#merry writes

You blinked in surprise, before dropping your oil-stained cloth and apron on your chair and following the Queen from the kitchens.

She walked briskly down the hallway and you hurried to keep up, curious as to what was going on. You had been employed with the Organas for a decade now, had served and cleaned in every nook and cranny of their estate, and had become fast friends with their young daughter, whom you had tutored, cared for, and babysat multiple times.

Breha led you to her personal chambers where a clean, quite fancy-looking outfit was laid out over the bed, with added accessories and shoes even.

“Right then,” she said, clapping her hands. “This is yours. I think the sizing is fine, we based it around your uniform size so it should fit. If you could be ready and be at the doors of the landing platform in about half an hour, that would be fantastic. Just stay inside and wait until you’re told otherwise.”

“My lady?”

“And,” she brushed an oil spot off the side of your cheek. “Do tell me if the kitchen duties are boring you. You know we’d employ you to do anything you’d like around here. After everything you’ve done, it’s the least we could do.”

“Oh, thank you my lady, but there’s help needed in the kitchens, so I really don’t mind cleaning at the moment.”

“Very well,” she sighed, stepping away. “Half an hour, please. Don’t be late.”

“My lady?” you interjected again before she headed out the door. “Is there something going on?”

Breha smiled again, with a strange twinkle in her eyes. “Nothing to worry, dear. Just a surprise.”

-

“We can never repay you.”

“Well, she has already done that,” Obi-Wan sighed, looking over his shoulder at little Leia, giddily playing with Lola. Bail had a wry smile on his face as he followed his gaze to his adoptive daughter,

“I fear for her future, Obi-Wan,” he said. “The empire grows stronger and bolder. Not many can be trusted, and those we did trust… some are disappearing as we speak.”

“Well, if you ever need my help again, you know where to find me.” Obi-Wan clapped Bail on the shoulder. “I won’t be disappearing like that again.”

He turned to Breha, and grasped her hand. “Farewell, my lady.”

He pulled away, but Breha was still holding his hand. He looked up at her, and could sense she was holding something back.

“But before you go,” Breha interjected, shifting her eyes to glance at Bail. “Why not stay for dinner?”

Obi-Wan frowned, incredulity written all over his face. “Dinner? At a time like this?”

“Well, there’s lots to catch up on, isn’t there?”

“I don’t think being in hiding for ten years makes for a pleasant dinner conversation, Lady Breha,” Obi-Wan chuckled dryly. “Besides, it wouldn’t be safe.”

“I think you’ll want to stay for dinner, my friend,” Bail said, a mysterious lilt n his tone. “There’s something… someone for you to see.”

Obi-Wan furrowed his brow, his hand slipping from Breha’s and resting at his lightsaber hilt. “Is it dangerous?”

Bail gave a small smirk and nodded his head towards the entrance at the end of the walkway, where the metal doors slid open.

-

You fiddled with your sleeves, nervous at presenting yourself. You could only imagine some figurehead friend of Bail and Breha wanted to meet you out of all people. Perhaps an old politician friend they thought they could trust from the Old Republic. Maybe Leia wanted her to come for some silly party adventure. Whatever it was, you could take it.

As the doors finally opened, you squinted at the sunlight and looked out to see four figures standing by a small ship. Two were the Organas, one was little Leia, and the fourth…

Obi-Wan felt himself go numb at the sight of you. Still a distance away, but you, alive, and breathing.

He brushed past the Organas without much thought, feet feeling heavy as he thought he was seeing a ghost at first. Perhaps it wasn’t you, perhaps it was a trick of the light, or he really needed sleep. He stopped a few feet in, wind ruffling his hair as he stared.

But then you stepped out onto the walkway in the sunlight, and he saw your familiar beauty and kind eyes light up with disbelief and astoundment. You were wearing simple silver robes – an outfit he’d never seen you in before. Your face was clean, a bit wearier now, but your smile seemed the same. He inhaled sharply as the sun hit you and you suddenly stopped walking, a frown on your face as you looked at him from the distance.

