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#〘 queue 〙you have no idea how powerful waiting can be
yandere-daydreams · 6 months
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Title: Coveted.
Pairing: Yandere!Geto x Reader (+Yandere!Gojo) [JJK].
Word Count: 1.1k.
TW: Set Two or Three Years Post KFC Break-Up, Intimidation, Prolonged Stalking, Future Dub/Con, Mentions of Non/Con, and Unbalanced Power Dynamics.
[Part Two]
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“You’re Satoru’s date, right?”
The voice was masculine, deep and as rough as it could be without crossing the line into gravelly. You stiffened, squaring your shoulders and burrowing your nails into your palm as your eyes darted across the table – where a man with dark hair and an off-putting smile was currently sliding into the unoccupied side of your booth. He reached out, clearly planning to shake your hand, but when you failed to move, he only let out an airy chuckle, propping his chin on his fist as he went on. “I’m a friend of his – Geto Suguru. You can call me Suguru-chan, though. Has he already told you about me?”
He was dressed like he’d just rolled out of bed – his attire limited to a form-fitting black shirt and a pair of loose sweatpants in the same color, his hair pulled into a loose bun. His tone was friendly, light. You returned it with a dead-pan stare, hoping it conveyed the weight of your exhaustion. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Is that what he told you to say?” Another laugh, somehow more blood-chilling than the first. Your attention shifted outward, to the late-night diner where Gojo had asked you to meet him. There were only a few other customers, the skeleton of a proper staff, but single other person would’ve been one too many. You didn’t need to make a scene, not again, not after last time. “That sounds like him. He’s always been a stingy bastard.”
With a pressed frown, you pushed yourself to your feet, but Geto’s grin only broadened. He snapped his fingers and as if it’d only been waiting for a queue, a shape manifested at the end of your bench. You couldn’t bring yourself to look directly at it, but you saw enough out of the corner of your eye; a bulbous torso, shrunken arms, too many eyes to resemble any living thing. Instantly, what little courage you still had was replaced with a knot of dread, a bolt of pure anxiety. You half-expected it to lunge, to bite, to attack, but it didn’t move, only standing guard at the foot of your table.
It didn’t move, but it didn’t have to. In a moment, you’d fallen back into your seat and shoved yourself against the wall, fighting not to shake. It was a sight Geto seemed to take a particular joy in, letting his head lull to the side as he watched you curl into yourself. “You can see them. I was starting to think I had the wrong person.” A pause, a glance towards his summoned monster before his narrowed gaze skirted back to you. “Don’t be shy, now. How much did he tell you?”
It took you a moment to find your tongue, another to swallow back the tremor in your voice. "He said he could protect me.” It was harder to admit than you’d expected – not so much that you needed protection, but that there was something you needed protection from. You’d spent so long writing off your monsters as hallucinations that it was still a struggle to act like they were anything more. But, for as unwilling as you were to confront your little monsters, the resounding ache in your right leg where that thing had dug its claws into you was impossible to ignore. “He… he didn’t mention anyone else, but we’ve only spoken once. He was supposed to explain—” You gestured to the monster. “—all of this today.”
A slight hum, a look of genuine surprise. “So, he’s got some self-restraint after all! I thought he would’ve cracked months ago, considering how long he’s been following you around like a lost puppy.” He must’ve seen your expression fall, your posture slacken, because he didn’t wait for a response before going on. “I mean, you must’ve known that, at least. Did you think he’d play knight-in-shining-armor for just anyone?”
“I…” You trailed off quickly, shaking your head. “I don’t care. As long as he can protect me, I don’t care why he’s doing it.”
“That’s a dangerous thing to say. You wouldn’t want to make Satoru feel so replaceable, now, would you?”  
At that, you met his stare. “What do you want?”
His eyes skirted towards the monster, who took an obedient step back. For a second, you considered running, trying to slip away before the man in front of you or your newly-realized stalker could make you regret ever showing up at all, but Geto was quick to cut off your escape route, filling the empty space beside you before you could so much as pick which door you would barrel through on the way out. “Well, now that we’re on the same page,” Unlike his monster, he didn’t give you the option of leaving him in your peripheral; settling close enough for his leg to press into yours. At this proximity, you could pick up the smoke on his breath, the scent of stale gore clinging to him like a second skin. As if he’d just stepped out of a blood bath. “I’d like to make you an alternative offer.”
“You’d protect me?”
“Oh, I’d do more than just that.” His hand fell to your thigh. “I’d have everything you’ve ever been afraid of bowing to you by the end of the night.”
You swallowed dryly. “You didn’t answer my first question. What do you get out of helping me?”
His answer was nonverbal, but clear enough. With that same idle grin, he nodded toward the streaked window, to the building across the street. Your heart fell into your stomach. It was one of those sleazy, by-the-hour hotels – the sign missing more than a few letters and the parking lot as empty as the diner. It was the kind of place that you only went to for one thing, and you had a feeling Geto hadn’t found some miraculous second reason to want to be alone with you in one of those bug-infested rooms.
You weren’t sure why you said it. Maybe to buy yourself time. Maybe because you couldn’t stand the idea of being left in silence as what was left of your rational mind screamed at you to get out of there. “I don’t have any money.”
“It’ll be my treat.”
“What happens I refuse?”
“I kill everyone here,” His nails bit into exposed skin. “And then fuck you on this table while their bodies attract flies.”
You might’ve cried, if you hadn’t been so tired.
You might’ve done anything, if you could bring yourself to care about anything but keeping those awful creatures at a distance.
Stiffly, with your eyes shut and your teeth grit, you forced yourself to nod. Geto rewarded you with an impossibly wide grin, a breath of a laugh. “Smart little thing.”
This time, he didn’t pretend it was an option; reaching out, taking your trembling hand in his own, and squeezing so softly, you could almost convince yourself he was being gentle.
“It’s only a shame Satoru isn’t here to join us.”
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opennwindows · 6 months
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If you can, could I request BEN Drowned fluff / smut headcanons like about himself, with his headcanon age, hobbies, facts, what he is into or would like & want in a relationship, and what he would be like with a gamer girlfriend/ s/o?
If ya taking requests rn still?✨😇😊💖
Ben Drowned general + NSFW hcs
A/N: yes!! absolutely. i love getting to talk about how the pastas do their pastaing in my mind. i have so many headcanons for everyone that im excited to share!! also sorry i forgot to include the gamer gf part but i don't think it would change a lot of what i wrote!!
btw sorry for fucking dying i have been busy 😭😭 but no one worry i will still continue to work on requests!! if anyone has any marble hornets stuff they wanna request i will zoom you to the front of the queue so fucking quick. anyways enough of me yapping.
cw: 18+ nsfw, toxic relationships, crying kink,
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GENERAL
ben is mentally and physically 22, but he can be quite emotionally immature at times. when he died he never stopped growing and maturing, his soul was just stuck in limbo. think like the worst waiting room ever.
he's surprisingly tall, standing at about 5'9. he's lanky but not bone thin. could easily get pretty far in a fight without his ghost powers.
the link costume only appears when he’s in his ghost form. so for example, when he’s messing with someone on their computer he’ll appear as the canon BEN we’re most familiar with. when he’s just chilling in his physical body, he mostly wears beat up hoodies and sweatpants.
contrary to popular belief, ben's not the hardcore gamer everyone thinks he is. sure, he'll play some overwatch or whatever when he's bored but he honestly just prefers to watch tv and browse the internet. understandably REFUSES to play any zelda games. if you were trapped in a video game for decades would you ever wanna touch it again? exactly.
ben loves to draw little comics and troll (see: horrifically traumatize) people online. god forbid you get into twitter beef with this man because he will crawl through your monitor at 3am and leave you with a crippling fear of technology. dude thinks it's absolutely hilarious. a true knee slapper.
lowkey has a sugar addiction. will slam down 4 cans of pepsi in one sitting. he's very lucky that he's basically a ghost because the kidney stones would be plentiful.
ROMANTIC
you know that guy with the blown out speakers in his car, lives off of energy drinks and burnt blue razz ice elfbars, swears aphex twin is the modern mozart and works on the grill at your local wendy’s? yeah thats ben. or at least would be him if he was still human.
“why would you need a chair, my lap is literally right here babe.”
would absolutely wear your skin if given the opportunity. not in a weird way. he’s just EXTREMELY touchy.
he needs someone who is significantly more organized and motivated than him. he can go almost a week without showering and it should honestly be considered biological warfare when he tries to smother you with affection during these episodes.
after awhile of you guys dating he LOVES the idea of y’all showering together. he has a fear of water and while showers aren’t too much of a trigger, your presence helps ease his anxiety.
favorite pet names: bro, dude, dawg, babe, bitch (non derogatory)
not really a romantic but he tries his best. a perfect date for him is just getting some takeout, watching youtube, talking about stupid shit and play fighting. if you want something more traditional or extravagant then he’ll oblige to make you happy but those types of dates make him feel quite suffocated and nervous. try to save those for special occasions.
now let’s talk about his problems because just like the other creeps he is ANGSTY.
he’s probably the most emotionally stable and healthiest of the group but he definitely still has his toxic traits, after all this man is a ghost that mentally tortures and kills his victims through manipulation.
ben would never ever get physical with his partner no matter how enraged he is but he absolutely is the type to do some mental damage when he gets carried away. ben drowned? more like ben gaslighted.
the type to say some shit that would keep you up for years and then kiss you the next morning like the argument never happened. he finds it easier to ignore problems than to actively talk and fix them. you’re gonna have to teach him some important communication skills or else you’ll grow to resent him after all the bottled up rage.
a bit too brutally honest and blunt for his own good so if you have thin skin the relationship would fall apart pretty quickly. he wants someone who can drag him twice as hard as he dragged you. bonus points if your insults are consistently funny as hell.
please watch anime with him and discuss it. he would propose on the spot, especially if you play with his hair.
pro player tip: if you want him to clean his disgusting room, help him and make it fun! he just needs a little push and motivation at times. and being around you makes him want to get his shit together.
big fan of late night make-out sessions. i’m talking like 45 minutes straight of just slobbering on each other’s faces with tongues down throats. if you don’t want his hands running over every inch of your body then you’ll probably have to chain him to the wall.
NSFW
okay. so he’s a little inexperienced with his hands. he’s just a slow learner. be vocal with him about what you like!!
ben's about 7inches and slightly skinnier than average but he will have you seeing stars in record time. the dick game is no joke. he tends to go fast and deep most times.
i can see him being a switch in the idgaf-as-long-as-i’m-fucking way. dude will go with the flow and will try mostly anything.
definitely one of the least aggressive pastas during sex. he has sadistic tendencies but he’s more of a edge/overstimulate you until you cry versus a beat the shit out of you and rip hair out of your scalp type. he’s pretty vanilla given his occupation.
despite his love of roasting the fuck out of you on a daily basis, the only words that come out of this man’s mouth is heavenly praise. he looks at you like you’re the most gorgeous being on the planet and he’ll let you know it.
he loves to whisper praises into your ear while you ride him.
he's more of a receiver than a giver when it comes to oral. he'll absolutely spend hours between your legs if given the chance but nothing beats the sight of you on your knees and teary eyed with his length in your mouth.
he can be a bit of a head pusher but just let him face-fuck you every now and then, hearing his loud moans will be worth it.
did i mention how much of a crying kink this man has? you guys could be on round three and if he stares at your teary eyed fucked-out face for longer than 10 seconds he'll immediately get hard again. you'll have to beg him to give your poor body a break.
he's also into choking but only if he's the one doing it. if you try to restrict his breathing he'll panic and the mood would get ruined.
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colethewolf · 1 year
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ON THE THEORY OF ELI BEING CREATED BY THE NEMETON:
This is something that I've been sitting here thinking about for the past couple weeks and I just saw a piece of fanart last night that made me think about it even more, because honestly, the idea that Eli was created by the Nemeton is such a cool idea and it fits with the canon.
So, I don't even care that Jeff Davis is an idiot and was probably too stupid to think of this idea. I feel like I'm in the mood to write some meta after years and years of not writing meta.
Let's talk about it anyways.
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We know that the Nemeton was functional during the 1940's before the Nogitsune came into power. And then, sometime after the Nogitsune's first run wild through Beacon Hills, somebody cut it down and essentially rendered it completely powerless.
Now, it stayed powerless for decades UNTIL that one night in the root cellar with Derek and Paige. When Derek killed Paige, he unknowingly committed a virgin sacrifice and sparked the Nemeton back to life. Albeit, the nemeton remained in a weakened state, as it was not back to full power and not working as a beacon to draw in supernatural creatures.
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Cut to a few years later, what happens next?
The parents of the teen wolf trio get kidnapped by Jennifer so that she can complete her "three-fold death" sacrifice by killing three guardians. However, she never gets to complete the ritual because Stiles, Allison, and Scott sacrifice themselves in their parents place as surrogates.
Now, the sacrifice that Stiles, Allison, and Scott make was the surrogate sacrifice ritual that Deaton knew how to perform. It put darkness around their hearts and gave them the ability to locate the Nemeton. But that was it, right?
It didn't also act as another virgin sacrifice, right?
Scott? Not a virgin.
Allison? Not a virgin.
Stiles? Not a vir—OH WAIT.
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Stiles.
Unintentionally committing a virgin sacrifice by sacrificing himself and giving another spark of power to the Nemeton. And this time, it bumps the nemeton back up to full power after Derek had previously sparked it back to life.
Now, you might be saying:
"But what about Jennifer? She committed virgin sacrifices, too!"
She did. But not to the Nemeton. She was a druid emissary long before the Nemeton was brought back to life. And druids have the ability to perform rituals to basically earn themselves more powers. Those virgin sacrifices that she did in the first few episodes of 3A went straight to herself, not to the Nemeton.
Which means the next virgin sacrifice in the queue was the one that Stiles made by drowning himself, not knowing that he was technically committing two different sacrifices that night.
Derek commits a virgin sacrifice. Then Stiles commits a virgin sacrifice (albeit by sacrificing himself instead of another person). Two consecutive virgin sacrifices by Derek and Stiles, separated by years, and both totally unintentional. And yet both sacrifices powered back up the dead Nemeton.
We know the Nemeton is at least somewhat sentient as it can pick and choose who to let get close to it in the woods. So, who's to say that the Nemeton doesn't hold Derek and Stiles in high regard for bringing it back to life? Who's to say that the Nemeton isn't thankful?
Hmm?
Perhaps, even thankful enough to give Derek and Stiles the ultimate gift in its gratitude? The gift of a son? The gift of a son, born from the Nemeton?
Even Eli seems to have some random, totally strange connection to the Nemeton without really having an explanation for it. He just randomly sleepwalks in the middle of the night and ends up at the Nemeton.
Why?
Now, you could argue that Eli has been sleepwalking out to the Nemeton because of the whole Allison situation in the movie. But what sense does that make? Eli doesn't know Allison Argent. He never did. She was dead before he was even born.
But if we're getting meta in here, Eli just so happens to be 15 years old (the same age Derek was when he sacrificed Paige in the root cellar and woke the Nemeton up). Maybe the Nemeton thinks 15 is the perfect age to start dropping hints to Eli.
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In my mind, Deaton was called out to the Nemeton in the middle of the night and found little Eli as a newborn in a little wicker basket made from Nemeton branches and soft leaves, just sitting there asleep in the middle of the Nemeton stump.
