They were the only ships in gyro synchronous orbit around Europa, noses pointed down at the moon like any moment they’d dive bomb the world. None of them hailed him. Usually Guardians did, if only to just say hello, welcome to the worst place in the system. Their comms were quiet too. No chatter between each ship. That was worrying.
THIS is what happens when you ship something as a joke because lol wouldn’t it be funny and they fall face first into a stupid ship. At this point I don’t even like Shin/The Guardian but I can’t fucking stop myself. I just realized I like making Shin have to deal with his eight layers of bullshit because BOI; he’s got a lot. And unlike Drifter who just lets it go the Guardian makes Shin deal with his bullshit because she ain’t got time for his stupid ass man opinions.
Shin and the Drifter really have it out for each other. Maybe a little too much and the Young Wolf is really quite over it. She'll make them admit their feelings even if it kills them.
I really need to be better about cross posting my fics. But yeah my friend bastard @acel1en got me into Destiny fic hell, especially the garbage ship that is ShinDrift. Garbage men, garbage ship, I love them a lot. Give me lots of feels.
I was struck by this thought on my latest play through of y1 and I realized you have like... something under your clothes. Also wanted it to be for anyone’s farmer and it was fun to figure out how that’d be written.
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It was a beautiful spring day. The birds were singing, the air was still cool in the morning before warming up in the afternoon, winter trying to hold onto to the day by the fingertips. Lewis had spent all day the day before decorating the town and part of the morning when he retired to the Stardrop as it grew dark last night, distracted by warm smells and the promise of good company. Shane and Marnie had come in before anyone else to hide the eggs for the festival. It was the one time Shane smiled when not six beers deep in the Stardrop, putting eggs out he hoped Jas would find.
As the morning passed everyone started slowly coming out of their homes, dressed for the occasion. Half of them didn’t even know how an egg festival related to Yoba. Eggs? Really? Seemed a bit silly. The soft grumblings of hunger were just starting when Gus, flanked on one side by Emily, burst out of the Stardrop with breakfast. The Sayon brothers cheered and Sam and Vincent were the first two the table for breakfast even as Jodi told them to wait.
The townsfolk from further out trickled in as the day grew on. Willy and Elliot from the beach, Robin’s entire family and someone went to go get Jas as Shane had already started drinking since he didn’t have to go to work.
Lewis did a final look around to make sure everyone was here and he frowned. They were one short. “Everything alright, Lewis?” Marnie asked him. Everyone was talking and impatient to start the egg hunt so they could eat Gus’ delicious food.
“Robert’s grandkid isn’t here yet,” he pulled on his mustache.
“You sent them a letter reminding them about it, right?”
“Of course I did!”
“Maybe they slept in for once. Pierre told me he often finds them waiting outside his door first thing in the morning,” Marnie laughed.
“We’ll wait just a bit longer,” Lewis agreed. “But I think those Sayon boys are about to eat the tablecloth they’re so hungry.” They both laughed.
The sun rose further but they never came. Lewis finally said it was time for everyone to enjoy the wonderful food Gus had spent days prepping and all night cooking. There was much rejoicing. A prayer to Yoba was said and food was enjoyed.
As the morning grew long people got up from the table to sit on the grass and talk or admire the decorations. Jas and Vincent played tag, yelling happily while Marnie fretted over Jas tearing her new pretty dress she’d gotten just for this year. The little groups talked and laughed, enjoying the early spring weather. But there was still a question in the air. When was the egg hunt starting.
“Mayor, are we ever doing the egg hunt?” Abigail finally asked Lewis.
“They’ll be horrible to eat if we go much longer,” Maru agreed and had to dodge out of the way of Jas and Vincent sprinting by.
“Just a few more minutes,” Lewis said. “We’re still waiting for that farmer from Robert’s old farm.”
“Oh,” Abigail said thoughtfully. “Right, what was their name?”
“Beats me,” Maru shrugged.
Lewis huffed at the both of them. “Their name is-
“Sorry I’m late!”
They weren’t the only three to look towards the voice. The girls’ eyes got huge when they saw the farmer from that old farm. They were wearing a cap the wrong way and carrying more tulips than either of them had ever seen. “There’s no such thing as fashionably late here in Pelican town,” Lewis lightly scolded them.
“I wanted to make sure I brought some for everyone,” they frowned before smiling again. “Here,” and they handed Abigail and Maru each their own bundle of three tied with a ribbon. “Yoba watch over you,” and then they proceeded to go around the square apologizing for their tardiness and offering flowers. Some of the boys scoffed and refused the gifts but that didn’t deter them at all. It just meant more flowers for Evelyn and Haley who were thrilled at all the flowers.
“Some entrance,” Lewis looked over and saw Elliot saying that to Leah.
