#from age like 5 until i moved to a place where my room didn’t have carpet

[companionjones]

The Beginning of Us (1/5)

Pairing: 36!Joel Miller x 23!Fem!Reader

Fandom: The Last of Us (could be applied to the video game or TV show)

Summary: You get new neighbours. One of them, a man very much your senior, might just be the most perfect man you have ever met. Where will this take you?

Warnings: Age gap, cursing, eventual smut

Author’s Note: Hi. Have you heard of @dbnightingale24​? If you haven’t, I highly recommend checking out her page, especially if you’re into Chris Evans and the characters that he plays. She is an amazing individual, inside and out. I would not be posting this story without her much-needed help and support. She even came up with the title! Thank you so much. Happy reading!

(1/2/3/4/5)

*******

What got your attention was a loud and gruff “Shit!” and the sound of a box tumbling down the staircase in your apartment building.

You got off your couch and went to your door to see what was the matter. Opening it, you saw a girl disappearing into the apartment across the hall from yours, and another girl, slightly older than the one before, following her into the same space.

“Howdy stranger! We’re your new neighbours!” The girl still within your sight let you know. She then followed in the other girl’s footsteps in disappearing behind the door in front of you.

There was a man at the end of the hall, you noticed. He had his eyes peering down the staircase, but then he turned his vision toward you. “Hello,” he greeted and started to approach you with the two boxes he was carrying, “My name’s Tommy. Sorry if we were disturbing you.”

“Not at all,” you assured. “Are you and your daughters moving in?”

Tommy smiled as he shook his head. “Oh, no. I couldn’t handle those two 24/7. Those are my brother’s girls, Sarah and Ellie. Joel?” He called down the stairs.

Leaning into the hallway, you spotted a man one flight down, putting books into a cardboard box. Seeing that Tommy already had his hands full, you went down to help the aforementioned ‘Joel.’

Apparently, he didn’t notice you until you were knelt on the floor with him, helping him gather the books. You looked up the same time as he did, and the two of you locked eyes for the first time.

Joel had the deepest brown eyes you had ever seen in your life.

You gave him a shy smile, which Joel returned quickly, and you asked, “You didn’t go down with these books, did you?”

He must’ve said no, but you didn’t hear him because you were taking notice of the books. They were all war related, more specifically World War II. You couldn’t help but chuckle at the material.

“What?” he wondered with a smirk.

You shook your head. “Nothing. It’s just very on brand for a father like you to have books like these, no offence.”

Joel smiled, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I told you; nothing,” you teased.

“Right…” he chuckled, and the two of you finished gathering the books.

Moving everything in took the rest of the day, and it was night by the time everything was out of the U-Haul and into the Millers’ apartment.

“Finally!” Ellie celebrated, “Let’s have more pizza!”

Tommy groaned, “Seriously? You already had it for breakfast today.”

“Come on, I’m hungry too!” Sarah complained, and the next thing you knew, Joel was ordering over the phone.

Tommy (reluctantly) offered to pick it up, and you said you’d stay back with Joel to start on the organisation of things.

“You really don’t have to stay,” Joel told you while Tommy and the girls were on their way out.

“Really, no offence Joel, but this place is a hazardous zone. I’m going to stay until there is at least a feasible way to get from room to room.” You were glancing around the space until you looked back at Joel. He was looking at you with a soft gaze that honestly made your heart flutter.

Joel softly let you know, “Help like yours…it’s extremely hard to come by these days.”

“You get it from Tommy, right?” you wondered.

He shrugged, “I do…Really, I do, but it’s not the same. He’s my younger brother, y’know? Half the time, it feels like I’m helping him way more than he’s helping me.”

“That makes sense,” you nodded, then took a chance and pressed on, “...Is it alright if I ask what happened to the girls’ mother?”

Joel nodded, “It’s alright. It all happened some time ago…Sarah’s mother left…five years ago now…? And Ellie’s mother, well…she died in childbirth.”

“Oh my god…Joel, I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like.”

“It’s alright. It happened a long time ago.” Surprisingly, Joel chuckled. He was looking right at you.

You grew self-conscious. “What?”

“You didn’t say, ‘I’m sorry,’” he pointed out.

“Oh. Oh my god. I’m sor–” you tried correcting.

Joel cut you off, however. “No, it’s fine. I promise. It’s just…whenever I tell someone about the girls’ mothers, they take pity on me and say sorry. It got a little annoying after a while.”

“I would think so,” you relayed softly.

Not wanting an awkward silence after that conversation, you turned on your phone. “...Now, I don’t know about you, but I can’t keep doing this work without any music. There we go.” You turned on your playlist and put your phone down on the entertainment centre.

Joel seemed surprised. “80s? Seriously?”

“Yes. Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Miller?”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t call me that. It makes me feel old.”

You chuckled. “Okay, Joel it is.”

Tommy and the girls came back with the pizza sooner than you expected. Sarah and Ellie were whispering and giggling about something that you could tell Tommy had been over with for a while. The girls shared another look when you sat next to Joel on the couch, and Tommy just rolled his eyes at them. You tried not to think about what that could mean.

The five of you watched a movie as you ate dinner, and Tommy was quick to leave after it was over. It almost felt too quick.

The girls didn’t waste time either.

“I’m exhausted!” Sarah yawned.

Ellie joined in, “Me too. I think we’re gonna head to bed, Dad. That alright with you?”

Joel was just as taken aback as you were. “Yeah. I guess so—”

“Okay. Goodnight!”

“Thanks for coming over, Y/n!”

Sarah and Ellie almost ran to their newly-set-up rooms.

“What was that all about?” you wondered out loud to Joel.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. But it’s not all the time that Tommy is let in on their antics.”

You chuckled, “Well, anyway, I think that’s my cue to go home. Lord knows it’s late enough.”

Joel followed you out into the hallway. “I really do appreciate your help, Y/n.”

You did your best to copy him. “It really was no problem Mist--Joel,” you corrected yourself.

Joel had been leaning against his door frame, but he took a step forward, which all but closed the space between the two of you.

The movement caused you to silently gasp, and you were so shocked that you barely got a hold of yourself in time for when Joel started leaning down--

“Joel, I’m 20,” you got out just before his lips would’ve touched yours.

Of course, Joel backed up. “Oh. Oh my god. Y/n, I am so sorry for putting you in that position–”

“You didn’t put me in any position. I should’ve told you earlier–”

“When? I didn’t ask. Shit, I didn’t ask. I just assumed ‘cause you’re living alone–”

“I know. I know. You didn’t do anything wrong, Joel. Okay?” You reached out and put a hand on his arm. Then, you realised what you were doing, and took your hand away. “I-I’m going to bed now. Goodnight, Joel.”

“Goodnight.”

The last thing you saw were his shame-filled eyes as you closed your door.

(1/2/3/4/5)

*******

Author’s Note: Thank you for reading! Fill up that heart and reblog if you liked it. I would also really appreciate a comment, if you have the time. If you would like to read more, check out my masterlist. Have a nice day, night, or whatever time it is for you! <3 <3 <3

#joel miller #sarah miller #ellie williams #joel miller x reader #joel miller x reader age gap #the beginning of us #troy baker #ashley johnson #pedro pascal #bella ramsey #nico parker #companion jones

[in-death-we-fall]

A New Beginning

A year ago when Terrorizer spoke to Joey Jordison, the drummer was a man of (sic) the edge. Now the Slipknot founder is in a different headspace and facing the future with heady determination.

Words: Tobyn Dorcian  Pics: Kane Hibberd Terrorizer #224, July 2012 (google docs link)

**self harm warning for questions 4 and 5 and image 4**

When Joey Jordison was in Australia in March 2011, he was a wreck. Ten months afterPaul (sic) Gray, Joey’s best friend and fellow Slipknot originator/bassist had died from a drugs (sic) overdose, and the drummer was psychologically frail. To distract from his grief, Jordison had over-committed to Soundwave festival as both guitarist in the Murderdolls and drummer for Rob Zombie – exhaustion led to him cancel (sic) a Sydney show.

A year on, Jordison is the antithesis of that vision. Once again in Australia, this time with Slipknot for their 7pm slot at Soundwave festival, he is chipper and energetic. Near unrecognisable with a bush ranger-like beard and moustache, the 37-year-old is in such a great mood he insists on doing two interviews: one at 6.30pm prior to Slipknot’s Melbourne arena sideshow, and another at 11.40pm at its conclusion.

How has the past 12 months been for you? “Very positive. I’m happier than I’ve been for a long time.”

The death of best friend and Slipknot bassist Paul Gray had put you in a bad place. What’s helped you to move forward? “I went right into the studio. I’ve been working non-stop, pouring all my energy into writing music, and nothing but good results have come from it. I am happy being (sic) the studio and am working on music because that’s my life-blood. We all have deaths in our family but you have to move on. [Pauses] It’s really hard for me to talk about Paul’s death…”

Do you ever feel Paul’s presence? “Oh yeah. I’ve been writing stuff since his death and he’s with me at all times. I will be sitting writing a riff, and I know the exact part where he is coming in. I almost talk to him, in a weird way.”

** As a tribute to Paul, Corey [Taylor, vocalist] got a tattoo of him on his leg. “I don’t have any tattoos but I have this. [Rolls up his left shirtsleeve to reveal two several inch-long scars on his shoulder]. After he died, I cut two lines [Paul Gray was Slipknot number 2] into my arm. He remains on my snare hand.”

** What do the lines represent? “That he’s with me at all times. I will never have tattoos, ever. I don’t put ink in my body. I am the only one in the band that doesn’t have them. I don’t want anyone putting my memory into my body but me. This will never go away. When I did it it cut pretty deep. Now, he is playing with me at all times.”

You have spoken about your life in Iowa, that you live in isolation. In your house there are no clocks, the windows are blacked out and you rarely answer the phone. To what extent has that changed? “I now have three cats: Mokey, Melvin and Murray [previously, Joey had Mokey], but nothing has changed. That part of me will always remain the same. It [that feeling] is even happening right now. When I walk out of this room [backstage at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena], I can’t stand it until I get behind my drums; that’s my safe zone. That’s where I feel at home, besides in my house with a guitar. I didn’t pick isolation – this is not a story piece, that’s fucking bullshit – It’s the way I am. I like things that I like and I stick to them. I’ve been like this since I was a kid.”

What do you think that’s about? “I don’t necessarily know. I guess I was so interested in music when I was a kid and was so engulfed by it that it was all I could think about. I was like, ‘This is what I want to do and this is my calling’. I knew what I wanted to do at a very, very young age, so I am very lucky in that respect. On tour, I have done the sightseeing and it is beautiful and I love that but if I want to see something I’ll got (sic) and see it. If I want to stay in my [hotel] room and listen to music… that is what I usually do. It just depends on my mood, which is a little different every day.”

You feel comfortable at home and behind the kit, but not so much in the places in between. “I can’t relate to too many people. When I was very young my grandma told me that if you have just one really close friend you should consider yourself lucky, and I still live to that rule, because honestly, you cannot hardly trust anyone. That’s why I termed the song ‘People = Shit’. I had that term on a t-shirt when we were a club band, way before we got signed.”

It seems like you don’t fit in. “I don’t. I have never been that person who goes out to try to make friends intentionally. I like to have a drink here [at the venue] and hang out with good people but I don’t go out anymore. I like hanging out with my family and my cats and my guitar. I am probably one of the only people who has a guitar in their bathroom. It’s there just in case when I have to go shit [Laughs], I have a cool idea. I always wake up with a riff, so when I have to go and do the morning thing, I play guitar while I’m doing it.”

Something might come of it… “A lot has come of it. [Laughs] I like taking baths. I’m not a shower guy too much. I love soaking in the bath and I get really good ideas there too. I like coming out and grabbing my guitar. Even if I write some of the craziest, fastest shit of the Slipknot catalogue, I am always at peace. I have to be at peace. I can never write anything unless I am at peace. That’s what’s good about having this sort of [musical] gift.

“I watch a lot of shows on the Discovery Channel about how things are made: it intrigues my brain. Some of the science stuff makes me feel a little stupid, but then I’m like, wait, what they (sic) hell are you talking about? They can’t do what I’m doing.”

Surely, you are in the wrong business [music] if you are looking for trust? “I can’t bitch about anything because I am very lucky, but luck has nothing to do with where I am right now. That luck shit can fuck right off. I work my fucking ass off to be like this. I did this to be true to myself and to my friends. Then you have all these assholes come in and they are like, ‘We can’t play a goddamn note but we learnt how to market a bunch of shit and collect off you’. I cannot stand one of them. Slipknot is a product of the shit we hate, and when we go out onstage it is vengeance.

“On the other hand, the maggots who come to our shows, I have something in common with each one of them: that’s how much they understand my music. Our music becomes their music. They give it right back to us and it gives us energy. I can see in kids’ eyes what we have done, what a movement we’ve created. Not many bands have done what we have.”

Last year Clown [Shawn Crahan, percussionist] told Terrorizer he wasn’t sure if he wanted to do Slipknot anymore. “I don’t believe that at all. Plus, there isn’t any shit that needs to be ‘repaired’, like there’s a rift between band members. We all do other stuff. There are no fights. We are getting along so well right now. The feeling is like it was in 1999, when we first came out. Corey and I understand each other more than we ever have. The thing is that we have never not gotten along; it’s the fucking press that turned us against each other. In fact, I brought Corey into Slipknot. Back then, no one even wanted him in the band.”

Why not? “At that time we were like an eccentric death metal circus act. It was great, but something was missing. I said to Clown that we needed to get Corey to sing for us. Shawn [Clown] is hardcore, he is the dad of our band and we respect his opinion. He was like, ‘Fuck no’, but said he liked Corey’s vocals. So myself, Mick [Thompson (sic), guitar] and Shawn went to the porn store where Corey used to work. When we arrived Corey was really nervous, like we were going to beat him up or something. Shawn went up to Corey and asked him if he wanted to try out and he freaked out.

“The next day he parked his car around the back of the studio – because we didn’t want anyone to know – and it was just me and Shawn. The first song he demoed was ‘Me Inside’. I sat next to Shawn and said, ‘Watch this shit, I know what’s going to happen’. Corey got to the chorus and Shawn looked at me and was like, ‘You were right’. Corey’s relationship with me has come full circle. We love each other very much.”

Right now, what binds Slipknot together? “We started to think, what if it [Slipknot] did go away, and realised how much the band meant to us. The songs mean more to me now than they ever have… remembering the crap we went through, all the stupid bickering and crap that never needed to happen. All of that has been weeded out and now it’s like we’ve been rebuilt, stronger than ever. Slipknot is a machine right.

“Our band is nine fucking extraordinary personalities, extreme, intense personalities, who live all over the place and yet we are still together, so fuck you. I would die for these guys. If I died onstage, I wouldn’t care. This is going to sound stupid, but it would be from my heart. It’s a fucking war onstage, it isn’t safe.”

Your temporary bass player [Donnie Steele] is out of view. Why? “The other guy [Donnie] is not allowed onstage, no fucking way. He is behind the stage and does a great job. We are nine people and we unfortunately lost one. But it doesn’t matter; we are still nine. We can never replace Paul, but that’s why I bought (sic) Donnie into the band. He was the first guitar who played before I came into the picture, when we were The Pale Ones. He is a really cool guy and very mellow.

“We haven’t decided on another bassist yet. We don’t want any marquee names or anything like that. It doesn’t make sense to bring anyone in from another band that’s huge. We want to keep it in the family, and he’s part of our family and it’s been great ever since.”

Will the next Slipknot album still be “the darkest one ever?” “It’s going to be dark no matter what. There ain’t no changing that fucking statement.”

How much darker than ‘Iowa’ can you go? “That’s up to us. So far, I’ve written and recorded 40 songs.”

Is there a song about Paul? “Yes, my working title is ‘Gray’.”

Have you been working with the other guys or by yourself? “To tell you the truth, it’s just been me. Everyone is writing stuff, but people want to do other projects [Corey Taylor and Jim Root and (sic) working on a new Stone Sour album. Clown has released a photography book], and so I’m writing alone until we can all come together. Then we can start playing and go from there. That’s how we wrote, ‘Prelude’, ‘The Blister Exists’, it’s how we start a lot of songs.”

With the next album, what is the journey you wish to take the listener on? “This will be our deepest, most celebrated record. The journey is that we are trying to live our lives, just like everyone else is trying to live theirs’. We all have weird shit in our lives and a lot of our songs reflect that. On the next record we will be exorcising, getting out a lot of the crap out that I think personally, we have held in too much, against each other.”

What sort of emotions will come out? “Both positive and negative. Jealousy? That doesn’t exist in this band. That is the worst emotion; it kills people. You know who fucking does that? It’s the press, and it just pisses us off. People [journalists] keep putting words in our mouth. If they want to keep doing it, keep doing it, because it’s pissing us off right now. Everyone on the outside – journalists, business manager, accountant – this album will be the worst in terms of ‘fuck you’. ‘Iowa’ was kind of playful. This one, as far as emotions go, is going to connect with everyone way more than any of our others.”

Where do you see Slipknot evolving from here? “Slipknot can do two things: either leave the legacy where it is now or cut everything that’s been before and take it even further. That’s where my mindset is at. I can only see it getting even bigger.”

In the early 2000s, Clown had stage props of cow heads on spikes. What is the most shocking thing Slipknot has done? “We never look to shock anyone. If it’s shocking to some people, then I guess you can call it shock but that was never the intent. That’s just Shawn being Shawn. We used to go down to the meat packing plant [in Des Moines] and were really intrigued by the smell of dead animals. We’d just sit there and gawk at them. We just liked the fucking smell of it. No matter how pungent or grotesque.

“Bringing that type of stuff out was part of the ‘Iowa’ cycle and it made sense then. I don’t think it makes sense now. The thing about that is you never know what we are going to do tonight. I don’t know what the rest of them are doing (sic) to do; they don’t have to know what I am going to do. We don’t have structure. Ours is no choreographed shit.”

You’ve been doing Slipknot for almost 20 years. To what extent have you mellowed? “Not at all. I’m still punk rock. I will travel in a van; I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me: trains, buses, planes, whatever, I’ll get there. As long as I have my leather jacket and maybe a toothbrush, throw me in a fucking corner and I’ll sleep there. I don’t give a fuck.”

Slipknot must have made a lot of money. Looking at you, you’d never know it, as you are in no way ostentatious. “To tell you the truth, I have no fucking clue about it. [Laughs] It’s there, but money and all that shit doesn’t register with me. I don’t calculate it. Maybe it’s stupid but I don’t give a fuck about money, which is maybe why I’ve been ripped off in the past, but I just don’t care. Money is bullshit to me. I hate it. It’s an evil fucking thing. It controls the world and that’s why I don’t like it. With our band, it was never about that and it still isn’t. The last thing we think about is that. But if there is money to be made, of course we want to make it and not get ripped off.

“When we were starting we thought maybe we’d sell 30,000 records. Even getting signed was weird. When someone says, ‘You need to get business smart’, I’m like, fuck all that. I am still that little punk rock kid. That little kid that was in his basement playing drums, blast-beating and learning all this shit from the bands I grew up listening to.”

What does your number [1] mean to you? “Now it doesn’t really mean much. When we started it was an idea and I am number one for a reason. I was that number because I am the base of the band, the rhythm section, its glue. I don’t really look it at (sic) much anyone (sic), I try to think of us by our names, but I’m glad to still have that number.”

In 2000 you let my 15-year-old socially awkward nephew watch Slipknot from the side of the stage [in Melbourne, Australia]. 12 years later as his mother was dying of cancer, he recalled how much that meant to him. And how you looked after him. “That means a lot to me. [Pauses] I’m glad he had that outlet [Slipknot] because that’s what I needed when I was young. I needed it because I was an outcast. I don’t have many friends and I don’t want them: that is my sickness. The ones that I have are the guys in my band; they are my brothers. They would do anything for me.

“When I was young… that’s why I was so attracted to music. Everyone else was into sport and extra curricular activities and so I was the misfit. Music just felt safe. It spoke to me so loudly that it made everything seem clear – nothing else at that time did. In a weird way, it almost chose me. The demon grabbed me by the throat and put me on a mantle and said, ‘This is what you are going to do’. I have been stuck there ever since. [Laughs] It’s not a bad place to be. It makes me comfortable and keeps me warm.”

‘Antennas To Hell’ is out on July 16 on Roadrunner www.Slipknot1.com

Joey on:

Watain “They are the real deal, man. I think [frontman] Erik Danielsson is in the top 3 black metal singers of all time. That guy’s voice is pure. Watching them, people want to do the whole pit thing, but I am the opposite, I find it relaxing. It’s weird. The blood they put on, that’s real. They are coming to Iowa, so I will probably be in the front row, being a fan boy.”

Burzum “I loved ‘From The Depths Of Darkness’ [2011]. A lot of people focus on the murder [of Euronymous], but I look beyond that, to his music. I don’t condone murder, but I’m like, ‘Get over that and listen to this shit’. The Count is about as dark as you get and I totally love everything he has done. I haven’t met him, but he’s definitely one of the people I’d love to meet.”

