In order to flex my Shipfest muscles (Translation: this is my first attempt at anything Shipfest. Therefore, it will probably not be that great) I present to you: Whatever This Is. (You have no idea how many times I had to look away from the screen and laugh out the hysterics I got from attempting this. The Shipfest is so weird.)



Iximaz stood outside of her boss's impressive oak door, nervously gripping her script. That script was the pinnacle of her career- the evidence of her arduous journey from fan to fanwriter. It symbolized a mountain of effort, gallons of tears, and maybe a small amount of blood. It was her ticket to a better life, her exit from anonymity, her entrance to stardom. It was her everything. And today... it was going to be evaluated.

The door opened. Iximaz sucked in a breath. It was a blonde-bunned secretary. "The boss will see you now," she said, opening the door a little wider. Iximaz's heart rate skyrocketed, but she forced herself to walk forward, heels clicking on the hardwood. The office was dark, lit mostly by moody candles that flickered in her passing. It was a large room, circular, and at its center was an expansive (and expensive) oak desk, outlined by a circle of stage lighting. The boss had a flare for the dramatic.

"Sir," Iximaz said respectfully. She couldn't keep from staring at the elf behind the desk. Huinesoron, the head of the Shipping Company, was... much more handsome than she had been lead to believe. He was dressed in a black three-piece suit, coat on the top of his desk and white sleeves rolled to his elbows. He waved her in without looking up from another script on his desk.

"Hand it over," he said. "I have three other budding masterpieces to shred today."

Iximaz gulped, convulsively gripping her script. "I- I don't think you should dismiss it so quickly," she said, then bit her lip. What was she saying!? This was the head of the Shipping Company she was talking to!

That made him pause. He looked up slowly, eyes narrowed. "Hum. We'll see. Give it here." He held out a hand.

After taking a deep breath, Iximaz handed over the script, then began to turn. Shockingly, Huinesoron flipped open to the first page and began reading. That was most irregular- usually, he read the scripts, then sent a review. Why would he do this in person? Iximaz began chewing her lip. "Desdendelle stared deeply into Kaitlyn's eyes. Really? That's how you're starting it? Oh, very well. ‘I could look at you all day,' he says, brushing her lips with a kiss. She pulls him in- is this honestly the best you can do?" Huinesoron looked up indignantly. "I've seen elementary school plays more original."

"I- I'm sorry, sir, I thought-"

hS cut her off with a sharp hand gesture, dark eyes shadowed in the candlelight, strong jaw set. "Never mind. Let's keep going. I might as well skip this first bit; hardly any dialogue." He flipped forward a few pages while Iximaz waited pensively, trying not to run out of the room. This was her life he was holding, all of her work. And he didn't like it. Huinesoron's Shipping Company had a complete monopoly on Shipfest productions- if he didn't take her script, well, it just wouldn't be made. End of story.

"Kaitlyn and Desdendelle walk hand in hand down the beach. ‘I love it this time of year,' Des says. ‘So peaceful; hardly any people. Would you like some tea?' ‘No,' says Kaitlyn, glancing down shyly, then looking into his eyes. ‘I would like some of you, though.' She kisses him, the setting sun framing them." hS stood so quickly his chair toppled backwards. He strode angrily around his desk and stopped mere inches from Iximaz, leaning over her. Iximaz barely contained a frightened yelp. "Do you honestly think this is good enough for the Shipfest?" he said softly, shaking the script in one hand.

"I- I'd thought it was," Iximaz said. It sounded like a poor excuse, even to her. "Is, is it not?"

hS only laughed. Iximaz could feel his breath on her face; it smelled lovely, actually. "No," he said.

Iximaz felt her heart sink right to her toes. She began to sag, tears coming to her eyes. "Oh," she said, blinking rapidly. Can't let him see me cry, she thought.

hS looked at her with an unreadable expression. "If you want," he said, tilting his head. "We might try working on something for the Shipfest... together."

"What?" Iximaz asked. Suddenly, she was hyper-conscious of how close he was; his hand brushed hers, and she almost jumped.

"You know, you're rather beautiful, Iximaz," he said, leaning in. Suddenly, he was kissing her. Iximaz's squeak of surprise was cut off as he wrapped her in his arms, kissing her deeply.

"What are you doing?" she asked him softly when he pulled away for air.

hS smirked. "Making something worthy of the Shipfest," he said.