Asp (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
senmut) wrote2025-08-20 09:05 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-20 09:05 pmEntry tags:
Thank Yous are all posted (I think)
If you recently supported my endeavor for a new phone, and did NOT see a ficlet you enjoyed from me this month, feel free to pop a private message my way to ask for something different.
and because I keep poor records during stress, if I overlooked you I am so so sorry, please message me
and because I keep poor records during stress, if I overlooked you I am so so sorry, please message me
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-20 07:57 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-20 07:57 pmEntry tags:
Doctor Who Ficlet
Envy Himself (150 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Twelfth Doctor/River Song
Characters: Twelfth Doctor, River Song
Additional Tags: Drabble and a Half, Introspection
Summary:
From the moment he saw her, and she did not recognize him for who he was, his hearts had been in a knot. River Song, the woman that had defied so many temporal lies, become a scourge to certain parts of the galaxies… was nearing the end of her time.
The Doctor refused to let that flavor his last night with her, treating her to the delights she enjoyed, and savoring the heights of joy with her. When this night ended, she would go and save him, a few lives back, and the dance would begin for himself.
He envied that younger Time Lord what was to come. To experience River in all her moods, to feel alive because of her? It had been a needed thing for him to begin to put the past aside.
For now, envy had no place, as River kissed all of his thoughts away.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Twelfth Doctor/River Song
Characters: Twelfth Doctor, River Song
Additional Tags: Drabble and a Half, Introspection
Summary:
Twelve's thoughts as the final night is upon them
Envy Himself
From the moment he saw her, and she did not recognize him for who he was, his hearts had been in a knot. River Song, the woman that had defied so many temporal lies, become a scourge to certain parts of the galaxies… was nearing the end of her time.
The Doctor refused to let that flavor his last night with her, treating her to the delights she enjoyed, and savoring the heights of joy with her. When this night ended, she would go and save him, a few lives back, and the dance would begin for himself.
He envied that younger Time Lord what was to come. To experience River in all her moods, to feel alive because of her? It had been a needed thing for him to begin to put the past aside.
For now, envy had no place, as River kissed all of his thoughts away.
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-20 07:53 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-20 07:53 pmEntry tags:
MCU Ficlet
Hold Still (150 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Avengers [Marvel Movies]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Clint Barton/Phil Coulson
Characters: Clint Barton | Hawkeye, Phil Coulson
Additional Tags: Drabble and a Half
Summary:
"Hold very, very still."
Any other person saying that in Coulson's ear-piece would have induced some concerns. Too many agents of SHIELD were given to having more confidence in their skills than deserved, after all.
But this was Barton. Barton had never let him down when skill was needed. He kept himself still, a smile pasted on for the captor that hadn't been thorough in his pat-down.
"Why are you — "
The man didn't get to finish his trite question, as Coulson processed the breeze that had been the arrow millimeters from his own cheek in its course.
"Safe to move?"
"Wouldn't mind a hand in getting us out of this place, now you mention it," Barton said dryly. "You're buying dinner."
"I'll put it on Fury's expense account," Coulson promised, swiftly breaking the zip ties on his wrists and reacquiring his weaponry. "Steak?"
"Surf and turf."
"That's a deal, Barton."
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Avengers [Marvel Movies]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Clint Barton/Phil Coulson
Characters: Clint Barton | Hawkeye, Phil Coulson
Additional Tags: Drabble and a Half
Summary:
Phil knows he can and will do it. It's Clint.
Hold Still
"Hold very, very still."
Any other person saying that in Coulson's ear-piece would have induced some concerns. Too many agents of SHIELD were given to having more confidence in their skills than deserved, after all.
But this was Barton. Barton had never let him down when skill was needed. He kept himself still, a smile pasted on for the captor that hadn't been thorough in his pat-down.
"Why are you — "
The man didn't get to finish his trite question, as Coulson processed the breeze that had been the arrow millimeters from his own cheek in its course.
"Safe to move?"
"Wouldn't mind a hand in getting us out of this place, now you mention it," Barton said dryly. "You're buying dinner."
"I'll put it on Fury's expense account," Coulson promised, swiftly breaking the zip ties on his wrists and reacquiring his weaponry. "Steak?"
"Surf and turf."
"That's a deal, Barton."
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-20 07:48 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-20 07:48 pmEntry tags:
X-Men MovieVerse Ficlet
His Eternal Partner (200 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: X-Men Movieverse
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier
Characters: Erik Lensherr | Magneto, Charles Xavier | Professor X
Additional Tags: Double Drabble, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
The soft whisper in his mind was getting harder to hear.
That fact alone drew Erik out of his dreaming state, and up, into action.
For too many years, there had been strife between he and his truest partner.
It was time to end that.
The hold out of mutants in the ruins of the Mansion had not expected any relief. They had been in communication blackout when the attack began, had already lost some of their number.
To have every single weapon, tank, and aircraft suddenly pulled into a single pile of twisted metal was stunning, even sickening to the embattled students and teachers on some level, but ultimately, they wanted to live.
If that meant accepting Magneto as their savior, it was what it would be.
"You came."
"You were fading from me."
No one intruded. The ones who had been there longest understood this was for their mentors alone.
"You were, as ever, ruthless and hasty in your response."
"You, as always, my old friend, are a sanctimonious shill."
Slow smiles were shared, before Erik pressed his forehead to his beloved's.
"Never leave me again, Charles."
"I cannot promise, but perhaps we can find a middle path."
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: X-Men Movieverse
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier
Characters: Erik Lensherr | Magneto, Charles Xavier | Professor X
Additional Tags: Double Drabble, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
When Erik feels Charles fading, he goes
His Eternal Partner
The soft whisper in his mind was getting harder to hear.
That fact alone drew Erik out of his dreaming state, and up, into action.
For too many years, there had been strife between he and his truest partner.
It was time to end that.
The hold out of mutants in the ruins of the Mansion had not expected any relief. They had been in communication blackout when the attack began, had already lost some of their number.
To have every single weapon, tank, and aircraft suddenly pulled into a single pile of twisted metal was stunning, even sickening to the embattled students and teachers on some level, but ultimately, they wanted to live.
If that meant accepting Magneto as their savior, it was what it would be.
"You came."
"You were fading from me."
No one intruded. The ones who had been there longest understood this was for their mentors alone.
"You were, as ever, ruthless and hasty in your response."
"You, as always, my old friend, are a sanctimonious shill."
Slow smiles were shared, before Erik pressed his forehead to his beloved's.
"Never leave me again, Charles."
