Zack does seem popular here, and it didn't hurt to team up with someone else in case a fight breaks out.
Eli and Warren, ignoring the rest of the men, keeps Yenna entertained in the corner. They note the dirty looks thrown their way. Eli is the last person to want to bring his child into this, but what was he supposed to do? He isn't on the best of terms with Hostel right now and everyone else is here.
On the other side, surprisingly, sat most of Big Deal in their uniform. There were a few other recognisable faces - Logan Lee, Channing Choi, Alexander Hwang, Old Face, Olly. Even Jiho made an appearance. The rest of them merged together into one inconspicious, nameless group.
Lineman is the first to talk. "Thank you for all gathering here." He bows. "You've all had your moment in the sun. Gun, your chapter 438 was especially impressive. I've never seen the fans united that way before."
At this acknowledgement, Gun gives a smirk. His wet hair hanging seductively around his face, as if styled by the gods themselves.
"But we," Lineman continues to gesture vaguely to the side of him, "have been left out. Jiho here has been killed off with the worst glow down. Old Face is literally old face. No-one even remembers my name!" He clears his throat before he gets derailed.
"Now if you don't mind. Let's think about our next fan service scenario, and please involve us this time."
#too many names to tag#lookism#lookism headcanons#lookism hc#gun park#daniel park#eli jang#lookism dg#sinu han#samuel seo#warren chae#big deal#jace park#vin jin#johan seong#zack lee#vasco#goo kim#jake kim#lookism fic#lookism fanfics#wannaeatramyeon
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Omniscience
"The things I once imagined would be my greatest achievements were only the first steps toward a future I can only begin to fathom." —Jace Beleren
Artist: Jason Chan
TCG Player Link
Scryfall Link
EDHREC Link
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" A murder happened here "
how lookism characters would react :
already have Sherlock holmes costume on :
Jace -Goo - Kouji - jake - sinu - Vasco - jacky - tom - vivi
Continues to live normally and not think much about it :
Daniel - Jay - Mira - Zoe - Mary - Gun - yui - DG - eli - eugene - mandeok - hudson - crystal - mitsuki - kenta - xiaolong - duke
packed their bags and left :
Zack - Joy - lineman - Lua - sally - warren - max - derrick - alexander
Was the one who caused the murder :
Samuel - Goo - James - yuseong - jiho - olly - channing - johan - Vin rap
publicly state that they are 10X better at killing than the actual murderer :
vin - logan - Ryuhei - Goo
#lookism#jace park#goo kim#lookism kouji#jake kim#sinu han#vasco lookism#jacky lee#tom lee#vivi lookism#daniel park#jay hong#mira kim#zoe park#gun park#mary kim#lookism eugene#zack lee#dg lookism#eli jang#samuel seo#ryuhei kuroda#vin jin#johan seong#mitsuki soma#lua im#hudson ahn#sally park#lookism yuseong#joy hong
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Ivy Chapter 18
DISCLAIMER: I just deepl and google translated my way through this because I wanted to know what’s going on, so there are definitely mistakes but I believe I managed the general gist of the story. Anyway, it’s just a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes. Morganatic Idol belongs to Cybird and ABC Frontier, Inc.
Ivy: ...
(Huh …?)
There was Ivy-san, who looked at me with the coldest eyes I’ve ever seen …
I was stunned and couldn't believe what I saw before my eyes.
But it was only for a moment.
Ivy: ... Come on, guys, cut the crap.
He quickly put this look behind him and approaches with a smile that's kind like always.
Ivy: If you overdo it, you'll mess up her hair. That's enough.
He gently released me from Finn-san and the others and brushed my hair.
Ivy: Are you okay, Rina-chan? I'm sorry about them.
Rina: Yes ... I'm okay. Thank you.
(That's Ivy-san as usual. Was I mistaken earlier ...?)
The members booed at him.
Jace: Well, that makes it sound like we're annoying you, Aegis-chan.
Xeno: I'm just trying to help this girl get some results.
Finn: Yeah. Let me pet you a little more.
Hugh: ... I want to celebrate.
Ivy: I think that stroking her that much was enough to convey your feelings of blessing, right, Rina-chan?
Rina: Umm ... yes. I'm really happy about your feelings.
When I answered in a puzzled manner, Ivy-san said with a smile.
Ivy: Then I'll let Aegis know the results of this presentation via Essence at a later date.
Rina: Yes! Thank you all so much.
I bowed to them once again.
After taking a bath that night and freshening up. I wiped my hair with a towel, I remembered everything that had happened.
(It's been a tough time ... When I failed in the presentation and lost my position in the company, I thought I was finished.)
(But because Ivy-san was there, I was able to do my best.)
(It's also thanks to Ivy-san's help that I was able to successfully hold a second presentation.)
(I'm so glad I met Ivy-san ...)
While I was thinking about that, there was a knock on my door.
Ivy: Rina-chan, may I come in?
It was exactly the voice of the person I was thinking of right now.
Rina: Y-yes! Come in.
When he came in, his eyes widened when he saw me.
Ivy: I'm sorry, I must have picked the wrong time.
Rina: Hm?
Ivy: You hair ... it's wet.
(Oh, come to think of it, I haven't dried it yet. I don't think I can continue talking like this ...)
Rina: I'll dry it right away. I'll come to your room later.
Ivy: ...
He looks at me with a somewhat thoughtful expression.
Rina: ... Um, Ivy-san? What's wrong? Is there a problem ...?
He interrupted me and made an unexpected suggestion.
Ivy: How about ... let me dry your hair.
Rina: What!?
Ivy: I think it would kill two birds with one stone, because then we could stay together and you could dry your hair.
Rina: Well, that's true.
(It's a bit embarrassing ...)
Ivy: I'm sorry for asking you to do something weird, but I'd like to do it. ... Don't you like it?
Ivy-san peeks at me as if to ask me a question.
(Come to think of it ... I remember when he asked me to pet his head before, he was like this ...)
(I guess Ivy-san is a bit naive after all.)
Rina: ... I understand. If that's what you want, please go ahead.
Ivy: Thank you.
When I said this shyly after some hesitation, his face lit up.
Ivy: Then sit down over there. Here's the hair dryer.
He set up the place with excitement.
(It's a little embarrassing, but if you look so happy, it's okay.)
Ivy: Then let's get started.
Rina: Okay.
Ivy-san carefully ran the hair dryer through my hair and dried it.
(... It feels good.)
His long, supple fingertips glide softly through my hair.
His hands are so gentle, and I could feel his gentleness in every caress ...
(What should I do? I'm restless.)
I couldn't help but feel my heart pounding in my chest at the unusual contact with him.
Ivy: Is it too hot? Are you okay?
Rina: I'm fine.
Rina: Are you ... by any chance, used to this kind of thing?
Ivy: Hmm ...? Are you jealous, maybe?
Rina: Eeh!? No, that's not why. You're just very good at it ...
Ivy: Haha, too bad. ... But yes, I guess I am.
Ivy: I used to dry my sister's hair like this.
Rina: Really?
Ivy: Yes. Our parents both worked, so they came home late.
Ivy: We were always together and it was my job to take care of her.
Ivy: So I used to dry my sister's hair like this after her bath.
Coughing, Ivy-san squinted nostalgically in the mirror.
(you really are a kind brother, aren't you?)
He looks nostalgic and kind ... his expression as an older brother makes my heart ache.
Rina: ... I wonder if Ivy-san still sees me as a little sister.
I couldn't help but let those words excape my mouth.
Ivy: What ...?
Rina: Ah ... I'm sorry, it's nothing.
(Oh my god ... I didn't mean to say this.)
I'm touched by the person I like. That alone should make me happy.
Moreover, he's a super idol, someone I'd never have been able to get close to in the first place.
(I know, but I want a different relationship. I'm really a complimentary person ...)
I was overcome with regret ... And then.
Ivy: ... You know what? I have something to tell you.
Ivy-san turned off the hair dryer and put his hand on my shoulder.
Ivy: At first, I certainly thought of you as a kind of sister.
Ivy: I couldn't leave your hard-working, slightly fragile self alone, so I ended up taking care of you.
Ivy: But ... that's not the case now.
I'm startled by the seriousness of his eyes as he stares at me through the mirror.
Rina: Ivy-san ...
