Trilateral Reciprocation on ao3 (Star Trek Discovery: Michael Burnham/Katrina Cornwell/Laira Rillak).
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Michael Burnham/Katrina Cornwell/Laira Rillak
Characters: Katrina Cornwell, Michael Burnham, Laira Rillak
Additional Tags: Polyamory Negotiations, in the very early stages
Summary: Sometimes Kat feels like she left all her emotions in the 23rd century, because she feels as out of place in her own heart as she does in the far future. Michael's so much better at being in this time period that she knows how to flirt with the president. Kat remembers flirting, in theory. She might have been good at it once.
written for Star Trek Holidays on ao3 (there are some fantastic fics in this one)
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gwen/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin), Gaius (Merlin), Kilgharrah (Merlin), Aithusa (Merlin)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Episode: s05e13 The Diamond of the Day, Arthur Pendragon Lives (Merlin), Major Character Injury, Permanent Injury, Disability, Minor Character Death, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Sad with a Happy Ending, Awesome Gwen (Merlin), Declarations Of Love, Polyamory Negotiations
Summary:
Merlin saves Arthur after Camlann. And then, they both have to live with the consequences.
Chapter 17: Diplomacy of a Different Kind has just been uploaded~
Chapter Summary: After Garrus meets with Primarch Adrien Victus and Councilor Quentius, he comes home to a surprising overheard confession from Tali. Shepard takes it upon herself to assume command of the situation.
~UPDATES WEEKLY <3
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Rosie and Sam, and Sam and Frodo, and Rosie and Frodo.
----
My long-held headcanon for how negotiations at Bag End went, in the months after Sam and Rosie moved in. This fic has major character death, but I promise she has a long and happy life before then, and it’s not terribly angsty at all.
Put your hands in my hands
And come with me
We'll find another end
A The Monster Hunters ficlet. Roy/Lorrimer/Suki.
The first time she feels it, it’s like a chill in the air of an early autumn morning – only it’s the height of an unusually hot summer in London, and she’s in Sir Maxwell’s study, patiently waiting for him to finish reading the telegram she just handed him.
It’s not his fault. Help him.
She doesn’t need to turn around to know there’s no one behind her. She straightens her back, and awaits further instructions.
.
Sir Maxwell has to pull several strings and call in a lot of favours, but eventually he manages to get Lorrimer Chesterfield back on British soil, and a free man at that. When Margot is buried in the Chesterfield family tomb, he sends a large wreath of flowers along with his secretary; she stands in the rain holding an umbrella for the grieving widower, who doesn’t seem to either notice, or care.
Thank you, the damp breeze murmurs in her ear.
She sighs and get back into the car.
.
Inveterate playboy or no, one well-placed glare is enough to make Roy Steel back away. She doesn’t have time for any of this, and while she suspects his relentless flirting is nothing more than just another coping mechanism, she needs him to understand this is neither the time nor the place.
Lorrimer looks up from the pages of his book long enough to meet her gaze, the ghost of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
That’s when she knows Sir Maxwell was right – they’re going to make a great team.
.
Somehow, he picks up on her interest in the supernatural; the next time he comes over, he brings her a pile of old books, stays in after his meeting with Sir Maxwell to discuss the contents of his latest publication.
He’s fascinated with you, the logs crackle cheerfully in the fireplace. Just give him time.
She raises her eyebrow in disbelief, and turns her attention back to the conversation at hand.
(Tries not to dwell on the fact that he’s not wearing his wedding ring anymore.)
.
In the end, she grows tired of waiting, and decides to take matters into her own hands. He kisses her back a little hesitantly, the tips of his fingers coming to rest on either side of her face – as if she’s one of his ancient artefacts, and he’s afraid of breaking her.
She rolls her eyes, and nips at his lower lip; he looks momentarily startled, then adjusts his technique accordingly.
The room sits eerily quiet all around them.
.
She sees the way they stare at one another when they think the other isn’t looking, and their complete lack of awareness of each other’s predicament makes the whole situation tenfold more frustrating.
“It’s not – you must know I would never do that to you,” Lorrimer splutters with indignation when she finally confronts him about it, and of course he would be missing the point entirely.
He’ll come round. He always does.
She watches him as he stalks out of the room, and she wonders.
.
“Suki! Why has the door to my study suddenly stopped working?”
She silences him with a fierce grip on his forearm; Sir Maxwell winces and falls silent, at least temporarily.
“All right, I will go to the billiard room,” he announces at length, his tone of voice considerably more subdued than the one he ordinarily employs. “Bring me a sherry.”
She does, the key to the study still sitting in her pocket. When Roy and Lorrimer emerge half an hour later, even Sir Maxwell can’t help but notice how flustered they both look.
.
“How does any of this work?” Roy asks as they all sit in Lorrimer’s flat, a bowl of branded instant soup in front of them each. “I don’t want to be – the other woman, so to speak.”
For the fraction of a second, the furniture settling sounds suspiciously like laughter. She elects to ignore it.
“Well, if Suki is really sure she doesn’t mind,” Lorrimer starts, only to snap his mouth shut as she glares a silent warning at him. “All right, then. Since Suki is absolutely positive she doesn’t mind, I guess we just – carry on, as normal.”
