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indomitablemegnolia · 4 years

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Languishing at the bar, ruby lips caressing my glamorously green margarita; the midnight purple dress hugged my body like a sports cars paint, all road signs spoke of warning hazards; my goal, mayhem; I am tired of being this good reliable human; I have a deeply hidden and inarticulate desire for something beyond this daily life; I am here at this lovely bar, to test the morality of a priest, I am prowling, wanting, needing desperately to have an itch scratched, and finding; and needless to say, oh Lordy he was no priest. The single flower pinning my hair slipped making the picture perfect, exquisite, glittering in the sunshine of preening laughter showing the dulling edge of my personal lack of compunction and slipping morals. I watched his dark eyes watch me in the mirror, why him, I licked my lips; I am in the mood for some Latin spice; he watched me from a distance just waiting for his opening and here it was, the song changed and my laugh was unstoppable; he pounced presenting sliding next to me; "Dos margaritas por favor" he held up two fingers; he stood there smiling that suave smile at me sliding a second glass to me, “It is too beautiful of a night to be drinking alone.”

I took it, dipping my top lip over the edge I took in a fair sized drink, “So, how is the weather in Albuquerque?”

Oh, the way he just let his full bottom lip, god that lip, so provocative, so titillating, so kissable; it was the perfect mismatch for his shaped cupids bow top lip; God though, the way his sensuous, heavy, pouty bottom lip hanging slightly ajar, showing interest and the evaluation that was being made; so enticing, seductively evocative; when his assessment was finished the muscles tensed in his cheeks pulling that mouth into the most provocative suave smile; given the deep, wildly dark abyss of his eyes that were swimming with approval and temptation; lord with those light crinkle to the corners and that smile sharp teeth and delicious dimples a belying innocence it was a dead certainty that he may well be Lucifer himself; solidifying my assumption as he spoke dropping the delicious sound-sex of his carnal voice down a full octave; letting it rumble through his chest; his simple words not seductive in and of themselves; goddamn, the concerted effort together all served to bring my pulse to life; his chuckle danced on my skin. I watched his satisfied lazy smile draw his lips as the offhand phrase that taunted like a dare. “Perhaps, we are lost in translation.” God that Latin lilt at the end of his words; oxytocin running through my veins thick; "As long as you stay, I hope that we are never found." He clinked the rim of his glass on mine.

My eyes drawn away from those lips; I watched those terrible, sexy fingers rolling deliciously, accentuating the dare; telegraphing a none too subtle promise of delicate fiddling with my vivid, hungry nerves; god, this time of year, this season, there is not much in it to make me smile; it is not yet, not quite yet, the saddest time of the year; yet, there is a haunting sense of the imminent doom, like a bleak abeyance of life; it’s not stark introspective weather, gray and bleak, but none the less the blue skies, fresh green, seemed to be festering, suppurating, killing my soul, I know that time had run out; that horrible clock with the second hand ticking tightening the garrote around my neck painfully, slowly; Jesus what a sick suffocating weight; there are too many things that I wanted to feel, wanted to do and always time… that small hyphen between birth and death the ultimate cause of death… that time. The time to hesitate was through; my hand shook as I watched a delectable twinge running along that lip, like a smile still trying to hide; waiting for the trap to spring when I ask a simple single syllable question, the ubiquitous air of his words raised several; or did I miss part of the conversation? Should I ask... mmm why, or what, but no, I so not want to play his game; I double down and call the bluff, answering with a simple whispered. The trap is sprung, I really have no idea if it is he who is caught or me.

"Yes." My whisper much huskier than I had intended, my margarita wavering in my hand; his delicious thick brow shot up tilting his head slightly to the left, he let out a silent ‘what?’ I watched him in the mirror behind the bar, he hovered those dark delicious eyes staring into mine; I nodded, and again “Yes.” I smiled chewing lightly on my straw; I took joy in his face caught off guard, lazy smile pulled the edge of his lips; again, his lips waved in a silent, 'what?'

"Oh, come on, I answered your real question, the one written in your eyes and on that sensual pouty lip, the answer is yes."

He looked even more confused, "What is the question are you are answering?"

"Well, I have read promises written loosely in your fingertips, I saw previews of plans in your eyes, and lies you will tell to get there, on that lip." I stepped to him, running my thumb along that bottom lip. "Why go with pretense, so simply, I said yes."

Pressing his forehead to the back of my head, his cool fingers sweeping my hair out of the way, he kissed the back of my hair, "Then mi cariño don’t say anything." His eyes so lusciously dark and turbulent never looking away from mine in the mirror; "I want to watch you revel in the feel of my hot breath against your ear. Now I ask you;" he breathed in deeply, the cool air passing my skin into his lungs sent a shiver down my spine; the contrast in temperature mind blowing, my skin prickled into Goosebumps; "do not move." He let his breath excite yet again, the warmth had all those tiny hairs stand to attention, his lips touched feather soft, moist warm breath, my heart kicked a little each pass of his lips, then words. “Te amo sin saber cómo, ni cuándo ni de dónde. Te amo simplemente, sin problemas ni orgullo: te amo de esta manera porque no conozco otra forma de amar sino esta, en la que no hay yo ni tú, tan íntimo que tu mano sobre mi pecho es mi mano. Tan íntimo que cuando me duermo tus ojos se cierran.” I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.

“Coelho?” Arching one eyebrow, I downed my margarita looking somewhat the part of the provocateur

“Si.” He looked cocky, he looked far too self-assured, so much so that I almost forgot my goal.

“Esto no es amor, es lujuria.” this is not love but lust… hmm, lust even the delectable word sounded so much more alluring en espanole.

“En este momento la lujuria functiona para mi.” in this moment lust works for me. Good lord that word in his Spanish just added a delicious wanton edge to the overdose of libidinous delight that he wrought in me, making my head literally spin. His soft cool fingers delectably caressed the other side of my throat, his tongue ran lightly along the rim of my ear; I shivered still our eyes connected in the mirror, I was putty in his hands.

His lips danced along my neck commanding my already tittillated nerves into a frenzy; nuzzling with intent, his cheek pushing my head to a delicious angle, he feasted on the left side; his lips and teeth acting in a beautiful tango so delicious that I leaned back into him reaching behind me for an anchor; he gripped my wrists in one hand, using his other to sweep my hair such as it was to the other side as his libertine lips began to such and feast on the right side, “Ser mío no es fácil. Tengo expectativas Yo hago demandas. Cuando ofrezco mi corazón espero devoción. Insisto en la pasión, cruda y completa, necesitada y fuera de control. Quiero que me duela el corazón cuando estamos separados. Quiero que mis manos sean incapaces de no tocar su piel cuando esté cerca. Quiero que nuestros cuerpos se quemen cada vez que nos besamos. No puedo y nunca aceptaré nada menos. Por eso ser mío no es fácil, pero créeme, vale la pena." Being mine is not easy. I have expectations. I make demands. When I offer my heart I expect devotion. I insist on passion, raw and all encompassing, needy and out of control. I want my heart to ache when we’re apart. I want my hands to be incapable of not touching her skin whenever she’s near. I want our bodies to burn every time we kiss. I can’t and I will never accept anything less. That’s why being mine is not easy, but believe me, it’s absolutely fucking worth it.” Needy and out of control I could do, I was on a mission for exactly that; I let myself ease into the moment, feeling as much as I possibly could devouring it like a man with his last meal enjoying the sweet and the salt and … oh gosh, my eyes flared as he kicked it up a notch his tongue sliding from just behind my ear to the spot where all nerves collide where shoulder and neck meet, my eyes fluttered; apparently to get my attention back his free hand traced across my bare flesh just above my modest neckline, dipping lightly between my breasts.

Jittery my attention came front and center back on his eyes; I raised a single eyebrow; "¿Quién dijo que era tuyo?" Who ever said I was yours? His lips moved along my neck to the place where neck meets shoulder, I became soft in his hands; his free hand caressing up to the edge of my chin, coaxing my head turning it, he kissed along my clavicle; my eyes finally rolled closed as he kissed my lips, he tasted of strong tequila, lime and dreams; I moaned softly.

“Oh, you just did, right there. No translation needed for that... Voy a probar, disfrutar del calor de su sabor embriagador. Quiero respirar tus suspiros; quiero sentirte desde adentro,” I want to breathe in your sighs. I'm going to try, to enjoy the heat of its heady taste; he kissed me deep again, "I am drawn to you, like a moth to fire," he kept his glorious mouth moving, all tongue and teeth and temptation, "I see a frantic almost panic on you;" his hand still holding mine in check, "I have you safe here," his loose hsnd pulling me to him; "I hunger for your touch after get you excited and how easy it is." Neck kissing, is honestly the most sensual, seductive things that I have ever known, but when it is done as well as this gorgeous man is... it is not just a syllogy for sex, I feel his talented tongue slide on my skin, we may as well be going at it right on the bar. "Deliciosa, caliente, con una gota de salsa picante" Delicious, hot, like a drop of hot sauce. He gripped my wrist spun me on the stool; taking off at a run.

@pedeka @writernotwaiting @keeper0fthestars @iamhisgloriouspurpose

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fanfeline · 5 years

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overly detailed explanations of historical figures without any context: part 3/?

part 1 with explanation part 2

N [cousin]: I don’t CARE. Okay, so- [picture loads] oh my lordy-lord. Okay-

A [me]: Okay, this is the anonymous portrait, it’s the one that literally everyone knows. All right.

N: Ooo, Maximilien! Like the horse from Tangled!

A: *laughs*

N: Oh no, that’s Maximus.

A: Already off to a great start.

N: You know, I’m gonna call him “the horse from Tangled.”

A: Okay?!

N: He looks like the horse from Tangled.

A: *high-pitched and very quiet* I don’t know how to respond to this.

N: This...fucker...is an actor for sure.

A: *noise*

N: Like, he’s a prestigious actor too. He’s one of those guys - sorry I do musical theater, so you’re about to hear some major tea - he’s one of those guys who forgets their lines all the time, and they’re like *high annoying voice* “I’m off-book!” Like no, you’re not off book, you just forgot your script. And you’re like BSing your way out of this. You miss your cues, forget your lines...like, what are you sayyying? Like, that’s not your line. And then, no, and then they have to be like, they have the audacity to-

A: *sarcastically* L’audace.

N: When someone else misses their cue, who’s actually off-book. Right? Aka me, misses their cue just ONCE, but they’re a great actor, you go off. They just stop everyone and just go, *high annoying voice again* “Everyone, as a PSA, if you’re off-book, be off-book. Know your cues, and know your lines. If you don’t know your cues and your lines, BRING YOUR BOOK.”

*musical theater rant*

A: So, you’re into fashion, what do you think of his sense of clothing right now?

N: Beetlejuice.

A: *laughing* Is that- do you have any other comments?

N: No. The collar is so high.

A: Oh, that’s nothing, man.

N: And the colors remind me of, like, a ‘70s bedroom.

A: Kay? Okay.

N: Not the master bedroom. Like a kid’s bedroom. Not necessarily like a kid’s bedroom, but a guest bedroom, you know like the one you wouldn’t sleep in. But you would stick your old grandfather in there, cause you don’t care about him. Um...love you Grandpa! His tie….see, that’s where I think he’s an actor that shows off too much. Cause that tie is too much, baby. He’s like-

A: I regret to inform you that that was pretty standard.

N: He’s like, no but if this was 2019, he’d be showing off. He’d be like, flexing, it would be like him wearing three pairs of Airpods, all jammed in his ear. That’s how much flexing. And like, all Supreme stuff. Air Jordans-

A: Ohhhh god.

N: Fucking flexing on everyone. And he’s like, blasting “Old Town Road.”

A: Someone with talent draw this please.

N: Or XXXTentacion. He’s a classic middle-school guy.

