A Multitude of Miracles

The grotto is enchanting.

Every time Samuel’s eyes move around while walking through it, he swears they catch on a new wonder. Each item seems to gleam with promise. Gears click, a slight buzz coming off others, both melding with the sound of Samuel's steps—it all creates a melody of its own, weaving its way through the grotto. Some he can decipher what the purpose may be, but there are plenty where he has absolutely no clue. How much of that is because of how much time has passed, and how much is because science has only ever been something he's listened to, never pursued on his own? He's unsure.

Still, there is a strange, undeniable beauty to them. They look carefully constructed—however they have been built, there is no doubt in Samuel's mind that it took time, love, and precision to make them whatever they are.

It can't be anything but.

He won't deny that they thrill him—masterpieces, all.

OR

Well, we all know Dakkar caught up on Margaret’s adventures, we all know exactly who told them to him--so what did that look like? I have ideas.

Notes:

Is this ship kind of just me throwing some of my blorbos at each other? Well, yes, but actually no. I do really think they could have worked--I’ve been in this building since January. (It’s a little funny it happened just before my birthday, me beginning to think about them. I said I didn't ship them ages ago - turns out I am actually a liar.) This is kind of one of my pitches for them, to see if other people are interested.

Also, I’ve had this idea since late July and wanted to finish it really badly. (Started thinking about it in the middle of a softball game. ....I did not focus on the softball game that much afterwards.)

So, here we are! I hope it's an interesting missing scene. (It got a little classic-lit like with how long some of the paragraphs talking about inventions were. Thanks to Milo for first making something that would show me inventions from 20K Leagues I could use, even though I took long enough making this fic that I ended up reading it myself!)

Betaed by Jack! You all should thank him for it, this fic would not be nearly as good as it turned out without his input.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

The grotto is enchanting.

Every time Samuel’s eyes move around while walking through it, he swears they catch on a new wonder. Each item seems to gleam with promise. Gears click, a slight buzz coming off others, both melding with the sound of Samuel's steps—it all creates a melody of its own, weaving its way through the grotto. Some he can decipher what the purpose may be, but there are plenty where he has absolutely no clue. How much of that is because of how much time has passed, and how much is because science has only ever been something he's listened to, never pursued on his own? He's unsure.

Still, there is a strange, undeniable beauty to them. They look carefully constructed—however they have been built, there is no doubt in Samuel's mind that it took time, love, and precision to make them, whatever they are.

It can't be anything but.

He won't deny that they thrill him—masterpieces, all.

As he explores, he finds there is one constant throughout the grotto. The sea ebbs and flows through each room, warm air seeming to drift alongside it, welcomed in. The water touches nothing it would break, as far as he can tell, but the waves still make their home in this corner of Lincoln. The salty tinge of it is comforting. It sends him back to his best experiences sailing—both when he was a child, not even a decade old, and of those two weeks traveling to British Guiana. It calls to mind that feeling of adventure, the beat of his heart steadily building, living free.

A smile falls onto his face, small yet delighted.

How could he do anything but, looking at such splendor?

It doesn’t really stop the anxiety digging its way into him, as much as he would like it to. But the awe does not fade, either. The more he wanders, the more it grows. He can focus on that, at least, rather than Addison's words in his mind, out-and-out telling him what might await them at the Gates, whatever they may be. He's a little unsure about exactly what they are even now. He hasn't been able to rid his own response from his mind, either.

...So, we only have one shot at this.

It's a little nerve-wracking.

…More than a little, frankly.

Still, he keeps walking. He's always had trouble when it comes to getting lost in his own head, unsure of what to do next. That hasn't changed, for he can't completely quell his thoughts even now. There's not much he can do now, though. Perhaps this will work as a stop-gap, walking through this grotto, allowing his mind to puzzle through what these objects might be as an alternative to spinning uselessly in anxiety. He doesn't know what else to do but wander, so wander he will. It is certainly far from a terrible place to spend time. Wonder after wonder surrounds him, after all, ones he longs to capture in prose with his pencil.

His eyes catch on something—by orders of magnitude, it seems greater than any other invention he has seen yet. Curiosity sparks in his chest, and he abruptly comes to a halt.

It's only more fascinating the closer he looks.

Whatever it is, it's held in a tall glass case, stood up like dresses in the shops Samuel used to pass on his way to the Sun. Some kind of thick canvas seems to make up most of the suit, covering the entire body of whoever would step into this strange invention, save for the hands. It stands in a pair of sturdy boots that look like they would leave footprints forever marking where they struck. Crowning it all is a helmet, rounded and made of brass, welded tightly shut and burnished. A glass circle is at the front of that helmet, what Samuel assumes must allow for sight. There are tubes running just through its arms, skillfully weaved in some form of storage, and a large, strange metal contraption strapped to its back.

"What are you meant for?" He muses to himself, tapping his pencil to his journal in thought, squinting his eyes at the sight before him. It's certainly some form of protection, he can make out that much. But he can't figure out what it's protecting against—is it meant for battle? Samuel's no soldier, but it looks far too clunky for that to be the case. And what’s that strapped to its back…?

"It's a diving suit."

Samuel jerks up to attention, head whipping around to find the owner of the low voice speaking behind him.

"Sorry, what?"

His voice rises a little higher—part-question, part-surprise. He winces a little at it. To be fair, he really hadn't known anyone was there at all. He had hardly been expecting it. Rose is off with John on another level, finally—honestly, it took them long enough. He'd seen Sia pull Margaret to learn more about the world she still doesn't fully remember, hearing her speak about about training in these magic ways. He doesn't exactly know enough about the Travellers to know where they would be.

Samuel blinks as he tries to place the voice. Just as he makes the connection, its owner steps into view. Samuel recognizes his face from the beach, but he'll admit he doesn't know much about him yet.

It's Dakkar—the man who offered Samuel a brand-new notebook at the corral, dark blue and gilded, who was one of the ones who explained the Ways with such excitement to Margaret. Behind him, Samuel spots a desk covered in gears and other bits and bobs he doesn't know the names of. That contraption he had scanned them all with is laying off to the side of his current project. Dakkar strides over to stand besides Samuel, now staring up at what's before them. They're inches apart, if that. There's a grace to his movements, a keen intelligence in the way he stares at the suit.

Then Dakkar's gaze falls upon him, and he raises an eyebrow.

"You want to know what it is, yes?"

Samuel nods. It doesn't even feel like a conscious decision.

Dakkar hums, and focuses once more on the creation before them. "It's a diving suit. It's meant to let a person walk beneath the waves, to allow for ocean exploration with no fear of drowning." He raises a hand, pointing at the strange contraption. "See that tank on its back? With the way it attaches to the suit, air will still flow freely wherever it is needed, stored under a pressure of fifty atmospheres. It was certainly one of my trickier projects, but I can't say I'm displeased with the results. It took years to come to proper fruition, but the tests I've run have come back with mostly positive results." Dakkar pauses, and a slight wince crosses his face. "Though…there was that one close call with Addison. But that was early on, and the flaws in that version have been corrected."

