#pour zuri

[onecantsimply]

Cannibal

Ya’ll remember the first part of teen reader? The label that Jack has? Yeah- He’s still a platonic Yandere- A full established Dad as well- SO HE MIGHT BE FUCKING SOMEONE UP THIS TIME- BUT (Y/N) HAS THEIR CHANCE TO SHINEEE- I made this because I was mad at a fucking creep that approached me at a damn McDonalds bro- 

Warnings: Slightly long chapter. Mentions of Cannibalism, murder, abduction, torture, mutilation of corpses, (Y/n) having murderer potential, as well as some good old angst with some small comfort. 

- 

“Hey, (Y/n)! Could you consider doing overtime for Zuri?! She had to leave early for something!!” A woman questioned. (Y/n) peeked over. “For how long?!” They replied. “... Maybe a few more hours?!” The teen then looked at the clock. 

They would be there until 3:00. It was 12:00. 

“... I’m not sure if my Father would really let me...” (Y/n) mumbled. “Zuri needs this, and people already have some plans to do...” The woman walked over. “I’ll double your pay and let you off for the week.” (Y/n) blinked. “... That’s major.” They mumbled. “Well... working a teen too much has its disadvantages. I don’t need you getting too overworked. This is already enough. And... your Father is pretty scary...” (Y/n) softly smiled. “Mari, he’s not that scary... He’s just... worried.” The woman gently chuckled. “He’d better be.” She then looked back. “I’ll get to doubling your pay. Thank you for taking Zuri’s shift.” (Y/n) nodded. “Not a problem. Tell her that she owes me next time.” They walked over to the phone as Mari walked towards the back. (Y/n) dialed in a number, waiting for the receiver to pick up. 

- 

Within Jack’s area, he softly sighed, placing his newspaper down on the table. He then walked towards the ringing phone, picking it up. “Yes?” He spoke. “I took an overtime job~” (Y/n) sung. Jack seemed to softly sigh. “Do I need to remind you of what Red Widow told you?” He questioned. “No, but my pay is doubling, and I get a full week off. We can spend some time together.” Jack blinked. “Are you sure your manager isn’t lying?” He questioned. “Mari isn’t the type to lie or set things up. So I’m pretty sure we have some good time with each other.” (Y/n)’s voice seemed happy about this. “...” Jack looked down. “... Okay.” He nodded. “When will you be home?” He questioned. “Around... 3:30.” Jack blinked. “... I’ll be safe.” The male softly sighed. “... Alright...” He mumbled. “Okay... Just stay extra cautious... I don’t want you getting abducted or killed...” Jack spoke, closing his eyes. “Got it.” The line ended after that, keeping the male in faint worry. He softly placed the phone down, gently face palming. “Goodness... What am I doing...?” Jack then looked to the side. “...” He then walked towards the table, reading his newspaper to take his mind off of things. 

-

“You sure with taking an overtime job?” Dylan questioned while (Y/n) cleaned their glass. “Yes. Coming back home safe means that I can spend more time with Jack.” They spoke. “Just make sure to go home safe.” Dylan placed the tray of glasses down. “From what I heard, people your age have been going missing.” (Y/n) nodded. “I... got news of that.” They spoke. “And you’re still taking the job?” Dylan seemed to arch an eyebrow while (Y/n) washed the glasses of beer and alcohol. “... Listen, I love all of you and this place, but I want to stay home. I’m getting a double pay, as well as a week off, so I’ll take it. Plus, Zuri will owe me one.” The male nodded. “Favoritism... I see...” He and (Y/n) softly chuckled. “Favoritism-? Mari has a favorite kid-?” A woman walked over. “Vanya ale.” She spoke. “Got it...” (Y/n) grabbed one of the glass mugs before softly grabbing a glass of ale. They popped the cork off, pouring some ale into the mug. The teen softly placed it down, allowing for the woman to gently grab it, and serve it to a customer. “What did Zuri need to do again?” (Y/n) questioned. “Getting ready for a funeral. One of her friends died and she wanted to attend the funeral.” Dylan answered. “Oh, got it... No wonder she seemed down today.” The teen continued with cleaning the glasses. A few males had entered the bar, soon taking a seat by the counter. “A Canadian whiskey and a Scotch please.” The male spoke. “Right with you, Sir.” (Y/n) smiled faintly, grabbing the bottles and mugs while the correct amount of money was paid. They then filled them up, gently pushing the mugs towards the pair. “... I don’t think a kid like you should be working here at a time like this.” One of the males spoke. “Well... I suppose I just have a natural pull to working hard.” (Y/n) replied, going back to cleaning the last glass. “I see... What’s your name?” They saw Dylan snap his head towards the two males. “... Let’s not do that. We’ll keep it to Waiter and Customer.” (Y/n) spoke. The two males nodded. “... I understand it’s not really... easy to trust a couple of strangers. Well, I can tell you care about others.” (Y/n) softly nodded. “My name is David. He’s James.” They bowed their head. “Nice to meet the both of you.” They spoke. 

-

“Luck? No, no... No such thing as luck. You know, I think that everything happens for a reason.” (Y/n) arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?” They spoke. “I do. And I can prove it to you. Now, this place... is especially cruel because of the Industrial War. A few weeks back, uh... I sent a group of men out to collect some pays that a couple had. And... I don’t ever think... any of them came back except three. They said that... the others had been... slaughtered by a crazy man...” David softly chuckled. “And get this, he- a crazy guy that had abducted a teen with (H/c) hair.” (Y/n) faintly tilted their head, their hand slowing down as they cleaned their glass. “You see? Everything happens for a reason.” Dylan walked over. “Okay. Get out.” He spoke, putting a hand in front of (Y/n). “Now don’t get upset. It’s not their fault.” David spoke. “They’re just a kid.” He looked at James. “Keep your hand off.” (Y/n) and Dylan looked towards the male’s friend, seeing him... rather cautious. “Hand off. It’s only the guy that did this. Not them.” James seemed to faintly scoff. “... No one will be happy about this.” He spoke. “I’ll take care of it. It isn’t your concern.” Dylan nodded. “Great. Now get out.” He ordered, pointing to the door. “... You won’t survive long, being by a mercenary’s side. But... I can protect you.” Dylan leaned forward. “Enough.” He spoke. David and James looked at each other before they got up, walking out of the bar. “... Are you okay?” (Y/n) nodded. “What was that guy talking about?” Dylan sat on the counter. “Not very sure.” They answered, looking at the clock. “... Think I should wait a bit before clocking out?” Dylan nodded. “Yeah. You need me to accompany you?” He questioned. “I mean...” (Y/n) took out their switchblade. “... Maybe.” They spoke. “That’s a pretty unique knife.” Dylan chuckled. “Jack gave it to me. He said I might need it.” (Y/n) walked into the back while the other male sighed faintly, closing his eyes. Though, within a few minutes, (Y/n) had walked out. “Alright. Let’s go.” They spoke. The pair walked outside of the bar, not happening to see anyone. They then walked off, striking up conversations to push aside the tense air, as well as the cold wind that had blew by. It seemed to work throughout the entire walk, since (Y/n) and Dylan had made it home safely. “Thank you for accompanying me, Dylan.” (Y/n) spoke. “Not a problem. I don’t need a work friend to go missing.” He looked back. “... I’ll get going now. Sleep well.” (Y/n) nodded as the male walked away. They gently unlocked the door to the house, walking in. Though, only minutes after doing so, they had felt arms around their necks with intentions to at least pull someone unconscious. (Y/n) flipped their switchblade out before they attempted to stab at the person’s neck. He caught their wrist. “Trying to save you here-” David muttered. (Y/n) just couldn’t seem to keep their consciousness any longer. And thus, they had fallen to David’s hand. “There we go...” 

-

Upon waking up, (Y/n) seemed to hear rustling. They gently stirred with a soft groan, slowly looking around after putting a hand over their head. (Y/n) then slowly sat up, taking notice of how they were within a cell. Their figure immediately went towards the cell, softly grabbing the bars. (Y/n) then saw James cutting off a Human hand, sliding it onto the floor. Feet and hands were on it, clearly lifeless. (Y/n) immediately took a few steps back, clearly stunned at what they were seeing. This had made James turn around to look at them, revealing the torso of a Human. The male seemed to faintly scoff and walk away, leaving his knife on the table. (Y/n) shook at the iron bars with their hands, now much more intent on getting away. They attempted to move the bars to the side, using an way they knew to try and get away. The teen then looked around to see if there was a sort of opening they could use. And yet... there was none. “And how are you feeling?” David’s voice questioned. (Y/n) froze up before taking a few steps back. “... Super... Utterly fantastic about being caged up again.” They spoke. David faintly chuckled. “Here.” He put a plate of meat down, softly sliding it towards (Y/n) from under the door. “You should eat.” David spoke. “I know you’re hungry.” He spoke, seeing (Y/n) simply glaring into him. “... You’ve been out for quite some time as well.” The male smiled softly. “... What is this that you’re serving me?” (Y/n) questioned. “... Deer.” David answered. “...” (Y/n) looked down. “... With some Human helping on the side?” They questioned, looking back at the male. David seemed to chuckle. “No. No, I promise.” He spoke. “It’s just deer meat.” (Y/n) silently looked at the Human torso on the table. “You’re an absolute animal.” They got down on one knee, starting to eat. “Well, awfully quick to judge.” David got down on one knee by the cell wall. “... You and your... Father now, right? How many did both you and him kill for the sake of survival?” (Y/n) looked at David. “They never gave us a choice.” They then bit off some deer meat. “And you think we have a choice?” David questioned. “... You’re a politician with options. And you still choose Humans. You’re capable.” (Y/n) looked at the male. “... You kill to survive. And so do we. We have to take care of our own. And by any means necessary.” (Y/n)’s eyebrows furrowed. “Then now what? You going to chop me up into tiny pieces like you did to my friend?” David chuckled. “I’d rather not.” He spoke. “... Please tell me your name.” He spoke. “...” (Y/n) shoved the food back. “You’re full of shit.” They then got up as David did the same. “On the contrary...I’ve been quite honest with you.” He softly pulled the tray away. “Now I think it’s your turn.” The male turned to the door. “It’s the only way I’d be able to convince the others.” He spoke. “... Convince them of what?” (Y/n) mumbled. “That you can come around. That you have heart. You’re loyal. And you’re special.” David walked towards the bars, placing a hand over (Y/n)’s. Their eyebrows furrowed. “Oh...” They mumbled. (Y/n) then gently placed a hand over David’s. A second later, they snapped his finger back, attempting to grab at his keys. He slammed their face and shoulder into the cell, injuring them. “Fuck...” They muttered after falling to their back. “You stupid little kid...! You are making it very difficult to keep you alive...!” David muttered. He looked towards the door. “What am I supposed to tell the others now?” He questioned. (Y/n) brushed some blood away from their nose. “... (Y/n).” They spoke. David looked at them. “What?” He spoke. “Tell them that... (Y/n) is the little kid that broke your fucking finger!” David softly sighed. He then looked at his finger. “... How did you put it...? Hm...?” He then looked at (Y/n). “Tiny pieces? See you in the morning, (Y/n).” They softly scoffed, brushing some blood away from their nose. 

- Time skip - 

Within the morning, Jack had finally woken up, hearing the rough padding of rain. He softly sat up with a sigh, rubbing at his eyes before getting out of bed. The male walked out of his room, and into (Y/n)’s to check if they were home. And yet... upon not seeing them in bed, Jack felt his heart sink. He immediately walked out of his room, looking around. “(Y/n)? Are you awake?” Jack called out. He looked at the clock. It was already morning. “... (Y/n)?” The male then walked towards the phone, dialing in their work number. It had picked up within a few seconds. “Excuse me for calling so early, but is (Y/n) still at work?” Jack questioned. “...” He looked around. “No? I thought they got back?” Dylan’s voice replied. “... They’re not here.” Jack spoke. “... Oh.” Dylan sighed. “Uhm. There were these two guys that recently freaked them out back in the bar.” Jack’s expression had visibly darkened. “... Do you have any names?” He questioned. “David and James.” Dylan spoke. “...” Jack stopped. “... Oh... Thank you...” He immediately ended the call, jogging towards his room. Jack then searched through the files of his jobs, grabbing a hold of the most recent one. He then looked through it, seeing the details of his target. 

(David Ino, a politician... -Jack) 

“... Good enough...” He immediately changed into some other clothes. He slipped his blazer on, as well as his coat and top hat before clipping his pouches by his legs. Jack seemed to make sure they were completely filled with his weapons, whether they be his piano wires or his knives. He then walked towards the front door before stopping. Some objects of (Y/n) were right in front of it, limp, with some other things on the floor. Jack softly got down on one knee, his eyebrows furrowing. His worry could only grow much more. But there was another emotion from within. It was growing. Festering. Sprouting much more than he expected it to. Whatever this emotion was... he liked it. The male immediately put their things on the counter before walking outside. (Y/n) wasn’t there either. Jack could feel his worry deepen more. He then looked around further. 

“There he is!”  “Make sure he doesn’t escape!” 

Jack looked towards the group of males, seeing them advance forward. 

“...” The male softly cursed before he hid behind the wall, taking a few knives and piano wires out. Jack then took a peek to memorize his opponent’s whereabouts before throwing his knives towards them. 

All they had saw was a glint, as well as the wooshing of an object before two of them had gotten a knife to the forehead. 

“Shit! Don’t let him get you!”

Jack clutched his knife. 

(I’ll keep two alive... -Jack)

He made sure to fling his knives at his enemies, killing them with what accuracy he had. “Start running!” 

Oh. Oh? Absolutely not. 

Jack made sure his footsteps were absolutely quiet as he ran after the smaller group. Upon reaching the gate of his residence, he slowed down, now clenching his knife upon seeing the flicker of a color. Jack climbed onto a platform, seeing the other colors waiting for him. 

(One way or another... you will tell me... -Jack)

He then threw one of his knives at the other males, killing one. 

Jack then used his piano wires to reflect a bullet, killing the other male. 

He jumped to the other side, trudging around. 

As he walked through the still dark alleys of London, upon walking past the entrance, he felt someone grab him from behind.

 “Finish him off!” 

Jack looked at the knife of the male in front of him while struggling against the person behind him. 

He then roughly kicked at the second man’s leg, swinging the back of his head into the male behind him with a wince. 

Jack slammed him into the wall, keeping him stunned before going for the other male. 

He had gotten no mercy, receiving a kick that had stunned him. 

“You... are coming with me...” Jack muttered, dragging the two males away. “Let me go...! I’ll... fuck you up...!” The first muttered. 

-

Within only thirty minutes, Jack was beating the other male up senseless. The second man was tied to a chair. “What the fuck?!” He spoke, seeing Jack land a punch to the male by the wall. He then sighed. “... You... wait here...” Jack then walked towards the male by the chair, dragging another in front of him. “Now...” The blond sat in front of the male. “That teen... Are they alive?” Jack questioned. “What teen? I don’t know no kid.” Jack softly nodded. “Is that so?” He questioned, staring right into a lying color. “Damn right...” Jack then smiled faintly. “Okay...” He stabbed the man’s leg, purposely avoiding a much more painful spot. And yet, it had seemed to be much more than enough to get him to scream. Something that seemed... enjoyable to Jack. 

Normally, he never cared for the pain of others. Only looks and colors of fear. But this time... this time... he wanted to see every bit of pain and suffering his own enemy had if it meant getting (Y/n) back. “Fuck...!” The male muttered. “Now, now... Focus. Right here.” Jack lifted the male’s chin, his heterochromatic eyes staring forward with enjoyment. “If you don’t stare forward on your own, I will pop your knee off.” Jack warned. “Now, the teen.” The male slowly nodded. “.. The kid’s alive...! They’re David’s newest pet...!” 

(A pet... -Jack)

“Where?” He questioned, his tone now increased to a growl as he increased the man’s pain by dragging the knife around further. “In the town nearest by London...! Just there...!” Jack nodded, taking the knife out. He then placed the handle of his knife into the male’s mouth, pulling up a map. “Now you’ll mark it on the map. And it better be the same exact spot your friend points to. Mark it.” Jack ordered The male seemed to mark a spot, spitting the knife out. “There, it’s there! You can verify it! Go ask him!” Jack nodded, getting up. He then walked past the tied up male before stopping. His eyes seemed to overshadow before he put his arm around the male’s neck, making the painful process as slow as possible. Perhaps not as slow as he had liked... The snapping of a bone had come too much sooner than he had liked. Jack pushed the male on the chair to the floor before walking towards the man by the wall. “... Fuck you, man...! He told you what you wanted...!” Jack chuckled. “I ain’t telling you shit!” He then grabbed a rusty pipe by the counter. “That’s completely fine...” Jack spoke. He then looked at the pipe, softly nodding before looking at the man with nothing but a sinister smile filled with joy. “I believe him!” The man stopped. “No wait-!” Jack had already swung the iron pipe into the man’s skull, caving it in instantly. 

-

Back with (Y/n), they felt a rough shake to their shoulders. “Wakey wakey!” David spoke. He dragged (Y/n) to the table as they struggled against his grip. “Let go!!” They yelled, only getting grabbed by James. (Y/n) bit at his hand, getting a knee to the stomach. This had made them let go, only getting slammed to the table. As they were kept down. David grabbed his butcher knife. “I warned you!” He spoke. “David! Our men were killed already!” The pair looked back at the male by the door. “... Already?” David looked back. He stabbed his knife into the table. “He’s already getting closer and killing more of us. We need a better plan!” (Y/n) sighed. “... Everything happens for a reason right...? Just like you said...” They chuckled. “... That guy is more than enough to kill all of us. So what the hell is he still doing alive?” James questioned. “He’s being held at bay, we have enough time to hit him where he hurts the most!” David answered. “Well we don’t have much time!!” James replied. David sighed, taking one hand off of (Y/n)’s wrist as James let go of their other hand. This had given them the best opportunity, and they had taken it, grabbing the butcher knife and slicing James’ throat. He fell to the floor with a scream as (Y/n) rolled off of the table, dodging a gunshot from David’s pistol. They ran off, pushing some meat away and avoiding more bullets. (Y/n) seemed to lean against the wall with a soft sigh, looking towards a table. They immediately grabbed their switchblade before running at the window, jumping into the rainy surroundings. “Shit...” They muttered, keeping themself quiet while jogging around. 

(What the fuck is wrong with these people...? I thought it was just one... Not a whole group... -(Y/n))

They softly ran around, attempting to find their ways out of the town. The teen then softly opened a door. 

(I need a gun... -(Y/n))

They softly pulled a table away from the door before crawling under the boards. They heard people talking from outside. 

