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alanis-altair · 3 years

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dark hallways and potions | marauders x platonic!reader

summary | Moony, Padfoot and Prongs find their best friend sneaking through the abandoned corridors of Hogwarts at night.

pairings | marauders x platonic!reader, slightly Sirius Black x fem!reader

warnings | it's actually total fluff, but mentions of wounds and bruises, domestic abuse and a little self destruction aaand English isn't my first language as you may have already noticed so I'm sorry for my lame ass writing and every mistake I did (maybe you'll find the name Alanis somewhere instead of y/n because I always write those fics with my name first, I'm sorry if so)

word count | 1910

...

It was far after midnight as the not so tired Sirius Black gave up and opened his gloomy eyes in a deep sigh. He couldn't make it to sleep; nightmares keeping him up, that caused him to turn left and right, desperately trying to find a good sleeping position to make him feel comfy. But all of his attempts didn't work.

So the black haired boy looked around. The moon was gently shining onto his covers, while soft snores came from his three friends. The loudest noise was definitely caused by James, not that it surprised Sirius. Still, the young boy kept quiet, not wanting to wake up Remus, who just had had a rough night.

Sirius started to get bored and glanced at his bedside table. Only two things had managed it onto the table; his squiggly wand and the infamous Marauder's Map. Shortly after, Sirius mumbled a 'Lumos' and illuminated the dorm a little. The spell followed another one, including some of his favourite words: 'I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good' and the Map showed him whole Hogwarts.

With curious eyes the boy watched every step of every person awake, until he stopped at a very certain name. y/n y/l/n. His y/h/c haired best friend was wandering through the abandoned corridors, well aware of the consequences she had to face if she got caught. She moved towards the Tapestry Corridor, near the Dungeons, where the potion storeroom was located.

What the bloody hell was the infuriating girl up to again? And why would she need some potion ingredients? Sirius had no clue. He felt like he didn't have a choice other than waking up James, which is what he simply did.

"Prongs! Prongs!", he screamed in a whisper, making his good looking friend mumbling and turning to the other side of the bed.

"For fuck's sake, wake up, you lad!"

"What is it, Sirius?", James replied in a screaming whisper, too. He didn't sound amused or happy to be woken around 2AM.

"Looks like Mane is doing some mischief without us, can you imagine?", Sirius shortly explained, which caught James' attention.

"Ugh, not again...", the brunette sighed.

"Well, I think we should check on her, now!", Padfoot proposed, earning a brief nod from his best friend.

"'Right...", James said and got up. Both of the Marauder's quickly dressed and grabbed their wands. They were about to leave their dorm as a raspy voice stopped them.

"You're not going anywhere without me", Remus started, "especially not if you're that bad at whispering!", he exclaimed, voice held low to not wake up Peter, too.

Padfoot and Prongs turned around surprised, but remembered Remus' Werwolf senses and that it was impossible to whisper without him hearing every single word. The two boys sighed; Sirius a little mad at himself because he was eager to grant the young wolf some sleep.

The three boys sneaked almost soundless through the Gryffindor Common Room and used some of the secret passages to avoid the open corridors.

"So, what do you think y/n is doing again?", James asked curiously and a little tired. How many times had he and his friends protected the little girl from getting herself killed? He couldn't remember.

"What she's always doing", Moony answered, "hiding something from us or preparing some pranks on Snape."

It sounded simple, but it wasn't. y/n had, similar to Sirius, great problems with her family, who was trying to make a perfect pure blood wife out of her; beating her up badly when she wouldn't listen to what her father told her to do.

The y/e/c eyed girl hid her bruises from the Marauder's every time, not that it would stop them from finding out, though. But still, she was bloody stubborn and determined to keep her problems all to herself, causing the four boys to worry a lot.

She was a loyal part of the Marauder's, too, and never hesitated to sacrifice herself if James, Sirius, Remus or Peter were in any danger. She nursed all of Remus' wounds and scars and helped him to accept his flaws, while y/n practically was Sirius' therapist and James' advisor for everything that had to do with Lily Evans. Even for Wormtail she took her time and put effort in integrating him more into the group, although Peter secretly accepted that the girl with the mane resembled more of the Marauder's spirit than he did.

Knowing that y/n creeped through the black hallways again made not only Sirius uncomfortable. The three Marauder's quickened up their pace, following every of the girl's steps on the map. Some minutes passed, when they were close to the Tapestry Corridor. Three wooden wands were uplifted; enlightening the dimmed corridor and revealing a small back, covered by y/n's hair.

"Mane? Hey! What are you doing here?", Sirius addressed the girl and y/nstartled. Quickly she turned away from the door she was about to open with shaky hands.

"None of your business, Black! Could ask you the same question, couldn't I?", was y/n's rough answer.

"Well, we're not the ones sneaking through the hallways at night!"

"Well, James. In fact, you do. Right here, right now", the y/h/c haired countered.

"What Prongs was trying to say was that we're only here for you. You're the one doing stuff without informing us", Remus caught up, "and I'm sure you're hurt again by the way your hands are shaking."

y/n cursed the tall boy with the freckled face for his gift to read people like a book. He was attentive and good with human behaviour, exposing the unofficial fifth Marauder more often than she would like to.

"Ugh, I hate you. Y'all", y/n commented and catched Sirius' worried look upon her.

"No, you don't. You love us, all of us", James corrected the tiny girl and grinned.

"So, are you going to tell us what you're up to here?", Sirius demanded to know, again.

"Wanted to brew a potion, nothing more...", y/n admitted. But of course this wasn't enough of an answer for Sirius fucking Black.

"For what purpose?"

"As painkiller, certainly. Just look at how her body is all tense", Remus replied instead of y/n herself. The girl sighed resigned and leaned her aching body against the cold of the door behind her.

Almost simultaneously, Sirius tuck his wand into his waistband and stepped forward to lay a hand on y/n's waist and back. She hissed in pain, but relaxed when the warmth of Sirius' body reached her own shivering figure.

y/n leaned into his touch and was secretly more than grateful her friends discovered her; not sure if she would've made it without them. The last encounter with her father wasn't a nice one.

"What about I and James get the ingredients for your potion and brew it, while Sirius puts you to bed, huh?", Moony made a proposal and got a weak nod from the typical strong girl. Her legs started to feel like jelly, as all of the pressure left y/n at the presence of her friends.

Without hesitation, Sirius lifted his best friend into his muscular arms. Immediately y/n curled up and placed her vibrant head against his shoulder; absorbing all of his warmth and smell.

"Hold on a minute...", James suddenly interrupted, "is that Padfoot's joggers with Moony's flannel?"

This thought came into Prong's mind as his wand gleamed onto y/n's body, searching for any outer wounds or bruises. Just the moment he said it, Remus and Sirius laid eyes on the almost sleeping beauty.

"Yeah, that's definitely my joggers! Been searching them for a couple of weeks now!"

"I guess our Mane here felt free to use our closet...but we can't be mad, Padfoot. Just see how good it looks on her", Remus noticed and giggled after.

"You're probably right...", Sirius said before heading towards the boy's dorm again.

Unsure James and Remus were left alone, watching the storeroom door as if it would open just by their gaze. Which it didn't.

"Any idea what we need for the potion?", Prongs questioned and observed Remus and the door.

"Kinda...", Moony whispered, drawing attention to the correct opening spell for the door.

"I mean, we should take her to Madame Pomfrey. Her pain seems bad, so..."

"You know we can't do that", the young werwolf stated, "her parents will know and it'll get worse. I dislike this as much as you do, but look at me. I'm the perfect example that our potions do their work, otherwise I wouldn't be standing here.

Remus' calm voice convinced James and he nodded in agreement. "Fine, then let's open this bloody door."

...

Meanwhile Sirius was carrying a half asleep y/n to his bed. She didn't move on the way back, nor did she talk to him. But his eyes already found some deep blue and purple spots on the skin of her wrists, giving him an answer. He'd absolutely kill her father if it'd stop him from hurting the precious girl in his arms. Just as all of the boys would defend y/n.

James had already thought of asking Mane to move in. With Sirius and so on, so she was safe. But it was something he knew y/n would be too modest to accept; she'd feel bad after, which is why Prongs kept quiet.

"Here you go, little one", Sirius whispered as he tucked y/n into his bed. She let out a content groan because of his smell surrounding her. She snuggled into the soft pillow, looking as cute as hell.

"Hey, y/n, you need something else?", Padfoot asked softly while caressing her cheek.

"Just you", she aspirated tired. Sirius' heart grew warm at the words of her. It meant the world to him that an angel like y/n, put on the hell of earth, still managed to melt his heart and giving him so much love, even though he wasn't sure if he deserved it.

Fulfilling her wish, the boy with the long dark hair laid next to y/n and pulled her into his arms again. She let out a relieved breath and buried her head into Sirius' chest.

He was almost asleep too, when James and Remus returned from getting the ingredients they needed for the healing potion. They eyeballed Sirius and y/n position knowingly, giving Padfoot a certain look, that he decided to ignore.

Moony and Prongs made quick work of the potion, not even waking up Peter, who was sleeping as deep as a stone, while Sirius watched the sleeping girl on top of him.

"Portion's ready. You should wake her up so she can sleep through and feel better tomorrow", Remus mumbled eventually. Sirius did as he was told and started to stroke y/n's hair, in order to carefully wake her up.

"Mane? y/n? C'mon, love. Wake up and take your medicine."

"Huh?", y/n murmured sleepily, not understanding what was happening around her. Remus sat down next to her and Padfoot, holding a small bottle of glass in front of her face.

The y/h/c haired girl thanked the boy with a grateful look and took a sip without squinching up her face at the bitter taste of the liquid.

"Thank you all, boys. For wasting your time to sleep and caring for me...", y/n said with a small grin.

"Always", they responded and smiled before going to bed, this time all of the five Marauders.

...

annotations

Mane is the Marauder name for the reader I came up with because I thought it was fitting (I'm sorry if you don't like it)

#harry potter #marauders #marauders fluff #hogwarts #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #sirius black #remus lupin #james potter #peter pettigrew #padfoot #moony #moony and prongs #moony wormtail padfoot and prongs #marauder's map #marauder's era #sirius black x reader #marauders x reader

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uppastthejelliclemoon · 3 years

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Uppast's Cats Tour Comments: Act 2

act 2 for my tour comments! this finishes the show, though i'll make another one or two posts about specific characters!

Moments of Happiness

Deut just... walked out with about 5 minutes left to intermission, and it was the best. I got some good Deut pictures because of that!

Coricopat and Tantomile greeting Cassandra was precious

I definitely get the vibes that Coricopat and Tantomile are Deuteronomy's "advisors" or something like that, because they're ALWAYS around him.

Ugh, Brianna has SUCH a sweet voice for Sillabub.

Tugger laying on the oven, he likes being tall 😌

The part where they all jump up and stand frozen??? Chills, literal chills.

Gus the Theater Cat/Pekes and Pollicles

The babies love storytime with Gus!!!

Plato was sitting behind the Kitten Squad, and I got massive big brother vibes from him, he just needs to make sure they aren't getting into trouble!

Demeter and BOmbalurina were on either side of Old Deuteronomy with Munkustrap standing behind them, and Mistoffelees was sitting on the pipe!! Family photo!

Tugger's still on the oven, i love it.

I love Kayli as Jellylorum! She's got the mothering personality down perfectly!

John is SUCH a great Gus, I love how dramatic he got.

Tugger and Mistoffelees exchanging a look and having an exchange with one another during the song, i love them.

OH OH SO once Munkustrap leaves to take over "Pekes and the Pollicles", Tugger goes to sit with Old Deuteronomy. He is literally having SO MUCH FUN during the play, he and Old Deut are so proud of Munkustrap.

ALSO DEUT WAS GROOMING TUGGER'S FUR HE'S SUCH A GOOD DAD

Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat

First off, Christopher is Skimbleshanks. Just... he's Skimbleshanks.

Okay, so Skimbleshanks waved to Jennyanydots because she was up on the scaffolding watching, and my heart exploded.

Tugger was having the time of his life. He didn't steal the spotlight, but there was one moment where he was straight up headbanging and I couldn't stop laughing.

Christopher's mannerisms as Skimbleshanks were just perfect! He got the Skimble vibe down!

Tumblebrutus being blown away by Skimble's glass green eyes, RIP Tumble

Macavity/Macavity Fight

OHHHHHHHHHH HERE WE GO

Macavity costume? Perfection, no one can tell me otherwise.

As soon as Macavity showed up, Munkustrap IMMEDIATELY went to shield Demeter from him. He had his back to Macavity and everything, and was looking down at her making sure she was okay.

Macavity attacked Munkustrap before kidnapping Old Deut, and the positions changed! Demeter crouched over Munkustrap, and Bombalurina and a few other cats went to check on him as Macavity left.

Lauren and Chelsea's vocals AGAIN!! Lauren's Demeter was perfect, she was bitter, a little reminiscent, but you could TELL there was very bad blood between Demeter and Macavity. Chelsea was such a good jaded Bombalurina, and their dynamic was amazing.

I love the idea of Sillabub being the youngest at the Ball, so she has to be shown what to do, follow the leader style, so she was the last queen to join the Macavity dance!

So I don't think we were meant to see, but right after "Macavity the Mystery Cat" ends, Macavity sneaks past Munkustrap to stand amongst the queens, most likely to surprise them. But I really love the idea of Macavity using his magic to surprise everyone by just appearing.

HOOOOOOOOOOOO BOY THE FIGHT

THE MUSIC

THE CHOREOGRAPHY

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCENES IN THE SHOW

Everyone has their choreography, and Demeter was the ONLY one who wasn't in unison. She was crouching on the edge of the stage, watching the fight, and it was SO well done.

Also the Fake Macavity (while Macavity in the Deut Suit... haha) had a Macavity mask that was actually kind of terrifying.

Mr. Mistoffelees

SOFT DEMESTRAP SOFT DEMESTRAP SOFT DEMESTRAP

Okay, but I ADORED the way they included the "Don't scoff" line. Tugger begins introducing Mistoffelees, everyone's kind of like "this isn't going to work", and they all start to leave the stage, and THEN Tugger says the line, almost pleading, and everyone's still a little hesitant but they listen.

Munkustrap wasn't very sure, but he listened

Zach is such a perfect Tugger (y'all i'm going to have a WHOLE post on him), and he and Paul just played off of each other so perfectly!

During the little mirror dance at the beginning of the number, Tugger just started doing his own thing, and it was the cutest, dorkiest thing.

They did sort of a strobe light thing, where the lights went off and on for like a second, and every time the lights went on Mistoffelees was in a different position, and it was great.

I love Cassandra's light-up costume!! And Tugger got so excited when she changed colors!!

I just really enjoy the lighting during this scene, it always makes me happy.

OKAY OKAY OKAY

RIGHT AFTER MISTOFFELEES BRINGS BACK DEUT AND RIGHT BEFORE THEY DO THE LINE THING WITH THE HOLDING HANDS

TUGGER AND MISTOFFELEES DO A LITTLE SHIMMY (THE FUR SHIMMY THAT TUGGER DOES) AND IT'S VERY CUTE YES

BUT THEN THEY NUZZLE

LIKE FULL ON, NUZZLE THE FUR ON THE HEAD AND THE MANE

ADKJGABDVKSLDB GOODBYE

Anyways, Paul is such a perfect Mistoffelees, 10/10 would want to rescue me from an insane magical cat.

Memory (Reprise)

Everyone's touching each other right before, like reassuring each other, it was so sweet

Sillabub is tall!!! She's adorable!!

Everyone's turned away from Grizabella except for Deuteronomy, Munkustrap, Victoria, and Tumblebrutus!

Tumblebrutus looked SO nervous, but he didn't stop looking at Grizabella until she made eye contact with him. Then he looked down, but he looked back up. After that, everyone started to turn!

Taylor's voice is OTHERWORLDLY WOW

her emotion is just spot-on

"Touch Me" made me cry, as it always does

It looked like she was walking towards Tumblebrutus, but then she paused and reached behind her for Victoria! Tumblebrutus was the second one to touch her though!

Journey to the Heaviside Layer

Grizabella being accepted by everyone!!!

Old Deuteronomy, Coricopat, and Tantomile bowed to her!

Before they got on the tire, Grizabella held her tail, almost like a security thing T_T

For a hot second I couldn't breathe because of the fog machine, I was fine though

They didn't do the harness, which I was super happy about! They brought back the shiny Fancy Stairs, and that was SO cool.

The tire still flew, but the stairs came straight out, and then Grizabella stepped on and went offstage.

Ad-Dressing of Cats

I do have to say, this has never been my FAVORITE number.

I do really love seeing all the cats lined up though!!

Everyone's reactions to the food mentions were great, you could tell that they really thought about how they'd react.

#cats the musical #cats us tour 6 #uppast's cats tour comments

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greekbros · 3 years

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"greek-Bros": Rat Tail

*Every god has their secrets....this is the tale of Ares's secret*

Dionysus, Apollo and Hermes: *chatting away about stuff*

Ares: *comes in sort of dancing after a long day of WAAAARRRHHHHH* do do do, de do *takes his helmet off, revealing a slightly long but thin braided rat tail just gently unravel down his shoulder*

Dionysus, Apollo and Hermes: *stop everything and just stare at the literal war crime against humanity that was hiding under Ares's helmet this whole time* (̲̅ ͡ಠ_ಠ)̲̅.......

Ares: *goes over to a fountain to wash up like some homeless dude.*

Dionysus: *raises arm and over dramatically points at Ares*......OH SHIT. A RAT!....tail.

Ares: *turns around nonchalantly* ugh....yeah....yeh guys didn't know?

Apollo: Oh really? Did you HONESTLY think we would even suspect the existence of that........THING?!?

Hermes: Yeah man, I mean... really? A rat tail????

Ares: Ugh...yeah...I mean, it's convenient.

Apollo: SO IS SLAVERY AND GENOCIDE BUT YOU DON'T SEE THOSE BEING PUBLICLY ACCEPTABLE!!!!

Ares: ok I'll bite, why do you guys have such a problem with my hair style?

Apollo: *deeply offended and disgusted by it* oh how do I put it.......ITS FUCKING HORRID.

Dionysus: *personally feeling like Ares could do better with a mullet or something* yeah ugh....looks a little out dated

Hermes: *actually having the insatiable craving to just pluck it right off* ugh...*sweats profusely* .......*does the grabby hand thing and just kinda is mesmerized at the possibility of just easily ripping that tantalizingly thin braided strand like an satisfying ASMR video* ....hhhhnnnnggggg.

Ares: .... First off, fuck off. I ain't getting rid of my "Leonidas's rope". Second, you guys don't understand how hard it is to maintain this look and third off Aphrodite braided it herself so ain't losing that too.

Apollo: Oh there's your accomplice.

Dionysus: I always knew she was an enabler how toxic of her to do so.

Hermes: ....*slowly sneaks closer*

Ares: *slowly backs away.* Screw you guys, I'm going to get a snack. *Covers his rat tail with his hand while he runs off*

Hermes: *like a predator who has been triggered by the running of his prey* must. yank. *

Apollo: *grabs Hermes's collar* no no. I have a plan.

Hermes: *whines* ....but...it would have been so....ﾟ.*･｡ﾟsatisfying ☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

*later*

Ares: *eats his 3rd gryo*

Dionysus: *tries to lasso the rat tail*

Ares: *moves like 3 inches*

Dionysus: *lassos an amphora, pulls the lasso without realizing he has pulled the wrong thing and gets the whole bottle to the face*

Ares: *reaches for the amphora but he notices it's gone.*..........*shrugs and goes get another*

Dionysus: ow.

*later again, in Hephaestus's secret lab*

Apollo: So...do you have any suggestions?

Hermes: *playing with what looks like a stim toy because he got bored* c:

Hephaestus: hmm...yes.... Ares's unfortunate choice of hairstyle is a challenge...but...I do have an idea. *Pulls a rope and a overly complicated Rube Goldberg-esk guillotine the cuts a pumpkin in half* .....

Apollo and Hermes: *both feeling that was WAY too much* ....

Hephaestus: .....

Apollo: ...um... don't you have something a little less..... drastic?

Hephaestus: *lying through his teeth knowing the plan was to at least save his marriage by just killing Ares* ....I apologized dear half-brother...but I'm afraid that is beyond my capabilities.

Apollo and Hermes: *look at each other*

*later*

Ares: *standing in the middle of a platform with ropes and such tied to different places on his body and only the one tied to his rat tail actually does anything*.....are you sure this isn't going to emancipate me for my 'rope'

Hermes: Wut? Oh no of course not, me and Heracles just wanted to do...ugh...an experiment. *Holding on to one rope on a pulley system*

Heracles: *has been brought from his room to harass Ares, holding on to the other*

*later after that failed spectacularly*

Dionysus: *puts a raw steak on his face from earlier* ....so....no plan?

Hermes: no....and I've already satisfied my craving to yank that thing off. Honestly it probably wouldn't have been interesting anyway.

Apollo: *massages his temples* that disgusting, trashy and absolutely repulsive little yarn weff is getting to me.

Dionysus: guys let's be real here ....are we all really going to let Ares's braid really bother us?

Apollo: I REFUSE to relate to another god who wears THAT behind his occipital region of his head.

