To say the chat had rattled him would be an understatement. When the name UNKNOWN had popped back into the server, Akira had immediately jumped on it, desperate to gather whatever information he could. Like anything he had faced before he was ready to fight, ready to lay his life on the line for those who needed him, to lead and protect. That was what he did, what he had to do, no matter what. How could he worry about himself when so many others were out there? His own life meant nothing in exchange for theirs, and although this world wasn’t his own he would do everything he could to keep it safe.
--But what about his own? Was his world really at risk? That single phrase had alarmed him more than anything, the thought of sacrificing the world he had nearly died for souring his stomach. Not only that, but he could see how the unknown person’s words had affected everyone else, weight beginning to pile on him once more. It wasn’t until Mitsuru popped into the chat to ask him if he was satisfied that the rope finally snapped. As grateful as he was to get a glimpse of what was going on, he had caused a lot of pain for a lot of people. He wasn’t this group’s leader, nor was he anywhere close to being fit for such a role. All he had done was stir the pot, cause trouble, and leave everyone feeling terrible.
At least there was still Teddie’s surprise.
Needing a distraction, Akira made his way to the kitchen to find--well, he supposed one could call it a cake. It was vaguely pastry like, and although several pieces were already gone he could tell it had probably once been a sight to behold. The moment he got close enough to actually smell it he began to second guess himself, wondering if it would be better to simply pretend he wasn’t hungry and leave. But Teddie had put so much work into it and had been so excited he couldn’t just walk away now. He had to at least take a bite.
And a bite was really all he could manage.
A flavor beyond description assaulted his senses, the texture of the cake strangely rubbery, yet hard--and maybe even raw? But possibly overcooked at the same time. Swallowing the mouthful proved to be a feat of strength, his body attempting to violently reject the foreign object and ultimately failing. Almost immediately his stomach began to hurt--a weird, burning aching sensation that made him wonder if some sort of alien creature might burst its way through. Darkness clouded the edges of his vision, skin going clammy, his head swimming.
...Was he going to die?
Even the taste of Takemi’s medicine hadn’t hurt him this badly, and he had fainted from the flavor of it alone. Before he could grab onto the counter his legs gave out, dropping him like a sack of potatoes to the ground, the world around him fading slowly from view. Out of everything he had encountered in his eighteen years of life, he had never imagined a cake would be his downfall.
I'd like to see some Ysayle x Ram fluff if you have the time
(Thanks for giving me an excuse to write these two. ❤)
- - -
Ysayle scans the area around her with a smile curling her blue painted lips. These moogles were so very charming, were they not? How fun, these games they liked to play of hide and seek.
Ysayle hadn’t played games such as these… in a very long time.
Ysayle is so focused on spying a bit of bountiful, adorable fluff that she does not notice a certain Duskwight sneaking up behind her.
Ysayle lets loose a startled yelp as a pair of muscled arms band around her waist and lift her.
“Ramora!” Ysayle hisses, slapping at those hands around her waist as the taller woman twirls her. “You shouldn’t sneak up on me like that! I could hurt you!”
Ramora gives a chuckle, lowering Ysayle to her feet and kissing at her neck. “Mm, are you going to step on me again?”
Ysayle flushes. “Must you always bring that up?”
Ramora squeezes her from behind, nuzzling her face into Ysayle’s cool skin with a smile. “Every chance I get, my snowdrop.”
Ysayle huffs with only mild exasperation, her fingers sliding over the bare skin of Ramora’s arms. Squeezing the defined muscles there with admiration. Still,“Where is your overcoat? Did you lose it again? It will be much harder to find with so much green in this place.”
Ramora moves from behind to look into Ysayle’s face. Cupping Ysayle’s hand to press a kiss to her fair skin.“I didn’t lose it. I left it with Alphi.”
Ysayle smiles. “Again? You know he likes to wear it when you’re not looking. It’s too long for him still, so much that it drags behind him. It’s rather adorable, actually.”
Ramora grins at her. “How cute. He’ll grow into it eventually. His growth spurt isn’t too far off now, I’m sure.”
Ysayle arches a brow at her. “What, do you intend to gift it to him?”
