#*GRIPS YOU IN MY SKELETON WITCH HANDS*

[fatestouch]

me @ @sansloii rn

#ooc;; #I AM WORKING. AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS (HOME) #AND YOU DO THIS #YOU!!! #*GRIPS YOU IN MY SKELETON WITCH HANDS*

[art-that-fucks-you-up-tournament]

Behold, a bracket!

Text form below the cut because trying to copy all the 256 into the alt text sounded.... horrifying. Warning for 128 matchups, seriously, this list is long, and so I've avoided adding the artists until the polls.

a note: the pinned post has started misbehaving, so only open polls will be directly linked. closed polls instead have the results page linked in the set header, all the polls are linked from there

Set 1

The Lament for Icarus (Miao He) vs The Lament for Icarus (Herbert Draper)

The angel came to me in a fever hallucination, perched upon my bed as I returned from the bathroom. vs Sweet Brown Snail

Figures vs A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery

Happy Shoppers vs Hubble Deep Field

Lovers Painting vs Bath Curtain

Dr. Helen Taussig vs Une Martyre

Orangoutang étranglant un sauvage de Bornéo (Orangutan strangling a Borneo savage) vs Can’t Help Myself

Rape vs Technicolor Hiroshima

Set 2

A Walk at Dusk vs Based on “Autoportrait with the Model” by Maria-Rayevska Ivanova

Diary Page vs Les Jours Gigantesques (The Titanic Days)

Dead of Night vs You Won't

Christina's World vs Bobby

Untitled (I’m Turning Into A Specter Before Your Very Eyes And I’m Going To Haunt You) vs Two Sisters (On the Terrace)

Sharecropper vs Lustmord

The Parca and the Angel of Death vs Untitled (Zdzisław Beksiński)

Stress vs The Fallen Angel

Set 3

Device to Root Out Evil vs Travelling Light

Diana vs Fifty Days at Iliam: The Fire that Consumes All before It

The Plains, from Memory vs Exotic Bodies

Doubting Thomas vs Self-Portrait in the Bathroom Mirror

Empty Nest vs Somebody Fell From Aloft

Anguish vs If I Died

Cat in Obsolete Bath vs You're Not Boring Anymore

Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World) vs Untitled (billboard of an empty unmade bed)

Set 4

There Will Be No Miracles Here vs Symphony of the Sixth Blast Furnace

Fox Hunt vs Tarpaulin

Khajuraho Group of Monuments vs Ranakpur Jain Temple

ปราสาทสัจธรรม (The Sanctuary of Truth) vs Grande Panorama de Lisboa

Heroic Head of Pierre de Wissant, One of the Burghers of Calais vs The Weather

The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit vs If this is art

Statue of Vincent and Theo van Gogh vs Jeanne d’Arc écoutant les voix (Joan of Arc listening to the Voices)

Fountain vs Judith Slaying Holofernes

Set 5

Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands) vs Cave of El Castillo

Chauvet Cave Bear vs Uffington White Horse

Laocoön and His Sons vs Winged Victory of Samothrace

Crouching Aphrodite vs Statue of Taweret

Guardian Figure vs Kūya-Shonin (Saint Kuya)

Ancient Greek doll vs Arena #7 (Bears)

Enbu (炎舞) (Dancing in the Flames) vs Yearning Shadows

Belfast to Byzantium vs Freedom

Set 6

The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayan vs Portraits

The Blood Mirror vs Nighthawks

Electric Fan (Feel it Motherfuckers): Only Unclaimed Item from the Stephen Earabino Estate vs "Untitled" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)

Lady Agnew of Lochnaw vs Forgotten Dreams

Saint Bride vs Pixeles (a group of 9 works)

War Pieta vs The Sunset

The Handmaidens of Sivawara Preparing the Sacred Bull at Tanjore for a Festival vs Ajax and Cassandra

Nāve (Death) vs Abstraction

Set 7

Yes vs Meeting on the Turret Stair

Hacked to Death II vs Stańczyk

Closeness Lines Over Time vs Voice of Fire

The Maple Trees at Mama, the Tekona Shrine and Tsugihashi Bridge vs Portrait of Sir Thomas More

Survival Series: In a Dream You Saw a Way vs Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre

Death blowing bubbles vs The Kitchen Table Series

Painting 1946 vs In the Grip of Winter

Untitled (Black and Gray) vs NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt

Set 8

Blue Plate Special vs Red Cedar

Palace of Fine Arts vs Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba

Le Château des Pyrénées (The Castle of the Pyrenees) vs Susanna and the Elders, Restored - X-Ray

Moby Dick vs Viva la Vida, Watermelons

Venus Envy Chapter One (Of the First Holy Communion Moments Before the End) vs how to look at art

St. Sebastian vs Untitled #12

Carroña vs The invincible one

Untitled (Two Dogs) vs The Dog

SECOND HALF

Set 9

David (Donatello) vs David (Michelangelo)

The Other Side vs The Temptation of St. Jerome

Seated Woman with Bent Knees vs Starry Night

Headdress - Shadae vs Untitled for the Image Flow's Queer Conscience exhibit

Woman with Dead Child (Frau mit totem Kind) vs Les Amants (The Lovers)

Siroče na majčinom grobu (Orphan on Mother's Grave) vs You Make My World a Better Place to Find

Fighting Against SARS Memorial Architectural Scene (弘揚抗疫精神建築景觀) vs Fallingwater

Resting vs The Hull

Set 10

Olive Trees vs Worship

Glow vs Wheatfield with Crows

Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X vs Untitled (He Plays Very Badly)

D.I.Y. by John Wiswell vs The Tragedy

Judith and the Head of Holofernes vs Beethovenfries (Beethoven Frieze)

The Memory of Me (How Could I Forget) vs oh god i had a really big epiphany about love and personhood but i’m too drunk for words

I am happy because everyone loves me vs 瀕危形態 (Endangered Forms)

Three Scaffolders vs Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan

Set 11

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk vs Water-Lilies, Reflection of a Weeping Willow

The Grief of the Pasha vs Monolith in Vigeland Sculpture Park

Passion vs Space Diner

Hamlet and Ophelia vs Two Earthlings

Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth vs Seer Bonnets

Photograph from "SNAP OSAKA" Collection vs Clytemnestra after the Murder

“Untitled” (Perfect Lovers) vs The Lovers (TIE)

Kedai Ubat Jenun vs Orange Store Front

Set 12

The Apotheosis of War vs Portrait of the Dancer Aleksandr Sakharov

Julie Manet vs Mouth

The Icebergs vs Kaleidoscope Cats III

Maman vs Caza Nocturna (Night Hunt)

The Book of Kells Folio 188r: Luke carpet page vs Ardagh Chalice

Yusuf and Zulaikha vs Dome of the Rock mosaics

Rowan Leaves and Hole vs Untitled (prisonhannibal)

Le Désespéré (The Desperate Man) vs The Dedication

Set 13

Deimos vs Dog and Bridge

The Mocking of Christ vs Prudence

The Broken Column vs Siberian Ice Maiden shoulder tattoo

Transi de René de Chalon (Cadaver Tomb of René of Chalon) vs Head of Christ

The Day vs Spirit of Haida Gwaii

Eleanor Boathouse at Park 571 vs Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন (National Parliament House)

Juventud de Baco (Bacchus Youth) vs Barges on the Seine

Oath of the Horattii closeup vs Visit hos Excentrisk Dam (Visit to an eccentric lady)

Set 14

Christ Crucified (With Donor) vs St. Francis

Thunder Raining Poison vs Piazza d'Italia

The Grove vs Among the Waves

Pintura Mural de Alarcón vs Sagrada Família stained-glass windows

Noonday Heat vs La Dame à la licorne (The Lady and The Unicorn)

Matroser i Gröna Lund (Sailors in Gröna Lund) vs Gielda Plakatu

Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks vs The Garden of Earthly Delights

Kuoleman puutarha (The Garden of Death) vs Haavoittunut enkeli (The Wounded Angel)

Set 15

i've wasted a lifetime pretending to be me vs da oracle

minus #37 vs Panel from Fun Home

Excerpt from illustrated edition of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner vs La Mort de Marat (The Death of Marat)

The Veil vs Düsseldorf 4 (Museum Kunst Palast)

Capriccio vs Zodiac calendar for La Plume

The official imperial portrait of empress dowager Cixi vs José y Maria

Blooming Lilacs vs Lágrimas De Sangre (Tears of Blood)

An Interlude vs Boy Staring at an Apparition

Set 16

Mermer Waiskeder: Stories of the Moving Tide vs The Gran Hotel Ciudad de México Art Nouveau interior

Unfinished Painting vs To Arms!

Memorial to a Marriage vs The Island

Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn vs A Few Small Nips

Saturn Devouring His Son vs Guernica

Fairy Princesses vs Lamentation over the Dead Christ

Mummy with An Inserted Panel Portrait of a Youth vs Little Girl Looking Downstairs at Christmas Party

Agnus vs The Cup Of His Murders Is Flowing Over And In His Coat Shall Be Many Curses

#art that fucks you up tournament #announcement #links are in the read more!

[keikiri-kitten]

HAUNTED HOUSES ★ KEIGO TAKAMI

a/n: keigo x reader, gn!reader, Keigo takes you through a haunted house, post 385 keigo (wingless keigo), you hate haunted houses and the actors are allowed to touch you, fluffy stuff at the end :))

Ah yes, right in time for the spooky season. When October rolls around, Keigo is your guy. One may assume that spring is his time to shine but that is simply a misconception. Keigo will never miss an opportunity to indulge in some Halloween activities. He loves the rush of the cool wind over his face and the decorations of skeletons along the light posts on the streets. It drives him this season. And for some reason, he has so much that he wants to do now that he has you. One of those activities that he just so happens to lure you into is going through a haunted house. Has he been to haunted houses before? Plenty. At first, going with Mirko and watching her kick a poor actor into the wall was the highlight of his haunted house experience. But going with you takes the cake. This man has seen it all. After seeing real blood and gore, some actors in face paint clicking in his ears and grabbing at his hoodie as he saunters down dimly lit walls is damn near hilarious to him. Not to you though. With his hands in his pockets and allowing you to grip onto his hoodie, you keep your face firm against his back.

You wish he would hurry the fuck up instead of dragging his feet down the damp halls that from what you could hear, held a witch and some demons that are howling in your ear and gently pulling at your top. You only agreed to go out with him tonight because he said it wouldn’t be that bad. You regretted it the moment you saw the promotional video on your phone. Fear settled into you before you stepped foot in the building. Your heart beats at a hard and fast pace. You only saw the doors and the actor who portrayed some form of guide before your eyes shut tight so you could embark on your journey blind. “Keigo! Can you hurry up please?” this is the first time you peek your head over his shoulder– you immediately realize that’s a wrong move.

Keigo’s firm in his stance and walk, pulling a hand out of his pocket to show you the horrors in front of you. The area is pretty much black apart from the white strobe lights. The hallway is way smaller than you imagined and that only meant that the clicking and harsh calls from the actors are closer than you initially thought. “Come on babe, it’s not that bad. Wait ‘till they start chasing you.”

“What?!” as you scream, you get the most horrific looking face forced into the left side of your cheek. You see decayed skin covered in blood and what you could assume was mold as well as bright red and white contacts peer into your soul. The actor in front of you growled out profanities as you scream, making Keigo try his best to hold in his laughter. “Keigo!” you bark, face quivering back into his shoulder.

He gets the hint. You want out and what was he if not a savior of sorts? The retired hero knows more than anyone that you were simply ready to get out of there so after carefully prying your death grip from his hoodie, “if you’re acting like this, I would keep my head down.” The blond holds a wicked grin as he begins to run at a pace you can keep up with through the rest of the experience.

Though you were running, It in fact did not get better. It seems as though seeing you two run made the actors get more aggressive, their yells are louder, they touch your arms and shoulders, they pinch at your ankles and rattle their cages with more vigor. This run earns a certificate for being worse than any gym class you ever had. Really a good scare in Keigo’s eyes. Soon but not soon enough, you both made it back out in the cold October night, greeted by cold droplets of rain.

Panting, you rip your hand from the man and heave over. That made him turn around quickly to check on you. Trying to get your heart to slow down, you place both hands on your knees and hang your head low.

Rolling his eyes and walking closer to you, he holds you by the arms to help you stand tall before embracing you in a hug. His hug is warm, heavy and tight. It was a sign of protection; his arms wrap around your neck in an attempt to make your head feel self. You happily take the position of letting your arms drape on his waist. Shoving your face in his shoulder, you sigh out comfortably. “You know? It actually wasn’t that bad now that it’s over.” The man scoffs, pressing a warm kiss to your temple.

“I’m proud of you for making it out of there alive,” he teases, earning a gentle push…not even rough enough to make him stumble back. You can’t even accept him stumbling back in a moment like this. Pulling your head from his collarbone to look him in the eye, his gaze meets yours and you can see that gentle smile and those gilded eyes.

A gentle kiss is placed to your lips after hearing a disheveled, “Oh whatever,” leave you.

“What’s next? Making out in a corn field?” Keigo suggests, making you smile for the first time after leaving the haunted house. You feel the calm take over you, resting along his body.

“We’re going apple picking. If a villain doesn’t kill me, you will with your little Halloween rush.”

“Lay on a couch for an hour while someone analyzes your recount of tonight. We’ve got so much to do and we don’t have much of the month left.” with his head tilted to the side, he butters you up with a smug look. “I’ve got you, the little monsters won’t get you.” littering your lips with kisses, he tries to soften you up. It doesn’t take much convincing.

“Fine. Only one more scary thing this month and then the rest is you on your own.”

“I like apple picking, too.”

#birdie #keigo fluff #keigo takami fluff #keigo angst #keigo takami #takami keigo x reader #keigo x you #keigo x reader #keigo takami x reader #bnha hawks #hawks angst #hawks fluff #hawks x reader #hawks headcanon #hawks headcanons #keigo drabble #hawks drabble

[lizzie-is-here]

lonely is a man without love

part viii- home

“love you to the moon and to saturn” - taylor swift

summary: after magic cults, a talking skeleton bird, and meeting a mercenary/gift-shoppist that’s now your boyfriend, you finally get to go home

wordcount: 1k

warnings: none really, my irresponsible time management

a/n: 🧍‍♀️ i have nothing to say for myself. that’s a lie i am so sorry y’all ����. my only excuse that i switched my major and have been being eaten alive by school also my sister had her baby today so i’m tryna figure out how to get home to see him and also some other stuff. i’m so sorry this is so late and also kind of bad but i hope y’all enjoy 😭 i love y’all and thanks for your patience 🫶

taglist: @thefictionalgemini @ravenz-hope @undiscl0sed-d3sir3s @iateall-your-cookies @disregardedplant @sunflowers-4 @yellowumbrelllaaaa @bagsy-not-it @local-mr-frog @thescarletredwitch @jupitersmoon167 @creamecafe @stevenknightmarc @theluciansystem @kingtwhiddleston @spider-biter @mxltifxnd0m @sgt-morgan @no-dont-be-suspicious @onzayhe @namorslit @i-cant-write-for-shit @vainillasmil157 @doublevirgogirl @boofy1998 @seninjakitey @khaleesihavilliard @gaypoetsblog @letmehavemyfictionalmen @bitchotine @emily-roberts @andrewgarfldsgf @larkkyoris

previous part | series masterlist

“What if they kill me for getting you killed?”

Standing outside the entrance to the Avenger’s compound, travel bags in hand, you slap Marc’s arm.

“Oh, shut up! They won’t kill you, I promise.”

“That’s a hefty promise when there are several assassins on the other side of those doors.”

“Милый [Dear], I’m an assassin.”

You that it’s not that Marc doesn’t want to meet the people you call family, it’s that he’s rather concerned they’re going to throttle him for getting you hurt.

After a few minutes of preparation, you finally coax him through the lobby and into an elevator, heading up to the main floor where the team is waiting.

The ride goes by much too quickly, and the door dings open sooner than Marc would like.

You slip through before the doors even open all the way, squealing as you run into the waiting arms of Natasha and Yelena, who happily lift you up as they coo praises in your native tongue.

The rest of the team is equally excited, welcoming you back. They congratulate you on a successful mission and on controlling the situation even as it escalated.

It’s a bit before you remember Marc standing in the doorway, and you gesture to him.

“Everyone, this is Marc,” you begin. “Be nice.”

Everyone greets him, except for one.

Natasha is far more intimidating than any man in the room as she stalks closer to him. She circles like a hawk, and your poor boyfriend has no choice but to stay still and hope she doesn’t filet him right there.

She circles back in front of him. Despite the difference in height, she may as well be as tall as Stark Tower with the way she’s glowering at the man.

Finally, a smirk spreads across Nat’s face.

“Nice to meet you, Spector.”

She takes his hand in a firm grip, analyzing his every move.

“Good job getting my sister killed.”

“Nat!” you gasp, the both of you chuckling.

She turns back to him, shaking her head. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Kind of. You got her home safe, so thank you.” Her tone is genuine, even if she does intend to beat him into the training ring later. For good measure.

As you prance around the room greeting everyone, Marc tries his best to not be intimidated.

Your other sister, Yelena, appears next to him silently. He flinches and she rolls her eyes with a smile.

“No one’s gonna hurt you. Unless you hurt her, that is.” She nods to you. “Lighten up, relax, have fun.” Playfully shoving him, she bounds back to her seat, a bowl of macaroni in her hands.

Her words bounce around his head.

‘Relax.’

Easier said than done.

The room is full of living legends. All of which could kill him in various nasty ways where he would never be found.

And they’re treating you like their baby sister.

Hell, the Scarlet Witch is wrapping her blanket around you like she’s swaddling a baby and the ex-Winter Soldier is passing you a cup of tea.

“Steven,” Marc hisses under his breath. “A little help, buddy?”

‘If you want me to take over, I think I’m a bit better in the conversation department,’ Steven offers, chuckling slightly. It’s only a moment before Marc takes him up on that.

Bundled in the fluffy cloth, you turn back to Marc, smile beaming. In an instant, you spot the change.

“Oh, hi Steven!” No one blinks twice, simply greeting the man as he waves.

He laughs, a bit awkwardly and waves back, answering a few questions.

What was his job? He worked in a museum, and was definitely not a gift-shoppist.

Have any close family? No.

It’s okay. No one really else does either, save a few exceptions. Like you. (Tony gets a well-deserved pillow to the face for that one.)