Marilyn Manson “I met him a long time ago and we became friends after that. What I like about him more than anything is that you never know what’s coming. He is unpredictable and that is punk rock. That to me is true fucking art. I think that’s why him and me really connected. He gets me and I get him too. I haven’t talked to him for a while, but he’s always been nice to me.”

#lemme know if you want anything else from this scanned #terrorizer 224 july 12 #joey jordison #slipknot #interview

[akiology]

In the Dead of the Night || Part 1

You are married to two of the most infamous information brokers in Tokyo.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Word Count: 910

Pairing: Akira Kurusu x Reader x Goro Akechi

Note:  i currently dont know how many parts this is gonna have, all characters are aged up! and an alternate universe with no personas

The only sound that could be heard throughout the whole dark alley are the sound of wet footsteps. It had just stopped raining, and it was a strong one. Followed by two other pair of footsteps, they walked down until they encountered a rundown warehouse. Two armed men guarded the entrance, when they recognized who was approaching they bowed down to him.

"Goro, sir. Akira is inside." One of the armed men stated, the aforementioned Goro nodded. 

Looking around to see if there were any potential witnesses and when none were found, they entered. The inside of the warehouse was just as rundown as the outside. There were exactly three lightbulbs inside, and thus it gave the area an eerie feel. In the middle of the warehouse was a guy tied to a chair, along with his hands and feet rendering him unable to move. His mouth was taped shut, and it seems he has fainted where he sat. Standing beside him was a man in a black suit, which look out of place as he looks like a normal salaryman. The devious smile he gave made him look like he knows more than he let on. He does.

"Akira."

"Hey there, what took you so long?" he asked, with a playful lilt to his voice. 

 "Work." Goro answered. Smart ass.

"Then what do you call this?"

"Dirty work. Literally. Out of all the places to do this, you chose a rundown warehouse with moths flying around? Why can't we do it in a nice basement, or maybe in a laundry room?"

Akira rolled his eyes at him, choosing to ignore his complaints. "I've gotten out all that I can from him. He seems like he really has nothing to do with what's happening."

"I see. Well, we cannot have him running around as who knows what he might say when he realizes what happened."

"We'll let the others take care of him. I have called for back-up."

"Good."

"Goro."

"Yes?"

"Do you have the time?"

"It is," Goro pulls up his sleeve in his right arm to check the time on his watch, "8:13 pm. What is the time check fo— fuck."

"Yes. Fuck."

"You two," Goro turned his head and motioned to the two men behind him, "Guard him until Ryuji and the others arrive, got it?" The two men nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Akira, I'm assuming you have your car?"

"Yes." Akira fished his keys from his pockets, and dangled it in front of him. "Let us go. They are waiting for us."

/./

You were sitting patiently at the dinner table. Today was supposedly your anniversary with your husbands, but it seems like they are running late. Or maybe they forgot. No, they didn't, work was just demanding. Right? Right.

You were used to this, and plus, they always made it up to you. You sighed. As much as you love them, you oftentimes wish that you could cuddle them all day long without a care in the world. Looking back at the dinner table, a variety of dishes you lovingly prepared were on it. You really wanted this to be a magical night, but it seems like that will have to be for another night. Sighing once again, you stand up from your seat and started mentally preparing yourself to put away all the dishes.

That is until, the door burst open. Looking at the direction of the door, Akira's disheveled hair and loud panting was evident as he entered the dining area. "My princess! I'm sorry it took us so long." He opened his arms out to you as he approached you, holding a bouquet on his right hand. 

You smiled, face warming up with the term of endearment used. No matter how long and how used the nickname is, it still makes you happy when he calls you that. You came closer to him and found yourself locked up in his embrace. Akira pulled out just enough to come face-to-face with you. He gave your nose a little kiss and directed your attention to the bouquet in his hands. "These flowers are for you, my princess. I hope it will make up for the fact that I am late. If not, the night is still young and I can make it up to you in other ways if you wish." 

Goro came in the dining room a few seconds later, with a bunny plush in his right arm. "Bunny, I am home. I apologize for being late. I am all yours tonight, and I am willing to do anything. Just ask." Goro stole you away from Akira, which earned a growl from the other man. Goro planted a loving kiss on your forehead, and offered you the bunny plush. "A bunny for my bunny?"

You giggled at him, and accepted his present. Akira also gave you his. Taking a step back, you noticed how they both look apologetic and a little sweaty. They must've hurried over here while stopping by for some presents. Your husbands never want to make you feel like you're nothing to them, because it is actually quite the opposite. You are very important to them, and they are quite protective of you. They hope you know that, and do not ever forget that even if they are late sometimes. But they are trying, and that's what makes it so hard to stay mad at them. "Welcome home, Akira and Goro."

#Persona #Persona5 #persona 5 royal #persona 5 protagonist #goro #goro akechi #akira x reader #goro x reader #video game #fanfic #persona 5 #persona x reader #akira kurusu #ren amamiya #fluff #reader insert #akira

[flammingnachos]

𝑴𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒎𝒂(roman reigns x fem!reader

𝑺𝒚𝒏𝒐𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒔; Even tho it’s not official yet the tribal chief likes to make it be known about his intentions with you and his desire for you to let him into your heart even though hard times

𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰; tribal chef roman, roman is a bit mean, slight cursing, mental abuse, manipulation

.

Every since I returned back to wrestling after I tore my ACL after having my triple threat match with charlotte flair I thought that it was the end of my career and that I would have to start looking back for a regular job.

That was until Joseph himself had helped me since I was there for him back when he was diagnosed with his cancer and back when he was having his ups and down in the wwe, he liked to think it if he basically owed me his life now but I just thought of it of me supporting my friends while they going through a very rough time

He ofcoursed helped me after my whole career threatening injury while joining back the wwe and playing a new character that he was bragging me to about on the phone that he was talking to triple H about

I was happy for him I really was he was finally getting the spotlight he deserved and was playing a character that represented his family’s legacy and what not but the downside of that was that he kept complaining about his mother constantly nagging him in the ear about having kids and him putting his all into a fake personality of himself on tv rather than a real person outside of that

What can I say Joe’s in his 30s with no kids yet if my son was like this I would be mad too

But anyways today’s marks the day I step back into wwe after a year or two of my Injury. I was scheduled to mark my returnment but coming out and attacking Iyo sky while she was out so the CTRL on the stage talking about her championship after winning it on money in the bank showcasing me turning into a Heel

While in the backstage in my dressing room getting ready, Selina had walked in dressed in her LWO gear as she giggled seeing me

“I thought it would be ages until I saw my bestie Westie again” she squealed out running up and embracing me into a very tight hug

Before my injury me and Selina were inseparable on smack down but of course after weren’t but I still kept in touch with her whenever and asked about so and so things going on at smack down but I didn’t tell her about my return today since I wanted to see her reaction when she saw me

“Surprise I’m in the flesh” I mumbled out in Selina forearms as she still wouldn’t let go

“We got so much to catch up about, the roaster has been hell without you” She sighed out removing her arms from around my neck and plunging down on the sofa sighing out loud

“The woman’s division has been in absolute crisis, triple h seems like he’s too busy booking the men that he totally forgot about the woman-”

She sighed out pausing a bit

“But now that your here you can talk to that fine friend of yours to speak to h about the woman’s division” she finished off lightly clapping her hands

I scoffed

“You mean roman..?” I asked out

She nodded

“Yeah that guy..I mean just look at him he’s playing the character he asked to be and whatever he told h to do about the men’s division and fixing smack down live he did it and now look” She said out moving her hands out to try to showcase what she meant

“And?” I asked back totally confused by where she’s going with this

“I mean, maybe you could talk to roman and see if he can pull a few strings and restore back the woman’s division” she dismayed sighing out loud again

“And what makes you think me going to Roman and telling him this will make him want to do it, it took him 5 and a half years to be respected by this company and get the privilege he gets now-”I argued back but she interrupted me getting up while moving all over the place

“C’monn Sage your the only girl he speaks to in wwe other than his cousins wife plus it so obviously before you got your injury all you guys used to do backage was give each other the love sick dog eyes and follow around each other until your segments” she boasted on moving around the room waving her hands in the air

I scoffed again cause no we did not

“No we didn’t, we were just being friends” I said as she gave me that “girl bye” look with her eyebrows

Joesph is an attractive man I’ll give him that but we both saw each other only as friends even tho sometimes he things he did were questionable at time we still are friends and beside it’s obvious he’s too busy focusing on his career right now to even think about dating someone right now

Right then the walkie talkie in our dressing room beeped signaling someone was trying to connect to our station to communicate with us

I grabbed it twisting the operator and pressing down the side speaking into it

“Sage here” I commented

“Iyo is closing in on her speech it’s about to be time for your main entrance” the person on the other end speaked

“Okay I’m coming” I responded back before turning back off the operator

I looked over at Selina seeing that she she laid back down on the sofa on her phone

“We’ll continue about this when I get back..but if I buck into him in the halls I’ll see what I can tell him” I said tighting my boots

“Good” she yawned out before I left the room making my way to the downstairs of the backstage since I was set to come out in the crowd

I was pretty nervous but I quickly took some deep breath and met my manager in the opening of the arena that lead tot he crowd and blended in throwing my hoodie off my head to lessen there suspicion and made my way to the front area

I sat down next to some kid and his family and he started screaming away about how he can’t wait to see the bloodline come out and Roman reigns Superman punch Sami and Kevin, heck he even tried to demonstrate it on his older brother I think that was sitting next to him

“Iyo I just wanna say-” that’s my cue

Before bayley to continue I quickly took off my hoodie and jumped over the barricade, sliding into the ring as the crowd got out there seats and screamed and jumped in hype

Bayley slowly turned around and that’s when I hit her with a super kick to her throat and she dropped down in the ring. Iyo tried to kick me with one of her kicks but I dodged it giving her a drop kick as they both rolled out the ring but left the women’s championship in there

I grabbed it holding it over my head with a smirk on my face as I watched the reactions all around me seeing my return

Iyo and bayley helded onto each other breathing heavily as I laughed out throwing Iyo’s championship at her on the floor as she picked it up backing up into backstage with bayley staring me down

After they had disappeared into the backstage it was my turn to leave, I slided out the ring making my way backstage as everyone started chanting and screaming my name pushing there hands out anxiously for me to touch it

I smiled it feels good to be back

Once I reached backstage I began making my way back to my dressing room but while making my way I was passing by Greyson Waller as he stopped me

“Oi sage!”he greeted out surprised by my arrival

I smiled back

“Greyson, Hey how long has it been” I asked out as he only chuckled at this

“A few decades” He joked out in which I had laughed at

“So how have you been doing?” He asked

“Good, getting a bit of Deja vu” I answered back

“Awesome mate, I’m a bit free later so would you like to maybe continue this over lunch” he asked out

“Is that a date” I giggled out as his face turned a bit red at this

“N-no just some lunch between two friends..that’s if you are free of course” He stuttered a bit

I giggled at this

As I was about to give him his answer I felt a tug my shoulders and then someone’s wrapped there arms around my shoulder, I looked over my shoulder seeing that it was just jimmy uso

“There you are, I was just looking for you” he exclaimed out

Greyson looked over at me waiting for my answer, jimmy noticed this and butted in

“Oh and about that lunch date sorry man she busy at the moment, she promised me we’d go out together today”jimmy said shaking his head while giving Greyson a look

“Well that’s alright, how about tomorrow since it’s maybe Sunday or maybe even-” he tried to finish but jimmy started backing us both up

“We gotta go” Jimmy said

I sighed out

“Greyson don’t worry we can go Monday” I gave him and apologetic smile

“Alright see you mate” He waved off

I nodded as jimmy turned us both around while walking back over to I’m guessing his dressing room

“Really” I sighed out rubbing my hands over my face

“Did you really have to do that to him?”

He gave me a defensive look

“What?, you did say you owed me a day for me and uce and I only just came to make sure of it” He said

I only shaked my head

“You know what you were doing turning down poor Greyson back there”

“He’ll be fine, you got a man either way you shouldn’t even be accepting offers from strangers” He answered back in which I rolled my eyes at this

“No I do not have a man and No Greyson isn’t a stranger you guys all knew how close we were on NXT” I argued back

He only huffed out

“Where are your even taking me anyways” I asked now seeing we weren’t going into the direction of the his or my dressing room

“the big dawg been looking for you so I told him I was gonna bring you to him” He answered my question

“For?” I asked

“He can’t speak to you now?” jimmy said dramatically giving me a sassy look

I laughed at this

“I never said” I chuckled out

Jimmy only chucked at this and changed up the subject up until we reached Roman’s personal dressing room that he only shared with solo the uso’s and Paul whom was always with him

“Lemme guess Paul’s in there with him” I annoyingly asked since the answer would probably be a yes

Jimmy nodded his head at this

He then knocked on the door warning a come in from Paul

He pushed in the door opening it for me as I walked in facing solo, roman and Paul whom where all sitting with the expectation of Paul standing right by roman per usual

“You wanted to see me” I asked out in a huff sitting next to him on the sofa

He furrowed his eyebrows at this

“I can’t look for you now” He asked out slightly rolling his tongue across his upper teeth

“You can but sending a person like jimmy to..”

“Terrible idea” I sighed

“Woah woah in my defense you talking to a person like Greyson Waller, talking bout some date and you expect me not to say sum” He argued out while sitting down on the other sofa next to solo

“Yeah but you said it as if I wasn’t interested in the guy”

This turned everyone’s heads

“Your interested in him?” Both jimmy and roman half yelled out giving each other a look before roman started speaking

“Your actually interested in the guy” He asked out in disbelief

“A little it’s nothing that’s not worth trying so why not” I responded back

He only stared at me

“What?” I asked a bit confused

“Nothing” He replied back looking away

The atmosphere went quiet

“You guys are so weird” I said frustrated

“Half of the male wrestlers steer clear of me as if I’m some kind of infestation and when one of them don’t do that you guys scared him off” I ranted out looking around at everyone to see there reactions

Roman didn’t even look at me but back at the tv playing the wrestling going on out there and Paul just looked down at the championship and solo and jimmy just looked at each other

“He wasn’t good enough for you anyways” Jimmy said shrugging shoulders off at me

“And what makes you think you know what’s good enough for me” I challenged

Jimmy went silent at this

“so you agreed to it?”Roman finally spoke up

I just shaked my head to his question

“No thanks to this genius right here but I did tell him I’m free Monday maybe” I said slightly unsure of my answer

He went silent again

I just got up and was about to storm out when roman slightly grabbed my arms

“I’ll meet you by the parking lot since my segment is over now and I can go home, lemme drop you” he reasoned

I only just started back at him until I sighed out nodding my head and then leaving the room

𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑹𝑶𝑶𝑴

Roman stayed quiet as he waiting patiently for sage to leave away from his dressing room

he waited for a few minute before turn in around to Paul whom was behind him

“I want you to have a talk with that Greyson guy and tell him I don’t appreciate him chatting it up with my friend as if he even has a chance with her” he finished off as Paul nodded leaving the room

Roman looked over at jimmy and solo as jimmy just gave him a weak smile and solo gave him that look

“just tell her uce” jimmy said

“tell her what” roman argued

“just stop this chase of cat and mouse and tell her how you feel, you know she feels the same way” jimmy said moving his hands around

Roman stayed quiet listening to jimmy’s little rant

“you guys both like each other be neither of y’all man enough to say it, I get y’all not ready and wanna focus on y’all’s careers but if that’s the case that mean she free to date Greyson” jimmy said

Roman looked deep in thought

“Just give it a try while you in the car with her, ask her out on a date and see how it is” solo joined in

Roman looked over back at solo rubbing his fingers slightly over his beard slowly nodding his head

“And if she says she doesn’t see me as that” roman asked

“Uce just get up outta here and do it mane” jimmy said shaking his head in disbelief

“This nigga mane” he said to solo and they both laughed out

Roman got up leaving the dressing room heading to the parking lot

𝑨𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑳𝑶𝑻

I leaned on the wall near the door waiting for Joseph to come already

“What’s taking this man so long”I mumbled out impatiently

It took the next 5 minutes for him to push threw the exit door, I pushed my self off the wall standing next to him

“Took you long enough” I rolled my eyes

“Something came up” he answered leading the way to his car

“Let me guess you ordered jimmy to stop bossing around Paul cause he feels a way about that” I joked out he only chuckled at this

“Jimmy knows better, only time he’s in charge is when both Paul and solo isn’t there” He answered

I side eyed him cause he thought he was funny with this comment

“Stop playing with him Joe”I rolled my eyes at him

“What?” He asked out

“You know what you tryna say too” I chuckled

As he only laughed opening his car door for me and I stepped in his car sitting in the passenger seat as he sat in the drivers seat and started the car, driving out the wwe parking lot

I yawned

“For someone so mad about her ruined date plans she sure seems a bit tired” Joe joked out

“In my defense arguing with you guys can tire anyone out” I said stretching slightly in the car seat

“So you still going?” Joe asked

“Yeah..I mean I don’t have anything else planned this week rather than my everyday schedule” I answered back

“Oh, Was just asking if your you know free tomorrow” Joe asked

I shrugged

“Not sure got a date with jimmy and trin” I said looking to the side out the window

“Cancel it we’re going somewhere nice” Joe then said making me nearly whiplash my neck to look over at him

Was he being serious right now

“Joe-” I was getting ready to argue back

“No buts” he said

I only huffed

“fine” I grumbles out

#roman reigns #wwe superstars #the bloodline #the usos #jimmy uso #solo sikoa #paul heyman #roman x reader #wwe roman reigns

[ladyescapism]

The Fourth Archeron Sister

summary: the baby of the family, Deirdre Archeron, is growing up and finding herself. on place she has already found is in a unknowingly requited crush with a certain shadow singer. will they be able to find each other? or will expectations, honor, and other forces get in the way?

Part 2

a/n: I think that this is going to be a 5 or 6 part series. i have the first 3 written and will post the other parts soon. happy reading!

warnings: none, I think

wc: 2,100

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She had been a mere six years of age when her mother died. She barely recalled the day she walked into her mother’s room, clutching Feyre’s hand. All she could really remember was her mother stroking her hair and whispered out her name. At least what started out as her name and then quickly faded into a cough. 

Deirdre had always been a sickly child. Every winter she got a nasty cough that lasted further and further into the spring every year, until it never went away fully. Her sisters would be banned from seeing her when she was sick, for fear of them catching whatever she had. 

Most nights, Feyre sat right outside the door and told Deirdre about what was happening that day with their father’s business or whatever she had done earlier. Elain would sometimes tag along and tell Deirdre about the flowers she had discovered in the garden. 

Sometimes, when they were in the mood for trouble, Deirdre sat in the center of her room and Feyre would sit in the doorway so they could see each other as they spoke. Once, Nesta walked past and Deirdre recognized her only by the scowl she threw in her direction. 

Nesta never sat with her.

By the time the Archerons lost all of their money and moved into the cottage and Feyre eventually ventured into the woods, Deirdre had turned 11 years old. Even though their home and family had changed, some things stayed the same. She was still sickly, Elain still rambled about flowers, Nesta was still mean, and Feyre was still reliable. 

Deirdre tried to ease the burden Feyre had on her shoulders. In the summer months, when the cough wasn’t as bad, she took job as a laundress. The steam helped her lungs feel better, but she was paid little and was always the last to be given work. 

Tamlin came when she was 16, stealing her favorite sister and shattering their already broken family. It did not matter to Deirdre that the lost shipments were found. The medicine was nice, as was having a live-in healer in the winter months, but she would have given it all back to have Feyre home. 

The mark Nesta left on her face when she expressed that sentiment lasted for weeks. 

She jolted back into the present as Nyx shouted in delight at one of his many Solstice gifts. 

Her peace didn’t last long as her brother-in-law nudged her shoulder. Deirdre turned to look at him to where he was standing behind the sofa. 

“Yes” Deirdre asked, not having heard what he had said. 

“I asked you what was wrong,” Cassian said, amused. “You have been staring into the fire for going on five minutes.” 

“Oh, just thinking.” 

“About?” 

Deirdre looked into his handsome face and remembered when Feyre came home as fae and she met him and his brothers. 

Nesta and Elain kept their distance when Feyre came home taller, ears pointed, and with that fae-like glow they all shared now. Deirdre had never run faster into her sister’s arms and staying like that until the sobs ceased. 

Then she met the brothers. 

To say she had been intimidated was putting it lightly. The males were menacing even as they tried to make conversation with the sisters. Nesta scowling, Elain nearly trembling, and Deirdre sat in quite curiosity, afraid to offend the males with her questions.

She would ask eventually, though. 

“Deirdre,” Cassian groaned. “Get out of your head and join the party.” 

“First of all, I am at the party,” she said, matter-of-factly. “And secondly, there is nothing wrong with being in my head. Although I can see how if the notion was applied to you, people would be frightened.”  

Cassian gave a small frown and Azriel let out a barely audible chuckle. 

At that dinner so many years ago now, Dierdre had finally understood what all her ‘friends’ had been talking about when they spoke of the men they found attractive. They way her heart fluttered when she saw him, the butterflies in her stomach, the sweaty palms. No human man had ever made her feel that way. She had seen handsome men, but no one compared to the Shadow Singer. 

