Canon Tribute!
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, Spans the entire current timeline
Challenges: Pineapple 5 (can you hear me now?) & FOTD: leitmotif (A dominant and recurring theme.)
Toppings & Extras: Butterscotch (first few), Whipped Cream (next few), Caramel (last few), Malt (Trick or Treat: If you must break the law, do it to seize power), Sprinkles (a bunch of these are Sprinkle character POVs), Hot Fudge (five of them), Cookie Crumbs ( The beginning and Kira and Bri), Pocky Chain
Word Count: 2000
Rating: PG
Summary: It starts like this.
Notes: My Tribute to my canon! 20 of the most significant meetings in the canon (at least as far as my current ideas go :P). Includes just about my entire important cast at least once. Spans from super Butterscotch to superCaramel. Written so it goes chronologically.
“And who is this?” Holden peered down at the small boy, still just a toddler, who his second-in-command held by the shoulder.
“This is Sekinco. I scooped him up up in Northwind,” Mitch said. “Say hi to your new master, Sek.”
The boy swallowed hard, but lifted his chin. Holden was amused to see a fire burning bright in his eyes. He would snuff that out in a matter of weeks. “Hello,” Sek said and the amount of defiance in that one single word surprised Holden, especially coming from such a small scrap of humanity.
This could turn out fun.
**
He crouched down next to the girl, automatically reaching out and checking for a pulse. He was fairly certain she was a few years younger than him, from the few glimpses he’d caught in the past, but right then it was hard to tell around the blood.
Damien jumped in surprise as the girl’s hand closed around his wrist. “’m fine,” she murmured. “Carris’ll-”
“Screw Carris,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
Alex studied him, eyes a stark white in her red stained face. “Just stay here? Until I can get up?”
He smiled “You’ve got a deal.”
**
Kenz glanced back at her classmates and then calmly walked through the gate and over to the boy. “Hi, I am Kenz and I am ten,” she said, sticking out her hand like her parents always taught her.
He stared at it for a moment before taking it cautiously. “’m Resh. ‘m eleven an’ I’m not a street rat.”
“I know. My classmates do not know what they are talking about. Do you want to walk me home today? Instead of watching me?”
Resh flushed.
“I would like for you to walk with me.”
He eyed her. “Okay, I will.”
**
Edward had avoided his wife for the first week after she gave birth to the bastard. The midwife had reported that the birth had been without complications and that both mother and son were in good health. Edward had told her without missing a beat that the infant should have done everyone a favor and died.
He now stared down at the small boy, lying in the basket beside Lily’s bed. “What did you name him?”
“Sorin.”
“Sorin,” he repeated, lip curling with distaste. He would keep the child, because he had to. “Are you sure I can’t drown him?”
**
“Beau, sweetheart, this is Mick.”
The three-year-old eyed the older boy. He had seen him around camp, but had always spent the majority of time with his mother. “Hi, Mick,” he said, because it was expected of him.
“Hello, your Highness,” Mick said politely, but eyed him right back.
“Mick is your companion, honey. You’re going to grow up together and when you both get older, he’ll be your bodyguard instead of Dobson.”
“Can I make him do things?”
Mick scowled. “Not ‘less I have to protect you.”
“That’s no fun!”
“It’s not supposed to be fun!”
Beau just grinned.
**
Russell bounced at his mom’s side. “Can I go play, Mommy? Please, please?”
“Yes, but you be careful. Any sign of the fog and you come right back to my side, understand?”
Russell, all of three and very proud to be independent, bounded towards the other kids. They were all encircled around one boy, maybe two years Russ’s elder. He shimmied through a gap and stopped dead, staring.
The butterfly was a pathetic thing, even to a toddler, missing one wing but trying valiantly to escape its tormentor.
“Who’s that?” he asked an older boy.
“Chris. He’s new in town.”
**
Benton was not easily surprised, but when his father marched into his room, dragging some green-looking recruit by the ear, he had to admit, it was a first. Duke Richard Walters thrust the unfortunate soldier forward. “This is Colin. Colin’s new job is to keep you safe. If he doesn’t, I will personally ensure that he dies slowly and painfully.”
“Father, I don’t need a bodyguard,” Ben protested.
“No, but you do need him, so deal with it.”
Colin rubbed his ear as the duke left. “Does that mean I should call you Ben, Benny or sir?”
Ben just stared.