A: Someone with art skill that’s not me please draw this.

N: He looks so rich. Look at that chin, oh my god, he’s got like a whole separate chin. He has a whole separate section for his jaw!

A: That hurts a lot more than you mean it to!

N: Why? Does he get his jaw cut off?

A: *silence* [quietly, silently mourning]

N: Is he self-conscious about his jaw? He should be, it looks bad. And, um, his lips, he definitely puts on Burt’s Bees. Like, tinted chapstick?

A: *noises*

N: Because he stole his older sister’s. His eyebrows, uh, there’s this thing called Anastasia Brow Kit, from Sephora? Get one. What is that in his hair? Is that like, a maggot? Is that a piercing?

A: It’s a fucking powdered wig, what do you want me to tell you?

N: Is it a maggot?

A: No?!

N: Then why is there a little black dot?

A: Ask the painter, not me? I don’t know who the painter is, actually. I’m gonna be honest.

N: *quiet* What the fuck maaaaaan, why are his ears so small? His ears are tiny. Makes my ears look like frickin’ Dumbo up in here.

A: Okay, do you have any further comments before I reveal something to you?

N: His receding hairline- on par.

A: How old do you think he is?

N: Oh, definitely like...midlife crisis.

A: No, I need words, give me numbers.

N: Forty-six and nine months.

A: Okay. Can I tell you something? You’ve actually seen this man twice already.

N: Oh my god, what the fuck, is this the transgender spy?

A: For the record, my brilliant acquaintance thinks that Eleonore Duplay is actually disguised as this man [as the Adelaïde portrait of Robespierre].

N: Okay, listen. She, like, she goes undercover-

A: I don’t know how to tell her.

N: Her kids think she’s like a nice lawyer who never has time for family.

A: So mean.

N: But actually, she’s an undercover spy guy.

A: Yeah, as you can tell, this has been going great.

N: I’m falling off my rocker.

A: You’re already off your rocker.

N: *laughs* I’m falling off my bed. What’s his name again?

A: Maximilien Robespierre. I hope I pronounced that right.

N: What about Jake Paul?

A: Jean-Paul Marat? That is NOT the same person. This is not Marat!

N: That’s a wrap on the horse from Tangled! ...no, press where the home button would be. Why do I have to teach you how to technology?

A: Because there’s no buttons! There’s no more buttons! [Ari vs. phone]

N: Yeah, it’s sleek.

A: There’s no- it’s useless, there’s no buttons.

N: No, it’s not useless, it’s sleek, it’s fashion. Okay, goodbye.

- end -

#ari babbles #frev #french revolution #thp #the history peeps #robespierre #maximilien robespierre #overly detailed explanations

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onmywaytobe · 5 years

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Tag Game

tagged by my good buddy @i-rove-rock-n-roll sorry it took me so freaking long

1. When starting something new, how much do you know about the story before you start writing?

I typically outline the whole thing beat by beat, and then usually end up throwing in a lot more scenes in the middle as I’m writing. Usually things don’t go according to plan and I end up needing to adapt my outline quite a bit as I go.

2. What draws you to your WIP(s)? Why did you choose to write that/those over anything else?

Honestly idk like probably personal attachment? Like DotE is inspired by mashing all of my favorite tropes together, Cafe is an inside joke, and my other WIPs I haven’t really started yet I guess I’m not super drawn to beyond the fact that I like the aesthetic of them

3. Favorite writing spot? Why?

My bed bc that’s the most comfortable place for me to sit in my house

4. Share your favorite line of what you’ve written so far!

Oh lordy

I just did a post of all my excerpts from Camp NaNo (here) and because I’m lazy (and I do like this line a lot) I’m just stealing one from that

“Look, I obviously didn’t mean to set off a volcano-” Owen began, but Logan cut him off.

“Save it.” Logan went back to staring intently ahead of them. “God, Owen, have you apologized for anything in your life? Or do you just keep making excuses?”

5. If you had to choose one OC to bring to life as an actual person, which one would it be and why?

Ohhh man this is really tough. I would love to hang out with pretty much all of my characters but I think I have to go with Joanna from Cafe, she’s the one who would survive outside of her story the best and also I just really want to be her friend. Maybe Leo tho I’d love to hang out with him too/fall in love with him bc he’s a guy after my own romantic heart

Also it just now occurred to me how much Joanna and Diana would love each other they’re both badass best friend characters who take no shit and say exactly what they mean lol I did not realize how similar they are until now

6. Are you looking to get published? If so, do you hope to make it a career?

I would love to get published but I’ve never really tried, writing would be super cool as a career but honestly I’m too sensitive to go through the rejection that needs to happen before I can get published lol

7. What’s something you would read but would never write (or the other way around)? Any reason?

I could never write super high fantasy or hard sci-fi. My brain just isn’t that good at creating stuff. But I love reading it!! Give me all of the Lord of the Rings and Amphibian Man stuff it’s amazing

8. What’s something you are most proud of about your work so far?

I guess the fact that I’ve never stopped writing? And I think I’m improving and becoming more proud of it as well, hiding it less and being secretive/ashamed less too

9. Badly describe your WIP(s) in one sentence

DotE: Boy figures out magic of fire and friendship

Cafe: Criminal falls in love and makes other bad choices

(this makes me laugh way harder than it should)

10. Why did you want to be a writer?

There are so few things in life that I truly enjoy and think I’m good at. Writing happens to be one of those things.

no tags bc i’m really struggling rn but i wanted to answer these anyway

#tagged #about me #long post #dote #cafe

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sillyfudgemonkeys · 5 years

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Im curious as to why you hate Makoto for ripping of p3pfemc's looks but consent to Royal-chan for the same thing? ( I know you hate Makoto for a lot of other reasons, like her personality and such, but it seemed like you disliked her since prereveal/release?) If Royal chan ended up being a completely unrelated character to femc, will your opinion of her change ? (no hate really, i jst wanna know. \V/m )

It's no prob! In all honesty I didn't even think about this kind of question, but the answer came right away, so I guess time for a not so deep reflection.

So like full stop, if Poniko isn't connected to the FeMC and it's just Atlus messing with me, yeah I'mma be PISSED. Will I rip on her looks like no tomorrow? Maybe, depends on how it’s handled (like how bad they burn me, and even then I might wait for a spinoff cause they might go into the connection there rather than Royal). I think it's obvious I went harder on Makoto because I don't like her for other reasons, and so any small thing about her annoys me (tbh Yusuke's design annoys me too, but not as bad cause....I kinda just don’t care about him and who he’s copying as much, but I'll get to that in a bit)

Anyway I think we need some historical context, because I think it’s important. When Makoto (and Yusuke) where first shown......FeMC had been ignored for A LONG time. We had a non-canon play (which no one really talked about), and that was it. No game related stuff, not even featured in the game where people were getting ripped out of timelines. FeMC were BURNED. I’ll be honest, when Yusuke appeared......While the parallels between P2 were obvious (not just with him) he reminded me of Minato as well. It annoyed me we had to have the token blue hair character since the rule had been made since the P3 era (kinda enforced with some black haired characters from P1/2, combining P2 games together that is, if you want to include them), Atlus said they’d be trying new things..... but like....whateves. But my association with him as Minato increased....when Makoto came along.

Ngl I wasn’t pleased with the reveal of the last three girls (even didn’t like Haru, for ironically now what I love as an alt rewrite for her as, as I thought she’d be a mean and person full of herself due to calling herself ‘beauty thief’....Yeah all types of crazy here, I do love sweet Haru tho. And the reason for my opinion changing on the alt non-canon personality rewrite is just I.....see the appeal in it for the group dynamic now, while at the time I was afraid of disliking any of the characters or having them be disliked by the fandom.....which big laugh now haha :’D .....I want my happy P5 self back ;w;). Anyway back to the three girls, ngl one of the reasons I wasn’t happy was how they just dumped 3 more characters on us (too big a cast so can they handle it?, silly has to do more VA videos, I want the smaller cast back oh god don’t screw this up, and so on and so on). As for the characters, while Haru’s appearance in the trailer mislead me on her personality (for whatever reason)..... I just.....there was something about Futaba and Makoto I didn’t like. Futaba just rubs me all the wrong ways for reasons I can’t describe for back then (maybe the fact she looked like she’d be a troll and she kinda is), but Makoto it was clear...... She was ripping off FeMC’s look. The brown hair and red eyes.....the fact that Yusuke looked like Minato.....it felt like they were trying to draw them as expies of the P3MCs. And it pissed me off. I didn’t want an unrelated character look and remind me of the FeMC, I wanted FeMC herself! Why are you stealing her look????? And while some FeMC saw this and rolled with it as a joke (Hamu/Minty/Shin dressing up as Makoto/Yusuke/Goro to get into P5), other’s didn’t know who the FeMC was and thus.....didn’t see the blatant expy/rip off design. Seeing people be like “her character design is so original and cute and blah blah blah”.....it annoyed me....obviously (it didn’t help she grew in popularity doing absolutely nothing too, so initially it was all about her looks, and then I’ve been told a lot of her fans, at least male, has been mostly them saying the like her design and her hair and her eyes, and no everyone who likes Makoto is an FeMC fan so....yeah.....I mostly hear how it’s just about her design so I’m very focused on that in regards to her specifically BECAUSE of the fans). And yeah I know it was a bit petty/shallow reason, but I didn’t outright hate her atm, she was stepping on my toes badly but I was holding out till the game (where it finally cemented my hate for her, and now I legit hate her for petty, shallow, deep, and complex reasons). And lordy lord lord, it did not help Makoto’s name was Makoto, because that was a name some FeMC fans gave Hamuko (cause Makoto Yuki was the closest ‘canon’ name we’d get to P3MCs, and some people adopted it for both MCs cause it was gender neutral, so Niijima coming along and taking THAT away sucked ass, and I know different kanji, it still sucked tho). It just....felt like Atlus was spitting in FeMC fan’s face..... But anyway, I kept it in....for about....2ish years. Even when I was trying to stay positive.......and even when I was slowly starting to come out with negative opinions. I tried to keep it in.

Finally I decided to make it framed as a joke, because I started to see Makoto ripping off more characters than just FeMC (FeMC, Aika, and Naoto in the detective novel to be precise, but what got the ball rolling was realizing that it was Aika who Makoto ripped the hair and motor vehicle from with the FeMC’s color scheme). That’s where my brain started going other places than just being restricted to FeMC, and I started being more critical of Makoto’s design outside the FeMC (tho that still burned me). Because, imo, it’s not original, it annoyed me people would say she was original when she was really just a Frankenstein rip off of other characters (other loved characters, FeMC and Aika were pretty popular in their own right). It only continued to cement in my mind that....anything ‘original’ about Makoto was a farce, she just copies while the original gets left behind.

Tldr; FeMC had been snubbed for years, along comes two design expies that remind you of P3MCs (3 if you wanna include Goro/Ken but Goro looks different enough imo), Makoto is named Makoto (a name some used for FeMC), and Makoto is praised for her design for being original and blah blah blah when it’s not (for multiple reasons besides the FeMC, kinda more the fans reactions fault but I was already having design issues so it just bugged me more when they’d say these things). So yeah it felt like Makoto stole aspects of the FeMC, and it’s not like FeMC has a lot for herself, which really just stepped on my toes. Combined that with legit hating the character when I finally get to see her in action (and it’s because of her actions and writing that I hate-hate the character, but prior to that it was just her stepping on my toes while trying to keep an open mind into liking her), the stuff said before gets amplified more than before.