“I think it’s nice,” she smiled.
“Wow! Flowers. That’s so nice! Mommy mommy look what they gave me!” Vincent cried and ran over to Jodi to proudly show off their red flowers. He’d left them squatting on the square, arms noticeably more empty of flowers, a huge smile across their face.
“Can we start the egg hunt now?” Abigail asked. She’d tucked the flowers into her overalls and was ready to go.
Lewis sighed fondly at her. “Let me go see if they want to compete and yes,” he said. Abigail smiled brightly at that. Lewis went over to the young farmer. “Do you want to participate in the egg hunt?”
They looked up at him before standing, confusion written across their entire face. “Egg hunt? What’s that?”
“You’ve never done an egg festival?”
“We just... eat eggs in the city,” they said apologetically.
“I see,” and Lewis explained it to them. The further on he went the more excited they got. “So want to participate?”
“Heck yeah!” they cried. “Let me just put the rest of these down.” Lewis chuckled when they all ended up in Evelyn’s lap. Lewis went back to the center of the square. “Everyone! We’re starting the egg hunt now,” he called and everyone started to form a circle. Vincent and Jas ran right up to him and started jumping up and down excitedly. Abigail and Maru were the only older people who joined in.
“Sorry, excuse me,” and the farmer squeezed between Harvey and Sebastian. They’d taken off their hat so their hair was free and somehow tastefully disheveled and they’d decided to forego their shirt too and were just in their undershirt, face still flushed from harvesting all those tulips.
“Alright everyone, it’s time for the annual egg hunt!”
“Yes!” Jas yelled.
“Yay!” Vincent cried.
Lewis chuckled. “Now if only you kids would show as much enthusiasm in picking up trash around town.” The kids made rude faces at him that just made him smile. He gave them the rules, wished them luck and, “Go!”
Abigail and the younger kids immediately took off. Maru started before going the opposite direction. The farmer for a moment looked overwhelmed and then went, “Oh, right,” they grinned and headed off in the same direction Abigail had gone.
Lewis gave a disapproving look when he heard a quiet, “Did you see the size their arms,” somewhere across the semi circle.
“AHEM,” Lewis said loudly. An awkward cough followed and the townsfolk dispersed some while the hunt was on.
“Guess this new farmer is fitting right in, wouldn’t you say?” Marnie asked Lewis, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. Lewis just sighed.
It was a beautiful spring day. The birds were singing, the air was still cool in the morning before warming up in the afternoon, winter trying to hold onto to the day by the fingertips. Lewis had spent all day the day before decorating the town and part of the morning when he retired to the Stardrop as it grew dark last night, distracted by warm smells and the promise of good company. Shane and Marnie had come in before anyone else to hide the eggs for the festival. It was the one time Shane smiled when not six beers deep in the Stardrop, putting eggs out he hoped Jas would find.
As the morning passed everyone started slowly coming out of their homes, dressed for the occasion. Half of them didn’t even know how an egg festival related to Yoba. Eggs? Really? Seemed a bit silly. The soft grumblings of hunger were just starting when Gus, flanked on one side by Emily, burst out of the Stardrop with breakfast. The Sayon brothers cheered and Sam and Vincent were the first two the table for breakfast even as Jodi told them to wait.
The townsfolk from further out trickled in as the day grew on. Willy and Elliot from the beach, Robin’s entire family and someone went to go get Jas as Shane had already started drinking since he didn’t have to go to work.
Lewis did a final look around to make sure everyone was here and he frowned. They were one short. “Everything alright, Lewis?” Marnie asked him. Everyone was talking and impatient to start the egg hunt so they could eat Gus’ delicious food.
“Robert’s grandkid isn’t here yet,” he pulled on his mustache.
“You sent them a letter reminding them about it, right?”
“Of course I did!”
“Maybe they slept in for once. Pierre told me he often finds them waiting outside his door first thing in the morning,” Marnie laughed.
“We’ll wait just a bit longer,” Lewis agreed. “But I think those Sayon boys are about to eat the tablecloth they’re so hungry.” They both laughed.
The sun rose further but they never came. Lewis finally said it was time for everyone to enjoy the wonderful food Gus had spent days prepping and all night cooking. There was much rejoicing. A prayer to Yoba was said and food was enjoyed.
As the morning grew long people got up from the table to sit on the grass and talk or admire the decorations. Jas and Vincent played tag, yelling happily while Marnie fretted over Jas tearing her new pretty dress she’d gotten just for this year. The little groups talked and laughed, enjoying the early spring weather. But there was still a question in the air. When was the egg hunt starting.
“Mayor, are we ever doing the egg hunt?” Abigail finally asked Lewis.
“They’ll be horrible to eat if we go much longer,” Maru agreed and had to dodge out of the way of Jas and Vincent sprinting by.
