Flock Together: Chapter 3 of A Work in Progress |1.5K|
CHAPTERS: 1 | 2 | X
A/N: you know how most fics have jinx trying to set up reader and silco? this is the reverse. silco wants you guys to get along and stop complaining about each other to him. please, this man is trying to create a nation. ao3 link.
It was by the boundary markets where Topside and the Undercity met where you broke your first rib.
Enforcers raced through the streets in hot pursuit of some poor fool too stupid to lose them at the westside heap, leading them through the backstreets of Zaun filled with a whole different type of bystanders and tents. Silco saw them before you did, his heart stopping as a child, no more than ten, rounded the corner toward you. She carried with her a burlap bag, spilling over with masks and finer things of scrap and jewelry. Excess to the people of Topside but vital for Zaunites.
Reflexively Silco extended his foot, catching an enforcer by surprise. The officer fell mid-stride, chipping their mask on the pavement. Immediately you grabbed Silco by the wrist to run away from the scene. You shrieked when two more enforcers yanked you both backwards. They slammed your backs against the steel framing of a newly constructed building and shouted in anger, āYou think that was funny, trench trash?ā
You spat in their face.
In return, they broke two of your ribs and Silcoās right leg.
A month later, in a diner settled between Laurna and Plasset, Silco was thrown through a window for refusing to cooperate.
His teeth were chipped two weeks after when an enforcer decided they didnāt like how he was looking at them.
He regaled his latest run in with law to you as Doctor Elliot patched him up. A broken arm and black eye.
āIs there any bone in your body you havenāt broken?ā
Your question was rhetorical but he deigned to give you an answer, pausing long enough to think, a self-satisfied smile spreading out on cracked lips, āMy spine intact.ā You donāt return the gesture and he falters slightly.
āOnly by a thread.ā Elliot mumbled while checking his records.
Silcoās jaw tightened, hollow cheeks growing in depth, āWe need a moment.ā He waited for the doctor to leave, motioning you closer. āYouāre mad at me.ā
"How would you know?"
"You are very straightforward."
You paused. āIām worried.ā Your fingers over his forehead away from his shiner of an eye. āYouāve been getting into trouble more frequently. The target on your back is growing. Why canāt you just stay low?ā
āHow can I stay low when our brothers and sisters are dying?ā he argued, voice lowering into a hiss at your sharp glare. āOur people are going missing, our burials are being desecrated and what is Topsideās response? They send in enforcers with bias discrepancies and enough ammo to lay waste to us all. I have no choice but to fight.ā
You sighed, resting your forehead against his. Your eyes drifted to the floor, catching a glimpse of rose bud stained gauze wrapped tight around his knuckles. It was so easy to recoil into your thoughts and dissociate from the world, from your body; let them drown you in a void.
But his touch pulled you back, deft fingers, cupping the swell of your cheek. āTell me your thoughts.ā
āYour eye,ā you state absently, grasping onto the first thing that held your attention. āYou look good with a black eye.ā
ā-
You switched to actual grades two weeks ago. A better way to measure Jinxās progress and your own apparent pettiness. A for effort, B for motivation, and a big fat F for storing leeches in your cabinets.
Silco was less than amused. While his contributions to your field of study were nonexistent, he recognized brilliance when he saw it. āYouāre not subtle in your petty aggression.ā A backlog of graded papers lay on his desk as evidence. Capable solutions and thorough schematics sullen with subpar rubrics and nitpicking. The display earns him no more than a half hearted shrug from you.
āWasnāt trying to be.ā Generous with your time, you walk the perimeter of his desk slowly, āShe doesnāt need my tutelage. Never did. Which begs the question,ā Your fingers walk as legs across the desk, trotting over academic papers until settling on a pockmarked slip of paper with two distinct styles of doodles. The bold angular strokes that take up most of the page no doubt belong to Jinx. But itās the smaller hearts that give you pause, far too rudimentary to be hers, lacking the confidence. Your index taps a heart, a terribly smug smile lighting up your eyes. āWhat are you playing at, Silco?ā
He says nothing and pours a hearty bourbon into his glass, bringing it up for a measured sip, effectively blocking the sly grin tugging at his lips, āDo you still hate her?ā
Ah, so thatās it.
