#she’s also sick of being overlooked by her dad - the head of the guard

[daylighteclipsed]

TTS Cass being insanely jealous of Gothel abandoning her for Rapunzel when Cass knows Gothel sucked (literally stole Rapunzel and kept her prisoner for almost 2 decades) and when Cass has a loving stepfather is still so fucking stupid. And it doesn’t even make sense in the context of Crossing the Line.

#crossing the line is clearly about power dynamics/rapunzel having more political and social power #born into wealth. born with special powers. cass has to work twice as hard for that recognition #that respect and admiration #and as someone lower on the rung she legally has to defer to rapunzel #the beggars and the choosers. the winners and the losers #the luckless and the blessed #she’s constantly overshadowed by rapunzel and she’s forced to obey rapunzel as her superior #she’s also sick of being overlooked by her dad - the head of the guard #and the subtext is that it’s bc she’s a woman. she’s expected to be a handmaiden. the corona guard is full of men #and that’s another layer to her fed up with the social/political order and wanting to defy it #to take power and cross the line #‘​you don’t know how much I’ve been denied’ !!! #like it’s such a good song and it sucks that it ultimately makes no sense #tangled the series #sorry it showed up on my playlist and i got mad lmao

[nobodyfamousposts]

Miracle Queen Aftermath

Because there is a disappointing lack of focus or depth for the aftermath of Miracle Queen in canon, I have made my own.

Be warned of: Chloe salt. A lot of it. Chloe faces consequences for things.

Some Bustier salt. Some Adrien being called out on things (but he gets better).

Enjoy!

In the weeks following the Miracle Queen incident, a lot had happened.

Hawk Moth had increased his power, and was now able to summon akumas and amoks at the same time.

Master Fu was gone and now Ladybug found herself the official Guardian of the Miraculous—along with the Miracle Box, kwamis, and duties that entails.

Marinette had resolved to let go of her crush on Adrien, and to support him and Kagami in their new relationship together.

And Chloe had been arrested and would now be going on trial for assisting a terrorist.

It was that last bit of news that had caused the most commotion in Paris and the world at large. What people would have dismissed as simply another akuma attack turned into a much greater matter when accusations started to be made about Chloe helping the super villain intentionally. This was soon backed by multiple eyewitness accounts and further proven by leaked video evidence showing Chloe not only attempting to grab a butterfly for herself after she was de-akumatized but even negotiating with the terrorist before the incident in which she betrayed the heroes of Paris and revealed the identities of most of the team.

To say that the people of Paris were outraged was putting it mildly. People were akumatized over it. Chloe was in a secured facility where she had armed guards around to watch her just as much as they were there to protect her. New legislation was being considered to specifically address willingly aiding supervillains. The backlash was so severe that many were calling the mayor’s own position into question.

After all, if his daughter could do all of that, who was to say that he wasn’t also in Hawk Moth’s pocket?

For Mayor Andre, his hands were tied. While he had covered for his daughter and her selfishness in the past, this was one thing he couldn’t overlook. Not when it brought his position as mayor under scrutiny. And certainly not when it opened a probe into his own dealings.

None of this was helped either by the multitude of witnesses of Chloe‘s past behavior. In particular, her many victims over the years.

And there were a lot.

Now that Chloe was actually being held accountable for something, it seemed to have opened a floodgate of outcries as the many people she tormented finally felt able to air their grievances. They came out on TV, on social media, on radio. Stories littered the air and internet of the horrors of dealing with this single teenage girl.

“She tried to cheat during this designing competition. She apparently stole some other girl’s hat design and tried to pass it off as her own.”

“She was the reason the mayor tried to shut down my ice skating rink! To build another gym! Paris has enough gyms! Why couldn’t she just go to one of those?”

“She had her dad shut down Clara Nightingale’s music video and got her akumatized just because she didn’t get to play Ladybug. We waited in that line for HOURS and didn’t get chosen either, but no one else threw a fit over it.”

“She shoved a giant signed poster of Adrien Agreste professing his love to her in my friend’s face just to make her cry! I found out after the fact that he didn’t even know about it!”

“Our entire school was punished for someone pulling the fire alarm except for her because she threatened our principal. So while the rest of us were having to clean up the school, she spent the entire time insulting and making fun of us.“

“Knowing her, she probably pulled the fire alarm in the first place.”

“She tried to crash a train! I don’t think I can emphasize that enough: she tried to crash a train!“

“Chloe Bourgeois joined up with Hawk Moth? Can’t say it’s a shock.”

“Yeah, given how many akumas she caused, I’d been wondering if she hadn’t been working with him all along.”

It wasn’t that unbelievable to the populous. Nor did anyone feel particularly sympathetic towards her for her current situation. Some might have for lack of knowing her, but Chloe had carved herself a special place in the memories and hearts of nearly every Parisian. There was nobody who didn’t know of her or have some experience with her by this point. So when it came out that she was arrested and facing criminal charges, the response was…rather telling.

Practically everyone was calling loved ones as soon as they heard, resulting in high phone and internet traffic. The Ladyblog crashed after making the announcement. Several people threw parties. People over the internet started coming up with a list of “Things We Will Be Allowed To Do Once Chloe Is In Prison”, with a count that currently rested at 139 and was rising quickly. One guy bought 500 cupcakes and just started passing them out to people on the street singing a jaunty little tune from some late 1930’s cult classic American movie. The school had closed down for a couple of days due to several teachers calling out sick—possibly with hangovers from celebrating a bit too hard. Various Queen-related hashtags and memes were trending with each seeming to fight for the top spot of most used. #let her eat cake was currently in the lead. And Mr. Ramier somehow orchestrated a 21 pigeon salute. On Chloe’s rooftop.

As it was, nobody expressed surprise when it came out that she worked with a supervillain. Many were disappointed, shaking their heads and saying “if only something had been done sooner” or blaming the parents and teachers and other adults in her life. Most were angry, mainly that things had been allowed to get this far and that they hadn’t been acted on earlier—particularly after the train incident.

But no. Nobody was surprised.

Except, perhaps, Marinette herself.

Still reeling from the events of Miracle Queen and the aftermath of…well…everything involved, Marinette had been questioning herself. Constantly. Incessantly. Going over and over in her mind all the things she could have done differently. Blaming herself for all the major blows to their team.

She lost her mentor. Her allies have been compromised. Chloe, one of her former allies, chose to betray them all. Hawk Moth had the grimoire now. Marinette didn’t have a grimoire. Fu had no memories.

And it was all because of her mistakes.

Last time, the prospect of never having to deal with Chloe again had been a relief.

Now…it was background static to her.

She could barely hear the announcements and cheers over the endless cycle of her own thoughts.

I should have tried harder. I should have been more aware. I failed them all. This is because of me.

So while everyone else in Paris was celebrating, de-stressing, or just outright reveling in the news, Marinette was grieving. With the help of the kwamis and Chat Noir, she had been trying to come to terms with what happened and figure out the next plan of action.

Hawk Moth had changed the game, so she needed to step up hers.

The days seemed to have passed in a blur. Between working with the kwamis, trying to recreate and retranslate the grimoire, and simply trying to deal with the remnants of Fu’s life that he had left to her, Marinette had barely even kept up with the current state of things in Paris. Or in particular, Chloe.

Not until the day came when Bustier made an announcement.

Chloe‘s trial date was finally decided. And though she didn’t say as such, it was clear that the case against her was pretty solid. There was video evidence. Eye witness accounts. And Chloe’s own words and actions working against her.

The odds were not in her favor on this. Even if her parents did try to help her, she wasn’t going to get off this time. Aside from getting the best lawyers money by, there really wasn’t much they could do.

Maybe that was why Bustier had tried to step in?

“Now class, I have received word that they are moving to the next step with Chloe’s hearing. Right now, they are looking for character witnesses for Chloe’s defense.” The kind teacher explained, causing Marinette to snap to awareness and realize just what was going on. Partly because of the mention of Chloe and her court case.

But mostly because of the sudden dead silence in the class…

To be fair, she wasn’t sure she could say anything either. Marinette felt her throat go dry and her muscles tense. There was a sudden tightness in her lungs that while she could breathe, it felt like she was suffocating. Why was Bustier bringing this up now?

The teacher smiled, seemingly unaware of the sudden tension and Marinette’s slow drowning. “I know this has been a difficult experience knowing that one of your classmates is facing such a trial. And Chloe will certainly need support. So I thought it would be kind if everyone wrote a letter supporting her for the hearing coming up, so the courts can hear about Chloe and understand more about who she is.”

Silence. Dead silence.

Maybe Bustier herself picked up on the growing tension, as she proceeded to move to passing out papers to the class. “I thought it would make for a nice project, so I will give you all the forms explaining the requirements. Take some time to think over what positive things you want to say about Chloe. If you have any questions, please feel free to come talk to me.”

After that, she quickly left the room, citing the desire to let them have this free time to work on the letters.

The class remained silent for a good minute after she left. Almost as if they were questioning if she would return. Or perhaps if she was listening.

Then—

“‘Think about what positive things we want to say about Chloe?’ Well that’s easy!” Alix spoke blithely, curling the paper she received into a ball. “Nothing!” She shouted and tossed it over her shoulder. “Assignment done!”

Murmurs filled the classroom. Some sounded uncertain, but most seemed to be in agreement. Or at least expressing distaste for the assignment.

“Is she serious?”

“Does she really expect us to?”

“Of all the worst ideas...”

Marinette could hear them, but couldn’t seem to acknowledge anything around her. And furthermore, she couldn’t make herself respond.

Chloe‘s trial was set for a point in the next few weeks, and at this point there was no denying just what type of person she was. If anything, this was probably the first time that anyone was allowed to actually speak their mind about the girl, and they were all reveling in it. Her classmates in particular.

Marinette couldn’t quite bring herself to.

Sure, Chloe has tried to blackmail her more than once.

And damaged her gift to their teacher.

And attempted to frame her a few times.

And stolen her hat design.

And her diary.

And a Miraculous.

And all of the other Miraculous.

But...she had been doing better for a while there, hadn’t she?

Didn’t she only betray them all in the end because Marinette had chosen Kagami over her for her own selfish reasons? Didn’t Hawk Moth only capture Fu because of her own mistake? Hadn’t Chloe only revealed everyone else because she felt betrayed? Couldn’t Marinette have done more to prevent Chloe turning?

Wasn’t a simple letter on Chloe’s virtues the least she could do?

So why...

Why couldn’t she seem to bring herself to?

Kim frowned, looking at his paper in worry. “We’re not going to get graded on this, are we?”

Nathaniel huffed. “I’ll willingly take the failing grade any day.”

“Hear hear!”

“But if it’s a grade…” Max murmured to himself. Out of everyone in the class, he took his grades the most seriously, so this was no doubt a difficult choice for him. He looked at his paper with a rather conflicted expression for a minute before sighing and turning it face-down on the desk. “No. It’s an impossible task in the first place.”

Kim rested a hand on Max’s shoulder in sympathy. It wasn’t that he cared as much about grades as Max did, but it was clear that the fallout of refusing could be more troubling for the genius who took his academic performance so seriously. If Bustier did make it a mandatory assignment with a grade, it’d be horribly unfair of her.

“What was it Chloe said before?” Ivan asked, looking over his page with a glare. “Once a monster, always a monster? I guess she’d know more than anyone.”

Mylene hugged him. “You’re not a monster. You never chose to be.”

“None of us did.” Nino agreed.

“Nobody did except her.” Alix bit out.

Mumbles of agreement came from the rest of the class. It was clear that none of them were on board with having anything to do with Chloe, much less try to help her with her current legal woes.

There was a large part of Marinette that agreed with them. But even so, there was also a large part of her that insisted she had to do the right thing and help.

She knew she should say something. She was supposed to say something here. Because it was her fault, after all. She was Ladybug. She had to be the better person. Shouldn’t she?

“Marinette? Girl, are you okay?” Alya asked, drawing her attention. “You look a bit pale.”

It was too much. It was suffocating.

“I think I need some air. Excuse me.”

She didn’t know if anyone watched her leave the classroom. She hadn’t even noticed if anyone had chosen to follow her.

Not until…

“Marinette, are you all right?”

She spun around in surprise.

“Oh! Adrien! Hey! Hi! Hello!” She blabbered. Why was he here? Did he come out after her? Why? She didn’t need this right now! She struggled enough with him under normal circumstances, she wasn’t sure she could handle being alone with him now. Her stress over everything was bad enough, but having him approach her set her anxiety skyrocketing.

“Hey,” he replied, smiling at her—and oh, what a beautiful smile. On any other day, it would ease her worries and make her want to swoon, but right now, it just made her more nervous.

“Are you all right?” He asked again. “You didn’t look so well in class.”

“Y-yeah. Just…” she sighed. “I just have a lot on my mind. With…you know…everything.”

He nodded in understanding. “I know what you mean.”

She smiled. She could always count on Adrien to be a calming supportive friend. He was always so sweet and reliable. If anyone could understand or relate to the chaotic mix of emotions she was feeling, he could.

He sighed in sympathy. “Poor Chloe.”

She froze.

“Chloe?”

“Well, yeah.” He replied, like it was obvious. “I mean, she did a bad thing, but now she’s going through the worst experience of her life. One that could ruin her future. And people are glad about it!” He shook his head. “It’s just too cruel.”

Marinette just stared.

He wasn’t wrong. But…that was what he was worried about?

She couldn’t fault him of course, because Adrien was always so kind and considerate and of course he’d feel for Chloe but…something about this just…pulled at something inside of her and was choking it.

“Chloe is already suffering enough and it feels like no one wants to help her. You heard them.” He gestured back to the classroom. “We’re being given an opportunity to make a difference for her and they’re all just saying she deserves it. Chloe is alone and hurting and they want her to hurt more.”

She felt a denial on her lips but couldn’t give voice to it.

“Everyone is so great with each other. It’s always just Chloe who is kind of on the outside. I know you’ve seen it.”

She hadn’t, actually. Because it was never Chloe on the outside looking in, it was Chloe looking down on them. Whether it was because she genuinely thought she was better or because it made her feel better to do so.

He hesitated for a moment before looking at her. And there was something in his expression that told her he was about to ask something. A gut feeling told her that it was going to be something she wouldn’t like.

“Do you think you could talk to them?” He asked her, looking so sad and despondent that she just wanted to hug him and agree to anything to make that look go away.

“M-me?”

He wanted her to convince her classmates to help Chloe?

“I know you and Chloe have had your differences, but you’ve been able to see past her front. And you’ve done a lot to help her before.” He smiled. “Like the party you threw for her after she became Queen Bee.”

A traitorous voice asked if giving her a second chance with the Miraculous she had previously stolen wasn’t enough? Why did she have to feel bad for her leaving and throw her a party to make her feel special?

“Chloe really needs the help right now. And you’re always so good about that sort of thing.” He looked to her imploringly. “Do you think you could try to get them to at least give Chloe a hand? I don’t know what impact it’ll have in her hearing, but any little bit helps, right?”

Go back in there? With the tension and the suffocation to try and convince her classmates to help when she was questioning whether to herself?

But she had to, right? After all, couldn’t she have prevented this if she had acted sooner? Couldn’t she have helped sooner instead of being focused on her own petty problems? Isn’t that what Ladybug should do?

“Please, Marinette? They listen to you. If you asked them to, I’m sure they’d be willing to at least try.”

Her vision started to dim, seeming to tunnel in on Adrien and his sad and hopeful expression. Her thoughts crying about CHLOE and poor CHLOE and how hurt CHLOE was and how it was her fault for CHLOE—

“I—”

“Oh no! No, you do NOT.”

Marinette suddenly found herself torn away from Adrien by a sudden grab of her arm and pulling sensation. She felt as if she was pushed out of the way by a fierce gale. Like a raging whirlwind had spun her around and behind it.

That whirlwind’s name was Alya.

“How dare you? How dare you try to make my girl be responsible for this!”

Marinette floundered because she had not expected this and oh no now her best friend looked ready to tear her crush’s head off!

“Alya, we don’t have to do this!” She pleaded, trying to calm the other girl down.

“Oh, we most certainly do.” Came another voice. And sure enough, the rest of the class had stepped out as well. All of them looked in varying ranges of frustrated and that frustration was clearly directed at her and Adrien.

Or rather just Adrien, as Marinette discovered when Rose and Juleka pulled her aside and out of their direct line of sight. They were all looking at Adrien, and those were not nice or understanding expressions.

Oh no! This was a disaster! Now everyone was upset and she should have just agreed or said something sooner!

Completely unaware of Marinette’s inner turmoil, Alya stepped forward and jabbed at Adrien in the chest. “You are not going to make my girl feel bad and try to help someone who has never done a single nice thing for her or anyone.” She spat out, forcing him to back away.

Adrien held his hands up in a placating gesture. “Come on, Chloe is not that bad.“

“Not that bad?” Nino exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief at his friend’s words. “Adrien, Chloe betrayed us!“

“She took over Paris!”

“She turned us into her servants!“

“Not to mention the other things…”

“Do we really have to name each time?” Alya started to count on her fingers. “Chloe CHOSE to take the Miraculous for herself instead of returning it. She CHOSE to transform in front of everyone and reveal her identity to the world. She CHOSE to try and crash a train, risking the lives of EVERYONE on board just to show off. She CHOSE to run off with it when Ladybug tried to take it back.”

“She also chose to continue being horrible to everyone even after Ladybug gave her a second chance.” Nathaniel added, bitterly. “She didn’t get better after becoming Queen Bee. It just became another thing for her to lord over people.”

Alya nodded. “And when Ladybug made it clear to her that she wasn’t going to be Queen Bee again, she felt ENTITLED to something that was never hers in the first place. And because of that, she made the active, knowing, and willful choice to work with Hawk Moth.”

“And out all of us while she was at it.” Kim added. “Turning us into her personal ‘guard’. Making us fight our heroes against our will.” He shuddered. “I don’t know if you were hit by those things, Adrien, but it was NOT a pleasant experience having your body turned into a puppet.”

Adrien wanted to argue that he understood full well, but that was only as Chat. He couldn’t say that here.

Unaware of his inner turmoil, Alya continued. “So no, we are not going to forgive Chloe. We are not going to try and ‘get along’ with her because her own poor choices have led her to have a ‘rough time’.”

Adrien grew nervous at the way the others drew closer to Alya as she spoke, clearly backing her statements as she continued.

“We are not going to defend her or speak up on her behalf to the entirety of Paris she ALSO betrayed. Whatever consequences Chloe has to face—quite possibly the first ones she will EVER have faced in her LIFE—are nothing less than what she deserves.”

“Yeah!” Came the exclamations from the rest of the crowd.

“She didn’t know what she was doing!” Adrien argued.

“Not know what she was doing?! Adrien, she willingly accepted an akuma! She used it to take control of us and revealed us to Hawk Moth!” Alya exclaimed. “That’s just—how can you even justify that?”

With as angry as Alya was, any lesser or wiser man would have backed off.

Adrien…well, she certainly would never call him unwise, so it had to be because he was more strong-willed than that to be willing to stand his ground here.

“Hawk Moth was the one who manipulated Chloe!” He insisted. “And he’s the one who got away scott free and left Chloe to take the fall.”

“And whose fault was that?” Alya countered. “Chloe HELPED him. He only got as far as he did because of her and he only got away because she helped him!”

“Don’t you think this is cruel?” He argued back. “Yes, Chloe was wrong, but she was already called out for what she did by Ladybug and Chat Noir. The entire city hates her. Isn’t that enough?”

“NO!” Alya shouted. “No, it isn’t! Because Chloe has always gotten away with her antics in the past but you’re actually trying to get us to let Chloe off for a legitimate crime here! If Chloe is going to prison, it’s only because she deserves it!”

Around them, several of the others in the class nodded in agreement.

“How can you say that?” Adrien demanded. “Chloe made a mistake and she’s suffering for it! All this time, she’s felt left out and cut off and this only further emphasizes that for her! She’s been alone all this time and now she’s alone and miserable!”

“Then why should that be OUR problem?” Alya questioned, raising her hands in exasperation. “Why are you trying to MAKE it our problem?!”

Adrien drew back, looking genuinely hurt.

"But treating someone badly never made them become a good person."

"Yeah, because letting Chloe have her way all this time has totally made strides in her path to becoming a good person." Alix called out sarcastically.

"If anything, it's made her worse." Max added. "She's gone from simply causing akumas to intentionally becoming one."

“But—”

Alya cut him off. “But nothing, Adrien! You have to have some gall to be trying to get us to make nice with Chloe after she betrayed us all! And here I thought your little lecture to Marinette to make her feel bad for being relieved that Chloe was leaving Paris was pretty hard to beat.”

Nino blanched at that. “You did what?” He turned on Adrien. “Dude! You know that happened after Chloe tried to crash that train!”

“She was just trying to prove herself.” Adrien weakly argued.

“PEOPLE were on there!” Nino bit out. “They could have DIED because Chloe was showing off! And you got on to MARINETTE? Where was this attitude with Chloe?”

“I’ve called her out!”

“Yeah, one time.” Alya groused. “AFTER the rest of us had spent the better part of the day cleaning up after HER mess. Which she never apologized for or admitted to doing, by the way.”

“And in response, she threw a party.” Juleka muttered.

“It was a nice party, sure.” Rose added quickly.

Alya though shook her head. “But being a good hostess is nowhere near the same thing as being a good person. And before the night was over, you rolled over for her and she went RIGHT back to acting as she always had.”

“She made Mylene cry.” Ivan glared. “She made Mylene cry and you just laughed.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“You said it yourself: ‘she’ll never change’. Except you said that like it was a good thing.”

Marinette looked back and forth between the two, everything inside her screaming at her to help. But she was completely lost on which one she was supposed to help. Because Adrien had a point about what Chloe’s going through but Alya was right about what Chloe did and she needed to do the “right thing” and help Chloe but why did everything Alya say resonate so strongly with her and bring such a feeling of vindication—

No. She was getting distracted. She needed to help. And right now, it was Adrien against the rest of the class.

But Alya was worked up. And Adrien was looking past her to Marinette, eyes begging for help and still so hopeful that she would step in. And Chloe was still in prison and Marinette could fix everything if she just tried so why can’t she try?

“Alya,” Marinette tried. “You told me to give Chloe a chance before after the fire alarm incident, remember? You said we were a lot alike.”

“That was to get you to go to a party!” Alya shouted, making Marinette step back in surprise. “I never meant it like this!”

She stepped forward and took Marinette by the shoulders, holding her sternly.

“Marinette, you are nothing like Chloe! Not where it counts! Yeah, you both can be short sighted when it comes to trying for what you want, but you at least notice and CARE how other people feel! And when you make a mistake, you at least TRY to make it right!”

She shook her head.

“Chloe…doesn’t.”

“She doesn’t try to.” Alix cut in. “If Chloe was feeling sad and lonely, that was pretty much her own fault.”

Adrien looked like he wanted to argue, but Alix didn’t even give him a chance.

“It wasn’t like we left her out. We went well out of our way to try and befriend her. We invited her to things. We tried to help her. Hell, you said it yourself—Marinette has tried to help her more than anybody! And each and every time, Chloe only took what we offered like it was something we owed her but that she was also too good for. I mean, I certainly can’t recall a time she ever thanked me. Can you?” She asked, turning to the other classmates.

All around them, there were murmurs of agreement. Maybe a couple hesitated as they tried to recall a time—one single moment of kindness on Chloe’s part only to come up empty.

“Chloe’s had a hard time.” Adrien insisted. “You know how her parents are—”

“Oh yes, her ‘Daddy the Mayor’.” Alix rolled her eyes. “Like we don’t hear enough about him every time it comes to something Chloe wants. She only threatens us or anyone with him every other day.”

Adrien shook his head and tried to explain. “It’s only because her parents aren’t there for her emotionally.”

“Again, not seeing how this is our problem? Or justification for anything she’s done to us? Or how this excuses her willingly helping a supervillain?”

“Because we’re her classmates!” He argued back, gesturing to all of them. “Out of everyone, we’ve all had the most interactions with her.”

“All of which were negative.” Came a cutting remark, followed by grumbling.

“There were good times, too!” Adrien insisted with a frown. His eyes spanned over the assembled classmates before they came to rest on one in particular. “Kim, you have to have seen Chloe’s good side. You liked her before.”

“Before.” Kim replied, emphasizing the word and the timeframe it referred to. “But being humiliated and her sending out that pic to everyone in school kind of crushed that crush.”

“How did she even have our numbers?” Ivan asked.

“But there had to be something that made you like her in the first place.” Adrien encouraged.

The taller boy shrugged, uncertain and uncaring. “Maybe so, but was it something that was really there? Or something I just wanted to see? Because I’m looking back and quite frankly, I don’t know what past me was thinking.”

“Wow, that’s deep, man.” Nathaniel whispered.

“Thanks!”

Seeing Nathaniel gave Adrien an idea. “Wait, Nathaniel! Didn’t Chloe let you put her in your comic?”

