#otp: my north star
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Easier Said than Done
aka the Tragen Looks Damn Good in the Expatriate Armor fic. 😂😏👀
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A Jedi's strength was in her focus.
There were other things as well, of course. Compassion. Justice. Defending the Republic, fighting Sith, keeping peace. But unwavering focus regardless of distractions was the bedrock on which those were built, and the hallmark of a good Jedi.
Jaesa was, by that metric, not being a good Jedi.
It was Tragen's fault.
Certainly, previous visits to this planet meant they were familiar with the climate. Certainly, that climate was hot enough to warrant--necessitate, even--wardrobe adjustments. Jaesa had opted for a lightweight tunic, single layer, breathable fabric, so she understood wearing something different to counter the heat.
But at least hers had sleeves.
Then again, she mused, sneaking a sidelong glance at Tragen as they walked, she'd seen him in a tank top before. Training, relaxing, sleeping, before and after they were together. Sure, he had nice arms(really nice arms), but they'd never done this to her before. She bit her lip. Which meant it was either the gauntlets--fingerless, with flexible light metal plating that stopped just shy of his elbows, and a lining sleeve underneath that came slightly higher--or the cut of the tank top itself.
That was probably it. The combination of higher collar and covering right to the edge of his shoulders in front, with the deep, wide cuts in back that covered little more than his spine and just above his belt. Though the way the gauntlets drew attention to his biceps didn't help.
She should really be thinking about why they were here. The negotiations. Sussing out if anyone had dishonorable intentions. Making sure nothing happened to disrupt the peace talks--
(Three white lines curved back along his ribcage, scarred deep by rakghoul claws over decade ago. She wanted to trace them with her fingertips like she did when they--)
"-Jaesa."
She flinched at the interruption, head snapping up. "Hm?"
Tragen was looking over his shoulder at her as he walked. "Is everything alright? You were starting to lag..."
She was. Jaesa cleared her throat and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Just, um, lost in thought. Today's going to be tricky."
"A bit." He nodded in agreement. "The number of attendees will make it no easy task. But so long as we're both on guard, I believe it shall be fine."
Don't get distracted, in other words. Easier said than done when the way he'd turned accentuated the muscles in his back and made his shirt shift so she could see the circular burn just to the left of his spine.
"I'll stay alert while we're there," she promised, though she had no idea how she'd keep that if he was anywhere in her line of sight.
"As will I," he said with a smile as he turned his gaze forward once more.
Oh, stars, she hoped he hadn't picked up what she was thinking. Not that she minded if he knew she found him attractive, but right now it was distracting to the point of embarrassment. They were working. This was a mission, she was on-duty. There was a reason she was here, and ogling him was not it. Those thoughts could wait for later. When lives weren't depending on her ability to focus.
(And on the surroundings, not the way Tragen's gauntlets drew attention to his biceps and the natural follow-through to his shoulders and how all of it together made her want to grab fistfuls of the shirtfront and kiss him until neither of them could breathe anymore.
Among other things.)
This time she was just aware enough to stop herself from walking into Tragen's back when he slowed his pace.
"We're here," he said, gesturing to the low gazebo a stone's throw ahead. "After you."
"Oh, thank you." Jaesa had never been so grateful for the flashes of decorum that held over from his upbringing. Still, even with him behind her, guiding hand light on her waist, it was easier said than done to wrench her thoughts in a more appropriate and professional direction.
She managed, thank the stars, meeting the host with a smile--even as he greeted them with small talk about the wisdom of 'dressing for the weather'. It took enough effort to keep her focus in the right place she barely registered the absent-minded caress of Tragen's thumb at the curve of her hip--and almost missed the early shimmer of something across their Bond before he cut it off and suggested they get to work.
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The meeting went without a hitch. No threats, no shenanigans, and after a brief moment to pause and fall back on her training to center herself, Jaesa did manage to keep her thoughts from veering off the task at hand. She and Tragen accepted the host's effusive thanks the Alliance had been willing to step in, that the Commander himself had come, and then headed back for their shuttle.
"Nice to have an easy one for once," Jaesa commented as they walked.
"Indeed," Tragen nodded, a smile pulling the corner of his mouth. His hand settled at her waist again. "It was a relief to have it not warrant the vigilance we thought would be required."
Her neck warmed and she ducked her head. But she did give into the temptation to slide her arm around his waist as well, fingers more-or-less on purpose brushing bare skin as she did, and bit back a smile at the shiver that rolled through him. "I am sorry I was distracted on the way."
"That was unlike you," he said, fingers tracing small, light circles at her hip. "What-"
How did he not know?! "You," she blurted before she could overthink or--more likely--spontaneously combust. "You were distracting me."
It was gratifying to see the flush creeping up around his neck and ears to match hers. "Ah." He was silent a moment, the shuttle coming into view before he spoke again. "I am flattered, but, if I may... that's never been a... struggle for you bef--"
"You've never worn a shirt like this before!" She swooped her fingers across one of the exposed sections of his back to emphasize her outburst. "I'm used to seeing your arms, that's not the problem. But it... flaunts part of what I'm used to only seeing when we're alone, and I-I..." the words trailed off in a flustered exhale, and she raked her hands through her hair, staring semi-straight ahead rather than look at him. If her face got any hotter she really was going to combust.
"Jaesa." Tragen stopped her with a chuckle at the base of the shuttle ramp. "As I said, I'm flattered. And if it helps..." he turned her to face him, one hand resting on each of her hips, and whispered in her ear, "...I had a similar problem."
She started, embarrassment forgotten as she met his eyes. "What?!"
"This is a very good color for you," he said softly, rubbing a fold of her deep teal tunic between his fingers. "And it drapes well." His hands slid to the small of her back and then returned to her hips. "And it is so. very. soft."
It was very comfortable, she had to admit. And she was keenly aware of it as he spoke.
He chuckled again, sheepishly. "It's made it rather easier said than done keeping my hands--and thoughts--off you." He kissed her forehead. "Though I don't think I had as much of a struggle as you."
She briefly considered smacking him(not hard) for the teasing note in his voice, but she did have it coming. So Jaesa rested her hands on his arms, just high enough for her fingers to brush skin. "Mind you, I do like this shirt," she said playfully, "just maybe a little too much."
"I'll endeavor to remember that," Tragen said. He smiled and leaned in to whisper, "I'll promise to wear it again if you promise it'll survive the trip home."
She snorted--"Easier said than done"-- and felt the laugh rumble in his chest as she grabbed two fistfuls of said shirt to drag him in for a kiss as they stumbled up the boarding ramp. As she'd envisioned earlier, she didn't let him go until both of them were breathless.
And then went in for more.
After all, a Jedi's strength was in her focus.
#queens fic#tragen xo'ric#jaesa willsaam#tragen/jaesa#otp: my north star#swtor#swtor fic#oh this was FUN#i've just been v wrapped up in writing the fluffy one and keep forgetting to edit#finally took care of that so HERE YA GO
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How did Starlo and Ceroba begin dating in your AU Would there be any conflict because of Cerobas last marriage ending so tragically?
First off, anon thank you for giving me an excuse to gush about Staroba. They have taken a hold of 95% of my brain. This might be a bit of a ramble, but I will gladly share my thoughts on them!
So before Clover arrives in the Underground, I imagine anything romantic between the both of them was kind of out of the question. I HC Starlo is still pining for Ceroba years later, but he's pretty discreet about it. That's his best friend, and she's recently lost her husband and daughter. He's going to be there for her emotionally, but he's not about to complicate things by pursuing his feelings. I imagine even if he hasn't really moved on from her, he's resigned to the fact that it'll only remain as pining from afar.
Meanwhile, on Ceroba's end, she isn't really thinking about romance. She's very much wallowing in her own grief and misery, so to her, Starlo is the only person she has left in her life, but he's just her best friend. There may be some feelings beginning to build, with living with Starlo and spending so much time with him, but nothing she really actively thinks about. She's too consumed by the terrible situation and struggles she's neck deep in.
It isn't until Clover comes around and chooses to stay in the Underground that things change. I HC that Clover chooses to live with Ceroba after the Pacifist ending. Starlo and the gang cleaned up her house anyways, so why not live in it again and make better memories? Because Ceroba's house is close to the Wild East, Starlo visits a lot, not just for Clover but for Ceroba too. Now that they're both working on their own issues and moving on, becoming healthier people, they're able to properly hang out and emotionally support one another and enjoy each other's company in a way they haven't for a few years. This is where Starlo's feelings really kick into high gear, and it's gotten to the point that everyone in their family and friend group notices.
("Dude, you like, totally wanna marry her," Mooch says, hardly bothering to contain her smug smirk. Starlo yanks on the brim of his hat to conceal his reddening face and begs her to keep her voice down, lest Ceroba hear it from across the bar counter.)
Though Ceroba is a lot more subtle about it, this is where her feelings begin to grow too. She realizes that Starlo has always been there for her, even if his actions weren't always the right ones his intentions have always been focused on doing things for her sake, and that she wants him around, maybe more than just a best friend. It gets to the point that the house feels lonely whenever he leaves from a visit. It probably takes a lot of internal strife and struggle to reconcile with her feelings. Letting another partner into her life after she's mourned her first husband is a massive and frightening step to take, after all. She knows Chujin would want her to be happy and live her life to the fullest after he's gone, but it's still a lot to take in.
I imagine once a few months pass, with encouragement from Starlo's friends ("C'mon boss, Clover calls you Pa and Ceroba Ma, you two are practically already raising them together!"), he tries to confess his feelings to Ceroba. He probably fumbles it a few times; not just because he's still shy and awkward under the sheriff persona, but because he really doesn't want to ruin his relationship with her, nor hurt her after everything she's been through. Ceroba, of course, notices this. Probably after the second or third bumbling attempt of him trying to tell her in privacy how he feels, she gently cuts him off and comes out and says it; she reciprocates his feelings, and she would love to start a new chapter of her life with him.
Thus, they begin dating! Everyone's happy for them, especially Clover and the Feisty Four, who has been privy to all of their subtle and not so subtle flirting and obvious pining. Starlo and Ceroba were already raising Clover together, but now it becomes a lot more overt. After they date for a while, Ceroba invites Starlo to move in so he can spend more time with her and Clover and be a proper family. He does so, gladly - though he probably does shed a tear or two moving out from the house he shared with his posse.
#undertale yellow#north star#ceroba#staroba#starlo uty#ceroba uty#the cowboy hat yodels#Lucky Clover AU#starlo x ceroba#This is cringe but I am free. Hello I'm NSCowboyHat and I will take any excuse to wax poetry about my OTP#Props to you if you read this novel I have so so SO many thoughts about Staroba#They are drenched in tragedy but I need for them to be happy despite it all
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create the content you want to see for the niche fandoms you enjoy -> there's only like 7 other ppl still even remotely interested in this -> feel guilty for being irritating abt niche pairing/fandom -> stop trying to create anything or posting abt it cause you're trying to be polite
#sincerely I do REALLY fckn just *clenches fist* love marchly and donolinc like... my OTPs my blorbos supreme my north stars my bread+butter#but I also just as sincerely understand no one else cares lmao and like look I'm honestly and legitimately -#not trying to get ppl to be into the pairings/fandom#all this stuff is for fun man and I think ppl should be organically into what they're into I don't want anyone#thinking I'm trying to be That Irritating blog and force ppl into my shit#which is why idk I do feel kinda bad abt just rambling abt it all the time 😞#I KNOW no one else cares lol I just don't have ughhhhh anywhere else to rotate my blorbos man#🤷♀️😔🤷♀️😔🤷♀️😔🤷♀️#erin explains it all
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For the nonnie who asked: here are some of my all time favourite lengthy Stucky fics (30-200k, mostly multi chapter):
Not Easily Conquered by dropdeaddream, WhatAreFears
This, You Protect by owlet
Home Is Wherever I'm With You by cydonic
Lucky Seven by BetteNoire
Political Animals by @spacerenegades, Deisderium
Wishes and Words by wearing_tearing
A Company Man by @whtaft
Push It Real Good by spoffyumi
The Size of Perfection by @phoenike
Like Real People Do by 2bestfriends
Easy Work For Easy Pay by AustinB
Prince Charming by Brenda
What's in a Name? by levi_cas_tho, maichan
Critical Feline Mass by Kryptaria, zooeyscigar
Ipseity by SkyisGray
Circling Back by chaya
Ain't No Grave (Can Keep My Body Down) by spitandvinegar
The Necrofloranomicon by leveragehunters (Monkeygreen)
with all my skin and bone by unicornpoe
He's All That by @spacerenegades
Monoclonius by Zenaidamacrouras1
oh meet me, my darling, where the sun sets over the barley by charlesdk @trancowboy
Coming Home by charlesdk @trancowboy
The Settler by charlesdk @trancowboy
Waking Up Slow by odetteandodile
Family Placement by notlucy
I Held You in Gloved Hands (And I’m Not Letting Go) by @voylitscope
then a small thing happened by BeaArthurPendragon
North Fork by BeaArthurPendragon
Itsy Bitsy Yoga by wearing_tearing
All Those Little Pieces by Ellessey
Bucky Barnes Gets His Groove Back & Other International Incidents @silentwalrus1
Scents and Sensibility: The Working Assassin's Guide to Supersoldier Seduction by galwednesday, silentwalrus, skellerbvvt
Coming Home For Christmas by Chiyume
Chase the Lightning From the Sky by SilverSlashes
These next ones I haven't had a chance to read yet, but I love these authors' other fics so I'm sure these are brilliant too!
lane lines by @sparkagrace
Till It Bleeds Daylight by @cable-knit-sweater
Backhoe by @zenaidamacrouras1
hey now, you're an all star (get your game on, go play) (WIP) by @buckyismybicycle
I was alone, I took a ride (I didn't know what I would find there) by @otp-holic
Till there were no more wolves in the West by @dharmasharks
better to speak or die (WIP) by @between-a-ship-and-a-hard-place
Atoms by @andrea1717
I'm sure I'm forgetting some brilliant ones, so feel free to add to this! Also, please check out these authors' other works too, they're all brilliant <3
#in no particular order except for the first two lol#stucky#steve rogers x bucky barnes#steve rogers#bucky barnes#stevebucky#fic recs#I tried putting half of this under the cut but tumblr is being so difficult today for some reason#so sorry#long post
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Yeah, sure, gonna do this too. Here’s a list of some of my ships and also just some dynamics I’m really fond of:
Gonna start with my explicit romantic ships, ranging from OTP (my personal description of an OTP is a pair I cannot imagine in any other relationship) to ships I’m just very fond of.
ContraHero (duh, my OTP of all time)
ParaCold (smth of a secondary OTP, I’d say, since I also can’t imagine them in any other relationship lmao [at least, long-term])
Foreign Body (Quiet/Stranger) (I can’t imagine the heart not being Stranger, tbh, and also, smth about the both of them having a ‘monstruous’ form aksmdjddj)
Skeptunist (it’d be a slooooooww and LOOOONNNG burn, but I think the progress would be so interesting and the eventual relationship so weirdly sweet)
Ghost Lily (Spectre/Witch) (reaching OTP to me, ngl, as I can’t bring myself to be invested in other relationships involving them lmao)
Sweethearts (Smitten/Damsel) (have no problems imagining them with others, but this is still my primary ship for them)
Eternal Challenge (Stubborn/Asversary) (same situation as above)
Aaannnnd that’s it for explicit romantic pairs I think, I’m. actually a pretty picky shipper akmaksmdjkdmd
Now let’s move to what I call my OTBesties. When you ship them, but in a ‘they’re besties!!!’ way :D
Dark Comedy (Contra&Cold)
Strategy Game (Skeptic&Cheated)
Shining Shield (Hero&Para)
Bare Root (Wounded Wild&Thorn)
Nightmare&Spectre
Witch&Hunted
Hunted&Stubborn
Mending Hearts (Smitten&Broken)
Prisoner&Cold
Spectre&Paranoid
Confined Minds (Prisoner&Skeptic)
Thespians (Oppy&Smitten)
Hunted&Stubborn
Those are the ones that actively takes up more brain space, and ones which I most rotate around my head. Here’s some general dynamics I like exploring:
North Star (Cold/Oppy): their toxic yaoi wouldn’t last a year and be horrible for the both of them (mainly Oppy), and I’m all here for it.