First you thought, no it couldn’t be. Obi-Wan wouldn’t risk appearing like this, surely. What would he be doing here? Your heart was pounding and you felt yourself go numb when you realized, no, it really is him.

Then you broke out into a jog, and then you were sprinting towards him, and then he too began running towards you. Suddenly the only thing that mattered in the whole universe was getting to him, right now.

Your feet hit the stone beneath you as you ran, robes fluttering behind you. Wind rushed past you in a daze. Every second he came closer you couldn’t pry your eyes off him – afraid he’d disappear again.

The gasp of relief as you flung your arms around him sounded like music to his ears. It was hard to think it had been ten years when suddenly it felt like the old days again.

“Obi-Wan,” you breathed, voice breaking already. His arms wrapped around your waist and his own breath was shaky. You held the nape of his neck, caressing through his locks with a tenderness he had missed.

You wanted to breathe him in, remember the touch of his hands, the feeling of his body.

“I never thought I’d see you again,” you muttered into his cloak, eyes watering. “I didn’t know if you were alive… or far away… or…”

You pulled away from him to properly take in the sight of him. He had a rough, rugged beard that was thicker than the last time you saw him, and his hair was straggly and longer with much more greys.

“Oh,” you said softly, hand cupping his face with your eyes tracing the lines along his skin. “Time has not been kind to you, my darling.”

“What a kind way to tell me I’ve aged horribly,” he muttered with a huff of a laugh. His voice had your head swimming in wonderful, soothing molasses. You chuckled. He kept you close to his body, arms securely wrapped around your waist. “You haven’t changed, my dear.”

You threw your head back and scoffed, “it’s been ten years, Obi. Of course I have.”

“Well, to me, you haven’t,” he smiled. Your hand slipped down to rest on his chest, and you felt the throbbing of his heart, fast and nervous. He looked at you with softened, kind eyes, like the eyes that would look at you across from the booth at Dex’s Diner. Like the eyes that glistened when you had that rushed, heartfelt goodbye. Like the eyes that stared at you in the dark of the Jedi Temple when you stole a kiss from him, quickly and sweetly.

“I didn’t know you were on Alderaan,” he muttered. “How long--?”

“Since that day,” you said, looking up at him. The day when everything changed, and everything had gone wrong. “Bail told me he was taking the girl, and suggested I go with him. I had nowhere else to go, not when you…”

“When I told you that you couldn’t come with me and the boy,” his eyes were downcast, shifting away from you with a remorseful voice. “But why didn’t you tell me?”

“How could I? You insisted on the secrecy, and I wanted all of us, you, me, them to be safe. Plus, you were already gone by the time I had made my choice.”

Obi-Wan opened his mouth, desperate to find out more, but then a small girl flung herself around your form and pulled at your robes.

“You know him?!” Leia gasped. You chuckled, returning the hug.

“Yes, Leia. We happen to be very old friends.”

“Emphasis on old,” Obi-Wan added. You shot him a look as Bail and Breha both joined you again, beaming with wide smiles.

“So, old friend,” Bail chuckled. “Now will you stay for dinner?”

Obi-Wan took one glance at you and smiled. “Yes.”

A/N: Back on the star wars bandwagon folks... maybe more to come?? I need to catch up on all my shows 0.0

The soft tick tick of the clock had been enough for Chris to distract him from his thoughts, causing him to blankly stare into the endless void of bookshelves at his university library. He was only able to snap back to reality when he coughed up a couple of soft, red tulip petals; brushing them aside with a heavy sigh. His phone began to violently vibrate against the wooden desk he had chosen over an hour ago to go over his notes for the next class. Chris quickly picked it up and answered with a whisper, recoiling into the plastic chair out of pure embarrassment. “Hello?”

“Hey, Chris! I was wondering if you wanted to meet up today? After your class of course.” The voice on the other end giggled, causing Chris’ heart to skip a beat and smile to himself like a lovesick school girl. [y/n], the sole purpose why Chris had caught the disease in the first place. From her kindness to her quirky-ness, Chris fell head over heels when they first met in middle school.

