For @compaculaaa's wtfiys for the sparkling sibling au.
It has been a long time since they’ve done this, and ‘this’ being a family dinner. It has been a good 150 years since their family has been in the same place. 96 years since Archa 7 where Elita 1 was left behind to become the spiderformer known as Black Arachnia and claimed that she wanted nothing to do with her brothers who had seemly left her behind, 96 years since Optimus was expelled from Autobot Academy by his own sire when he took the fall for his older brother, Sentinel, 50 years since Optimus’ space bridge repair crew was attacked by Megatron leaving them trapped in stasis pods on an unknown planet, 3 years since Optimus’ team awoke on Earth, and a year since Ultra Magnus was attacked by the Decepticon spy Shockwave, who turned out to be Longarm Prime their old daycare teacher turned head of intelligence, and left in a coma for a year.
With Optimus’ return from Earth with a captured Megatron, Lugnut, Starscream’s dead body and the missing Autobot scientist Mesothulas. With everything that has happened to them and how badly the siblings’ relationship has deteriorated over these last few years none of the thought that this family dinner was going to end well. What they weren’t prepared for was Alpha Trion to bring out the family photo album and start telling them stories from when they were younger.
The Prime family dinner so far has been awkward to say the least to say the least so far. They had tried getting Uncle Maccadam to come, but Maccadam’s Old Oil House’s annual drinking contest ended up falling on the same the day that everyone else could agree on to meet, so he wouldn’t join them until much later. Ultra Magnus originally didn’t want to join them and leave it to just be a Carrier/Creation bonding day, as he was set to join the crew of the Lost Light captained by Rodimus Prime after stepping down from being the Magnus, but Alpha Trion had forced him into coming as he wouldn’t be on Cybertron for possibly years.
Finally Alpha Trion had enough of the awkwardness and practicality no one talking to each other. Alpha Trion pulled out a thick oldish looking book from his subspace and slammed it down on the table startling the other members of his family.
“Since nobody’s talking to each other, I think it’s time we go down a little trip down memory lane,” said Alpha Trion as he flipped through pages.
The siblings and their sire nervously looked at each other not knowing what the oldest member of their family was going to throw at them. Finally, he stopped at a page he liked and held up the book so his family could see. The picture was of Ultra Magnus up a five-year-old Sentinel so the shopkeeper of the store that they were in could see him. The shopkeeper was a tall lanky bot who looked a little like Shockwave with their clawed servos and singular yellow optic surrounded by black nothingness. The shopkeeper held up a pointed digit up towards Sentinel with a tired expression while Sentinel gave them a look that could only be read as ‘get the pit out of my face’.
“Darling, you remember this don’t you?” asked Alpha Trion.
Ultra Magnus’ face was filled with displeasure and disappointment looking at the shopkeeper in the photo. Black Arachnia and Optimus found it in themselves to snicker at sparkling Sentinel’s face while grown up Sentinel sat in between them presently. Ultra Magnus gave a sigh before saying that he does.
“I hardly doubt that any of you kids would remember this, but this was when Optimus had that weird obsession with trains and clocks, and wanted a clock that was also a train, I had just wanted to buy a cheap plastic toy train and the glue a small pocket watch on it, but your sire was having none of that and insisted on getting a costume one made,” said Alpha Trion before pausing the story to take a sip of his drink.
“After the war there weren’t many places selling physical clocks that weren’t apart of kitchen appliances, because every bot switched over to using their internal chronometer, so your sire ended up searching all over the planet looking for someone to make this clock, and the only bot who makes costume clocks anymore turned out to be Whirl, who was apart of the last platoon he taught when he was just a drill sergeant,” said Alpha Trion laughing lightly.
That would explain their sire’s sour mode when he saw Whirl in the image. They’ve all heard stories of how all their sire’s Autobot bootcamp students going on to be great and decorated war heroes. So, one having end up as a simple shopkeeper selling and making clocks would be like one of them becoming a dock worker and not going into the military or in a science field.
Optimus felt embarrassed to have his childhood obsession with trains and clocks, of all things, brought up again after having long grown out of it. At least Sari and Bumblebee weren’t there to hear that, because knowing them they would mercilessly bully him for it, albeit playful bullying. Both Sentinel and Black Arachnia gave the faintest of ghost smiles upon being reminded of Optimus’ childhood obsession.
Alpha Trion started flipping back through the book before finding another photo he liked. Once again, he held the book up high for everyone to see.
The photo was another of Sentinel when he was younger, this time he was a youngling instead of a sparkling. He was sitting on the floor, arms crossed and pouting, looking clearly beaten up. Standing beside him was their sire looking disappointed in his son. Next to them was another beaten up kid and their parent. The other kid although was of a smaller frame build, but their armor looked much thicker than Sentinel’s, with a purple, black and yellow paint job and bug like features, and on top of that the kid looked clearly proud of themself. The parent was another tall lanky bot whose most notable feature was that two of their wheels were encased in metal skeleton wings with two arch shaped metal pieces below each of the wings, they had orange coloured optics, which was rare for an Autobot, and the thing holding the look together was their rust red and sliver colour scheme. The winged bot as though they were barely keeping themselves from laughing.
Sentinel’s face flushed upon seeing the picture as he stood up. It looked like Sentinel remembered clearly what led up to that picture being taken.
“Don’t you dare tell them about that!” Sentinel yelled while pointing at their carrier.
While making no attempt to hide the fact that she was laughing, Black Arachnia grabbed ahold of one of Sentinel’s arms. Optimus followed his sister’s lead and grabbed ahold of Sentinel’s other arm. Both of them pulled Sentinel back into his seat while shaking him slightly.
“Come Senty, let carrier tell us the story,” said Black Arachnia in a sing song voice.
“Plus, it had happened a long time ago,” added Optimus.
Sentinel made a face of disgust at them before snaring.
“Well it isn’t your embarrassment being outed,” replied Sentinel.
“Sentinel, it’s in the family album it’s meant to be something to look back and laugh at,” said Black Arachnia in a matter-of-fact tone.
Sentinel crossed his arms and slumped down into his chair. Optimus thought that it made Sentinel look just like he did in the picture, which made Optimus laugh.
“The story behind this, was that Sentinel had gotten into a fight with the kid next to him. Sentinel thought it was a fight he could easily win, but the kid he was fighting with easily beat him,” said Alpha Trion looking fondly on the memory.
“Your sire wasn’t even mad that he got into the fight, but that he lost it, your sire was even more upset with the fact that the kid’s carrier found the whole thing hilarious and said, ‘at least you didn’t lose’ to their kid,” said Alpha Trion.
Black Arachnia and Optimus couldn’t keep it back and burst out laughing. Sentinel glared at his siblings but that made them laugh even harder than before.
“Hot damn, they look fine though,” commented Black Arachnia.
Black Arachnia’s comment made Ultra Magnus spit his drink and for Optimus to stop laughing. Sentinel audibly ew’d at his sister’s comment.
“I’m sorry?” asked Ultra Magnus, still in shock.
“I said what I said that kid’s carrier is fine,” replied Black Arachnia.
“Elita you can’t say that about people you don’t know,” said Alpha Trion.
Black Arachnia let out a low growl at being called Elita. She scoffed and rolled her optics’ at her carrier’s comment.
“Relax carrier, I do know them, they’re the one who introduced me to Sliverbolt in the first place,” said Black Arachnia.
For everyone other than Alpha Trion and Black Arachnia this was their first-time hearing about this Sliverbolt bot. Ultra Magnus had the worst-case scenario pop up in his mind. Was his baby girl courting someone without him knowing? Ultra Magnus shook that thought from his head, there was no way his daughter got into something that serious without telling any of them.
“Who’s Sliverbolt?” Optimus asked.
“Oh, he’s just a friend, Acidbrust introduced to me at a science conference when he was helping them move some things that they needed for their presentation,” said Black Arachnia a little too quickly and while rubbing the back of her head with her servo.
Black Arachnia’s older brothers and sire looked at her speciously, already not trusting this Sliverbolt bot.
“And how do you know Acidburst?” asked Ultra Magnus.
“Oh, I met them after my accident in one of Fortress Maximus’ many labs, they were originally assigned to my case but managed to convince Perceptor to let them transfer back to the project they were working before mine,” said Black Arachnia more casually than when she was talking about Sliverbolt.
Ultra Magnus let the relief wash over him. ‘Good, so this Sliverbot bot is just a lab assistant that she met, nothing to worry about,’ thought Ultra Magnus. Unlike their sire Sentinel and Optimus couldn’t care less if their sister was courting someone or not, it was none of their business and her decision. They would only get involved in their sister’s love life if the guy she happened to be an afthole.
During the time that Ultra Magnus, Sentinel and Optimus took to question Black Arachnia, Alpha Trion flipped through the photo album again looking for another picture he liked. Finally, he found one, slamming his servos down on the table to get everyone’s attention. Once again, he held the book up for everyone to see the image clearly.
The photo was of a Black Arachnia when she was Elita 1 as a young child. Elita appeared not to be happy whatsoever. Laying around her were some of her childhood dolls, and next to her was another youngling who appeared to be holding one of Elita’s dolls and giving Elita a questioning look. The youngling was a femme of a larger build, she also had the same colour scheme as the kid that Sentinel had gotten into a fight with only with slight barely noticeable alterations, on top of her helm was two large grey horns and a red visor covering her optics. All of this gave the youngling Decepticon look.
“As all of you know Elita used to be a bit of a brat when she was younger,” started Alpha Trion, “this was when we decided that you kids needed some friends who weren’t also children of high council members, even though I don’t think that you even got along with most of them.”
Sentinel, Optimus and Black Arachnia remembered their creators painful attempt at getting them to try to make more friends. All the younglings that they tried to get Black Arachnia to befriend all liked to rough house and run around screaming when she didn’t, the kids Optimus was forced to be friends with were way too into horror and gore to be healthy for younglings their age when he couldn’t stand that kind of things at all, and Sentinel could not get along with anyone outside of council kids at all back then. It was a disaster to say the least.
“Elita couldn’t stand the kids we set up playdates with, especially Shrapnel here, because according to Elita she was ‘too wild’, which is funny to look back on when you realize that Shrapnel is also Acidburst’s creation along with the kid, Bombshell, in the picture with Sentinel I just showed you,” said Alpha Trion while smiling.