Smitten and Skeptic, while not in OTBesties tier for me, is also a friendship I’m very fond of. I think they’d have coffee in the morning together.
Nightmare’s possible dynamic with anyone would be so interesting to explore, but especially with Tower– just. imagine the chaos
Speaking of– also Tower’s dynamic with Razor. Put her in the same room with some of the most relentless and violent vessels, I wanna see what happens
Wraith and Cheated would be an interesting dynamic when taken out from their chapter’s context tbh– Wraith is resentful because of how she’s been treated and only resorted to those drastic actions because that’s what you left her with. I think Cheated would sympathize with that and realize the hand he played (if you get him in her chapter) to get her like this.
Oppy and Hunted feel like they’d have a weirdly close and strong bond. Not OTBesties or explicitly romantic, but a secret fourth thing
Oppy and Contra have beef at first sight to me. They either completely ignore each other, or swear to make the other day’s worse, whatever they feel like atm
Also– since me and the folks in the discord started headcanon that while alive, Narrator could’ve been groomed by a cult and that’s why he has such a deep fear of death, and think eternal bliss is the best alternative for that– I’d like to see more of his dynamic with Broken. In a what-if scenario where they both got over enough of their bagage to have an actual conversation together, I think they’d have a lot to talk about.
Also, shout-out to my Happily Single Tokens, aka, characters I hc as non-partnering/not interested in romance/‘just not in the mood for it, dude’:
Cheated, Broken, Thorn (aro hc for her caught my the throat and won’t let go, I’m sorry Modeus), Prisoner, Narrator (AroAce and romance-repulsed king, tbh), and Hunted
#not me making a ship/dynamic/whatever this is list in the middle of the night lmao#too tired to draw but still wanna do hyperfixation-related stuff. and this is what came out of it ok?#stp voices#stp princess#not fuckin’ way I’m tagging everything lmao#stp headcanons#Sal Rambles#stp-posting#just don’t add polyships cuz I got monogamistic brain and it’s hard to me to visualize that lmao (love seeing other’s ot3 or more tho)#but Hunted/Broken/Stubborn is a very dear dynamic to me#realized I also didn’t add more than 2 charas in any other dynamic here aimskdkxkd#that’s just because if I start thinkin’ in more than 2 pairs. my brain’ll explode#but just imagine any intersecting pair also being put all together#anyway. it’s late. I’m tired. I should go now byyyyeeeeeeee
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y'know I've been thinking about buddie a lot since buck being bi became canon and as much as I love bucktommy I really wonder if/how they can make it endgame. my biggest concern right now is that buddie makes so much sense narratively that anything else would feel forced because for bucktommy (or buckanyoneelse) to be endgame it'll feel like eddie will never find love. I don't necessarily think that's true but it will feel like it. at least in that moment.
both these men have been in and out of relationships for the whole time we've known them and their north star has still always been them. they still always go right back to the other. and that can be done in a platonic way and they can have a platonic soulmates buddie alongside a romantic bucktommy but i dunno
even though I personally do headcanon eddie as arospec and love buddie as both a qpr and a romantic relationship I don't think abc is gonna do a qpr. and I don't think they'll do a poly relationship either and give us bucktommyeddie.
I'm just so worried about how they'll handle this because there's so many people who joined the fandom after 7x04 and have bucktommy as their endgame ship. and I cannot imagine the pain of having a canonical queer otp with a bi main character that you love and hold dear be ripped out of your hands just for another relationship that you may or may not care about. I can see how it would be devastating. I would be so upset if we got buddie only for them to break up and another relationship to take its place down the line.
and while i love buck and tommy together so much I still really only see buddie as endgame with how I perceive the story so far. if bucktommy or anyone else becomes endgame I won't be angry or anything but unless it's well done I'll probably question how they got there.
like it's possible. I'll never say never because they could completely surprise me and Eddie will have a compelling love interest or maybe they'll even go the qpr angle or poly relationship route.
I love multi shipping and I've never expected any ship I have to become canon so I'll survive and most likely be happy no matter what happens. I ultimately have always only wanted buck and eddie and now tommy to be happy.
but I can't stop thinking about whether or not the writers room will completely fumble this. I'm worrying so much I'll give myself a ulcer.
#i dont know when i became a worrywart over relationships in a show but here i am worrying#bucktommy#buck x tommy#tevan#buddie#buddietommy#buck x tommy x eddie#evan buckley#tommy kinard#eddie diaz#tv: 911#911 abc#911 discourse#saf.txt#saf rambles#does this even make sense#i wish i was eloquent and could write for shit#even though i dont really believe bucktommy is endgame i can see it and i do really like the ship theyre currently my favourite
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INCOMING: HIATUS
I debated whether to say anything here, but given the proximity to the @gundamzine’s 2023 release, I think it’s probably wise.
TL;DR—yours truly is taking a break, which I haven’t done in earnest since April 2019. Might lurk a bit, but before I do, I wanted to share some parting words.
Some additional thoughts under the cut.
It’s a common refrain in these parts that fandom should be fun—once it becomes not fun, it’s a sign that you’re dealing with something and need to step away. Maybe it’s personal life, work life, or some health matter; maybe it’s creative burnout; maybe it’s the fandom spaces you’re occupying. If fandom isn’t fun, you need to be able to step away to figure out why.
I can confess that fandom hasn’t been fun for some time now for me. Instead, it’s been work, it’s been a service. I’ve taken two big steps this year to address this.
I decided to close the so-called “Big” / “OG” Gundam Wing server and relinquish ownership. This came as a surprise for many, and I myself went through the five stages of grief over it. I had envisioned the server being a general open space, like a town square or some other central meeting place; but the bigger it grew, the more our members wanted and needed it to be something different. That disconnect spelled its eventual doom, because it would’ve meant building a bigger team…which we were never able to do.
I also decided to end my tenure as the head of the Rhythm Generation zine project this year (2023) instead of pushing for one final fifth year as I had originally planned. We ran a tight project for four years on the premise that all fandom creations were welcome regardless of medium, shipping preferences, or personal creative voice. I’m proud of the work the Zine Crews did (both moderators and contributors) and am so grateful for our times together.
But heading into this year’s project, I had had a long conversation with another fan about misinformation that had been spread about the zine—specifically that we did not allow certain ships or would force creators’ hands. This was the very antithesis of the entire endeavor, so I engaged in good faith to explain the behind-the-scenes management that isn’t widely advertised (i.e. OTPs were always respected, no one was ever asked to create something they didn’t volunteer to do in the first place, and spreading the love around across fandom interests and ships was important). I spent hours in tears over the whole situation, and looking back that is what spelled the end of the project…at least with me at the head.
I feel like I’ve lost my North Star—that fandom to me was above all else a community, a neighborhood of sorts. You didn’t necessarily like all of your neighbors, but you always waved to them in passing at the very least and empathized when they were dealing with something.
So I leave you with this: It is always important to make space for fellow fans whose interests do not align with yours. It is always important to encourage one another to create, to build, to make space, to join, to organize, to share, to try. That’s how fandoms survive; that’s how this fandom has survived.
I’m hoping that an extended hiatus will help me reset, and by taking care of myself I can figure out what I need in my fandom experience going forward. And when I come back, I hope I can be part of building that.
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Year of the OTP - February
February: Mermaid "AU"
Characters: U'rahn Nuhn, @driftward 's Nyx Blackmoon Zoissette Vauban's "likeness", @saesama 's Kylnt Gohtawyn, @erickgage 's Erick Gage's "likeness"
Rating: T for fish Tails!
Notes: All future entries are gonna follow the same format; however, will be parodies of existing media and I'm very excited. Thanks to Driftward and Saesama for their Blorbos and line editing .
The surf of the Rhotano Sea sparkled as The Gilsnapper cruised over its waves. At the helm, Klynt Gohtawyn saw the small gathering safely over the waters, occasionally smacking U'rahn's hand away from the helm, the Miqo'te attempting to "correct" their course. Below, Novv's clutch excitedly surrounded Nyx, gifting her with trinkets they'd picked up from the bottom of sea from pearls and jewels to interesting looking pieces of discarded junk. It was shaping up to be a nice outing with friends, at least to U'rahn.
"She's really something isn't she? My clutch brothers adore her, though I guess they too, saw her as kin," U'rahn mused, reaching out to rest his hand on one of the spokes of the helm.
"If you don't get your swiven hand off the wheel you'll be lookin' like somethin' your clutch brothers fished off the seafloor," Klynt snapped.
Ears perked, U'rahn stepped back, "Ah! C'mon! I just want to make sure we're goin the right-"
The Nuhn stopped, the Roegadyn woman shooting him a glance that caused him to back away with his hands up before tripping over his tail. After several thuds, he found himself sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, Nyx looking down at him with a bunch of worried Sahagin faces.
"Are you injured, Rahn," Nyx asked.
"Only my pride…"
"I cannot mend that. Perhaps instead of inundating Gohtawyn, we should perform a different activity."
"Pssh. Tell us another storytale brother! It has been some time," Fyuu requested.
U'rahn blinked then hopped up onto his feet, looking to all the eager faces, and Nyx's, "Well, I suppose I could. Captain! North East for mood lighting," he called up to Klynt.
"Sod off," came the answer.
"Right then…a story…hm…," U'rahn mused, scratching his head. "I got one! Ah, Nyx, it's gonna be a bit funny so if I say something weird could you tell me when I finish instead of in the middle. I'll lose my train of thought," he requested, recalling his previous orating experience.
"Understood."
He smiled, ear wiggling and leaning in to steal a kiss, stopping as he caught the prying eyes of his clutch brothers watching him lean in. "Ahem…right then…Upon an Era, long ago…"
Uriel sighed as he laid against a rock, eyes looking up at the sea of stars above as it was filled with spectacular fire flowers. Ahead, a ship was loud with merrymaking, a party being held it seemed. The young merman looked on longingly, wondering what wondrous things the land walkers had with them today. Curiosity over taking him, he started to swim toward the ship.
"Oh no you don't," Khubastian huffed, pulling at his charge's fin to prevent him from swimming forward.
Pushing up his glasses, the retainer shook his head, "What have your lord fathers have said of bothering the land walkers? You're only asking for trouble!"
"Trouble? Hah. I'm the bravest warrior of the sea! I'm not scared of the land walkers! Besides, they're having a bunch of fun! I'm only gonna take a peek."
"I'm not going to bail you out if you get into trouble! You'll be on your own," the retainer huffed as he pushed up his glasses before looking up to find Uriel already yalms ahead.
Arriving at the ship, Uriel swam around it, peeking into the portholes below the waves, finding the strange rooms empty. Assuming everyone was above, he dove under water then gave himself a little launch, landing himself in a dingy hanging off the side. Curious, he peaked between the railings, watching the land walkers dance about gayly. As he scanned the crowd, his heart leapt. Sitting on a throne, the most beautiful girl in the world looked on, enjoying the sight of her crew making merry.
"Princess Eryxa. Come, join the festivities," her Elezen shieldmaiden requested.
"I am content to observe," the princess responded, eyes continuing to look about.
"Hold up," Kylnt's voice called out.
"Something wrong," U'rahn called out.
"Ain't it supposed to be the other way around? It's a mermaid lusting after the prince? And so you think you're foolin' anyone with those names."
U'rahn swallowed. "It's just the version I was told when I was a lad!"
"Yeah, sure. That's convenient ain't it?"
"Kinda…just…just go with," U'rahn laughed nervously, face red before looking back to the others, "Right, so. Out of nowhere came this big squall, right?"
"Princess, please! To the cabin," the shieldmaiden cried before being knocked over by a rogue wave.
Though nimbly avoiding the wave, Princess Eryxa found herself flung off the dock and into the sea below. Wind knocked out of her, she closed her eyes and began to sink. Uriel acted quickly, flinging himself back into the ocean to take her into his arms. As the ship was tossed around above, he hurried on above, making sure the Princess could breathe before wiggling himself towards the shore near the landwalkers' castle and away from the incoming waves. He stayed with her on land until the stars were once more free to twinkle down upon them.
Uriel swallowed hard as he brushed her matted hair from her warm cheeks. He'd only observed her for a moment, but he knew he'd forever be in love with no one else after they parted.
A loud snort echoed out from above, causing U'rahn to fold his ears. "Did I say something funny," he asked.
"Ye're just a sap. Go on," Kylnt laughed, leaning over the hull as she looked on them with amusement.
"Psh. Continue brother," Houu echoed.
U'rahn nodded, looking to Nyx before turning bright red. "So yeah, he was head over feet for this gal…"
"Uriel! You get back here this instant! We're due back at the palace," Khubastian hissed from behind, waiting in the comfort of the sea.
Uriel frowned, "I can't just leave her," he called out.
As he held her, a golden feathered sea eagle landed then hopped over. "You caught a landwalker Uriel," it asked, tilting its head as he pecked some kelp from her hair.
"Sort of Gagedt. You know a lot about landwalkers. Is she gonna be okay?"
The golden eagle preened himself for a moment then waddled over, putting his ear hole to her chest. "Hmm…I know a lot about their treasures but I dunno. She could be a goner. Sounds like a fish got in there and is floppin around going "buh dum buh dum."
“I was too late…”
Uriel not knowing wiser, hung his head until hearing her let out a little cough. Terrified, he flipped back then rolled himself into the sea as she rose upright. Hiding behind a rock, he exhaled then found Gagedt perched upon his head. "What do you know? She seems to have coughed it up."
"Yeah," Uriel sighed, "She's beautiful isn't she."
"Whatever floats your fin," the bird shrugged before hopping onto a rock, "Their ship didn't seem to go under but a lot of stuff did go overboard. If you find any gold down there I'll trade yah what I can find deeper inland for your weird collection."
"Yeah? Think I could get one of those things they point at things and blow up stuff with," the young merman asked eagerly.
"A blast'em? Sure! Just make sure you bring me gold."
U'rahn nodded eagerly then peaked back to the Princess as she stood and looked out into the sea, her eyes locking onto him. Before he could react, he felt a painful pinch on his ear, Khubastian dragging him down under.
"We're late for the parade! Your fathers are going to be furious," he huffed, dragging him below.
"Parade!? Oh shoot," he bubbled out before shaking his ear from the others grip to high-fin it back to the sea palace deep on the ocean floor. The city was alive for a festival…his festival! Today was Uriel's coming out parade where he'd be presented by his brothers, all powerful Sahagin warriors. Already in motion they…swam in line, behind their fathers, Posidodhn and Tritovv were pulled on a float, both holding up the trident they forged together, the symbol of their mighty power.
"Wait, so he's half fish or half Sahagin? Or both," Klynt asked.
"He's a merman," U'rahn answered, confused.
"Yeah, I get that. But what's his situation below the waist?"
U'rhan blushed, "It's not that kind of story!"
"Oh for swiven sake," Klynt groaned before letting U'rahn turn away to the others.
"Psh! Brother U'rahn, tell us more of the brothers," Seww cheered on.
Nodding, U'rahn rubbed the back of his head, looking to Nyx, watching her attention shift between everyone then back to him. He smiled then continued:
Uriel corkscrewed through the crowd and managed to land on the back of the float…just in time for it to reach the end of the line. Both fathers looked back at him, grumpy. Being taken aside, he was soon berated for his absence.
"You're too much like your motherrr! You can't keep wandering off. It's not safe," Posidodhn roared.
"Pshh? The landwalkers do not understand our kind. They would hurt you. Your strong fearless brothers know better not to tempt fate. Why must you," Tritovv echoed."
"You're grrrounded."
Uriel made no effort to argue, instead returning to his quarters to lay across his bed, Khubastian mouthing 'I told you so' on his way. Though he did his best to rest, he found his thoughts on the beautiful land princess.
'Well, dad said I was grounded…but he didn't say what that entailed," he thought to himself before looking out his window.
Grabbing his bag, he made a quick dash out the porthole and out to the kelp gardens before dashing out into the greater sea. Finding the wreckage, he began to collect the landwalkers' things, ensuring he picked up gold for Gagedt the sea eagle. As he went through the things, he happened upon an oil painting, the princess' beautiful likeness upon it. It captured her dutiful gaze well.
