#hazel seems lovely when you first meet her! none of the death power all of the glitter and gold and riches

[thaliagrayce]

y'know what we don't talk about enough? Hazel died. We talk about how she grew up in the 30's and 40's and we talk about how out of place she feels in the modern world, but! She died! She was dead! She has spent more time dead than alive, and not by a close margin!

How does that effect a person??? We got some of it in the flashbacks, but once those caught up with her present timeline and she shared them, they just kind of... disappeared. And she was a regular girl with some weird past experiences. That's one way of doing it, sure!

I think it would have been a lot cooler if she was just a touch creepier. If she felt a little bit Wrong. Yeah, in general she's more approachable than her brother, she's more sociable and less closed off, but. If you actually spend any time with her, it can be difficult to tell which child of the underworld is actually more unsettling.

Hazel is bright of personality and has a dazzling smile, but sometimes she'll just... shut down. She'll go completely blank for like half an hour and nobody knows what to do with it. Sometimes she forgets she's alive. Sometimes she'll spout the grimmest shit you've ever heard like it's nothing, she won't even notice it's weird until the room goes quiet. She spent decades in Asphodel, which is designed to make people forget about themselves and wander around for eternity, only she didn't have the luxury of forgetting! Wild! After she comes back to life, sometimes she forgets that she's allowed to Do Stuff now. She can spend so long sitting and staring at nothing. Sometimes she'll start crying on cloudless days because it hits her again that she can actually feel the warmth of the sun on her skin and she can hear birdsong. Every little mundane experience is a blessing and she will make you remember that in the most foreboding way possible.

#hazel levesque #hoo #mj talks #like. i am fascinated with characters who die and come back different and it JUST hit me that there was so much potential for hazel there #the idea of how death lingers was not explored At All in heroes of olympus #of course there's the obvious part in that there were what. 3 named character deaths total? 4 if you count leo #which i very much don't because it didn't stick! there were no consequences to this gigantic war! #the first series did well with that because we had plenty of named characters who died #even though some of them were introduced only to die like six chapters later. we still knew them on some level #and more importantly percy knew them. he felt their loss in a way that made consequences seem real #heroes of olympus didn't have any of that. hazel could have been a great way to talk about it a little more! #also i just love characters who have obviously gone through death. that has to change a person! tell me how it changed you! #anyway. i think i'll make hazel creepier from now on in my writing #she deserves it <3 #nico is creepy in an obvious way. he's got power over death and that clings to him like a second skin. he can't hide it #and he's learned that he doesn't have to. there is power in being othered #hazel seems lovely when you first meet her! none of the death power all of the glitter and gold and riches #and then she'll look you dead in the eye and say 'you really don't know how lucky you are to be able to breathe until you can't anymore' #and move on like it's nothing! what! #underworld siblings

[suchalonelysunflower]

The Siren’s Song (c.h)

Where The Storm Gathers - Chapter 3

Pairing: Stable Lad! Calum Hood x Princess! Reader

Summary: A glance of hope stands in the distance as Y/N and Calum set sails to see some old friends, but the waters are not as calm as they seem.

Warnings: Mentions of murder; Torture; Violence; Blood; Abuse; Sickness; Manipulation; Language; Some grammatical errors (English is not my first language, I’m sorry)

Word Count: 7.5 K

Author’s Note: Had to divide the chapter into two, you’ll understand why next week ;) This is the last boring chapter, I promise. Remember that Reblogs, Feedback, Comments and Likes help a lot (please help out of this ban!) 💕 Hope you like it and Happy Reading 🦋🌻✨

My Materialist // tag list on bio!

Book 2 Materialist || Prologue || Chapter one || Chapter two

Ashton could hear the distant sound of thunder rumbling all over the kingdom. He thought that if he could hear that, then maybe the storm was closer than anyone could anticipate. He hasn’t seen the rain in months, let alone the sun.

He got himself into this mess, he thought. He should’ve fought harder and stopped being so naive in regards to his father.

Ever since Y/N left, he made sure to let everyone know exactly the type of person the King of RoseWood was. Letters were sent and crows were removed from their positions in different courts. Ashton would look for allies to his cause; allies that could potentially help him to take the power from his father once and for all.

It was not Ashton’s plan to take the crown at such a young age, he never asked for this even though it was bestowed upon him since birth. But he would do whatever it takes to keep his family, loved ones, and people safe; and it was more than clear that his father could not provide that same kind of security and comfort.

After the failed attempt to get his daughter married to the King of the Vail and take control of their army, King Richard went into what villagers called “a madman serenade” If the rumors said that he had lost his mind and his thirst for blood was as strong as ever, he would make sure to comply.

Richard brought the kingdom ruin, taking men out of their homes and putting them into training fields. He recruited the most fearless, sadistic men of the crow’s army and put them in charge of his new order. He lost his mind to the delusion that he will run all the kingdoms and turn them into an empire. And Ashton was almost about to uncover his plan when he was suddenly taken in the middle of the night and thrown in the dungeons like a dog.

Accused of treason and deprived of any contact with the outside and its people, Ashton swore he would not let his father win. He endured the tortures with a straight face, not saying a word to anyone that tried to pull something out of him. He spent countless nights without sleep, weeks without food, and days without water, all so that the cause and his sister could be safe.

He knew they would come for her eventually, he just hoped they had more time. Maybe he could’ve escaped by now and warned her, to make sure she and Calum are safe from the deathly grip of their father...

But instead, he was sitting in his cell once again, eyes fixed on the same spot on the wall as his lips were dry and sealed, even when the pain of the iron chains that rounded his ankles made him want to chop his limbs off. Feeling like a failure as he awaited his death. He has failed as a brother and as future King, and right now there was nothing he could do about it except listening to the thunder and the moaning of the other prisoners.

It was the dangling of the keys that caught his attention as it mixed with the sound of the heavy rain. He wondered if he was dreaming every time someone would come into the cell, hoping to wake up from the nightmare he was in, but they all made sure he lived through it. Never too much to kill him, but cruel enough to make him endure it.

“Diner,” The guard said in a monotonous tone and Ashton thought it was weird.

This guard never talked to him in a tone that held anything but pity and desperation, trying hard to win at least some kind of good reactions out of him even when the young Prince would lash out at him. Did he give up too?

Rian Dawson put the tray of food on the floor in front of the Prince. He was fidgeting with his hands, looking nervously at the door, almost as if he was afraid someone might come in at any minute, and Ashton noticed it but didn’t say a word.

“Eat!” Dawson demanded a bit too loud, but he wasn’t looking at Ashton, instead, his gaze moved nervously through the door and the tray.

Still, firm and stubborn as always, Ashton did not move or say anything, not wanting to give the guards the satisfaction of seeing him weak. But at the same time, he knew that the moment he put that piece of bread in his mouth, he might not be able to hold it after so many days without eating properly.

“Your Grace…” The guard then whispered, looking at Ash with a pleading gaze “Please…”

Ashton furrowed his brows. It was not normal for a guard or a crow to be this nervous around him anymore, and he did not trust it. After all, this was the same guard that would come every now and then to change his chains; heal the wounds just enough so that they don’t get an infection; and take him to his next torture. Why did he seem so desperate now?

“Please, I beg of you, Your Highness. Just-” He continued to whisper, but got cut short when a new set of dangling keys could be heard along the hallway “Shit”

“Dawson! What the hell are you doing?!” The Commander asked, standing right outside the Prince’s cell, and, once again, Ashton did not move a muscle to acknowledge him.

“They ordered me to get the traitor dinner, My Lord!” Rian said loudly, standing tall and ignoring Ashton altogether “But it seems like he would rather starve than be useful for once!”

His tone did not convince Ashton in the slightest since he could see through the lie. But it must’ve not been the same for the Commander who started to laugh.

“Let him starve, then!” He said “Before he dies we would have to feed him forcefully until the King says enough. Then he could rot all he wants. Come, Dawson! You are needed on the training field”

And with that, the Commander walked away, but Rian only allowed himself to breathe once the sound of the keys could not be heard over the thunder.

“Your Highness,” He said calmly as before, still keeping his eyes on the door as he started to walk out “Please, please eat. For RoseWood”

Ashton heard the cell door close again and the heavy footsteps disappear in the hallway. Then, his hazel eyes shifted to the tray that contained a piece of old bread and a cup of water. His narrowing gaze suddenly became wide open as his head snapped towards the direction of the door, waiting for any sounds besides the thunder that could indicate someone’s coming.

His heart was beating loudly inside his chest as he leaned forward, placing one hand on the dusty, musky floor, trying to see if he could support himself with his arms without making too much noise with the shackles that imprisoned him.

Slowly, Ashton started to crawl, biting on his tongue to not let out any noise as the pain of his wounded wrist shook through his whole body with every little step he made with his hands until finally, he reached the tray.

With shaky hands, the Prince of Roses opened the bread in half; eyes immediately watering as he had to prevent himself from letting out a cheerful and hopeful sob when he saw the piece of parchment hidden in the crumbs.

“Help is on the way. Let the true ruler of RoseWood be seen again - The Knights of Roses”

*

*

Y/N fell to her knees, hiding her face on a bucket as Calum held her hair place soothing movements onto her back with the palm of his hand. It was the third time today, the movement of the waves and the worry set on the pit of her stomach made everything fuzzy and revolving, making her throw up on an empty stomach.

“Love?” Calum asked, wincing as she started to cough through the tears “Y/N, it’s okay”

“It’s not okay, it’s disgusting” She cried, wiping her face with a cloth.

They were kneeling on the floor of their cabin on the Kaleidoscope, the same one they got when they were just arriving at the Crimson Islands. But what once was an exciting, frightening, and adventurous trip, has now turned mournful and dreadful as they made their way to The Vail’s coast.

Two days ago King Alex received a letter addressed to the Princess of Roses, sent by none other than King Luke Hemmings from The Vail, claiming that her brother had been captured and imprisoned by their father, who was now starting to prepare for a war to reclaim all Kingdoms to himself.

Y/N and Calum stood there in shock and tears as they read the letter over and over again, desperately wanting to make all of this just another bad dream. But the nightmare was not over, in fact, it seemed like it was just barely getting started.

King Alex gathered a small crew and together with the couple from RoseWood, wasted no time in preparing a trip to meet with the King of the Vail and his advisor, Sir Michael.

“We cannot let that madman win,” The King said “Say the word, Princess Y/N, and we’ll fight by your side. Anything you two may need, I will gladly provide. I am at your service, Your Highness”

And with that, the Princess and the Stable Lad ended up on the Kaleidoscope again with Captain Merrick; his crew; a few other soldiers; and a few volunteers. Ready to sail and get to The Vail where other rulers are gathering to decipher a plan of attack if Richard won’t back down.

But all this stress; worry; fear and sorrow was too much of a shock for Y/N and Calum even though they tried to hide it from each other. This was not a simple game of sneaking around in the woods, this was a life or death situation with Ashton’s life hanging on a thread if they don’t hurry, that is, if he’s still alive.

“Do you want me to get you anything?” Calum asked once her breathing had calmed down, softly rubbing her back.

“A glass of scotch could be nice” She grumbled, getting up with Calum’s help as she sat back on the bed.

“Are you sure you’re allowed to drink?” Her husband asked carefully, sitting beside her as he held her hand.

Y/N furrowed her brows at him, trying to decipher the meaning behind the gleam in his eyes until it finally hit her.

“I’m not with child, Calum”

“How do you know?” He shrugged, placing a hand on Y/N’s stomach “You were not sick on our first trip to the Isles. And the Maester said-”

“The Maester doesn’t have a uterus,” She shook her head with a glimpse of a smile drawing in her lips “And even so, I know my body. It is not time yet, love. And, dare I say, if my father manages to win… it might never be”

Calum pressed his lips in a thin line, nodding at her words as he moved his hand from her stomach to cradle her hand once more.

“The time will come,” He smiled softly at her “Whenever you’re ready, and probably in years to come, it will be perfect. But, as of right now, my rose, I don’t think a glass of scotch is going to do you any favors”

She rolled her eyes lovingly at him, smiling as she said “How do you know? You’re not a healer”

“Nope, but I’m a guy whose friends would drink themselves to death and ended up exactly where you are right now” He chuckled, getting up from the bed and placing a soft kiss on her forehead “And I’m a husband who wants to take care of his wife, not make her sicker”

“Sometimes I hate that you’re a good husband” She pouted

“I can live with that,” He smiled, caressing her face with the back of his hand. “I’ll get you a beverage, though. I know Zach keeps some for the crew that get seasick”

“I love you,” She said through a sigh “Wish I could kiss you”

“Well…”

“Don’t even think about it, Hood. Get me the beverage and some mint leaves with lemon first”

Calum chuckled, “As you wish”

The stable lad exited the room with a faint smile that quickly disappeared when he closed the door. He hated seeing Y/N sick and he knew that the waves were just an added factor to all the turmoil she must be going through. He knows his wife; he knows she’s hiding all the pain she’s not allowing herself to feel. And he also knows that the stubbornness of his princess is strong and she would never admit it.

It’s all his fault, he thought as he walked towards the main cabin. He couldn't help but feel that he took part in sealing Ashton’s fate even though there was nothing they could’ve done at the moment. They needed to keep Y/N safe, no matter the cost. But why should Ashton pay for the crimes Calum committed by loving her? It should’ve been him the one sitting in the cell, not the only family Y/N has left; not the only family that loved her.

She’s already lost so much; her homeland, her mother, and now Ashton… She didn’t deserve any of it and Calum was more than determined to help her bring him back, no matter what it takes. They will not let Richard win.

He walked up to the deck, already making plans inside his head to let the guilt die down for a second as he concentrated on getting Y/N’s health back to normal when his pace was cut short by someone who purposely stood in front of him.

“Good morning, my Lord. Won’t you say we’re having such a splendid morning, today?”

There was something on Jack’s smile that made Calum want to punch it, something mocking yet sinister that hid something that he just couldn’t figure out.

At first, they couldn’t believe he volunteered for the trip, having just got to the Isles and finding a role in the court. He seemed too eager to go back to the Vail and help them defeat the King of RoseWood, saying it would be an honor to serve the Princess on whatever she would need. And even Y/N had to admit that was a bit off, but they needed all the help they could get.

Still, Calum did not trust him. And after he told Y/N about what happened back on the training grounds of the palace, she also started to distrust the man going by Jefferson. So his presence here brought more questions than reassurances.

“How’s the Princess doing?” Jack, also known as Sir Jefferson, asked; leaning over one of the masts with a glint in his eyes as he looked up and down Calum’s body.

Calum didn’t even try to hide his feelings towards him anymore as his hard, brown eyes stared at him with annoyance.

“My wife’s health is none of your business, Sir. Now, if you’ll excuse me”

But at the same time he took a step forward, so did Jack.

“Ouch,” He said ironically, “Thought you would be more thankful, my Lord. After all, isn’t your brother-in-law we are talking about here?”

Calum bluntly ignored him as he walked past the crow, bumping his shoulders as he did. Jack smirk, for his plan of railing up the stable lad, was working and he was also having fun with it, making it a personal challenge so for when the time comes to let all the truth come to shove, at least the fighting will be interesting. So he followed him.

“Who would’ve thought it would come to this?” He said, walking alongside Calum “A mad King, a Prince held hostage… Only, that’s all we know. Maybe things at RoseWood are more interesting”

Calum ignored him, pushing through the crowded deck to get to the Captain’s cabin. Jack’s voice became white noise as he tried to get the medicine he needed and then go back to his wife waiting for him at the other side of the ship. But then…

“Think of how this would’ve never happened if you never left. Or maybe things are finally working out for you”

Jack smirked at the way the stable lad stopped in the middle of his tracks, but quickly hid it the moment he turned around as the crow greeted him with a faux-innocent look of concern.

“Is everything alri-”

“What did you just say?”

Calum was fuming. The hair on the back of his neck rose in anger as a chill ran down his back when he heard those words. His fists were clenched to the sides, knuckles turning white from the grip as he dug his nails into his palms, reminding him to not lose his temper as they stood right at the entrance of the cabin’s hallway.

A shadow hid most of Jack’s face and Calum could swear he saw him smile for even just a second before his voice became soft as he said:

“I’m just saying that if you had stayed in RoseWood then maybe the Prince would not be in the dungeons, am I wrong for assuming that?” He said, furrowing his brows almost as if he didn’t understand why Calum could be mad about it “Royals can be tough, but you knew that before getting involved with the Princess, I assume. And then running away with her… Seemed like a poorly executed plan that started in chaos and, like most things, would probably end in chaos. Unless that’s the plan all along”

“What the fuck do you mean by that?”

Jack gasped, placing a hand over his heart as he blinked at Calum “That language, my Lord, very aggressive”

Calum grabbed the crow by the lapels of his clothing, pushing him against the wall.

“Cmon,” Calum said with his face only inches away from Jack’s “Say what you must, if you dare”

The crow let out a small, sarcastic laugh “Oh, my lord. Was I wrong to assume how this could benefit you? Don’t you think is a little suspicious? Father gets mad, you marry the daughter and then suddenly the prince disappears… Who gets the throne once it’s all said and done? Now that’s a story worth telling, don’t you think?”

Calum’s eyes filled with rage as he banged Jack’s head against the wooden walls, knowing that people might be watching. But he could not let go of that offense as if it was nothing. How could he think that he could do that to Ash? To Y/N?!

“You don’t know shit of what happened,” He said through gritted teeth “You don’t know what we went through, what she went through. You don’t know our story so don’t pretend like you do and start assuming on other people’s lives”

“Calm down, my friend,” Jack said, trying to defuse the tension. “Maybe I’m mistaken but I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking already”

“What?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it, too? What does Y/N say about it?”

“What are you talking about?!” Calum demanded in hushed tones, gripping tightly onto Jack’s lapels and making him hit his head on the wooden wall behind him again, but the crow didn’t even flinch as a glimmer set in his eyes, sending chills down Calum’s spine.

“Oh, may the gods bless your foolish heart, Calum” The crow sympathized. “I knew Y/N would be too kind to let you borrow some of her burdens, but for you to be so clueless… Must be a blessing to walk around like that”

“Like what?” Calum was getting impatient.

“Like you didn’t cause all of this”

“My Lords? Is everything alright?” Captain Merrick’s voice came from the end of the hallway as he walked up to them.

Calum let go of Jack in an instant, too shocked by his words to say anything else as he looked at him with wide eyes and an expression that hid too many fears inside of it.

Jack, on the other hand, just smiled at the Captain “Everything’s fine, Captain. We were just having a friendly conversation, isn’t that right, Cal?” He patted Calum on the shoulder and walked away without saying anything else.

“My Lord?”

“I-I’m fine, Captain,” Calum said, blinking a couple of times to clear his thoughts “My- uh, My wife is feeling a little bit seasick, I was wondering if you could help me get her something to ease her stomach”

Zach smiled “Of course, my Lord! Come, I have exactly what she needs in my cabin”

Calum nodded, “Oh, and Zach?”

“Yes?”

“If you can,” He said, looking toward where the crow just disappeared “Don’t let that man go near our cabin nor near Y/N if I’m not there to stop him”

*

An echo passed through her ears as she stood in the empty hallway. How she got there, she didn’t know; but it all seemed so familiar, almost like a dream. Only she didn’t know if it was a nightmare.

The clanking of the chains could be faintly heard from miles away as the hallway seemed to have no end, blending into the darkness.

Y/N took in her surroundings, looking from left to right and finding not a soul that could tell her what was going on. The humidity of the walls started to cling to her skin, making it seem like her gown was becoming heavier and heavier the more time she spent standing on the cobblestoned floor.

Then, a small, faint light came from one of the rooms hidden in the hallway. A candlelight gleam illuminated her path of darkness as she felt compelled to it, feeling the need to follow it. So she did.

The closer she got to the light the more real things started to become. Y/N was starting to feel as if this was not a dream anymore, a memory perhaps? She could feel the warmth of the light gracing her cheeks with every step she could, and, if she paid enough attention, even the sound of laughter would brush her ears.

The laughs were heavy, grave and she guessed it must come from a group of men. They were laughing at something, yet she couldn’t see what just yet nor she could hear anything besides the laugh and a faint sound of a whip, thinking that maybe they were just messing with the horse’s equipment as the drunk guards used to do back at RoseWood; Calum always hated that but they were always nice enough to pay back whatever they might’ve broken.

Could she be back at the stables? Was her mind playing with a forgotten memory?

Still, the crackling of the whip grew louder and louder as well as the laughs that couldn’t hide it anymore. But that's all it was. A whip and laughter, nothing else. So why did her heart beat faster as she approached the slightly ajar door?

From the small crack, she witnessed a group of men dressed in black, a red rose embroidered in their chests as they carried the RoseWood symbol with pride. They were drunkenly laughing at something -or rather someone - that Y/N couldn’t see just yet. She examined the men’s faces and couldn’t recognize them as his father’s guards, they weren’t the guards from the woods nor any that you’ve met before.

Yet, they seemed to be having the time of their lives as one of them grabbed the leathered whip from the other’s hand, laughing as he swung it over his head until it crashed with a surface while the others started to count.

Trying to get a better view - or at least an idea of what was happening - Y/N pushed the door open just a crack, hoping none of the men realized as the wooden door squeaked against the cobblestone, luckily they were still entertained with what was happening at the other corner.

The first thing the Princess noticed once she got a clearer view was the blood. So much blood scattered around the room in little splashes, pooling down in the middle. She felt her whole body tremble, feeling sick just looking at it, remembering the last time she saw so much red when Calum was captured.

Still, she couldn’t look away. It was almost as if her eyes were glued to the gruesome scene, following a trail until it landed on a target.

Her eyes widened and filled with tears; a scream threatened to escape her throat as she covered her mouth with both her hands to silence it. Her knees started to buckle and she felt as if she could throw up all over again, completely horrified at what was in front of her.

With a manacle on each wrist, each hanging from opposite wooden pillars and keeping his arms open wide, unable to sit or to let his body fall from the physical trauma, stood Ashton with his back completely open and bloody.

In front of him stood a small, dirty mirror where Y/N could see how he could barely keep his eyes open anymore; biting on his lip with each crack of the whip, making him lean forward and letting the manacles cut his wrist when he did so. Still, he didn’t say a word as the guards kept counting and Y/N didn’t want to know how many rounds they got before she got there.

Ashton’s hair fell in front of his face, stuck in sweat and blood to his forehead as his face changed with every hit of pain, only adding to his anger.

“C’mon, lads!” One of the guards laughed “Gotta be a lot proper with the royals now, don’t we? Start the count again, and this time do it more… gently”

The guard stood up and handed his friend another leathered whip, the only difference was that this one held spikes at the end, making sure to cut through the skin at just a simple touch.

Y/N watched in horror at how her brother’s back arched as he bit down his tongue, barely even opening his eyes to glance at the small mirror hanging in front of him, and she could swear that just for a moment, his eyes met hers before receiving another blow.

Unable to stand it any longer, Y/N barged into the room, making all of the men stop what they were doing as they stared down at her with eyes filled with fear as the man threw the whip on the floor.

Without wasting a breath, she ran to Ashton’s side and stood in front of him, trying to wipe some of the blood out of his face. But before she could say anything, she noticed how her brother’s eyes changed and were now filled with rage directed at her.

“You did this,” He said through gritted teeth, spitting blood at Y/N’s cheek.

Shocked and scared, Y/N looked around the room and found it empty.

“What?” She asked out loud, looking over at Ashton who also disappeared in thin air.

Her breathing became elaborated as she searched the room, trying to find any evidence that someone was there. Yet, when she turned around all she could find was the mirror and a different set of eyes looking straight at her.

For in that moment, her reflection wasn’t hers; it was her father, looking back with a proud smirk at the monster she thought she was.

*

The sudden shake of the ship made her jolt awake, taking in her surroundings with wide-open eyes as she tried to remember the dream she just had.

Her mother used to say that dreams are made of people’s greatest desires and fears; they could come from a memory or a premonition of the future and should never be taken lightly, for a dream was just as important as a thought. Dreams are the thoughts we don’t dare to say out loud.

A chill ran down her spine as her father‘s eyes were engraved in her memory; so cruel, so proud… Was she like him in a way when she ran away, leaving the ones she loved behind? Taking the easy way out, would he have done the same?

The simple thought of that made her blood run cold. She was not cruel; she was not a monster. She did what she needed to do to survive and make sure that Calum was safe. She made the only choice she could make but, would everyone understand that? Or would they just see her as her father’s daughter?

The sheets shifted slightly as Y/N’s eyes finally landed on Calum, the only comfort she had. She ran a hand delicately through his shaved curls, thanking the gods that they allowed him to sleep peacefully at least for one night and that she didn’t wake him up with her nightmare. He’s been so restless lately, she just wished to share some of his grief with him. She already put him through a lot, he deserved some peace of mind and she wants nothing more than to be able to provide that for him; let them be just themselves like they were in the woods, away from all fears and terrors and villains… just two kids playing around with fairytales and horse rides, so in love and with nothing to fear.

After a while, it became obvious that Y/N couldn’t go back to sleep so easily. With a sigh, she got off the bed, kissed Calum’s temple as he started to lightly snore, and wrapped herself with her robe as she exited the cabin; looking for a distraction in the middle of the star-filled sea.

Y/N closed her eyes when the cold night breeze graced her face, making her hair fly as she walked barefoot through the deck. All members of the crew and the volunteers were sound asleep.

She got closer to the board, looking straight ahead at the vast sea as her fingers grip the wood of the rails. They were still a few days away from getting to The Vail and once they get there, they have to start their strategies, plan the trips, know how many people to take, embark on the journey… who know how long it’ll be till they reach RoseWood again, but they were determined to do so. She knows Luke and Michael won’t let her down and they’ll do everything they can to get Ashton back and her father out of the throne; she knows she could trust them.

“Can’t sleep, Your Highness?”

Y/N jumped at the sound of a voice coming from the shadows of the quarterdeck, placing a hand over her heart as she watched Sir Jefferson emerge from the dark corner, smiling kindly at her.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, Princess” He apologized, raising his hands in defense.

“Maybe you should’ve thought about it before talking from the shadows” Y/N sighed, looking back at the sea “We never know if the person hiding there is a friend or a foe, Sir Jefferson”

“And where would you place me, Your Highness?” He asked, taking a step closer to her “Friend or foe?”

“Am I talking to the same man that hurt my husband in training? Then, I’m not sure”

“It was a friendly match,” Jack said, leaning over the board and placing his elbows on the wooden planks as he looked at the sea as well.

“A match is still a match. You were lucky it wasn’t a duel” Y/N rolled her eyes “Either way, I don’t particularly understand the need men have for violence. For practice and self-defense, I get it. But to draw blood from innocent people… Seems barbaric”

“It’s in our system,” He shrugged. “Men search for violence even when they claim peace. We all know our nature and how far we can go, trying to push it beyond those limits until we reach the glory at the end. Even the most compassionate of men could tell you about the temptations of power and blood, maybe by doing things they know it’s wrong just to have a little taste of what it feels like”

Y/N’s mind couldn’t help to wander over to Ashton again, on how he played a part in scattering crows around the kingdoms in order to favor their father. He said he didn’t know why, but he still went ahead and did it; and even though she believed him, she also wonders if he ever at least had a slight idea of what he was doing.

“And once a man gets a taste….” Jack continued, biting the inside of his cheek as he watched Y/N’s clouded eyes “It becomes part of him”

“That’s awful”

“But it’s true. We cannot escape who we are, no matter how much we try to run away from it. If it’s in our blood, then it’s fate’s design to follow it”

The crow noticed how, suddenly, Y/N’s eyes started to water as she hugged herself even tighter. And for a moment, just a slight moment as the moonlight graced her face, he felt pity for her.

“The sea is quiet tonight,” He said, changing the topic to spare the little Princess, at least for tonight.

“I don’t suppose it makes much noise anyway” She answered, quickly brushing away a stray tear that escaped her eye “It’s just water”

“Careful with your words, Princess” Jack smirked “Or they might hear”

“Who?”

“The mermaids”

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows “That’s a fairytale, Sir Jefferson”

“Only to those who refused to believe in them,” He said “My mother used to tell me these stories, about pirates and adventures, but her favorites were always about the women who hide in the deep ends of the ocean. The mermaids are the protectors of the seas. Some legends say that mermaids are women who’ve been thrown out of their ships as a sacrifice to the gods; others, that the creatures were created by the gods themselves as a punishment for those who wander without the purest of hearts. They seek vengeance and justice, luring people of all around the world with their voices and deceiving them as they make them fall in love with fake promises and lust, sinking them into the sea with them. And, once they’ve realized they can’t breathe anymore, that’s when they show their true form. It’s a lesson, I suppose”

“Of what?”