Ivy: You're so pure and brave ... You always go the extra mile for me.
Ivy: I found it cute and ... found myself drawn to you.
His words take my breath away.
Ivy: I want you by my side all the time, and I want to protect you.
Ivy: ... I like you, Rina-chan.
Rina: Huh ...
(I ... can't believe it. Ivy-san, you're saying this to me?)
(I can't believe that a super idol, who is loved all over the world, likes me ...)
I can't believe it. But the look he's directing at me through his sharp eyes is serious.
His eyes, which are somewhat passionate as if he's gazing at something he loves, make it clear that he is serious about what he says.
Rina: I-I ...
As soon as I started to speak, I felt a burning in my chest.
Rina: ... I like you too, Ivy-san.
My feelings for him overflow with joy, and they slip out of my mouth of their own accord.
Ivy: Rina-chan, are you sure about that?
Rina: It's true. I've always liked you.
I thought it was a feeling I shouldn't convey. Our positions were too different.
(But Ivy-san told me he likes me. Then ... I want to tell him too.)
Rina: Your kindness has been there for me ever since we first met.
Rina: Your concern for me always saved and healed me ... I found myself falling in love with you.
Ivy: Rina-chan ...
Ivy-san smiled faintly.
Ivy: I'm so happy ...! We feel the same. It feels like a dream to hear you say that to me.
Rina: I'm the one who feels like in a dream. I never thought Ivy-san and I would fall in love with each other.
Rina: I'm so normal ...
Ivy: What are you talking about? You're a lovely, wonderful girl. You just don't know it.
Ivy: That kind od unawareness ... it's cute, but it worries me. I also worry about how hard you try.
Rina: Ah ...
He hugged me slightly from behind.
The gentle warmth and fresh maritime scent of him made my heart beat wildly and painfully.
(I'm so happy ... it really is like a dream.)
Ivy: ... With such small, thin shoulders, you've worked so hard to ... get through so many things.
I can feel the care and concern he has for me.
Ivy: From now on, I'll protect you. I'll never let you have any hardships.
Ivy: So don't leave me, Rina-chan.
A low, sweet voice is like a devil in my ear.
(What should I do ... I'm so nervous I might go crazy.)
As soo as our feelings were reciprocated, I felt like I was going to be drowned in the warmth and affection he lavished on me.
Rina: Of course ... Ivy-san.
Ivy: Yeah, thank you.
It was an enthusiastic, righteous smile.
Ivy: I'd love to hold you like this longer, but I've got to dry your hair soon.
He comes back to himself and says shyly, and my face starts to blush.
Rina: Y-you're right.
Ivy: Haha ... sorry. I stopped in the middle. I'll continue. You'll catch a cold.
Rina: Okay ...
Ivy-san resumed blow-drying my hair.
(... I'm more nervous than before, I don't feel at ease.)
Having shared our feelings, I became even more aware of the feeling of his hand.
Ivy: I love your hair, it's so soft and smooth and I want to touch it all the time.
Rina: You think so? I think it's normal ...
When I answered shyly, Ivy-san laughed as if in trouble.
Ivy: I think it's cute that you're unaware of your own attractiveness, but I'm still worried about you ... Like earlier.
Rina: Earlier?
Ivy: Like casually letting someone into your room after taking a bath.
Ivy: I'm glad it was me, but you can't let another man see you like that.
Rina: You're worrier, aren't you, Ivy-san?
Ivy: Because it's you.
Rina: !
... I'm happy to hear such enthusiastic comments.
Ivy: Finn and the others were patting you on the head ... so you have to be careful with that stuff from now on.
(I'm sure everyone is fine with that ...)
Ivy: Rina-chan, I beg you, don't open yourself up to other men.
Rina: Okay ...
Ivy: It's a promise. ... And also a suggestion.
Ivy: Why don't you install a location sharing app?*
Rina: Eh, why?
Ivy: Just in case something goes wrong.
Rina: That's a little too much to worry about.
Ivy: I don't think so. ... Is that a no? I'm worried about you.
It feels like an exaggeration, but his eyes are scary serious as he looks at me through the mirror.
(Maybe that's how much he thinks of me ...)
Rina: ... I understand.
When I accepted, even though I was puzzled, Ivy-san smiled happily.
Ivy: Thank you!
Satisfied with my answer, he begins to brush my dry hair.
Ivy: Ah, what beautiful hair ...
Ivy: They messed it up, so I have to put it back together properly ....
Ivy: I wish I could've washed your hair where they touched it, and made sure it was all washed out ...*
While mumbling that, he brushed my hair carefully again and again.
(...? What is this feeling?)
The same gesture as before. Ivy-san's smile is gentle and warm.
... Something that I can't explain left a rough and uncomfortable feeling in my heart.
Note: Do I even have to tell you that Ivy went from smiling to serious with his dead eyes in these sentences? I have a talent for spotting the possessive ones. And yeah, his issues are totally healed. Protip, mental health doesn't work like that xD
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My headcanons about Luke’s and Aemond's boggarts:
Aemond: absolute darkness. I think little would scare Aemond more than losing what’s left of his eyesight. The boggart would turn the whole room dark and Aemond would hyperventilate and shoot off a curse at it in his fear. It would take him a long time to be able to laugh at it and defeat the creature.
Luke: I think his boggart would change over time but would remain related to the fight when he took Aemond's eye. First, it's Alicent carving out his eye, then Jace being dead, then Aemond wanting to take revenge, and finally, after he falls in love, it's Aemond dead.
Their Patronuses:
Aemond: He would refuse to show it to anyone for a long time, long enough that people think he's unable to produce one. But it's actually a beautiful but plain arctic fox. He doesn't want to show it because it looks harmless and cute. But it's a very resilient and stubborn creature, and can withstand a Dementor attack the longest out of everyone's Patronuses. And its personality, coincidentally, resembles Luke's.
Luke: I like the idea of Luke’s being some sort of reptile. Sea serpent sounds great too, but I can also see it being an enormous and fiery dragon whose face is scarred. Maybe the exact same way Aemond's is. I would also love it if it was something related to his Strong heritage, but I'm not sure what that could be.
@darushi-chan @allchaoticteacups @francesminos-tt
#lucemond#aemond targaryen#lucerys velaryon#hogwarts-au#these are just my headcanons#i know arctic fox sounds strange but it came to my mind instantly when i thought of luke
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THE BAD BATCH: THE RUNAWAY
Chapter 49 - Fights, Speculations, and Tooka Cats
Ok, this is a reaaallllly long chapter! It was originally called "The Beginning of Jacar" but I'm pushing that one back in order to add in different stuff before the events of that chapter. There are a few new scenes that I hope you will want to read as I'm sure they will make you laugh!! :D
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Calli woke up in the med bay about mid-morning the following day, her middle now wrapped in bandages. She was no longer wearing a dress, being discarded on a chair and was now only wearing the bandeau and leggings that she'd been wearing underneath it.
One thing Calli was immediately aware of - besides the pain - was the I.V. attached to her arm and she felt the urge to rip it out. Somehow despite the fogginess she was experiencing Calli was able to reason that the I.V. was necessary, but then as she gradually became more awake it bothered her more and more until she couldn't stand having the tube inside her anymore and took it out. Tech would probably chastise her for it but since she was awake Calli figured she was fine and didn't need the IV anymore. There was a slight sting when the tube was removed, and she had to fight back the sudden wave of nausea from it - she was still very much against needles and such.
Once that was done, Calli lifted her upper body into a sitting position and immediately her wound protested but she was anxious to get up and therefore ignored the pain, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and shakily getting on her feet. Just that simple movement made her entire world spin and Calli closed her eyes while taking a couple deep breaths, willing the nausea to go away. She must have lost more blood than she originally thought.
After roughly 20 seconds Calli felt ready to get up, and she walked to the closed door while clutching her side, and with her free hand pressed a button on the control panel to make the door open. Stepping into the hallway, Calli debated turning left to head into the lounge or go right and sneak around to head for her shared room with Crosshair and Hunter. She was thirsty, so chose to go to the lounge, also so the others would know she was awake as they were probably worried. Calli only remembered being carried by Crosshair, and then passing out.
Entering the lounge, all eyes were instantly on Calli, and Hunter was the first to react, getting up from his spot at the couch and hurrying to her side.