“Forced us to, more like.” The artist bit back. “And even when we tried to fit her, we got nothing but complaints from her. It was no wonder we never got past the initial concept art for her character.”

Adrien winced. “It was an attempt, at least?”

Nathaniel wasn’t buying it. “A poor one.”

“She’s been trying to be better.” Adrien was getting increasingly frustrated. This was not how he was expecting this argument to go. “Rose? What about you? You’ve seen it, haven’t you?”

After all, Rose was sweet and caring, always willing to see the good in anyone. Surely she would have something nice about Chloe!

Juleka frowned at him over his focus on her girlfriend and moved to stand beside her. “Don’t push her.”

Still he tried.

“Rose?”

“I’m sorry, Adrien.” Rose said, hugging herself. “But Chloe has done nothing but hurt people. And going out of our way to protect her has only ended up biting us.”

That wasn’t true. Not...all the time at least. There had to have been at least one instance where she did the right thing!

Adrien brightened in realization. “Didn’t she catch you when you fell after being deakumatized during Heroes Day?”

The blonde girl frowned. “Well, yes…but she wasn’t very nice about it. Even though I did the same for her before.”

“Rose, come on…”

She shook her head. “I put myself at risk to help Chloe when she was being chased by zombies, and only got turned into one for my efforts. Chloe never appreciated it. She never thanked me. She didn’t even do anything to help when we were trying to keep her safe!”

“We all ended up kissing zombies because of her.” Alix accused, crossing her arms and looking particularly annoyed. “And not just because she caused the akuma in the first place.”

“Why are you pushing this?” Mylene asked. “We’ve been asked. We said no. Isn’t that enough?”

“But—”

“Adrien, you’ve got a good heart.” Ivan started.

“Easy for him when he’s not the one who has to be on the receiving end of Chloe’s tantrums.” Alix cut in, clearly sounding bitter.

“You’ve got a good heart.” Ivan repeated, sending Alix a look that asked her to back off. “But Chloe…doesn’t.”

Adrien shook his head, remaining insistent. “That’s why she needs help.”

“If she needs help,” Mylene spoke, “It should come from her parents. Her teachers. Any of the adults in her life. She has plenty of adults who are fully capable of helping her. It should not be expected to come from the kids she’s spent years tormenting.”

She gestured to herself and the others around her. “And that’s what she’s been doing: tormenting us.”

“To great joy, might I add.” Max droned.

“She hasn’t been cruel to everyone.” Adrien muttered.

That brought out a backlash of outrage.

“She outted my crush!”

“She insulted Mylene’s cooking and made her cry!”

“She got Aurore akumatized and nearly caused Paris to be incinerated in a volcano!”

“She tried to push Mylene out of the lead role of our movie!”

“She locked Juleka in the restroom!”

Wait...

But that hadn’t been Chloe. She had stayed with the class at the time. The one who did do it was...

He glanced around until he saw her—a redhead in the background behind the rest of the class. She looked anxious and uncomfortable, and almost seemed to be trying to edge around the class to get to the stairs.

Adrien did seem aware. Or rather, he was focused on the fact she was there.

“Sabrina? What about you? Chloe was your friend!”

Of course she would help! Because who better than her own best friend to speak on her behalf?

The rest of the class broke into mutters as they realized the same.

But Sabrina...bit her lip and looked away. Refusing to even meet Adrien’s gaze.

“Sabrina?” Marinette tried, concerned about this reaction. Sabrina had been Chloe’s best friend—or at least the closest thing she could have to a friend. “Minion” or “Servant” would be more accurate. “Slave” would be more honest.

The girl had been Chloe’s only real fan and follower, and had assisted Chloe in some of her worst plots.

Marinette had briefly seen another side to her. A girl who was so desperate for friendship that she latched onto even the slightest bit of kindness and went to the greatest of extremes to appease the “friend” so they wouldn’t leave her. It was no wonder she had fallen in with Chloe—someone like that was perfect for the spoiled girl. Compared to her, Marinette’s anxieties and need to please were nothing.

And Chloe had pretty much been her world for years.

What must she be feeling now?

“Should we really be getting her opinion?” Ivan whispered. “You know how she and Chloe were…”

“Well, if anyone would have anything positive to tell the courts about Chloe, it would be her.” Mylene whispered back.

Sabrina took a breath and spoke quickly—almost shouting in her rush.

“I’m sorry but my therapist said I shouldn’t!”

That got a surprise. The rest of the classmates glanced to each other before looking back to the girl. Adrien in particular looked shell-shocked. Marinette couldn’t blame him. She felt the same.

Sabrina for her part seemed to tense up, as if ready to defend herself from the rest of the class.

Marinette stepped forward. “Sabrina? Are…you okay?”

The other girl shook her head, looking close to tears.

“After word got out what Chloe did, the police had to question me about Chloe. They were able to see that I wasn’t involved, but they…didn’t like what I told them about our relationship. Afterwards, my dad decided to have me see a counselor and she…has been telling me things that I hadn’t really considered.” She curled in on herself. “They all think I should stay away from Chloe and anything directly related to her…for my own health.”

Adrien frowned at that. “But don’t you want to help Chloe?”

Sabrina jumped. “Of course, I do!”

“Hold up, Adrien!” Nino stepped in. “She just said police took her in because of Chloe!”

“But they let her go…”

“It still happened!” Mylene argued. “It doesn’t matter how nice they are, how innocent you know you are, or if you’re released in the end, it’s still terrifying when it happens!”

"And it only happened to her because of Chloe." Alya added.

Rose, in her infinite sweetness, reached out to take Sabrina’s hand in support. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

Sabrina sobbed and covered her face. Aside from Rose, no one else really attempted to comfort her. Most of them simply watched her, pitying her current state. But they also remembered how complicit she had been in Chloe’s schemes, so they were conflicted. While they did feel bad for her current situation, there was a part of most of them that noted how she had brought it upon herself by being Chloe‘s lackey for so long, so their sympathy was limited.

Perhaps it was out of awkwardness, or maybe an attempt to give some respect for Sabrina’s privacy that the classmates turned away from her and instead focused on the heart of the argument.

“Man...” Nino tried. “Maybe you should let it go?” Though it was clear from his tone that he knew it wasn’t likely.

Because Adrien had still not given up, it seemed.

He looked around between of the classmates, growing more desperate. But those that remained either looked at him straight on as if daring him to call on them or looked away. A few of them even closed ranks as if to block his view of certain others. It was clear none of them were willing to help him on this.

None of them except…

“Marinette.” He called out, drawing her gaze to him instantly. “You understand, don’t you?”

She bit her lip. “I…”

“Back off, Adrien.” Kim said, giving the other boy an angry frown as he stood in front of her to shield her from his gaze. “It’s not on Marinette to help Chloe.”

“Yeah! She suffered more than any of us!“ Ivan shouted.

“She has been Chloe’s main target for years.” Nathaniel agreed. “She is the last person who is obligated to help Chloe now.“

Adrien winced at the harshness of their words and in their tone. “I just thought that Marinette could help. Like before.”

“Just because she could doesn’t mean she should have had to.” Alya countered. “She’s a teenager. Dealing with Chloe should have been the job of adults. Her parents. Bustier. Damocles. Any one of them should have done something—and if they can’t, the courts will. It’s their job. Not ours.”

“And getting her to help you wouldn’t make a difference anyway even if you had convinced us.” Max said, shifting his glasses. “Chloe helped Hawk Moth. There is nothing we could say that could undo that. And even if we did try, we would either be guilty of committing perjury or aiding in a conspiracy.”

“What?” Adrien jerked in surprise.

“The best we can do is be character witnesses.” Mylene explained. “But this is a court and we can’t claim something that isn’t true! We can’t say anything nice about Chloe when she hasn’t done anything nice!”

Max nodded and shifted his glasses. “Furthermore, our testimonies—even if they were positive—would only serve to create a narrative about Chloe and the type of person she is. They can’t explain away the current evidence against her.”

He rubbed the back of his head. He knew there were issues, but he also knew Chloe. He knew what she could be like. He knew she was a good person deep down. “I know she’s made some mistakes—”

“No.” Alya stated sharply. “Calling them ‘Mistakes’ implies that her actions were unintentional. ‘Mistakes’ implies that people were harmed by accident. ‘Mistakes’ implies that she would have any point learned from them. They weren’t mistakes, Adrien. They were willful acts of cruelty every single time.”

Ivan shook his head, pityingly. “We can’t save Chloe from this. We have nothing to say in her defense. The kindest thing we can do for her is stay silent.”

“She’s better than you think she is. She threw that party once for everyone, remember? You all went.” Adrien reminded them.

“That only proved that she could throw a party and be a good host, not that she could be a good person. There is a difference.” Nathaniel pointed out.

“Not that Chloe could tell.“ Alix sniped.

Adrien ignored the barb. He had given up on getting any of them to listen and now only had eyes for her. His last hope.

“Marinette….come on…please.”

She hesitated.

Everything in her that was Ladybug and her crush on Adrien and her desire to make people happy and take the high road and give second-third-fourth chances wanted nothing more than to give it to him.

Except...

There was a long pause. No one spoke.

The other classmates have had their say. They were letting Marinette have hers. And she knew in that moment that if she spoke up…if she did as Adrien wished and tried to help Chloe…she knew they would go along with her. It may be more out of respect for Marinette than it would be out of any sort of forgiveness for anything Chloe had done, but it would still help Chloe and it would still make Adrien happy.

…and hadn’t Marinette already done that enough?

“Did you know?” Marinette started, not looking at anyone. “I would have been well within my rights to press charges against Chloe?”

Adrien balked at that.

“She’s stolen from me at least three times now.” She shrugged. “I mean, sure, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about my diary since she had Sabrina steal it for her, but she did steal my hat design for a competition and I had proof. I could have pressed charges against Chloe and let her face some consequences…but I didn’t.”

She looked up at Adrien. “I also could have pressed charges for what she did to my gift for Madame Bustier. Since she did break into my locker and vandalize my property while it was still technically mine…but I didn’t.

“Adrien.” She spoke almost in monotone, the only sign of her emotions being how she clenched her fists. “Did you know that after the fashion show, my parents and I took a train to get home?”

He furrowed his brows in confusion. What did that have to do with anything?

“It was the same train Chloe took control of and nearly caused to crash.”

Several gasps resounded around them. Apparently this had not been common knowledge.

“Even if Chloe could have bought her way out of any consequence for the other things, we all could certainly have had her face some major trouble for that one…” Marinette took a shuddering breath. “But we didn’t.”

Adrien frowned. “I…I see that—”

“No, I don’t think you do.” She cut him off. “Because instead of any of that…rather than hold Chloe accountable at any point, I catered to her. I tried to understand Chloe. I tried to make things nicer for Chloe. I tried to excuse Chloe. Time and again. Just like everyone else. Just like you wanted me to. Just like you’re asking me to now. And what did that get us?”

The more she talked, the more words filled out and she was unable to stop the torrent.

“I defended her from Alya after Madame Bustier was akumatized, and Chloe stole a Miraculous and nearly got my family killed. I helped Chloe bond with her Mom—costing myself any chance at a once in a lifetime opportunity in the process—and Chloe tried to get me banished from Paris just for saying she wasn’t a superhero. I threw Chloe a party to show her some appreciation, and she willingly worked with a supervillain to take over Paris. Just to fuel her ego and because she felt she was owed something that wasn’t hers.”

She tilted her head, considering.

“What is that American saying? Three strikes and you’re out?” Her eyes narrowed. “I have given Chloe more than three chances. I have done nothing BUT give her chances. And clean up after her. And just…try to help her. At no point has she been grateful. At no point did she ever apologize. Or show the slightest bit of remorse for anyone she hurt. Or just…try to do better.”

She stepped forward. Past her classmates. Past Alya, who looked ready to tear into Adrien herself.

“So tell me, Adrien. How much more am I supposed to do? What miracle am I supposed to achieve to help Chloe to be a better person that I haven’t already done?”

“You can just try.” Adrien begged. “Chloe’s alone. She has no one in her corner. You’ve given her chances before! Can’t you find it in your heart to give her another chance this time?”

“Why haven’t you?” Alya demanded.

Adrien drew back in surprise at that.

But the girl wasn’t letting him off. “If you’re so certain Chloe is the victim in all this, then why aren’t you stepping up to help her? Why are you pushing Marinette and the rest of us to do it?”

Alya wrapped an arm around Marinette in support. “If you truly believe Chloe has some sort of inner goodness that only needs the right person to bring it out, then it’s pretty clear Marinette is just not that person. She’s tried enough.”

Alix nodded. “I’m pretty sure she could’ve demolished a brick wall with how many time she’s banged her head against it by this point trying to drag a decent person out of Chloe.”

Others in the class also nodded and gave sounds of agreement to that.

Adrien frowned, lowering his head despondently. “I’m just one person. There’s only so much weight my word will have. I just...I just want to give her the best chance.”

“That’s nice for Chloe, I guess.” Kim muttered. “But not much for us.”

Adrien looked up in surprise. “What do you mean?”

Alya stepped forward, releasing Marinette in the process. “Adrien, why should we as Chloe’s victims have to help protect her? That’s the thing we’re not getting here. WE are the ones she hurt. WE are the ones she betrayed to Hawk Moth. So why are WE supposed to try and save her from her own consequences? Why are you wanting us to?”

Adrien hesitated.

“Can you even imagine what it was like? Being frozen in time. Unable to move or speak? Only able to hear her voice in your head? Feeling your body respond as she’s calling you and being unable to stop?” She clutched her arms, as if trying to hug herself. “Do you have any idea how terrified I was knowing what she was doing to us but being completely unable to stop it? How humiliating it was when she had us bowing to her and calling her our Queen? And then…” She took a breath. “She made us fight our heroes. Ladybug and Chat Noir trusted us to help them and we used the Miraculous they entrusted to us to try and kill them.”

“We were just lucky that they were able to turn the tables on us.” Kim muttered. “I don’t even want to know what would have happened if we had won.”

“Luka still has nightmares.” Juleka whispered. “He won’t talk about it, but he hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks.”

Marinette winced. She hadn’t even considered that everyone else could be suffering ramifications of Miracle Queen as well.

“We could have killed them.” Max stated. “Given the nature of the Snake Miraculous’s power, we very well could have more than once for all we know.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t have killed them?” Rose suggested, trying to be positive. “I mean, Chloe wanted all of the Miraculous, right? She probably wanted them as her servants as well.”

Max glared. “I’m pretty sure I attempted to send Chat Noir into space. Even a Miraculous can’t protect someone from that.”

Adrien tried not to wince at the memory. How he managed to even move enough to activate the Miraculous, he still wasn’t sure.

“We fought against them. We never wanted to, but we did.” Alya bit out. “Not even because of Hawk Moth this time, but because of Chloe. And now you are wanting us to just…overlook the trauma of the whole thing to help Chloe after what she did. For something she hasn’t shown even the slightest remorse for.”

She shook her head.

“I know you’re nice, Adrien. But this level of kindness is a cruelty.”

He winced. And it looked like he wanted to argue. But he just…wilted.

“I just…it feels harsh. What’s happening to her. The amount of hate she’s getting. That her entire life could be over.”

That was true. While they felt her current status was well deserved, it was a harsh sentence for anyone. Especially a teenager.

Nathaniel sighed. “Adrien, it is harsh. Maybe cruel. But fact is that she still brought on herself.”

“Isn’t that just victim-blaming though?” Adrien countered, frustrated now. “I mean, Hawk Moth manipulated her! How was that her fault? He’s the one who did it. She was…” He clenched his fists in anger. “Chloe is a victim.”

“No, we are the victims.” Alya insisted, gesturing to herself and the other revealed former heroes. “We were the ones used to fight our heroes. We were the ones who had our identities revealed to the world against our will. And now we are the ones having to live with the results of Chloe‘s choices, just like we always are.“

Adrien looked ready to argue. And maybe he would have, except...

Nino rested a hand on Adrien’s shoulder.

“Adrien. Dude. Just stop. We have enough to deal with and this…this isn’t helping.”

Adrien frowned at that, concerned by his friend’s attitude. “Nino?”

Nino lowered his head. “I wasn’t going to say anything. Really, I was trying not to think about it. But my parents are currently talking with police about their options. Now that I’ve been exposed as one of the temporary heroes, they’re questioning if it’s not safe for us at home anymore. There is a chance of us having to go into protective custody.”

Alya winced at that, drawing attention to her. “My parents have been talking as well. My mom quit her job. She said she doesn’t want to work for someone who would let their daughter do such a thing and put me in danger. She’s looking at drawing me out of school since it was pretty much Chloe‘s base of operations. And since Chloe is the Mayor’s daughter…and Hawk Moth…and just…everything?” She looked away, clearly anxious.

“There’s a chance we may have to move out of Paris altogether.”

Marinette gasped.

Alya looked to the other girl, sad and guilty all in one. “I’m sorry, girl. I guess I’ve been hoping it wouldn’t be an issue. I’ve been trying to talk them out of it, but it’s hard given everything that happened. Currently, the only reason they’re willing to stay is to see through to the end of the trial. But after that…” She shrugged, shaking her head uncertainly. “Who can say?”

“No…” Adrien whispered in shock.

The others in class came closer around her, trying to offer some comfort and reassurances—what little they could give, at least. This was a situation that was clearly beyond them. Marinette herself hugged Alya tightly for all she was worth, and the other girl held her back just as much, neither wanting to be parted.

Adrien, however, remained on the outside looking in. Watching the people Chloe had tormented even before Miracle Queen and realizing just how badly they’ve been hurt by this. It hit him then—for what was perhaps the first time just how much pain Chloe had caused his friends. And how unfair he had been to expect them to simply deal with it.

He stayed the lone person outside of the circle. By this point, did he really deserve to join in the comfort? To try to be the one to give comfort? After what he had tried to push on them all?

After minutes passed, they were finally able to draw away from each other.

“I’m sorry for not saying anything sooner.” Alya told Marinette. “I guess I was just hoping…y’know…that it wasn’t real. Or that it would go away and things would work out on their own.”

Marinette smiled. “No, I understand.”

And she did. That’s exactly what she herself had been doing for the past few weeks as well. Trying to deal with things without really dealing with them. Working without acknowledging just what it all meant because she was scared she would break down and that would be just one more thing Hawk Moth would have won because of this whole mess.

“I was kind of the same way.” She admitted, and it felt like a slight relief to be able to say aloud to someone. “I’m sorry I couldn’t talk to you about it.”

She still couldn’t, unfortunately. Not about Ladybug and the kwamis and the Miracle Box.

But…she could talk about Fu. How she lost him. How she feels. She could help support Alya and her classmates and be there for them in the meantime.

She…hadn’t lost everything.

Not yet.

And that was the scary thing…

Adrien gaped at the group. He had thought the trauma was bad enough, and that at least could be worked through. But this...

“I’m sorry. I...I didn’t even realize...”

“Adrien, what Chloe did put a major target on our backs.” Alya explained. “Nobody knows how we became heroes, or that Ladybug was the one to specifically choose us and give us the miraculous to use. Nobody knows WHY we were chosen. It’s not just Hawk Moth, any regular criminal can come after us now in an attempt to get a hold of that power. And we can’t exactly protect ourselves.”

She shrugged helplessly.

“We kind of have enough to worry about with the fallout of Chloe‘s actions. And now you want us to try and protect Chloe on top of that?“

Seeing it now, in this light...it was cruel. It was cruel and unfair and hurtful, and Marinette felt horrible for considering letting herself be talked into it.

Adrien himself felt horrible for even suggesting it.

“We all have to live with the consequences of Chloe’s choices.” Alya stated. “So why shouldn’t she?”

Silence followed. It practically echoed throughout the entire hallway.

He said nothing in response. What could he possibly say? He’d known that Chloe was…difficult with other people, to say the least. He’d known the type of person she was. But she was his friend and friends forgive and support each other, right?

But they were right as well. It wasn’t fair to expect them to help Chloe after what she did. Especially once he knew of the level of harm she’d caused them. He felt the horror trickle in. The trauma everyone felt. The knowledge of what they’d been forced to do. The fact that…

He suddenly found it harder to breathe.

Nino could leave.

Adrien could lose his best friend because of this.

And who knew how many of the others would be forced to leave as well. Aside from Nino; Kim, Max, Alya, and Luka were other heroes as well. Juleka was Luka’s sister. And how many of the other classmates might be pulled out of this class and school because it’s unsafe? And Kagami—oh god, she was outted as well. He hadn’t heard from her in a while. Her mother is probably furious. She could move back to Japan because of this. And Marinette…she had been lucky to not be caught up in that fight since she was a hero only the one time, but that could have been just one more thing Chloe ruined for her…

…what about himself?

He paled.

He was longtime friends with Chloe. Went to school with Chloe. Was in class with Chloe. Chloe, who was currently getting a lot of heat from all of Paris. How was his Father going to react to that? The man was always focused on the company and appearances…what would he do now that Chloe had fallen from grace in such a way? Would he forbid Adrien from talking to Chloe again? Would he pull Adrien from school?

…would he ban Adrien from leaving the house altogether?

How was he only just now considering the impact? For himself or anyone else? Of course people would be hurt. Of course they would be upset. Of course people would respond. Somehow, he knew that, and yet he had only been focused on Chloe that it hadn’t actually hit home until now…

And in that light…

It had been selfish to ask. Honestly, he’d known that when he first tried to approach Marinette. But he felt he had to try. Honestly, part of him had known better than to ask in the first place. But at the same time…there was a part of him that still believed things could just go back to “normal”.

…how foolish. That was a “normal” that nobody else wanted. And even more, it was one that was now impossible…all because of Chloe herself.

“I just wanted to help.”

He deflated, losing all remaining fight.

“I’m sorry.”

The classmates glanced between each other. There was much they could have said, but really, anything they could have said already had been. And with him seeming resigned, it appeared there was no longer a need to defend themselves.

Marinette—ever the mediator, stepped up and hugged Adrien.

“Adrien, this isn’t something you can help with. None of us can. What happens in the trial is up to the courts. And what happens to Chloe is up to her.”

Slowly, he reached up and hugged her as well. The warmth and comfort brought some limited solace in this situation. He felt lost. Out of control. Like the world was moving around him and he didn’t know where he was standing much less where he was supposed to be.

They weren’t ready to forgive Chloe. And he couldn’t force them to be. Given the circumstances, he couldn’t blame them. And it was really unfair of him to try. Especially…

“I’m sorry, Marinette.” He whispered to her.

He had tried to use her. Looking back, he had a bit of a tendency to rely on Marinette to fix things when she shouldn’t have had to. Especially when it was for Chloe’s sake. He knew plenty of times Chloe had done things…but he always seemed to overlook how hurt Marinette was because of it, simply due to how well she always appeared afterwards. She was strong and confident, but also a good listener and willing to forgive. It was like nothing really brought her down.

It was due to this that Marinette was often the one he turned to whenever things happened. Because she would listen. She would understand. And she would always try to help, regardless of her position.

In this light…he may have over relied on her too much.

“I wasn’t fair to you.” He admitted. “I just saw Chloe hurting and only thought about how to fix things for her. I didn’t consider your feelings.” He hugged her more strongly. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t speak. But she squeezed him back.

He felt another body press against him. A quick glance showed it to be Nino.

“I’m still super mad with her. And I don’t like how you tried to push us to defend her after what she did. But I get that she’s your friend and you care about her. I’d do the same if it were you in her place.” He gave a small laugh. “Not that I think you ever would, of course.”

Adrien smiled back. “Thanks.”

This…this felt much better.

Things weren’t okay right now. He still wanted to help Chloe. His classmates were still hurt. People were still angry. Hawk Moth was still out there.

But whatever happened...in this moment, he felt they could make it.

#ml fic #chloe salt #miracle queen #marinette dupain cheng #marinette defense squad #adrien agreste #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #adrien salt

[terry-perry]

Here We Go Again pt. 3

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Odinsdottir!Reader

Warnings: Parental angst (if that’s a thing)

OC: A.J. Rogers, Daisy Rogers, Natalie Rogers

A/N: Previous parts HERE and HERE.

Tags: @prettysatan​

Enjoy!

He didn’t know what was going on with her. At first, he thought it was about work. He knew how stressed she could get when the council couldn’t reach agreements on certain issues. But then, he began to do some more thinking. Was this about the girls leaving for that mission?

She was still having a bit of a struggle with accepting the fact that they were now part of the next generation of Avengers. They were still her babies, in her eyes. Only 17 and 19, and they were off fighting crime and putting their lives on the line to save the world. How could she not worry?

Whatever it was that was bothering her, she shouldn’t keep it all bottled up. He wanted to be there for her as best as he could.

“Thor?” Steve approached his brother-in-law at the cliffs overlooking the waters. It was always a favorite spot of the God’s who now looked over his shoulder to offer a welcoming smile.

“Something I can do for you, brother?”

