Erin Ptah (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ptahrrific) wrote2011-12-18 11:57 pm
ptahrrific) wrote2011-12-18 11:57 pm
Entry tags:
Fake News: Castles in the Sand, Epilogue
Title: Castles In The Sand (Epilogue)
Rating: PG-13
Pairings/Characters: Olivia/Kristen, Jon, c!Stephen/Tad/Amy
Disclaimer: Characters belong to the Report. Names of real people are used in a fictitious context, and all dialogue, actions, and content are products of the author's imagination only.
And so our story ends! Before the end of the year, even, which is a relief as it was one of my 2011 fannish New Year's resolutions.
Amazing beta job byqueenfanfiction. Decorative capitals by Daily Drop Cap. Chapter index: Table of Contents
♢ ♘ ♢ ☯ ♢ ♘ ♢
on patted Starbeam's flank. "Ready, girl?" he asked, holding back the impulse to urge her on no matter what. It wasn't the unicorn's fault he'd gotten a late start.
The turrets and carvings of Emesen-by-the-Sea's mage temple rose in front of him, surrounded by the customary moat. It wouldn't keep out an invading army, or even a lone wizard, but an ordinary human wouldn't be able to cross unaided. Somewhere in the depths was a bridge which a water rat could raise by manipulating the flow, and a firebug by heating it into steam. An earthworm could form her own bridge, of course, while an air bunny would simply fly to the far side.
Jon rode low on Starbeam's back and let her leap the distance.
No sooner had her silver hooves landed on the courtyard grass than a mage in temple robes shimmered down the front steps. "Excuse me! I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she said, with twin globes of water flowing around her hands that suggested what would happen if she had to ask twice.
"It's okay!" exclaimed Jon. "Kristen and Olivia asked me to come. You can let me in."
"I'm afraid not. Olivia may be the Prophesied One, but that doesn't mean we don't have rules."
"You already stretched them for the wedding," countered Jon. All the brides' friends, mages or not, had celebrated in the courtyard of the temple in En-by-the-Sea. Well, most of the brides' friends: the Report had been stranded at sea at the time. Its crew had arrived in port a few weeks later to congratulate the newlyweds, after the other the guests, Jon included, had left town. He had yet to ask if they had planned it that way.
"Just because they break with tradition doesn't mean we have to." The water mage's element spun into a threatening whirlpool. "Let's not make a scene, now. I'd hate to see such a handsome unicorn get hurt."
♢ ♘ ♢ ☯ ♢ ♘ ♢
rak me sideways, where's my anesthesia?" demanded Olivia, nails digging into the back of Kristen's hand hard enough to draw blood. It was a good thing Kristen had whisked away their rings when the contractions started. "As soon as this thing is out of me, I'm killing everyone in this room."
"That'll be an awfully short life for the baby," said Kristen calmly.
"Everyone except the baby!" Olivia amended. "First her." She pointed over the watermelon that had replaced her exquisitely taut stomach, where she could feel the doctor, an earth mage of Gi Foarese descent, poking around in places that did not want to be poked. "Then...oh frak!...then her." She rode out the contraction and glared at the nurse, who floated over much too slowly with a syringe in hand. "Then you, for getting me into this mess in the first place!"
"Oh, don't be silly," said Kristen. "If you kill me, who will give you foot rubs?"
"Good point. Okay, you can stay. But only for foot rubs. And changing diapers. And because they don't make heating pads with boobs and fracking hell—"
"I think that's your cue," said the doctor.
"You think? I'm about to have a daughter and all you can say is—"
"Suction!" the doctor exclaimed, waving the nurse over. Then, to Olivia: "Push!"
♢ ♘ ♢ ☯ ♢ ♘ ♢
on't kick me out!" pleaded Jon, nudging Starbeam to take a couple of steps back. "I have every respect for the sanctity of your temple, I swear. Can I just talk to someone in charge?"
"And have me leave the door unprotected to fetch them? Do you think I was born yesterday?"
"Not at all!" His mount stopped in her tracks, hind legs prancing at the edge of the water. "I just—"
The wind around them whipped up, jostling the half-bloomed spring flowers in the courtyard and shaving a fine spray of drops from the surface of the temple guard's whirlpool. The guard herself dug in her heels to keep from being knocked aside by the gale. Jon leaned in closer over Starbeam, getting a faceful of silver mane but unwilling to risk letting go.