Ares: *comes in* alright that's it, I'm sick of you guys being so fucking weird about my 'rope' and honestly it's not like you guys have something to hate either! Apollo you and your stupid bowtie on your head makes you look like a poodle! Dionysus I don't know what the shit is going on with your hair so for fuck's sake get a haircut and Hermes.....ugh....YOUR HAT WINGS PISS ME OFF....sort of.

Apollo: *not actually bothered by that comment considering its removable*

Dionysus: *scoff* I see you're jealous of my mane dude.

Hermes: *wings droop* :c

Ares: See? Doesn't fucking suck for someone else t-*hears a snip* .....

Apollo, Dionysus and Hermes: 👁️👄👁️

Artemis: *with a pair of scissors, has just cut the rat tail*...wut?

Ares: *absolutely speechless*......

Apollo: *surprisingly thankful* ARTEMIS! What on earth was that act of mercy for? :D

Artemis: wut? You guys don't have the urge to cut the tails off of rats or anything? Just me? Ok.

Dionysus and Hermes: *wanting to laugh like crazy but slightly feels like Ares is going lose his shit so their just quite*

Ares: *turns around in disbelief* ..........you... little....

Artemis: *unloving gives Ares his rat tail back* whatever Ares, fucking gross looking thing anyways. *Walks away*

Ares: *kneels down in defeat*..........

Apollo: well well well it seems everything is back to normal.

Ares: *sees that Artemis left the scissors, sees only red* .....well....looks like we got to go *picks up the scissors, looks at the trio* BALD.

Apollo, Dionysus and Hermes: *suddenly happy feelings gone.

*later*

Zeus and Hera: *waiting for the Olympians to arrive at the meeting*

Ares: *walks in a fresh buzz cut sits down*

Apollo: *expressionless and with his hair sloppily chopped in various places, looking like it was a home job*....

Dionysus: *slightly similar but he's feeling like a sheered lamb* .....

Hermes: *has a slightly messy version of a buzz cut but there's a really sloppy fade*

Zeus and Hera: *honestly have no idea what happened and look at Ares*

Ares: *has the look of satisfaction on his face*

Apollo: *sits down and slumps over*

Ares: *doesn't even have to turn his head*

Apollo: I hope you choke on those brass balls of yours because I hope you enjoy retaliation.

Ares: Name a place and time and we'll trade hands you pansy.

Apollo: man slut.

Zeus: BOYS!

Apollo: I SEE YOU DO NOT SEE THE ATROCITY YOUR SON HAS COMMITTED!

#greek mythology #greek gods #hellenistic #greek bros #greek myth memes #greek posts #dionysus #ares #Apollo #Zeus #Hermes #Hephaestus

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hyrule-kingdom-updates · 3 years

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Zavis was clicking his tongue as he walked through the trees.

“Tk, tk, tk, BCC?? Little chugger buddy?? Tk, tk, tk, tk, tk.” He weaved through the trees, sunlight casting tinted green light on his head through the canopy. He was half limping on his left leg, as the nearly-breaking-his-neck-on-a-staircase-and-experiencing-whiplash-as-two-members-of-his-family-threatened-his-well-being event had made his muscles sore.

With no giant horse in sight, he changed tactics. Zavis took out a banana and started to unpeel it, offering it up to the wilds.

“Pspspsp! Big Chungeroni?? I got your favourite snack! Pspspsp...”

His feet crumpled loose leaves and twigs and he maneuvered through the woods. Finally he came upon a clearing, bathed in open golden sunlight.

Or at least it would have been, were it not for the giant horse blocking out the sun.

Big Chugging Chungus was rearing on his hind legs, snorting and clopping its hooves at a pair of red Bokoblins, who were squealing with fear as they ran off in the direction of the village. Zavis immediately ran up in front of the horse and held out his hands.

“Heyheyhey! Shshsh, it’s me, BCC! It’s your pal, Zavis! Shhh...Shhhh...” He held out the banana and continued shushing the horse like he had always seen his Master Kohga do. Although he wasn’t exactly sure why it was practical. To his knowledge, Big Chugging Chungus had never spoken. Perhaps it was a Yiga Chief thing.

The horse shook its mane, and leaned down to munch the banana out of his hand. Zavis stroked his snout.

“Who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy!”

The horse’s tail swooped left and right.

“Yes, yes you are! You did such a good job! Helping to cause terror and feed chaos onto Kakariko!! Who’s a good troublemaker??”

Again, he wasn’t entirely sure the point of asking questions when he was fairly certain that the horse could not answer for himself. Nonetheless, he continued imitating what he usually saw his dads do.

“That’s right, you’re a good troublemaker!” Zavis then scratched the back of his head. “You’re such a good troublemaker that now we’re just going to help undone all of the work you did for me cause there’s a change in plans, haha...”

He didn’t know how, but he could sense the horse was looking at him with exasperation and disappointment.

“Don’t look at me like that!” Zavis tossed the banana peel back as he threw his arms up. “I got a job to do! OK?”

The horse stayed silent, only flopping one ear around as a bug flew by. Zavis wasn’t really fond of the one-sided conversation.

“What job you ask? Well my job to help the princess, that’s what.” He put his hands on his hips. “That’s right! Helping her find the best way to save the kingdom has been my sole drive since the beginning.”

The horse, once more, replied with the quiet munching of a banana.

“‘Are there any other reasons?” you ask? Well...no! There isn’t!” He crossed his arms and turned away from the horse like he was mad at him. “Did I ruin my family’s hard redeemed reputation by revealing myself as a Yiga? Maaaybe. Did I possibly instigate Mr. Hartell’s complete moral collapse by revealing that the origin of our relationship was based on more selfish desires? Maaaaybe. Did I join the Yiga Clan in an attempt to get closer to my dad, only to discover that his loyalty to the Yiga is like, super-duper strong and possibly stronger than his bond to me, which means that I also have to deceive him in the same ways that I’ve lied and taken advantage of all my other weird parental relationships in my life that have been recently ending in disaster?” Zavis waved his hand in a circle. “...Maybe.”

He suddenly pointed a finger at the horse. “BUT! Do I have any regrets about it as I pursue the path to victory? Do I need tp apologize for the hypothetical damage I may or may not have done to the other people in my life even though it would be entirely useless in achieving the greater end result?” He looked at the horse expectantly, as if begging him for the answer.

Big Chugging Chungus did not.

“...NO COMMENT!” Zavis whirled around once more. “DOESN’T MATTER. I DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER YOU. STOP ASKING STUPID QUESTIONS.”

Zavis started marching off back towards the village, expecting the horse to follow.

He did not.

The boy turned his head back and sighed. “Ugh are you STILL mad at me? Look, you did a good job, the chaos is gonna make the Champions look good. But now we’re just helping out cousin Impa by reversing it just a little bit. You did such a good job, that now we’re undoing the impact of your job! So it’s all good, let’s go!” He pointed forward and took a step, but still the horse was unmoving.

BCC snorted at him.

“What is that supposed to mean?!” He stomped his foot. “BCC? Come.”

The horse spit at the ground.

Zavis gasped so loud and dramatically it could have been mistaken for Kohga himself. “How DARE you! Don’t you know what’s at stake here?? The whole village! The whole world!! And before you try and tell me about being a traitor, this helps the Yiga Clan, too, you know!”

The horse leaned down to chew some grass.

“It does!” Zavis yelled again. “Everyone in the clan is too stupid to realize that the Calamity is probably just gonna stab us in the back down the line. So us helping the princess saves lives,” he stated, matter-a-fact-ly.

The horse considered chewing the grass.

“Don’t ignore me!” Zavis ran up behind the horse and tried pushing him to get him to move. His head barely was taller than the giant horse’s leg. His name didn’t begin with “big” for no reason...

“Is this about losing you at the castle? I left you under a secluded bridge! I thought for sure no one would steal you, cause who goes out wandering for large horses under bridges in the middle of the night.” He tapped his foot impatiently as he gave up on pushing the giant beast. “A-And besides. It’s YOUR fault for letting some rando ride you. So I can’t be blamed here.”

The horse suddenly stopped eating, and perked their head up. He turned and looked Zavis directly in the eye. His gaze was calm and collected, but the sheer power of the horse’s deep dark eyes bore into him, like he was being boiled from the inside out.

Zavis was left sputtering as he walked away from Big Chugging Chungus. “Stop doing that! Stop being so weird! If you don’t like my methods, that’s a you problem.” He let out a “hmph” as he plopped himself on the ground, criss-cross-applesauce.

He pointed at the horse. “I’M not a manipulator who can’t accept the fact that he’s taken advantage of everyone around him, YOU’RE a manipulator who can’t accept the fact that he’s taken advantage of everyone around him!”

After Zavis’ scolding insult towards the horse in question, he scooted his butt back and leaned against a tree. He angrily took off his cracked glasses and shook them in the direction of BCC. “Look at these circular glasses! Would a person in denial be this cute?!” He shoved them back on and continued to pout. The horse did nothing.

Zavis tried again. “BCC? Come.”

BCC flopped onto the ground where is stood.

Zavis palmed a hand to his forehead. “UGHH......” He took off his glasses once more, and wiped the non-existent dirt from his eyes that was causing them to water. “You’re useless! Y-You’ve got no right to treat me like this!”

He used his sleeve to clean up the fog on his glasses. “I’ve been trying to help everyone since the day I was f-fucking born! I’ve been on this journey since I was twelve. TWELVE! So if you wanted to stop me from doing all this other shit, maybe someone should have given a damn and stopped me then!” He was now rubbing his glasses with such frustration, he nearly popped the lens out. He tossed it into the dirt.

“You’ve got no right to judge me! I didn’t have to do this! This isn’t my problem!” He gestured around him, towards the forest, the earth, the mountains, and the sky. “Did I cause the Calamity? Did I fail my job as a king, or leader, or parent? NO! So take up your complaints with them. I inherited their mess and now I want to clean it up, that’s the opposite of selfish!”

The horse’s ear’s stood attentively in the air, and BCC’s gaze once again bore into Zavis. He clenched his jaw in anger.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I-I haven’t done anything wrong...I’m...” He scoffed to himself. “Maybe some other people should have done their jobs better! If you wanted a perfect fucking job done from a fucking kid, then maybe some experience adult should have done it! But no, I’m taking the helm cause everyone else is fucking self-absorbed and too fucking busy to pay attention!

“Now that I’m fucking doing the jobs that they should have done, all of the sudden NOW you’re gonna pay attention to my every action, huh!? Bunch of hypocrites!” He stood up and stomped over. “I thought I was just a kid! I thought I was allowed to make mistakes! Why did no one fucking tell me that the entire well being of the kingdom now hinges on my every fucking choice!” His eyes were tearing up now, be he stared at the horse’s abyssal gaze with fury.

“All I wanted was for someone to look at me and make things ok! Didn’t I have to fix everything so someone could notice me? Or are you saying that I was too impatient and should have waited a little longer?! Was he right?? Was I too ungrateful?? Was I too stuck-up to appreciate everything I was given? Should I have been satisfied with my loneliness? Should I have been satisfied having no one around me to hurt!?”

The dark horse stared at him, unblinking. His red mane moved up and down in the pleasant breeze like soft fire.

“...It’s not my fault.” Zavis whispered. He returned to his tree, and sat in the dirt, picking up his glasses. “It’s not my fault,” he said again.

The two creatures stared at each other for a minute longer. In the distance, someone screamed, but it harmonized with the whistle of the wind.

Zavis sighed. He suddenly opened his palm, and a sudden poof of smoke and talismans appeared, along with his old lute.

He tried once more. “BCC? Come.”

The horse stared at him, expectantly.

Zavis huffed to himself, then started playing a verse, arranging his fingers on some random chords.

Storms are ever winding Storms are ever binding to the ground

The clouds above, her modesty The earth bears her atrocities, profound All her beauty’s on the ground

They say that air is freedom Stone lets the tempest lead ‘em homeward bound

Servant to her royal pleas Bowed down toward the heir’s new breeze and sound Commands her beauty to the ground

I hate it now.

The sky hails down remembrance The sky then fades away Yet here I am, the trodden soil I bear her newest day But she’s away

All of her rain, then she’s away. I never thirst, but she gave, anyway

Zavis withheld himself from playing another chord. He observed the horse once more, to see that he hand been attentively listening the whole time.

The horse looked at Zavis Asu.

“...I’m sorry. Is that what you want to hear? I’m sorry.” He tiled his head towards him. “I’m sorry I forced you to do a bunch of work for me only to kinda make it seem useless. I’m sorry I left you under a bridge. I’m sorry for...”

The mountains greeted his gaze.

“...a lot of things.”

Zavis lifted his lute, and it disappeared in a puff of smoke and talismans once more. He cocked his head again. “Can you help me now? Do you accept my apology?”

The horse drooled into the grass.

Zavis sighed with acceptance. “Fine, I guess you don’t have to. But at the very least can you move somewhere else so that you don’t scare monsters towards the village anymore?”

BCC immediately sprung up and moved toward Zavis, resting his chin on his head for a moment. His hair was now slightly slobbered with horse drool. Gross. Finally, the horse move back and started trotting down the northern path towards the Lanayru Promenade.

Zavis wiped his hair, and fluffed it back up. He stood, and noticed some more bokoblins moving down towards the village. He mentally went over Impa’s suggestions-that-involved-murder-if-not-followed-to-the-T, again.

“Ok then.” Zavis clenched and unclenched his fist. “Time to solve this mess definitely I didn’t make.”

#???#Assivus Hartell #The life of the party and then death #hku spoilers

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winged-fool · 3 years

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I’ve returned to flail about things that aren’t ships. Okay and a little about ships. We got two quality Liz and Alex having two scenes of absolute quality in one season? 🚗 would never. Also BAMF Alex for a whole entire episode?!?!?! BAMF Isobel, and Liz being our leading lady and competent scientist? We have been well fed. Admittedly I really didn’t give two solid shits about Maria’s part of the mind scape stuff. She’s already not my favorite character but on top of that I am feeling beyond burned out on her. But the Rosa and Isobel parts of the episode were absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad they are finally giving Rosa more arc than just being a rehab for Wyatt. But also how great was it seeing Liz and Rosa team up? I loved it. And Alex being the stabilizing force for Michael? And him hitting Jones with the truck? Why does that feel like a parallel to to Michael getting between Alex and Jesse? And I don’t have words for how much I love Isobel going toe to toe with Jones. And I will never get over that god damn kiss! It owns my whole ass soul. And obviously Liz and Isobel(Lizobel? Is that their ship name?) is the most superior of Liz ships. Roswell quit edging me and kill Max so Lizobel can rise. But what the fuck? Where was Kyle? Did he disappear into the same void as our boy Flint. Greg gets mentioned and the girl but Flint and Kyle get nothing? Jail for the writers. Jail for Hollier. Over all a solid episode with great ship and character moments. 🍤🍤🍤

I want to know how angry 🚗 is knowing that she could never write anything that would get half as much as the attention that malex kiss got last night muahahaha

I adored Liz back in science mode saving the day and working together with Rosa! It was beautiful and just what we needed! Sister power! And her scenes with Isobel were just absolutely excellent, they have great chemistry (not in a romantic way obvi lol) but I love seeing Rosa and Isobel scenes! And Isobel kicking Jones's ass was honestly everything, it made me so happy. Proud of her incredible growth!

Ugh yeah I'm so over Maria and her inconsistent characterization. Where's that meme I made the other day about stop trying to make Maria happen lol

Pls kill Max so we can keep Jones and get Lizobel, we deserve it 😌

I have watched the malex kiss like 500x today and just kept bursting out giggling because I'm so happy hahaha bless

Ugh talk about being burnt out on a character but I'm ready for Gregory Simp Manes to fuck off forever now...

#🍤🍤🍤 anon #rnm #Rnm s3 #rnm spoilers #My asks #Anon ask #Rnm salt #the Salt Mine

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gra-sonas · 3 years

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Roswell New Mexico (TV 2019) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes Characters: Alex Manes, Michael Guerin, Isobel Evans Additional Tags: Minor Isabel Evans/Gregory Manes, Canon Disabled Character, Soulmates, Handprint Summary:

"Listen, darlin’. I don’t think because I say darlin’ that’s gonna bring you your soulmate. But, maybe I’m wrong, maybe I don’t fully understand and they’re gonna find you, darlin’." - recorded by Cowboy for Airmanes

Michael used to work for an anonymous, queer-friendly sex hotline (going by the nickname Cowboy) while he was in college, and Alex commissioned him to record a message for him while he was deployed. One day, their paths cross.

Alriiiiight, happy Malex Monday! I meant to write a short ficlet, inspired by Vlamis recording a message for a fan, saying darlin’ three times. For reasons unknown, this turned into a 5.5K fic I wrote this afternoon/evening.

This is a soulmate AU, and there’s some handprint stuff going on. And while this is mostly fluff, the fic is rated Mature (I know, *gasp*). Uhm, enjoy?

~*~

When Alex listens to the message Cowboy has recorded for him, he has a hard time (pun intended) keeping quiet and not scream into his pillow. It's a close call. Even though the need to get off is overwhelming, he's careful to move his body into a more comfortable position without jostling the bunk bed too much. He hears Ogden in the bottom bed grumble in his sleep once, but he doesn't wake up. Small mercies.

Alex feels like an hour passes before he can finally wrap his hand around his hard cock and take care of his needs with the tiniest movements. He keeps listening to Cowboys recording over and over again, and he manages to time his orgasm with the final darlin' of the message.

Wow, Alex doesn't want to exaggerate, but he thinks he's never come harder in his life. Cowboy's voice's just doing it for Alex, always, has. But the darlin'? Surefire way to get him off in no time. It's the first night in a long time that Alex sleeps so deep, that not a single nightmare haunts his dreams.

The recording continues to bring Alex comfort and orgasms in the middle of an ongoing war, and he can't help but dream up scenarios where he meets Cowboy one day, and they realize that they are indeed soulmates. A soldier can dream, right?

Months go by and after one fateful and utterly horrible day, the war is over for Alex. He returns home to Roswell via a short stint in Landshut, Germany. Half of his right leg is missing, but they give him a purple heart as a consolation price and a thank you for his service. Not that anyone actually thanks him.

It takes Alex another couple of months until he can walk again without the help of a crutch. He celebrates this newfound mobility freedom at a local bar, the Wild Pony. He's sitting at one of the tables, nursing a beer, when two people occupy the table next to his. A tall blonde woman, and a handsome man with curly hair that spills out under the brim of a black cowboy hat. A cowboy hat. Alex tries not to be too obvious, but he keeps looking at the man every now and then.

He can't hear what they're talking about, their voices a soft murmur, but then someone feeds the jukebox with a dollar, and suddenly the couple has to raise their voices.

"Come on, Michael. Don't be such a sourpuss. I want to celebrate that you're back home. It's been a dull year without you. I've talked to Max, he's promised to be on his best behavior," the woman says.

Michael. "Nice name," Alex thinks. He's just reaching for his bottle to take another sip when Michael answers.

"Ugh, Iz, do I have to come? I'd love to spend an evening with just you, but you know Max, he won't stop nagging me."

Alex freezes. He knows that voice. Intimately (well, in a way). But the man can't be Cowboy, can he? In Roswell of all places? Alex tries to be subtle by moving his chair a fraction of an inch to get a better view at the neighboring table.

He keeps staring and almost jumps up when the woman (Iz)'s phone starts buzzing. She checks the display. "That's Greg, I have to take this call outside. Please don't leave, I'll be back in a minute."

Michael demonstratively takes his hat off and puts it on the chair next to him. He smiles at her. "No worries, I'll still be here. Say hi to your beau and tell him I hope to meet him soon." She grins. "Not sure I should introduce him to you. He's your type, brother dearest."

Alex can't see Michael's face properly, but his voice sounds annoyed. His voice, that Alex is fairly certain, is that of Cowboy, the man of his (sex) dreams. "As if I'd ever make a move at someone who's involved with someone else, let alone someone who's dating my sister, who also happens to be my best friend."

Iz laughs. "Good boy. Now give me a minute, I have to talk to my boyfriend." She leaves.

Alex's hands are sweaty because now would be a good moment to approach the man, but what would he even say. "Hi, you're that guy from the queer-friendly sex hotline, and months ago you recorded a message for me I like to get off to. Nice to finally meet you in person."

Not awkward at all. But he also needs to know what the man looks like. So far, he's only seen part of his face (there seems to be stubble, which Alex approves of) and lots and lots of unruly honey-golden curls. In an unplanned move, he accidentally knocks his beer bottle over and the remaining beer spills all over his table.

"Damn," he mumbles under his breath, patting down the pockets of his jacket in search of tissues to mop up the mess.

Suddenly, there's movement at the table next to him and Michael turns around, a squarely folded piece of cloth (a bandana?) in his hand. "Here, take this."

Alex feels dizzy looking at the man. Not in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Cowboy would look like that, but now? Even if this man turns out to be not Cowboy, Alex will forever have this visual when he plays the darlin' message.

Not the moment to think about that, though. He collects himself enough to say something. "Uhm, are you sure? That looks very nice and clean, I'm sure they have paper towels at the bar."

Michael's smile is almost blinding. "Don't worry about it, it's one of my oldest bandanas, it deserves to die in the most heroic way – drowning in alcohol."

