#marchelle

- Like the moodboards state, Marjan is a princess, Michelle is an angel and a knight, TK is an indentured servant, and Carlos is a fae and a spy. 

- Marjan is the sole ruler of her kingdom, but her title is princess because technically her mother is still the queen, though she left a while ago and hasn’t returned. She’s extremely well loved by the people of her kingdom- they adore her 

- Michelle is her knight, her protector, and sometimes, her lover. Michelle joined the royal guard because it’s what was expected of her as an angel, but she’s come to love her job and the closeness she gets to Marjan because of it.

- TK is an indentured servant to the palace because of his father. Owen indebted himself to the royal family, promised them his son, and then died for the cause, leaving TK to work off the debt. He’s magically bound to the castle and unable to leave the bounds of the property.

- Carlos is a spy for Marjan. He keeps an eye on the kingdom to make sure there’s no rebellion. He also looks around at nearby kingdoms when tensions rise to ensure they’re not planning anything dangerous.

- Marjan and Michelle spend a lot of time together even when Michelle is off duty. Marjan loves to help groom Michelle’s wings, and Michelle is always helping Marjan in- and out- of her gowns. 

- Carlos brings TK things from his travels, because TK has always wanted to see the world. And of course, whenever Carlos is back in the palace, they spend time cuddled up in Carlos’ quarters.

It’s been one of those days. Marjan must have slept wrong, or tweaked her bad leg on a call- she isn’t sure what she did, exactly, just that her knee is killing her even as she has it elevated with a cold compress against the fabric of her uniform. It’s taken time for her to even admit the pain enough to do this. The 126 is nothing if not understanding, supportive. They don’t doubt her on calls, but understand when the old injury acts up.

Michelle understands. Not just the pain, but the fear of being counted out over it. She gets it in a way the others never will, and brings Marjan a mug of tea to soothe her. Most of the others are asleep at this hour, trying to get some shut-eye between calls, which makes for a quiet rec room and a peacefulness despite Marjan’s throbbing leg. 

“You’re the best.”

“I know,” Michelle teases as she settles with her own mug. 

She rests an arm around Marjan’s shoulders like it’s natural. It is, just not here. They don’t want to deal with the teasing, with the potential mockery. Marjan hasn’t crossed that bridge yet. She knows, logically, that TK is gay, that Paul is trans and bi, that the probie is figuring things out. They’re likely going to be supportive. But then again, that’s what she had thought when she tried going out for drinks with the other gay firefighters in Miami. There’s a huge difference between being a GBT man and being a dyke. She isn’t ready to find out whether they’ll actually be nice or it’ll turn into something catty or snide. 

“Getting tense is just going to make you hurt worse,” Michelle reminds. “Thinking about them again?”

Marjan sighs and gives her knee a haphazard massage that doesn’t much help. “I don’t want to find out they hate me. I’ve done that whole song and dance before.”

“And that’s understandable,” Michelle says. “We don’t have to tell them anything, you don’t have to tell them anything, until you’re ready. If you’re ever ready. But working yourself up about it won’t help anything.” 

Vocation | Michelle Blake

This is what I need to do, not just for others but for myself. Does that make me selfish?

Vocation | Marjan Marwani

You’re in no place to judge me, let alone judge her

Mornings | Marchelle

One Night | Marchelle

“I didn’t think you’d say yes...”

@punksarahreese

Michelle lets her hand rest gently on Marjan’s shoulder, stationed beside her throne and with her other hand holding her sword loosely at her side. It is a relaxed stance, but one that suggests she could jump to action at quite literally any moment. Marjan knows that she would in a heartbeat if it came to it. 

“Your Highness, the people of Verilla are restless,” Carlos reports, kneeling though Marjan has told him countless times he may stand when he comes back to her from his missions. “They blame us for the famine, though it plagues our people just the same. Their king knows better, but he may succumb to political pressure.”

“Thank you, Carlos,” Marjan says, “your effort is appreciated, You’re dismissed, and relieved of duty for the next several weeks to recuperate and spend time with Strand.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

He stands and bows before turning on heel to leave, wings fluttering in excitement at seeing Strand. The two of them are impossibly close, in ways Marjan cannot understand, but condones because it makes them both happy. She gave Strand relief for the day from his duties to celebrate Carlos’ return. Normally, he would be kneeling beside her with her cider and her grapes, should she find hunger or thirst, but instead he enjoys his restful morning and reunites with his lover. 

“I don’t know what I would do if you journeyed like Carlos,” she muses. 

“As if I could ever leave your side, my heart.”

@punksarahreese

It’s an accident, Marjan knows, but that doesn’t stop her from crying out an expletive when her line is lowered too quickly and her ankle buckles under her. Before she can even stand, she’s on the floor, and the others are rushing over to check on her. Michelle reaches her first, tenderly taking her hand to check her pulse. 

“What’s wrong, Marj?” She asks.

“My ankle.”

Michelle turns her attention to Marjan’s offered right ankle, which is already beginning to swell in its boot. She’s gentle as she removes the boot and sock, rolling up Marjan’s pant leg enough to see.There’s a nice ring of bruising developing around her ankle already. Michelle feels around her ankle, apologizing when Marjan winces, for a moment before gently lowering her foot back down. 

“I’d say it’s more likely sprained than broken, but you should see a doctor just in case.”

Marjan nods and tries to stand before Michelle stops her. 

“You’re not walking on that. Tim, get the gurney.”

“Shell-”

“No,” Michelle interrupts. “You shouldn’t put weight on it right now, especially if it’s broken.”