MissKyo

Snap Play sat alone on a small rise in Croatoa, staring out at the clearing before her, remembering.

Months ago, she had stood in the center of the clearing, fending off a group of the pumpkin-headed monsters known as the Fir Bolg. Just before she had been overwhelmed, help had arrived...help in the form of an eight foot tall man in black, whose claws shredded through the monsters like paper. She remembered the spark of recognition she'd felt as she looked up at him that first time, and how afraid she'd been that he was an enemy as well.

As she stared out at the clearing, seeing the scene replay itself before her eyes, a silent figure dropped to the turf next to her, kneeling at her side and facing her. Finally, the faerie looked up and smiled weakly.

"Hi, 'Razur..."

Her partner reached out to caress her cheek, and she could sense him studying her worriedly behind his ever-present sunglasses. "You've been crying...are you okay?"

Closing her eyes, she remained still at his touch, willing herself not to run away from this conversation. Somehow, she felt, she'd always known that the only reason their relationship had never progressed beyond best friends was because of her size...and now that Mionas' serum had made her nearly 'Razur's height, she should have known that this conversation was inevitable. "I'm fine..."

'Razur paused, watching her, and withdrew his hand. "About earlier...I...I really have no excuse...except...I love you, Snap...and before, you were...unattainable."

Snap smiled sadly at him, sharing his memory for a moment, knowing that he hadn't meant to hurt her earlier. She remembered the hunger she'd felt in him, the need, the moment's lapse of his usually rigid self-control. "I know, 'Razur...and I've always known, I think...but...you said...that that was never a part of our connection..."

"Because it wouldn't have worked!" 'Razur growled. She knew that it wasn't her that his anger was directed at, but the unknown force that controlled their lives. "I could make myself see you as...forgive me!...but almost as a child, before...but...now..." His voice got quiet, and his face dropped from it's usually stony facade, showing her just how human he really was as he looked at her in the bright moonlight. "I could have done nothing but hurt you, but...now..." He tensed, waiting, unsure. He knew Snap better than any other living being-including her boyfriend-but he could not count on what he'd felt time and time again since they had first connected, every time he'd heard her shriek in rage as he went down under one too many opponents, every time she'd flooded his soul with light and life to pull him back from the Netherworld and return him to his body. He needed to hear it, needed to hear her say it...and while he could fight fearsome monsters and face death laughing, his fragile faerie partner was scaring him more than anything else he'd ever faced.

"I don't...want you to hurt, 'Razur..." she said, hesitating.

"Don't worry about that, Snap," he answered quietly. "Pain and I..we're old friends."

She shook her head slowly. "No...not any more. You won't have to hurt any more...or, not as much." Glancing up at him, she smiled slightly. "That's why I'm here, isn't it?"

"Maybe...though I think you are here to keep me human...or, as human as I can be." He half-grinned at her, knowing she'd understand what he meant. "And yes, to ease some pain...to be someone to share eternity with who's not going to die in the blink of an eye..."

"I told you before," Snap interrupted. "You're not going to be lonely any more."

"I know that," 'Razur acknowledged. "I know that...whatever happens...you and I, we're together...my best friend..."

"No." Snap said firmly, rising to her knees and reaching out to him. Tentatively, she caresssed his cheek with her fingertips, then, when he didn't turn away, cupped it gently in her hand. "No, 'Razur...what you almost said earlier...that was more right, wasn't it?" She heard the words echo between them-"Thank you, my lo-Snap..."

He closed his eyes, tilting his face into her hand, pressing himself against it. "Yes..." he sighed.

She nodded. It was enough for her to know that, to know that it was true. As she began to withdraw her hand, he caught it deftly in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing it gently. A tear of blood coursed down his right cheek from under the sunglasses, and she raised her free hand to wipe it away, leaving a smudge of red where it had been. She could feel the tension in him, and she knew that he had been fighting himself for months, for her sake-protecting her from himself, as he protected her from others.

"I won't leave you, 'Razur," she said slowly, gently. "Not ever. You won't be alone ever again. I have...always, since the first time I saw you...always loved you."

"And I, you," he whispered against the hand he still held, feeling some of the tension melt out of him as he kissed it again. He glanced up at her. "What about Alaric?"