Alex snorts. "Okay, thank you." He reaches for the bandana, and for a second, their fingertips touch. Alex's vision goes blurry and he tries his best to inhale, but there doesn't seem to be enough air to fill his lungs. He gasps.

When he feels a strong, warm hand clapping down on his shoulder, he can suddenly see clear again, his lungs expand without pain, and warmth is flooding his body.

He goes almost pliant under Michael's touch (because of course it's his hand).

"Wow," Michael says, and if that isn't the perfect word to describe the situation.

Alex tries to remember how words are formed. "Do you feel it, too?" Michael just nods. "In Roswell of all places," Alex says dryly.

Michael snorts. "You wouldn't believe how apt that actually is. All things considered."

"I don't know what that means, but I'm sure I'll find out eventually. I mean, I don't want to assume, but I will find out eventually, right?"

"Yes, beautiful stranger, you will. I never expected this to happen to me, but now that it did happen, I want to know everything about you. What's your name, handsome?"

Alex can't believe that this beautiful man is his soulmate, let alone that he found him in this godforsaken town he'd never expected to return to before he lost his leg.

"Well, handsome does have a name. It's Alex. And you are—."

Alex takes a calculated breath before he says "Cowboy," at the same time Michael says "Michael."

They stare at each other. Michael's eyes are wide. "How do you—?"

Alex blushes, and he considers not answering the question for a second, but this is his soulmate asking. "I'm—I'm not just Alex, I'm also darlin'."

Michael's eyes grow impossibly wider, then he bursts out laughing. "Oh my god, that was you? I couldn't stop listening to your message either. It's been very – how can I put this – inspiring?"

"Well, in true Pavlovian fashion, I can promise you that calling me darlin' will get me hard and off in no time," Alex says, keeping his voice low. He should be beet-read, but he's beyond feeling ashamed. In fact, he feels emboldened, and if the glint in Michael's eyes is anything to go by, he's certain there's one hell of an orgasm in his near future.

Before he can put more thought into that possible scenario, Iz returns to the table. She looks at both men and raises an eyebrow.

"Michael, why are you holding hands with this man?"

Michael looks down at their clasped hands, apparently, he doesn't know either when they started holding hands. For a moment, Alex considers letting go of Michael to greet Michael's sister properly, but he can't bear the thought of losing the physical contact right now.

Michael kisses the back of Alex's hand, then he looks up at Iz. "Isobel, this is my soulmate. His name's Alex."

"He's your—Michael! I leave the table for five minutes, and I come back to you having found your soulmate? I didn't even know that we could until recently." She seems exasperated, but then her smile goes soft.

She sits down across from them and looks at Alex. "I'm sorry, Alex, I didn't mean to be rude. This is just a lot to take in. Uhm, I've met with Michael tonight to convince him to come and visit me, and spend time with our brother Max tomorrow. And I haven't been quite honest with Michael."

She squeezes her eyes shut and takes a deep breath. "Michael, Max and I were going to tell you, that we met our soulmates this week. Max bumped into Liz who's in town to visit her dad, and I happened to meet Greg at an event I organized for his school."

Alex perks up. "Greg isn't Gregory Manes, though, right? Teacher at the elementary school up at the reservation?"

Isobel blinks. "How do you even know about him? Oh my god, you're his brother! You're Alex Manes!" Alex nods. Isobel looks at him more closely. "Now that I know, it's obvious, you look so much alike. This is wild. I think I need a drink. You in? Shots are on me."

Alex and Michael look at each other and nod. There are only so many earth- and life-shattering revelations one can handle without being at least a little bit drunk.

Isobel stands up and walks over to the bar to order. The bartender reaches for one of the top-shelf bottles. Well, they have something huge to celebrate, this definitely calls for the good tequila.

Michael nudges him. "So, I know this has already been a lot, but there's something else you need to know about me, but I'd rather tell you about it when it's just the two of us. It's nothing bad, don't worry, I'd just prefer to tell – and show – you in private."

Alex smiles. "Whatever it is, I can handle it. Just real quick before your sister comes back. Does she know about the hotline job?"

Michael shakes his head. "No, she doesn't, actually. I got my engineering degree at UNM, and I picked up the job to make a little extra money for all the things my scholarship didn't pay for, and those requested messages were paid really well. It's been a great job, I was actually quite good at it, too, but now that I have my degree, it's a thing of the past. I don't really mind anyone knowing, but I'd rather this stays our naughty little secret."

"Oh, believe me, I'm not overly eager to tell anyone that your voice has provided me with some of the best orgasms. No need to look so smug, Michael," Alex grouses, but he smiles.

Michael turns his head, his face is very close all of a sudden, and his lips look plush and moist and oh-so-kissable. They look at each other.

"Alex," Michael whispers.

Alex closes the distance between them and then they kiss. Stars align, the universe expands, and Alex knows he's finally home. Not in Roswell, they could be anywhere right now, on this planet, or in another galaxy. No, home is in Michael's arms, in the sweetness of his breath, the sound of his low moans, and the soft touch of his fingers caressing the hair at the nape of Alex's neck.

"Ah, first soulmate kiss. I remember. So intense," Isobel says, and places three shot glasses and a bottle of tequila on the table.

They don't want to stop kissing, but they do. It's the polite thing to do. But it's hard. Alex would rather be alone with Michael. As if he's been reading his mind, Michael leans closer and whispers "One shot, then we leave. She'll understand. But I need to be alone with you."

Alex closes his eyes and inhales deeply in an attempt to calm his nerves. Michael's scent is intoxicating, he smells like leather and rain. Alex wants to drown in the smell. When a cold shot glass is shoved into his hand, he blinks his eyes open again.

"Earth to Alex, are you back with us?" Isobel smirks, but her eyes are kind and understanding.

"Yeah, sorry, it's just a lot to take in, and Michael smells so good. I'm sorry, but can we get this over with? I really need to be alone with him."

Isobel nods. "You know what, why don't you take the bottle home with you, and some time this week, we all meet and celebrate."

Michael nods and picks his hat up from the chair. "Excellent idea. I knew you'd understand." He kisses Isobel on the cheek. "You told Greg though, right?"

Isobel nods. "Yes, he knows. Liz, too. And—," she whispers something into Michael's ear.

Alex thinks he hears Isobel mention a "handprint" (whatever that means) but he assumes they're referring to the thing Michael will tell him when they are alone, so he doesn't ask what they're talking about. It's comforting to know that his favorite brother knows, though. It'll be good to have someone to talk to he trusts implicitly.

They hug Isobel (who also smells like rain, Alex notices), then they head out to the parking lot. Since Michael's currently living at a motel, the decision's easy where to go. They leave Michael's old truck ("don't ask, we've been through a lot together, and I'd never give up on her") at the Pony, and take Alex's SUV instead.

He doesn't live too far from the bar, and they enter his house not ten minutes later.

There's just enough time for Alex to put down the tequila bottle on the dining table before Michael pulls him into his arms. They're still wearing their jackets, and Michael his hat. Before Michael gets close enough to kiss him, Alex nods in the direction of his bedroom.

"There's a very comfortable and very big bed behind that door. We both know where we're headed anyway, and I'd like to take the prothesis off," he says, holding his breath after the revelation. He knows that his soulmate won't reject him because of it, but it's still a very personal thing to disclose.

Michael doesn't even blink, he just smiles and leads Alex to the bedroom. He makes Alex sit on the edge of the bed and kneels down in front of him. Alex's breath catches. Michael takes off his hat and jacket and drops them on the floor to his left, then he turns back to Alex and unlaces Alex's boots.

Alex opens the button and zipper of his jeans, and cants his hips to wriggle them down without having to stand up. He doesn't quite succeed. "Damn, I'm stuck, sorry. I have to stand up again."

Michael shakes his head. "No, you don't. Do you trust me?"

Alex stops and thinks about it for a moment. Does he trust Michael? The simple answer is, yes. He just knows that he can trust Michael. He nods. "I do."

Michael looks at him and holds his gaze, when Alex's butt slowly lifts off the mattress. He gasps, but he keeps looking at Michael. Michael smiles softly. Then he reaches for Alex's jeans and pulls them down, while Alex is floating a few inches above his bed.

Alex's thoughts are racing. He should be scared, his soldier instincts should kick in, and maybe he should fight, but he does none of that. Because he doesn't feel threatened. He feels safe. Michael won't hurt him, that he knows with absolute certainty.

As if by magic, he slowly descends, until he sits on the edge of the bed again. Michael kisses Alex's left knee, then he turns his attention to the prosthetic on his right leg. Alex is about to tell him what to do, when he feels the prosthetic coming off. He groans in relief. He'll have to pace himself and not go entire days without the crutch too often for a couple more weeks.

Michael removes the leg and pulls the liner down to reveal Alex's stump. Alex scrunches his face. Not in disgust of how the stump looks, but he knows how it probably smells. But Michael is unfazed, though. He leans forward and kisses the tender skin of Alex's stump. Alex is close to bursting into tears because of the tenderness of the gesture.

His voice sounds a little wet when he speaks. "I need to take some meds. Would you mind getting them for me from the bathroom cabinet? They are labeled 'evening'."

Michael nods and gets up from the floor. Before he leaves, he presses a soft kiss to Alex's lips. "Thanks for trusting me."

Alex wants to reach for him and tumble backwards with Michael in his arms, but he knows he'll regret not taking his medication, so he doesn't. Thankfully, Michael's back with the pill bottles in a heartbeat, and Alex uncaps the bottle of water on his nightstand and takes his pills.

Meanwhile, Michael toes off his boots, pulls his shirt over his head, takes off his socks, and drops his pants in a heap on the floor. When he looks around the room wearing nothing more than his briefs, Alex pats the free space next to him. "Come here, sit down. I'm ready to listen to whatever you're going to tell me in a minute, I just need you close for a moment."

Michael almost trips over his jeans in his haste to sit down next to Alex. Alex immediately realizes how anxious he is, and somehow that soothes his own nerves. He reaches for Michael's hand and laces their fingers together. Michael's hand trembles, and Alex squeezes it.

"You don't have to worry, Michael. I know you're going to tell me something extraordinary, but I can handle it. I won't reject you. Relax."

Michael snickers. "Well, you could say extraordinary, extraterrestrial would be more accurate, though."

Alex swallows hard, but deep down he knows that Michael's not joking. He squeezes Michael's hand again. "The 1947 crash was real?" Michael can't do much more than nod.

"So, you're a descendent of a group of people not from this earth who crashed here some 70 odd years ago?"

Michael looks at him. "I guess you could say that, although I have to add that I was actually on board of the spaceship."

Alex can't believe what he just heard. "Uhm, okay. You don't look like someone who's well over 70 years old, though. Does your species age at a slower rate? I this a Superman thing? Are you from Krypton? How old are you really?"

Michael laughs. "You're taking this surprisingly well. Uhm, so, depending on how you look at it, I'm either 30 years old, or I'm about 80. I don't think we're aging slower than humans, though. We were actually in stasis in our pods for half a century, and only hatched in 1997."

"You did what now?"

"Oh, sorry, uhm, our stasis pods look like glowing eggs, and we always joked that we hatched. I don't think that's how our people actually procreate, though," Michael explains.

Alex is trying his best to take it all in, but it's a lot. He takes a deep breath. "So, by 'us', you're referring to yourself, Isobel, and your other brother, Max, right? Don't you have parents? What happened to them?"

Michael's face falls, and Alex feels awful for being responsible for it. "We don't know, actually. We don't even know whether we're actual siblings. We were found together after we hatched, mute, wandering the desert. Max and Iz got lucky, they were adopted by a local family. I wasn't quite so lucky. I grew up in the system. But I've always been a bright student, so I was able to get a good education. I had to postpone my plans to go to college after high school because of Isobel for a few years, that's why I only graduated recently. But I have a good job lined up, I'll start next month. So, I'm not a complete failure."

Alex wraps an arm around Michael's shoulder and pulls him into a hug. "You could never be a failure. I don't know much about you, but you're not a failure. You hear me?" He feels Michael nod against his chest.

"Good. Now that the big secret is revealed. What did Isobel mean when she talked about a handprint earlier?"

Michael pulls back and looks at Alex. "You heard that? Well, as I demonstrated earlier, my power is telekinesis. Isobel can influence people with her brain, and Max can heal. What the three of us have in common, is that we can share memories with someone else by putting our hands on them. Skin on skin. It opens some kind of mental connection, don't ask me how it works exactly, but it leaves an iridescent glowing handprint on the other person's skin. It fades after a few days, and the connection shared during the handprint also breaks."

Alex squeezes Michael's hand. "So, you can share memories and emotions, but you won't mind-whammy me?"

"God, no, I won't. I swear. I wouldn't even know how to," Michael says.

Alex turns to Michael and they look at each other. "Okay. I'll sit down on the bed against the headboard. I don't have any medical exams scheduled in the next couple of days. Does the handprint have to be placed somewhere specific?"

Michael looks at Alex with wonder in his eyes. "How are you so fucking calm and cool about this? My entire life – well, since we hatched – I've been worried sick about revealing this secret to anyone and sicking military special forces on us. You are the first person I've ever told, and you're taking it like I told you I have a mole on my left butt cheek."

Alex raises an eyebrow. "You have a mole on your left butt cheek?"

Michael giggles. "Oh my god, I know it's probably too soon to say it not even two hours after we've met, but I love you. You're ridiculous, and hilarious, and brilliant. And I love you." He wipes at his eyes. "And no, I don't have a mole on my left butt cheek. Wanna find out where I have one?" He waggles his eyebrows at Alex.

"You casually mention that you love me, and I'm supposed to play 'search the mole' with you? You are unbelievable. For the record, I love you, too. And I don't care that we only met two hours ago. You're about to put a spooky handprint on me that will tell me everything I need to know."

Alex lets go of Michael's hand and scrambles back on the bed until he sits comfortably, propped up by at least three cushions. He looks down at himself and pulls his shirt over his head and flings it in the general direction of the hamper. He winks at Michael. "Come here, alien boy, tell me your story."

Michael laughs and crawls across the bed until he's next to Alex. He likes what he sees. A smattering of dark chest hair, strong arms, a sculpted torso. Alex is gorgeous, head to toe.

"Is it okay when I put my hand on your chest? Low enough that the handprint won't be visible even if you open the top two buttons?"

Alex nods. "That sounds reasonable. Go ahead."

Michael places his right hand on Alex's chest. Michael takes a deep breath, and suddenly his hand starts glowing red. The palm of his hand is heating up against Alex's skin, but the heat doesn't hurt. They look at each other, and suddenly it's like a gate to another dimension opens.

Alex looks at everything Michael sends his way, he laughs, he sheds tears, he looks in horror at what some of the foster parents did to Michael. He sees Isobel, and another man, Max, most likely, he sees an old man with an eyepatch at a place that looks like a junkyard.

It's not just images Michael shares, though. There are also emotions. Alex can barely handle the loneliness radiating through the connection, the fear of someone finding out, Michael worrying about Isobel, and a million other things.

When they later look at the alarm clock on Alex's night stand, they realize the whole thing didn't take longer than maybe ten minutes, and yet Alex feels like he knows everything about Michael. Not every detail or secret, but he knows Michael now.

It's overwhelming, and terrifyingly wonderful. Alex doesn't know how else to describe it. They lie down next to each other, knees knocking, hands exploring, their mouths almost touching.

"Wow," Alex breathes out.

Michael kisses him. "Yeah," he whispers.

Alex does what he's been dying to do since he met Michael. He runs his fingers through Michael's hair and enjoys how soft the curls feel. Like the finest silk.

"You are incredible, Michael. Thank you for sharing this with me. I'll have a million questions for you in the coming days, and I'm sure you'll also want know more about me, but I need to not talk for a while. Can we do that?"

Michael nods. Alex barely blinks an eye, when they both float up, comforter and duvet getting pulled out from under them, and soon they sink back down into the soft mattress again. "This ability of yours sure comes in handy," Alex praises.

Michael pulls the duvet over them, and Alex is grateful for the heat inside of their little cocoon. "It does. You have no idea what it means to me to being able to use it in front of you."

Alex notices the emotion in Michael's voice and sees tears glistening in his eyes. He wraps his arms around Michael as good as he can and pulls him close. Michael hugs back, and then they just hold each other for a long time. Breathing each other in and trading lazy kisses.

Once their bodies and minds relax, their kisses get heated. They are both hard, their cocks brushing against each other through the thin fabric of their underwear. Alex wriggles his hand between them to wrap it around the tips of their cocks peeking out. There's no time (or room) for finesse. Heat and friction are doing the job for them. Their kisses get more and more wet and sloppy, they pant into each other's mouths, and just moments before Alex is ready to come, Michael looks at him, his pupils blown wide. He presses his hand on the glowing mark in the middle of Alex's chest.

"I love you," he says. A short break, then he adds, "Darlin'."

Alex lets out a guttural sound, something between a scream and a moan, and he comes in hot and almost painful pulses between them. Michael follows only moments later, adding to the mess. But they don't care.

The connection between them is blown wide open, and Michael gasps, when he's receiving memories and emotions from Alex suddenly. An abusive home, his mom leaving, loneliness, gruesome years in the military, the immeasurable pain of losing a limb, Michael feels like he's about to pass out from it, but he holds steady.

Alex took in everything he shared with him earlier, now he wants to take in everything Alex is sharing. It's a lot, though, and when the flood of impressions subsides to a mere trickle, he realizes he's panting and sweating like he just ran a marathon.

Their foreheads are touching, and they cling to each other like they're afraid to let go of the other.

Later, they won't recall exactly for how long they stay like that. At some point, Alex musters enough energy to tell Michael where he keeps a bottle of nail polish remover in his bathroom.

"How do you—,?" Michael starts, and Alex just places his hand on Michael's chest. Michael blinks. "Wow, I think this experience has fried some of my brain cells, of course you know."

Michael closes his eyes and concentrates, but he's not strong enough to make the bottle come to him with his telekinesis. Reluctantly, he lets go of Alex, who grumbles and makes grabby hands at Michael.

"Just a second, sweetheart, I'll be back in no time. Don't go anywhere."

"Har, har," Alex makes. He's slowly feeling like he's fully conscious again. He's about to call for Michael's attention, when the man in question returns from his quest in the bathroom. He's sipping from a plastic bottle he's holding with one hand, and there's a wet towel in his other hand. Bless him.

He hands the towel to Alex (who notices that Michael soaked it in warm water, bless him more!), and he quickly wipes himself down. When he's finished, Michael takes the towel and returns to the bathroom.

When he comes back, he smiles at Alex. "Pajamas, or shirts and sweatpants?" he asks, pointing at the walk-in closet.

"Door on the far left, there's both, pajamas and other comfy clothes. I'll take what you take." He only feels silly for saying something so sappy for a second, because Michael beams like the sun. "Partner look, I like it."

Michael vanishes for half a minute and returns with two pairs of blue sweat pants and plain white shirts. He dresses himself first, while Alex puts on the shirt, then Michael's there to help him put on the sweats. Without being prompted, Michael asks "Your crutches, where are they?"

Alex smiles at him softly. "In the living room, leaning against the wall next to the dining table."

Michael goes to fetch the crutches and leans them against the wall next to Alex's side of the bed when he returns. "Anything else I can get you before we sleep?"

Alex shakes his head. "Nothing I can think of right now. Come to bed, Michael."

Michael smiles, his grin almost devilish. "It'll be my pleasure, darlin'."

Alex is tempted to throw a pillow at Michael. "You're not playing fair, Michael. I'm exhausted, and you know what you saying it does to me. I don't think all the darlin's in the world will be able to make me hard again right now, though."

Michael crawls into bed and under the covers. He pulls Alex close and kisses the tip of his nose. "Don't be sad, sweetheart, there's more than enough time for that in the morning. Unless you have to be somewhere tomorrow?"

Alex shakes his head. "No, there's nothing on my schedule tomorrow. Plenty of time for us to get to know each other with more words. Don't get me wrong, what happened tonight has been the most incredible experience of my life, and I'm grateful that we already know so many things about each other, especially the bad things that are much harder to talk about. But I still want to talk to you."

Michael nods. "We'll do that. Tomorrow. But now, let's sleep. The acetone helped, but I still feel a bit like I was hit by a truck. Big spoon or little spoon?"

Alex thinks about it for a moment. "If you don't mind, little spoon. You're just so warm, and I'm freezing. I'm always up for big spoon duty, though. I want to hold you, too, you know."

Michael's smile is the sweetest, and Alex's heart almost bursts with how much he loves him. "I know," Michael says. "And now, turn around and get comfy."

Alex does, and as soon as Michael's inhuman warmth engulfs him, his eyes start to droop. A moment later the room goes dark, and Alex feels Michael's lips peppering the his neck with little kisses. He pulls Michael's arm closer around himself.

"I love you," he whispers into the dark.

"And I love you. So much, Alex. So, so much. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Michael."

And then, they sleep.

#malex #alex manes #michael guerin #rnm fic #malex fic #my fic #michael vlamis

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 2 years

Text

Of Fellineweres and Curses prt 2

*** Of Fellineweres and Curses. Prt 2

Premise: When a transportation spell sees Shiro, Matt, Sam and Allura go missing from the Magic Academy and not safely delivered at the Whitecliffe Tower, Keith, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, and Coran, all find themselves on the hunt for their missing friend.

