#i'm cryin this makes me so happy for some reason

[tervaneula]

Michelangelo coming in with the big guns for @threestripeslider <3

@rottmntpeepawpolls

#i'm cryin this makes me so happy for some reason #nqk mikey propaganda #peepaw multiverse #odd man out #omo #not quite kintsugi #nqk #tervdraws #rottmnt fanart #future leonardo #future leo #future michelangelo #future mikey #peepaw polls #to have everything in one place: #nqk leo propaganda

[watermelonlovershigh]

"I Just Felt Like Cryin"

AN: this randomly came to me in one of my dreams and i had to write it out. i love this concept even though it breaks my heart a little bit. i hope you enjoy and your feedback is welcome!!!!!

This story contains: just crying and comfort

{ dadrry - husband!harry - softrry - have three kids but they aren't in really in story }

word count- 1,061

Harry comes home from the studio and just feels like crying for whatever reason.

As soon as Harry came home from the studio you could tell something was wrong. He wasn't as cheerful as he usually was and he seemed lost in his train of thought. But knowing Harry, he tried to hide his emotions well and act as if nothing was wrong. Especially in front of your three kids. He didn't want his kids to see him have a breakdown. He only wanted them to see their father in a happy state.

The problem tonight was that even Harry didn't know what was wrong with himself. He wasn't necessarily sad and he wasn't mad. So maybe it's a combination of stress and built up emotions but he just felt on the verge of crying all evening. There was this burning behind his eyes that you get when you're trying not to cry and Harry can't seem to get rid of it.

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

After going through the routine of giving your kids their baths and tucking them into bed, it was time to go to bed yourselves. This part in your night routines can vary depending on your moods. If you were feeling needy, then it would consist of making love under the duvet. If you wanted to relax more, it could consist of sharing a bath or shower together. If you were tired, it would consist of just cuddling and going to sleep. Tonight you didn't know what to expect but you knew sex was off the table.

You came into your bedroom to brush your teeth and then begun putting your creams and lotions on your skin as you sat on the edge of the bed. Harry told you he'd be back in a moment, that he was going to get himself a glass of water from the kitchen. You were nervous because you didn't want there to be anything seriously going on with him. You hated to see your husband so down.

The whole journey to the kitchen Harry was fighting tears. Then on the way back up to your shared bedroom he was fighting tears. He didn't want to cry tonight. Not that he was embarrassed to cry in front of you. No, you've been married for so long that he's completely okay with being vulnerable around you. He just didn't want to make you sad because he knows when you see him cry you get sad.

But as soon as Harry stepped foot in the bedroom and shut the door behind himself, he took one glance at you, the person he loves most, and his bottom lip started quivering and his shoulders started shaking as a sob left his body. You stood up quickly and walked across the room, first grabbing the glass of water out of his shaky hands. Then asking, "Baby, what's wrong? Hey, it's okay."

Harry just wraps his arms around you and sobs into your shoulder. You haven't seen him cry this hard since the death of his step father and it's really worrying you. "I....." Harry tries to speak, "I donno."

"Are you sad or feeling sick?" you gently question.

"No, I, I just felt like cryin'. M'sorry. I'm a big baby." he mutters as you lead him over to the bed. Now you understand a bit more. Harry has been stressed lately and you have a feeling his emotions just got backed up so much that now they are all flowing out of him. Typically Harry is the type of person that will ignore his emotions until they come spewing out of him. For some it's with anger that includes yelling and being violent. For Harry, he's not an angry or violent person so his emotions are tears.

You help Harry sit on the edge of the bed while continuing to hug him to your chest. His cries are slowing down but are still somewhat there. "Shhh," you whisper while leaning back to lay down under the covers and stroke the back of his scalp, "It's okay. You can cry if you feel like it. I'll be here the entire time and hold you, okay." Just wanting your husband to know its okay to cry it out.

Harry nods his head where it's placed over your heartbeat, his favorite place to be. He loves laying his head over your heartbeat during sex to feel how fast he's got it beating for him. But he also just loves to feel it to comfort him when he's trying to sleep or is upset about something.

After a few more minutes, Harry coos in a hoarse voice, "Thank you. Thank you for always knowing how to comfort me and thank you for loving me." His words nearly bring you to tears.

"Harry, babe, you're so easy to love. You have the biggest heart and everyone can't help but to show you love. I love you so much." you tell him truthfully. You do love Harry with every fiber in your body. You wouldn't have married him if you didn't. You wouldn't have let him get you pregnant three times and had his beautiful babies if you didn't love this heavy man laying across your chest right now.

Harry lifts his head off your chest and leans forward, going in for a kiss, but you stop him. He gets a sad look of rejection on his face but you reach over to your nightstand and grab a tissue. "You have snot running out your nose, babe. Here, let me help you wipe it up." You gently cradle the side of his face and help him wipe his snotty nose. It doesn't gross you out at all because you do have kids that have desensitizes you to this kind of stuff. "There we go. Now you can kiss me."

With the first smile you've seen on his face all night, Harry leans in again and places the most softest kiss on your lips. It only lasted a second but that second means everything to you. After the kiss, Harry whispers, "I love you." He leans back down to snuggle into your covered chest. You grab the edge of the duvet and help drape it over his back to keep the both of you warm. Then once you reach to turn the lamp off and the bedroom is filled with darkness, you began to fall asleep with Harry in your arms.

(PLEASE REBLOG BECAUSE WRITING IS NOT EASY AND IT'S FREE SO JUST DO IT)

(no more tags are allowed because i've hit my number limit. sorry : ( )

tag list: @one-sweet-gubler // @harryscherrysugar // @hsfanficsrecss // @lollypopsx // @harrycanyonmoonn // @itfeelslikemytherapisthatesme // @damnasstyles  // @mrsstylesharry // @softmullet  // @meetmyblondemuffins  // @thegirlnextdoorssister // @stanleystyles  // @haarrrys // @michellekstyles  // @skyangel57   // @the-gardener-31 // @lhharrylilpumpkin // @yousunshine-youtemptress // @clairestylessss  // @kissmyaxe140  // @goldenmelonsugar-hi // @kaitieskidmore1 // @florencepughily  // @alienorknight //@dancearoundthelivingroom  // @swiftmendeshoran

 // @luv-flor7777  // @alohastyles-x // @tenaciousperfectionunknown  // @sleutherclaw // @siredtohybrid // @whoscamila // @a-strange-familiar  // @golden-elodie // @mrspeacem1nusone //  @goldenkhae // @lntwithharry // @shadowygladiatorlight  // @manifestrry  // @mendesblurb // @sunshinemoonsposts  // @depersonalizationsucks // @academiaghost // @zendayassimp // @reveriehs // @vsnnstuff // @dancinsunflowerkiwi // @quinnsgrapejuice // @theroosterswife24 // @justlemmeholdyou // @stylesmygucci // @hsonlyangelxo // @luvonstyles // @howdey

______________

My Masterlist Masterpost

#harry styles #harry styles angst #harry styles fluff #harry styles comfort #dadrry #dad!harry #husbandrry #husband!harry #softrry #soft!harry #harry styles crying #harry styles fan fiction #harry x reader

[bluejay-the-geek]

DC characters/moments as Tortured Poets Department songs/lyrics bc i have a light concussion and am very bored (in the album's chronological order)

(disclaimer before someone is triggered- some of the lyrics are taken out of context or interpreted differently than what they actually mean. this is just for fun don't come for me. also this gets pretty angsty towards the end so proceed with caution)

"I was supposed to be sent away, But they forgot to come and get me"- tim drake very obviously bc neglecting parents/boarding school

"I love you, it's ruining my life"- early harleen quinzel about joker

"My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys"- the whole song is just harley quinn idc (pre-harlivy of course)

"Now I'm down bad, cryin' at the gym"- nightwing def cried at the gym at some point

"I stopped tryna make him laugh, stopped tryna drill the safe"- dick grayson about bruce after moving out of wayne manor

"You swore that you loved me, but where were the clues? I died on the altar waitin' for the proof, You sacrificed us to the gods of your bluest days"- remember the whole selena leaving bruce at the alter thing? yeah

"I'd rather burn my whole life down, Than listen to one more second of all this bitchin' and moanin', I'll tell you something 'bout my good name, It's mine alone to disgrace"- I'm just getting red hood vibes from this no specific reason

"Now, pretty baby, I'm runnin' back home to you, Fresh out the slammer, I know who my first call will be to"- almost every gotham rouge to batman right after escaping arkham/prison. especially joker, catwoman and riddler lol

"At the park where we used to sit on children's swings, Wearing imaginary rings"- this one specific panel of tim and steph

"And this city reeks of driving myself crazy"- everyone who's ever been to gotham

"All my girls got their lace and their crimes, And your cheating husband disappeared, well, No one asks any questions here"- it's giving gotham city sirens

"Am I allowed to cry?"- maybe it's just me but i thought about clark kent discovering he had different biological parents and grieving about them even though the parents that actually raised him are alive and well

"So I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street, Crash the party like a record scratch as I scream, "Who's afraid of little old me?", You should be" red hood's debut

"The scandal was contained, The bullet had just grazed, At all costs, keep your good name, You don't get to tell me you feel bad"- jason todd about the whole making batman choose between him and joker at the end of under the red hood

"You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me"- this is 100% Bane bc he was born and grew up in prison for a crime he didn't even do!! also cassandra cain and damian wayne

(^this is actually the lyric that inspired this entire post lol)

"You caged me and then you called me crazy, I am what I am 'cause you trained me, So who's afraid of me? Who's afraid of little old me?"- kind of a stretch but remember that time they put jason in arkham?

I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)- again the whole song is harley about joker

"Your arson's match, your somber eyes, And I'll still see it until I die, You're the loss of my life"- bruce about jason. out of all the robins that died, jason's death hit him the hardest. even now when bruce sees red hood, he still sees that happy little kid that he lost

"I can read your mind, "She's having the time of her life", There in her glittering prime, The lights refract sequin stars off her silhouette every night, I can show you lies"- bc we all know Nightwing is always dying on the inside, and it was very true in the discowing era bc it was right after he left the manor

"'Cause I'm a real tough kid, I can handle my shit"- jason pre-bruce

"I'm so obsessed with him, but he avoids me like the plague"- ok so we got joker about batman, cupid about green arrow, hush about bruce wayne... and a bunch of others but it's too many to write lol

"And you deserve prison, but you won't get time"- fucking tarantula that bitch

"The smallest man who ever lived"- the atom! not any of the messages in the song tho ofc he's just very small

"What if I told you I'm back? The hospital was a drag, Worst sleep that I ever had, I circled you on a map ,I haven't come around in so long, But I'm coming back so strong"- joker to batman after escaping arkham again

"I haven't come around in so long, But I'm making a comeback to where I belong"- jason coming back to protect crime alley after being away from gotham for years after his resurrection

"Even if it's handcuffed, I'm leavin' here with you"- batman and catwoman<3

I Hate It Here- imagine the whole song as homeless jason todd taking shelter in the library💔

"I built a legacy that you can't undo, But when I count the scars, there's a moment of truth, That there wouldn't be this if there hadn't been you"- bruce built a legacy as batman, and created a huge family he loves, and it hurts to think about but he wouldn't have any of it if joe chill hadn't murdered his parents

"Please, I've been on my knees, Change the prophecy, Don't want money, Just someone who wants my company"- kid bruce grew up all alone in a huge mansion, but he'd give all his billions away in a heartbeat if he could change his parent's fate

"So, they killed Cassandra first 'cause she feared the worst"- ok so you might think i chose cassandra cain for this only bc of the name, BUT- cass notices things others don't (like cassandra the prophet...), bc of her skills and abilities she is feared the most (Ik the song said "she feared" not "she is feared" but idc lol). like if someone knew so much about you just by looking you'd think she's some kind of a witch too

Peter- picture this: jason had a childhood friend back at crime alley. he left to live in wayne manor and become robin, and said goodbye to his old friend, promising they'd reunite again in the future. 3 years pass and his friend reads an article about jason's death. now listen to the song and try not to cry (if someone writes that fic send me the link IMMEDIATELY this has been haunting me) here's the link to the song with lyrics bc ik you're too lazy to look it up. also jason's middle name is peter:)

"Splendidly selfish, charmingly helpless, Excellent fun 'til you get to know her"- brucie wayne vs batman

"Started with a kiss, "Oh, we must stop meeting like this" But it always ends up with a town car speeding, Out the drive one evening"- catwoman and batman of course<3 the town car is the batmobile speeding out the batcave to catch catwoman (to arrest her or make out with her? probs both)

Robin- ofc we have to go robins for robin! imo that's bruce to dick and jason's robins, and dick to damian when he was his robin. dick and jason- despite the hard times they went through that led to them becoming robins, they were still mostly happy curious kids that run around covered in mud while bruce tried (unsuccessfully) to maintain the innocence they had left. as for damian- it's more of a stretch than the other 2 bc he had no childlike innocence before robin, but dick tried his hardest to extract the child that was hidden inside the ruthless assassin the league created, finally allowing him to experience normal kid things. idk

"He said, "I'm not a donor but, I'd give you my heart if you needed it", She rolled her eyes and said, "You're a professional""-to me this is clark kent completely in love and lois with her sass

"And at last, She knew what the agony had been for"- almost every hero. they suffer, they sacrifice, they fight, and sometimes they want to give up- but at the end of the day, they save lives, so it's all worth it

and that's it folks! feel free to add more/share your insights!!

sorry for any spelling/grammer mistakes, English isn't my first language plus like the title said i had a minor head injury a few days ago and I'm tired soI'm not proofreading this bc I'm going to sleep rn goodnight to all✌️

#the tourtured poets department #taylor swift #the atom #clark kent #dc #dc comics #bane #green arrow #tortured poets department #harleen quinzel #harley quinn #dc joker #the joker #dick grayson #nightwing #bruce wayne #batman #jason todd #red hood #catwoman #selena kyle #gotham rogues #the riddler #stephanie brown #batgirl #spoiler dc #gotham city sirens #oliver queen #cassandra cain #damian wayne

[the1975attheirverybest]

For some reason I am hyperfixating on matty angst. I can’t listen to true blue by boygenius without thinking of him

Anonymous asked: Sorry like angst but still with a happy ending, like you still choose that person, if that makes sense

I'm a massive sucker for Matty angst. Idk why. Maybe because I've been on a real NOACF kick lately, and that shit is angsty as hell, or maybe because that man has been through so much, every time I see a picture of him im like amazed by how he's managed to turn it all round and im so proud of him. Or maybe it's simply the really old Halsey stuff? i mean she told us he's blue all over. HAHA do you guys remember that shit? the best emo poetry to come out of tumblr.

ANYWAYSSS.

Here's a little something. I got the urge to turn it into a full fic while writing, so let me know if you'd like that!

---

She watched as Matty took out his wallet and gave the movers their tip, shaking their hands to thank them. He shut the door behind them and turned around to face her. She was looking back at him, with tears in her eyes. The only reason that she'd been able to hold his gaze was because she was looking right through him. Wondering in her mind if this was a mistake.

Perhaps it was. because he looked her dead in the eyes, saw her tears, and said nothing.

"The faucet in the bathroom's leakin.'" he walked past her, rolling up his sleeves and loosing his tie. It drove her nuts that he complained about the weather but insisted on staying in his absurd, self-imposed uniform. "The inspectors' gonna be hearing from me about this." he yelled out of the bathroom.

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. She was in deep trouble. As crazy at Matty made her, she also loved him with every fiber of her being. He was within her, tangled up in her memories, feelings, sense of self. She could not imagine belonging to anyone else. And she couldn't take watching him be with anyone else.

He walked over to her, watching her struggle to wipe her tears away. He couldn't even remember what they'd been fighting about or who'd started it. He unbuttoned his shirt, peeling it off his body and tossing it to the ground. his face and chest glistened with sweat. His hands grabbed her face, his head dipping down to kiss her. Her tears mixed with the sweat on his lips, wetting them both.

"C'mon, baby. please forgive me, yeah?" his pleading eyes bore into her soul. "If you can't forgive me, then I'm fuckin' doomed."

she blinked, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"No, no more cryin,' please. I couldn't take it. Seein' you like this." He kissed her once more. Softly, this time, like she was fragile, like he was afraid to hurt her. "love me? hmm?" he whispered against her lips, pecking them again. "yeah, honey?" Matty's arms wrapped around her, squeezing her closer. "you love me, yeah?"

she nodded. How could he possibly doubt that. Wasn't it obvious? why else would she be standing here today if it weren't for her all-consuming love for him. They'd done this before. Thousands of times. It never ends well, and they both knew it. But it's never stopped them from finding their way back to each other. over, and over again.

"Please love me." he begged, urgency growing in his voice as he crashed their lips together. "Please, babe....I'm sorry. I'm a monster."

"I love you, Matty." she gasped, breathless, as his tongue slid into her mouth. Her defenses crumbled to the ground. She leaned into the kiss, her hands finding their way into his hair.

She felt him smile at her secret confession. He softened, his hands exploring her body and pulling at her top. In a few moments, her clothes were in a heap on the floor, on top of his own. He slid to his knees, kissing down her breasts and stomach.

"Oh, F-fuck, Matty- Love you, so much..."

#matty healy angst

[angel-milano]

songs for funky lizards to commit regicide to @ofseptarsis

Mr. Fear by Siames

How long you'll call me insincere? I'm not here to fulfill your parody How come my song becomes unreal? You never understand my melodies

Unnatural Selection by Muse

I'm hungry for some unrest I wanna push it beyond a peaceful protest I wanna speak in a language that they'll understand Dedication to a new age Is this the end of destruction and rampage? Another chance to erase then repeat it again

A Good Song Never Dies by Saint Motel

'Cause a good song never dies It just reminds you of where you were The first time it made you cry The first time you felt alive

There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought of It Yet by Panic! At the Disco

I'm the new cancer, never looked better, you can't stand it Because you say so under your breath You're reading lips, "When did he get all confident?" Haven't you heard that I'm the new cancer? Never looked better and you can't stand it

Ruled by Secrecy by Muse

Repress and restrain Still the pressure and the pain Wash the blood off your hands This time she won't understand

Turn the Lights Off by Tally Hall

Bend the nightmare You control it Artful dodger Easy does it

Let's Go by Stuck in the Sound

I know you would make me happy Girl I found my way out I found it at last now I'm sober I know it would make it concrete Now you're cryin' (Whouhouwhou) How sweet a sound

Just One Yesterday by Fall Out Boy

Lettin' people down is my thing, baby Find yourself a new gig This town ain't big enough for two of us I don't have the right name O-o-or the right looks But I have twice the heart

Enemy by Mystery Skulls

It's down to you, mmm It's down to me Did you ever really think that I'd become Someone you'd call your enemy?