**
“Welcome back.”
She turned at the unfamiliar voice and met bright blue eyes.
“Are you feeling better?”
She weighed that and decided she must be. “Yes, sir, I am.”
He said something else, but she did not really pay attention until he asked her to sit up, which she did, but only with help from him. He wrapped her fingers around a cup of water.
“Where am I?” she asked.
“There will be plenty of time for that later. I have to get back to work, but if you need anything, just yell, all right? I’m Beau.”
“My name’s Jasmine.”
**
Rylia could not seem to help herself, following Jez around camp at a distance, awed by the older woman - for her ability to survive and adapt, despite obviously being from wealth.
Of course Iris would come stampeding after her, but Jez thought quickly and managed to hide Rylia behind a pile of boxes, even if it was the dustiest corner in the entire camp. She knew the game was up when she could no longer hold back the sneeze, but then a new woman stepped out of the shadows of the storage room, claiming responsibility.
It was instant best friends.
**
Ren did not know what to think when the small red-haired ball of energy exploded into his room. He was still adjusting to even being in a room and not a cell and he certainly had not been expecting any visitors.
“Hi, Renny!”
He stared.
“I don’t know if you remember me. We met at one of your balls and I was with Sorin, but it was a while ago and there were lots of people there for you to meet.”
Ren was not even sure he could compute.
She beamed. “I’m Anica! But call me Ani, because Sorin does.”
**
The moment Bri caught sight of her, even in the dim light and with only one eye, he knew. “Hey, gorgeous,” he called, annoyed when his voice wavered.
It got her attention, though. “Can I get you something?”
“Water?” he asked, smiling. It was weak, he knew it was, but anything more made his face hurt worse.
He got one in return. “Of course. I’ll be right back and then I’ll take a look at your injury, okay?” she said.
“Makin’ me even more ruggedly handsome.” He managed to wink with his good eye.
When she laughed, he was certain.
**
“Look sharp,” Ry called, “if any of you come at me or follow my orders too slow, this one gets his throat slit, understand? You, put your hands on your head.”
McRuoes did as ordered silently, moving towards her friends as she jiggled her sword, coming dangerously close to his throat.
“Tell one of the guards to free the shorter woman.”
He looked confused. “Just her?”
“Don’t argue with me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he muttered, doing as told, and she had to grin.
“Not exactly a ma’am, which must make this embarrassing as hell.”
“There’s no need to rub it in!”
**
“Move back,” the guard ordered and David pressed himself against Stella’s front, feeling reassured as she wrapped her arms around him.
A moment later, a man and a woman, about Stella’s age he thought, were shoved roughly into the cell. He couldn’t help relaxing.
“Got you,” the man told the woman. “That wasn’t very nice,” he added to the guards with a glare. Dave’s eyes widened, wishing he was that brave.
“Welcome to prison, stupid,” the guard said with a laugh.
“Are you…okay?” Stella asked, startling him. It startled the pair too, Dave could tell.
“Yes, we’re just fine, thanks.”
**
Beau, fully relieved to see his friends all in one piece, grabbed Jez by the wrist, pulling her forward and kissing her firmly. She let him for a second before pulling back. “Beau,” she said, stepping aside. His gaze almost instantly settled on the man standing opposite his friends. They had never met, but it didn’t matter.
“Hi, Renier.”
“Hello, Beau. It’s, um, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Beau said, surprised that it did not feel more awkward to meet his brother for the first time as adults. “You okay?”
“Yes, thanks. Please, call me Ren.”
“Okay, Ren,” he tried.
**
“Finally decided to rejoin the land of the living?” The voice was strangely familiar to Sorin as he blinked rapidly to clear his vision and focus on the ceiling above him.
“What?” he managed, trying to understand what was going on. Was he not dead?
“Do you think you could drink some water? It’s been hell trying to force liquids in you,” the man said. The voice clicked. He had heard it through the course of his life replaying for him, which meant he had to be dead.
“Who are you?” He squinted up at the man.
“My name’s Russ.”
**
Colin leaned against the doorjamb, watching the new recruits work at the problem Steve had given them.
One of them, a surprisingly young looking red-head bounced over to Steve within five minutes. When Steve nodded approvingly, Colin straightened, drawing the red-head’s gaze.
“Colin, this is Morgan Campbell. She shows a bit of promise.”