Scene: Omega Lance. Necrotic Magic. Curses. Heats. Monsters and Mana appearances, except they’re all Magic users. Teacher Coran. Loner Keith. RIP Adam, I prefer working with Curtis.

Landing face first, Lance felt something crack as his body hit the group. He was ashamed to admit he’d screamed as he hurtled towards the earth, forgetting how to levitate himself due to the shock of what had happen. He’d accident broken the barrier… Oh… For all things magical and sacred, they been teleported… Keith wasn’t going to let him live this one down

“Lance?”

Peering up at Coran, Lance groaned. “Coran, Coran, the Gorgeous Man”, didn’t have so much as a single glorious orange hair out of place in either his moustache or his glorious orange mane… not like him who was… splattered on the forest floor where everything felt like it was out of place

“I’m still intact”

“That’s good to hear, my boy. Anything broken?”

“Possibly… ugh… I’m so sorry. If my hands hadn’t hit the spell”

“Never you mind. Let’s get you up. The others have to be around here somewhere”

Extending his hand, Coran helped him up. Warmth trickling up his arms as the man used his magic to heal him. Normally Lance liked to avoid physical contact. Sometimes his magic made him see things, but that had never happened with Coran

“Now what were the names of your companions? They’ve slipped my mind again”

“Hunk and Pidge… and the glaring one was Keith”

“That’s right! Let me have a little feel here, they can’t be too far away. Why don’t you set up a couple of ghost lights to guide us?”

“I can’t. If Hunk was here… he could do it”

“What can I do?”

Lance screamed and jumped behind Coran at the sound of Hunk’s voice coming from right behind them. His reputation would never be the same, not with all the screaming he was doing

“Dude! You scared me!”

“Sorry, man. We came looking for you guys”

The “we” in Hunk’s sentence unfortunately covered Keith, who was standing there scaring off the night with a fierce scowl. Yes, he knew the scowl was directed his way, but Lance was going to tell himself that Keith was secretly scared of the dark and die happily knowing it wasn’t directed at him. The fellow teen making his unhappiness known

“And now we’re all back together, it’s time to go”

Go where? They were in the middle of a forest in the middle of the night, with no teleportation sigil conveniently located next to them

“Sorry, my boy. None of us will be going anywhere until morning. It’s far too dangerous to let a group of students loose in a forest I don’t know. No. We’ll be making camp right here. Once someone realises we’re missing, they’re bound to send a party. It’s best we stay here”

Keith wasn’t having it

“You guys can stay here, but my brother is missing and I’m not about to sit around and wait. Pidge, are you coming with me?”

Pidge nodded quickly

“Yep. These losers will only slow us down. No offence Hunk, or Coran”

So full offence to him. Talk about rude. Pidge had no idea what he’d been through. Clearing his throat, Coran clapped his hands together, before summoning a small ghost light to hover between his palms. The others might have no clue, but if you were going to be lost in a magical forest then Coran was the one man you definitely wanted there

“I do believe it would be in everyone’s best interests to wait until morning. Setting off in the middle of the night may have dire consequences”

“We’ll be fine. Pidge and I are capable of taking care of ourselves, not like someone I could mention”

Lance had had it. He wasn’t useless and Keith had gotten under his skin

“Yeah, well, unlike you I don’t get lost between each class. Don’t think I haven’t seen you. If Pidge goes with you she’s likely to walk off a cliff following you before you even get out of this forest… We should listen to Coran and wait”

“My brother is out there!”

“And what good are you going to be to anyone if you end up dead? Or lost? Or lost and dead?!”

Sympathetically, Coran patted his shoulder. He knew Lance had more than a couple of skeletons in his closet, none of which would be a problem provided they got back to the Garrison as soon as possible

“Lance is right. Shiro is more than capable of fending for himself, they all are highly capable and talented folk. He’d be aggrieved to learn something had happened to you. I understand your frustrations, but come morning we can discuss this rationally”

With Keith and Pidge glaring him into the Realm of the Goddesses, Lance didn’t feel particularly friendly towards them

“It’s no good, Coran. They’re both only going to agree to stay until they think we’re asleep then leave”

“Yes, well, we can’t have that, but we can’t stop them either. If they choose to wander off, I suppose that’s that. We’ll have to keep any clues we do find to ourselves”

Lance could have groaned. Keith and Pidge weren’t going to fall for that. He wasn’t even falling for it and he was a dumb teen

“Keith and I stand more of a chance finding them then anyone else… You guys couldn’t possibly understand what it’s like”

Pidge was right there. He couldn’t. He’d been the loved baby of the family… Coran swapped back to trying to be diplomatic

“Pidge, the Garrison is looking for them. You’ve got good people on your side. Allura is like a daughter to me, but charging off into a woods we don’t know the danger of is simply too dangerous. Come morning we’ll scout around for signs and clues. Your father and your brother would be devastated should something happen to you. I would be devastated should something happen to any of you”

Pidge let out a long sigh, before giving a small nod

“Fine, but only until the sun comes up. Keith?”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever”

Coran beamed at the four of them. Hunk hadn’t said anything, but his best bud looked one scary sound away from a heart attack

“Excellent, now that it’s decided we should all attempt to get some rest. I’ll keep watch”

Setting up a fire, the four of them spread themselves around it. Lance and Hunk on one side with Pidge and Keith on the other. The only time Lance got to lay under the stars was when he snuck out to the dormitory roof. He’d always loved them. It was said that Goddesses of magic had come from far beyond them, though most kids grew out of that myth by the time they reached the Garrison, but for him… He could believe it. There were just so many unanswered things that pointed to their being a bigger story out there. If it wasn’t for the looming doom on his horizon he might have actually been happy for the company. There was a reason he didn’t leave the campus and a reason he feared the night, both of which would be obvious should Coran not be able to get them back to the Garrison tomorrow. Feeling warmth creeping through the grass, his eyes grew heavy. Coran had cast a sleeping spell on the four of them, which would no doubt piss Keith and Pidge off to no end. But there was something in the spell that seemed to niggle at him, something about the forest wasn’t quite right…

Waking to yelling, Pidge and Keith weren’t impressed with Coran. From the way Lance’s body felt, the sleeping spell had long worn off, giving way to natural sleep. Normally after a sleeping spell, even cast by the highest of practicers, magic still remained leaving the person slightly foggy minded. Pushing himself up, Lance found himself the last to wake. The grass beneath him browner than the rest of the grass in the clearing… Already a sign that today was not going to be a good day for him.

“I can’t believe you’d put a spell on us!”

Keith sounded livid. Then again, he was known for his temper around all his brooding

“We should have left when we had the chance”

Pidge sounded just as mad… As Lance looked at all the tall tree around them, he was kind of glad they hadn’t moved from where they’d landed. A guy could easily get lost in there and despite his “self described” excellent sense of direction, he didn’t fancy trying to find his way through the forest with no idea what waited lurking in the shadows

“Um… guys… can we not fight? We’re all awake now”

Coran spun to look to him, almost seeming relieved Lance was awake when all Lance wanted to do was back away from the two raging teens

“Excellent point, young Hunk. We are all awake. Good morning, Lance. Pleasant sleep?”

Quiznak, now he couldn’t escape… Keith pointing at him

“You! It’s you’re fault!”

“Me?! I just woke up!”

“You made us fall through the barrier!”

Keith was not pining Coran using a sleeping my spell, or any other spell on him

“I don’t think my magic was strong enough to… It’s not my fault!”

Pidge scowled at the both of them. She might be short, but she was scary. Deciding he wasn’t worth it, she turned to Keith

“Whatever. It’s daylight now. Come on, Keith”

Coran cleared his throat

“Before you two go, I suggest you try your magic”

Both Keith and Pidge shared a look, both of them clearly confident as they held their hands out for nothing to happen. Giving it a few seconds, Keith slowly grew red before throwing his hands up and shaking them off

“What the goddess?! What did you do to us?!”

Coran huffed as he raise his nose, it was probably the maddest Lance had ever seen him

“There’s something in this forest interrupting our magic. Even my own failed through the night. Now, I know you are all capable casters, however, I would be remiss in my duty to allow you walk off defenceless. There are vaguely terrifying things to be found in old forests”

Pidge crossed her arms as Hunk inched closer to Lance. His poor best buddy was not made for the situation he’d gotten them into, add a cranky Pidge to that and Hunk was one step away from a nervous breakdown

“You said that last night. You said we’d look for clues come morning”

“He can’t… We can’t. If the forest is cancelling our magic it means we can’t use it to trace them”

Keith sounded bitter, Lance wrapping his arms around himself to squash his inner panic. He couldn’t be out in the forest… not for another night… If the forest had absorbed their magic then… then he didn’t want to think of the circumstances

“We can’t stand here and do nothing! There has to be some kind of clue!”

Recovering from his “anger”, Coran nodded, trying to calm Pidge as he did

“We can still look for physical clues, Number Four. Footprints, signs of struggle, those sorts of things. Never fear, once they realise what has happened help shall be here shortly”

“What did you just call me? Did you call me “Number Four”? I’ve never been fourth place in my life!”

“Ah, yes, well… Names can be confusing. Hunk here is Number One, the our Lance, then Keith, and then you”

Pidge got it before he did

“You ranked us in height?!”

“Indeed, Number Four. Now, let’s look for clues here…”

Keith brought up what Lance wanted to avoid

“There’s brown grass where Lance slept. He probably destroyed the only evidence we had”

“I didn’t do anything, mullet”

“Mullet!?”

Keith might be a broody loner, and they might have only gotten along because they had to, but he had no right acting like Lance was totally to blame and he wasn’t having it

“Your hair. The Goddesses should strike you down for crimes against fashion”

“Like you’re one to talk! You’re the whole reason we’re in this mess!”

Hugging himself tighter, Lance tried to push down his temper but it wasn’t working. Stupid Keith and his stupid mullet. He might not be friends with him, or not want to be after how much of a douche Keith was being, but he didn’t want Keith winding up dead before they found the others

“You guys were the ones trying to break the barrier!”

“And we would have gotten it right if you hadn’t interfered!”

“You and Pidge would have run straight off and gotten into trouble!”

Had their magic worked, Lance was sure Keith would have been throwing spells at him, instead all could do was glare and snap

“Says you! You know what, don’t talk to me”

“I was about to say the same thing, mullet. You and Hunk can search that side of the fire, Pidge and I will search this side. That way you can’t complain we didn’t look hard enough and it’s fair because you obviously think I’m useless”

Keith looked insulted that Lance had managed to come up with a solid plan. Lance taking the win as he bit down a smile of satisfaction. Until help arrived he wasn’t going to let Mister Emotional Wreck over there get to him. He had to think of Hunk and his safety first, and Hunk would be safer if he and Keith stayed away from each other. Coran beamed at him

“That’s an excellent idea, Number Two! If the others discovered they couldn’t use magic here they may well have indeed left us clues to where they’ve gone! Now, I’ll walk the perimeter, I want you all to stay in eyesight of each other and if you do find something, don’t touch it. We don’t know what forces are at work here”

As much as Lance loved Coran, Coran was definitely the definition of a crazy uncle to him. Or at least he thought of Coran as family, he didn’t exactly know if the same could be said about the man’s feelings towards him. Suffering from anxiety and an inferiority complex a mile long, Lance had always felt kind of on the outside. Like he was the only one who didn’t get things in some great big joke and the only choice he had was to keep his head down and fake it until he made it… Not that he’d admit it if asked.

His family were almost all amazing, but by the time he came along he felt like they’d already accomplished everything and his only use in life was to be a punching bag for his siblings spells. With four older siblings, he always seemed to be the only one who got into trouble. It didn’t help that he was his Mami’s baby. His mother, Miriam, had been devastated that he’d had to leave but thought it best for him seeing what he’d become at home. All the faculty knew about his particular issues, yet Coran never seemed to care. Necrotic magic wasn’t a common thing, and no great magician ever wielded it. Magic came from life, so to those be looked up to his magic was dirty and painful… Even Hunk didn’t know about his magic… Okay, so Hunk was practically his brother from another mother so knew a little bit, but there were some parts he’d never be able to tell him, which meant Lance had to work double hard now to keep him safe from everything including him. Just one wrong touch could hurt him more than Coran accidentally letting slip to his bear of a friend the nature of Lance’s magic.

Splitting off into pairs, Lance kept his arms around himself. Pidge more than happy to ignore his existence as she did what Keith did, and assumed the dead grass meant something related to the disappearances. He felt awful for her. He wanted to confess he’d done it, but at the same time he wanted to deny that it had absolutely anything to do with him. Crouching down, she had her hands against the grass, probably trying to get a feel for any magical traces

“Lance, are you sure you didn’t notice anything here before you fell asleep?”

“Nope. I just found the first bit of grass I could then Coran put us all under”

“And you felt nothing coming from here? Nothing to explain why it’s like this?!”

“Nope. Nothing. Just Coran’s spell”

“This is some next level bullshit”

“Maybe when help arrives…”

Lance’s words died at the scowl Pidge shot him

“I know you’re a bit behind, but wake up. Even if help comes they’re only going to lose their magic, loser”

“Yeah, but what if they cast before it happens? Coran had magic for a little bit”

“If Coran lost his magic then we’re all in trouble here! Not to mention what happened to my father and brother!”

He got it. Pidge needed someone to vent at… but by Goddesses he wished it wasn’t at him

“I know you’re upset…”

Getting to her feet, Pidge came right up to him. Lance swallowing hard as he took half a step backs

“Don’t you dare. You don’t know how I feel at all. It’s alright for you. Everything goes right for you. Half my family is gone and you’re acting like it’s a joke!”

“Pidge, it’s not a joke. I’m not laughing here… I promise”

“Good, because Keith is right. We ended up here because of you and if we don’t find my family I will never forgive you”

At this point Lance didn’t know who was scarier between Keith and Pidge… and he was kicking him that he hadn’t gone with Keith. Keith wasn’t talking to him, so he could have saved himself from putting his foot in things further

“I want to help find them too… I don’t know how the barrier collapsed, I can only guess it reacted to the strength of Coran’s magic…”

“Whatever, just help me look and stay out of my way”

#Fellinweres and curses

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fortheloveoffanfic · 4 years

Text

The Reveal

Keanu Reeves x Reader (A/n- Written in the The One That Stays universe, because I love it, and those characters so much. This is about 3 years post the last chapter, and I was really iffy about posting it, but here we are anyway.)

Warnings- Nothing really, just pregnancy and fluff.

“And I thought I loved you then.” -Then, Brad Paisley

Warm yellow rays from the barely cloudy sky cast a picturesque gleam on the surface of cool, blue water. That day, thankfully, hadn't been as sweltering as the ones in the weeks gone by, and the forecast predicted for that weekend had been one conducive to recreational boating, which was why they'd decided to rent a yacht for the weekend. Joining them had been Keanu's side of the family, his sister, her husband and his mother, along with Julie, her husband Eric and their two year old Lucas.

It was their second day out on the water, anchored off the coast of Los Angeles and by late afternoon, everyone had gathered on deck, around the small pool to hang out. Eric had taken to the pool to humor Lucas, as had Keanu's brother in law, while everyone else had kicked back on lounge chairs. Y/n was laid back on Keanu's chest, his worn shirt soft and comforting against her exposure arms as his legs spread slightly to accommodate her bare one. One of his large hands were splayed on her stomach, while the other absently twirled the ends of her hair, something he'd taken to doing after she'd let her tresses grow out a bit longer, all while Y/n toyed with her wedding band. The diamonds shone proudly in the sunlight, and though the ring hand made its home on her finger almost two years ago, Y/n couldn't help but smile faintly. She was Mrs. Y/n Reeves.

"You okay?" Keanu broke her thoughts, gently rubbing her rounded stomach. They were just under four months shy of welcoming their first child. They’d been discussing having a baby even before they married, in a small ceremony at Keanu’s favorite hotel, but hadn’t gotten down to actually trying until about a year earlier, when he had decided to cut back on the amount of roles he took and Y/n’s work schedule cleared up. Thankfully, though their road to pregnancy hadn’t been a trying one, they were both fairly healthy and it greatly helped that they were usually all over each other, and within about three months of being off her birth control, they had taken a home test, which had confirmed that Y/n was indeed pregnant. Since then, Keanu’s protectiveness had nearly quadrupled; the woman he loved was carrying their child, and he’d be damned if anything remotely bad happened to either of his favorite people.

Shifting a bit in his embrace, she laid one of her smaller hands next to his, feeling the light kicks of their baby, like butterflies fluttering in her stomach. According to Julie, those were only going to get stronger, and apparently a little painful, but Y/n didn’t care, she’d endure it any day if the reward was having their child in her arms afterwards. “Yeah,” Y/n smiled softly, nuzzling his chest with her cheek, “I’m good, we both are.”

“Good,” Keanu bent to kiss the top of her head, reassured for the time being. He’d been a little skeptical when Y/n and his sister had conjured up the idea of taking a boat out for the weekend; out on the water, if anything happened to her, getting to her doctor or the hospital would take longer than he preferred, and there had already some difficulties that had him almost constantly on edge. But, alas, Y/n was extremely persuasive and eventually convinced him that she was fine to get away for the long weekend, “And-”

A gasp from his mother, Patrica from her own chair as she set her cocktail down cut off Keanu’s words, and everyone turned to her, “I just remembered,” she sat up, eyes fixed on them both, “You two had an appointment this week, did Dr. Shaw tell you the sex?”

Boy or girl, it had recently become a hot topic in the Reeves family. Every time they all met, it somehow came up; what family names would work if it were a boy, how cute they’d dress up a little girl and Y/n was even sure that their was a bet going on between her sister-in-law and Julie, “We didn’t,” Keanu chuckled, “This little one was turned away from us; shy like their mommy.”

“And their daddy!” Y/n playfully slapped his thigh, giggling when he tucked her closer. When their laughter died down, Y/n elaborated, “I promise, you’ll be the first call when we find out.”

“Call?” Patrica repeated incredulously, as if the word were a capital crime in itself. How dare they simply call?

“We’ll take you to dinner?” Keanu scrunched his nose, trying to appease her. He knew it was a big deal, almost every family member had made sure to remind them of it, but surely, it couldn’t be that big.

“Dinner- ugh,” she put a long, manicured finger to her temple, her entire, though possibly exasperated expression, was hidden by her dark sunglasses, though, her words were enough to tell them just how much a their options had not sufficed, “I’ve waited twenty years for my only son to get married to a nice girl. And now, they’re having a baby, and all I get, after all this waiting, is a phone call? My grand-baby is worth more than a phone call, you need to have a reveal.”

Julie squealed in agreement, “Oh! That would be perfect! You could do it where we had ours, at that cute little pastry shop in the city.” Y/n remembered that party well, especially since she’d nearly planned the entire thing. Julie had gone the perhaps, more old fashioned route, with a cake reveal. They’d rented out her favorite shop for an afternoon and gathered their closest friends and family for the vintage style soiree, where everyone was encouraged to wear a color that matched their suspicions; pastel blues and greens for a boy and light pinks and purples for a girl. Y/n, who’d been sure that she was going to have a godson from the very beginning, had opted for a cute blue dress with white lace trimming, claiming victory over Keanu who’d opted for a pink, which he dubbed salmon, shirt.

“A gender reveal?” Y/n shifted again, scooting upwards, aided by Keanu and subsequently tucking her head in his neck after turning on her side. Quite recently, finding comfortable positions had started becoming quite a daunting task, but somehow, being cuddled to, or rather on top of, Keanu had remained Y/n’s favorite. “We didn’t really think of doing one of those, my mom already wants to do a baby shower, we just feel like it's too much.”

“Yeah,” Keanu chimed in, trying to be another voice of reason, “Besides, that’s a lot of work, and we’re supposed to be keeping an eye on her blood pressure-”

“Well then let me plan it,” his mother protested, determined to have a reveal, “I’m sure Julie and Karina will help, and we can have it at her place too.”

Perking up, Karina joined their conversation, “Oh! That would be perfect,” she clapped her hands excitedly, no doubt on board with the idea. She’d been bursting with excitement since they’d announced that they were expecting, teasing that having a baby in the family this time around would be more fun considering she wasn’t the one who’d have to wake up at four am feedings. She was however, down to babysit whenever her niece or nephew started sleeping through the night. Yeah, their family thought of it all. “I’d love to help!”

“Count me in too,” Julie beamed, taking her son in her arms just as Eric came out from the pool, handing him over so he could go get Lucas a towel.

And then, before Y/n and Keanu knew it, the three women were all involved in planning a party that they hadn’t even signed off on, though, at that point, it was clear that they didn’t have a choice anyway. “Perfect, all you two will have to do is show up,” she smiled triumphantly.

Three weeks later Y/n was a the snack table, surveying its contents and deciding if she wanted something, when Keanu came up behind her, causing her to jump with he placed gentle hands on her shoulders, pecking the crown of Y/n’s hair, “It’s just me sweetheart,” he chuckled, his baritone warm and familiar.