What does he want for dinner? Anything is okay with him as long as it’s vegan.

“Sorry,” he whispers to you. “Marc got a bit skittish.”

You smile, shaking your head at their antics.

“Don’t apologize, I know it’s a lot. I promise it’s okay.” You gesture to the elevator. “ Now come on, I have to show you around, yes?”

———————————————————————

Marc and Steven take turns fronting as you show them around the compound, happily explaining anything and everything as you bounded along.

You spend a solid twenty minutes raving about the training room, and another fifteen getting distracted and helping some newly recruited agents with target practice.

Your energy is infectious, and by the time you turn in for the night after pizza and planning a party for your return, you’re both worn out.

“Was today too much?” you ask, watching Marc emerge from your bathroom, brushing his teeth.

He shakes his head. “No, of course not,” he manages around the brush. “It’s nice seeing you so excited about being home.”

“But what about your home? What about London?” You wouldn’t say it, but you were beyond worried about how this would work. The compound was your first home. But you didn’t want to take Steven and Marc away from their home.

Clearly, neither of them shared your concerns. Marc shrugs nonchalantly, briefly retreating into the bathroom to spit out the toothpaste and rinse.

“We’ll take it a day at a time, okay?” he whispers as you turn off the lamp and crawl under your blankets. He joins you, laying on his back so you can use him as a pillow. You claim it’s comfy.

You nod as you rest your head on his chest, relaxing as you breathe in time with him.

“Like a big adventure,” Steven cuts in, gently rubbing your shoulder.

“I don’t know if we can get a bigger adventure than dying and coming back,” you laugh.

“Well, you never know,” he says, glancing down at you. He loves you so much. They both do. In all honesty, they don’t care where you want to go. They’d live in Antarctica if you so much as asked, as long as you were there with them.

“Can we save the adventure for tomorrow?”

Everything is an adventure with you, they think. But Steven nods anyway.

“Yeah, of course, love.”

They’d wait for you forever.

“Ok. Goodnight, Steven, Goodnight, Marc.”

And you get two “goodnights” in response.

#marvel #marvel x reader #x reader #avengers #marc spector #marc spector x reader #steven grant #steven grant x reader #moon knight #moon knight x reader #moon knight tv #steven grant moon knight #moon knight system #moon knight x fem!reader #moon knight system x reader #steven grant x you #steven grant x fem!reader #marc spector x fem!reader

[lowkeyerror]

Scary Movies

Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Word Count: 971

Warnings: None

Summary: Y/n loves Halloween, but is absolutely terrified of Horror films. Natasha gets her to watch one with the Avengers and it goes just about as well as you think.

An: Fluffy, like the comedian

Halloween Masterlist | Marvel Masterlist

There were a few different types of people when it came to Halloween. There were the horror buffs, the Christians, the children, and the spooky, but not scary skeletons.

Y/n was definitely a spooky, but not scary skeleton. She adored Halloween, but not the scary parts. She loved decorations, candy, jack-o-lanterns, and even Halloween themed movies. Just not Horror.

The woman was easily scared. Which is why she refused to join her teammates during their scary movie marathon. While the rest of her friends were camping out in the den, she was alone in her room.

It was better this way. She couldn't have nightmares about dying a horrific death, if she avoided the material entirely.

She was in her bed, scrolling through her phone, when her bedroom door opened. She peeked over the screen to see her girlfriend in the doorway.

Natasha walked across the room and plopped herself in the bed. Her arms wrapped securely around Y/n's waist. She placed a gentle kiss on the woman's collarbone.

" What happened to the fright fest in the living room?"

Natasha caught her eyes," I'd rather be in here with you."

Y/n put her phone down," I sense ulterior motives."

Natasha's eyes darted away, "No, just wanted to be with my incredible girlfriend…"

Y/n squints her eyes," For a world renowned spy, you've never been good at lying to me."

She sighed, her hand found Y/n's, interlocking their fingers," Come watch a movie with us, just one."

Y/n shook her head," Natasha, you know I don't like horror movies. I don't get what's so fun about being terrified. "

" I'll protect you from the monsters," Natasha squeezes the other woman's hand.

Usually Y/n wouldn't have caved in so easily, but the mixture of her girlfriend begging and boredom was a formidable force.

" And the demons?"

" The demons, the witches, and murderers," Natasha kisses the back of Y/n's hand.

" Fine, one movie."

Y/n lets Natasha pull her out of bed and lead her to the den. Nat plops down in her seat next to Wanda and Y/n falls onto her lap.

" You guys have my venmo right?" Wanda speaks to the men of the team.

" Y/n, you hate scary movies," Clint complains.

" And you're so stubborn," Tony adds.

Steve shrugs," I told you guys not to bet against Wanda."

Y/n cuddles further into Natasha," Glad someone can profit off of my misery."

" Fear not Y/n, everything on the screen is fictional," Thor tries to comfort the girl.

" She knows that," Sam told him.

Bucky interjects," Well, unless it's based on a true story."

" Can we just put the movie on, before I change my mind," Y/n stops the chatter.

" We're watching SAW, just to warn you," Bruce's words cause Y/n to try to get up and leave.

Natasha's grip on the girl tightens," I promised to protect you, didn't I?"

" Saw is legitimately torture. We couldn't have done like Scream or Nightmare on Elm Street. Or any movie with bad editing and graphics that looks fake and unrealistic," Y/n begins to ramble.

" We watched those earlier," Tony shrugs at the girl.

The movie started and Natasha could feel Y/n's body stiffen. She peppered some light kisses behind the girl's ear. " I'll tell you when to close your eyes, ok? I've got you."

Y/n nodded then whispered," I trust you."

True to her word, Natasha signaled Y/n to close her eyes throughout the movie. There were times when Y/n wanted to close them, but Natasha promised her it wasn't bad. While Y/n still witnessed an abundance of the psychological torture, she missed most of the gore.

Hearing the sounds alone put the girl on edge. She was not having a good time at all. Y/n wished she'd stayed in her room. SAW was definitely a level 8 horror movie, and she could at most do a level 4.

Towards the middle of the movie, she was trembling in Natasha's arms. She kept muttering to herself every time something scary happened," I hate this. I hate this. I hate this."

Natasha felt bad seeing Y/n like that. Maybe it was a mistake forcing her to sit through the movie. Natasha had seen the movie plenty of times, she could miss the second half. Y/n needed her.

" Let's go baby," Natasha stood and Y/n clung to the spy like a koala.

The others were too enthralled with the gore to comment.

When they got back to the room, Y/n didn't let go of Natasha.

" Y/n, baby?"

The girl just buried her head deeper into Natasha's neck.

" I'm sorry, no more horror movies. I promise."

The girl still didn't respond. Natasha walked over to the bed and flopped on the bed with Y/n in her arms. That caused the scared girl to laugh a bit.

" Can we cuddle and watch Scary Godmother?"

" The cartoon?"

Y/n nodded rapidly," After so much psychological torture and murder, I need a cartoon."

" Anything you want, baby," Natasha made herself comfortable in bed.

"And um… no games for awhile," Y/n added as she started the PG-rated movie.

Natasha furrowed her eyebrows," Like any games? Or just-"

" All games," Y/n answered swiftly.

Natasha swung her arm around the woman," Got it, no games."

The two got comfortable watching the childish film. The scary thoughts that had swarmed Y/n's mind during the horror film were slowly making their way out. With the warmth radiating off of Natasha and the silly movie on the screen, she felt safe.

She was still not a big horror fan, but maybe it wasn't so bad if she ended up watching a childish movie in her girlfriend's arms.

#Natasha Romanoff #Natasha Romanoff x Reader #natasha romanoff imagine #the avengers imagine #the avengers

[imogenkol]

— WIP LAST LINE(S)

tagged by @kyber-infinitygems @socially-awkward-skeleton @inafieldofdaisies 💕

tag list (ask to be added or removed!): @adelaidedrubman @florbelles @marivenah @simonxriley @shegetsburned @voidika @v0idbuggy @statichvm @aceghosts @jillvalentinesday @risingsh0t @unholymilf @thedeadthree @cassietrn @jackiesarch

there were three apprentices and only one planet…

“You and I, we’re the same right now,” Adhira said, unflinching.

Shin’s harsh grip on the Nightsister’s arm loosened a small fraction before it tightened with even more force. Adhira was sure there would be a bruise there this time tomorrow. “We are nothing alike, witch,” the mercenary snarled as her gaze briefly darted down. 

A smug thrill shot up Adhira’s spine, urging her to keep the pressure on. “No? Tell me, where’s Baylan? Where’s Morgan? We’re alone, Shin. Aimlessly adrift in a galaxy far, far away. I don’t know my purpose any more than you do. So forgive me if I want something to take my mind off things for a little while.”

“You’re not alone, you know,” Sabine interjected, drawing the attention of the two other women back to her. She threw her hands up. “I’m standing right here.”

#oc insp: adhira berkana #ship insp: the stars in between #yeah adhira is doing great after the death of her mentor. totally fine. not spiraling at all.

[undead-merman]

Day Nineteen Costume Won’t Come Off

Contains suit coming to life and sucking you silly and a tiny bit of exhibitionism

Robin was excited to find this shop and show you what the costumes looked like on him. Vampire, witch, skeletons, scarecrows, even a damn bodysuit. He looked good in every single one.

“I can’t pick…” His lower lip stuck out as he folds the last jacket up. His eyes look up at you when if finally clicks that you’re still sitting there in that creaky chair. “You aren’t trying on anything?”

“Did you want me to?”

Robin put down the little piece and crosses his arms, a frown overtaking his pout. “What, think you're too old for Halloween?”

You bark a laugh and lounge back. “Obviously, you can get away with it because you're taking the kids.”

“But I wanted us both to go! It will be much more fun with you there! Everyone adores you. You should spend some time with them. You have off anyway.” he tried to emphasize his point by slapping his hands against the arms of the chair, trapping you between, and staring you in the eyes. He used to be cuter than this.

“I’m on my feet all day, I don’t want to walk around when I’m off, Can’t I just pig out and sleep on my bed?”

He didn’t offer a counter, he only got closer and gave you big puppy dog eyes. God damn it…

“Alright, fine!” you huff out and shove him away from you. “I’ll go, I’ll go.” your back aches from the chair as you stand and stretch.

“So, what do you want to dress up as?” his demeanor quickly switched back and he was already looking at something for you. What a brat. Though, you were the cause of it, not like you can complain too much.

“I’m dressing up?” you raise an eyebrow at him, but he responds with tapping his foot. You know better than to keep pushing. “Alright, alright. Do they have anything in my size?”

-

You stood in front of the mirror and were frowning so much it looked like your face would split in two. “This isn’t a costume, robin, it’s a mess.”

Robin peeked over your shoulder, nodding to himself. “It definitely is, you’re just sour that the vampire one didn’t fit.”

“None of them fit.” You were in a skin tight suit that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Your cock was ready to pop out at any time and it felt like your ass would split the seam. “What am I? Some man in a colorful gimp suit?”

“No! You’re a man from the future!" Hands on his hips like you're the stupid one.

"Robin in what world is this a costume? My ass is hanging out." You see him move behind and help you adjust when it hikes up your ass crack making you yell out. "Sorry!!"

"I'll go without it."

"No, come on! It's not that bad! You look great! Please!" Robin was hanging onto you with desperation.

"Alright, fine. But you're paying for my costume." His eyes lit up and his smile showed off his gap-toothed grin. He quickly ran up to the counter, almost leaping for joy.

You had to pick out the suit from your ass crack again. You swear this thing was purposely wedging inside.

-

So there you were in the dark of night, lazily following behind the group as you tried to stealthily pick the suit out of your ass for the eighth time. Even with your underwear on, it pulled so hard that it hurt your balls. It wasn’t even that small, this damn thing had a mind of its own. You grumbled and crossed your arms. You’ll probably call it in early. What matters is you went, the others aren’t even paying attention to you.

You slip down a side street surrounded by fences and trash cans, completely unused. You let out a sigh, only to suck in a breath when it shoots up your ass again. You wanted to grumble and rip the thing off, but there was a squeeze on your junk.

Looking down you didn't see any monsters, tentacles, bugs, nothing. But your suit was undulating. Fear pumps through your system as you grab the material and pull. It shivered in your grip and vacuumed itself to your skin, sucking against you like food. Blood ran cold.

You grit your teeth at another squeeze against your cock, stronger than the first. It nearly knocked you to your knees, but you managed to use that adrenaline to rip the material. Fleshy pink innards were exposed trying to latch against you, grasping, desperate, and hungry.

The bodysuit lunges for your nipple once again and attaches like a glue mousetrap. The delicate and sensitive was yanked, forcing you to let go, screaming in the process. It suckled, trying to milk you like some cattle from both of your buds and your now hard cock. It felt warm now, sickening juices leaked from the living suit. You felt it secrete something between your ass cheeks, right against your twitching hole.

You kicked, rolled around on the ground, spit, tried to find something to slice it open, but nothing. The living suit continued, and you were quickly brought to nothing but pathetic shaking and lewd noises. Thoughts vanished, and only the most primal want was left behind.

The footsteps behind you were left unheard until it was too late.

#dol #degrees of lewdity #suit come to life #idk how to tag this mess

[claggorstuff]

The most unbreakable of spells... part one. ★

Arcane x reader

As i walked around the train looking for a spot to sit, i noticed him.. his burly frame and brown fluffy hair, his encapturing brown eyes and defined cheekbones, it was only a glance but it was breathtaking... so much so i literally choked on a piece of my lolly and fell over

"Woah! You okay cutie?" I turned to see his disastrous companion.. spikey haired and green eyed with a much more skeleton-like frame... i scowled, "I'm fine. Thanks for asking.. nice halloween costume what are you a muggle?" Thats when i heard the bigger boys chuckle

"No, hes an idiot is what he is." I giggled and the skinny boy grunted backing off, it was my first year and seemed to be theirs too, there was a quieter short haired tom-boy looking girl... who seemed distracted with what was out the window... "oh uh... my names y/n...! Its my first year what about you guys?" I said sitting down right next to the burly boy, holding a irregularly small owl on his arm

"vi. Mylo. Claggor." The girl gestured to herself and the other two boys in order "in other words moody, AWESOME, and tank." Mylo exclaimed cocking his head to the side and smirking, claggor scoffed "nice to meet ya y/n." he gripped my hand firmly and shook it, I couldnt help but admire his features up close as he awkwardly smiled, breaking the eye contact... wait I was staring like a creep wasnt I.

"So y/n, where ya from?" I paused to think.. "where are you from is the question." He looked at me confused, "uhm.. the undercity."

"London."

"The fancy british place?"

"Thats.. thats england."

"I meant the.. town.."

"London isnt a town."

"What is london?"

"A city."

"With fancy british peo-"

"MYLO!" Claggor had cut him off annoyed, he quickly shut up.. unlike me they didnt seem to have any sort of accent.. most likely north american, but one seemed to have darker tan skin, mylo, so i cant quite assume with him.. and claggor resembled something like a viking.. are they scottish maybe? "You guys aren't from around here.." vi scowled "no. We arent. But thats none of your damn buisness."

"Sorry.. Sorry.." I got my toad out of his little terrarium and smiled patting his head, pulling a cricket from a little jar of potion ingredients, claggor leaned over my shoulder smiling at peter, my toads name, I saw his gentle smile and my heart pounded in my chest.. I yelped when he set his hand on mine trying to pet the toad and he yelped back

"O-Oh uh.. I-I'm sorry was that weird orrr-?"

"No No you just spooked me! Its all good claggor, all good."

"Cool.. Cool.."

"AGGHH!! I SEE IT I SEE THE SCHOOL!" mylo piped up pointing out the window howling, I smiled and half crawled onto claggors leg to see it better, until the train hit a bump knocking me down, mylo laughed like a hyena and claggor helped me up chuckling.. the train soon stopped and we ventured out, I stayed with my newfound friends sitting down at the dining hall as mylo ate like he hadnt seen food in years, claggor picked carefully, he may have been big but he seems to have a very healthy diet.

"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS! I WELCOME YOU TO HOGWARTS! THE BEST SCHOOL FOR WITCHES AND WIZARDS AROUND!" The old man stood at the front and laughed "Oh im just joking with you all.. soon each of you will be called to be sorted into houses hufflepuff, ravenclaw, gryffindor, or slytherin!" I scowled "sweet mother mary of christ ALL of us?! Thats so impractical cant it be like.. we get sent to our dormatorys right after being called or somethint theres over a hundred students in this school!"

"Tell me about it, vander, our dad said it took him hours to get to the gryffindor dorms.." vi chirped opening up a bit, she didnt seem so bad when she was.. well.. not spitting venom at me.

"Alright everyone pipe down.. first up, Claggor Benant!" I stared as he stood up and walked over sitting down and having the hat placed on his head, Benant.. huh, cute name for a cute- wait what... well hes cute yes but- "hufflepuff!" He smiled and walked back to the table highfiving us all, I looked dazed from my previous thought and he ruffled my hair, soon after his siblings were called vi and mylo, despite mylos bothersome attitude he was placed into gryffindor with his sister, I guess its what he really really wanted, I'd wanna stick to my siblings too if i had any that go here.. I soon got called up

"Hm.. stop with yer racing mind im trying to read you.. eh, ravenclaw."

"RAVENCLAWW!!" The elderly man announced, I sat with the others of my house quite disappointed I couldnt sit with claggor, he waved goodbye as did the rest as we were lead to our dorms, I slumped into bed tired when a boy knocked at my window.. IS HE ON THE LEDGE OF THE FUCKING BUILDING?!

He knocked again, I opened it whisper-shouting in shock

"What are you doing here?!"

"Came to see ya y/n, not too unfarmiliar with scaling buildings."

"WHY WOULD YOU BE FARMILIAR WITH THAT?!"

"...cuz. stuff."

"...youre fucking insane."

He finally climbed in laying down on my bed with a light chuckle "insane in the membrane, insane in the brain." I scoffed "how did you even know-?!" He shrugged "I dunno, windows are pretty see-through to me." I held back a giggle "w-well thats verry verrrry funny."

"I know, its actually hilarious."

"Oh shut your mouth!" I whacked him with my pillow giggling, what is up with this guy? He picked me up with ease as i squealed and thrashed "damn woman what are you a horse?!"

"No but im about to buck your teeth out!"