He could barely make out the shape of the mage who landed. Her powers were on the verge of Elemental: set free like this, they swallowed her form in a miniature cyclone, resulting in an apparition more wind than woman.
Until all at once the gusts blew themselves out, leaving a pleasant south wind and a familiar voice: "Ooh lolly, are we late? The party better not be over yet. I brought my special fetus cupcakes and everything."
"I think we're early," said Tad. "Oh, hi, Sir Stewart! Hello, unicorn."
And Stephen — scruffy, weathered, tall-standing Stephen — faced the guard, tilted his head at Jon, and said firmly, "He's with us."
♢ ♘ ♢ ☯ ♢ ♘ ♢
he's perfect. She's completely frakking — whoops, sorry pumpkin, Mommy's trying not to talk like that around you — completely, um, what's a good word?"
"'Gosh-darn'?" offered Kristen, head tucked against Olivia's shoulder, curls soft against her chin as they both gazed at the bundle in her arms.
"Completely gosh-darn perfect," echoed Olivia.
Sakura Joan Schaal-Munn (or Munn-Schaal, depending on who you asked) had a tiny, pinched mouth, chubby cheeks, and a few wisps of dark hair plastered to her forehead. She had ten little fingers (Kristen had counted) and twelve little toes (Olivia had counted, asked Kristen to double-check, gotten the doctor to confirm that it didn't mean anything unhealthy, and finally declared it the coolest thing ever). In her still-blotchy complexion, her eyes stood out: not green-golden like Olivia's but undiluted gold.
She gripped Kristen's finger, scrunched up her face, and sneezed, spraying the quilt made specially at the temple from Prophesied-One-suitable fabrics with a mixture of snot and ash.
"Ew," said Olivia lovingly.
"Aw, you're already getting powers!" cooed Kristen, using a corner of the quilt to wipe Sakura's nose. "You're a little prodigy. Yes you are."
There was going to be a ceremony later, some kind of dedication with all the country's most respected prophets and as many other mages as they could cram in the temple's main hall. Olivia hoped it was a lot later. This warm, secluded room with its cozy bed and its charming company was the only place she wanted to be for the next few hours. Maybe days. Maybe weeks.
She was debating whether to hand Sakura over and have a nap, or never let her go ever at the risk of falling asleep anyway and dropping her, when a light knock on the door announced the doctor's reappearance. "Kristen? Olivia? You have some...irregular visitors. Shall I have them shown in?"
Olivia craned her neck to whisper in Kristen's ear. "My vagina isn't still showing, is it?"
"Nope," murmured her wife. "You're good."
♢ ♘ ♢ ☯ ♢ ♘ ♢
nough of the crowd at the post-ceremony buffet appreciated Amy's cupcakes that they disappeared within the first hour. Stephen, who had made the icing with minimal supervision, kept an eye on their dwindling ranks with pride.
Although in theory temple robes were ascetic, the crowd here was a riot of celebratory color. Amy herself had vanished into its ranks during the dedication, and only reappeared to kiss Stephen and nab Tad before being subsumed once more into discussions with friends and colleagues. Olivia and Kristen, both of whom had gotten white dresses for the occasion, stood out at the center of a constantly whirling rainbow as everyone sought to pay their respects. Stephen tried to keep them in sight, but from a polite distance, which luckily happened to be next to the dessert bar.
Every once in a while he noticed Jon doing the same from behind the casseroles.
Not even a choked wail, loud enough to be heard even in the room's far corners, interrupted most of the conversations. As the baby sniffled and gathered strength for another squall, subtitles appeared over Olivia's head: Someone want to help us out here? Jon? Stephen? Anyone?
Stephen lost track of Jon as they both started foraging through the gathering. When he got to Olivia's side, Jon was already there, using his Knight Voice: "Everything all right?"
"I think so," said Olivia, cradling the flailing Sakura. "This is a thing babies do, right? She needs a nap. Or a new diaper. Or food. One of those." She wrinkled her nose. "I'm guessing the diaper."