Itās hard to hate a child when you see much of the father inside of them. Mannerisms, despite what anyone says, arenāt often inherent, they come from mimicking others. Jinx and Silco share the same quirksāsubconsciously or intentionallyātheir personalities shape each other. Jinx only starts to examine her nails if she wants to demonstrate her disinterest in whatās being discussed. Sheās seen Silco do it a million times. Silco doodles now, and his vocabulary expanded to accompany the vernaculars of a teenage girl. Youāve seen him play with her, his tall frame getting on her levelāground levelāto build, draw... talk. Sheās very expressive when she talks, hand gestures and backtracking to retell a part she forgot or didnāt emphasize enough.
āAnd Sevika was being totally lame for not letting me tag the helm of the ship.ā
āTotallyā¦ā the word is vacant of all and any meaning. It sounded foreign coming from him, not that Jinx noticed. For her, it was reassuring, he was listening to her. Learning from her. She didnāt even mind his rebuff. Ā āDonāt tag the ship.ā
āWell, yeah. I canāt. Sevika said no.ā
On her stomach, her legs swing back and forth in the air, she never stays still. Lately now, Silco will tap his foot in meetings.
Like father, like daughter.
āIām indifferent.ā
āHm,ā He nods. āI wonāt be able to join you tonight to harvest the Honeydusksā¦ Business. Take Jinx instead.ā
You click your tongue, annoyed that he canāt even will himself to create a plausible excuse. Just ābusinessā. āYouāre not very subtle with your motivations either.ā
āI wasnāt trying to be.ā He matches your audacity, a well-established mien of friendly banter. āSheās not dissimilar to you.ā his dual toned gaze lowers, settling on the humble artwork in his hand. āSheās broken too.ā
You move behind him, wrapping your arms around his chest as you look over his shoulder. What a sad little picture. Lopsided in nature. You canāt help but notice, Jinx drew herself taller than him. Humor graces your tone, āYou have a type.ā
A cynical smile strains his features as he hums. āBirds of a featherā¦ā
--
Jinx takes the news with as much grace as Silco expected. Irrational and tripe.
āHold still.ā He instructs.
She takes his direction as a suggestion, and promptly ignores it, pivoting her head at different degrees, as her lips curl in aghast frustration. He has to rein her back with her hair in his hands, sectioned off by his fingers and in mid braid.
āI donāt understand, am I in trouble? I-is is this punishment for killing your fish? I swear I didnāt know that paint was toxic to them.ā Silco has never been unnecessarily cruel to herā aside from trying to murder her family but HEY! Thatās life right? You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you canāt pick your dead family off the ground and beg them to forgive you Aha hehā¦ Why is he doing this to me?
Her body slumps against his, undoing his work. "Tsk."
He shifts her back up, with his knee, his voice patient as always with her, āStop moving.ā
What if heās tired of me? Ā āIām sorry.ā She mumbles, pulling her knees up to her chest. Her thoughts, ceaseless in numbers, pass through her brain with furious intent to imagine the worst.
Silco runs a brush through her hair once more to ready it for another attempt at a perfect braid. In the beginning his braids were too tight and pulled at her scalp giving her headaches. Now seasoned with years of practice, his nimble fingers are able to make quick work of her length of hair. āThis is not a punishment.ā
āThen why?ā Why is he making her go on a secret trip to an underground cave with someone he knows hates her? Why does he keep you around when sheās already proven to know more about mechanical engineering than you could hope for? Why why why why why why why? Whyā does she feel like second fiddle to you?