“Never trust the beauty unless you can see the soul behind the eyes,” Jack said seriously, looking at Y/N “There are horrible people out there, Princess, hiding in their pretty clothes and all their riches, thinking they know it all just because they have it all. But no one is sinless, they know what they did”

The wind blew strangely, whistling through the sails as Y/N took in his words. No one is pure of sins, but could they ever repent them? She wrapped herself tighter in her robe, watching the crow’s back attentively as his eyes wandered over to the water, humming to himself an old siren’s song.

“My heart is pierced by Cupid

I disdain all glittering gold

There is nothing can console me

But my jolly sailor bold”

His voice was deep and rough as he sunk into a memory, thinking about his mother and all that was taken from him for people like the King; they always have it all yet they don’t care about their people, going on about their lives celebrating meaningless accomplishments as their people die on the streets. If he could get some of that power; if he could make them pay… And he will, by the gods he will.

Jack became no one of many names throughout his life, fighting to be the best in everything he does so when the moment comes, everyone will scream out his name in glory and gore.

“It’s getting late, Princess,” He said after a while, turning his head toward her “You should go back to bed”

Y/N’s lips parted as she stared at him; his eyes held something deeper than just a memory, they were cold and somewhat cruel as he looked at her, but only for a second as his signature smile was back on his face in the blink of an eye, making her wonder if she’d just imagined the familiarity of that glare.

“We still have a long way to The Vail, and around this time of year their days tend to be longer, so there won’t be much resting once we get there” He smiled.

Y/N nodded “You seem to know a lot about The Vail, Sir Jefferson. Have you ever been there before?”

Jack nodded with a sigh as he pointed to the scar on his left eye “Fearless warriors, they say. I have to admit they were right”

“They are a peaceful Kingdom and have been for decades” The Princess questioned him “Their King is one of the kindest souls I know, and to my knowledge, they only use violence for training and nothing more since the wars are over. I still don’t understand how you managed to get that scar on a Kingdom with people like that”

“Well, appearances can be deceiving, Your Highness. You just never know who to trust” Jack said gravely, gracing his eyes to the floor before looking up at her again “But that might be a story for another day, you should get some sleep”

“I don’t think I can, really,” Said the Princess “But that shouldn’t keep you up, my Lord. I’ll be fine”

Truth was, Y/N was still pretty shaken from her nightmare and the words from Sir Jefferson, feeling a sense of warning running through her mind. For some reason, she didn’t feel safe and was relieved when Jack seemed to understand and nod.

“Perhaps I have something that could help you, Princess,” He said, reaching into one of the pockets of his jacket and pulling out a folded handkerchief “I always carry some with me, just in case”

Jack opened the small piece of fabric revealing a couple of dry leaves on it.

“It helps you sleep,” He said with a smile “You just have to put them in water, cold or hot, and drink it after ten minutes. Works like a charm, or at least that’s what my mother used to say and I never found any fails to that logic”

Y/N smiled kindly, taking a couple of leaves in her hands as she looked at them, furrowing her brows just slightly.

“Are you certain this would help?”

“Extremely”

She nodded, “Thank you, Bernard”

He smiled at her one last time before she turned around and hurried to her cabin once again, speeding up the pace once she was out of sight from the decks, opening up the heavy wooden door and locking it instantly as her breathing became heavy and beams of sweat started to cover her face.

With heavy hands, she went to the small desk in the room, sitting in the chair and lighting up the candle; wasting no time in grabbing a leaf and burning it.

From the moment she saw them she knew what they were, she remembers seeing them in one of the Maester’s lessons.

“This is called La Torture De Méduse, an ancient poisonous leaf that causes a complete body paralysis, starting from the legs, then the torso and the arms, and lastly, the brain and the rest of the organs. All without the victim knowing since it makes the poor soul who ingested it fall into a deep slumber as their bodies die slowly. One can literally become stone, hence the name of this vile creation of the gods. Luckily, it is easy to identify if you notice the little green dots on the petiole and midrib. Do not ever go near them and if you do…”

Destroy them.

And that’s exactly what Y/N was doing as she watched the second leaf burn into ashes. Her mind was running a thousand kilometers per hour, trying to find an excuse for Sir Jefferson who so kindly and so naively, gave the leaves to her. He said that it helped him sleep, but these could not be the same leaves he talked about. If he ever drank the beverage created with them, then he should be dead already.

Unless he knew exactly what he did by giving her the leaves, expecting to receive the news of her untimely death the next morning when Calum finds her cold next to him. But why would he do that to her? They barely know one another and she has done nothing to wrong him. Nothing made any sense...

“Rose?” Calum’s voice alerted Y/N as she pulled the leaf away from the fire, letting it fall with the remaining others onto the desk “What are you doing, my love?”

She hesitated to answer. She couldn’t lie to him, but at the same time, she didn’t want to accuse an innocent until she got further proof of his wrongdoings, afraid she’ll become like her father.

If she tells Calum about the leaves and what they do, he will kill Jack with no hesitation and he’ll be sent to trial again, only this time he might serve time for real or worse: he’d be sentenced for murder. The law does not care if it was in self-defense, as far as the court will know, Jack never intended to hurt the Princess and it might’ve been just an honest mistake. And Y/N was not ready to lose Calum again.

“I couldn’t sleep,” She tells him a half-truth, leaving what happened with Jack aside “Thought I could use some air and then I came back here”

Calum rolled to his side, watching her with sad, understanding eyes “I know how difficult this must be for you, my rose. And I wish I could take some of that pain away from your eyes and hide it somewhere where you’ll never see or feel it again in your life. But all I can offer you is the promise that I’ll be here through it all with you, my love, we’ll be home soon”

“You’re my home, Cal,” She said “You’ve always been my home”

“Then come back to bed and let me hold you,” He said softly “Let us fight these nights together and share our mornings hand in hand. You’re not alone in this, my rose”

“And neither are you”

He beckoned her with his head and she smiled softly at him, turning around to blow out the candle and hide the remaining leaves on the pocket of her stash without him noticing it, promising herself to get to the bottom of it soon.

Calum wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her close, kissing her forehead as she laid on his chest with her head tucked under his chin.

“You’re the strongest person I know, Y/N” He whispered against her hair as his fingers drew figures on her back.

“Only because I have you with me,” She answered, kissing the side of his neck “I love you, Cal. Please, never leave me”

“Not in this life or the next, my love” He replied, drifting to sleep again with her chest pressed against his “Not in this life or the next”

Still, with Calum fast asleep next to her, Y/N could not phantom getting back to her dreams as she watched the moon disappear into the sea through their small porthole, hoping that the sirens would hear her pray and lure her to sleep in the midst of a dreamless sea.

*

*

tags: @iknowyouthinkimbulletproof @mystic-232 @talksoprettyjjx @theshyspy @hoodhoran @flaneurcth @conversecake @bubblegum18 @irwin-fletcher-ash @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @1980holland @wiiildflowerrr @hoplessromantic727 @fivesecondsofonedirection @another-lonely-heart @aabc5sauce @dudethisiswhyyoudonthavefriends @fakebetch9694 @5sos-imagine @SunflowerAngel2123 @perfectnouis @in-superbloom @lukeisstillapenguin @sadcupofcoffee @superstarmarvel @personalmuyverypersonal @cnco.angels @vtte @as-hs-blog @himbohood @sofiaaraee @irwindoll @lolzkye @weasleytwinscumslut @ashtonsunflower @nicebasscalum @calumspupils @secretsicanthideanymore @the-ghost-of-ash @alltimepogue @wontlastimokwiththat t @ttinahood @lukespitinmymouth @perfectnouis @cncoangelss @darrensos @whywontyoulovemecami @itwouldburnupintheatmosphere @yeah-and69 @fckingpernico @multistann @averageantichrist @a-darneddarling @tpwkcth @f-mu @kindahumanbutalsoinsane @floweronyourskin @ihavenoideawhattodowithyou @bittersweetb4by @aria-grace-scott @thestarsandtheircoffee @bvbygxrl @luisa180206 @xxxlaura @iamdayanaz

#calum hood #5 seconds of summer #5sos #suchalonelysunflower #where the storm gathers #calum hood imagine #calum fic #calum hood fanfiction #calum hood au #the sirens song #5sos calum #calum 5 seconds of summer #calum 5sos #ashton irwin #luke hemmings #michael clifford #5sos writing #5sos imagine #5sos fic #5sos au #calum x you #princess!reader #stable boy!calum #Royal au #pirates au

[ravenforce]

Cheating Death VIII

Warning/s: None

Summary: End of the line for this crazy ride. 

A/N: Thank you so much for sticking with me for this story. I hope you like how this ending. 

Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Carol didn’t come home until the sun’s already high in the sky. She can hear the telltale commotion in the living room even before she rounded the corner. When she stood at the doorway, everyone was suited up which makes her wonder why she never received a directive.

“Where are you guys going?” She asked, startling the whole team. When Nat heard her voice, she almost tackled her in the ground.

“Where have you been?” Nat murmured in her hair while she wrapped her arms around the redhead tighter, committing every last detail of Nat and Nat’s hug in her memory.

“I’m sorry I went for a run.”

Everyone knows that it was Carol’s code for when she goes on a quick fly off-world. Sam chuckled, breaking everyone out of their reverie.

“Alright, Cap’s back. Let’s change and head for breakfast, yeah?” He said while walking towards the door. “Meet me at the garage after 15 minutes.”

Everyone nodded their agreement except Carol. “You guys go ahead, I’m gonna catch some sleep,” she said with too much enthusiasm that alerted her girlfriend that something was amiss. Carol knew she didn’t sell it when Nat foregoes breakfast to stay with her. When everyone’s out of the room, Nat watched her like a hawk.

“What’s wrong, Car?”

There’s a worry in her voice that makes Carol’s stomach twist and turn. She walked towards the fridge and popped open one of Bucky’s can of beer. Another sign for Nat to believe something’s about to go down. Carol took a long swig of the beer before delicately putting it down at the marble counter.

“Carol?”

Carol sighed heavily. She went to space to clear her head, to figure out what to do and she did. She swears she has decided but knowing what to do doesn’t always mean it’ll be easier.

“Do you love me, Nat?”

Nat's face fell, her eyebrows knitted together. “What kind of question is that? Of course, I do. I wouldn’t be with you if I don’t.”

“But you weren’t really with me,” Carol whispered, still not looking at the redhead directly. “Not since you found out Y/N’s alive.”

Nat felt a wave of guilt wash over her. “I’m -”

She wanted to apologize. She wanted to tell Carol she’ll make it right, that she’ll do better but Carol cut her off.

“Do you want to be with Y/N?” This time Carol lifted her head to look at Natasha’s green eyes.

There’s a hint of resignation in her voice, Nat noted and it’s making her frantic inside. “I don’t know,” she replied. Carol sensed that Nat has more to say. So, she stayed quiet and waited for Nat to continue. Nat started pacing on the other side of the counter. Nat knows that there’s no use lying to Carol, she also doesn’t want to anymore. “I do, Carol. I want to be with her but I also don’t want to hurt you.”

Carol smiled and gave her a small nod before downing the rest of her beer. She rounded the kitchen counter and stood in front of the redhead. She cupped Nat’s face. “But you already are, and you’re not just hurting me. You’re hurting both of us and yourself.”

“I’m so sorry, Carol.”

“I know,” she said before pulling Nat in another hug. “Me too but you deserve to be with who you want and who makes you truly happy.”

“You made me happy.”

Carol smiled and pulled away. “I know, you made me happy too but you should hurry. You’re running out of time.”

Nat’s confusion is written all over her face. “What do you mean?”

“Y/N’s leaving for good,” Carol clarified watching Nat’s expression turn from confusion to that of panic. Nat would have questioned how she knew this but Carol’s already turning her and pushing her towards the door.

Nat put her foot down even before she could cross the threshold and turned towards Carol and kissed her, one last time. “I need you to know that what we had is real,” Nat almost pleaded. Carol smiled because under the Black Widow’s intimidating demeanour is a soft, kind, and loving Natasha Romanoff.

“I know it’s real, Nat. I don’t doubt it.” Carol turned her on her heel again. “Now, go before you miss her.”

***

After Nat left, Carol stood at the doorway, watching the empty hallway.

“Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?”

Carol startled. She poked her head out to see Agent Hill leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. “Jeez, is it really necessary for you to be as stealthy as Nick?”

Maria chuckled before walking past her to go to the kitchen, completely ignoring the question. Carol followed closely behind.

“So?”

“Yes, and I meant what I said, which you probably heard, since you were clearly eavesdropping,” Carol teased. In the course of her staying on earth, she’s grown really close with the team as well as Agent Hill.

“I was not.” Maria continued to rummage through the fridge.

Carol can hear the smile in her voice. “Anyway, I meant what I said, she deserves to be happy.”

Maria emerged from the fridge empty-handed. “Well, you too. So-” Maria looked uncharacteristically nervous. “Let me take you to breakfast.”

Carol squinted at her brunette friend. “Are you? Are you asking me out on a date?”

Maria laughed, making her started giggling as well. When Maria recovered, she looked at Carol’s beautiful hazel eyes. “Not today, Captain. Today breakfast’s platonic,” Maria teased. “For now.”

Carol almost choked at her own spit before she promptly turned a shade of a tomato. It’s not like she never thought Maria was gorgeous. She just didn’t think she’d ever stand a chance, then again, she dated THE Natasha Romanoff.

“For now,” Carol agreed with a soft smile. Maybe things really do happen for a reason.

***

Your sisters are having breakfast with Meg and Cass who just got back from flying you to Egypt when one of their stationed guards knocked on the dining hall before poking his head in.

“What is it, Max?” Talia asked softly after wiping her mouth with the cloth napkin on her lap.

“Ma’am, Natasha Romanoff is here to see you,” he answered respectfully.

“Send her in.”

Meg and Cass eyed your sisters as they resumed eating their breakfast in silence and with their completely impassive faces intact. For outsiders, your sisters can be downright intimidating without doing anything at all.

“It’s rude to stare, Megan,” Talia admonished lightly.

“I’m -” Megan opted not to finish her sentence but instead avert her eyes and continue stabbing her food. Talia smirked, making Nyssa roll her eyes. Nyssa’s absolutely sure that Talia likes having people on their toes that’s why she keeps the faux stern attitude. Before she can call her sister on it, there’s a faint knock on the door and then Natasha walked into the room.

“Hello,” she greeted almost shyly. “I’m sorry to interrupt your breakfast, again.”

Talia put her utensils down before leaning back on her chair. She’s sitting on the head of the family, making her even look more badass than she already does. “She’s not here, Natasha.”

Nat thank whatever higher power there is in the universe for her training that she’s able to resist the urge to shuffle in front of your sisters. “I know,” she said softly. “I didn’t come here for Y/N. I came here for both of you.”

When no question was forthcoming, Natasha took it as a sign to continue. “Y/N came to space to die to bring me back, I will turn this world upside down to find her but before that, I need your blessing.”

Nyssa’s eyebrow shot to her hairline. “Whatever do you need our blessings for?” She asked confidently.

“When I find her, I intend to ask her to marry me.”

Megan and Cassandra choked on their food and drinks simultaneously. Natasha eyed them for a few seconds to check if they’re alright before turning back her gaze to your sisters. “I lost her a decade ago, I’m not losing her again.”

The silence was deafening. Talia and Nyssa just stared at Natasha for what seems like a lifetime, seemingly trying to look for something before they decide. They both seem to have come to a decision at the same time but Talia spoke first.

“I’m sorry Natasha but we can’t help you. We don’t know where she is,” Talia lied smoothly.

Nat sighed. It’s not like she expected your sisters to cooperate and make things easy for her. At least, they already know the plan; that’s a consolation. “Alright. I should go then, thank you for your time,” Nat said with a polite smile. She turned to leave.

“Wait -”

“What are you doing, Nyssa?” Talia whispered through gritted teeth. Nyssa ignored her in favour of speaking to Natasha.

“She already died for you twice. I’m tired of losing her every time too.” Nyssa smiled sadly. “We love having her here. So please bring her home.”

“I will,” Nat said with a smile. She turned to leave again but this time it was Cass who called for her. When she looked at the raven-haired girl, she yelled, “catch!”

Nat scrambled to catch the item and was surprised to see a key. She looked at Cass in silent question. “Y/N said you know how to fly. I’m sure my father won’t mind if you borrow one of his jets,” Cass beamed.

Nat turned the key over in her hand. Lo and behold, the key is indeed one of Batman’s jet. She looked back at Cass. “Thank you.”

***

You rolled on your back with a groan. When you opened your eyes, a beautiful shade of tangerine bathes your room. Great, you slept the day away, you thought to yourself. You sighed while staring at the flickering shadows on your ceiling. You didn’t come to Egypt to mope. You came to Egypt to move forward, no matter how hard and painful that is. You count up to a hundred before rolling out of bed, you decided you’ll not spend your first night back staring at the ceiling and thinking what could have been if you just stayed. 

You took a cold shower and dressed in a soft shirt, light trousers and a light jacket since it can be chilly at night even in the desert. Your new landlord waved you over when she saw you come out of your rented room.

“Hello,” Rashida - you barely remembered her name since you arrived so early - said with a smile. “Is everything in order in your room?”

You smiled genuinely thinking she can’t be more than a year older than you. “Yes, thank you so much. The welcome basket - with all the fresh pastries - was a saviour.” 

Rashida can tell that you weren’t lying about enjoying the food. “If you like it so much, make sure to wake up on time tomorrow for a complimentary breakfast. I bake all the pastries,” she said with obvious pride. 

“I’m already setting an alarm,” you said while fishing for your phone at your back pocket. Rashida laughed, and you decided you wanted the woman to be your friend. “I’m serious. I am, when was it again?”

“You’re ridiculous. It starts at 7AM. See you?”

“I’ll be the first in the dining hall,” you said smiling while walking to your black 2017 Ford Raptor. You feel a little lighter after making friends with Rashida. You pulled out of the parking lot with no real destination in mind. So you when you stopped the car, you surprised yourself by driving all the way to the pyramids subconsciously. 

The sun was almost kissing the horizon, bathing the sky and everything around you in seemingly varying colours of red, yellow and orange. You looked at the last vestige of tourists leaving the area as it’s soon to close, and then you turned your gaze at the towering structure in front of you. You cast a glamour to shroud you from the naked human eye until you were absolutely sure there’s no living soul left around the area. After all, what you planned to do is highly illegal. 

It took only about a fraction of your semi-immortal life until you’re utterly alone in the desert. You thank whatever power there is in the universe for all the gifts that come with being the heir to the demon, you were able to scale the pyramid without breaking a sweat. The sky has turned from orange to grey, and you can already see the telltale signs of the thousand little stars in the sky.

You took a deep breath before sitting down at the only flat surface in the pyramid that you could find. You opened your backpack and procured an expensive bottle of wine, care of your sisters fully stocked bar. You smiled thinking about how they would react if they find out you helped yourself on their precious stash. You drank a glass for them and Cass and Megan for putting up with your bullshit for the longest time. 

***

You sat there for heaven knows how long, drinking and texting your sisters and your friends. You were relaxed and relatively having a good time, all things considered, that you didn’t hear anyone coming. 

“You know it’s illegal to be up here right?” 

You startled so bad, you knocked the bottle of wine over and spilt the blood-red liquid on the pyramid. For a split second, you made a face at the mess you made before turning to the person who caused you to make the mess in the first place. 

“What are you doing here, Tasha?” Your heart is hammering in your chest, yet your voice is laced with surprise and confusion. “How did you find me?” 

Nat smirked before tossing you a key, which you scrambled to catch without falling to yet another one of your deaths. She chuckled at your unusual display of franticness. You glared at her before turning the key over in your hand. 

Ah, Cassandra Cain, you thought to yourself while she sat down and watched the stars littering the dark Egyptian sky.

“Why are you ticking off items in our bucket list without me?” She asked with a deep frown and a sadness in her voice that’s as clear as the water flowing down the Swiss alps. When you didn’t speak, she glanced at you with unshed tears in her eyes and the sight pulled you down on your knees beside her. 

“I didn’t think I’d still be able to do them with you,” you whispered. “I didn’t think you still want to do them with me, either.” You bit your lips to prevent yourself from sobbing uncontrollably but Nat’s heart broke, all the same, to see you so defeated. The mighty, semi-immortal, heir to the demon, Osiris, down on her knees just because you think she didn’t want you. 

Nat turned her body towards you and reached over to touch your face and make you look at her eyes. “There’s really no one else I want to do them with but you,” she confessed wholeheartedly, making more annoying tears roll down your cheeks. 

“Carol?” You asked between wet hiccups. 

“I love Carol, I do but after all this time - ” Nat paused to scoot closer to you. “-I’m still in love with only you. I thought I lost you forever a decade ago. I don’t want to lose you ever again, Y/N.”

You almost fell off the side of the pyramids when you couldn’t contain any longer and you tackled Natasha in a long, tight hug. Thankfully, Nat’s time in the red room gave her so much control of her extremities. For a moment, you just kept holding each other, making up for the decade you lost. 

“Marry me, Y/N Al Ghul.” 

The declaration made you pull away surprised. You searched her face for any sign of insincerity. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please, say yes,” Nat continued when you just stared at her. 

“Oh! That was a question?” You started grinning at her. “It didn’t sound like a question. I didn’t think I had a choice in the matter.”

Nat rolled her eyes playfully at you. “I take it -”

She wasn’t able to finish her sentence before you crashed your lips together in a passionate kiss that lasted for what seems like an eternity. You were grinning again when you both pulled away for air. “No take backs, never ever,” you said while shaking your head. 

“So, what’s it gonna be, dorkus?” 

It’s your turn to roll your eyes at her. “Yes!”

“Who’s there?” Someone at the foot of the pyramid yelled.

You and Nat scrambled to get away from the edge. You can see a lone flashlight trying to search the edges to see if someone is actually brave enough to scale the pyramid and face the harsh Egyptian punishment for caught offenders. After a minute or two of huddling away from the light, the guard was convinced no one was there and left eventually. Leaving you and Nat giggling like two stupid teenagers. 

“Let’s get out of here before someone comes along and catch us for real,” Nat says offering you a hand. You held her hand for a minute.

“Psh. Catch Osiris and the Black Widow? I’d like to see them try,” you said before teleporting both of you to your car.

#drabble #mini series #avengers imagine #natasha romanoff x reader #black widow x reader #scarlett johansson x reader #natasha romanoff imagine #black widow imagine #scarlett johansson imagine #minor: carolnat #past: carolnat #longest drabble ever #cheating death #cheating death series

[in-tua-deep]

tua rewatch with the roommate

Episode five

Oh fuck the “I found you. all your bodies.” scene

“We died?” “Horribly.” throwback to the ben convo o o f

“If perfectly arranged under rubble and otherwise unharmed counts as ‘horribly”’  - roommate

I like that Diego says he’s going to kill Hazel and Cha-Cha like it’s a challenge?? lol five doesn’t care if they live or die he only cares if u do you big dumbass

“Well I know none of the main characters die bc there’s a season 2... and i’m pretty sure they’re all in s2... like all of the family?”

I mean luther is kind of valid for being frustrated that five didn’t share about the apocalypse but also like,,, the first person five told about it (Vanya) suggested he might be insane. so. i can understand some reluctance on his part on top of the whole “the last time my siblings fought this the Whole World Died Including Them i would like them as far away from apocalypse stuff as possible”

okay okay so five says “they turned me into the perfect instrument” so do y’all think that implies experimentation like in the comics or ????

all i can think about during the kennedy scene though is my high school history teacher. he went over the assassination in intimate detail and i’m pretty sure he was writing a book about it and everything. mr. hansen if you’re out there - 

i like feral beard five more than mustache five tbh if i’m picking 

“Someone ELSE shot the president? Was he supposed to shoot kennedy or was he supposed to kill the person who shot kennedy?” - Roommate

love that five tells luther to grow up over murder,,, though to be valid pretty sure they did actually murder people as kids SO. grow down?

fuck i love mary,, will you love me like you loved me in the january rain??? just shoot me in the heart

GOD rob is such a good actor

“wait a second... how is he wearing pants?” oh roommate you have a big storm coming

i have some serious questions about the commission and their methods of communication. where do?? the tubes come from? where do they go after?

Allison: i have a bad feeling [about leonard]

where are these instincts for everything else tho??? her marriage?

“Vanya. she really is trying to look out for you. i really would trust her. you could invite her to come along so she can see he’s perfectly fine??” - Roommate, whose instincts regarding not trusting leonard-harold are spot on

apparently my roommate knows people who put salt in their coffee. i have. so many questions.

“That’s suspicious?? that’s suspicious right?? did he do that? is he a secret serial killer? is he a FUCKING secret serial killer?” roommate when they talk about helen cho going missing

“What do you mean stop showing up it’s been like. a day” - I mean. the roommate has a point. 

Klaus’s depression bath is a mood :(

did klaus put eye shadow on before his bath or did he get his hands on eye shadow in vietnam?? the questions that will never be answered

Five is so enthusiastic about having someone who understands... he doesn’t even notice absolutely Not Being In The Mood,, klaus is grieving and five is just like !!! where did you go!!!! like it was a vacation

klaus: yeah i’m ten months older now. when i’m done being depressed i will lord that over diego for the rest of our natural lives.

does five write in all caps all the time?? why? 

roommate: I wonder what the upper size limit on the knives her can use. like is it machete length? forearm length? what are the limits on his powers. if he sharpened a very sharp mechanical pencil could he use it? if he sharpened a piece of the chandelier? at what point does something become a knife?

me: could he hurl mia (my cat)? mia and her knife feet?

allison also writes in all caps to write leonard’s address

we stan agnes and hazel in this household

“I never said we didn’t !! i just thought she was just a random extra in the first episode and every time we cut away i think that’s the last we’ve seen of her” - roommate because i keep saying that this is an agnes stan household

“OH THERE’S THE PATCHWORK COAT i was afraid it didn’t come back” - okay though good question he definitely didn’t have the coat on the bus. what is it with klaus and his magically appearing coat????

oh :(  oh klaus :(  every time klaus is sad i am also sad :(

honestly a family conversation IS the threat in this family

god though this random vet in this bar is actually an asshole though like. klaus doesn’t owe him shit. klaus served. he’s clearly having a moment with the photo. that could have been a family member or something who died i don’t even know

agnes: i’m a twitcher :)

“like a twitch streamer?” -Roommate

PLEASE give me twitch streamer!Agnes au

look i just enjoy hazel and agnes

roommate: honey you’re too young for her

me: NO DON’T BE MEAN TO THEM,,, agnes deserves a boytoy

“does diego drive a manual?” my roommate once again focusing on things that i do not

five: i have to find the people whose deaths could save the timeline

my roommate: is it agnes?? is he going to kill agnes????

i’m still laughing about that fact that luther is holding dolores.... over the fire escape... she couldn’t drop that far lads

luther’s dumb sometimes but he does have some nice heart to hearts with his brother,,,, honestly he and five get along pretty well in the early episodes. kindred spirits. body dysmorphia and isolation squad.

my roommate has to keep remembering social media doesn’t exist in this universe

i am still confused as to why

that won’t stop me from giving everyone iphones and youtube accounts in my aus though

diego can curve ANYTHING he throws, usually knives, according to cha-cha’s research. but that doesn’t explain the spoilers i have seen about s2 sO

Klaus: You also told me that licking a nine volt battery would give me pubes

HOW DID I FORGET THAT LINE

oh diego got a bullet graze forgot about that as well?? does he ever get like. medical attention for that? diego?????

it really has been like. maybe two days since helen cho died. is no one??? concerned????? they just immediately jump into replacing her??????????????????? hellO? 

“very clear camera angles to show that this actress did not actually play the violin for this role” - i mean that’s fair but ellen is trying rip

me: who’s your favorite character so far?  roommate: that’s a tricky question. klaus is very entertaining to watch. allison is the most reasonable and i’m very interested to know, well, she seems like the best combination of reasonable and has the least selfish intentions. diego and luther i feel like are both good in a bland way in that they’re both doing good in the best way they can which usually involves punching people. five is fun. five is very fun. five is as fun to watch as klaus, they’re both very fun actors to watch on screen. they’re more expressive than diego and luther tend to be.  me: so which is your favorite?????  roommate: first instinct says allison, though she probably has the least dynamic or interesting arc so far

are hazel and cha-cha the best because their victims never see them coming?? like. they aren’t really THAT competent.

“I do LOVE the aesthetic of an ice cream truck playing ride of the valkyries” - my roommate is valid

“LOVE the hypersaturated background in this scene. it’s more fun that having it be desaturated.”

five looks so baby in this scene with the handler :(

still unsure where five got that handgun but i’m vibing

hate when she touches his face !! awful!!!

the handler’s little “all of them??” like yeAH ALL OF THEM even though they irritate the living FUCK out of each other. siblings man

ben gets shotgun for the getaway !!! go ben!

