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#*'now than then' lol not 'then than now' .. I mixed them up .. whoop
ganondoodle · 7 months
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more thoughts
big part of why i loathe what totk did with its story and lore is that it tremendously hurts botw in retrospect
i said that before and mentioned all of these points before as well but i just have to mention it again; how totk did away with all the little mysteries in botw, like the ancient hero looking kinda strange leading to lots of interesting theories- WHOOP its a sonau mix guy revealed through a collectable and its straight up said by purah/impa that that is the ancient hero .. like it was an always known fact ......
the sonau ruins in botw of a long gone group of people that lived in the forest of phirone - WHOOP those are just monuments built by hylians in memory of the sonau and actually their real architecure isnt rare and few but everywhere en masse and doesnt resemble the ones from botw at all, aside from some vague dragon motive; theres more stuff of the oh so sadly gone and not at all mysterious anymore sonau left than there was of the ancient shiekah in botw (and now it doesnt exist at all anymore, who cares about them, how important they were, or this worlds history, especially zelda, she never cared about shiekah or history that wasnt about sonau :)))) )
one of the biggest crimes, to me, personally, is what totk did with the dragons not actively mind you, but still changed my view of them and i hate it; i always saw them as these ethereal otherwordly spirits older than time itself (i liked the idea of them being like a final evolution of the dragons from skyward sword, tho of course i dont need that to be canon lol) and then totk comes along and .. the newly revealed -always been there super cool- race of people from the sky is heavily based on their designs ... and they have armor sets imitating the dragons ... and have ... magical never heard of before stones that turn people into .... dragons .... i get how that can be an interesting thing for people to connect but for me personally ... its a mystery that REALLY shouldnt have been solved, at all, or even touched, the fact that you knew nothing about the dragons other than they are here was what made them feel so much more divine and awe inspiring (i know you could try to think of it being the other way around, the sonau worshipping the dragons so much they dedicated all of their cultur around them ((but then again were is that anywhere, if they worshipped them so much then they sure didnt matter in any of what we say of them in memories..)) ... but the sonau designs, the armor ... the stones ... its all such an obvious connection ...) and its really hard for me to ignore it, i actively have to work now to keep seeing the dragons as these untouchable ethereal spirits instead of some sonau guy eating a fucking stone
and yet again its like .. can you really blame me for feeling weird about the sonau/dislike them when ... theres nothing that WASNT touched by the sonau, they already had tech way above the level of the shiekah, they were in the sky, the surface AND the underground all along, theirs is the actually important influence on the history of the world, they have been in every place that was once important, hell they were in every place were a settlement of people is EVEN THE FEW YEARS OLD TABURASA (tarrey town), their buildings look like they were abandoned 10 years ago, all their shit is still working, they founded (this) hyrule, they are the royals, they are the gods, they are the dragons, the ancient hero was a sonau mix clad in waht totk made out to be their signature design elements-
we had recordings from that time (tapestry) and even PEOPLE (the monks) and yet the sonau were a total mystery? even though their culture was literally still there when the shiekah built their tech?
what gets me escpeially is how .. they didnt NEED to erase anything shiekah, they didnt need to act like they never existed, they didnt need to make the sonau be the coolest guys ever and were so desperate to get that into your thinking everyone in the game is obsessed with them and tells you why you should be obsessed too
like am i just insane or is it a rather .. obvious connection to make that the shiekah found the tech of the sonau and built theirs inspired by what they could find, it was so old at that point that its non functional or even recognizable in the present, but when the shiekah found it they could still research it; given how the shiekah built multiple shrines and puzzles to them WITHTIN ruins that, in botw, were sonau ruins, i thought that was the logical line to draw and a good way to connect them while still leaving the sonau to be a mysterious ... mystery (this is what im going for in my rewrite btw)
also another thought, if the ancient shiekah could see the future to a degree they built stuff to prepare the next hero for the next calamity that would happen in thousands of years .. how did they never find out about gan? i know they were more about the future than the past but like ... were they really so stupid to see that the calamity will come back just the same from the same place and NOT investigate?? ESPECIALLY considering that the weird half sonau ancient hero was literally THERE when they saw the furture and built all of that for it???? the sonau werent gone gone in any sense and you CANNOT tell me that the shiekah jsut ignored this weird half whatever looking guy outfitted in an aesthetic and culture that wasnt obviously present anymore and clearly connected to somethign else, with probably clear scars were whatever buildings were lifted into the skies- SOMEHOW- and monoments LITERALLY STILL READABLE IN THE PRESENT that tells you about all theshit that went down?? even if you hid them with some weird mechanisms, are you realyl not gonen investigate?? also why hide it anyway?? if its supposed to be a monument to the sonau why the fuck would you built stuff to HIDE the information from it?? gan cant reach it anyway bc hes KINDA STUCK you are telling me the group of people with a vision of the future and high tech stuff that are famously obsessed with the stars and sky didnt see any of the sonau shit floating around there?? ohoho but it was hidden by magic uwu WHY bc you wanted to wait thousands of years for the "right" link to come around?? so you let thousands of people suffer and die just bc you wanted a specific guy? why not the ancient hero instead?? and solve the problem right then and there?? or would that mess too much with the history all of the sudden, you didnt care about messing anythign else up before either
its all just so messy if you start to think even a little bit about whatever the fuck happened in totk and i ahte it, it solves stuff that didnt need solving, ignores or even erases stuff that didnt need erasing and was all ready to go and be more explored, its infuriating
(also additional thought about the previous rant where i mentioned how characters, esepcially zelda, regress HARD in chaarcter development) someone mentioend this about link and ... YEAH, in botw the main thing was the connection between link and zelda, how they didnt like each other at first and at the end were THE brotp; in totk, aside from zelda mentioning how strong link is, theres nothing, the link that was revealed in botw to only be so silent and expressionless (not fully but like supressing everythign rly) bc of the immense pressure that was put on him is now just the most importanest sword guy who didnt even shed a tear when you get the memories of zelda basically killing herself; or did he know she will just be returned to normal with no harm or memory done no problemo in the end?? i dont WANT link to talk mind you, i never want to hear him talk tbh, i like him being mostly silent aside from his grunts when he climbs a cliff or soothes a horse (i go non verbal in high stress situations too) but you could have shown him be affected by it at all, or idk DO ANYTHIGN WITH THEIR RELATIONSHIP they are best friends whod die for each other but that doesnt actually matter in anything bc he just do what sword man does-
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frodo-with-glasses · 4 months
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More Reading Thoughts: A Shortcut to Mushrooms
"[Frodo] was lying in a bower made by a living tree with branches laced and drooping to the ground; his bed was of fern and grass, deep and soft and strangely fragrant. The sun was shining through the fluttering leaves, which were still green upon the tree." HELLO I WANT A BED LIKE THIS HOLY COW
LOL Pippin like "I would've eaten all the bread and not saved any for you if Sam didn't stop me" 🤣
"I don't want to answer a string of questions while I am eating. I want to think!" "Good heavens! At breakfast?" Have I mentioned that I love Frodo and Pippin—
Frodo sees his kid cousin running in the grass and singing and thinks to himself "🥺 oh I can't possibly take him and Sam into danger with me, look at them"
I love Frodo's entire conversation with Sam here. If I tried to list my favorite lines, I'd be copying the whole thing. Frodo doesn't want to put Sam in danger, because he loves him, but Sam is extremely loyal and willing to walk into hellfire for Frodo, because he loves him. It's just such a sweet exchange that tells you so much about these characters. I'm love them boys.
Also Frodo being surprised that Sam's become so philosophical haha
Frodo: "We'd best get going; we slept late." Pippin: "You mean you slept late." HAVE I MENTIONED—
Frodo: "I'm not going to take the road. I'll cut straight across country to the Ferry." Pippin: "What, can you fly??"
Pippin: "Short cuts make long delays! Besides, I was hoping to stop at the inn for some good beer." Frodo: "Well, that settles it! Short cuts make long delays, but inns make longer ones."
Also Sam stalwartly like "I'll go with you, Mr. Frodo," but also inwardly like ":-C but the beer tho"
And now we return to another hiking section, about which I have very little to say except that Tolkien's description of the natural environments of the Shire is extremely beautiful and I too would want to hike there
And now we interrupt your regularly scheduled pleasant hike for some bone-chilling horror
It's hard to imagine in the modern age—when tornado sirens and jet planes and faulty car brakes all probably make noises not unlike that of a Ringwraith's call—but to hobbits who have never heard a noise louder or more frightening than a thunderclap, a high, sustained, almost industrial screech like this must seem like the most terrifying and otherworldly thing.
(Also nobody tell Pippin about the white bellbird, which has a call like the emergency alert system at a volume comparable to a pneumatic drill)
Pippin: "Oh good, it's Farmer Maggot :-D" Frodo: "OH NO IT'S FARMER MAGGOT D-8"
It's such a shame that we know so little of Frodo's childhood, but the fact that he was a Certified Scoundrel(TM) who was prone to stealing mushrooms and got his butt whooped over it is absolutely hilarious 🤣 How ever did a naughty kid like him become the erudite sweetheart we know and love??
Pippin like "chill bro, he's a mutual friend of mine and Merry's, we're good!" Meanwhile Frodo is sweating buckets LOL
It's so cool that Pippin gets to be the leader in this section. And what a fearless leader he is! Of course he's not in any danger at all, but it just says so much about him that he waltzes down the lane to Farmer Maggot's house without a care in the world while Frodo and Sam are both terrified 🤣
Also I adore Farmer Maggot's hospitality
Sam giving Farmer Maggot the side eye because he whooped Frodo over the mushrooms years ago X-D
"I recollect the time when young Frodo Baggins was one of the worst young rascals of Buckland." I MEAN JUST IMAGINE
Farmer Maggot's story about the Ringwraith is SO GOOD. I love how much courage this round old hobbit has in him.
Farmer Maggot: "Moral of the story, ya never should've gone to Hobbiton. Clearly ya got mixed up with weird people." Sam: >:-C
Also Farmer Maggot cheerfully being like "don't worry, if they come after ya again, I'll deal with 'em for ya!" is so sweet and so ballsy X-D
Also Farmer Maggot is SO FREAKING SMART, and so generous. I think it's Merry who says later that he's got a lot more going on in his head than his genial appearance might let on, and he's right. He can see that Frodo and co. are in trouble, and he immediately offers his help. What a solid dude.
And here we see Frodo's silver tongue at work once again!
"I've been in terror of you and your dogs for over thirty years... It's a pity: for I've missed a good friend."
This line actually made me stop and think, bruh. How many friendships do we miss out on because we let the mistakes of our younger selves dictate our future?? I can think of lots of dumb things I did as a kid, and I'd be so embarrassed to run into the people that I wronged in my stupidity...but who knows? Maybe they're good people. Maybe they'd even be my best friends, if I got over myself. Food for thought.
And speaking of food, I want to have dinner with Farmer Maggot and his family and farm hands X-D
Ohhhh the suspense of the hoof-falls in the foggy lane is SOOO GOOD
WHO'S THAT POKEMON??
IT'S MERRY BRANDYBUCK!!
And his humor is in absolute top form LOLOL
"When it grew foggy I came across and rode up towards Stock to see if you had fallen in any ditches. ... Where did you find them, Mr. Maggot? In your duck-pond?"
HAVE I MENTIONED THAT MERRY IS MY FAVORITE HOBBIT
Also, the fact that Mrs. Maggot packed a basket of mushrooms for Frodo makes me very happy X-D
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stormywitcher · 7 months
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So, I have just come home from Alton Towers (a theme park) and of course my autistic brain went a bit nuts in the queues so here is my take on what stormlight characters would do at a theme park lol:
Adolin: absolutely loves everything about the place, gets stupidly excited and practically runs from ride to ride, gets pissed off when the others don’t move fast enough and THERES ONLY A 15 MIN QUEUE SO COME ON LETS GO! he screams and whoops on rides and eats too many donuts and candy floss. yes he is sick at the end of it but so fuckin worth it.
Shallan: enjoys the vibes of the park, absolutely fascinated with how each area is themed and sketches in the queues. she’s more reserved on the rides than Adolin, but does laugh hysterically on them instead of screaming.
Navani: yes she enjoys the park, but is more interested how the rides work. Dalinar has to restrain her from asking a million questions to the ride staff. she goes on the odd ride but is usually quite quiet, focusing on the feeling of the mechanics. she has a secret love of shitty churros lol.
Renarin: fuck the theme park, only goes to please everyone else. it’s too loud, too many colours and there’s people everywhere. NO, ADOLIN, I WILL NOT GO ON THAT DEATH TRAP. he is the personal bag watcher while everyone else goes on. The only thing he does enjoy is the carnival games and is a weirdly good shot, so wins shit tons of stuffed toys.
Kaladin: tolerates the group holiday. went on one big ride, felt terrified and mildly sick and decided to only go on small ones after. weirdly loves water rides, gets fuckin so hyped on the river boat rapids. he wants to enjoy the day more, but can’t help worrying a bit every time the others are on a ride in case it goes wrong.
Jasnah: weirdly enjoys the park and actually lets loose a little. she appreciates the idea of creating false reality for entertainment, mixed with the cleverness and thrill of the rides. absolute control freak tho, and has a detailed map and schedule for the day.
Dalinar: activates full on Dad mode. has everyone drank enough? there’s a lot of walking, has everyone brought appropriate footwear? SHALLAN PUT SOME SUNCREAM ON OR SO HERALDS HELP ME. actually loves the rides tho, and follows all the rules of the park to the letter. sits next to Adolin on a ride once and ends up going nuts and screaming with him.
Hoid: disappears for periods of time and refinds the the group now and then. he hacks the arcade games and keeps coming back with more coins. no one questions it when one minute he’s sat on a ride next to them and the next he’s suddenly not there…
Thats all I’ve got, but please feel free to reblog/tag with more characters lol, or to add to this ahahahhaha!
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phoenixcatch7 · 5 months
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Thinking about possible totk dlc again... Listen, we all know we want it XD.
Thing is, I've read the interviews, and I think Nintendo is right. There's just no more mechanics they can add to the game without completely breaking it. Totk is maxxed out on mechanics and options and playability. There really is nothing more they can add ability wise without bogging the whole thing down and causing a million problems, both for themselves and players.
But that's not all there is in a game, is there?
There's master mode, for one. Gold enemies are missing from totk entirely, never mind all the craziness of regenerating enemies, new mob camps just floating around, the gleeok they'd probably put on the great sky island. People loved master mode in botw, there's no reason not to at least drop that button back in.
But... People do have a few complaints. There's stuff they're missing, stuff that leaves loose ends, stuff that wasn't explained well enough. It all mostly boils down to one thing.
Story.
We could have an answer to where the divine beasts and all the sheikah tech went. We could find a giant scrapyard at the bottom of a new/old chasm because hyrule tossed everything in that could be pried up. There could be like five remaining active guardians, just so we can mess them up like we did in botw. There's voids where water is on the surface, there's plenty of space! It'd solve both the 'where tf did they go' and the 'man I wish we still had guardians' issue in one fell swoop.
We could get casual dialogue that all the divine beasts were driven out to sea and sunk! I don't know! Some sort of closure! We could talk about generational trauma responses! The instinctive fear of sheikah tech if there is one! Link is certainly canonically traumatised, did you see him with the first sky tower??
