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#we were sneaking through the stacks gathering specific books for some reason and trying not to get spotted
thebibliomancer · 3 years
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Essential Avengers: Avengers #231: Up From the Depths!
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May, 1983
So back to where we were before a detour in Annualsylvania.
Time for Roger Stern’s first issue where he can do his own thing and not have to tie up someone else’s story. Although he did a really good job tying up someone else’s story so I’m hype to see his other ideas.
And the cover is. Uh. Thor, She-Hulk, and Captain Marvel trying to beat up a tree? Yeah, take that, the Lorax.
More seriously, its just good that cover artists have gotten the note about her outfit.
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We start this story when some uh swamp thing looking things march out of Chesapeake Bay just before dawn.
“They are not men... not yet.”
Huh.
The narration informs us that in addition to not being men... not yet, these figures don’t even have bones.
Then one of the things just squishes through a chain link fence.
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Ah, the ol’ T2 maneuver. Good show.
The things sneak up on a hilariously yellow-suited SHIELD agent, hold him down and knock him out.
One of the things turns into the guy they just grabbed.
Whoever: “No help is needed, Agent Farber. Farber... yes, that’s your name... my name now. The master was right. Farber’s surface memories are mine.”
Then New Farber sets off on Farber’s patrol route.
What a perplexing happening.
Several hours later, now for something completely different.
The Avengers, plus former members Vision, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, and Beast have gathered together at Meadowglen Memorial Gardens to... well...
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Vision: “We have gathered here this day to pay our final respects to a former ally... a friend who gave her life trying to end the threat of Ultron. The robot Jocasta was never officially an Avenger. In truth, we barely knew her. What joys she held, what pain she felt, we can but guess. That is our failure... that is our loss. Now, we can only remember her gallantry, and mourn.”
=(
She was too beautiful for this world.
Also, I know you already did the mea culpa on it, Vizh, but you personally barely knew her because you blew her off whenever she tried to socialize with you.
And the Avengers barely knew her because they constantly forgot that she was there.
Yeah, you admitted its your failure but I really want to make it clear what a big failure it was. You goons.
So what happened? Well, in Marvel Two-in-One #92-93... Jocasta pays a visit to the Fantastic Four and complains that the Avengers used and discarded her (which is half right but she actually ran away before they could reveal they wanted her to officially stay on as a substitute Avenger because they didn’t bother to mention it to her ahead of time).
She started living in alleys because society didn’t accept her. But she started having malfunctions that caused her a lot of pain so she came to seek Mr. Fantastic’s aid.
Overnight, Jocasta starts having nightmares about Ultron.
The following morning, Insurance Worker Aaron Stack meets with the Thing and decides to follow him around when Thing mentions he has to go deal with a lady robot. Because Aaron Stack.
Jocasta goes to the factory where Ultron was trapped in adamantium and frees him because Ultron hid a program in her brain to compel her to resurrect him. He tries to make her his bride again and she’s like ‘ew no’ again.
The Thing and Aaron Stack show up and Thing ends up mind controlled by Ultron who uses him to attack Aaron Stack.
Aaron Stack manages to get away with Jocasta. While repairing his Battle Damage, Aaron asks Jocasta why she doesn’t just call in the Avengers and she basically goes ‘i had a very dramatic exit and i’m not ruining it.’
The two robots go and confront Ultron again. Jocasta winds up wrestling with Ultron over a power cannon and it goes off blasting them both but specifically blasting Jocasta in half and not blasting Ultron in half.
Aaron Stack manages to defeat Ultron by reaching down his throat and ripping out his power supply.
... It feels like Aaron Stack does that kind of thing a lot.
Anyway, that’s how Jocasta died. And that’s why I’m sad.
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The various Avengers and former Avengers all have their own thoughts during the heads bowed moment of silence.
Cap is just thinking about how many people he’s known have fallen in battle. Captain Marvel and She-Hulk feel the loss despite never meeting Jocasta. Thor wonders whether there might be room in Valhalla for her, despite being a robot. Hawkeye manages not to say anything disrespectful at all “for once.” Wasp is feeling like she lost a sister she’d never known. Really should have spent time with her. Granted, Jocasta felt weird about hanging out with you. Wonder Man thinks about the time that he died because everything reminds that guy of the fact that he died once. Beast feels like he’s been to too many funerals lately. Huh, did all the Defenders die already? And Vision is an inscrutable bastard even to the narration. Rude.
When the Avengers and co break up into smaller groups for chit chat, Beast asks Cap where the heck Iron Man is?
Cap(tain America, ‘natch) can only say that they left word for him about the service but that something must have come up.
Where the heck is Iron Man? His absence has been a plot point for several issues now.
LATER at 10 o’clock, Nick Fury, director of SHIELD, is in a helicopter with President Ronald Reagan on their way to inspect a SHIELD base where the agents are hilariously yellow-suited.
But when they get out of the helicopter, all the agents point their guns at the president.
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Aw hey! And here I thought SHIELD sucked!
Okay, okay, okay. Its probably a gooey swamp plot, for some reason.
Also, Nick swears. I’m telling.
Five minutes later, at Avengers Mansion, the Avengers assemble for their regular meeting.
Except Iron Man hasn’t shown up.
As he hasn’t shown up for many meetings.
Cap wants to wait a couple more minutes because he’s just suuuuuure that he’ll be here any minute.
Poor, Cap.
Because right when Jan is going to start the meeting, they get a call on the priority phone.
Its Iron Man!
Wasp: “Iron Man! We’ve been trying to contact you for weeks! Where have you been?!? What happened? Are you all right?”
Iron Man: “Huh? Oh, yeah... I’m fine. But there’s been a lot of hassles here lately... at Stark International, I mean. The boss... Mr. Stark’s been going through a lot of changes, and he’ll be needing my help on more of a full-time basis for the time being. What I’m trying to say is... I have to quit the Avengers.”
This causes no small amount of consternation.
Cap even grabs the phone from Jan and tells Iron Man that they need him and that if there’s anything wrong, the Avengers can help.
Iron Man just says hey you guys are pros you can get along without me bye.
And then he hangs up as Thor is asking for his turn to talk.
Geez, what a weird call from Iron Man!
So whats the deal?
Here’s the deal.
Remember how Tony wasn’t looking so great last time he showed up in the book? Was kind of manic and unshaven?
Over in the Iron Man book, Obadiah Stane has been gaslighting Tony. Leaving bottles of whiskey out for him. Getting Indries Moomji to seduce Tony and then dump him. Hypnotizing a bunch of businessmen at a meeting to shout gibberish at Tony for some reason.
Presumably on top of all the nonsense going on in Avengers like the stress over what happened to Hank and with Jan, Tony falls off the wagon and starts drinking again.
He gets so drunk he starts flying around in the Iron Man armor, smashing every liquor billboard, which is funny if alarming. Deep in the bottle, Tony reveals to Rhodey that he’s Iron Man and then passes out.
Rhodey puts on the Iron Man armor and fights the villain de jour. Afterward, Tony refuses to take the armor back and leaves it in Rhodey’s care before going off to go be drunk some more.
So now Rhodey is Iron Man. Pretty exciting news for fans of Rhodey! It also means we’re getting closer to Secret Wars because Rhodey was the Iron Man in that story.
But, alas, for Tony Stark fans. Especially after having his identity revealed to Cap and Wasp, opening up a whole new dynamic among the Avengers.
Rhodey quits the Avengers because he doesn’t feel comfortable pretending to be the same Iron Man among them and doesn’t feel that he should reveal that the man inside the armor changed out of respect for Tony’s secrets.
Sooo. Yeah. Iron Man is off the team. Geez.
Stunned by this but doing her job as chairwoman, Wasp announces that the first order of business for their meeting is to fill the vacancy in the roster.
Who will it beeeeeeeeee?? -remembers the Starfox tease from last issue- Oh god no.
Meanwhile over at scene change, a scene changes.
10:15 AM, back to the SHIELD base.
Hilariously orange-suited Jasper Sitwell clasps his hands like a villain and announces that he’s holding the president ransom for...
ONE BILLION DOLLARS
President Reagan: “A billion dollars!! Good lord, man! Be reasonable! The federal budget can’t take that much added strain!”
They’ve already spent so much on the Iran-Contra affair.
Wait... -checks wikipedia- Oh okay, yeah it started in 1981 so this dig is historically justified.
Nick Fury, despite all the guns pointed at Reagan, decides to tackle Sitwell. All while thinking that base commandering this base was just too much pressure for poor Sitwell and clearly he snapped under the strain.
But then Sitwell grabs Fury mid-leap and slams him into the wall.
Nick Fury: “You... you’re not Sitwell!”
Not Sitwell: “No, but I’m a very good double, aren’t I? My men have replaced every single agent on this base! Now, are you ready to notify the proper authorities?”
So seconds later, Fury makes a broadcast to the White House situation room.
Nick Fury: “I... have some bad news, Pete. The boss an’ me are prisoners here.”
BUT! The person who got the message realizes that Bad News Pete is actually Agent Gyrich’s codename.
Which cracks me up.
And since Agent Gyrich is SOMEHOW still the Avengers liaison, despite the fact that they all hate him and refuse to deal with him in person, this is a code from Fury to call the Avengers.
So Henry Peter Gyrich calls the Avengers and tells them what’s going on and before you know it, the Quinjet is flying out of the mansion.
Apparently the launch bay is in the third floor now because the wall just swings open and the Quinjet flies out.
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Neat.
On the flight over, Cap, She-Hulk, Thor, and Wasp try to strategize.
Try. Because they know where all the artillery emplacements are but without knowing where the President is being held, they don’t dare make a move.
Hey, Avengers, maybe you don’t have to be bad enough dudes to rescue the president from swamp monsters?
But since that’s not an option, the Avengers decide to wait until they hear from their advance scout.
Also, She-Hulk and Hawkeye are still bickering despite coming to a new understanding of each other recently. Peace was never an option?
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So who is the advance scout? Captain Marvel, of course!
This is pretty rad, actually.
She can just turn to x-rays and invisibly zoom through the base going through all the walls she likes.
 Like, yeah, once its known that Captain Marvel is on the Avengers, I bet you can expect villain liars to suddenly start having radiation and energy detectors because of this precise sort of thing, but its neat that this is one of the things Captain Marvel brings to the table.
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While zooming around, Captain Marvel also finds a sealed chamber full of gas where all the real SHIELD agents are conked out.
And the most heavily guarded room where she finds Nick Fury and a snoozing president.
Moments later, Captain Marvel nyooms back to the Quinjet as it passes Wilmington, Delaware to deliver her report.
Hawkeye: “Whew! She flew there, searched the place, and got back here before we’d flown much more’n a hundred miles! That’s some kinda fast!”
Drinking some respect Monica juice, Hawkeye?
Captain Marvel reports that Fury and the president are being held in the base commander’s quarters, behind a six inch steel door and four armed men and that the real SHIELD agents are all unconscious in a chamber on the other side of the complex.
This information is enough for Cap(tain America) to start formulating a strategy.
But meanwhile, in a submarine in the bottom of the bay. Its a mysterious figure in a silly outfit who is the one who is behind the doppleganging swamp men.
He receives a report from Simuloid-One aka Not Sitwell who reports that the ultimatum was delivered to the White House and that if they don’t receive a reply in an hour, the president will be killed.
Mysterious Mastermind: “Excellent! If the ransom is delivered, I will have riches enough to work miracles! And if not -- America will be placed in a state of chaos which I will easily turn to my advantage! Either way, I win!”
Simuloid-One agrees that things couldn’t look brighter.
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-ominous thunder-
Hee.
Thor is great for irony.
Outside the SHIELD base, Thor stands atop the Quinjet, looking not at all to scale, and destroys radar towers and gun emplacements.
Good thing Tony is missing so he doesn’t have to pay for any of this later.
Actually, is this going to wind up being much cheaper than paying the one billion ransom?
Because when the Quinjet lands, She-Hulk just tears open the ground at Cap’s insistence to reveal the central underground corridor. That’s gonna cost a pretty penny.
Thor stays above ground to finish beating up people and also tanks (although he’s already knocked out half of the fake SHIELD agents on the surface) and the rest of the Avengers slip into the base.
The Avengers split up per Cap’s strategy. She-Hulk and Cap go one direction, Hawkeye and Wasp in the other.
No sooner than they split the party, Cap and She-Hulk are bogged down in a group of the fake SHIELD agents in hilarious yellow suits.
Cap: “Heads up, She-Hulk -- we have company!”
She-Hulk: “Like I said before, no problem! I just wish we weren’t in such a hurry -- so I could take the time to enjoy this more! This is the best workout I’ve had in weeks!”
She-Hulk is fun.
Over with Team Wasp and also Hawkeye, Hawkeye holds off a different gang of swampmenfakeagents as Wasp slips out through a vent to get reinforcements.
Meanwhile, on Team Monica, Monica shows up where Nick Fury is taking off his belt and Reagan is taking a nap. Her part in Cap’s plan is to help Fury guard the president.
Meanwhile but back in New York, a rocket lands at Avengers Mansion.
Since the Avengers have a security at least good enough to detect that, an alarm goes off and Jarvis runs outside with a frying pan to bludgeon whoever it is.
Good hustle, Jarvis.
But its Starfox.
Hit him anyway, Jarvis.
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Starfox: “I beg your pardon. I suppose I should have radioed ahead, but I wanted to surprise my old comrades. You must be Jarvis... Thor spoke of you. I am Eros of Titan. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”
Jarvis: “Eros? Why... yes. You were allied with the Avengers against Thanos!”
Starfox: “Ah, I thought my fame might have preceded me. Are the Avengers about?”
Jarvis: “I... I’m afraid not, sir. They’re engaged in a most important mission.”
Starfox: “Really? Where?”
