#jali says

[lindalofbroome]

22 - Technology

i often get agitated when people get nitpicky about kid's books because sometimes it's honestly not that deep and i think this is one of those times lol but i do think the golden jalis armour is kinda stupid because weight and softness etc etc buuuuuuut

my headcanon around this is that either they have a unique metal found only in diamond territory that looks like gold, or maybe it is gold but they have a special blacksmithing technique to make it suitable

..i cant remember if i decided on anything though. it might be the former because part of the reason i draw jalis with blonde/golden hair is related to Jalis Gold

but for the sake of this prompt it's about the technique lol. like damascus steel i guess but it would be something different

also i do think it's so funny that jalis are Known for their special armour but their armour smiths get like no credit. you think deltora blacksmithing and you think adin and his kin lmaoo

#roddacember 2023 #roddacember #lyn's roddacember prompts #postlyn #postlyn art #emily rodda #roddaverse #deltora quest #jalis #oc #beck of jaliad #// #anyway say hi to beck #she's an old oc from way back #she's the daughter of gallant who was one of the warriors who fought in the first shadow invasion #another oc i mean

[jali-jali]

Hi guys, do you remember this doujinshi? Well, wouldn't you like to know that now the direct sequel is available for COMIFURO 17 tomorrow!

No, I'm not lying, here are the samples for you all:

It's in Indonesian because it's going to be sold in Indonesia's Comic Frontier 17 on Sunday, 17 Dec 2023! Find me at Booth Jali-Jali D-21a as shown in the map below:

What I'll be selling tomorrow:

See you there! Or say hi if you're stumbled upon my booth by chance! ;D

-------------

Will there be English version? Tbh there is already an English version - titled "Sweet Connection", but it's digital only and exclusively for my patrons at Patreon. I owe the completion of this doujinshi to them, because without their supports, this doujin will probably never see the light of day. I did print several for the highest tier though, because physical goods is one of the perks of it and I will deliver!

#lawlu #trafalgar law #monkey d. luffy #doujin #von orrie #Crawling out after years of inactivity to promo my newest doujinshi lol #how are you all guys? #hope you're all doing well! #hoping to slowly reintegrating to tumblr again #but I'm gonna need to curate my following list they're all over the place!

[theimaginatrix27]

Roddacember Day 1: Favourite Character

I don't post about Deltora Quest enough, but something you need to know from the outset is that the first DQ book I read was Isle of Illusion because Vision Australia's library was like that. I got all the rest more or less in order (Shadowgate and Dread Mountain were out of sequence but hey, can't win 'em all), but this is important for what I'm about to say.

Because Jasmine in Isle of Illusion was keeping a secret from Lief, thinking he had been hiding her sister from her, and also demonstrated her absolute coolness in this book in several ways that made me instantly fall in love:

Had animal companions she could talk to, which I loved.

Proceeded to escape from the mud grubs offscreen thanks to animal companions and then bust Lief out immediately despite above beliefs about his lying to her.

Made it clear during her interactions with Penn and the Piper that she did not give a shit about stupid bullshit rules or others' expectations of her.

Fuckin swinging on a rope to get to the dome and the others joining her, because I do not like heights but I can acknowledge she was fuckin badass for doing that without fear and I didn't know anything about her that wasn't mentioned in this book.

Proceeded to destroy Auris's entire life by vocally shattering his illusions, figurative and literal.

In short, I was in love by the time I was halfway through the book.

And then I started reading the rest of the series and found I was right to do so.

Jasmine is impulsive, has a very short temper, can and often does break unwritten social rules, struggles with reading and can't swim. Jasmine is also whipcrack smart, observant, can talk to animals and trees, takes literally nobody's shit even if they're scary, is breathtakingly selfless, and as Glock said with his last breath, has the heart of a fuckin Jalis.

Jasmine is amazing and I love her, even when she gets herself or friends into trouble, and Lief made the absolute right choice, and that romance does not feel forced at all, because when a girl saves your life twice in the span of a day, when you've only just met, and then continues to save your fucken life over and over in the course of the next three years, what are you gonna do, not propose as soon as she'll let you?

Also that proposal, AKA "When the time comes, I will follow Adin's example and marry for love. If the woman I love will have me, of course," and her response, as lovely and forthright as Jasmine always is: "She probably will, when the time comes."

I love her.

Also she slayed in that outfit Steven gave her in Maze of the Beast and I love that for her as well. :D

#Deltora Quest #Jasmine #Roddacember 2023

[dukeoftheblackstar]

ρℓσ∂υ¢н - Never a day of impasse.

In which Plo sometimes lives vicariously through the wife and vice versa — headcanons because I'm stressed.

Duch can't cook. Plo can't eat (as much). Plo cooks. Duch eats (pretty much anything — live, raw, inanimate object, venom, anything).

Plo's wisdom allows him to procure the right words to offer comfort, manage compromised situations and the likes but is always mindful of physical contact unless absolutely necessary. Duch isn't a talker and her acts of support is always touch; from friendly kisses, hugs, massages, holding hands, washing/bathing someone (baths are rituals), will brush/play with your hair, tug on your shirt, anything of touch.

Duch is not above punching someone in the face if they talk shit about the clones. Plo, sensing this ahead of time, will quietly turn his back at the scene, maybe indulge someone else in a conversation in pretense, and when when he gets called to report Duch's behavior, he will merely pretend it never happened. The clones will happily back Plo up and agree that "it" indeed not happen. Plo gives masked kisses to Duch's bruised knuckles (she bruises quick) and either (1) gives pointers where to punch next time or (2) lectures her how to punch because she doesn't know how.

As true slaves of knowledge, Plo loves to read. Duch also loves reading but is more auditory. Plo is Duch's instant audiobook, singular podcast host.

Plo loves music. Duch loves singing. The House of Koon is never short of tunes. They also share the same preferences of music — mostly. Plo is still coming to terms with modern pop.

Duch loves sharp things; from her life-sized scissors, her battle axes, and her beloved scalpels. But nothing is more satisfying than cutting things with talons. Plo is happy to cut shit up for Duch; paper shapes, thread for when she's practicing knitting and sewing because Mama Koon says it's a good skill to have, bags of popcorn and fruits (in half). This helps his talons not get dull (maybe).

Plo has force lightning / Electric Judgment both as a skill he had acquired/honed as a Jedi but is said to be akin to Kel Dors, specific to Baran Do Sages. Celestians are conductors. They absorb electricity, manage and channel it to something. Together, you have a power source (Plo) and a regulator (Duch); they can either charge an electronic device for you with the right amount of wattage or blow your shit up — there is no in between.

Plo love soft things. Duch has a lot of soft things. Duch loves leathery feels like hide. Plo has a lot of leathery feels like his hide (skn). You know where I'm going with this.

Plo must remain propriety at all times. Duch doesn't really give two shits and will ask, though with grace and meticulously selected words, straight up.

Plo: I'm very much pleased to see you celebrating your 2nd anniversary, Wolffe, Jali. Duch: Grandbebbies when? Plo: Ah, my apologies. What my beloved wife meant was that would you like to come over for dinner? Duch: And baby-make in the guest room? Plo: Yes.

Plo loves children. Duch also loves children. Azen is a promising child who happens to be Kel Dor. They spend a good amount of money to buy Azen gifts and anonymously leave it in places Azen will find.

Plo has also taken it upon himself to assist Azen in Kel Dor essentials such as mask adjustment, cleaning, and maintenance — eventually leading to talks and bonding time over everything not limited to Dorin, the Baran Do Sages, what life is like as a Kel Dor. Duch has also taken it upon herself to make excuses to keep Azen in the House of Koon longer by being motherly and spoiling Azen with pretty much everything because she knows Plo probably misses home too.

Plo enjoys a good bout. Duch enjoys shirtless men fighting. They watch training and sparring together from time to time. Not to mention cheering Azen like a stage mom.

Plo Koon would request to occasionally spar with Azen in which Duch would have absolutely no qualms in cheering for Azen.

Duch to Plo: I know you have to test his strength, but be gentle okay? Azen's my baby. Plo to Duch: I will try. Duch to Azen as he gets ready with his stance/form: KICK HIS ASS SON!!! DON'T HOLD BACK. BRING THAT OLD MAN TO THE GROUND. Plo to Duch: ... Duch to Plo: Oh, right — I LOVE YOU, BABY.

Duch loves naps. Plo needs naps. Naps happen a lot in the House of Koon. Please do not disturb.

Duch loves tea and little things; tiny figures, pebbles, little cybernetic eye attached to a certain Commander of the 104th Battalion who refuses to let her play with. Plo loves tea and loves his wife. Ergo, they own a lot of tea pets and enjoy tea ceremonies with tea pets. Tea pets are pretty common for Celestians (Duch's species) and Plo finds it adorable and fascinating. Their current teapets are wolves.

For context, tea pets.

Plo sometimes uses of the force to lift and fling really small items at random directions so Duch can play by shooting them with deftness. Duch is a marksman (Celestians are ranged fighters with a knack for blades too, but never fists since strength aren't their best suit). Sometimes Plo lets her use a blaster, often a very tiny crossbow made of wood and dull arrows that you can literally wield with just one hand.

@saengak @amorfista @kimiheartblade @t3mpest98 @exosorcery @starrrgazingbunny @quiglettt @bobaprint

#♝ #ρℓσ∂υ¢н #ρℓσ∂υ¢н head canons #plo koon #plo koon x oc #plo koon x duch #I did a thing to unwind because I'm stressed af.

[linajinnnn]

Korean Lyrics : The MegaSIX

Photo credits goes to Twitter @_buxing

[Korean Lyrics : The MegaSIX]

- Original English Lyrics - Lyrics in Korean Letters / Transliteration (skipped if they used the same words with English) - Translation

[ALL] - Are you ready? - Seoul, here we go!

[CATHERINE OF ARAGON] - You must think that I'm crazy - You wanna replace me, baby, there's - 넌 날 밀어내려 해 / neon nal mil-eonaelyeo hae - 어림없는 소리 baby / eolim-eobsneun soli baby - So you're trying to push me away - Nonsense baby

[ALL] - No no no no no no no way

[CATHERINE OF ARAGON] - If you thought you could leave me - You must think I'm naive - Please believe me, there's - 넌 날 쉽게 생각해 / neon nal shibge saeng-gaghae - 이혼을 해 달래 / ihon-eul hae dallae - 웃기지마 / utgijima - You think I am easy - You want me to divorce - Don't be ridiculous

[ALL] - No no no no no no no no no no - Not sorry - 안 미안 / an mian - Not sorry

[ANNE BOLEYN] - Sorry, not sorry 'bout what I said - I'm just tryna have some fun - 안 미안해서 참 미안해 / an mianhaeseo cham mianhae - 즐기려던 것 뿐야 / jeulgilyeodeon geos ppun-ya - I'm so sorry that I'm not sorry - I was just trying to have fun

[CATHERINE OF ARAGON] - No no no way

[ANNE BOLEYN] - Don't worry, don't worry - Don't lose your head - I didn't mean to hurt anyone - 진정해 진정해 / jinjeonghae jinjeonghae - 정신머리 챙겨 / jeongsinmeori chaeng-gyeo - 나 상처줄 생각 없었어 /  na sangcheojul saeng-gak eobs-eoss-eo - Calm down, calm down - Keep your head - I didn't mean to hurt you

[JANE SEYMOUR (ANNE BOLEYN)] - You can (L-O-L) - You can (Say-oh-well) - You can try but I'm unbreakable - 난 (하하하) / nan (ha-ha-ha) - 난 (웃던지) / nan (ut-deon-ji) - 상관없어 난 그 자리에 / sang-gwan-eobs-eo nan geu jalie - I (hahaha) - I (Laugh, don't care) - I don't care, I am still here

[ALL (KATHERINE HOWARD)] - (All you wanna) do your best - But I'll stand the test - You'll find that I've - (니가 원한) 어떤 행복도 / (niga wonhan) eotteon haengbokdo - 어떤 시련도 / eotteon siryeondo - 이겨내고 / igyeonaego - (All you wanted) what kind of happiness - What kind of trials - I will get over it

[JANE SEYMOUR] - Got a heart of - 그 자리에 / geu jalie - Still be here

[ALL] - Sto-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-one - o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

[ANNA OF CLEVES] - All alone, on a throne - In a palace that I happen to own - 나 홀로 왕좌에 / na hollo wangjwa-e - 내가 갖게 된 이 성을 즐겨 / naega gatge doen e seong-eul jeulgyeo - All alone, on a throne - Enjoying the palace I happen to own

[KATHERINE HOWARD] - The only thing you wanna do - 니가 원하는 건 바로 / niga wonhaneun geon baro - Things you want right now

[ANNA OF CLEVES] - Too bad I don't agree, 'cause - I'm the queen of the castle - Get down, you dirty rascal-al-al - 이젠 인정할 수 없어 / ejen injeong hal su eobs-eo - 나는 이 성의 여왕 / naneun i seong-ui yeowang - 엎드려 절 하여라 / eopdeuryeo jeol hayeora - Cannot admit it anymore - I'm the queen of this castle - Get down and bow

[KATHERINE HOWARD] - All you wanna do - All you wanna do, babe, is - Sing along to your favourite queen's song - All you wanna do - All you wanna do, babe, is - Love me, love me - 니가 원한건 / niga wonhangeon - 니가 원한건 baby / niga wonhangeon baby - 우리 노랠 다 같이 불러 / uri norael da gat-i bulleo - 니가 원한건 / niga wonhangeon - 니가 원한건 baby / niga wonhangeon baby - Love me, love me - All you wanted - All you wanted is baby - Sing our songs all together - All you wanted - All you wanted is baby

[KATHERINE HOWARD & CATHERINE PARR] - L-l-l-l - Love

[CATHERINE PARR] - No, no - I don't need your love, no, no - It's time to rise above, woah, woah - No, no - 필요 없어 너의 사랑 / pil-yo eob-seo neoui sarang - 날아 오를래 woah, woah / nal-a oreul-lae woah, woah - I don't need your love - I'm gonna fly high, woah, woah

[ALL] - We don't need your love - 'Cause we're so much more than - 필요 없어 난 / pil-yo eob-seo nan - 우린 이제 알아 / urin ije al-a - I don't need it anymore - 'Cause now we all know

[CATHERINE OF ARAGON] - Divorced - 이혼 / e-hon - Divorced 

[ANNE BOLEYN] - Beheaded - 참수 / cham-soo - Beheaded

[JANE SEYMOUR] - Died - 죽음 / juk-eum - Died

[ANNA OF CLEVES] - Divorced - 이혼 / e-hon - Divorced 

[KATHERINE HOWARD] - Beheaded - 참수 / cham-soo - Beheaded

[CATHERINE PARR] - Survived - 생존 / saeng-jon - Survived

[ALL] - We're SIX! - 우린 SIX! / u-rin SIX! - We're SIX!