Colin sized her up, a bit amazed to find she had the gall to do the same. “Only a bit?”
“Steve knows it’s more than that,” she said easily, but without an annoying amount of confidence, just stating a fact.
He grinned. “Sounds like Steve. Welcome, kid!”
**
Tourn entered the room after a brief knock, dragging a young girl by the collar. “Boss, caught this girl snooping around the compound. When I questioned her, she claimed she’s your daughter.” He thrust her forward into Vlad’s line of sight.
The girl straightened, boldly looking him in the eye, although he could tell that action took a lot out of her.
He met her gaze briefly and then looked her over. “What’s your name?”
“Sage. Sage Opalin,” she said defiantly.
Tourn cuffed her across the side of the head. “No lies.”
“No lies,” Vlad said in certainty, “she’s mine.”
**
“You know, I remember this place being quiet, but not quite this quiet.”
The new voice spooked her and Morgan jumped violently, pulling her sword as she turned.
The young man from the road quickly held up his hands. “Please don’t kill me?”
“Oh. It’s you,” she said.
“I suppose it is,” he said. “Honestly, could you not point your sword at me?”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Malcolm Rees. My family lives on the outskirts of town. And you’re the Campbell girl, aren’t you? M-something.”
“Morgan,” she said and she lowered her sword, somehow instinctively feeling she could trust him.
**
Dean slowed. There was a girl, about his own age, sitting in what he had long come to consider his spot. He edged towards her, noticing she was drawing something and drawn through curiosity.
The girl looked up, favoring him with a sunny smile. “Can I help you?” she asked.
Dean jumped. “No! Sorry, I was just curious about what you were drawing. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” She squinted up at him. “Oh! I know you.”
“You do?” Dean asked, taken aback by her matter-of-fact tone.
That smile was back, drawing him in freshly despite himself.
**
William Darcy was only twelve when she first came face to face with him. She had known the children existed, but had never seen the potential until that moment.
He glared at her, flanked by the two others close to his age. “You’re not going to get away with this.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure, little Darcy. I’ve been getting away with it for three years already and I don’t see things changing anytime soon.”
Later, Leigh will look back at that meeting and wonder if she was doomed that early. She is fairly certain the answer is absolutely yes.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, Spans the entire current timeline
Challenges: Pineapple 5 (can you hear me now?) & FOTD: leitmotif (A dominant and recurring theme.)
Toppings & Extras: Butterscotch (first few), Whipped Cream (next few), Caramel (last few), Malt (Trick or Treat: If you must break the law, do it to seize power), Sprinkles (a bunch of these are Sprinkle character POVs), Hot Fudge (five of them), Cookie Crumbs ( The beginning and Kira and Bri), Pocky Chain
Word Count: 2000
Rating: PG
Summary: It starts like this.
Notes: My Tribute to my canon! 20 of the most significant meetings in the canon (at least as far as my current ideas go :P). Includes just about my entire important cast at least once. Spans from super Butterscotch to superCaramel. Written so it goes chronologically.
“And who is this?” Holden peered down at the small boy, still just a toddler, who his second-in-command held by the shoulder.
“This is Sekinco. I scooped him up up in Northwind,” Mitch said. “Say hi to your new master, Sek.”
The boy swallowed hard, but lifted his chin. Holden was amused to see a fire burning bright in his eyes. He would snuff that out in a matter of weeks. “Hello,” Sek said and the amount of defiance in that one single word surprised Holden, especially coming from such a small scrap of humanity.
This could turn out fun.
**
He crouched down next to the girl, automatically reaching out and checking for a pulse. He was fairly certain she was a few years younger than him, from the few glimpses he’d caught in the past, but right then it was hard to tell around the blood.
Damien jumped in surprise as the girl’s hand closed around his wrist. “’m fine,” she murmured. “Carris’ll-”
“Screw Carris,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
Alex studied him, eyes a stark white in her red stained face. “Just stay here? Until I can get up?”
He smiled “You’ve got a deal.”
**
Kenz glanced back at her classmates and then calmly walked through the gate and over to the boy. “Hi, I am Kenz and I am ten,” she said, sticking out her hand like her parents always taught her.
He stared at it for a moment before taking it cautiously. “’m Resh. ‘m eleven an’ I’m not a street rat.”
“I know. My classmates do not know what they are talking about. Do you want to walk me home today? Instead of watching me?”
Resh flushed.