"No damn way!" He tossed me up and I landed next to him, turning to my side.. I whispered "you're cute... CRAZY! YOU'RE CRAZY!" ...silence... "how long did it take u to process that, seriously."

"A bajillion years, dont take that in a romantic way you..hmph, I wont waste my breathe."

"You already wasted it choking on a Lollipop on a train."

"Oh shut it!" I snorted and he gave me a funky look, dammit! Why do I laugh like that.. I laid on my other side facing opposite to him, "staying the night benant?"

"Nobody calls me claggor benant, not anymore."

"What, you got an emo backstory benant?"

"Cut it out."

"...noted.." dammit I screwed up! He sighed and put an arm around me, making my heart skip several beats "I've never slept alone and the ravenclaw dorms are the closest ones. Hope you dont mind y/n.."

"Not at all. Its all good.." he nuzzled the pillow and I shut my eyes, setting my hand on his embracing his warmth, as my blood bolted to my face with each sleeping movement he made.. I eventually fell asleep nuzzled close to him.

End of part one ★

#claggor x reader #arcane #claggor #arcane claggor #arcane mylo #fanfic #x reader #mylo #im making the tagging simpler #vi arcane #arcane au #harry potter au

[renegadefearstreet1966]

Chapter Twenty-One | Reunited

gif credit to owner.

TW: mention of self harm.

Alice hobbles toward on of the picnic tables before sitting down. Cindy laces her fingers with Bunny's as they sit together, Ziggy joins opposite of Bunny and Cindy. Alice opens the shoulder bag and pulls out a skeleton hand.

The four of them all exchange nervous glances.

"What? What is it?" Ziggy asks.

Alice inhaled, glancing at her. "It's Sarah Fier's lost hand."

"Nurse Lane..." Cindy started at the bone, swallowing hard. "She spent her entire life looking for this. A way to stop the curse that took her daughter."

Bunny lightly squeezed Cindy's hand under the table and looked at her. Looking back, Ziggy was grinning brightly as they both shook their heads.

" 'Without her hand, her grip on the land holds firm.'" Alice says, sliding the book over to Ziggy for her to read, trying to catch her up. "The curse will last until body and hand unite."

"That led us to the bone. And so... if the legend is true, that means her body's still buried--"

"By the hanging tree," Bunny finished, looking at Alice.

"We can end this." Cindy spoke. "No more murders, no more curse, no more..."

Cindy's gaze wandered to Tommy's lifeless body on the tile floor of the kitchen.

"...pain."

They all exchanged quiet glances at each other, Cindy held Bunny's hand tighter, holding her gaze. "We can save Shadyside... Tonight."

Bunny lets go of Cindy's hand as she drags the bone across the table, toward her. She began to examine it, not noticing her nose beginning to bleed. Her blood dripped from her nose and on to the bone, zoning out for a few seconds as she sees the witch -- Sarah Fier. Cindy reaches her hand out, resting it on Bunny's hand as she jumps back with a sharp intake of breath. Concern takes over Cindy's face.

"My nose..." Bunny breathed. "I bled on the hand and... I think I saw her."

"Who?"

"Sarah Fier,"

Again, they exchanged glances at one another, panicking slightly.

"She was..." Continuing her explanation. "She was angry."

"We have to bury this thing.. right fucking now."

Cindy nodded before rising and running into the room over. Coming back, she passed Bunny a shovel, Ziggy a smaller spade, holding a shovel herself.

"Okay, let's go."

Alice looked at Cindy, almost squinting her eyes. "What I have to use my hands?"

"No, you're staying her."

"Come on, I can hop just fine." Alice chuckled, showing off the few hops she takes.

She turned back to face the three other females, standing in front of the open doorway. Now Alice had a serious expression.

"I watched my dad go to jail when I was six. I watched my mom steal... so I could eat."

She scoffed. "First time I cut myself I was twelve. It was after... Well, you know when."

Cindy's eyes were glossy, knowing that Cindy looked more guilty then Bunny's ever seen her.

"And now tonight," Alce started again. "I watched your perfect boyfriend and your brother turn into a monster and Killed the only person I've ever loved. I've waited...my whole fucking life for this. And now I've found it. Let me see this through. For Arnie...for Tommy...for Shadyside."

It took Cindy a few seconds, but she began nodding. "For Shadyside."

Bunny looked at them with a soft expression. "For Shadyside."

They then looked toward Ziggy, who nodded with a smirk. "For Shadyside"

They exchange smiles once more before turning back to Alice, but Bunny's face drops. Tommy appears behind her, lifting his ax. Her and Cindy shout Alice's name, but it was too late. When Alice look behind her, the ax came down and slid across her chest, making the pixie-cut haired female fall to the ground.

Even though Bunny wasn't close to Alice, it furiated her when Tommy murdered her. With a wave of anger, she rushed forward with her shovel, hitting her brother across his face with it. He dropped the ax as Bunny sweeped it off the floor, dropping the shovel. Tommy leaned against the wall as Bunny lifted the ax with a goran, using all her strength.

"Fucking die! Why won't you fucking die!" She screamed, crying.

Even though that was her brother, Bunny wanted him die so there was no more pain and death in her life.

When the shovel penetaied his neck, the blade went all the way through. His head was cut clean off as his head rolled towards the floor including his body. Black blood began pooling around her deceased monsterous brother.

Looking back, Bunny calmed her panicked heart down and taking in the air from her inhaler once more. Cindy was on her knees as Alice was bleeding out.

"No! Alice? Alice?"

Tears slipped down Cindy's cheeks as Bunny sank to her knees beside the older berman sibling. Cindy, however, held a firm grip on Alice's shoulders, not wanting to let go.

"Alice, just... Just stay with with me. Alice."

Alice's breathing had stopped, leaving everyone in silence as Cindy sobbed, leaning her head into Bunny's chest. The brunette hugged her, glancing down at Alice's dead body. She listened to Cindy's pained crying, but it was quickly covered up by singing coming from the grate below.

You always hurt the ones you loved

Bunny looked up, meeting Ziggy's also concerned face.

"What is that?" Ziggy whispered.

"Ruby Lane," Bunny responded.

Without hesitation, the three of them rose from the wooden planks facing Bunny as she told the Berman sisters to stay in the mess hall. But they didn't listen as Ziggy followed after her including Cindy, making Bunny panic as the singing echoed through the silent room.

There was crunching of bones right when a hand appeared on the floor in the kitchen, exiting the grate. A face appeared, it belonged to Ruby Lane. A shadyside killer whose incident happened in 1965.

"Run. Run!" Bunny shouted at the two females.

The remaining females began running, Ziggy stepped back to grab the large shovel, but Tommy's hand snapped at her ankle. Cindy held out her arm and she caught it, pulling her out of his grasp.

The three of them continued running out of the mess hall and towards the hanging tree.

"There it is! Go, go!" Bunny shouted, all of them arriving at the base of the tree.

"Here?"

"Yes!"

Bunny grabbed the shovel, digging up as much soil as possible. The Berman sisters were beside Bunny and opposite of her, watching the tree line. Bunny kept digging until the blade his something hard in the dirt.

"I hit something!"

Ziggy rushed over, dropping the spade and knelt down, digging further. Looking up, they noticed a boy wearing a mask and swinging a baseball bat, inching toward them slowly.

"Uh... Cindy?"

She looked at Bunny, looked at the kid and back at her. "Keep digging."

Finally finding what she hit prior, Bunny pulled out a large stone. She dusted the dirt off, trying make out the carved in words.

"The witch forever lives,"

"The witch forever lives," Ziggy repeated, looking at her older sister, panicked. "Cindy, what does it mean?"

"I don't know,"

"Where is she? Where's the body?" Bunny asked.

"I don't know."

Bunny let out a shaky breath, grabbing Ziggy and Cindy's arm, lifting them to their feet. She ordered them to take the car and leave, Cindy didn't want to leave her side or her sister's. As soon as they faced another direction, Tommy was sprinting towards them with his ax in hand. The three females screamed, backing against one another and almost completely frigid from fear.

Billy Barker continued hitting his bat on the ground, Harry Rooker stalked closer with his knife, Ruby Lane was flipping her straight razor and Tommy who had his ax ready.

"What do you want, Sarah Fier? You wanted this? You can have it! Just let my girlfriend live! Just let my girlfriend live!"

The shouting didn't seem to work and Cindy dropped it, defeated as she continued holding onto Bunny's hand. Looking into her eyes, they were saddened but serious.

"You bled on the bone. They are after you. Get ready to run."

"No, you get ready to run." Bunny stated as Cindy picked up the large shovel. "What the fuck are you doing, Cindy Berman?"

"Saving you."

With a warning, the killers surrounded them as Cindy rushed toward Tommy, aiming the shovel towards his head. Bunny screamed as everything felt like it was in slow motion. Tommy gained the upper hand and knocked Cindy out cold with the back of the ax as a thought came to Bunny.

The killers go after the one who bled on the bone. Grabbing the spade shovel, Bunny uses it to stab her brother in the chest as he goes down once more but comes back a few seconds later. Not paying attention, Ruby tackles Bunny to the ground straddling her before plunging the straight razor into the right side her chest as Ziggy gets attacked by Harry Rooker and stabbed.

Ziggy was on one side, Cindy in the middle and Bunny beside Cindy. Bunny took another glance at the night sky, seeing it's filled with twinkling stars as the pain gets worse when the blade hits her again then again, and finally once more time before she begins choking and spitting up blood. It runs down the corner of her mouth as her head falls slightly to the side.

Cindy comes to as she slowly sits up, breathing heavily as she looks around. The possessed killers are gone as the bodies of her girlfriend and sister capture her attention. Panicked, she gets on her knees and begins chest compressions on Bunny as Ziggy layed there lifeless, bleeding out the rest of the way... dead.

"Come on, come... on." She huffs. "You...can't...leave...me. You have a daughter. If you won't live for me, live for her. She...needs...her...mother."

Nick ran up to Ziggy as he ignored Cindy and performed compressions on her but there was no use considering that she died. He curses to himself as he hung his head low. Bunny, however, there was faint breathing. Suddenly she begins coughing and gasping for air before panicking. Blood soaked her pastel tie dye tank top as well as her dark blue jean shorts.

Cindy holds her hands over the wounds, trying to stop the blood from pouring out.

"Z--Ziggy, where is she?" Bunny croaks, weakly looking toward the body next to her.

"She's... She's dead, Bunny." Cindy announces, tears pouring from her eyes as gazes into Bunny's eyes, still putting pressure on her stomach as much as she can.

"Cin, thank... thank you for getting me. Not for for you, but for my daughter." Bunny weakly smiles

Bunny begins crying but it puts too much pressure for her, especially since she has asthma. She lays there as sirens wail in the distance, approaching Camp Nightwing.

That was July 19th, 1978. Five thousand, nine hundred and thirty-seven days ago. My best friend Ziggy-- Christine Berman died and the love of my life saved me, not only for her, but for my daughter.

Bunny laid atop a gourney, going in and out of consciousness as an officer stood beside her. Cindy kept a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, what's your name? Look at me. What's your name?"

Bunny gasps, barely keeping eye contact with the male.

"Bunny," She replies.

"It's Kathleen." Cindy speaks. "Her real name, it's Kathleen Bishop."

My own brother -- Tommy Slater caused that mess.

"Where's Zig... Chris... Where's Christine?" Bunny asked.

The offer stepped to the side as Kathleen got the view of her deceased friend lying lifeless on a stretcher as well. A coroner covers her face with a sheet before wheeling her towards a vehicle.

1994.

K. looked down in despair. "I told everyone the story of how she died, how I died. The story I just told you. And no one believed me."

Deena, Angelica and Josh continued sitting on the floor. Josh looked toward the floor then back at the older woman. "Wait. You're Kathleen?"

She nods.

"And Nick?"

"Cindy believed me. But Nick..."

~~

Nick stood beside the stretcher, looking down at her. A serious expression plastered on his face.

"It was her. Sarah Fier, the witch."

I thought he was different, but that was because he was the father of my child. I thought he believed me.

The early morning light shines down in camp Nightwing as police and ambulance sirens sounded as the red and blue lights lit the dimly lit setting. Bunny laid in the ambulance with her girlfriend, scared for what the future holds for her.

But Nick has a destiny in this town. And you don't become sheriff talking about ghost stories.

~~

"I couldn't see him again. Not after that. But Cindy, we stayed together and even tied the not in 1987. She later adopted Angel -- Angelica."

Deena and Josh glanced at Angelicas as her brows extend, shocked at her mom's words. She now understood the reason why she had two mom's.

"The witch... The town curse... For one night, Cindy believed that there was a way to end it. So I thought there was too."

The three teens stand up straight, looking over at Kathleen.

"We found the body off Highway 5 in the woods between Shadyside and Sunnyvale."

"That's not possible."

"Oh, it's there, Mom. Trust us." Angelicas says.

"The chains, the bones, the whole thing," Josh adds.

"That could be anyone."

"Why do you think our friends died? For the same reason they killed Alice, Ziggy. The killers came after us because we found something they didn't want us to fine. And I wish to God that it never happened, but we found it. "

"Mom, we found what you were looking for in '78. We found Sarah Fier. Look, please, we... Nurse Lane was right. We can end the curse by reuniting the hand with the body. And we know where the body is, so all we need is the hand."

"What happened to Camp Nightwing? Is the hand bone still there? Is it still buried underneath the hanging tree?" Deena asks.

The three of them pile into the vehicle and drive towards Shadyside Mall, parking before stepping inside. The main entrance gave Angelica anxiety from what happened here a couple nights ago, but she carries on as the three teens kneel. They dig through the red moss frantically before uncovering the mysterious hand bone as Angelica gasps. They look at each other.

~~

Kathleen stands in front of her counter, phone up to her ear as it rings. A few seconds later, a woman speaks.

"Union County Sheriff's department."

"I... I need to talk to Nick... Sheriff Goode."

Looking into the distance, Kathleen stayed quiet.

~~

Angelica sits in the passenger seat as Deena sits in front of the wheel. In the back, Josh sits as he becomes worried.

"Lock the doors."

"No, we're coming with you!" Deena shouts.

"No, you guys are not."

"Angelica... Your nose is bleeding." Josh speaks.

Angelica wipes the blood with her fingers, looking at the puddle resting on the tips of her fingers. She makes eye contact with Deena as her brows furrow, rising before resting her hand on the passenger side door. "I'll be back."

"Wait. Angelica! Angelica!" Josh calls.

She shuts the door before entering the woods, kneeling in front of the varsity jacket that holds Sarah Fier's bones. She uncovers the skelital remains, nose bleeding again as she wipes the blood with her fingers, grabbing the hand bone. She looks at the bones, Kate and Simon flash through her mind.

"I got you,"

Angelica sets the hand bone on top of Sarah's other skeletal remains. Her eyes widen, she zones out as red tinted scenes flash. The blonde haired Elizabeth leans forward, holding a broom in her hand. Angelica stands in the same place, clutching the same broom.

"Elizabeth!"

Angelica looks up.

[dementedfilament]

Hallow

Rattling brought the candles to a tremble, then rocked the entire room. A few of the alumni gasped as they peered around frantically.

Holding himself together, John tapped on Cherry’s shoulder. “Hey. Could you, uh, hold onto this for me?”

“Huh, why?”

He presented a small slip of paper with writing foreign to them both. “I, uh…I’m afraid of tearing it. My hands are shaking. See?”

“Oh, I do see!” She firmly held the paper in her fingers. “Okay! I’ll be really careful with it! Promise!”

“Thanks. And…I forgot. What was your name again? I'm John Isaac De Cartes.”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Cherry! Cherry Price!”

“Nice to meet you too.”

Cedric quickly lifted his candle and released a puff, casting the claustrophobic room in darkness. Then, he laced a beaded necklace around his hands and began chanting a different string of words—a language that only Hestia (and to some degree, Lilith and Maggie) was familiar with.

The very ground itself felt as though it was rumbling. Banging upon the paper walls erupted from every angle, nearly drowning out the voice of the witch heading them all. Candles began toppling, sending the alumni to cling onto one another for balance and comfort as the sudden chill of the room crawled up their spines.

Cedric’s voice grew louder. Combatting it again was the sound of paper tearing as decayed fingers mercilessly clawed through. The moans of vengeful dead poured through the fresh tears.

As they were warned prior to the evening, the group all held onto their screams for dear life.

“Those are the last humans!” Eulalia cried behind the bloodthirsty horde. “Stop them and bring them to the plaza!”

Cedric’s face tightened as his chant sped up. Without breaking the circle, Clarissa jumped up and clasped a hand over Alina’s mouth as an arm burst through the wall and grasped for her. Decayed, blood-shot eyes peaked through the holes as more fingers scratched and shredded the thin paper barrier.

Eulalia emitted a pained growl. “Enough! Silence the witch!”

The smell of decay and stray flame permeated the freezing air. The assault on the walls didn’t cease in the slightest, but grew even more desperate behind Cedric. Sweat beaded on his face.

Without a word, Lilith signaled to Maggie, and they both placed a hand over his ears.

“Stop!” Eulalia commanded in a strained scream. “Stop this at once!”

Rising his words above the commotion, Cedric then raised the necklace above his head. A hidden blade slipped out of the handle on the end, and he pierced the ground before him.

Agonized roars deafened their senses. One by one, the beads exploded around the necklace until only the thread and dagger were left behind.

One last phrase came from under his breath.

Then, silence.

…

Only the distant destruction of the city surrounded them now.

As those holding their breath steadied their hearts, the witch released his grip on the knife and collapsed.

Scaretober 2023

Brisk Wind on a Dark Trail

Midnight Moon

Gargoyle's Watch

Cold Stones in the Fog

Spirits Rising

Haunted House

Witching Hour

Bubbling Cauldron

Candy

Eyes

Spider Silk

Feathers

Tail

Scales

Fangs or Talons

An Offering of Blood

Dark Ritual

Spook Scary Skeletons

Carnivàle Morte

Still-Beating Heart

Sharpened Blade

Mask

Looming Shadows

The Devil's Hand

Monster

Reflection in the Mirror

Rusted Chains

Stitches

Precious Jewels

Incantation

Halloween

Epilogue

#[ Familiar Faces through the Storm ] #word spores #Maggie's Misadventures #writeblr #writing prompts #scaretober #halloween prompts #Cedric Blair #John Isaac De Cartes #Cherry Price #Eulalia Blackshaw #Alina Kotova #Clarissa Parker #Lilith Nightingale #Magdalene Holly

[sekhisadventures]

Preparations

CONTENT WARNING: This chapter contains a depiction of ritualized murder, sexual intercourse, and ritual cannibalism. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Torghast

The tower of the damned was mostly devoid of guards now, almost all the Jailer’s forces sent to lay siege to Zereth Mortis. From inside the halls came the faint wail of souls, left chained and forgotten, spiked and impaled, set ablaze in soul forges, or otherwise left to their torments without their tormentors which they often found were still quite tormenting all on their own.