Yup. So obsessed with Korean SIX all night long and decided to record Korean Production's version of lyrics. L-O-L, I mean, Ha-ha-ha. Anyway, starting with the MegaSIX!

P.S. My opinion about Korean Lyrics of MegaSIX : I love how Cleves says 'get down and bow' in historical drama tone. : It's quite interesting that 'don't lose your head' became 'keep your head'. I mean, Korean lyrics also say about 'head(meori)'. The head joke still works!

#six the musical #six korea #six south korea #six the musical korea #식스 #sixthemusicalkr #식스더뮤지컬 #megasix

[goawaypopup]

Roddacember Day 8: Relationship

I could talk about any number of character dynamics here. Doran and the dragons he has known, and places he's loved, come to mind especially.

But I want something to analyze! So, let's take a bit of a different route.

There used to be far more dragons than there are now, and the survivors have each got a huge chunk of exclusive territory pre-allocated, so I would imagine they might continue to be largely solitary until their population starts to recover.

They did, however, receive a poignant lesson in remembering who your real enemy is when Lief summoned all seven on Dragon Night, and we know they also managed to come and be polite wedding guests together in Del afterwards. So, while the territories themselves are set deep in earth, there might be a lot more dragons paying visits to areas outside their purview in modern Deltora, and that potentially means visiting one other.

They all arrived at Hira quickly enough - a couple of hours at the most - that they probably don't have to worry about travel time to anywhere within the continent

Veritas' adoption of Forta Jr. will certainly help break down the custom of strict borders and tribal separatism too.

The death of Forta's mother does mean that a lot of Diamond dragon culture, specifically, was lost, a tragic parallel to the Jalis themselves and their near-genocide.

That makes me think, though. The Jalis are still alive and reintegrating with life in Deltora after being rescued from the Shadowlands. Storytelling is a big part of their custom.

I wouldn't be surprised if Forta, having been raised by a dragon outside her tribe, makes contact with the humans of her land as well, to hear about her people. Could make for a much closer relationship between dragons and Deltoran humans moving forward.

Anyways, the big thing here that makes this scenario different from ever before in the Land of Dragons, is Lief's particular screwup that night over Hira.

Invoking a dragon's true name lets you command them. And now they ALL know each others' names.

"Then we all have power over one another." says Fortuna.

What the hell does that look like in practice, Fortuna?

Is it like a semi-hive mind, where you can tell the others to do things, but they can do the same to you? Dragons are telepathic, so it's not unreasonable that it might not be possible to command someone to shut up and prevent them from retaliating.

The alternative is that that IS possible, and that makes things more of a mutually assured destruction deal. It being more of an active danger might add some incentive for them to start producing offspring whose names the others won't know.

Either way, we do know that this allows for (telepathically?) calling a dragon and being heard from far away, since they heard everything Lief said when he summoned them.

This, I imagine, is something like a group chat.

Actually, exactly like a group chat.

#roddacember 2023 #roddacember #deltora quest #dragons

[queen-scribbles]

The Long Burning Torch ch 8

Alright, here we go, continuing what might be (rip) the longest day of Xaeryn's life for my @shepherds-of-haven 20's AU. (And a big thanks to @emeraldgreaves for code diving for me again <3)

Wordcount: 8,350~

---

Xaeryn's knee-jerk instinct was to correct 'abducted, not kidnapped'. As if that made a lick of difference to the fact Red was gone because someone had taken him.

Closely on its heels came Sun above, this is my fault. It wasn't as if Red was involved with anything else that had even a sliver of a chance to put him in danger; it had to be the research he was doing for her, or something else related to the case.

She shook off both thoughts and made herself focus. Panic wouldn't help Red. Her detective skills might. Would. "Could I see his office?"

Pan gave her a concerned look--probably heard the slight break in her voice. "Xaer, are you...?"

"Crying about it won't find him any faster," she said brusquely, squaring her shoulders. "But if those responsible" --for abducting him--"left any clues, especially if there's something I could use to help scrying..."

He nodded, an understanding gleam in his eye. "I think security's done and didn't find anything to make them suspicious, but you deal with this sort of thing more than they do, so if you wanna take a gander..."

He gestured toward the office, then followed a pace or two behind her, hands shoved in the pockets of his trousers. He didn't say anything and let her take in the scene.

It looked the same, roughly, as the last time she'd visited, just sans one tall, charming headmaster to greet her with an easy smile and warm green eyes. It almost offended her that Red's office looked the same without him in it, which was silly.

But it looked the same. There were no signs of a struggle or a fight.

Xaeryn traced a finger along the edge of the desk, smiling slightly at the trio of books half on top of each other, the stack of six more haphazard next to the chair, the charcoal grey suit jacket hanging off one corner of the chairback. It was the sort of space she could guess belonged to Red Antiqua without ever seeing him in it.

The books open on the desk were familiar ones; Jalis desert tribes, pre-Castigation artefacts. The research he'd offered to recompile for her. She stared at the desk and chairs for a long moment.

"... a girl does need a job eventually, and I’ve always loved a good mystery.”

“Or even a bad one..."

She didn't like how hard it was to focus on the task at hand; she was behind the eight ball enough without getting distracted by their bull sessions here over the past sennight--

She straightened.

"Ryn? You need to leave?" Pan asked.

Xaeryn shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, voice steady. "There are books on the chairs."

"Yeah, that's Red for you." Pan shot her a questioning look. "You know the man's borderline incapable of putting away books he 'might need later', even if later turns out to be two months down the road."

She couldn't help a small laugh. "No, I do know that. The books are still on the chairs. Whoever took him didn't try to be chummy and draw out their visit. When he has company that's staying, he moves the books so they have somewhere to sit. So this was quick in and out, no signs of struggle, and they didn't try to play coy. This was a mission."

God help her, it was hard to stay and sound detached about this.

"Well, night watchman says he didn't hear or see anything odd and he's always been honest and faithful in doing his rounds. He does stay on the first floor, though, as there's no other access to up here than the lobby, and there's another watchman outside." Pan crossed his arms, looking thoughtfully around the office. "So either they knew his schedule, got blazing lucky, or... didn't come through downstairs."

"If they didn't come through downstairs, maybe they had a Traveler," Xaeryn mused. "But it would be a gamble to translocate into an unfamiliar space as small as an office." She frowned.

"Maybe they just scaled the outside of the building," Pan suggested. "Wouldn't take more than an hour of waiting to gauge the outside watchman's rounds."

"And figuring out which window would be unlocked?" Xaeryn countered, just to see how far they could follow this possibility.

Pan's eyes narrowed, and he swore under his breath before darting down the hall. She arched a brow at the abrupt departure and resumed examining the room until he returned.

"The corner office," he said, scowling. "It's unoccupied right now, so we use it when we need a break. Sela's always smoking charch in there, and then Bart opens the window to get the smell out but he never remembers to close it all the way. And if the door's mostly shut, you wouldn't see it from the hall. Hael."

"Even if we accept that theory for how they got in, how would they make a clean sneak with Red?" she pointed out. "He'd either be struggling or..." she wrinkled her nose at the phrasing even as she said it. "...dead weight."

Pan ran a hand through his hair, rubbed the back of his neck, and eventually shook his head. "Search me."

Xaeryn mulled it over for a bit, looking at the other books on Red's desk, smiling at the scraps of paper sticking out to mark pages. "What if... both idea are right? They came in through the window, but translocated out? Their hideout would be a familiar destination, thus safe to Travel to. It's an effective way to get an... unwilling or unconscious companion somewhere without much fuss."

"That means there probably were only one or two of them..." Pan sighed, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. "I offered to help him. With getting things together for you. I already know some of the details and I can keep my mouth shut. He said it was fine; this sort of thing is fun. B'sides, it wasn't like he minded doing it for you--"

Her heart squeezed. "He said that?"

"No, but, Xaer" --Pan arched a brow at her-- "I know both of you well enough to read between the lines."

She couldn't argue that. "How many times do I have to remind you you can call me Red?"

"Anyway, if I'd stayed, and there were only a couple of these toughs, maybe... maybe it would be an attempted kidnapping."

Xaeryn shook her head. "Depends how badly they wanted him." Her conversation with Briony and Darius was too fresh in her mind. "You might also be hurt or dead, and that's the last thing he'd want. Or that I want."

"Good point." He sucked the inside of his cheek. "Why would someone want Red that badly, Xaeryn? Is this... because of your case?"

"I think so." She winced. "I just don't know what part of his involvement would make him an appealing target." She hugged her arms in close against her chest. "If it was something specific or just because we were seen together and the people I'm after thought taking him would... hurt me."

They weren't wrong.

"I don't want to know all of what's going on, Ryn," Pan sighed, "but if that's the case, these sound like some pretty nasty brunos to mess with."

"They are." No point sugarcoating it.

Pan didn't reply, just leaned against the wall sucking his teeth as he watched her.

Xaeryn circled the desk again, hoping desperately for something that would be a clue or--

A curling corner of notebook paper peeked out from under one of the open books on the desk. She shifted the tomes aside and found a whole sheaf, covered front and back in sprawling notes. He'd even written in their shorthand, which made a small smile tug her lips despite the circumstances.

"He got a lot down," she muttered under her breath, the familiar shorthand making something twist in her chest. I hope you're okay.

"Yeah, I think he foisted his class on someone else so he could just work on this all day." Pan pushed off the wall and approached. "Not a shocking twist."

Xaeryn looked up from the paper, brow furrowed but didn't rise to the bait.

Pan, however, was undeterred. He sat back on the edge of the desk, giving her a skeptical look. "You two have always been thick as thieves, but it made him a special kind of dizzy to have you come waltzing back into our lives, y'know."

The twist in her chest went tighter. "I didn't know, actually. But it's always wonderful to reunite with old friends."

"Uh-huh. Old friends." Pan studied his nails a moment, then looked back at her with brows arched. "And what happened between you old friends the night of the gala to make him not say a gods-blessed word the whole way back to the hotel?"

Her fingers tightened, crinkling the paper. "That doesn't seem like a relevant line of inquiry, Panrachus," she said, gaze fixed on the page before her.

"It is to me," he countered with a knowing smile. "Maybe something in there relates to why he got nabbed."

She didn't like that thought. Even more than she disliked Pan's prying. "Nothing happened at the gala."

"And after?" Pan asked pointedly.

"...I might do something dreadfully improper."

"Also nothing." It came out sharper than intended. Thanks to your timing. Xaeryn cleared her throat. "Beyond what you already knew; I got jumped on my way back and Red helped patch up the result of defending myself." She waved the bandaged hand as proof. "I'm glad he was there; it would've been a nightmare to do alone."

"Mm-hm."

She shot him a narrow-eyed look. "Why do I feel like you don't believe me?"

"I dunno." Pan gave her a look that spoke volumes. "Do you feel like part of it shouldn't be believed?"

She looked him dead in the eye. "Nothing. Happened."

"Alright, I believe you," he shrugged. A beat. "Did you want it to?"

The whole messy torrent of emotions she been damming up since that night surged in her chest. God help me, yes.

She was saved from a moment of naked vulnerability by something gleaming on the desk, down among the books and paper. She dug for it and came up with an earring, amber bead transfixed on a small gold hoop.

"Hello there," she murmured, cradling the jewelry in her palm. "Last I checked, Red wasn't one for earrings."

Pan shook his head. "And he's the only one who's been in this office since we got back from Haven..."

There was always the chance it came from a student who'd visited prior to that, but it was the only lead she'd found. Xaeryn did not want to dwell on what she'd do it it was a dead end. If it was her fault he'd been abducted, the least she could do was save him, too.

No time like the present, she told herself, and with a deep breath sat in Red's chair. Part of her would rather have her full focus for a scry, but she didn't want to wait the two hours it would take to drive home. There was a driving, itching need to do something now. She pulled out the small bronze dish from her handbag. Scrying with so small a focus would give her a fearsome headache, but she didn't care if it let her find Red.

Pan watched from the other side of the desk, lapsed into anxious silence.

Alright, you bastard. Her hand curled around the earring. Where are you?

Scrying on the present was like sticking her head in a shallow pond to see what was on the bottom--blurry or shadowed at the edges, but she could pick up the detail she was after.

This time, however, was like trying to dive into a frozen lake.

She could see the potential for a vision, but slammed into something that blocked her from reaching it. Dead air.

Xaeryn broke the attempted scry, heedless of the dull ache starting at her temples. "No, no, no..." she mumbled, looking around the room.

"Xaer?"

"It didn't work," she said sharply. At least that confirmed the earring didn't come from a random Solhadur student, but that wasn't worth beans if she couldn't use it to find him.

Her gaze lighted on the jacket hanging off his chair and she seized it, fingers curling in the charcoal grey fabric as the smell of dusty books and his cologne filled her nose. She stared fiercely at the scrying focus, daring it not to work.

Dead air, again.

Her heart lodged in her throat and she tried to push it back down. Think this through logically, Xaeryn. It can't be coincidence, this implies it is indeed the people who have the Torch--Kaza and his allies--who took Red. They clearly have a VERY good Binder laying wards. Maybe Neon would know something; Pan said he's working in Haven now, I could ask--

"-ryn." From Pan's tone he'd repeated her name a few times at this point.

"I can't see him, either," she admitted, numb at having to say the words aloud.

"So... what next, then?"

What, indeed. There had to be something else. Something she could do, someone she could talk to. She couldn't be powerless, not now, not for this. She fought the desperation tightening her chest. Calm. Panic will only cloud your mind, and how will you help if you aren't thinking straight? It took a few moments of sitting in silence, absently rubbing the fabric of Red's jacket between her fingers as she forced herself to follow her advice.

"Well," she finally began, "given I got the same result attempting to look for Liefred or the earring's owner as I do for Solimer's Torch, it's likely they're together. It's the only times I've had this happen when I scry, so I feel it's a logical assumption. I have Thieves Guild in Haven keeping an eye out for unusual activity in Ashtown--the most likely hiding place for these hooligans. I can see if they noticed anything since I last spoke to them. Having a..." Hostage? prisoner? "...person to stash in the same building might've stirred some some activity."

"All the way back in Haven?!"

"That is where my prime suspect currently resides," she pointed out. "And I have an appointment with a pair likewise working against him; maybe they saw something helpful if the Guild didn't."

Pan sucked his teeth a moment, then cracked a small, wry smile. "Red would have a heart attack if he knew you'd made a deal with a Thieves Guild."

"He can fuss over my choices til he's blue in the face, long as it means he's safe," she retorted, pushing to her feet. "I'll ring with updates, do you have a direct number?" She scribbled it sideways up Red's notes as Pan rattled it off, collected her scrying focus to tuck that and the earring in her handbag. Maybe later she'd have better results than just a headache.

"Maybe I should come with you. Just back to Haven."

Xaeryn shook her head, resting a hand on Pan's arm. "Just in case the security teams figure something important, if you're here you can pass it along."