Samuel's smile brightens, drawing itself further across his face at the implications of those answers. "That's fascinating," he breathes, unable to stop himself. "How deep does it let you go? How does it hold up against the grasp of the sea? How long does the air supply last?"

"It allows you to go right to the bottom of the ocean from Lincoln, designed to resist the pressures of the deep sea." Dakkar states assuredly. "I admit I have not had the chance to test it at the deepest pressures, so I cannot speak to how well it would hold up for those. That said, its latest iterations have had nothing but success in what I designed them for. The tank can hold up to ten hours of air, though I have never remained underwater for the full duration of that time. Best not to risk it."

Samuel recognizes the focus in Dakkar's gaze. It is not the first time he's seen it—from Anna staring at the Sagitta before its launch, from Rose and him looking down at the very first finished draft of Great Astronomical Discoveries, Part One. It is the gaze of creation, what only comes from looking at what you have brought into this world with determination and drive.

"That sounds wonderful," Samuel says, awe sweeping through him even more so. His voice turns a little dreamy as he continues. "I've been to space, been lucky enough to see its wonders up close, but this is a way to explore the other side of what is uncharted—for hours on end!" Is the ocean not as unknown, holding as much beauty as what is between and beyond the stars and galaxies above? Samuel is sure of that—what adventures must it hold? His imagination runs at breakneck speeds at the thought, spinning out into countless possibilities. "It must be stunning to get to see a world that's so rarely been viewed by human eyes, to be able to find the words to describe the inky depths all around." He swears he can feel the call of adventure merely thinking about the possibilities, thrilling him further.

"…It was," Dakkar replies. "I suppose this one was slightly more of a passion project than many of my designs, less for defense and protection—but the work I put into it made something I am still quite proud of. Getting to see beneath those waves for the first time…" He trails off, lost in memory for a moment. A fondness fills his eyes, warm and true. "That truly made it all worth it."

Dakkar's…arresting like this. He holds himself high, spine straight and hands folded neatly behind his back. His long hair, as dark as fine ink, spills down his back in waves as rippling as those that crash along Lincoln's shores. It shifts and sways, in tune with his movement. His eyes, while still affixed on the suit, are as deep and vast as the depths below, the knowledge within them shining like a guiding light.

He reminds Samuel of the ocean itself, in all honesty—perhaps that body is on the mind due to the waves that lap in the grotto, but he still feels it rings true. Just as unknown, yet just as fascinating. The way he speaks of these inventions is enrapturing—Samuel wants to know more, to jot down everything the other man is telling him. There is a serious air to him, solemn and elegant, but a half-smile plays on his lips as he speaks. He is explaining his invention with such easy confidence, clear he knows it like the back of his hand.

It's impossible to look away from him. Samuel's not sure he could if he tried.

So, he doesn't. "You said many," he says instead. "Are these all your inventions, then?" How much time has Dakkar spent creating them? That is impressive enough on its own, even without any of the knowledge of what they are meant for.

"They are." There is a subtle pride practically radiating off of Dakkar as he says it. Samuel can't say it's undeserved, especially not when there is so much evidence to the contrary.

"You must spend a lot of time in here, then!" Samuel exclaims. "I can hardly imagine that all of these brilliant creations"—he gestures a hand about, gesturing out to the multitude of miracles all around—"could take anything less than a deep dedication to create." He laughs. "I don't even know what half of them are meant to do! I've got more than a couple of guesses, but that's not quite the same thing as knowing."

"I have spent countless hours in this grotto, I'll admit. Invention has long been a passion of mine, since I was very young. If there is time to fill between my other duties, I usually end up finding my way here." Dakkar's gaze sweeps over his grotto, that confidence still gleaming in his eyes. If anything, it looks as if said confidence increases, finding comfort in the marks he has left upon the world. "It took time to construct, and to become what it is today. All of Lincoln did, of course, but of the entire island…this is the part I can truly call my own."

Building a world of your own, a place to return to… Samuel understands that. It makes him think of the Discoveries. Even if his and Rose's stories weren't physical like this, they were somewhere he could find peace and solace: a constant in a changing world.

It seems this grotto is Dakkar's constant.

"It's a stunning place you've built," Samuel compliments. He’s not sure why saying that makes him feel breathless—it's just the truth, a simple observation. "There seems to be a new wonder upon each shelf everywhere I turn. I could spend hours in here, trying to find the right words to describe it all. There seems to be so much to write about on this island—I'm glad I've gotten another notebook." He'll certainly have enough to fill its pages with! His hand itches to open it up and begin writing. There's so much more he wants to ask about this world of magic and mechanics, the sublime symmetry before him. "Thank you again for letting me take one from the corral, by the way."

"It was no trouble at all. You seem to be quite curious about what surrounds you." A questioning tilt forms on Dakkar's lips. "Are you interested in the sciences, then?"

Samuel laughs. Not mockingly, but—well, it's been years since someone asked him that. He is known for what he is known for, and science is not one of those things.

"Not exactly," he admits. "I've never been very good at them myself. I'm an author, not a scientist—I won't deny I'm curious, but quite a bit of it goes over my head." It doesn’t bother him, really. In fact, Samuel smiles because whenever he thinks of science, he thinks of— "Rose is far better at that sort of thing than I am. She’s a scientist and an author, brilliant at everything she sets her mind to. Near-all of what I do know, I know because of her. She's the Stratford that you go to if you want to really understand what's up in the stars, or learn anything regarding thermodynamics, or the thousand other things she's had a fascination with since we were children."

A flood of memories rushes through him of Rose excitedly talking about all of what she'd read in the latest editions of the Edinburgh Journal of Science during late nights in their apartment. Some of his most cherished memories are of listening to her, asking questions so that she could delve deeper and teach him what she'd learned. Even recalling them now is still a comfort, one he is glad to keep in his heart.

"My sister is incredible. I'm so lucky to have her," Samuel says easily. It's one of the truest things he knows: she's his port in a storm, the wind in his sails. Without her, where would he be?

Dakkar’s eyes dart away, smile thinning. Is he getting bored?

"Sorry, I suppose you know that about her already. She's certainly been here long enough, since she had the orrery…" And now he’s over-explaining, rambling once more. Samuel scrambles to adjust his course. "I don't know too much of what she's been doing here, besides what she's already told me."

The Key. Whatever it may be, Samuel is sure Rose will figure it out. She's Rose, after all—there is no one more capable.

"It sounds like she’s been busy. I think she mentioned some tests?" Samuel adds tentatively.

Dakkar hums an affirmation, brow furrowing. "Your sister has been incredibly studious with all we've given her—working her way through all of the advancements over the past couple of decades, letting us run tests to check her progress on unlocking the Key… We’re following the plan we were given, but there's been no luck yet."

…There was a subtle pause there, right before the final sentence. Samuel's not sure he would have noticed it if he wasn't paying such close attention: a flash of concern, maybe even doubt. It's slightly worrying.