Now that was kind of funny knowing that Black Arachnia was friends with Acidburst themself and with someone they introduced to her. Black Arachnia had changed quite a lot since childhood especially when her accident happened, so it made sense that she was able to get along with bots that before she normally wouldn’t have gotten along with. Sentinel made a mental note to look up Bombshell’s name in the Autobot database to see what he had been up since their last meeting. Optimus also wondered what they were up nowadays, so he also made a mental note to look up each of Acidburst’s creations on the database.
Black Arachnia cringed thinking about her past behaviour, it was just too embarrassing to be something that she would do now with her disfigurements. She also felt even more embarrassed because her creators were cooing over how cute she used to be as a sparkling and her brothers laughing slightly at it.
” Well, since you told us about our childhood, how about you tell us about yours?” asked Black Arachnia, “it only seems fair.”
Alpha Trion laughed at his child’s comment. Ultra Magnus was worried about this because he knew, judging off the stories he was told by Alpha Trion and Maccadam, that his conjunx and his siblings were menaces to society when they were younger.
“Of course, my child, because unlike some bots I am not ashamed of my childhood misadventures,” said Alpha Trion.
Alpha Trion flipped to the front of the book where the pages had yellowed, and the edges of the paper were heavily damaged. That section of the book was very thin, making everyone else realize that because this was so long-ago Alpha Trion probably didn’t have that many photos of his siblings that survived the years. After a shot time Alpha Trion, found a photo that he liked. Alpha Trion looked sadly at the photo before holding it up for the rest of the family to see.
The photo displayed a youngling of about 13 vorns old, with a dark almost purple blue and black paintjob, a crown like headpiece and a flowing purple cape with stars all over it, but the thing that caught everyone’s attention was the fact that the youngling’s face was obscured was a blinding that travelled down to their chasis, sitting down in front of a fountain. Behind the youngling and fountain in the sky, clear as day was two older younglings sword frighting each other. The two younglings were being lifted into the sky by the thrusters in their pedes, they were quite obviously flyers. The one on the left had a white and magenta paintjob with gold highlights, with rather untraditional wings making it obvious that they weren’t a seeker or any kind of jet. The one on the right had a primarily red paintjob with some white here and there and some purple on their helm, without a doubt the figure in the picture was Alpha Trion when he was a youngling.
“You’re a flyer!” yelled Sentinel in shock.
Black Arachnia froze when she realized this, now that she thought about it, she had never saw her carrier transform for all she knew her carrier could have been forged a monoformer. Suddenly a lot of things made sense for Optimus now knowing the information that his carrier is a flyer. Like how he was able to master flying around with his jetpack on Earth so quickly despite never having flown like that before and why Slipstream had thought that he was Starscream. Sentinel did not like flyers at all, mostly because it seemed like all of them were Decepticons, but he did like the jettwins because the council had complete control over them, so the information that his own carrier was a flyer it him the hardest. Ultra Magnus had known about Alpha Trion’s altmode since they started courting and will forever be guilty about the fact that he made it practically illegal to be a flyer or have an altmode that was warframe aligned on Cybertron, even though Alpha Trion was the one who suggested the law as a way to end the war.
“This was when one of my brothers, Vector, and I had gotten into a fight over something I had long forgotten about and we ended photobombing a picture our carrier was trying to take of our youngest sibling, Orionus, in front of a fountain in the newly founded Metroplex, unseen in this image is Beta laughing like a manic as she climbed a building to try and join our fight while our oldest sibling, Prima, tried to break up our fight,” said Alpha Trion while laughing remembering his siblings and his antics when they were younger.
Everyone took some time to fully process that story. Getting into a fight with one of your siblings and accidentally photobombing their carrier as they tried to take a picture of one of their other siblings seemed like that Sentinel, Optimus and Black Arachnia would do. Ultra Magnus looked like he was glad that his conjunx was no longer like that and has since grown into the role of wise old mentor.
“Who’s Beta?” asked Optimus, “they aren’t in our family tree.”
Alpha Trion’s optics went wide at the question before realizing he was the one who brought up Beta in the first place, before a sad look came across his face. Ultra Magnus looked concerned for his conjunx, he knew that Beta was a sour topic for Alpha Trion. Alpha Trion had only mention Beta a servo full of times, he could count the number of times Alpha Trion mentioned Beta to him on one servo, but from what he knew, Beta was a freedom fighter in the early days of a war long forgotten to modern day historians and later a general in the Destrons army, the combined forces of the Autobots and Decepticons’ military back when they were a single faction.
“Beta was my only conjunx before bonding with your sire, she died long before the Autobot/Decepticon war had begun, the only reason why she wasn’t in any of the family trees was because back then we only added conjunxs to the tree after they had a creation with the family member they were bonded, and well, Beta and I never had any creations during the time we were bonded for,” said Alpha Trion sadly.
This was the most information that Ultra Magnus had ever heard about Beta. He always suspected that Alpha Trion had been involved before, but the elder bot had never told him about any of his past lovers, and he had no interest in finding out about them. The siblings also became sad upon learning about their carrier’s dead conjunx, everyone knew that losing a bondmate was one of the most painful things that could happen to someone not only because they were losing someone, they loved but because they were also losing apart of their spark as well.
Before they could become even more depressed by this information the dinning room door suddenly slammed open. Everyone immediately turned their heads to who had opened the door. Standing in the doorway was Uncle Maccadam and an unknown bot with a white and sliver paintjob who looked like in another life they could have been a flyer but appeared to have a sports car altmode.
“Hopefully, I’m not too late,” said Uncle Maccadam, “also I found this one pacing around outside, he said that he had wanted to talk to Black Arachnia.”
Black Arachnia looked surprised to see the sliver bot there before blushing and turning her face away from him. Ultra Magnus saw this and did not like the picture that was forming in his head.
“Hi,” said the newcomer while waving, “the name’s Sliverbolt.”
The boys and their sire were surprised to hear that this was Sliverbolt because he did not look like a lab assistant, especially one that would be in a biology lab. That was when they noticed his Autobot insignia was that of the Elite guard but there was a thin line of red surrounding it signalling him to be a member of the Autobot Airforce. That was when it hit Ultra Magnus on who Sliverbolt was, he was the youngest Airforce captain, even though when he was just a pilot, he wasn’t named the youngest pilot because that title belonged to a monoformer by the name of Nyx and was the commander of a small team known as the Airealbots despite having a fear of heights. At least he was someone that he could keep tabs on and not some random shopkeeper, but that still doesn’t mean he trusts Sliverbolt’s intentions with his daughter.
Sentinel looked grumpy to find out that Sliverbolt was a member of the airforce but Optimus was just glad to meet someone who was able to make his sister happy after her accident. Sliverbolt looked nervous to see all of Black Arachnia’s family there, he obviously wasn’t expecting a family dinner to be going. Alpha Trion waved at them to join them at the table. It took everything in Ultra Magnus to not turn the family dinner into an interrogation by questioning Sliverbolt about his relationship with Black Arachnia.
The rest of the afternoon went by smoothly. Even though Ultra Magnus and Sentinel were staring daggers at Sliverbolt and Uncle Maccadam annoying the ever-living spark out of Alpha Trion. They spent the afternoon playing boardgames and going over more photos from the photo album with Sliverbolt sharing a few stories about his team which made Optimus respond with stories of his own team. All in all this afternoon made them realize that there was still hope for their family despite all the tragedy their family faced in recent years.
Here are three WIPs, each from Far Cry The Silver Chronicles, A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore and Life, Despair & Monsters. Read below the cut.
TW: Harsh and heavy cursing, mentioned/implied character and general death of NPCs (either it be a time loop or a cybernetic homicidal monster around nine or ten feet tall and very pissed off). Implied mentioned sexual content, mentions of abuse and fantastical racism (against ghouls, Jericho leave Gob alone!). Mentioned prostitution and fantasies of murder (illegal but understandable).
First WIP is for the time loop/"Groundhog Day" FC5 AU fic called You're Almost Like Family where the Seeds are stuck in a, well, time loop. And whenever Silva (or the Seeds themselves) die, well, the days are reset. Funniest part is, none of the Seeds know that they are all in a loop, just their individual selves. Snippet below:
[John] slammed the entrance to his chalet shut, causing the blonde figure sorting his papers in his lounge to jump. The documents slipped out of her hands as she stood up with a hand to a holster, only to calm down when she realized it was him.
Noticing that the reports laid scattered on the floor, Nadi gave him a stink eye, gesturing to the papers.
John would have been apologetic if he simply didn't have time for this. Ironic given the predicament he was stuck in.
Sooner or later, the Deputy is going to end up dead, and he'll be back at square one... again.
The thought reignited his frustration, but he reigned in enough to examine his number two.
Nadi was a loyal member of the project, more faithful than Jacob's hound, and while they did butt heads sometimes, he was grateful for her presence and for her strategic input. Admittedly, John knew that without her, the Deputy would have gotten to him sooner rather than later.
I would have preferred not to have to had died to appreciate it.
"Once you finish with those, come meet me upstairs in my bedroom. There's something I need to discuss with you," John ordered smoothly, making his way to the stairs.
He didn't notice the confusion etched on the blonde's face, for John was already making his way up the stairs to his room.
It's times like these I wish I could have a shot of tequila, he thought to himself, walking over to the open bedroom window and closing it shut, pulling the lock down.
Next, he grabbed a torch light and shined it at the closet. Hearing nothing, he walked towards it and opened the doors. Empty.
Finally, John turned off his torch, knelt down, and swiftly rolled it harshly under the bed. Hearing no grunts, he looked under.
She's not under there... good.
John exhaled a huff of air, and sat on the edge of his bed as he put his hands over his face.
It was exhausting. Though John knew by the end of today, or the next two if he was lucky, the Deputy would be killed by something or another and he would be back at square one, he really needed to figure out how to reach out to her, without being shot.
Going to her too early leaves her shooting first and questioning the morality of it never, and trying to go to her late only ends up with her being killed by whoever it is she seems to have evoked the wrath of. Not that he thinks she doesn't entirely deserve it.
He needed guidance, and from his last conversation with Joseph, his brother seemed content with sitting by and letting God do his work.
And he tried. To wait it out. To let God do His work. But if the sign that John seemed to be getting was that leaving the Deputy to her own accord only leads to her death, and back to the morning of Joseph's arrest.
And it wasn't like Jacob, or worse, Faith, were going to be helpful.
