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#look at her and tell me she doesn't already have a signed contract to play mcu storm i dare you
sugar-grigri · 2 months
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Denji is awake, Asa is already inside and Yoshida is Chainsaw Man's ally
We interpreted the last chapter in reverse, so why not continue the exercise?
I haven't read any reaction, but I know in advance that Yoshida will be shown in the same way: as a cold being always there to make Denji's situation worse. But the observation is quite the opposite: he's the one who's constantly negotiated for his situation. Worse still, interpreting him as an ally makes everything absolutely clearer.
I know what I'm saying may come as a surprise, after all, he's the one who announced Denji's dismemberment and doesn't seem to be doing anything to stop it. But don't interpret things that way, the whole answer is in the title.
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The title refers to the ambient sounds of Denji's dismemberment, having no words at all, whereas titles usually refer to the dialogue in the chapter. Why is this? Because the answers are in the scenery and the unspoken words.
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For example, the answers lie in the questions that seem to be answers (stay focused): for example, we learn that Denji slept for a week… OK… but why exactly did they let him sleep for a week ? The protagonist asks Yoshida: why didn't you wake me up before?
In addition : why wake him now?
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The chapter deliberately focuses on a cold Yoshida, who announces that he's put him back to sleep. But why wake him up to tell him all this and then put him back to sleep? After all, the contract had already been broken, Denji couldn't negotiate.
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Because it's been a week since Yoshida negotiated to give Denji one last chance. In any case, the time that has elapsed shows that there have been negotiations about what to do with this out-of-control Chainsaw Man. Why is Yoshida doing this? Because more and more, he starts trying to protect him, even though he's supposed to control him. We'll see that his principles and his own way of surviving will also be increasingly undermined.
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Yoshida knows that Asa has a connection with devils, whether it was when he prevented Denji from revealing his identity after fighting Yuko or or when he assisted Yoru during the aquarium arc. Telling her to stay away from Denji was a means of protection, as he knew that she was a disruptive element, which could lead Denji to either reveal his identity or transform and thus put himself in danger.
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In chapter 132, Yoshida appeared in an extremely dominant position with a bound Denji, with Yoshida looking almost antagonistic. But in reality, the direct consequence of Yoshida's intervention was an equal negotiation around a table about Nayuta and being Chainsaw Man in the chapter 133 that followed. Above all, Yoshida presented himself as a malevolent force when, in reality, Nayuta arrived earlier than expected, a sign that she was safe and already freed.
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Above all, we know that there is a mole because the information leaked to the detriment of the church, the public hunters were aware of the attack to the point that Quanxi stopped it before it went off at 5pm. Worse than a leak, there was an exchange of information because the church was not at all destabilised and had already planned its response with the fire demon.
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If you're still not convinced: then interpret Fumiko as the strict inverted product of the system that Yoshida has become. Fumiko is a hunter who presents herself as younger than she is, calling Denji senpai even though she's older than he is, while Yoshida never behaves like the teenager he is.
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Fumiko also presents herself as Denji's ally, showing that she sees him as a child, whereas she has never had the will to protect him and has always dehumanized him. Yoshida does the opposite, presenting himself as Denji's enemy, playing on the fact that he's the only figure among the public hunters to negotiate with him and face his wrath, preventing him from doing what he wants while secretly helping him.
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Yoshida is beginning to worry about Denji, otherwise he'd be totally indifferent to the fact that he doesn't grasp the stakes of the dilemma the hunters are imposing on him. The aim of the public hunters was to send a hunter around Denji's age for more connection, but in reality it's Yoshida who is becoming more sensitive to Denji's actions than Denji is to Yoshida's words.
By being this mediator who enters into direct negotiations, he feels that he is not only responsible for what Denji may do, but by dreading the fact that he breaks the rules, he also begins to dread the consequence of having broken them: Denji will be in danger.
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Negotiations then took place for a week to improve Denji's situation, but failed given the way Chainsaw Man behaved out of control. Yoshida could do nothing officially, so he turned to the last resource he had left: the war devil.
When Yoshida confronted Asa, we sensed that he himself was unsettled by what he was doing. We also feel this unease expressly in this chapter, when he sees the state Denji is in.
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But what interests us most is that he apologizes to Asa for attacking her, even though she had followed the rules. It's as if Yoshida realised that, even if he made sure that we totally complied with the State and its conditions (Asa had to stay away from Denji, Denji mustn't transform), that wasn't enough to guarantee the security they were hoping for in return.
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All this overturns Yoshida's principles in two ways. From a relational point of view, Yoshida sees solitude as a way of life less likely to be hurt, and we also see that his criteria for normality are the fact of being isolated. But the hunter's tactic backfired: instead of not getting hurt, he became increasingly concerned about the fate of the man he was supposed to dehumanise.
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On another level, Yoshida's survival strategy is to trust the system, to trust it blindly and to accept its logic, hence his eyes without a glint in them, like Kishibe's, who had integrated them so as not to suffer. But more and more, he realises that this is not enough to guarantee safety. He realised this when he attacked Asa himself. But above all, Denji himself has never broken the rules. He never revealed his identity to anyone. And when he turned into the Chainsaw Man, the contract had already been broken by the actions of Barem, who attacked his dogs and cat. In reality, Denji trusted Yoshida's words, he had fully integrated them, but the state failed to protect him as it had promised.
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It is easier, even if only politically, to accuse a 17-year-old teenager of not honouring his commitment than to recognise that the state was unable to protect dogs and a cat from the actions of the church to prevent this transformation.
But above all, and this is what's fascinating, is that Yoshida uses this very political way of presenting this state failure when he opens the doors and is heard by Fumiko and the other agents, as if to convince them that he's still on their side. Yoshida thought it was enough to be alone and trust the system, but Asa and Denji proved that it wasn't enough. This trust in the state can be represented by the tako-tsubo trap: the octopus enters these cylindrical jars thinking it can protect its fragile constitution by sticking to the sides, but in reality, the octopus remains at the bottom of the trap.
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Yoshida becomes aware of the trap he is in and helps Denji more and more. When did he have this realisation? I can't date it, but what I can say for sure is that in chapter 156, he intends to help Denji. He wakes him up to talk to him one last time, he gives him information, if only temporal, and Denji only confirms the failings of the system: Yoshida doesn't know Nayuta's fate because the state has completely failed to protect her.
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But more importantly, takotsubo is also a fairly rare heart condition that can be brought on by a great emotional shock, which Yoshida wants to avoid by isolating himself. But as we said, he's already in the trap, so he's already become more emotional.
So Yoshida wants to help Denji, but how? By doing the opposite of what he was supposed to do, bringing Asa back into the equation by warning her about Denji's situation and his position.
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The dismemberment of Chainsaw Man is a more than secret operation, and Fumiko asks Yoshida for confirmation, a sign that he is one of the only people with the most reliable information about Chainsaw Man's fate. No-one else could have warned Asa. But above all, Yoshida's information is going to help the war demon: by redeeming himself.
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Denji has one leg removed, then the other, but what's left? His arms, right? Whereas Asa's legs are shown at the very end. But what was she missing? Her arms, right?
And what are these doctors doing, harvesting limbs and obviously? On top of that, it's a big number... 26... 27... what the public hunters are surely doing is to weaken Chainsaw Man as much as possible by dividing him up, but to accentuate his division, they're pulling on Denji's strap to force his regeneration while playing on his sleep to leave him unconscious. A large number of Denji's body members are harvested.
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And who cut off Asa's arm? Yoshida. What could he do? Place her arm among all Denji's arms. To leave her with a weapon of choice within these walls. Warn Asa, and take advantage of her severed arm by recovering it, was Yoshida's plan B.
I know your headache's already there, but let's get on with it. What's the chapter title? Ambient noises, right? But who hears them?
I'm going to say the first sounds are those of the helicopter. The others are those of the dismemberment operation. But who hears all these successive noises? Isn't Denji supposed to be asleep?
Quite simply because Denji has woken up, not physically but to recover his senses a little, hence the detail of his clenched fist and the fact that he can now hear. How is this possible? Probably because Yoshida made sure not to shoot him completely. Why not? Because not only does he need Denji to remain at least minimally conscious, he also needs him to stay awake out of fear for the uncertainty surrounding Nayuta's fate.
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We can see that Nayuta's fate agitates Denji and even makes him semi-conscious. Telling her that she was fine would have had the opposite effect, as Denji would have had no desire to get up. I think you can see where I'm going with this, but it was in Denji's interest to frustrate him even more about Nayuta and that's exactly what Yoshida did.
Let's make a brief philosophical and legal point: Leviathan by Hobbes is a work that forms one of the bases for thinking about the relationship between man and the state. Hobbes wrote this essay while traumatized by the English civil wars, for whom the only way to avoid chaos would be to give our liberties to a powerful monarch.
Man is a danger to social well-being; his natural reflex is domination, enslavement and violence.
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Giving our freedoms to the state provides a powerful arbiter who in turn ensures security and social peace - the social contract. Why Leviathan? Leviathan is none other than the State, a creature invented by men, against which no individual can compete. Yoshida works for the state and therefore symbolically for Leviathan, the octopus demon.
The quid pro quo of this contract with the State, the Leviathan, is security, which is not guaranteed, as Yoshida can testify. So what does Yoshida do? He helps the figure whose popularity threatened that of the State as the guardian of social peace. But above all, he is helping the element that the state fears most - civil war, i.e. war within its borders. Within its walls.
If Yoshida and Asa have one thing in common, it's that they prefer to be alone to avoid suffering. What they do, however, is join forces to prevent Denji from stopping suffering, to enable them to move forward just like the legs they lack.
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Just like friends would do.
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Good Guy, Bad Guy - Lloyd Hansen Series
Part 5
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Character: Lloyd Hansen x Rich!Female Reader
Summary: Y/N got what she wanted. The status of CEO is in her hand. But the sudden confession from Lloyd made her think twice about the divorce. Did she make the right decision?
Words Count: 4,050
A/N: This chapter timeline is set after Lloyd confessed to the reader. This chapter will be focused on Y/N learning her feelings. 
Hope you guys enjoyed it. Comment and Reblog from you meant so much to me. Thank you so much. 💓🥹
This chapter is from Lloyd Hansen's Series - 3 Billion Divorce.
Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7 (Extra Story)
And check out my other stories from Masterlist.
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A fool in love. 
If someone called him that last year, he would laugh because, to him, love is a joke. 
Lloyd Hansen a sociopath and the most dangerous man; he is the type of man who eliminates everyone in his way. He never let any task or mission affect his feelings. 
But now, he looks clueless, thinking about which plan to get you back. 
After everything both of you've been through.
You tossed him after the contract expired. No one ever plays with him like this. He waited three months, thinking you regretted it and will call him back. But no, nothing, Nada!
At first, Lloyd thinks you’re not his type, but he likes it each time you catch him off guard with your crazy ideas; he likes it when you become annoyed every time he provokes you. 
And your love for money is also up to his taste. 
Right now, he looks out of place at Carmichael offices. Carmichael knew his long-time friend was a chatterbox. But something felt wrong because this sociopath was silent the whole time. "What's wrong,Lloyd? Is this about your ex-wife?"
Lloyd clicked his tongue and then punched the table "Wife. I never signed the damn paper."
“Hahaha.” That laughing voice already made Lloyd's ears itchy. Her presence already makes his mood get worse. 
Susan's sudden appearance worsened Lloyd's mood because of what she would say. "Y/N already found your replacement."
'Ouch!’ her words just added more salt to his wound. 
"What do you mean b**ch?"
Susan gave him a middle finger. "Let me just say he's so much better than you. Wow, he still related to the royal family."
Lloyd snatched the phone from her hand. When he saw the photo of you hugging another man, his mind had already planned 100 ways to get rid of that person. He opened the photo comment and found the name of the person hugging you. 
"Where did you get these?!!"
Susan grabbed her phone because she knew he would have smashed her phone into the wall. "It's trending on social media. Your ex-wife became famous after the divorce."
The truth is, she followed your fans' account.
That's one of the biggest secrets she won't tell him.
Susan is one of your biggest fans. She applauds anyone who could tame Lloyd. And her favourite part is you made him in a dilemma. 
It's her turn to laugh at his misery. 
He gave her a side-eye. "She's still my wife." 
Lloyd grabs a keyboard and use CIA database. Carmichael doesn't even want to know how Lloyd knew his passwords. With facial recognition favourite, he could find out who it was. 
Earl Thomas Kimberley. Thomas is a top photographer, travelling worldwide, famous in design, and shooting in a country with a refugee crisis that can move everyone's heart. 
After his step-brother humiliated the family name, Thomas became the CEO of the family business in a shipping company. They owned 500 vessels, including travelling ships, car carriers, gas and oil tankers, submarines, and cruise ships. 
A successful man with a bright future. 
Compared to him, Thomas came from a prestigious family, just like you. 
A light hum resounded in the silent room. Lloyd looked at the computer with an expressionless face. 
“Something is off.”
“What?”
“Nobody has a perfect life. He must have a deep secret.” He grabbed his phone to give an order to his team.
Carmichael patted his shoulder. “Good luck with that.”
Lloyd told his IT team to dig deeper into Thomas. His habit of buying stuff online, his friends, his female friends, and even his porn history. 
But after a few hours, they found nothing terrible about Thomas.
It made Lloyd anxious.
Looking out the window, where the sky is blue, Lloyd wishes it could calm his insecurity.
What if you like him? A good guy like Thomas. 
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Eight hours ago before the photo.
The sky is grey, and the strong wind gives the plane turbulence. 
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're experiencing some turbulence. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts."
You were in the private jet on the way to England. Your former professor invited you to give a speech. Of course, you agree. 
Even if you must defeat your fears, plane travel still brings goosebumps.
Your hands gripped the armrest tightly when the plane got turbulence. 
“You should listen to music for distraction.” Jimmy was sitting in front of you, worried, looking pale, and he could see the sweat on your forehead even though the inside temperature was cold. 
Jimmy sighed heavily; there's nothing he can do with your stubbornness. He knew you needed Lloyd but didn't know why you let him go. 
It was Lloyd's job to make you at ease every time you travel by plane. 
Before Jimmy, one of the people who disagree with your choice of a husband even though it's a contract, of all the men in the world, you choose Lloyd. 
But now, he became the parent who was sad because his favourite son-in-law had left the house. 
Even though Lloyd could be selfish and childish most of the time, at least when you were in trouble, he knew exactly what to do. 
“If I listen to music, I will forget my speech.”
“Were you able to sleep last night?”
“Only for a few hours." You try to find a comfortable position to close your eyes, not looking at the window. 
You usually get at least 6 hours of sleep when Lloyd is beside you. Since you moved back to your childhood home, the bed feels strange. And nobody helps to calm down your nightmares. 
When you moved out from the house shared with Lloyd, you said this would be a new start.
You finally became the official CEO and could live alone without any worries. 
But something unexpected happened. 
‘My dear wife, I love you more.’
Lloyd's confession caught you off guard, and his words echoed in your mind, making you unable to sleep. 
You’ve been pushing the divorce and moving out, mainly because you started to feel comfortable with him. It was supposed to be fake marriage, but you made a mistake with a sexual relationship with Lloyd. 
‘Kill your emotion. You need to be a ruthless f*ck to rebuild L/N & Co.’
That’s your grandfather's last word to you before he died. You promised not to get f**ked by feelings and to prioritise the company. 
You know your weaknesses. Good at business but stupid in romance. 
But since you spend time with Lloyd.  You kept thinking about him. And it's suffocating because of your ego; you held back from calling him.
That's why you said yes when your professor invited you to be the speaker. Remembering the youthful memories you had back in college was nice. If you go back, you could put behind all your trauma and ex-husband.
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At the Debating Chamber.
In front of hundreds of people, you were relaxed while giving a speech and answering all the questions because your former professors and classmates were present to help you. 
It felt like you went back to being a teenager again. There's no family drama because of your grandfather's will. You just focus on your study—simple time. 
After the speech was done, you immediately rained with questions. Even with Jimmy beside you, he can't just push them away. 
Until a blinded camera flash made anyone close to you feel uncomfortable. Somehow it worked to make people move away from you. 
But the photographer keeps taking pictures of you. "Excuse me,sir, could you turn off the flash?"
The person behind the camera laughed. "I'll stop if you give me 100 dollars." 
His voice sounded familiar. When the camera is put down, you finally get a closer look. You knew who it was. 
Thomas Kimberley, your former classmate. It's been years since the last time you met. From everyone in your class, you are much closer to Thomas. 
Probably because he also has the same family drama. He's the second son of Kimberley's family, but his mother is a mistress. He doesn't get along with his stepmother and step-sibling. 
How did you know his drama? His stepbrother announced it inside the class to humiliate Thomas since he failed to become an Oxford student. 
But you didn't graduate together. Last semester Thomas suddenly left and followed his dream to be a photographer. You heard this is his way to rebel against his father. 
It turned out fine; he got what he wanted, travelled worldwide, and became a famous photographer. His appearance also changed. 
Back then, he only wore a cardigan with a dull colour and jeans. But now his appearance has turned him into a good-looking man, especially when he wears black suits and thin gold frame glasses.
"Thomas. You jerk." You gave him a playful punch to his shoulder before you gave him a side hug. 
You didn’t know some students took a shot the moment you gave a friendly hug to Thomas and sent it to social media. 
Thomas laughed, “When they told me, you were coming, I thought you would buy this place.” 
He linked his arm with you. “Ah, that’s our friend, let's meet them.” His act caught you off guard because Lloyd was the only man who could be this close to you.
And there it is; you thought you could forget him, but everything reminded you of Lloyd. You let this slide for once because you don’t want to ruin the reunion. 
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It was supposed to be a quick hangout at the pub. But one of your friends got this idea to visit another pub then another pub. You've never been this carefree and hungover. Looking at your friends singing at the karaoke and being happy. You suddenly have a thought. 
After graduating, you couldn't hang out with them since your grandfather dragged you back to the States. 
You were having a second thought. If you stay back then, do you still have a chance to have a normal life?
You stop daydreaming when someone hands you a glass of water. 
"Thank you."
"When was the last time you drank after you became the CEO?"
You sip the water while thinking about the moment you get the position; you become more ambitious and almost sleep daily in your office. "Hmm, never."
You put down the glass and rested your head on your palm while looking at him "Thomas, are you happy after you achieved your dream?"
"Wow, wisdom time because of the alcohol." He chuckled and then was silent for a while. "To be honest, I'm not 100% happy. Because it ruined my marriage."
Your eyes widened when you heard his confession. You didn't know he got married. "You? Married? Divorce?"
Thomas nodded; he stared at the wall of liquors. "She doesn’t like my job."
"Because you always travelled around?" You put your hand in front of your lips. That was a slip of the tongue. You were too honest because of the alcohol. "I'm sorry."
Thomas doesn't feel offended. "That's right." He put down his drinking glass and turned towards you. "It's my turn to ask a question. I want to know how the famous ice queen finally fell in love."
You gulped. You will not tell Thomas how you met Lloyd when he was supposed to kill you. You waved your hand and acted shy. "He helped me deal with my family. That's why I…" 
You were silent when you wanted to say the following words. Your mind suddenly recalled everything that happened between you and Lloyd. Both of you have been through heaven and hell together. 
"...love him." Your voice became softer; maybe only you could hear it. Is it because of the alcohol that made you say those words or because of something else?
You suddenly stand up from your seat, making people beside you almost jump. "I… I think I should go."
Thomas looks at his wristwatch. "You're right. It's already late." He stood up to grab his coat and yours. "My driver will drive us both."
"Thank you."
"It's nothing ,Y/N compare how often you drag me every time I get hungover." 
You hummed, remembering he always got drunk whenever he fought with his step-brother. 
While in the car on the way to your hotel, Thomas saw you looking at your phone screen, not doing anything; he asked, "Is your husband still awake waiting for you?"
You shook your head. "No. He didn't come with me."
"What a pity. I want to meet him."
You wonder if you heard it wrong. He sounded sulking. Did your friend want to meet Lloyd?
You waved goodbye to Thomas when the car arrived at the hotel. 
When you enter the building, Thomas' smile disappears from his face. He took out his phone to make a call. "Cancel it. We chose plan B."
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The next day you woke up; you weren’t that drunk. You picked up your phone to check on your schedule. There’s nothing. You remembered last night you told your secretary you want a day off.  
It was a sunny day. 
You decided to take a walk from your hotel to clear your head. 
You don’t have any plans. When you saw the nearest coffee shop, that became your first destination. 
The coffee shop has a lovely aesthetic and is not too crowded. After you order a coffee, pick a seat at the corner near the window that faces the street. 
While you enjoy your drinks and cakes, other customers keep coming; you notice the queue line getting longer. 
When you look up, a man has his hands full. One hand holding a laptop bag and one hand holding a baby. His kid was uncomfortable with his arms, making him unable to make an order. 
“Kendal, please hold on a second.” He tried to calm his baby.
“Professor Watson.” You greet him. He's one of the professors you adore because of his intelligence and wisdom. 
He turned his head and saw you. Both of you met yesterday but didn’t have the chance to talk.
"Y/N. Haii…" He struggled to hold his daughter. You can't bear looking at your favourite professor looking like a mess.
"Let me hold her."
"Thank you, but I don't think,-" His daughter already stretched her short arms towards you. That was unexpected. 
"Both of us will be sitting there."
After a few minutes, Professor Watson joins your table with his coffee and cake. 
"Thank you for your help."
"No problem. What happened? You look… lost?" Every time you see him, he always looks like a perfect scholar. It's pretty difficult to approach him. Even though he seems scary, he will help his students. 
After ten years, his style has become easygoing, and he is more welcome. He never smiled at his students. It's been ten years, and now you see the smile stay on his face.
"Haha, today is my day off. But my wife suddenly got called to the hospital. I thought it would be a good idea to bring my daughter to the coffee shop while I make new material for my book." 
Wow, his personality completely changed. Before, he never shared his personal life. But now he still tells you about his wife working as a doctor and his son joining the football team even though you didn’t ask. 
He seemed happy after he got married. If you get married, will your personality change too?
“You’ve changed, Professor. Back then, if we asked about your day, you would say ‘Nothing besides crying myself to sleep.”
“That’s true.” He laughed. “I used to be pessimistic about life, especially marriage.”
Kendall, the cute baby, is still sitting on your lap. She is fascinated with shiny things on your head, which as your hairclip. 
"Wa, is?" Her chubby finger pointed to your hair. 
"Ooh, this is a hairclip."
"Hai,- cip,-" Kendall keep mumbling, ‘Hai,- cip,’ for a long time. You are weak to her cuteness. You take off your hairclip and let her play with it. 
“I’m sorry, Y/N, she’s on the stage where she likes to play with sparkly things.”
“It’s okay.” You don’t mind if she breaks it. Anything to make her comfortable on your lap. The scent of a baby tickled your nose when you put her into your arms. Your maternal instinct suddenly kicked in. 
“You’ve changed too Y/N.”
“Back then, we only talked about your assignment, but I could see that you carry an enormous burden. Right now, I can see that you have become more confident and brave.”
He pointed to your finger that was wrapped with a diamond ring. “Was it because of your partner who is the biggest support?”
After you heard his question, you remembered everything Lloyd had done to help you, guard you, and get your position right now. He didn’t ask questions when you asked him to do complex tasks. He just says yes and provides a great result.
Like today, you can enjoy your walk without worrying anyone could hurt you. 
Even though you have to pay billions, with his help, you gain your freedom. 
If that means excellent support, the answer is “Yes, yes, he is.”
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You forgot about the time until Kendall made a fuss since it was her time to nap.