No one had, his eyes, his hands, his jaw line that was perpetually covered in just a dusting of stubble or anything else she found attractive in him. His presence, his observant nature, his soft, yet deep voice that felt like a warm blanket coming over her when he spoke to her. 

“What do you mean?” Cassian said, feigning offence. “I am a joy to be around, inside and out. Right, Nesta?” 

Her eldest sister looked up from her conversation with Mor, hand resting on her well-rounded belly. 

“Yes, dear,” Nesta said with a smirk. “You are a joy to be inside.” 

Azriel let out a more substantial laugh as Mor and Rhys cackled. 

Rhys, Mor and Nesta all began cajoling a now grumpy Cassian and Dierdre felt a strange spike of jealousy pierce her chest. She knew at what. Nesta made Azriel laugh more than she did. 

Don’t be dumb, Deirdre scolded to herself. Nesta has a mate already and not to mention, you have no right to him. Just a stupid crush that should have gone away ages ago. 

“What were you thinking about,” Azriel asked. 

“My life before you came,” she said honestly. 

When Azriel raised his eyebrows, she quickly added on. 

“Well, you know. Before Feyre was taken by Tamlin and then when she came home fae and everything with Hybern and life since then. Just everything I have to be grateful for. Including all the extensions to our family. Like you.” 

Deirdre decided that she had had enough wine for the night after that little ramble. Azriel just sat there with the faintest smile on his face as she went on. 

He’s too kind to have to put up with my nonsense, Deirdre thought to herself. Just leave him alone. 

Deirdre was about to get up to go feign going to the bathroom when Azriel spoke. 

“I think about life a lot, too. Looking back, I didn’t recognize happy moments for what they were and focused on the past. I try not to do that now, but I still get stuck.” 

“I think you have to know sadness and struggle to be able to fully recognize the happy times.” 

“You’ve gotten wise in your old age, Dierdre Archeron.” 

They drifted off into a comfortable silence. 

“Yes or no?” Deirdre started the game she played with the brothers when she first became fae. “This is a happy moment.” 

“Yes,” he said with certainty. “But you don’t need me to tell you that.” 

“Nah, I was just making sure you knew.” 

 He just smiled at her, and she could have died happy right there.  

His eyes are just so damn pretty, the now tipsy voice in Deirdre’s head thought as he looked into her eyes. All of him is too damn pretty. 

Somehow, she managed not to tell him that.

Deirdre looked at the clock and noticed that it was almost two in the morning and decided she needed to go home. 

Feyre and Rhys tried to convince her to stay the night, but she wanted to return to her own space. 

“I want to take in the night air,” she insisted. 

“You’ll catch your death out there,” Feyre accused. 

“I’m fine, Feyre. The Cauldron fixed that for me, remember.” 

Feyre got quiet. 

“Still better not to risk it. Besides there are a hundred other bad things that can happen to a girl, alone, at night.” 

Before Deirdre could continue arguing with her sister, Azriel offered a suggestion. 

“I’ll fly her home.” 

“No, I really want to walk.” 

“Then we’ll walk.” 

“No-“ 

“You walk with him, winnow, or stay here,” Rhys interrupted. 

“Ugh fine,” she conceded, knowing that once Feyre and Rhys teamed up on her, there would be no arguing with them. “We’ll walk.” 

Dierdre kissed Feyre and Rhys on the cheek, everyone else either in bed by now or still partying. 

“Happy Birthday, sister.” 

“Thank you, dove.” 

They said their goodbyes and goodnights and they walked out the door. 

After about a block, Deirdre turned her head to Azriel and offered a suggestion she knew would be shot down. 

“I can walk home by myself you know,” she said, trying to sound strong. “I don’t need a chaperone.” 

He just gave her a look and knew that Azriel would be walking her to her apartment door and might check that there were no intruders when they got there. 

“Why dove?” he asked, probably trying to keep her from asking to walk home alone again.  

“When I was an infant, apparently whenever I saw Feyre, I would make this cooing noise,” she offered with no hesitation. “Feyre noticed that I would only make it when she was in my line of sight and decided that I sounded like a dove. And then proceed to call me that ever since.”

He made a small noise of understanding. 

“My father used to call me ‘Dew Drop,’” she said with no prompting. “He said my eyes looked like the sky reflected in the morning dew, so he deemed me Dew Drop. I don’t think anyone else has nick name for me. Unless you count Nesta calling me a rat my whole life.” 

“I don’t.” 

“Anyway, she said she called me a rat because I was small and carried disease. Feyre used to tell her to stop all the time, but she still would when Feyre was out hunting. I didn’t want to cause a fight, so I didn’t tell Feyre.”   

Deirdre’s rant faded and after a minute Azriel’s voice cut through the night. 

“My mother called me ‘my light.’ I don’t know why.” 

“That’s lovely.” 

The conversation ended as they entered Deirdre’s building and began to climb the stairs to her third story apartment. 

When they got to her door, Deirdre unlocked it and just as she expected, Azriel followed her in, flipped on the lights, and scanned the room, peeking into her bedroom as well. 

“Making sure I’m not hiding a boyfriend in here?” she joked. 

“The shadows told me that there was no one in here before we got to the second story. I was double checking.” 

“Oh, so just making sure I know how to keep house.” 

“I really don’t care about whether you made your bed this morning.” 

She giggled a little. 

“Can I get you anything to drink, or eat?” she said, trying to move the conversation away from her cluttered home. “Water, perhaps? I made some cookies the other day that should still be good. Well, milk would go better with cookies, and I have that too if you want.” 

Why can’t I ever play it cool around him? she thought. He’s a grown ass male. He doesn’t want milk and cookies. 

“I would love some.” 

“I will get them then.” 

Whew. 

She fixed the plate of cookies and two glasses of milk from the ice box and went to move some of the books currently piling her small table. 

Azriel beat her to it and looked at the titles before he placed them on the already cluttered coffee table. 

“‘Lessons in Love’ doesn’t seem to fit in with ‘The History of Pyrthian: Volume Six.’” 

“Well, a young lady has got to be educated in many subjects if she is to be pleasant company to those around her,” Deirdre said, quoting the mistress Nesta hired to “train the embarrassing nature” out of Deirdre.

“Educated,” Azriel mused.  

“Yes,” she affirmed, breaking a cookie in half and dipping into the glass. “It’s not like there is anyone around to teach me much about either subject.” 

“You could ask me.” 

She damn near dropped the cookie. And then she felt the flush creeping up her neck and onto her face. 

Gods, yes. 

No, Deirdre! What the fuck? 

“The history,” Azriel rushed out. “I meant the history.” 

“I- uh… excuse me,” she managed. 

She walked quickly into her bedroom and trough to the bathroom. She splashed her face with water, waited two minutes, flushed the toilet, and washed her hands. 

When she came back out, Azriel was standing behind his chair looking very uncomfortable.  

Ugh, she thought. I did that. Of course, Azriel, Spymaster of the Night Court and winner of the ‘Most Attractive Male in Pyrthian’ award five centuries in a row would offer to have sex with you, dumbass. 

“I’m going to go home now,” he said stiffly. “Thank you for the cookies. They were delicious.”  

“Okay,” she said with just as much tension in her voice. “I’ll walk you out.” 

She followed him to the door. 

“Good night,” she said, trying to make her voice light. 

“Good night.” 

Deirdre walked into her room and changed into a night gown. 

As she collapsed on the bed, she pondered just how much she messed up her and Azriel’s relationship. 

tag list:

@feysandzoyalailover @fanfictioniseverything @humanpersonlasttimeichecked @singhillada @marina468

#acotar #acotar imagine #acotar angst #azriel acotar #azriel shadowsinger #azriel angst #azriel fic #eris x oc #azriel #acotar fic #unknowingly requited #idiots in love #feyre archeron #rhysand #cassian #nesta archeron

[camgirlsurvivalguide]

Get Off Your Ass and Start Shaking It

Tough love for creators who need a push

I need to get my head out of my ass and start believing in myself again, so I’m writing this for myself - but sharing it for anyone who might benefit from seeing it. Enjoy a little slap from yours truly - free of charge. 

1. Accept that you’re starting from “scratch”.

The internet is different now. Sex work is different now. If you’re an OG, it’s important to recognize that burnout isn’t just OnlyFans burnout - it’s industry burnout. We didn’t get a chance to catch our breath between having had ManyVids and MFC and then OnlyFans and now the biggest bitch of them all, visibility on social media. Our tweets used to show up and now they don’t. Our followers used to see us on Instagram, and now they don’t. We can cry about this all we like (and I do so frequently because it’s more healthy than just bottling it all up), but tears won’t pay the bills, baby. Time to pull up your socks and get moving. 

2. Do your best not to overthink it.

There are a million and one theories on how to do things “right”, when in reality, sometimes a single Reel about absolutely nothing with zero effort involved will hit the algorithm and pop the fuck off. Strategizing can be good, but staying up to date with the theories surrounding advertising should be inspiring, not crippling. We’re doing away with creation paralysis. Brush yourself off, and focus on making content to the best of your ability. Who cares if it’s only selfies and low effort shit for now? People will pay for pretty much anything, and if you have any semblance of a following, they want to see what you put out even if it’s not “to your standards”.

3. Switch up your routine.

This sounds brutal because it is, but this is what I’ve been doing as of late: and it’s helping. You’ll come up with justifiable reasons why this may not be right for you - but ask yourself if what you’re doing right now is right for you. Are you achieving what you want to achieve with the routine you have? Do you even have a routine? This is tough love, but it’s meant to be a realistic look at where you’re at, followed by support to get you to where you want to be. 

A month ago I started plugging my phone in across the room and setting an alarm for 5:30am. I have to physically get up to turn it off. It’s a brutal way of waking up (even though the alarm I have is all peaceful and cute, but still) - but it gets me up. I have my robe and slippers waiting for me, and I do not allow myself to get back into bed. I do my best work in the morning after coffee and before my first meal of the day. I’m not saying you need to work with this timeline, but if you’re a sleep-until-nooner, set your alarm for 10am. If you’re a work-later-on, set an alarm for when you need to start work - and then get your ass up. It’s hard to build a routine but much easier to maintain it once the habits are in place, so have a little faith in yourself. I don’t care how many times I’ve started, hit the ground running, and then crashed and burned, because guess what happened while I was running? I made money. Focus more on the positives of when you are functional, rather than moaning about the times when you’re not. If you’re in this industry it means you have, at some point or another, made it work for you. You can do it again. 

I get out of bed at 5:30am, rinse off in the shower, make my coffee and do a beauty routine that makes me feel really fucking pretty. Sure, messy hair and an instagram filter can do just fine, and again - any content is better than no content - but I feel my best after dry brushing my skin (hello cellulite and the obvious signs of ageing, lol) and then applying a really nice smelling lotion all over my body. I have been listening to Ariana Grande instead of my usual lofi (or just fucking silence, which also isn’t great for my motivation levels). Pump yourself the fuck up. You’re a bad bitch under the weight of all of this self imposed pressure and comparison, you just need to wake that energy up again, and you can do it. Take your meds and drink your water. After coffee I’m in my most positive state to work through my inbox. Yeah, a neglected inbox on OnlyFans is going to take a hot fucking minute to get through but once you actually do it, it’ll be easier moving forward. Buck up, baby - you can do hard things, and the payoff will be worth it. 

Setting actual times to get shit done is helping me immensely. I work on OnlyFans until noon. At noon, my second alarm goes off and I get up and eat and stretch and do something other than look at my phone. Most importantly: PAT YOURSELF ON THE FUCKING BACK! If you’ve done something more than you did the day before or the week before or the month before, you’re moving. You’re going. You’re doing. Our nasty little brains can always tell us we could be making more of ourselves but you know what, fuck that shit. Focus on doing 1% more than you did the day before. Rome wasn’t built in a day and again: you’re starting fresh from this moment forward. Kick the shit out of that voice in your head that wants to compare you to other people or, worse, compare you to what you “used to be able to do”. Fuck it, whatever, we are where we are - all we can do is work with that and make the most of it. 

4. Schedule, schedule, schedule

Instagram allows you to schedule posts. If you do your makeup to shoot for OnlyFans, make two or three reels. Schedule them to post over the next few days. If you manage to shoot a few photos for OnlyFans, make a semi-SFW one and queue that up as well. Places like TweetDeck will allow you to even schedule Twitter posts in advance. Pound an energy drink (or take your meds, if you need that extra focus as I know many of us do) and get ‘er done. That way you can focus on working for shit down the line rather than trying to do everything day by day. OnlyFans lets you queue, so utilize it! Setting aside even one day to sit in your grubby sweatpants and just hammer out scheduling can be so fucking advantageous not only to building your success, but to strengthening your confidence and mental health.

I’m not going to blatantly call justifiable reasons excuses, but sometimes you need to really look at what your internal monologue is saying and whether or not it’s advantageous. If you’re depressed as shit, there are so many strategies out there to get you moving even while you’re depressed. If you’re ADHD or neurodivergent, there are strategies for you, too. The playing field is not level and if you’re starting from a rough point in your life, working will be really hard - but what’s the alternative? Not working, and making it even harder? I know you know this already, but you’re probably using this knowledge to beat yourself senseless. Stop. Even for one day, actively shout (out loud or into a pillow, whatever) at the nasty voice in your head that tells you that you’re too limited by your current position to crawl out of the hole you feel like you’re in. You can handle a scheduling day. Tell yourself, over and over again, that you can handle it. Even if you take breaks every hour to screech like a banshee or cry onto your keyboard, you can push through it. Send it. I believe in you in the same way I push myself to believe in myself. It’s not easy for any of us - but nothing ever is. 

This isn’t bullshit coming from someone who’s doing well. I struggle so, so much. This shit is a grind for me, too. I berate myself and compare myself and am so fucking self critical that it can be immobilizing - but I have to smack some sense into myself once in a while and remind myself that I can grind even when I feel like I can’t. Sometimes I lean into being outright delusional. I love lucky girl syndrome. Shove your head into the clouds and pretend that you’re the absolute best version of yourself, even if you feel like absolute dogshit. The vibes may not last long, but if they last long enough for you to make something happen, then you’re pulling off that 1% improvement that you’re striving for. 

5. Plan for breaks

Give yourself a light at the end of the tunnel, whether it’s relaxing at the end of the day or planning a “do absolutely nothing but lay around” day at the end of the week. As much as it may feel like you’re staring into an abysmal black hole demanding you to do more and more forever and ever, you’re not. You can hustle while taking breaks: in fact, you need to take breaks to make the hustle happen. Just be cautious not to let the downtime turn into a downturn. I put a limit on my rest periods because I am prone to lying face down and just … not getting back up, for weeks or months on end. Saturdays are my sleep in days. Sundays are my do nothing (except for a lil chores or whatever) days. Then I’m back to the grindstone on Monday, knowing that after my “end work day” alarm goes off, I can simply vibe out. 

6. Stop looking at the numbers for now

Analytics are great, but also … not great. Story only got 500 views even though you have thousands of followers? It’s still 500 views. Reel didn’t hit the explore page? Whatever, at least a few people saw it. Recent PPV only sold once? It’s more money than you had before you released it. The best way to handle the restart period is to just focus on output and let any number motivate you to keep on keeping on. Everyone started somewhere. The biggest accounts started at 0 followers and the most successful OnlyFans pages started at 0 subscribers. You started from nothing, too. 

7. Revisit your dreams

Do not stop yourself from dreaming big. What do you want? You can have it. Setbacks are setbacks, not finish lines. A break is a break, not an end. Write your dreams out and put them somewhere you can see them and fucking CELEBRATE every step you take toward them. If you need to start small to feel good about yourself, then do that. If your goal is to post once a week, push yourself to make that happen. If your goal is to make a certain amount of money in a week, do what you need to do to make that happen, whether it’s more posts, more messaging or more advertising. I like to set my goals small but keep my dreams big. I want to buy a condo, which is a big dream, but in order to do that, achieving all my little goals will put me closer to that every time I cross it off my “to do” list. 

8. Fucking believe in yourself, goddamnit

You can do it. You can do it. You CAN do it. Do what you need to do, as your unique and individual little self, to put the systems that support you in place. Trust that you can rely on yourself. Even if that trust is frail for now, it will build as you build yourself up. Berating yourself isn’t helping, is it? I didn’t think so. You’re beautiful, interesting, worthy and so fucking capable, even on days where you think you aren’t. We’re in this together. 

#camgirl survival guide

[polarisbibliotheque]

Survivor's Blood (Leon x Reader) - Chapter 5

Survivor's Blood

Pairing: Leon x Reader

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 (you are here!)

Summary: After Raccoon City, Leon became the only Government agent with that kind of expertise. With relentless training, he was now a Special Agent - again, on his first day in the job. He just didn’t expect to live Raccoon City all over again… Maybe Leon was fated to always have the worst first-days-at-work ever.

Age Restriction: 18+. It’s horror, so expect a lot of graphic violence and blood dripping from this. I mean, VERY GRAPHICAL VIOLENCE. Nothing we haven’t seen on RE, but still. Yee been warned

TRIGGER WARNING: Bloody hospital. Really. Bloody, horror movie hospital :|

Author’s notes: Took some time, but hey, we're here!! Funfact: I have this extention on my browser that changes some words of what I'm reading to a target language I'm wanting to learn, and now Magical Donuts appear in my browser as Magical Beignets. I absolutely adored it and I might re-read everything just to laugh at the random French words being thrown here.

I hope you like how it's turning out!! A lot more to come!! And thank you so much for reading and being around ^^

Chapter 5

Hospital Arklay Hill, April 29th, 2001 – 22h03

The way to the hospital was a lot quieter than any of you could have anticipated. The rule was to save ammo and move without drawing attention, always trying to get to the hospital as fast as possible. Even though you were in Leon’s schedule, you still considered yourselves late.

You followed with Leon leading the way, as agreed. He dreaded the possibility of you getting caught by surprise if you were ahead of him – even if you said you knew your way around guns, Leon had a certain trauma of losing people in situations like the one you found yourselves in.

“Y/n. Can you talk to Valerie?” As soon as you found shelter behind an ambulance tumbled in the street, he finally talked to you. “We’re almost there.”

“Yeah, I can.” You started fumbling with the radio, its only purpose to communicate with the hospital survivors. You spoke with no answer for a while until you heard a hiss in response, fixing the frequency so you could hear it better. “Valerie? Can you hear me well?”

“Hi, y/n? Yes! Yes, I can!” The woman was clearly smiling, being washed by the happiness of knowing you didn’t abandon them. “How are you? Did you meet Leon?”

“Yeah, he’s here with me.”

“Hey, we’re almost there, Valerie.” Leon sat by your side, close enough so you touched shoulders. You kept the radio near your faces, making you both lean into it a little so you didn’t have to speak too loud.

“We need to know where you are in the hospital.” You added, glancing quickly at Leon. “And if you can go to a place where the extraction will be easier.”

“I don’t know if we can… I don’t even know where an easier place would be in here.” Valerie sighed, speaking in a lower voice tone while the other survivors argued about something else. “Almost all the patients got affected by this… I don’t know… Epidemics? I don’t even know how to call it.” She shook her head, sitting in the corner of the room so she could guarantee a little peace. “We managed to lock ourselves in one of the exam rooms; it’s not that hard to get here… After the reception, you need to turn right and then left in a long corridor. In this corridor, there’ll be a lot of doors: the third one to the right, you’ll get into a restricted area, the corridor to the exam rooms. We are in the…” And Valerie took a few seconds, mentally counting. “Fifth? Sixth door to the left? Sorry, I can’t remember for sure… But when you get here, we’ll hear you.”

“Hmmm, just a sec…” You had a good memory and Leon was trained to keep a good amount of information, especially in moments like those. But he had no idea of the hospital’s architecture and with that, you could help. “Leon, you wouldn’t happen to have a pen in one of those many magic pockets, would you…?”

Leon furrowed his brows, giving you a funny look as if asking what the hell you were thinking at the same time he scolded your comment about him taking so many things to the field. After Raccoon City, he became stupidly proficient in inventory management in the field and he had a good idea what was useful or not. A map and a pen proved to be crucial when he got stuck in the police department and roaming around the underground laboratory, trying to find everything he needed to leave those places.

So yes, even though he didn’t want to admit, he had a pen that he took off one of his many pockets almost against his will. That only made you smile.

“Thank you, Mary Poppins. You wouldn’t happen to have a piece of paper too, right…?”

Leon rolled his eyes as he took the map he folded enough to fit one of the pockets. Of every nickname he could have had in his lifetime, ‘Mary Poppins’ would be the last he would’ve imagined to be graced with.

“Ok, here we go…” You held the pen cap between your teeth while laying the map on your thighs. Leon could only hold the radio and accept his fate. “Can you repeat it, Valerie? Please?”

As the woman spoke, you drew a little map of the hospital on the back of the city’s map, trying to remember the sizes of the rooms so Leon would have a better idea of the place you were going in – as well as help you remember all the details without having to call Valerie all the time.

“It isn’t that far away from the hospital entrance.” You showed the place in the improvised map. You pointed the path with the pen. “If we clear the way from the entrance to the exam room, we won’t have to go in deeper and, with a little luck, we’ll be able to leave with no further problems.”

