#warplanet

the   pianist   understands   the   billionaire's   concern   ,   especially   now   knowing   that   his   ex   has   decided   to   settle   in   gotham   ,   working   as   a   server   of   all   things.   tonight   was   meant   to   be   just   another   gala with the opera & it's patrons   ,   but   of   course   his   past   had   to   come   back   to   haunt   him   ,   a   hand   off   of   champagne   turning   into   pure   disgust   the   moment   he   locks   eyes   with   brad harper.   the   man   doesn't   scare   him   ,   not   after   all   those   years   working   to   better   himself   ,   but   it   is   strange   to   see   him   appear   after   what   feels   like   an   eternity since they last spoke. well , fight is probably a better word for it.   bruce   keeps   his   cool   ,   looks   almost   unbothered   by   the   situation   ,   but   mason   knows   better   ━━   he   knows   he's   probably   close   to   letting   the   batman   persona   steer   his   actions.

❝   i'll   be   fine.   he   can't   really   do   anything   in   public   with   us   here.   ❞   mason   offers   bruce   a   smile   ,   a   hand   gently   patting   his   arm   in   an   attempt   to   console   &   reassure   him.   ❝   i   do   gotta   mingle   with   some   of   the   patrons   here   ,   but   you're   welcome   to   join   me   if   you're   so   worried.   ❞   his   smile   turns   catlike   ,   maybe   a   little   mischievous   too.   ❝   are   you   .   .   .   entering   overprotective   boyfriend   territory   right   now   ?   out   in   public ,   even   ?   ❞

❝   you   could   stay   ,   you   know.   ❞   the   comment   leaves   his   lips   before   he   even   has   time   to   mull   it   over.   the   prince   knows   he's   asking   for   too   much   ,   as   the   knight   is   not   one   to   stay   in   one   place   too   long.   even   as   he   turns   to   face   din   ,   there's   regret   in   his   hazel eyes   ,   already   aware   of   the   answer   he   will   no   doubt   give.   ❝   sorry.   i   meant   that   .   .   .   i   wish   you   could   stay.   ❞   mason   closes   the   book   in   his   hands   ,   using   it   to   help   ground   himself   as   he   meets   din's   helmet   ,   but   now   he   no   longer   has   to   imagine   what   might   be   beneath   it.   he's   seen   his   face   .   .   .   he   knows   how   he   looks   at   him.   ❝   i   won't   be   king   forever   you   know. just   until   i   can   help   set   up   a   democracy   among   the   leaders   so   the   kingdom   is   ruled   fairly.   ❞   it's   what   viridis   deserves   ,   but   it   also   leaves   him   free   to   do   as   he   chooses.   in   giving   up   his   power   ,   he   is   trading   it   for   something   far   more   precious   ━━   the   ability   to   choose , to live his life without the stress of a crown.   ❝   when   that's   all   done   .   .   .   could   you   ever   consider   .   .   .   ❞   he   struggles   to   finish   his   sentence   ,   almost   afraid   to   speak   it   aloud.   din   surely knows   what   he   means to say   ,   so   he   leaves   it   all   hanging   up   in   the   air   ,   eyes   watching   him   ,   curious   what   his   response   will   be.

he still can't really wrap his head around it — he even checked his insulin and lithium pumps to make sure they weren't malfunctioning, but this was all real and happening. cars didn't turn into huge talking robots, and yet... he still doesn't quite know why he helped the thing. optimus prime, or whatever it was called, seemed to command respect, and mack was included in that demographic. “ uh, yeah. no problem, man. ” he rubs the back of his neck, head tilted slightly with his eyes narrowed. he'd just said his name and told him where to find an open field. “ sorry, but like... what the hell are you? no offense... i just haven't seen anything like you before. ”

stars flicker out in the distance. almost as if they're waving the normandy by as they continue their journey between systems. despite the danger they face, and the threat of the reapers hanging over them, barbara finds herself feeling at peace. perhaps it's simply that she feels like she belongs once again. ❝ i missed this. ❞ she speaks, not needing to turn her head to know it's garrus crossing the room to sit beside her. a stray finger traces a line down her leg. the last time she was out here she was a different person. her weapon a heavy weight in her hands, rather than words on a screen. ❝ being amongst the stars. ❞

gaze turns to garrus. the stars forgotten in place of the sun. it's almost automatic the way a smile creeps onto her face, turning up each corner of her lips. ❝ so, they finally let you out? ❞ something twists in her gut. the thought that he might have been lost for good. that oracle and archangel may have parted without speaking again, and she would have been left with so many regrets. ❝ dr chakwas did a pretty good job on your face. you almost look more handsome than before. ❞ gentle fingers brush the length of his new scars, soft lips following to press a featherlight kiss. she's not sure who initiates the next, whether it's his had that turns for hers that seeks more, but their lips brush in a chaste kiss. it's enough for her breath to catch. a beat passes, and when he doesn't pull back she finds herself leaning forward for more. cheeks burning when they finally part, their foreheads pressing together. ❝ you know, i've been wanting to do that for a while. ❞

@warplanet arra sent: ❝ do you like it here? ❞

lights twinkle in the evening sky. most of them are artificial, glittering buildings, the blinking of vessels zooming through the air traffic lanes. even still, light is good. light means freedom. magnolia smiles softly and looks away from the horizon thick of towers and smog to look at the other woman. she nods. coruscant might be the most beautiful place she has ever stepped foot on. then, she has not seen that many places to begin with outside of padded sells and operation rooms. ❛ i am...close to happy. ❜ she signs slowly, thoughtfully. ❛ i think. ❜

his face immediately burns as soon as he catches hypatia walking through the garden. she seemed at ease in skyhold, much more than she did in haven. perhaps it was because they were finally somewhere worthy of her stature — no matter how she denied it. he enjoyed having an actual bed, even if the cool mountain air invaded his room every morning. he didn't really have a roof. oh, i'm sorry. he hears her say, and his fingers linger on a chess piece that he can't remember — or where he was going to put it. “ no, no. you don't need to apologize. ” he smiles, motioning at the chair across from him. “ please, sit. some company might do me some good. ”

" this? " kaidan says, eyes dropping to the glass he'd been nursing for the past half hour, sloshing around the dark, suspiciously viscous liquid. " the bartender said i looked like i needed one of these, whatever this is. buruk-something or other. tastes like thruster fuel. " it had smelt like thruster fuel too, when the bartender had served it lit, blew it out, and told kaidan to drink it hot. and against his better judgment kaidan had, one mouthful, then decided to use the cup's heat to leech the prickling cold from his fingers instead.

kaidan shifts his leg to make room for garrus to slip onto the bar stool next to him. he'd chosen a spot close to the exit in the event that the bar's patrons decided to do more than throw daggered glares from behind the rims of their alien sludge. they're on some backwater planet deep in mercenary space and kaidan's reminded of the bars his basic training buddies used to drag him to back home. he stretches out the tension from his neck, scratches the days old stubble darkening the length of his jaw. the bartender was right, he'll have to shave when he gets back to his quarters.