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zoros-fourth-sword · 2 months

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Scarlett- Chapter One

Summary: Portgas D. Scarlett Ace's older sister, decides to join Trafalgar Law's crew as their navigator after her brother's death. At first, she is distant and consumed with grief over her loss, but as she spends more time with Law and his crew, she begins to find comfort in their shared experiences.

As they journey together through the Grand Line, Law, and Scarlett must face off against dangerous foes and navigate the treacherous waters of the New World. Along the way, they grow closer, and Scarlett begins to see Law in a new light.

But their love is not without its challenges, as Law is still haunted by his past and the events that led him to become a pirate. Scarlett must confront her feelings of guilt and loss over her brother's death if she wants to move forward with Law.

WC: 1.7k

Taglist: ???

WARNINGS: grief, depression, mention of death

ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀsʟɪsᴛ

Chapter One: Grumpy Pants

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no, it can't be it's a lie It can't be true I won't believe it he can't be dead He can't. I tightly grip the newspaper in my hands trying to fight back the tears threatening to escape it was like my entire world was crumbling under me it was like I was destined to be alone first I lost my mother then Sabo and now my baby brother Ace it's too much how am I supposed to live on without the people I love I need him I can't leave him we promised to stay alive and Luffy we still got to make him the king of the pirates right

"it can't be" I broke as I sank to the floor

"don't tell me it's true old man" I sob looking up at Rayleigh

"I'm so sorry kid" The old man looked at me unsure what to do

'h h he can't be dead" I cry as my heart falls to my stomach causing me to feel sick it was the most painful feeling I have ever experienced I couldn't breathe I couldn't think all I could do was cry I felt so hopeless I couldn't even protect my baby brother isn't that what an older sibling is supposed to isn't that there role in this life to protect their little sibling and I couldn't even do that

"Luffy what about Luffy" I panic as I quickly get up off the floor causing Ray to reach his arms out in concern

"hey hey kid calm down," Ray said as he grabbed my shoulders stopping my panicked self in front of him

"Ray it hurts" I choke looking at the man in front of me seeing he had a concerned expression on his face

"he can't be dead" I sob as I tightly grip his shirt. Burying my head into his chest letting everything I was holding in out. all the pain, the grief, the anger, all of it stained Ray’s shirt

"I can't live without him Ray I can't do it" I choke as my eyes painfully become puffy from the salty tears stinging my eyes

"I know Scar and I'm so sorry kid but you have to be strong for yourself, and not just that Luffy needs you," Ray said as he began to rub the back of my head trying to calm me down

"It's so hard Ray it's so fucking hard what am I supposed to do how am I supposed to face Luffy after this he needed me and I wasn't there I was so fucking busy with everything else that I couldn't even see that my brothers needed me" I cry as I began to beat my hand on Ray’s chest in frustration

"Scarlett I know you're angry and frustrated but you can't let those feelings control your spirit do you understand me you need to be strong," Ray said as he hugged me tighter

"Listen kid I found out where Luffy is and I'm going to head there in a moment," Ray said as he pulled away from our hug. grabbing my shoulders to gain my full attention

"what do ya say kid how about you see your little brother again," Ray said as he whipped the tears off my red and puffy face

"Yeah'' I choke out nodding my head yes

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"wheres Luffy" I demanded as I hopped out of the water with Ray causing my clothes to stick to my body

"kid calm down," Ray said from behind me trying to stop me from causing a scene

"And who are you," a tall man with tattoos harshly asked crossing his buff arms over his chest

"I'm his sister and you," I say placing one hand on my hip while my face showed I was irritated

"I'm the man who saved his life," the man said giving me a harsh glare

"Oh," I say as I calm down feeling bad about my rude approach

"look I'm sorry it’s just-" Before I could finish my sentence the man cut me off

"It's fine he's in the forest with Jenbei" the man said as he began walking away

Forgetting about the man I quickly ran through the forest desperately searching for my little brother soon I came to a path to see two small dots in the distance the closer I got to them the more I realized it was Luffy and Jenbei

"LUFFY" I scream trying to get the boy's attention not caring about the rocks hitting my ankles from running so fast

"SCAR" Luffy screamed once he realized it was me

"LUFFY' i scream again as we get closer desperately missing one another after being away for such a long time

"SCAR" Luffy screamed jumping into my arms causing me to stumble backwards

“I missed you so much” Luffy mumbled into my shoulder as his body slightly shock due to adrenaline pumping through his veins

“I missed you too Lu,” I say against the top of his head squeezing him tighter afraid if I let him go I would never see him again

“I'm so glad you're okay,” Luffy said as he pulled away from our hug giving me a warm smile

“Of course I am I’m stronger than you think” I weakly chuckle as I rub the top of his head slightly messing up his greasy hair

“I know” Luffy smiled causing my heart to ache. After all the stuff he had been through he was still pushing through it

“Old man Ray is here apparently he needs to see ya,” I say smiling past my pain wanting to be strong for Luffy

“Really then let’s go” Luffy said excitedly as he ran back to the camp sight

“Are you alright Scarlett” Jenbei asked as he came up behind me

“Yeah I’ll just learn to cope with it,” I weakly say giving the Fishman a slight shrug

“Confident as ever I see I wouldn’t expect any less from Ace’s older sister,” the big man laughed as he gave me a light pat on the back

“Thank you Jenbei” I say giving the man a warm smile feeling proud to know that I was considered strong for being Portgas D. Ace’s older sister after all I did teach him a thing or two about not taking shit from no one

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“WHAT WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO” I scream towards Ray once he tells me his plan apparently he and Luffy are going to leave me to go train on some island for 2 years

“calm down scar I already figured that out we just got to talk to him first and lucky for you he’s looking for a navigator,” Ray said as he tried to calm me down

“YOUR TELLING ME YOU HAVENT EVEN ASKED THEM YET” I scream out angrily my face turning red from anger

“It’s fine Scar I have this under control,” Ray said as he pushed his glasses up his face

“Yea if you screw this up I’m going to kill you I don’t wanna be fucking homeless” I snap as I cross my arms over my chest

“Matter of fact I’ll go talk to him right now,” Ray said as he got up from the log he was sitting on

“Wait you're telling me that there here on the island theres nothing but women here,” I say as I fling up from my log

“You meet him earlier you seemed to get along,” Ray chuckled as he continued to walk away

“WAIT YOU MEAN GRUMPY PANTS” I screamed in panic realizing I disrespected my maybe future captain

“I think it’s a great idea by the way Scar,” Luffy said below me as he sat on his log

“Really I mean I haven’t been in a crew besides Ace’s” I mumble as I take my seat on my log next to Luffy my heart slightly breaking from the memory of Ace

“Yeah and Traffy’s a nice guy” Luffy smiled as he took a bite from the meat that Boa Hancock brought to him

“Traffy” I questionably asked with a raised eyebrow

“Yea his name’s actually Trafalgar Law but I call him Traffy” Luffy said as he continued to eat

“Oh I see it’s kinda cute” I chuckle as I take the meat Luffy was eating out of his hand to take a bite of my own

“Hey get your own” Luffy growled as he tried to get his meat back

“Nope,” I say popping the p trying to avoid his attacks

“Come on Scar give it back” Luffy growled again as he desperately tried to get the meat

“I’ll kick your ass over this meat” I growl smacking Luffy’s hands away

“Is that a challenge” Luffy growled as he pushed his forehead against mine

“Enough you two” Ray said as he came walking back over to us with the man named Law

Before I could say anything Luffy snatched the food from my hand and swallowed the thing hole including the bone

“LUFFY” I yell smacking the boy on the back of the head causing him to let out a whine

“Scar come here for a sec,” Ray said as he called me over towards him and Law

I quickly head over to them giving Luffy one good smack across the head with my haki making sure the boy could feel it

“Ow what the heck” Luffy growled but I just simply ignored him and went on my merry way

“What’s up” I say putting a hand on my hip once I reach the two men seeing that Law had a bored expression plastered on his face

“Listen I don’t take shit lightly if you're going to join my crew you're going to do as I say” Law huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest

“Of course” I agree not really wanting to argue and besides I do need somewhere to stay and I’m also desperate

“Good all I ask is to not mess up my ship and look out for the rest of the crew,” Law said as he looked me up and down

“Of course, I’ll consider them as my own family I’m sure” I weakly say giving the man a small smile feeling a slight sting from the word family

“Welcome to the crew we’ll be leaving in 30” Law said as he walked back to his ship

“Um okay,” I say surprisingly not expecting the man to be so up front about it

“Seems to me you found your home kid” Ray chucked as he placed a hand on my shoulder

“Yea” I nervously chuckled not really looking forward to my new captain I can already tell we are going to be bumping heads

Next Chapter

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I hope this was good I’m so sorry if it wasn’t please comment and let me know 💕❤️

{A/N this is what Scarleet looks like to give everyone an idea}

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those-late-night-feels · 11 months

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Sweet Surrender

Summary: Joel is there to protect you & a bond grows. Boston QZ, no Tess/Ellie.