Stockholm Syndrome by Muse

And I won't hold you back Let your anger rise And we'll fly, and we'll fall and we'll burn No one will recall No one will recall

#tofi #i started this at the beginning of march #and then work killed me #but it WILL be posted!!

[almost-a-class-act]

🎶✨when u get this put 5 songs u actually listen to, publish. then, send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers 🎶✨

Listen, I love receiving any and all asks even when I don't respond to them due to, you know, me being the worst, but my taste in music is VERY embarrassing. You guys know I spent like three years in the One Direction fandom right? The brainrot was real. With that in mind, you're getting old-timey tunes that I listen to when I'm writing my WWII shenanigans.

Harbour Lights, The Platters. This one has been covered like a million times since it came out in the late 30s so there are other versions. I think Vera Lynn has one that's nice too. It was my grandparents' song - for some reason; it's very sad! What a choice, gram and gramps! - and I just mentioned it in a fic, which I have been gagging to do.

Cryin' Time, Buck Owens. I actually prefer the version by LeAnn Rimes but that might be sacrilege if you are a true country fan.

She's Got You, Patsy Cline. Another sad one. Are they all sad? Did they make happy music in the mid-century?

We'll Meet Again, Vera Lynn. Nothing like a WWII era song about promising to come back someday. I sang this song at my grandpa's funeral. It still guts me a little.

I'll Be Seeing You, Billie Holiday. Another one that I've mentioned in a fic, partly because it's true historical fact that Joe Toye loved singing this one and sucked mightily at it. <3

To the room at large: if we follow each other and you want to do this and haven't, I'd love to see your song list! Feel free to tag me.

#asks

[oh-nostalgiaa]

Hi!!! I was so worried about you! I even asked around to see if you were ok, you seem to be deactivated. I'm so happy you're back!! 🤗 Also did you watch the new trailer of "Andor" ? I thought of you when I saw it. So happy that you're back 😊

Thank you!!! Tumblr deactivated me for some unknown reason, and I had to bother them to get it back. I didn't remember everyone that I followed, but I DID make a backup blog just in case it happens again. It's @oh-nostalgiia. I did watch the Andor trailer and I am cryin' in this club waiting to watch it omg.

[ducknotinarow]

2k3/7 Raph Don - #

| send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including:

"jeez ain't we done rumagin' through my phone yet? for fucks sake"

As with previous 03/07 I'll point out any changes between the times -what your muse’s name is in mine’s phone

'Donnie'

"hmm well 'hat's easy, Donnie course what I put 'em as. Yeah sure ain't nothing unique lots call Don, Donnie even Mikey at times. But well he always Donnie ta me. No differe 'han how he calls me Raphie still I guess. Just was easier when we were jus' tots an' all. Don comin' ta me cryin' 'Raphie, Raphie, Raphie' onve small 'hings. But I always answered." he chuckles a little at the memory " uh still sorta dose it now thinkin' bout it now?" He rubs at the side of his head "Though I useta do it too...mostly if I saw a bug since he never mind grabbin' 'em" He shrives a bit he still hates them. "Jus' what we do. Others may use the nicknames. I don' mind much if family uses it but I guess it jus' got different meaning with Don an' I." - what your muse’s picture is in mine’s phone

[image description ] A photo of Donnie clearly facing the camera a obvious annoyed glare aimed at Raphael who took the photo with some grease smuges coating their olive skin. Nothing about this photo is flattering to say the least. As Don's beak is even pouting when seeming aware of them getting thier picture taken.

That usual little chuckle rumble out over Raphael's tongue now shoulders shaking slightly even "I told 'em he was lokkin' real hot for Von an' his date. Said she gonna change their plans second she sees 'em even." he chuckles more explaining the look on Don's face for the contact photo. "Sometimes Don asks me ta help 'em wit' his projects. Was wantin' ta fix up the tank. I may not know much with the techy stuff but I know the maniacal side's makin' sure nothin' gonna blow out the engines afta all." Raph soon smiles to himself. "I kind of 'ike gettin' ta work wit' 'em 'ike this. We jus' take up own spaces to do what we gotta do. Throw on some rock music. Sometimes we use it as a chance to share song wit' each other. An' jus' talk. Nothin' speical sometimes we just bitchin' to the other. I love hearin' Don get mad it's funny. He don' think it funny but eh it's funny. Might talk 'bout Casey and Von even or complain 'bout Mikey an' Leo. Sometimes nice thin's depends. Mostly we joke an' such. Dunno maybe cause he workin' but it's fun workin' on stuff with Don cause of how his mood seems ta change. Jus' fun. Even those times he wanna swing a sludge hammer on me."

07 - [image description] is almost the same but Donnie is smiling in the photo, shell cycle behind the purple banded turtle. "I had stopped usin' that bike..since Don made it for me so it went wit' out a lotta love. So I asked Don 'bout fixin' it together...cause I missed those old times." Soft sadden smile over lost times for stupid reasons. - what your muse’s ringtone is in mine’s phone

'our love' by Bee Gees (songs about brotherly love and it just sweet preform in honor of brother after getting a grammy ;3;) I hold you near but you're so far away And it's losing you I can't believe To watch you leave and let this feeling die You alone are the living thing that keeps me alive And tomorrow if I'm here without your love You know I can't survive Only my love can raise you high above it all

"I love my brother a lot at 'hat. He's my favorite outta the three of 'em. One i'm closest to. I can say we are also friends and not jus' brothers. I can talk to 'em and such but..damn I wish he trust me a bit more ya know?" 07: *same song just different secont of lyrics

We can take the darkness and make if full of light But let your love flow back to me How can you leave and let this feeling die This happy room will be a lonely place when you are gone And I won't even have your shoulders for the crying on No other women's love could be as true, I'm begging you "I neva' changed the song..but the meanin' has changed for me. I put it at a different spot even cause of it. I missed him alot."

- my muse’s last text to your muse

03 : [text] Donnie if ya awake

[text] who I kidding. -_- [text] I needja! :O

[text] bring a hammer! or a torch! yeah Torch I need ta fuckin burn this nasty ass bug to ashes! >:I 07 : [text] saw ya were low grab ya some coffee, left on the counter

#muse| hamato rapheal #madamkezzie #aflockoffeathers #[ you think first i hit first aflockoffeathers] #phone contact meme #stayed qeued #ic reply #((twins! also would have made the 07 text sad buuuuut I got something else for that uwu))

[the-letter-horror-lover]

Through the Years

Kimberly_T

Summary:

Young Ciel Phantomhive had made a contract with Sebastian to defeat and get his revenge on those who had once all but destroyed him. However, Ciel had honestly never thought it would take so long to destroy his enemies, that he would grow up first. Join the Phantomhive household as they snicker, scream, snark, cry, and smuggle in kittens... through the years.

Chapter 5: His Master, Ashamed

Notes:

This fanfic is based on the manga, not the anime, and its background incorporates all the manga events up through chapter 106. (It may end up being canon-compliant for later chapters of the manga, but at this point we'll just have to wait and see.) This fic also incorporates the concept "practice makes perfect;" that is, if they keep doing their jobs long enough, the Phantomhive servants will eventually become reasonably good at them. (Or at the very least, not quite so bad at them!) And it counts the years after Ciel first made a contract with Sebastian, which is why the story starts at Year Four instead of Year One.

Chapter 1: YEAR FOUR, Part 1: His Master, Growing

Chapter Text

In the spring of Ciel Phantomhive's fourteenth year, and very soon after returning from a mission on the Queen's business to the Ivory Coast, the young earl suddenly began to grow taller.

And at first, he did not appreciate it.

"Damn that witch doctor! Straight to hell!" Ciel groaned while writhing on his mattress, trying but unable to straighten out his legs; the muscles there seemed to have tied themselves in excruciatingly painful knots under his skin. "He said his gods would bless me because we saved the village, but he must have cursed me instead!"

"I do not think what is happening to you is a curse, young master," his butler Sebastian said calmly, while holding Ciel's left leg and massaging the calf muscles. "Rather, I think it is simply muscle spasms, though peculiarly strong... and I'll admit that I'm currently at a loss as to why they have occurred. You were certainly not over-exercising earlier..."

Just then the earl and butler were surprised by a knock on Ciel's bedroom door, and the voice of Baldroy the chef came floating through the wood: "Young Master, Sebastian? Mind if I come in?"

Ciel and Sebastian exchanged startled glances; it was rare that Bard ventured up to the earl's bedroom, so far from the kitchen that he held as his territory. Ciel gave permission to enter and Bard came in, wearing a rather peculiar expression; like he wasn't sure whether to be happy or worried over something.

"Sir, Finny just came tearing into the kitchen cryin' buckets again, an' worried to death over you. He said you was nappin' under the elm tree with a book on your face, when you suddenly woke up and started screaming in pain while grabbing at your legs! And then Sebastian came flyin' in and carried you up here before he could find out who'd attacked you and how. So... is that what happened?"

"I wasn't napping!" Ciel snapped, blushing hotly. "I was just resting my eyes while pondering what I'd just read about—about China's current political climate!"

"Uh-huh. Yes, sir," Bard said with what possibly threatened to become a smirk, as everyone very deliberately did not look at the book that had been tossed heedlessly onto the nightstand: Gulliver's Travels. "But aside from what your eyes were doing, he got the rest right? You just woke up with a bad pain in your legs? Mostly here in the calves, right?" as he thumped down on the other side of the bed, and set to massaging the muscles of Ciel's right leg while Sebastian continued working on the left.

"You seem to have some knowledge of this ailment," Sebastian said almost grudgingly, looking at the cook through narrowed eyes. "Would you care to share with the rest of the class?"

"What, you really don't know?" as Bard stared at Sebastian in surprise. "Well, that's a first; for once, I know more about somethin' than you do! Huh, wait'll I tell Mey-Rin... Naw, better not; she'll think the sky's gonna start falling next."

Ciel glared at the cook over his shoulder as he snapped, "Bard, stop congratulating yourself on being the Fount of Wisdom for once, and tell me what the hell's happening to me!"

"Sorry, sir!" as Bard almost saluted out of sheer reflex, before he went back to massaging Ciel's leg. "Anyways, it's really nothin' to worry about; you just got a charley horse! Or I should say a pair of 'em, and probably feeling big enough to pull a stagecoach."

"Charley horse?" Sebastian echoed, one elegant eyebrow raised.

"Yup. Dunno why they're called that, but I got 'em myself sometimes, back when I was a teenager, and so did some of the younger bucks in my old squad." Still massaging, Bard leaned forward to say earnestly to the earl, "Wakin' up with a charley horse is actually a good sign, young master; it means you're growing up! It's just that your growing bones an' growing muscles ain't quite caught up to each other yet, or somethin' like that. It don’t happen to everyone, but guys that got tall folks in their family tree tend to get ‘em when they start really shooting up in height."

Still digging his fingers into the mattress, Ciel stopped groaning and looked at Bard, his uncovered eye wide. "I'm... growing? Getting taller? Are you sure?" he said, and there was no disguising the raw hope in his voice.

Bard gave a cheerful shrug in response. "It fits the pattern; charley horses, needin' more sleep all of a sudden, and your plates have been coming back to the kitchen practically scraped clean lately. Have your shoes been pinching you too, sir? The biggest growth spurts start at the feet an' go from the bottom up; that's what my old man always said, back when."

"My... my shoes were pinching my feet, feeling too tight earlier," Ciel half-whispered, the corners of his mouth tugging upwards in a painful grin. "I thought it was because they'd gotten wet and had shrunk a bit while drying, but... Sebastian, I'm getting taller!"

"That is indeed wonderful news, young master," Sebastian said with a polite smile. "If you like, we can start measuring your progress in the classic fashion, with marks showing your height against an appropriate wall... though first, we must get you capable of standing upright again. Try extending your leg now, sir..."

They started that very afternoon, with a pencil being laid precisely level on top of Ciel's head before marking the wall in a discreet corner of his dressing room. Then exactly one month later, they measured his height again—and the next mark was just under three-quarters of an inch higher on the wall. Another month passed, and the third mark was a full inch and a half higher than the first.

There was a definite spring in the young earl's step as he strode about the manor... that is, whenever he wasn't stumbling, banging into cabinets or tripping over his own feet, as his body had apparently decided to trade coordination for height. Or when he wasn't lying on the bed, cursing in phrases that would shock even the saltiest sailor, and clutching his pillow while Sebastian massaged the cramps out of his legs.

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To be continued...

Chapter 2: His Butler, Introducing

Notes:

Yes, I'm introducing an OC in this chapter. No, she's not here to Save the Day, or make either Ciel or Sebastian fall madly in love with her. :-P

Also, I'm aware that in the Black Butler Wiki, Tanaka is officially listed as the House Steward, though unofficially retired. But if he was actually the House Steward, Tanaka would outrank Sebastian and hold authority over him as well as the other servants, including the authority to hire & fire. Proper butler aesthetics would have Sebastian treating him deferentially, instead of dismissively. As an example, rather than lining up with the other servants at the daily meetings, Tanaka would be standing next to Sebastian and approving the orders the butler gives, even if that approval consisted of just a soft ‘ho ho ho’ while sipping his tea. So in my fic, he’s still a Steward, but the lesser rank of Wine Steward instead.

Chapter Text

Two weeks after the third mark indicating increasing height was penciled on the wall, the Earl Phantomhive and his demon butler came back to the manor after another extended mission for the Queen, at an extremely early hour and with a new servant in tow. The earl retired to bed with the stated intention of sleeping the next two days straight, so once the sun had risen, Sebastian introduced the new servant to the others at the conclusion of the daily meeting for announcements and tasking.

"When the master awakens, which will likely be in the afternoon, he will also likely be ravenous; he must be immediately served a high tea with both meat pie and pastries. To that end, a platter of cakes will be prepared no later than noontime and kept covered until the tea, a small pork pie shall be prepared and kept warm on the back burner, and a kettle shall be kept on for making tea at a moment's notice—-and you must not let the kettle boil dry again, Baldroy," as the butler fixed the chef with a meaningful stare.

"Here now, I ain't ruined a kettle in at least two months!" Bard protested.

And finally, there is one more thing to inform all of you: we have a new addition to the manor staff." While the servants murmured amongst themselves, Sebastian turned to the kitchen door and said, "Please enter."

The door creaked open and a woman entered the room, clad in a female servant's basic uniform. A woman of slender build and average height, though the hair piled atop her head in a massive coiled bun made her seem taller. What little skin was showing outside her uniform, namely her face and hands, had an olive tone to it that suggested at least partly Mediterranean ancestry. Her lips were full and her eyes were brown in an oval-shaped face, but by far the most noticeable feature was the still-pink scar that nearly bisected her visage, running diagonally from her left brow to the right corner of her mouth.

Her eyes were flickering nervously from person to person, and definitely widened with shock when she saw Snake with that morning’s companion standing in a row with the others, but the woman stood straight and her voice was clear as she said politely and with a slight French accent, "My name is Dahlia. It is a pleasure to meet you all; I look forward to working with you."

"Dahlia will be working as the laundress and seamstress, which will relieve our housemaid of some of her burden," Sebastian informed them all. "And when there are no clothes or linens in need of cleaning or mending, she is to assist either the chef in meal preparation or the maid in particular cleaning projects, as the situation at the time warrants. Everyone, please introduce yourselves and your positions."

"I am Tanaka, the Phantomhive household wine steward," Tanaka said as he gave a short bow to the newcomer.

"I'm Baldroy, the chef. But folks call me Bard," the chef said with a nod of greeting as he thumbed his chest.

"This one is Snake, and the one on his shoulders is Oscar," Said Snake, gesturing first at his chest and then at the snake draped over his shoulders. "Snake is the footman. Pleased to meet you. Says Oscar."

"I'm Finny, the gardener!" the boy said with a grin and a friendly wave.

"And I'm Mey-Rin, the maid! It'll be good to have another girl in the house, it will!" she said with a cheerful curtsey.

"It's fortunate you feel that way, Mey-Rin, because she'll be taking the unused bed in your room," Sebastian informed her. "And now that introductions have been made, everyone, to your duties! I will spend much of the day supervising Dahlia's first day of work on the laundry, to ensure it meets our high standards. Although she has said she already knows how to launder and care for an assortment of fabrics.... which is something of a first for this household," Sebastian added dryly. Then with a sharp clap of his hands, he sent everyone off to their assorted duties.

Ten minutes later, Sebastian and Dahlia were in the mansion's laundry room, and Sebastian watched closely as she performed a dry-run demonstration to show that she did indeed know how to use the electric washing mill kept there, as well as the wringer mounted over it. "I must say, I find it odd that someone of your former profession would be so familiar with laundering clothes," he commented when she was finished. "I've noticed that washer-women usually have greatly reddened and chapped hands."

"For people who do laundry day-in and day-out, their hands probably do suffer like that," Dahlia responded as she looked through each item that needed laundering, looking for stains that would require particular care to remove. "But we girls only did it on the days we were bleeding, and therefore unqualified for our regular work—except for those clients who liked girls in that state, that is," as she frowned. "So everyone did it for the entire House, but just a few days a month. And we all learned very quickly how to do the job right. Girls who displeased either the Master or the Madame, for any reason... well, you saw what happened to them."