"I cannot promise, but perhaps we can find a middle path."
svgurl (svgurl) wrote2025-08-19 10:13 am
svgurl) wrote2025-08-19 10:13 amEntry tags:
current fandom events
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
rarepairexchange, an exchange focused on rare ships (less than 250 works, completed, written in English, and filtered using the otp:true option on ao3), is still open for sign-ups until August 20th, 11:59PM EDT. Jump Scare is a multifandom flash exchange focused on spooky, spoopy, and horror. Nominations and sign-ups are open concurrently and close on August 21st, 8:59PM EDT.
crossworks, a fic/art crossover fandom exchange, is open for sign-ups until August 21st, 11:59PM EDT.fffx, a multifandom gift exchange for 40-panel comics and 10,000+ word stories, is accepting nominations until August 27th, 11:59PM EDT.sexpollenplus, a multi-fandom exchange focused on sex pollen and other fuck compulsion tropes, has opened sign-ups until August 31st, 7PM GMT.ficinabox is open for sign-ups until August 31st, 9:59PM EDT. Late nomination are also being accepted until August 30th, 10PM EDT. Stuffed with Love is a multifandom fic/art incest centric exchange. Sign-ups are open until August 31st, 11:5PM Eastern.
firstandlastalexchange, an omegaverse themed exchange, is open for nominations until October 24th, 11:55PM CDT. More info, including links and how to nominate, can be found HERE.no_true_pair, a mad-libs-style challenge where you make a list of characters, a set of prompts is posted that uses all the characters in different combinations, and you create works using those characters, is opened Eight-Character Challenge sign-ups.bbtp_challenge is running their 19th edition of Bring Back the Porn, where you post something porny to your journal or favorite archive (fic, art, recs, icons, etc) on September 1st. fancake's theme of the month for August is: marriage of convenience. Click on the banner below to learn more!
Suavium Sanguineum (stuckinsanguinus) wrote2025-08-18 09:37 pm
stuckinsanguinus) wrote2025-08-18 09:37 pmLet Me Introduce You
Carmilla and Laura by SD Simper
Queer Liberation Library link
Alternate link
In her isolated castle, 19th centuary Laura isn’t unhappy, but she’s lonely. When a carriage accident brings a young woman to the schloss, Laura is immediately entranced by her new companion. Carmilla is beautiful and full of wit, despite the strange disease she suffers from. The attraction between them grows every day, undeterred by the plague that seems to be killing young women around them.
I used Reading Length which clocked this novella at 2 hours if your reading speed is 350 WPM.
Class of '09 (Visual Novel and related animation)
Class of '09 Anime Pilot 12 min, a solid encapsulation of the main characters personalities.Complete play through with all tree options The first 108 minutes are sufficient but honestly one could pick any slice of this and get the full spread of characters.
Do you like dumpster fire humans that are absolutely trash to each other (but all kinda hot?).
Alright, then this is a pile of awful humanity in a Visual Novel (well, three really) form but in the like the best way. Its fully voice acted and full of references to the 00's while often being pitched as "white girl boondocks". Empathy-related mental health abounds and while I'd describe the main character (Nicole) as a sociopath (and her bff Jecka a psychopath), its pretty up in the air and dependent on the branches you choose! Spin the wheel of abnormal psychology! You might get cannibalism or suicide or just casual pill popping!
There's a sizable yuri fanbase around those two (Jeckole shippers ahoy!) and there are some same-sex options to explore in the games.
Unfortunately, the creator is sort of a dumpster fire of a human being too (go figure, right?) so I recommend just watching a Let's Play on youtube and not giving them any of your money.
Hades II
Melinoe is the daughter of Hades and Persephone, her mismatched eyes come from each of them. Hidden and raised at the Crossroads by Hecate, she has a glowing spectral arm that replaces the one she lost in a cauldron accident while trying to help the shades of Icarus as a youth.
Hades 2 Complete Cutscenes The first ten minutes of this provide the intro to the game and narrative framing.
Complete Dialogue with Nemesis (46 min)
Romantic Bonding with Nemesis (update) (2 min)
Selene All Dialogue (22 min)
Kantayra (kantayra) wrote2025-08-18 09:41 am
kantayra) wrote2025-08-18 09:41 amWheeeeeeeee!
I have officially reached that time of year when I have tons of energy for doing stuff. I'm focusing much of that towards trying to get remotely back into shape after The Events. But also I'm writing a bunch of short things, as planned, and it's a ton of fun!
Here's where things stand at the moment:
Goals for this week: 1) Write some fun short things forseasonofdrabbles and various flash exchanges, 2) Make some progress on my 1 in-progress assignment for Sept/Oct, 3) Sign up for Sex Pollen Plus & FIAB, 4) Watch a lot of BNHA, 5) Make some progress on Wen Guan (probably slow progress, lol).
Here's where things stand at the moment:
- Exchanges due in July/August (fandom5k, caseficexchange, nonconex, justmarriedexchange, Terrible Temperature Troubles flash, hAPPy birthday flash, seasonsofdrabbles, FightingAsForeplayFlash + mystery pinch-hits and treats): FightingAsForeplayFlash, new exciting flash! In honor of Fighting As Foreplay becoming a canonical AO3 tag, which I was not aware of, but now I need to go back through my fics and tag pretty much everything with it. 😝 I jumped on this one so fast I was the first to sign up! One of my most beloved tropes! ❤️ The last potential thing that could be added to July/August is Jump Scare Flash Exchange: we'll see if I want to jump on someone's prompts for that. Otherwise, my slate is now set through end of August. I've moved enemiestoloversex to the Sept/Oct bucket, because I did not finish it, alas, last week. I'm currently at 16/16: I've been writing tons of short assignments/PHs/treats. It's fun, let's see how much further I get by next week! My goal is to write as many short things as I'm inspired to.
- fandom5k has now revealed! Here's what I wrote:
- My assignment was: See No Evil: Hannibal/Will married post-fall, with a new serial killer stalking Will. Horrible murder husbands being horrible (yet also sweet)!
- Then I picked up a PH: Meddlesome: Father Brown/Flambeau for Father Brown (2013). These two are SO MUCH FUN to write! The repartee and the flirting! Seriously, I had an absolute ball rewatching all the Flambeau episodes, and I was glad to get a chance to write these two because they are so amazing together.
- Exchanges due in September/October (enemiestoloversex, cuppajoexhange, + mystery pinch-hits and treats + future sign-ups): New category! I've signed up for Cuppa Joe and expect my assignment in a couple days! So I'm saying I'm officially at 0/2, with my goal to make some progress on one of those assignments this week. I also need to sign up for sexpollenplus and ficinabox, both of which I definitely want to do. I debating rarepairexchange and let_me_introduce_you, but am currently disinclined for both.
- Upcoming potential exchanges: fffx, I need to nominate for (although that one has a loooooong cycle). I will look at the requests for fandomgiftbasket when those come out, but likely will not sign up. Much further out are: amperslashexchange, au5k & highadrenalineexchange.
- Nothing to report on Femslash Salad Bar...
- I'm now on the second half of BNHA S5! Bakugo continues to be the gift that keeps on giving, entertainment-wise. Blowing villains up 30 minutes after getting his provisional license! He is the dumbest (strangely smart) permanently angry boy ever written, and I love him to bits. Hoping to get through another good chunk of this show this week; it's far and away my new obsession now!
- Wen Guan by Qi Xiao Huangshu is still slow going, but I am plugging away (very slowly).
- Nothing in my library queue came up last week. 😭 Maybe next week?
- Holy shit, it's already nearing the end of August! Starting sometime in September through end of October, I'll do my annual "consume interesting new-to-me horror canons" thing I do every Halloween. I need to check through the potentials I added to my list throughout the year (and the ones I didn't get to last year) and start plotting this out.
Goals for this week: 1) Write some fun short things for
seasonofdrabbles and various flash exchanges, 2) Make some progress on my 1 in-progress assignment for Sept/Oct, 3) Sign up for Sex Pollen Plus & FIAB, 4) Watch a lot of BNHA, 5) Make some progress on Wen Guan (probably slow progress, lol).