He waits until finished with her hair to answer, tying the ends with a ponytail. Admiring his work he notes all her flyaways. Maybe when she gets older heāll spray water to calm them down and perhaps place a few bobby-pins to help with peaking layers, but as of now he was content; they added a certain charm to her appearance, a youthful essence.
āThis world is filled with dangerous people, Jinx.ā He warns, voice as fluid as his motion as he rises from his position and rounds Jinx, kneeling before her. When she doesnāt lift her head, he guides her attention with a delicate hand on her cheek. āYouāll need an equal ally to survive.ā
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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TOL is a comics about queers with superpowers. The main characters - gay duo - one (Brian) is trying to get in control his fire power, and another one (Demian) is helping his boyfriend. They also have friends - Tamara (teleportation) and Inga ( super strength), who are dating with each other.
Season 1 on tumblr: Click here
Season 2 on tumblr: 1 x 2 x 3Ā x 4
Read all chapters on Tapas and Webtoon: Click here
Thanks @stingdragon for text editing and inspiration! ALSO special thanks to Webtoon user Burnt Toast for the idea (its from comment in s1 #4 chapter)!
Also we have TOL discord! With exclusive wips and teasers! Write me in messages to get the link!
dropping by just to let you know that i was eating and randomly the cutest hc of daeron and addam racing tessarion and seasmoke popped into my headšš„ŗš„°
please, i humbly beg, let us see some addaeron actionšš¤š
Rayla stared at Callum as he sang along to Lady Gaga. Ā āIt healed my heart heard a sine.ā Ā He was bopping his head along to the music and his fingers were tapping the steering wheel.
āWhen I was young I felt immortal.ā Ā Callum turned to her for a moment when he heard her take the Elton John part. Ā Rayla held contact for as long as he could look at her before turning back to the road. Ā Ā
āYeah I looked with my face up to the sky but there was nothing there.ā
Neither of them noticed Ezran filming them in the back, a giant grin on his face.
āI will try to be your light, Sansa. But I have darkness in me too.ā
āHis darkness is oppressive, it chokes me. But thisā¦ā She looks at him. āJon. I want this.ā
After the tragic death of her family, Sansa Stark is hidden away in the Highgarden Opera where she should be safe. Yet the Opera Ghost seems more foe than friend, more trickster than teacher, and Sansaās dreams of angels of music shatter, plunging her into hellish prison made of the phantomās strange demands. With a single leaf from the heart tree, Sansa prays for escapeā¦
New to princehood and fortune, Jon Snow reluctantly becomes the new patron of the Highgarden Opera on the advice of his financial counselors, although he knows nothing of music and beauty. A most fateful decisionā¦
ā¦ and as Sansa is plunged into the prima donnaās limelight, she is reunited with her cousin Jon Snow.
excerpt:
She was shaking like a leaf, still seated on the seat before the mirror from which she had not budged, wondering if sheād angered him with her delayāstupidāwhen a knock had fallen on the door. The phantom would not knock, and so Sansa had bid them enter.
Then, that voice.
āSansa.ā
It was only a whisper behind her yet she heard it resounding like a drum. Sansa turned slowly in her chair and found Jon in the shadows.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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N/A: What Am I doing? Well, IĀ“m trying to give some semblance of sense in the harem and in this au, Kurt is evil but thereĀ“s no need for an heir as he is immortal, however, since he sire many kids with many women and some are from royal blood, Ororo and Hank has to make the man see the light or at least do something.
@djinmer4 @dannybagpipesarecalling
The mansion or castle or whatever Kurt wishes this place to be called can emulate the energy of his master, thatĀ“s why when Kurt is bored, the place has a boring energy circulating in each corner. Today, his advisers Ororo and Hank are remembering him that a harem is not fun and games.
"Kurt, please pay attention" Hank speak firmly as Kurt yawns again and wishes to be in his bed or doing anything else. The necromancer waves his hand in a poor attempt of apologies and Hank and Ororo continue to try doing their jobs.