His expression said he saw through the excuse to keep him somewhere safe, but he nodded. "Fine."

"I'll be in touch," Xaeryn promised. She hesitated to return the suit jacket. "Do you think he'd mind if I keep this? To try again later."

"Not a drop," Pan said, shaking his head. "Find him, Xaer. And be safe, huh? I don't want to lose one friend, let alone two."

She nodded, not pointing out those request may well turn out mutually exclusive, and headed for her car.

---

Her head was awhirl the whole drive home, but she didn't have time to puzzle it out--or speak to Thieves Guild--when she got back. She was cutting it close on making her meeting with Briony and Darius. One-God willing, they'd know something that would help tie King Kaza to Red's abduction, or at least gotten something pointing to where he had stashed the Torch.

Xaeryn parked, made a brief visit to her office to lock the notes and earring in her desk, and headed briskly for the meeting. She turned the corner just in time to catch a flash of green hair as Darius ducked into the curiosities shop.

While smart not to visit the café so soon, especially since he and Briony rather stood out as customers, it made Xaeryn wish she'd warned them of the shop proprietor's eccentricities. Chandry was harmless but... off-putting to some, and Darius didn't seem the type to handle off-putting well.

But she had bigger concerns now. Xaeryn took a deep breath as she pulled open the door, but there was only so much her nerves were willing to ease.

Darius wasn't immediately visible when she entered, but he found her quickly enough. "You look riled, miss lady detective."

Xaeryn flashed a flat look for his tone. "It's warranted. Where's Briony?"

He craned his neck to look around the store. "Either on her way, or I guess she couldn't breeze on his majesty." His eyes narrowed. "You don't look happy 'bout that. What's tricks?"

She looked down, pretending to browse the curiosities on offer. "A friend of mine was abducted. I'm of a mind it's connected to our... suspect; this friend was helping me with research on the Torch."

Darius frowned, playing with a dinged up first aid kit. "That's the only connection?"

"I don't need anything else," Xaeryn hissed. She dropped the charch pipe she hadn't really been looking at. "He's a professor, for Heaven's sake! The only thing remotely dangerous he's tied to is this!" She gestured between them. "I wanted to ask Briony if she'd noticed anything in King Kaza''s behavior or visitors that might help me narrow down when he was... taken."

"We need to find the Torch," he growled in an undertone, "not your sweetheart."

"Friend," Xaeryn corrected tartly--and far too quickly, even she heard it.

"Can I help you find anything?" Chandry's arrival had been so quiet it made Darius flinch, whatever remark he was about to make lost in staring at the garishly made up--or painted, Xaeryn had never decided which side of the line it occupied--face of the shop's owner and namesake.

"Not today, Chandry," she said with a small shake of her head. "Just browsing."

"In that case... make sure you look at the new arrivals," Chandry said, patting the rolled up rugs on a nearby table. "And, smart as you are, maybe you can help me with something." He leaned forward, elbows braced on the topmost rug.

It was the fastest way to get their relative privacy back, and he had saved her from a rather embarrassing turn of conversation, so Xaeryn indulged him. "Oh?"

Chandry grinned. "I've been having a wonder this morning. Which streets," he began conspiratorially, " would have the most ghosts on them, do you think?"

Xaeryn pretended to mull it over, though the answer was obvious, even tapping her finger to her chin dramatically. "I guess it would be... dead ends?"

He all but clapped in his enthusiasm. "Correct!" A flourishing bow. "I shall leave you to your shopping." He bounded off.

"Took long enough," Darius grumbled.

"Chandry's not so bad," Xaeryn said defensively. "You just need to know how to talk to him." There are benefits to being on his good side. But they were here for a purpose. "Back to the matter at hand, I am aware of your deadline; I'm fairly sure my friend's being held in the same place as the Torch."

"What makes you so sure?"

"I can't scry on him, either!" She bit her lip. "It's the same dead air feeling as trying to do so with the Torch, and it's something I've never encountered before, so it seems a logical conclusion."

"Hm," Darius grunted. "Y'know, if Jarkyth sent the brunos who grabbed your friend, there might not be anything to glean from Ackshin."

"I thought about that. D'you know if either of them employ Diminished? Aside from Briony."

"A few, I think," he shrugged, "but you'd have to ask Bry for specifics. What about your friend; he a Mage? Put up a fight?"

"He is, but his specialization is Conjuring, translocation, not combat."

"If he's a Traveler, why-"

Xaeryn held up a finger to cut him off. "I'm trying not to think about that. None of the answers that spring to mind are pleasant, especially in relation to my best friend."

Something glittered in Darius' eyes but he didn't pursue the thought. "Didja learn anything new before you got distracted?"

She had to grit her teeth not to snap Red being abducted wasn't a distraction. Instead of giving him the satisfaction of getting under her skin, she relayed her deal with Thieves Guild and plan to talk to them when this appointment was done. "And you? Did your behind the scenes snooping turn up anything?"

"Yes and no." Darius did a double take at a fishbowl--complete with fish--before pulling himself back to the conversation. "I tailed one of Ackshin's toughs, all the way to blazin' Ashtown, but she gave me the slip." He scowled. "Felt like we were close to where she was goin', too."

Xaeryn stiffened. "What part of Ashtown was this in? I can have the Guild look more closely."

"South-eastern, I guess I'd call it," Darius said after a moment. "Almost plastered against the outer wall."

It made sense for them to be away from the main drag, though she wouldn't have expected quite that far. Unless they knew of some way out through or under the walls.... For now the important thing was having a smaller area for search.

"Alright," she murmured, half to herself, "I can work with that, provided the Guild will play ball."

"Don't suppose you have anything more actionable for me, miss snooper?" Darius interrupted her train of thought.

Xaeryn grimaced and shook her head. "No, just the deal with Thieves Guild. I'm afraid I've been a bit preoccupied by the abduction today. So unless them making a bolder move helps you in some way, I don't."

He grunted and glared at a table of kitchen paraphernalia. "Gods damn this twisted up kn-"

The door jangled forcefully as it swung open to admit a new arrival, familiar pink ponytail swishing as she looked around.

Briony's eyes flashed when she saw them and it clearly took effort to act nonchalant on her way in their direction. She called a polite response to Chandry's greeting without even looking, dodged a small table, and finally reached Xaeryn and Darius. "Glad I didn't miss you," she murmured, examining a display of commemorative playbills and paintings. "Kaza had a couple meetings where he wanted a show of strength an' I think someone might've been tailing me--"

"And you still came?!" Darius hissed. Xaeryn couldn't disagree; it seemed a terrible risk.

"I lost them first!" she retorted, flicking him an annoyed look. "I've been doing this as long as you, Darius Torren, I know how to lose a tail!"

"Oh, but they're so useful for swatting flies, why would you want to lose a tail if you had it?" Chandry interjected, and Briony looked briefly taken aback by both his sudden presence and appearance.

At least she recovered faster than Darius, showing a warm smile. "Oh, I mean a much less useful kind of tail."

Chandry shrugged at the explanation and disappeared between shelves once more.

"All else aside, I am glad you made it," Xaeryn said to steer them on track. She had to take Briony's word she'd truly shaken the tail. "Any developments for you?"

"Jarkyth came by for a bit before lunch," Briony said, after a quick glance to assure Chandry was moved off and there were no other customers in the store. "They shut themselves in the sitting room for near an hour. They're planning something with the Torch, and I feel like--"

"Any other visitors or messages this morning?" Xaeryn interrupted. "Perhaps that evoked a change in demeanor?"

Briony gave her a curious look but nodded. "He got a message during breakfast that prompted a very smug smile." Her brow furrowed. "Come to think, he did say something to the messenger that I didn't catch. Wonder if that's what made Jarkyth come over; they've been really careful about appearances. Why?" She crossed her arms. "You're being sort of intense, Xaeryn. It's scaring me."

Xaeryn explained the circumstances. Again. "And with what you say occurred, I think it's a safe bet our friends are responsible."

Briony's expression shifted aghast and she reached over to squeeze Xaeryn's shoulder comfortingly. It was a surprisingly hefty squeeze. "Are you doing alright?"

Xaeryn nodded. "Don't have the luxury to be otherwise."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"Actually, yes. Do you know of any other Diminished among King Kaza's entourage?"

Briony's face screwed in thought. "That came along? Just a few. It's funny; he's superstitious as hael, likes to flaunt me at every opportunity, but he's also nervous about trusting in magic too much. There's a Binder, to do his protective wards. Shy little redhead, I've never heard her speak and don't even know her name," she said regretfully, twirling her ponytail as she continued. "Heron's Ket, mostly here for his skill with battle magic, but he's a fair hand at conjuring--"

"Traveing?" Xaeryn's brows arched.

"He... probably could if he had to," Briony nodded, then gave a small gasp. "You think he's the one who took your friend?"

"Seems likely," Xaeryn said. If he was a full-blood Ket he could do it single-handed. "Are they the only ones?"

"For Ackshin, yeah. Jarkyth has a few 'judiciously placed servants' he's alluded to. Mostly things like Binding or Seer, useful but not dangerous if they decide to turn on him. Has a Shifter Heron won't stop nattering about." She smirked. "I think he's stuck on her."

Darius snorted. "Not important, Bry."

"You never know, D." She shrugged and turned to Xaeryn. "So, why do they want your friend?"

"I've been trying to figure that," Xaeryn sighed, trailing her fingers over a dark lantern. "Even from unpleasant angles. If they know I'm on their trail and want to keep me in the dark, I've already learned--and written down--near everything about the Torch, and there are... more final ways to remove him as a source.

"If they want to use him as leverage to make me dust on the case, you'd think they'd be more blatant or would have left a note-"

"Unless they're countin' on your big brain to fill in the blanks," Darius interjected sardonically. "An' you knowin' without them sayin' serving to make you more suggestible."

"Such a ray of sunshine, D," Briony groused, elbowing him sharply.

"He has a point," Xaeryn said, gritting her teeth at the thought. "But they'll be quite disappointed if that's their goal."

Briony flashed a fierce smile as she shifted to a shelf of knick knacks. "So, what's our plan, then?"

"Darius mentioned trailing one of the king's people to Ashtown. I'll have Thieves Guild watch the area more closely if they're amenable" --and she'd sweeten the deal if that's what it took to make them amenable--"you and Darius keep an eye for our friends' behavior so we can act swiftly if they do anything hinky." She tapped a finger to her lips. "I hate being stuck in so reactive a course, but I fear it's where our options lay."

Though if opportunity presented itself she would seize it with both hands.

"I guess you're righ- Oh, this is adorable!" Briony gave a delighted (and distracted) squeal as she snatched a small ceramic ahfuri off the shelf. It was adorable, but-

Xaeryn cleared her throat.

"I'll keep eyes peeled," Briony promised, cradling her find.

"How're we passing along anything we see?" Darius asked.

"Telephone or wire, I suppose," Xaeryn replied.

"Right." Briony nodded, wiggling slightly as she glanced toward the counter. "I'm gonna go pay for this." She darted across the store.

Darius fixed Xaeryn with a steady look. "You will tell us if you learn anything, right, miss snooper? Before you go harin' off after your friend alone?"

"Have you decided to worry about me in his absence?" Xaeryn said dryly.

He just arched a brow.

"I promise to pass along anything I learn, I don't promise to wait before acting on it."

Darius chuckled and glanced at Briony, who was chatting up Chandry with another warm smile as she paid. "Don't s'ppose I can blame you for that." He tugged on his cap. "See you soon, lady detective."

Briony noted him leaving and darted after him, barely remembering to grab her purchase.

Xaeryn smiled and browsed a few more minutes before heading for the door herself.

A hand on her arm stopped her just before she exited. "One moment," Chandry chirped, pressing something into her palm. "Don't forget your prize."

Xaeryn blinked at the bronze sun brooch. "Prize-?"

The riddle.

"To the victor go the spoils," Chandry proclaimed, releasing her arm to give another bow, and then ducked away. Rather than drag things out by protesting or trying to insist on paying--experience said he wouldn't take a danar--Xaeryn slipped the brooch in her handbag and headed for her office.

---

It hit her like a thunderbolt halfway up the steps--it was midafternoon and she'd not eaten since breakfast. As if summoned by the realization, her stomach cramped and her knees bobbled on the next step.

Xaeryn scowled at the reminder she needed to eat. There was too much to do, she needed to talk to Thieves Guild, she needed to poke around, she needed to find Red before--

Her stomach growled loudly.

I think there's still my half a sandwich left from yesterday, she surrendered--reluctantly--to her body's urging. After all, she wouldn't get much done if she fainted from hunger. The half sandwich. Perhaps an apple. Ten minutes to eat. She could spare that. Red would fuss if he knew she wasn't taking care of herself.

Xaeryn smiled wryly as she unlocked the door. That was better motivation than anything. She checked the back of the door as she closed it; no sigil showing, so no break-in attempt. She collected the sandwich and apple, opting to sit at her desk and review notes while she ate. Maybe there was something helpful she'd missed.

There was quite a bit to review, though less than it appeared by page count given Red's sprawling shorthand. He didn't doodle like she did, instead filling the page edge to edge. It didn't look like he'd found anything new while getting this together and it was easy to skim.

As she tucked the papers back in the drawer her gaze landed on the earring. She set down the small remaining portion of her sandwich and stared.

Couldn't hurt to try again...

She removed the earring, fetched her scrying disk, and cleared her mind to focus. The disk's surface clouded, cleared, and gave her nothing but the same dead air.

Xaeryn growled and glared at the earring. "Where is he?!"

She'd run into protective wards or sigils before blocking scries. This was different; just empty not blocked, and it kept happening on this case--

The telephone rang. She very seriously considered not answering. She needed to get to Ashtown. But that would be unprofessional, and what if it was Pan? Or Darius, or Briony, though this would be awful quick for one of them. So she sighed and picked up the receiver. "Xaeryn Shrike Investigations." Please be quick.

"Finally!" Ms. Aerin huffed on the other end. "I've been trying to reach you for hours, Miss Shrike!"

Really should get a secretary... "Apologies, there was a development and I was out of office." She ran a hand down her face.

"From your tone, I'd reckon this is not a positive development in the direction of recovering the artefact and arresting the thieves?"

"It might lead there," Xaeryn acknowledged. "But the actual occurrence is not. They abducted my friend who'd been helping with research."

"Ah. My condolences, Miss Shrike. Is there any chance of them learning compromising details?"

"Not if I've followed the trail to correct suspicions, no. He knows the history and legend around the Torch, but not the current state of my investigation." She shifted her grip on the telephone. "And my suspect is already familiar with all of that."

"Ah, so you do have a firm suspect."

"Mm." The brooch slid out of her handbag when she nudged it aside, and Xaeryn picked it up to toy with as she talked. "I was pretty firmly on his scent after the gala, but I met a couple... inside men, shall we say, who confirmed my suspicions. So I've found the man, I believe, I just need to find where he's stashed the artefact" --and Red--"and proof of his complicity in the matter."