Jarvis: “I’m not at liberty to discuss -- !”
Starfox: “Oh, come on! You can tell me!”
Jarvis: “W-well...”
Starfox! You’d better not be using your space charisma on Jarvis! He is an angel!
Back at the plot in Maryland, Thor, Cap(tain America), She-Hulk- and Hawkeye have somehow managed to end up broadly in the same place fighting the combined two groups of fake agents.
And considering its the Avengers hitting them, they’re not going down.
She-Hulk is hitting them and they keep getting up for more!
That’s alarming and impressive.
But... Hawkeye shoots a blast arrow too close to some of the fake agents and one of them loses an arm.
But this isn’t the modern age. That’d be too graphic.
Its only wood.
Its described as brittle wood but again: they were taking hits from She-Hulk.
And based on one of the wood agents getting stuck in a loop, Captain America decides that they’re not only not men, they’re also not even sentient.
I don’t know that matches with what we’ve seen from these simuloids in terms of holding conversation and apparently having personalities. But I guess its only virtual.
But now that the Avengers know their enemies aren’t human and aren’t people, they don’t have to hold back.
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They just sort of. Start dismantling the wood men and breaking them to bits so they can’t get back up.
If it weren’t wood, it would be pretty brutal!
Back at the submarine and the secret mastermind, the secret mastermind isn’t pleased that the Avengers are overrunning the base when there’s only six of them and nearly a thousand wood men.
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Not Sitwell: “The odds would seem to be in our favor by your calculations, master, but their power is such that -- !”
Secret Mastermind: “Silence! Do not speak to the Plant-Man of power! Mine was the genius that gave the semblance of life to unthinking plant tissue! There can be no greater power than that! Avengers or no Avengers, I will not be thwarted!”
He tells Not Sitwell to dispatch all other simuloids and for Not Sitwell to see to the president and Nick Fury himself.
And since Plant-Man is fairly fed up being made to look the fool by people like the Avengers, he’s not going to take the loss gracefully. And he has a special weapon to crush all opposition and he’s gonna use it!
So! Plantman!
A Mega Man robot master?
No, no. Its Samuel Smithers. Also that wood man we saw in jail last issue. But that was clearly a decoy. How sneaky.
Plantman was originally a Human Torch villain who was a botanist who invented a ray gun that controls and animates plant life.
Much like every other Human Torch Strange Tales villain, I can’t take this man too seriously. He was a grown man who devoted his life trying to bully a teenager.
Also, he joined Nebulon’s cult for a while. So. Even less respect.
His costume also doesn’t scream ‘i control plants.’ He just looks like a doofus.
Anyway, in section C, Hawkeye and Wasp have found the chamber where the real agents of SHIELD are being kept sedated. Wasp finds the air circulation controls and vents the gas.
She sends Hawkeye to go back up Cap and sees to the rousing agents herself.
First things first, she tells them to get undressed.
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Dammit, Jan! Time and place!
Jokes aside, I feel like this is a shirts vs skins thing.
What with all the identical people in yellow suits and face obscuring helmets and goggles.
In section B, Not Sitwell is following Plantman’s orders. He takes the elevator from the base communications center to the CO’s office.
Which opens right in front of the CO’s office for some reason.
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That just seems like its asking for trouble. Like the CO falling down an open elevator shaft because the elevator just opens right in the floor!
Who designed this base!
What happens if you take the elevator up right when someone is leaving the office and they trod on your head! This is why elevators aren’t located in the middle of the floor!
Anyway, Not Sitwell tells the door guards to cover him while he eliminates the prisoners.
Inside the CO office, Nick Fury has finished taking off his belt.
So much undressing in this issue!
Okay, but seriously. Apparently, just in case of a situation exactly like this where he’s disarmed, Nick wears a belt that he can convert into a slingshot. Including an explosive pellet that could blow down a steel door.
That’s thinking ahead!
To a weird degree. Hopefully its a stable explosive and won’t go off in case anyone ever kicks him in the dick.
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Anyway, he never ever gets a chance to use it because Cap(tain America) and She-Hulk beat up the guards and Not Sitwell and came in to help rescue Fury and the president. And they give him Not Sitwell’s gun so there’s no reason for Nick to ever use his belt explosive.
It be like that sometimes.
Then there’s a K-BAM that shakes the base so Cap(tain America) sends Cap(tain Marvel) and She(-Hulk) to investigate while he stays with Fury to protect the president.
Meanwhile, the president the Reagan wakes up from his nap. This isn’t important but this is the characterization the comic is going with. Sleepy Reagan.
Captain Marvel zooms off at literal light speed with She-Hulk telling her not to hog all of the action.
But then She-Hulk finds Hawkeye who has been pinned under some collapsed ceiling after that K-BAM. She(-Hulk) helps him out but his leg has been broken.
Then a bunch of shirtless people run in to She-Hulk’s alarm.
But its okay! Its the people Jan had get shirtless! And it was, probably, for shirt vs skins reasons!
Wasp tells She-Hulk that they’ve cleared out most of the fake agents and that they’ll keep an eye on Hawkeye, so She-Hulk should find out whats going on topside.
She-Hulk: “Holee -- ! What the devil is that?!”
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Turns out that whats going on topside iiiiiiiiis
A giant-sized man-thing?
No, no. But definitely some kind of large... swamp... thing.
It apparently stomped out of the bay, according to a bolt of electricity. Who is Captain Marvel. Who also reports that the giant-sized swamp thing is pretty resistant to electricity.
Which makes sense. Vegetation isn’t a great conductor, is it?
She-Hulk: “The only thing a monster that big understands is strength!”
Then she runs at it Leeroy Jenkins style and gets stomped.
So thaaaaaaaat explains that cover. Good to know, good to know.
She-Hulk is strong enough to start lifting the foot off of her and Thor makes it even easier by smashing the monster in the leg, making ti topple to the ground.
Then Captain Marvel basically turns into a laser and bounces all over the monster, carving bits off.
Problem: This thing works under Sorcerer’s Apprentice rules.
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Every piece chopped off becomes an angry tree man.
Those are some angry Ents.
Which unfortunately puts the Avengers right back where they started vis having a small army of angry wood men they have to beat up.
... Son of a damn is the giant-sized swamp thing an asteroids monster? You beat him into smaller monsters and have to beat those into monsters too small to be a threat anymore?
Dammit, Plantman!
She-Hulk points out the obvious that Captain Marvel can just set all the wood men on fire.
Which she does. She just starts emitting infrared radiation until a miniature, ambulatory forest fire starts.
Plantman: “This can’t be! They’re destroying my mightiest creation! What next?”
What next is that a rocket hits the giant-sized swamp thing in the face, destroying it.
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Annnnd out pops Starfox.
Trading one problem for another.
Ha ha.
Ok, maybe he’s not actually so bad. We’ll see.
With the giant-sized swamp thing destroyed, Plantman flees the scene in his submarine. Luckily smart enough to not have shown his face so the Avengers don’t know he was involved.
Order is restored to the base and all the agents put their shirts back on, presumably to Jan’s chagrin.
President Reagan is grandfatherly or whatever and instead of complaining about this laughably massive security breach, just raises SHIELD’s budget so they can plug this swamp slime hole in their security.
And I’m surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre SHIELD will never have massive security breaches everrrrrrrrrrrrrr again.
Then again, he slept through most of the story so I’m sure he has no idea what happened.
And apparently Captain Marvel was moved from trainee to full, active Avenger at some point between issues.
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Everyone pats her back and tells her that she did a good job, which she did do.
Starfox slides into the conversation and also adds his congratulations, slightly flirtily.
Captain Marvel is like holy shit an alien. What are you doing on Earth?
Starfox: “Why, I should think it’s obvious! I’ve come to join the Avengers!”
Everyone: “WHAT?!”
Hawkeye: -facepalm- Oh, no!
Womp, womp!
Heh. I’m amused that the Avengers have a similar reaction to me about this guy showing up to join the team.
So as Stern’s first issue not completing someone else’s story? Very good job, Stern. This was fun.
The characters were used effectively. The plot was fresh. Hawkeye’s leg got broken.
You’re doing a really good job!
Follow @essential-avengers​ because together we can make fun of Starfox much more effectively. Also like and reblog to let me do I’m doing a good job.
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honeychilialligator · 4 years
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The Comfort of Strangers
Gabe's POV
The first time I saw her, it was a Saturday - most likely in the middle of September, nine months ago in a public library, four blocks away from the building that I once inhabited.
Of all things to note, the initial thing that would flash was the day - always the same day. She probably wore an average sweater, and dark skinny jeans - a style I eventually noticed. And even without the glasses, I always remembered her even back then as nerdy, introverted and of course, bookish.
It was a school research that motivated me to visit such a weary place that I couldn't imagine ever stopping-over - not because I was allergic to studying (if anything, I don't mind reading books) but because the place in itself was a bore to look at. The library was Egypt's pyramid. Historical. Old. Ancient. Pick your term. There's a helpful thesaurus inside to help you in such a predicament.
Then again, the same reason has urged me to step inside the old-fashioned site. Mr. Lanburton (not sure if I spelled his name accurately), our history teacher, had loaded us a big stack of dreadful tasks to fulfill at the end of the weekend. Surprisingly so, my memory has reclaimed the thoughts of my heavy homework, to which my class was asked to recollect important historical terms of a long list of nearby places in the vicinity of our humble locale.
It was also the first time my best friend, Google, has disappointed me terribly for failing to deliver an automatic answer to my difficulties (Apparently it was not one of those "God bless the internet" days). Unfortunately our locality and its small populace were a little unfit for specific and in-depth information about what Mr. Lanburton had required.
As tempting as it was to abandon the task at hand, my grades in that semester was not as cooperative. It took me a week to recover on an illness that got me hospitalized for days and the teachers were not very considerate. The only option left for me was to take the route to the oldest public library in town and start a customary way of active research.
The heavy creak brought from the antique wooden door entrance unsurprisingly attracted too much attention in an almost-deserted library. I met her stare as she lifted her gaze - our first contact. Yet at that moment it seemed so ordinary - so unappreciated. I couldn't recall clearly what book she was reading or how she looked at me, no matter how hard I try, but I guess that's just how I will always remember her: the girl who always has her face trained on books in the old library.
At the end of the day I was happy for having the task lifted off of my shoulders three days before the original submission, and I also recalled that my parents treated me and my four-year old little sister in an expensive restaurant outside town. My mother bought me a black jacket that I remembered wearing the next day. That specific Saturday was special in ways that I could only fully realize now.
Visits to the library were followed by more when our history teacher realized how effective it was (for him) to leave advanced schoolwork for a progressive study on our next topics. More items were given that I had to reserve extra time to the library to fulfill the task every week. The second and third time I stayed in the public library, I sat three chairs away from her and maintained the same position for the week because it was nearest to the air conditioner and I was rather comfortable. The quiet girl maintained hers just the same. Each time we were near each other I was more intrigued about the novels she was reading and how she seemed to be unfazed to her dusty surroundings with a different book each time I came. By my fifth visit, I was able to comprehend a clearer assessment on her features when I snuck in a slight glance.
Evergreen - like spring. That's how I remembered her full bright eyes. It seemed enchanting now the more I think about it, as only a few people could possess such unique detail. Her cheeks are always flushed - it must have something to do with the cold atmosphere (but later, I realized she was always like that). Her slightly-curly hazel brown hair, she always secured in a careless bun. It was curiosity that compelled me to her - a teenage girl my age who would just spend most of her time reading classic novels in the stinky dinosaur-age public library instead of going shopping or doing whatever sassy teenage girls do. Does she even go to school? Is she constantly alone if she doesn't have anyone to hang-out with? Where does she live anyway? What's in these books -these novels that got her hooked in this place? Why can't she just borrow them and bring them home to read? Why here where everything is so grubby and old, I have to stop myself from sneezing when I get too close on a dictionary?
It started as a thought, which intrigued me, and then it changed into a deep curiosity that later became a sudden interest. She was not from my university, that's for sure. I would have known. I never bothered to ask because I was uncertain on her response. It was not my forte, conversing with the opposite gender. Back then I had a mental overview on how my conversation with her would be like. I just couldn't gather enough courage to start even a casual conversation.
Scanning through old textbooks, I'd sneak in a little look at her - I don't know why I did - I always felt like even through her solemn focus on the material she was reading, I've always imagined her noticing every slight glance I pass on to her. Having her around three chairs away from me every Saturday afternoon in the library eventually turned into something natural - like a schoolmate a table away from me in our usual place in the cafeteria. Without even speaking, I guess our positions were a mutual contract. Without even knowing it, my visits and these weekly tasks no longer bothered me as much as it did at first.
Finally, I devised a plan to get her attention (it didn't sound as creepy when I thought about it before). This peculiar bookworm returns the books to its shelf and leaves the place fifteen minutes less before I could finish my research homework. On a particular Saturday in October, I took notice of the exact bookshelf location she left her novel before she stepped out of the library. Coincidentally Mr. Lanburton was kind enough to lessen our burden with simple common terms to hunt and I was able to finish the task earlier than most. I took the book out of the bookshelf five minutes after she left. I tried considering asking the elderly librarian about the name of the girl (surely she knew about her only customer in ghost town's library) but for some reason I didn't pursue it.
The moment I glanced at the cover of the book I remembered thinking: "Nicholas Sparks. Well what do you know? I guess she is a romantic at heart."
"The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks.
Reading the synopsis was my last pull to borrowing the book and bringing it home. Alas, I have also read some of his passionate collections but it was my first to encounter this specific book. I started reading that night - continued and finished it the next day. It was compelling and I was hooked. I thought about how she could be feeling the same emotions that I was sensing as I read through Spark's masterpiece, and when I am overcome with extreme emotions in the climax of the plot, I remembered how I caught her wrinkle her nose as she read through all those literary pieces as if she was dismayed by the outcome, or how a trace of a smile would form on her delicate lips for a moment at the remaining pages of her novels; all the emotions rushing out of her when she reads - I realize how she understood all kinds of sentiments organized by the author or how she paints the characters out of her beautiful imagination.