Even after all these years, it felt rather strange for Steve to be referred to as such. When imagining the possibility of future in-laws, he didn’t exactly prepare himself to have any that were of royalty. And in this case, space royalty. Still, it didn’t deter him from seeing Thor as family. It was why he was coming to him, after all. 

“I don’t know,” Steve said, not knowing how else to start. “I just-- I’ve been worried about Y/N. I’m sure it’s nothing; maybe she’s just stressing out over work. But it still feels like she’s closing herself off from everyone. It’s not my business, but did she mention anything to you by any chance?”

After hearing this, Thor was now the one unsure of what to say. Guess Y/N hadn’t told him the news just yet, leading him to this suspicion. This alone made Thor want to spill everything to him, but it wasn’t his secret to tell. No matter how much it concerned Steve. 

“Well, what do you think she might be concerning herself with?” He decided to take a different route by trying to see if Steve could figure it out himself.

It seemed to have done the trick as he pushed his brows together to think about it. “The most recent thing I can think of is the last time we talked to the girls. They have to stay where they are, longer than anticipated. It’s been getting Y/N more anxious than she already was.”

“That must be it then!” Thor attempted to make it look like he came to this conclusion as well. Laying on the enthusiasm a little too thick. 

Steve didn‘t notice, thankfully. Now busy feeling guilty for what Y/N has been going through by herself. And it wasn’t that he hasn’t been missing Daisy and Nat either. He missed them like crazy. But they had jobs to do, just like the ones he and Y/N had.

He figured it was hitting her the hardest since when the kids were growing up, she had been the parent that mostly worked and stayed active even after retiring from the Avengers. He himself took on a more Fury-like role by helping to recruit new members and resolve any disputes there may be between the government and superheroes, but he still spent most of the time at home. 

Now he wanted to do what he could to help her through this emotional time.

But what?

She continued to pace around the living room, seeming to get more antsy by the minute. This was getting to be too much. Pushing on the verge of ridiculous. She just needed to be upfront about it now. 

“Mom?”

And as if she needed to add more to her inner stress...

“Darling,” she greeted A.J. as he walked in looking concerned. Deja vu. 

“What’s going on? What happened at dinner?”

“I was wondering that myself. What happened with you? You looked quite sick.”

“You’re one to talk,” he retorted, his worried stare having yet faded. “You were covering your nose and face. Was there something actually wrong with the food?”

“No,” she stated, sighing. If she was wanting to be more upfront about this, might as well start now. “The thing is...I’m pregnant.”

She could hear the way his breath caught in his throat. And if that didn’t give away his shock at the news, his suddenly big eyes certainly did. Though it only seemed to last for a second or two, his expression than changing to one of curiosity and intrigue as he glanced down at her stomach.

“Huh, that explains some things then,” he mumbled more to himself.  

She tilted her head, wondering now herself what he could mean by that. “Like what?”

His eyes went back to hers to explain. “Well, at dinner, I think I felt something like a presence? Like someone else was there besides you, me, and dad. And maybe that explains why I felt sick. Because you were feeling sick. Is that possible?”

Her confusion and worry then changed into feelings relating to elation and pride. 

“A.J.!” She squealed, approaching him with these emotions in hand. “You’ve inherited your grandmother’s gift.”

“Her gift?”

It could go without saying that Frigga was a powerful witch with many talents. Which is why it can also be said that her powerful empath abilities could easily be overlooked. It was what helped her in being a wonderful wife and mother as well as a selfless and understanding queen, beloved by all. Being able to channel others’ emotions and auras. Could A.J. have gained this skill too?

“Your grandmother was a powerful Empath that could read the feelings of others,” Y/N went on to explain. “And if powerful enough, they can take on the energy of others. Even feel things before they happen due to having a strong intuition.”

“So, like a mind reader?” A.J. asked.

“In a way. Except instead of thoughts, you’re able to read emotions. The energy level of others. Perhaps what you were sensing at dinner was the presence of your future sibling as well as my troubling emotions. Not to mention, my nausea.”

A scoffing chuckle was what she was met with along with “Well, I’m happy for about the baby and the cool stuff I gained, but I don’t know if I’m looking forward to feeling everything you’re gonna feel these next nine months.”

She was happy to learn about this new development about his son, but he certainly had a point. How would this effect him on a personal level? How did Frigga do it exactly? This wasn’t something either her or any of her siblings inherited fully. Perhaps Mantis would be able to lend hand on this, given she was an Empath herself.

“We’ll find a way to help you control your powers,” she assured him. In the meantime, she was glad that he didn’t seem put off by the other news. “So, you’re okay with the baby? Truly?”

“Yeah,” he said, smiling before giving her a small, reassuring hug. “It’s a surprise, but it’s awesome. But, I take it Dad doesn’t know.”

She looked embarrassed as she shook her head. “Haven’t had the spine to tell him. Scared of how he’d react. But now I’m feeling guilty for putting it off. Doesn’t help that your Uncle Thor and Aunt Brunnhilde already know.”

She released a heavy sigh after spewing all this out. On some level, she wanted him to judge her for acting like a frightened child. But all he could give her was a sweet, comforting look that had him look so much like Steve.

“He’s gonna think this is great news,” A.J. assured her. “He’ll be shocked, sure, but he’ll be happy.”

“You think so?”

“Absolutely,”

The third voice that came into the room immediately caught her off guard, realizing who it was in an instant. She spun around to find Steve had entered their home. That same reassuring and loving face.

“A.J., you mind giving us a minute alone?” Steve requested, directing his head towards the front door.

A.J. understood right away and gave one more smile before making his exit. Leaving his parents alone. One that was biting her bottom lip an fiddling with her fingers while the other wanted it to be known that everything was okay. It would be, anyway.

“How much of that did you hear?” She began with, still afraid to look him in the eye fully. 

“Only all of it,” he teased lightly with a shrug. He walked over so he pull her into his arms and let her see how genuine his happiness was, now that it was up close. “This is great, really.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” she still felt the need to apologize and open to him the way a wife was meant to do with her partner. “I was scared. For many reasons, if we’re being honest. I mean, it’s been so long since we’ve been in this situation. Will we still be good at this?”

“Of course! Y/N...” he pressed her closer as he ran his hands along her sides. The way his fingers traced his back and lightly massaged her got her shivering a bit. “If we’re being honest, I’m scared too. But, it’s a good scared. Like when I realized I was in love with you. Or, even when you were pregnant the first time.” He paused to give a kiss to the top of her head. “This is gonna be great for us. We’re great parents. You, especially. It’s why I thought you were so upset in the first place.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” he took a deep breath, now feeling like the embarrassed one. “I thought you were feeling depressed about the girls being gone.”

“Oh, darling. I mean, of course I wish they were here, but I know they have a job to do. I’m proud of them.”

Steve could only smile brighter as he pressed a kiss to her hand. “That right there. That’s how I know we’re going to be okay. Y/N, you care so much about the people you love and do your best to understand them. It’s why you’re such a great mom. Why I love you so much.”

Her eyes couldn’t help but fill up. He knew. It was true that most of her worry derived from her own anxiety. It’d been a mix of things like her past worry from her family’s history and how she wasn’t the most present parental figure that she wanted to be. But he was right. They got this.

“I’m so lucky,” she summed up these thoughts by simply stating that before burying her face in his chest. 

He chuckled softly and continued to hold her tight. They stayed that way a little while longer until he brought up a surprise of his own:

“We should probably head outside. I called the girls, and they managed to conjure themselves up for a visit. Let’s tell them the good news.”

#Steve Rogers #asgardian!reader #mcu au #steve rogers x reader #pt.3 #pregnant!reader #marvel #steve rogers imagine #dad!steve rogers #MCU fanfiction #marvel cinematic universe

[trulivin]

Not What Everyone Thinks

A/N: Yay I got another one done! LOL. Anyways, to the nonny who requested, I hope you enjoy. I hope I did a decent job at portraying Rafe. He’s more down to earth in this one so I don’t know if I like it too much. We’ll see. I rewatched OBX and like I’m telling you he is ten times fucked up than he is in here. Pardon my language, but hopefully you all will forgive me if he isn’t really like how he is in the show. Anyways, enjoy, send feedback, like, comment, etc.

Rafe Cameron x Reader, Outer Banks

Warnings: implied sexual innuendos? uhhh language. That’s it.

*gif isn’t mine*

Upon the request of Sarah Cameron, Y/N was enlisted to help decorate her mansion for her birthday party. She tried roping the rest of the Pogues into it, and Kie was originally going to help but was needed elsewhere at the time, and the boys opted out. Even John B. 

“Sorry sweetheart,” he had said with a peck on the cheek. “Whatever,” Sarah rolled her eyes and turned back to Y/N. “Fineeeee,” Y/N sighed, earning a hug. 

So, when the day finally arrived Y/N found herself walking up to the oh-so-familiar house she had spent many days with Sarah in. 

Y/N was essentially a Kook by blood, but, much like Kie, she chose to hang out with the Pogues, much to her mother’s disappointment. Sarah Cameron, however, had been her best friend growing up and remained a very good friend even when Y/N started hanging out with John B’s crew. 

For Y/N, she stayed out of the whole Kook versus Pogue thing. It was never something she, quite frankly, wanted to be involved in and she was thankful neither sides made her pick. It was absolutely ridiculous that the boys were constantly getting into fights. And, it was especially annoying when Rafe Cameron always decided to mess with JJ, John B, or Pope all the time. 

Y/N never understood why he did it. She had known him her whole life becoming friends even, because of Sarah, and then she saw what drugs did to him. It was quite depressing to watch, so Y/N didn’t and went to hang out with the Pogues instead.

Luckily, though, that didn’t mean she wasn’t allowed on Tanneyhill anymore. Especially now that Sarah had to decorate the entire mansion. 

“You’re a lifesaver,” Sarah said, opening the door for her. “I know,” Y/N laughed. Sarah playfully rolled her eyes and shoved her friend a bit before the two started their job. 

Y/N and Sarah were in the middle of stringing lights when she heard two approaching voices arguing down the hall. “Tonight is your sister’s birthday! Do not screw this up, Rafe! I’m sick of your inability to get anything done around here. You are almost twenty years old, it’s time to get it together son,” Ward chastised. 

“I told you, I’d get it!” Rafe argued back. “When?” Ward asked, extremely annoyed. “If I recall you were supposed to get the new parts ordered last week!”

“I know, but I swear I--” Rafe started but was cut off. 

“Save it. I don’t want to hear it anymore. I have to help get everything in order tonight. Just get it done,” Ward spat, before crossing the living room. Sarah and Y/N exchanged nervous glances before Sarah’s mouth turned up into a grin. “Sorry you had to hear that,” Sarah giggled quietly before stepping down the ladder. “It’s fine,” the other girl smiled back.

“I have to go grab more lights, you good?” she asked. “Yep all good here,” Y/N said standing up on her toes a bit. 

As Y/N was focusing on trying not to fall off the ladder, she heard Sarah say, “Shouldn’t have taken that money to buy that stupid bike.” “Piss off Sarah,” Rafe snarled as Sarah laughed all the way down the hall. 

“What the hell are you doing?” Rafe snapped at Y/N. “Putting up lights. What does it look like genius?” Y/N bit back, making a face, but not turning to face the pissed-off Kook. “I don’t recall Pogues being allowed in the house,” he hissed. 

Y/N turned to face him. Rafe was glaring at her. Instead of cowering away from him, like most people do, she glared right back. “If you do recall Rafe, I was once a Kook. I practically lived here my entire childhood,” Y/N hissed. 

“Yeah well that was until you and my sister ran off with the island trash,” Rafe spat. Y/N just glared at Sarah’s brother. Truth be told, a long time ago, the two actually liked each other when they were friends. They were only two years apart in age, and yeah, Y/N was his little sister’s friend, but she was one he never minded. At least until she ran off with the Pogues. 

“Why do you have to act like this?” Y/N asked, catching Rafe off guard. “What?” Rafe replied. 

“Why do you act like such a dick? We were friends once you know,” she said. 

“I’m not a dick,” Rafe scoffed, his anger subsiding a bit. Y/N snorted, “Yeah, you are. And you’re a big baby too, oh my god.” 

“Oh shut the hell up, Y/N,” Rafe grunted, slumping in the lounge chair. Y/N giggled hopping down from the ladder and moving to the balcony that overlooked the room. Her new position also happened to be nearly right in front of the moody boy. 

Rafe glanced up from messing with his shirt as Y/N placed the ladder a few feet from him. He found his eyes wandering up her legs and to the skin that showed when she reached up to hang the lights across the railing. “You’re staring,” Y/N sing-songed, not looking away from what she was doing.

Rafe felt his face heat up. He was still of the male species after all. It didn’t matter how out of it he was or how angry he was: he still had eyes. 

Y/N let out another laugh, and glanced back down at him. Rafe was no longer staring at her but was extremely occupied messing with his sleeves. She watched his ring-clad fingers bunch the material up his toned, tanned arms, and found herself staring this time. 

His vineyard-vines button up fit perfectly across his broad shoulders and muscular arms. It was also fitted so perfectly that you could almost see the outline of his abs through the material. Y/N felt as though the room got quite hot even with the air conditioning on. 

Ever since she met Sarah, she always thought her older brother was attractive. There was something about him that caught Y/N’s eye. The best part was that she knew the real Rafe too. The one who wasn’t on drugs and acting like an idiot. Maybe that’s what always made her so intrigued by him. 

But, alas, he still acted out which stopped her from hanging around him. Yet, that still didn’t mean he wasn’t extremely hot for a Kook.

“Please stop rolling your shirt sleeves up, I am trying to focus here,” Y/N mumbled before she could even think. Rafe instantly froze and locked eyes with the girl on the ladder. He noticed how one arm was holding on to the railing while the other hung by her side. Her shirt was also still noticeably bunched up, and Y/N’s eyes were also partially blown. 

“Now who’s the one staring?” Rafe smirked, a hint of his old self in his voice. Y/N snapped out of her daze, rolling her eyes. “Hush,” she said, turning back to the last string of lights. 

Y/N finally finished and hopped down, Rafe following her every movement. “Listen,” Y/N started, standing in front of him, “You were a decent person before the drugs. This isn’t the way to get your dad’s attention.”

“You don’t know shit,” he snapped, his anger flaring again as he looked up at her. 

“Oh stop yelling at me, I don’t care what you think. I just know you weren’t like this,” Y/N rolled her eyes. “Rafe, you and I used to be friends.”

“Yeah, until you ran off with those damn Pogues!” Rafe shouted.

“God! Enough with the whole Kooks versus Pogues shit! What does it matter? My parents are Kooks! I’m a Kook! So what? It’s the person, Rafe, not their social status. Sarah gets it! But that’s not even the problem! You’re the problem,” Y/N snapped. 

“Do you really want to associate yourself with a bunch of lunatics who put guns to peoples’ heads when they feel like it?”

“Rafe, Topper was drowning John B! What the hell was JJ supposed to do? Let his best friend die? Tell me this! If it were the other way around, would you have pulled the gun?” Y/N groaned. 

Rafe didn’t answer this time, but just stared up at her. He really only thought about her question for a second before studying her face. Her pupils were still slightly dilated yet he could see her sincerity as well.  

“Exactly,” she huffed. “Look, I’ve known you for so long,” she said softly, “You aren’t the bad guy. Drugs mess people up, Rafe. And it sure as hell won’t get your father’s attention the way you want it.”

Rafe was shocked to hear what she was saying, but he pulled his gaze away from her hard one. “I--I really don’t know what else to do though,” Rafe finally spoke, refusing to look at her. Y/N closed her eyes for a second taking a breath. “You can start by being present for your sister’s birthday party tonight. And not shitfaced and present, or on crack and present. Sober,” Y/N suggested, firmly. 

“Wow, you two on speaking terms again?” Sarah’s voice cut in as she strutted in the room. Y/N turned her attention to her friend and rolled her eyes, her normal relaxed look slipping back on her face. “If you count arguing,” she laughed as she took the lights from Sarah. 

“Oh of course,” Sarah shot back with a wink. Rafe watched Y/N as she and his sister laughed and joked with each other. To say he missed the easy-going conversations with Y/N was an understatement. He always found it was so simple to talk to her. She would never judge and would always somehow say the right thing. 

But, unfortunately, as he began working with his father more, Rafe found himself trying to impress Ward in any way he could to make his father proud. In the midst of all of that, Rafe managed to push her away and go down an even darker path. 

“Well, I will see you tonight, birthday girl,” Y/N said snapping Rafe out of his thoughts. “Thank you for helping me set up,” Sarah smiled. “Oh and tell your mother she does not need to bring me any gifts tonight!”

“No promises,” Y/N said, giving her friend a hug. “You know how she is at parties.” 

“I know,” Sarah rolled her eyes. “The whole island is going to be here tonight I swear. Leave it to Rose to throw a huge party. It’s like Midsummers came early.”

“It’s your seventeenth birthday. It’s a big deal. Just enjoy the attention,” Y/N giggled as she headed for the exit. “Bye Rafe!” she called down the hall. Rafe put a lazy hand up as he heard the door slam shut. He was still lost in thought over everything Y/N had just told him. 

“Shouldn’t you be getting those parts dad wants?” Sarah asked her brother with her hand on her hip. “Mind your damn business Sarah,” Rafe snapped. 

Sarah glared at her brother before rolling her eyes. “Whatever,” she responded, turning on her heel, leaving Rafe all alone. 

At 6:30, Y/N stood in front of her mirror with a horrified expression. “Why do I have to wear this mom?” she groaned. Her mother had decided it would be a good idea to wear a light pink dress with a neckline for a prude. “This is a party, not a church service!” Y/N complained.

“The dress is gorgeous sweetheart, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Y/M/N replied. Y/N studied herself in the mirror for a moment. 

“I’m not wearing this,” Y/N concluded. 

“Yes, you are, Y/N,” her mom said strictly. “You’ve been running around with those street rats for too long. A bunch of your father’s business partners and their families will be attending Sarah’s party tonight. You need to look your best.” 

“But mom,” Y/N whined, “It’s still a seventeen year old’s birthday party. Not some business thing!” 

“Y/N, you are going to wear that and that’s final. You can wear whatever you want when Sarah throws her own party for a bunch of idiotic teenagers,” her mother said before walking out of her room. 

At least this stupid thing goes above my knees, Y/N thought to herself before following after her mother. 

“You ready?” Y/N’s dad asked as the two girls walked into the kitchen. Y/N’s father turned to his daughter and stifled a laugh. “Wow, sweetheart.” Y/N groaned and buried her face in her hands. “MOM!” she groaned. “No, let’s go.” 

When they arrived at Tanneyhill, Y/N slunk through the crowd hoping no one would notice her. She had a feeling her mother might pull something like this so she stashed other clothes in Sarah’s room. 

Y/N caught a glimpse of JJ’s blond hair and ducked behind a person. She wouldn’t hear the end of it if he saw her in a dress like this. The man she was hiding behind turned around giving her a questioning look. “Oh hi Mr. Daniels,” Y/N smiled sheepishly, straightening herself out and ducking behind another person. Fortunately for her, she made it out of the crowded room and to the steps leading upstairs. 

Just as she began her ascent a voice rang out from behind her, “Oh my god. What the hell are you wearing?” JJ cackled. Y/N closed her eyes and turned around slowly. “Har har guys,” she glared at all of her friends crowded around the steps. Both Sarah and Kie had nice casual dresses on while the boys wore what they would typically wear. Except JJ was in an actual t-shirt rather than one his tank tops. 

“Oh shut up I know I look like Peppa Pig. Blame it on my mother,” Y/N said sourly. “I’m going to change.”

“Hahahahahaha!” they all cackled. Sarah finally calmed down, pretending to wipe her eyes from her tears of laughter. “Let her go change,” she said, “c’mon.” Y/N shot her a grateful smile before they shuffled away. 

Just as Y/N was about to get into Sarah’s room, however, she heard a door close down the hall, and looked up to see Rafe approaching her with a shit-eating grin. He was still wearing what he had on that afternoon. 

“Just shut up, don’t say anything,” Y/N pinched the bridge of her nose. Rafe burst out laughing and Y/N’s face flushed. He was the last person she wanted to see while she was still wearing this damn dress. If she wasn’t so irritated right now, she would have even been happy to hear Rafe laughing so care-free. 

“Why are you wearing that? Holy shit!” he continued to laugh. “You look like Little Bo Peep just with your knees showing!” 

“Go awayyyyyy,” Y/N whined, banging her head on the door. Rafe put his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine,” he grinned walking past her. “But if I’m going to this party, you have to show back up too,” he called before disappearing down the steps.

Y/N stood there in mild shock. Rafe wasn’t angry or wasted. He was just Rafe. 

Shaking herself out of her little daze, Y/N hurried into Sarah’s room and found her ripped jeans and black tank top. “Thank the lord,” she muttered to herself before stripping. 

Downstairs, Rafe gulped nervously trying to shake that urge for cocaine. It was his safety net that took his mind off the disappointment in his father’s eyes. He had almost done it though. Almost. Right before he came downstairs actually. But something told him not to. Well, someone really. Y/N’s words echoed in his mind from earlier. He noticed when she mentioned the word ‘drug’ she almost had that same look of disappointment in her eyes. And god, she was the last person he wanted to disappoint, for some reason. 

So, he didn’t do it. 

But, he still made a beeline for the adult drink table. Y/N would still drink if she could. Not shitfaced, but still, he thought to himself. Luckily, Rafe had managed to get through, sober, the whole awkward “you’re here” conversation with his dad too, so his drink was well-deserved. 

Rafe stood there allowing his eyes to wander all over the room. He saw Topper was trying to talk to Sarah again about her dating choices. “Idiot,” he muttered into his glass. 

Kelce was flirting with one of Sarah’s friends, a lot of the men, including his father, were huddled in the corner talking about some business thing while the women were gossiping about something, the Pogues were looking wildly out of place and little uncomfortable, keeping to themselves since Sarah was busy talking with Topper, and the rest of the people were breaking off into little groups talking amongst themselves.

This is stupid why am I even here, Rafe thought before his gaze caught Y/N’s figure. She had obviously changed into something more her style. 

Rafe’s eyes followed her beautiful hair that fell over her shoulders and down her back, across the skin revealed by deep cut in the back of her top. He let his eyes linger on her butt for a moment longer, before trailing them down her toned, jean-clad legs and to the floor. 

She was far hotter than he remembered. When did she grow up? 

Sighing, Rafe brought his eyes back up to her face and frowned when he saw a scowl on hers. He liked her much better when she was laughing like this afternoon. She appeared arguing with her mom who was gesturing up and down to her outfit. 

“That neckline is cut way too low, Y/N!” her mother hissed. “So what?” Y/N flung her hands in the air, annoyed. 

“That’s too inappropriate!” 

“I don’t care! It’s a birthday party! Plus! I can actually breathe right now! That neckline was too high!” 

“It was perfect!” 

“No!”

“Y/N!”

“I’m not having this conversation at my friend’s birthday party,” Y/N shook her head, rolling her eyes and pushing her way past her mom. She slipped through the crowd and disappeared out the back into the night.

Rafe watched as her mother went right back to her group of ladies and began complaining about her daughter. Ah, yes, he was very familiar with that one. His father had pulled that on him so many times. 

He sighed before pushing off his spot on the wall and grabbing one of the extra bottles of wine from under the table and followed Y/N through the door she just went out. 

Y/N sat at the end of the dock furiously picking some of the wood that was splintering. “I just wanted to enjoy my friend’s birthday party but NO! Always have to be the perfect little daughter you want me to be,” she mumbled to herself. “Just so I don’t mess up the stupid little reputation on this damn island.” Y/N groaned, allowing her anger to get the best of her.

“Well guess what?” she finally shouted, “I’m going to get off this damn island one day so I don’t have to put up with this bullshit anymore! How about that?” Y/N felt better yelling into the darkness. 

“If you leave then can I come too?” a familiar voice said in the darkness. Y/N whirled around in bewilderment and found Rafe standing a little ways off with a hand in a pocket and the other gripping a bottle of alcohol. Y/N’s face softened as he sat down beside her, handing her the bottle of wine. 

“You looked like you needed this,” he said. 

“Thanks,” she responded before putting the bottle to her lips. She sighed as the wine seemed to warm her body up and already started washing her irritation away. Y/N also became hyper-aware of how close Rafe was sitting next to her. Their arms were slightly pressed against one another. 

“It’s ironic you know,” Rafe started, “You lecture me about getting my father’s attention, but here you are pouting about your mother.” He let out a laugh. “Yes, yes it’s all very funny. She just expects me to be this perfect little Kook daughter and wear pretty colors and go shopping or some shit,” Y/N ranted. 

Rafe listened patiently until she finally let out a huff. 

“Well, you know, in your mother’s defense, you still looked good in that dress,” Rafe spoke after a moment still looking out at the star-covered marsh. Y/N snorted, passing him the bottle. “Oh please. I looked like Peppa Pig.”