“You startled me,” Y/n pressed one hand to her chest over the neckline of her white flowing dress, while the other cradled her bump. The little, unofficial planning committee had instructed guests to wear white, though, the decor had entailed a charming mix of baby blue and a light pink, beautifully mixed to compliment each other. The deserts; everything from inviting cupcakes to cute cake pops and elegant looking macaroons, and party favors, mostly made of little pouches filled with jelly beans along with fuzzy topped pens along with several other little trinkets, were also color coordinated. The ladies had really gone out, though arguably, simple wasn’t exactly their MO. “This is supposed to be a gender reveal, not a baby reveal,” she joked, turning to face Keanu.

“You’re right,” his lips brushed her forehead, one of his hands on her waist sliding to her stomach, “Wouldn’t want our bun popping out too soon,” he crouched down, so he could ‘talk to the baby,’ something he’d been doing for months now, “As excited as we are to meet you, you still gotta keep mommy company in there for a few more months.”

Threading her delicate hand through his dark mane a fond sorire upturned Y/n’s pink stained lips. She absolutely adored those little moments that Keanu would spend chatting with their baby, at first, he’d started with brief sentences, ‘I love you’s and ‘can’t wait to meet you’s, but as months drew on, and it the reality set in, Keanu had started reading to her belly, and sometimes at night, when he’d join her in bed, he could spend well over an hour talking about all the things he’d teach them as they grew up. Already, he was proving to be an exceptional father; extremely loving and always ready to put his wife and child first, and Y/n knew that things would only get better when they met their baby.

She was so lost in her own thoughts, that Y/n had barely heard a thing of what Keanu had said, only returning to the moment when he pressed a chaste kiss to her tummy, offering one final declaration of love before standing again and heading to another end of the table after kissing Y/n one last time. "What are you doing?" She giggled as he picked up a pen and a little blank card out of a stack next to two decorative wooden boxes. The entire set up was for one of the many games being run that day, where their guests could vote on their options. Before the reveal later that evening, someone was supposed to count them and the reward would be satisfaction at the end.

"I'm placing my bet," Keanu defended, scribbling on the white surface as he spoke.

"It's not a bet," Y/n placed a hand at the top of her growing bump as she made her way over to him, standing on her toes to peer over the loose shield he'd made with his hand, "You're going with girl again, huh?"

"Hey, Julie and Eric's baby was one thing, but I think I know our kid," folding the card in half, creasing it for emphasis, Keanu slipped it into the box with the word "girl” carved in cursive at the front, "This baby," he palmed her stomach with both hands, "Is definitely a girl."

Rolling her eyes, Y/n decided that she'd get in on it too, plucking on of the cards from its spot, swiping the pen from off the table and using Keanu's chest to press on, "Well, you must like being wrong," she chewed on her lower lip as she wrote, dramatically showing Keanu what she'd written before slipping it into the matching box labeled boy, "I was right then, and I'm right now."

"And how are you so sure of that?" The giddy smile of both their faces didn't show any signs of fading as Keanu reeled Y/n back in, "Why don't we bet on it?"

“Because I’m carrying the baby, duh,” she rolled her eyes playfully. Throwing her arms around his neck, Y/n twirled the ends of Keanu's hair in her fingers, leaning into his chest as far as she could, "And yeah,” his arms circled Y/n's waist, toying with the lace on her flowing maxi dress, "Let's do it. What does the winner get?"

Keanu scrunched up his face, looking up thoughtfully, "The winner gets….." he thought on it some more, "Whatever they want."

Y/n eyed her husband suspiciously for a minute, a little curious about what he could possibly want, if by some miracle, he won. "Okay," she finally said, “Winner gets whatever they want,” Y/n smiled mischievously, almost certain that she would be triumphant.

Hours later, just before noon had turned to evening and when the brightness had gone hazy as the sun journeyed to the horizon, everyone had gathered in the backyard, on the lawn for the long awaited moment. It was time for the reveal. They’d gone with a balloon reveal, and when it was time, Y/n and Keanu were positioned near the fence, just a few feet in front of their family and friends, all ready with phone and cameras. Keanu held on to the string of the large, shiny black balloon, one with a silver question mark painted on at the front, while Y/n had been armed with a metal skewer from Karina’s kitchen.

Just about an hour earlier, the contents of both boxes had been counted, and the team banking on Baby Reeves being a boy had come in strong, outnumbering the other side by a landslide. The small victory, though it couldn’t be considered a real prediction, had only built Y/n’s faith in her own suspicions, almost everyone, even down to her own parents, were convinced that she and Keanu would be greeting a son in the coming months.

“Ready?” Keanu’s eyes met hers, the nerves shared between them, along with bright, excited grins plastered on both their faces. They both knew that in the end; boy or girl, daughter or son, it wouldn’t matter. None of it would matter as long as their baby was healthy and safe.

Y/n nodded vigorously, using her free hand to tuck some hair behind her ear, positioning the skewer near the opaque balloon, “Yeah.” Somewhere in the crowd, she heard her mother anxiously prompt her to “just do it already,” while someone else interjected that their camera was ready, “Okay, okay,” Y/n laughed, ready to get on with the moment of truth.

Taking a deep breath, Y/n didn’t even try to steady her shaking hand as she finally pressed the tip of the stick to the balloon, wincing and shutting her eyes tightly at the loud popping sound. The crowd cheered loudly, jubilance igniting a celebration and when Y/n opened her eyes, her jaw hung slack with shock. Rendered speechless, she just stood there, rooted to the floor, dropping the skewer and placing her hands on her stomach, barely smiling breathlessly at the patter of kicks beneath her palms. “Oh my god…..” Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she raised her head to meet Keanu’s equally glistening gaze, “I…..”

For a second, he too seemed shocked, and the jeers of congratulations faded in the background as everything moved in slow motion. She could have sworn that there had never been so much love in his eyes, and Keanu thought that he’d never been that happy, though, their wedding day came in at a very close second. Suddenly, the prospect of parenthood seemed a thousand times realer. After that evening, so much would change, they would finally choose a name.

Without another moment of hesitation, Keanu took her into his strong arms, lifting Y/n off the ground and spinning her in a circle and planting a passionate on her ready lips. In turn, she hugged him tightly, forgetting everything and everyone else as they basked in their joy. “So,” he began when he set her down, brushing some pink confetti off her shoulders and picking a couple similar pieces out of her hair, “I guess you were wrong,” he chortled, still holding her close.

Nodding, Y/n looked at the ground around them; the healthy green grass was now freckled with bits of fuchsia pink, “I guess I was, we’re having a little girl,” she kissed him again, that time quicker, not even caring that everyone was still taking pictures of them, “You win.”

“I do,” Keanu pressed their forehead together, the tip of his nose brushing hers. By then, they both looked equally rosy, the sheer joy of the matter seeping through their skin, “And I know just what I want to cash in my win for.”

“What’s that?” Y/n giggled.

“This,” and before she knew it, Keanu was dipping her, one hand holding Y/n steady at the center of her back, while the other cradled her head. Her loose tresses hung in a waterfall, disturbed only by Keanu’s stocky fingers, just as he captured her lips again, in a breath stealing bout of sweet endearment.

******

Taglist- @harrisongslimited @magnificentclodpiebanana @keandrews @greenmanalishi @rdjloverxxx @danceoftwowolves

#keanu reeves #keanu reeves x reader #keanu reeves x you #john wick x reader #john wick x you #the one that stays #the reveal #fanfic #fanfiction #keanu reeves fanfic #keanu reeves oneshot #oneshot #ff #john wick fanfiction #fluff

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cosmiceverafter · 4 years

Text

Legend

Isobel Evans Week • Day 7: Free Day - Belmanes Fic

@isobelevansappreciation I hope you all enjoy it! ♡

"You're still the Isobel Evans who convinced the basketball captain to pull four different fire alarms to get out of AP Gov, right? Yeah. Legend."

The remark floored Isobel. How did Gregory Manes remember that? Did he think about it as she did? When she was a sophomore, he had been a senior, and both had taken AP Gov. It was the one class they had had together.

Isobel couldn't help but blush; truthfully, she had always thought Gregory Manes was something special. She could still remember that day as if it were yesterday.

She had been staring at him from afar in class and felt her chest fluttering over how he would bite his pen and ruffle up his messy long hair as he flipped through his book quickly.

He was knowledgeable, which she found insanely attractive. A lot of guys in high school didn't care about those kinds of things. Greg wasn't Michael smart, but no one was...except maybe Liz Ortecho. But she didn't want to think of Liz; all she ever heard her brother talk about was "Liz this," and "Liz that." Ugh. Instead, she just focused her attention on the intelligent human boy.

Gregory had his group of friends, but he had also kept to himself. Nothing like his annoying brother Flint, a junior who loved the attention. Gregory was more reserved, kind of like Alex, his other brother, who was their age. The brother who Michael would always stare at from afar, yet wouldn't talk to.

Peculiar.

Isobel managed to look briefly away from him as she glanced at the clock.

Where the hell is Jake? She wondered. Mr. Otto was about to give the quiz. She had not studied but had heard from a random girl in the hallway, that there would be a big pop quiz today. And not just any exam, one that would make up half of their grade until finals.

Humans and their games. Infuriating.

So, naturally being herself, she had taken it into her own hands, switching things up. Yes, she could've used her powers on the teacher, but Max had warned the squad to "blend in." But that was the problem; she liked to stand out, so she had found another way.

Jake Mulligan, senior and captain of the basketball team, was half in love with her, aka with her looks. Typical. To her, he was just another dumb jock who thought with his little head more than his big. The guy would stare at her boobs constantly, clearly undressing her with his eyes. The male population was so predictable. However, this time, she used it to her advantage.

She had flirted, a lot, touching the guy's arm. But even then, the stupid fool had pushed, "I want something in return for jeopardizing my basketball career." So, she'd agreed to go on a date with him with no actual plan of following through with it.

Isobel stared at the clock with a groan, ready to use her powers to enter Jake Mulligan’s thoughts, and have him walk into a wall.

That's when she noticed Gregory looking stressed. Could it be that he didn't study either? Having a father like Jesse Manes, well, you wouldn't want to flunk—that was for sure. She had heard rumors about the Captain...he wasn't someone you wanted on your bad side.

Was that why Gregory was so reserved? She didn't know, but wanted to learn more about who he really was. Isobel did have an inkling that was why he was likely to join the military after graduation. The thought bummed her out; maybe she needed to hurry and make the first move with him—she was more than capable after all.

Yet, he gave her the butterflies whenever they spoke, which wasn't often. Isobel wasn't used to that feeling, so it had given her a bit of nerves.

But before she could go deeper into those thoughts, the shrill piercing of the alarm erupted all but shook the classroom. Everyone was startled, knocking their books over as they stood up loudly. This hadn’t happened in a very long time.

"Form a line. People form a line!" The teacher called out, looking annoyed with the whole ordeal.

They got into line, and guess who randomly stood behind her?

The butterflies fluttered as she looked back at Greg, who gave her a smile.

As they stood outside waiting and then watching the fire engines pull up, Isobel felt a tad bit guilty. That disappeared quickly as she noticed her classmates jumping up-and-down at the news class would be canceled. They had dodged that pop-quiz-bullet.

"Tell me somethin'," a voice said, that familiar calm voice she'd know anywhere. Greg had moved over towards her. "Was this your doing, Evans?"

"Who me?" Isobel asked, batting her eyelids.

Greg smirked, "Jake was close by, and I may have overheard a thing or two about it." He looked over at the jock and rolled his eyes. "The bragging and all—four different alarms and everything.”

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Gregory."

He shook his head, and kicked the grass, "Sure sure. I suppose you didn't agree to a date with the guy in return, either?"

"Um...maybe I actually like him. Did you ever think about that?"

That's when he looked up and gave her a look, raising his eyebrow, "Mmhmm. I'm sure that's what it is." She couldn’t deny that he looked a bit...relieved.

He didn't press further, and Isobel loved that it seemed like he knew her, what she wanted, and what she didn't.

"Regardless of the reason, freedom, right?" Isobel said with a wide grin and clapped her hands.

Gregory looked into her eyes, humor melting away from his expression, "Yeah, freedom..." There was so much in that gaze that it felt like he wanted her to see him. The real him. "Thank you, Isobel."

The gesture was unnerving; her previous notion still stood. Gregory honestly looked grateful. Maybe life at home was hell on earth, or perhaps it was all for his future. It seemed like such a small thing, a test, but the meaning suddenly felt bigger.

She felt a bit nervous as she gave a small nod. He slowly walked away to stand next to his buddy, looking back at her one more time.

Isobel vowed at that moment, that she would go on a date after this was through, but it wouldn't be with Jake Mulligan.

Back in the present at the reservation, Isobel shook her head, remembering with regret. Life had gotten busy, too busy, and Isobel had never found the time she had wanted with the guy.

They hadn't had the chance to have their own story, just the melody of “what could have been” and “The one that got away.” Gregory had enlisted shortly after high school and joined the Navy, and with that, brought years wasted.

She looked over towards him now, a smile still on his beautiful face after calling her a "legend," and the feelings came rushing back like a tidal wave.

Had he thought about her over the years, too?

How was it that he still managed to fill her with butterflies? So much had changed in both of their lives, but this feeling remained.

There was something about him, not just his looks...even though he was gorgeous, it was his calm demeanor and kind heart. It made Isobel feel like whatever happened would be okay, even all the hell she had gone through. If he had survived—the hell his family had been through, she could, too.

It was inspiring. Gregory Manes inspired her.

Damn, fate had a way of coming back at you: Sometimes quietly or as loud as an alarm.

As Isobel stood a bit taller and smiled back, she realized that one thing was certain—she planned to make that first move after all.

#isobelevansweek20 #isobelevansappreciation #belmanes #belmanes fic #isobel x gregory #isobel evans #gregory manes #flashback #my fic #roswell new mexico

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thegoodthebadthesickly · 4 years

Text

Jaskier- Dehydration

Request: Dehydration

Fandom: The Witcher (Netflix)

Requested by: Who even knows at this point? You think I keep accurate records?

TBH I've been looking for an excuse to write about my current hyper fixation, so...

Warnings: Language

@badthingshappenbingo

Stars are complete, Swirls are requests

Jaskier plodded through the forest with the enthusiasm of a child that had just been told it was time to come in from their daily playtime. He licked at his lips, but they were as dry as his mouth. He'd lost track of how long they'd been walking through the same forest, a fortnight, maybe? It'd been at least half that since he and Geralt had come across any kind of suitable water source, and their water skin had run dry three days ago. Jaskier made a face at a plump, green tree as they walked past, mentally shaming it for having the nerve to look so hydrated.

"Jaskier, keep up." Geralt ground out, not bothering to turn around. "The last thing I need is having to save your arse from something in this forest."

Despite the fatigue that had pushed it's way into his bones, Jaskier tried to quicken his step to match Geralt's. The forest looked innocent, if not for it's taunting hydration. Jaskier scarcely longed to know what lurked in the tall limbs of the trees.

"Geralt, can you-" Jaskier took a deep, hitching breath, his lungs protesting at the feeling. "Can you, perhaps, use those amazing Witcher skills of yours to find us some drinking water?" Yes, he was so thirsty it was maddening, but a stream, hell, he'd even take a trickle at this point, would provide a chance to sit and clear his sleep muddled thoughts.

"Jaskier, I've already told you that you will know about a stream as soon as I-" Geralt paused, putting a hand up to signal silence.

"I hear a stream a few miles northeast of here." Geralt huffed, putting his hand down and resuming his quick, loping walk.

"How- nevermind." Jaskier put up his hands in surrender, learning long ago not to question the senses of his Witcher. "Exactly how far is 'a few miles?'" Jaskier asked, knowing that his perception of distance was decidedly less intense than the Witcher's.

"Maybe five." Geralt grunted.

"Maybe? You've gone soft in old age, Geralt." Jaskier wheezed a laugh, his lungs still refusing to cooperate.

"It's actually six, but I wanted to give you a little hope." Geralt smirked, yellow eyes cutting in Jaskier's direction.

"Shove off!" Jaskier pouted, resigning himself to tired silence.

Comfortable silence fell over the duo as they walked on. The only sound being Roach's occasional soft snorts.

"How much-" Jaskier tried to clear his throat. "How much longer?" He asked, swallowing against the raspiness of his voice.

Geralt only grunted.

Jaskier rolled his eyes.

Jaskier could only just see dusk start to fall through the thick foliage above him. That's when things got strange.

Lights danced in the corner of Jaskier's eyes, but when he tried to see them head on, they dissapeared. Soon enough, little black dots began to accompany the lights with flitting in and out of Jaskier's vision. Remembering what Geralt had said about things in the forest, Jaskier quickened his pace to match Geralt's, a feat that was not kind to his lungs or heart.

After only a moment of keeping pace with Geralt, Jaskier pulled back, and then stopped all together. Bending over, he put his hands on his knees in an effort to catch his breath and still his rapidly beating heart. The lights were getting closer, the black dots were getting bigger. Fae.

"Geralt, Ger-" Jaskier ran to get in front of Geralt, losing his breath. His heart was at a steady gallop now. "Fae. we've been followed by fae. They thought they could trick us, but I see them. I see they're lights when they think I'm not looking."

Geralt, having learned, on some level, to trust his frie-travel companion long ago, scanned the area for any signs of fae. Fae were nasty creatures, willing to give you anything, but in return, they could take anything. There was nothing. Not a single spark in the darkened forest. Geralt turned 360 degrees just to be sure, but he saw nothing, nor heard the tell-tale twitter of the fae.

"Jaskier, your eyes play tricks. There are no fae in this part of the forest." Geralt explained, surveying his companion. Jaskier's face was wan and his eyes were bloodshot and sunken. "You're tired. We will hike to the stream and make camp for the night." Geralt pushed past Jaskier gently and continued walking.

Jaskier looked around wildly, the starbursts still dancing at the edge of his vision. Geralt was messing with him, he wanted Jaskier to be taken by the fae, be rid of him finally. He'd never wanted a travelling companion. Jaskier shivered, although he remembered it being a warm day before night fell.

"Just going to let me turn my back on the fae? You'd like that, wouldn't you? Finally rid of me, and you didn't even have to make it look like an accident." Jaskier spat, feeling dizzy. Had Geralt drugged him?

"Did-did you drug me?" Jaskier asked, his words slurring together.

"What the hell are you on about?" Geralt turned back around to face Jaskier, but the bard was indeed swaying on the spot.

"No, I didn't drug you. Did you eat anything? Any berries or leaves?" Geralt turned and walked back toward Jaskier, steadying him with a strong hand on his shoulder.

"N-no. Jus' tired. Thirsty." Jaskier batted his eyelashes, looking ready to fall over.

Geralt put a hand to Jaskier's forehead. It was bone dry, but burning to the touch. In fact, Jaskier's entire body was dry, which was odd for both the heat of the forest and the odd fever.

Jaskier looked up at Geralt through what he now saw as dangerously fevered eyes. Geralt needed to get the fever down, but the only supplies readily available were his potions he used for battles, and those were much too potent for any mortal man.

"Get on Roach." Geralt said gruffly, more putting Jaskier into the saddle than waiting for him to climb up.

Jaskier only hummed in response, looking like he'd fallen asleep standing up.

"Jaskier," Geralt grunted, not certain it was a good idea for the bard to sleep just now, "stay awake. Please." He added that last part as a near whisper.

Everything was coming in muddy flashes now, but Jaskier was certain he'd felt himself being lifted. Was he sitting on Roach? Geralt scarcely let him touch the creature, much less ride her. Jaskier was also fairly certain he'd heard Geralt say "please", which was slightly less fathomable than Geralt letting him ride Roach. Feeling something, someone, press up against his back, Jaskier let himself drift.

His dreams were odd, mostly just colors and shapes and Geralt's face creased with worry floating in and out of Jaskier's vision every so often. Then, there was the distinct taste of magic, like someone had been burning wood nearby.

When Jaskier woke, it was to someone holding something cool to his lips. He opened his eyes to see Yennefer's form kneeling over him. "Shh" She hummed. Jaskier just managed to catch Geralt's white mane behind her, his form muddled by the bright sunlight. Then, he was off again.

When Jaskier woke next- for good this time, he hoped- everything felt much more solid, including the feeling that he'd been trampled by Roach.

"Ugh" Jaskier groaned, his voice a hoarse croak.

"Jaskier?" Two voices asked. Geralt and Yennefer. Yennefer? That hadn't been a dream?

Yennefer knelt down beside Jaskier, her long hair tickling the tip of his nose. She opened her mouth to speak, but Geralt beat her to the punch.

"How are you feeling?" Geralt grunted, looking oddly uncomfortable and out of his element as he stood behind Yennefer.

"Like I was trampled by Roach."

"That's to be expected," Yennefer spoke up, cutting Geralt off. "I used magic to heal you and with magic, there's always some kind of give and take. It seems the trade off was your strength. Temporarily." Yennefer added the last part as Jaskier balked.

"What happened?" Jaskier pushed up on his elbow and looked past Yennefer to Geralt.

"Simple dehydration. Your body overheated, resulting in a delirium and fever." Geralt explained, still looking like a child who'd been given a chiding.

"Simple dehydration, Geralt? Really?" Yennefer asked in disbelief. "What your Witcher is trying to say, is that he doesn't understand how human body's work and forgot that you might need a sip of water every few days to continue breathing." She rolled her eyes, helping Jaskier to sit up all the way and handing him a cup (where had the cup come from? Jaskier wondered. Magic?) of cool water.