For a regular guy who sees life as a featureless routine, she was remarkable.
The next Saturday, there were no tasks to accomplish, but I returned the book to the library. When I arrived, the girl was already sitting with a different (probably about another romance) book on our usual table as I had expected. I felt her eyes follow me when I returned the book that she read. After doing so, I returned to my usual chair, took a random book on her usual bookshelf and pretended to read it - hoping she would notice me again.
The bookworm cleared her throat. Twice (in the first, I was a little too overwhelmed to hear her). "Excuse me."
"Yes?" I must have smiled like a fool back then.
"Hi," she started nervously. "I just couldn't help wondering: what genre do you usually prefer? I mean if you don't mind." Wait, British accent?
The question initially confused me, but it made me more than glad to hear her talk. I answered her in way that might have ineffectually and failingly conceal my tense and awkward self. "I-I guess I'm more into Action, Sci-Fi. Those kinds of stuff." (Not really). "And probably a little romance would do." (A guy reading a romance novel? Can't you get any weirder? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid).
"I see," she spoke out the words slowly. "Action, huh? Specifically of Sylvia Day's?"
Her tone had demanded to alert me, as I saw her look curiously on the book on my hand. I quickly turned to the cover.
"Bared to You" by Sylvia Day.
Oh.
I slammed the book shut, not daring to behold a scene of its twisted plot. Funny, how I must have looked like to her: A perverted little maniac.
That's when I heard her laugh. I was unprepared for my reaction to the most potent weapon this girl had in her arsenal - a real genuine laugh that reverberated from inside her. It was too infectious for me to resist, and on an unguarded instant, I joined in.
Of course, the librarian shushed us out of it.
"I'm sorry," she blushed - adding more color to her flushed face, and apologized to the wrinkly old librarian.
"Look, I wasn't really reading it, I mean - "(What am I getting myself into?) "I was just scan- " The girl stifled a laugh. "I didn't mean it like that, I was just...just..."(Seriously dude, stop embarrassing yourself!)
"I'm Eveline," she offered, a bright and foreign (but genuine) smile on her face and an extended hand. "You are?"
A for being attentive. I just couldn't stop embarrassing myself, could I?
"Gabriel, 'Gabe' for short" I shook her soft, dainty hand. "Nice to (finally) meet you."
"Sorry if I disturbed you." Another short laugh.
"It's fine. I wasn't really reading it," I shrugged.
"I can tell," Eveline smiled - a sparkle on her emerald eyes. "I mean I noticed you were so out of it. I didn't mean to appear so despicable."
"It's okay, really. I don't usually read novels - especially this kind."
"You're usually on research and textbooks," she added gently, and I couldn't help but grin at the thought of her noticing me.
"Schoolwork," I supplied. "My history teacher keeps giving us a big load of homework every weekend."
"Ah, I see," she nodded in understanding. I waited for her to elaborate about her high school life or at least relate to me how her history teacher could be the same terror professor, but she didn't and our conversation fell short.
"Are you always hanging around here?" I probed further.
"Only on Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays," Eve caught a stray hair and pushed it on her ear.
"Always on the same schedule?"
She nodded cheekily, "Yeah."
Her enigmatic stance put me in place and I decided not to push my luck on her privacy. "Cool."
I looked at my wristwatch and realized that I was late for my sister's little rehearsal, knowing I had to pick her up after. "It was really great to see you, but I'm done with my work here and I need to fetch my sister out of ballet class." As much as I still want to hang around...
"I understand."
"So, next Saturday then?" I said a little too hopefully.
"Of course," she smiled her gentle smile.
That night I lay on my cozy bed thinking about our hilarious - though a little ungainly, dialogue. Eveline. Witty, cute, and bashful Eveline. Even when I decided to shut my eyes, I could see a picture of her perky face in her natural glow and hear the sound of her symphonic laugh. Since that day, thoughts of her became a frequent visitor and Saturday wasn't just any ordinary Saturday. Like a refreshing holiday, I was looking forward to it.
On our next meeting, I wore a navy sweatshirt and khaki shorts - turning my charm on like a light switch untouched for decades. I smiled brightly even before I could enter the library, wanting to match hers and hoping she'd return it. Eveline would be inside, reading a romantic novel, and I hope my smile would greet her. She was still selecting a book when I came in; her face lit up as she mouthed "Hello."
Instead of going my way to proceed on my research, I watched her pick a book or two in the shelf before taking my own set of textbooks to copy information. As I derived coherent notes on my notebook, I clucked my tongue twice in a playful way of getting her attention. From the corner of my eye, I saw her glance to my direction but I pretended to be so focused on my homework. I repeated it again, louder this time to also get the old librarian's awareness. The withered old woman looked around and turned on our table, confused at my mock innocence. She shrugged a little and went back on arranging the filthy pile of old archives. From the corner of my eye, I saw Eveline smile in amusement even without her looking at me.
I purposely sped up taking down notes for research in order to catch up on Eveline on her way home. I asked permission to accompany her and I was happy that she was fine with it. She owned an average bike for transportation and her street was 2 miles away from mine. I offered to guide her bike as a friendly gesture while we talk a little until we reached my apartment building.
"You're not as behaved as I thought you are," she teased lightly.
"You mean what I did to that librarian? Well at least she has someone to watch over. A little hobby might get her rusty old brain working a little," I winked and she laughed.
We shared jokes even though they were mostly mine. I enjoyed making her laugh and smile. I began talking about myself when we started sobering up; about my family, high school, my hunky best friend named Kevin, and my favorite sport, tennis. I casually asked her about her own share of the bargain and I was more than pleased to hear her describe a little more about herself. Financial problems had caused a temporary break for her education when her father was dropped out on his business firm. She didn't talk about her plans for the future which seemed odd when I think about how much I disclosed my desired career as an architect, but I still marveled at the way she talks about her present and how she sees her life like a ready canvass. She loved her parents dearly even if they couldn't give her siblings to take care of. Eveline had a little pet dog named Sponge, and he was her only best friend.
Little facts added to my little biography of her, and each Saturday I was determined to get closer to her as I know she was a keeper for a friend. It turned into a fantastic innocent habit. When Saturday comes, I'd still stay on my usual distance and she'd read books peacefully. I'd cluck my tongue like a little check-up call and she'd smile. We'd pretend we didn't hear anything when the librarian gets irritated, and we'd squeeze ourselves to hide a laugh. But still I was afraid of annoying her on her reading with my behavior so I'd stop and sneak glances at her instead. Overtime she started whistling, a sign that she wasn't bothered about my tongue-clucking at all. The first time she tried her 'notorious' act and the librarian glared at me accusingly, I bit my tongue so bad to conceal a hideous laughter and my stomach was aching, it was so hard to breath. On our journey home, I was able to make her play "20 questions" where we take turns in interrogations about ourselves. Each new detail was a new color to add to cluster of feathers she blooms each day.
By the time we agreed to meet up on days besides Saturday, I had nicknamed her "Eve" even when her mother calls her "Lynn". On our first "friendly" date, I took her to a little café and treated her with chocolate cake that she told me was her favorite. I bought her "Papertowns", a novel written by John Green, and she was so happy and giddy that Eve kissed me tenderly on the cheek; I wasn't able to hold a blush.
Even though I was afraid to admit it, when I was with her, it seemed it was worth doing all those normal things that normal people do.
She was amazing in ways that I couldn't describe. Eve could make simple seem complex. Everything about her had a deeper sense of sentimental value. There are certain ways only she can do that could make me immeasurably happy.
Eve had suggested I meet up with her on a night of meteor showers last December. It had been my dream rendezvous. As we sat there stargazing, I had took the book that we both loved from my sling bag, "The Choice" and read a little excerpt of Nicholas Sparks, one that I intended with meaning.
"It was inevitable for people to try to create a sense of normalcy in a place where nothing was normal. It helped one get through the day, to add predictability to a life that was inherently unpredictable."
She had listened with her eyes closed, lying on the evergreen grass that sent a neon glow to her emerald eyes.
"You've been quoting my books," Eve grinned, after a long moment of observing the distant, twinkling stars.
"Sadly, you've miraculously turned me into a bookworm like you," I sighed melodramatically.
"Well I never forced you to read them," she smiled.
"But there was no other way of getting your attention," I pouted, playfully.
"There was, you're just too dumb to try it," Eve laughed.
"Name one."
"I don't know, how about just a casual 'hi!'" she muttered sarcastically and I rolled my eyes. "You could also have tried asking me what I was reading. Did I appear that stiff to you?"
"To be honest, yeah" I said teasingly.
"Dud!"
"Nerd!"
Tickle fights are the usual aftermath of our casual bullying. How we managed to get that close so fast? I have no idea.
So yeah, we rolled off our butts in the prickly grass like it was no one's business. And after we finished laughing like hyenas and sobered up, we just lied there peacefully under the stars.
"Well I'm glad you did it," she suddenly brought up.
"Did what?"
"Read the book I mean," Eve chuckled.
"How come?" I arched an eyebrow.
"I guess there was no better way to get me to trust you." (She was serious, by the way.)
"Yeah, right" I smiled. "Starting a book club, eh?"
"You're my first member," she joked and we both laughed.
"You've put me in a lot of effort for just a simple conversation," I whispered.
"Nothing that's worthwhile is ever easy, remember that," she quoted a memorized sentence from the book that started it all.
It was her own happiness that did the trick: in her brilliant smile, in her adorable pout, or in the way she smudges ice cream all over her mouth, or how she falls asleep with her lips slightly apart, or how she seems so vulnerable and honest and kind that it would be a difficulty to stop the urge to wrap her in your arms and protect her. She was heavenly, but earthly in that amazingly complicated way.
Yes, indeed. I, Gabriel Felix, a plain average teenage boy who couldn't appear normal and comfortable with teenage girls, was falling in love with a bookworm. At that time when I came to terms with my little crush, I surrendered and didn't fight back. I didn't have anything to lose except for our strong bond and resilient friendship (that I couldn't imagine ever giving up). But knowing Eve, I knew it wouldn't take long for her to figure out about what I really felt. Being in love, I comprehended, was not about being concerned if she could ever accept your feelings and affections. It's more engrossed on ensuring the happiness of your loved one above yours, even if that took you out of the equation.
Every time I have these insecurities in my mind when I think about confessing, I replay all the moments we spend together inside or outside the library. The way she smiled made me feel like it was mutual, and I know I had to try; Eve was worth it.
So I decided to express my intense emotions towards her on our next meeting next Saturday, in the place where it all began - our sanctuary.
That morning I put on my favorite black jacket, and styled my raven black hair with gel. In the bathroom while having my shower, there was nothing else in my mind but on what to say and how to express it without her running out the door. I was nervous even though I've made up my mind.
I read through my lines and my cheesy quotes (obviously it's from the same book), knowing she'd appreciate it. I slipped further into my own fantasies, understanding that there was a big chance of rejection, but all I cared about was being close to her, keeping her. I wanted so badly to keep her.
By then I knew, the moment I stepped inside the public library - as I saw her empty chair, that a love like this was too good to be true.
When I arrived at her address, I asked around for her and she wasn't home - none of her family was. None of her neighbors knew where they went. I went to random places - anywhere where hope could blossom. I tried the café, Borders (her favorite bookstore), the central park, but I was chasing fiction.
I never felt more drained in my entire life the moment I reached home. I attempted to call her number but only voice message replied.
Days passed, and Eveline still remained as a haunting mystery. I didn't break my visits to the library even though it was already summer vacation - hoping she'd show up with her dazzling smile on a sweater shirt and black jeans and explain how she disappeared and I'd forgive her, then she'd reassure me that she'd stay.
I've had my heart broken by love songs and I've had my own share of repetitive and agonizing travels to memory lane. Theories crossed my mind but it was worthless when there is no evidence to support them. Five times - I think - did I visit her house, only to find it empty once again.
"Do you ever do this, you think back on all the times you've had with someone and you just replay it in your head over and over again and you look for those first signs of trouble?"
Why, Nicholas, are you a psychic?
Months passed; each day was a struggle on moving on - on filling this void in my chest whenever I see her empty chair on lonely Saturdays.
My own copy of "The Choice" had been repeatedly thrown off the wall but I still had no perfect reason to hate her - even more in forgetting her. And in doing so, I've shunned myself in taking chances in romance. The harder I wanted to forget the more I kept remembering.
"But things change. People change. Change was one of the inevitable laws of nature, exacting its toll on people's lives. Mistakes are made, regrets form, and all that was left were repercussions that made something as simple as rising from the bed seem almost laborious."
I was able to memorize this stupid passage from that stupid book the day I had given up in waiting for Eve to come back. It seemed pitiful, but there were things you couldn't prevent from spilling. But then maybe I deserved this much for being too attached and for trusting too much on our "mutual" contract.
Unfortunately again for me, I didn't also deserve a "goodbye".
Time did its magic - no matter how slow. I've tried smiling again, and I went back on track with my priorities. On my next semester, I did better and passed every subject. I've tried playing sports like football and I was busier every day.
But still life has a way of proving you wrong. Three days ago, another research came up that needed public library help. The thought brought back unwanted memories that I've tried so hard to ignore but it can't be helped. At the same time, I dared myself to go through this like a test - to prove myself that I've really moved on.
So yesterday I took a step inside the ancient place, purposely in the same time that I practiced my past routine. The librarian regarded me with a look, as she bent down her spectacles to observe me. I tossed her a smile as if we were old acquaintances and I wasn't sure if she could still remember me in the way she returned my friendly greeting.
