FE 2024 Prompt Table 1 Fill #17 - Pain

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Morgan is laying on the couch with one arm clutching his little stomach and the other arm wrapped around his favorite stuffie, which is of course, Iron Man. The little boy may have never had the chance to know his father since he had died before Morgan was born, but he still found comfort snuggling with the toy version of his father's superhero persona.

Morgan had had only a half day of school today, and he was supposed to have been playing in one corner of the living room while Pepper finished up some paperwork. So when he is unusually quiet, she looked up, and was immediately concerned when she saw him laying on the couch.

"Morgan, honey, what's wrong?" she asked from her corner desk.

"My my t-tummy hurts, Mommy!" Morgan whimpered.

Pepper shot up, crossing the room in the less than a second, sitting down on the coffee table in front of him. She placed a gentle hand on his forehead to make sure he did not have a fever, and was relieved to discover that he didn't.

"All right, sweetheart, let's see if we can't get you feeling better," Pepper said in a soft reassuring voice.

She started by retrieving a nice, warm, blanket for him from the hallway closest, and tucking it gently around Morgan. Once she was sure he was cozy, she went into the kitchen to pour a glass of cool water for him, "Here, sweetie, take a few sips of water."

Morgan took a few sips of water before he laid back against the couch cushions, and pulled his Iron Man stuffie closer to him.

Pepper then retrieved a heating pad from the same closet she'd gotten the blanket from. She plugged it in and adjusted the temperature to make sure it wasn't too hot before she put it on Morgan's tummy. As she watched, he sighed in  relief as the pad's heat relieved his discomfort.

"There, sweetie, that should help you start feeling better," she said as she brushed away some hair from his forehead, "Why don't you try to take a little nap?"

Morgan nodded, closed his eyes, then snuggled down into the couch with the heating pad and Iron Man.

Pepper watched him for a little while to make sure he was able to fall asleep, and then she went back over to her desk to get a little more work done. But as she worked, her thoughts as well as her gaze kept drifting back towards Morgan. She couldn't help her mild concern or the urge she felt to keep a close eye on her little boy. Taking glances over and seeing evidence that he was sleeping peacefully helped her to reassure her that he wasn't seriously sick.

As the afternoon sun streamed further into the room, Morgan's beautiful eyes that matched his father's opened up again, and he sat up.

When she saw he was awake, Pepper got up to go sit down beside him, "Are you feeling better, sweetheart?"

Morgan looking still a little sleepy eyed nodded, "Uh huh, Mommy."

Pepper kissed his brow, "Oh, I am so glad to hear that, honey. How about some chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner? Hmm? Does that sound good?"

"Yeah!" the little boy said with a huge grin.

FE 2024 Prompt Table 1 Fill #18 - Refuge

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"Thank you for seeing me on such a busy day, Commander," Chief Priest Vizait said as he entered the private office.

"Of course, Chief Priest, you are always welcome in my home," Hlvea said, gesturing to a small nearby table with seats, "Won't you join me for refreshment? I have some Ember Glow tea and j'va cakes."

Vizait smiled and arched an eyebrow, "As always, Commander, you know my weakness. I would be delighted to join you for refreshment."

He took the seat across from Hlvea, his expression pensive as he accepted the warm cup of the Ember Glow tea accompanied by a j'va cake from her.

"Thank you." He inhaled the steam from the tea, and then took a careful sip, releasing a sip before he said, "It's been quite a day, hasn't it?"

Hlvea nodded, her eyes reflecting the weariness of her great office, "Indeed, it has. I spent many years at Gex's side watching him attend to his duties but I must admit, I never understood how much the affairs of our people are ever demanding as well as never ending."

"Especially in time such as these I should think," Vizait quipped, his expression sobering,  "With tensions ever on the rise with the Temerturians and then there is the looming threat that the Cult of Maruk presents in perpetuity, our people are looking to you for guidance and strength." 

Hlvea sighed, her shoulders tensed up with the weight of her role as Commander, "I do everything that I can, Vizait, but sometimes it feels like it is never enough."