“I would like for you to walk with me.”
He eyed her. “Okay, I will.”
**
Edward had avoided his wife for the first week after she gave birth to the bastard. The midwife had reported that the birth had been without complications and that both mother and son were in good health. Edward had told her without missing a beat that the infant should have done everyone a favor and died.
He now stared down at the small boy, lying in the basket beside Lily’s bed. “What did you name him?”
“Sorin.”
“Sorin,” he repeated, lip curling with distaste. He would keep the child, because he had to. “Are you sure I can’t drown him?”
**
“Beau, sweetheart, this is Mick.”
The three-year-old eyed the older boy. He had seen him around camp, but had always spent the majority of time with his mother. “Hi, Mick,” he said, because it was expected of him.
“Hello, your Highness,” Mick said politely, but eyed him right back.
“Mick is your companion, honey. You’re going to grow up together and when you both get older, he’ll be your bodyguard instead of Dobson.”
“Can I make him do things?”
Mick scowled. “Not ‘less I have to protect you.”
“That’s no fun!”
“It’s not supposed to be fun!”
Beau just grinned.
**
Russell bounced at his mom’s side. “Can I go play, Mommy? Please, please?”
“Yes, but you be careful. Any sign of the fog and you come right back to my side, understand?”
Russell, all of three and very proud to be independent, bounded towards the other kids. They were all encircled around one boy, maybe two years Russ’s elder. He shimmied through a gap and stopped dead, staring.
The butterfly was a pathetic thing, even to a toddler, missing one wing but trying valiantly to escape its tormentor.
“Who’s that?” he asked an older boy.
“Chris. He’s new in town.”
**
Benton was not easily surprised, but when his father marched into his room, dragging some green-looking recruit by the ear, he had to admit, it was a first. Duke Richard Walters thrust the unfortunate soldier forward. “This is Colin. Colin’s new job is to keep you safe. If he doesn’t, I will personally ensure that he dies slowly and painfully.”
“Father, I don’t need a bodyguard,” Ben protested.
“No, but you do need him, so deal with it.”
Colin rubbed his ear as the duke left. “Does that mean I should call you Ben, Benny or sir?”
Ben just stared.
**
“Welcome back.”
She turned at the unfamiliar voice and met bright blue eyes.
“Are you feeling better?”
She weighed that and decided she must be. “Yes, sir, I am.”
He said something else, but she did not really pay attention until he asked her to sit up, which she did, but only with help from him. He wrapped her fingers around a cup of water.
“Where am I?” she asked.
“There will be plenty of time for that later. I have to get back to work, but if you need anything, just yell, all right? I’m Beau.”
“My name’s Jasmine.”
**
Rylia could not seem to help herself, following Jez around camp at a distance, awed by the older woman - for her ability to survive and adapt, despite obviously being from wealth.
Of course Iris would come stampeding after her, but Jez thought quickly and managed to hide Rylia behind a pile of boxes, even if it was the dustiest corner in the entire camp. She knew the game was up when she could no longer hold back the sneeze, but then a new woman stepped out of the shadows of the storage room, claiming responsibility.
It was instant best friends.
**
Ren did not know what to think when the small red-haired ball of energy exploded into his room. He was still adjusting to even being in a room and not a cell and he certainly had not been expecting any visitors.
“Hi, Renny!”
He stared.
“I don’t know if you remember me. We met at one of your balls and I was with Sorin, but it was a while ago and there were lots of people there for you to meet.”
Ren was not even sure he could compute.
She beamed. “I’m Anica! But call me Ani, because Sorin does.”
**
The moment Bri caught sight of her, even in the dim light and with only one eye, he knew. “Hey, gorgeous,” he called, annoyed when his voice wavered.
It got her attention, though. “Can I get you something?”
“Water?” he asked, smiling. It was weak, he knew it was, but anything more made his face hurt worse.
He got one in return. “Of course. I’ll be right back and then I’ll take a look at your injury, okay?” she said.
“Makin’ me even more ruggedly handsome.” He managed to wink with his good eye.
When she laughed, he was certain.
**
“Look sharp,” Ry called, “if any of you come at me or follow my orders too slow, this one gets his throat slit, understand? You, put your hands on your head.”
McRuoes did as ordered silently, moving towards her friends as she jiggled her sword, coming dangerously close to his throat.
“Tell one of the guards to free the shorter woman.”
