Too much to do. Too little time.

[valis2]

Yes, I have spent the entire evening finishing off my flist catch-up. (Not that there was a lot of time involved...by the time I finished dinner, it was 8:45.) Thank goodness. It was up to almost exactly 1000 entries in 10 days.

I have a great idea for the Snupin dark!fic challenge. I want to write it. I really want to write it. But I am afraid to sign up--I am leaving on the 20th and I don't think I'll have enough time to write it.

I really want to write. I have so much brewing in my head that it's a wonder anything else fits in it at all.

*tries to resist urge to sign up for the challenge*

Comments

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Writing this has been all kinds of fun. It's really nice not to obsess over every single word, y'know? <3

Desmond buckled his seatbelt, his fingers trembling. He still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that he had just been dancing at a Dharma party, and he was now on the run, being chased by a man the size of Rhode Island, and was about to jet away to some strange location.

Pandora took the seat next to him, but her eyes kept wandering to the door, presumably worried about her missing companions.

"I'm sure they'll get away from him," he said.

She smiled. "Thank you, Desmond. Thank you for staying with me through everything."

"Yes," he said. "Of course." He caught her eyes, staring deeply into them, feeling his nervousness fade.

"You'd better give us a better takeoff this time," grumbled Valis as she walked up the ramp.

"Enough of your lip," said Wolverine, striding forward to the controls. Valis closed the hatch behind them. She looked a bit worse for wear--the green gown had become a mini-skirt at some point during the proceedings--but settled down into a seat across from them.

"Blob and Lady Deathstrike," said Pandora.

"It is weird, isn't it?" said Valis, pulling off one shredded glove and tossing it on the floor.

"Lady who?" asked Desmond.

"Yuriko," said Pandora. "She was interrogating you."

"Ah." He checked the seatbelt again as the engines roared to life. "She was asking me about you."

"Well, at least she has good taste," said Pandora.

"Where's my complimentary bag of peanuts?" asked Valis.

"We've discontinued that service," growled Wolverine.

"We're going to the Manor," said Pandora, focusing on Desmond once again. "I know you've been incredibly patient so far, but I would ask for just a little more time. When we get there, it will all be explained to you..."

He hesitated, and nodded. He could not believe that she had anything but the best motives.

"Watch out for the turbulence," said Wolverine, and Valis, who hadn't buckled in, fell out of her chair.

"You did that on purpose!" she yelled.

"Yep." He didn't look the least bit sorry.

[pandora-nervosa.livejournal.com]

Writing this has been all kinds of fun. It's really nice not to obsess over every single word, y'know?

Oh, I'm so glad! I thought I was just hounding you for more and you were all, "Bitch, please!" This is so much fun to read! God, I love it.

I so totally think despite the fact that Valis has Sawyer somewhere on a leash, she's totally fucked Logan at some point. You so had him, didn't you. ;p Too much tension there, baby!

I so love this!!!

♥

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Normally I overthink everything, so this is a wonderful way to practice and to just "let go" and write. I mean, this is all just invented on the spot (I'm sure you can tell, lol).

After the flight was over, he found himself shuttled through a mansion, quickly losing track of where he was in the bewildering array of tunnels and corridors. Pandora stayed by his side until they arrived at a guest room, where she told him to wait for her.

The room was comfortable, the furnishings were understated and elegant, and the bed was quite soft. He sat down on it, intending to wait for her to return from her debriefing, but one thing led to another and he ended up lying down, only to drift off soon afterwards.

He dreamt of red silk, lush and warm, of blue eyes that haunted him, of sweet embraces.

"Desmond?"

He woke to find Pandora standing next to the bed, a look of disbelief on her face.

"Did you fall asleep?" She laughed at that. "You poor thing, you must be tired."

He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and sat up. "Did your...debriefing go as planned?"

"Yes," she said. "We're all a little worried about you."

"Me?" he said in disbelief.

"Yes, you. Clearly they are more than a little desperate to draw me out, as they proved last night. Lady Deathstrike would normally not involve herself in such a situation."