"What are you doing up?" He questioned, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her over where he'd been sitting and forced her to take his place and Calli was secretly glad to be sitting down because just the short walk from the medbay did a number and her entire body was coated in sweat. Hunter could tell she'd overexerted herself and voiced his disapproval, "You need to rest after what happened." Calli waved a dismissive hand at the Sergeant.
"I've been shot before, and this isn't any different." She retorted, but her argument wasn't that strong as another wave of dizziness and nausea took over her and she closed her eyes while leaning her head back on the back of the lounge. She then heard someone scoff and opened her eyes to look at Crosshair with a raised eyebrow.
"Bull, you can barely walk and look like hell." Crosshair said dryly, using sarcasm to mask his concern for his little sister. Calli simply rolled her eyes in response. Wrecker however didn't hide his worry and asked how Calli was feeling.
"Save for the gaping hole in my side, I'm fantastic." She replied in a sarcastic tone, but not with the intention of being mean. Wrecker knew this and didn't mind her snippy reply, as she had every right to be annoyed and frustrated. Tech repeated Wrecker's question, but more specifically about the amount of pain she was in and the symptoms she was experiencing. Calli gave a less jeering comment, then remembered how strange the gunshot wound felt and asked Tech about it, knowing he'd figured it out. His response was what Calli suspected all along.
"Instead of the standard energy bolts that most blasters fire, you were shot by a slug - a solid projectile made of metal. It is in some ways more lethal than an energy bolt and it was a pain to remove. Quite frankly I am surprised that more damage wasn't done. It didn't cause any fatal damage to your insides, and I expect you to make a full recovery." Calli's head spun even more with what Tech said, and she nodded to show she understood him and appreciated his efforts in helping her. But Tech wasn't finished, "There is one thing that doesn't make sense to me." Calli's brows furrowed together, and she asked him what he meant, and the other boys were curious as well. Tech hadn't mentioned anything being weird until now. "Given the time it took for us to meet, I expected you to be in worse shape than you really were. I said there was no fatal damage but given where the bullet went through, there should have been. Only when I was removing the bullet, it appeared that somehow the healing process had started and was at an advanced stage. I am perplexed to say the least." It was difficult for Tech to admit this, as he was used to being all knowing about practically everything. Calli on the other hand quickly put two and two together and a series of emotions went through her. Betrayal and anger were the two main ones, but then there was something else that wasn't as harsh as these. Relief maybe? The answer was plain as day: Jace did his weird force healing thing on her.
There was one thing on Calli's mind now and she made a move to stand up, not planning on giving an explanation as she moved towards the exit, only to have Hunter stop her.
"Where are you going?" He demanded while going in front of her to block her path and Calli debated whether or not to tell him the truth, as she was sure if she said she was going to find Jace he'd forbid it for numerous reasons. Most likely Hunter would use her injury as an excuse, but everyone would know the underlying reasoning.
"Uh, I need to talk to Senator Amidala and Jace about the mission and let them know I'm alright." Calli lied smoothly, and Hunter's arms crossed as he stared her down.
"You can just comm them." Hunter countered without missing a beat, "From the med bay." Calli shook her head.
"I'd rather do it in person." She insisted and she tried to walk around Hunter, but he held an arm out, making Calli sigh in frustration, "I'm not about to let a gunshot wound turn me into an invalid. Crosshair can come with me if it'll make you feel better." Crosshair raised an eyebrow in mild surprise at her declaration.
"I will?" Calli turned her head sharply in Crosshair's direction.
"Yes, you will." Calli told him, and she looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping he would go along with it. Crosshair seemed to get the hint and rolled his eyes while sighing as if she'd asked him to move a mountain for her.
"Fine." He said flatly, giving in yet he was quick to make one thing clear, "But I'm not carrying you. You walk on your own two feet, crawl, or do whatever." Calli was taken aback at how harshly Crosshair had spoken and shared looks with the others.
"Geez, what crawled up your exhaust vent and died?" Crosshair merely told her to shut up and abruptly got up, saying he'd be waiting for her outside. "What's up with him?" Calli asked the others once Crosshair was gone.
"Eh, it's just Crosshair being Crosshair." Hunter told Calli, and she nodded while glancing at the door Crosshair just left through, secretly thinking that what just transpired was more than just the normal Crosshair. And she was going to find out for sure.
After throwing on a tank top, which hurt like heck to put on because every movement sent pain rippling through her body, Calli exited the ship and found Crosshair waiting at the bottom of the ramp, arms crossed and impatiently tapping his foot.
"What the hell took so long?" Crosshair questioned in a not so nice tone once Calli joined him at the bottom of the ramp.
"Sorry. It's kinda hard to dress yourself when there's a bullet hole in your side that hurts with every movement you make. Would you rather I just stay half dressed?"
"If it's faster than yes." Calli's mouth went agape with disbelief and hurt at how unkind Crosshair was being. Stopping in her tracks, Calli's gaze bored into the back of Crosshair, wondering what was causing this harshness.
"Ok, what's going on with you?" Calli demanded, not about to let his behavior slide. Crosshair stopped and turned sharply to face her yet tried to brush off Calli's question.
"Nothing."
"B-capital-S." Calli retorted, causing the sniper to roll his eyes.
"I said it's nothing. Just drop it." There was a threatening undertone in his words, but Calli ignored it, not caring about the consequences that might come from pushing Crosshair when he's obviously in a testy mood.
"I will do just the opposite." Crosshair sighed harshly and pinched the bridge of his nose while shaking his head, doing everything in his power to not lash out. But Calli continued to press him, "You know, you're acting like a jerk to someone who just got injured." Calli must have unintentionally struck whatever nerve was bugging him, as anger flashed in his eyes and his nostrils flared.
"And who's fault is it that you almost died?" He spat out, and this question confused Calli.
"Uh, the guy who shot me?" Calli answered, though it came out more like a question - and judging by Crosshair's expression it was apparently the wrong one. You'd think by the way he was acting it was as if he was blaming her. Calli's eyes became wide as she made the connection, "Are... Are you somehow implying it's my fault?" Crosshair crossed his arms and looked to the side while shrugging.
"You said it, not me." Was all Crosshair offered for a reply and Calli was now more perplexed than ever!
"I - I don't - how is this - in what galaxy does that make sense?? You think I asked to be shot?"
"Of course not!" Crosshair snapped, "But if you might as well have! If you had killed the man instead of stunned him, it would never have happened in the first place!" Calli couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Oh, so because I chose to let someone live instead of killing them you put the blame on me?" She asked rhetorically and then scoffing, "Yeah that makes sense."
"It does to me and everyone else!" Crosshair retorted, and he shook his head, "I've never understood why you let scum like them live!" Calli's jaw clenched. She thought he'd let this go a long time ago, like the rest of the team. Her refusing to kill any enemy fighter that wasn't a droid had been a foreign concept to the boys at first, and it caused some tension in the early days of Calli joining the squad. Eventually they accepted it, at least Calli thought so. But now Crosshair was bringing it up now of all times, months later, out of the blue and it added fuel to the argument brewing between the brother sister pair.
"Scum or not, who says it's our place to choose whether or not they deserve to die! You knew how I felt about this sort of thing when I joined the team, why is it all of the sudden bothering you now?"
"Because up until last night, your life wasn't put at risk!" Crosshair yelled, practically shaking with rage at this point, as was Calli as she threw her hands up in frustration.
"My life is always at risk - so is yours. Every mission doesn't come with a guarantee that we'll all come out unscathed."
"The chances are higher when you aren't too weak to do what needs to be done." Crosshair said venomously. This argument was growing more intense with each passing second and if tech were here, he'd say that the stress was not good for someone in Callista's condition. But the young female could care less about the potential harm, fire burning through her veins at Crosshair's stinging remark. It's been a while since they'd argued like this, but when it happened Crosshair always knew exactly what to say to set Calli's teeth on edge and hurt her at the same time. This was no different and Calli wasn't going to let his words slide.
"Why you mean, inconsiderate son of a -"
"Scar!" Just before Calli could really give Crosshair a piece of her mind and call him every name she knew - some of which he taught her - Jace and Padme met the pair on the path and probably at the right time if one thought about it. Calli was immediately engulfed in a hug by the Senator, yet her eyes remained on her squad mate whose demeanor didn't lighten up the slightest after they were interrupted. In fact, the scowl he wore seemed to intensify with the Senator and Jedi here. No doubt he blamed them as well for Calli's injury.