John had figured out quickly that his intervention was needed for the Deputy to even get through another day. And while the Father may not have understood what he told him, John deduced that this was a test from God.
A test against his sloth. A test towards his patience. A test meant to prove that John was worthy of entering Eden. And what better way than to save the life and soul of another? Especially one as sinful and wrathful as the Deputy?
Which is why he waits for the only other faithful member of the project, his trustworthy second-in-command.
A knock on the door shifted his thoughts to the matter at hand, and he made his way to the door.
Opening it, Nadi stood there, the blond looking at him with expecting brown eyes.
John pulled her inside, earning a yelp from the young woman, and closed the door behind her.
Here's a WIP for a collection of short fics from different character perspectives throughout my Fallout fic series A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore. It is still under heavy editing, but I've got a good grasp on where to take it. Snippet below:
In the five of the twenty four hours she's been awake, Nova had expected more-or-less the same day as before.
Walking around and offering her body to anyone who came into the saloon had not been a life she pictured for herself as a little girl, but it was one that paid well.
Well, it would have been if Moriarty didn't continue to take a cut of her and Gob's pay any time a customer gave them a generous donation.
That and the amount of times Moriarty had utilized her services with no intention of paying her, but she supposed it was a better alternative to being kicked out of Megaton. Given Moriarty still had that power.
She drew in the smoke from her cigarette, and surveyed from her post as Gob gave another orange bottle of whiskey to Jericho, the ex-raider sneering at the ghoul, his disgust evident all over his face.
Thankfully he didn't make a scene, slamming the small bag of caps on the counter as he left through the door.
Gob stared at the bag, string noose tied tightly around the bag, not immediately grabbing it. Nova could take a guess that Gob was lamenting over the debts that he owed Moriarty. Debts both the prostitute and the ghoul bartender wordlessly knew their boss was unlikely to pay.
Gob snapped out of it though, giving a miserable sigh, and dragging the bag away from the counter for Moriarty to pocket later, turning his attention to the damn radio that never seemed to play at the right time.
It pained Nova to see Gob like this. He was a real sweetheart with shitty luck, and she knew that the only upsides in his life were the hope of one day paying off his debts, however unlikely that was, and the Gravity News Radio host screaming out "fighting the good fight", whatever that entailed.
She was also painfully well aware of his crush on her.
Though she never had minded his appearance to the point she'd hang out with him in public, given how much she knows the ghoul is actually a decent guy, she had her limits, which was rare given her current standing under Moriarty.
She hoped he could find some semblance of happiness, whether that be with a person or a life long after Moriarty was rotting in the ground. But it wouldn't be with her.
If things were different though...
Nova looked away from Gob, shaking the thought away. It didn't matter on the what ifs, right now she had a job to perform.
She could ponder a different time.
Just as Gob began to smack the radio, a risky action given Moriarty's repeated threats on treating his property harshly, the saloon door creaked open, and Nova spotted two teens enter. One male, the other female. Both wearing what appeared to be blue jumpsuits with the numbers "101" imprinted in yellow on their backs.
Nova eyed them both. The young man was of average build, short auburn hair cut neatly with a few strands springing out from the harshness of the wasteland most likely, and light brown eyes on the lookout for anyone and anything.
The young woman on the other hand had dark hair tied in a pony tail, was a little chubbier than her counterpart, and her hazel eyes were more focused, trying to narrow down a specific person.
They glanced back to the door, whispering amongst themselves, though not too quiet that she couldn't catch their words.
Amongst the harsh gravel Gob spat out at the poor radio, and the chatter amongst the patrons, Nova could decipher the words "here" "back outside" and "think she'll stay?" in hushed voices.
And finally Jennifer putting murder on her mind to the back burner as she remembers to drop, duck and cover my WIP of Sonya's Push. Snippet below:
Breathing heavily as she pushed her way through the audience as they gazed upon the newest arena fight between beasties, the bruises formed from her fight with Malvolio's bitch protesting against her movements.
The blonde looked back to the closed elevator door on the other side, paranoid that Malvolio's Beastie would burst through at any moment.
The speed of it had been abnormal, disappearing in a blink and being nothing more than a flicker of movement when it had slid down to the hall. The movement of its tail daggers swift and deadly, like her own claws. The red in its one eye, more robotic than flesh.
Why had Dicko approved such a thing? It barely counted as a beastie with the mass of metal it was made of! Jennifer huffed, and around the arena, looking pass the patrons in search of Dicko.
Her blue eyes spotted the Englishman on a lower circle, himself seated down on his VIP sofa that she once shared with him, disheveled but celebrating his escape with a glass of disgusting champagne, like the pig hadn't just left her to die to that one-eyed mech of a beast. As if the reason it was free in the first place wasn't because he allowed his creep of a "buddy" onto his premises, or the fact Sir Enigma might be a fucking alien in addition to a Darwinist with no care for the fact "handing control" did not mean "releasing the Beastie from its brainwashing bullshit".
She felt the razor claws pushing through her fingertips as she glared at the man from across the arena, anger and betrayal clouding her mind.
Those fantasies of killing him while in his bed resurfaced, and she oh so wanted to enact them now, with the sofa as an acceptable exception.
She wanted to get her claws through his throat before the Beastie could make its way down to the arena. She tried to move pass the cheering audience, making her way around to the other side to get to the stairs.
However much she tried though, a block of people just refused to move aside, and she was tempted to slice her way through if it weren't for the guards.
Ding!
...Or the faint noise of the elevator door that echoed throughout the arena, deaf to everyone but her.
Frozen in place as she looked back, trying to get a glimpse of the beast that would no doubt tear them apart.
She pushed people aside to get a solid look. Enough people disbanded to show the doors opening to reveal the empty box of the elevator.
Jennifer's face scrunched in confusion, mouth gaping open and shut, lips stinging as the cut on her upper lip made contact with her bottom one. She desperately searched for any sign of the beast, the monster made of steel, the relentless creature that stalked and hunted her not moments ago.
Upon still seeing nothing, she let out a mirthless laugh as she turned her back to the elevator, shaking her head as she focused her attention on Dicko once more, the man a ring below talking with one of his guards.
It was with this focus that she noticed a... shift on the stone barriers that kept the audience at bay.
Large spots on the stone cracked, small dusts of powder dropping down as an unseen pressure was placed on the stone. She saw more of this dust from the next ring up, and then the next, and the next.
Up and up and further up until it stopped at the final ring. Then dust slowly dropped down from the roof, unbeknownst to the audience too invested on the violence happening between the two wild beasties below them. Not that the fight between those Beasties were anything special unlike what she saw from her hunter mere hours ago.
Jennifer felt some familiarity with this, words exchanged to her by the madman who released the Apex from its prison, a far too fond explanation on how the creature could "rush so fast it would be merely a flicker to the human eye!"
"...Or match its environment to disappear right before you," Malvolio explained, grinning at her with all his teeth.
Jennifer's eyes widened as she barely registered the outline of the beast that had adjusted its steel to uncloak itself while hanging from dark and dank ceiling. Red optic looking down to the cheers in the rings and the Beasties fighting under it.
She saw the tail split in three, and immediately followed her gut by making distance from the open space of the barriers.
She had just dropped flat onto the floor to curl up and cover her head when the she heard the wind and patron's necks crack in one simultaneous whoosh.
tw: cursing; mentions of blood; crying; mentions of death; internalized homophobia; mentioned infidelity
15 years old…
Soni shut the door behind her and hugged her knees, ignoring the confused cries of her best friend.
She knew it wasn’t normal. She wasn’t normal.
Out of all the people to make her realize that, it had to be the person that she trusted the most.
She could hear Lareia banging on her door, concern in her voice.
Eventually, she left and Soni calmed down a bit.
Soni might have broken the most important bond she had by fighting Lareia over her new boyfriend, but it was all for the best.
Months ago, she had caught herself staring at Lareia as she talked animatedly about a book in the library she found.
She dismissed it as normal, but she couldn’t seem to stop.
Soni started to notice the small things that Lareia did. At first, she thought it was a normal thing between best friends, but she memorized the way she did things.
Like, Lareia never ate the stalks of leaves; picked the stems off lushberries; her music taste always depended on her mood; she had albums of human bands; when she was nervous, she either twirled her hair or fiddled with her hands; and so on.
Suddenly, Soni realized she had a crush on Lareia. She hated how she couldn’t pinpoint the exact time she fell for her best friend, but she knew she had to kill the crush fast before Lareia could catch on.
Unfortunately, losing Lareia was harder than she thought because Lareia was the type of person to cling to strong relationships.
Soni found it both annoying and endearing at the same time.
She stayed like that until her mother knocked on the door and called her for dinner.
The next day, Soni walked Foxfire’s halls with her head down. Lareia hadn’t contacted her ever since the incident.
Although that was her original intent, it still hurt.
Thank the stars that they would be rooming separately when they moved to the Elite Towers.
Uncomfortable tension with her roommate would complicate her life.
After all, how would they figure out the groceries?
Just then, she caught sight of Lareia laughing with a guy she didn't know. Either she was attempting to replace her or she had a new boyfriend.
He had his arm around her shoulder and that made hatred and jealousy bubble up inside her.
They always used to laugh at things like that.
Soni, you're being ridiculous. That's exactly what you wanted. If you wanted it to stay like that, you shouldn't have fought her.
She hated how much that scolding from her brain made sense.
Rather than confronting her feelings, she turned on her heel and went in the opposite direction of her next class.
Starsdamn the fact that she could be late. She could always lie to her Psionopathy Mentor about a mix-up, right?
Wrong. It turned out that her mentor knew she was about to be late because she was prowling the halls.
When her mentor, Lady Xita Ethiopia, found her, Soni was sitting on the toilet cover, hugging her knees and sniffling.
Lady Xita automatically hugged Soni and tried to calm her down.
Once she had, her Mentor brought her into their classroom for their lesson and a talk.
"It's nothing. I'm sorry we have to start our session like this."
"Nonsense. You can't expect to perform clearly if you don't have clear emotions or a clear mind. Cry as long as you want; our extra classes outside of Foxfire will take a bit longer, but express your emotions. I don't mind."
Soni nodded and Lady Xita gave her a well-needed side hug. Soni continued to sniffle for 20 minutes, but she leaned into the hug.
"I messed up. I messed up and I don't think it can ever be fixed."