I took the same old World History textbook, and sat on my old place. Turning the pages, I was suddenly aware of the seat three chairs away from mine. I felt a familiar ache in my heart as I took down notes.
This was too much, I shouldn't have done this.
The price of going back through everything was not worth the pain. I closed the textbook wearily and decided to leave at once, when I heard it.
A whistle.
As if it was a sound of a bullet piercing through my ear, I turned around, perplexed and slightly hopeful.
The librarian was looking at me, her hand on her mouth and a smile on her pale and bony face.
"Made you turn," and she laughed (although it sounded more like a witch's cackle) "I knew that would do the trick." She motioned me towards her, and as the confused bloke as I was, I complied (It's not like she's harmful anyway).
"Your girlfriend," the librarian muttered. "She came here a week ago."
"She's not my girl - Say what?" I think my heart just did a somersault.
"Between you and me, who do you think is supposed to be deaf?" the old woman laughed, betraying her age. "She left something - inserted it on this book," she took "The Choice" (the book that I borrowed) out from the drawer. "You teenagers seriously need to remember that a library is not meant for -"
"Did she say anything?" I cut her off impatiently, taking the book from her wrinkled hand.
The now-annoyed librarian shook her head no.
I removed the little piece of paper from the pages of the book and read the note.
You probably didn't expect an apology from me after I left you alone without any explanation. You didn't deserve it and there is nothing I could say worthy of your forgiveness. You can crumple this paper or forget me - I'd accept all of it. But even after everything that I did to you, it would be such a shame to say that I did it all intentionally.
But here is my explanation: I was dying. My cancer was spreading and an operation could only result to a fast demise or a little chance of survival. From the start I meant to keep this from you - after all, who would have thought that a stranger like you would mean so much to me.
Everyday I wither in the pity of those around me, when all I really want is to do more than just breathe - I want to live. That's why I read lives that have happy endings, something I thought I was never granted to have. It was a torture I designed for myself. At that time all I really thought about was that since this cancer started controlling my life, all I am allowed to feel was pain.
I noticed you long before you borrowed the book. In all honesty, I was just as nervous to talk to you as you mentioned to me. I thought it was a game, really, on who can approach who first. And I lost when you did the irresistible: taking an erotic novel and pretending to read it with an expressionless innocent face. That little encounter started all the hilarious jokes and the little dates. There was nothing wrong about your questions and little interviews but forgive me if I am so reserved (Yes, the reason why I didn't choose to finish school was because of my condition). You'd never think of me as the same bookworm in the library if I told you all of my secrets - specifically about Leukemia.
But we started to hang-out and I let it all happen. There was nothing more refreshing than taking your guard off and having fun. I don't know what made me trust you- maybe it was because you don't look at me with pity, or the way you made me feel safe or that you built up some hope in me. You were a constant reminder of who I can't and never have. But you were there, three chairs away from me, so close yet so far. Ever since I started getting to know you, all I wanted was to close the distance.
So I made a gamble with myself, to give this one last chance, if that meant I'd have an opportunity to have a future with you, even if all we will ever end up is friends. And I accepted the operation, provided with the risks. I couldn't explain everything to you before I'd undergo operation. What's the point of worrying you over something you can't control especially if I'd just end up dead?
God answered my prayers, and I was saved. I got my second chance and all I want to do is spend it with you. But that's your choice. I'll be right here waiting where the heaven's cried.
Love,
E.
Nothing that's worthwhile is ever easy. I know Eve.
I know.
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mal-likes-biscuits · 5 years
Text
The Picnic - Epilogue
A proper epilogue for this thread with @macabrecabra​, because Magtherius did tell him to be more overt in his affection. Set in Series 2, before Act III and after most of the Series 1 angst has worked its way through. Also after, uhm, other things have happened. You’ll understand.
This is romantic and probably really sappy and there’s absolutely no demon stabbing in it.
“This is quite unusual,” Farah said, smiling as she gathered her zala about her shoulders and followed Malthael out of the library. 
Usually, he appeared at home after her work had ended for the day, or she was forced to interrupt him from his studies in the library in order to get his attention. But today, he had sought her out as she was tidying her desk, with a rather surprising request.
“As you said before,” he replied, raising an eyebrow. “Quite observant.” The sun was just beginning to dip towards the horizon; the amber glow illuminated tree leaves and the few stray strands of his hair that always managed to escape proper wrangling.
That aside, however, he was uncharacteristically.... well-kept. Not that his usual appearance bothered Farah terribly; she knew it was due to his travels, or his becoming distracted with his research. The months they had spent living together had shown her most of his disorganization was kept to his study and himself. Neither hindered her affection for his person, or his ability to demonstrate the same to her.
But such demonstrations were usually subtle or took the form of the gifts he brought back for her. Fresh clothing, a distinct lack of dirt on his face, and him appearing at the library to take her someplace?
Now, that was strange. Had he not maintained his usual verbal wit, she would have assumed something was wrong. Or that some demon had stolen his form in a poor attempt to abscond with her.
“You are thinking far too much about this,” Malthael chuckled, as he led her through Tristram towards the town’s outskirts. 
“You’ve caught me. Usually you’re the one I accuse of that.”
“Rightfully so.”
“It’s not without reason, though.” She spun to walk side-step, so she could better see him. “This is unusual. And I’m very curious.”
“That is entirely the idea.”
“Are you being coy with me, Malthael?” She grinned wryly, and before he could reply, she skipped ahead through the nearest alleyway; there were only so many places in Tristram he could take her, and given their general direction, she had a fairly good idea where they were going.
“You assume a great deal,” he called, though he made no attempt to redirect her.
“Only because you are being surprising. Did you get an idea from Lyndon?”
“No.”
“Tyrael, then?”
“No.”
“My sister?”
“No.”
“Well, that would explain how you managed to keep this a secret. Tristram has loose lips.”
“Verily. I have my ways. Also, you are assuming I needed ideas.”
That was true, though Farah had enough suspicions to know the surprise was more than likely outside Malthael’s area of expertise. He had already taken steps to dress himself in a way that was beyond his usual habits. She sneaked another glance backward, noting what she had suspected before, which was that his shirt was not only clean – it was new.
“You look quite nice,” she offered genuinely. The least she could do was acknowledge his efforts.
Though, unsurprisingly, the comment also brought a subtle colour to his cheeks. He ducked his head in thanks, the twitch of a smirk flashing across his lips before they were hidden behind his hair.
His footfalls were close behind hers as she charted the deer trail from Tristram to their destination. The meadow was not exactly a secret, but as Malthael often claimed a spot near the pond to read, it saw little use from the other residents. There were still some who preferred the former-reaper keep himself out of sight, and were therefore happy to concede the more remote location to him.
Farah pushed aside a fruit-laden branch and considered what lay before her.
There, under the reading willow, was a crimson blanket, spread tautly across the grass, its corners pinned in place with several metal stakes. On the blanket was a large covered basket, neatly stored beside matching ceramic dishes and utensils. A row of arcane braziers flickered gently, their light dancing in the water’s reflections and in the glass of a wine bottle, unopened and leaning against the trunk of the tree.
“Oh!” She had expected a book, perhaps. Or maybe a mug of tea. But certainly nothing like he had prepared.
He bumped her shoulder gently with his as he walked to the blanket. Then he took a seat crossed legged on it and gestured for her to join him. “Unless, you have somewhere else to be?” His eyes crinkled.
“You are coy,” she managed, her voice tremoring from warm elation. “And this is entirely unlike you.”
He hesitated. “Is it…all right?”
“Of course!” The blanket was soft to touch, woven from the more expensive cottons that were grown in tropical locales. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have implied otherwise. It’s wonderful. It’s just…you really did surprise me. What brought this on? It’s not my birthday.”
The wicker basket rustled as he opened the lid and withdrew several wrapped packets. He still wasn’t looking at her, but the smile had returned to his eyes. “Is a reason always necessary?”
“For you? I would think yes.” She took one of the bundles, helping him unwrap what turned out to be an assorted variety of picnic foods. Hard cheeses, various smoked meats, long-breads that had been drizzled with several types of cooking oils and vinegars.
It was not too different than what she had brought for him in the past. But she had always taken the initiative to do so, assuming he was not comfortable expressing his feelings for her that way. Still, seeing it all set out before her, clearly his doing, touched her far more than their usual private get-togethers did. It wasn’t the food, or the wine, or any of the specifics.
It was the degree he had gone out of his way to do something for her. Not because she had requested it. But because he knew she would like it.
Their fingers brushed as he handed her the last bundle.
“You won’t tell me, will you?” His hands were cold, as always; she wrapped hers around them, silently sharing the warmth. “Your reason?”
He considered their entwined fingers, and the package clasped between them, his expression nearly unreadable, but softening as he shook his head. She waited patiently, knowing he was trying to find the words, as he so often had to do when he spoke about her.
“Perhaps,” he whispered, drawing his thumb across the back of her hand, “you are reason enough.”
When he finally raised his head to look at her, it was with the most naked, disarmed expression she had ever seen him wear. From a man who was always certain about everything, such clear hesitation about his own words, and her reaction to them, said everything.
Malthael had always been astute at giving her whatever she needed, and whenever possible, she had never made him guess. They were stronger that way. But seeing him show her the extent of his inexperience with his own emotions, and his willingness to trust her with that vulnerability—
“That is a good reason,” she whispered in reply. “Now, how about you show me what you have brought? And then we can eat.”
#
The stars shone through the firmament, pinpricks of light that echoed faintly in the now-still waters of the pond. The earlier breeze had all but gone, leaving only the trilling of birds, and the occasional stifled laughter from the two of them. The empty wine bottle lay discarded on the grass, and they had stacked the plates to the side, to allow them to stretch out on the blanket proper.
“I still can’t believe you liked it,” Farah snickered, turning her head to grin at him. “I assumed you’d tried it before and didn’t.”
Malthael raised a finger and gestured absently in the direction of the wine. “It’s not entirely different from mead.”
“It’s made of grapes, pi’ra.”
“Aye, verily.”
“Which are the same as raisins.”
“No, they are not. Grapes have moisture, and substance. Raisins have been leached of any redeemable quality by the Lords of Hell.” He slapped his palm onto the blanket emphatically. “Wine also has moisture, and substance, and flavour. Because it hasn’t been demon-sapped.”
Farah stifled a cackle, though her grin did acquire some teeth. “How very astute of you, Aspect of Wisdom.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you were mocking me.”
“Never. Would not dare. I’ve been privy to your revenge on Lyndon often to enough to know better.”
Neither would she point out the slight drawl to his speech, or the way grammatical contractions sneaked into his usually impeccable phrasing once he’d had something to drink. She enjoyed watching him far too much and didn’t want to tip him off too heavily.
“That is wise.” He paused, then snorted loudly at his own joke. “It’s probably best…it’s the two of us.”
“Cowl down?”
“Cowl is…” he shrugged. “Floating on the water, alongside my sobriety. Somewhere.”
“Somewhere. But not here.”
“I still believe you are mocking me,” he muttered, without bite. “And I am not so drunk as to forget how to plot.”
“If you intend to keep me quiet, that may be difficult.” She raised an eyebrow, intentionally imitating his usual gesture.
“Farah. Owing to my apparent…confusion, you may have to be more forthright. Exactly in what way do you assume I will be distracting you?” Then, after a beat, he mirrored the eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. “Detailed, if possible.”
“I meant nothing of the sort!” she sputtered, though she knew the mirth in her words gave away the truth.
“I am sensing…dishonesty.”
“And how will you prove it? Scry the Chalice?”
“Mmm, I think not. I think I know you quite well, indeed.” He trailed off, giving her a chance to ponder the joke they’d often tossed back and forth between each other, ever since she’d first caught him off-guard with a particularly effective flirtation.
“Ah, then what am I thinking?”
“If I were to guess,” he murmured, before shifting to her side and wrapping an arm loosely about her. “I assume…” His hair tickled across her face as he leaned close, his forehead gently tapping hers.
He waited for her, as always. She took the moment to close her eyes and absorb the moment. The soft whispers of the night, and the trace of the wine on his breath. Underneath, the always present hints of pine and smoke that were his scents.
“Just this,” she whispered. “No more. I won’t have you over-indulge me to your own detriment because of wayward grapes. Promise?”
“You have my word.”
“Also, I know I enjoy reading about these sorts of things all the time, but it’s not entirely the best climate to do this outside—”
“Farah.” She shivered as he slowly traced his fingers down her cheek. “I brought a quilt.”
Oh. He really had thought of everything. “Sneaky.”
“Verily. Did you expect otherwise?”
“From you? No.” And truthfully, she was more concerned about his respect for his own boundaries than the weather. But she also trusted him, implicitly. And she could help him keep his promise. “I think that is why I love you.”
He pulled her closer, exhaling briskly, the same as he did nearly every time she said it. Then, so quietly, it was almost lost to the night: “And I, you.”
Words she never thought she would hear spoken, and on the heels of an evening already filled with the unexpected. Perhaps it was finally the right time, for him. Or perhaps something else had driven him to it. She didn’t know, and it didn’t matter. It was a thought for another night.
She carefully snaked an arm behind his head, and when he didn’t protest, she buried her fingers in his hair and gently pressed her lips to his.
#####
[Oh hey look @oyeedraw they managed to kiss in writing. >:D]
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Text
Falling for You
an: Namjoon hasn’t been staying in his lane so I wrote this lmao. Let me know if you guys like it! ♡ ♡ ♡
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● kim namjoon x reader ● 
● fluff ●
● 1632 words ●
Hands on your hips, you glared at the stacks of books before you. It was your duty to bring the new books out from the delivery bay at the back of the store, and to sort them into the appropriate places. For the most part, you didn’t mind this part of your job; this task was usually pretty simple.
Not today, though.
