i’ve been slowly (luxuriously!) working through @anandabrat‘s amazing fic (which you should read!) the remington standard #2 and got inspired by young helena’s self-portrait.
Drawn for @purlturtle and their fic "Not This": What To Expect When Faced With H.G. Wells - A Field Guide by Myka Bering for the Big Bang as part of the @beringandwells13 13th Anniversary celebrations!
Excerpt of the scene in question from @purlturtle's fic!
A few minutes later, they both squinted at the harsh kitchen light. Myka had insisted they both wrap up warm before they left, so now Helena was wearing Myka’s bathrobe, Myka had pulled an old hoodie over her pajamas, they both wore fuzzy socks, and still the room was cold.
Helena held one of the triangles up and tilted her head. “I did not think it was customary to toast the bread?”
Myka shrugged, feeling a tiny bit embarrassed – Pete always teased her with that, ever since he’d first seen her do it. “I like it better this way,” she defended her choice. “It’s, uh… They’re a treat, for me. And that includes having the bread be nice and crunchy.”
“I see,” Helena said, and bit into it. She hummed appreciatively, chewed, swallowed. “I like what the warmth of the bread does to the peanut butter’s texture.”
“Right?” Myka agreed immediately, and bit into her own sandwich with a happy sigh. Maybe it really was a good idea to defer all of the big talk until tomorrow. Maybe it was okay to just take a moment to enjoy this.
I’ve been chipping away at this “story” for three years now—it’s more a conceit that got out of hand, really, but ten years’ worth of regular fanfictional postings can send the conceptual car into some unreasonably esoteric cul-de-sacs. This one, as the title makes clear, has to do with ten commandments—not THE Ten Commandments, but one for each year of the Bering-and-Wells situation (I started this excursion on the tenth anniversary, intending to finish it soon after and wind up the ten, but…). Part 1 covered years one through five, with commandments as follows: one, meet at gunpoint; two, thou shalt not touch; three, suffer in silence; four, make mistakes; and five, thou shalt not hold grudges. Part 2 was year six: Thou shalt not damage. Part 3 dealt with year seven and instructed, “Thou shalt take nothing for granted.” Most recently, part 4 yielded year eight’s “Remember the anniversary,” which is always good advice, so here’s year nine, which via time’s-arrow shenanigans and bizarro chapter-math is part 5, being posted on the thirteenth anniversary.
Decalogue 5
Year 9: Calm down.
It would of course have been wise for Myka to have applied such a directive, spiritually, throughout most of her years with (and without) Helena. It would have been wise for her to have applied it throughout most of her interactions with Helena… and if anyone had asked her, she would have said she’d tried to do so. But apparently her efforts hadn’t met the universe’s expectations: such that by their ninth year, said universe saw fit to insist, insistently, that she work much, much harder at it.
That insistence came over time to manifest as an incessant tapping against her consciousness… naturally (or was it artificially? and was there a salient difference?) everything that happened served as a commentary on everything else that happened, for Myka would over the course of the year come to understand the heavy significance of a particular tapping sound.
Circumstances began to converge—though Myka didn’t realize they were converging, and that in itself ended up being salient—when she and Pete were driving home, late at night, from a retrieval that hadn’t mattered at all. Late at night, though: that mattered. Nearly midnight, in fact, which mattered most.
“Helena hasn’t called me yet,” she said. She hadn’t really intended to say it aloud, but there were only five minutes left in the day. And when Helena and Steve were away on a mission, Helena called Myka at some point during each and every day: a compromise, one designed to mitigate Myka’s urge to smother, at least as far as Helena’s health and safety were concerned. It wasn’t that Helena wouldn’t call, left to her own devices. But Myka was able, was allowed, to expect it. To rely on it.
Pete snorted. “Charlize Theron hasn’t called me yet, but you don’t see me checking my phone every ten seconds about it.”
I don’t have an official title for this little scene that I’ve had written for years. It’s saved on my computer as Sabrina AU because it’s based on the movie of the same title - both of them - the classic starring Audrey Hepburn and the later remake in the 1990′s. I was hoping to develop it into a full story, as I love the idea of Myka growing up with Helena and Charles and then seeing how their relationship evolves as adults, but as with all of my works in progress, I haven’t had the time and/or inclination to work on it. But, I still like these scenes and thought even if I never write the full story, it’s worth sharing, especially today when we’re celebrating 13 years of Bering & Wells. Thank you to this fandom - you’ve meant so much to me over these years.
The summer evening is warm, the breeze coming off the ocean offering a refreshing coolness to the air as Helena unconsciously sways to the melody of the music as she watches the dancers make good use of the wooden dance floor installed on the lawn only the day before. It will be removed before the dawn, but the impression left on the lawn will linger for weeks.