That means it's time to go back. You still carry Kendal in your arms until both of you arrive at Professor Watson's car. 
On her baby seat, Kendal is still holding your hairpin, her father tries to open her palm, but she's persistent. 
"It's alright Professor she can have it." You brushed her fluffy cheeks. 
"Haha, you'll be a great mother, Y/N. Say, thank you to Aunty Y/N, sunshine."
Your body cringes when you hear the nickname. Damn Lloyd, for keep calling you that name.
He said while tightening his seat belt. "Let's meet again on your next visit."
After the car left, you went back to the hotel through the park. While walking, you sighed heavily. Your plan to travel so you could forget Lloyd failed. Because it seems like life doesn’t want you to move on from him. 
“Did you enjoy your coffee sunshine?”
Your footsteps halted when you heard his voice. 
He is sitting on the bench wearing a polo shirt, beige pants, brown loafers, and his favourite aviators. 
"Lloyd?!!"
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Lloyd followed you back to the hotel. When he entered your room, he jumped to the couch and rested his feet on the table. 
He didn't talk on the way here; it's out of his character. If you look closely, he seemed to be sulking. After staying together for a year, you knew he would act like a child. 
"Lloyd, are you alright?"
He scoffed and shook his head. "How can I be alright when I found my wife is getting close to her best friend?"
You were taken aback; did he just accuse you of Thomas? 
"There's nothing between me and Thomas." You don't have romantic feelings towards Thomas even though he's a good guy. 
There's a memory about Thomas that you buried. 
Lloyd clicked his tongue. You are still clueless and dense with the opposite gender. From the photo, he could read Thomas' expressions towards you. 
Lloyd took away his aviator and threw them on the table. He smiled softly, strode forward and stood in front of you. 
You remained frozen, wondering what he was going to do. The next moment Lloyd stroked your cheek with his index finger and pulled you into his arms. 
"Let's go to bed." He rested his head on your shoulder.
'Huh?' 
Lloyd pats your back gently. "I'm tired. I haven't slept for 7 hours because I'm worried about you."
Without breaking the silence, you agreed with his request. 
Inside the bedroom, you were nervous when you lay beside him. While you are anxious, the man beside you has closed his eyes.
You tried to twist out of his arms, but it was no use. 
Lloyd brought your head to his chest. He held you tight as if to keep you from escaping. 
"I missed my wife so much I thought I would die.”
You gently patted his back as if you knew what he was thinking. He buried his nose into your hair and took a deep breath. 
"While I'm gone can you sleep?"
You sighed heavily. "No. Living alone made me more depressed."
He chuckled, "Stop pushing me away then."
You pinched his arms even though you knew it didn't affect him. Instead, he giggled more. But he was right; the answer for your insomnia is him.
But something has been bugging you for these couple of months. You break the silence by asking the big question. 
“Do you think there’s something else after this?”
There was silence, but you felt Lloyd loosen his grip. "Like what?"
You gulped. "You know, like building a family?"
"..."
"Forgot what I said." You pulled your blanket and turned your body to the other side. But Lloyd's strong arm turns your position back to face him. 
Lloyd didn't expect that question out of your mouth. 
'Family.' Of course, that idea had crossed his mind. But the desire is getting stronger because of what he saw today. 
He had arrived when you went to the coffee shop. From the car, he saw you talking with an older man; he didn't open the car door when he saw you holding a baby in your arms.
The image of you inside the house holding the baby. Their tiny hands touch your cheeks. And then you greet him with 'Good morning.'
He decided not to join your conversation and stay in the car. Looking at you holding the baby gave him a feeling of joy. 
"Do you remember my confession?"
"Yeah."
You met his scorching gaze, and he smiled.
"The confession means I want to spend the rest of my life with you, sleep with you, have sex with you."
You remained frozen but still looking at Lloyd's gleamed eyes.
"It also means I want to get you pregnant, build a family with you."
Your heart began to race wildly inside your chest. Hearing his confession once again sounds completely different now. 
Because you want to have the same goal as him. 
It was dark inside the room, but Lloyd could feel your heartbeat.
"Tell me what I want to hear Y/N."
"I love you too Lloyd. I'll give you my everything."
Lloyd pulled you into his arms again, almost squeezing you. He finally found the answer. 
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The next morning. 
The sounds of the alarm make both of you wake up together. 
You grab your phone and see the notification that tells you the schedule for today. When you wanted to leave the bed, your waist suddenly got held. 
"Don't go." Lloyd grumbled on your back while his eyes were still closed. 
"I'm meeting the PM today. I can't miss it." Your finger tickled behind his ears. That's the sensitive part of his body. The technique makes you free from his hold. You immediately ran to the bathroom. 
Lloyd growled while his hand ran through his face. He hates it when the quality time with you gets disrupted. 
'RING.' He silently cursed; another interruption kept coming. He picked up his phone, turned out it was from Carmichael.
"Lloyd."
"Yeah?"
"I know you have plans to get rid of Thomas. But I suggest you don't."
"Give me one reason."
"Hermes."
Lloyd's breath hitched when he heard that name. Before he met you, he'd been searching for this weapon dealer called Hermes. 
"The agency has been looking for this person for a long time. When you were looking for Thomas' flight schedule it's the same with Hermes everytime he made a deal and the description also matched."
So the agency finally got the answer. Thomas Kimberley is Hermes. He is hiding in plain sight using his famous status. No one would think a charities photographer was also a dangerous weapon dealer.
"You were right. He's not a good guy. But,-"
"What?"
"He seems pretty close with your wife."
Lloyd clenched his fist. “Don’t say anything that makes me want to kill you.”
Carmichael was silent for a while until he said “Be friends with him and make Hermes the agency's asset.”
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A/N: Wow, Carmichael is heartless towards his friend, does he? What will Lloyd go to do? Is he going to help his friend or not?
Wait for the next chapter. 
If you want to be tagged in the series, you can tell me from the comment. 💓💓💓
And if you have any questions or want to send any prompts and drabble, you could send them to my inbox. I'll be happy to answer.
This chapter is from Lloyd Hansen's Series - 3 Billion Divorce.
Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5,-
And check out my other stories from Masterlist.
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blackhakumen · 6 months
Text
Mini Fanfic #1142: Transformational Support (SSBU X Sonic X Hat in Time)
5:34 p.m. at the Smash Mansion's Living Room.........
Shadow: (Sitting Next to the Snatcher on the Sofa While Wearing the Phantom of Opera Costume) Not interested.
Snatcher: Oh come on, man. You'll be a perfect candidate for the job! (Leans in and Whispers into Shadow's Ears) Hell, if you do a good enough job and not die, I'll might be generous enough to make you twice as powerful than you are already~
Shadow: (Slowly Pushes the Snatcher's Face Away From his Ear) Again, I'll pass. I'm not in desperate need of any power, nor I want to be associated with a shameless con artist like you.
Snatcher: (Glares at Shadow) Hey, that's shamelessly negotiator to you, pal! (Crosses his Arms While Turning Away) 'Been in this business for eons now and I never ONCE done a scam of any kind.
Shadow: (Rolls his Eyes) Tell that to your so called "employees", if you even still have any left....
Snatcher: ('Tch') Please. I have plenty left. I mean, I had to let a few chumps go here and there.
Meanwhile
Countless upon countless souls are screaming on the top of their lungs in agony, as they continously fall down into a nightmarish filled abyss.
Soul: CURSE YOU SNATCHERRRRRRRRRR!
Back to the Mansion
Snatcher: But I ain't THAT empty-handed. (Forms a Sly, Conniving Smirk on his Face) Although, we COULD use a few more hands if you- ('Sigh') Oh I dunno~ (Summons a Piece of Paper In Thin Air) Sign this normal looking contract right her-
'Ahem'
The Snatcher looks up to see Peach, dress in her Sword Fighter costume glaring down at the shadowy figure.
Peach: Snatcher.
Snatcher: (Casually Waves to Peach) Hey there, your highness. (Makes the Contract Disappear with the Snap of his Finger) How's it going?
Peach: Oh, I'm doing fine. Just getting ready for Halloween. And making sure you're not trying anything suspicious in here with my son.
Snatcher: Oh will you relax? Shadie and I were only having a normal conversation here.
Shadow: Don't ever call me that.
Peach: That's right. (Points at Herself) Only WE'RE allowed to call him that!
Shadow: NO ONE is allow call me that. Ever.
Peach: (Place her Hand on her Chest as her Eyes Starts Sparkling a Little) Even me?~
Shadow: Yes, mother, even you. Nicknames like that doesn't fit my style and image all that well.
Snatcher: But using a gun is? When you're supposed to be this all mighty Ultimate Lifeform that you pobably made up to make yourself look cool-
Shadow: (Pushes the Snatcher's Face Away From Him Once More) Anywho.....
Snatcher: QUIT DOING THAT!!
Shadow: (Turns Back to Peach) Has sister and father got themselves ready yet?
Peach: (Turns Away While Grabbing her Chin) I'm not sure. It's been a few minutes since I've last checked up on- (Eyes and Mouth Begins to Widened at What is in Front of Her) t-t-t-t-t-them?~
Shadow and Snatcher and turns to see Mario slowly walking into the room wearing a bright red dress and long, brown hair while carrying a parasol in his hands, much to their surprise.
Mario: Greetings, one and all~ A wonderful evening we're having, is it not?~
Snatcher: ......Huh.
Peach: (Almost at a Loss For Words) Mario.....I-Is that really you?
Mario: (Flips his Hair to Side in an Elegant Fashion) Indeed it is, my dear hero!~ I figured it would be fitting for Hat Kid and I to play the role as princesses for the night.
Hat Kid: (Happily Reveals Herself From Behind Mario While Wearing a Purple Dress of her Own) Ta-Da!~
Peach: (Eyes Starts Sparkling Again as She Places her Hands Onto Both her Cheeks and Proceeds to Gush at the Elegent Duo) Oh my gosh, you two are the most loveliest princesses ever!~
Shadow: I couldn't say it any better myself really.
Snatcher: Can't believe I'm saying this, but you two don't look half bad.
Mario: (Smiles Brightly) Why, thank you~ (Pushes Up the Side of his Hair While Hat Kid Gimmicks his Movements) It's not everyday you get to be as divine and delicate as the two of us right now~
Hat Kid: (Nodded in Agreement) Uh-huh~
Snatcher: (Puts on a Deadpinned Look on his Face) I wouldn't go that far......
Sonic: (Quickly Rushes Himself Inside While Wearing a Thriller's Costume) Hey, guys, I- (Eyes Begins to Widened at What In Front of his Point of View) Woah. Dad, is that really you?
Mario: Indeed it is~ I am but a humble, fairest princess in this very mansion. (Puts on an Elegant Like Pose) Impressive, no?~
Sonic: (Chuckles Lightly) Yeah, you great. (Turns to Hat Kid) You too, sis. Love the tiara.
Hat Kid: (Smiles Brightly) Thank you!~
Sonic: (Starts Shaking his Head Before Going Back on Topic) A-Anyways, we have a bit of problem right now.
Mario: (Eyes Widened a Bit) You do? What is it?
Peach: And where's Amy? Is she okay?
Sonic: Yeah, she's fine. She here with me, in fact. But uhh....Something happened along the way and....You might wanna see this.
Sonic walks over to the door as everyone else follows behind.
'Door Opens'
Peach: Amy, is everything okay out- ('Gasps') Oh my gosh!
Amy: (Nervously Does a Little Jazz Hands in her '80s Rockstar Outfit....as a Werehog) Surprise.........
Mario: (Eyes Widened at What is in Front of Him and the Others) Amy, you became a werehog now?
Snatcher: (Raised an Eyebrow in Confusion) A were what now?
Shadow: A werehog. They're hedgehog's version of werewolves but more bulker in comparison. (Turns Back to Amy) How were you able to gain access to that transformation in first place?
Mario: Yeah, I thought only Sonic could do that.
Amy: (Sighs Heavily While Flailing her Arms Down) I don't knoooow!.....One minute I was getting myself ready for treak-or-treating tonight and the next I was turned to THIS.....big, dumb, HIDEOUS thing!!
Sonic: (Softly Glares at his Girlfriend as He Gently Grabs Hold to One of her Hands) Hey! Amy, we've been over this. Nothing about you is stupid or hideous.
Peach: (Firmly Nodded in Agreement) He's right. You're just as wonderful as you've always been regardless of what you look like. (Gently Place her Hand Onto Amy's Shoulfer) Now, just take a deep and calm yourself down a bit. We'll figure something out.
Amy: (Does as She Was Told and Takes a Very Deep Breath) Right. I'm sorry, it just.....This has been stressing me out since we left the house to get here and I couldn't think straight since.
Shadow: (Casually Shrugs) I wouldn't worry too much about it really. It does tend to happen to the best of us on some occasions.
Amy: True. (Lower her Ears Down a Bit) I just don't wanna end up ruining the night for everyone here.........
Mario: You're not going to ruin anything tonight, not even us.
Sonic: Yeah, and anyone who has a problem with you will have me to answer. I'll always have your back 100%, Ames.
Amy: (Heart Begins to Melt as She Pulls her Boyfriend into a Very Loving Hug) Oh Sonic, I love you so freaking much!~
Sonic: (Winces a Bit in Pain Before Smiling a Bit) Yeah. Love you too, Ames.
Peach lowers herself down and starts whispering into Mario's ear for a couple of seconds before the two nodded in agreement as the supposed princess in red begins to rush back inside with the bottom front of his dress lifted up a little.
Amy: Mr. Mario?
Peach: (Gives Amy a Reassuring Smile on her Face) Will be back in a sec, dear. In meantime, just try and keep staying calm for us, ok?
Amy: ('Sigh') Yes, ma'am.
Snatcher: Ah cheer up there, kid. Look on the bright side. With that new werehog form of yours, you could be able to scare people into giving you free candy. You like candy, right?
Amy: I mean, there's a select few I like, yeah. But I don't wanna get in the habit of scaring them too much, you know?
Snatcher: Hey, I get it. Self-control is important and whatnot. Though, if you ever feel the need putting it to good use, you could just.....('Clicks') Oh I dunno~ (Summons a Piece a Paper Once Again with a Sinister Grin on his Face) Sign this perfectly made contract riiight he-
Peach: (Quickly Gets in Front of Amy Along with Everyone Else) DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, SNATCHER!
Soic: Keep your contacts away from my girlfriend, pal.
Shadow: We're not doing this tonight.
Hat Kid: Bad Snatcher.
Snatcher: ('Groans in Annoyance') FINE! Fine! I'll quit it with the business deals! (Makes the Contract Disappear with One Snap of his Finger....Again) I swear I can't have shit in this place......
Mario: (Rushes Bacl Outside While Holding an Elephant Looking Fruit) I'm back with the- WooOOoah! (Accidentally Steps on the Front of his Dress and Trips Down on the Floor)
'THUD'
Mario: Mamma.......
Peach: Mario! (Rushes Over to her Boyfriend's Side) Are you okay, honey?
Mario: ('Sigh') Yeah.....I'll be fine. I forgot how hard it is to run in dresses like these.
Peach: (Giggles Softly) Now you know how I feel ever time I wear one~
Mario: (Chuckles Lightly) Yeah, no kidding. (Smirks a Bit Seductively) Though, I must say, you do look very dashing in that costume of yours, my hero~
Peach: (Smirks Back) And you look very pretty yourself, your majesty~ So much so that I can just eat you up!~ (Starts Kissing All Over Mario's Face)
Mario: (Starts Laughing Ticklishly by Peach's Kisses) Peheheheach!~Stooooop!~
Snatcher: (Watches the Doting Couple in Disgust) ('Uggh') (Turns to Shadow) Are they always like this?
Shadow: (Already Covering Hat Kid's Eyes) For the most part. ('Clears Throat')
Mario and Peach immediately stops everything that what they were doing before blushing and giggling softly
Peach: We gotten a bit overboard there haven't we?~
Mario: Pretty much. (Gives Peach a Peck on this Cheek) Wanna continue this later on tonight?~
Peach: (Giggles Some More as She Helps Mario Back Up on his Feet) Sounds like a plan!~ (Picks the Eleberry Up From the Ground and Walks Towards the Middle of the Door Entrance) Everyone! Stand back a little. I might need some room.
As everyone follow through with her request, the heroine in blue takes a very deep breath before taking one bite off of the fruit she's holding as she begins to transform into a pink colored elephant.
Amy: (Eyes Widened in Awe at What She and the Others are Looking At) Wooah......
Hat Kid: Pretty.......
Shadow: So this is the new power up everyone here mentioned.......
Sonic: Hm. Neat.
Snatcher: (Points at the Fruit in Question) So that elephant looking thing can turn you into one with one bite?
Peach: (Happily Nodded) Yep! That's an Eleberry for ya. A bit of a misuse for the power up for certain, but I figured if I could be in this form for the rest of the evening, everyone in town, wouldn't have to set their eyes to only Amy.
Amy: Wait, time-out. You're telling me you're doing all of this.....(Eyes Begins to Sparkle) For me?
Peach: (Gives Amy a Soft, Motherly Smile) Of course, dear. Halloween is supposed to be a fun, thrilling night for all of us to enjoy and the last thing I want is for you to feel uncomfortable and more stressed out than you already are right now. So if I have to share the burden of being looked and point at all night, then so be it. We're in this together no matter what.
Amy: (Heart Begins to Melt as Tearfully Guves Peach a Tight Hug) Momma Peach, thank you sooo much!~ ('Sniff') You didn't have to do all of that for me....
Peach: (Happily Hugs Amy Back) It's no problem at all, dear. You're just as part of this family as Sonic is. I'd do anything for those I care abou-
'Whistle'
The gang turns to see Bowser holding a flower bonquet while smirking seductively at the elephant princess.
Bowser: Princess!~ I almost didn't recognized you with cute face of yours there~
Peach: (Pinches the Bridge of her Nose in Pure Annoyance and Disgust While Letting Out a Heavy Sigh) I can't believe we're doing this right now.....What do you want, Bowser?
Bowser: Ohhh nothing of the sort~ I was just walking by and couldn't help but notice how irresistible you looking right now~
Snatcher: Okay, I get the feeling that you're a lovestruck idiot and everything, but you realize she's an elephant now, right?
Amy: (Glares at Bowser with her Hands on her Hips) And is happily taken by Mr. Mario currently?
Bowser: Who? (Points at an Anrgy Mario Behind Him) You mean that mess of a drag show over there? Yeah, she picked a reeeal winner alright.
Mario silently flips the bird at Bowser.
Bowser: And do you seriously think I care all that much about how a princess looks?
Everyone: YES!
Bowser: Yeah, well, too bad! (Wraps his Arm Around Peach's Shoulder) You're wrong! Here's a bit of trivia you should learn about me, folks: In some cases, I like my women big, round, and chunky in alllll the right are-
Before he even thinks about finishing that sentence, Bowser suddenly gets knocked straight inside the mansion with one punch and a het spray of water.
Peach: (Walks Up to a Beaten Bowser) Don't forget your flowers. (Throws the Bonquet at Bowser) Creep. (Takes Another Deep Breath Before Calming Down and Walking Back to the Gang) Alright, everyone! Let's finally get this Halloween Night started!~
Everyone (with the exception of Shadow) cheers in rejoice as the door begins to close behind them, leaving Bowser in his pitiful lonesome.
Bowser: ('Groans in Pain')
Ganondorf: (Walks Over to a Beaten Bowser) Let me guess: you tried to be smooth and win Peach over, only for it to backfire in end.
Bowser: (Sadly and Painfully Nodded) Mmhmmm........
Ganondorf: And now you're gonna cry about it all night. Am I right?
Bowser: ('Sniff') Mmhmmm....I...
Ganondorf: ('Sigh') Okay. (Turns to the Other Side of the Room) Hades! You and the fellas meet me at the living room! (Drags Bowser to the Living Room by the Tail) Gonna watch a movie or two before the party starts tonight.
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Text
Boo's Dollhouse
Chapter 3: Boo
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Boo was a young 32, tired of working a 9-5 and dealing with low budget sugar daddies who could only pay a bill or two. She wandered through the old New Orleans occult shop searching for a woman called Muerte. According to a trusted source, Muerte was a old and powerful cajan witch who could grant any wish, cure any sickness, and even stop the signs of aging.
Boo flew over quickly as soon as she had the time. She had a special request, but the shop seemed to be unattended except for a healthy Himalayan cat that slinked through aisles of random old cluttered junk. Who'd want to buy this shit she did not know. It looked like 20 years of a shitty yard sale. The fat cat watched her from a distance and went into the backroom giving her the absolute creeps. She was only mildly superstitious but cats in a creepy shop, no ma'am... Still, Boo followed and found in that backroom a bathroom and tiny storage along with another exit leading to outside. The funky cat walked out into sticky summer afternoon heat so Boo did too, finding a pretty young girl no older than 22 lounging outside in a chair drinking what looked to be fresh squeezed lemonade. She rolled her eyes like Boo was bothering her on her short break.
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"What do you want?"
"Muerte?"
"Depends. Who sent you?"
This was the OLD powerful cajun witch? She looked fresh off of breast milk.
"Nola," the name rolled like butter off Boo's tongue.
Muerte stared at her and gestured for her to sit in the empty seat. "What are we talking about?"
Boo took a breath and produced a picture of the 71 year old Larry Buschall. "I need to marry him."
Muerte spit her lemonade in disgust.
"Girl not like that, he's rich," Boo explained. "But he's married to a white bitch. I need that trick dead and buried so I can move in."
"Ooh.."
"And when he's dead it'll all be mine. But I need his children out the picture for that to happen and the only way that can happen is if he signs a revised will that cuts them out."
"Okaay," Muerte followed.
"His ass is stubborn. I'd end up killing him before he could. I need full control over Larry so I can make him do what I need him to do."
"Now this is up my alley," Muerte smiled wickedly. She reached for the photo and instantly dropped it, a stunned look flashing briefly before understanding set in. "This man's soul already is owned by a powerful demon."
"What dat mean," Boo's brows shot up.
"Ol' Larry millions ain't come from building."
Boo kissed her teeth, resigned. "I knew it was something. Nigga can't even spell let alone make a million!"
"Wait," Muerte picked up the photo. "I didn't say you couldn't get the money.. Let me keep this. Come back tomorrow, I'll have an answer."
Boo did what Muerte said and returned to the shop the next day, propping her elbows on an encased row of old supposedly cursed objects. There were a few wandering customers if you could call them that. Muerte leaned in.
"How bad do you want this money."
"Can I get it without dying or selling my own soul?"
"There are worse things," Muerte stared. "Larry Buschall has a deal. He lives rich and free to 88. The demon that owns his contract, when he comes to collect, will make Larry his slave for eternity."
"And Larry knows this?"
"He suggested it."
Boo's eyes widened, but Muerte continued.
"There's a catch to his contract.. He must live on to 88, but it doesn't have to be in this plane... Take this," she slipped a tied cheesecloth bundle and a folded sheet of paper in Boo's hand. She whispered. "You have to make the move to meet him. Kill his wife. Make him consume your blood. Say these words and when he's yours to control, boil this satchel in water. Have him drink it just before bed. Read those words as he sleeps as long as it takes for him to leave his body. He'll still be alive.. until his 88th birthday."
Boo stood wondering how she'd get close to him. She had to play this smart.
"One last thing," Muerte smiled. "Tell Little Nola.. come back and see me sometime. Her great aunt.. hasn't seen her in over a year."
Boo looked her in the eye deciding it was best not to even ask. She wasn't stupid, she passed the message but she left the shop and shortly after, Louisiana. She went back to Texas where she could track the multi-millionaire and his bitch.. through media and socialite circles.