"We talked..." she said quietly.

He raised an eyebrow at her, prompting her. "...and...?"

"He said...something like...love doesn't subtract, it multiplies..."

"He is...wise," 'Razur interrupted approvingly.

"And..." Snap continued over him, "he told me that...it's okay, that's he's okay, that I can...can love you both...and," she added, smiling, "I'm pretty sure he got that quote from a book...I'm not surprised."

"No, me either," he grinned back. Rising to his knees, he released the hand he was holding, only to pull her gently into his arms. She came willingly, feeling his internal struggle to maintain control as he inhaled her scent, then bent his head towards her to kiss her. Steadily, his kiss grew hungrier, more passionate, until Snap had to break away for a moment, touching glowing fingers to a spot on her lip where blood welled up.

Concerned, 'Razur withdrew, staring at her mouth in horror, knowing that he had caused her pain. "I...I'm so sorry!" he said, his emotions evident in his voice.

"No, 'Razur, it's okay...look," she said, pulling her hand away from her mouth to reveal that although the blood had not dried, the small wounds caused by his fangs had been healed. "See? I'm okay."

"I don't want to hurt you, Snap," he said quietly, still concerned. "Ever."

"It'll be okay," she said firmly, reassuring him. "You can't kill me...well, not any more," she added, remembering that before her episode with the Will he most certainly could have. "And I can heal myself, if I have to...it'll be fine," she smiled, placing one hand on either side of his face.

He pulled her back into his arms so that she was at an angle to him, sitting across his knees. Her near arm was pinned between his torso and hers, but she reached up her free hand to caress his face as he kissed her again..

After a moment, he pulled away from her again, having discovered that the shoulder-length hair he'd become used to had grown back to fall to her waist, the same length it had been when he'd met her. "Your hair...?" he queried.

She grinned at him, quirking an eyebrow. "Side effect of the serum...you like it?"

In answer, he wrapped it around his hand several times, then used it to pull her head back. "I...need...you, Snap..."

"I know," she answered softly, using one hand to guide his face back to hers for a tender kiss. She sighed, shifting in his lap to free her other arm and wrap it around his back as she rested her forehead against his lips. "I know."

The Teamsters is an extremely relaxed SG. our only focus is on teaming with other players and making more friends, so we're pretty open. We don't really have a set "active time", the base is huge (and under construction...again...but the workshop is static and so are the telepads) and we have great coalies. You can invite other players from the starting rank onwards and I don't think I've ever kicked anyone out. The only thing you may find a downside is that most of us roleplay, so you may have to deal with random chitchat in the SG channel sometimes. Give me a yell if you're interested at @DJKyo-I play a lot in the evenings, so the best time to catch me is then, or PM me here on the forums and we can set something up if you want to see the base or whatever.

1.) Snap Play, 50 empathy/radiation Defender (No)
2.) Hero Man, 50 BS/SR/DM Scrapper (Yes)
3.) Delrune, 50 BS/SR Scrapper (Yes)
4.) Dr. Overdose, 50 Empathy/Electric (Yes)
5.) Energetic Stone, 50 stone/em tanker (Yes)
6.) Black Bonnet, 50 MA/SR Scrapper (Yes)
7.) Angel Red, 50 Archery/Kin Defender
8.)

Forgot what level Bonny is now. <blush> Also, one spot left, get it while it's hawt!

Edit: Yay added Bonny's level! :P

Regularly takes over the team-forming part of TfT when I show up late because I forgot it was Tuesday...again...

^_^;

Please don't edit my list FOR me! xDD You'll confuse me!

1.) Snap Play, 50 empathy/radiation Defender (No)
2.) Hero Man, 50 BS/SR/DM Scrapper (Yes)
3.) Delrune (need more info)
4.) Dr. Overdose, 50 Empathy/Electric (Yes)
5.) Energetic Stone, 50 stone/em tanker (Yes)
6.)
7.)
8.)

Task Force Veyro completed the Faathim the Kind TF in 4:35:36, despite a slightly rocky start when I had no idea we were on Invincible and a single reset so that I could drop the difficulty. Nice work guys, with a special shoutout to Novashade, who was both our tank AND our dedicated stealther/tper! Definitely this week's MVP!