But months later, after the first post of me ripping on Makoto for taking FeMC and Aika’s design (tho my later posts were in drafts I just didn’t post them till later), something amazing happened on Aug 4th. FeMC finally came back to us. And holy shit obviously I was happy, but it doesn’t dismiss the fact I was aware of how much of design rip off/expy Makoto was, and it wasn’t just FeMC anymore. But gdi if the fact that the FeMC wasn’t being ignored anymore didn’t change the outlook for me as an FeMC fan. FeMC was back, she’s loved, care was put into her character in PQ2, just.....skdfalf;a so happy ;w; But also so hopeful, she was acknowledged again, she had been cut from the 20th anniversary event in official art, and that hurt us, but now she’s back back. And she was a main character in PQ2.....which leads to you questioning, what next?

Which brings us to Poniko, the one post hopeful outlook. Obviously she’s not starting in the same place as Makoto. Poniko has been revealed post-PQ2 FeMC....which means Atlus isn’t ignoring Hamuko (in fact a lot of the creators were stating they WANTED her back), we know the creators do love Hamuko. There’s also the fact.....Poniko looks less like an expy like Makoto (who imo looks like Soejima trying to emulate Kaneko’s art style, esp the eye shape, same with Yusuke too). Poniko? It goes beyond ripping off a design, she looks like she’s almost fully lifted from Hamuko, it just looks like Hamuko wearing a different outfit. Just straight up copy and paste. And would I have been pissed if she was revealed alongside Makoto? Maybe, or I might be theorizing that she is Hamuko herself like now (tho I think it’d get more push back due to Hamu being in Atlus’ basement for so long so it just being claimed as delusional and unlikely), or both (and then pissed when it’s revealed it’s not Hamuko). It’s just....she looks SO MUCH like Hamuko it can’t be a coincidence, and after PQ2 it feels less like one as well. Just.....the posture, the cinematic parallels, the hair color, the eye color, the eye shape, the eyelashes, the face structure, the way she stands.....Poniko just screams “I AM Hamuko” not “I just look like her because.” And it helps that other people in the fandom also see this too, some are hoping she’s a new person, but it seems people at least acknowledge that very obvious similarities between Hamuko and Poniko (while that didn’t really happen with P5 with Hamuko/Makoto).

And....tbh I feel like I might sound like I’m splitting hairs (at least with the words I’m using). And it might sound weird that I think Makoto ripped off enough Hamuko it pissed me off, but Poniko just.....is a copy and paste of Hamuko, just straight up Hamuko in a different outfit and hairstyle but it doesn’t. But it’s the historical context I think that sheds that light. And the fact Poniko might just BE Hamuko, and so it’d make sense if that was the case for them to look like each other (while it doesn’t make sense for Makoto to look like Poniko).

I guess it also helps that I personally had the headcanon Hamuko and Minato weren’t related (just strangers on the bridge in two separate cars), and they both survived the bridge accident but one became the leader of SEES and the other went on to live and do their own thing (until maybe a spinoff game pulls them back in). And while I.....well recalling it now I considered a reincarnation once in a hc scenario (opted for time travel forward cause that makes sense 8U I won’t go into it I had my reasons 8U), but looking at the 1st year symbol on Poniko (and reincarnation in other MegaTen works, I mean c’mon reincarnation is in the title) it feels plausible. And it works for Poniko because of the time the incident and the time to be reincarnated takes place (1999 being the accident and April 1 2000-April 2 2001 being the time frame she was born), which wouldn’t ever work for Makoto because she was born in 1998 (so even if I HAD considered Makoto it wouldn’t have worked, esp since they never tell us she jumped grades, it’s not possible....and while I’m all for hc and grey areas, this is something that WOULD be explicitly told because it’s not common in Japan and Atlus has been explicit about characters not in the ‘right’ grades before, just an fyi there 8U).

I dunno I feel like there’s distinct clear reasons that I can fit them into separate categories. And yeah if Poniko isn’t Hamuko I’mma be burned too, BUT I’mma wait till a spinoff post-Royal before I get pissy.....cause I don’t expect clear answers to other past games in another game’s mainline entry (I only expect shallow shoutouts tbh). So yeah, just so you know where the deadline for my expectations are.

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tilltheendwilliwrite · 7 years

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Balance on the Head of a Pin

Chapter Seven

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Loki Laufeyson x OFC | Word Count: 4493 Warnings: not quite smut but a little smexy, Loki being Loki

“Was that, perhaps, excessive?” he asked, glancing down at Lauren.

She gave a soft sigh. “Maybe, but… would I be a horrible person if I said I rather enjoyed it?”

He chuckled softly, drawing her in by the waist. “We shall simply be horrible together, for I, too, rather enjoyed myself. Both the breaking and the repair.”

Lauren shook her head, smirking a little for she could see the merriment twinkling in his eyes. “I can tell.” Taking him by the hand, she glanced around to orient herself. “Huh, well that was convenient.” He’d landed them not far from Main Street. “You’re portals, are they like Dr. Strange’s?” she asked, leading him toward the town square.

Loki scoffed and shook his head. “All that circling.” He waved his hand absently. “What you Midgardians are tapping into is only a fraction of what is available. Perhaps in a millennium or two, you will catch up. For now, I leave you to your Mystic Arts and sling rings.”

She let it go, not wanting to debate something with him she knew little about. Dr. Strange had randomly appeared in Tony’s office on a few occasions, but usually, he used the door.

Instead, she tugged Loki toward the square where the red, white, and blue banners were being strung. “Oh, it’s gonna be so pretty when they’re done!” she smiled.

“It reminds me of feast days in Asgard.”

Lauren looked up to find him smiling a little grin. “Do you miss it?”

“Asgard? Yes, sometimes, but I am… content here.” His grin turned a tad wicked. “It is so easy to make mischief on your world. So many things to cause to go wrong.”

She shook her head. “I thought you were reformed?”

“From doing evil, but mischief is fun… for the one making it.”

“So bad,” she snickered.

“I believe you like me that way, darling,” he laughed.

She tugged on his hand and headed down the street. People had a tendency to stare, but she didn’t really think it was her they were looking at.

Loki drew eyes everywhere he went. His handsome face and stature, the presence he exuded as he walked, it had people instantly paying attention. But his eyes never strayed far from her, something Lauren was finding both thrilling and endearing. He may sweep his gaze out and around, assess those who approached them or who stood across the street, but they always returned to her.

Here, she finally saw what she’d only read about in reports. They’d talked about the War God Loki, but she’d only ever seen the man he was in private. In public, though he looked no different than any other man on the street - perhaps he was better dressed than most - one could see the innate core of strength, of danger, which resided within his powerful frame.

Everyone who could, possibly, pose a threat was assessed, weighed, measured, and dismissed. Loki moved with a confidence that bespoke his place in the world. People may not know who he was, but they certainly knew he wasn't someone to mess with.

Walking with him, Lauren felt far more important than ever before. She was someone at his side, someone special enough that this clearly powerful male was dancing attendance on her. Then, the faces turned to shock when they recognized her.

Lauren bit her lip to keep from laughing as she pulled open the door to a shop and walked inside. A colourful array of high-end women’s clothing spread out before her. Pants and dresses, suits, hats and accessories filled the space and lined the walls.

From the back of the shop, a voice called out, “Y’all have a gander! I’ll be right out.”

Smirking up at the confused look on Loki’s face, Lauren led him deeper into the store.

When the woman who’d spoken appeared from the back room Lauren called out, “I came in looking for somethin’ classy, didn’t realize they were lettin’ trashy run the joint.”

Slamming her hands to her hips, the brunette with the wild mane of curls and flashing hazel eyes sneered, “It takes trashy to know trashy, Lauren Annandale!”

Loki stiffened immediately. Lauren only laughed. Squealing excitedly, she dashed forward to throw her arms around Sadie. “Lordy, girl! I’ve missed you so!”

“Right back at you, Lulu!” Sadie squeezed just as tight. “Let me look at you!”

Lauren stepped back and blushed when Sadie’s face showed her appreciation.

“Lord have mercy, just look at you. I bet your sisters just dun gone and had themselves a conniption when they saw you. Cissy would be green with envy and Marabeth would be fit to be tied. She’s gettin�� to be as bad a Samuel with the penny-pinchin'.”

“Oh, do go on, Sadie!” Lauren scolded, flustered by the praise.

“You’ve just got to tell me what store in New York City you found this ensemble in.”

She shook her head with a wry smile. “I’m afraid it’s an original creation.”

“Really?” Sadie gasped. “By what designer, hun? It’s marvellous.”

Lauren freed her hand and turned, holding it out for Loki. “By him. Sadie Brockett, meet Loki Laufeyson. Sadie is my very best friend, practically since we were knee-high to a grasshopper.”

Sadie’s eyes grew round as she held out her hand. “Well shut my mouth. Lauren! He’s the God of Mischief!”

Loki chuckled and lifted her hand, holding it between his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I am indeed. It is a pleasure to meet someone my darling Lauren calls a friend.”

“I take it you’ve already met Lulu’s family?”

“Yes,” he nearly growled.

“Loki,” Lauren sighed when he released Sadie’s hand to place his arm around her waist.

“I love you, darling, but your family is horrid,” he stated without a hint of remorse.

Sadie’s eyes again grew large. “Lauren Guillemin! Have you been keepin’ secrets from your best friend?”

Lauren bit her lip. “Well…” she blushed, glancing at Loki.

“Damn it, girl! How could you?” Sadie slammed her hands back on her hips.

“Lauren was simply acquiescing to my wishes,” Loki soothed. “For her safety, it was best not known she was my Ástvinur until steps were taken.” Picking up her left hand, Loki brought it to his mouth where he ran his lips along her knuckles, making sure the stone in her ring glinted. The wicked, dancing light in his eyes showed he knew exactly what he was doing.

A high pitched squeal spilled from Sadie’s lips as she yanked Lauren’s hand away from Loki. “You’re marrin’ the god of Mischief? Oh, hun! I’m so happy for you!” She dragged Lauren back for another hug. “After all the natterin’ your mama and sisters have been doin’ about Montgomery, I wasn’t sure you’d even be comin’ home for the Fourth, but I’m so, so happy you did!”

“I take it mama’s been in here talkin’?” Lauren sighed, leaning on her friend.

Sadie snorted. “Every damn day.”

“And you couldn’t talk her outta buying that hideous pink dress?”

“You know how she is when she gets a bee in her bonnet about somethin’. There was just no changin’ that woman’s mind.”

“I take it you dislike Montgomery, Miss Brockett?” Loki interjected.

“That man is about as useful as tits on a boar,” she scoffed, “and if you’re marryin’ Lulu, getting her away from George, you’re more than welcome to call me Sadie.”

“I would very much like to know where the name Lulu comes from,” Loki asked with a wicked grin.

“Gran,” the girls said together.

“Ah, the illustrious Gran I keep hearing about. I look forward to meeting her.”

“She’ll be pleased as punch to meet you, what with the way Lauren goes on in her letters,” Sadie smirked at Lauren.

“Oh for… ugh!” Lauren slapped a hand to her face. “Y’all are just not gonna let that go!”

Talking her hand, Loki drew her back to his chest, his fingers ghosting over the heat which bloomed to life in her cheeks. “I find it endearing, darling. Your adoration is charming.”

“And a lovely stroke to your ego, I have no doubt,” she sighed, leaning into his hand.

A second sappy sigh erupted, this one from Sadie who looked on with a goofy grin. “Y’all are just too freakin’ cute!”

Loki’s lips pressed to her hair as Lauren blushed even brighter.

“You’re comin’ to the party, right?” Lauren asked, trying desperately to cool the heat in her face.

“Wouldn’t miss it now I know you’re home, Lulu.”

When the door opened at her back, she felt Loki stiffen, his entire demeanour changing to one of high alert before relaxing again. Turning to look, she smiled a little tightly to find Mary Ann Dalton and her daughter Georgia coming through the door.

“Oh man,” Sadie muttered before plastering on a fake smile. “Afternoon, ladies! Y’all need help with anythin’ today?”