“Where are you going, (Y/n)?! This is my town!” “We heard gunshots!” 

(Y/n) then softly crawled out of the building, walking into another. 

“Tired of this shit! He crossed the line this time!”  “He’s coming.” “What?”  “The kid’s Father. He’s caught on and is already coming this way.”  “Alright. I need you to round up everyone who isn’t armed and get them to clear out of the area. We’re going to find that kid and kill them so that their Father knows where it hurts.” 

(Y/n) climbed onto a window, jumping out before sighing as they slowly walked through an alley, laying low. The tolls of bells was heard as they got closer to a sheltered bonfire, seeing no one there. 

“Where the hell is this fucking kid...?” 

(Y/n) then climbed a small building. 

(These guys are everywhere... -(Y/n))

They then heard a man walking by, making them walk around to avoid him. Wind blew by, drenching (Y/n) even more. Yet, they had kept going, walking past a fence. They walked into another building. 

“What if he gets here before we can kill the kid?!”  “Relax, it normally takes a while to get here from London!”  “I’m saying that we can have a real situation here!”  :We already have a situation and we’re going to take care of it. Now stay focused and find the kid.”

(Y/n) crawled out of the window, sneaking past a male who had entered the building. 

(Where do I go...? -(Y/n))

They walked towards a ramp, walking up. They then walked towards another rainy area, sneaking past a few others. Soon enough, they had made it into a... sort of restaurant, walking around to see what they could grab. Though, they quickly walked towards the entrance of the building, about to open the doors. But they were soon grabbed by David. “You’re easy to track...” (Y/n) was pushed into a counter before getting thrown to the floor. “So, how did you get a man like him to soften up for you?” (Y/n) crawled back as David saw a fire starting to spread within the restaurant. This had allowed them to run off with their knife. “That’s alright!” David spoke as (Y/n) hid behind a seat. “There’s nowhere to go!” The teen immediately crawled around, making sure to keep quiet. “You want out?” David questioned. “You’ll have to come get these keys...” (Y/n) crawled around to David as he walked around. “I know you’re not normal! No one this normal would be experienced in staying alive in so many occasions!” (Y/n) snuck up behind David, before jumping on his back, stabbing their knife into his shoulder. They were then thrown off, with (Y/n) hiding behind a counter before they could get shot at. “That was good, kid..” David put his gun away, pulling his machete out. “It’s gonna be alright...” (Y/n) immediately lunged away, crawling away from David as he walked around once more. “You know, you keep surprising me... It’s just a shame that you never came around...” (Y/n) accidentally stepped on some broken glass. “There you are, (Y/n).” They silently lunged away, hiding behind another counter with a mental curse. Though, they crawled around David as he walked towards the broken glass they had stepped on. Upon stepping behind him, they had stepped on the broken glass again. But David didn’t really react, based on how he had gotten stabbed in the back again. (Y/n) ran off once more. “Run, little rabbit! Run!” David yelled. (Y/n) hid behind another area, using their hearing to see where David was. They seemed to intentionally step on more glass before silently lunging away, crawling around the glass to see where David was. He had ran towards it before crunching down. (Y/n) crawled around him, staying silent and simply watching while he took the cautious steps. Though, right as he stepped forward, the teen lunged at him, stabbing him in the chest. He backed them against the table as (Y/n) struggled to keep the knife in. Yet, they were thrown forward, making the pair pass out. 

-

The tolling bells were heard as Jack advanced forward, keeping the rain out of his face. He then ran forward, going quiet upon hearing other voices. 

“This is pointless, I can’t see a thing in all this rain!”  “Just keep searching! If they come through here, we need to catch them!”  “We should be guarding the shelter! We have two dangerous people running around, and we’re guarding the damn exit!!” 

(Good... They’re still holding their own... It seems that the lessons I taught them worked well... -Jack)

He jogged into a building, sighing from how drenched he got. 

“Look. The kid is deadly and we don’t know where they’ll turn up next. Just keep your eyes and ears open!” 

Jack seemed to pull on the knob of a shed door, only to see that it was locked. He used one of his knives to open the door, pulling it open. “There...” Tolling of bells were heard much more as Jack grabbed a stray bottle. He then tossed it away, hearing it shatter. The male ran forward immediately. taking his chance to slip into a building without notice. His eyes took immediate notice of the clothes and shoes that had been on the cases. He walked forward, grabbing (Y/n)’s bag. 

(They’re close... -Jack)

He then walked into the next room, stopping when he saw tied up bodies that had hung by the ceiling. “Christ....” Jack muttered. 

(Calm down... I”ll find them... I have to... I need to... -Jack)

He pushed upon the front door, stopping when he had saw the flames that had enveloped a certain restaurant. 

-

It didn’t take long for (Y/n) and David to wake up. They both stirred, getting up. (Y/n) then saw how David’s machete was under a seat, so they crawled towards it with the remaining strength they had. Before they could grab it, they had gotten a kick to the chest. (Y/n) grunted as David chuckled. “I knew you had heart...” He muttered. “You know, it’s okay to give up. Ain’t no shame in it.” (Y/n) slowly crawled forward once again, hearing David chuckle. “I guess not...” He muttered. “Just not your style, is it?” He spoke. (Y/n) got yet another kick to the stomach, making them cough. David than forced their head down, making them freeze up. “You can try begging... I’m at least better than your Father... Your real Dad...” (Y/n) scoffed. “Fuck you.” They were then turned right to their back, David’s hands clamping around their throat. “You think you know me? Huh? Well let me tell you something..” (Y/n) attempted to reach towards the seat, struggling against David’s hold. “You have no idea about what I’m capable of...” They could feel it. They could feel the handle of the machete. (Y/n) quickly grabbed it, and swung it at David. He had gotten a deep gash into his arm just by trying to block it. He rolled off of them with a scream, leaving (Y/n) to get on top, and mercilessly keep stabbing at his face with what energy they had. They just... never stopped, stabbing even if David’s face was now unrecognizable. “(Y/n)-?! Stop-!” Jack ran over to them, pulling them away. “No! Don’t fucking touch me!!” (Y/n) yelled, struggling against Jack’s hold as he tried to quiet them down. He quickly turned them around. “It’s okay...! It’s me! It’s just me!” He spoke, making (Y/n) look at him. “Look and breathe!” Jack could see nothing but the colors of relief flood through (Y/n) as they melted into his touch, quickly hugging him close. “He tried to-” Jack nodded, making sure to hug their face close to his shoulder. “Oh, Dear...” He muttered, hearing (Y/n)’s sniffles as they sobbed into his shoulder. “Jack...” Their voice had wavered as they muttered, feeling nothing but their Father figure’s comforting touch. “It’s okay now...” He muttered.Jack then gently pulled away, softly caressing (Y/n)’s face while they looked at him. 

They had a scratch on their nose, as well as blood everywhere on their face. Jack gently cleaned it off with his glove. “You’re safe now... We’re going to get you out... and we’re going to get you patched up... And when we get home... we’ll be free to do whatever you’d like... okay?” Jack spoke, caressing (Y/n)’s face as they softly nodded, their tears still gently flooding their face. The two then got up, walking out of the restaurant, leaving David and his mutilated face, as well as his bloody machete in the floor. 

#record of ragnarok #record of ragnarok x reader #jack the ripper x reader #jack the ripper #jack the ripper record of ragnarok #platonic jack the ripper x reader #Yandere platonic Jack the Ripper x reader #Reader has murderer potential

[ghostinthehole]

taps mic, hi!! i hope you all are not sick with me yet xD alongside the zomboy plush I also made a plush of my oc, Zuri. If you've been following me for a long time, you know how much love I have poured for this one oc.

they're boyfriends, your honor....

#yokai watch #zuri #oc x canon #yo kai watch #youkai watch #zom b chopper #zomboy #my art #art tag #art #custom plushie

[oc-cafe]

Stories, skelons and tits

Vea tires easily, they are after all, still recovering. They ask me for water and give me no answers. 

I lead them to the kitchen, which is now mostly deserted, the servants having long disappeared into their beds. Some of the messengers mill about outside, just having returned from their various tasks. I wonder what it must be like for them, refugees who made their home in serving a kingdom that they don’t consider as their own, never in the same spot, swift as Dhoruba’s wings and  ever changing like the waves of Baharini’s waters . 

I do not wish to become them. 

“How do you know where everything in your castle is?” Vea shakes their silently and I notice the silver glinting through their hair. 

“Zuri, my sister, and I used to play here with the other children.I suppose we learnt all the hiding spots and the rooms along the way...” I trail off, voices of the past now deafening.  

There I had bandaged Eren’s cuts when they’d fallen into some bush while we had been playing, there Zuri had burnt her dress, there were the places my father had taught me how to clean the stems of flowers, there I had prepared soup with him, there I had found Gabriel and Zuri kissing for the first time, there was the grate I had cut open my hand on, there was the place my father had gently taught me the healing salves, there was that, there was this, memories washed over me, drowning me.  

“What was it like?” I barely hear Vea but some distant part of my brain computes their question. 

“It was fun, loud and absolutely lovely.” I smile a little as I think of the girls I used to know. So many of us drifted away as the war waged on, I wonder what they’re doing now. 

“It seems so.” One of them was called Vriti,  she used  to be popular, her parents had been immigrants from Alinthi, her father a merchant and her mother the head healer, they’d left five and a half years into the war. She’d been barely thirteen. She had a sister, older than her by three years, I think her name had been Reet or something of that sort. 

“Do you miss those days?” Vea asks, leading me out of memory lane. Thousands of names cross my mind, Adunbi, Aziza, Badru,  Chioke, people I used to know, with faces that sacrificed themselves to time. 

“Desperately.” I don’t know why I don’t lie but something about them compels me to tell them the truth. They sigh softly, fixing their glasses, they stretch their legs out in front of them, letting their cane lie at their side as they sit down on the kitchen stool. 

I pour them a glass of water, allowing silence to fill the room. Neither of us say a word, simply enjoying the feel of the cool night air. The utter silence leaves me with a heavy heart but a clear head. 

And a clear head is what I need right now. 

It matters not that my heart still weighs me down, that the grief seems to smother me until I can scarcely breathe, it matters only that the answers I need are within my reach. 

Speaking of which, 

“Vea. You promised me a story.” 

“Impatient, are we?” They sigh again, and I bristle. They sigh quite a bit.  

“Yes, well. I wasn’t allowed to be at the forefront of the war.”

“Be greatful for that.” They sit up sharply, eyes flashing with an emotion I cannot name. 

“Yes, whatever. Now, story.” 

“Fine. There’s people under the sea and they were allies until they weren’t.” 

“Oh okay… then- wait..What.” People under the sea? Did they hit their head on their way here? 

Do I need to hit them on their head?   “Yes Princess, there’s people under the sea. They’re called Skelons, they’ve got blue hair, and they can breathe underwater, they’re Baharini’s bitches.” 

I burst into laughter, they really had me going for a moment there. I really thought they had something important to say.

“Yeah, of course, and the next thing you’re gonna tell me is that fucking Baharini’s real.” I really did inherit my father’s sailor mouth. 

They gave me a sheepish look. 

Abeba’s tits. 

They have got to be kidding. 

“And do you have any evidence to back up this outrageous claim?”  

“Am I not proof enough?” I give them a quick once over, a broken nose, a few scrapes and bruises and broken glasses.

“Right, your….state is supposed to prove to me that there are people living under the sea?” “Not people princess!” They stand up, eyes wild. 

“They’re  monsters. We would be fools to believe otherwise!” All this excitement seems to be getting to them. 

“Look! Look at this and tell me that a man could do this-” 

“Kiongozi Amaris! Please! Get a hold of yourself!” I attempt to still their wild hands as they work furiously to rip off their tunic but ultimately, I fail. 

They shrug off my hand and continue  frantically unbuttoning their tunic. 

Well. This is not how I anticipated this evening to go. 

Maybe I could still make a run for it. 

I take a step back. 

And Vea steps forward. 

Or I could just punch them in the face and run. 

That’s probably not gonna work. 

I’m not very strong. Or good at running. Or… punchy. Is that a word? 

Fuck it. 

I’ll just drown them in the sea. 

Let ‘em be with their sea monsters. 

“Princess I know what this seems like and I’m sorry- I promise  I’m not trying to impose myself on you or somethin-” 

“Then could you kindly put your clothes back on?”

“I will… just- this is something you have to see to believe.” They finally shrug their clothes off and I scramble to cover my eyes. 

Wait. 

This is literally my castle. 

I can look wherever I please. 

I peel my fingers off my face and finally look at Vea. 

Bandages cover most of their body, except a few portions. 

The wrappings around those areas seem to have rotten and fallen away,I reach forward, my hand just barely brushing the edge of the gaping hole in their abdomen. 

It's hypnotising, it's almost as if their blood poisons the wound. I let my fingers brush the edge, and travel further up, tracking the path of scars, exploring the openings between bandages, and letting them tell me a story no words could ever describe.

Because no mortal weapon could ever have inflicted this kind of trauma, because swords and arrows can only cut so deep.

But these?

These are claw marks.

Claw marks that grow grey and luminescent blue under the gaze of the gentle summer moon.

Claw marks that shift and sway like the waves of the ocean that crash against our shore.

Claw marks that resemble the ones embedded into my city's walls from where Baharini once severed her village away.

A/N: Once again, not beta read, but then again when is it?

Mod Tag: @tiredguyswag@ne0npurplefantasies

Taglist (send an ask to be added or removed): @ghostdragoncookie @jewishdainix @ialmostdonothingnew @just-call-me-a-god @death-and-the-lady13 @fierreth-who @mister-finally-found-himself @coffeelovinggayidiot @pinkyy-promises @sassychaostrash @lesbiansayaishii @a-cloud-for-dreams @brkh96 @i-likestuff86 @redvelvetpdf @xx0yeet-everything0xx @thisismisogynoir

#mod🔥 #written by: mod 🔥 #battlecrown the rrp #battlecrown 2022 #battlecrown #daraja adesina #vea amaris #the royalty representation project #this is fun #it's not very good though

[vixen-fiction]

I. Let’s Play

FARRAH

I looked out at the beautiful Parisian skyline, I preferred it at night but the afternoon sky was just as beautiful today. I could hear the Keurig in the corner of the room, pouring the hot water and the scent of the coffee soon followed, it was a regular day with my therapist.  Well, I assumed it would be normal. My new therapist at least was just as beautiful as my past one, when she finally walked back in, I simply sat with my legs crossed then offered her a smile. Dr. Andres is a Cancer woman like myself. A mixture of water and also fire with Sagittarius in her chart. Her beautiful green eyes fixed on mine as she sat across from me. Once she cleared her throat and looking at my file, she definitely had so much to say but simply settled on keeping it simple, what she would proceed with next didn’t shock me at all.

“I’ve read your files, your report from your previous specialists…I take it for majority of our session I may see you from a different view and light. I want you to really start from the beginning where you’re most comfortable..it’s really up to you.”

  I examined the large pink diamond that sat proudly on my finger, it glistened whenever the right light hit it. “Most start with asking how I’m feeling, but I like you for being so forward.” I told her before grabbing my bottled water, taking a swig.

“Do you want to begin with discussing a—” paused to read the name, a name that to this day triggers something with me. “Jonathan Torrance Truffaut, a German born millionaire but also he was a sponsor for you and your mother Zeta Baptiste in 2002. Your I-130 application was processed and approved, became permanent residents in 2003. I see later you received citizenship in 2009.. then documented incidents of abuse. Trevor Blake was hospitalized for fractured ribs and a broken arm..a well documented incident that you witnessed.”

The sound of a trigger being pulled and the hammer clicking inside my head could be heard. I clenched my jaw. I had to remember to breathe. I was never good with these uncomfortable conversations even when I was younger, I felt myself in that place again but this time I was in his arms. I felt safe. But life wasn’t always like this, I didn’t feel the reserve I feel now, the emotional freedom…

“Well you told me we could start wherever I felt comfortable, if we’d start there we’d go way way back to the beginning.. if we’d like to address my traumas I’ll just start with my late ex husband.. I think that’s a good place to begin.” That was the last word that I uttered before I let her have her way. As usual, she’s good at that. We’re good at that, a soft chuckle left my lips. That hazel hue in my eyes had appeared and I noticed Dr. Andres was absolutely enamored, nervous.

  “Nice to meet you Dr. Andres.. I’m Zuri.”

“Likewise, I know exactly who you are my dear. Shall we continue?” She scribbled her opening notes.

ZURI

The ultimate stripper and hoe old school anthem Sho Nuff by Tela featuring 8Ball & MJG blasted through the club speakers. Tonight was the night real money could be made if you had the power to finesse these niggas. I watched as money fell on dancers and of course the bartenders, I was caught reminiscing my days twirling the pole. It was then I had felt his eyes on me from across the room. For awhile now, this stranger had been watching me. It wasn’t anything new to me, I had grown used to a man eyeing me and looking at me like a piece of meat. Los Angeles was a city where I learned to sniff out a trick, a creep and a freak.

  The easiest targets.

Playhouse Hollywood, the lavish nightclub where I worked had attracted all kinds of potential clientele and the desperate ducks in the city. I had just served a majority of my regulars for the night so now it was time to scope the scene and mingle for a few moments. When I ventured out further through the club, that's when I noticed him. His eyes on me and my frame made me put a little pep in my strut. I smirked over at my best friend Lex, her eyes shifted to the baller that I was walking toward. I could only imagine her inner laughter. Once I had walked over to his table in the VIP section it appears that he had his mind made up on wanting more than bottle service.

  “I just need one night of your time beautiful. One night.” He stated smirked at me. He took a hold of my hand once I sat the bottles of Hennessy and Don Julio on the table.

  “Mmm, my policy is I can’t mingle with clients or customers from work. It’s bad for business and it can be dangerous.” I replied with a chuckle. He remained persistent and even after servicing him, he still was fighting for my attention amongst my regular or new customers. I couldn't be irritated at all considering he gave me a large tip out that covered me even when I had to pay the club’s portion. As the night went on, the club became packed for a Thursday. The liquor in my system mixing with my desire and the drugs now had me craving my usual fix. A good ass orgasm, some bomb dick or pussy was something to really end my night right. I was floating on cloud nine and the shift went by just as fast as it came. The club closed its doors at 2 a.m. so I sat in the locker room waiting on Lex whilst securing my much needed dick appointment.

  “Oh Eric baby, I need you to come through.” I purred on the phone as I played with a strand of my hair.

“Yes mam. Anything for you Z, you need anything?” He replied.

  “No boo, just you.” I said in a seductive tone, licking over my lips. Lex walked into the locker room with her duffle bags in hand before she set them down. She rushed to change out of her work attire to put on her jogger set. She glanced over at me on the phone before smirking.

