He Xuan had been ready to leave the desert well before Shi Qingxuan had finished her little investigation. It wasn’t the sun, or the sand, though both were unpleasant, but Crimson Rain’s stupid voice on the private communication array: « Oh, sorry, are we walking in on something? If I knew there was a dress code I would have gotten done up. » And if it wasn’t that, it was the tinkling of jewelry in Shi Qingxuan’s hair as she moved, or the meaningless asides that were disorienting in…

I've made a lot of promises in my life. Even kept a few of them, though I don't make a habit of it. What's the harm in telling someone what they want to hear?

Mikey meets Pete and Alicia, who are a couple. Cue awkward fumbling-toward-a-threesome shenanigans. Thanks to handsomespeck at LJ for the beta.

A little breaking-and-entering never hurt nobody, right? Especially if they're rich pirates who deserve it.

(For the Star Wars Rare Ships Challenge over on Pillowfort!)

Masks, and the people who wear them.

Castiza contemplates the skull of Gloriana.

In Egypt, Antony and Cleopatra share their recollections of a dead man. Then things get competitive.

It's 2006, but just barely. Overall, 2005 was a relatively shit year, but this one is looking even worse. It's also looking like Dean's last.

Jay-z gives Rihanna the Talk.

He's letting him in. He'll use this like he's used every scrap of information Andrew has given him. This is a mistake.

(Fletcher walks him home from the jazz club. Andrew invites him in, to talk.)