"Small sips, your stomach still tender." Yennefer instructed softly.

"How did you get here?" Jaskier looked at Yennefer quizzically.

"I have my ways." She said mystically.

"I called to her. Magic." Geralt explained simply.

"Must you always spoil my fun." Yennefer pouted, standing up. "Well boys, it's been fun, but I've really got to be going, there's a gentleman in Essoros that will be getting quite worried about a, erm, perky problem right about now. You better be glad I have a vested interest in both of you living. I was in the middle of something very important when you called." Yennefer smiled, a gleam of mischief in her eyes. She created a portal and was about to step through when she stopped and looked back at the two men over her shoulder.

"Do try to remember that it is dangerous for mortals to have an erection for more than four hours, Geralt. Don't need you calling on me just because your bard's little lute is rotting off from blood loss." Yennefer added cheerily, stepping through the portal.

The portal closed with a hiss, leaving a heavy silence between the two blushing men. Did Yennefer have spies? Jaskier looked around, feeling nonexistent eyes on his back.

"Do you, um, do you need anything?" Geralt asked uncomfortably.

"As a matter of fact, yes." Jaskier crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly overly aware he'd been stripped down to his undershirt and pants at some point. "Why are you acting so odd?"

"I'm not." Geralt grunted, shifting from foot to foot.

"You are. You look nervous, like you think I'll break if you come too close." Jaskier huffed a laugh, putting down his cup of water and pushing himself to sit up straight, the muscles in his stomach and arms burned with the effort. Stupid give and take, he thought.

"Well, won't you?" Geralt asked.

"Geralt, what's wrong? Seriously, talk to me." Jaskier lightened his tone, looking at his-the Witcher with soft eyes.

"You're so, so courageous so much of the time that I sometimes forget." Geralt sat down beside the bard, gently pushing the cup of water back into his hand. "Drink." He said softly.

Jaskier did as he was told, shocked at how gentle Geralt was acting.

"Forget what?"

"I forget that you're not like me. You're human. You're fragile. Frankly, it's terrifying." Geralt huffed, looking off into the distance.

"I'm not 'fragile'." Jaskier countered.

"Yes, you are. Almost anything could bring your death. A mild illness, dehydration, lack of food, too much food, the wrong food, weather that's too cold or too hot-" Geralt could have gone on and on, but Jaskier cut him off.

"Geralt, look at me, I'm alright."

"This time."

"Geralt, listen to me, humans spend our entire lives being fragile. I reckon a dragon is fragile by your standards." Jaskier laughed, putting a hand on Geralt's bicep.

"Some species of dragon actually are quite fragile."

"The point is," Jaskier rolled his eyes, "I'm always going to be fragile, but that will never stop me from singing your praises to each town we cross through. I will always be right there by your side." Jaskier promised.

"Are you sure?" Geralt grumbled, a smile playing at his lips.

"Now that's just rude!" Jaskier gasped, fighting his own smile.

Banter between the two floated into the air. In the end, Geralt was the one to insist that they stay an extra day for Jaskier to gain some strength back, despite the latter's half-hearted attempts to get back on the road.

In the future, if Geralt took a little more interest when Jaskier said he was tired or hungry or thirsty, he would just say that it seemed to be a good time for a break, but Jaskier would swear he could hear Geralt mumbled something about remembering that his bard was fragile and had limits.

#bad things happen bingo #prompt fill #prompt: dehydration #fandom: the witcher #netflix #jaskier #geralt #yennefer

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neeterloveschenford · 4 years

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Thoughts on RNM 2x13

Howdy partners! Well here we are at the end of the season. Even though I didn’t have to work today and was able to watch last night, I needed time to process what happened. I also was very interested in all the diverging opinions last night and today over everything that happened with Malex. I am still smiling when I think about all that went down. (And I know I keep harping on this, but I am NOT a positive person outside of this show. Every time I talk about how hopeful I am to my two friends at work who are are fandom junkies, they are like Damn Dawnita, when’d you get so positive! But I digress.) All in all I was very pleased with this episode. And it sure as heck was loads better than last year’s finale. So without further ado, let’s dive in shall we!

Things I Liked:

-Badass science goddess Liz saving the day! She’s amazing. I love her. And Isobel also being a badass containing the fire! That’s my girls!

-Glad Charlie was rescued! At least Helena did something right.

- Gregory Manes is bestest brother to ever brother and I would take a bullet for him. And even thought I really love Trevor St John and thought Jesse was a very compelling villain, I am glad Jesse’s dead. It was time for him to go. He was getting too comic book villain.

- Even though I have some issues with Max, I am glad he’s ok. I did not want to revisit the save Max at all costs storyline.

- Liz getting recognition for her brilliance is nice, But we know Diego shady, so.......

- “Witch serum” made me snort. Also, Maria knows what’s what. I still maintain she’s feeling Michael’s leftover emotions from Alex’s kidnapping now that she’s not wearing the bracelet.

- Well, it took several episodes, but Max finally was supportive of Isobel without making it all about himself. She is pretty amazing and it’s about time he told her.

- Isobel acts all hard and tough, but she wants to find real love so badly!

- They FINALLY faced their trauma from the tool shed! Michael handing Alex that hammer was so symbolic. Alex angry screams. God baby I wanna give you all the hugs!

- Of course there was a dead body! Poor Tripp!

- I am totally loving the brotp of Max and Cam. She gets so much joy dragging him. They make me laugh every time they are together.

- I think the M!luca I love you’s were handled well. I’m not upset that she got an I love you before Alex. I mean haven’t we gotten these epic declarations from Malex over the last two seasons? I’ll take and I never look away, not really over a simple I love you any day of the week. And what’s so wrong with them actually loving each other? Maria KNOWS she’s not Michael’s cosmic love. She realizes that, yes, Michael would have risked his life to save her. But I think he would have gone to the others first and not just dropped everything to save her. And it’s not a bad thing to love someone but know that in the long run they are not the one you’re supposed to spend your life with. I have an ex-boyfriend that I still think is one of the finest people I’ve ever met and I love him dearly. But we just weren’t meant for the long haul. I think this is what Michael and Maria will be to each other. (Ok, enough of that.)

- Tripp and Nora (sigh!) I just love their romance. The fact that Tripp used the word cosmic just melted my heart. And the Malex look when Alex read that. I just died a little. Such a beautiful parallel.

- Drunk acting Jenna is perfection. And she’s right! Women should tell other women when they’re beautiful!

- So what’s wrong with Max’s heart? I want to see that x-ray Kyle.

- I like that Isobel ships Tripp and Nora. Same girl. Tell me more boys.

-”Can we all cowboy up and focus please?” I love it when Isobel sasses. She’s the best. And can we have more bro moments between Max and Michael please? It’s some of the few times Max doesn’t get on my nerves.

-How many times are the Manes/Truman couples going to break my heart? Tripp had to leave her. (SOB) He doesn’t a family without her!

-I really want to know about the date June 14, 1997. Why will they be safer 50 years from then?

-Loved the Jenna/Charlie reunion. Glad Charlie decided to stick around.

- This Echo fight has been too long coming. They have held things back from each other every single time they had any kind of conflict. It was bound to boil over. And they are both right. Liz was taking things too far. Max makes decisions without consulting anyone else. They both needed to be called out on their behaviors.

- I adore the sisters Ortecho. I would watch a whole show just about Liz and Rosa. (With plenty of Arturo moments.)

- Finally some Kylex! It was flawless. It gave us hope for Flint’s redemption and acknowledged how Alex has forgiven Kyle. In Alex’s mind, if Kyle can change, then anyone can. Give me more of them in season 3 please and thank you.

- Alex’s song! It just gutted me. Tyler is so incredibly talented. And the look on Michael’s face when he realized it was Alex singing. Then when Alex saw Michael. These two goobers! Ugh! (Ok I’m going to delve into more of this at the end. I have a lot to say.)

- Rosa telling Helena loves her but she needs to leave them alone was beautiful. This is Rosa growing up. She��s not the angry teenager anymore.

- “We are sick of being pissed at you for being obnoxiously yourself.” Same Michael, same.

- I’m not sure if I like or don’t like Max 1.0. Although I will be obnoxiously saying Howdy partner from now on. And I want to know about him being the stowaway. (Hey, we got an answer to something!)

Things I Didn’t Like:

- Gotta say I didn’t enjoy Crash Con. Glad it was over and done with quick.

- So did anyone wonder what was actually wrong with Maria at the hospital? Michael said she had surgery, but for what? I’m assuming it was for internal bleeding, but most people don’t just spontaneously start bleeding internally.

- Of course Jesse gets to die a hero. But who covered it up? Was it Alex? Is there someone else involved int PS that we don’t know about yet?

- Diego, you are just shady and I don’t like you. I was rooting for you too. Shame.

- Is it bad that I really don’t care about Steph? It is? Guess I’m resigned to just being bad. Cause I just don’t care. Congratulations you didn’t die.

- Max! You couldn’t have just taken everything, or called Liz or even Alex? Wrong move dude. Seriously dude.

- That’s the building you blew up? I am not impressed. That was a waste of f/x.

- No romantic gesture from Max to try to get Liz to stay. Just goes to show how off the deep end Max really is at this point.

- The stowaway’s beard upsets me.

Malex:

Ok here’s where I’m going to dive into the deep end of my Malex feels. First of all, I did not take Alex performing as his big love declaration. He didn’t tell most people that he was going to sing. Even Kyle didn’t know. He had no idea that Michael was going to walk in at that moment. And since it’s been at least a week, maybe more, since Crash Con, I think Alex and Forrest were already seeing each other casually. Obviously, since Forrest at least knew he was singing, they have had some kind of contact. And Michael’s reaction was probably the most Michael thing he’s done all season. Michael sacrifices himself for other people’s happiness. When he looked over and saw the besotted look on Forrest’s face, he knew that Forrest could give Alex something in that moment that Michael couldn’t. Stability. Michael is just now realizing that he can’t blame all of their problems on Alex walking away or the despicable acts of the Manes family. He knows that if he’s going to good for the one person in this world that he wants to be good for, then he’s going to have to work to get there. He can’t hide in his relationship with Maria anymore. He has no choice but to face his problems head on and change for the better. I’ve seen so many people upset that they didn’t have a conversation after the song, but did they need to? They have hashed this out over and over again almost every episode this season. Despite talking in past tense, they know how much they love each other. Michael built a bomb that would kill himself and every alien on the planet just to save Alex. Alex wrote and performed a freaking love song about Michael. Michael knows that he has to deal with his traumas before he can be with Alex. But for the first time in forever he’s confident that they will find their way back to each other. And he would be a complete hypocrite if he asked Alex to wait for him and not get involved with Forrest. Michael wasn’t exactly celibate during the lost years. Also, I don’t think we’re going to get the big love triangle that we got this season. I don’t think Forrest and Alex are going to be a super heavy romance. As far as we know Forrest isn’t looking to lose himself in a relationship like Michael and frankly Maria were. So I’m not worried about them at all. And with a big time jump to deal with Covid-19, they can even have the relationship end organically. Alex could get deployed somewhere and they realize that they are better off as friend. Then Alex can come back and Michael will have worked on being a better person and they can start over again. And it will be glorious, because once those two work it out, that’s it. They are going straight into domestic bliss. They might even start a little dad band!

So that’s all I’ve got for now. I have many more thoughts, but this is probably the longest review yet, so I will be back with more theories and such at a later date. I am planning on a little project for the lengthy hiatus where I write my thoughts on each individual character. Some will be short because they are minor characters without much backstory. Some will be huge and no one will finish it because Dawnita says way too much about certain things! But until then, I hope you all stay safe and healthy. Till later my lovlies!

#roswell new mexico #long post #like really long post #season 2 episode 13 #spoilers #speculations #malex #as always #like seriously #sorry for the long post

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solavillain · 5 years

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Pas de Deux Ch. 2: Your New Best Friend

+pairing: Spinel x fem!Reader +genre: Drama, romance, angst, slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers +warnings: None (for now) +word count: 3K +Chapter 2 / ? previous || next

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Eventually, all the Gems emerge, just as off and different as Pearl had been. Garnet hasn’t even reformed, and Ruby is patrolling back and forth near Sapphire, glaring at anyone who got near. Amethyst can only mimic people, and her hair was shorter; her limbs seeming almost like doll joints.

“Steven, what is going on with them?” You ask, worry plain on your face. You had never seen any of the Gems poof, but you knew they didn’t usually come back like...this.

He doesn’t seem to hear you, his gaze focused on the newest Gem, who Pearl had called “Spinel” a few moments ago. She was entirely different from when she had first arrived. Her pigtails were now heart-shaped buns on the top of her head, her clothes were a white and light pink combination rather than the black and deep pink they were when she had landed. And perhaps the biggest change was that her heart shaped gem was no longer upside down. This was certainly strange, as you had never heard about gem positioning changing in between reforming. You’d have to ask Pearl...

“Oh, right,” you think sadly, “she doesn’t have any clue who I am right now.” You turn your attention to Steven and Spinel, tuning back in to their conversation.

“You!” Steven exclaims, rushing over to her and shaking her gently. “What have you done to us?”

Spinel giggles lightly and pokes him on the nose. “Boop! Hee hee, now it’s your turn!”

She wraps her arms around Steven at least five times, lifts him into the air, and starts to shake him up and down vigorously with a rather vacant look in her eyes.

“Ah! Hey, uh...Spinel?” You say, gingerly placing a hand on her shoulder. “He doesn’t look like he’s enjoying that too much, hmm? Maybe you could put him down?”

Spinel directs her gaze to the boy in her stretched arms, a worried look briefly flashing over her features before the vacancy returns. “Okay!” She exclaims cheerfully, and lets Steven fall out of her grip. He falls to the floor unceremoniously, landing on his face.

You move to check on Steven, who seems much weaker than usual. Before you can say anything, Spinel walks up between the two of you and points at the others.

“Hey look! There’s more Gems!” You blink in surprise, wondering how she’s only just noticing them for the first time. “Well, if she’s really somehow supposed to be Steven’s best friend, maybe it’s a bit like Pearl’s sudden devotion to Greg...”

You turn your attention to your group of friends, your heart sinking with every second you gaze at them. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Amethyst was going to take you to Little Homeworld tonight, you were finally going to spend some time with the “New Crystal Gems” as Bismuth, Lapis and Peridot had taken to calling themselves. You had been so excited...how did this get so twisted? “Oh,” you think snidely, “right. Her.”

The pink Gem standing on your left was now bouncing in place, a small grin plastered across her features. You have to work to stop returning her smile; her happiness seems almost infectious. You can almost forget that she caused all this mess in the first place with her bubbly persona brightening up the room every time she speaks “Let’s ask ‘em to play!” Spinel exclaims, referring to the Crystal Gems.

Steven turns to her, confusion plain on his face, “Wait, you mean you don’t remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Oh boy,” you sigh. Steven looks between Spinel and the Gems, and groans in frustration, “Just...everyone follow me!” He leads everyone to the base of Lighthouse Park, the Injector still perched smack dab in the center, the sickly pink liquid still bubbling occasionally.

“Wowee!” Spinel exclaims, “That thing sure is big! You wanna climb it, or something?” She looks to you and Steven, and dances happily in place. You shake your head with a small smile. “No, Spinel. This Injector is...you brought it here. You said something about it hurting Steven’s human half...” You trail off and look at Steven, who’s standing to your left in between you and Spinel. “You really don’t remember bringing this, attacking us?”

Spinel squints at you and Steven, and one of her spindly arms twists on its way up to scratch her head. “Uh, I did what now?”

You and Steven sigh in unison, exchanging a glance of concern. If she really doesn’t remember, and the Gems are out of commission, this was looking pretty bad. Who knew what that stuff was going to do to Beach City? To the Earth? And as far as you knew, the Cluster was still in the planet’s core, albeit bubbled by Steven. But still, that hadn’t stopped it from activating when the Diamonds had come during Garnet’s wedding. You hadn’t been around for that, as it had been May and you had still been finishing up your college finals, but from the story the Gems had told you , it had certainly been an epic fight. If the Cluster had partially formed from the Diamonds arriving on the surface, who’s to know what would happen if something was injected down to the core?

You turn to Greg, trying to keep thinking positively for Steven’s sake. Greg seems too preoccupied with Pearl right now, or at the very least, trying to get Pearl to stop staring at him. Suddenly, Lion walks down from the hill, and you smile; Lion always cheers Steven up when he’s feeling down.

“How about you Lion, what do you think of all this?” Steven asks his companion, giving the animal a hug. After a moment, he pulls away, a confused look on his face. “Ugh, what now...” he mumbles, and pulls out Spinel’s weapon from earlier. “Please please please...”

He pushes the retracted scythe against Lion’s mane and lets go, the weapon falling to the sand with a soft thud. You look between him and Lion in concern- you've seen Steven actually jump into Lion before, and store assortments of random objects for later. If he can’t access that power, then...

“What? I can’t store things in Lion’s mane now?! That’s like the easiest thing I do!” Steven exclaims, interrupting your worried thoughts. His shoulders sag for a moment, and he picks up the weapon.

“Y/n, Dad, what do I do? I’ve got no Gems to help me...except...” He turns towards Little Homeworld, and realization flashes across his face.

“Oh, duh!” He exclaims, slapping his forehead lightly. “Bismuth, Lapis and Peridot! C’mon guys, let’s go figure out how to fix this!”

You start to follow Steven and Spinel, the latter of whom was bounding after Steven with carefree laughter. You turn after a few steps, as does Steven, realizing you don’t hear anyone else following.

“Uh, guys? Greg?” You ask, taking a couple steps back towards the other group.

“Oh, Um-Greg! Allow me!” Pearl insists, stopping Greg before he could follow you and Steven. She materializes an umbrella from her gem and holds it out over Greg. “Uh...” He starts, holding out his hands in protest. Amethyst suddenly shape-shifts into Greg, which momentarily confuses Pearl; she switches the umbrella back and forth between the two versions of Steven’s dad.

“R-Ruby? Sapphire?” Steven calls out, sounding more worried by the second.

“She’s not going anywhere with you!” Ruby yells, taking up a defensive stance in front of Sapphire. “I...do see us following him to the country-side,” Sapphire remarks, and begins to walk towards Steven, nodding to you as she passes.

“Never mind! We’re going...” Ruby says reluctantly, and rushes ahead to Sapphire, who has already surpassed the group.

“Wait! Don’t leave me alone with these two!” Greg calls out, glancing worriedly at Pearl and Amethyst, who still hasn’t shifted back to her regular form.

“Steven, do you want me to stay with them?” You ask, trying to be as much help as you possibly can be. Spinel's face darkens and she moves closer to you, but avoids looking directly at you. “What’s that about...” You think, glancing to the pink Gem.

“Dad can handle Pearl and Amethyst. They’re harmless, and he knows them, so he’ll be fine. I just...Kinda want another human around while we figure everything out, especially since Connie can’t be here.”

Your gaze softens, and you remember that Steven really is just a teenager. An extraordinary teenager who has done countless good deeds for the Earth and for the universe as a whole, but a teenager nonetheless. You can’t imagine how off-putting it must be to not be able to control his powers anymore, and to have no idea how to solve the mess Spinel has caused.

“Yeah, dude, I have your back,” you say with a reassuring pat to Steven’s shoulder. “Lead the way! I was supposed to see Bismuth and the others tonight anyway, so I’m all set for however long this ends up taking.”

The group opts to make the trek to Little Homeworld, foregoing the warp for now. Steven said that part was still under construction, and though he’d used it earlier today, he didn’t know if it had been installed yet. He didn’t want your whole group to walk off the warp pad and fall 50 feet. That was fine with you- you'd only warped a couple times, when Pearl wanted to explain some Gem battles or train you in the Sky Arena. You still hadn’t quite gotten the hang of it, and it always took you a couple minutes after warping to feel regular again. You wanted to have all your wits about you for today, and with the Injector looming above the town doing who knows what to the Earth, you definitely need a clear head.

After the slightly long walk to the town, Steven found the three “New Crystal Gems” on top of one of the buildings still under construction. Bismuth was always hard at work, and you really admired her work ethic with everything she does, even if she can get a bit intense about it sometimes.

Steven leads your group over to a small lift on the side of the building, and you all make the slow ascent. You glance over at Steven, who’s doing his best to not look utterly defeated.

“Hey dude, you all right?” You ask softly.

“Yeah, I... well, no, honestly I’m not, Y/n,” Steven answers honestly. “I’m so worried about the Gems, and I’m even more worried about that thing,” he gestures to the Injector, “and I just want this to be over so I can get back to my happily ever after. Everything was going so well...”

“Hey, it’s okay not to be all right,” you say sympathetically, “I’m worried as hell too. And I can't even really do anything to help...”

“You’re helping right now,” Steven says with a kind smile.

You return his smile as the lift reaches the top. The three Gems don’t seem to notice your group immediately; they’re gazing out over Little Homeworld, lost in conversation.

Steven calls out to get their attention, "Bismuth, Lapis, Peridot! Guys, I’m really glad to see you.”