Taking it, he hurried off to his secret cove that only his cool clutch brothers and retainer knew about. He'd filled it with things landwalkers had lost to the sea, fascinated by them. Sighing, he sat the painting high upon a pointed rock then looked to the princess he'd fallen for before starting to sing.
🎶
Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the guy
The guy who has everything-”
"Yeh sound like a damned drowned cat. Look at your brothers, they're terrified," Kylnt heckled.
U'rahn blinked then looked around, watching the Sahgins holding their webbing over their ears.
"Pssh. Brother, why do you hurt us with your siren's song," Fyuu wailed.
"I…I thought I'd been improving. Haven't I Nyx?"
"You have requested I save my critique until the end of your story. I do not believe you have even reached the climax yet, Rahn."
"Get used to hearing that a lot, bud," Klynt called down.
“Wha? I've got great climaxes! It'll come if you just stop interrupting," he called back to a snickering Klynt.
"Sure, sure. Go on then."
"Right…I'll just skip to the last bit…"
🎶
When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above?
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world
🎶
Uriel sighed as he swam back down to stare longingly at the portrait of Princess Eryxa. Just as he got comfortable, a bolt shot by and the painting was set aflame.
"Aflame," Klynt echoed.
"Ope!"
The painting was vaporized. Uriel watched in horror as the destroyed frame crumbled. Soon the rest of his belongings were destroyed too. Floating in, his fathers looked around, with Khubastian looking on smug in the background.
"What did we tell you!? How could you do this," Posidodhn yelled.
"Pshh! These dangerous things! What if your brothers hurt themselves on whatever this is," Tritovv asked, waving his hand towards a hook shaped anchor.
"They were just things! You just don't understand me! You're the worst," Uriel cried out, dashing by.
His fathers yelled after him as he swam away. He swam and swam, over sea hill and sea dale until finding a coral to hide in. While he wanted to cry, he held it in and instead punched the sand below.
"You poor creature," a sympathetic voice sounded out, "Your daddies went and swiven destroyed all your things did they? You can't help if you're a little curious!"
Uriel looked up as his cheek was caressed by a tentacle. Floating above him a woman beamed wickedly, her muscular arms crossed over her chest. She looked absolutely menacing, like she wouldn't even need her powerful tentacles to crush him, she could just squeeze him.
"I've been watchin' you. Yeh saved that poor Princess and now you fancy to walk on land with her. I can do that for ya'. Just need a little help."
Uriel sniffled then rubbed his eyes…cause sand got in them. "You can?"
"I jus’ need a little magical boost is all…and o’ course, another prize on yer end to fulfill the magic pact. A trade."
Uriel thought for a moment. "What do you need?"
The sea witch smirked, "That family trident of yours should be enough magic for me…as for the trade from you, I guess your voice will do in exchange."
"My beautiful voice? How will I serenade my love or speak poetry to her?"
"That'll be your problem, I can just get you up there. I’m sure a stud like you can use your more…natural features to win her over.
Uriel nodded, "I am pretty handsome…I’m sure she’ll see the good guy on the inside too! Deal. I'll do it!"
"Good….good…," the witch laughed.
"Ya better not be usin' me in that fantasy of yours," Klynt called down.
"Huh? I'd never…you don't got tentacles or nuthin’,"
Klynt let out an unconvinced grunt, letting U'rahn hunker down as he acted out sneaking.
So Uriel slipped back into his palace in the dead of night, creeping into the throne room while everyone slept to retrieve the trident then made his way back to the sea witch. He presented her with the coveted trident.
“Well done,” she cackled, holding the weapon high above her head before presenting a scroll, “As for fulfilling my end. Here’s the deal, you lose the fins and tail, I get your voice.”
“Right. You said-”
“I’m talkin’ still. It’s rude to interrupt. “
“You’re right! It is rude to interrupt,” he agreed.
“As I was sayin’. For the magick to stick, you gotta make sure she kisses you by sundown on your third day up on land or you’ll become half-fish anon. And, of course be bound to be my personal errand boy for the rest of eternity,” she explained, holding out a golden parchment and quill.
“Well, that sounds kind of evil…”
“It’s just how magick works. Do you doubt you’ll be charmin’?”
“Well, I am pretty charming…” Uriel mused before taking the magick underwater quill.
Scrying his name, he swallowed then watched as they shined a brilliant gold. Soon he felt his voice go dry while his fins began to tingle. Uriel squirmed as he watched the witch laugh maniacally as he held his throat, pointing to his face.
“Up you fool! You need air,” the witch called out.
Uriel tried to swim away, but felt his hips wiggled about unable to move smoothly like before. Looking down, he saw all his new appendages, eyes widening in amazement. The panic setting in, he kicked and flailed his way to the surface, taking in air before having wave after wave bully him to the shore.
Naked on the beach, he laid there for a moment before rolling onto his back and lifting his legs high then flopping them down. Uriel set up right, examining his lower half with bewilderment before feeling a familiar pair of talons land on his head.
“Look at you! You’ve got legs and a seabear! How’d you manage that,” Gagedt cawed before fluttering down into the sand.
Uriel tried to talk, but no words came out.
“Cat got your tongue? Spit it out,” the golden eagle demanded.
The former merman shook his head then tapped his throat before wobbling to stand, waving his arms around like tentacles before pointing down to his legs.
“...so you traded your voice to the sea witch for some legs did you?”
Uriel nodded eagerly then clasped his hands together and batted his eyes before puckering up a bit then held up three fingers and pointing down to his legs again.
“And you gotta kiss her in three days to keep your legs…”
“The brand new miqo’te nodded rapidly then visored around. Spotting the castle in the distance, he took a step forward then fell forward into the sand.
“Woah! Woah buddy! You gotta get used to your legs first! Not to mention the legwalkers will chase you back into the sea if you walk up to them with your sea-bear flopping around,” the eagle pointed out.
“There’s no swiven’ way the damned bird got anything out of all that,” Kylnt laughed, U’rahn dropping his arms as he finished pantomiming the scene.
“You think you can do better,” U’rahn challenged.
“Fifty gil on charades after you wrap up your tale!”
‘You’re on!”
“Psh…What’s a sea-bear,” Seww asked, scratching at his gills curiously.
Nyx turned to the Sahagin and nodded, “Sea-bear is a term used by many seafaring people to describe-”
“Ah. Nyx, maybe we should let Novv handle that if they don’t know,” U’rhan breathed out, face crimson while Kylnt lost it above, “A-anyroad!”
“Listen close. If you want to impress your lady love, you’ll need a wingman…and since you’re after the ruler of legwalker ruler…I’ll take you under my wing and show you how to act and you can throw me their shinies every now and then.”
Uriel nodded eagerly then watched as Gagedt fluttered. “Wait here then, and practice walking. One foot in front of the other” he ordered before fluttering off.
The sea prince sighed, doing as he was too, stumbling around in the sand until he was able to walk steadily in a circle. As he practiced, he his ears perked, hearing a familiar voice from the other side of some rocks.
“I believe you were mistaken, m'lady. Too much sea water perhaps,” sounded out the shieldmaiden he’d seen on the ship.
“Negative. I was rescued by an unknown person who fled into the sea,” the princess responded sharply.
Uriel lit up as he looked on, climbing up on the rock a bit to get a better look at the two. Being spotted quickly, the shieldmaiden drew her sword, “Who goes there?”
Startled, the man fell backward, just in time for Gagedt to swoop down and drop a pair of trunks on his head. “Quick! Slip those over your legs,” he cawed.
Bouncing around, Uriel picked up the shorts and tried to jump into them, falling onto his back. Tail flailing, he managed to get them over his feet then hiked them up just as the two rounded the corner. Laying out on his back with his legs up in the air, he looked then offered a sheepish grin.
“Disengage Grimsette,” the princess requested, bending over to offer her hand, “Have you sustained an injury?”
“Princess…you shouldn’t just offer your hand to a strange man.”
Uriel blushed as he was lifted to his feet. He tried to say thank you, but found himself unable to articulate himself .
“You seem to have laryngitis. Are you able to write your name in the sand?”
Uriel nodded eagerly then wrote out his name, but his letters and the landwalkers' letters seemed to be different.
“I am unfamiliar with your script…but you seem to have the same tongue. Where are you from?”, Grimsette asked.
Uriel thought for a moment then pointed out to the sea.
“From across the sea? Was your ship caught in the squall as well? Do you know your destination?” Princess Eryxa asked.
The man frowned then shook his head then pointed to her castle, nervously smiling, unsure exactly how well this was going to now.
“Understood. Then we shall receive you as a guest until someone comes looking for you. Grimsette, please see that he has a room and proper clothing.”
“Princess…this stranger. Do you believe him to be the young man who saved you?”
The princess turned, staring at Uriel, looking him up and down, “The one who saved me had a playful and kind voice. Our guest does not fit those parameters.”
Swallowing, Uriel looked on as the two moved toward the castle, unable to tell her the truth for now. Following along, he let out a silent sigh then was escorted to the castle where he was given a room by Grimmsette.
“I am uncertain what to call you, so for now, I suppose we’ll call you Squall given the assumed circumstances of our meeting. There are some gentlemen’s clothes in the wardrobe and an under-butler will be in shortly to help you dress for dinner.”
Urile blinked as the shieldmaiden exited, leaving him to look around.
“Wow! Look at this place! You made out well,” Gagedt praised as he swooped in from a window, “Okay. This is what you got to do if you want to close the deal. First you gotta make her laugh-”
The bedroom door soon swung open, silencing the bird for now. Stumbling in, the footman came in and ushered Uriel into the baths. Confused, the man was put into fresh water with a bunch of oils that made his nose burn. The seasalt was combed from his hair and scrubbed off his body. Wobbling out of the tub, he looked at his shiny body then squirmed as he was tickled as the other started to rub him with a cloth.
Soon after he was dressed into the finest threads he’d ever seen on a legwalker then ushered out of the room given to him and into an even larger one with a large flat slab filled with food and surrounded by places to sit. Placed by the princess, he gave her a smile and in return he received a nod. Dinner passed mostly in silence, Uriel being thrown the occasional guess as to where he was from.
Starving, he helped himself to the food, piling onto his plate before eagerly eating things down with his fingers, much to Grimmsette’s horror. Princess Eryxa just observed, taking in the experience quietly. Noticing he was on the spot, he wiped his mouth then sat back rigidly, watching the other two return to their meals before starting to mimic them the best he could. Once dinner had finished, the tables were clear, and he was left to stare at his beloved, unable to say what was in his heart until remembering the hastened advice from his golden wingman.
Hopping up, he wandered over to a set of instruments and picked up a lute, strumming a little song before looking to the others as he played a tune from home before using his weird new snakelike tail to whack the drum after establishing a melody. Grimsette smiled, tapping to the melody while the princess calmly observed. After, he played the melody then began to suddenly pause, then beat the drum after the strangely long pause. Doing this a few times, his eyes widened, looking between the two expectantly.
The shieldmaiden chuckled a little then clapped lightly while the princess stared, gave a small nod, then clapped slowly with an “Amusing.”
Uriel was overcome with joy, strumming the lute in triumph before putting it back down. Grimsette taking note of the day stood then called for the footman to take him away. Back in his room, he was undressed for the evening and left on his own. Sighing, he flopped onto the large bed and crossed his arms until Gagedt fluttered in.
“Okay. Not exactly what I would have done, but you at least made an impression. Now, next you’ve got to impress her. Show her something you're good at.”
Uriel mimed strumming the lute again.
“No, you already did that. Something else. You’ve got another day to woo her. Just don’t try too hard or you’ll come off as a doof.”
Uriel nodded eargerly then let the bird start to pick around through the room for whatever prize he might fancy. Going to the balcony, he looked out to the sea then down at the shore. There, Princess Eryxa stared out into the darkened horizon before turning to look up at him, offering a small humble greeting which he returned before watching her return inside.
Sighing, he wandered back to bed then curled up and fell asleep quickly. The next morning, he was greeted by the under-butler and redressed before being reunited the with princess and her attendant. The day went through quickly, princess Eryxa introducing Uriel to thing’s he’d never seen before to watch him react, him being fascinated by all of the things the landwalkers had as a part of their daily lives. His favorite was the chocobo cart, the Princess letting him have the reins only for both to be scolded by the shieldmaiden after he pushed the limits of its speed.
The day winding down, they found themselves at a secluded grotto for a light picnic dinner. Feeling as if time was slipping by, Uriel started to panic. As they wrapped up their meal, he gestured to a small rowboat on the shore.
“Do you wish to venture out,” the princess asked.
Uriel nodded then hurried over to the boat, patting the stern as he waited for her to join him. Once settled, he gave a little push then hopped in across from her. Rowing he smiled, while she looked him over.
“Perhaps I should guess at your name. Miller? Dylan? Roger?”
Uriel shook his head rapidly before perking his ears as he looked into the water, spotting his clutch brothers watching curiously underneath. Khubastian too seemed to be there, looking rather cross beneath the water. Paddling harder, he tried to outrun them, only to hear improvised music surround them.
“Don’t start yer caterwauling dammit,” Kylnt ordered.
“I’m not. Hey Hey! Brrrothers, you know that song I taught you right,” U’rahn asked to
The Sahagin looked to one another then gave a nod before disjointedly speaking the words rather than singing: “Psha-la-la-la, float along and lishhhen to the song. The shhhong says kishhh the boy,” the brothers hissed out.
“Ah. Nope. Shut it down,” U’rhan sighed, “Still, music really would have made the scene cute. Well, the music was doing its job and…”
Uriel blushed as his clutch brothers did their best to help him out. Above, Gadget fluttered about, scaring fireflies out of an overhanging tree to light the area around them. The two soon leaned in, the ambiance set by his brothers and wingman doing the work. Uriel’s eyes lidded, tilted his head while the princess too leaned in, eyes wide. Just as they were about to seal the magick with a kiss, the boat violently heaved, then toppled them over into the lagoon.
Popping out of the water, Uriel shook out his head then frowned as Princess Eryxa had already started toward the shore. They returned to the palace shortly after, but the moment was gone. Fretting, Uriel paced in his room while Gagedt preened himself.
“Don’t worry. You were close buddy! There’s one more day to win her over. Just think, with one kiss you’ll rule this place and have all the shinies in the world to hand over…I mean, share,” his golden wingman chirped.
Uriel shook his head then hugged himself, while giving Gagedt a meaningful look.
“Yeah yeah, you’re only interested in love. Anyroad, tomorrow, you gotta-”
Gagedt was cut short as a familiar laugh sounded from below. Uriel ran to the balcony, recognizing the voice as his own. Looking down, he spotted a suave looking sailor walking across the beach toward the Princess, the latter’s focus firmly upon them rather than the starry horizon. The sailor let out another laugh in his voice before leaning in to whisper into the young woman’s ear. Panicking, he looked to Gagedt, tail flailing around.
“What? I don’t know who that is more than you do?”
Uriel frowned then flung himself into bed, pulling a pillow close by before passing out for the night. The morning was greeted by bells and the footman rushing in to tell Uriel news of the wedding. Shocked, Uriel quickly roused from his bed and dressed then set off to find the Princess. Tried as he might, he couldn’t seem to find his way to her. All but given up, he wandered into the basement of the castle.
“Hello! Is someone there,” the shieldmaiden’s voice called out.
Uriel blinked then went to a door, finding Grimmsette looking out at him.
“Something is amiss. A stranger appeared last night with the Princess announcing their swift marriage. I objected, and found myself rushed down here! Please sir, I must be let go.”
The merman nodded then unlatched the door, letting her free. He gestured to his throat then pointed back up to the castle, but the shieldmaiden did not seem to parse what he meant.
“I do mean to object to this union too, but I fear we might be too late. I’m sure by now they’ve boarded a vessel to have the ceremony out at sea, as is tradition.”
Uriel frowned then perked up, grabbing Grimmsette’s hand then leading her up and outside. Seeing a ship indeed floating off, he looked to a dinghy then hopped in, grabbing at the oars.
“Not giving up then? Fine. Let’s away,” Grimmsette said before joining him. Together, the two began to row as hard as they could, gaining slowly on the ship, but not as fast as he liked. By the time they drew close, the sun was hanging low, threatening to kiss the horizon. Uriel pointed urgently to the sun then up to the dock above.