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-17 06:22 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-17 06:22 pmEntry tags:
3 DC Universe Ficlets
Peace, After Knowing (100 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Smallville
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Lex Luthor
Additional Tags: Drabble, Introspection
Summary:
There's solace in not knowing, they say. There's peace in shutting your eyes, turning away.
They're all wrong.
Lex hasn't had a moment of peace since the meteor. Not from his father, not from life, and not from him.
That day, when Clark Kent crossed his path and saved his life, has only amplified the chaos inside of Lex. He aches to find the truth, to see what was hidden, to hold that knowledge as his own.
Clark is his keystone, could be a foundation to lay his peace on, if he can ever decipher the clues.
He'll keep trying.
Up Above (100 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Superman (Franchise)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Clark Kent
Additional Tags: Drabble, Introspection, +Modern Age (1986-Present)
Summary:
There are nights when Clark just hovers, high enough up to be unseen, eyes sweeping over the city beneath him. It's a way of choosing solace without going so far away as to risk losing precious time to help others. He can still listen, still see, if he chooses to.
The peace of the cool air, the muting of other distractions — all of it allows him to settle his choices into place. He is only one man, and choices have to be made. He makes peace with where he could not be, then returns to his home.
He keeps choosing.
Helpers of Hope (100 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Batman (Franchise)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Bruce Wayne
Additional Tags: Drabble, Introspection
Summary:
A wise man had once said 'look for the helpers'. Bruce has been doing it since before his parents were killed. Maybe it's because they both gave as much of themselves to others as they did to him. Maybe it's Alfred's teaching and example.
Maybe, it's because the ones that reach out and help give him hope.
He goes out, he stops what he can of the relentless tide of corruption and danger for his city's people.
In turn, they reach out to one another, make different choices, raise each other up.
It's enough to make him try even harder.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Smallville
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Lex Luthor
Additional Tags: Drabble, Introspection
Summary:
Lex's world is not peaceful
Peace, After Knowing
There's solace in not knowing, they say. There's peace in shutting your eyes, turning away.
They're all wrong.
Lex hasn't had a moment of peace since the meteor. Not from his father, not from life, and not from him.
That day, when Clark Kent crossed his path and saved his life, has only amplified the chaos inside of Lex. He aches to find the truth, to see what was hidden, to hold that knowledge as his own.
Clark is his keystone, could be a foundation to lay his peace on, if he can ever decipher the clues.
He'll keep trying.
Up Above (100 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Superman (Franchise)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Clark Kent
Additional Tags: Drabble, Introspection, +Modern Age (1986-Present)
Summary:
Clark has a way to deal with his choices
Up Above
There are nights when Clark just hovers, high enough up to be unseen, eyes sweeping over the city beneath him. It's a way of choosing solace without going so far away as to risk losing precious time to help others. He can still listen, still see, if he chooses to.
The peace of the cool air, the muting of other distractions — all of it allows him to settle his choices into place. He is only one man, and choices have to be made. He makes peace with where he could not be, then returns to his home.
He keeps choosing.
Helpers of Hope (100 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Batman (Franchise)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Bruce Wayne
Additional Tags: Drabble, Introspection
Summary:
Bruce reflects on what fans his hope.
Helpers of Hope
A wise man had once said 'look for the helpers'. Bruce has been doing it since before his parents were killed. Maybe it's because they both gave as much of themselves to others as they did to him. Maybe it's Alfred's teaching and example.
Maybe, it's because the ones that reach out and help give him hope.
He goes out, he stops what he can of the relentless tide of corruption and danger for his city's people.
In turn, they reach out to one another, make different choices, raise each other up.
It's enough to make him try even harder.
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-16 07:02 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-16 07:02 pmEntry tags:
Curse of the Faerie King, updated
Curse of the Faerie King (16004 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 7/7
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden, Nalfein Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Mostly Gen, Eventual Relationships, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Gender Changes, Ensemble Cast, but with wide divergence
Summary:
Entire fic linked above, or read just the new chapter at AO3.
Being summoned by the Matron of the House was never a good thing in either wizard's mind. Gromph had more than enough trouble as Arch-Mage of the city. Nalfein, juggling the responsibility of raising Gromph's hidden child against teaching in Sorcere, merely hoped the mind-flayer wasn't present. He enjoyed being free to pursue his studies, teach the bright girl, and have Gromph satisfied with saving his life.
That the meeting was held on a walkway above a holding pit for slaves, full of filthy duergar was almost intriguing enough to offset Gromph's irritation. What was Yvonnel up to now?
"Both of you are to learn all that these wretches know about where they came from," she said without preamble. "All the ways in and out, and what sent them scurrying into our patrols."
Gromph scowled. "Enlighten us as to why duergar would know anything worth your time, Mother?"
Nalfein recognized the strategic familial title as a tactic he had once used against Malice's scheming. It was good to see some things remained the same despite changing Houses.
"Haerinvureem has been killed, and I seek vengeance for old business," Yvonnel told him, more forthcoming than Nalfein had expected. "Dwarves now hold a strategic location that I will possess. See to this task swiftly -- or else!"
"Yes, Matron," and "As you wish," overlapped. Nalfein surveyed the filthy lot in disdain, before the woman left them to it.
Nalfein itched in his robes the more the tales poured out of the duergar under his and Gromph's interrogation. There could not be two such drow in existence. He wasn't certain, but he also needed to learn for himself. If Matron Baenre was intent on conquest of the dwarf hall, and it was Dreeza, Nalfein had a wish to not face her in combat.
She had been Zaknafein's heir in all ways, after all, and the way she melded magic to her combat had proven deadly to at least one experienced wizard after all. And if she survived, did that mean the other two did? Could Nalfein find a way out of Menzoberranzan by putting his sister in his debt during the invasion?
Or because of it?
A slow, sly smile crossed his lips, enhancing his sinister opinion as he selected his next victim for the questioning, building a more complete picture of the Hall, its fighters, and most especially of the purple-eyed drow with two scimitars.
Gromph settled a plate of seared fungi between he and Nalfein, in the latter's rooms, and set the tangy sauce in its bowl above the plate. Nalfein noted it was his favorite, and had his unseen servant pour liquor from the bottle behind the usual blend.
"You got distracted. Luckily, Vendes doesn't pay close enough attention to men to notice," Gromph said.
"Considering this move to more openly have a resource close to the Surface, pondering the ramifications," Nalfein said idly, taking a bite afterwards to give himself time to think.
"You mean wasting resources on something when we have other means of gathering all we could ever need from above?"
Nalfein's eyes went wide to hear Gromph be so critical, so openly. The Arch-Mage tapped a certain ring he wore, reassuring the younger man that all was hidden, for now.
"It seems this would be more a move for her than to glorify Her," Nalfein said very carefully. "So many things could go wrong, even."
"Hmm, but how to insure the correct things go wrong?" Gromph asked, considering plans and contingencies.
"We make contact with the drow involved." Nalfein knew this was a risk, but had weighed and measured where Gromph stood, was certain Gromph himself had been why Baenre took him in instead of ordering his death when Malice fell.
"A drow who fights by dwarves is no ally to ones like us, my dagger-wand."
Oh, he had Gromph intrigued if the endearments were coming out.
Nalfein smiled, a dangerous one, and nodded. "Except. I believe the drow is Malice's last child, and I did all I could to keep that one friendly with me."
"That one, is it? The daughter that was never schooled?"
"The child," Nalfein corrected, "that could never pass through school because of the Curse of the Faerie King."
