In which a certain broken heart becomes whole again - though it does take a while.
Fandom: Check Please (webcomic)
Series: Part 3 of with a hand on our hearts
Y’all I finished it - the Hearts AU is complete and it only took hella years. I’m just glad it’s out there, and that I made it in time for Kent’s birthday haha
This will be the first and last time I work with code again ahahaha I hope the reading experience isn’t too bad!
It may also be the last time I post with this pseud, but so happy that I’ve been able to make stuff in this fandom!
dorym week, day one: "May I hold you as you fall to sleep? When the world is closing in and you can't breathe."
Orym couldn't sleep, but this was a normal occurrence at this point. After losing FCG and Dorian losing Cyrus, he was more on edge than ever.
He enjoyed taking first watch. There was something about falling asleep before everyone else that put him on edge. Perhaps it was the danger that may happen if he closes his eyes before everyone else, or the possible feeling of being watched and attacked without the means to defend himself.
"Orym?" Dorian's voice sounded from behind him, dragging him out of his head. He whipped around, a soft breath escaping when he saw Dorian. The genasi was wrapped in a blanket, his hair pulled back in a messy bun. "Your watch is up, you can go to bed now."
Orym shook his head. "Can't sleep," he mumbled, turning his back to Dorian. Orym cast his gaze out past the treeline, staring at a comet that streaked across the dark Exandrian sky.
He felt the presence of Dorian sit next to him, followed by the blanket being held by Dorian being wrapped around himself. Orym still kept his gaze to the sky.
"You can talk to me, you know," he said softly.
Dorian was right. Gods, he hated it when he was right sometimes. Finally caving, Orym leaned into his embrace.
"I missed you. I was worried about you," Orym said, listening to the steady beat of Dorian's heart.
"I missed you, too," Dorian replied. He ran his fingers idly through Orym's hair, his long nails gingerly scraping against his scalp.
The two sat in silence for a while, the faint sound of crickets floating in and out, the occasional hoot from an owl.
"Dorian?" Orym piped up, eyes still fixed to the light of Catha.
"Hm?" A gentle squeeze on the shoulder, letting him know he was being heard.
"Thank you."
Dorian blinked, confused. "For what?"
"For coming."
Dorian's face softened as he looked down at the halfling. "Why wouldn't I?" He replied.
Orym let out a soft sigh, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "I was worried that you wouldn't. You got hurt, or you lost the stone, or just... forgot," Orym said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dorian shook his head. "I would never." He held Orym a bit tighter, his heart sinking at the thought of Orym holding onto his Sending Stone, thinking that he wouldn't come.
The silence grew back once again. Dorian thought that Orym had fallen asleep and he was ready to scoop the halfling up and deposit him in his bedroll, until-
"I love you," Orym said suddenly.
Dorian's heart skipped a beat. "I- uh, what?" He managed to get that out, at least.
"I love you, Dorian," Orym repeated, his voice a little stronger.
"I... I love you too," Dorian replied softly, his head spinning.
A bit more silence. This was real, right? And not Dorian dreaming? Or maybe he was still asleep and he forgot to wake up for his watch.
"Dorian?" Orym's voice cut through the ambience of nature.
"Hm?"
"Can you tell me that it's ok to sleep?"
"Of course." Surprising Dorian, Orym clambered up into Dorian's lap, resting his head against his chest. "You're safe. Feel free to sleep."
"Thank you," Orym whispered, his eyes closing and drifting off to sleep.
dorym week, day 2: "Maybe tonight he'll wander into my dreams."
Dorian laid in his bedroll, pulling the threadbare blanket tightly around him. He made a mental note to get a new one soon. It wasn't doing much in terms of keeping him warm anymore.
He stared at the wide expanse of the Exandrian sky, counting the stars and watching as an owl flew overhead.
Fourteen stars made up the constellation of Sehanine's symbol. Eighteen stars made up the constellation of Pelor's symbol.
Eleven stars made up the constellation of Melora's symbol.