“Why, Lauren Annandale that is you! I hardly recognized you with all that city finery,” Mary Ann said, striding quickly through the shop, completely ignoring Sadie.

“Miss Mary Ann, Georgia. A pleasure to see you again,” she said. Her discomfort must have been clear to him because Loki immediately tightened the hold he had on her waist.

“And who is this young man?” Mary Ann asked, her smile sharp and eyes assessing.

“Loki would be Lauren’s fiancé,” Sadie replied before Lauren could, her best friend’s face nearly gleeful.

Oh crap… There were no bigger gossips than the Dalton mother and daughter. By the end of the day, everyone in town would know Lauren had come home with a new man. “Ha, yes. Loki Laufeyson, my fiancé.”

“Well shut my mouth!” Georgia gasped, “He’s an Avenger, mama!”

“Indeed I am, ladies,” he said, his smile tight. “Will you excuse me, darling? I should really check in with the Tower.” He bussed her a kiss to the cheek before walking toward the front of the store.

Georgia had her by the wrist before he’d made the door. “Lauren Guillemin! You know the Avengers?”

“Georgia you need to get your ears checked. I’ve been sayin’ for years Lauren works with Tony Stark.” Sadie rolled her eyes at Georgia’s apparent lack of understanding.

“Sadie Brockett, you mind your manners,” Mary Ann huffed.

“Well, it’s the truth, Miss Mary Ann. Lauren’s worked for Stark for four years! You’d think that would settle in for people at some point in all this time.”

Sadie and the Dalton’s had never gotten on well. Her friend and Georgia had gone a round over Sadie’s boyfriend back in high school when Georgia decided Marcus was a better fit for her than for Sadie. Marcus had been flattered, but he’d stayed true to Sadie rejecting Georgia, who proceeded to start a nasty rumour about the two of them hooking up just to get back at Marcus and Sadie.

Sadie hadn’t believed it for a second, but had still ended up in a screaming match with Georgia, one which had ended when Marcus had intervened, calling Georgia a liar straight to her face and in front of a good majority of the student body.

If Sadie didn’t own the finest clothing store in town, Lauren doubted the Dalton’s would even grace the shop with their presence, but no one knew clothes like Sadie. As she was now married to Marcus, it didn’t matter a whit what Georgia had said.

Lauren detached herself from Georgia only to have her arm captured and linked through the pale brunette’s.

“You simply must come to tea with us,” Georgia demanded. “I’m dying to hear all about New York!”

“I’m afraid we already have plans, but thank you for the offer, Georgia.” Lauren extracted herself again.

“Oh dear, well that is too bad,” Mary Ann simpered. “I was so hopin’ we could catch up. I’m just shocked you’ve come home with a beau, what with the way your mama’s been goin’ on about George Montgomery and all.”

She felt the rush of cold air and glanced up to see Loki walking toward them. “Loki, hun? Everythin' alright?” There shouldn’t have been cold air coming from the doorway, so she knew it had to be coming off her Frost Giant.

He didn’t have the strut Bucky did, not that murder strut which made one think he was coming to kill them. No, Loki glided like a panther on the prowl. His shoulders were relaxed, his stride long but leisurely, eating up the ground. Eyes of blue were intense and focused, locked on his target who just so happened to be her. When he reached her, his hand immediately sought her waist, drawing her into him in a clear act of possession.

“Sergeant Barnes would like to speak with you, my sweet.” His eyes were hard and a little worried as he held out his phone.

“Alright,” she murmured taking it. “Sadie? You mind if I?” Lauren motioned to the back room.

“Go on, girl. You know your way around.” Sadie shooed her off.

Lauren glanced at Loki to make sure he would be fine. He tilted his head and proceeded to turn on the charm. Rolling her eyes, Lauren made her way around the counter, keeping the snickers soft as he waxed poetic about her delightful town and how the Dalton’s must be so pleased to live in such a quaint community.

When she made it to the back room, Lauren gently closed the door and lifted the phone to her ear. “I haven’t even been gone a full day. You miss me already?”

“Dollface…” Bucky took a breath during which she could hear the grind of teeth as he tried to control whatever outburst was coming next. “What… the fuck is going on down there?!” he bellowed loud enough to have her pulling the phone from her ear.

“Damn it, Bucky. Stop yellin’!”

“No, I will not stop yelling! What the hell, Gilli! You went down with a pretend boyfriend you’re now marrying? What the fuck!”

She could picture the way he would be aggravatingly thrusting his hand through his hair. “Bucky…” she sighed, plunking herself down on Sadie’s wobbly stool. “Everythin’… everythin’ changed.” The softness of her tone must have given him pause for silence settled over the line for a few seconds before he sighed.

“He told you?”

“James Barnes, you knew, and you didn’t tell me!”

“Damn it, woman! Now, who’s yelling? And I only found out yesterday. But that doesn’t mean you should be running off and getting fucking engaged! What the hell, Gilli!” Something crunched in the background followed swiftly by muttered cussing.

“What you break?”

“Nothing,” he grumbled, which clearly meant something. “Answer the damn question, doll.”

“Buck…” she sighed, rubbing at her forehead and temples. “My mother invited George. He was waitin’ for me when I got here. Things… escalated quickly.” Quietly she explained everything which had happened with her family and George, leaving out the private bits between herself and Loki as she didn’t think that was something Bucky needed to know. “He did fix George’s arm when I asked him to.”

More silence hung on the line until a muffled snort preceded a rough bark of laughter. “And you thought I was gonna give your mama a heart attack!”

“Goodbye, James,” she huffed, hanging up on his loud guffawing. She sighed and shot a glare at the corner of Sadie’s stock room. “I know you’re there, peaches.”

He stepped from the shadows like a wraith. “So, I am not about to be drawn and quartered by the former Winter Soldier?”

Smirking a little, Lauren shook her head. “He seemed downright amused by the whole thing.” Holding out her hand, she let him tug her to her feet where she ended up back in his arms. “Back to eavesdroppin’?”

He only shrugged, unrepentant, and put his phone back in his pocket. “I noticed you left out all the fun bits in your recitation, darling. Have I not been making them memorable enough?” His wicked grin spread across his lips as he drew his fingers down her thigh, bunching the hem of her dress up to skim her flesh.

“You’re plenty memorable, elskan mín, but would you speak of our private business with Thor?” she asked, brow arched.

“I see you’re point, love.” Humming softly, he tucked his nose against her throat while his large hand skimmed up the back of her thigh. “Does that door happen to lock, my sweet?”

“It never used to,” she sighed, stretching her neck.

“Pity.” His teeth closed over her pulse.

Lauren whimpered softly. “How are you managin’ to split your focus like this?” Wasn’t he running an avatar in the other room, carrying on an entire conversation?

“Practice and discipline,” he sighed, stroking his hand down her thigh to catch her knee. He drew it up around his waist and pressed her back onto the table Sadie used for unpacking boxes.

“Loki, hun, this table’s not all that strong,” she groaned when he settled between her thighs.

He jerked her other leg up as her bottom connected with the table top. “I can fix that.” His mouth closed over hers.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she no longer cared about tables or Daltons or even Sadie for that matter. All she knew was the sensual heat of his stroking hands, sliding their way up her bare thighs, dragging her dress higher while he kissed her breathless.

Right up until the door swung open.

“Lauren, Loki seems to have disappeared… never mind,” Sadie snickered, hand going to her mouth. There was a gleeful light dancing in her eyes. “Y’all should know that table’s not that solid.”

“Hm. It would seem I lost my focus,” Loki said, sliding his hands down with a regret-filled sigh, bringing the hem of her dress with him. “So I was informed. It should stand up to much more vigorous activities now.”

Blushing at his wicked grin, Lauren smacked him gently on the chest. “Scoundrel, constantly gettin’ me in trouble.”

He pulled her from the table with a swift jerk, whispering in her ear, “You enjoyed it, my Valkyrie, don’t deny it.”

Flushing a brighter shade of pink, Lauren bit her lip. Her fingers wrapped the side of his neck as she whispered back, “Valhalla was callin' my name, my Loki.” When she drew back, she smiled even as she blushed harder for his eyes had lit with an inner fire she was beginning to know very well.

“Do not tempt me, dear one.” His hand drifted down her back to lazily cup her ass.

“Loki!” she squealed. “Behave, sir.”

“Or don’t. I’m fine either way,” Sadie snickered, leaning in the doorway. “The Dalton’s left, so I’m good to simply stand here and watch.”

“Don’t you go encouragin’ him! He’s known as the God of Mischief for a reason. He doesn’t need no help in that department.” Lauren waved Sadie out of the way with a huff.

Giggling like mad, Sadie followed, her smile spreading. “You want to try on your dress?”

Lauren glanced at the two of them over her shoulder. They bore nearly identical grins. It was highly disconcerting. “If you’ve got the time.”

Sadie waved a hand in dismissal and headed back the way they’d come.

“Dress?” Loki asked, his face showing interest.

“For the party. Mama’s parties are always formal. Super fancy. Sadie’s mama, back when she ran this place, used to special order the finery for us. Now, Sadie does. A couple of times I’ve gotten her help with Tony’s parties when I just hadn’t a clue what to wear.”

“She’s great with regular fashion and can run that man’s life like a drill sergeant, but when it comes to high fashion she’s a hopeless mess,” Sadie said, smiling to offset the criticism when she returned with the garment bag. “In you go, Lulu.” She motioned to the curtained dressing room.

Turning a sharp eye on Loki, Lauren said firmly, “Stay.”

“Of course, darling,” he grinned.

“All of it off, Lu,” Sadie called as Lauren closed the curtain.

“Excuse me?” Lauren squeaked.

“She makes that sound quite often,” Loki commented, causing Sadie to laugh.

“Yes, she does! Right down to the knickers, hun,” Sadie called.

“What the hell are you puttin’ me in?” Lauren muttered, more to herself than Sadie, and unzipped the garment bag.

All she could see was what looked like miles of white. Unclipping her golden belt, Lauren placed its heavy weight on a small shelf. Drawing her current dress off her shoulders, she let it fall, only just realizing the bra she’d been wearing earlier in the day had also been changed into a strapless one when Loki had changed her clothing. Shaking her head at his attention to detail, she undid it, allowing it to join her dress, before stepping out of everything and gathering her discarded clothing to the side. The dress was much too lovely to leave lying on the floor. Pushing the garment bag the rest of the way off the hanger, Lauren gasped quietly at the softness of the fabric. It felt like cashmere but was much thinner.

She found the zipper in the side and pulled it down, took the dress from the hanger and stepped in, drawing it carefully up her body until she could slip her arm through the holes. “Oh… Sadie!” Lauren gasped, turning to the full-length mirror as she tugged up the zipper.

Sadie’s curly head poked through the curtain, ran an assessing eye over her, and frowned. “No, take the skivvies off as well.”

“What?” she hissed, glaring at her friend.

“What?” Sadie asked. “What’s the big deal? It ain’t like he’s never seen you without before. Lordy, girl. With the way y'all were carryin’ on in my stockroom, you could’a burned the place down! Woo! I’ve half a mind to call my husband for my own midday rendezvous.”

“Sadie!” Lauren gasped.

“Just do it, Lu!” she barked, jerking the curtain back in place.

“I hate you!”

“You love me!”

“No, I don’t,” Lauren pouted, turning to see her backside in the mirror.

“Lauren Guillemin! If you don’t drop them drawers, I will send your beau in to take them off for you!”

“I’m more than willing to assist, darling,” Loki crooned.

“Stay!” she barked, glaring at the curtain.

“But I do so love to be of assistance.”

Lauren rolled her eyes and ignored him as she drew up the long skirt of the dress and shucked her underwear. The fabric had been thin enough to show the outline of lace where it clung to her behind so she could understand Sadie’s insistence, but did she have to do so in front of Loki?