Gromph's expression shifted rapidly through several emotions, before he returned the smile. "Nalfein, you keep being useful to me."
"Good. You keep me supplied with books, after all."
They both laughed, tabling the talk of their treachery for now, as it would take some time to work out the angles. One way or another, they were going to twist Yvonnel's desires for the dwarven hall into her downfall.
Nalfein shut his eyes as he slipped into his room for the night, a headache pounding from being under constant low light elsewhere in the city. He'd only just started to remove his outer robes, taxed by teaching Lirael a more advanced potion, stretching her ability yet again. He did not want the knock on the door, or the fact it was a specific rhythm to tell him Gromph was there.
At least the man knocked. In the early days of his assignment under Baenre patronage, the man had often just walked in, to make the point of who Nalfein needed to keep happy. He shrugged the robe back into place, made sure his favorite wand was in place, and let the unseen servant open the door.
Gromph, and the mercenary leader known as Jarlaxle entered and closed the door back.
"Tut, tut, no lights?" that dandified drow asked in a flippant tone.
"Shut it, Jarlaxle. Nalfein has more than earned the relief from them."
"Ahh, a good little pet."
Nalfein refused to bridle, showing nothing but contempt toward the unsettling man.
"What brings you with him, Arch-Mage?" he did ask politely, fixing his main attention on his superior.
"We have the beginning of a plan, to see about threads we may pull," Gromph said. "Jarlaxle, stop needling Nalfein; I assure you he works far more efficiently on a peer to peer level than being reminded of the past."
Jarlaxle swept his hat off, dipping in a bow with it over his chest to Nalfein. "Apologies, good saer. It's so rare that I get to meet the ones Gromph squirrels away, as if he fears I would poach your services for my own small pursuits."
Gromph did not actually growl, but there was an impression of it — and Nalfein relaxed further. This strange man was someone his friend was comfortable with, to a degree, and that meant it was safer to show ease in the situation.
"How may I assist in pulling threads then?"
"How's your penmanship?" Jarlaxle asked in a jaunty tone. "I may be able to have a letter delivered, to your unusual contact through a third party."
Nalfein looked at Gromph, who nodded. "Such a letter would add one more step of plausible escape for myself, after all," Gromph said. "And Jarlaxle knows how to keep his balancing act in place."
"I've managed so far," the man cheerfully said.
Nalfein acquired his writing materials, made himself remember which version of the longhand writing Dreeza had been taught, and nodded, hastily writing the letter that was needed. He was a little surprised when Jarlaxle added a few details in his idle conversation with Gromph, ones that had not been known to either of them, and he wondered just who the mercenary actually was in the scheme of things.
Nalfein was surprised to learn that the svirfnebli were to be the messengers. He listened to the threat and dismissal exchange, as clearly choreographed as if it were a performance, but obviously built from long association, as he sized up the shaman with the other deep gnome. He could not recall ever seeing them this close before, not even in his youth as a common fighter for House Do'Urden.
"Any betrayal!"
"Of course, dear Firble, of course." Jarlaxle then walked away, looking purposefully away from the other three. Nalfein was still uncertain as to the extent of the mercenary's involvement in House Baenre, but Gromph had been specific. Nothing said at this meeting could be heard by the mercenary, once Nalfein was the speaker.
"I will need to provide a hush over us, so that my ally can remain free and clear of what is said, as it deals with drow of a House that no longer exists," Nalfein told the pair.
"We are watching you, and you will die if you use trickery to foul us," Firble promised him.
"I can almost respect your tenacious hold on those threats," Nalfein told the smaller gray man.
"Go ahead, drow," the shaman said, and Nalfein pulled up his particular version of silence, coupled with a non-detection that obscured them from sound or sight. He'd kept this spell for himself ever since an accidental casting of it, finding it useful against clerics.
"I have a letter. It is for a drow who allies to the dwarves in the Hall above, the one Jarlaxle gave you a map to. The letter must go to this drow, to avert certain plans that could damage all of us in this section of the Underdark."
"How can we trust you to not be setting the dwarves up for betrayal?" Firble demanded.
"Because that drow was — is — my sibling, and once my student. I am of House Do'Urden, and so is the drow. I have interests in making sure my student stays alive, safe, and not mad at me."
He could not admit to wanting to be out of Baenre's House, to wanting a measure of vengeance for the fall of his own, but that much might appeal to their sense of family ethics.
"Give us the letter," the shaman said. "We will renew our ties with the dwarves, now that the Living Shadow is dead. And if the drow chooses to listen, it is done."
Nalfein pulled the letter out, passing it over, and inclined his head. "Until we meet again, some day perhaps. Peacefully, even."
Firble made a rude noise, but then Nalfein dispersed the magic, and both parties went their own way.
"ELF!"
Drizzt had been told the king wanted him right away, and he had come as soon as he could, canceling a holiday with Alustriel. That was often their lives; one or the other would be needed elsewhere.
"I apologize for how long it took me; none of the Tall Ones were in the city, and I did not want to bother a wizard," he said as he came over.
Bruenor counted on his fingers, then glared at his friend. "S'posed tae be five days 'twixt here and there, not three!"
Drizzt laughed, then they clasped hands in true greeting.
"So what has happened?"
"Deep gnomes, asking for the drow named Do'Urden," Bruenor said. "Been getting by, but hard tae speak proper with nae words in common."
Drizzt frowned, then gestured for Bruenor to guide him to the guests. "I cannot imagine why deep gnomes would wish to speak with me, but at least they usually have some Undercommon." No message would come all this way from his father or sister via gnomes; they had more direct means. Vierna had insisted that her little sister always have the sending stone on her, and could ask for the spell from her god anyway. Zak would send messages through Vierna… so Drizzt was at a loss.
"Do'Urden?" one of the three deep gnomes asked even as Bruenor led him into the guest suite that had been hastily made in the Undercity.
"Yes, and I promise I am not like other drow," Drizzt said swiftly in Undercommon, noting the stiffened postures. "May I bring up faerie fire? Bruenor is not able to see in this low a light, and I have lived under lights more than not."
"Polite," the shaman said, all three relaxing, before the first one nodded at Drizzt's request. The purple faerie fire settled above them, centered, and Bruenor relaxed some as well, not having liked being in the dark so fully.
"Need the light, anyway," the third one told him. "We have a letter, from one of your House."
Dinin, maybe? Which opened new worries, as Dinin might know of a threat to his family, given Jarlaxle and Zaknafein being so obviously fond of one another.
The first pulled out the letter, and Drizzt immediately forgot about Dinin. The way it had been puzzle-folded was Nalfein's doing, completely.
House Baenre. That was where Drizzt's wizard-brother had wound up. Which made him hold his hand over the letter for a longer moment, seeking if it held magic.
Once he determined it wasn't a magical trap, he did take it, and moved to lean against the wall, carefully unfolding it to avoid damaging the writing within.
After deciphering the words, he closed his eyes, and looked at the svirfnebli. "My gratitude for being the messengers, and I offer a warning. Pull your people in, until Menzoberranzan retreats." He then looked at Bruenor and switched languages. "We need to ready for war, my friend."
"Thought as much, me elf. Well, so be it."
The only reason Vhaeraun allowed His cleric to go aid dwarves was because those dwarves had killed a drow nemesis in the form of Shimmergloom. Zaknafein had not been certain at first, but knew ways to defuse whatever part Bregan D'aerthe was forced to play in the invasion.