Next week we'll be running the Statesman TF-levels 45-50, requiring an 8 man team, 5 missions long and worth 39 merits. Now, I've NEVER done one of these successfully, so I'm hoping some vets will join in and show us the ropes. We're not going for the MoSTF, so no worries about that. When you sign up, please let me know your toon's name, powersets, AT, level, and whether or not you've done the STF before. Thanks!

1.) Snap Play, 50 empathy/radiation Defender (No)
2.) Demon Shell (need more info)
3.) Delrune (need more info)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)

Also tonight's roster:

1.) Snap Play
2.) Dr. Overdose
3.) Mionas
4.) Phantom Ghost
5.) Blazing Blue
6.) Hero Man
7.) Angel Red
8.) Smite King

Oh yeah this is in an hour

of course I didn't forget because I was playing Truth or Dare in KJSR's chatroom!

That would be silly. >.>

Gives excellent cyber-hugs. <nodnod>

It's 44-50, Smite and you just got the last spot.

1.) Snap Play
2.) Dr. Overdose
3.) Mionas
4.) Phantom Ghost
5.) Blazing Blue
6.) Hero Man
7.) Angel Red
8.) Smite King

Goes down like a pro on Hami Raids, ship raids, pretty much anything else you care to think of...

I'm not that big on the color changes, but I AM going to change my emp/rad defender's rad set to purple.

I LOVE the new animations though. SO win.

Faathim the Kind TF is tomorrow night. If you're on the list and CANNOT make it, please post here and let me know!If you're not on the list and would like to be, same dealie!

1.) Snap Play
2.) Dr. Overdose
3.) Mionas
4.) Phantom Ghost
5.) Blazing Blue
6.) Hero Man
7.) Angel Red
8.

A huge thanks to all the DJs and listeners who participated this weekend. It was a blast!

I still have one ticket, and since I'm having SUCH a great day today (the universe is conspiring against KJSR) I'm gonna give it away here.

The first person to link me to a post where someone NOT affiliated with KJSR.net has mentioned KJSR.net gets a ticket code and an anniversary prize! The post may NOT be in a thread started by a KJSR.net staff/crew member! DJs and staff members are not eligible for this ticket!

Designed his own avatar and I must say it looks spiffy!

I updated the Teamsters fiction again. There are a few private jokes in this one. You've been warned. :P

Snap had returned to the Teamsters base to find it, apparently, deserted. Realizing suddenly how hungry she was, she headed for the kitchen, where she found Rak'sha digging through the fridge.

"Um...hi...?" she said to his back, prompting him to turn around. When he did, his eyes opened wide in surprise.

"When did Snap's big sister get here?" he asked.

She glared at him. "It's me, dummy. Mio accidentally made me tall."

"No way!"

"Yes way. What are you looking for?"

"Oh...some of 'Raz's meat cubes, the little beef ones he likes."

Snap sighed. "Don't eat those. There's plenty of stuff in the fridge for everyone to share without getting into 'Razur's stuff."

"But I'm hungry!" the big man whined.

"Move!" Snap ordered, pushing him aside. "Here, I'll make you something. Go sit."

"Yes ma'am." Rak'sha mumbled, hopping over the counter and taking a seat on a stool.

He watched as she started pulling things out of the fridge and prepped two sandwiches. Passing the significantly meatier sandwich to him, she put the ingredients away, then sat down on the stool next to him. "So, what do you think?" she asked as he took a bite.

"'S good!" he exclaimed, covering his mouth with his hand to keep crumbs from spraying everywhere. He swallowed, then added, "What's in it?"

"Pepperoni, salami, provolone, and tomatoes." She picked up her own sandwich, and they sat in companionable silence as they ate.

Afterwards, they made small talk as she washed their plates and put them away. Just as she was starting to feel at ease again, the hum of wings behind her, and a light thump as someone's boots hit the ground, prompted her to turn around.

Alaric stood there, looking shocked as he took in her new height. She smiled weakly down at him, giving him a moment to adjust.

"Um...hi, sweetheart..." she said quietly.

"Um...hi." he replied, still staring at her. "Uh...how was your day...?"