Almost three hundred of individually wrapped books lay before you, waiting to be hauled to the front. When you walked in this morning and saw the scene before you, you could’ve screamed.
Julie, your manager, would normally handle signing off for the book deliveries, but she must have been out for the last one. She would always leave them resting in the shipping boxes, the way you liked them. This made it infinitely easier for you to carry them, and it also helped figuring out where they should be placed, as each box usually came with similar books. It usually took you an hour tops to get the books all settled in their new homes, but as you looked out at the sea of books before you, you realized it was going to be a long, difficult day.
Sighing, you walked over to the stack and picked up as many as you possibly could. If you were going to have to carry all the books individually, you were determined to do it in as little trips as possible.
Grabbing enough books in your arms to obscure your vision, though, was probably not the smartest idea - but you really didn’t care at the moment. You paused a second, making sure the books were situated nicely in your arms, and you made your way to the front.
Ding.
You heard bell above the door to the bookstore chime at that moment, alerting you to a new customer.
“I’ll be right with you!” You called around the books, voice slightly muffled.
You carefully push the swinging door that leads to the main area of the store open, and you slowly walked to the front desk. You feel a sense of pride when you peer around the books and see how close you are.  Maybe this wasn’t going to be as difficult as you had first believed -
“Holy shit!” You exclaimed, your foot catching on something and you fall hard. Books scattered all around you, flying from your grasp. You hit the ground, eyes closing; more out of embarrassment than pain, though.
“Oh my god!” You heard a male voice shout, and the sound of frantic footsteps echoed  through the shop. “Are you ok?”
The footsteps stopped right next to your head, and a hand gently touched your shoulder. You cautiously open your eyes, nervous about finding out who you just made a fool of yourself in front of.
You see the most beautiful man you’ve ever encountered peering down at you, a look of concern etched into his features. His plump lips are parted in shock, and his dark eyes wide with worry. Your face immediately begins to burn, feeling like an idiot.
“I’m good, I’m fine,” You croaked, bringing your hands up to rub your face, not wanting him to see your blushing cheeks. “Just give me a second.”
The man chuckles softly, never removing his hand from its place on your shoulder. After a moment of collecting yourself, you move to stand. The customer reaches his hand out, and helps you up from the floor. Once you’re up, you glance around you, seeing the damage you've caused. Scattered books lay all over, reaching farther than you would’ve thought possible.
“I am so sorry,” You said, bringing your hands up to your face once again, slowly shaking your head. Quickly though, a thought suddenly occurred to you. Hands falling, you looked up at the man with wide eyes. “I didn’t hit you with any, did I?”
He laughed again, this time a little louder. The sound is like music to your ears.
“No,” He chuckled, a smile playing around his lips. You could just barely make out dimples in his cheeks at the action. “Do you want some help cleaning this up?” You shake your head adamantly.
“I was stupid enough to try to carry them all, you don’t have to do that. Thank you, though.” You told him appreciatively. You bend down and begin picking the books up, and out of the corner of your eye, you see him do the same. Not being one to refuse help twice, you kept quiet.
“I’m Namjoon, by the way.” The man - Namjoon - said, as he gathers the books closest to him. “You are?”
“Y/n.” You picked up another book, stealing a glance at Namjoon. He was more beautiful than you’d originally thought. You smile softly, turning back to the books and focus on picking them up. You focus so intensely, you don’t even notice Namjoon sneaking looks at you, with a small smile on his lips.
You and Namjoon work diligently for the next 15 minutes, until all traces of your mishap has disappeared. All of the books now rest behind the front desk, waiting to be placed on the shelves.
“There,” He placed his hands on his hips, a shining smile on display, showing you his dimples for real this time. “You can’t even tell you tripped over your own feet and threw a bunch of books at a first time customer.”
You laugh loudly at that, equal parts shocked and impressed by his comment.
“I hope you don’t think you’re anything special,” You smiled widely, waving a hand to dismiss him jokingly. “That’s how I greet all new customers. It’s my trademark.”
After your comment, you both just stare at each other for a second, unsure of how to proceed. While joking Namjoon seemed to be easy, you don’t really know what else to say to him, and he seemed to be struggling with the same problem. The air suddenly became tense.
“Was there anything you were look for specifically,” You asked him awkwardly. “Before, you know, I almost assaulted you with books.” Namjoon nods, grabbing his phone out of his pocket and pulls up a picture.
“It’s my friend’s birthday tomorrow, and I really wanted to get him this cookbook, but I’ve had some trouble finding it. Do you guys carry it?” He asked hopefully.
Mulling over it in your head, you think about the books laying around in the back room waiting to be sorted.
“Give me one second.” You held up one finger and walked back to look. You found a new copy buried under some other books; grabbing it, you brought it out to Namjoon.
“Oh my god, you’re a lifesaver.” He exclaimed once he saw the book in your grip. “This is the fourth store I’ve been to today, I’ve looked for it everywhere.”
You laughed softly, amused at his extremely relieved expression. “Will that be all today?” He nodded. You gestured to the cash register. “I can check you out then.”
Namjoon followed you, and you slowly rang him out. For some reason, you didn’t want him to leave just yet. He was a lot of things you admired in a guy; funny, kind, considerate. Not to mention, he was extremely handsome. Eventually, you finished the purchase, placing the book and receipt into a bag.
You handed him the bag, and your hands ever-so-slightly brushed against each other. You hand burned where it touched his, and you felt your body grow warm. Namjoon seemed to be just as affected as you, as he gripped his bag tightly.
“I’ll, uh, I guess I’ll head out now.” Namjoon reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime?”
“Yeah…” You nodded slowly. “See you around.”
With that final exchange, Namjoon offered you one last smile, and turned, making his way out of the store. As soon as the door shut behind him, you sat down in the small stool that was behind the counter. You folded your arms on the desk, and let your head fall onto them, groaning.
“Stupid.” You whispered, closing your eyes. You knew well enough that the chances of you seeing him again were slim. You should have said something to him when you had the chance. Asked for his number, his email, something. With your luck, there’s no way he’d -
Ding.
Your head shot up to see Namjoon making his way back into the store, a determined look on his face.
“Ok, I know this is probably weird and sudden, and I know we just met,” He rambled, waving his hands animatedly. He had a hopeful, but cautious glint in his eyes. “But I really would like to see you again. Not just in the store I mean, obviously, but like outside and when you aren’t working.”
It took a second for you to process what was happening, but once you did a smile lit up your face.
“That would be great.” You whispered. He flashed you his dimples yet again, and you felt your stomach flutter. “I can give you my number, and we could go from there?”
Reaching for a pen and piece of paper, you wrote your number out for Namjoon. When you handed it to him, your hands stayed touching for a moment to long to be considered just friendly.
“I’ll call you.” Namjoon promised, slowly backing out of the store.
“Ok.” You were smiling like an idiot, but it was alright, as he was too.
With a final glance, Namjoon left the store once more. You sunk back into your chair, biting on your bottom lip. You felt a sense of excitement building in your chest at the prospect of seeing Namjoon again.
Maybe today hadn’t turned out so bad after all.
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natasha--jane · 5 years
Text
VERDANT QUEEN
The Verdant Queen PREMISE /Malcolm Merlyn gets married to Rebecca Lebeau of the healers guild of new orleans. /Malcolm is a male presenting alpha Rebecca is a female presenting alpha. /Together if they were human they would only have a 15% chance of having a healthy child but they are serpiante so it jumps to 37%. /Abria Aileen Deirdre (the wife of Ras Al Ghul) brings Rebecca water from Nanda Parbet garunting a healthy baby. /Thommas Sorel Merlynn is born a healthy male presenting alpha in 1995. /Malcolm and Abria Aileen Deirdre have a dallence in 1996 /Abria Aileen Deirdre dosn't tell Malcolm she is pregnant, but she tells Moira Queen who has her baby two days after UU has hers. /Sadly moiras baby, a male alpha dies shortly after birth. /Abria Aileen Deirdre and Ras Al Ghul know there are traiters in nanda parbet, so they ask moira to take Aileen's child. /So Aileen uses her abilities to make her female presenting delta daughter TT look white rather then her natural maori features (They are patchy because like her mother she has vitilligo). /So she can pass as Robert Queens child. /Ras gives TT a tattoo on her wrist to mark her as his heir, and gives her his DAEMON gifts. /Moira gives TT a bracelet that covers then mark and blocks the powers untill she is 18. /Moira presents TT to Robert and tells him shes his daughter, but that they need to raise her as a male alpha to protect her from being targeted and hurt to get to Moira and Robert. /He agrees and they give her scent suppressors, heat blockers, and alpha colone. /The girl is presented as oliver jonas queen a male alpha. /Rebecca and Malcolm help raise her. /At four Oli sees rebecca get shot and left for dead. /Rebecca gives Oli a necklace with her wedding and guild rings and transfers her healing abilities to Oli. /The bracer prevents the ability from manifesting. /Quenten finds Oli trying to wake Rebeca and takes Oli to Moira. /At six Oli is kidnapped by Ivo who already has Aileen who was sold to him by the traiters in Nanda Parbet. /Ivo takes them to the South China Sea and expeiriments on them. /Aileen dies and Oli inherits her gifts though the coller prevents their use at the moment. /Aileen's death reverses the transformation and Oli looks like a maori child with vitiligo. /Oli escapes her cage finds her mothers bag grabs it and drags her mother to the deck out side (same floor) of the ship and jumps into the freezing water. /Li in yu senses one of her children in danger and pulls her to her shores. More specifically to the seaside entrance of the cove marked with the mark oli belives to be of her father's people that adorns her theigh. /Oli buries Aileen in the graveyard in one of the caves tucks the bag away to distressed to look inside it and spends days exploring the caves finding food and maps (of the caves[none are complete] and a users guide to the doors and flooding that occurs yearly). /As the floods are coming soon she leaves the caves and seals the doors and explores the island eating the food from the cave and runs into Yau Fei who takes care of her for a while until he sees a boat and takes her down to the beach lighting a signal fire to attract their attention and disapearing in to the woods when the boat turns around. /Moira who tracked the bracer to the area sees the fire and comes to get Oli. /Oli wants to take Yau Fei but he hides and moira points out he must be hiding for a reason. /She leaves food and medical suplies at Olis insistance. /Moira takes the bracer off long enough for Oli to shift back to Oliver Queen. /Oli meets one year old Thea when she comes home. /At fifteen oli runs to Austrelia (looks like a 20 year old white girl). /She joins up with A.S.I.S. /She meets William {billy} winter green [male alpha serpiante/fae], slade wilson [male alpha daemon], and wade willson [male delta serpiante/daemon]. /She saves Joey, Slades son though Joey becomes mute. /She falls for Billy and has Vera Shane and Airiara at 18. /She leaves them with Wade and his wife Vanessa so Airiara can get treatment and oli can go on A.S.I.S. missions. /At 21 she gos home. /She sets up a set of apartments for Wade Wilson, his wife Vanesa, their partner Peter Parker, the triplets, Joey, Grant and Rose to live in. In the Glades (Wade owns the building). /Meanwhile Slade and Billy disapear while on mission. /At 22 Oli gets on The Queens Gambit. Sarah sneaks on. /The two plan to try to find Billy and Slade in China.