“Is that what this is? Normal?” Roy questions, hesitantly, even as the coffee table lets out a long-suffering creak.
“I believe so, yes,” Lorrimer says, clasping one hand around hers, and holding out the other for Roy to take.
Warning for - alcohol use and mis-use, polyamory negotiations, sexual humor
Thank you @soratayuya! This was a delightful prompt to fill---once I finally figured out how I wanted to go about writing it. ^_^ Happy 500 Followers, everyone. Even though I’ve gained quite a few of you since then, lol.
-
Cash pushed open the door, then spotted Edge at the bar. Shaking the snow off his boots, he stepped inside and crossed the room, ignoring the humans staring at the two monsters. Of course Edge would pick a place like this—a wine bar in downtown Ebbot, right in the heart of human territory. If he thought it would intimidate Cash, though, he was sorely mistaken.
He pulled the stool away from the bar with his foot and sat heavily. Edge—the prim and proper gutter-rat—eyed him consideringly, rolling the stem of his wine glass between his clawed fingers. Cash deliberately turned away from him, searching the back wall and smirking when he saw that the wine bar had a few harder options on hand as well. The bartender reluctantly approached them. “your best scotch. neat.”
The human eyed them both skeptically. “You have money? I don’t take gold.”
Fighting back irritation, Cash produced a couple hundreds. “start a tab,” he said tersely, “and you can have the remainder as a tip if you learn some manners.”
The human fought with himself for a few seconds, then he forced a smile and said cheerfully, “Of course, sir. Right away.” He snatched the money and made himself scarce. Edge shook his head, swirling his wine in the glass.
“That kind of behavior won’t earn you any friends.”
“you think i give a shit?” The barkeep set a tumbler in front of him and showed him the bottle, waiting for his approval before he poured. When he left, Cash finally turned to Edge. “well? what do you want, edgelord?”
Edge inhaled, then nodded to himself. “No use playing coy. You’re courting Rus.”
Cash raised a brow-bone. “if by ‘courting’ you mean ‘fucking’.” A light red flush graced the edgelord’s features, and Cash smirked. One point for him. Edge took a drink of his wine, fingers tight on the glass. “what’s the matter? don’t like a little competition?”
Setting the glass down, Edge smoothed his fingers over the edge of the bar. “Tell me this, at least—what is he to you?”
Cash paused with the tumbler halfway to his mouth. “i don’t think that’s any of your business.”
“I’m courting him too. I think I may have a right to that information.” Ignoring him, Cash sipped the scotch, shutting his sockets to savor the burn. “Do you love him?”
Cash choked, setting his glass down as he coughed. One point for Edge, then. “do you?” he demanded, his voice catching as he suppressed another cough.
Lifting his chin, Edge raised a brow-bone. He didn’t say as much, but there was an admission in that look. Cash wasn’t sure who earned a point for that. As if he’d read Cash’s mind, Edge said, “It seems we’re at an impasse, then.”
Cash didn’t say anything. He just sipped his scotch and stared straight ahead. He certainly wasn’t going to admit to the edgelord how his soul jumped when he was with Rus, how vulnerable he felt around him, how he wanted to pull him close and keep him safe, see him treasured and protected. Edge eyed his wine, swirling it in the glass. With a sigh, he raised the glass and drained it like a shot. Pushing it to the edge of the bar, he called the barkeep over and ordered something a little harder.
“Is he on your tab too, sir?”
Cash snorted. “he wishes.”
“Then I’ll need a card.”
Edge rolled his eyelights and handed over a credit card. When he was finally served, Edge took the bourbon in hand and spun on the stool to face Cash. “I have a proposal for you.”
Cash gave him a disgusted look. “you’re hardly my type.”
He rolled his eyelights. “Not that kind of proposal. You’re not my type either.”
“what is it, then?”
Edge swirled his drink, studying it. Then, carefully, he said, “We both…care…for Rus. We both want what’s best for him. We both want him to be happy.”
Bristling, Cash spun to glare at him, fingers tight on the glass. “and i suppose you think you’re what’s best for him?”
“No.” Edge cut him off before he could get too worked up. “I’m saying that…if you’re not using him…if you actually care about him…then I think we should be able to find a way to share. Preferably without killing each other.” Cash’s jaw popped. He wanted to deny it instantly, wanted to refuse on principle. They’d been competing for months now, each trying to prove that they were more worthy of Rus’ attention than the other.
Cash had been so sure that the gutter-rat was just a temporary diversion for Rus, that he’d soon see that he was clearly the superior choice. But Rus hadn’t pulled away from Edge. If anything, they’d grown closer. His only salve was the knowledge that they’d grown closer as well. What had started out as casual dating had quickly become much more intimate.
“why should i? he’ll pick one of us eventually.”
Edge shrugged. “And you’re confident that he’ll pick you?” His jaw popped again and his sipped his scotch. Checking to make sure the barkeep wasn’t listening in, Edge scooted over—close enough that Cash could smell the subtle spice of his magic and the sweetness of the wine, the smokiness of his bourbon—and leaned in. “Yes. If we keep pushing him, he’ll pick one of us eventually, but even a half-blind moron can see that he loves us both.” Cash glared, teeth grinding. Edge leaned away, giving him more space. “Forcing him to choose is going to break his heart. So tell me—which is more important to you? Making Rus happy? Or having him all to yourself?”