Warnings: 18+ only. Attempted rape (not Joel), smut.

AN: Apologies to my Loki fan-fam. This one has been rolling around in my head for a while and I had to write it down.

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The world had sometimes been a dangerous place before the outbreak. Now, danger was the norm. You couldn't turn a corner without facing it. Cordyceps, thieves, rapists, murderers–in the end, we were destined to turn into one of them. There was no such thing as living pure and good these days. Those people were dead, and everyone else had blood on their hands.

The QZ maintained order as much as possible, although even those who were expected to protect had their hands dipped in nefarious affairs. But survival was the name of the game, and we all tried our best.

Survival meant long hours as a cook for the QZ's cafeteria, learning how to stretch food to feed those remaining, learning how to ration, learning to keep your head down.

Another end to the typical 10-hour shift and the sun had just begun its descent. Untying the greasy apron to hang on the hook until tomorrow, the cellar keys were grabbed to store the remaining ingredients not used–nothing was to be wasted.

"Hey, I'm heading down." The burly security guard nodded quietly, watching while you carried the random stockpile of long-expired sugar, dried spices, garden vegetables, and tins. The cellar was cold and dark, well sealed to hopefully prevent rodents. Items were shelved and inventory checked, making sure nothing had been tampered or was rotting.

The door to the cellar creaked and then clicked shut, making you turn.

"Hello?" you called out, pulse quickening. It was unlikely that a Cordyseyps would make it into the QZ, but not impossible.

From the shadows, the security guard emerged. But, what at first was a sense of relief quickly turned to dread as his large hand covered your mouth and a sharp knife pressed to your throat.

"Don't scream and you don't die. Got it?" Confused, you trembled beneath his hand, your mind going blank. "Got it?"

Your head nodded slowly and he gave a sinister smile. The knife dragged painfully downward to your shirt, cutting it open. His other hand to the button of his pants as they popped open with a grunt.

"So fuckin' pretty. Gonna make you feel real good in a minute," he rasped and your eyes averted to the side, away from his receding hairline and crooked teeth, stomach clenching in disgust. His heavy, greedy form pushed against you, attempting to pin you against the wall a few feet away.

Hand reaching out, you blindly felt for anything as your pants were roughly tugged. Only a few seconds until they'd be ripped off. Fingers grazed plastic jars, bags, boxes too large, glass. In the chaos of fumbling hands and zippers opening, your hand latched onto a glass bottle and drove it down to his head with a thud.

He jolted in shock at the impact, the knife in his hand slicing open your forearm. A second blow to the head, a sickening crack of glass on bone, and then you bolted toward the exit in a panic, blood running down your arm. Was that yours or his?

You burst through the door to the evening chill and collided into the arms of a firm brick wall of a man. Just your luck to run from the arms of one man and into the arms of another.

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Joel had sometimes wondered if a wanderer would be better off running into a Cordyceps or him. Who was the bigger monster? Both had been on the receiving end of screams and fear. Both were just trying to survive.

He hadn't had those thoughts for a few weeks, but he carried a reputation around town. Stares were ignored and rumors grew, but he didn't correct anyone. The more he was feared, the better.

Walking through midtown, another shift of burning the infected in the books, he looked forward to reclining on the couch and nursing a glass of whiskey. A door down the alley burst open and a small shaken frame collided into him. He had almost been as startled as you, wild-eyed, bloody, and trembling in his arms. Cheeks flushed, lip bleeding, shirt torn open. Damn, what kind of mess had she gotten herself in?

A guard appeared abruptly from the door and stopped short when he saw Joel. "Hold her," he yelled, slightly out of breath. "She needs to be detained."

He started towards you, pulling out zip ties, and Joel felt your grip on his shirt tighten.

"Why's she being detained?" Joel asked, calm and nonchalant, but he could feel your body trembling.

"That's none of your business."

Joel raised an eyebrow, putting a protective hand on your shoulder. He may not run this town, but he was typically given more respect than that by a guard. "Seems like it is my business now that I'm involved."

The guard's jaw flexed, considering Joel. "She assaulted a guard and resisted arrest for theft."

Joel looked from you to the guard, your eyes pleading with this stranger. Don't let me go with him. "This little thing assaulted you?"

The guard clenched his fist, narrowing his eyes at Joel. "And resisted arrest for theft."

Joel nodded, as if understanding clearly. "Did she also unzip your pants?"

The guard's face reddened, pulling the zipper up. "Hand her over."

Joel sighed. Just once, he'd like to have a day where there wasn't shit for him to clean up. "Listen, you had your little fun. But if you think she's going anywhere with you, you've got another thing comin'. It's time for you to leave before things get messy."

"Is that a threat?" he growled.

"No, it's a fact."

There was silence, Joel staring down the guard, his hand never leaving your shoulder. The guard looked between you and a man who might actually kill him.

"Fuckin' cunt," he mumbled, and spit on the ground at Joel's feet. Joel didn't move a muscle until the guard turned the corner, only then releasing his grip on you.

"Y'alright?" he asked.

You nodded out of habit, pulling your torn shirt over your chest in embarrassment. Was anyone alright these days?

Joel removed his flannel–a thin t-shirt underneath–and handed it to you, consciously trying his best not to stare at your lacy bra-clad breasts. It hadn't been that long since he'd seen a naked woman, but when was the last time that he'd seen one in something like that? Nowadays, everyone survived being practical–long lasting clothes, shelf stable foods, nothing frivolous.

You pulled his shirt on while whispering a thanks, careful to slip your cut arm through with a grimace.

"That could use some tending to," he said, looking down at the bloodied arm. "I'm just down here, can patch you up real quick."

No words came out when your mouth opened. You didn't know him. How could you kindly say that you didn't want to risk being assaulted twice in one day?

Noticing your hesitation, he rubbed his head in thought. "Or, I could get my med kit and bring it down. You can wait outside."

You nodded with a thankful smile and followed him to the gray brick building, one of the designated housing units within the QZ. He came back a few minutes later, a first aid kit tucked under his arm and a bottle of unlabeled alcohol in his hand.

"Where'd you get that?" you asked, medical supplies being hard to come by.

"Where does anyone get anything these days?" he replied cheekily.

Arm extended, his calloused hands gently brushed along your skin as he tipped the bottle to the wound, causing you to suck through your teeth in pain.

"Only hurts for a moment," he said, wiping away the excess blood. He was careful with you, slow to clean the wound, his dark eyes focused on tending to your arm.

"Don't think you'll need to be stitched up," he mumbled, placing a clean cloth over the wound, then wrapping it snugly with a roll of medical tape. "Good as new," he said when he was finished.

"What do I owe ya', doc?" you asked, examining your bandaged arm. He gave a slight smirk at the nickname, pulling you to your feet, his touch lingering for a moment before shoving his hand in his pocket. "It's on the house."

"Thank you…"

He gave you his name and you offered yours. The sky was in shades of pink and gray, the sun long since settled past the horizon.

"Let's get you back to your place before curfew."

You led the way, Joel striding with a casual gait next to you. Turning the corner on the block, you stopped in front of the steps to your building. "This is me."

You started to unbutton the flannel shirt to give back to him, but he shook his head. "Keep it. Looks better on you anyways."

Blushing in response, you pulled the shirt down. "Make sure you keep that wound clean and change the bandage in the mornin'."

"Yes doc." You smiled at him and were about to turn towards the door.

"Here," he said, pressing a small pocket knife into your palm. You turned it over in your hand, the smooth wooden handle worn down from years of use.

"I… I don't need that."

"Yes. You do." The way he said it was like it was final. The knife was pocketed and you looked up into his dark eyes, his forehead creased.

"Thanks. Goodnight Joel," you said, and he stood in front of your building until you were out of sight, safe for the night.

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It had been more than a week since the incident. The thought of not returning to work had crossed your mind, but no asshole was going to have that kind of power over you. Walking through the cafeteria door with your head held high and Joel's knife tucked away in your pocket, you discovered a new guard stationed. He stood watch at the front and nodded his head in your direction when he caught you staring.

Had the other guard been repositioned to a new post? Had Joel reported him? Either way, he wasn't worth a second thought, and you went about the day a little happier.

At the end of another long shift, your hands ached from peeling a bin of potatoes and your hair was coated in flour. Those long ago days of standing aimlessly under a hot shower were a distant memory, but sometimes you still daydreamed about it. How long had it been since you'd taken a proper shower, instead of the warmed up sponge baths you were all accustomed to now? Memories of those daily luxuries clouded your mind when you spotted Joel across the street.