We could get wolfie back! Update his teleportation code so he can keep up with our stupid endeavours and not get caught in crossfire! Make him immune to zonai tech, idk.
We could get a resolution to kass and Penn! That whole storyline ended so sadly, and the lack of kass is straight up disturbing. We could rescue him from the depths where he fell in or smth idk!! Just because you're a bird does NOT mean you can fly a kilometer + straight up in pitch black through a narrow cylinder with lethally toxic sides. Now he's got enough material for life! (and probably trauma. The only food down there is stuff the yiga brought, which - well, it's not like they'd worry about thieves down there.
That stupid chef from lookout landing who ran off to the castle. That's TOTALLY a quest come on :(. Let him come home.
More lookout landing expansion, if you're desperate for stuff that isn't 90% dialogue! Please let me install bigger towers and a bathing area and more shops or SOMETHING. Little outlet stalls from every capital! Let me rebuild the first home in castle town! I! D! K!
More newspaper news! We could randomise it like the spider man ps4 news feed, that was hilarious. Absolute hogwash rumours and stupid feuds between neighbours and the results of pumpkin growing competitions! Mix it up, traysi had bonkers stuff, it was so good. What does life look like from inside the world?
Hylia gossip? We know she doesn't keep strictly to her 'find shrine rewards for increased gains, link' thing. Let her ask link for random stuff for 'power buffs' and give him, like, a random buff that lasts precisely 24 minutes.
Maybe even a 'now we opened the plateau again, people want to investigate' side plot. No one wanted to see :(. I didn't like that the only people up there were yiga :((. Send some new research team dude to wax lyrical and beg link for photos of different areas or symbols.
Gloom hands should be able to attack link in the depths. This would solve nothing and in fact make things much worse, but it happened to me twice and it was so much worse than on the surface lol.
Maybe some idiot managed to make it to a Sky island with balloons but now they can't get down, whoops lol. Some of them really aren't that high up and there's a lot of very determined people XD.
Someone's been captured by the yiga and link has to do a full infiltration and smuggle them the keys to their cell. Come on, the yiga base is underutilised!!
The gerudo stable was being shut down because of the sandstorm turning away travellers. After we solve that, maybe we could help reopen it? It made me so sad...
Link vs the flower lady. She wants a sample of every single flower in hyrule to get it all nice for her majesty! She remembers his crimes...
Link and the new sages could have a silly bonding quest each! Let him test his mettle against them in a spar! I don't know!
The ability to pet dogs and horses! An idle sitting animation that makes link sit down properly to enjoy the view!
Heck, a master cycle equivalent....
There's just a almost infinite amount of options available for real, actual content, it doesn't just have to be new mechanics and new dungeons. Yes, it gets the adrenaline going, but neither the fans nor Nintendo want nor need more of that.
We know the story is more lacking in botw/totk than previous zelda games, an understandable and acceptable sacrifice when you're working with such a huge and complex open world as this, but this is the perfect opportunity to fix that, Nintendo, don't you see? Give that incredibly elaborate coding a break and give the writers something else to chew on.
Tag what quest line or question you want answered in the comments or tags!
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etherealperrie · 2 years
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HEARTFIRST {pt. IX}
– In which a trip down to the San Diego Naval base  to visit an old friend turns out to be more than a simple reunion, as the reader finds herself in the presence of an infuriating, cocky blonde and an old flame she thought had long fizzled out. –
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Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Reader
Word Count: 3.5k
Contains: Bi!Natasha | Reader is old friends with Natasha “Phoenix” Trace | Reader has a past with Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw” | Reader has a lot of feelings about Jake “Hangman” Seresin
Warnings: angst ahead ya'll, explicit language | italics indicate a flashback |
A/N: Part nine! I'm sorry this took so long for me to post, but I hope you enjoy it all the same! Tag-list is at the bottom, go ahead and send me a message or reply to this post if you'd like to be added for future parts of this story. Special shoutout to @thebeautifullydamnedone for helping beta & run through ideas with me! Also I hope you all forgive me for this lol <3 If you'd like to go back and read part 1, you can do that here. Or, read part 2. Or 3. Or 4. Or 5. Or 6. Or 7. Or 8. Also, check out my playlists for the dynamic of each guy & reader, you can do that here: Hangman x Reader & Rooster x Reader
...
9:
The Hard Deck is packed, not unlike any other night, but tonight the air is electric. Whoops and hollers bounce off the walls, mixing with the music, men and women shouting to one another. You smile, basking in the warmth of the room as you push past bodies towards the mass of khaki uniforms in the familiar back corner of the bar. 
Natasha’s eyes light up as you emerge from the crowd, her smile stretching from one ear to the other. She drops the pool cue in her hand and throws her hands in the air, running to you. It’s a warm embrace, the scent of her floral perfume swirling around you. You missed her. You missed this, of all things, being in this bar surrounded by khaki uniforms and classic rock music. The rest of the guys – Payback, Fanboy, and Bob – swarm you next, pulling you in and out of hugs. You’re happy to see them, happy the mission was a success; that it brought them all back home. 
Someone hands you a beer and you smile, tapping your bottle against theirs. A hand snakes around your waist, tugging you in for a hug before you have a chance to knock bottles with the rest of the team. Laughing, you breathe in the scent of Bradley’s familiar cologne. He’s solid beneath you, his arms squeezing you tightly, your breath catching in your throat as you try to exclaim. 
He releases you after a moment and you finally get a chance to take him in. He looks the same: it had only been two weeks since you saw him – any of them. He looks refreshed, happy to be here, happy to have the pressure of the mission lifted from his shoulders. Smiling, he taps his beer bottle to yours and you both take a drink, your eyes holding one another’s gaze. 
“I told you I’d see you here,” you say, swallowing your mouthful of beer. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“It’s good to be back,” he sighs.
You thought that maybe seeing him here tonight might be too much, even though the last time you spoke was entirely amicable. You love him. He loves you. That would be a constant for you. It just can’t be. It won’t be, and that’s okay. Being here with him now, seeing him again, is just the same as seeing Natasha and the rest of the pilots: you’re simply happy they’re safe. Besides, it’s not Bradley you left on bad terms with. It’s not your conversation with him a couple of weeks ago that haunts you.
“Bradshaw!” an older man sitting at the bar shouts. Bradley tears his gaze from you to nod at the man, laughing as he waves him over. “Come here, I’ve been telling Penny all about you.” Bradley shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders, placing his hand on the small of his back to pass by you. 
“Good to see you, Bradley” you whisper as he moves through the crowd. You watch him as he moves between the bodies of the room and you scan the faces of each person he passes, your subconscious searching for the one person you’ve yet to find. Blonde hair. Piercing green eyes. That cocky, lop-sided, Ken doll smile. Any piece of him. 
Sighing, you return to the group, your heart settling itself into its familiar home somewhere between your chest and your stomach. You hoped you’d find him here tonight: it was part of the reason you came at all. You wanted to apologize, to explain that what you did – leaving him that night – was wrong. To tell him that every moment you were apart, he consumed your every waking thought. You felt awful, leaving him like that before the biggest mission of his career and it killed you not knowing how he felt. It was, perhaps, your biggest regret. But, he clearly didn’t want to see you; not now and not then.
“Jake, come on,” you beg, banging your open palm against his bedroom door. “Open the door. Please.” 
The silence is deafening as it consumes you, swallowing you from all sides. There’s not even a rustle of movement behind the door and somehow, that’s worse than anything. It hurts more knowing he was already so set in his decision against you. Knowing that you’d fucked up everything in a matter of minutes, all because you’d been so desperate to see Bradley. If there was an inkling that Jake might still be deciding, that he was still making up his mind – the soft echo of footsteps as he paced the floor of his room or the jostle of the door handle – you could cling onto some sort of hope he might forgive you. But it’s just silent. 
It’d been hours since you left him. You lost track of time with Bradley, a habit you never really kicked. When you left the air hangar, you searched everywhere: The Hard Deck, the common room, the beach, but he was nowhere to be found. It didn’t help that he apparently hadn’t told anyone where he’d gone, Omaha and Coyote could only shrug their shoulders and offer blank stares when you asked them. It was hopeless, so you returned to the last place he might be, but now the idea he’d holed up in his room feels foolish. 
Steadying yourself, you wrap one hand around the door handle and push down, your heart thumping roughly against your ribcage as the cool metal clicks, the door opening. 
“Jake?” you ask, stepping through the frame. You half expect to see him curled up in his bed, his back turned to you, but the bed is empty, still unmade. You spin around, your eyes catching every detail of the room: the photos of him and his family on the dresser, his sunglasses on the desk, and his sweatshirt draped over the edge of bed. You step towards it and run your fingers across the material, smiling at the memory. 
“So now do I get to turn you in for trespassing?” 
You jump at the sound of his voice, strained as he catches his breath. He doesn’t wait for you to turn around, moving into the room with a seemingly unaffected confidence. Brushing your arm, he moves towards the dresser in front of you, tugging a drawer open. Your breath catches at the sight of him and you swallow hard, suppressing the desire bubbling inside at the vision of him shirtless, a pair of dark gray running shorts hung low on his hips. 
“The door was unlocked,” you reason, taking a step towards him. “I was looking for you.” 
He nods slowly, pulling a shirt out from the drawer and slipping it on in the same second. He turns to face you now, leaning against the dresser, his arms crossed.
“I was out for a run.” 
“You went for a run in the middle of the night?” 
“I needed to clear my head,” he asserts. His words are short, his tone sharp, just as yours were to him mere hours ago. 
“Look, Jake, I’m sorry, I-” 
“Hey, I get it. You’re right. It was a good night.”
“Wait, Jake, no,” you stammer, closing the space between you in one last step. Your hand brushes his arm, practically begging him to relax, to undo his arms and take you into them. You knew he had something he wanted to say to you and you needed to know, even if you had to physically pry it out of him. Or, perhaps after you abandoned him, that desire to share his feelings with you vanished into thin air. You look up at him, scanning his face for something you could decode, but he’s unreadable. His eyes avoid yours, looking past you rather than at you, his bottom lip curled up into an expressionless line. 
“Can’t we talk about this?”
“I don’t know what else there is to talk about,” he sighs, shaking his head. “You’re the one who said it. You’re the one who left me tonight to go see your ex!” 
You open your mouth to argue, but stop yourself. He’s right. You’d done those things and you did them without a second thought about how they’d make Jake feel. You owe it to him to hear him out, to give him space to breathe, to think it over and figure out how he feels. He’d given you that, even if it wasn’t his choice.  
Jake groans, uncrossing his arms to rake a hand through his hair roughly, ruffling the soft blonde strands. Drifting from the dresser to the bed, pushing past you, he heaves a rather heavy sigh, his eyes finally landing on you. That familiar thread wraps itself around your heart and pulls gently, encouraging you to follow suit and plop down onto the bed next to him, but you ignore it, knowing Jake deserves his space. It’s not the time for selfishness.
“Look, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. And I’m glad you came back. I don’t know what happened between you and Bradley tonight and I don’t want to.” He drops his head, his hands clasped together loosely between his knees. You watch as his thumb rubs small circles into his skin, working to soothe himself. He takes another breath. “But I think we should leave it. At least for now. I-I can’t be a second choice.” 
No, no. He’s not the second choice, he never has been. A heaviness settles in your chest knowing what you’ve made him feel. You suck in a breath.
“Jake, I-” you start, taking a step towards him. 
“Plus, with the mission coming so soon, I can’t…” he looks back up at you, his green eyes surrounded with red; you’re not sure if it’s exhaustion, stress, or tears. “I can’t do this. We have to be so focused right now and I just-” 
You shake your head, lifting your gaze from him to the ceiling. It’s suddenly no different than before. The pilot doesn’t matter, nor does the timing or the connection or the feelings. It’s all the same. Sniffling, you just nod, choking back tears. He’s cleared his head. He’d come clean. 
“If that’s what you want, Jake.”
There’s not much you remember after that. The sting of the conversation, the chill of his words and his nonchalance numbed you from the inside out. The gap in your memory from your last words to your departure the following morning haunts you, even still. It’s probably for the best that you don’t remember, though, Natasha’s retelling of that night doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Despite your leaving the day before their mission, you secretly hoped Jake might change his mind, that he might try to come find you, but he didn’t. You couldn’t blame him; it would be selfish of you to ask that of him or even assume it to be possible. But still, there persists that part of you that just wishes to be chosen, fervently, in spite of the uncertainty of life, no matter how unrealistic that fantasy might be.  
“Hey, are you okay?” Natasha asks, leaning in, her lips near your ear. You turn to her, emerging from your head back into the room. Nodding, you smile, pushing the last memory of Jake from your mind. 
“Of course, I’m great.” you mumble. 
Natasha glances around the room then back to you. “You’re still a shit liar, you know that, right?” She has a way of seeing right through you. It’s a blessing and a curse. Setting down your beer on the edge of the pool table, you sigh. 
“I just hoped that maybe Jake would be here.”
“Yeah,” she sighs, “me too.” 
Your brow furrows and you look at her, a question in your gaze, hoping she’ll continue to explain herself. She shrugs and takes another drink of beer. 
“Tash, do you know something I don’t?” 
She hums, shaking her head. “If I knew where he was I’d tell you.” Holding up her right hand, she crosses it over her heart, “scouts honor.” 
“I’m going to choose to believe you,” you smile. 
“Even if he was here,” she starts, “do you think you could handle seeing him again?” 
You shrug your shoulders, taking your bottom lip between your teeth as you consider her question. 
“I don’t think I could handle not seeing him again,” you say. “There’s already too much left unsaid, you know?” 
Natasha just nods, her hand instinctively moving to your hair, tucking a stray piece back behind your ear as she combs through the strands with her fingertips. It’s the same motion she repeated over and over in an attempt to comfort you the night Jake called things off while you laid sniffling in her lap late into the night.
“He hates me,” you cry, tucking your head farther into your sweatshirt. Ironically, it’s the one Bradley left you with, yet the familiar scent of his cologne doesn’t work its usual magic in calming you down. 
Natasha clicks her tongue, running her fingers through the ends of your hair with one hand, the other passing you tissues as you need, your near constant flow of tears disintegrating the soft paper in seconds. 
“He doesn’t hate you.” 
You lift your head from her lap and she smiles softly at you, apprehension in her eyes as she takes you in – a snively, red-nosed, teary-eyed mess. You dab the tears at your eyes with the sleeve of Bradley’s sweatshirt and take a deep breath, filling your lungs with air. You feel awful to burden Natasha with this, especially when she’s exhausted, but she refused to let you drive home. Apparently this was the most “together” you’d been in hours. The only thing you remembered was rushing to the bathroom after leaving Jake and sliding to the floor, praying there was no one else around to hear your sobs. When Natasha found you an hour later, you’d assumed full-fetal position: not your proudest moment, but definitely your most dramatic. You’d never been one to handle rejection well and something about it coming from Jake – after your heart had chosen him – was a deeper cut than you could’ve imagined. It seems as though no matter who you choose, you weren’t chosen in return. There was always something in your way. 
“I left him for Bradley, of course he hates me. Or, he thinks I hate him, which is worse. H-he thinks he’s my second choice or that we won’t survive the mission and I didn’t even get to say –” 
“Hey,” Natasha coos, taking your hand between hers. Her skin is warm and soft, reassuring. “He just needs a second to think is all, give him some time. He’ll come around.” 
“I don’t think so Tash,” you say, wiping your nose on yet another tissue. Your eyes connect with hers as you sigh. “I fucked up.” 