Ramora shrugs easily. “Mayhap I’ll leave it to him when I die.”
Ysayle’s smile falls at that. Her icy eyes darkening with such a horrible thought. “Do not say such things to me, Ramora.”
Ramora tilts her head. “Shall I tell you sweet lies then, darling? I will live forever, surely. Any day now we will break mine curse. Estinien smiles too much. Moogles do not annoy me with their increasingly irritating need for hide and seek.”
Ysayle cannot fight her smile then, “Are they not fluffy and cute, even so?”
Ramora curls her lip.
Ysayle laughs and winds her arms around Ramora’s neck to drag her face closer to her own. “Kiss me, you grumpy woman. You know, your face might get stuck like that. You’ll start to resemble Estinien.”
Ramora snorts at that, smiling impishly. “You think so? He is quite handsome.”
Ysayle laughs incredulously, “You’ve never seen his face!”
Ramora wiggles her eyebrows, “With a voice like that? ‘Twould be a shame if it were otherwise. But as of now I have quite an active imagination.”
Ysayle rolls her eyes, smiling wryly. “Of that I am well aware.”
Ramora flashes her teeth at her in a sharp little grin. Too sharp.
Ysayle narrows in on the point of her teeth. “Are you feeling… hungry, Ramora?”
Ramora bites at the air playfully, “Always for you, darling.”
Ysayle looks at her. “Not only me.”
Ramora bites her lip at that. “I… no, you needn’t worry. I am not feeling particularly *horny* just yet.”
Ysayle sighs. “Do you ever tire of such word play?”
Ramora grins at her. “Never.”
Ysayle shakes her head and leans up on her tiptoe. Marking Ramora’s face with the bright blue of her lip color as she kisses marks across her skin.
Ramora hums, tugging her close and lowering her head. Their mouths brushing, lipsticks smearing. Bright red and light blue blending to make a purple hue.
Ramora kisses her like she’s hungry always. Like Ysayle is the only person who can satisfy her.
Ysayle knows better, of course.
Ramora would never be satisfied.
“I love you,” Ramora tells her, every time like this.
Selene love because I love her and she deserves more love <3 <3
Selene belongs to @selenelavellan. Now, time for some Serahlene!
Serahlin never really thought she would end up in Denerim of all places, but when her wife is offered an assistant professorship in Discreet Mathematics at the University of Denerim, she goes too. She contacts the local District Attorney and inquires to see if they are in need of any public children’s advocates – and as it so happens, they are.
It takes them several months to fall into a true pattern of life, living in an apartment that Serahlin is…not completely satisfied with, but it has enough room for the time being, and the year lease is very easy to work with while they look for a better, more permanent home.
It is in the late months of summer, only a few weeks before the university begins its classes again, when the door to their little apartment bangs and clatters.
Odd, Serahlin thinks, as she sets her case file down and goes to answer the door. They’re not knocks precisely, more like inconsistent thuds and…Selene’s voice?
Serahlin opens the door slowly and carefully, slowly revealing her wife’s tall form and…
“Creators, tell me that is not a baby.” Serahlin says and Selene shrugs, the baby shifting slightly in her arms.
“Uuh, it’s…not a baby?” And then she makes her awful ‘I know I shouldn’t be doing this but I am anyways’ face that always makes Serahlin sigh and relax. Honestly, her wife is entirely too good at getting her way, Serahlin wonders if she’s aware of the effect she has.
Serahlin sighs and ushers Selene into the apartment and promptly takes the baby from her arms. She has had more experience with infants, after all and this one looks…a little small, considering they’re looking around in a way that would make Serahlin guess they’re about three months old.
Not that she’s read up on babies or anything.
“Exactly how did you come across this baby?”
“You know the Hot-As-Hell walkway outside of the Physics Building? There is a pass under it that is apparently a small road that leads into the alienage and these guys were huddled around this little box saying the worst stuff about elves, calling this tiny baby a knife ear and rabbit and other sh- things that I am not repeating. So I…got them to leave and I tried to find the parents but no one was around and it was over a hundred degrees today! I couldn’t just leave them out there to die and you know what to do with kids and babies so I came home.”