Still, Samuel doesn't know Dakkar nearly well enough to feel as if he should push the subject. He just makes a note of it, and files it away.

"I'll have to ask her about those advancements next time I see her!” he says. “I'm sure she's got a lot to say about them—when Rose gets into something, she can talk about it for hours on end. I imagine she's been devouring everything you’ve given her." He purses his lips. "Honestly, I hope she's been sleeping, too. She's always had a tendency to stay up far too late when she's delving into new knowledge, or getting caught up in a project." There were more than a couple of times back in New York where Samuel had fallen asleep before Rose had back in their apartment, but still had woken up to the sound of her muttering over texts they'd just acquired for the paper stand. "She pushes herself so hard whenever she thinks it's necessary…"

He’s all too aware of the way Dakkar has been staring at him while he talks on and on about Rose. But there's no irritation to it, no confusion. It looks almost… sad. Even though Samuel doesn't quite know why he's thinking that, he can't shake the feeling that that’s precisely what it is.

Samuel clears his throat and twirls his pencil in his hand—a nervous tic he's never fully managed to stop. He points at another invention, mere metres away from them. "Anyways, what does that one do?" It feels like a subject change is needed, and Samuel wants to learn more about these miracles anyways.

This captivating invention is far smaller than the diving suit of before. It's attached to a facsimile of a hand. A silvery metal wraps its way around the faux wrist, plays and twists around the fingers, circling the joints—it looks as if it can move even when the fist is clenched. Flexible yet solid, looking able to withstand force. A brilliant crystal is welded into the center of it all, light dancing within it in colours aplenty, stunning pinks, oranges, and yellows. The crystal would be pressed right up against the palm of whoever wields it. A brace of a kind, perhaps?

Samuel steps closer to it, trying to get a better glimpse at how the light reflects in that unknown crystal. He feels more than sees Dakkar following him.

"Ah, that. It's meant to enhance the Radiance inborn in all of us," Dakkar explains from behind him. "While we are all gifted that Way, it takes quite a bit of proper training to use it to fight. The crystal inlaid over the palm connects to that inherent Radiance, and helps it to properly focus. It refracts it, reflects it. It takes our light and channels it into scorching rays, blinding those who would try and harm them." His voice gets a little quieter. "Not everyone is born with great power. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to protect themselves if the worst ever comes once more."

Samuel's suddenly sure he doesn't know the full weight behind those words. He can't—for the way Dakkar's voice has shifted can't mean nothing. There is an old pain there he doesn't know the full shape of, tucked just out of sight—even if he can make a good guess at what might have caused it based on what fragments he's picked up from the fight on the Ellen Austin, and from being on Lincoln.

Still, Samuel listens. He's always been good at that, being an open ear, quiet when that is necessary. He gives Dakkar a moment, the silence between them solemn in an entirely different way than before.

It holds loss, Samuel thinks. It holds grief.

Dakkar seems to recalibrate. "It's also meant to increase the chances of combined attacks working," he continues. "If the Radiance is enhanced, especially if by the same sort of device—it's easier to channel together, working in tandem to create something more than what one can do alone."

Samuel snaps his fingers. "Oh! Like what Margaret and Sia did on the ship!"

"What do you mean?"

Oh, right. Dakkar wasn’t there. He must not have been told the full story yet.

The memories of that battle on the Sargasso are so vivid in Samuel's mind, as much as he wishes some of them weren't. Personally, he would love to be able to forget the sharp-toothed terror of running away as fast as he could after Kal had come tearing after him. His chest still tightens whenever he remembers having the full force of that unnerring annoyance and fury focused on him.

Dakkar is still looking at him intently, so Samuel does his best to shake off the dread and explains: "Onboard the Ellen Austin, when Kal was fighting Margaret and Sia, they created an attack together that forced him out. I didn't see exactly how they did it, but I certainly remember the way it looked! It scorched through the room like the midday sun, burning bright enough to erase any trace of darkness that would have even thought of lingering afterwards. It was as if the Radiance was shot out of a gun!"

His breath had caught in his throat witnessing it, and, for a moment, he was sure he’d been blinded. A terrifying display, perhaps, but one made for defense and protection, to banish Kal’s malice from the Austin at last.

"…They managed to combine their attack once more?" Dakkar asks, seemingly to himself. "Without any sort of help? That would normally take years to master." He pauses, a little wild-eyed. If Samuel could see into his mind, he imagines it would be whirring and clicking like the gears in many of his devices. Then Dakkar frowns and says offhandedly, "I'm surprised they managed to distract him long enough to even pull that together."

"Oh." Samuel rubs the back of his neck, giving the other man a sheepish grin. "That wasn't them. I, uh… may have tried to hit him over the head with Rose's printing press plate?"

Dakkar's eyes go a little wide. "You did what?"

…If Samuel didn't know better, he'd think Dakkar sounded impressed.

"I mean, it didn't work!" He had been so sure it would do something—it always worked when Rose did it, after all! "I brought it down with all my might, but he didn't seem fazed one bit! It was like I tried to knock out a statue, something completely unyielding. It surprised him, at least. He was distracted for long enough for Margaret and Sia to do whatever it was they did, thank God." Samuel grimaces. "I don't ever want to see a look like the one I got from him after my attempt again. It was…rather terrifying, honestly. Danger surrounded us all in that fight, moving faster with every blow of Kal's. At least he was defeated in the end. Though, I suppose that's hardly new territory when it comes to Margaret, really! She's saved us all more than once."

Samuel stops to breathe, focuses on something other than trying to describe the fight, and—

Oh.

Dakkar's gaze has changed.

There was no disinterest in it previously—the other man has been a gracious host this entire time. But, it feels as if it is more than what it was a moment ago. If Dakkar was processing before, now the calculations have been completed. The same kind of focus that had been given to his inventions is now turned upon Samuel. It's an intent gaze, deep interest glimmering within it, like he wants nothing more than to hear what Samuel says next.

"What do you mean by that?"

Dakkar leans in a little further. There is still a respectable distance between them, but...this close, Samuel can see just how deep brown his eyes are, and how enchanting sparks of light that look almost like Radiance are glowing within.

Samuel's throat suddenly feels dry.

"…What?"

The word comes out a little strained, though he can't place why that is.

"Margaret," Dakkar prompts. There's a weight to the way he says her name, Samuel realizes, a familiar gravity to it. "You survived because of her Ways awakening. How did that happen? How did they return?"

Oh. Well, this is something Samuel can do: recount stories, ones he's scribbled down already. He's an author and a journalist—isn't that his job? Besides, given the way Dakkar's still looking at him, he's got the sense that whatever answers he gives will be quite important.

"When Sia found us up on that satellite, it was launched because we were escaping what was down below," Samuel tells him, some sense returning to him now. "The township's governor had snapped, calling in mercenaries to try and destroy everything we'd managed to build. If Margaret hadn't moved the sphere with the power she holds…we would have all died at their hands."