The mages, any one of whom could have bested Jon or Stephen in under a minute in a duel, reluctantly bowed out of the way as the two men apologized and excused and pardoned a path all the way to the nearest side exit. The hall outside was empty, dust motes drifting lazily in the slanting columns of light from the rows of arched windows. Closing the doors behind them muted a hundred ongoing discussions, letting the baby's fussing take center stage.
"They won't miss you too much?" said Jon over the noise.
"It stopped being about us a while ago," Kristen assured him. "It's moved on into the gossip-and-catching-up stage. Shh, sweetie, we'll take care of you in a—"
Sakura yowled again. Her golden eyes flared with a brilliant glow, and Olivia yelped. "Ow! Take her, mage-girl, before she blows up on me." (Kristen scooped the baby into her arms.) "Sorry to cut this short, guys. Thanks for the bodyguarding."
"No trouble," said Stephen. Jon nodded. Both watched as the two women whisked their baby girl off down the corridor, until the fussing dwindled into proper silence.
Which left the two men alone together, standing shoulder to shoulder in the light.
It was Jon who spoke first. "It's good to see you," he said softly. "You look well. Interesting choice with the beard."
"I don't think I like it," admitted Stephen. He had been aiming for rugged, but seemed to be perpetually stuck at scruffy.
"Ah. Well, at least now you know."
"You look good," Stephen added, blushing. Jon had shown up in a dress uniform cut to flatter every inch of him, and had left his hair loose so you could see the curl. It didn't tousle quite as nicely as Tad's, but was appealing all the same. "Godfatherhood suits you."
"Sure, you say that now. Wait until you see me covered in spit-up," quipped Jon, then sobered. "That is, if you're around at the time...."
Stephen started. "Didn't anyone tell you?"
"What?"
"We're doing a reprise of the Ring Cycle show," explained Stephen. "Now with extra tumbling. Rehearsals start once Olivia's had a couple weeks to get back on her feet. I'm going to be in Central for...oh, a while. Is that okay? I mean, are you going to be okay with it?"
Jon touched his arm. When Stephen didn't catch his breath or pull away, Jon's hand settled into a sure and steady grip, curving around Stephen's shoulder like it had been molded to be there.
"It's more than okay," he said gently. "Welcome home."
Rating: PG-13
Pairings/Characters: Olivia/Kristen, Jon, c!Stephen/Tad/Amy
Disclaimer: Characters belong to the Report. Names of real people are used in a fictitious context, and all dialogue, actions, and content are products of the author's imagination only.
And so our story ends! Before the end of the year, even, which is a relief as it was one of my 2011 fannish New Year's resolutions.
Amazing beta job by
queenfanfiction. Decorative capitals by Daily Drop Cap. Chapter index: Table of Contentson patted Starbeam's flank. "Ready, girl?" he asked, holding back the impulse to urge her on no matter what. It wasn't the unicorn's fault he'd gotten a late start.The turrets and carvings of Emesen-by-the-Sea's mage temple rose in front of him, surrounded by the customary moat. It wouldn't keep out an invading army, or even a lone wizard, but an ordinary human wouldn't be able to cross unaided. Somewhere in the depths was a bridge which a water rat could raise by manipulating the flow, and a firebug by heating it into steam. An earthworm could form her own bridge, of course, while an air bunny would simply fly to the far side.
Jon rode low on Starbeam's back and let her leap the distance.
No sooner had her silver hooves landed on the courtyard grass than a mage in temple robes shimmered down the front steps. "Excuse me! I'm going to have to ask you to leave," she said, with twin globes of water flowing around her hands that suggested what would happen if she had to ask twice.
"It's okay!" exclaimed Jon. "Kristen and Olivia asked me to come. You can let me in."
"I'm afraid not. Olivia may be the Prophesied One, but that doesn't mean we don't have rules."
"You already stretched them for the wedding," countered Jon. All the brides' friends, mages or not, had celebrated in the courtyard of the temple in En-by-the-Sea. Well, most of the brides' friends: the Report had been stranded at sea at the time. Its crew had arrived in port a few weeks later to congratulate the newlyweds, after the other the guests, Jon included, had left town. He had yet to ask if they had planned it that way.