"The Flowerboxes," Sebastian responded, his face expressionless. Dahlia gave a curt nod of confirmation, her every muscle tense. "A far more effective punishment than many would realize."

"Yes. And that wasn't the only way they came up with to hurt people without leaving a mark on them. So anyway, whatever the stain is, whether bloodstain or food stain or... If it can be smeared onto the body or comes out of it, I've cleaned it at least a dozen times in the last twenty years, and out of sheets made of fabrics from cheap cotton muslin to the finest silk and satin." Then she stopped talking for a while as she washed the tablecloths and master's white shirts that made the first load of laundry, wrung the excess water out, and carried them in a basket outside to the clothesline.

As she finished pinning the last shirt to the line in a manner that would leave no visible clothespin marks on it afterwards, Sebastian nodded in approval. "You have done well so far. So I shall leave you to your task, trusting that if you do run into an unexpected situation, you will come seek me out or wait for my return rather than deal with the unknown on your own." Casting an experienced eye on the weather and the shirts, he said, "We shall allow three hours for the first load to dry. When I return, I will show you the particular way our young master likes his shirts ironed; he is very particular indeed about his shirt collars."

And with that, he turned to go back inside, took three steps—and stopped with Dahlia's voice came floating behind him, sounding bewildered. "Wait, there's ironing, too? We never ironed the sheets, or the... I've never ironed anything before!"

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Seven hours later, the master bedroom's bell rang in the servant's quarters, to alert them that their young master was awake and needed tending to. Sebastian brought him a trolley fully laden for a hearty afternoon tea, with a pork pie, finger sandwiches and tea cakes as well. Given how Ciel had become nigh-constantly hungry since his growth spurt had begun, Sebastian harbored no serious concerns about spoiling his dinner.

To Sebastian's mild surprise, instead of sitting up in bed in his nightshirt, Ciel was already clad in a dressing gown and sitting at his table, and wearing a highly disgruntled expression. Why—ah, of course. Again, Sebastian silently sighed as he served the tea, an Assam blend that was one of the young master's favorites. Once the master was properly situated with his food and drink, Sebastian gestured at the bed. "Shall I strip the sheets and take them to the laundry, sir?"

"You should know by now; take them out and burn them," Ciel growled, blushing while scowling down at his sandwich.

Sebastian sighed aloud this time. "Young master, if you insist on continuing this practice, I shall have to go to London immediately to purchase new sheets for your bed; we have emptied the linen closet of all the reserve sets of sheets. I shall also have to purchase new nightshirts for you to wear, since I assume you would be unwilling to wear a larger male’s hand-me-downs. And might I remind you that we have just taken on a laundress? One who, unlike Mey-Rin, has a great deal of experience with washing sheets and clothing carrying this particular stain...”

The teenager stared at him in incredulous dismay. "Absolutely not; that would be even worse! That means she'll know exactly what it is, what it's from—and after I just promised her she'd be leaving that part of her old life behind! She'll think I'm the worst sort of lying pervert!"

That could be a possible reaction, Sebastian acknowledged. Best to wait a week or so, to give her time to settle in, before bringing up such matters with her. "Very well, master," he said with a bow. "These shall be burned. And when I go to London, I shall inquire about buying sheets in large quantities."

"Good." Ciel buried his blush in his teacup, surfacing only to take what the butler thought were appallingly large bites of his food; eating at a most unseemly speed while Sebastian stripped the bed and replaced the sheets with the very last set they had in that size. When the bed was finished, Ciel asked between bites, "How's she doing so far?"

"Young master, great hunger is still not a suitable excuse for a man of your station to talk with his mouth full... Dahlia has met the staff but had little chance to talk with them yet, except brief conversations with Mey-Rin when the maid dropped off more linens for laundering. As for her duties, she does indeed know how to wash various types of fabrics and the best ways of hanging clothes to dry. For mending, she did reasonably well in darning a sock that Finny had worn a hole in. She is also proving to be a quick learner on the proper ways to fold the linens and various articles of clothing. But in regards to ironing..." Sebastian sighed. "All the good that I can truthfully say amounts to: She has not burned down the laundry room. Yet."

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Later that afternoon, Dahlia entered the kitchen with a sheepish expression and her right hand lightly bandaged. "A little accident while ironing," she admitted with a blush. "But at least Sebastian was able to dodge the iron before it could hit his foot."

"Here, lemme see it; I got experience with burns," Bard said as he beckoned to her. He unwrapped the bandage and inspected her burned fingers, and declared, "Not bad; must have gotten your hand into cold water right away. Just a first-degree burn, it'll be fine in a few days. "

All the other servants were present in the kitchen already; Finny was mashing potatoes for shepherd's pie, Snake was peeling carrots for the pie and for the side dish, and Mey-Rin was polishing the silver for the master's dinner. After Dahlia promised that her mild burns wouldn't slow her down and she was ready and eager to do her part in making dinner, Bard put her to work in rolling out the piecrust dough he'd just finished mixing, while he moved on to preparing the sauce needed for the side dish of apricot-glazed carrots.

As he put the pot on the stove, Bard asked Dahlia, “So, what’s your specialty?”

Dahlia looked at him quizzically. “Are you referring to what type of dish I make best? I suppose it would be chocolate-covered strawberries…”

“Yum!” Finny piped up happily from where he was mashing potatoes.

Bard waved his hand dismissively. “Naw, not that stuff; I’m talking about what your main job was before here.”

Dahlia stiffened, as her face went carefully blank.

“Hey, I’m not asking for you to tell us yer whole history,” Bard hastened to add, while lighting the burner. “We all got pasts that we don’t talk about much. But if trouble comes, it’s better to know everything your comrades are capable of. So, what are you good at?”

Dahlia slowly looked at everyone around her. Mey-Rin had paused in polishing the silver and Finny in his potato-mashing, and both were looking at her expectantly. Snake had not paused in his task of peeling the carrots, but he was glancing sideways at her and the snake around his shoulders had risen up to look in Dahlia’s direction.

Dahlia cast her eyes back down at the dough as she slowly resumed rolling it out. “I… understand, please, I didn’t generally enjoy it at all. But I was reasonably good at… at destroying lives.”

Bard put the lid on the pot so it would come to a boil faster, as he said without hesitation, “Well, yeah, we all figured that, but how exactly?”

Dahlia dropped the rolling pin with a clatter, and spun around to stare at him. “Qu-quoi?!”

Bard frowned at her. “Sebastian didn’t tell you? That’s what I meant about pasts we don’t talk about much. Before we came here, most of us, all we were good at was killing.” He gestured over at the maid as he continued, “When she takes her glasses off, Mey-Rin can put a bullet right between a man’s eyes from a hundred yards away.”

“A hundred and twenty yards,” Mey-Rin corrected him with a wry grin. “Sebastian measured it, he did!”

“And Finny there, he’s super-strong; he can rip a tree right out of the ground and then beat you to death with it.”

“Yeah, but I don’t like to; it would kill the tree too,” as Finny looked troubled.

“Snake, well, all his best friends are poisonous,” Bard said with a shrug.

Snake paused in his work to raise a finger and inform them, “Shelley and Coleridge aren’t poisonous; they squeeze and suffocate to kill instead. Says Emily.”

“Tanaka is downright incredible with a sword, and he's an expert at hand-to-hand stuff too; he may be gettin’ on in years, but he can still tie a man’s arms in knots.” Tanaka gave Dahlia a courteous nod of confirmation as he sipped his tea. “And me, I work with explosives and firearms of all kinds,” Bard finished, thumbing his chest with a measure of pride. Dahlia had stared at each person in turn as their favored method of killing was mentioned, and her eyes were wide as saucers by the time Bard finished, “So that’s why I asked, what’s your specialty?”

“I did say, Dahlia, that the staff here would surprise you,” Sebastian said with a soft chuckle, making everyone except Snake jump; they hadn’t heard him come in. “You may feel free to confide in them, at least regarding your preferred methods for killing when it's warranted.”

After another few seconds of silent staring, Dahlia stepped back from the counter as she wiped the flour from her hands with a dishtowel, and then reached up to pull a matching pair of hair sticks out of her bun. Her hair came down in a long, thick black braid that reached clear to her upper thighs.

Bard’s eyes widened and his lips pursed in a whistle. “Now that is a lot of hair!”

“I have heard it said that a woman’s hair is her pride,” Sebastian said slyly. “And in Dahlia’s case, it is also her most lethal weapon.”

Dahlia tugged the braid forward over her shoulder, and held the last eighteen inches of its length between her hands as she said with a rather pained grimace of a smile, “Twenty-three men have been strangled to death with this braid.”

“Twenty-three?” Sebastian echoed, looking at her in mild surprise. “Your previous employer exaggerated, then; before he met his end, he boasted to us that you had killed fifty men with your hair.”

“It’s probably more than that by now; I... I lost count somewhere along the way. But the rest weren’t strangled; they were either stabbed to death, or poisoned,” Dahlia explained as she brandished the hair sticks, which were tipped with sharp gleaming steel. Then she worked her fingers through the braid, and pulled out a series of tiny throwing blades. After laying twelve blades out for the others to inspect, she reached inside the neckline of her uniform to tug out a necklace, at the end of which was a small silver locket. “Poison for coating the blades in,” she explained as she showed it to them before tucking the locket away again, and then meticulously hiding each blade back inside the braid and pinning it up again. “I've also done target practice with handguns, but guns were hard to conceal in, ah, the clothes I wore most often.”

“Oh, these clothes are easy to hide guns in!” Mey-Rin piped up while polishing the silver. “I’ve got two on me right now, and I could hide three more without too much trouble. I can show you later, if you like.”

“And if we can spare the time tomorrow, I’ll take you out to the firing range and see if any of the guns we have on hand suit you. After you pick out a gun you like, we can get you a holster for hiding it,” Bard said as he pulled the lid off the pot and began stirring the now boiling contents. “Snake, you got the carrots ready?”

“You… want me to be even more lethal?” Dahlia stared at them, clearly appalled. “Don’t tell me you also expect me to sedu—”

“They want you to be even more prepared, Dahlia,” Sebastian interrupted, his voice firm. “That is the master’s wish, as well. All servants of the Phantomhive family must be prepared to defend their master and the estate at a moment’s notice.”

“And getting you better equipped to kill from a distance, gives you better odds of surviving the next attack,” Bard said, scowling. “Don’t go getting the wrong ideas; we’re not the kind of folks that like killing! We just don’t mind doing it when we gotta, and we’re damn good at it. But we came here, all of us—well, some of us anyway—because the Earl gave us a future where we could do more than killing. When I first came here, I didn’t even know how to fry an egg! But now I can cook all kinds of meals—”

“With assistance and with frequent do-overs,” Sebastian interrupted dryly.

Bard flushed bright red. “Yeah, well, I’m getting better! And anyway, the point is, we all had to learn skills at something else besides killing, and it was hard learning too, but we did it and we’re still doing it and we’re happy to be doing it! But the master has to deal with a lot of nasty characters, working as he does as the Queen's Watchdog, and sometimes trouble follows him home. And that’s when it pays to be still damn good at killing, too.”

“Surprisingly well said, Baldroy,” Sebastian commented, and the chef first grinned at the compliment, and then frowned at the implied insult. “But now we have other matters to deal with,” as he clapped his hands to command their full attention. “The master’s growth spurt may be accelerating; he has requested an additional course for his dinner tonight, rosemary-baked chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese…”

Bard groaned aloud, while Tanaka chuckled into his tea. Sebastian rolled up his sleeves to work alongside the others, and the kitchen became far too busy for idle conversation.

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Another author's note: "Quoi?" is French for "What?!"

Chapter 3: His Master, Awake at Night

Chapter Text

At the end of the new laundress Dahlia's first day on staff, Mey-Rin showed her the room they'd be sharing from now on. "...Emptied the two bottom drawers for you. And here, you have the right side of the wardrobe for hanging your skirts, and a dress if you have one for going somewhere on your hours off," the maid chattered while showing her where to put her belongings. "Did Sebastian tell you when yours will be? Everybody has Sunday off between breakfast and teatime, and then for evenings off, Bard has Tuesdays, I have Wednesdays, Snake has Thursdays, Finny has Fridays and Sebastian has Saturday evenings off—when he bothers to take time off at all; he's truly a dedicated man, he is! But I expect yours will be Monday evenings."

"What about Tanaka; which is his evening off?" Dahlia asked while opening the valise containing her few belongings. Most of the items in the valise were standard household servant uniforms, new and fresh from the shop, but there were a few small trinkets as well.

"Eh, well, any time is his time off if he wants it," Mey-Rin shrugged, causing Dahlia to stare at her in surprise. "You see, officially Tanaka is the household's wine steward, like they have in the homes for the highest nobles or the very, very wealthy. Some place where they go through so much wine every month for the family and the guests, that they have a servant just to take care of the wine cellar's stock, they do!"

I visited a home like that once," Dahlia commented with a hint of a wry smile. "But this isn't that kind of home, I presume?"

"Oh no, not at all! We have a wine cellar, a big one, but our master is still years too young for serious drinking, yes he is. And he hardly ever throws fancy dinners or parties, where you'd expect a lot of wine to be poured. We do get some businessmen and such visiting, but most of those who come here on business are fine with just drinking tea like the earl does. So there's hardly ever anything that Tanaka has to do, really," Mey-Rin shrugged, while slipping out of her shoes and giving them a quick cleaning before putting them away at the foot of her bed. "So he can come and go as he pleases, but he hardly ever does; he mostly just drinks tea and keeps us company when we have time to chat, or lends us a hand if we're really busy and it's somebody's evening off."

That made Dahlia frown. "And is the master aware that you have such a layabout on staff?"

"Oh, not a layabout!" Mey-Rin corrected her swiftly, while taking off her apron and beginning to undress for bed. " 'Tis more like he's retired while still serving, you see. Tanaka has served the Phantomhive family for decades; he was the butler for the young master's father, the previous earl, and I think he started as a footman for the young master's grandfather! He would be the family butler still, if not for what happened four years ago."

"Which was...?" Dahlia prompted, while hanging the last of her uniform skirts.

"Well, it was before my time here, so I don't know any of the details; just the bits that I've overheard from visitors to the mansion while they're here. But the young master's father was the Queen's Watchdog before him, and four years ago, trouble must have followed his father home as well. The worst sort of trouble; the mansion was set afire, and nearly everyone in it was killed. The only ones who survived were Tanaka and the young master, and even then just barely; Tanaka was stabbed and left for dead, and nearly did die before he was found in the ruins by a shepherd's dog. And the young master was kidnapped, and missing for nearly a month."

"Kidnapped?" Dahlia's eyes went wide, as she stowed her valise in the bottom of the wardrobe and began undressing for bed.

"Yes, but you must never ask about it, understand?" Mey-Rin's voice was unexpectedly stern, as she paused in undressing to shake a cautioning finger at Dahlia. "Neither the master nor Sebastian ever talks about it, ever, but it must have been terrible indeed. He came back with his right eye forever ruined and under an eyepatch, and to this very day, even in his own home the master sleeps with a gun under his pillow. I've seen it there a few times, when he forgets to put it in his holster straight away after he's dressed."

"That's a bad sign, when you don't feel truly safe even in your own bedroom," Dahlia agreed as she unpinned her hair. As the long braid fell down her back, she slid the sharp steel-tipped hairsticks under her pillow without even looking at them.

Mey-Rin paused for a moment, about to say something, but then gave a small shrug and continued. "Anyway, somehow Sebastian found him and rescued him from his captors, and agreed to become his new butler; they've been together ever since. But the young master and Tanaka found each other again in the Royal Hospital, and when the mansion was rebuilt and Tanaka was finally recovered enough to leave the hospital, the master brought him straight home to stay." Mey-Rin smiled as she confided, "They don't talk about it much, but they're both very fond of each other, they are! Why, once when Tanaka caught a bad cold and the young master was worried about him, I even heard him refer to Tanaka as 'Grandpa'!"

Dahlia gave a small smile as she unfolded a plain cotton nightdress and shook it out. "So he's officially a servant, but really he's part of the earl's family."

Mey-Rin finished taking off her skirt and petticoats off while nodding, "Mm-hm. Oh, I promised I'd show you how easy it is to hide guns under these skirts," she said as she briefly posed in her undergarments to show off two holstered handguns, one holster strapped to each thigh. "And I can strap on another set of guns to my calves if I wear the long skirt to cover them, and tuck a third pistol inside my blouse. Though what I really prefer are rifles, and we have plenty of them, too; someday when we have time, I'll show you the sniper nests we've set up."

The ladies finished getting ready for bed, with Dahlia taking the tiny throwing blades out of her braid and putting them with the poison-pendant in a small covered dish that she'd set on the nightstand earlier, while Mey-Rin carefully lay each holstered gun on top of the folded clothes she'd be wearing the next day. Mey-Rin yawned as she turned off the lights, "Good night, Dahlia; sleep well. We'll be getting up at five o'clock..."

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Normally young Ciel Phantomhive, no longer a child but still a youth, was in bed and asleep hours before his hardworking servants were. But at midnight that night the young earl was still wide awake and working in his study, with Sebastian periodically coming in to provide refreshments or see if he needed anything else.

Being awake at such unusual hours was proving useful for communicating overseas, particularly now that Funtom Company was selling their quality products in America and had just opened a new raingear factory in China. Ciel made several telephone calls, first to America before the sales managers there went home for the day, and then to China as soon as the factory there began its day’s work. In between the phone calls, he read through reports from his other factories and sales divisions, and took care of several business items that he’d recently been forced to neglect while working as the Queen’s Watchdog on the latest case for Her Royal Majesty.

Also between phone calls, when he had finished dealing with the routine paperwork, he pored over a series of small black books, the type that are sold with blank pages so that people may use them for diaries or journals. There were six books altogether, and each one filled from cover to cover with neatly precise handwriting.

As he read, with a pen in hand and still another black book with blank pages in front of him, Ciel Phantomhive's face went through a multitude of expressions; disbelief, anger, disgust, wry humor, and resignation were all made evident at different times. The pen was used most often to draw lines through the precise writing in the filled books, sometimes gently and sometimes with far more force than necessary; only rarely was it used to write something down in the blank book instead.