“Hmmm…” Leon analyzed the drawing. You were right, but… “There are other rooms along the way, right?” You just nodded in response. “There’s no way for us to know how many zombies are inside each room and if they are open or not. We can clean the way there, but it’s always possible for something to appear along the way.”

“That’s why one of us should lead the way and the other should be on the back, as we’re doing right now.”

“Ok. I’ll go ahead when we get there and, when we’re leaving, I’ll be on the back and you’ll lead.” Leon checked how many bullets he had left on his handgun – up until that moment, he didn’t see a use for the shotgun but that was about to change. He could feel it. “I think it’s worse if something we don’t know follow us from the inside of the hospital than another zombie crossing our already cleared path.”

“Fair enough.” You agreed more so you wouldn’t argue than anything else: you had lots of arguments to state you were more than capable of dealing with whatever creature that appeared from the insides of the hospital, but you could delay that argument.

“I need to warn you…” Again, Valerie lowered her voice. She was quiet for a while, considering if she would continue the warning. “I’m not sure what I saw. But I think… I think I saw… Something… Different from the people who were infected. Horrible. It looked like it was out of a horror movie…

“What was it, Valerie?” Up until that moment, Leon had reasons to believe what happened in that city was the result of a virus outbreak, but other creatures? Raccoon City was used as a laboratory, but New Setosa? Was it a field test? Whose? Umbrella’s? A lot of questions crossed his head at the same time; and none had an answer. “Can you describe it to me?”

“No. I can’t.” The woman’s answer was adamant. “I closed my eyes and remained quiet. But it looked like… An animal. That thing couldn’t be human. It wasn’t human.

“How many are there?”

“I don’t know either. I just saw one and when I realized it was far, I ran the fastest I could and didn’t leave this room anymore.” She remained in silence while you both waited patiently. “Out of everything that’s out there, that’s what I’m afraid the most.”

“We’ll find a way. If we find one of these things along the way, we’ll manage.” You had certainty in your voice, making Leon discreetly look at you. It was incredible how you remained brave, even if apparently – even when you had all the reasons to be scared.

As the conversation came to an end, you went back to your walk towards the hospital – now you could see the big, white building with green windows in the distance; the luminous sign with the letters spelling “Hospital Arklay Hill” was clearly stained with blood and some of them had a hard time shining, twinkling among the darkness of that night.

“Do you know what she was talking about, Leon?” Your question was quiet, following him as fast as you could without attracting a horde of zombies.

“I’m not sure…” He glanced quickly over his shoulders. “I saw a lot of things that couldn’t be considered human in Raccoon, that’s why I asked her to describe it to me. It’d be easier if we went in knowing what we’ll find, but the virus affects people in different ways: some become undead, others mutate into things that could easily come out of a horror movie.”

That made you think in silence – it wasn’t just Leon who had his doubts about what was going on in New Setosa. Initially, everyone thought it was a sudden epidemics of a virus attacking the nervous system: some people were quarantined in the hospital, until it started to spread – you had never seen a disease that spread so quickly. You also had never seen a pandemics, but that’s how you imagined an epicenter to be: non-stop contagion, loss of control and deaths. So many deaths.

You were scared. You didn’t want to admit it, but you were. Your feet didn’t really want to follow your will to move forward – but, if you didn’t go with Leon, he would have to go in alone.

And if you were in his shoes, you wouldn’t want to be alone – as well as if you were one of those people in the hospital, you would want someone to save you. You couldn’t turn back now.

“Are you ok?” Leon checked while taking the map from one of his pockets to make sure you were in the right path and what the objective was. Leon remembered quite well, but he wanted to have a better idea – and maybe, seeing the hospital in the distance, he could understand the proportions of the rooms better. “You’re too quiet all of a sudden.”

“We barely know each other and there you are, already saying I talk too much.” You raised one eyebrow as he just took a deep breath to tell you how wrong you were. “Relax. I know. I just needed to release some tension. We need to go to the second hall and turn in the first corridor.”

“The second hall is through that door, right?” He pointed to a passage closed by a milky glass door, blocking your view of the next room. You nodded in agreement. “Let’s go then. Time to hope we won’t find the thing that worries Valerie.”

With a gesture from his hands, you prepared your gun and, now walking by his side, you quickly followed to the door you hoped would still work. As soon as you approached, the doors glided open enough for just one of you to squeeze through, jamming midway open with a strength that made it tremble. You exchanged looks and Leon crossed to the other side before you, immediately checking the right side of the room as you followed him and checked the left side.

It smelled like death. The hall was big enough to harbor a considerable amount of undead, but you found only three. One of them didn’t seem to understand how to move around the reception desk and let itself free from wherever it was stuck, another was stationary, staring at you both. And the third was banging mercilessly at the vending machine, as if it had swallowed its coin and it didn’t spew out whatever it had bought. The rest, was the classic: dead people torn apart on the floor and chairs, the walls stained in blood.

“We’re running through them?” Your question was valid: you had noticed Leon had a tendency to save each and whatever resource you found or had along the way, so you thought it was better to check before doing anything.

“Hmmm…” Leon thought for a while. Going through was a good option, but it would be a problem if you found anything worse in the corridor. If that was the case, you would be stuck, with problems in the front and in the back. “We don’t know what’s in the corridor, we might get sandwiched between this problem and something worse.”

“I didn’t think of that.” Even if your answer was serious, you couldn’t stop yourself from laughing internally at his choice of words. After all, it wasn’t everyday you heard ‘sandwiched’ in such a serious conversation. “Let’s go then.”

With those words, you pointed your gun to the stationary zombie as Leon followed to the reception. With two certain shots, you both wiped out those zombies, drawing the attention of the third one, who slowly turned around and finally reached out to you, dragging itself as you met Leon in the middle of the room once more. With coordinated shots, the vending machine zombie was exterminated.

“If I knew you’d shoot as well, I’d have saved the bullet.” Leon gave you a small smile, making you mirror his expression. “You shoot better than a lot of people I met.”

“Oh, you have no idea.” You answered in a quick laugh, walking by his side towards the long corridor you now needed to cross.

Leon would have asked what you meant with those words, but as soon as you reached the big white doors that blocked the corridor, you fell silent. You were lucky the survivors at least tried to leave and ended up close to the entrance: the place was huge and if they were in the most distant wings, you would have serious problems.

With your backs to the door, each of you on each side, you waited until he nodded in a sign for you to enter. You both pushed the heavy door quickly, pointing the guns as soon as you entered the corridor, ready to shoot the first thing that appeared in front of your eyes.

But there was nothing.

The corridor stretched into a pitch black darkness with broken light bulbs that twinkled in whatever rhythm, humming with the energy that crossed the useless filaments. A couple of bodies were thrown on the floor – at least as far as your eyes could see – chewed by something… Different. The walls had blood stains in shapes of hands, on the floor, feet that tried to flee in despair. Beds, syringes, gloves, hospital paraphernalia… It was all tossed along the way, as if the place was hit by a hurricane – and now, it laid in a heavy silence in the foul air.

In Leon’s experience, that kind of situation was worse than the chaos: when there were screams of despair, you usually knew what was attacking and where the survivors were. When there was only silence, all you could do was to pay attention to whatever noises and hope you wouldn’t be taken by surprise.

“Stay alert.” Leon murmured as low as he could, leading the way. Your steps were calmer and a lot more careful now that you didn’t know what you could find. With his eyes now getting used to the lack of light, Leon found the door Valerie told you about – a little farther than he had expected.

Your steps were quiet behind Leon: even if you knew how to shoot and you wanted to be there, you couldn’t deny he was the best person to lead the way – after all, he was trained to that kind of situation.

You carefully dodged the pools of blood on the floor. You didn’t want to run the risk of slipping and falling over all that mess – you were already sufficiently dirty and all you wanted was a good shower to feel as good as new. As you crossed a good part of the corridor, you approached the first passage to the right that connected that corridor to another hospital wing – through another equally dark corridor.

You would’ve had normally walked by it if you hadn’t heard a strange noise coming from that corridor.

It was like an animal’s hiss. You allowed Leon to keep walking as you turned around to make sure there was nothing else needing rescue.

And it was the first time you saw that.

A creature that looked like it had no skin, with long claws, roaming the corridor with its four paws on the floor; sharp teeth framing a long, menacing tongue. You froze in place, terror filling your eyes. It was the most horrible thing you had ever seen in your life and you didn’t know what to do. Had that thing seen you? Should you shoot?

Before you could make any kind of noise, though, one of Leon’s hands quickly covered your mouth, pulling you towards him. You didn’t resist: with eyes wide open, you turned to him and found Leon with one of his fingers on his own lips so you would remain silent. You nodded frantically and, as he let you go, Leon held one of your hands and started walking as silently as he could so you could reach the door Valerie told you about.

It wasn’t that far away, but it seemed enough for a marathon. You heard that thing sniffing around, paws heavily hitting the floor, chasing you: slowly, calculated, searching for something it knew it was escaping. The claws scratched the hospital floor, the animal hiss louder and louder. You held Leon’s hand with a little more strength.

If you had to choose how to die, it would be by zombie. Never by something like that thing that chased you.

You risked a look above your shoulders, finding that thing finally reaching the spot in the corridor where you were before. There was so little left for you to reach the door. Leon pulled you closer, walking a few last steps to get to the next passage.

You almost said something when you saw that thing jerking its ugly head towards you. Stopping in front of the door, Leon finally looked at it: they were about to be noticed. You were so close. It knew.

Leon looked at you and tried, as best as possible, to tell you through hand signs to run as soon as he opened the door. You nodded in affirmation and, as soon as Leon pushed one of the metal bars to open it, the thing raised its head like a dog, screeching like chalk on a board, viciously running towards you.

“Go!” Leon did his best so you entered the corridor before him, quickly following. To your terror, the thing that chased you was too fast.

Leon wouldn’t be able to get in: having crossed the door, you saw the claws of that thing already prepared to tear his back open – and that would be a huge problem.

As he tried to escape, you didn’t think twice: aiming your gun, you almost emptied it in that thing’s head. You didn’t know how many bullets you needed, nor how many of them were there, and you didn’t even care if you needed to go on in complete silence – you wouldn’t allow that thing to kill Leon in such a stupid manner.

The creature fell heavily on the floor while Leon stumbled into the corridor you found yourself in. That thing’s tongue stretched until almost hitting your feet, as if even in death it wanted to tear you apart.

“What the fuck is this?!” That was the only thing you managed to ask, still staring at that thing with widened eyes, your hands trembling on your gun. You didn’t even have to state the adrenaline shock had been strong.

“Dunno. The guys at the station called it Licker.” Leon took a few deep breaths, a little discombobulated by how you had emptied your gun on the Licker instead of running in despair or screaming for help – saving his life in the process. “The good news, they are as blind as a bat. The bad news, those things smell and hear very well, so we need to be very careful and not make any noises when we see one of them.”

“Hmmm… I remember that name, Claire mentioned it a few times…” You also took a deep breath, giving that thing a last look. “I didn’t think it would be that ugly. And scary.”

“Oh, c’mon. They could win a beauty pageant.” Albeit the seriousness, you could hear a hint of a laugh in the back of his voice as you got back on track.

At least you were lucky enough for that place to be empty.

“I’ve never seen such a funny person in an apocalypse.” You aimed your gun above Leon’s shoulders in case something appeared in front of him. You didn’t hear any menacing noises, but that was only worse, considering the situation.

“Well, not my first apocalypse.” He shrugged, thinking about his own words. Who would’ve known one day he would find himself saying something like that. He imagined where he would be in four or five years, how he would handle that kind of situation. He hoped he would be an agent who feared nothing and could deal with things objectively, and even with a certain level of humor. “Which door? Fourth or fifth?”

“Actually, fifth or sixth. She didn’t really know.” You corrected him, pointing to the nearest door. “Let’s go?”

“Yeah. You go ahead.” He pointed the door with his head, giving you cover.

“Valerie?” You lightly knocked on the door to avoid too many noises, even if you had just done a whole rock show with all those shots in the Licker’s head a while ago. You didn’t notice, but a hiss echoed from the end of the corridor, making Leon aim his gun and his flashlight into the darkness, finding anything in return. “It’s us! Y/n and Leon!”

You heard a commotion inside the room and it confirmed you were at the right door. While the click of it opening and the handle moved to greet you, the hiss repeated itself, louder – but, as soon as the door opened, the sound of claws hitting the floor added to the soundtrack.

You, Leon and Valerie looked in the direction of the origin of the sounds – with the claws taking a vicious speed – making you hold Leon by his bulletproof vest and run inside the room as fast as you could, not allowing him nor Valerie to think of something else. The nurse, though, was quick enough to lock the door as soon as you stumbled inside, making the creature lose your track – without ever leaving the corridor.

“You’re here! Alive!” Valerie immediately locked her arms around your neck, holding you as if there was no tomorrow. You widened your eyes, glancing at Leon. He just giggled: it wasn’t everyday he saw someone so uncomfortable with hugs as you seemed to be at that moment. “Thank you so much…!”

“Thank you for what, Valerie?” A grumpy man interrupted the moment, stuffing his clammy hands in the dirty lab coat pocket. “They can very well end up locked up in here with us! They haven’t done anything to save us yet!”

“But we will, sir.” Leon tried to be diplomatic, noticing not so friendly looks shot at the man from you and Valerie. Someone had to be the voice of reason in there, or the very survivors would end up killing each other. “The goal is to leave here right now so we’ll get to the school at 22h20.”

“And then we’re gonna do what? Open the books and start studyin’?” The man wiped some of the sweat that dripped from his greasy hair, his little eyes filled with anger amidst that stuffy room. “Or you’re gonna find a magic way to get us out of this damned city?”

If Leon was younger, he would’ve answered with calm and patience.

But he wasn’t that rookie cop from Raccoon City anymore. He didn’t need to have that much patience. Not after all he had been through.

“As Special Agent from the Government working under direct orders from the President, I have a special task team with the best soldiers from the army, ready for an extraction operation of the survivors in New Setosa.” Leon was probably being too harsh, but, honestly, someone would have to put that guy in his place, be it by being gentle or by brute force. And, right now, Leon wasn’t that inclined to being gentle. “I think it’s enough magic to deal with this situation.”

And that talk was over.

“Under direct orders from the President…?” You had your arms crossed, slowly approaching Leon while he organized what was left of the ammo and loaded the shotgun. He raised his eyes to you, finding you with a small smile coloring your lips. That made Leon mirror your reaction, a little embarrassed by the way he spoke before.

But that guy really pissed him off.

After his answer, the survivors gathered to listen to the instructions on how they would cross the city to the school – having that little intermission to prepare ammo, items they wanted to take with them, care for any wounds and get ready for the journey to safety. And, while Leon got ready in his own lone corner of the room, you approached to talk to him.

“Yeah… That’s what happens when you survive a disaster like Raccoon.” He sighed slightly. “I ended up as a Special Agent just because of that, I’m the only one with this expertise.”

“I doubt all Special Agents have direct orders from the President of the United States.” You leaned on the bed Leon used to keep the guns and ammo as he counted and organized them. “C’mon, Leon. You didn’t get here ‘just’ because your star twinkled in Raccoon. To have this kind of job, you need to not only be a good agent, but an intelligent one as well.”

“Oh, well…” Leon shrugged, feeling his cheeks slightly burning and trying to do his best for you not to notice it. At least he was lucky: the lights from the room were broken. “You’re gonna have to ask that to the President.”

You narrowed your eyes, smiling right after. You didn’t know if it was just something he was saying to escape that conversation and dodge a compliment or if he was trying to tease you.

And, when you noticed the ghost of a smile in the corner of his lips, you knew it was a bit of both.

“So cocky.” You muttered back, making him raise his eyebrows and stare you in shock – but clearly holding back a laugh. “After that, I’ll only leave you with the shotgun ‘cause you’re the one dealing with that monstrosity outside, Mr. super-government-agent friends with the President.”

“Ok, I’m not complainin’.” And he loaded said gun, already leaving it ready with the strap across his shoulders. “Here. More ammo for your gun. After you shot that Licker like a cowboy, you’re gonna need it.”

“And I would’ve shot it more if I could.” You answered while reloading your handgun. Two magazines were probably more than Leon could give you at the moment – but you had already learned he had a big heart. “I’ll lead the way? As we agreed before?”

“I’m the one with the shotgun, ain’t I?” He raised one eyebrow, making you flash a little smile at the answer. “At that pace, you’ll end up workin’ for the President as well.”

“Yeah, right…” You shook your head, deflecting the compliment. Even so, you winked back at him. “If you’re my partner, I’ll think about it.”

“I can make that happen, alright?” Leon pointed at you, making you giggle. “You ready? It’s time to go.”

“Yeah. I think you should ask them that.”

Indeed, the survivors didn’t look too excited – but as Leon knew quite well, you didn’t need excitement to save your own life: you just had to run and never look back.

**

To be continued...

#resident evil #re4 #resident evil fanfiction #resident evil imagine #leon scott kennedy #leon kennedy #leon x reader #leon x you #leon kennedy fanfic #long fic #re4 remake #re leon #survivor's blood #I hate hospitals but I am a sucker for hospitals in resident evil #so of course we needed a hospital level on this xD #and saaaay hello to the lickers! #finally here to haunt our dreams! #and in case someone is confused Mary Poppins has a bag with infinite space inside #and we all know Leon is incredible with his storage abilities #hence Mary Leon Poppins :)

[metataxy]

Grimm: Hexenbiest!Juliette/Nick, Part 6

Summary: What if, when Juliette was becoming a Hexenbiest, she told Nick before Renard?

In which people actually talk about their feelings, and Nick discovers the benefits of having a Hexenbiest for a girlfriend.

<—- Part 1 Here , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4, Part 5. Part 1 is posted to AO3, but the rest isn't being archived until I have a clear idea where it's going.

Warnings: Miscarriage, eldritch horrors.

----------------------------------------------

For a while, everything is okay. Better than okay.

Adalind and Henrietta hadn’t lied. The paternity test returns. Nick is inarguably Tristan’s father. Adalind and Juliette, bizarrely, are both listed as probable grandparents.

Coparenting with Adalind is easier than it has any right to be. Adalind’s rehired by her former law firm and rents a luxury apartment within walking distance of both her office and the police precinct. Nick usually drops off the baby and breakfast on his way to work, and brings him home every other night. Both Nick and Juliette’s schedules are usually flexible enough to watch Tristan the day or two each week when Adalind can’t bring Tristan into work. The rare times none of them can watch Tristan, Monroe, Rosalie, and Henrietta practically compete for who gets to babysit.

Surprisingly, what disrupts this pleasant equilibrium isn’t a wesen, but a Grimm.

It happens on Nick and Juliette’s long delayed honeymoon. They go to Florida. Because it’s impossible for Nick Burkhardt to go anywhere without something terrible happening, they stumble into a case where a group of Mellifer migrant workers, most of them adolescents, most of them undocumented, are being hunted by the local Hexenbiest.

The Mellifer do not trust Juliette, but they trust Nick, and they introduce him to their other allies: a family of Grimm, the Jaegers.

He’d never met so many of his kind in one place before. There’s the matriarch of the clan, Tana, a shrivelled old woman in her seventies who still moves faster than she should despite her age. Her son, who presented late like Nick, and her daughter, Bertha, who lost an eye in a streetfight with a skallengeck when she was still a teenager. Her grandchildren, most of whom are too young to present. The oldest girl though, a skinny twelve-year-old, is a Grimm.

They like Nick. They meet him when he’s out picking up pads for Juliette, whose period started unexpectedly and who didn’t bring any supplies.

(Except it’s not her period. It’s an early-term miscarriage, dammit. She wasn’t going to tell him about any pregnancies, not until she knew for certain. If this resolution contradicted some of her earlier ones about communicating more with her husband, well, Nick wasn’t the one who had to come to terms with carrying a child a fair number of people would want to kill on principle).

They meet Nick when he gets into a fight between a Hexenbiest and a couple of Mellifer on the way home. They invite him to dinner with Juliette. And then they learn she’s a Hexenbiest.

In the course of their uneasy alliance over the next week, there are the usual warnings about the enchantments and treachery of Hexenbiest. Then there is the novel reproach to Juliette from Tana that if she loves Nick, she’ll stay away from him.

“Funny,” Juliette retorts. “That’s exactly what they said to him about me before I became a Hexenbiest.”

“And you see where it has lead, ja?”

“To being happily married to my best friend?” she challenges the old woman, face rippling with the woge.

The little old woman taps her cane and shakes her head disapprovingly.

“Is different, a Grimm with a human. A Grimm with a wesen? You will infect him.”

“What?”

“I have heard. My grandparents.” She’d shuffled around the sitting room where she, Bertha, and Juliette had gone for this tête-en-tête. Her hand slides along the old tomes. Nick and Juliette have already promised them a hard-drive with all the digitized books they’ve collected. Bertha and her brother have promised them the same, once they can scan the five books the family owns. She picks up a book and flips it open to a page triumphantly.

There is a picture of a wesen in colour. The eyes are deep-set and dark as the sockets of a skull and the skin’s been tinted bluish-grey. The lines of wings, or perhaps a cloak, have been sketched out above her shoulders, and her hands are bloody. She’s standing atop a mountain of bodies with the heads and hands of beasts.