"As you conquer Corona, you have now a 60% of the seven Kingdoms, now, thereĀ“s the tough part, you need to keep the countries you conquer, thatĀ“s why you need to go to the grand festival with one of the woman in this harem " Ororo explained a bit peeved, her boss is many things, but a patient listener is not one of them.
"Must I go to this festival, you know how they are, you go to one and you see them all" Kurt explained childishly.
"Even if they are boring" Hank counterpoint" is still a political move to be seen there with one of the girls in the harem, or accept a woman in your harem, Corona has no problem in lend one of their princess to be in your harem" Hank explained and Ororo nods, secretly displeased that she wonĀ“t have to destroy that place, however, this also makes her job easier.
"Pass, I donĀ“t like any of the women there, they are the type of backstabbing their own sons, plus, I take a dislike to blondes and red hairs nowadays" Kurt smiles lazily and Hank sighs, well, at least no more woman in the harem, for now.
"Then, take one of the princesses with you, maybe...Princess Kymri her country is an ally of Corona, it would be well thinking and well received to be seen with her" Ororo suggested pleased that things are moving forwards, last time, Kurt in an evil wizard fashion, did make things rather dark to everyone involved.
"Kymri is far too clingy, isnĀ“t she?" Kurt ponders and then decides "if I have to go to this boring festival, how about I go with someone that is not clingy? I prefer to go with Kitty Pryde" Ororo looks lost for a moment until Kurt explain "the zaorvaĀ“s healer" the name zaorva was spoken with fear and reverence in his voice as his hand goes to his chest frantically.
"Wait, this would be a bad idea, Kurt, those people arenĀ“t exactly ZaorvaĀ“s friendly" then Ororo and Hank look at Kurt "Is this some sort of revenge against HER?" They emphasise the point by a look at the ceiling.
"Of course not, the last thing I want is to anger HER" is a bit ironic how he is speaking the word HER in the same way people refer to HIM "It was a shock to me too, but, Katzchen really pique my interest, plus...she saved my son, I canĀ“t not like her" Kurt replied in a challenging tone.
"Well, IĀ“m not sure if is a good idea to take her to this festival, but ok, now that you mention your son, Kid Gladiator, what are you going to do?" Ororo asked "the mother is the princess of Kaldom, a country you violently conquer and sire a child with her, the woman is reaching the final stages of her disease and an heir is being sought out, is a battle between her first son, Markus and your son"
"If Markus wins will I lose the land I conquer?" Kurt asked dubiously now, Kaldom wasnĀ“t an easy land to conquer nor to make the king submit. Kurt is powerful, extremely so, however, everyone has limitations and the man does not wish to go to war again with the land. If the worst comes by, maybe Kurt can eliminate the place in one go.
"Politically speaking? Yes, Markus is famous for not liking you, and yes, even if you do kill him it would spread the fire of people against you, now, people have a soft spot for kid Gladiator, a hero that has you as a father and still wants to do good" Hank explained mildly " why not put your son in the throne, the boy loves you and would assure the land to be in your name and people wouldnĀ“t feel too upset, letĀ“s be real Kurt, the campaign we did in Kaldom hardly makes you a likeable figure but your son has a chance"
"I agree with Hank"Ororo speaks in a confident tone and Hank only smiles in gratitude "What do you think Kurt?"
"Well, IĀ“ll have to talk with Kid Gladiator first, the boy is foolish enough to try to defeat monsters under water but may be smart enough to not wanting to dive into politicians right now" Kurt speaks with a certain fondness in his eyes.
"Either way, I think the matters for today are set, now, IĀ“ll go ask Katzchen if she will go with me"Kurt seems far too pleased.
"One moment, Kurt, what about Rachel? How long do you plan to keep her here?" Ororo asked remembering the look on ScottĀ“s face.
"Until I get paid or until she dies, whatever comes first" the man smiles and bamf away.
"He loves to make out our jobs difficult" Hank complains and Ororo only chuckles resting her head on his shoulder.