"Excellent! Mr. Syndran told me you had some promising leads from the gala, I'm glad to hear one of them panned out," Ms. Aerin said. "The case has felt... treading water too long."

"Oh, yes, I suppose those developments did occur after we talked," Xaeryn murmured, tracing the bronze sun's rays.

"Talked?" There was a frown in her voice. "Miss Shrike, I wasn't there."

Something cold skittered down Xaeryn's spine to swirl in her gut. "What? I grant that it was a full night, but I distinctly remember talking to you."

"Then apparently I have a doppelganger," Ms. Aerin said tartly. "I didn't go, Miss Shrike. I was dealing with the effects of a traitorous sandwich at lunch."

Food poisoning?? "Then who..." The nagging sensation of just missing something was back. Followed like a bucket of ice water by the thought of the conversation she'd just had.

There's a Shifter working for Jarkyth.

"Did you inform Mr. Syndran you wouldn't be attending?" Xaeryn asked, willing her voice to stay level as her mind raced to incorporate this twist.

"Of course. I called the office." A pause. "I was honestly surprised to learn he attended without me. But the Hall is an important enough contract, I suppose it makes sense..."

Xaeryn shifted in her seat and cleared her throat. "Ms. Aerin, to all appearances, he attended with you."

There was a long silence as the other woman processed her words, followed by a snort. "Do you expect me to believe some impersonator managed to fool Riel Syndran into thinking she was me for several hours?!?!"

"Not for hours," Xaeryn corrected. "A few minutes for the drive to the gala, and then a short chat every so often throughout the evening. Mingling's the point of such an event, from my understanding. And at one point when I was chinning with him he mentioned 'you' were bustling about as if the gala was your responsibility instead of the museum's."

"That is the sort of thing I would do," Ms. Aerin sighed. "Still, I wonder how she pulled it off. And why."

"Information would be my guess," Xaeryn said. She idly clipped the brooch to her blouse and pulled out her notepad to page through. "My chief suspect is the king of Elinden, who has cultural and religious motives if he is indeed responsible, and at least a few high-placed political connections who could hire or employ someone skilled at disguise. The only motive I could imagine would be nosing around to see if there's information they missed. Or something they need that I have, or if there was worry I was too close on their trail." She flexed her bruised hand, evidence of the answer to that.

"And what would they have learned from your chat with her?"

"From me? That I had talked to Miss Aescar about people who tried to buy, claim, or steal the Torch. And that my notepad had been stolen. Nothing they didn't know already."

"They knew about the notepad?" Ms. Aerin said, arched brow in her voice.

"Oh, right." Xaeryn explained the reasoning behind that belief, the words trailing off as she reached a particular note from her inaugural meeting with Briony and Darius. She stared at it a moment, then decided to take a shot in the dark. "Ms. Aerin, did you go to the museum to oversee the arrival of the artefacts?"

"That was the plan," Ms. Aerin replied. "However, there were a couple... issues that arose requiring my attention, so I had to leave before they were done."

Got you. Despite the nagging sensation still growing at the base of her skull, Xaeryn smirked. "Thank you. Enlightening as this conversation has proven, was there a reason you were trying to reach me? I have a couple time-sensitive angles to investigate..."

"Just looking for an update; we hadn't heard from you yet today and Mr. Syndran is getting restless at how long things are dragging out."

"Believe me, I share his disapporval of that," Xaeryn said, running a finger over the notepad page. "I'm highly motivated to change it, and hopeful one of the new angles will bear significant fruit."

"Very well then, I'll leave you to it. Good day, Miss Shrike."

"Good day." The nagging grew stronger as she dropped the telephone back in its cradle. She was missing something, something right in front of her, and she couldn't help but feel it was something vital.

Deep breath and half a step back, she told herself. If Ms. Aerin hadn't stayed to oversee the whole delivery at the museum, and she knew from Darius and Ferrin's accounts nothing happened to the couriers' caravan on the way through the city, then it seemed clear the Shifter masqueraded as her to get access once the delivery arrived but she'd left. Xaeryn pulled out the photograph of Solimer's Torch. It wasn't even the size of her palm; easy to conceal in a handbag or pocket--or your blouse if you were feeling bold.

I know how they did it. The adrenaline rush at that victory was somewhat dulled by knowing these people--smart, bold, and desperate--had Red.

The Shifter had probably been emboldened by her success at the delivery--faking bad humor so people were glad to be rid of you was one off the oldest tricks in the book. Enough to attempt something more daring, like copying Aerin again for the gala--

Xaeryn sat bolt upright in her chair, the nagging turned to gut-wrenching revelation as pieces clicked. There was one more thing the Shifter had learned from her at the gala.

Red was the only other person who could read her shorthand.

Nausea twisted and she almost tasted her lunch again. It really was her fault. She'd relayed the damning information to the culprits with blithe ignorance.

And now that she knew, and was recalling the encounter with a more critical eye, all the clues seemed blatantly obvious. The chillier manner, the repeated 'Detective Shrike' rather than 'Miss', the vague prodding at topics they had already discussed.

Self-flagellation later, tracking down Red now, she scolded. The one silver lining to realizing her gaffe was that if they had abducted Red for such a purpose, they'd need him alive, conscious, and (mostly) unharmed.

The swift counter to that--and extreme incentive to hurry--was she had no idea how far they'd go to make him cooperate. Or what they wanted from her notes. Or if they would believe what he claimed about their contents.

There was not, however, any doubt in her mind what would happen once they had what they wanted.

She needed to talk to Thieves Guild. Now.

Xaeryn pushed away from the desk with vigor, only just remembered to lock up the case paraphernalia, and headed out the door, determined steps carrying her toward Ashtown.

---

She'd wound her way through the streets and was just in sight of the cat graffiti outside the Guild's warehouse when movement raked her peripheral vision and a lanky figure dropped off a low roof nearby.

"You're sure gettin' easy with navigating our streets, Miss Shrike," Chase said with a grin, shoving his hands in his pockets. Dust or dirt smeared the sleeve and front of his dark red shirt, and his green eyes twinkled as he examined her. "Quite the skill for a proper lady to develop; people will talk."

"An excellent memory is actually quite a useful skill to refine as a detective," Xaeryn corrected. "I need to speak with you."

"Oho, straight to the point." He was still grinning. "This about the deal you made with Ari?" One hand came out of the pocket to gesture toward the warehouse door.

"Yes." She gripped her handbag tightly more out of urgency than concern. "I wanted to talk about the terms."

"Changing them on us already?" Chase made a tsking sound as he turned into a room, smaller than where they'd spoken before, more of an office. "Not wise to play around with Thieves Guild, sunshine."

Xaeryn grit her teeth. Miss Shrike. But it wasn't worth it. "Not... changing in any way meant to be detrimental or unfair to you," she said, taking a seat when he offered. "You know I'd asked your people to keep an eye for anything hinky. I was wondering what the trade off would be for more closely examining a smaller area."

"So, rather than a general 'let me know if anything weird happens on your turf', you want us to poke around part of it for something specific?" Chase sat behind what approximated a desk as he spoke--planks balanced atop crates--and put his feet up.

"Yes. What change would that bring to our bargained price?"

He smirked and played with one of his rings, studying her face with a keen look in his eyes. "Well, seeing as we've already made a pretty lyss off you, which I'm sure you'll at least partly claim as a business expense, so Merchants Guild foots the bill" --he gave a Cheshire grin at the thought--"I don't want any more of your money."

She arched a brow. "No?" The hair prickled at her nape.

Chase slid a knife free of its boot sheath and stared at the blade nonchalantly. "No, I think for this I want a favor." His eyes flicked to hers. "Regardless of if we find what you're after."

"Accepted, but I won't do anything illegal," Xaeryn said without a beat of hesitation.

"Darling, this is Thieves Guild," he drawled, his grin unwavering under piercing green eyes.

"And I"m certain there's at least a few legitimate things you can think of to ask me," she countered. "Nothing. Illegal." She'd square anything else between her and the One-God, but she wasn't going to jeopardize her livelihood doing something that would turn the police fully against her. She was already sort of a grey area to them. If push came to shove, she'd look for Red and the Torch herself.

"If it has to be on the up, then two favors," Chase said. He was studying her with narrowed eyes and it made her wonder what he saw.

She didn't feel like playing games to get an answer out of him, however. "One regardless, two if you're successful. I'm interested now in just the south-eastern quarter, near the wall in particular. Looking for a building that's being used to stash at least one stolen artefact and a... captive. But before you shift into that, did your people see anything from the more general assignment?"

"Twiggy blonde in the northeast part of the district, just hanging around." He waggled his brows. Xaeryn knew as well as he did people did not loiter in Ashtown for their health. "But she didn't do anything much; lingered and left, so I'd wager she got dusted on by whoever was s'pposed to meet her."

It didn't seem relevant, but she filed it away nonetheless. "Thank you. I'll be checking soon to see if you've found anything with the narrowed area."

"Anxious, are we?" Chase said with a knowing smile. "And could I get a description of this 'captive'? In case we see them, we should know if it's the right person, wouldn't you say?"

"He's tall, red hair, green eyes, street clothes sans jacket and perhaps tie." He didn't always wear one. "I'm not sure how they've been treating him, so he might be roughed up." She stood. "And this is a time-sensitive case that has already drug out longer than desired, so perhaps I am a bit anxious for its conclusion."

"Hopefully we'll find something that can help with that goal." He swung his feet down. "Be seein' you, Miss Shrike."

"You certainly will, Chase." She made her way outside, blinked through the dim-to-bright shift again, and briefly considered poking around herself before deciding to return to her office. Perhaps scrying on Red directly would work this time... If she could just see him, it would help the worry gnawing in her chest. No matter how dire the straits.

---

It did not work. Still nothing. Xaeryn hated feeling powerless at the best of times, not being able to do anything now, with Red in harm's clutches, was pure torture. It was getting harder and harder to fight off the frantic, paralyzing dread as each avenue she explored dropped a dead end in her path. She even got desperate enough to poke around the king's hotel, but that, too, came up empty.

She wasn't truly hungry, but when dinner time came she didn't have anything else to do except pray and go over notes again. Wait for Briony or Darius to reach out, if they would have cause. So she fixed something small and made herself eat. She didn't taste a bite.

To keep herself from pacing a hole in the floor, she decided to give scrying with the earring one more shot. Third time's the charm, wasn't that the saying?

Yes, she was getting a headache from scrying so much in one day. (Or trying to.) No, she didn't care if it would let her find Red before something happened to him.

There was a sense of last-ditch finality to this attempt as she prepared. Logic would dictate giving up if it failed to produce result again. Xaeryn wasn't sure she could be logical about this.

She pinched the earring between her thumb and first two fingers, focused on the bronze scrying disk, and sent up a prayer. One-God, please.

The surface wavered, clouded, cleared on an image. A lightning bolt of desperate relief seared through her and she almost lost the scry before focusing greedy attention on what she could see. A tall man, well built, with silvery-white hair. She strained her concentration until pain lanced her temples and could make out the Ket tattoo on his wrist and earring the match of the one she held in his ear. The background was fuzzy, but she got the sense of generic grandeur, like a ritzy hotel. Another figure stepped into the bounds of her scry--King Kaza Ackshin.

Xaeryn struggled to keep her breathing steady as hope nipped at her soul. A solid connection.

There was another silhouette at the edge, just a shadow, but it might've been Briony. The posture and ponytail looked right.

Her subject--Heron, she'd guess--and King Kaza were exchanging words, which the silent nature of scries meant she didn't catch, and their positioning made it hard to read lips. But it was clear from body language they were preparing to leave. The toll was too much and the scry faded as the figures headed out of the room.

Xaeryn's heart pounded with adrenaline and exertion in equal share as she sat back.

A lead. Oh, blessed God above, she had a lead. They were heading somewhere, the gamble was if it was where she wanted to find or something unrelated.

She was on her feet and halfway across the room before she remembered her promise to Darius. If Briony was with King Kaza, did that count as one of them knowing? Did she really have time...

Xaeryn groaned, turned back the desk, and called the place Darius had said he was staying. No, "Mr. Thrace" wasn't in, did she want to leave a message for him? Deep breath through her nose. "Tell him to meet his snooper friend by the Ashtown gate. She's not going to wait for him long." She hung up before the desk clerk could respond.

If she hustled, she could pick up the king's entourage at the gates and follow. If that's where they were going. If it wasn't, she'd be out of the office, should anyone try to reach her, and miss a vital update.

She had to follow this. To be so close, have this dropped almost literally in her lap...

What she'd seen of King Kaza's expression was eager--he was looking forward to wherever this would lead. That thought alone tipped the balance. There was only one course of action for her and she knew it.

Xaeryn didn't even bother with a hat this time. She only grabbed her handbag because it held her dagger, and if she'd chosen correctly, she would likely need it.

Please let me be right. Please let him be alright. There was no way to ensure someone knew what she was doing--she really should get a secretary--so she'd just have to hope. Hope Briony was truly along, or Darius wasn't out long to get her message, or something. This might very well be the culmination of her case, and all she cared about was saving her friend.

"Nothing. Happened."

"Did you want it to?"

Her hands were shaking as she locked the drawer, locked the door, and hurried toward the Ashtown gates, thoughts on Red and a fervent prayer in her heart.

#queens fic #shoh #shepherds of haven #xaeryn shrike #liefred antiqua #panrachus #briony stormbreaker #chase trinaeste #tlbt #ryn/red

[eyeoftheheart]

“​But you can thank God the Lord for His inconceivable goodness, which can be recognized daily and hourly throughout your entire existence, if only you honestly try! Your whole life shall therefore become a thanksgiving!”

― Abd-Ru-Shin (Oskar Ernst Bernhardt), In the Light of Truth : The Grail Message

[The original in German: Doch danken könnt Ihr Gott, dem Herrn, für seine unfaßbare Güte, die täglich, stündlich zu erkennen ist in Eurem ganzen Sein, wenn Ihr nur ehrlich wollt! Und Dank soll deshalb Euer ganzes Leben werden!]

Alhamdulillah for everything :-)

Artwork

This unique work features the expression 'Alhamdulillah' penned in captivating Celî Sülüs (Jali Thuluth) script by the award-winning calligrapher Mehmet Özçay.

The expression features at least 21 times in the Noble Quran, perhaps most famously in surat al-Fatiha: 'Praise belongs to God (Alhamdulillah), Lord of the Worlds' (1:2).

The same words are spoken by the inhabitants of paradise, who will say, ‘Praise be to God (Alhamdulillah), who has separated us from all sorrow! Our Lord is truly most forgiving, most appreciative' (35:34).

They are words spoken by the prophets David and Solomon: 'We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said, ‘Praise be to God, who has favoured us over many of His believing servants’' (27:15) and by the friend of God, Abraham: 'Praise be to God, who has granted me Ishmael and Isaac in my old age: my Lord hears all requests!' (14:39).