“I can’t read German.”

“Pshaw,” Tana complains, turning to Bertha. “Can’t read German! She is a Hexenbiest! She is married to a Grimm! And she can’t read German!”

“Nick can’t read it either,” Juliette informs her drily.

“The children these days. How do you read your books if you cannot read German?”

“There’s a very nice werewolf who does our translations.”

Tana looks at her incredulously, like she’s not sure whether to believe her, but lets it go.

“What kind of wesen is it?” Juliette asks, peering at the book open on the desk. Bertha snorts.

“That’s not a wesen.”

“It’s a Grimm,” Tana tells her. “An infected one.” She clears her throat and begins slowly translating. Juliette pays her no mind, but Bertha does make sure they take home a scanned copy of that section when the situation with the mellifer has resolved and their honeymoon comes to a close. Rosalie and Monroe are delighted.

“A Grimm book that actually studies Grimm?” the man crows. He scrolls down the page on his frankly antiquated laptop. “I mean, geez, I’ve studied every single book Nick got from Aunt Marie and everything we got from Uncle Felix, and I haven’t seen anything like this. Do you think they’d let me study their books if I paid them a visit?”

“They’d probably shoot you and mount your head on a pike,” Juliette tells him humourlessly. “What’s it say?”

Monroe shrugs, face closer to the screen than it strictly needs to be, squinting in the low light of the spice shop’s basement. The man was ruining his eyes peering at watches and gears all day. Juliette reminds herself to ask Henrietta and Adalind if there’s any elixir to correct poor vision. “Well, pretty much what they told you,” Monroe says. “It’s a warning for Grimm not to be intimate with wesen lest they catch some kind of incurable disease and transform into monsters themselves. It’s like some kind of case study with stages and symptoms of the disease.” He flips to the images. “They start to woge. The first step is when ‘the breath and heartbeat slows, and the skin goes grey as a corpse.’”

He pauses, glancing over the top of his laptop at Juliette and Rosalie. Nick is on duty right now. “After he got hit in the face with that toxin from that voodoo pufferfish priest, that started happening. You don’t think…”

“The second stage is the Black Gaze becomes visible even to wesen, even when we aren’t woged.”

“See? Nothing to worry about!” Monroe tells her.

Rosalie sighs.

Monroe looks over the top of his laptop at his wife, then Juliette. “There’s nothing to worry about, right?”

“Nick’s eyes go Black all the time nowadays when I’m not woged.”

“I’ve never seen it.”

“Yeah, because it only happens when he’s fighting, and then you’d be woged anyways, or when he and I are together.”

“Why wouldn’t it happen when Nick and I are together?” Monroe asks dumbly.

Rosalie smirks, chin in her hand. “I don’t know,” she asks, leaning in. “Juliette, why wouldn’t it happen when our husbands are together?”

“Oh,” Monroe says, as the girls start snickering. “Oh, I don’t mean—you know what, let’s forget I ever said that—”

“I don’t think I can,” Rosalie laughs.

“You know,” Juliette chortles, “before they actually let me in on the whole Grimm thing? With how secretive they were being about all their time spent together, I seriously thought they were having an affair. I almost thought Nick was going to come out to me when he took me over to Monroe’s house for him to show the woge.”

Rosalie almost falls off her stool laughing.

“Nick’s an attractive guy,” Monroe says defensively.

“He is,” Juliette howls.

“And there’d be nothing wrong with it, if like--”

“Of course not,” Rosalie agrees, hiccoughing with delight at her husband’s awkwardness.

In fact, Juliette’s Hexenbiest hindbrain considers there to be a good deal right with the notion of her Grimm getting closer with their dear friends. The part of her that is still human isn’t any more ready to deal with that though than Henrietta’s pointed invitations to attend traditional coven, or the stir of secondhand lust she feels when Adalind looks too long at her husband.

It takes them another five minutes to compose themselves.

“Okay, so the rest of this is just bonkers though,” Monroe tells them. “Stage three involves loss of rationality and bloodlust, scaling to stage four, where the Grimm grows invisible wings and stage five, where whatever this thing is happens—”

The accompanying illustration has more in common with the descriptions of biblical angels or Lovecraftian horrors than anything Juliette’s ever seen in these books. It doesn’t resemble a person. It’s a black sphere, sprouting arms and wings, eyes peering out between its manifold limbs. There are bloody wounds on the bodies of the men and wesen it touches. It’s floating over a battlefield of corpses.

“Yeah,” Rosalie says drily. “I think this was probably just a scary story to keep teenage Grimm from hooking up with the attractive Hexenbiest down the road. Most wesen have some version of that.”

“Right,” Monroe snorts. “Don’t sleep outside your bloodline or you’ll go blind.”

“Just blind?” Rosalie asks. “You got off easy. My grandma always told us all our hair would fall out and our babies would be born with three heads.”

“Gotta love that stuff,” Monroe says, looking mellow. “Anyways, I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about, Juliette.”

“But the first and second stages?”

“Some wesen do present, or evolve, in response to specific environmental triggers,” Rosalie says thoughtfully. “I know a Selkie who had no idea what she was until the first time she swam in saltwater. I can’t imagine thinking you’re human until you’re thirty and then turning into a seal-person in the middle of a cruise.”

“Right. Or like, it’s really rare, but a human that’s at least a quarter Mellifer will woge, no matter how old they are, if they’re in proximity to Hexen or Zauberbiest.” Juliette glances at Monroe, alarmed. “Don’t worry about it, you’d have to be like, around them all the time.”

“Like I’m around my staff at work?”

“Sure. Oh. Yeah.” Monroe rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah. It’s probably not an issue. Mellifer really aren’t into mating with non-Mellifer. I’ve never met anyone personally it happened to.”

She’s not exactly reassured.

“The point is,” Rosalie says, “maybe some of this is accurate. Maybe Grimm are wesen, and maybe the reason we’ve never seen them develop anything but their unusual eyes is because the trigger was proximity to wesen. We’d never know, because I’ve never heard of any Grimm before Nick spending more time around us than was necessary to kill us.”

---------------------------------------

“I have,” Henrietta tells her, one night when Tristan’s finally gone to sleep, and she and Adalind are studying with the older Hexenbiest in her lab.

“What? Seen a Grimm who spent enough time with wesen to turn into a creepy floating blob?” Adalind snarks. Juliette hadn’t meant for Adalind to see the pages, but Nick had left them on his passenger seat and Adalind had seen them when he’d driven by her workplace to drop off Tristan that morning, and then Adalind had brought them up with Henrietta. So much for discretion.

“Seen a Grimm exhibit symptoms up to stage three after sleeping with wesen.”

“Holy crap,” Adalind exclaims in interest, sipping at her herbal tea. As generous as she is with general information pertaining to the unseen world, Henrietta rarely tells them of her past experiences. “What century was this? Where was this?”

Henrietta fixes Adalind with an unamused look. “The last one, and here.”

“So in the 1800s—were there like, what, Grimm cowboys running around?” The idea of Nick running about with a Sherriff’s badge and leather hat, hunting down their enemies on horseback, has a certain appeal for Juliette.

“20th century,” Henrietta stretches out her hand, and lazily floats a jar of cream down from the shelf, begins applying it to her hands. It’s more like shoe wax than skin lotion. “It was your Grimm’s aunt, Marie Kessler.”

“What?”

“I never knew her personally, but she had a certain reputation in the community. A rebel. She went to wesen bars and beat down the bouncers if they tried to deny her entrance. Went to the cage fights and won her right to watch by besting their champions. She never killed though, even while your Grimm’s grandfather and mother were leaving a corpse a month for the cops to find.” Henrietta’s lips quirked. “All the lesser Grimm, the mice and sheep and deer, were terrified of her, and half the predators as well. The other half though—they hunted her.”

“And she didn’t kill them?” Juliette asks dubiously.

Henrietta laughs. “Did you kill your Grimm? Grimm are strong and deadly, and have their own innate magic that surpasses that of any race but the Royals or Hexenbiest. You are not the first to whom it has appealed. Some of those who chased Marie Kessler did it, no doubt, with the clear intent to kill a Grimm. I’m not sure all of her pursuers understood their own intentions though until they caught up with her.”

“The one who did—he was a Steinadler, right?”

Adalind’s eyebrows rise.

“He was one of them. There were others. A Ziegevolk actually came to me for a love potion when he couldn’t entrap her himself. Oh, don’t look at me like that. I didn’t give him the potion. She still took him to bed, once, told him he ‘was okay, but she’d had better’. Completely ruined the man’s self confidence. He couldn’t seduce a barfly for years after that. Then there were the Weten Ogen, and finally, yes, the Steinadler. That was really when it went wrong.”

“How?”

“A Zauberbiest killed her younger brother. He was kiehrsehten. I suppose he might have been like your Grimm, a late bloomer. We’ll never know. Her father and sister tracked the killer, but Marie and her Steinadler got to him first. It was Christmas. The Zauber wasn’t alone. He had a Kiehrsehten wife, adult children, guests. One of the latter let her in, assumed she was invited. She and the Zauberbiest fought in the middle of the foyer, in front of the guests.”

“Jesus,” Juliette breathes.

“If the Zauberbiest hadn’t fought, that might have been the end of it, but he did fight. The guests only saw this woman attacking their friend. They were armed. They drew on her. At least one of them put a bullet in her, injured her badly enough that she should have dropped. Instead,” Henrietta paused, “they simply attracted her attention.

“After it was all done, almost everyone was dead, and the only reason I say almost is because the Steinadler rushed the children out of the house when he realized Marie was out of control.”

“Holy crap. How did she not end up in prison?” Adalind demands.

“How do you know any of this?” Juliette asks.

Henrietta looks at them, face impassive as a death mask.

“I am the eldest of the Hexenbiest in this corner of the world. You are strong, the both of you, but there are abilities that develop only with age, and one of these is an awareness of the powers arising in others. I felt it when she saw her brother die, even if I didn’t know what it meant. It felt like all this time that I thought I’d been safe had been an illusion, like I, we, thought we were living on earth, when we were really in a submarine sixty leagues under, a submarine with walls thin as a tin can’s and the waters outside teeming with sharks, and someone had just driven a nail through those walls, and the water was pouring in.

“We scorn the kiehrsehten and the lesser wesen for how little they know of the unseen world, and assume we since we see further, we see clearly, that we see all. We don’t. There are beings moving through the world whose power our minds can’t fully apprehend, who we sense about as clearly as the mundanes sense us—the sense of eyes on our back in an empty office when you’re working evenings on a Friday, the waiting silence in the true dark of forests far outside the city, where the only light are the stars in the trees, or the eyes gleaming down from the branches.

“I felt something move that night, and I didn’t know what it was, so I made enquiries, and Marie came for me.”

Adalind’s mouth fell open a little. “What did you do?” she asks dumbly.

“I ran,” Henrietta said flatly. “I ran, and I kept running, and didn’t return until I heard Marie Kessler was quietly studying literature at Berkeley and your Grimm’s mother was abroad.” The woman’s lips pursed. “People see your Nick, talk with him, and feel relieved he’s just human, just a regular human, safe, and all the stories of slaughters by Grimm must be wrong. Because it’s an easier story to believe, the story we tell ourselves to stay sane—that we know how things are, that this is all there is, that we are the apex predators, and the Grimm aren’t just one of many thresholds for the real monsters behind the door.”

They are all silent for awhile after that.

“Well shit,” Adalind says, and practical as ever, looks for a way to distract them all with a less oppressive topic. “Do you have anything we can feed the baby that would make his diapers smell less like the city dump? What?” she protests, seeing Juliet’s incredulous look. “You can’t say you wouldn’t appreciate it too.”

“I take care of my godson two or three times a week,” Henrietta reminds her, smiling despite herself. “Adalind, if such a thing existed, I would have given you the recipe and an entire crate premade.”

#Grimm #nick burkhardt/juliette silverton #adalind schade #hexenbiest

[krazykiki05]

There’s Just Not Enough Hours in the Day

Zemo accidentally had a daughter at 16 with a 17 year old. When she found out what he was doing back in 2016, she teamed up with the Avengers to help fight her father at the age of 19. During this time, she helped Bucky and they grew close.. She moved to Wakanda to help him readjust to modern life. When Bucky came back from the blip, he lived with her. He would miss therapy if it wasn’t for her. She would have never seen her father again if it wasn’t for him.

I

I Part 5 I

I

Bucky shut the container door and it was pitch black. Sam and Sharon used their phones' flashlights to light up the room. Bucky held onto me as bullets were still fired outside. “You okay?” He asks me. 

“I’m fine.” I lie. A bullet was lodged in my torso, off to the side so I know it didn’t hit any vital organs. I’ll live as long as I dress it in time. I discreetly place my hand there, to cover the seeping blood. It was an all black outfit, but blood still shines in light. 

After a few minutes, all gunshots were gone. “Stand back.” Bucky says before using his metal arm punch the doors open. As soon as we get out, a car speeds our way before stopping right in front of us. My father. “Supercharged.” He explains. I chuckle. 

“You’re going back to jail.” Sam threatens. 

“Do you want to find Karli or not?” 

“He’s right. We need him.” My boyfriend defends. I hop in the front seat, where it’s less likely for them to see my wound. I pull my legs up to my chest, which hurt a lot but I was comfortable. I lean against the door and try to relax. Sam tries to get Sharon to come with us, but she refuses. Papa speeds off. 

“Malyshka, what’s wrong?” Papa asks as he drives us back to the plane. 

“What? Nothing.” I answered too defensively. Papa glances at me. 

“I’m your father. Something’s wrong, I know it.” He argues in our native language. I glare at him. 

“I’m just tired. We all are.” I lie in the same language. Papa shakes his head with a frown. 

“I don’t buy it. Are you hurt?” He asks. I hesitate. 

“No.”

“Then that means you would be okay moving your hand and getting your feet off the seat.” He challenges casually. I look at Papa worriedly, also glancing back at Bucky and Sam who were curious to what we were talking about. I move my hand, palm side covered in blood. I place it on my calf. My father harshly grabs my hand, looking at my palm. Sam and Bucky catch a glimpse of it too. “Dammit!” Papa curses in English. 

“What the hell.”

“Annika what the hell is that?” Sam asks. I tank my hand away, placing it back on my wound. My father punches the wheel. 

“She got shot.” He answers. Both men look at me. 

You said you were fine!” Bucky chastises. 

“I am fine!” I defend. 

“A bullet wound is not fine! It’s not!” Sam yells. Papa takes out his phone. 

“Oeznik, get some medical supplies. She has a bullet wound.” My father commands on the phone in Sokovian. I sigh. I got back to leaning against the car door. I felt a hand rub my shoulder from behind. Sam. 