“I’m starting to think... given how space and reality seemed to be warping during her playing... that her medication... isn’t for anxiety...” - oh, oh roommate

ah i blocked out the leonard vanya make out as well

“DIDN’T YOU MEET HIM TWO DAYS AGO?” - yeah i feel u roommate

yup there’s helen’s body

“CSI call crime scene investigation - that’s going to start to smell real soon”

pogo: and you understand that the children can never know

me: actually pogo fuck you

and that’s episode 5 everyone thank you and goodnight

episode six

i do love a good flashback to klaus

klaus: sees a shirtless soldier and instantly falls in love

they don’T EVEN QUESTION HIM just “KATZ GET THIS MAN A PAIR OF PANTS” and they go with it?? he just APPEARED and they don’t even care

klaus was really just vibing in the 60s huh

wait this is like 1962 or 63 right

when does s2 take place?? also the 60s right???

didn’t kennedy die in 1963 i feel like what i know about s2 contradicts that date but i could have sworn they said a round trip to 1963??????

luther is SUCH A MOOD in the family briefing.

“aww he’s a bad liar” - roommate

“I realize that [the umbrella] was necessary for the title drop but where the fuck did that come from”

@ the handler please stop touching five,,, but also five has such. non reactions to her touching him. which worries me. like she grabs his shoulder walking alongside him and he doesn’t even look at her

why are there gas masks in the briefcase room...

can you IMAGINE if your boss toted a child into the room and introduced him as the Legendary Time Travelling Assassin that the whole office had a betting pool over who would die that one time and is Definitely approaching 60 not 13... and then called him LEADERSHIP MATERIAL. implying that this child will probably get a promotion before you do?? can you IMAGINE?

“again... two days ago...” roommate about leonard and vanya

vanya really chose literally just the worst time to come back to the academy huh

okay but vanya going off?? valid, but also,, i mean. it IS their dads fault that they don’t have any relationship with vanya?

luther: it’s about the moon  roommate: critical role moon theory

hey like. how did the family get together in the first timeline holy fuck. it’s hard enough to get them together when they Literally Know The World Is Going To End

so remember diego getting grazed with a bullet yeah well he has a sling on now which makes sense!! and yet. when five got grazed by a bullet he SLAPS A BANDAID ON IT. someone please address this.

five is such an asshole coworker i love it

i wonder if dot is a mother. or just a nice coworker. she keeps trying to talk to him and invite him to lunch aww

i wonder if it’s purposeful on the handler’s part to call him “mr. five” instead of “mr. hargreeves” to like... further isolate him from his family? by removing his last name they’re sort of removing his ties to his siblings considering it’s not like they’re related by blood

forgot how much i hate the bathroom scene !! wow !! hate it so much!!! there’s so many violations of social etiquette in such a short scene! it’s so deeply uncomfortable!

luther: stop it pogo! you know everything our dad did

i am remembering once again how much i hate pogo all over again!! reginald literally locked klaus in a mausoleum!! he abused the kids! pogo didn’t even speak up about sending luther to the MOON,,, oh luther :(

he just learned his dad exiled him for no reason he has lots of rights his entire world view was just shattered wow i am like infinitely more sympathetic to luther on the second watch

“I knew allison and luther was a thing. you told me allison and luther was a weird thing. still not a fan.” - my very valid roommate

they could have made the fort so much more sibling-y instead of romantic and it would have been so much better honestly

oh dave :(

“I wonder who her primary care physician is and if she can find out what that medication was...” roommate i wish i knew

“I’m trying to decide if he knew ahead to time to try and get at her specifically or like... i don’t know when he took the figurine I was like ‘doesn’t he own an antique shop is he there to steal antiques from the family home’.” roommate on leonard

forgot the handler gifted five a suit. also don’t like that. don’t like her talk about his body and everything either.

“is it too much to ask to give him two outfits? one he can wear now and one with the new body?” - roommate

honestly with hazel’s talk on budget cuts i’m not surprised he only gets one suit

STOP TOUCHING HIS FACE,,,, HANDLER. STOP TOUCHING HIS FACE

five and his sweet tooth. don’t take the candy five. come on. what did your father TEACH YOU. honestly reggie probably was like “let them get kidnapped it will probably teach them a life lesson”

“there were like... villages that needed rebuilding after disasters. he could have been sending these packages to legit lunar research facilities. legit facilities would have adored to have that information.” 

okay but people KNEW he was on the moon. cha-cha mentioned it. it was in vanya’s book. why were scientists not knocking down reginald’s door demanding the research??? if i was a moon scientist i would have the mansion staked out trying to demand info jesus

“love his eye fluttering in the way of ‘oh shit i got something in my eye i can’t break character scene is still going scene is stILL GOING’“ - hilarious observations from the allison luther fort scene 2.0: grown up version that gets erased

did they just leave the fort up all those years. did no one USE the green house??? did grace lovingly work around it all that time?

oh :(  dave :(

grace is capable of lying and pogo is a shadowy motherfucker

“okay now that they’re actually putting it into the plot i understand why you don’t think he’s trustworthy but you really got on my back about that”

in my defense i just hate him tbh i did not like him when he first showed up and i never particularly liked him tbh

allison: i think you’re the only person who knows who i am and likes me anyway

me, remembering the theory that allison rumored luther to love her: HMMMMMM

okay but i think the luther and allison dance scene is fucking HILARIOUS. absolutely ridiculous. i mean i hate that it’s incest but also the fucking LIGHTS DESCENDING. the RANDOM WARDROBE CHANGE. 

roommate likes the green underskirt thing under allison’s random dance dress

are they just doing this in public???

ugh. the kiss. ugh. erased that from my memory as well

“they clearly want romance in this show but they painted themselves into a corner with the siblings thing” - roommate

five and his fucking STAPLERS isn’t this the second time he’s knocked someone out with a stapler?? the bank robber and now gloria??

five please your siblings were finally doing some decent work on their own issues :/

five is the kind of dramatic as fuck entrances 

“love how he just grabs [allison’s] coffee. kid needs a coffee after all that.” - roommate

five actually does a good job of rallying the siblings though?? they just broke the fuck up in the og timeline

“something tells me that harold jenkins might be leonard”

oh roommate

episode seven

uh oh harold was born

i feel vaguely bad for him

“me the night before a convention” - roommate on harold’s tape and cosplay and everything

okay but how did reginald even KNOW harold jenkins had no powers?? did he? keep tabs on all the forty some kids not just the seven he kept?

but also why the fuck are these people laughing at An Actual Child fuck all of them honestly

“did HE kill hargreeves?? I mean. he’s got motive.” - roommate

harold really said “i think my superpower is actually this hammer motherfucker”

how did he get twelve years?? was he tried as an adult?? was he in juvie? how old WAS he

twelve years ago... they’re 29 soooo seventeen? he did NOT look seventeen? he was NOT seventeen in that flashback what???

roommate theorizes that harold ran off after the murder and committed petty crimes until caught and tried for murder when he was seventeen so was maybe 13 in the flashback

okay so i looked up the timeline and he got out in 2014 or something so he was like 13 in the flashback which makes SO much more sense honestly but also what the FUCK was he doing for five years

“he’s actually laying out all the facts as he knows them and I appreciate that.” -roommate about five briefing the team

five?? the only member of the family with communication skills? it’s? somehow more likely than you think?

“allison’s pants that she’s wearing now are the most perfectly tailored things i’ve ever seen. not even a wrinkle when she’s standing still. do you know how hard that is to do?” again my roommate noticing the things i absolutely do not

five. five. you have a GUT WOUND and also jumped a BUNCH OF TIMES. you are not blinking into the police station and getting the file. you need some SLEEP. and REST. and WOUND CARE FIVE FOR FUCK’S SAKE. you still have a GUNSHOT GRAZE on your upper arm and a SLICE on your wrist from DIGGING OUT A TRACKER. FIVE.

diego wants to be batman SO BAD.

five crossing his arms and Not Uncrossing Them because he’s literally HOLDING HIMSELF TOGETHER.

wow luther is really handling this so much worse in this timeline rip

luther is losing validity points for CHOKING KLAUS i knew this happened but i didn’t remember how awful it was !!! bad and terrible! and luther is very drunk and very sad and very angry. oh. he’s saying he never left the house and never had friends for nothing :(

klaus had the realization that reggie was an asshole YEARS ago and he’s just kind of like “aww. luther :(” 

klaus is trying so hard

“Klaus has had the most heart to hearts with the most siblings honestly.” - roommate

allison at the beginning making her laugh in the office with the EYES, five on the steps of meritech, diego after the vet bar, luther on the couch...

wow cha cha really thought hazel was talking about how meaningful his partnership was with her when he was talking about agNES

five limping up the lawn and staggering up the stairs and clinging to the rails baBY SIT DOWN. YOU ARE BLEEDING.

“inspiring leadership” “one of the greats” what a sibling moment honestly.

five really said “i think i will pass the fuck out now”

five really said “hey i am literally willing to die for this mission because this mission is the safety and lives of my entire family and i love you guys :(”

except he doesn’t because five is decent at information sharing but getting feelings out of him feels like pulling teeth at times smh

is leonard trying to vicariously live his “normal child born on the umbrella academy day discovers they have had powers the WHOLE TIME” dream through vanya??

we yell about how leonard and vanya have known each other for like a week but i mean same for hazel and agnes!! he’s literally asking her to run away with him and she says yes !!!!! agnes is here for the romantic adventure with this man she’s really living her first hot girl summer and living for it

“she’s having her own little rom com! she thinks she’s living in a rom com not a dark sci fi!” - roommate accurate as usual

she just called ben the emotional support ghost and i mean... she ain’t wrong

honestly klaus should have just left luther to his rave, he didn’t get to party in his teens or during his college years or anything

i do appreciate the viking yell of “B R O T H E R” that luther greets klaus with though because that’s exactly how i greet my own siblings whenever i see them

oh klaus :(

oh klaus :(

he’s having war flashbacks, cravings, is in withdrawal, AND experiencing sensory overload while reliving one of the more traumatizing moment of his life

oh klaus :(

five in a bed for the second time of the season which is nice for him. if only the first time wasn’t because he passed out drunk and the second time wasn’t because of a whole shrapnel wound. i am now that captain of the Let Five Sleep brigade holy SHIT like at least they imply that the others sleep five is just feral and ready to go at all times

are the police allowed to just. remove someone’s arm sling? is that permitted? his arm could be fucked up? i mean. it is? he was shot?

“I saw everything my brothers and sister could do ruin their lives” VANYA some REALIZATION up in here,,,, admitting that the umbrella academy wasn’t exactly a desirable place to be is actually some real growth for her and leonard just fucking shuts her down? fuck that man

VANYA SEE THE RED FLAGS FOR WHAT THEY ARE COME ON

oh klaus :(  oh luther :(  oh :(

“love his corset side pants, like benedict from violet evergarden” - on the topic of Klaus’s pants

“I made everyone else so I must have made you” says god except for the fact that the kids just... surprise popped up instead of coming about the natural way. maybe god DIDN’T made them????????

oh klaus :(  prepare for disappointment :(

oh i didn’t notice the photos of the umbrella academy in the barbershop the first time i watched this

so klaus gives an age for the mausoleum... thirteen... do you think that was before or after five left? statistically it’s probably after bc it was only a couple of months after they turned thirteen that five vanished

Klaus’s “we were just kids” breaks my heart every time

if i was one of reggie’s kids i would have just not gone to the funeral. rip to the hargreeves kids but i’m different

he doesn’t even call klaus klaus in death, he still calls klaus number four. fuck that man.

“i was gonna say i’d have been very very surprised if they kept him dead” - roommate on klaus waking up

“Five bucks says he set these guys up to try and get something out of her” - the roommate being very perceptive

cha cha is VERY rude to my girl agnes

honestly why DIDN’T hazel just kill cha cha after her whole speech and threats about killing agnes slowly in front of him???? like he literally watched her try to kill him as well

why wasn’t diego arrested in the original day that wasn’t actually?? he was being considered already. he still left the house, albeit with grace instead of allison. why wasn’t he arrested then???????? 

roommate thinks it’s interesting how committed the show is to their old timey shit. she used a nicer words like anachronisms but the point is: w h y

are these episodes even longer than i remember?? holy SHIT

#tua rewatch #honestly these are half proof to my sister that i am watching tua #she keeps yelling at me about s1 #there can't be that many more episodes right #apparently there are ten episodes in s1 #that's a whole 'nother three hours #jeebus #and then ten more hours for s2 #so LONG

[anjanettexcordonia]

Paradise Lost

**Trigger Warnings**

DARK DARK DARK

-NSFW/Mental Health/Violence/Rape Minimal fluff if any at all tbh.

***If you are sensitive to any of these please do not read.

Pairing: None

Word Count: 2,583 (I struggled with this chapter. Not sure why.) 

**READ WITH CAUTION**

Excuse any grammatical errors or misspellings.

This will be a six part series. I do not have a timeline for when I will post. (I’m a mom & work full time)

Disclaimer: Riley Brooks & Liam Rhys belong to Pixelberry. All other characters in this chapter are mine. 

Thanks to @texaskitten30 for beta reading this chapter for me. 

Tags:

If you would like to be tagged or removed from taglist please let me know. 

@gkittylove99 @kingliam2019 @yourmajesty09 @cordonia-gothqueen @mom2000aggie @texaskitten30 @hopefulmoonobject

Katherine Riley Brooks Vanderbilt lived a life others would envy. Her family had been written about in American history for decades. She attended the best schools money could buy. Her family frequently vacationed all over the world. To the world Riley was an heiress that lived a life most would or could only dream of. But not all was as it seemed. The tabloids painted her family in a light that no one would even imagine the horrors that really took place behind the eight foot walls that hid their sprawling estates. Riley didn’t have an easy life. Money didn’t cushion the multiple gut wrenching blows she suffered from her tyrant father. Trust funds didn’t fill the hole left by her absent alcoholic mother. Sisterly bonds was a fantasy. 

16 year old Riley

“Let’s go Mia. We have to get to the airport.” Riley was standing in her younger sister's dorm room waiting for her to pack her suitcases for their holiday trip with the rest of the Vanderbilt family. “I am. I am so excited to see Dad. I haven’t seen him in so long. Are you excited Kat?” “Um yea whatever Mia.” The sisters headed to the car waiting to take them to the private jet of one of their father's business partners. They arrived at the tarmac and realized they were no longer in the custody of their father's security detail. Riley knew this wasn’t going to be a run of the mill vacation. 

It had been two years since the death of her mother. Two years of boarding school away from the horror of her father. Riley dreaded the holiday but was excited to see her younger brothers. 

The jet finally touched down in Switzerland. Riley looked at her younger sister. Amelia still has the youthful twinkle in her eye as she looked out the cabin windows at the sparkling snow beneath them. Riley had lost the innocent twinkle. Maybe she never had it. She had been parentless as long as she could remember. Her father didn’t greet the sisters at the private airport. Nor did he greet them when they arrived at the estate they would be staying at. Instead a short plump woman with dark auburn hair and hazel met them at the estate. 

“Katherine and Amelia, I presume?” The girls nodded their heads. “Very well, follow me and I’ll show you to your wing as per Sir Vanderbilts request.” They followed the woman, who never introduced herself, to their rooms. Opulence was something they were used to and it didn’t faze them at all. “Your father will be joining you Katherine in your room shortly to discuss a few matters at hand.” 

“Katherine, it's nice to see you. And you look lovely in that dress my dear.” Riley’s father hissed as she walked into the sitting room of her suite. “Father” she nodded avoiding eye contact. He kept his eyes locked on her and her long, shimmering emerald dress. Her father always insisted they dress their best in his presence no matter the occasion. “Have a seat. We have much to discuss.” Riley seated herself across from at the small table. “I would like for you to join me on my hunt this weekend. It’s time I teach you all to be true Vanderbilts and how we maintain our power among the others in our world. Money does not equal power.” 

“Power is forcefully taken, yes I know, Father.” Riley rolled her eyes. Suddenly Riley felt a force knock her out of her chair. She hit the marble floors beneath with her a force that knocked the wind out of her. “It will do you well to remember your place Katherine Riley Vanderbilt otherwise you will see what happens when someone disobeys me.” Riley felt the warm, copper taste of blood in her mouth. “I would say ask your mother,” a sinister smile emerging on his face, “but it seems you can not.” Riley stood and dabbed a napkin against the corner of her mouth, she smoothed her dress and took her place in front of her father. “There will be other friends in attendance as well on our hunt tomorrow. As I am sure you are aware, you will be in charge of keeping the other children on their best behavior.” 

“Father, may I ask, what will be hunting tomorrow?” 

“Who, Katherine, who?” Edward stood from the table, “I have spoken with the others. Amelia seems especially eager. Tomorrow will be momentous. Tomorrow will show me who will be the successor to Vanderbilt Enterprises.” 

Riley didn’t sleep a wink that night. She had no idea her younger brothers, Neal and Eddie were there. She hadn’t seen them yet. It had been six months since she had seen them last. 

The next morning, Riley woke and dressed in her riding gear and went down for breakfast. When she made it to the kitchen, she spotted her siblings and her father all having breakfast. Riley noted how unusual this was. “Riley!” Cornelius screamed and jumped from the table to hug her. “Hey Neal! How are you? You have grown so much since I saw you! How has school been? 

“ENOUGH” Edward bellowed at the children. “Sit down both of you.” A flash of fear passed though Cornelius’s eyes and he went back to his seat. They finished their breakfast without so much as another word nor a glance at each other. “You’ve never taken us on a hunt before Father, what game may I ask will we be hunting today?” Amelia asked. “Today will be a turning point. It’s not about the game we hunt per say it’s about the power you hold over your prey. In this world only the strong prevail. Kill or be killed. Succeed or fail.” Edward said matter of factly. “You will do exactly as I say without showing weakness, now you all may follow me.” 

The children all followed their father to the stables on the grounds. They each mounted their horses and trotted behind their father until they reached a large,log hunting cabin deep in the woods. The tree canopy was so thick sunlight barely reached them. Riley felt a cold shiver down her spine as they made their way into the cabin. It was nearly lunch, but the smell of cigars and scotch...and something else but Riley couldn’t place the odd smell, made her stomach turn. 

“Eddie” a large overweight man clapped their father on the back. “I see you brought an audience,” the strange man smirked. 

“It’s time to toughen them up. Show them how to be true Vanderbilts eh Brother?” Edward laughed, “meet your Uncle Astor Cornelius Vanderbilt Duke of Wellington kiddies. I think the youngest one here ought to call you Pop?” he winked. “You’re whore of mother sure did enjoy making you, boy.” Astor looked down at a 12 year old Cornelius. Eddie smirked, catching Riley’s eyes filled with tears threatening to break free. He fully intended to break her. If she were to inherit his fortune she would do it on her knees. 

She looked more like her mother everyday. He hated her for it. He hated her mother. He hated himself. All he wanted was for her to love him. She could never love a man like him. So he forced her. He forced her until he took her life. He became the monster he was meant to be. And if he couldn’t make her like him he would do it to her daughter. His daughter. With her eyes.

“You will all do as I say, without defiance or face the consequences.” Edward warned. “Amelia, Edward you’re with me. The others are with Astor. Let’s go.” Each group went through a separate door that led to a flight of stairs descending downwards to a large basement. The basement looked similar to a hospital or a morgue. Medical utensils were placed by a row of three hospital gurneys. Large fluorescent lights made the room bright. Too bright. The first the sisters noticed when they entered the room was the row of three cages along the wall. Three naked women were gagged and bound in each cage. Riley looked at her sister. Amelia didn’t have fear in her eyes. She had excitement. Riley felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. “Have a seat,” Edward gestured towards some chairs near the cages,” you will observe and listen.” Edward pulled a set of keys from his jacket pocket and unlocked each cage door. He stripped his clothes bare and placed them in a laundry bag. The girls, surprised at their father's nakedness, averted their eyes unsure what to do. “Power is taken, not given. We take what we want and we end those that oppose us. We end those that would deny us what we seek, isn’t that right my daughters?” Edward asked as he pulled the first woman from her cage. She was a petite brunette woman that Riley didn’t recognize. “This woman disobeyed my direct orders so she will face my punishment.” He said firmly. He tied the woman to the gurney in the center of the room. Her wrists were tied tightly above her head and her ankles were tied to each corner of the bed. She was blindfolded and gagged. “Father, what are you doing?” Riley asked, horrified by what was happening in front of her. “I said not to speak, do you defy by direct command?” He glared at Riley. “Come here girl” he said between gritted teeth, “You will help me, you will get first hand experience.” Riley felt the anger boil in her veins. “What did she do to deserve such treatment?” She snarled. “Do as I say or you can replace this bitch on the table. Your sister there is practically giddy, but you hold resilience, that will end today. She will be your victim or you’ll be mine.” Edward spoke barely above a whisper. Evil poured through every orpheus of his body. 

Riley knew it was her or him and she was too weak to do anything. There was no returning back. The innocence Riley had left was going to be extinguished. She would never be the same. She grabbed the scalpel from her father’s outstretched hand. Her hand shook uncontrollably as she gripped the scalpel in her sweating palm She closed her eyes. Turn it off Riley. You can’t feel or you won’t survive. Turn it off… She opened her eyes and looked at her father. Her eyes reflected his. She handed the scalpel back to him. “I do not need this.” She paced the instrument back on the sterilized tray. She climbed on to the gurney. She pulled the gag out of the woman’s mouth. “I want to hear you scream.” She said. Riley pulled the blindfold from the girl’s eyes. “I want you to look at me while your life drains from your body. From your eyes. From my life.” “No please stop.” The girl cried. Riley’s father stood astounded by her words. He recognized those words. But from where? “All I wanted was for you to love me, but no it was too much to ask.” Riley said. She slapped the girl across the face. She grabbed the girl with both hands on each side of her face and kissed her deeply. She pulled back and punched her in the jaw. 

Slap. Punch. Hit. 

The girl screamed in anguish. Blood covered her face and splattered all over Riley. Edward and Amelia moved closer and watched her awe as she beat the woman. Riley grabbed the scalpel and sliced the woman's breast as the woman screamed. You deserve to die. You disobeyed me. You fucked your way into my life. You fucked your way into my fortune. Riley screamed.

“Riley stop.” Edward yelled. Riley didn’t stop but looked back at her father. “Do you remember father? What you did to Mother? We’re not that much different after all.” Riley slit the woman's throat and watched the blood pour from her carotid artery. She stood up. Edward glared at his daughter. “How dare you threaten me? I grabbed Riley and threw her into the cage the woman Riley had murdered was previously. He locked the cage door. “You will watch. He pulled the other women out of their confines and strapped them to the other two gurneys. Come here Amelia, it's your turn. I hope you do not disappoint me.” “Yes, Father, I’m ready.” Amelia responded excitedly. Riley watched as her father and sister beat, berated and assaulted the women. She watched as they mutilated and destroyed their physical bodies. Hours later there was silence. Amelia and Edward were spent from the torture. Riley was horrified at what her sister was capable of. She was her father in every way. She was a skilled manipulator. She was a horrific and demented individual. “I have an idea Father, we should throw the bodies in the cell with Katherine for a while. Let her spend some time with our victims. One of them was her victim. Teach her lesson.” Riley spent three days with no food or water in a cell with three decomposing bodies. The smell encompassed her senses causing her to be sick. She knew she could never trust anyone again. Her own sister had turned against her. Become like her father. Maybe I am too. Maybe I am just evil. I. WILL. KILL. THEM. ALL. She wondered how her younger brothers were. If they were still alive. 

10 Years Later

Riley had remembered the three days she spent with her first murder victim. She remembered the taste of revenge she had when she murdered her Uncle Astor. Her father was forced to retire into hiding. Her sister had been in a mental institution for a lengthy amount of time. Self admitted of course. She believed it protected her from her sister by living in the upscale mental facility. Riley’s brothers both survived the traumatic experience they had suffered a decade earlier with their Uncle Astor. Eddie had moved on with his life. He never spoke of what happened. He and Riley became estranged. Cornelius disappeared as soon as he was able. He has suffered severe post traumatic stress disorder and had turned to the underbelly of New York City for his coping mechanisms. Riley had been searching for him. She left her position as chairman of the board of directors of Vanderbilt International, after she superseceded her father after his abrupt retirement five years ago on Riley’s behest. Rather her force. She maintained 51% shareholder in the company which left her majority vote. With her company firmly intact and well maintained it left her the freedom to search for her youngest brother. She was ready to save her family and rebuild what bonds she had left. She had found a job as a bartender in a dive bar in the heart of the big apple. It opened up connections to the underworld of drugs, booze and crime. She was getting closer and closer to Neal’s whereabouts until one night. The night she met him. The night his ocean blue eyes met hers. The night she had found her match. The man that was her equal. The man that had faced the pain unlike any other. The man that would kill for her. The man that held equal power. She ran the world. He ran a country. 

Her King. His Queen.

#trr dark twisted riley queenriley caution theroyalromance au alternateuniverse choices theroyalheir trh kingliam liamxmc

[greekgeek21]

Percy Jackson & The Avengers: Convergence - some badass demigod training!!

Hello, and welcome back to...my horrible explanation for being absent! Coming up on this episode, you'll see me explain that I had my first 2 lacrosse games of the season and was left with bruised ribs. If anyone ever says that women's lax isn't a real sport cuz there isn't contact, you can tell them that someone from a fanfic website said they had bruised ribs from playing.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. We're starting to get some actual plot movement I think so have fun with that. Honestly, I kinda forgot what happened in here so...yeah. Please comment, like, follow, and reblog! Stay safe & happy reading!

- your author

Ω ♆ Ω

Percy and Annabeth woke up to the sound of a startled shout. Frank's startled shout, to be specific. They both shot up right away, their battle instincts kicking in, but Frank had seen enough.

"Seriously guys!? Again?" he exclaimed.

"Nothing happened!" Annabeth reassured, "We just fell asleep!"

"We did kiss a little," Percy muttered, and Annabeth shot him a death glare.

"Not. Helping," she whispered scathingly.

A sense of complete déjà vu washed over Percy. Except this time, the rest of the Seven were standing in the doorway, watching on with various amused expressions on their faces.

"Oh, this is perfect. Coach Hedge is gonna love this," Leo smiled in maniacal glee.

"No, Leo," Piper ordered, "You're not going to do that. Instead, we are going to get this meeting over with so I can get some sleep."

"Aw...you ruin all my fun!" he exclaimed.

"Someone's gotta do it when Calypso isn't here," Piper said.

It was true. Calypso and Piper are probably the only ones who could actually control Leo. Calypso because of Leo's fear of losing her or just general fear of her, and Piper because of her charmspeak.

"Ok! That's enough. We're getting sidetracked. We need to start this meeting." Jason clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

He gave Percy a meaningful look; one which said to 'take it from here.' So Percy did.

"Um, well, Annabeth and I wanted to talk to you guys about what's been going on. We need to come to an agreement on what we are allowed to say and do with the Avengers. I don't think we should show them the full extent of our powers because it seemed like those spies were looking for a reason to lock us up," he started, "And I'm not particularly fond of being put in a cell. How about you?"

"Yeah. And we need to figure out a way to deal with the bombings without them figuring us out. The mortals seemed pretty Hades-bent on releasing the big secret, and that never bodes well for people like us. I know that we need their help, but I don't trust them." Annabeth said.

"We can just say we were born with the powers, and have no idea why. I mean, it's technically true," Jason offered.

The others all nodded in agreement.

"Ok, now what about the pattern? What is it?" Piper asked.

"All of the places are big parts of the Greek and Roman world. Brooklyn Bridge is near Manhattan, the home of the Gods, Portland: Mt. St. Helens, where Typon used to be held, LA: entrance to Hades, Long Island: Camp Half-blood, and San Francisco: Camp Jupiter," Annabeth answered.

"Woah," Jason whispered, shocked.

"Yeah, but that's not our biggest concern. We also need to figure out how to hide our identities from the world while we're fighting with the Avengers," Annabeth said.

Everyone else there hadn't even thought of that. It comes in real handy to have a daughter of Athena around sometimes. Ok, not sometimes, all the time. All of them would be really dead without her quick thinking and planning.

"Um, I could try to see if the Aphrodite cabin could cook something up?" Piper suggested, "But most of them are still getting used to fighting, so they won't really know what to make. They need help with the designs."

Leo shot up from where he had slumped down into the desk chair, "I can help! Well, the Hephaestus cabin can. We can help design it so it's battle-ready."

"Good. We'll need those soon, I think. I have a feeling that we're going to have a lead soon, so we need to be ready when it comes. This is just one quest, so there is no need for people to think we're some kind of superheroes," Annabeth said.