"Hey doc," you said with a smile, crossing to meet him. To the average observer, Joel seemed to have a scowl, but you could see the corner of his lip turn up when he spotted you.

"How's the arm?"

You stretched it out, the same bandage wrapped around with clean cloth. "Sore, but healing."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm headed to the cafeteria. You hungry?"

You crinkled up your nose. "Hungry, yes. But there's no way I'm stepping back in that building after a 10-hour shift. Come with me."

He raised an eyebrow. "You know of somewhere else to get food?"

"You'll see."

Your apartment was a small studio–a bed, a table, a few chairs. In exchange for housing, you worked wherever there was a need. Knick knacks and artwork decorated window sills and walls. Joel wondered what was yours and what had been here before the outbreak.

"Make yourself at home," you said as your key clanged on the counter. Dried pasta and a tin of tomato sauce were pulled from a cupboard and set on the counter.

"Where'd you find that?" he asked, knowing everything was rationed and outside food was hard to come by.

"You have your secrets and I have mine," you said with a wink.

"So," you began, filling a pot with water and setting it to boil on the stove while watching Joel out of the corner of your eye. "I'm guessing you weren't a doctor…before..."

You trailed off and he shook his head, casually taking in the minimal decor, a small collection of books on one shelf, some plants you managed to dig up and repot on the window sills. "Construction," he said simply, picking up a brain teaser puzzle from the table and fiddling with the metal hooks.

"How long have you been in Boston?" he asked, watching as you pulled some spices from a high shelf, your shirt riding up when you reached. He turned his head in an attempt to focus on the brain teaser and hope you hadn't caught his stare.

"Few months now." Dried pasta was poured into the boiling water, watching as it swirled around with your wooden spoon. "My last QZ… it wasn't safe. A few of us snuck out. We'd heard Boston might be better."

You almost said it like it was a question, but Joel knew the answer. He'd seen his share of shit going down in Boston; hell, he'd sometimes been apart of it.

"Anyway, thank you for your help the other day. I don't want you to think I'm some damsel in distress, but… I'm grateful you were there."

And it was true, you didn't want him thinking you were helpless. But it felt so good to have someone protect you for once.

He shook his head. "Anyone who's survived this long I wouldn't consider to be a damsel in distress."

The sad attempt at a spaghetti marinara was placed in front of him. "Well, it's no Olive Garden, but…"

"It's perfect," he said, looking between you and the large plate. Timidly, you handed him one of the two forks and sat opposite of him, ready to dig in.

You and he ate in a semi-comfortable silence, occasionally chatting about the going-ons of the QZ. It was nice to have someone around, without needing to give a life story.

Studying him while he ate, you noticed a collection of scars on his arms and face, new wounds on his hands that were bruised and slowly scabbing over. But for all the marks that decorated his body, the scowl that he carried around with him, you felt comfortable in his presence, an inkling that he wouldn't hurt you.

After dinner, you walked him to the door and he paused in the frame, towering over you. He studied the flecks in your eyes and you smiled nervously.

There was something about you that he hadn't felt in a long time, like he needed to protect you from every fucker in this world. His stare made something twist inside you and looking down, you reached for his palm. He looked down at your touch, bringing the metal brain teaser between you.

"Figured I should trade you something for the knife. Let me know if you solve this one," you said, telling him good night and falling asleep in his flannel shirt.

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"I'm telling you, he saw it with his own eyes."

The kitchen crew huddled around as you walked in, tying the worn black apron around your waist.

"What are we talking about?" you asked the group, grabbing a bin of apples picked recently.

"Rob's roommate went on a patrol last night. He ran into one of the guards who had turned into a cordyceps."

You nodded, grabbing a knife from the drawer, slicing the apple in two. "Ok, that's nothing new."

"Yeah, but they found him tied to a tree."

Knife paused mid-cut, you lifted your head. "What?"

"The guy was tied up, like hands bound, feet tied, gagged, all tied up like someone left him there."

A cold chill slowly crept up your spine, "Who was it?"

They all shrugged their shoulders, no one giving a confirmed response, only speculations mumbled amongst themselves. Your heart pounded, stomach in knots. It couldn't be…. Could it?

When your shift was done, you raced to the gray brick building. Six stories high and you had no idea which apartment was his. Shit!

You had half a mind to just start knocking on every door. Pacing back and forth, your name was called and you looked up to see Joel walking toward you like an answer to a prayer.

"What are you–"

"I need to talk to you," you interrupted, coming up to him abruptly, eyes fierce. He could sense you were trying to control the quiver in your voice and raised his eyebrows. "Alright. Everything okay?"

You shook your head. "Not here."

He took you up to his apartment, holding the door as you walked in. The room was small, dark, and cold, the small brain teaser sitting on the counter.

"You okay?" he asked, closing the door behind you, a look of concern on his face.

Ignoring his inquiry, you turned on your heel to face him. "Did you kill him?"

It was demanding, accusational, harsher than you had meant. He stared at you quietly and your pulse thumped in your neck.

This world was difficult to survive in, and you'd scraped your way through it on your own wits and a lot of luck. There had been friends, family, acquaintances that were less than trustworthy, and most of them were either gone or dead. And here was this man you barely knew who came out of nowhere to protect you. It threw you off balance.

"What are you talking ab-"

"No Joel," you said, raising a hand to stop him. "Don't do that. Don't play dumb with me. That guard, did you kill him? Tell me the truth."

He studied you, this small fiery force that looked scared but put up a front. How had she survived this long, he wondered.

"Alright," he began slowly, "you want the truth? The truth is after I took you home, I saw him lingering around your building. I watched him, talking to the other guards, studying the building, pointing to your window. If I hadn't done what I did, he would have raped and killed you, and then probably come after me out of spite."

Stunned by his answer, you shook your head in disbelief. "You don't know that Joel. I didn't… I didn't ask you to do that!"

The guilt of this somehow being your fault weighed on you. There'd been so many deaths, so many infected, it just seemed like everyone was ticking away until there'd be no one left. He absentmindedly placed a hand on your arm in an attempt to calm you.

"Hey, hey," he said your name, pulling your eyes to his. "This isn't your fault. This isn't on you. He made his choices. That's on him, not on you."

You interjected–but, maybe I should have–but he pressed on, sternly. "Listen to me. If I hadn't done what I'd done, you wouldn't be standing here right now. It was either you or him, and I'd be damned if it was him." His tone softened. An orange glow emanated through the window behind him, curfew coming in a couple hours. "I know people like that. They'll prey on you, and you're too sweet to see it."

Joel didn't care for much of anything in this world. But the line in his forehead told you that somehow he cared for you.

"You could have been killed, Joel," you said shakily. "They could still hang you if they found out."

His jaw flexed. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it meant not letting that fucker touch you."

Something inside you sparked at his words and, without thinking, a hand reached up to take hold of the collar on his flannel, pulling him down to you. He hesitated, that ever present scowl forming on his face, but you knew better and pushed yourself up on your toes. Eyes never breaking contact, your lips brushed over his, a silent invitation.

His eyebrows creased, grappling between what he wanted to do and what he should do. You were delicate and quite possibly one of the last good people in this fucked up world, and he was a bad man. His thumb drew a line across your lips, their sheen drying on his thumb.

"It's getting late," he whispered.

"Yeah? Seems like I'm in the safest place I could be right now." Your smirk told him that you had him there. Fingers drew a line up his arm to his firm bicep, waiting for any telltale sign that you shouldn't be here. "It's ok, Joel."

Your words were so quiet, he almost didn't hear it with how bad his ear had been lately. But the look he gave told you he had. His other hand drew up, framing your face in his rough palms, and he captured your mouth with his. He wanted to be delicate with you, but he was not a delicate man, and when a low guttural moan escaped you, he knew he was fucked.

His hands trailed down before settling on your ass. Lifting up, your legs wrapped around his torso, arms around his neck, and his whiskers tickled your lips.

"Fuck, girl," he grunted. "Do you know what you're doing?"

You snickered, feeling the length of him pressed against you while he carried you to his bed of worn sheets and old blankets. Leaning in, you whispered in his ear, "Gonna show you how sweet I can be."

The air went out of him in a short huff and he set you down on the bed. He stilled as he took you in. There weren't many good moments in this world anymore, few that he cared to remember or cherish. But watching you lay there, waiting for him, it was a memory he'd hold onto when things got rough, when he ever felt lonely.

His chest heaved in anticipation as you reached up and pulled off your shirt, the same lacy black bra he'd seen before.

"Oh, you know exactly what you're doing," he mumbled and, grabbing hold of your ankles, slid you down to the edge. His arms caged around your head and he leaned in, a serious expression on his face. "You sure about this?"

You nodded, the anticipation causing you to tremble slightly.