“Hey. Don’t fall asleep.” Bucky calls. I obey.

~~~~~~~

Once we arrived at the airport, walking to the plane was easy, even swatting Bucky’s hand away from helping me. It was until I got to the steps. Sam and Papa both went in front of me to get the supplies ready. Bucky triled behind in case I fell. I didn’t, but it still took me a good minute to get up there. 

“Sit. Here. Now.” Sam snaps. With the help of Bucky, I sat on the couch part of the plane. I lift up my shirt to reveal the hold bigger than I thought. 

“Shit.” I mumble. Sam pulls out a pair of tweezers. Right. He had to get the bullet out. Bucky sits next to me, facing us so that he’s behind me. He places his metal arm over my mouth. 

“Place your hands on my arm.” He says, guiding one hand. I grasp his metal arm lightly. My heart starts racing.  My father couldn’t watch, running to the cockpit. Bucky places his right arm around my torso. Sam and Bucky both nod at each other. Wait, what about me? I wasn’t ready! But they didn’t care. Sam uses one gloved hand to hold the wound open. I yelp into Bucky’s hand. I felt him place his face into my hair. Sam takes the tweezers and dig it into my skin. I yell and squeeze Bucky’s arm, nails bending at the metal. I let out a sob, shutting my eyes.

“Okay. All done.” Sam said. Bucky releases the hand over my mouth, I drop my arms. Having to endure that took up the last of my energy. My head feel back onto Bucky, well, my whole body did. Sam looks at me with sympathetic eyes. “Lay her down, Buck.” He whispers. 

Bucky gently sets me down. He is moved out of the way by my father. Papa places his overcoat on top of me and kisses my forehead. Just like tucking me into bed when I was a little girl. “Rest for now, Malyshka. I’ll wake you later so you can eat.” 

Zemo’s POV

I sat in my chair, contemplating if I should ask him or not. Well she is my daughter. “James, I am going to ask you an..unusual question. But I’m going to need you to answer.” James looks up from cleaning his metal arm. His eyebrows are furrowed. “How much does Annika eat in a day?” I could tell he was taken back by the question. But nonetheless, he thinks. 

“Um. Not that much, honestly. You could say she has the appetite of a sparrow.” Bucky answers, chuckling at himself. I frown. It has returned. 

“Why you ask?” Sam asks. I sigh. Technically it’s not my place to tell. But Bucky is her...boyfriend. And he should know. She will just have to deal with Sam knowing. 

“When Anni was 16, she developed Bulimia. Anorexia if her mother and I were out of town for days at a time. It lasted 2 years, 2 years until one day, her mother and I heard a noise from the bathroom. A thud. The door was locked. I had to break it down. And there she was. My little girl, unconscious on the floor, vomit in the toilet. We took her to the hospital, where she had to stay there for 3 days to pump nutrients into her body. Her body was so used to digesting only itself, that digesting real food caused her great pain.” I explain. Both men look concerned. I look at my sleeping daughter. “She should not be this exhausted if she has been eating well.” I add. 

“So, you’re saying it’s back?” Bucky asks. 

“I know it’s back. I know what she looks like healthy. And that is not it.” I say, pointing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We’ve been in the air for some time now, the sky has grown dark. I think Anni has slept enough. So I started putting together some food. Sam was on the phone when I walked in so I just set his plate on the table next to him. I set mine and Bucky’s on the same table. I kneel down to gently wake Annika from her slumber by rubbing her shoulder. I see her twitch. “Malyshka, you’ve got to eat.” I whisper. Anni moans in annoyance but gets up. I set the plate on her lap. “I want all of this gone.” I demand before leaving to sit in my seat. 

“She died in Riga. a city near the Baltic sea.” Sam explains. 

“I have a place we can go.” I announce. 

#sebastian #Sebastian Stan #sebastianstan #bucky #Bucky Barnes #buckybarnes #bucky imagine #zemo imagine #zemo #daddy zemo #helmut zemo #sam wilson #daniel brühl #captain america #captain america fluff #anthony mackie

[rebelliousstories]

Mother Says Marry For Money

Relationship: Robert “Bob” Floyd x Adelaide “Honey” Corbin OC

Fandom: Top Gun: Maverick

Warnings: Fluff, Brief Strong Language, Angst

Word Count: 2,848

Part of the Young Love and Old Money Series

Chapter 5//Chapter 7

Main Masterlist: Here

Summary: A simple walk home turns into Adelaide’s worst nightmare.

November 22nd, 2008

“Oh, Mrs. Floyd, let me take care of that!” The voice of Adelaide Corbin rang through the Floyd household. She had become a regular fixture in the house, just like she was part of the family.

“Young lady, I swear to the Almighty if you try to take this pie out of my hands!! Besides, how many times I tell ya t’ call me Mindy?” The eldest female Floyd told the younger girl. Adelaide looked down shyly, but went to grab another dish from the counter to move it to the table. She heard the car pull up to the driveway and got really excited. So much so that Mindy took notice.

“Go get prettied up for your man girl. I got this.” Adelaide’s face flushed bright red as she mumbled, “we’re not dating.” Mindy let out an mhm at this, but the young girl still took off the apron and ran into the bathroom. She ran her hands through her hair, taming any flyaways that had popped up. Her eyeliner thankfully hadn’t smudged during their cooking and baking. The front door opened and she heard the tell tale clicks of the boots walk through the living room. She ran out and straight into Robert’s arms.

“Honey!! I didn’t think you were gonna be here today!” He exclaimed. The girl in his arms was pulled away by Savannah quickly. It happened so fast that Adelaide was afraid she had whiplash. The older girl chuckled and turned back to her best friend.

“Well, I figured your momma might like some help with lunch. Plus I wanted to see my favorite people.” Mindy came around the corner to greet her family as the kids talked. She looked up at her husband with knowing eyes.

“Alright then kids. I hate to break it up but, y’all need to wash up before dinner. And Nash, you need to change your pants. Get those muddy ones to the washing room and put on some clean ones please.” Momma Floyd instructed her family. Adelaide went to wash her hands in the sink in the kitchen, next to Mindy.

“So, Honey Bun,” Mindy started, “when are you and Bobby gonna stop dancin’ ‘round each other and get together?” Adelaide froze. The tap was still running over her hands, the water slowly heating up but she didn’t notice. Boiling heat and searing pain finally brought her out of her trance. She dried her hands off quickly but rested her back against the edge on the sink.

“Mindy, Robby doesn’t think of me like that. If he liked me, wouldn’t you think he would’ve asked me out by now?” Her eyes were cast down towards her shoes, and she mindlessly kept drying her hands.

“Adelaide, I know that boy better than he knows himself. My baby Bobby is smitten with you. Y’all remind me of me and Kevin at y’all’s age. Trust me please.” She quickly dried her hands, and Mindy placed her hand on Adelaide’s shoulder. The young girl looked at the mature woman and smiled. Maybe there was hope that Robert would return her feelings.

They joined the boys and Savannah at the dinner table. Adelaide took her usual seat next to Robert who grabbed her hand as soon as she sat down. They said grace, but Robert didn’t let go. It wasn’t until they absolutely had to let go in favor of utensil, that Robert let go of Adelaide’s hand. They enjoyed their meal together, and Adelaide couldn’t help but imagine a life where this was the norm. She couldn’t remember a time where she sat down with her family and talked over a meal. Sure, they sat down at the table and had dinner served, but there was nothing lively about it. Adelaide wondered how much she missed out on in her childhood, not having a close family.

“So, Honey, any big plans for Christmas?” Robert asked on their walk to her house. Adelaide kicked a rock along the path. She smiled and shrugged.

“I don’t know. I think we’re staying here for Christmas, then going to Florida for a week or so for New Years.” She said, shrugging her shoulders. Once the house came into view, she noticed that her parents car was still gone. She snuck out right after they had left for a day at the country club; thanking her lucky stars that she would be able to sneak in and out today with no chance of detection.

“Well, if you ever want to come over, you’re always welcome. You know that.” She did. Adelaide had kept an open invasion to the Floyd’s house for years now and it always helped take her mind off of whatever was happening inside her own home. Although, the more time she spent at the Floyd’s, the more her’s felt like a house.

“I know, Robby. And I promise that I’ll come by before we leave. I’ll even bring you back some cheesy touristy souvenir.” She joked, laughing as Robert started to as well. They made it to the top of the driveway like always, but Adelaide sat down under her mailbox this time. Robert shot her a curious glance, to which she patted the ground next to her. He took his place, and leaned his bike against the fence. They sat in silence for a moment, enjoying the peaceful sounds of nature and wind all around them. At some point, Adelaide’s hand slipped into Robert’s; neither one acknowledged this change though. Robert became hyper aware of everything his body was doing when her hand was in his. He worried about his hair, was he sweating? Were his palms sweating? Did she mean to put her hand there?

Meanwhile, Adelaide wasn’t doing much better. Why would Robert keep his hand in her’s? Does this mean that he likes her? Does he know that she likes him? Should she even have feelings for her best friend? All of this was uncharted territory and neither one knew how to navigate this properly. It’s not like Adelaide could go to her mother or sisters about this topic without them being suspicious. She may be able to go to Mindy, but then she would probably tell her son or set them up. And she still had no clue if Robert even liked her like that or if this was just a comfort thing! Adelaide opened her mouth as if to speak and turned her head towards her friend, who did the same thing at the same time.

“So, what-”

“Do you-” They started to laugh as they tripped over their words.

“You go first.” Robert offered, ever the gentleman.

“I’d much rather hear what you have to say.” Adelaide countered with. Robert smiled, shook his head at her stubbornness, but continued.

“Do you umm… do you like me?” He asked. Robert’s eyes were cast downwards, towards their joined hands; he couldn’t bear to look at her. He didn’t want to face the rejection, or the awkwardness when she told him she didn’t.

“Robby,” he didn’t look up, “Robby, look at me.” Her hand reached down and gently grabbed his jaw, and pulled his face upwards. When his eyes reached hers though, there was nothing that he worried about. No awkwardness, no malice or disgust. She looked at him with the same soft look she always had for him.

“Robby, of course I like you. I was worried you didn’t like me.” Adelaide admitted. Robert broke out into a smile and tackled Adelaide down. His arms wrapped around her waist, as hers came to wrap around his neck. They laughed as they laid down in the dirt. Nothing mattered in that moment. They were happy. Robert leaned up off of Adelaide, bracing his arms on either side or her head. It felt like a fairytale. Just pure bliss in the way only kids could experience.

“Adelaide Elizabeth Corbin! What are you doing?!” Even fairytales can take a dark turn. In the flash of lightning, Robert was jumping off of Adelaide and standing up. His hand came done to help her up right as a woman with perfect blonde hair came up to them. The younger girl brushed her clothing off, and that’s when Robert saw it. That look on her face. Pure, unadulterated fear; fear of being caught. She began to sputter and stumble over her words, but nothing could come out from how worked up she was. Robert turned to look at the older woman, and assumed that was her mother that she very rarely liked to talk about. He remembered that he was raised with manners, and stepped forward, partially shielding Adelaide.

“Good afternoon ma’am,” his hand shot out inn front of him, “my name is Robert Floyd. I’m a friend of your daughter’s.” The woman raised an eyebrow at him and looked at his hand in disgust. But then he noticed that more people had piled out of the car. Twin sisters, two younger men, and one older one. He felt himself start to sweat under the scrutiny of her family’s eyes.

“Adelaide. Come here now. Why on earth are you hanging around this boy? I didn’t raise you to act like this.” Her mother stated definitively, with no room for playing around in her tone. Robert dropped his hand, and squared his shoulders. Adelaide stayed behind Robert and pressed herself closer to him instead. She snaked her hand down to his and wrapped herself around his arm.

“Mom, please. Don’t do this. Not now, and not in front of him.” The look of rage came across her mother’s face shook even Robert, and he definitely felt Adelaide start to shake. Her father came up behind her mother; her older brothers coming around the side. Robert was starting to feel caged in, and he couldn’t imagine what Adelaide was feeling like.

“Adelaide. Don’t make us.” That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The seriousness of her father’s voice vanished any hope of her getting out of this. Adelaide began to move towards her family as if in a trance, when Robert grabbed her arm. She looked at him with the saddest expression he had ever seen. There were no words to say between them, only a shared expression. Her mother had come up to the young girl and grabbed her arm, yanking her closer towards the car. Adelaide was roughly placed inside as her mother sent a glare towards Robert. Her sisters followed shortly afterwards, but the men of the Corbin family stayed there, surrounding him.

“If I were you boy, I’d sure as hell be gone real damn soon. Don’t even think about coming back around here again. If I see you again on our property, I’ll make sure to get you for trespassin’. Now get out.” Mr. Corbin stated, moving closer and closer to Robert. The younger male was backing up slowly, but jumped and ran when one of Adelaide’s brothers lunged towards him. He fell back and scrambled as fast as he could towards his bike, fearing what would happen if he stayed there. Robert biked as fast away as he could from the scene, periodically scanning over his shoulder to make sure they hadn’t followed him. But the men just stayed right there, at the top of the driveway.

Robert made it all the way home before he knew it. The rush he was in to get inside and lock the door was unlike any that he felt. His mother was in the living room with his father, who both heard the front door slam and Robert’s face paced footsteps make their way to his room.

“Bobby? Baby, you okay?” Mindy called out, but was only met with a slammed door. She sent a concerned look to her husband. This was very much unlike her youngest son. He was always so sweet and polite, and he never ignored her or slammed doors. She began to make her way to get up and go check on him, but her husband grabbed her arm and pulled her back to the couch. Kevin shook his head at his wife.

“Let ‘im relax. Somethin’ spooked ‘I’m out there. Ain’t nothing you do now is gonna make ‘I’m tell ya what happened. He’ll come when he’s ready.” He said, trying to put Mindy at ease. But she wasn’t. All she wanted was to help her son, but if she went in there now looking for answers, she might do more harm then good.

In the mean time, Robert was fuming in his room. His glasses were discarded on his bedside table, and his anger was reaching a level he never felt. He should have done more to help her, protect her from her family. She was obviously scared of them, scared of what was going to happen if she went home now that they knew. He sat down on his bed and rested his head in between his hands. Robert rubbed his face with his hands, and saw the Polaroid of them on his table beside his glasses. He picked up the frame and laid down on his bed. They looked so happy, so young in that photo. He couldn’t help the tears that began to fall. They were sad tears, frustrated tears, angry tears. Every possible emotion he could feel at the moment, he felt. But Robert stayed there until he had no more tears left, and he drifted into an exhausted, dreamless nap.

On the other side of the tracks, Adelaide wasn’t doing much better. Her mother had roughly grabbed her out of the car once they made it to the house, and shoved her inside. Before she could even get a word in, Adelaide was forced to listen to her mother’s angry rant.

“What on earth are you doing with that no good hick? What if someone had seen you? Your father and I try so hard to make sure that you are taken care of, and this is the thanks we get!” Kasey Corbin could get loud when she wanted to. Her sisters stared at her with uninterested contempt, her brothers not much different. How could she be so stupid to think that nothing bad would happen to them? That no one would find out?

“You’ve always been the problem child, and now this. Associating with a poor, low life boy. You have plenty of friends that are at your level, your status. You don’t need that boy. He was using you wasn’t he? He promised you the world and you gave it to him didn’t you?” Adelaide couldn’t take it. The years of passively allowing this to continue was over.

“At least he doesn’t care that we’re from to different circles! He treats me good, mom. He’s always been sweet, and kind, and caring. He’s never made me feel like I was a burden or the black sheep of the family. So what that we’re two different statuses?! We care for each other more than anyone in this family does!” The shock that came across her mother’s face was amazing to Adelaide, but she knew not holding her tongue would have consequences.

“You do not raise your voice at me, young lady! You always do this. You try your best to damage our reputation. You’re never grateful for anything your father and I do. Why can’t you be more like your siblings? They never do anything wrong.” According to their parents, James III, Travis, Eleanor, and Priscilla Corbin were children sent from the saints. They were always well mannered, listened and obeyed their parents, and never got into serious trouble. According to them.

“Yeah? They never do anything wrong? Let’s see,” Adelaide turned to look at each of her siblings, “James uses the mustang you bought him in street races. Travis gambles on school property. Eleanor gets old men to buy her expensive items from giving them photos on the internet. And Priscilla has had a boyfriend for the last two years that she’s slept with and snuck into the house! And because I have a friend that’s not the same social class like us, I’m the one that get’s yelled at?” Adelaide had her hands spread open. The rest of her siblings looked shocked that she knew that about them, and then decided to tell their mother. Kasey was fuming.

“Go straight to your room, Adelaide. No dinner for you either. And you’re not going to see that boy again!” The younger girl ran to her room, slammed the door, and locked it for good measure. She threw herself on the bed and let her tears out. Full body sobs wracked her body and weren’t slowing down anytime soon. The necklaces that Robert had given her weighed heavily on her skin. She tried to feel for the picture underneath her pillow, and was comforted to feel the familiar paper in her hands. She looked at how happy they were in the photo. Why can’t they just go back to that feeling? Why did everything fall apart?

Tag: @blessupblessup

#rebelliousstories #writing #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun imagine #top gun maverick imagine #bob floyd #bob floyd imagine #robert bob floyd imagine #robert floyd imagine #robert floyd #robert bob floyd #Young Love and Old Money

[callsignmuse]

THE MYTHIC BITCHES

Season 2, Episode 5- You Came Back

Cast: Sadie “Siren” Matthews, Bailey “Muse” Thompson, Phoenix, Rooster, Hangman, Bob

Warning: smut, smut and more smut.

Co write credit to @cherrycola27 for her amazing help with the smut

Summary: Rooster returns home

Bailey “Muse” Thompson:

Bailey stood over a sink full of soapy dishes as she scrubbed furiously at some baked on lasagna. She frowned at the thought that followed. She remembered just how much Sadie’s baby hated that lasagna. She shook the memory from her had and got herself lasered in on one spot in particular. It would not come off! Sighing and wiping her brow she tried not to let her frustration get to her. After trying to procrastinate for a few minutes longer inevitably the tasks t hand took precedence again. Bailey was so into it she didn’t hear the heavy footsteps heading towards her. To be honest she had been a shell since he left. She didn’t hear or pay attention to much. Bailey just listened for the ringer to go off signaling her video call.

A set of beautiful blood red roses caught her eye as long arms extended themselves in front of her. Slowly Bailey turned her head to face Rooster who towered over her still in his flight suit. He wasn’t supposed to be home yet. This was far too early. Was she dreaming?

“Bailey.” His deep voice finally registered.

Nope. Not dreaming.

A pounding began in her chest as she turned around and drank in a long look. He looked exhausted from traveling from so far. His hair clung to his forehead where he had began to sweat. He had never looked better. They were alone in the kitchen at the late night hour of eleven. Bob had taken Sadie to bed ages ago but Muse couldn’t sleep so cleaning dishes it was.

“You think roses will fix this?” She asked feeling the fire grow within her quickly. He didn’t look surprised not in the least bit.

“No. But it’s a start.” He said honestly. It was quiet for a moment as neither one left each other’s gaze. Her voice rose and fell violently as no one dared to speak. Not until she made her move. Rooster knew the rules of engagement when it came to amuse. After all they wrote them together.

"Welcome back Lieutenant Bradshaw" she let out a small smile. It was just enough to tell Bradley what his next move should be.

"Oh baby you look so pretty when you say my name like that.... now why down you get on your knees and properly thank me for my service.” His voice was calm, cool, collected but he carried a smug tone that went straight to her core. It throbbed painfully. It had been needing him for six weeks. Nothing could fill the feel Bradley Bradshaw had inside of her.

"Yes Sir.” She answered with a raised eyebrow. She carefully tied her hair back while maintaining her gaze. It made Bradley start to sweat. Bailey saw the momentary weakness he let off when he bit his lip.

"I wanna fuck you so hard, you will never want to leave your princess again Daddy.” She made sure to slow down and pronounce Daddy with a profound silkiness. He couldn’t quite speak yet. She was hitting every weak point the man had. He had to hold his hand in a fist to keep from devouring her right then and there but Bradley knew a little something about anticipation.

"Hope you aren't too jetlagged because you have six weeks worth of blowing my back out to make up for.” She nearly whispered. Her heart was racing but she couldn’t let it show not yet. Bradley cocked his head to the side placing the roses down gently on the counter beside him.

“Muse you aren't being a very good girl right now. You’ve got such a little whore mouth on you right now." His voice had deepened another level and his bright eyes were now as dark as the sky outside. All signals he was ready to ravish her.

"Then why don't you fuck me like the whore I am Lieutenant?" She placed her hands on her hip and stood her ground.

Bradley reacted in mere seconds throwing her over his shoulder and walked down the hallway towards her room. He smacked her ass hard as he marched forward.

"Bradley I wasn't finished with the dishes yet!" Bailey protested.

"You should have thought about that when you decided to be Daddy’s little slut instead of his princess.” He scolded her as he closed the door and placed her feet on the ground instantly grabbing clumsily at her clothes. She wanted his hand away with a harsh smack.

"Ah, Ah, Ah" Bailey waved her finger back and forth as a no. Rooster groaned. He needed to touch her. "You should’ve thought about how bad you wanted me before you left me Sir."

Rooster chuckled slightly shaking his head in acceptance. He deserved that. “Careful now, you keep saying things like that and I might start calling myself Hangman.” He warned.

Bailey pushed him back as he advanced on her again. “Don’t mention Jake. This is between you and me.” She growled through her teeth. She wanted him badly but he had to suffer first. It was hard for her to stand with how badly she ached below. She let herself get distracted for just a moment and a rooster pounced. She gasped as he clawed at her body ripping the clothes she had on off without a second thought. She literally heard the tearing of her cotton shirt and he made quick work of her. He planted as she stood naked before him.

Rooster pushed her into the bed roughly and immediately snaked her legs onto his shoulder burying his face without a warning in between her legs. He began eating her out like a man starved for a meal for months. The messy and sloppy noises that came from him as he licked and sucked at the wetness pooling out of her made Bailey nearly come undone.

"Do you know how much I have been dying to taste this pussy again Muse? God you're so fucking wet for me baby I might drown." He stated with his lips firmly against her warm skin. The moment from his talking sent her eyes rolling backwards. Rooster bit every place Bailey missed begging touched and even a few she didn’t know she needed.

Bailey looked down to see the top of his head bobbing up and down and smirked. “If you think some good oral is going to make it up to me you might want to reevaluate your flight plan Bradshaw."

He lifted his head slowly and spanked her cunt before brining his hooded eyes to her face. She sat up on elbows her mouth falling open at the sight of him breathing heavily with streams of Bailey dripping from his lips.

"I was gone for six weeks, I think making you cum six time tonight should be enough to make up for it... you want me to fuck you like a whore? I'll fuck you like one then sweetheart.” He stated standing up and making no time of taking down his pants revealing just how hard and swollen he had become. It both excited Bailey and warmed her heart. He had been incredibly and for him, painfully been faithful. Bradley drove into hard time and time again. He moved like a man on a mission. Baileys punishment was to count her orgasms out loud.

“Two.” She breathed out as he relentlessly traced a finger over her incredibly sensitive body sending it into a fit of twitches.

“Three.”

“Four.”

“I can’t hear you sweetheart.” Bradley teased as she rounded five. She could barely breathe as she looked into his eyes blown with lust and whispered the number to him. Tears threatened to fall out of her eyes from how good it all felt.

On the last orgasm Bradley took his time. He was slow and purposeful now. The need for rough and fast was now long gone. He wanted to show love to her now. He looked down at Bailey who was covered ins west and barely able to make a coherent noise. She was cock drunk and fucked out her mind. Wind blowing over her exposed nipples nearly sent her over. He wasn’t even sure if she’d be able to sleep under the covers from how sensitive she was to every touch. Bradley leaned down to her and whispered, "Come on sweetheart, just a little more."

Bradley pulled away with a wicked grin on his face before picking Bailey up into his arms and slamming her against the wall. He drove into her hard and deep as she reached an octave he hadn’t heard before. She clawed and ran her fingernails so deep into his back he was sure to be bleeding but he didn’t care he only wanted more. He drove so hard two pictures fell off the wall. One shattered the glass making him chuckle. He looked up at Bailey for her reaction but she only pressed her lips harder onto his. He guided her through the last orgasm knowing she was spent. She slumped forward onto his chest. He knew that was it. He laid her sleeping frame onto the bed and covered her up. With a soft kiss to her forehead he whispered, “Six.”

Rooster slid his boxers on and went to the kitchen for something to drink. He had worked up quite a sweat. Bob was there sleepily grabbing something for Sadie.

“Can’t say I missed the sound of having sex with my best friend but welcome home.” He mumbled before retreating. Rooster smirked to himself and returned to the bedroom that had the smell of sex hanging in the air. He opened the window for some fresh air before looking upon Bailey’s face shining in the moonlight. Why was he ever scared to fall for her in the first place? This is where he belonged. He knew that now.

Tags:

@cherrycola27 @coyotesamachado @blessblessup @shanimallina87 @luckyladycreator2 @rosiahills22

#rooster top gun #bradley bradshaw #top gun #top gun maverick #rooster bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster #rooster x reader #rooster x oc #bradley bradshaw x reader #lieutenant bradley bradshsaw #lt bradshaw #lt bradley bradshaw #lieutenant bradley rooster bradshaw #Bradley bradshaw x oc #miles teller top gun #the mythics

[alr-818]

Homecoming

(The endings a bit weak, but I’m otherwise really proud of this one)

I’ve never done drugs before, and when I say drugs I mean hardcore things like crack, cocaine, speed; you know, the stuff they tell you to stay away from during your regularly scheduled D.A.R.E course in elementary school. Weed doesn’t count, of course, and if you think it does, I think we need to talk. D.A.R.E classes would give me panic attacks. I remember one day, the cop at the front of the class was talking about cigarettes and how they would essentially kill you if you even simply glanced at them. I started hyperventilating and had to be escorted out of the room. The teachers aid brought me outside and gave me a popsicle, allowing me to sit on the curb until class was over. I’m not sure what caused it. Maybe the fact that all of my grandparents smoked and I didn’t want to lose them, or that when I was around age 5 I would take my moms cigarettes and hide them under my pillows at night so she couldn’t find them. If you ask my mom about it, she denies smoking since I was born and that she had quit way before I was even a thought in her mind. She also likes to deny she ever had a drug problem.

Senior year homecoming…I remember so vividly. I bought this dress from some random website: knee length, bright white, adorned with a thick, scarlet red belt that tied into a big taffeta bow behind my back. I loved that dress. It was one of the best dresses from my high school days. I remember rushing over to Walmart to get something I “forgot”. Honestly, I was there hoping to see this guy that I’d recently met and may or may not have had a crush on. He was older, early 20’s. He was tall and thin, but muscular. His skin was the most perfect tan and his eyes were light brown but so bright. His dark brown hair and scruffy beard did it in for me. He was gorgeous. I spotted him at checkout and approached him. He told me how beautiful I looked and gave me a huge hug, crushing my perfectly placed curls, but I didn’t care, secretly knowing he did it on purpose thinking it was cute. His embrace was heavenly breathing in the smell of musky cologne and sweat. I was the luckiest girl in the world in that moment. It ended up being one of the last times I saw him. Scrolling through Facebook years later, I found out he died of a drug overdose.

I left homecoming early with my girl friend who, at the time I didn’t realize, had a raging drug problem. We met up with some much older guys and started partying. One of the guys I knew. He would come into the restaurant I worked at every Sunday with his dad. I would wait on him and he would flirt with me. The attention was nice but he was much too old for me and I simply wasn’t interested. Let me tell you, I’ve never felt so fucked after taking one hit from a joint in my life. I firmly believe it was laced with something, I’m not sure what, but I could barely open my eyes or think straight. I had gone on plenty of smoke rides before to know this was not normal. He started making moves, surely thinking he was going to get lucky. Thankfully, my friend intervened and we got the fuck out of there. I saw him the following weekend while at work and the shame on his face said it all. I ignored him, obviously, and that was the last time I ever saw him.

Now, I travel the country peddling pills for a living in plain colored scrubs and neon pink shoes. A legal “drug dealer” I joke, reminding myself I’m helping people with each pill I pour. The days of placing myself in situations that I was not mature enough to navigate are over. I haven’t smoke in years due to feeling like I can’t breathe anytime I would try after turning 20. Instead, I count the weeks, days, and hours until it’s time to travel home again where my loved ones wait for my homecoming.

#deep thoughts #narcotics drugs #war on drugs #denial #addiction #losses #teenage years #homecoming #d.a.r.e #nursing #travel #weed mention

[renneiscent]

You Are All That Matters

I’m alive, unfortunately. I feel bad for updating really late, so here I posted two chapters. First, here it’s Jake’s POV. Some parts will be changed to adjust with the plots, I hope this makes sense and sincerely apologise for bad writing. Enjoy!

Jake's POV

Chapters: 16/?

< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >

I cannot remember how long it’s been taking that we are separating from each other. But I am able to tell every second of that bitter moment never gives me any ease. I wonder if this long tunnel from the mine or the fact about she is somewhere in strange place without me beside her which make it more badly. To add the fuel to the fire, how she ignored my words and chose to observe the strange room she found with all the evidences there instead of prioritising her own safety; I’m puzzled to decide whether I should be amazed with her finding and bravery or agitated with lot of stress she put on me.

I shake my head and try to put aside my concern. This never-ending worry of mine will not make any progress. The only thing we need right now is being logical and thinking about everything rationally, that is the only way to finish this case. The faster I’m roaming in this tunnel, the sooner I will get back and protect her.

I quicken my pace with my eyes are scanning at every spot it could take. Nothing worthwhile here, what am I looking for actually? I have no clue. This tunnel seems to have no ends. Should I go back or explore little longer? Thinking, Jake, thinking.

“What a nuisance,” I’m taking a deep breath, feeling annoyed. Let’s just explore this for more 5 minutes; if I didn’t find anything useful then I will go back to her. This mine is disgustingly funny. I wonder where this Michael Hanson is, nothing in this place is showing his sign of existence. With the gunshot wound on him, he should really be vulnerable right now. I’m assuming he is supposed to be resting somewhere in this place. Well, even if he is managed to handle it, he couldn’t explore further. He is aged after all. But I cannot be so sure. It’s not the first time I’m wrong with my statement.

You can’t be so careless with your assertions.

I snort remembering those words; those words which painfully delivered by her when I had to leave and how she saw her friend got attacked right in front of her eyes through the phone. I was really sure nothing in this investigation will get out of my hands but now until this last second of today, everything which I planned is gone terribly wrong. This is so humiliating. I promised to myself for protecting her, but what did I do right now?

I immediately check the screen from my phone to find out where she is. The red dot is showing in the other side of this tunnel, it looks like she is not moving from that place for these past few minutes. What did she find there? Whatever it is, I hope she didn’t encounter with Michael. I put my phone back to my pocket and continue to explore this place carefully. I just walked few steps and there my eyes are catching a glimmer of light on the end of this tunnel. My hand is immediately pulling the mask to cover half of my face, I don’t know what kind of light and place is that but whatever it is I’m certain that I won’t show my face fully.

The flashlight of mine has been turned off and my feet are heading to that strange spot with slow and careful steps. I’m trying to not create any noise in every step of mine but these gravels which scattered everywhere make it harder. I stopped walking and hiding in the corner of the tunnel and take a good looking inside with peeping in. No one is here or at least it looks like that. I’m slowly entering this strangely secret room. So the glimmer of light that I saw earlier is from one of the lantern. There are only two old lanterns which not fully covering whole room but it’s good enough to help me exploring here.

I’m quickly scanning the room to check if someone is hiding in this room but seems like no one is really here. Is that a computer? I immediately walk toward something which I assume it’s a computer. It is really a computer. Hold on, what? The computer is showing a loop video about the stream of Hannah and Richy which Michael sent toward MC earlier. I should have realised the stream is fake! Fuck, another mistake from me. What didn’t I realise it sooner? It should be piece of cake! Here I am convincing everyone that I’m a wanted hacker. How lame.

Wait, there is camera beside the computer; I took it right away and check what is inside. This camera is what Michael use to record Hannah and Richy. I’m about to check if there are more things which recorded by this camera but I suddenly hear something. With the split of seconds, I hide behind the desk where the computer is and while peeking to find out what it’s the sound coming from since I didn’t hear someone’s footstep at all.

“…Hannah?” I immediately walk out from my hiding after finding out the sound is coming from Hannah which is unconsciously lying on top of the wooden bench. I was able to see her since her body is covered by this wide blanket but right now her face is half exposed. I’m heading myself toward her and pressing my first and middle fingers to the side of her neck while my eyes are looking at the watch on my wrist, checking her pulse rate. Her pulse rate is normal thankfully. I escape a long sigh as if one of the weighs on my shoulder at least is lessen a bit.

“Hannah? Wake up, Hannah!” I shake her shoulder, forcing her to wake up. Is she sleeping or did Michael do something to her? I’m observing her condition but it seems that she doesn’t look like that she got hurt or injured. “Hannah? Hey, wake up!”

Her eyelids are moving then it’s slowly opening, she blinks few times before her eyes are widely open. “Richy?” she whispers.

I’m bending down and pulling off my mask down so she is able to see me clearly, “it’s Jake. Are you okay? Are you cold? Is something happened?” my eyes are scanning every inch of her, double-checking if she is really okay.

“Jake? Jake! You really came!” she is getting up and immediately jumping to hug me; it caught me off guard and it makes me lose the balance in the split of seconds and almost fell to the ground. But thankfully, I managed to hold my balance while holding her in my arms.

I’m helping to make her sit down on the bench carefully, “of course I came.” I pull her away from the hug and ask with concern, “you didn’t answer me. Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“I’m okay, thank you. I’m really fine. Don’t worry!” She put this reassuring smile on her face. I’m sitting next to her and again checking her condition; after all, she had been missing for few days. I need to be sure. “Sorry for suddenly hug you.”

“No need. Are you really certain that you are fine? You are not hurt or something?” I ask for confirmation again while holding both of her hands tight.

“One hundred percents, Jake. I’m really okay! Look, I’m able to walk.” She stood from her position and walking in circle, “see?” she says while looking at me, asking for approval. I nod and stand up straight.

“Good, then let’s go out from this mine right now.” I’m trying to walk away from her but she soon grabs my arm, making me little bit startled with her action.

“Hold on, have you seen my friend? Young man, kind of tall wearing black hooded jacket like you?” her face shows with concern.

“Did you mean Richy Rogers? No, I haven’t seen anyone since I’m inside this mine. Did you know where is he, Hannah?” I just realised that Richy is nowhere to be found in this room, how careless of me forgetting one of MC’s friends.

“I’m not sure, I fell asleep and I didn’t see him leaving.” She answers while her eyes are scanning every spot in this room. So, she fell asleep when I found her? Was Michael really not doing anything at all?

“How about Michael Hanson, where is that man?” I’m trying to ask while checking the room once again, wondering if that man is hiding somewhere. I missed Hannah from my gaze which lay down on this bench, who knows if I slip Michael either?

“Michael Hanson… is not here. He is never here, Jake.”

I frown, confused with what just she said. But before I managed to ask her again, my phone is vibrating inside my pocket. I immediately take my phone and check it; one message from MC. “Hold on a second, Hannah.”

MC: Jake?

MC: Alan finally knows about the Ironsplinter Mine!

MC: He even knows about the secret hatch

MC: You need to get out of there as soon as you can

MC: I will meet you as soon as possible

MC IS NOW OFFLINE

Alan is coming? The fuck. Plan, plan. Let me list what I should do first. I must go back to MC and take both of us out from here as soon as possible but what about Hannah? Should I just take her with me? Her condition looks fit enough. I’m checking the map on my phone for looking the nearest way out from here. Oh, the nearest escape is in the same way with MC’s place. Alright then, it means I can get to MC while helping Hannah out from this mine. All settled. I keep my phone back then look at Hannah, “explain it while we are getting out from here. You sure you can walk?”

“Yeah, but what about Richy?” she hesitates.

“I will help you out first and then look for him. MC is here too, I also need to get back to her.” I pull my mask to cover my face then take out my flashlight and lead the walk. Hannah is following me from behind. I can hear her jogging a bit behind me. Without I’m aware, I think I just subconsciously quicken my pace. “So, what do you mean about Michael is never here?”

“MC? Who is that? Your girlfriend, Jake?” her question tickles me.

“The person which her number you have sent to Thomas three days after you disappeared.” I explain briefly. Not going to explain about my relationship between MC and me, let’s do that later. It feels like my face is going hot all of sudden. I have no clue what is the reason.

“What? I didn’t send any number to Thomas.”

Her words make me stop walking and wipe all of the heat around my face, I turn myself to her. “What did you mean that you didn’t send any number?”

“That’s what I meant. I didn’t send—I never send someone’s number to Thomas.” She insists.

I immediately take my phone and press some buttons on the screen then show my phone to her, “what is this then? This is not someone’s number?”

That is the screenshot from Thomas’s phone which I managed to take earlier before I deleted the message thus they couldn’t take it to the police as the proof. Why am I seeing the bewildered look on her face?

“Oh no, the next message must get cut! I was about to send receipt’s number to help you guys get the real culprit but my phone was dead because of the battery, but I didn’t know the other message didn’t reach you at all! I’m really sorry! Is this person getting dragged this far because of me? Oh my god…” Hannah stress out while explaining.

“It’s alright, Hannah. We can explain it to her, she is nice person. Your friends are getting along really well with her already. That’s why she is volunteer herself to come here for saving you and Richy. Let’s continue our walk, shall we?” I hold her shoulder and give a gentle squeeze while staring at her. Her eyes show that something bothers her.

“Jake, I didn’t manage to tell you earlier. It’s Richy.” She trails off, her voice sounds that it’s full of pain.

“Come again?” my brows furrow, not sure if I understand what she said.

“It’s Richy,” she reiterates. “It’s Richy all along, Michael Hanson is never here. Richy is the real culprit.”

“That’s not possible. MC saw him ambushed and there was blood coming from his mouth, and the stream video? It shows both of you got tied up.” I almost lost my decency and raised my voice out of frustration. What is the reason for Richy to become culprit all this time?

“All of those things are just his scenarios! He kidnapped me because he was scared then he convinced me to do his plan which involving Michael when Michael Hanson is never in Duskwood at all! The video is having second part which if you would have seen that showing both of us got free from our shackles then we flee from the mine while Michael burned to death in the fire!” the tears are suddenly flowing from Hannah’s eyes, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I should just run away before, I should realise that Richy is already changing.”

I instantly try to call MC, hoping she never encounter with Richy. I don’t know any more what is the truth and what is not. What I know is I need to see her at this moment, right this time. “Fuck, why there is no connection all of sudden. Can you run, Hannah? We need to move quickly!”

She nods, “yes! I will follow you from behind!”

< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter >

#duskwood #duskwood everbyte #duskwood game #duskwood fandom #jake x mc #duskwood fanfiction

[spnhunter4life]

So Long Chapter 5

Word Count: 3.9k

A/N: I finally managed to write a shorter chapter! I struggled with this one a little bit. It didn’t come as easily as the other chapters have so far. I’m not 100% happy with it, but here it is. Hopefully everyone will still enjoy it. As always, thanks to everyone who has supported this story so far and left a like!

I’m sure everyone is waiting for Jenna and Dean to finally get together. All I have to say to that is... we’re getting closer! I did warn everyone in the summary that it took a long time for them to figure things out.

As for the second version of this story I mentioned last week, I will start posting it next week. It will update on Tuesday and Thursday.

Series Masterlist

Moving on You and I started looking back Now we’ve got to make up For all the wasted time

Ages 14 and 16 February 5, 1995

Walking down the hall with the only friend I’d made at this school in the three weeks we’d been here, I laughed at the story she was telling about her brother and his mishap with a pair of scissors and a desire for a new haircut. I was about to counter with a story about Sam and Dean’s latest prank war and a bottle of shampoo when I stopped in my tracks.

“What’s wrong?” Abby asked, confused. She looked to where I was staring and understanding crossed her face. “You kind of like him, right?”

That was a bit of an understatement. I ‘kind of like him’ the way an alcoholic ‘kind of likes’ their drink of choice, the way a fish ‘kind of likes’ the water. 

I knew how ridiculous it was to pine for a guy who saw me as a friend at best, more likely sister, but I couldn’t seem to convince my stupid heart to get over it. I managed to close my slightly open mouth and look away from where Dean was making out with the head cheerleader.

“He turned sixteen a couple of weeks ago. You don’t think she’s…” I stopped, not able to complete that thought.

“His soulmate?” Abby finished. “I don’t know. Maybe. He didn’t tell you what her name is? You guys live together don’t you?”

“No.” I said vaguely, lost in thought.

“No… what?” she asked.

“Sorry,” I sighed, giving her my full attention. “No, he didn’t tell me what name showed up. He’s kind of private. Doesn’t like talking about anything involving feelings. And yeah, I guess we kind of live together. Our dads work together, so we end up moving to the same places a lot.”

“Well there’s really no reason to think she’s the one. Just because he has his soulmate’s name now doesn’t mean he won’t be interested in anyone else until he meets her,” she reasoned. I must not have looked convinced because she continued. “Is this typical for him? I mean, does he usually flirt and go on dates and occasionally show a little too much PDA?” She asked, wrinkling her nose as she looked in their direction again.

“All the girls are always interested in him. And he definitely notices. And likes it. So yeah, this is pretty typical I guess,” I told her.

“Ok, well then I definitely wouldn’t worry about it. If he didn’t usually do this type of thing, then I’d say there was likely a reason for the sudden change in behavior. But if it’s normal, then don’t read anything into it.”

I knew she was right, and even if she wasn’t, I had no reason to be jealous. In a year and a half, I’d get my own soulmate’s name. If I hadn’t moved on by then, hopefully that would be enough to convince my traitorous heart it wasn’t meant to be.

Ages 16 and 17 December 11, 1996

"Oh good, you're back." I called to my dad when I heard the door to our room close behind me. "I was just leaving you a note," I told him, dropping the pen I'd been using and turning to face him. "Oh. Dean. I thought you were my dad."

"So I gathered," he said, looking over my outfit. "You look nice," he said. "Why do you look nice?" He continued before I could thank him for the compliment. 

"Uh… I'm going out with some friends. What's up?" I asked, a little distracted as I finished the note for Dad.

"Well I just came to see if you wanted to do something tonight. I guess not though. What friends exactly?" He questioned, sitting on the table next to where I was writing.

“The usual ones,” I told him, finishing the note and moving to the bathroom to double check my hair.

“Try again,” Dean said as he followed me.

“I’m sorry?” I asked, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

“You’re not going out with friends dressed like that,” he said.

I looked at my outfit in the mirror. I didn’t see anything objectionable about the tan sweater and black leggings combo.

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” I asked. 

“Nothing. I already told you, you look nice. I’m just saying that’s not what you usually wear to hang out with friends,” he said pointedly.

“And I can’t try something new?” I snapped. I left the bathroom, pushing past where he stood in the doorway and grabbed my coat off my bed.

“Why are you getting so defensive?” Dean asked.

“Why are you suddenly so worried about who I hang out with?” I shot back. 

“I’m not worried about it. But it’s a date, right? I just don’t understand why you couldn’t just tell me that. Why lie about it?” he wondered.

I sighed. I felt bad about snapping at him. I didn’t mean to, I was just feeling really anxious about tonight. Dean wasn’t entirely right about the date thing, but he wasn’t entirely wrong either. I was following Bailey’s advice. She’d told me to either get it over with and make a move with Dean or move on. 

So, I was moving on. Or pretending to. I was making an effort at least. 

“It wasn’t a lie,” I told him. “I am going out with Bailey and Dylan.” I peeked out the window to see if they were here yet.

“So… it’s not a date,” he said, somewhere between a statement and a question. “It’s just you going out with a couple of friends?”

“Not exactly,” I said, going to sit on my bed while I waited.

“Then what is it, Jenna?” He asked as he came to sit beside me. “This is a yes or no question. Why can’t you just give me a straight answer?”

“It’s… a double date, I guess,” I told him.

“Ok,” he said calmly. “And Dylan is your date?” he asked.

“What?” I asked, surprised. “No. Dylan and Bailey are dating.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize that,” he said. “So who’s your date?”

I couldn’t decide how I felt about this conversation. While I was comfortable talking to Dean about anything, boys was a topic we’d never covered before. Mostly because there’d been no reason to. There had never been any boys I was interested in and wanted to talk about. Never in more than a friend way at least. 

Dean was being very casual about it. More than I expected. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about that, but I was thinking I didn’t like it. I wouldn’t have minded him being the slightest bit upset about it. I had been expecting it, really. He was usually so protective. 

“His name is Jake,” I answered.

Dean pursed his lips, thinking for a minute before responding.

“Can I ask you something and have you promise not to get mad at me? Because I’m not trying to be a jerk, I just really want to know,” he said.

“Okay,” I agreed a little warily. I had no idea where he might be going with this.

“Do you even like this guy?” he asked. “Because you don’t seem very excited.” 

“Well… to be honest, I’m not really,” I admitted.

“Then why are you going?” he asked. I sighed.

“Because the problem is that I don’t really know him. And isn’t that the point of a date? To get to know someone?” I pointed out.

“I guess so,” Dean agreed. “But usually people go out with someone they’re interested in.”

“I told you I don’t really know him. How could I know if I’m interested yet?” 

“You don’t have to know someone to know you’re interested. Haven’t you ever met someone and known right away you wanted to get to know them better? Because you found them attractive or because even from a short conversation you could tell you would get along?” He asked.

“No. Not really,” I said.

“Never?” he asked disbelievingly.

“No,” I repeated. “I’ve just never really been interested in anyone.”

“Oh,” was all Dean said in response. I couldn’t quite read the tone of this voice or the expression on his face.

Feeling a little awkward, I stood up and walked over to check out the window again. They still weren’t here.

“You know you don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Dean said from where he was still sitting on the bed.

“Yes I do. They’re on their way to pick me up right now. Too late to back out. Besides,” I told him as I went to sit beside him again. “I always like hanging out with Bailey and Dylan. And they like Jake and think we’ll get along. I trust them. I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

“Then why do you look like you’re dreading it?” Dean asked.

“I’m not dreading it,” I told him. “Really, I’m not.” I insisted when he just gave me a look. “I’m just… nervous I guess. Regardless of whether I like him or not, it’s always weird for me to spend time with someone I don’t really know. So I guess I’m just anxious about that.”

“In that case, I hope you have fun,” he said with a small smile. He sounded sincere, but it also seemed a little forced. 

Before I could think very long on what that meant, there was a honk from right outside the door.

“There’s some leftover stroganoff in the fridge you can have if you want it. Just make sure to leave enough for my dad,” I told Dean as I grabbed my purse and slipped on my coat. “See you later,” I said as I opened the door.

“See you later,” I heard him echo as the door closed behind me.