#Abd-Ru-Shin #Oskar Ernst Bernhardt #In the Light of Truth : The Grail Message #Alhamdulillah #Alhamdulillah for everything

[punkscowardschampions]

Mali & Jali

Ali: Hey, Moses

Ali: What’s all this about Edie moving in with you?

Moses: She wants to and I’ve said she can when I’m back

Ali: Oh, are you sure?

Ali: We could do half and half, if you’d rather

Moses: It’s settled

Ali: What did she say to you? She hadn’t mentioned anything to me before now

Moses: She wouldn’t, she can talk to me better than she can yous

Ali: I’m glad you two talk but she can talk to me too

Ali: it hasn’t been an easy time for her recently, I thought she’d be asking to move into the flat too, if anything

Moses: You’ve made it no easier letting my cousin talk to her

Ali: I had no right to deny the gift on her behalf, they are her family too

Ali: She didn’t have to, I just passed the message on

Moses: He had no right

Ali: I’m not getting involved, you can talk to him yourself

Ali: he obviously thought it was the right thing to do

Moses: You’re involved, that’s why he thought to do it

Ali: Nah, he didn’t even tell me what he did when he gave it to Django

Ali: because I wasn’t happy about it, actually

Moses: Didn’t have to, you still found out

Ali: Did he say something to upset Edie?

Moses: Yeah

Ali: Right, okay

Ali: tell me what happened

Moses: What’s happened is he reckons on using my daughter to get at me

Ali: Go on

Moses: Inviting her round there to play happy families while I’m away busy

Ali: He invited her ‘round

Moses: As if she needs telling what a proper daddy is and I’m not

Ali: Is that how it were meant or just how it felt? Surely he didn’t say that

Moses: Blatant disrespect’s only meant one way, he’s letting it be known to her I don’t provide for her proper by offering to

Ali: Do you want me to talk to him?

Moses: He wants yous to and you want it yourself

Moses: I don’t care about neither of you, like

Ali: Come on, I admit, I didn’t think about it from your position, only hers

Moses: She’s mine and I look after her, he’s only troubling himself with you

Ali: No he’s not, but it’s fine, she doesn’t need the money and it was a bad idea of his

Moses: Hush money for Django not to show up at his door is no business of hers

Ali: Well, I don’t know what to tell you, it wasn’t for my benefit, I wasn’t impressed

Ali: it’s not my business to understand his logic anymore

Moses: For your attention, but he’s got mine instead

Ali: None of this has to do with Edie moving in with you

Ali: you’ll make sure she’s in school, that she’s keeping up with her homework?

Moses: She’s had enough of school, I hear

Ali: She feels like that now, other times she likes it, there’s reason to persevere 

Moses: I’m not forcing her, she’s her own mind

Ali: She has to go, there’s laws

Moses: We’ve ours, you know that

Ali: She’s not been raised like that, she’s not going to end up there, she needs to keep up her schooling

Moses: She needs some fun, Christ

Ali: No one is saying she can’t have both

Moses: She can have what she wants, it ain’t up to you to say

Ali: We’re her parents, we have to keep her on a good track, that is up to us

Moses: Johnno’s been back a minute and you’re parroting him

Ali: What do you mean? No one can claim that, it’s too basic

Moses: What I mean is, you two are an embarrassment to still be carrying on this way

Ali: Oh my God, can you drop it

Ali: I’m trying to have an actual conversation with you

Moses: Even she can see it and she’s a kid

Ali: What can she see?

Moses: ‘Course she’s begging me to take her before you put yourself in the middle of his family and wreck it

Ali: Jesus

Ali: If I could wreck his family, would I not have years ago, we all know the only one with any power is you men

Moses: All she knows is the state of you

Ali: Right, I’m actually going to talk to our daughter because this is getting us nowhere

Moses: We’ve nowhere to be, I’ll be coming for her as arranged with her

Ali: She’ll not be going anywhere until I understand what this is about, from her mouth and not yours

Ali: but I will keep you updated

Moses: From her mouth this is what she wants

Ali: I have no doubt that she does, I’m not saying you shouldn’t spend more time together

Ali: but if she wants to go for any reason beyond that then it’s my business to understand and fix whatever may need fixing

Moses: She just misses me

Ali: Now that’s all it is

Moses: Yeah, you can throw yourself at who you like

Ali: You can’t just get your own way by saying whatever and seeing what sticks

Moses: She’ll get her own way, she’s who matters

Ali: She matters, which is why we need to make sure we’re doing the right thing by her

Moses: I am, we talked for ages about what’s best

Ali: It’s a team effort

Moses: It wasn’t when you were blinded by his flashing euro signs

Ali: Wow, yeah, that’s all I care about

Moses: It’s all he’s offering her

Moses: but sure, you care about yourself and what he might you

Ali: I’m sorry at how much this has offended you

Moses: No you’re not

Ali: I wouldn’t have said it otherwise

Moses: Anything to distract from his feet under your table

Ali: You just want to have a go

Moses: Where’s your self respect?

Ali: When did I ever have any, right

Moses: What did she die for if you’re to crawl back under him like she never?

Ali: She didn’t die for anything, she’s not a life lesson, she’s a person that died

Ali: and my friend, I don’t know what she meant to you

Moses: You’ve learnt none and that boy who you’re after calling your son means nothing to you when you’re behaving like this

Ali: No one gets to lecture me on him, not you, nobody

Moses: You don’t want to hear it knowing I’ve a point with how he treated the both of yous

Ali: Moses, I’m aware, I don’t need you to point it out

Moses: She needs you to set a decent example and you don’t

Ali: But you do

Moses: Is this where you’re to tell me how I don’t?

Ali: I’ve no interest in doing that

Moses: I’m not having lads behave like that with her on account of you

Ali: She’s not me, she makes her own choices, as you pointed out

Moses: You’ve given us none but to step in

Ali: Step in or step up

Ali: You’re accusing me of something you only think is true, not something that is

Moses: She was crying to me, what else am I gonna do?

Ali: You’re meant to talk to me, how can I do anything if I’m kept in the dark

Moses: You started that, you don’t tell me anything

Ali: Yes I do

Moses: You should’ve said she needed me this much

Ali: You know she misses you when you’re away, with Una, it’s just been a tough time, of course she’s upset

Moses: I’d have been away less

Ali: You’ve got a job, no one begrudges you that

Ali: How long do you plan to be back this way?

Moses: As long as I can

Ali: Okay, there, you’ll have all that time to catch up

Moses: Then there’s been talk of us going together to [wherever he’s next going and told her she could come]

Ali: Not the entire time but like a holiday, that could be good for her

Moses: She’s reached an age where she’s after the knowing of my life

Ali: Of course, she cares about you

Moses: She was of the mind to find me a wife before I told her no

Ali: She wants everyone to be happy

Moses: I’ll be happy to have her with us

Ali: I know she’ll be happy to hear that

Moses: Yeah, she’s packed herself up

Ali: I do need to talk to her, about the other things you brought up

Ali: but aside from that

Moses: It’s him who wound us up, you’re just who’s here

Ali: Maybe talking to him is the worst thing I could’ve suggested, I don’t know

Ali: but I accept your valid point about it, okay

Moses: I don’t want you to let him to use you again after he’s shown everyone what he thinks of you

Ali: You don’t need to worry about me, I can take care of myself

Moses: But I do, and my sister

Ali: Your sister is your sister, of course you care about her

Moses: I care about you too, use it does

Ali: Nothing has happened, is happening, like you said, it was guilt money

Ali: You’re good to focus on Edie

Moses: She needs me to, but you know where I am

Ali: We’ll be bound to see more of each other now, so yeah, I remember

Moses: Be sure to remember to leave John alone

Ali: I’ve left him alone for the past [x years]

Moses: Yeah right

Ali: I bloody well have

Moses: To his kids whose birthdays match those of yours near exact and his daughter who’s named for you

Ali: Doesn’t mean anything has happened, he’s married, you know he takes it seriously

Moses: What more of a joke could he make of his wife than all that?

Ali: It’s not fair but I only get told it’s not my business if I comment on it

Moses: So do I if I try and handle it

Ali: Is it not up to your elders to handle it if he crosses whatever line they draw it at?

Ali: That’s how I understood it

Moses: Well he ain’t crossed theirs, has he

Ali: I just mean, well, you’re as powerless to do anything, you’ll have the same rights when you do get hitched, fair or not

Moses: I don’t need telling what my rights are, with my own wife or other peoples

Ali: I know, you don’t follow the rules

Moses: I follow mine, you’re no different 

Ali: Edie’d not be here otherwise, like

Moses: She’s the best thing I’ve done

Ali: Yeah, we did good

Moses: I mean to do better by her

Ali: Just try to be there for her, in person or on the other end of a phone, that’s all she really needs

Moses: I don’t want to get it wrong

Ali: I know you don’t, you aren’t a bad dad, Moses

Moses: We made her too smart

Ali: No kidding, it’s terrifying

Moses: And she’s writing a song, I’m no nearer ready for that neither

Ali: Ah, well there’s no preparing you there

Ali: try not to be too embarrassing in how proud you are

Moses: I never, leave that one to you, sweetheart

Ali: Charming

Moses: You’ve never reckoned I’m a prince how she does

Ali: I’m not a kid, never mind yours, be a little weird if I did

Moses: Only to you because you don’t love me

Moses: my daddy’s a king to many a woman

Ali: So he says

Moses: So he is

Ali: Then you can follow his example, can’t you

Moses: Wasn’t I good to you?

Ali: You were but we’re not those people now, we’re not what each other needs

Moses: I’ll give you what you need still

Ali: Come on, you’ve spent half this conversation insulting us

Ali: it’d be a terrible idea, you’d be miserable

Moses: That’s half the fun

Moses: but you know I can be nice too

Ali: You’ve played nice, sure

Moses: Yeah, I play a bit and then I give you what you need

Ali: You’re a dope, boy

Moses: You are if you don’t miss me

Ali: I’m too busy to miss you

Moses: 3 more babies’ll keep yous busy

Ali: Didn’t you ever want to do it all again?

Moses: You left us, how could I

Ali: Ah now, you could have done it with anyone, within reason

Moses: They’ve already babies I’m an escape from, them and their husbands

Ali: But you’re happy?

Moses: Keeps life interesting

Ali: I bet

Ali: you keep her sheltered from all that carry on though

Moses: I’ll put a stop to it when I have her

Ali: It’s your life, I’d be the last person to tell you how to live it

Ali: I’ll trust you to be sensible about it though

Moses: She’s trusting me, I’m gonna show her she can

Ali: Good

Ali: Is there anything you’re needing, I can bring more than she’s bringing on her back, like?

Moses: We’ll be grand

Ali: Okay then

Ali: Still no need to see each other but unfortunately for you, enough reason to talk

Ali: I’ll make it quick

Ali: The money you set aside for Edie, put it back in for your kids

Johnny: What are you talking about?

Ali: She’ll not be taking it, she’s decided

Ali: And for the record, in case he makes it known, she told Moses and he wasn’t thrilled about the offer, which I can’t blame him for, in hindsight

Johnny: Who’s hindsight, his?

Ali: You upset her, apparently

Ali: and yeah, he said you’re saying he can’t provide which is almost exactly how you put it to me so, I can’t fault the logic

Ali: I shouldn’t put myself in the middle

Johnny: I upset her by not being her daddy, but I’ll not put myself in the middle by telling you

Ali: Well one of you needs to start talking, what’s going on, why is my daughter confiding in you two but not me suddenly?

Johnny: It was talking of you, of me and you

Ali: Ah

Ali: She does have a habit of doing that, well, I didn’t think she did anymore but it’s not the first time

Johnny: She wanted me to take his place, look after her but only with us all as a family

Ali: Fucking hell, that’ll be how she’s got her da’ back now then

Ali: I’m sorry, she said that, her mortification will have to count as payment

Johnny: I’d said I’d be around for her, just herself, and she threw it back at us, there’s the upset

Ali: I don’t know why she does it, you can think I’m a crap mum but seriously, it’s not like I share dating woes with the girl, she just gets these ideas in her head and

Ali: Are you moved back to [the OG site] now?

Johnny: I’ve daughters I understand what their heads are full of

Johnny: We are, more or less and thereabouts, like

Ali: An even split, haven’t you?

Ali: Well, she’s made hers up to move in with him, so, if you see either of them about

Johnny: Yeah, for my sins

Johnny: I’ll keep an eye sure enough

Ali: I wasn’t asking you to, shouldn’t be

Ali: I know you’ve enough on yourself

Johnny: I’d do more without your asking, you know 

Ali: It’s appreciated

Ali: and you telling me, if it couldn’t be used as an insult I was getting nothing from Moses

Johnny: I’ve been worrying myself if I should, the things she said

Johnny: but I don’t have the proper knowing of her to work out how serious it was and the girl were, so

Ali: I wish I knew myself, sometimes she seems deadly serious and the next she’s laughing in your face

Ali: What was worrying about it though, beyond her trying to force every man I’ve ever been with back into my life, like

Johnny: She had a desperation in her, not the begging other kids put their mind to

Ali: I think I know what you’re talking about

Ali: I’m scared for her

Johnny: She said she needed someone, not she needed me, she’d talked of her daddy and Ronan both before, like she’d settle for any of us

Ali: But what does she need from yous

Ali: She’s got male role models in the family, she has me and the other kids in the home, I don’t know if she knows what she’s asking for

Johnny: When I told her she’s safe, she told us no she weren’t

Ali: Oh God

Ali: what if something awful has happened to her, the worst things, how could it, when

Johnny: You’d know, someone would, you said it, she’s plenty of people seeing to her, watching over

Ali: I don’t know what to do, I’ve tried talking to her about it, of course she doesn’t want to though, and I don’t want to humiliate her

Johnny: Maybe you’ll have to talk to Moses, every time he’s away she convincing herself it’s the last time and that’s her daddy, ‘course there’s a hole

Ali: They’re as bad as each other, at least she’s age as a decent excuse

Johnny: Put your foot down that he’s to stay gone then

Ali: I can’t let her go stay with him right now, not until this is more sorted

Ali: which will make me the bad guy as I’d just okay’d it

Johnny: No popularity contest, you’re her mammy not her big sister or mate

Ali: That’s all well and good but if he’s in an equal mood, that pits them against me on the same side, like

Ali: it’s not easy, co-parenting

Johnny: With Moses, what is?

Johnny: but you’ve me on your side and I’ll keep him from her myself if it comes down to it

Ali: God, I sound hysterical

Ali: I will talk to him, stop bothering you

Ali: I just needed to hear it without the bias, I knew you’d tell me the truth

Johnny: You’re no bother, neither’s she

Ali: How is your mammy?