              THE VERDANT QUEEN
CHAPTER ONE PAGE ONE {ACTIVE MOVEMENT} OLI P.O.V.              While looking over shado’s wounds i sigh. *If Anatole’s boat doesn’t get here soon shado wont survive irregardless of what I’ve done for her wounds* I think dejectedly, I jump as a small hand taps my shoulder. I look up to see Ishida’s fogged green eyes “Raò me, wô de ài rén(what’s wrong my love[Chinese]) I murmur tiredly. He goes to answer but is cut off by the sound of a boat engine coming close. "/Russian\ good job my love” I turn to the children “Bleib hier! (stay here![German]) I order as I run toward the sound, going up the cliff face as fast as I can.The climb cutting my feet along the way. At the top I pull my bow. Lineing up one of my tar arrows I light it  aim and I release it along side my breath. I smile as the stacked debris goes up in flame with a foooom.              As I see the boat turn to the island, I rush to the beach waving my arms. I fall to my knees in relief as the three people disembark. *We’ll be all right* the thought crosses my mind before I can smother it, Against my better judgement hope flutters in my chest. An older man comes over to me and holds out his hand I take it and he pulls me up, i’m surprised when he pulls me close but I adapt leaning into the comfort he is offering, closing my eyes for a moment allowing myself just a moment of assurance that he’s real, then I pull back and say as clearly as i can manage "jiù jiù wô, ta shòu shang le (please please help me she won’t wake[Chinese])”             As I pull him along with me, his son and daughter follow us to the campsite. I gesture for the children to let them through giving a tired smile as I watch Alyssa and Tysa lead Ishida away acting as his eyes. I wave to get Alyssa’s attention to sign to her ‘head to the beach’ I turn to the young man who looks around 16 “Do you speak English?” The boy nods. “Can you take them to the boat?” He nods gesturing for the children to follow him and heads off, after they have gone i turn to the older man who is looking at me curious. “Why send them away?” He asks gesturing to the direction they have gone.            I point to Shado “She's unconscious but she will still voice her pain when I move her. I try to spare the children what I can........My names Oliver Queen, she is Shado, my wife the little ones are Alyssa Tysa and Ishida. Whats yours?” I ask politely. He answers “VV my son CC and my daughter SS, she can help you move Ms.Shado she studies medical books is good with wounds.” he offers gesturing to SS who nods and steps forward, I shake my head “It’d be more helpful if you could go to the boat, collect some supplies and clear some space on the deck. So that I can see to her wounds away form the children” SS nods and dashes off.           “Could you take the bag so i don't have to make two trips? I’m quite eager to get off this island.” I ask the older man, he laughs swinging the bag over his shoulder. “As you should be. I gather youve been here long enough.” he murmurs I smile at his good humor and nod "Five years by my count" I scoop Shado up trying to avoid the burns that litter her chest, back, legs, and arms but, touching them is unavoidable resulting in me trying to ignore her pained moans, I try not to gag as I think of the fact that her wounds were still in that raw oozing stage of healing beneath the poultice beneath the bandages. As we walk down to the beach she moans again drawing my attention to her face and the poultice that adorns it's left side from her scalp down to her mid-cheek. Hiding beneath the non-assuming poultice is a brand that in places shows bone. To this day i can't bare to look at it for more time then it takes to change the bandage and poultice and check for infection.           As we approach the boat I can't suppress the genuine smile of happiness that pulls at my lips as i see the children, they are bundled up in blankets, rice and tea on the table in front of them as CC flutters around with a box of baby wipes washing them up and fixing their hair inside of the boats slightly cramped cabin.           I laugh as they glare at him but allow it, as I board with Shado I see a tarp laid out on the deck I look up to SS as she begins to speak  “I’ve disinfected the tarp with alcohol, not preferred but what I had on hand you have three bowls all disinfected one empty, one with a honey aloe and healing herbs, and one with clean bottled water as strerile as we're going to get at this point.” I settle Shado down on the tarp and look on as SS takes over beginning the long process of removeing the bandages, being forced to soak them in places to remove them with out causing more damage.           I look to the older man as he pilots us away from Li Un Yu. Then i look back to SS, she seems have Shado’s care under control. I head into the cabin to speak to VV. “What can I do to repay you and your children for your help?” I ask quietly as I watch CC put Tysa to bed beside Alyssa who is already asleep on the top of the three bunk bed style cots.          “You don’t have to do that son, we aren’t wealthy but we get by as we are.” he murmurs shaking his head. I look away from CC feeding Ishida by guiding his hand rather then treating him like an infant, the action making me smile. “I must insist, my family is quite wealthy back home and I would feel horrible not rewarding you and your children for what you’ve done for me and mine.” I look to SS as she bandages shados face with a look of outrage on Shado's behalf and then to CC as he tucks Ishida between Tysa and Alyssa and covers them all, before heading to help ss with Shado, he scoops her up and brings her into the cabin, laying her on the second middle cot ss covering her with a blanket for modesty. VV waves for CC to take over piloting the boat and leads me outside.          “I would feel uncomfortable taking money from you.” he says looking out over the water. “What about a sponsorship deal, I'll pay for them to go to school and pay you for their absence so you can hire help, it won't just help your family but also the familie's of those you hire and after they complete school they can pay me back by working for me for a year, and at the end of the year they can decide whether or not they wish to continue or strike out on their own, would that work?” He looks shocked but nods, he turns to head into the cabin and I follow. “We’ll be in range for our phone to work in a few hours, you can sleep until then if you need to son.” I nod and curl up on the third bottom cot.
{FLASHBACK TO THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE GAMBIT OLI P.O.V.} I’m sitting on the bed in my cabin room on the gambit packing my books into their waterproof bag alongside my thumbnail cameras and their monitors when I hear the door open, and Sarah enter. I look up ready to ask if she's ready to go to bed only to stop short as I see her, she's shaking like a leaf. “Are you ok” I ask as I stand. She lunges at me collapsing into my arms. I quickly lower us to the bed pulling her close worried “I’m pregnant” she gasps out. I take a breath realizing why shes so shaken “And you don’t know-” she nods hiding her face in my chest “It could be Yours or Tommy’s or.....or.” she cuts herself off, not wanting to put voice to the possibility of her greatest fear. 'Or Laurels.' I think the memories of that night rushing forward before I force them back with a shake of my head.VI lean back so i can look her in the eye as i say “ill stand by you no matter what path you take. you know that don’t you?” I end it with a serious question she nods, wipes her face and takes a breath “I have no idea what to do about it so I’m putting it on the back burner for now put I had to tell you it was eating me up inside but until we’re done with this whole mess I’m ignoring it” she says gesturing to the bags as she stands. I nod as she heads to the bathroom to clean up and change. I stay back to finish tying my bags together rechecking the zip locks and water seals, as I do I see the flash from lighting go across the wall from outside and start counting automatically until i hear the thunder roll. Trying to focus on the storm rather the the memories of the night Sarah’s child was conceived, I shake my head. I look up as Sarah comes back in and sits beside me. We go over the plan again and settle in for the night both of us giddy for the plan to come to fruition tomorrow. “So are you ready for this, little bird" i murmur into her hair as we lay there in the dark the storm raging out side. She thumps me in the nose for using that hated childhood nickname but nods in response, twitching as another roll of thunder reverberates through our teeth. I reach for my left arm stroking my thumb over the dog tags i can feel sewn into the under side of the the worn leather. As I do so I can `feel` my mark burn. Then as I trace the pattern inlaid on the surface of the leather Sarah places her hand on mine "Are you ready to see him?” she asks gently while tapping the cobra and viper embossed resting beneath a hawk on the leather. I sigh uncertainly “I think so, but we wouldn’t be having to track them down in China if everything was alright so I have no idea if hes even ok, much less if hell be happy to see me.” She nods but responds in a steady voice “If he needs it you’ll kick his ass and drag him home to his kids.” I laugh bitterly “I wish I had your confidence in me.” I feel her shake her head. “Its not confidence its surety of faith and certainty in knowing how you defend whats yours.” Thunder rolls and lightning flashes giving her words an unearthly heavy weight. We fall silent and drift off into a light doze.       {ACTIVE MOVEMENT OLI P.O.V.} I’m jarred awake by the boat coming to a stop. I get up and wake the children CC takes over and ushers the children off the boat and bundles them into the van while VV helps me off the boat as I’m carrying shado. SS starts the van as VV bundles me and shado into the back i zone out as SS drives and VV looks Shado and I over, trusting VV SS and CC to care for us for a little while.
CHAPTER ONE PAGE TWO
{FLASHBACK OLIS P.O.V. THRE DAYS INTO THE GAMBITS TRIP JUST AFTER SUN DOWN } I wake from yet another nightmare, this one of Sarah’s death a scream trapped in my throat. I turn to Sarah and shake her awake, something that has become easy to do since 'that night’. “Whats happening Oli?” she asks blearily wiping sleep from her eyes. “DREAM.” I answer simply, coldly as I get up and begin gathering my bags. She jumps from the bed quickly, having learned to trust my dreams without question. She grabs the life jackets I point her to doning one as I finish tying my bags to the strap around my waist and straps the second one onto me as I tie her bag to her waist tightly. We both look up as a hurried knock sounds at the door “Come in.” I call as I double check the ties and Sarah checks the buckles on the vests. The door opens and my father looks in “were turning the boat around the storms gotten to bad out here ok?” I nod and wave him off. Sarah lays a hand on my shoulder as I check everything a third time “Somethings really wrong isn’t it?” she asks worried. I nod and pull her into a tight hug knowing that she knows I can't put words to my dreams, but knowing she knows that ill do my best to protect her. “You k-” I’m cut off by the boat jerking to the left hard a thunderous crash sounds through the boat reverberating through my bones cutting through the sound of the storm outside. The boat jerks again throwing me to the bed and Sarah to the wall. I get up to get to Sarah but loose my grip on her hand as the boat is ripped apart and we are both plunged into the icy water. I begin treading water calling out for Sarah only to be pulled from the water and into a life raft. I look up to see my father pulling my bags from the water by the cord. I get up determined to get back in the water to find Sarah but my father pulls me back “Shes gone Oli shes gone” he murmurs into my hair. I try to lurch forward only for him to hit me in the head making the world go black.
CHAPTER TWO
{ACTIVE MOVEMENT OLI P.O.V.} I come back to awareness with a jump as a hand touches my back I look up to see VV looking down at me. “Duì bù qî, wô yôudiàn tiào (sorry I’m a little jumpy[Chinese])" I say flushing darkly. He nods "it's alright son we've arrived at the hospital" he murmurs and holds out his hand helping me up and out of the van. He looks at me with concern, as the movement causes me to moan in pain, the wounds I have gathered over the last few days make themselves known. I brush off his concern with a shrug as I turn to the van and pull Ishida out lifting him up on to my hip and turn to watch as SS copies this action with Alyssa and smile as Tysa refuses to be picked up and as she calls it babied and instead grabs her free hand, knowing that those rules don’t apply to me and my cuddles at the end of the day. I look up at Shados groan to see CC carefully pulling her out of the car VV runs ahead and comes back with nurses and a gurney. We are shuffled into the hospital Shado being taken into the back as another nurse leads VV, CC, and SS to a waiting room and a doctor leads the children and I into an exam room. Tysa stiffens as the doctor comes near I put up a hand to indicate he keep his distance for a moment and crouch down to look her in the eye "Ty doctors take an oath to do no harm, he wants only to look over your wounds so that he can be sure your ok. Allright?" Tysa nods. "Allright why dont you hop up on the table so that he can get a look at you?" Tysa follows the doctor over to the exam table and Alyssa takes Ishida over to a chair and curls up with him. After the doctor has treated tysa he pulls me to the side and asks "did you do that" i shake my head and say quietly "up untill a month ago we were held by a man living on the island and tortured i got them out as quickly as i could but i could only do so much" i smile reasuringly to Allyssa who is looking at me concerned "thank fully though he was a monster he didnt do to them what he did to us or let them see it" i whisper to the docter who sighs in releif and heads over to begin Alysas checkup I leave Ty in charge and step into the empty hall. As I watch them through the window in the door I pull out the phone VV gave me and call the local help line he told me '_-___-___-____' a woman answering surpringly in english, I ignore that and quickly clearly ask my question. "Could you direct me to a lawyer that can reverse a death in absintina order a lawyer who can handle a custudy case and a lawyer who can draw up a sponsership contract please?" I hear her typing for some time. I look up to watch Alyssa and Tysa lead Ishida over to the exam table as she answears "I think ZZZ should be able to help you with all that and if not shell find some one who can. She's an Alpha Serpiante, will that be a problem?" "No thats actually perfect for me." "Great her number is '_-___-___-____+____'" "Thankyou." "Yourwelcome." I hang up and call ZZZ. As I wait through the ringing I watch as the doctor focuses on Ishida's eyes.       "Hello this is ZZZ how may i help you today?" I take a deep breath in preperation "My name is Oliver Jonas Queen. I was shipwreaked on an island for the last five years, in the South China Sea. I was declared dead in absintina and I need the declaration over turned. I also need actions taken to keep my children safe, my wife who is Chinease gave birth on the boat before it sank but all our papers sunk with the boat and i'm concerned the goverment will try to seperate me from my children, my wife is unconcius and can't make decisions and as I have no paperwork proving shes my wife I cant make decisions for the sake of her health. I also need to draw up a sponsership contract for several individuals and I can not pay you until im declared alive but after I can pay quite a sum." I take a breath and for a moment think she wont answear but then she dos “what hospital are you in” “//////////” I hear her shuffle papers “Dont let the children out of your sight, try to stay close to your wife, and dont let any agent seperate you. Tell them I’m representing you if they ask.”  