“Yes, you did,” Rafe laughed a bit. “But still a pretty Peppa.”

Y/N felt her face go warm again at his compliment. They hadn’t spoken like this in years. Y/N remembered how kind Rafe could really be. She was devastated when he did a 180 and lashed out at everyone he cared about. Yet, could she really blame him? She saw how hard he worked to impress Ward, but his father still dubbed him incompetent. And yes, Rafe did some stupid stuff, but don’t all teenage boys?

“Thanks,” she smiled as he handed her back the bottle. They sat in silence for a while, listening to the small lapping of water and passing the bottle back and forth. 

“I’m surprised you aren’t scolding me for drinking,” Rafe sighed after a bit. “I never said you couldn’t drink when you got to the party. Just not before,” Y/N specified. “Oh right,” Rafe said. 

“I’m glad you came,” Y/N said quietly, turning to look at him. Rafe felt her gaze on him and turned to face her too. “Why?” he asked. Y/N shrugged a bit and looked down at her hands. “I don’t know really. I guess it was just nice talking to you today,” she said.

“We argued more than talked, you know,” Rafe grinned as she looked back up at him rolling her eyes playfully. “Well of course,” she smirked. “Who would we be if we didn’t argue all the time. Remember when we argued that whole ride up to the mainland with your dad and Sarah?”

“How can I not?” Rafe laughed. “You were so mad you turned bright red.”

Y/N burst out in a fit of giggles, and Rafe couldn’t help but find himself smiling harder at the gorgeous sound. 

Eventually, their laughs died down and they both stared out into the night sky. “This is what I was talking about earlier, you know,” Y/N said, breaking the silence again. “What?” Rafe was puzzled. 

“When I said that you weren’t the bad guy,” she mumbled. 

“You’re the opposite actually,” Y/N said more firmly, looking back up at him. He watched her, thoughtfully, as she continued, “I mean look how much fun we’re having. Yes, we’re drinking, but we aren’t completely wasted, and you aren’t high right now. You’re you again.”

“I can’t shake it though,” he replied quietly. “I know it’s hard, but there are ways to fix it,” Y/N said. 

Rafe didn’t say anything as he looked into her dark eyes. Through the darkness, he saw a flash of pain dance through her eyes. He hadn’t realized their faces had gotten extremely closer. “Rafe,” she practically whispered. He felt her breath fan over his lips. “You don’t have to do drugs to get Ward’s attention. You’re better than that.” 

Y/N finished speaking as their noses brushed up against one another. She heard her friends’ voices in her head, the voice that told her Rafe couldn’t just up and quit, but she didn’t care. His arm behind her locked her in and his skin burned on her back. She knew she shouldn’t, but she did anyway. 

With a slight tilt of her head, her lips met his in the night. Y/N’s body turned more towards him as he returned the kiss immediately. It was a slow burn that started in her chest and spread throughout her body as his soft lips melted with hers. 

Y/N felt Rafe gently tug at her bottom lip, eliciting a soft moan from her. He instantly gripped her hips and pulled her on top of him allowing his tongue to explore her mouth. 

Inside, Sarah was wandering around looking for her friend. “Have you seen Y/N?” Sarah asked John B after looking around for her for the past ten minutes. “Nope,” John B shrugged and went back to trying to throw shrimp in JJ’s mouth. “Boys,” she rolled her eyes and went to the back door. 

Sarah stepped outside and squinted down the dock. It was fairly dark, but the moon granted her some light. A weird looking silhouette broke the moonlight a bit and Sarah called, “Y/N?” The dark blob split into two figures and Sarah heard a faint, “shit!” 

“Well that’s new,” she laughed when she realized the voice belonged to her brother. “Ok never mind!” Sarah called before ducking back inside. 

“Shit,” Y/N cursed, slipping the straps of her tank top and bra back up. 

“Oops,” Rafe laughed from beside her. 

“We should probably go back inside,” Y/N giggled a bit before standing up. “Or we could, y’know,” Rafe smirked, sitting up on his knees and pushing up her shirt a bit planting wet kisses on her stomach. Y/N resisted the urge to moan and tugged him up. 

“I can’t ditch your sister’s party as much as I really...really, want too…” she half moaned looking up at Rafe as he bit his lip and raked his eyes shamelessly all over her body. 

His mouth quirked up and then he burst out laughing, “Wow. How the tables have turned.” “Shut up,” she said, shoving him out of the way playfully. 

“Oh don’t be such a baby,” he shot back at her with a grin. Rafe caught up and slung an arm around Y/N as they started walking back towards the house. “Rafe,” Y/N said with a serious tone, stopping before they started up the lawn. He looked down at her nervously, afraid this moment would be ruined and it somehow would be his fault. 

Y/N took a deep breath and faced him. “I can only do this if you can promise me you’ll stop.” 

He knew what she meant. He felt the itch rise again, but easily pushed it away as he looked into her nervous eyes. He didn’t know what to do. Rafe knew he wanted her. God he wanted her so bad, but he didn’t know if it would be enough. “I-I don’t know,” he finally said. 

Y/N’s face fell slightly, but he quickly caught himself, “I don’t know if it’ll be that easy. Believe me, for you, I want to so bad. But the reality of it…” his words died in his mouth. This was the most sober Y/N had seen him yet. 

“Of course. I know how hard it would be and I’m not blaming you for that,” she said with a small smile returning to her face. “Please help me,” Rafe finally broke, bending down and wrapping his arms around her. 

Y/N stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and tall frame as the wave of emotion passed over him. “Shhhh. I promise you I will,” Y/N whispered in his ear. “I want to make this right,” he said softly. 

“You will, Rafe. You will.”

__________________________________________________

Wow so proud of myself that I actually finished this tonight. Hope everyone liked it! 

#outer banks #outer banks imagines #outer banks imagine #obx #obx imagines #rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron imagines #jj x reader #john b x reader #imagines #fandom imagines #masterlist #request #pogue #kooks #pogue style #kiara #sarah cameron #pope #jj #john b #yeet

[wherearemyglassesbro]

How did each character get their vision in your Genshin Impact AU?

YEAHHH BABEY LETS GOOOO!!!

Some key terms so everyone can be included even if they haven’t played Genshin!

Visions: “The one thing that is known for certain is that Visions are conduits for their associated elements. However, the means by which Visions allow their wielders to harness elemental energy, and what is exchanged for this power, is a mystery.... When a god has deemed a person worthy of a Vision, there are two ways they can receive it: A new Vision appears before them in the blink of an eye, or an old Vision from a now-deceased person can be reawakened by resonating with someone else. It is also suggested that an active Vision can be abandoned and taken up by another person, but how exactly that works is unknown.” -the Genshin Wiki

Mondstadt: modeled after Germany

Liyue: modeled after China

Knights of favonious: an organization of knights within Mondstat, they act as peacekeepers! Helpful people!!

Hilichurls and Ruin Guards: common enemies found in the wild

Abyss Order: an organization of evil, fuzzy mages

The Fatui: all you really need to know about them is that they’re also an evil organization but...humans not monsters

Cryo: ice, Anemo: air(I realize I forgot this in the last post oops!), Geo: rock, Pyro: fire, Electro: lightning, Hydro: water, Dendro: nature

——————————————

Arthur(Dendro): Arthur never thought he’d get a vision. His oldest brother, Alastair, got a Pyro vison when he was 10. And his youngest brother Peter got an Anemo vision when he was 7. Arthur waited and waited and was totally convinced that he’d be visionless. But that’s fine! Plenty of people don’t have visions. His own parents and uncles didn’t even have visions! When Arthur left home at 17 to go to Mondstat to study, his travels were extremely lonely. He had to walk the whole way there, living with just the clothes on his back and a rickity tent to sleep in. He lost motivation about halfway through his trip, breaking down crying beside a big, mossy rock. The Dendro Archon pitied him and slipped a vision into his hand while he rubbed his face. The moss from the rock settled around his shoulders to hug him...And he was just...overcome with joyful sobs. The fact that the Dendro Archon had so much faith in him??? Wow...That’s what kept him going all the way to Mondstat, trudging up the stone steps to collapse on the smooth stairs of the Knights of Favonious’s Headquarters. He’s worked for them since then, receiving tutoring and now working full time as a translator :) since he received his vision, he’s grown leaves out of his head and his freckles turned green. He was born with snake eyes :)

Alfred(Pyro): Alfred and Matthew got their visions the same day. The two were allowed to go adventuring by their parents. They could go anywhere they want as long as they got home bedore dinner time! Alfred, the more energetic of the two, would always run ahead and drag Matt around to new, interesting outside their city. They often went to play on nearby ancient ruins, digging up old artifacts and playing with broken swords they found in the dirt. But one day, they stumbled upon a ruin guard. The machine sat, covered in vines. They assumed it was no longer in service and Matt climbed on top of it to try to pry the head open but uhhh it came to life and literally tried to kill them. It threw the twins hard against a wall and it crumbled, falling on top of them. The gods saw what happened and froze time for a few seconds to place visions into their hands. Alfred woke up very scared but this new power...was reassuring. He realized the gods were on their side! That was the best day of his life. He still goes on adventures! That day inspired him to keep going and to help others :)

Matthew(Anemo): Matthew received his vision at the same time as Alfred. The two were in a great deal of danger and the gods really did take pity upon them. But the Pyro Archon did not think that Matthew would be a good candidate for a Pyro vision. So the Anemo Archon stepped in and bestowed an Anemo vision upon the older twin. Matt was quite literally blown away by his own newfound ability to wield the wind. Together, the twins were able to create a fire tornado which blew the ruin guard off its feet, giving them enough time to sprint away. The slow, rusty beast unable to follow. That day was pretty traumatic for Matt because....he almost died....But hes grown so much since then. The twins were only 12 when they got their visions. He still has no desire for hand to hand combat, that’s why he practices alchemy :)

Francis(Hydro): I find every excuse to bring Jeanne into my AUs just to give Francis some spicy trauma (that’s a joke please don’t come at me). Francis was visionless but Jeanne was gifted her Vision from the Hydro Archon when she was 10. Jeanne was noble, loyal, helpful and kind. The Hydro Archon thought she was worthy of their power! Jeanne got very sick when she was 12 and her condition worsened until she peacefully passed when she was 15. Francis was ruined by her death. Her parents have him her vison. It died with her but carrying it with him and hearing the little bell on the end jingle was comforting. The following year, on the anniversary of her death, he sat under the moonlight singing her favorite song. The Hydro Archon’s heart broke for him and as he sang, they deactivated the vision. Francis cradled it in his hands and cried, his tears dripping down his face to collect in a small floating pool over the ground. In her honor, he learned to artfully wield water, having it swirl around him and his crew while they performed. Even though he knows the Hydro Archon brought it back for him, he likes to believe that Jeanne is providing him with strength and support from beyond :’)

Ivan(Cryo): Ivan has been a nomad almost his entire life. He travels all around to study hilichurls and their way of life. He’s lived with tribes of hilichurls, learned to write and speak their language, learned their style of finger paintings and carvings, cooked with them...Hes participated in almost all aspects of hilichurl life and in return, he provides them with plenty of boar meat and protection. He lived with a tribe in Dragonspine, the coldest area in all of Mondstat, and despite frostbite nipping at his fingers, he’d still go out of his way to hunt for the tribe. While hunting, he saw a saw a dull blue blinking under the snow. He stuck his hand down there and found a woman who had frozen to death. Her ghost greeted him and assured him that she wouldn’t hurt him. She explained that she’d been missing for years and thanked him for finally finding her. She gave him her Cryo vision and he went down the mountain to get others to come back with him to retrieve her so she could be properly buried at the Church of Mondstat where she belonged. Now Ivan can shatter ice at his own will, the woman had been very weak with her vison but he built it up to be stronger and work with his own style of fighting and living. When he lives with tribes in warmer areas, he makes popsicles for the hilichurls so they can cool down :D

Yao(Dendro): Yao grew up waaaay outside of Liyue Harbor. He wasn’t rich but he wasn’t poor. His grandparents had a silk flower farm where they just grew tons of silk flowers, even making their own perfumes too. Yao’s parents inhereted the land when they got married and intended for Yao to carry on the legacy of the Wang family perfumery but the Fatui seized the land and kicked the Wang family off of it. His grandparents passed and his parents retired to Qingce Village to live out the rest of their years peacefully. They offered for Yao to come but he refused, wanting to return their name to its rightful glory! He worked in many shops as a delivery boy, cleaned the streets, took commissions for deliveries outside of Liyue Harbor. He worked HARD in order to buy a shop right in the center of the city. The Dendro Archon admired his perseverance despite him being so young! And while he slept, he reactivated Yao’s grandmother’s Dendro vision, leaving it on the pillow next to his head. Yao nearly passed out when he woke up and saw it!! It was the surprise of a lifetime! He ran as fast as he could until he was out of the city, standing on one of the rocky hills overlooking Liyue Harbor. He held his grandma’s jade polearm in his hands and slammed it into the rocks, screaming joyfully as they split and vines rose up around him, flying every which and cracking like whips! He’d learn to control the power passed down to him and make his grandparents proud :’)

Kiku(Electro): Kiku’s father is a badass. He lost his eye in battle and keeps his vision orb in his eye socket. So he has one, normal brown eye and one bright purple eye with the Electro symbol in it. If that isn’t intimidating....I don’t know what would be. Kiku always wanted to be like him, his father is his role model. He doesn’t have a mom so his dad raised him to be a badass but...a more subtle badass. Kiku’s family was apparently full of Electro vision wielders so he hoped he would get one too! His father told him about his uncles and grandparents having Electro visions and how they worked together as an unstoppable team! The way Kiku earned his vision...Was not what he had in mind. He worked as a patrol soldier when he was 18, making sure the border of his country was safe. He and 12 others were approached by Fatui guards and pretty much....slaughtered. Kiku’s close friend had gotten his Vision when he was 8 after inheriting it from his great grandmother. It was apparent that his friend wouldn’t make it. After a tearful goodbye, his friend passed his Vision onto him. Kiku wears his vision proudly, a symbol of eternal trust and friendship. Kiku now works with the Fatui, profiting of off their greed more than even they know. He hates them but by working with them, he’s keeping the locals safe.

Lovino(Pyro): Lovi’s story is kinda sad. Grandpa Roma’s vision was meant to be his because he’s the first born grandson but the vision rejected him. It never turned on. Lovino became so frustrated that he passed it over to Feli...And it came to life within a week. Lovino felt betrayed, angry and resentful towards his brother. It wasn’t fair!!! How could this happen? So instead, Lovi rejected the Hydro Archon and built a shrine for the Pyro Archon. He made offerings of flowers, stew, chili peppers, wine, anything he could get his hands on. He sat in saunas to develop a tolerance for heat and trained until he was almos passed out. He prayed and did everything he could to get the Pyro Archons attention but still, he didn’t get a vision. By now, Feli had his own vision for three years and was mastering archery. Lovino had enough. He gathered twigs and weeds, stomping out into a clearing “Hey! I know you can hear me! What do I have to do to prove myself to you? I’ve done everything I can! Are you too afraid to give it to me? Huh??? Pussy! Fucking let me-“ uh oh. Now the Pyro Archon was mad. They decided to give him a chance, they could always take it away or kill him if he failed. The vision appeared in his palm and the weeds in his hands burst into flames. He screamed in agony, his arms on fire now. He kept off of a nearby cliff down into the ocean to put out the flames....but he had it. A vision...He’s been ruthless since then. Owning a flower shop and kicking ruin guards asses when they stomp around in the flower fields

Feliciano(Hydro): Feli has always felt guilty about his vision. It was meant to be Lovino’s but it awakened for him instead. He trained when Lovi wasn’t around, everything he did was subtle and quiet because every glimpse of his vision angered his brother. Feli didn’t want that, he wanted them to be close again :( he got lonely when his brother was gone and sound talk to his Vision the way he used to talk to Grandpa Roma. He’s grateful that he received his grandpas vison though!! It was very powerful when it was with Roma but with Feli, it’s significantly weaker because he just doesn’t have the same battle experience. He doesn’t even want it anyway. He is a peaceful guy who enjoys archery and singing in the church choir :) he has no desire for violence the way his brother does.

Ludwig(Geo): Ludwig inherited his fathers vision. He’s still alive but after losing an arm while on knight duty, he retired and gave his vision to Ludwig. The vision easily accepted Lud as its new owner, glowing brightly every time he touched it. The Geo Archon likes strong, loyal and intelligent people and Lud perfectly fits those preferences. Lud was 18 when he got his father’s vision so by now he had already been a knight in training for the knights of favonious! After intense training and an obscene amount of testing, he became a full blown knight capable of fighting monsters when need be. He’s very respected by the civilians of Mondstat and truly makes his father proud.

Gilbert(Pyro): Gilbert has broken many laws in his time and breaking into a very dangerous ruin was probably the best thing he ever did. He found tons of crispy, burnt skeletons in there and lots of fire flowers who spat sparks at him as he walked by. In a bigger flower...He saw a glint and thought ‘Aw yeah!! There’s a gemstone in there! That’s gonna be worth so much money!!!’ So he stuck his hand right into the smoldering flower, getting 4th degree burns as he ripped an ancient vision out of it. The thing had to be centuries old. It’s gold casing was bent and covered in dried blood both Gil’s and whoever else had owned it before. When the vison came to life in his hand, he could feel tbe the energy within was very old... it was later determined that it was likely one of the first batch of visions gifted to the human race by the Archons! Historians tried to buy it from him. It for once, Gil set his greed aside and kept the vison for himself! The vision radiated happy energy at that so he assumed that it was happy he kept it

Please ignore the spelling errors or I will barf 🙂

#Genshintalia au #aph #hetalia #ask away! #headcanons #hetalia headcanons #asks #always up for hc requests #aph france #aph england #aph america #aph canada #aph russia #aph germany #aph china #aph japan #aph italy #aph romano #aph prussia #aph allies #aph axis

[glacecakes]

Alchemy Lullaby (15/?)

Of all the changes that came with living in the castle, becoming a father was not one he anticipated. When Eugene encounters a small child suffering like he did, he gives them the opportunity to grow up the way he never did… helping them both heal. (AU where Varian is 4 and gets adopted by Eugene)

Experiments, imprisonment, and introspection.

Read the rest on AO3

woop woop  Once again thanks to Finn, space, and AJ for all the help they've given me on this fic, and to all of you for your kind words! We're in the endgame now! 2 or 3 more chapters! I'm starting finals week which is no fun, but im also starting to work on the next chapter right now, so hopefully it'll be out soon! But who knows! I sure as hell don't!

The dungeons hadn’t changed since last time. 

Eugene laid on his cot, staring up at the ceiling without much of a thought. How long has he been in here? He wasn’t sure. Nor did he really care. The only way he could tell time was the light in his window, and Lance. 

“Hey bud, how are you doing?” speaking of, there he was again. Lance stopped by at least twice a day to update him. It was pretty much the same conversation every time.

“So… the princess is still locked in her room,” The bald man said, twiddling his thumbs. “Her dad is sticking to his guns. You know. His kid was kidnapped, so he can’t exactly let her kidnap someone’s kid, it’s about the principle, yknow? Even though the kidnapping was justified…” he trailed off awkwardly. 

Eugene is silent. He doesn’t even blink. 

“Apparently the King figured out that Cass took the princess to the rocks, yknow, where she got her hair back. And he wasn’t thrilled. I think she’s going to a convent.” Oh, that was new. “She’s not thrilled about it for obvious reasons, I think even the queen is trying to talk him down.” Oh finally, someone is actually fighting back? He sighed through his nose. 

It was wrong of him to assume the others weren’t just as upset as him, but he couldn’t help but feel… betrayed? Furious? The feeling is unclear. It’s similar to how he felt when the Stabbingtons tried to kidnap Varian, but more urgent. It felt as if an alarm was constantly going off, sending his emotions into overdrive at all times, draining him of all energy. 

Eugene asked the same question he always did. “...Varian?” 

Lance sighed, and that was all he needed to know. 

-

“Good morning, Varian,” Quirin hummed, gently shaking the boy. “I brought you some breakfast.” 

The little lump shifted, and Varian peeked out from a messy bed head. Oh, it was so cute! Quirin once again kicked himself for letting his son go unnoticed by him for five years. He chuckled at how Varian pouted, but Varian didn’t seem to understand what was so funny. He took the banana offered to him and crammed his face like it was his last meal on earth. 

Though, knowing Ulla, it may be. 

He sighed as he helped get Varian ready for the day. Ulla, though she raised Varian, was oddly absent now that Quirin was here. She focused all her time on research, spending the day in her lab with Varian and the night in her room pouring over notes. What was their life like before? Did she ignore him often? 

Back at the castle Varian was quite a dramatic kid, always wanting to be the center of his dad’s attention. It was that desire for love that caused all this, after all. Was this where it stemmed from? 

It was with some reluctance that he handed Varian over to Ulla once the boy was dressed. She nodded at Quirin, but then gazed eagerly at her son. It wasn’t a loving look, not like how Rapunzel would excitedly grin at Varian. It was that same mischievous look she gave to her specimen on the road, and it sent shivers up Quirin’s spine now. To think he used to find it endearing. 

“Good morning, Varian,” She said. “We’re going to do some tests this morning, see how well you can control the rocks, ok?”

Varian whimpered at that. Now that Ulla seemed to think he could control them, she was determined to get him to harness it. Create specific patterns, cause them to retract, et cetera. He’d only ever gotten them to obey him exactly once before, back at the castle. 

Back when he wanted to use them for love, to fight for his family. 

Quirin gave him an encouraging smile. “I’ll make you ham sandwiches for dinner, ok? Just behave for your mother.” He’d go with, but discovered quickly he couldn’t stomach it. Seeing Varian so upset, seeing Ulla yell at him, it hurt too much. He’d nearly stopped the experiments, much to Ulla’s displeasure. They needed to do this, she said. They had to figure out how the moondrop manifested, how it worked, in order to get the moonstone out of him safely. 

He told himself this, and yet the screams from her lab still haunted him. 

-

Rapunzel paced around her room, frustrated. Every second she stayed here, safe and sound, was another second Eugene suffered, Cass suffered, Varian suffered. Her window was gated so she couldn’t climb down, and guards were stationed outside the door. She couldn’t even go to the bathroom alone! Pascal occasionally snuck out but he couldn’t exactly talk or help her breakout. 

She had her mom for that, thank god. Arianna currently sat on her bed, flipping through her daughter’s journal. While the pages were filled with her daily adventures, and occasionally a desire to explore, the longer the journal went, the more it focused on Varian. His quirks, his misadventures, his powers… 

She shut the journal. “Rapunzel, sweetie, I know you’re upset.” She said. “But you said you knew Varian was kidnapped? The whole time?”

“Not the whole time, just… most of it.” She admitted. “I knew it was going to come back and bite us, but not… not like this.” 

“Well, your father sure is a stickler for his laws. You should’ve seen him when Varian tried to take over,” She laughed slightly at the memory, but stopped when Rapunzel only became more miserable. No doubt her daughter blamed herself for the current situation. “I can’t say this isn’t your fault, because in a way it is. But you’re not alone in blame.” She walked over to rub her daughter’s shoulders. 

“No, but it’s not right!” The queen’s hands were shrugged off. “Varian was taken because his mom wanted to harness his powers and hog them all to herself. The only difference between her and Gothel is that she’s his birth mom! That’s it! He’s just a kid!” Rapunzel blinked, wiping away stray tears. “He’s just a kid, my kid…” 

Arianna was silent. Then, she sighed. Rapunzel was right after all. Her methods may have been wrong, but she was right. Sometimes, the law needs to be broken in order to do the right thing. After all, Rapunzel was brought home by the man who stole her crown. 

-

Well. Another day, another failure.

Ulla swirled the solution, staring at it idly. Varian had been fussy all day, crying and screaming whenever Ulla so much as raised her voice. That thief spoiled him, didn’t he? Stupid brat. She never wanted kids, not like Donella. Children would only slow her down, and the better she is, the better the world is. 

Right now, Varian was being tucked into bed by her partner. Quirin was great, truly, don’t get her wrong. He was soft, he was kind. But that softness would be his undoing. They’d always joked about the moonstone, what would happen if she harnessed it, what would happen if he destroyed it. 

A shame it turned out this way. In another life, perhaps they could’ve been a happy family.

They both knew what would happen here. One way or another, Ulla was going to extract the moonstone. Quirin would try and get his hands on it in order to destroy it, while Ulla would try to grab and absorb it for real this time. None of that womb gets first dibs bullshit. 

Come on, Quirin, she thought, you know what happened last time someone tried to destroy it! What’s so special about this time? She never did figure out how to destroy it, after all. She’d just convinced him that they could take it and experiment. He’d thought they’d work together on the moonstone in order to destroy it. But she’d never wanted to destroy it! Unbreakable houses, bridges defying physics, unrippable stitches, the ideas were endless! Why destroy knowledge? 