“Sure,” He replies meekly, closing all of his notebooks and shoved them into his beloved, black backpack. “I’ll see you at Panda Tea.” Chris hung up hastily and rushed to his next class desperate to see her.

-~-~-

An hour and a half pass and Chris is the first one out the door, jogging to their designated hang out area. [y/n] was already sitting in the booth where they always sat at, looking up from her laptop and waved him over with the cutest smile Chris has ever seen. “You look happy today, no bullshit assignments?” She giggled sweetly ‘like a fairy.’ Chris would describe over and over again to his friends.

Chris shook his head with a light chuckle. “No, just happy to see my best friend.”  He felt physical pain from saying ‘Best friend’ wincing slightly and ruffled the back of his head to cover up the movement. “So, how are you? I haven’t seen you in months. How’s your Uni so far?” He stumbled over his words and blushed faintly out of embarrassment.

“I’ve been good. I have something I want to tell you and I think it’s really important that you should know.” [y/n] smiled cheekily. That sentence made Chris’ heart stop, was he finally going to have his feelings returned and break free from this stupid disease?

“Yeah, go ahead. No secrets remember.” He smiled back, being a little too hopeful of the outcome.

“I got a boyfriend!” She gave him such a proud expression that Chris couldn’t help but give her a pained smile.

“Wow, who’s the lucky guy?” He attempted to swallow the upcoming batch of petals but had to turn away and cough it out into his backpack. Chris felt his heart lurch and it gave him goosebumps.

“His name is Eddie and he’s very kind, and sweet, and like a gentle giant type of guy.” She giggled at the thought of her boyfriend and smiled dreamily. “I’m sorry for making the build-up so dramatic Chris, I know how much you like me that way. But I think we should stay best friends.” [y/n] gave him such a heartbreaking smile that he couldn’t help but cough up a bulb into his bag.

“It’s fine [y/n]. Please don’t worry about that anymore.” He forced himself to say it out loud in hopes that it would become true.

“I have to go, got a test tomorrow. See you later.” Chris gave her one last smile before rushing out and heading back to the dorm, heart heavy.

-~-~-

Sitting on your bed at 11 pm and staring at the wall isn’t something recommended when you need to deal with your feelings and make sure you live another day. And for years Chris and [y/n] spent together, his feelings only became stronger as they matured into adults.

Chris knew that he would die soon, of course, there was the option of removing the disease surgically but his heart ached to keep it in until his last breath, wanting her to be his first and last love, believing that there was no one else in his life that could light up his life as she did.

Chris felt that it was all going to happen tonight. No. He knew it was going to. Pushing himself off the bed, he pulled out a box of goodbye and apology letter to his family and friends, as well as a USB with video files for his siblings, knowing that he wouldn’t be there for large scale celebrations. Chris pulled out one more box with teary eyes and placed it beside the other box. “To [y/n]” it read in cursive like it was a death present to the living.

With a shaky sigh, Chris reluctantly got into bed, conscious to the fact that he wasn’t going to wake up the next day

-~-~-

[y/n] swallowed hard and opened the small box in front of her, sobbing softly as she went through different pictures of them together, staining each one with her tears. However, at the bottom was a note Chris had written a few days before his death.

“I’m sorry you had to see me off like this. But know it’s not your fault, so please don’t blame yourself. Please live a long life and live it happily. Let’s hang out soon.

The ballroom had been lavishly decorated with candles and drapery. Each of the Lords had shown up dressed to the nines with a little entourage, and Alcina let you handpick staff and villagers to invite that you knew and trusted; friends, acquaintances, you named it, and they were there. 

Karl had accused Alcina of becoming soft with a human at her side. Alcina had smiled and blew a plume of cigarette smoke in his face, neither agreeing nor denying him. 

The truth was, she was much happier this way. You brought joy and delight to the castle. With the weather steadily warming at this time of year, you had even taken it upon yourself to take the daughters outside to blow off steam when they were restless and begging to kill some poor soul at work in the kitchens. 

