#the dark lady can drive away sorrow but then it returns

[zialltops]

honeysuckle’s & huckleberry’s

Joel (41) / F!reader (25) | 4.7k | wip | explicit | 18+ minors dni | enemies to lovers | slow burn | au: no cordyceps outbreak

Ranch hand Joel doesn’t know how to handle the return of his bosses prodigy daughter, her snarky attitude or her sinfully tight jeans.

a/n: hi guys!! I’m fresh off finishing east side of sorrow and couldn’t wait to hop into this work. I can not thank everyone enough for the fun we had with esos, but i am beyond stoked to meet this joel because i am ferallllll for him all dirty on a ranch with a cowboy hat on a horse ughhhh, give it to me already. anyways, let me know if you like it 🤍 thank you to @sawymredfox for letting me idea dump on you and give me all kinda of ideas! i love you to pieces! this ones for you my dear!

A03 Link | Spotify Link | Masterlink

Pt. 1: Oklahoma Smokeshow

Half a mile from the turnpike, two miles from home, along the winding and twisting asphalt of Cold Creek road, Joel Miller rasps his gloved hand against the steering wheel of the Rising Sun Ranch’s newly bought—second (maybe fifth?) hand old pickup truck. A beat up nineties chevy with rust on the floorboard and a new-car tree hanging from the rearview mirror. Beside him, his brother Tommy bounces his knee while he takes a long drag off his second cigarette since this drive started. The smoke plumes through the window, then back inside when the chill outside pushes the hot smoke back into the cab, whirling around Joel's senses like it belongs there. The smell is insufferable and makes Joel’s skin crawl, takes him to a time before ropers scars and belt buckles.

“Know that shit’s gon’ kill you, right?” He doesn’t need to look over at his brother's form beside him to know the younger man is anxious, like he usually is on long car rides. “You used to do it too, big brother.” Joel scuffs at him, keeps his one gloved hand on the wheel as he keeps on driving. He’s not wrong, if he wants to talk about the Joel of ten years ago, a distant, ragged and angry version of himself. “Don’t remind me.” He keeps his eyes fixed on the snow coated road ahead of him. He’s cautious at this time of the year, the winter storms usually leave them stranded on the ranch for a few weeks, but he’s lucky enough to have caught the dark clouds before they started to let down too much. The salt on the roads seem to do the trick for the time being, so long as he stays away from the embankment and keeps his eyes on the dimming road ahead.

It was mid day, but the sun sets early in the winter, so it hangs low in the sky amongst the cold abyss, like it’s desperately reaching out for the horizon—like it wants to run from this place too. He looks ahead and silently wishes to himself that he could follow those last rays of sunshine into tomorrow, like maybe he would find something there.

He shakes the thought and sets his mind back on track, why they were out here. “When we get back to the ranch, you need to find a way to apologize to Miss Lou. She really was just tryin’ to be helpful, Tommy. She ain’t wrong for that.” Louise had always been more than welcoming and kind to them, she’s saved their asses more than once and she feeds them more than she needs to, but his brother can never seem to let a good thing be, always biting the hand that attempted to feed him.

“Don’t like it when people go through my shit, man, you know that.” He’s nearly done with his cigarette, thank fuck because Joel wants to grab it from his hand himself and chuck it out the window. “She wasn’t goin’ through your stuff, dipshit, she was doin’ your laundry! Doesn’t give you any right to snap at someone like that. Especially a nice lady who’s husband give’s us a dollar in our pocket and a roof over our heads. Do you have any Idea where we’d be without that?”

It cuts deep because Tommy flicks his butt out the window and sinks down in his seat, he knows Joel is right because they are incredibly lucky to be where they are now. They would probably never find somewhere as appealing as their little shared hunting cabin a half mile from the main house. “Hank ain’t happy,” he adds, like Tommy doesn’t already know that after the argument that led to them leaving. “We wouldn’t be out in a goddamned snow storm for fuckin’ flowers if Hank was happy.”

Joel finally glances over, but when he does, it’s at the bouquet of flowers sitting beside him on the bench seat. “Doesn’t matter, you still need to apologize—to both of them. We wouldn’t have shit if it weren’t for them—“ they wouldn’t, they were on their last leg, hitchhiking across half the country when they found an ad outside of the feed store in Jackson looking for a ranch hand in exchange for room and board. Joel gave them two for the price of one and the rest was history. Tommy makes an annoyed sound and interrupts. “Joel, what's that?” Directly in front of them, on the side of the road caught in an embankment is a little blue car sunk all the way down to the lug nuts. It doesn’t look like the person lost control, but they just drove into the embankment.