Samuel still vividly remembers his gaze snapping to Margaret in the satellite as it began. The faint glow that was starting to brighten from her had been all he could see by, a chill running down his back as she whispered, determined and assured, don't be scared of the dark. The way the very world had seemed to shake after that, moved by her and her alone, like they were in the centre of a hurricane…it is something he could never forget.

"A part of me is still shocked by how she managed to move twelve million bricks with nothing but the power of her mind. That danger didn't paralyze her, but made her act instead. Her powers awakened to protect us all in the hour of our greatest danger. I owe her…quite a lot, frankly. I'm grateful she chooses to be my friend, even after everything."

Samuel watches as Dakkar takes in the words, clearly thinking once more. There are signs of struggle on his face, as if he's carefully deliberating on what to say next.

"For as long you've known her…" Dakkar trails off, hesitant in a way Samuel hasn't seen before. His jaw clenches. "Has she been happy?"

Samuel blinks. The question tugs at something inside his mind, greater than before.

He can't help but wonder, looking at Dakkar's distressed face now. The quiet worry in that question—clearly he knows Margaret, they all do on Lincoln. But…the worry sounds so deep. It’s rooted in something beyond a surface-level friendship.

How does Dakkar know her? Is this someone who Margaret was reaching out to, one of her own? Was Dakkar reaching back out, and she never knew?

Sympathy swells up in Samuel. Pretty lies are not what he will reach for. He won't spin untruths, not at the expense of what is real. He will give no false comfort. Not here, not now.

"What's inside her, once denied by shadows, has grown," Samuel says softly. "When I first met Margaret, she was searching for answers—where she was from, who she was. It was something she wanted to know so badly, to quell an ache deep within her soul. She told me of how she had spent years searching for hints through scientific texts of the stars and skies, mysteries that had finally been solved, trying to understand and rid herself of her phantom pain within. I cannot say she was always happy, especially when we first met, but…I have seen her start to cast away the shadows dragging her down the longer I have known her. As she has started to find herself again, and the life she once knew, her happiness has only grown in turn."

Dakkar listens. Samuel sees his eyes tighten, what looks to be a mixture of relief and sorrow within. He swallows. There is grief there too, Samuel thinks. He can't say it for certain, not with how little he knows the man before him, but that is what it looks like to him.

"I…" Dakkar starts to say. He stops. Breathes. Tries again. "Thank you for telling me that." The way those words leave his mouth…it sounds as if there is more he wants to say, but is stopping himself.

Samuel nods. He may not know who Margaret is to Dakkar, but…it is becoming more and more obvious that she matters to him.

"Of course," he says. He tries to offer more relief. "I don't think I've ever seen her as happy as when we first docked on Lincoln. Even if this isn't where she is originally from, I think that…" Oh, he hopes this isn't overstepping, but… "I think that she still considers it a home."

Dakkar goes completely still. For a frantic and horrible second, Samuel thinks he's said exactly the wrong thing. Anxiety starts to bubble in his gut once more. He tries to think of what he can say to fix it, but before he can open his mouth…

Dakkar's shoulders relax. The sorrow does not fully leave his eyes, but it looks lighter. What crosses his face is not quite a smile, but it is not a grief-struck expression either. Bittersweet, perhaps, but leaning more towards the sweeter end.

"It was always meant to be that," he quietly says. "Lincoln is no true replacement for the Blazing World, but…it's good to know that she can still find some happiness here."

He really does care for her, doesn't he? Samuel thinks. He doesn't believe there's any other way he can interpret the quiet relief in Dakkar's voice, the way the worry in his eyes has slightly subsided on hearing Margaret has become happier the more she has begun to find herself again.

He wants to ask who Dakkar is to Margaret, if he's being honest with himself. But he also thinks that that should be something Margaret should get to learn for herself. She should know whoever he is to her first whenever more of her memories return. This is not his to intrude upon.

There's a silence—not stifling, not awkward, but…comfortable, after that. Like the two of them could just sit in it for a while. And then—

"Samuel!"

Samuel's head snaps over to where the familiar call is coming from, off to the left.

"Samuel, where are you?" It's Rose's voice, echoing across the grotto. He can't see her, but he would know her voice blind. "I want to show you Lincoln's sights before it gets too dark—quit hiding! You won't believe just how much you're going to want to write down!"

Samuel snorts. "Hold on, I'll be right there!" he calls back, a laugh in his voice. "I'm not hiding, give me a moment!" He turns back to Dakkar, smiling apologetically. "Sorry, I should go catch up with her. I'll see you around?"

Dakkar gives him a polite nod. "Of course. And…thank you, again, for what you have shared with me. I appreciate it more than I can say."

"It was no trouble!" Samuel says. He fiddles with his pencil for a second, before blurting out: "I don't suppose you'd mind me coming back to the grotto later? I know it's yours, and I wouldn't want to intrude, but there truly are so many wonderful things here I would love to learn more about."

"I think I would like that," Dakkar says thoughtfully. A small smile graces his face once more, and Samuel wonders what he can do to keep on seeing it. "I’ll see you then, Samuel."

Warmth flows through Samuel. "I look forward to it!" he says brightly.

He waves goodbye, and then starts to race off to where he's heard Rose's voice. His sister is waiting. After all, he missed her when they were mere hours apart, he's not missing the chance to catch up more with her now! Besides, she's been here so long that she must know where all the best sights are, and he wants to see them all. He wants to see everything.

He looks back, once. He can't help it.

Dakkar stands still, staring out at his creations—yet, he does not seem truly focused on them. His brow is pursed in thought, those deep, dark eyes looking fiercely intelligent. It is as if he is preparing for a test, on the verge of finding out what all this means. A storm may be before them all, but it looks as if Dakkar is prepared to weather it—no matter what it takes.

Good luck, Dakkar, he thinks. Whoever Margaret is to you, I hope she knows soon enough.

Notes:

I leave it up to you all to decide how canon-compliant whatever follows in the next couple of days will be.

You all should read 20K Leagues if you get the chance, both in general and because I stole some bits describing the diving suit from it. I hope to god it is at least somewhat scientifically accurate. (Dakkar I’m so sorry, I am so far from being an inventor.)

The Radiance-enhancer came from me talking with Jack! Honestly, it's a fun concept, I'm attached to it.

Please leave a comment if you liked it! I spent so long staring at my phone in the middle of the night attempting to write this one. (And also maybe comments will help get me through the essays I need to write for midterms, tbh.)

Thank you for reading!

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Paranormaltheatrekid Wed 08 Oct 2025 11:35AM UTC

This is such a fun moment between Samuel and Dakkar. Your descriptions and characterization are off the charts. I love the wonder you instilled with the first paragraph. Honestly, when I read it in the summary I knew I needed to drop all of my responsibilities to read this, and that choice paid off. You can picture the grotto really well here, it feels so alive with the humming of all its inventions. I also like the detail about the ocean being so close to the grotto, I feel like that’s very fitting, and I’m glad you specified that it wouldn’t break anything because that’s definitely important.