"What do you mean by that?"
She wondered if it was worth telling Lady Xita her secret, but she wondered if she'd accept her.
She'd lose a parental figure in her life, but she’d be forced to have Ability Sessions and that would make their future sessions awkward.
At least she was sure that she wouldn't tell anyone, so she took a leap of faith and asked, "Do you promise not to run screaming in the other direction?"
"If it stays within the boundary of murder, then, yes."
Soni took her time to reply, but she managed to choke out that she liked girls.
Lady Xita stared at her for a while and blinked.
She laughed.
"Oh, aren't you a precious thing! My dear, I'm so sorry for laughing, but have you ever seen my mentor's introduction?"
"Nope. I just thought that mentors were just for ability training."
That resulted in another laugh.
"Darling, mentors aren't just for that. It's not officially written down, but ability mentors are supposed to act as another parent to a child. Some don't follow that guideline, but it comes up in training courses."
"No offense, but I don't see how that's relevant."
"I was getting there. Did you know that humans have a name for what we-"
"Wait, did you say 'we?'"
"I did. You see, if you read my introduction, you’d see that I am what they'd say transfem or transgender. It means I was born a male, but I transitioned to a female."
"But you look, sound, and act like a female."
This resulted in a chuckle.
"Then I've blended in well. My dear, there's nothing to be ashamed about. Now, back to my original question, what did you mess up?"
In the first hour of their session, Soni poured her heart out while practicing new and old techniques.
Lady Xita listened intently and gave her suggestions. By the time they'd ended, both had sweated a good deal and Soni was happier.
She walked out feeling light, but she felt weighed down when she saw Lareia and the same guy from earlier.
Soni turned away and speed-walked to her locker. Just because it was necessary didn't mean that she had to like or watch it.
4 months later / 16 years old…
The guy's name was Marcellus and he was Lareia's new boyfriend.
Soni found that out through a mutual friend.
She and Lareia had somewhat made up, but they weren't on speaking terms.
Soni had lied (heart in her throat) that she was mad about Lareia not talking to her.
Lareia accepted her apology, though there was something weird with her voice.
Whatever. It wasn't like they could fix what they had.
Besides, she had more important things to attend to.
Lady Xita had invited her to some parade in the Forbidden Cities.
She had sprung it on her when she was feeling down during a session.
Lady Xita was taking her with her and her (trans) husband, Oliver.
Soni had met him multiple times and found him cool.
Well, as cool as an adult could get. They had no kids, but they'd practically adopted her as theirs.
Unfortunately, Oliver was laying it thick on dad jokes. As for Xita, she got way too overprotective sometimes.
She still, in some way, loved her bio parents, but they were away a lot, so she ended up feeling a bit desolate most of the time.
Her parents didn't seem to mind her staying over with the Ethiopias since they were reliable people.
She still hadn't come out to them, but it hurt whenever they casually brought up Winnowing Galas and husbands over dinner.
Soni just wanted to burst out her secret, but she always hesitated.
Stop thinking of negative things. Today's supposed to be a day to celebrate who you are.
Soni shook her head and finished putting on the final touches of a rainbow on her cheeks and looked at her outfit happily.
She wore jeans, a belt, and a white button-up with the collar open and her sleeves cuffed. She'd sewn rainbow patches to both pockets of her jeans and her sleeves.
Soni wasn't expecting anyone, but the doorbell rang.
She shrugged and went downstairs to open the door.
Standing on the other side of it was, surprisingly, Lareia.
Despite herself, Soni could feel the butterflies she'd tried so hard to kill resurrect.
Lareia was wearing a simple tunic and leggings, but she still looked good in them.
"Um, why are you here?" Soni let the words slip out before realizing that they sounded rude.
Before she could correct herself, Lareia blurted out, "Look, I'm sorry for misinterpreting your original intent. Can we be friends again?"
Soni stared at her.
"Why the sudden interest?"
"Because I miss my best friend. I don't love my boyfriend and I just want what we had before everything happened. It'd sound toxic, but can I have a second chance?"
Soni processed her outburst and spoke slowly.
"I'll… think about it. I'm sorry if you wanted a direct answer, but I'm a bit busy. I'll call you when I've made up my mind."
Lareia sighed and nodded.
"I didn't expect anything better. I'll go back home. Have fun, I guess."
She pulled her home crystal out of her pocket and faded out of sight.
Soni stood there, dumbfoundedly staring at the spot Lareia stood. She was only shaken out of her stupor when her Imparter buzzed.
4 months later…
"Leave the room before your disease spreads."
Her father looked down at her with a cold stare.
Soni had done it. She'd outed herself two nights ago only to find out that her parents were major homophobes.
Her mother was sobbing on and off about having no grandkids or a son-in-law while her father had been yelling at her every opportunity he got.
"After all we've done for you and you repay us by being a-" he called her a slur and that was when she finally lost it.
She didn't slap him, but she threw her family crest to the floor where it shattered.
"That's it! ALL YOU'VE EVER DONE FOR ME IS WATCH ME EAT AS YOU DISCUSS MY FUTURE WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION FOR ME! IF YOU REALLY CARED FOR ME, YOU COULD'VE STAYED HOME FOR ME! BUT NOOOO! IT WAS ALWAYS 'SONI, THIS JOB IS IMPORTANT,' OR 'SONI, DON'T CRY. YOU'RE TOO PRETTY TO.' GIVE ME ONE EXAMPLE OF YOU TRYING TO KNOW ME. "
Her father attempted to get words out, but he slapped her.
"Don't talk back to me! Your mother and I didn't raise you to be like this! Only those raised by Bad Matches end up like that."
Soni fiercely glared back.
"You're right. You didn't raise me like that, but you know what? THAT'S BECAUSE YOU NEVER RAISED ME! YOU ALWAYS LEFT ME TO THE GNOMES! IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE A GOOD FATHER, YOU COULD'VE SHOWN UP OCCASIONALLY! THE ONLY TIMES I SAW YOU FOR LONGER THAN AN HOUR WERE WHEN I WAS A FEW DAYS OLD AND MY INCEPTION DATES."
"Your mother was there the entire time. Stop pinning the blame on me." he was visibly starting to lose his temper.
"Maybe I should stop. BUT YOU DON'T DESERVE IT! MOM WAS FINE. SHE ACTUALLY TRIED TO CARE FOR ME WHEN SHE WASN'T OUT WITH HER FRIENDS. BUT YOU? YOU SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ME! ALL I WANTED WAS TO MAKE YOU PROUD! YET, WHENEVER I ACHIEVED SOMETHING, YOU CONGRATULATED ME AND TOSSED ME ASIDE LIKE A SHITTY TROPHY!"
"DON'T USE THAT LANGUAGE AND TONE IN MY HOUSE!"
"OH, SO IT'S YOURS, NOW? THAT WOULD BE MORE BELIEVABLE IF YOU WERE HOME AND NOT CANOODLING OFF WITH A SLUT!"
Her father was red with rage and he slapped her a second time.
"STOP SPREADING LIES! IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT YOU'RE LYING ABOUT LIKING GIRLS!"
"THEY'RE NOT LIES! DON'T THINK I HAVEN'T SEEN THE INTOXICATED LOOK ON YOUR FACE WHEN YOU COME HOME ON MOST NIGHTS! THE ONLY REASON I STAYED UP WAS TO SHOW YOU WHAT I'D DONE, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS NEVER IMPORTANT!"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT! STOP MAKING IT ALL ABOUT YOU!"
"I CAN'T BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE MAKING A BIG DEAL ABOUT ME LIKING GIRLS! FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, BE HAPPY ABOUT ME BECAUSE I'M LEAVING."
She stormed off angrily, bumping into her father shamelessly and crushing her former family crest on her way out.
She could hear her father yelling at her mother as she wept, but she ignored it and just packed the essentials.
Soni could hear footsteps approach her door, so she climbed out the window to avoid the person.
The only person she could go to now was Xita.
17 years old…
“Man, girl,” Soni’s new friend, Livvy, walked up to her."You look like you haven't slept in a week."
"Thanks for the compliment. Black Swan stuff's been kicking my ass lately. You? How're you dealing with your new crush?"
The crush, of all people, was Della Vacker.
Soni supposed she was nice enough, but she could tell that Della's future was tightly controlled by her parents.
Livvy shook cer head, making cer jeweled braids shine and swing
"No luck. She's fully convinced that she's straight." Livvy replied dejectedly.
Soni sucked air through her teeth.
"Damn, Livs. You've got it bad."
"You're one to talk! You still aren't hung up over Lareia, huh?"
"You're so fucking correct that at this point, I'm starting to wonder if you're telepathic."
"Nope," Livvy said, popping the 'p' as they reached the lockers. "Just intuitive. You still up for sneaking to the Forbidden Cities on Saturday?"
“Wish I could be part of that woooooorld." Soni sang.
Livvy groaned.
"You do this all the time!"
"Wouldn't be me if I-"
Soni was interrupted by a tap on her shoulder.
She turned and almost hit Lareia with her head.
Their lips were close enough to kiss and try as she might, Soni couldn't stop staring at Lareia’s.
Damn Lareia for managing to resurrect her feelings for her.
"Oh, um, sorry," Lareia backed up by a few steps. "I wanted to know if you were free tonight."
"Is there a reason?"
"I told my parents that I'd be out with a friend and you're the only real friend I have."
"You're using me to get out of a date again?"
"Yes." Lareia squeaked.
Soni should’ve felt offended, but she knew how Lareia felt about being set up.
Livvy cleared cer throat.
“I’ll leave. See you later.”
Ce gave Soni a wink as ce headed for the Leapmaster and Soni
began plotting her murder.
Before any real damage could be done, Lareia linked arms with her and they walked out of the Level 6 wing.
Lareia dragged them to the gardens where gnomes were bustling around, picking ingredients for tomorrow's lunches.
"I heard that you moved. Your mom seemed pretty distraught when we bumped into her in Eternalia. Why did you do it?"
"Personal reasons. Want to try that new bakery in Eternalia?"
"Sure. What's the name?"
"Decadent Pride. Oli- Dad and I passed it when we went shopping for the midterms. It seemed cool."
"Didn't you call him your father?"
"If you're talking about the man that supposedly raised me, we're on the wrong topic. I'm an Ethiopia now, remember? There was a whole Tribunal about my custody for Eternalia's sake!"