"Where are we? What is this group you belong to?" He couldn't help the questions that poured out of him. "How can you...do the things you do?"

"Have you ever heard of mutants?" asked Pandora.

He shook his head.

"We're mutated humans," she said frankly. "We have unusual powers. Some of us gravitate to the side of good, or at least not evil, and some of us use our powers for evil. You're at the home of one of the most powerful mutants, someone who has worked tirelessly for good for decades."

"This mansion is his home?"

"Yes. It's a school, too, for young mutants." She looked him in the eyes. "We rarely let anyone see it. It's much too dangerous--there are a lot of humans who would prefer it destroyed."

He shook his head to clear it. "I'm not certain what to think. It sounds like a comic book."

"Yes," she said simply. "I know. But this is my life. Welcome to it."

[valis2.livejournal.com]

If you missed the last installment, it's above...

"I don't know what to think," he admitted.

"Yes, that's understandable." She sat down on the bed next to him. "This is a very strange situation."

"Those blades..." He shivered.

"Lady Deathstrike and Wolverine are alike." Pandora placed her hand over his, and it was warm and comforting. "Their bones are reinforced with a rather amazing metal called adamantium. It's nearly indestructible. Their blades can cut through almost anything."

He shivered again. "She wanted...to kill me."

"She was hoping that I had shared information with you. Or that I had made plans to meet you again..."

He thought for a long moment. "Your...ability..."

"My mutation is electrical in nature," she said. "I can control electricity within my body, and direct it outside of my body."

"Like a lightning bolt?"

"Well, only if I've been building it up for a very long time." She smiled slyly. "But it is enough to knock people off their feet, usually."

"You knocked me off my feet," he said. "As soon as I saw you, my heart stopped."

"I hope it started again."

"Eventually."

"Otherwise I'd have to shock it again." She drew closer to him.

"I'm not certain I could handle it."

"I think you can handle it. And more."

And then she was kissing him, her lips warm and lithe against his, her hand reaching up into his hair to pull him closer. He responded, his own hand snaking around to her waist, stroking her gently through the red silk of her dress. She made a little sound and he tightened his fingers, loving the feel of her.

She broke the kiss, pulling back, her cheeks flushed. "My, my. You were worth saving." Again, the sly smile returned to her face.

"Thank you," he said earnestly. "I think I would not have left in one piece without your help."

She nodded, running a hand through her hair. "You're welcome."

He knew, in his heart, that he had nowhere to run; he had to stay with her to stay safe. But he couldn't imagine wanted to be anywhere else.

[pandora-nervosa.livejournal.com]

This fic is my crack. I swear to God.

Two installments? Squee!!!!!!!

This is so much fun! It shouldn't be legal...lol.

♥ you so much!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

And...in honor of your birthday...an update!

Desmond looked deeply into Pandora's eyes, and knew he wanted to kiss her again. And more.

There was a knock at the door, and it opened, revealing Valis, who had changed into a red shirt and red jeans. "You two are kissing already?!" she said incredulously. "I mean, we always knew you worked fast, Pandora, but wow..."

Pandora arched an elegant eyebrow. "Is there some reason you're here?" she said. "Some vital bit of information you might have been sent to relay?" Her tone was a bit frosty.

"Now that you mention it..." She tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear. "The big guy wants to see you. Both of you, actually."

Pandora took his hand and stood up. "I had thought he might," she said. She squeezed his hand. "There's nothing to worry about. Professor Xavier is the most honorable mutant I've ever met."

"Y'know what would be hilarious?" said Valis. "It would be so funny if it turned out that Desmond was a mutant too. Like, his ability was really latent, and only just manifests itself now, and it's something really far-out, like conjuring grilled-cheese sandwiches out of thin air..."

"Sawyer can do that too," said Pandora in a mock-sweet way. "Perhaps you should check the kitchen."

"Yes, but Sawyer has to have, you know, cheese and bread to do that."