Sighing softly, she turned back to the mirror, gave herself another hard look, and smiled. “Alright, I still love you,” she called out to Sadie, pulling back the curtain.

***

The banter between Lauren and Sadie had been most amusing and highly entertaining, something Loki was happy to witness. Here, finally, was someone who cared for his precious one deeply, nearly as much as he did himself.

Small of stature, but tottering on incredibly tall heels, he was forced to wonder if this, too, was a normal thing for women of the south, though Sadie did not seem overly inclined to run places on hers. Her riot of curls appeared to be untameable, but she didn’t look to mind. Another fit female, she had ample hips on a curvy frame, and moved with a similar grace to Lauren, making him wonder if she, too, did the yoga.

Turning his attention back to the curtain, Loki felt his jaw unhinge when Lauren stepped beyond it in a body-hugging white sheath of a dress. Arms bare, the neckline followed the curve of her breasts, dipping just slightly, skimming down her sleek frame in a most pleasing fashion.

“Let’s see the back,” Sadie demanded.

Her cheeks were pink as Lauren turned, showing him how the wide straps fell down into a deep, low cut back, which draped slightly just above the curve of her backside. With how the fabric hugged every curve, he could see why Sadie had demanded the removal of her undergarments.

“Loki?”

He snapped out of the fantasy he was having about drawing the silky fabric up her thighs to discover her bare beneath only to find her chewing her lip with concern in her eyes. “Elskan mín,” he breathed reverence into his voice. “Stunning,” he purred, moving closer to take her in. “You shall outshine the moon in this.” Drawing his fingertips over her shoulder, he stopped where he could see the open back. “There is only one thing missing.”

“What?” she asked, her voice breathy and cheeks rosy.

“This.” Placing a fingertip on either shoulder, he drew his hands together until they touched, then slowly traced them down her spine. When he was finished, a small gold chain linked the shoulders of the gown together, while the tails fell down in glittering tendrils to tickle her spine. “There, it’s perfect, as are you, my Lauren.”

“Oh, wow…” Sadie whimpered, fanning her face. “If I weren’t married, I’d so fight you for him.”

He shook his head, smiled at Lauren, and cupped her cheek. “There is only one Ástvinur, and she is mine.” He bent and kissed her glossy lips.

Sadie sighed softly, her tone one of awe.

Loki ever so discretely ran his palm over Lauren’s backside. The fabric was quite thin and already warm from her skin. “You are beautiful, darling. I cannot wait to dance with you in this exquisite dress.” Turning her, so she was pressed against his chest, he swayed gently back and forth with her. Against her ear, he couldn’t help but whisper, “I cannot wait to peel you out of it.”

Lauren quivered all over, her heart pounding against his. “Loki,” she moaned quietly, melting against him.

“When is this party again?”

“Two days.”

“Excellent.” That gave him just enough time to complete his promise to her.

A blush burned high in Sadie’s cheeks, as the woman cleared her throat and fanned her face. “Yes, the Annandale’s throw their party the evenin’ of the third as the town does the dance and celebration, fireworks and things the fourth. It’s become a tradition.”

“It’s stuffy and borin’, but I’m sure you’ll keep me entertained, peaches,” Lauren smiled as she drew back.

“We’ll see, darling. Perhaps a little mischief will be in the offing?”

She snickered, pressed up on her toes, and kissed him firmly on the mouth. “I’m sure we’ll find somethin’ for you to have fun with.”

If not, he knew there would be someone to have fun with when the party ended. “I look forward to it, my sweet. Yes, very much so.”

Next Chapter

#balance #loki #loki laufeyson #loki fanfiction #avengers #avengers au #avengers fanfiction #fanfiction #southern belle

316 notes · View notes

snowbyrdn7 · 7 years

Text

You Know What Really Grind My Gears... Fandom

… Yup Fandom

You know that thing people do when the love something and share that love with other people who love the same thing. Well like everything there is always that one guy or this case ‘ladies’ (and my southern belleness does use that word loosely as a sprinkle from Salt Bae’s fingers) who fuck it up. After seeing how some people do fandom I see why they say this is why we can’t have nice things. You could be minding your own business enjoying what you love and… BLAM! Those ‘ladies’ roll up on you like a questionable egg salad sandwich from a gas station… Just ask Philip J. Fry! They fuck up your groove and leave you with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach…

Now I am a ‘to each their own’ kind of southern belle. I think do you and be happy but I have found in fandom some just can’t just be happy and stay in their lane… Ever fandom has them the cannon purest, the ship vigilantes but these ‘ladies’ are the self entitled Judge Dredd’s of DC Comics. They act as if they are the judge jury and executioner of ….well we’ll just call her… she’s fallen and need saving…. Wait, wait the Jamie Lannister (From the last minute of the Spoils of War) of BvS. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming…. Back on topic…. If you, like me, don’t love BvS Jamie lord protect your eyes because you’ll be bombarded with...

You’re a….

Racist…. Can we take a minute to look at my profile pic… what is that…. A BLACK WOMAN! I AM SHOOK! Let me use my ‘Gone with the Wind’ voice…. Oh Lordy… Well golly me I didn’t know giving 0 fucks about BvS Jamie was a system meant to oppress others…PS… I know those ‘ladies’ can see this… having multiple accounts for stalking and such things… White supremacists are meeting in my state about two hours away from my house as I’m writing this… That is what real racism (in the real world) looks like. Not the sick fantasy you believe in your head over some not liking BvS Jaime, a fictional character. Some of us you call ‘racist’ for 0 fucks given are women of color, who deal with racism every day that we draw breath… but I what like doesn’t affect you personally not like those people who are actually trying to instill fear into those who look like us.

Wait their favorite… Sexist… still a girl as body reminds me every month with its evil little gift I didn’t ask for. Again BvS Jamie isn’t a real person and my 0 fucks…. Still doesn’t affect you personally…

Homophobic… But I’ve always thought Wonder Woman was either bisexual, pansexual, asexual or nobody cares who she bang as long as she’s happy (I cannot reinforce this enough Wonder Woman still not a real person)…. And everybody knows Themyscira is off the coast of Dorne and they are far more advanced when it come to the matters of snu snu. Diana loves everyone and there is nothing wrong with that (I don’t think Kal minds… we all saw those eyes checking out Bruce back at the Watchtower…) All you need is love… love… love is all you need.

Satan… Yup I am the mistress of all things evil over 0 fucks given… illogical statement building… Salty level at critical mass…

And all this over Hunter (still not real) Prince, possible SMWW kid (not confirmed as anything but his name). Maybe they have been hanging around Edna ‘E’ Mode from The Incredibles and are acting out of their hatred of capes… That’s the story I’m sticking to, it’s the most rational one I could put together.

The story just started… You know nothing of where the author is going. You think this story MIGHT NOT BE ABOUT BvS JAMIE. Not that is will not be about BvS Jamie but might not….

That’s just sad….

I mean look at Marvel’s Spiderman. They have both Miles and Peter… There are like two Peter’s: the married with a kid and the teenager one. Hell they even have Spider-Gwen… All existing at the same time. Spidey for all! It’s a smart business move. There is a Spider-Man for everyone to enjoy. Marvel isn’t playing Highlander with their creativity or allowing ‘that guy’ Judge Dredd to tell them that there is only Spider-Man aka Peter…

So taking a key from Marvel and allowing one kid in one book who might be Superman and Wonder Woman’s kid to help make them money… Come in closer… I have a secret to tell you… IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU AND YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL! Your offence over them earning money and bringing in new readers…. Can you guess who’s the winner… But again still doesn’t affect you personally or your book. I gagged just staying that. No one owns books or stories or characters they are shared with everyone.

But… But… Our fandom is the most pure, the only one…. THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!

Let me sum this madness up nicely.

I’m scared of zombies so I don’t watch the Walking Dead, but my mother loves it. So when 9pm rolls around during zombie season in my house I am elsewhere not watching it. I don’t tell the people in my house that they can’t watch zombie brains just because I run out of ammo in zombie dreams....

Zombies not my lane, Star Wars my lane…

SMWW are some folks lane and BvS Jamie isn’t …

When one stays in their lane…

One can find their fandom is more enjoyable

Who has time to be constantly slipping from Salt Bae’s fingers all week?

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dellanio · 5 years

Text

Poplar Mountain Part 22 by Dellani Oakes

Lucius volunteers to go to town to pick up a new pump for the pool. While there, he goes to see his brother.

"Don't know, Will. All I know's he ended up face down in the creek. Me and Dollie—saw him."

"Lordy, Lucius! When Squires come knockin' last night, I thought for sure Daddy'd kilt ya. I can't say I'm sorry the old bastard is gone, but I'm sure sorry for Mama."

"Me too. I got some business here in town, then I need to get back up to the school. You take me?"

Will glanced at his boss, who nodded. "Thanks, Mr. Prentice. Yeah, let me know when you're done. I got lunch comin' soon. You stay for that?"

"Reckon I can. Meet you back here at twelve."

"I got something for you." Smiling, he waved to his brother.

Lucius wandered around town for about twenty minutes, window shopping. He bought some pretty pink flowers for Dollie. It was a potted plant for the window of her office. She preferred live plants to cut flowers. He bought some hard candy for his mother. He knew they were going to have a lot of company over the next few days. He wanted something special for her to set out and knew the hard candy would keep well.

He wanted to get a few things for the children, but couldn't decide. He got an assortment of penny candy figuring they'd enjoy that. All his purchases in hand, he went back to Will's truck and tucked them inside. His brother came out a few minutes later and helped him load up the pump. They walked down the street to the same diner where he and Dollie had bought their pie and coffee.

"Was it just last night?" Lucius asked absently, rubbing his eyes.

"You mean Daddy?"

Lucius shook his head. "Me and Dollie at the movies. Seems a whole lifetime passed between then and now."

Willem nodded. "How's Mama?"

"Coping."

"Young'uns?"

"Hit the babies hard. Sally can't stop crying. Jacob...." He shrugged. "I think Sam's relieved. Hard to tell with the girls. I will say they done their work this morning 'thowt a fuss. Pitched in like troopers. How long that'll last, who knows?"

Will nodded, fiddling with his coffee cup. "Do you need me to come back and help out?"

"Don't know yet. Sure will when the crops come in. For now, I hope to work half the day at the school, t'other half up at the farm. I was hoping to buy a truck, lighten the load a mite. That ain't gonna happen on half salary. And I wanted to buy Dollie a ring...."

"You asked her?"

Lucius chuckled, remembering his abortive proposal. "More like demanded." He explained. "Lord, what that girl does to me without even trying. Swear to God, I'm gonna bust if I can't have her soon."

"Maybe once she's got that ring?" He winked at his brother.

Lucius shrugged. "Dollie ain't like Patty, relaxed in her attitude. She's wound so tight, she's like to snap."

"Needs some lovin'," Will said with a knowing glimmer in his eyes.

"Hell, she ain't the only one. Startin' to feel a pinch." He shifted uncomfortably. "But I can't afford a ring anymore than I can a truck."

"I can't do jack diddly about a truck," Wil said. "But the ring I got sussed." He pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket. It was dark blue velvet with a shiny string drawing it closed. Will laid it in his brother's hand.

Lucius opened the bag, tipping it into his hand. Inside was a beautiful silver ring. It was similar to the one Will had made for Patty, only this one was covered in dragon flies, their iridescent wings sparkling in the sunlight.

"Mr. Prentice showed me how to make the enamel like that. Ain't it pretty?"

"It's beautiful! She'll love this! I can't pay you for this right now, Will."

"It's a wedding present. That, and my time building on your house."

Lucius thanked his brother. "You don't know what this means to me, Will."

"I do. Means your life's finally on track. Now you got the ring, you improve on that proposal."