A soul lay discarded where a guard had left it after toying with it for a while, too drained of anima to move, and slowly a mawrat drew close, it’s nose twitching. Mawrats, like any other denizens of the Shadowlands, consumed anima for food, and the soul still had enough to fill it’s small belly. It padded closer, opening it’s jaws as the soul weakly raised one spectral arm and whimpered… before a massive purple foot came down, crushing the rat with a sickening crunch!

The soul paused, looking behind itself. “… who… are you here to save me? A maw walker?” it asked, its voice so faded as if to be a faint suggestion, impossible to tell who or what it was in life.

“No.” came the reply, and in a flash of purple light and a scream the soul was pulled into a glowing crystal, slipped into a pouch with the others as Dissonantia growled, looking around. “Bugger this for a lark, where IS he?” she snarled impatiently, taking out a small object on a string.

She held it out in front of her, the object twisting in the wind. She’d found it in Suramar and had considered it extremely lucky she had. She knew it’d come in handy, and today was its day to shine.

It was a large, pointed piece of white polished bone, a sharp tip on one end with several smaller bits on the other end where it connected to the rest of the skeleton. Some might think it a tooth, but it was massive. Rather, it was a tusk, from a very specific orc.

It was inscribed with a fel rune, put there by Dissonantia’s claw, and at the moment it was a compass.

She let it dangle, then watched the tusk twitch and pull, the warlock looking up, then smirking. “This way.” she grunted as Az’arad nodded, following behind his mistress.

Good thing that Zereth Mortis was so busy right now, nobody would notice her slipping away for a bit. She knew that she wouldn’t have time for this later, but she needed to know this now.

She’d been in Ardenweald, she’d seen the sandstorm. The rest she wasn’t worried about but THAT? That gave the witch pause. As they rounded a corner a few remaining guards turned another corner, seeing the intruder and yelling an oath to their master Zovaal before charging. It really was quite horrible what Az’arad did to them, Dissonantia kicking their discarded armor aside, checking the tooth again, then walking down another hallway… then pausing in front of a massive iron maiden.

The tusk was pulling right towards it, extending horizontally from the string like a dog on a leash. “Gotcha.” she grinned, nodding to the Wrathguard and jerking her head at the torture device.

Az’arad grinned, then holstered his axe, shoved his fingers between the metal doors, and with a loud anguished scream of metal the device was wrenched open with such force one of the doors was torn clean off.

Inside was the soul of an orc, his back twisted and wrecked as it was in life, his hands impaled on two of the bigger spikes inside the iron maiden, the smaller ones piercing his spectral flesh throughout.

“Who…” he gasped, raising his head, his eyes still showing the same red glow despite him being only a spirit.

“Ello there, my name’s Dissonantia… and you, boyo, are Gul’dan.” replied the Worgen.

“Gul… dan?” it gasped, “Yes… I was…” he blinked, as if coming out of the depths of a nightmare. “Kil’jadeen promised me… he said… if I opened the way I would stand at his right hand… I did all he asked… all he… but…” he shuddered, remembering the hand gripping his throat, the feeling of felfire boiling him alive from within, the pain, the agony… then nothing… and then even more pain and agony than he’d ever imagined. Even what he did to that human king had been nothing compared to the Hell he'd landed in.

“Oi oi! None of that!” she growled, smacking his spectral cheek. “I need information. I’m a warlock with wut you might call a… shaman problem… and I hear yez an expert at stiflin’ the element’s voices with fel magic.” she smirked.

“I… Oshu’gun… we had the dreadlords surround it, seal it away… tortured the Furies until they turned on each other… I…” he muttered, the formerly fiery and cunning warlock having all defiance beaten out of him in Torghast.

“Hmm… nope, that won’t do. I need somefin’ small scale. Just one shaman…” she rumbled.

The spectral orc thought, his eyes blinking slowly. He considered subterfuge, but in his weakend state he couldn’t even come up with a single lie. “… a… sayaad… a succubi or incubi… they can… affect the minds of mortals and turn invisible. One nearby could entrance a shaman, not entirely deafen them, but confuse their minds…” he muttered.

Dissonantia grinned, “Ooooo, why didn’t I think of that?” she cackled, “Well well, seems I’ve got some summonin’ to do. This’ll be FUN!”

Next to her Az’arad grumbled, glancing at the worgen.

She smirked, “O wot, ya jealous Azzy? C’mon, oi may need one o’ th’ pretties, but yer still me main boy.” she nodded, patting his bicep. “Roight, got wut we came fer. Lets get the feck outta this dump.” she nodded, turning on her heel and heading back along the path she’d been marking out as she came in.

As she did Gul’dan’s head came up, “W-wait!” he gasped, “Please… I… if you’re not going to free me… at least… tell me… h-how long… please, how long has it been? How many centuries have I been trapped in this nightmare?!” he gasped.

She paused, smirking at Az’arad, who smirked back. “… umm… just shy o’ three years.” she replied.

The spectral warlock’s eyes bulged, his jaw dropping. “Three… its… its only been three years?” he whispered, then his chest started heaving as he began to chuckle, “Three years?! All the pain, the torture, the flames and the torments and its ONLY BEEN THREE YEARS?!” he threw back his head and cackled madly, the spikes digging into his spectral flesh as his head met the inside of the iron maiden, and yet he didn’t seem to care… his laughter carried down the empty corridors as Dissonatia walked casually towards the exit, until it finally became an anguished scream of impotent fury and despair, then quiet sobbing by someone who was once great and powerful, now brought so very very low.

Dissonantia however exited Torghast, grinning at this idea. She’d never been able to contract with one of the seducers before as the ritual called for, well, seduction and nobody was going to be seduced by an old crone like she was… but thanks to the anima from Revendreth, things had changed. Her body shimmered and suddenly a young woman of twenty was standing there, her long crimson hair hanging down her back as her delicate fingers worked through it. She’d even managed to learn how to hide her horns in her human form. “Roight then Azzy…” she said, her voice still accented but a lot lighter. “We need ta find a strappin’ young man… and a very sharp knife…” she smirked.

Stormwind City, Two Days Later, Late Night

If bedsprings had been invented, they would be making a terrible racket, but most beds were stuffed with straw in Stormwind and thus it was just a loud rustling. The young man couldn’t believe his luck. He’d just signed on with the guard, had been taken drinking by his friends to celebrate, and there was this red haired angel of a woman who seemed so impressed by his new uniform that she wanted to make sure ‘soldier boy’ started off his career with a bang.

The woman on top of him sure seemed intent on that, the way she was going you’d think she hadn’t had any fun in years, she was practically howling and all he had to do was lay there and hold onto her hips for dear life.

“B-by the Liiiiiight…” he gasped out, pushing upwards… and as he did he suddenly felt a tingling all over his body, and his arms went limp, as did the rest of him… save for… well… you know...

He looked around, his eyes still able to move and his lungs still working but found that he couldn’t lift even the smallest finger.

“Oh, sorry boyo, didn’t expect it to kick in that fast…” chuckled the woman, pointing a finger at a pair of wine glasses. He only now noticed that her’s was still full, while his was empty. “But I needed ya helpless fer this bit.” she grinned, reaching into her pouch and pulling out a dagger inlaid with fel runes, the same one she’d used in the Blasted Lands all those years ago… some of their dried blood still visible on it.

The young man’s eyes widened in horror as she held it up over his chest… and grinned, and her grin widened, and widened, as her body became larger, and hairier, her eyes turning a glowing blood red and horns sprouting from her forehead. “Yer daddy never warned yez ta be careful who yez bed down with? Pity that… things ain’t always wut they seem eh?” she sneered, the naked worgen aiming the dagger at his chest. “Not that it’ll matter in… eh, gimme five minutes, th’ bloody ribcage is always a bit of a bitch.” she grinned, her eyes glowing a deep bloody red suddenly as the runes on the dagger lit up as if on fire… and then the dagger came down, and the young man’s career in the city guard came to a sudden premature end.

Some smacks from her fists, enhanced by the strength of her worgen form, later to break the ribs away and she reached into his chest cavity, pulling out his still beating heart. The young man gasped for breath, bleeding out on the now ruined bed, his chest opened like a pig at the butcher’s.

“Heart of innocence corrupted… taken at lust’s height… I consume you, to call forth that which consumes all purity! Wicked as a demon am I, I call yez!” she intoned, then opened her jaw wide and shoved the heart to it as her fangs came down hard.

To become Illidari, one had to eat a demon’s heart to take the demon’s power into themselves.

To summon demons, one often had to do acts of depravity… but sometimes, there’s a bit of overlap.

As the young man bled out Dissonantia sat atop him, licking the blood from her claws. “Mmmn, not bad, coulda used some mustard…” she muttered, then glanced over at the sound of applause.

Sitting nearby on a chair, legs crossed with a smirk on its face, was a beautiful young man applauding as if he’d just enjoyed an amusing performance at a theater… except, his skin was a deep rose red, his eyes were a glowing icy blue, and he had long horns growing back from his forehead. A pair of massive wings spread out behind him, and his legs, from the knee down, were scaled and ending in hooves. A long whip-like tail swished next to him, and a loincloth was his only single hint at modesty.

“Oh VERY Good! Well done indeed! All the right elements. Youth defiled, innocence destroyed, trust betrayed, and even a clever little joke about mustard! Well done m’lady!” he laughed, his voice lyrical and pleasing to the ear… yet venomous all the same. Like how a snake’s scales can be beautiful, or the curve of a dagger can be attractive.

She smirked, climbing off the young man and wincing a bit as his… well, rigor mortis had definitely started to set in there. “I do try…” she sneered back, “Incubi is yez?” she asked.

“Oh no, I’m just a very handsome draenei.” he replied with a chuckle as if there wasn’t a fresh corpse not five feet away. “So, my summoner, what do you offer me for my service?” he asked.

“Yez know me, you lot can see souls, look inta mine ‘n see how we’re alike.” she smirked.

The incubi put a finger to his chin and narrowed his eyes, pouting his lips, “Hmmm, oh my… oh my my yes, you’re just back in the game after quite some time. Pity you mortals have to age but well well WELL you found a way around that! Anima? How intriguing!” he chuckled. “My fair worgeness, I can see life as your demon would be quite full of interest and excitement indeed.” he smirked, then looked at her claws. “Ah… but it does have to be YOUR blood… perhaps a wash first?” he suggested, pointing to the basin nearby.

Dissonantia looked down at her claws, “Mmm, ‘e was a juicy bugger wasn’t ‘e?” she nodded, shifting back to human and scrubbing the remains off her arms and hands, then came back and after transforming back to her worgen form she cut her palm, extending her hand. “Roight then. I, Dissonantia, bind myself to yez.”

The demon chuckled, extending one perfectly manicured finger… as the nail suddenly shot out two inches and became sharp as a razor, slicing his palm. Hot blood the same color as a fine grape wine swelled in the wound. “And I, Cenoon of the Incubi, bind myself to you… my Mistress.” he smiled back, standing and clasping his bleeding hand to her own.

After a bit more of a wash Dissonantia dressed herself and walked out of the house in her human form. Walking along beside her was an incredibly handsome young man dressed in fine rose-colored silks who, as he passed, several young men and women paused to watch him go past, a few walking into things as they did… including a dwarf who got very angry about that.

About ten minutes later Quzgup got the signal, lit the bottle of lamp oil under the young man’s bed, and all the windows in the house blew out as the bed burst into flames.

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#warcraft #warcraft roleplay #fanfiction #adventures in azeroth #shadowlands

[travlersjoy444]

Strange Things in Eclipse Lake (Hunter/Golden Guard x Reader)

TOH Hunter/Golden Guard x Reader

My first Owl House fic! :)

Word count: 4.1k

*******

I gripped the mask tightly as I painted it’s chipped surface. The gold paint was all over my hands, but it wouldn’t matter once I got my gloves on. I used a fire glyph to dry the paint, and looped the mask over my head. In the mirror, I looked intimidating. Eyes are the window to the soul, so with a mask that covered those, I was mostly unrecognizable. It only covered my eyes, but I had a fabric mask if I needed to cover my mouth too.

I checked my bag, making sure I had everything I’d need…glyphs, pens, a notepad, bandage, a few potions…good. I laced my boots and pulled on my gloves. Time to go.

I threw the window open and hopped onto my staff. My palisman, a little cat skeleton, suited me as the kid who was way too into Halloween in the human world…but here, I was the Moon Witch.

The sky was beautiful, but I didn’t have time for that. I was on a mission today, and had no time to lose. Eda had called me to help her find titan’s blood on the knee, and she had saved my butt too many times for me to deny any of her requests.

It took a while to get to the knee, so in the meantime I thought about…life. The mask was necessary because I was a wild witch. With it on, I was the Moon Witch- one of the most powerful witches on the boiling isles after Lilith and Eda lost their magic- but with it off, I was just…(Y/N), I guess. I envied the Moon Witch when I was (Y/N). It was easy to wisecrack and be boisterous behind a mask, but as (Y/N), I had to deal with the anxieties and pressures of normal life. Without my prowess as a powerful witch and a force to reckon with, I was treated differently….because (Y/N) was a powerless witch. Well, to be fair, so was the Moon Witch, but I had glyphs and my palisman as the Moon Witch. As (Y/N), I had to give those up so that no one would realize we were the same person. And…it sucked. It really sucked.

I used to have friends who lacked magic too, but…well, I don’t know. We lost touch. Stopped talking. The usual. It didn’t help that I lived in the human world for a few years, and didn’t contact my old friends at all.

Well..’friends’ is generous. It was one friend, but whatever.

I pulled my coat tighter. It was getting colder…I must be approaching the destination.

“Moony! Bone cat! There ya are!”

Eda!

I hopped off my staff. “Eda! King! I’ve missed you guys!” I grinned and ran towards them.

“It’s been forever, kid! What’ve you been up to outside of messing with the Emperor?”

I shrugged. “Oh, you know…running my potions stand, taking down my wanted posters, painting things that don’t belong to me…the usual. Who’s lavender-head over there?”

“This is Amity-”

“I’m Amity Blight. You’re…you’re the Moon Witch, aren’t you?”

I nodded, smiling. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m probably gonna keep calling you Lavender.”

She sighed. “I guess it could be worse.”

“So Eda, is this the ‘new apprentice’ of yours I’ve been hearing about? Wait- you’re not a human, are ya Lavender. So…who is this ‘new apprentice’?”

“Luz the human. Boots here is my apprentice’s new girlfriend!”

“Cuuute. Is the human hot?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“W-well, yeah-” She blushed.

“Good for you Lavender! Glad you’re living your best life!” I turned to Eda. “Just out of curiosity…what is the mission anyways?”

“Just getting some titan blood to build a portal. Y’know, the usual.” Eda shrugged.

“Ugh, look. This place is crawling with tools.” King growled, staring at the Emperor’s scouts from behind a tree..

“Yeah, what gives?” I frowned, turning towards them. “I mean, titan blood is valuable, but….isn’t that excessive?”

“Well we can't afford to mess this up. Luz is counting on me!” Amity declared, before coughing a bit. “Ahem. I mean, us.”

I paused, ears perking up. “Hey, does anyone hear the sound of screaming?” I looked towards the hill.

“Get back!” I yelped, gripping my staff. There was a person falling down the hill! They landed at my feet…wait.

“A coven scout.” I snarled.

The scout threw themself backwards and held up their hands. “Uh, yes, I am but a humble scout and I surrender.” They stammered. I narrowed my eyes.

“Well, that was easy!”

Eda stepped forward, raising an eyebrow. “Not so fast, King. Don't you recognize that annoying voice?”

The Golden Guard. I’d fought him before, as the Moon Witch.

“Why does everyone say that?” He grumbled, sounding hurt. He looked back up, and there was a beat of silence- aaaand he’s running away. Shoot.

“Don't let him get away!” Yelled Eda. I was on my staff, when-

Amity quickly summoned her abomination goo, and used it to tie up Goldie. He yelped and fell down.

“Nice one, Lavender!” I grinned as we surrounded the Golden guard. “Looks like you managed to capture Belos' right-hand man!”

Amity gasped. “The Golden Guard? He’s a lot... scrawnier than I imagined.”

Unmasked, he was different from how I imagined him too, to be honest. Despite the boyish voice and height, I expected him to look older…and less battered…Titan, he looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. I felt a twinge of sympathy…and it doubled as I noticed the large scar on his face and his torn ear.

“Dang it, Moon Witch,” He grumbled, revealing a gap between his front teeth.

“Hiiiiiiiii Goldie, how’ve you been?” I grinned, unsure if my flamboyance was genuine or not. “Did ya miss me? Admit it, you missed me,” I teased as I helped him up.

Instead of responding with his usual banter, he just looked away.

Huh.

*******

Eda turned towards the Golden Guard as we walked through the tunnels. “You know, Luz told me about a trip to Latissa where she met someone very interesting. ‘A beat-up blonde with no magical powers,’ she called him, and these are her words: A bad but sad boy.”

I looked over to Goldie, who was turning pink. “Wait, really?”

“Yup!” Eda cackled. King And I burst into laughter.

Goldie glared at us. “If I ever see that human again-”

“Watch it.” Growled Amity.

I tuned out their arguing to think about Goldie. I felt like I had seen his face before, somewhere…I racked through my brain, trying to remember where I’d seen it.

A part of me recalled hanging out with an old friend, one who had ashy blond hair and magenta eyes…but Hunter was a powerless witch like me. This was the Golden Guard.

Still…the similarities were there…huh.

“...I will throw you off the tallest peak of the knee with a smile…”

I jumped as I heard a familiar voice up ahead. Kikimora…or ‘Hand Witch”, as I liked to call her. Yeah…that poor girl is going through something.

“She's blocking the path to Eclipse Lake.” Muttered Amity, staring over the rock we hid behind.

“We should create a distraction.” Goldie said softly.