"I'm so glad you're ok!" Padme admitted, hugging the female clone even tighter if that was even possible, "I was so worried, so was Jace." Calli let out an awkward chuckle and held back a groan of pain at being squeezed by Padme's arms, the woman unintentionally putting pressure on her bullet wound and causing the pain to increase tenfold. That didn't mean Calli's expression slipped into one of pain for a second, which Jace and Crosshair saw, and the former put a hand on his cousins' shoulder while looking at Calli with concern.
"Uh, Padme you're hurting her." Eyes widening, Padme immediately released Calli from her hold and looked apologetically at her.
"Sorry." Calli forced herself to smile and waved off the apology.
"It's fine." She assured, hugging her middle and tears smarted in her eyes from the pain, but she refused to let them fall.
A sort of awkward silence fell between the group, Padme embarrassed from hurting Calli, Jace nervous and wondering if Calli knew what he did, and Crosshair didn't bother trying to help as he never was one for conversation. The Senator did notice the hateful glances he was giving her, and she felt it might be best for her to withdraw, stating she was feeling a little lightheaded and was going to go lie down for a while. That's actually what she was originally doing when they ran into the brother/sister pair and Jace was escorting her as he worried, she might fall on the way to her room. She woke up feeling sick, the first thing she did upon waking up was going to go throw up in the refresher. When she and Jace had breakfast a little while later, she again had to make a mad dash as the little she ate didn't want to remain in her stomach. When questioned by her cousin, Padme assured him that she must have eaten something bad and while Jace chose to agree, he sensed something different about his cousin, something he couldn't quite put a pin as to what it was. But with Calli on his mind, he didn't give much thought to Padme's condition as it didn't seem life threatening in any way.
After Padme left, there was still tension in the air, most of it being between Calli and Crosshair from their interrupted argument.
"Um, Jace, I need to talk to you about something." Calli said, trying to push the awkwardness away and failing. She decided it would be best if she dismissed Crosshair. "Do you think we can go somewhere to talk alone?" Jace looked between Calli and Crosshair, noticing how tense they both were, and he could feel the stress and anger radiating from both of them. When Calli asked that not-so-subtle question that made it clear she was wanting Crosshair gone, his eyes rolled, and he walked away without saying anything.
"Is uh, everything ok?" Jace couldn't help but ask when it was down to just him and Calli. He felt a flicker of irritation come from the clone, yet she chose to not enlighten her companion on what had happened.
"It-It's nothing." Calli told him, and Jace was going to question her further but then she began teetering on her feet and Jace was quick to take hold of one of her arms to steady her.
"Ok, you need to get back to the ship. I'm surprised Tech even let you out of the med bay."
"I didn't really let him keep me there." Calli admitted shakily and Jace led her over to a nearby bench which Calli gratefully sat in, instantly feeling a whole lot better to be off her feet and rest for a while. I think it was easier to recover from having my right limbs blown off.
Jace couldn't understand why Calli was refusing to take it easy. "Why didn't you stay on the ship? You need to recover." He chastised and Calli chose to ignore the annoyance it caused her and get straight to the point.
"Like I said, I needed to talk to you." Calli wasn't directly looking at Jace when she said this, having briefly closed her eyes as she waited for the nausea to subside, so she didn't see the young Jedi's features become nervous and he gulped. What does she want to talk about? There's no way she knows what I did, right? With her enhanced senses, Calli could hear Jace's heart begin racing and chose to have mercy on him by not beating around the bush any further. "I know that you used your force healing on me." she stated bluntly, opening her eyes once saying this and turning her head to finally look at Jace, her expression unreadable to the young Jedi.
At first, he was scared, then much to his surprise, Jace suddenly got a burst of boldness and didn't shrink away.
"Look, I get if you're mad, but I did what I had to do to keep you alive. I couldn't let you die just because you're stubborn. I've lost too many people in this war and wasn't going to lose another, not when I had the capability to save you. And you know what, I'm not sorry for that." Calli was... stunned to say the least. In the short time she's known Jace, she's never heard him speak so valiantly to her. He always seemed to have a healthy fear of Calli and never wanted to make her angry, yet just now he told her she's stubborn and he disobeyed her request to not use force healing... to save her.
Calli studied the boy before her and saw him in a new light. The way he spoke - you could hear the underlying pain in his voice and a haunted look in his eyes that looked all too familiar. He didn't disregard her wishes out of malicious intent; she knew that. He just didn't want to lose another person in his life and honestly Calli could relate to that.
She saw herself. And just like that, any anger Calli felt melted away and was replaced with something warm.
"Well, I guess there's only one thing left to say." Jace closed his eyes and prepared for her to tear into him. Calli could tell this and immediately felt bad and made a mental promise to better control her temper. Promise aside, Calli continued, "Thank you." Jace looked up at her, surprise written all over his face, along with some relief.
"Y-You're not... mad?" Calli let out a short chuckle.
"Considering you most likely kept me from dying, I'm more grateful than mad. I guess I owe you one -" Calli thought for a second then held up two fingers, "- well two. This and helping Crosshair."
"It's no big deal." Jace tried to say, being humble as always. Calli wasn't going to let him downplay his acts of kindness, whether because it was a Jedi rule to do so, or his modest and semi-shy nature made him do it.
"Well to us - my squad - it is. Most people don't consider us lowly clones being worth saving. But you're different and I think I speak for my brothers as well when I say we appreciate it. I've said this to Padme before, but it applies to you as well. If you're ever in a bind don't hesitate to contact us. I'll give you my personal comm number, ok?" Jace nodded and began chewing his lip as he wasn't sure how to ask a question that had been on his mind. But Calli could tell he was nervous about something. "What is it?"
"Uh, well when Tech called you last night, I heard him call you Callista." Calli sucked in a shaky breath, suddenly feeling nervous as well. "Is that your real name?" Jace asked soon after in a moment of bravery.
"Technically CT-9901 is my name." Calli tried to joke, yet Jace didn't find it amusing. Honestly, she wasn't sure why she said that and was now embarrassed. She hesitated to answer his question, not sure if she trusted the guy enough yet to tell him about the part of herself, she kept hidden from the rest of the galaxy. See, it's like there were two of her most of the time. There was Scar, a tough, determined soldier who let nothing get in the way of victory and that's what everyone, but her squad saw and knew about her.
Now Callista was also a tough persona, but there was less of an edge to her, and she was more relaxed and carefree. Only Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair got to see that side of the girl - and also Boba once upon a time.
But there was something nice about hearing her name come from Jace's lips - her true name. Sure, it's the name Nala Se gave her when she was put under Jango's care and Calli hated everything about that cold hearted long neck, but the name made her feel less like a clone and more like an individual person growing up. And when Jace said it, it just sounded right as opposed to Scar. They've been through a lot in a short time, both seeing each other at their low points.
That's what made Calli decide what to say to Jace. "Yeah, Callista is my real name." She revealed, her voice soft as she spilled the truth, now feeling exposed and vulnerable with the boy sitting next to her, yet safe at the same time if that was possible.
"Callista." Jace said, mostly to himself, getting used to the new name. It set off butterflies in Calli's stomach and for once she didn't do anything to stop it. Jace smiled, looking at Calli and saying her name again, "I like it. It's very pretty." If Calli's stomach wasn't filled with butterflies before, it definitely was after the compliment. Of course, he said the name was pretty and not her specifically, but it was still flattering nonetheless and left Calli in a puddle of nerves and tongue tied. She blamed the blood loss, as it made her lightheaded and fatigued, as one small compliment from a boy couldn't possibly make her so flustered so easily.
Thank goodness Crosshair isn't here, I'd never hear the end of it.
Once she calmed down, Calli realized that she was very very tired. Jace, being the gentleman he is, walked her back to the Havoc Marauder, not giving her a choice really in the matter. Hunter came into the med bay just as Jace left. He glanced at the door then back at Calli, who was laying on her back, her upper body being elevated by the pillows, and her lips were curled upward in a small smile, and she seemed to be on cloud 9. If you asked her why she was in a good mood, she wouldn't have an answer because all this was new to her, and she couldn't quite put to words with she was feeling. It's safe to say Hunter - or no one for that matter - had never seen Calli like this.