At one point, they had managed to adopt a young Vârcolac wandering through the woods. You had no idea how, but the beastly canine was now their personal pet, as obedient as a lapdog and as murderous as the lycans. 

Sure, maiming and death still occurred occasionally, but hey, you weren’t a miracle-worker. Trespassers were still killed on sight, traitors and disobedience were awarded with limb-chopping or decapitation depending on the Lady’s mood, but you were quite proud to say that the Castle was much more welcoming, and more importantly, clean. 

You had revitalized Castle Dimitrescu, and had rejuvenated some of the humanity in the Dimitrescu family itself. Gosh, what an accomplishment. Though it didn’t happen overnight. There was enough blood spillage, shouting, skillful avoidance and trickery to last you a lifetime. But after all that, and after a wonderful new deal with the Duke to provide top-quality livestock for fresh blood and meat in the Castle, you felt you deserved a nice celebration. The farmers had agreed to tend to the Castle’s new livestock in exchange for peace. There was enough to feed everyone what they needed, and in return their families and friends were protected. Now, eating human was an occasional delicacy for Alcina and her daughters, and Alcina felt she enjoyed that a lot more than barbaric slaughter and tearing limbs without care. It felt like a luxury and a treat, though a little twisted.

The night you had convinced Alcina of your ways was when Dani, restless and out for blood, had held you with her blade at your throat, screaming obscenities and demanding her mother let her cut your throat so that you would stop meddling in their affairs. She called you a whore for sleeping with Alcina yet going behind their backs to change their way of life. Alcina nearly let her daughter kill you, thinking what’s one more? when three of the maids had burst from the kitchens and cellars, yanking Dani off of you. One lost a hand, another lost her head. Alcina stared in wonder as the women crowded you and declared they’d protect you, because none had shown such care to them in all their time at the Castle, despite being allowed to live. 

It had made Alcina long for love and loyalty again. Ruling with fear only got your so far, and she questioned if her morals were worth thinking about again. And what’s worse, you didn’t want the power over the staff that you had given yourself. You simply wanted things to be quiet and peaceful and good.

And then on the next day, when you made amends with Dani despite her threatening to kill you again by offering a fresh dish of raw meat and blood, Alcina realized she had been falling in love with you all along. 

Now, Alcina watched you from her throne-like seat, leisurely laid back with a fresh cigarette and a newly fitted cream dress adorned with subtle crystals, reminiscent of her jazz performances when she’d be decked out in sequins and dazzling pearls. She had a fur boa draped over her arms, and exuded the power of a rich matriarch. 

Alcina had never seen the grand ballroom like this in all her years under Miranda’s service. As a younger woman before the Cadou, yes, there were many lavish feasts like this. But since the world took a dark turn in this small part of Romania, there had not been this much laughter in a room for decades.

You were swinging from one dancing partner to another. The Duke had provided a lovely band to perform and you took every opportunity to dance with their music. Your shoes were tucked by Alcina’s seat after you complained about your toes hurting. Alcina had smiled and slipped them off for you, kissed your hand, and sent you on your way to the dance floor. You were dancing with the baker now, who had learned to make blood-infused bread specifically for the Castle, and mastered new pastry skills for your sweet tooth alone.

“Oh Mother, this feast is hard to resist,” Daniela groaned pathetically by her mother’s side, pushing her raw lamb around on her plate. “I remember a time when all these people would have been appetizers, dinner, dessert, and then some!”

“Calm now, Dani,” Alcina scolded lightly. “You’ve been doing so well. What is it now, four weeks?”

“Almost five,” she pouted. “Can’t I have a cheat day?”

“If you do, Y/N might be cross with you.”

“Not even one of the mean ones?” 