“We all fuck up, it’s a part of life.” She releases your hand and exhales a gentle breath, “so we have to learn to give ourselves some grace. It’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.”
“Come on,” Natasha nods, smiling to herself as she notices you come back to her and to the present moment. She points at the open pool table across the bar. “Would kicking Bradshaw’s ass at pool help distract you?”
“Maybe,” you sniffle, knocking hips with her.
The night went better than you expected. Whether it was the continuous flow of beer, the somehow superb shuffle of music coming from the jukebox, or the hilarious retellings of the same stories from each pilot’s point of view, you weren’t sure, but they all mixed together to help mend your broken heart and easily distracted mind. 
On the drive back home, you only thought about Jake once, maybe twice. When Bradley sang his praises earlier in the evening, raising a glass to him for saving his and Maverick’s lives on their most recent mission, crediting him with a second air combat kill, you could basically see him before you, his smug smile prominent. He’d run his tongue along his perfectly white teeth and wink, shrugging his shoulders as if it wasn’t his proudest accomplishment, but something he did on the regular. A month ago, that smile would’ve sent your eyes rolling, but tonight, your heart yearns to witness it even just one more time. Your heart aches at the notion that you weren’t able to congratulate him. It seemed unlike him to miss a night like this and especially a chance to gloat in front of his friends, but you pushed the questions aside, choosing to focus on the moment happening before you instead. 
When you arrive home, you send a message off to Natasha, assuring her that you’d made it home safely and thanking her for the night out. It’s much quieter here, in your small seaside neighborhood than on-base. On most nights, you’re grateful for the silence and the gentle chorus of crickets in the distance, but tonight it does anything but comfort you. It’s easier for your mind to wander here in the silence. Brushing thoughts of Jake aside, you trot up to the front door and unlock it, slipping through the door frame and tucking out of your shoes and jacket with ease. 
Sighing, you flick on the lights and head towards the kitchen, hoping a glass of water might help cure the alcohol-induced headache beginning to knock at the base of your skull.  
Your phone buzzes in the back pocket of your jeans, startling you. Assuming it’s Natasha reacting to your last message with some kind of emoticon, you fish it from your pocket and flick open the messages. Your heart lifts at the sight of Bradley’s contact photo at the top of the screen. 
Bradley: Hey! Just checking in. Are you okay? 
Exhaling a sharp breath, you look between the message and the floor, unsure of what he means. You type a message back quickly, working to reassure him. Though, you’re not sure what kind of answer he’s looking for; or why he’s asking.
You: Yeah, I’m fine! 
Bradley: Well, that was super convincing. 
You didn’t think anyone else other than Natasha picked up on your mood tonight. In hindsight, it was foolish to assume Bradley – of all people – wouldn’t notice. After all, he was the only other person who knew about your feelings for Jake, even if you never told him directly. 
You: What can I do to convince you? 
Bradley: You just didn’t seem quite yourself tonight – you didn’t even gloat when you beat me at pool. 
You: That’s because I felt bad for you! 
Bradley: I just want to make sure you’re okay, is all…with everything that’s happened. 
A tinge of pain strikes your chest followed closely by a swell of emotion soothing it over. Whether he knew what happened between you and Jake or not, it’s nice to know he cares for you. And you’re not lying, you really are okay. You tap your way across the screen, halfway through composing your next message when the chime of the doorbell echoes through the house, capturing your attention. 
You glance up at the time on the microwave, it’s nearly midnight. Your doorbell almost never rings; if it does, you rarely answer, choosing to stand behind the door instead, watching intently through the peep-hole until the visitor finally gives in and walks away. Something about tonight feels different, though, your heart racing in anticipation rather than your usual Pavlovian response of fear or annoyance at the sound. 
Pushing yourself off the counter, you continue typing as you make your way towards the front door. 
You: Wait…where are you right now? 
It’s stupid to assume it might be Bradley behind the door, but somehow, it wouldn’t surprise you. He’d often show up unannounced when you were together with either a bottle of wine or take-out from your favorite restaurant he picked up after a full day of training. It was his favorite way to apologize for not being around and it was your favorite way to see him: Rosé in one hand, California Rolls in the other, topped off with a playful smile and deep brown, apologetic eyes. 
Sighing, you traipse into the entryway and unlock the door, not bothering to spy through the peep-hole. You check your phone one last time, worried you might have missed a notification, but there’s still nothing back from Bradley. 
You tug the door open, your eyes landing on a familiar, tall figure. The full image of him comes into view as your eyes adjust to the darkness, but it doesn’t take long for you to recognize the silhouette: the one you hadn’t been able to shake from your mind for the past month. His cutting jawline is on display for you as he lifts his chin from the ground up to you, his green eyes connecting with yours as he sucks in a breath. 
“Jake?” you ask, breathless. 
His face brightens under the gentle glow of your porch light at the sound of your voice, his lips lifting into that heart stopping smile.
"Hey," he whispers.
...
TAGLIST: @callsign-blue @arianna-bradshaw @n3ssm0nique @blue-aconite @supernaturaldawning @revolution-starter @saramaple @bittergomez @coco-loco-nut @unluckymonaghan @jointherebellion215 @supernaturalstuff83 @kkrenae @littlebear423 @shadeds-library @malums-trash-can @maggiedanikka  @rintheemolion @tallrock35 @thebeautifullydamnedone
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I'm considering trying my hand at this idea I came up with but wanted a second opinion on if I should go through with it. Basically this is an au where human spirits manifest in the form of daemons, whereas with the Na'vi each clan is capable of shapeshifting into the animal that embodies their clan's spirit (in a way this is my take on how humans and Na'vi see the world differently: a lot of humans see themselves as individuals and separate from nature and the Na'vi have a strong sense of community and a deep connection to the life around them). This difference is something that baffles both parties and helps to feed the humans' thoughts on how the Na'vi are "savage animals" along with fueling the Na'vi's thoughts on humanity's disconnect from pretty much everything, and the rift just keeps on building between the two.
In this au humans have turned a piece of the land (basically what can be considered Hell's Gate + some extra) and turned it into this thriving human community with everything from their own gardens and whatnot to a school and a park, all that fun stuff (I'm picturing one of those beautiful dome cities that's like overrun with vegetation and just kind of a whole vibe) and this is where Spider grew up. Oh, also note that some of the dome goes into the ocean. Anyway, in this au the war still happened but later than in the original movie, and after Jake and the Na'vi won they were able to come to an agreement and though pretty much all of the military was sent back to Earth, the rest were allowed to stay---within agreed-upon borders, of course---especially due to the amount of children already within the city that was at the time just barely finished. Quaritch and Paz still died and all that and Spider was adopted, but not by the people who canonically adopted him.
He actually lives a pretty good life all things considered (I didn't want to make him suffer lol) but there's this curiosity he has regarding the world of Pandora outside of Eden (that's the region of the city he lives in; the city is divided into several regions such as Arcadia, Eden, and Newport. These regions are mostly divided by the main creole & product. For example, Eden grows most of the fruit and veggies and the main creole spoken there is an English-Gaelic variant. Arcadia produces most of the grains and rice and its main creole is an English-Greek variant. Newport is the part of the city the touches the sea, its main thing is seafood, and its defining creole is an English-Mandarin variant. Additionally, all kids are taught true English in school. Na'vi is optional, however a lot of the people who stayed behind were scientists who learned Na'vi and as they began mixing Na'vi with the English they spoke to their children an English-Na'vi hybrid began to rise and might eventually branch off and I'm getting off-track whoops) and the older he gets the more he yearns to go outside of the dome just to at least see what it's like.
One day his curiosity wins and he sneaks out into the forest. This is when he runs into one of the Sullys (feel free to give me an opinion on which Sully you think it could be if you want, I'm spending a decent amount of time thinking about it because this will be his love interest eventually) and from there they begin to learn about one another and slowly rebuild what was lost at the beginning of the war (oh yeah I forgot to mention that in this au most people consider the shooting at Grace's school to be the true beginning of the war for reasons that I won't get into in this ask lol). I feel like Kiri might be the perfect one for this and I have been wanting to try my hand at Spiri but I'm still weighing it.
Other things to note about this au:
Norm is still the ambassador between the Na'vi and the humans.
Avatars are tricky and took a long time to perfect because of the whole daemon/shapeshifting thing. I'm toying with a few possibilities but for now I think their daemon will stay with them but actually change its form to a Pandorian animal.
I'm still debating on what this means for the Sully children. I think it could mean that they all have a chance of either getting a daemon or being able to shapeshift, and if that's the case then I might make it to where one or two of them aren't able to shapeshift but instead have daemons.
Jake, just like all the avatars, cannot shapeshift but instead his daemon changed its form to match a Pandorian animal. Haven't decided what yet. I thought about Toruk but then decided against it because taming a real Toruk was, in my opinion, one of the deciding factors in the clan's acceptance of him after his betrayal (again, feel free to add what you think it could be if you want).
The city has been terraformed, however nothing outside of it has been as part of the agreement (originally they wanted to terraform it it all). In case you couldn't guess, this was a huge source of conflict before the war.
Jake never visits the city (I mean with the man-made atmosphere *that, fun fact, is actually showing signs that it's beginning to manage itself!* it is a bit inconvenient), instead Norm visits New Hometree. This is important to note because most of the common members of the community have never so much as seen an Avatar in person (again, because of the atmospheric difference) and most Na'vi by this point haven't seen a human up close in over a decade.
Earth animals do live within the city walls. Most of them are domesticated and genetically modified or used as livestock, but yeah. Since animals couldn't be shipped via kyro, they were a clone type of situation originally but now they're doing well on their own due to the abundant DNA samples adding diversity to the mix (we wouldn't want another Gros Michel banana situation).
Not really something you need to know, just a fun fact I wanted to add: Jake's daemon was originally a coyote :) Sometimes he'll wake up and forget that his daemon isn't still a coyote and look around for her for a minute.
Anyways, does this seem like an idea I should go through with? Is it too out-there? I'm willing to hear any thoughts you may have!
NO YOU SHOULD YOU SHOULD OMG.
O B S E S S E D. I love daemon aus so so much, as you guys know one of my areas of focus is speculative fiction because I love love love the metaphors of the speculative and how they can be used to represent real life conflicts and issues so fantastically. I am so interested in this idea of a disconnect in the Na'vi/Human soul representations, and how it plays into their prejudices. UGH fuck off the soulmate aus post is happening today probably you got me fired up. I have an essay to draft.
This different world that the humans live in is pretty fascinating too, I always get kinda bummed when the humans get anything besides the few loyal humans getting to stay and assimilate in a fic. I discussed this in the comments with @milesocorro on the end of their fic Please be kind, please be gentle with me (which I know, I KNOW I mention a lot lol, the worldbuilding requires it). I think it comes from the fact that any group of humans sent up to Pandora is not going to be the neediest ones, it's not going to be the ones who's lives were the worst on Earth. The first to leave and get out are going to be the richest, the most powerful, the most influential. It's the Elon Musks of the world, the ones who helped make Earth as bad as it is. Besides, the Na'vi shouldn't have to compromise their own land and their own safety.
Rant aside, VERY INTERESTED in the implications of this world. LOVE the idea of Spider and his undecided love interest bringing about a more communicative relationship. I always get sad when Spider doesn't grow up with Na'vi culture, but I like the Milo Thatch idea of him here lol. I think Kiri is a great choice, I love me some spiri and we as a collective deserve more of it. My second choice would be Neteyam as he's next in line to lead and there could be a storyline of star crossed lovers LEADER EDITION lol. I also just really need more nocorro there isn't enough of them.
I'm very obsessed thank u please do write it. Maybe Jake's daemon is a teeny tiny toruk, like in Harry Potter when they get the mini version of the dragons they'll fight and then they're like lil pets. That always LIVED WITH ME where is my teeny dragon.
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zebee-nyx · 4 months
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CalmWriMo Day 27
[11/27/2023]
Update!
Half of my sleep felt more like half awake tv static than blank screen [as it should be] last night. So brain=hemorrhaging braincells this eve. ('>v<) Anywho, wasn't a busy day at work today and I managed to get some good progress on the things today. Which among the things is today's blurb! Which came out pretty well, if I do say so myself. And I do say so! (>v<) [y'see that? there it goes... my last braincell lol]
Progress:
2 Hour Writing Goal: ✅
Blurb: [see below]
Self Care:
Food: ✅
Hydration: ❌ [whoops, forgot the translucent life sustaining fluid exists (0^0) was a bit too zoned]
Sleep: ❌
Reading: ✅
Blurb: Housing / Architecture
Holdouts
Rarely scattered across the Undercity. They are usually single or two story brick buildings that were once homes or businesses before the Great Collapse. Now they exist as relics of the past buried under the unregulated construction of the Undercity. Usually found in back alleys as oddities and landmarks. Some of them still have windows, although whether or not they were shattered varies.
Undercity Prefab Apartments
There are two primary types of prefabricated apartments in the Undercity. The first takes it's metabolist inspiration to the greatest extreme with modular capsule rooms. Each capsule is a simple empty box roughly 8ft by 12ft in size. These are the most common, being brought in with aircranes and installed onto, well basically anywhere that it won't immediately collapse. While they all have the same basic set up, the use of space varies greatly between occupants. The second type is somewhat larger with two rooms, a mixed living area and a private bathroom. These are manufactured in several parts that can easily be transported either by a aircrane or truck to site before being assembled on location. The basic interiors are more diverse with optional bed inlets and built in vending machines among other things. They also have a few different layouts that honestly just shifts where the bathroom divides the other spaces. While water isn't necessarily a rarity, decent working plumbing often is. As such about half of these apartment bathrooms in service work more as storage closets than anything else. Due to the chaotic nature of the Undercity it isn't uncommon for walls to be cut open across several apartments to better serve the needs of small local businesses, bunkhouses, or anything else people decide to build. Also it isn't uncommon for completely random structures to be made between prefabricated buildings out of whatever scrap happens to be available. Random pipes and cables running along the walls or roofs of hallways leading towards more in-structure apartments is normal. Rooms along alleys or streets usually get their utilities directly through the wall.
Midcity Apartments
Like the Undercity most of the Midcity's apartments, at least above the first few stories, are prefabricated. However, in the Midcity they usually are larger and have a more comfortable living spaces and at least one distinct bedroom. Typically the basic utilities are better maintained allowing more access to operational bathrooms, kitchens, and stationary entertainment such as televisions. Apartments in the Midcity are often built atop old retrofitted buildings that are mostly street level shops, restaurants, or other businesses.
Uppercity Luxury Apartments
The luxury apartments of the Uppercity is about what one would expect. Spacious interiors high above the rest of the city with staff or security at the simple press of a button. Usually there is one wall that has a dedicated wide screen that can simulate a curated view of the city, nature environments, or even play video media within smaller windows. Unlike nearly anywhere else in the city apartments in the Uppercity have real wooden floors. It also isn't rare for there to be a potted plant or small garden in the apartment to truly express the tenant's wealth. Amenities such as a spa, pool, and gym are usually only a brief elevator ride away. While some are equipped with kitchens for those who prefer to cook for themselves or have a personal chef, most apartments are simply equipped with an advanced vending machine that can be programmed to prepare most meals. Beyond that the only limits is the tenant's desires and space available. The result is often limited to clean modern looking spaces, however the more eccentric individuals tend to have truly unique homes. Somewhat ironically the exteriors of the majority of these buildings contrast greatly with the interiors as they often appear as little more than massive minimally featured blocks. That is aside from prime street level viewing space of these skyscrapers which are of course covered with the colorful glowing lights of advertising and art.