  “Bitch come on!  Haas at the studio and he coming over tonight.” Lex teased as she collected her belongings to head for the door.“That whore ass nigga can wait, tell him to wait.” I retorted as I packed my bags, grabbing my duffles that was somewhat stuffed with money.

  Once I ended my phone call with Eric, I laughed then smirked at her as I gathered my duffles. This was our nightly routine after work, I would walk my best friend to her car then that was when my night would truly begin. I patiently waited for Lex to start her car and soon after I proceeded to walk toward my Benz. There was that feeling again that someone was watching me, their eyes undressing me. My skin had goosebumps forming and it gave me a bad vibe. I peeked out of my peripheral vision and tucked my hair behind my ear to see Mr. VIP from earlier that evening was outside this entire time observing us. Fuck that. I immediately thought as my hand slipped in my purse. When I pushed the remote to start my car he was already closer behind me.

“Yo excuse me..” he called.

My nostrils flared with irritation and once I was at my car door, I turned around tilting my head. “Yes?”

  “Is it too much to ask to have just your number?” He questioned.

“It is.. because I told you my policy. I don’t care who you are.” I flipped my hair over my shoulder and opened the door before I felt him gripping my wrist tightly.

 I didn’t hesitate to let him meet  the barrel of my 9mm. He let go of my wrist and raised his hands in obvious surrender.

  “Now.. no means fucking no right?! What have we learned.” I lowered the gun to his chest then moved toward his groin. “I could shoot you right the fuck now and no one would ever know the wiser because it definitely look like you’re attacking me. Fuck off.”

  “You dangerous baby girl, shit a man would be lucky to have you.” He replied as he backed away.

“You have no idea.”

  A devilish little smirk curled on my lips as I got inside my car. I peeled off from the parking lot to rush home. Bitch nigga made me late for my fucking appointment.

HASAN “HAAS”

My eyes were closed as the liquor and weed invaded my system. My arousal was at its peak as I bobbed my head to the music blasting through the studio as it reached the back lounge.  I opened my eyes, scrolling through my phone as I puffed on my blunt, occasionally I’d make eye contact with Lex as she worked her mouth to devour my length. Her lips feeling amazing as she curled them to work my inches, licking over my lips I diverted my eyes back to my phone seeing a picture of Lex home girl. I never paid much attention to her other than when she’d serve a drink or give me a dirty look.

  Shorty was bad.

  The tattoos on her ass, her curves, in my mind she definitely peaked my interest already. I made a mental note and concentrated on busting my nut. When Lex bobbed her head forward I gripped the back of her head to hold her head there, a groan leaving my lips as I felt my dick twitching inside her throat.

“Fuck..” I unleashed a loud raspy groan as my load spilled into her mouth and in the back of her throat.

When Lex cleaned up her mess she stood up to try to take off her clothes, I looked at her with a chuckle.

  “What you taking your clothes off for? I gotta get back to work.”

“Haas... what bitch you fucking that I can’t get dick no more?” Lex frowned and her entire expression changed.

  “Aye yo! Don’t start that stupid shit tonight..” I sparked my blunt as I pulled my pants up, grabbing my hoodie.

  Lex stood up and threw her high heel at me, rushing over to punch me in my back before I grabbed her quickly by her neck to squeeze it roughly, hearing her struggle for air was making my dick hard.

  “Put your hands on me again it’ll be the last fucking time you do, bitch.” She loved provoking the other side of me.

When I finally let her go, she scrambled to get dressed then quickly left out of the lounge. I chuckled darkly then shook my head as I puffed on my blunt.

 Black was in the hall as he gave me a look as he dapped me up.

“Want me to go get her Haze?” Black chuckled.

“Nah let the bitch think about what she tried to do. Let’s get this work in so I can take my ass home.”

  “Aight bro.” Black said as he followed me back into the studio.

  Fuck her.

  It was time to get this money and time to get focused. I sent Rae a text message advising her I’d be at her crib tonight to finish what Lex started. Bitches really don’t know they giving up they position. I’m the wrong nigga to try to get over on. I sat at the mixing board with my mind roaming to that girl. It’s how she stared at me, that gaze alone made my dick hard. Her whole demeanor changed. It went from sweet to like she wanted to cut a nigga dick off. I needed some of that so I immediately went to Twitter to send a DM, letting the magic work. These hoes always replied. It just be a matter of time or a question of fact.

ZURI “Mmm.. fuck...yes!” I was struggling to hold back my orgasm as the drugs in my system had my clit throbbing, my eyes crossed just from how good he was eating my pussy. Every lick, the twirl of his tongue I could feel and hear which only made my pearl swell. I did my best to keep my moans low because my roommate Ziya could hear me on the other side of the walls even with music playing. My eyes rolled back, that familiar feeling, my ultimate climax was hitting me as my head tilted back and my toes pointed to the ceiling then balling up immediately.

  “SHIT!” I groaned in ecstasy, palming the  back of Eric’s head I rode his tongue. My hips moved in the same motion—up and down until finally that wave hit me. I saw that face again in my mind and I squirt. I gave him a good christening to the point he could have drowned, baptized him in the most nasty way. I was trying to catch my breath as he came up for air, wiping his hand down his face.

“You cum harder every time, did you miss me?” He asked in his English accent. “I have a bigger allowance for you this time.”

  “Maybe so.” I looked over at his glowing blue orbs, blowing a kiss before lighting another blunt. Inhaling the smoke I simply scrolled through my phone to see a DM from Hasan. I rolled my eyes and ignored the message, I’m sure he’d get the hint I didn’t fuck with him for real.

“Six grand. That covers your rent I’ll be paying you a visit at the club for more.”

 Eric reached over to spank my ass where my rose tattoo was, leaving down to kiss the back of my neck. It was the thought of him handing that money alone that had my pussy wet all over again. “I’d like to take you on a date again.”

  “I’m getting ready for school love but we can set it up, later.” I climbed out of bed and grabbed my robe, walking him out through the living room. I heard Ziya opening her bedroom door as I hugged Eric and telling him goodnight.

Upon shutting the door and turning on my heels, I locked the door then flashed a mischievous little smile. I wasn’t done having my fun just yet.

#msheatherrose #dave east #dave east ff #dave east fanfic #machine gun kelly #urban fanfic #mgk fanfic #fanfic #fiction

[shootinwebs]

Some mildly to moderately upsetting Alastor headcanons I have:

(content warnings: abuse implied, sexual assault/forced siring implied, Angel Dust abuse mention, child death, child abuse)

-He was abused in his life on Earth. Anything that reminds him of it either sparks a reaction of rage (i.e. when Husk reminded him that he's "on a leash" -- because that part of Alastor's life in Hell reminds him of his abuse in life, for one thing), excessive smiling (in a Stepford way -- a passive-aggressive display of nothing being wrong), or makes him want to be alone. He obviously never healed much from it.

-One of the abusers was his father, who was the same towards his mother.

-Alastor doesn't actually hate children. He had a child in life (daughter, named Zuri) (illegitimate/unplanned and also non-consensual on his side), and the circumstances made it so he had to hide away in the woods with her to keep her (and himself) alive. She was killed when she was 10 months old.

-Alastor has an altar dedicated to her in his room at the hotel, with the one memento he has of her: a wooden crocodile carved out of a piece of slash pine, with Zuri's teeth marks in its snout and tail.

-The person who has Alastor under their control knows about Zuri, and their version of "get back in the studio Angel/I own you" is a mocking "You sure would love to see your little girl again, wouldn't you? Too bad..."

-Because of Zuri and what happened to her, Alastor is actually a fierce protector of children. The primary people he killed when he was alive were anyone who caused harm to children.

-He has an understanding that revenge is a lie. Because, no matter how many people he killed for the sake of his daughter, it was never enough. He was still angry and heartbroken.

-He has told one person about the particularly horrific things he's been through: Angel. He empathizes with Angel a lot.

-The first time he told Angel such personal things was one night when he was helping a high and injured Angel get through the front door, get bandaged up, and into bed.

-Angel noticed that Alastor wasn't smiling when he was helping Angel with his wounds, as if he actually cared and didn't think of Angel's pain and situation as pitiful or horrifically entertaining. Angel got angry and said, "Where's the usual grin plastered on your goddamn face? You think I'd believe you trying to show that you actually give a shit about me? Or about Charlie or anyone!?"

-Alastor felt in that moment that the only way he could prove he actually cared was by telling his own story -- but only of his life on Earth, not of his suffering in Hell by whoever has ownership of him.

-It was actually the fact that Husk poured himself out to Angel that inspired Alastor to do the same.

-A major reason he is always smiling (besides that he loves scaring people and being mysterious) is because pretending he's fine and not in horrible pain helps him feel a one-up over the things he's been through. Underneath the smile, he feels broken.

#hazbin hotel #alastor #headcanon

[bleu-sang]

Du coup je suis retourné chez ma mère me faire soigner mon front, j'ai trois points de suture mais ça va. Ça m'a permis de parler addictions avec elle et j'ai décidé d'arrêter la drogue et de diminuer alcool et clopes, m'en tenir aux boissons softs et à une clope après chaque repas. J'ai aussi fait la paix avec ma sœur et j'ai parlé à mes potes du fait qu'ils ne pensaient pas assez à moi, j'ai posé mes limites pour la première fois.

Au final, ce trou à la tête m'aura bien aidé. Ça m'a remis les idées en place (mais je pense toujours à voler Zuri).

#positif

[acapellapotato]

some closeups of aoirenne & asha bc they’re my favorite dwarf/human buddies! (does pro allow you to import characters into the couple poses? bc i’m tempted to get the sub)

here’s an old short i wrote w/ them. i don’t like it as much as i used to bc my style changed but keep reading if you’re interested

Aoirenne Runesong ambled into the tavern. She didn’t mind that she could just see over the tables. A hundred and sixteen years gave one a lot of time to get used to it. She was a dwarf after all, and one known for her temper. Not many wanted to suffer her company; let alone point out something like that. The smell of baking pies and spiced ham drifted to her. Her mouth watered. The past two months had driven her close to renouncing jerky and all meat foods. Before she came to her senses, of course. The only thing worse was getting hired to guard a merchant caravan that was mostly destroyed, which meant no pay.Aoirenne sniffed. Was that turkey? Boar? Duck? More sweets? Fancy indeed! But she expected nothing less from “her human”. She never called Asha Redwood that aloud but it was a pet name. Aoirenne asked him why he’d explained the term if he didn’t want her to call him that. Asha had only glowered at her. 

A serving girl bumping into Aoirenne interrupted her thoughts. Linen skirts filled her vision. The sounds of breaking plates, heavy thuds as wooden flagons hit the floor made her cringe as she thought of food and drink being wasted. Aoirenne tried pushing them away but only succeeded in getting her hands tangled. She let out a string of curses, mixing with those of the serving girl’s. A new voice joined in.

 “Stop struggling! You’re making it worse,” Asha growled. His baritone voice grew even deeper when he was upset.

 Aoirenne stopped struggling but she continued to complain. Once she was free she gave the woman, who she recognized as the elf Nelladrie (most people called her Nella), a dazzling smile. Asha shook his head, his brown hair falling into his eyes. Nella was a good friend thatAoirenne had known since she first set out wandering. Sometimes they were romantic partners; a secret Zuri shared only with Asha. As she followed him to a table in the corner she remembered the confused look he’d given her. A few days later he’d bought it up again but only to ask, incredulously, if she felt the same about him. Aoirenna paid close attention to her crew members though. Having seen Asha show no interest in romantic flings the others liked playing at, she’d guessed he was different and already accepted it. He seemed pleased with the answer and they never bought it up again. 

Asha didn’t attempt to help Aoirenne into her chair. What did a dwarf have if not her pride? Once she was settled she grinned up at Asha. His normally dour expression broke as a small smile peeked through. He relaxed slightly, studying her a long moment before reaching out to put a hand over hers. It spoke volumes more than if he’d attempted to lift her and swing her about. Dwarves weren’t immovable stones, not that they protested the myth, but Aoirenne had fists as large as Asha’s head; it wouldn’t end well for him as she’d sternly warned him the one time he tried. So they agreed to a compromise. No pet names and no swinging. As these thoughts ran through her head, Aoirenne stared at their hands. Hers made his look like a babe. But he was to her, even if he’d gotten a tan and thick calluses from his time on a merchant ship. Aoirenne wanted to ask how long it had taken Asha to get his sea legs but the moment seemed too heavy.

 “I heard.”

 “Yeah.” It was all she could manage to say. 

Aoirenne coughed to clear her throat. The garrison the caravan stopped at was attacked by bandits. Nothing out of the ordinary except they poured from the hills like ants. Rihyr and Bhyr, two humans who kept themselves completely covered and trained their voices to be neutral, were missing when the attack ended. They were fresh from home, Asha called them “barely weaned” and advised against bringing them, but their potential…. Aoirenne rolled her shoulders.

 “I know, you didn’t come for this. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” Asha shifted and withdrew his hand but muttered, “Should’ve come with me.”

 Aoirenna laughed, dark braids that draped over each shoulder bounced, gaining an embarrassed chuckle from Asha. “Can’t have people thinking we’re lovers can we?”

 “Never that.” 

The adoration in his eyes said otherwise.

 Had anyone told her six years ago the solemn twenty-four year old was capable of such a look she would’ve sent him off for getting into the rum. But Aoirenna hadn’t hired a joker, she was enough for them all, she’d hired a spell-sword. And despite Asha’s demeanor he was more than willing to bend rules where he felt necessary so they got along well, until he decided to bend her rules; never going too far, just enough to aggravate her. Zuri almost traded his contract for another witch’s at an outpost, although he wasn’t as strong.  Then the deal went bad. And Asha helped save her life though he had no obligation to. He said she’d earned his respect, and he had no reason to wish her dead. Little did Aoirenne know, Asha may as well have spouted the most sugary poetry for her. And that was only the first year they’d traveled together.

 “A copper for your thoughts.” Asha took a sip from his flagon.

 “Just a copper!” Aoirenna glared at him.

 He gave her an exasperated look. “It’s a saying.” He leaned forward, elbows resting on the tabletop. “Besides, why pay more for what I wouldn’t get anyway.”

 Aoirenne pouted and gave him a distrustful look.

 “Have I lied to you before?” he asked in a soft voice.

 “No.” she sniffed. “And you’d be smart to continue that.”

 Asha raised his flagon. Which reminded her….

 “Nella!” 

Her voice carried even over the racket. Aoirenne waved at Nella, who smiled despite the grimace she tried keeping on her face. As Nella walked over Aoirenne caught Asha’s resigned expression. 

“I still have some money left.”

 “Enough to last until the next job?”

“Yes.”

 In reality she could buy a meal tonight but she’d need a job by morning. Judging by Asha’s expression he knew that, but she wouldn’t admit it; he worried enough as it was.

 He wanted to protest but they’d already found out just how good the elf’s hearing was. Nella stopped close to Aoirenne but kept enough distance she couldn’t reach. Zuri knew it was out of respect for Asha but she screwed up her face in mock displeasure anyway.

 “Can’t expect manners from a dwarf can I?”

 “I exude manners!” She stuck out her tongue.

Nella smiled and shook her head. “What will it be?” she asked Asha.

 “Hey! I have money!”

 “Like ya did last time?”

 “I did.” 

Zuri gave Asha a warning look. He put up his hands, keeping his expression carefully neutral.

 Nella bit her lip to suppress a laugh. “I’ll just bring the biggest flagon we got. We’ll see just where ya purse is.” 

Aoirenne’s eyes lit up. Before leaving Nella wrapped Zuri in a tight hug. “I’m glad you’re safe, Zuri.” Nella's smile was sad.

 Aoirenne waited until Nella was far enough away and back into her “happy bar maid” role. “You told her,” she hissed.

 “It was only right. She worries.”

 She sighed, waiting for her drink in silence. Nella returned and Aoirenne put on a big grin for her. Nella hadn’t been lying, the flagon was nearly as large as Aoirenne’s head. When she reached for it Nella squeezed her fingers. 

Nella placed it in front of Aoirenne and whispered, “Enjoy.” As if the air was suddenly too weak to hold her words. 

She slipped away quietly, leaving Aoirenne and Asha alone. They toasted each other across the table and took large gulps; getting lost in their own thoughts.

#hero forge #oc #high fantasy

[lionews]

No seriously Lionews, lets be fucking for real. Is Zuri a bad person? NO. They kill the lions of people who WANT THEM TO BE KILLED! seriously, even if it doesnt really work in fixing the economy, is it bad? NO. Stop fucking bringing Zuri up and acting like they're the devil when they are literally pouring over half of what they own into a clan! (do u seriously think those hybrids were from someone else? do you think those decors are donations? MOST OF THOSE R OUTTA THEIR POCKE! Are you ffr??)

.

[audaxprocella]

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 …

Movement then stillness. Whispers to silence. Warmth turned to a chill. Inhale, hold. Exhale, let it go. My eyes were no longer swollen, my lips weren’t bruised but it was my heart—the stupid feeble thing that reflected my pain. 

“Do you need anything while you wait?” 

The soft voice filtered through my thoughts and memories giving me pause, bringing me back to the present. Relax, Zuri, just relax. I turned to the face the assistant with a warm smile. She was a petite one with a heart shaped face and high cheekbones. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she was a previous version of me. Perhaps an aspiring actress or model. Her style was very comfortable but she wore the rehearsed smile well. 

“I—“ My words were interrupted when the door swung open and the two men stood there. Irregardless of who I was now, I always wondered how I would feel in this moment. The Xanax and anti depressant cocktail that I took earlier fought desperately against the anxiety in my body. Sean Brown. The greatest child actor of his time. Three Emmys, and a Golden Globe. Two times Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actor. My ex-boyfriend. That last bit was unknown to the world. A secret between me, Vera and my therapist. I didn’t even tell Reyhan about him because I didn’t know how. I didn’t know how to relay that part of my life to the people who didn’t know me as a child or in my therapist’s case—was being paid to sort through my issues.

“Zuri, you’re right on time! Come on in and I will introduce you both,” the director spoke as he gestured for me to step into his office. The young assistant stepped aside as I rose from my seat. Curiosity always got the best of me and I wondered.. Would he? “Sean, Zuri is a force to reckon with.” 

My feet followed somewhat of their own accord. I think the drugs were finally starting to kick in because I certainly felt like I was on autopilot. This wasn’t my first time in this office, after all when one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood asks you to be the female lead in their movie, you didn’t say no. This was an opportunity of a lifetime and I wanted every opportunity that I could get. It was a large office, larger than my first apartment in South L.A. which wasn’t really saying much because to have called that apartment a shoebox would’ve been insulting to shoeboxes. The walls were painted a creamy white, the furniture all black, tanned and leather. A standard feature for these movie moguls. I sat on the massive chair, Sean took the seat beside me. 