The brothers drove back to the school. Will helped unload the pump and drove back to town. Lucius and Patrick replaced the pump, taking most of the afternoon.

Somehow, Lucius managed to get through the rest of his day. He graciously accepted condolences he didn't feel he deserved. He wasn't mourning, but his family was. Part of him felt guilty even acknowledging the kindly meant words. When school was over, Lucius rounded up his siblings and walked them up the narrow dirt track to their home. The yard was full of young children, horses, mules and rattletrap trucks. The clan had descended.

The girls and Joshua ran to greet them. Samuel and Lucius headed right to the barn to do the evening chores. Jane came and joined them a few minutes later. They worked without talking until everything was done. A short dousing at the outdoor pump refreshed them a little before going inside.

Their mother was surrounded by all the women in the clan. Sally huddled beside her. Jane took her outside to play with the other children. She protested slightly, but Jane was firm. A flash of her dark eyes at her mother, was full of reprimand.

Like what you read? You can read the other episodes at www.writersanctuary.blogspot.com

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oncegilded-blog · 7 years

Text

Snow

@atramentousxedge - Okay so this is what I found/copy/pasted. yet haven’t read through yet to see if I got it right. >.> I haven’t begun on their meeting one though. And I think I should before re-reading this. So--- gonna go hunt that shit up now as best I can. ps- our tags are fuuuucked. we suck

▬♦M♦▬ Snow wasn’t magical. It didn’t make for cheery winter wonderlands. And it didn’t leave her itching to go ‘play’ in it like some silly child. It just made for frozen toes, frost bit fingers, and finding food much harder. Snow simply made you cold, wet, and hungry. Which was the trifecta of a bad fucking day in Tess’ book, so she wasn’t about to argue with his logic. ”Indeed—-“ The word was crooned softly as she shivered, tugging the throw she’d found in the charming bachelor more tightly around herself. She’d been right about the place being clear and quite high enough to afford them some small sense of security, seeing that it was positioned above a small bar that had been well boarded up before the owners either left or turned. The only problem was it faced the storm that was rolling in, and had no means of keeping it warm unless they started a fire in the damn electric oven. Wind howled, gusting snow and whipping it in big swirls around the large window at the front, making her wish they’d have had time to scout out a more practical place before the storm hit. ”—-Though maybe we coulda kept lookin’ a lil longer. This place is comfortable, and decently stocked, but damn, I’m gonna freeze t’death here.” _________________________

Sitting with one knee up and supporting his elbow, Kazu looked up from his whittling at her agreement. The pile of shavings he was going to use as tinder, while the wood itself he was tapering to be used as a shank or stake.

He ran hot, and while he too was chilled, he was nowhere near as cold as she apparently was. The place had been a jackpot, as far as he was concerned, even if it did need a few repairs. Winter was already upon them, and they had to start somewhere. First things first was to get a fire going for her, even if he had to rip apart the busted oven for a pit tomorrow. Potentially dangerous and loud, he was reluctant as he scanned their surroundings one more time searching for any other durable canister.

“ No. ” He answered her as he went back to whittling. “ —any longer and we would have been caught out in the storm and froze to death out there. ”

Setting the wood and knife down he stood up and moved towards a metal filing cabinet that was overturned in the back corner. Opening one of the drawers, as quickly and as hard as he could, he tugged and ripped it free on the first go. Walking back with the metal drawer that would suffice until a more efficient means was presented as their fire-pit, Kazu set it down and began to build her a fire with the tinder and books he had pilfered along the way.

He’d need to risk breaking apart furniture for more substantial fuel, but for now the small fire would have to do the trick. Motioning her over after a minute, he held out a paperback book to her. “ Come here Tessa, keep this going. ”

_________________________________________

▬♦M♦▬ Watching the winter storm move more fully in on them she only casts a glance over her shoulder when she hears him get up to move about. Simply arching a brow, impressed over how he manhandles the filing cabinet. “Well I mighta, but you seem alright. Somethin’ tells me you’d not a’ froze t'death.” So, she was glad he helped her make it back to the little pad she’d found before, for her own sake anyway. Though perhaps he was cold too. However he wasn’t shivering, growing pale, or huddling in on himself like she was. As he made his way back she turned to face him, brows furrowing faintly as she watched him light the fire. “Mm– ya think we should tear out the fan above the stove, and give the smoke some place t'escape. And by we– I mean you, T1000.” Because there was no way she’d be able to wrench that hood vent off, and yank out a fan to open up the ventilation shaft without some decent tools. He on the other hand– could probably use his hands. With a sigh she shifts, reluctant to let her blanket slip as she shuffled closer and took up the book, leafing through it with a little chuckle that only seemed to grow the more she read. “Yeah this book deserves t'be burned.” With that she rips out a page, holding it up to the dim light from the small fire just starting to take off, and reads the words on it with a mock lustful purr.

“Ilyan shed his suit jacket and shirt until all he wore were his pants, and those were easy to get rid of. I wanted to do that myself, unbutton his shirt, caress his chest, but Ilyan was the type who wanted all the control when we fucked. It was a small thing to capitulate to his desire, especially when he made me come so many times.”

“—-Oh lordy, they even spelled cum c-o-m-e.” She’s far too amused with how bad that thing reads to be the least bit embarrassed about it. Perhaps because it was so ridiculous, it didn’t ring as being seriously sexual in the least. Snickering so as to almost snort with laughter over the cheap romance novel he’d managed to snag, she crumbles the bad writing up to toss to the flames. They licked around it, finally engulfing it in a low whoosh, and she moved on to another. This time just rolling her eyes at what she found there before discarding it to burn as well. “Ya think we can get into the bar below later? I bet they have some better stuff t'burn. —Maybe some booze still too?” Flashing him a tooth lil smirk, hoping he’d see it as an implied request to find her some alcohol, she rubs her hands together, and lightly blows on the little fire to flare it up some more.

__________________________________________

“I would not have let you freeze to death.” He told her even as he stood and turned towards the vent above the busted oven and had to shake his head at himself with a low chuckle. Here he was, ex marine, biological weapon given flesh, taking orders from a cute little red-head in an abandoned bar in the middle of a nasty snow storm during the apocalypse.

Walking over to it, he braced an arm on the wall to lean over the appliance and looked up into the fan. His next words were grunted, curt from his bent position. “Correct you are. I do not get cold easily, though admittedly… It would have been bothersome.”

Reaching up to grasp an edge, the cold bite of the metal sent a ripple of goose bumps down his arm, but he ignored it and yanked. The metal separated with a sharp and quick screech as he tried to be as quick, but as careful as possible.

Even in the storm, there was no telling how acute the eaters hearing was, and it was best not to provoke a test. He felt the air move, now free to rise up and through he turned back around to find her holding up a page of the book and reading aloud a passage. He made a face of disgusted amusement as he set the hood on the ground next to the oven. “I prefer the real thing, personally. Reading about sex never really did it for me.”

Moving to stand behind her as she further amused herself by burning the terribly written novel, Kazu crossed his arms and looked over towards the large window and open balcony that looked down onto the bar below.

For now the bar below was inaccessible, as he had intended once they were secured on the top level—no surprises during the night, Kazu wasn’t fond of having to wake up swinging. The entire hallway had been stuffed with the tables and chairs that had been arranged close to the balcony. Looking back down at her when she requested alcohol, he arched an eyebrow.

“I didn’t take you for a drinker. What’s your poison?” ___________________________________________

▬♦M♦▬ ”No, right— I know.” The reply sounded almost sheepish, realizing that her words could be taken as if she had little faith in him having concern over her well being in that away. However after what he’d done to keep her alive so far, and in such a short amount of time, she was certain he wouldn’t let something as simple as a snow storm take her out already. A curious, and perhaps a little self indulgent, gaze slid from her work with the fire to watch him remove the oven hood and vent fan. Her darkened eyes drink in his actions, the bend of his body to better position himself for the pull, and the flex of muscle, brawn bulging as he broke apart the appliance with relative ease. All of course made extra obvious by the tightness of his second hand shirt. Which looked damn good on him despite the fact that his quick clean up was unable to remove all evidence of it’s previous gore bath down the front. Cheeks flushing, she yanks her attention back to the page before her, distracting herself with reading the silliness of some sloppily structured erotica. Which was far less sexy than the man soaking up space in the small room. Good lord, this bachelor pad looked so much bigger with just the bed at one side, and the strangely shaped modern couch on the other as the main focal points of the place. Now though—- with Kazu in the midst of it—- The space was just filled up with him. He was the main focal point, no matter what else she had to busy herself with. With a faint little cough, a strangled sound of unexpectedness at his frank and so casual response to her reading and comments, she tears up more of the book before muttering, mostly to herself. “Yeah well I have had far more satisfyin’ books than lovers, so—-“ So she wasn’t going to admit she might be a bit of an expert on the sort of trashy novel she was incinerating at that moment. Once the conversation was drawn towards the bar below, Tess can’t help the light laugh that bubbles up as she turns towards him, drawing the blanket tighter about her slender shoulders. “I’m sure there’s an awful lot about me that might surprise ya. But everyone has their vices, amiright? Mine’s mostly whiskey. A good bourbon, or Scot. Though I’d take jus’ about anything t’add a bit a’ fire t’the blood right about now.” She knew that technically alcohol didn’t warm you one bit, but it sure did take the edge off of feeling so cold. Or so sore and rattled still too. Which she was, and doing her damndest to ignore. Though there was no doubt, with the weather, and the way her ass had hit so hard on the pavement earlier, she was going to be aching in the morning, no matter how much liquor she loosened her limbs with tonight. “However I suggest we stay away from vodka or tequila. Vodka just makes me kinda volatile.” And what do they say about tequila? Yeah, she should avoid that tonight too. __________________________________

He allowed himself to smirk a little at her reaction to his crass confession, but it was true. Reading about sex wasn’t even foreplay to him… Well– maybe… He considered that perhaps given a certain context it had potential to be. But certainly not for entertainment purposes. Kazu preferred soft flesh and liquid warmth to paper and ink. Not that his imagination was lacking.

Her small insinuation that the men in those stories kept her warmer than a living, breathing man made him grunt in concern, but pulled himself short. It wasn’t his place nor was it the time to inquire or comment. To easy would it be to find a game in making her flush or squirm. There was still too much to discuss, too much to worry about for now. Starting with the explanation he felt her owed her. That man attacked her because they saw her with him.

That little joke back at the store about the fences suddenly seemed grossly inappropriate and knotted in his stomach like a lead weight. He should have just told her the truth, but how could he have known? What would he have even said? That dangerous men were potentially nearby, but don’t worry its probably nothing. Paranoia might have saved her the trouble… Fuck.

Maybe she would have been a little more careful, or gone a totally different way through town if he’d only just said something… It was too late now though. No use in stressing over the what could have been. He could warn her now, and he could keep her safe. At the very least, until he sorted out the bad blood and made sure, in any direction she chose to go, she had a safe path.

“I have no doubt you are full of surprises, Tessa.” He spoke, looking down at her when she turned in place, swathed in her blanket, to look back at him. Already she looked better then she had earlier that day. Still a bit scuffed, with the vibrancy of her hair dulled only a little from her tussle and close call. His mind went back into a three part rewind; recalling how she’d looked while in that room back at the store with him, to the look in her eyes when he cowed her against the wall. Right up to current times; right now, as she looked up at him.

He could see the phantom tremors behind her eyes and in the lines of her face with his acute senses. She definitely wasn’t giving herself enough credit, and he fully planned on reinforcing that. After he told her everything he knew about the guy who attacked her, and the guys who’d attacked him.

“At least you have good taste.” He smiled approvingly, especially when she expounded on the passing of tequila. No need to open that bottle of liquid hormones.