And Deaton, being a druid and the old Hale family emissary, knew exactly what the Nemeton was offering and why it was offering it. So, he dropped Eli in his basket onto Derek's doorstep, knocked real loud, and watched as Derek adopted the boy—totally unaware that Eli is 50/50 both his and Stiles'.
But that conversation comes much later.
So, there you have it.
Eli Stilinski-Hale. The son of the Nemeton. The son of Derek Hale and Stiles Stilinski.
🌱
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chaoticdaydreamss · 7 months
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Yandere! Jake and Yandere! Neytiri x Na’vi!Reader
Paring: Romatic ~ Oneshot
CW: Yandere Behavior, Polyamorous Relationship, stalking, and kidnapping
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Sitting on the lively grass you hummed, feeling a soft and gentle breeze wash over you as if it was water, you sat in a comfortable silence with yourself and Eywa, after the war between the Na’vi and the Sky people you wanted to stay away from the battle grounds, even though the Eytukan, Jake sully and his wife Neytiri wanted you to stay with them on the battlefield you decided it would be best to leave.
The breeze made your body feel calm and warm, even though it was a chilly breeze, you enjoyed the silence, you enjoyed being in the nature of your home and listening to the sounds near you, the sounds of Eywa. You were grateful Eywa chose Jake, he lead the clans to victory. A great and powerful victory. He was Toruk Makto the rider of the great Leonoperyx.
You were just a simple Na’vi who was able to learn English from Grace or how you still want to call her Sa’nok. You were just a simple 20 year old. Turning your head you heard the sound of wings flapping and landing, hearing feet thumped on the ground.
“Tourk Makto…”
“Please, call me Jake sully [Name], I came to see you as well as my Yawne.”
Before you could react another Ikran landed, stepping off was Neytiri, the Tsahìk in training, the daughter to Mo'at and the passed Eytukan
“Hello.”
Her voice was monotone but relaxing, she touches her fingers to her forehead and pulled them down, Jake Sully doing the same, see you did it as well to show respect to the higher ranks and to the two that practically saved all of pandora.
“Why have you came to see me Jake sully..?”
“Me and Neytiri saw you on the battlegrounds, we saw how well you fought and how deeply determined you are, and we want you to be with us tonight, maybe go star gazing.”
“But..we haven’t talk or interacted since the battle between the sky people..”
“Ma Jake this isn’t what we talked about.”
“I know Yawne..just wait.”
“Just wait..? Hold on what do you mean just wait..? Are you planning to kill me?!”
“What?! No! We just- Ah..damnit, we. We do want you into our lives and we want you to join our bond.”
“But we- we barely know each other! We only know each other from the war!”
“And it’s a perfect opportunity to get to know each other more.”
“But the Tsahìk and Olo'eyktan are only supposed to be together I-I mean I would love to but..it wouldn’t work out.”
“But we can make it work, please..”
You backed up, sighing and shook your head in a response, walking off to where you Ikran rested, getting on top and pulling your goggles down and took off, Jake walked over to Neytiri as he saw her tail was down, upset as he comforted her.
“We will get them..I promise..”
Their foreheads touched, Neytiri breathing in softly, and got in her Ikran and flew off, Jake Sully following suit. Jake trying to gather ideas to nab you without anyone taking notice.
——
Collecting fruits was your task for the feast. They were perfect, each fruit were ripe and plump. You heard footsteps and turned your head, not seeing anyone so you reached for your bow, but before you could a hand clasped over your mouth, your Queue was tugged on making you whine in pain, you tried grabbing your knife but that was futile, your hands were pulled behind your back and your knife was taken, a cloth blinded your vision, your mouth was covered and you were taken away.
As your vision returned you saw the two clan leaders standing there, your body struggled, you felt Neytiri’s hand brush at your cheek, her smiling softly as Jake sat in-front of you. Well more so crouched.
“I’m sorry it had to be this way..but you weren’t gonna leave us..just know we love you..and we will be back soon.”
Your vision was blinded again as Jake left, Neytiri smiling at you once more before following her mate. The two ecstatic your joining them in their mate. For the rest of eternity..
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nsfwmaemi · 11 months
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PC Bang (ft. LE SSERAFIM Sakura)
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Genre: smut, sakura x m!reader WC: 516 A/N: Totally original idea. Definitely something I haven't done before. Kkura cutie
Mouse clicks, keyboard clacks, and the occasional angry screaming. The classic PC bang. From the struggling college student to the most degenerate of gamers, there is a flood of heads staring at screens as soon as you enter. The place is full, however. There is only one PC available, so how can the two of you share only one PC?
Sakura queues up and locks in a champion. Meanwhile, you’re busy unwrapping your snack. You unzip her pants and drag them down to her legs, leaving her underwear on. You push aside her panties to expose her pussy. Give it a lick to dampen it a bit. She flinches but continues to focus on her game. Maybe a few more licks to get her excited. Now she’s a lot more wet.
Insert a finger into her. She screams, “AH!” But to hide what you’re doing, she follows it with an “I died!” She hits you lightly on your head, but you keep going. You push a finger in and out, increasing the pace of every thrust, then add another finger. Her legs start wobbling and her body weakens as she grabs your hair tightly. She loses focus of the game and remains AFK in base while she is in a trance until she reaches her climax.
You pull out both of your fingers to see her pussy dripping her essence, the same juices that cover your fingers. She breathes heavily as she returns to her game, but she is too late. The defeat screen appears on her monitor shortly after, and she is not happy.
Sakura now waits under the table while you’re queuing up for TFT. Your pants are already on the floor, your member exposed in front of Sakura’s face, but she’s not doing anything with it, not right now at least.
The game goes on. You survive long enough to guarantee a top 4 finish. You feel her hand wrap around your cock loosely. She begins stroking it, although painfully slowly. You try to keep your focus on the task ahead. It’s a close lobby with everyone at basically 2 HP. You win out your fight, eliminating one player and securing top 3. She replaces her hand with her lips, sucking you off at the same slow pace. It is more distracting, but you manage to keep your focus.
Another player is eliminated. She picks up the pace. She does everything in her power to distract you, adding a hand as she sucks you off, fondling your balls, audibly gags that the person next to you might hear it. The fight is close. You have optimized your board to the best of your knowledge, but it is not enough. You lose the last fight, getting only second place.
She has not stopped, however, as you fully relax and turn your attention to her. Your climax quickly approaches and she knows it, which is why she pulls out. Your pathetic cock twitching in the air, unable to cum. This frustrates you, even though you knew it was coming. If only you had gotten first.
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cosmic-ghost-hermit · 16 days
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Heyo! All the art on these readings is drawn by me. Take what you can from the reading and leave all that does not resonate behind but always be open to new perspectives.
The archetype reading was inspired by the deck I used today. The guide book uses examples from anime to fit the descriptions of the tarot cards. I thought that was really clever so I decided to build off that idea and tell you what archetype you are most drawn to wants to tell you. In short, this is really a message from a specific cards energy. I hope this helps anyone who might be struggling!
PILE 1
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Crystal: Tigers Eye
Character: Badtz-Maru
Archetype: The Empress
Astrology: Taurus ♉️, Libra ♎️, Pisces ♓️, Virgo ♍️
Dear pile 1, you are represented by the empress of this deck. The archetype you embody is someone who is luxurious, modest, kind and attentive. You care deeply for those you love and would do anything to assist them and make their life easier. You are a fantastic friend, partner and companion. You don’t necessarily have to be a woman to embody that energy. The message this part of you wants to tell you is that your kindness is being taken for granted. Your attentiveness is being discarded as if the love you gave isn’t worth anything. Your intuition is telling you to withdraw from the connection that is causing this. You maybe started this friendship or connection a while ago but you have started to notice this pattern from the other party in this relationship. They don’t return your love. They don’t say thank you when you go out of your way to be good to them. This doesn’t mean you should necessarily cut them off. Just don’t go out of your way anymore. They are undeserving if they cannot be grateful to you for all you do. I see if you did stop it would barely be noticed at first. However, the person will slowly realize how much you did to assist them. How much work you did was important and helped them get through the day easily. If they apologize and communicate they did wrong that won't necessarily be your queue to go back to scratching their back. You need to wait for them to lend their assistance to you. That will be your invitation to return to being kind. Until then use the extra time you have working on your passion projects and aiming for your dreams.
🖤✒️🔎💻🕋🛞♟️🎤🎼🎱🏴🪨🐕‍🦺🕶️🎩🐦‍⬛💣🎵🎶♣️♠️🏴‍☠️👁️‍🗨️
PILE 2
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Crystal: Flower Agate
Character: Keroppi
Archetype: The Devil
Astrology: Leo ♌️, Aquarius ♒️, Capricorn ♑️, Gemini ♊️
Hey pile 2! Your archetype is the devil. Don’t worry though, for this doesn’t make you evil or bad. All this communicates to me is you are an enjoyer of the darker parts of life. You enjoy what other people usually fear. This is definitely not something horrible you should shame yourself about. I see you probably enjoy altered states of reality or perhaps you are very free with your sexual expression. I see you like the taste of control, power and vengeance. Again not a bad thing in my mind. Humans have many states of being and no part of existence is incorrect. Your message from the devil archetype is not asking you to cold turkey your behavior. However, I think it is saying balance is super important when you dabble in darkness. You might be prone to addiction to literally anything you can get dopamine from. I am an addict as well. I know how hard restraint can be. Even doing this reading is giving me cravings to be honest so I know you deal with cravings constantly. Your cards are saying it doesn’t matter if you feed the addiction. You will always be starving for more. You will always be chasing something you can never achieve. Please take care of your body before the cravings lead to worse. When I was dealing with my addiction I ended up in the hospital multiple times. It would have killed me if I hadn’t stopped. It is okay to dabble in darkness but seriously I beg you, from the bottom of my heart please moderate. Moderation is key to keeping yourself safe. If you are meant to have the darkness, it will be in your grasp. If you are in need of a break. Trust the universe when it takes it away. You are not evil for needing. I want to reiterate that because I know how it feels to need something that hurts you.
💚🦈🪀🧃🍵🪦🥗🥒🥑🌪️🫒🍸🍏🥝☘️🌱🥈⚓️🪴🎍🐍🦎🚬👒🤢
PILE 3
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Crystal: Carnelian
Character: Tuxedo Sam
Archetype: Emperor
Astrology: Cancer ♋️, Aries ♈️, Sagittarius ♐️, Scorpio ♏️
Hey, pile 3! Your archetype is the emperor. You are a force to be reckoned with. A master of your craft and skilled beyond other people's wildest imaginations. You have a plan and have been putting so much energy into it. You know exactly what you want and exactly how to get it. Your cards are pretty straight forward just like you are. They are telling me that working hard is good! That your progress is fantastic and you have made it so far! However, the pace you are keeping at is almost unsustainable. You can’t juggle all of the tasks you are trying to keep under control. You cannot do it all by yourself. That isn’t logical! Humans are not solitary creatures. We need community and connection to continue on. Humans who have been left alone for too long go hecking crazy! You absolutely can handle all of it mentally. I am not saying you are incapable because you are SO CAPABLE. Rome was not built in a day. Masterpieces are not made out of minutes, they are made out of days or months or years. You are creating a masterpiece so allow yourself time to think about it. Allow yourself the space to brainstorm and be patient with your body and your creativity. Be gentle with yourself. You are only one person and the secret you are missing is that you are not alone. The silly little secret is that you don’t need to set a deadline for the greatness you are going to grow into. One of my favorite artists didn’t make it when he was 20. He grew into his greatness when he was 35. Does that make him any less of a great artist? Absolutely not!!! You are cool, awesome and wonderful! Why do you need to prove that when you already know it is true?
💙💤🌀🪬🌨️🧿💎🚿🧊🫐🌊🌧️🌬️💨🌏🦋🪼🐬🧢🫂🥶💠
-ghost 🖤🩵
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nofomogirl · 8 months
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Metatron's manipulation step by step
Part 3: The Entrance
Part 1 - where I discuss the significance of the coffee.
Part 2 - where I take a look back at season 1
Ok, time to actually get to the promised "step by step" part and look very closely at what Metatron is doing, from the moment he appears on Earth to the very (heartbreaking) end of the episode (and the season, and the story so far). Well, in this part I'll stop when he sends the Angels away but we'll get to the very end eventually.
We first see Metatron on Earth when Crowley is escorting Nina and Maggie out of the bookshop. He's standing in line in front of Give me coffee or give me death, waiting for the shop to open and I think we should really stress the significance of that. Not his purchase of coffee and conversation with Nina - though they are important too - but the sole fact that he's there, in the street, in the queue, and NOT IN THE BOOKSHOP.
Gabriel has just gotten his memory back. His affair with Beelzebub has just been brought to light. Michael, Uriel, Saraqael, Dagon, Shax, and Furfur are shouting over each other about what should be done with them, while Beelzebub and Gabriel hold hands. They're still there! Nothing is decided yet.
But apparently, Metatron was more interested in buying coffee than confronting the Archangel who escaped his judgment.
I mean, I don't think anybody ever doubted that Meteron traveled to Earth specifically to talk to Aziraphale, and that was his top priority. It's not exactly a revelation. But it still baffled me just how little he cared about Gabriel's fate. Even at the point when he still might have influenced it. After the second rewatch I started drawing my conclusions from that about Metatron's personality and taking notes, but after the third time, I realized I was missing the point. Metatron's decision to stay out of Gabriel's business wasn't informed by how much he did or didn't care about it. It was all about how it would make him look if he was seen involved.
Aziraphale already had a rather unfavorable impression of him from their previous encounter (season 1) and now our beloved dorky Principality got himself involved in Gabriel's case, risking his safety to protect the Archangel from Heaven. And it was Metatron who was presiding over Gabriel's trial and decided Gabriel's punishment would be to have his memories erased.
Entering the bookshop while Gabriel was still there, while his fate was still being discussed, posed a serious risk of exposing Metatron's role in the whole mess. Entering after it all blew over meant that Aziraphale didn't have a chance to make a connection.
Now let's look at the exact circumstances under which Metatron did enter the bookshop.
He came in at the exact moment Michael was threatening Aziraphale to erase his existence just so he could put a stop to it and chastise the Archangels. He immediately steps into a role of a savior and a voice of reason.
Let's dissect it a little.
Michael's exact words are "I am authorized to remove the name of anyone who helped Gabriel from the Book of Life".
But Metatron insists she "doesn't have the authority to do anything like that".
That begs the question: if Michael really was wrong and never could use the Book, where did she get the idea that she could? True, Michael is portrayed as particularly dim and vain this season. She does attribute herself to more power than she actually has. But her phrasing strongly implies that it was a one-time thing. Michael doesn't think she can use the Book at will, at any time, against whomever she pleases. She believes she has the authorization to use it in this specific instance. That's a strange thing to be confused about, don't you think?
Another glaringly strange thing is how Archangels don't seem to know who Metatron is.
The only person to recognize him immediately is Crowley, which makes sense, considering he had just watched Gabriel's trial. He says the last time he saw the guy, he was a giant floating head, and that triggers Aziraphale's memory, which again, makes sense. In season 1 it was clear Aziraphale had never seen Metatron before - he asked if he was talking to God, and Metatron needed to introduce himself - and it's been a couple of years since then. He hasn't forgotten him but he needed a little tip to recognize him in a different getup.