"Just because they break with tradition doesn't mean we have to." The water mage's element spun into a threatening whirlpool. "Let's not make a scene, now. I'd hate to see such a handsome unicorn get hurt."
rak me sideways, where's my anesthesia?" demanded Olivia, nails digging into the back of Kristen's hand hard enough to draw blood. It was a good thing Kristen had whisked away their rings when the contractions started. "As soon as this thing is out of me, I'm killing everyone in this room.""That'll be an awfully short life for the baby," said Kristen calmly.
"Everyone except the baby!" Olivia amended. "First her." She pointed over the watermelon that had replaced her exquisitely taut stomach, where she could feel the doctor, an earth mage of Gi Foarese descent, poking around in places that did not want to be poked. "Then...oh frak!...then her." She rode out the contraction and glared at the nurse, who floated over much too slowly with a syringe in hand. "Then you, for getting me into this mess in the first place!"
"Oh, don't be silly," said Kristen. "If you kill me, who will give you foot rubs?"
"Good point. Okay, you can stay. But only for foot rubs. And changing diapers. And because they don't make heating pads with boobs and fracking hell—"
"I think that's your cue," said the doctor.
"You think? I'm about to have a daughter and all you can say is—"
"Suction!" the doctor exclaimed, waving the nurse over. Then, to Olivia: "Push!"
on't kick me out!" pleaded Jon, nudging Starbeam to take a couple of steps back. "I have every respect for the sanctity of your temple, I swear. Can I just talk to someone in charge?""And have me leave the door unprotected to fetch them? Do you think I was born yesterday?"
"Not at all!" His mount stopped in her tracks, hind legs prancing at the edge of the water. "I just—"
The wind around them whipped up, jostling the half-bloomed spring flowers in the courtyard and shaving a fine spray of drops from the surface of the temple guard's whirlpool. The guard herself dug in her heels to keep from being knocked aside by the gale. Jon leaned in closer over Starbeam, getting a faceful of silver mane but unwilling to risk letting go.
He could barely make out the shape of the mage who landed. Her powers were on the verge of Elemental: set free like this, they swallowed her form in a miniature cyclone, resulting in an apparition more wind than woman.
Until all at once the gusts blew themselves out, leaving a pleasant south wind and a familiar voice: "Ooh lolly, are we late? The party better not be over yet. I brought my special fetus cupcakes and everything."
"I think we're early," said Tad. "Oh, hi, Sir Stewart! Hello, unicorn."
And Stephen — scruffy, weathered, tall-standing Stephen — faced the guard, tilted his head at Jon, and said firmly, "He's with us."
he's perfect. She's completely frakking — whoops, sorry pumpkin, Mommy's trying not to talk like that around you — completely, um, what's a good word?""'Gosh-darn'?" offered Kristen, head tucked against Olivia's shoulder, curls soft against her chin as they both gazed at the bundle in her arms.
"Completely gosh-darn perfect," echoed Olivia.
Sakura Joan Schaal-Munn (or Munn-Schaal, depending on who you asked) had a tiny, pinched mouth, chubby cheeks, and a few wisps of dark hair plastered to her forehead. She had ten little fingers (Kristen had counted) and twelve little toes (Olivia had counted, asked Kristen to double-check, gotten the doctor to confirm that it didn't mean anything unhealthy, and finally declared it the coolest thing ever). In her still-blotchy complexion, her eyes stood out: not green-golden like Olivia's but undiluted gold.
She gripped Kristen's finger, scrunched up her face, and sneezed, spraying the quilt made specially at the temple from Prophesied-One-suitable fabrics with a mixture of snot and ash.
"Ew," said Olivia lovingly.
"Aw, you're already getting powers!" cooed Kristen, using a corner of the quilt to wipe Sakura's nose. "You're a little prodigy. Yes you are."
There was going to be a ceremony later, some kind of dedication with all the country's most respected prophets and as many other mages as they could cram in the temple's main hall. Olivia hoped it was a lot later. This warm, secluded room with its cozy bed and its charming company was the only place she wanted to be for the next few hours. Maybe days. Maybe weeks.
She was debating whether to hand Sakura over and have a nap, or never let her go ever at the risk of falling asleep anyway and dropping her, when a light knock on the door announced the doctor's reappearance. "Kristen? Olivia? You have some...irregular visitors. Shall I have them shown in?"
Olivia craned her neck to whisper in Kristen's ear. "My vagina isn't still showing, is it?"