“Have you two ever met? Zuri, was an extra on one of your shows, Sean but I doubt you would’ve remembered her.. She didn’t have any speaking lines. But small world nonetheless.” He leaned forward and placed two scripts in front of us. 

Who would speak first? I always made him take the lead. Never speaking unless spoken to. I shrunk myself to soothe his ego.

【Ｆｏｕｒ　Ｙｅａｒｓ　Ａｇｏ】

”Cut! That’s our wrap for this scene. Good job everyone.” The crowd slowly dispersed, fellow actors, crew members and other staff making their way to their trailers or away from the studio. It was my third day filming this television show and I never imagined that even as a 2nd rate extra it would be so hectic—but man did I love it. After the disaster fiasco of dating my college professor, this was exactly what I needed. Pour myself into work and make it out here in LA. 

I didn’t have a trailer and the clothing I wore was out of my own closet. A quick glance at my watch told me that I needed to make my way to the bus stop as soon as possible or I’d have to walk two miles to get a decent priced Uber at this time. 

“Hey you!” The voice was directed in my general direction, but I didn’t turn around because there were still a few of us in the area. “Yo, curls! Red shirt!” Frown lines creased my forehead. I turn around to see one of the PAs on set. “You up for a bit of extra cash? We lost one of our body doubles for a scene and you’re the right size. I’ll set it up with your agency to pay.” 

I tug my lip between my teeth, shit. It was already late but I could use the extra cash. Plus this could be a good way to meet some of the main cast and network. However, I would definitely miss my bus.

“I don’t have all day. Yes or no?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect. Come with me.” She grabbed my hand, leading me to the costume trailer. They stripped away my clothes and place me in something nearly identical to one of the main cast leads. A delicate black dress that hugged my hips, dipping low in the back. “Just wait by the fountains and I’ll grab you when you’re ready. What’s your name?”

“Zuri Dubois.”

“Gotcha.” She scribbled something on a paper then tore it in half handing me one part. “Give this to your agent and we’ll sort the payment.” 

My chestnut gaze watched as she left towards the main studio, and I diverged to the fountains. It was a beautiful place, being by the fountains. I found myself sitting peacefully, listening to soft flow of the water. The fabric of this dress was unlike what I had every felt before. I wonder if they always had body doubles in such quality material. 

“Be careful, you don’t want to fall in Melly.” I startle at the smooth male voice, turning to meet the star of the show. The gasp lodged in my throat. I didn’t often consider myself to be starstruck, but seeing him this close, I could see the sparkle of his eyes in the darkness of the night. “Not Melly, whoa. You’re a near perfect body double.” He stepped closer wearing an affectionate smile. “What’s your name?” 

“Z-zuri,” I couldn’t help the stuttering. Sean Brown was speaking to me! Me! This was unbelievable. “I’m sorry, you’re like really attractive up close. Wow.”

He chuckled, the corner of his eyes crinkling at the movement. I’m sure if it showed, my cheeks would be burning red. “Thanks for the compliment.” He extended his hand toward me. “Nice to meet you. We should grab a drink sometime.”

My eyes widen the shock very evident in my face. Did.. Is.. Huh? He didn’t wait for my response, instead he took out a pen and scribbled his number in the palm of my hand. 

“I’ll be sitting by the phone like a 1950s housewife, don’t disappoint me Zuri. I’m never this easily captivated.” He winked then walked away.

【Ｐｒｅｓｅｎｔ　Ｄａｙ】

What a massive lie. If I knew back then what I knew now how different would my life had been? Would I still have scars on my heart? Would I still be missing a rib? A master manipulator. He orchestrated the whole thing. He already knew who I was. Not this time. No, this time he didn’t know me. He wouldn’t know me. Two and a half years of who I was is not who I am. Ego be damned. 

“I do remember seeing him in passing, but I’ve never met him personally.” The million dollar smile is plastered on my mauve coated lips, I turned to face those stormy eyes. The brief flicker of surprise in his gaze. “Nice to officially meet you, Mr. Brown. I’m Zuri Dubois.. I must say, I never imagined that I would ever have the opportunity to work alongside you.”

The tension was thick in the air. He still had the tick in his jaw when he fought his annoyance. Finally, he spoke.. “When I saw that you were the female lead, I had to throw my hat in the ring. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Zuri Dubois.”

You could do this Zuri, you can film this movie. You’re an actress.

Lights. Camera. Action. 

[maybeimamuppet]

i’d rather be me

what’s popping my muppets happy day!!! woo let’s get into this!!

this is a request fill for an anon on tumblr who wanted to see a body swap au (oooh drama interest wow) and here it finally is woo!

it’s a bit of a doozy so tw for

suicide attempt

mentioned self harm

death

very mild gore

mentioned outing

general angst

and as always if you find something i’ve missed please let me know so i can add it :)

enjoy!!

—————

Janis finds the orderliness of all this ironic.

She’s always been a chaotic person. From the time she was a little girl, her bedroom looked like a tornado had passed through. In school, her papers and pencils were always haphazardly shoved into her backpack. Even her artworks were unorganized; swathes of colors that clashed in a beautiful way.

But here she stands, staring at herself in the bathroom mirror. On the counter, in a neat little row, lie three envelopes. One for her sister, one for her best friend, and one for her mother; all addressed in Janis’ hasty cursive.

Next to them sits a bottle of pills.

Janis spent a long time walking through how she wanted this to go. She waited until her mom left to drop Juliana at an overnight dance camp, so her sister wouldn’t be the one to find her. Damian is at his theatre camp, so he won’t find her either. She still feels guilty about making her mother be the one to do it, but it’s the best way.

Janis meets her own eyes in the mirror.

It’s strange, now, to see herself without all the lip gloss and glittery eyeshadow and rosy blush and pink. God, there used to be so much pink.

But then it happened.

And now, Janis can’t even look at the color pink without having a panic attack. Can’t so much as think about returning to school or her former best friends or the aliens she used to love without bursting into tears.

Janis can’t live. Not like this.

She looks down at the letters. But it feels like one is missing.

Janis supposes that while she’s getting her last words out, she might as well write one to Regina. It’s not like she’ll have another chance to speak her mind, after this.

So Janis returns to her bedroom and sits at her desk again. Pulls another piece of paper out of her notebook, grabs another envelope. Scrawls Regina’s name on the back.

She stares at a blank piece of paper for a very, very long time.

But when the words finally come to her, they don’t stop. Janis scratches down every thought she’s had for the last three months, every cutting jibe and why can’t I just hate you that’s passed through her head. Every why isn’t it getting better. Every this is your fault. Every this isn’t your fault. Everything.

She seals the envelope and returns to her lineup. Adds it to the end. Opens the bottle of pills. Pours herself some water.

If Janis pretends hard enough, she can’t actually taste the pills as they go down. The chemical burn isn’t there.

If she pretends hard enough, she doesn’t regret this.

She starts taking them two at a time. Four. Six.

She can’t see herself in the mirror anymore.

She can’t feel her fingers grabbing more pills.

She can’t feel.

Anything.

She hits the ground.

—————

Across the world, Cady is being nibbled on.

A lion cub is gnawing on one of her fingers, which isn’t helping her focus on her math homework.

“Nala, I can’t play right now,” Cady huffs. “Go play with your sister.”

Nala is relentless, and grabs the laces of her boots in her teeth. She gives a very vigorous tug and a small growl. Cady puts her pencil down and glares at the cub.

“Fine, ten minutes,” she says. “But then I have to get this workbook done.”

Nala happily trots out of the tent and into the savanna. The sun is setting, and Cady pauses to take a deep breath and appreciate the oranges and the pinks and the stars she can already see. Nala doesn’t, and chomps down on her ankle.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming,” Cady giggles. She runs after the cub, dodging zebras and bushes and at least four snakes. And an elephant, but she saw him from a mile away.

Nala’s siblings, Zuri and Mtoto, come trotting up to join them. Cady checks the ground for any more snakes or other dangerous wildlife before she lies down on the ground. The cubs swarm around her, practicing their hunting by gnawing on her ears and chomping on her arm. She has a few scars, but their teeth aren’t sharp enough to really hurt. Yet.

“Watch it, bub,” she warns as Mtoto gets dangerously close to her bum. He gives a particularly ‘fearsome’ growl and moves to get tangled in her hair instead. “Ow, Zuri, not the fingers.”

Cady is usually a bit more observant. But she also doesn’t usually have all three cubs crawling on her at once.

So Cady doesn’t notice their mother.

Mwanamke is crouched in some tall grass close by. She watches the human girl gently playing with her cubs. The human girl has been nice enough so far.

But standing up with one of her cubs, holding him in her arms and teasing him, tickling his belly, is a step too far.

So Mwanamke attacks.

Cady doesn’t see it coming.

Not fast enough.

Not in time to stop it.

She hits the ground.

—————

Janis wakes up.

That’s her first observation, because it was most definitely not in the plan.

The second observation she makes is that something is very, very wrong.

She’s in the hospital. She supposes she should’ve expected that much, but this hospital is somehow different than all the other ones she’s been in.

But the thing that’s really wrong?

Her entire body burns. Like she’s standing in the middle of a fire and merely watching as she fades to ash.

The doctors that swarm to her when she releases a pained cry don’t sound like they’re speaking English. Something about their inflection, or maybe their accents. And yet, Janis understands them perfectly.

“Cady, honey, you need to calm down,” one of them says. “It’s okay, just breathe.”

“Who the hell is Cady?!” Janis shrieks. “Make it stop!”

The doctors look to each other in concern and mumble something about an evaluation for amnesia. Janis thrashes again and they snap back to action, giving her something for the pain through an IV she hadn’t noticed before. The searing pain is numbed ever so slightly, and she relaxes.

The doctors leave then, presumably to go call for that evaluation they had mentioned. Janis takes a second to assess the situation. She holds up her hands.

“What?” she mumbles to herself. Her hands were not this callused when she… fell asleep. And definitely not this small.

The cuts lining her arms aren’t there. Her pale, marred arms have been replaced with warm, tan ones; marked with freckles everywhere instead of scars. Janis looks down further. Her legs are a lot shorter than they used to be. She can see a few more freckles on the small feet poking out the end of her blanket.

“The hell?” she whispers. Warily, she lifts the blanket and adjusts her hospital gown. Oh, dear god.

Thick, gnarled scars cover every inch of her torso like a spiderweb. Bright red, barely held shut by the stitches and staples and bandages and god knows what else. They’re everywhere.

Someone rushes to her side when she releases a frightened whimper. “Binti, darling, you’re finally awake.”

Janis looks to her side and sees a woman she doesn’t recognize stroking her hair. Her red hair. Another new thing.

“W-what happened?” Janis stutters.

“How much do you remember?” A male voice asks from her other side.

“Nothing,” Janis whispers, deciding to lean into the amnesia angle rather than try to explain what’s actually happening here. The couple looks at one another over her, with matching concerned expressions. “I don’t even know who I am.”

“Maybe she hit her head,” the man offers.

“We would’ve noticed that,” the woman tuts, squeezing Janis’ hand. “Something else must have happened.”

“W-who are you?”

“We’re your parents,” the man says. Something about him makes Janis want to trust him. He doesn’t look like he could hurt anyone. “You… you were-“

“Let’s start from the beginning,” the woman interrupts as the man suddenly gets too choked up to carry on with the story. “We’re your parents. Your name is Cady Heron, you’re thirteen years old, and we live in Kenya.”

“Kenya?”

“Mmhmm,” the woman continues. “We’re both zoologists, we’ve been doing research on the wildlife here since you were three. Almost a week ago, you were… there was an incident, with one of the lions.”

“Lions?!” Janis yelps. So… whoever she is now, was attacked by a lion?

“You don’t need to be scared. We don’t know why she attacked you, but we found you just in time,” the woman concludes. “You’re going to be just fine.”

“We flew you here,” the man sniffs. “We’re in Nairobi, now, until you heal enough to come home.”

“And-and when will that be?”

“Once you get your stitches out and we know for sure there’s nothing wrong with your memory.”

“Oh boy.”

-

As it turns out, it’s later that afternoon. Janis has no fewer than four scans taken of… someone’s brain, and takes a lot of tests with various… brain people. The scans all come back perfectly normal with no signs of trauma, but the tests show she has almost total amnesia.

The doctor who discharges her explains to ‘her’ parents that it’s most likely a result of the psychological trauma the incident caused her, and that her memory should return once she’s back in a familiar environment and given time to heal.

Janis is the only one who knows what’s actually going on. She’s never wanted to be in her own body more.

This one is too small.

————-

Something isn’t right when Cady wakes up.

The first thing she notices is the pain. Her throat feels scratched and raw, and her stomach aches like it’s been trampled by one of the rhinos. Probably not a good sign.

She has to work to open her eyes. Another bad sign. When she finally manages it, she sees she’s in a hospital. Yet another bad sign.

Her stomach gives a particularly painful seize and she releases a quiet cry, trying to clutch it with hands that feel like lead.

She hears a faint gasp from next to her, and suddenly someone is crushing her in a hug. “Janjan! You’re awake!”

“Huh?” Cady mumbles. The voice doesn’t sound familiar. And how do you get the nickname Janjan out of Cady?

“You absolute fucking stale cracker of a human being!” the voice yells in her ear.

“What are you talking about?!”

The person hugging her suddenly pulls back. It’s a tall boy with sad, teary blue eyes and a kind face. Cady feels bad that she’s apparently hurt him, even inadvertently.

“What do you mean what am I talking about?! Why the hell did you even think about doing that? Why-why didn’t you call me, I would’ve come home!” He stammers, visibly trying to hold back sobs.

Cady instinctively reaches out a hand to hold one of his. She gasps when she sees the one he grabs. Her fingers are suddenly much longer, and pale, with chipped black nail polish and multicolored paints dried under her fingernails. Her calluses from carrying heavy pots of water and research equipment around the savanna are gone.

She shifts her blanket to look further up her arm, and gasps again. Her forearm is suddenly covered with scars. Some are old; faded and white. Others are red and newer, stitched closed and covered in some kind of antiseptic solution.

“What’s the matter?” The boy sniffles.

“Um… nothing,” Cady stutters. The boy merely raises an eyebrow. “Uh… who are you?”

“Very funny,” he scoffs. “You know damn well. Why aren’t you- ohhhhh shit.”

“Wait!” Cady calls as he leaves to go fetch a doctor. “Please. It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it?”

“Okay, you seem… nice enough. I know this sounds crazy, but I’m not your girlfriend.”

The boy laughs out loud at that. “Damn fucking right you’re not.”

“I’m not whoever this body belongs to!” Cady yells. “Something is wrong, I’m not-I’m not supposed to be here.”

“What?” The boy whispers. “What do you mean you’re not Janis?”

“I’ve never met anyone named Janis in my life,” Cady says pleadingly. “I know it doesn’t make sense. I’ll prove it to you! Your… whoever, doesn’t sound like someone who would lie to you. Ask me things I should know and I’ll answer them honestly.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Yellow.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirteen.”

“That’s right, at least,” the boy mutters. “Um… what’s my name?”

“Mmm… you look like a Charles.”

“Ew!” he huffs. “Okay, who… who are you?”

“You believe me?” Cady asks sheepishly.

“Janis would never stoop so low,” the boy pouts. “Charles. Gross.”

“I’m sorry!” Cady says anxiously. “It was just a random guess, you don’t… you don’t actually look like a Charles.”

“You’re on thin ice,” the boy warns. “But really, who are you?”

“My name is Cady Heron,” she responds. “I’m from Kenya, and I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Okay, and how is Cady spelled?”

“Why does that matter? Your friend is in the hospital and I’m inhabiting her body.”

“I need to know you’re not gonna kill me before I agree to help you figure it out,” the boy says like it’s obvious.

“And the way my name is spelled will tell you that?” Cady asks in confusion. The boy nods. “Um… okay. C A D Y.”

“Good lord.”

“Is that bad?”

“That is the least correct spelling I’ve ever heard,” the boy insists immediately. “But I need the real Janis back. So I’ll help you.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Cady says in relief. The boy holds up his hands.

“Whoa, calm down. I just want Janis back. And I’m only thirteen, I don’t know what happened here either. But I’ll try,” he says. “To start with, I’m Damian.”

He extends a hand for Cady to shake. She accepts with a giggle.

“God, this is weird,” he mumbles under his breath. “Sorry. You’re just… very different. Anyhoo. What’s the last thing you remember from being in your own body?”

“Um… I was doing some calculus,” Cady recalls, the memories suddenly hitting her like a tidal wave. “And-“

“Calculus?!” Damian insists. “We’re thirteen!”

“I like math,” Cady says sheepishly. “I’m not even very good at calculus yet.”

“God save us all,” Damian whispers. “Continue.”

“Uh… Nala wanted to play, but I was trying to finish my workbook, so I said no. But she was being so cute, I had to give in,” Cady continues.

“Who’s Nala?”

“One of the lion cubs,” Cady explains. “They’re almost two months old, they’re so sweet.”

“A lion?! Wanted to play with you?!” Damian screeches. “Man, when you said you were from Kenya, I didn’t think you meant, like, the actual wilderness!”

“It’s all I’ve ever known,” Cady shrugs sheepishly. “I was only three when we moved there.”

“Okay, continue, I’ll stop interrupting,” Damian apologizes. “But I will need to hear your life story as soon as possible.”

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” Cady giggles. “Okay, um… Nala and her siblings were climbing on me, they like to practice hunting me. I picked up Mtoto, to tickle his belly. And…”

“What?” Damian asks in concern. Cady pales, and the monitors show her heart rate picking up. “What happened?”

“Their-their mom,” Cady whispers in horror. “They’re very protective, she must’ve-must’ve been there, I-I-“

“Did she attack you?” Damian asks gently.

“It’s the only thing it could be,” Cady says, trying to keep the shake from her voice. “That’s why I’m here, I-I… I died.”

“But you could survive that, right?!” Damian asks frantically. “You could’ve been resuscitated?”

“I don’t know,” Cady says. “It… it would depend what she did, if she hit any major arteries, or-or organs, then… it’s not great odds, but… if I got lucky, then-then I could’ve. I hope.”

“Okay,” Damian says, giving a heavy exhale. “We’re gonna stick with that hope. For now.”

“Okay,” Cady agrees. “Um… can I ask… why your friend is here?”

Damian inhales sharply and looks away for a second. When he looks back, his eyes are red and brimmed with tears. “She… she tried to kill herself. She overdosed on a prescription she found.”