"Aw! But I already had a name picked out!" Leo exclaimed.

He looked like he was about to let them in on his superhero name, but Annabeth held up a hand with a glare that clearly said to not speak unless he wanted to lose some very important parts of him. That kept him quiet, for sure.

"Is that all?" Frank asked, towering over them all.

"For now, yes. Remember, say the absolute minimum and stick to twisting the truth. If you reveal any new information without the others knowing, call a meeting to let us know," Annabeth confirmed, nodding her head.

"Great, now I can go back to sleep," Percy said, pulling Annabeth back down with him.

The others filed out soon after that, already hearing Percy's soft snores as they left and returned to their respective rooms. Ok, so Jason and Piper stayed in the same room like Percy and Annabeth did, but nothing happened. It was just nice to be in the arms of someone who cares about you, you know?

Ω ♆ Ω

"Up and at 'em, kiddos! It's training day!" Tony gleefully exclaimed over the speakers that Percy was absolutely sure he did not see in his room.

Percy groaned when he saw what time it was: 6:00 AM. He knew he wasn't allowed to (and that it was wrong, of course), but he wanted to kill Tony so badly in that moment. It would be quick! Nobody would suffer!

But, alas, he had to actually work with the man-child. It might not come off like it, but Percy takes war very seriously, and this was starting to feel like a war. Or at least, it would become one if they didn't stop it soon. And to do that, they needed the Avengers, apparently.

That was the only reason that he followed Annabeth in getting up and ready for the day. He took a little longer than Annabeth, but at 6:30 AM, they were stepping out of his room. They saw that the others were slowly doing the same. They were all tired. There weren't any big dream incidents, but that doesn't mean that staying up until midnight and then waking up at six in the morning won't do something to you. Even Leo looked exhausted, with big puffy eyes from rubbing them in an attempt to wake himself up quicker. If Leo Valdez was tired, then you knew that it was too early for this.

Also, you have to remember that they'reteenagers. Teenagers aren't meant to be up super early- it's a scientific fact, Percy thinks. Annabeth once told him something about their melatonin not releasing until later at night, so they could stay up and sleep in later.

What? Percy pays attention to what she's saying sometimes.

"I hate Tony," Piper grumbled, practically falling asleep on Jason.

"You and us all, chica," Leo mumbled before letting out a huge yawn.

"What did he say was going on? Training?" Jason asked, looking over at Annabeth for answers because she seemed the most awake of the group.

"Yep. Training, whatever that entails. I don't know, so be prepared for anything. I really hope it has nothing to do with electronics, but knowing our luck, and how Tony has been so far, it will, so just try not to get too close," she answered.

Leo tiredly saluted her, "Yes, ma'm."

Hazel rolled her eyes, "Come on, Repair Boy."

She grabbed his arm and started leading the way towards the living room, which was their best guess at where the Avengers were.

As they were walking, they were interrupted by the disembodied voice of JARVIS, "Excuse me, but I was told to direct you to the training room, where the Avengers are currently assembled and waiting for you. Shall I proceed?"

All of the demigods were still really weirded-out by the AI, and there was no way it was ending soon. It's just a reminder that they were currently in a building basically composed entirely of technology, one of their greatest liabilities. Liabilities were a dangerous thing in their lives.

"Yes..." Percy answered hesitantly, unsure where to look.

"Then please follow the arrows projected on the ground, sir," JARVIS said.

Sure enough, there were large white arrows pointing them away from the living room, so they followed them. It was about a two minute walk to the elevators, where they were told to go to the 60th floor, which was apparently one whole training room by itself.

Ω ♆ Ω

"So let me get this straight, you guys want us to...play a video game?" Frank asked, gesturing to the giant room around them.

The Seven were quickly ushered by the Avengers into a big room with a bunch of white, padded tiles all around them as soon as they had reached the training floor. There was only a viewing window and an exit that disappeared when the door was closed. Then, Tony explained what they were going to be doing. None of them really understood it yet.

"No! I want you to fight the LMDs! The robots! They will simulate different levels of skill to evaluate your skills. Understand?" Tony punctuated each word, quickly losing any sense of patience he had started with.

"Yeah. We got it," Annabeth sighed.

Ok, she was sure she was the only one of them who realized that they were about to break one of the rules they established last night on the first day. They were about to fight robots. TECHNOLOGY.

This should go well, Annabeth thought.

Steve interrupted before Tony could make a snarky comment, "Good. We'll start with fighting separately and then together as a group. Afterwards, we'll see how you work with different weapons."

"Aye aye, Cap," Leo joked.

"Leo, focus. We're about to fight ROBOTS." Annabeth tried to get the son of Hephaestus to understand the severity of the situation. "You have a back-up plan, right?"

He could talk to machines. Robots were machines. Therefore, he should be able to get them out of this mess if anything went wrong.

He gave her a nod of understanding, and Annabeth settled back into her natural stance rather than her tense one. Well, she's always tensed for battle. At least in her natural one it's less obvious.

"Alright, who wants to go first?" Tony asked over the intercom.

"Uncle Leo will go first, right?" Percy joked, referencing to one of Leo's favorite nicknames for himself.

"Sure! I just need to know how much damage I'm allowed to do," Leo said, looking up at the Avengers.

Annabeth was shocked that he had even thought to ask that, and apparently the Avengers were, too.

"Um, just let go. There's nothing you can do to break this room. I designed it myself," Tony answered, still arrogant even through his confusion.

"Come on out, the rest of you," Natasha instructed.

Once the rest of the demigods had exited the room and stood next to the Avengers at the viewing window, Tony pressed a button on a screen that made a compartment in the walls of the room open up, revealing a row of floating LMDs.

"Now, I'm going to start you at Level 2, okay? It gets harder as you move up. The LMDs should stay the same form throughout every level, though. Ready?" Tony said.

Leo pulled his war hammer from his magical toolbelt and lit it and his arms on fire, "Ready."

Tony had to shake himself out of his shock before he pressed the start button, but when he did, every one of the mortal heroes had sat on the edge of their metaphorical seats, eager to see just how powerful these kids could be.

Plus, the kid had just pulled a giant war hammer from his normally-sized toolbelt, and then proceeded to light himself and the hammer on fire. They were bound to be curious after that display.

They knew the very basics of the young heroes' abilities, but most of that stuff was based on just what they had been told. Actual, visible proof is what they wanted.

All at once, the LMDs transformed into the Avengers minus the Hulk. Repeat, they changed into the Avengers. Leo had to fight a copy of the Avengers, alone.

Percy was freaking out inside. Sure, he trusted his friend, but Leo was a joker, and he tended to not understand how serious things were. In this case, he hoped that didn't happen.

"This should be interesting," Natasha remarked.

"No, this should be terrible. Tony, you never told me you were using this setting," Bruce said, rushing up to the other scientist, "He's just a kid."

"I think they've made it clear they aren't just kids, Jolly Green. It's fine. If they wanted to be treated like the rest of us, then they need to pass this test," Tony said.

Bruce looked like he wanted to say a lot more, but Jason stepped up to stop him, "He'll be fine, Dr. Banner. Leo may not look it, but he's powerful and he's smart. He can handle this."

Jason looked so sure of himself that it was enough to convince the doctor that it would be okay.

In truth, Jason had no idea how this program worked. There was a good chance that Leo did not, in fact, have this handled.

While this was being discussed, Leo had already started to fight the Iron Man LMD. He was currently alternating between swinging his hammer at it and firing balls of fire. The LMD had only been hit a couple of times because it kept maneuvering around the attacks by flying away.

It was getting tiresome, and Leo wanted it to be over with. So, he dropped his hammer and set a determined look on his face, glaring up at the robot.

The Seven were grinning, already figuring out what was happening, while the Avengers were just plain confused. What was the kid gonna do? Glare them to death?

Then, Leo started grinning and they knew it was all over.

He crouched down onto the ground and placed a hand on the floor, closing his eyes in concentration. The LMDs seemed to be as confused as their originals.

Three seconds passed before Leo's grin grew even more, and then he spoke a single word, "Stop."

And they did. Every single LMD lost their form and fell to the ground, limp and unmoving. Leo stood up, dusted his pants off, and turned to the viewing window to see his teammate's reactions.

They were priceless.

"That's how you do it," he said, "Am I done?"

Tony literally shook himself out of his stupor, "Yeah, sure. I need to reboot the LMDs."

When Leo came through the door, the rest of the demigods crowded him, patting him on the back and laughing at his dramatics.

"What was that?" Natasha demanded, breaking through the teens to tower over Leo's elf-like form.

Okay, maybe tower isn't the right word. She was taller than him, but not by much. Natasha was just very intimidating.

"Uh...fighting?" Leo tried.

Natasha's glare hardened, "You know that's not what I mean. What did you do to make the LMDs stop attacking?"

Leo glanced at Annabeth, who nodded in consent, "I talked to them."

"You did what?!" Tony exclaimed.

"I talked to them. They were pretty boring, to be honest, but I was able to shut them down," he answered.

Tony let out an incredulous laugh, "That's not possible! You can't just TALK to machines!"

"He can, and he did," Piper said, smiling proudly at her best friend.

"But–" Tony's voice died out.

"How come you never told us of this ability?" Natasha asked.

"You never asked," Percy answered simply, not liking her interrogatory tone at all.

The spy looked like she wanted to continue the conversation, but Clint whispered something in her ear and she stepped back with one last glare.

"Welp! That was fun! Who's next?" Tony clapped his hands.

Everyone turned to see that he had gotten the LMDs back online and back in the Avengers' form.

Piper sighed and started to walk to the door, "I guess I'll go next."

Before she could enter, Steve asked, "What weapon are you going to use? Your powers won't work on the robots."

Piper smirked at him over her shoulder before pulling Katoptris from its sheath on her thigh. Apparently, the Avengers had yet to fully break through the Mist, and they could not see her having that strapped there this entire time. But when she pulled it out, they seemed to finally be able to see it for what it truly was. It makes you wonder what they thought was there before. A ruler, maybe?

"I've got this," she stated before slipping into the training room.

Ω ♆ Ω

It was obvious Piper had been taking more lessons on dagger-fighting with Annabeth. As soon as the first person attacked, she was slashing and stabbing like crazy. Her lithe form was swisting out of the way of punches from Steve's copy, while Clint's arrows were shooting at her from behind.

Tony had clearly upped the level of difficulty after seeing what Leo could do.

Piper ducked under one of the arrows, and then shot back up to land a finishing blow to the center of LMD-Steve's chest. Then, she ripped Katoptris out of the robot and turned to throw it at Clint's copy, which just barely managed to avoid getting stabbed.

She was running on pure adrenaline now. It was best to imagine these opponents as monsters. Sure, when they actually fought humans, they would need to not kill, but these were just robots.

Cilnt's robot shot it's last arrow, and it exploded right before her face, stunning her into stillness. In that couple of seconds it took for her to recenter herself, Natasha's copy jumped onto her back for a chokehold. Piper struggled, but the LMD had been designed to know all of Natasha's known skills, and it was working. The Iron Man LMD landed and shot a stunning shot at her chest: the final straw for Piper to finally surrender.

She knew they wouldn't kill her, but she was not in the mood to be knocked-out. It left you with a massive headache.

So she tapped out.

"Ok ok, I'm done. I'm done," She panted as she was released, rubbing her neck.

Piper was not happy about having to surrender, but it seemed like the Avengers had been thoroughly impressed with her skill with such a small weapon.

"I'll do next," Annabeth declared, high-fiving Piper on her way out.

"Good luck," Piper said.

"Don't need it," Annabeth responded, pulling out her drakon-bone sword.

Out in the control room, Tony said, "Is that a bone?!"

"It's whatever you want it to be," Hazel grinned, manipulating the Mist just a bit.

"You scare me sometimes, Miss Metal Detector," Leo muttered, glancing at Annabeth's sword, which had shifted into a machete.

He wasn't sure whether to be impressed by Hazel's skill, or weirded-out by Tony's brain.

"Make sure to move to difficulty up a bit," Percy told Tony, "She'll be insulted otherwise."

The billionaire seemed to be getting used to the teens' weird ways because he didn't even flinch when he heard that, and instead moved to comply.

"And...here we go," Tony said over the intercom, "Good luck, Annie."

"My name is Annabeth!" she shouted before going into the fight.

In this level, every single one of them attacked at once. Annabeth back-bended under Steve's copy's punch, and then kicked up into LMD-Natasha's face. After, she turned and sliced the Iron Man armor on the side, just under the armpit. She had picked that as a point of weakness before she had even stepped into the building.

"She's good," Natasha relented, watching as the daughter of Athena thrusted her sword into Steve's robot foot.

Seeing that Clint's LMD copy was not going to get any closer to her, Annabeth pulled out a hidden dagger and threw it in a perfect line to hit it in the center of its forehead. Then, she turned and blocked a punch from Natasha's robot, who had recovered from the face-hit. The spy copy used the Iron Man LMD to jump up and wrap her legs around Annabeth's neck, trying to do a scissor hold, which failed because Annabeth rolled forward, slamming Natasha's head into the ground. The left a big enough dent that the LMD wasn't getting back up.

That only left Iron Man to deal with.

She settled into a fighting stance, but didn't attack, choosing to wait for her opponent to make the first blow.

Percy was grinning. This was what they needed: a good way to blow off steam without it possibly ending with one of them dead.

"What is she waiting for?" Steve asked.

"She's playing with it. It's fun for her," Jason answered, "It's Annabeth."

Finally, the robot got impatient and attacked. It sent a stun blast at her, which Annabeth quickly avoided. After, she ran up to the wall, kicked off of it, and jumped up to drag the Iron Man LMD down to the ground, where she sat down on it and landed a few punches. But she quickly realized punching wasn't doing much good.

"Judo flip! Do the judo flip!" Leo exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement.

When it wasn't him being the one attacked by Annabeth, it was super entertaining.

Annabeth sighed, but a smile was pulling at the edges of her lips. She hauled Iron Man up, who was still recovering from being slammed down to the ground, and got a good hold on it's arm. Then, she flipped it over her shoulder with an ease that only came from years of experience.

With a huge smile on her lips, and a last glance at her carnage, Annabeth walked back out to the control room.

"How was that for a kid?" She asked Natasha.

"Not bad," she got for an answer.

Ω ♆ Ω

Jason, Hazel, and Frank's individual tests went-by pretty quickly. Jason electrocuted all of the robots, rendering them immobile.

After that, and with another new batch of LMDs, Hazel used her Spatha to slice and cut through the robots. In the end, it proved too hard for her to do it with just a sword, so she pulled a chunk of the wall out and smashed it against the LMDs until they were in many different pieces.

Frank ended up having to forfeit, but not before getting every single Avengers copy but Steve down. Steve ended up having him in a chokehold that was just too difficult to get out of. And Frank had already transformed into many animals, so he wasn't sure if he could've changed back if he had transformed again.

If it wasn't obvious, Percy was avoiding doing his turn. He was trying to stay in the corner, and out of the notice of any of the adults. However, that wasn't possible with two spies in the room. They notice everything.

"Percy? Your turn," Natasha said.

So much for that plan.

Percy hesitated, "Um...about that, I don't think I should go."

Natasha raised her eyebrows in mock-surprise, but it was actually Steve who spoke, "You have to go, son. In order to work well together, we need to know each other's strengths and weaknesses. This will never work without you doing this."

"Plus, we promise it's completely safe," Bruce added in.

Percy sighed, admitting that he wasn't going to be able to worm his way out of this one. Instead of fighting, he turned to whisper to Annabeth, "Don't let me get out of control."

Annabeth gave him a sad look, "Percy, I know you have control. I trust you. You just need to trust yourself. You would never hurt us. I know that for certain."

The Avengers were watching this interaction like hawks, but the other demigods were averting their attention. This happened sometimes, Percy and Annabeth going into their own world that only they could understand, and it was best to just let them be. Plus, privacy is a real thing people. The moment seemed almost too intimate for them to interrupt.

Percy still seemed to be having trouble believing Annabeth's statements, but he went into the training room without another protest. His shoulders were sagging in defeat, and he seemed to be folding in on himself. He was never one for attention, but that was a bit much in Leo's mind.

However, Leo and the rest of the Seven didn't have a full grasp on just how uncomfortable Percy as with using his powers now. They didn't know what happened in "that place."

"Are you ready, Percy?" Tony asked, readying the LMDs again.

"Yeah, I guess," Percy answered.

Annabeth was rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, "Just breathe, Perce," she whispered under her breath, "You can do this."

She had to put on a brave face for her boyfriend, but she truly was terrified of Percy's potential. She had seen it first-hand in their trip underground, and it was nothing to be underestimated. The Avengers didn't know what powers they were playing with here. She only hoped that her insistent trust she was putting in Percy was going to amount to truth.

"We'll start you on Level 5? Based on what your friends can do, I think this will be a good start," Steve asked.

"Sure," Percy responded, bringing Riptide from his pocket.

"What's he going to do with a pen?" Bruce whispered to Clint.

The Seven all smiled at each other. Little did the mortals know, that pen was definitely not just a pen. It was always amusing when people saw what Riptide truly was for the first time.

"Alright. Here we go," Tony said, starting the simulation.

Percy closed his eyes, inhaled, exhaled, and popped the cap off of his pen. Opening his eyes, you could tell something had shifted in him. He was in his natural element now, and nobody could stop him from achieving his goal.

That goal just so happened to be mutilating some billionaire's robots.

"Let's have some fun," Percy said, charging the first LMD.

He was a flurry of motion. His fighting style was a mix from Greek, Roman, and modern martial arts that he had learned from Annabeth. He'd kick one adversary just to turn and thrust his sword into another one trying to attack him from behind.

"He's amazing," Bruce said in wonder, mesmerized by Percy's skill.

The son of Poseidon was relying only on his hand-to-hand and swordsmanship skills, rather than his powers, but that barely slowed him down. If the mortals wanted a display of his competence, then he would give them one.

Annabeth had a proud smile on her face as she watched Percy judo flip Natasha's robot over his shoulder and slammed it hard enough to the ground that it "died," ending his fight.

That had gone well, considering Percy's worries.

However, he knew better than to let his guard down just yet. As all demigods know, life never gives any breaks. That, and the Fates are cruel.

Ω ♆ Ω

"Ok, guys. Let's take a lunch break, and then we'll do some more training, but this time, with only abilities," Steve said.

Percy had put his sword away, and was not standing in the viewing room with the rest of the heroes, mortal and demigod alike. All of the teens looked and felt exhausted, so it was a given to take a break.

"Got it, boss," Leo saluted, turning and exiting the room, heading no doubt in the direction of the kitchen.

"I guess that means we're leaving," Percy laughed. A real, genuine laugh.

It made Annabeth smile larger than she had in a long time. Improvement is always good.

Soon, everyone was gathered around the kitchen and living room area. Percy and Leo were scavenging for food while the Avengers and the rest of the Seven talked. So far, the hunt was not going as planned.

"Tony! Are you seriously telling me you're a billionaire, and you can't afford some decent Cheerios?!" Percy yelled.

"Yeah! Who goes grocery shopping around here?" Leo exclaimed, holding up the near-empty jug of milk.

The Avengers all looked at each other in confusion, "Who DOES go grocery shopping?" Bruce asked.

"Pepper, sometimes, I think. She must've been busy this week," Tony answered, "We can just order some Chinese or something for now."

"That should work, but if you're going to house these boys," Annabeth pointed to Percy, Leo, Jason, and Frank, "You're going to need a lot more food around at all times. Their appetites could rival that of an elephant."

Hazel let out a tiny laugh, realizing Annabeth's little pun about Frank. She received a small smirk in response.

"Teenagers," Tony muttered, rolling his eyes, "Always hungry."

"Now wait a second, Tony, I remember seeing you eat an entire large pizza by yourself just a couple weeks ago," Natasha remarked, smirking at her teammate.

Tony only glared in response, and then he told JARVIS to order lunch.

"Well, while we're waiting, I'll explain what our next exercise is," Steve said, "Basically, we're going to see and document your powers, but in a more controlled environment. You won't be fighting anything, but this will be more focused on precision than quantity. We need to know your full capabilities so that we know where to put you in a fight. Is that okay?"

He was asking their permission as more of a courtesy than an actual question, obviously, but the demigods still nodded their heads in confirmation. It wasn't like they couldn't leave at any time if things ever got too out-of-control.

Or at least, that's what they told themselves. In all honesty, nobody trusted each other yet. They could be shot down by the Avengers if they tried to run away, for all they knew, and that's what the scariest thing was. Neither group really KNEW the other group's intentions, only what they had told each other.

Everyone was walking on thin ice, whether it was known to them or not.

Ω ♆ Ω

I hope you liked it! Remember, this is also on FF, Ao3, Inkitt, Webnovel, and Wattpad.

other chapters :)

#pjo #percy jackson and the olympians #Percy Jackson and the avengers #mcu #marvel #the avengers #the seven #demigod #fanfic #wattpad #writing #ao3 #inkitt #superhero #webnovel

[griffinsandpeacocks]

Phoenix, Son of Hades and Persephone

Warning: Contains foul language! And toxic behaviors mentioned in passing.

Phoenix had come to Auradon to be closer to his father. Hades had been upset for a long while and his mother Persephone had sensed Hades’ pain so gave Phoenix a nudge to go to his father. Phoenix hadn’t needed much nudging as he didn’t quite fit in back home. Or one could say, liked home very much.

In his escapades as a youngster he was fine being the bottom and that made others think he was weak. It was just how they thought of such behavior, and he had grown tired of being approached for that sole fact; which was well known about him. Especially after Apollo’s bastard had decided to lead him on then stab him in the back by outing said fact by saying Phoenix never actively sought out to be on top. Oh, he had almost killed the demigod. That had been a form of social suicide. He’d get to suffer mockery for ages thanks to that little bastard.

On the day he’d left he wrapped him in a rose bush and left him gaged in a garden covered by the roses then growing a tree up around it. He heard eventually Helios had pointed out where the brat was when Apollo had started to look for him. Of course Posiden had pointed out being a demigod even if Zeus’ grandson he’d insulted Hades’ full blooded godling, and thus though furious Apollo couldn’t punish Phoenix. whom had been very smug upon reading his mother’s letter. She’d applauded his creative way of taking care of his anger towards the other godling without hurting him too seriously. Phoenix would be hard pressed to admit he had wanted to hurt the other. He just... Couldn’t. 

When he’d arrived he’d wandered around lost and uncertain where anyone was, was there some sort of assembly going on his father neglected to inform him of? Yet Hades rarely forgot such details; he tended to plan well when he did plan at all. Phoenix eventually found them, drawn to the sound of music he sees a large crowd in a graveyard and he spot his father’s hair, grown out and tied back the blue striking in the sea of more ‘normal’ colors. he walks closer and hears a man speak he has a clear accent, it’s french, at least Phoenix thinks it is; he’s not too certain never having lived outside Olympus.

“I know many here knew the man we say goodbye to today, so I shall keep my part short, as many will wish to say words I am sure, such as how dare he leave in this way. Though, I digress, Sir Cogsworth was many things to many of us, a mentor, a friend, a pin in the side... But to me he had been an anchor. I would never have been able to make it through my life without Cogsworth by my side to keep me and the other staff of the castle in order. He was focused we keep everything in order in at least the best shape we could, and it made the years as an animated wax stick trio bearable...” He paused a moment laughing sadly along with several others. His expression is pinched and he looks like he struggles to speak before he clears his throat. “So I must say, I am not pleased to loose you friend, but I am glad you shall no longer be in pain, so I bid you au dieu.” He had turned to the coffin leaden with flowers and did a flourished bow and stepped down walking off to the side pulling out a handkerchief rubbing at his face as he leans against a tree. The posture reminded Phoenix of someone wanting to hide. Phoenix moves closer trying to slink through shadows as he grows lilies gathering them in his hands; a collection of white, yellow and blue and walks up to the man.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Phoenix says softly wincing as the man startles he looks over blinking and smiles flourishing the handkerchief he tucks it away to effect a proper façade. Phoenix frowns, he shouldn’t hide his emotions just for his sake, and offers the flowers having removed the pale pink ribbon he used to tie back his hair to tie together the bouquet. The man paused in shock looking at the rather stunning flowers he accepts them and takes a deep breath.

“Thank you, though I don’t recall seeing you, are you a new arrival? If so I apologize you’re introduction is such a sad thing as a funeral.” The man says and Phoenix smiles sadly, he never had been to one, though he’d heard about many from Thanatos. He wasn’t to sure how to properly react, except he knew these tended to be sad affairs.

“Some might call it fitting given my father is Hades. I am sorry though... He seemed to mean a lot to all of you.” Phoenix says giving a small half smile and shrugging a bit worried he’ll seem as out of place as a snake in a hen house. Lumiere chuckles sadly looking out to the coffin, a young man stood there and seemed to struggle with words a moment before saying something softly in french and quickly going to a woman in a black dress with her long brunette curls pulled back and held behind her with a golden rose clip. 

That must be the Prince and his mother Phoenix realized, she had warm brown eyes hidden behind a dark veil and she looked as upset as everyone else, though she gently pulled her son close rubbing his back as she whispered to him. The boy was around his own age and had eyes alike but not to his mothers, Phoenix had seen both green and brown, so the Prince had hazel eyes, not quite one or the other color, somewhere in the middle. Though when Phoenix had seen him he’d look distraught like he couldn’t think and had panicked while standing in front of the crowd. At least Phoenix thinks that’s what happened. 

“Ah, poor Ben... This will be the first funeral he’ll remember.” Lumiere says softly sadly and Phoenix frowns and feels horribly out of place. The idea of death was so foreign to him. He’d never had to worry over it as there were few things or beings able to kill a god, and until now he’d not really known anyone with this looming fate either. This was going to be a new and not wholly good learning curve.

“Ah, there’s you’re father...” Lumiere notes looking oddly calmer now the tired worn look brightening up a bit. After many had come and gone Hades steps up and he looks behind him at the coffin and places a crystal flower down, it’s a white rose. He looks out at the crowd his expression carefully neutral. Phoenix knows that look, his father only ever had that expression when he struggled to control his own emotions. Though he could see sadness echoing in his father’s eyes the only cue in his face was a slight furrow of his brow and the tight jaw.

“I am not comfortable speaking before all of you, but I felt the man we’re saying goodbye to deserves to hear what I have to say. He was a very honorable man, one I admired and those have been few, fewer were those who impressed me quite like Cogsworth. He was a loyal friend, a hard worker, and a stubborn goat when he felt like putting his foot down. I had hopped to get to introduce him to my son, but instead I must say goodbye to him instead. You will be missed but your memory will be cherished and you deserve your rest.” Hades says turning and nodding to someone though no in the crowd sees them. Phoenix watches a shadowy figure he doesn’t know who watches looking upset but they smile and Thanatos nods back to Hades before offering his hand and slipping away like a wisp with the figure. Phoenix wonders if he should say anything.

“I wonder...” Lumiere says gazing where Hades had looked and Phoenix sighs and swallows feeling uncertain and shifts on his feet.

“Dad made sure he knew you’d all never forget, Thanatos will make sure he get’s ho- I mean... Er...” He isn’t sure how to say it... Home to him yes, but most here might call it hell, or something equally bad. Lumiere smiles at him, though it clearly subdued he shakes his head.

“Non, non, home is right little one. He’s home now.” Lumiere says blinking tears away though they slide down anyway he takes out the same handkerchief and dabs them away and Phoenix wonders at it, he hasn’t really seen many people he knew cry. He’d cried plenty but it was odd to actually see it. He isn’t going to cry, it just felt sad to see this crowd in clear pain over a loss he was sure hit hard. He doesn’t feel the same pain they do. The crowd looked a mix from anywhere of open grief to cold stony expressions hiding sad eyes. He couldn’t fathom it, he knew that, but his sympathy still went to these people. He worries for his father, was this why he was so sad lately? Watching humans he had come to like grow old and pass away, all the while staring out over an island that held a daughter that he’d likely never be able to meet? 

Phoenix quelled the sudden anger at his father’s position, it wouldn’t do to get angry he’d end up growing a thorny plant and hurt someone. Which he both doesn’t want to do, as hurting people wasn’t an answer and it would get him in trouble. He had heard magic wasn’t looked on too kindly here in any form though he found it annoying they’d call his powers magical given they weren’t magic. 

He had no pact with anything to allow him these abilities, he was just able to control plants in a way no other creature on the world could. Well, save other gods or nymphs tied to nature, though his was more potent than a nymph he wasn’t as good at it as his mother. He didn’t conjure things he willed them to grow, either from his own pool of energy or by touching a plant and encouraging it to bloom. He preferred the latter as it took less energy and was faster, but if he were to grow them on his own they could be anything he imagined. 