He laughed at himself softly, holding onto the Sending Stone that he asked Opal to fashion into a pendant. Just in case he calls, he had said. Gods, he was hoping for a call.
Dorian felt silly, staring into space with a feeling of affection swirling around him. Something about star-crossed lovers and the like.
A soft breeze swept past the camp and Dorian heard a grunt of disdain from Dariax, followed by a loud snore.
Orym would have laughed at that.
Dorian rolled over in frustration, burying his head into his pillow. He didn't expect to miss a friend this much. Was Orym even a friend at this point?
He just wanted to see his bright smile again. The joy that would light up his face, especially back in Byroden. The feeling of being safe and protected, knowing that Orym was strong and able to protect the party at any cost.
A feeling of anxiety passed over him. What if Orym was hurt? Or, gods forbid, dead? What if Orym had lost the Sending Stone or just forgot to send a message?
Dorian activated the Stone. "Hey Orym, I miss you. Hope you're doing well. Tell Fearne I say hi." He took a moment. "I really miss you."
As he released the Stone from his grip, he was met with loud, screeching feedback that tore through his ears and seared his brain in pain. Well, that bounce back confirmed that Orym wasn't ignoring him, at least.
Dorian sighed in frustration and rolled onto his back once more. He stared up back at the constellation of Melora, hoping for any reassurance from her about Orym.
"Wildmother, if you hear me..." Jeez, now he felt really silly. "I want to see Orym again. Let him wander into my dreams. I miss him. A lot."
At that soft prayer, Dorian drifted off into sleep.
Maybe it was the will of Melora, or he was making it up, but Orym did wander into his dreams last night. He saw Orym sitting watch over Bell's Hells, one hand on his blade and the other holding the Sending Stone. Dorian watched as Orym said something to the Stone, and flinch as he got a response of screeching feedback. Orym looked into the sky, up at Catha. Dorian barely heard Orym's voice as he asked Melora to let him know that Dorian is okay, to let him know that he's alright and he misses him.
Dorian woke up the next morning, the weight of anxiety and fear about Orym and the fate of Bell's Hells lifted from his shoulders.
BASIC plot ("plot"), dorian and cyrus r at dinner w orym and wills families and dorian has a crisis abt what he wants to be when he grows up LMAO
i wrote this in. idk 15mins. enjoy
dinner with orym's family and will's family was going well. until derrig asked,
"so, what do you want to do when you grow up?"
dorian hated that question. he froze, mid scoop of the stew that alma made earlier that day.
he cast his eyes towards cyrus, who shrugged. "follow what mother and father do. makes the most sense," he said.
"and you, dorian?" derrig said, turning to the younger wyvernwind.
"uh... i'm not sure yet," he replied softly. he stirred the stew, appetite suddenly gone.
"you still have time," alma said, smiling warmly at him.
dorian knew will, orym, and cyrus were chatting about what they were planning on doing, but the question bounced around in his head.
what do you want to do when you grow up?
~
as they cleaned up after dinner, alma gently pulled dorian's pant leg.
"want to help me wash dishes?" she asked softly.
dorian turned and watched as orym and will chatted happily, cleaning up the table. cyrus was moving dishes into the kitchen. he looked back at alma and nodded.
"are you feeling alright, dorian?" alma asked, hopping up onto the stepstool to reach the sink.
"oh, uh... yeah?" dorian was not the best at lying.
"you got very quiet after derrig mentioned growing up," alma said. she ran a plate under the stream of water and scrubbed at it with her towel. "if you don't know yet, thats okay."
dorian blinked and looked at the plate in his hands, giving a noncommittal shrug.
"i mean... is it bad if i don't know?" his voice was barely a whisper. he ran his rag over the ceramic, brushing in small circles.
"it's not bad at all, hon. you don't need everything figured out by thirty," alma replied. she held out a wet plate and dorian took it from her hands, wiping it dry and setting it down on the drying rack.
dorian nodded. "my brother has everything figured out and i... don't," he admitted. "i just feel like i should know a little bit about what i want to do."