It's the Archangels' reaction that doesn't make sense. They had all been present at the trial. Saraqael had seen it again at the same time Crowley did. There's no logical reason why they should be so oblivious.
There are quite a few theories about this, the most common being that Crowley recognizes Metatron because he used to be such a high-ranking angel before the Fall, and from all the supernatural entities in the room he knew Metatron the best. And while I am inclined to believe Crowley indeed used to be a big shot in Heaven, I don't think it's a satisfactory explanation for this situation. If that was all there was, there would be no reason for all three of the Archangels to not connect the dots at the same time Aziraphale did. But they didn't. It's only when the Metatron is explicitly called the Metatron that they finally see it.
Personally, I think Metatron is responsible for both things - Michael's misguided belief she had the power to use the Book of Life & and all Archangels suddenly not recognizing Metatron's face, voice, and presence.
Why?
Because it made the Archangels look really bad.
How would it benefit him?
Well, answer honestly, when Metatron first appeared and started scolding the Archangels like they were misbehaving kids, wasn't that satisfying? Didn't you like him just for that short moment?
I sure did, and I believe that was the point. Except that the performance wasn't for our, the audience's sake, but for Aziraphale's. He makes a whole performance of exposing how incompetent the Archangels are and how outraged he is with that.
And what's even more interesting, right from the moment he enters Metatron speaks like Aziraphale! I didn't notice it at first because he is played by Sir Derek Jacobi and old-fashioned language certainly becomes him. But he doesn't speak this way in Heaven! He doesn't say things like "balderdash" or "piffle" or "spit spot". That's Aziraphale's gimmick.
In other words, Metatron says things Aziraphale very likely always wanted to say, and to boot, he says them in the exact manner Aziraphale would actually say them if he had the power. He plays out a fantasy for our poor Principality, who most likely was never backed by anybody in Heaven, and his issues with Archangels were never validated by anybody.
Metatron draws a very clear line between himself and the Archangels. He shows that they are the problem, they are incompetent, they are unreasonable. Not him.
Which is the first step in convincing Aziraphale that maybe he's worth listening to at least.
Continued in Part 4: Putting on a human face
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itsscromp · 8 months
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Jaime Reyes/blue beetle x reader platonic
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Welcome to another blue beetle fic, It's closer and closer by the minute. Even though I have to wait an extra month as it doesn't release in Australia until September lol. But for this fic, if anyone has seen Homecoming, you'll get the idea ;) word count:849
Jaime, Your best friend, The freaking Blue Beetle !!!, holy shit. When you first found out he was Blue beetle when he rescued you from coyote, You had to calm yourself and not go full nerd. He did just save you, But once you recovered and went back to school.
"Jaime, we gotta talk" You had to whisper so that people didn't know he was Blue beetle.
"y/n I know but please not right here"
"I know I know but..." He was right you had to keep quiet but you had a million questions and zero answers.
During different points of the day you asked a question relating to blue beetle.
"Can you summon an army of beetles ??"
"No"
"Is the amour titanium or something ??"
"No, it's extra terrestrial"
"Ok ok... Is the suit fart proof ??"
"What kind of question is that ??"
After school Jaime decided to show you the powers of blue beetle
"Ok Y/n, follow me. I'll show my powers. Just please no more questions"
"Alright alright."
Jaime then brought Y/n to a rural area just near the edge of El Paso to make sure no one see's his identity.
"Ok before I show you my powers. There's one thing you gotta see."
He turned around and lifted his shirt
"What are you do.. OH MY GOD !!"
His back revealing the scarab, wedged right into his back. No surgery seems to be getting that off anytime soon
"I know, it took me a while to come to terms with it as well"
Their was silence for a bit.
"Look I trust y/n ok, they won't reveal my identity ok ??"
"Uhhh, who are you talking too ??"
Jaime sighed, It looked like he was talking to himself.
"Its the scarab, I don't know how but it seems I can only hear it and talk to it"
"That's freaky but awesome."
"It is, but It's like almost being nagged by Mom."
Quiet again
"Look scarab just trust y/n ok ??"
It would take some getting used too to see Jaime talk to scarab.
"Anyway, Now my powers, with them, I can be able to summon anything just by thinking to scarab what I want."
"Wow, that's so cool !!" Y/n was smiling wide.
"Alright, so the first thing... the armour. Originally I could only do it when I was in danger. But I figured out how to summon it at will."
Then Jaime stood there, shutting his eyes. Withing seconds. the blue beetle armour started to take over him, the pincers popping out, his face then turning into a mask, his eyes glowing yellow.
"Pretty cool right ??"
"Oh my... HOLY SHIT !!!" you were bouncing from pure excitment.
"That was awesome !!"
Jaime couldn't help but smile under the mask from your excitement.
"You ain't seen nothing yet amigo."
*queue sword*
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"Final fantasy fan I see."
"What the buster sword is a classic."
"OK what else can you do ??"
Jaime then summoned arm cannons, his hands melting and reshaping into cannons.
"Hell yeah !!, these bad boys are my favourite"
"Woah !!, ok uuh, test it on that boulder"
"Say no more"
Jaime then aimed at the boulder and with one blast the boulder was completely destroyed. But as Y/n was still in awe from it they didn't see a big chunk of the boulder falling to your direction.
"Jaime the boulder, it's gonna crush y/n !!" The Scarab warned him, Jaime quickly then pushed Y/n out of the way and caught the boulder with his bare hands, Struggling for a bit before tossing it away from harms reach.
"Are you ok y/n ??"
"Holy... You. Have. SUPER STRENGTH !!!!!"
Jaime started smiling again before the mask disintegrated revealing his face again.
"That is the power of the blue beetle y/n"
"This is awesome !!"
"But y/n look, real talk here buddy. While yes this is awesome to see, you can't go telling anyone about this, not even your dad or my family. Only you know about this." He took your hand and squeezed it, in a way of seriousness. "Can you promise to keep this secret for me ok ??"
Your smile faded slightly knowing the seriousness of the cause, You squeezed his hand back. "I promise Jaime, I promise."
"Thank you y/n" He smiled and hugged you tightly. "Your a great friend you know that ??"
"Can say the same to you" You smiled as you hugged him back
Jaime saw the sun setting before realizing he's been out all afternoon.
"Oh mierda, I gotta get home before mom kills me, I'll see you at school tomorrow ok y/n ??"
"Shoot I should get home too" You saw a bus stop and had some money, so you then went to the stop.
"See you tomorrow Jaime !!!"
Jaime waved goodbye before grabbing his backpack and activating flight mode, zooming back home.
You smiled as soon as you saw him fly off, Your best friend was a superhero. A freaking superhero. El Paso was in safe hands with Blue Beetle.
Taglist:@callofdudes
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teecupangel · 8 months
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Okay i know this is a really random rare pair but I can't stop thinking about it.
Kadar/Maria
We'll tie AltDes in there too.
Desmond meets Maria first and forms a friendship with her.
But Desmond saves Kadar at the temple and Kadar decides that Desmond is now his best friend ever. He goes to visit Desmond at wherever he decided to set up shop and he runs head first into a templar knight in full armor. Falling flat on his ass, he looks up at them towering over him and starts to shake.
Only for Desmond to step out of his hut and call out for them to wait and that Kadar is safe.
Kadar watches as the very intimidating knight removes "his" helmet only to add a now very red face to his shaking limbs as he see Maria's face.
This woman is both ridiculously scary and incredibly pretty and Kadar is instantly smittened.
Now queue Kadar trying to court Maria. Even asking the Flowers in Paradise the best way woo a woman. He starts to brings her flowers, fruits, even sweet bread once or twice. Each time he is a stuttering shaky mess but he manages to say more and more to her each time.
Would Maria find it cute how he trips over his words everytime.
Would she be amused that he still trembles when he is near her.
Or just confused why this trained assassin (novice or not) seem so damn uncoordinated whenever she see him.
While this all happens Desmond has met Altair and caught his interest. Which unfortunately means he is now subjected to Altair's version of "courting". So Desmond is off to the side. Watching Kadar be all cute with his gifts and then he turns his head to glare at Altair who has dropped yet another dead body at his feet while Altair spreads his arms in a way that says "well? Are you going to praise me?"
Desmond just pouting about how its unfair he didn't get the "normal" one.
Before anything else, I feel like you might enjoy this AltDes idea that can pretty much be summarized as “Altaïr courts Desmond by giving him items that used to belonged to his target”
Next, I like Kadar/Maria. I think they would be cute together.
I mostly like it because I like to hc that Kadar is attracted to strong people who can kick his ass (hence why he had such a huge hero-worship/crush on Altaïr) so I can totally see Kadar falling in love with Maria after literally falling on his ass.
.
For this one, we’ll make Kadar fall fast and hard. He’s been nursing a crush on Altaïr for so long that it’s one of the most well-known running ‘joke’ in Masyaf. 
Then he met Desmond and his crush transferred to him because he’s so similar to Altaïr in looks and strength but he’s nicer and there’s definitely a savior crush trope in play on this side of the board.
But it’s because Desmond is so nice that Kadar knows his feelings are crushingly one-sided. More than Altaïr because, at least, Kadar knows Altaïr is oblivious to his feelings so he can atleast fool himself in believing there's a chance but Desmond isn’t and Desmond is nice about it even after he tells Kadar that he doesn’t feel the same way that Kadar can’t help but still consider Desmond a friend while having a broken heart.
Because Desmond’s rejection was the wake up call Kadar needed (but did not wish for) to understand that Altaïr would also reject him if he knew (in a more blunt but completely non malicious way).
So when he bumped into Maria and saw her in her knightly visage, looking regal and powerful and as beautiful as the female knights in Desmond’s stories he tells children that Kadar would listen to whenever he visited...
It was love at first sight.
Desmond feared it was a case of Kadar rebounding on Maria after Desmond rejected him.
But… 
The more Desmond sees Kadar and Maria together…
The shy slight stuttering and deepening blush on Kadar’s face as he tried to give Maria gifts while trying to act as aloof and cool as Altaïr (it wasn’t working, Desmond had to talk to Kadar and tell him to ‘be himself’ like an unhelpful stock phrase generator) and the bright surprised smile he always made whenever Maria took the gift and thank him… 
The soft smile on Maria’s lips whenever she sees Kadar and the vulnerability in her voice when she admitted to Desmond that she had never been courted so sweetly before. No. She had never been courted before as the only relationship she had was a marriage that had been purely contractual between her parents and her ex-husband. So this was… nice. And Kadar was such a sweet man and…
Desmond…
Desmond realized that he was jealous of them.
Of this sweet gentle courting…
The small walks they take to talk about nothing important at all but important in their eyes because they get to know each other more.
The meals they share where they learn what each other liked and enjoyed. 
The gifts that littered Desmond’s little hut because Maria was still a Templar (Desmond was working on that) and she couldn’t bring any of these back as it would cause unsavory rumors that may lead to Kadar’s identity being revealed.
And then…
Altaïr started to visit. 
He frowned at all the courting gifts that Kadar had given Maria and…
Look.
Desmond wasn’t stupid.
He knew that Altaïr was attracted to him.
Okay.
He knew that Altaïr had feelings of him, complicated feelings that emerged because Desmond continued to support and help him even after he had lost his entire support system, left to fend for himself and having to do tasks for people who should be helping him because it was part of his punishment… 
Altaïr wasn’t entirely blameless in this entire thing, of course.
But he had always been lonely and the sudden lack of the usual support he received dealt more damage to him than he let on.
Desmond knew that because of the memories he had gotten from Altaïr’s Bleed.
And he knew that Altaïr’s attraction to him stemmed from that.
And honestly?
Desmond didn’t care if people would think that he had manipulated Altaïr’s feelings, becoming his only light or whatever flowery words they might say.
Because to him…
Altaïr’s feelings for him are just as true as Kadar’s feelings for Maria.
And Desmond wished to accept them.
He truly do.
It’s just…
Desmond wished someone would talk to Altaïr that there are nicer courting ‘rituals’. Look, the death of a merchant that had been a bit too handsy could be forgiven since Desmond knew he had been torturing his servants and paying them less than they deserve. 
Being presented with the merchant’s bloody jewelry after his death because they would look good against Desmond’s skin (which Desmond was sure was not meant to insinuate that Altaïr wanted to see him naked… mayyybbee???) was a bit iffy but Desmond knew that the Brotherhood didn’t really give much money to the Assassins in the first place. Just a measly allowance that would be enough to cover their traveling while the bureaus would provide them with food and shelter.
Hell, Kadar was using the bride price their father left for him to pay for all the courting gifts!
So Desmond took the jewelry and thanked Altaïr because… what else was he supposed to do? 
Then… more not-so-good people that had done Desmond wrong or had annoyed Desmond or just made Desmond go ‘that man’s gonna die sooner or later’...    
Well…
They all started dying.
And Desmond was sure if Altaïr could, he would drag the body in front of Desmond’s hut and present it like a cat delivering a fresh kill by their owner’s feet.
But that would be too risky even for Altaïr.
So now..
One wall of Desmond’s hut was filled with such wonderful thoughtful courting gifts from Kadar to Maria.
And another wall was filled with wonderful thoughtful courting gifts from Altaïr to Desmond.
… which always makes Desmond think of a serial killer’s trophy wall.
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Screw it, can we just get a script for part of an episode of A-town at this point?
[For those of you just tuning in: A-Town is the shitty postwar sitcom inspired by the life of Jake Berenson, to the eternal annoyance of Jake Berenson. The main character is a kid named Brandon A., who lives with his nuclear family — mom Dr. A, dad Mr. A, sister Daisy A. (secretly a yeerk named Zeptron 420), dog Mopsy (secretly Brandon's friends in morph) — in Southern California at the height of the war. Brandon secretly leads a team of alien-fighting shapeshifters that consists of him, his best friend J.J., his cousin Trina, his sometimes-girlfriend Crystal, Trina's sometimes-boyfriend Liam, and Liam's stepsister Gina.]
We open on the spacious kitchen of a large suburban home. Mr. A sits reading the paper and smoking a pipe inside, while his son Brandon sits at the same table with a large set of schematics spread out in front of him. Dr. A, in a lab coat overtop a house dress, walks into the room.
Dr. A: Brandon, what's that?
Brandon: *throws himself bodily over the map* Nothing!
[cue laugh track]
Dr. A: Is that... Dear sweet heavens above, it is!
[The camera pans up to show Brandon is clearly failing to cover the floor plan for a Blade ship, and that Mr. A is now craning around the side of his paper to see what the commotion is about.]
Dr. A: Honey, our son... is doing... *loud gasp* Dunces and Dragoons!
Mr. A: *drops his pipe on his paper in shock* *lights the paper on fire, must hastily tamp it out* Dungarees and Dingbats? My own SON?
[cue laugh track]
Brandon: Mom, Dad, I would never! I'm just... I'm only... It was... *directly to the camera* I have no choice — they think I'm playing Dunkin' and Dragnet! *to Dr. A.* There's this alien invasion, Mom, and me and cousin Trina are two of the only six people who have the power to —
Mr. A: *very high pitched* It's affecting his mind already! Look at him, he's lost the plot!