“No, you should stay here just in case I must flee. I’ll save the princess,” Grimmsette assured him before boarding through a porthole.
Uriel frowned then looked up towards the deck. Determined to stop the wedding, he clawed into the boat then began to climb upward toward the dock. As he went, Gagedt perched on his shoulder.
“It’s the seawitch! She’s got some magic crystal that’s giving her your voice!”
Uriel flattened his ears, giving the bird some side eye as he climbed away.
“What? You figured that out already? Well then climb! Climb faster,” the bird ordered, talons gripping his shirt to help him move faster.
Once on the deck, Uriel looked out, watching as the princess walked down the aisle. Gagedt soon swept in, pecking at the seawitch, trying to steal the crystal off from around their neck.
“Away you beast,” the seawitch cried out in Uriel’s voice.
Running past Eryxa, Uriel headbutted the villain then took hold of the crystal before hopping back. Looking to his love, he frowned then looked to the crystal. For a moment, he thought he might go steal a kiss, but knew that would be wrong. Instead, he dropped it then gave it a hard stomp with his foot.
His joyful laughter sounded out as the magicks swept upward and back to his throat. Whatever hold the sea witch had on the Princess also faltered, Eryxa looking to Uriel as he gave her a weaksmile, “I’m sorry…” he apologized before falling over, flopping a bit as his tail returned.
Grimmsette soon stormed the dock, finding people running away as Eryxa kneeled down to check on Uriel. Ahead, the seawitch sat up, tentacles throwing things out of her way before slowly rising up, summoning the stolen trident. Even the shieldmaiden was taken aback, the witch’s rippling muscles looking like they could tear through a ship with strength alone and green seaweed coloured hair looking rather menacing. Soon, the great seawitch Ursalynt began to grow to enormous proportions, looking down-”
“You’re done,” Kylnt roared.
U’rahn turned, finding the woman standing behind him, reaching down to yank at the back of his collar and down to his belt. With little effort, she lifted him and gave a single heave, tossing him overboard and into the sea with a little dust of her hands to follow. The Sahagin hurried to the edge of the boat, looking down to the bubbling water below.
“Psh! Brother U’rahn,” Rovv called out, Nyx approaching from behind.
Pulling out a fishing rod, she gave it a little cast, and after a bit, reeled in her waterlogged boyfriend, letting him wheeze as he flopped over onto his back. “M-Maybe I got that bit of the story wrong.”
“Ye swiven did,” Klynt echoed, crossing her arms as she looked down at him.
The witch soon calmed down, though kept her trident at the ready “You passed my test. Instead of using magick to woo her, you chose to do the right thing and appear to her as you are.”
Uriel frowned, flapping his tail on the ground before looking to the unphased Princess, “Ah…So…I guess you see me for what I am then? I’m from the sea below.”
“Understood,” the princess echoed with a nod, lifting him up a bit to help him sit in a chair.
Uriel thought for a moment then looked to the sea…sorceress. “Hey, hey! If you weren’t trying to fully sabotage us, then why did you tip our boat over yesterday? That was all us…I mean I guess without telling her that I was a merman.”
“I didn’t tip your swiven boat,” Ursalynt answered confused before letting out a grunt as Khubastian flew into her from the sea. Taking the trident, he began to laugh maniacally.
“It was I! And now, the land and sea will be under my domain,” he laughed before flipping backward off the ship.
Soon Khubastian grew, rising stories over them before raising up the trident to summon a storm. “Grimmsette, my gun,” Princess Eryxa requested, her attendant quickly producing the arm.
“A blast’em! That’s so cool! Can I fire it,” Uriel asked eagerly.
With a simple side eye, the Princess simply said, “No,” then began to fire at the enchanted merman to distract him. Uriel watched with amazement before flopping himself to the edge of the ship and diving in. Whistling, he summoned his clutch brothers, careful to avoid the strikes of lightning from above.
“Brothers! Khubastian must be stopped! He’ll destroy the legwalkers first then come for our home.”
The brothers let out a war cry, handing Uriel an extra trident before they began to leap out of the water and attack. A joint effort between land and sea saw Khubastian fall. The Princess with her blast’em, Grimmsette with her sword, Ursalynt with her sea magicks, and the brothers with their tridents. Though humongous, they all bravely took him down, Khubastian crying out in agony as he sank below. The magick trident freed, Uriel retrieved it, then gave it to Ursalynt to calm the storm.
The seas calmed, the brothers went back home to tell of their victory and Khubastian’s misdeeds. With a skilled jump, Uriel flung himself back to the Princess's ship deck then smiled up at her. “This wouldn’t be a bad time to ask for a date would it?”
“It is agreeable,” she responded before leaning down to give him a small kiss on the cheek.
And so they properly courted, Uriel visiting the shore on mutual ground until the Princess formally proposed that they marry and live happily era after. His clutch father and dad, seeing how happy their son was, granted him legs to walk upon land beside her, and ruled jointly with Ursaklynt after. The brothers all too found their own clutch queens soon after, and everyone lived as a big happily family between the two kingdoms of land and sea. The end.
U’rahn sat up, smiling to his clutch brothers and Nyx, the former all clapping eagerly.
“Nice save,” Klynt muttered, giving him a rough pat on the back, “Though it’d have been better if the sea sorceress shacked up Grimmsette’s brother or Posiodhn too.”
U’rahn thought for a moment, before finding Nyx sitting down in front of him, “You’ve now ended your story and I am able to provide feedback. The Ruby Sea has a kingdom underwater of legwalkers as you called them. You provided no reason for them to fear one another aside from the parental characters saying so. I enjoyed the straightforward characterization of the Princess. It was not explained what the character Gagedt would use gold for as a golden eagle. I do not believe golden eagles are native to the coa-”
Klynt left out a hearty laugh as U’rahn was given a full rundown of his narrative by his girlfriend. Everyone leaving them be, he impulsively leaned in to kiss her, pulling away rather flustered. “I’ll work on a better story for next time.”
“Acknowledged. I will continue to provide feedback to help your craft.”
“That would be nice Nyx…but for now, let’s just watch the sunset,” he mused, getting up off the ground before holding out a hand, offering to help her up. Together, they moved to the bow of the deck. Smiling, U’rahn took her hand in his, then looked out to the horizon as he attempted to coil their tails.
“Say…maybe once we get back we can see my brothers off then grab some nice food and set sail again. Just the two of us.”
“I’d like that, Rahn.”
U’rahn beamed then wiggled his ears. “Then it’s a date. Guess we just need to figure out how to get rid of the sea witch.”
“Rahn, there are no sea witches among us.”
U’rahn chuckled a bit to himself then gave her hand a little squeeze. As he got comfortable, he felt himself lifted once more by Kylnt’s grasp and his body being flung through the air once more. As he fell, he looked to his girlfriend as she blankly watched him fall back into the sea below.
#year of the otp#year of the otp february#mermaid au#final fantasy oc#ffxiv#ff xiv#ff14#ff 14#U'rahn Nuhn#Klynt gohtawyn#nyx blackmoon#sahagin#clutchbrothers#clutch brothers#zoissette vauban#erick gage#gage acquisitions
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Kermit The Frog for the seven questions/name a character ask game?
@softlytowardthesun @princesssarisa @themousefromfantasyland @the-blue-fairie @angelixgutz @moonbeamelf @amalthea9 @silverfoxstole
1. Three facts about him from my personal headcanons:
* He started his professional life as a reporter before deciding that theater and film were his calling;
* His swamp family tree has branches in Florida, Louisiana, Mississipi and North Carolina;
* He is a huge fan of the Pogo comic strips by Walt Kelly because its about animals who live their lifes in a swamp;
2. A reason he sucks:
He tought that pay day was only in the first year of work, when its in fact on every year.
3. A reason he is great:
Wherever there is a project for a performance, he never thinks of stardom for himself only, and always calls his friends to bring in their talent so they can all perform together.
4. A reason I relate to him:
I can be a melancholic introvert and I wish to make other people happy trough art.
5. (What I consider to be) the top tier otp/ot3 for him:
*Gonzo the Great;
*Miss Mousey;
*Miss Piggy (with reservations);
6. Five things that never happened to him that I believe should have happened:
* An encounter with his sister who is Robin's mother;
* A flashback about how he arrived in the place that is The Muppet Theater and J.P Grosse becamed his landlord;
* A date with Miss Piggy where he takes her to watch the opera La Boheme;
* Him staring in a sketch where he plays a taxi driver, referencing the episode of Muppet Babies where his baby self sayed that he wanted to be a taxi driver when he grewed up;
* Somebody inviting him to star in an adaptation of The Wind in the Willows as Mr. Toad, and he has to explain the difference between a frog and a toad;
7. Five people that he never fell in love with and why:
* Scooter: Kermit mainly sees Scooter as a younger friend;
* Skeeter: For the same reason as Scooter;
* Janice: She is an older sister figure to him, and he is a huge suporter of her relationship's with Zoot and Floyd Pepper;
* Spamela Hamderson: He only sees her as a professional colleague;
* Yolanda the Rat: Because he is her boss;
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Night Sky / North Star
(c) kymberli janine 2021
(my OTP)
#artists on tumblr#kymberli janine#illustration#original art#wlw concepts#sapphic#celestial#starry night#digital art#procreate art#procreate
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Constant
Happy birthday to the Sith Son, have just shy of 6k Tragen/Jaesa fluff that was pure joy to write. :D
---
Force Bonds made it blasted hard to keep secrets.
You had to bury them very deep and hide them very well. Maintain control always to not let anything slip. Tragen had quite a lot of practice burying things deep and hiding them well, and even more not letting things slip.
But never from her.
At least Alderaan had gone smoothly, despite Vette's knowing smirk why she was along instead of Jaesa. Who was conveniently busy helping Sana-Rae with something.
Tragen deflected any attempts to pry, and he wasn't lying to say he wanted to spend more time with Vette. It went without a hitch--official and unofficial missions both--and they were back on Odessen in short order, where a potentially much more difficult negotiation awaited.
"Lana, Jaesa and I need a week."
She arched a brow. "For what?"
"For ourselves," Tragen clarified.
"And I'd love to say we can manage without you so you could have it," she replied, lowering her datapad. "Stars know you deserve it." She cocked her head. "Romantic getaway?"
"In part," Tragen said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've been promising all parties she and I would visit my family again, and as my birthday is nearing, I thought it would be fitting if we could get the timing to work out."
"You mother, sister, and girlfriend all together for such an occasion?" Lana chuckled and steepled her fingers. "Brave man."
"Oh, I feel like Vette would also need to be present for it to be a true test of courage," he deadpanned with a fond smile, before sobering. "We've been doing so much for so long. Jaesa needs a break. I need a break. And as there's no current major crisis, just multiple smaller issues, this seems as good a time as we're going to get."
"You're not wrong," Lana said wryly. "This sounds more like you're informing me of plans you have no intention to change than asking to be accommodated..." She sat back with a sigh. "...You are the Commander, I suppose you don't truly need to ask...."
Tragen shrugged. He hadn't been planning to say it, not so bluntly, anyway. "I'd never intentionally leave you and the Alliance in the lurch."
"Diplomatic as always." Lana smiled, staring at him as if attempting to divine why he was so insistent in this. He wondered if she found it. "I appreciate that, Commander. The two of you do indeed deserve some time. We'll make it work."
"It won't be long; I'm sure you will manage just fine. And thank you." He inclined his head in a polite and grateful farewell as he took his leave. With the harder pieces now in place, he could find Jaesa to tell her he was whisking her away.
---
Jaesa was all too happy to be whisked away, particularly to visit his family over his birthday.
"Glad you finally learned how to be a little bit selfish," she teased.
"Such sage Jedi advice today," he returned lightly, leaning in to steal a kiss.
Jaesa giggled--"Touché"--and cupped his face in her hands, mirth dancing in her eyes. "But it would be a shame for the Alliance Commander to burn himself out," she murmured, claiming another kiss. "Your mother will be elated with this development."
Tragen hummed an agreement. "She's going to pop my spine again, I know it," he chuckled ruefully. They'd only managed one visit back to Stenos prior to the Wild Space expedition, and none since, only comm calls. Elated was likely an understatement.
"You hug like her when you're excited, you know," Jaesa said, sliding her arms around his waist.
"High praise." He kissed her forehead. "Would you like to be present when I comm her?"
"Would I," she grinned. "I can pack after."
His mother's excitement was indeed palpable, even over a holocall. "Of course, we'd love for you to visit! And over your birthday?! I'll have to see what we can--"
Tragen chuckled, bit back a smile. "Mother, please don't make too much of a fuss."
She snorted and the flickering blue holo turned to Jaesa. "D'you hear him?! First birthday at home in over twenty years and he wants me to not make a big fuss."
Jaesa's laugh shook her shoulders and rippled across their bond. It was endearing.
"What was I thinking," he drawled. "No presents."
"I'll try to keep it somewhat low-key," his mother said with a teasing sigh. "You know it would just be the family, regardless."
Jaesa slipped away to pack as the talk turned to logistics and Tragen's gaze drifted to watch her go. His mother was smiling when he turned back to the holo. "What?"
"I know you're very busy, darling, but how are things going there?"
"Very well." He smiled as his gaze drifted back to the doorway. "Very, very well."
"That sounds promising."
Tragen smirked at the hinting in her voice. "Aren't you normally much better at subtlety?"
"That's for work," she gestured dismissively, "not family."
He almost told her, but this was more fun. "A man has to have some secrets, Mother." Besides, Jaesa might pick up something through their bond if he let his hold slip. "We'll see you soon."
"Oh, fine," she laughed. "Have your secrets. I'll look forward to prying them out of you in person."
"You're welcome to try," Tragen couldn't resist countering before he ended the call. He bit back a smile, buried certain thoughts very deep once more, and left to follow Jaesa's example in packing.
---
Much to his relief, no galactic crises arose in the interim, and he and Jaesa were able to depart for Stenos on schedule. The journey was uneventful, though it was still slightly odd having the Dawn entirely to themselves. Tragen used the trip from the spaceport to his family's estate to mark what had changed since his childhood, and indeed since their last visit. Landmarks and buildings that were gone or altered, a gap in the view that used to show rock spires, new business that looked weathered--from the Eternal Empire's conquest, he assumed.
Not everything had changed, however. The parliament chamber façade was still the same, if bearing some signs of skillful repair work. The starter school he'd attended before looked largely as he remembered. And just before they reached the family estate, the far edge of the city came into view, and Tragen gave a reflexive sigh of relief.
The observatory was still there.
Jaesa cocked her head. "Everything alright?"
He nodded, interlacing their finger to squeeze her hand. "Just grateful some things remain the same." The speeder cab came to a stop and they climbed out. Tragen indicated the unmistakable silhouette as they retrieved their bags. "The observatory is one of the lynchpin memories from my childhood."
Back before the war, and the Sith, and everything going to hell.
"Oh, you'll have to show me at some point while we're here," she said with a smile. "If it was that important to you."
Her enthusiasm made his heart squeeze. "Definitely," he promised, sliding one arm around her waist to pull her in for a kiss. "I would share everything with you."
"Mmm, romantic," Jaesa hummed, leaning into the kiss. "But your family should come first."
"Of course." He was eager to see them, the occasional holocoall over the last few years was nowhere near enough. "Shall we?"
Jaesa stepped back, sliding free of his arm to intertwine their fingers. "We shall."
The door opened as they reached it, only the first sign how eagerly anticipated their arrival was.
The second was his mother waiting in the vestibule to hug them both. She did pop his spine. He sent Jaesa an amused look over her head that made a surge of mirth dance across their bond.
"I feel as if I'm missing an inside joke," Mother commented, stepping back to look between them.
"Instincts sharp as ever. But no." Tragen kissed her cheek. "We'd discussed your enthusiasm at the visit beforehand and I'm grateful to see it unabated."
She laughed and hugged him again. "We haven't seen you in... eight years, darling. The spires would crumble before my enthusiasm does."
"A fair point. Are Father and Jeniyha--"
"Equally excited? Yes. Home? Also yes." She gestured down the hall. "They're just down there. Alternately, if you'd like a few minutes to settle in, there a room prepared upstairs...?"
"Oh, I'd much rather say hello first," Tragen said, sensing Jaesa's assent even before she nodded. "I've missed you all."