Ali: and I’m not just asking to look polite, I actually care

Johnny: She’s had some herself days, but it’s on them I just find myself waiting for her to feel bad again

Ali: It’s hard, to appreciate the good whilst wondering how long you’ll have it

Ali: still, I’m glad to hear you’ve had some

Johnny: My kids don’t want to spend all their time with her and I’m not as ready to tell the truth there on how it might be running out

Ali: They’ll have noticed, kids are more perceptive than you ever give credit for

Johnny: Can’t get nothing past mine

Ali: Like you then

Johnny: Credit where it’s due

Ali: Figured that a compliment you might accept, yeah

Johnny: Ah, the sense in making it backhanded then

Ali: Last thing you need is me being too nice to you, all things considered

Johnny: Why’s that?

Ali: You might think I’ve completely lost the plot and put my daughter up to all that nonsense

Johnny: If you was after talking to me, your daughter wouldn’t need to be your in

Ali: That’s something

Johnny: We’d have enough to talk about ourselves

Ali: Don’t think we’d know where to start

Johnny: I’ll think on it for when the day comes

Ali: Me too

Ali: I don’t know how that can be preferable to the rest of the shit in my head but it really is right now

Johnny: Mine too, be funny were there humour to find

Ali: Hope I go back to your least favourite thing to think about soon

Johnny: Well, I’ll not dash ‘em by saying you haven’t been that for a long while, be cruel to now

Ali: My heart

Johnny: I can’t help but sometimes still like to think of you

Ali: It might be mutual

Johnny: Oh might it?

Ali: I can’t confirm or deny though, lest I lose all my self-respect

Johnny: To a girl who’s my least favourite I’d have said, what self respect’s that, but as I’ve confirmed you aren’t her

Ali: Comforting to know Moses was trying to tell me a thanks but no thanks to whatever Edie said to him though

Ali: even if the idea of where I fall in your ranking list is less than 

Johnny: We all of us remember what his rankings were like

Ali: Yeah

Ali: not saying you’re that brutal about it

Johnny: By god, who else is

Ali: Actually, you might not, do you know if his ‘van has two bedrooms?

Ali: Guarantee he’s not paid 0 mind to that, I’ll add it to my list

Johnny: [tell her about it in your nerd way of what kind it is and all those deets which is letting her know that it absolutely does not]

Ali: Sleeping on the sofa at the weekend is one thing but if she’s to live there, obviously not

Ali: At least that’s an easy in, he can’t fault me there, thanks

Johnny: Right, I’ll leave you to break that news, will I?

Ali: Wish me luck, won’t you?

Johnny: Yeah, good luck

Ali: I am sorry again, that you were dragged into this

Ali: but I’m selfishly glad of it now

Johnny: They’re both of them family, I was bound to

Ali: I suppose that’s true

Ali: um, d’you know if [this job that Moses has next, wherever] is the sort where people bring their families or if it’s just the blokes?

Johnny: [this place]’s no place for a little girl

Ali: I try to give him benefit of the doubt but

Ali: I can’t, I should trust my instincts over him, every time

Johnny: What’s he telling her she can go there for?

Ali: Happiness now, disappointment when he’s not around to see it?

Johnny: Sure, he’ll never change

Ali: Or he supposed I’d be fine with it, which is more damning for me

Johnny: It’s of him, he don’t consider you, you had her and you see to her when he’s not bothering himself up, that’s the beginning and end of the use he’s got for you

Ali: That won’t be how it’s working, unfortunately for him

Johnny: Only how his world works not the one the rest of us live in, like

Ali: I’ll stop complaining, I know I am

Ali: the bed is made, I’ve to handle him

Ali: see you around, when I’ve inevitably got to help his lordship buy a new ‘van

Johnny: You’ve reason enough, made bed or no

Johnny: [and tell her some info about where she could buy a new caravan from/ones you know of etc, because you are still that bitch]

Ali: You’re too bloody helpful for someone I’m not allowed to owe

Johnny: I’ll be keeping the money for her, maybe when she’s grown herself up some she’ll have the sense to ask us for it again

Ali: For the time being, it’s your money

Ali: so I shan’t say any more about it

Johnny: She’d only buy a ‘van for her daddy the now, best you don’t

Ali: And he’d let her

Ali: I’m willing to help for her being there, rather know it was decent than fuss over the cash but, Christ

Johnny: That he would

Ali: At least you’ve no need to ask what I ever saw in him, we’ve covered that one

Johnny: Nor he in you

Ali: Embarrassing behaviour, pair of us

Johnny: Least you’ve learnt from yours

Ali: Glad you think so, splits the consensus 50/50 

Johnny: I’ve the knowing you did, or she’d be away with him how he’s after

Ali: I’m not the kid who wants it anymore

Johnny: He’d say you’re welcome, I don’t doubt

Ali: I wasn’t innocent, what we did to each other doesn’t need to come into how we look after her

Johnny: He’d have to not be the same lad he was, with that bad craic, to think different

Ali: Me talking about him won’t change him none, time to talk to him

Ali: you’ll let me know, if anything happens on site when I’m not around to witness it myself?

Johnny: You’ve my word

Ali: Okay

Johnny: Later, Ali

Ali: I just had a thought, are you still in a 1-bed?

Ali: It’d be nice to sort out a new room for her with you, don’t you think

Ali: I’d be happy to help you with it

Moses: There’s room enough, tiny thing she is

Moses: but she can have a room of her own if she likes

Ali: You’d think but you can’t just stack kids away in a cupboard, no matter how small they are

Ali: of course she would, we can surprise her with it

Moses: Wes all slept in a ‘van smaller than mine when we were, but as I said, if she wants

Ali: Yeah but you got your own ‘van when you were like her age, did you not? 

Ali: You need your space once you get older

Ali: I found some if you wanna scope them out? You know better than me but they look pretty good

Moses: Grand idea, I’ll get her a ‘van herself, be room for all her music and whatever else

Ali: Really? I don’t want you to think I was suggesting you had to get her a whole ‘van to herself, like

Moses: It’s a better surprise

Ali: I mean, obviously, yeah

Ali: There’s space, by you, I don’t want her out on her own anywhere

Moses: She won’t be out my sight

Ali: Great

Ali: I’ve got to ask you something too, a bit less fun but it’s important

Moses: What?

Ali: When you’ve been talking to Edie recently, does she seem alright to you?

Ali: I’m a bit worried, maybe it’s just the grief overwhelming her but I don’t know, what do you think?

Moses: ‘Course she does

Moses: she’s clingy but when she’s not been to me

Ali: I know but it’s like she’s trying to go back, to being that kid

Ali: it can happen, but I wanted to make sure you knew so you could keep your eye out for her too, try to encourage her to be a bit more independent 

Moses: Her own ‘van’ll sort that, don’t worry yourself

Ali: It’s a great idea, she has the music loft here too, it’s good to have your own places

Ali: What sort of clingy has she been?

Moses: How many are there? Clingy’s clingy, you know

Ali: I don’t know how to get her to cool it, you know

Ali: it’d feel really harsh to tell her but I can’t think how we’re meant to handle it

Moses: Might be she’s running ‘round with lads instead of after me, if she’s of a mind to stay as my baby that’s fine with us

Ali: And I love how affectionate she is, I don’t want to change her

Ali: but you know where that naivety could lead her with lads when she’s a mind, we’ve got to talk to her about it, awkward as it is

Moses: We have, she’s no interest in acting up like that

Ali: She might not see it like acting up, Liam and her have been friends for a long time, it’s not like she has to be running around town for something to happen she’s not ready to deal with

Moses: And friends is all they are, ain’t it

Ali: I think it might be becoming more, there’s a lot there to bond them now

Moses: Nah, she’d have told me

Ali: I don’t know, it’s not the sort of thing a girl rushes to tell her daddy

Ali: you’re a lad, it was a proud moment for yous, like

Moses: She don’t keep secrets and she don’t lie, she’s said she’s not after attention of that kind, if he is, he’ll need to go after it somewhere else

Ali: She said that?

Ali: Well, maybe I’m wrong, it’s still best we get ahead of it though

Moses: Sure, by breaking his legs for him

Ali: Liam’s a good kid, if she’s not interested, it’s not happening

Moses: Why would I trust you, you’ve got her wrong

Ali: How have I got her wrong?

Moses: You’re here calling her a attention seeking whore to me, are you not?

Ali: No, I’m not, Moses, by God

Ali: I’m saying it’s our job to make sure she makes good choices, whenever she does

Ali: because she’s a sweet girl and I’m not having her get hurt

Moses: She’s under my protection, no one’ll hurt her

Ali: It’s better we both teach her, neither of us can be there every second

Moses: There it is, the dig at us for how much I’m away

Ali: It’s not a dig, it’s life

Moses: Yeah, I’ve got to work and provide for her

Ali: I know, because it wasn’t a dig

Moses: She’s my sweet girl and she’ll want for nothing

Ali: She’s ours, we both work hard to give her everything she needs

Moses: If it were a dig I’d be having one back about the work you do

Ali: You’re free to

Ali: but I own two businesses and I rent property so I don’t know what you’re going to say that’ll hit me where it hurts

Moses: Long as she’s not hurt by how busy yous are

Ali: I’ve always got time for her, I can assure you

Moses: Go on then, assure me

Ali: I just did, what do you want, my schedule?

Ali: you should know I don’t have one

Moses: It’s you worrying for her

Ali: Am I wrong for that? That’s what parents do, isn’t it

Moses: I’ll be back a day early to buy the ‘van, don’t say nothing to her

Ali: Can I come?

Moses: I don’t need you under my feet

Ali: Well, when you’ve bought it then, to bring her things

Moses: I can take her things when I come for her

Ali: Why do you not want me involved?

Moses: What’s it to do with you?

Ali: I need to see where she’s living, do you think I’m not going to be coming to see her all the time

Moses: You’ll see when you visit her then

Ali: I don’t want you wasting your money if it’s not suitable

Moses: Jesus, I know my way ‘round a ‘van, who do you think you’re talking to?

Ali: I’m only looking out for her, it’s not an attack on your ego, come on

Moses: And you’re not the only one

Ali: Good, we’ve to be a team over her no matter what 

Moses: Either you trust me or you don’t

Ali: I don’t make big decisions without letting you know, it’s the same thing

Moses: Fuck’s sake, come 

Ali: I won’t wait for a nicer invite, alright

Ali: Where am I meeting you?

Moses: I’ll pick you up from yours to go at [a time]

Ali: Okay, thank you

Moses: [tell her the day again even though she knows because it’s only a day earlier and she’s not an idiot]

Ali: Yep, I’ll be ready

Ali: I can decorate, or make a start at least

Moses: Let her, she’ll have fun doing it

Ali: You’re right, I’ll take her shopping for what she needs

Moses: [a ridiculous amount of money frankly for what she might need that of course he’s going to give her because gypsy]’ll cover it, yeah?

Ali: You could half that, easily

Ali: and I’ve got it, you’re good

Moses: You’re good, I’ve got it

Ali: Okay, you can give it if you want to

Moses: I can’t wait for her face

Ali: Me either

Moses: Don’t know how I’ll keep from saying something if she messages before I’m back

Ali: 🤐

Ali: You have to keep the look on her face in your head, it’ll be worth it

Moses: That’s true

Ali: Stay strong

Moses: 💪

Ali: [Skipping to when you’re meant to be here, are late]

Ali: Are you on your way? 

Moses: No, I can’t get to you now

Ali: Are you staying on there or just can’t make today?

Moses: They want us ‘til [later than he was meant to be back, giving idk like a week]

Ali: Alright, tell Edie won’t you

Moses: I’m busy

Ali: Meaning you want me to 

Moses: Why can’t you, you know how she’ll be

Ali: If they want you to stay on, they do, it’s not your fault but you can talk to her

Moses: I’ve no time, Ali

Ali: You managed to tell me, it’s the same message

Moses: Come on, she won’t stop at the one

Ali: Fine, I’ll pass on your message

Moses: A team you said, I’ve plenty else to do

Ali: Off you go then

Moses: [do rudely go because you would, soz Edie]

[badedramay]

I AM DECEASED over the new Mushq photo shoot. Our girl got hate for doing a phone ad with wahaj? Well she went and did possibly the most filmy shoot I’ve ever seen for a clothing brand. The way she was introduced with that back shot! What panache, grace, while still knowing it was her even though you only saw her face for the last 3 seconds of the video— no other actress could’ve done that as well (maybe mahira?) our girl is in a class of her own. No competition.

Secondly the ACTING she’s doing - wow. She’s getting a little bit of recognition (finally!) for the way she’s conveying emotions while still displaying the outfits. How she can go from that sultry look to sly almost without a transition. How does she do it, seriously.

Let’s the haters seethe. Some of them are openly saying they wish it were Yumna. Some are disguising their bitterness under the guise of “no chemistry!” (Lol r u blind) “the hype is for YumHaj!” “Yaar what will sana think?”

Stay mad, cry more, haters. Our girl ate and left zero crumbs and looked beautiful while doing it, all with an actor who’s been her best friend for over a decade and who will never know your name. And she’s trending in India, too. Love this unbothered queen and how she makes these detractors shake like zeera in oil. I hope another casting director sees this and instantly books these two again just to make the haters seize.

jalne walon ki khooooooooob jali. humein bada maza aya :')

i for one am still in SHOCK that 1) we even GOT this shoot and 2) OH MY GOD DID YOU SEE THE SHOOT?!?! LIKE ITNI CHEMISTRy!? ITNI AAG LAGANE WALI CHEMISTRY?! HELLO?? WHAT THE FUCK?!?! this is the same Maya and Wahaj who had once swore they'd never work with each other cuz they'd be too busy laughing to take it seriously. and now we have them romancing in a way ke MUJHE dekh ke blushing agayi. forget me squealing and crying..main laal tamatar hogayi thi watching the second teaser that was released today. the one with the flowers? that was cute and nice and mischievous. BUT THE AFREEN ONE!??! KYA KHAA PEE PE BETHE KE YAHAN MERI MAUT HI HOGAYI!!!

this campaign is truly special for me cuz they decided to make this SOMI!!! THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR RUMI AND SONIA AND THE WAYS THEY HAVE KEPT THESE CHARACTERS ALIVE. this makes it all the more precious to me. what's the cherry on top is the reactions i am seeing on my twt TL. just this genuine happiness and excitement of us JBG fans and SoMi truthers all gathered when we thought ab koi mauqa nahin milega aise mil bethne ka...IDK ABOUT OTHERS BUT I FUCKING DESERVE THIS!!!

ABHI TOH AUR MILNA HAI! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA RIP ME!!!!

#maya ali #wahaj ali #somi #ASLKJDHASKLJDHASKLJEHSAKJELHWAEA

[iheartgarrus]

The Walk Before the Run

It's the Jali one-shot, finally! This ship would literally never have crossed my mind without this post from @asianshep. Thank you sincerely for the brainrot.

Title comes from "Glitter in the Air" by Pink, which is an excellent song for this ship imo, and this will likely not be the last time I use it.

Thanks and much love to @lerr-writes-fic for betareading and to @nicolasadrabbles for loaning me a couple character names!