"Sorry. I've just been caught up in everything. What with match lists and stuff."
The dark circles under her eyes made it obvious that she hadn't been sleeping lately. Soni felt guilty for getting irritated.
"Yeah, okay. I'm sorry for getting irritated. Good luck with your lists."
The last sentence tasted bitter in her mouth.
Match lists reminded her that there was no hope for a future where she and Lareia could get married.
Match lists reminded her that she didn't belong.
"Hey? Are you okay? We can cancel our plans if you don't-"
"No! I mean, I'm fine. The bakery's our destination?"
Lareia nodded.
"It's a date then. I'll meet up with you at the wedding shop you're obsessed with?"
Soni looked away when she realized she said that first sentence, trying her hardest to ignore the heat rushing to her face. Why did she say that?
"Yeah, sure. See you," Lareia unlinked their arms and started for the Leapmaster.
Soni caught herself staring as she did two years ago.
She shook her head and leaped home.
She greeted her parents and grabbed a snack before she went to her room.
On her way to the Leapmaster, her mom stopped her.
"Your grandparents are stopping by tomorrow for lunch. They want to meet their granddaughter. Do you want to?"
"They call me that?"
"Of course they do! They want to see you before the family reunion in December. Haven't you forgotten?"
Tears welled up in Soni's eyes.
"I'd be happy to."
Xita pulled her into a hug and whispered, "Maybe you can bring Lareia or a friend."
Soni pulled away.
"Woah, Mom. Don't say it like that! Lay and I are strictly friends."
"Nonsense. You're dressed nicely, so I'm assuming you asked her out or she did. Also, you used a nickname for her."
"Nothing of that sort. I'm her excuse for getting out of a blind date."
"By going on a date with you."
"And I'm leaving."
Soni kissed her mom on the cheek and stepped onto the Leapmaster.
Lareia was leaning on the door frame of the shop. She was wearing a navy blue lace dress with floral designs all over the bodice and skirt.
Soni forgot to breathe for a moment, but she shook her head to clear it and walked over to her.
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
After Lareia grabbed their treats, Soni got held back by the lady over the counter for a while.
"That girlfriend of yours is a treasure. Never let her go."
"Uh, I, uh, we're not dating."
"Really? I was sure you were. I'm sorry for assuming, but it's the way you walked in that convinced me."
"Thanks, but she only sees me as a friend."
The lady shook her head and let Soni go.
"In all due time," she could’ve sworn she heard the lady mutter that under her breath.
Soni joined Lareia and they walked along the picturesque statues of Councilors long gone.
"What are you planning to do after graduation?" Lareia asked.
"I don't know. Assuming I fall in love on the way, I'll probably marry young. If not, then I don't mind becoming a mentor or getting a job somewhere."
The last few words were a lie. She knew she'd stick with the Black Swan.
"You?"
"Well, society would want me to get married to a member of the Nobility or join it, so I guess I'll do that."
Soni stopped walking.
"You alright?"
"Are you meaning to tell me that everything you do is for societal approval?"
"Yeah, wh-"
"What do you want? What would you do?"
"What society wants."
Lareia had her head hung low and she was fiddling with her hands; a habit only used when she was nervous.
"Well, hypothetically, if society had no control over your life, what would-"
"I'D MARRY YOU!" Lareia snapped.
Soni froze when she processed her answer.
“But- why- I'm a girl."
"That never mattered! I've loved you since we were twelve! Have you ever wondered why I kept complaining about the boys I dated?!"
"I assumed that they weren't your type."
"That's true. Well, now that you know the disgusting truth, you can leave."
Lareia squeezed her eyes shut as if it were a nightmare she wanted to end.
Soni stood there, trying to process what she'd been told.
Lareia had loved her while she thought she didn't.
She had loved her.
Soni laughed at the irony, startling Lareia.
"Oh my stars, I can't-" she wheezed as she walked over to Lareia and put her head on her shoulder.
Lareia tensed up at the reaction she was given.
"You're… not mad?"
"Why would I? We've both been idiots in this case."
"What do you mean by that?"
Soni laughed and slapped her forehead.
"Can I kiss you?"
Lareia gave her a pointed look.
"You've gotta be kidding me. You're just saying that to-"
Soni rolled her eyes and kissed Lareia.
POV change for obvious reasons…
Lareia's eyes widened when Soni came into contact with her lips and her heart…
Well, her heart didn't know what to feel, so she deepened the kiss until they needed air.
For the rest of the night, they shyly held hands and talked about a hypothetical future together.
When Soni leaped Lareia home, she kissed her good night with the question of being her girlfriend.
Lareia said yes and blew a kiss before entering her house.
Livvy squealed when Soni told her the news.
"Finally! I've only known you for a few months, but your pining was so damn obvious!"
"Wow, pouring hot water on the burn. Thanks."
"Ah, don't act like that. You're happy about it."
Lareia got caught by her mother when she went home.
"Where have you been?! Doesn't your friend know about curfews?!"
"Girlfriend now," Lareia coughed.
"What?"
"What?
"Just go to bed."
"Yes, ma'am."
Lareia ran up the stairs to get ready for bed before her mother got upset.
After screaming into her pillow, she hailed her friend Della, who seemed to need a distraction.
"Guess who's owed 10 lusters?"
"FUCK-" her friend fell out of her chair.
"You finally did it?!"
"Beep beep, pay up, bitch."
December…
“Are you sure they’ll like me?” Lareia asked, looking up at the Ethiopia family home.
“We’re staying for two weeks. They’re going to love you! Just be your usual charming self and you’ll be fine. I mean, I was myself when I met my grandparents and they love me!”
“But that’s because you became part of the family!”
“Your point? If you worry that they’re homophobic, you’re worrying over nothing. We’re on the accepting side of this family. In fact, a lot of our numbers are adopted. And besides, sooner or later, you’ll have to become part of it.”
“What?”
“What? Never mind. I’ll ring the doorbell.”
A man with dark skin, a crew cut, and lapis lazuli eyes opened the door. Soni recognized him from photos all around the house.
“Welcome!” he hugged her and stepped aside. “Whoever you’re supposed to be with, they’re inside catching up with the others. I’m Fabian.”
“I’m Soni, your new niece. This is my girlfriend, Lareia, or Lay.”
Lareia waved shyly and they stepped inside.
“Well, someone's done their homework! Welcome to the family! I hope to welcome Lareia too someday."
Lareia blushed at the remark and hung up her cape as an excuse to hide it.
"We're just 17, but the sentiment is appreciated."
"I'll be your guide to the family for the rest of your stay. Your bags should be here if Ollie remembered to snap them here."
Soni nodded and hung up her cape next to Lareia’s.
"Don't forget to take your boots off! Nana, our matriarch, is very particular about her clean floors."
They chucked their boots off and aligned them correctly.
"Now if you come this way, I'll introduce you to the ones in the kitchen."
They followed him through a packed living room, dining room, and a few passageways to get to the kitchen, which wasn’t very packed, but it was full enough to make you feel less alone.
Fabian walked over to a man with curly black hair, light brown skin, and cerulean eyes standing by the counter.
He was talking to a woman with dark skin, coily black hair, and midnight blue eyes. A child was playing with a doll on the counter.
Fabian put his arm around the waist of the man and grabbed both of their attention.
"Selene, Orpheus, this is Soni and her girlfriend, Lareia, or Lay. Girls, this is my husband, Orpheus, and my sister, Selene.”
Both of them waved at the adults and they waved back.
“Your parents have told us a lot about you! This is my daughter, Zarina. Zarina, this is your cousin, Soni.”
Zarina, the child, looked up from her play and greeted them.
“You’re pretty, but your friend’s prettier.”
Soni laughed.
“She’s not my friend, kid.”
The girl looked confused.
“But you’re holding hands. Don’t friends hold hands?”
“Yes, but Lay’s a special friend.”
“Your best friend?”
“Not just that. She’s my girlfriend.”
Zarina’s jaw dropped.
“I didn’t know girls could like girls too. I thought it was just for boys!”
Soni could feel Lareia shaking from holding back her laughter.
“Well, kid, there’s a lot you don’t know about yet. How old are you?”
“I’m eight. How old are you? You look ancient.”
That was when Lareia lost it.
When it was time for the little ones to nap, the adults left the 13+ age groups to their own devices while they caught up without any eavesdroppers.
A bunch of Soni's age group, the 16 to 19-year-olds, organized a sword fighting contest with some swords they'd found in a shed.
There was no organization and it was everyone for themselves.
As far as Soni had known Lareia, she’d never expected her girlfriend to be good at sword fighting.
She’d beat her so many times that she was bruised all over and her face was so heated for blushing too much because Lareia kept pinning her down.
Within an hour, she’d tapped out and was watching her girlfriend beat up her cousins.
If it weren’t for the common knowledge that most, if not all, of her generation, were some variation of queer, she would have beaten them up worse than Lareia was.
Her cousin, Sorren, tapped out as soon as he saw someone being pummeled by Lareia and was sitting beside Soni on a folding chair, sipping on juice.
"Your girlfriend is something, I gotta admit."
Soni laughed.
"She's usually cool-headed when she's not competitive. You seem to know the person she's beating"- she looked over at the field- "trying to beat."
Lareia had finally found her match in a 6"0 boy that, come to think of it, kinda looked like her.
The only things that distinguished them were their eye colors and the colors of their dyed hair.
Both had ashy brown hair, but their dyed hairs were positioned in the same place; the two front strands on both sides of their head, stemming from their hairlines.
Lareia had hers dyed white while the dude had his dyed pink.
Lareia's hair went to her waist while the boy had a shag cut that he looked good with.
Lareia had sapphire eyes and the boy had sky-blue eyes.
For a minute, Soni was glad that she was just a lesbian and not a bisexual, otherwise, she'd die like a lot of her cousins.
"Who's the dude?"
"My best friend, Laurie."
Soni whistled as Laurie nearly scored a hit below Lareia's waist.
"I think no," she replied, seeing a blush creep up Sorren's olive skin.
"We're friends and that's all we are."
Soni snorted, diverting her gaze to the fighters.
"Does he have abs?"
"Yeah, he does."
"Are you straight?"
"As a ruler."
"You better be talking about mine."
"Why?"
"Because it's floppy as fuck and doesn't stay still unless it's on a flat surface. You, my cousin, are the gayest guy I've met."