"You gonna be a good girl for me and take off those pants?" That slow Texas drawl was as sweet as honey, and you moved maybe a little too quickly to unbutton your jeans, shimmying them down.

He chuckled to himself, thrilled to see how eager you were. Truth be told, it had been hard to connect with anyone after the outbreak. It was hard to trust, hard to hold onto anyone, hard to fucking relax. But, with Joel, you felt safe.

He pulled at the ankle of your jeans, slipping them off, then hooked a thumb through the waistband of your underwear. There was a confidence in his actions as he slipped them off and pocketed them. Dropping to his knees, you lifted up on your forearms, watching him with curiosity. It was a struggle to take his time, but he trailed some delicate kisses up your thigh before his mouth consumed your cunt. Head thrown back, you echoed an animalistic moan when he gripped onto your hips to keep you close.

"So fuckin' sweet," he mumbled, the whiskers of his beard tickling you in all the best ways. His tongue lapped rhythmically, making your toes start to twitch in rhythm. You gasped his name, running your fingers through his graying hair, gripping it when he found a special sweet spot.

"Right there," you choked out, holding onto your breath while he made you see stars. He dipped a finger in while swirling your sensitive bud with the tip of his tongue, then added a second. His fingers slid in and out, making you start to shake.

"Come on, sweet girl," he coaxed. "I know you're close."

Thighs gripping around his head, that final release caused you to moan and shudder and shake uncontrollably, not having let go that much since before the outbreak.

It was dark and hazy in his room, the only light from a crescent moon reflecting off him when he sat up and crawled toward you. His eyes were hungry with a desire that was not yet satisfied. You bit at your bottom lip, anticipating what he would do next.

"You doing ok sweet girl?"

"Yeah."

"Good," he said as he hovered over you. "Turn over."

Your eyes grew wide, but he didn't have to tell you twice. You rolled on your stomach and felt as he trailed kisses down your spine. The metal of his leather belt clanged as he unbuckled it, then the quick whine of his zipper.

"Come 'ere," he said as he gripped onto your hips and lifted you to your knees. You knew what he wanted and you tilted your back down and ass up higher.

"Like that?" you asked, feigning innocence. Joel tried to keep his composure, but you were too fucking much for him and he knew he wouldn't last long.

"Good girl," he choked out, gripping himself before sliding into you with ease. Your soaking cunt sucked him in effortlessly, and a chorused moan resounded through the room. You may have already cum once tonight, but by the way his cock stretched you, it was inevitable you'd cum a second time.

"Joel," you whispered over and over again as he thrust into you. There was no easing in or getting used to his size, he was past controlling himself to go gently. His movements were ragged, rough, needy.

Your pussy clenched around him, so close to that second release. He gripped onto you harder and pulled you up to him.

"Touch yourself," he drawled, and you reached down to rub at your clit. His mouth went to your ear, whispering, "I want you to cum on my cock."

You moaned in response, his hands roaming to your breasts while he thrusted.

It only took a few more pumps before you started to quiver, your head thrown against his shoulder in ecstasy. When he knew you were down from your high, he pulled out, him cum warm as it shot on your back and ass.

You laid on your stomach, fully spent and satisfied, while he searched for a towel to clean you up. Eyes closing while he wiped up his mess, you wondered if he had just marked his territory. Either way, you knew you were his.

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cainluvr69 · 5 months

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Surely, We Can Make Miracles Chapter 2

Previous Chapter

Northern Citizen: When it comes to wizards… They're the only reason we can live in the North, with its harsh nature and strong spirits. I'm grateful to them from the very bottom of my heart… I hope they never abandon us.

✦✧☾✧✦

Western Citizen: Wizards? Magic is soooo old-fashioned! Now we're in the era of magical technology! Just take a look through my shop! Here's a toy made with magical science that lets you produce sparks with just a snap of your fingers! Just put a mana stone in here, and…tada! It's not a magical item, so there's no dangerous curse on it! It's practically a steal!

✦✧☾✧✦

Eastern Citizen: …What's with you…huh? …You want ask me about wizards? … …I don't know much about them, so you should ask someone else. And… …Talking to people you don't know is expressly forbidden on this street. …Be more careful.

✦✧☾✧✦

Southern Citizen: Wizards? We've got a few in town! They're all wonderful people! They're always helpin' us out with their magic! Last time, I gave them some butter as thanks! Our butter's delicious, you know! This country's still developing, so we all work together and help one another out! Tornadoes are way scarier than wizards. Just a while ago, one blew away our shed!

✦✧☾✧✦

And wizards' opinions on humans are also quite varied. Country, age, and personality all influenced them.

Riquet: Humans lack the strange power that we do. That is the chosen ones have a great responsibility to guide them.

Cain: What do you mean by "chosen ones"?

Riquet: The pastor of the church I was raised in, and our very own Prince Arthur.

Arthur: I haven't been chosen, or anything like that. I'm just descended from a lineage with a lot of political power.

Riquet: But you're still a wonderful person who regards both wizards and humans equally, without any arrogance in your heart.

Arthur: That's something anyone could do, not only princes.

Riquet: Cain can't do it. He treats everyone equally during the daylight hours, but excludes me once night falls.

Cain: I'm not trying to exclude you from anything. I just think it's a little too early for you to be joining adult conversations.

Oz: … Regarding these adult conversations…

Cain: Don't worry. Arthur doesn't get to join them, either.

Arthur: Even though it's fine for me to join in.

Oz: You are too young for them.

Cain: Shouldn't we be worrying about the fact that Oz doesn't join in on adult conversations first? I mean, you're two thousand years old. You should join us next time.

Oz: …

Riquet: Oz. Join their discussions and report back to me about what they're about.

Arthur: Tell me about them too, Lord Oz.

Riquet: Anyways, we have an obligation to lead those who lack the mysterious power we have down the right path. We must spare no effort in our dedication to this task.

✦✧☾✧✦

Mithra: Humans? Well, I suppose I like them.

Owen: Liar.

Bradley: Man, don't start telling lies about this. I've never heard any stories about Mithra of the North and humans…that had happy endings, at least.

Painting Snow: Now, now. Let's finish hearing him out.

Painting White: You said you like humans, Mithra?

Mithra: Although I don't remember where… When I was a ferryman, I had the job of ferrying human corpses across the lake. I liked being a ferryman.

Owen: I've heard about that, and it sounds like the most boring job in the world. You were just being made to dispose of corpses.

Mithra: Sigh…

Owen: What's that look for.

Mithra: I was thinking about how stupid you are.

Owen: Excuse me? Do you want me to kill you?

Mithra: Anyways, as I was saying, there was a human settlement around there, and this place here was the land of the dead. When one of them died, they'd load the body onto my boat and then summon me. And then I would take the boat to the land of the dead. See. Doesn't that sound fun?

Owen: Not in the slightest.

Bradley: Haha. So Mithra's customers were all dead humans. And he was the only one alive in the land of the dead, yeah?

Mithra: …

Painting Snow: Being alone as a child in such a lonely place must have led to many quiet days.

Painting White: Though it was for funeral purposes, you must have been happy to have had humans beckon you to their side. Weren't you, Mithra dear?

Mithra: Sigh… I never said that. Anyway, humans die, so I like them.

✦✧☾✧✦

Chloe: To be honest, I'm still a little scared of humans. I'm always worried they'll start to hate me once they find out I'm a wizard.

Rustica: But everyone loves you once they get to know you, Chloe. Because you are a truly lovely person.

Chloe: Ehehe… Thank you, Rustica. But after they find out that I'm a wizard, it's harder to get people to want to know me as a person. I wish that people who hate wizards could see me as Chloe the tailor instead of Chloe the wizard. Like, you know what I mean?

Shylock: My, how very philosophical of you.

Chloe: Murr taught me some stuff! About cognition and psychology and stuff like that. Like, how to interpret how other people think of me.

Shylock: …You talked about philosophy with Murr? Are you quite alright?

Chloe: I'm a-okay! But talking to Murr about philosophy was kind of scary, to be honest… But it was also really interesting! Listening to Murr taught me so much about so many things. How can I put it… It was like he was happy that I wanted to learn.

Shylock: Murr has always been an academic at heart. He has always welcomed those who love to learn, and those with naturally curious hearts. Murr, be a dear and come here. Could you tell me everything you talked about with Chloe?

Murr: You don't need to know that!

Shylock: And why not?

Murr: Because you already know it! You don't need words to understand it! You've listened to as many people as there are stars in the sky over the long years you've spent watching over this bar, and touched each and every one of their lives. You know exactly how you look to others. And you know how to look that way, too. You indulge in pleasure and displeasure as much as you want to. With little more than how you move your fingers, where your line of sight falls, how your tone of voice sounds--with even just a single gesture or change in mannerism, you can pluck on the heartstrings of other people and draw them close to you…or push them away. You let people approach and draw back like waves on a beach. I don't have aaaanything to say to someone who's already such a master of interpersonal connections!