“Oh god,” Cady whispers. “I’m so sorry.”

“She never told any of us how bad it was,” Damian mumbles. “She went through some stuff a while ago, I knew-I knew it was bad. I just never thought she would’ve… tried… that.”

Cady feels her heart break for someone she’s never met. She can’t imagine being in so much pain, hurting so badly, that ending it all seems like the only way out. She may not be able to hug the real Janis, but she gives herself a gentle squeeze and hopes the message gets across. Maybe it will someday.

Janis’ mother suddenly comes barreling into the room and continues the hugging for her. Cady feels a bit odd being hugged and cuddled by a total stranger, but lets it happen. The woman seems to need this right now. “Oh, baby girl, thank god you’re finally awake. I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner, I came as soon as I could.”

“It’s okay,” Cady says weakly, trying to keep things vague until she can assess what kind of relationship this ‘Janis’ has with her mother. “When can… um… when can I go home?”

“I’ll go check with a doctor,” she offers. “Damian, thank you for being here for her.”

“Of course, Ms. Sarkisian,” Damian replies, blushing slightly as she lovingly pinches his cheek.

————-

Janis looks around warily as she’s helped into the tent this ‘Cady’ apparently lives in. The stitches might be out now, but the gashes still hurt like a bitch. Janis carefully assesses for any dangerous things around, hoping to avoid another trip to the hospital any time soon. Luckily, nothing, but you can never be too careful. Especially in Kenya.

“Alright, binti, you just… stay here and relax. Look around if you want, maybe something around here will jog your memory,” the mother says. Janis nods warily. She gets a kiss on the cheek and a squeezed hand before she’s left alone with Cady’s dad.

“You take it easy for the day, okay?” he says, pointing in an attempt to seem more authoritative. “And… I know it’s… hard, to be back here. Especially with your memory the way it is. I know you don’t know us, but you can still trust us with anything. We love you.”

“I love you too, Dad,” Janis echoes. It’s the first time she’s gotten to say those words and almost mean them in nine years. He gives her a sad smile and ruffles her hair, and turns to leave. “Wait!”

“Hm?” the man freezes just before he can make it out and turns back to face her.

“Can I… ask you some stuff? About, um… about me?” Janis asks sheepishly.

“Of course,” he chuckles. Janis carefully picks a cot that looks comfy enough and tries to sit down. Cady’s dad helpfully holds her arms to help steady her before he sits down on a stool nearby. “What do you want to know?”

“I dunno,” Janis realizes. “I don’t have many specific, uh… questions, yet. Can you just kinda tell me what I’m like?”

“Brilliant,” Cady’s dad begins. “Your mother and I are amazed by your brains. We haven’t told you this, obviously. You’ve got enough ego. But you’re so smart. You school us both in math, and you’re about on par with us in science already. These books are all yours.”

He points to some absolutely massive calculus and biology textbooks that look to be at least undergrad level. “Whoa.”

“Right?” the man chuckles. “And you have the best heart, binti. It’s gotten you in some trouble before, but you’re so loving, and trusting. You understand all the animals here in a way none of us can. You’re the first one we come to when something is wrong with one of them. You always know just what to do to help.”

“Really?” Janis asks shyly. “She’s- I’m… I’m that good with them?”

“Better than you think,” he nods. “I just wish you got along with people that easily. But you never complain about it. I try… I try to get you to hang out with me sometimes, just so you have some human company. I bet you actually think I’m totally annoying. I just worry about you, sometimes. Your mom thinks I’m being overprotective.”

Janis sneaks a quick glance down at the mess of scars still poking out from her shorts. Maybe overprotective is something the real Cady needs more of. “You sound great, Dad. I just wish I could remember.”

“You will,” the man says. “Someday. Someday soon. Hopefully now you’re back home it’ll come back to you nice and quick.”

“I hope so,” Janis sighs. She has no idea if she’ll ever be in her own body again. She might be stuck here forever, and god knows what happened to the real Cady.

Cady clearly has a family that loves her very much. Janis owes it to all of them to get her back in her proper body.

“You get some rest,” Cady’s dad says, seeming to notice her suddenly getting lost in thought. “This is all gonna work out. One way or another. And we love you no matter what. If you have more questions we can talk when you’ve gotten settled in, okay?”

“Okay,” Janis says, nodding thankfully. The man nods back and leaves her alone after giving her a quick peck on the forehead. She listens until she can’t hear his footsteps on the powdery Kenyan earth anymore, before nodding and pulling herself to stand. “Time to snoop.”

She pokes around on the shelves. Nothing but textbooks. The only information she finds in them are the notes scrawled on post-its and stuck in the margins. Man, Cady really is a genius.

There’s a small chest of personal belongings at the foot of the cot, so Janis eases herself back onto it to peek through. A ratty stuffed lion, clearly a childhood comfort object and very well loved. A small jug that looks like it’s designed to hold water and painted by hand. And, the most horrific handmade doll Janis has ever seen in her life. Moving on.

She sits back, trying to forget the terrors she’s just seen on the ground. There’s a lump in between the cot and the blow up cushion she’s lying on.

When she removes it to see what it is, she finds herself holding a book. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be a diary. Janis hesitates. This is clearly something personal to Cady. But she has to learn whatever she possibly can about this girl. So, she flips to the first entry.

February 11, 2014: Dear diary,

I’m thirteen today! And you were my present this year. Dad says it’ll help me to have somewhere I can get all my thoughts out. Mom says I have too many.

Janis chuckles and skims through some more of the pages.

April 10, 2014: Dear diary,

I hate school. Mom and dad keep telling me to go. They just think the work is too easy for me and I don’t want to go because I’m bored. I am bored, but that’s not why I want to quit.

There’s so many other kids in the village, ones my age, but none of them talk to me. Directly, anyway. They don’t know I speak Swahili really well. But I hear the things they say about me. The way I dress, the way I talk, how I make noises or move sometimes when I can’t help it. I tried to make friends like mom and dad said to. But Kenyan people are fast runners.

So Cady’s been bullied too. Janis feels her heart break slightly for this girl. She skips ahead to the last entry.

August 16, 2014: Dear diary,

Things have been better already this year. I love homeschool. I get to work on stuff that’s actually hard, and do cool stuff with math. Calculus is still a little too hard for me, but mom says I have all the right basic knowledge to start working on it more. I don’t see the kids in the village anymore, but I have the lions. Zuri, Nala and Mtoto are the best friends I could have.

I just wish I didn’t still feel so alone.

Janis gently brushes her fingers over the page. Something about Cady’s stories speaks to her. The two of them are more similar than Janis had originally thought. Maybe there’s more to this than she’s thinking.

Janis carefully tucks the diary back where she found it and gently pushes herself back to her feet. She stumbles a bit, since her legs haven’t been used for six days straight, but quickly manages to regain her balance. Warily, she makes her way to the entrance of the tent once more, and heads out into the savanna.

God, I wish I had my paints, she thinks to herself as she sees the clear afternoon sky meet the orange landscape surrounding her. Maybe I can talk Mama into an African vacation someday.

She sees a couple of zebras grazing together in a bunch. She’s always liked zebras. As she makes her way over, she sees they’re actually surrounding some sort of watering hole. Janis might as well join them, she figures.

She makes her way to the edge of the shallow water and crouches down to her knees. She jumps when she sees a face that isn’t hers looking back at her. That’ll take some getting used to.

But, the face reflected in the pond is almost… cute. A mane of auburn curly hair surrounds rosy, freckled full cheeks; framing wide, curious crystal blue eyes. Definitely Janis’ type, but not necessarily her personal style.

Janis doesn’t know how to handle this. If she tells Cady’s parents the truth, it’ll be right back to that hospital for more evaluations. One helicopter trip was jarring enough, thank you very much. She’ll have to figure this out on her own.

Something tells her it would be much easier if she could have the real Cady there guiding her. Kenya, although beautiful, is terrifying. Like a certain someone Janis… knew.

She has no idea how to navigate this new landscape, no idea if she’ll ever see her own home, her own body, ever again. She has no idea how she even wound up in this one in the first place, let alone how to get back to her own.

She looks over her shoulder at Cady’s parents. They’re discussing something, presumably work or how to continue supporting her as she recovers from her injuries. Her dad gives a dorky wave, which Janis weakly returns.

She yelps quietly when a cold nose nudges against her shoulder. She screams louder and falls backwards when an elephant is standing no more than three feet away.

Janis isn’t totally sure how to handle this, and just extends a hand for it to sniff. It does so trustingly, even going so far as to wrap its trunk around her arm and ever so gently pull her back upright, but it seems to know that something is… different.

“You miss her, huh?” Janis murmurs so that only the two of them can hear. “I hear she’s pretty good to you guys. I’ll… I’ll get her back. Promise.”

But how?

—————

Cady gets discharged from the hospital later that afternoon and taken ‘home’. Damian said he had something to do, which means Cady is left totally alone with Janis’ mother.

“Julie’s been staying with a friend,” the woman says quietly on the drive there. Cady barely hears her, enthralled with the smoothness of the road beneath them and the American landscape flashing by out the window. She snaps back to reality when Janis’ mother continues talking. “I know you’ve been worried about her. She’s not very happy with you, though.”

Cady doesn’t think now is a good time to bring up that she has no idea who this ‘Julie’ character is. So she does her best to play along. “But she’s okay?”

“As okay as we all can be,” ‘her’ mother sighs. “And I’m doing just fine too, now that I know my baby girl is back. I don’t want you stressing about me, especially not now. You just focus on getting better. We’re gonna get you some more help and support once you’re adjusted again, however long that takes you.”

“I’ll try,” Cady agrees as they pull into the driveway.

“Room’s where you left it,” the woman says. “I’ll give you a bit to get settled back in. Call me if you need anything.”

Cady looks at her for a long moment before she throws her arms around her. Her own mom always loves hugs. And Janis’ mom looks like she could really use one.

Cady was right, she feels ‘her’ mother squeeze her back so, so tightly and bury her face in her hair. She thinks she feels a few tears, but decides not to bring it up. “I love you, baby girl.”

“I love you too,” Cady echoes, even though she doesn’t even know this woman’s name. “I’m gonna… go…”

“Go relax,” the woman says, shooing her up the stairs. Cady slowly works her way up, trying to go easy on this new body she’s found herself in. She managed to work out that she had been in the hospital for a whole week, unconscious, and that the ache in her throat and stomach was from the stomach pump she’d had.

There’s a lot of doors when she finally reaches the top. Cady, of course, has no idea which one is correct.

The first door she tries turns out to be a bathroom. The medicine cabinet is left slightly open, allowing Cady to see that it’s totally empty.

She backs out of that room and turns around. She looks down at the clothes she had been given to change into once she got discharged from the hospital. Fishnet tights that had taken her ten minutes just to put on, dark shorts, clunky boots, and an absolutely massive black sweatshirt with a cartoon alien.

After a quick assessment, she decides the door with a large biohazard sign and lots of doodles on it is the safest bet.

Cady feels almost like she’s trespassing in Janis’ room. She supposes she’s technically trespassing in the body she’s found herself in.

Janis’ room is, unsurprisingly, very loud. What is surprising is that the walls are pink. Sort of.

Cady can see that they were pink originally, a happy sort of bubblegum princessy shade. But almost every inch has been pasted over or scratched out or written over. Cady warily steps closer, observing the rough, harsh lines. She tries to piece together what they say.

Space dyke.

It’s like a scene from a horror movie, just those words written over and over and over and over again. Cady isn’t sure what it means, but it clearly can’t be good.

The bed is neatly made, with black bedsheets and rainbow pillows. It clashes a bit with the rest of the room, but it seems much closer to the real Janis’ taste.

Warily, Cady takes a seat on the bed. She hasn’t slept on a real bed since she was three years old. Immediately, she flops backwards and stares at the ceiling, relishing in the plush mattress against her back.

How many times has the real Janis done exactly this? Lied in this exact position, stared at this exact spot on the ceiling?

Cady doesn’t have a spectacular amount of time to think about it as Damian comes quite literally crashing into the room. He kicks the door open in a dramatic fashion and stumbles over to dump a massive pile of library books at the foot of the bed. He straightens and looks at Cady as he pants to catch his breath.

“Hey, how’s it-how’s it goin’?”

“Hi,” Cady giggles. “What are these?”

“Books,” Damian says, like that wasn’t abundantly clear. “For our research.”

“They’re all fiction,” Cady says confusedly as she starts rooting through the pile.

“You honestly think any information about a soul being in the wrong body is gonna be in a nonfiction book?”

Cady considers this. “I guess that’s a fair point.”

“Thanks,” Damian says. “These are all the books the library had about people who swapped bodies. I say we go through them and see if any of them sound like what happened to you and Janis.”

“That sounds good,” Cady nods. “Um…”

“Hm?” Damian hums, looking up at her. He’s still not used to not seeing Janis when he looks at her.

“Can we do something first?”

“Like what?”

Cady looks meaningfully at the walls. “She deserves something nicer to come home to.”

Damian looks around as well, sighing heavily before nodding. “She does. I haven’t even been in here in so long. I had no idea she had done this.”

“We’re gonna get her back to you,” Cady says, quiet but bold. She takes and squeezes his hand, seeming to know what’s running through his mind. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I can tell just from how you talk about her, how you look at ‘me’, that she’s special to you. I don’t… I don’t even know what this stuff on the walls means, and I don’t need to, but… you deserve to be together. You really need each other.”

Damian looks at her with tears in his eyes. Cady reaches for a hug, and Damian leans to sob into her shoulder. “I miss her.”

“I know,” Cady hushes quietly, gently rocking him back and forth. Damian stays there for a long time, crying quietly into her shoulder. “We’ll get her back. I promise.”

Damian sniffles and nods, shutting his eyes and pretending this hug is from the real Janis. “Thanks, Cady.”

“Anytime,” Cady says gently, ruffling his curly hair. “How do we cover this?”

“She likes purple,” Damian offers. Cady looks around, considering what an all purple room would look like. A bit much.

“What about white?” she asks quietly. “She paints, right? We could give her a canvas to work on. Let her do what she wants with that.”

Damian looks at her with something akin to awe. “Y’know, you know Janis, like, really well given the fact you’ve never met her.”

“I feel like I know her,” Cady murmurs. “For some reason. But I can’t, we haven’t even been on the same continent for most of our lives.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Damian says, standing and reaching to help her up. “Let’s go get some paint.”

—-

Cady is immediately leveled walking into Home Depot for the first time. It’s huge, and everything is orange. Damian helpfully picks her up and plops her in the cart so they can get a move on. Cady continues staring at the ceiling as they head to pick a paint color.

“Here, get started on the books,” he offers, handing over one he’d brought with them. Cady takes it and starts skimming through the pages.

“This doesn’t sound right,” she says after a while. Damian looks up from his paint swatches. “Nothing caused this one, they just woke up in the wrong bodies one day. Whatever happened with me and Janis has to be related to… you know.”

“Well, that’s one option out,” Damian sighs. “Let’s get this paint and we’ll check the others.”

Cady nods and settles in as he pushes her to the paint mixing counter.

—-

“You know,” Damian pants as he pauses his very hard job of painting. “When you asked to paint the walls, I was assuming you were going to actually help.”

Cady glances up at him from the plastic-covered bed she’s lying on, marking her place in the latest book with her finger. “Would you rather have help or have answers about Janis?”

Damian pouts at her. Cady giggles as he wipes some sweat from his forehead and accidentally replaces it with the paint.

“Wait,” she says as soon as her eyes hit the page again. “Come here, this might be it.”

“What?” Damian asks, unzipping his smock suit and coming to sit next to her. Cady reads aloud.

“Soulmates, as the name implies, are destined to be together. It has long been believed that true soulmates are actually spawned from the same spirit, and the souls spend their mortal lives desperately trying to reconnect. In a similar vein, this can cause some degree of confusion in the higher powers of the universe. Because the souls are, for all intents and purposes, the same, if the mortal vessels are killed, the souls may be confused for one another and switched.”

It’s quiet for a long moment as both Cady and Damian try to process what they’ve just read. Damian is the first to try to put the pieces together. “So… you and Janis are soulmates. And when you… d-died, the universe got confused and put your souls back in the wrong bodies?”

“That has to be it,” Cady says. “Something like that. It’s the only one that makes sense.”

“So then how do we get you back in the right body?” Damian asks. Cady flips ahead a few pages.

“But alas, no mistake of the universe can exist too long unnoticed. And no mistake noticed can go unresolved. So fear not, dear reader, for all will be well soon.”

“God damn it,” Damian sighs. “Oh, um… no offense.”

“None taken,” Cady hums, marking the spot in the book and putting it aside. “I miss my people too. I want to go back just as much as I want to get Janis back to you.”

“Tell me about it,” Damian says. Cady looks at him. “No, seriously. You said you’d tell me your life story. No time like the present.”

Cady gets a wide smile on her face, and she does. She talks about her family, both human and not, and her favorite subjects in homeschool and her chores in Kenya. Damian listens intently, even as Cady starts slowing down and their eyes start fluttering. Before they know it, they’ve drifted off, side by side and hand in hand.

—————

Janis wakes up with a gasp.

Something feels different. A good different.

She opens her eyes and looks around. She’s… back in her own bedroom. Things are different, but she’s home. These are her bedsheets, her walls, her things.

Almost not daring to believe it, Janis holds up her hands. She’s never been so happy to see the gross old paint under her nails or the scars on her arms. She’s back.

She rips off her covers and makes a beeline for her desk. The envelopes containing her letters sit there in a pile, unopened and unread. Janis snatches them all at once and tears them to tiny shreds. She has more to say, now. Those letters no longer contain her final words.

Janis sighs in relief and barrels down the stairs to where her mother is making breakfast. Her mom gasps when she runs in for the tightest hug she can possibly muster and bursts into tears.

“Mama, I’m so sorry,” she sobs. “I’m so sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Shh, baby girl,” her mother hushes, holding the back of her head and rocking her in that soothing familiar way. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I didn’t mean it, I don’t wanna die,” Janis continues, bearing her soul to her mother. Her own soul, finally back where it belongs. “I’m sorry!”

“Shhh,” her mother hushes again, pulling her somehow closer. “It’s all gonna be okay now. We’re gonna figure it out. Try to make the hurt a little smaller. Now where is all this coming from?”

“I just missed you,” Janis mumbles sheepishly. She feels her mother chuckle slightly.

“Well, alright,” she whispers, kissing her hairline.

“Where’s Julie?” Janis sniffles.

“I’m picking her up at noon, remember?” her mother hums, pulling away slightly and tutting at Janis’ tear stained face.