"don't worry yourself, dorian. you don't need to grow up fast. take your time, enjoy it," alma reassured him, running a bowl under the stream of water.
dorian took in a deep breath and nodded, trying to hold back the growing lump in his throat, trying to hold back the burning sensation pressing against his eyes. he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. his shoulders began to shake as he held back tears.
"it's okay to cry, dorian," alma said softly, resting an arm around the genasi.
and dorian broke.
he leaned over the sink, letting the tears fall. alma kept the sink on, letting the water drown out his soft sobs.
"you're okay, dorian," alma whispered. "take your time."
i went a lil feral after the whole fearne and her daddy issues thing happened and dorian looking at gloamglut in the sky and how i kinda wished a dorym interaction went
uhh enjoy! 😃👍 this was all written during the break dont b mean pls
Dorian stared up at the dragon flying away as he felt a weight impact his leg. He stumbled, glancing down and seeing a familiar halfling grasping onto his thigh.
"Orym...?" Dorian said softly, a hand falling to the top of the mop of brown hair. Orym's shoulders rose and sank shakily, his hands gripping tighter with each breath.
Orym took in a big gasping breath and coughed out a response somewhere between a no and a sob. His nails dug into Dorian's skin, his body shaking with sobs.
"Hey, Orym, I'm here," Dorian said softly. "Can I pick you up?" He felt Orym's grip loosen, giving a non-verbal yes.
Dorian scooped the halfling up and Orym immediately hid in the crook of Dorian's neck. "I wanna go home," he said, his voice sounding so far away. Gods, he sounded so... broken.
"Hey, guys, we'll catch up in a bit!" Dorian called to the group. After a thumbs up from Ashton holding up Fearne, he turned away and started walking towards a different tent.
After a few minutes of walking, Orym's breathing had regulated and soft snores began to emit from him. Dorian's shoulders relaxed - were they always this tense? - and gently rubbed the halfling's back.
"I got you. It's okay."
The tent, somehow, was empty, spare for a few cots. This will do.
Dorian gently laid Orym on one of the cots, but the sudden shift must have alerted something to wake him up. At the sight of the genasi, he took in a sudden, shaking breath as more tears began to form in his eyes.
"Orym, Orym, it's okay," Dorian said softly, but gets cut off by the halfling launching himself into his chest and loud sobs erupting from his body.
For your no excuses fic thing: before the beginning
Mike joins the Army on a whim.
He tells himself later that it was no such thing, that it’d been a process well thought out before he signed his name (and therefore his life, should it come to that) to the dotted line. But it hadn’t been that at all, so much as impulse; that, or a way to take control of his own life before it got even more out of hand.
The Army was not his father’s plan. This was the long and short of it, really: for once, it was not his father’s decision. Mike left the recruiting office feeling like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders and it was ironic, considering the Army was a weight in and of itself, but a worthy one. One that he’d chosen to carry rather than one forced upon him: of course he should like to serve his country while he could.
Even so, he does not tell his father about his enlistment. He doesn’t say a word until the day before he leaves New York to report to basic training.
i have stuck myself down the fic-related pinterest hole for the day. (yes, i have pinterest boards that are related to stuff i’ve written or stuff that I am writing. because i am kind of dumb like that sometimes.)
so presently i am on a quest to write two million words before the end of this year. this is building off of my initial goal to write a million words, which I have since done.
perhaps if I’m lucky i’ll manage it by New Year’s Eve. this is what I am hoping for. pretty much anything counts, from rambling on about stuff to actual fic to headcanon snippets to poetry if the mood strikes.
given that i’m probably going to start working within the next few weeks this may be harder to accomplish than i’d like it to be, but anyway.
(i’m also going back through my own tumblr to find fic stuff that i might have reblogged to use for inspiration so maybe that’ll be what I spend my night doing. if I don’t screencap a game.)