~~~~~

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Bailey teased. We had just dropped Jake off at his house and were headed to the motel now. 

“I never said it would be bad,” I replied.

“Maybe not in so many words. But I could tell you weren’t happy about it,” she said.

“Look,” I sighed. “I understand what you’re saying. About moving on. But it’s not that easy,” I told her.

“It’s not easy to move on from the person you’ve been into for half your life?” Dylan asked with a smirk, looking at me in the rearview mirror. I frowned at him.

Bailey turned in her seat to look at me. 

“Obviously you’re not going to get over it overnight. We wouldn’t expect that. And to be completely honest…” she trailed off, looking to Dylan. He thought about it for a second before nodding at her to continue.

“We don’t really expect you to get over him at all,” she said.

“Then what was the point of tonight?” I asked, frustrated. I’d had fun and Jake was a nice enough guy, but I definitely wasn’t interested in anything more than friendship with him. All they had really accomplished tonight was making the next few days at school awkward every time I ran into Jake if he didn’t feel the same way I did. And I honestly couldn’t tell what he thought.

“You said you’d never been on a date before, right?” Bailey asked.

“Right…” I said, dragging out the word, confused about where this was going.

“We just thought it might make Dean jealous. Or at least make him realize if he didn’t make a move, someone else eventually would,” she explained.

“So what you’re saying is you lied to me. But it was to help me?” I questioned.

“Yeah. Well that’s the hope anyway,” Bailey said. 

“What about Jake?” I asked, a little annoyed. I could have told them this plan wouldn’t work and saved everyone the trouble. I did appreciate that they were trying though. “Did he know it wasn’t a real date?”

“He didn’t think it was a date at all,” Dylan replied. “We just told him we were planning on hanging out and asked him to join.”