[Technically there is also nomad buildings, but basically just glorified rvs made literal "mobile" homes. Which may end up time’s blurb if I don’t think of anything else... Also junkyards architecture which is, well, basically garbage slapped together into shacks. ('^.^) So, uh... Anyways and always, hope that you had a lovely day, peace (ZvZ)v]
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justreadertings · 1 year
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Coffee Shop Rules- Part 2
Ok I’m back! This is definitly going to be longer than one part lol. I’m already getting attached to them, whoops. Anyway, I’m excited for you all to read this, and I’m making a slightttt change to the original, only because I hadn’t planned for this to be multiple parts. Don’t worry, it’s only about Lysandra dating Aedion, which I’m erasing lol. (for now). In terms of Aedion, we have no Aedion.
anyway. Have fun with this chapter, and I hope to get more to you soon before my week in New York where I will be MIA fr. Ok I’ll stop rambling. All my love- Magee
Masterlist
3000 Words
TW: Cursing, mentions of domestic violence
Coffee Shop Rules
Rowan was in a shitty mood. He knew that, and yet, he turned into Fenrys and Connell’s driveway. He was only going to this party because he knew they were all going to be loose in the world come two months, and Aelin and his mother had teamed up to drove on and on about “savoring time together”. It had given him enough heartache at the thought of leaving his poor mother alone when he left for college, adding his friends to the mix was too much. 
So he was going to this stupid party, bringing stupid beer. Rowan ran his hands over his face, tired. It had been a rough few days.
His father had died when he was three. He didn’t even remember him that much. But his parents had been maddeningly in love- so much so that his mother never even wanted to get back out there, even fifteen years after the fact. This all boiled down to his father’s anniversary being a rough day for his family. He’d bought his mom flowers, they’d planned to bake, he planned to pretend it didn’t bother him that much. Same as every year.
But when he and his mom were going to leave for the cemetery, he’d gotten a call from Aelin. She’d known what day it was. She wouldn’t have called if something hadn’t happened. And an oily feeling had swarmed in his gut. 
As soon as he picked up, all he’d heard was breathing. Shallow, watery breathing. He had said her name, probably a couple of times, but in retrospect, it was all very blurry. She hadn’t responded at first, just more of that shallow breathing. His heart had nearly fucking caved in on itself before she finally answered. His mother’s sad, tired eyes had gone wide, waiting both for his attention and to know what was going on.
But Aelin had said, “I should’ve called. I’m sorry.” Her voice was muffled. She wasn’t talking quite right. 
“What’s wrong?” He’d asked.
It took a long time before she said, “My nose. I think it’s broken.”
So instead of the cemetery, putting flowers on his father’s grave, he and his mother had spent the second part of their afternoon in the emergency room, where they set Aelin’s nose right. She had insisted that he go, that she’d done enough damage by ruining their day. 
His mother, with her perfect, caring heart, only waved it off. Rowan wasn’t sure if his mother believed Aelin when she’d said she’d tripped. His mother had only asked her if her guardians were home, and Aelin had said he was out- it was all Sage Whitethorn needed before telling him to make for the emergency room, that they’d take her themselves.
Rowan knew that Aelin was lying, knew that he couldn’t tell, but still felt worthless. He couldn’t be with his mother on her hardest day, couldn’t help Aelin, because if they reported Arobynn she’d be moved across the state, again, far away from him.
Three months. Three months until she was eighteen. And then it was over. 
Now, Rowan rested his head against the steering wheel of his old red truck. He was so tired of it. Tired of the excuses, tired of not being able to help. Tired of working so that one day, he and Aelin could get that apartment they’d always talked about. Tired of the things he’d started thinking about when he thought of his best friend. His brain was too full. 
A loud bang on his side door had him startling, and he glanced out of it to see Lorcan. He was staring at him like he was crazy. Rowan shut off the engine, and popped his door open.
“What?” Rowan said at his friend’s expression.
Lorcan, with his dark features and deep voice, was the epitome of gruff when he asked, “what’s wrong with you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Rowan answered honestly. 
Lorcan had taken the beer right out of his hands as they made their way towards the door. Rowan snorted as they approached the farmhouse, deep in the bellies of their farmland town. Music was already drifting from the open windows. 
“Thursday?” Lorcan inquired. He was a man of few words. It made him a shit therapist, but a good listener. 
Rowan shrugged. “Yeah, kinda. It’s complicated.” Technically, it wasn’t a lie. Lorcan, knowing the day, just nodded, not bringing it up again. He needed the balance between Aelin- who he would spill his guts to even if it left him feeling deflated… and Lorcan, who could just get it, and nod.
“Party people!” Shouted their blonde host from the kitchen. Rowan and Lorcan shared a look. They enjoyed their alcohol, and they enjoyed good music- but they were probably the least “party” of all the people in this house. Which seemed to be literally every single one of their friends.
Manon and Dorian were already sharing DNA on the couch, Manon waving a hand to them without even looking, too caught up on Dorian’s lap.
Lorcan made a face, even though they were all used to their antics, though he and Elide weren’t much better. Rowan figured the face was probably due to the weird history between Lorcan’s girlfriend and Manon. Aelin had sworn him to secrecy when she’d told him that Manon and Elide were a thing their freshman year and Manon’s junior. Manon and Lorcan being the same age had always made Rowan feel strange, though, and it was all really none of his business.
He liked to call Aelin a busybody, but she only called herself a “journalist”. Rowan had laughed, even if he flicked her after, saying that writing everything down in her diary didn’t qualify her as a “journalist”. 
Rowan waved to Chaol, Yrene, and Sartaq by the backdoor. He was glad that Chaol had fallen completely head over heels for Yrene after he and Aelin’s break-up. So much so that it had resulted in an accidental teenage pregnancy… but they were happy. Where their baby was on this random Saturday night, he had no idea- Rowan stopped himself. It wasn’t really his problem. Aelin was infecting his mind. Rowan had no space in his brain for other people’s drama. Where was Aelin?
He spotted Lysandra out by the firepit with her boyfriend- or was it ex-boyfriend this week?- who looked very… close. Rowan chose the kitchen instead, still looking.
Elide was sitting up on the counter of the white house, her heels digging into the old, wooden counters as she talked to Fenrys. At that height, she was level with her boyfriend for probably the first time in their relationship. She gave him a chaste kiss, then moved to lean her elbow on his shoulder. 
Lorcan handed her one of Rowan’s beers, but Rowan’s hand was suddenly filled with a sugary, pink concoction. He lifted a brow at Fenrys, who was already padding around the giant kitchen, beginning to make another one. 
“What the hell is this?”
Fenrys shrugged. “It’s Aelin’s,” he said, before he turned around. His blonde brows furrowed. “Where is your girlfriend?”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” Rowan responded, voice dark. He knew Fenrys was just messing with him, but he was still a dumbass. Fenrys just shrugged, and it made Rowan want to strangle him. He was always so flippant with his words. Rowan frowned down at the drink. “Why did you give this to me?”
Suddenly, the drink was pulled from his hands. “Because he’d know I’d need it.”
Rowan spun to where Aelin stood, looking perfect, as always. She wore a short golden sundress that made her look absolutely stunning. Rowan was actually starting to get uncomfortable with how good he thought she looked. Thankfully, Fenrys drew him out of his thoughts with a laugh.
“Gods, Ace, what’d you do to your face?” Elide reached over and punched his shoulder, her dark eyes assessing.
Rowan’s body tensed, but Aelin’s felt completely liquid as she leaned slightly into his side, already sipping on her fruity drink. “Clumsy me. As always.”
He knew everyone could see the little angry line across the bridge of her nose, but both Lorcan and Fenrys seemed to accept her answer. Elide’s eyes were still cut into little slits, watching Aelin closely. Rowan hated that Aelin refused to tell their closest friends, but he knew that she didn’t want to risk one of them getting emotional and reporting Arobynn or something. 
Honestly, with that logic, he was surprised she ever told him- Rowan could barely wake up without the thought crossing his mind anymore. But Aelin wanted her friends- her family. She hadn’t had a family since she was a very little girl, and she needed their support for the many hours that she wasn’t at that house.
But her lie had him feeling protective, and he slipped his arm around her. Aelin offered him her drink but he just squinted at it. “Is that a joke?”
She poked his cheek. “Party-pooper.”
Rowan batted her hand away, and they fake fought with their hands before Fenrys’ snort had him pausing.
“What?” Rowan asked.
The blonde looked between them. “Nothing.” Rowan only glared at his long time friend. 
“How’s work?” Elide offered. She was too perceptive for her own good, and Rowan didn’t want to admit that he knew she was saving him. 
“Same old same old,” Aelin drawed. “Ugh, except for this absolute douche the other day. Do you remember that?”
Did he remember it? Rowan hadn’t stopped replaying that whole afternoon in the week since it had happened. Aelin hadn’t mentioned anything weird after, hadn’t acted any different, all through their shift and when he dropped her off home. Again- their boundaries were always a little shifty, but they’d only ever kissed for long, long goodbyes- like when he went to camp last fall break and was gone for two whole weeks. And yeah, it was all just those tiny pecks, more for closeness than anything but… it was just kinda out of nowhere. Or at least he thought so. Maybe he’d thought about it so much that his memory was now warped. 
“Ro?”
When he blinked, he realized Lorcan, Elide, Fenrys, Aelin and… Nesryn and Nehemia were all staring at him. He hadn’t even seen the girls come in. How long had he been zoning out?
“What?” 
Aelin was giving him a weird look, but pasted on that signature smile for their friends. “I asked you if you remember that guy from the other day?”
Rowan shook himself out of his thoughts, and casually said, “How could I forget? You made a your mom joke to him.”
Aelin, at that, cracked what he knew was a real smile. She laughed, her head tilting back, and he just watched her. That was normal, right? 
“No!” Elide laughed with her.
“I totally did!” Aelin then went into the whole story, but Rowan was transfixed with watching her talk. He didn’t know how she did it, how she could laugh and smile with their friends after experiencing what she did every day. When something happened to him, he shut down. Radio silence. Aelin would never ask him to explain himself, though. She would just crawl on the couch and tuck her arms around his waist, holding him until he spoke.
Rowan wondered if he was ever able to give her a fraction of the comfort she gave him. He glanced at her, so lively as she told her story, watching for any glimpse of pain. Rowan didn’t know how she hid it so well.
-
Aelin was buzzed. She knew she was buzzed. But she couldn’t help it- it had been a shit week, shit last two days, and she needed to forget. She was squinting as Chaol was talking about his son, and she found herself without a filter, just responding with, “it’s so fucking weird.”
He’d given her that look, the one where he was trying really hard not to be judgy, but was pretty much failing. He asked, “what’s weird?”
“You have a kid!” She yelled back, before placing her chin back in her hand. “You’re like… a person. Like a real life human.”
Chaol actually laughed at that, and he told her himself that she was drunk. She’d just smiled, feeling dreamy. Her mind was racing, bouncing between the strangeness of her longtime friend and ex having a real, human baby, and the niggling idea that she should be somewhere else. She felt like that a lot, though. Like even when she was happy, she should be spending her time better, doing something more worthy of her time.
She was also contemplating if she could use a third (fourth?) of these pink drinks. Rowan had gone in to grab her water a few minutes ago, claiming that if her head was tilting at that far of an angle, she could probably use some sobering up.
Chaol was talking to Dorian then, who’d finally taken a break from Manon. Aelin was fairly certain the blonde was chatting up Elide, which she found weird. Aelin’s sober mind knew that it was hypocritical, as she was talking to Chaol, but that was different. She didn’t know why, but it just… was.
“What’s with the frown, Ace?” Lysandra said, coming to sit on the edge of her lawnchair. The fire was blazing, and Aelin’s fuzzy vision swam in it. When Aelin turned to look at her, Lysandra gasped and grabbed her chin. “Gods, how’d you get that?”
Aelin frowned and turned her head out of Lysandra’s hand. “Lemme go,” she pouted.
“Uh oh,” Chaol smiled. “It’s someone’s bedtime.”
“Is not,” Aelin said, crossing her arms.
Dorian just laughed, nudging Chaol. “She’s getting defensive, too. Where’s Rowan? He can go and tuck her in.”
“It’s not my bedtime!” She yelled, even though she knew she was acting like a toddler. Gods, maybe she was drunker than she thought. It occurred to her that that probably wasn’t a great thing. She had work in the morning
“Why are you sad, Ace?” Lysandra asked, speaking low. Aelin leaned into her touch, no better than a housecat. She couldn’t help it, though. She needed a motherly touch. Maybe she’d call out for Yrene.
“Rowan won’t tuck me in,” she said. “At least not at my house.” her words were muffled in Lysandra’s lap. 
Her friend laughed, running her fingers through her cropped hair. They were all saying something, probably talking about her, but she was too tired to argue. She only heard Lysandra say, close to her ear, “are you sure you’re saying everything you mean to?”
She didn’t answer, didn’t know how long she stayed draped over Lysandra’s lap, near-asleep.
“Bedtime?”
She heard Rowan’s voice, deep and gruff. She smiled into Lysandra’s warm, soft legs. Aelin reminded herself to steal her friend’s moisturizer. 
“I’m not tired,” she muffled. 
Lysandra was messing with Aelin’s hair, stroking and braiding. Rowan was speaking lowly to her friend, but it was all so soothing until- 
“Aelin!” 
Suddenly, there was a sharp pain between her neck and her head. And then everything moved so fast, it felt like people were crowding, and she was starting to sit up, even though her drink had her feeling very dizzy. Her vision swarmed, but she felt Rowan’s warm hand on her shoulder.
Lysandra asked, “What happened to you, Ace?”
Fuck. Aelin didn’t think anyone would be digging around her skull tonight. Fuck fuck fuck. She felt literally blurry, but she forced herself to stand. Yeah, she was a lot drunker than she thought. Rowan was holding her to him, and she hated that she was swaying. Hated that she couldn’t depend on herself, hated that he wasn’t demanding to know what happened either. He was always so quiet, so patient. It used to bug her, and now, she was just envious.
“Gods, should you even be drinking with a mark like that?” 
“Should I get Yrene?”
Aelin held out her hands, acting far more sober than she was. “Look, I am fine.” All of her friends, standing around the fire, were looking very doubtful. “You do not need to get our resident nurse. Ok?”
Dorian frowned at her, and she blinked over and over again to actually make him out. “So how’d you get that bump on your head?”
Aelin fought the urge to reach for it, tracing the bulging hurt there. “I fell, ok? I was cleaning and I was… indulging, and I fell. Hit my head on my dresser.” That wasn’t a total lie. Her head did hit her dresser…
“And your nose?” Chaol asked. He’d always been all careful and protective, but now that he was a father, gods he was becoming insufferable with it.
“I’m fine. That one was a sober accident,” she joked. Aelin ignored the way Rowan held her tighter to him. 
Suddenly, the sound of the sliding glass door interrupted their silence. Fenrys’ voice rained out, loud, joking, “Damn, did I just walk into an intervention?”
All of her friends turned and glared at him. She turned, feeling a bit like she was in slow motion, to glare at him herself. She didn’t like that they were about two more incidents away from this party moving in that direction. Aelin cursed herself for not choosing another lie. 