"And you are doing admirably, Hlvea," the Chief Priest assured her, "But even the strongest tree to be found needs to have the support of its roots."

She managed a small smile at the analogy, "Thank you, Vizait. Your words bring me encouragement and comfort."

The Chief Priest nodded, "It is the least that I can do. Now, tell me, is there anything that I can do to assist you today?"

As their conversation continued, Vizait finally guided it towards the reason for his visit, or so Hlvea thought.

Her daily visits to the temple's chapels.

"Perhaps Commander," Chief Priest Vizait began gently, "You should hold your devotions within the Commander's residence."

"Perhaps Commander," he began gently, and Hlvea did not fail to notice he had switched back to using her formal title again, "You should hold your devotions within the Commander's residence."

Hlvea could not help the look of shock that crossed her face as she said, "What are you suggesting, Chief Priest? That the temple is not safe?"

Vizait sighed, and finally nodded, "Yes, Commander. It is what I am saying."

"But all of my life, I have felt safe whenever I have been underneath Jelvok's sheltering canopy! It has always been a refuge to me!" Hlvea exclaimed. 

"I am sorry, Commander, but with the  Temerturians seeking to harm you, you must stay where the Lightsworn will be able to best protect you. And though it may hurt, I believe that is within the walls of the residence."

"And what of Jelvok himself, Vizait?" she countered, adding, "I cannot and will not live without practicing my faith! I need to have my devotions to Jelvok in the temple, and not within the confining walls of the Commander's residence!"

Vizait regarded her with sympathy and concern, "I understand your devotion and need to worship Jelvok within his refuge, Commander, But the truth is, we are in times of danger, and after what happened to our beloved former Commander, we must prioritize your safety above all else."

Hlvea's brow furrowed in frustration. "I cannot forsake the temple, Vizait! It is the very heart of our people's faith, and I will not be afraid to set foot in it even in the face danger!"

The Chief Priest nodded, "And I do not ask you to forsake the temple, Commander. But I implore you to exercise caution. We could try to make the temple even more secure by placing more guards around the temple, but I believe to do so would be disruptive to others." 

He sighed, and continued, "I am sorry, Commander, I know I am asking a great sacrifice for you, but it is one for the greater good. The Temerturians have no regards for the sanctity of our temple, and if they would violate its holy grounds if they see the chance to slay you."

Hlvea sighed, her shoulders slumping with resignation, "Very well, Vizait, I will acquiesce to your counsel and I will from now on hold my devotions within the Commander's residence. For now and not forever. I will not forced to keep away from the temple by those who think they are our masters."

Vizait nodded, "I understand. A wise decision, Commander, one I think is for teh best. And if you wish, I and or other priests from the temple may come here to pray and worship with you."

With a nod, made her best effort to smile as she said, "Thank you, Chief Priest. I would be grateful."

FE 2024 Prompt Table 2 Fill #19 - Backstage

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FE 2024 Prompt Table 2 Fill #20 - Moon

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FE 2024 Team Fill #9 - Write a Crossover ficlet

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River Song did not come to County General Hospital by coincidence. No, her instruments had picked up some peculiar temporal readings originating from the hospital, which of course, warranted an investigation on her part. Little did she know that her visit to the hospital would lead her into the middle of a whirlwind of confusion and mistaken identity.

As she walked into the seemingly chaotic emergency department, River could not shake the odd déjà vu feeling she was experiencing. The topsy-turvy atmosphere seemed strangely familiar but she couldn't put her finger on why. Before she could consider it any further, a nurse approached her and addressed River with urgency in her voice.

"Dr. Corday, you're needed in Trauma Room Two, stat!"

Confused, River told her in response, "I'm terribly sorry, but I believe you have me mistaken for someone else."

The nurse said something about there was no time for games before she herself  went tearing off in the direction of presumably Trauma Room Two. River didn't waste any time going in the opposite direction since she did not wanting the nurse to return and coerce her into a situation where she'd be of no help. As she hurried away, she looked back over her shoulder to be sure the nurse hadn't returned, and she kept going until she found herself knocked a little bit backwards. Looking forward once more, she discovered she'd run into an area that had a bed with a curtain drawn around it.