“O-oh yeah,” Janis lies.

“In the meantime, you want your usual?”

Janis wipes her eyes and nods, giving her first genuine smile in months. “Yes please.”

“Coming right up,” her mother says with a wink. “We’re gonna be okay.” Janis nods.

We’re gonna be okay.

—————

Cady wakes up with a gasp. She doesn’t feel the cushy mattress against her back anymore.

She sits bolt upright and looks around. The light of the rising sun is just barely peeking in through the flap of the tent. She’s back in her cot, all her books are there, and the air smells fresh. Home.

Her parents are already outside and getting on with their days. Cady runs out to find them. “Mom! Dad! I’m back!”

Her father catches her as she pitches herself into his arms. “Hey there, lion cub. What’s shaking?”

“I’m back!” Cady yells again. Her dad raises his eyebrows.

“Your memories?” he asks. “They came back?”

“Sure!” Cady agrees. Her dad chuckles as she throws her arms around his neck.

“Good to have you back, binti,” her mother agrees fondly, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

“You have no idea,” Cady whispers.

—————

three years later

“Another year of hell,” Damian sighs, standing outside the looming doors of North Shore High and staring down the barrel of another school year.

“May it be a painless death,” Janis nods in agreement.

“Ready?”

Janis sighs and nods again, taking his hand as they push the doors open together. The hallways are already bustling with students; panicked freshmen trying to find their homerooms and the seniors lounging against the lockers, probably already stoned.

“Who’s that?” Janis asks, pointing to a small redhead as she comes bouncing out of Ms. Norbury’s classroom.

“I dunno,” Damian shrugs. “Mr. Duvall said we were getting a new student this year, I’m supposed to show her around. Maybe that’s her.”

“She looks familiar,” Janis mutters absently.

“Do you know a Caddy Heron from Kansas?” Damian asks, almost aghast. Janis shakes her head. “Good.”

“Must’ve been the lighting,” Janis shrugs. “C’mon, doofus, we have to get to math.”

“Yes, dear.”

—-

Janis just sits down at the lunch table she usually shares with Damian when she spies that red hair again. This time, the bounce is gone, as her shoulders are hunched and she rushes in the direction of the restrooms.

Damian looks at her knowingly. “Yes, we can go after her.”

“Thank youuuuu,” Janis singsongs.

“Always knew you had a thing for redheads. Ow!“

“Shut the fuck up,” Janis hisses as she kicks the door open. She peeks under all the stalls until she finds the only occupied one, with tiny feet clad in socks and sandals barely touching the floor.

Damian takes over at this point, knocking on the door and loudly calling, “You’ve been in there a very long time, you’re either doing drugs or very constipated from using drugs!”

Janis glares at him before she nearly gets a door to the face. The girl comes flying out, spluttering defenses against Damian’s baseless accusations. She turns to see Janis as well, and they both freeze.

Janis does know that face. She had that face.

“Cady?” she asks, barely above a whisper.

“It’s you,” Cady replies in the same tone, unable to pull herself away from Janis’ eyes. “Janis.”

“Am I missing something, or…” Damian asks, visibly confused.

Cady turns around and pokes out a hand for him to shake. “I’m Cady Heron. I’m from Kenya.”

Damian pulls an almost cartoonish face, eyes bugging out of his head and his mouth dropping open. “No fucking way! Oh my god, you’re so cute when you’re in your own body!��

“Thanks?” Cady replies, tipping her head in confusion. Damian uses her still outstretched hand to pull her into a tight hug. Cady squeaks in surprise, but quickly returns it.

“Oh, yeah, this works,” Damian says, resting his head on top of Cady’s fluffy red curls. “Mmkay, I need to go have several existential crises, so I’ll find you guys later. Byeeee.”

“Bye, Dame,” Janis chuckles. Cady giggles and waves. There’s a noticeable shift in her energy when she turns around.

“We should probably talk,” she says anxiously.

“Yeah,” Janis agrees softly. “Yeah, we probably should.”

Cady hesitates for a moment before extending a hand. Janis takes it and squeezes it with a thankful smile.

“Come on, this way.”

-

“Whoa,” Cady says when she sees where Janis has led her. A beautiful stream in the middle of a small section of forest, surrounded by tall trees and short cliffs. Janis heads for a bridge over the water before she stops.

“I come here when I need to get away from stuff,” Janis says, sitting down in the middle of the bridge and popping her legs through the railing to peer down over the waterfall beneath them. “So. It’s you.”

“It’s me,” Cady agrees. She sits down next to Janis, but doesn’t let go of her hand. Janis doesn’t complain. “It’s… nice to meet you. As me. Well, me not in you. Wait-“

“Cady,” Janis chuckles. “It’s okay. It’s nice to meet you too.”

It’s quiet for a long moment, both of them sitting in peaceful, yet conflicted silence. What do you talk about after you’ve lived in each other’s bodies?

“Did you ever find out what happened to us?” Janis asks softly. Cady looks at her again.

“I think so. Damian tried to help me. We read a lot of books he found,” she recalls almost fondly. “Did you?”

Janis shakes her head. “I was kind of busy hiding from the lions.”

Cady laughs, sweet and clear, and peeks down at her shirt. Her scars are healed and fading now, but they’ll always be there. A grim reminder of a harrowing event, and yet, the scars are one of Cady’s favorite parts of herself. They brought her Janis.

“They don’t usually do that. Attack people,” she explains.

“I didn’t want to risk it,” Janis chuckles back. “What did you and Damian find out?”

“Nothing concrete,” Cady begins with a sigh. “Obviously. I don’t think we’ll ever really know. But I think we got close.” Janis looks at her expectantly. “Um… we, um…”

“Died?” Janis offers bluntly. Cady nods.

“Yeah. We… did that, at exactly the same time. You… you know. And Mwanamke attacked me at the same time,” she explains. “So, if you believe that sort of thing, our souls were… loose. And then when we were brought back, something in the universe got confused, and switched us.”

“So… we’re like… soulmates?” Janis clarifies. “They just put our souls back in the wrong body?”

“I think so,” Cady nods sheepishly. “It’s the best explanation I could find. And then we were switched back whenever they realized the mistake.”

Janis hums thoughtfully. “I’m not sure what I was expecting.”

“But it wasn’t that,” Cady agrees with a sardonic chuckle. Janis leans back and lies down, feeling the soft, worn wood against her back. Cady follows and turns her head to see her new… friend? Something more?

“Definitely wasn’t that,” Janis says. “You don’t seem upset.”

“Why would I be upset?”

“You’re really cool with me as a soulmate?” Janis laughs, looking into Cady’s clear blue eyes. She likes them a lot better from the outside.

“Yeah,” Cady agrees softly. “I didn’t get to know you that well before we got switched back, but I know you’re strong, and brave, and a good friend, and a great daughter and sister. And I know you’re talented and smart and unique. I think you’re a great soulmate.”

Janis is now doing her absolute best tomato impression and refusing to meet Cady’s eyes. She gives a very flustered, “Oh.”

“Are you upset with me as a soulmate?” Cady asks in worry. She hasn’t expected that reaction.

“No! No, of course not,” Janis says hastily. “I just, um. Wasn’t expecting all that.”

“I understand,” Cady chuckles. “And… even though we’re technically, maybe, kinda, soulmates… nothing says we have to act on it. Yet, or ever. If either of us aren’t comfy with it. I’d be happy to have you as just a friend too.”

Janis nods gently, and it’s quiet for a long moment. Both of them listen to the croaking of the frogs in the stream beneath them and the rushing of the water over the rocks.

“What if we’re both comfy with it?” Janis asks, finally looking back up into Cady’s eyes. “Are you?”

“Yeah,” Cady whispers, entranced by Janis’ deep brown eyes. It’s nice to see them so peaceful. They seemed much more haunted last time she got to look close. They have a nice shine, now that Janis is back in her own form. “Yeah, I am.”

“Cool,” Janis whispers back. “Me too.”

Cady’s expecting it, but still feels her heart stutter as Janis rests a soft, cold hand on her cheek and gently brushes an auburn curl behind her ear. Cady inches closer, until their noses are practically touching. It feels like she couldn’t possibly be close enough, like Janis’ heart is a magnet pulling hers ever closer and refusing to let go.

Cady’s not complaining. “Can I-“

“Kiss me,” Janis demands, barely a puff of breath. Cady is close enough that even that mere whisper roars in her ears. She leans into the hand still resting against her jaw and gently presses her lips against Janis’.

It’s not like it is in the stories. There’s no spark, no fireworks, no burning heat in her chest or impossible desire to take it further.

Instead, it feels like home. Like the warm embrace of a familiar place after a long journey. Rather than her heart bursting to try to get out of her chest, she feels it settle, like it’s finally found somewhere it wants to stay.

Like the waterfalls beneath them, she feels a rushing sense of peace. Of home. She’s thousands of miles away from the only place she’s ever called home, and yet, she knows this is where she’s meant to be. Right here, on an old bridge, in the woods, in the arms and in the heart of the brunette next to her.

Janis gasps quietly when they have to break for breath, and Cady knows she’s felt all the same things. They make eye contact for a split second and lean back in.

“What are you so smiley about?” Janis asks in between sweet pecks.

“I dunno,” Cady whispers back. She covers Janis’ hand with one of her own, implicitly demanding they keep that contact. “This just feels right.”

She feels Janis’ face mirror hers, feels her lips split into a wide grin. “Me too. I guess we really do belong together.”

“I’m not complaining,” Cady offers breathlessly. Janis chuckles and kisses her again, slow and sweet.

“I’m not either.”

“Good,” Cady nods. “We should probably get back to school.”

“Fuck it,” Janis mumbles, rolling over to pin Cady against the bridge. “School can wait. Let’s just stay here.”

“And forget the world,” Cady finishes, pulling Janis down to her.

Except you’re mine. And I could never forget you.

—————

ta daaaa!!! hope you enjoyed!! thanks so much for reading!!

lots of love,

ezzy

#cadnis #paint by numbers #space safari #cady heron x janis sarkisian #cady x janis #cady heron #janis sarkisian #damian hubbard #regina george #mean girls #mean girls broadway #mean girls musical #mean girls on broadway #mean girls the musical

[mistyeyedbi]

mistyeyedbi’s masterlist

writing tag: mebwrites (we’re evolving from ‘hits post and dips’, thank goodness for the increase in confidence! might bring it back though)

a03: https://archiveofourown.org/users/mistyeyedbi/pseuds/mistyeyedbi

These will be seperated by pairings (but I’m sure you’ll notice that uh...I write a lot of Zuri...with everyone). Nsft content will be marked with a (*)

The Wayhaven Chronicles

Adam du Mortain/Zuri Jackson 

The Art Of Seduction I zuri asks nate for advice on how to woo adam

Untitled I adam notes how zuri changes when he is injured

Duty Means Doing The Things Your Heart May Well Regret I 2.4k words detailing a disastrous confession

Sunsets and Hearts Beating Out Of Chests I adam finds zuri on the balcony and is enamoured by the view

What Convoluted Connections She Has I a series of events detailing how zuri jackson finds herself in a love triangle, caught between grey and green gazes

A Toi Pour Toujours I she was used to knowing the right things to say, and yet here she was buying herself time, searching frantically for the string of sentences she could use to bare her tender heart to him (suggestive)

A Skip In Her Step I for zuri, heels and weak knees are an embarrassing combination

Writing Prompts

a nuzzle kiss I a03

a kiss on the inside of the wrist I a03

a kiss on the the back of the hand I a03

things you said too quietly (mini fic prompts)

sated (microprompts)

“this was a mistake” + cheap (microprompts)

tender (microprompts) 

Nate Sewell/Zuri Jackson

Foreign Four-Letter Words I zuri overthinking what it means to sleep in with someone

Can I? I nate was never one to be speechless, but she had robbed him of his words, his breath, his sanity...(*)

Won’t You Bloom For Me I nate sewell, a flower on the brink of blooming, hiding behind carefully chosen words and charm. like her.

The Show Must Go on I zuri performs for a distracting audience before returning the sentiment (suggestive)

Writing Prompts

a blown kiss I (*) I a03

Morgan/Zuri Jackson 

What Convoluted Connections She Has I a series of events detailing how zuri jackson finds herself in a love triangle, caught between grey and green gazes

Writing Prompts

a kiss on the eyelid or the undereye I (mildly suggestive) I a03

candles (microprompts)

Farah/Zuri Jackson

Writing Prompts

candles (microprompts)

Falk/Zuri Jackson

Writing Prompts

a neck kiss I (suggestive) I a03

a shy kiss I a03

shimmer (microprompts)

Misc

Writing Prompts

Venomous Tongue I today, zuri embraced her burning skin. she embraced her polluting touch

A Second Helping Of Envy | dinner at verda's could be such torture

shimmer (microprompts) (Farah Hauville&Zuri Jackson)

Incomplete Monthly Prompts

Wayhaven 21

Day 1: Resolution (Farah Hauville/Lucille Le Beau)

Day 2: New (Adam du Mortain/Zuri Jackson)

Day 3: Cryptid (Farah Hauville/Lucille Le Beau)

Day 4: Smoke (Adam du Mortain/Zuri Jackson) (*)

28 dates with Unit Bravo

Day 1: Chocolate (Morgan/Zuri Jackson)

Day 2: Interruption (Adam du Mortain/Zuri Jackson) (suggestive)

Day 3: Date (Morgan/Zuri Jackson) (*)

Day 4: Coffee (Adam du Mortain/Zuri Jackson)

Day 5: Smile (Morgan/Zuri Jackson)

Bravo in Bloom

Day 1: Prank (Adam du Mortain/Zuri Jackson)

Day 2: Picnic (Adam du Mortain/Zuri Jackson)

Love Island The Game

Yes, I’m Changing I nicky cheers up the villa’s local pulviophile, kioni, despite his indifference towards rain. (Nicky Horne/Kioni Muthemba)

Writing Prompts

“It’s three in the morning.” I (AJ/Kioni) 

“Are you…high? You?!” I (Hannah/Lottie)

#masterlist #I'll be adding more in a03 later! #i'm deathly afraid of filling the place with my writing

[shortytori]

Tori Tales

Robert Moss: First Day of School

“What is this?” Robert angrily demanded as he slammed a class schedule on the kitchen counter in front of Delta. 

Without looking at him or the schedule he took a sip of her morning coffee and responded, “Those are the classes you’ll be taking starting next week. We know that you haven’t been going to school for some time, and I have decided that it would be best for the team if you also worked out your mind as well as your body.”

“Bu-but,” the young teen took a deep breath, “but I didn’t join the Alliance to go to school--I joined because I want to get to the same level as those on Team B and Team A!”

Delta looked down at him from the side, “As long as you remain dumb and ignorant you will never be on their level. You will go to Townsville High Monday to Friday, and you will not skip any of your classes. I have requested Adam and Zuri to keep an eye on you and make sure you are on the school grounds during school hours. If you do go to your classes there will be consequences, understood?”

Robert wanted to object but as he looked her in the eye he just frowned and nodded. He knew she was strong and a great leader, and he respected her commands even when he didn’t agree with them. “Yes ma’am.” He picked his schedule back up and walked back to his room. As he walked he passed Zuri and Adam and slipped them a pouted glare.

“What’s his problem?” Zuri made a face back at him.

Back in his room, Robert slammed the door and threw himself on his bed. This would be the first time he’d ever go to school. The last three years he had Cherry and Boss teach him what he needed to know to survive living on the streets, and before that he learned some things in the science lab. Was school like how shows and movies made it look? Drama about romance, teen girl fights in the hall, clique arguments? ‘What if I get made fun of and they all don’t like me?’ He sat up and frowned at himself in the mirror, then smirked after seeing his reflection. “Nah, I’m too handsome for anyone to make fun of!” He shook his head as he fed his ego.

Robert was humming to himself as he brushed his hair, getting ready for the big day ahead of him. He had woken up two hours early and had already gone for his morning swim, his strength workout, taken a shower to smell fresh and clean and eaten breakfast. Since today he decided to switch up his look and dressed in a white button up shirt tucked into light seafoam green pants and finished the outfit with laced up white vans. One last brush and finished! He smiled proudly to himself and winked, “Looking good like always!~”

With a knock on his door, Zuri called out, “Are you done looking at yourself yet? We have to make our way to the school now. I wanted to hang out with Gigi before classes start!” Robert took one deep breath as he stared at his reflection, getting rid of any nerves that were trying to make their way up. 

Opening his door he smirked at Zuri, “How can I not look at myself when I look this good?” He did a few poses to show off his pampered self while Zuri rolled her eyes and walked away. “Hey! I wasn’t done showing off how good I look!” Closing his door he ran after her and they, along with Adam, made their way to their private driver--which was curtesy of the Alliance. Within twenty minutes they were in front of Townsville High. 

Getting out of the car Robert looked up at the school and was only shocked for a second. It was pretty big for a school--didn’t these things usually only have one building? There were multiple! But those were the only things that impressed the young teen. As the three of them walked up to Gigi who had been waiting for them, Robert looked around while Zuri elbowed Adam playfully causing him to blush. It was similar to a mall that there were teens everywhere, which was good for him because he enjoyed hanging out with people his age. 

Gigi waved excitedly at Adam, who shyly waved back blushing and quickly made his way into the school alone. She looked at Zuri and Robert questioningly which they just shrugged and walked into the building together. “It’s really cool that you’re going to be going to school with us Robert!” She threw an arm over his shoulder and brought him in for a side hug. “Lucky for you, you have a cool and awesome older friend who can tell you the ins and out, the whose and what’s, and the best places to hang out!” 

“Already covered all of that in the car ride here,” Zuri smirked as she too wrapped her arm around Robert’s neck. Gigi pouted and Robert laughed at her reaction.

“Don’t worry, Gigi,” Robert smiled at the blonde, “since I’m new I’m going to need some help. So please be my ‘cool and awesome older friend’ who makes sure I don’t make a fool of myself.” She nodded with a grin and threw an arm up in a cheer. 

They showed Robert where his locker was, got his books from the school library, and showed him where his first class was. “This is your first period; 9th Grade English with Mr. Go,” Zuri gestured to the entrance of the classroom, “a warning before you see him. He looks big and intimidating, but he’s a big softie who is really into helping his students.” Gigi nodded along in agreement. “The rest of your classes are pretty close by, so just pay attention to the numbers by the classroom doors and hopefully you won’t get lost too much on your first day. We’ll see you at lunch, don’t make any trouble!” Gigi and Zuri waved as they walked to their first period class.