Fenrys held up his hands at their expressions, then turned on his heel and went back inside. 
They were all looking at her again, but she only turned her head up to Rowan. “Can you take me home?”
A muscle in his jaw twitched, and she couldn’t exactly decipher the look in his eyes. But he nodded, once. She didn’t like how stony his demeanor was, so she circled in his arms, reaching up to hold his face. His green eyes were thoughtful and sad. 
She hoped he understood that she was sorry she didn’t tell him, that it was just getting… embarrassing. She didn’t want to start every shift with an update of what new part of her body was aching. 
Rowan stared at her a moment more, before saying, “let’s go.”
She was never more grateful for the safety she found in him- in his truck and his driving- than she did then, when she could just close her eyes against the seat, ignore the dull pain from where her head had been tossed against her dresser, and drift off to sleep. 
Ok there it is. Hope you don’t kill me. more churning in my brain, so hopefully more to come!
Taglist: 
@leiawritesstories​
@tomtenadia​
@fireheart-violet​
@backtobl4ck​
@morganofthewildfire​
@rowaelinismyotp​
@aelinchocolatelover​
@thegreyj​
@foughtconquered​
@swankii-art-teacher​
@booklover242​
@stardelia​
@numbers-colors-fashion​
@bookcide​
@viajandosinalas​
53 notes · View notes
monosrojo · 2 years
Note
📂 will (and robin too if you want)
Will likes to listen to music while he paints, sometimes he goes through Jonathan's collection to find new things to listen to
Will, El & Jonathan all share clothes. Like there are no boundaries, anyone can go into anyone else's closet w/o asking and pick out things as long as they give them back. El is really bad at remembering to give them back though lol. Jonathan's style has changed a little recently, so he doesn't mind just giving both his younger sibs his clothes anyways.
Will still has a difficult emotional reaction to being too cold. He usually layers, and always makes sure to have a sweater or flannel with him just in case. He wears really thick, cozy socks always
Jonathan is a killer cook, and will & El, and even Joyce always request special dinners. Lately Jonathan is .. more prone to experimenting with his food lately while getting the munchies though. The reactions to these are mixed, El always loves them though, no matter how bizarre. Will not so much
Will helps El cope with some of her feelings through art. She doesn't have the skill he has, but she enjoys herself regardless, especially sculpture. El inspires Will to be more confident in himself, even if it's more subconscious.
El really likes playing board games like monopoly and stuff like that, Will and Jon are kind of over those types of games, but they play with her anyway. Usually they all order pizza and invite argyle over to play too
Will really wants to put his walls down with El, but he really struggles. I think he struggles with this even more than opening up to Mike & Jon. He feels connected to El on a level so deep he worries she can read his thoughts sometimes, this makes him anxious and he accidentally pushes her away because of it. El loves Will unconditionally, and sometimes gets confused about why he won't let her in, even though she can tell something is on his mind. She doesn't push him though, she usually just tries to make him smile or laugh in these types of moments.
Joyce buys everyone matching pajamas for Christmas one year. She was so excited because they had a sale at Sears. Jonathan begrudgingly puts them on with a bit of an eye roll, but Will & El are over the moon about it
Will is protective over Joyce when it comes to Hopper. He's really timid about it, but in his mind he thinks he's really intimidating. Despite this, he still really loves hop. He just doesn't want Joyce to ever get hurt again. Hop would buy Will ice cream or pizza after they went to Dr. Owens in s2. They don't have much in common, but they still try really hard to relate to one another, and love each other as family. Hop would absolutely deck Lonnie if he tried coming anywhere near Will, Jon, or Joyce ever again.
Will still has his Will the Wise costume. Sometimes he wears it still, and he made El a mage outfit as well. She's not really into dnd, but she still enjoys playing along with the dress up. The 2 of them make absolutely the most incredible duo Halloween costumes every year.
El tries encouraging Will to be a little more rebellious, deep down Will really wants to.
Jonathan still has Larry the Lego in a drawer somewhere.
Will looks up at the sky at night when his insomnia strikes and wonders what the party is up to back in Hawkins. He wonders especially about what Mike might be up to in those moments when he really can't sleep.
Will never used to be afraid of spiders as a little kid, but now he flinches a little if he sees one.
Definitely more in my brain but this is long enough whoops! Sorry I didn't get to Robin!
31 notes · View notes
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hgghhhhhhhhhh...............smonk ..............
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#I can barely see out the window lol...#With the wildfire smoke making the air quality so hazardous it almost feels claustrophobic like.... normally if you can't breathe well you#can just open a window and get some fresh air - but in this case there's literally nowhere to turn for fresh air#if the air inside your home gets worse or anything then that's it#Like if i burnt toast or something I couldn't air out the place.. I would just have burnt toast in the air forever now#which is a bad example ghghj but you know what I mean#Especially because I think I might be sick and am having slight chest pressure and coughing and congestion#all I want to do is breathe good clean crispy air and feel comfortable but it's like HGHj what am I going to do.. open a WINDOW??#I hope my symptoms don't get worse or that if they do it's around the time that the smoke clears up and etc.#so far I think they said it should be getting a little better by monday but that feels so far away#plus it's summer so the air inside is like... warm and muggy and uncomfortable but the air outside is worse. I guess I just don't like#feeling trapped lol.. but ANYWAY ..#you know those photos of the surface of mars or whatever where everyhting is all yellow/orange? that's like literally#the view outside of the window. it feels like another planet and is so weird#we also might have to evacuate at some point so I need to take stuff to the car (though my area is not even a level 1 i just want#to be ready? especially if we had to go in the middle of the night like.. I'd rather pack a few things into the car then than now) but I'm#afraid to open the door and also to go outside in general lol..#I also need to water my poor plants but I don't want to open the door long enough to do so lol... I am so sorry my children.. TuT#(for reference I'm around portland in oregon so that's the specific area out of the list that I'm talking about )#*'now than then' lol not 'then than now' .. I mixed them up .. whoop
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fruitcoops · 2 years
Note
hi lovely! i know we have seen a lot of the team with cap cuddles, but i was wondering if you'd maybe write another one where cap and loops are cuddling in front of the team and everyone that has experienced cap cuddles is just like reminiscing and being dramatic about how they "only got one chance and loops gets it everyday and how is that fair?" or something like that lol. thanks! and good luck with finals!
Thanks for the luck! They're (final)ly done now, so once the holidays are done there should be very little stress. SW credit goes to @lumosinlove <3
Remus stretched his arms over his head, then settled back into the cushions and relaxed beneath Sirius’ comforting weight. The knit of his pawprint sweater was soft; he hummed low as Remus rubbed along his spine, pressing into the touch.
Someone sighed heavily next to them. Remus didn’t bother opening his eyes. “Don’t even—”
“That used to be me, once,” Finn said with far more drama than the situation called for. Leo made a noise of acknowledgement where he had spilled himself over Finn’ lap, but didn’t look up from his phone.
“Drool,” Sirius mumbled, not twitching a muscle.
“One time.”
“The only time.”
“If anyone’s looking for last-minute birthday ideas for me…” Kasey trailed off with a significant glance in Sirius’ direction and Remus buried his nose in soft, inky curls. “Can’t call dibs forever, Loops.”
“Watch me.”
Talker stretched his legs all the way out over both Dumo and James’ laps; he let his head fall sideways and fixed Remus with the saddest, most kicked-puppy pout in the room. “I never got Cap cuddles,” he said pathetically, sliding his lower lip out even further. “Not even once.”
Sirius huffed and shuffled around to face the room, nearly kneeing Remus in the thigh before snuggling back into his chest. “Liar. You cuddled me for a full bus ride.”
Talker hesitated, then shook his head. “No, that was a ‘using you as a pillow’ situation. Cuddles implies more all-around contact, maybe a bit of spooning—”
“I rubbed your shoulder for, like, half an hour.”
“—so really I was jilted out of my cuddles and the fact that Harzy got more than me, your fiancé’s best friend—”
“I’m going back to sleep now.”
“—is a real tragedy. How would you feel if he cuddled Loops more than Pots did? Loops, you’re on my side here.”
Remus quirked an eyebrow. “That is a bold assumption, man.”
Finn looked between them in growing concern as Leo rested his head on his shoulder. “Is anyone else feeling very attacked right now? Cause like…ow.”
Sirius grumbled again, shoving his hands under Remus’ shoulder blades with more force than strictly necessary. He settled his hips between Remus’ thighs and rubbed up against the front of his sweater; Remus couldn’t see his expression, but he could guess that it was a beautiful mix of sleepy and cranky. He placed a kiss on his head before turning back to his phone. “First of all, you people drive me insane,” Sirius began. “Second, it’s not like I’m keeping cuddles hostage. You can get them whenever you want if you’re not weird about it. That can be revoked if you drool on me, O’Hara, but it can be regained with payment in cookies.”
Finn looked down at Leo and opened his mouth. “Are your two boyfriends not good enough?” Leo interrupted before he could say a word. Finn bit his lip, then gently kissed just above his eyebrow.
“Third, and most importantly—” Sirius paused to make sure everyone was listening. “—Loops gets first dibs.”
“Fuck yeah,” Remus whispered as the others groaned. “Fiancé privileges.”
“Pots gets second dibs.”
James whooped, pumping both hands in the air. He leaned over Talker’s legs for a crisp high-five, which Sirius happily obliged. “You get to be godfather for the next kid, just for that.”
“Capsicle,” Kasey drawled. “I thought we had something back at that bus stop.”
Remus kissed Sirius’ forehead. “Are you cheating on me with Bliz?”
“It was only once,” Sirius murmured into the bend of his shoulder.
“Kay.”
Leo exhaled through his nose and set his phone down, flexing his feet where they hung over the armchair’s edge. “Really, y’all, I don’t get the hype around Cap cuddles. I’m the same height as him. Kuny’s buffer. It’s not like we smell bad, and you don’t have to fight Loops to get to us.”
Nado looked at him upside-down from his own chair, where Kuny was braiding a strand of his hair. “Nah, but we have to fight Tremzy to get to you, and he plays dirty.”
“I don’t fight,” Kuny offered. “Open arms for everyone. Just have to ask.”
Remus held back a comment about the glare Nado cast around the room at that; he certainly wasn’t in any position to poke fun. Sirius’ breaths were heavy and even on the sliver of collarbone not covered by his sweater and Remus smiled to himself, toying with the hair at the nape of his neck. Dead asleep in under three minutes. That was almost a new record.
“Actually…” Talker hesitated for a moment before raising his eyebrows. “You know what? Fuck Cap cuddles. I want Loops cuddles.”
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yelenasdog · 3 years
Text
rebel girl (vic de angelis x fem!singer!reader)
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𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 REBEL GIRL  𝐁𝐘 BIKINI KILL
(listen while reading for best experience) 
𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: fluff with a sprinkle of angst for .0000002 seconds
𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: a kiss during a shared performance turns into something more.
𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 2.3k
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: cursing, kissing, drinking, my attempts at writing roman dialect and italian, and i believe that’s it.
𝐚/𝐧: ok so i know not a whole lot abt måneskin so if anything abt this in terms of the band or how they perform is inaccurate forgive me! but i think vic is hot and this song makes me think of her LOL. thanks for reading, and enjoy the fic!! <3
(all translations will be linked at the end of the fic)
♀~♀~♀
The cheers of the crowd were deafening, but it seemed the beating of her own heart was even louder. Lights flashed a plethora of neon colors, and those on the stage looked liked silhouettes moving about freely.
Ethan nodded at Thomas, quickly bringing down his stick to the tightly spread plastic.
Thomas bobbed his head, starting to play the opening riff.
Select members of those in attendance began to cheer, just the opening notes being enough to give away what was about to be performed.
“For our last song tonight, we’d like to bring out someone you all know and love.” Damiano spoke into his mic, wrapping an arm around Vic’s neck and allowing her to lean down into the microphone in his hand.
“She’s someone that everyone, including myself, heavily admire as an icon of the generation and a true Riot Grrrl.”

Her eyes closed, a deep breath inhaled and exhaled through her painted mouth. She jumped up and down in her heeled boots, face pointed towards the rickety ceiling of the venue as she did so. She ran a ring adorned hand over her earpieces and made a funny face, making sure they were adjusted to her liking.
A stagehand appeared to her right, handing her a microphone and wishing her good luck. She smiled, responding with a quick “thanks” and a smile.
Victoria looked over from her place on the stage with Damiano, a devilish glint in her eye.
“Here for one night only, London let us introduce” he yelled, leaning down to Vic’s level once more, allowing them to both speak at once, “Y/n Y/l/n!”
A roar erupted from everyone in the building as the aforementioned strutted on stage, lifting the mic to her lips.
“That girl thinks she’s the queen of the neighborhood, she’s got the hottest trike in town.” She started, finding her mark in the center of the stage.
“That girl, she holds her head up so high, I think I wanna be her best friend yeah.” Damiano’s raspy voice let out next, both of their voices mixing together like honey as they started the chorus.
“Rebel girl, rebel girl, rebel girl you are the queen of my world.
Rebel girl, rebel girl.”
“I think I wanna take you home” Y/n began, Damiano then taking over.
“I wanna try all your clothes.” He finished, both him and Y/n groaning in unison to the song.
Vic would be lying if she said she didn’t have to clear both her throat, and her mind. Thomas’ fingers worked skillfully and quickly on the neck of his guitar on the small transitional solo, his focus staying on the cool steel.
Damiano held up his tattooed hand, making a talking motion as he sang and rolled his eyes, “When she talks, I hear the revolution.”
Y/n came up behind Vic, one hand running across her hip, the other on her own as she chose to lean into Vic’s mic over her shoulder, “In her hips, there’s revolutions.”
The lead singer then strutted across the stage back to Ethan, propping a leg up on the base of his kit, and then walking back singing, “When she walks, the revolution’s coming.”
Knowing what line was coming up next, the bassist held her breath, and looked down. It was short lived, though, as Y/n picked up her chin with her pointer finger, forcing her to look her in the eyes. She moved his slowly to Victoria, their lips nearly brushing, her touch feather light.
“In…her…kiss…” she slowly sang, dragging it out longer than in the original song and than in rehearsal. She quickly turned her head, falling to her knees with one side to Vic and one to the audience, her hair cascading over her features.
“I taste the revolution!”
She smiled at Vic as she pushed herself up, a goofy grin plastered onto her face as she allowed Damiano to take the chorus. Victoria replied with only a small smirk, her dark eyeshadow glittering under the colorful lights, making her look like some kind of gothic angel, or celestial being.
Resuming singing, Y/n walked back to the front of the stage, her and Damiano switching every verse. She sat down on the edge, letting her legs dangle over the high surface, feeling fingertips barely touch her unclothed thigh.
“That girl thinks she’s the queen of the neighborhood.”
“I got news for you,”
They both pointed their mics into the audience as the screen behind them flashed “she is!” Allowing the crowd, as well as Thomas, Vic, and Ethan to all scream the two words loudly and in sync.
“I know she is,” her and Dami both sang, as he wrapped an arm around Vic’s neck,
“My best friend yeah”
The chorus continued for a final time, Victoria stomping her heavy platforms on the wooden stage, biting her lip as she performed.
Y/n made her way over to Thomas’ side, jumping to his left and swaying her hair, a knowing smile appearing on his face upon seeing Victoria’s gaze falling upon her movements.