[Cut to a set that looks like the waiting room for a dentist's office. Brandon's older sister Daisy is standing near the front of a queue that stretches the length of the room. Like almost everyone else in line, she is wearing a t-shirt for The Gathering; hers is bright pink and cut into a crop-top, paired with a pink miniskirt and platform heels. The walls are adorned with posters that have slogans like "Do your part for the Yeerk Empire today! If you see a suspicious animal: slay, slay, SLAY!" and "Don't forget to sign up your host's friends and family for our Eternal Member perks program!" Visser Six-Hundred is at the front of the line, typing names into a computer.]
Visser Six-Hundred: Next!
Daisy: Um, hi? I'm Daisy, and after you guys lured me into the Gathering by promising I'd get to meet shirtless Tom Welling — which still hasn't happened, by the way — you stuck my head in a pool and then this total jerk named Zeptron 420 took my body? And anyway, Zeptron never showed up after that last feeding, and I was just wondering...?
Visser Six-Hundred: Not my problem.
Daisy: No, I get that Mr. Welling is a very busy man, but I don't think I'm supposed to go anywhere without Zeptron controlling me?
Visser Six-Hundred: Also not my problem. You have any idea how backed up we've been around here since the kandrona shortage started? Leave now, check back in next cycle, and if Zeptron's not back by then we'll call you.
Daisy: Okay, but...
[camera pans to Daisy's face; the actor, does a very convincing job of realization dawning on the world's silliest airhead]
Daisy: K-thanks-bye! *runs for it*
[Cut back to the A family kitchen. Dr. A is taking Brandon's temperature.]
Dr. A: Looks normal to me. Maybe he isn't getting Durkins and Drainage syndrome yet.
Mr. A: Yeah, if anyone has brain rot it's that darn dog. Thing ain't right, I'm telling you.
[Cut to Mopsy, a fluffy grey-and-white terrier. The dog is currently staring intently at a copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls, which is propped open on the floor.]
Dr. A: What do you mean, ain't right?
Brandon: Yeah, Dad, 'ain't' isn't a word!
[cue laugh track]
[Cut back to Mopsy, who has clearly overheard this conversation and has attempted to hide the book by sticking it underneath a laptop computer, and is playing innocent by staring at the screen instead.]
Mr. A: Just look at her! She's playing Minesweeper!
[The camera zooms in on the screen, revealing that this is in fact the case. An extreme close-up of one of the dog's paws moving across the computer track pad is paired with a shot of the screen going to Xs as she hits a mine. A dog's upset whine is heard.]
Brandon: Come on, she's not even doing well.
J.J.: *in voiceover meant to indicate thought-speak* You try avoiding mines with these tiny paws, loser!
Dr. A: You know, maybe we should get that checked out.
J.J.: VET? Not the vet!
Brandon: *out loud* Don’t be such a baby!  Get control of your morph, man!
Dr. A: Then again, maybe the Dungenous Drags are getting to him.
Brandon: Uh, I mean...
J.J.: *runs for it*  Bye!
Brandon: I mean, after her!
[While Dr. and Mr. A chase "Mopsy" around the house, J.J. maneuvers Brandon into being the only one in the room when he demorphs. Brandon has to hastily morph into Mopsy to avoid being found out. Trina and Liam stop by Brandon's house to ask Brandon a question, and Brandon maneuvers Liam into being Mopsy just as Mr. A is pulling out the pet carrier. But then human Trina rushes into the room, creating a diversion by claiming a "hairspray emergency", and Mopsy runs off. It's at that point that the B plot intersects with the A plot.]
[Daisy walks into the house. She's wearing black skinny jeans, fingerless gloves, and rainbow hair extensions. There's pop punk music blasting from the giant headphones slung around her neck.]
Mr. A: Get the— *watches Mopsy escape out the front door* Dang it!
Daisy: Dad, you might have noticed I’ve been going through some changes lately.  Like I’m becoming a whole different person.
Mr. A: Honey, at your age, it's perfectly normal.
[Mr. A pulls out a box of tampons, seemingly from nowhere, and hands them to Daisy.]
[cue laugh track]
[Liam-as-Mopsy runs around the side of the house, now pursued by J.J. Trina is running after J.J.; together they complete two entire loops of the house. Meanwhile, Brandon is on the phone inside, everyone else passing by in the background. There's presumably an unseen swap, because Liam-as-a-human is seen chasing a different Mopsy, pursued by an enraged-looking Trina who is now holding a knife, while she is in turn pursued by Gina, who appears to be trying to talk her down. There's no audible dialogue, but we cut to Crystal on the other end of the phone, standing in her living room.]
Crystal:... got it! *hangs up the phone* *yells up the stairs* Hey, Mom?
Crystal's Mom: *enters the room* Yes, Crystal?
Crystal: You're looking a little unwell. Why don't you...
[Crystal touches her mom's arm. We hear the tinkling piano notes used to indicate someone is being acquired, and glitter effects briefly fill the screen.]
Crystal's Mom: Now that you mention it...
[She passes out onto the couch, apparently as a side effect of being acquired. This has never happened before, but with this show it's generally best to avoid asking too many questions.]
[Cut back to the A house. Daisy and Dr. A are standing in the kitchen.]
Daisy: Mom, do you ever feel like the whole world's out to get you? Like, do you ever suspect there's a giant conspiracy of alien invaders who are...
Dr. A: *distracted* Oh honey, did you get passed up to be Prom Queen again?
[Dr. A drops a kiss on Daisy's head, before running off in pursuit of Mopsy, who has gotten ahold of the knife and is trying to use it to pick the lock on the back door.]
[Cut to the exterior, where Liam and Brandon are watching the knife blade repeatedly stab through the door six inches off the ground.]
Brandon: You cheated on her again?
Liam: *sighs* Yeah, I cheated on her again.
[Cut back to the interior. Cue ominous music, as the chase speeds up. We see Trina-as-human again, gloating over who we can only assume is Liam-as-Mopsy. They struggle, and she makes an exaggerated face of shock as the dog is meant to have bitten her. Mopsy goes running off again, only to be caught by J.J. There's a scuffle, they roll behind the bushes, and a human Liam emerges holding J.J.-as-Mopsy. Brandon comes running outside with an expression of horror, and Gina dive-tackles both Liam and J.J.-as-Mopsy. Using extreme close-ups, we get only tiny hints of the scuffle, but the human J.J. and Liam would suggest that Gina has now ended up as Mopsy.]
[The montage sequence becomes something straight out of Scooby Doo, with all of the characters sprinting between doors and various mini-encounters including one where two copies of Mopsy are seen backing into each other and yapping in horror, running off in opposite directions before Dr. A can see their error. Why anyone is bothering to morph the dog at all remains an open question.]
[The montage ends with a clang as Mr. A shuts the door of the pet carrier on a Mopsy. The camera pans to a scratched and dirt-covered Brandon, then Trina, then Liam, then Gina... It's J.J. in the pet carrier. As the camera pushes toward J.J.'s fluffy little face frozen in an expression of horror, there's a smash cut to Crystal-as-Crystal's-mom standing in a vet's office talking to a middle-aged woman.]
Crystal: No, I did not lose your hamster — I know exactly where he is. I left him in the same room as Mr. Tyrus's ball python, and... *leans around a door frame to look off camera* *winces at what she sees*
Middle-Aged Extra: Y-yes?
Crystal: You can still see him... He's that big lump right in the middle...
Middle-Aged Extra: *screams* *faints*
Crystal: *to the camera* Brandon better hurry up. If she thinks that's bad, she should see what I did to the parrot.
Parrot: *off camera* And f[bleep] you too, you [bleep] [bleep] [bleep]!
[J.J.-as-Mopsy gets loaded into the car. The music is getting ominous, and all is looking lost, when suddenly Daisy runs out in front of the minivan.]
Daisy: Mom, Dad, I can't take it anymore! I've had someone inside me, and his name is Zeptron!
[Thus, the day is saved and J.J. is snatched from the jaws of a routine pelvic exam by Mr. and Dr. A cutting the vet visit short to instead rush Daisy to the doctor for remedial Sex Ed. Only Brandon realizes what she's talking about, judging by the expression on his face, but the camera doesn't linger there. Instead we see the minivan pull up to the vet at top speed. Mr. A gets out only long enough to thrust the pet carrier into the arms of Crystal-as-Crystal's-mom, and then the car drives off. It screeches to a stop at a near-identical office, only the poster of a dog wearing a stethoscope out front has become a poster of a uterus wearing a stethoscope. Dr. A walks in, dragging Daisy by the arm and shaking her head.]
[Cut back to the vet's office, where J.J.-as-Mopsy licks Crystal-as-Crystal's-mom on the cheek. Cue laugh track. Cue awww sounds.]
[As the credits fill half the screen, we get one last scene of Brandon standing outside Daisy's door. He's obviously nervous, rehearsing a conversation. Brandon leans against Daisy's door and it swings open, causing him to stumble into the room. Cue laugh track.]
Brandon: Hey, Daisy? About what you said earlier...
[Daisy is sitting with her back to the camera. When she does turn around, we get a slow reveal that she's back in pancake makeup, blond hair, and a pink sundress. She has the Myspace page for The Gathering open on the computer in front of her.]
"Daisy": *long pause* Yes, Brandon? You are my human brother, and I am happy to assist.
Brandon: Uh. *slow close-up on his face, as he clearly realizes what has happened* Never mind.
"Daisy": *another long pause* I'm sorry to hear that, Brandon. Human minds are often imperfect, are they not?
[cue laugh track]
[credits fill the screen]
Announcer: DON'T GO AWAY, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK
174 notes · View notes
observeowl · 1 year
Text
How am I going to trust? N.R
Natasha Romanoff x Reader
Summary: After a celebration and lots of drinking, Steve and Nat did something that they both regretted. Is R able to live with that fact if she continues to be Natasha's fiance?
After a successful mission that everyone has worked hard for, Tony reserved the entire restaurant for the team to celebrate. There wasn’t a need for that but he wouldn’t be Tony if he didn’t do that. 
The team drank a lot seeing how it was a celebration and they can finally relax after cracking a tough case that they’ve spent a lot of effort in. It meant a lot to Nat as she has put in a lot of effort in this investigation. 
The two of you have been together for years and the whole team was rooting for the both of you and were even considered to be the power couple around. Everyone was just waiting for you to be married but you brushed it off, not wanting to rush or force her into anything. 
Natasha understood how stressful it was for you and was going to try to wrap it up by the end of the year and promised that she was going to marry you once the case was over. You can’t lie, but your heart did flutter when she gave you that promise. 
The case was tough and Steve has been coming over to your guy’s apartment as they worked on the case together. He even has the key to the apartment since he was coming so frequently. You didn’t like that he has free access to your house but you didn’t say anything. You trusted Natasha. Your work in SHIELD also often ended late and by the time you came back, they would be in the computer room reviewing the case hoping to find a lead. 
One fine day, Nat happened to find her pictures in Steve’s phone and he confessed that he has feelings for Nat but he never wanted to separate the both of us. Things were a little awkward after but I still trusted Nat. Steve and you were fine, you still had conversations when you were around. 
Nat was grateful that you never complained about a single thing when she couldn’t pay much attention to you. In the few minutes you ladies spend together, she would be on her phone updating the team and going through updates. When she was there with you, she was never truly there. Sometimes she would only have a couple bites of her lunch before leaving saying her team has found a clue. You would always reassure her it was fine and she should leave and focus on solving the case. 
One day after bringing you out for dinner, Nat proposed to you using an origami paper ring. She recognised your efforts and promised that she was going to marry you whether or not she managed to solve the case. You happily kept the paper ring in a safe place. 
You prepared the wedding with some help from the team, after all you need ideas on what theme and design it was going to be. You tried to involve Natasha where possible such as trying on the wedding dress/suit but she had to leave halfway when her informer had information for her. 
So when the team managed to finally solve the case, everyone was so happy that they drank a few too many. 
You had further work to be done in SHIELD so you excused yourself early when you were still sober and returned to your office to work. Not knowing Nat and Steve had sex on the bed that night. Both were too drunk to recognise who they were doing it with. Nat kept calling your name in bed and Steve just pushed the guilt aside knowing this was probably the only time gets to do it with Natasha. 
The next morning, Nat couldn’t remember anything that happened last night but she saw the broken picture frame of the two of you on the floor and suspected something. She got up to leave but stepped on Steve’s army tag that he usually carries around everywhere and linked the two and two together.
Nat used the excuse of finally being able to spend time with you and queued up for the restaurant that you always wanted to try out. 
“The queue is so long. Let’s just go to another place and eat. You hate queueing up.” You tried to convince Nat to pick another place. 
“It’s alright. You always wanted to try this and since now I finally have the time, we should definitely try it.” Nat pulled you towards the back to join the queue. 
“Why the sudden change in behaviour?” 
“Umm… I just want to treat my wifey… is that a crime? Maybe you should just cuff me and lock me up baby…”
“Stop it… people are staring…” You slapped her biceps and whispered. 
“Let them stare. My wife is so beautiful.” You just sighed and rolled your eyes as the queue moved forward.
---
You were watching through the camera that your team has set up and confirmed that the audio was coming through. Timing was not confirmed so you had to sit through the entire day, waiting for your guy to show up.
You raised an eyebrow when you saw Steve coming in the club but relaxed when you saw Bucky walking in with him. The two of them always bring out the other hidden side of each other. They were rather serious in the beginning, especially Steve, not relaxing into the atmosphere as Bucky tried to overcome his wall. 
After a series of singing, drinks and talks, Bucky still noticed that Steve was not fully himself. “Hey Steve, I know you long enough to know something is bothering you. What is it?”
“It’s nothing. It’s your bad singing that’s making everything weird.” Steve tried to shake Bucky off. 
“It’s about Natasha isn’t it? It’s either you shoot your shot or you give up on her. She has a fiance god dammit.”
“I slept with her.”
“What?” Bucky felt for the man with honour, what he just announced was really damaging. 
The co-worker who was sitting next to you watching the same screen, shifted uncomfortably when the topic was brought up. She took a glance at you to check on you and she was shocked to see you this calm, there weren't any traces on your face to show any emotion but you got up from your seat abruptly.
You walked along the street of the busy city night until you reached the bridge where you asked to meet Natasha. 
“Why do you want to meet me here?” Natasha came and hugged you from behind. 
“You tell me truthfully, did you sleep with Steve?” You pulled away from her and looked her in the eye. When she didn’t reply, you got your answer. 
“I don’t understand how you’ve been walking around me and him like this hasn’t happened before.” 
“I didn’t mean to do it. I was drunk. I didn’t remember anything.” Nat tried to hold your arms and explained that it was all just a mistake. 
“If I didn’t find out, were you going to tell me?” You shrugged her hands off your arm and stepped back. She looked at you silently and you shook your head in disbelief. “Is that why you brought me to the restaurant the other day? Because you felt guilty?”
“Why don’t you just lie to me? I would have believed you. When you want to postpone the wedding, I’m okay with it. When Steve keeps coming in and out of our house to the point where he has the key, I’m also okay with it… I trusted you…” 
“Y/N…” Nat tried to hold you but you pushed her away. 
“Don’t touch me!” You seethed, turning around leaving Natasha alone on the bridge. Natasha tried calling for you but you didn’t answer your phone. She went back to the apartment but you weren’t there. It was the only place you had to stay so she wasn’t sure where you were. 