Magic was something that was specific, Hecate had told him that though gods seemed magical truly they were just powerful primordial beings able to control things in a way that was passed down to them from their Titan parentage. Magic was a separate power to the differing abilities the gods had and she then showed him many of her own tricks which all seemed like all and none of the other gods powers. As a child he had always loved being around her as she would twinkle lights about her and he’d spend hours playing with them as one or both of his parents were busy. Then again most understood magic as just power beyond normal human ability... So he supposed he couldn’t argue that without getting a headache or giving one to someone else. 

“Ah, you’ve meet Phoenix then, Lumiere, I hope he has been on good behavior?” Hades asks stepping closer and leaning on the tree as well to watch the people as the coffin was lowered and slowly buried. He looks tired but when he looks at the frenchman his expression softens and his eyes glow with a fond light. Phoenix catches it immediately.  Maybe his father has a new lover?   Almost all the gods and even goddesses tended to be polyamorous though there was a huge difference between being so and going behind one’s lover’s back and having a fling. He hated the way Hera reacted towards Zeus’ dalliances but then again she wouldn’t make a step that would make her look like anything less than the perfect wife. Even if it meant tormenting the wrong side of her husband’s affairs.

Many had begun to disperse from the graveyard and Phoenix was surprised by how much smaller the crowd was now. Fewer than half stayed including the royal family ruling over Auradon. Lumiere shrugs slightly he just seems tired now though he gives a half-hearted smile Hades’ way.

“Ah, he’s been a very polite young man. Though I think he’s a little confused by what to do in the face of so much grief.” Lumiere says and Hades looks over worried and sees Phoenix’s icy eyes clouded in worry his form shifting side to side as he tried to hide his discomfort. Hades moves and pats his son’s shoulder gently smiling softly at his son.

“You’ve never had to deal with this, Gia willing we don’t have to have another service any time soon. Sympathy isn’t something bad to have; it makes you like your mother. Thankfully you’re not apathetic like me.” Hades says and Phoenix both loved hearing that and didn’t. He wanted to be compared to Hades more often he always heard how much he was like his mother, as nice as it was, becuase his mother was a wonderful goddess, much calmer and less prone to rash flights of fancy that may end up as tragedy for humans than most other gods and goddesses. 

His father was just as amazing in his eyes. Hades was strong and stern, true; prone to make mischief, and make brash choices like his brothers, but he also was less prone to doing things that caused strife among humans nor was he outright spiteful of them like creating gorgons or other creatures that would often attack humans on sight. Based on Phoenix’s understanding Hades had the best track record out of his siblings really. Or at least a cleaner one by comparison. He didn’t understand why it was avoided comparing him to his father. He had similar eyes, blue; though his were brighter a more icy form of his fathers stormy blues.

“So it’s not bad I wasn’t crying?” Phoenix asks still confused though he wasn’t upset about it he wasn’t sure if he shouldn’t be crying. He didn’t know the one everyone had said goodbye to after all so he shouldn’t be upset wouldn’t the tears be seen as odd? Hades nods and pats his shoulder and pulls him into a half hug against his side and Phoenix leans into it relaxing a bit as he tries calming his emotions. Even as confused as they were. If there was one thing that wasn’t fun about being a god was how emotions worked with them. According to several gods their emotions were less restricted than other races. When they felt, it was something they felt strongly and it was often hard to contain it, whether it was joy, grief, or anger. Even weird amalgamations of said emotions.  

“Hades.” A man says and Phoenix assumes him to be King Adam becuase his father looks less than happy to talk to him. The man is a tall and broad blond, a stern look to him with cool blue eyes, not quite ice chips but they certainly weren’t warm like his Queen’s.

“King.” Hades says back curtly. Phoenix notes his father’s posture stiffens and he brings up a mask of indifference and mild displeasure.

“Is this Phoenix?” The woman the young Prince had gone to asks, so Phoenix is certain she must be Queen Belle. Hades nods though keeps his attention on the King. Both seemingly trying and glare the other into cowering. 

“Hello, Queen Belle, I presume?” Phoenix says trying to smile though he’s uncertain and does a slightly jittery bow sure he’s messing up as he isn’t sure how customs are here. He just bows slightly and inclines his head as he did with Zeus. She chuckles though it’s a bit hollow and curtseys and he blushed not sure he was owed the courtesy. After all his title wasn’t much out of Olympus and Greece. The Prince even bows and he tries to smile though it’s more a wince, his hazel eyes though pretty don’t glimmer they’re dull with pain. Phoenix wants to brighten them, he doesn’t like seeing this other young boy upset.

“Yes, I wish we’d have meet with some nicer circumstances. Oh those are beautiful Lumiere.” She says eyes brightening a bit at the sight of the vibrant blooms. Phoenix shrugs not certain how exactly to address that with the royals. He didn’t mind he just hoped them the best in recovering from the loss. Lumiere had been easy as he hadn’t realized who he was at first. Though he flushes at the compliment to the flowers he’d bloomed.

“Phoenix here gave them to me with his condolences.” Lumiere explains smiling at the flowers the look less stressed than earlier. Hades looks over curious as he looks first at the lilies then smiles that tired air stuck to it.

“You’ve gotten better at growing them.” He says making sure to catch Phoenix’s gaze the two silently survey the other checking for any cues of distress and Phoenix smiles though it’s weaker than his usual.

“Mother says that they’re almost prettier than hers now. I don’t believe her though.” Phoenix says shrugging looking at the blooms, they might be exception specimens of they’re variety but they didn’t give off that paradise like aura his mother’s plants would. 

“Growing them?” Prince Ben asks looking curious, seeing an opportunity to distract the boy Phoenix leaps at the chance for a smile or at least a distraction. Phoenix looks at the wilting yellow rose in the Prince’s pocket and grows a fresh new one and swaps it. He sees the King go tense expression growing almost angry and looks to his father worried he’d done something wrong but Hades had moved a hand out to grab the King’s shoulder glaring at him. 

“Oh, that’s cool.” Ben looks amazed and Phoenix pays more attention to the other child to ignore how he feels like he messed up. “How’d you do that?” Ben asks and Phoenix spins the dead rose between his fingers back and forth. He could rejuvenate it but it wouldn’t last long, and would eventually only cause it to decay faster each time he tried to bring it back to it’s former lush vitality. If it had roots it would be another story. So long as the plant was still able to grow he could influence it’s health for as long as it remained able to grow.

“I can grow things like my mother, Persephone. She’s the Goddess of Spring. I can also become a shadow like Father but I haven’t figured out how to really do that...” Phoenix explains and Ben is wide eyed asking him all sorts of questions Phoenix answers without a second thought, at least both of them are distracted. Ben asked questions about what The Underworld is like, if he knew certain gods and so on so forth. Phoenix was unsteady at first, not used to anyone being so actively interested, but easily grew fond of Ben. The other boy was compassionate and when he cared he cared deeply, the draw back was his naivety. Ben tended to believe in and look for the good in all things. Phoenix adored it about him but also hated it. People especially those in Auradon would certainly attempt to take advantage. Not to say Ben was stupid, just... Soft. Phoenix felt strangely protective of him, and that feeling only seemed to solidify the longer he spent time with and around the Prince.

Phoenix slowly grew fond of the kingdom as much as he hated the similar way people preened for power like back home it was no where near as toxic, people there still had good hearts and had a habit of reminding people when to shove off when they over stepped their boundaries. He makes a few friends though it’s tentative at first. Being friends with Ben is difficult as it earns him ire from everyone around him. Except a few. Queen Belle, Fairy Godmother and Lonnie are very encouraging all around of him and the steps he takes to separate himself from a few negative stereotypes associated with greek gods and goddesses. He fights constantly to subdue his emotions as it could be hard not to grow angry when someone would start up behavior they so viciously condemned in Auradon, yet seem prone to all the same. 

He is allowed to grow plants without penalty as it was best he use the energy on something given if he is left idle too long he looses control over his power and it will grow plants rampant around him. Control at least full control eluded him at his young age. He could grow things on command but if he didn’t use the ability to flex it it would just build into excess growth in the general area. He worked on it with both his father and Fairy Godmother but he couldn’t seem to find a way to work it out.

Hades had suggested that perhaps Phoenix just wasn’t able to due to his mixed nature, given Persephone was a fertility Goddess and nature oriented while he was fire, shadow and death/spirit oriented. He was a King of wealth and all beneath the earth while his wife and Queen was a goddess of what grew through it and above. Phoenix was a strange middle ground. He could become mist and shadow like or even summon fog around himself but it was rare to manifest and often only if he were afraid. He had much better grasp over his nature abilities. 

“Life here isn’t nor will it be easy... And it kind of hurts to see the Isle and know my sister’s out there... But, I think I made a good choice coming here.” Phoenix says softly to his father. Hades just stares out over the water and seems to distracted to notice at first.

“I’d hope so, you’re stuck here or Olympus anyway.” Hades reminds him and Phoenix nods with a heavy sigh. It was true he couldn’t really travel elsewhere. Not until he could control his powers fully. Then he could travel about without one of his parent’s oversight. 

“At least here more toxic behavior is curbed and pushed out of the public areas. Unless of course said behavior is common, but there’s enough good here I don’t feel like I’m trapped and need to lash out at everyone near me to breathe.” He says kicking a rock and Hades rubs his back staring over the Isle. He says nothing but Phoenix knows how his father feels. It hurts but it’s easier to deal with here rather than at home. It’s not so much a weakness here as accepted unfortunate circumstances. He does hope to meet his sister one day though, most likely she’ll hate him. He couldn’t blame her though, if he’d have grown up in a cage he’d likely hate anyone on the other side of the bars too.

@hereliesdeedee​​ for the aesthetic, they’re amazing at making these and they put a lot of work into making me the one above for Phoenix Prince of The Underworld son of Hades and Persephone. 

#disney descendants #descendants oc #hades #descendants hades #Live action Adam #live action belle #lumiere live action #Mention of cogsworth #Mentions of Mal #Ben #Lonnie #hades descendants #ben x oc #lonnie descendants #ben florian #ben descendants #descendants #my oc Phoenix

[deans-mind-palace]

Suspirium (Pt.3)

Pairing: Prof!Sam x Reader

Summary: You’re in your last year of your Classics and Mordern Languages studies and you’re majoring in Latin and English. Then you get assigned to a different Latin teacher. And damn, he loves his subject. Too bad that he’s also hot. What is just a childish crush soon develops into something way more complicated.

Word Count: 2,420

Warnings: Awkward meetings? I think that’s a warning. ;) Slowburn.

Author’s Note: Third chap. I’m terribly sorry that it took me some days, but it’s twice as long as normally and I have the full story plotted now. Things in cursive are translations for the reader. Also, this is a slow burn story! Show it some love with likes, comments and reblogs. But most important, have fun. 

Suspirium - Masterlist

You had ignored the annoying questions of your best friends all day yesterday and this morning as well. They were dying to know how you felt about Professor Winchester's first lecture. After all, they didn't know that you had met him before by chance, when he spilled his coffee on you. You didn't know exactly why, but something tempted you to keep quiet about your encounter with the young professor. What was there to tell? It had been an accident and he had invited you in for coffee. Nothing more. No big deal.

Your last lecture for the day was already over and in a few minutes you would meet Sa- Professor Winchester in the little café around the corner. You entered the café and looked around, but there was no sign of Professor Winchester. A glance at your mobile phone told you that you were a few minutes early. Shoulder shrugging, you looked for a seat by the window. It was your favourite seat, because you had a beautiful view over the park. You were always sitting here and following the course of nature. Leaves rose, turned green, changed colour and fell off again. Every year it was the same. The eternal course of nature.

Sam saw you through the window when he arrived at the cafe. Your fingers thoughtfully twisted a strand of hair between your fingers while you looked out over the park with a dreamy look on your face. A gentle smile played around your lips and he struggled to tear himself away from the sight. You looked so calm and peaceful that it fascinated him immensely. You sat there like a Roman goddess. As if you were holding the world in balance just by being.

He loosened his shirt collar with two fingers before taking a breath and entering the room. Immediately your eyes fell on him and you waved at him. A smile lit up your face and Sam made his way through the guests to the table in the back. He sat down opposite you and smiled at you. "Good afternoon, Professor Winchester," you greeted him, but he interrupted you laughing. "Please do not stand on formalities. I am Sam." He reached out to you as if you were seeing each other for the first time in your lives. Laughing, you reached out and played along to his game. "Hi, Sam. I'm Y/N." He winked slyly at you. "Y/N. That's a beautiful name. You know the Latin version? Many names have a Latin origin or a corresponding version," he explained and you denied yourself a smile. His hazel eyes sparkled in the golden autumn light. "Yes, I knew that." You replied, loosening up a bit. You were afraid that it would become too formal and strange between you, but that was not the case. Sure, what were you thinking? After all, it was just a cup of coffee.

You talked about some petty things like how the year had started for you and how nice the weather was when Sam finally offered to get the coffee from the counter. "What would you like?" he asked you as he got up. A few strands of his brown hair fell down into his eyes, making him look almost mischievous. He looked younger that way anyway. Today he only wore a dark green t-shirt, a leather jacket and dark jeans, which sat on him and accentuated his tight ass. Every woman would have been jealous at the sight of his backside. "Y/N?" He cleared his throat and stared at you worried. "You all right?" Sam asked you.You flinched in surprise. "Um, yeah, of course. A caramel cappuccino, please." A little embarrassed, you tugged your top straight. Sam nodded. "Got it. I'll be right back." he promised and you followed him to the counter with your eyes.

Suddenly, your phone rang. You looked at the screen. Brooks' name shining in bright letters off the screen. In a hurry, you took a look at the queue where Sam was standing and answered the call.

"Hey Brooks. This is kind of a bad timing. Can I call you back?" you answered, but your best friend stopped you right there. "I haven't heard from you since yesterday! I thought you were dead. Where the fuck are you? What the hell are you doing?" Sam paid as you spoke. "It's a long story. I can't talk now, but I'll tell you later, okay? I promise." He sighed and you could tell by the tone of his voice that he was massaging his temples. "I was worried, Y/N." You smiled at Brooks' care. "I appreciate that. It's all good." Sam made his way up to you with two steaming cups and put the pleasant-smelling hot drink in front of you. "Look, I really have to hang up now. I'll see you later." And before he could say anything back, you ended the call.

Sam sipped his coffee and gave you a questioning look. "Your boyfriend? Is it okay for us to meet? No, I'm sorry, that's none of my business." he said calmly, but his eyes did not leave yours. "What, Brooks? No, he's just a friend." Sam nodded understandingly. "Even if he did, why wouldn't it be all right?" you asked, honestly surprised, and he nearly choked on his coffee. You were still stirring around with a spoon in yours. "Well, there's not that much age difference between us. Not that he thinks - never mind, forget what I said," he stuttered and a slight blush ran down his face. Sam bit his tongue in annoyance and avoided your gaze. Was he hinting at...? It was a simple statement of fact, since it was the truth, nothing more. Embarrassed, you sipped your coffee and closed your eyes with relish as the caramel descended on your tongue like mist. It was a creamy and intense taste. You sighed delightfully, which made Sam laugh. "I ordered twice the amount of caramel. As compensation."

For a few minutes you drank your coffee silently and sometimes smiled at each other over your cups. "So-" Sam finally broke your silence. "Why Latin?" He seemed genuinely curious. "I could ask you the same question," you replied, which made him laugh. "That's right. You first, then me." You didn't have to think for a second. "I chose Latin in the sixth grade so I'd have an easier time learning French later. But over time I became more and more interested in the Latin phrases, the view of the world of ancient Rome and literature and poetry. My Latin teacher recognized this early and encouraged me from the beginning. In the end, I did my A-Levels in Latin instead of French as I had planned. But you can't earn money with Latin alone, but since I always liked writing and languages, I decided to study English and Classics without further ado. The roots of our language today. Latin is the language of law, architecture and engineering, the military, science, philosophy, religion and - of particular interest here - the language of a flourishing literature which for centuries served as a model for all Western literature". You paused for a moment and looked away somewhat embarrassed. You had let yourself be carried away again when you spoke of your passion. You were used to people not understanding your feelings and only moaning when you started again, so you had stopped. You were just waiting for Sam's rejection, but as soon as you raised your eyes you saw the same passion in his eyes that you only knew from yourself.

A warm smile lay on his lips and his hazel eyes sparkled. He really seemed to understand what you were talking about, for he nodded violently. "The Latin of literature speaks of love and war in hundreds of masterpieces, reflects on the body and soul, develops theories about the meaning of life and the tasks of man, about the fate of the soul and the nature of matter, sings of the beauty of nature, the meaning of friendship, the pain of losing all that is dear to one; and it criticizes depravity, ponders death, the arbitrariness of power, violence and cruelty.

It creates inner images, puts emotions into words, formulates ideas about the world and social life. Latin is the language of the relationship between the One and everything" he completed your thoughts. You looked at him in surprise. "Exactly!" You both began to laugh. Then you both beamed at each other. You sipped your coffee. The caramel melted on your tongue and tasted pleasantly sweet. You put your cup back on the table with a soft clink and cleared your throat.

"And how did you come to learn Latin?" you asked and had trouble hiding your curiosity. He stirred thoughtfully in his coffee and the good mood seemed to have vanished. You were about to apologize in case you had said something wrong, but then Sam started to tell his story.

"Well..." He was shuffling around a bit. "I-I had a not-so-easy childhood. My mother died early and left my dad, my brother and me alone. My dad never got over her death, everything reminded him of her. He couldn't handle the pain and liked to drown it in alcohol. We often moved and he sometimes left us alone for days without knowing where he was or if he would come back. My brother and I were mostly on our own. Each of us dealt with the situation differently. I read a lot and enjoyed living in my own world, far away from the harsh reality. I had been interested in mythology from an early age on. It was my dad's thing and I soon came into contact with it. I loved these stories about brave soldiers, beautiful goddesses, adventurous ship journeys and fearless gladiators. Latin helped me escape from my screwed-up family. I found my way to poetry and literary writing. I became enthusiastic about translating stories, because it was my own secret language that no one else but me knew. They only knew a few sentences. Through Latin I was able to direct my many interests towards a common goal. Eventually I went to Stanford to study law. It contains a few Latin terms, but can't be compared to Roman law. In the end I returned to my passion and changed course. Now after years, here I am." Sam shrugged his shoulders and his eyes flickered uncertainly.

You hung spellbound on his lips as he told you the story of his life. He was such an open and friendly person that it was hard to imagine how much his childhood must have shaped him. When he finished his story, you still clung to his last words in your mind. He misunderstood your silence and looked at you nervously. He looked at you nervously. "I - oh, God. You probably don't care about that. You don't want me to tell you. It's inappropriate for me to tell you this as your professor." He was coughing and sipping his coffee in a hurry. Somehow he had let himself get carried away when he talked to you like that, because normally Sam didn't talk much about himself, but when you smiled at him broadly, he paused in surprise. "It's all right, Sam. I'm glad someone understands my passion. And I know what you mean. My childhood wasn't easy, either, not as extreme as yours, but I have history of my own." You felt your mood change when you thought about your parents and decided not to elaborate. Sam didn't ask any further, almost as if he sensed how uncomfortable you were with the subject. For a while, you went back to your petty banter. Sam liked your passion. The fire in your soul. Your love of the language that had been his best friend as a child. You knew what he was talking about. He was fascinated by you. You were no different.

"Well, I um... This may be a little inappropriate, but I spent a year in Italy as part of my studies and, well, that's when I started writing a book on the beauty of Latin." You started talking. Sam looked at you with interest gleaming in his beautiful hazel eyes. "Really?" "Yes. I'm on my own so far, but I need someone who knows something about Latin. An expert opinion, so to speak." You took a deep breath. Sam nodded. "You want me to read it?" he asked and you nodded in relief. He had understood what you wanted to say. Still you were a bit unsure. Sam was a real expert.

What if he thought your book was a load of bullshit? It was your heart project. Were you able to handle the criticism? "I've never let anyone read it before and-" But Sam interrupted you. As he smiled, his teeth gleamed brightly between his pink lips. "I'll do it. I'd be honored to be the first to read your work," the young professor told you. Joy filled you and filled your face with a beam that he reflected instantly.

You happened to catch a glimpse of the clock hanging over the door a little to the side of Sam's head. You were startled and began to curse. You had been here for almost three hours! "Oh crap. I am so late!" You hurriedly gathered your things and threw your bag over your shoulder. "I'm- I'm really sorry, Sam. But I have to go now or I'll be late for work!" You felt sincere regret that you couldn't just sit here for hours and talk to him. Sam didn't want you to go either, but you both remained silent about it. Sam sat at your table still a little perplexed and watched you put on your jacket. "I'd be glad if we could continue this sometime." It all happened a bit too fast for Sam, and he looked overwhelmed as he scratched his neck and ruffled his hair. "Um... Yeah, sure. No problem. I'd love to." he finally said and gave you a smile that you responded with relief. "All right, I really have to go. Bye, Sam." "Vale. Goodbye," he said with a wry grin and made you laugh. You hugged him quickly and his aftershave got up your nose, then you hurried out of the café and left a frozen Sam behind. Then you realized that you had just quickly hugged your professor. You got red in the face.

Tags beneath cut. Wanna get tagged? Drop an ask or comment in or add yourself to the Sam taglist with the link in my bio.

Sam Tags: @ashthefirefox​ @rintheemolion​ @fortheentries​ @vexhye​ @traceyaudette​ @zeppette​ @thewintersoldierswife​ @outofnowhere82​

#sam x reader #sam winchester #sam x y/n #sam x you #professor!sam #professor!au #professor #supernatural #supernatural fic #supernatural reader insert #supernatural fandom #supernatural cast #alternate universe #spn #spn fanfic series #spnfamily #spn fandom #spn fanfiction #jared x y/n #jared padalecki #jared x reader

[alextriestowritestuff]

Mark of Athena Re-read

Hey guys! If you’ve been keeping up with my last couple of posts, you’ll know I’ve been re-reading the Heroes of Olympus (HoO) series by Rick Riordan, starting with the Son of Neptune. If you want to my thoughts on it (spoilers included) and my background with the series, click here. I made a little bit of rant post about my feelings about the HoO series overall so far and you can find that here! This post will be about the Mark of Athena (MoA) and as always, spoilers abound.

Soooo y’all...I think this book is worse than the Lost Hero. I feel so bad for saying that bc I hated tLH (Like I’d give that book 2 stars) but god, this was so bad. No wonder I forgot what happened when I originally read it. Before I get into it, I will say I’m usually not negative in my ‘reviews’-I’ll give credit where it’s due (I did that in tSoN with Hazel and Frank who weren’t really my fav characters to start with) but this book has very little redeemable aspects imo. So I’ll start with the thing I was most irritated about: Piper.

Piper...Piper...Piper. Gods, none of her chapters ever passed the Bechdel test. I DESPISE her and I hated every single one of her chapters. With characters like Frank, I admitted that sometimes his chapters were a bit boring but I never hated the guy’s narration. Piper, however, is an insecure hypocrite. Let me show you.

So at one point, Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel meet up with Aphrodite. The POV is Annabeth’s and while Aphrodite is talking to them, it seems like Piper is just embarrassed to have her around. 

“Mother!” Piper said. “You’re embarrassing me.” “Well, I don’t see why,” the goddess said. “Just because you don’t appreciate my fashion tips, Piper, doesn’t mean the others won’t. I could do a quick makeover for Annabeth and Hazel, perhaps silk ball gowns like mine—” “Mother!” 

And a few lines later she says again “ ‘Mother, Piper said, “is there a reason you’re here?’” (30). 

Okay so someone tell me why this girl says 10 pages later “But also, Piper was secretly hurt not to have her mother to herself. Aphrodite had barely looked at her. She hadn’t said a word about Jason. She hadn’t bothered explaining her conversation with Reyna at all. It was almost as if Aphrodite no longer found Piper interesting. Piper had gotten her guy. Now it was up to her to make things work, and Aphrodite had moved on to newer gossip as easily as she might toss out an old copy of a tabloid magazine” (40). LIKE GIRL MAKE UP YOUR MIND. Do you want your mom’s attention or not? But I’m highkey interested in what Aphrodite said to Reyna tho.

Let’s talk about Reyna for a second. First off, I feel so bad for her?? Percy turned her down-fine, he has a gf. Then I thought Jason had feelings for her but he says this in MoA, page 19: “It’s just…I never felt that way toward Reyna,” Jason said, “so I didn’t think about its making you uncomfortable. You’ve got nothing to worry about, Pipes”. Like damn can Reyna get any love?? I get that he doesn’t like her anymore since he met Piper but to have never liked her? That’s rough. And notice how this quote is from page 19, but again on p. 40, Piper is still so insecure in their relationship. I don’t she’s listened to a word he said at all. Then towards the end of the book, she says oh I love you but she literally didn’t know the man’s age prior to that. Like what?? Did they even kiss this book? I think like once lmao. Also speaking of the birthday thing, Piper says this while she waits for Jason to blow out his birthday candles.

“Well?” she urged. “Blow out the candles.”

Jason did. Piper wondered if he’d made a wish—hopefully that he and Piper would survive this quest and stay together forever. She decided not to ask him. She didn’t want to jinx that wish, and she definitely didn’t want to find out that he’d wished for something different. 

Me @ Jason: This your girl? Come get her. Because Imma hurt her feelings. What do you mean you want him to wish to stay together forever? He should wish for Gaea to you know die so everyone can be safe. If I ever met Piper in person, I’d fight her. ON SIGHT. 

In a related note, I’ve got nothing to say about Jason. He was fine. He passed out alot during this book, didn’t do much for how hyped his powers are supposed to be. I will say when he and Percy were possessed and they fought each other, Percy totally won that fight. He knocked Jason the hell out and was about to end his whole career until Piper got Blackjack to knock him out. But overall, I think Jason’s rather bland and him and Piper have NO chemistry. But I don’t think he deserves insecure Piper as a girlfriend. She’s a whole ass child of Aphrodite and she’s worried about her relationship...let me move on.

My main issue with the book lies in the structure and plot. The previous two books had 3 narrators and each set of trio had a specific prophecy assigned to them-i.e: Percy, Hazel and Frank had to free death, retrieve the eagle. The prophecies are a catalyst to get them to go on the quest. And then obviously, we have the overarching prophecy of the seven that will come to fruition in small chunks until the last book of the series. That’s fine. So the issue with MoA is that now Rick is handling seven characters + Coach Hedge (like why was he necessary??). He has 4 POVs which threw me the hell off bc we had 3 in the previous two books and honestly, I think we could’ve gone without one of them (Percy’s actually). As a writer, it’s hard to balance multiple characters in the same setting constantly. If they have a conversation, one or two of them will have less lines because other characters have already said them. Therefore to give everyone adequate ‘screen time’, Rick had to separate them by keeping groups of three or two on their own side quest. As a result, however, reading the book felt like I was being brake checked constantly. Ex-We follow Percy, Frank, and Hedge to an Aquarium then we follow Annabeth, Hazel, and Piper to meet Aphrodite, then they encounter the Romans, then Piper and Jason meet Hercules and get the horn and so on. Like they’re constantly shifting and doing stuff but not going as a group so it feels like I’m constantly trying to catch up. There’s too many pit stops for my liking. And I deadass have no idea what most of it had to with the MoA prophecy. 

This disjointed-ness is what makes me rate it lower than tLH. Because while I didn’t like Piper or Jason in that book, it was still cohesive. There was a plot and it was followed. Another reason I might feel this way toward MoA is because Rick has a formula and it’s starting to be predictable. Think about the original Greek myths-there’s one main demigod like Hercules, there’s a quest, there’s godly interference so it makes sense the the PJO/HoO characters have the same thing. But all this talking to gods (esp gods we’ve already met like Aphrodite) is taking up so much space and slowing the plot. It also didn’t help that the minor villians in this book are all unlikeable?? All they did was talk. Otis and Ephialtes. Porchy and Keto. Arachane. All they did was talk. Here’s how to defeat a PJO/HoO villain: con them to help you/let you go or fight them. That’s it. 

This book is where I started to really regret reading the series. Like I was just over it. The plot was somehow slow and all over the place at the same time. The last couple of chapters were good because I was like finally, something relevant to the prophecy is happening. 

Let me leave you guys with some positives about this book though:

1. Annabeth’s POV. What a gal. When she faces Arachane, Annabeth mentions that she doesn’t have an active power like the other Seven but she has her intelligence. And I’m like yes girl, you are brave and everything I want to be. I would read the PJO series from her POV over this series.

2. Percabeth. They kept promising to come back to each other and my heart melted. Percy was so worried about letting her go follow the Mark but he knew it’s what she had to do and he let her go. And ugh, them falling got me all over again. And like just their chemistry is off the charts. Piper and Jason could never. 