Why worry about the health of the parasite attached to it?

She’d been messing with an idea for the past few days: if a chemical reacted to the rocks, maybe it would react to the moondrop. The concoction in front of her turned a golden color, glowing faintly in the light. The bubbles trapped air like flies in amber. Carefully, with a small pipette, a single drop of solution was placed on obsidian. 

For a moment, nothing happened. She groaned.

Then a tendril of amber began to grow. And grow. 

She backed up quickly, just in time, as the whole rock suddenly groaned in protest. Amber tentacles wrapped and squeezed the rocks tighter and tighter until-

Snap!

Ulla stood, dumbfounded, as the broken piece of rock clattered to the ground at her feet. 

-

Quirin sighed, placing a plate full of food in front of Varian. The little boy was so tired he couldn’t keep his head upright without support. Drowsy eyes flickered over the sandwich before slowly raising it to eat. It was good that he was eating, right? Eating meant not sick. It would be adorable if it wasn’t so distressing. 

He couldn’t help but lament his past self. Foolish, lovestruck Quirin had been so willing to overlook Ulla’s flaws, her red flags. He’d convinced himself love had changed her, that taking her to the moonstone would convince her it needed to be destroyed. And when that didn’t happen, he’d blamed himself. How could he not? 

He spent five years chasing down the only woman he ever loved, fully prepared to forgive her. And when she’d told him the moonstone wasn’t with her, he had let himself hope. Maybe she had destroyed it, after all! Only to realize the moonstone survived… in his son. Their son. The son Ulla didn’t love, just like she didn’t love him…

Did she ever love him?

Varian’s head drooped, and would’ve dropped onto his plate without Quirin’s hands. He smiled despite the circumstances. Varian was definitely the one good thing to come out of this mess. 

“Come on, son. It seems it’s bedtime.” He lifted Varian effortlessly, and he laid his head on Quirin’s shoulder. 

Varian sighed sleepily. “Daddy…” 

The knight’s heart plummeted. It wasn’t him Varian was calling for.

He was going to put Varian to bed, when he had a bright idea. 

“Varian, son, can you wake up for a little bit? I want to show you something.” He carried him to the study, where the graphtyc sat unassumingly. He took it with him after the whole debacle in the castle. Varian groaned, rubbing his eyes, but glanced curiously down at the sheet of paper in front of him. He remembered it from the castle, this was what caused him to run away… this is what said he could hurt people.

“As my son, you have a birthright to the secrets of the Brotherhood,” Quirin said, stretching the paper out so Varian could read the translation. “This is one of them.” 

Baby blue eyes read over the paper. “Whatsit mean?”

“Well the first one I’m sure Rapunzel has sung to you. It’s a song to make you feel better.” 

“Oh!” Varian’s eyes lit up at the mention of the princess. “One time, my head hurt, and she said her song had magic healing powers!” 

Quirin chuckled. “Did it work?”

“Not really.” Varian reached out to brush his fingers against the black rock drawing, a frown etched onto his face. His hands shook almost imperceptibly as he read the other incantation. 

“That one is yours,” Quirin whispered.

“Mine?”

“You have the moondrop, you can use that one.” 

He could see the cogs turning in Varian’s brain; like mother, like son. “Does it actually work?”

The knight laughed a bit harder. “Yes, it does. But you shouldn’t use it unless you’re in danger, ok?”

Varian bit his lip. “Ok,” He whispered. Did momma count as danger? Is it ok to hurt people if he’s in danger? Is that what Quirin was saying?

His head spun. He wanted Eugene. Eugene made sense. Quirin didn’t. He was full of contradictions; the man wanted to keep people safe and yet he was keeping Varian from his family. Rapunzel said your real family loved you no matter what, and this wasn’t his real family. 

Sadly, Varian buried his head into Quirin’s shoulder. For a brief moment, he could pretend it was Eugene. 

Quirin sighed as he carried Varian to bed. 

“Goodnight, son,” he whispered, stroking Varian’s hair away from his face.

Varian whined. “Not your son.” 

The knight said nothing. He left the small room with his head lowered. As the door shut, he could faintly hear the beginnings of tears as Varian sobbed for Eugene.

Denial had blinded Quirin for too long. He’d never love Varian as unconditionally as Eugene does, he’s already proved it. His love for Ulla and dedication to the moonstone caused him to hurt the boy. There was no way Varian would forgive him, even if this all does work out.

He’d messed up big time, hadn’t he?

He had to talk to Ulla. 

-

Sometime around midnight, Eugene awoke to someone at his cell door, jostling with the keys. He swung upright, ready to yell at Lance about waking him up, but faltered. 

“Cassandra?” He asked, dumbfounded. Black hair bounced as its owner looked up. 

“Yo,” She simply said as his jail swung open. “Let’s go.” She walked away, but Eugene didn’t follow at first, too shocked. Her annoyance was clear in her voice. “Hurry up, daddy-o, we don’t have all night.”

“First of all, never call me that again,” Eugene complained as he followed her. “Second, I thought you were being shipped to a convent?”

“Yea, that was a lie,” she said as they snuck past several guards. “My dad made it up so we could plan this without suspicion.”

“Plan what?”

She looked at him like he had grown an extra head. “Your escape, dumbass. Me, Lance, and the queen.” Eugene choked on that last name. The queen? Breaking the law? It was hard enough to accept Cassandra deliberately breaking the law, but her? 

They snuck down large, moonlit hallways silently. Finally at Rapunzel’s doors, she and Arianna stood waiting for them. 

“Eugene!” Rapunzel gasped, racing towards her boyfriend. He easily lifted her into his arms, spinning around in the embrace. For a moment, they just stood there, taking in each other’s scent after so long apart.

Arianna cleared her throat, and they separated. “The guards have been relieved. We have 10 minutes till the next shift comes in.” She said. Her eyes were glittering like diamonds, full of mischief and determination. 

“Your majesty, I-I… what is going on?” Eugene gasped, struggling to find the words. “I mean, I can probably guess what’s going on, clearly you guys are breaking us out, but why?”

The queen’s eyes softened. She placed an arm on Eugene’s shoulder. “We spent too long trying to reason with my husband. He’s a man of the law, even if the law is unfair. For every minute we let him have his way… Varian has been gone.” She gripped his shoulder. “I know how painful that is, to know someone else has your baby, and you don’t know if they’re safe.” Her words shook so painfully Eugene wanted to hug her, but he wasn’t sure that was allowed. “Do what I was never able to do, but you did for me. Save your child. Bring him home.” 

Eh, fuck it; Eugene wrapped the queen in a quick, grateful embrace. She returned it. 

“We’re going out the same way me and Raps snuck out,” Cassandra said. “Lance and her majesty will keep the king and my dad occupied.”

“But there’s no telling for how long,” Rapunzel summarized. “So we have to hurry.” With that, they raced down the corridor, leaving Arianna alone.

“Hang on, Varian,” She whispered, glancing up at the moon. “Your parents are coming.”

-

Max rode straight into Old Corona, never stopping for a second. Each second they waited was another second Varian was in danger, or maybe worse. 

“He’s gotta be ok, right?” Rapunzel rambled as they rode. “Quirin is there, and he’s a good guy! He wouldn’t let Ulla hurt him… right?”

“Didn’t he betray us and hand Varian back over to his mom?” Eugene replied, getting an elbow from Cassandra. “Look, I’m just saying. We gotta be ready for a fight.” 

“He’s right, I doubt Ulla will give up so easily.” Cassandra said, brows furrowing. “Why exactly did they take Varian?”

“Varian is the moondrop, and apparently that makes him dangerous,” Eugene’s fists clenched at the thought. Sure he may have crazy rock powers, but dangerous? His boy? The kid befriended a raccoon and brought it to a fancy dinner party! He was just that, a kid! 

Cassandra shook her head to indicate it wasn’t what she meant. “Right, I got that. But why does he even have those powers? Quirin said it was an accident.” 

“It doesn’t matter,” Eugene butt in before Rapunzel could respond. “What matters is that Ulla hurt him for having the powers, and we need to stop her.”

“Right.” As the conversation ended, they entered Old Corona… or rather, tried to. Max couldn’t even enter the city, it was so covered in rocks. 

“It’s worse than before,” Rapunzel hissed. “We’re going in on foot.” As they entered the village, her hair began to glow, reflecting off the rocks in tandem. 

In his room, Varian shot upright. A warmth radiated in his chest, spreading throughout his body and filling him with a sense of peace. “Punzel?” He whispered. He could feel it, but he wasn’t sure how. Tiny feet padded out of his door and downstairs. She was headed towards the lab entrance, he could feel her movements! And if Rapunzel was here, so was Eugene! He excitedly raced into the lab, only to stop at the scene in front of him.

Quirin and Ulla, glaring one another down.

A flask in Ulla’s hands, a sword in Quirin’s. 

The door to the lab burst open.

#varian #tangled the series #tangled #tts varian #tts #tts eugene #tangled eugene #eugene fitzherbert #team awesome

[malfoyswheezes]

six months

Summary: You’re separated from Ron after Bill and Fleur’s wedding, and when you get word he’s at Shell Cottage, you’re determined to go see him.

Warnings: none

Word Count: 2.5k 

A/N: This is actually my first time writing for Ron he deserves more love! Also I’ve got another acc: @harrysweasleys :)

—

Being separated from Ron was quite possibly the hardest thing you’ve ever had to endure. Not only did you have absolutely zero clue as to where he was, but he was also with Harry — The Chosen One and your brother — hunting pieces of Voldemort’s soul. Quite possibly the most dangerous thing he could be doing.

And you were losing your mind.

The evening of the wedding had gone by so smoothly. Bill and Fleur looked gorgeous, the summer breeze was just right, and you had danced the night away with Ron, not a care in the world. When Death Eaters had swarmed the place, you stood guard and prepared to attack, and that’s when you saw Harry, Ron and Hermione Apparate away.

It was soul crushing, no pun intended. You only wanted to know he was safe. It was too dangerous to send Owls back and forth. You were totally and completely in the dark.

“You’ve been sitting on the couch in the same clothes for nearly three days,” Bill’s voice startled you as he placed himself down on the opposite end of the couch, tousled hair hanging over his face.

“I’ve been looking out the window for any signs of danger,” you muttered, eyes still staring out the large window overlooking the endless fields. It was kind of true, if anything were to happen nearby you’d see it. But it was also because you couldn’t find anything distracting enough to do.

Bill sighed, his worried eyes on you, “Y/N, this isn’t healthy. I get you’re worried. Ron’s my little brother — I am too. But they’ve been gone nearly two months, we definitely would have heard something if something went wrong.”

Two months already. Two months since the wedding, the last time you saw the love of your life, as well as the last time you had seen your brother. The bundle of worry in your stomach had not died down since that day. In all honestly, you had barely slept since that day.

“You know the Dark Lord is after Harry. He’s the one with the impending doom hanging over his head,” you muttered, the uneasiness growing even more as you thought about your brother and what he was going through.

“Remind me again why Harry’s the ‘wanted one’ and not you?” Bill asked, eyebrows furrowed.

You sighed, and for the thousandth time, explained the story of the night your parents died, “Because, Bill, I wasn’t in the room. I was at my mom’s friends house. Harry was sick and she didn’t want me getting it so I was at her friend Lucy’s house and missed my parents getting murdered. Harry’s the one who survived Voldemort, I barely even exist to him. Which I’m not complaining about, don’t get me wrong.”

Bill nodded grimly, looking out the window to meet the same gaze as you, “They’re alright. Y/N. They’ve survived a hell of a lot during their time at Hogwarts. This is just another day at their hell hole of an office.”

You were well aware that Ron and Harry had been through a lot at Hogwarts. You were a year older than Harry, and so the rumours and stories always found a way to you quite quickly. Yes, word travelled fast at Hogwarts. However, after the Triwizard Tournament you didn’t really let Harry leave your sight, so you eventually found a way to be a part of the stories as well.

“I guess,” you sighed, well aware of how dramatic it sounded, “I just want a scrap of news. Anything. Just something.”

“I know, we all do,” he replied gently, placing a hand on your shoulder before standing up, “I’ve best be going, but I will write to you if I hear or see anything. This I can promise you.”

“Right, yeah, I promise I’ll write too,” you smiled faintly, turning away from him to look outside the window once more.

Bill left silently, disappearing into the fireplace by use of Floo, and you were once again left alone with the sorrow thoughts swimming through your mind.

You had tried so hard to persuade Molly and Arthur to let you take off and search for them, maybe even go to Hogwarts to scope out and help, but they had told you that for your own good, staying put would be the ideal way to proceed with things.

So you did.

— —

Six months.

It had been six bloody months and there was still no sign of anything. You had heard of rumours through the Ministry that things at Hogwarts weren’t going to well with Snape as Headmaster, but that was pretty much all you knew about the outside world.

You had heard nothing.

In six months.

For all you knew, Harry and Ron — the two most important men in your life — could be dead. And you’d have no idea.

You couldn’t help but zone out at the thought, nearly spilling your tea all over Molly Weasley as you walked into the kitchen.

“Oh, sorry Mrs Weasley,” you apologized, flushing slightly as you sat opposite her at the empty table.

“No worries, dear,” she grinned, looking outside, “Glad the winter months are coming in. The garden gnomes have been a pain this summer.”

You nodded absentmindedly, “Yeah, they were a pain.”

She looked at you, eyes showing her concern, “They’re alright, dear. Don’t worry so much, you’ll get wrinkles at such a young age.”

You giggled, taking a sip of your tea and smiling a real smile in what felt like the first time since the wedding. Molly Weasley has been such an important person to you over these brutal six months. Her positive energy and caring nature had helped you power through.

Over the last two months, she’d been occupying you with basic tasks and keeping your mind busy, which you were forever grateful for.

“Oh, is that Bill’s owl?” Molly’s eyes snapped to the window, and so did yours. Before she could say another word, you rushed out of your seat, opened the window, and snatched the letter off of the scrawny owl’s leg, your heart beating violently against your rib cage.

Mum, Dad, Y/N,

Things have been good here with Fleur. Married life is quite as strange as they say.

But, that is not the point of this letter. I wish to tell you that last evening Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Luna Lovegood arrived at our home. They had just come from Malfoy Manor, where they show clear signs of torture. We don’t know where they were before or where they’re going next but they will be staying for a short time, healing and mending.

Just thought I would let you all know they are safe, and that Y/N can sleep at night knowing that Ron and Harry are ok. They both send their love to her, and to you, Mum and Dad, as well.

Love, Bill

You dropped the letter, bolting towards the staircase with your heart leaping. Ron was safe, he was with Bill. There was no way anyone could hold you back from going to see him.

“Y/N! Where are you running off to?” Molly came rushing around the corner, her arms waving as she tried to collect you, “You’re not going out there. It’s way too dangerous.”

“Forgive me, Mrs Weasley, but I don’t care what you think,” you snapped, feeling guilty at the way her face dropped, “Harry’s my brother, and Ron’s the love of my life. I am not sitting here doing nothing. I’m going to get dressed and I’m going over using Floo.”

Before she could respond, you rushed up the never ending staircase and into your room, forcefully slamming the door shut behind you. You were finally going to see Ron again.

You changed into a tshirt and jeans and rushed back downstairs, finding yourself standing in front of the fireplace before you even knew it.

“No! Dear, don’t go,” Molly stood up from the couch, walking over to you, “Bill is saying it’s dangerous, he doesn’t want any of us to go.”

“I can’t,” you spoke softly, “I won’t stay. I just have to see him.” She seemed to want to press the subject even further, but as she heard the determination in your voice, she sighed, dropped her hands, and pointed to the tiny pot with the Floo powder in it.

“Fine, fine. Don’t tell Bill I let you go,” she pat you on the shoulder, “Be back by dinner and no adventures.”

“Yes, Mrs Weasley,” you grinned, stepping into the fireplace and careful not to lose your balance on the thick lumps of burnt logs and coal. You reached into the pot, grabbing a handful of Floo powder and held out your hand.

“Shell Cottage!” your voice was loud and clear, and within seconds, you felt the familiar tug and pull of the Floo powder, your body whisking away in a mess of green flames.

— —

Shell Cottge was awfully cute and quaint. Situated on a lonely beach, the only sound you ever really heard here were birds and the rumbling waves of high tide.

As you stumbled out of the fireplace into said cottage, careful not to crash into the bookshelf, you heard loud footsteps rushing in your direction to check for danger.

“Y/N?” Bill’s face fell as his sight landed on you, slightly ashy and discombobulated, “Godric, I told you to stay at my mum’s.”

“You told me Ron and Harry were here,” you crossed your arms after wiping your soot covered hands on your jeans, “I wasn’t going to sit on the couch and let you have all the fun.”

Bill looked worse than usual. His facial scars were fading, but his tousled hair was scraggly and greasy, and his eyes sunken in and tired.

“You have to go,” Bill sighed, running a hand down his face, looking back down the hallway he can’t from, then back to you, “You can’t be here.”

“Yes I can,” you stood up straighter as if to prove a point, “HARRY!”

A distant voice called out, “Bill? Is my sister here?”

You smirked proudly as Bill rolled his eyes, motioning for you to follow him. He led you into the dining room, where Ron, Harry, Hermione and Luna stood. They were all scratched, bruised and bloodied, and standing around an old pit of parchment on the table.

As your eyes landed on Ron, your heart skipped a beat. Six months of waiting and here he was, in the flesh.

“Ronald Weasley,” you walked slowly over to him until you were standing mere inches apart, “You look like hell.” You ran a rand through his matted hair, eyes landing on his damaged shoulder and the cut on his lip.

“Thanks,” he breathed our slowly, “I’ve only destroyed a horcrux. No big deal.”

You looked up and met his eyes once more, breath caught in your throat. He looked good. Damaged, sure, but good.

He wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you in for a tight hug, ignoring the prying eyes of everyone else in the room. He leaned his head into the crook of your neck, letting out a deep sigh as if the weight of the world were resting upon his shoulders. You brought a hand up to his neck, rubbing the damaged skin soothingly.

“You had me worried sick,” you whispered, relunctanrly pulling away so you could look at him once more, “Six months. And no news.”

“We couldn’t—,”

“I’m not blaming you, Ron. I know you couldn’t risk it,” you smiled, running your fingers over the cut on his cheek, “I was just having a really rough time.”

He chuckled, twirling a strand of your hair between his fingers, “I missed you. After the wedding I didn’t know who made it out and who didn’t. I sat listening to the radio every day waiting to hear bad news.”

You couldn’t imagine how rough these six months had been for him either. Away from everyone after the tragic events from the wedding with no idea who survived and who didn’t.

“I’m sure you’re aware by now but everyone in your family is safe. George is back to normal and still making ear jokes — naturally — and Ginny still asks about my brother every day,” you grinned, turning around to face Harry, “It’s good to see you too, Harry.”

You pulled him in for a hug, ignoring the blood from his hands that were staining your shirt as he hugged you back tightly. He was quite thrilled to see you too, you were his big sister after all.

“You sure? You seemed to only notice Ron,” he joked, causing you to chuckle as you pulled away from the comforting hug. You were overjoyed to see Harry, of course, but missing your brother and missing your boyfriend were two very different things.

“Hi, Hermione,” you smiled at her giving her a big hug as well.

Seeing them all in the room brought a sense of relief flooding throughout your body, a sense of comfort. As if the past six months of worrying had finally come to an end now that you could see them in person and know they were all safe and well.

Ron pulled you into his side once more and you leaned your head on his shoulder, reeling in the feeling of being close to him again.

“What have you been up to for six months, then? Did you replace me?” he grinned.

“Yeah, totally. I’ve had an affair with the couch,” you pressed a light kiss to his cheek, “Jokes aside, nothing. My six months haven’t nearly been as thrilling and outgoing as yours, I bet.”

“You got that right,” Harry sighed, “Polyjuice potion, dragons, horcruxes, goblins, swords, snatchers... it’s been a time.”

“Goodness,” you stared at him wide eyed, “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

So they caught you up on everything. From breaking into the Ministry of Magic and stealing a locket off of Umbridge, to flying out of Gringotts on a dragon, to being tortured and locked up at Malfoy Manor, you had your jaw dropped the entire time. You couldn’t believe how insane their time had been.

“We had a very different time,” you finally spoke up after the three of them recalled their aventure word for word. Ron was next to you on the couch, your head on his shoulder and his fingers rubbing circles on your thigh.

“I bet,” Hermione grinned, “There really was nothing like flying on a dragon. And I don’t even like flying.”

You smiled at her, “Can’t imagine there’s much like it. Hagrid would be proud.”

And finally, after six months, you got to be with Ron again. You got to touch him, kiss him, hug him, and keep an eye on him.

“Love you,” he muttered in your ear, a lazy smile on his face.

“Love you too,” you muttered right back, kissing his shoulder lightly.

Finally.

#ron weasley imagine #ron weasley imagines #ron weasley fanfic #ron weasley fanfics #ron weasley x reader #ron weasley one shot #ron weasley one shots #ron weasley reader insert

[fujwow]

Review on Soowon in the recent chapters   of Akatsuki no Yona

Soowon have lied to Yona and the dragons when he said the Marital Arts Tournament was just to parade them in front of the people. He later reveals it to Zeno that it was to see his power. Kye-Sook told him the details of what power Zeno had lifted and tossed Joo-Doh caravly, man and horse with one hand. As we saw in the tournament Hak can hold a bolder with just one hand, and the sky tribe with two hands. If we think about it Zeno can kill hundreds and even thousands of soldiers, he had done it before when the soldiers where gonna attack the Kouka Kingdom. Which made them to believe that Zeno has protected of the castle. The Dragons and Yona, Hak prefer Zeno not to fight which is good because Zeno should be there to protect Yona as well if there is trouble, not to be used as an soldier. But how come Zeno didn’t brother to stop Soowon soldiers that enetered Kouka Kingdom? We see Zeno who was behind a tree watching Soowon mom and dad, maybe he did that because she has the King Hiryuu blood or he could just be checking around the castle. I believe Zeno became an traveler like how he had met the dragons when they were young and even found true love, he ofc eventually had to go back but when the princess was born did he stay to protect her at an young age, all the dragons had felt something when they first met Zeno, why doesn’t Zeno react the same way? If you ask me soowon has taken a like towards Zeno power but maybe that’s because he doesn’t have long to live, which made me think why don’t ya make Zeno the King? But that wouldn’t go so well and we all know it, the dragon warriors are only there to protect the reincarnation of King Hiryuu. But that wouldn’t make sense but I believe that soowon has picked someone who is befitting to be king and if so it’s someone we don’t know of. Soowon would’ve let Yona in on the battle and the four dragons if he ever thought she was fit to be ruler, right now they are treating her like some damsel in distress. But I wouldn’t be surprised by that since women aren’t supposed to rule the king empower which makes me think if not Soowon then she’d have to rule by herself. Something tells me that Yona isn’t gonna sit silently by any longer.

Hak still haven’t forgiven Soowon so they aren’t on speaking terms I would say but it’s not like Soowon treated hak as an soldier, his general said he was Soowon companion. That’s why Soowon was shocked when he saw Hak working with the soldiers and helping out, he only said those few words “what are you doing” by accident because his head has been in splitting pain. It was good that we got to see what soowon was thinking even if it was only for a few panels of the time he was sick and he had accidentally talked about Yona to Yona without even being aware eirther.

As you can see here it is clear that soowon still cares for Yona, they had totally had the unhappy vibe if you asked me you could even see it in there eyes. But I think Soowon kinda resent Yona because of what has happened a little bit.

Hak has gone back into thinking that he must stand by for there happiness, he has once done that for soowon when’re he wished for Yona and his happiness.

Not only that but has now find out that he has planned it from the beginning and not only that but a lot of people wanted to see Yona father die and make Soowon the King. Even Hak had thought that Soowon would make an great King. But Soowon knew that when he killed King IL that Hak could never forgive him even if he had kept it an sercet to his revenge plan and told him the reason why. I believe that Soowon knew it could never keep Hak on his side. This also explain why Lili dad didn’t want to help Yona because he was on Soowon side.

Tbh I was pretty disappointed when Lili said she was on Yona side, tbh I wanted her to say that she was on both their side. She did say she didn’t want blood shed tho.

But in these recent panels Soowon has slit up Hak and Yona not because he has feelings for Yona but because he doesn’t trust them even if they had an alliance he is still on guard of them and if you ask me that’s an pretty good King like decision. It is clear to me that Soowon has picked the throne over then to be with them. I was really hoping they could make up with each other tbh. Soowon could never ask for there forgiveness he knows that but he also knows he has an duty as King which he cannot overlook. I’ll see you on the part of the Review that I will be doing of Soowon soon. Also can we appreciate how cute Al looks in these scenes too.

#yona of the dawn #akatsuki no yona #soowon

[intelligentdumbass]

Can't I Get a Break? (part 1)

(Again, beware of typos. I have no idea how this turned into what it is now, but it is what it is.)