“We should create a distraction! You kids wait for my signal.” Eda said loudly, grabbing King and running off.

“Huh, that was easy! When they're caught, you and me can take the Titan blood for ourselves.” Goldie said, turning towards me.

“Hell no. Those are my idiots, Golden Guard.” I scoffed.

“And stop talking like we're a team!” Lavender snapped.

“We might as well be. The Owl Lady and her pet have nothing at stake, unlike us. And Moon Witch…you’re the most powerful witch outside of the Emperor’s Coven. Why waste your time on stuff like this?”

“Because my friends asked for my help. Duh.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s called loyalty, dude.” I shrugged and ruffled his hair. He shot me a death glare.

“Yeah, you have no idea what you're talking -” Amity paused as something in her pocket beeped. “I was gonna say, you have no-” It beeped again. Defeated, she pulled it out to check her messages.

“Oof, that doesn't look good.” Goldie said, reading the message. I leaned over his shoulder to see a line of sad emoticons. I frowned. Maybe Eda’s apprentice is a jerk.

Amity shoved him. “Stay back!...B-But what doesn't look good?”

“Seems clear to me. Come back with results or else... You can figure out the rest.” Shrugged the Golden Guard. I hated to admit it, but it seemed like he was right.

“We have a lot in common, Blight. We're both trying to show what we can bring to the table. And we can't fail, 'cause there's nothing worse than disappointing someone who thinks you're special.” the Golden Guard continued.

I stared at both of them with sympathy.

“You guys okay? That…that isn’t the healthiest mindset…Quick, Goldie, say something stupid. Make me stop feeling bad for you.”

“Uhhh…your mask is gold too, so it’s dumb that you call me ‘Goldie’.”

“Shut up, it’s bronze.” I said, tossing my hair.

But it didn’t work…I still felt bad for him. Well, both of them.

Amity looked down sadly. I reached towards her hesitantly, pretending I didn’t notice that Goldie was watching me judgmentally.

“Hey, um…Amity…For the record, if Luz the human is that strict, then you’re better off without her. You’ve got a lot going for you…so far, you’ve proven to be quick-thinking, brave, and pretty, so…don’t beat yourself up too much, okay? Sorry…I’m not very good at this mushy stuff…”

“Thanks Moon Witch. But Luz is worth it.”

“Amity nO-” I yelped as she cast a fireball.

Eda came running towards us. “ Why didn't you wait for our signal?” She snapped as the fire bounced off the cavern walls.

Amity stood up. “We don't have time to play around. We are getting that Titan blood!”

*******

“Hey! Find a different perch, bird.” Goldie muttered to a little red bird that seemed to be following us.

“Aw, it likes you!” I whispered. “How rare!”

He glared at me.

“Kidding, kidding. We may disagree on…well, whether or not my existence is valid, but you’re one of my favorite foes, Golden boy.”

“Is that your idea of a compliment?” He frowned.

I shrugged. “Yes?”

“Oh. Well…thanks. I guess.”

I nodded, and looked up. Amity, Eda, and King were a few paces ahead of us, so I was unofficially tasked with monitoring Goldie.

“Hey…Moon? What you said back there, to the Blight girl…about people not being worth it? Did you mean it?”

I shrugged. “I don’t tell lies very often.”

“Technically, you are a lie” He said, changing the subject. “I mean, what would happen if I took off your mask? We both know Moon isn’t your real name.”

The (Y/N) side of me swallowed uncomfortably. But the Moon Witch answered with full confidence.

“I could say the same of you, Golden Guard.”

“But you’ve seen my face. It isn’t a fair tradeoff.” Yes. His creepily familiar face.

“Maybe not. Oh well!” I said hastily, and caught up with the others. “Hurry up, Goldilocks.”

“What does that even mean?” Amity said, raising an eyebrow.

“Goldilocks? Oh, it’s a human fable about a blond child who gets eaten by bears.”

“...comforting.” Amity frowned.

We continued through the cavern until we reached a room filled with blue orbs.

“Is this... Titan's blood?” Eda gasped.

“Who knew blood would be so….pretty,” I whispered. I leaned towards some, only for the Golden Guard to shove me out of the way.

“NO-”

“Hey!” I snapped.

“That’s Fool’s blood. Don’t touch it.” He ordered.

“Oh, so you can keep it all for yourself? Pfft, hard pass!” Eda snorted. She reached for Owlbert and cracked open the orb- But the crack grew, and expanded through the floor. I jumped back, heart racing.

Eda chuckled nervously as it expanded.

I held my breath.

The crack on the floor widened. I realized what would happen a second before it did, but it was too late. The crack widened into a chasm, and swallowed King and Eda into its depths.

“NO! No, no, nononono…” I gripped my staff, and Amity followed suit.

“Wait! Take me with you!” The Golden Guard said, sounding on the verge of panic.

“Yoo-hoo, Golden Guard!” Called someone in the distance. Hand Witch.

“At least untie me so I can escape!” He said, truly panicking now.

She stared at me for guidance.

“Amity…” I wanted to say ‘leave him here’, but there was something desperate in his eyes.

“Please, I don't want to be replaced.” He choked out.

Maskless and begging, my oh-so-formidable foe looked vulnerable. And his face was that of a child…

“Do it.” I murmured.

“Ugh, fine!” Amity sighed. “So, where will you go now?”

“Now…” He looked at his unbound arms, and I immediately knew I made the wrong choice.

He knocked Amity down and practically dove into a minecart.

“..Now I get to Eclipse Lake before anyone! BYYEEEEE!” He yelled, waving obnoxiously.

“Okay, Lavender, here’s the plan- you get the Clawthornes and I stop the Golden Guard, ‘kay?” I spat. She nodded, turning to face Hand Witch while I flew after Goldie.

“Moon?” He frowned as I caught up to his minecart.

“Heya, Goldilocks.”

“Well, glad you’re here. It’s more interesting than doing this alone.” He patted the spot next to him on the minecart.

“You seriously think I’m gonna sit with you, as if we’re on some…I don’t know, rollercoaster?! Only FRIENDS go on roller coaster rides together!”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you miiight need to duck, because there’s some rock formations here that could take off your head if you’re not in the minecart…Ooh! Like that one!” He pointed towards an oncoming rock. I panicked and dove downwards, hitting the ground.

“Ow!” I yelped, looking down to see I had scraped my knees pretty badly.

“I hate to say I told you so, but for the record, I totally told you sooo!” Yelled the Golden Guard’s voice as he faded into the distance. I sighed and hopped back onto my staff.

This time, I hopped into the minecart, not meeting his oddly familiar eyes.

“Seeeee! I was right.” He smirked.

“You’re an idiot. But credit where credit’s due, I guess.” I shrugged. “Hey- What’s with that cardinal? I thought you hated wild magic.”

He frowned. “I…I think it likes me? I don’t know, it won’t leave me alone.”

I nodded excitedly. “Sounds like you- Mr. I-hate-wild-everything- have a palisman!”

“Maybe I do. What’s it to you?”

“Adorable,” I chuckled.

He rolled his eyes, but smiled. “Of course it is.”

There was a beat of silence.

“You know…It’s kinda nice, not wanting to kill you for a bit.” Goldie said lightly.

I nodded. “It is. Weirdly, I think that under different circumstances…we might even be friends.”

“...well, you said that only friends go on roller coaster rides together…so maybe, just until we get to eclipse lake, we’re friends?” He said, looking up to meet my eyes.

I chuckled, before noticing the hint of anxiety that flashed across his face.”

“Sorry. I’m not laughing at you, just…our circumstance, y’know? One second you’re terrible, the next second I actually like you, the next I feel bad for you…And now here I am, at least temporarily friends with the Golden Guard.”

“...Hunter.” He mumbled.

“Huh?”

“My name. It’s not Goldie or Golden Guard…It’s Hunter.”

“Hunter, eh?” I said, trying it out. “Well. It suits you.” I smiled bittersweetly. A part of me wanted to share my name, but I knew that if I did, someone would start to connect the dots between the Moon Witch and (Y/N) (L/N).

Wait.

Hunter….What was it that Eda said earlier? A beat up blond with no magical powers!

Was he the same Hunter?

“Hey…Hunter, so…you don’t have magical powers then?” I said slowly.

He snorted. “I’m gonna kill that human. But…uh…no. I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but…I’m a powerless witch. And my staff is just artificial magic.”

I shrugged. “Well…I’m not judging. Join the club, Goldielocks- We’ll call it Moon’s powerless coven. Or Moon and Hunter’s powerless coven.”

“Wait…you’re a powerless witch too?! But you have all your spells and potions and-”

“Anyone can make a potion, firstly, and secondly…you mind if I take your hand?”

He stared at me hesitantly, but held it out nonetheless.

“Here…ta-da!” I grinned, drawing a light glyph. “Now all you do is open your fist, and…”

There was a flash of light as the glowing orb floated from his hand.

“You…you use glyph magic! Like the human!”

I smiled. “Yup. So you know about glyphs?”

“Yes! I’m so- ….not allowed to talk about them. Moon, this is dangerous. But maybe Emperor Belos can help you, like how he helped me.”

My heart hardened. “Hunter, I respect you, so forgive me when I say that I’d rather die.”

There was a click as the cart reached Eclipse lake.

Hunter stared at me, looking remorseful for a split second. ���We’re here. So I guess that could be arranged.”

I smirked. “Okay, Golden Guard- unless I beat you to the bood! See ya!” I grinned and hopped onto my staff, sticking out my tongue.

But I soon realized that maybe neither of us would get our happy endings today.

The lake was dry.

Resigned, I flew back to Hunter.

He was staring out at the empty lake, eyes wide.

“You’re…you’re kidding. B-Belos is gonna kill me….”

“Hey…you okay?” I mumbled, floating closer.

“Belos is gonna kill me and dance on my grave. I’m- I’m dead. Ha! Dead!” He broke into a slightly unhinged laugh.

Well I guess that answers my question. He was definitely not okay.

“What’re you doing? Hunter-”

He had dropped to his knees and started digging.

“I…I’m sorry, man. There isn’t any titan blood here, no matter how much you dig.”

“I know.” He grinned. “This is my grave! I’ll make you one too, if you want.” He sounded unsettlingly happy, but it was laced with hysteria. Yet again, I caught myself wondering when he last slept.

I knelt down. “Why do you serve Belos, anyways? I mean…if you’re so…scared of him…”

“I’m the problem, not him! I guess you wouldn’t get it.”

I frowned. “I…No. I don’t get it. But maybe if you wanna talk about it, I’ll start to understand?”

“Why do you even care?!”

“Because…I don’t know.…you don’t deserve this. I understand not wanting to fail, but…jeez.”

“It’s more than that! Since I failed my last mission, I thought: ‘Hey, a chance to make up for it!’ But I can't go back empty-handed!” He broke into hysterical laughter, before shivering. “Not again.”

“Okay, that isn’t anywhere near healthy…good grief, what does Belos do to you?!” I said, beginning to wonder how he truly got the scar on his face.

“Mmph.” He grunted, flopping face first onto the ground. “If you’re gonna keep talking, could you at least help me out?”

“Yes!” I grinned, offering him my hand. It was too good to be true! “We’ll fly out of here, and I’ll get you therapy! You can help me run my day job…you’ll be safe. I’ll teach you glyph magic too!”

He slowly reached for my outstretched hand…

…And dropped a pile of dirt in it.

“No, I meant like, help bury me.”

“Hunter, I’m not burying you. That’s…no. Wow, this is depressing!”

“Moon Witch! Golden Guard! There you are!” Yelled a familiar voice.

“Hey, Lavender.” I said. My voice came out more defeated than I meant for it to.

“Don't worry, I won't pick a fight, there's no Titan blood.” Hunter said, combing dirt through his hair. I cringed.

“Then why are you digging?” Amity frowned.

Hunter gave another unhinged laugh. “It's simple really, Belos needs Titan blood to make a new portal key. Can't get to the human realm without it!”

Amity paused, gripping a necklace she wore. “There's blood in the key?”

King coughed, staring at us. “This is really bumming me out.” He muttered.

Hunter chuckled. “ That's just life, rat. Everyone has a use, and if you don't- pllbbt! Buh-bye! Your friends get it.”

I stared at him. I was seriously concerned for this kid. While King and Amity mumbled amongst themselves, I scooted closer to Hunter, who was lying facedown in the dirt.

“Hey…you wanna, like, talk about it?”

“Go find a better witch to talk to.” He mumbled.

Amity looked up at me for a moment before looking back to Hunter.

“You know, you were right.” She began, stepping towards him. “We do have a lot in common. I grew up thinking everything was an opportunity to justify existing, but there are people out there who won't make you feel worthless, you just... have to let yourself meet them.”

I smiled. “Like you and Luz.”

Amity smiled too. “Exactly!”

She reached her hand towards Hunter. He looked at it, and slowly got up.

Amity frowned. “What are you...?”

Hunter lunged at her for some reason. I hopped up, jumping into action.

“Oh come on, being nice usually works for Luz!” Amity snapped, reaching for her abomination magic.

“Hunter, what the heck?!” I yelled, shoving him away from her.

“Get back, Moon-”

“Uh, no! You just attacked Amity!”

“You don’t get it!” He snapped.

“SO TELL ME!” I screamed, blocking his punch.

Hunter ran at Amity again. King tried to scream at him, but the cardinal palisman blocked the sonic wave. Hunter grabbed it as it turned into a staff.

He rocked backwards, not used to teleportation with a real staff. He gave a quick yelp before diving towards Amity again. I flickered in front of her to block him.

He barreled into me, knocking both of us down. I tried to shove him away, but he kept hitting me.

“Moon, this isn’t your fight!” He growled.

“Why isn’t it?!”

“Just-it isn’t!” He shoved me down and pinned me to the wall with my unconscious staff. I reached for my glyphs, only to see him holding my satchel. I stared up in horror as he tried a fire glyph.

“Sorry Moon, it’s for your own good. I gotta bring these to the Emperor.”

“HUNTER!”

He looked back to me, genuine sympathy flashing across his face. “It really is. Wild magic will hurt you….I know the conformatoriam isn’t ideal, maybe I can get Belos to let you join the coven instead!” He gave a smile that would have been sweet in any other context. For once, I wished he could see my eyes just to truly see how angry I was.

“Screw the coven. I’d rather die.”

He stared at me sadly, before Amity hit him from behind.

Amity tied Hunter up again, but he managed to escape. I watched helplessly as he fired energy blasts at Amity, forcing her to dodge. I started to sob involuntarily. I was the Moon Witch, I should be out there! Amity shouldn’t have to deal with this…

Hunter snarled. “You really wanna help? Then give me that key!”

He used the staff to yank the key away, but Amity grabbed it as Hunter pinned her arm to the wall. She held a goo spike at his neck. They were at a stalemate.

Hunter sighed. “Listen, you're strong, and I'm tired. If this continues, you'll probably escape. But here's the thing, we know where to find you, and your human…So just... hand over the key,”

Amity sighed, defeated. “Fine, just... stay away from Luz.”

I sat in horror as Amity dropped the key into his hand.

“Appreciate it.” He said coldly, before looking back at her. “I uh- mean that, too.”

He approached me again. “C’mon.”

“What?!” I gasped. “What do you want?”

“You heard me earlier. Wild magic has consequences.”

“You can’t do this.”

“I have to.”

I held my head high as he bound my wrists and shoved me onto his staff, my last glimmer of hope fading.

We flew out of the cavern without another word.

*******

“Hey, Moon?” He started, breaking the silence.

I didn’t answer, instead choosing to fiddle with my handcuffs.

“I get it if you don’t wanna talk to me right now, but…all that stuff about turning you in was a bluff. I..ah…meant it at the time, but now…I don’t know. If you…if you aren’t joining the Emperor’s Coven…I guess I’m just optimistic with that, huh?”

“Blindingly so.” I mumbled.

“So…and I don’t really know why I’m doing this, and Belos would kill me if he found out, but…”

I looked down in shock. We had landed just outside Bonesborrogh.

“...Well, Moon, you’re free to go.” He unlatched the cuffs.

I stared at him for a moment.

“Actually…it’s (Y/N).”

His eyes widened.

“See you around, Golden Guard…And Hunter? Thanks.”

He nodded, still shocked at my name reveal.

I waved, and headed back into the woods.

Sadly, this slightly unhinged blond was starting to grow on me.

*******

Pt. 2: Old Friends

#x reader #the owl house hunter x reader #the owl house x reader #the owl house #the golden guard #golden guard x reader #toh hunter x reader #hunter toh #toh golden guard #toh golden guard x reader

[let-them-read-fics]

Bite

Pairing: Vamp!Lisa x Human!Fem!Reader

AU: Vampire

Word Count: ~ 5,564

Warnings / Misc. -- Mentions of Blood

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm alive! School has kept me crazy busy and I've had my hands full with other things as well, but I finished writing this one and I wanted to share with you lovely peeps. To everyone who stopped by to check in, and to those of you who’ve been patiently waiting, thank you endlessly. I love having you as my readers 💜

PS ~ I hope this isn't too bad for my first one shot in forever! Also, happy Lisa era. I’m so proud of our girl!

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Saturday, October 31st

You look like an idiot. 

The nurse uniform you have on is obnoxiously cliché; short and tattered in various places to really sell the "sexy" aspect of it, little is left to the imagination. Fake blood stains dot the flimsy material in random patterns and mat some strands of the tacky blonde wig atop your head, making you look like something out of a B-movie at best. 

A bonafide, absolute idiot. 

When you express that sentiment to your best friend, she just rolls her eyes and holds out one last costume for you to try on. She had a few lined up in case you didn't like her other options, and clearly that's come in handy; you've already worked through the previous picks, so she crosses her fingers as your eyes skim over this one.

"Humor me, will you?" She asks, hoping that you'll give in and at least check this last one out. 

"Fine, but this is your last chance. It had better be good." You raise a pointed finger at her in warning. 

"I have a good feeling about this one," she says, smiling as you take the bag from her and slip into the dressing room one final time. 

Her phone chimes soon after, and she's quick to retrieve it from her pocket.

Willow: Are you guys almost here?? Jackson's been asking about you.

Your best friend bites her lip at that, nervously nibbling on it as she rereads the message to make sure she didn't imagine the last part. She's liked Jackson since middle school, and he'll be swinging by the party that you've all been invited to; that's one of the main reasons she begged you to come with her tonight. 

Y/BFFs/N: Still getting ready. We'll be there ASAP tho!