The group turns, and Peridot’s face lights up. “Steven! And Y/n, too, hi! Look, now Little Homeworld is 91.4% complete!” Steven gives her a weak smile, “That’s...great Peridot, really. But I think you guys should take a look at something...”

He gestures back towards Beach City and the Injector with a grim look on his face. You walk to the side of the building with them as Peridot pulls out binoculars from a box and stares at the Injector.

“She rode in on that?!” Peridot exclaims, lowering the binoculars and looking at you and Steven in disbelief.

“Yeah...she said my human half wouldn’t stand a chance against her Injector,” Steven replies.

“What does that mean?” Lapis asks, exchanging a look with Peridot as Bismuth walks back towards Ruby and Sappire. “No idea,” Steven replies, “but if it’s something that will hurt my human half, then it can’t be good for Y/n, or the rest of Beach City either...”

“Why don’t we just ask her?” Peridot asks, looking around for Spinel.

You look around as well- you haven’t seen her since you got to the top of the building; where could she be? Did she remember something and run off to attack Pearl and Amethyst? You start to panic, until she pops up from behind Steven yelling, “Surprise!”

You roll your eyes, fighting back a small smile. She definitely hasn’t remembered anything yet, and in this form she’s still rather endearing. If a bit annoying...

“Here she is...my new best friend, Spinel,” Steven says with a sigh, presenting the Gem to the others.

“A pleasure to meet you all,” Spinel says with a flourish and a bow. She glances up at you staring at her and giggles and winks.

“What...?”

Before you can think too much about it, Bismuth interrupts your thoughts. “I thought you said she was just trying to kill you?”

“Wow, quick turn around,” Lapis says with a mischievous look in her eye.

“No kidding! It took me months to stop trying to kill Steven,” Peridot remarks.

“Eh, for me it was a day, day and a half,” Bismuth jokes, grinning at her friends.

“I’m still on the fence,” Lapis says, which causes the group to burst into laughter. You giggle along, momentarily forgetting the dire situation. You had a feeling that once this was all over, you were really going to love getting to know this group. They seemed like such great friends, and it felt like you and Amethyst would blend in easily whenever you all got together.

“All right, let's see this thing she hit you with,” Peridot says, turning to you and Steven with a determined look on her features. You step aside, moving next to Spinel so Steven and Peridot can have some space to examine the weapon.

“Psst! Hey, you! What’s goin’ on?” Spinel asks in a loud whisper, tugging on your arm.

You look down to your left. She’s shorter in this form, and though you’re about average height, she’s still a couple inches shorter than you, her heart-shaped buns just reaching the middle of your face.

You give her a small smile and reply, “Well, you don’t remember, I guess, but you brought that weapon they’re examining, so we’re trying to figure out what it is and what it did to everyone.” You gesture towards Ruby and Sapphire. “Those two don’t normally...look or act like this, and we want to get everyone back to normal so we can help save Beach City. We don’t know what the Injector you brought does...but we want to stop it before anything bad happens.”

Spinel stares up at you, intently listening to every word. “Ooh, I get it! Ok, I’ll help too!” She exclaims, standing up straighter and puffing her chest out slightly. You giggle, finding her posturing rather cute. She may still not have any clue what was going on, but at least she’s trying.

Spinel grins, glancing at you from the side, not moving from her important helpful position. “She seems happy that she made me laugh,” you think fondly, returning her smile.

Just then, Bismuth snatches the scythe from Peridot, who had been holding it up to her eye. You jump in surprise, turning your attention back to the conversation.

“Be careful with that!” She warns, “It’s a rejuvenator.”

Pressing on the button, Bismuth displays the weapon for everyone, carefully holding it out at arm's length. You flash back to a few hours ago, when the innocent Gem to your left had been attacking your friends and causing them to forget you. You furrow your brow at the thought, your heart feeling sad again. You can’t allow yourself to get so caught up in Spinel’s games that you forget what she’s done, even if she’s forgotten herself.

Bismuth continues her explanation. “Homeworld used to use these things on Gems that started steppin’ outta line. One hit with this...you’re back to how they made you,” she finishes, gazing down at Ruby and Sapphire sadly.

“What are you looking at,” Ruby says, holding out a protective hand in front of her Sapphire.

Your eyes widen as Bismuth’s explanation sinks in- the Gems, your friends...they really were reset. They had no idea who you were, where they were, and-

“Oh, Steven,” you say kindly, placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

“Oh my stars, I touched it!”

You turn to Peridot at her outburst, a disbelieving look on her face.

“I could have lost all my character development!”

You snort, trying to hold in laughter. Peridot was definitely funny as hell, whether she tried to be or not. Suddenly, a thought strikes you.

“Wait...how did you survive being hit by the rejuvenator, Steven? I know you’re only half Gem, but still...”

He furrows his brow, but then a look of realization comes over him. “I...I think I didn’t,” he answers, “My human half kept me from poofing, but- but my Gem half, it took the hit! She sent me back; it’s like I’m a kid again! I can barely control my powers...how do we reverse this?” Steven looks frantically between you and the New Crystal Gems, searching for answers. Bismuth holds out the retracted weapon and places it back in Steven’s hand. You meet his eyes, trying to reassure him with a look. But you don’t have any answers for him. You wrap your arms around your middle, trying to hold it together for him. For everyone. You know you can’t do much, not to the extent that a Gem or even Connie can do, but you can at least be emotionally strong for your friends.

“You’re the one with healing powers...” Lapis says softly, “If anyone can fix this, it’s you.”

“I can’t believe this...for the first time in years, everyone’s in danger, everybody needs me! And I’m useless!” Steven glances worriedly at the Injector, and then at Spinel, who hasn’t left your side since she made you laugh.

He turns towards Bismuth and asks, “What do we do?” “I’m sorry, Steven...I don’t know.”

You turn to Bismuth in shock. Even she doesn’t know? And she knew what the weapon was...but has no way to fix it.

Things were looking grim.

#spinel #pas de deux #spinel fanfiction #spinel x reader #steven universe #spinel steven universe #spinel x reader fic #steven universe fanfiction