I love love love love the addition of the diving suit from 20k leagues under the sea. It’s described very well, and I love how much Dakkar takes pride in it. It’s his passion project, and Samuel wants to listen to him talk about it. I also love the implication that Addison is Dakkar’s test dummy and almost drowned while trying it out. The radiance enhancer is also an excellent invention to give Dakkar because it makes a lot of sense given that they’re in a time of war, but it’s also so personal. He made it for all the people who failed to defend themselves. He made it for everyone who was made to feel like they weren’t powerful enough. It’s another good example of Dakkar’s passion shining through in his inventions.

Something I notice here is that Samuel seems very observant. That makes a ton of sense for him and I really like how it was shown. He can tell that Dakkar feels almost bored when Samuel tells him things he already knows about Rose. Dakkar’s reaction to Samuel’s thoughts about Rose is very interesting to me. My interpretation was that Samuel and Rose’s relationship mirrors the one Dakkar has with his own sister. Both Samuel and Dakkar love their sisters more than anything, even if Rose and Margaret had both been “the gifted” ones of their family (Rose being good at both science and writing, Margaret being the grand enchantress) I think this possible parallel between the two is quite interesting, especially because of Samuel’s struggle with his self esteem. In a better world, Dakkar could’ve helped him through it before he had to sacrifice himself.

Dakkar’s concern for Margaret here absolutely melts my heart. He wants to know how his sister was when he couldn’t be with her, and Samuel just so happened to be there with her instead. And Samuel is very in his element while recalling major plot points from past episodes that Dakkar wasn’t there for. I love seeing his reactions to the shenanigans Margaret was getting up to. He isn’t just concerned about her safety though, he wants to make sures she’s been happy. I like how Samuel does his best to give Dakkar an honest yet optimistic answer. Even though Lincoln Island is no Blazing World, Dakkar is glad that his sister feels at home.

Again, I love it how Samuel picks up on the fact that Margaret is someone important to Dakkar based on the way he talks about her. He recognizes that care and concern because he feels the same way about his own sister. He hopes that everything works out for them in the end. I love all the various dynamics that are at play here, you wrote them all so well! This was such a good read!

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1. SnarkyWallflower Thu 09 Oct 2025 01:01AM UTC
  
  Honestly, waking up to this comment was such a lovely way to start my morning, thank you. I am so glad you liked my descriptions and characterizations that much! I admittedly did shirk some of my responsibilities to write this (or, well, not shirk, but I did procrastinate on some of my work to finish a first draft of it! Should still be able to get my stuff done in time. I've just had this ship in my head for several months, and wanted to get something good done for them! I wanted to be able to make the joke of I think an allo version of Samuel has a Type, and it’s mysterious and could kill him with magic.)
  I just think the grotto must be stunning! I'm certainly no inventor, but the way it's described in canon is so enrapturing that I'm kind of fascinated by it anyways. I would probably not understand half of it, but what a brilliant sight it must be. I'm glad I managed to convey the wonder in Samuel's own view of it well, because we know from canon he's awed by it. I simply think there is a lot of earnest curiosity and wonder in Samuel, and it's coming out in full force seeing such impressive creations now.
  Thank you! We see Dakkar associated with the ocean so often, and we know that he was a Searcher - he seems to have sailed out on those waves at some point. Maybe him bringing the ocean into the grotto was partly him bringing that old part of his life into the new one. I am also just....such a sucker for the image of the ocean lapping through the grotto. What can I say? I love the sea, I have since I was a kid. Maybe it's not that surprising that Dakkar turned out to be one of my favourites.
  It’s extremely fun to pull in my own references from what Pulp is referencing, I won’t lie. (...also 20K Leagues is one of the only source materials I've read. I'm sorry Matt Dahan.) That said, the description of the diving suit was partially my own words, partially Verne's - fifty pressures is a good example of this. I'm so sorry Dakkar, I don't know enough about science, or mechanical engineering, or inventing - I am simply flying by the seat of my pants writing a lot of this. I really liked getting to write Dakkar talking about this passion project--again, we know the ocean means something to him, I imagine he'd be delighted to actually get to explore under the sea. It ties in with his Verne counterpart, and I get to make Dakkar infodump about his work in a way that's hopefully accurate.
  Yeah! We stil don't know what a lot of Dakkar's inventions were, but I'd be surprised if there wasn't anything like what I proposed there. strange machines, that amazed as much as any magic powers, after all. why wouldn't some of those strange machines work with the magic in tandem? Especially as a way to allow more people to defend themselves. I imagine he started looking into this not long after the Fall, because....maybe if more inexperienced fighters had had something like that when the world was ending, more could have been saved. We know that it's only with training that people can use the glow to fight--in a peaceful world, maybe so many didn't bother, and...well. We know what happened next. It's a sadder thing than the wonder of the diving suit, but of course Dakkar would want to pursue it after everything.
  I believe in with all my heart that Dakkar has tested out some of his inventions with his friends. We know Addison's at least kind of close to Dakkar, we first meet her in Dakkar's grotto and all - and honestly I think Addison is the sort of person to leap at testing a brand new way of exploration too. I think she could maybe be a little reckless with it. honestly, there could be an interesting fic in Dakkar testing out a bunch of inventions on Lincoln with the help of his friends, some kind of 5 + 1 thing.
  Samuel does seem like a perceptive guy in a lot of ways! He obviously doesn't have all the context for what's going on in this conversation - which is why he thinks Dakkar is possibly bored instead of having a reaction to a sore spot being accidentally poked at by Samuel talking about his own sister with such care and closeness. (That bit was Jack's suggestion, from what I recall. I very much enjoy his addition there.) Dakkar can fit so much sibling angst in him, even if Samuel doesn't exactly know that yet. Samuel would much prefer not to get a bad grade in conversation with the pretty inventor, thank you, thus the redirection.
  It's a fascinating similarity to me! They're both younger brothers (to me) of sisters destined for greatness, who could have struggled with insecurity both because of that and outside of it. I think maybe said struggles is what might help them click, along with their shared willingness to actually listen to each other, that sort of thing. I think it’s part of what intrigues me on how they could have actually been as a duo. If Samuel had lived…I’m curious on how Matt might have written it, but I’ve got an attachment to the version of them I have in my head.
  Yeah! Like…he can’t ask Margaret herself that yet. I’m sure he did after Ipomoea Part Two, but right now he’s still unable to do that because of the Plan. And he wants to so badly, but…here’s someone before him who does know what Margaret’s been through, who can give him some of those answers. Of course he’d ask, even if he wouldn’t say out and out why he’s asking. (I think Jack described this section as Dakkar is giving Samuel a crisis of sexuality and he doesn't even know he's doing it because he is locked tf in!, which still makes me laugh even now.) That’s his sister, and he’s missed her so much—for decades on end! He needs to know, and here’s his chance. There’s no world where he wouldn’t take it.
  And of course Samuel’s good at telling stories, that’s basically how we’re introduced to him! The young man with a pencil, the writer and the dreamer - he’s seen all of Margaret’s big rediscoveries of her Ways - Radiance, Transformation, Movement, the combined attack with Sia….Rose saw some of those, but not all. So Samuel’s able to tell more than she could, even if Dakkar found ways to subtly ask about Margaret during those two weeks. Samuel puts a lot of passion into the tales he tells, and cares for Margaret so much that there aren’t many as well-qualified for Dakkar to ask about what happened save for Margaret herself. I do love Samuel and Margaret as a duo, so I kinda hope that shone through in the way Samuel talks about her.
  The home bit only got added in the final draft! I was trying to find a good reaction to Samuel saying that, and only managed to hit the right bits about thirty minutes before posting. Body language's hard to write sometimes, but I think what I did worked out well enough. I'm still pretty proud of Dakkar's line there, because....Lincoln is a home. Because of the people who survived. The people Margaret loves are here, and that makes it a home.
  I also kind of liked getting to show how Samuel’s grown a little. I mean…the last time a Cavendish sibling came to him looking for answers—I love him, but he did lie to their face. It was not his best look. But this time he is not reaching for pretty lies. He’s telling Dakkar what really happened, even if it’s not the most happy answer at points.
  Yeah!! Once again, he’s a perceptive guy at times! A face that you recognize in a person you just met, right? I really wanted that knowing to shine through without being too overdone, so I’m glad it worked for you. And Samuel’s the hope-r, he’s got a lot of belief in him—so it made a lot of sense for me for that to be the final line.
  I’m very proud of the dynamics I managed to write here, so I’m glad others enjoyed them too. I wanted to show both Samuel’s slight crush he doesn’t know is developing on Dakkar, his deep connection with both Rose and Margaret—and for Dakkar, I wanted to show just how much he loves Margaret, even if Samuel didn’t know why he cared so much, and show him actually wanting to talk more to Samuel. I'm so happy you liked it that much, thank you! Hope you have a lovely day, Elliot!
  