This road isn’t frequented and the cell service is spotty, but the taillights on the car tell him there's someone inside. “I’m stoppin’ to help,'' Joel informs him, but Tommy shifts and rolls his eyes—he’s never been the humanitarian type. “Why? I’m sure they can pay for a tow truck. Besides, if they are stupid enough to get stuck in an embankment, they can suffer.” Usually, Joel would agree, but the closer they get to Christmas, the more that iced over heart of his starts to thaw out.

Joel stops the truck on the road and leaves it running while he looks over at his brother. “Ain’t leavin’ nobody stuck out here in this storm, even if they’re stupid. They won't make it through the night.” He shuts the door behind him and stuffs his hands into his pockets. An agitated gust of air leaves his lungs in the form of cloudy condensation amongst the snowfall. He walks up to the car, leaning down so he can glance inside without getting too close. Through the fogged window, he can make out the figure of a woman leaned against the steering wheel, her face casted by her hair hanging all around while she slumps her head against the wheel. Stupid—stupid girl. What the hell is she doing way out here?

He rasps against the window and she jolts just as Tommy comes up behind him, finally having left the comfort of the truck cab. “S’a girl, should have guessed.” Tommy interjects with a crude tone, thankfully before she rolls the window down. She looks a little scared and a lot embarrassed, her eyes are red like she’s been crying her heart out. It doesn’t make Joel sad, it makes him uncomfortable. Emotions make his skin crawl, make him uneasy. He doesn’t handle people crying well, he doesn’t know how to react to it, what he should say or do.

“You need someone to pull you out?” He asks, trying his best to sound mellow tempered and helpful. He’s not, but he won't be able to sleep tonight if he has to drive by the coroner unsticking her frozen body from the seats in the morning. “I’m so sorry—I was checking my phone because my mom texted me and I didn’t see the corner—“ stuck in the snow because she was on her fucking phone? “You hit a snow embankment because you were textin’? You dim or somethin’, girl?” She gives him a hard glance, eyebrows pulled together tightly. “I’m not dim, but I can tell you’re dense.”

Tommy scuffs from beside him and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’ll grab the chain,” he tells his brother as he heads towards the truck. “I’m gonna pull you out, but after that you’re on your own, kid. This storm is just starin’, might be smart if you headed back to whatever city you blew in from.”

She’s the furthest thing from appreciative when Joel hooks a chain to the frame of her car and the hitch on the front of the old red chevy. When she gets out of the little blue car, Joel gets the full extent of how unprepared she is for a full on impending whiteout snowstorm. Her pants have rips and holes, like they are meant to be there, no way they are offering any kind of protection from the chill. Her boots have a three inch heel like she’s walking along some new york sidewalk with a tiny dog in her arms. She has a jacket, fur lining the hood and yet she’s still shaking like it all does nothing to protect her from the snow.

“Thank you for doing this, but I really could have called a tow truck or something. They probably would have been a lot nicer about it.” Her voice is dripping with disdain when he stands upright again. “You want nice, or you want to be dead? Because there ain’t no company sending a driver out here when were forecasted to get two feet overnight.”

She puts her hands on her hips in an attempted threatening manner, like that might scare Joel into an apology when she looks like an angry child who didn’t get their way. Joel hated people like this, too good for the world with their nose up in the air. He turns around to head back to the truck when he spots the piles of boxes in her back seat. Great—another fuckin’ know it all who think’s living out here is romantic and rustic. “You movin’ out here somewhere? You know there ain’t a mall for like, a hundred and fifty miles, right?”

She’s irritated now, with all the rude comments Joel is throwing her way—but he doesn’t care because the last thing this place needs is more city people thinking they can tame this untouched land. It shouldn’t bother him, because how long could she really last out here anyways? With those three inch heels and clothes fit for a concrete jungle, not muddy plains and cattle. She won't make it a month out here in the dead of winter.