“Just a few more minutes,” Lewis said. “We’re still waiting for that farmer from Robert’s old farm.”
“Oh,” Abigail said thoughtfully. “Right, what was their name?”
“Beats me,” Maru shrugged.
Lewis huffed at the both of them. “Their name is-
“Sorry I’m late!”
They weren’t the only three to look towards the voice. The girls’ eyes got huge when they saw the farmer from that old farm. They were wearing a cap the wrong way and carrying more tulips than either of them had ever seen. “There’s no such thing as fashionably late here in Pelican town,” Lewis lightly scolded them.
“I wanted to make sure I brought some for everyone,” they frowned before smiling again. “Here,” and they handed Abigail and Maru each their own bundle of three tied with a ribbon. “Yoba watch over you,” and then they proceeded to go around the square apologizing for their tardiness and offering flowers. Some of the boys scoffed and refused the gifts but that didn’t deter them at all. It just meant more flowers for Evelyn and Haley who were thrilled at all the flowers.
“Some entrance,” Lewis looked over and saw Elliot saying that to Leah.
“I think it’s nice,” she smiled.
“Wow! Flowers. That’s so nice! Mommy mommy look what they gave me!” Vincent cried and ran over to Jodi to proudly show off their red flowers. He’d left them squatting on the square, arms noticeably more empty of flowers, a huge smile across their face.
“Can we start the egg hunt now?” Abigail asked. She’d tucked the flowers into her overalls and was ready to go.
Lewis sighed fondly at her. “Let me go see if they want to compete and yes,” he said. Abigail smiled brightly at that. Lewis went over to the young farmer. “Do you want to participate in the egg hunt?”
They looked up at him before standing, confusion written across their entire face. “Egg hunt? What’s that?”
“You’ve never done an egg festival?”
“We just... eat eggs in the city,” they said apologetically.
“I see,” and Lewis explained it to them. The further on he went the more excited they got. “So want to participate?”
“Heck yeah!” they cried. “Let me just put the rest of these down.”
Lewis chuckled when they all ended up in Evelyn’s lap. Lewis went back to the center of the square. “Everyone! We’re starting the egg hunt now,” he called and everyone started to form a circle. Vincent and Jas ran right up to him and started jumping up and down excitedly. Abigail and Maru were the only older people who joined in.
“Sorry, excuse me,” and the farmer squeezed between Harvey and Sebastian. They’d taken off their hat so their hair was free and somehow tastefully disheveled and they’d decided to forego their shirt too and were just in their undershirt, face still flushed from harvesting all those tulips.
“Alright everyone, it’s time for the annual egg hunt!”
“Yes!” Jas yelled.
“Yay!” Vincent cried.
Lewis chuckled. “Now if only you kids would show as much enthusiasm in picking up trash around town.” The kids made rude faces at him that just made him smile. He gave them the rules, wished them luck and, “Go!”
Abigail and the younger kids immediately took off. Maru started before going the opposite direction. The farmer for a moment looked overwhelmed and then went, “Oh, right,” they grinned and headed off in the same direction Abigail had gone.
Lewis gave a disapproving look when he heard a quiet, “Did you see the size their arms,” somewhere across the semi circle.
“AHEM,” Lewis said loudly. An awkward cough followed and the townsfolk dispersed some while the hunt was on.
“Guess this new farmer is fitting right in, wouldn’t you say?” Marnie asked Lewis, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. Lewis just sighed.
In which Briz tries her hand at recapturing all her feels of pottermore in the context of Pixie leaving for Hogwarts for the first time...
The train’s whistle pierced through whatever deep reverie she’d fallen into and suddenly Pixie was back in her own freckled skin. Steam wafted across the platform into open windows while familial choruses of complaining and reminding and the occasional indignant “but Mu-um”s punctuated the air. The platform was a riot of swirling black robes and leather luggage, all seeming to go every which way at once. Occasionally a splash of color would catch her eye- gold and red, green and silver, yellow and gold, blue and silver.
It was the start of term for Hogwarts.
More specifically, it was the start of her first term there.
“D’you have everything you need?” Lydda’s voice was overly soothing and trifle soporific. Despite this, the middling woman twisted at her shirt hems with one hand and clung to her youngest child, Everard, with the other.
“Yes, Mum.” Pixie sighed loudly, readjusting her shoulder bag and returning her little brother’s glower with one of her own. Ugh, brothers.
“It’s a madhouse today!” Her father swore as he approached, lugging Pixie’s luggage behind him. “Was it always like this?”
Pixie laughed, these days her father seemed to be in a state of permanent forgetfulness. Always speaking in yesteryear but never quite sure if the good-old-days were as good as he remembered.