Mother beamed and summoned a housekeeping droid to take care of their bags, then led the way down the hall.
---
His mother had been correct; Father and Jeniyha's greetings were equally thrilled--if slightly more reserved in comparison to her own. Jeniyha was clearly following Mother's example when it came to hugs.
"Leadership suits you," she commented, looking him over. A sly and mischievous gleam filled her eyes as she glanced at Jaesa. "As does being in love."
"Correct, on both counts," Tragen agreed easily. "Very intuitive, little sister."
She rolled her eyes (admittedly, his intention) but didn't deign to react beyond that. "Being able to read people does help with security work."
"Hm, and has it helped you find a special someone I can tease you about?" he deadpanned.
"Not yet." Jeniyha smiled sweetly. "I'm afraid you and Jaesa still get that spotlight. I am, as some say, married to the job."
"Ah, yes, I have some friends like that," Tragen drawled.
"Do you nag them as much as Mother and Father do me?" she asked with a laugh.
"Likely not," he laughed in reply, "but only because I'm too busy myself to nag as often as I'd like."
Mother smiled as they all took a seat. "That does come with the territory of leadership, I'm afraid."
"Mm." Tragen smiled when Jaesa hand slipped into his. "I don't mind it, for the most part. It's good being able to help." --rather than harm. Finally.
"And I imagine you get to see end to end of the galaxy while you're about it," Father commented, his first interjection since they exchanged greetings. He had always been one to observe, to listen, before speaking.
"Frequently." Tragen couldn't keep the wry note out of his voice. It lost some of the luster after you bounced around enough. "Most recently Dantooine and Alderaan."
There was a flicker of surprise from Jaesa.
He squeezed her hand. They're fine.
Relief and gratitude twined with wistfulness answered his assurance, but she didn't say anything, letting the conversation carry on.
It largely stayed on surface topics; what they'd all been doing--Jeniyha had a recent promotion, Father had handled a couple different trade negotiations--plans for the next couple days, how the journey had been, until it naturally started to wind down. There were still a couple hours until dinner, so Tragen and Jaesa took their time to settle in. This visit, unfortunately, wasn't long enough to warrant unpacking, but they could get comfortable in the room.
Tragen did, at least. There was something... hesitant to Jaesa's sense that finally prompted him to ask. "Is everything alright, Jaesa? You've been quiet."
She nodded, running her fingers absently along the edge of the bedclothes, and flashed a sheepish smile. "I think there's a little of the handmaiden left in me; grand houses like this" --she gestured to the large room with its rich furnishings and balcony-- "leave me a little... off-balance? Remind me who I was before everything." She laughed and ran a hand over her hair as she looked out through the colored glass of the balcony doors. That I don't fit anywhere, she thought and he heard. "I suppose I did revert to... fading into the background, didn't I?"
"Not for me," Tragen answered the words spoken and not. He circled the bed to wrap an arm around her waist.
"Yes, well, that would be the Force Bond," Jaesa said playfully, with a grateful smile all the same, clasping her hands at the back of his neck.
"In part," he conceded with a laugh, "but it's also because I love you" --kissed her forehead-- "and care about you."
"Is that why you checked on my parents?"
In part. He nodded. "I know they're important to you. And they're settled in well, back somewhere familiar. It appears Baras didn't get much chance to... interact with them before paranoia made one of his apprentices an all-consuming focus."
She hummed a small laugh at his dry tone. "Well, thank you for being distraction enough to save them from his tender mercies."
"Seems only right, since I'm the reason they were at those mercies to begin with," Tragen muttered.
Jaesa smiled, her thumb caressing arcs against his scarred right cheek. "It worked out alright. They're alive, settled in from what you said."
He nodded. "Though I think they're still adjusting to having so much space just for the two of them."
Her smile turned wistful. "I wish I could have gone."
"As do I." Tragen tucked her hair behind her ear with his index finger. "Had my mission been less urgent, I would have waited until you were free to accompany me."
"What was your mission?"
Tragen tugged her toward the balcony as he answered. "We'd received intelligence Rist was manipulating some of the other houses into conflict so they could play all sides to increase their holdings, but it would have destabilized the entire planet had they succeeded."
"The usual Alderaanian politics, then," Jaesa sighed and leaned against the rail to take in the view.
"Mm. Vette was more than happy to tag along, but" --he stepped up next to her, so close their shoulders touched, and took her hand-- "I'm sure we can work something out for you to visit."
The warmth that flared across their bond was more than matched by her smile. She leaned her head on his shoulder. "My birthday's in a couple months, you think that's enough time to work it out?"
"Yes." Tragen kissed the top of her head. "I'll discuss things with Lana, do what needs doing to accomplish it."
"Just like that?" Jaesa straightened to arch a brow.
"For you? Of course."
She bit her lip, looked out at the horizon and back, then leaned in to kiss him. "I love you, you know."
Tragen shifted, leaning his hip against the rail and cupping her jaw with one hand to kiss her back more deeply. "And I love you, you know."
The temptation was strong. So very strong. But he had a plan, and if he debated changing it too long, something would surely slip across their bond.
As it was, Jaesa was giving him a What are you hiding? look when he fought off the temptation. Nothing bad. And nothing you won't learn in due time.
Curiosity was replaced with trust, so easily it made his breath catch, and she tucked herself close with her back to his chest. "We should enjoy this view a bit more before dinner, don't you think?"
"Yes, we should." Tragen wrapped an arm around her shoulders and rested his chin atop her head.
Not much longer, he promised himself, and hoped he could keep it.
---
Dinner was a light-hearted affair, with conversation that flowed as easily as before. What started as a group discussion worked its way around to breaking off; Tragen talking to his parents and Jaesa with Jeniyha.
He was thrilled the two of them were hitting it off(even knowing they were probably talking about him). The sense of warm amusement at Jaesa's end of their bond made him smile and he missed a question his mother asked. "Sorry?"
"Plans for tomorrow?" she repeated, playing with the spiral pendent of her necklace.
"Nothing set in stone," Tragen said, arching a brow at the jewelry. "My time is usually very full and scheduled, I wanted to take the day as it comes. The only intention is to take Jaesa sight-seeing. We didn't have time on our last visit and she wants to see where I grew up."
"Makes sense," Mother nodded with a small smile.
"There's no set time for that, however, just when it fits in the day. " He tipped his head toward the pendent. "When did you start wearing your engagement necklace as everyday jewelry? That used to be for your anniversary or fancy occasions only, if I recall."
Father smirked. "Told you he'd notice, Jamilah."
She laughed. "It isn't everyday jewelry; you and Jaesa visiting is hardly everyday."
Tragen chuckled. "Dropping hints, Mother?"
"Perhaps, son," she replied with a mischievous smile.
"Always the diplomat," he smiled back, dodging the hint. Perhaps you don't need to. "Saying even more without words than with them. I'm sure you had designs for some of our time tomorrow. What do I need to plan around?"
For half a moment, he thought she was going to dig further, a tricky situation with Jaesa right there. But she accepted his redirect with a wry smile. "Aside from planning to include some favorites at meals, we were thinking dinner out, and--if you want--we have a reserved box at the theatre."
Tragen paused to work out the timing in his head. Stenosi evenings lingered this time of year. "Depending on the showtime, that sounds perfect." It was about as 'toned down' as he could expect her to go.
"Evening plans?" she arched a brow looking at Jaesa.
"Possibly. But they are also... flexible." To an extent. "I'll discuss it with Jaesa, but that should be a lovely evening."
"Discuss what with me?" Jaesa's head swiveled their direction hearing her name.
He relayed the proposal for his birthday evening. "We can also take the day as it comes--"
"No, that sounds nice, long as someone has a dress they can lend me; I didn't bring anything fancy."
"I can definitely help there," Jeniyha chipped in. "I work security at a lot of upper class places, so it'll be stunning" --smirked at Tragen--"and comfortable."
With that settled, their conversation turned back to more general topics until it petered out for the night and they all turned in.
---
He woke on his birthday with Jaesa snuggled atop his chest. Warm brown eyes and a small smile, as she'd clearly been watching him sleep.
Tragen matched her smile with a lazy one of his own. "Good morning." He ran his fingers up her spine. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mm." She nodded, resting her chin on his chest.
"What?" he asked, still lazily rubbing her back, when she continued studying him.
"I love your nose." She traced one fingertip down it, along the curve of his lips, "...your smile..." up the side of his face. "...your eyes. All of you, really." She pushed herself up to kiss him and Tragen hummed gratitude as he leaned into it.
"I love you, too," he said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear as she settled back on his chest. He would be... quite happy to spend most--if not all--of the day right here, watching the colored light from the balcony window play green, pink, blue across her hair, her skin. "Very, very much."
Jaesa kissed his collarbone. "Happy birthday, Tragen."
He chuckled, slightly breathless. "Thank you."
They lay in silence, simply enjoying the comfortable bed and each other's company.
Until Tragen's stomach growled.
"Suppose that's our cue to go get breakfast," Jaesa teased, stealing another light kiss before she rolled away out of bed.
"Suppose so," he muttered, disappointed it had come so soon regardless, as he followed her example. They dressed and headed downstairs, just in time to catch Jeniyha on her way out.
"Quick consult job this morning," she explained, darting back to give Tragen a hug. "But I should be back by lunch, and happy birthday." She was gone before he could open his mouth to thank her.
"Did everyone in your family choose... demanding careers?" Jaesa asked, sliding her arm around his waist.
Tragen laughed and rested his arm around her shoulders. "Mine was more... thrust upon me, but yes. Busyness was always something of a constant for us."
Mother was waiting for them in the dining room and joined for breakfast, though from the little she took, Tragen suspected she'd actually eaten with Jeniyha. They chatted, confirmed the loose flow of plans for the day, and then Tragen and Jaesa set off.
He hadn't realized how many places there were he wanted to show her until he started listing destinations for the speeder cab's droid pilot. "How much do you want to see...?"
"Everything important to you first," she said, with barely a hesitation, "then the more sightseer-tourist type places."
"Noted." There were a couple that fit both descriptions, and he plotted for those first.
---
Their timing worked out perfectly, and they arrived at the Gerida spire observation platform just in time to watch the skimmer cranes' daily departure. After watching the iridescent birds disappear toward the horizon, they spent some more time enjoying the magnificent view. (He told her how he and Dieq used to sit with their feet hanging off the edge and drop pebbles, to watch the way the spire sparkled when they hit and broke.)
Tragen had forgotten how breathtaking some of his homeworld's natural vistas could be. Watching Jaesa's face as she moved along the platform to take it in at different angles was a study in wonder that made his chest tight. He waited until she was satisfied and asking where to next before they moved along to some of the more personal places.
---
The midschool he'd attended was gone, which was a surprise, but he could show her some of the museums he'd enjoyed visiting as a child. And by some miracle both the crystalline lake of summers off and the arcade of childhood weekends were still around. Tragen chuckled for a moment at the irony of the arcade outlasting the school. They passed by the street with Dieq and Norra's house--any closer would have felt odd, but this way he could point out where his best friend had lived--before turning back toward the family house.
"What about the observatory?" Jaesa asked, confusion evident even if the angle of her head resting on his chest hid her face.
"That's best visited later, sunset or further into the evening," Tragen explained, linking their fingers and idly playing with her hand. "I thought we'd return home for lunch, have some time to relax before dinner and the theatre with my family. There's also tomorrow for seeing anything we don't get to today."
"I like that plan," Jaesa said with a contented sigh. She settled their linked hands in her lap. "You're very smart, that's something else I love about you."
"Is this going to be a pattern today?" Tragen chuckled, kissing her temple. "Randomly mentioned things you love about me?"
"Yes." She giggled. "It is. It's your birthday; I can be a little more vocal about my very long list."
He rested his cheek against the top of her head. "I'll return the favor on your birthday."
---
The afternoon passed quickly, despite them not doing much of anything. Lunch, which was delicious, then sitting on the balcony of their room to read--which turned into a nap for Jaesa, and Tragen wouldn't have moved for galaxies with her head on his shoulder--then a meandering tour of the Xo'ric family home. The latter lasted until Jeniyha tracked them down to kidnap Jaesa for dress selection. Tragen sat in the far-flung garden gazebo, enjoying the peace until it was time for him to get ready as well.
He found himself fending off the first vestiges of nerves. Almost time. He'd waited long enough for this. Too long, part of him grumbled.
That part got louder at his first sight of Jaesa 'all dolled up' as she bashfully called it. Jeniyha had been correct; she was stunning. Breathtaking. Her borrowed deep blue dress draped in an off-shoulder fashion, supported by narrow straps covered in delicate silver beading. A wide swirling, swooping design was likewise beaded around the midriff, and the skirt fell in silky folds below it to just above the ground. Her hair was side parted, showing off a silver filigree ear cuff.
The feeling was mutual if her expression was anything to go by. Or the way her hands settled on his arms; caressing the near-black-purple jacket sleeves.
"Jaesa, you..." He made himself take a breath, arms sliding around her waist. "I fear I won't catch a moment of this show." He tipped her chin up when she started to duck her head. "You look lovely." He kissed her, light and almost chaste.
"Thank you," she murmured against his mouth. "You're... I think I'll be distracted, too."
Tragen smiled, thumb rubbing her cheek. "We'll be a source of great amusement for my family, I'm sure."
"Speaking of which, we should go." Despite her words, Jaesa rocked up for one more kiss before turning toward the door.
His prediction proved correct; while conversation with his family was enough to keep him focused during dinner, his attention kept drifting to Jaesa from the moment they took their seats at the theatre. He tried to watch the play, he really did. But Jaesa's thumb was rubbing soft, absent arcs against the heel of his hand as they sat with fingers loosely tangled atop the armrest between them. And what he could sense from their Force bond... She was happy, she was content, she was occasionally distracted by him(as she'd predicted).
His family didn't seem surprised when he said he and Jaesa would return separately afterwards. "I promised to show her the observatory."
"Of course, this is the best time," Mother said with a smile at their linked arms, glancing up at the red, gold, and pink just starting to fade from the sky. "We'll see you when you get back."
"How much of the show did you catch?" Jaesa asked mischievously once they were in their cab.
"Bits," Tragen admitted with a sheepish laugh. "It was a drama, yes? Star-crossed lovers?"
"Mm. They got a happy ending."
"Good to know." He selected the option to reserve the cab for a set amount of time rather than single trip before giving the destination. "In case Mother asks."
"Oh, I'm not helping you fake it to her," Jaesa said with a laugh. "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear where your attention was instead."
"Minx," he grumbled--not an ounce of heat in the word--as he leaned in for a kiss.
"And you love me," she grinned, hand sliding to the back of his neck.
"More than I can put into words."
"That honesty's another thing I love about you," Jaesa murmured just before their lips met.
Ironic, since when they met he'd been living a lie. But not to her. Never to her. The truth was a constant, he was an open book where she was concerned.
The trip felt ages long and far too short all at once before the cab slotted into one of the idling spaces near the observatory doors and they exited. Tragen left his jacket on the seat.
"There's no one here," Jaesa commented, looking around.
"According to Mother, while still open to the public, the observatory has largely fallen into disuse, save nights of 'extraordinary celestial events'," Tragen explained, rolling up his sleeves before taking her hand to walk inside. "A shame, but I'm grateful we should have the whole place to ourselves."
Jaesa smiled shyly, bit her lip. "You mentioned it was important to you...?"
"Mmhm." He briefly released her hand to pass the turnstile in the lobby, squeezing it once they rejoined. "There was a school trip here when I was... seven? eight? We stayed overnight to observe a meteor shower, and I was entranced by the stars as a whole. I started visiting whenever I could, learned all the constellations, how they tracked across the sky." Their steps echoed in the dim, empty space as they climbed the stairs to the main observation galley. "This was one of my favorite places," Tragen continued (heartbeat matching the echo of their footsteps), "I'd come for quiet, to watch the stars, to clear my head after fights with friends or my sister..." They reached the platform and he rested a hand on the railing. "The stars don't change. They're always there, whether or not you can see them." He nodded toward the large, wispy clouds obscuring half the sky, hiding the moons. "And that's been no small source of comfort through my life."