  Last Edited Thu 09 Oct 2025 03:58AM UTC
  
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Minvia13 Wed 08 Oct 2025 02:39PM UTC

Aaa!!! They’re so sweet, I love Samuel being willing to tell their story, I love Dakkar worrying for Margaret, the implication he’s been worried for years, I love them!

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1. SnarkyWallflower Thu 09 Oct 2025 01:17AM UTC
  
  Thank you, Minvia! This is a fic I’ve had rattling around in my head for a while, it was nice to finally finish and post it.
  
  Anyways, I just think Samuel and Dakkar could have clicked. ….I mean, obviously I do, I just wrote over 5 thousand words on it, but it does make sense! Samuel’s someone who has a lot of genuine wonder and curiosity, and I think Dakkar would like getting to talk about the inventions he loves to someone like that. The first section of this fic is kinda just Dakkar infodumping, tbh. Plus, I’m a sucker for some nature imagery, and I’ve thought it’s sweet for a while that the sun often meets the sea on the horizon.
  
  Samuel recognizes it, somehow. He doesn’t know exactly what it is that he’s recognizing, but he’s a perceptive guy at times! Plus, he’s kind—one of his main character traits to me—so of course he’s willing to talk about this to someone who he’s starting to suspect cares very, very deeply for Margaret. It was interesting, writing that slide into realization for Samuel.
  
  Yeah. Like….Dakkar hasn’t seen his sister in decades, of course he’s not going to pass the opportunity to learn what’s happened to her up. He can’t ask her herself yet, because of the Plan, but he can get answers from her friend now that he’s here. It’s not a planned thing, but he would absolutely take advantage of it. It was fun writing that, honestly, I think my favorite bit was me writing Dakkar asking Samuel if Margaret’s been happy. Because…yikes. What a complicated question. You want the ones you love to be happy, of course, but I am sure Dakkar was wondering if she missed him even without knowing what she was missing.
  
  Thank you for this comment! I’m very happy you enjoyed the fic.
  
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starling27 Wed 08 Oct 2025 05:04PM UTC

YELLING YELLING YELLING
this is gonna be the only thing I think about until 5 drops
I love the choices you've made about what to highlight—the sea flowing through the grotto, the diving suit and radiance enhancer and the hints at the stories behind him, how much these men love their sisters.
The line they're walking here between each having so many questions to ask the other and not wanting to overshare or push too hard in a moment where everything is so crucial? I love it. It's such a good first conversation. ~~shame they never get a second one~~ I mean what
ANYWAY they are both fascinating to me and clearly that means they would be fascinating to each other. Kings of curiosity. Imagine how long they could infodump at each other with no restrictions... (we have already been imagining it)
Okay okay okay. I need to dust off the singular paragraph I wrote for them in August and see if it wants to turn into something. Thank you muchly for the thoughts. I am rotating them forever

Last Edited Wed 08 Oct 2025 05:08PM UTC

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1. SnarkyWallflower Fri 10 Oct 2025 07:44PM UTC
  
  Starling!! I have been so excited to see what you think of this one, I grinned so brightly when I first popped open this comment! It was a delight to see your own thoughts on these two months back.
  
  Honestly, real, the two characters that had one line exchanged and one off-screen interaction take up more brainspace than they should. I simply think their dynamic could have been fascinating. The funniest thing to me is that the first concept of this scene happened all the way back in December, with me proposing writing that conversation between Samuel and Dakkar, also saying it's neat! i don't think i ship john/dakkar or samuel/dakkar, but i do think dakkar is a handsome guy, and they could maybe take note of that.
  
  ....
  
  yeah, given certain lines in this fic, you can guess how long i don't ship samuel/dakkar lasted. oh, pulp rarepairs, i have so many of you.
  
  oh, thank you! Those are admittedly bits I am extremely proud of, i'm glad they stood out. First off, I just have a lot of feelings about the ocean--even outside of dakkar--so of course i was going to mention it here. on a semi-related note, i do think it's a little fascinating we see samuel interested in the sea - brick opens with him staring out at the waves, after all, excited and curious, ready for an adventure. i don't have to relate this to stormy sunrise and the man like an ocean, it's a bit of a reach...but i am going to. that said, i really did enjoy writing the sea flowing through the grotto, getting samuel to talk about how he himself felt about it. Let the young man with a pencil be enchanted by what’s all around him, thank you. He has so much wonder in his heart, after all!
  
  Oh, I adored getting to write Dakkar’s inventions! (...even if it was hard at times. Dakkar I am so sorry, I truly do not know shit about inventing). I actually had reasoning for choosing the diving suit, though you know some of it - it’s obviously a fun callback to 20K Leagues’ own diving suit (stole some of the description from that book), I think Samuel would think it was neat, and I think there’s something really fascinating about one of the inventions they talk about being made to explore the sea in a fic that’s vaguely shippy at the Ocean Man ™. The Radiance enhancer was a later addition, but I really enjoyed getting to think of it too - because yeah, why wouldn’t there be inventions that kind of combined both science and magic? Plus, as I said in the fic itself, it’s a bit of a bitter invention, one that’s created in the wake of loss. I think Dakkar started looking into designing more things like that after the Fall—after all, we know that it takes training to use the Radiance to properly fight. I imagine in a peaceful world, a lot of people just…didn’t have that training. There were so many ordinary people just living their lives—why would they train for war? Maybe if those unskilled fighters had had something like the Radiance enhancer, more of them could protected themselves from what doomed so many.
  