Cash studied the scotch in his hand and sighed, setting it aside. He called the barkeep over. “lime, salt, and your cheapest tequila,” he said, glancing at Edge. “for my friend as well. this is gonna be a long night.”
“Of course, sir. Coming right up.”
Leaning in to Edge’s space, he pointed a finger at him. “i still don’t like you.”
“The feeling’s mutual, I assure you. Do we have a deal?”
Cash smirked as the tequila arrived. “not even close, edgelord. take your medicine. then we’ll hash out details.”
Edge eyed the tableau—salt shaker, bowl of lime wedges, two shot glasses and a cheap bottle of tequila. “This seems unwise.”
“this whole thing seems unwise,” Cash snapped. “you want to talk this out? start drinking.”
Grimacing, Edge licked a spot on his metacarpal, then sprinkled salt on it. He picked up the lime and the shot. He raised the shot in mocking salute. “To not killing each other.” He licked the salt away, then knocked the shot back. Face twisting in distaste, he sucked on the lime, trying to get the taste out of his mouth. Cash followed suit a second later. The lime did not help. He poured them each another shot, pushing one toward Edge.
“let’s discuss terms.”
-
Rus walked out to the living room, then stopped and stared at the sight in front of him. Cash and Edge were tangled up together on his couch. There were just…so many things wrong with that that he didn’t even know where to start. That Edge was still asleep, even though he seemed to get up before the sun rose? That they were together? That they were on his couch?! He hadn’t had either of them over last night, let alone both of them.
Obviously, he needed caffeine.
Dragging himself past the pair, he started the coffee machine and the tea kettle, not sure if Edge would want tea or coffee. Edge started to rouse when the kettle whistled, while Cash stirred once the smell of coffee began to permeate the air. They looked at each other, groaned aloud, but neither of them moved from the couch or tried to escape. Cash just threw an arm over his sockets, wincing, and Edge slowly struggled into a sitting position, rubbing his forehead as he did so.
Rus eyed them, sipping his coffee. “…so. who wants to explain why there are two hungover skeletons on my couch?”
They looked at each other. Cash kicked Edge. “you go. it was your idea.”
Edge threw a pillow at him. “The tequila shots were your idea. You tell him.”
Cash glared, but Rus held up a hand. “hey. somebody better tell me what’s going on, or i’m going to set off the smoke alarm. bet you’d both love that right about now.”
They paled, and looked at each other again. “We called a truce,” Edge finally said.
Rus raised a brow-bone. “a…truce?”
“we’re not going to fight over you anymore.”
Rus’ soul dropped. “oh. i…see.” Were they…breaking up with him?
Edge eyed him, observant despite the hangover. “I thought you’d be happy; we’re trying to play nice.”
Rus swallowed. “yeah. it’s, uh, it’s great. wouldn’t want to stand in the way of a friendship.” His throat was tight. Edge cocked his head, but it was Cash whose eyelights flared in understanding. Before Rus could protest, Cash caught him with blue magic and pulled him onto the couch.
“not like that,” he said. “we’re playing nice for your sake.”
“…what?”
Eyeing the couch cushion separating them like it was a vast desert, Edge crawled across the divide. From the expression on his face, it looked extraordinarily painful. He finally settled beside Rus, and his presence finally forced Cash into a seated position. Edge leaned against him, sockets shut. He smelled faintly of stale alcohol, but it was such a rarity to see Edge hungover that Rus found it almost endearing. “We’re gonna share you.”
Not wanting to be one-upped, Cash snuggled against his other side, but they didn’t swat at each other or so much as glare. “yeah. hope you can handle both of us.”
Rus swallowed. Cash probably didn’t mean it like that, but he’d admit that it had been something of a private fantasy of his for a while now. “re—“ He cleared his throat. “really?” Edge nodded sleepily and sighed, leaning against him. Cash did the same on the other side. Rus ducked his head and smiled, warmth suffusing him. He’d long dreaded the day that he’d have to choose between the two of them. A knot inside his soul he hadn’t even been aware of melted away, and he wrapped one arm around each of them. Their sockets opened, looking at him. Edge ran a thumb over his mandible, and Cash nuzzled against his cervical vertebrae.
“Really,” Edge confirmed.
“yeah. we drank on it and everything.”
Rus snickered. “i can tell. so are you two gonna go share a shower? or is that a bit much to ask for at this point?”
Cash and Edge locked eyes. Cash hauled Rus against him and said, “you first, edgelord. i insist.”
Edge rolled his eyelights. “How generous.” Then he held out a hand and asked, “Care to join me, love?” Rus took his hand and allowed Edge to tug him to his feet. As he led Rus away, though, he looked back at Cash and said, “Don’t worry. When I’m finished with him, I’m quite sure he’ll need another shower.”
So they still had to work on the whole ‘sharing’ thing, but it was an improvement nonetheless.