You trudged back to SHIELD and thankfully Maria was at her desk. You knocked at her door and she looked up at you with red eyes and tears streaming down your face. “I need a spare room here. Whatever works for me.” 
Maria wanted to ask what happened to you but when she saw your devastated state, she turned to her computer to check for any free room in SHIELD database. “Level 39, room 403.”
“Thanks.” You turned around to find your way to the room. It was already late so there weren't any agents around. You plopped on bed and started sobbing, releasing all the tears that you held back in front of Natasha. 
Steve went to the apartment with the intention of returning the keys since the case was over. He texted Natasha that he was going to leave the keys on the door frame but as he reached over, the door opened, showing Nat drunk on the couch. 
“Natasha, what’s going on? Y/N would not like to see you like this.” 
“She knows Steve… she knows we slept together.” Steve was shocked for words. “She’s been avoiding me. I tried calling her phone but she’s not answering. I’ll do anything to get her back. Whatever she wants me to do, I will do it. I can’t live without her. We were supposed to get married at the end of the year, how did it turn out like this?” 
“I’ll go find Y/N to explain to her, surely she will forgive you.” Steve couldn’t bear to see Natasha break down in front of him. He wanted her to be happy, even if it meant with you instead of him.
---
The next day, Steve stayed around SHIELD, hoping to catch a glimpse of you and explain the situation. “Y/N!” He shouted across the room when he saw you. You waited for him to approach you and he requested to speak in a more private spot. 
“You have to trust Natasha, Y/N. She didn't mean for any of this to happen. Give her another chance, forgive her.” Steve tried to persuade you not to break up with Natasha.
“How am I supposed to trust her, Steve? She lied to me. When we say our vows in the altar, in health or sickness, rich or poor, better or worse. How am I supposed to trust her?” You glared at him. You were angry at him as much as you were with Natasha. You saw him as a friend even though you knew he had feelings for Natasha. But you were a fool to trust him too. 
You avoided the both of them as much as possible, but you maintained professionalism when you had to have a team meeting with the both of them. Maria noticed the tension, for some who was supposed to get married at the end of the year, it was very apparent that the two of you weren’t getting along well. 
Natasha tried everything to win you back. But with you avoiding her there was only so much she could do. News travels around fast in SHIELD and the Avengers, soon people know the reason why you haven’t been seen around Natasha recently. Some, in fact, most people think that you would get back together seeing how you’ve been going strong for years. 
Wanda, on the other hand, thought differently. 
Natasha was at the canteen, getting ready to pay for her coffee when Wanda swooped in to make the payment and added another order of hot tea for herself. They brought their conversation to the table where she gave Natasha a harsh reality check. 
“Y/N is a woman with principle, white is white and black is black. It’s going to be really hard to win her back.” Wanda explained.
“I know, being with her for so long, I understood her values.”
“She’s a great person, a lot of people would be fighting over her.”
“Hey, are you here to cheer me up or bring me down?” 
“I’m just here to tell you the truth instead of giving you baseless lies and bring your hopes up.” Natasha was her senior and has helped her through a lot when she first joined the Avengers and now wants to help her senior a little, in any way she can. 
“But I do hope you get back together. You can find me if you need any help.” Wanda patted Natasha’s shoulder before walking off, leaving Nat alone in her thoughts. 
Life continues on without stopping even though the both of you haven’t been talking. There was absolutely no chance of speaking to you since the both of you were in different departments and you have been staying in SHIELD instead of the apartment you both shared. Each night, Nat waited for your return, hoping to be able to explain to you the situation but you just wouldn’t appear at the door. You were avoiding her, not returning her calls and texts.
While working, Nat received a text from you. Which was surprising since you have been avoiding her. 
I want to settle things. Meet me at (address). Tell Steve to come too. 
Reading your message, she wasted no time in bolting out of her office and texted Steve to meet her at the location as well. The team understood she needed to leave to get back her wife, it was no longer busy after cracking that huge case so no one really objected her in leaving. 
When Nat arrived at the location, it was unlike a meeting place you would set. It is like a factory with many rooms for office space. 
“Y/N! Y/N? Where are you?” Nat began opening each door but it was locked. A message came through on her phone again and it read. 
You want to see Y/N?The password is 1234.
It definitely came from Y/N but the sender appears to be a different person. Nat went to the only room which has a keypad lock and entered the password. The door opened successfully and she saw you bound and gagged to the chair. 
“Y/N!” Her eyes widened in terror. You shook your head trying to signal to Nat, not to enter but either she didn’t get it or she chose to ignore it. Nat got to your side instantly and untied the ropes around your wrist and took out the gag in your mouth. 
You took a deep breath before saying. “I told you not to enter, why didn’t you listen?” 
Claps could be heard in the room and Nat turned to the source of the sound. “You didn’t really think the password was 1234, did you?” It was the one of the masterminds of the case that the team had just solved but they were unable to convict him of his crime, only his partner because she confessed everything on her deathbed. 
“What are you doing? Let us go?” Nat said when he saw him shut the door. 
“Bank level security, without the password, none of us is going to leave the place.” He started laughing like a maniac as gas started filling up the space. “Carbon monoxide. We are all just going to die here.” 
Nat shot the door with her gun but it only made a dent, it wasn’t going to be enough to get you out of here. “Just let my wife out of here.” Nat said coughing and covering her mouth, hoping to breathe in less of the toxic gas.
“You should count yourself lucky. You get to die together with her. My wife left without me! You caused her death! She asked to take revenge for her.” He was getting delusional. His love for his wife was greater than anything in the world.
“Nat…” Your body was almost hitting the limit as you struggled to stay awake. 
Nat held your body close to her as she scanned for an exit. There were only vents that leaked the gas in and they were far too small for anyone to fit in. “I’m sorry…” Was all Natasha could say. The three of you in the room started to drift out of consciousness and the oxygen bonds with the carbon monoxide.
---
Steve saw Nat’s message and went to the location but no one was already. He was sure Nat had arrived earlier than he did but he couldn’t see anyone in sight. He did the same thing and called for yours and Natasha’s name but received no response. 
Using his enhanced hearing, he could hear the sound of the engine moving, releasing the gas that was stored. Steve pushed down on the handle of the door only to realise it was locked. Using all the strength he could muster, he couldn’t push the door open. He ran back to his car to grab his SHIELD and slammed it against the handle. 
“Nat! Y/N!” Steve tried to shake the both of you but you were passed out on each other. He carried both of you to his car before trying to drag the guy out of the room and calling the ambulance as he drove to the hospital. His top priority was to get the both of you safe instead of the other guy.
---
Days passed and the two of you have woken up. Nat woke up earlier because she has a stronger body compared to you. She wanted to visit and help you on the day you were going to be discharged but when she arrived, your bed was empty and the nurse was tidying up. “May I know where the patient has gone?”
“Oh, you’re talking about Ms Y/L/N? She has already been discharged in the morning.” Once again, the chance to meet you slipped by her fingers. 
You had just walked into your room when Maria came in. “You’re back so early? Let me guess. You wanted to avoid her.” You just glanced at her before starting to unpack your stuff. 
“Come on, Y/N. I know you still love her. And it’s just only once, I’m sure she’ll never do it again. Where are you going to find someone as good as Nat?” Maria tried to persuade you. 
You sighed and dropped your hands to your side. “If you’re not here to help me unpack can you please leave?” You were tired of everyone trying to patch you back together with Nat. 
---
Nat was in the compound talking to the team when Clint ran into the room panting. “Whoa, why are you in a rush?” Tony commented.
“Y/N… Y/N, she… she handed in her resignation.” Clint said as he was panting from his run. Everyone turned their attention to me when they heard the news. 
“This is not something to be joking about.” Wanda said seriously. 
“I’m not!” Clint defended. Nat's phone rang and she pulled it out and it was a text sent by you. 
Meet me outside SHIELD.
“Go get your girl Nat.” Tony gave Nat a slight push and she placed down whatever she had in her hand and drove there as fast as possible. She saw you standing outside waiting for her and she pulled up right in front of you. 
You went around and got in her car to have some privacy instead of standing in the open. “I take it you’ve heard the news.” You said once you sat in her car. Nat nodded.
She proceeded to talk. “I know I’m in the wrong. But if you just give me one chance, I’ll make it up to you all your life. Just give me one chance. That’s all I need. I really love you.” Nat pulled out a velvet box and presented it to you, containing two rings. One for you and one for her. 
“Give me a chance to make it up to you. I’ll pour my entire heart and devote it to you.” 
You held the box and your hands and took a look. “Once, my professor asked why I didn’t take the scholarship that presented me with a wonderful opportunity in Berlin and I said I can’t leave because I wanted to be with you.” Natasha listened as you spoke.
“All my life, all my plans for the future included you. Our joint apartment, you’re the beneficiary for my insurance, you’re my emergency contact number. I never wanted to be an agent, but I wanted to be close to you so I took the test. Seeing you complete a mission successfully puts a smile on my face more than my promotion… I really wanted to continue this down the road and grow old with you…” You closed the box and placed it back in her hands. 
Both of you have your hands on top of each other. “I’m really grateful to you for saving me the other day. But each day I wake up, I question myself, am I able to live with the fact that you slept with Steve even if we really get married?”
Nat's eyes were tearing up as you saw it turn red. You were also trying not to cry as you spoke slowly. “Even though I may not be right next to you, promise me you will live your life to the fullest.” 
You gave Nat one last kiss on the cheeks before leaving her car. 
117 notes · View notes
space-mermaid-writing · 11 months
Text
Is this seat taken? [IronStrange]
Summary: “You know, when someone is asking you to watch their stuff, the one thing you shouldn't do is run off and abandon said stuff.“
Stephen looked at him over the edge of his book and raised a brow. He didn't even wonder how Stark knew. “Your stuff was perfectly safe.“
“Yeah, sure.“ Tony’s words dripped with sarcasm.
(Your regular coffee shop AU but they still have their powers)
Relationship: Tony Stark/Stephen Strange
Tags: Coffee Shop AU, different first meetings, they still have powers, fluff, strangers to lovers, bamf Stephen, Stephen keeps his magic a secret until the last second, a lot of banter, soft idiots falling in love
Ko-fi | Read it on AO3 | Masterlist | Word count: 6.6k
Author’s note: I started this last year, abandoned it and recently dug it out to finish it. Bon appetit.
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Is this seat taken?
There was this small coffee shop in Greenwich Stephen liked. It was just right around the corner of the Sanctum and sometimes he went there to read and enjoy one of their brews.
The Sanctum was his home, but sometimes it was too quiet. Stephen was still a people person, even after all these years. He liked the buzz around him, like feeling the energy of life.
Like today.
Of course, it was rush hour and the shop was crowded. Stephen joined the queue and scanned the tables while waiting his turn. They were all occupied, but at some there was still at least an unoccupied seat.
There was a woman with a fidgety baby – no thanks. At the next table another young woman, clearly waiting for somebody. At the one in the corner sat some guy with a hoodie, base cap and sunglasses combination, working on a laptop. He looked kinda sketchy, but was probably the quietest of them all.
He ordered and waited at the side for his cup. With that in his hand, he went to Sketchy Guy. “Is this seat taken?“
He got a short glance in response, but it was enough to recognize the man. “Help yourself.“
Stephen didn’t reveal his discovery. He was here to read. And so he sat down and opened his book.
They sat in a comfortable silence until his table neighbor rolled back his shoulders and stretched his arms. “Gotta run somewhere quick. Can you keep an eye on my stuff?“
“Sure,“ Stephen hummed with the indifference one typically had toward strangers.
The other man gave him a quick, scrutinizing glance before taking off his sunglasses and placing them on the table. Then he went to the restrooms.
Stephen used the interruption to magically refill his drink. The rush hour had died down and the barista behind the counter had time to take a breath and refill the baked goods.
That actually wasn't such a bad idea, Stephen thought. His stomach could use some food. With a small flick of his fingers, he laid a protective spell over the table and then stood up to take a look at the cake of the day.
Refills were one thing but Stephen wouldn't be the reason that took the coffee shop out of business.
With a plate of apple pie he went back to his seat to continue reading.
Stark came back and put on his sunglasses again. Stephen hardly minded him. Until he heard a scoff.
“You know, when someone is asking you to watch their stuff, the one thing you shouldn't do is run off and abandon said stuff.“
The sorcerer looked at him over the edge of his book and raised a brow. He didn't even wonder how Stark knew. “Your stuff was perfectly safe.“
“Yeah, sure.“ His words dripped with sarcasm but for once Stephen didn‘t take the bait. He wasn‘t here to start an argument and – honestly – he simply didn‘t care enough about that man‘s opinion. So he kept his tongue silent, while Stark packed his belongings into a backpack and left.
At last Stephen had the table to himself.
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When Stephen entered the coffee shop two weeks later, it again was rush hour. He should really keep a tab on time, but after three exorcisms in one week he deserved a break. Unfortunately a lot of people seemed to think the same.
Scanning the crowd while waiting for his drink he weighed his options.
There was a free seat next to someone on their phone. Distracting.
Two teenagers. Nobody wanted to sit with teenagers.
And then there was… well, at least this was going to be entertaining.
Stephen took his cup to the table in the corner. “Is this seat taken?“
“Help your-…“ Brown eyes met blue ones. “…nope, absolutely not. Liars don’t get a seat at this table.” He was apparently quite petty and still didn’t take their last meeting well. Stephen didn't let it bother him and sat down anyway.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Stark asked. He was wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap indoors again, as if that would suddenly make him unrecognizable. The glasses weren't even fully tinted.
“I did. The thing is, I’m not a liar, Stark.”
Stark leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. If he was upset that his ridiculous attempt to remain incognito had failed, he didn't let it show. Or perhaps his annoyance at Stephen's presence simply outweighed it. "Is this some kind of practical joke? Did someone from the team set you up to annoy me?"
Stephen opened his book and flipped through until he found the right page. “You don’t have a lot of faith in your team.”
“What’s your deal then? Is this for your youtube channel? Any hidden cameras?”
“I just want to read in peace and enjoy my coffee.” Demonstratively, Stephen pointed to his book.
Stark was not very convinced. “I’m keeping my eye on you.”
“I’m flattered.”
Silence spread as the two men went about their work. But Stephen could not concentrate, he was hyper aware of his surroundings. It might have been because he was running on too much coffee and too little sleep. Or maybe the last demon he had exorcized had cursed him after all, before the sorcerer had managed to banish him back to his own dimension.
After a few minutes of reading the same paragraph over and over without really taking in what it said, he rubbed his forehead – and caught Stark's gaze, who was indeed watching him as announced.
"Okay, I'm curious," Stephen said, "if you're that paranoid, why ask a stranger to watch your stuff in the first place?"
"Statistically speaking, someone is less likely to steal if you give them the task of watching."
“So, you asked me because you didn’t want me to steal your stuff.” He huffed a laugh. “I’m not interested in your technology.”
Tony raised a brow. “You sure? I saw your phone last time. It’s the most ancient thing I’ve seen this century and you could really use an update. Not that you would have gone far with the stolen stuff.”
“I’m offended how little you think of my abilities of thievery.” Stephen wasn’t offended. He was amused. This conversation was way more interesting than his book. Yeah, he really needed a good, solid 20 hours of sleep. Maybe more.
Stark was about to retort something – Stephen's words only reinforced Stark's sour mood – when his phone made an alarming beeping noise, interrupting the two men. The engineer sighed and put on his sunglasses.