With the warning, the Hall was prepared for the invasion, and Menzoberranzan was going to be licking its wounds for some time. All drow captives who surrendered were turned over to Vierna to be sifted out to her Lord's cities for new lives.
Except one.
Nalfein woke with a headache, stripped to his skin save a rough long tunic, and his sibling sitting across from him. Her — their? his? — face was still swollen from a whip-bite, and one arm was in a cast, but Dreeza looked at peace.
"Sorry we had to strip you down," Dreeza told him. "We didn't want anything you were carrying to be a 'return to sender' charm, and Vierna wanted to be sure you had a choice."
"So our sister does live, and I thought I glimpsed the Weapon Master," Nalfein said, nonchalant about his current state, even as he shifted on the cot he had been laid out on. "Thank you for listening to the letter. Care to tell me the end result?"
"One Matron escaped the party of them with the enslaved dwarf king. He, his descendant, myself, and father accounted for the rest, their attending junior clerics, the mind-flayer, and a handful of other drow that stupidly got in the way."
Nalfein was betting it had been Oblodra, but didn't ask. Dreeza would have said in Baenre herself had been the escapee. "What now, little sibling?"
Dreeza lit up at that casual acceptance of being different. "I mostly go by Drizzt these days, and have more control over the change. Vierna will always call me Dreeza; she's a possessive wean-mother/big sister."
Nalfein chuckled. "She had her peculiar ways."
"As to you? You can either 'escape' us and flee to Menzoberranzan, if that is where you wish to be, or you can take up an offer to go very far away, with a letter of reference from Vierna, to attach yourself to a temple of Vhaeraun as a wizard."
Nalfein's eyebrow arched at that, and things clicked further into place. "Is she there to help me figure out the ways of it?"
Dreeza nodded. "And father, who has grudgingly said you were tolerable all the years he knew you."
"Abyssal stones, but I remember how jealous every fighter was that he got the spot for Melee Magthere that year," Nalfein mused. "I wasn't yet officially an apprentice to the House Wizard of the time, but I was just as glad to not be dodging that many murder attempts."
"Oh you'll have to tell Vierna stories about what you remember!" Dreeza said in delight. "If — "
"Oh I intend to take her offer. Gromph is a comfortable associate, but he is still very drow and I could become useless or a liability to him at any time." Nalfein shrugged. "Never cared for Lloth, probably won't care for her god, but if I can keep learning the arts, I will go."
"Good." Dreeza stood up, still graceful even with the aftermath of the battle stamped on them. When his sibling sat beside him, Nalfein decided to keep currying favor, having noted the value of clothing and armor alike marking Dreeza — Drizzt — as still high-ranked in their new life. He slung an arm up over the shoulders, careful not to jar the broken arm, and looked over at Drizzt.
"Is starting over hard?" he asked.
"Not when you choose it. Not when you want freedom that much."
"Glad to hear it, little sib." He squeezed a little. "If I tell you which items I know were mine and untouched, can I have them back?"
"Describe them, and I will sort through. The rest of them will have to be checked over by a stronger wizard — wait, you said Gromph. I might have to ask my Lady to visit, then, so it is another Arch-Mage checking them over."
Nalfein threw his head back and laughed, hearing his strange sibling admit that level of a relationship.
"Dreeza, no, Drizzt. I am so damn glad Vierna managed to save you, and that Mother listened to me and her about how best to use your presence in the family."
"I am too, Nalfein, and I'm actually glad you survived," Drizzt admitted, leaning into him. "House Do'Urden, ancient house of Daermon N'a'shezbaernon, represented by a Vhaeraunite cleric, best swordsman ever, a canny wizard, a fair enough lizard riding fighter, and me! Pretty sure some cosmic entity is laughing over the change of fortunes."
"Yeah I guess… wait, Dinin?!"
Drizzt settled in to fill in the gaps, about their other brother, and life since the city for them all.
Chapters: 7/7
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden, Nalfein Do'Urden
Additional Tags: Mostly Gen, Eventual Relationships, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Gender Changes, Ensemble Cast, but with wide divergence
Summary:
Vierna was startled the first time her sister was a brother. But she wasn't going to let that stop Dreeza growing up strong, no matter what strings she had to pull.
Entire fic linked above, or read just the new chapter at AO3.
Curse of the Faerie King: Chapter 7
Being summoned by the Matron of the House was never a good thing in either wizard's mind. Gromph had more than enough trouble as Arch-Mage of the city. Nalfein, juggling the responsibility of raising Gromph's hidden child against teaching in Sorcere, merely hoped the mind-flayer wasn't present. He enjoyed being free to pursue his studies, teach the bright girl, and have Gromph satisfied with saving his life.
That the meeting was held on a walkway above a holding pit for slaves, full of filthy duergar was almost intriguing enough to offset Gromph's irritation. What was Yvonnel up to now?
"Both of you are to learn all that these wretches know about where they came from," she said without preamble. "All the ways in and out, and what sent them scurrying into our patrols."
Gromph scowled. "Enlighten us as to why duergar would know anything worth your time, Mother?"
Nalfein recognized the strategic familial title as a tactic he had once used against Malice's scheming. It was good to see some things remained the same despite changing Houses.
"Haerinvureem has been killed, and I seek vengeance for old business," Yvonnel told him, more forthcoming than Nalfein had expected. "Dwarves now hold a strategic location that I will possess. See to this task swiftly -- or else!"
"Yes, Matron," and "As you wish," overlapped. Nalfein surveyed the filthy lot in disdain, before the woman left them to it.
Nalfein itched in his robes the more the tales poured out of the duergar under his and Gromph's interrogation. There could not be two such drow in existence. He wasn't certain, but he also needed to learn for himself. If Matron Baenre was intent on conquest of the dwarf hall, and it was Dreeza, Nalfein had a wish to not face her in combat.
She had been Zaknafein's heir in all ways, after all, and the way she melded magic to her combat had proven deadly to at least one experienced wizard after all. And if she survived, did that mean the other two did? Could Nalfein find a way out of Menzoberranzan by putting his sister in his debt during the invasion?
Or because of it?
A slow, sly smile crossed his lips, enhancing his sinister opinion as he selected his next victim for the questioning, building a more complete picture of the Hall, its fighters, and most especially of the purple-eyed drow with two scimitars.
Gromph settled a plate of seared fungi between he and Nalfein, in the latter's rooms, and set the tangy sauce in its bowl above the plate. Nalfein noted it was his favorite, and had his unseen servant pour liquor from the bottle behind the usual blend.
"You got distracted. Luckily, Vendes doesn't pay close enough attention to men to notice," Gromph said.
"Considering this move to more openly have a resource close to the Surface, pondering the ramifications," Nalfein said idly, taking a bite afterwards to give himself time to think.
"You mean wasting resources on something when we have other means of gathering all we could ever need from above?"
Nalfein's eyes went wide to hear Gromph be so critical, so openly. The Arch-Mage tapped a certain ring he wore, reassuring the younger man that all was hidden, for now.
"It seems this would be more a move for her than to glorify Her," Nalfein said very carefully. "So many things could go wrong, even."
"Hmm, but how to insure the correct things go wrong?" Gromph asked, considering plans and contingencies.