"Nope," murmured her wife. "You're good."
nough of the crowd at the post-ceremony buffet appreciated Amy's cupcakes that they disappeared within the first hour. Stephen, who had made the icing with minimal supervision, kept an eye on their dwindling ranks with pride.Although in theory temple robes were ascetic, the crowd here was a riot of celebratory color. Amy herself had vanished into its ranks during the dedication, and only reappeared to kiss Stephen and nab Tad before being subsumed once more into discussions with friends and colleagues. Olivia and Kristen, both of whom had gotten white dresses for the occasion, stood out at the center of a constantly whirling rainbow as everyone sought to pay their respects. Stephen tried to keep them in sight, but from a polite distance, which luckily happened to be next to the dessert bar.
Every once in a while he noticed Jon doing the same from behind the casseroles.
Not even a choked wail, loud enough to be heard even in the room's far corners, interrupted most of the conversations. As the baby sniffled and gathered strength for another squall, subtitles appeared over Olivia's head: Someone want to help us out here? Jon? Stephen? Anyone?
Stephen lost track of Jon as they both started foraging through the gathering. When he got to Olivia's side, Jon was already there, using his Knight Voice: "Everything all right?"
"I think so," said Olivia, cradling the flailing Sakura. "This is a thing babies do, right? She needs a nap. Or a new diaper. Or food. One of those." She wrinkled her nose. "I'm guessing the diaper."
The mages, any one of whom could have bested Jon or Stephen in under a minute in a duel, reluctantly bowed out of the way as the two men apologized and excused and pardoned a path all the way to the nearest side exit. The hall outside was empty, dust motes drifting lazily in the slanting columns of light from the rows of arched windows. Closing the doors behind them muted a hundred ongoing discussions, letting the baby's fussing take center stage.
"They won't miss you too much?" said Jon over the noise.
"It stopped being about us a while ago," Kristen assured him. "It's moved on into the gossip-and-catching-up stage. Shh, sweetie, we'll take care of you in a—"
Sakura yowled again. Her golden eyes flared with a brilliant glow, and Olivia yelped. "Ow! Take her, mage-girl, before she blows up on me." (Kristen scooped the baby into her arms.) "Sorry to cut this short, guys. Thanks for the bodyguarding."
"No trouble," said Stephen. Jon nodded. Both watched as the two women whisked their baby girl off down the corridor, until the fussing dwindled into proper silence.
Which left the two men alone together, standing shoulder to shoulder in the light.
It was Jon who spoke first. "It's good to see you," he said softly. "You look well. Interesting choice with the beard."
"I don't think I like it," admitted Stephen. He had been aiming for rugged, but seemed to be perpetually stuck at scruffy.
"Ah. Well, at least now you know."
"You look good," Stephen added, blushing. Jon had shown up in a dress uniform cut to flatter every inch of him, and had left his hair loose so you could see the curl. It didn't tousle quite as nicely as Tad's, but was appealing all the same. "Godfatherhood suits you."
"Sure, you say that now. Wait until you see me covered in spit-up," quipped Jon, then sobered. "That is, if you're around at the time...."
Stephen started. "Didn't anyone tell you?"
"What?"
"We're doing a reprise of the Ring Cycle show," explained Stephen. "Now with extra tumbling. Rehearsals start once Olivia's had a couple weeks to get back on her feet. I'm going to be in Central for...oh, a while. Is that okay? I mean, are you going to be okay with it?"
Jon touched his arm. When Stephen didn't catch his breath or pull away, Jon's hand settled into a sure and steady grip, curving around Stephen's shoulder like it had been molded to be there.
"It's more than okay," he said gently. "Welcome home."
no subject
The most tearjerky TV series of all time has got to be Little House on the Praire. Every single episode is a Very Special Episode about people overcoming hardship or learning special lessons or suffering devestating losses and reaching out to each other.
no subject
Still, this fic justifies your emotional response IMHO. I refused to get upset about them breaking up all the way through because I just knew they'd get back together. They were so perfect! I guess Stephen needed to stand on his own but it would've been nice if Jon could have seen his transformation and been there to help.
P.S. I just got the nerve up to start friending people on live journal this week and basically just came out of lurker status this year. So I hope you don't mind that I friended you:)