Research told Boo that the 58 year old plastic bodied blonde Karen Buschall enjoyed shopping with the top brands, eating at Masraff's, getting her hair done every other week, and visiting the gym a lot to keep her slim figure. Boo prowled these places, always ready and fantasizing methods and escapes. She'd kill Karen and get away with it. The thoughts were constant. It would be a smooth murder.
The moment Karen walked into Boo’s sight sitting on the exercise bike ahead with her hydroflask and air pods, Boo played it cool casually continuing her run on the treadmill. She watched subtly, pressed hair wrapped away as the woman did her time on the bike and moved to another machine. Boo moved through her circuit as well only looking up again when she noticed the woman wasn't on any machine, she was gone. A quick wipedown of her own machine and a search of the premises revealed Karen's location.. she was playing racquetball alone.
Boo circled the block and went back to the racquetball room, knocking to be let in. Karen immediately looked inconvenienced.
"What do you want it's occupied! Move along!"
Boo pushed her way in.
"It's a public room. You can play me or leave."
"You get out now before I have you removed," Karen threatened stepping closer but Boo picked up a racket holding it firm in her hand ready to knock a bitch head clean off. "Now you jungle freak," Karen pointed angrily at the door.
"Make me." Boo grabbed a ball and hit it against the wall, starting a game with herself. The ball whizzed by Karen's head.
Karen boiled over nearly screaming on her way to find someone who would kick out this negro girl. It made Boo laugh. She didn't wanna play, she had a darker motive. She waited to leave, dropped the racket, and went a different way to catch Karen alone and slipping.
Karen led an employee to the racquetball room but it was empty. The employee left her there and she stood with her hands angrily on her hips. That's when Boo made her presence known and purposely walked by so the woman would follow.
Boo was followed into the changing rooms where Karen thought she had her cornered. She walked right up on Boo as she was heading to a shower and got a knife swiped across her throat from one end to the other.
She fell onto the shower floor and couldn't talk or scream for help because she was gurgling on her own blood. Boo hadn't left a strand of evidence. She was like a ghost that had snuck into the gym and left as smoothly. She turned on the water and shut the curtain, escaping. No one would discover the body for some time.
She let the situation breathe for a few months. The murder was unsolved. The law couldn't do much and Larry was still Larry. The only ones who cared about his wife's death were her family members and there was nothing they could do.
Boo knuckled up and did some heavy scheming to schedule a business meeting with Larry himself. She had a vial of her own blood and needed him in a room alone. She couldn't swing that, but what she could do was infiltrate his business as a custodian. It was her way in and she used it to catch him in the men's restroom alone and not washing his hands. He saw her standing there with a head wrap, a rag, and a mask so not to breathe in chemical.
"You must be new, you a look a lil lighter than the help around here," he snarked. "Come open this door and act like ya good fa something."
Boo walked behind him and jumped on his back smothering him with the cloth. And squeezing her legs so not to be knocked off with all his flailing. It took a minute but he was down. She locked the door, held his mouth open, dripped her blood down his throat, read the spell, and left to enjoy the rest of the bright spring day in celebration of her accomplishment. She treated herself to a new pair of shoes. Who'd believe him or take him seriously if he did tell? She laughed about it to herself over a glass of red wine.
This time she drove straight up to his property's gate in her blue Hyundai dressed smart like a Meghan Markle with a lavender pressed button-up, pencil skirt, and scarf wrapped around her head and shoulders. With her sunglasses on she rolled her window down and smiled into the camera waiting for security to ask about her presence there.
"He's expecting me, he just doesn't know it yet. Be a doll and let him see who's waiting."
Within minutes the gate opened Boo rolled into the estate, parking and walking the stone path in her heels.
On site, the old geezer looked her up and down salaciously.
"SCRAM ya numbskulls," he waved to his security. "ARE Y'ALL DEAF? GET THE HELL ON!" He chuckled to himself as he circled Boo on his cane. "I needed me a nice young thing to look at 'round here. Hm. Can tend to this here tiguh." He lifted the waistband of his pants. "Aw yeah, this'll do just fine."
Boo stood like a Barbie and smiled.
"Well ain’t you somethin!" She rubbed his bald scalp. "So smoooth. You should let me show you a way to get an even closer cut."
"Aw nah baby, this hea' done fell out it's not coming back."
"Oh," Boo's hand shrinked back, "But you still have some," she touched the perimeter. She smiled inside watching his insecurity surface. She kept a poker face. "Oh," she giggled breathily, "You should let me give you a green tea mask it helps the circulation and also these dark marks."
"DARK?! Gimme the damn mask."
And that was how Boo worked her way into the mansion. Small command after small command she walked him inconspicuously like a dog on a short leash. He did everything she asked, unable to say no though he still had a disgusting mouth.
He gave her everything she wanted complaining the entire way and in return she played wife, secretary, and nurse.
She married him despite suspicions, fucking him only for appearance sake and she waited three years to make another move, using the time to integrate naturally.. getting to know security, the maid, the kitchen. She familiarized herself with the premises, the surrounding grounds, the finances, the assets, and the people in Larry's social circle. What she found made her smile. He didn't have one. No one liked or even respected Larry.. Not a soul. Not even his late wife or his three black children. Boo never met them. He didn't even keep pictures. According to Larry, he hated their black asses too. Still, they were set to inherit his riches if Boo did absolutely nothing so she did what anyone would do. She made her move.
"Sign this," she commanded as he was working. He glanced at the familiar document but it had obvious changes.
"What the hell is this?"
"Your will, dear."
"Bitch I can read, why the fuck is your name on it?"
"I'm your wife, silly!"
"Like hell-"
"Sign the paper," Boo grabbed his face squeezing it in her hand, her nails nearly in his cheeks. No one was around. He had no choice. She had all power over him. All the money would go to Tamara Leigh-Buschall. All of it. All the assets. Even his business which would be sold or dissolved. "Don't say a word about this to anyone," her eyes flashed devilishly.
She fixed a smile on her face and skipped off to submit the paperwork immediately in his name.
Two weeks later, she came to him in the kitchen. "Drink this," she commanded watching him take the brewed potion unaware of his compulsion to do so.
"Bitch what the fuck is this!? This tastes like shit," he smacked spitting half of it on the ground. "HELP THIS JIGGABOO TRYNA POISON ME."
"Shut yo old ass up." She gripped his throat. "Drink it, it's good for your body."
He couldn’t say a word.
She helped him up the stairs and into his own bed where she rubbed his forehead peacefully and let him talk shit about everyone including her until he fell asleep. She read the spell again and again like a mantra in a whisper until she had it memorized and no longer needed the paper. She whispered it in his ear and rubbed his forehead. She did this until sunrise, yawning and fighting sleep. She checked his pulse. The potion had stopped it and was mimicking death.
She called security immediately to check him, acting shocked when they declared him dead. There were no questions, no investigations.. No time was wasted putting him in the ground. His spirit was no longer in his body and by the time his pulse returned it would be too late. He was 6 feet under.
No one was interested in a funeral and no one was sad or upset. They were relieved.
Boo's first order of duty was to double salaries as a way to secure eternal loyalty. With everyone on one page, everything became simple. They were a team.
Boo sat happily in her new studio going over legal documents.
"Oh you frog-legged wide nose ragamuffin bitch," Larry's voice rang out frightening her. He was supposed to be gone. She looked around not finding a source for the sound. "I oughtta smother you in yo sleep."
"Try it you'll be a twice dead mothafucka."
She took another look around finding nothing. There was only one explanation. His spirit had left his body and remained in the mansion. She had to live with it until he turned 88 or move out and she wasn't going anywhere.
"You ain't gone run me out of here," she settled back into her chair crossing her legs. "I worked for this shit. Harder than you ever did."
"You gone get'chos... Best believe. You. Gone. Get Yos."
"Boy bye, I got money to make."
She revamped and redecorated it all for a new start and started her own business.. something she knew a lot about and could get up easily. All she needed was a team of bad bitches about their money who could be trusted to keep private matters private and she knew just where to look.
Thus, Boo's Dollhouse was born.
@dashhoney25 @lettidarawest @soufcakmistress @ljstraightnochaser @princessstevens @eye-raq @thiccdaddy-mbaku @destinio1 @iamrheaspeaks @hidden-treasures21 @bidibidibombaclaat @forbeautyandlife @blowmymbackout @misspooh @thotyana-in-this-hoe @localtrapgod @purplehairgawdess @thegucciwaffle @miyuhpapayuh @harleycativy @goddessofthundathighs @theegoldenchild @nobodybaby93
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Reckless [With My Heart] (Chapter Three)
Summary: This is Part Twelve of my series A Herrmann/Halstead Production. It is an AU where Christopher Herrmann's mom had an affair with Pat Halstead resulting in a baby. The series follows this OC character (Rebecca "Bex" Herrmann) as she grows up and gets to know her brothers and the various Chicago teams. It is very much an AU, just to underscore that. It doesn't follow the same timeline and characters will follow different paths.
Click here for the Series Rundown where you can find the links to read all of the previous installments (which I highly recommend you do so that this one makes sense.)
Rating: Teen Audiences and Up
Relationships: Christopher Herrmann & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Original Female Character, Will Halstead & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Will Halstead, Greg 'Mouse' Gerwitz & Original Female Character, Jay Halstead & Greg 'Mouse' Gerwitz
Warnings: Undercover job gone wrong, canon-typical violence, major character injury, hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending.
A/N: I'll post the link to the ao3 page at the bottom. This story has not only an OC character, but some quirky elements which may or may not be everyone's jam. Just FYI. Updates will be slow coming as I pick away at them during breaks from work. I couldn't take a full break from this though - I'm too excited to write it so I made working on this series my reward for when I get stuff done, lol
Click here for Chapter One
Click here for Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Bex
Voight sat back and raised his eyebrows at her. “Okay,” he finally said. “Convince me.”
“Sarge,” Antonio tried to cut in, but Voight shook his head at him.
“I want to hear what she has to say.”
Bex knew she had to talk fast and get her points in if she had any chance of swaying him. Jay was going to kick up a holy fuss about this and she needed the big boss on her side.
“Vinnie and Cal are expecting me tonight,” she said. “I’ve signed a contract and everything.”
“Extraordinary circumstances can come up and break a contract,” Adam pointed out. “I highly doubt one for a place like Leon’s would be that binding.”
Bex shot him a look for not helping. “I’ve also told Vinnie and Cal that my brother is a cop,” she said.
“Yeah, we heard Cal telling Jay that,” Antonio said. “Why did you do that?”
“I tell pretty much every guy I meet,” Bex shrugged. “Helps weed out like sixty percent of the creeps.” No one could argue with that so she continued. “They know that my brother is a cop and they’re expecting me. Tonight. So, if I cancel last minute, out of the blue, you don’t think they’re going to think that’s just a little bit suspicious?”
Voight and Al exchanged a look and she knew she’d made some ground with that one.
“Wouldn’t that make them look twice at everyone, including the new guy? Me not showing up would put Jay in danger,” she said. “I’ve already shown that I’ve got a good poker face. I won’t give anything away. I’ll go in, do the gig, and get out. That way, they won’t have a reason to think anything is off and you guys can keep going with your operation.”
“You might have a poker face, but what about the rest of your band?” Antonio pointed out. “They all know Jay. Think they’d be able to hide it?” He held up his hands when she scowled at him. “We have to ask these questions, Bex. You’re talking about walking into an extremely volatile situation that could put you, your friends, and Jay in danger. We can’t take that lightly.”
She sighed. He had a point. “I don’t think they could do it,” she admitted. “Not all of them. But I know another band that I could call. I’ve subbed in for them before and they’d return the favour no problem. They’ve never met Jay…and they would actually fit in really well at Leon’s.”
“How do you know a seedy bar band?” Kevin asked as the others looked at her incredulously enough that it was almost insulting. “Answer that later. More important question is, why doesn’t this band just play instead?”
“No, I need to be there,” Bex said immediately. That point couldn’t get lost. “It’s part of the deal.”
“This is about your friend and her boyfriend,” Al said and Bex sighed. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to get into the details, but she should have known better.
“It wasn’t so much that he asked Emery to ask us to play,” she admitted. “More like he made her ask because he owes his cousin for something. I don’t know what—” she said, heading off the questions she could already see forming. “Knowing Ty, it’s for something stupid or worse. All I know is, I have to be there to make sure the deal is followed through and Cal lets him off the hook.”
“Or else what?” Voight asked and Bex really didn’t want to put all the worries that had been swirling through her head into words.
“If the favour doesn’t get cleared, you think it’ll come back on Emery?” Kim asked, cutting right to the heart of it. “Bex, do you think Ty would hurt her?”
She blinked back against the tears that were suddenly swarming and shook her head. “I—I honestly don’t know,” she said. “But I’m worried he might. Emery was really stressed when she asked me to do this. She looked scared. She didn’t say anything specific though.”
“You think you can convince your band not to go and the other band to sub in?” Voight asked her. Bex nodded. “And what about your friend and her boyfriend? Any chance they’ll show up?”
“I can probably find a way to distract Emery,” Bex said, thinking about looping Sam in on this. “I don’t know about Ty though. And he might recognize Jay.”
“We can find a way to take him out of play,” Antonio said and that meant he was actually thinking about making this work. If the team was on board—she had a hope of pulling this off.
“This is a lot of pressure on you, Bex,” Voight pulled up a chair beside her and leaned in. “You gotta be sure. And you have to promise us that you’ll go in and get out, like you said. No dealing with Vinnie. As little dealings with Cal as possible.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I promise.” She had no intention of dealing with Vinnie anyway if she could help it.
“I mean it,” Voight said, eyes intense. “It won’t be just five minutes of playing it cool this time. You’ll have to keep it up for a whole night.”
“I can do it,” Bex said, putting her determination into every word. If this meant helping keep Jay and Emery safe, of course she could. “They won’t suspect a thing.”
“We should put a camera on her,” Al said. “And a mic. Just in case.”
“Won’t that be noticeable?” Bex frowned. “Wouldn’t it mess with the audio equipment?”
“It wouldn’t need to be on while you’re playing,” Mouse piped up. “And I’ll make sure it’s hidden in your clothes.” He levelled a serious look at her, as still as she’d ever seen him. “If you’re going to do this, Bex, you should have as much protection as we can give you. Better to have eyes and ears on you when you’re in there.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “I need to go home and get ready. Then I’ll swing back here?”
“Keep in touch,” Voight said. “Let us know if anything doesn’t go to plan with the other band or your friend.”
“Come on,” Adam said, grabbing his keys. “We’ll run you home.” He and Kevin walked toward the door and Bex followed.
Okay. This was really happening.
Crap.
Jay was going to be so pissed.
***
Mouse
“You really think this is a good idea?” Olinsky asked Voight as they all watched Bex leave with Ruzek and Atwater.
“No,” Mouse answered before anyone else could and all the eyes in the room snapped to him. Voight raised his eyebrows at him and he recognized that look. He was definitely speaking out of turn, but Mouse couldn’t find it in himself to give a shit. He was too angry to care.
“Got a problem, Mouse?” Voight asked.
“Respectfully…sir…I do,” he said. “You’re putting a civilian in the middle of a police operation. She’s got no training and even with us and Jay as back up, if things go sideways—it only takes seconds.”
He stared at Voight, but his mind played out all the ways this could go wrong. “Seconds,” he repeated. “And none of us would get there in time. You want to be responsible for that?”
Antonio and Kim shifted uncomfortably, but Mouse held his ground. There was still time to make everyone think this through. Time to stop it.
“She was right,” Voight said. “We need her in there—”
“That’s—”
“Her choice to make,” Voight cut him off. “She’s thought it through and she’s trusting us to have her back. You going to have her back, Mouse?”
He took a moment to push down the fury that was burning up his throat, fighting the words that would get him kicked off this op right when Bex and Jay needed him the most. “Yes, sir,” he finally said. “Of course,” He turned on his heel to head to his desk and start gathering Bex’s gear.
If she was doing this, he was going to be with her every step of the way.
***
Al
“Think that’s going to be a problem” Hank murmured to him as Mouse stalked away.
“Probably,” Al said. They were smack in the middle of a delicate op filled with shady bastards and they were tossing a civilian into the deep end. Now they had a lovesick tech to add to the mix.  “But what’s another problem at this point?”
“Mm.” Hank quirked his lips in a tiny, rueful smile. “Fair enough.” He turned to Kim and Antonio. “Burgess, work with Al on getting the boyfriend out of the way. Antonio, you good to meet up with Jay?”
“And tell him about all of this?” Antonio scoffed. “Yeah, sure. That’s gonna go over great.”
 “I’ll come with,” Hank said and Al had never been more grateful to be on dirtbag duty.
Hank and Antonio were going to have a hell of a time with this check in.
***
Jay
“No,” Jay yelled, pacing in front of Antonio and Voight. “No fucking way.”
Twenty minutes since meeting at the check-in location, they’d been through the plan twice now and Jay still couldn’t believe how…incredibly stupid it was. How any of the team had agreed to this. They were supposed to have his back.
They were supposed to have Bex’s back.
This was insane. 
“We don’t like it any more than you do—”
“Doubt that,” Jay snapped back at Antonio.
“It’s her choice,” Voight said.
“Like hell it is. Since when is Bex a member of Intelligence?”
“If Vinnie smells something is off, the whole op is blown,” Antonio said.
“So, it’s blown,” Jay yelled. Why was he even having to argue with them about this? He felt like he was losing his mind. “We fall back and come at him another time.”
“This could be our only chance to get a bead on Ramsay,” Voight said. “Bex would have been playing Leon's whether you were there or not—”
“That’s the line you’re going with?” Jay rounded on him.
“You would never have known if you weren’t there for this op,” Voight continued. “At least now you can keep an eye on her.”
That was a friggin’ low blow. And a true one.
Jay had no idea what had been going on with his own sister. He wanted to ditch the bar and go talk to her. Or call Will and get him to talk to her. Or just do something—anything other than let this play out.
“We’ll have people inside,” Antonio said. “Not just you. Eyes and ears on her the whole time.”
Jay scrubbed a hand over his face and took a deep breath.
“How many people inside,” he asked after another beat. Another deep breath.
“Me,” Antonio said. “Olinsky and Ruzek.”
“That’s not enough,” he said, mapping out the bar in his brain and calculating coverage.
“Voight and Mouse will be in the van,” Antonio said. “Atwater and Burgess—”
“We’ll put them inside too,” Voight cut in. “Leon’s is big enough. They can blend in.”
Five plus him. That—that might be enough.
But this was Bex.
“If anything happens to her—”
“We’ll keep her safe,” Antonio tried to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and Jay brushed him off.
“You can’t promise that,” he said, voice breaking. 
“I can,” Voight said. “We shut the whole thing down at the first sign of trouble and get her out of there. Ramsay or no Ramsay. You have my word.”
Jay didn’t know how much stock he could put in that, but he knew one thing for sure—at the first sign of trouble, he would be getting Bex out of there. No matter what.
***
Bex
She’d shot off a ton of rapid-fire texts on the ride over to her place, letting her friends know the scoop without actually letting them know the scoop. A phone call with Sam, the one person she was allowed to give some details to, had him on Emery duty. He could keep her away from the bar and from everyone else so she wouldn’t get suspicious.
Another call to her contact had the other band in place. Patti was happy for the extra gig for the band and even more happy to have Bex standing in for her. She had a wedding to plan and could use both the money and the time.
Adam pulled up to her building as she ended the call and the three of them headed upstairs.
She breathed a sigh of relief as they entered the apartment and there was no sign of Will. Thank goodness he was still at work. Bex was not in the mood to explain how she was accidentally joining an undercover operation.
There was no way that would go over well.
She ran around doing her hair and makeup as Kevin and Adam poked around her place.
“Hey, Bex?” Adam called out.
“Yeah?” 
“I have to ask—why didn’t you tell any of us about your band? Did Jay even know?”
“Uh, kind of?” She stuck her head out the half open bathroom door. “He and Will and Chris know about the band, but I may have downplayed the gig side of things.”
“Just a bit,” Kevin snorted.
“Being in a band is cool as hell though,” Adam exclaimed. “We could have come and cheered you on.”
“We honestly do play mostly weddings and parties right now though,” Bex protested, feeling slightly bad that he was so bummed. “We aren’t even playing our own music yet. Just covers.”
“Ah, but you’re working on your own stuff,” Adam said with a smile. Of course, he would zero in on that.
“No comment,” Bex said, dipping back into the bathroom and closing the door.
“Come on, Bex,” he whined. “We could be your roadies.”
“Who’s we?” Kevin said.
“What, you don’t want to hang out with the cool band?” Adam asked him.
“We haven’t even heard them play yet,” Kevin pointed out. “We don’t know if they’re cool or not.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kev,” Bex laughed as she rushed out of the bathroom and into her bedroom to get changed.
“No offence, Bex,” he shouted after her.
“None taken!”
“I just have so many questions,” Adam kept going, ignoring them. “What instrument do you play? Do you sing? What kind of music? Where have you done shows? Do you want to do music instead of art? Or both?”
“Oh, my god,” Bex yelled at the door as she shimmied into her outfit. “So many questions. You sound like Kim.”
“Who do you think texted me all of them?”
“Tell her I’ll fill her in later,” Bex said as she emerged from her room.
Kevin and Adam both looked at her wide eyed and then started looking around the room, focusing on anything but her.
“What?” Bex looked at herself. Had something ripped during the shimmy?
“Nothing,” Adam said, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Just, uh…not too sure where Mouse is going to put the camera…”
Oh, good lord. She was surrounded by awkward beans. “It’s too late,” she said. “I’m not peeling myself out of this now. He’ll have to figure it out.”
“Okay, fine.” Adam twirled his keys around his finger and followed her to the door. “Let’s rock and roll.” The grin fell off his face at Kevin’s groan. “What?”
“That right there is why you’ve never been invited to one of her gigs,” Kevin laughed as they exited the apartment and she locked the door.
“Bex, is that true?” Adam hurried down the hallway after her. “Bex!”
***
Cal
“Where the hell is Ryan?” Vinnie led him through the office into the hidden room at the back.
“Sent him out for food,” Cal said. “He’ll be back any minute.”
“Delmonte’s?”
“Your usual order,” Cal confirmed and Vinnie grunted in approval. As if Cal would dare order from anywhere else. There was a reason he was Vinnie’s longest lasting employee. He knew what his boss wanted before he did.
“Everything set for tonight?” Vinnie asked.
“Yes, sir,” Cal nodded. “Should run like clockwork.”
“Excellent,” He moved to the cabinet against the wall and punched in the code to unlock it. He loaded a full clip into the gun and passed it over to Cal. “Let’s keep it that way.”
Click here for Chapter Four
Click here for Chapter Five
Click here for Chapter Six
(Here is the link to read Reckless [With My Heart] on ao3.)
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play-like-athena · 2 years
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2023 Seattle Storm PG Considerations
Ok so I'm already thinking about who the new starting point guard in Seattle will be. I think it hinges in one thing: will Stewie re-sign?
Stewart only signed a one year deal because of her concerns over the WNBA prioritization coming into effect in 2023. Players arriving late to the start of the season will be be suspended for the full season in 2023. If they are late to training camp they will face a fine. However, starting in 2024 players who are late to training camp will be suspended for the entire season. Not all leagues overlap with the WNBA season, but Euroleague does. It is a very real possibility that Stewart will decide to not play in the WNBA as soon as next season.