"We make contact with the drow involved." Nalfein knew this was a risk, but had weighed and measured where Gromph stood, was certain Gromph himself had been why Baenre took him in instead of ordering his death when Malice fell.
"A drow who fights by dwarves is no ally to ones like us, my dagger-wand."
Oh, he had Gromph intrigued if the endearments were coming out.
Nalfein smiled, a dangerous one, and nodded. "Except. I believe the drow is Malice's last child, and I did all I could to keep that one friendly with me."
"That one, is it? The daughter that was never schooled?"
"The child," Nalfein corrected, "that could never pass through school because of the Curse of the Faerie King."
Gromph's expression shifted rapidly through several emotions, before he returned the smile. "Nalfein, you keep being useful to me."
"Good. You keep me supplied with books, after all."
They both laughed, tabling the talk of their treachery for now, as it would take some time to work out the angles. One way or another, they were going to twist Yvonnel's desires for the dwarven hall into her downfall.
Nalfein shut his eyes as he slipped into his room for the night, a headache pounding from being under constant low light elsewhere in the city. He'd only just started to remove his outer robes, taxed by teaching Lirael a more advanced potion, stretching her ability yet again. He did not want the knock on the door, or the fact it was a specific rhythm to tell him Gromph was there.
At least the man knocked. In the early days of his assignment under Baenre patronage, the man had often just walked in, to make the point of who Nalfein needed to keep happy. He shrugged the robe back into place, made sure his favorite wand was in place, and let the unseen servant open the door.
Gromph, and the mercenary leader known as Jarlaxle entered and closed the door back.
"Tut, tut, no lights?" that dandified drow asked in a flippant tone.
"Shut it, Jarlaxle. Nalfein has more than earned the relief from them."
"Ahh, a good little pet."
Nalfein refused to bridle, showing nothing but contempt toward the unsettling man.
"What brings you with him, Arch-Mage?" he did ask politely, fixing his main attention on his superior.
"We have the beginning of a plan, to see about threads we may pull," Gromph said. "Jarlaxle, stop needling Nalfein; I assure you he works far more efficiently on a peer to peer level than being reminded of the past."
Jarlaxle swept his hat off, dipping in a bow with it over his chest to Nalfein. "Apologies, good saer. It's so rare that I get to meet the ones Gromph squirrels away, as if he fears I would poach your services for my own small pursuits."
Gromph did not actually growl, but there was an impression of it — and Nalfein relaxed further. This strange man was someone his friend was comfortable with, to a degree, and that meant it was safer to show ease in the situation.
"How may I assist in pulling threads then?"
"How's your penmanship?" Jarlaxle asked in a jaunty tone. "I may be able to have a letter delivered, to your unusual contact through a third party."
Nalfein looked at Gromph, who nodded. "Such a letter would add one more step of plausible escape for myself, after all," Gromph said. "And Jarlaxle knows how to keep his balancing act in place."
"I've managed so far," the man cheerfully said.
Nalfein acquired his writing materials, made himself remember which version of the longhand writing Dreeza had been taught, and nodded, hastily writing the letter that was needed. He was a little surprised when Jarlaxle added a few details in his idle conversation with Gromph, ones that had not been known to either of them, and he wondered just who the mercenary actually was in the scheme of things.
Nalfein was surprised to learn that the svirfnebli were to be the messengers. He listened to the threat and dismissal exchange, as clearly choreographed as if it were a performance, but obviously built from long association, as he sized up the shaman with the other deep gnome. He could not recall ever seeing them this close before, not even in his youth as a common fighter for House Do'Urden.
"Any betrayal!"
"Of course, dear Firble, of course." Jarlaxle then walked away, looking purposefully away from the other three. Nalfein was still uncertain as to the extent of the mercenary's involvement in House Baenre, but Gromph had been specific. Nothing said at this meeting could be heard by the mercenary, once Nalfein was the speaker.
"I will need to provide a hush over us, so that my ally can remain free and clear of what is said, as it deals with drow of a House that no longer exists," Nalfein told the pair.
"We are watching you, and you will die if you use trickery to foul us," Firble promised him.
"I can almost respect your tenacious hold on those threats," Nalfein told the smaller gray man.
"Go ahead, drow," the shaman said, and Nalfein pulled up his particular version of silence, coupled with a non-detection that obscured them from sound or sight. He'd kept this spell for himself ever since an accidental casting of it, finding it useful against clerics.
"I have a letter. It is for a drow who allies to the dwarves in the Hall above, the one Jarlaxle gave you a map to. The letter must go to this drow, to avert certain plans that could damage all of us in this section of the Underdark."
"How can we trust you to not be setting the dwarves up for betrayal?" Firble demanded.
"Because that drow was — is — my sibling, and once my student. I am of House Do'Urden, and so is the drow. I have interests in making sure my student stays alive, safe, and not mad at me."
He could not admit to wanting to be out of Baenre's House, to wanting a measure of vengeance for the fall of his own, but that much might appeal to their sense of family ethics.
"Give us the letter," the shaman said. "We will renew our ties with the dwarves, now that the Living Shadow is dead. And if the drow chooses to listen, it is done."
Nalfein pulled the letter out, passing it over, and inclined his head. "Until we meet again, some day perhaps. Peacefully, even."
Firble made a rude noise, but then Nalfein dispersed the magic, and both parties went their own way.
"ELF!"
Drizzt had been told the king wanted him right away, and he had come as soon as he could, canceling a holiday with Alustriel. That was often their lives; one or the other would be needed elsewhere.
"I apologize for how long it took me; none of the Tall Ones were in the city, and I did not want to bother a wizard," he said as he came over.
Bruenor counted on his fingers, then glared at his friend. "S'posed tae be five days 'twixt here and there, not three!"
Drizzt laughed, then they clasped hands in true greeting.
"So what has happened?"
"Deep gnomes, asking for the drow named Do'Urden," Bruenor said. "Been getting by, but hard tae speak proper with nae words in common."
Drizzt frowned, then gestured for Bruenor to guide him to the guests. "I cannot imagine why deep gnomes would wish to speak with me, but at least they usually have some Undercommon." No message would come all this way from his father or sister via gnomes; they had more direct means. Vierna had insisted that her little sister always have the sending stone on her, and could ask for the spell from her god anyway. Zak would send messages through Vierna… so Drizzt was at a loss.
"Do'Urden?" one of the three deep gnomes asked even as Bruenor led him into the guest suite that had been hastily made in the Undercity.
"Yes, and I promise I am not like other drow," Drizzt said swiftly in Undercommon, noting the stiffened postures. "May I bring up faerie fire? Bruenor is not able to see in this low a light, and I have lived under lights more than not."
"Polite," the shaman said, all three relaxing, before the first one nodded at Drizzt's request. The purple faerie fire settled above them, centered, and Bruenor relaxed some as well, not having liked being in the dark so fully.
"Need the light, anyway," the third one told him. "We have a letter, from one of your House."
Dinin, maybe? Which opened new worries, as Dinin might know of a threat to his family, given Jarlaxle and Zaknafein being so obviously fond of one another.
The first pulled out the letter, and Drizzt immediately forgot about Dinin. The way it had been puzzle-folded was Nalfein's doing, completely.
House Baenre. That was where Drizzt's wizard-brother had wound up. Which made him hold his hand over the letter for a longer moment, seeking if it held magic.
Once he determined it wasn't a magical trap, he did take it, and moved to lean against the wall, carefully unfolding it to avoid damaging the writing within.