Victoria made rounds to Ethan and then to Thomas, passing Y/n and lightly tapping her hip with her own.
Y/n skipped over to Damiano as he did to her, the pair meeting in the middle briefly for the “love you like a sister, always.”
Victoria returned to her spot from the start, and Damiano found his way to Thomas. Y/n continued on towards the ethereal bassist. The both of them were simultaneously singing to the aforementioned in harmony, nearing the end of the song.
“Soul sister, rebel girl,
Come and be my best friend,
Really, rebel girl.”
Y/n dragged a hand across Vic’s chiseled cheekbone, and in that moment Victoria had taken on the title of a muse for the woman standing in front of her.
“I really like you” she sang to her, lowering her mic as they looked into each other’s eyes, her chest heaving. It was like the music had been reduced down to a slight buzzing, and the thousands of peering eyes meant nothing. They were untouchable.
Y/n resumed for the last line, never breaking her eye contact.
“Be my rebel girl.”
It seemed like a question, a proposal of sorts from one to another, as Y/n’s hand dropped once more.
Victoria quirked a brow as if to ask “are we really doing this?” To which Y/n muttered “fuck it” with a laugh.
Victoria’s hands found either side of Y/n’s face, her calloused fingers rough, yet gentle. Y/n’s own hands found one lazily draped over waist, the other over her shoulder to pull her close.
And in what probably the entirety of the building could have guessed would happen (maybe just not on stage, in that exact moment) they closed the gap between themselves, their lips connecting in a sweet kiss.
Chants and yells of encouragement were whooped by the band and crowd alike, as Damiano raised the mic and the final notes played.
“Y/n Y/l/n everybody!”
They pulled apart, sweaty foreheads against each other’s sides as they turned towards everyone, waving. They were quickly joined by the rest of the group, and Y/n stepped away, leaning into the microphone still hooked on the stand in the center of the stage.
“Let’s hear a huge round of applause for the wonderfully mad Måneskin!” She shouted, the roar of the crowd even louder. She raised her hands in the air, then moving one to her ear, gesturing for them to be louder. They complied, and Y/n took out her earpiece for a moment, soaking in what the band had created.
Vic shouted to Y/n over the noise, waving her over.
“Come on, bow with us!”
Y/n shook her head, not wanting to intrude any further to which Thomas reached out an arm, pulling her over. A bright smile covered her face as Vic reached out, wrapping an arm around her waist only for a second.
Hands joined, they all leaned forward in a dramatic bow, coming back up and waving.
All in sync, they all yelled “thank you, London!”
They looked around for a small period of time afterwards, still having a hard time believing that this was their new reality.
Looking to her right, and seeing Y/n doing the same, Vic decided that Y/n was a specific part of said “new reality” she didn’t quite want to let go of.
So after saying one more goodbye and exiting the stage, the bassist remained silent. It slightly worried Y/n, who had noticed the girl’s lack of communication while she had been thanking the rest of the band members for allowing her to share the stage with them.
“Is Victoria alright?” She asked Damiano, to which he only chuckled before replying.
“She’s fine, trust me. Give her a little bit of time and she will be back to normal.”
Y/n just gave him a tight lipped smile, not completely convinced.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed as Victoria slipped into her dressing room, locking the door.
The rest of the group, already having had a few drinks, was out the door, waiting on a cab.
“Y/n? You and Vic coming?” Ethan questioned.
She nodded, though she was unsure if that was the case, doing her best to cast a reassuring smile in his direction.
Once she made sure they were gone, she knocked twice on the heavy door. Before she could even announce it was her, Vic’s voice rang out.
“Vattene, Damiano!”
“Victoria?” Y/n’s tone floated through the door to the other side, and Victoria face palmed and silently cursed herself. She quickly got up and unlocked the door, regretting her harsh tone.
“Y/n, hi.”
“Hi.” She responded, slight uneasiness about her. Victoria picked up on this immediately, her brows furrowing and her eyes softening.
“Are you alright, Y/n?”
The other girl scoffed and looked at her feet. Scared to break any boundaries now that they weren’t on stage, Victoria cautiously lifted a hand towards her chin, softly picking it up like Y/n had before.
Her voice sounded wavy as she spoke, her jaw slightly hanging slack.
“Actually, I came here to ask the same thing.”
Victoria tilted her head like a confused puppy, leaning up against the doorframe.
“Why? What happened?”
Struggling to find the right thing to say, Y/n began to trip over her words.
“Well, I just, you know, on stage and everything- we were super, y’a know, close and everything and I didn’t wanna, I don’t know. Make you uncomfortable or overstep any boundaries or anything, and if it was just a kiss I didn’t wanna overthink it or read into but, I mean, I really liked it but you seemed to go quiet so-“
Victoria cut off her painful rambling with another kiss, taking firm hold of her arms and moving her inside with her and closing the door with her foot.
“Wow.” Y/n said when they finally pulled apart, her eyes as wide as dinner plates and her pupils the size of the moon.
“Yes, wow.” Vic chuckled, moving a piece of Y/n’s stray hair behind her ear.
“You’re very different when you’re on stage, Y/n. You know that?” She asked, admiring how the fluorescent lights above illuminated Y/n’s features in the most wonderful way.
Victoria had decided she liked her most like this. Vulnerable, sweaty, and with the biggest heart eyes she’d ever seen.
“That’s what I was afraid of.” She laughed.
“No.” Vic frowned, taking her hands. “It’s not a bad thing. Not at all.” She brought her over to the velvet sofa in the corner of the room. “It’s admirable.”
“How?” She asked with a small smile.
“Easy. Because even though your stage persona is lovely,” she laughed, “I think I like this Y/n even better. She seems like she’s kind, and has a big heart with lots of love to give.”
Stunned, the other girl just smiled like an idiot, leaning forward and pecking Vic’s lips.
“Well, what about you?”
“What about me?” The bassist replied, enjoying the banter forming between the pair.
“Why’d you go all radio silent? I’d never heard of Victoria De Angelis from EuroVision winning band Måneskin to do such a thing.” She exclaimed in what was the worst accent Victoria had heard in her life.
(Though, it was endearing, she’d admit.)
“Truly? I was thinking about how to ask you out. If you even wanted me to ask you out, all of that.”
Y/n’s eyes somehow got even bigger, and she laughed, tucking her legs beneath her.
“How is that even a question?” She exclaimed.
“Like I said, you are different on stage from off it. I didn’t know if it was just a front, a performance.”
This time it was Y/n’s turn to roll her eyes and lean in, encapsulating Victoria’s lips with her own.
“It wasn’t just a show, I’d love to go out with you, Vic.”
They both giggled like school girls hidden under the bleachers, leaning in for another kiss. It was hot and heavy, yet slow and sweet. It was everything either girl had hoped for. 
And thanks to a certain Italian doofus, or 4, it would be momentarily put on pause. Mid-make out four loud knocks startled the girls, causing the two do them to pull away.
“Victoria! Daje! Perché non rispondi al telefono, eh? Stiamo aspettando- oh. This makes sense.“ Damiano burst through the door, Ethan and Thomas stood behind him with not-so-surprised looks painted on their faces.
“Realmente? Realmente, Damiano?” She scoffed. “Stai manzo!”
“Sorry, guys. Enjoy yourselves.” He turned over his shoulder to the rest, slowly shutting the door.
“Sicuro di dire che non verranno con noi.” He snickered, as did the others.
“Eccallà!” Ethan remarked, to which, not that Vic and Y/n knew, Thomas shoved him to the side.
Victoria sighed, returning to face Y/n.
“So. Where were we?”
♀~♀~♀
i hope yall liked that!! mwah make sure to reblog if u did <333 take care of urself!
translations 
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hanafubukki · 2 years
Note
Clock anon here! I was just wondering about the AU; logically, MC in this AU would be much more mature and knowledgeable than they were in the OG game. Like, they would already know how to deal with the Overblots and likely would also know their causes, and they would also already know the content that is being taught in class. Unless MC tries to hide their knowledge, I bet some more observant students like Azul for example would start to smell a rat.
[In reference to this AU]
Hello Clock Anon! ☺️🌸
Yes, as you say. MC would be much more mature and have knowledge on how to deal with problems they dealt with in the past. In my outline, MC had remembered the future after the Overblots had happened, so MC could not have used that knowledge to their advantage to stop it.
But imagine if they had gone back in time before the Overblots? That would be very advantageous and somewhat fun.
MC could talk Riddle about his problems. Feed him all the strawberry tarts.
Catch Ruggie in the act of hurting the other players, maybe even set up a trap for him. Honestly, I would spray Leona with water and then run for my life after telling him how stupid he is for thinking he can get away with it,
MC would not allow Ace, Deuce, and Grim to sign a contract with Azul. Would tell Riddle and then give Grim no tuna cans at all.
MC would force Jamil and Kalim in a get along shirt. lmao Kalim would probably have fun.
Rationally talk with Vil about his problems and misconceptions with Neige. Maybe Bonk Rook on the head because MC knows about the vote lol
Seeing as we don't know the reason Idia OBs, for now I will say that MC threatens him with his figures. lol Though we know it probably has something to do with Ortho, in that regard, family game night and pushing the meaning of family to him.
Malleus gets ALL the invites. This dragon is invited to Everything. He is also going to get invited to family game night. This dragon will be happy damnit.
One of the aspects that I enjoy about Time Travel AUs besides the fluff and angst potential is the shenanigans characters can get into. Don’t we all wish we can go back in time? Get that high score in the test? Stop ourselves from doing something or getting caught. It is just so much fun.
MC remembers the future wether it is before the overblots or after, there is so much potential to mess with the characters. but let’s focus on if it was before the OBs:
MC would stop Ace, Deuce, and Grim from being stupid and signing that contract. But because they also cherish their friends, they also help them study to get a high score. [Sometimes threatening them with Riddle to squeal on them; when the trio asks how MC knew, MC would smile at them evilly]
Not only that, but to mess with Azul a bit, they go around helping other students on the down low. with ways to get them a high score on the tests.
Suddenly, Azul doesn't have as many signers. lolol Azul is frustrated. [F!Azul is having mixed feelings]
For sure, MC would have to tone it down. Azul is suspicious and asking the twins to find out what is going on.
MC can stop Leona from hurting the players in chapter 2. Whoops, Trey was caught when he fell down. Princess carry anyone? [F!Trey is blushing and F!Leona is smirking lolol] 
Epel needing some time to himself? Rook suddenly lost track of him. What?? [F!Rook is having fun lolol]
They would at one point get suspicious. the commonality is always MC, but the problem is...would they be able to catch MC?
This was fun to imagine! Thank you Clock anon! ☺️☺️☺️👏👏👏
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doctorsiren · 2 years
Note
Been looking at your Jumbros au! It makes me really happy, just the thought of it puts a smile on my face 😁 With the au in mind though, I just couldn’t stop thinking of a mixture of them as well as an au with the seablings in the mix. Just the thought of Lizzie and her two “little” twin brothers is a cute idea to think about! ((Especially with the idea of her introducing them to someone, maybe Joel or something, and just telling them that they are her little brothers, despite the both lowkey/high key towering over her 😂)) With this originally coming from an au I saw from you though, I wanted to ask, what are your thoughts on this?
Yes that is indeed a canon part of Jumbros
**kind of**
You see, there’s two versions of Jumbros:
One where Jimmy was taken from the Jumbo family basically at birth and so his family is Delilah and Justin as his parents, and Grace, John, and Mumbo as his siblings
And the seablings one where Mumbo was also a fish [ hehe salmon >:) ] and was separated from both Jim’s egg and Liz, and then his egg was found by little kid Xisuma while he was in the Overworld with Alex and Doomguy. X asked if he could keep it so it would have a family, and Doomguy was like “lol why not” and so they take the egg back to the End, but wth it ain’t a fish that hatches; it’s a human?? And so x and Alex are like “poggers new baby bro” and Doomguy now has 3 kids and Xisuma named Mumbo bc that’s what he called the egg bc he thought it was a funny name
And then as the 3 of them grow up, Mumbo’s sad cuz he knows he different from his brothers cuz he’s not an Admin and doesn’t have wings. He doesn’t know that he’s a fish dude yet bc he’s never interacted with Overworld water before cuz it’s the End
Doomguy doesn’t tell Mumbo about him like, coming from a big fish egg or whatever bc he doesn’t want him to feel even more alienated than he already does, but DG and him bond over being “human” and not having wings (cuz technnicallyyyyy doomguy isn’t fully human either; it’s a whole thing haha)
But after DG dies and Alex and X fight, and Alex is banished, Mumbo is caught in the middle of it, and is dragged to the Overworld by Xisuma to start Hermitcraft. Once Mumbo is in the Overworld, he finally has interaction with water, and he finds out he’s a salmon dude, and he freaks the flip out ofc ofc
He doesn’t tell X at first bc he hates being different, and this just makes it worse
But eventually he tells Xisuma, and X is like “oh yeah dude, when i was a little kid, i found this egg by the ocean.”
And Mumbo’s like “??? You didn’t?? Tell?? Me??” And Xisuma’s like “Dad told us not to cuz he didn’t want you to feel way different”, to which Mumbo can understand
But X helps Mumbo feel better about the fish thing, which he still keeps a secret from the rest of the Hermits
Xisuma wants to help Mumbo find where he really came from, but it’s obvi super hard
Finally, in S7, Xisuma is able to find who he thinks is part of Mumbo’s family, and that’s Jimmy
Xisuma doesn’t tell Jimmy about him being Mumbo’s bro at first (basically just like the typical Jumbros AU), and so then he introduces them to each other, Jimmy has a blast visiting Hermitcraft and his buddies like Grian, and becomes pals with Mumbo
Then X tells them both the news, and Mumbo’s like “!pog!” And Jimmy’s like “!pog!” And Mumbo asks Jimmy about being a fish, and Jim’s like “heck yeah bro!” And he jumps into the water and he’s a cod :DDD
Mumbo’s like “!!Cool!!!” And he jumps in the water, and he turns into a salmon dude
Basically Jimmy’s face went from :D to D: cuz whoops his bro is the type of fish he hates
But he learns to live with it ig haha
And so then Jimmy tells Mumbo about their older sister, Lizzie, and Mumbo’s super hyped bc bro! More family! And he meets her and she’s elated to have another little bro
And Mumbo finds it cool that all three members of his new family (Jimmy, Lizzie, and his brother-in-law Joel) all know his bestie Grian
I saw a thing where Lizzie was mega tall, and I really like that, and I think it’s even funnier if she introduces her sibs to Joel, and they tower over HIM and he’s like “bruh everyone in this family here is taller than me HJKDHFGDJGJKHD”
Okay there’s also a version of Jumbros that’s a mixture of the two, where jimmy was taken from the Jumbos at birth, and Lizzie was also taken from the family, and then the memory of them was erased bc otherworldly beings find that funny for some reason, and then put them both in different families bc haha >:) bruhhh
And so mumbo grows up not knowing that he has other siblings other than Grace and John, and also he doesn’t know he’s a fish bc he didn’t show signs of being a Luca kinnie at first, and so his family assumed he wasn’t one (and then tried to not let him know about the fish thing bc they didn’t want him to feel alienated…hmm I’m sensing a pattern here)
Anyways, he goes to HC, blah blah still doesn’t know he is fish
S7, x learns from Biffa that Jimmy is Mumbo’s twin (he doesn’t know about Liz tho) and so he introduces Jim to Mumbo
All that jazz and such, they are told they’re bros, boom happy
Jimmy shows Mumbo that he’s a fish and Mumbo’s like “?!?!?!?!?!??!?!? WHAT???” And jimmy’s like “? Aren’t you? A fish?” And Mumbo’s like “lol no???” And so jimmy tells him to hop in to the ocean and just like, wait
So he does
And then like, an HOUR later, boom he turns into salmon boy
And jimmy’s like “dang bro 1. I hate salmon with a burning passion but ily bro, and 2. It took you a long time what haha” and the reason for that was because he had never done it before and he was like 24/25, and so he didn’t have the practice of it growing up
Jimmy and him bond some more and Jim returns to Empires, where he learns that Liz is his sister. He pops back to HC and borrows Mumbo to bring him to Empires to introduce him to Lizzie and yay fun family times :DDD
And then Mumbo goes to visit his parents and is like “?? BRUH I’M A FISH” and they’re all like “YOOO finally!” And he’s like “huh?” And they all show him that they’re also Luca kinnies and he’s slightly mad that they didn’t think to like, tell him this important fact, but hey, what’s an AU without a poorly explained plot hole?
