Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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In hindsight, Vanden should have checked the caller ID before answering the incoming video call on Cassian’s phone.
He’d been laying in bed, waiting for Cassian to finish his morning shower, when the familiar ringtone came from his side of the bed. Expecting Sariel or perhaps Elyse to be on the other line, Vanden thought little of his state of undress and soft bruises peppering his neck and chest as he swiped to answer.
He had not been prepared for a dark-skinned elven woman with familiar golden eyes to be staring back at him from the screen. “You must be Vanden.”Series
- Part 1 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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She thinks she should be used to them by now, the nightmares. Should be used to waking up in a cold sweat, heart pounding in her chest as her mind screams at her to run without remembering what she’s supposed to be running from in the first place.
But she isn’t.Series
- Part 2 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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Soulmates.
One’s other half, a person who was meant for you to walk with you for as long as you both were on the same plane, and in some notable cases, stayed with each other even after death divided them. It was a blessing that everyone was born with a soul mark, a way to know that you’d found that person. It was a curse that the words that made up one’s mark were the last words you’d hear that person say.Series
- Part 3 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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Today was hands down the best day of Verdant Astra’s life. He’d been walking back to the apartment he shared with Vanden when he’d heard the small whimpering bark of a puppy in the alleyway behind the coffee shop he worked at. It had only taken a handful of minutes searching, and several more of calling and bribing with leftover bites of Astra’s lunch before a very dirty, very hungry puppy had found its way into Astra’s lap.
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- Part 4 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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“Aerenthias, I love you with all of my being, but you can pry these car keys from my cold dead fingers.”
From the bedroom, Sariel could hear Astra choke on a laugh, the tiefling appearing a moment later. “Is he trying to drive again?” Joining his partners, Astra wrapped his arms around Aerenthias’ waist, resting his chin on his shoulder with a light squeeze. “You know that you’re not allowed to drive, Love. Why even try?”
Aerenthias scoffed, his amused gaze dancing between Sariel in front of him and Astra behind, “It’s a matter of principal! My honor is at stake, here!”Series
- Part 5 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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“Vanden!”
A woman’s scream pierced through his ears, calling his name. Groaning, Vanden forced his eyes open. That voice... Groaning as the world spun around him, Vanden forced himself upright. He could hear the distant clatter of weapons, the screams of the dying, someone calling his name. Mother... “Mother!”Series
- Part 6 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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Vanden sighed, checking his watch for what was apparently the third time in ten minutes. Leaning back in his seat he brought a hand to his tie, loosening the fabric as subtly as possible. His skin was prickling, hypersensitive and uncomfortably damp, and the feeling had only worsened as the day progressed.
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- Part 7 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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Cassian was going to outlive the vast majority of the party. This was a well-established fact, and one that Cassian seemed to enjoy reminding the group, especially their resident fighter, quite frequently. It was said, and teased, and retorted against so often, that despite the dangers the party so often faced, Vanden never doubted the veracity of it.
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- Part 8 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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If he had had a say, if it had been an option, he thinks Cassian would have wanted to be laid to rest in the ocean. The thought of the surf drawing him into itself, like a mother enveloping her child in her warm embrace, felt right to him somehow. But there was no ocean. They were no more than two miles from Shadebourne, no tide to lead the ocean’s child to his final rest, no returning of his power to its origin.
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- Part 9 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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Vanden du Argenfort, though he would never admit it, was thrilled the first time a new crew member bumped into him on his ship. A clap on the back led to long moments of held breath until he could slip away to check the splotch, though it resolutely remained black.
He was not Vanden du Argenfort any more, though. Staring into the campfire during his watch, he practiced his new name, whispering it under his breath as it echoed in his mind. Renard, Renard, Renard...Renard de la Mer did not waste time worrying about his soulmate, actively avoiding touch entirely. Renard de la Mer had much more important things on his mind: the Weeping Eye, completing this job for the cartographers’ guild, keeping his true name hidden from his traveling companions. Standing with a sigh, Renard shook his head, pushing all thoughts of Vanden aside before making his walk around the camp perimeter.Series
- Part 10 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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Growing up the child of soulmates, Cassian had waited eagerly for his own. When he was a younger man, he would look over his hands and arms, watching for a sign of his soulmate to appear on his skin. Decades of waiting turned into a hundred, and Cassian began to close off from the world, cruel humor wrapped around himself like armor. By the time one century had turned into two, he hadn’t thought of having a soulmate at all in decades, covering his face and arms with carefully designed henna to fill the space where the soulmate he was missing would have left him messages. At age 208, Cassian finds in a child’s handwriting “Hello,” written across his forearm, and he forgets how to breathe.
Prince Vanden du Argentfort had always been painted. Since infancy, his face and arms had been covered in delicate lines and swirls in a soft brown. He was taught from a young age what the lines meant: that somewhere in the world his soulmate was painting their own skin, and he would wear the designs for as long as they decided to have them.
Series
- Part 11 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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A soft mumbling drew Cassian’s attention away from the blouse in his lap and towards the bed. Leaning over to next to Vanden’s bed, he hit the call button before settling back in his seat, carefully watching as Vanden finally stirred. It wasn’t long until the tech was back in the room, bearing a small cup of water and speaking softly with the still-groggy ginger.
“...Can I ask you a question?” Vanden mumbled, staring at the young woman while he waited for an answer.
“Of course, your highness.”
Vanden’s eyes slid to where Cassian still sat, watching the scene in amusement, as his voice dropped to a stage whisper, “Why is there such a pretty man in my room?”Series
- Part 12 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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The Ways you said hello:
1. As a hello 2. With a hoarse voice, under the blankets 3. A scream 4. On a sunny afternoon, the late sunlight glowing in your hair 5. As a thank you 6. As an apology 7. In a letter 8. A whisper in the ear 9. Loud, so everyone can hear 10. Over and over again, till it's nothing but a senseless babble 11. As a reminder 12. When we lay together on the fresh spring grassSeries
- Part 13 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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The conversations were exhausting, words quiet and voices choked more often than not. In the end, though, they knew. They knew how each of the party wanted to be honored, remembered, should the worst come to pass. There was a comfort, in knowing what to do; there was a joy in never having to.
They lived to tell tales of their adventures, to see goals achieved and families united. Over the years, they watched as their lives began to branch off onto different paths once more: some marrying off, starting their next adventure in hand with another; others continuing their adventures on their own, only returning for reunions and large events over the years.
It shouldn’t have been as much of a shock as it was when the letters arrived, decades after their adventures had ended, when the first of their family passed on, but it was.Series
- Part 14 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics
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"...But most importantly, I swear that I will stay beside you till my dying day. From this day forward, Cassian, you will never walk alone."
"I promise to stand by your side through bright times and dark, to take you by the hand when you need to be held steady...from this day forward, Vanden, you will never walk alone."
Series
- Part 15 of Life of the Party Ficlets and Fics