Serahlin blinks at her wife. On one hand, Selene saved this child’s life twice over – from those people and then from the heat. But on the other hand…baby-napping is baby-napping is baby-napping.
“You…did the best you could in that situation. But we’re going to have to call the police and see if there are any missing children reports that fit this little one’s description, and you’ll have to probably give a statement…we should call our lawyer…” Serahlin’s voice trails off as she begins to contemplate all the things that they now have to do to ensure everyone’s continued safety.
Selene stares at the baby and reaches out to touch a cheek.
“I couldn’t just…let them die, Serahlin.”
“Oh honey, of course not!” She kisses her wife quickly, reassuring her.
“You were wonderful, we just need to continue to be wonderful.” She kisses her again for good measure before whipping out her cell phone and beginning the process.
“Hello, Sargent Kylon, It’s Serahlin Mercier...I have an infant with me who appears to be three months old, the parents are nowhere to be found.”
“Of course, well, bring’em in, we’ll see if we can figure out who the little rug rat is.” Kylon sounds exhausted but it’s late and cases like these, she knows, are never quick matters.
“Alright, we’ll come in.” She ends the call and the baby begins to fuss a bit – probably hungry. They should stop by the store to get formula, she thinks, no matter whose baby it is, they shouldn’t go hungry.
“We’re going to the police, Sargent Kylon is looking up missing infants and complaints now.” Serahlin rocks the child against her, stroking their light brown hair. She runs a finger against a long ear and the babe coos happily.
Selene takes a deep breath but nods.
“They’re not going to arrest you, they’ll…talk a little loudly for a while, but you saved this baby. We can call a defense attorney, though, if you are still concerned.”
“No, no, I’m fine, I just…who leaves a baby out like that?” Selene asks, stepping closer to touch the babe. Serahlin sighs and shakes her head.
“I ask that question every day, and the answer is never good.”
Selene goes quiet for a moment before motioning for the baby back. They cling a bit to Selene, making a soft noise as she brings them to her bosom.
“So how exactly are we getting to the police station? It’s not like we have a baby carrier – Oh. When did you get that?” Selene asks as Serahlin produces a baby carrier from the front closet. Serahlin blinks at her.
“Selene, darling, my job. Always prepared.” And with that Selene nods and follows Serahlin out to the car. They load the little baby and the carrier into the car, fussing over how exactly the thing is supposed to fit in the car. It takes them twenty minutes before Serahlin slides into the front and Selene somehow folds herself into the back of the compact car to sit with the baby.
They stop by a small corner store to pick up formula that Serahlin makes in the back where the workers take their breaks. One of them is a mother and knows how to keep it warm and good for the babe. She thanks the woman and heads back out, handing the bottle to Selene to try and feed the little one.
Soon little sucking noises fill the car as they drive the ten minutes to the police station. The bottle isn’t done but it has to be removed for them to remove the baby from the car. They promptly begin to cry and fuss, wanting their bottle back. Serahlin is quick to reunite them and the bottle, silencing the cries as they walk into the station. She heads directly for Kylon’s office located in the far back, waving at the staff who know her. Selene follows her awkwardly, waving occasionally while maintaining eyes on the child at all times.
He's sitting at his desk, staring intently at his computer when Serahlin enters.
“Have you found anything?” She asks immediately, shifting the baby in her arms.
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, “Yeah, and it’s not good. I was hoping they were one of the missing babies, but looking at them now… I’m pretty sure they are related to one of the recent attacks in the Alienage.”
Serahlin’s blood goes cold while a light ignites at the corner of her vision. When she turns to look at her wife, Selene’s hands are on fire, the whites of hers bleeding over her irises, lips in a hard line in her face as she slowly begins to engulf herself in flames.
“Selene, darling, it’s okay. The babe is okay, see? Look at me, darling.”
Kylon is up and looking for a fire extinguisher while Serahlin draws Selene’s gaze to the small babe. White eyes focus on the small child and slowly the flames die down and her eyes return to normal.
“Sorry, I –
“I know, but we’re all okay.” Serahlin leans over and kisses her wife briefly before returning to her seat.
“Kylon, we’re fine.”