As he opened the door and walked in, all eyes were on the new kid in the classroom. Mr. Go stood up and Robert immediately realized why Zuri said he looked big and intimidating--the guy was huge! He walked up to him and reached out his hand, “Hello, you must be Robert! It’s great to have you in our class. Once the bell rings I’ll have you introduce yourself to the rest of the students and we’ll start our first day! If you ever need any help, please don’t be shy with asking me anything.” He pointed to a seat in the second to last row, “no one is currently assigned to that seat, so that’s where you’ll be sitting. Get your materials out and get comfortable because there’s about seven minutes before class starts.” He smiled, then walked back to his desk and took a seat.

Robert, unsure of what he needed, looked around the classroom and saw that some students had their notebooks, their copy of Lord of the Flies, and a pen or pencil so he copied them. He had noticed since he walked in that a few students were talking and looking at them, and he smirked at the thought of them talking about how good he looked. A few classmates came up and introduced themselves and made some small talk, but none of them were very memorable. 

The “bell” sounded more like a loud buzzer and it made him jump. “Alright class, in your seats! You know when the bell goes off it’s time to start the day’s learning. I know you all have noticed a new face in our class, and I’m going to give him the floor so he can introduce himself.” Mr. Go gestured to Robert who nodded and stood up.

Loving the attention, Robert smiled as he spoke, “My name is Robert. I like swimming; I actually have swam a few times in local competitions where I used to live. I also making myself look good all the time, because I do not like looking like a mess in front of other people. I also love taking walks on the beach,” at his last statement he laughed to himself and winked at the student to his right, causing them to blush with a confused look on his face. 

Mr. Go laughed as well as Robert sat down. “You seem like a character Robert, so I know you’re going to fit in well with the class. Now we’re going to start class by reading the next chapter in Lord of the Flies. Last class we finished chapter two, so can everyone please open to the start of chapter three.” As everyone opened their books and found the page, Hue’s eyes scanned the room, and his eyes met Robert’s. “Robert, since you’re new how about you take the honor and read the first page of chapter three?”

Nodding, Robert looks down at the page and began to read. The way he read was slow and choppy, and he made multiple pauses to slowly sound out words. It took him about seven minutes to read the entire page, and as Mr. Go thanked him with an awkward smile and moved on to picking the next student, Robert could feel the rest of his classmates talking about him and giving him weird looks. His ego was deflated and he felt weird, his shoulders felt tense and his stomach felt like it was flipping around inside of him. The rest of class didn’t get better, they had a group conversation about the book and he didn’t know how to take part in and they had to write and he wasn’t able to finish and was lucky to have at least wrote a page. First period ended, and Robert put his writing face down on Mr. Go’s desk and quickly waved goodbye before he had the chance to look at his work.

Second period went even worse than first, and by the time the lunch bell rang he was ready to go home. ‘I don’t get any of this. Why does any of this matter? Haven’t seen Adam or Zuri since before classes started, so how would they know if I skip my other two classes?’ He then remembered that the teachers took attendance and Zuri has most likely been hacking into the school’s system to make sure he had been in his classes. He groaned and not looking where he was going, accidentally bumped shoulders with another student. He looked at them and saw it was a girl with blonde hair and looked like someone poured 90s fashion all over her and dyed it all pink.

“I’m sorry,” the girl apologized.

“No, it was my fault. I’m sorry,” Robert mumbled and walked away before she could reply. 

Having followed a crowd of kids to the cafeteria, he looked around and couldn’t find Gigi, Zuri, or Adam anywhere in the mob of teens. As he took out his phone from his pocket to text one of them, someone shoved him as they walked passed him causing him to drop his phone. “The hell!” He bent down to pick it up and tried to glare at the jerk that bumped him, but was shocked when he saw who it was. “Vain?!”

The said teen turned around and looked down at him, looked surprised for a second, then smirked. “Well, well, well, I didn’t know you went to Townsville High.”

Wiping the dirt off his pants, Robert shook his head as he stood up. “I didn’t before today. This is my first day here.”

“Hopefully not being a complete loser,” Vain circled around Robert, “because last time I saw you was last year at the local swimming meet behind me and losing.” He then leaned in to Robert and whispered in his ear, “do you think others would find it weird that you’ve been living in Townsville all this time but haven’t been attending school? Hopefully word doesn’t get out.”

Robert’s eyes flashed red for a second and he snapped at Vain, yelling out, “Why don’t you just mind your own business!?” The students that were around the two all turned and looked at them.

A hand was placed on Robert’s shoulder, pulling him back and he heard Zuri’s voice, “There you are Robert! Already making friends I see. Hey there, hope he wasn’t being too friendly with ya,” Zuri gave Vain a friendly yet deadly glare and he scoffed.

Before he could reply another familiar face walked up in the form of Mr. Go, “I heard some yelling over here. Not fighting now, are we?” He gave all three teens a look, and with a frown Vain shook his head.

“Why of course not, sir,” he then looked Robert and Zuri and then looked back at the adult. “If you don’t mind I’m going to go eat lunch.” Without getting a response he walked off.

Mr. Go shook his head as he looked at the two teens still in front of him. “Thank you, Zuri, for helping Robert here out. It’s good to see that he’s already made some friends while he’s been here--I know being new to a big school like this can be hard to adjust to.” Zuri and Robert shared an eyebrow raised look, if only he really knew. “Though if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to talk to Robert for a minute.”

Not having an excuse to argue Zuri nodded her head. “After you’re done talking to Mr. Go, you can come sit over there with us,” she gestured to a far off table where he finally spotted Gigi and left to go sit with her.

With a smile Robert looked up at his teacher, “What’s up Mr. Go?”

The man had a bead of sweat roll down the side of his face as he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I saw this morning you were having a hard time in class, and I’ve talked to your second period teacher and found out you had a difficult time in their class as well. I know it’s your first day, but I could tell that you’re quite behind academically. So I...” he hesitated, feeling bad and mumbled, “I hate doing this.” He took a deep breath and looked Robert in the eyes, “I sent an email to your guardian. You’re not in trouble, but I don’t want you to fall even more behind.”

From there all Robert could think about was what would happen when he got home. How was Delta going to react?

--

Finally home, and instead of running to his room to hide, Robert walked into the kitchen and found Delta sitting and waiting at the dining table. Nervous, he sat down as well and waited for her to speak first. 

“First day of school and already getting emails from your teacher? I know this is all new to you, but I never expected I would get news so quick.” She looked at him and noticed his head was down, his eyes looked sad, and his hands were clenched into fists. She picked up the mug that sat in front of her and took a sip of her tea. “I know you feel disappointed in yourself. You’re a crucial member of this team, and you feel you’ve let us all down by being so behind in school.” She placed a hand on his head and smiled, “But you haven’t.” 

Robert looked up at her in surprise. He’d expected her to be mad, to get yelled at, or even a punishment of some kind. It’s what he was used to. But Delta wasn’t like that. She is understanding, she’s smart, she’s a good leader and knows how to help her comrades--that made Robert’s respect for her grow even more. Giving him a couple pats on the head she folded her hands in front of her. 

“Luckily for you there are ways to help you out with your schooling. You’re going to go to tutoring after school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.” He looked at her in horror as she continued to speak, “it will be good for you to get the extra help so you can get to where you need to be.” Robert rubbed his face in annoyance; he understood why but it was just going to take time out of other things he could be doing. “I also heard that you almost got into a fight today during lunch--”

“Who told you--” Robert tried to interrupt her while he spoke but immediately stopped talking when she gave him a cold look. 

She sighed. “Because of your ‘almost’ fight and the large amount of information the Alliance apparently failed to collect on you, you will be seeing a professional psychologist by the name of Jocelyn Drakken every other Tuesday.” Robert made a face at the therapist’s last name, wasn’t that-- “yes, she is Charles’ younger sister.” Delta got up from the table and pushed in her chair. Before leaving she told Robert, “I know you will be able to handle the additions to your schedule and will work hard to improve mentally and emotionally. You are an amazing member to this team and we wouldn’t be as strong without you. Just know that all of this extra work doesn’t give you an excuse to skip your strength and combat training.”

Robert groaned as she gave him another pat on the head and left the kitchen with a soft smile. She was happy that he had a teacher like Hue that cared about their students’ education. 

‘That actually could have gone a lot worse,’ he thought to himself and smiled while he stared out the window to the beautiful view of the beach. 

Hue Go belongs to @kururu418 and is a part of the callyieverse

Mention of Blair Mystery Vanquez belongs to @aj-thegreatest​

Delta, Vain, and Jocelyn belongs to @princesscallyie​ 

Adam belongs to @purfectprincessgirl​

Zuri belongs to @des-the-girl​

#robert moss #first day of school #school anxiety #hue go #callyieverse #writing #oc #aboutmyoc #other people's ocs #my oc #fanfic #story #teen story #villain story #qued #tori tales

[oc-cafe]

The Beginning Of The End (Episode 2)

Zuri managed to arrange a ball in mere hours, which even for her, is impressive. She manages to transform the entire castle, the town, the people and somehow, the entire royal family. She starts with me first, claiming that I take the longest to get ready, she acquires a lovely jazzberry coloured gown, she paints my lips a dark red  and gives me one of her own extravagant necklaces to highlight the boat neckline, when I am finally able to look in the mirror, I see someone who is worthy of the title Princess, I look and feel beautiful. Zuri doesn’t stay with me for long, moving onto mother as quickly as possible. 

When the ball begins, I am expected to sit at the head of court while mother addresses the returned soldiers. My only job at the moment is to sit still and appear regal, which considering my track record is an almost impossible task. We have been informed that father will be the last to return, as he wants to have a final word with the rulers of mesognes, and that they will be arriving with him. I adjust my glasses and quietly watch the party, not particularly in a mood to dance, I watch Zuri and Gabriel fool around. My sister had taken her shoes off at some point, probably to better feel the vibration caused by the music. They dance perfectly in sync, their bodies practically melded together, they are perfectly balanced, each other’s yin and yang, perfect in every way, their souls fused together. I find myself wondering if I will ever fall like that, if I will ever give myself to someone fully, and expect nothing back, to love like that is perhaps to truly live. 

I tear my gaze away from them, not wanting to hurt myself any further. I watch as Eren pours himself a glass of wine. A highly illegal glass of wine.  Finally! Something to distract me. 

♕

“You know I could have you arrested for that, right?”  I startle and whip around, there stands the heir.

 “Oh leave me be, Daru, it’s not like this is the first time,” “Admitting to your crimes, huh Captain Abbas?” She laughs and I smile, I haven’t seen her laugh in so long, and despite the music, I can hear it, it’s a deep true laugh. I missed it. I missed her. 

“Give it here, captain dearest.” She reaches for the glass and I tilt away, falling flat on my ass, the glass breaks, spilling wine all over my clean white shirt. I let out a string of curses, forgetting for a moment that the future queen of Aiga stands over me. 

“Tch, don’t make me wash your mouth out with soap Eri, We can get  you a tunic from one of the guest wings,” She helps me up, tutting at my misbehaviour. 

♕

We walk around the castle like we did as children; we  try to avoid running into the hundreds of servants running around, trying to finish the last few chores before joining the party. We help where we can but mostly we just talk. Even after  months of letters, there is still much to discuss. From Gabriel and Zuri’s wedding to the war to the quality of life at sea, there is no topic left untouched. By the time we find a new shirt, we’ve lapsed into a comfortable silence. 

I find myself, staring at Daru, trying to see if anything’s changed since we last met. Her hair’s definitely longer, she stands with more grace. No longer a child, her eyes seem darker tonight, lips redder, she looks regal, but if you look at her for a little long, you start to notice that she’s unsure of herself, you start to see that she feels inadequate. I tell her as much. 

“I don’t feel inadequate! I’m Daraja Adesina, I am the picture of perfection honestly,” She still uses humour to deflect things, glad to know some things don’t change.  “Are you?” Knowing fully well, that she has the power to banish me.

 I’ve always been good at getting on people’s very last nerve, Daraja seems to be the only person who can withstand my constant bothering. 

“I-” Whatever she says fades into the background as a ship rapidly approaches our shore, a ship bearing our crest. The king is finally home. 

♕

Eren’s face splits into a grin, and I bristle, nothing that I have just confessed is something to be laughed at, but then I notice that they aren’t looking at me. No, of course not, their gaze instead is fixed on  the window behind me. 

“Wha-” The words are barely out of mouth before their cold hands are clasped around my wrist and I’m being dragged down towards the ball. I’m winded by the time we reach;my gown sticks  to my back, a few strands of hair have escaped my bun and my crown is a little lopsided but I manage to look dignified and  sophisticated. I might be a little too proud of that. 

Eren is still smiling, his hair’s wild, the too big shirt  hangs off her gangly frame but she looks alive, she reminds me of when we were children, racing and laughing, oblivious to the war on our shore. I shake my head, willing myself to focus on the present, not on what we have lost, on the party and not on the names etched onto the castle walls. I hope they will be there forever, a final remembrance of those forgotten. 

“Dance with me,” Zuri’s voice is the one to pull me away, she’s breathless and shining, crown perched neatly on her head, laughter dancing in her eyes. I find myself laughing, happy to be alive, happy to dance with my sister, my head lounging delicately on her shoulder, her soft vanilla scent enveloping me and the soft murmur of music ebbing and flowing. 

“Time to switch partners princess,” I turn and there stands Gabriel, his bright eyes glint in the dim light and he looks so very in love, my heart twists. I wonder if my parents lived like this before we were born. I step away and almost immediately am snatched away by Eren, they spin me around to the upbeat music, barely giving me a second to breathe before dipping into the next move. My worries fade, and I let myself flow with the music. 

We dance for a long time, until my feet practically give out, and Eren has had his fill. I stumble to a dark corner, taking them with me, as he stumbles behind me, he picks up two glasses full of wine, a deep red which reminds me uncomfortably of blood, but I drink nonetheless, it tastes sweet and I feel it go to my head but I can’t bring myself to care. 

As I calm down and start watching the others dance, my companion leans down and whispers “When we were talking,I saw our ship through the window upstairs, that’s why I brought you down, he should be right outside the door right now,” Before I fully process what they’ve said, the doors are thrown open and Vea Amaris barges in.

A/N : *banging pots and pans* LOOK ALIVE PEOPLE, THE UPDATE IS HERE. I'M SORRY, I HAD TO DO MATH, I APOLOGISE, THANKYOU FOR READING THOUGH.

Taglist (send an ask to be added or removed): @thisismisogynoir @ghostdragoncookie @mina-globes-and-maps @quakeismyhero @ialmostdonothingnew @gravitational-potential-energy @death-and-the-lady13 @otbyosh @fierreth-who @mister-finally-found-himself @coffeelovinggayidiot @pinkyy-promises @sassychaostrash @lesbiansayaishii @planet-alicorn @cool-way-to-die @brkh96 @i-likestuff86

Mod tag: @cringefail-swagless @athousandcherryblossoms

#battlecrown #written by: mod 🔥 #battlecrown 2022 #captain Eren Abbas

[chanoyu-to-wa]

Nampō Roku, Book 6 (9):  the Dimensions of the Large Daisu.

9) Measurements of the large daisu¹:

￮ the length from side to side, 2-shaku 9-sun 5-bu²;

￮ the width of the boards, 1-shaku 4-sun³;

￮ the height, from the side that touches the mat up to the upper surface of the jō-dan [上段], 2-shaku 2-sun 5-bu, [or else 2-shaku 2-sun] 3-bu; even 2-shaku 3-sun is not a problem⁴;

￮ the thickness of the legs, 1 sun -- [however] the corners are chamfered, [with the face of the chamfer being] 1-bu⁵;

￮ the thickness of the upper board, 6-bu⁶;

￮ the thickness of the naga-ita [長板], 1-sun 5-bu⁷.

[The writing reads (above to below, right to left):  ni-shaku kyū-sun go-bu (貳尺九寸五步), kono ma go-bu (此間五步), isshaku yon-sun (壹尺四寸)⁸; go-bu (五步), man-chū-men yon-bu no uchi ni te (マンチウメン 四步ノ内ニテ)⁹; man-chū-men yon-bu (マンチウ面四步)¹⁰.]

    [With respect to] the large daisu, though the Higashiyama-dono¹¹ owned three imported daisu¹², [only] one of them, on account of its length and width, conformed with the kane -- according to what is stated in Jōō's writings¹³.    

    When the daisu is used in the various places, in Japan it is [always] of the sort preferred by Nōami; and it was for this [daisu] that the [system of] kane[-wari] was carefully created.  This is [the daisu whose] measurements were described previously¹⁵.

〇 Concerning the way that the large daisu should be placed out¹⁶.

    On the daisu-tatami, on the far side, 4-sun 5-bu.  Within that, [subtracting] 1-sun for the [daisu-saki] byōbu [屛風], the remainder that we can see is approximately 3-sun 5-bu¹⁷.

    On the left and the right, [the daisu extends] fully to the [inner] edge of the heri of a large tatami¹⁸.

_________________________

◎ This is another of the entries that was not included in Kumakura Isao’s Nampō Roku wo yomu [南方録を読む].

    This omission is probably not all that surprising, since the daisu preferred by Urasenke is the one created by Sōtan -- made by cobbling together the ten-ita from one old daisu with the ji-ita from a different daisu (the widths and lengths of both boards differ).

    Omotesenke, on the other hand, uses the modified daisu that Rikyū created after Hideyoshi forbade him from disseminating the gokushin-temae (at least, without explicit permission from Hideyoshi himself) in 1586.  The dimensions of the boards and legs were all changed, albeit subtly (the most notable difference being the thickness of the legs, which was decreased from the original 1-sun to 7-bu).

    That said, this is one of the most important entries, in so far as a clear understanding of kane-wari is concerned -- since this describes the daisu in front of which the shiki-shi [敷き紙] was placed, and so from which the whole system of kane-wari was formulated (as described herein).

¹Ō-daisu no sunpō [大臺子ノ寸方].

    Sunpō [寸方] should be understood as sunpō [寸法], measurements.

²Yoko-nagasa  ni-shaku kyū-sun go-bu [横長サ 貳尺九寸五分].

    Yoko-nagasa [横長さ] means the length, measured from side to side.

³Ita haba  isshaku yon-sun [板ハヾ 一尺四寸].

    Ita haba [板幅] means the width of the boards.

    In the original daisu, the length and width of the ten-ita and ji-ita were exactly the same.  Only the thickness of the boards differed.

⁴Takasa tatami-zuri yori jo-dan no ue-ba made  ni-shaku go-bu ・ san-bu ・ ni-shaku san-sun mo kurushikarazu [高サ疊ズリヨリ上段ノ上バマデ　貳尺二寸五分・三分・貳尺三寸モ不苦].

    Tatami-zuri [疊摺り] means to rub against the tatami.