"Is... everything ok?" He asked tentatively. Calli startled, being so caught up in her own little world that she hadn't heard Hunter come in.
"Yeah." Calli told him once the question registered. Her smile disappeared right after as she felt a pang of guilt, remembering Crosshair's earlier words about how it was her fault she almost died, "I'm sorry if I gave you guys a scare." She said in a quiet voice. Hunter's features softened and he walked over to the side of the bed and reached down to place a hand on Calli's shoulder.
"You don't have to apologize. Getting hurt comes with the territory." Calli sighed.
"I know, but still -"
"But nothing." Hunter interjected firmly, and Calli clamped her mouth shut, knowing better than to argue. "Just get some rest, yeah?" Calli nodded, already starting to have trouble keeping her eyes open. Hunter gave her shoulder a couple of light pats before withdrawing his hand and heading for the door. Pausing at the threshold, Hunter looked back at his squad mate to say one last thing. "Don't let what Crosshair said get to you alright?"
"How'd you know?"
"He accidentally turned on his comm and I heard everything." Calli's lips pursed as the argument played in her mind. Hunter knew what she was doing and stopped her before she began going on a spiral and overthinking everything. "What he said was a bunch of crap. I think he was a little shaken up over what happened, and you know how he gets when he's emotionally charged." Calli wasn't totally convinced but nodded anyway to ease Hunter's mind. Honestly, she was only half listening as she was beginning to drift into unconsciousness.
Hunter hoped he got through to her and switched off the lights and leaving Calli to rest.
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If Calli wasn't annoyed with how protective Hunter was when she first woke up after getting shot, she definitely was now. For the rest of the day, he didn't let her leave the ship, no matter how much she begged, then threatened, then begged some more. He didn't budge.
Eventually Calli gave up and accepted the fact that the rest of this trip was going to be wasted because of her stupid injury. To say she was annoyed and downtrodden would be an understatement.
It was day six of the vacation; tomorrow they'd be leaving. Calli was bitter that she only had one day of fun (when she and Jace went to Kaadara) and decided to just give into misery that the rest of their stay was going to be wasted. She lay on her bed, and since she couldn't be dramatic and be on her stomach with her face buried in her pillow, Calli just set said pillow on her face, so she didn't have to look at anyone who dared come into her room. Ok, technically it wasn't just her room, as she shared it with Crosshair and Hunter, but you know what, she was the one injured and confined to said room so for now she could claim in as hers.
Her relief to boredom came from a certain Senator and Jedi who came aboard the ship and requested to see Calli.
"Good luck with that." was all Hunter had to say, and he gave them directions to the bunk room, not brave enough to go back there himself when she was in a mood. He secretly hoped that Calli would go off on the pair and that would scare Jace away and then they'd never speak again. That boosted Hunter's mood and he smiled as he took a sip of his caf, keeping an ear out for the sweet sound of yelling.
When Padme and Jace stepped into the bunk room, they were... intrigued by Calli's current position with her pillow atop her face.
"If you're here to try and reason with me you can just kriff off," Calli said flatly, her voice muffled by the pillow yet Padme and Jace could hear what she said perfectly and shared bemused looks before the latter replied.
"Uh, we're not Hunter if that's what you're thinking." Jace said and you could hear some amusement in his tone, which increased when Calli shot up from her bed and the pillow went flying as she laid eyes on two people who definitely were not Hunter or one of the others.
"Jace!" Calli shrieked, then she got more flustered when she saw Padme, "Senator!"
From his spot in the lounge Hunter heard Calli's shrieks and it was like music to his ears as he thought she was angry at them for bothering her. But Calli was panicky and shouting for an entirely different reason. Now, when Calli had first joined the squad, she'd been a bit of a neat freak and couldn't stand having the ship dirty. It partially because she was stressed out about being part of the team and having to get used to being around them. But, as time went on and Calli relaxed, so did her need to have everything spotless and soon enough she too became a slob herself. They've only had the new and improved Havoc Marauder for a month, but already there was a bunch of trash littered and some unidentifiable spots on the floors and walls.
Now a high and mighty Senator and an equally important Jedi was in the room and let's just say it wasn't clean... it couldn't even be considered decent. Clothes were strewn about the floor, both dirty and clean ones that they had been too lazy to put away, discarded plastic wrappers from rations, and other crap. You could barely see the floor as almost every inch was covered with something.
Calli scrambled to her feet and began picking up whatever she could, ignoring the pain in her side as she kept bending to snatch different things in a pathetic attempt to try and make the room look half-way decent.
"Um... If I'd known you were coming, I'd have cleaned up a little." Calli said as she deposited an armful of clothing into the crate that had become the makeshift hamper. Just doing this simple task made her wound act up and become sore, and Calli had to lean against the crate for support as sweat beaded on her forehead from the strain. Jace hurried to her side and helped her to sit back down on her bed, taking the spot beside her and Padme joined on Calli's right side, subtly wiping away a few crumbs that had been on the bed before sitting down. Calli ground her teeth as tears of frustration smarted in her eyes and she hit her mattress, "Ugh! I hate this!" She exclaimed bitterly, and she just wasn't referring to the hole in her side, but also her fight with Crosshair and the doubt now filling her about her usefulness to the squad. Padme and Jace didn't know about the latter of course, but seeing Calli so upset made them feel bad, and that was part of the reason they were here actually.
"I know I've already thanked you for saving me the other night, but I want to do more. The town of Theed is the closest to us and I've arranged for you to have a session in the bacta tank at the hospital so you can heal faster. You said you trusted bacta right?" Calli's forehead wrinkled, and she looked at Padme with confusion.
"Why would you do that? I've been injured in combat before and healed just fine without a bacta tank." Padme lips pursed and she took Calli's hand in hers before replying.
"I want you to be able to enjoy the rest of your vacation, and I know Sergeant Hunter isn't letting you leave the ship because of your injury. It doesn't feel right to me, so I want to help. Please allow me this, to show my thanks." Calli didn't know what to say, again surprised by this woman's kindness and generosity to little ol' her. She didn't want to accept the help however, wanting to tough it out like she always did, Crosshair's remark about her being weak still plaguing her at the back of her mind. Why give the sniper more ammunition by taking the easy way out and getting healed quicker? But the thought of having the freedom to roam free sounded amazing. Now Hunter's voice chirped up in her head. "'Don't let what Crosshair said get to you. It was a bunch of crap.'"
You know what, he's right. Why should I care what Crosshair thinks? I'm not about to let him ruin the rest of this trip!
"A bacta tank session would be amazing." Calli admitted finally, giving Padme a small smile, which the Senator returned in kind.
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After spending three hours in the bacta tank, Calli felt refreshed and was in much less pain than before. What would have taken weeks to heal had been sped up due to the miraculous gel like substance, and while the bullet wound was still very much there, it had been healed enough to where instead of almost debilitating pain, there was just an irritating soreness that Calli could live with. It no longer bled, yet it was still recommended she wear a bandage just in case and to keep the area clean as new skin grew and such.
After showering to get rid of the bacta that stuck to her body once she exited the tank, Calli changed into the clean set of clothes she brought and it was a relief to be able to move freely without worrying about reopening the wound, though it still hurt a little. Calli popped a couple of pain pills before leaving the refresher into the hospital room where Padme and Jace waited patiently for her as she tidied up. She chose to leave her hair down to let it naturally dry, which was rare as it was almost always up in one or two braids to keep it out of her way, but Calli was feeling lighthearted and free and decided to let her hair be free also.
"You ready?" Padme asked as she and Jace stood up from the bench they'd been sitting on and Calli nodded, following them out of the room. Once outside, instead of heading directly to the ship they used to travel here, Padme out of the blue said she wanted to take a walk through the town. She claimed that since becoming a Senator she hadn't had time to come visit the city she once resided in when she had been ruling as Queen and wanted to take a stroll through the market. Calli and Jace obliged her, if anything to act as bodyguards like they had the other night to ensure her safety.
Padme made a beeline for the food stalls, and not two minutes later she'd bought a whole basket of something called five-blossom bread, and she walked up to the two teens with a pleased smile on her face. She took one of the small loaves out and after taking a bite offered her companions the basket so they could each take one. They did, and for a minute no one spoke as they munched on the sweet delicacy, not caring if they were in the middle of the street and blocking people's way of walking.