“Who is the woman Charles has been dancing with most of the night?“ Mrs. Wells asks her daughter.
"That’s Myka.”
“Myka? Myka Bering as in the chauffeur’s daughter?” she asks incredulously.
“The very same.”
“She certainly grew up,” Mrs. Wells says, her tone bordering on incredulous.
"Yes, didn’t she,” Helena says softly.
“Well, I’ll not have your brother making a fool of himself, nor me, for the chauffeur’s daughter. Not when he’s engaged to marry Giselle Banks and we’re about to close a deal with her family. You have to put an end to this…this dalliance, Helena.”
“Mother, they’re just dancing,” she argues half-heartedly.
“When has Charles ever stopped at just dancing?”
Helena sighs. Her mother has a point. “How exactly do you expect me to end their dalliance, as you call it?“
"Find a way. And do it quickly,” Mrs. Wells says after Charles pulls Myka closer to him, whispering something against her ear that causes her to throw her head back in laughter.
Helena glances away from the intimate moment between them and purses her lips to keep from commenting further, to ask why she always must clean up after the messes Charles makes. Before she wishes, her gaze is drawn back to them, and she watches her brother leave the dance floor to go to the bar and then notices Myka walk in the direction of the indoor tennis courts. Charles always was so predictable regarding the end of the evening tete a tete at these parties.
The Bering and Wells wedding episode was literally so crazy. Remember when Pete gave his speech at the end and announced he was moving to New Zealand and that was LITERALLY the last time he was on the show? (The phone call in the series finale doesn't count)
yeah i have to say while it was UNBELIEVABLY romantic, they really did go over the top. like was the grappling hook helicopter exit necessary? the entire wedding planning sequence with hg terrorizing the florists? artie tearing it up on the dance floor? the b plot with claudia and pete having to stealth neutralize a rogue artifact before it could ruin the wedding? and dont get me STARTED on the costuming
yeah, no one but jaime murray could have carried that line about buying out the bookstore and renaming it bering and wells so well… or for that matter any of her wedding speech about the power of love that they kept having to interrupt? i love that no one thought to check her vows beforehand so myka had to keep kicking her shins in real time to stop her from spilling all the details about the warehouse and her real identity to the handful of very confused civilians at the wedding
omg do y’all remember claudia dancing with that girl during the wedding and we were like WAAAIIIIT BI CLAUDIA REAL? but then it turned out the girl was the villain of the ep…BUT THEN after the artifact was neutralized, she was like “guess i know how to pick them” and that was NEVER unpacked for some reason, in the very gay bering and wells episode. (that also had pete’s mom and ex flirting in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it easter egg. rip to pete)
ALSO: claudia running back and forth between the brides preparing for the ceremony/definitely not PANICKING over their vows, all the while trying to find the artifact and making sure artie also stays none the wiser. mrs frederick’s speech??? episode of all time actually
Here’s the cover I made for "Dawn of the Dragonborn: Heart of a Hero, Heart of a Predator, Heart of Dovahkiin” by @rinari7 and beta’d by @amtrak
Summary:
A vampire. A Dragonborn. Two women, a little in love. Coffee? Mead? Or maybe save the world…
M'aiq'a is an investigative agent for the Penitus Oculatus, the Emperor’s personal bodyguard, sent to Skyrim to try and figure out what’s behind these damned vampire attacks that killed her foster brother. Hlenea, clutching an ancient scroll and beset by gargoyles, is the woman she quite literally unearths, sought after by vampires and hunters alike.
‘Beware of becoming the very thing you despise’ has never been more true. Never mind falling for one…
But centuries of unlife make for layers of secrets, and trust is hard to come by. The world is running out of time, and they will both have larger roles to play than either of them ever wanted…
Y'all. This art. I have no words. This is amazing and absolutely how I picture them. M'aiq'a’s ears pinned back! The way they’re fighting side-by-side, protecting each other’s flanks! The gorgeous colors! M'aiq'a’s curls and Hlenea/Jaime’s sleek hair! So much detail on the armor. I am so humbled by this work and it is absolutely an inspiration to me.
As I said, if I hadn’t already had the idea to write the fic, this would have inspired it.