"What?! No, I'm not. Never!"
"Two denials. That usually means yes."
It took a lot of pestering, but Sorren gave in and put his hands in his hair.
"Fine. Fine. You caught me. I am gay, but I don't know how to tell Laurie without him freaking out. We've been friends forever and I don't want to break it off because he had the wrong idea."
Soni tsked at the situation and would've laughed at him if it weren't for the shared experience.
"Just tell him how you feel or you'll never get anywhere."
Sorren snorted.
"Yeah, right. As if you've ever gone through that."
"What?"
"You and Lareia act like you've been together forever. I'd believe that you started in a fairytale."
Soni stared at him and then burst into loud laughter.
"What- oh my- you're a gem!"
She hunched over, wheezing, and wheezed more seeing Sorren's perplexed expression.
"I fucking can't with you," Sorren grumbled.
"Don't take it too personally," Soni said when she'd calmed down. "Lay and I have only been together for a few months, but we've known each other for a longer time."
"How long were you pining?"
"Years, but I got the memo two or three years later."
Sorren whistled.
"That must have been frustrating. Let's get to know each other better inside."
"Yeah. I'm just telling Lay where I'm going. Come with me."
When they neared the fighters, they took a break from attempting to kill each other.
“Ah, my lady is here. Hold your tongue, knave.”
Lareia walked over to Soni and kissed her hand before holding her waist.
“What brings you here?”
“We’re heading inside. I just wanted to let you know before you rampage.”
Lareia snorted.
“Like Exile I do. Do you mind if I stay here?”
“You already know your answer.”
Soni unlatched herself and kissed Lareia on the cheek.
Lareia…
Lareia watched as her sparring partner watched Soni and her cousin step off the field.
"You've gotten it bad for him."
This drew a blush from him.
"I don't. We've forgotten to introduce ourselves."
"Lareia Hampshire."
"Laurie Hampton."
They shook on it and continued to duel.
"So," Lareia said as she blocked a blow. "What's the name of your"-grunt-"friend?"
"Sorren," Laurie replied, intercepting a blow from her. "We've been friends since we were ten."
"Interesting. Since when have you pined?"
"Never."
"I can detect the lie in your voice."
"Empath?"
"Polyglot-Beguiler. I'd know which voices have lying tones and what voices are used in lying."
"Cool. I'm a Psionipath and a Conjurer. Any"-grunt-"embarrassing ability stories?"
"Once, I beguiled someone into making a sandwich for me in another language. They didn't even know the language."
Laurie laughed.
"Well, once I accidentally grabbed my sister's makeup palette when I was reaching for a"-grunt-"sandwich inside a shield. I accidentally bit into the makeup before she could stop me."
"Yikes."
"So, tell me about yourself."
Within the hour, they'd managed to get to know each other and they found out that they had a lot in common.
"You never answered my question," Lareia said as they walked off the field, having declared a truce.
"That is?"
"How long have you pined?"
"You tell me first."
"Easy. Twelve. You?"
"Ten."
"So, seven years?"
"Yup."
In an hour or two, a rematch was formed.
Two representatives of 16, 17, 18, and 19 years old met up and decided on rules.
Lareia and Laurie were chosen as representatives of the 17-year-olds since they were somewhat the most mature and they were the ones who won the last round.
In the rematch, you could form alliances and use your abilities.
It was chaos, but Soni thrived in it since it was her natural habitat.
Though, maybe it was the fact that she was a part of the Black Swan and this was a normal part of their training course.
Whatever the cause, she'd made an alliance with Sorren and a bunch of her cousins she'd found cool.
Lareia and Laurie, unsurprisingly, were on the opposing side.
"You just want him to pin you down," she teased Sorren when they found that out.
"Nope. Definitely not."
“Two negatives again!”
Sorren laughed.
“Will you ever let that go?”
“Nah.”
In the end, it was Lareia and Laurie’s side that won.
Soni and Sorren would claim that it was because they had the upper hand in strategy when, really, it was the fact that their gay asses couldn’t handle it.
The good part was that Sorren and Laurie walked off the field as boyfriends.
Soni’s other cousins cheered when they kissed because, apparently, Sorren and Laurie pined for each other every time they visited.
The cheering was replaced by groaning when they handed and received money.
For a second, Soni was glad that she hadn't been adopted sooner because she was sure that she would've lost a lot of money.
18 years old…
"If I hear you flirt with Lareia over the comms one more time, I'm snapping both of your necks."
"Fine," Soni grumbled and switched to her channel with Lareia.
"Livvy's already getting mad that we're flirting. Bye, love you!"
"Love you too!"
She switched it off and concentrated on the task at hand.
"Finally. Your sweet talk is worse than when you were single."
"Pshh, your single ass is just jealous."
Livvy rolled cer eyes.
"No, I'm not."
Soni was about to remark, but her eye caught movement.
"Did that dude just move?"
"You're the one with the binoculars. You tell me."
24 hours later…
Soni collapsed on her bed.
The mission had been physically and mentally straining.
Her roommate, Juline, hadn't come back to their dorms yet.
She didn't mind. Soni took long showers and Juline always complained when she had used up the hot water even though she was a Froster.
Besides, where was-
"Your favorite girlfriend is here!" Soni heard Lareia say as the door slammed open, answering her interrupted question.
"You're my only girlfriend."
"Good. I'd feel jealous if I weren't."
This made Soni laugh.
Lareia laid down next to her and stroked her hair.
"You alright?"
Soni started to tear up.
"Mostly,” she sniffled. “A bunch of us nearly died and one died because we- we weren't able to save him in time."
Soni broke out into sobs and Lareia held her close to her chest.
"Shh, shh. It's okay. It wasn't your direct fault. You did what you could."
"No, I didn't. He was only 15. I was put in charge of him, but I thought that-"
She hiccuped and whimpered.
"Sleep."
Lareia laced her words with enough Beguiling to send Soni to sleep.
19 years old…
Soni banged her head on her textbook, groaning.
It was Finals and the study guides plus the Black Swan stuff were kicking her ass even more than usual.
She'd usually come to Lareia, but she was studying elsewhere or doing Black Swan errands.
Nevertheless, she concentrated hard so that she could pass the Elite Levels successfully.
Within an hour, she'd fallen asleep at the library.
She was shaken awake by the librarian before he closed the library.
Dejected, she got her stuff and headed out the door.
She bumped into Juline on her way back to their dorm.
Juline said that she was heading home for the weekend, so she had their rooms to herself for two or three days.
Soni nodded sleepily and Juline walked off, wishing her luck.
She bumped into students multiple times and apologized so much that she even apologized to the statues.
By the time she was done, she was nowhere close to her dorm room. She was just about ready to scream and curse, but before she could, she was hugged from behind.
Soni would have struggled, but the hug was around her waist, a hug only given by a special person, and she was too tired.
"Miss me?"
"Stars, yes. I've been living on lushberry juice and cubes of fruit."
"Tsk. You're sleeping. Now."
Lareia…
Soni drooped in her arms and she adjusted her position so that she could carry her bridal style.
If only she knew that she'd spent the weekend hunting for an engagement ring rather than Council files.
Depending on her answer, Lareia would be carrying her like that after they got married. Or maybe the other way around.
Xita and Oliver had given Lareia their blessing and she was glad to convert that blessing into physical evidence.
Lareia set Soni down on her bed and left the room quietly.
There was no guarantee about the future, but Lareia knew that it would be bearable if Soni stayed by her side.
2 days later…
Soni's eyes shone with happiness when Lareia presented the ring to her.
Lareia wouldn't trade anything for it and the tears of happiness Soni she'd made it better when she said yes.
Lareia slipped the ring on her finger a bit too excitedly, but neither cared.
She got up from her kneeling position and hugged her new fiancée, tears of equal emotion streaming down her cheeks.
Soni kissed her a bit messily since both of their lips were a bit slippery from tears, but the intention was there.
24 hours later…
"Heyyyy, Mom," Lareia laughed nervously as she hailed her parents to inform them of her engagement.
"Yes, dear? What is it?"
"I'm engaged!"
"Who is it?"
"Heh, soo, I might have dated someone for the past few years without your knowledge."
"Don't avoid my question!"
"I may or may not be engaged to a girl," she peeped.
Her mother stared at her pointedly, then turned her head to yell at someone offscreen, presumably her dad.
"DARLING, WHICH OF US VOTED FOR THE AFFIRMATIVE AGAIN?"
Her dad yelled back, "YOU DID, DEAR!"
"Wait, you've been betting?! On me?"
"We're getting ancient, Lareia. How else would we entertain ourselves? Now, which girl?"
"Are you adding salt to Dad's wound?"
"That depends. Now, who?"
"Soni Ethiopia."
"I'VE WON TWICE, YOU OLD WINDBAG!"
Her dad could be heard cursing in the background.
"Don't worry about your father, dear. He's bitter about an old bet."
"Should I ask?"
"No, but he's lost every bet about a family member being a homosexual and/or dating a specific person. Runoff, now. Go and plan your wedding."
"MOTHER!"
"Shoo before I do it for you."
Her mother hung up just as her finger moved toward the button.
She laughed at her parents and the encounter with her mother. She was worried over nothing.
20 years old…
Lareia was having a panic and gay attack simultaneously.
In a few hours, she'd be walking down the aisle with her father and mother.
She was happy, but she was scared of what hurdles the future would hurl at her.
She'd come to her parents or future in-laws for this, but they were outside socializing with the guests.
Both she nor Soni weren't allowed to see each other yet, but knowing the fact that in a day, they'd be married made her calm down every few seconds until she panicked.
She kept on pacing around and was about to resort to biting her nails, but Della found her just in time.
"Stop moving! It's gonna be fine. As your maid of honor and your second best friend, believe me. You both love each other and please, what did the carpet and your nails ever do to you?"
Lareia let out a shaky laugh.
"It's just- what if I end up saying the wrong thing? What if the ceiling caves in as we're walking down the aisle?! Oh, my stars-"
Lareia looked like she was about to faint.
"DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Focus on me. Focus on me. Nothing else. The wedding doesn't exist for now. In and out. Okay? In and out. Breathe for four, hold for eight, and release for five. One, two, three…"
And just like that, Della helped her calm down.
"Thank you."
"Of course. We couldn’t have one of the brides fainting right before the wedding, could we? Now, are you getting your hair, makeup, shoes, and dress on or did we forget our time crunch?"