So there are two roads for Seattle: One where Stewie resigns and one where she doesn't (either she doesn't play or she signs elsewhere). What she does determines whether Seattle signs a PG to win immediately or whether they can go with a player who is still developing. I'm going to outline my thoughts on both routes.
1. Stewie Stays: Courtney Vandersloot
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Vandersloot will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at the end of this season. She's arguably the best point guard in the league right now, so it's obvious for Seattle to make a run at getting her. Vandersloot going to Seattle could also be an incentive for Stewie to stay in Seattle. Seattle also only has 2 players under contract for 2023 (Russell and Loyd) so they have the flexibility to offer them whatever they want. They also have the roster space to sign Quigley as well if the Vanderquigs are a package deal. Vandersloot looks to me like the only high caliber option Seattle has for free agents.
2. Stewie leaves:
Option 1: Ty Harris
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Harris is a young point guard with a high IQ. Seattle will have to trade for Harris, but she's intriguing because Dallas elected to start the rookie Veronica Burton ahead of Harris in place of the injured Arike Ogunbowale. This tells you who they think more highly of, and as a result Seattle would probably need to give up less in a trade for Harris. Harris hasn't been given a lot of minutes in her three seasons with Dallas, and I think she could have a break out year if she's given the opportunity. She could also be a good back up PG if my next option comes back to town.
Option 2: Jordin Canada
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Canada is a UFA and of course is very familiar with Seattle. I think she was drafted by Seattle to be Sue's replacement but Sue ended up playing longer than anticipated. Now that the starting job is finally up for grabs, Canada may elect to go back to Seattle, especially given how messy things were in LA this past season.
Option 3: Skylar Diggins-Smith
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This one is tricky because she does have another year left on her contract. This would require a trade and Seattle just doesn't have pieces to offer Phoenix what she's worth. They only player they have to trade would be Jewell Loyd, but that would not be smart in my opinion. What added benefit would there be in swapping out Loyd for Diggins-Smith? I don't think this would ever end up happening but given how things ended with her and Phoenix this season is really seems to me she will be traded this off season. I just don't think it will be to Seattle, but I thought I would mention the possibility.
Option 4: 2024 Draft
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The 2024 draft will feature some studs at PG: Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Hailey Van Lith. A Storm team without Stewart and Bird is going to have to find a whole new identity. And only having 2 players under contract for 2023 the timing may just be right to start a rebuild. Not making the playoffs in 2023 could be a huge blessing in disguise with the talent that's available with a lottery pick.
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arleneworld22 · 1 month
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My week...
Well my bestie called me to acept my invitation to go to the FIL after our works this friday and this is an special oportunity 'cause I can't see him often because he lives at US (I promised to give him a coffee to the special touch hehe) I hope this time we don't have problems, most of the time after or before we meet his mom... I don't want to confirm anything, but looks like she always try to not let him meet me, because most of the time after we meet she acts in this... dramatic way, so I hope he doesn't get problems this time. Live music starts at 8pm btw.
The offer for this job... I don't wanted at first because of what I explained, but also because they didn't tell me where I'm going to work, but said some things that gave me some clues about where and I don't have a very good impression of there. But today when I handed in my documents and signed many things they already gave me more details, first, this is not an official contract, it's temporary for a few months (or maybe one who knows) but I can get all the benefits like an official position; but after some time if they see that I'm very good at it, they can offer me the official position, so it could be like a prove to that and see if I can do more of this kind of works. the process to this work is a little extended so maybe in may we can get the big news. Oh btw is in HR department so at least is something consistent with my career <3. Thank you so much for your supportive words, they helped me to feel a little less guilty and try to have a better attitude into this.
About your gf, I never think something bad about her, I pass for this kind of problems too, so there's no reason to that, but I've to admit that it crossed my mind "breakup because he wants her attention and because of her temper it's absurd", but this are common problems in a relationship with a pretty simple solution so all this time I was very worried about that xd, thanks for telling me that you are better now, I hope you continue nurture your relationship. <3
I really really like to know more about you, like thinking about you running somewhere, you studying, riding a bike, playing with your doggies...now I sound creep xd, well anyways I'm honest; I have 2 doggies too! Darwin has a son, his name is Jhonny "Bravo" (that's a short funny story, I'm going to tell you other day) he is almost 2 years old but still acting like a puppie, it's cute.
Last hour my dad told me that my grandma needs me to go to the US to accompany her to the hospital for check-ups, she has cancer since... I can't remember, maybe more than 8 years, but she gets careless recently and she gets very weak for that, she is getting a little better now so that's why she wants to go. Last year I accompany her to medical oppointments maaaany times in the US and thanks for that we spent a lot of time together and getting to know each other more <3. I discovered that she really likes to read a lot like me, that one of her favorite books is Robinson Crusoe and I liked that book too, we both are very distracted, we love go to shopping and look very closely at stores, we both like to talk about education topics, that we really enjoyed walking, also that we both have problems organizing our times and even more; my mom says that we are like twins and that's not exactly a good combo lol. So I know tomorrow is going to be a little tired, but well, I couldn't see her in like 2 months because of work so this is an opportunity to that, I hope I can bring her some flowers.
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Champion’s dinner // Today’s sky
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My camp half-blood t-shirt // Moon last night
There are more more more and MORE things that I want to write you but I have to sleep xd
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Hello Everyone! VLOG ALERT CONTROVERSIAL SITUATION
This is Setepenre Halls with a new edition Vlog of Riviera Girl by Setepenre Halls!
Let me tell you guys that i am literally wanna go and pop out somebody's face today about this whole shit situation about my home controversial being sold twice into lawsuit over this bullshit .
I couldn't believe after all this time that i sold my villa home for 50 Million euros and find out that it was sold twice on the damn same day i sold the home when this bitch purchased my villa and took my motherfucking sold sign down to ask for the my villa to looked at and then with the Audacity to take down my the damn sold sign and tell her realtor to deal with my villa to sold it when i was already sold and moved in.
Now tell me is that's really fucked up seriously?
So this bitch by the name of ivy as the Audacity to bring her motherfucking family and realtor yesterday to fight about my damn villa i first sold and throughout out this whole situation , i had to come clear to show her everything and the realtor about my villa that i got my paperwork & contract to show proof about the villa property and made a agreement with my realtor to have my villa ready to move in.
This bitch got me fucked up ! her and her realtor came into my home fighting about my villa she saying she sold and wanted me to move the fuck out my villa when i already sold so to have the home . BITCH! I already moved then just 3 weeks recently so why the fuck you asking me to move the fuck out my home when i already sold the property of the villa and why yall sold the fucking home when it was already sold ?
I immediately called my realtor to tell him about this situation that came about just recently.
Bitch this shit got me all fucked up ! that i really went hell wire about this whole fucked up abuse situation about my villa home fighting overall on how my home get sold twice on the same day i purchased just finding out as i investigate this whole fucking situation in stressed in hell .
This bitch and i and our realtors fight about this damn shit for 2 hours over this motherfucking controversial situation about this villa on how the hell it got sold twice and this fucker is the one to start the hell coming for me to played me at fault!
Throughout this whole situation i had my husband and my daughter living in the villa and we are having a game night and having family time until this motherfucker ask for my securities to come into my gated villa home to check what's going on and this bitch with family screaming and calling me a bitch and the realtor knew the gate number coming into my place starting this shit and with my security crews
This got me fucked up when my security guards would allow this shenanigans to start hell on my ass for get blasted on cause for this situation.
While 2 hour fighting over this villa
Bitch got me fucked up to had the Audacity to grab and pulled my motherfucking hair and we ending up causing to ending up a brawl fight and my husband called polices and everything when too far into the extreme.
I hate that this shit had to turned out this way !
She had her husband and her kids into this and this doesn't make any fucking sense at all .
So we are set to go to court and all this shit is all in into this investigation about my villa.
I am totally moving out this villa and out of monaco and moving back to cannes or somewhere else cause this shit got me all fucked up that they can fucking have it !
I'm ready for this case to get over with and i don't need any shit like this to happen to me again.
I never in my life been into something like this to have it go all viral in hell like this.
I cancel all my plans so to work on this case to get this all settled so things can get all finalized and to be left alone.
And one more got damn thing !
This motherfucking bitch about to make me wanna come over to throw all her plates , throw fucking tables and throw food at her motherfucking face for telling me all theses bitch lies saying that it wasn't no damn sold sign when i got the home first under contract when it was put to sold and my realtor does all the motherfucking work and told the agency the issues with this shenanigans came about after damn 3 weeks i moved in the home .
Sweetheart ? what the fuck your ass was thinking ? I bet something came over your ass are in hell to take someone fucking sold shit to advantage when the home was already bought just so you can checked in to set shit the fuck up on me.
Bitch ! I got cameras to show proof that everything you did before i moved in and you took the motherfucking sold sign to cause this dilemma in all accord !
Now i am sending all of evidence and reports that theres no need to investigate cause everything i have here is all up on cameras and your ass will be jailed bitch !
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Fake Dating Scenarios
aka believable and unbelievable reasons for fake dating
my family is bugging me to finally present them with a suitable partner
I told people that I'd date someone and now I need someone to lie for me
fake dating is the best way to make someone jealous
I need this promotion, but the boss is looking for the perfect family person, so I need to acquire a stable relationship - right now
my ex is always putting their new partner in my face and to show everyone how absolutely unbothered I am by that, I get someone I can show of myself
I need a visa and I'm desperate enough to fool some immigration officer
all of my friends have partners and I'm feeling left out, so I need someone to be my date for group date night
you're sick and I'm scared I won't be able to help you, because I'm not family, so we marry so I can legally take care of you
my ex doesn't understand it's over, so I tell them I've already got someone new
we're celebrities and our managements fake our relationship to sell to newspapers
I'm getting harrassed by someone, please play my partner!
we hooked up once, but people saw us and we don't want our conservative parents to think badly of us
my grandma is in love with you and she lives far away, so why not pretend to be a couple for the few days we see her, it would make her so happy
it's like a running joke for us and both our followers that we're getting married, without knowing each other irl, but after some time we both think it would be fun to shock everyone by actually doing it
both of our exes are dating now and while discussing the situation and being a bit too drunk, we decide to show them how that feels
I had a very public break-up and I need the paparazzis to stop selling sad pictures of me to every newspaper in the world
we're pretty broke and we know it's wrong, but you get an awful lot of gifts for your wedding...
our friends set us up together, because they think it will never happen and it's hilarious, so we'll show them how hilarious a relationship between us is
I want to foster/adopt kids and they want to see a stable family life first
the best couple on a reality show wins a lot of money, so we need to form an alliance
your management wants you to "date" a fan to make everyone feel like they have a chance and I'm supposed to be that fan
marriage is a contract and we want to sign it for the tax breaks
I told people at college that we're in a long distance relationship, but then you transfer to us and I need to keep up the lie
my parents want me to marry someone they chose, if I can't present them with someone they see as worthy and they would probably accept you
your job gives you benefits I need, please let's get married!
people look away when they see someone kissing, so it's a good cover for a surveillance mission
we're training together for a dance competition, but don't want anyone to know, so when our friends get suspicious that we're always together, we just say we're dating
I don't want to show up to this wedding without a date, so I get you to come with me
people seem to really ship us and we want to give our fans what they want
while babysitting my niece, she thinks that you should be my partner and you think it's funny to grant her that wish
I want to annoy my parents, so I hire you to play my awful new partner
you want to get your ex back and I want my crush to finally notice me, so we act like we're really into each other to make them both jealous
I hire you for your services, but then we actually meet someone I know and I'm so embarrassed, but then you tell them we just started dating
we want to see the world and in some places and situations it's just easier to pretend we're married
my reputation is not the best and you're the country's sweetheart that can help me and my brand
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randomshyperson · 3 years
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Love is Outside the Screen - Part III - Elizabeth Olsen x Reader
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Summary:  The one where Reader plays Vision in the MCU and she falls in love with her co-worker Elizabeth Olsen.
Warnings: (+18), smut, sexual themes, strap on use, teasing, fingering, sexual suggestions, explicit language, explicit, obscenity, a bit of praise kink, dom/sub dynamics, bottom reader mostly, switch dynamics, power dynamic changes, slight possessive sex, brief angst, alcohol mentions, arguing, jealously, fluffy.
Words: 7.935 K
A/N> Instead of writing my series, I'm continuing works that were finished already. This is basically porn honestly haha No, but jokes aside, we have fluffy moments with a lot of smut. Good reading everyone!
Part One | Part Two | All Works Masterlist || AO3
//-//-/////-///-//
Love is Outside the Screen - Part III
Northern Ireland, two years ago.
You slipped under the long wooden table as the script indicated.
Your character was supposed to give a slight nod, and then gasp because of the torso injury, and you followed the script perfectly.
When the director yells cut, you stand up, trying not to bump into the makeover they did on your clothes.
"That was great, guys!" Shouted Alex Graves in the direction of the cast scattered around the medieval set. "Let's call it a day."
You were exhausted.
The Game of Thrones footage was absolutely grueling, and time-consuming, although it allowed you to learn something new with almost every scene.
Walking back toward the dressing room to clean up your makeup, you smiled shyly at the girls in the salon who congratulated you on the day's performance while helping you to remove your costume.
While they were going through your hair, you decided to check your cell phone.
There were two missed calls from Lizzie, and you felt your heart swell with guilt immediately.
She had also sent you messages asking if everything was okay, or if you were busy, and saying that she missed you, and you wish you had answered them all, but your routine had been completely absurd.
You felt your chest ache with longing every time you thought of your girlfriend.
When you signed the contract, you knew the conditions, and so did Lizzie. But nothing prepared you for the real thing.
Almost three months without a decent conversation, not even video calls, and the lack of her in your life was making you frustrated and irritated all the time. You were sinking into the screenplay and the recordings, because you simply hated not having Lizzie in your day-to-day life.
"Thank you girls." You said as soon as you noticed the makeup completely removed from your abdomen.
The change in the script killed your character sooner than expected, and you should go home early, even though it was going to take two or three months, it was much less than originally planned.
Grumbling softly, you went back to the dressing room, deciding to call Lizzie now that you would have a little time alone.
She doesn't answer until the second-to-last ring.
"Yes?" Her husky voice signals that she was asleep, but all you can feel is your body shaking at the sound.
"It's me, baby." You reply tenderly as you sit back in the armchair, pressing the cell phone to your ear as if you wish you could reach into the device and touch your girl.
"Oh, hey." She comments sleepily, and you wonder if she has closed her eyes again, or even opened them. "It's late."
"I know, I'm sorry." You say leaning back in the armchair. "I wanted to check that everything was okay because I couldn't answer you earlier."
"Don't worry, darling." She says softly, almost sleepily. "I just missed you."
"Me too, my love." You assure her, feeling your chest tighten slightly. My god, you just want to see her, hold her, touch her. "Lizzie, darling, are you asleep?"
"Yes." She whispers, making you smile.
"I love you baby." You say. "Call me when you wake up, I will interrupt as many scenes as it takes to talk to you."
"Behave yourself in the studio, love." She mumbles sleepily, and you laugh lightly. It was the same warning she gave on your last day in California, on the way out of the airport. "I love you. And I miss you."
You cursed the entire movie company at once when you could perceive the upset in Lizzie's tone, even in her sleepy state. You repeated that you loved her one more time before hanging up the phone.
As you put your cell phone away to grab your keys and head back to the hotel, you wondered if a breach of contract was really so bad.
//-//
Present, California.
You felt Lizzie's arms wrap around you as soon as you made mention of getting out of bed. You smiled, turning your body to look at her.
Her sleeping figure with her eyes closed, her hair slightly tousled made your heart warm with affection.
You loved her so much.
Raising your hand to her face, you stroked her cheek gently with your thumb, and watched the woman sigh softly, and even in her sleepy state, lean into your touch.
"Lizzie." You called softly, trying to wake her up. And did so again until she mumbled softly, leaning her face against the pillow. You let your hand wander to her hair, enjoying the softness as you stroked her scalp with your fingers. "We need to wake up baby."
Lizzie just mumbled again against the pillow cotton, making you smile at the cuteness of that scene.
You moved closer only to deposit short kisses across her face, and only stopped when she let out a husky giggle.
"Good morning, love." You whispered against her ear, and were about to pull away, but she tightened her arms around your waist, keeping you almost on top of her, making you smile.
"Good morning." She sighed back against the skin of your neck, and you blushed slightly when you felt her inhale your perfume and then tighten her fingers around your waist. "Fuck, I love you."
You laughed softly at her sudden, hoarse confession, but let your arms slip around her shoulders, burying your body against Lizzie's. The tenderness was wonderful, and she moved one hand up to caress your back while the other remained on your hip, her thumb moving across the skin beneath your blouse.
You tilt your face away just to look at her, and already you find her with her eyes wide open, a shy smile on her lips.
"I love you too, babe, but we need to get up." You tell her, and you almost get the impression that she's not even listening, because all she does is look at your face with adoration.
You bite back a smile as you feel her legs move beneath you, her bare foot caressing your ankle before she spins you around quickly and stands over you, the sudden movement making you sigh and tighten your arms intertwined around her neck.
"Lizzie!" You exclaim humorously, but all you get is a low murmur as she sinks her body against yours and buries her face in your neck.
"How much time do we have?" She asks against your skin, her lips dangling on that sensitive part of your collarbone and sending a shiver up the length of your spine.
"Enough." You reply already affected by her touch, closing your eyes to enjoy the sensation.
Lizzie smiles against your neck, beginning to deposit chaste kisses against your skin, making you sigh softly.
It didn't matter how many times you had been together or for how long, your body reacted to her in the same way. You only hoped that you wouldn't be late for your appointment with the Marvel directors, but when Lizzie slipped her hand up into your pajamas, you didn't care about that anymore.
//-//-//
London, 1 year and 9 months ago.
It's your third time on "The Graham Norton Show."
You finished taping Game of Thrones the day before, and this was your last appointment before returning to California. To Lizzie.
Part of the cast is sitting next to you, and you are glad for that because you are distracted this evening and can use the time they answer questions to think about your girlfriend. And you miss her for sure.
Graham, the host, asked questions about the final season, and about day to day life on set, and after Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke commented on everything being amazing, and not telling anything about the plot since they weren't allowed to, you were slightly surprised that the subject shift went directly to the romance rumors between the cast.
"I hear that some of you have been becoming close friends outside the set." Graham begins with a chuckle, and you and the cast share a chorus of dissatisfaction that makes the audience laugh. "Which is normal in a long series of course. But we wanted to bring that in because we love gossip."
"Since I'm married, can I have a drink in the dressing room?" Kit jokes, drawing laughter from everyone.
"You're supposed to help us with the arguments". Graham replies humorously. He leans back in his chair slightly to point to the monitor behind him. "We have some behind-the-scenes photos here. And Miss Clarke looks very comfortable."
The audience laughed at the comment, and you tried to cover it up with an awkward laugh. It was a picture of Emilia Clarke, your colleague who plays Daenerys Targaryen, on your lap. But the moment was badly misinterpreted. The photo was taken right after one of the prom rehearsal scenes, and Emilia had gotten one of the coordinations wrong, and you laughed when she fell on you.
Of course, this kind of insinuation was happening because to the media, you two were two single women. And you were used to this kind of questioning, but still, it was always uncomfortable.
"We were dancing, Graham." Emilia argues humorously. "It's not what it looks like."
The audience lets out a chorus of disappointment, and you and Emilia giggle awkwardly.
"Was that the mating dance, ladies?" Graham teases and you want to dig a hole in the ground, but all you do is keep up with everyone's laughter. "Despite all the jokes, I think Marvel's couple is going to be threatened."
The comment makes your heart race, but the audience is very approving, applauding heartily.
At least with this you can talk about Elizabeth.
"Is tonight the night you are going to take over America's dream relationship or can we just keep saying that you and Emilia are together, since there is not the slightest chance that someone that attractive is single." Graham tells you with humor making the audience and cast laugh. You try to keep up, not wanting to seem rude. You wish you could tell him that there is nothing wrong with being single, but you don't think you want to create an awkwardness so you just settle back in your seat as you joke:
"Unfortunately I will deny it again, Graham" You reply. "And I'm not dating Emilia either, I assure you."
You spend the rest of the evening dodging the comments, and are exhausted by the time the interview is over.
"Hey, are you going back to the hotel already?" Kit asks you just as you walk back to the dressing rooms, and you deny it with your head.
"No chance, I'm leaving." You reply. "I'm going straight to the airport, I have a flight in two hours. What about you, Harington? Aren't you going home to see your wife?"
"I didn't know we were talking about wives." He jokes making you blush and look away. Kit didn't know about Lizzie, but he knew you had someone. "Of course I want to come home, but I still have some appointments here. And Rose is in Spain."
"That sucks, man." You comment and he murmurs in agreement, shrugging.
"Yeah, but longing sure makes the sex better." He retorts with amusement and you grimace before laughing.
"You're unbelievable." You joke before waving yourself off in farewell, turning in the direction of your dressing room.
As soon as you enter, you take your cell phone out of your pocket and try to call Lizzie, but it goes to voicemail. You leave a message saying that you can't wait to see her and get your things ready to leave.
After saying goodbye to the cast again, and taking a taxi to the airport, you receive a message, but it is not from Lizzie.
*Sara evil agent* sent you an attachment.
You frown at the matter. "Off-screen romance? Would GOT star Emilia Clarke be dating queer Marvel protégé?"
You call Sara the same minute.
"I literally said I wasn't dating her!" You complain as soon as she answers and hear Sara laugh on the other end.
"Oh, honey, I told you, the media loves a little gossip." She says. "And you need to stop setting up fake girlfriends so quickly, I can barely keep up."
You grumble in irritation and your agent lets out a giggle.
"Don't be so grumpy, it's just a rumor and the last time I checked you were a single woman so I don't see a problem." She says and you bite the inside of your cheek. Since your lack of excitement about GOT, Sara suspects something. Neither of you says anything, but you know she's not an idiot and figures you have a girlfriend. "Are you going back to LA already?"
"Yes, I'm catching my flight in an hour."
"I hope you're ready to record, Lady Vision." She jokes. "Your scene schedule is getting closer."
"I plan to rest this week." You warn, slightly distracted. "Game of Thrones really was something different."
"I just hope people like the ending."
You giggle and Sara wants to know why, but you don't give her any spoilers. After asking if everything was okay, and assuring her that you had eaten something before the interview, you hang up.
Lizzie didn't text you back and you fell asleep on the plane.
//-//-//-//-//
California, three years and eleven months ago.
Your heart was beating so fast that you could hear it in your ears.
But Lizzie's hand in yours was doing a good job of calming you down.
Maybe it was just because you had waited, or maybe it was because you were so much in love, but you don't remember feeling so nervous about the idea of having sex with someone. Not since your first time.
And well, now with Lizzie, it was actually only the first time you two were going to sleep together. You didn't have to be nervous, but you were.
Liz opened the bedroom door as soon as you two reached the room, and dragged you inside with her. You closed the wood as you entered.
The tension was palpable in the air, and you wondered if you stayed still long enough, she might hear your heartbeat.
You looked at her, your eyes locked on each other, and a shy smile on your lips as you approached, stopping inches from her body.
Lizzie holds her breath.
"Are you nervous?" You ask in a husky voice, raising your free hand to go around the length of her arm with your finger, admiring the way her skin shivers at your touch.
She just shakes her head and you smile, resting your hand on her cheek.
"It's just me." You comment as you lean your forehead against hers, and you both close your eyes in anticipation. "We can stop if you're not sure..."
"I'm sure." She interrupts half breathlessly, her hand tightening its grip before letting go of yours, so that she brings both hands to the sides of your neck. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." You assure before breaking the distance, bringing your mouths together in a firm kiss that draws a sigh from both of you as your hands move up to Lizzie's waist.