I hear a door slam 'Car I’m assuming’ “Ok…………..thank you.” I hang up and go back into the exam room. I walk over to the doc and ask "how are they" he nods to Ishida and murmurs "He'll never be 20/20, but some sight should be able to be restored, all three have burns and previusly broken bones that seem to have healed somewhat well considering the environment, what did you use on the burns?" he asks sounding genuinely curious "The man living on the island almost seemed to enjoy watching me fix what he did to them and to my wife and provided me the herbs I needed for poultices, do you know how she is?" i ask my concern for shado raising it's head he nods, heads to his laptop and types out an email sending it off quickly. He turns to me motioning for me to climb onto the table. I step close to him and ask softly "The door in the corner leads to a shower correct?" he nods "Can you find clothes for them to change in to so they can clean up while you examine me I dont want them to see" he nods and goes to type out another email while i sign to tysa 'head in and clean up ill knock when I have clothes and again when you can come out.' Tysa nods and ushers her siblings along I sigh trying not to focus on all the responsabillity Tysa has been forced to take up simply by virtue of being born to me. I look up as the doc clears his throat "Should I have the nurse that is bringing the clothes bring one of your companions to watch the children if we're not done before they are?" I nod "CC and SS both please, the lawyer I called told me not to allow them out of my sight, but I must for this and i'd feel better knowing they are both there with them" he nods and finnishes his email "After their done and your companions get here i'll assign them to one of our private patiant rooms and if Shado gets out of surgery before we're done here she'll be moved in with them no goverment offical will touch them until all the blood tests come back and we talk some things over ok?" I nod. "Can you draw the blood and keep it here until we have our talk?" He nods and we look up as a knock sounds and a nurse brings CC, SS, and clothes in. I grab the clothes and push them through the door and the children file out quickly and the nurse leads them, SS, and CC away after I update CC on what ZZZ told me while the doc takes blood from the kids. Afterwords I turn to see him labeling the viles I,T, & A he sits them down and motions for me to sit. He sits across from me and begins "What did you wish to talk to me about?" I take a deep breath and ask "Does doctor patient confidentiality cover this?" he nods "Is there something I need to keep an eye out for?" he asks sounding somewhat concerned I nod and continue “I was born a Female Delta Serpiante, in America Deltas are preceived as weak. My parents were quite wealthy and believed i'd be safer looking and smelling like a Male Alpha.” I look down as I wait for his reaction. “Your a delta? Give me a moment. I’ll be back” he rushes out and returns with a gyno cart. I blush and look away “Are all three children yours?” He asks “Allyssa and Tysa were born of me Ishida was born of my wife Shado” “I need to check you over to insure your healthy after having two children without help. May I” he asks gestering to his kit. “What exactly does that entail” I ask a little weary “First i'll run a DNA test to ensure your you, then a blood test to find any deficiencies in your system, then a sonogram, then an internal check up if it’s needed, then ill treat eny wounds you have.” I relax as he lays his plan out clearly and clinically and smile as I say “Hit me with your best shot doc.” with snark and a playboy smile. He smiles and quickly takes two viles of blood labeling them with his name and an O to obfuscate my identity. And hands them to the nurse as she returns to have her take them for testing. “If you’ll lay back we can do the sonogram” I lay back and lift up my shirt to my ribs. I twitch as he applies the jell.As he begins running the wand over my stomach he strikes up conversation "So is there a father in the picture that you would like us to call?" I flinch "Ihsida and Tysa share a father last I saw him he was on deaths door on an emergency evac and I couldn't found him after, Allyssas father died on the island.” I swallow to clear my throat. “Considering the ijuries ia can see and your earlier comments I need to ask……were you assulted?” I look up to the ceiling and avoid his eyes as I nod. He pulls out his pager and then returns to the sonogram “I put a rush on the blood tests and added an std test to the order but with this information an internal exam would be something I recommend” I nod “I was expecting that” I murmur. I hear him take a deep intake of breath I look up and see him staring at the monitor “what?” I ask concerned.                “When was the last time you had sex if I may be so bold” he asks looking me in the eye “Three years ago.” I answaer without hesitation. He looks confused then asks “Any bouts of unconsciousness or lost time?” I nod a sinking feeling in my stomach “Yeah four months ago. Why?” He turns the monitor to face me and I gasp as I see a fetus on the screen. “Fuck.” I sigh as I let my head fall back on the table with a thud. “Your about sixteen weeks if you wish to do anything about it.” he murmurs I shake my head and look to the screen again “At least the pucing I’ve been doing lately doesn’t mean I’m dyeing, can you tell if it’s a boy or a girl” I ask trying to keep my head. "You seem to be taking this well." He comments as he studies the screen "it looks like your going to have another girl.” I smile “I have to take it well or I’ll fall apart, are you done with the scan this next parts going to suck and i'd like to get it over quickly.” he nods and wipes the jell off “Would you rather I get a woman to do this, or to sit in with you for this?” he asks gently. I shake my head smiling at his concern as I stand striping completely “You can keep your shirt on.” he says quickly as he motions for me to stop. I shake my head “I may as well get my chest checked and I need to bathe anyway, so i'll just get it all done at once if its allright with you.” he nods as I lay on the exam table “if you need a break jus say so” I look away as the exam begins and watch the clock as he examins my chest “all clear” 'three minutes nice’ "I'm going to examine you from the head down if you need me to stop or explain something just say so." I nod and relax as he counts my injuries aloud "17% of your skin is burned, multiple fresh scrapes and cuts, quite a lot of scar tissue, at least eight broken and healed bones, two broken ribs, and a broken bone in your wrist, i'll wrap the breacks after you've bathed to reduce the itching. If you could you lay back." I do so and start singing shados song under my breath as he gets it over with quickly and clinically. "I'm done you can sit up." he murmurs. As I do so he wraps a blanket around me to give me some sense of privacy and pulls up a chair in front of me. "Do you need a moment?" he asks gently. i shake my head. He nods and gos over it clinicaly “You have severe internal scarring but the way you healed it shouldn’t effect your pregnancy or birth, though intercourse may become painful in the future, eny questions” I shake my head. He motions to the bathroom before turning to face me suddenly and looking at me oddly “You realize the government isn't allowed to touch a deltas child or mate right?” I look up confused “what???” He nods “deltas are a protected class in China so are their mates and children.” I look him in the eye and ask “truly?” He nods. i smile as i head in and bathe quickly and dress in the scrubs he pushes under the doo smiling wider as I pull on the chest wrap the doc set with them 'he must realize that id like to keep my situation quiet'. As we exit the room I ask “Do you know how shado is?” He shakes his head "You can walk with me to pick up her paperwork and we can see if yours has come in yet." I nod and a thought occurs to me “Hey doc. I never caught your name.” I realise “$$$” I nod before properly introducing myself “As you know my names Oliver but you can call me oli. Soooooo greek for fire hmmmmm" I murmur with a raised brow. He smiles and laughs at my recognition of his names meaning and gos to gather up the reports. I follow along side him he gos over to the counter and collects multiple files before we head off as soon as were alone in one of the halls I ask the question that concerns me “How is she, don’t sugercaot it please” He looks to me before answering his face gaurded “Glasgow score of seven a severe coma but not necessarily permanent she may wake she may not, but shes alive for which I give you a large amount of credit considering only one of her burns became infected due to what I’m to understand is a poultice?” I nod “I’ve always been good with herbs, which burn became infected?” “the one on her face the surgeon put in a graft to cover the bone and stretchers to stretch the remaining skin so that we can remove the graft and not risk regection as she heals, the other burns have been treated and bandaged where we can, some are set up to air out” i nod and ask “is she healthy enough to be transferred to sterling?” he nods and begins flipping through the papers in another folder, He humms “so you do match the DNA we have on file for one Oliver Jonas Queen that was provided to us by your mother after you were declared missing, but their is a discrepency” i look up confused “what?” i ask surprise clear in my voice. he motions for me to sit in one of the empty chairs in the hall and sits beside me, looks me in the eye and asks “Are you sure that Robert Queen is your father?” I nod starting to become worried, he sighs “it seems your designation isnt the only family secret” at my look of confusion he continues “your DNA dos match the DNA of a buissness man in our system but not mr.Queens” i reach for the folder that he hands to me pointing first to the test-positive, then to the name, *fuck* i think as Malcolm Merlynns name stares up at me my stomach clenching $$$ puts a hand on my shoulder and asks if i need a minute “no im fine, did you get the other tests back?” i ask trying to take my mind off it he nods “your all in the clear on that front, are you shure your ok?” i nod and we stand and continue on our way quickly coming to shados room he knocks at the door and after checking that im me cc opens the door allowing $$$ and i inside. i look over confused as i see all three children are asleep curled up in a bed beside shados. “is it normal for them to sleep so much” i ask turning to the doctor who looks to vv and his children and then back at me “its ok you can speak in front of them” but before $$$ can continue vv stands and says “we are going to collect some clothes for you and the children well be back withen the hour” i nod and they head out the doc jestures for me to sit and settles in across from me “this is a list of foods you should avoid and slowly reintroduce to your diet with a phsyicians approval and a list of prescriptive vitamin and supplements you should take to help your system handle reintegration” there’s a knock at the door startling me my hand clutching at tysas shoulder placing myself between them and the door “it’s alright its just the nurse with the supplies I need for your children” $$$ Murmurs softly I nod and watch as he pulls a cart into the room my brow raising in confusion he points to the children over the next month they need several vaccines and booster shots to make up for poor diet and living conditions" i look away in shame only for him to cut off my negative thoughts before they begin “dont blame yourself you did the best you could given the circumstances of your lives for the past five years well get started once they wake.And yes it is normal for them to sleep this much given this is the first time their survival instincts have had a break will you sit with me so we can go over the reults of your DNA test?” i nod and settle in and try to focus as he gos over the test and points out that yes malcolm is in fact my father and then continues on to the health effects the island will have on me shado and the children. after we finnish i finally look over to shado still unconcious and heavily bandaged I’m shocked by the way the stark white bandages make her look so small and 'delicate’, a word i’ve never eqated to her then i focus on the kids and notice their hair has been taken down from the braides cc had put in. i pull up another bed and push it up beside the one they are curled up on and lay beside them and throw an arm over them i look to $$$ and ask "will you wake me when zzz or vv and his children arrive?" he nods and settles in to watch the door im unconcius moments later.
2 HOURS LATER A knock sounds at the door and I get up to let ZZZ inside. She sits on one of the empty beds and pulls several papers out of her breifcase. she turns to $$$ “im assuming your mr.queens doctor-”-he nods-“-good, did you already get the DNA test results back?” he nods and looks to me for permission to hand them over to which i nod my permission and hands the papers over she gos over them quickly before pulling out a small laptop and scanner she scans the papers and pulls them up on the computer and redacts my designation adding a mention to the law that sheilds it as private information and hands me a peice of paper “this is temporary but will allow you to keep custody of your children and act as a temporary gaurdion for your wife and allow you to handle her health requirments sign it.” i nod and do so quickly she then hands me a contract stating what shell do for me for the time she acts as my atturny and how much ill pay her. then she pulls out birth certificates and i fill them out to indicate that the kids were born as triplets two nights before the boat sank.then ZZZ VV CC and SS return with the clothes and we settle in to draw up and negotiate the sponsership contract. SS is set to go to a medical collage of her coice she decides to go to one in finland. CC decides to go to a school in Sterling. “im attached to these three and i can be your secretary or babysitter if need be” he comments in response to my raised brow at his decision. I nod and then VV ZZZ and I make a contract for VV to have accsess to use to hire workers and fix or buy a new boat. Afterwords CC and TT leave to pack CC’S and SS’S things. ZZZ has to leave to handle the goverment that has shown up rudely demanding to see my children. I settle on a chair beside the foot of shados bed after locking the door and I point my chair at the door to keep an eye out as I pull VV’s phone out and dial a number by memory. “Tommy Merlyn playboy extrondinare how may I help you this fine day.” I laugh at Tommys attitude being unchanged all thease years later “Hey tommy boy long time no see.” I hear a clutter as he drops the phone in shock I laugh as I hear him scramble to pick it up. “Oli…..brother is that really you?” he asks hope in his shaky voice “Yeah tommy its me.” I hear him let out a whoop probably doing a full body dance. “I thought you were dead man” “nah man im good” he laughs. “Are you ok? Where are you? I’ll come get you.” I laugh at his quick speak. “Slow down i’m fine i’m in a hospital in China can you bring a lawyer versed in custody issues that can work with a woman named ZZZ i’ll explain when you get here.” “Why would you…..you know what i dont care ill bring you and ZZZ a shark. I’m on my way ok.” “Yeah that’ll work.” I hear him take a breath “I’m not saying goodbye. So you can’t disapear again.” I laugh at his antics. “Ok Tommy i’ll see you soon ok?” “Yeah ok.” he hangs up. I sigh in relief as I walk around the room only to jump as I hear thunder clap. I go over to the rooms window leaning my head against the cold glass taking a breath as against my will the flashback overwhelms me.         CAPTER TWO           {FLASHBACK OLI P.O.V.} I wake to my father shaking me mumbling “You have to survive Oli-Olivia you have to live for me baby girl. I’m I’m so sorry for all I’ve done and what I havent done for you as your father god I was a horrible father to you, to Thea. I’m so sorry but it’s going to get so much worse i’ve done so much bad and I need you to fix it. Oli I need you to survive fix my wrongs and protect your sister. Please Oli fix my wrongs. Please.” Then he goes quiet and turns away a second later a bang rips through the air. 'Gunshot’ I look up to see him fall a hole in his head.“No. No. No. No. No. No.” I rush over to him. Frantically feeling for a pulse as i fall into my asis asia training allowing me to block my greif and fear for a moment. Nothing, not even a flicker of a pulse he’s gone……….the greif hits, and I sit there……numb……….for hours. Then I force it from my mind and get to work. I pull out the tarp and solor powered heat gun from one of my bags. I wrap him in the tarp and seal it tight with the heat gun. Then I set up a rain water collection system with another tarp and collapisible bowl. Then I settle in to wait. Eating a portion of food from my bag as I dip my hand into the water letting Li Un Yu pull me to het and to at least temporary saftey I think as I drift to sleep.               FOUR DAYS LATER          OLI P.O.V. I’m awoken from yet another dream os Sarah’s death merging with my fathers, by water splashing into my face making me gasp as i sit up and look around. There she is Li Un Yu, in mandarin purgatory in fae serpents pit in daemon home. i get up and start paddeling the raft towards her but slowly cautiusly. i wait untill dusk to get close and paddle into the cave that i know will lead to the entrance cave of my peoples under ground cave network i smile as i pass the serpents mark on the wall of the cave i run my hand over the matching mark on my thiegh. a moment later im inside the entrance cave i squint at the dim lighting and look up to see the main opening to the surface sighing as i see that the colored glass placed over the entrance is filthy, knowing ill have to clean it. i look down and hop out of the raft and into the waist deep water and pull the raft to the floor of the cave where the water meets the solid ground. i pull it ashore and quickly walk over to the wal and turn the lights on low then i turn back and lift my fathers body from it and carry him down the winding tunnels to the graveyard. once there i cut the tarp and transfer his body into one of the empty graves along the wall ignoring the smell as best i can. then i walk over to the storage cubby and pull a name stone chisel metal plate and bag of incense. i hurry back to his grave placing the name plate at the foot of his grave i quickly carve Robert Eugene Queen into it before placeing the dish atop it pouring out a portion of incense and lighting it. then i head over to the grave itself to begin filling the dirt in only to stop as i see the glint of light bounceing off the metal of my fathers wedding ring and from his neck. i lean down and pull off his wedding ring knowing moira would want it then i reach up to check what is around his neck only to gasp as i recognise the shape of dogtags in the poor lighting. 