  I do honestly think that those stories behind him definitely could fascinate Samuel. I don’t have that much more to say about this bit, but…the past behind all the Travellers fascinates me. I can’t wait to see it in full in Vow.
  
  I didn’t even expect Samuel to talk so much about Rose when I first started this fic, honestly! I knew they were obviously going to talk about Margaret and that was going to make Dakkar emotional. He’s not the kind of character who’s actively looking to hide his own sadder emotions—I am looking at you, Anna Hanover—so I was expecting to write that. But I was genuinely not expecting Samuel to start rambling about his sister so much, so impressed and so happy to be reunited with her. I think it turned out well, and made this fic even better. Rose and Margaret are not technically in this fic, but they certainly got talked enough that I think the dynamic they have with both of their brothers is something I managed to write pretty well!! Samuel and Dakkar both have such meaningful connections with the family they still have/still can trust, and I wanted to make sure I stayed true to that. And like…of course Dakkar’s love for his sister would feel familiar to Samuel, even if he couldn’t be sure on it being specifically that without asking. Samuel can be a pretty perceptive guy at times!
  
  (As well, I still think having Dakkar ask has she been happy was one of the best sections of this fic. Because…god, what a complicated question. You want the ones you love to be happy and safe, but I’m sure he was wondering if she missed him without even knowing who she was missing. It’s a tricky question, with an even trickier answer. I think I wrote Samuel handling it with grace.)
  
  Yes! Exactly! That is precisely the vibe I wanted to go for. I mean, this is basically their first real meeting - we know they’ve spoken before, seen each other before, but it’s not like they actually talked. (…definitely made it difficult for me to write at times, as someone who is not the most experienced at talking to new people. I think I had that realization when talking to Jack when I was struggling to write it and placed my head in my hands. I absolutely tried to make Samuel better than I am at it, ha.) they both have so many things they want to know about, but they can’t push too hard on a first meeting for multiple reasons! So it’s a push-pull, an ebb-and-flow, that kind of thing! Dakkar can’t reveal just who Margaret is to him yet, Samuel can’t overstep—but they do share as much as they can. It was a really fun balancing act to write at times! Because Samuel can clearly see this matters to Dakkar, even if he doesn’t quite know why. (unrelated, but it was also fun to write the first flutterings of a crush for Samuel in here. Ended up not being a huge focus of the fic, but what a delight it was to write.)
  
  ~~I don’t know what you mean, nothing involving purple buttons and sacrifices that were beautiful and also made me cry happen next. He’s fine and this is the start of a beautiful relationship~~ damn must have been the wind
  
  Honestly that is maybe a significant amount of reasoning for why I like this ship so much. Yes it is me looking at two of my favorite characters and going but what if you had a dynamic though and I do NOT regret it. They are so much fun to think about. They should have gotten to hang out in the grotto while Samuel either asked Dakkar a thousand questions about his inventions or Dakkar listened to Samuel ramble on about his latest story idea. They probably could have spent hours doing it—I mean, of course Samuel’s fascinated by the grotto, we see him like that in canon, and it’s not like he really…has his own duties like Rose does. He has time to come check out the cool science shit. I simply think Dakkar would have welcomed fascinated questions about his inventions, and it could have been a really cute relationship.
  
  yes!! join me!! we can have four whole fics on ao3 for this ship!! honestly i've shipped with way less for pulp, but this is definitely a ship i consider one of my personal favourites right now. I am absolutely ready and willing to read anything you might end up writing for them.
  
  Thank you so much for the comment, Starling! Hope my reply isn’t too long, ha.
  
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Irishblesr Wed 08 Oct 2025 06:06PM UTC

OH I LOVED THE PROSE IN THIS!!! The descriptions were immaculate and really made the scene come to life. And I loved the little rewritten lyrics sprinkled in throughout the dialogue. Great job Snark!! :)

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1. SnarkyWallflower Thu 09 Oct 2025 02:32AM UTC
  
  Oh, thank you! I’m rather proud of the prose here, I adored getting to describe the grotto all around and Dakkar’s own inventions! We know from canon that Samuel’s wonder-struck by it, and it was fun to make his internal narration match that. (It was also fun to write him experiencing the beginnings of a crush he does not know as a crush. Honestly, I just think an allo version of Samuel has a type, and it’s mysterious and powerful—listen, the man feels the call to adventure.)
  
  This is such an interesting missing scene to me, I’m honestly surprised it took me this long to write it. But I suppose the muses take all writers where they will. It was so much fun to work with the descriptions here too, I’m glad they really enhanced the scene! I really liked getting to describe Dakkar’s own reactions to hearing about Margaret that Samuel can…kind of recognize, but doesn’t quite know why that is. I don’t think it was overdone, thankfully, but it is difficult to write emotional reactions like that sometimes.
  
  Samuel can take the Narrator’s lines. As a treat. <3 (Seriously, though, he deserves it.) I have a weakness for weaving in Pulp lyrics to my fic, and usually take the chance whenever I think I can.
  
  Glad you liked it, thanks for reading and commenting!
  
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sparrowfox Sat 18 Oct 2025 10:08PM UTC

your descriptions are out of this world and so beautiful. i always love how easily you capture Samuels' inner voice. and dakkar is fucking perfect. you write for both of them so so good. this feels like a story that could've happened in canon. i need to read more of these two.

stormy sunrise my beloved!

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1. SnarkyWallflower Sun 19 Oct 2025 02:29PM UTC
  
  Oh, Sparrow, thank you! I do like the way I did the descriptions here—I’ve always had such wonderful images in my head of the grotto, even if I freely admit I wouldn’t know how most of the things in there worked. (…..I admittedly did struggle to come up with some inventions to talk about—like Samuel, I’m a writer and not well-versed in the sciences, ha. Took a bit of spitballing.) still, it must be a beautiful place. I can’t fault Samuel for being so wonder-struck while he wanders through it, both in canon and here. Amazed as much as any magic powers, right? I’m still particularly proud of how I described the Radiance enhancer.
  
  I also liked getting to describe Dakkar in this fic, I’m not gonna lie. Personally, I just believe people should crush on Dakkar. I have absolutely no bias in this matter at all! But jokes aside, I did like getting Samuel to describe him more like the ocean, and compare his thought process to that of some of his machines. I will describe Dakkar as so pretty, and that is a threat and a promise.
  