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tiggyloo · 4 years

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I posted a few paragraphs from this before, but now I’ll give you the first three pages of this long-ass connverse thing I’m going back to work on. Note that this is part of the rough first draft and some things will likely be changed to flow better etc later

~~~

It’d been many months since Spinel showed up, but at long last everything was cleaned up. All the grass had started to grow back on the hill to the lighthouse, and the fishermen were noticing an increase in their catches again. They hadn’t actually been keeping their catches for a while, and were really only doing it to keep track of the population of creatures in the waters of Beach City.

Steven, finally having some actual free time, had called Connie to see if she wanted to hang out. It’d been a little while since they had the chance. He was really excited to see her—Lion had left to go get her not long ago, and Steven was left to wait, sitting on the beach. The sun had started to go down, and it was nice to see a sunset on a clean ocean again.

He heard Lion’s portal open and jumped to his feet, hurrying over to it as Lion jumped out with Connie clinging onto his mane. Lion skid across the sand and crouched down to allow the girl to dismount, who ran over and happily jumped into Steven’s arms. They laughed and Steven spun her in a circle before letting her down.

“Steven! It’s so nice to see you again,” Connie said, a big smile on her face. “I’ve really hated having to be stuck talking over the phone. I mean, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the same, you know?”

“Yeah, definitely. Sorry I couldn’t find time to hang out earlier.”

“Hey, it’s okay. Couldn’t be helped.”

The two sat on one of the benches along the beach, with Lion sprawled out behind them in the sand. Steven had brought some snacks with him and a few cans of soda, which Connie accepted gratefully. They talked for a long time, a few hours past sundown. Eventually they both slowed down, preoccupied with watching the stars. Every few minutes one would point out a group of stars, and they’d make up a silly constellation.

After that they stopped talking altogether, simply listening to the waves and watching the stars shine. It was nice to just sit together like this again. Then Connie broke the silence with what Steven found to be a little bit of an odd question, and quite out of nowhere.

“Hey, Steven…have you ever kissed anyone?”

Steven gave her a funny look. “…Have you? Is there something I need to know about?”

“Wha—no!” Connie huffed. “Friends can talk about this stuff without there being a reason. It’s normal. And, I’m also just kinda…curious.”

Steven raised a brow and looked back to the sky. He supposed it wasn’t the strangest topic that she could have brought up. Did friends really just talk about stuff like that? Huh.

“So?” Connie prompted, interrupting Steven’s thoughts. He glanced at her and gave a shrug.

“Well, yeah. I guess? Technically?”

She sighed. “No, you know what I mean. A real kiss.”

“Um…I think you know the answer to that, don’t you? After all, the only people in town that are my age are you and Peedee. And I’m not going to kiss Peedee,” he said jokingly before taking a sip from his soda.

“Would you kiss me?”

Steven just about choked on his drink, subsequently throwing him into a coughing fit.

“Oh! My gosh, I’m sorry, I didn’t—” Connie started to apologize, but was cut short when Steven held his index finger up. He coughed some more, hit his fist against his chest a couple times, cleared his throat, then—

“What?”

They stared at each other.

“What,” Connie said after a few seconds.

More staring.

“Connie, did you just ask me if I’d kiss you?”

“Huh? No, I—”

Wait.

Her eyes widened and a blush took over her cheeks.

“Oh, geez, that is what I asked isn’t it?” she groaned, covering her face. “I am so sorry, I-wasn’t thinking. Uh—”

Silence.

“I-okay I’ve made it weird,” Connie stammered. “I’m, um, s-sorry. I, er, I’m, really tired. S-sorry, I should probably go.” She was talking a lot faster now, and looked rather stiff as she stood up. Steven watched her, dumbfounded.

Connie walked around the bench to Lion, who had already gotten to his feet, and climbed onto his back.

She muttered a strained “good night” and before Steven could reply Lion had taken off.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The door opened and in came Steven, looking quite out of it. He made a sound of acknowledgment when the Gems greeted him and walked over to the couch, which he just…fell face first onto and groaned into the cushion.

“Not really what I was expecting after spending time with Connie,” Pearl commented from the counter. Garnet hummed in response.

“Uhhh, you okay there bud?” Amethyst asked, plopping herself onto the couch next to Steven.

The boy mumbled something into the couch.

“Huh?”

“Is everything alright?” Pearl asked next, which got the same response as Amethyst.

Garnet sighed. “Steven-”

“Connie asked if I wanted to kiss her!” Steven said, a bit too loud, and finally sat up. “We were out for a while and we were starting to get tired and she just started talking and she said she wasn’t thinking and didn’t realize what she asked? And it just got awkward after that and she just left-”

He took a deep breath and dropped his head onto the back of the couch.

“Ugh, I’m so dumb. I couldn’t even say anything.”

“Hey, Steven,” Amethyst said, and he heard her shape shift, which probably wasn’t good but he still looked over at her against his better judgment.

“Gimme a kiss, big guy!”

“Gah-!”

And Steven was on the floor with a thud while Amethyst, who had shape shifted into Connie, was laughing hysterically from where Steven sat just a second ago.

“Oh, honestly, Amethyst! That wasn’t funny, stop being mean.”

“…It was a little funny.”

Pearl gave a disapproving look to Garnet, who shrugged, before walking over to the couch. She held her hand out for Steven, who did not take it, because apparently he liked lying on his back with his legs in the air, scowling at the ceiling.

“Suit yourself. So, do you have an answer for her?” Garnet asked, sitting down beside him. He didn’t reply.

Amethyst shifted back and crossed her arms behind her head. “Come on, Garnet, you know what his answer is already. At least, I sure do. I’ve heard how he talks to her over the phone at night.”

Steven’s scowl turned to the purple Gem.

“What are you implying?”

“Watch your mouth, Amethyst,” Garnet cut in and Amethyst held up her hands before hopping off the couch and walking over to the fridge, all the while being followed by Steven’s squinting glare.

“Don’t mind her. You know how she likes to tease you,” Garnet said, patting Steven’s arm. “Also, Steven…”

“Yeah.”

“Sit up. You’re going to hurt your back.”

He grumbled but sat up all the same, and now Pearl was coming over to sit on the couch.

“Um, Steven…do you think that, maybe, you should…talk to her about this?” she suggested. “It sounds like she really shook herself up. I imagine she’s quite embarrassed about all this, don’t you think?”

“I…guess,” Steven sighed. “I don’t think I should bring it up so soon though. Maybe tomorrow. She probably wouldn’t answer tonight anyway. Honestly she’s probably already asleep.”

“You should sleep too, Steven. It’s almost midnight, after all,” Pearl told him.

Oh.

Steven nodded and stood up, rubbing his neck. “Okay, so. I’ll talk to her tomorrow then. I guess. Uh, good night.”

The Gems said good night in return and Steven walked up to his room.

#connverse #steven universe #steven universe future #wip

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calenheniel · 4 years

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Disappearing Act, a frozen fanfic | i.

Frozen | Hans, Elsa | Alternate Universe, Drama | G+

She wanted to disappear. He wanted a purpose. Together, they would pull off an impossible feat before the final curtain call.

Follow updates: #DisappearingActFrozen

Author’s Note: Based on a short prompt – “Circus A/U” – which I received many years ago. I thought it was absurd at the time, and yet… here we are. I took this unique opportunity to experiment with style and voice, and ended up with a Hans and Elsa who are quite a lot more self-aware and self-possessed than I ever expected them to be. Test driving on Tumblr before uploading to other websites, so constructive feedback is appreciated!

»»————-　❈　————-««

“I hear you can make things disappear.”

His eyes traveled up from the cards in his hands, meeting hers, and stopped.

“Well ‘hello’ to you, too,” he replied, his brow rising. When she said nothing in response, he continued, shifting in his seat: “In a manner of speaking, yes.” With the movement, the hard straw beneath him prickled at his skin. “And I hear that you are a sorceress.”

The men seated in the poker circle around him chuckled, but her expression did not change.

“If you really can,” she said, “then meet me later by the stables—alone.”

He blinked, and in a moment she was gone, only a swirl of her blue cloak crossing his line of vision.

“Strange woman,” the man to his right grumbled.

“A witch, not a woman,” the one to his left corrected, and flicked a card in his hand. “She’s only lucky that this whole damn place is full of freaks like her.”

“Freaks like us, you mean,” retorted the man across from him. He glanced at the young man at the head of the circle. “So, Andersen? You going to take the Snow Queen up on her offer?” He revealed yellow, cracked teeth as he spit tobacco on the ground. “You should be careful, you know, getting involved with the likes of her. Nothing but bad luck.”

The young man snorted. “Don’t be jealous, old man. It’s not a good look on you.”

The man frowned. “You may be new here, boy, but we know you’ve heard the stories about her. Arrived here from nobody knows where, and found work with that ice magic, which no one has been able to figure out.” He paused, and added: “Who knows what else she’s hiding? The girl’s been as quiet as the grave since she got here.”

“Must have been pretty desperate to run to the circus,” the younger man replied, running a hand through his auburn hair with a sigh. “A strange place to be for such a pretty girl, though she’s done well for herself, it seems. Practically puts all the other acts out of business, including mine.”

“There are stranger things in this world than pretty girls in the circus,” the man next to him chimed in. “Perhaps she just likes you. Ladies are always fond of you magician types.”

“I’m not so sure about that, but I’ll meet her all the same,” the young man said, and revealed a flush hand to a chorus of groans. He smiled. “It’s useful to know the competition, after all.”

The older man across from him tossed his hand onto the makeshift wooden table with a snap of his teeth. “You’d better hope she doesn’t freeze your heart, then,” he mumbled, “though I don’t think it’d take much effort.”

The young man’s smile tightened, and he said nothing.

»» —— ««

He arrived at the stables shortly after the stroke of midnight, side-stepping horse manure, empty whiskey bottles, and juggling pins along the way. One horse released a soft grumble as he entered its domain, and he returned the noise with a tired eyeroll, patting its neck.

“Easy, Sitron. Go back to sleep.”

She stood by the far wall, hooded by her cloak. As he approached, she slid it off with gloved hands, revealing a mane of fine yellow hair that sparkled against the darkness, and a single, decorative fabric snowflake pinned against it.

“If I hadn’t been expecting to see you here,” he drawled, “I might have mistaken you for a shadow.”

Her blue eyes were cool. “I don’t think that’s true. You always see me.”

His cheeks reddened. “As do the others,” he deflected. “In fact, I’m surprised they’re not all here, spying in on us. Your reputation precedes you, after all.”

Her gaze stirred a little. “It’s the smell,” she said. “Not even the old men can bear it in here.”

He nodded, sniffing the air. “Yes, it is… distinctive, to be sure.” He ignored the look of annoyance he was sure Sitron had shot him. “But enough of that. What was it that you wanted to speak with me about? ‘Disappearing,’ if I remember correctly?”

Her face fell. “Yes. Disappearing.”

He waited, watching the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. “I can’t stay here,” she said after a time, meeting his eyes. “But I have nowhere else to go.”

“You and everyone else in this place,” he replied. “I don’t think any of us really wanted to end up here. You just… do, for lack of talent or failing to accomplish anything else. So I’m not sure how I can help you, really.” His lips twitched. “I’m as much of a miserable screw-up as the rest of them.”

Her eyes flashed. “But you can do things that they can’t,” she said. “Like make things disappear.”

“Oh, yes, that,” he retorted. “If by ‘disappear’ you mean ‘briefly move someone or something from one location to the next using sleight of hand and distraction,’ then yes—I’m your man.” He raised his gloved hands to her. “Sorry to disappoint, but I can’t do much more for you than pedestrian parlor tricks.”

“I don’t believe that. And I don’t think you do, either.”

He frowned. “Don’t presume to know what I believe,” he snapped. “We hardly know each other.”

“But what if…”

His frown deepened. “‘What if’ what?”

Her hands twisted into knots in front of her cloak, and she bit her lip as her cheeks turned red. “What if we—what if we did try to know each other? Not just as ‘Elsa, the Snow Queen’ and ‘Hans, the Illusionist.’” she said. “Perhaps then, you would see what I see. We could… help each other, in a way.”

He scoffed. “I don’t need help from you, nor from anyone else in this godforsaken place. And besides,” he continued, “there’s nothing you can do for me. Nor I for you. I couldn’t teach someone how to make a bird disappear from their hands, much less a lonely girl from the circus.”

He drew close to her until they were mere inches apart and stared down at her small, freckled nose with a smirk. “Unless you’re looking for a certain kind of company. To be ‘known’ in a… particular way.”

She glared at him. “No, thank you.”

He stepped back, matching her expression. “Well, good. Because I wasn’t interested, anyway,” he replied, eyeing her up and down, “even if you’re prettier than the rest.”

She sighed. “I’d heard you were a difficult man to talk to, but… you’re even worse than I imagined.”

He leaned back against one of the wooden pillars of the stables, and crossed his arms. “A man has to live up to his reputation,” he rejoined. “It’s all he has, in the end.”

“Your ‘reputation’? In the circus? Please, Hans.”

The air around them grew colder, and he stood to attention, shivering. “A man protects what little he has left in this world,” he ground out.

The cold abated as she sighed for a second time. “I don’t know what compels you to act this way, but I don’t buy it.” Her eyes burned holes into him. “There’s more to you than this. There’s—” she paused. “You can help me. I know it.”

His cheeks pinked at the declaration, but his lips turned down. “Fine,” he replied. “If you’re so hellbent on this harebrained scheme of yours, then come and play cards with me sometime. Chat with me and the trapeze girls after the show. Hell, conjure some of your pretty little ice magic while you’re at it,” he said, his voice low. “I don’t care what you do—but don’t expect that I can help you with much more than opening a bottle of gin at the end of a long night. You’ll just end up disappointed, like all the rest.”

She smiled.

“We’ll see.”

»» —— ««

She found Hans the next evening backstage, basking in the attention of the trapeze performers and dancers, his arms draped around them as they sat and laughed and drank sour whiskey on a worn red sofa with gold fringe.

He spotted her immediately, and though he did not stir from his seat, his eyes were locked with hers. He ran a gloved hand across the bare shoulder of one of the trapezists with a smile, and she giggled, following his line of sight to its focus point.

She scowled when she reached it. “Ugh. What’s she doing here?”

The others caught sight of the intruder and likewise shot her cold, uninviting looks.

He grinned. “So nice of you to join us, Elsa. Please, won’t you sit?”

Another trapezist on his other arm frowned, hissing: “Hans, what are you doing? We don’t want her here.”

His grin widened. “And why not? Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Asta.”

The girl’s frown deepened. “I am not! It’s just that she’s… strange,” she ended on a whisper, though still loud enough for everyone to hear. “She has strange magic.”

“As do I, or so you all like to flatter me and tell me as much,” he reminded her, and she pouted. “Don’t be jealous, little dove.”

The first trapezist shoved his arm off her shoulder. “She leaves, or I leave.”

Elsa remained quiet during the conversation, her blue-gloved hands neatly placed together in front of her cloak. “I can leave,” she offered.

“Nonsense,” Hans snapped, and frowned at the other women. “Stop being ridiculous, all of you. Can’t you bear to share me, even for a minute?”

Asta shoved off his other arm, brushing off her skirt and standing from the sofa. “Not everything is about you, idiot.”

He sighed and put on a false look of penitence. “No, of course not. I’m wrong, you’re right, I’m an idiot, you’re brilliant. There—better now?”

A dancer sitting behind him stood with a huff, then glowered at Elsa. “He’s all yours, witch,” she spat, and gathered up her costume from the performance. “Not that that’s worth much.”

The trapezists and other women followed suit, staring daggers at Hans as they walked out of the tent, one by one, leaving him with his new guest. He blinked as the final woman’s pink, feathered tail shook behind her on the way out, and turned his gaze to Elsa.

“You really know how to clear out a room.”

A hint of a smile played on her lips as she unbuttoned her cloak and slung it over the back of a makeup chair before sitting down. She glanced at the mirror for a moment, and replied: “I like to think of it more as knowing how to make an entrance.” Her attention turned back to him. “But why did you send them away? You didn’t have to.”

Hans rolled his eyes. “I didn’t send anyone away—they left of their own free will. You saw that with your own two eyes.”

She crossed her arms. “They left because you were provoking them. On purpose.”

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, and suppressed a smirk. “They were just being jealous, as usual. If not of each other, then of you for stealing their crowds.” He wore a knowing look. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”

Elsa shrugged. “I’ve noticed,” she acknowledged, “but it’s none of my concern.”

He snorted. “Of course not; yours are not the concerns of mere mortals, after all.”

She frowned, and then sighed, leaning back against the chair. “You’re making me regret coming here tonight.”

Hans smiled. “But wasn’t that the whole point of coming? To ‘know’ me, Elsa?”

“Yes, but…” she trailed off, and her frown grew. “You don’t make it easy.”

“Because that wouldn’t be any fun,” he returned, adding: “And since you’ve scared off my one reliable source of entertainment around here, I’ll have to make do with what’s left.”

She stared at him. “You won’t drive me away like them.”

“Because you’re ‘different,’ I suppose?” he retorted. “Because you can ‘see through’ me? Is that it?”

“Something like that,” she replied, her gaze falling to his hands slung over the top of the sofa. “I’m surprised you’re still wearing your gloves. Didn’t your act finish over an hour ago?”

“My act is never ‘finished,’” he answered, and gestured at her gloved hands in her lap. “Just like yours.”

She stiffened. “That’s not—” she paused, and breathed. “Nevermind. It doesn’t matter.”

“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed, earning a glare from her. “We both have our reasons. And as a fellow magician,” he continued, “I wouldn’t ask you to share your secrets. Even if I desperately wanted to know them.”

Elsa’s brow rose. “Do you?”

Hans chortled. “No.”

She relaxed at this reply somewhat. “Even if you did, I… I wouldn’t know how to begin.”

He shot her a quizzical look at the remark, but then held his hands up in surrender. “Like I said—I don’t need to know,” he said. “Nor do I want to, particularly.”

“I know,” she said, her eyes still shut. “You’re not like the others, in that way.”

He shifted on the sofa to draw nearer to her, and it groaned in protest under him. His gaze was fixated on her soft features, and he rested his chin in his palm. “But you want to know me, and my secrets. Isn’t that right?”

Her eyes snapped open, catching him off-guard. “In a way, yes.”

He shook his head at her. “They were right, you know—you are a strange one.” He lay back on the sofa with a plop, his hands resting on his stomach. “So, now that you have me all to yourself, what is it exactly that you want to know?”

She glanced at his hands, and then met his stare.

“Everything.”

»» —— ««

“Everything?”

“Yes. Everything.”

“That’s a lot to know.”

“Not once you actually start telling me, as opposed to what you’re doing now.”

“Fair enough. Though I still don’t understand how any of this helps you to, you know—‘disappear,’ as you said.”

“You don’t have to understand. You just have to believe that it’s possible.”

“Like magic?”

“Yes. Like that.”

»» —— ««

He came to watch her act the next evening, and the evening after, and the evening after that.

He’d seen it before – the flurries dancing in the air, swirling into funnels, transforming into icicles and snowmen and miniature castles – but now he watched them with an avid attention for detail, committing each wave of her hand and hollow smile to his memory.

At the end of each performance, she found him in his dressing room, and they talked.

»» —— ««

“You have how many brothers?”

“Twelve. Two of every kind to fill a second ark: spiteful, apathetic, bitter, arrogant, jealous, cruel.”

“And you’re… what? ‘Not like them’?”

“Oh, I am very much like them. Which is exactly why I want nothing at all to do with them.”

“Is that why you came here?”

“… not exactly.”

“Then why did you?”

“For the same reason everyone else comes here. For the same reason you came here, probably.”

“And what do you think that is?”

“To start over.”

»» —— ««

Sometimes, the conversations lasted only an hour; other times, they stretched on and on until both had lost track of when they had started, and when they should end.

»» —— ««

“You seem too well-bred to have ended up in a place like this.”

“So do you.”

“I am—well, I was. I suppose I can’t lay claim to those old titles anymore, in my current line of work.”

“Do you regret that?”

“Do you?”

“I… I don’t have the luxury to feel that way. This is all I have left.”

“No family?”

“No.”

“Not even some distant, wealthy cousins in France? Even I’ve got a few of those.”

“Not that I know of. But even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. I can’t go back to that life, and I—I don’t want to, either.”

“Fancy parties and well-dressed lords and ladies isn’t your cup of tea, I take it?”

“More like I’m not their cup of tea.”

“Funny, that… I feel much the same way.”

“You do?”

“I always have.”

»» —— ««

Late in the fourth evening, he sat in the poker circle with a faraway expression, and laid his hand down to a raucous chorus of laughter.

“You’ve taken a shine to her,” one man said next to him.

“She’s bewitched him, more like,” said another.

“Bewitched him out of his money, that’s for sure!” guffawed a third man, and scooped up his earnings from the table. “You’re off your game, Andersen. That’s three nights in a row.”

The younger man looked up, only to shrug and stand from his seat, patting his wallet inside of his waistcoat. “Have to let you all win once in a while, lest you gentlemen start to think I’m cheating.”

“We already thought that, boy,” the oldest man snapped, prompting chuckles from the rest. “It’s like I told you—that girl is bad luck. And it’s showing.”

“Of course. It’s her that’s making me lose at poker,” Hans scoffed. He turned to leave, giving the men a brief gesture of goodbye over his shoulder. “Until next time.”

“Boy! Wait.”

He turned halfway around with a sigh. “What is it, Leif?”

The older man frowned, opening his mouth—and then closed it again, glancing back at the others before speaking in a quieter way. “Come with me.”

He led Hans back to the stagehands’ quarters, where two or three men were already in their beds, drunk and snoring away. Once they reached a small corner of the room where the hands usually socialized before bed, he sat down, gesturing for the young man to follow suit.

Hans did so with an uncertain expression, trying to contain his lips from curling at the smell of spilt wine, beer, and liquor. “So, Leif,” he asked, “what are we doing here?”

The older man took his pipe from his pocket and lit it, drawing a long breath before speaking again. “There’s something you should know about her,” he began, “something which I hope discourages you from associating with her further.”

“Well, when you say it like that,” Hans returned with a grin, “how can I refuse to listen?”

“I’m serious, boy,” Leif said. “You don’t understand what you’re getting yourself into, by hanging around that… that… “

“That what?” the younger man cut him off. “Girl? Witch? Sorceress? I hope you know how ridiculous you all sound when you talk about her.” He leaned back in the hard chair, taking an open bottle from a side table nearby and sniffing it. He made a face, but took a sip of it nevertheless. “I’ve been watching her act pretty closely the last few nights – well, even before then, actually – and yes, while I admit her magic is unusual and would probably be difficult to replicate, it’s certainly not real ice or snow she’s conjuring—”

“It is.”

Hans set the bottle down hard again on the table. “Don’t be absurd, old man.”

“I’m telling you, boy—it’s as real as the snow that falls from the skies and the ice that covers the rivers in winter,” Leif replied, gripping his pipe. “They’re one and the same.”

Hans shook his head. “That’s impossible. You know that.”

“I thought the same as you, once,” Leif said, sighing. “We all did. But you can only chalk up so many strange things happening in mysterious ways to chance for so long.”

Hans leaned forward, and his gaze narrowed.

“Like what?”

#frozen #frozen fanfiction #helsa #iceburns #DisappearingActFrozen

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aethelflaedladyofmercia · 4 years

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Christmas without Miracles

I’ve fallen a bit behind on my contributions to @drawlight’s Advent Calendar, but behold!

One fic using two prompts so I feel less guilty!

This one takes place in the early 1800s. No specific location - just isolated, outside of England, and cold.

This is supposed to be a few years before the 1862 argument, but if you want to headcanon a universe where this happens instead of the 1862 argument, that’s cool, too.

06 - Sleigh Bells/07 - Silent Night (2,630)

Snow had started to fall.

Just lightly, each white flake twisting down from a sky dark with clouds.

All the usual nighttime noises – insects, animals rustling in the undergrowth, even the wind in the trees – were silenced. Just the gentle hush of snow accumulating, molecule by molecule.

Aziraphale knew he should be inside. There was a fire blazing in the hearth, the cabin bright and warm and empty. Two of the three would be an improvement on what he had out here, standing on the porch, looking across the rolling, tree-dotted hills.

Cold. Empty. Silent.

He hated the silence most of all.

Crowley didn’t hate snow, so long as he didn’t have to travel in it.

Walk, and your boots filled up with snow.

Ski, and you looked ridiculous anywhere outside the Alps. And in them, too.

Riding a horse was out – if he went the rest of eternity without ever sitting on one of those again, he’d be happy.

But anything with wheels was also out – carriages and wagons and carts could barely handle clean city streets.

Trains were good, if the tracks were cleared, but so far Hell had not been interested in his proposal to build a train line that stopped at every human residence in the world. Which was fine, that had only been semi-serious, anyway.

The only remaining option was to use some form of sled.

He glared at the…sled? Sleigh? Whichever. It was small, just enough room for one person, or a small pile of supplies, to sit in it the seat, but whoever drove it had to stand behind on the runners. It was pulled by some kind of long-maned pony or very small horse that looked like it had its own ideas about who was in charge.

The bridle and reins were covered in bells.

“Do you have one without the bells?” he asked, not even really hoping.

“Nope,” the man said with the cheerful joy of one who knows he has the transportation market cornered for the next few months. “Those bells let people know you’re coming even when they can’t see you. And anyway, they keep off the evil spirits.”

“So I’ve heard.” Crowley reached over and flicked a finger at one of the large silvery bells.

Chk-chk-chk

The whole line jingled, sending shivers up and down his arms, settling at the back of his neck.

He hated that noise most of all.

Too many frivolous miracles.

First, a letter full of such threatening language that only a trek through a revolution-torn city to find his favorite pastries – as well as a not-quite-chance encounter with a certain demon – had been able to calm him down again.

Then, a commendation. Congratulations on performing your job perfectly as always.

And now, a “meditative retreat” – five months alone to think about what he should and shouldn’t be using his powers to achieve. No miracles allowed.

A month and a half in, he’d decided – he hadn’t the faintest idea.

Take the most simple of duties: sometimes, he was assigned to keep a person safe.

Did that mean use a miracle to stop them from being injured? Or to heal them afterwards? Or was he supposed to guide them, miracle-free, as if he were another human? Do what seems best, he’d be told, but what seemed best to him never seemed best to anyone else.

Or protecting himself – his corporation, rather, since Aziraphale’s true self was rarely in danger. Could he use a miracle to avoid a dangerous situation? Heal himself from an injury? Was his body the same as a human body, or less valuable? Was all this a waste of Heaven’s resources when he could simply get a new body? How many miracles were equal to one body, anyway?

Questions he shouldn’t ask. Shouldn’t have to ask. He should just know. Angels received their orders, obeyed them, and chose the best course of action, because that’s what angels did.

Angels weren’t supposed to get confused.

But Aziraphale did. All the time. What did that make him?

Crowley preferred to do everything by miracle.

Need new clothes? Manifest them.

Need money? There it is.

Food? Never bothered to learn to cook. When he was hungry, he pulled fully prepared meals out of the nearest cupboard.

Hell rarely tracked exactly what he did, as long as he could demonstrate evil had been accomplished.

But they did track where he was, using miracles. It didn’t do to be more than a few miles from where you were supposed to be.

This wasn’t anywhere near Venice, which was a pity, because he’d rather like to be in Venice right now.

He stared around the bakery. “I don’t know. Just get me several things that are hot and edible.” He had a list, but it wasn’t helping. “Do you have a…stuffing? Or butter?”

“You can get butter from the general store,” the baker’s wife offered, putting together his packages.

“No. The shop person said they didn’t have any dairy.”

“He just meant milk and cream. They’ll have butter, and cheese if you want it.”

Crowley dragged the heel of his hand across his forehead. He’d lived in agricultural societies. He knew perfectly well that butter and cheese were both dairy. “Fine. I’ll go back. How about the stuffing?”

“You’ll want to make your own.”

“Really don’t.”

“I can give you a family recipe!” She started writing in pencil on the brown wrapping of one of the packages. “You’ll need ground beef, sausage…”

A few minutes later, Crowley opened the door to the bitter cold wind outside, making all the bells in the wreath jangle up and down his already-raw nerves.

Chk-chk-chk

He paused, cracked his neck, and kept walking.

Aziraphale finally had to return to the cabin, as the snow had piled up higher than his feet.

Only a single room – wood stove, table and benches, rug; there was a bed even though he didn’t sleep, a few pots and pans even though there was no food.

No chair. No books. Well, one book.

Gabriel had left him a journal, and pen and ink. Encouraged him to write down his thoughts.

Aziraphale thought best when he was reading, talking, engaging with someone or something. For the first few weeks, he’d talked to himself a lot, arguing with the empty room, having mock conversations, even reciting poetry he had memorized.

But slowly the oppressive quiet had settled across his soul. And he found himself picking up the pen to write –

What? What could he write about? His doubts? His confusion? What would he even say?

When it got to be too much, he tried drawing, sketching out what he could see. That helped a little, but once he’d scribbled down images of the room, the hills outside, the one tree he liked to walk to…well, he was back to the same dilemma, what to write?

Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to list a few questions. Just so he could think about the answers.

Chk-chk-chk

The door of the last shop slammed behind Crowley, bells clattering. Shaking his head to clear it, he checked his list one more time. It looked like he had everything, though the ink was already smudging where snowflakes fell on it.

He settled the packages into the sled, tucking a blanket all around them, and pulled up the collar of his coat against the biting wind.

“Better leave room for yourself,” said the kid.

Crowley looked him up and down. Seventeen or so, son of the man who had rented him the sled and horse. He was supposed to drive it out and return with it.

“Nope. I’m driving, you’re staying.”

“That’s not how this works. We only have a few, and we need to be able to get supplies out in an emergency –”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Crowley handed over a pile of money. “This should cover the sled and the horse, in case I don’t come back. Plus a bit. Give it to your dad.” He considered the kid another moment. “You have, I don’t know, a girl you like? Boy? Anything?” The kid tried to give him a stubborn, blank look, but some of that pink wasn’t just from the cold. “Whatever, not my business.” Crowley handed over the rest of his money, saving only what he would need to get back to London. “Give him, her, or them something nice. Cheers.”

While the kid was still staring at the pile of money, Crowley climbed onto the runners of the sled and took the reins in both hands.

Chk-chk-chk

He felt that one in his stomach.

With another jingling of sleigh bells, he shook the reins –

And nothing happened.

“Go.”

Nothing.

“Move, horse!”

Now it was just embarrassing.

The kid leaned against the sled. “Are you sure? I don’t think you know what you’re doing.”

“Of course I don’t!” He jerked the reins back, trying to ignore the way the sound of bells hammered into his spine. “But no one can know where I’m going.”

With a shrug, the kid shoved the money into his pocket. “Pull on one side, gently, to turn. Not too sudden, it’ll tip over. Whoa to slow down, walk to go, and remember, you’re in charge.” He winked, and walked away with a swagger that wasn’t quite as good as the demon’s, but better suited to over six inches of snowfall.

Clutching the reins again, Crowley called: “Walk. WALK!” He shook them hard. “COME ON YOU BLESSED HORSE, WALK!”

Nothing moved.

Once Aziraphale had started writing, it was hard to stop.

Page after page. Whatever entered his mind.

It was nice just seeing the ink flow.

Hearing the scratch of the pen fill the silence.

Crowley got off the back of the sled and walked up to the horse, grabbing it by the bridle. “Listen, here, you, I am in charge!”

The horse snorted and stomped directly onto his foot.

“Nghaa that was not – ugh!”

The horse shook its head, jingling the bells again and again until Crowley was ready to tear his own ears off, until Crowley let go and stepped back.

The horse lashed its tail.

“Look, fine.” Crowley grumbled trying to stand where the horse could see him clearly, despite the snow that was now falling thick. “You’re in charge if that’s what you want. But I need to get somewhere. I should have been there hours ago. Days ago. You are my only way of getting there. I have nothing to bribe you with. I promise, you get fed either way, you get brushed either way, and you will absolutely get enough apples and sugar to make you sick because I’m not doing anything else with those.”

He reached out a hand to touch the horse. He had lived in agricultural societies, but he was much more comfortable around the crops and plants than the animals. Still, rather to his surprise, the horse let him stroke its nose. “Please. This is more important than you can imagine. Just get me there.”

He stepped back onto the runners, picked up the reins. “Walk.”

The horse didn’t walk. It moved much quicker than that.

Aziraphale lay down his pen, wiggling his fingers after all that writing. There were a lot of words on the page. Perhaps he should read over them.

He found himself walking back to the door, stepping into the silent night outside again.

The snow was falling so fast it was almost a physical thing, blocking his view even where the light from the door should have been enough to see the edge of the woods. It spilled across the porch, piled at the corners of the cottage.

And still, everything was so quiet. Even the wind, which had picked up, seemed to carry only the flakes and not any sound –

Were those sleigh bells?

A moment later a horse came into view – one of the small, sturdy northern breeds – pushing on through the unbroken snow, pressing through the storm with determined strides, pulling behind it a small sled and clinging to the back of that –

“Crowley?”

“Whoa,” called the dark figure. “Whoa – I said whoa! We’re here!”

With a final jingle of bells, the horse stopped in front of the porch, and Crowley fell backwards, off the sled runners and into the snow.

“Crowley! What the Hell are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too, Angel.”

“You’re supposed to be in Italy!”

“Yeah, I am. No, don’t worry, I can pick myself up.” He started to rise, then stumbled again.

Aziraphale rushed forward. “I’m – I didn’t realize – what’s wrong? What happened?”

“Bloody sleigh bells. Chase off evil spirits.” He clasped Aziraphale’s hand, pulling himself up. “I’ll be fine, just need to get a drink and warm up.”

“Of course, but – I don’t have any food or drink.”

With a very tired grin, Crowley tossed aside the blanket in the sled. “Happy Christmas, Angel.”

Crowley had needed to compromise on a few things.

He had the goose, and what he was assured were all the ingredients needed for stuffing and gravy.

Potatoes, brussels sprouts, and parsnips had been easy to find; and something he was almost certain was redcurrant sauce.

There had been no plum pudding this far from England, or mince pies, or fruitcake – though he wasn’t certain fruitcake was something you bought, it was possible all fruitcakes already existed and were simply eternally exchanged. He had managed to get a variety of sweet pastries.

Lots of wine.

And two bundles of books – the ones he had picked out at stops on the way, and the ones he had taken from the shop. Aziraphale shouldn’t have been surprised Crowley knew his favorites, but the demon was pleased at his smile either way.

There were two things to take care of first.

Crowley spied the notebook as soon as he stepped in. He only glanced at it long enough to see that Aziraphale had written a lot.

Then he picked it up and dropped it into the flames of the stove.

“Crowley! That was a private journal!”

“No it wasn’t.” He pulled off his glasses and glared at Aziraphale. “What did you think, they were going to let you keep that? Ask you to tell them the important parts? They left you here alone to write your own confession.”

Aziraphale clenched his teeth, didn’t say anything.

“I don’t like it.” Crowley grumbled. “They’ve never done anything like this before. I don’t know what’s changed.”

The other issue was the horse.

“No, I can’t have a horse in the cabin!”

“You can’t leave it outside, Angel, it’s a storm!”

“I thought you didn’t even like horses.”

“I don’t! But this one got me here and…” Crowley shrugged. “And it’s as much of a bloody-minded stubborn bastard as you are, so you’ll probably get along.”

Aziraphale sighed, and Crowley could see him start to give in. “How am I supposed to hide the fact that there’s been a horse in here when Gabriel gets back? We can’t miracle it clean.”

“Eh, just tell him some traveler lost in the storm stayed here a while. It’ll be true enough.”

And so, with the horse in the corner working through its feed bag and having the night of its life, Crowley and Aziraphale set about figuring out how to make a Christmas dinner.

It wouldn’t be perfect.

Neither of them had ever cooked without miracles before. There was immediately an argument over how one peeled a potato, and what exactly stuffing was for, really.

It wouldn’t be perfect.

But the jangle of the bells had ended, the silence had been driven from the cabin, and once again they were together.

And that, in a way, was perfect.

#good omens fanfiction #good omens prime #31 days of ineffables #ineffable husbands #aziraphale #crowley #christmas #look this one actually is a christmas story #my writing #incidentally there is only one bed #;)#maybe don't read too much into that though #aziraphale doesn't sleep #and that horse has a judgy stare

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