*incoherent squeeing*
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 10/58
Fandom: Warehouse 13
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Relationships: Myka Bering/Helena "H. G." Wells
Characters: Myka Bering, Helena "H. G." Wells, Pete Lattimer, Artie Nielsen, Steve Jinks, Olivia Jinks, William Wolcott, Christina Wells, Walter Sykes, Sally Stukowski, Marcus Diamond
Additional Tags: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Alternate Universe - Urban Fantasy, Alternate Universe - Detectives, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Slow Burn, Bering and Wells Big Bang 2023, there will probably eventually be sexy times, if you and i are lucky, Alternate Universe - No Warehouse or Artifacts, there are more specific urban fantasy elements but i don't want to spoil it just yet, Kidnapping, Corporate Espionage, Violence against Children
Summary:
Having survived a career change, a trans-Atlantic move, and a divorce, Helena Wells is more than capable of taking care of herself— or at least, she thought she was. But after being attacked in her home, Helena is experiencing strange gaps in her memory. Worse, her daughter Christina is complaining of terrifying sounds in the night.
Myka Bering is used pulling truth from crimes that resist reason. That's what Police Captain Nielsen brings her in for, after all: to consult on cases that are too slippery for a clean solve. But this new deluge of bodies is too inconsistent for obvious handholds, and as she pursues the murderers in secret, her findings point to a weapon so foul, so impossible, that even just thinking about it makes her start to feel crazy.
Oh, and Myka’s primary suspect? A single mother by the name of Helena Wells.
----
And here we have the final entry in the 2023 Bering and Wells Big Bang!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
So I did a thing. Or rather, I am doing a thing.
It's a complicated thing and a very slow burn. It's part a love letter to Bering and Wells, part a love letter to the excellent nonsense that is Elder Scrolls lore, and part me just enjoying rambling about Khajiit!Myka and vampire!darkelf!Helena and all of the original characters that snuck in there somehow.
If that sounds interesting... there's the link. ;D
Okay, so for tomorrow's Zoom Meetup, we're gonna try and do a headcanon bingo!! I've collected 75 headcanons (thanks to everyone who contributed!), and what we'll do is this:
I'll list them all in a numbered list (under the readmore so that this post doesn't get super long). You pick 24 headcanons that speak to you, and put down the numbers in your bingo card at random, i.e. not in numerical order. On Sunday, I'll use a random number generator to pick a number, call it out and read the corresponding headcanon from the list, and you mark it off if you have it on your card. Then we repeat that until someone shouts "BINGO!" :)
Okay, here come the headcanons; unless stated otherwise, they concern the present, i.e. now, 13 years after they've met:
They’re married
They aren't and will never get married (because one or both of them hate(s) the idea)
They’re engaged but not yet married
Myka wears a suit and Helena a dress to their wedding
Helena wears a suit and Myka a dress to their wedding
They both wear dresses to their wedding
They both wear suits to their wedding
One or both of them are wearing something completely different/untraditional to their wedding
They’re no longer together 😢
They never got back together at all 😢
They still live in the B&B
They bought a house in Univille
They live somewhere else entirely
They don't live together at all (voluntarily)
They don't live together at all (involuntarily)
They still have the pets (any combination of ferret, cat and dog, or a new pet or five)
They saved Christina and she lives with them now
They couldn’t save Christina but they have another kid/kids (by adoption, fostering or insemination)
The have a kid or kids together created through an artifact/other Warehouse magic
They choose to have no kids
They celebrate every April 23rd as one of their anniversaries
They celebrate Yellowstone Day as one of their anniversaries
At the start of their relationship, Myka is really awkward and doesn't know how to react to any of Helena's flirting, but once she's more comfortable, her flirting makes Helena blush and stammer
Helena gets really excited about same gender relationships being legal and tries to show Myka off at every opportunity, while Myka squirms and tries to rein her in
When they fight Myka becomes cold and remote and Helena becomes arch and superior
They're seeing a couple's therapist (who also knows about the Warehouse)
By the time "many of my lovers" happens, they've already hooked up
By the time "many of my lovers" happens, Myka is still in denial and they have NOT hooked up
Helena was Myka’s lesbian awakening
Myka knew she was not straight before Helena came along
Myka has/has had very strong mental health issues (for example depression, PTSD, ED, etc.)