Jaesa studied him for a long moment, sense dancing with a mix of emotions and she reached for him through their bond, before, softly, "Thank you for showing me something that's so important to you."
"Of course." He tugged her closer, kissed her forehead. "Seems only fitting to share one constant in my life with another."
Jaesa rocked into the kiss, then pulled away to lean against the railing with a small, rueful laugh. "Constant aside from the seven year gap."
"Which was no more your doing or desire than my own," Tragen countered, resting his hip against the rail and studying her profile. "And I knew you were there, even when we were not together." Much like the stars. "I thought of you often, and that was its own source of strength."
"I'm glad," she said, so quietly he barely heard, a whirl of emotion surging through their Bond that did little to slow his pounding heart. She glanced at the 'scopes, the softly flickering information terminals scattered around, then up at the sky. "You have a lot of good memories here," she commented, tracing one finger along the railing in front of her.
"Quite a few," he agreed, chest tight and his own emotions too high to contain any longer. "I'm... hoping to add another."
I've waited long enough.
Jaesa's head snapped toward him, reading something in his eyes or the intention he could no longer hide through their bond.
"Yes," she said, voice breaking, eyes bright. She leaned in, grabbing the loosened collar of his shirt to pull him close enough for a kiss, mumbling, "Yes, I will," against his mouth.
His fingers dug into her hair, relief and joy and too many other emotions to parse escaping as a laugh, and Tragen couldn't help teasing, "Not even planning to let me ask properly?"
Jaesa pulled away enough to meet his eye, her hands cupping his face. "Tragen, you were asking on your birthday, in a place you called a lynchpin memory from your childhood. Do you honestly expect me to believe you didn't know I'd say yes?"
He chuckled, still breathless and giddy. "Alright, you've got me there."
She smiled coyly and slid her arms down around his waist. "I'd like to think I have you everywhere."
"That, too," he laughed, fingers carding through her hair as he kissed her. Yes. She said yes.
"The Force Bond also helped," Jaesa added when they broke away, eyes dancing.
"That did make it rather hard to keep secret as long as I did," Tragen said with a wry smile.
"You did a good job," she said. "I know how hard that is, and you only slipped right at the end." She kissed the tip of his nose. "Can't really blame you for that."
"For which I am most grateful." He hummed another small laugh and tucked her hair back so he could see her face. Stunningly beautiful, the stars and his own joy reflected in her eyes. A sight well worth committing to memory. "So then, Jaesa Willsaam, you will marry me?"
A shiver of delight ran along the bond as she smiled--and oh, he'd unseated emperors and that smile was enough to make his knees weak.
Jaesa slid her hands up to link behind his neck. "In a heartbeat, Tragen Xo'ric, and for all the heartbeats I have left." She pulled him down for a kiss. "You've been my constant at least as much as I've been yours," she murmured. "Steady as the stars."
Tragen smiled and rested his forehead to hers. "That makes this seem even more fitting..." His slipped his hand in his pocket for the small box he'd been all-too-aware of since they departed for dinner. "It is Stenosi tradition, upon committing to an engagement, for the asker to seal said commitment with a gift."
He drew the box from his pocket as he spoke, and Jaesa gave a small gasp as she took and opened it. "This is... beautiful."
The cresting wave of her emotions made clear the word's inadequacy. He understood.
Words in general felt... not enough right now.
"By tradition, the necklace's design is things that unite the couple," Tragen said as the softly glowing lights caught the etched circle of stars with a lightsaber crystal in the center of the roughly thumbnail-sized pendent. "The stone is merezite, carefully harvested from a small cluster of the spires; light, delicate, and far stronger than its appearance suggests." He tipped her chin up with his knuckle and smiled. "Very fitting, I think."
Jaesa smiled back and bit her lip. "Could you... help me put it on?"
Tragen nodded, willing his hands not to shake as he freed the delicate chain and fastened it around her neck. He brushed a kiss to the curve of her shoulder once the clasp was fastened.
She gave a small, whining hum at the gesture. "Should we... head back?"
He chuckled and kissed just behind her ear, relishing her delighted shiver as he tugged her back against his chest. "Much as I like the thought of having you all to myself under the stars..." He wrapped his arm around her middle to hold her close, "...I suppose we can do so just as easily in our room."
"The balcony is nice," Jaesa said softly, leaning her head back against his cheek. "And we'd have privacy and could be in more comfortable clothes" --her hand rested on his forearm, tracing light patterns over the skin--"much as the dressed-down-fancy look suits you."
Tragen kissed her temple for the compliment. "A compelling case. Let's return home."
They descended the stairs in content--giddy--silence, his arm around her shoulders, and her hand raised to link their fingers. It was after they were back in the speeder cab, whisking toward his family's estate that Tragen spoke again.
"Just to prepare you," he began, playing with Jaesa's fingers as their hands sat tangled together between them, "my mother will very likely notice the necklace and piece together what happened within moments of our entering." He huffed a laugh. "And if she doesn't, Jeniyha will."
"We'd be telling them anyway, so..." Jaesa shrugged and stilled his hand to give it a squeeze.
Tragen chuckled. "Just wanted you to be ready."
"Consider me braced," she teased. "And you looking out for me in things like this is another reason I love you."
"Squeezing in one more before the end of the day?" he drawled.
Jaesa gave him a mischievous smile. "Oh, I'm sure I'll be reminded of a few more before it truly ends," she said, not breaking eye contact as she raised their joined hands to press a kiss at the base of his thumb. "At least."
He didn't need the bond to take her meaning.
Tragen grinned. "I'll look forward to exceeding your expectations-"
The words were partly cut off as she closed the distance to kiss him, and he laughed into it, grateful that he could now focus on enjoying the benefits of a Force Bond on the best day of his life.
--
God, do these two deserve this, and there was much "Oh god it's happening.gif"-ing on my part while I was writing it.
Cannot WAIT until they tell Vette. :3 The whoop of joy will be audible from space(impressive, with how vacuum works and all).
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maybe I'll just never write stuff for anything but my super weird/niche/dormant/old pairings ever again 🤷♀️
#it's past 2am the sleep meds are..... losing the battle. I'm in my AO3 inbox like wow... all these lil comments. for me.#idk it's weird man cause I see all the comments and 🥰 it's like maybe I AM decent to even good! at this whole fic hobby thing#I haven't been able to write for...... a while now. my last fic all but flopping kinda crushed my enthusiasm#but the tiny dead dormant old fandoms... my fics there get a few kudos... and it's like holy shit! getting a new comment on one??? 🤯#like I of course treasure very comment/kudo there's just idk like a niche pairing fic might only get 50 kudos but goddamnit#that's SOMETHING in a small or dormant fandom!#idk where this is all going tbh I'm still stuck in video game blorbo hell#and still unable to write? but feeling less 🥴 about my DESIRE to write#at least for THESE blorbos#absolutely zero desire to write again probably for the foreseeable future for..... lots of stuff#which idk I don't have any unfinished stuff so it doesn't really matter#I just also sadly know that the blorbos I AM enthusiastic abt... not many other ppl are so 🤷♀️#my bread and butter north star OTPs are not uhhh... popular ships lol#kinda out here clogging tags with my crap over them but idk 🤷♀️ IDK MAN 🤷♀️#this got very rambly and idk what the POINT really is other than LOL why haven't my sleep meds been working this week 😠#erin explains it all
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NCIS: Los Angeles Season 13 Rewatch: “Perception”
The basics: While most of the team deals with the murder of a Navy photographer, Rountree is racially profiled while driving his sister to class.
Written by: Faythallegrea Claude. This is Faythallegrea Claude's first episode.
Directed by: Benny Boom directed "Ghost Gun", "767", "Fool Me Twice", "Pro Se", "Hail Mary" and "Groundwork".
Guest stars of note: Karina Logue returns from “Pro Se” as Detective Whiting. Ava McCoy as Jordyn Rountree, Max Deacon as Navy Lieutenant Daniel Walsh, Nolan North as Navy Commander Oscar Northcutt, Christy St. John as Navy Petty Officer Andrea Bishop, Wendy Gazelle as Gwendolyn Archer, Preshous Jordan as Lea Anderson, Luke Barnett as Jake Hanson, Ian Stanley as LAPD Officer McNeil, Benjamin Franczuszki as LAPD Officer Dubrons and Liliana Monique Ruiz as Melody.
Our heroes: Let Rountree take the lead.
What important things did we learn about:
Callen: Wants to do what’s right for Rountree by letting Rountree take the lead.
Sam: Doesn’t wait for change, makes it happen.
Kensi: Making sure the CSIs know Deeks is kidding.
Deeks: Talks about his father and the absurdity of the man thinking he was better than anyone.
Fatima: Big hugger.
Rountree: Racially profiled.
Kilbride: Livid about Rountree’s situation.
What not so important things did we learn about:
Callen: Finds Deeks’s style Surfer Chic.
Sam: Can operate a ghost dog.
Kensi: Takes all the photos in the Blye-Deeks marriage.
Deeks: Thinks his style is California Casual.
Fatima: Largely working alone in Ops today.
Rountree: Everything about Rountree was important today.
Kilbride: Thinks Fatima is great at finding people.
Where in the world is Henrietta Lange? Not today.
Who's down with OTP: Not that type of episode.
Who's down with BrOTP: Not that type of episode.
Fashion review: Dark green plaid button-down for Callen. Long-sleeve black tee for Sam. Off-white sweater for Kensi. Cranberry-grey softball shirt for Deeks. A white and purple plaid jacket over a plum turtleneck for Fatima. Rountree is in a grey sweater with a black jacket. Dark blue three-piece suit, pale blue dress shirt with a darker blue pinstripe and a blue tie for the Admiral.
Music: In the teaser, the skaters are dancing to “IGNITE” by Nissi. Rountree and Jordyn are listing to “Time of Our Life” by Ms. Triniti. “Commandments" by Kah-Lo is playing when Callen and Sam speak with the skaters.
Any notable cut scene: As Rountree is going to the armory, Fatima runs down the stairs. Through a number of connections, she got the school to let Jordyn retake the exam. Rountree nearly bends over with relief. He’s so grateful to her cousin’s friend’s neighbor. Fatima wants to go out for some Afro go-go dancing – Rountree hasn’t seen her dance moves. Rountree isn’t so sure, he’s more worried about Jordyn. Fatima wants Jordyn to join them. Rountree is good with the plan.
Quote: Whiting: “What do you want?”
Rountree: “Change.”
Whiting: “ Come on. We've made enormous strides in that department. Implicit bias training, new regulations.”
Rountree: “How about a new narrative? How about I should be able to get in my car, drive my little sister to school without being perceived as a threat.”
Whiting: “I've been a woman working in this department for over a decade. I got a long list of "I should be able to."”
Rountree: “Well, you start addressing your list, Detective. I'll be addressing mine.”
Anything else: As group of young women are on roller skates dancing in a garage, a photographer is taking pictures surreptitiously. One of the skaters notices the photographer and isn’t happy they are being used for likes and clicks. The photographer should at least ask permission to take the photos. The photographer thinks that if the young women knew they were being photographed, it would take away some authenticity. The skaters all demand the woman delete the photos – “it’s creepy, rude exploitation.” The photographer packs up her gear but accidently leaves a thumb drive behind. She tells the skaters they are very talented but doesn’t delete the photos. The skaters tell her “one day you’re going to take the wrong picture” but the photographer is half-way out the door. One of the skaters notices the thumb drive.
Returning to her home, the photographer reviews the photos she took, happy with her work and sending out some of the photos. An intruder comes up from behind her. He tries to attack but she stomps on his foot, hits him in the side and gets away. She opens a gun safe but the intruder is already armed. He shoots her before she can defend herself.
As Rountree is driving with his sister, Jordyn asks if he’s going to work. He explains he on an assignment that he cannot discuss. Apologizing, Jordyn promises she won’t ignore her check engine light again. Rountree is not completely convinced but Jordyn argues she’s been really busy studying. “Afro go-go parties don’t count as studying” to Rountree. Jordyn studies, then parties. Jordyn is going in to ace her organic chemistry class so she’s very interested in what Rountree will buy her when she gets all A’s. He promised a surprise if she did. He says it is a surprise besides, they are healthy… Jordyn has heard this before so she joins in the statement. They are healthy, they are happy, they have goals and Rountree says they are accomplishing them.
Jordyn wants two guesses and a hint. Rountree tells her it can’t be wrapped and it gets you places. Jordyn thinks it is a new car but Rountree isn’t new car proud of her. She thinks he’s tricking him. Fatima calls, asking Rountree’s ETA. His is going to drop Jordyn off and then go to the office. Fatima wishes Jordyn luck.
Walking behind Fatima is Callen, who gets an update on the their new case. Andrea Bishop, the photographer, was found dead in her downtown apartment. Her downtown apartment building had no security cameras. Bishop was a photographer for the Navy, assigned to Seal Beach. With a big pier project happening at Seal Beach, Bishop was documenting the work. Callen calls the project a “big deal.” Reviewing her social media accounts, there is nothing suspicious about Bishop’s off-work projects.
Callen notes that being a Navy photographer is a wanted assignment – people can wait years for an assignment. Is it an important enough job to kill someone, Callen asks. The Admiral appears reminding Callen and Fatima that people have killed for far less and gives a list. He mentions the Valley of the Shadow of Death photograph hanging in the Getty Museum, not 15-minutes from the office and how likely neither Callen or Fatima have seen it. Callen says he has not. Kensi and Deeks are going to the crime scene, Callen and Sam will talk to Bishop’s commanding officer. With Commander Northcutt, Bishop’s CO, in LA for meetings, Fatima already told him to go to the boatshed.
Police sires blast as Rountree is still driving with Jordyn. She asks if they are being pulled over. Pulling the Range Rover over, Rountree tells his sister to put her hands on the dashboard as he rolls down his window and places his hands on the steering wheel. The officer approaches and asks for license, registration and insurance. Rountree asks Officer McNeil why was he pulled over. McNeil asks again for Rountree’s license, registration and insurance
As Rountree goes to get his wallet, McNeil orders him to stop reaching. Pulling his weapon, McNeil now wants Rountree out of the car. Rountree tries to deescalate things and says he is going to step out of the car before telling Jordyn “it’s all right.” McNeil partner is now positioned just behind Jordyn on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. When Rountree says he’s a federal agent, McNeil demands his badge. Some bystanders start recording the Rountree-LAPD interaction. After Rountree says he doesn’t have his badge, he is order to turn around. Complying, Rountree is thrown into the car’s side/hood and handcuffed.
Again, Rountree states says he’s a fed, with NCIS and asks why he’s being arrested. Jordyn gets out of the car and asks why they’re being treated this way. McNeil’s partner has his gun pulled on Jordyn. Rountree tells his sister to do what the police say. With her hands up, Jordyn states they did nothing wrong. McNeil’s partner says they aren’t cooperating. When she’s handcuffed violently, Rountree moves to her. He’s pepper-sprayed for protecting his sister. More police sirens are heard. More bystanders are recording the incident.
At Bishop’s apartment, Deeks likes her work. If he knew taking photos for the Navy was a job, he would have taken that career path. Kensi reminds Deeks that he hates taking pictures, he won’t even take selfies. If she didn’t take photos, they’d have no memories at all. “None.” Deeks starts talking about the pictures he took of her last night and gets a shush from Kensi. As she apologizes to everyone around them working the crime scene, Kensi begs his to stop talking.
Moving deeper into the apartment, Kensi notices all of Bishop’s computers are gone as are all her cameras. Deeks finds a floral arrangement on her table with a note – “Let’s say we forgive and forget, sweet Drea. The gallery loves you and so do I. Your biggest fan, Gwen.” Kensi wonders what happens if sweet Drea didn’t forgive and forget. They’re going to find Gwen.
In the boatshed’s main room, Callen and Sam are talking to Commander Oscar Northcutt and his aide Lt. Daniel Walsh. Northcutt explains that as time goes on, memories fade. A photographer provides someone there to tell the stories. Bishop was a pleasant and talented photographer with blanket permission to take whatever photos she wanted.
Sam asks if Bishop had any problems on the base. Lt. Walsh handles complaints and while Bishop could be persistent and passionate, he never received any complaints. Nobody wanted to hurt her. While stationed at Seal Beach – a highly desirable assignment where any open position would have many applicants – Bishop worked as their photographer, a journalist, an illustrator and a lithographer. Her most recent work was documenting the new pier construction with full access to everything. Walsh explained that Bishop thought outside of the box so she photographed every inch of the base.