Willow: Alright, we'll see you soon. Don't take all night, or else👩🤛

Y/BFFs/N: Yah, cut the violence!

The sound of your best friend's soft giggling fills the air just as you manage to fasten the costume's last zipper and pull its hood over your head.

Surprise etches its way into your features as you do a spin, taking in the sight of yourself through the full length mirror of the dressing room. The outfit's red and black color schemes complement each other beautifully, giving you a powerful and sensual appeal that the other costumes didn't even stand a chance of doing. You look alluring in every sense of the word. 

"Holy shit," your best friend says when you emerge, striking a pose. "You look hot!" She squeals, clapping a few times in quick succession. 

There's no way you think this one looks bad. 

"I think Wanda would be proud," you grin, tilting your head up and wrapping the cape around your neck. 

"One hundred percent," Y/BFFs/N nods adamantly, in total agreement. The Scarlet Witch getup really compliments your features. 

"Now," she starts, changing topics as she looks in the reflection of her phone's dark screen to adjust some of her hair that's gone astray. "Let's pay and then go. Willow's looking for us, and my future man's wondering where I am, too." 

"Hell yeah!" You chuckle, patting her on the back. "I'll help you finally land him so you can stop pining."

You watch as she takes a moment to decide between coming up with a decent rebuttal to defend herself or agreeing with you, and you smile when she goes for the latter. 

"I'd accept nothing less," she says, holding her head high like a princess. "You are my wingwoman, after all." 

"And the best one in town," you add, tugging her towards the register. She reaches into her purse and pulls out the money to pay before politely handing it to the cashier. 

The teenage boy takes it with a small smile, though the action looks a little comical as his upper lip gets caught on the cheap, plastic fangs he's sporting. His knock-off version of Dracula is definitely…. something… and you can tell that his managers forced him to wear it for the holiday. 

"Come back and s-shhee us," he says, handing your change back. Your best friend takes it, failing to contain her laughter at his messy speech. He blushes crimson, likely cursing the plastic teeth for making him look a fool. 

"We surely will," you respond, giving him a comforting smile to keep his embarrassment at bay. He nods gratefully, and you're quickly pulled out of the store by your best friend. 

"Happy Halloween!" You shout over your shoulder, accompanied by the chime of the bell over the door. 

"You too," he calls back, letting out a soft sigh. 

---

20 Minutes Later -- The Party

Upon rounding the front of your car and stepping up onto the sidewalk outside of Willow's house, your attention is immediately caught by the numerous decorations that she put up last week. 

"Huh," you mumble, gazing up at the skeleton that towers above you, standing 12 feet tall. "I think it's safe to say that this is her favorite holiday…" 

"What makes you think that?" Your best friend plays, feigning ignorance as she pops up from behind a life-sized, animatronic Jason Voorhees. 

"I don't know," you tut, admiring Willow's hard work a little longer. "Just a feeling." 

Y/BFFs/N giggles in her unique way, making you smile at the sound as the two of you make your way up the path towards the house. You gaze down at your feet, careful to step on the stones of the walkway and avoid the motion-activated hands that scramble out of the weeds to grab unsuspecting guests. 

Having known Willow your entire childhood, you've grown used to her ways. 

*knock knock*

A strong, iconic synth bassline sounds off from inside, filling the otherwise quiet night around you with its catchy beat as you wait to be let in. Its sound is well known, and you almost instantly recognize it as "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics.

A few seconds later, you hear clambering from inside, followed by concerning groans and shouted apologies. 

Y/BFFs/N arches a skeptical brow at you, perfectly mirroring your thoughts.

Directly after, the door swings open in a flash, and you're nearly tackled by a whizz of curly hair. 

"There you guys are!" Willow shrieks, pulling the two of you close as she nuzzles her face against your cheeks. 

"Yep, here we are," you struggle out, nearly being strangled in her tight grip. She responds by squeezing you even tighter, blinded by her joy at seeing you again. 

After all, it's been a while since all three of you have had the opportunity to spend the night partying together like this. 

"Can't… breathe," Y/BFFs/N squeaks, successfully getting Willow to release you. 

"Sorry," she apologizes, stepping back. "I'm just so happy you're here." 

The freckles that spread across the bridge of her nose look especially adorable with the blush she's sporting, and her shy grin makes you forget about the near-fatality you just encountered moments before. 

"We're happy to be here," you reassure her, returning her smile. 

Your best friend agrees from beside you, nodding her head with a happy look of her own. "Believe it or not, we've missed your weirdness." She adds, cocking her head to the side. 

Willow giggles again, and her eyes crinkle up into those half crescents that could surely melt even the iciest of hearts. She's practically sunshine in human form, and you have to resist the urge to shield your eyes. 

"Yo, Willow! Who's at the door?" 

Jackson.

You feel your best friend tense beside you, and you subtly pat her leg to calm her down. 

Willow falls silent, though her lips go through the beginning stages of answering him; they open and purse, but she quickly halts her reply and shuts her mouth. She knows of Y/BFFs/N's crush on him, and she doesn't want to say the wrong thing. 

Plus, if the lovesick girl wants to run and hide in the bushes, Willow's silence could buy her some time to slip away. 

But alas, she doesn't. 

Jackson appears in the doorway a mere 5 seconds after asking his question with a beer clutched in his hand. He moves to lean against the wooden frame as his pearly smile beams at you, and Y/BFFs/N audibly swallows at the sight. 

For someone who's usually so confident, she can really be shy sometimes. 

"Lovely to see you, ladies," he greets, putting his free hand in front of him as he bows. His accent is modeled after that of Jack Sparrow, as is his surprisingly well designed costume.

You nod back at him. "Hey, Jackson. Long time no see." 

You elbow your best friend when she remains silent for a beat too long, and the action snaps her back to reality. 

"Yeah, hey Jackson." Her voice is quiet -- she doesn't trust it to refrain from cracking.

He smiles, not failing to notice the nervous aura that's quickly taken over the girl beside you. Her eyes nearly pop out of her head when he gives her a curious once-over, and you take that as your cue to save her from the impending embarrassment that's lurking just around the corner. 

"Alright, guys!" You clap, stepping forward. "Let's get to partying." 

Her shoulders relax, and you feel her slip her hand into yours as you enter the house, squeezing twice as a silent thank you. 

15 Minutes Later

Willow stands beside you in the kitchen, mixing a few things together in one of the millions of red solo cups that she bought for tonight. You sneak a peek over her shoulder at the concoction, seeing its light blue color turn purple-ish as she adds a new liquor into the equation. 

In comparison to typical house parties, this one is relatively small; most of the rooms are filled with people, but it's a comfortable amount. Maneuvering around the place is fairly easy, which is always a plus when you're coexisting with sweaty, drunk people. 

"Willow, love, why did you buy so many cups?" You ask, toying with the ripped plastic packaging of one of the stacks. 

"You know I like to be prepared," she laughs, brushing off her major miscalculation. "Plus I can just use the rest of them at my next party." 

You nod, knowing she's right. "Are you having another soon?" 

"I think so. Jiu and her crew are coming back in a couple weeks, so I thought I'd surprise them with one." 

You scoff, humor laced in the sound. "What, they didn't get enough partying done at their university already?" 

Willow turns around, grinning at you as she hands you your drink. "Evidently campus police keep a close eye on them. Siyeon whined about that a lot when she called me." 

"Sounds like her," you chuckle into your cup as you take a sip. 

PFFT

"Eww, Willow! What did you put in this?!" 

Your spit take didn't land on anyone, thankfully, but it did capture the attention of some people nearby. You wave a hand at them as a silent apology, and they go back to their previous tasks. 

The curly headed prankster covers her mouth, though the action does a terrible job of quieting her maniacal laughter. 

"You're lucky Y/BFFs/N isn't over here," you say, wiping your lips with the back of your hand. "She'd avenge me." 

Willow uses a napkin to dab the tears of laughter from her eyes. "Why else do you think I waited until she was busy with Jackson?" She asks, motioning to her lounge room across the foyer. 

You look inside, spotting Y/BFFs/N holding a pool cue in her hand as Jackson sinks another shot into one of the corner pockets. 

The sight reminds you of the pep talk and 2 shots of liquid courage you gave her earlier, and how she disappeared with the promise to make a move and actually talk to him. Now, she looks completely absorbed in whatever banter they're sharing, and although your violated taste buds still ache from the sickly-sweet mixture that Willow made, you wouldn't want her to be anywhere else. 

You can get your own revenge. 

Sneaking a glance around the kitchen, you search for something to help with your retaliation. A small package of streamers lays abandoned on the island, forgotten to be put up earlier, and you slyly grin. Their ribbons sparkle with glitter, shimmering as the multicolored party lights stream in from the living room and land on them. 

It's as if the universe is putting a spotlight on them, just for you. 

After side eyeing Willow one final time to ensure that she isn't catching onto your plan, you act quickly. She stands beside the counter, right where you left her, and you dart to the island to grab the streamers. Your fingertips soon gain purchase on the packaging, and you tear it open in one swift motion. 

Her gaze locks onto yours just as you near her, but it's far too late for her to get away. 

"Take this!" You declare, upending the baggie atop her head. She shrieks as they cascade down her body, getting caught in the creases and wrinkles of her costume as they go. A small wave of glitter tumbles out of the bag as well, coating her hair and clothes. 

Boy, that'll be fun to try and get out later. 

Her head slowly raises once you finish your assault and place the baggie on the countertop beside you, but the look in her eye is unlike anything you've ever seen. 

"You're dead," she warns. Just as the smile drops from your face, an even larger, more sinister one begins forming on hers. 

The floor creaks beneath your feet slightly as you take a step back, and you know you have to high tail it out of there if you want to evade her. 

"Catch me if you can!" You shout, springing into action. You turn around and dart out of the room, gliding past numerous partygoers in the hall. 

Willow's choice of footwear works in your favor, you soon realize; the sharp rapping sound of her heels pierces the air behind you, serving as a tell of how much distance is between you.

Her unstable platforms buy you a little time, and you thank the universe as you rush through the living room and back towards the foyer. You plan to cut across it and hide out in one of the bathrooms until she drops her plan for revenge. 

A grin pulls at your cheeks as you skid into one of the walls, looking like a character from Scooby-Doo as you will your feet to work correctly again and get you to safety. Willow laughs behind you, joining in on the fun. 

"Perfect," you mutter under your breath, spotting a clear path through the foyer. It leads under the stairs, and you can see the open door of the bathroom from where you are. 

Your feet take you past a handful of drunk people, bobbing and weaving through them with ease, before you're racing towards the restroom to take cover. 

Before you can make it there, though, you collide with someone rather abruptly as they step straight into your path. 

Your eyes shut tightly as you brace yourself for impact with the ground, but it never comes. The person reaches out and catches you before you can hit the floor, and a soft apology slips past their lips as they scoop you up. 

Upon hearing that uniquely feminine voice speak its regret again, you peek your eyes open. What you see nearly makes the woman's effort to keep you upright moot; she's so gorgeous that your legs almost give out from underneath you. 

Dirty blonde locks cascade over her shoulders in soft waves, half-mussed, half-pristine from your run-in. Her doe eyes are a velvety chocolate color, and you find yourself getting lost in them. Flickers of red show in them, illuminating almost rhythmically the longer she admires you. 

Are those contacts? You ask yourself. They have to be. 

She seems to be just as affected by your presence as you are of hers. 

"Y/N, I'm coming to get you!" 

Willow does her best to sound like a villain from a 90s horror film as she clambers her way closer to you, bumping into a few people on the way. You're brought out of your stupor by her rapidly approaching footsteps, and you take a step away from the woman. Her hands fall from your waist, where they had previously been resting. 

Stealing a quick look at the bathroom, you feel your stomach turn.

Damnit. Someone's in there now. 

Screw this sexy stranger for distracting you. Now you'll have to deal with Willow's wrath. 

"What's wrong?" 

There's that voice again. 

Part of you wants to brush it off and slip away quietly, but an even bigger part of you is determined to stay where you are and tell her. Something about her pulls you in, and you're having a hard time denying it. 

"I need to hide. I glitter-fied my friend and now she's coming after me." 

The woman's plump lips pull back in a humored smile, and she nods as a chuckle leaves her. "Right," she says, like that's a common occurrence. "I can help, if you'd like." 

"How?" You ask, your brows momentarily knitting together in confusion. When she unties and opens the black cloak that's wrapped around her body, your breath catches. 

"You in?" She asks, side eyeing the foyer as Willow nearly careens into the Egyptian vase that her mother bought her last year for Christmas. 

You take a deep breath and hold your hand out to her just as Willow rounds the corner, and she swiftly pulls you in close before you can be spotted. She winds the cloak around both of your bodies, concealing your faces as the fur-lined hood falls atop your heads. 

Unconsciously, you wrap your arms around her waist and pull her flush up against you to further ensure your safety. She quietly grunts when she stumbles over her own feet, falling into you a little. 

"Sorry," she whispers, though her third apology of the night is unnecessary. You almost want to thank her for what happened.

Especially when her warm breath fans across your right cheek, where her head is angled. 

Every breath you take pushes you closer to each other, and the satin shirt she's wearing slides against your heated skin. She swallows thickly as one of your hands falls to the small of her back, testing the waters. 

When she shifts a little to encourage you, you're acutely aware of the thigh that's worked its way between your legs. 

When did that happen? 

You bite back a sigh as she just smirks, quietly shushing you. 

Willow thunders by, shouting your name and threatening to throw you into the pool when she tracks you down. You want to laugh at that, but you'd honestly welcome it right now. Some cold water would surely bring you to your senses after being led astray by this goddess in front of you. 

Her footsteps grow distant as she makes her way outside, still searching.

The two of you remain as you are for a couple more minutes until you're certain that the coast is clear, and then you part. When she lowers the cloak, you look away; a deep blush has worked its way up your neck and across your cheeks, and letting her see it would surely make you die of embarrassment. 

She keeps her eyes on you as she reties the cover around herself, attempting to get a read on you. The bashful aura that's befallen you is cute, no doubt, but she can sense your arousal. She can smell it on you, and the scent is beginning to drive her crazy. 

You fiddle with the sleeves of your costume, readjusting them nervously.

"So, um… thanks," you say, sneaking a glance up at her. 

The red hues in her eyes are even more pronounced now, and the sight makes you press further into the wall behind you -- the one that you were previously pushed up against. 

"No problem," she smiles, showing off her pearly white teeth. Two of them catch your attention; a set of fangs now shine, looking alluring and threatening all at the same time. 

There's only one issue: you're certain that they weren't there when you first bumped into her. When did she put them in? And why do they look so real?

The feeling of her hand landing on your forearm pulls you away from the millions of questions that're firing off in your head right now. 

"May I ask your name?" She politely requests, dipping her head down sweetly. 

"Y/N," you breathe out, quickly realizing that you'd do just about anything she asked you to. 

"Y/N." She repeats, allowing the letters to blend in her mouth as they roll off her tongue. She looks satisfied for some reason as she says it again, trying it out. 

"I'm Lisa." 

"It's nice to officially meet you," you smile, reaching a hand out. Her touch is gentle but firm as she takes it, shaking it with ease. 

"Likewise, beautiful." 

The grin on your face only widens at the name, and you pull your hand away out of fear of what she might do next. She's already putting you under her spell, and you're sure that another touch would have you fully entranced. 

She studies you with pursed lips for a moment, clearly debating on something. Her eyes flicker over the dips and curves of your body as a smirk grows on her lips. 

"What are you thinking?" You question, curious but teasing. 

"That I'd love to have your body on mine again." 

She's bold, and she says it like the fact it is. No shame, no bashfulness. Just true, honest desire. 

You bite the inside of your cheek at her bravery, silently thanking the universe for it. The likelihood of you gaining the courage to make a move is slim to none even in the best cases, and this was no exception. She already has your heart skipping beats and you've only known her a few minutes. 

"How about a dance?" She suggests, quirking a brow. The look on her face disarms your defenses, and you take a deep breath before agreeing to your demise. 

"That sounds wonderful." 

She dips her head again, hiding her face away momentarily, and you think it's the cutest thing ever. 

She's shy all of a sudden as her cool demeanor slips up a bit, and that never happens. You might just be her downfall, too.

She holds an elbow out and steps forward, allowing you to link your arm with hers and cuddle in close. 

Her eyes scan across the living room as she studies it, but she's unimpressed. 

Sweaty, winding bodies thrash around to some upbeat pop song that's been overplayed on every radio station in town for weeks now, and the idea of taking you there puts her off. 

When a drunk boy comes into view with a dildo strapped to his forehead, her mind is officially made up. 

"Let's go outside," she says, leading you through the patio doors. 

A quaint gazebo sits on one side of the yard, and the dance floor that Willow's family installed a couple years ago occupies the other. Both are decorated with string lights in combinations of gold, purple, black, and orange. Other ornaments adorn the surfaces as well, and you smile when you spot a comically large spider sat atop the gazebo's roof. 

"Where would you like to go?" Lisa asks, keeping her voice low. It's calm and deep, running a chill through you. 

Softer music plays out here, offering a totally different vibe than inside. Some couples -- many of them introverted, assumably -- sway on the dancefloor as the DJ that Willow hired takes a sip of her drink on the raised stage. She adjusts a few switches slowly, not rushing for a second.

"Let's try the gazebo," you decide, glancing over your shoulder at Lisa. She's looking away, but you don't think anything of it as the two of you fall in step with one another on your way over. 

Shit, Lisa thinks to herself. 

Her plans to come to this party, feed, and make a quick getaway are totally derailed. She'd hoped to find a victim that she was attracted to but didn't like, if that even makes sense, and feed like the animal she is. Then she would leave them like all the rest, drained but still alive, and slip away. 

But now she's met you, and any desire for those plans have been thrown out the window. 

You interest her, and that doesn't happen often. She hasn't met someone who's been capable of doing that in years, and she's intrigued. Something about you just pulls her in, inexplicably, and she knows her feelings would be glaringly obvious if you saw her face right now. 

"Woah, look at this," you sigh, stepping out of her hold to check the place out. A bench runs the perimeter of the gazebo, only stopping at the doorway, and the lights look even prettier from inside. They shimmer, looking like star showers as their strings hang down in the windowless openings of the building. 

Lisa quickly learns that she loves seeing you like this. Your eyes are alight, and your sweet smile of wonder warms her heart. Her hands slip into her pockets as she eventually manages to take her eyes off you, following your lead as she admires the decorations. 