Finally, at just shy of two o’clock in the morning, Sebastian came in with the tea trolley again and poured his master a fresh cup. But when Ciel absently sipped the tea while reading the sixth black book, he sputtered and spit it back out before giving his butler an outraged glare as he said accusingly, “This isn’t Assam!”

“No, young master; it is a chamomile tea, to help you sleep,” Sebastian said calmly.

“I asked for an Assam blend! And macaroons; where are my macaroons?!” as he gestured angrily at the tea trolley’s conspicuous absence of sweets.

“Young master, if you will take note of the clock on the mantle, you will see that it is well past time you were in bed and asleep, to begin resuming your regular daytime schedule. You have a meeting scheduled with the manager of your Ipswich raingear factory in two days, at ten o’clock in the morning; it would not do your reputation any favors if you appear at that meeting still yawning and out of sorts from lack of proper sleep.”

“Rrrrgggh…Fine!” Ciel snapped, pushing away from his desk. “Draw me a bath, then; I’ll need to relax before I can even attempt to sleep.”

“Already drawn, sir; by the time you finish your chamomile tea, the hot water will have cooled to just the right temperature.”

A few minutes later they were in the bathroom and Sebastian was methodically undressing his master for bathing. As he worked on the buttons of his shirt, Sebastian asked, "Now that you have largely recovered from the effects of being drugged, what did you find when you reviewed all the business ideas you had me write down for you on our journey home?"

Ciel groaned, "Only about one in ten of them are even remotely feasible. Most of the rest are sheer rubbish, and several of the ones that aren't completely rubbish would need more advanced technology than we currently have, though they might be possible in another decade or two. A few of them are feasible, but would utterly wreck the Funtom Company image; I may see about becoming a silent partner with another entrepreneur on those. And there were at least two ideas that would have seen me hanged as a traitor; I would have thought you’d made them up and put them in there for fun, except I… what on earth was I thinking?!"

"Is that a rhetorical question, sir?" Sebastian asked, utterly straight-faced. And when Ciel grumbled that yes, it had been rhetorical, he asked with a hint of a smile, "And the idea in the second book that involved ducklings, sir?"

Ciel groaned and covered his face with his hand, while Sebastian helped him out of his trousers. "Did you have to remind me of that one? I had hoped to forget it forever..."

Sebastian couldn't help smirking at his discomfiture. "I did find that one particularly amusing, sir."

"You would, demon," Ciel grumbled. "You would probably have been laughing your head off if you hadn't been so busy writing."

“I did warn you, sir, that such a stimulant was affecting your mind just as greatly, if in different ways, as a full measure of Lau’s opium.”

“Well it’s not as if I’d had a choice in being drugged, now did I? Since you were too busy playing with the House of Flowers' assassins to prevent the Madame from sticking me with her vile potion!”

Sebastian looked offended… but not quite; there was still a trace of a smirk on his lips as he replied, “My lord, I was not playing; I was dispatching them as efficiently as could be managed while still following your orders to avoid killing those who were acting under duress, ordered against their will. That necessitated interacting with them for at least brief periods to observe their attitudes as they attempted to kill me.”

Ciel gave a most ungentlemanly snort of derision, and said before his butler could reprove him for it, “I heard from our little survivor that you were critiquing their techniques! That you told the redhead with the pistols, whatever her name was—”

“Columbine, my lord.”

“Columbine, then; when she shot you, you told her that she’d missed, her target was two inches lower down and she should try again! Admit it; you were having fun with them!”

Sebastian finally nodded acknowledgement, his smirk even wider than before. “Guilty as charged, my lord.”

“And while you were having fun, I was being drugged, and then thrown into a room filled with-" as the young earl’s eyes went wide with horror at the memory and his every muscle tensed, before he glared at Sebastian again. “I had to shoot two of them before the rest backed off!”

Sebastian quickly bowed his head in apology/submission, seeing that rather than being relaxed at the prospect of a hot bath, his master was agitated and even more tense than before. “My deepest apologies, my lord. I shall do my utmost to ensure that exact situation never arises again. Young Master, would you like me to bring you some warm milk with honey while you relax in the bath, and simply soak for a while before washing?”

“…Fine,” Ciel growled. As he stepped into the bath, Sebastian vanished out the door and reappeared in short order with a cup of warm milk, sweetened just the way Ciel liked it. The young earl sighed as he accepted the cup, “At least it’s not plain water again. Two days of you all but pouring a cup of water down my throat every twenty minutes, to flush the drug out of my body; it felt like I was going to drink the entire Thames dry! You could have at least made it tea a few times.”

“I dared not, my lord. I had known that the potion was not an outright poison before you were injected, but it was a very powerful stimulant. If I had added more stimulants on top of that, your heart might have burst under the strain… or at the very least, you would still be wide awake for the third day in a row, and I would likely still be taking dictation for whatever idea came into your addled brain.”

A few minutes later, Ciel sighed in contentment as he gave the empty cup to Sebastian, and leaned forward so the butler could scrub his back. Silently relieved that the worst of his master’s mood had been chased away by the warm milk and warmer bath, Sebastian nonetheless took care to use calming strokes and subtle massage techniques as he washed and shampooed. And by the end of the bath, the young earl’s quiet expression and utterly relaxed shoulders said, while not actually happy (a rare state indeed for the Queen’s Watchdog who was also the youngest successful business owner in all of England), he was once more reasonably content with the state of affairs.

Stepping out of the tub, the youth covered a yawn with his hand as Sebastian patted him dry with the towel. “Out of curiosity, (yawn) what will you be doing for the rest of the night?”

His master was in a good mood indeed, to indulge in such idle conversation. Sebastian confided, “In truth, young master, I’m contemplating indulging in a few hours of sleep myself. After dealing with your correspondence and tidying up the study, of course.”

“I dare say you’ve earned some rest, after this case,” the young earl said with a corner of his mouth curled upwards in a hint of a smile. “It certainly put you through your paces.”

“Indeed,” Sebastian had to agree, knowing exactly what Ciel was referring to. “I must confess, young master, I was indeed surprised to find myself successfully running across the water with you.”

The demon considered that the most surprising aspect of the year so far, and that included their recent adventure in Africa and conversations with shrunken heads. Four days ago they had found themselves on a boat about to explode, far out of sight of any land, and knowing from the gloating letter that the Master of the House of Flowers had left for them, that the water around the boat had just been turned lethal for any human to be in for more than two seconds. Sebastian had been about to inform Ciel that in order to get his master safely away, he must be allowed to drop his human form entirely so he could fly them both out of there, when the young earl had said tightly, “Sebastian, this is an order: run across the water with me back to France!”

Sebastian had stared incredulously at him as he’d repeated, “Run across the… Young Master, do I need to remind you of exactly which breed of supernatural I am?”

“There’s nothing supernatural about this; it’s physically possible, if you run fast enough!” Ciel had insisted. “I know you can do it, Sebastian; now run us both out of here, at top speed! Top speed; that’s an order!”

So Sebastian had followed the order, and done it. And now four days later, he mused, “I do wonder what those fisherman we passed on the way to shore thought of the sight.”

“They probably thought they were having a religious experience… and don’t tell me that doesn’t tickle your fancy, demon; I know you too well. As well as knowing something about the animal kingdom that you don’t,” and now Ciel was definitely smiling, very nearly the smuggest little grin Sebastian had ever seen. “Remind me tomorrow to show you that book on the natural history of Central America, and the article on the plumed basilisk lizard. They’re well-documented as being capable of running across the water for short distances.” He gave his demon an expectant look as he added, “And of course, if a mere silly little lizard can do it…”

“Then how could I be the Phantomhive butler, if I couldn’t accomplish it as well?” Sebastian finished wryly. The young master really did know him, better than Sebastian thought he was entirely comfortable with.

To get a bit of his own back, the butler retorted, “However, young master, that was not the most tiring aspect of this case. Neither was battling the Black Roses, which as you pointed out was rather more play than work for me, nor taking dictation for your madcap business ideas for the better part of two straight days. Really, I would have to give that honor to the task of keeping up with you, after you so abruptly decided that the middle of a carriage ride through London after sundown was the perfect time to begin playing hide-and-seek.”

Poking his head up through the neck of his nightshirt, Ciel predictably flushed bright red as he snapped back, “I was not playing hide-and-seek! You heard it too, the scream of a woman in distress; the only proper thing for an English gentleman to do was to go immediately to her aid!”

“Which you accomplished by leaping out of our hired carriage while it was still moving, sprinting straight through a dark alley to get to the woman in question, and beating her two assailants over the head with your walking stick. While I’ll grant you had the element of sheer surprise on your side in subduing them, choosing to risk breaking your custom-crafted accessory rather than task your perfectly capable butler with the work… really, I was feeling quite snubbed, sir,” Sebastian said, while keeping a perfectly straight face. He thought about putting on a suitably offended expression, but feared his truly amused grin would peek through if he tried.

“Hmmph. Well, at least the woman I saved appreciated my efforts,” Ciel grumbled just before brushing his teeth.

“Indeed, sir.” Sebastian agreed while quickly tidying up the bathroom. “I dare say Finny will also be quite pleased, when he finds out that the hero of his favorite television programme, the Rowdy Count, is apparently living under our roof.” His lord made a soft grunting sound while cleaning his teeth, but with his mouth so occupied Sebastian couldn’t tell whether it was a sound of pleasure or displeasure at the idea. He persisted, “However, sir, while I set about tracking down our carriage with Dahlia still sleeping inside it, and bringing it back around to pick you up… did you really need to scamper off into the night, in search of more innocents to rescue?”

“…The Rowdy Count does not scamper,” Ciel finally said with every scrap of dignity he could muster, his head held high. “Nor does the Rowdy Earl, for that matter.”

Sebastian was about to retort that running while giggling with glee must surely be the very definition of scampering, but Ciel cut him off with a hasty, “Now that’s enough idle chatter; it’s time for bed,” as he marched over to the opulent four-poster bed that lay waiting for him with the sheets turned back.

Sebastian tucked him in, and then picked up the buckets for hot water and the clothes in need of laundering, and bowed himself out of the bedroom with a quiet, “Pleasant dreams, young master.”

He dropped off the clothes in the laundry and took the buckets back to the kitchen, deciding that on the morrow he would make another inquiry about purchasing a water-heating tank for the manor’s use. The last version he had looked at had simply not been good enough for Phantomhive Manor; the tank had insufficient volume for supplying hot water to fill even one full-sized gentleman’s bathtub, and the reports he’d gotten from servants in other households had indicated that the heating element was troublesome and prone to causing electrical fires. No, considering their chef was still more prone to causing accidental fires than putting them out, there was no sense in adding such a device to the household.

But Sebastian’s last inquiry had been made early last year, a few days before boarding the Campania and their first encounter with the Bizarre Dolls. Technology seemed to be advancing at a faster pace every year; perhaps the inventors of such devices had made improvements to later models in the sixteen months since then. If not, then he might consider investing some of his accumulated salary in funding their research and development of both safer and more effective water heaters; after all, he had little other use for the money.

From the kitchen he went back up to the earl’s study, to address the master’s business correspondence for the morning post. He had already written responses to all the social correspondence that had accumulated during their absence, penning the most polite and cordial refusals to all the invitations to balls, poetry recitals and musical soirees that the earl had stated vehemently that he’d rather hang by his heels than attend. He had also penned similar polite refusals to five invitations to formal dinners, while securing the master’s agreement to attend the sixth (the Whitfields were a pleasant couple who had both sense enough to treat the earl as a full adult, and a chef whose dishes met Ciel’s high standards.)

Addressing and applying stamps to the business letters was but the work of a few minutes. As he put away the stationary and writing supplies and then tidied up the paperwork, Sebastian allowed himself to yawn once, with a slight smile of anticipation seeping through. He occasionally had to take steps to ensure the young master didn’t find out, but the demon had found sleeping with a cat curled up in bed with him to be a fine luxury indeed. When he was finished here he would go out to the gardens to find and bring inside his dearest little beauty, the—hmm?

His sharp eyes had spotted a small white triangle barely visible in the shadows under the earl’s desk. He reached down to discover and pull out a cream-colored envelope composed of the finest heavy vellum, and addressed in a handwriting he recognized. Frowning, he carefully slit the envelope open and began reading the letter within… and his eyes flew open wide, with combined alarm and dismay…

To be continued!

Chapter 4: His Butler, Preparing for Guests

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

At bedtime the night before, Mey-Rin had told the new servant Dahlia that they'd be getting up at five o'clock in the morning. But when Sebastian knocked quite forcefully on their door to wake them, it was only 3:15 a.m. "Be dressed and downstairs in the kitchen, within fifteen minutes!" was all he called through the door before dashing off towards the serving men's quarters, presumably to give them the same rude awakening.

Fumbling in the dark for glasses, the lights, uniforms and weapons, the ladies barely managed to make it to the kitchen in time. They made it only by running clear from their room to the kitchen, and they still weren't entirely ready for inspection; Mey-Rin had her apron and maid's cap still tucked under one arm and both boots on but unlaced, while Dahlia had her shoes in one hand and a fistful of weapons in the other, and her braid whipped behind her as she ran.

Even unready, they still fell into line and stood next to Tanaka, Bard and Finny while scrambling to get their uniforms proper; better to be improperly dressed than late to an emergency meeting! And they were a whole ten seconds earlier than the last arrival, Snake, who slept in a room of his own instead of sharing with the other men (Snake claimed that Bard's snoring kept his friends awake; Bard claimed he couldn't sleep comfortably with so many snakes slithering about the bedroom.) Snake came running up at exactly fifteen minutes on the dot, with his socks in one hand, his shoes in the other and the coral snake draped about his shoulders carrying his neck-ribbon in its jaws.

The normally calm and unflappable Sebastian was actually tapping his foot while waiting for Snake to fall into line, and both Mey-Rin and Finny swallowed nervously as they registered that fact. "Oh man, this is bad..." Bard muttered under his breath.

The moment Snake fell into line for the meeting, Sebastian launched into a quiet but fervent tirade. "While I recognize that some duties have traditionally been let slack on days when the master isn't in residence and guests aren't expected, that practice stops now. Every day, the entire mansion shall be kept in tip-top shape and ready for receiving guests! And of particular importance is the proper sorting and disposition of the mail to the household! Mey-Rin, I found this letter," as he brandished a cream-colored envelope, "only twenty minutes ago, lying on the floor under the master's desk instead of atop it with the other correspondence addressed. A letter from the Marchioness Midford, stating her intentions to come to the manor this very day!"

"Huaaahhh!?!" The gasp of horror and sheer dismay sounded from five throats simultaneously; six if you counted the coral snake's open-mouthed hiss.

"Her letter states that she'll be here in time for the afternoon tea... And you all know what that really means," as Sebastian gave them all a meaningful stare.

The response this time wasn't quite in unison, though no less heartfelt: "Yes, sir!" "Sir, yes sir!" "W-we know too well, sir!" "We know, sir! Says Emily."

"But this time, we're going to be ready for her. Right?"

Another response in unison, of "Yes, sir!" complete with crisp salutes; even Dahlia joined in on the saluting, to stay in step with the other servants, though her face betrayed bewilderment instead of determination.

"Good. Now your duties are as follows—yes, Dahlia?" Sebastian interrupted himself with a flash of clear irritation, because Dahlia had just timidly raised her hand.

"I, I'm very sorry to interrupt, but... How big of an army are you expecting to invade?" Dahlia asked, looking very worried. "And how does this Marchioness usually equip her forces; will there be mostly close-in fighting with blades and handguns, or can we expect sniping rifles or barrages of heavy artillery as well?"

For a long second, everyone else in the room just stared at her; then Sebastian covered his mouth and turned away, clearly stifling a chuckle. Mey-Rin giggled, Tanaka chuckled aloud, Snake snickered, and Bard and Finny started outright braying with laughter.

"I, I guess we were acting like the Marchioness would be leading an army against us," Mey-Rin said in between giggles.

"Hell, an invading army would almost be easier to handle than her!" Bard finally gasped, clutching at his sides.

Having composed himself the soonest, Sebastian turned back to Dahlia and explained, "The Marchioness Midford is not a leader of the Underworld; instead, she is a lady of High Society, married to the leader of the British knights. And she will also someday be our young master's mother-in-law... so for the past year and more, she had taken to coming out here periodically to inspect the estate, to see that we servants are performing to her expectations."

"And we ain't passed a one of her inspections yet," Bard added glumly as he recovered his breath. "I'll admit that for the first time, we bombed the place so bad she would've had every right to be furious with us; we was all still pretty new at our duties then, and... anyway, she forgave us that time because we were throwing a birthday party for the young master's thirteenth birthday, and because the young master had just saved her daughter from a bear attack."

But she's been out here twice more since then, she has, and those times she's not gone easy on us at all!" Mey-Rin said with an emphatic shake of her head. "The last time, we almost thought we'd made it... and then she had poor Finny reduced to tears because she'd found a rosebush, just one out of the whole garden, that had an old dead flower that hadn't been plucked yet. And that was with three days' notice of her coming!"

Sebastian finished, "And in addition to being very strict about her high standards, the Marchioness has a reputation for arriving hours earlier than when she's expected. As her letter says she'll be here in time for the afternoon tea, that means she'll be here before elevenses, possibly right after breakfast. Which means,” as he began handing out some handwritten lists that had been tucked into his handkerchief pocket, “that there is a great deal of work that must be done to prepare for her inspection even before the young master wakes up..."

00oo00oo00oo00oo00oo00

The next six straight hours were packed with work, work and more work, all done as fast as everyone could manage while still being thorough. There was furniture to dust and polish, curtains to steam free of wrinkles, linens to be changed out, silver to polish, floors to be swept and mopped, flowers to be arranged in vases, flowerbeds to weed, grass to mow, hedges and trees to trim, and several different food dishes to prepare. Everyone did everything they were assigned to do, and pitched in to help each other when help was needed.