With the stolen cameras and laptops – could they have sensitive information. Walsh believes so and none would be approved for public release. The new pier is being built as a reaction to China’s growing Navy and their presence in the Pacific. Northcutt and Walsh have meetings in LA but offer to help anyway they can. As they leave, Callen thinks it is espionage. Bishop walked in and it becomes murder. Calling Fatima, Sam wants her to check if anyone was following Bishop in the days and hours before her death. Fatima will get on it in a minute – Rountree hasn’t arrived and she’s handling everything alone.
The Admiral hears that Rountree hasn’t arrived and is worried he’s not up to the assignment he’s been given. Fatima tries to downplay things – just saying he hasn’t checked in. While Rountree is supposed to be meeting with a nuclear physicist and not some violent drug dealer, the Admiral is still concerned for his safety and wants Fatima to call Rountree. She has, he’s not answering. Telling her to do what she does best, the Admiral wants Fatima to track him down.
Weeping, Jordyn thinks that one thing can ruin someone’s life. Rountree promises Jordyn her life isn’t ruined. She is going to fail organic chemistry by missing her exam. That means she is going to lose her scholarship, lose her opportunity to play for her school. Everything was ruined because “of what we look like and what kind of backwards world we’re living in.”
Walking over with a wallet, McNeil says “I thought your name was Devin Rountree.” Rountree confirms and says the wallet and IDs for Andrew Hughes are for his undercover work. McNeil and his partner uncuff the Rountree siblings. Officer Dubrons tells them they’re free to go. Rountree asks Dubrons for the reason for the stop. There was an armed burglary suspect in the area. “Have a nice day.” McNeil hollers to his partner, “Let’s go.”
In the boatshed, Gwen, who owns an art studio, is reviewing Bishop’s non-Navy photos, saying Bishop was a brilliant photographer and someone Gwen shouldn’t have tried to change. Kensi asks if that’s what they argued about. Gwen corrects Kensi, they didn’t argue, they just disagreed. Gwen felt that art photography was Bishop’s future. Concentrating on the art and not the Navy, with all its demands, was Bishop’s next step in her career.
The prior day, Bishop sent Gwen a photo – probably the last one she ever took. Kensi asks to see it on Gwen’s phone. Kensi looks at a few of the photos but notices the time stamp of when they were sent. It was around the time of Bishop’s death. Kensi is off with Gwen’s phone to talk to Fatima. With Kensi sends Fatima the photos, the skaters may be some of the last people to see Bishop alive, Fatima needs to find them. Fatima has bad news – Bishop’s cloud account was wiped clean. If she had photos stored there, they are gone.
When Fatima’s tablet beeps, she says “oh no” and races to the Admiral’s office. Walking in without knocking earns the start of a rebuke but Fatima just powers forward. She explains that Rountree undercover vehicle was pulled over because the driver matched a robbery suspect. The Admiral wants to know which LAPD station responded to the call. Fatima brings up that Rountree is driving with a different ID. The Admiral is going to make some calls but wants Fatima to knock next time.
The skaters are dancing again when Callen and Sam drive into the garage. Sam tries to get them to pay attention to him but they form a circle around him and just keep skating. Sam is not amused. When Callen switches off the music, the young women are not happy. When they don’t recognize what NCIS is, Callen shows a badge and says “federal agents” and oddly, no mayhem ensues. When Callen asks about Bishop– “that annoying photographer” according to one of the skaters, Sam tells them Bishop was killed. The young women get suddenly seriously. Handing over the thumb drive, one skater admits getting “a little loud” with Bishop but meant no harm.
Fatima checks out the skater with the thumb drive – no record. Callen and Sam are returning to the office with the thumb drive. When they arrive, Kilbride is screaming so loudly he can be heard at the bottom the stairs. Fatima shows Callen and Sam one of the bystanders’ videos of Rountree getting pepper-sprayed. Callen thinks LAPD better have a good explanation. “Unless Rountree murdered someone this morning, there is no explanation for this,” according to Sam.
Rountree arrives in the bullpen. His eyes are still a little red from the pepper-spray. Fatima walks up to him and asks if he’s OK. Rountree says he’s fine, Jordyn is fine, “it’s all good.” It isn’t all good for Sam after what he saw on the video. Fatima says the officers can’t get away with what they did and Callen promises they won’t but he needs to know what happened. Sam wants NCIS to take over the case. Rountree appreciates everyone’s concern but he’s handling what happened. The Admiral walks down the stairs and orders Rountree to the boatshed. Sam is sick and tired of what’s going on. “Real tired.”
In the gym, Sam takes out his frustration on the heavy bag. Callen arrives asking if Sam’s OK. “Should I be?” Sam asks. Callen says no. Sam had this happen to him a few years ago. How does this happen again? Rountree’s sister means everything to him – Callen says NCIS can’t let this slide. Sam feels like a hamster on a wheel – running and getting nowhere. They are going to follow Rountree’s lead. While Sam works the heavy bag, Callen is bringing Fatima the thumb drive.
In Ops, Fatima has the thumb drive contents on the screen as file folders for Callen and the Admiral. The thumb drive had her work for the Navy, not her art. One file folder is titled “Northcutt” where there is video of someone removing items from the station’s warehouse and loading it up in a van. The Admiral thinks it is odd – especially since it is being done at 1AM. There are multiple videos – one every month. Fatima was able to match the nights of the videos with the nights the station’s surveillance system goes down for routine maintenance. Bishop’s camera is the only one that recorded what’s happening at the warehouse. Bishop may have been killed to cover up an ongoing theft. The warehouse stores military equipment and NCIS Seal Beach has an ongoing investigation into the theft of weapons, tactical gear and electronics from the warehouse. Fatima sends the list to Sam. It is too dark to do facial rec on the thieves but Fatima thinks she can get the license plate.
With the file named Northcutt, Bishop was either building a file to show her boss or against Northcutt if he’s involved in the thefts. Fatima almost instantly gets a hit on the license plate. It belongs to a Jake Hanson, who isn’t Navy or stationed at Seal Beach. Callen wants Kensi and Deeks to find Hanson, he and Sam will talk to Northcutt and Walsh.
In the boatshed, Det. Whiting is waiting for Rountree. The Admiral thought the two should speak, one on one. Since thousands have seen the video, “we” have to get ahead of it before… Rountree adds “before it becomes a PR nightmare.” Whiting tries to frame it as the wrong story being told. A federal agent driving his sister to a science exam – “the video speaks for itself.” While Whiting is sorry it got to that point, she brings up he didn’t have his badge. Rountree is floored – badge or no badge, it shouldn’t have happened.
Whiting wants Rountree to sit down with the officers and hear what they have to say. Rountree knows what they’ll say – they were doing their jobs, which is a problem. Whiting thinks a conversation would be a good idea. No, a good idea is changing the system and the culture. Whiting asks how can they do that without talking. Rountree isn’t interested in talking, he isn’t interested in marching in the streets holding hands, he’s not interested in a viral video with its own hashtag.
Asking what Rountree wants, Whiting is told “change.” While she pushes the strides LAPD has made in recent years with bias training and new regulations. Rountree is looking for a new narrative where he should be able to get in his car, drive his sister to school without being seen a threat. As a woman with a decade at LAPD, Whiting has her own list of what she should be able to do. Rountree suggests Whiting start addressing her list, he will be addressing his.
On the bullpen plasma, Callen and Sam are facetiming with Northcutt and Walsh, asking why no mention of the thefts at the station. Northcutt thinks it is inventory discrepancies and they are working with the station’s NCIS agent. He didn’t think it was relevant. Sam brings up the video which Northcutt denies seeing. Walsh interjects – with all the construction going on, the thought was the items were misplaced.
Northcutt reminds Callen and Sam that he gave Bishop free reign at Seal Beach. Hopefully, the video shows who is responsible for the thefts and the Bishop’s murder. Ending the call, Callen and Sam are sure they don’t have the entire story. If NCIS at Seal Beach was investigating the theft, Bishop wouldn’t sit on the videos. Callen and Sam are going to check where Northcutt and Walsh were the night of the murder.
Leaving the Audi, Kensi and Deeks just saw the Rountree video. They know it is racial profiling. Deeks want to drop by the precinct but they’ve been told Rountree is handling everything. Deeks is really angry. Kensi asks if this happened when he was on patrol. He says no because he wouldn’t tolerate it. Kensi can’t understand why this keeps happening or better yet, why they can’t stop it from happening.
Going down a different road, Deeks thinks about his dad and what a scared, sad man he must have been to treat people the way he did. That his father thought he was better than anyone was just laughable. Deeks says those thought destroy families. Kensi adds “and nations.” A door opens and Hanson is walking down the his front stairs. Kensi says “federal agents” and all is right in at least this corner of LA as Hanson starts to run. When he gets into his van, Kensi is right outside the front windshield, ordering his out of the van. Hanson tries to exit through the back and finds Deeks waiting. “Come on dude, we’ve been doing this for a while.”
Claiming his van is parked outside his apartment building every night, Hanson suggests someone stole it do commit the robberies at Seal Beach. Deeks notes that the van was always returned. “Car thieves can be very thoughtful.” Hanson lawyers up. Kensi explains he’ll need one for killing Bishop. Hanson claims he was just transportation. Deeks tells Hanson he could get a lawyer or he could clear things up right now.
Hanson was just transportation. He’d go to Seal Beach, drive to the warehouse, dropped off what was taken. He didn’t know the other man’s name and he wore a mask. The other man was at the guard station each time to let Hanson in. Deeks asks how did the other man find Hanson but the answer is online. Hanson’s nickname is “Wheels”, getting people from point A to point B. Deeks wants to know where point B is. A warehouse in Indio – the address is in his phone. Kensi sends it to Callen and Sam.
Walking into Ops, Rountree wants to know where they are on the case. Fatima tells Rountree to go home, regroup. He’s working, “Catch me up, please.” Before she starts, Fatima give Rountree a big, long hug. Going into the case, Fatima is working with ChoreChart, an online service where Hanson was hired. ChoreChart is checking for the IP address for whoever hired Hanson. Fatima asks Rountree to cross-reference the missing inventory with possible sales on the dark web.
In the Indio warehouse – two hours from LA – Callen and Sam start searching around. Callen comes across a number of shipping labels from Delaware to Burma. Sam finds some of the stolen tactical gear. Most of what was stolen, however, was going in single boxes to just one buyer. There are big blue barrels in the corner of the warehouse. Sam opens one to find honey. Callen and Sam banter a bit. Checking the barrels, Sam realizes that some of them don’t contain honey, they contain Navy tech. Sam finds a ghost dog – a robot dog used for security. Northcutt kept this quiet because the Navy would freak out if the ghost dog was gone.
The NCIS Seal Beach investigation has two missing ghost dogs – that’s a big problem. Calling into Ops, Callen and Sam are told by Fatima that Lt. Walsh hired Hanson. It is his IP on ChoreChart. Fatima contacted Northcutt but Walsh isn’t with him anymore. Walsh left after Callen and Sam’s call. Walsh killed Bishop to get the video and to keep her quiet about the theft.
Fatima can’t trace Walsh since his cellphone is off but his credit card records have him as a regular at a liquor store. Rountree thinks this is odd – the liquor store is in downtown LA and Walsh lives in Long Beach. There isn’t much in the area of note – a check cashing place, a laundromat but Fatima finds an international shipping agent is nearby. Fatima and Rountree need to find the shipment fast. With Callen and Sam over an hour out and Kensi and Deeks not much closer, Rountree goes against Fatima’s wishes.
With Kaleidoscope, Fatima guides Rountree to Walsh’s location in a parking lot. Walsh has a big blue barrel like the ones in the warehouse in the back of his pickup. Rountree blocks Walsh’s exit and orders him away from the pickup. Walsh runs, Rountree right behind him. Walsh is armed and hiding behind a few sedans. Using the garage’s security cameras, Fatima tells Rountree where Walsh his hiding.
A woman walks into the garage to get her car. Walsh takes her hostage. Kensi and Deeks are a block away, LAPD SWAT is five minutes out. The woman is struggling and crying. Walsh promises he won’t hurt the woman if he’s allowed to walk. If not, he’ll shoot the woman. Rountree tries to negotiate – if Walsh puts the gun down, his life will go on. Kensi and Deeks arrive and move into position. Kensi is on the fire escape behind Walsh, Deeks is near Rountree. Trying to deescalate, Rountree wants to make things easier, not harder. He wants Walsh to let the woman down. He does. Deeks takes care of the hostage, Rountree arrests Walsh.
Returning to the office, Kensi and Deeks tell Callen they got a full confession from Walsh. His plan was to steal the footage and bury the investigation. When she walked in on him stealing the footage, he had to kill her. Callen offers a “good job” but Kensi gives all the credit to Rountree. Deeks asks for Rountree but Sam is looking forhim. Callen has a package for Kensi and Deeks that was delivered to the boatshed. It is a photo from Bishop’s collection sent over by Gwen. It shows a number of children of all races holding hands. Deeks finds it totally their style. Callen asks if it is surfer chic. Deeks thinks more California casual. Deeks wants to put it in the nursery. Kensi sounds surprised by Deeks idea. He’s a bit offended before they share I love you’s.
In the armory, Sam finds Rountree unpacking his gear. Sam wants to know how Rountree is really doing. Disgusted, Rountree asks if Sam knows how many times he fit the description. Sam tells Rountree there was no description. At the time Rountree was pulled over, LAPD didn’t know who they were looking for. Rountree realizes he was pulled over for looking suspicious. Sam calls it a problem, “a real problem”. That’s a problem Rountree hoped Jordyn would never experience. Rountree explains he protects his sister, from hate, from the world, from struggles. He’s been her fixer. Sam explains Rountree can’t fix everything but everyone together is a great start. Rountree asks where is the start. Sam talks about Internal Affairs but Rountree isn’t interested in another round of bias training and desk duty for a month. Look how he was treated as a federal agent. The civilian who didn’t commit a crime but fits the description isn’t going to get to walk away. Sam agrees – “enough is enough.”
Rountree doesn’t think the best place to make change is from the field or from a desk. It is from a podium where he can rewrite the rules and the narrative. Sam is onboard. “We don’t wait for change, we make it happen.” The two men hug.
What head canon can be formed from here: This is all about Rountree and how he sees his place in the world in relation to his sister, his job and the city where he lives. Don’t know if we’ll ever get a “Rountree, D” episode but this was a great episode to show who Rountree is with so much going on around him.
Always worry about this an episode like this having a “what did we learn today” or “a very special episode of Blossom” feel to them. None of that here – this was a very well-told story. The case of the week was fine but ran in the background to what was going on with Rountree.
Episode number: This is episode 15 of season 13 (we’re in the final third of the season), episode 295 overall.
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So, in part to get myself writing Regularly again (instead of in random spurts at Inconvenient Times like The Middle Of The Night or While I’m At Work), I’ve decided to do this OTP prompt list. And because Why Stop At One, I’m doing a few different sets? But limiting myself to one for each fandom/verse. Which are specifically going to be BSG, Star Wars, and my three primary original ‘verses. (While there are others I considered--including saying ‘well different eras in SW are kind of different fandoms’--five is a nice round number, so that’s where we’re headed.)
I already know who (and most of what) I’m doing for BSG; Star Wars I’m either doing Anidala or Obianidala; but for my original stuff I haven’t settled, and so I am seeking Opinions! (Also still seeking opinions on SWBB, but I’m currently leaning towards option 2 there, based on feedback I’ve had so far)
List is below, with additional details (for those of you who are unfamiliar) behind the cut.
Farglass Cycle:
Taz/Dallu
Nolani/Lonura
Sorell/Nida
Kesshare/Ineku(?)