I…I didn’t mean for this post to be this long…but
But yeah
Lizzie :D
I need to draw some wholesome older sister moments :oOooOoOOOO:
OKAYALSO THE FIRST VERSION OF THE FISH EDITION OF JUMBROS IS ALSO GREAT BECAUSE DOOMGUY IS MUMBO’S DAD AND WE GET MUMBO IN THE DOOM ARMOUR AND I JUST FIND THE MENTAL IMAGE OF THAT VERY CHARMING WAHHHHH
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mypoisonedvine · 3 years
Text
Seeing Red | bodyguard!Bucky Barnes x actress!reader (part 8)
(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4) (part 5) (part 6) (part 7)
series summary: bucky used to brag that he didn’t have a celebrity crush, or really care about famous people at all, which is what made him the perfect person to start working for a celebrity like yourself.  except, of course, it’s just his luck that he’d fall for you.
word count: 3k
warnings: smut (semi-public sex), possessiveness (some sexual, some not), jealousy, some fluff and some angst, also some violence (including a very small amount against the reader, proceed with caution), mentions of infidelity in a previous relationship
a/n: oh y’all thought it was gonna be smooth sailing from here on out? lol
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You didn’t want to abandon Bucky to do carpetside interviews, but he refused to get anywhere near a hot mic so you let him go while you walked over to a reporter you recognized; she’d been nice before, probably would be again this time, so you were a little relieved to see her tonight.
She introduced you to the camera and you were slightly spaced out until she turned to you and got your attention again.  “So, you’ve been making a lot of headlines lately for your new relationship— what’s the scoop?  How’s it going?” she asked playfully, pushing the microphone into your face.
“Uh, great,” you breamed, “he’s my date tonight and he seems to have disappeared to…” you turned around to look for him.  “Oh, he’s talking to... is that... Laurence Fishburne?”
“James, is that his name?” she prompted, making you focus your attention back on the interview.
“Um, yeah,” you nodded, the name sounding a bit foreign, “legally, but he goes mostly by his nickname Bucky.”
“Aw, that’s cute,” she smiled.  “He’s, uh…” her eyes widened a bit and you laughed.
“Yeah, he is,” you smirked.  “I assume by that facial expression you mean ‘crazy hot.’”
“I mean, in the politest way possible… yeah,” she giggled.
“Yeah, no, don’t pretend not to notice for my sake, cause, yeah, it’s… apparent.”
“Apparently he was your driver first?” she pressed.
“Yes!” you beamed, and then heard the way it sounded and backpedaled slightly.  “I promise that’s not why I hired him.  I actually didn’t meet him before he was on my team, but, I mean, I wasn’t mad to have some eye candy in the front seat.”
“Eye candy, huh?”
“But he’s so much more than that, that’s the thing,” you explained.  “We became good friends first, because he’s so smart and funny and kind and… I mean, I know he looks tough, and he is, but he’s really very sensitive underneath the slightly intimidating exterior.”
“Hard shell, soft center, sweet— he really does sound like candy!”
“Indeed,” you nodded.  “Gotta run but it was nice to chat!”
You dashed over to Bucky and clung onto his arm.  “Oh, hey, we were just talking about you,” he beamed.
“Loved you in After Midnight,” Mr. Fishburne smiled and even you were totally starstruck.
“Oh, wow, thanks, I loved you in… everything…” you trailed off, internally scolding yourself for the vague and useless compliment.  He was about to respond but was pulled away by some member of his team, giving you and Bucky a quick wave as he began a carpet-side interview.
“That was Laurence Fishburne, wasn’t it.” Bucky mumbled to you in a stunned monotone.  
“Yes, what were you doing talking to him?” you asked, amazed at his bravery to approach such a huge star.
“He came up to me, to congratulate me on… on dating you, I guess…”
“Or he mixed you up with Brad Pitt,” you shrugged.
“Yeah, if Brad Pitt lost all his money, spent a decade in the desert, went loco and buzzed all his hair off,” Bucky rolled his eyes.
“Oh come on, you look great,” you soothed him, straightening his tie.  “Wanna go take some pictures?”
“I’m a little scared,” he admitted with a shy smile.
“It’s easy, just give them that sexy brooding look you do so well.”
Bucky smirked pridefully.  “You think so?”
“Totally.  You’re a natural,” you assured.
You tugged his arm and guided him to the carpet, letting him lead the way (or look like he was leading the way) as you found a clear spot and noticed how the cameras instantly flashed faster and brighter.  Photographers called your name to get your attention, and you waved and smiled and pulled Bucky closer.  The feeling of his arm around your waist was warm and comforting, and you hoped holding you had the same effect for him.
“Where are you looking?” you asked.
“At you,” he answered.
“Bucky,” you giggled, “you’re supposed to look at the cameras!”
“I honestly can’t, it’s blinding,” he frowned.
“Here,” you sighed, pointing out into the darkness just above the sea of flashing lights.  “Look out there.”
“I can’t see anything!”
“I know, but, look as if there was something there to look at, trust me, it helps.”
You adjusted slightly a few times, turning a little to show off the low back of your dress.  You almost gasped when Bucky held your face and kissed you suddenly, but you were happy to melt into it even as you heard the cameras flash even more aggressively, some whoops and hollers coming from the crowd on and off the carpet.
He pulled back and you wanted to chase him for more but you realized it wasn’t the right time.  
“Let’s go inside,” you offered, guiding him the rest of the way down the carpet— mainly because you were afraid you’d end up jumping his bones right here in front of everyone.
He nodded and followed close by, arm resting on your shoulder the whole time, and just as you saw one of your friends and thought you might want to go over and introduce her to Bucky, you saw who she was talking to.
Sam.  
Seeing him always made your heart stop.  At first, it was because you were starstruck by him, in awe of his talent, amazed that you were going to be working with someone you admired so much.  Then it was because you had fallen for him and he had gladly swept you off your feet, bringing you into a whirlwind romance that at the time had felt like the only thing that mattered.  But since the break-up, and now, it was something else.  Fear wasn’t the word, it’s not like you were afraid of him in a literal sense, but there was this anxiety, this tenseness to seeing him.  It always brought back memories— the best and the worst, all at once.  Nights laughing together, sharing secrets, stealing glances and touches and kisses; nights spent alone staring at a phone that never rang.  Limbs tangled together between the sheets, that warm brown skin encompassing and surrounding yours; laying side by side in a bed that isn’t empty but is still plenty cold, seeing the way he angles his phone away from you and wishing you had the strength to just leave because you already knew what he was doing.  The first time you said ‘I love you.’  The first time he said ‘it won’t happen again.’
“You alright?” Bucky asked, tearing you from your thoughts.  You looked away and met Bucky’s gaze, hoping he either hadn’t seen your ex or at least hadn’t recognized him.  
“Yeah, I’m great,” you answered quickly, “let’s go get some drinks maybe?  And then I need to show you off to some people.”
“Show me off?” he scoffed.
“Yeah, why did you think I brought you here, really?” you winked.
“Hey, if we’re showing each other off, does that mean you’ll come to my next high school reunion?”
//
You’d been antsy ever since the two of you had come inside; it was obvious from the way you were clinging so much closer to him, and yet it was clear that your mind was a million miles away.
“Hey, it’s starting to wrap up, wanna head out soon?” you asked, trying to act casual, but he saw the way your eyes were darting up to where Sam Wilson was mingling and he knew it wasn’t about getting home early.  Did you really think he wouldn’t notice that you’d seen him?
“Whatever you wanna do,” he shrugged.
“Okay, could you bring the car around for me then?  And I’ll meet you outside?” you offered.  “I should say hi and bye to a few people.”
“Sure,” he agreed, starting to walk away after giving you a quick kiss on the cheek.
And he really did try to do what he said he was going to, but the further away he walked, the more he glanced back to watch you walk across the room, the harder it was to just let it go.  He knew you were going to talk to him, and before he really even decided to do anything about it he found himself circling back around the room, following you.  
He thought he’d lost you when he turned a corner and you were gone, but then he heard voices from a doorway and cracked it open slightly to see you inside with a few other people, nobody he recognized although one of them he’d definitely seen in something before.
He sighed with relief, about to turn and go get the car like he said he would, but then Sam Wilson just had to magically materialize out of thin air as he stepped up behind you and tapped your shoulder.
“Sam!” you blurted out, spinning to face him with wide eyes.
“Hey,” he greeted, acting all suave and shit, making Bucky’s blood boil.  “You look great.”
“Oh, thanks,” you mumbled, “you too.”
“You’ve been all over the internet lately, making quite the splash,” he recalled with a contemplative nod.  “You and this new boytoy you’ve got.”
“I think the word you’re looking for is boyfriend,” you corrected sternly.  
“Honey,” he scoffed as he rolled his eyes.  Bucky couldn’t decide if it was worse to hear him call you a pet name in earnest or with the derogatory tone that he currently had.  “Everybody knows you go through these guys like potato chips.  Especially when they’re not famous— how many PAs did you hook up with on your last set, huh?”
“I don’t roll like that anymore,” you denied.
“That’s not what Jake Friedman says,” Sam smirked.  It actually took Bucky a moment to remember that that was the guy you’d… entertained in the backseat of your car, or maybe it was more that he had entertained you; you seemed to tense up when Sam mentioned him, as did Bucky.  “I mean, sure, he’s not crew, but he’s not famous the way you are.  The way we are.  And neither is your new guy.  He doesn’t ‘get it’, does he?  He doesn’t get what it’s like.  Has he already started freaking out about all the hate online?”
Bucky regretted that he’d ever said anything about that; if he’d known it would come around to prove Sam Wilson right about something, he wouldn’t have done it.  “No,” you lied.
“Well, he will,” Sam assured you, stepping a little closer to you and letting his fingers languidly brush over your arm.  “I made a mistake before, letting you go.”
“Damn right,” you hissed as you pulled away from him.
“But I realized that, and now I’m wondering why we aren’t giving the people what they want.”
“That’s what I never understood about you,” you frowned.  “It’s always about other people with you.  It’s never about you, and it was never about me.”
“But it is about you,” he explained, “and me: us.  You’re forgetting how good we were together.”
You shook your head.  “I was single for years and you never called.  Now you’re all over me with all these regrets about ending it?  Get a grip, Sam.  This is about you wanting what you can’t have.”
“Can’t have?” he repeated incredulously.  “Baby,” he purred— and Bucky decided it was definitely worse to hear him call you that in earnest.  “You know you’re always gonna be mine.”
As you started to shiver, Sam’s arms slipping around your back and grabbing your waist, Bucky felt like he had lost control of his body.  He was watching himself from far away as he stormed across the room, nearly knocking a few people over on the way, and shoved Sam off of you and onto the ground.
“Bucky!” you yelped.  “Bucky, stop!”
“You’d better watch your hands, Wilson, before they get somewhere they’re not supposed to be,” Bucky growled, ignoring you completely even as you helplessly tugged at his suit.  
“Jesus,” Sam spat, “the fuck is wrong with you?”
“What are you doing?” you asked Bucky, irate and confused as you stared up at him with a furrowed brow.  He grabbed your hand and guided you out of the room and down the hall, barely managing to drag you into a random bathroom before he started tearing at your dress, leaving rough bites and kisses down your neck as you gasped and moaned softly.  
“Mine,” he mumbled against your skin, “all mine.  Did you forget?”
“No,” you sighed, “I could never…”
“That’s not what it looked like,” he sneered, hiking up your long skirt to run his fingers over your skin and expose the delicate, lacy panties you were wearing. 
“Bucky, please,” you sighed, rubbing your hips up against his leg, riding his thigh shamelessly.
“What’s got you so worked up, baby?  Is it me, or him?” he asked darkly.
“You, baby, just you, nobody else— I’m yours,” you assured him feverishly, “I’m all yours, please, I need you.”
“Yeah?” he breathed, fumbling with his belt and fly as he pulled his growing cock from his suit pants.  “You need it that bad?”
“Please,” you sobbed, “fuck me.”
He pulled your underwear aside and quickly shoved into you, groaning at the feeling of your walls stretching to welcome him.  “Fuck, angel, so tight,” he sighed, knowing how much little praises drove you crazy.
“Bucky,” you sighed, “oh my god… harder, please— n-need you deeper…”
His hips moved back only to slam back against yours, making you whimper; he smiled when he felt your leg wrap around his waist and try to hold him inside, but he couldn’t slow down now, not when he needed this so bad.
He sucked on your neck as he kept thrusting into you, your wetness coating his cock so thoroughly that he slid right home every time.  It was clear that he was hitting your g-spot from how you moaned with each thrust, your spongy channel pulsing and tightening in rhythmic patterns.
Overcome with the need to assert his, for lack of a better word, ownership over you, he found himself reaching up to hold your throat— not quite in the way to choke you, just to remind you that he could, if he wanted to.
“Did he ever make you come like this?” he asked with a gravelly whisper, lips right against your ear as he tightened his hand around your neck slightly.
“No,” you shook your head, “nobody has.”
“Nobody’s ever loved you this good but me, is that it?  Nobody else has ever fucked you like this?”
“Just you, Bucky, please don’t stop— I’m so close…”
“Do you think they can hear you out in the hallway?  Say my name when you come, princess, just in case they can— I want them to know who’s making you feel this good.”
“Bucky,” you whined, chanting it over and over with a few ‘yes’s and ‘fuck’s interspersed occasionally.  He thrusted faster and harder as he felt his own orgasm building; he needed to come inside you and claim you again, mark you as his one more time, and the flexing of your walls was only egging him on.
“I know you’re close, baby, just let go,” he whispered against your ear, “come for me, just like that, you’re doing so good— fuck, so good for me…”
You whimpered and clutched at his shoulders, a gush of wetness and a final, strong tightening of your inner muscles signaling that you’d reached your peak.  He couldn’t hold back any longer when he saw (and felt) that, groaning as he began to release thick streams of come into you.
The absolute second your afterglow began to fade, you pushed him off of you and grimaced as you adjusted your panties and dress.  "The fuck is wrong with you?"
"Wh— what?" he stammered, breathless and confused.  "What did I do?  Was I not supposed to come inside?"
You gaped at him in shock.  "Do you really not realize what you did?  Bucky, you assaulted my ex-boyfriend."