Lareia laughed and made her way to the swivel chair so that Della could do her hair and makeup.
Soni…
"LIVVY, IT'S NOT FUNNY! WHAT IF I TRIP ON THE AISLE?! WHAT IF I HAVE A GAY ATTACK WATCHING HER WALK DOWN THE AISLE?! WHAT IF I HAVE A NOSEBLEED?! IT'LL SHOW UP ON MY DRESS AND-"
"Bridezilla, it's fine. I'll be there soon with the rest of your cousins. I'm in the middle of getting my suit. In the meantime, I've sent Sorren to calm you down. He's coming with Laurie for your hair and makeup, okay?"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!"
"Bridezilla. It's a human expression. Bridezilla is a nickname given to a bride freaking out at any time before her wedding. Just chill. Your favorite cousin should be there soon."
"He better."
And with that, she hung up and started pacing around to clear her head instead of getting mad at the plants in the hotel room.
It was a temporary arrangement since no Elven venue would host their wedding.
As far as Soni had seen, Lareia had gotten a good venue for a wedding according to humans. They were located somewhere in New York called the Plaza Hotel.
They were staying there for the next two weeks until they departed to travel around the Forbidden Cities.
Soni couldn't wait, but she kept on getting freaked out at the prospect of dealing with queerphobia everywhere she went. Apparently, it was just the Lost Cities that clucked their tongues and moved on with their business.
However, in the Forbidden Cities, they were blatantly insulted and harassed in multiple ways; including being told to pray the gay away, whatever that was, having trash thrown at them, and more.
The harassment wouldn't stop there. Something about racism and slurs-
"YOUR FAVORITE COUSIN IS HERE!" Sorren belted as he walked into the room, ironically, carrying a blushing Laurie bridal style in his arms.
Soni laughed and let the tension escape her shoulders.
"Thank the stars! Put Laurie down. He looks redder than my bouquet and that's saying something."
Sorren sighed and did as she said, but secretly snuck a kiss to him before making his way to his cousin.
"Hmm, sit down, doll. You're looking a bit pale for an Indian. Ya sure, ya don't want me to dye your hair?"
"You sound weird. Do I really-"
"Nah, you're fine. I'm just practicing accents for when I have to talk to humans. Laurie, dear, the bags, please."
Laurie snapped his fingers and went over to the makeup chair.
For some time, Laurie and Sorren had a hushed conversation about what they should do with her hair and makeup, then concluded.
"Get in your gown and shoes. Now."
Soni turned her head.
"I actually… like it. You did well."
Laurie and Sorren shrugged.
"Perks of having a lot of girls in your life. You tend to overhear things."
Just then, a knock could be heard on the door.
Laurie rushed to open it, but when he did, he seemed a bit shocked.
“Um, Soni, is your bio mother supposed to be here?”
“Yes. I didn’t know she would say yes. Allow her to come in.”
Her mother came into sight and she teared up at the sight of Soni in her wedding dress.
“Oh, my stars-”
“Mother-”
Soni ran to her mother and hugged her.
“I’m so sorry.”
“What? Darling, it should be me that’s sorry. Your father told me what happened. It turned out that your suspicions were true; we’re now a failed match and I’m hoping you’d forgive me.”
“I’m sorry for not being the best daughter. I just wanted to make you proud.”
“I wasn’t there for most of your life. A lot of the blame falls on me. Having a daughter-in-law instead of a son will take some time to get used to, but I realized that I’m not against it. As long as it makes you happy, I’ll support you as much as I can.”
Soni let out a shaky laugh and nodded her head.
“You’d love Lareia. She’s everything you could ask for in a daughter-in-law.”
“Lareia Hampshire? That girl you were best friends with?”
“Still is.”
Soni and her mother caught up until it was time for the bridal photoshoot. Her mother had given her a necklace before she left and promised that she would wait for Soni to go at her own pace.
Soni would’ve cried, but she was whisked away before the idea reached her tear ducts.
Soni felt like she couldn’t breathe when she saw Lareia standing at the archway made of honeysuckle, white lilies, daisies, and cornflowers.
She could feel tears streaming down her face and could’ve sworn that Lareia’s face was a bit glossy too.
The rest of the ceremony was a blur until the time came for the personal vows.
Lareia laughed and took a deep breath when the officiant turned to her.
"Well, I’m going to try to keep it short because, knowing you, you probably have a comedy routine planned,” Soni laughed and shook her head at that. “I just want to say that your prophecy came true. You're getting married after we graduate. I know my vows will be a bit cheesy and stereotypical, but, I love you.
“I’ve loved you since we were twelve. You threw all care to the wind and faced the consequences if you had to when you took a risk. I found it endearing when you took the blame for something I did. I wish I could shake the person I was years ago for thinking that I shouldn’t think that. I had dark circles from thinking about hypothetical futures with you at night.
“The future won’t be full of smooth roads or smiles, but I promise I’ll work through them hand in hand with you. Forever.”
The officiant nodded and turned to Soni expectantly.
“My original intent was to make my vows out of dumb pick-up lines, but I already know that a few people will hold it over my head for the next two centuries, so, as to avoid embarrassment to myself, I only included an appropriate amount of those.”
Everyone collectively laughed.
“They won’t be as cheesy as Lareia’s, but I tried my best. I mean, how do you find someone like that?” Lareia turned scarlet at that. “You’ve swept me off my feet far too many times, so it’s my turn. I love you too. I don’t regret loving you and I never will. We don’t always agree but I’ll cling to you until we collapse from the sheer force of it.
“We’ve grown from two fifteen-year-olds beating around the bushes. I hope that we continue to grow; together and never apart. I still can’t believe that you’re mine, but life comes with a lot of plot twists. There are many kisses you’ve stolen and I’m still waiting for the day you give them back.”
The officiant nodded approvingly as Lareia smiled, and signaled for the rings to be brought up.
“Does anyone object to the marriage? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
When no one did, the officiant turned to Lareia.
“Do you, Lareia Hampshire, take Soni Ethiopia as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do. For better or worse.”
“And do you, Soni Ethiopia, take Lareia Hampshire as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do. Until death wills it.”
“As a final act of love, bring forth the rings and remember what you have promised each other for the rest of your lives.”
Hands shaking and eyesight blurry, they exchanged rings.
The officiant placed his hands on their heads, only removing them after he murmured some words in the language of the Ancients.
“The brides may kiss.”
Without any hesitation, Soni grabbed Lareia’s cheeks and enthusiastically kissed her, the sounds of approval in the background.
When she pulled away, Lareia surprised her by picking her up.
“What are you doing?” Soni hissed.
“I made a promise to myself that I’d carry you like this when we got married. I’m not planning on breaking that promise.”
Soni laughed, but let her fia- wife (now) carry her.
Many years passed and Soni found herself laughing with Lareia as her wife pulled her closer by her waist.
They were chaperoning for a Black Swan mission that had Eleina, Maruca, Soni's trainee in Psionopathy since Foxfire was out of commission, and a bunch of the Moonlark's friends.
The kids were so lovable and barely commented on their PDAs.
They’d just reunited after splitting up to look for something in the Forbidden Cities.
Out of her group, Soni had a favorite pair.
She and Lareia still loved Eleina, but they promised to not interfere with her, so they decided to observe her friends.
They had an ongoing bet on who had a better pair with proven evidence. The loser had to do what the other one wanted for a day.
Bonus points if the relationship was an actual one and/or if they guessed the dynamics correctly.
The pair she'd picked out were two girls named Lily and London.
They bantered like Lareia and Soni did pre-relationship and occasionally held hands or stared when they thought no one was looking.
Soni guessed that they were on thin ice that separated lovers from best friends.
You know that point where you knew you liked that person and wanted to date them, but you weren't sure if they reciprocated your feelings even though it was obvious that you both had feelings?
That was them.
Either that or they were in the beta stage of their relationship.
When they'd sat down to eat at an outdoor restaurant, they decided to tell each other their pairs.
"Lay, you better be ready to pay up. One of mine kissed the other on the cheek."
"Well, one of mine just wiped ice cream off the other's lips and they blushed."
"Dynamics?"
"Music geeks. Started as a one-sided rivalry, but they're supposedly stepping into friendship. Heavy air quotes because they are far from platonic. Yours? "
"Art freaks. Beta stage or thin ice."
Lareia nodded understandingly.
Just then, Eleina came to their table, looking a bit pissed.
"Mama, Mom, stop staring! They're starting to notice!"
"We're sorry, dear, but we made a promise."
"Did you have to include them in it?"
"Why?"
"They've been like this forever. Knock it off. Please."
"Are we correct, though?"
Eleina sighed.
“Who are they?”
Soni pointed to one table and Lareia pointed in the opposite direction.
"Both your pairs are dating, so it's a tie."
Lareia and Soni felt like their lives left their bodies when their daughter said that.
People I keep locked up (tell me if you want in or out. Sorry if you didn’t want to be tagged out of loyalty):
@myminddefiesreality
@gay-otlc
@even-if-in-another-time
@xanadaus
@booksscienceandmath
@hunkyhair-my-beloved
@ultralazycreatorfan
@gaslight-gaetkeep-gayboss
@stellar-lune
@sophiespockets
@bookwyrminspiration
@orionalumn
@an-ungraceful-swan
@chaotic-bumblebee-agenda
@sunset-telepath
@when-wax-wings-melt
@bianavacker-is-bi-as-hell
@arcadialedger
@fintan-pyren
@aromantic-fucker
@black-swans-and-moonlarks
@lady-hunkyhair
@if-only-i-was-fictional
@stellasencen
@florida-preposterously
@fandomsarefriends-notfood
@the-abandoned-schoolbus
@mynamisfab
@katniss-elizabeth-chase
@winterfireice
@camelspit
@that-glasses-dog
@presidentroarie
@that-multi-fandom-mess
@arson-anarchy-death
@constant-sapphic-breakdown
@squishmallow36
@callas-pancake-tree
@rusted-phone-calls
@thebestbookshelf
@everenvacker
@axels-corner
@coldtragedytaco
@life-is-soup-i-am-fork1
@thefruitsaladdemon
@aroace-dadwinstan
@synonymroll648
@kamikothe1and0lny
@luna-maximoff-22
Go check out my main Tumblr unless you have already or don't want to
If Alabasta can have a standing army, then other nations can have a standing military force so Privateer Rouge & her first encounter with Rogers Crew?