She does a twirl, looking around. 

"It's gorgeous." 

"I know, right? This is totally up Willow's alley," you say, grinning at the mental image that you can conjure up of her giddily spiffing the scene up. 

"I'll have to thank her for making it look so special, then," Lisa says, smiling. The place really makes you feel like you're in your own little world; everything about it is just right. The ambience, the decor, the company… it’s perfect, and Lisa's content with how the evening is playing out. 

Her fingers skate down your arm as she nears you, trekking their way down to your palm. She takes your hand and spins you, watching with admiration as your hair flows in the breeze. Now facing her, you thread your fingers together around the back of her neck as she encircles your waist with her arms. 

"Why have I never seen you around?" You ask sincerely, looking up at her. 

She hesitates briefly. "My university is a few towns over. I just come here to visit my family every few months." 

Not a total lie, she thinks to herself. 

"And stop by terrible parties like this, of course." You add, smirking. 

She shakes her head at that. "No, I can't say I do. I just decided to check this one out on my way to my friend's house." She explains. 

Underneath your cloak, her hands find their way to the small of your back. One stays put while the other dips a little lower, testing the waters. 

"And besides," she starts again, feeling you pull her closer. "Meeting you here automatically makes this an awesome party. Not terrible."

"Cheeeesy!" You scrunch your face up and groan, making her laugh. 

"Maybe, but it's the truth." 

"Sure, Lisa." 

She shakes her head and you laugh lightly together, still swaying about. You hold her close enough to rest your head on her shoulder, and the pads of your thumbs rub small circles on the sensitive skin of her neck. She hums at the feeling, and you take note of the way she relaxes in your arms. 

The night breeze appears again, performing a flowing dance of its own as it lulls past you in waves. A slight chill resides in it, mixed with a generous amount of the day's sweet, fading heat, and you're at peace. 

The slow song that had been playing across the yard ends delicately, parting with some melodic feature that resembles a warm embrace, and it blends seamlessly into the next song. 

Turning Page, you recognize it as.  

Huh, how ironic. One of your favorites. 

Lisa's lips brush against your cheek as she turns her head slightly, whispering, "I like this one, too." 

How did she know? You ask yourself. You hadn't said it out loud… 

Maybe she's just a good guesser. Yeah, that's gotta be it. 

You feel yourself melt as she begins singing the words to you. It's hushed and sentimental -- meant only for your ears to hear, and that makes it even more special to you. 

"If I had only felt the warmth within your touch"

She croons, pressing her cheek against your warm skin. You blush, catching yourself when you remember what the next line of the song is. 

"If I had only seen how you smile when you blush" 

She brings a hand up to cup your cheek in her palm, and her other arm remains around you, holding you tenderly. 

"Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough"

Now, her thumb runs across your bottom lip. You look into her eyes and find them an even deeper shade of red than they had been before, but it doesn't frighten you for some reason. She glances down at your mouth again, fighting her impatience as she waits for permission from you. 

"I would have known what I was living for all along"

You nod and lace your fingers in her locks, and she doesn't waste another second. 

She leans in, humming against your lips when they meet hers for the first time. Her lipgloss spreads across them upon contact, smudging its precise application, but she doesn't seem to care in the slightest. She draws you in closer, and you bring both of your hands around to cup her face as you deepen the kiss. 

Her mouth is welcoming against yours, and it moves languidly as you get adjusted to one another. Every move makes you feel dizzier than the one before it, and swarms of butterflies take flight in your stomach with no signs of stopping. 

She nips at your bottom lip as her hands dip far lower than before, now kneading your ass as your kisses continue to work her up. 

"Fuck," you curse, breaking away from her lips to catch your breath. She's stolen it all from you, and yet she's still not ready to give you a rest; her mouth drops to your jaw, embracing your skin there before moving down to your neck. 

She doesn't realize how dangerous the game she's playing truly is until it's almost too late. 

Her lips press to the area just above your pulsepoint, where she's learned over the years that blood pumps the hardest and tastes the sweetest. She draws it into her mouth, swirling her tongue over the area as her ears perk up at the breathless sound of your moans. They spur her on, and she nips at the skin, surely leaving a hickey. 

Her senses become even more clouded when you say her name, the title caught somewhere between a whine and command, and she feels the strong impulse to claim you. The sensation is overwhelming, and she knows you can feel it too. 

Your hands tug on the collar of her shirt as she lets her fangs fully extend, no longer suppressing them. They rake across your pulsepoint, making you shiver against her. 

"Please…" 

That's all you manage to get out before they pierce your skin, eliciting a whimper from you. Blood fills her mouth instantly, sliding across her taste buds in velvety waves and calming her constant craving. Your hands tighten in her hair, and the delicious twinge of pain that it provides only encourages her more. 

Your blood is different than anything she's ever tasted; it's richer -- sweeter. A throaty groan leaves her as she savors it, and you shut your eyes in pleasure. It's addicting, but she knows she has to stop herself before she hurts you. If she continues like this much longer, she won't have the willpower to let go. 

She retracts her fangs as she licks your taste from them, and then you feel her warm tongue clean the wound she made. It stings a bit, but in all the right ways.

When she pulls back to look at you, she finds your eyes half-lidded and a pleased smile on your face. It nearly kills her, then and there. 

Her gaze flickers back to your neck to admire the hickie she made earlier, but what she sees surprises her. Below it is a darker, more prominent marking that she's only seen other vampires leave behind before. 

Definitely not a hickie.

Your brows furrow as you look at her neck as well, noticing a faint outline of something growing darker by the second. Blinking a few times to ensure that you aren't hallucinating, you find that it's really there. 

"Lisa, what's on your neck?" You ask. 

"A soulmate mark." She responds, feeling a sense of belonging settle over her as she looks at you again. You just confirmed her suspicions by asking that.

"Same as yours," she smiles.

#lisa #lisa manoban x reader #lalisa #lalisa manoban #lalisa manoban x fem reader #blackpink #blackpink imagines #kpop imagines #Kpop girl group #vampire au #blackpink au #blackpink vampire #vampire lisa #fluff #soulmate au #soulmate #blackpink oneshots #blackpink scenarios #blackpink fluff #blackpink fanfic #blackpink x reader #jennie kim #kim jisoo #park chaeyoung #meet cute #let-them-read-fics #lisa manoban x fem reader

[insomniac-dot-ink]

Painless

There were seven of us, seven is an unlucky number, and it has a tendency to over correct itself into something easy and even. It was never a good number to begin with but made worse by the curse.

My mother was cursed. She called it “setting little fires in my youth.” The problem with fire is that it sometimes chases you down and blackens the wallpaper and ruins the furniture and perfumes what clothing you have left with smoke so dank it curdles your stomach.

I knew a thing or two about fire by the time I was nine. That was my brother’s doing. 

He was born first and also the first to go. It wasn’t dying, I think the warlock that left the curse didn’t have the stomach for death, not the real kind. He wanted it to hurt, but warlocks have such a strange definition of “better” and “worse.” My brother was a big young man, all of eighteen that day, he wore his pants low and chin held high. He liked online fighting games and painted his room himself in colors of red and orange. Maybe he knew. Or maybe we are the makers of our own ends. He was crossing the street with us for school when he started to smoke. Not with a cigarette or a joint or anything else you might expect-- his hands let off puffs of thick acrid-smelling smoke and then his heels.

His face went slack and the red licked at his cheeks from the inside.

He was all but burning by the time I reached him. I don’t think it hurt. He didn’t scream or shout, but tears welled up in his eyes before the end. “Let mom know.” He was easily carried away on the breeze to set some bush on fire or burn down a local park.

I always keep the TV on tuned to the weather channel at home. I keep track of different forest fires in the Rockies or building fires in Massachusetts. I blink a couple times and think to myself: Is this him? Is that Danny? Is he happy?

We stuck closer together after that and didn’t make many, or any, outside friends. We spent our time arguing and pushing and kicking for mom’s attention, and hoping we weren’t all haunted by the inevitable. 

Marcella was next. We shared a bedroom, me and all the girls, with one unicorn light for the youngest and another light from the crack under the door. But we didn’t need any light that night.

My eyes flew open as bright neon filled the gaps in the space and I squinted at something impossible. Marcella stood up in the middle of her bed looking blank. She didn’t cry out either, but simply stood upright and stared. Her bones were orange and yellow and green and pink neon, glowing from the inside out like a painted Halloween skeleton. It was all bright nonsense as if glow sticks were cracked in her joints. “Oh,” she said once and only once.

She grew brighter and brighter before turning into nothing but light and silence.

We ran after that-- as if magic can’t catch you if you run fast enough. If you skip town enough and demand favors off of lesser witches. That didn’t stop it from getting Brady.

He turned into bubbles and music the second we entered Sea World. He barely made it through the door before he collapsed and left nothing but violin melodies and bubbles catching rainbows and floating toward the sun. Sometimes his voice still dances next to me in the morning light and I’ve even stopped crying over it.

“It won’t hurt,” I tell my little sister because I am next in line. I’m the oldest now. “I promise it won’t hurt.”

And it doesn’t.

Fire, neon, bubbles. I felt the call before anything else, like an ache in my chest, and I didn’t try to fight it. We were all together in the backseat of mom’s minivan. We were skipping town again and headed to the next dank wherever. I exhaled from someplace deep inside myself and closed my eyes.

“I’m gonna get ‘em.” I announced, “I’m gonna see his smug damn face and I’m gonna break it.”

“What are you saying?” A small voice asked. I was 14. It started with my fingers: crooked. Wrong. It went to my wrists: hard and unnatural. It spread to my elbows: painfully thick and ancient. My sister screamed but I didn't look up.

“No, no, no, no, no.”

I didn’t feel it. Branching, reaching for the sun, breaking in all the worst ways as I turned into a tree before their very eyes. I didn’t mind though. “Let me out.” Those were my last words before it reached my neck and I tumbled out into the bright unforgiving world as something changed.

I found myself in the soft earth. I was placed in a park I think. Squirrels played among my hair and little burrowing creatures went among my roots. And I waited. And waited. And Waited, capital W.

He came though. Immortality lends itself to visiting many places more than once. He came strolling through my forest in the grips of his own arrogance. My brother was waiting too as the Warlock walked under my branches and I let the world start to crackle and smoke.

I suppose the Warlock was right. If you set enough fires they eventually do catch up to you.

#absurdism #magical realism #fantasy #writing #flash fiction

[captainjimothycarter]

The Magic of Halloween

Square Filled: “Flannel and Sweatpants...” for @avengersbingo, Next Door Neighbors for @anyfandomfluffbingo Rating: General Audience Relationships: Peggy Carter/Steve Rogers, Fitz & Jemma Simmons Characters: Peggy Carter, Steve Rogers, Kid!Fitz, Kid!Jemma Simmons Tags: Fluff, adorableness, seriously you will squeal, Autistic Fitz Summary: After moving to a new neighborhood, Jemma and Fitz are taken trick or treating and they get to meet Fitz's hero.

LINK

“Come on, Fitz! This is the last house on the street, then we can go home!”

Jemma was pulled to a sudden stop by Fitz’s, the boy refusing to take another step towards the yellow house with the red door. She followed his line of sight and saw what had stopped him dead in his tracks, the plastic shield held up to cover his lower face.

“Honestly, Fitz, they’re not real.”

Still, she understood her best friend’s silent protest about wanting to take another step towards the house with the scary skeletons hanging from the tree by their arms. They were scarily disappointing in how wrong they were.

“A spider doesn’t have bones in its legs!” She pointed out, drawing a flashlight from her pocket and handing it to him. “Here. Use the flashlight. You can make out the bones better.”

With shaky fingers, Fitz managed to turn the flashlight on, jumping at the sight of the cobra skeleton and the octopus skeleton that hung next to the spider. He visually relaxed his grip loosening on the shield enough to lower it. 

“I-I knew that,” he muttered, swallowing. “I knew that. I just...don’t like surprises.”

“You don’t like to be scared,” she comforted, taking his hand again. “That’s okay. They’re not gonna scare us and if they do I’ll bite them.”

“You’re not really a werewolf, Jemma.”

“No, but it be fun if I were. Then I’d be a puppy werewolf!”

“Puppy werewolves don’t exist!”

“Yes, they do. Just because you haven’t seen them doesn’t mean it’s not real,” Jemma countered, dragging Fitz up the three steps to the home. She had to stand on her toes to reach the doorbell, Fitz supporting her from behind.

“Steve, there are some kids at the door!” An accented voice could be heard shouting from the doorway. “Do you want me to get it?”

“Hey, she has your accent!” Fitz whispered to Jemma.

“Can you, Pegs? Alfie is almost done with his bath! Then someone is going to sleep through the night, aren’t you?”  They heard someone shout from one of the parted windows shortly before the door opened.

“Trick or treat!” Jemma announced proudly as the door opened, holding up hers and Fitz’s nearly over-filled pumpkin pail. 

“My!” Peggy Carter breathed, feining a hand over her heart. She adjusted the old witches’ hat on top of her head, looking down at the kiddos in front of her with an amused smile. “Aren’t you two adorable?”

They both could be no older than five, the little girl was wearing a red and black flannel long-sleeved shirt with a pair of sweat pants and oversized work boots. The boy was wearing a homemade Captain America costume, with a plastic shield held up to hide his face. Steve absolutely had to see this. He always got a kick out of kids wearing his costume.

“I’m a werewolf!” Jemma stated proudly. “Fitz is Captain America!”

Peggy squatted down so she was on eye level with the kids, setting the candy bowl on the floor. “Let’s see...flannel and sweatpants? I like your style, kid! And you, Mr. Fitz-” She didn’t miss how the boy cringed at the name, frowning.

“It’s just Fitz. I’m Jemma,” the girl stated, patting Fitz on the shoulder. “Mr. Fitz is his dad and he’s a bad man and we don’t talk about him and I’m not allowed to go kick his butt.”

“No, because that’s bad and he’ll hurt you,” Fitz argued, avoiding looking at either of them.

“I think Fitz is right, Jemma. Besides, you need to be here with him.” She turned to look at Fitz, the kid’s eyes were focusing on his shoes. “You have a good friend, Fitz.”

“Uh-huh,” Fitz mumbled, rocking on his heels. “Jemma is my best friend in the world.”

“I still could,” Jemma muttered under her breath, loud enough for Peggy to hear. “I could beat him.”

“Well I certainly think you can, but isn’t it more important to be around your best friend? Let the adults handle Fitz’s father,” Peggy tried to at the very least placate the young girl.

She wasn’t sure if Jemma had even heard her, Fitz had started to make a gasping noise that reminded Peggy of Steve when he was much, much smaller. She suddenly understood why the young boy was gasping and starting to flap his hands, having dropped the shield at his feet, when she felt the familiar presence of her husband behind her.

Turning around to see him, Peggy didn’t stop the snorting laugh at how soaked Steve was. His gray t-shirt was completely soaked in the front and his sweats were not fearing much better. His hair was completely soaked and dripping on his face.

“Did you bathe our son or did you bathe a cat?” Peggy teased, plucking at the shirt. “Let me go get you some towels.”

“Might as well had been both the way he was excitedly scratching!” Steve called after her, before the fact that she wasn’t alone in the doorway suddenly hit him. Oh, now he understood why she wanted him out here.

“J’mma! J’mm!” Fitz excitedly grabbed at his best friend’s arm and shook her. “It’s him!”

“I know, Fitz, I know,” Jemma gently said, trying to pull her arm free from his grasp. “I know it’s him.” 

“Who?” Steve asked, both kids gasping excitedly. “Is there someone behind me?” He looked over both of his shoulders, earning a giggle from the little girl. 

“Noooo!” Jemma giggled, covering her mouth. “It’s you! I mean you’re you! You’re-”

“Captain America!” Fitz shouted, jumping up and down. “You’re Captain America! I-I-”

He was making the gasping noises again, Steve instantly dropping to his knees to get on their level. “Hey, hey,” he breathed, looking almost worriedly around for an adult. “I’m just...a person, like anyone else. If I gotta say, it’s you who’s Captain America. Are you keeping my neighborhood safe?”

“Uh-huh! T-t-trying! I’m Leo. I mean Fitz. I’m Fitz. I’m you.” 

The poor kid was a mess and a half, varying between making the gasping noise and starting to flap his hands again in excitement. His smile lit up his face, highlighting his dimples.

“Here you are,” Peggy mused, tucking a towel around Steve’s shoulders. “I see you met our very scary werewolf and Captain America. Respectfully called Jemma and Fitz.”

“Are you from a nearby neighborhood?” Steve asked, a little curious. “I haven’t seen either of you around here before.”

“That’s because Fitz and his mommy are moving in with us! And-and we’re moving in over there!” Jemma stated proudly, grinning from ear to ear. She pointed to a house across from theirs that had been vacant for the last couple of months, now a U-Haul was parked in front of it. “We were neighbors, but now we’re gonna be roommates, daddy says. My parents took him and his mommy in to get away from his mean dad. And Fitz doesn’t talk much but daddy says that’s okay because I talk enough for him.”

Peggy couldn’t stop the giggling, covering her mouth and clearing her throat. “You can never talk too much or too little, love. I know my mother used to say I talked too much at your age too. I could never shut up about an interest of mine, especially tropical fish.”

Steve smiles down at Fitz, picking up the shield to hand it back to him. “And in my case, I didn’t talk that much growing up, either. I didn’t speak a complete sentence until I was five. I just didn’t want to. I had nothing of interest to say to anyone who wasn’t my mother.”

Fitz’s eyes were comically wide, clinging to the shield until his knuckles turned white. “Really? I can talk! I talk just fine. Father just didn’t want me talking. Mom says I should try to talk more.”

“Well, you’ll talk when you’re ready to talk,” Peggy cooed. “No need to force it out or keep it in.”

There was a look on Fitz’s face, brow furrowed and curls peeking out from under the helmet as he looked from adult to adult. He gave no warning as he jumped onto Captain Amerca’s chest, knocking them both to the floor.

Steve grunted as he found himself scooping up Fitz with one arm and the other holding the boy as close as he could. He needed this, the poor kid. He didn’t let go until Fitz did, watching with amusement as he bolted from the porch and leaving Jemma behind.

Jemma giggled as she watched her best friend run back to his mom, picking up his dropped pumpkin pail. “Fitz really, really looks up to you, Mr. America. He said you gave him bravery when his daddy was being mean to him.”