Hermes pushed the door open and nearly tripped on one of goldie’s many stray brushes. The floor was also littered with paintings and marble statues of varying shapes and sizes scattered all over.

“Apollo?”

“You need something Herms?”

The blonde was in the corner, sitting down on a cushion, his eyes still focused on the canvas on his lap even when his brother was already standing over him.

“Dude, what’re you doing here? The wedding is about to start!”

“Eh? I thought it wasn’t until two months from now?”

Hermes stared, and wasn’t sure how to respond.

“Look, I don’t know what day you think it is, but I wasn’t lying when I said that the wedding is about to start.”

Apollo frowned, but then laughed when his instincts told him Hermes was telling the truth.

“Ah, shit. The girls are probably wondering where I am-” He immediately stood up and ran off into another room. “You can go on ahead Herm! I swear I’ll catch up.”

When the god took a glance at the painting he left on the cushion, he suddenly understood. It was a work in progress of Asclepius’ worktable covered in ashes.

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

Olympus’ garden was breath-taking; bioluminescent flowers blooming under the moonlight. The gods were having the time of their lives, drunkenly singing under the serene night sky.

Hermes couldn’t help but subtly gaze back at Apollo every now and then. Despite all the fun the sun god was having dancing with the muses, their conversation in the studio made him felt like something was off.

Then someone caught him off guard by wrapping an arm around his shoulder, and he instantly knew who it was the second he smelled the wine in his breath.

“Jealous?~” Dionysus wiggled his eyebrows.

Hermes raised an eyebrow. “Jealous of what?”

Dionysus motions to the muses; it was at that moment that Calliope had her arms wrapped around Apollo’s neck as the god gave her a small kiss. Hermes rolled his eyes, but oh little did he know, he was faintly blushing.

The younger brother sighed.

“Look man, if you’re going to keep this up, then you‘re absolutely hopeless. I mean, at this point literally everyone except the distracted dumbass you haven’t confessed to knows that you want a piece of that-”

“Hahahaha, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Anyway, have you seen Eris? I heard she wasn’t invited-”

“Hey! Don’t change the subject.” Dionysus glanced back and frowned. “Huh, where’d he go?”

Hermes followed his gaze and sure enough, Apollo was nowhere to be seen; just the muses chatting amongst themselves, along with a few other immortals. The wine god scanned the rest of the guests at the party, and gave his friend a confused look, who just shrugged in response. Then before he knew it, Hermes was being dragged by the arm over to the group of gossiping sisters.

Urania saw them first and waved, while Thalia gave the messenger a knowing grin.

“You looking for Apollo?”

He internally cursed. His brother was right, everyone did know. Before he could say a word, his companion answered for him.

“Yeah. Wasn’t he with you guys just a minute ago?”

Melpomene and Polyhymnia gave each other a look, before turning to Calliope. She sighed.

“He said something about taking a break.”

“Apollo? A break?” Dionysus looked up, at the moon. “But it hasn’t even reached midnight yet.”

The goddess’ smile became just a tiny bit strained. “I know.”

Hermes frowned. “Did you manage to catch where he ran off to?”

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

The garden was huge; its depths filled with paths most don’t even know of. Luckily Hermes knew his way around it like the back of his head. After all, he’s got good experience sneaking inside the garden from one of its many secret entrances.

The other deities’ slurred laughter were getting more and more muffled, until it was replaced by the crickets and the foliage crunching under his steps. Then out of nowhere came the familiar sounds of a certain lyre. His brisk walk slowed into a halt. He found the god of music sitting down on top of a small hill, back resting against the trunk of an old oak. He had a feeling he would’ve found him here. This spot was one of their favorites, because it also happened to be right in front of a giant crevice that overlooked a big chunk of the earth. The view was spectacular.

Apollo didn’t notice Hermes’ presence until he had already sat down next to him, which made him flinch.

“H-” “Hermes!” He glared.

“What?”

“You could’ve at least said something! Gods, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

The messenger resisted the urge to laugh and just innocently grinned, while his friend sighed. His gaze then went to the turtle lyre in the musician’s hands.

“I still can’t believe you kept that. I mean, it’s not just that you kept it. It’s the fact that I always see you actually use it.”

Apollo smiled, with a look in his eyes that basically said, ‘Why wouldn’t I?’

“It’s a very good instrument, even if it was just made by some annoying toddler. Besides, the other one gives me bad memories.” He pauses for a moment. “What’re you doing here? You couldn’t find someone to flirt with?”

“I was looking for you.”

“Did someone need me?”

“Nah, if that were the case then I would’ve already told you. I was just… concerned?”

The blonde seemed confused; now Hermes was the one who sighed.

“Did you really spend two months just, holed up in that room?”

“Maybe, what of it?” The lyre went silent.

Hermes frowned, but after a few moments of thought decided to stand up.

“Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, but considering what happened, you probably just wanted some alone time-”

“Nono, it’s fine.” His voice was so soft he almost didn’t hear it. “Please don’t leave.”

And so the god sat back down, this time inching a little closer so that their sides were touching. Apollo saw him glance at the lyre again.

“You want to play something? Go on ahead.” He hands it over. “I suddenly don’t.”

For a few minutes that’s all it was, Hermes strumming on his lyre while the crickets sung; Apollo staring into the distance.

“Wait.” For a brief moment, Apollo’s eyes lit up like a pair of miniature suns.

“Hm?” Hermes paused.

“Nonono, keep on playing. It was just… isn’t that the song you played to me? When you tried to convince me that it was totally worth trading half of my cows for?”

“Y-” “Yeah.” He was surprised. ‘How do you still remember that?’

Hermes continued to strum, but now his cheeks were starting to burn up. It doesn’t look like Apollo noticed though.

“Am I unreasonable, Hermes?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m one of father’s older kids, hell, his literal oldest son. You’d think I’d get used to this now.” He picks up a handful of dirt and just lets the soil fall through his fingers.

“Well, it… wasn’t really a natural death now, was it? Dude, if that happened to my kid I’d be pissed at dad too even if he had a reason for it.”

“I don’t know I’m just… I’m so tired of this.” At first it was a hand on his shoulder, but he quickly ended up hugging him; pulling him even closer and wrapping his arms around the messenger’s waist. “I’m so fucking sick of this shit.”

Despite how much that had startled him and the fact that he was internally screaming right now, Hermes still managed a smile. At this point, the blonde had his face buried into his shoulder. The younger god stopped strumming on the lyre and gave his friend a gentle pat on the back.

“I know that I shouldn’t be making a big deal out of this but-” “but I can’t not!” His rants were loud murmurs; like yelling but in soft whispers with the occasional muffled sniffs and whimpers. “I can’t stop thinking about things like this. I don’t know why. Is there something wrong with me? I know everything dies and that what Asclepius did was a crime against the fates, why can’t my brain just shut up about it!”

“Hey, Hey look at me.”

After half a minute of silence, Apollo reluctantly looked up.

“Don’t beat yourself up like that.” Hermes putted the lyre aside and wiped away some of the tears trailing down his cheeks. “You’re not unreasonable. I mean, have you seen the shit the rest of this fucked up family tree of ours has been up to? I’d argue you’re actually one of the most reasonable.”

“Oh, of course you’d think that-”

“Shhhh” He cut him off by giving him a small kiss on the forehead.

Apollo faintly blushed and then started staring off into oblivion again; resting his head on Hermes’ shoulder.

“I guess at least…” He murmured. “At least you guys aren’t going to suddenly die on me.”

“I don’t know about that. I can’t exactly guarantee that I won’t do a very stupid prank that might get me kicked into Tartarus.”

“Tch. Well, there might be a chance that I would’ve been stupid enough to do it with you, so at least with that we’ll both get chucked down into the abyss. Hey who knows, Dio might join us too.”

Hermes laughed, and even the blonde himself couldn’t help but crack a smile.

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

“Well” Apollo sighed. “Thanks for putting up with that.”

“Of course.” He takes a quick look at the moon. “Maybe we should go back now. Someone might get worried.”

“I guess.” For a moment there, the god looked like he really didn’t want to leave.

“I mean, I don’t mind spending a few more minutes here if you want to-”

“No, it’s fine. You’re right; we really should be going back now.”

Apollo stood up first, and picked up the lyre; the messenger standing up not long after. The two deities had started to walk back when the younger god suddenly stopped.

“Wait.”

“Hm?” Apollo turned around and frowned. “Something wrong?”

“I… I need to tell you something.” He suddenly felt a little nervous, and couldn’t help but stare a little; maybe even briefly glancing at his lips.

Hermes took a step closer.

“I-” “ACH!-”

But before he could do or say anything else, he felt something hard smack him right in the face. He probably would’ve fallen back onto the ground if Apollo hadn’t caught him.

“Are you alright?”

“What…” Hermes rubbed his nose. “What the FUCK was that?!”

Then there was a distant cackle, and it sounded oddly familiar; almost like it came from a certain goddess of chaos.

Out of the corner of his eye, Apollo saw a speck of yellow on the ground. It was an apple made out of solid gold, and there was an inscription scribbled onto it, but that wasn’t why he was staring.

Once his brother had fully recovered from the shock, he let go, for him to stand on his own. The fruit glimmered and sparkled under the ambient moonlight, enticing the immortal to come closer. He crouched down and picked it up. It glowed against his hand, and it flashed against his eyes.

First he felt the heat, like the sun’s solar flares were gently flicking and liking his skin. Then he smelled the stench of thick, red, mortal blood. His limbs were heavy and his stomach tied itself into a knot; his head filled with the slow rhythmic beat of drums, except it wasn’t drums. He wasn’t in the garden anymore; he was in a temple, his temple. He knew because of the statues, but they weren’t the only company he had in this large, hollow room.

There was a stranger in front of him; their steps the source of those loud, steady thumps as they gradually got closer, and closer…

He was a god, he knew he could easily kill them, but instead he found himself backed up against a wall. Then they grabbed him by the throat, and drew their sword. In the heat of the moment, he somehow managed to catch a glimpse his reflection in the glint of their blade.

What he saw wasn’t his face.

But the face had his eyes.

Apollo instinctively dropped the apple and cursed fruit quickly fell back onto the ground. His face was drenched in sweat; his fingers twitching; breath hitching and heaving.

“Apollo? Goldie?!” Hermes rushed towards the blonde and cupped both of his hands. “Hey buddy, what’s wrong?”

The god inhaled, and exhaled; closing his eyes. He squeezed both of the messenger’s hands and forced himself to calm down. When he started coming back to his senses, he glanced around, but the apple was already gone.

“Hermes, where did that cursed piece of golden shit go?!”

Hermes blinked, surprised. “I… don’t know?”

But what he did saw, was a few black feathers as dark as the sky above them. They were scattered along the path that led back to the main event.

“…Hermes I need that fucking apple.”

“Huh? What? Why-” “Hey, HEY! APOLLO WAIT!!”

Apollo had started to run back towards the wedding, and Hermes was right behind him.

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Next

#Apollo #Hermes #greek mythology #greek gods #MyWritingShit #golden apple #Rip Hermes

[jovialyouthmusic]

Can’t Take my Eyes Off You

A Royal Romance Au fanfic 

Bastien Lykel, Captain of the King’s Guard plans a New Year surprise for the love of his life, Sophia...

A/N Although this chapter is from a long series, you can read it as a standalone. If you already know the plot of Choice’s Royal Romance, all you need to know is that it is set after TRR3 and Sophia is a young English woman - a member of staff at the Palace who has captured Bastien’s heart. Drake Walker and Riley are in a romantic relationship and King Liam has no Queen, but Olivia Nevrakis is intentionally pregnant with his child, who will be his heir. 

Words of endearment - Bastien calls Sophia his goddess, or ‘thea mou’ in Greek, and she calls him ‘agape mou’, or ‘my love’. He mixes his languages for ‘Ti amo, thea mou’ - Italian and Greek, for ‘I love you, my goddess’

If you’re following Protect and Serve or Silver Service, there is a chapter that precedes this one - read here

Otherwise, this is a triple dose of fluff with a side of smut - so NO UNDER 18s PLEASE

Word count 4074

Standing in the departure lounge at the tiny airport in Cordonia, Sophia wiped at her eyes and blew her nose. Her parents had spent a whole week at the Palace with her and Bastien, and were returning home for the New Year celebrations. As usual she had mixed feelings. She loved seeing them after being apart for almost a year, but it had been tiring to have them around 24/7, so she also felt a certain sense of relief.

‘I hope they manage to get their connection at Nice’ she said, her voice a little shaky

Bastien drew her into his arms and hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head.

‘I’m sure it will all go smoothly, theá mou’ he murmured ‘Your Dad will cope just fine, he’s a practical man’ Sophia smiled up at him.

‘He really liked you, you know?’ she said ‘So did Mum’

‘I think Edith was slightly disappointed that you didn’t snag yourself a royal prince’ he chuckled. ‘She was so in awe I thought she’d get repetitive strain injury from curtseying so much.’

‘It was kind of Regina to invite her to afternoon tea’ she replied ‘She was on cloud nine after that. She promised to do some paintings of the Palace for Regina from the photos she took.’

‘I’d be interested to see them too’ Bastien replied, letting her go. She took his arm and hugged it to her as they walked back out to the SUV to go back to the Palace. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t take more time off to help entertain your parents’ he said ‘But I have a little surprise planned for the New Year celebrations.’ He held the car door open for her before going around to the driver’s side. She slid smoothly into the passenger seat, closing the door and belting herself in.

‘A surprise?’ she asked eagerly ‘I hope it includes some time alone together’ She reached across and squeezed his knee. Their sex life had suffered slightly from having house guests, and they were both feeling a little deprived. He swatted her hand away playfully.

‘Don’t distract me when I’m about to drive’ he scolded ‘Wait until we get back’ She pouted, hitching her skirt up slightly. He groaned ‘Sophia, if you’re wearing stockings…’

‘Might be, might not be’ she retorted, pulling it demurely back down and turning away coquettishly

‘Wicked woman’ he grumbled ‘It’s a good job I’m not on duty until late afternoon, I’m going to make up for lost time when we get back’

‘Promises, promises’ she said breathily. He started the car off smoothly and Sophia waited until they he pulled out onto the main road before speaking again.

‘So this surprise’ she asked ‘Does it involve leaving our suite at all?’ Bastien pursed his lips

‘It might, it might not’ he teased, and she snorted in exasperation. He kept a stoic expression despite getting the upper hand, and turned on the radio to listen to the Cordonian news.

------

Bastien stood in front of the mirror in their bedroom, straightening his tie and checking his hair. Sophia lounged in bed, her hair ruffled, an expression of deep satisfaction on her face. Her lover had lived up to his promise and had brought her to orgasm three times and allowed himself two. She would get up shortly and tidy up the suite before her evening meal, and Bastien was getting ready for his shift. It was two days before New Year’s Day.

‘You look immaculate, Bas’ she said sleepily ‘You’ve certainly gotten over your injuries – your stamina is mind boggling’ He smiled smugly

‘I just know how to pace myself’ he replied, and turned back toward her. ‘I have a long shift tonight so my schedule will be a bit off. I’ll have breakfast with you if you get up early, then I’ll be grabbing some sleep ready for your surprise.’ She sat up, her eyes glinting

‘Oh yes?’ she said ‘Please tell’

‘Not yet’ he replied ‘You’ll find out soon enough’ She collapsed back onto the pillows in defeat. She looked thoughtful

‘You could give me a clue’ she cajoled as he came over to kiss her on the forehead. She grabbed hold of his tie and pulled him close to kiss him on the lips. He pulled away regretfully as she let go, thankful that she wasn’t wearing lipstick.

‘You’ll never crack me’ he smiled ‘I’ve been trained to withstand torture’

‘I’ll wear stockings for a whole week’ she smiled seductively, biting her lip and looking up at him through her eyelashes. He sucked his breath in and adjusted his pants.

‘Woman, you are insatiable. Temptation is entirely different to torture’ he croaked ‘But I’m still not telling.’

------

As promised, the two lovers ate breakfast together the next morning. Sophia yawned, the sun not quite up, and sleepily sipped at her orange juice.

‘Now then, my English rose’ Bastien began ‘I’m ready to tell you a little more about your surprise.’ Sophia perked up, sitting up straight and opening her eyes wide. He chuckled at her expression. ‘I’m going to sleep in the guest room so you can pack to go away when I get up after lunch’ he paused to take a gulp of his coffee. ‘The King and Regina are going to visit Olivia in Lythikos, and we are going with them. You’ll need to pack warm clothes, we’ll be there for a few days – it’s hard to say how long, as snow is forecast up there and the roads might get blocked’ he paused ‘Don’t worry, we won’t be going to Lucretia’s castle, we’ll be staying at Olivia’s lodge by the ski slopes, and we’ll have space to ourselves, quite private’

Sophia smiled reservedly. She couldn’t help but remember Constantine grilling her last time she had been there, questioning her relationship with Bastien and telling her she’d be dismissed if she distracted him. He wasn’t around any more but it still triggered an unpleasant memory – and Lythikos was not her favourite place, as Lucretia had plotted with Justin – or Anton as they now knew him – and Sophia’s enforced visit to her castle still gave her nightmares. Bastien noticed her expression change, and he reached across the table to take her hand and squeeze it.

‘I know Lythikos brings back unpleasant memories, but we’ll make new ones, theá mou’ he said. ‘It’s a beautiful place in Winter – fresh snow, and plenty of opportunity for skating and skiing – or staying inside and keeping warm’

‘I remember you teaching me to skate in the moonlight’ she smiled ‘I’ll have to go out on the ice again and keep up my skills. Are Drake and Riley going?’ she asked.

‘They are’ Bastien answered. ‘and you’ll have the choice of spending time with everyone, or just celebrating the New Year with me. I don’t know what you normally do at that time of year’ he looked at his watch. ‘But I need to rest now, so we’ll talk about it later’

------

Later that day when Bastien got up, he loaded their bags into an SUV along with Drake and Riley’s. Sophia sat in the passenger seat despite Drake’s grumbles about not riding shotgun. They were part of a small group of vehicles accompanying Regina out to Lythikos. Liam had gone ahead with another security detail.

‘Best place for you is in the back, son’ asserted Bastien ‘I saw Hana’s face after you drove her to Applewood the other month, and I know for a fact Riley was almost sick when you brought her back from the cabin not long after.’

‘Hey, have I ever scratched or dented any of the cars, or crashed them?’ Drake protested ‘It was you who sent me on all those advanced driver courses, I have to keep up my skills’

‘No, but it takes a power washer to get all the mud off the chassis’ Bastien said drily as he started the engine.

‘Never mind, Drake honey, you can hold my hand’ said Riley brightly ‘I’d rather snuggle with you on the back seat’

‘No mischief back there’ Bastien intoned ‘Leave that until you’re alone’ Sophia nudged her lover

‘Don’t be such a grump, Bas’ she said. He shrugged and sighed

‘Just laying down the ground rules for the journey’ he replied ‘I promise I’ll be more attentive at the other end. Remember, no games and no music, I need to concentrate. Driving is a serious and dangerous process.’ Sophia sighed. Road trips with Bastien were no fun, and if Drake and Riley hadn’t been there she’d have put headphones on to listen to music. Her lover’s tastes in music didn’t go much beyond jazz and classical music – the only mismatch in their relationship as she liked many different types of music, favouring upbeat and romantic tunes. He was softening a little and would listen to her choices – she had hopes that his tastes would change.

He signalled to the guard overlooking the motorcade, who got into the lead vehicle, and they set off, Bastien’s SUV taking the last position. Both Sophia and Drake knew better than to distract the driver but after a while he broke the silence.

‘So, Miss Brookes’ he started ‘How do you usually celebrate New Year? I imagine there’s a lot going on in New York at the turn of the year’

‘You’re not wrong, Mr Lykel she answered ‘Though the last couple of years I’ve been working in the bar, I used to go to Times Square with friends and see it in with a bang’ Bastien nodded, looking Riley’s way in the rear view mirror.

‘Call me Bastien, please. I know Drake celebrates alone with a bottle of whiskey’ he said drily ‘But I was going to ask you how you celebrate it, Sophia’

‘Oh I don’t usually pay it much attention’ she replied ‘I never really rated it. It’s such an artificial manmade date, I’d really rather do something at Winter Solstice – but I’m usually too busy getting ready for Christmas’

‘That’s interesting’ Bastien said, smoothly negotiating a sharp bend in the road. ‘Perhaps next year we can put the day aside, do something special’ Sophia smiled warmly

‘I’d love to, Bas. That’s so thoughtful of you. What do you usually do to ring in the New Year?’

‘Again, not much’ he answered ‘I’m often on duty, or I just take myself to my rooms and have a glass of whiskey’

‘Well none of you are any fun’ piped up Riley ‘I hope Olivia has a massive party to celebrate’

‘As she’s pregnant, I doubt if she’ll want too much fuss’ Drake said. ‘I’m thinking it will be a low key celebration’

‘That’s a good point’ said Riley ‘How long has she got?’

‘Only a couple of months now’ replied Sophia ‘She’s getting big and cranky’ Drake snorted with derision.

‘So what’s new? She was always cranky at the best of times’

‘Now don’t be unkind, Walker’ Bastien scolded ‘She offered to provide Liam with an heir. The two of them are becoming quite close, and I’m certain she’ll make sure you and Riley are comfortable’ Drake shrugged

‘Maybe. I’ll believe it when she allocates me a decent suite, and not the lodge furthest from the Manor’

‘A lodge all to ourselves sounds amazing’ said Riley

‘You didn’t see the one I got last time’ grumbled Drake ‘The heating was bust and the water froze in the pipes’

‘I’m sure that was an oversight, Walker. Now stop speculating and let me concentrate on driving’ Drake fell quiet, Riley pursed her lips, and Sophia sighed and relaxed back into the seat, allowing herself to drift off to sleep for the remainder of the journey.

------

At Lythikos Manor, Drake and Bastien unloaded the luggage. Olivia’s majordomo was organising room allocation and Drake was surprised to discover that, as Bastien had predicted, he and Riley had been given a large suite in the Manor. Sophia expectantly waited to find out where they would be, but Bastien took her elbow and drew her aside into an ante room.

‘Sophia my love, I have one more surprise for you’ he said, and her eyes widened. He took her hand and squeezed it ‘Tomorrow there will be a small party to see in the New Year, but you and I are going to spend tonight in a room in Olivia’s ice palace’ Sophia’s eyes grew even wider, and her mouth dropped open.

‘An Ice palace?’ she asked incredulously ‘Really?’ Her lover smiled and nodded.

‘Indeed, and if you really like it, we can spend New Year there together if you’d rather it was just the two of us.’ Sophia threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

‘That’s just amazing, Bas’ she cried ‘I can’t wait – when can we go?’

‘We ‘ll have dinner with the others first, then we can make our way there. We can go skating tomorrow - or I can teach you to ski’

‘Bastien, you are amazing’ she said, hugging his arm ‘You spoil me’

‘It helps that I work for royalty’ she said sheepishly ‘The job has many perks’

------

The dinner that night was held in the grand hall of the manor. Olivia was showing her size and looked a little tired but seemed pleased to have everyone there and was attentive to her guests. She sat at the head of the table with Regina and Liam flanking her. Both Bertrand and Maxwell Beaumont were there, Hana had made a rare appearance after spending Christmas with her parents and Drake and Riley completed the small group save for one more person – Duke Domvalier, father of Rashad, had been invited to keep Regina company. Sophia noticed that the Queen mother looked more relaxed and kept sneaking little looks at her companion, blushing when he noticed.

‘Now, Bastien, you know my security team has everything in hand, you don’t have to lift a finger’ Olivia said ‘You’re my guest and I want you to treat the place as your own. You’ve earned it after all your years of service to the Crown.’ He bowed his head gravely and thanked her

‘I understand you and Sophia are going to the Ice Palace’ Liam said. Sophia nodded

‘Yes, I’m so excited – I’ve read about places like that, I’d no idea you had one in Cordonia’

‘We build it every winter’ explained Olivia ‘Obviously we can’t keep it up all year round, but it’s been open a couple of weeks now.’ Sophia snuck her hand over onto Bastien’s knee under the table and started to slide it further up his thigh as Olivia turned to talk to Duke Domvalier, but he firmly put his hand on top of hers and stopped her, giving it a hard squeeze and flashing her a warning glare. She leaned closer and whispered in his ear

‘I love it when you’re stern’ she sighed

‘Be careful, our room at the ice palace will end up melting before morning’ he growled

‘Was there any doubt?’ she said innocently.

------

It was an hour later when they drew up outside the ice palace and were greeted by staff who took their bags inside. Sophia’s eyes sparkled as they entered and she took in their surroundings. The lobby doubled up as a bar, all the major structures made of ice and sparkling with blue white light, the barman dressed warmly in a thick coat and fur lined hat. Sophia had eaten heartily at lunch time but lightly at dinner, in anticipation of spending an active evening with her lover. She had looked so mournfully at the cheesecake as dessert was served that Bastien had shared a piece with her, even though he didn’t usually eat sweet things. They stopped for a drink while staff prepared for them.