“She just caught fire –
“Perfectly normal. Now, this child, who do you think they are?” The Sargent sits back down and eyes Selene before handing Serahlin a heavy file.
“I think she is Nessa Tabris, daughter of Cyrion and Adaia Tabris.”
Nausea rolls through Serahlin. She knows those names; she knows this baby in a way too. The report of the missing child had wound up on her desk that morning – a baby missing after parents were…dismembered in the Alienage. No living relatives, cousins already separated and in the foster system. And this baby was likely either dead or sold.
She looks over to her wife and tears prick at the back of her eyes, Selene…she saved this babe from more than those men and –
“Those men…Selene, you need to go speak with one of the officers immediately about the men you saw with the babe. Kylon, we need to make sure it is Nessa and not someone else’s missing child, can we run DNA, get in contact with the other families?”
Kylon nods and Serahlin hands him the now empty bottle covered in baby saliva.
The next several hours are slow but intense as Selene is interviewed multiple times, giving descriptions of the men as best she can, all the while watching the baby from the corner of her eye. At one point, Serahlin just puts the babe in her arms and that seems to calm her significantly.
The parents of the children begin to arrive – twenty families, and they all say the same thing.
“That isn’t our baby.”
With each family it becomes more and more evident that this is indeed little Nessa Tabris, lost and found and rescued by one of Ferelden’s most feared persons – an elven mage.
And elven mage who is making faces at a tiny baby who clutches at her chest as she slowly falls asleep. Serahlin’s heart clenches and something inside of her clicks at the sight. Attachment, adoration, desire.
Love.
She fiddles with the ring on her finger and begins to make her phone calls.
**
After twelve hours it is declared that little Nessa Tabris has been found and saved. Selene is hailed a hero and Nessa is officially an orphan and taken to the hospital for an examination. She wears a little ankle band with all her information, with ORPHAN in big bold letters where the names of her parents should be.
Serahlin and Selene both call out of work and spend as much time with Nessa as possible, fussing over her tests, clucking their tongues at her anemia and the disturbing news of a congenital heart defect.
A defect that isn’t emergent, so the government won’t pay for it.
This time Serahlin does give into her nausea and promptly vomits in a nearby restroom. That poor child, her poor parents, who were so poor they couldn’t get their daughter’s heart murmur fixed. So poor and elven that they ended up brutally murdered.
She makes another phone call, a bit more desperate and demanding this time.
She returns to Nessa’s room to find Selene curled up in a chair, holding Nessa close, rocking her and soothing her. Nessa reaches up and grabs ahold of a lock of Selene’s hair before smiling.
The world seems to stop as she smiles, fixing itself into place as it pauses to marvel at the baby.
Serahlin crosses the room and stands behind Selene, smiling down at Nessa.
They end up spending the night at the hospital, sleeping in one of the on-call rooms and waking up every so often to check on Nessa even though they can’t even hear her crying. Selene seems particularly wont to just stay awake and walk the halls to make sure that Nessa is fine – she has the heart defect after all.
The next day dawns early and bright and Serahlin feels vaguely gross and unfit to be seen, but then she hears it – the wails of a tiny child and a lot of medical beeping.
She quickly slips her heels off and jogs down the hall, her heart hammering with worry. What happened? What’s going on? Is Nessa alright? Did those men somehow find her? She arrives at the room just in time to see Selene pushed out of the way as doctors and nurses begin rolling Nessa’s bed down the hall, shouting and in a near panicked rush.
“We need to fix it now,” one of them shouts. Selene is rushing after them.
“I’m a healer! A mage, I can help, please let me help! I can do something!” She shouts.
“No, we have this, you need to stay back, ma’am.” One of the nurses says before jumping into the elevator with the rest of the doctors. The doors close as Selene reaches them.
“No, no, no, I could have done something, I could –
“Selene, Selene – stop! There was nothing you could do, Selene, look at me, look at me.” She grabs ahold of Selene only to jerk her hand back at the static suddenly shooting down her arm.
“AH!”
Selene’s eyes widen and she wraps arms around herself, shutting her eyes tight, trying to focus. Serahlin’s breathing is labored as she slumps against the wall, whimpering in pain as the magic shoots through her.