“I need to break apart some furniture, that paper won’t burn forever. Wait here, and ’ll bring you back a bottle for you while I make sure we have enough to burn to last at least the night” _____________________________________

▬♦M♦▬ Pleased that he didn’t argue, or try to prove she was easily readable, the corners of her lips quirk up a bit more, gazing up at him as she was then, eyes flashing in the dim light of the small fire. “I would hope so. My father had a thing for the Scotch. Had some family ship over his favorite straight from the source. It was the easiest thing t’get my hands on when I was younger. Guess you could say I cut my teeth on ‘the good stuff’.” Shrugging she simply snuggled further into her blanket, and tucked some loose curls away from her face, nodding as he changed subjects towards a trip below. There wasn’t a chance in hell she was going anywhere at that moment, too cold and too scared of running into more from that group, Tess had every intention on waiting there long before he basically commanded her to. After all, from what she’d seen, he would be far better off without her. Able to move faster, and fight better without having t worry about her getting in the way. In fact she wouldn’t blame him one bit if he bailed as soon as the storm let up. Especially after that run in out there on the street. Surely he’d over heard something that led him to believe she was nothing but trouble. Hell he’d already had to save her ass twice, right? What man in his right mind would want to stick around any longer than he had to with someone who was going to be a bit of a burden? And that’s what she felt she’d be to a man like him, so clearly capable of handling everything himself, he didn’t seem to have need of someone such as she. Even the mending of his wound had been forced on her part, showing that the main skill she possessed wasn’t exactly wanted by him either. Part of her planned on telling him it was okay to feel that way. And essentially give him permission to take off on her. Once she apologized for the shit she’d drug him into that is. After that she was sure he’d be happy to have such an easy guilt free out. Of course she’d been a little distracted with the whole getting away and not dying bit to take note of everything the man had said, and assumed the mention of the man with dreads had only been because he’d seen Tess exit the building with Kazu. So, she had no way of knowing his ‘fence’ was actually the boys that asshole was upset about losing. Had she though, perhaps she’d not have been sitting there as she was, dazed and doing her best to sift through all the possible ways to explain what that had all been about in a way that didn’t make her look like—- well a killer. Because despite the blood on her hands due to them, she never really could think of herself in such a fashion, and would be horrified if anyone else did. “Right—- I’ll uh— I’ll wait right here.” She mumbled then lifted her gaze from her bruised wrists to him once more. ”Hurry back.” We hafta talk— While he was gone though she had actually managed to move from that spot, and had taken up some of the wooden utensils in the the kitchen, using her knife to make some shavings and keep the fire burning. Having sliced the wide parts off of two spoons, and a spatula, she put them into a lil tee-pee in the center of the makeshift fire pit, and had their tiny fire burning a bit brighter by the time he returned to find her toying with the knife, still bundled up in her blanket, and gazing into the flames. ________________________________________

Kazu reached across his chest to rub at his shoulder, ignoring the twinge at his back. He hadn’t reopened the wound, at least it didn’t feel that way, in his attack on her aggressor earlier. He’d have Tessa look at it when he got back, she’d likely want to know. “ Cut your teeth on it, huh? Well, I’d say we have something in common then. Good whiskey and all– ”

But obviously tossing the guy bodily down the alley had pulled something in or around the wound. He grunted a little at himself, thinking back on how brutal he must have appeared to her. Funny, but he’d never really given it much thought. Since the dead had begun to rise, Kazu had spent the majority of his time where he well… spent the majority of his time. In the forests. The wild. He had only participated in civilization for monetary and necessary purposes. He still had to live being who he was. Of course, that was ‘before’.

Now though he found himself… No. He didn’t care for judgment, and never had. Kazu wasn’t a man who concerned himself with the huffs and critiques of sheep. He wasn’t human and didn’t pretend to be. Kazu was exactly who he was, without exception or remorse. Just before he passed through the door into the hall, he paused and glanced over his shoulder, watching the light from the small flame do tricks with her eye color as she observed her wrists and fell into a sort of introspection that allowed him to study her without her knowing just yet. “ –seems we both enjoy that fire. I won’t be long—not ten minutes. ”

Set on raiding the interior of the downstairs before breaking apart one of the chairs constructing his barricade in the staircase, Kazu used a bit of magic once out of range, to make the leap without disturbing the mess. Landing at the foot of the stair’s should have sounded like a small bomb going off, but the foxfire burning under the soles of his feet absorbed the impact. His body of course, still suffered the shock, sending ripples up his back and arms as he crouched low and remained in place. It was dark down here, the smell of dust and dead blood, rotting food and stale beer stung his senses. Standing up slowly he stepped into the dark of the lower level, his eyes flashing pearlescent; reflective as his pupils widened.

There were no biters down here, none that had been disturbed already by their low conversations from above, but that didn’t exclude nasty surprises. More than once a body he thought down entirely and unresponsive the first time around, came back with a vengeance to try and bite him on his ass. Literately. He’d taken to shoving his blade through the forehead of any he came across as a standard precaution.

The soft sing of Ester as he drew the blade from his back reflected from the light coming in through the windows, but he was otherwise silent as he made his way towards the kitchen and staff area of the bar. Clear. Sheathing his blade he found an orange, plastic crate and began to fill it with canned fruit and a decent sized bag of unopened peanuts. Finding the beer cooler, Kazu set down the crate with a barely contained chuckle of pure glee. It was still locked, three bolts and a bar latch. Hand burning hot with foxfire he grasped the metal bar and snapped it as quietly and quickly as he could. Pulling Ester from his back again, he slipped it into the eyehole’s of the masterlocks and snapped those too. Opening the door he waited and used the sword to move aside the plastic flaps. Clear. Two chilled bottles, of Tennessee Honey and Devil’s Cut went into the crate before he made it back upstairs the same way he’d come. With the crate under his left arm, and a plain, wooden barstool over his right shoulder, being the only difference. Setting the barstool down he waited for her to notice him. Gesturing to her with his now free hand, he glanced at the knife, connecting that she had used it to shard the bits of a wooden spatula and spoons. “ You know how to use a knife? ”

A fleeting moment of teaching her crossed his mind. If she didn’t, at least he could show her, that hulk of a spear she carried, she could certainly use some practice with as well.

______________________________ ▬♦M♦▬ Unsure of how long he’d be gone Tess had busied herself attempting to keep the small fire from fading before he brought back some real fuel for it. And of course mull over how to open this particular can of worms that was staring her in the face now. Perhaps it had only been a handful of minutes that passed as she’d let the blade of her knife slide down the length of wooden utensils and shave off curls of wood that took to burn quite quickly. However it felt as if it was ages. Not to say he was exactly lonely without him there. After all that would be silly since she’d been so long on her own and hardly knew him. However without him in the room it felt—- oddly empty. Kazu simply absorbed space. His size and his very presence too up all of one’s attention when he was present, and now that she knew what it was like in there with him, the place felt vast , barren, and almost cold without him. Nope, check that. It was actually cold, but in more so the literal sense. Shivering she huddled close to the source of warmth she was slowly building bigger, and began etching a pattern in the wooden knife block she’d found and intended to burn once the fire built up a bit. It was just a few notes of music she once enjoyed playing, nothing fancy, because it would be pointless to put any time into something she was just going to light up a little later anyway, but it was a way of distracting herself from the shit swirling around in her head. In fact it was working so well she didn’t notice his return right away, which was saying something, since things just felt different with him close by, like he affected the environment around him with is very aura, as cheesy as that sounded. Coppery locks, made all the more flame like with the light of the fire dancing along them, cascade around her face as it turns it up ever so slightly to greet him, and allow a dark auburn brow to arch curiously, unsure of exactly what he meant. She knew how to use the blade to shape a spear tip that she could fire harden for a weapon—- that much was obvious. And she could kill undead with it, if she had to get that close, but as far as anything else it would be used for, she hadn’t even a clue. The thought of actually fighting with it aside from stabbing walking corpses in the head hadn’t even entered her mind either. Though the idea of outright killing someone with it had. ”I uh—- I dunno if I know how t’use it real proper like. But I —— I have used it before———.” Tucking it away then she drops her eyes from him, jaw clenching, fighting back any feelings that came from the images that stirred, and their connection to the man from the street. Hands come to clasp hold of the edges of blanket, and curl herself in it once again, as if she could physically hide from the words that she was about to let slip out next. “——-on that man’s brother.” The tone with which she said it spoke a lot more than her words, showing horror at her actions, due to the deadpan and distant nature of her voice, but the firmness there implied that she didn’t have regrets in it. It had been a necessary evil. However this was no where near the way she’d wanted to start this conversation. Nearly the whole time he’d been gone she’d been rehearsing ways to work into it, so as to not seem like she was a walking burden and a magnet for trouble. And now she assumed she just came off like a cold blooded killer. ______________________________________________________ Kazu watched her look up, the lush of her hair framing her face as she stared back at him for a moment and he could see the gears working behind her eyes. Tessa was working up to something, and by the set of her brows and the look on her face just before she spoke, set off a small warning bells in the back of his mind.She cut herself off midsentence though and turned from him. His eyes widened and he fought the urge to suck in a breath as her body language screamed. Almost as if she feared a physical reprimand, she turned in on herself and huddled under the blanket. Then she finished her sentence and the crate felt suddenly heavy under his arm, but oddly fragile as the muscles in his arm flexed, making the plastic groan a little in protest. –that man’s brother….It ran through his head like a mantra, winding back through the events all the way to the first time he’d seen her in that store. Further back even, his mind whirled to the events of his own altercation days ago. His mind skipped forward again, this time to the man in the alley standing over Tess, and it suddenly connected. The tumblers fell into place, one after another until he came to a single conclusion. Her reaction, the way she’d said it in such a stoic but self-loathing manner—she was taking the death of her aggressor to heart, blaming herself in some way?Kazu walked over and sat the crate down beside him before he set his elbows on his knees as he crowded her space a little to the left of her. “ I should have told you this way sooner. It may have saved you that mess in the alley, but I thought I could take care of it myself. That fence that I was telling you about before —was no fence at all. I was attacked by a group of men a couple days ago. I killed two of them. ” His watched her carefully, almost intently as he spoke. “ —I thought that was why he went after you. ”He shook his head a little. “ —I know those men, Tessa. Don’t blame yourself, its not your fault. ” “ Its theirs. ” ____________________________________ ▬♦M♦▬ A hard exhale leaves her as he closes in, consuming the space beside her with his powerful presence, and making her feel even more small, more meek—- and weak. Because Kazu’s own confession did little to ease her, to make her feel less responsible for how everything had happened, since she didn’t know how often he had shed blood to survive, just that she was the reason he’d just had to add to whatever number he kept. Her eyes drop away, not wanting him to be able to read the vulnerability that was screaming out from behind them. And when she spoke, her voice was distant, yet strained, doing a poor job of keeping the welling emotion out of it. God this wasn’t how she wanted this to go. “It is though—— David said my hair— it’s how he found me in the crowd the first night we’d went out. Without it, I’d a’ died along with my father. He said it was my signal flag. Even if undead could easily grab it, I kept it long like this so he could spot me if we got separated again. B— but so could others. Being scared as I was then, an’ sentimental now, I still leave it long. Hopin’ —hopin’ he’ll spot me an’ come for me once more. But again it was one a’ them—- It is my fault. It’s my fault t’day more than ever. Cause after that night—- after his brother—- I knew they’d never stop lookin’ for me. An’ I shoulda been more careful.” The muscle in her jaw flexed as she clenched her eyes closed tight then, trying to will away what she was seeing in her mind’s eye now that she’d confessed that condemning truth. Partly because she didn’t want to see if he would look at her differently, knowing she wasn’t as innocent as she might appear, knowing she was capable of killing someone in such an intimate way as to thrust a knife into them. But mostly she just tried to keep the flood gates locked down tight, and not let them open wide and drown her in thoughts of things she couldn’t change. Though right then it seemed futile. That damn night was too clear. Even when repressed it was too vivid, too alive and real, almost more so than the situation she was currently in. She could feel him close, calloused hands roughly grabbing- groping, the slick of sweat on gritty grime covered skin, the salty taste of it and the cigarette he’d smoked before he’d forced his tongue upon her own—- it made her stomach roll, and a shiver of disgust to shake through her even still. “Maybe if I’d not fought him or cried out, if I’d been quiet, and jus—- jus let him. Maybe David wouldn’t a’ tried so hard t’stop him when he was in no condition t’fight. Maybe if I’d a’ trained t’fight myself—- or— I dunno— something, I’da been able to save David without—- without—-“ Eyes slowly open, gazing down at her hands as they unfurl, palms up, fingers loosely curled before her, as if still able to see every drop of blood they’d bore. "It was warmer than I’d imagined. And sticky—- so sticky when it cooled. I thought it would never come off. But it did. An’ worst of all I didn’t regret it. I wanted t’kill him after what he did— what more he was goin’ t’do.” And that was her shame and guilt in it all. If she’d have been better trained, she could have stopped him without him ending up dead, without those men having a vendetta against her. But she didn’t even try. She’d reacted. Someone she loved was in danger, and all that compassion she’d prided herself on just went out the window, and she was thrusting a blade in the back of another human being’s head, —because she judged that he deserved to die. After a moment she pushed it all away, locking it down as tight as she could again, though her teeth had come to make a mark upon her lip with the effort it took to raise her gaze back to his own. Tess just looks at him then, measuring his reaction to everything in almost a numb way, like she was ready for him to throw up his hands and walk out on her, because she was clearly a magnet for trouble. Blinking slowly she lets her upturned hands just sit in her lap as she finally responds directly to what he’d said. ”I knew it. I knew no fence had done all that damage——-.” With that a small spark of herself shown through her eyes once more, as a ghost of a self abasing sort of smile formed and she darts her gaze toward his crate. ”I really need a drink right now. Please tell me ya found us something.”His eyebrows lowered and Kazu tilted his head as he absorbed her body language. Tessa had turned from him, taking those expressive eyes from his view and turning in on herself again. _____________________________________________________________________