It doesn't take long for the kiss to deepen, your tongues fighting together and the sensation making your head spin and your body heat up.
Lizzie gasped against your mouth before parting for breath, and you used the opportunity to let your fingers run down to the hem of her shirt as you pulled it up. In motion the piece was off, and she copied the same to remove your blouse.
You bit your lip as you looked at the sight of Lizzie's exposed torso in front of you, her nipples hardening in the air making you feel the tightness beneath your stomach increase.
You lunged forward, grabbing her left breast with your mouth, and Lizzie let out a loud noise in her throat, throwing her head back as your tongue skirted her left nipple.
She was so hot and smelled so good, and the sounds she was making were driving you insane.
You moved your hands up to her breasts as soon as you brought your mouths together again, your tongue circling hers as you played with her hardened nipples, and it wasn't long before Lizzie began to whimper, closing her legs and thrusting her hips towards yours for more friction.
You smiled against her lips, you would give her exactly what she needed.
//-//
California, one year and nine months ago.
Leaving your keys on the counter, you were surprised by the silence as you entered.
It wasn't that you wanted Lizzie to stay late to wait for you, except that it was exactly what you wanted.
You left your bag on the living room floor and called her name twice before assuming she was asleep.
Sighing slightly, you went up the stairs to your room, but it was empty. All the other rooms were empty, which made you frown.
Okay, you didn't expect Elizabeth not to be home just the day you were returning, after months of not seeing each other.
But you didn't have much time to think about what might have happened, because a clearly drunk Lizzie stumbled into the house, fighting against the lock and her own balance just as you were coming down the stairs.
"You're drunk?" You ask in a voice in a mixed tone of disbelief and concern upon seeing her, and Lizzie is startled for a moment before giggling.
"Look who's here, California!" She announced to the room with irony and with open arms, stumbling inside. "Hollywood's most eligible bachelorette, watch out ladies and gentlemen."
You frowned at the little scene, Lizzie walked with difficulty to the kitchen as you finished going down the steps, she murmured quietly and you with your arms crossed, trying to understand exactly what was going on.
"What happened to you?" you ask as you follow her across the room, Lizzie takes off her shoes with difficulty, almost falling to the floor at least twice. When you make mention of helping her, she holds up her hand for you not to, and you are starting to get worried.
"I went to have fun." She replies with a humorless laugh. "I can have fun."
"Of course you can." You retorted with a raised eyebrow, watching Lizzie take a deep breath and close her eyes as she leaned her back on the countertop, probably getting a headache from the way she buried her face in both hands for a moment. "Who did you go with?"
"I don't know, Mom." She sneered wryly, and you clenched your jaw. Lizzie laughed at your expression, and pouted. "Oh, did I upset you? Sorry, darling, I'll try to be a good girl for you."
You shook your head slightly.
"Babe, what is happ..."
"Don't call me that." She cuts off quickly and you look at her in surprise. Lizzie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath and when she looks at you again, she has thick tears in her eyes and you feel your heart soar. "I saw the pictures on television, Y/N. I saw the pictures, I saw your interview, I saw the videos on instagram. And I guess I understand, because she's beautiful and we haven't seen each other in months but I thought you loved me..."
"wow, what are you talking about?" You interrupt, confused and frightened, and Lizzie looks like a complete mess. She is crying and you reach up to touch her face, and try to calm her down. "Babe, breathe, I don't understand."
She whimpers softly, and you wonder how much booze she really has consumed.
"You are going out with that woman and I love you and everything is horrible." She declares in a whiny voice and you look at her with a frown.
"Lizzie, what..."
But she pushes you and walks off toward the bedroom, and you try to keep her from falling over drinking at least three times until she can get up the stairs properly.
"Lizzie, wait, talk to me." You beg but she keeps walking and you enter the bedroom a moment after her, watching her walk to the closet and start throwing all her clothes out while mumbling about cheating.
You take a deep breath with your hands on your waist, letting out a humorless laugh. It was an absurd scene to say the least.
"Elizabeth Olsen, stop this immediately!" You command as soon as she steps out of the closet, and she widens her eyes slightly as she shifts the weight of her feet before veering to the floor. You sigh as you walk toward her. "Babe, look at me."
"No."
"Lizzie."
Reluctantly, she does so. You soften your expression, feeling your heart soar at the image of her face, longing invading your whole heart.
"God, I missed you." You confess half breathlessly and Lizzie looks on the verge of tears. "Darling, where did all this come from? I'm not seeing any other girl."
"I saw the pictures..."
"Lizzie." You interrupt seriously, shaking your head slightly as your hands land on her shoulders. "I have no one but you. I would never cheat on you, I don't know where that came from. I wish you hadn't drunk so much so we could have a serious talk."
Lizzie gives a mischievous little smile, her gaze half lost because of the alcohol.
"I'm not drunk." She mumbles clearly intoxicated, making you chuckle slightly.
"Of course not." You said as you pushed the loose strands of her hair behind her ears. "You made a mess in the bedroom, babe. Why don't you try to sleep while I clean up?"
Lizzie sighed, clearly tired but shaking her head in denial
"I don't want to sleep." She said as she brought her body closer to you, her hands squeezing your shirt. "I want you to fuck me."
You bit back a smile, looking at Lizzie with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, yeah?"
She murmured in agreement, her fingers trying to open the buttons of your shirt, but she was clearly in no condition to do so.
"I'd like that too, but you're drunk." You say as you move your hands to hold hers, smiling at the grumble of frustration she lets out. "Go lie down, I'll get some water."
"But..."
"Bed, Lizzie." You ordered again as you intertwined your hands to lead her to lie down.
She was reluctant a few times but eventually agreed and lay her down on the mattress, placing the comforter on top.
When you made mention of getting up, she held your hand.
"Don't go." She asked softly with her eyes almost closed. You smiled.
"Aren't you thirsty?"
Lizzie denied and pulled your hand, you moved closer to lie beside her and she wasted no time in entwining her body in yours.
You let your fingers run through her hair and she sighed lightly, not taking long to fall asleep. You waited a few more minutes before moving, getting out of bed as gently as possible so as not to wake her.
After collecting the clothes Lizzie had thrown across the room and putting them away in the closet, as well as putting the party clothes she was wearing in the wash, you went back downstairs, looking for your bag to take to your room.
Your cell phone vibrated as you walked up the stairs.
It was a message from Scarlet, and you laughed lightly as you read its content.
“I heard you're coming home today, right? Lizzie was really upset about the rumors that you were dating, and asked me to take her out for a drink. I dropped her off at home, but she was pretty shaky. I didn't know you two had a thing, can we talk about it over coffee tomorrow?”
You were relieved that Scarlett was the person accompanying Lizzie, but now she knew you two had something. You were tired of it honestly. The secret. All you wanted was for everyone to know how much you loved Lizzie. And judging from recent events, that was a problem for her too. Or at least it was enough for her to drink more than she should.
But you would have to wait until Lizzie woke up to have this conversation, so you went back to your room, and after putting away the clothes from your bag, you took a shower and put on your pajamas, wasting no time in joining Lizzie in bed again.
//-//-//
Caribbean, one year and six months ago.
Following the music, you continued to dance slowly, your hand around Lizzie's waist while the other was entwined in the air with hers.
The luxury hotel where you were staying that week was hosting a Hawaiian themed evening, and well, after spending the day in the pool area, you decided to dance a little.
In that moment, with Lizzie in your arms, you were at peace completely. Moments like these, like waking up with her in your bed, or cooking together, or rehearsing your lines while curled up on the couch under the blanket were more than enough to make you sure that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with Lizzie.
You smiled before pulling your body away slightly, just to look at her. And she looked back at you with the same adoration, her cheeks flushing slightly.
You spun her into your arms then, making her laugh as you pulled her back, your hands resting on her neck as your hips swayed to the rhythm of the ukulele of the band playing on the stage.
There were a few other couples around, but you could hardly notice anyone but Lizzie.
You continued dancing, and you rested your forehead on hers, closing your eyes and breathing in her perfume. Lizzie smiled, stealing a quick kiss before resting her chin on your shoulder, following the rhythm of the dance.
When the show ends, you follow the crowd in the clapping for a moment before Lizzie entwines your hands and pulls you toward the bar.
"That was fun." She comments with cheeks flushed from the dance, her smile soft as you stand near each other, your hands intertwined as you reach for the menu.
"Dancing with you always is." You retorted charmingly, releasing her hand only to fit it against your waist, drawing a chuckle from Lizzie.
You ended up sharing some drinks and snacks, and you were starting to feel higher with each sip.
Lizzie was in the middle of a joke when you interrupted her.
"Marry me?"
She blinked in surprise, a confused chuckle escaping her lips.
"What?"
Maybe it was the drinking. Probably not, because with the emerald eyes looking so intently, you suddenly felt very sober. Your heart raced too, but you were never more sure of anything than you were now.
"Marry me." You repeat with a confident smile. Lizzie blushes with wide eyes.
"You... Are you serious?" She asks in surprise, and you let out a sigh, moving closer to take her hands and put them down on your racing heart.
"I love you." You tell her with nothing but sincerity. "I want to spend my life with you. I was planning something bigger, perhaps, at your parents' summer house. I would get down on one knee in front of your family and hand over the ring I've been carrying for three months." You confess and watch her look at you in shock. "I've been waiting for the right moment, Lizzie. But I've just realized that every second with you is the right moment. I want you to be my wife. Do you want me to be yours?"
It took a second for her to react, her expression changing from shock to pure happiness, the tears appearing in her eyes and the smile so big it made her eyes small.
"Yes, yes, of course." She replied between one shy laugh and another, moving forward to kiss you over and over again.
You couldn't stop smiling as you kissed her, and you giggled against each other's mouths, pulling apart to embrace each other.
It didn't take long for the people around the bar to notice and start clapping, but you didn't care.
All you were seeing was your future wife.
//-//-//-//
California, 1 year and 9 months ago.
You finished putting the coffee jug on the tray, the last missing item, before carrying it to your room, taking careful steps not to trip over anything on the way.
Lizzie was already awake, but still in bed. The glass of water in her hands and the missing pill on her bedside table indicated that she was already treating her hangover.
"Good morning, darling." You greeted as you entered, walking over to the bed to leave the platter on top of the sheet next to Lizzie.
"You're home." She commented in a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, you just made a noise with your mouth as she sighed, running her hand over her face, probably because of her headache. "When did you get home?"
"Last night." You respond by watching her. "Just before you."
"Sorry." She says moving closer. You gently pull away from her attempt to kiss her lips, and Lizzie frowns. "What?"
"I was worried." You state seriously. Lizzie lets out a sigh, leaning her back against the bed completely. "I thought you were going to pick me up at the airport, but you didn't call. And then I find the house empty. Until you arrived, completely drunk at dawn."
Lizzie crossed her arms, looking away. It was your turn to sigh.
"What's happening, Elizabeth?"
"It 's nothing."
"Elizabeth."
"Stop it." She asks impatiently, turning her face to you again. "Don't call me that."
You just frown in confusion. "It's your name."
"No." She exclaims annoyedly, closing her eyes for a moment. "You only call me Elizabeth when you're angry. And you can't be angry at me because I have the right to go out!"
You watch her stand up, as if running away from the conversation, and you sigh impatiently, massaging your temple with your finger. Lizzie begins to remove her dress, clearly intent on going to take a shower.
"I never said you had no right to go out, Elizabeth." You retort ignoring the annoyed grunt she lets out at you continuing to call her by her full name. "I just think I have the right to ask why after we agreed on something, you changed plans at the last minute and decided to disappear."
"It's funny that you want to demand something from me when you've spent the last few months without giving me any satisfaction of where or who you were with!" She accuses angrily and you grimace in indignation.
"Oh, so it's about my work?" You retort angrily. "The last time I checked we had decided that I was going to record and come home. You said you were fine with that!"
Lizzie gave a humorless laugh, her dress falling to her feet as she worked to remove her bra.
"Well, you know what, I wasn't!" She shouts angrily, throwing the bra angrily into the closet. You need to remember that you are angry with her as you have the vision of her breasts exposed in front of you while she is yelling at you. "I didn't agree to the endless get-togethers with all those sluts around you! And I sure didn't agree with your flushed face on television flirting with Emilia Clarke in front of the whole country!"
You stared at Lizzie in shock, but she just grunted in irritation before turning to go to the bathroom.
"No, I think it's so funny you bring that up, you know, Elizabeth." You spoke aloud as you stood up to follow her. "Because when I said Aubrey Plaza was flirting with you, you told me it was just business. But suddenly, Emilia is something that bothers you!"
"God, this is so different from Aubrey!" she retorts in irritation, finally naked, before stepping into the shower. You were beginning to find it hard to remember why you were fighting now that you had the view of her wet silhouette in the shower stall, as she raised her voice to be heard beyond the sound of the water. "We were supposed to be flirting in the interviews, it was all for the movie. You were just falling all over Emilia for no reason. All those smiles and giggles." She declares angrily, making you bite back a smile. Lizzie naked, angry and jealous was hot as hell.
"I really can't believe we are having this conversation." You complain as you unbutton your pajama shirt. "The most absurd part of it all is you thinking I would have anything with anyone else."
"You say these things but don't live up to them with your actions." She retorts, annoyed. "I wouldn't think anything of it if you didn't flirt with other people!"
"I didn't flirt with anyone!" You return defensively, your blouse finally coming off. Lizzie's annoyed expression almost falters, but she keeps her gaze above your breasts as you take off your pants. "And honestly, none of this would be happening if everyone knew we were dating!"
Lizzie frowns, her anger finally dissipating with your sentence. You step into the shower stall with her, and she looks at you dubiously.
"You...you want to go public?" She asks, studying you as the water falls on her back. You swallow dryly, keeping yourself in front of her.
"Only if you want to."
Lizzie holds out her hand for you to take, and when you do, she pulls you gently until your breasts are almost touching.
"Do you think we're ready for that?" She whispers as your foreheads lean against each other. You sigh as you rest your hands on her waist.
"With you, I'm ready for anything, Lizzie."
She sighs against your lips, her hands moving up to your neck.
"I can't think about that with you naked in front of me." She mumbles before moving forward against his lips.
Kissing shouldn't feel this good.
You slide your tongue over hers a moment later, and you both sigh in need, feeling the effects of so much time apart. Your hands move down to her ass, squeezing the flesh and forcing her against you, and the direct contact of exposed skin makes Lizzie whimper.
You press her against the glass of the shower stall, feeling the shower water against your back as you hold your mouths together in a passionate, hungry kiss.
When air was needed, you ran your kisses down your girlfriend's exposed collarbone, enjoying the way she sighed in anticipation, her hand moving up to the back of your neck to encourage you.
"God, I missed you." You sighed before sucking on the sensitive spot on her collarbone, making Lizzie whimper as she dug her nails into your shoulder.
She pulled your face back to hers, kissing you urgently, and you pressed your body against hers, your hands moving down to her thighs and up so that she entwined her legs around your waist.
The contact of your exposed intimates together made you both gasp in the kiss, but you slid your tongue against hers again, savoring her taste as your hands moved up to her breasts, squeezing and cupping them with a full palm, your fingers playing with her hardened nipples and making Lizzie sigh wetly.
"What is it baby?" you teased when she was unable to keep up the pace of the kiss, throwing her head back as she felt your hands pressing her breasts hard, and Lizzie grunted as she bit her lips to keep from moaning, looking up at you with dark eyes, clearly struggling to keep her expression impassive. You smiled, pressing your hips forward and watching her close her eyes tightly, unable to contain a low moan that escaped her throat. "I want to hear you, baby."
"I'm still mad at you." She declares in an affected voice, and you murmur in understanding, lowering your face to her collarbone, and licking and kissing the skin, making her shiver.
"Is this angry sex, then?" You sneer as you move your hips forward again, the sensation bringing a rising wave of pleasure to both of you. "It doesn't seem like it."
Lizzie sighs impatiently, and puts her legs on the floor, pushing you away by your shoulder.
You are so stunned by the sudden break in contact that you barely have time to absorb her turning off the shower before she pulls you by the hand out of the stall.
You were about to ask what she was going to do, but she pushed you onto the bed, and disappeared into the closet.
"Lizzie?" You called out uncertainty, preparing your apology speech for what exactly you couldn't say. But she walked out next, and the sight made your mouth go dry. "Damn."
Elizabeth was wearing a strap-on, the rubber penis already fitted in the front and ready for use. And from the determined expression on her face, she was more than willing to prove to you that she was pissed.
"Fuck me." You breathed aroused by the view, and Lizzie gave a wry chuckle as she approached the bed.
"Oh, I will." It was her only warning before she broke the distance, kissing you fervently, her tongue exploring your mouth and pulling the air from your lungs, making you see stars.
You let out a low moan, moving your hands up to her waist to pull her to you, but Lizzie pushed your hands away, breaking the kiss and moving one hand up to your neck, squeezing lightly as she made you look at her.
"Knees, ass up." She commanded in a husky voice, her gaze glittering with lust, you bit your lips to keep from moaning again, feeling your pussy pulsate with desire as you obeyed, turning on the bed quickly as Lizzie positioned herself behind you. "I'll teach you not to flirt with other girls."
"I was n-fuck." Your speech turned into an horsy whimper as she suddenly penetrated you with the dildo, you were so wet that she had no problem at all, the toy slipping into your folds with ease, filling you completely. Lizzie chuckled breathlessly, her hands steadying your hips.
"God, you're so hot." She murmured, moving slowly inside you, the action making you clench your fists in the sheets and arch your back, your pussy clenching against the dildo.
"Fuck, Lizzie."
She thrust again, this time hard, her hands squeezing your hips as she went deep inside, making you moan loudly.
Before establishing a rhythm, she leaned against you, her hand coming up to your hair and pulling you back as she brought her mouth to your ear.
"You are mine." She whispered before she thrust hard inside you, making you moan. "Do you understand?"
"Not quite yet, try harder." You teased breathlessly, the pleasure at having the dildo all the way inside you making you half dizzy. Lizzie grunted angrily, this time stroking even harder, making you see stars as you whimpered, your body beginning to tremble.
"Quit being a brat or I'm going to fucking stop." She warned against your ear, thrusting more slowly this time, and you moaned breathlessly, barely able to keep your eyes open.
Lizzie set a slow pace, but thrusting hard as you moaned and whimpered, every time the dildo entered you making you even wetter and aroused, to the point that you were unable to hold back the loud moans, and she giggled.
"Look at you, a horny, begging mess." She sneered against your ear. "You are mine, and only mine."
She whispered, her strokes deep inside you. "I want you to remember that when you flirt with other girls. How good I make you feel."
You whimpered, your pussy clenching against the dildo for more, Lizzie keeping the strokes torturously slow. Seeing your state, she laughed softly, pulling out of you completely.
Before you had time to complain, she turned you over on the bed, spreading your legs as she bent down, thrusting deep inside you. Your moan died against her lips as she kissed you hard, laying against you as she buried the dildo inside you.
You could feel Lizzie everywhere. Her breasts against you, her lips on yours, and it was too much. She thrust hard again, deep and fast as you had your legs around her waist, and her tongue on yours, and you began to tremble in spasms, pleasure spreading throughout your body.
Lizzie smiled against your lips as you lost the ability to respond to the kiss, moaning and whimpering at the closeness of your climax. Her mouth moved down to your neck as she kept up the pace of the thrusts inside you, and your hands tightened around her waist, pulling on her hips for more friction.
It wasn't long before you fell over the edge, the tightness under your belly exploding, the pleasure spreading to the tips of your feet as you moaned against Lizzie's ear, crumbling under her.
As you tried to normalize your breathing after such an intense orgasm, she straightened to look at you, her eyes had adoration in them.
"You did so good." She praised against your lips. "Did you learn your lesson?"
"I did." You replied in a husky voice, taking a deep breath to control the effects of climax.
In one swift motion, you spun you two around on the bed, sighing as you felt the toy move inside you.
"Now you will learn to honor your appointments, Miss Olsen." You warned as your hands moved down to the latches of the strap, removing it as Lizzie bit her lips, looking at you with a mischievous gaze.
You shifted to remove the strap and toss the toy on the floor, returning to sit on Lizzie's lap, your mouth returning to hers immediately.
When she began to move beneath you, you smiled against her lips, pulling away as you rested your forehead against hers and let your fingers play with her wet entrance.
"Use your mouth." She asked breathlessly, her nails digging into your arm.
"My baby wants my mouth?" You teased, moving forward to lick her lips and pulling away with a short laugh when she moaned as she chased your mouth unsuccessfully. You circled her clitoris with your fingers, and Lizzie gasped. "The next time you want to get drunk, at least text me, my love." You warned as you penetrated her with two fingers at once, feeling her hot and slippery, while Lizzie moaned loudly against your mouth. "Do you understand?"
You removed your fingers, playing with her entrance until she nodded frantically, pushing her hips toward your hand. But you laughed lightly, pulling your hand away completely, and leaving her with a confused expression.
"I thought you wanted my mouth." You scoff, already ducking, as Lizzie looks at you expectantly.
"God, you always fuck me so good." Lizzie comments as you kiss her thighs, moving down. You smile against her skin, finally reaching her pussy.
You stare at her before moving forward, your tongue against her clitoris as she sighs with need.
"Don't torture me." She begs breathlessly, her wrists locked on the bed, you smile, lingeringly licking her, and she closes her eyes tightly.
"I won't, my love." You assure her before returning your mouth to her pussy, kissing her entrance before you begin to suck and lick, devouring her with desire.
She moans loudly, letting out affected sighs with each movement of your tongue inside her, and you hold her thighs to keep her open for you as you eat her out.
It doesn't take long for Lizzie to reach her edge, already near the limit from fucking you, but it's still delicious to have her crumbling against your mouth like a weeping mess, her orgasm on your tongue as she screams your name.
You climb your body back up onto her, and kiss her tenderly, unlike anything so far.
Lizzie is trying to control her breathing from the climax, but sighs in satisfaction as she tastes herself on your tongue.
As silence falls over you, you sigh lightly, your hands caressing her face.
"Are we okay, Lizzie?" You ask as you settle down to lie across from each other. She leans into the touch of your hands, as her hands come up to your waist.
"I don't know." She confesses. "But I want us to be."
You smile, using your finger to take a strand of hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear.
"Do you think going public will make us better?"
"I don't want to love you in secret anymore." She says and you feel your heart soar. "Do you understand?"
You smile. "Yes, babe. I feel the same way."
She gives a relieved smile, her gaze passionate. You break the distance, and kiss her gently.
When you break the kiss a moment later, you look quickly at your bodies. "I think we should have this conversation with clothes on." You comment and Lizzie giggles.
"Later. Now I show how much I missed you in my bed." She says before bringing your lips together again.
You certainly wouldn't object to that.
//-//-//
Atlanta, three years ago.
You hesitated at the entrance to the restaurant.
Through the window you could see Lizzie, and all your cast mates, as it was the closing celebration of the WandaVision filming.
You swallowed hard, the object in your pocket suddenly becoming too heavy.
You startled slightly when you felt a hand on your shoulder.
"I guess we're both late, huh?" Kathryn Hahn, your cast mate, remarked gently, putting her car keys away in her pocket clearly having arrived right with you.
You gave her a lopsided smile and she noticed your hesitation, assuming a worried expression.
"Everything okay?" She asked.
You shifted your gaze to the window again, watching Lizzie giggle shyly, her gaze shining slightly. She looked around too, searching, and you knew it was for you.