Alcina scanned the crowd. Everyone was in good spirits and seemingly well-behaved. There was one guest however, that Alcina didn’t like. He was too much of a flirt and far too cocky for his own good. He had tried to charm you on the way in, much to your dismay and to the amusement and jealousy of Alcina. He was properly drunk, hanging by one of the tables with another glass in hand, and not even trying to hide the fact that he was eyeing a few of the maids passing by with plates and glasses, who seemed most uncomfortable. 

“Hmmm,” Alcina thoughtfully blew out a smoke ring. “Maybe that one. But don’t make a scene, Dani. And don’t make it obvious.”

Daniela giggled devilishly and poofed away in a herd of flies.

“Must you encourage her so, Mother?” Bela sighed from her seat at the table. Out of the three, she had been the most strong-willed, coming up with new enticing ways to eat raw meat and blood to keep their appetite up. Daniela, however, always had more of a taste for the hunt than the actual meal at the end, and that was even harder to resist. 

“We both know a cranky Daniela is much worse than a satisfied one,” Alcina hummed, sipping her glass of wine. 

“Perhaps she just needs a lover,” Cassandra interjected. “That should leave her satisfied enough.”

“And who do you suggest is mad enough to put up with our sister?” Bela scoffed, chucking a piece of veggie at Cassie’s face. She burst into a cloud of flies to avoid the impact, and the meagre carrot rolled around under the table. It was just for decoration anyway. 

The Lords each had a seat amongst the Dimitrescus. Donna had Angie perched on her lap, who was tittering away with nonsense and annoyance. The most intriguing guest was a curious masked individual that had come in quietly next to Donna. They appeared genderless, though being clothed in robes of deep, dark blue, and not speaking a word made it hard to decipher what kind of person Donna brought in by her side. Still, Alcina was pleased to see her sister had finally found a partner of some sorts. 

Karl had brought another monstrosity of an experiment that was much more behaved than the last one. It resembled something between a large dog and a small horse, and made no noise. You had made sure the half-mechanical creature was well looked after. Freshly oiled, and freshly fed. 

Sal, poor, lonely Sal, seemed much more in his spirits than usual. You had convinced him to take ownership of his own life, and find something to do besides pining over Miranda’s affections. With your care and attention, you had discovered how much of a romantic Salvatore Moreau actually was. He needed things to romanticize his life. So, to add onto your list of crazy, silly ideas, you helped him find a skincare routine, gifted him a modified typewriter that he could use with ease, and a pile of water-friendly toys to splash around with. 

Alcina had been flabbergasted at the sight of a happy, laughing Sal emerging from his water-filled home. He told them how he had finished another one of his short stories, and the exercise of chasing weights at the bottom of his lake had made him much more content. You had laughed and clapped excitedly for him. 

“I don’t know how you do it,” Alcina sighed that evening as you crawled into bed with her. “You have more positive hope in your pinky than I do in my whole body. What on earth possessed you to give Sal a moisturizer?”

“Hey, those waters aren’t the best for your skin you know,” you tutted. “Sometimes a little self-care goes a long way. Turns our a lot of his moping has to do with those sores and humps -- they’re apparently very painful. Aren't you glad he’s not whining for Miranda and begging for someone to love him now?”

Needless to say, they all loved you. And they were all thriving because of you.

That is why no one has told Miranda about you.

Alcina knew Miranda would find out about the party and that she had not been invited. She’d be in for a scolding of a lifetime, probably a bit of torture, but she knew she could handle Miranda on her own. That wouldn’t be the problem. This way, Miranda’s anger would only be pointed at her, and not you. Heaven forbid the priestess ever found out what hold you had over Alcina. You wouldn’t survive a second in her presence. She begged whatever gods or demons existed that Miranda would never find out about you.

Alcina felt another deep sense of dread fill her, and suddenly had the urge to drag your to her side and keep you close. Perhaps the party was too large. Perhaps not this many people should have come. Perhaps--

As if on cue, you appeared by her side. Face shining with a glowing layer of sweat from dancing, you took her cup of wine and took a deep swig -- the taste of blood no longer disgusted you. Alcina felt her worries melt away and smiled happily.