3.  Percy’s comments about Luke. Percy realizes that he’s around Luke’s age when Luke went all ‘Gods are bad, their children are pawns’ and like I get chills from reading that passage because you can tell Percy’s tired. He can’t have a life because of these quests, he’s constantly moments away from dying. He never really got a chance to be a teenager. And I get he wants to help people and keep the world from being taken over by bad guys but he’s also human. He’s seen demigods die...he’s traumatized. Like Percy, I really understand Luke better now (right idea, wrong execution) and l see how tired Percy is. 

4. The Leo/Hazel/Frank disaster of a love triangle. Like I’ve mentioned before, I want Hazel, a THIRTEEN YEAR OLD child, to be left the hell alone when it comes to romance. But because Uncle Rick insists on pairing up everyone, I have to oblige. So here I am. The amount of times I cackled at Frank and Leo’s digs at each other is astronomical. Like shots were fired, no one held back. I was like is this even MG/lower end of YA anymore with all this salt?? Over the years I’ve been spoiled about the series so I know that Leo somehow ends up with Calypso so I know nothing will come out of the love triangle (and it seems to be wrapping up bc Leo and Frank complimented each other’s abilities toward the end there) but passive aggressive-ness was peak. 

5. Every single conversation between Reyna and Annabeth. Like two powerhouses talking about wanting to save their camps and the world. I loved it. Hands down. I hope they can be friends when this is all over. 

6. And lastly, the reunion of Percabeth. The Judo flip. The fact that Percy talked about having a future with her. 

Thanks for reading if you made it down here and I’ll see you guys in a couple of days with my House of Hades update. This book and the one after it I’m reading for the first time ever so I’m going in semi blind (like I said, I know some spoilers). I’m currently on chapter 2 or 3 of that and ermm, it was a weak intro but I’ll keep going :) rooting for Percabeth to make it through. 

#Mark of Athena #Percy Jackson #Percabeth #HoO #Read with me #alextriestowritestuff #writeblr #not writing #reyna ramirez arellano

[stusbunker]

Dr. Emery Simmons-Winchester

Hey guys! An ask post got me thinking about my girl Emery from my Sam series For Better or Worst.

So I decided to fill out the questions about her, in case you’re interested since a lot of her background has been kept as only small glimpses due to the plot so far. Here are those questions from the ASK POST. (Since I know no one would actually send me asks, especially about OCs.)

Basics:

1. What is their gender?

Female

2. What is their sexuality?

Heterosexual

3. What is the meaning behind their name? Do they have any nicknames?

Meaning: Derived from Emmerich, which can mean brave and powerful. Also a hard, dark substance (i.e. emery boards)

Sam calls her ‘Em’ and ‘Baby’

Georgie used to call her Mama E

4. Do they have any siblings? How many? Are they older or younger?  Which sibling are they the closest with?

She has an older half brother that she isn’t close with, but that’s just because he lived across the country from her and her son.

5. What’s their relationship with their parents like? What about other relatives?

Emery loved her parents to the ends of the earth. Though her dad wasn’t always around, his parents helped raise her. She was by her mother’s side when she died from cancer.

6. What would they give their life for?

Georgie. And redemption. Though there are others that she cares for and her dedication to them will be tested deeply soon.

7. Are they in a romantic relationship? With who? How did they meet?

Is an arranged marriage romantic? I guess it depends on who you ask. She is currently married to Sam Winchester. They met via some shady dealings from one Naomi, Angel of the Lord.

8. What do they believe will happen to them after they die? Does this belief scare them?

Can I laugh at how deep we are getting in the “Basics” section of this?! Like, damn and then the next question is like a Teen Bop quiz.

Emery believes in Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. She grew as a psychic, knowing the world as it exists on the show. She still believes the angels are on humanity’s side and are her path to forgiveness, if not salvation.

9. What is their favorite color? Favorite animal?

Emery likes rich earth tones with some gold in for accents. She looks good in just about anything though.

10. What are some of their talents/skills?

She is a medieval history professor, and an outstanding lecturer. She reads people really well, even after losing her psychic powers. She has a decent singing voice. Is an amazing mom. And when she makes up her mind to do something, she follows through. Very hard to change her mind or challenge her moral compass.

11. If they could make a mark on history, what would they like it to be?

Just that the world was better, in any small way, from her influence.

12. How old are they? When is their birthday?

She is 39, born January 16, 1981.

13. What do they do for fun?

Read. Play with her dog Bandit. Go for walks. Listen to music. She used to mess with people who didn’t know she was psychic, but nothing malicious just little things that would stump strangers. She also used to play video games with Georgie.

14. What is their favorite food? How often do they get to eat it?

Potatoes in all of their glorious forms. She also love Cajun cuisine. She isn’t much of a cook, because she never had time to go all out. But french fries are easy enough to come by!

15. What was something their parents taught them?

That no matter who you are, you have a place in this world and a job to do.

Family always comes first.

16. Are they religious?

Yes, but most of the strict devotion rose from the death of her son.

17. Where were they born?

Gary, Indiana

18. What languages can they speak? Where did they learn these languages?

Different dialects of American English. She can read Old English and Middle English from her years of study.

Latin, from high school and some college.

19. What is their occupation?

Currently a professor, formerly a part-time psychic.

20. Do they have any titles? How did they earn them?

She has a PHD in History and a Masters in Education. Dr. Simmons-Winchester if you’d like. ;)

Personality:

21. What is their favorite thing about their personality?

She appreciates her own snark, when it comes out.

22. What is their least favorite thing about their personality?

Her psychic upbringing game her a lot of empathy for others. She hates how weak that makes her seem.

23. Do they get lonely easily?

No, she keeps too busy to feel lonely. Her son was always enough for her... until she found Sam.

24. Do you know their MBTI type?

No because those tests are way too fucking long.

25. What is their biggest flaw?

Self-assigned guilt.

26. Are they aware of their flaws?

Not all of them, who is?

27. What is their biggest strength?

Her dedication.

28. Are they aware of their strengths?

Yes, she isn’t one to sell herself short.

29. How would they describe their own personality?

She would say she is smart, kind and generally tough.

30. When frightened, will they resort to “fight” or “flight”?

She isn’t one for physical violence, but she will stand up vocally. She has had to defend herself physically in the past and that cost her her son.

31. Does this character ever put somebody else’s needs before their own? Who do they do this for? How often do they do this?

Constantly, in the past it was mostly her son, but now also her husband.

32. What is their self esteem like?

Good. She owns her strengths and is aware of her shortcomings. Though she is slightly shaken from a recent rejection, but she knows better than to get too attached when there are other factors in play.

33. What is their biggest fear? How would they react to having to face it?

Failure to protect her son. She would go to the ends of possibility to save him.

34. How easily do they trust others with their secrets? With their lives?

It took almost five months of an arranged marriage for her to tell Sam about her son, his death and her side of their deal with Heaven. Though she trusts Sam, she didn’t reveal much about her past.

We’re going to have to wait and see if she can trust Sam or Cas with her life.

35. What is the easiest way to annoy them?

Talk cruelly about other people on end. Chew with your mouth open.

36. What is their sense of humor like? Give an example of a joke they would find humorous.

She has a pretty decent sense of humor. Not too dark, but definitely has a sarcastic streak. I think she would love memes, especially living with a preteen gamer, she would have seen her share. But she’s still a dorky mom, so she only shares the obvious ones with her TAs.

37. How easy is it for them to say “I love you”? Do they say it without meaning it?

Fairly easy, especially with family. Never.

38. What do others admire most about their personality?

Her strength of character and her determination to DO GOOD.

39. What does their happily ever after look like?

She hasn’t really thought about it beyond the task at hand. Keeping up her charade with Sam in order to save Georgie’s soul and Dean. They have quiet the dream life from the outside: great jobs, nice house in a good neighborhood. But none of that can last, not for them. Right?

40. Who do they trust most? Is that trust mutual?

Her mother, but she passed about two years ago. Yes.

Physical Profile:

41. What does their laugh sound like? Do they snort when they laugh? How often do they laugh?

Her voice is smoky, much like her faceclaim Rashida Jones. Her laugh can get breathy or silent if it is a really deep one. She laughs in little spells, but nothing like she used to.

42. What is their favorite thing about their physical appearance?

Her sparkling hazel eyes.

43. What is their least favorite thing about their physical appearance?

She thinks she has a big nose. But her complex is so good, she doesn’t dwell.

44. Do they have any scars? If so, what are the stories behind those scars?

Yes, she had a total hysterectomy after her mother died so she has laparoscopic scaring. She also has stretch marks from pregnancy. The biggest scars are on her left upper arm, where her son scratched her when he first shifted into a werewolf.

45. How would they describe their own appearance?

Just a 30-someting mixed girl rocking what she’s got.

46. How easily can they express emotions? How easily can they hide emotions?

She is tempered first and foremost. Being vulnerable is not something she does regularly, but she doesn’t hide the big things. They’re too much for a reason.

47.    What’s their pain tolerance like? 

She is a women of color and a single mother, her pain tolerance is insanely high because people don’t listen anyway. (yes, that’s shade)

48. Do they have any tattoos? What are the stories behind those tattoos?

She doesn’t. (Desperately trying to remember if she does now... oops?)

49. Do they have any piercings?

Just a single on both ears.

51. What is their height? Weight?

5′4″ 130lbs ish

52. What is their body type? Are they muscular, chubby, skinny, etc?

She thin, not overly fit.

53. What is their hair color? Eye color? Skin tone?

Dark brown/ Hazel/ Dark Beige

55. What is their alcohol tolerance like? What kind of drunk are they? How bad are their hangovers?

She has a fairly low tolerance for alcohol, but that’s generally because she doesn’t drink often. When she gets wine drunk she gets affectionate. The few times she has been hungover have been exhausting because she doesn’t give her self time to recover.

56. What do they smell like? Why do they smell like this? (Is it the things they’re around or a perfume they wear?)

Her natural scent is warm spices, with almost a vanilla finish. She has a jasmine perfume that makes her slightly more feminine and floral.

57. How do they feel about sex? Are they a virgin?

She hasn’t had an active sex life until she married Sam. Before that it had been a few years. No, she isn’t a virgin and this is a dumb question because it is an outdated misogynistic construct.

58. What is their most noticeable physical attribute?

Her big, bright, multicolored eyes. Then her smile.

59. What does their resting face look like? Do they have RBF?

Not exactly resting, but you get the point. Yes.

60. Describe the way they sleep.

She sleeps curled on her side, in the middle of the bed. If Sam’s already up, she is stealing his pillow to cuddle. If Sam is sleeping elsewhere, she stays to her side.

Environment:

61. Which season is their favorite season?

Summer, though she was born in the winter, she prefers it if she can function outside or at least read by the lake.

62. Have they ever been betrayed? How did it affect their ability to trust others?

Okay, yes, everyone has been betrayed. She is currently dealing with the ramifications of an unjust deal with Heaven. It’s not easy for her.

63. What is always guaranteed to make them smile?

Her dog Bandit.

64. Do they get cold easily? Do they get overheated easily?

Yes, she is a slight woman, she gets cold easily.

65. What’s their immune system like? Do they get sick often? How do they react to getting sick?

She has a solid immune system, even when she gets sick she powers through. Bad mental health days knock her down a few pegs though.

66. Where do they live? Do they like it there?

Currently living in Denver, CO with Sam and Bandit. She lived in Chicago with her son and dog previously.

67. Is their bedroom messy? What about their bathroom? Kitchen? Living room?

No, she keeps her bedroom clean because she shares it (for the most part) now. The bathroom and kitchen are always spotless. The living room is a little cluttered, but that’s generally Bandit’s toys and research she leaves out when she’s not grading in the dining room.

68. How did their environment growing up affect their personality?

She was surrounded by love. Her mom was a waitress at a diner and her paternal granddad and big mama helped raised her. She knew she had to work hard for anything to come to her and she also was psychic so she was able to sense how her family was “odd” or “wrong” depending on whose thoughts she heard. She grew up learning to respect people and kill them with kindness, or wit if she had to.

69. How did the people in their environment growing up affect their personality?

See above.

70. How do they feel about animals? Do they have any pets?

She loves animals, but is very much a dog person. Yes, Bandit, the best boy ever.

71. How are they with children? Do they have any? Do they want any?

She is amazing with kids, especially one on one. She has a son George, who would have been 13 last spring. She is unable to have more.

72.   Would they rather have stability or comfort? 

Stability. Knowing what to expect is its own level of comfort.

73. Do they prefer the indoors or outdoors?

She is generally indoors, but generally all of her active free time is spent outside.

74. What weather is their favorite? Do they like storms?

To be in, sunny and clear. She likes storms from the safety of inside and thunder more than the lightning.

75. If given a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and nothing to do, what would happen?

She would probably doodle old geometric patterns found on ancient manuscripts as a border. Possibly make a list of things that need doing or write the same word over and over again in different fonts.

76. How organized are they?

Fairly, not obsessively so.

77. What is their most prized possession?

Her PhD.

78. Who do they consider to be their best friend?

She was close with a few colleagues at her last job, a small college just outside of Chicago. But her mother was her best friend so it is hard to put that title on someone else since she lost her.

79. What is their economic situation? 

Currently upper-middle class. Previously working class struggling with medical bills.

80. Are they a morning person or a night owl?

She is not a morning person, but doesn’t stay up too late unless she has too.

Miscellaneous:

81. Are they bothered by the sight of blood?

No. Unless someone is severely hurt.

82. What is their handwriting like?

Not too neat, but generally a combination of print and cursive.

83. Can they swim? How well? Do they like to swim?

Yes, well enough to not die, she doesn’t know all the strokes or anything. Sure, but not as much as she likes sunbathing.

84. Which deadly sin do they represent best?

Oh, this is a tough one! I am going to say Envy, because though she had a great family growing up, she was still very much aware of what other people had. And their problems always seemed so frivolous.

85. Do they believe in ghosts?

Yes, she was a psychic, she spoken to spirits before.

86. How do they celebrate holidays? How do they celebrate birthdays?

She has her great-grandmother’s china that she keeps for the big holidays, Christmas, Easter, etc. She would host the cousins and aunties with her grandma and once her mom got too sick, it was harder to get everyone together. She and George would go to her Aunt Janice’s house when they could for Sunday dinner, but traffic in and out of the city was a pain during the school year.

87. What is something they regret?

Killing her son in self-defense.

88. Do they have an accent?

Not usually, she was in an academic setting for so long she doesn’t let it slip out often.

89. What is their D&D alignment?

Neutral Good, laws and those who enforce them should evolve quicker than they do.

90. Are they right or left handed?

Right.

92. Describe them as a John Mulaney gif.

93. What’s the most iconic line of dialogue they’ve ever said?

She groaned, grabbing his face in both her hands. “Fine! Asshole. But you better make it worth it.”

She was pointing a finger at his agreeing puppy dog face now.

#for better or worst feels #emery simmons-winchester #stu's ocs

[rebellect-writes]

[SIZE=1][b]Name:[/b] Jess. [b]Age:[/b] An imaginary number! [b]What happened?:[/b] GH, she’s evil...and I like his hair.

[b]Name:[/b] Hunter Burnett. [b]Nicknames & Aliases:[/b][LIST]Uncle Jordon. Jordan Burnett. Hunter Jordan. [/LIST][b]Age:[/b] 286 [b]Date of Birth:[/b] June 4th, 1725. [b]Age at Death:[/b] 28. [b]Gender:[/b] Male.   [b]Sexual Orientation:[/b] Questionable. [b]Occupation:[/b] Jack of all trades.

[b]Bloodline:[/b] Beast Master. [b]Power Level:[/b] Adult [s]Kiss[/s]. [b]Mind-Set:[/b] Both. [b]Animal to Call:[/b] None. [b]Powers:[/b] [LIST] [*] Heightened senses, reflexes, healing and strength. [*] Bite...If he enters the persons mind when feeding, he can make it less painful and more enjoyable. He doesn’t most of the time. [*] Empathy, he can smell some strong emotions like fear, rage, anger, lust. Since he’s of Padma’s bloodline, he’s also got a slight empathy to all animals. [*]Enthralling/rolling, he can only get this right with weaker shifters and normal humans. Anything stronger can break free. [*] Glamour, he can switch small things about him. Make his hair darker, eyes brighter, on will. [/LIST][b]Rank:[/b] Rogue. He can be tempted by the Kiss though.

[b]Face Claim:[/b] Gerard Way. [b]Description:[/b] [IMG]http://i325.photobucket.com/albums/k361/Mychemicalromance55_photos/mychem313.jpg[/IMG] [i]Height:[/i] 5’10 [i]Weight:[/i] 151lbs [i]Eyes:[/i] Hazel brown. [i]Hair:[/i] He’s a dyer. Naturally, it’s [URL=http://img.buzznet.com/assets/imgx/7/5/3/9/1/6/1/orig-7539161.jpg]black, he’s [/URL] gone [URL=http://quizilla.teennick.com/user_images/A/AM/AMU/AMUANDIKUTO4EVA/1264970042_5386_full.jpeg]blonde[/URL] in the past, but he’s currently sporting [URL=http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/19400000/Gerard-way-my-chemical-romance-19400197-467-700.jpg]red.[/URL] [i]Build:[/i] Average and lean. [i]Visible marks:[/i] He has a Crucifix burn mark on his left shoulder. [i]Style:[/i] Hunter likes to be comfortable. Since he travels a lot, he’s ditched the formal wear that he used to love and taken to jeans, t-shirts, a nice pair of boots. You name it, he’ll wear it. That doesn’t mean he won’t go back to formal(ish) wear.

[b]Special Skills:[/b][LIST] [*] Can speak pretty decent Spanish and French, well enough to get him by. [*] Not so much a fighter, more of a scrapper when it comes to combat. [*] Good with a knife or any type of blade, if being armed is what's needed. [/LIST][b]Personality:[/b][LIST]Hunter isn’t as complicated as most people would think. He’s a fairly easy going guy that likes to have a laugh and being a vampire nearly 300 years old hasn’t changed that, and why should it? Just because he’s dead doesn’t mean he has to be a mopey Annie, he enjoys his unlife. He doesn’t judge people right off the bat and he’s willing to give them a choice to show their true colours before passing judgement and moving on with his life. He just understands that not everyone choses to be who they’ve become, or what they’ve become. Caring and nurturing – it comes with raising a boisterous were-puppy -, he’s got the patience of a saint at times and it’s hard to push him into snapping but not impossible.

Other vampires, more to the point the older kind, scare him and because of that he respects them a hell of a lot. He’s fine with anyone younger but the older ones make the hair on the back of his neck crawl. He knows he’s got to play it careful with the elders of his kind, they could easily shred him a new one if they wanted and to top that off he’s trespassing on an occupied territory. In some places that would have ended with his heart and head removed. Shape shifters are awesome; he’d rather run with someone that was furry inclined then spend time around his own kind. Maybe it’s because of his bloodline, he’s never worked it out, but if Hunter comes across a shape shifter in need, he’ll lend a hand. Humans are the same, as long as they’re not trying to stick a bullet or stake into him, he’s dandy.

He’s extremely protective of Grey, and has bled for his “nephew”, to the point that he has killed for him. Hunter would walk over broken glass if he had to, to make sure that Grey was comfortable, and he’d go without clothes on his back to make sure that Grey had what he needs. Does he love him? Yes. He’s been there since day one, and while it may seem a little odd to some but that’s just the way it is and the hand that Hunter’s been dealt. They’re not related by blood after all so it’s nothing incestuous despite the fact that he regularly refers to Grey as his “nephew” outside of the few people that Hunter can call friend. There blames himself for the death of his “family”, and he believes that he failed his friend from all those years ago, and it gnaws at him at times when he’s not really paying attention to what’s going on around him. [/LIST][b]Likes:[/b][LIST] [*] Being alive...Well, undead and alive. You get the picture. [*] His [URL=http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/pontiac-firebird/images/pontiac-firebird-1968c.jpg]car[/URL]...Well, technically it's Grey's car now. [*] Living under the radar. [*] Keeping Grey safe, even if Grey doesn't always know it. [*] Wandering the coast at night. [*] When it's not to hot or to cold. [*] Playing games on his phone when he's bored. [*] Watching people. [/LIST][b]Dislikes:[/b] [LIST] [*] Following other people’s rules. [*] Wearing suits. Though he does it occasionally. [*] Being hunted like a dog. [*] Seeing Grey struggle with something. [*] Driving in the rain. [*] Seeing animals abused. (This includes shifters, as well.) [*] Pushing to get what he wants. [*] Being dragged into the spotlight, so to speak. [/LIST][b]Strengths:[/b][LIST] [*] Strong willed. [*] High pain tolerance. [*] Won't hesitate to get things done. [*] Grey. [*] Somehow manages to keep Grey calm when he's all worked up. [/LIST][b]Weaknesses:[/b][LIST] [*] Can't enter a person’s house without permission from the owner. Has killed because of this. [*] Normal vampire restrictions and weaknesses. Fire, sunlight, Holy items. [*] Grey! He failed his adopted family, he won't fail Grey. [*] Doesn't always feed right. A little taste here and there, just to hold him over. [*]Stubbornly persistent at times. It’s been known to get him into trouble. [/LIST][b]History:[/b]  

When former British Naval officer turned pirate William Morgan found out that the tavern wench, Carmella, that he visited regularly was pregnant with his supposed spawn, he up rooted the poor woman and dragged her all the way from her home in Maracaibo to his home city of London, and in the early summer of 1725, Hunter was pushed screaming into the world and was welcomed with somewhat open arms. Carmella died from a fever and child birth complicates according to the back street midwife that William had paid to help deliver his son, and she wasn’t mourned. William wanted a son, not a wife or a real family, and he already had plenty of mistresses across many main trade routes waiting for him so one whore dead was no skin off his nose to see her buried in an unmarked grave just outside of the city.

For Hunter though, it meant something different. Since William didn’t haul the boy out to sea with him, he was left from the moment he could walk with William’s sister, Cassandra. She was nice enough, and made sure that her brother’s son was fed and looked after, but that was it. There wasn’t a maternal bone in the woman’s body, and Hunter grew to know this very well, especially when he got hurt and all she did was pour boiling hot salt water over his cuts and scrapes and scolded him for being irresponsible before always telling him the same story about how his father would be so disappointed and when he came back from his trip then she would tell him of all the bad things that Hunter had done. If anything that was what made him wish for his father’s return all the more, simply so he could meet the man even if he was to be scolded for being a typical boy. He was nine when William came back to London, and upon first meeting him, Hunter was scared. Worse yet, Cassandra lied through her back teeth to get Hunter out of her house and William had no choice but to agree after giving the boy a beating for causing his beloved sister so much trouble. Fear turned to twisted joy, and the following day he was dragged out of one life and into something...better. He’d always wanted to see new places, meet new people and have an adventure. He wasn’t disappointed either, so he waved good bye to England and followed his father like a loyal little puppy.

By the time Hunter twenty one years old, he returned to London under an assumed name of Jordan Hunter. William had died in a raid on a tavern in Panama nearly two years previous and it was that loss that had him seeking something else. It was his father that had taught him everything that he had known, and without him, well, Hunter saw no point in staying on as a pirate and that was a bit cowardly in itself and went against everything in him for the most part. Besides, piracy had been a dying art for years before his father had taken him away from Cassandra at the age of nine, but it was well and truly dead by the time he returned those thirteen years later with more knowledge of the world and with more than a few secrets and tricks up his sleeves. No doubt there was a noose waiting for him somewhere as well. A few weeks upon his return, he found out that Cassandra had moved to the country because of her health, and instead of tracking her down, Hunter decided to stay in the city and it took a year of roughing it out, but eventually he found his feet so to speak in a classy tavern come whore house in South London. He was to look after the working girls, make sure that they were treated somewhat correctly and if a John thought he could get away with something that the Lady of the house didn’t like, and then he was to deal with it and make sure that it wouldn’t happen again. Simple, really. Right? Right! It was something he could do with little to no trouble, because half the time the punters abided by the rules and Hunter became somewhat of a ghost, only appearing when trouble kicked off over the next few years.

Twenty six, almost twenty seven years old, and surprised that he’d lasted that long in anyone one job, Hunter made the mistake of stepping in to stop some high Lord from doing some serious damage to a girl named Mary, a new addition to the household. She was a sweet lass that was a little ditzy in Hunt’s opinion but she didn’t deserve the ever living Hell kicked out of her because someone had shot his ... pistol ... too early and in the wrong place. Mary was only eighteen at the time. Not liking it, the gentleman turned on Hunter in a rage but the Mistress of the house stepped in before it got too out of hand and warned the male away with the threat that he’d no longer be welcome in any brothel in the city if he didn’t leave. Luckily, the gentleman had some sense and left. That night, after a talk with the Mistress, Hunter became the unofficial career for some of the younger girls and that suited him fine. The ‘business’ was changing after all; he’d seen it rise up from a tavern where anyone could get what they wanted to something more refined. The year following, Hunter got close to Mary and as unwise as it was, he wouldn’t have changed it for the world. They just clicked. However, the good times weren’t something that just wasn’t meant to be. Lord Jennings came back on evening with his friends and they flashed a lot of money around. The Mistress, Emily as she was known, had no choice but to serve the ingrates, but she warned Hunter to be on the lookout for trouble as well as the more senior girls and staff. Mary was one of the unlucky girls that were called on to serve the gentlemen and while Hunter didn’t particularly like it, he had no choice but to let it happen. It wasn’t until later that night that Jennings changed from a rich snob to something else, something from the pits of Hell itself when the Mistress refused him personal service. For poor Hunter, it was like some of the stories he’d heard on his ‘travel’ made real.

The Mistress and Jennings tore into each other with fangs, two of Jennings friends turned into monstrous wolf like beasts that lunged for the closest living body that was near them, another turned into a snake-man. If that wasn’t bad enough, some of the girls turned to. Great cats attacked the wolf men, and those that didn’t transform tore into them with fangs. It seemed that Hunter was the only human amidst the nightmare, and after a moment’s hesitation he was spurred into action by something that he considered even worse. Mary had been cornered by a rabid creature, some kind of man-dog thing and Hunter didn’t hesitate in trying to defend her. One almighty smack across the back of his head sent him flying into the path of another monstrosity. Jennings. The vampire male had split from the Mistress and left her bleeding and broken on the floor and took after the disorientated Hunter, and the last thing that Hunter saw before the world went black was Jennings fangs.

He woke up three nights later, chained at the wrists and ankles in the houses cellar with no idea what had happened to him or the others. He’d never been to the lower levels of the house before, hadn’t wanted to, but the coffins lining the wall made him tremble. If it hadn’t been for the Mistress Emily who was in a similar position to him and trying to calm him down, Hunter would have found a way to raise unholy hell. The hunger he felt would have driven him to doing it anyway, but from what he was being told there was just something distracting about it. Jennings had turned him to spite the Mistress, who was in fact Jennings own wife and his former fledgling. Talk about having your mind blown open. Hunter had worked for Mistress Emily for nearly a decade and he’d never once thought of her as someone’s wife. He certainly hadn’t thought of her as a vampire either! The nightly sightings had been written off as being selective with her cliental but that was it, especially since she had more than enough people working for her to get whatever was needed during the day done. It was so crazy that it actually made sense to him. Hunter just didn't accept it fully until Jennings finally gave both of his 'toys' an audience and by then it was too late for him and Mistress Emily as they both listened to the Master vampire rage about how he hadn't wanted to take over Emily's life again, but the insults that he got because of her reputation had been too much for him as it had started to affect his business dealings in the city. It was time to bring his wife to heel! Back to her place at his side, even if he had to destroy everything that she had built during their ‘separation’ as he called it.

After Emily was beaten into submission verbally by her husband, Jennings turned on Hunter, simply because he’d stood up for one of Emily’s girls. As a lesson to his new fledgling, Jennings tore the throat out of one of the girls that Hunter had promised to look after in front of both of his ‘children’. The scent of blood drove Hunter wild, pushed him past being human to a place where only the blood mattered. Jennings let him loose and the only thing that Hunter cared about was the blood that was draining from the girl’s throat and he fell on her, feeding on what was left. Emily tried to bring him back to her, back to being human, back to being Hunter, and she almost succeeded by sheer force of will but at the end of the day, Jennings had his claws in Hunter and he also had Emily right where he wanted her and it was like that for nearly twenty years before anything changed. He didn’t go around as Jennings ‘servant’, he became Hunter again, all because he found out that Mary – who had because Emily’s maid more than a prostitute – had become pregnant with a child to one of Jennings shape shifter friends, a weredog, just like she was. What made Hunter more surprised than suspicious was that Mary claimed she was in love with the male, and there hadn’t been any force involved. He had no option but to agree when he saw what she was like around him. If only he knew how Jennings would react ahead of time, maybe he’d have been able to stop his sire for doing something stupid.