Peggy’s hand laid over her chest, sharing a fond look with Steve. Even if her husband was struggling to hide how stunned he was.

“That-I-” Steve stopped and cleared his throat, picking up the bowl of candy and holding it out to Jemma. “Tell your friend that it’s kids like you who make the world a better place. I’m glad you two have each other. Here. Why don’t you two take all of this, okay?”

There were no more trick or treaters and after this interaction, Steve could feel himself starting to become exhausted. He helped divide the candy between the two pails, watching the little girl wave excitedly at them as she ran back to her friend. Their laughter carried over the lawn as Peggy helped her husband up and slowly shut the door with one final wave.

“I think,” Peggy breathed, pulling Steve down for a soft kiss on his cheek. “I’m going to go hug Alfie real tight and let you decompress from this.”

“Yeah,” Steve mumbled, feeling a little bit dazed as he hugged his wife. “Thank you. Those kids, huh? They really look out for one another. I think...” He licked over his dry lips, giving a small smile. “I think we should pay them a visit in a few days.”

#Steggy #fitzsimmons #Agents of Shield #StevePeggy #Fitz #Jemma Simmons #Any Fandom Fluff Bingo #fluff #Halloween #Avengers Bingo

[emily-the-fae]

Every Day is a Lullaby

A oneshot. This honestly came to my mind yesterday night, I do not know how well the idea turned out to be.

Fandom: Supernatural

Pairing: Arthur Ketch x OC

Warnings:probably language, blood, injury, background character death, brief mentions of sex, angst mith mix of fluff

Rated: T

Mr Ketch has many sides, likable and repulsing - but which one of his faces is truly his is sometimes an uncertainty even for him.

Harper reflects on the changes on their relationship as they get out of a hunt gone wrong. While Ketch reconsiders some of his past choices... And reasons why he is still alive.

If he's a serial killer

Then what's the worst

That can happen to a girl

Who's already hurt

I'm already hurt

The first time Harper met him was a coincidence. It was long before the whole nephilim thing, long before she found out what kind of man he was, what kind of hunter he was. Yet even back then in the span of their first couple of meetings  she felt he was no good.

A stupid hunting coincidence.

Harper was not used to hunting alone. She did that to herself - separated herself from the Winchesters. However much she loved Sam and Dean, she could not bear continuously being around them, not after everything that happened. Not after Charlie. Because no matter what Dean said or how Sam reassured her - it was her fault. Charlie was a great friend. Charlie had the brightest soul. Harper was late to help her and now Charlie was no more. It was all Harper's fault.

Driving away and going head first into hunting was the outmost Winchester way of dealing with the guilt and grief. Hunting alone while slowly coming out of her lowest phase - those were the circumstances under which Harper met Arthur Ketch.

The first time it happened it was a coincidence - two hunters choosing the same target is not uncommon. Harper was already on spot and all in the fight when he arrived. "Are you insane going into a whole vampire nest alone?" - those were the first words she ever heard from him. She might have been slightly insane, but he sure was a damn psycho. To be honest if not for him she would have probably ended up dead or turned in that vampire nest that night. Harper hates being honest about it.

The second coincidence happened just a few days after the first one - she would later on doubt if it was a coincidence at all. Perhaps it was. Harper would never really know - what she did know though was that he still had a small scar left above his left eyebrow - a mark of where she hit him with the grip of her gun, thinking it was the witch that was creeping up to her and absolutely not expecting to hear a male voice swearing after her blow. Arthur had not known her for 24 hours in sum and they were already making a scene after a hunt - Harper almost pitied she had not knocked him out straight away.

What happened on the next day? He caught her in the town and suggested to team up to avoid "future confusions". Rule number one how to become friends with Arthur Ketch: hit him in the face. Harper wasn't going to become friends with him - with any hunters for that matter - but fate seldom cared what Harper was going to do anyways.

Harper definitely lied to herself when she said that they were going to be only friends or that she was going to hate him after all the British Men of Letters invasion story. She didn't. Not with the way they met in the first place: him ripping her out of the claws of the angry remnants of the vampire pack - slightly concerned greyish blue eyes and a British accent was what greeted her at dawn that day, even though mid in fight she had accepted she would not see the sun again. It seemed symbolic how he saved her from giving up, from herself. And certainly not after the way their relationship went from mutual curiosity to blind semi-professional trust. Harper did not need a "friend" to console her: if she had wanted that she would have stayed around Sam - she needed someone unfeeling but understanding enough to see through her and consciously let it be.

She remembered it clearly - three hunts into their relationship - a month after their first encounter - they were sharing a hotel room. Two beds, late night after a hunt, she lied on her side and quietly cried. It was a demon hunt. The memories were too much. Arthur came into view and stared at her for a couple of moments before walking to his own bed.

- I'd say you can talk about it when you want to, but I doubt you will ever feel the necessity, - a brief caress of his hand against her shoulder. He did not try to relieve her, he allowed her to get to her own way of coping. For that Harper was grateful more than ever. - We all have skeletons in our closets, it's the downturn of the job.

Oh, dear Arthur, we are both now  aware you knew far too well what you were talking about. Harper doubted any hunter had a closet cemetery as large as Ketch's.

Yet... Even after that - the awkward reuniting with the Winchesters, being pulled away from him as she came back to her old friends and witnessing, luckily from a safe distance, how the man she grew to trust without actually knowing him, uncovered darker and darker sides of his personality. What was worst - after she refused to join the BMoL, he would continue to sometimes keep her hunting company, going on like nothing happened. Like nothing changed. Why worst? It let the image of the heartless killer that she should have seen before her now connect and combine with the image of the man who would patch her up on her darkest nights and put a firm hand on her shoulder when Harper was too deep in memory to restrain herself. His presence around her became a reassurance in itself - because he did not have to know to understand. And because he simply had not been there - looking into his eyes Harper wouldn't get reminded of the times when everything was still right, wouldn't get reminded of that one time everything went very wrong. Probably those were the main qualities that helped him win a spot in her heart. Those and his unending casual flirting.

And now? After everything was over, after his very dark side was revealed, the confessions were made and the redemption was played, what did she think of him? The hunter, turned out just a very well trained assassin - he had served the British Men of Letters, he had served Asmodeus - now here he was separated from any commanding he ever had, living a hunting life of his own and sometimes collaborating with the Winchesters. Therewere many dark moments forgotten for the sake of peace. Many more had yet to come up - judging by how Ketch treated his own history and interests of others.

" - I wonder where Mick went, he was always so nice... Nicer than you, anyways. Pity he went away all of a sudden, - Harper mentioned once after a hunt.

- He did not go anywhere. I shot him in the head just like Hess ordered, - Ketch seemed calm and cold as steel. " Sometimes Harper thought that leaving BMoL would change him, but moments like that she realized how slowly the changes - if any - would have to occur. That night she simply walked away, not saying another word.

If anyone ever asked Harper how Arthur's spot in her heart had shifted after all the mess he had caused? She would say that he never even had one... And think that truth to be told there was no flame hot enough to burn him out of her chest - his name carved on her ribs would have been easier to get rid of than the bittersweet affection she harboured for the moral wreck of a man named Arthur Ketch.

If he's as bad as they say

Then I guess I'm cursed

Looking into his eyes

I think he's already hurt

He's already hurt

Despite that Harper never dared pursue a relationship. Why? She was very sure with people like Ketch the only right strategy was not to expect them to be capable of attachment. The flirting, the sweet promising looks he would give her after a well-accomplished hunt... Harper would dream of believing them to be genuine. She was very well aware thinking him in any way genuine was a risk she was not ready to take. She knew Ketch would not mind letting that affair happen - he made that quite clear. She also knew it would mean absolutely nothing to him apart from some company and a warm body in his bed. Arthur Ketch was cold, unemotional and taught himself well not to get attached to anyone - and even if that was not true, he tried his damn best to make it seem so.

Harper sometimes hoped she saw it in his eyes: a silent "please keep safe" when they would part after a hunt, a sparking "I missed you" when they would meet once again. Arthur sometimes hoped she would see it too - very deep in his soul, deeper than he would ever be able to admit even to himself.

In other words, the outcome of the new hunt would have presented itself sooner or later anyways. They were actually quite lucky to have it present itself the way it did.

The werewolf did not seem such a hard target - away from bigger packs, alone terrorizing the neighborhood - just because he could. Problem and solution crystal clear - a hunt where one clearly sees the root of evil is a blessing for a hunter that's used to all the versions of heartbreaking stories. What Harper did not so clearly see was the gun in their opponent's hands. To be more precise: she did see it, but a little too late.

Two gunshots rang at the same time: her silver bullet hitting right into the monster's heart and his normal one - ... Ketch fell against the wall, sliding down to the floor: his left shoulder bled, the bulletproof vest, even though being pierced in the thinner area, had preserved him from being too deeply injured - but not kept completely safe from wounding.

Several seconds of silence - making sure the werewolf is not a threat anymore - realisation and fear finally hitting Harper.

- Ketch?... Ketch?!... Arthur! - the hunter was too disoriented to answer and his silence was taken as a bad sign. - Oh Lord, Arthur, no! - gone are the self-restraint and professional coldness: the moment she sees blood on his chest, she rushes to his side, forgetting about everything else in the world. She needs to make sure he will be fine. He has to be. - Arthur, please, don't die on me! Arthur! - she calls for his attention, the hunter slowly regaining his senses.

For a moment there he believes he hears Tony. This reminds him of some of his unlucky hunts from the years before, though back then he had certainly had it worse. Besides this definitely was not Tony.

Tony would have said "Ketch's down" and carry on with the hunt, eyes on the target, and when the deed was done she would pass him with a short "How is it?" - more out of politeness than genuine caring. That was exactly what she did the only two times he had been seriously injured infront of her.

- Ketch, answer me right this instant, don't you dare fading out! - panic in her voice, genuine. The idea of someone caring as much as to panic at the thought of his death seems too good to be true - for him at least. Arthur feels hands investigating his chest, checking for the wound: cold thin fingers running over his blood-covered skin. Not Tony - Harper.

- I'll live, darling, it's nothing too serious, - attempting to sound confident, but his voice is rasp. It's nothing serious, but it hurt nonetheless: the blow on the shoulder was much harder than anticipated and the bleeding needed to be stopped.

Harper looks into the light blue, borderline grey eyes - he is staring up at her, his gaze unguarded only for a moment that lets her see the uncommon softness and hope in his expression - just for a moment - she believes the things she guessed about him were true, she believes the pain visible in his eyes is true, only by accident revealed to her. The state lasts only a couple of moments - but even that is more than enough for his visible emotions to imprint into her mind.

Arthur Ketch was able to feel. Arthur Ketch could be in pain. Arthur Ketch was capable of needing help.

I said "Don't be a jerk, don't call me a taxi"

Sitting in your sweatshirt, crying in the backseat ooh-ooh

I just wanna dance with you

Hollywood and Vine, Black Rabbit in the alley

I just wanna hold you tight down the avenue ooh

I just wanna dance with you

It was a wonder that the hotel clerk did not stop them on their way - Ketch looked positively dying - Harper was quite sure there was no legal thing that could have happened to him that would have explained this appearance. This was the reason normal hunters chose motels: less suspicion. Harper briefly wondered where he got the money to maintain his former lifestyle, since he was stripped of the BMoL funding, but she guessed there were other sources on his side and he was just too stubborn to change his ways.

When they stumbled into his hotel room, Arthur made a move to drop himself on the bed, but Harper grabbed him by the collar swiftly, dragging him away in the other direction.

- Ketch don't you dare stain the sheets, they'll report us, - she mumbled, pushing him to enter the bathroom and dropping him to sit on the edge of the tub.

He would have laughed if the sudden movement had not caused sharp pain to shoot through his damaged shoulder, making him wince. Alexandra. He had wondered for so long whom Harper reminded him of and out of all moments they shared it was this that made him realise. The memory reappeared in his mind so vividly now.

"Artie, no! Don't go to your room, you'll stain your carpet! Mum will kill us!" - and the older girl held him under his arms, guiding him to the kitchen.

He still remembered it: the years before school, before Kendricks, him and his sister mostly alone in the house with parents constantly away. Alexandra had brought him up before Kendricks had. Alexandra had a lovely voice, she would read him bedtime stories, she would sing to him, she was kind and caring - probably the only human being in his life that ever seemed to care. When he went to Kendricks was the last time he had ever seen her... Well, alive. Alexandra was kind and caring - and that was probably the reason why she had not made it through the training. In fact her death might have been the only reason why he survived and made it to the top - having no one care about you has a benefit: you don't have to care about anyone too.

After his sister's funeral life had never felt the same and Arthur had been quite certain before that it was for the better. Now, watching Harper rush about, trying to find the medical kit to help him, he thought that he had been terribly wrong all the damn time.

How long has she known him? A couple of years, not more, but the relationship between them reached beyond the borders of friendship or companionship. That little american hunter - the first time he saw her he thought she was suicidal, the second one - bold and full of sass. The following months proved her well capable of combining both while turning out to be so much more, one of which being: to be able to love Arthur Ketch. Of course he knew she loved him - this was among those traits in her that he openly treated with polite contempt and deep down envied more than anything.

He watched Harper come to his side, sliding his hunting gear off his shoulders - her movements so gentle, her eyes filled with worry and guilt.

- I'm so sorry Arthur, I should have... - you're always sorry. You always think it is your fault and none else's. This was most probably the main reason why it was so easy for him to openly reject her feeling: they both knew she loved him, they both knew he saw it, he toyed with her so many times, being suggestive, flirting. "As long as I enjoy the physical aspects of having an affair, the emotional attachment that other people believe necessary to form is rather pathetic" - he told her once. He actually said that, those were his words. I would like to fuck you as long as you shut your disgustingly human little heart. She stared at him for a moment, her beautiful face almost successfully hiding the hurt - then turned away silently, shrugging her shoulders. He was being a jerk. Harper never stopped him from that, Harper seemed to take it all in and believe he was right, believe that her feeling for him was utterly pathetic. That it was her fault.

- It was no one's mistake, love, it was an unlucky accident. Besides it didn't turn out that awful, - he trailed off. She was cleaning his skin over the wound now, preparing to apply stitches. Arthur could sense a little shudder in her at the word "love". He was so used to saying it that he forgot about all the connotations it held. Lord, was he bad at this.

Harper continued her work silently. She felt him studying her face and prayed to be finished as quick as possible - she did not need another heartbreaking hope and she had already made the mistake of looking into his eyes that night. When the last stitch was done, she turned away to put the materials aside and sensed him straighten up behind her back - Harper felt he wanted to say something else, but she could not give him that opportunity. She almost thought he would die that night - seeing him on the floor made her blood run cold - she did not need any more pain to add to the aftermath of the shock.

- I'm going to my room, but please call me if you feel worse during the night, - she spoke, not turning to face him, ready to walk out of the bathroom. Harper felt his hand grab her wrist in a rushed movement and turned abruptly only to see him staring back at her with unguarded softness in his eyes. The only time she remembered Arthur look at her like that was when she twisted an ankle during the hunt all due to his mistake. It scared her a little to see that expression on him.

- Why won't you just stay to keep an eye on me? - his voice low, with an undertone she so often heard when he flirted with her.

- You're a big boy, Ketch, we both know that even stitching you up was superfluous, you can perfectly well tend to yourself, - a smile. Harper tried to brush it off jokingly, ready to make her leave, but his grasp on her wrist only grew stronger.

- Stay.  At least for this night. Please, - the smile disappeared from her face. He sounded wounded, he sounded like he really pleaded. Harper broke away from his grasp, taking a step back.

- You don't need a... - she shook her head.

- But I do, - he stood up, taking a step towards her, not letting her increase the distance between them. His fingers came up to caress her cheek gently. - Harper, stay, - she shut her eyes, standing still and quiet for a couple of seconds, seemingly fighting back emotions.

- You don't mean this, - she said, looking up at him sharply and confidently, but in a moment, failing to restrain herself, she continues more quietly and softly. - Why do you have to be so cruel to me? - he could see tears brimming in her eyes.

They stood frozen in front of each other, her face so close to his, her eyes watering - not because of this particular evening, but because of all those times before he had behaved in similar nature. It was the first time she had so directly addressed the issue of her feelings for him. "Why do you have to be so cruel to me?" She seemed to be waiting for an actual answer. Why was she always so kind to him? Like he was normal, like he didn't hurt her? Arthur leaned down, his hand still cupping her cheek, his lips touching hers gently and firmly.

Harper closed her eyes - not as a girl would do in a pretty romantic movie - she shut her eyes, pressing her eyelids together, holding her breath, shuddering. A single tear ran down her cheek.

When they parted, though his face still stayed just a few centimeters away from hers, Harper opened her eyes again, her breath shaking.

- Arthur...

His free hand circled her waist, pulling her closer to him, as his fingers slid away from her cheek,  moving behind her head, running through her hair. Arthur leaned close to her ear, his breath ghosting over her neck.

- Because I hate how you make me feel like I can still have a life, like not everything is lost. I hate how you make me feel worth being cared about and able to care. I hate how you make me feel, - he said that rushed and quiet. Pressing his front to the side of her head, breathing deeply.

- And what if you are lying? What if this all is for the sake of one night? I'm tired of guessing if you have a soul or not, Arthur, I'm too worn out, - she wispered after some time, leaning her forehead into his uninjured shoulder.

- Then trust me this one time. I promise. Please.

- Why?

- Because I need you. I need you to feel alive.

Arthur felt her let out a deep breath, her petite form pressing itself to his, her arms sliding behind his back to hold him close. She raised her head, freezing for a moment before their eyes met, then leaning up - their lips meeting now less gingerly than the first time.

- Does that mean you'll stay?

- You're such an asshole, Ketch...

- I know.

Harper hid her face in his chest, sobbing quietly, her form shacking, worn out both physically and emotionally. Arthur kissed her temple softly, caressing her back, for once feeling like he did everything right. For once feeling like they had a chance.

Happiness is a butterfly

Try to catch it like every night

It's escaping from me into moonlight

#supernatural #spn fanfiction #arthur ketch x oc #this is written half at night and half on school breaks please don't judge me #i havenot revisited this fandom in such a long time #arthur ketch x reader #arthur ketch #sam winchester #dean winchester #british men of letters #angst #happiness is a butterfly #lana del rey #oneshot #songfic