“Hello, darling,” she said softly, leaning down to greet you with a deep kiss. You giggled as she teasingly nipped at your bottom lip. “What happened to your dance with the baker?”

“Oh, he stubbed his toe. He needed to sit out for a second,” you pointed to where the baker was sitting at a table, who was rubbing his feet with a grimace on his face. 

Alcina chuckled deeply. “No one can keep up with you, can they?”

“Well, one person can,” you replied. “But she’s refusing to dance with me!” You tugged at the boa and she scooped you up to set you in her lap, back pressed against her chest as you surveyed the masses.

“Darling, I hardly have the grace of a dancer anymore. I would knock over at least five dancers in the process. You don’t want to dance with me.”

“What if they all sat down and it was just us?”

“Then I would mess up out of sheer panic,” Alcina grinned. “What if I stubbed your toes? Crushed them? I wouldn’t forgive myself.”

“Ugh, fine.” You turned your head up to look at her. “But you better make it up to me tonight.”

Alcina gave you a chaste kiss and then trailed her lips down your cheek to your neck, as a strong, possessive hand curled around your middle. “It’s a deal. You may live to regret that statement.”

“I doubt it,” you hummed softly, squirming as warmth filled your body at her lips caressing your skin. “Maybe we should just go to bed now.”

“And leave all the festivities?” She tutted. “Your guests will be disappointed.”

“Don’t act like you haven’t been thinking about it all night. You always do,” you huffed, your hand grasping Alcina’s. “I’ve been thinking about it too, you know.”

Her hand clutched you more tightly, and a low growl came from her throat just behind you. “Don’t tempt me, dear. I might strip you now and take you right here until you pass out. Wouldn’t that be a sight for them all?” 

The end of her sentence had dissolved into a low, hungry whisper. Possessive, demanding Alcina was always your favourite. You grinned, lifting her hand from your form and kissing along the knuckles. 

“Patience, my love. Before you know it, the night will be over.”

Suddenly, Daniela appeared in front of them, fresh blood dripping from her scythe and mouth, probably from the drunkard that Alcina had pointed out. You were about to scold her for going against her new diet, but her wide, panicked eyes caught both yours and Alcina’s attention first. The night was definitely over now.

Making your way down the corridor, you came upon Alcina pacing in the main hall, roaring with incoherent sentences of fury. A poor maid was trembling in her shoes, holding up a silver platter that held a wine glass, empty and cracked. A wine bottle had been smashed against the wall, leaving a deep stain dripping down towards the floor. 

“How hard is it to do as I ask? Where on this forsaken earth can I find any proper help these days? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to run this all by myself?”

“N-no, my lady-” the poor girl stammered, unsure if the questions were directed at her.

“Shut it, cretin,” Alcina snapped. Her claws were swiping through the air, snarling at her own thoughts. The girl shut her mouth so tightly you wondered if she could ever open it again.

Taking pity on the girl, you hurried down the stairs and took the platter from her. She was startled at your approach, practically jumping out of her skin as you laid a hand on her shoulder.

“Go on, dear,” you muttered. “Go to bed. Next time, fetch me instead of waiting. It might be you instead of a wine bottle if you don’t.”

It wasn’t meant as a threat, but more a fact. Alcina’s temper held no remorse when she truly became angry.

The phone on the coffee table was hanging off the hook, swinging lazily on the cord. You assumed her regular call with Mother Miranda had not gone to plan. 

“You shouldn’t yell so much at our staff,” you set the platter down on the table and pushed some of the bottle shards into a corner with your foot so no one would lose any toes until it was cleared away

Alcina’s whole form was quivering with tension. The discussions about staff and Mother Miranda’s demands were taking a toll on the matriarch. From what you could gather, Miranda needed more experiments to be fulfilled, but Alcina couldn’t afford to lose any more working hands from the castle or potential workers from the village, otherwise wine production would take a serious beating. There was only so much Alcina, you, and her daughters could do on your own. 

“Then find me competent staff who have an actual thread of intelligence,” Alcina replied haughtily. 