“You’re alright, Selene, I’m alright, Nessa is going to be fine. It’s a septal wall defect, she has a thin spot in her heart, they just need to take care of that – that is the best treatment, we know that.” Serahlin somehow grits out through the pain.
“No, no, no,” Selene babbles as she rushes over to Serahlin. Her jacket is removed and her arm thoroughly inspected as warmer, softer magic begins to settle into her skin. Serahlin sighs and slumps forward, wrapping her good arm around Selene before she can jump off and run.
Selene wavers, but Serahlin presses a kiss to her cheek and then ear, telling her that she isn’t mad at her. She isn’t upset. She understands, and it’s okay. Eventually Serahlin is able to lead Selene away into the on-call room where Selene promptly keeps herself as far away from Serahlin as possible.
It takes another hour for Selene to calm down enough for Serahlin to be able to wrap her in a tight hug. They’re going to get through this, they’re going to get through this.
Another hour passes and a doctor comes out to inform them that the procedure went well and that Nessa is going to be fine. Selene slumps against Serahlin, burying her face into Serahlin’s shoulder.
They can’t see Nessa, though, because they technically aren’t her parents and she is in a family only area.
Another hour passes and the lawyers arrive.
Selene’s eyes widen and she looks at Serahlin in bewilderment. Serahlin smiles and kisses her cheek.
“She’s our baby now, isn’t she? Let’s make her legally ours, so no one can take her away from us or tell us we can’t see her again.” Serahlin whispers and Selene nods emphatically before wrapping Serahlin in a tight hug.
“Thank you, ma belle, thank you.”
The process of adoption is not quick, even when all the case workers, social workers, and lawyers know Serahlin by this point, either personally or by reputation. Their home is inspected, declared suitable for the time being but they should look into upgrading as soon as they are able. Their financials are examined, their marriage documents and Dalish statuses are drudged up. Criminal records, finger printing – the works.
It takes two weeks of visiting the hospital, buying baby products to just show they really want this, taking crash courses to be approved, before a small dwarven woman knocks on their door.
Selene is cooking dinner while Serahlin is finishing an email when the sound echoes through the space. Serahlin stands and moves quickly to answer it, opening to find the small dwarven woman she had seen at the agency’s offices…with a baby carrier in her hands.
She smiles at Serahlin and hands her the baby carrier containing the most beautiful baby girl Serahlin has ever seen.
“The court crunched out a miracle for you. Congratulations, Serahlin and Selene Mercier, you have been granted temporary custody of Nessa Tabris. If after the month, there are no issues and you wish to continue to pursue full custody, it will most likely be awarded.” Serahlin’s eyes widen and she glances down at Nessa, with her great big turquoise eyes and copper brown curls.
“Oh.”
“Congratulations,” the woman repeats, handing her a diaper bag and points to several pouches, “all of my information is in there. Please call if you have any questions.”
The woman walks away, leaving Serahlin standing the doorframe with a tiny baby and as a new mother.
A mother.
Creators.
She shuts the door and sets the diaper bag down before walking into the kitchen where Selene is sautéing…something, Serahlin can’t remember.
“Darling…”
Selene turns around, “Wha – at?” She stares at the baby carrier and quickly wipes her hands on a towel before stepping quickly to the counter where Serahlin sets the carrier down.
“I would like you to meet our daughter, Nessa.” Serahlin whispers as Selene unfastens the straps and takes the baby into her arms. She slumps toward the child and presses a gentle kiss to her temple.
“Oh, Gods.”
Serahlin smiles as tears prick at the back of her eyes again, but this time from unrestrained joy. A family of their own, a daughter that her wife had saved from death or worse, and a hope so vibrant blooming her chest that she can’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.
Never has she ever seen something so beautiful, so perfect as Selene holding their daughter, cradling the infant’s head and smiling down at her.
“Hi, Nessa, I’m your Mamae. And that beautiful woman over there? She’s your Memae, that’s right – you have parents again, yes you do.”
Nessa coos and Serahlin lets out a small giggle – her beautiful daughter and her stunning wife. Life certainly is full of twists, isn’t it?