Behind Snap, Rak'sha snorted, chuckling. He figured he should probably leave the room and let them sort things out, but at the moment, they hardly seemed to notice him. Of course, if he moved, they probably would.

"...messed up." Snap mumbled, sitting down on the edge of the stool in front of him. She was still taller than he was. Of course, the stool itself was almost taller than he was.

"So I see," he said softly, stepping forward to look up into her eyes. "Are you okay?"

Snap paused for a moment, watching him warily. "Not really, no, but...I'll live. I hope."

Rak'sha stood, his stool scraping the ground noisily as he cleared his throat. "I'll be in the other room if you two need a moment," he said, excusing himself as he left.

"So do I," Alaric said quietly. "Ummm...what happened?"

Snap sighed. "Well, I asked Mio to make me a formula to improve my healing abilities. It didn't work...made me taller instead. A couple hours after that my hair grew back out."

The faerie prince reached up to embrace Snap, suddenly understanding how she felt around Blackrazur. His girlfriend, meanwhile, was suddenly gaining a whole new perspective on how her feral partner felt around her. "Darling," Alaric murmured, "which height do you truly prefer?"

"I don't know!" Snap cried. "When I was turned into a faerie I only wanted to be human again and now I just want to be my height again and I don't know what height that is! This is how tall I was before I got changed but I just got used to being little!"

"Well, while you will fit in better with your Faerie brethren at your smaller size, you can fit into the human world better at this height." Alaric pointed out.

"I don't fit in anywhere," Snap said miserably.

"Yes you do!" Alaric grinned at her, pulling her back into his arms. "You fit quite nicely right here!"

She glared at him, on the verge of tears, as she considered how small he suddenly was in comparison to her. "Sure, I did when I was little, but not any more!"

"That doesn't have to be a problem, love..." Alaric said quietly, stepping back. Instantly, he shifted from being five feet tall to being a hair over Snap's new height. "Look at me." Reaching out, he tilted Snap's chin up, forcing her to look at him. "Is this better?"

Hopelessly confused, Snap just stared at him, her mind attempting to keep up.

Gently, not releasing his grip on her face, Alaric explained, "I was raised by a shapeshiter. While I have nowhere near his mastery, nor his mastery of magic in general, I can adjust my height...but for now, at least, the wings will just have to be there. I can't hold both at once."

"I...I don't...you...I..." Snap stammered, struggling to communicate through the storm of emotions she was dealing with. Besides her own emotional turmoil, she could also sense 'Razur's, and while she was keeping a lock on it it was hard to maintain her mental distance from him when she had grown accustomed to his comforting presence in her life. Finally, she broke down and sobbed. "I give up!"

Alaric gathered her back into his arms, rocking her slightly. "What's wrong?"

"I'm so sick of this ********!" she exploded. "Every time things start going right, something goes horribly wrong and messes everything up! And then every time I get used to that, something else gets messed up!"

"But things haven't gone horribly wrong...you just got taller," Alaric murmured.

Ignoring the interruption, she demanded, "Haven't I done enough good in the past few months for karma to leave me the hell alone?"

"I'm sure we can find a way to make you your faerie size again." He caressed her hair and back gently, trying to find a way to soothe her.

"I was used to being short!" she cried against his chest. "Our apartment, the base, it's all designed for the size I was! I just want stupid destiny or whatever to...to leave me alone!"

"Shhh, sweetie...this can be fixed."

"Says you, says everyone, but what if it can't? What if I'm stuck like this, again? Nobody ever heard of a six and a half foot tall faerie, Alaric, and Puck Jr. doesn't count! He's...special. Kind of." She sniffled miserably. "Yes, I'm reading your mind. Sort of."

Alaric grinned. "Puck Jr. is, yeah, special. That's a good word for it. If you can't get changed back...we'll adapt." He started running his hands through the length of her hair. "Ilike your hair like this...it looks good long."

"Yeah, well, I like it this length too. It's always been long," Snap sniffled again, "except when...he...cut it."

Alaric scowled. He could feel her still fighting the panic that the memory of Will of Hequat brought on to her, to the point that it was impossible for her to say his name. "Well, he is gone," he reassured her. "Permanently. 'Razur...cut a deal, so to speak. it involves a pineapple...he won't say anything more than that."