“You handpick them yourself, Alci,” you said softly. “I’m not involved in the hiring process.” Alcina sat down on one of the sofas, its wooden legs threatening to buckle and break from her enormous size. You walked over to her and gently patted her knee. 

“Come to bed. You’ve done far too much today.”

“Not enough,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “Miranda needs more experiments, yet I need more staff, but if I take anymore maids from the village they will get angry. We’ve practically sucked them dry.”

“Then let Karl take them instead. Get their focus away from the castle.”

Alcina huffed, “You think Heisenberg gave Miranda’s demand even a second thought? No one else would do as she asked, which is why she’s resorted to taking more of my people.”

Her people. You smiled a little. Despite her murderous intent and bloodlust, what entered her castle became hers, and she would defend it without hesitation. It might be a tad possessive and seem a bit backwards, but it meant your staff were safe from lycans and other dangers on the ground, and the lives killed for wine production and Alcina’s survival were used in every possible way before laid to rest in the cemetery. 

Perhaps that was your lover’s way of making it up to the lives she takes away, and from the guilt of living in a red-tinged cycle of murder.

“We need more people,” Alcina muttered into the hand covering her mouth while she stared into the fireplace with a pensive face. “Perhaps I should start accepting some of the male applicants-”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself,” you muttered, “how tired are you, my love?”

Her eyebrows raised in thought as she considered your question, eyes shifting from the fire to you.

“Exhausted.”

“The worries can wait until the morning, can’t they?”

Her hand lowered to yours that was still resting atop of her knee and circled your wrist with her large fingers, feeling the thrum of your heartbeat against the pad of her thumb. 

“Alcina,” you placed your other hand on top of hers. “You need to sleep. Mutated immortal or not, you need rest just like all of us.” 

“But the villagers-”

“If I hear one more word about Miranda or the damned shortage of staff tonight, I will hike in the dark immediately and spend the rest of the week with Heisenberg,” you retorted sharply. “And don’t think I won’t. He makes excellent steak whenever I visit.”

Alcina bristled in jealousy at the praise you gave Karl, but relented and clamped her mouth shut.

“Good,” you smiled. You took the opportunity to clamber up onto her lap, cupping her neck in your hands and angling her face down to look you in the eyes. 

“Forget about it all,” you whispered. “Just for a moment, hm?”

You tugged her further down, until her head rested heavily on your shoulder. Her large hands wrapped around your form as a shuddering breath left her body. You could feel the tense shoulder muscles relax slightly and her weight pressed down on you. It took a bit of effort to hold her up like this, but you wanted her to be as cradled as you could manage.

In moments like this, it took some coaxing from you, but eventually Alcina would relent and let down her walls. Her gaze would soften and her frown would subside, and then you could caress and coo at her until she fell asleep. Alcina was at her most vulnerable at the darkest moments in the night, alone with you and away from the rest of the world.

When your arms and back began to strain from holding her up, you patted Alcina on the shoulder and suggested you both go to bed. She nodded meekly, eyes following you like a lost puppy. A rather large and menacing-looking puppy, but a puppy nonetheless. 

Once in bed, you hoisted yourself as far up on the pillows as possible and held your arms out for the giantess. She gave a quirk of a smile before crawling on the bed, under the covers, until her head pressed against your torso and you could feel her wisps of raven hairs tickle your nose.

The side of her face pressed into your chest, sending hot breaths along your side. The closeness of her like this filled you with warmth, and your body felt weighed down and protected as she laid on you. One of her large hands reached up and trailed fingers down your side, absent-mindedly.

Her breathing began to grow deeper and slower as you played with her hair, tracing the curve of her ear down to her neck from what you could feel as you looked up at the ceiling.

Just before you drifted as well, Alcina grasped one of your hands, kissed longingly on your palm and then tucked both your hand and hers under her cheek where she held it for the rest of the night.

A/N: I almost named this “Hold Her, Damn it!!” bc Alcina deserves to be held and cuddled just as much as all of us! Show the murderess some cozy love