He looked confused. “Just her?”
“Don’t argue with me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he muttered, doing as told, and she had to grin.
“Not exactly a ma’am, which must make this embarrassing as hell.”
“There’s no need to rub it in!”
**
“Move back,” the guard ordered and David pressed himself against Stella’s front, feeling reassured as she wrapped her arms around him.
A moment later, a man and a woman, about Stella’s age he thought, were shoved roughly into the cell. He couldn’t help relaxing.
“Got you,” the man told the woman. “That wasn’t very nice,” he added to the guards with a glare. Dave’s eyes widened, wishing he was that brave.
“Welcome to prison, stupid,” the guard said with a laugh.
“Are you…okay?” Stella asked, startling him. It startled the pair too, Dave could tell.
“Yes, we’re just fine, thanks.”
**
Beau, fully relieved to see his friends all in one piece, grabbed Jez by the wrist, pulling her forward and kissing her firmly. She let him for a second before pulling back. “Beau,” she said, stepping aside. His gaze almost instantly settled on the man standing opposite his friends. They had never met, but it didn’t matter.
“Hi, Renier.”
“Hello, Beau. It’s, um, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Beau said, surprised that it did not feel more awkward to meet his brother for the first time as adults. “You okay?”
“Yes, thanks. Please, call me Ren.”
“Okay, Ren,” he tried.
**
“Finally decided to rejoin the land of the living?” The voice was strangely familiar to Sorin as he blinked rapidly to clear his vision and focus on the ceiling above him.
“What?” he managed, trying to understand what was going on. Was he not dead?
“Do you think you could drink some water? It’s been hell trying to force liquids in you,” the man said. The voice clicked. He had heard it through the course of his life replaying for him, which meant he had to be dead.
“Who are you?” He squinted up at the man.
“My name’s Russ.”
**
Colin leaned against the doorjamb, watching the new recruits work at the problem Steve had given them.
One of them, a surprisingly young looking red-head bounced over to Steve within five minutes. When Steve nodded approvingly, Colin straightened, drawing the red-head’s gaze.
“Colin, this is Morgan Campbell. She shows a bit of promise.”
Colin sized her up, a bit amazed to find she had the gall to do the same. “Only a bit?”
“Steve knows it’s more than that,” she said easily, but without an annoying amount of confidence, just stating a fact.
He grinned. “Sounds like Steve. Welcome, kid!”
**
Tourn entered the room after a brief knock, dragging a young girl by the collar. “Boss, caught this girl snooping around the compound. When I questioned her, she claimed she’s your daughter.” He thrust her forward into Vlad’s line of sight.
The girl straightened, boldly looking him in the eye, although he could tell that action took a lot out of her.
He met her gaze briefly and then looked her over. “What’s your name?”
“Sage. Sage Opalin,” she said defiantly.
Tourn cuffed her across the side of the head. “No lies.”
“No lies,” Vlad said in certainty, “she’s mine.”
**
“You know, I remember this place being quiet, but not quite this quiet.”
The new voice spooked her and Morgan jumped violently, pulling her sword as she turned.
The young man from the road quickly held up his hands. “Please don’t kill me?”
“Oh. It’s you,” she said.
“I suppose it is,” he said. “Honestly, could you not point your sword at me?”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Malcolm Rees. My family lives on the outskirts of town. And you’re the Campbell girl, aren’t you? M-something.”
“Morgan,” she said and she lowered her sword, somehow instinctively feeling she could trust him.
**
Dean slowed. There was a girl, about his own age, sitting in what he had long come to consider his spot. He edged towards her, noticing she was drawing something and drawn through curiosity.
The girl looked up, favoring him with a sunny smile. “Can I help you?” she asked.
Dean jumped. “No! Sorry, I was just curious about what you were drawing. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” She squinted up at him. “Oh! I know you.”
“You do?” Dean asked, taken aback by her matter-of-fact tone.
That smile was back, drawing him in freshly despite himself.
**
William Darcy was only twelve when she first came face to face with him. She had known the children existed, but had never seen the potential until that moment.
He glared at her, flanked by the two others close to his age. “You’re not going to get away with this.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure, little Darcy. I’ve been getting away with it for three years already and I don’t see things changing anytime soon.”
Later, Leigh will look back at that meeting and wonder if she was doomed that early. She is fairly certain the answer is absolutely yes.