"Yeah, I just...I was just having a moment of doubt." You say still looking at Lizzie. Kathryn followed your gaze, and smiled, but didn't comment on it.
You sighed, reaching into your pocket and pulling out the object.
"Wow, are you going to...?" Kathryn asked in surprise but you gave a humorless laugh.
"No, I couldn't." You say swallowing dryly, and looking away from the velvet box. "I don't know if I'm ready."
"And when either of us are?" Kat returned, making you smile.
"How did you know you were going to say yes to your husband?" You asked next. Kathryn sighed thoughtfully.
"I didn't." She replied. "There's no way to know until you get asked. But what I did know was that I loved him. And that's what really matters."
You absorbed her words in silence, and then put the box back in your pocket.
"I think she loves me." You say. "That will be enough until I find the right moment."
Kat murmurs in understanding, and then pushes her shoulder against yours lightly.
"Just don't wait too long." She warns with a smile, nodding her head signaling for the two of you to enter the restaurant and join the rest of the team.
When you enter, any thoughts of Lizzie denying your marriage proposal are driven out by the image of her contented smile when she sees you arrive.
//-//-//-//
A/F/N> I'm not even gonna try to say this is the last time i'm continuing this work because at this point, I just know I don't believe my own words anymore haha. Tell me what you think people.
Tag> @imapotatao / @aimezvousbrahms/ @ensorcellme/ @helloalycia || @mionemymind / @abimess / @stephanieromanoff / @yourtaletotell / @tomy5girls / @justagaypanicking / @thegayw1tch / @idek-5 // @myperfectlovepoem // @helloalycia // @ENSORCELLME // @AIMEZVOUSBRAHMS // @drpepperobsessed // @sighsam // @olsensnpm // @sxfwap // @table57 // @madamevirgo // @causeitswhatjesuswouldfreakingdo // @emptysince18x // @xastrydx || @yuhloversxx || @ymzki-haruki || @wouldirunofftheworldsomeday || @lostandsearching || @lezzzbehonesthere || @musicinourlips || @chaekhan || @diaryoflife || @nervoustrack || @aquamarinescarlet || @cristin-rjd || @idamaemann || @fortunatelynerdylight
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COSMIC - S2:E1; Chapter One, MADMAX - [Pt. 4 - FINAL]
A Will Byers x Male!Reader Series
As the town preps for Halloween, a high-scoring rival shakes things up at the arcade. Will begins seeing strange visions as the anniversary of his disappearance creeps up.
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||𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕||
"Still no sign?" Dustin asked.
"Jack shit,"
"Seriously, what is wrong with you guys? I thought we were coming here to play arcade games?"
"We came here to see if Max really is Mad Max."
"You mean stalking?" I smirked. "Hey listen, I'm not really into the whole idea of stalking some poor girl, so I'm gonna go inside and beat some high scores, okay?" I said nonchalantly, pointing my thumb over my shoulder in the direction of the arcade.
"Y/n! Are you crazy? You'll jeopardize our mission!"
I began walking backwards, hands in my pockets as I spoke to the slightly panicked boys.
"Mm-hmm, sure. Later guys, you both are welcome to join me if you like. Dustin? If you do end up heading home, just let mom know I'll be home by 7 at the latest."
Leaving them without time to respond, I turned around and headed for the arcade doors across the parking lot as I heard their fading protests and disappeared inside.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
"Well, shit." I mumbled.
I hated going to Keith for stuff. I had only been here twenty minutes and one of the machines already fritzed out again and kept my money. So, I begrudgingly walked over to the counter.
"Well, well, well, look who it is. Little goody too-shoes."
"And what is that supposed to mean, Keith?" I sighed, folding my arms on the counter.
"You act like your too good for everyone. It's obnoxious."
"Just because I prefer to practice basic hygiene doesn't mean I'm a snob, it means I have common sense. Who knows what you've contracted handling all these machines." I retort.
"Do you need help or not?" He asked lazily.
He looked me right in the eye and took a large, noisy bite out of his Cheeto Puffs knowing I hated the sound.
"Forget it," I sighed and turned around about to storm off.
I felt my shoulder collide with another and I backed up at the sudden impact.
"Sorry!"
"Watch it," a girl grumbled, obviously startled.
I looked up to see the girl from class, Max.
"Oh, hey. Max, right?"
"Yeah, how'd you-? Wait... you hang out with those creeps, don't you?" She asked with a frown on her face.
"I should explain," I said, a weak smile on my face. "For one thing, one of those creeps happens to be my brother. And two, yeah... they can be creepy. I'm sorry, I've been trying to get them to back off. They can be a real handful sometimes,"
Her arched eyebrow softened and a small smile creeps up.
"I'm Y/n, by the way," I say.
"Max," she says, reaching her hand out to shake. "But, I guess you already knew that."
The both us laughed lightly.
"So," She began. "Any particular reason as to why I'm the subject of their interest?"
We began walking side by side and found ourselves by Dig Dug and I pointed at my brother's name.
"Well, you practically obliterated my brother's top scores and they find it hard to believe a girl is responsible for that,"
A funny frown flew across her face, and an almost untraceable hint of surprised before she shook it off. Max finally rolled her eyes, stuffing her hands in her jacket pockets. "Of course they do,"
I leaned in sort of close, turning her away from the windows when I caught sight of Lucas and Dustin. "Hey listen, I feel like I owe it to you to tell you that they are here right now and it was my mistake to think they wouldn't resort to crouching outside the windows and spying so would you like to go to the opposite end of the arcade where they can't be creeps?"
She looked at me with slightly widened eyes, "Wait, you knew they were here?"
"They tricked me into coming." I explain quickly, trying not to dart my eyes over her shoulder at Dustin and Lucas who I had just spotted and risk giving me and Max away. "I thought we where here to play, but when I realized it was a stakeout to see if you were MadMax, I told them off and came inside to beat some high scores, I swear."
"Oh," her face softened slightly. She seemed a little taken aback, and not quite used to such a gesture. "Well... thanks."
She casually glanced over her shoulder, and grabbed my arm. "Come on, follow me,"
With a growing smile on my face, I followed.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
Max and I had a surprisingly good time. We hid out in the corner behind one of the machines and messed with Keith. Eventually Max had to leave; this gross scuz who I showed up blasting AC/DC who I could only assumed was the notorious asshole of a stepbrother that she briefly mentioned.
She barely talked about him but with the what little knowledge I did have of him, I felt bad for her and I suddenly was reminded of how extremely lucky I am to have someone like Dustin as my brother.
Before I could even realize it, I was pulling into the drive way, parking my bike. I had biked home with Dustin who had been gnawing my ear off trying to pry information from me about Max but I tuned him out.
"Seriously, Y/n, why can't you just tell me what she was like?"
Dustin was parking his bike as I went through the front door ahead of him, assuming he was behind me.
"Because, for the last time Dustin, I'm not some spy that's gonna feed you information because you're too chicken to reach out and talk to her like a normal human being," I shed my coat and was hanging it up by the front door.
I turned to face my brother only to see he wasn't behind me. I walked towards the front door and peeked outside to see him cautiously stalking towards the garbage can.
"Dustin?"
He nearly jumped two feet in the air and whipped around to face me.
"Jesus! Y/n, don't do that to me!"
"I'm... sorry? Are you okay? What the hell happened?"
He looked over his shoulder at the trash can once more and then back at me, sighing as he trudged inside.
"Nothing, thought I heard something,"
||𝟑𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕||
The Byers household was filled with the smiles and the aroma of popcorn as everyone prepared for movie night. Jonathan could hear the sounds of his mother's voice as he made his way to his younger brothers room.
Jonathan gently rapped his knuckles on the door to Will's room before opening the door. Will was sitting on his bed, his legs crossed as he colored.
"Hey, bud. I didn't know what you'd like, so I got a variety." He held up the VHS tapes to show his brother before putting them on a nearby shelf. "Take your pick."
Will lightly shrugged before returning to his drawing. "Whatever you want,"
"All right," Jonathan came forward and took a seat across from his brother on his bed. "What are you working on?"
He leaned over to see the picture of a suspiciously familiar looking boy dressed in ripped and ragged clothing with a snarl on his face, the words "Zombie Boy" next him.
"Zombie Boy? Who's Zombie Boy?"
Will looked slightly uncomfortable at the question before mumbling, "me,"
"Did someone call you that?"
Will didn't respond.
"Hey. You can talk to me. You know that, right? Whatever happened." When Jonathan received no answer he tried again. "Will, come on, talk to me."
Will's head whipped up. "Stop treating me like that." He snapped.
Jonathan was hurt, not by his brother's words but the fact that his brother was clearly struggling and he didn't know how to help.
"What? Like what?"
"Like everyone else. Like there's something wrong with me."
"What are you talking about?"
"Mom, Dustin, Lucas. Everyone. They treat me like I'm gonna break. Like I'm a baby. Like I can't handle things on my own. It doesn't help. It just makes me feel like more of a freak."
"You're not a freak."
"Yeah, I am. I am,"
"You know what? You're right." Jonathan picked himself up and sat crisscross on the bed across his brother. "You are a freak"
Will looked up at his brother, taken aback.
"What?"
"No, I'm serious. You're a freak. But what? Do you wanna be normal? Do you wanna be just like everyone else? Being a freak is the best. I'm a freak."
Will tried to make sense of this. "Is that why you don't have any friends?"
Jonathan chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "I have friends, Will."
"Then why are you always hanging out with me?"
"Because you're my best friend, all right? And I would rather be best friends with Zombie Boy than with a boring nobody. You know what I mean? Okay, look... who would you rather be friends with? Bowie, or Kenny Rogers?"
Will smiled, and shivered. "Ugh,"
"Exactly. It's no contest. The thing is, nobody normal ever accomplished anything meaningful in this world. You got it?"
"Well... some people like Kenny Rogers." Will offered.
"Kenny Rogers?" Came an excited voice from the doorway.
The boys turned to see their mother's boyfriend, Bob Newby standing in the doorway. "I love Kenny Rodgers!" He chuckled.
The boys looked at each other with matching grins.
Bob walked in with a friendly smile on his face. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing" Will giggled, and Bob picked up the VHS tapes, examining them.
Suddenly his eyes lit up once he saw one of the movie selections. "Mr. Mom." Bob gave a loud cheer. "Perfect!" And he left with an enthusiastic grin.
As soon as he was around the corner, the brother looked at each other and burst into fits of laughter.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
The worker at Hawkins lab only had an hour left to go on his shift. In his spell of boredom, he had brought along his Walkman and was blaring one of his favorite songs as he repeatedly bounced the rubber ball against the wall. He would bounce and catch. Bounce and catch. Bounce and then catch. Until, he noticed the light dancing off the wall he had been so focused on.
He turned around in his chair and felt his heart start pounding rapidly. The control panel he was supposed to be keeping an eye on was lighting flashing rapidly. He ripped his headphones of his head and it was only then that he heard the blaring of alarms around the building.
He knew what that alarm was.
Systems were down.
There was some monitoring systems out there. Out in the Nether. To maintain and feed back levels and information for observation.
"A fuse must of blown." The man told himself.
But then a dreadful thought popped into his head. He had no idea where it came from, and he had no reason for such paranoia. Almost as if something whispered it in his ear like the devil on his shoulder.
"Or maybe," he dismissed the thought as soon as fast it came. "Something else was responsible for this."
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
It was nearly two a.m. and the Byers house was dead silent. The only sounds that could be heard was the soft hum of the clock's gears as the second hand made laps around the clock and the soft rhythmic plink of the leaky faucet.
Will Byers awoke, lazily pulling himself out of bed and walking down the hallway; his feet patting across the floor to the bathroom.
The sound of the toilet flushing was slowly waking him up, but he was still plagued with drowsiness as he turned on the faucet and sleepily washed his hands.
Suddenly, he froze when he thought he heard the sound of low rumbling in the distance. He turned off the faucet, leaving the room quiet so he could listen. Sure enough, he heard rumbling coming from outside. Warily, he crept towards the bathroom door and opened it, surprised to see red flashing through the glass window on the front door. Deep violets and reds flashed across the living room accompanied by the sound of what he could only guess to be thunder.
He fearfully crept towards the front door. He came to a stop when he heard the dreadful sound of wood creaking and he watched in horror as the front door slowly swung open to reveal a reddish purple sky, and the violent winds were carrying leaves and other debris with it. Something strange was growing around the outside of the house and he felt the familiar sensation returning.
His felt his blood run cold and his skin shriveled up and goosebumps broke out all over. His breathing picked up and he could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up as he watched frozen in terror.
Suddenly, his body was moving without his permission, and his legs carried him through the front door and out onto his front lawn. His hair and clothes were swept up in the wind and he came to a halt when he saw the horrors in front of him.
The sky was a mess of black clouds and red lightning bolts shooting from the sky like daggers with thunderous booms. The clouds swirled together like a violent whirlpool in the sky and with every flash of lighting, the blood red sky was illuminating a dark towering figure.
It stood hundreds of feet tall and looked over the fields in the distance. It almost resembled a spider, only it it was all limbs. It's head was a large crescent arch and as Will stared on in terror, it slowly turned its head. And even though it had no facial features, Will knew it was looking right at him.
The Shadow Monster.
⊹ ⊹ ⊹
Hopper pulls his car to a stop. He always hated the drive out here. He preferred his grandfathers cabin to his run down trailer by the lake, but driving in the woods at night was not something he liked doing. Regardless, he parked in the same spot he always did and put the car in park. He grabbed his hat and placed it on his head, stepping out of the car. He could feel the mud shift below his boots as he walked along the forest floor. Without even having to glance at the ground, his foot raised itself to step over the trip wire that was rigged around the area. He walked up the porch steps and pulled open the screen door.
It took him less than a second to remember the rhythmic knock he had come up with and began knocking on the door.
Two quick knocks. Pause. Knock. Pause. Knock-knock-knock.
As usual, there was a beat of silence and then the sound of the locks coming undone.
The man turned the door knob and stepped inside to be greeted by the sounds of the TV and an otherwise empty room. He glanced over to see the spare bedroom door was cracked, soft yellow light spilling out from behind the door.
He closed the front door behind him and hung his hat and coat on the coatrack. He then made his way over to the small television and switched it off, tired and sluggish from the days events. He walked across the room to the kitchen, unbuckling his holster from his belt and setting it down on the counter and then retrieved a can of beer from the fridge.
He lazily trudged over to the kitchen table and frowned at the plate of a single, half-eaten Eggo that stood out against the trays of microwaveable dinner that were placed before each chair.
"Hey, what'd we talk about?" He softly called.
He pulled the yellow chair out and took a seat in his normal spot, anxious to eat after a long day.
"No signal," a young female voice carried out across the cabin from the other room.
He sat down, a frown on his face.
"What?"
"No signal. It's 8-1-5. You're late." The voice scolded.
He took a deep breath, hoping she wasn't too upset with him.
"Yeah, I lost track of time. I'll signal next time, all right?" He looked up as he heard the sound of the bedroom door opening and the small patter of feet. He looked up as he saw the girl come into view and sit down across from him. "Uh, and it's 8:15. It's not 8-1-5." He informed the girl.
Eleven, alive and well, looked up at him from under her mop of curly brown hair that now barely touched her eyes and blinked. She looked at Hopper with an unreadable expression and repeated slowly.
"Eight-fifteen."
Hopper rolled up his sleeves so as to not dirty his uniform with dinner and El tucked in her chair, hovering over her plate so as to not dribble syrup over her overalls. He looked at the girl with a soft yet stern look. "Now, what did we talk about? Dinner first, then dessert. Always. That's a rule,"
He leaned forward, and half smiled. "Yeah?"
"Yes," she replied.
They shared a smile and got started on their dinner, silently enjoying each other's company.
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aks3raao1 · 3 years
Note
Me, to Luja: So tell me about yourself
Luja: No
Me: ...ma'am I need to write the story—
Luja: Good luck <3
[now that I do think of it, ALTERNATIVE's main duo that's established right at the beginning is literally a chiller but edgier Katsuki and way worse sUrViVe Nagito genderbends]
~~~~~~
Luja Sen, she/her
Anyways, Luja and Romila are friends from middle school (the story starts with the beginning of their high school at AoS (Academy of the Specialised) which was essentially founded by Nyx). Luja gains her Specialisation (Ferrokinesis: The Ability to bend metal) at the age of twelve, so she has it for a lesser time period than Romila.
Luja primarily wants to become a scientist. Her family is happy with that, because it's praised and everything, especially in our society.
She has a gifted child superiority complex. Being a gifted child + Specialised means that she hardly had many friends in school. Her family had tried to get her to socialize....which didn't go down too well.
She believes that most people are annoying because they waste too much time on useless things like gossiping and what not, which she never showed much interest in and doesn't like to be dragged into those nonsense.
She is friends with Romila since they do share the same taste in stuff and were the only Specialised ones in their class. And they kinda stuck together for most of middle school and went into high school.
She has a problem when it comes to seeing Romila since she tends to see her bad parts and is like, "It's a phase" considering that it's not necessarily affecting her. Romila doesn't get too cranky with her since she fascinates her, with her passion™ for science. Also because she isn't all self sacrifice UwU.
Luja cares for her own self above others (but tends to put Romila pretty close to that hierarchy, which is why she's one of the only two Romila trusts during the Mansion of Death (the other person is Kratanos)) however she also does want to keep what friends she has and is generally caring towards them.
She has a genuine love for science and loves to discover how things work and why, and her favourite facet is Physics. She does want to invent things and honestly just make stuff easier for the Specialised who face a LOT of issues, especially when it comes to amenities since the government is an ass about accomodations and they gained the Fundamental Rights like ten years or so ago in the ALTERNATIVE timeline. And they gain an additional right ("The body won't be harmed for science") when they graduate from school, after signing a contract that they dedicate themselves to helping the government when called upon. (The whole contract is stupid and basically oppresses them more especially the punishment for not abiding by it).
With her goal of becoming a scientist, she wants to use her talents to make accomodations specifically for them so that she could have done something.
The things she fears the most is failure. Failing as in being unable to accomplish her goals. She is afraid of it because it's an unknown variable that's constantly haunted her and she's working hard for it to never reach her.
I suppose there's a way for her to confront that fear during the Mid terms at AoS where she essentially "loses" in the practicals due to her......teamwork issues.
Everyone thinks of her as stuck up and isn't interested to listen to her much and since she views the others as annoying people with annoying habits, she tends to fail to regulate them, causing Romila to win instead (yes, it's THAT unfortunate of a situation) in their match, which causes her to review a LOT of things and she tries to see what caused her to lose after having a severe breakdown.
She develops an inferiority complex in respect to Romila and then spends a long time wondering where she went wrong.
Rena (who somehow clung to her) tries to cheer her up but gets turned back halfway, but she still stays on and Luja is like, "Wtf" until she sees Romila going entirely off the deep end (she presents an interesting contrast to how Koldin sees Romila as well, she sees Romila's behavior and considers it as a justification for her own self....she uses Romila to justify herself a lot (since if you asked Romila, Luja was more or less fine according to her since she wasn't being a doormat and stood up for herself) while Koldin sees Romila as the reason he should cling onto his own stuff) and realises that she could be on the path to destruction herself and accepts Rena's help and tries to be more open to others which leads to the Mid terms parallels in the Archenemy of Society arc where she "succeeds" instead and manages to get the class together enough to escape the situation.
However it doesn't mean that her fear of failure has entirely vanished into the blue, she just reviews the ways she can fail better now and works around it to avoid it and has more confidence in her own self. But she is still scared of failing and would love to avoid that more than anything. However she's chiller after that.
Her intelligence is more or less on par with both Romila and Kratanos, making them the three main strategists in the final battle against the bigots (which is basically a rerun of the Mansion of Death situation but way way worse and fucked up and has different leads to it).
....
The thing is that, no matter what I do, she winds up feeling like one dimensional/repetitive, which is something I am trying to amend about all the characters (I mean, I had to revamp a lot of characters so it will probably take me a long long time to actually get to writing.........sigh besides she stands up like a cardboard amongst people (I mean, you have Romila and Kratanos with extremely complicated storylines and then you have her. Just there))
So the main question is how to make her more interesting as a character and on par with the rest while still keeping her character flaws and personality?
I think the easiest way to go abt this is to view her as a sassy Bakugo. They have the main points in common. They're salty, don't like to socialise, feel inferior to a certain someone while still having some semblance of confidence and a terrible fear of failure
Now as much as I hate to compare your character to another one, it makes it a lot easier to have them become - as my English teacher would say - more. So I am sorry if this comes off as offensive-
For Bakugo, he became interesting by playing a big part in the mc's main story and we do get a few scenes where his vulnerability is shown. I assume it's the same with your character but...what rlly ties the knot for me when it comes to Katsuki is the fact that his problems...are more than just an inferiority/superiority complex. His whole thing stems from background especially (*cough* abusive mom *cough*) and the fact that he's not the main character (or rather that the story isn't being told in his perspective).
These facts make us over think and want more of him. The mystery draws us in which is why I think Luja's character is so perfect for someone in the background. She doesn't like to reveal things abt herself and is pretty dismissive to most things on top of that (plainly just salty). Her character rlly draws you in and the best way to portray those kinds of characters is through another character. Ofc, you'd have to get to their POV eventually but it's important to note that most of the details should come from someone else's POV (an observer, if you will) instead of info dumping and starting straight with hers. A character that's mysterious with a very simple yet relatable story attracts a LOT more attention and interest when seen from someone else's perspective than when you kickstart it from theirs.
Ofc, if u are planning (or already have) started the story from her POV, that would be a bit problematic in terms of interest. But not a train wreck. This is where my other point comes in. The point of making a character have more than one problem
Different ppl as well as characters have a main problem but also different ones, no matter what way you look at it. It seems that even you are confused with all ur character's ins and outs (dw, we've all been there... I am still there tbh) and a solution to that is backtracking a bit and looking at their life from the very beginning in HEAVY detail (like more than u already did). Think abt what other trauma could have been caused, what doubts and fears could have slowly crept it's way to her heart and head (I am a sucker for long-lasting doubts that develop over time) and anything you can even so much as GRASP on. If you look at it and see it as a possibility, try to fit that into her character and add it subtly in different places (as subtext or a creative pattern, wordplay, doesn't rlly matter as long as it's not openly stated bc, remember, the key thing to these types of characters is mystery).
For example, a fear of failure can stem into anxiety before the character has even lost smth later in their life. They probably get rlly anxious when evaluating smth but don't show it much or at all so no one notices. This adds even MORE to the character bc you can build it up after other events. Like once they have failed, they could probably get even more anxious and then develop a bad relationship with the person who beat them (double the points if it was a friend). You could build all that up and turn it super toxic instead of jumping right to the healing. It makes it more interesting, doesn't it? Plus, reevaluating almost everything including world views after 1 loss is...kind of hard to believe even with anxiety (no offense)
Adding a lot of little problems and thinking abt how Luja's behaviour can impact other characters helps a terrible lot if ur doing most of the story from her POV. Especially since she's probably the most relatable character (from what I've heard anyway). I have a certain saying... it goes like, "It's better to have a relatable and connecting character than one with a problem that is too big for normal people to fathom."