"I used to make this all the time as a kid, and I ate so much that for a while I got tired of it as an adult." Padme admitted after finishing one loaf, and she plucked another from the basket while continuing, "But recently I've started eating it again and I just can't seem to get enough! Isn't it delicious?" Calli nodded in agreement, quite liking the bread herself. It wasn't too sweet, and was light and fluffy, the perfect combination. Sometimes with Calli's enhanced senses which included taste, certain things like a lot of sugar or spices could easily overwhelm her taste buds.
While Jace also enjoyed the bread, he was more focused on his cousin, looking at her through squinted eyes and it wasn't because of the sun. The strange way Padme was acting, he couldn't help but have his suspicions. Padme was oblivious to her young cousin's stare, and after finishing her second loaf she went on a mission to find something equally as tasty to wash down the sweet bread with. However, Calli noticed Jace's staring and questioned him on it.
"Haven't you noticed Padme's been a little... off?" Calli lifted an eyebrow in question.
"Off... how?"
"The waking up sick, her food cravings. Yesterday she cried when there was nothing she wanted to eat in the kitchen." That last one made Calli feel awkward, as she herself has done that when on her period. But she didn't have time to feel embarrassed about the mess of a person she was during that week when she put two and two together and realized what Jace was implying. Her eyes widened and she let out a nervous chuckle.
"You're not saying what I think you're saying, are you?" Jace gulped and nodded slowly, confirming her question, and suddenly Calli was feeling awkward all over again and wasn't sure what to say. What do you even say to that? "I wasn't aware that your cousin was... seeing anyone." Calli eventually voiced, and it was Jace's turn to look at her with wide eyes.
"Wait you don't remember... " Jace stopped himself, and tried to back track, "Uh, never mind." Jace attempted to walk away, but Calli thanks to her enhanced strength, made it a point to grab the collar of his tunic and lift him off the ground (granted it was only an inch, if not that then half an inch because of Calli's shorter stature but still it was quite remarkable that she was able to lift someone bigger than her) and plop him back in his former spot in front of her.
"Uh uh, stop right there." Well, Jace didn't really have a choice in the matter as he was embarrassingly picked up by a woman smaller than himself and plopped back down where he'd been formally standing like he weighed nothing more than a leaf. Calli didn't give him much time to dwell on that now, though and gave him a stern look while speaking again, "What don't I remember that apparently, I'm supposed to? I have a near perfect memory, so this is an insult to my enhanced mind and you best start talking. Now." Jace sighed in frustration, but reluctantly began explaining that night that was still fresh in his mind.
"Ok, so a month ago, when I took you back to the penthouse after you got you know, drunk, we sort of walked in on my cousin..." Jace squeezed his eyes shut as the image played in his mind, "-kissing... someone." He couldn't bring himself to say the name of the man, which Calli didn't let slide.
"And does this someone have a name?" Calli asked impatiently when Jace hesitated to continue his narrative.
"Of course, he does." Another pause, which further added to the female clone's irritation.
"And are you going to tell me?" Calli didn't give Jace a chance to reply, "Let me answer that for you: yes." Jace tried protesting, but Calli just leveled him with an unrelenting stare that made all the words die on his tongue and he had no choice but to throw up his hands and admit defeat.
"Fine! It was..." Honestly Jace felt throwing up, but he powered through enough to quickly utter the name and honestly if Calli didn't have enhanced hearing she wouldn't have been able to hear it over the noises surrounding them. But she did, and Jace was surprised when Calli laughed.
"Hah! Good one-" When Jace didn't join in with his own laugh, Calli's smile dropped, "Wait you're serious? Anakin freaking Skywalker??" Jace nodded and Calli only had one thing to say to this groundbreaking piece of information, "HOLY CRAP!" She all but shouted, drawing the attention of a few passersby who looked at the pair with mixed expressions of curiosity and annoyance. Jace could only offer them a nervous smile before dragging Calli out of the street and into an empty spot between two stalls.
"Keep your voice down!" Jace hissed in a much quieter voice than Calli, who still was having trouble processing the fact that Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker were apparently very "close" with each other. "My cousin wants to keep it a secret and that's going to be hard if you're shouting it in the middle of a crowd."
"Can you blame me? You just told me your cousin is fooling around with a Jedi!" Calli began waving her hands like mad woman, "That's-That's gotta be illegal somehow, right?"
"It's definitely against the Jedi Code to form attachments but this is beyond that. They're married and have been since the start of the war." For the second time in less than two minutes, Calli was flabbergasted.
"And you're just telling me this now?!"
"I've been trying to process this on my own and I just assumed you eventually remembered!"
"Well, I didn't! If my freaking out is any indication!" Calli retorted, both of them now completely wound up with their hearts beating like crazy and Jace was now the one waving his hands crazily as he spoke - er, more like yelled even though he'd chastised Calli for doing so not thirty seconds earlier.
"You're not the only one freaking out!" Just as both teens were on the verge of having full blown panic attacks, a certain Senator who'd unknowingly was the reason for their frenzied state had returned from her quest to find something to drink and was now carrying a drink holder with three cups, one for each of them.
"Who's freaking out, and why?" Padme asked curiously as she joined the pair in the secluded area, secretly relieved to be out of the crowd. Both teens were now flustered, but Calli, ever the quick thinker even in situations like this, came up with a believable lie on the spot.
"Uh- No one! I-I mean, my brothers will start freaking out if we don't start heading back." Jace gave Calli a grateful look, thankful she was capable of creating believable excuses. He himself wasn't the best liar, so his best bet in this situation would be to let Calli take the lead. And Padme seemed to buy the excuse and soon they were back on the transport to take them back to the villa.
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It was an awkward ride back to the villa for two out of the three in the group, their previous conversation still fresh in their minds and they were unable to move past it. Calli found herself continuously glancing over at the Senator, gathering all her knowledge of pregnancy and trying to draw a conclusion as to whether or not their speculation about Padme being with child was a legitimate or just plain crazy. Granted, what Calli knew about pregnancy was limited, as she never really did much research on it because the whole concept was strange to her - after all she'd been formed in a lab and grown in a tube. The way normal people were brought into this world - the whole birthing process in fact made Calli sick to her stomach when she thought about it, therefore her research was stunted because of how squeamish she got. But she knew the basic things, like pregnancy symptoms and a majority of the do's and don'ts while pregnant. It was this knowledge she called upon while putting all the facts of Padme's condition in order.
Jace mentioned morning sickness, food cravings, and emotional mood swings. She witnessed the cravings firsthand as the Senator scarfed down the five-blossom bread earlier. Another thing which didn't seem important at the time now stood out, and that was the fact that at the night of the dinner party, Padme didn't have one drop of alcohol - and there was an abundance to be had. Now Padme could just have not wanted to drink in order to have complete control of her faculties in case of an attack, Calli reasoned, but her instincts were pointing to the more likely conclusion that there was more to it than that.
The final tell that confirmed what Jace and Calli suspected was when after arriving back at the villa. As they walked across the landing pad towards the path that would take them to the back entrance of the villa, Calli caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a baby bump that was attempted to be hidden underneath the elaborate dress Padme wore, but with the wind blowing it pressed the flowy fabric against her stomach and lo and behold, there was the undeniable bump.
Calli slowed her walking so as to fall into step with Jace made a motion over her stomach, creating an exaggerated bump while looking up at him with wide eyes that said, "OMG, you're right. She's definitely preggers." There was no denying it, and both teens just couldn't fathom the fact that Padme was pregnant, and the father was a mighty Jedi Knight. The whole thing was just insane and Calli needed a distraction before her mind exploded. The universe or maybe it was the force, decided to have mercy on her and a distraction did appear in the form of a small, cute, and furry creature.
Calli had almost missed the quiet, almost non-existent growl as they passed a medium-sized shrub. Just as soon as her ears picked up the sound, her nose caught a whiff of blood, and that was enough to stop her in her tracks and turn her head downwards to the shrub. Now that she stood in front of the shrub and didn't move, the growling became slightly louder and more aggressive. This didn't deter Calli though, and she crouched down and only after hesitating for a second reached her hands out and parted the branches, and she came face to face with... a tooka cat!