"I— he'll be fine," he dismissed, "he was putting his hands on you, what was I supposed to do, just let him do it?"
"You were supposed to let me handle it," you hissed.  "You were supposed to be pulling the car around and not spying on me!"
"Spying?!  I was protecting you."
"You shoved him hard enough to knock him over, Bucky, that's not okay."
"Hold on," he shook his head in disbelief, "so you're mad at me, when we just had sex?!  Why didn't you say something before?"
"Just cause it's hot doesn't mean it's okay," you explained, a little embarrassed.
"Tell me something," he frowned, "what is this—" he motioned to the space between the two of you— "to you?  Cause it kinda seems like I think we're boyfriend and girlfriend, and you think—"
"What?  What do I think?" you challenged.  "Go ahead, tell me."
"You think it's just a sex thing."
"Oh my god," you rolled your eyes.
"Well, what am I supposed to think when you get off on me dealing with your ex, and then tell me it's this big terrible thing?"
A sick idea clawed its way out of the back of Bucky's mind: was Sam right about her?  Was Sam right about us?
You crossed your arms and huffed, but didn't respond.
"Was everything that just happened just a fuckin' kink for you or something?  Cause I meant every goddamn word," he growled.
You sighed, like you weren't taking it seriously— like you weren't taking him seriously.  His fist tightened at his side involuntarily.  He'd never felt so used, so ignored; or, at least, he never expected it from you.  "We'll talk about this later," you dismissed quickly.  "Let's just go back there and put on a happy face, okay?"
"Oh, so you can let another guy feel you up?  Sounds like a fucking blast," he hissed.
"Fuck you," you snarled as you pushed him aside to leave the bathroom.
He didn't remember grabbing you, he didn't remember twisting your arm as he pulled you back.  He didn't remember you crying out, trying to wrench yourself away, clawing at his grip on you.  All he remembered was you looking up at him with watery eyes, expression twisted in fear.
"Bucky, you're hurting me," you whimpered weakly, and only then did he notice his metal hand was holding your wrist.  When he let go, he already saw a mark forming in the shape of his hand as you grabbed your freed wrist to rub the damaged flesh.
"I'm sorry—" he began to whisper, but you were already gone.
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Text
ouija board
in which it gets out of hand. . . but only a little
warnings: v spooky
(heads up this one’s kinda long, whoops lol)
(@qoinq-qhost u were looking for more danny being a lil shit? vvvv)
Sam was just about ready to get the seance rolling.  Thundery and weeping outside, candlelight inside - it seemed like a good night for it.  This time around, there were four of them: her, of course; Felicity, from third-hour, had brought the board; her bestie Star (who Sam had almost uninvited, as she hadn't been deemed goth enough, but she owed Felicity a favour and letting this slip was it); and Star's boyfriend-of-the-week, Jake (also not goth, and very much on thin ice).
They sat clustered together on the full-moon rug in Sam's room, a jumbo bag of Chex Mix forgotten on the floor by Jake's backpack.  Only the little brown bits were left.  "You're host," Felicity was saying, scooting up into a proper cross-legged sitting position and centering the board on the carpet between them.  She produced the most important piece - the polished wooden planchet - and dropped it into Sam's waiting palm.  "You start."
Star opened her mouth, almost thought better of it, and then asked, "Are we going to get a demon?"
"That's not how this works," said Felicity, shooting Sam a look to keep her quiet.  Felicity had the tolerance for questions like those, and the patience not to be cross.  "We're not summoning demons.  We're communing with the dead.  There's a difference."
"Is it still going to be scary?"
Sam bit her tongue.  With luck, it would be, and she wouldn't have to deal with Star's antics next time, whether they were at her house or not.
"I don't know," said Felicity, "Maybe.  We've never done one at this house before.  We might not get a ghost at all."
Sam shrugged, setting the puck down in the center of the board and keeping her first two fingers on it.  The others scooted closer, getting comfortable, and followed suit.  The candleflames throughout the room were perfectly still.
"Is there anyone here with us tonight?"
For a moment: nothing.  She glanced up into the empty air, as if she could spot a slinking shadow on the wall or a flickering shape hovering by the ceiling.  She couldn't, even though she wanted to.
Then the slight pull of the token under their collective fingers, and the drawn scraping sound as it crawled slowly across the board: YES.
So they weren't going to come up empty tonight.  She glanced over at Star, wondering how intense things would get before she'd bail.  Sam was certain that, at some point, she would, or maybe she was getting her hopes up.  Star didn't exactly look like goth material.  All things considered, this was probably the wrong scene for her.
But she had owed Felicity that favour.
"Why are you here, spirit?" Felicity asked, shifting a little in place.  Right to the point.
The planchet under their fingers was still.  Sam knew the rules better than anyone: if the ghost chose to answer, it would have to tell the truth.
The ghost chose not to.
Star's eyes darted to Felicity, but there was a hesitation before she spoke.  When she did, the words were wrung-out and barely there.  "Ask him if he's friendly."
"You ask him," said Jake, nudging her with an elbow.  Between the four of them, he was the least invested in the endeavor, seeming more bored than anything.  He shrugged, trying to scoot his letter jacket a little higher on his shoulders without having to take his fingers off the puck.  The jacket refused.
"Okay."  Star took a deep breath, turning her eyes back to the board.  The planchet, for the time being, rested on YES.  "Ghost," she said, somewhat uncomfortable at directly addressing the dead, "Do you mean us harm?"
Immediately, she could feel the wooden puck go cold under her touch.  It slid off YES, veered partway across the board, and went still again.  The chill at her fingertips vanished.
"Don't like the looks of that," muttered Felicity.  "Sam, you think we should call this one off?"
Sam gave it a moment of consideration.  "I don't know.  Maybe, but not yet.  Let me try once."  She cleared her throat.  "Spirit - will you tell us your name?"
The planchet didn't have to think about it this time.  Star could feel the cold tingling in her fingers again as it moved, slowly but deliberately, and spelled out: JAMES.  She frowned.
"What's your purpose here, James?" Felicity ventured, but the ghost revealed nothing.  The silence stretched on; finally, she sighed.  "Doesn't like me much, does he?"
"I don't know," said Star, which she thought sounded better than a flat-out no.  It didn't do any good; Felicity was already looking a little put-out, and Star reached up with her free hand and patted her on the shoulder.  "Don't feel bad.  We still like you plenty, even if that silly ghost doesn't."
Sam fought back a groan of distaste.  Whatever Felicity saw in Star, Sam was seeing none of it.  She wanted to tune Star out, didn't want to see her so distracted as if communing with the dead was a mere game.
If things started to hit the fan, Sam was sure she'd never want to come again.  In fact, she was starting to count on it.
But would provoking the ghost be worth it?  "James," she said, still contemplating it, "Why are you here?  What is it you're seeking?"
The puck meandered for a moment, as if conflicted.  It rested on the empty part of the board between F and S, turned around, and aimed mostly toward H.
That was when Star jerked her hand back, as if the planchet had burned her.  All of a sudden she seemed to be paying attention; Sam wondered if she had finally realized what, exactly, they were dealing with.  Whether she did or not, it was too late.  She'd disrupted the connection.
Sam had never seen it, but she'd heard the stories of what happened at sessions when someone did that.
Every single candle around the room went out at once.
"Star, what the hell," said Felicity, "Remember how earlier I said you couldn't do that - "
Star's already-high-pitched voice was pinched.  "Sorry, sorry!  It's just it got cold all of a sudden, I thought he wanted me to - "
Sam scowled in the dark.  "What are you talking about, no it didn't - "
"It did so!  Just now!"
"Oh for fuck's sake, I knew we shouldn't have invited you - "
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
The flash of lightning through the window made the ghost into a spindly and angular silhouette, floating in the air by the glass and jolting Star and Sam both out of their argument.  The planchet on the board, still under six fingers but by now forgotten, shot out from under them and flew across the room, bouncing off the side of the desk and skittering somewhere under the bed.
Oh, it was hitting the fan now, all right.  "This is your fault," Sam hissed through her teeth, glowering in Star's direction, but already her mind was racing to find a way to appease the disturbed spirit.  She'd held plenty of seances before, but generally found audience with lesser or fragmented dead.  Only twice had she been forced to close a session early.
Never had she met such an angry spirit before - and not only was it angry, it was in her room.
"Ideas," Felicity snapped, in an effort to keep Sam from boiling over, and in the same effort to keep Star from tears, "What do we do?"
"Run, maybe?" said Jake, but the sharp and thunderous BANG from the walls around them cut him off.  His eyes darted to the door, but it slammed itself shut before he could get up to his feet and make his escape.
"Hold on a sec, guys," said Sam, "Jake, sit down, we're not done yet - hang on, I said!  I got a flashlight."  She groped for her backpack, brushed over one of eight plushy spider feet, and yanked it unceremoniously into her lap.  Half-unzipping it, she produced the promised flashlight and clicked it once, twice, a handful of times in quick succession as nothing happened.  "Shit.  Shit shit shit - "
"There," Star whispered, her eyes fixed on the shadowy side of the room behind the bed.  She pointed with one manicured finger, making the rest of them turn to look.
The ghost was only there for an instant, hanging in the air as a smoky and ill-defined shadow against the hazy grey light from the window, but flickered away an instant later.  The pounding rain outside almost masked the haunt's staticky and echoing laughter.
Felicity put a hand over Sam's and tried not to squeeze it too hard.  Her fingernails dug in a little anyhow.  "Do you think we can still close this out?"  She didn't sound too hopeful.
"No," said Star, with a sudden and bone-chilling certainty.  "He's staying."
Sam looked over at her, agape.  How can you know that? she wanted to say, but her mouth had gone dry and she couldn't force it to move.  Star's eyes were on her; just for a moment, Sam swore there was a glint of something behind their usual blue-grey, but it was there and gone before she could be sure.
"We're staying," she said again, and this time Sam heard the echo in it, and this time the glint of green in her eyes lingered.  The ghost had her, appearing as a dark and swaying wisp in the air behind her, hands on her shoulders, keeping her still and calm.  Her eyes - the ghost's seyes - were on Sam, and a sudden, absurd thought struck her:
Isn't James his middle name?
The knot of rising terror in Sam's gut broke, and cold tingling relief poured over her.  For a moment she let it, willing the adrenaline to fade and the pounding heartbeat in her ears to settle, and then shifted gears.
That sonofabitch, I'll kill him for this one.
"No, you're not."
Star's head and the shadow's head cocked to one side in unison.  "No?"
Sam was locked on the spirit but her voice was directed at Felicity (and Jake, but to a lesser extent).  "Come here."
Felicity hesitated.  "What, are you serious - ?"
"Come here," Sam snapped, setting her first two fingers on the center of the board, ignoring the fact that the planchet was still misplaced somewhere under the bed.
"I don't like this," Felicity whispered, but followed Sam's lead regardless.
Star's fingers came out and rested gingerly on top, and Sam was certain that, underneath the veneer of shadows, the ghost was smiling.
"You listen to me, James," Sam commanded, with a seriousness that made Felicity and Jake both flinch, "You'd better get out of here."
Star's mouth turned up in a smile.  "And why's that?"
"Because if you don't, I'll banish you into next week."
"Sam," Felicity breathed, "I don't think that's such a good idea - "
"I'll do it," Sam reiterated, cutting Felicity off.
The smils on Star's face widened.  "Promise?"
Then the fingers on the board were moving, overcome by a pins-and-needles sensation that turned the board to static beneath them, and came to rest solidly over GOOD-BYE.
"See you then. . . "
Sam looked over and Star looked back at her with those big blue eyes.  She didn't seem distraught but Sam had to wonder how much of what had happened she'd remember.  She'd heard on several occasions that those puppeteered by the dead didn't tend to recall the influence, and Star wasn't horribly upset.
Still - she felt that ghost had crossed a line somewhere.  Crashing a seance, fine.  Overshadowing at said seance, even if he'd picked the least-favourite attendee?
That didn't sit right.
"You okay, Star?"
Star blinked once, twice, then cocked her head to one side and smiled.  "Of course I'm okay," she said, as if she hadn't been overshadowed at all, but the next thing out of her mouth, spoken with the utmost certainty, sent a chill down Sam's spine.
"He wasn't really going to hurt me, you know.  He let you win."
- - - -
Sam shut the door as the others left and then rounded on the ghost.  "I know you're still here.  There's no way you'd dip after a stunt like that."
(Damn right I wouldn't) said the shadowy thing under the bed, hauling himself out of the darkness a moment later.  In the light from the ceiling fixture overhead, the shadows fell apart, relenting to his more human texture and shape, and he shook the dustbunnies off once he got up to his feet.  In his hand was the forgotten token that went with Felicity's board, and he held it out to her.  "This is yours?"
Sam grabbed it from him, and only then did he get the impression that she wasn't entirely happy with him.  "You could have given me a heads-up, y'know."
"Hey, I was in the area, thought you could use a hand.  For goth cool points, or whatever."  Danny shrugged, leaning back and half-sitting on the side of the bed.  "I mean they do think you can scare off a real ghost now."
"And what the hell was with you overshadowing Star?" Sam went on, and at last the dopish grin at the corner of Danny's mouth vanished.  "So, okay, maybe I didn't want her to come.  But that doesn't mean you get to - "
"Wait, wait, hold on," Danny put a hand up in concession, "I didn't - well, I mean I did, but.  Listen for a sec, okay?  You don't like her, fine.  But I think something's up."
"Something's up," said Sam, nonplussed.  She crossed her arms, leaning back slightly in the desk chair and making it creak.  "You overshadowing people as a joke is what.  And whatever you were telling her in there, guess what  She remembers it now."
"That's what's up," said Danny impatiently, "I didn't tell her anything."
That made Sam pause.  "What?"
"You heard me.  But that's not it, let me say something else too.  I swear I'm not making this up: she saw me the second I drifted in the window.  I'm invisible and she's looking right at me.  The whole time.  It was like she was watching me."
"Bullshit," said Sam, wanting to believe it was.
Danny shook his head.  "You heard what she said.  After you banished me into next week."
"That you let me win," Sam recalled slowly.  In the moment, it had struck her as dumb-chills naivety on Star's part, but the way that Danny talked made it sound like she was serious.  Perhaps she'd just wanted to think that Star was that stupid.
"She knew it, and I didn't tell her.  I'm dead serious, Sam, she practically invited me to overshadow her.  I didn't even have to go all the way in her.  You saw it."
Sam had most definitely seen it.  "And what does this mean for the rest of us?  Or for you?  You're gonna tell me - what, she's going to miraculously guess you're half-ghost too?"
"I don't know - but you saw her the same as I did.  She wasn't scared of me.  Hell, I gave you guys a name and she was the one that didn't call me by it.  Like she knew it wasn't quite right."
"I get it," said Sam, thinking that maybe she would have been just as well off not calling him that either, "But what are we supposed to do about it?  Are you saying we should invite her onto the team?  Or what?"
Danny sighed, running a hand through his hair and letting it come to rest on the back of his neck.  He shrugged helplessly, his gaze picking out dustbunnies and imperfections in the floorboards at his feet.  "I don't know yet.  Keep an eye on her, maybe.  See if she starts saying things.  She's not as stupid as she looks, Sam.  Low bar, I know, but the last thing I need right now is somebody else to have to watch out for.  I know you don't like her.  I'm not asking you to."
He met her eyes then,  and the earnestness in them struck her.
"Just, don't let that put her in the way, okay?"
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