The birth was complicated. Mistress Emily had taken over the proceedings as midwife while Lord Archibald paced in the hallway waiting to see if he had a son or a daughter. Hunter did as he was told, fetched water and towels and was the perfect little man servant. It was on his second trip up from the kitchens that he found Master Jennings had returned early from a business trip – much to everyone’s surprise – and had found out what was happening. He flew into a rage unlike Hunter had ever seen before, and turned on the vulnerable Mary screaming and cursing that she was ruining the bed. Archibald and Emily lunged to keep him away from the woman and Hunter was the one that had to finish delivering the baby and even though he had no idea what he was doing and there was a battle raging behind him, between him and Mary, the young shapeshifter was brought into the world kicking and screaming. It should’ve been a happy moment, and it was, in a way, but one moment Hunter was on his feet and the next he was collapsing and clutching at his chest. He didn’t know that Emily had taken Jennings head clean off his shoulders, leaving Archibald to deal with the rest. A life for a life, the baby was alive and Hunter was dying for a second time. It was a good exchange in Hunters eyes. However it wasn't in Emily's. She blood oathed him to herself in a last ditch attempt to save his life and she almost lost him. Almost. To them, Jennings had never returned home that day and the never mentioned him again.

Excitement over, the vampires became unspoken godparents to the child that had been named Thomas, and they watched as he grew up and his parents passed on seventy years later. Hunter was barely past his first century of un-life and could have done anything or gone anywhere, but a bond of friendship kept him there. Even after Emily finally grew bored with watching out for her friend’s children and their children’s children and moved on, Hunter stuck around keeping tabs on the closest thing that he had to a family. He became an unspoken Uncle. Sure, he was sad to see Emily go but he just couldn’t do it, and wouldn’t do it for all the tea in China. The only problem was that since his Mistress had left to find something else to occupy her, Hunter had to be careful. It wasn’t right for a “rogue” vampire to wander into Kiss’ territories unannounced, and feeding in a territory that was controlled by a Master vampire was even more dangerous for him. So he crept around the territory lines, nibbled rather than fed, and vanished when there was any sign of trouble headed his way. It wasn’t a perfect life, but it was his to do with as he wished.

He travelled a bit even though he kept in contact since some of the weredog’s that came and went didn’t seem to like him being close to them or their kin. He dropped out of contact for sixty years at one point because he’d been focused on getting a job and getting some money put away in case he ever needed it, and he did get a bit put away for a rainy day. When he finally came back into contact with the dogs and a lot had changed, Hunter was only glad that he could come back in time to see Grey born and could be in the kids life from the start rather than coming in later and getting growled at by someone. He wouldn’t admit it, but Hunter had been growing tired of everything, those sixty years before Grey’s birth had been tiresome and Hunter hadn’t been able to see the point in trying anymore, but things were oddly different now. So he became Uncle Hunter to Grey and for the first year and a half everything was grand, there wasn’t any trouble that they couldn’t get passed. He should’ve known that it would change though, one night hunters tracked down the family of weredogs and slaughtered them all. Hunter had been out feeding in the main town, rather than staying at the family home that night. He got there too late to save anyone, but he did find Grey stashed away in the cupboard under the stairs. After leaving an anonymous 999 call, Hunter left with Grey; the only thing on his mind was how it would look if the police turned up and found him standing amongst the bodies of his family. It would’ve looked liked he’d done it rather than a roving gang of murderers that pretended to be on a mission from God to destroy monsters

So, they travelled for a bit together. Scotland, Ireland, the States, you name it. It was a bit tricky for Hunter, having to explain why Grey wasn’t in school and what not, but he passed it off as him being in private education. People tended to leave them alone once they heard that, but Hunter – who was going as Jordon at the time – dealt with it and made sure Grey wasn’t affected much. Around about the time that Grey hit fifteen years of age, the kid went through his first shape shift. Hunter was glad of this, even though Grey pretty much freaked out over the fact it was a dog form rather than something fancy like a wolf or bear, but that pretty much sorted itself out when Hunter told him that he turned into a [i]big[/i] dog. Since Hunter had pretty much dragged Grey to the states to make sure no one found out that he was a weredog and could connect him to the family tragedy, it was time to come back home to the UK but not before Hunter paid a few of his old Mistress’s ‘friends’ to find out what had happened all those years before. What was turned up was just a little disturbing to say the least. A rogue sect of Human against Vampires had killed Hunters family all that time ago because of him, and it tore him up inside to learn this.

Four years later, the nightmare came back to finish what was started. Grey was nineteen and Hunter was, well, typical dorky Hunter over a movie night when their little rented house was raided. Hunter told Grey to run as he took one of the humans out before swiftly following. It was only later when they met up on the outside of town to watch their house go up in flames that Hunter realized just how important Grey was to him. It was little too late though, the hunters found them and Hunter threw himself at the lot of them so Grey could runaway and that he’d catch up with him later. What Hunter didn’t want Grey to see was him tearing into the crew of slayers with a rage he didn’t even know existed until he saw their leering grins. Throats game out between fangs, silver bullets hit home weakening him more and more until eventually he was left broken on the floor. Rather than kill him out right like anyone sane would do, they hauled his mangled body to a lock up, told him that he was going to be used as an example for monsters in the area.

Now a vampire can take a lot of damage, they beat him, starved him, and threatened to burn his face off with holy water, you name it, and Hunter dealt with it. He even got a pretty cross shaped scar for mouthing off to a chick that obviously wasn’t getting any at home. It wasn’t until two weeks into this Hell that things got interesting. They started bringing in animals for him to feed off, dogs, cats, rats, hell even some idiot brought him a goat. Rather than feed though, he manipulated the animals even though it cost him. A dog would bite here; a cat would take a swipe at someone’s face. It was worth it because one of the punks came close enough for Hunter to snag him by the throat and tore into it, draining the life from the slayer. All he wanted was the blood at first, but the keys to the pretty jeep and his chains were a bonus. Using the animals as a diversion, Hunter got out of the waterside warehouse and the hell out of dodge. Even though it took him a couple of more weeks to track Grey down, he wasn’t in any state to confront the young weredog. He did however stick close to Grey, more a silent uncle that was heard rather than seen. While he was healing up and Grey was getting on with life, Hunter found out that HAV had found Grey in London. Seeing red, he went straight to Grey’s flat and broke in, he wasn’t going to beat around the bush and told Grey everything that he knew before dragging him out of there and telling Grey’s neighbours that there were trouble makers on the way and that they should call the police because there would be guns! Well, as you can imagine it wasn’t the best reunion and Hunter would’ve done anything to make it better except he couldn’t. All he could do was point Grey in the direction of Jackford with a promise that he’d follow him after he gave the slayers some new tails to chase, and he did.[/SIZE]

[multiple-fandom-imagines]

A Mother’s touch

Reader x Grace/Mom (platonic)

Being one of the 43 kids born wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for most kids, but for you, you were lucky. Your mother refused Hargreeves offer, to her and your father they saw you as a miracle from God. After a car accident your mother wasn’t able to have a child, so when you arrived you were a literal gift from the heavens. Your power, Luck. It doesn’t seem much but you were extremely lucky, with it you could win competitions right up to it saving you from near death experiences. Another side of your power that developed when you got older was that you could control other people’s luck, you could take it away completely making yourself even luckier or you could even give someone a lucky streak. As you got older people gave you the nickname The Clover and your symbol a gold 4 leaf Clover. At 12 your small town in Ireland dedicated a statue in your honor after you managed to save 20 from a fire people thanks to your powers. Unfortunately, that would end up being your downfall, it turns out you messed up the timeline enough to get onto the commission’s books, Hazel and Cha Cha were sent to kill all the people you saved. That same day your life would be changed forever, little did you know when you would come back from school, hell was literally waiting from you. You noticed something off with your home, you could feel it in your bones something was off. Walking to the front door you realized it was till, pushing it open walking into your hallway, your house was eerily quiet, slowly you walked towards your living room almost like your being guided there. Opening the door to the living room you saw a lady, white hair and fancy dress. “you been causing a lot of trouble for us Y/N. You see those people you saved were meant to die but when you saved them you caused major problems in the timeline, I sent 2 of my best people to wipe them out but you Y/N there’s just something about you that I like.” You looked at this woman in confusion “Now I left you a surprise in the kitchen for you, just so that you will remember your place, I’ll be watching you Y/N.” just as she was standing here, she was gone, you walked towards the kitchen your heart beating a mile a minute. Walking to the door, you took a deep breath pushing it open, your heart broke, your entire world destroyed in a blink in an eye, you saw your parents mangled bodies lying on the white tiled floor, a scream left your lips as you ran to them dropping on the floor by them. “Mommy, daddy…” the skin was cold as you touched them, trying your hardest to wake them up, looking up your saw an older man outside. A loud bang filled the area but when the police arrived, they found your parents bodies but you, you were on the ground between them with a bullet wound to your eye.

 Almost a month passed and the whole world knew what happened, you ended up in a local mental institution, none of your extended family wanted you in fear that they would be killed giving up all rights for you but at the institution you were well looked after despite not engaging with anyone and you spent all your time alone in silence in your private room.  “Y/N you have a visitor.” You didn’t reply but you heard the nurse tell them you haven’t spoken since the ‘incident’. “I am Sir Reginald Hargreeves, Y/N I know what you can do, I can help you with your powers, help you control them.” You turned and looked at him, your left eye was scared weirdly enough it was almost all a pastel green “I knew you were coming…..I saw it.” He gave you a strange look, you took the book you had on you at all times and handed it to him, “See….” He watched the eye change from the whole eye change from a pastel green to normal white eye, He looked at the picture, it was him, the exact outfit, exact situation, the only thing was off was the date of drawing which was about 3 weeks ago, he looked at it in amazement before turning to the nurse. “I want her.”

Now you were outside the famous umbrella academy with Hargreeves by your side, he guided you inside, looking around the vast building you were in awe. “Y/N I want you to meet your new brothers and sisters.” You didn’t approach them, just watching them wearily, you didn’t want anyone else getting hurt, Hargreeves gave you a small push making you stumble towards the group. You gave him a dirty look “that was rude...” you said looking up at him. You were introduced to them one by one, “This is Grace, she will be looking after you and you will address her as Mom.” You could feel your body shake as you looked at her, as she walked towards you, you moved back away from her, looking at her brought back flashes of your mother, her death. Grace looked a lot like your mom, same hair colour, eye colour, skin colour, hell it was almost scary. You could feel everyone’s eyes on you, it was silent until a voice broke through. “it’s because she looks a lot like your mother.” You looked at the voice, No 4, “you can see her.” You asked walking towards him avoiding Grace, he nodded “Them, I can see both of them, it like they're watching over you still.” Klaus was not looking at you but just above you. “Pogo take Y/N to their room. Rest of you it is time for training” Hargreeves ordered.

Over the next few weeks, you were extremely close to Ben and Klaus, you were best friends, you and Diego were close as well, he really grew protective over you after breaking down one day on him from a panic attack. Every nightmare, every panic or fears riddling you he would be straight by your side to fight off any demons bothering you, he adopted the big brother role in your life. You were sat on his bed as you watched him get ready for a mission, they were going to be away for a while as it was in Paris. “I know how you feel about mom, but if your attacks or nightmares happen don’t be afraid to ask mom for help, ok.” You nodded, he sat down beside you pulling you into a hug before leaving for his mission. You went downstairs standing beside Vanya and Pogo watching them leave.

After the incident you developed an ability to see into the future, you don’t really get a choice when it happens, you would get intense pain in your damaged eye, its an icy white most of the time but changes to the pastel green colour when a vision is taking form. You could draw what you were seeing fast, depending on how major the event was the worse or mild the pain was.

You sat up in your bed, the pain increasing in your eye, looking at the time it was 3:00am, you let out a cry feeling a sharp pain, this was worse than any other visions. The fear you were feeling was increasing by the second. Little did you know Grace had heard you and was coming to see the problem. She knew about your past, knowing the reason why you were cold towards her but she didn’t mind, she loved you like she loved the others. As she opened your door she saw you sitting up hunched over in pain, clutching your eye. Grace walked in grabbing your drawing book and your pencils, sitting beside you on the bed, she gave you the book and pencils, she never saw it this bad your nose was bleeding heavily, blood-soaked your PJ top, she watched as your bloody hand drew frantically in the book, there was, a theatre with someone playing the violin, the next page destruction of the city, and lastly in the destruction was blue circle with a boy walking out of it. You saw the end of the world itself, at it almost killed you seeing it. When you were done, Grace held you as you were in a panic attack, your nose had stopped bleeding and slowly your green eye died away. She brought your shaky form into the bathroom, she took the time cleaning your face, neck, and hands from the blood. You were sitting on the toilet shaking as Grace left you for a brief moment to bring you clean PJs, she slowly helped you change, being in a very vulnerable state she didn’t rush you, she knelt down looking at your face, seeing the silent tears running down your face, she wiped them away and pulled you into her arms. Your body tensed for a moment before your arms slowly wrapped around her before you broke down completely in her arms. You cried for the first time in months, you cried from what you saw, you cried about your family abandoning you, you cried for your parents, you felt truly safe in Grace's arms. After what seemed forever, when you had calmed down, Grace brought you back to your bed, tucking you in she was about to leave when you grabbed her hand. “C-can you stay, until I fall asleep.” Grace simply smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, she stroked your face, humming a song to help you sleep. “thank you, mummy.” You whispered before slipping off into a deep sleep with no nightmares to plague your dreams. A mother’s touch was all you needed, and you were lucky to have a second mum now to be there for you.

#multiple-fandom-imagines #the umbrella academy #umbrella academy imagine #umbrella academy grace #umbrella academy mom #allison hargreeves #klaus hargreeves #luther hargreeves #no 5 hargreeves #umbrella academy the boy #no 5 #diego hargreeves #ben hargreeves #vanya hargreeves

[seductresses-temple]

Fuck

So, this is actually a little something I cooked up for my best friend @50shades-of-truth it’s my first time writing ANY content for this paring and it’s un-betaed and probably sucks SO bad but I love him so much and my bb deserves nice (adjacent) things! Soooo without further adieu

Lessons From Mother

Pairing: Blaise Zabini and Neville Longbottom

Rating: Teen

Warnings: None

__________________

Growing up, his mother Selina was all Blaise had ever had. His father -whom his mother never spoke about- had died when he was young. Blaise remembered very little about him. He remembered the smell of sandalwood, a rich, deep laugh that filled up a room, and being held, but as time went on - as it is wont to do- those memories faded into a vague, fuzzy thing. The one thing Blaise did know about his father, with an absolute certainty, was that his death absolutely gutted his mother.

Boyfriends came and went.

Husbands came and went.

Every single man paled in comparison to the bittersweet memories of a long gone ghost.

Blaise adored his mother, he admired her strength and tenacity, sought to emulate her grace and beauty, and he lived his life by the lessons she’d instilled in him. She’d taught him manners, maths, how to dress with style, banking, she had a rule for everything, especially love, especially how to avoid love and Blaise had been doing a damn good job of it for seventeen years...until Neville.

Rule Number One: Don’t let them talk you into anything

It had all started with fucking Slughorn.

Classes at Hogwarts had resumed session over a year after the war and Blaise’s mother had - in no uncertain terms - made it quite clear that he was to continue his education if given the opportunity.

Of course McGonagall just had to give him an opportunity.

Two weeks before term was to begin, his letter came during Sunday breakfast and his mother had fixed him with a happy, expectant stare. They’d gone shopping in Diagon Alley the same day.

Summer passed by all too quickly after that and before Blaise knew it, he was sitting in Slughorn’s potion’s class, getting paired with Neville fucking Longbottom on a three month long potions assignment. All in the name of Interhouse Unity or whatever nonsensical prattle the faculty seemed content to spew about.

As if being back at Hogwarts wasn’t enough of a chore, being paired with the absolute worst potion’s partner on the face of the planet was just salt in the wound, wasn’t it? The only silver lining Blaise could find in the situation was that Draco had gotten paired with Potter and had turned nearly as read as Weasley’s hair.

“You will need to meet with your partner at least twice a week outside of class to conduct research, all of which will be recorded in these journals,” Slughorn waved a small, black, leather bound journal in the air before flicking his wand and sending a pile of them floating through the room.

“You will each share a journal to make the process as collaborative as possible and they will be collected the same day as your potion. Now, everyone switch seats so that you are sitting with your partner, you’ll have the rest of class to have a friendly debate over which potion you’ll be crafting for this assignment.” Slughorn clapped his hands and shuffled behind his desk, seeming all too pleased with himself.

Blaise refused to move from his seat. It wasn’t like he wanted to be there in the first place. To his credit, Blaise’s stubbornness seemed to have no effect on Longbottom whatsoever.

“I had an idea already,” Longbottom plopped down in the seat beside him, journal clutched in his fist.

“You let me do all the work and we actually pass?” Blaise raised an eyebrow at him. It was the only idea that had any merit, after all, Longbottom was rubbish at potions and Blaise Zabini had never failed a class in his life. He certainly didn’t plan on starting just because he’d been paired with an accident waiting to happen.

“Ha,” Longbottom rolled his eyes before leaning in conspiratorially, a wide, mischievous grin splitting his face and making his eyes absolutely sparkle.

“I’ve got something big I’m working on. It’s a risk, but that’s what you lot are all about, yeah? Ambition, cunning, pride. Think you’re in for the ride, Zabini?”

If Blaise had been a smart man, he would have known it was the beginning of the end in that moment. He would have ran away and never looked back. Better to run away than be a fool in love. But having never fallen before Blaise was too blind to know…

Rule Number Two: Don’t fall for their doe-eyed stares

Neville Longbottom, against all odds, was actually quite brilliant. His grand master plan -if they could pull it off- would be even more powerful than dittany. It would effectively have the power to heal wounds left behind by Dark Magic and Magical Creatures alike. Even old scars.

“I’m making it for Bill,” Longbottom told him one day while they were working out on the front lawn, the journal sitting between them as they got settled on top of a large blanket in tacky Gryffindor colors.

“And Bill is?” Blaise asked, twirling a bit of dittany between his fingers, having no issues whatsoever showcasing his boredom.

It seemed to have no ill effect on Longbottom, however, who propelled himself into explaining far more of the Weasley family tree than Blaise could ever bring himself to care about. He didn’t care, not in the slightest, but something about the way Longbottom looked as he spoke made Blaise pause. Made him listen. Made him stare deeply into Longbottom’s eyes, which were impossibly brown with small flecks of hazel and hang onto his every word. There was a fire in his eyes as he talked about healing, his eyes warm and bright, his voice strong and sure, and his face just a little bit flushed, lips moving a mile a minute.

Blaise certainly didn’t think about what those lips would feel like against his own.

That would be preposterous.

Rule Number Three: Don’t become smitten with their little habits.

Neville Longbottom was something of an artist and apparently brilliant at charms.

It was a small fact Blaise had learned by happenstance. The first time the two of them had sat down in the library to research the potion they were creating, Blaise had been reading aloud from some of their research material while Longbottom scribbled notes in the journal. It wasn’t until later that night, when Blaise was leafing through the journal before bed -out of sheer boredom, mind- that he spotted the most gorgeous picture of an English Rose in the margins. It was charmed to bloom, over and over, and looked so fantastically detailed, Blaise would have sworn he could nearly smell it.

They passed the journal off periodically and every time Blaise received it back there was always some new little drawing that caught his eye. Without thought, Blaise took to scribbling the name under each new addition. It got to the point where Longbottom would start drawing less common plants, testing Blaise’s knowledge, and it had turned into a game of sorts.

Their little plant trivia was how Blaise found out that Neville fucking Longbottom was a bit of a bastard underneath that shy, unassuming disposition. Blaise also found out he didn’t care to lose their little game. Every time Blaise couldn’t identify a picture before their next hand off, Longbottom was nothing but smug grins and little jabs.

“I thought part of being cunning was being resourceful, Zabini?” Or something like, “well, I see why you weren’t sorted into Ravenclaw.” Or a little shove and a “you’re allowed to use a book, you know?” All of which just made Blaise scowl and grumble and try all the harder to the point that Longbottom started leaving little words of encouragement under each drawing.

Blaise found a “you’ve got this” under a doodle of a ‘shy plant’ and there was a rush of vindication when he was able to scribble mimosa pudica underneath. He got a very enthusiastic “show me what you’ve got!” under an incredibly graphic drawing of Hydnellum peckii and he wrote a disgruntled “you’re gross” underneath his answer.

What really put the final nail in Blaise’s coffin was reading the words “I believe in you,” under a drawing of a tulip, its petals charmed to turn yellow ever so slowly.

Blaise didn’t write an answer.

Rule Number Four: Don’t give them the power to make you jealous

Jealousy was an ugly, foul little thing. After the incident with the tulips, Blaise couldn’t bring himself to speak to Longbottom afterward. Every time he tried those damnable yellow twinged tulips flashed in his mind and he heard his mother’s voice in the back of his head. “Be careful with your heart, my darling boy.”

So Blaise was careful, which meant working on their potion -two nights a week- in a terse silence while silently counting down the minutes until he didn’t have to be in such close proximity to Longbottom because it was all becoming too maddening. What was a boy to do when the object of his affection was so close? Their breath mingling together, faces mere inches apart as both of them hovered intently over their potion. They watched the surface suspiciously, anticipation coiled tightly in their chest, and Blaise did everything in his power not to lean over and steal a kiss.

So lost in his own little word of trying to fight his stupid, selfish impulses, Blaise almost didn’t hear Longbottom who was mumbling something at his side. Alright, so he didn’t hear him at all.

“Hm?” Blaise hoped he sounded distracted instead of incredibly flustered. The heat of the potion and the fire in his belly didn’t seem to be agreeing with one another and it was all a bit too much.

“I was wondering if you could watch the potion this evening, just this once. I sort of, well I,” Longbottom cleared his throat, a hand coming up to rub the back of his neck as he sat back in his chair, away from Blaise.

“I sort of have a date, I suppose,” he said at last and something vicious ripped through Blaise.

“A date,” Blaise had to pull the word from his throat. His voice must have sounded odd or strained or too much of something because it made Longbottom wince just to look at him.

“You’re right,” Longbottom gulped.

“I shouldn’t go, we’re supposed to be, well, partners. I can’t just l-leave you to go it alone,” with a nod, Longbottom pulled their journal into his lap and scribbled something down, staring at the table, the potion, anywhere but at Blaise really.

Fuck.

Blaise understood now, why they called Jealousy a ‘little green monster’ because his was currently stomping around his heart, throwing things, and having the world’s most Apocalyptic meltdown.

“Go on your date, Longbottom, for pity’s sake. Have fun,” Blaise waved a dismissive hand, building a wall around his heart brick-by-brick because it was the only thing saving the useless thing from crumbling to pieces.

Rule Number Five: Love with your whole heart or don’t love at all

It was, Blaise liked to think, quite hard to get under his skin. That’s what he thought, anyway, until the day Neville walked into the library, eyes puffy and raw, the tip of his little nose just a little bit red, and the tracks of his tears down his cheeks as visible as the sun in a clear blue sky. Blaise felt instantaneously livid, his emotions flaring hot and intense like a bonfire.

“What’s wrong?” he snapped his book shut and put all of his attention on the boy in front of him, silently wondering how long of a prison sentence he’d get for killing whoever dared to make Neville cry. He was sure to get some leniency, if any member of the Wizengamot took one look at Neville, spoke with him just once, and saw how good and pure and sweet he was.

“It’s nothing,” Neville pulled out their journal, his trembling hands causing it to drop onto the table which caused two things to happen.

The first was that the page just so happen to open on the page where Neville’s tulip was slowly filling with yellow. The second was that a spare bit of parchment came tumbling out of it, falling -ironically- into Blaise’s lap. Without meaning to, Blaise couldn’t help but catch it and he couldn’t help it if a few of the words seemed to jump off the page. The words someone else and break up may as well have been written in red ink.

“He’s an idiot,” Blaise muttered, handing Neville the parchment back, trying to pretend as though he didn’t feel his magic jump beneath his skin as their fingers brushed together.

“He isn’t the only one,” Neville fixed him with a pointed stare and Blaise could only sit and stare back at him.

The boy has a point, some logical part of him whispered but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. Their potion was so close to being done and Neville seemed content to through his heartbreak on the backburner in favor of getting down to work.

It was astounding to see him in his element. Blaise couldn’t help but steal glances out the corner of his eye, watching Neville hunched over the potion with a book in his lap, brow furrowed in concentration, and his bottom lip held loosely between his teeth. A strand of his hair fell over his eyes and Blaise’s heart fluttered so hard he thought the damned thing would fly away.

Tucking away every lesson his mother had ever taught him, Blaise reached over for the journal, scribbling down what he should have written over a month ago.

Yellow tulip- Hopeless love- Neville, will you go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?

The smile that spread across Neville’s face as Blaise caught him reading the note over his shoulder nearly stopped his heart.

Fuck.

There was no denying it.

Love seemed to give no fucks about the rules.

#blaise zabini #neville longbottom #hp fandom #wip game

[tinsley-goldsworth]

you say sorry just for show (chapter 4)

read chapter 4 on ao3 here!

Summary: c.c. didn’t know what to expect but he knows he didn’t expect things to be taken this far

Wc: 3651

Tw: death + funeral, descriptions of murder

C.C. didn’t know how exactly to get initiated into a gang but he knew that he definitely wasn’t going to find a website, submit his resume, and go to an interview. Night Night explained that he had created his gang based on legacy, namely his infamous father who used to be a famous gang leader. C.C. didn’t have any background that involved gangs or illegal activity so he was already at a disadvantage but the one thing he did have to his advantage was a connection with Night Night. Since C.C. didn’t join the fight when Night Night first tried to take down Maizey’s gang, Maizey didn’t know that C.C. was involved. As far as she knew, he was only Ricky’s partner and could fully well not know what Ricky was up to so if C.C. volunteered to help out Maizey, he would be seen as an asset as he could provide information about Night Night.

Now the difficult part was finding Maizey and getting her to accept his request. Night Night promised that he would take care of finding her whereabouts this time as they probably went off the charts after knowing that Night Night was on their tail and that it would be harder to find without the help of relations. Once Night Night found the location of Maizey’s meeting point, he sent the address to C.C. and told the detective to claim he used his detective skills to find the location.

The next issue was initiating C.C. into the gang. He wasn’t going to be let in easily, even if he was going to help the gang by supplying information about Night Night that they wouldn’t find anywhere else. Night Night didn’t know what C.C. had to do to get initiated but he knew that it would be something that C.C. could handle. As C.C. read online, some initiations were simpler, like getting beaten up to see how tough one was, but some initiations involved harder tasks to prove one’s ability, such as killing somebody. C.C. hoped that he wouldn’t have to perform the latter and hoped for the best because that was all he could do.

So, C.C. showed up to a dark alleyway during midnight and waited for Maizey to show up. As he waited, he contemplated all his life choices that led up to this one moment. He still had trouble remembering that at one point in his life, Ricky was his childhood best friend because Ricky was almost a stranger now. He had changed so much but obviously, he still kept his affection for C.C. and uncanny interest in murders. If C.C. had never met Ricky when he was a child, he would never have found Ricky and he would have never run away with Ricky twice. C.C. could’ve been married and officially settled down with a family like a normal person would but in some ways, C.C. didn’t mind the lifestyle he lived.

There were some downsides, like Ricky’s past constantly chasing after them no matter how fast they ran, but C.C. wouldn’t give up his life if it meant that he would never get to kiss Ricky again. He couldn’t imagine a world where he wouldn’t wake up to the feeling of having Ricky ensconced in his arms in the morning or a world where he didn’t look forward to coming home and being greeted by Ricky’s passionate kisses. Ricky’s tough personality he presented to everybody else was misleading as C.C. would describe him similarly to how Fran described him when he and C.C. had their big fight: a big softie. C.C. caught himself smiling as his head flooded with memories of him and Ricky enjoying life together and pressed down his smile, hoping that by maintaining a neutral expression, he would seem more approachable and less suspicious.

When C.C. glanced down at his watch, he saw that it was five past midnight and Maizey and her gang still hadn’t arrived. He still wasn’t exactly sure what Maizey was arriving to do but he knew that she was going to be here and this was his only chance to convince her. There would be no second chances; he either got accepted or killed, there was no in between. It seemed like C.C.’s life was composed of a lot of extremities. He either had to live a life without the love of his life or live a life with the love of his life being a serial killer/criminal mastermind whose past had a tendency to mess up everything.