As the harsh sunshine hit the smallish creature, its eyes squinted, and it let out a hiss, which Calli took no note of as she took in the cat's present condition. Cuts, both old and new ones, littered its body, with the fur around each one caked with dry or fresh blood. It's longish white and yellow pelt was quite dirty and disheveled and even matted in certain places, especially on its back and tail. Despite its small size, Calli deduced that this tooka was fully grown, but was severely emaciated, so much so that she knew that if he didn't have such a thick coat of fur, his ribs would be visible. What stood out the most however, was that instead of having a right hind leg, there was instead a small mound where one should be. Seeing the missing limb tore at Calli's heartstrings, and she figured that this poor creature had a hard time hunting or defending himself because of only having three legs which left it at a severe disadvantage.
By now the cat had stopped hissing, as it was indeed extremely weak and had almost no fight left in him. In fact, as Calli remained where she was studying the creature, the cat dropped its head that felt ten times heavier from lack of strength, in a way accepting its fate that this was the end and that the human in front of him was going to attack and kill him any second now.
If Calli wasn't feeling the need to help this poor creature, she definitely did now as the cat's eyes closed and it let out a small feeble meow that instantly made Calli's heart melt and think, "I need to help this little guy!".
At some point Jace noticed that Calli had fallen behind and told his cousin to continue heading to the house while he went in search of the girl. When he spotted her crouched form with something in her hand that she waved towards a shrub, he wondered what the heck she was doing and asked such when reaching her side.
"There's an injured tooka cat and I'm trying to bribe him with this sweet bread your cousin bought." Calli replied without breaking eye contact with the tooka cat with whom she was having a stare down with. She inched her hand with the piece of bread closer to the feline, only to be met with another growl. Sighing in defeat, Calli just tossed the bread to the cat, and it landed an inch away from him. He tentatively lowered his head to sniff the food and finding it to be a pleasing aroma he quickly gobbled it up.
This was her second time trying to bribe the cat to come closer, but both times he would only look back at Calli with an expression that said, "I'm not falling for that" and it frustrated Calli immensely. Jace found the pout Calli did adorable, and he could sense she was about to give up. Before she declared defeat however, Jace joined her on the ground, sitting with his legs crossed and saying he might be able to help. When asking how he could help, all Jace did was gently shush her before extending his right hand out in front of him towards the tooka cat. Closing his eyes, he reached out through the force, hoping to establish a connection with the feline, thus making him trust the pair and accept their help.
Calli could only watch as Jace did this, not quite knowing what Jace was doing other than what she saw which didn't seem to be an effective way of helping. He just sat there with his hand out, eyes closed, and just seemed to expect that the tooka would just hobble over and become instant best buds with the Jedi.
Imagine her surprise when the tooka cat's head tilted and his ears twitched while he looked at Jace with an interest that hadn't been there when Calli attempted to befriend him with food, in fact he'd been more interested in the food than her. Calli was even more floored when the cat began taking tentative steps towards the young Jedi, and all hostility that again had been there when Calli tried befriending him, had left his features - in fact he almost appeared to be smiling! Some jealousy sparked inside Calli as she watched the tooka cat take the final few steps towards Jace, stopping just an inch away from the young man's palm. The cat gave it a tentative sniff, then did a happy meow before nuzzling his face into Jace's outstretched hand. Opening his eyes, Jace smiled at the cat as it continuously rubbed against his hand and soon, he both felt and heard the cat start to purr.
Yep, now Calli was very jealous. She'd always had a way with tooka cats and had never met one that preferred someone else to her. Yet this one didn't like her and went from nuzzling Jace's hand to rubbing against his crossed legs, then took the love fest one step further by climbing into said boy's lap, all the while purring up a storm.
Calli crossed her arms childishly and let out an equally childish 'hmmph' sound. She was equal parts annoyed yet intrigued by what Jace did and fought an internal battle with these two opposing feelings, wanting to ask a bazillion questions but at the same time, jealousy prevented her from doing so. After watching the pair for another thirty seconds, Calli couldn't stop herself from making a sarcastic remark.
"So, what, Jedi are cat whisperers too?" Jace looked up from where he'd been scratching the cat's chin, and it seemed he'd forgotten that Calli was there, which further irritated the girl, but she remembered her vow to keep her temper under check, thus preventing her from saying anything else that might come off as rude and insensitive.
Pursing his lips, Jace looked down at the cat currently resting on his legs and got an idea. It was a long shot but might just work. while still scratching the cat's chin with his left hand, and his other he held out in Calli's direction. Calli looked at the appendage with a confused expression, and Jace motioned to her hand expectantly.
When Calli realized that Jace wanted to hold her hand, heat rushed to her cheeks and her initial reaction was to decline. But she was curious as to what Jace wanted to do, and that moved her to place her hand into his.
After briefly enjoying the feeling of Calli's hand in his, Jace maneuvered it to where his hand was resting atop hers, then gently led it closer to the tooka cat in his lap. The tooka cat began growling lowly, and Calli wanted to retract her hand before it could bite or scratch it, but Jace kept a gentle yet firm grip on her hand to prevent her from doing so. Jace again reached out through the force to calm the cat down, silently telling him that Calli was a friend and could be trusted like him. It seemed to work, as the growling lessened, then eventually stopped, which amazed Calli. When the tooka cat gave her hand a little lick before nuzzling his face into her palm like he'd done with Jace, Calli broke out into a huge grin, any shred of jealousy she'd had before now gone as the cat seemed to finally accept her.
Now that only left one problem. How was Calli going to convince the others to let her keep the cat so she could help him?
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!! I wanted to add more Jace/Calli moments and wanted Calli to get a pet as well!
I hope Calli and Jace freaking out over Padme being pregnant made you guys laugh. I changed it to where Padme was already a few weeks along as opposed to just starting to experience pregnancy symptoms.
#star wars fanfiction#tbb fanfiction#star wars#star wars bad batch#star wars tbb#star wars clone wars#the bad batch#calli#crosshair tbb#hunter tbb#tech tbb#wrecker tbb#arc trooper calli#callistafett#star wars oc#jedi oc#sw ocs#clone wars oc#jace channing#naboo#tooka cats#tooka cat
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Helouu, Im back with more content for my HOTD reptiles AU uwu.
I’m kind of losing my marbles here, normally I use corel painter to do my stuff, but for some reason the program has been giving me the middle finger really hard, recently I had to replace my graphic tablets pen and I havent used the program in some time, so I don’t even know why now it doesn’t wanna work anymore ;w;, it frezees and crashes and to be able to work I need to save my work like every brush stroke I do, and its just crap. Every time the damn thing died it made a back up and by the time I had like 10 I just couldn’t... so I had to completely change my approach, another program another brush, but I still liked it a lot, just took me a couple days to decide and find something else I was comfortable enough to work with, I’ve been using the same brush for years and I’m really attached to the damn thing, and Corel support its gonna take some time to solve my problem, so I think I’ll just do the whole series of drawings in this new style, tough I really like and miss how my brush usually blends things and argggg, well, I hope you all don’t mind the huge learning curve you will totally get to see while I get used to the new brush and everything, for now I’ll give you an unfinished grandma Vhagar that I was really happy with, but just couldn’t finish for the love of god, and the Jacegon drawing 😄, with little Vermax the jackson chameleon and Sunfire the sulcata tortoise 💕.
I think I’m gonna redo the Lucemond first drawing with this stile too, that way it will be coherent and I’ll be able to finish it more to my taste.
In case someone needs context here is my first post: https://www.tumblr.com/darushi-chan/709399100359163904/hotd-modern-au-where-everyones-dragons-are-some?source=share
More details for the AU:
-Jace and Aegon ran away to Italy and started their own wine company called “The usurper” 😂.
-Of course they totally did not buy a vineyard state on a coozy hill with their trust fund, nope.
-Oh yes, Sunfire the golden, the official grape tester for the wine, yes...Vermax its there for moral support and to eat any bugs that dare to interrupt them or show in the grapes.
-And obviously Aegon had to join to, gotta make sure that wine its just the best of the best for their new company.
-Jace may not approve now but he’ll see the light for sure.
-Alicent and Rhaenyra are totally giving them money “as investors” so they dont starve while they start the company, like the complete privileged kids they are 😂.