At last they were shown to their room. It was not big, and a little cool compared to a conventional hotel room, the bed made of ice blocks and strewn with furs and thick blankets. Mood lights were set into alcoves around the room and the colours shifted slowly and lazily.  Bastien rummaged in his bag as Sophia sat on the bed.

‘Just wait a few moments my love’ he said, taking his phone out and tapping away for a few moments. Music started to play from bluetooth speakers in the wall and he held his hand out to her. ‘Do you remember the Beaumont Bash?’ he asked

‘Of course I do’ she laughed ‘You bought me a beautiful dress for the Ball, and you took time off to dance with me in our suite before I went down to join the others’ He smiled as he drew her close and they began to sway together.

‘It was a shame I had to work then, I would have loved to have you on my arm that night. This isn’t the tune we danced to, but it expresses my feelings exactly’ he said, and hummed along for a line or two before starting to sing along quietly. Pressed to his chest, she felt the deep notes of his voice reverberate through her whole body. She felt safe and secure, just the two of them in their own little world.

You’re just too good to be true Can’t take my eyes off of you You’d be like heaven to touch I wanna hold you so much At long last love has arrived And I thank God I’m alive You’re just too good to be true Can’t take my eyes off of you Pardon the way that I stare There’s nothing else to compare The sight of you leaves me weak There are no words left to speak But if you feel like I feel Please let me know that it’s real You’re just too good to be true Can’t take my eyes off of you I love you baby and if it’s quite all right I need you baby to warm the lonely nights I love you baby, trust in me when I say Oh pretty baby, don’t bring me down I pray Oh pretty baby, now that I’ve found you stay And let me love you baby, let me love you

‘There are no more lonely nights for me’ he said ‘I’m so happy I found you’ She gazed up at him adoringly.

‘Bas, you’re so romantic’ she breathed ‘I love you so much’

‘And I love you too, my sweet temptress. We have the night to ourselves, and only breakfast to think of in the morning’ She shivered in anticipation.

‘I wonder if we’ll ever get tired of each other’ she said quietly

‘Never’ he vowed ‘I’ll love you to the end of time’ She pressed closer into him, still swaying as the tune repeated. She laughed

‘I’d never have had you as such a sappy romantic when I first met you, you were so dour and professional, every inch the Captain of the King’s Guard’

‘I wasn’t – you brought it out in me. I never felt like this for anyone else. I’d do anything for you Sophia, I want you to be happy’ He inhaled her scent and became more aware of her soft body – her breasts against his chest, her hips swaying and belly pressed against him so that he began to grow and harden. He let his hands graze her spine, gliding down to the globes of her buttocks and pulling her hips closer to his, feeling a little chuckle vibrating through her.

‘Mmm, smooth move, agápe mou – from romance to seduction’ The music dropped into a soft ambient tune, swirling quietly in the background.

‘It’s worked one hundred percent of the time with you so far’

‘You’re irresistible’

‘I’m helpless in your presence’

‘Shut up and kiss me, Bas’

‘Your wish is my command’ Their lips met in a scorching kiss that threatened to melt the room around them, and Sophia half expected to feel water drip from the icy ceiling. She snuck her hands under his shirt to find the flat plane of his stomach warm under her palm. He shivered slightly and drew back to work on the buttons of her blouse. His fingers skated over goose flesh as he worked to undress her, and she reached out to do the same to him. As their body temperature dropped, they made a mutual decision to undress themselves more speedily, dropping their clothes on the rug on the floor and diving under the thick blankets together, naked. Sophia lay back and Bastien hovered over her, leaning down to pepper hot kisses down her neck to her collarbone, brushing aside her golden hair.

Each time he moved, it sucked a draught of cool air down beneath the blankets so that she craved the heat of his body. His hands were warm, his back and buttocks hot – his chest cool, his hips burning. As his hands moved over her body she felt the temperature gradient change – his hand hot on her shoulder, cooler on her breast, cold on her belly.

He let his hand trail lazily down her side to rest on her hip, listening to her soft moans of desire before going back to claim her lips with his. His hand moved over her belly to her mound, his strong hands gentle and sensitive, fingers probing between her folds. Their kisses grew deeper, and he pressed his length against her belly, hot and heavy. She let her hands roam up over his broad back, up to caress his neck and tangle her fingers into his black locks. She drew one knee up against his side as his thumb pressed softly against her clitoris, fingers delving inside her. She pushed up toward him luxuriously as the colours of the mood lights swirled over the icy walls and the music played softly.

‘Are you ready for me, my goddess?’ he murmured,

‘Always’ she breathed ‘Fill me, make me yours again’ He placed his body between her thighs and slowly eased into her, gazing into her eyes, holding his to begin with and rolling back in ecstasy as they became one. He rocked against her, enveloped in her soft warmth, his strokes short to begin with, increasing slightly each time until he was almost out and slowly burying himself again and again. Her fingers raked over his back, nails slightly scraping against him, hips rolling with him, keeping the rhythm.

The icy bed was firm underneath them, insulated from the cold by the thin mattress, giving their lovemaking solidity, the blankets draped over their naked forms. Sophia had discovered that Bastien’s size was more than adequate for her to climax simply with penetration, although it took some doing. He drove into her, increasing the tempo, making her gasp for air, still sensitive to what she needed, unerringly finding the perfect angle to hit her sweet spot. She implored him to keep going, her gasps changing to a chant

‘Yes, yes – yes…’ until her back arched and she pushed her hips up against him, pulsing and tightening, a rush of wetness accompanying her orgasm. He matched her movements until she came to a shuddering stop, letting himself go with a groan, waves of pleasure rushing through his senses, rocking against her and slowing, feeling her go limp beneath him, little sighs of satisfaction escaping her lips. He rolled to the side facing her, murmuring sweet nothings, hand resting on her belly, the heel of his palm on her hip bone. After a while she turned to face to him, her features glowing with satisfaction, reaching out to stroke his cheek.

‘I don’t need a date on a calendar to look into the future’ she said softly ‘My future is with you, and we can celebrate any time we like – every time we touch, every time we kiss’ He took her hand and kissed it, looking deep into her green eyes.

‘You’re right’ he said ‘We belong together, and it doesn’t matter where we are, when we’re together, everything’s right.’

‘Of course, being in an ice palace helps’ she joked ‘You don’t ever have to stop spoiling me – but we could just be at home and I’d still be happy’ He nodded and leaned to kiss her lips.

Ti amo, theá mou, ti amero per sempre’ he murmured as he drew back again I love you, my goddess, I love you forever…

#bastien lykel #trr bastien #sophia x bastien #OC x Bastien #trr au fanfic #the royal romance au

[krashbandikootart]

Shallow Waters

PART:1

She woke every early morning to watch the sun rise from her screened in porch. It was perfect due to where she lived, secluded, beautiful. She sat with her knees curled to her chest as she rested her chin upon her knees. Sipping her coffee, counting every second that passed before she had to begin her work for the day. She lived alone, except for her cat, Felix. Her only company being a furry feline, he was her best friend. She worked as an intern. Temporarily. But as a creative writer, she was motivated and focused. 

She finished her coffee as the sun peered over the tops of the tall hills, and headed in to get herself together. As lonely as it seemed, she didn’t mind. She preferred the peace. Growing up an only child, she got her loneliness started at an early age. With a dad who had disappeared and a mother that worked too much it had driven her mad, which then resulted to her becoming sick, and passed away in the comfort of her bed. But she knew that she took care of her mother well in those times. Thus, she raised herself from that point on. 

After a shower and small breakfast, she gathered her necessities into her backpack, and on her bicycle she headed down the dirt path down the hill. She found peace by the ocean, That’s where she wrote the most. She passed the salt water scenery and headed on to the office. It was a small little building in a tacky little fishing town, She sat and began to finish her rough draft that she was still indecisive about. “Ms. Sara Jasper, she’s our finest columnist. She also writes short stories online, which are a big hit with the kids nowadays.” the CEO and her manager, Marty Stockton. He was usually a stubborn man, today he seemed to be in good spirits. “Well, aren’t you going to say hello to our new graphic designer, Miss?” he spoke loudly to grab her attention. Unknowingly he had it, she hadn’t looked up due to her excessive blushing being so modest. She stood and looked up to the new member of the team. He was different from the majority of the population in the area. Definitely not a fisherman or farmer. Clean cut, clean shaven. Round lenses glassed that slid slightly too far down the bridge of his nose. Bronze hair that was long but short enough to be manageable. She blushed again. He wore loosely fitted slacks, a white v-neck shirt, brown suspenders, and a jacket. He looked like some sort of coffee shop hipster artist. She was intrigued only because she hadn’t seen anyone like that actually come through their tiny town and stay. “Miss. Jasper, it’s my pleasure. I am actually a fan of your work.” Her eyes shot down, she felt her face turn bright red. ‘Oh god, he’s read my work.’ her brain screamed to her. “Oh, well is’t always nice to meet a fan, let alone work with one. I look forward to seeing what you can do, Mr..?” she paused. She realized he hadn’t introduced himself. “Oh. it’s Cale, Cale Phoenix.” He spoke. Finally. His voice was soft and friendly. He smirked and held out his hand to shake hers. She gave a shy smile and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, I look forward to seeing your work.” she spoke, not so softly this time. “Let me show you to your new workspace, Cale” Mr. Stockton said to him almost cheerfully. And they carried on, She sat letting out a breath of relief. She struggled in the presence of the new employee, and she wasn’t sure why. She shook her head clear so she could focus. Writing and editing, and the day was finally done. She left with her things and leaving the office as quickly as she could. Hoping she could avoid the crowd. Once she reached her bike on the side of the building, she sighed in relief. “Hey, I was hoping to catch you. I’m sorry, if i struck a nerve of some sort.” a soft voice yet again reached her ears. She turned to see Cale standing leaning against the back of a black SUV. “Um, no. It’s okay, it’s not you, Mr. Stockton isn’t usually that cheerful, so it caught me off-guard.” she spoke a little more comfortably. “Well I just wanted to make sure i didn’t rustle any leaves, especially on my first day.” he said with the same smirk he wore earlier that day.”Oh, no it’s okay. It’ll be easier tomorrow I think. I am sure he was just excited about our office employee count expanding, it doesn’t happen very often.” She said with a small giggle. “But I really must be going, I have a little bit more work to do, So I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said as she turned around to get on her bike about to take off. “Oh, of course, I didn’t mean to keep you. Also, I look forward to it.” he said with a full smile. She rode off, blush covering her entire face as she sped. What the hell was that? What is his angle? She rode to the beach, her spot near the rocks at the bottom of a cliff that overlooked the ocean. She began writing her next story, She was at peace, completely focused. She noticed thee sun starting to fall a little, time to go home. She packed up her books and reached for her bike, as she did a hand reached down for the handles before her’s could touch it. “Fancy seeing you here.” Cale. Of all places to find her. “What are you doing here?” She asked. She was surprised, caught off guard. “I used to come to this spot as a child. It was my place to find peace.” He said with a small smile. “I assume it’s become your spot.” He said, his smile growing. “I mean if you want the spot back, that’s okay.” she said shyly. Kind of embarrassed. “No way, I wont take away the spot where you write your amazing work. That’d just be unfair to the world.” His smile reaching both of his ears on both sides. “Well I appreciate that.But I do have to be going, it’s getting late and Felix is waiting for me.” She said with a slight smile she tried to hide behind her hair. “Oh Felix. Your friend?” His tone dropped a little bit, “No. Well, yes. But he’s my cat.” she said with a chuckle. “Oh that makes more sense. Not that I assumed you’d be alone, but you seem like you prefer it so I assumed.” he said with a nervous giggle. “It’s okay. And it varies on the day, but yeah. You’re right.” she said. She looked up to see his face, a friendly smile and his eyes the brightest shade of green she had ever seen. “Well at least let me give you a ride home, it looks as if it might rain soon,” he spoke, sounding more concerned this time. She looked up, she hadn’t even noticed the overcast. He was distracting. But she nodded anyway. They walked to his car, packed her bike in the trunk and she told him the way. His radio was on, but turned low. Yet loud enough where she could hear the familiar sound. Franz Schubert. One of her absolute favorites. What are the odds? But she enjoyed the brief ride home.

[overlord-imagines]

Lol, this is starting to become a Demiurge blog. (Not that I mind.) Except for the post about Ainz being Mare and Aura's dad. Oooooh let's give Ainz and Demiurge a baby, that would be cute. And I guess they get it by using a spell or something cuz magic. Can it be a girl? boy is fine too though.

To be honest the first things that come to mind with the words Demiurge, Ainz, and Baby are: Albedo giving birth to his heir and all three of them being loving parents, and Ainz turning into a more… living version of himself. Or JUST TURNING HUMAN IN GENERAL FOR A DAY AHGKJHGLDG (ple  ase as  k m e the se). But for this I’m just going to have this precious baby adopted.

How did this even happen?

Ainz had been on a quest issued by the adventurer’s guild, something about a dangerous cult kidnapping women and children for their rituals.

It had been simple enough to find them, and even simpler for him and Naberal to take them out.

Their victims had already been killed, if Ainz were still Sazuki he would’ve been sick from the state of these corpses. 

The two collect some of their amulets, a symbol of their membership, and began searching through the small abandoned village that they had claimed as their own for magical items, currency, and other various forms of loot.

Everything was as Ainz had expected it… that was until he heard soft sounds of distress coming from behind a wall.

It didn’t take long for Ainz to realize that behind the wall resided a hidden panic room of sorts, the lich pulled back a wall to see a room covered in various symbols with what he presumed to be blood. And in the back of the room sitting against a wall was a woman.

She was already on the brink of death, she definitely wouldn’t last long. And in her arms was a small bundle of fabric, it was at this moment did he notice the soft sound of cooing in the room.

“P-Please…” The woman's voice is hurt, almost as if she had been screaming for hours. The lord steps forward, taking a look at the bundle in his arms in absolute shock.

The baby had horns and soft golden eyes. Soft scales dusted some parts of its body.

“I know he is a monster, but he is innocent… please… take care of my Sazuki.”

Sazuki. Sazuki. Sazuki.

The name repeated in his head, and with gentle hands bent down to pick up the baby.

Momonga put the woman out of her pain soon after, making sure to be merciful.

Ainz had seen plenty of horror movies in his time, though he never would have expected them to have a grain of truth in this world. It was obvious that the woman was apart of a successful ritual. Apparently, they were unable to summon an actual demon, so they decided to birth half of one instead.

Ainz, uncharacteristically, felt some emotional attachment to the baby. Almost like he was holding something that he lost…

Needless to say when Demiurge saw his beloved husband came back with a human-demon hybrid he was shaken.

The baby grows on the two heteromorphs.To the point where the two ended up adopting him.

Nazarick is in an uproar.

AN HEIR?!

A HYBRID THAT LORD AINZ HIMSELF TOOK UNDER HIS CARE?!

Truly they had the greatest leader in all the realms, so generous and caring.

You bet your ass this baby is getting spoiled.

The baby has an extravagant room all to itself, with maids guarding and attending to it at all times.

Cocytus is vibrating, FINALLY!!!! He will ride on his shoulders, oh- to be called uncle, truly a dream come true.

Shalltear is at a loss, something so small… so fragile… so cute… she will never admit it but she is head over heels for this baby.

Albedo is quaking. Aside from Ainz and Demiurge, she is the one out of the guardians who spends the most time with it. She coos and nuzzles it, making sure Sazuki is always loved.

Mare and Aura play with them all the time, Mare using his druid magic to make small plant creatures to run around and make Sazuki laugh.

Pandora is ACTUALLY IN FUCKING LOVE. HE IS CRYING AND DOTING ON LITTLE SAZUKI. He loves to hold the baby close and wrap the two in his cloak, he also tickles Sazuki with his long fingers.

Nazarick kidnaps the land’s best pediatricians, to not only diverge information from them but also put them with the maids to overlook Sazuki’s needs.

Ainz is scared.

He’s scared of his own feelings and that he won’t be enough for Sazuki.

Demiurge is concerned for his lover, noticing right away his own securities. Though he’d never be able to understand.

When Ainz looks at Sazuki, he can’t help but see who he once was…

But it’s through this that Ainz makes sure to do the extra effort to be as good as a father that he can. And practices being more emotionally vulnerable, as much as he can be. Aura and Mare benefit from this too because they’re basically his children anyways.

Demiurge is just so gentle in everything he does, terrified that he may hurt his darling child.

The demon spends hours softly singing and talking to Sazuki, loving when they giggle and stare in awe as his crystal eyes glimmer.

Everyone benefits from this child.

Demiurge and Ainz’s relationship grows stronger.

The guardians feel honored to care for it.

Aura and Mare get another sibling.

And Nazarick gets to finally pledge their loyalty to Ainz’s heir.

#overlord #overlord imagines #overlord anime #overlord light novel #overlord demiurge #demiurge #ainz ooal gown #lord ainz #demainz #albedo #shalltear bloodfallen #aura bella fiora #mare bello fiore #cocytus #demiurge x ainz

[stylesmyth]

FLOURISHED SUN

I take the marble staircase two steps at a time with Brandon on my heels. He begs for me to slow down, but with my father’s office doors in sight, I refuse. Without knocking, I barge in, using such a force that sends the large doors slamming into the walls they hinge on. It startles my father, who jerks his head towards me.

          “A curfew?!” I cry out.

          Brandon, just now catching up, nearly rams into me as he enters the room with momentum. “Miss Burrell,” he says formally. “Your father has asked to not be disturbed.”

          “It’s all right, Brandon,” my father assures, voice impeccably calm.

          I start again. “I mean, shutting down schools, I can understand! Not telling me there were twenty-three other deaths, I can excuse because it’s confidential. But a curfew? Really?!”

           He stands from his desk. “Yes, Delaney, really. Until everyone is medicated properly, I have to make sure there is as little contact as possible between the contagious and healthy.” He walks to me, words growing more heated by the second. “And as for the little stunt you pulled tonight. Leaving the house without permission? What were you thinking?!”

           “For Christ’s sake, I had Brandon there for protection!”

           “And I’m sure he agrees that, regardless, you were too close to that boy that you know damn well is sick.”

           My jaw tightens. “You told him about Ernie?” I ask, turning to Brandon.

           Father answers, “He called me from the diner before the speech, as he should have. And because you tricked him, and disobeyed my wishes, I’m putting you under house arrest.”

           “What?!”

           “The guard at the front gate has been informed of this decision, and Brandon is to stay here, around the clock until further notice, to ensure you pull no funny business like you did tonight.”

           I throw my arms up. “What is so wrong with wanting to see him one la—”

           “Delaney!” he raises his voice. “We will not be discussing this any further in the company of a guest!”

           At those words, I peer over my father’s shoulder. Sure enough, a man that looks vaguely familiar—perhaps I’ve seen him at dinner parties or public events—sits in one of the two chairs placed in front of the desk, watching the whole ordeal.

           The man rises from his chair. “Please, Samuel, do not stop on my account. The work day is technically over, and family matters must be...attended to, nonetheless,” he says in a deliberate tone. “But, if I may introduce myself, I am Zachary Masters—”

           I interrupt him, now knowing how I recognize him. “Parliament member, and the man who will be appointed Interim Leader if anything were to...happen to my father.”

           We’ve been at several occasions, in many of the same rooms, but I’ve never been formally introduced to him—if one could even call this a formal introduction. He was always with other government officials, whilst I grouped with several other daughters and sons of those officials. From far away, he looked kind, his greying hair gave him a grandfatherly vibe. Now as we stand with closer proximity, and I can feel the full force of his dark eyes upon me, I almost want to coward away, even if his gaze isn’t intentional. But this isn’t about him, and I can’t lose what spite I have towards my father so easily.

           The room grows strangely quiet in the vocalisation of my words. Zachary takes to looking at his shoes as I turn to my father, who avoids my gaze. It lasts for a moment, before a ring of a telephone on my father’s desk sounds. He’s sighs, glancing at Zachary before turning to attend to the phone call.

           Father attempts to answer the call in a hushed tone as I focus once more on Zachary.

           “So, what are you doing here?” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “Is there something he’s not telling me?”

           Zachary senses the hesitation in my question. “Oh, no, no! There is nothing wrong with your father, I can assure you. No, I am simply here to assist Samuel in some work.”

          “What kind of work?”

          He pauses, and I can see the debate with himself to answer or avoid me. “Well, we’ve been in contact with America—their labs, the embassy, Congress, even the President—pretty much nonstop for the last day. We’re are trying to find the origins of the virus, and what the best way to distribute the medicine is. Basically, just where to go from here, with what we know.”

          “And what do you know?” I ask.

          He grins. “I’m sure you understand why I cannot disclose that information, Miss Burrell.”

***

           friday night

Delaney: brandon told my dad i saw you tonight

              he put me on house arrest

 Ernie: wtf

            Why would he do that?

 Delaney: i didn’t tell Brandon that you were gonna be at the diner

 Ernie: why not?

 Delaney: I’m not technically supposed to see you whilst you’re still sick

 Ernie: Delaney!

 Delaney: what?! I wanted to see you and just have a nice night

 Ernie: but something could’ve happened

            u could be sick

 Delaney: i could be sick regardless

                I’ll just get the medication like everyone else on Monday and everything will be fine

 Ernie: can I call you, or facetime?

 Delaney: not unless you want brandon to hear everything we say

                He’s “posted” outside my room and my door “must remain open unless I’m changing”

 Ernie: sigh

            I guess i won’t be able to see your pretty face for a while then, huh

 Delaney: you’re a dork

                but sadly no

 Ernie: you like this dork

 Delaney: hmmmmm

                Perhaps

 saturday

 Delaney: i feel like i might go stir crazy if i have to sit in my room for the rest of the weekend

              Avoiding food>getting another lecture

Ernie: [imaged attached]

           you could look at this instead :*

 monday

 Ernie: [imaged attached]

          Look at this queue outside of Boots

            We’ll be here for hours

 Delaney: is there nowhere else a little less crowded?

 Ernie: nope all the same

            A lot more people than i thought need this stuff too

 Delaney: well let me know when you get towards the front

 Ernie: hopefully it won’t take too long

           I’m not feeling very well and Ty is noticing

 Delaney: please stay safe <3 keep me updated

 tuesday

 Delaney: hey

                I hate being that girlfriend that keeps tabs on you

   But you didn’t text me back yesterday

                Is everything okay? Are you feeling better?

 Ernie: hey, sorry about that

            It was a long da y

            did u get the meds???

 Delaney: yeah, dad brought home some of the pills instead of the injections

                But are you sure you’re okay?

                We never use text slang with each other

 Ernie: i cant starw at the scrreen to long

           I think a symptom of gettn the shot is migrains

 wednesday

Delaney: how are you feeling today?                              

Delaney: You might still have a migraine so maybe that’s why you aren’t answering

                If you get a chance to read this, though, just let me know you’re okay

 Delaney: please answer my texts, Ernie

               It’s worrying me sick to not hear from you

 thursday

 Ernie: delaney

 Delaney: thank God you finally answered

                I’ve been pacing around all day

                Are you okay

                Is everything alright

 Ernie: the medicine isn’t working

           Ty didn’t make it

          And I don’t feel so good

 ***

          I will for the words on the screen to change. Maybe if I stare at them long enough, the letters will shift, and he’ll be telling me that all is well. The medicine is working. Everyone is healthy. Ty is not dead.

          Ty is not dead.

          He can’t be. He was feeling better last week. If Ty was feeling better, that means everyone else sick would feel better, too. They have to feel better. They can’t die.

          Ernie can’t die.

          When I was old enough ask my dad about my mum, I also asked why he didn’t remarry. He told me that, after her death, he was in a state of shock, and then grief struck, followed by a period of depression. He said it was the worst time of his life. He knew, that even after losing my mum, he couldn’t remarry. His grief was as large as love, and he knew he’d never love someone else that same way.

          I understand the first feeling of shock now.

          The difference between him and me, though, is that I have a warning. My shock comes before any loss, and it’s crippling.

          But there’s one thing on my mind: I am getting out of here.

          No tears have formed, but when I call, “Brandon,” there’s a notable shake in my voice.

          Through what little open space there is in my door, he responds, “Yes, Miss Burrell?”

          “Could you please shut the door, I’m going to change. And then, I’ll go to bed.”

          It’s fairly dark outside, so I know Brandon will believe my lie, thinking that I’m getting ready for bed. I wait just a few seconds to run on tiptoes to my window. My bedroom is on the first floor, overlooking the road to the house’s front door, where Brandon would always drop me off. Where the reporters once stood across the street. As I push up the window, I see no one on the street at all.

          Thankfully, on the ground floor, below my bedroom, there is an alcove that juts out from the house, allowing a small roof just outside my window. I do not bother shutting my window as I step outside. Brandon won’t check my room for the rest of the night, thinking I’m asleep, so I keep it open to sneak back in the morning.