I like characters with heart-wrenching problems that I would never be able to relate to (take maybe Shigaraki as an example ig?) But my favourite are the ones that make me feel as tho I made a real connection
Also, I would like to say...if ur looking to progress her character even further, I would debate on whether it's the complete end to the novel or if there'll be a second part. If it's a second part, keep some of Luja's issues. Make her get better but not completely "YAY, I AM DONE BEING TORMENTED". If it's the end of the novel/series/etc., make it so that she's resolved most of most of her issues. They don't have to be completely gone but they have to be a lot better compared to how they started. And how i would work that out is a mind map but knowing ur a scatterbrain...lets talk it out where everything is all over the place
Luja's main thing is to gain confidence in herself and be finally ok with losing, right? If you ask me, that's a tough one but not impossible. I think to get her from point A to point B is to put up a bunch of events like:
Get her super anxious when doing smth
Lose to *insert person*
Have a breakdown and over think on what she could have done better (on the project or whatever she lost at)
Get even more anxious and totally mess up the next thing
Lose once again (double points if it's the same person as last time)
Overthinking abt how she's not good enough
F i g h t i n g f r i e n d s c o z d r a m a
"YoU'rE nEvEr GoNnA gEt BeTtEr If YoU kEeP tHiNkInG aBoUt YoUrSeLf"
Over think abt no. 8 bc out of options and ideas and ✨a n x i e t y✨
Try listening to others more and become b e t t e r
Win smth (bc creator forbid 3 losses in a row to start depression)
Lose again (there is gonna be a bit of back and forth but is necessary for development)
"I tHoUgHt I wAs FiNaLlY dOiNg SoMeThInG rIgHt AnD nOw LoOk"
"Losing is not th3 3nd of th3 fucking world, you lunatic"
"WELL, IT IS TO ME, BITCH"
*insert psychology somehow idk*
Another loss
"I'm angry...but I'm ok"
Note that idk where bullying would come in and these are only how I would think it to go-
A character like this isn't rlly my strong suit when it comes to them resolving their problems but they are fun to write and think abt-
................................did I just give you advice on how to traumatize? I-
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wendystales · 3 years
Text
Memories - lrh (Chapter Seventeen)
Tumblr media
Memories (also on Wattpad)
Chapter Sixteen ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ Chapter Eighteen
Marnie pov.
I don't know if it was hangover or guilt, but my head was weighing a ton the morning after the party. Unlike everyone, I didn't wake up in a good mood, in fact I was pretty quiet at breakfast. Lucky for me, no one suspected anything, as the hangover gripped everyone there.
As yesterday was still Saturday and most had to work, I didn't have to run away from anyone. Since my plan had been in action since Monday, I took the day off to start packing up some things, trying to get everything as ready as possible.
For today, I had left only the final adjustments, like packing my suitcase and getting ready for my conversation with Luke.
The pain in my throat becomes more and more unbearable every time I hold back the cry. I fold up one of the band sweatshirts I have, watching the boys' faces, wanting to reinforce why I'm doing this.
I run my finger over Luke's face, as if I'm touching him. Friday's flashes flood my mind and I scold myself for nearly screwing it up out of sheer desire. Of course I wanted it as much as he did. Feel his touch, the desire and love he manages to emanate so naturally. I don't think I've ever felt so alive and so amazing in anyone's arms as in his, but it couldn't happen.
The doorbell snaps me out of my thoughts. I hurry downstairs, thinking it's Martin with the paperwork.
“Noah?" I give my friend room to enter. "Aren't you supposed to be at that lunch?" I check my watch and check the time, 1:37 PM. “Noah?” I call him, wondering at his frown.
"I wanted to come talk to you directly so we don't have any misunderstandings and to see if that way I can understand what this should mean." he hands me a folder. I open it quickly feeling my blood pressure drop. It was the paperwork I was waiting for. "What's this about moving to New York?"
"How did this get to you?" I try to control my breathing and head into the living room, feeling the urge to sit down. I start to think of a million excuses and ways not to have this conversation since it wasn't part of my plan.
“In case you also forgot, I work at the company. I am the owner's son and above that I am your advisor, everything that happens to you must pass through me at some point. Now tell me what this story is." I don't think I've ever seen Noah this angry.
“I received a job offer and decided to accept.” I know my voice has cracked, but I pray he doesn't notice. Noah stares at me for a few seconds with a more confused and displeased expression.
“I've known you for two years. You're going to have to try harder if you want to deceive me. Marnie, you just signed a rehearsal contract here in LA. If you got a proposal, you would know from me. Does this have to do with the fact that you're weird these days? What? Did you go without saying anything to anyone? That's it?” I remain silent, feeling everything go downhill from there. Slowly, a fury starts to build inside me. “Marnie, what's going on?”
It's not just the countless times I've heard this question throughout the week. I believe it's because I'm not in control of anything right now. About me being forced to do all this, not being able to tell my friend what's going on. All of this makes the question so much bigger and deeper than it really is. And it makes the fury that's brewing inside me grow.
“My God! Nothing! It's not happening anything. What a bag!” the scream breaks my mouth, coming out louder and angrier than I expected. “I am fine! When are you going to understand this?” he doesn't seem to be frightened by my scream, just standing there with his arms crossed and expressionless.
"Maybe when you stop lying and tell me what's going on?" he makes fun of me. A cynical laugh comes out of me as I go to open the door and ask him to leave my apartment. “You weren't like that, Marnie." I get irritated again. I can't explain where so much anger comes from, let alone contain it.
“Surprise, Noah, I'm like that. This is Marnie and always has been. Now if you don't like her, I can't do anything. Your ‘Marnie’ is gone and it's just me. And I'm going to New York whether you like it or not.” along with the anger, I feel like crying, but once again, I hold back with all my strength.
Noah nodded thoughtfully. I know it's a scene, that he's going to attack me again, he's just choosing his words.
“Then that's it? You mess it up, make everyone believe that everything is fine, and leave without warning. Is that what you're going to do?” the judgmental look bothers me.
"I didn't mess anything up."
“No?” he laughs falsely. "I don't say for myself or for the girls, but haven't you been giving a certain someone hope, making him believe you could get back together? And now you're going to go away and let him suffer without caring?” he raises his eyebrows.
I suck in the air harder, making it burn. The fire burns stronger inside me. The desire at the moment is to break everything.
“Do not do it.” my voice breaks. I close my eyes, pulling myself together. “Do not do it! Don't think I'm not suffering from having to make this decision either.” I can't hold back the tears, not caring about them anymore either.
“You're? Cuz it doesn't look like.” I close my hands, squeezing them tightly. I try to control the urge to scream, scream in hate, in anger, in pain and most of all, scream that he is being unfair to me.
“Of course I'm suffering.” once again I scream. "Do you think not?! Look at me! Do you think it doesn't hurt me to have to do all this?! Leave him here like this and not be able to do anything?! Of course it hurts. Why do you think I'm doing all this?! Because I love him! I love more than one day I thought it was possible to love someone. I'm doing it for him. But there's no easy way to do this, I don't have a choice.”
“Everyone has a choice, Marnie, you're just choosing the one you find easiest.”
"Does this sound easy to you?" I interrupt him, opening my arms, showing me. I dry my tears exhausted. “I made my choice and I appreciate if you respect. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to finish packing my bags.” I open the door for him.
My friend doesn't say anything else, just heads towards the door.
“Feel free to share my plan with the others.” I say tough.
“No! I will not do that. You made your decision, you did the shit and now deal with it.” Noah doesn't even wait for the elevator, taking the stairs.
I slam the door, feeling that anger still burn inside me. I rest my eyes on the wall where my photo is. I go to it, pulling out the wallpaper, tearing off part of the image. I'm not mad at Noah, I'm mad at myself, at the way it all went and where I went.
If I weren't a model, I could be living my life without any problems. Luke would still be the guy in the band I only knew one song about. I would be happy and free from all that pressure.
Still needing to release that anger, I grabbed the flower pots near the door, throwing what was left of my image against. My throat hurts from sobs and my heart clenches when that feeling arises.
““Wait, there's an eyelash.” I say to Luke, trying to catch it. “OK! Make a wish.” I lift my little finger at him.
He was about to take the stage at the Capital Summertime Ball. Luke stares at my finger thoughtfully and smiles, apparently determined.
“Be my girlfriend?” he sounds curious. I stare at his amused face, making sure he's kidding me.
“I'm serious.” I push his shoulder with another hand. I gasp when I see Luke kneel down with the guitar.
“Me too.” he shrugs. I start to laugh nervously, covering my face but careful not to lose my eyelash. I can hear the muffled laughter of the boys beside us, just wanting to hit each one of them.
“You need to blow to see if your wish comes true.” I say, already knowing my answer and I suspect he does too. Luke stands up blowing his flying eyelash.
"Boys, it's you, come in." a production guy yells, already pushing Ashton onto the stage, who is followed by Calum.
Quickly, I grab Luke's face, like I always did before he took the stage.
“Yes!” I give him a peck, watching him smile. Luke hugs me, stealing another kiss, running up onto the stage happily.
“This was definitely the cutest, most improvised request I've ever seen.” I open an even bigger smile, hearing Ryan beside me. I lay my head on his shoulder, swallowing the happy cry I wanted to let out.””
I don't know how long I sat staring at my torn photo, with a horrible pain in my chest. I hug my knees like the coward I am, not wanting to accept that the time has come.
Luke pov.
I jot down one more note in the melody I'm creating. The idea came up in the morning and if I didn't work on it now, I would forget. I go back to playing the piano following the sequence, when the bell interrupts me.
Petunia doesn't even make an effort to get up, remaining on the couch, snoring.
I open the door feeling my heart race. Marnie was standing there with a serious expression. I conclude that she came to tell me what was going on and I am relieved that I will finally understand what is happening.
“Can we talk?" I'm surprised by the hard look.
I make room for her, who goes straight to the living room, standing in the middle. I let a weak smile emerge, remembering all the times she's done this. I stop a little away, giving space, because I know how important this is to her at these times.
"I believe you came to tell me what's going on." I keep my hands in my pants pockets. M&Ms nodded.
"I came to break whatever we have." I don't know how to react. In fact, I'm not sure I got it right. “Look I tried, I really tried, but…”
“I'm sorry, what?”
For a second, I wonder how I got back to two years ago, where we had these fights almost daily. Where we were too dumb to want to accept. If it weren't for the pink hair, I would be convinced that it would be 2018 again.
“I tried to feel something for you, but I couldn't. And there's nothing I can do.”
I stare at Marnie, confused. I replay the past few weeks in my mind, all our moments together, and I can't believe a single word she says. I know everything was real. Every smile and laugh, every flushed cheek, every look and especially every kiss. Come back to Friday. How can she say there was nothing there?
“You gotta be kidding me. After all we've been through this month, do you have the courage to try to say you didn't feel anything?” my tone rises.
It doesn't make any sense. Her speech, her request not to forget that she likes me and today this? The pieces don't come together.
“Sorry. But I can't go on with this anymore.” I can see your gaze looking around the room. She's lying, why is she lying? For me on top.
“Why are you doing this?” Marnie looks at me confused.
"Because I'm tired of carrying this…”
“No! Why are you lying to me?” her eyes roll. I get close enough to be able to hear and notice her breathing.
"I have no reason to lie to you. If you can't accept that a girl doesn't like you, that's your business.” she passes me at the mention of leaving. But I hold your arm.
"So Friday was my hallucination? The two of us in the bedroom. You on my lap. All that desire and lust, was it a dream of mine?” your pupils dilate.
I can see she's thinking right now, can feel her pulse increase. She felt something, all this time, she felt something. I don't know if it's that insecurity from the beginning, the fear of getting involved, of getting hurt that always kept her away from me. The fear that I would be like him.
“I drank a lot.” her voice breaks the silence. I let go, covering my face, laughing indignantly.
“Oh my God, Marnie, why are you doing this? It's clear you're lying to me. Tell me what's going on. Is someone blackmailing you? Threatening you? Is it Stephen? Did he mess with you again?”
“There's nothing going on, Luke. I just don't love you.” she says with her head down.
The sentence cuts through me, causing agonizing pain. I feel my body retract. Your voice comes back in my mind in different tones and shapes, telling me every time you loved me. Whispering, screaming, in normal tones, even the day she swallowed helium gas.
My eyes burn. I don't want to cry in front of her, not out of shame, because I've cried a million times, but out of pride in not accepting that I'm hurt.
“I didn't want to go that far.” her restrained voice hovers over me.
I look at Marnie, not recognizing her. This is not the girl I fell in love with. The girl I spent nights awake just imagining what it would be like to go out with her, what it would be like to hold her hand and see her smile at me. The girl I spent mornings admiring sleeping. That I wrote love letters. That several times made me forget even my name just for saying the same thing. It's not her.
But it's amazing how I still know she's in there, somehow. Maybe Marnie was right that day, she didn't want to feel like an intruder in her own life, but she was.
She herself undid everything we built. Everything we've fought so hard has fallen like a house of cards. The promises made at dawn about our future together, vanish with the wind. I know they weren't empty, but the girl who made them with me isn't here.
“I'm so sorry. I-”
“Say it looking at me.” I stare at her resolutely.
“Don't do that.” she begs in a whisper.
Her eyes flood with despair and I delude myself, even with pain. Her mouth opens several times, but her voice doesn't come out. Her eyes blink several times, trying to ward off the tears that are forming there. I watch her body hold the air.
“What? Weren't you so determined?! So convinced?! Didn't you come here for this?! So say it looking at me, not the walls, like you're doing.” her jaw locks. “Two years ago you came here to look me in the eye and say you wanted to try, you came to ask me for a chance for both of us. So now look into them and say you don't want it anymore.”
Marnie stares at me lost. I pray, I beg her not to make it, for her to give up on this stupid idea. That deep down she says she's afraid to surrender. I wouldn't mind ignoring this fight and pretending nothing happened. Then I would hold her and make her feel like I would protect her from everything, make her feel loved. But my thoughts change and I lose hope when I watch her take off the necklace I gave her.
“I'm sorry.” she puts it in my hand. Right now I don't mind letting the tears fall. I stare at my hands feeling destroyed. Her lips touch my cheek lightly and so she leaves my house and my life.
““What is this?” I open a smile watching her approach, openmouthed. “Luke, what is this all about?” her eyes run over all the details with curiosity.
For a few seconds, I don't know what to say. I lose my breath watching how stunning she looks in this flowery dress with wavy hair. Holy crap.
“Our first date.” I shrug. Marnie breaks into a beautiful smile, making her cheeks blush. The sparkle in your eyes enchants me.
“Luke, when you said a date I swore we were going to a restaurant, I didn't think…” her voice trails off, giving way to a delighted laugh.
"Have I exaggerated?" I approach her, looking at the small tree with scattered lights and the table for two with two candles. "If you say yes, I'll be upset." I make fun of her.
“No! It's perfect, is that… I didn't expect this. Not all of that.” she whispers. "Did you do all this?" she looks at me in surprise.
“Good part. Except the food, the intention is to impress you, not make you run away from me.” I look at her teary eyes and feel amazing for getting it right. She liked.
I take a deep breath, trying to control my breathing and my nervousness. I wanted to leave Marnie speechless, wanted her to make sure I was worth it. And even with all the effort, she managed to leave me speechless yet. My God, how could someone be so beautiful like that? Am I really that lucky to have gotten her attention? I mean, do I deserve her?
“I do not know what to say. Thank you.” I get lost in her eyes, feeling the butterflies in my stomach grow. It couldn't be possible for me to be in love with her that fast already, could it?””
Marnie pov.
Air doesn't reach my lungs, no matter how windy it is. My chest and throat hurt so much my body recoils with every sob. It was like sand in my hand, running through my fingers, I couldn't hold it back.
As torture, I replay the scene in my head again, watching his blue eyes lose their luster and let those tears fall. I wanted to hug him and tell him I was crazy, drunk. That deep down I was completely in love with him, and I didn't even need my memories for that. Luke is so amazing that he managed to win me over again and I believe he could a million times over. I wanted to say that I want him, I want him more than anything, but I can't.
The doorbell pulls me out of my private cell, my mind, prompting me to question whether the bomb had ever gone off. It would probably be Leah or even Ashton, but I don't want to deal with anyone right now. I don't want lectures, I don't want judgments, I just want to stay on the couch until tomorrow when it's my time to go to New York.
I crawl to the door finding the last person I want to see right now. John Letterman has a huge, excited smile, in contrast, my face is red and swollen from crying for the past few hours.
“Hi, Marnie, how are you?” Cursed the day I ran into him at the studio.
“What are you doing here?” John plays offended.
“I just came to ensure that everything is going with our agreement.”
"What does it look like?" I point to my face. “It's all just the way you made me do it.” I turn around, entering the still-destroyed apartment.
"But what happened here?" he looks at the destroyed hall in disgust.
“You, John. Just you and your disgusting manipulation.” John shakes his head laughing.
"I didn't put any gun to your head to accept this. I just showed you the truth, you are destroying the career of 5 seconds of summer. Your person's association is putting their contract and their tour at risk. You're the one who decided to walk away.” he smiles satisfied.
I break eye contact, too exhausted to debate.
“I'm glad you lived up to your part of the deal and I hope this is the last time we've crossed paths.”
"Then we are two."
“But if I hear you're trying to get close to Luke again…” the tone of voice pisses me off.
“I've already done my part, but if you keep pissing me off, I'll go to Luke right now and tell him the whole truth.” I threat, nervous. I try not to show that his laugh makes me confused.
“You know, I missed you, Marnie. That innocence is really funny.” John stops laughing and approaches. "Do you think Luke wants to see you now?! Why do you think I'm here knowing everything?! He already called me, asking me to schedule the trip. He hates you now, Marnie. You broke his heart. I don't care what useless word you say to him, because he won't believe it. Here.” he takes his cell phone out of his jacket. "Want to call him and tell him?! I will help you.” he returns a venomous smile.
“Get out of my house.” I say through teeth.
"What's up, Marnie? Don't be so passionate. After all we are friends.” he makes fun of me.
"I said 'get out of my house.'” I scream, picking up a decorative vase beside me and threatening to throw it at it.
John doesn't look scared, but heads for the door.
“One day you'll thank me, Marnie.” he says before closing the door. I throw the vase, screaming, seeing it crash against the door.
The urge to go to Luke and tell the whole truth becomes much stronger, however, even if I don't want to admit it, John was right, Luke must hate me by now, making everything I say empty. On the other hand, I remember that I'm doing this for him.
I know at any other time, if I knew the band was going through something like that, I would do anything to help. Now, making sure I'm the problem, I want to become the solution and if that meant having to walk away from it then I would, after all their success and happiness could be mine.
I want to have faith that a few years from now, when everything is better, maybe I can get Luke and the others to understand why I'm doing this. Maybe we can even be friends if he doesn't hate me.
I give up, going up to my room for a shower and straight to bed. It's horrible knowing I need sleep to be acceptable for tomorrow, but I can't turn my head off. Even exhausted, I go over every fight I had today. Noah, Luke, and John's voices mingled in my mind, draining me more and more of my energy, but not to the point of putting me to sleep.
The night slowly drags on and the approach of dawn makes an anxiety rise within me. Yesterday they could have held back so they wouldn't come to debate anything, but I doubt that someone won't show up today and, given my state and mood, I'm sure I won't have the strength to fight.
For the few seconds and times I dozed off, I dreamed of the doorbell ringing, of Leah screaming for me to open the door. Finally, when the clock struck a little after five, I decided to get out of bed. Wrapped in the duvet, I walk to the kitchen, making tea. With my drink ready, I walk over to the couch on the balcony, watching the sky clear up for my last day in LA.
Passed morning, I go for a shower with the intention of getting rid of this weight. I lock everything in my room, not knowing when I'll be back. In the closet, I grab Luke's box and pull out my diary and some of our Polaroids. I also take the little white box, carefully storing it in my suitcase.
I walk around the house, closing windows, turning off power and stuff. I don't worry and much less care about the mess I made yesterday, if I ever come back to this apartment, I'll ask for a huge renovation, not wanting to remember anything from that time.
Around 8:00 am, I tell Martin that I want to go to the airport early, wanting to avoid any of my friends or family. I had already talked and said goodbye to my parents before the party. I'm relieved when he says he's on his way.
I take one last look at my apartment, accepting my defeat. I pick up my bags, already going downstairs and moving forward as much as possible to just leave, I just didn't count on Ashton at the front desk of the building
"Ash?" I call him on impulse. My friend turns to me, apparently not at all surprised to see me with my bags.
“Can we talk?” he questions calmly.
“I need to go to the air-” I try to dodge him, but Ash steps in front of me.
“Five minutes. I do not want to fight. I just want to understand you.” he interrupts me.
“You don't understand, Ash.” whisper. “I need to go.”
There's one thing I've always admired about Ashton, that peace he has and emanates. He in no second judges me with his gaze, in fact, this calm almost makes me tell everything, trusting that he would listen to me and believe me. But in seconds this idea loses strength, after all, Luke would not believe me and John could still harm the band.
“You know, I remember the day we met very well. You were the new student in yoga class and I was happy to have someone my age there. We weren't the best students and we talked too much, which caused us to be thrown out of class.” he laughs a little. “But even without that, we became good friends. It is not?”
“Yes,” I whisper, trying to understand where he is going.
“Marnie, I can't explain what was different with you, but I really didn't want to lose touch. I wanted you to be my friend. The problem is, in the end, I took care of you like my little sister. I think I projected that onto you. I've always taken care of Lauren and Harry a lot and I miss them sometimes. I always wanted to and will always protect you, but I need to know exactly what.”
“Ash…” I try to interrupt him but can't.
“I lost you once, in that fucking accident. I lost you to amnesia. I don't want to lose you for a silly thing. Marnie, please just tell me.” he pleads, holding my hands.
It pains me to see him like this. I can see the desperation in his eyes, just as I saw it in Luke's eyes. I know it hurts, but it has to. Ashton was definitely the best friend I've ever had in all my 23 years, I don't need my memory to prove it. Just a conversation with him and I realized our connection. Really, Ashton is the big brother I never had and I'm grateful for that.
Without the strength to want to convince him of the story I had already created, I pull his body to me, hugging my best friend for the last time. He doesn't deny the hug, squeezing me tightly, as if to stop me from going.
“Thanks for everything, Ash. Please don't forget my speech.” I give him a kiss on the cheek, ready to get into the car that has just arrived.
'It wasn't by chance that you and Luke met.” I stop at the door, turning confusing to him. “Ever since I've known you, I've known you'd be perfect for Luke, you're almost the female version of him. I just gave you guys a little push to see each other, because I knew the moment he saw you, he was going to fall in love with you.”
I stare at Ashton for a few more seconds before turning towards the car, feeling the tears wet my cheek once more. I didn't need to be an expert to know that yes, Luke and I were made for each other, but unfortunately, not all soulmates end up together.
I'm so sorry, I know I'm late. I have a undergraduate thesis at the end of the year and I am too busy with it. But I promise not to delay this amazing fic for you anymore. Thank you so much for all the support and affection, you're amazing. Until the next chapter!
P.s. which I will post in a few hours, after all, it's the least I can do after a month of delays. See ya! xoxo
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rainbowrider1290 · 3 years
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My take on a Genshin Impact Circus AU Part 4 with Noelle as a strongwoman and Amber as a death-defying archery stuntwoman. Their backstories are under the cut!
Noelle:
First off I have a very self-indulgent headcanon that she is ridiculously strong. Like. Can benchpress people. Canonverse or AU.
She used to help out around the circus and she was kind of indifferent to the fact that she was likely going to be a maid. It's a respectable profession. And helping out at her childhood friends' (Kaeya and Diluc) manor as she'd been born into doing seemed like a good job.
How she got into the circus life requires a bit of backstory. Back when they were kids, Kaeya, Diluc, and Noelle would mess around (as kids do) and have little challenges for themselves. Who can run the fastest, who can do the best cartwheel, who can jump the highest, and the like.