"And that's another thing!" Snap exclaimed, sitting bolt upright as she got sidetracked.

"Yes, darling?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow at her sudden mood swing.

"'Razur's acting all...all weird! And I don't know why and I should know why! Weirder than usual I mean!"

"Like weird how?" Alairc asked, amusement crossing his face briefly.

"Like...just weird, okay?" Guiltily, she tilted her head towards the floor, studying the wood grain.

Alaric grabbed her chin again, forcing her to look at him. He smiled gently, his amusement at her discomfort with the situation now clearly evident. "Like how? Like he's suddenly seen you with new eyes? Like, you're no longer the size of a child to him?"

Snap shifted her eyes away, knowing that they always betrayed her when she felt guilty, as she did now. She remembered the fleeting, passionate kiss 'Razur had pulled her into and blushed. "Maybe..."

Chuckling softly, Alaric hugged her. "Snap...he loves you. That's been apparent since the first time I set eyes on you two...but before, it wouldn't have worked. That. and this...bond...that has us all in its grip...it bleeds over from him, through you, to me...and vice versa. He has also picked up some of my feelings."

She stayed silent, resting her head against his chest. He grinned and hugged her again. "And you love him."

"...yes," came her muffled answer. "But..."

"But what?" Alaric asked. "You two are bonded in a way no one else could ever understand. I'd be worried if you didn't love each other!"

"It's wrong...to love two people," Snap said quietly, looking up at him.

"Why?" he demanded.

Snap thought for a second, trying to figure out the best way to word her thoughts. "You can't...can't give your whole heart, your whole self, to one person...if you're always divided between two."

"You've already given your heart and all of you to me...and to 'Razur...and that's okay!" Alaric exclaimed. "In a book I read once, I read a line that makes a lot of sense. Love does not subtract...it multiplies."

She searched his face, doubt warring with trust. She saw nothing but love and understanding in his expression. After a moment, he leaned down and kissed her softly. "It really is okay...and don't worry...I'm not going anywhere. I'm not interested in anyone but you."

Snap took a deep breath. "I just...I don't want you to regret it."

He pulled her to her feet so that he could hold her properly, anxiety crossing his face for a moment as he felt how shaky she was. "I won't. I like to think I make you happy...and if by being with him as well you become happier...then there is nothing for me to regret."

Snap reached up and scrubbed at her eyes, trying to wipe away the fact that she'd been crying. "Thank you, love..." she whispered.

"You're welcome, darling..." he whispered back, hugging her tightly and smiling into her hair. "Um...do you...want to be with 'Razur tonight? It's okay..."

Snap tensed. "I don't know..." she said slowly. "I did promise to talk to him, though..."

"Then let whatever happens, happen," Alaric replied, stepping back slightly as she nodded silently.

"Um...sorry to ruin the moment..." Rak'sha wandered back in, headed for the fridge. "Apparently someone forgot to refill the fridge in the room," he gestured vaguely, "and I need a drink..."

"Go ahead and grab one," Alaric called, grabbing Snap's hand and pulling her to a corner near the door. "I can go stay at Miskatonic U if it'll make you more comfortable..."

"No!" Snap said forcefully, a brief flash of fear crossing her expression. "No...stay with me...please. I just...I need you here."

"Okay..." Alaric said, one eyebrow arching. Mentally he was pondering the geometrical possibilities of the night to come, but he said nothing, knowing he'd only wind up scaring her. Instead, he watched over her shoulder as Rak'sha grabbed two drinks from the fridge and headed out.

Snap distracted him by kissing him tenderly before stepping away, holding his hand in both of hers. "I guess...I guess I should go talk to him...?"

He smiled slightly. "You're asking me? Probably."

"I'll see you later, then," Snap promised, giving his hand a last squeeze before dropping it and turning towards the door.

"I love you, Snap." Alaric said softly, watching her start to walk away.

She stopped to smile brilliantly at him. "I love you too...always."

Filled with a strange sense of foreboding as she left, he headed towards the freezer and began rummaging for a package of ice cream. Tonight, he felt, he was going to want it.

Happy birfday, Cass!

Tries to be the "bad boy" of the station, but somehow manages to be so little trouble that we sometimes forget he's there until he cracks a joke.