Before C.C. could delve further into the themes that seemed to reappear in life and wonder how he ended up in such a difficult position, he heard a bullet click into a barrel and turned around to meet the muzzle of a handgun. He wasn’t expecting anything less threatening and as his eyes focused past the muzzle, he saw Maizey’s face. She still looked scarily intimidating but C.C. remained calm, his expression unwavering. Talking normally with a gun pointed to your face took a lot of skill but since C.C. had to deal with being threatened a lot, he managed to keep his cool.

“Hello, Maizey. Glad to finally meet you,” C.C. felt like he should hold out a hand for Maizey to shake but Maizey still had the muzzle pointed at his face so he simply brushed off specks of dust from his coat. The gang leader didn’t seem particularly shocked that C.C. was here and waited a beat before asking.

“How did you find out I was going to be here?” Maizey interrogated, an edge creeping into her gruff voice. Her green hair somehow made her eyes seem more intimidating and small rocks crunched underneath her boots as she shifted her weight, moving the muzzle slightly farther away from C.C.’s face. She probably realized that by moving the gun away from C.C.’s face would help him talk easier.

“Detective work. I don’t think we ever met. I’m C.C. Tinsley,” Again, C.C. had the stupid urge to be more formal and stick out his hand for a handshake and again, he had to remind himself that there was a gun pointed at his face. He didn’t want to seem polite as people always assumed that being polite meant one was weak and one had a soft heart so he dropped the nice act.

“You know who I am. Why are you here?” Maizey gripped the gun tighter, her jaw clenching as her suspicion intensified again. C.C. felt the state of the security camera in the corner of the building that was staring down at them. He knew that Ricky and Night Night were watching through the camera and hoped that they knew that he didn’t mean everything he was about to say.

“I want help taking down Night Night and Ricky. You know how Ricky and I were together, right? Well, I had no idea he was going behind my back so I did a little digging and I found that he was lying and he didn’t apologize. I’m just really pissed and I want to take him and his brother down but I obviously need help so I found you,” C.C. nonchalantly answered, crossing his arms as Maizey lowered her gun, sticking it into the pocket of her jacket. Her intimidating hazel eyes bore holes stronger than those made by lasers into C.C.’s body as she scanned him up and down, gauging his abilities based on appearance. C.C. wasn’t the most physically fit person but he could put up a good fight if needed.

“There are other ways to take him down, you know that right?” Maizey seemed to still be suspicious but at least she was interested now, an upgrade from her pointing a gun to C.C.’s face.

“I know. I just thought that if I wanted to take him down for good, I had to work with the best of the best,” C.C. offered a sly smirk, hoping his coy act was convincing Maizey. He felt more powerful than he had ever felt and started to understand why Ricky sought this rush of adrenaline. As C.C. was acting out his role, he pretended to be an entirely different person, which gave him the excuse to act cooler than he actually was and seem more confident than he felt. He had to remind himself that he was here on a mission and that he shouldn’t get too caught up in acting.

“Makes sense. Well, in order to join, you’ll have to pass a test. If you pass the test, we know we can trust you but if you don’t, you’re not going to be around for much longer,” Maizey’s grin was as threatening as her glance and she began brushing past C.C., heading in the direction she had been heading towards originally.

“What’s the test going to be?” C.C. asked and Maizey stopped in her tracks, turning around slowly to meet his eyes. A thoughtful look crossed her face and she smirked thoughtfully for a second before replying.

“It’s different for everybody. I will consult with the others to design a test that would best suit you. But for now, just know that anything that happens could be us testing you. Watch your back,” Maizey concluded ominously before hurrying away, leaving C.C. to stand in the cold for a second to process that whole interaction before briskly walking to the spot where Night Night and Ricky were waiting in the car to pick him up.

Even though Ricky complained that gangs were too rough and informal for him, C.C. still thought that Maizey remained pretty civil during their conversation. The detective had dealt with plenty of criminals who were more brash and outgoing than Maizey but then again, none of them really had long term motives or the goal to threaten and thrive in a large city.

Once C.C. got into the backseat of the dark car Night Night drove, Ricky didn’t hesitate to kiss him on the cheek. He seemed unexceptionally relieved that C.C. was alive and well and because of this, Ricky seemed to be more affectionate and touchy than he usually was. Ricky hadn’t kissed C.C. this often in front of Night Night but he just seemed to be glad that his boyfriend’s face didn’t have a bullet in it.

“Nice work, C.C. I don’t have a clue what the test is but I’m sure we can handle it,” Night Night reassured as he drove steadily through the empty streets, not bothering to stop long at stop signs and running a couple of red lights on the way back to Lucy’s house. C.C. managed a smile but his gut told him that the test could be worse than they expected as that seemed to be a common trend with Maizey’s gang and boy did he hope that his instincts were wrong this time.

~

Two days had passed since C.C. talked with Maizey and there was no sign of the test being initiated. He had been on the edge and jumpier than usual but he had to cover it up. Ricky had been snappier than usual towards everybody, according to Night Night, the whole situation clearly made him tenser as well. He couldn’t be seen with C.C. so C.C. and Ricky didn’t spend a lot of time together and when they did, they had to keep it quiet and this prevented them from doing a lot of things, which was probably the reason why he seemed constantly frustrated with everybody.

C.C. stayed as far away as possible from Night Night and Ricky because he had a feeling that Maizey was keeping a close eye on his movements. Even when driving, he felt like Maizey was watching through security cameras of nearby stores and he didn’t even feel safe at work. He was careful to always pile up pillows under the covers in his hotel room to mimic a body sleeping before sneaking out to meet with Ricky. At this point, he just wanted Maizey to initiate the test so he could get it over with quickly so he could go back to living his normal life.

While C.C. didn’t consider himself a particularly selfless person, Ricky always thanked C.C. for sacrificing so much to help him fulfill a large favor. All C.C. wanted to do was protect his boyfriend and if it meant that he would have to get hurt while doing it, so be it. But then again, if C.C. got hurt, Ricky would feel guilty for putting his boyfriend in such a position and that wouldn’t be great for the both of them. Ricky and C.C. loved each other into pieces and it made it hard for them to trust each other but they worked hard to talk about it and Ricky allowing C.C. to agree to join Maizey was one of the biggest steps towards achieving full trust.

On the topic of getting hurt, C.C. most definitely expected himself to get hurt in some form, whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally but by putting his own health at risk, he thought that nobody else would be in danger of getting hurt if his acting was proficient and convincing. Sadly, C.C. was sorely mistaken.

The detective was still at work, busying himself by examining evidence and digging through records to research the suspect’s past relations with the client when he received a call from Ricky. He picked up the phone when it rang, obviously not knowing that Ricky was the one who called and asked calmly, “C.C. Tinsley, private investigator. How may I help you today?”

“C.C., Lucy’s dead. Maizey murdered her,” Ricky’s voice was the most emotionless C.C. had ever heard it and C.C. tried to remain calm despite the panic building up in his chest. He knew that this situation was going to spiral out of control if he didn’t do something to calm Ricky down. Ricky may have sounded calm but C.C. knew that the eerie calm in Ricky’s voice meant that Ricky was starting to slowly slip back into his psychopathic mindset.

C.C.’s concern about Ricky overrode the shock of the news and it wouldn’t be until later that night when he was able to fully process that his best friend’s mom, a wonderful woman who used to always drive down to the local library to borrow movies for C.C. and Ricky to watch during sleepovers, was now deceased. Since C.C. was still at work and he couldn’t act like he was comforting Ricky, he maintained a dull, slightly empathetic voice as he replied, “How would you know?”

“She left a note, that bitch. I can’t believe she- she’s insane and I should kill her for it. My mother never did anything wrong and Maizey deserves to die for killing the only parent who actually cared about me.” A suppressed sob clipped the end of Ricky’s sentence as the emotion in his voice escalated. Twirling the phone cord around his index finger, C.C. tried to think quickly about how to calm Ricky down before he could get out of control and hurt somebody. He heard Ricky let out another choked out sob as he began to threaten, “I’m going to rip her fingers off one by one and shove them down her throat. I’m going to tear her apart into a million different pieces so that she can feel the pain that I’m feeling now. I hope she enjoys the feeling of a knife hacking into her bones.”

“Calm down. Stick to the plan. There’s no need to get so worked up,” C.C. lowered his voice, glancing down at his shoes so nobody could read his expression. He heard Ricky take a deep, shuddering breaths and sigh in defeat as he began to reason rationally.

“You’re right. Night Night and I are going to arrange her funeral with some other friends. Are you going to come?” Right when Ricky asked the question of whether C.C. was planning to attend the funeral, the pieces clicked together in his brain. C.C. suddenly realized that this was the test; Maizey was testing C.C.’s loyalty and honesty by killing Lucy and seeing if C.C. would attend the funeral. If he was seen attending the funeral, he was a liar and the entire plan would be ruined but if C.C. didn’t show up to his boyfriend’s mother’s funeral, he could be seen as still furious with Ricky.

“I can’t. You know why,” C.C. answered vaguely and he could almost see Ricky nodding in defeat in his head. Ricky assumed that the reason why C.C. couldn’t make it to the funeral was that he was afraid of being seen with Ricky, which was partially correct, but he most likely had no idea that this was the test Maizey mentioned. Right now wasn’t the correct time to inform Ricky of this as if C.C. told Ricky that his mother’s death was a test of loyalty, Ricky would lose control and ruin the flow of the plan.

“Alright. I miss you,” Ricky’s voice sounded wistful and nostalgic as if he and C.C. were living in different continents rather than just a couple miles away from each other. He had the right to miss C.C. because he barely got to kiss his boyfriend without worrying about a security camera catching them in the act.

“Miss you too. I have to get back to work. Bye,” C.C. concluded, ending the call by setting the phone down. He glanced around, scanning the office to see if anybody had been watching him or listening to his call but everybody was busy with work, too absorbed in their own worries to pay attention to C.C.. Now that the test had started, all C.C. had to do was to wait for Maizey to watch from afar.

~

The funeral was hosted on a Saturday. There was not a single cloud drifting in the sunny blue sky and the cheerful weather contradicted the gloominess of the event. C.C. felt absolutely terrible for cooping himself up in his room and reading newspapers and occasionally glancing at some case files for work instead of supporting his boyfriend and long-time best friend at the funeral of his parental figure who used to treat C.C. like he was her own son.

Distracting himself by reading and working wasn’t effective so C.C. stood up and began to pace his room, hoping that he didn’t look too anxious. He felt like somebody’s eyes were glued to his back as he paced back and forth, trying to seem unbothered by the feeling of the world shattering into pieces around him. C.C. tried not to think about the fact that somebody was watching his every movement and pretended that he was just spending a normal Saturday afternoon in his hotel room.

To be honest, it probably was for the better that the test had happened within a few days of meeting as it would have been suspicious if C.C. stayed in the hotel room for a long duration of time without finding a permanent place to live. The hotel room was a hoax and simply part of the plan to convince Maizey that C.C. was truly angry with Ricky (so angry that he decided to move out, hence the temporary residence at the hotel). It was a little nerve-racking for C.C. to know that he had to keep this act up because this was the only shot they had and those nerves were amplified now as C.C. thought about how one person’s life had to be taken in order for this plan to work. This was a perfect example of how the world was a cruel place to be living in and humans were the ones making it so.

At night, when C.C. was talking with Ricky in Night Night’s dark car, he still had a feeling that somebody was watching him even though Night Night had made sure the coast was clear. Ricky was clearly upset and he rambled in a low voice about Lucy didn’t know many people other than her clients so the funeral was small and private and how she deserved better. Ricky never mentioned how the absence of his father in his childhood affected him but the death of Lucy showed how much he cared for his mother and how much he relied on her for comfort. C.C. hugged his boyfriend as he began full-on crying and he felt the guilt rise up in his stomach.

Ricky didn’t blame Lucy’s death on C.C. but C.C. still felt like he played an essential role in her death but kept his suspicions quiet. When he had to return to his hotel room, the empty space next to him felt colder than usual and C.C. had trouble falling asleep. Now that Maizey saw that C.C. didn’t show up to the funeral, she knew that she could trust him and he should be notified of being accepted at any moment. Just as C.C. expected, there was a note waiting on the desk in the morning with instructions for meeting up and the sentence: “You’re one of us now.” C.C. had a hard time dulling down his reaction as that one sentence held more truth than he wanted it to hold.

~

taglist: @hot-mess-writer @thesevensins-1990

book 3 is coming soon! 

#fics #tinsworth #ricky goldsworth #buzzfeed unsolved #bfucu #buzzfeed unsolved cinematic universe #c.c. tinsley #night night bergara #maizey #hot daga #hot daga maizey #angst #lucy goldsworth #inaccurate gang depiction sorry skdlfj #fanfiction

[anjanettexcordonia]

Paradise Lost

Pt 3 of Ties That Bind

This is a repost. (The link was dead)

**Trigger Warnings**

DARK DARK DARK

-NSFW/Mental Health/Violence/Rape Minimal fluff if any at all tbh.

***If you are sensitive to any of these please do not read.

Pairing: None

Word Count: 2,583 (I struggled with this chapter. Not sure why.)

**READ WITH CAUTION**

Excuse any grammatical errors or misspellings.

This will be a six part series. I do not have a timeline for when I will post. (I’m a mom & work full time)

Disclaimer: Riley Brooks & Liam Rhys belong to Pixelberry. All other characters in this chapter are mine.

Thanks to @texaskitten30 for beta reading this chapter for me.

Tags:

If you would like to be tagged or removed from taglist please let me know.

@gkittylove99 @kingliam2019 @yourmajesty09 @cordonia-gothqueen @mom2000aggie @texaskitten30 @hopefulmoonobject

Katherine Riley Brooks Vanderbilt lived a life others would envy. Her family had been written about in American history for decades. She attended the best schools money could buy. Her family frequently vacationed all over the world. To the world Riley was an heiress that lived a life most would or could only dream of. But not all was as it seemed. The tabloids painted her family in a light that no one would even imagine the horrors that really took place behind the eight foot walls that hid their sprawling estates. Riley didn’t have an easy life. Money didn’t cushion the multiple gut wrenching blows she suffered from her tyrant father. Trust funds didn’t fill the hole left by her absent alcoholic mother. Sisterly bonds was a fantasy.

16 year old Riley

“Let’s go Mia. We have to get to the airport.” Riley was standing in her younger sister's dorm room waiting for her to pack her suitcases for their holiday trip with the rest of the Vanderbilt family. “I am. I am so excited to see Dad. I haven’t seen him in so long. Are you excited Kat?” “Um yea whatever Mia.” The sisters headed to the car waiting to take them to the private jet of one of their father's business partners. They arrived at the tarmac and realized they were no longer in the custody of their father's security detail. Riley knew this wasn’t going to be a run of the mill vacation.

It had been two years since the death of her mother. Two years of boarding school away from the horror of her father. Riley dreaded the holiday but was excited to see her younger brothers.

The jet finally touched down in Switzerland. Riley looked at her younger sister. Amelia still has the youthful twinkle in her eye as she looked out the cabin windows at the sparkling snow beneath them. Riley had lost the innocent twinkle. Maybe she never had it. She had been parentless as long as she could remember. Her father didn’t greet the sisters at the private airport. Nor did he greet them when they arrived at the estate they would be staying at. Instead a short plump woman with dark auburn hair and hazel met them at the estate.

“Katherine and Amelia, I presume?” The girls nodded their heads. “Very well, follow me and I’ll show you to your wing as per Sir Vanderbilts request.” They followed the woman, who never introduced herself, to their rooms. Opulence was something they were used to and it didn’t faze them at all. “Your father will be joining you Katherine in your room shortly to discuss a few matters at hand.”

“Katherine, it's nice to see you. And you look lovely in that dress my dear.” Riley’s father hissed as she walked into the sitting room of her suite. “Father” she nodded avoiding eye contact. He kept his eyes locked on her and her long, shimmering emerald dress. Her father always insisted they dress their best in his presence no matter the occasion. “Have a seat. We have much to discuss.” Riley seated herself across from at the small table. “I would like for you to join me on my hunt this weekend. It’s time I teach you all to be true Vanderbilts and how we maintain our power among the others in our world. Money does not equal power.”

“Power is forcefully taken, yes I know, Father.” Riley rolled her eyes. Suddenly Riley felt a force knock her out of her chair. She hit the marble floors beneath with her a force that knocked the wind out of her. “It will do you well to remember your place Katherine Riley Vanderbilt otherwise you will see what happens when someone disobeys me.” Riley felt the warm, copper taste of blood in her mouth. “I would say ask your mother,” a sinister smile emerging on his face, “but it seems you can not.” Riley stood and dabbed a napkin against the corner of her mouth, she smoothed her dress and took her place in front of her father. “There will be other friends in attendance as well on our hunt tomorrow. As I am sure you are aware, you will be in charge of keeping the other children on their best behavior.”

“Father, may I ask, what will be hunting tomorrow?”

“Who, Katherine, who?” Edward stood from the table, “I have spoken with the others. Amelia seems especially eager. Tomorrow will be momentous. Tomorrow will show me who will be the successor to Vanderbilt Enterprises.”

Riley didn’t sleep a wink that night. She had no idea her younger brothers, Neal and Eddie were there. She hadn’t seen them yet. It had been six months since she had seen them last.

The next morning, Riley woke and dressed in her riding gear and went down for breakfast. When she made it to the kitchen, she spotted her siblings and her father all having breakfast. Riley noted how unusual this was. “Riley!” Cornelius screamed and jumped from the table to hug her. “Hey Neal! How are you? You have grown so much since I saw you! How has school been?

“ENOUGH” Edward bellowed at the children. “Sit down both of you.” A flash of fear passed though Cornelius’s eyes and he went back to his seat. They finished their breakfast without so much as another word nor a glance at each other. “You’ve never taken us on a hunt before Father, what game may I ask will we be hunting today?” Amelia asked. “Today will be a turning point. It’s not about the game we hunt per say it’s about the power you hold over your prey. In this world only the strong prevail. Kill or be killed. Succeed or fail.” Edward said matter of factly. “You will do exactly as I say without showing weakness, now you all may follow me.”

The children all followed their father to the stables on the grounds. They each mounted their horses and trotted behind their father until they reached a large,log hunting cabin deep in the woods. The tree canopy was so thick sunlight barely reached them. Riley felt a cold shiver down her spine as they made their way into the cabin. It was nearly lunch, but the smell of cigars and scotch...and something else but Riley couldn’t place the odd smell, made her stomach turn.

“Eddie” a large overweight man clapped their father on the back. “I see you brought an audience,” the strange man smirked.

“It’s time to toughen them up. Show them how to be true Vanderbilts eh Brother?” Edward laughed, “meet your Uncle Astor Cornelius Vanderbilt Duke of Wellington kiddies. I think the youngest one here ought to call you Pop?” he winked. “You’re whore of mother sure did enjoy making you, boy.” Astor looked down at a 12 year old Cornelius. Eddie smirked, catching Riley’s eyes filled with tears threatening to break free. He fully intended to break her. If she were to inherit his fortune she would do it on her knees.

She looked more like her mother everyday. He hated her for it. He hated her mother. He hated himself. All he wanted was for her to love him. She could never love a man like him. So he forced her. He forced her until he took her life. He became the monster he was meant to be. And if he couldn’t make her like him he would do it to her daughter. His daughter. With her eyes.

“You will all do as I say, without defiance or face the consequences.” Edward warned. “Amelia, Edward you’re with me. The others are with Astor. Let’s go.” Each group went through a separate door that led to a flight of stairs descending downwards to a large basement. The basement looked similar to a hospital or a morgue. Medical utensils were placed by a row of three hospital gurneys. Large fluorescent lights made the room bright. Too bright. The first the sisters noticed when they entered the room was the row of three cages along the wall. Three naked women were gagged and bound in each cage. Riley looked at her sister. Amelia didn’t have fear in her eyes. She had excitement. Riley felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. “Have a seat,” Edward gestured towards some chairs near the cages,” you will observe and listen.” Edward pulled a set of keys from his jacket pocket and unlocked each cage door. He stripped his clothes bare and placed them in a laundry bag. The girls, surprised at their father's nakedness, averted their eyes unsure what to do. “Power is taken, not given. We take what we want and we end those that oppose us. We end those that would deny us what we seek, isn’t that right my daughters?” Edward asked as he pulled the first woman from her cage. She was a petite brunette woman that Riley didn’t recognize. “This woman disobeyed my direct orders so she will face my punishment.” He said firmly. He tied the woman to the gurney in the center of the room. Her wrists were tied tightly above her head and her ankles were tied to each corner of the bed. She was blindfolded and gagged. “Father, what are you doing?” Riley asked, horrified by what was happening in front of her. “I said not to speak, do you defy by direct command?” He glared at Riley. “Come here girl” he said between gritted teeth, “You will help me, you will get first hand experience.” Riley felt the anger boil in her veins. “What did she do to deserve such treatment?” She snarled. “Do as I say or you can replace this bitch on the table. Your sister there is practically giddy, but you hold resilience, that will end today. She will be your victim or you’ll be mine.” Edward spoke barely above a whisper. Evil poured through every orpheus of his body.

Riley knew it was her or him and she was too weak to do anything. There was no returning back. The innocence Riley had left was going to be extinguished. She would never be the same. She grabbed the scalpel from her father’s outstretched hand. Her hand shook uncontrollably as she gripped the scalpel in her sweating palm She closed her eyes. Turn it off Riley. You can’t feel or you won’t survive. Turn it off… She opened her eyes and looked at her father. Her eyes reflected his. She handed the scalpel back to him. “I do not need this.” She paced the instrument back on the sterilized tray. She climbed on to the gurney. She pulled the gag out of the woman’s mouth. “I want to hear you scream.” She said. Riley pulled the blindfold from the girl’s eyes. “I want you to look at me while your life drains from your body. From your eyes. From my life.” “No please stop.” The girl cried. Riley’s father stood astounded by her words. He recognized those words. But from where? “All I wanted was for you to love me, but no it was too much to ask.” Riley said. She slapped the girl across the face. She grabbed the girl with both hands on each side of her face and kissed her deeply. She pulled back and punched her in the jaw.

Slap. Punch. Hit.

The girl screamed in anguish. Blood covered her face and splattered all over Riley. Edward and Amelia moved closer and watched her awe as she beat the woman. Riley grabbed the scalpel and sliced the woman's breast as the woman screamed. You deserve to die. You disobeyed me. You fucked your way into my life. You fucked your way into my fortune. Riley screamed.

“Riley stop.” Edward yelled. Riley didn’t stop but looked back at her father. “Do you remember father? What you did to Mother? We’re not that much different after all.” Riley slit the woman's throat and watched the blood pour from her carotid artery. She stood up. Edward glared at his daughter. “How dare you threaten me? I grabbed Riley and threw her into the cage the woman Riley had murdered was previously. He locked the cage door. “You will watch. He pulled the other women out of their confines and strapped them to the other two gurneys. Come here Amelia, it's your turn. I hope you do not disappoint me.” “Yes, Father, I’m ready.” Amelia responded excitedly. Riley watched as her father and sister beat, berated and assaulted the women. She watched as they mutilated and destroyed their physical bodies. Hours later there was silence. Amelia and Edward were spent from the torture. Riley was horrified at what her sister was capable of. She was her father in every way. She was a skilled manipulator. She was a horrific and demented individual. “I have an idea Father, we should throw the bodies in the cell with Katherine for a while. Let her spend some time with our victims. One of them was her victim. Teach her lesson.” Riley spent three days with no food or water in a cell with three decomposing bodies. The smell encompassed her senses causing her to be sick. She knew she could never trust anyone again. Her own sister had turned against her. Become like her father. Maybe I am too. Maybe I am just evil. I. WILL. KILL. THEM. ALL. She wondered how her younger brothers were. If they were still alive.

10 Years Later

Riley had remembered the three days she spent with her first murder victim. She remembered the taste of revenge she had when she murdered her Uncle Astor. Her father was forced to retire into hiding. Her sister had been in a mental institution for a lengthy amount of time. Self admitted of course. She believed it protected her from her sister by living in the upscale mental facility. Riley’s brothers both survived the traumatic experience they had suffered a decade earlier with their Uncle Astor. Eddie had moved on with his life. He never spoke of what happened. He and Riley became estranged. Cornelius disappeared as soon as he was able. He has suffered severe post traumatic stress disorder and had turned to the underbelly of New York City for his coping mechanisms. Riley had been searching for him. She left her position as chairman of the board of directors of Vanderbilt International, after she superseceded her father after his abrupt retirement five years ago on Riley’s behest. Rather her force. She maintained 51% shareholder in the company which left her majority vote. With her company firmly intact and well maintained it left her the freedom to search for her youngest brother. She was ready to save her family and rebuild what bonds she had left. She had found a job as a bartender in a dive bar in the heart of the big apple. It opened up connections to the underworld of drugs, booze and crime. She was getting closer and closer to Neal’s whereabouts until one night. The night she met him. The night his ocean blue eyes met hers. The night she had found her match. The man that was her equal. The man that had faced the pain unlike any other. The man that would kill for her. The man that held equal power. She ran the world. He ran a country.

Her King. His Queen.

[masshirohebi-moved]

“ the pain will always be there. “

poetry sentence startersRain falls morbidly from the sky, dark clouds dulling the colours of the village, drowning the land in shades of grey and blue. And perhaps these sullen colours are better, perhaps this grim weather is to everyones benefit. For anguish lingers in the hearts of all shinobi, the Second War leaving no mind unscarred. Had the sun greeted the group, had the hues of the world been bright and radiant, the misery of a battle won-yet-lost would be ever more apparent. The serpent, for one, did not feel in the mood for pretty weather.Whatever comfort they had tired to offer her was poorly construed. Trying to convince her this was inevitable, trying to convince her she can rise above it. Trying to convince her, and perhaps themself. Their words futile nature is evident when she replies, her dulled hazel eyes never meeting their gold pair. Her lips part, uttering a sentence both true and unbearable to hear:“The pain will always be there.” And when had that pain started for her? Nawaki’s death, they imagine. To hear the news of the boy falling victim to a gruesome death. To know he hadn’t even had the peace of mind that help may come. For no medics awaited the fallen, the only mercy to be a given… a swifter death. And in a way, the viper feels responsible for her brothers fate. Had they not been right there? Had they not stood mere meters away from the blast? The catalyst in her trauma then, that is what the serpent was. Had she never lost her brother, she would never have been so doomed to feel what she feels now. She would never have met Dan… she would never have lost him. A powerful woman, a tenacious and undefeated warrior. They would never, could never, forget the look of grief, terror and pain that etched itself on to her face when she clung to the body of her lover. When she fought the gods of death to bring him back to this world.And to this day, the serpent has not apologized for Nawaki’s death, for their hand in this. They owe her that much, do they not? They owe her something. But they could not voice their guilt, she never asked them to either. They are too cowardly to open that door. And every time they try to bring themself to say sorry, they wish to say something else instead━━ ‘I can bring him back.’But what apology would that be? What risk they would be taking. Too much, for an imperfect jutsu they had stolen from her grandfather. To offer another sin in exchange for their first one… it seemed unfitting. It seemed unwise.

It is Jiraiya who offers more well crafted reassurance to the woman, it is he who seems to be doing a better job than the serpent. And perhaps it is more suitable that way, as they take a step back to allow for the two to have this more meaningful exchange. They are better at unraveling things after all. They are better at killing, fierce and ruthless. It was never their talent to mend. They would unravel the world, they would unravel themself. Destruction lining their core.Besides, when letting her down so very finally, did they deserve to say they loved her? They didn’t think so. Useless unless aimed to kill, and they had certainly killed Nawaki’s attackers. But that talent only came in after. That talent only came in too late. Rain has sunken in to the fabrics of all three shinobi’s clothing, but none shake from the cold. For once, not even the chilly hands of winter can be the primary focus of the snake.“You should go to medical,” they say to her, noticing every laceration on her form, their quiet voice barely surpassing the sound of the wind. But they are unwilling to be loud, scared it may undo her. Humans were such fragile creatures, and she had suffered enough to warrant implosion. Maybe she doesn’t hear them, too lost in her own world of despair, maybe she chooses not to. They catch her sleeve, “Tsunade, you should-”Their own words lose mobility, as they stare in to her blank gaze. Their hand retracts, their resolve to tell her to preform any duty (for her benefit or not), seemingly unfit. What more could anyone demand of her? They fall silent, before allowing her to go as she pleases. An unvoiced declaration that they would follow regardless. They would patch her wounds themself, if they must, they could return the favour after years of her fulfilling the task.And although they walk beside her from the war grounds to the village, they can not help think, as her dulled eyes look back to the familiar landscape - that she would never be coming home.

#ikkakusenkin #||●ANSWERED-❝disclosed❞ #/long post #/character death #/death mention