Deshell/Fesha
Lux:
Lux/Mariko
Simon/Ruth
Al/Laura
Tsuna/Evan
Go platonic with the Horsemen
Untitled Intrigues Story:
Sef/Del and Sef/Tahnrin
Larien/Metanrye
Ahnrel/Kamer
The Farglass Cycle is a swords-and-sorcery type more or less traditional fantasy; the time period I mostly write in (and from which all these characters come) is centered around a war between Feredar (and its allies) and a coalition of other nations, the most prominent of which are the City of Glass, Asendar, and the Islands. The magic system is based on elements (water, fire, air, earth, lightning/magnetism, metal, sound, and blood). The level of tech is probably comparable to the 16th century. Feredar is the bad guy here, although the crown princess of Glass probably would be in another version of this story.
Taz/Dallu
Taz Hantree is a Captain from the Islands. Sometimes a pirate, sometimes a legitimate merchant; she smuggles things (and people) in and out of Feredar; one of the main characters. She is also kind of a chaos gremlin (it’s the Pirate Captain in her XD) and also a water-mage.
Dallu is her partner and navigator; he comes from the North, which has a longstanding relationship with the Islands. He’s a lightning-mage, and can therefore read and manipulate weather. Generally a pretty chill dude.
Nolani/Lonura
Nolani is the eldest daughter of the Crown Princess of Glass. She’s very close to her younger siblings, especially her brother. Kind of a Mom Friend at heart; also a hopeless romantic. She has a string of generally brief relationships during her wildfire years, eventually settling with Lonura. Like all members of the Glass royal family, she is a fire-mage.
Lonura is a noble from one of the mountain borders of Glass. She’s a sound-mage, and has been hopelessly in love with Nolani for a while. She tends to be a fairly quiet person, more content with backing people who are in the spotlight than being in the spotlight herself.
Sorell/Nida
Sorell is the King of Feredar when the story opens. He’s generally the lesser of two evils when compared with his eldest son, but when you’re comparing a guy to a genocidal warlord, that’s. Not saying much. In his personal life/with his family, he’s generally a decent man. Very devoted to his wife and children; he came to the throne after his parents and four older brothers were assassinated when he was fifteen.
Nida was initially sent to seduce and marry Sorell by her mother, who is heavily involved in resisting the structural problems that later allow Kellom to do what he does. As is often the case, she falls for her own honey trap, and ends up balking when asked to murder her husband after their fifth child/second son is born.
Kesshare/Ineku
There is a question mark on this one for a reason.
Kesshare is the Crown Princess of Glass (again, would be the villain in another story). She is an extremely self-aware sociopath. She’s incapable of empathy or love, but she’s aware of it and makes sure to compensate in the areas where it matters (with her husband, with her children). She married someone who would make up for that and be a better parent than she’s capable of, and she made it very clear that she would never love him. That being said, their relationship is a close one, and one of the longest and most successful in the story.
Ineku is from a merchant clan, and a non-mage. He’s a doctor by training, and loves Kesshare, knowing full well who and what she is. He spends a lot of time with their children, and is just...a very kind person; also not afraid to tell Kesshare when she’s crossing a line (which, to be fair, is part of what she wants from him, so).
Deshell/Fesha
These two are minor characters, involved with the serial killer sideplot.
Deshell is investigating the murders, and eventually mayor of the Asendar port town he lives in. He and Fesha are the other very long and successful relationship in this canon; while they do have a period where they almost fall apart, but they work through it Like Adults.
Fesha is a nurse, she met Deshell when she was working for her uncle. They have two biological sons and one adopted--a street kid who witnessed one of the serial killer’s murders. Deshell didn’t exactly Ask before bringing the kid home, which Fesha wasn’t thrilled with (the not-asking, not the bringing the kid home). But, again, they worked through their communication issues and had a long and happy relationship after that.
Lux is basically the Apocalypse In SPACE.
Lux/Mariko
Lux is Lucifer. That’s...yep, she’s Lucifer. Currently presenting as female (angels have a different relationship to gender than humans do); she was freed from her prison before she was ready, kicking off the Apocalypse. Did not intend to have Feelings for her human and yet.
Mariko is a human translator; she met Lux when she was working for the human/earth delegation to the Space UN, and fell in love with her there. Things went very far south when Lux located the people who had raised her (the reason she was on the station in the first place) and murdered them; Mariko walked in on this; there was fire involved and Mariko was badly burned; and then they don’t see each other for ten years. Lux came clean when they reunited, and they slowly rebuild their relationship from there.
Simon/Ruth
Simon is immortal. Technically a nephil, though he almost never knows that. His memories get periodically erased by the angels for reasons that made sense at the beginning, but make less and less sense as time goes on. When he met Ruth, he was in a fairly blank state, and had been given the name David Gilboa; he had his name and he was working as a math teacher.
Ruth met Simon, then known as David, when they were set up by a mutual friend. It was a kind of awkward first blind date--a lot of the usual questions get Awkward when the person you’re meeting only has four years’ worth of personal memories--but there was enough of a connection that she agreed to a second. They built a life together, and got married. When he was pulled away/had his memory erased again by the angels, she was pregnant, and had a son. Their relationship is generally pretty sweet and low-key until it’s Tragic (there is an AU where he contacts her again once he remembers her; but in canon he decided it was kinder to her to stay away, rather than risk being pulled away again, especially since she’d had ten years to grieve him at that point).
Al/Laura
Alejandro is the head of the Family, descendants of Simon and Ruth’s son, who keep track of the angels and whatever information they can find about the Apocalypse and their role in it (all the major human characters come from the Family, they know that much). Roughly a thousand years later, there are Many cousins to keep track of, some who barely even really count as related.
Laura is a reporter; she’s not part of the Family. Her father was a diplomat, so when Al read her in on some of the more. Uh. Supernatural aspects of what it is he does, she took it fairly well. They get married, and have a couple kids and grandkids. She’s actually working on a story on the CSP (Space UN) station when Lux sets it on fire. When Al is later abducted by the Horsemen, she more or less bullies an angel into helping her track him down. Not someone to be trifled with.
Tsuna/Evan
Mariko’s parents.
Tsuna is a retired professional ballerina, and now a ballet teacher.
Evan is an accountant.
There’s...not all that much else to say about them, lol. They’re fairly normal. They met when the company he was working for--a toy company--did a benefit featuring the Nutcracker as performed by Tsuna’s ballet company. His long-time best friend and sister in all but blood Cecily worked in marketing at the same company and dragged him along, and they’ve been together ever since.
Go platonic with the Horsemen
Kind of four sisters, kind of three women coparenting a twelve-year-old. All are part of the Family.
Rubika (Death) is in her mid-twenties when they’re activated; she’s the nominal leader of the group. She worked for the Family as a messenger (gathering and distributing news of births/marriages/deaths/etc.) Her mother is a farmer on Charon. It was her idea to kidnap Al.
Shane (Famine) is in her eighties or nineties when they’re activated. She was married once. The marriage ended in divorce when Alex cheated on her. She’s the only one of the Horsemen who met Simon before they were activated, on a couple of different occasions.
Dimana (War) is in her forties when they’re activated, a con artist and professional gambler. She thrives on competition, and has absolutely zero shame about the life she’s chosen to live.
Imi (Pestilence) is about twelve when they’re activated. Her father was part of the Family, but died while her mother was pregnant. She was raised by her mother and grandparents, who hated each other. When her mother died, her grandparents weren’t interested in keeping her, and she was brought (by Rubika) to stay with one of her father’s distant cousins.
Untitled Intrigues Story is a hard-fantasy political intrigues story. Two of the most powerful nations on the map, Elanhe and Nandere, have a history of rivalry, occasionally breaking out into war. Thirty-five/forty years before the story begins, the High Priest at the time brokered an uneasy peace between them. As part of that peace, the sister of the King of Elanhe married the King of Nandere, and the sister of the King of Nandere married the King of Elanhe. While this treaty did more or less stop the open war, it didn’t really do much to ease the tension between the two kingdoms. In the present, the Kings from the original treaty have both died within about six months of each other. Their respective eldest sons, Malue of Nandere and Larien of Elanhe, have inherited. The current High Priest, Jemairin, has sent his children to try and maintain and strengthen the peace before it collapses completely, which is considered Likely without further intervention. His eldest, Ahnrel, is sent as envoy to Nandere; his second, Sefalin, is sent as envoy to Elanhe; and his youngest, Neiali, is sent to track down Larien’s full brother Idan, who befriended Malue when they were children, but disappeared a few years before the story proper opens.
Sef/Del and Sef/Tahnrin
So this isn’t technically an OTP. It’s also not really an OT3. It’s a vee, not a triad, in part because the metamours are, in fact, related.
Sefalin is, as mentioned above, the middle child of the High Priest (priests in this world are allowed to have children but not married; they’re not supposed to have relationships that can compete with their relationships to the church or the gods; and while your kids are always your kids, the time period when that is a Primary relationship is at least in theory by its nature finite, children grow up and have their own lives; not so much with a spouse). He’s fairly good with nuance, but also tends to sort of...get swept along by events, and while he is mindful of his primary mission here, he’s gotten as much involved in helping to balance Elanhe’s internal politics as keeping Larien from escalating things with Nandere.
Landelye is the elder daughter of King Larien. Women in Elanhe are not allowed to inherit titles, but since her father has no sons and his legitimate brother is missing, there’s a chance the rules might be changed for her. She’s serious, and a little devious; she set out to seduce Sefalin to get him on her side, but she found out he was charming and funny and oh no I have a problem. She loves him enough to be willing to share him, which brings us to...
Tahnrin is Larien’s bastard half-brother. He’s the other primary candidate to be declared Larien’s heir in Idan’s absence, and is fighting a war of intrigue with his niece accordingly. He was initially interested in Sef for the same reasons Del is--and fell into the same trap she did.
Sef is very careful to balance his relationships with his lovers; he loves them both, and even if he wanted to choose between them, he’s aware that that would have political as well as personal consequences, and if he help keep them balanced and prevent Elanhe from spiraling into a civil war...well, that can only be a good thing, right?
Larien/Metanrye
Larien is, as mentioned, the King of Elanhe. He’s a subtle and dangerous man; he’s not going to start a war (that would cost him more than it would gain him) but he is damned well going to win it if his cousin of Nandere causes Problems. Probably the only impulsive, non-calculated thing he’s ever done was marry Metanrye, when they were both teenagers. And even that, he weighed the costs and benefits before doing it. He does love her, truly, and while they’ve occasionally engaged in some bedroom diplomacy (not an uncommon practice in Elanhe), he’s extremely loyal to her. They have two daughters, and she can’t have more children; but the idea of divorcing her in hopes of having a legitimate son bothers him more than upending centuries of law and tradition to name either Del or Tahnrin as his heir.
Metanrye is a firmly--almost ruthlessly--practical woman. She loves her husband deeply, and has from the moment they met. She was not expecting him to marry her. Very Elanhean, very used to wielding subtle power in the background, she is completely behind her husband in public, but willing to argue or influence him in private. She’s hoping he’ll name her daughter as his heir, of course, but is staying on the fringes of that contest.
Ahnrel/Kamer
Ahnrel is Jemairin’s oldest, and sent to Nandere. He’s much more straightforward than his brother. He tends to dive into problems and work them out as he goes, and is doing his best to moderate that tendency/wait to act until he has all the information he needs so he can fulfill his half of the deal and maintain the peace. Nanderese politics are--at least on the surface--much more straightforward than what’s going on in Elanhe; Malue is unmarried and has his younger brother for his heir.
Kamer is a palace guard, assigned to guide and protect Ahnrel. Kamer is a fairly rigid person, almost painfully upright and devoted to his duty, which currently is both to Ahnrel and to Nandere, and he’ll protect them both from everything he can. Including his own, increasingly intense feelings for the envoy.
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Ho postato 5.029 volte nel 2022
100 post creati (2%)
4.929 post rebloggati (98%)
Blog che ho rebloggato di più:
@spacegirlsgang
@raedear
@ellynneversweet
@falyakonmp3
@aphroditestummyrolls
Ho taggato 5.028 dei miei post nel 2022
#the old guard - 1.471 post
#nature - 1.106 post
#animals - 1.039 post
#yusuf al kaysani - 948 post
#nicolò di genova - 877 post
#silly stuff - 716 post
#otp time - 690 post
#fanart - 671 post
#kaysanova - 607 post
#immortal husbands - 606 post
Longest Tag: 139 characters
#ma la situazione [waves hand] attorno a noi è talmente tragica che vedere il governo disfarsi in diretta è stato particolarmente deprimente
I miei post migliori nel 2022:
#5
I just discovered that the Greenland shark's scientific name is Somniosus microcephalus
Which, roughly, can be translated as "sleepy smallhead"
🥺🥺🥺🥺
24 note - Postate 8 novembre 2022
#4
Sergio Mattarella all through 2021: "This is my LAST year as President of the Republic. I can finally retire. I already signed a rental contract. I am Out."
Sergio Mattarella this week: "by Thalos this can't be happening"
36 note - Postate 29 gennaio 2022
#3
Five times Andromache of Scythia dreamt of a new immortal, and one time she didn't.
The Guard through the millennia, in the eyes of the oldest.
A new installment of the Immortal Siblings AU, for the lovely @spacegirlsgang! <3
68 note - Postate 29 agosto 2022
#2
I want you all to know that in his interview last night Luca said that he's a good swimmer but he can't swim out at sea because he's afraid of fish
That's all, you can keep scrolling
70 note - Postate 6 giugno 2022
Il mio post numero 1 del 2022
I already knew that given her lifespan, Andy saw the North Star change
I wasn't ready for the knowledge that it happened more than once
Polaris (alpha Ursa Minoris, to get technical) became Earth's Pole Star sometime in late antiquity (5th century CE), and before that, from circa 1100 BCE, the Pole was centred closer to two other stars of the Little Bear constellation, Kochab and Pherkad.
And before that, from 3900 BCE to 2500 BCE circa, the Pole Star was Thuban, of the Dragon constellation
(What was happening between 2500 and 1100 BCE? There was a period of back-and-forth in which the celestial North Pole was somewhere between Kochab and Mizar of Ursa Major and then settled on Kochab and Pherkad)
...but Andy had already been around for a millennium when Thuban became the Pole Star.
Which means that when she was born, the Pole Star was TAU HERCULIS
...how many times did the poor woman have to rearrange her points of reference when using the stars to orient herself and travel?
252 note - Postate 27 luglio 2022
Guarda ora l'Analisi del tuo anno 2022 di Tumblr →
#tumblr2022#year in review#my 2022 tumblr year in review#your tumblr year in review#sorry for the Italian lol
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Another drawing related to Duck comics. This time for The Life and Time of Scrooge McDuck or his time when he was in the Klondike, in the Yukon, in search of gold. Also his romance with Goldie O’Gilt, which is perhaps the only real love he really felt (not counting his love of money). In fact, this is a redraw from this cover of a piece of that comic written and drawn by Don Rosa and in his honor this is drawn.
Well, it's not perfect, because of the bad background coloring and poor photography, I apologize for that. However, I struggled with this for a few hours, so it's really a little difficult to do all those details and decorations. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is not to read the comic book The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, and especially his time in the Klondike. For me, Scrooge is certainly best when he is a bastard character, but more so when he was a sensitive adventurer and a poor man who struggled doing a lot while traveling, especially when he worked digging for gold in the Yukon, in the Klondike. In fact, the best for me is Scrooge’s clothes, his Klondike clothes, and this is how I drew in my own way, through the redraw of that comic book cover. Certainly, next to him is Goldie, who will take some of the gold from him. Still, that doesn’t mean Goldie doesn’t love him, she loves him for sure. And the best version of Goldie for me is the Klondike version, when she was called Star Of The North.
Although it’s early, though, this one is dedicated to Valentine’s Day and my gift to all the Scroldie (Scrooge and Goldie couple) couple, and especially @goldiejake11 and @pick-and-shovel-laborer, to my dear friends who certainly love this couple. I wish everyone a nice day and even though it's early, I wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day. And enjoy the drawing and I apologize once again for my background and poor photography. Happy Valentine’s Day once again!
#my fanart#the life and times of scrooge mcduck#scrooge mcduck#goldie o'gilt#glittering goldie#scroldie#ducktales#don rosa#disney duck comics#disney comics#comics#scrooge x goldie#otp#love couple#klondike#yukon#klondike clothes#star of the north#disney ducks#disney duckverse#memories#american comics#klondike times#redraw#gold#scrooge's love#goldie's love#hortense and matilda's brother#fergus and downy's son#fanart
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