Myka is seeing a therapist (who also knows about the Warehouse)
Myka still works as an agent
Myka works as Artie’s successor now
Myka trains new agents now
Myka doesn’t work for the Warehouse anymore
Myka has written at least one novel
Myka has introduced Helena to her parents
Myka has not introduced Helena to her parents
Myka’s relationship with her parents/with Warren is still tense
Myka’s relationship with her parents/with Warren has markedly improved
Myka still avoids meeting with her parents
Myka is at ease with/enjoys meeting with her parents
Myka and Tracy don’t talk a lot
Myka and Tracy are very close
Myka and Tracy aren’t close, but Tracy keeps reaching out to Myka
Myka had a wild period in college and the post Sam personality isn't what she's always done
Myka identifies as lesbian
Myka identifies as queer
Myka identifies as bi or pan
Myka identifies as ace- and/or aro-spec (incl. demi-ace and/or demi-aro)
Okay, so for tomorrow's Zoom Meetup, we're gonna try and do a headcanon bingo!! I've collected 75 headcanons (thanks to everyone who contributed!), and what we'll do is this:
I'll list them all in a numbered list (under the readmore so that this post doesn't get super long). You pick 24 headcanons that speak to you, and put down the numbers in your bingo card at random, i.e. not in numerical order. On Sunday, I'll use a random number generator to pick a number, call it out and read the corresponding headcanon from the list, and you mark it off if you have it on your card. Then we repeat that until someone shouts "BINGO!" :)
Okay, here come the headcanons; unless stated otherwise, they concern the present, i.e. now, 13 years after they've met:
They’re married
They aren't and will never get married (because one or both of them hate(s) the idea)
They’re engaged but not yet married
Myka wears a suit and Helena a dress to their wedding
Helena wears a suit and Myka a dress to their wedding
They both wear dresses to their wedding
They both wear suits to their wedding
One or both of them are wearing something completely different/untraditional to their wedding
They’re no longer together 😢
They never got back together at all 😢
They still live in the B&B
They bought a house in Univille
They live somewhere else entirely
They don't live together at all (voluntarily)
They don't live together at all (involuntarily)
They still have the pets (any combination of ferret, cat and dog, or a new pet or five)
They saved Christina and she lives with them now
They couldn’t save Christina but they have another kid/kids (by adoption, fostering or insemination)
The have a kid or kids together created through an artifact/other Warehouse magic
They choose to have no kids
They celebrate every April 23rd as one of their anniversaries
They celebrate Yellowstone Day as one of their anniversaries
At the start of their relationship, Myka is really awkward and doesn't know how to react to any of Helena's flirting, but once she's more comfortable, her flirting makes Helena blush and stammer
Helena gets really excited about same gender relationships being legal and tries to show Myka off at every opportunity, while Myka squirms and tries to rein her in
When they fight Myka becomes cold and remote and Helena becomes arch and superior
They're seeing a couple's therapist (who also knows about the Warehouse)
By the time "many of my lovers" happens, they've already hooked up
By the time "many of my lovers" happens, Myka is still in denial and they have NOT hooked up
Helena was Myka’s lesbian awakening
Myka knew she was not straight before Helena came along
Myka has/has had very strong mental health issues (for example depression, PTSD, ED, etc.)
Myka is seeing a therapist (who also knows about the Warehouse)
Myka still works as an agent
Myka works as Artie’s successor now
Myka trains new agents now
Myka doesn’t work for the Warehouse anymore
Myka has written at least one novel
Myka has introduced Helena to her parents
Myka has not introduced Helena to her parents
Myka’s relationship with her parents/with Warren is still tense
Myka’s relationship with her parents/with Warren has markedly improved
Myka still avoids meeting with her parents
Myka is at ease with/enjoys meeting with her parents
Myka and Tracy don’t talk a lot
Myka and Tracy are very close
Myka and Tracy aren’t close, but Tracy keeps reaching out to Myka
Myka had a wild period in college and the post Sam personality isn't what she's always done
Myka identifies as lesbian
Myka identifies as queer
Myka identifies as bi or pan
Myka identifies as ace- and/or aro-spec (incl. demi-ace and/or demi-aro)
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 13/13
Fandom: Warehouse 13
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Myka Bering/Helena “H. G.” Wells
Characters: Myka Bering, Helena “H. G.” Wells, Jack Harkness, Christina Wells, and the rest of the Warehouse family
Additional Tags: Unconventional Families, Pregnancy, Kid Fic, Fix-It, Bering and Wells Big Bang 2023, BWBB23, beringandwells13
Summary:
When Myka Bering goes looking for Helena Wells, she isn’t expecting to find Emily Lake, and she definitely isn’t expecting to find Emily Lake pregnant – but this is a story about the unexpected. This is a story about letting yourself say yes to the situation you find yourself in, even if it’s where you never expected to be, and how the rest falls into place when you allow yourself to do that.
It’s also a story about time travel and friendship, old flames and new love, and magic cottages and pb&p (pear) sandwiches. And of not just one unexpected baby, but two of them - for a given value of “baby”, anyway.
Written for the Bering and Wells Big Bang 2023 to celebrate 13 years of Bering and Wells!
THANK YOU to @galactic-pirates, my artist, who due to their health will post their art a little later, and to @anandabrat, my beta, without whose constant encouragement and excitement this fic would be nowhere near as coherent as it is! (also, thanks for the summary, Nands! :D)
izzy806
kianamaiart
romaincrisis
stormborns
origamiaround