"Which, conveniently enough, are both in the kitchen." Pandora gave her a meaningful look.

"Ugh, you're no fun," complained Valis. "Besides, I'm supposed to accompany you." She walked back out the door.

"Let's go," said Pandora, turning and giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek. "We can pick up where we left off later." They followed Valis down the winding halls.

To say that Professor Xavier was not what Desmond was expecting was an understatement. He had imagined a huge man with energy crackling around him, and was surprised to see that Xavier was bald, slight, and in a wheelchair.

"Won't you have a seat?" asked the Professor. After they were all seated, and Xavier was back behind his desk, Xavier placed his hands on the desktop and looked at Desmond. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Desmond. I've heard all about your adventure last night, and I apologize for all that you've been through."

"A pleasure to meet you too, Professor," said Desmond, unable to completely dismiss his unease. "I'm thankful that Pandora--er, I mean both the ladies were there. Oh, and Mr. Logan. Otherwise I don't think I would have left alive." He shuddered, thinking of Yuriko and her blades.

"Forgive me for bringing unpleasant memories to the surface," said the Professor kindly. "But this is the precise reason that I need to speak with you. Your safety is now our concern, and I wanted to inform you of the various choices that are before you..."

Desmond listened as Xavier listed his options. Stay on at the mansion as a "friend," and help out; go back out into the world and stay with the Dharma Relief Fund, where there were several mutants with ties to the X-Men who would keep close tabs on him; or back to the real world and sever all contact with the X-Men for his own safety.

"I know that this is quite a lot to digest," said Xavier. "You needn't make your decision this instant. Spend some time here, observe our lives, and then you can make a more informed decision. Valis, please stop thinking of grilled cheese sandwiches, you're making me hungry."

"Aww," said Valis.

"Thank you very much, sir," said Desmond.

"I'll just show him around," said Pandora, smiling.

"I know what that means," said Valis, giggling. "I'm off to the kitchens. Have fun, you two."

"Let's go back to your room, first," said Pandora, leading the way. "It's better to use that as a central point on our tour." She smiled slyly.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

"How long have you lived here?" asked Desmond as they walked down a long, wood-paneled corridor.

"Since my power materialized," said Pandora, her arm looped through his. "I was twelve."

"Twelve?" he said, surprised.

"Some mutant powers manifest themselves at the onset of adolescence," she said. "Mine did so in a rather spectacular manner. I set off a lightning bolt that hit a tree in our backyard and incinerated it."

"Your parents must have been upset."

"They called me a freak and that was the end of it," said Pandora. She smiled at him. "They're no longer my family. My new family began here. Professor X, Storm, Jean Grey, Valis...they're my family, now."

"I see." They walked down another corridor, and took another turn. "Do you...like it here?"

"Of course," she said. "We don't leave very often--the outside world doesn't really understand or tolerate mutants well. But it isn't a prison. There's always something that needs doing, or children to teach...and the grounds are enormous. We have plenty of room...for all sorts of activities." She gave him a wicked grin. "Ah, and here we are, at your door. Perhaps you'll be wanting a shower before we embark on the tour?"

A shower sounded wonderful. He nodded, opening the door, and she followed him in, closing the door behind her. Putting her cool hand on the back of his neck, she brought his face close to hers and kissed him again, her lips soft and sweet against his own.

"I'll be back," she said, and turned to leave.

He entered the bathroom and stripped off his clothing, noticing that his pants were ruined. The water they'd slogged through last night had not necessarily been clean.

The hot water of the shower was more than relaxing--it was cleansing. He let it pour over his body, closing his eyes and trying to forget about Yuriko and her frightening hands.

He turned the water off, and pulled a large fluffy towel from the rack. Sponging the water off his body, he absently opened the door, hoping to cool down the bathroom, which was full of steam.

"What a view," said Pandora, and he looked up in surprise. Her eyes were taking in every inch of his nakedness, and he blushed with what felt like his entire body. "My goodness. Or should I say, my badness...perhaps we might consider delaying our tour just a bit more..."