Bard sweated and swore in the kitchen while making dish after fancy dish for their expected guests. Finny dashed everywhere with the mower, moving the heavy rotating drum of blades across the grass faster than most people could run. Mey-Rin, Snake, Dahlia and even Tanaka spotlessly cleaned and tidied up room after room in the manor, following the lists they’d been given.

Even Snake’s companions were helping out with the cleaning efforts. Dahlia paused and stared, took a deep breath, and then determinedly continued polishing the legs of the dining room table, unsure whether she should be screaming or laughing hysterically at the sight of a large python slithering along the right side of the room, rubbing the dusting cloth in its jaws against the baseboards.

And Sebastian, well, Sebastian seemed to be everywhere at once. Producing lanterns on freestanding poles from who-knew-where so Finny could begin working outside even before the sun rose; dashing from room to room with a ladder tucked under his arm in order to reach and dust the chandeliers; sitting the other servants down one at a time in five-minute breaks, to all but stuff down their gullets the cold breakfasts he’d whipped up for them; threatening to eviscerate Bard if the chef let burn the tea cakes that he'd just popped into the oven; leaping down out of a tree after trimming its branches into a perfect sphere…

In the manor’s grand hall, Dahlia paused in her dusting and stared at Sebastian as he leaped ten feet into the air to reach a portrait that was hanging ever-so-slightly crooked, tapped it while in midair and just hard enough to perfectly straighten it, and then landed with barely a thump before dashing out of the room again. “That man is just not human!”

“Strictly speaking, neither is Finny. And Snake doesn’t even look human,” Mey-Rin said with a shrug as she spread out and smoothed a fresh tablecloth before setting a vase of freshly cut flowers back on it. “But the master doesn’t care whether or not any of his servants are normal humans, and it’s not our place to worry about that, no it’s not! All that matters to the master is that we do our jobs well, and that’s all that should matter to you too, yes indeed.”

Just then Sebastian leaned in through a doorway, his voice sharp as a whipcrack as he glared at them both. “Speaking of jobs, if you’re gossiping while working, then you’re not properly focused on your tasks!”

“Yessir!” Dahlia and Mey-Rin both gulped as they started cleaning with even more fervor.

Ten minutes later, they both heard through an open door a high-pitched “Aaaahhh!” of sheer dismay verging on horror, followed by some furious conversation that was too fast and low-voiced for them to make out from so far away. The ladies traded glances while Mey-Rin said knowingly, “Sebastian just informed the master, he did…”

Finally, at 9:30 a.m., Sebastian called all the servants together down in the kitchen, and looked over their uniforms with a critical eye. “Finny, retie your left boot, I showed you how to do your laces properly. Snake, replace your neck-ribbon, I can see Emily’s fang-marks in that one. Mey-Rin, brush your hair again and straighten your cap, have Dahlia help you with it if necessary. Dahlia, your apron needs ironing—never mind, I’ll supply you with a freshly ironed one.” He cast a glance over his shoulder, apparently glaring at the kitchen wall or the outdoors behind it, and then turned back to them with a clipped, “Everyone, good work on preparing the manor and grounds, and we finished just in time; I believe I just heard carriage wheels turning from the road onto the drive. Be outside and lined up to greet our guests in five minutes!”

Dahlia hurriedly helped Mey-Rin with her hair and cap, stepped back a pace to look her over—and then gasped sharply as white-gloved hands reaching from behind moved swiftly over her own person, snatching away her current apron and replacing it with a freshly ironed one in the blink of an eye, while somehow dodging the sharp elbows and sharper heels she’d instinctively thrust backwards to defend herself from an attack from behind. Mey-Rin didn’t give her time to freak out about Sebastian’s actions, tugging her arm to lead her outside.

Already outside with boot retied and neck-ribbon replaced, Finny and Snake both took out combs and quickly gave each other identical hairstyles, slicked back like Tanaka’s hair and held that way with hair wax from a small tin that Bard tossed to them. Bard himself had a clean white chef’s toque jammed onto his head down to his ears, and he wiped his ever-present goggles with a handkerchief that was quickly stuffed back inside his apron.

The only one not an obvious bundle of nerves for the occasion, Tanaka strolled outside chuckling softly at the nervous antics of the younger servants. Then they all fell into line and stood at attention, mere moments before their young master dashed out of the house with Sebastian on his heels, just as a fancy carriage with a heraldic coat of arms emblazoned on the sides rolled the last few yards up to the door.

The coachman reined the horses to a stop, and the young earl at the base of the steps audibly swallowed and firmed his stance, seeming to brace himself for impact even though the coach and horses were stopped several feet away. The coachman leaped down from the box seat, opened the coach door—and Dahlia’s first impression was that of a human cannonball shooting out of the carriage, streaming blonde curls and pink ruffles behind it like a comet’s tail, and barreling straight into their master while screaming “CIEL!”

Dahlia looked bewildered as she used the noise of the extremely enthusiastic greeting to cover her whisper to Mey-Rin, "Is that the Marchioness?"

But before Mey-Rin could say anything, another voice boomed out from the carriage's interior: "Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford, what have I told you about such indecent behavior?!"

Wincing, Mey-Rin whispered back, "No, that's the Marchioness. Now hush; her ears are almost as sharp as Sebastian's!"

The cannonball, which turned out to be a very well-dressed young lady with curly blonde hair and perfect complexion, turned back towards the carriage without letting go of the earl and wailed, “But we’re going to be married, Mama! Surely I can give my fiancé a warmer greeting than I would greet some stranger on the street!”

A tall woman with hair of the same shade of blonde, statuesque proportions and a severe expression stepped out of the carriage while scolding, “You are not married yet, and while you are still living under my roof you will behave like a civilized young lady instead of some indecent trollop, even with your betrothed!”

But it was obviously a speech that had been said and ignored many times before; the young lady turned back to their master and said excitedly while hugging him even tighter, “Ciel, we have the most exciting news!”

“Hello, Lizzie,” Earl Phantomhive grunted with a pained smile, his face slowly turning red. “Can I breathe, please?”

“Oh, sorry!” as she let go of him and stepped back a pace, to hold his hands—which she abruptly let go of after she glanced to the side, where the servants were lined up. “Oh, you have a new servant! What does she do?”

“Elizabeth!” the Marchioness Midford all but shouted in dismay, clenching her fists. “One does not ask about others’ servants so bluntly!” She shook her head and groaned, “You will drive me to despair, child…”

“But they’re going to be my servants too someday, aren’t they?” Lady Elizabeth said in a reasonable tone, before she looked right at Dahlia with an expectant expression.

Dahlia dropped into a deep curtsey and said with her eyes modestly downcast, “My name is Dahlia, kind Lady; I am newly employed as the laundress.” Looking up through her lashes, she glimpsed Sebastian giving her a brief nod of approval for her answer.

“And Hello to you as well, Aunt Frances,” the young earl said with a wry smile, before gesturing towards the doors. “Thank you for coming here today. If you’d like to come into the conservatory, Sebastian will serve us tea while you tell me the news.”

“Oh, it’s so exciting, Ciel!” Elizabeth said enthusiastically, grabbing his arm again. “Mama and I are going to be traveling to America! We’ll be touring there, and gone for months!” then her expression fell a little as she continued, “I do so wish you could come with us; I just hate the thought of being parted from you for that long! Oh I know, you have your business and your duties for the Queen that you can’t leave for such a long time, but still…”

Sebastian opened the main doors and ushered the nobles inside with a smile and bow, and then dashed lightning-fast over to the servants’ line to tell them, “Snake and Mey-Rin, with me to the conservatory; Finny, see to the horses; Dahlia, to the kitchen with Bard; Tanaka, just do as you see fit.” And then he dashed inside before the door had time to fully close.

Snake and Mey-Rin followed Sebastian inside, while Finny helped the coachman unharness the horses and Dahlia followed Bard and Tanaka back to the kitchen entrance. Just before they went inside, the elderly servant looked at her with a twinkle behind his monocle as he said, “Service to the Phantomhive family can be at times more difficult than at other manors, but it is rarely if ever dull. I would congratulate you on having survived the first trial of your employment here, but we have not passed the Marchioness’s inspection yet.”

“Thank you,” Dahlia said faintly, while Bard just snorted and held the door open for them both.

Once inside, Tanaka poured himself a cup of tea before vanishing to somewhere else in the manor, so Dahlia asked Bard if there was anything he could use her help with. “There’s always more to do in a kitchen, especially when the master has guests,” Bard grunted with a lopsided smile. He showed her a small bushel of peas that needed shelling, before picking up the whetstone and a set of knives in need of sharpening.

After a few minutes of quietly splitting the pea pods, Dahlia asked, “Pardon me, but… Lady Elizabeth Midford is our master’s betrothed, correct?”

“Yup,” Bard said as he finished sharpening the knives, put two of them back and started using the third to chop some vegetables. “Since they were both toddlers, if you can believe it. Sebastian said that’s perfectly normal for the upper-crust here in England; the parents decide who their kids will get hitched to before they’re even out of diapers!”

“But then… I heard our master refer to her mother, Marchioness Midford, as ‘Aunt Frances.’ Is that just an affectionate term, or…” Dahlia’s voice trailed off uncertainly.

“Nope. She’s really his aunt, his dad’s sister, and the master’s fiancée is really his cousin,” Bard said with a shake of his head, still chopping away. “That’s another thing upper-crust folks seem to think is okay; inbreeding like that. That’s how they got them royals in Spain a couple hundred years ago, with faces that looked like beating ‘em in with a shovel would be an improvement! But it’s the master’s business, not ours.”

“The latter is quite correct,” Sebastian said coolly from directly behind Bard, causing the chef to flinch hard and Dahlia to jump a little in her seat; she hadn’t seen or heard the butler come in. “Their choices in marital partners are none of your concern,” he continued as the chef spun around to face him, fixing the man with a gimlet stare that caused the veteran soldier to start sweating bullets.

Then Sebastian relented a bit and said, “However, to allay your fears of the master’s potential offspring resembling the late Habsburg line: he and his betrothed share but one recent ancestor instead of two. Marchioness Frances Midford is actually a half-sister rather than full sister to the departed Earl Phantomhive. His grandmother, Claudia Phantomhive, became a widow after bearing only one child, a daughter. She actually had Phantomhive blood in her veins, being a third cousin to her husband, but the closest male relative of direct descent and therefore traditional heir to the title was an even more distant and apparently quite disreputable cousin. In order to preserve the estate and keep it from falling into ruin, she remarried but required her second husband to legally change his name to Phantomhive. It is my understanding that, based on the importance of the service the Watchdog provides to the Queen, they appealed for and received special dispensation from Her Majesty to carry on the Phantomhive title.”

Bard lost his fearful and guilty expression to look concerned instead. “You said his grandma was widowed young…Trouble followed that generation’s Watchdog home?” he asked, but it wasn’t really a question.

“Very likely,” as Sebastian moved past him to collect the items needed for a midmorning tea. “But you are forbidden from ever asking about it, is that understood?” as he gave the chef another hard stare. “Your speculation about the master’s family tree ends here and now, Baldroy. I suggest you instead focus your efforts on not ruining our guests’ dinner again.”

“Yessir, shutting up sir,” Bard muttered as he turned back to his work.

00oo00oo00oo00

Snake, Finny and Mey-Rin all popped into the kitchen at different intervals, to drop off dirty dishes or pick up more food and drink, or bring in freshly picked strawberries and vegetables for dinner. And each time, they gave a progress report of the Marchioness’s terrifyingly thorough inspection of the manor and surrounding grounds. She'd cleared the conservatory... then the grand hall... then the east wing's parlor...

Until finally, hours later, just after the afternoon tea that she had originally said they'd arrive for, the Marchioness Midford said it was time for her and her daughter to leave. Lizzie promised her betrothed that she'd send him postcards from every major American city they stopped in, and the young earl promised in return to write to her whenever they would be staying in one place long enough for mail to be sent to them.

The servants lined up again to see them off, and after Lizzie gave her betrothed one last terrific hug and sprang into the carriage, Sebastian bowed low to Frances Midford as he said, "Thank you so very much for visiting Phantomhive Manor, Marchioness Midford; we trust that you found the visit entirely satisfactory." Dahlia decided that was as close as that deadly but oh-so-proper butler dared come to asking the noblewoman, Well, did we pass your inspection or not?

The Marchioness gave him a somewhat suspicious glare, and finally said, "For the most part, it was indeed satisfactory. You're keeping the manor properly clean and tidy, and the grounds well-groomed. But there's still one thing I've seen today that has once more failed to pass inspection..."

"And what would that be, Madame?"

"Your hair," as the noblewoman pointed accusingly at it. "It's still indecently unkempt! Always looking as if you'd just rolled out of bed—and are intending to roll back into it! Why can you not learn to keep it decent without being scolded into it each time I come here? Even the footman and gardener have learned from Tanaka on how to maintain their hair properly!" as she gestured over to where Snake and Finny indeed stood with their hair slicked back just like Tanaka's hairstyle.

"...I see," was all Sebastian said, his face expressionless, while a few feet away the Earl Phantomhive silently rolled his eyes and shook his head ever-so-slightly.

With a few last words of farewell for her nephew, the Marchioness Midford departed. And as soon as their carriage had rolled far enough away, the earl gave a wave to dismiss the servants, and Sebastian turned on his heels and strode swiftly straight for the gardens behind the manor, his coattails flapping behind him.

Dahlia watched him dash away, and whispered to the other servants as they walked at a slower pace back towards the kitchen, "Where's he going?"

Bard grinned. "Off to see his girlfriend, probably."

"Bard!" Mey-Rin instantly scolded him, her cheeks flushed. "That's not funny at all!"

"Aw, c'mon, Mey-Rin, you were the one who first spotted him cuddling and being all lovey-dovey with her!" Bard retorted.

Dahlia blinked. "The butler has a girlfriend? I thought servants weren't—"

"He has a cat," Mey-Rin hastened to correct her. "Although it's not actually his cat, not really... There's a black cat who lives on the estate, at the edge of the forest I think, but she hunts in the gardens for mice and moles. She comes to the back garden gate nearly every afternoon, and whenever Sebastian is home he makes a little time to go out and play with her. He can't bring her inside, because our master is allergic to cats, but he's very fond of her."

"Oh, he sneaks her in sometimes, when the weather's really nasty," Bard informed them with a mischievous grin, "and hides her in his room. Lucky for him, the master almost never goes there. Anyway, Dahlia, if we're having a bad day and you see Sebastian heading for the garden out back, just leave him be and give him time with his girlfriend; he's never out there for long, and he's usually not as harsh with us afterwards."

00oo00oo00oo00oo00

To be continued

Notes:

Author's Note: As of the date of this chapter's finalization (5 November 2015), no canon information has been provided at all concerning Claudia Phantomhive, other than that she was Ciel's grandmother and Vincent's mother... and that she had a child by a man whose full name is as yet unknown; Vincent's father's name was partially revealed in Kuro chapter 103 as 'Cedric K. Ros___'. So yes, I totally made up that bit about the late Vincent Phantomhive and Frances Midford nee Phantomhive being only half-siblings instead of full siblings, and Frances being Vincent's older sister instead of younger. For several reasons:

First, Ciel is awfully damn proud of his family lineage; it means a lot to him to be a Phantomhive, to uphold his family's centuries-long legacy. It would break the kid's heart to find out he's actually a bastard-once-removed; that his grandmother Claudia, while married to that generation's Earl Phantomhive, cuckolded her husband by getting pregnant by that Cedric fellow. So I decided the relationship was legit, but in order for Vincent to have his mother's surname (instead of Ros-mumblesomething, his father's surname, which is the usual practice in Western cultures) and genuine Phantomhive blood running through his veins, a little finessing of the Phantomhive family ancestry was necessary, as well as receiving the monarch's approval for adapting the line of succession in that manner.

Vincent and Frances bear no family resemblance at all, beyond both being tall. Plenty of siblings look completely different from each other while having the same set of parents, but usually there's at least a little resemblance between them; half-siblings, on the other hand, are typically as different as night and day.

Also, the Marquis Alexis Midford was established as being two years younger than Vincent Phantomhive in the Weston Arc. But when Frances was first introduced, Yana Toboso made a point of mentioning that Frances still retained her youthful beauty, which implies that she's considerably older than she looks. In Victorian times it was almost unheard of for women to marry men younger than themselves, even by just one year; it was far more common for women to marry men considerably older than them, by anywhere from two years to twenty-five years. But the Marquis Midford would have few qualms about his daughter Elizabeth marrying a boy younger than her, if he and his wife had already set a fine example of such relationships working out well; another point in favor of Frances being Vincent's older sister instead of younger.

And the final reason for having Vincent and Frances be half-siblings is simply that I personally have a strong bias against inbreeding; look up the history of the royal Habsburg line which ended with the death of Charles II of Spain, and you'll see why. If they have only one common ancestor in the last three generations instead of two, any children that Ciel and Elizabeth are expected to have won't be quite as inbred and therefore not -quite- as susceptible to the hazards inherent in inbreeding.

Chapter 5: His Master, Ashamed

Chapter Text

Two days after Marchioness Midford and her daughter visited Phantomhive Manor, they had another visitor; one whom they had known well in advance would be coming that day, though they didn't go to any great lengths to please her. Quite the opposite:

At the sound of the front door knocker being vigorously banged, Sebastian strode into the foyer and opened the door, and then frowned down at the visitor. "Miss Hopkins, I've told you before, trades people such as yourself are expected to arrive at the rear entrance."

"And a good morning to you, too, Mister Hardhead," Nina Hopkins retorted, frowning up at the butler's face. "As for the rear entrance to the manor, that is for servants! And Nina Hopkins, the tailor who announces the seasons, is not a servant, but an artiste!"

"Referring to yourself in the third person is a sign of narcissism and mental illness, Miss Hopkins," Sebastian said with clear exasperation. "I am sorely tempted to close this door and insist that you go around to the rear, but the master is already waiting for you in the drawing room, and it would not do to keep him waiting further."