#hotd au#lucemond#vhagar the komodo dragon#jacegon#the way sunfire and vermax turned out makes me so happyyy#they look so cute#they were the reason i got confortable enough to keep going with this new approach#it looks like those really cute childrens books#and i love it#damn its almost 3 am#i need to go to sleep again lol
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Since your bored here an ask that pops out to me right now.
Every character of lookism choose between Kiss, F*ck, Kill, Marry, or Troll them.
Hope yah feel don't burn out!
I decided to add extra characters from other PTJ webtoons bc they’re all connected somehow. And I couldn’t help myself…
Marry: Gun (my one and only psychotic man 🖤 that I lowkey wanna kill too but he’s fine)
Fuck: Hudson (it’s obv from that dream, mate. I even wrote ab it LMAO), Goo, James Lee, Jake, Samuel (there’s no way I can fix this man), Eli (I hope I don’t give him another Yenna-), Warren (I thought he was attractive the moment I saw him oop- sorry Sally), Ryuhei (if I can kiss him and get his dick up, then sure), Taesoo (what a mega chad), Manager Kim (DILF #1 he’s hot in the other webtoon), Jincheol Park (DILF #2 also hot in the Manager Kim webtoon), Hansu Seong (DILF #3 also hot in Manager Kim), Kwak Jihan (come here snake daddy), Kwak Jichang (dang another 1st Gen king, hello!), Elite (younger version of Charles Choi), Gapryong Kim (younger version) , Hajun Gu (broooooooo he’s so fine), Seongjun (I mean… have you seen him in HTF?), Update: Jaeha (from Questism, bc even though he's a dick, I think hateful sex w/ him would be hot) & Daniel (Again, from Questism since he's hot too even though I don't like him))
Kiss: Daniel, Zack (sorry Mira), Vasco, Jay (idk if he’ll be willing but ok), Johan, Vin Jin, Sinu (sorry Yeonhui), Jerry (a sweet kiss on the cheek bc he’s precious), Jace (c’mere w them ears), Jinyoung (sure why not, love me some crazies), Taehoon Seong (not part of Lookism but I’d still kiss), Gaeul (she’s my lady crush in HTF, I love her), Lua (female crush in Lookism), Zoe (I miss her), Mary Kim (I miss her too), Crystal (yes, I’d kiss her. sue me), Mira (???), Haru Seong (from Questism), Bomi, Rumi, Gyeol
Kill: Daryl, Logan, Channing Choi, Stalker girl, Pet hoarder, James (even tho he took those kids in, I still don’t like him), Jasmine (she can join James), Eugene (I’m sorry to the Eugene fans), Kwak Jibeom (idk he rubs me the wrong way), Charles Choi (current version), Tom Lee (he’s creepy to me sorry), Gun (almost forgot him), Dog Man (from that one recent chapter)
Troll: GUN (bc teasing this man is pure entertainment), Kouji (I love this kid), Zack (sorry Zack, but you’re funny to piss off to me), Hobin (bc man’s is goofy bro. Have you seen him???), Tank Top Suhyeon (from Questism, goofy too), Gukja (from Questism, one of my fav characters there)
#these are all characters I could think of atm#if I come remember more then I’ll update this post#this was entertaining to answer#ty Sam!! 🖤#slimesam 💚#lookism#lookismaddict#lookism webtoon#lookism manhwa#daniel park#zack lee#euntae lee#johan seong#jake kim#samuel seo
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Cook & Becker, in collaboration with Wizards Of The Coast, have added new prints to their collection of official fine art prints featuring card art from 'Magic: The Gathering'.
'Neyith Of The Dire Hunt' by Magali Villeneuve
'Storm The Seedcore' by Jason Rainville
'Baneslayer Angel' by Greg Staples
'Hana Kami' by Rebecca Guay
'Jace The Mind Sculptor' by Jason Chan
Each print is available in both a high-quality digital print Premium Poster Edition and a museum-grade giclée Premium Fine Art Print Edition, hand-numbered and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
On sale now through Cook & Becker.
#Art#Magic The Gathering#Cook & Becker#Magali Villeneuve#Jason Rainville#Greg Staples#Rebecca Guay#Jason Chan#Fantasy Art#Fantastical Art#Imaginative Realism#poster#print#giclee
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Actors AU Lookism
Literally everyone loves each other
Daniel has pretty much the same personality. That or he is a gremlin. Just pure gremlin energy
Zack is a flirtatious and shameless bi, his mere existence make everyone question their sexuality
Vasco a little more serious, kinda introverted and uses his intimidating appearance to be left alone but he is a crackhead at heart and started opening up to more people ever since he worked in the series
Jace is a little more bitey and sarcastic but he is easy going with people and literally has info about everyone
Mira is badass in real life and it's her first time playing a good girl role. She tries so hard not to break character-
Zoe is Zoe cause she is also perfect. She is also bi-
Crystal is either the same or have gremlin energy like Daniel
Jiho is older than what people think and he is beloved in real life. Series Jiho had to be killed off because Actor Jiho is suffering from trauma in past roles
Darius is a drag queen and owns a mini van. He is surprisingly, nowhere near the character he plays in the series
Jake is still Jake, what's there to fix when he's already perfect
Samuel...is lovey dovey to Jake- He's just this lovable but really chaotic gym bro
Eugene is "pick me up mom I'm scared" cause tiny gremlin with the rest of the crackheads. Just imagine Eugene surrounded by tall ass coworkers and all he could do is just look up to them
Xiaolong and Vivi is a couple in real life. Though they question their roles and the relationship but Vivi said she'd rather have her real life boyfriend acting by her side cause she feels too uncomfortable with other people
Hudson is a model. And a half blood. One time he won a competition, fair and square but the first runner up wasn't happy. Hudson got flak for winning but his supporters started sending comments like "you're (first runner up) mad cause you lost to a half blood"
Channing is a math teacher. How he got hired is one of the most interesting stories out there and every time they have a break, he would start writing equations on whatever surface is available. He used to be Jace's teacher too-
Jacky is a trainee or dancer. Jacky is still Jacky, the difference is that he adores Zack but gets very flustered seeing him
Taesoo is a Broadway star who lives outside Korea
DG is still DG. He actually got in Lookism because his idol company wanted to expand on his lore
Logan is still the devil but just think of him as a tsundere. He acts mean to everyone but really he cares for them
These are not done but I'm running out of ideas so please add to it or help change some :v
#lookism#zack lee#daniel park#too many things to tag ;-;#taesoo ma#james lee#jiho park#mira kim#zoe park#crystal choi#vasco#euntae lee#jace park
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Wassup here are some (mostly english) trans masc/boy names! I'll do trans fem/girl next:)
Vance, Vince, William, Richard, Edward, Steve, Billy, Bruce, John, Brady, Alex, Alexander, Jack, Daniel, Micheal, AJ, Connor, Evan, Raymond, Henry, Jasper, Drew, Alan, Harry, Ronald, Oliver, Spencer, Sydney (can be feminine or masculine), Liam, Noah, Elijah, Juan, James, Ben, Benjamin, Lucas, Theodore, Levi, Booker, TJ, Jackson, Matteo, Finn, Bill, Joe, Joseph, Jonathan, Luke, Cason, Kaden, Cade, Mason, Sebastian, Ethan, Logan, Owen, Ryan, Travis, Leo, Jeffrey, Bose, Miles, Samuel, Sam (Gender neutral), Jacob, Keys (Gender nuetral), Asher, Ash (Gender nuetral), Aiden, Wyatt, Albert, Dylan, Dean, Sean, David, Julian, Hudson, Grayson, Matt, Matthew, Max, Elvis, Jim, Jimmy, Gabriel, Ali, Alvin, Simon, Drex, Carter, Isaac, George, Jayden, Albert, Lucas, Anthony, Lincoln, Tom, Thomas, Charles, Caleb, Chris, Christopher, Mario, Stephen, Luis, Nathan,Adrian, Cameron, Aaron, Ein, Peirce, Zade, Cooper, Robin (Gender nuetral), Robbie, Kai, Landon, Axel, Avery (Gender neutral), Robert, James, Everett, Joey, Ross, Chandler, Channing,Marcel, Wesley, Jose, Nicholas, Parker, Austin, Carson, Xavier, Jace, Emmet, Cooper, Adam, Rowan, Roman, Dan, Arthur, Kai, and, Ralph!^^
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