"Excuse me a moment please," a voice said from the other side.

A moment later, the curtain was yanked back a little to reveal a man with glasses dressed in green scrubs and wearing a long, white lab coat standing there, an annoyed frown prominent on his face. River could only wait to see how he responded before she'd offered her apology and be on her way when he did the last thing she expected him to do. As his eyes met hers, his expression went from surprise to a smile that could almost split his face in two, it was so big.

"Elizabeth, honey, are you okay?" he asked her, stepping closer to her.

River hesitated, her eyes taking in the name on his lab coat M. Greene, and at the same moment she was about to respond to him, he planted a quick kiss on her cheek.

"I thought you were supposed to still be in surgery at this time, so this is a nice surprise," he said, still giving her a big smile.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Greene, but I think you've—"

"Mark! There you are!"

They both turned to see a young woman, thankfully not to the nurse who had mistaken River for a Dr. Corday earlier, was fast approaching them. She tossed a gown in Mark's direction.

"Come on! We've got a three car MVA about two minutes out! Oh, hi Elizabeth! I didn't know you were down here! I thought Mark said you had a big surgery today! You should probably stick around because I'm sure we'll need a surgical consult!"

Mark put on the gown, and started following the young woman, whoever she was, and called over his shoulder, "Come on, honey! By the way, were you wearing that at home?!" 

Once he was out of sight, River hurried the other way, eager to find a way that led further into the hospital and away from the ER where everyone seemed to believe she was one Dr. Elizabeth Corday. She found some elevators but opted to take the stairs by them instead as that seemed like the fastest exit. She went up a few flights of stairs until she was sure no one from the ER was following her up, and then taking out her temporal reader, she exited onto the floor.

River got so engrossed with the readings she was getting from her temporal reader that she did not notice that she was headed in the direction that was for hospital staff only. She had just entered a room, which was the surgeons lounge when a voice cut through her concentration.

"Lizzie, why do I see you coming into this room at the time you're scheduled for a cholecystectomy in the O.R.?" asked the little troll of a man in blue scrubs.

River almost denied she was this Dr. Corday again, but decided it would be just wasted breath since everyone in this place was convinced she was in fact one Elizabeth Corday. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, and said, "I beg your pardon?"

"Look I know you and Greene have a new kid at home keeping you up all hours of the night, but I don't have time for this today! So get yourself into the appropriate attire now, scrubbed up, and get your butt into the O.R.! Now!" the troll barked as he stormed out of the room.

Shaking her head, River turned her attention once more to her temporal reader. It was past time for her this temporal parasite and leave County General behind, preferably before one more person mistakens her for Doctor Elizabeth Corday. 

Meanwhile in the O.R.

"What the—" 

Glancing up from what she was doing, Elizabeth Corday inquired casually, "Is there something wrong, Robert?"

"How did you get in here without me seeing you?" Romano shot back.

Elizabeth looked up again from her task, her brows furrowed in confusion at Romano's unexpected question, "Why, I walked in, as someone usually does when they enter a room and they're not on a gurney." Her tone is even and amusement danced in her eyes.

In turn, Romano's expression darkened, his eyes glaring sharp, "Don't play games with me, Lizzie. I just saw you in the lounge and told to get your butt in here. Now I didn't see you walk around me and there's no possible way for you to have changed your clothes or for you be scrubbed up enough to be digging around this man's insides unless you're trying to gaslight me."

"Doctor Romano, I don't know what you're on about but Shirley will attest to the fact that I arrived on time for Mr. Alexander's cholecystectomy. Is that not correct, Shirley?"

The nurse nodded when his eyes shot in her direction, "Doctor Corday did arrive at the scheduled time, Doctor Romano."

"All right then, let's get on with it," he snapped, stepping up opposite of Elizabeth.

"I've got it," she said, "And before you ask if I am sure, I am. It's a simple cholecystectomy."

Romano nodded, stepped back, and exited the O.R. without saying another word.

"What on Earth was that about?" Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know, Doctor Corday. I haven't one clue."

FE 2024 Team Fill #10 - Yellow

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