“Just pull my car out, or leave me be, because the last thing I need right now is to get harassed by some old dumb fuck cowboy.” Dumb cowboy? Old? Like he’s the fucking moron out here in the middle of a blizzard in a car with bald ass tires and pants with holes in them. Maybe he should fucking leave, let her strand around trying to find a signal to call a tow company that wont come. “You know what?” Teach her a lesson, maybe then she’ll learn this place isn’t for people like her. With her done up hair and makeup—she’s pretty, unnaturally so—like she’s trying to damn hard to look that good—god damnit—“walk around in those stupid fucking shoes and see if you can find your own way out,” he leans down and undoes the hook under her car roughly. “Come on Tommy, were out of here.” She stomps her foot in the snow and starts to pace back to her car.

Joel makes his way back to the truck and unhooks the chain from the front. He’s had a long fucking day of taking care of his idiot bothers problems and he doesn’t have the patience to help some girl who doesn’t know what’s good for her.

“Hey, big brother.” It’s Tommy’s voice in his ears when he finally closes the door behind himself, huffing in discontent as he puts it in gear. “What.” He snaps, backing away from the stuck car and those sinfully tight jeans on that tight little—mother fucking son of a bitch, stop it!—he cant stand people like her, fucking with his head and getting under his skin. The type of girls who have looked him up and down and laughed in his face at the thought of someone like him being up to standard for someone like them. That snot nosed brat can sit in the snow, for all he cares.

“No need to get all hostile at me, man—I’m just checkin’ on ya. You’re all red and pissy, and nothin’ gets you all worked up like that.” He shrugs beside him with a cocky sort of snort. “I mean, unless—“ Joel jerks on the wheel and sneers over at his brother. “Drop it. Not another fucking word or I’ll leave you here too.”

Tommy’s jaw snaps shut and he looks out the passenger window, the radio playing quietly while the storm picks up, and the road carries on. Joel doesn’t think about what he’s done, only how his knee bounces and his hands flex the whole way back to the ranch. How his heart pounds and his blood rushes and it makes his head throb.

When they pull into the muddy drive, he shuts off the truck and turns towards his brother and the bouquet of flowers. “You really need to mean it when you talk to them, I’m serious. They are nice people who’ve looked out for us for two years. We owe them that, at least.” His little brother seems serious when he nods, so Joel passes him the flowers and heads inside. They have sacrificed so much to help Joel and Tommy. They’d been through dark winters with them, when they lost half the herd to the cold and Joel spent the night in the barn with what was left to make sure they all stayed upright and dry. They’ve all had empty bellies at night, didn’t have two nickels to rub together between the four of them and they’ve stood by each others sides through it. They’ve seen Tommy lose his shit a few times, too—so they know he’s capable of coming back from it. He just hopes this time wasn’t too far—Tommy had yelled at her for simply washing his clothes for him.

When the door to the big white farm house creaks open, Joel steps inside to the warm scent of roast in the oven and potatoes on the stove, Hank in his recliner with the newspaper in his hand and his reading glasses on while the game plays in the background. Hank was a large man, kind of chubby in the joyous kind of way, kind eyes and balding on the top. He laughs a lot, but he takes no shit while he’s at it.

“Kitchen,” Joel directs Tommy, who makes his way to the conjoining room where Louise was probably busy cooking dinner. Joel makes his way over to the couch across from Hank, who drops his paper and gives Joel a long look. “You talk to him?” He nods his head and glances down at his snowy boots. “He’s been real anxious all day. Storm comin’ in is messin’ with him and he knows it's no excuse to snap at anyone. He’s in there apologizin’.”

The older man nods at him and glances over his shoulder where Joel can barely see Tommy handing her the bouquet. “She was really shaken up over it, I hate seeing her so upset. She’s been excited all day and trying to make the house looks nice. I think it was just a misunderstanding, but don’t give him any excuse to yell at her like that.”

Joel twists his hands around and looks up at Hank who wears a solemn expression. “I know, I’m real sorry, Hank.”

The man across from him sigh, then offers a faint smile as he stands from his chair. “It’s alright. You boys are like family, families fight—it happens. Lets get some dinner, forget about all this mess, alright?” Joel is thankful for the reason to drop the conversation and stands with the older man as they head towards the kitchen. Louise and Tommy are talking quietly, smiling at each other until she reaches out and embraces him in a soft looking hug. It's an ease on Joel’s wound tight mind, thinking Tommy had finally thrown a wrench in the only good thing they’ve had in ten years.