“Thanks guys. I know you meant well, but I wish you would have just told me. This isn’t going to change anything with Dean,” I told them.

“Why don’t you wait until you get back to decide that. See how he reacts first,” Bailey said.

“I don’t need to. You realize Dean goes on a lot of dates with a lot of girls, right?” I asked.

“So you’ve said,” Bailey sighed. “That doesn’t prove anything.”

“Well he’s never shown any interest in me. Not like that anyway,” I said.

“Yeah, but I don’t think you’d actually notice if he did,” Dylan countered.

“Look,” I said tiredly. “I know you want to help. But you’ve got to just let it go. Every day I work on keeping my emotions under control. I’m constantly reminding myself not to read into things and not to get my hopes up. It’s hard enough as it is. Having you two always telling me how you think he likes me… well it gets my hopes up despite my best efforts. And letting yourself hope is how you get hurt when things don’t go the way you want. So can you please just leave it alone?” 

“We didn’t mean to make things harder or overstep,” Dylan said. “You just talk about him so much, we wanted to–”

“To help, I know,” I cut in. “I appreciate it. And as for talking about him… well there’s not much in my life worth talking about, so I guess he just comes up a lot. I’ll try to stop though.”

“No, you don’t have to stop,” Bailey insisted. 

“I should though. It’s not helping things either,” I said.

“Neither is keeping your feelings bottled up. We’ll back off. I promise. But only if you keep talking about him when you want to. The way you always have with us,” she bargained.

“Deal,” I agreed with a smile. It would be really hard having to leave this town. I’d never had such great friends.

“But just out of curiosity,” she continued as Dylan pulled up to the motel and parked. “On Monday will you let us know how he reacts tonight?” she asked.

“He came over before you guys picked me up. We talked about it a little. He just said to have fun,” I told them.

They frowned a little at this, clearly not happy that there hadn’t been more of a reaction. They didn’t say anything more about it though.

“I guess we’ll see you Monday,” Dylan said as I got out of the car.

“Yeah. Thanks for driving,” I said. I closed the car door and waved as they backed out of the parking lot before unlocking the door and stepping inside.

Dad was sitting at the table, writing in his case journal. 

“Hey kiddo,” he greeted, looking up from the book. “How was your night?”

“It was good,” I told him. “When did you get back?”

“About an hour ago,” he answered.

“Did you get something to eat?” I asked as I made my way to the bathroom to shower. That’s when I noticed Dean. He was sprawled out on the couch, looking at me over the back of it. There was an episode of Scooby Doo playing on low volume.

“Yeah, I did,” Dad answered before going back to writing.

“Hey,” Dean said when I stopped beside him. “How’d it go?”

“It was fine. We just got something to eat and then went bowling. Nothing too exciting,” I told him.

“Did you have fun?” He asked. I wondered if I detected something under his casual tone, but I couldn’t tell for sure so I just ignored it.

“Yeah, I guess so. I don’t think I’ll be going on any more dates with Jake though,” I answered.

“Why not? Did he do something?” 

“No, of course not. We just didn’t really hit it off,” I said.

“That’s… too bad?” He questioned. I smiled.

“Not really. What are you doing here, by the way?” I asked as I grabbed my bag.

“Sam was hogging the TV so I just figured I’d hang out here for the night. I assume that’s ok with you?” Dean asked teasingly.

“Of course. As long as you don’t mind sharing when I’m done showering,” I said.

“I think I can manage that,” he smiled. I showered quickly and then Dean and I watched Scooby Doo reruns until we were too tired to stay up any longer.

Ages 22 and 24 April 16, 2003

The bar we were at was getting crowded as happy hour hit its peak and patrons steadily trickled in. The large room was filled with the drone of many voices and the clinking of glasses and bottles. The table I was sitting at was slightly sticky from drinks spilled earlier in the night. 

Dean and I were in Nebraska. We had just finished a hunt with Eric and Penny, two friends Dean had made in the years we were separated, and the four of us were celebrating the win. Or at least, we were supposed to be.

Dean was chatting up the blonde that had walked in the door fifteen minutes ago. She was wearing a skin tight tank top that showed off her ample curves and a pair of what might have been the shortest shorts I’d ever seen. It hadn’t taken him long to notice her at the bar and immediately announce that he was going to get refills. 

“So, um,” I started, clearing my throat a little as I turned my eyes away from the bar and back to our table. “How did you two meet?” I asked. 

The two hunters were happily engaged soulmates. I hadn’t really had time to get to know them that well while we were working, so I was trying to remedy that now.

“I met Eric for the first time while he was working a case,” Penny said.

“And you were working the same job?” I guessed. It didn’t happen a lot, but as had been the case with mine and Dean’s dads, sometimes hunters ended up working the same case by coincidence. 

“No, actually I was the case,” she said.

“You were? What happened?” I asked, confused. I knew she was human. So how could she have been so caught up in something that Eric came after her?

“There was this ghost,” Eric continued, picking up her story. “A real nasty one. It was actually possessing people. By the time I got to town it was riding around in this beautiful thing,” he said, smiling at his fiancee. 

“He saved your life,” I said with a smile.

“He did,” she confirmed. “After that, learning what kinds of things are out there, I couldn’t go back to normal. I had no one and nothing I needed to stick around for. And we realized pretty quickly that we were soulmates. So I’ve been with him ever since.”

“That’s really great. You guys are lucky,” I told them just as I heard Dean’s loud laugh coming from the bar. I turned to look at him. He and blondie were sitting close to each other. She had her hand resting on his bicep and he had what I considered his flirty bedroom eyes out in full force.

“How did you get started hunting Eric?” I asked, frowning a little as I turned back to them.

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” he told me.

“I’m not worried about it. I was just curious. Although, I realize I probably shouldn’t have asked. That’s usually not a happy story. Sorry, I’m not really used to meeting other hunters,” I rambled, hoping I hadn’t offended him. 

“No, not that. I’ll tell you about it if you want. It’s really not an exciting story. What I meant was, I wouldn’t worry about Dean,” he said. 

“Dean?” I asked, feigning ignorance as I felt my cheeks flush slightly at my lack of subtlety. Thankfully the lighting was poor enough that it wouldn’t be noticeable. “I’m not worried about him either. Just wondering when he’s going to actually bring our drinks back.”

They shared a quick look. Penny put her arms on the table, leaning closer to me, causing the arm Eric had slung around her shoulders to fall away.

“Let me ask you something,” she said. “What do you see when you look over there?” She asked, nodding her head in Dean’s direction.

“I see–” I started.

“No. Look at him and tell me what you see,” she instructed.

We stared each other down for a while, me looking for an explanation, her daring me to do what she said. Finally I sighed and gave in. Turning around, I looked at Dean again. It was exactly what I expected to see.

“I see Dean. Flirting with a girl. Not bringing us the drinks he promised,” I deadpanned.

“You want to know what I see?” She didn’t wait for an answer before continuing. “I see him putting on a show.”

“What are you talking about?” I questioned.

“We may not know Dean as well as you, but we know him well enough,” Eric said. “I’ve seen him pick up girls before. This is different.”

“How so?” I asked, so curious to figure out what they meant that I forgot I was supposed to be pretending not to care.

“I don’t have a good way to explain it to you. But there’s a difference. He’s flirting, sure, but there’s no real intent behind it. It’s like he’s not trying to pick her up, he’s just going through the motions,” he explained.

“Then why has he spent the last 20 minutes with her?” I asked pointedly, turning back around in my seat.

“Why do you know how long it’s been?” Eric countered. 

I didn’t have a good answer to that. Thankfully Penny jumped in.

“Let me ask you something else,” she said. “How long have you guys been hunting together?”

“Just the two of us?” I asked. She nodded. “Uh… a little over a year.” I answered.

“And in that time, has he ever gone home with anyone? Even once?” 

I thought about it. He hadn’t brought anyone home. Since we always shared a room, I would have been very aware of that. I would have noticed if he didn’t come home one night too. And I couldn’t remember him ever not being around. I would remember if he had. I would have either been worried because I didn’t know where he was or annoyed because I did know where he was.

“No, I guess not,” I said, surprised at the realization. 

“Something to think about,” she said. 

“Oh good, you didn’t forget about us,” Eric teased Dean when he brought our drinks just a few seconds later.

“I’m sorry. Do I know you?” Dean asked as he set our beers down. “I was just asked to deliver some drinks.”

“Whatever,” Eric said. “Did you get her number?”

“Nah. Not really my type,” Dean replied. 

Someone nudged my foot under the table. I looked up to see Penny looking at me with a small smile. Think about it, she mouthed at me. 

So I did. I thought back on the year I’d spent with Dean. I remembered how many girls he could have been with, but hadn’t. It made me happier than I wanted to admit. But what was the reason for it? Why was Dean – ladies man, impulsive flirt, and best looking guy in any given room – going home alone every night? I couldn’t come up with an explanation, so I let it go and just enjoyed the rest of the night.

Chapter 6

#supernatural #spn #fanfiction #supernatural fanfiction #dean winchester #original characters #original female character #dean x ofc #dean x original character #dean x soulmate!ofc #soulmates #soulmate au #so long

[writingsofhubris]

Gravity Falls Masterpost! (Updated 4/28/2022)

Gen

Someone Else's Dream G, 656, Ford & Stan & Reader Indulging in artistic endevors rarely occurred in your life. So when you'd managed to paint the Pines, all together on a lovely canvas, you'd been nervous to show the eldest twins the dedication you'd offered in the simple gift.

Magnet Head G, 1.6K Ford & Reader, Stan & Reader, Mabel & Reader (Prompts, Pt 14) We are ignoring the laws of metal in this, and the fact Ford wouldn't get a plate that was magnetic.

You'll never get a second chance Plan all your moves in advance G, 1.3K, Ford & Stan, Stan & Dipper, Stan & Mabel, whump He’d made sure that the kids were alright, settled back into their room with no current complaints. He knew what they’d gone through, his brother and he had done the same thing when they were around the kid’s age. It hadn’t ended with anything other than Staley sleeping on the sofa for about twenty minutes until He’d gotten back into their bunk bed, Stanford wishing him a good night.

Ford Pines

Achilles Come Down E, 5.6K, Ford/Reader, Vampire AU (His Assistant Pt 3) Ford had asked you to leave when he was going to give his brother the third Journal. You were going to settle down with the love of your life, and dismantle the portal so Bill could never come to our reality. But After Stanley and Stanford fought, you lost your love until he made a fatal mistake.

Can You Taste my Lust? Can you feel my Sin? E, 3.3K, Ford/Reader, Priest AU But, the issue had arisen during your nights when he filtered into your dreams. Nights of imagining him taking you in the pews, laying you out on the dark wood to strip you bare to his whims. When you focused back into the Father, you felt your blush travel up to your ears. The thoughts would only offer more confessions, and you didn’t want to add in more sins you had to confess. “We are all sinners,” Father Ford said. Enjoy the sacrilege, you damn heathen Priest Ford AU where he's aware of what he can do and he does it.

Dance While the Sky Crashes Down E, 2.3K, Ford/Reader (His Assistant, Pt 4) I enjoy filling prompts. So one of my good friends asked for this, and of course. Breeding kink, some dark stuff.

Hunger of the pines E, 9.7K, Ford/Reader, Assistant (His Assistant pt 1) You'd managed to bring yourself from the depths of pity to working on your doctorate with an infamous, weird scientist. It wasn't your fault you fell so quickly for the attractive, intelligent man.

Just the Two Of Us G, 1k, Ford/Reader, Movie night in (His Assistant Pt 2) Stanford sometimes needed to be reminded to take things slow. You were more than happy to follow through on that.

Mr Fear M, 2.4K, Ford/Reader, PTSD (His Assistant Pt 5) Your history had only been yours. Up until tonight, when the panic had taken hold, your history had been yours alone. Unfortunately, your history was packaged tightly with your panic attacks, and when you realized you'd walked into Gravity Falls at two in the morning, the fact you bought a container of alcohol was the least of your concerns. You just wanted to stop hearing the blood pound in your heart.

Puppy love (Abandoned) E, 1K, Demon!Ford/reader Based on Puppy Love by Paul Anka. Demon Ford AU, placed around him being 25ish y/o

Stan Pines

A place to Grab a Bite M, 2.1K, Stan/reader, Vampire Stan (Prompts Pt 15) Prompt: reader is passing through gf and they come across the shack and maybe stan is doing like a dance party thing or what have you, and like reader tries to sneak around idk why but reader catches stan "eating". In Stanley fashion dumb vampire pickup lines and the reader is all for that.

Cherry Pie E, 2.4k, Stan/reader, Horror movies Prompt: “Like these spooooky moooovies. Movies are great! You watch the movie, you scare the girl, the girl snuggles up next to you, next thing you know you gotta raise a kid. Your life falls apart. Forget that last part.” stanley, Little Gift Shop of Horrors Stan really enjoys using pet names, doesn’t he? And thighs. You know he’s into thighs.

Guys My Age T, 1.2K, Stan/OFC, flirting with Sparing Quick little snip of my OFC Fianna and Stanley fighting with their different styles, since I used her name for the dating sim. Loosely set around the crime spree.

Pumpkin, are you okay? M, 931, Stan/Reader, comfort You'd really, really wanted to experience this with Stanley. But you couldn't help what your triggers were. Reader X Stanley, gender unspecified. Reader gets triggered due to an old memory

#repost #.W #masterlist #gravity falls #Stanley Pines #ford pines #fanfiction #reader insert #no y/n #gravity falls fanfiction

[vonuberwald]

I posted 295 times in 2022

54 posts created (18%)

241 posts reblogged (82%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@kj-likes-dogs

@a-driftamongopenstars

@hechizero-emplumado

@shotce

@hollyand-writes

I tagged 187 of my posts in 2022

Only 37% of my posts had no tags

#dragon age - 39 posts

#fanart - 24 posts

#dragon age 2 - 16 posts

#ffxiv - 13 posts

#my fanfiction - 10 posts

#fanfiction - 10 posts

#video - 10 posts

#dragon age origins - 9 posts

#dragon age inquisition - 9 posts

#da:i - 9 posts

Longest Tag: 126 characters

#happy holidays to you other sick fucks that have nothing else in their sad sorry lives except harassing people on the internet

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

In two days’ time, I will have a one-year-old. Which, last year, I didn’t think would be the case until the end of July, but she had other ideas 🐝👑

10 notes - Posted May 8, 2022

#4

Happy Friday! Super intrigued by "…to gain something." – for characters of your choice!

Isabela laughed as she danced out of Merrill's way, nimbly keeping the trinket just out of the other's reach. Merrill chuckled lightly, even as she tutted in exasperation as she made a swipe for it, only to be dodged, fingers brushing the strings of the leather pouch.

'You know my terms!' Isabela crowed, idly tossing the bag in the air, snatching it back just as the elven woman almost, almost, got it. Merrill giggled, almost overturning an unlit candlestick on a small table. After a quick fumble to catch and reset it, she looked around, but Isabela was no longer in the room, although it was a tiny house and the only place left was either the tiny washroom or... the bedroom.

Well, knowing Isabela...

With a wicked grin, Merrill padded over to the even smaller room, which she could see was now faintly lit. Pushing the door open slowly, she took in the sight of the self-proclaimed pirate queen, lounging seductively against the simple headboard, entirely nude, but for her necklaces hanging low over her breasts.

'My,' she said. 'And do your terms still stand?'

Bela smirked and held up two fingers. 'Double the previous asking price, and no less.' The smirk grew and the shadows from the meagre candlelight threw interesting shapes over her curves. Merrill shifted in the doorway, her insides clenching pleasantly.

'Alright,' she said slowly, walking slowly into the room and kneeling on the bed. She shed her clothes as she came, as naked as Bela by the time she was crawling on the mattress, her smaller frame covering the taller woman's. When they were face-to-face, Merrill perched lightly on Isabela's thighs and leaned forward.

'Alright,' she repeated, in little more than a whisper, and leaned forward until she pressed their lips together.

Once. Then, once again.

Double the asking price.

Merrill leaned back and smiled in anticipation.

'Hmm,' said Isabela, with a grin and nodded, reached behind her where she'd hidden the pouch and handing it over to the elf. Merrill tipped to her head to the side and appeared to think before she broke and giggled, taking the bag and putting it to one side.

'I've changed my mind!' she declared brightly and wrapped her arms around Isabela, snuggling closer. Jewellery clinked as they adjusted to a more comfortable position.

'Oh?'

Merrill nodded, stealing another kiss.

'Yup, I've decided two isn't enough!'

Isabela mock-sighed. 'Who's the pirate here anyway?'

****

Hope you don't mind some Merribela! Thanks for the prompt!

@dadrunkwriting

14 notes - Posted June 10, 2022

#3

Hi Von!

For the DADWC, The prompt '…out of necessity.' Any ship you choose.

Thank you!

Fenris took one look at the red-faced mage standing next to Hawke, who was looking just as apologetic. For some reason their focus was intense and entirely on him and it made him antsy, considering the last time... oh no.

'Oh, no,' he said out loud. Hawke instantly moved to make a placating gesture, Anders covering his face with his hands.

'I swear we covered every base this time,' he said, somewhat muffled. The glow of the pink charm on the palm of his left hand contradicted him, matching the one on Hawke's - and now Fenris' - hands.

'Well, clearly you didn't,' Fenris frowned. He sighed at Hawke, who was still looking sheepish. 'Let me guess,' he said. 'A 'True Love's Kiss''? And if we don't comply with the terms of the charm, there will be severe consequences?'

Hawke nodded. 'But,' he said, holding up a finger for emphasis, 'and this is important, just a kiss. We won't be looking for Anders' smalls in the bushes for three hours this time.'

Fenris looked back at Anders, who was peeking at him through his fingers hopefully and then over at Hawke again, who had reverted back to his cocky, grinning self.

'Fine,' he grumbled, 'But,' he continued over Hawke's whoop of triumph and Anders' relieved sigh, 'this is the last time, understand?'

Hawke grabbed Anders by the shoulders and shuffled him towards the elf. 'We get it, next time I'll make Carver and Merrill go.'

Fenris rolled his eyes, but pecked Anders on the lips obligingly, sighing again as the mage threw his arms around him and almost lifted him off the ground. He didn't believe Hawke for a second, but really, it wasn't as though this was exactly a chore. Besides, last time, he'd definitely appreciated the after effects, underwear search party not withstanding.

------

@dadrunkwriting

hope you like fenhanders!

19 notes - Posted February 25, 2022

#2

For DADWC, if it takes your fancy, the prompt 'where it doesn’t hurt', from your prompt list? Thank you

Carver groaned. He was pretty sure his ears weren't supposed to be ringing like that, even his bruises had bruises and now Bull was suggesting... what, exactly?

'Wait,' he said, holding a hand up as Bull offered him the short staff with which Cassandra had moments before been hitting the Iron Bull himself as hard as she could in the chest. She huffed, amused as Carver took the stick and stared between it and Bull like he'd never seen either before.

'Takes care of the fear and frustration like nothing else, boss,' Bull said encouragingly. Carver squinted at him.

'You're pulling my leg.' Bull grinned and shrugged, not letting up with that smirk, Maker damn him. Carver sighed.

'Fine,' he grumbled and took the staff and got into a ready stance, Bull visibly bracing himself and clenching his muscles, waiting.

The first strike took Bull a little higher than Carver had intended, the end catching his shoulder, but the qunari only grinned wider, the expression taking on a decidedly more leery edge.

'That's more like it, boss,' he said roughly. Carver heard Cassandra scoff and the sound of her boots crunching on the ground as she walked away was covered by the sound of the next strike as Carver looked right into Bull's eyes as he hit him, that insufferable...

'Yeah, that's it, Bull said, in a lower tone, meeting his eyes. Carver felt a shudder run through him, excitement overpowering the bemusement; he bit his lip to stop the low moan that almost escaped him and almost swore instead as the sharp reminder that he'd busted it open on a templar axe earlier.

Bull heard it for what it was anyway and the smirk deepened, his eyes more intent. Carver suppressed the second shiver so as to not give the smug bastard the satisfaction, but it was quickly becoming moot as his breeches were definitely tighter now.

'One more, boss,' he whispered. 'And then we'll be spread out on that nice big bed of yours until someone comes to tell us to keep the noise down.'

Carver set his teeth, because that sounded fucking amazing right now, but also a little bit because the stance was sort of pulling on some new stitches on his right arm. He moved through the pain, swung right back and let Bull have it.

A sound thwack and Bull went back a half-step. He bent over with a wheezing noise, but before Carver could move to him, he'd straightened, laughing.

'Great stuff, boss,' he said, rubbing his chest. Reaching out, he grabbed Carver's arm and pulled him in, discarding the staff. Leaning down, Bull pressed a kiss to his forehead, the only place that wasn't injured on him, and grinned.

'Now, I believe we had a meeting?'

Carver sighed and gave in.

'Fine,' he said, smiling a little. His bedroom was by far the better place to work out all the frustration he was feeling right now anyway.

****

A rare pair! Some Inquisitor!Carver/Bull, bc why tf not.

Thanks for the prompt!

@dadrunkwriting

25 notes - Posted March 11, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Them

37 notes - Posted February 25, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #lol that longest tag though #not heard from them since though