“Is it really this important, Fri?”, he asked no one specific in the room. Then, “Fine, I’m on my way.”
Stark turned his face to Stephen. “You’re lucky I gotta go. Someone is attacking the city hall using ice blasts.”
The corners of Stephen's mouth twitched up. “Do you need someone to watch your stuff while you’re gone?”
Stark was still wearing the glasses so Stephen couldn’t see the roll of his eyes, when he collected his laptop and left with a muttered, “Asshole.”
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It was 2 am when Stephen entered the coffee shop. Surprisingly he wasn’t the only patron at this ungodly hour. There were two students at a table in the back with various books and notes clattered in front of them, fueling on more caffeine than was healthy for them. With a small smile, Stephen recalled his days in medical school and later as a resident. It had been good times. Sometimes he felt that even back then he got more sleep than he did now as the Sorcerer Supreme.
The late opening hours of the coffee shop were among the reasons why he loved it. With a book and a cup of tea, he sat down at a table by the window. Despite the late hour, he wasn't tired, but there was an eerie mood in the air and he kept his third eye open – masked by a simple glamour – just in case.
The door of the coffee shop opened with a soft ring and a few minutes later a shadow fell on the sorcerer. He looked up and spotted Tony Stark, wearing his sunglasses and base cap as usual, even though it was the middle of the night.
“Three times’ the charm, I heard.” He looked tired, had dark circles under his eyes and a cup of coffee in his hand.
“Apparently,” Stephen replied.
Stark waited a moment, but Stephen didn't offer anything else. He sat down anyway, although enough other tables were unoccupied. Tonight he was not looking for privacy, but distraction.
Stephen seemed to notice that, because he pushed his book away, turning his attention to the other man instead.“How did it go the other day? The City Hall is still standing, so I guess you were successful.”
“Yeah. We got her before she turned it into a winter wonderland. She is currently under investigation with those powers.” Stark sipped his coffee. He was careful just to share information that made the news anyway, not sure how much he trusted this man in the coffee shop he seemed to meet quite regularly. He side-eyed Stephen. “So, you’re always sitting here with your books. Are you secretly the owner of this coffee shop, who likes to go undercover and talk to people? You know, like offering them life lessons.”
Stephen chuckled. “I can barely afford a beverage here every now and then. I definitely don’t have enough money to open a shop and keep it running.”
“What’s your deal then? What language is this even?” Curiously, Stark peered into his book.
“Sanskrit.”
“Gesundheit.”
“I read it for work.”
“Must be either an exciting field of work or an extremely boring one.”
“I find it quite interesting.”
There was a pause, before Tony said, “Don’t tell me all the details at once.” For the fact that this man could drive him up the wall with ease, he was quite secretive about his own person.
There was a small smirk on Stephen’s lips. “I will tell them, if you spill yours.”
Stark mirrored the smirk. “Touche.” He was sure that between the two of them he held the more delicate secrets with the Avengers and Shield, but he understood the sentiment. “Are you a librarian?” he asked anyway, because he was intrigued by this man who wasn’t intimidated by his name and face.
“No, that would be Wong,” Stephen said. “My work is more on the practical side.”
Stark had lots of follow-up questions. “What is the practical side of a librarian? Are you secretly going on adventures to retrieve long lost artifacts? What is this book even about? And what’s a Wong?”
“Excuse me, gentlemen.” They were interrupted by a barista, who stepped to their table and looked apologetic. “We would like to close.”
The men looked up in surprise. The students had disappeared and the barista had put the chairs up on every other table but theirs. They were the last patrons.
"Yes. Yes, of course." Stark got to his feet and reached for his jacket. Stephen followed him. “Sorry for making you work overtime.”
The barista politely waved it off, his voice full on customer service. “It’s fine, really. It’s just…”
“You want to go home and sleep. We get it.” Tony made sure to add an extra tip in the jar for their trouble.
No sooner than they stepped outside the door the sign on the window behind them was flipped to 'CLOSED'. The morning shift would arrive in a few hours, but until then the two men were without a place to pass the time.
Stark turned his head to Stephen. “Need a ride home?”
“I live only a few blocks away.”
“I’ll walk you. The streets can be dangerous.” And with that he started moving in the direction Stephen had pointed. The sorcerer followed him. He didn't mind Stark's company, it was nice. So was the silence in which they walked.
It might have been the late hour, but neither of them felt the need to continue their previous conversation or to start a new one.
It took them only a few minutes to reach the doors of the Sanctum.
Stark eyed the old building. "I don't know what I was expecting, but it fits with your weird books."
Instead of being offended by this, Stephen followed Stark's gaze and tried to see the Sanctum through the eyes of a stranger. To him, it was the epitome of home. He had never felt as much at ease anywhere as he did here. Even the expensive penthouse apartment he had lived in when he was a neurosurgeon didn't come close. Maybe his parents' farm when he was a little boy. But not even that anymore, since Donna left.
The building might be old, but it was reliable. It was a safe haven. And only those who needed it could see it.
He turned his head back to Stark.
“Why did you visit the coffee shop in the middle of the night?”
The inventor tilted his head, not questioning this weird change of topic. “Call it the side effects of my line of work.”
And didn’t Stephen understand that way too well? It was the same for him. He walked up the steps to the door.
“Hey,” Stark stopped him. “You never told me your name. I call you Annoying Coffee Guy in my head but, you know, a name would be nice.”
“It’s Stephen. Doctor Stephen Strange.”
Tony raised his eyebrows. He couldn’t help it, it sounded kinda made up. But whatever. “Nice to meet you, Stranger.”
Stephen rolled his eyes, but his smirk betrayed him. Behind him, the Sanctum door opened on its own. "Goodnight, Tony." He stepped into the dark interior and behind him the door closed again.
If Tony smiled on the whole way back to his car then, well, wasn’t that anybody’s business but his own.
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“So, your doctor title isn’t in some weird linguistic field but you’re an actual doctor.” Tony didn’t even pretend to look for a different table, before he sat down.
Stephen looked up, hiding the fact that he was pleased about it. “You googled me,” he said instead.
“I bet you did the same after realizing who I was.”
Stephen did a thing with his eyebrow, like Tony just said something really dumb. “I didn’t need to google you. Everybody knows who Tony Stark is.” He has the courtesy to keep his voice low enough for others not to listen in on that part. “It’s hard to ignore when your face is plastering the news every few weeks.”
“Well, what can I say? The press loves me.” Tony’s smile twisted into something more professional he used in interviews. “Don’t believe everything they say, though. That story with the Bengal tiger was definitely exaggerated.”
Now Stephen raised one of his eyebrows and Tony wondered how it was possible for a man to be this expressive with these?
“I will keep it in mind.” It was Stephen’s only comment on the matter, before he turned back to his book. It was a sign for Tony to pull his laptop out and start working.
There was a comfortable silence between them. The coffee shop around them was in full swing and Tony liked having background noises.
He was absorbed in his work until a voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Excuse me. I don’t mean to bother you. I just wanted to thank you for the help you do around here.”
Tony knew the game. Despite his – admittedly poor – disguise of 'just add a base cap', he was often approached by people. And it was fine. He always tried to make time, even if it was just for a minute. He switched to his PR smile he wore like a second skin and flashed it to the person (an older woman, apparently another patron) – and he was just about to open his mouth when he noticed that the older lady was actually talking to Doctor Strange.
Bewildered, he needed a second to close his mouth. That was a new one.
Stephen smiled politely at the women. “Of course. I’m happy to help.” He eyes wandered briefly to Tony, he had definitely noticed his misapprehension and it seemed to amuse him.
“My granddaughter was one of the kids with… bad teeth.” The lady paused for a moment as if to add something else, but then didn’t.
Tony thought it was weird, but Stephen didn’t bat an eye.
“Are the new teeth working well?”
“Yes, very.”
The doctor nodded, satisfied. “I’m glad I could help and that your granddaughter feels better. I’m making sure the tooth fairy will leave her alone in the future.”
The older lady smiled and left to get back to her own table.
Tony looked at Strange. “I didn’t know you were also a dentist.”
Stephen was not. But explaining that he had fought a tooth fairy gone rogue would be too soon in their… whatever they had going on.
So instead, he deflected.
“You first thought she was talking to you,” he stated, still amused about the fact.
“Well, naturally. No one told me, you are some local doctor hero.” He emphasized the word mockingly, but his words were genuine.
“It’s complicated,” Stephen said cautiously. “It hasn’t been the same since…” He trailed off, looking at his slightly trembling hands. After all this time it still wasn’t easy for him to talk about it.
“The accident?” Tony helped out and Stephen nodded. Of course Tony found the articles from it when he did his research. It was one of the first things that came up in google when you put in his name. Stephen wondered if that would still be the case if he hadn’t completely disappeared afterwards. Maybe if he had started working as a consultant or continued as a researcher, it would be different.
“Some scars never truly heal, I guess.” Tony’s words interrupted his trails of thought. The engineer put his fingers on his own chest, where the arc reactor had been for many years.
Their eyes met and there was a certain understanding between them. They were both middle aged men, both with their own demons and trauma.
“Do you like what you’re doing now?” Tony asked and Stephen nodded.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else.” And he meant it. “What about you? Being Iron Man can’t be easy.”
“Oh, I tried to live another life. To do something else. Didn’t work out. I come as a package deal.” Tony’s breakup with Pepper had been all over the news when it happened. They had broken up and he made her CEO. One of the best decisions of his life, even if it had been heartbreaking. But they worked better as friends. A lesson he learned the hard way.
Tony didn’t know why he added that last sentence. Or maybe he did, but he wasn’t ready to face that reason yet.
“I figured.” Stephen wanted to say more, but at that moment his phone rang. Since there were basically only two people who had his number, he glanced at the display (it didn't even have a touch screen, Tony noticed in dread. It really belonged in a museum).
"It's work," Stephen apologized and stepped away for a moment.
Tony emptied his coffee. His eyes fell back on his laptop, which still had his latest project open. He saved the progress and turned it off.
“Sorry, that was Wong,” Stephen said, coming back. “There was an incident at work. I have to go.”
“I’ll walk you.”
For a second it looked like Stephen was going to refuse, but then he nodded and they both packed up their things. It wasn't far to the Sanctum and he wouldn't lose much time walking instead of opening a portal in the next back alley.
He had told Tony that he lived and worked in the same building. So the engineer was not surprised when he took that direction. They walked most of the way in silence, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Only when they were almost at the Sanctum did Tony speak up again. “So, Wong, the librarian, is your co-worker.”
“And friend,” Stephen added fondly.
Tony turned his face to him. “Are you two… like a thing?”
“What? Wong? No!” The sorcerer chuckled. “That would be weird. No, I’m not seeing anyone.” He met Tony’s eyes, amused, but there was also the inevitable counter question. "What about you?"
They had arrived in front of the Sanctum and stopped. Although Wong's call had been urgent, Stephen lingered, not wanting to leave the company of the engineer yet. Standing in front of him, the difference in size between them was much more present than when sitting at the table. It was endearing to watch Tony look up to him, while he took a step closer to him.
“I’m seeing someone right now.”
“Yeah? Is he any good?” Stephen asked huskily.
“I guess there’s only one way to find out.” The air grew thick around them. They were definitely having a moment, Tony felt it – and then they were interrupted by the ringing of a bicyclist who sped past them way too close.
"Hey!" Tony jumped back, but managed to stay on his feet without stumbling. Stephen had sidestepped into the other way and looked equally surprised.
“Jeez, kids these days. You okay?” Tony asked.
“Yeah.” Stephen did a subtle gesture. The cyclist wouldn’t get far with a now flat tire. The sorcerer was not petty at all.
He looked at Stark, who shrugged his shoulders. “I guess work is waiting for you.”
“I guess.” Stephen was unwilling to have their moment ruined by a random bicyclist and he walked back up into Tony’s personal space. “I was wondering if you would like to–“
“Yes.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.” Stephen raised an eyebrow.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m in,” Tony replied breathlessly. His eyes darted between Stephen’s eyes and his lips. “Also, I’d really like to kiss you. Wanted for a while actually.”
The sorcerer smiled. His trembling hand came to rest on Tony’s cheek, holding him gently, before kissing him. Tony closed his eyes, leaning more into it.
Unfortunately, it had to remain a short kiss, a soft promise for the next time they would see each other. Stephen wished they had more time, but duty called. His fingers brushed over Tony’s skin when they broke away from each other.
There was just one more thing he had to do, before he left. Because Tony deserved the truth.
“I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?” Tony knitted his brows. This sentence after a first kiss usually came with nothing good. He braced himself for being told that Stephen was still in a complicated relationship, maybe even married. Or terminal ill. None of these options were appealing.
And Stephen probably could have found better words. But he was distracted by Tony, by his closeness, by the kiss, his scent, his brown doe eyes and their dark lashes. He may be the Sorcerer Supreme but he was also just a man. Which was why he blurted out, “I can do magic.”
Tony laughed, relieved, and to Stephen it was the most beautiful sound on Earth. “I’m sure you can. But wait for it for an actual date, alright, magic man?”
“I’m serious.”
“I’m looking forward to a demonstration.” Tony nipped Stephen’s lips, partly because they looked delicious and partly to shut him up.
Behind them the Sanctum’s door opened. Stephen really had to go.
“I’ll see you soon.”
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Wong was not amused that Stephen had taken his time to arrive and Stephen felt a bit guilty because it turned out to be an actual emergency.
Despite everything he was a responsible human being. And therefore he sent a text message to Tony (he had no idea how or when the engineer had managed to save his number into Stephen’s phone) before he disappeared from this dimension for some time.
S: “Hell broke loose. Won’t be in the city for a few days. Text you when I’m back.”
T: “Do your worst, magic man.”
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Stephen was gone for a week. It felt even longer in the dimension, which Mephisto had invaded and which he and Wong defended.
Time worked weird like that.
When he returned home, he fell face first on his bed and slept for 30 hours straight. Afterwards he felt recovered enough to contact Tony and invited him for a date. He was aware that he had to clear it to the engineer what his actual job was.
Tony would understand, he was sure.
Stephen needed three tries to magick a good enough outfit. The first was way too formal, the second too casual. He settled for dark pants, a grey sweater that shows off his arms in just the right way, and a red scarf that is the Cloak of Levitation in disguise. The sorcerer knew if he tried to leave the cloak at home, he would just follow him like a lost puppy anyway.
The restaurant they agreed to meet was in midtown. Tony arrived first and stood up when Stephen entered the room. The engineer rocked a classic black and white combo and looked incredibly handsome. Before today Stephen had only seen him in hoodies to blend in, but today Tony had made sure to impress his date.
They sat at a table at the window.
“Good to see that hell spat you out in one piece,” Tony joked and Stephen froze for a moment, thinking what Tony knew. But then he remembered the text message he had written to the engineer, before he left.
“You have no idea.”
They ordered and toasted when their drinks arrived.
“About what I said the other night,” Stephen started. “About magic.”
“Ah yes, I’ve never dated a magician. What party trick can you do?”
“It’s no party trick,” the sorcerer scoffed. He couldn’t blame Tony for not being serious but it bothered him anyway.
Fortunately, Tony relented. “Of course not, sorry.” He gestured for Stephen to continue.
