#deribeth

“Take my hand, take my whole life, too, for I can’t help falling in love with you.”

Happy birthday @x-strokeofmadness-x!!

As said, proper present coming tomorrow for Escalin Week but in the meantime have some Deribeth. Thanks for getting me into this ship! Hope you have an amazing day!

“There you are, sir. That’ll keep for twenty-four hours in the fridge. Are you going to be okay getting it home?”

Elizabeth smiled warmly at the man, who was carefully maneuvering the large cake box into an oversized bag. The gentleman flashed her an uncertain grin in return, before biting on his lower lip. “I… I think so,” he stuttered. “Um… I guess, I don’t know. It just looks so delicate.”

“It isn’t particularly robust,” Elizabeth agreed, her eyes wandering to the remaining princess cakes on display in the small chiller cabinet. The confections stood proud, pale green domes of marzipan delicately decorated with thin swirls of chocolate and drops of ruby red jam. “It’s mostly custard and cream inside,” she explained. “But it should be fine if you keep the box upright, and make sure it doesn’t tilt.”

Another uncertain smile, then the man took his leave, gingerly conveying the box through the narrow doorway. He took a few careful paces down the worn, stone steps and disappeared into the waiting crowds. Covent Garden was packed at this time of the evening, when the hordes of tourists were joined by commuters grabbing a few items from the shops on their way home, and students preparing for a night out in the nearby clubs. Even Rose Street was bustling with life at this time, despite being hidden away from the covered market.

Elizabeth smiled and began to clean the countertop, before turning her attention to the espresso machine, making sure the milk frother was shining and the used filters were removed. The shop was tiny, a compact room with shelves piled high with loaves and sugared buns on one wall, three worn, wooden tables set alongside the other, the mismatched furniture squashed together to take up every last inch of space. Patrons had to squeeze through the narrow gap to get to the till and the chiller cabinet where the cream cakes were displayed.

Bageriet was one of London’s best kept secrets, which was just as well given there was barely anywhere for customers to stand. Still, the shop did a bustling trade thanks to the more adventurous tourists who strayed off the main streets and the few canny locals who knew the coffee and cakes served were the best in the area. The stone steps were worn with foot traffic and the queue for confections sometimes stretched out of the door and into Rose Street, a place as quaint as its name suggested. Still, the pace of life was generally peaceful, the customers were polite and relaxed and gave good tips. Elizabeth had found it an ideal place to earn a bit of extra cash while she finished her degree.

A shadow fell across her vision and Elizabeth looked up with a smile on her face, ready to greet the new customer. The face that looked into hers was so unexpected that Elizabeth heard herself gasp, her mouth falling slack as she struggled for words. The woman before her was so exactly the same: untamed, golden hair; a lithe, muscular physique; dark eyes flashing with an emotion she did not recognise. How many years had it been since she had stood together like this?

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“So it’s you.” Elizabeth felt her heart sink as the other spoke, the hostility in her words plain. The weeks and months of anguish she had experienced after Derieri’s abrupt departure from her life suddenly came back to her in a rush; the endless nights with her phone held close to her face, tears falling like rain as she prayed for the other to respond to her messages. After that last meeting, the one with the shouts and the anger, she had received no communication of any kind. Elizabeth had even taken to haunting their favourite spot, the roller skating park at Bath Pavillion in the hope of running into her, but to no avail. It was as if the other had just vanished.

Elizabeth had thought she was over it, that she could just set the loss of the person she had cared for so much as one of those things. But as she looked at Derieri as she glared from the other side of the counter she knew she had been lying to herself. The pain she felt was so sharp it was as if she had been stabbed.

“W-what are you doing here?” Elizabeth managed to stutter, her cheeks growing hot and flushed as the other scowled. “I thought…”

“I’m here for a coffee, and that’s all.” Derieri glowered, her arms folded across her chest. “I knew I shouldn’t have come in here,” she muttered to herself. “It looks just the place for asswipes.”

Elizabeth felt her face glow even more warmly, but she ignored the other’s uncouth remarks. Derieri always had been a trifle vulgar. Elizabeth bit her lip as she remembered the time she and Derieri had tried out the spa, and the way the other had sworn so loudly. She could practically taste her embarrassment, even now.

“Filter or espresso?” Elizabeth asked as calmly as she could, tripping slightly over the words. All she received was a stare in return so she set about compressing the powder into the machine, the distraction of making the espresso not nearly enough to make her heart stop pounding. Derieri was here! After all these years. Surely she should at least get an explanation for the silent treatment she had been dealt with.

Setting the coffee before Derieri, Elizabeth stood back from the counter, relief running through her as Gowther made his way from the kitchen into the shop. “Can you watch the till for a bit?” Elizabeth asked before Gowther could say anything. “The rush is over. This is an old school friend of mine and we need to catch up.” At this Derieri snorted loudly, causing Gowther to cock his head to one side.

Without waiting for an answer, Elizabeth grabbed the coffee, which she had placed into a small porcelain cup. Before the other could protest, she carried the coffee to one of the tables, squeezing onto the bench set alongside the wall. Derieri opened her mouth as if to protest, then she cast a quick look at Gowther, who was staring at her with unashamed curiosity through his large round glasses. With an exaggerated sigh, Derieri took the seat opposite Elizabeth, and knocked her espresso back in one go. “Make it quick,” Derieri growled, as she scraped her chair back, her eyes darting to the door.