          The distance from the ledge to the ground isn’t far. I sit down with my legs over the edge, and then slowly twist around, so my front is against the blue bricks as I hang on with what very little upper body strength I have. Then I let go.

          With bent knees, my feet hit the green ground quickly. I catch myself from falling over into the damp grass, but waste no time in surveying the area once more. The easiest way to get to Mayfair, where Ernie lives, is the back streets. Last I saw, and heard from Dad, there’s only one guard on the perimeter, and he’s at the gates in the front.

          I start to run in the opposite direction.

***

           Ernie’s mum answers the door after three rounds of persistent knocking. She’s wearing a bathrobe, likely never having changed from it this morning, and her brown hair looks unkempt. In one hand is a box of tissues, and in the other, a balled-up tissue that she raises to her reddening nose before speaking.

           “Delaney, what are you doing here?” she asks, mouth hanging open at the sight of me.

           Tears that were kept back as I ran appear suddenly, clouding my vision.  “I heard about Ty.” My voice trembles. “Ernie told me. And I am so sorry, I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. But can I please see him? I need to see Ernie, please.”

           She looks hesitant at first. We both know what allowing me inside means; the medicine doesn’t work, and anyone who steps across the threshold is going to be, at the very least, exposed. But after studying my pleading eyes and dejected form, how desperately I need to see Ernie regardless of the consequences, her elbow nudges the door open. I thank her profusely, stepping by her to get inside, ready to dash to Ernie’s room. The low sound of Mrs. Winland calling my name again stops me.

           When I turn towards her, she nods and says, “Make it count.”

           She walks into a different room, leaving me with her vague instructions. It’s not hard to connect the dots, though.

           With Ernie.

           Make it count with Ernie.

           With that, I start down the hallway to his room. Family portraits and school photos, even Ty’s drawings, hang along the walls, but I don’t look at them. I can’t bare the think that the little boy will only remain in the photographs and the art he created, forever immortalised behind a piece of glass and four cornered frames. I can’t even bring myself to think about looking at the older boy in the pictures, so I keep my head down until I reach his door and push through without delay.

           He doesn’t hear me come in. He also doesn’t hear the small click the door makes as it closes behind me. I begin to wonder if he’s asleep, but as I move around his bed, wading between the piles of clothes on the floor which were never there before, I see his eyes are open and looking out the window next on the parallel wall.

           “Ernie?”

           He suddenly snaps to attention. When he sent me a cheeky selfie last Saturday, I thought he looked a little worse for wear than he did the previous night I saw him. But, as I watch him now, I can see the sheen of sweat covering his sinking facial features. His skin is paler, which is saying a lot for someone who lives in a city that receives very little sun to begin with. Even from my distance, I can see a notable change in his irises; a few off-white spots have appeared close to the edge of them, standing out against the brown colour.

           I lose all words. I’m not even sure if I had any coming in.

           He shifts under his pile of blankets, no doubt the source of his sweating, but I can also make out the slight shivering to his body. “De...What are you doing here?” he asks with a hoarse voice.

           I sob.

           “I had to come see you,” I force out. “I’m not going to let you be alone when you said you weren’t feeling well.”

           He frowns. “I-I said that?”

           Ernie poses the question more for himself than me. I walk closer, sitting down on the edge of his bed. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m here now, and I’ll be here. With you.”

           “No…” He starts to shake his head. “No, but you shouldn’t be here. Y-you could get sick. No, no, no.”

           As if to prove it, he begins to cough.

           “I don’t care anymore,” I stress. “I could already be sick and just not know! But I do know that I am going to stay beside you, regardless of any virus, or parents, or the fucking rapture!”

           He looks over my shoulder, eyes going out of focus like he’s daydreaming. When he glances at me again, he asks, “Why are you crying?”

           It only makes me cry more. “Because I love you, damn it.”

           These words aren’t a revelation. We said them for the first time a few months ago, but only sparingly since then. For the special occasions or moments when we were caught up in each other. We never take the words lightly, and always cherish them greatly.

           Make it count.

           Ernie’s frown grows in confusion. “You shouldn’t be crying because you love me.”

           “My grief is as great as my love,” I whisper. “And I haven’t even lost you yet.”

           He doesn’t seem to have heard my words, his attention is back to the window. I stare at it with him, willing myself to calm down at least a little. There’s nothing outside of his window except the view of another building, but having something to focus on helps for the moment. Ernie coughs at times, and at one point, I feel him shift until his hand is free from the confiding blankets, reaching for mine. It’s a small comfort to know that, whilst it seems his mind is somewhere else completely, he’s still present in some form.

           Eventually, he speaks again. “Do you want to lay down?”

           Make it count.

           “I want to kiss you.”

           I don’t think it’s what he expected me to say from the look on his face, a look reminds me of the healthy Ernie. He says with a small smirk, “We could do both.”

           I laugh. I am actually able to laugh in such a moment, after a week of feeling like I’d never laugh again.

           So, caution is completely stranded on the side of the road as I lay down on his right side, on top of his mounds of blankets. And I set an alarm for five in the morning, early enough to run back home before anyone else wakes up. And I kiss Ernie, because I want to make everything count.

           And I wait for morning, praying it will never come.

#flourished sun #fs #FSp3 #delaney #ernie #apocalypse #fic #fiction #original fiction

[piouspromise]

Musiea has taken enough trips into town on her own that she’s prepared for trouble if it strikes. It’s been a long time since anyone has bothered her, but being ready for any foreseeable situation is something in which she takes some pride.

She’s eyeing a cart of fresh vegetables at the market when someone bumps into her. It’s busy enough, but it’s not especially crowded...and the next things she notices are a man in a cowl pushing past the other people around, and a lightened weight on one of her shoulders.

It doesn’t take much time at all for her to piece together what’s happened, and she wastes no time being surprised by it, instead breaking out into a run to pursue the thief. She calls out for him to stop, only to realize seconds later that doing so probably wasn’t the best idea. He breaks out into a run as well, making her have to run even faster.

She chases him down, beyond annoyed at her rotten luck, and even more worried about what might happen if she doesn’t catch up with this ruffian. She’d stopped to pick up Rosina’s medicine just before this, and trying to get it replaced could turn out to be costly and time-consuming, and she’d rather not place strain on the monthly budget if it can be avoided.

And then, her luck takes a turn for the better once again as the thief rounds a corner that turns out to lead to a dead end. The alley in which she finds herself is narrow, and for the first time, she’s able to see this man’s face. Something about it seems so...familiar. It’s strange...what is it about his appearance that makes her feel at ease in some ways, but in others, it makes her blood boil?

He moves like he wants to try and run past her, but in a flash, Musiea reaches into her boot and unsheathes a small dagger she keeps on her at times where carrying a sword isn’t the most convenient option. He freezes where he is, obviously not having expected her to be such a difficult target.

“What the hell?” he asks. “Do you always carry a knife on you?!”

“Call it a well-founded sense of paranoia,” she tells him simply. She’s certainly not wrong, having known more than a few shady characters in her life, and having ended up in a serious relationship with one such character.

He frowns, visibly annoyed that he picked such a troublesome target, and Musiea brandishes her blade, making it very clear that she’s not just carrying it around for show. For a while, the two of them just stare at each other, trying to figure out what the other might do next.

Strangely, the thief speaks first. “I can’t believe I made a dumbass move like that. I’m a way better navigator than some idiot who makes a turn into the wrong alley...but you caught me off guard! You sound just like...” He cuts himself off suddenly. “Never mind, it’s not important. I can’t go back empty-handed again.”

“I sound just like what?” Musiea asks him. She finds herself oddly intrigued by this whole situation...but why?

He doesn’t seem to want to answer at first, but it’s obvious he’s at her mercy in just about every way, and he eventually gives in. “You look and sound exactly like my mother.” Her jaw drops in surprise and offense, and he notices. “Not like that! I haven’t seen her since I was a little kid, just calm down...”

“I don’t believe you’re in any position to tell me to calm down,” she tells him. Once more, there’s an awkward sort of silence, and Musiea finds herself with another question. “So did she abandon you, then?”

“In a manner of speaking, though not really by choice. She’d only just recovered from being sick, but she got sick again and...”

“She passed on,” Musiea finishes.

“Yeah...so much for my father’s cowardly effort to save her.”

Father...that word makes Musiea realize, in an instant, why she feels this man seems so familiar. From his coloring, to the way his hair falls, to the way his eyebrows knit together when he seems to be remembering something unpleasant, everything about this man reminds her of her own father. That explains the anger that accompanies the sense of nostalgia...her father was always kind to her, and even the last time she’d ever seen him, he didn’t seem to be harboring any ill intent. In fact, the way she remembers it, when he was telling her to go with the thief that first brought her to Escher...he looked like he was about to cry.

His personal feelings aside, he still handed her over to criminals for reasons she still doesn’t know and likely never will know, and for that, she still hates him. She didn’t exactly have an easy time of it, and she could have had a much worse time if Escher hadn’t helped her escape on the day that trafficker had come by the hideout.

She sighs, realizing she’s been staring. “Sorry, you just...well, you look exactly like my father, and I’m only just now realizing it...”

The thief laughs. “That’s funny...I’ve always been told how much I take after my old man...down to my lack of a spine.”

“It’s pretty spineless to be stealing from people, I’ll admit,” Musiea says, not caring about her harshness. “Though, let me guess: your father is also deceased, and as an orphan, you supported yourself through a life of crime?”

“You don’t know a damn thing,” he shoots back. “I didn’t want to get involved in this life, but I didn’t have a choice...and I wanted to see my little sister again. My old man gave her up as payment for medicine for my mom. He admitted it before he died...”

Those words remind Musiea of why she pursued this man so relentlessly to begin with: the bag in his hands, or perhaps more specifically, the contents of said bag.

“Well, I’m not sure what a life of crime has to do with finding your sister, but...” She eyes her purse for a moment before looking up at the man again. “In that bag is a very important medicine for a sweet but frail little girl who believes she survived being deathly ill as a baby so that she can be a doctor when she grows up. She’s not the only child I look after...there are twenty more children, who all lost their parents during the war, that are under my care. If I don’t get that medicine back, I’ll have to buy a replacement bottle, and that may mean sacrificing some necessities for the other kids.”

She steels her nerves for a possible fight. “I don’t want to have to fight you to get it back, but I know that black-market prices for medicines like these can be quite high, and that you likely won’t just hand it over, but-”

He sighs, doing just that...and not only the medicine. He’s giving her back her entire purse.

“Here, take it,” he says. “You’re a good person, and I’m sorry to have troubled you. Yeah, Dom’s gonna be pissed I didn’t bring back anything today, but...I can’t let a kid suffer...”

The return of her purse is shocking enough, but even more shocking to Musiea is the name he says. Her oldest brother, Dominic, was often called Dom or Nic for short...and what little information this man has given her about himself is causing thoughts to swirl around in her head faster than she can process them.

His mother had been sick, and the medicine needed to cure her was more expensive than they could afford, so his father gave away one of their children...wherever that child was, there was the assumption that she was with criminals...the man before her looks to be close to Musiea’s age, and for him to resemble both his father and hers...and despite being a thief, he doesn’t want children to suffer...he’s a kind person...

Her hands begin to tremble so intensely that the dagger falls to the ground. Her voice utters a name so softly that it’s almost in a whisper.

“Luka...?” The name of her kind brother, two years her senior, who always bore a strong resemblance to their father. She hasn’t seen him since she was a little girl, but the way the man before her responds to the name answers her question before he can even say anything.

“How...how do you know my name?!”

By then, she can’t stop the tears from falling, but she smiles anyway. “I...I look that much like Mom? I s-still think she was much prettier...but then, you...w-were always so nice to me...!”

For a moment, he looks even more baffled, but then, his mouth opens slightly in surprise. “No way...Aida?!”

She nods, and she can’t stop herself from sobbing...especially not when her big brother starts crying as well, and for the first time in too long, the two siblings embrace each other.

“You...you always were such a crybaby...!” she tells him.

“T-Takes one to know one!” he says. “I can’t believe it...I always tried to hold onto hope that we’d find you again, but Vince just kept saying-“

“And when has Vincent ever said anything positive?” she asks him, unable to keep herself from pointing out her second oldest brother’s tendency to be sullen and moody. “I...I just can’t believe it! You’ve really been looking for me all this time?”

“Of course we have!” Luka assures her. “Dominic managed to get Dad to admit what he’d done, and we figured the best thing to do would be to try and work from the inside...but by the time we found a lead of any kind, we figured we were too late! The hideout for that gang looked like a massacre had taken place there, and when we asked around, they said the kid living there was a noble, and a boy...”

“So you found the right place...I just hadn’t been there for years!” She smiles, pulling back to look at her brother’s face as well as she can through her tears. For the first time since the surprising encounter, he actually looks happy.

“Either way...I’m going to have to tell the others! They’ll all want to see you!”

“And I want to see them! But...I have more shopping to do. And now I have to be even more on the lookout for purse thieves...” She shoots him a glare that’s fully meant to be teasing as she picks her dagger up, sheathes it again, and puts it back into the side of her boot.

He smiles apologetically, holding the bag out to her again. She wastes no time in taking it back and slinging it over her shoulder. “Really...I’m sorry about all that...”

“For now, I’ll overlook your line of work,” she tells him, placing her hands on her hips. “After all, I’d rather not ruin such a heartfelt reunion. That, and I know that even good people can be found in the most unsavory professions.”

“You always did know how to see the good in people,” Luka says.

“I don’t know about that...but I learned long ago not to judge people based upon what they do for a living. Times are hard, I know that much...” She sighs. “But I’ll have quite a lot to carry, so if you want to apologize, you can help me carry it all.”

He beams proudly. “I’ll do you one better: I’ll help, and on the off-chance you end up with more than you can carry, I know of four other guys who would love to help as well.”

She laughs, knowing right away what he means. “I’ll take you up on your offer, then.”

#RM FOR LENGTH AND SPOILERS BUT TL;DR ONE OF HER BROTHERS HAS APPEARED! #the others will be along soon and i can't wait haha #ic #verse: main #verse: final curtain

[farmgirlusa]

Episode 2 Jewel in the Crown

This episode picks up right where we left the last one.  Papa Choi has been revealed to be the head of the Guemgae the secret order of bandits who help escaped slaves.  Papa Choi gives a speech about how they took up their swords to protect and they now need to protect their brothers who have been arrested.  Papa Choi says he’s determine even to sacrifice his life to find out the truth.  He divides them into teams to search for clues to exonerate them.  Meanwhile Chun Soo and Dong Joo are looking for Dong Yi.

Dong Yi is in a house that’s being watched by people who had apparently followed her.  It’s reported to the bad cop that Papa Choi disappeared and that some men came and took Dong Yi off.  Bad cop is not happy.

Dong Yi meets the person who called her away.  It turns out she was called there for an interview for greeter work.  Initially she’s going to be turned away once the big Madam finds out she’s a commoner but Dong Yi proves herself by reading the greeting and pointing out a mistake in the Chinese.  She is then offered the job of a greeter which makes her very happy as she will get to wear a pretty dress.

Dong Yi skips happily home excited that she got selected to be a greeter blissfully unaware of the danger following her.  Dong Joo grabs her before she can be attacked though and Chun Soo takes care of the thugs who had been following her.  He wants to know who wanted to hurt Dong Yi, who sent them after the girl.

Seo is very angry at the death of the officer suspected of killing the prosecutor.  He swears it was an inside job demands the compound be locked down and all leave be blocked.  His second shows up with more bad news Papa Choi has disappeared and so has Dong Yi.  Bad news for Seo indeed.

Chun Soo reports to Papa Choi that Dong Yi is fine and that he and Dong Joo have left her with Gae Dwo Ra and his father.  Chun Soo says he’ll take Papa Choi to Dong Yi but he says no he’ll see her later there’s more important work to be done in investigating the frame job.

Oh Tae-Suk gets a report from his nephew that Papa Choi disappeared and the men after him were murdered. Nephew asks forgiveness for failing. Oh Tae-Suk tells him ok as his nephew has never made any empty promises to him before.  He believes that his nephew will find them.  Oh Tae-Suk then says he’ll help him in a small way as he feels that he has overburdened his nephew.

Next we get to see how deep the Guemgae goes as Dong Joo requests to replace one of his friends on a concert then slips into the records room to copy records.  When he’s almost caught one of the palace servants creates a ruckus to allow for Dong Joo to sneak out again.  While in town Chun Soo sees the police putting up a wanted poster with Papa Choi and Dong Yi’s faces on it.  When he asks them about it, there seems to be someone pulling strings framing Papa Choi for the murder of the dead prisoner at the police manor.

Seo is not thrilled when he finds out and confronts the dirty police officer.  Dirty police officer just twists everything around to make Papa Choi look guilty, claiming that Dong Yi is also an accessory to murder. Dirty officer tells Seo that this is all the work of the Guemgae and Seo was the first to arrest them so he should be fine with that.  Seo turns it around and says that he was too eager to arrest the Guemgae and that was his mistake but he cannot overlook the accusations against innocents.  A small pissing match incurs and Seo storms off. Dirty police officer is asked by his lackey if they are really ok leaving Seo alone.  Dirty officer says that Seo is the son of the Royal Advisor so even though his current position is low he can’t be touched due to his father’s prestige.  Don’t worry everything will be settled tomorrow.

Oh Tae-Suk is politicking and taking advantage of the West’s fear of being blamed for the deaths of the southern officials to push through the indictment of the Guemgae members.  It’s going to be a common thing in these dramas don’t trust the man who looks like the nice grandpa.  He’s probably evil.

Dong Yi is trying to sneak out of Gae Dwo Ra’s home where she is tightly guarded by his father. She wants to go do her greeting work. She convinces Gae Dwo Ra to pretend to be sick in an attempt to get his father to go for a doctor. There’s a funny scene where Gae Dwo Ra’s father has him drink manure water telling him it’s the cure for a stomach virus.  Gae Dwo Ra spits it all back out and confesses all to his dad which leads to him getting punished.  Papa Choi shows up as.

Dong Yi tries to tell her father that she needs to go do the greeting but Papa Choi tells her he can’t. He doesn’t give any reasons for it only tells her that the capital isn’t safe for her right now.  Dong Yi doesn’t understand and Papa Choi yells at her and leaves her in tears saying she hates him and she wants to wear pretty clothes.

Seo is in his office recollecting trying to think where he went wrong.  He decides to go out and retrace his steps.  He’s followed by a man dressed in rags who eventually bumps into him and passes him a note for a place to meet.  Seo goes there and meets Papa Choi.  Seo is glad Papa Choi is alive and safe.  They talk, Papa Choi explains that he waited so long to contact Seo because he felt there were probably spies in the police manor.  Papa Choi give Seo the information that Dong Joo found out. How it appears that the Southern faction was surveilling its own.  Papa Choi and Seo are on the verge of figuring everything out.

Seo goes to his father for his help.  He tells him that the Southern faction knows all about his investigation into the Guemgae that must be how they knew to direct him.  Please help, Seo’s father is the only one who can get this matter in front of the King.  Papa Seo tells his son that the King is on a trip to visit his mother’s mausoleum and then usually takes a trip around the country side to treat his health ailments. But this is important so he will leave tomorrow to go out to meet the king.  Papa Seo wants to verify that Seo trusts Papa Choi first.  He knows that Papa Choi is wanted for murder so could he be using Seo for his own ends.  Seo tells his father no Papa Choi isn’t that type of person.  He trusts Papa Choi as if her were himself.

Papa Choi is being followed but quickly loses his pursuer.  The man reports back to Seo that he lost him.  Seo acknowledges this and the fact that Papa Seo probably thought his pursuer was another detective trying to kill him or arrest him which was why he lost him.  Seo only placed the officer on Papa Choi to keep him safe but he seems to be doing a good enough job himself.  The next day a Guemgae member tries to slip some information into Seo’s office. However he’s caught and the information taken from him.

Papa Choi is watching families being happy and then looks sadly down on the dress he has for his daughter. Chun Soo comes up behind him and Papa Choi tells him that he wants to send Dong Yi away from the capital.  He entrusts Dong Yi’s safety to Chun Soo.

Dong Yi is still trying to get out.  Gae Dwo Ra isn’t listening to her, he has a black eye from his dad and tells her that if he listens to her again his dad is going to dump him in the outhouse.  Chun Soo shows up but Dong Yi doesn’t come out. Turns out Gae Dwo Ra did listen one more time and Dong Yi disguised as Gae Dwo Ra snuck out of the house.  Chun Soo is of course now worried because Dong Yi is wanted just as much as Papa Choi.

Papa Choi is telling Dong Joo about his plan to send Dong Yi out of the capital.  Suddenly there’s a report from the Seo’s office.  There’s someone plotting to assassinate Papa Seo. Dong Joo is all how can this be the only people who knew about him leaving was Seo and Papa Choi.  Papa Choi says it doesn’t matter just to muster the men they need to go and protect Papa Seo.  However it’s a set up.  The member who was caught had spilled the beans about everything and fingers Papa Choi as the head of the Guemgae.  By the time they get to Papa Seo he’s already dead and the Guemgae are now framed for his murder.  Seo doesn’t believe that Papa Choi killed his father even when he’s confronted with Papa Choi being brought in arrested amongst a group of Guemgae.  He still wants explanations and you can see from his expression that he doesn’t want to believe it.

Chun Soo is looking for Dong Yi.  Dong Yi is thrilled by her silk dress and happy to do her work.  She goes in to make the greeting.  The man she is making the greeting to happens to be Oh Tae-Suk. At first it seems to be going well. He’s impressed by Dong Yi and tells her that when the young miss comes to be married into his house they will have to bring her along as well as the maidservant.  Dong Yi tells him that she’s not a servant of the household just a commoner child from Banchon hired to do the greeting.  The name of her home catches the evil minister’s attention as he knows from his minions that’s where Papa Choi is from.  He asks her for her name and soon realizes that she’s the girl his men have been looking for so he has the servants lead her to a meal while he sends someone to the police.

When the dirty cop Jang shows up however Dong Yi isn’t in the room where the servant left her.  She went to see the cook about getting some left overs wrapped up to take home to her family.  For real as this series progresses you start to think that Dong Yi has a guardian angel looking out for her with all these near misses.  While out with the cook Dong Yi realizes people want to arrest her and quickly hides then climbs over the wall to escape.  She’s almost caught but Chun Soo thinking quickly pretends that Dong Yi is of the noble class not a commoner and it’s enough to trick the police and the servant into letting her go.  He takes Dong Yi to the meeting place but Dong Joo isn’t there so he stashes Dong Yi by the river and goes to look for his friends. Unfortunately it’s too late, everyone is dead at the meeting cave and everyone who went with Papa Choi are dead or arrested.

Papa Choi and his men are paraded through the town.  Chun Soo sees them and wants to fight the guards and try to free them but Papa Choi convinces him wordlessly to not fight.  A little further away Dong Yi hears the commotion and comes out of hiding to see and is upset to see her father being let away by soldiers. 

Review:  This episode really tugs at your heart strings.  Papa Choi and Commissioner Seo are so close to discovering the truth only for the southern faction to outsmart them and now it seems drive a wedge in between them.  Will Seo be able to trust that Papa Choi didn’t kill his dad?  Will the pain be too much for him? I forgot how time consuming recapping is.  Stopping and starting an episode.  Still 2 episodes done today only 58 more to go.

#dong yi #the jewel in the crown #episode recaps #episode 2

[allforshow93bsqo476-blog]

Where Will Allforshow93 StripCamFun Be 1 Year From Now?

Greater than a decade in the past, Once i was increasing up in Finland, my product of an attractive female was Pamela Anderson from “Baywatch.” She was my father’s preferred. Every time the boys at school questioned me who I Googled when my mother and father weren’t property, I stated, “Pamela,” and also the identify was greeted by using a unanimous nodding of heads.

I didn’t treatment much for her nude photographs, but I preferred that she was of Finnish heritage.

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I accepted an invite to Engage in billiards from Jarkko25. A screen popped up, and we were being escorted to A non-public area, where by an issue from him appeared inside the message box: “Are you experience frisky?”

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I waited a second after which wrote, “Yes.”

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I quickly Googled “Pamela+Anderson” and described what I noticed from the search results: “179 cm, blonde. I love to don heels and limited attire.”

“Mmmh. Do you've big breasts?”

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A few several hours just after dinner, my mother came to knock on my doorway to tell me it absolutely was bedtime. As I lay by itself in the dark, I felt a similar loneliness Jussi have to have been sensation.

I would like there had been a way for me to inform him what his on-line companionship intended to me: That he had designed it possible for me to generally be myself inside of a strictly gendered world of Pamela Andersons and James Bonds. That he experienced helped me believe I had been funny, fascinating and price speaking to. That he had, if only by his presence, built it feasible for me to start to approach my sexuality.

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