Once inside and heading into the drawing room, Nina called out gaily, "And what daring new outfit do you need this time, my little earl? Are you going on another adventure to distant lands? After the delight of designing your outfits for exploring Africa on Her Majesty's business, I can hardly wait to find out what my new challenge will be!"

#black butler fanfiction

[mominousrex]

Our Worn Out Souls

Mando / f!Reader

Warnings: NONE (Eventual NSFW in later chapters)

Summary: A simple cobbler/bootmaker in the Outer Rim, you had met The Mandalorian in your shop just before his life was turned upside down by the little foundling.

When you last saw him, you both knew there was much unsaid and even more unresolved. Your relationship never really began which meant it also never really ended.

But now, he returns to you with no ship, no foundling, and a very, very worn-out soul.

Chapter 1: Lost and Foundlings

Your body begrudgingly registers the morning as your eyes blink open. Your mind is a bit slower to catch up, so you take your time before getting out of bed. The shop is not your responsibility today. Even Mos Eisley's best bootmaker needs a day off now and then. It's your first day off in months, and you have earned the right to spend it how you damn pleased.

When you finally do roll out of bed, it's only to head to the fresher. You can jump back under the covers as soon as you're done. It's glorious having nothing to do, orders filled, and enough money to pay someone else to work a shift.

Stepping out of your bedroom and into the hallway, you lazily rub your eyes while trying to tame your hair. Suddenly— you jump in panic and scream a whelp of terror at the unexpected shock of beskar armor that stands before you.

Oh shit. What's he doing here?

"Stars alive! You scared the shit out of me!"

The Mandalorian you once knew so well had returned unannounced. You knew he was capable of stealth, but he had never done anything like this to you before. All the heartbreak and confusion of what had happened between you two those years ago vanished when that soft low voice poured out of his modulator like dark honey as he spoke,

"I'm sorry. I needed a place to stay and—"

He's covered head to toe, but by his posture, he looks awful because he sounds dejected, lost, even hopeless.

"Nevermind, I should go." he confessed and turned to leave.

"No, no it's alright. I just didn't expect you, or anyone for that matter. Let me get decent, okay. I'm in my nightgown, for cryin' out loud."

Ducking back into your room, still half asleep, you don't even realize you mutter under your breath, "I don't even have underwear on."

"I can hear you, you know?"

"Did I say that out loud?"

"You did."

A levity in his voice flips your stomach. Stars, it had been too long. Not that you even knew what you were to each other, but he still had the ability to fluster you and make you lose your guard. Shouldn't you be angry? Why are you so...calm, happy even?

You attempt to puzzle over this unexpected situation as you rummage through your drawer to grab underwear, then yank your bra and some leggings from a chair in your room. Opting to change in your tiny closet, you check the cracked door of your bedroom to make sure he can't see, then slip on your clothes.

You sneak a quick glance in the mirror on the closet door,

Woof. Well, I've certainly looked better.

"Hey! I haven't seen you in months. What…what do you mean you need a place to stay? What happened?"

"My ship was destroyed. The kid…I had to— I'm going to go. This was a mistake. I'm sorry if I scared you."

The last time you saw him was a year ago. The brawny silent bounty hunter had—a foundling. You were shocked, to say the least, but enamored by his affection for the little green charmer. It was a sight to behold. The deadly armored warrior and his fuzzy bundle of joy. You didn't get any time alone for him to explain where he had been, why he hadn't contacted you. He was just there one day and gone the next. It was as though each time you saw him, the two of you were so content to be near each other, you never wanted to address what more could have been.

And now, here he was. He had no foundling, no ship, and apparently, nowhere to go. But, for some reason, he did come to you.

"Din?"

He stopped his stride to your door when he heard you say his name. He hesitated before his eventual turn,

You approached a few steps gently toward his intimidating presence. You would not let him leave like this. Not when it was so evident that something was wrong with him. You quietly pleaded to him,

"Ni liser gaa'tayl gar. Nayc ba'slanar. Please, Din. Stay."

Then, to your shock, Din's gloved hands reach up, and you hear the click-click-hiss as he removes his helmet in front of you.

And there before you was the first time you saw the face of the man you loved as tears slowly fell from his tired eyes.

The first time you saw him two years ago, he had come into your shop to get his boots resoled.

"Good afternoon, what can I help you with?" Your eyes were more focused on fixing the grip tape on your favorite mallet when you had greeted your potential customer. But then you heard the modulator and looked up.

"I was told you were the best bootmaker in the Outer Rim."

You slid the mallet into the large pocket of your small apron and adjusted your coveralls straps.

"Is that so, Mandalorian?"

"Yes."

For a heavy moment, you stared at his helmet to continue. His blank, beskar expression and broad chest were unmoved. It seemed as though he was flustered, maybe? You hopped off the back work table and stood at the counter. You roll up your sleeves and fix your hair back with a fastener. Well, if this guy isn't going to say something, you will.

"And? Is that why you came into my shop? To let me know what people say about me?"

"I need a repair for my boots. Can you do that?"

"I don't usually do repairs on shoes or items I haven't made." You leaned forward anyway and peek over the counter to look down at his boots,

"Step back, let me see what you got there. Maybe I can help."

Mando took a few steps back and stood awkwardly as your gaze focused on his footwear. You checked in with his helmet and gave him a look of pity as you shook your head.

"Goodness, Mandalorian. So, the ammo holsters on your calf armor need tightening, but it's better to replace them actually, with new leather. I can do that as well as fix up your boots."

You waited for him to respond. Nothing. You continued.

"See, tactical ankle boots like yours are great for comfort, more agility, but this make? The soles on those get worn pretty easily. Your outer sole should've been replaced months ago. I'm sure your feet have been cramping at night, plus I bet your ankles are barking at you the morning after you've had to chase down some idiot that tried to run from you, am I right?

"That's accurate."

"You're a funny one," you quipped.

He cocked his helmet at your comment because no one has ever called The Mandalorian funny. He was deadly, strategic, a loner, a wraith that invokes fear in the hearts of the galaxy's most dangerous and wanted criminals...and you just called him funny.

As the last customer of the day, you decide to lock up, but let him stay as you considered the job.

The deep tone of his modulated, soft-spoken voice was calming, a balm to your wounded heart. You knew you were blushing, nervous, and had no idea what was causing this in your usual guarded and shy demeanor. This Mandalorian's presence gave you a feeling that was both familiar but dangerously new at the same time.

"I need them done as soon as possible. I have a job and need to leave before the suns rise. If I pay extra, can you do it?"

"Extra? Speed job like this is gonna cost ya, no matter where you go."

"I'm good for the credits. Set a reasonable price and I'll pay. But can you do it in time or not?"

You had the time, it wouldn't take long, and you could definitely use the credits. Besides, something about this bounty hunter was making you…flirtatious? When was the last time you did that?!

Why kriffing not. This will be over in done within no time. Credits in the cache.

"As I said before, I don't usually repair boots or anything that I haven't made, but I will make an exception…for a fellow Mandalorian."

You winked and gave him a cheeky grin as you walked around from behind the counter.

"I'm sorry?" He was clearly stunned by your statement.

You decided to keep yourself from getting flustered by busying your hands with organizing the container of assorted tools and leather swatches that needed to be brought into the back of the shop.

"Well, I haven't worn a helmet or armor in years, decades maybe. You'll have to forgive my lapse in tradition as you can plainly see my face. My clan did initially keep the old ways."

"You're, you're Mandalorian?" His responses reveal the befuddled shock in his previously measured, steady tone.

"I was a foundling. They said I was born on…Ah…what was it, Ag Veeta? Something like that. Maker, this was so long ago." You locked up the front door and the register and grabbed the container of odds and ends. Then signaled for him to follow you to the back workroom.

"Aq Vettina," he stated quietly as you swooshed past him.

"Yes, that was it! So you heard of it?" You plopped the container on the large work table in the center of the room. The various machines and contraptions that fit on the table were a chaotic arrangement that only made sense to you. It followed the sequences and routines of your craft the way you favored.

He gave no response. You shrugged his blank reactions off and nervously continued as he stood just in the doorway of the back work area.

"Well, anyway, I don't remember anything about my home planet. I was only an infant when I was rescued."

The bounty hunter stood like a statue, frozen with no response. Here you were rambling your life story to him, and all he wanted was his boots repaired. It had just been a long time since you had connected with another Mandalorian.

"Why…did you…abandon your creed?"

Oh. He's one of those Mandalorians. Great.

"Well, I never really had the chance to take the creed, ner burc'ya. I know, I know, my pronunciation is terrible now, I'm afraid."

"It sounded okay."

"Okay? Yikes. A resounding approval."

"I still don't understand why you didn't have a chance. What does that mean?"

"See, the clan that rescued me was quite troubled and they split in leadership when I was very young. So, I went one way with those that took me and the other half of my clan went another way. Our now smaller clan, we lived on Mandalore during the rule of Maul, then Bo Katan but…those were dark times, you know?"

"I do. I was on Concord Dawn with Clan Vizsla."

"Clan Vizsla? I see. Well, you must be a very good bounty hunter. Strong traditions, tough warriors in Clan Vizsla."

"I was also a foundling…I—"

"You were? Look at us! The foundlings who found each other. Sorry, I interrupted you."

"It's alright."

A moment hung where you just smiled at him. He stood there, his helmet slightly tilted, and you noticed him hook his thumb in his belt. Did he seem…nervous? Maybe he needed to be somewhere else.

"Um…look, I'll get to work on your boots. Have a seat there to take them off. If you need to go, I can loan you a pair. There's a cantina—"

"I'd like to stay. May I watch you work?"

He removed his ion rifle and sat down on the worn leather loveseat against the wall.

"Oh. Sure. I usually like the quiet when I work, but something tells me you won't be that distracting. It might be kind of boring, though."

Then he began to disarm the calves of both legs and arrange a neat pile on the side table. Next, he started taking off his boots, still giving no verbal response.

As he stood up to walk over and hand you his boots. You walked over to meet him halfway. Yup, still no response from him. Mother of banthas, he barely says anything, but when he does, you can't get yourself to shut up.

"Well, okay, then."

Stars, everything really looks like a mess back here.

"This shop is yours?"

You now began to bring down your tools from your main workbench. Falling into your regular routine of arranging the shoe trees, your anvils, and pulling down your other needed tools as you spoke,

"Yes, it's all mine. I'd say about ten years now. Tattooine is not the greatest or safest, but it's one of the cheapest! Customers will come from anywhere if the work is good. And, yes, I do great work. I spent time in a lot of different systems over the years, but thankfully, I was able to keep improving my trade. You know, I originally learned leatherwork as a little one...from my clan mothers."

"Is that so?"

"Clan Rakryn had many generations of men and women who worked in the royal armory, before the pacification, of course.

"Of course. Hmm...I don't think I've ever heard of Clan Rakryn," he admitted.

"Well, that's because it doesn't exist anymore. It hasn't for a long time. By the way, bounty hunter, about my creed? I never took it because my battle and weapon training had only just begun when Gar Saxon aligned with the Empire. And well, Clan Rakryn, or what was left of it, was not willing to submit to that kind of control from a foreign power. It was shameful what Saxon did. The Empire. Good riddance.”

A small chuckle crackled out of his modulator.

“Our attempted escape, though, was a failure, to say the least. Many of my loved ones died. Only a few of us survived, all children. Over time, we just…we all went our separate ways. I've had to make my own way since then."

"I'm sorry that happened to you. I didn't mean to insult you by asking before."

"I know. You didn't insult me. I rarely talk about this with anyone who...understands. You know, even though it feels like a lifetime ago, all that I learned as a Mandalorian may have been the very thing that gave me the strength to let it go and survive. I sincerely wanted to be a real Mandalorian. I feel ridiculous saying this now," you leaned in to give him a loud whisper, "but, honestly, I just wanted to be a mother of warriors, you know? I'd have my own clan of my children and foundlings. A little girl's dream; it's silly.”

"It's not. You shouldn't call yourself silly for wanting that."

"Well, the years have all but gone by. Pretty sure that starship has definitely flown."

Now the energy between you two felt painfully awkward. You had definitely said too much. He was definitely being too polite.

"How about I get started?"

"Alright."

"Alright, he says. Well, let's fix these boots of yours and get you on your way."

You turned toward your workbench, and then he asked one last question,

"You don't have any droids in your shop?"

"Oh. Yeah, no. I don't like droids. I guess I prefer to do things myself."

"Hmm. That's good."

You arched your eyebrows at his statement. Delighted that he seemed to understand.

He sat and watched you as you worked, never saying a word. His gaze never leaves you, though. You are aware of it but make no effort to stop or initiate a conversation. You really preferred silence when you worked anyway.

Well, "silence" wasn't really the word for it. You just preferred no conversation.

Instead, you preferred, no, you loved the sounds of your work that would fill the room. You conducted a symphony of effort and purpose with each shoe, boot, saddle, bandolier, or harness that was made or repaired. These were the sounds that soothed your thoughts and focused your concentration.

You quickly get lost in rhythmic patterns of your cutting press, buffer belt, stitch machines, the tapping of your mallet hammering along. Or the softer, swift brushstrokes of bonding agent or leather conditioner.

And if all the noise and racket of your work carrying on didn't bother the bounty hunter (who was either sleeping or staring at you), he was welcome to stay and watch for as long as he wanted.

Chapter 2: First Encounters (😈NSFW, under🔞DNI😈)

#mando fanfiction #the mandolorian x reader #the mandalorian #din djarin #din djarin x female reader #long reads

[stripteas3]

enough for you | r.l.

not my gif!!!

SOUR masterlist | part two

warnings: angst, breakup, remus moving on, smoking,

(lyrics in purple)



i wore makeup when we dated

cause i thought you’d like me more

if i looked like the other prom queens

i know that you loved before

dear remus,

i still love you

my first love, the boy i would’ve given the sun and moon for, you’re sitting there with your arms wrapped around your new girl. while your friends laughed at one of your lame jokes you took the chance to place a kiss in the girls’ beautiful blonde hair.

it made me think think of all of the times i went out of my way to put on makeup before seeing you, or changing my style in clothes just to make it more like likable for you. i should’ve known, knowing all of the prom queen worthy girls you had wrapped around your fingers in the past, you could have anyone you want.

and i knew how you took your coffee

and your favorite songs by heart

i read all of your self-help books

so you’d think that i was smart

stupid, emotional, obsessive, little me

i knew from the start this is exactly how you’d leave

and all of the times i went out of my way to pick up some coffee for you, black with one sugar, everyday. i knew that order like the back of my hands.

i learned your favorite songs on the guitar just to impress you, i went out of my way to listen to all of the artist you liked just so you’d like me more.

i read all the books you liked so we had something to talk about. i made notes on them and lost sleep just so i could keep up with you.

you found someone better, and you left. i always knew it would happen but it was a surprise it happened so soon.

you found someone more exciting

the next second, you were gone

and you left me there cryin', wonderin' what I did wrong

and you always say i'm never satisfied

but i don't think that's true

'cause all i ever wanted was to be enough for you

she’s so much more talented and prettier than me, no flaws, pretty green eyes, kindness, so talented, i couldn’t compete.

couldn’t you even tell me what i did wrong? was it too much to ask for a reason you decided to leave? and my best friend?

the two people i loved and trusted most stabbed me in the back.

all i ever wanted was to be enough for you. i quit smoking and tried my best to make you happy and not make you regret being with me. i just wanted to make you happy, that’s all.

and maybe i'm just not as interesting

as the girls you had before

but god, you couldn't have cared less

about someone who loved you more

were your standards too high? or was i just not enough?

i remember when you helped me quit smoking, it made me realize you cared. now i’m smoking more than ever. i feel so alone.

come back to me.

now i don't want your sympathy

i just want myself back

when you saw me smoking and crying you held me and told me to stop, i don’t want your sympathy. if you decided to leave me at my worst then that’s on you.

what hurts most is that i know i’m never getting myself back. and it’s all because of you.

don't you think i loved you too much to be used and discarded?

don't you think I loved you too much to think I deserve nothing?

don’t you think it’s shitty that you left the person that loved you most in the world for someone who you talked to once or twice before?

i loved you more than i’d ever loved myself. i gave up everything. but you seem to have loved her.

-yours forever , y/n

i left the note on his doorstep and left,

i left everything behind.

my family, my friends, remus.

i cant live like this anymore.