“More coffee.” Elizabeth looked up in surprise as Gowther set two large mugs in front of them along with a ringed cake wrapped in plastic and a knife. “This is cardamom cake, on the house,” he continued, making the peace sign as he did so. “It’s good,” he said in a deadpan way before returning to his position behind the counter, leaning an elbow on the wooden countertop as he watched the two women. Elizabeth sighed, and looked pointedly at the coffee machine which Gowther reluctantly began to clean.

Elizabeth looked pleadingly at Derieri. “How have you been?” she asked timidly.

“Cut the crap,” the other replied, her lip twisting with her ire. “You have something to say to me, spit it out.”

Elizabeth felt her breathing quicken, panic starting to rise in her chest as the other began to rise to her feet. “Why did you leave?” she blurted out in a rush, her hands working furiously under the table as she held back tears. “I… I really missed you,” she just about whispered. “You just disappeared and…”

“What did you expect, you ass?” Derieri practically yelled, and Elizabeth heard the clatter of cutlery as Gowther was startled. “I told you! I told you I wasn’t going to put up with your shit any longer. You chose not to commit. You left me…”

“It wasn’t like that at all!” Elizabeth protested. “I…”

“I told you. No hiding. No sneaking about as if we had something to be ashamed of!” Derieri’s chest rose and fell with her agitation and Elizabeth found she could not meet her eyes. “You were my girlfriend,” she said even more loudly, and Elizabeth could sense Gowther spin on his heels to observe the drama. “But did you act it? Did you fuck! It was all ‘my friend this’ and ‘my friend that’. I wasn’t gonna put up with that shit…”

“When did I ever say we had to keep things secret?” Elizabeth asked, as the tears ran down her face. “I didn’t want to either! I said…”

“Then why didn’t you ever introduce me to your friends and family, huh?” Elizabeth looked down at the table at this. “Thought so,” Derieri said triumphantly. “You were ashamed of me, because of my sex. You didn’t want to tell your perfect friends and perfect sisters you were in love with a woman…”

“It wasn’t because of that,” Elizabeth said reluctantly, her fingers twisting together.

“So you admit it! You kept me away from them?” Derieri demanded.

“I… I just…”

“Goodbye, Elizabeth.”

“No!” Elizabeth stood up from the table, her legs knocking against the wood in her haste. “Please, would you just let me try and explain? Please?” Her eyes met Derieri’s, and she saw the other soften, her features relaxing slightly as she fell back into her chair. “I… it was the way you speak,” Elizabeth managed to whisper, her insides curdling.

“The way I what?” The words were deadly quiet, and Elizabeth held her breath. “Are you saying…”

“I just wanted to warm them up to the idea first,” Elizabeth said miserably. “They’re not used to swearing you see and I thought they’d be… upset,” she added weakly.

There was a pause, and then a chuckle from the other side of the table which gradually built into a hearty guffaw. “Elizabeth,” Derieri said with exasperation once she had managed to control her breathing. “I wouldn’t have sworn! For fuck’s sake!”

Elizabeth swallowed, trying to think of a reply as Derieri flopped more firmly into her chair, still giggling. Taking advantage of the lull in her anger, Elizabeth unwrapped the cake Gowther had set in front of them, cutting two slices. “Try some,” she suggested, her voice sounding tentative in her ears. “It’s really good.”

Derieri looked as if she were about to refuse, before she shrugged her shoulders and picked up the slice, taking a small bite. “It’s alright,” she said grudgingly. “Can’t have too much though. My career relies on me looking like this.” She tapped herself in the abdomen as she said this, and Elizabeth could hear the knock of knuckles on muscle.

“I’m working as a personal trainer at the Fitness First down there,” Derieri said into Elizabeth’s silence as she gestured out of the door. “Just started this week. I was looking for Soho when I ran across this place. London is a fucking maze!” she complained.

“Oh! Well, Soho’s not far from here,” Elizabeth said as she set her own slice of cake back down on the plastic, her eyes straying to her thighs. She wondered with yet another blush how much weight she had put on since Derieri had last seen her. “I… um… could show you if you like?” she suggested.

“You mean you’re willing to be seen in public with me?” Derieri spat, her face once more hard.

“I… yes. I am,” Elizabeth gulped. “You were right to be angry, I know that. I love you, and I shouldn’t have cared what anyone else thought. I’ve wanted to apologise for years, but you never answered your phone! You never replied to my messages! I- it was very hard.” Elizabeth trailed off, a lump in her throat stinging painfully.

“You said love,” Derieri said slowly and Elizabeth looked into her eyes. They were deep brown, sparkling with warmth. “Not loved.”

Elizabeth found she could not say a word but this time it did not seem to matter. Derieri stood, and held out her hand. “So, you ass, are you coming?” she asked as she looked pointedly at her proffered palm.

NNT Crackship Week, Day 4: Complicated

Pairing: Derieri x Elizabeth (Pre/Holy War AU)

Summary: What if Derieri and Elizabeth were close during the Holy War? What would change? What would stay the same?

I love you so much you could hurt me So I do it first so you won’t see me Laugh it off and I don’t feel it Hard as rocks and nails underneath Hardly anyone is sincere

All I know is anger that is real I barely know how true goodness feels I don’t even know how to feel I know I built walls all around I’m begging you to knock them down 

Hello all! Yesterday several of us decided to have some fun and designate the day as Smuturday, spending the day creating art and fic for the adult NnT fans. For my part, I offered the group some prompts, and wrote eight short fics (800-1500 words each) that cuts out all that silly plot nonsense and gets right to the good stuff!

Here is a full list of the oneshots I created. Please note they all have explicit sexual content and only intended for mature readers. Thanks so much to all of my lovely writer and artist friends who participated. We had an absolute scream of a time and I can’t wait for the next event!