His elbows on his knees bent a little as he resisted the urge to move his arms and touch her. She setting off his instincts to sooth and protect without having said even a word yet. Christ… When Tessa started speaking, her tone was almost hollow, as if just saying the words physically hurt her. As he began to piece together what she was saying, he looked up at her hair and realized exactly what she had meant. Her hair had called those men to her like a beacon.Even if they hadn’t been looking for her…His gaze sharpened and his hands balled into fists as he mentally went over just how he’d rip those men apart for their transgressions. It pissed him off, men taking advantage of women simply because they could. As hot as he was getting under the collar, he wasn’t prepared for her next implications.His torso jerked in a subtle flex, a physical lockdown to not only her spoken words and the way she said them—but that she blamed herself at all. When she finally did look at him again, he was looking down and lifting his hands to his forehead, pushing his dreads back from his face. Unwilling to speak just yet, because the rage roiling inside him would likely terrify her more than the image of him in the alley ever could. So he annually forced his facial features to relax enough to open his eyes and look at her. Hands still semi-holding his head up and his hair back, the dark of his eyes were both still very angry but also sympathetic. The next time I see those fucks…She’d said it herself, she didn’t regret it; but the weight of life’s blood on your hands was something he understood far too well. Kazu was a killer, a beast capable of so much more than she could even fathom; but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand compassion and just what that would do to someone. Someone like her. She’d been given a very hard choice.Dropping his hands he ignored her request for a bottle, for the moment and moved one of his knees to drop to the floor as he shifted his weight forward a little and plopping down into a more comfortable spot. “ I’m not going to blow colored smoke up your ass, Tessa. It sounds to me like you were given a very shitty choice, and in your shoes I would have done the same thing. ”He reached into the crate beside him and pulled one of the bottles out. Wrapping his hand around the top, he twisted and broke the seal with a grunt. Offering her the bottle he tossed the cap into the crate and pushing it closer to her for her to inspect. “ That doesn’t make it your fault. Your hair is your only way to signify to David —it’s not your fault those bastards were twisted enough to use it to their advantage…. As for the rest of it. ”He grunted and plucked the remaining bottle from the crate and cracked the seal of that one too, for himself. He canted his head as if he were seconds away from mentally ripping the man apart, which he was, and took a long pull from the bottle “ —I can teach you a few things, so you’ll never have to find yourself in a situation like that, or be forced to choose between your life and someone else’s. That too, is his fault for making you choose. ” Setting the bottle down Kazu snickered and nodded, reaching up with his other hand to sweep a hand across his beard in a gesture of habit. “ Well—there ‘was’ a fence involved but no… Not a fence that hurt me. Which, reminds me—think I pulled something back at the alley. ”

__________________________________________ ▬♦M♦▬ “I know——” The words were mumbled, not bothering to meet his eyes and let him read anymore of her at the moment, because regardless of that fact that her options had been shitty, she’d still taken one that haunted her, and caused her to be hunted as well. Which would make one rather remorseful even if they didn’t regret the choice they’d made. “Thanks.” Slender fingers wrapped around the bottle, accepting it with a shrug before taking a deep hard swig of it. No, taking several consecutive ones, downing a good measure before pulling back to let the burn settle in with a small grimace and a hiss between her teeth. A shiver shook her too when the heat pooled in her belly and started already to blossom warmth through her veins. It had been a long time since she’d drank whiskey with such abandon. A nip here or there was all she’d had in what must be a year or more. But she figured she deserved to drown a few demons after the day she’d had. “I’d a’ hid from ya if I could’ve, because a’ those men. It’s what I’ve been doing since I lost David. I’ve been too scared t’approach any other survivors, even when I’d really needed help. I jus’—- I couldn’t go through something like that again, alone.” With another shrug she snuggles down into her blanket and toys with the neck of the bottle before taking another drink. This one wasn’t as long, but she’d already done a good job of getting a healthy dose of alcohol into her system to help numb her nerves. "Guess it’s a good thing I turned ya down about walkin’ me here, huh?” If she hadn’t, if she’d went with him, she wouldn’t have been attacked, that was true, but it would have made things worse. Obviously they were watched, and should she had been with Kazu, the man who’d tried to take her might have simply kept watching—- until he found where she was going to be hold up that night. And seeing that there’d been no altercation to cause him concern enough to stay, she’d been there alone, and vulnerable. Especially if he’d brought in others by then . Yeah, as bad as things went, they could have been worse for her. Though none of that was any real reason he should stick around, so she took the offer to teach her with a grain of salt, seeing as he’d told her earlier he’d always been alone. It was probably the way he preferred it. With a deep breath she finally caught his line of sight again, letting him see the look of grim determination behind her otherwise soft blue eyes. “Look, ya don’t need t’feel sorry for me an’ stick around. Before I found out you’d been involved with those men too—- I’d planned t’tell ya you could leave after the storm passed, cause I wouldn’t blame ya for avoiding burdens like the ones I brought.” Her thumb rubs the smooth lip of the bottom, eyes dropping to that idle action a moment before lifting to his again. “Now though I see we both made enemies with ‘em, but the sentiment remains—- Ya don’t gotta stay. You killed some cause they attacked ya. I killed their leader, an’—- well prolly a couple others as well, when I let biters in t’their camp t’distract them so David an’ I could escape. I violated their sense a’security, and took out the one they looked to. Pretty sure that makes me enemy number one to ‘em. So I’m thinkin’ they’re prolly not gonna come after you. Ya can jus’ walk away, Kazu. Come mornin’—- if the storm’s let up—-“ I won’t even be surprised to find you gone before I wake. It wasn’t what she wanted though, and she worried the tone of her voice betrayed that, because she’d felt safer, more secure with him even after all this shit today than she had in ages. And she was loathe to be alone anymore. The very thought of it burned her chest more than the liquor alone. __________________________________________________ Sitting with his elbows on his knees, Kazu regarded her body language with a critical eye. When she thanked him she didn’t respond vocally, instead he picked his own up and lifted it in a gesture of acknowledgement. His eyebrow arced as she drank heavily, long pulls that made him shake his head a little with a frown of someone who recognized the action. Kazu didn’t smother his demons though, they were a part of him and he made peace with that a long time ago. He was, what he was. There was no way to change it, and in doing so was a waste of energy and time he could be putting elsewhere. Now that the world was shit, and he didn’t have to worry about the hounds on his heels, Kazu took it upon himself to dispose of the undead like it was a personal mission. As a tool of war, that was where his skills were needed the most.This however didn’t mean that he was incapable of understanding her pain, and the weight she carried at having taken human life—he’d spent years watching, learning and adapting to the world of man. His time in the Wars were especially telling, what killing did to a man. He gleaned the nuances of their behavior mostly out of habit, but it was an aspect of his training. Kazu liked to people watch like other people watched birds or animals, even if the conditions were as morbid as they had been in the trenches, with explosions and chopper blades, gun-fire and death cries. In the moment of her indulgence, his gaze had gone introspective and it was the sound of her voice that drew him back into the present. “ I try and help any survivors I find, so I consider it a good thing. Besides, having seen you solitary would have prompted me to track you anyway. A woman should never travel alone, least of all in the middle of the damn apocalypse. “ Our new ‘friends’ being the primary mutual—as if the eaters, infection and natural selection were not bad enough. ” He shrugged and lifted the bottle to his lips, taking a few healthy pulls before pulling it back and letting the glass neck hang between his knees as he adjusted his elbows. “ Agreed, a good thing. Aside from you being on the front line, it exposed our enemy and gave us a chance to defend ourselves. If you hadn’t, we might have been under attack the moment we took shelter. ”She made a point of catching his eye, and Kazu arched an eyebrow as he took another pull of his liquor, recognizing the look of a woman about to play a righteous, self-sacrificing card. He’d seen it before on a woman who’d been bitten and was trying to ‘save him’… Ridiculous, it wasn’t in him to leave her, he stayed with her to the end and not because she had been female. Women weren’t the only survivors he’d come across that had been given cruel choices. Children, men, young and old; but he knew what dying alone felt like. He remembered his own first time dying… before he knew his life was a cruel and twisted joke of nature. As she began to speak though, he lowered the bottle from his lips and regarded her steadily, though silently. It took him a moment after she stopped speaking, letting her words sink in as he grunted with a nod, letting his gaze move to the floor as if in deep introspection. In reality, his mind had been set the moment he threw that man to the eater. “ Come morning if the storm lets up. ” He started, looking back up at her from under his heavy brows. “ —I’m going back down into the bar and we’re going to empty all the can goods I can find and I’m rigging up an alarm system and then I’m going to teach you how to use a man’s body weight against him. ”Setting the bottle aside and reaching into the crate for the peanuts, he opened the bag and picked out a few before offering her some. “ If you’re basing your crime off violation, you’re thinking about it all wrong to begin with. One ill turn does not beget another, however—you did what you had to do to survive, I’m assuming in a moment of panic where you ‘had’ to make a choice. Don’t fault yourself for the laws of the world as they are now. “ You can’t save everybody, there are no hero’s. Every action we take, no matter big or small, how the world is or was… Every action has a reaction, a ripple effect. It has always been like that. It will always be like that. You will burn yourself out thinking like that and I will not leave you in such a defenseless position, and for damn sure not with a guillotine swinging over your head. So–.” Kazu popped a few peanuts in his mouth and looked square at her, the stubborn arch of his eyebrow and the set of his jaw indicating his own determination. “ —strap in, woman, it’s going to be a long winter. ”

#atramentousxedge #reksaisdaddy #firesxofxcoclare #snow #format- italics and bolds are all fucked up- but here ya go hun

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