“I think you have the wrong idea of wha-…” A big shadow approached the window they were sitting at, growing larger and larger. Stephen reacted on instinct when a car that had been flung across the road crashed into the window. Glass shattered and people screamed in shock. Green glowing lines appeared, covering the car and the shards, before someone got actually injured.
Stephen stood on his feet, the eye of Agamotto on his chest on full display and open.
Tony stared at him – as did all the other guests.
“What the fuck?!”
Stephen turned his face to him. His brows were drawn together in annoyance at the interruption and because there were clearly dark forces responsible for this, but his eyes were sorry.
"As I was saying… magic."
He moved his fingers and turned time back. The window repaired itself, the shards reassembled into a solid surface, and the car flew back. Stephen didn't return it the whole way back, but dropped it halfway in the street – like it had been picked up from midair. Until he knew who or what had thrown it, he didn't want to risk it coming hurtling right back in his direction again.
Tony, in the meantime, had also jumped to his feet. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“To my defense, I told you about the magic. It’s not my fault you didn’t believe me before.”
“Oh, so it’s my fault then?”
Stephen did not answer, his gaze was directed outside. Cars didn't just fly through the air. He noticed that the asphalt of the street was moving almost like something was pushing from underneath.
"I'll be back in a minute."
He took a step toward the window and the red scarf around his neck changed back into the cloak, which settled around his shoulder. At the same time his carefully put together outfit changed into his blue robes. With the second step he suddenly stood on the other side of the glass.
The cloak took him into the air so that he could get an overview of the situation. There was a crack in the asphalt that was spreading further and further, stretching along the entire road and causing chaos in the traffic.
That wasn’t good.
Tony jogged out of the restaurant, using the door, you know, like a normal human being.
“Hey! You don’t get to leave mid-argument! God, now I know how Pepper felt all those years. Are you actually wearing a cape?”
“It’s a cloak.” Stephen landed beside him. “Can this conversation wait until we figured out what’s happening here?”
“Fine,” grumbled Tony, not at all happy about giving in. “But only because this looks really bad.” He touched the house unit on his chest and the nanosuit bled over his body. He followed Stephen, who moved back into the air
“Friday says it’s all over the city, centered in Crotona Park in the north. Seems almost like something tries to break through.” Crotona Park was about eight miles away. Child’s play for his suit’s speed. “Can your magic keep up?”
Stephen smirked and opened a portal. “Can your tech?”
Oh, it was on! Tony hated the magic man. He wanted to kiss his stupid face.
He hesitated only slightly before he followed through the portal. It helped that Stephen had stepped in first and that Tony could actually see the other side. There wasn’t a black void. So he told himself it was fine. And it kinda was.
There’s even more chaos in the park. The earth was broken up, vaulted and something like lava leaked out. Some trees were on fire and there was smoke. It looked like Armageddon or the Judgment Day.
“Remember when I told you I wasn’t in town because hell broke loose?” Stephen had moved up next to him and Tony opened his face plate.
“Please don’t tell me…”
“They did the same in the twenty-third dimension. They are probably here because they are not happy I stopped them.”
Tony wondered briefly who ‘they’ were but anything related to literal hell couldn’t be nice. “Well, can you stop them again?”
“Yes, but you need to evacuate the park.”
“On it. Backup is on the way.” Friday had told him on screen that the team had already been notified, suited up and would hopefully arrive any second now.
Stephen dived right into… whatever it was he was doing. His fingers and arms moved in intricate gestures and gold glowing mandalas appeared, sealing the cracks and extinguishing the fire. The sorcerer was clearly in his element here.
Tony watched the man in awe before the readouts on his screen reminded him, he better got to work too. He set about getting the people out of the park.
Stephen did his best to prevent Mephisto from breaking into this dimension. He repaired crack after crack and fought back the attacks.
Wong appeared at his side. Alarmed by demons knocking in the city’s wards, he helped it to contain hell. He whirled around and cast his spells at every dark aura he noticed.
A smaller demon slipped out of a crater that had formed and jumped onto the armor of Tony, who had the misfortune of being closest to him. Wong created Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to catch it and hurl it back to where it had come from. Tony spun around and returned the favor by blowing away another demon that had just crawled out.
Stephen appeared from somewhere. “Tony, that’s Wong. Wong, Tony.”
Tony opened his face plate just to show his bewildered and very pretty face. "...what kind of ninja monk library do you guys operate?"
Because those robes, the acrobatic Moves of the librarian, and their glittering powers were pretty much the exact opposite of the ancient books and weird building Tony had associated with Strange. He was missing something and he didn’t like that feeling.
Any response was interrupted by the arrival of the Avengers, who were now checking in with Tony via comm. He gave them a rough summary of the situation, though he wasn't quite sure of it himself yet. But the words of the magic man had been clear and for now Tony decided to stick to them, because Strange clearly had more of an idea what was going on.
He joined the Avengers in getting the civilians off the battlefield, but let Friday keep an eye on the mages.
“How do we stop this? Nothing we do has any effects on it.” Rhodey asked his friend, as they tried to eliminate more demons with gunfire side by side. Unsuccessfully.
"They are Mephisto's creatures. Non-magical weapons are useless against them." It was Stephen who answered him and Rhodey turned to him, his brows drawn together, at this sudden and unexpected interference of this private conversation. “Excuse me, who are you?”
Tony sighed. “Rhodey bear, this is Stephen.”
“That’s Coffee Guy Stephen?” Rhodey asked skeptically. “He is the exact opposite of what you told m-…”
He was interrupted when a huge red hand erupted from the ground between them. Immediately, Stephen created a spell to hold the king of hell back. Wong rushed to his aid, but even together it was only a temporary solution.
They needed something stronger, Stephen realized.
This date was not going at all as planned. It was probably the worst date ever – without being too dramatic.
“I���m gonna end this nonsense once for all.” With these words, his cloak carried him high into the air.
Tony and Rhodey had been closest to the red hand and had been thrown back as it broke through the ground. Fortunately, their suits had caught them before they hit anything.
“What is he going to do?” Tony asked.
“Probably something extremely stupid,” Wong grunted, struggling to hold that spell on his own.
“I take it back,” Rhodey said to his best friend. “He is exactly your type.”
Stephen hovered over the battlefield. It looked bad. Not only had the ground turned into a crater field, more and more creatures from hell were slipping through the cracks.
With determined gestures he pulled powers from other dimensions, gathering them in his hands. He needed enough to shove back a force as great as Mephisto, the King of Hell, and to seal the tears between their worlds. In other words: he needed a lot.
He didn’t go for complicated spells or a finesse technique. He went for raw power and determination. His fingers drew golden light from the air that filled his body. The screams of the people decreased for him and he no longer heard the crackling of the asphalt tearing apart. His ears were filled with a white noise of static, almost like electricity.
Stephen closed his eyes and concentrated on this feeling, centering it inside him.
When he opened his eyes again, they glowed faintly, and he shot a giant beam of magic to those arms that tried to crawl onto Earth.
The red arms twitched, the clawed hands tried to grab hold, but had to retreat eventually. They moved back until they were gone.
Stephen took a breath and put his palms together. "I need your help for this, friend," he whispered to his cloak. Then he shot down to earth, gathering the last bit of energy he could muster between his hands. Only just before the center of the torn rifts did he slow down a bit, but his impact on the ground could still be heard loudly.
The sorcerer poured magic like water into it. Golden light shot along the cracks, stitching them back together until they were gone.
As the crater beneath Stephen repaired , he was thrown backward by the force of magic. His loyal cloak caught him midair, because the sorcerer had no more energy to do it himself.
He definitely overdid it. He hadn’t been to full capacity anyway after last week and now he was drained even further. But it was fine. Mephisto wouldn’t get his hands on Earth today.
The cloak descended Stephen slowly. His eyes were still faintly glowing, an after effect from summoning these immense powers. His feet touched the ground and he stumbled as his knees buckled. The cloak immediately helped him by carrying his weight.
Tony was the first to approach him, jogging up to him “Holy shit, Strange. That was… incredible. Hey? Are you alright?”
“’m sorry,” Stephen mumbles. “I should have… I didn’t mean you to find it out like this.” He wanted to reach for Tony, when he noticed the strong trembling of his hands and retreated. They were even worse than usual and wouldn’t be of any use in the next few days.
“It’s fine.” Tony hugged him anyway, his suit retreating into the house unit on his chest.
It was not the right place nor the right time for the talk they definitely had to do. The streets were back in one piece but there was still chaos:cars were turned on their roofs or even stacked in piles, people were still in panic. The sirens of various ambulances were on full blast.
The Avengers did their best to start the clean up but also glanced at the sorcerer curiously. Wong was probably on his way to capture the demons that managed to escape.
Tony’s hug was tight and Stephen inhaled the scent of shampoo, sweat and smoke. He tried to hug back, but it felt awkward with just using his arms. His hands hung useless.
“I’m fine,” he repeated. “Just need some sleep.
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They met up a few days later when Stephen was back on his feet.
The sorcerer was grateful the other man had taken care of the cleanup and the press after the fight, so he and Wong could return to the Sanctum.
That was also where they were sitting now: in one of its cozy rooms with a fireplace. Stephen had made coffee for them both and his cup hovered in the air beside him. His hands were bandaged and still hurt, though less badly than right after the fight.
“You should join the Avengers.” It was the first thing Tony said after Stephen explained his magic abilities to him.
“No.”
“No?”
“Look,” Stephen sighted, because he had dreaded this conversation. “I appreciate you asking but we – the order of the Mystic Arts – are trying to be subtle. We operate in the background.”
His hands had healed enough to use magic and with a motion of his finger he guided the cup to his mouth.
Tony raised his eyebrows. “Okay, first off: what you did there in the park was anything but subtle.”
And didn’t Stephen know that. He was glad that Wong had backed him up when the elders had voiced their dissatisfaction about the incident.
“Secondly, so you’re telling me, you’re not only secretly a wizard, but also in a cult?”
“It’s not a cult,” Stephen said automatically.
“Uh-hu. A secret society with old ass looking robes? Definitely a cult. I hope you’re at least allowed to date or I will have a word with your cult leader.”
That made Stephen perk up. After everything that had happened Tony still considered dating him? That was more than he had hoped for.
“Well, technically,” he drawled and Tony braced himself for whatever Stephen would throw next at him. He couldn’t be sure with these wizards. “… I am their leader.”
Tony cracked a smile and laughed. Because of course he was. Everything with this magic man has been fucking strange so far and Tony loved every minute of it.
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isabelldrabbles · 1 year
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Wanda Maximoff x Reader
warnings: injury, mentions of blood and guns
A/N: wrote this over a year ago, but wanted to post something. Don‘t know where this is going lol.
---
You passed the security guards of the building complex, stood in the queue for the coffee machine and spinned with the coins in your hands. It has been a hard day, night, even week. Something was off. Your workplace was hiding something… and you noticed it. Since this Avenger had a town under her spell, everyone here was going crazy. Hayward had no control over his soldiers anymore, Captain Monica Rambeau was inciting a riot, and you were in the midst of it.
Darcy Lewis' face lit up when she saw you and soon, she happily came towards you. The people in the row behind you grunted in annoyance as she overtook them in the row next to the device. 
‘Oh my, please, she’s a doctor. The disrespect of some people.’ You joked and let her hug you. After all, you were glad you had someone in this place that brought some joy with them.
‘Where the hell have you hid, agent? I have missed you!’ Darcy lightly pushed you in your shoulder, but you just put your hands in the pockets of your SWORD - sweater and shook your head. 
‘I was working.’ The waiting line moved and you stepped forward. ‘Something you apparently don’t have much to-’
‘Oh my god (Y/N)! The audacity!’ You laughed at the response of the brunette and looked at her. ‘Who was the one that discovered the broadcast signals of WandaVision?!” She looked expectantly at you, but you bit your cheek amused and provoked her with not giving an answer. ‘Me. It was me. The great Doctor Darcy Lewis!”
‘Right Lewis, now go and get a coffee, people are waiting.’ Some random guy huffed from behind you.
She hastily stepped forward, pressed the button of her desired order and turned to you once again. With a wink she threw in the coins to pay. 
‘Oh god Darcy, don’t even get me started on that witch’s case. Creating a fake scenario to live with the love of her life? What is she? A depressed teenager?’ Darcy turned offended and slapped your arm, now without kidding. ‘Ouch! What the hell??’
Your friend grabbed her coffee, stepped to the side and you repeated her prior actions for your own order. 
‘(Y/N)! You have no idea how much that girl went through-’
‘Parents dead. Brother dead. Robot boyfriend dead. Fellow Avengers dead. Now once again imaginary boyfriend and also kids dead. I get it, she has been through a lot, but there are people out there called psycho therapists, they are qualified for such people. I can recommend my mom’s one.’ The machine finished and you walked back to your office, both a coffee mug in your hands. 
‘Do you hear how stupid what you are saying sounds?! Wanda Maximoff is..a wonder! An Avenger who can harness chaos magic, engage in telepathy as well as telekinesis and alter reality. She has so much power! She is the most powerful Avenger!’ Darcy burst with excitement as you let yourself fall back in your office chair and sighed.
‘Look Darcy, I get it. You are a fangirl… but she kidnapped an entire city! How can you defend that?! She hurt civilian citizens. Twice now if you remember Lagos! She is dangerous.’ You furrowed your eyebrows and took a sip of your coffee.
Darcy shook her head enthusiastically. ‘No! Just no (Y/N)! Hayward, that bastard, he is the reason! She just wanted a funeral for her love and he used his body to recreate a new robot for SWORD-’ 
You choked on your drink at her words and spilled some of it on your desk. With widened eyes you tilted your head and looked at her. ‘He did what?? That son of a bitch. That’s why everyone is acting so differently here.’ You pulled out a tissue of one of the desk drawers and wiped your desk while chewing your lip in thought. ‘Okay, I take that back. Maybe she had reasons to… grief in her own way. But that still doesn’t explain capturing a whole city!’ 
Darcy emptied her cup and walked to the exit of your office. ‘All I’m saying is that she’s not the only bad guy here. Think about that!’ She shrugged and left you alone. 
‘A pleasure as always, Doctor Lewis.’ You sighed to yourself and threw your mugs in the bin. After finishing your short break you returned to give your attention to the mission files that had to be completed.
Great. You were working for an emotionless asshole.
---
‘You are a horrible influence, Lewis.’ 
You snapped at your colleague while jumping into some kind of cover. ‘I just should have let you be a fangirl and never should have asked questions.’ You mumbled upset. Rummaging in the side pockets of your trousers, you searched for your pistol and as soon as you touched it, sighed in relief.
‘Well, to my defence, Monica is the one that got us here. I’m just the thinker, she brings the action.’ Darcy chuckled and you stared incredulously at her.
‘Are you kidding me?! We are getting attacked for snooping around to look for signs of Vision’s dead body, probably will be on the run after that and you laugh?’ You shouted at the woman next to you and threw a small can of pepper spray to her which she easily caught. 
‘Get the hell out of here and we will talk about the consequences later in the plane.’ The voice of the Captain became audible in your ear piece as you took down two guards.
‘In the plane? We will have to leave? I was joking!’ You hissed nervously as you fought your way outside.
‘Well yeah, we just became enemies - or rather traitors - of the United States of America. We know top secret information.’ Darcy screamed from the other side of the room.