After deciphering the words, he closed his eyes, and looked at the svirfnebli. "My gratitude for being the messengers, and I offer a warning. Pull your people in, until Menzoberranzan retreats." He then looked at Bruenor and switched languages. "We need to ready for war, my friend."
"Thought as much, me elf. Well, so be it."
The only reason Vhaeraun allowed His cleric to go aid dwarves was because those dwarves had killed a drow nemesis in the form of Shimmergloom. Zaknafein had not been certain at first, but knew ways to defuse whatever part Bregan D'aerthe was forced to play in the invasion.
With the warning, the Hall was prepared for the invasion, and Menzoberranzan was going to be licking its wounds for some time. All drow captives who surrendered were turned over to Vierna to be sifted out to her Lord's cities for new lives.
Except one.
Nalfein woke with a headache, stripped to his skin save a rough long tunic, and his sibling sitting across from him. Her — their? his? — face was still swollen from a whip-bite, and one arm was in a cast, but Dreeza looked at peace.
"Sorry we had to strip you down," Dreeza told him. "We didn't want anything you were carrying to be a 'return to sender' charm, and Vierna wanted to be sure you had a choice."
"So our sister does live, and I thought I glimpsed the Weapon Master," Nalfein said, nonchalant about his current state, even as he shifted on the cot he had been laid out on. "Thank you for listening to the letter. Care to tell me the end result?"
"One Matron escaped the party of them with the enslaved dwarf king. He, his descendant, myself, and father accounted for the rest, their attending junior clerics, the mind-flayer, and a handful of other drow that stupidly got in the way."
Nalfein was betting it had been Oblodra, but didn't ask. Dreeza would have said in Baenre herself had been the escapee. "What now, little sibling?"
Dreeza lit up at that casual acceptance of being different. "I mostly go by Drizzt these days, and have more control over the change. Vierna will always call me Dreeza; she's a possessive wean-mother/big sister."
Nalfein chuckled. "She had her peculiar ways."
"As to you? You can either 'escape' us and flee to Menzoberranzan, if that is where you wish to be, or you can take up an offer to go very far away, with a letter of reference from Vierna, to attach yourself to a temple of Vhaeraun as a wizard."
Nalfein's eyebrow arched at that, and things clicked further into place. "Is she there to help me figure out the ways of it?"
Dreeza nodded. "And father, who has grudgingly said you were tolerable all the years he knew you."
"Abyssal stones, but I remember how jealous every fighter was that he got the spot for Melee Magthere that year," Nalfein mused. "I wasn't yet officially an apprentice to the House Wizard of the time, but I was just as glad to not be dodging that many murder attempts."
"Oh you'll have to tell Vierna stories about what you remember!" Dreeza said in delight. "If — "
"Oh I intend to take her offer. Gromph is a comfortable associate, but he is still very drow and I could become useless or a liability to him at any time." Nalfein shrugged. "Never cared for Lloth, probably won't care for her god, but if I can keep learning the arts, I will go."
"Good." Dreeza stood up, still graceful even with the aftermath of the battle stamped on them. When his sibling sat beside him, Nalfein decided to keep currying favor, having noted the value of clothing and armor alike marking Dreeza — Drizzt — as still high-ranked in their new life. He slung an arm up over the shoulders, careful not to jar the broken arm, and looked over at Drizzt.
"Is starting over hard?" he asked.
"Not when you choose it. Not when you want freedom that much."
"Glad to hear it, little sib." He squeezed a little. "If I tell you which items I know were mine and untouched, can I have them back?"
"Describe them, and I will sort through. The rest of them will have to be checked over by a stronger wizard — wait, you said Gromph. I might have to ask my Lady to visit, then, so it is another Arch-Mage checking them over."
Nalfein threw his head back and laughed, hearing his strange sibling admit that level of a relationship.
"Dreeza, no, Drizzt. I am so damn glad Vierna managed to save you, and that Mother listened to me and her about how best to use your presence in the family."
"I am too, Nalfein, and I'm actually glad you survived," Drizzt admitted, leaning into him. "House Do'Urden, ancient house of Daermon N'a'shezbaernon, represented by a Vhaeraunite cleric, best swordsman ever, a canny wizard, a fair enough lizard riding fighter, and me! Pretty sure some cosmic entity is laughing over the change of fortunes."
"Yeah I guess… wait, Dinin?!"
Drizzt settled in to fill in the gaps, about their other brother, and life since the city for them all.
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-16 02:32 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-16 02:32 pmEntry tags:
Pacific Rim Ficlet
Drift Ghosts (150 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Pacific Rim [2013]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mako Mori
Additional Tags: Drabble and a Half, Speculation
Summary:
Drift ghosts.
Mako knew they existed. She'd felt the man that Yancey Beckett had been through the Drift. She'd felt like part of Chuck's problems outside the Drift had been contending with the ghost of Herc's former partner, his uncle.
The Drift held every lost pilot, every lost jaeger. Some nights, she entertained the idea of trying to find them all, to pull them out of the survivors' minds, out of Tendo's biometric data, and giving them new form.
She was convinced Yancey had been with them, had helped save Raleigh. Could those ghosts find a new way to exist, if they just channeled the technology in the right way? Mainframes built to house that experience, the transformed residue of once living people and brilliantly made machines? Could that be the beginning of a new protection against new threats in the future?
She didn't have answers, but she kept questioning.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Pacific Rim [2013]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mako Mori
Additional Tags: Drabble and a Half, Speculation
Summary:
Mako considers what she knows, what could be.
Drift Ghosts
Drift ghosts.
Mako knew they existed. She'd felt the man that Yancey Beckett had been through the Drift. She'd felt like part of Chuck's problems outside the Drift had been contending with the ghost of Herc's former partner, his uncle.
The Drift held every lost pilot, every lost jaeger. Some nights, she entertained the idea of trying to find them all, to pull them out of the survivors' minds, out of Tendo's biometric data, and giving them new form.
She was convinced Yancey had been with them, had helped save Raleigh. Could those ghosts find a new way to exist, if they just channeled the technology in the right way? Mainframes built to house that experience, the transformed residue of once living people and brilliantly made machines? Could that be the beginning of a new protection against new threats in the future?
She didn't have answers, but she kept questioning.
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-16 02:29 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-16 02:29 pmEntry tags:
Star Wars Ficlet
Well-Meshed Allies (450 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Legends - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Lando Calrissian/Mara Jade
Characters: Lando Calrissian, Mara Jade
Additional Tags: Romantic Friendship
Summary:
Lando was the one who noticed her hand was shaking, Mara noted, almost gratefully, as he used his effusive mannerisms to take it, lifting it to his lips in that gallant way of his.
The eye contact said everything; anything that could upset her control was a galaxy level threat and he was on guard.
She just had to focus on keeping her presence wrapped tightly to herself, while hoping the rapport between Han and Lando would tip off the other half of their little mission.
Thank the Force that Luke hadn't come along on this one! He still didn't know how to cloak, and with another Force user manipulating people and events, they had to be careful. There were Inquisitors that Mara knew were not among the confirmed dead, and she had never been certain of how many Hands actually existed, once she had sifted through her memories and all of the Emperor's lies to her.
"How'd I let you get so far from me?" Lando asked in his suave, playful voice, moving to drape his arm around her, leaning in for kissing her cheek and a nibble along her jaw… putting his ear close enough to hear secrets.