“You know,” Roger glances up at the woman leaning over the table, her eyes sharp even as he watches her slop part of her mug onto his table. “We don’t usually get Pirate Kings around these parts.”
“I would hope not, considering I am one of a kind,” Roger says slowly, gesturing subtlety to keep Rayleigh from coming over to pick a fight when she hadn’t. “Are you going to try and fight me?”
She laughs, startling after that sharp focus, “I’m off the clock, I think it could wait until morning. Unless you snuck into town?”
“We went through the port.”
“Mhm, think it’s Makoto-chan on watch today? She’s like this tall?” her hand wobbles just slightly as she shows off the other woman’s height. “Dark hair, smiles like she’s gonna bite your dick off.”
“That’s an accurate description. She spent ten minutes letting us know that her commander would kill us if we caused any trouble,” Roger agrees slowly.
“That’s me,” she gestures at herself, dropping into the empty seat across from him with grace and ease. “Commodore Portgas D Rouge. You don’t need to introduce yourself, Gol D Roger.”
Roger arches a brow, watching her as he risks a sip of his drink, “Most people use Gold.”
“I’m not most people,” Rouge announces, leaning forward on her elbows as she watches Roger intently. “Your wanted posters made that,” she gestures at his mustache. “look like nose hair.”
“I’m sorry?” Roger says taken back.
“Looked like it was coming out of your nose,” Rouge repeats, loud enough for Rayleigh to hear, if the choking laughter is anything to go by. “It was weird. Thought you just couldn’t trim it up. Glad it’s not.”
“Oh?”
Rouge smirks, “My crew and I agreed that if it was, we would have to make sure it was removed.”
“That would be an attack. I thought we were allowed to be here peacefully.”
“Not if you were trying to pretend that your mustache wasn’t nose hair and it was. One of the others made a very important point,” Rouge seems to know that Rayleigh is listening too now, because she doesn’t lower her voice. “If it was nose hair, it would be full of boogers.”
“That’s disgusting, Commodore.”
“Why, Pirate King? It’s true,” Rouge finishes off her drink and pushes herself up. “Don’t cause any trouble, I’m still sober enough to throw you through that window!”
Roger stares after her in confusion, only looking away when Rayleigh steals the chair she had used, “What?”
“Nothing,” Rayleigh answers, smiling too widely and too knowingly for Roger’s comfort. “Just haven’t seen anyone threaten you, really threaten you, in years.”
“Did she? Seemed like all talk-” Roger is cut off by the sound of shattering glass, jerking to see Rouge rolling her shoulders.
“10 POINTS!” One of the drunks yells over the laughter starting to spill from some of the people that Roger assumes are regulars. “Nice aim Rouge!”
“That’s Commodore to you, Smiths!” Rouge shouts back, smile too wide for her face. “Anyone else?”
“All talk, huh?” Rayleigh mutters.
“Fuck,” Roger whispers, his stomach twisting in knots. He’s too old to be getting crushes on pink haired women, let alone ones with rank in their island’s standing navy. “Fuck.”
Not even a day had passed, but he was here. Walking the Fade again (this time alone), tempting far more than just fate in an attempt to fix a decision he’d made in a distressed heartbeat.
It’d been quiet however. Eerie and dead without The Nightmare’s smothering presence. Hanhari was a little surprised by just how much of a difference the demon’s departure had made. The Fade bent to his will, if not directly under his will even with the demon gone. Rocks, or what seemed to be rocks, rose up before him like a path. Or perhaps more accurately a bridge, taking him high above to the floating islands steadily. He had his staff in hand, grip tight as the gentle tah tah tah of it striking the stone beneath him helping to keep things feeling solid. Particularly when one of the stones under him shifted or shivered. He couldn’t stop if he didn’t outright lose his balance. Slow, hesitant steps also helped as he felt his way up the ‘stairs.’
The sheer lack of demons was distressing, but Hanhari tried to look at it as a blessing. It meant he’d have more energy for Hawke.
If he was even still here.
If he was even still alive.
Where’s Hawke?
Hanhari had never heard such mesilde aven. Despite having command over several languages, nothing quite covered the agony he’d heard in Varric’s voice right then.
And imagining Hawke’s children when they got back to Skyhold without him?
Mythal'enaste i amal Fenris. Hanhari couldn’t stomach any of the images he’d been able to conjure of Hawke’s bonded on hearing the news.
He’d just… trusted the other man. Something about him made it hard to even consider the equally willing Grey Warden at his other side. Hawke was strong and sure and… onharonun.
This was not an acceptable end to that man’s journey.
The Fade around him… It had rahnras inanshos. The higher he went (and Creators help him resist the urge to look down) the further out Hanhari could see. Hazy green horizon, the Black City itself to his left, grey seas and stone in sharp shapes and soft ones and sometimes melting away into what looked like smoke. In the distance (or was it actually under the Black City?), long past where he’d ever be able to reach it, was what surely had to be a mirage of a swamp. This was bellanaris.
…He really shouldn’t be here. No living person belonged here.
Hanhari couldn’t really appreciate the parts of the view that didn’t seem to be actively mocking him, even with the stiff peace. His eyes mostly scanned ahead, searching for anything that would tell him where he was heading. The little sleep he’d gotten had been filled with the undeniable feeling that Hawke was still recoverable in some sense, but it was laced with equal amounts of dread. No demons. In fact, it was the first dream Hanhari had had since the Breach had first opened up. Not that he’d breathed a word about the disquieting absence. Nor would he now admit that he’d probably been strengthening the enemy all this time.
If The Nightmare was dead, then surely…?
The mage tried to ignore the fact that it seemed like he was heading away from where he’d left Hawke. Not just up but… Was that blood?
Hanhari hurried forward at the splatter of red along the side of the floating island, breaking into a run when he spotted a glint of armor. The closer he got, the more he could actually see. The arm was clearly broken. The gauntlet on it had dug into the rock it was contorted around, leaving disturbing claw marks in the side of it. The fingers were still dug in and keeping the hand in place despite the body horror.
The rest of Hawke didn’t really look much better.
Bloodied and battered, most of his iconic armor was in tatters. The bevor was smashed in, but seemed to have done it’s job ultimately. Hawke’s right shoulder had not fared as well. His left arm also looked broken but not nearly as destroyed as it’s twin. One leg had been stripped of the heavy armor that had been there, leaving his foot exposed and possibly twisted but relatively unharmed for how little that meant. The other was less lucky, the armor smashed in. Even his chest looked a little misshapen.
Enastal enal'o telamun, he was still breathing. Somehow neither bled out or rendered lifeless upon whatever horrific impacts he’d suffered. But time was likely not on his side. Hanhari moved as quickly as he could, freeing Hawke’s hand and pulling the big human man onto his shoulders. Again, his desires changed the face of the Fade and he found himself back where he started far faster than he had found Hawke. Likely for the best, he wouldn’t be able to keep carrying such weight.
Tumbling out into solid ground again, Hanhari closed the rift he’d made practically on instinct and refocused on Hawke. Firstly getting the damaged armor off of him. He should have been bringing the man back to camp for help but… No. The healers there were already too busy dealing with the aftermath of Adamant. Hanhari could heal the Champion.
No matter what his methods would mean he’d be losing. Leliana would dutifully cover it up until he’d killed Corypheus at least. Nisel thanathe than, tu isa ghilanas. Tel'sael melava.
Forcing the blood still in the man’s body to stay there, Hanhari grabbed his own knife and carved down his left arm. He knew exactly what to do, despite a lack of personal practice.
Too many times watching his father nearly kill himself doing just this probably.
Bones first, loose blood and thick muscle forcing them into the proper places before fusing them enough to hold. Then damaged muscles and sinew and organs. Mercifully few of the latter, thank the Maker. Lastly, most draining of them all, restoring blood and hopefully consciousness.
His vision steadily got darker as he worked despite the fact the sun was likely approaching the horizon. His absence would soon be found, if it hadn’t already.
Garrett woke feeling like the Fade had chewed him up and spat him out.
Wait…. No that was definitely what had happened.
Had Fenris found him?
Hadn’t he been dying?
Or was he already dead and the Maker was still being an asshole in his afterlife? That wouldn’t surprise him at all.
Hawke looked up as he realized the weight on his chest was warm. He felt so heavy. His shoulders were pulled up by his wobbly arms before he could whip his head up.
Short hair and pointed ears. Hair was… red? Still too dark to be sure. It was a man. He was still alive. Small guy.
…Why the fuck wasn’t he in the…
Well shit.
Hawke squirmed to his feet, pulling the limp but light body up with him. It was only then that he realized the Inquisitor was bleeding profusely from his left arm. And those cuts were sickeningly clean.
Blood mage.
Of course the Herald of Andraste would be a blood mage. He was way too perfect otherwise.
Still, the younger mage had been nothing but kind and helpful in the time that Hawke had known him. Mustering up what magic he could, the human sealed the cuts with some difficulty. What they’d been for wasn’t really clear. It couldn’t have been to get into the Fade. He had the Anchor for that. The lack of dead bodies around them said it wasn’t for combat most likely.
…Could blood magic heal? Hawke remembered being a lot more fucked up than this.
Seemed ridiculous, but the man supposed stranger things had happened to him in the past.
Following the closest thing to a trail of small feet as he could discern in the sand with the early morning darkness around him, Garrett headed where he hoped he’d find other people.
Falon'Din halani, ame teldirthalelan - Falon'Din help, I’m an idiot
mesilde aven – pathetic words
Mythal'enaste i amal Fenris – Mythal bless/grace and protect Fenris
onharonun – a wondrous good
rahnras inanshos - eerie prettiness
bellanaris - eternity/forever
enastal enal'o telamun - blessing coming from the bad
Nisel thanathe than, tu isa ghilanas – He would be a useful tool, enduring his fate
Tel'sael melava – Not the first time
I don’t know what to do anymore cause on one hand, I have a shit ton of new followers (hello there guys!) and on the other hand I’m super pissed at the fact that a 13 hour piece I made only has 16 notes while that stupid draw the OTP thing I did with Bo and Silvia that took less than an hour to make has 50 motherfucking notes. Like, thanks guys I guess my time and effort don’t mean shit to you (not calling out the rebloggers and the people who can’t reblog cause it doesn’t fit their theme you guys are okay).