Title: The Walk Before the Run Rating: T Content: Alcohol, mild language Pairing: James Vega/Tali'Zorah vas Normandy Genre: Fluff Word Count: 3370 AO3 Link

Tali let loose another muttered curse at the error on her screen. She was seriously considering intimidating the console into behaving with her shotgun - it certainly worked on people. The engineering team had woken up that morning to a 0.4% drop in drive core efficiency, seemingly out of nowhere, and the cause was still a total mystery, even into the midday hours. They were all working the problem, though Adams had gone for a walk around the ship, saying it helped him think sometimes. So when she heard the elevator a moment later, she thought he must be back - hopefully with some new ideas, if they had any luck.

So she was surprised and a little miffed when the next words she heard were not, "Great news: I know what the problem is!" but instead, "Hey, Sparks, how's it hangin'?"

Tali's hands paused over the console, and her brow creased behind her faceplate. "Fine…" she replied slowly, continuing her work on the engine. "I'm a little busy though. Did you need something, Vega?"

"Oh. Well, uh-" He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, there's something I wanted to... show you. On the Citadel."

She stopped typing again, this time turning around to face him. "On the Citadel? What would you have to show me on the Citadel?" Mentally, she cursed her curiosity for getting the better of her. She really didn't have time for this.

He grinned with a feigned confidence that Tali saw right through. "Wouldn't wanna ruin the surprise. But," he hurriedly continued when she crossed her arms over her chest, radiating skepticism and impatience, "I promise you'll like it. Shepard even said so!"

She raised a brow. "You talked to Shepard about this?"

"Yeah, I mean-" He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced off to the side, bravado melting away. "Had to clear the shore leave and everything. Make sure I could borrow her best engineer for a night."

"Hey!" Gabby protested from her station. James' complexion darkened a few shades, seemingly having forgotten that there were witnesses to his fumbling.

"Anyway," he continued, his voice strung tight with nerves. "If you're up for it, we can meet up by Edroki Plaza in Kithoi Ward tomorrow at 1800. What do you say?"

Tali eyed him silently as she weighed her options - making him sweat was just a bonus. There was no way they wouldn't have the engine figured out by then, and while she knew James was no danger to her, that didn't mean some mystery date was a good idea. Still, her curiosity tugged at her, and if Shepard had endorsed whatever the hell this was…

"I'll think about it."

~~~

Later, Tali approached Shepard at her terminal in the War Room. "Hey, Shepard?"

"Mm?" Shepard hummed through a sip of cold coffee, eyes trained on the screen.

"What is James doing?"

Shepard set her mug down and began replying to a message. "What, like right now?"

Tali huffed, crossing her arms in an echo of her earlier pose. "No, I mean… He said he wants to 'show me something on the Citadel'. He said he talked to you about it."

"Ah. That," Shepard said with a rare, secretive smile. "Yeah, you should do that."

"But what is it?" she asked, oozing exasperation.

Shepard finally paused her work to turn and face her friend, leaning one hip against the desk. "Can't tell you that. But trust me. You'll be glad you went."

Tali narrowed her eyes and stared Shepard down, tapping her fingers on her elbow, hoping (foolishly, she knew) that her Commander would take pity on her and tell her what was going on.

But, as ever, pity was not in Viola Shepard's vocabulary.

Tali threw her hands up with an indignant groan. "Keelah, fine. I'll go. But I'd better not regret this, or I'm coming after you, Shepard." She turned and all but stomped out of the War Room.

"Have fun, Tali!" Shepard called out, eyes already back on her screen.

~~~

Barely dodging a deeply disgruntled-looking quarian, Garrus entered the War Room with a steaming mug in each hand and headed over to Shepard's terminal. "So," he drawled as he placed one of the mugs at her side. "Is she gonna go?"

Shepard pressed 'Send' on her message and moved on to the next. "Yep."

"Too bad," Garrus said mournfully, "I was gonna ask Jimmy to take me."

She snorted. "Nerd."

~~~

By the time Tali got to the meeting point, James was already waiting - anxiously, if the way he kept scanning the area and bouncing on the balls of his feet was any indication. She paused before she got too close, observing him for a moment and wondering for the hundredth time in the last 20 hours just what had gotten into him. He checked the time on his omni-tool, spurring her to do the same. 1800 on the dot. It would be cruel, she supposed, to be late and make him question if she was coming at all. She shook her head, still wary of this entire situation despite trusting Shepard's judgment implicitly, and continued walking in James' direction. "Can't wait to see what this is all about," she muttered.

When he caught sight of her, James ceased his bouncing, and his face broke out in a grin. "Hey hey! You made it!" he exclaimed.

His unmistakable joy at her arrival filled Tali with a lightness that she refused to examine too closely, and she found herself suppressing a tiny smile. "Yep, I'm here, James. Now, will you please tell me why I’m here?"

His smile turned sly. "Said I was gonna show you, remember? Follow me." Without waiting for her reply, he turned and headed down the main thoroughfare of Kithoi Ward's Market District. Tali followed with a huff, plenty tired of the secrecy by now, but she said nothing - he clearly wasn't going to give anything else up until they reached their destination. They walked side-by-side in silence, the din of the crowds and the ads calling out for their attention doing little to ease the awkwardness. After a minute, James cleared his throat. "So…" he said, trying to fill the space. "How's uh, being an Admiral?"

She snorted. "Honestly, it's a whole lot of bullshit."

"Heh." He glanced down at her before checking a street sign. "So politics really are the same in every species, huh?"

"It seemed like a much better system when I was younger," she said earnestly. "Even if it meant my father was busy all the time, I thought they were really getting things done, doing what was best for the Flotilla. But…" She trailed off with a sigh. "Look, it's not like it's all bad. But now that I've seen what goes on behind the scenes - let's just say I guess I was a little naive."

"I hear ya," he replied with a nod. "But hey, ain't that what bein' a kid is all about?"

"Yeah," she conceded. "I just wish I'd been more prepared, I guess."

He caught her eye again and smiled. "Far as I can tell, you're killin' it, Sparks."

She couldn't help smiling back, just a little. "Still a terrible nickname. But thanks."

"Anytime- Oh, we gotta turn here." He pointed out a nearby alley that was not as well lit as Tali would typically have liked - if she were with anyone but a trusted member of Shepard's crew, she wouldn't have taken a step further.

As it was, she swallowed her instinctual objections and followed James down the alley. Then down another, and another, as he steered them through the maze that the Ward became off the beaten path. After the fifth turn, she was growing frustrated. "James, where are we go-"

"Aha! Here it is!" he proclaimed triumphantly. He finally led them down a short flight of stairs to a basement door guarded by a single, unarmored turian. Tali couldn't help but look over her shoulder, wary of who might be lurking around a place like this. Keelah, could this place be any shadier?

Distracted, she nearly missed James transmitting something from his omnitool to the guard's and didn't get a look quickly enough to see what it was. The guard scrutinized whatever James had sent, nodded, and opened the door to let them inside with a mumbled, "Enjoy the show."

Show? What kind of show would be in… Tali's thoughts trailed off at the sight of the space that opened up before her. The first thing she noticed was how clean it was, in contrast with her expectations of a basement buried in a labyrinth of alleyways in the Wards. Bars bustling with patrons and servers lined either side of the tastefully decorated room, and the floor space - easily equalling the main floor of Purgatory in size - was filled by about a dozen small tables with accompanying chairs, holo-candles flickering at the center of each. Small parties of two or three sat around all but a handful of the tables, drinking, chatting, and laughing as if there weren't a galaxy-wide war going on. Mostly turians, she observed, but also more quarians than you typically saw in one place on the Citadel. The focal point, though, was clearly the modest stage at the far side of the venue. Currently dark, it waited in anticipation of whatever all of these people - including herself, apparently - were there to see.

James let out a low whistle, recapturing Tali's attention. "Man, place looks fancy all set up like this."

She tilted her head. "You mean you've never been here before?"

"Not when it was actually open," he explained, leading her over to one of the last empty tables. "I got the tip from a guy down at the docks whose brother works here. Came to scope it out a few days ago to make sure it was legit."

Seconds after they took their seats, a turian server came over and offered to take their drink orders - if he thought them an odd pair, he didn't comment. "Quarian-safe offerings tonight are a horosk-and-seltzer cocktail, dextro heat sink, and needor wine from the Joleya. All fully filtered, of course."

Tali's eyes widened at the last option. "You have needor wine?! I've never even seen it outside of the Flotilla!"

The server's mandibles flared in a polite smile. "For tonight? Of course. Can I get you a glass?"

"Please," Tali replied eagerly.

"Gladly. And for you, sir, our levo options include Akantha, a Bekenstein ale, and…" he paused and his smile faltered. "Well, ryncol, just in case, but I don't recommend-"

James laughed heartily. "Nah, man, that's okay. Y'know, I've never had Akantha, but I hear it's great - let's give that a shot."

The server relaxed again and nodded. "Perfect, I'll be right back with those. The show will be starting in about ten minutes."

Once he was gone, James reclined a bit in his chair and surveyed the venue, the picture of cool and collected aside from his leg bouncing under the table. Tali considered him for a moment. Even if she still didn't know what kind of 'show' they were waiting for, she wasn't an idiot - she knew he was trying very hard to impress her. It was… sweet, even if she wasn't quite sure how she should - or wanted to - respond to it. "Hey," she said to catch his attention. "Whatever it is we're here for, I wasn't sure I'd ever have needor wine again, after the Flotilla stayed on Rannoch. So, thank you for that, at least."

He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table with a soft smile like she'd never seen from him before. "No problem, Tali. I just-" He cut himself off and shook his head. "Nah, never mind. So-" He cleared his throat. "That wine, it's pretty rare?"

She found herself really curious about what he had stopped himself from saying, but she let it slide. "Extremely," she replied instead. "Quarians don't make very much alcohol - well, not to drink, anyway. There's not a lot of space in the Flotilla to dedicate to non-essentials. Needor are a fruit native to Rannoch that we managed to take with us when we were driven off the planet. There are just three liveships that ferment it into wine, and as far as I knew, it was never exported. Production stopped when the war started, so…” Her gaze fell to the table. “There isn't much left now."

James gently laid his hand on Tali's shoulder - keelah, his hands are huge - but stayed quiet. That was one thing she appreciated about the Normandy crew: they were all far beyond platitudes by now. She sighed, comforted by the touch. "It's okay. I'll make the most of it.”

He lightly squeezed her shoulder before removing his hand and leaning back away from the table as the server approached with their drinks. Tali perked up at the sight of her glass (complete with ‘emergency induction port’) and, after offering a quick thanks, took an eager sip. She could feel James’ eyes on her even as he lifted his Akantha to his lips, but she was too focused on the delicate sweet-sour flavor of her wine to care. Her eyes slipped closed as she hummed blissfully. It was definitely from the Joleya, just a touch on the sweeter side compared to the varieties from the other two ships. She wondered if she could do some digging and find out who this place had gotten it from. It might be nice to have a bottle stowed away for a special occasion - winning a war, for example.

She set the glass down, wanting to take her time with it, and opened her eyes just in time to see James' gaze flick away from hers. Her cheeks warmed as she frowned a bit. How long had he been acting like this around her? It seemed so obvious now, and Tali thought herself pretty astute when it came to things like... well. But until he came to see her yesterday, she hadn't noticed anything off, aside from his initial fumbling attempt at a nickname. And now, the nerves, the staring, and all this effort he'd gone to - was it just that she hadn't been paying him any mind?

The thought bothered her, for some reason.

"James-" she started to ask, but she was interrupted by the house lights suddenly dimming while the stage lights came up. There was no announcer or introduction, just the low buzz of excited whispers in the audience for a couple of minutes while Tali grew increasingly restless. She thought she could hear James' fingers tapping arrhythmically on the table as well.

Finally, fading in over the speakers on the walls, an opening chord that Tali would recognize anywhere. She gasped, "That's-"

"Let the moon's shining light hide two lovers with its rays..."

Her next words were supplanted by a high-pitched squeal (one of a few in the room) when two singers took the stage, intoning in harmony. Because keelah, it was Jaani'Dal vas Raenna and Quintus Virinius, dressed casually but no less recognizable (mainly by voice, in Jaani's case), hitting every note of Fleet and Flotilla's love theme with effortless precision.

Tali barely blinked for the next three minutes, mouth hanging open and eyes laser-focused on the stage until the song reached a stunning crescendo, sending a chill up and down her spine before she leapt from her chair in applause along with the rest of the audience. Broken out of her trancelike state, she finally looked at James again, standing next to her and clapping as well, though looking a bit less like he was about to vibrate out of his skin from excitement than she did. She leaned closer and raised her voice to be heard over the cheers from the crowd. "What is this?" she asked.

He bent his head to answer near her helmet's auditory receptors. "They're putting together this charity concert tour here on the Citadel, but they have these underground dry runs first. That's why it's not advertised yet - you gotta know somebody," he told her with a wink.

She opened her mouth to reply, but a hush fell over the crowd as the next song began. Instead, she took her seat and contented herself with enjoying the drinks, the music, and the company, shutting out the war raging across the galaxy for just a couple of hours.

~~~

"I'm still in shock," Tali gushed as they made their way back to the Normandy late that night. The D docks weren't as bustling as they were during the Presidium's day cycle, but the bounce in her step still drew a few glances. "How did you even hear about this? I know you said that guy at the docks, but I wouldn't have even known to ask."

"Oh, uh," James coughed and did that awkward neck rub thing again. "They were talkin' about movies, and I asked if any of them had seen Fleet and Flotilla since I heard you talking about it in the mess a couple weeks ago. Apparently it's real popular with turians and that was a stupid question." Her quiet giggle seemed to relax him a bit as he chuckled along. "So I told him I had this friend who was a big fan, and he said it was my lucky day if I could beat him on the next hand. Good thing I've been letting those guys think I was lousy at cards," he confided with a mischievous smirk.

The fact that he'd been talking about her to strangers - asking about things she liked - made her all but certain that she really hadn't been paying attention to how he must've been acting around her. There was no way she could've missed this if she had been - tonight had proven that he couldn't play it cool with her if he tried.

All this time, he liked her.

She probably needed to figure out what to do with that.

As they stepped into the airlock and waited for the decontamination cycle, Tali realized she was still smiling softly, and this time when she made eye contact with him, he didn't look away. She felt herself blush and was grateful, not for the first time, that he couldn't see it. "James..." she said quietly, fiddling with the edge of her hood. "Thank you. I had a lot of fun, and maybe I needed a night off more than I realized. It was... sweet of you to think of me."

He grinned broadly, and her traitorous little heart skipped a beat. "Anytime, Tali. And you know, you can always come down and say hey when you need a break." The decon cycle finished, and they walked through the CIC together to the elevator. Tali pretended she didn't notice a few of the night crew smiling at them as they stepped in. Ships and their gossip...