Noelle got a little hesitant as she got into her early teens bc she was always told to be ladylike, so she spent one or two of their hangout sessions watching Kaeya and Diluc and talking. One day, however, Kaeya and Diluc are being Teenage Boys and lifting heavy things trying to outlift each other. Noelle has lifted furniture when cleaning up after these two so she figures this one unladylike thing would be okay.
She comes up behind them and just. Picks them both up. On top of the things they were lifting already. Kaeya and Diluc have to take a second and just look at her like "yeah no you are never sitting out of our competitions again"
And so they try other things like cartwheels and tests of courage like who can climb the highest on a tree and things are back to normal.
Skip forward a few years and Crepus dies. There's a huge mystery around it that not even his son's attendants are privy to. The only thing people know is that the sons have been sent away to boarding school. The whole manor is abandoned, all the workers fired.
Noelle for the next few years spends her time working at laundromats, and other odd jobs, but eventually she runs out of luck and suddenly there's too many people and not enough opportunities.
One of her friends from one of her old jobs invites her to go out and see this new circus that happens to be in town. She goes because why not. And wouldn't you know it one of the acts is her childhood friends doing these death-defying stunts that hit her with a wave of nostalgia bc their entire act consists of essentially the song "anything you can do" but with more and more dangerous stunts.
Noelle of course has to say hi, so they catch up and Noelle's lack of work comes up and would you look at that Aether and Lumine happen to have an opening for a maid.
So Noelle settles in, continuing to lift heavy shit to clean under it (Bennett swears up and down he saw her lift a fridge once but he might've been sleep-deprived). She also got into helping Chongyun with the techy stuff so sometimes she'll be at tech rehearsals moving things around and one time a rope holding up a person breaks near Noelle and she. catches it.
Now, one night. One of the acts drops out at the last moment bc injury or last-minute commitment or the like. And it leaves a gap in the show. Everyone else is busy. And panicking bc the circus is still relatively new and they really need to build their rep rn.
They start wondering what kind of last-minute acts they can put together like "what about the gymnasts??" "They all have group routines" "do they have old routines??" "Not polished enough for what we need" and someone somewhere pipes up "man I wish we had a strongman or something" and Diluc and Kaeya immediately whip their heads around to look at each other for like half a second before Kaeya bolts. He finds Noelle doing her usual rounds she's been doing for like a month now and Bennett was right, she is currently under a mini-fridge that she is lifting over her head whilst leaning it against a wall.
Kaeya takes Noelle by the shoulders and just zooms her over to where the commotion is happening and pitches the idea to Aether and Lumine. They're hesitant as hECK bc this is a huge risk they're taking since Noelle isn't even a performer but Diluc pitches that they could literally just scatter really heavy items and have Noelle clean under them and as long as she looks at the audience every once in a while it can be played off as a bit.
Noelle with qUITE the stammer says that she'll try her best but at this time is in need of a moment. She has never performed before. Kaeya and Diluc have to go perform so they leave her with a shoulder squeeze and a thumbs up.
She gets on-stage. She flinches under the lights for a second. She takes a deep breath and focuses on the first thing before her with her best "oh heavens, it's filthy in here", and she gets through the entire act by doing that for every object. So the audience is seeing this seemingly petite young girl lift the equivalent of a hecking car in order to clean under it.
Needless to say, there's roaring applause the second Noelle leaves (which she hears from far away because holy shit I just cleaned for people and they liked it)
This was a bit of a one-time thing and she goes back to her regular maid duties until the circus gets a new strongman by the name "Zhongli".
His style is more about lifting exTREMELY LARGE ROCKS, and breaking them in half whilst giving a history/geology lesson on them.
He quietly observes the maid who he hears fantastical stories of That One Time She Charmed An Audience By Cleaning. He was bewildered at first but saw the merit of it while watching her clean. He immediately decides that this girl has sO MUCH. POTENTIAL that is being wasted by having her work as a maid. He has nothing against maids or their profession, but he invites her to train with him.
Noelle gets hELLA stronger and they come to a conclusion. Noelle performs part-time and is a maid part-time. She doesn't have a particular performance style. She'll sometimes play catch with Zhongli and his big rocks, other times she'll be in the background of performers like Amber in the art lifting some hEAVY SHIT.
She gets along with Chongyun super well bc Chongyun has to make less trips to move his equipment since he's worked with her. She's a blessing for when they have to pack up and move.
Amber:
Amber's story is a little more straightforward. She started out engaged to a suitor. Amber was the kid in kindergarten who was learning about dragons and "idk what everyone else was doing". She's known what she wants for a long time, and what she wants at the moment, is not a relationship.
Throughout her childhood she was a very lonely child. Her family exposed her to lots of academic or ladylike things (do not ask me when this au is set, it's the 1800s and the 1990s at the same time or a suspendes steampunk time) to get her away from the thing she liked most: archery. She'd been exposed to it as a kid and latched on.
This drove a bunch of suitors away, so her family got more desperate and exposed her to more classes and activities to get her away from it. She went "that's easy, I'll just practice at night"
So she does that. She practices at night and underperforms in the coming weeks. It is during this time that her parents (high class ppl) find her a man to marry for some business deal idk.
The man's nice enough. It's just obvious he can only take Amber in small doses, and Amber takes full advantage of this to practice and stay in shape.
How Amber gets into the circus life was essentially running away. She bonds with Eula over this.
So because of all the attempts to make her fit into the ideal lady description, her rebellious streak said "yeah we're going to go as far away from that as possible" and she goes "I'm going to run away with the circus" bc that's what the books she's read say is the most rebellious thing you can do.
She finds THE FIRST circus she sees and begs to be let in. This is the shadiest most sketchy place but Amber sees it as the key to her freedom. She signs a contract.
They treat her like the US treats their students. She barely gets time to practice for performances and she's mostly doing dirty work. When they ask her what she can do she's like "I'm really good at archery" and they go "cool, you're going to be doing that while everything is on fire now. Can you do a handstand"
Essentially they push her and push her and push her to do more and more hazardous things she has to pick up on under the threat of being kicked to the curb.
After a while of this Amber is extremely burned out (pun intended) and as she's packing up after one of her shows, covered in burns but proud bc she hit all her targets without killing anyone, she's approached by a blond foreigner.
Tbh for all she's read, Amber really doesn't consider leaving and this time she can't run away since she's now bound by a contract (not Zhongli's btw in case anyone was wondering).
This foreigner tells her that there's so many ways to improve her situation and that he runs a circus looking for members.
Amber refuses since she's not getting tangled up in another legal mess, but she takes his advice on how to take care of her burns, and improve safety while she's performing.
Skip a few months. She hears word of this mysterious new circus around. Her encounter with who she'll later know as Aether stuck with her, and so she goes. To see whether she could really shoot her arrows without being burned alive.
After a show one night, she tries to get past security and fails repeatedly. She turns to leave and wouldn't you know it there's Aether. And Lumine. Waiting for her once she turns the corner. Amber's biggest concern is her existing contract and when Aether and Lumine say they have a nICE lawyer, Amber sees her next step to freedom.
Aether and Lumine essentially gain custody of Amber (but like for adults) and Amber is. Shocked. She's walked through her new contract of employment clearly and essentially treated like a human being.
And now that she knows things and has more freedom (though still under the watchful eyes of Aether and Lumine to see how she does) her creativity and competitive streak flourish. She decides she actually doesn't hate fire, she just doesn't like when she doesn't know when or where it's coming. And she makes fast friends with the gymnasts, so she ends up incorporating that into her routines. Now she uses her canon goggles to protect her from the burning eyes of prolonged smoke exposure when she uses fire.
When she meets a little pyromanic girl named Klee, she's thrilled that someone this chaotic and sure of herself exists.
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af1899 · 3 years
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FEH - Finally got the first merge on Hoshidan Summer Micaiah + appreciation post
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With [Hall of Forms] now finished and all the rewards obtained, I can now rest at ease forgetting it, so I went to [Forging Bonds] and just got the last [Divine Codes: Ephemera 8] to give Micaiah her well earned merge, and here it is, her RES bane is no more.
While I don't see her often in [AR-D], I've come to understand why she's a good option here: she fills a very unique niche as a refresher with min-maxed attack and resistance that deals effective damage on armored and cavalry units, she aged really well as a unit despite her having one of the lowest BST values of her class but her refine will eventually come out and make her outstanding, I'll wait for it before I invest too much in her.
Anyway, this is not what I appreciate Micaiah, so I'll tell you a little story below and sum up my reasons, there'll be minor spoiler warnings and it's a tad too extensive but I hope you'll find it an interesting read if you do look on it.
I've known about her ever since I started to play Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn after I got my black Wii back in 2015 for my birthday and unlocked it to sideload USB games some time after, but it took me a little to feel like trying it and get it running, I used to be a guy that just trained whoever seemed likeable enough from looks so that I could get on, not as attentive with the plot of every game I play as I am now, but I've started to change that around the time I've started Final Fantasy VIII on the second half of 2019, a game that was truly legendary and emotional Imo.
This is more or less how I've come to known her, but I want to share what sparked interest on me for her:
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It took me exactly two weeks to realize I wanted her so badly, it helped that when Lilina was announced, I'd need a [Feh Pass] subscription for just this month, and I got it with help from a friend, to date, I'm still grateful to that user for the support and for us to continue upholding a strong bond.
In any case, when the time came, I realized how charming this skin was, it's one of the best we've gotten, the Hel thematic looks wonderful on her (what a delightful blend of colors and precise styling by Sachie, same person that made the art for Legendary Julia and Sara, yes, more favs 💜) and the art is overall just too good but the best piece out of the four is the normal one I think, and I'll explain why while covering my favorite part of character talking: personality.
Micaiah is a kind and caring girl towards those she holds dear, specially the people of the country she eventually leads as a queen: Daein, located in the Tellius continent.
«I don't really like crowds. Sometimes, I sneak off to the forest to catch a break. I'm guessing the guiding hand of this army might need a break, too!»
— Micaiah: Priestess of Dawn, Fire Emblem Heroes.
She also has a bit of a bitter side but that's not how she normally comes off, yet, this doesn't come out without a reason, she was born a Branded (a human born from a human and laguz unity that end up getting a special power and an irremovable brand somewhere in their body, highly discriminated in Tellius), she had to hide her brand to anyone but her closest friends like Sothe so that she's not mistreated.
She's highly capable of selflessness, symbolized through that power she's gotten: [Sacrifice], it heals the target's wounds at the cost of her life force, she can recover just fine, but it exhausts her in return. This has allowed her to heal without staves and get the recognition from her people in Daein, like when she was first fleeing Begnion forces in Nevassa (capital city of Daein) while repelling bandit attacks, the citizens blocked the path when Micaiah and the Dawn Brigade (it's a group she leads to liberate her country) flee, but before she could escape, she sensed danger, and spotted a young guy being hurt from an arrow a Begnion soldier shot to a child named Nico, who would remember Micaiah's act of kindness for nursing him back to health almost instantly.
There were some times in which Micaiah also had to make really tough decisions, for example: Ike's army was tasked by Apostle Sanaki of Begnion to escort her to her country as they were trying to uncover the vile senate's acts, they had to pass through Daein territory, but because of a [Blood Pact] (a contract that enforces its signer's obedience to avoid a greater catastrophe) that Pelleas (that's the former king of Daein's son) signed under the false pretention that was a peace treaty the senate proposed. Micaiah had to hinder Ike's army advancement to see if she can trick the Begnion senate so she sent her soldiers to fight for that... she wanted to give time to Pelleas so that he could find a way to remove the effects from the [Blood Pact], as they couldn't just be removed normally. She had to make those sacrifices all because of a contract, and she couldn't even just tell Ike that she was forced to follow orders, the attacks from Daein forces didn't make much sense to him naturally. It was her people or her soldiers, so she had to make such decisions that tested her willpower, yet she's strong at heart and carried out with the orders she was given.
In Fire Emblem Heroes, she doesn't talk much about those events, but that's because she wishes to be free from the chains of past days, even if for a moment, she shows a friendly personality towards the Summoner and still being herself. She became queen of Daein and led her people to an age of prosperity, welcoming both laguz and human alike.
Now, all this and more things you'd learn as you play Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (or may remember from your playthroughs) show how strongly developed and compelling she is as a character, there's a lot going in her life and she lived many difficult moments, yet she got through and grew into a kind and strong-willed woman, she truly impressed me, and I think she's truly pretty, like, I mean:
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(Artwork from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Memorial Book Tellius Recollection: The Second Volume)
I won't deny that the Resplendent skin is magnificent and gave me the last push-up to play her home game after a long time and learn more about her, but I could see what kind of character she is and what makes her truly special... true, she's not my "best girl" (see PFP) but I still hold her dear as if she was almost high up there. And it's said that "nothing beats the original", so I certainly love her original design.
Here's a little showcase of the other two variants of her I have, I'm missing only her Bridal alt and the possible Legendary one coming later in this month, but here are them:
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I love all her official art and how it manages to bring out her friendliness and tender side.
I'm so glad that so far, I've lucked out well with her IVs save her Hoshidan Summer alt, and she appeared randomly when pulling for others most of the time, so it's great to have her now, even as-is.
Her Brave variant from 2019 should be getting a refine next month or any time for the remainder of 2021, I know it'll be good but I would already love to know what it'll do before I give her anything else.
...
And here ends my appreciation post and optional read, if you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading, it means a lot to me if you've come to enjoy it.
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author-a-holmes · 3 years
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Underwing Challenge Day 3
"Who is your main cast? Describe as many of your OCs as you can cram into one post."
(Event Link) - (Day One) - (Day Two)
As many as I can cram into one post? Whooo-boy, you have no idea what you've asked for <3
Because Stolen is a Fantasy Romance, it's written in Third Person Close/Limited from the points of view of Stella Korazon and Reilly Mosswolf.
Stella Korazon
"Loving someone forever is the easy part, so long as you actually love them in the first place." - Stella
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At the start of Stolen, Stella is a young but very talented thief. She was raised by her Da', Colm Korazon in a wagon that they used to travel the East Coast caravan route of Moryann.
Her greatest skills include being able to read a persons body language, and her pick-pocketing. She was taught how to fight, but her preferred reaction is to evade, dodge, run, or a mixture of the three.
Physically she's small. Short, and very slim, and with long blonde hair to her waist/hips and large blue eyes that make her look younger than she is, a look that she often uses to her advantage.
Stella's also a very good mimic, she can copy people's patterns of speech and behaviors as long as she's given sufficient time to study them.
Her biggest disadvantage is innocence. While Stella isn't naive to the dangers of Moryann, or the darker sides of the world she lives in, her Da' always encouraged social isolation. Teaching her to trust him, herself, and no one else. This makes for a strange dichotomy to her character that I enjoy playing with where she might be able to flirt with a mark and fluster them enough to rifle through their pockets unnoticed, but blush and stumble when being on the receiving end of genuine thanks or kindness.
Reilly Mosswolf
"You're in trouble, and I can help. Do I need more of a reason than that?" - Reilly
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Reilly's parents were murdered when he was very young. He's elven, so very young for him was around 22 years, the developmental equivalent to mid-teens.
After his parents death, Reilly had his younger sister to look after, so he took to stealing. He was rather bad at it, and was caught. Luckily, for him, but the Guild Master of the Antillune Thieves Guild, Aldune Lamuird.
Instead of turning Reilly over to the guard, he took Reilly and his sister into the guild and looked after them, training both siblings himself when they expressed a desire to learn the trade.
At the start of Stolen, Reilly is 252 years old, and the current guild master having inherited his position from Aldune. Despite that he, and the guild, are in trouble.
For the previous year or two, there has been a rival guild from the Western side of Moryann beginning to encroach on the Antillune Guild's territory and while it hasn't yet escalated to an all out war, tensions are building.
Not least because around 6 months prior, Reilly's sister was found dead, having been clearly tortured. While Reilly is sure that the rival guild are responsible, he has no evidence and won't put the thieves under his protection at risk for a personal vendetta.
Physically, Reilly has the black eyes and sun-burnished skin of his mother's Desert Elf heritage. He also has black hair that he keeps shoulder length, and a scruff of a beard that helps give a messy edge to a face that would otherwise stand out in a crowd. He also has the traditional Forest Elf tattoo's that span from shoulder to wrist along his left arm; His family history written in elven.
His strengths are his experience, and his willingness to listen to opinions and advice other than his own. Reilly is a strong fighter, and Aldune taught him to carefully balance the racial specific talents of both his parents bloodlines, and to use them to his advantage. He has the powerful blows that belong to the forest clans, but the speed of the desert elves, making him a formidable opponent before he even picks up a blade.
Reilly's biggest disadvantage is his fear of losing people. Over the years, Reilly has lost almost everyone he's ever loved or cared for. His parents, Aldune, his sister Eryn, even a lover or two. He has an inner circle of people he relies on within the guild, six people he trusts above all others, but his best friend and the only one truly able to get through to him is Dara Brookor.
Reilly uses nicknames and pet-names to distance himself from his guild members, giving the illusion of closeness, but using the affectionate names to distance himself, and make sure he can't put a real name to a face should one of the people under his protection turn up dead.
It's when Reilly begins to use a person's real name, that they've truly begun to worm their way under his armor.
***
Stella and Reilly are surrounded by a small supporting cast, each of whom has a very important part to play in either the main characters lives, or the main plot, although that may not come to fruition within the first book...
Dara Brookor
"So you're trying to tell me that, when you realised you were developing a meaningful connection to a person you have known for less than a decade, you didn't panic, pull back, and avoid them like a complete moron?" - Dara
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Dara runs most of the administrative side of the Antillune Thieves Guild. She handles all the records, job allocations and thief payments, and is also responsible for pairing up thieves whose skills will compliment each other.
She's also the best friend to Reilly Mosswolf. She met Reilly, and his sister Eryn, when they were attempting to steal from one of her clients. Before joining the guild, Dara ran a brothel in Antillune, and when Eryn Mosswolf tried to disguise herself as an employee to get close to her target, Dara interfered in an attempt to protect her staff.
Once the situation was explained, she ended up helping Eryn and Reilly with their job, and occasionally passing along information on good targets if a client tried to skip out on their bill.
Dara is over six feet tall, and almost half as broad, which is the only sign of her part ogre heritage. She has honey-blonde curls that she keeps cut to her jaw, and dark blue-green eyes.
She made good use of her imposing form to keep her staff protected and her clients in line, but eventually her establishment was set on fire by a competitor, which is when Reilly asked her to work for him instead, in the administrative side of the guild.
The fact that it meant Reilly got out of most of the paperwork was, he swears, simply a bonus.
Dara's strength is her ability to connect with people. While she isn't a thief, her long history in Antillune has given her a network on contacts across the city that feed her a steady supply of information, and Dara can quickly utilise those contacts to seek out any specific leads she or the guild needs.
Her weakness is that she doesn't want to think badly of anyone, and it can cloud her judgement. She doesn't automatically look for deceit and deception, which has often led to her finding herself in dangerous situations.
Thankfully, Dara strikes an intimidating form, can curse like an Antillune sailor, and knows how to wield blades well enough to back up her threats.
Myris Orinan
"I am not the youngest graduate from the college of Wizardry in nearly two centuries for nothing." - Myris
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Myris Orinan is, simply put, a genius.
A forest elf in possession of extremely powerful elemental magic, Myris is one of only 3-4 people in Moryann who can control all four branches of elemental magic and manipulate them simultaneously to access the rare Kurro or Healing magic.
He completed his training at the College of Wizardry in less than 100 years, making him one of the youngest graduates to ever complete the training and he is also passable-to-fluent in over ten languages.
Myris is also entirely mute.
Married to Tanar Orinan, the pair met when Tanar had been hired to steal something from the library in the College of Wizardry. Myris discovered the thief, mid-job, because he'd been working late into the night and bound Tanar before demanding an explanation for his presence.
Tanar agreed to surrender the book, and forfeit the contract, in exchange for being allowed to court Myris and the pair were quickly inseparable.
Due to this close association with the Antillune Guild, however, Myris was attacked, kidnapped, and tortured for information on the guild, and on Reilly Mosswolf in particular.
Even though, at the time, he had no knowledge to give, his attackers punished him for withholding information by forcing an alchemical mixture into him that burnt away his vocal chords, effectively rending his magic useless as it's commonly accepted that without the ability to speak a spell, spellcasters and wizards are rendered powerless.
Myris proved everyone's theories on elemental magic wrong however by slowly developing his own language using hand positioning and finger shapes to communicate words and phrases, and with practice and strength of will he gradually taught himself how to cast spells with a non-verbal trigger, instead of a spoken one.
While Myris has physically recovered as well as he can from the experience, and his magic is as strong as ever, despite requiring more effort to cast non-verbally, Myris has been left with a powerful hatred of Vine, and an ever encroaching fear that such an attack will happen again.
After his recovery, and several assessments by the College to prove that he could continue to retain his Wizard title, Myris moved to the Antillune Thieves guild to work as their wizard in residence, providing wards and magical services to the guild in exchange for a modest fee and even working to create unique items to help the guild function better and to keep its members safer.
Myris does not leave the Guild grounds without Tanar by his side, and even then only in exceptional circumstances. If he is required to leave the guild for any reason, it also tends to leave him with nightmares for several weeks.
Honorable Mentions
I had some others I was going to do but this is so long already, and I'm already 7 hours into Day Four that I'm pushing them into an honorable mentions section instead.
Tanar Sotor Orinan, Indre Larieth, Lurall Penrith and Nilion Kurez are all additional members of the guilds Inner Circle.
Tanar is half plains elf and half human, and is married to Myris. He used to be the thief partner to Eryn Mosswolf after Reilly was made guild master.
Indre Larieth is a half-elf who was recruited by Nilion Kurez, but has remained steadfastly loyal to Reilly for many years. Due to her Snow Elf heritage she can appear stand-offish and cold, but she cares deeply for her chosen few, and will go to extraordinary lengths to do whatever she thinks is nessecary to protect them.
Lurall Penrith was once trained by the Ikhari guild of assassins. It wasn't a path he chose, but instead of running her decided to become good enough that the guild would have no choice but to allow him to leave. After he met Reilly, he leveraged the backing of another guild to convince the Ikhari to let him walk away. Lurall now runs the Guild Outpost in the Western Desert, but frequently visits Reilly in Antillune.
Nilion Kurez is a Forest Elf, and has been a member of the Antillune thieves guild since Aldune Lamuird founded it. He helped write many of the guilds laws, and has known Reilly most of his life, having watched him grow up inside the guild, and in many cases been one of Reilly's teachers.
Hawk Denill is the face of Vine in Book One, and the person who hires Stella to break into the guild and steal from Reilly Mosswolf. He is a dark character who I intend to be a thorn in Stella and Reilly's side for at least the first three books. Once a member of Reilly's own guild, Hawk was banished when the guild discovered he was responsible for a series of grisly murders in Antillune. Hawk has returned to the city only recently, confident with the backing of a new guild.
Liandra 'Andy' Jenkin is a bright but brash young thief who Dara partners with Stella once she settles into the guild. Andy is Human, but makes up for the disadvantages this gives her in speed and strength by sheer enthusiasm, and stubborn determination. Andy has a grudge of her own against Vine, since their people laid an ambush on her last job that injured her and killed her previous partner.
Colm Korazon is Stella's Da'. While Colm is also a thief, he's not a particularly good one. He raised Stella in a travelling caravan, using it as a base to sell all sorts of false herbal remedies, imitation magical items, and any other junk he could con people into purchasing. All the while training Stella to do what he could not. By the time she was old enough to blend in with the crowds that gathered around his stall, the items he attempted to sell were merely a distraction to allow Stella to silently search through pockets.
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