Chloe: Wow…! You're amazing, Shylock! But I never expected any less!

Rustica: There's a very good reason everyone finds themselves so taken with you!

Shylock: Fufu… You only ever praise me reluctantly, Murr. What mischief have you gotten yourself up to this time?

Murr: The raisins you were drying out were really tasty, so I ate them!

Shylock: Oh, how cruel… And I was so looking forward to eating them tonight.

Murr: I didn't eat all of them! I was just feeling like a snack, that's all! I made sure to leave some!

Shylock: Then let us share them with everyone.

Chloe: Wah…! Sounds good! I totally get why Murr would want some for a snack!

Rustica: I believe wine would suit them better than tea.

Shylock: Oh, but of course.

Murr: Are you mad?

Shylock: I am not. Now then, shall we all enjoy ourselves again this fine evening?

Murr & Chloe & Rustica: Cheers!

✦✧☾✧✦

Heathcliff: I'm…pretty shy, so… I'm not good with anyone, human or wizard, that I don't already know…

Nero: Yeah, I totally get it.

Heathcliff: It's not that I dislike them or anything like that. It has less to do with who I'm talking to and more with myself… I get worried about if I'm responding to things the way I'm supposed to…

Shino: Of course you are. You're already perfect, Heath. Just look at Faust. He's supposed to be the instructor for us Eastern wizards, but he just bluntly hates humans in general.

Faust: And?

Heathcliff: Shino, don't be rude.

Shino: I wasn't being rude. I was complimenting you.

Heathcliff: …I'm always happy to get compliments from you, but…

Shino: Yeah. Getting a compliment from you always makes me happier than anything, too. You're the son of the East's illustrious House Blanchett and one of the Sage's chosen wizards, after all. Anyone can tell you're beautiful just looking at you, you're smart, and you're always polite. You're almost too perfect to be real. It only takes half a second to fall for you.

Nero: The Blanchett servant's as obsessed with his beloved master as always today. It's kind of refreshing, somehow.

Faust: Even though he's using a nickname for him, there'll always be that bit of distance, huh.

Heathcliff: … You know, I've thought about this before, but the things Shino compliments me on are things that could be about anyone, not just me.

Shino: What are you talking about?

Heathcliff: It's not like being born to the Blanchett family is something I had to work for… The same goes for my appearance, and it's only because I was given the opportunity that I was taught how to properly compose myself as a noble and receive an extensive education… And even my home is something that my parents gave to me.

Shino: Th…

Heathcliff: You never compliment me for anything on the inside. Even though you say I'm too timid and should be more bold…

Shino: There's no way that's true! Right?!

Nero: Don't ask me!

Heathcliff: If I hadn't been born to the family that I was, if I didn't look the way that I do… Would there even be anything about me that you like, Shino? I worry about that sometimes.

Shino: But…

Nero: There's no way that's true! C'mon, Shino! Tell Heath everything else you love about him!

Shino: I… Uh…

Nero: Hello?!

Heathcliff: …See.

Faust: You're a naturally kind person. You're skilled at using your hands, and you're very tenacious. You try to keep a broad outlook on things, too.

Heathcliff: Mr. Faust…

Shino: That! That's what I wanted to say! I just couldn't get it out…

Heathcliff: Oh, I bet.

Shino: I mean it…!!! You know I'm stupid, Heath!!

Nero: Knock it off, Shino! Just stop talking!

Faust: The reason you lack decisiveness is because you try to take the circumstances and standings of the people around you into account as much as you can. Where a normal person might consider ten possibilities, you consider a hundred. I imagine that's why you find it so tiring to be around people for long. And no matter who you are, I'm proud to have you as my student. I don't think I'd have ever considered teaching anyone magic if I'd never met you. Thank you for letting me be someone who could be a good influence, despite being a curseworker who hates the world.

Heathcliff: …Mr. Faust…

Shino: Get your hands off my master, you misanthrope shut-in!

Nero: That's your followup?!

Heathcliff: Thank you so much… I'm really happy to hear you say that…

Shino: Heath! I feel the same way…

Heathcliff: … Uh-huh…

Shino: …! Fine, whatever! It's not like I--! ….Mmgghh…!

Nero: There, there, it's quiet time now. Now, now, don't start cryin' on me.

Shino: Mmmggghhh…!

Nero: Uh-huh, yep, you're not crying even a little bit. Ow…! Don't freakin' bite me!

✦✧☾✧✦

Lennox: How I feel about humans…?

Figaro: Do you even have any feelings about them at all, Leno? Regardless of if who you're talking to is human or wizard, male or female, or what country they're from… You're so bad at handling them, I swear you liked that sheepdog you used to have more than you like me.

Lennox: Huh…? Is that a bad thing…?

Figaro: Man, are you hearing this guy?

Lennox: I mean, it's my dog.

Figaro: I was thinking that between myself and a dog that only knows how to herd sheep the scales would be tilted in my favor, but I see how it is… …That's true love…

Mitile: Have you been drinking, Dr. Figaro?

Rutile: That would be my fault. The Rheita Mountains are cold, so I put a little alcohol into Dr. Figaro's tea, and into my own.

Mitile: What?! When did you do that?!

Figaro: Oh, and that was supposed to be our little secret. But that's not enough to get me drunk, you know.

Mitile: But, the way you were talking about Leno just now, was kind of…

Lennox: Maybe you never noticed, Mitile, but Dr. Figaro talks about me like that pretty often. And it's not like I have a problem with it. It's fine with me, really.

Figaro: But it'd be more fine if I was your dog.

Mitile: The world of adulthood seems complicated…

Rutile: Don't worry, Mitile. I put snow ginger in your tea and in Leno's! I dried it myself! This way, all of us can stay nice and warm! Cheers!

Figaro: Cheers!

Mitile: Jeez… You don't say cheers about regular tea. If you're saying it, it means you think it's like alcohol, and that means you're drunk. Isn't that right, Leno?

Lennox: Yes. I think so, too.

Rutile & Figaro: Ehehe!

Lennox: Well, as long as they don't try to ride their brooms while under the influence, we can stay at a cottage I built in these mountains overnight.

Mitile: Did the two of you live here?

Lennox: Hm?

Mitile: Both you and your sheepdog.

Lennox: Yes, we did.

Rutile: What did you name it?

Lennox: Courir.

Rutile: Wah, how cute! I wish I could've met it. Did you ever get to see it, Dr. Figaro?

Figaro: Yeah, I did. The two of you got along great.

Lennox: We did. I loved that dog even more than you think I did. Maybe even…the most out of anything in the world.

Figaro: Really?

Lennox: Yes. I have someone I would dedicate my life for. But if he wanted me to, I would've thrown away everything for him. But I don't think I could've thrown away my days with Courir so easily.

Rutile: How wonderful… Your lives must have been lovely, living out in nature's splendor like this.

Lennox: Yes.

Mitile: If you couldn't understand each other's words, how did you make sure of how each of you felt?

Lennox: Hmm… We just understood by looking at each other. We could look into each other's eyes and see what was in there, be it fear, or anger… And that doesn't just go for dogs. The same goes for wizards and humans. We all have hearts somewhere inside… And we use our words and voices to represent our hearts. A dog's barking and howling is the same as that. Though we do tell lies sometimes. But the eyes can let us see someone's true colors. Is someone calm, or are they acting weirdly energetic, and so on…

Mitile: …Do you know what's in my heart, too?

Lennox: I do. Just a general image, though. As long as I don't get that outline wrong, then it's fine.

There are so many different kinds of humans and wizards in the world.

Next Chapter

#.mhyktl #.main story tl #.eventtl #4th anni

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thecatsandthecrone · 6 months

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Wheel of the year: Samhain

Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

☽🔮☾🕯🃏🌕🕸✨🍃🍄🧿🌙✩ 🪄📚

Samhain is the third of the harvest festivals observed in witchcraft, and perhaps the most popular one.Samhain is usually celebrated between the 31st of October to the 1st of November in the northern hemisphere and from the 31st of April to the 1st of May in the southern one.

Samhain comes right after Mabon and before Yule. It is also one of the most widely observed festivals both in witchcraft and in those folklores that drew from our traditions, as it was adapted by Christianity into "Halloween" or "All Hallow's Eve", commercialized, internationalized and spread as part of "traditional American culture" all over the globe. However, this festival has nothing American in origin, but like most other wiccan or witch festivals it originated in Celtic folklore and culture. This festival not only celebrate the third and last harvest of the year; but it is also considered the other "midpoint" of the year (with Beltane being it's opposite), a "turning point", and the day where the veil thins, allowing from visitors from the Other side to come and hang out with us for a night. As a celtic festival, Samhain is still widely observed in countries of Celtic tradition (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain…) but it has also been adapted and popularized by American culture as Halloween, a "time for fright" but also for reflection and for remembering the ones that are not here with us any longer. As a harvest festival, Samhain honours abundance, prosperity and bountifulness. Back in the day, after the last of the harvest was collected and the fields were cleared the cattle wa brought to the pastures for its last grazing, and then slaughtered to spare it from the harshness of winter. Ritualistic fires were also lighted, just like in Beltane, for protection and cleansing.