"Dancer, red and black, trained like me," she conveyed with as little lip movement as possible, so he knew who the threat was. She then gave him a playful shove, and followed up with a soft laugh, easily falling into the role of 'couple still new to one another'.
She wasn't certain just how the communication between Han and Lando worked, but when the sith-trained dancer made her move to get the same informant Leia needed, she actually tripped over Han who had moved with that uncanny timing of his. Lando handled crowd control, Leia started organizing the people who actually were reacting…
…and Mara gave chase to the other woman, half of a mind to strike her down, and half — the half poisoned by Luke's compassion and belief in the better of people — looking for a way to help the woman crawl out of the Dark Side.
"You!" the woman hissed when she was cornered.
"You don't have to be his any longer."
The words were ignored, as a Force Choke came into play… but Mara had been training, more fully, in using the Force. A few minutes later, Mara closed the other woman's eyes, and went back to Lando. He didn't say anything, just tucked her close, and kept her that way as they made their way out of the casino.
He knew she didn't want empty comfort, understood hard choices almost better than Leia, but also not to leave her alone.
It's why he mattered so much.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Legends - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Lando Calrissian/Mara Jade
Characters: Lando Calrissian, Mara Jade
Additional Tags: Romantic Friendship
Summary:
Mara recognizes a threat while on mission with Lando and others.
Well-Meshed Allies
Lando was the one who noticed her hand was shaking, Mara noted, almost gratefully, as he used his effusive mannerisms to take it, lifting it to his lips in that gallant way of his.
The eye contact said everything; anything that could upset her control was a galaxy level threat and he was on guard.
She just had to focus on keeping her presence wrapped tightly to herself, while hoping the rapport between Han and Lando would tip off the other half of their little mission.
Thank the Force that Luke hadn't come along on this one! He still didn't know how to cloak, and with another Force user manipulating people and events, they had to be careful. There were Inquisitors that Mara knew were not among the confirmed dead, and she had never been certain of how many Hands actually existed, once she had sifted through her memories and all of the Emperor's lies to her.
"How'd I let you get so far from me?" Lando asked in his suave, playful voice, moving to drape his arm around her, leaning in for kissing her cheek and a nibble along her jaw… putting his ear close enough to hear secrets.
"Dancer, red and black, trained like me," she conveyed with as little lip movement as possible, so he knew who the threat was. She then gave him a playful shove, and followed up with a soft laugh, easily falling into the role of 'couple still new to one another'.
She wasn't certain just how the communication between Han and Lando worked, but when the sith-trained dancer made her move to get the same informant Leia needed, she actually tripped over Han who had moved with that uncanny timing of his. Lando handled crowd control, Leia started organizing the people who actually were reacting…
…and Mara gave chase to the other woman, half of a mind to strike her down, and half — the half poisoned by Luke's compassion and belief in the better of people — looking for a way to help the woman crawl out of the Dark Side.
"You!" the woman hissed when she was cornered.
"You don't have to be his any longer."
The words were ignored, as a Force Choke came into play… but Mara had been training, more fully, in using the Force. A few minutes later, Mara closed the other woman's eyes, and went back to Lando. He didn't say anything, just tucked her close, and kept her that way as they made their way out of the casino.
He knew she didn't want empty comfort, understood hard choices almost better than Leia, but also not to leave her alone.
It's why he mattered so much.
Asp (senmut) wrote2025-08-16 02:24 pm
senmut) wrote2025-08-16 02:24 pmEntry tags:
Star Trek Ficlet
Actual Meeting (400 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nyota Uhura, T'Pring
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Uhura had been fascinated by the woman in the transmission, and shocked to learn of her status. When they left Vulcan's orbit, she had put the encounter out of her mind, focused on the missions ahead. She certainly had not thought of T'Pring since that day, or that there was a chance of running into her during this course held on Vulcan while the Enterprise was undergoing a minor refit.
Yet the prim lines, the hauteur all captured the memory of that transmission as Uhura noted the woman enter the study room with her. She knew she should not use past experience to reach out, and yet she had never been anything but outgoing and friendly, even here on this arid world of logic.
"Greetings," she said in a low, quiet voice, just being polite, she decided. "Nyota Uhura, currently studying the translations of your world's poetry."
A slender eyebrow rose, before the woman inclined her head just slightly. "I would recommend reading S'task, what survives, if you are seeking to understand our people more, but only balanced by those poets which are in the approved course.
"I recall your features. I am T'Pring, as you may remember."
"I did. I do remember those people that have a striking presence," Uhura told her. "Thank you, for the recommendation."
"I found S'task enlightening, as to how we came to be who we are," T'Pring said. "Most who come to study on Vulcan are seeking an understanding."
"Perceptive," Uhura said, "as I find the arts a better way of filling in the dry data of history and statistics when I am learning any new language or people."
That surprised T'Pring, if Uhura was any judge, but which part?
"Not many Terrans seek to learn our language."
"I find the more languages I know, the easier it is to find peaceful solutions," Uhura said to that. "But language is only a beginning, and thus I study the culture."
"I find the logic in that impeccable," T'Pring praised, before she indicated her own study pad. "I am furthering my studies in psychology, sociology, and how the individual needs contrast or complement the societal ones."
"As I've studied multiple peoples, and could use a local expert on language, would you be opposed to a study appointment for the weeks I am here?" Uhura offered, seeing how she could help.
"This time, every day," T'Pring agreed.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nyota Uhura, T'Pring
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
Uhura meets T'Pring
Actual Meeting
Uhura had been fascinated by the woman in the transmission, and shocked to learn of her status. When they left Vulcan's orbit, she had put the encounter out of her mind, focused on the missions ahead. She certainly had not thought of T'Pring since that day, or that there was a chance of running into her during this course held on Vulcan while the Enterprise was undergoing a minor refit.
Yet the prim lines, the hauteur all captured the memory of that transmission as Uhura noted the woman enter the study room with her. She knew she should not use past experience to reach out, and yet she had never been anything but outgoing and friendly, even here on this arid world of logic.
"Greetings," she said in a low, quiet voice, just being polite, she decided. "Nyota Uhura, currently studying the translations of your world's poetry."
A slender eyebrow rose, before the woman inclined her head just slightly. "I would recommend reading S'task, what survives, if you are seeking to understand our people more, but only balanced by those poets which are in the approved course.
"I recall your features. I am T'Pring, as you may remember."
"I did. I do remember those people that have a striking presence," Uhura told her. "Thank you, for the recommendation."
"I found S'task enlightening, as to how we came to be who we are," T'Pring said. "Most who come to study on Vulcan are seeking an understanding."
"Perceptive," Uhura said, "as I find the arts a better way of filling in the dry data of history and statistics when I am learning any new language or people."
That surprised T'Pring, if Uhura was any judge, but which part?
"Not many Terrans seek to learn our language."
"I find the more languages I know, the easier it is to find peaceful solutions," Uhura said to that. "But language is only a beginning, and thus I study the culture."
"I find the logic in that impeccable," T'Pring praised, before she indicated her own study pad. "I am furthering my studies in psychology, sociology, and how the individual needs contrast or complement the societal ones."
"As I've studied multiple peoples, and could use a local expert on language, would you be opposed to a study appointment for the weeks I am here?" Uhura offered, seeing how she could help.
"This time, every day," T'Pring agreed.