'my father wasnt military’ i think as i pull the chain up and over his head i put both items to the side and quickly burry him “bye daddy” i murmur for the last time as i pick up the ring and tags and exit the room sealing it behind me. i return to the entrance cave and peal my wet muddy salt soaked clothes from my lieth frame pealing the short haired wig of sighing as air caresses my scalp in between my braids. i sit the ring and dog tags to the side as i pull dry clothes from one of my bags i laugh as i realise that the long sleaved emerald polyester shirt light blue tank camo cargo pants and dark green shorts where the same clothes i was wearing when i met billy. i quickly dress and go over to the raft. i pull all 6 bags from it sitting them beside the raft i defate the raft and go to pack it away only to stop short as i find a small book with my fathers name embossed on the cover i flip through it quickly confused at the blank pages but shake my head and shove it into a pocket of my cargo pants i pack the raft away and snatch up the dog tags and ring and going by memory i quickly travel to my old room on the third floor. i feel my way over to the wall and turn the lights up to normal intensity. i go over to the nook in the wall and roll the bedding inside it flat i lay down setting my watch alarm for two hours hit the lights and fall into a deep sleep.        TWO HOURS LATER I wake and tun my alarm of before setting out my bags and doing a supply check withen my 6 bags i have climbing eqipment, two flare guns eight cartridges, four extensive medical kits wich I double check that the drugs are undamaged and the sterile equipment is still sterile, eight sets of clothes {sports bra, boxer shorts, tank top, tight short shorts, long sleved shirt, cargo pants, three pairs of socks per set}, one pair of combat boots, one pair of tenis shoes, three weeks of heat surpressents, three weeks of scent blockers, a bottle of alpha colone, eight ring daggers, two brass knuckles, garrot wire, one sword, two bags of food, two bags of water, the last bag holds my books, thumbnail cameras, moniters, and my laptop. Once i've finnished that I check the caves calender, three days until flood season 'shit’ I think as I run back to my room pack my bags quickly and run to the uper most seventh floor beside one of the landside entrance caves I lock down all the branching caves all the way to the seaside cove entrance leaving the path to the ocean the only path for the water that enters on the sixth floor to take preventing eny damage to the rooms from occuring during the flood. I change into the outfit i was wearing before the boat sank which is now dry. I tuck Rebeccas necklace, my fathers dog tags, wedding ring, and my mothers jewlry into one of my bags. I cast a glamour on the bracer the effort of pushing past its blocks nearly sending me to my knees. I take a minute to force myself steady then bare foot and ragged I exit the cave ready for enything or enyone I may run across knowing that if I run into a hostile force The-Oliver-Queen-rich-play-boy-that-cant-take-a-punch-much-less-throw-one-look will buy me some leeway to survive it. As I travel I place dozens of my cameras to give myself an edge since i'm stuck here I need to be ready for whatever comes at me Li Un Yu would have pushed me to China if Billy and Slade were there but instead she pulled me here meaning they are here but since Billy didnt use what i told him about Li Un Yu to contact me I will have to act with caution. I feel a shiver up my spine and hide quickly. As I hold my breath a green blur passes on the other end of the path im on. I smile as I recognize the green hood, Yau Fei. After he's out of range I continue on my way coming to a stop hours later as I hear the din of a camp. I hide the bag of cameras beneath so,e adaqaute shrubery and find a place to spy on the camp without being seen. It's full of military esq. looking men wearing balaclavas but I know better and recognize mercenaries when I see them. I have to hold back a gasp as I see Billy's balaclava. 'fuck billy what have you gotten into’ I think as I realise that getting the info I need is going to hurt like hell and be far more dangerous then expected thankfully i prepare like a boyscout. I take stock of myself and decide my clothes wig and dirty skin will work well and wander into the camp limping and acting as if seeing people is the best thing imaginable. I look up as a man orders me to stop. I do and weakly hold my hands up and hack as if clearing a dry throat “Please I-I need help plese.” I drop to my knees as the yelling begins. All of a sudden i'm dragged into a tent and placed in a chair in front of a desk. On the other side sits a man with blond hair and a crooked nose. “whats your name son” he askes shaking i respond “Oli-oliver queen sir I I dont know where I am is this China?” he laughs and shakes his head.  "No but I'll take you there if you tell me how you got here." “My dads boat went down in a storm oh goddd.” I murmur as I let my greif play over my face. “My dads dead what do I tell my sister........what do i tell my MOM” I worry aloud looking to him as if he has the answaers. He smiles seemingly taking the bait and says “Tell you what son i'll get you home and handle your family if you can tell ME somthing.” I nod eagerly and he pulls out a picture of Yau Fei I look at it confused 'easy to do as I didnt know he had a military background and seeing him in uniform is confusing’ “do you know who this man is have you seen him” I look to him and shake my head “I'm sorry sir but I dont recognize him you all are the first people i've seen since the the boat.” I shiver for effect. He sighs and stands "I’m sorry but I don't beleive you Oliver Queen or should I say Demona Olivia Wintergreen" I look up surprised at his knowledge of my secret and see him make a hand motion, and im dragged to the center of the camp and tied to a pole. "Look what we have here boys" he yells out as he pulls my wig off "A would be rescue attempt" he rips off my shirt “I wonder what your husbend will say if you bare out” I laugh bitterly. He seems surprised that i dont fear him “first it wasn't a rescue attempt second do you think your the first man to put his hands on me hah third I wont bare out for enyone but my dasha and fourth me bareing out wouldn't matter one way or the other so kiss my ass!” He laughs shocked. “Then i'll have to give you what you need then to be a good host you see.” he stalks out of my sight as his men begin beating me an hour or so later he drags Billy over and puts a machine to his neck causing him to spasm and go to his knees. He stands and as billy advances on me I force my self to pass out. When I come to its dark. I stifle a moan as the wounds i've gathered make themselves known as I move. I take a breath and angle my wrist to dislocate it and slip my binds. I quickly look around only to see that all the mercs are seemingly asleep. I quickly take one of my cameras from my sock and sneak into fyrs tent I place it above the entrance so I can watch fyrs. Then I tip-toe over to the desk and quickly film each peice of paper I can find opening drawers and boxes to make sure I get it all with another camera. I replace the papers once i'm done so he can't tell that they have been moved I quickly exit his tent and go into Billy's. The first thing I notice is nothing personal is on display in the tent like Billys set up would usually be done up. I do find his go bag in the corner covered in dust. I quickly grab his go bag and exit the tent sparing only a moment to setup a camera in a similar setup as in fyrs tent. On my way out of the camp I hear a moan and stop dead looking around, then I see her in between two tents, a girl strung up a soldier cuting into her unconcius form. I grab a knife from a table behind him and sneak in close him and slit his throat. I quickly strip his uniform off and pull it on. I untie the girl and carry her out of camp grabbing my bag on the way and head back to the entrance cave that holds the rest of my bags. I lay her down and pull out one of the med kit. I clean and treat first her wounds and then my own. I stack and tie my bags together before redressing in the cargo pants shorts tank and long sleaved green shirt. I pull the bags over my shoulders like a back pack and scoop up the girl after wrapping her in a tarp. I exit the cave and lock it down and quickly make my way deep into the woods. Just as dawn breaks I make camp. I let the girl continue to sleep as I pull out the moniter and go through the film of the paper work first. 'so thats what hes planning 9/11 2.0 china edition' I think as I see the plans laid out in the documents 'what the hell is A.R.G.U.S.' I think reading the name listed as his employer 'something to look into i guess' then I see it the name of the drug hes useing on billy a mixture of scopolamine and steroids my heart sinks as i realize 'His will isnt gone. Just twisted, instead of fyrs he sees someone he trusts implicitly giving him orders. Probably Slade considering everything.' I look up to see the girl sweating under the tarp 'fever' I realize i head over to her strip it off and place her in one of my sleeping bags so she can sweat it out quickly then I turn on anther one of the moniters to tune into the cameras around the camp and another to search for Yau Fei while thats going on, I push through the blocks on the bracer long enough to take down the illusion on the bracer and then the illunsion hiding my true mottled skin knowing that Olivia wintergreen and Oliver need to disappear. I have to push down the urge to scream at the pain of useing my ability with the bracer on. After I have caught my breath I settle in to watch my camera feeds planning what I'll tell the girl and when I find him what I'll tell Slade. A few hours later after the sun has risen I look up from watching fyrs run about like a chiken that has lost its head looking for us, when I hear the girl begining to wake and quickly pull out a change of clothes for her and the tennis shoes I brought and sit it all beside her. I sit back down just as she wakes sitting up quickly and looking around clearly confused and afraid. "Hey, hey, easy, your safe. They can't find us here I promise." She jerks to look at me and then looks down and takes note of her nakedness and clutches the sleeping bag to her chest flushing deeply. "You had a fever, theres clothes beside you." I say in explanation then I turn my back to her to give her some privacy. When I hear her go still I turn back to face her. Shes standing fully dressed and shifting from foot to foot uncomfortable, but clam. "Are you ok?" I ask softly. She nods. "whats your name hun?" I ask falling into tha accent I picked up while with Billy and the tone I picked up from my kids. She looks up glaring at me "My name is NONE of your concern and i'm not your HUN" The derision in her voice is dripping. I nod understanding that she could have seen my tone and wording may have felt insulting. "My name is Olivia Green. I was on my way here when I was shipwreaked. I have no real idea who fyrs and his men are but their after you so I need to know who you are. So I know if I can take you with me to find Yau Fei." She looks up at Yau Fei's name. "How do you know my father." I look to her with a smile finally putting the peices together "Your Shado!" I say excited. She looks confused so I explain quickly, "I wound up on this island as a child. He saved my life but he didn't want to come with us when we left. He dosnt get a choice this time i'm dragging him home even if I have to knock his ass out first. I guess it's a good thing I saw you. He'd beat my ass if i'd left you tied up like that." She shivers, remembering fyrs hospitallity no doubt. I go over to her and pull her close in a tight hold and she collapses sobbing. I wait it out letting her get it all out. Once she was done I hand her a bottle of vitawater and as her jaw is swollen I hand her one of the liquified meals from one of my bags. "I saw Yau Fei on camera earlier, so once your done we'll go find him ok?" She nods and eats quickly "I'll drink on the way." she murmurs. I nod quickly, packing up and throwing the bag on my back and after I disguise our campsite we head off. As we walk I place my cameras around in non-discript but well angled areas. "What are you doing?" She asks. "Covering our asses." I hold up the moniter. "If Fyr's gets close we'll know hes coming before he gets close." She looks confused "Who are you Jane Bond?" she asks snarkaly. "I spent 5 years with A.S.I.S. if Jane Bond was real shed wish she was me." She looks at me wide eyed "What?" she ask sounding startled. I sigh and begin "I spent five years in Austrelion special ops. Boyscouts on steroids basically. Allways be prepared to slit a throat is the name of the game. Oddly enough I was on my way here when I got ship wreaked so I had my bags set up allready" as i wait for her respose I come to a stop and pull out my balacalvea. I quickly don it pulling my hoodie on over it. "What are you doing?" she asks gesturing to my attire "If we run across enyone me being assumed male i will have an advantage of over them." I pull out the dogtags to get a better look at them in the sunlight as i start walking again only to read malcolms name rather then roberts and stumble in shock. 'What the hell!' I think as I reread the text. 'Were dad and Malcolm.......a thing.......what the hell?' she catches up to me before i can think on it further. "So if your g.i.jane badass why did you let them torture you." I stiffen realizing she saw my interrigation "The best way to get information is to give men like fyrs a captive audience. give them an audience and theyll speak let them think you weak and they will let their gaurd down and speack on things they should keep secret." she looks confused but seems to except my point.As we climb down a ravine she asks "Where are we going?" I point down "Your father covers his tracks well, but that leaves evidence of its own." She nods and takes a deep breath "So two questions One who is the guy in the black and orange mask and Two what dos Frys want with my father." she ask sounding tired. I turn to her "The man in the mask was William Wintergreen but hes so drugged up I doubt he can see streight and I need to talk to your father before i figure out a plan" she looks pissed but before we can get into it we come to a spot in the woods where now that we were close we can see that the trees have had saplings and bushes woven between them to create a wall of foliage. "Bingo!" I murmur before turning to her "Shall we see whats behind curtin number one." i ask with a smirk and my snarkiest play boy voice. I pull out Billys sword and begin cutting through the foliage, as we break through we are greated with the sight of a feild and the wreakage of a plane. I hold my hand up motioning for her to stay back. I pull my bag off and drop it by her feet. I push the sword into her hand and head to the busted up shell. As I step inside I feel someone drop down behind me I smile as i hear Slades voice snarl out "Twitch and i'll split your windpipe." in my ear as he presses his sword to my throat. "How meny are with you?" he questins. "What are you talking about." I turn to see slades face as he pushes the sword closer "What you some greenie that saw what kind of men they were, got scard and ran?" I laugh "Are you forreal with this big scary man in the woods ruteen or should i laugh." He shoves me into the wall and snarls into my face "How meny are with you?" I lean my head back look him in the eys smirking as I respond "One. A girl that was held captive beside me by Fyrs. Shes Yau Fei's daughter." As I finnish I hear someone else drop down into the cabin 'Presumbably Yau Fei' As he runs past me and out of the plane my suspicions are confimed. We stand there a moment listening to Yau Fei and Shado reunite. Slade lets go of me and lowers his sword "Whats your name kid" he asks almost gently amking me want to laugh as he has asked me that before under similer circumstances. "Olivia Green" He takes a good look at me and laughs pionting to my outfit. [Green hoodie, green balacalvea, green longsleaved shirt, green cargo pants, and green combat boots] "Well it's an acurate name I guess." he snickers out. I nod and head out to where Shado is as he stands there laughing. I scoop up my bags and put away Billy's sword just in time as Slade comes up to me and Shado who is still wrapped in her fathers arms but is watching slade and I. "The names Slade Wilson A.S.I.S. agent. Thats Yau Fei, and you are?" the last is directed to Shado. I look up "Her name is Shado." I murmur heading into the plane. I pick a corner and set up a palet to sleep on. As i'm seltling in the others enter. "What are you doing?" Slade asks confused at me sleeping in the middle of the day. "I havent had the chance to sleep for real in days, so i'm takeing the chance to sleep before I head into the mountains and settle in there." I answear resting my head on my bags. I quickly drift off never having uncoverd my face.
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