As a threshold festival where our world and that of the dead and of the fairies meet, rituals of protection, of appeasement, of welcoming and departing were held: we welcomed visitors amongst us for one night, we honoured and thanked them, we reflected on how much of our abundance is owed to them and them we gave them a proper depart to ensure they didn't linger with us for too long.

No matter where you live, you might look forward to those traditions American culture has popularized: trick or treating, dressing up and watching spooky movies. In some other countries, particularly those of Celtic tradition, you might be able to participate in many more rituals. However, no matter in which country you live, if you are a solitary practitioner or in a coven and no matter how subtle you want to be about your practice there are many options available to you to honour this festival. -Dressing up: the tradition of dressing up and trick or treating are both very intimately tied to Celtic folklore. Back in the day, it was believed that the dead and fairies would come visit us during Samhain, as it was when the veil between worlds was thinnest. Therefore, people would dress up (often in spooky costumes) to mix with them. Then, treats would be offered to appease and honour them. Honour this tradition by dressing up (preferably in a spooky costume) and go trick or treating, or stay at home and offer treats to those that come visit you! -Trick or treating: as explained before, this goes hand in hand with dressing up. Back in the day, treats would be offered to the dead and to the fairies to appease them, lest they haunt us if we don't honour them properly. Going trick or treating is a fantatic way to oberve Samhain, specially if you are dressed in a super spooky costume! -Decorate: This is one of the two times of the year where the departed come back to visit, so you wouldn't want them to find the place a mess, isn't it? Be it your house or the town square go all out with spooky and seasonal decorations! Bats, pumpkins, acorns, skeletons… deck the halls and make it stunning, but don't forget to cleanse and ward the day after, lest any negative presence lingers and is not sent off properly. -Feast: Just with like any other witchcraft festival, you need to feast to bring that seasonal spirit home. Samhain is, after all, another harvest festival so honour the last of the abundance by eating well and being grateful for all the prosperity and bountifulness the season has bestowed upon you.

-Dumb supper: Can you notice a theme with the ways to honour Samhain? Eating is a big part of this festival, but so is reflecting on the past and honouring our ancestors. To celebrate a dumb supper, prepare plenty of food (if possible something that your ancestors enjoyed!. Next, prepare extra seats (that will be left empty, for those that will come from the other side). Through your intention, invite the departed to join you and explain that this meal is to honour them. After that, wait a little, so they can "serve themelves" and partake of the offering. Lastly, partake in the meal yourself… in complete silence the entire time. You might finish this ritual by making extra offerings (burying biodegradable food in the floor, pouring drinks in the floor…), by burning any message that you want to send to them, or by visiting their graves and leaving an offering such as flowers. -Visiting graves: A traditional part of Samhain and a very common custom in Christian countries, visiting graves to honour the departed is usually done on the 1st November. Visiting the grave also requires a moment of gratefulness, of reflection and of communion with the fact that death is a part of life. In a lot of Christian countries, we also leave offerings to honour the dead with flowers and candles being the most popular ones. -Candles and fires: During Samhain, fires are of course lit for ritualistic purposes and for cleansing, but they also are lit to honour the departure or the light, of longer days… and of those that came to visit us. If you can't lit a fire, candles will do just fine. -Watch the sunrise/sunset: Take in the fact that, starting from now, the hours of light will be less and less and the hours of darkness will only increase. Take that time to reflect about the past year, to be grateful for both light and darkness and to truly be in communion with nature and the natural cycles of life: we can't have light without darkness and we can't have darkness without light. -Decorate your altar: A staple in every single festival, decorating your altar is a lovely option to celebrate this festival and to honour any deities you work with (if you so wish). Deck your altar in seasonal colours, relevant stones, offerings or anything that pleases you and makes you happy. Colours associated with Samhain: Dark tones, black, white, brown, yellow, orange, gold Crystals associated with Samhain: Quartz (particularly smoky quartz), black tourmaline, amethyst, obsidian, citrine, bloodstone Food associated with Samhain: Apples, pumpkin, nuts, cheese, sweets, meat, honey,chocolate

I hope you have enjoyed this post. If you would like me to continue making posts like this please support me so I can continue making them: you can support me by donating here https://ko-fi.com/bunnymatchamochi or by visiting my Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LovenestAtelier?ref=profile_header Reblogs and likes also help ! Thank you so much for reading me !

#witch #witchcraft #witchcraft 101 #wicca #baby witch #witchling #wheel of the year

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thesirensoracle · 1 year

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The beauty in personal death and times of transition

Healing through tarot ✧☾゜・。

With the fallen leaves and the days getting colder, we as a collective get to dive deeper not only in the darkness of the world, but also of our unconscious. First entering this path through the fall equinox, then relishing in the supernatural sorrow of our past while celebrating Halloween and Day of the Dead, and finally preparing for the dark night of the soul that comes with the winter solstice.

And while this is the path that we go to every single year symbolically with the constant changing of the seasons, the energy of rebirth and transitions has never been more prevalent before. After two years of the pandemic, we have experienced loss and most recently various stages of grief and despair, fighting to understand our emotions in a way that allows us to go back into the world after the suffocating isolation. And while we are allowed to leave our houses and connect with people once again, most of us are still healing from the inner and outer battles that came with those difficult times.

From losing a loved one, harsh economic problems, experiencing heartbreak, or simply feeling disconnected from the world, the wounds caused by the pandemic are still present in our everyday lives. However, it’s in the recovery process that we must remember not to fall prey to sadness and despair because, while they are very important emotions and stages of the healing soul, they should be just that, stages. Saturnian energy comes to mind in these situations, for it’s the highest and most feared of the malefic planets that gives the most beautiful and abundant rewards. Saturn does this by teaching us the beauty in the pain, sorrow, and limitations that we experience, for its only through difficult paths that we are able to overcome our weaknesses and emotions, making us stronger.

Therefore, to stay strong through our personal winter, we must remember that our lives, just like the wheel of fortune tells us, are in constant and eternal rotation of both positive and negative cycles. The same way we see the changing of the seasons and the cycling of night through day, it is safe to say that we mirror the cosmos itself with the little deaths we get to experience. And while the Death card is a beautiful representation of the transitions that happen between one state of being into another, I wanted to explore the wisdom that some of the other cards in the tarot can give us in regards the same themes of personal transformation, helping us deal with both the beauty and discomfort of our rebirths.

⋆𓆩 6 of Swords 𓆪⋆

The 6 of swords can be considered the most positive representation of the human mind, for it shows it in perfect balance and dancing in harmony with our heart’s desires. And while this card can have different interpretations, its main theme is of reconciliation with our own thoughts, allowing for a swift transition into a new era of our lives. Just like the intimidating sharpness of a sword, it’s the intense activity of our mind that demands total control and confidence, for depending on how we use our thoughts, they can cut through any difficulty or instead be used against us, causing our demise.

This card teaches us that if we are willing to leave the painful past behind and make peace with ourselves, our thoughts become allies instead of enemies, allowing us to remain strong and victorious even through the most difficult times, making the impossible possible. Suddenly we realize that with self-forgiveness and by leaving negative beliefs behind, we have the opportunity of a new start.

⋆𓆩 8 of Cups 𓆪⋆

After the fight and reconciliation of our own mind, we enter our own heart and find all the hurt that has been building up, begging to be poured into the world. We find the ocean of our emotions completely polluted by the venom of our sorrow, making us realize that the path we’ve been walking so far has reached an end and that, if we don’t take another course, we might as well drown in our own pain. The 8 of cups is an omen of an inevitable ending, and the discomfort and sadness that comes with such realization.

This card asks us to look around and, while holding our hand and wiping our tears, helping us accept the fact that to find true happiness and fulfilment we need to surrender and move on to new horizons. It’s only through diving deep into the profound waters of our emotions that we are able to see that the stagnation and hopelessness of our situation is actually a blessing in disguise, turning us away from past structures and false purposes and guiding us into following the voice of our soul.

⋆𓆩 10 of Swords 𓆪⋆

If the last two cards were premonitions of the needed change necessary for our lives and sense of self to get better, the 10 of swords is the card that finally describes the final blow that makes that change happen, destroying anything that is no longer good for us and being the last incentive for us to perform a daring act of transformation. This card, with its sharp blade and swiftness, cuts through anything that no longer serves us, signalizing the painful breakdown that leads to a final conclusion and end to a cycle.