“Yes, Da, I’m sure it was. In fact,” she grinned, pausing dramatically, “I’m positive beginning of term was, is, and forever shall be this much a madhouse.”
He scowled and tugged on one of her blue-blonde braids. “Imp,” he chastised affectionately.
Pixie began ignoring her parents as they both started talking over one another trying to provide words of wisdom to their eldest child. The crowded platform was far more interesting and far more useful to her.
So many different people- witch, wizard, and muggle- all milling about. The returning students bid their families farewell and hurried onto the awaiting engine to better chat with peers they’d not seen for months. The newbies clung to their mothers’ robes with wide eyes or raced onto the engine without a glance back.
A small hand slipped into her own.
“You ready?” the voice was quiet and unassuming, much like the little girl it belonged to.
“Yes, Else,” Pixie squeezed her little sister’s hand tightly, “I’ve been ready for months.”
“Ever since you turned eleven, I remember,” she laughed softly, her golden curls bouncing with the movement.
“Before that even!” Pixie crowed with excitement, taking a few steps towards the train. For Pixie, every bedtime story, every chocolate frog, and every mumsie’s-little-helper moment of her childhood had lead to this- the moment she would be able to do real magic.
Sure there would be rules, practices, homework, and regulations. There would be times to use magic and times when it would be disallowed, but it would be hers. Hers to use and develop and explore. Hers.
As if responding to her euphoria, she felt a slight tingling in her back pocket- where she kept her wand. 14 and a half inches, horn-beam, phoenix feather. newly purchased and never used. Ready, willing, and waiting for the adventure to start.
Suddenly, she couldn’t restrain herself any longer. Interrupting her still chattering parentals, she gave each a quick hug of farewell. Blowing a raspberry to Ev, she rounded on Else gathering her up in a tight, swinging embrace.
“Of course!” Pixie laughed carelessly, squeezing tightly once before letting go.
With an explosive crow of delight, Pixie rocketed towards the passenger cars, a blur of blonde, blue, and black. Narrowly avoiding smaller first-years, careening around precariously balanced luggage carts of second and third-years, and hurtling past conversing fourth-fifth-and-so-ons, she made her way onto the train and into the first available car.
There were three students already seated inside.
“Hi!” she cheered, shoving her bags under the seat before any of them could say anything. “I’m Pixie.”
“And I’m leaving,” scowled the female student as she rose to her feet, “you won’t catch me on baby-patrol.” Without another word, she strolled out; chin length brown hair swishing as she about-faced.
“Later Wist,” the two remaining boys chimed, neither apparently bothered enough to get up.
“You must be new,” the shorter one chuckled as she secured her luggage and hung her owl’s cage from the ceiling.
“Nah,” Pixie gave him a cheshire grin, “got in some trouble with a time turner my fifth year and ended up having to start over.” She plopped in the window seat across from them both and waited.
“A-are, are you serious?” the shorter one’s hazel eyes widened while the other boy’s mouth twitched into a wry smile.
“Of course I’m not serious,” Pixie scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Why would I go to Hogwarts again when I was so close to being finished anyway?”
The other boy began laughing, “She’s got you there, T. What did I tell you about being so gullible?” He smiled wryly and stuck out his hand, “I’m Marrik and fluff-for-brains is Tolliver. We’re from slytherin.”
Pixie ignored his outstretched hand and nodded imperiously. “You don't say,” she drawled sarcastically, overtly eyeing their green and silver decor.
A loud whistle pierced the air and halted further banter. Pixie threw aside her games and gawped out the window. Inch by chugging inch the train began to move. The huddled forms of families waved and waved, watching their children steam out of the station. Pixie ignored the boys as they joined her at the window, no doubt searching, as she did, for the faces they knew and loved.
Ah there they were.
Father was tearing up, as expected. Mother was smiling placidly, still clinging to frowning Everard’s wrist. Else was standing a little off to the side, gazing vaguely into the distance.
Pixie chuckled a little- Else no doubt was dreaming about next year when the two of them would head off for Hogwarts together. The thought brought an impish smile to Pixie’s face, together they’d be unstoppable.
As if hearing her thoughts, Else looked up and met her older sister’s eyes. Instead of mischief, only sadness lurked in their mossy depths.
Together they’d – her breath caught in her lungs. Surely, they’d be together. Surely. They’d always been together. Always. Partners in crime, Bonny and Clothilde, Daddy’s little imps- together. always.
The train picked up speed, but Pixie paid it no mind. Surely. Surely. Surely no.
Mind racing, she tried to piece together what she’d missed, trying to divine a message from her sister’s gaze. This whole time she’d been so excited for her own witch-hood that she’d been blind to what her best friend had been trying to say.
Pressing a hand to the glass, Pixie mouthed a promise to Else just as the train replaced them with rolling hills.