‘Goddamnit! I have a cat to take care of! I hate you guys so much!’ You ran out of the hall and met Monica. ‘I should have never done this. Fuck!’ You muttered and leaned on the wall, trying to catch your breath. 
‘You can’t change it anymore. So either you move your ass in that goddamn plane and go underground for a while, or you surrender and rot in prison. You are doing the right thing (Y/N), we are proving the world Wanda wasn’t the only problem in this conflict.‘
You nodded at Rambeau’s words, somehow finding some sort of confidence in them, and the trio of you started sprinting to the flight area. Monica jumped into the pilot’s seat of the nearest aircraft, Darcy and you getting on board right after her. 
When she started the machine and you felt it hovering, you laid on a bench in the back and closed your eyes. Although you were sure you couldn’t get even a little bit of sleep due to the adrenaline floating in your veins, you hoped resting would help you process and understand today’s events a bit better. 
---
The next time you opened your eyes, the machine was flying on autopilot and your two co-performers were packing three backpacks with vital equipment such as water, preserves and knives. You straightened and rubbed your face with your hands, clearly exhausted from the previous fight. 
Darcy turned around to your bench to fetch some bandages, but when she saw you getting up, she startled and stopped her motions. ‘God! Do you always have to be so quiet and sneaky?’
‘I am an agent, what do you think?’ You rolled your eyes and stepped to help them pack the bags. ‘Or was an agent, thank you again.’
‘(Y/N)! Will you ever stop that?’ Monica snubbed you before she continued. ‘Listen. We’re now enemies of SWORD with too much information, which means we probably have to spend some time on the run. Not together though. I suggest we will split…’ she turned completely to you, ‘you have family in Romania, right? I think it’s time for a visit.’
You nodded reluctantly and threw a spare sweater in your backpack. ‘When will you drop me off? And where?’
‘There’s a little abandoned town with a lake nearby. Stay there for a bit, then go find your family. We should arrive at dawn.’ Monica stepped next to you and grabbed your hands. ‘I know this sucks, but there’s still Sam Wilson somewhere out there...he will notice something is off and before you can blink, you’re back home.’ She squeezed your hands and gave you a reassuring smile.
‘Back home with your cat!’ You heard Darcy from somewhere in the back of the aircraft and chuckled lightly despite trying to stay mad at your friend.
‘No seriously, agent, thank you for doing this. It was the right choice.’ Monica carefully let go of you and returned to the pilot seat. 
‘What a choice. I had much of it.’ You mumbled sarcastically before taking the seat next to her.
---
When the quinjet landed, you sighed shakily one last time and turned to say goodbye to the two women. 
‘Take care. I’m gonna miss you.’ Darcy hugged you tight and looped her arms over your shoulders. 
‘I’m gonna miss you, too, fangirl.’ The brunette rolled her eyes playfully at the nickname and you grinned. When she released you, the Captain stepped forward and shook your hand.
‘See you soon, Agent. Be safe!‘ 
‘Thank you, Captain.‘ You left the plane and turned around one last time. Darcy waved goodbye and you returned the gesture, while Monica already started to get ready to take off. 
You watched them fly away and began walking on the sidewalk, following a long road to Romania‘s mountains. They let you out some miles away from the remote town, just to make sure you didn‘t attract any attention. 
So, you started your journey, with no real clue where to go. You cursed angrily when it became so dark you could only see your surroundings a few feet away from you, and then it started storming, and your mood was devastated. 
Luckily, you had a flashlight with you and could somehow make it to the branch that led to the town and lake. You turned to walk along the smaller road that turned into a path through the forest after ten minutes of walking.
Blind due to the now complete darkness, you startled when you suddenly heard a lightning strike in the distance. Before you could make out in what direction the thunderstorm was, cold raindrops hit your face.
‘For fuck‘s sake!‘ You put on your jacket‘s hood and started to walk faster to find shelter. Later, you tried to orientate yourself on top of a slightly higher hill. You recognised the shades of the lake and a small cabin, and a little further the empty city. 
Happy to see your final destination and impatient to get out of the storm, you started running down the hill. You were almost in the flat again when you suddenly heard a loud crack and before you could blink twice, you plumped on the ground.
You screamed out in pain and laid still, panting. You must have slipped on the wet ground and fell, your leg hitting a stone. After trying to calm your breathing a bit, you straightened up with the help of a log and lifted the flashlight. 
With your injured leg, you wouldn‘t be able to make it to the town - you would have to circle the whole lake - and you were also in the midst of a storm, so you decided to try and get protection at the lonely wooden cabin. 
You limped to it, dragged yourself over the steps, one at a time, before you leaned against the wooden door to collect yourself. 
‘Hello? I don‘t know if someone‘s in there, and if you can understand me, but I‘m hurt and just need some first aid equipment and a shelter while the storm rages. I‘m gonna wait for a bit, otherwise I‘ll batter this door in and get in.’ You breathed out through gasps.
But before you had to make your way through that door, light switched on inside the hut and footsteps became audible. The door opened carefully and a redhead got visible, her hands in the back bags of her jeans.
‘Hi! Uhm- Do you speak English?’ You put out while trying to pantomime your words with finger motions. 
The woman giggled, and you noticed a blush creeping up on your cheeks. You cursed yourself for not paying attention to your grandma teaching you Romanian, it would have been a lot easier to just communicate in the first language of the country.
‘I do. How can I help you?’ She replied and took your figure in. Her words were bolstered by a thick accent, an accent you have heard before, and you took a closer look at her. 
‘Oh my god. You‘re Maximoff. The Scarlet Witch. You‘re Wanda Maximoff.’ You identified the woman astonished. 
Panic settled in the witch's eyes. ‘I‘m- I-’ 
‘I-’ you chuckled incredulously, ‘fuck Hayward. I‘m sorry. For everything.’ You hissed and rolled your eyes in annoyance at the thought of your ex-boss.
Wanda tried to process your words speechlessly. She has been alone for so long, and now a stranger stood at her front door, knowing exactly about everything she so badly wanted to make unhappen. 
‘No seriously. He‘s unbe-’ your gaze fell to your leg that was now in the light of the cabin, and you could see your injury. Not only was it coated in blood, you also could see a bit of bone standing out. ‘-be…liev… I think I'm gonna pass ou-’ you collapsed, but before your body hit the ground, red wisps surrounded your unconscious body and prevented you from it. 
Wanda carefully lifted you through the cabin and laid you down on the couch. She had no idea who she had now lying in her guest room, but this person must have seen through Hayward‘s ill intentions.
And she couldn‘t disregard an injured person out in the dark, could she?
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Something that just occured to me: All souls get Judged by Pharasma and her courts, right? Maybe not by the big woman herself, but it's a fairly orderly process. Does that include the likes of sapient undead and great wyrm dragons and other really powerful entities? The idea of there being a queue for judgement that has Doom-monger the Level 20 Antipaladin Graveknight, Galathorn the Great Wyrm Gold Dragon, and Jim the fishmonger from some random coastal village at the same time amuses me greatly
Indeed! Most of the judgments are actually handled by Pharasma's agents; the majority, in fact, are processed by the Yamaraj Psychopomps, pictured here:
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Rarely, a Psychopomp Usher--the demigods of the Boneyard--will directly judge a soul, though most of the Ushers have... other duties in the Courts of Purgatory. Pharasma tends to only ever personally see souls whose deeds are especially dramatic and world-shaking.
As for the second half of this ask: Yep, that's more or less how it works. From the greatest demigod to the smallest goblin, from king to peasant, from dragon to awakened rabbit, all beings are equal in death (literally; souls in the Boneyard can't use any of the powers they had in life!) and the Courts of Purgatory. When you're processed depends entirely on your position in queue, not your personal power and influence in life. The best you can hope for is that your case is going to take so damn long and be so damn complicated that they call you aside into a special, separate queue filled with similar cases so you don't clog up the works for everyone who'd take only a few hours.
So yes, there is potential comedy in Jim the fisherman being sandwiched between Doom-monger and Galathorn on a cramped bench, the three of them waiting their turn to be seen by the cosmic DMV, waiting with varying levels of patience as the "NOW SERVING" slowly ticks upwards. I bet Jim gets to go first, just to make the other two wait a while longer.
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lucamoon22 · 2 years
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Hello! I see Requests are open and I read the list of fandoms you can do. There’s also no character limit on your pinned post, so I have one with only three characters (if it’s alright).
May I request HCs of the Pomefiore Trio (Separately) with their [S/O] [Gender Neutral] (Romantic) who has abilities like Hawkeye? A world-class archer who is stealthy enough to pass through tough security; can fight in close range (hand-to-hand) combat, and has precise aiming with a bow and arrows. They would have trick arrows that are crafted for any situations like if they need to stop a criminal from running away, [Y/N] can shoot an arrow that tasers them (but won’t k!ll the criminal). If they need to stop an Overblot incident, they’ll shoot an arrow that transforms into indestructible netting to trap the Overblotted individual to prevent havoc until more help arrives. Another kind of trick arrow to imagine is ones that can explode after shooting a few at enemies. Imagine [Y/N] creating more arrows with potions inside the arrowheads.
- @sanctum-of-ramshackle
omg you are absolutely AMAZING for requesting this, i absolutely love this idea. also regarding character limits, i don't think i will have any, just as long as people realize more characters = longer wait time for writing and stuff like that. also this is pretty much my first official request so i hope i do it justice :D, and again this is SUCH A COOL REQUEST!!
Warnings: swearing, i think that's it
Masterlist
Pomefiore with a Hawkeye! S/O (Pomefiore x GN! Reader) (Twisted Wonderland)
Vil Schoenheit
so I feel like Vil would be mostly used to you kinda popping up out of nowhere
you know cause Rook is also stealthy
like "damn, where's (Y/n)? I really want them to try this product-"
and then he turns and you are sitting on his bed
admittedly he does get startled the first few times, only on the inside though, then he could be sitting on a bench and- oh hello my potato
but he only saw the true extent of your stealth at one of Neige's concerts that he was dragged to
he told you before he went but tickets were already sold out and it was too last minute to get another backstage pass
you were just like, "oh ok, that's fine"
that's why when he was chilling backstage he was NOT expecting you to pop right by him, like "hey babe :)"
Vil almost screamed
he asked you how you got back there and you were just like, "?? I walked back here?? well technically climbed but like??"
now as for archery
let's say uhhh the Pomefiore trio were around when Leona overblotted
everyone's panicking and you're just like
"chill I got this" and pull out your bow and arrows that you keep in a bag you carry around
and then bam- Leona is now getting tased while you shoot a net for good measure
when you two start dating and you show off all your arrows, he's like, "how much more powerful would you be with potions in your arrows"
and now we have a true power couple on our hands
also, you sometimes shoot an arrow with flowers that pop out the end <3
he thought it was an assassination attempt until the roses popped out
Rook Hunt
*gasp* another archer!! and your arrows are rigged/edited?!
man is swooning and hasn't even spoken a word to you yet
once he does talk to you, you just light up and start talking like, "omg dude I've seen your skills with a bow, it is so nice to meet another archer here, you wanna go shooting sometime-"
you guys are such a cute couple
but you guys are also such menaces-
Adeuce duo can be chilling and you and Rook will terrify them together
Ace was just asking, "hey have you seen (Y/n) by the way-"
and you answer from behind, "idk man, where are they"
queue Ace falling out of his chair, Deuce screeching, and Rook laughing
Rook most definitely steals your bow and arrows
which causes you to panic, but at least you find them eventually
also you stare at Rook as if he stole your child (because he did)
shoot each other gifts, like what i wrote for Vil but it's a constant exchange of them
he doesn't know about your prowess in hand-to-hand until beanfest
you guys are on opposite teams and when you guys see each other you both go still
you guys promised to not go easy on each other
so when you start fighting him
he gasped SO LOUD-
you also ended up beating his ass and he wanted to marry you right there
Epel Felmier
he thinks you're so cool
he loves to watch you talk about your arrows
he got you to teach him how to shoot and he thinks it's so cool
you sneak him out of his lessons with Vil
Vil can turn around for not even 10 seconds and when he looks back
the window is open and Epel is nowhere to be found
Epel definitely asks you to teach him hand-to-hand combat once he sees you beat up some guys
he goes beet red when you guys are training and you help adjust his position
he tries to help you create more arrows with potions he's brewed, even if they don't do much
your so appreciative though :)
when Vil overblotted and you fought him off? man had to resist the urge to scream, "THAT'S MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER Y'ALL"
also you used some of the arrows you guys created together and he felt so helpful indirectly
when he's practicing and thinks he's alone he'll turn around and you’re there clapping for him
"how did you find me here?!"
"babe i have the sharpest eyesight in this school, and you have purple hair"
queue Epel angrily mumbling that he can blend into his surroundings and whatnot
and oop- now you guys are playing hide and seek
and you have 20 wins while Epel has 2 wins
overall you guys are adorable
just make sure Vil doesn't beat your ass for getting Epel out of lessons
************************************************************************
hopefully, this turned out good! i really hope you like it and that i did your request the justice it very rightfully deserves :D
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eyra · 3 months
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First let me tell you how much i love torfps! I've actually decided i'll be making that soup very soon, i'm waiting for the perfect cloudy, rainy day and i can't wait! Your writing is always fenomenal and i don't think i'll ever get tired of it. Sirius, my precious thing, i love him so much.
I'm actually a bit emotional over sirius offering his copy of tsh to remus because. well. because of reasons obviously.
But also because it reminded me of how almost ten years ago i gave my copy of tsh to this random guy in my class in high school who i had only known for a few months and who promised he would read it during christmas break and give it back to me afterwards.
Well, almost ten years later, best friends for a decade, he still has that copy and has never read it once, doesn't plan of giving it back to me nor actually reading it. But i'd die for the guy so what can i do.
I ended up buying another copy but every now and then he'll send me pictures of that very first one on his shelves or his nightstand or just around his house, or i'll remind him of that time he stole from me and what a little thief he is. It became our thing.
Still, i don't know what made me offer it to him at all because previous to that, and after, i have never actually had any reasons to lend someone a copy of a book very dear to me even if i do love the idea of it, it just never happened to me before.
In any case i'm really glad i did because as I said, i would die for the guy! Even if he'll never read the damned thing!
ALSO JAMES IS DOWN BAD FOR GOING AT THE POST OFFICE THAT MUCH BECAUSE I COULDN'T THINK OF A WORSE PUNISHMENT IN HELL THAN BEING AT THE POST OFFICE (where i live the system is known nationwide for being awful and it makes you want to hit your head at the walls full speed) James, my boy, the things you do for love...
Ok I love this message so much, not least because it’s the first time I’ve seen the new fic’s title abbreviated and it took me a second to realise what we were talking about. TORFPS is a very awkward and very fun acronym.
Love the story about your copy of TSH and love that you guys are best friends ten years later. The power of that book…
And yes very ironic actually because I was in the Post Office today and I genuinely messaged my sister whilst I was standing in the queue saying “ok no I’m actually going to start screaming in a minute” because the place was a fucking shambles. But James’s mystery man at the Post Office in the village would never allow such chaos in his shop, he’s very much on top of things. He may or may not be saving all the special Christmas stamps for James, who is buying a book a day at this point…
Thank you for reading and for sending this lovely message, means a lot! x
the oldest recipe for parsnip soup 🥄
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