#the marauders x reader #remus lupin #remus lupin x reader #remus lupin angst #sour album #olivia rodrigo #enough for you #Spotify

[6ad6ro]

!!! nintendo direct spoilers !!!

honestly i could sorta care less about anything that was talked about for the first half besides mario robot soccer. it looks kinda cute (also front mission remake seems cool even if i prob wont play it).

but then it got to chrono cross and i started cryin. the rumor seemed like such an obvious lie, so i was so surprised n happy! and the inclusion of radical dreamers makes it extra special. fingers crossed that this could hint at a chrono trigger remake. or a chrono 3. regardless it looks great and i think some ppl are really sleepin on how big a deal it is that square is finally acknowledging chrono again.

after chrono cross was announced it was hard to come down. i just loveddd this direct. kirby continues to look good. tho it really is obv the spiritual successor to mario 3d land, so it doesn't wow me at all sorry.

the live a live remake, on the other hand, DID wow me. like what the fuck. i just never expected it? and it looks REALLY GOOD. like i'm probably def gonna get it. so cool! just... wow.

klonoa was another awesome surprise. like the sheer number of remakes/ports/sequels of true classics was starting to het out of hand. just what the fuck. klonoa is so cute n good n i'm excited.

i think i might be out of order at this point (blame shitty news sites for always neglecting details), but the portal stuff was cool. but it also confused me! why is valve putting out games on switch right as the steam deck releases? maybe they just really don't want to make nintendo think they're trying to compete??? kinda silly since the natural competition is unavoidable. but!! it's still cool? idk.

i sorta can't believe we're getting another wii sports? the aesthetics looked hideous at first but i'm warming up to them. idk i think the series was always rly good, tho it'll be hard to justify spending $60 or even $30 on it. regardless, it's another cute game to play w family n drunk friends etc.

getsufumaden looks like it could be neat if it wasn't bein made by konami. assuming this is like a mobile game on console. also i think this was announced earlier? idk i just wanted to mention it.

the metroid dread update... i wanna pay respect to it. even tho i honestly couldn't give a single shit about an edgelord tryhard mode? i think it's a neat idea to include it alongside a "beginner mode". this is how you do it!! it pleases everybody. to anyone saying "why?" like just this isn't FOR you. it's so that everybody can play no matter how casual or deranged. i wanna see more of this kinda stuff. a great way to address the like single complaint about the new metroid. bravo.

earthbound. listen. it's awesome. including mother 1 too is also awesome. should this have already been part of the service a while ago? yes obviously. is this one of those "only exciting because nintendo is so witholding so our standards are in the dirt"? most definitely. but it's still cool. for some reason nintendo neglects mother, much in the same way square neglects chrono. it's another one of the best snes (and nes) games ever made that was weirdly missing from the collection, so i'm glad it's finally here.

speaking of which... why the fuck didn't they bring chrono trigger to the service? wouldn't this be the perfect time?? unless... LOL don't make fun, but this is another reason i think they might be doin a chrono trigger remake etc? i'm just sayin!

ok last game i cared about (and no it isnt xenoblade, even tho that series is obv cool i'm just not invested yet): mario kart. and i GET why some people are complainin that it's just dlc. i really understand... in theory. because u know what? i felt the same way about smash ultimate at first. i was like "what the fuck this is just dlc for an old game so why aren't they actually making a full NEW game instead???

but smash u ended up being one of my fav games ever. it was really cool to have such a massive amount of content in a single, solid game engine. and that's more what this feels like. AND it's only $25 instead of $60. i mean it's like 50 new goddamn tracks. that's silly. and awesome. i needed an excuse to go back and play more mario kart anyhow. i'm super happy about this tbh.

i think the only real critique i have is that we won't get the last mk dlc until 2023? stretchin it out much??? nintendo kinda has fallen completely into the "online service" method of release and i genuinely hate that (like why is wii sports getting golf way later just finish the game idiots)... but besides that? good direct. great direct. way better than it shoulda been considering they once again didn't show ANY info on zelda lol. we... we aren't gonna get that game until like 2023 huh. 😅

#long #spoilers #spoiler

[eruhatesu]

Hey eru👋 the anon who sent you the angsty gojohime Fwb hc here. Your reaction to my messily put together word vomit made me wanna write some more for you (sorry if it's too long😭)

After everything that happened at the exchange event we know that uta was distraught. She hid most of the emotion very well (as perfectly as gojo conceals his romantic feelings towards her), but she was terrified about what could have happened to the students. She had faith in their abilities, knew they were strong, but she cared like a mother.

It was her flaw. The reason she was vulnerable. Weak.

And as he always did, gojo saw her weakness. Her worry. He wanted to do something for her so he rigged the ballot(wbk). He even winks at her before the game, to confirm if part of the reason why he chose baseball was because it was her favourite game.

And uta is just so frustrated and confused because she had been thinking all these months that he was over her and then all of a sudden he's doing things like this for her. It makes her want to tear her hair out.

Before the Kyoto squad leaves the two meet up in a secluded room once again to go over their plan of catching the traitor. As she's about to leave he grins behind her, "hope you enjoyed today's game"

She turns around to face him.

"I mean I guess it must not have been all that enjoyable considering that you guys lost and-"

"You did it for me?"

Her voice was low, filled with hesitation. he was frozen. Then he spoke, his voice mirroring hers, "partly. Yeah." He didn't have to say anything else. His words didn't feel as guarded. She could see through them now, finally, after so long.

A pause. And then she broke.

"Why? Just why? You're so fucking confusing! I feel like we're doing great up until like six months back and then all of a sudden we don't meet anymore and you've changed and now you've done a whole 180 and doing things to make me happy. What the fuck happened Satoru?!"

She was breathing harshly, tears clinging to her eyebrows.

He stared at her for a long time before replying flatly, "you're saying that like we were actually dating."

And uta realises that that was all they were. That in all her hurt she had forgotten that they were never anything more than friends with benefits. Perhaps she had been reading between the lines for too long.

"But I do get it", he continued, "I'm sorry I called off our arrangement one sidedly. I should have been more open with you."

She hung her head low, feeling her tears flow more freely now, distantly remembering how he used to tease her when he was younger-"you cryin'?"

"Let's just focus on finding the mole right now, 'kay?"

She could feel him moving and the next thing she knew they were mere inches apart. He tipped her head upwards to face him, his sunglasses resting precariously on the bridge of his nose, his azure eyes piercing yet soft at the same time. His face was unsmiling and that made her a little nervous.

He wiped away the trails of the tears from her face and spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, "love is a curse hime."

His fingers tangled into her white ribbon. The one that had previously been the cloth we wore as his blindfold. The one that he had gently tied her hair with when they had kept falling into her bandage covered face when he had gone to visit her after the night parade.

"Don't let it consume you"

And she suddenly understood it all, as he walked out of the room, clicking the door shut behind him.

omfg I know I asked for this but when I finished reading this..... God I was not ready. That hurt a lot more than expected. anon, this was so fucking good. I know you just probably squeezed this out and I may sound so demanding but this would be so good to turn out as a whole as ficcccc.

is gojo gonna be able to tell uta what he's going thru??

"Don't let it consume you"..... but anon...... this is consuming me already ;_;

#huhuhu fav #gojohime #anon! #ask eru

[lu-undy]

Chapter 73 - SBT

Here it is!

There was a knock on the van's backdoor. 

"Come in, Mundy."

The Aussie pushed the door and entered.

"I'm back, luv', and I have it. Feels weird to carry a credit card for some money that's not mine… Also, how well did they pay back in France?! When the banker told me how much it was, I nearly fell off my chair!"

Mundy shut the door and turned to his lover. 

"Oh, crikey…" 

"How do I look…?"

Lucien had put on one of his suits again but this time, there was no tie and the shirt had been replaced with a thin woolen turtleneck. Moreover, he had tied his hair in a braid. Some of the grey, thin locks of hair at the front fell between his eyes beautifully. 

"You're gorgeous." 

Lucien smiled as Mundy came closer and held his waist.

"And I trimmed my beard a bit. I look odd to myself, but if you like it, I shall make a habit of this style." 

Mundy turned around and touched the braid. 

"Gosh, you… You're perfect… And, mmh, yeah, you're wearin' your perfume again, eh?"

"Oui, I am."

"You're really back…!" Mundy hugged his lover tightly but another knock interrupted them.

They were back in the city now for Mundy to collect Lucien's money, which was now his. Maurice had done an impeccable job and it had all gone smoothly. 

"Who's that?" Mundy asked. 

"Who do you think?" 

Mundy and Lucien looked at each other with a smile. It was Maurice's voice. 

"Hold on, mate." 

Mundy exited the van, with Lucien behind him. 

"Good to see you again, both of you." Maurice said and hands were shaken. 

"G'day, mate." 

"Merci, Maurice."

[Thanks, Maurice.] 

"Quite a change of style you have gone through, L." 

"Oui, it is both necessary and appreciated." Lucien's eyes went to Mundy. 

"It suits you indeed. One of the boys spotted your van, M. I thought I could drop by and say hi in person." 

"Sure, thanks. How's the street doin'?" 

"Cold with this winter, but good. We still manage to feed everyone and bring some warmth."

"That's nice." Mundy answered. 

"Oh, I nearly forgot, I have something for you, L. Here… This is your new passport, with the name that you wrote in your will."

"He didn't write any new names in his will." Mundy said, surprised.

"I did." Lucien answered and he accepted the Burgundy red document with the golden letters. "You just did not see it."

"What?" Mundy asked. 

"I will explain later. But thank you very much, Maurice, as always."

"My pleasure."

"Who are my witnesses?" Lucien asked. 

"Witnesses?" Mundy repeated. 

"Yes, for a will to be taken seriously, it must be written and co-signed by two witnesses." Maurice answered. "I am one of them, Richard is the second."

"Did you tell him?" Lucien asked. 

"I told him that Paris wanted a coffee with two sugars and a drop of milk. The next thing I knew, he was lying on the floor in his shop and both his sons were trying to wake him up." Maurice chuckled. 

"Ah, I should apologise…!" Lucien answered, chuckling himself. 

"No, it is fine. He was as delighted as I was when M told me. Oh and by the way, you are welcome to work with him and give a hand with the homeless of course." 

"Thank you." Lucien answered. "But we have a few things to do before we can come to work, is that fine with you?" 

"Absolutely, take your time and again, welcome back to the world of the living." 

"Thank you." 

Maurice and Lucien exchanged a nod. 

"Good. I shall go back to my streets, there are mouths to feed and work to do." Maurice said. "I will see you later." 

"Sure, mate, thanks for everythin', really." 

"No problem." 

Hands were shaken again and Maurice disappeared in the streets, melting with them like a shadow. 

"So, what's the plan?" Mundy asked. 

"We could go and get some lunch if you want."

"Sure, where?"

"Victoria's diner." Lucien answered and Mundy smiled and nodded. 

"Alright. Let me just make sure the cats have enough to eat and drink."

"I shall take Perle and Soot with us. I will put him in Perle's old harness and leash." 

"Sure." 

A few minutes later, Perle was on Mundy's shoulders and Soot was trotting happily by Lucien. 

"Non, Soot, sit. Très bien. We need to wait until the little man is green before we cross. Non, non, non, do not raise your hand like this and tempt the devil. You stay sat." 

"Meow." Soot was trying to move forward. 

"Sooty boy, watch the wifey here." Mundy put Perle down and she sat by the black cat patiently.

"There, good boy, Soot." Lucien praised him. 

The light switched to green for pedestrians. Perle looked up at Mundy who started crossing and followed him. Soot copied her. He looked up at Lucien and when the man started crossing, he did the same. 

A few minutes later, they arrived in front of Victoria's diner.

"You ready?" Mundy asked. 

"Yes, I am. I hope she is too." 

They exchanged a smile and Mundy pushed the door open. 

"Hello, how may I help? Oh, hey M! And Pearl. Who's this new friend you're bringin'...?" 

Lucien was a metre away, giving his back with his silver braid to them while Victoria knelt down to look at Soot. 

"That's Soot, he's Pearl's hubby."

"Ooh, congrats, Pearl!" Victoria petted her and the white, fluffy cat purred. "The hubby's quite shy, eh?"

Soot was hiding behind Mundy's legs. 

"Yeah, a bit." Mundy answered. "Sorry about that."

"Well at least he's not hissin'...!" Victoria chuckled. "How have you been, M? You seem so much happier than last time!"

"Not too bad, and busy, the cats got four kids together."

"Seriously? You had kittens?" 

"Yeah, lots of energy they have, but they're growin' up nicely." 

"Aw, that's super cute." Victoria stood up again. "Came here for some lunch?" 

"Yes and no, there's uh… There's something I need to admit… Uh…" Mundy scratched the back of his neck. 

"Oh? What is it?" 

"Uhm, I don't know how to say that but uh… Y'know what, come and sit at the table." 

Victoria sat down. 

"You're not joining?" She asked. 

"Well, I need to re-introduce someone to you - bloody hell that's so weird to say…" Mundy put his hands on Lucien's shoulders, who was still giving his back to Victoria.

"What d'you mean, re-introduce?" 

"He means that I am back." Lucien turned and faced her as she gasped and smacked a hand in front of her mouth. 

"What the fuck?! L?! Is that you?! You're dead!"

"Non, I am not. I am standing here in front of you." He opened his arms proudly. 

"You piece of shit!" Victoria rose from her chair and slapped him with the towel she was carrying around repeatedly. "You! Kept me! Thinking! You! Were! Dead! For! More! Than! A! Year! You absolute! Piece! Of! Shit!"

Lucien closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her. She buried her head in his chest and both him and Mundy could hear muffled sobbing. 

"I missed you, you arrogant idiot…" 

"And I missed you too, terribly, Victoria." He kissed the top of her head as she cried against him. He could feel she was clinging to his jacket. "I am sorry to have put all of you through that. But I had no choice."

"It's worse than that, V." Mundy said, patting her back to comfort her. "He was there at his own funeral and he heard what you said." 

She gasped and pulled out of the embrace, wiping her tears on the towel. 

"That's just plain cheatin', L."

"Lucien." 

"What?" 

"My name, it is Lucien, you may call me by my name, mi niña."

[My child]

She stared up at him as if he was Jesus Christ himself.

"I missed you so much." She put a hand on her mouth.

"I know, I know, come here." Lucien led her to sit at their table on the banquette next to him. He wrapped an arm around her to comfort her and gently rocked her left and right while her tears continued to stream silently on her cheeks. She sniffed from time to time and wiped her face on her towel. Mundy went to the counter to place their order and came back, sitting on the banquette opposite them. 

"So you didn't die?" She asked.

"Non."

"What happened?" 

"As you now know, I worked as a spy and to escape a certain death, I had to die and wait for things to calm down before I could show myself again."

"Did you beat him up for it?" She asked Mundy. 

"Nah, can't do it anymore now for some reason." Mundy chuckled. 

"You should have. You're growin' soft, M. And this man…" She pointed her index on Lucien's chest, poking it and staring at it fiercely. "This man needs to be taught a lesson or two…" She then bent forward and let her head fall on Lucien's chest again. He hugged her tightly and stroked her hair. 

"I apologise, Victoria, but had I done that, I would not be here today." 

"You could have said. You could have written to me… You could have…" She sobbed again. "Now I need to cancel something important." She said and Lucien and Mundy's eyebrows jumped. 

"Cesar salad, and two fish and chips." A waiter came and put everything on the table. "You ok, V?"

"Yeah, she's cryin' cause she's happy, cheers mate." Mundy answered.

"Alright…" The waiter left them alone. 

"So what is this important thing that you need to cancel because of my return? Did you have to go and have lunch with someone else?" Lucien asked. 

"No…" Victoria pulled herself away from him and wiped her face again. She looked at Mundy and then at Lucien. "I'm… I'm gettin' married to my fiancé Charlie in a few months and uh… I didn't have anyone to walk me down the aisle but…" 

Mundy's jaw dropped and Lucien blushed intensely. 

"Would you… Would you please do it for me?" She raised her red, slightly swollen eyes to him and Lucien felt hot all of a sudden with the pressure that fell on his shoulders.

"I… I would be honoured to do so but… Why me?" 

"Charlie. I met him at a party and then… The reason we dated was thanks to you." 

"Me?" 

"Yeah, you helped me with my spanish so much that I progressed enough to be in the same classes as him… That's how we then started hangin' out and all. And then the free dinners you got us for the Queen Victoria, I went there with him… It's all cause of you…" 

Lucien's eyes couldn't be open wider.

"Mon Dieu…"

"As you know, I don't have a dad, so I didn't have anyone to walk me down the aisle in church. I asked Joe from the corner shop to do it, to feel less lonely but… But you should be the one doin' it… So please…"

Lucien's eyes were glistening with the tears he was holding back. 

"O-of course I accept, it would be my honour to do this for you, Victoria…" He pulled her in a fatherly hug and closed his eyes. "When is the wedding exactly, we need to get some new suits. Is there anything I can help with? Tell me and do not think about the money, I will get it sorted out for you, mon enfant." 

[My child]

Mundy softened in a sweet smile. So that was the kind of father that Lucien was, hm?

"I should meet your fiancé. Look, let us know when and where and I shall have a chat with him. I can't let you get married to just anyone, I need to know. Where is he from? His family? Does he still have his parents, what do they work as?" 

Victoria laughed in Lucien's arms. 

"What? I am worried for you, Victoria. It is out of the question to just let you get married to someone you cannot properly build anything with!"

She laughed louder and pulled him into a hug. 

"I missed you so much… Papa L…" 

Lucien looked at Mundy with tears in his eyes. 

"Hey, don't look at me like that, luv'. It's your daughter there, not mine." 

"And you are my everything, Mundy, so she is your daughter as much as she is mine!" 

"What?! Nah, that's not how it works! Also, when you're gonna meet the bloke, I'll just stay with the cats in the van."

"Why?" 

"Remember we're two blokes, that's not exactly normal, eh?" Mundy said, feeding some bits of fish to the cats. 

"Oh, don't worry about it. He knows for L and you." Victoria said. 

"What?! How?! You told him?" Mundy turned as red as a brick in a flash. 

"Nah, I didn't. I think most people who were at the funeral understood, M." Victoria answered. 

"Ah… W-well… I mean…" 

Lucien looked down at Victoria. 

"Let us have some lunch and you can tell us all about this Charlie of yours, hm?" 

"Yeah, thank you so much." She pushed herself to leave a kiss on Lucien's cheek. "You're the best!"

He smiled and left his arms around her shoulders. 

"I am indeed."

"Lu'!"

"L!"

"Meow!"

"Meow!"

-- Later that day --

"Where to now?" Mundy asked.

"To Richard. I need to thank him. Also, let us go to a bakery first, I need to buy something for him." 

"Okay."

"Any good bakeries you would recommend, mon loup?"

[My wolf?]

"Yeah, I know one, let's go." 

They walked through the streets, followed by both cats. 

"Lu', look at the cats." 

Lucien looked back and smiled. They were brushing themselves against each other and lacing their tails together, purring happily. 

"I am happy that she found someone to pur with." Lucien said. 

"Yeah, they're cute."

"I cannot help but think about how much bigger she is now… I remember when she used to fit in my hand, when she bit me on the first night we met, how she held onto my hand…"

"Nostalgic?"

"Partly."

"Partly?" Mundy asked and they stopped at a crossroad.

"Oui. Those were days where Perle was nothing but a baby but at the same time, those were days where I could only dream of approaching you." 

"What? Gonna make me believe that you were shy?" Mundy smiled. 

"Not shy." The light turned to green and both cats looked up at their masters. The family crossed the street. 

"What then?"

"I was as scared as you were shy." 