Most people fear this card the most, terrorized by the corpse of the stabbed man mortally bleeding, however, if we look closely, we can realize that the man is not in pain, tense or fighting back, but instead he is at peace and surrendering to this drastic death. He knows that death is only the beginning and the birth of new possibilities, and therefore asks us to surrender blissfully to transformation in the same way, leaving behind whatever we have built attached to our egos.

At the end of the day, when all is said and done, we are nothing more than ash and stardust. All of our pain, sorrow and sadness, as well as the happiness and joy we experience in life, are nothing more than a beautiful dream the cosmos is having of itself. So, once we have reached the lowest point possible and we are feeling completely drained, tired, and defeated with nothing more to lose… we might as well risk a new beginning, rejoicing on the endless possibilities that now lie ahead of us.

I hope to whoever gets to read this not only gets to find a new change in perspective of the tarot, but also of the situations they’ve gone through in the past and in the present. Realizing that no matter how much darkness and pain we get to experience, they are situations we must embrace and hug daringly for they are blessings in disguise, guiding us and making us stronger for a new, brighter, and more beautiful dawn.

P.S. This text contains references from Phantasmagoria by Ian Daniels, several articles and videos made by Claire Nakti, videos and teachings made by Raecine Wilkinson, and different speeches, songs and videos made by Selena Gomez. All talking in various different ways about how we can heal our hurtful souls through their different visions and areas of expertise.

If anyone wants to explore the themes of both spirituality and the beauty of healing and transformation, I’ll leave below a small list of different media in which one can learn these themes from both a spiritual perspective and a more pop culture one. (At least the ones I could remember at the moment). Thanks for reading and take it one day at a time.

✦ Books:

Phantasmagoria – Ian Daniels

✦ YouTube Channels:

Claire Nakti

OwlMoon513

TheWizardLiz

Amber Scholl <3

✦ Documentaries:

My Mind & Me, Selena Gomez

✦ TV Series:

Midnight Mass

The Haunting of Hill House

The Haunting of Bly Manor

The Good Place

The Sandman

✦ Movies:

Only Lovers Left Alive

Corpse Bride

Cinderella

Howl’s Moving Castle

Legally Blonde

Mary Shelley

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Spencer

✦ Songs:

The entire Rare Album by Selena Gomez

probably almost any Taylor Swift song ever written lol

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rayllumoon · 2 years

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[✧] notes [✧]

04. return to sender

dear, love ⁴⁄₄

listen ☾ | 04.

delves into callum and rayla's reunion — trying to navigate their complicated feelings. [s4 speculation]

this playlist is the final part of a four part series. each can be listened to on its own, but all connect in a thematic way... mostly centered around the events of ttm and rayla leaving callum.

tracklist pt. 01

01. bigger than the whole sky - taylor swift

[lyrics]

"no words appear before me in the aftermath. salt streams out my eyes and into my ears. every single thing i touch becomes sick with sadness — 'cause it's all over now, all out to sea... did some force take you because i didn't pray? every single thing to come has turned into ashes — 'cause it's all over, it's not meant to be. so i'll say words i don't believe...

goodbye, goodbye, goodbye — you were bigger than the whole sky. you were more than just a short time. and i've got a lot to pine about — i've got a lot to live without. i'm never gonna meet what could've been, would've been — what should've been you..."

02. this love - taylor swift

[lyrics]

"clear blue water — high tide came and brought you in. and i could go on and on, on and on, and i will. skies grew darker — currents swept you out again. and you were just gone and gone, gone and gone. in silent screams, in wildest dreams — i never dreamed of this... tossing, turning — struggled through the night... lantern burning — flickered in the night for only you, but you were still gone, gone, gone. in losing grip, on sinking ships — you showed up just in time...

your kiss, my cheek — i watched you leave. your smile, my ghost — i fell to my knees. when you're young, you just run — but you come back to what you need... this love is good, this love is bad — this love is alive back from the dead, oh. these hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me, oh. this love left a permanent mark. this love is glowing in the dark. these hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me, oh..."

03. wonder - eric nam

[lyrics]

"what if you weren't so depressed and what if i wasn't obsessed with love? when we met, maybe then it'd be different. you wouldn't be scared and i'd learn to listen, yeah. what if i was two years older... could we be like we were supposed to? can't change nothing now, know it's been a few, but... do you wonder, do you wonder, do you wonder like i do...?

i live in a dream world in my bed — just me and the moon and the night. i imagine you saying things you never said... say i'm the missing piece — changing, changing everything. yeah right, only in my dreams... do you wonder, do you wonder, do you wonder like i do? 'cause i feel so stupid every time that i wonder. what if you didn't want closure, and it wasn't really over? do you wonder, do you wonder, do you wonder like i do? i wonder, yeah."

04. closure - taylor swift

[lyrics]

"it's been a long time — and seeing the shape of your name still spells out pain. it wasn't right — the way it all went down. looks like you know that now... don't treat me like some situation that needs to be handled. i'm fine with my spite and my tears... and my candles. i can feel you smoothing me over... i know i'm just a wrinkle in your new life — staying friends would iron it out so nice. guilty, guilty — reaching out across the sea that you put between you and me. but it's so fake and it's oh, so unnecessary. yes, i got your letter. yes, i'm doing better. it cut deep to know ya, right to the bone. yes, i got your letter. yes, i'm doing better. i know that it's over — i don't need your closure, your closure. your closure."

05. my tears ricochet - taylor swift

[lyrics]

"we gather here, we line up, weepin' in a sunlit room. and if i'm on fire, you'll be made of ashes, too. even on my worst day, did i deserve, babe, all the hell you gave me? 'cause i loved you, i swear i loved you — 'til my dying day. i didn't have it in myself to go with grace — and you're the hero flying around, saving face. and if i'm dead to you, why are you at the wake? cursing my name, wishing i stayed — look at how my tears ricochet...

you know i didn't want to have to haunt you, but what a ghostly scene. you wear the same jewels that i gave you as you bury me. i didn't have it in myself to go with grace — 'cause when i'd fight, you used to tell me i was brave. and if i'm dead to you, why are you at the wake? cursing my name, wishing i stayed — look at how my tears ricochet.

and i can go anywhere i want — anywhere i want, just not home. and you can aim for my heart, go for blood — but you would still miss me in your bones. and i still talk to you (when i'm screaming at the sky). and when you can't sleep at night (you hear my stolen lullabies). i didn't have it in myself to go with grace — and so the battleships will sink beneath the waves. you had to kill me, but it killed you just the same — cursing my name, wishing i stayed. you turned into your worst fears. and you're tossing out blame, drunk on this pain — crossing out the good years. and you're cursing my name, wishing i stayed — look at how my tears ricochet."

06. lost on me - eric nam

[lyrics]

"when we met i was stuck in a troubled head space — didn't know what i had until it was too late. tried to carry me through it, but i was dead weight — bringing you down with me. never had unconditional love from someone — at the time it's the kinda thing that i would run from. you believed in the person that i could become all this time — and i'm still finding silver linings, and all your writings on the walls. everything about you now is bittersweet — last song in the symphony. though the show might be over, you should know that your love wasn't lost on me. we almost had it but it doesn't mean it was all just for nothing. you should know that your love wasn't lost on me.

i think i get it, i think i get it now. always regret it — the way i let you down. i finally get it 'cause you taught me how — to love someone you have to learn to love yourself... even though we're not meant to be, all your words left a mark on me. might still hurt but i hope you see — all your love wasn't lost on me..."

#rayllum #dear love notes #dear love playlist #dear love #playlist #my playlist #mine #dear love 04 notes #dear love 04

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therainroguefanfiction · 2 years

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❉ 139 Dreams (Wakabayashi Takumi) Environment

📑 Table of Contents

Genre: Fluff, Friendship, Angst

Word Count: 1,947

Pairing: Reader x Takumi

World: Cool Boys Only High / Moshimo Ikemen Dake no Koukou ga Attara

☾ ⋆･ﾟ:⋆･ﾟ: ⋆.:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

When Takumi learned that he had been accepted at Minami Gakuen, he was ecstatic and couldn't wait to share the good news with you but his excitement quickly dropped when he remembered that there was a small problem; you hated Minami Gakuen with a passion. Just mentioning the school always put you into a foul mood, a mistake that he had made shortly after the two of you started dating. It honestly hurt him, the things you said about the school and its students. He wanted to be open and honest with you, but he was too scared to lose you. He knew it was very uncool of him, but he was in love with you and so he kept silent, lying to you about the high school he attended.

You stifled a yawn, stretching your arms above your head as you headed for the school gate, ready to grab some food as a reward for making it through the day. An arm was slung around your neck and you knew who it was before they even said a word; the bodyspray was a dead giveaway.