    Ue-ba [上端]* means the upper surface.

    Tanaka Senshō’s teihon [底本] only lists two possible measurements -- 2-shaku 2-sun 5-bu and 2-shaku 3-sun.

    Shibayama Fugen, however, gives 2-shaku 3-sun 5-bu and 2-shaku 3-sun.

    It is possible that Tachibana Jitsuzan made an error when copying this material into the notebooks that he presented to the Enkaku-ji†.  On the other hand, since a person's height (when seated before the daisu) will impact his or her ability to lower things from the ten-ita to the mat comfortably, it appears that the actual height of the daisu was largely a matter of personal preference‡. __________ *In the modern language, the pronunciation jōtan [上端] is preferred.

†Since “3-bu” [三分] is all that is written beside the first measurement (meaning he may have written “bu” and only then realized that the measurement was actually 2-shaku 3-sun).

    On the other hand, it is also possible that, since Ashikaga Yoshimasa owned three imported daisu (this is explained in the passage that follows the sketches), it is also possible that the original material included the measurements of each of them -- which is why three different heights were given.

    With respect to kane-wari, the only important things are the dimensions of the ten- and ji-ita.  So long as the distance between the mouth of the kama and the ten-ita was sufficient that the ten-ita was not heated through by the steam rising from the kama (since that could cause damage to anything that was resting on top:   we must remember that there was quite a range of kama available even in the early days, from kama that have most of their depth below the rim of the kimen-buro to those that are extremely tall), any height that was comfortable for the host would have been acceptable.  (And since most daisu were custom-made for each chajin in Japan, the ordering process would have accommodated this sort of variation.)

‡This would have been especially so in the early days when the daisu was used for chanoyu on every occasion.

⁵Hashira ōkisa  issun ・ sumi-sumi ichi-bu men [柱　大サ一寸　スミ〰一步メン].

    Ōkisa [大きさ] means volume or bulk, and here refers to the thickness of the lengths of wood that were used for the four legs.

    Sumi-sumi ichi-bu men [角々一步面]:  sumi-sumi [角々] means (all of) the corners (of the legs); ichi-bu men [角々一歩面] means that each of the four corners was chamfered (a face was cut with a plane or other blade at an angle of 45° to the adjoining two sides), with the face of the chamfer being 1-bu wide.

    When used to nominate a measurement, bu [步]* is an alternate way of writing bu [分]†.  That said, it is unclear why Jitsuzan (or perhaps the person who wrote out the original) shifts from “分” to “步” (and, occasionally, back again). __________ *The kanji “步” literally means to walk, and has been used since ancient times to indicate measurements (originally made by pacing).  In Japanese, the latter meaning (and specifically when the unit is equivalent to one-tenth of a sun [寸]) is associated with the pronunciation bu [ぶ].

†This kanji is usually pronounced bun [分], and it then means to part, divide, or portion.  When pronounced bu, however, it specifically refers to the measurement -- which is one-tenth of a sun [寸].

⁶Uwa-ita atsusa  roku-bu [上板アツサ　六步].

    Uwa-ita [上板] means the upper board.  The board that constitutes the ten-ita.

    Atsusa [厚さ] means thickness.

⁷Naga-ita atsusa  issun go-bu [長板アツサ　一寸五分].

    Naga-ita [長板], as usual, refers to the lower board -- the ji-ita.

⁸Ni-shaku kyū-sun go-bu / kono ma go-bu / isshaku yon-sun [貳尺九寸五步 / 此間五步 / 壹尺四寸].

    These are the three notations found on the first of the three sketches.

    Ni-shaku kyū-sun go-bu [貳尺九寸五步] means 2-shaku 9-sun 5-bu.

    Kono ma go-bu [此間五步] is referring to the space between the leg and the point where the chamfer begins.  (The two lines on the right and lower sides represent the point where the chamfering begins.)

    Isshaku yon-sun [壹尺四寸] means 1-shaku 4-sun.

    These details have been written in Roman script in the above sketch.

⁹Go-bu / man-chū-men yon-bu no uchi ni te [五步 / マンチウメン　四步ノ内ニテ].

    This refers to the second of the three sketches.

    Go-bu [五步] is the width of the board between the outer edge of the leg and the point where the rounded chamfer begins (this same measurement was also indicated on the first sketch).

    Man-chū-men yon-bu no uchi ni te [マンチウメン　四步ノ内ニテ]:  man-chū-men [真ん中面]* means the middle face or surface (that is, the chamfered edge -- which, in this case, is rounded); yon-bu no uchi [四步の内] literally means “within 4-bu.”

    In other words, the chamfered edge (which is cut at a 45° angle) would have been 4-bu wide if it were flat. Since it is rounded, however, the measurement is approximate.

    These details have been written in Roman script below.

__________ *Man-chū-men [真ん中面] would probably be pronounced mannaka-men today.

¹⁰Man-chū-men yon-bu [マンチウ面四歩].

    This is the text written on the third of the sketches.

    Once again, man-chū-men refers to the (rounded) chamfer -- which, in the case of the ten-ita, faces downward.

    The sketch has been redrawn, with the text represented in Roman script, above.

¹¹Higashiyama-dono [東山殿].

    Ashikaga Yoshimasa [足利義政; 1436 ~ 1490].

¹²Kara-dai mitsu-made o-shoji ari [唐臺三ツマデ御所持アリ].

    Kara-dai [唐臺], which means “Tang dai[su],” should be interpreted more generally to mean “imported daisu.”  That is because there is no evidence that the daisu was ever used when preparing matcha in China (and certainly not during the Tang dynasty)*.

    If written phonetically as kara-dai [カラ臺], the word could mean either Chinese dai[su] or Korean dai[su], since the names of both of these countries are pronounced kara [カラ = 唐, 韓] when the kun reading is used.  Kara, then, should be taken as a hentai-gana -- and always interpreted on a case by case basis, accordingly, at least in the context of chanoyu. __________ *According to the Bǎizhàng Qīng-guī [百丈清規] (Hyaku-jō Shin-gi, in Japanese), a table was set up behind the altar in the main Buddha Hall of the temple, and a pitcher of hot water, a large ceramic vessel (roughly the size of an orange) containing the matcha, a chasen, a temmoku-chawan and dai, and a basin of water in which the used bowls were rinsed, were placed on the table.  The monks rose from their seats and went, in a line, behind the altar (entering on the left side).  After being handed a dai-temmoku (in which a scoop of matcha had been placed), they approached the next person, who poured in some hot water and whisked the matcha, after which the monk drank it, returned the dai-temmoku to a third person, and then walked out on the right side of the altar and returned to his seat.  The servants from the kitchen “officiated” (if such a word can be used for the perfunctory manner in which the tea was prepared and drunk); and everyone (servers as well as the monk who was drinking the tea) remained standing throughout.

    While something like a daisu could possibly have been used, it should be noted that the ten-ita would not support much weight (and a basin of water might be fairly heavy, since the basin itself would have had to be made either of metal or pottery).  The length of the daisu, too, would also be too narrow for three servers to stand behind (and while three daisu could conceivably be lined up in a row, it is easier to imagine that a single long table would have been more practical).

    The service was similar to the way that food was doled out to the monks in the dining hall (though in the dining hall they sat down at tables, after receiving their rice or gruel, to eat).

¹³Haba・nagasa kane ni awase-taru ha hitotsu to Jōō no oboegaki ni ari [ハヾ・長サカネニ合タルハ一ツト紹鷗ノ覚書ニアリ].

    Haba [幅] (as used above) refers to the (front-to-back) width.

    Nagasa [長さ] (again, as used in the first part of this entry) means the (side-to-side) length of the daisu.

    The dimensions of the ten-ita and ji-ita, with the exception of the thickness of the boards, were identical.

    This is saying that only one of the three kara-daisu owned by Yoshimasa conformed to the details as they were enumerated at the beginning of this entry -- according to an (unidentified)* oboe-gaki [覚書] written by Jōō.

    On the continent, daisu were probably made for use in specific locations, such as the Buddha Hall of a temple, or in a designated place in the palace.  Since the mats were fitted to the temple (rather than the temple being constructed in accordance with the dimensions of the mats, as was usually the case in Japan), a certain variability was inevitable. __________ *Since Jōō seems to have preferred to keep the important teachings secret, he did not spread copies of his writings around in the way that Rikyū seems to have done (though, in Rikyū's case, this was largely on account of the fact that it was nearly impossible for him to meet in person with the high government officials who were his students).  Indeed, it seems that many of these writings (which Jōō appears to have prepared as memos for personal reference during his early to middle years) were only passed out, to his closest disciples, from his death bed -- as keepsakes.

    Perhaps the present comments were enclosed in the collection of daisu arrangements that Jōō bequeathed to Nambō Sōkei, without being physically attached to that document.  An oboe-gaki can be a book, but it can also be an individual scrap of paper on which something has been jotted down informally (Jōō seems to have surreptitiously taken notes while listening to the things that were being discussed during the Shino family's incense-and-tea gatherings, and this may have been one from that collection).

¹⁴Tokoro-dokoro o-daisu wo mochii-raruru ni tsuke, Nihon ni te Nōami-gonomi ni te, kane yoku koshiraerare-shi to iu-iu [所〻御臺子ヲ用ラルヽニ付、日本ニテ能阿彌好ニテ、カネヨクコシラヘラレシト云〻].

    Rather than o-daisu [御臺子] (which simply is the polite form of the word daisu), both Shibayama Fugen’s teihon, and Tanaka Senshō’s sources, have sono daisu [其臺子] (that daisu -- referring specifically to the daisu mentioned by Jōō, the one, owned by Yoshimasa, that conformed with the system of kane-wari).  This impacts significantly upon the meaning of this statement*.

    Yoku [良く] means thoroughly, carefully, exactly.

    Koshirae-suru [拵えする] means to be prepared (for something), to be made ready (for something), to be fabricated (for something).

    In other words, the daisu that is commonly used in Japan -- which is the one preferred by Nōami -- is the one for which the system of kane-wari was very carefully devised. __________ *Making one wonder whether the text printed in the Sadō Ko-ten Zen-shū [茶道古典全集] might not contain an error.  The Sadō Ko-ten Zen-shū was published by Tankōsha (Urasenke's official publishing house), and the edition was prepared by Hisamatsu Shin-ichi sensei, who was one of Urasenke’s most important gyōtei-sensei at the time when he prepared this manuscript for inclusion in the Sadō Ko-ten Zen-shū.  Since the daisu preferred by Urasenke is very different from the classical daisu that is described in this entry -- the one “preferred” by Nōami -- and since an understanding of the Nampō Roku depends on recognizing the version of the daisu upon which all of this is based, this minor change in wording could potentially have profound and all-pervasive ramifications for the reader’s ability to understand this collection of writings.

    Interpreting the Nampō Roku on the basis of the Urasenke-preferred Sōtan daisu will inevitably lead to confusion (because, in addition to the fact that the ten-ita and ji-ita are different sizes, the daisu is too large to sit between the heri as described below, and so does not agree with any version of kane-wari).

¹⁵Sunawachi migi no sunpō nari [則右ノ寸法ナリ].

    More literally, “namely, [the daisu described by] the measurements [that have been set down] on the right.”

¹⁶Ō-daisu oki-kata [大臺子置方].

    This phrase, which is written only with kanji, seems to be a sort of title for this last section of the entry, which is why I formatted it as I have.

¹⁷Daisu-datami, mukō ha yon-sun go-bu, uchi issun ha byōbu no yobun, miyuru-bun san-sun go-bu hodo nari [臺子ダヽミ、向ハ四寸五歩、内一寸ハ屛風ノ餘分、見ユル分三寸五歩ホド].

    Daisu-datami [臺子疊] means the tatami on which the daisu is arranged.

    In the earliest days, when tea was served to noblemen in a large reception room, the daisu was set up on a mat in an out-of-the-way part of the room (so it would not impinge on the seating of the noble guests), and it is to that mat that this expression refers.  It is essentially the same as a utensil-mat, though the reader must understand that this mat was usually not found in the prominent place that the utensil mat occupies in a dedicated tea room.

    Miyuru-bun [見ゆる分] means “the part that one can see” -- the part of the mat between the far end of the daisu and the forward-facing side of the daisu-saki byōbu [臺子先屛風].

    Hodo [程] means approximately.  This is because , while 1-sun is allotted for the daisu-saki byōbu, not all screens are necessarily 1-sun thick (indeed, most are around 7-bu).  Thus, the space visible is whatever remains between the daisu and the byōbu (which is placed so that it is at the far end of the mat -- and so about 5-bu away from the wall on account of the baseboard that is inserted between the edge of the mat and the plastered wall).

    This is shown in the sketch, below.

¹⁸Saiu ha ō-datami no heri-giwa ippai nari [左右ハ大疊ノヘリギハ一ハイナリ].

    Ō-datami [大疊] is another name for the kyōma tatami [京間疊], the mat that measures 6-shaku 3-sun by 3-shaku 1-sun 5-bu.  The heri are 1-sun wide (so the space between them measures 2-shaku 9-sun 5-bu).

    Heri-giwa [縁際] means the edge of the heri, and refers specifically to the place where the heri gives way to the grass-facing that covers the mat.

    Ippai [一杯] means fully, to the rim.  That is, the left and right sides of the daisu touch the inner edge of the heri.

    Again, this can be seen in the sketch that has been included above.

[nightlight-stardust-and-rain]

OC n°5

Nom : yup, toujours aucune idée. Alban Zuri, peut-être.

(Homestuck aspect : void. Purple blood. Capritarius.)

Genre : masculin.

Couleur de peau : blanc. Et quand je dis blanc, c'est blanc "je n'ai jamais vu le soleil de ma vie". Un albinos.

Couleur des yeux : blancs, un peu bridés. Pupilles noires, évidemment, mais iris blancs (aux bords gris pour qu'on puisse les distinguer des sclerotiques) Je sais que les albinos n'ont pas les yeux blancs, mais cet OC n'est pas albinos : il est juste basé sur la couleur blanche.

Cheveux :.... *roulement de tambours*... Blanc ! Quelle surprise ! Donc, cheveux longs jusqu'aux genoux, toujours tressés (parce que sinon c'est vraiment pas pratique).

Cicatrices ou tatouages : nope. Pas de tatouage, pas de cicatrices. Enfin, juste des petites et sans histoire particulière.

Autres : pas de bijoux mais une multitude de bracelet en tissu et en cuir multicolores au poignets (et quand je dis multicolores, ça veut dire comme les miens).

Vêtements : B L A N C S. T-shirt à manches courtes blanc, chemise blanche (aux manches retroussées aux coudes). Jean blanc et sandales blanches. Un gros sac en bandoulière gris clair. Tout ça avec diverses tâches de peintures multicolores.

Âge général : entre 25 et 30 ans.

Histoire : il est artiste. Principalement artiste de rue, mais il fait aussi beaucoup de toiles ou de dessins sur commandes. Il peut produire toutes sortes de peintures et autres matières semblables à partir de sa peau, c'est pour ça que ses doigts et ses vêtements sont toujours tâchés de peinture multicolore. Il adore laisser des empreintes de mains ou de pieds multicolores un peu partout (son appartement en est recouvert) honnêtement, il porte du blanc parce que les taches de peintures se voient mieux sur les vêtements blancs.

Autres : il a cette étrange habitude de garder les yeux fermés des qu'il est chez lui. Et quand je dis garder les yeux fermés, je veux dire tout le temps. Quand il cuisine, quand il se déplace, quand il mange, etc... Il connaît parfaitement sa maison et tous ses objets sont toujours à la même place il peut donc se repérer en aveugle. Quand il distrait, il mâchouille son index (je veux dire le doigt, pas l'ongle) ou un autre doigt. Il ne se mord pas... Il mâche juste. Il a l'habitude de regarder les gens vraiment intensément, ça leur fait peur, alors qu'en fait c'est juste sa manière de regarder dans le vide. Dans son sac (celui gris clair en bandoulière) il a pas mal de feutres, stylos, crayons, etc. Parce que, certes, il peut produire de la peinture et de l'encre (entre autre choses) à partir de sa peau mais ça ne veut pas dire qu'il a l'outil de quoi dessiner exactement. Le plus fin qu'il ait c'est son index. Il aime dessiner sur lui-même (la peinture/encre/autre qu'il produit provenant de son corps, ça ne lui est pas nuisible). Généralement c'est coloré. Note : il est trans. Il a fait sa transition mais il a toujours l'air assez féminin : ça ne l'embête pas trop.

#OC stuff #My oc #Oc #Ocs #Dripping stardust #Polaris à l'appareil

[rayveewrites]

57, for the prompts!

Prompt 57: Rain on a Metal Roof.

(Thanks Pyro! Sorry for the late reply; school's a pain)

Have some Zuri.

Zuri knows little of the upper world, but she learns quickly. For example, there is a highly prevalent liquid that is thin, transparent, and clearly considered important by the surface dwellers. She didn’t really know if it had a name, so she called it clear-liquid. She didn't know the names of many things. The upper world is strange.

She knows the surface dwellers drink it regularly. Their animals do as well, and they pour it on their plants with long, flexible tubes of green and black. The people in the white-place gave her some regularly, and seemed confused when she didn’t touch it. Why would she touch it? She had never seen it before, and she didn’t know its purpose. 

So the surface dwellers drink the clear-liquid, and she’s seen some (mostly the cold-fins-people) swim in it like Imbraan do with magma. She’s seen them spray it on their plants and carry it in containers made of substances she can’t name. 

The surface was strange- instead of a roof, a ceiling, it just went up and up forever. It changed colour- from light blue to black with glowing white spots and back again. Most surface dwellers preferred it when the not-roof was bright and blue, which Zuri didn’t understand- the dark and black was far prettier, in her opinion. Surface dwellers were strange creatures. 

This time, however, the not-roof was neither blue nor black, but instead grey, and there was clear-liquid falling from it. 

It was loud.

And cold.

And miserable.

Zuri curled up tighter in her nest. She didn’t like this- the clear-liquid fell in individual drops, and each drop made a sound against the dull-silver-hard surface above her. It was constant, an unending noise, and she wanted nothing more than for it to stop. Some of the clear-liquid was dripping down and spattering across the tip of her right wing, and it was making her scales itch. She could hear hatchlings outside, shrieking and cackling in what she’d learned was play. They didn’t have any problems with the clear-liquid, it seemed.

She wanted to sleep, but it was too noisy. She wanted to eat, but it was too risky to go search for food. So she curled up as tightly as she could, and resigned herself to her misery.

#she's not a happy girl. #zuri #umbraan #Ray's fantasy thing #ask game #rayvee actually writes #ask #pyroweasel