James pressed the buttons for the Crew Deck and Engineering as the doors closed - Tali had never gotten out of the habit of sleeping near the comforting hum of the Normandy's engines. "Maybe I will," she said slowly. "And maybe..." She hesitated. Ah, what the hell... "Maybe we can find something else to do next time we're on the Citadel."

His eyes went wide, and for a few moments, he just gaped at her, but a curious tilt of her head seemed to snap him out of it. "You- I mean, yeah! Yeah, that sounds great. It's a... plan." Now his blush was perfectly visible.

She giggled again and took his hand for a brief squeeze. "Good night, James," she said teasingly, nodding toward the open elevator doors.

As he backed out, Tali was struck by the memory of a human gesture Kasumi had once taught her. Before she could talk herself out of it, she lifted her hand to her helmet's mouthpiece, made a 'mwah' sound, turned her palm up, and blew in James' direction.

He stopped dead in his tracks, just outside of the elevator, and she might've thought she'd remembered 'blowing a kiss' wrong if it weren't for his dazed, softly muttered, "Holy hell," as the doors slid closed.

#mass effect #tali x james #tali’zorah vas normandy #james vega #jali #fanfic #my work #fluff #alcohol tw #join me in this rarepair hell

[meeeeeeese]

So I mentioned a while ago in Cara's Intro that she has some spooky legends, time to list them (bit of a long-ish post below, tons of headcanon lore)

Qli-Thoth, who drinks in time A slumbering divinity who feeds on fallen timelines. It devours the futures of those who gain its favour just after their happiest moment, leaving them to exist there forever. As a revenant legend it grants limited chronomancy, enabling Cara to speed up and slow down time, manifest potentiality echoes to attack her enemies and even halt the clock for a few seconds. It offers council to Cara, though it is not always aware enough to differentiate timelines, making its advice inconsistant at times

Nihal'at'Zara, the mother An ancient machine god of life, ruling over her inumerable children on a distant world far from Tyria. Her immaculate algorithms have formulated the perfect iteration of healing magic, named lifelight, which flows from her mechanical bulk and sustains all life under her perview. As a legend she grants this power to Cara, giving her powerful healing abilities. However, this healing power often comes with unwanted 'evolutions' as Nihal's will begins to mould and perfect the recipiant of healing, thus her lifelight is best used sparingly. While those who suffer the full extent of her alterations are happy, they are no longer mortal. Nihal offers no words to Cara, only the feeling of being endlessly loved by an infinite being.

Tezhtnagtz, the first singularity A slumbering mists divinity who exists as a mists-borne replica of the first black hole to be born from the void. They gaze out from every gravity well across every world, their will stretching across every graviton in the universe. As a revenant legend their power manifests as control over gravitational forces, ripping apart enemies with tidal forces or deflecting attacks by altering trajectories. they speak to Cara of every violation of gravity on Tyria. With all the floating islands present, they speak a lot, listing every rock and floating golem that contradicts their only tenet.

The Devouring Radiance The one legend that Cara avoids using at all costs, an active threat to the universe manifesting as a bright crimson light that eats away at reality. If it can, it will devour every light in the sky. It's power in battle is... unmatched, but it degrades the mind to use.

If Cara had to order them in terms of preference, she'd say Qli-Thoth, Tezhtnagtz, Nihal'at'Zara, channeling nothing at all, then finally The Devouring Radiance

(gameplay wise, Qli-Thoth is kind of the Shiro equivalent, Tezhtnagtz is the Jalis equivalent, Nihal'at'Zara is the Ventari equivalent and The Devouring Radiance is the Mallyx equivalent)

#Cara Silvertail #moose oc posting #so fun fact half of these legends are homages to the villains of a now defunct dnd game I dmed

[aylaaescar]

6, 14, 15, 27 for Tysayla?

and well over a month later ksdfgjsg whoops. ty, Karolina!!

6. Do they have pet names for each other? Do they like them?

they're pretty boring on that front, tbh? Ayla calls him "Tysi" sometimes, but I don't think that really counts when everybody calls him that, haha. otherwise, she's not really a pet name person.

Tysinno will use "love" or "dearest" sometimes, and he gives me the feeling that he'd use some more personal ones sometimes? but that would require me to think up what, exactly, that is, so you've got me beat there. same problem with me saying that he writes poetry - then I have to think about the poetry, which is hard bc I suck at that. lol.

14. What little things remind them of each other?

for Tysinno re: Ayla: anything about Jalis. the wind, when it's blowing particularly hard. amber, like her eyes. Jalis sweetwater. morbid jokes and sarcastically blunt remarks. extra spicy food. this one shirt of his that she's prone to slipping on. defiance and doing what you want.

for Ayla re: Tysinno: ditto for the morbid and sarcastically blunt remarks. khav. landscape drawings. piercings. thorns. that herb smell from medicinal potions. that one shirt of his she likes stealing. silver piercings. blank, unimpressed stares.

15. What habits or characteristics have they picked up from each other?

Tysi's absolutely, 100% picked up some of Ayla's more colorful language dkfgjsg he was a lot more basic in his swearing before her. I think he's also started going to bed earlier and waking up earlier a bit more consistently, whereas before he just kind of... slept till whenever?

for her part, Ayla's picked up his habit of sitting and watching the sunrise or sunset with a cup of khav. also, running her fingers through her hair as a tic the way he does with his own.

27. What interests do they share? For interests they don't share, do they ever participate anyway?

a pair that absolutely, 100% enjoys going out on the town and getting into trouble together <3 gambling, drinking, dancing, the works. they also both share an interest in travel and trying new things, and they've had so very many conversations where one is describing a place they've seen and the other is listening attentively.

Tysinno joins Ayla sometimes in her workouts, though he isn't quite as physically inclined as she is so he can struggle to keep up. Ayla posed for a drawing of his once, which is kept in their room at the compound.

#ask tag #reverienne #OTP: Windswept #SHOH blogging #OC: Tysinno Maratis #HERE IT IS. THE LAST ONE. anyway I miss and love them so much

[walpurga-nacht-academy]

MONARCHIA DORM - BIRTHDAY VENUE

SCENE I

PUPPET: [Upon this blessed day, we bring to you an offering that seeks to satisfy your whims. On behalf of us, servants, we present to you the one which the fates considered worthy: LEONA KINGSCHOLAR.]

LEONA: Tch- what a pain.

DIANA: Leona Kingscholar. Welcome.

LEONA: Diana, huh. That's why the damn thing insisted I had to come today. I figured that might be the case.

DIANA: Mm. I'm honoured that it was you they chose. Dad would be happy too. He always admired the royal family.

LEONA: ......

DIANA: ......

LEONA: ......

DIANA: .....

LEONA: ... You say that but your expression doesn't change one bit, heh. You have the same dead-eyed stare you always do. Who would know if you're lying or not?

DIANA: You've always been good at looking through people's intentions, however. I doubt this actually poses a question for you at all.

LEONA: Tch. Still sharp, huh? Nevermind that. Let's just get this over with. It was a pain in the neck getting all the way out here just to interview you, you know? Better not waste my time.

Here.

DIANA: Hm? Ah, I see...

LEONA: That's all you have to say, huh? Thought you would know a little bit about this sort of stuff since Ruggie says that you're into singing.

DIANA: Mm. The animals enjoy it when I play songs for them. It's very soothing. This kora looks like it's finely made so I'm certain that they'll enjoy it when I play it for them.

LEONA: Huh, is that so... So you can even play this sort of thing?

DIANA: Mm. My mother studied under a jali for a few years, so he ended up learning the craft. She taught it to us as well when we were younger, and we ended up picking up on a lot of things thanks to it.

LEONA: She did, huh... That's rather bold of her. It explains a few things in the end.

The royal family used to have a jali back in the day as well. An old remanent from the days of the King of Beasts, but nowadays the position isn't what it used to be. There's less and less of them each generation, aren't there? Wonder why, hm?

DIANA: People always fear the truth, but that's not something they can change. Living one's life in accordance with your own beliefs... That's the sort of lesson my parents taught me. That's why I always want to stay true to myself. No matter what.

Leona. Thank you.

LEONA: Hah, seeing you bow your head like that never gets old.

DIANA: You are the second prince of the country. I must show you the proper respect, as part of your pack.

LEONA: That again, huh. Well, whatever, I don't mind as we keep it moving. There are still a bunch of questions I need to ask you, it seems.

DIANA: Very well. In that case, I will make sure to visit your dorm whenever I can and play you a few songs on the kora as a sign of my gratitude.

LEONA: Oy, don't do unnecessary things. It's a hassle having you visit and start scolding me during that time.

DIANA: Kings must listen even to things they don't wish to, otherwise they cannot govern. Isn't that so?

LEONA: Tch. Let's just get this over with already.

SCENE II

PUPPET: [Shall I proceed with the game?]

LEONA: I don't have all day to waste on this, so make it quick.

PUPPET: [Understood. I shall now proceed to ask a question that Diana Arrow will answer and which Leona Kingscholar will be tasked to interpret.]

LEONA: Interpret? What is the point of that? This woman always speaks her mind so there's nothing hidden behind her words. Get on with the next game.

DIANA: Leona.

LEONA: Huh? What is it?

DIANA: The puppet worked hard to put all this together. We should try our best to play along for its entertainment.

LEONA: Hah? You want to do its whims just like that? Aren't we supposed to be the ones entertained by it? Don't make me do work that's not part of the requirements.

DIANA: This is for the sake of the party. We must comply with it.

LEONA: Tch.

DIANA: Please go ahead. What's the question?

PUPPET: [You are in an old, abandoned building where no human has set foot for years and have discovered a staircase leading underground. As you descend you hear all manner of sounds. How do you proceed?]

DIANA: What sort of sounds are they?

PUPPET: [Moaning and weeping.]

DIANA: In that case, I would go check to see if they're hurt.

LEONA: Hah? Are you serious?

DIANA: Mm. If the sounds are loud enough for me to hear them so clearly, it must mean the other person is in trouble. If it's a human, they might have gotten lost and stumbled across wild animals and disturbed their peace. If it's an animal, they might have been hurt by another or by poachers. Whatever it is, I should make sure that things aren't dire enough for anybody to be hurt.

LEONA: Huh? So you want to play at being a good samaritan, hm? What a noble goal.

DIANA: There is no need for condescension. The balance between civilization and nature is a fickle one. Humans will hurt animals for little reason at all. It's my job to make sure that they are not mistreated in any way. If the animals are in pain, I have to make sure to evacuate the humans who disturbed them immediately before they do any more harm.

LEONA: Hah, I see. So you will prioritize animals over humans in that case, huh?

DIANA: If it's necessary. In any case, someone must be hurt so I will have to act according to my instincts and values. Isn't that something we all do?

LEONA: Is that so? In that case, perhaps someone's instinct is just to ignore the sound and move on. After all, nothing good can come out of investigating strange sounds, isn't that so? What do you make of that?

DIANA: That's their nature. One cannot ask more from them if they do not wish to give.

LEONA: Tch. Just the sort of answer I would expect out of you. I knew this was pointless. Let's just move on with it.

DIANA: If that's what you desire.

LEONA: Hmph. Straightforward women like you are difficult to deal with. I wonder how that octopunk does it, hm?

DIANA: I doubt Azul would appreciate you tormenting him like that.

LEONA: Heh.

SCENE III

PUPPET: [Please proceed to the last part of the interview.]

LEONA: What an annoying thing.

“If you were stuck on a deserted island with somebody, who would you want it to be?”

DIANA: Rosalia.

LEONA: ... Hah? That pipsqueak?

DIANA: Mm. She said that always wanted to try and escape from a deserted island as a test of 'wildness' so I think this would be an experience that she would enjoy.

LEONA: Are you planning on babysitting her while there? Treating it like some sort of family vacation?

DIANA: No, we would learn some survival techniques that might come in handy for her one day and help her built-up muscle. She said she's started exercising in order to achieve that, but so far she seems to be taking it too lightly.

LEONA: Hmph. She keeps showing up to Savanaclaw to go running with Jack every time she visits.

DIANA: Mm. I noticed that. But true exercise should be more focused on discipline rather than romance. Jack is her mate so he can't bring himself to be too harsh with her. I understand.

LEONA: And you're saying that you'll make for a better training partner.

DIANA: I would make sure to keep her on schedule without coddling her. The deserted island would make for a good training ground, given the rough terrain, limited distractions and enough free time for her to learn all she needs before we leave.

LEONA: So you're not worried at all about being stranded, huh?

DIANA: As a child, I used to spend a lot of time alone in the wilds. They're like my second home. And it's the sort of place that suits me most. Even if I end up on a deserted island I would be able to leave eventually. If I so choose.

LEONA: If you so choose, huh? Heh. So it's all for that pipsqueak's sake. Hmph, this sort of sentimentality...

DIANA: I enjoy looking after my little sisters and brothers too. It would be nice to develop that sort of relationship with Rosalia as well. She's always looking for an opportunity to hang around me.

LEONA: What a pain. But with that, the puppet should have its answer, right?

[*]

PUPPET: [Congratulations. The interview portion has been completed. Please proceed to the last event of the celebrations. A bottle has already been prepared for you.]

LEONA: Heh, it's finally time for the big finale, huh? Let's make it a memorable one.

DIANA: Mm. Then if you would, Leona.

LEONA: I know. Then, Happy Birthday, Diana.

You don't look too bad soaking wet like this either, hah.

[champagne pops]

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland oc #walpurga nacht academy #twisted wonderland fanschool #twst #twst oc #twist oc #twist #twisute #twisute oc #diana arrow #leona kingscholar #savanaclaw #monarchia #wna birthday campaign

[tricos-here]

if you don't mind me asking, since Ryan is a revenant, what/who does she channel? If she channels anyone. Just curious! I'm loving the Ryan resurgence ✨ and all of the little lore bits you've been dropping for her

love that people keep calling it the ryan resurgence it's so funny to meLSDKHGSLGHK but thank you <33

as for the legends she channels, in-game she switches between the dwarf stance (jalis ironhammer) & renegade stance (kalla scorchrazor) and/or assassin stance (shiro tagachi) & alliance stance (archemorus, saint viktor) which is... really funny to me because archemorus and saint viktor keep commenting on shiro but he doesn't say anything back.... wish the legends could interact with each other in some way

now that said, I haven't really thought about all this in terms of her lore.... I know that in EoD she does channel three legends at once a la vindicator, which had her wearing her blindfold again because it was overwhelming, but haven't thought about like, which legends she'd be canonically channeling and why 🤔

#ryanley

[shae-la-hyene]

In The Hunchback of Notre-Dame's french version (maybe in everyone of them but I don't have ways to compare) there is the fat gargoyle saying 'the one with a dress is the prettiest' talking about Esmeralda and Jali

And I was OBSESSED with it and his attraction to Jali all of my life.

So yeah... I should have caught up on being a fury/monsterfucker way before.

#the hunchback of notre dame #thond