"Scared? Do I look scary?" Mundy asked and Lucien gave him one of those looks. "Nope, shush, don't answer." 

Lucien smirked. 

"But what were you scared of? That I'd say no?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Mundy. No one has ever said non to me so far." 

The Aussie rolled up his eyes with a smile. 

"Figured… But tell me, why?" 

"Because I knew I was going to my death. I know what it means to lose the person that you live and breathe for, and I didn't want you to go through that." 

They took a turn and the cats happily followed, still trotting on their heels. 

"Well, good job, you did it anyway in the end, eh?"

"Because of you." Lucien answered. 

"Me?" 

"Oui. You were the one to insist that I should confess my feelings to the man I held in my heart. And here we are."

"Gonna complain?"

"Non, of course not." They chuckled and Mundy pushed the bakery door. "Go ahead, I'll wait with the cats outside."

"Fine, I won't be long." 

"Okay," And as Lucien passed in front of Mundy, the Aussie murmured. "Love you, darl, you're gorgeous…" 

Lucien's cheeks turned pink and his eyes brightened up. 

"Moi aussi, mon loup."

[Me too, my wolf.]

Mundy stayed outside and petted the cats while waiting for Lucien and it took the Frenchman a few minutes before he exited the bakery again, a beautifully decorated bag in his hand.

"You were quick."

Lucien smirked.

"Don't give me that look, you know how long I can be in other contexts…"

Mundy's cheeks popped red.

"Lu'...!"

The Frenchman chuckled and they resumed their walk. Within minutes, they were in front of Richard's shop. 

"Right, let's go." 

Mundy pushed the door.

"Good afternoon gentlem- oh! L! M!" 

"And the fluffy P and S." Mundy added, pointing at the cats. Richard dropped his notebook and ran to shake their hands.

"I am delighted to see you both again! And what a change of style! Oh, I need to make something for you both, for your return, L - non! I will not accept any kind of negotiation, this will be a welcome back gift! Paul! Come here!"

Richard's sons both came out of the workshop and after shaking hands with Lucien and Mundy, their father instructed them. 

"Take a good look at these two new men…!" The tailor with the impeccable white moustache started. "Look at this one. He now stands tall, not slouched like before, he has found peace and confidence in himself, he isn't hiding behind a thick mane of hair anymore…" Richard inspected Mundy closely before turning to Lucien. "And here! Oh mon Dieu here! Here is the man that we all dream to be, if not for the hero he is, then for his silhouette, sculpted out of marble with godly proportions! Boys, we need something refreshing, nothing tactical, non! We need something for a sweeter, more calm life. Look at the beard! Where some people see a lack of effort, I see the beginning of a work of art! And this long hair…! M! Take notes! This is poetry! This is romance! This is beauty! Not only are the colours exquisite to the eye but the braid is fantastic! I take it you did it yourself, L?" 

"Oui, I did." 

"The work of an artist… But sorry, I got carried away, pray take a seat…"

Lucien and Mundy sat on the armchair and the cats went each on their lap, Soot went to Mundy and Perle, to her Papa. 

"What brings you here?" 

Lucien handed the plastic bag to Richard. 

"My will and my duty to thank you, Richard." He answered. 

"What for?" Richard accepted the bag and peeked in. 

"For being a witness to my will. I understand the risk that you willingly put yourself in and the least I can do is to thank you." 

"L, this is nothing compared to what you have done and given all these years, please!"

"Richard, non, this is a great risk you are taking, and you have a wife and children… You are making them take a risk with you."

"I always have. Being an informant for the secret services isn't an innocent job, it never had been, so non, really, it is nothing. When Maurice came to me and told me about you, I offered to help before he could even tell me the details."

"Thank you, and please, accept the content of this bag and share it with the family for me." 

Richard looked inside. 

"Oh! I need to hide it from my wife, if she finds this cake, she will never let me have it!"

The gentlemen chuckled around the coffee table. 

"By the way, who is this new cat you have?" Richard asked.

"This is Soot." Lucien answered and he scratched his head. 

"He's Pearl's mate, they're pretty serious." Mundy added.

"Are they?" Richard asked. 

"Yeah, they got four lovely kids." Mundy explained. "Two girls and two boys, they're growin' up nicely. You wouldn't want one by any chance?" 

"A cat?"

"Still kittens, but yeah."

"I will have to discuss it with my wife even though she has always asked me to adopt a pet." Richard answered.

"Ah, then we would be delighted to gift you one of them." Lucien added. 

"Raised them like I did Pearl and Soot. They've got good manners, they're cuddly and still very playful as they're very young. Give it a thought, eh, Richard?" 

"Will do, I promise."

"Which one would you take?" Lucien asked. "We have Diamond and Star, the girls, and Glovy, the boy." 

"Didn't you say there were four?" Richard asked. 

"Oui, but there is one I will gift to someone else, if you see no issue." Lucien answered.

"Of course, of course."

"But yes, Diamond is black with a diamond-shaped white patch on her face, she also has a white fluffy chest. Star is also black but has a white star-shaped patch on her… Well…"

"On her butt." Mundy said. "She's got a white star on her thigh, close to her butt. And Glovy, the little boy, he's a fat one, we're trying to put him on a diet but eh, hard to stop that greedy fluff ball." 

"Quite so, I will see with the missus but she surely would like a lady. There are too many of us men at home, you see?" Richard chuckled. 

"Fair enough, thank you again, Richard." Lucien stood up and put Perle on his shoulders before shaking the tailor's hand. 

"My pleasure, as always. And I am delighted for you two." Richard winked at Mundy and the tall man blushed. He put Soot on his shoulders and headed out of the shop. 

"Where should I send the clothes?" Richard asked. 

"We will let you know whenever we can." Lucien answered. "Thank you." 

"Have a nice day!"

"To you too, mate." 

-- Evening that day -- 

There was a knock on the van's backdoor.

"Come in, love." 

"Bonsoir, mon amour." 

[Good evening, my love.]

Lucien walked in the van and the cats trotted out. 

"Be careful, cats!" Mundy said. 

"Don't worry, Perle and Soot are remarkable parents." Lucien removed his coat and sat on the sofa next to his lover. 

"So, what did you get us for dinner?" Mundy looked at Lucien's hands repeatedly but couldn't see anything in them. 

"I got you something more than just to fill your hungry stomach." Lucien answered, slithering closer to his lover. 

"Where?" Mundy took Lucien's hands and looked at them. Nothing. "Can you at least meet my… uh… hungry lips?" Mundy blushed and Lucien laced his fingers with the Aussie's.

"Listen to you being flirty… That's new…" He leaned to meet his lover's demand. 

"I-I'm tryin'... Feels weird to hear myself say stuff like that. It's like it's not me…" 

"You are doing remarkably well, mon loup." Lucien whispered and his lips finally met Mundy's.

#tf2 sniper #tf2 spy #sniperspy #SBT

[whiskey-and-nightmares]

If you're up to it then how about R!Clack for chocolate? I'm a sucker for fluff!

    ◈ — @anon  || Request accepted !

    Who isn’t a sucker for fluff ? Here ya go, some chocolate, romantic fluff !

There were many things Jack was proud about.

A lot of them were related to magic and many other feats he had achieved in his life. A few of them although were more related to everyday and mundane things; Learning how to cook with minimal help was something he was immensely proud of, but being a natural at baking easily beat the cooking achievement.

Today, since was Valentines day, Jack baked his famous triple chocolate cake filled with some more chocolate. It was Han’s favorite and a treat that Jack allowed him to have just a few times per year since chocolate was, essentially, poisonous for him.

However, this time, as soon as Jack finished the decor and put the cake in the fridge for the chocolate to cool down, Han appeared at the door, frowning at him.

“What?”

“Ya done?” Han asked, heavy american accent that Jack was sure he used just to pester him as an extra.

“Yes. But you won’t be having any until dinner.”

Hannibal tsked at him. Actually, literally, clicked his tongue and Jack was so surprised and speechless he couldn’t form any kind of reply when Han pushed him outside the kitchen, warning him about don’t bother for a few hours because he, Hannibal, was going to be very busy.

“Busy— Doing what?” The door closing in his face was the only answer he got.

Jack pictured Han inside, eating the whole cake with his hands and sighed, resolving he didn’t have the strength neither was in the mood to get mad about it; It was Valentines, it was Han’s cake anyway and Jack was happy with the black roses Hannibal got for him that morning, like every year, so no, whatever was happening inside his kitchen, wouldn’t bother him in the slightest.

Except it was bothering him, even two hours later.

Dinner wasn’t a problem, Jack ordered the food from one of his favorite restaurants and was delivered just minutes ago, but still he needed to get inside his kitchen to set up the food in the plates and pinpoint whatever damage Hannibal caused in there.

Jack carried the bags and knocked the door with his foot, half hungry, half annoyed and entirely worried.

“Han, the food is here. I’m hungry and I want to eat and then have sex in the tub while drinking champagne.” He announced, still using his feet to knock the door and after a few minutes of being there, knocking and standing like a bloody idiot Hannibal opened the door.

“ —so fucking annoying.” Was the greet he got.

“I am hungry. What did you do with my kitchen?”

“Nothin’. Gimme that.” Han took the bags and then, finally, Jack got inside.

There wasn’t a mess.

In fact, the table was set, some candles lit and red and black roses were arranged in a bouquet at the table. Jack blinked, almost cursing at himself because of course today was one of those days Han managed himself to be in the right, ‘soft romantic’ mood.

“Oh, did you bother doing all of this for us dear?” Jack asked with a soft voice and a tender smile. Hannibal didn’t reply but he was busy setting the food in the plates. “I love it. Thank you.” 

“I got ya somethin’ too.” Han handed him back the bags and went to the fridge while Jack finished to put the bread in a basket in the middle of the table.

“What did you buy me?” Jack asked, unable to stop himself because he was a dragon and, as such, he was impossibly curious.

“Nothin’. I made it.”

That got Jack’s attention immediately and he turned in time to see Han offering him a plate full of chocolates.

“You made chocolates?” He asked with wonder, watching the sweets; They had different forms, probably cut with Jack’s cookie molds, and were well made. They looked pretty, even.

“Aren’t poisoned.” Han smirked at him and Jack laughed, taking one to bite it. “—But that somethin’ one would say if were offerin’ ya poisoned choc.”

“Well, poisoned or not, these taste amazing.” Jack replied with a big grin, eating the sweet in one bite and taking other to put it in Han’s mouth. “I didn’t know you were so talented with sweets, I’m almost jealous.” Han ate the whole chocolate in one bite, as was was his custom, but Jack couldn’t even bother at it.

The fact that Han decided -for whatever reason Jack couldn’t fathom- to do something like this for him was such a sweet and meaningful gesture that Jack found himself falling in love harder with the demon, feeling his heart swollen when Han smiled at him.

“Yer cryin’.”

“I’m not.” He replied quickly, even if he did notice his vision going blurry for the unshed tears of happiness. “I’m just… Happy. I love it Han, for real… I love you.”

Han hugged him and Jack breathed slowly to calm himself, smiling against his chest and letting Han’s shirt dry his eyes. “Better?”

“Yes, thank you. What you say if we dinner, eat cake and then hit the tub with champagne and those chocolates?” Han nodded at him, suggesting him to put some petals in the water too and Jack hated the man a bit more for making him fall for him even more.

“We have a plan then. Come, I’m really hungry. When did you learn to make chocolate anyways?” Han smiled.

“Youtube.”

▹Ask me something.

#r!jack #r!clay #r!clack #reverse xiaolin #◈ curious anon #writing this was fun

[iamknicole]

BBQ

Bloodline Family Series / Family Ties

"Bug, put those toys down and put your shoes on. I've asked you twice already." Haleigh fussed walking through the living room of their rental home.

"Where me going?"

"Somewhere with me and Daddy. Put your shoes on."

Carlito threw his toys down and took off running to get his shoes making Haleigh laugh and roll her eyes. Of course once she mentions Ardian he moves.

"Let's go, boys. If you're not in the car in five minutes I'm leaving you both!" She yelled standing at the bottom of the staircase.

After waiting ten more minutes since Carlito had to go potty, the small family was finally able to leave. Haleigh drove them to Pensacola for a family barbecue they were having since Koda, Eli and Milo were in town.

"Wake him up, baby. Let him walk."

Haleigh got his bag from the backseat while Ardian woke their baby. He looked around confused for a second then smiled. For some reason since he'd been home, he smiled when he woke up.

"What's up lil man? Sleep good?" Ardian asked helping him out the jeep.

Carlito stretched once he was on the ground, "Yeah sir. Where we at?"

Haleigh came around the SUV, locking it once Ardian closed the door. She bent down to his level, cleaning his face and fixing his hair.

"We are at Papa's parents' house. They're having a party for Uncle Koko, Uncle E and Uncle Lo," she stood and grabbed his hand, "You and Daddy get to meet my PopPop and Mimi."

Carlito grabbed Ardian's hand too. He saw all the cars and wondered who was all inside. The only car that looked familiar to him was Roman and Kandice's car.

"They be nice?" He asked as they approached the back gate.

"Yeah, Lil Man. If you get scared just find one of us."

"Me smell food, Daddy. Me hungry."

Haleigh shook her head and opened the gate, Ardian let them go in first and closed the gate behind them. He saw a lot of faces he knew and a few he didn't. Haleigh wanted Carlito to meet her grandparents before he ran off with the trips and the other kids.

Sika was by the grill with Roman, Jey, Joe and Tama. Haleigh squeezed her grandfather tight happy to see him. She'd caught him off guard, he hugged her back laughing.

"PopPop!"

Sika kissed her forehead. "Babygirl, it's been a while since I've seen you. I almost forgot what you looked like."

"I'm sorry I haven't been here to see you buuut I brought two someones I want you to meet," she smiled moving out of the embrace, "This is my boyfriend, Ardian. And this is our baby, Carlito, that I told you and Mimi about."

Haleigh smiled watching all the males look at each other. She took a moment to hug her daddy and uncles.

Sika looked at his son then at the two boys in front of him, smiling. He held his hands out for Carlito and took him into his arms. "You're a handsome fella. You hungry?"

"Me starving, PopPop! Me want food, please."

"Is Mommy not feedin you, fella? She lettin you starve?"

Carlito looked at Haleigh giggling then nodded. "Me not eat in hours, PopPop."

Sika kissed the side of his head then passed him to Haleigh. "Well you're in luck the food is just about done. Ask Mommy to take you to Mimi to get you a cookie."

Sika turned his attention to Ardian, the smile that was once on his face was gone. Roman, Jey, Joe and Tama stood silently behind the patriarch. Ardian felt slightly uncomfortable but he knew what he was walking into before they got to Pensacola.

"My son tells me that you wanna marry my girl. Is that true?" Sika asked.

"Yes, sir. I've gotten her dad and other grandpa's blessing. I'd like to have yours too."

Ardian was proud. He spoke to the older, larger man without stuttering. His stomach was doing flips but as long as he remained cool on the outside he was happy.

"I've heard a lot about you, Ardian. I know your father also. He's a good man. Are you also?"

Ardian nodded almost immediately. "Yes, sir. My dad wouldn't have it any other way."

Sika hummed. "I'll let you know what I decide before you leave, son."

Koda was able to sneak into the house without being noticed. He hadn't seen his sister in about six or seven months and wanted to surprise her. He found her helping Carlito with his juice box.

"You tryna steal his juice?" Koda asked startling her.

Haleigh carefully handed Carlito his juice them jumped on her brother. She squeezed him as she cried on his shoulder. Needless to say she missed him. Her younger siblings were great but there was nothing like her big brother. Kandice, their aunts and Mimi stood around them taking pictures of their reunion.

"Stop crying, Scrappy. You know you ugly when you cry," he joked sitting her down. He wiped her face and kissed her forehead.

Haleigh was so happy to see him that she allowed his joke to slide. She hugged him again. "Koko! I missed you!"

Koda laughed as hugged her back, rocking them from side to side. "I missed you, too, Hae."

"Mommy! Mommy!"

Haleigh looked down at Carlito smiling and wiping her face. "Yes, baby?"

"You otay? You cry?"

Koda scooped the little boy up into his arms, smiling. "She's aight, lil man. Your mommy is just a big cry baby." He joked flinching when Haleigh hit him.

"Daddy say that too," Carlito nodded giggling. "You Uncle KoKo?"

"That's me, man. You must be Carlito. Nice to finally meet you."

"Me hab no rules?" He asked sweetly.

Koda looked at Haleigh confused making her laugh. "Eli and Milo told him that when he's with then, he can do what he wants. He wants to know if it's the same with you."

"Ooooh. Yeah of course, Lil Man. We can do whatever we want and Mommy can't tell us shit."

Kandice smacked the back of his head as she passed them, "Watch your mouth, boy."

Carlito got down, running off to find the trips leaving Koda and Haleigh. She held on to him once more as if he was going to disappear if she looked away.

"Where's your boy?" He asked playfully.

"Somewhere out there. Probably getting interrogated."

"Sounds like I need to be out there with them. Can't let them have all the fun."

Haleigh pinched his arm. "Not funny, he's nervous. He wants to talk to you too."

"For what?"

She shrugged. "I dunno, Koko. You guys never really talked and when he came home you were already in Charlotte knee deep in your rookie year."

"You like him, Scrappy?" He asked leaning against the wall.

Haleigh smiled, she couldn't help it. "I love him."

"You growin up on me, Hae. I remember when you was a baby cryin and shittin everywhere. Now look at you."

Haleigh rolled her eyes still smiling.

"Look at us both, Ko. Did you bring Tia with you?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I did. She's outside with Aunni and Nola."

"So I finally get to meet her then?"

Koda nodded then moved his attention to something behind his sister. Haleigh turned and saw Ardian coming towards them with a wide smile on his face. He kissed Haleigh's cheek then slapped hand with Koda.

"You should go find Tia." Koda suggested with a small smile on his face.

Haleigh looked at the two men giving them both smiles and headed back outside in search of Koda's fiancee.

#bloodline family series #family ties #ardian & haleigh #Carlito