"Y/N~ What are your plans?" Yukio questioned, his lips twitching up.

"Food," you replied simply.

"Boring~" Nao chimed from your right, her hands behind her back. "I have a better idea~"

Yukio feigned surprise, leaning forward to peer around you. "Oh? Do tell."

"You know who Leon is, right?"

"That incredibly handsome and popular social media influencer that lives in Korea? Can't say that I have."

You exhaled in annoyance, having a feeling of where they were going with this little schtick.

"Well~ He came back to Japan yesterday!"

"No way. Really?" Yukio gasped dramatically.

"Yes way," Nao smirked, her eyes sparkling. "And I happen to know the name of the school that he transferred to."

"Really? Where?"

You closed your eyes. 'I swear if she says M -'

"Minami Gakuen!"

A scowl came to your lips, eyes narrowed at her. "No way in hell am I going there. Forget it."

"Oh, come on!" Nao huffed, stopping in front of you with her hands on her hips. "What problem could you possibly have with a school filled with the coolest, sexiest boys in Japan?"

"My problem is that Minami Gakuen is the worst school in Japan. All those boys think they're flawless, but that's their biggest flaw. All they care about is being perfect which is total bullshit because no one is perfect!"

Yukio sent Nao a pointed look. "Look what you started."

"Not only that, but they think they're god's fucking gift. More like satan's curse, if you ask me."

"It's really not that deep, Y/N," Nao complained, a pout on her lips. "I just want to see Leon-kun in person! I've been following him for ages."

Yukio nodded frantically. "He's a total fashion icon, you know."

You scoffed, pushing past them. "If you wanna go, then go. I won't stop you."

They exchanged a look before rushing after you, slipping their arms through your own.

"Don't be like that, Y/N. We need you!"

"For what?" You scoffed. "You need help staring at someone?"

Yukio shivered. "It's the girls. They're super protective over their boys!"

"They're like sharks!"

"That's an insult to sharks. More like hyenas!"

"But that's an insult to hyenas."

"Oh, true."

You tried to pull your arms free of their grip, but they were holding you tightly. "Not interested."

"Y/N, please!" Nao begged, fake sobbing into your shoulder. "Your best friends need your protection."

"Yeah, you're terrifying! If you're there, no one will dare mess with us!"

"No."

"I'll buy you lunch for a week," Nao promised.

You tried to pull away again.

"Two weeks!"

"Let go of me."

Yukio huffed. "I'll bring you your favorite drink every morning before school for two weeks."

You paused, eyes narrowing at him. "A month."

"Eh~?"

"For both of you."

"You're so stingy," Nao complained, wrinkling her nose. "But fine."

"The things I do for love," Yukio sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Deal."

☾ ⋆･ﾟ:⋆･ﾟ: ⋆.:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

Before even reaching Minami, you could hear the screams of the girls as they fawned over the school's male population. You decided that free food just wasn't worth the hassle so you turned on your heel to leave, only for your friends to grab onto you, rooting you to the spot.

"A deal is a deal~" Yukio sang.

"A friend never goes back on their word. That's what you always say, Y/N."

You clicked your tongue. "Using my own words against me. That's messed up."

"We're desperate," Yukio grabbed your hand, tugging you into the school grounds as his eyes darted back and forth, looking for any sign of the blue-haired male. "Now, if I were a super popular social media influencer named Leon, where would I be?"

"The gym?"

"Eh, why?"

"To practice his dancing, of course."

"No way. He'd wanted to be somewhere with good lighting for his pictures."

"Good point."

Your two best friends dragged you all over the school looking for him, but they kept missing the male by just a couple of minutes each time. They refused to give up, willing to chase this man to the ends of the earth if that's what it took. Unfortunately for you, they were willing to drag you along with them.

You grew tired of running around pretty early on and a headache was beginning to form from all of the screaming. All you wanted to do was sit down and relax, but those two were still full of energy.

"Ah, there he is!" you cried, pointing toward a large group near the front gate. They didn't hesitate to dart in that direction, giving you the chance to run in the opposite direction, not stopping until you had turned the corner of the building. A bench was sat against the wall, shaded by the building and you didn't hesitate to fall on it, releasing a sigh of relief. 'The things I do for those idiots.'

"Y/N-senpai? Is that you?"

You glanced up. "Ryoma? What are you doing here?"

Ikeda Ryoma smiled kindly as he sat down beside you. "I'm a student here."

"Really?" Your nose wrinkled as if you had smelled something foul. "Why the hell would you choose this school?"

"Ah, well..." he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I got rejected by every other school."

"Of course you did," you laughed, ruffling his hair affectionately. He was two years younger than you and the two of you had attended the same middle school. You had been drawn in by his kind heart and had adopted him as your little brother. The two of you had become fast friends and remained as such even after you graduated to high school. "Still... of all the schools you could have chosen. That's just brutal."

"Do you not like Minami Gakuen?"

"I hate it," you spat, folding your arms over your chest. "Forcing boys to act like emotionless robots, teaching them to be perfect and flawless... it's such a toxic environment, you know! Looks are the only thing that matters at this school. If you don't look cool, you're trash."

He nodded in understanding. "I guess so, but I've met some really nice people here!"

You frowned in displeasure. Ryoma's the type to see only the good in people, even when it's glaringly obvious that the person is a total douche. He gives everyone multiple chances whether they deserve it or not, which opened him up to abuse and let him be taken advantage of. Whether he realized it or not was of no concern because even if he did, he'd let them. "Can I meet 'em?"

"Of course!" He stood up with a grin, motioning for you to follow him into the building and toward his homeroom class. Despite the fact that school had ended some time ago, the class was still full of students conversing near the front of the room or using the beauty stations at the back. "Wakabayashi-kun, I'm glad you're still here."

Wakabayashi turned around, a bright smile on his lips but it quickly died when his gaze met yours. Dread filled him, his heart hammering against his rips. Why were you here? He tried to get a read on what you were feeling, something that was usually quite easy for him, but your expression was blank and your eyes gave away nothing. All he could think about was how angry you must be at him. Was this the end of your relationship?

Ryoma was oblivious to the tension surrounding the two of you. "Wakabayashi-kun, I want you to meet Y/N-senpai. We went to middle school together."

"We've met," you told him, trying to keep your voice neutral but you knew you failed when your boyfriend flinched.

"Have you? That's great!" Ryoma smiled, but then his eyes flickered to your hands, fisted so tightly that your skin was changing color. "Senpai? What's -"

"Sorry, Ryoma. I should really get going, I have a lot of homework I need to finish before tomorrow." Before he could reply, you turned on your heel and left the room, nails digging into your palms. It wasn't until you made it outside that you heard your name being called.

"Y/N! Please wait!"

You didn't stop, but you unconsciously slowed down, giving your boyfriend time to catch up to you. He gently grabbed your hand, bringing you to a halt. Still, you refused to lift your gaze from the ground.

"Y/N..." his voice quivered, the sound enough to make your heart ache. "I am so, so sorry... I didn't mean to lie to you, I just..." his fingers were trembling against your hand. "Are you... going to break up with me?"

The question snapped you out of it and you turned, meeting his gaze. His eyes, usually so full of light and happiness, were dull and glassy as he tried to hold back his tears. You frowned deeply, tugging him closer until he was buried in your arms, your hand finding its place within his brown locks. "Oh, darling. Do you really believe that I'd break up with you because of this?"

He sniffled, arms tight around your waist. "I know how much you hate this school, but... I applied anyway and then I lied to you about it. I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize," you told him softly, combing your fingers through his hair. "You did nothing wrong. I'm so upset, but not at you. I'm mad at myself for making you think you had to hide it from me or I'd leave you."

"You're really not mad at me?" Takumi lifted his head to look at you in the eyes.

You smiled, cupping his face and wiping away his tears with your thumbs. "Of course not. I love you, Takumi, and I will support you in everything that you choose to do, whether I agree with it or not. I'm sorry for making you feel like you had to hide it."

"I'm so relieved," he whispered, resting his forehead against your own. "I can't imagine my life without you, Y/N."

"Heh~ Are you proposing to me, darling?" You smirked playfully, enjoying the red tint to his cheeks.

He pouted at you, his fingers rubbing at your sides. "Maybe I am..."

You closed the distance between the two of you, claiming his soft lips. You didn't need to reply, he knew the answer already, confirmed by the kiss so filled with love and warmth for him. "Let's try to be more open with each other from now, okay?"

"I promise." Takumi smiled brightly, bringing you into another kiss.

☾ ⋆･ﾟ:⋆･ﾟ: ⋆.:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

#cool boys only high school #cool boys only high #Moshimo Ikemen Dake no Koukou ga Attara #wakabayashi takumi #139 dreams

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