  He’s pretty easy for me to fall into the character voice of at this point. Given he’s the character who’s in the most fics of mine, I don’t know if that’s really surprising, but still! Like I said before, it was fun to delve into Samuel’s wonder in the grotto, and him getting Dakkar to open up a little. (….listen, we see people talk about their past at Samuel in each episode save Searcher. This is where the rambling happened in Searcher, and I’ll die on this hill. Samuel has an open ear and apparently therapist energy.) also, you’ve seen me joke about Samuel’s type being could kill him with magic, it was fun to hint a little at that here within Samuel’s head. But I digress. Samuel’s someone who listens, who is kind and perceptive at times—and he’s a storyteller! Of course he’d be willing to tell Dakkar Margaret’s stories, especially when there’s clearly care there for Margaret, even if he doesn’t know the exact source. I love you Samuel Stratford, I miss you every day.
  
  Oh, good! Honestly, Dakkar was hard to nail dialogue for at times. I worried that some of his lines were a little too open, because he does seem a bit closed-off in canon. But people seem to enjoy how I’ve written him, so he can’t be that bad! I really enjoyed getting him to ramble about his own inventions, before we get into the whole Margaret thing and the grief for the world he lost. He’s not actively trying to hide his own sadness—Anna Hanover, I am staring you dead in the eyes—but he’s also not really able to tell Samuel what’s going on yet with him and Margaret because of the Plan. I am proud of how I wrote him overall here. I got to talk about how he sees his inventions, show how he’s motivated by family, and hint at just how much he’s lost. Dakkar, my blorbo, I think of you more than I should.
  
  I’m glad it feels canon-compliant! Honestly, unless Matt Dahan comes up to me and says, Snarky, this is what actually happened, this is how I see how Samuel telling Dakkar Margaret’s stories went. I certainly put enough effort into it! It was a tricky balancing act, figuring out how much each man would ask the other, a real first meeting where they both have so many questions but don’t want to push too much, too fast. There were way too many late nights spent staring and typing a couple of sentences using my phone for this one….
  
  (bugs bunny meme voice) our beloved!! I do want to write more of them eventually. You know I think they’re fun in Foggy Horizon, even if I have…yet to actually finish a fic in that universe. Maybe someday? (God, it’s been over six months since I started that, yikes.) I have so many wips. That said, I do think Samuel and Dakkar would have been a really fascinating relationship these days, and it’s a lot of fun to write for them.
  
  Thank you so much for your comment, Sparrow! It was so lovely to hear from you on ao3, I really didn’t mean for this response to become such a ramble. I was using this reply as a time-killer while on a flight, I blame that for why I rambled so long. Hope you have a lovely day!
  
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AmethystUnarmed Tue 21 Oct 2025 11:15PM UTC

Ohhhhhhh this is just beautiful. Your descriptions of the Grotto and all of its creations are breath taking, I loved this moment between Dakkar and Samuel and how it expands on both of their relationships with Margaret, its so clever

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1. SnarkyWallflower Wed 22 Oct 2025 09:30PM UTC
  
  Amethyst, hi!! I’ve been wondering what you would think of this one, I am delighted to know you liked it! I know I've been talking about writing something like this for ages, I'm relieved I finally just...sat down and wrote the dang thing, even if it took me a while! I'm very proud of this one, and I'm really happy so many others seem to enjoy it as well.
  
  Thank you! I think I've really been killing it with descriptions recently, and that absolutely happened here. Also, I just think the Grotto's fascinating! I definitely wouldn't understand how much of it works, I am so far from an inventor that it's wild, but I love the mental images I get of it whenever I relisten to Dakkar's Grotto or Masterpiece Containing Masterpieces. It must be such a gorgeous place, filled to the brim with wonders and miracles, the collection of years of labour and creation. ~~What a tragedy all of that was lost.~~ It was also pretty fun to explore Samuel's own wonder at it--we know he is in canon, and I absolutely believe he spent some of the time he actually got on the island exploring said grotto. He's a character that has so much curiosity in him, after all, and he would absolutely want to write everything down that fascinated him.
  
  Dakkar's inventions are so important to him, it was a lot of fun to explore that. We know him as a brilliant inventor, so he'd have so much passion for it! Obviously I stole the diving suit from 20K Leagues, but I really think I had a stroke of genius when it came to the Radiance enhancer! We know Dakkar makes machines that amaze as much as any magic powers, so why wouldn't he also try to work magic into said machines? And...yeah, not everyone is born with great power. We know that with training you can use the Radiance to fight, but in a peaceful world I really don't think many would have! And if you don't have enough experience, how are you going to be able to fight back when the worst comes? Dakkar's a man who values protecting his people--I think he started looking into making such devices after the Fall for precisely that reason.
  
  I really do think they would have gotten along if they'd gotten the chance to properly speak more. I think they could have clicked! I think you know a little about how I feel about them already, but....I think they would have been a neat dynamic. Of course we'll never see them in canon again, but it was fun to work with my interpretation of how they'd talk in the interaction we know they had. (And yes, this fic is a bit me shoving my blorbos at each other, but I like to think it's also more than that, you know?)
  
  I do love Margaret. I have a couple fic ideas I need to finish for her, but I hope part of that love shone through in how she’s talked about here. She is a truly wonderful character, and absolutely deserves the world. I cannot wait for her past to be revealed to all in Vow. There's so much we still don't know about her, and I can't wait to see exactly what that is in less than a week. I've been thinking of Vow constantly, honestly, I can't believe it's so soon! I'm going to lose my entire mind talking about it. But that aside, her relationships with Dakkar and Samuel do seem so important to her in Pulp, so I wanted to lend them weight. Even if she's not here in the story, they both really do love and care for her, and I wanted to make sure that seemed clear. (I think one of my favourite bits to write in this whole story was Samuel telling Dakkar that he thought that Margaret seemed to think of Lincoln as a home, as long as I'm discussing this. That, and Dakkar asking Samuel if she seemed happy, because what a complicated question.)
  
  Thank you so much for reading, and for leaving this comment! Hope you have a lovely day!
  
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HenryIHNI Tue 04 Nov 2025 06:39PM UTC

I love this a lot! It’s extremely well written how Samuel begins to develop feelings, I know that relationships often begin with curiosity! The writing is superb, and I love them. Thank you for this!!!!

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1. SnarkyWallflower Sat 08 Nov 2025 07:42PM UTC
  
  Thank you so much! I put a lot of effort into this fic - Samuel and Dakkar are some of my favorite characters in all of Pulp, so it was really fun to write them properly interacting! Given all of what we had before 5, I thought they’d have a really interesting dynamic. Samuel’s a very curious character, we know he’s fascinated by the Grotto—so it really wasn’t hard to get from that to this! Plus, I just adore writing Dakkar. Ocean man, no one is doing it like you.
  
  I’m glad it feels realistic! I have a bit of a joke with some friends about how Samuel’s type is mysterious and powerful, and what we knew of Dakkar pre-Vow absolutely slotted into that. I just thought it would be kinda cute if he started developing a small crush, and I’m glad so many people liked this fic enough to agree with me.
  
  Thanks! I am remarkably proud of my descriptions of the grotto here. I also love them. Samuel I miss you every day, Dakkar I would die for you.
  
  Thank you for leaving such a lovely comment! Hope you have a nice day.
  
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