Dinner is delicious, savory roast that he can dip soft bread in, let is soak up all the juice that he tries and fails to not get all over his beard. When his bowl is empty and his stomach feels distended, he leans back in his chair and sighs contently. “That was amazing, Miss Lou—I don’t know how you do it.” The smile she gives him isn’t like one of her usuals, it’s slightly saddened and disheartened when she looks across the table at him. For a moment, he worries that Tommy’s words are getting to her again. “Everythin’ okay?” He sits up a little in his chair.

“I'm a little worried. Our daughter was on her way home from college today, she’s finally graduated and she called me this morning to tell me she’d be home before supper, so I made her favorite.” She looks towards the window. “The storm is getting worse, I’m worried her little car wont make it,” Joel’s whole stomach lurches into his throat and he nearly throws up in his hands. “I told you we should have gotten her a truck, Hank, you know she’s not the best driver in snow.”

Fuck—fuck, fuck, fuck!—he’s such a fucking idiot. He knew she was coming home today, Lou has been talking about it for weeks, the impending return of the prodigy child, home with a degree to save the ranch—or whatever it is that she was doing. He’d heard them talk about her so many times, she was all brains and no know-how, Hank always talked about how clumsy and awkward she was, but how brilliant her mind was at the same time. He’d always questioned how uncoordinated she really was, based on the photos of her as a young woman roping in the rodeo. Fuck—he should have recognized her... “What’s her name again?” Tommy asks like he has no fucking clue Joel is losing his ever loving shit right now. They left her stranded on the side of the road in the middle of this damn snow storm. He hears Louise say her name but it doesn’t register because he feels like he’s on fire and drownings at the same time. “But everyone’s always called her Honey. Since she was a little little thing. She was always so ornery and stubborn until one day she got into a bee box and got covered in bee stings. Ever since that day she was so sweet, so we started calling her Honey.” Lou has this soft smile and all Joel can think about is how he’d told her to crawl back to whatever city she came from in her stupid fucking shoes. “She’s got a real mouth on her till something puts her straight.” Hank chuckles and Joel abruptly stands from his seat.

“I’m finished, I can go out and have a look incase she got stuck somewhere.” He slings on his jacket, but Tommy is still eating and doesn’t think much of it—dumb ass. “Are you sure? She’s probably fine, she knows better than to get caught out in these storms, she probably got a hotel in town.” Joel shakes his head at them and throws on his thick Carhartt jacket that Hank gave him his first winter here after watching him shiver in the fields. “I’m sure, it’s gettin’ bad, just gonna make sure she ain’t stuck somewhere.” Joel makes his way out the door quickly, grabbing the keys to the truck that they had given to him—“how are you supposed to manage a ranch if you don’t have a way to get around?”

He starts up the old chevy and it fires to life despite the snow coming down in heaps now. He’s worried about the road back to her car, about the probably eight inches lining the long driveway, but he throws it in four wheel drive and tries his damndest to get through it because despite all the things stacking up against him, his biggest worry is the police finding her frozen to death in the morning and her parents faces when they find out it was Joel who abandoned her there to die. God—he’s such a prick.

The road is slippery and tricky, a winding snow covered path along the hillside leading towards Jackson. It takes him twenty minutes in this blizzard to get there, all he can think about the entire time is the half freezing girl hiding in her car and the warm food in his belly that was meant for her. He stops the truck when he gets to the car, the lights are off and it looks abandoned—his gut lurches again, what if he’s already too late? Two hours have passed since he left her stranded and the sun has set now, real cold is creeping in.

He jumps out of the truck and walks up to the window. He can't see inside because the glass is fogged, so she has to be alive in there. He knocks on the window and the door jerks against the cold. “Hey,” he pulls the door open more, she’s sitting in the driver seat, pale and shaking with a small blanket pulled around her to keep in some warmth. The look she gives him could kill a man if he didn’t feel like he was already going to die the second you tell your parents that he left you there.

“Y-Your conscious f-finally get to y-you, asshole?” She’s absolutely shaking, her fingers look purple. “I’m so sorry—C’mon, it’s warm in the truck.” He reaches for her hand, but she snaps it away from him like he might burn her. “I c-can get o-out on my own.” She can and does, wobbles on her too tall heels and starts to head towards the running truck. Joel grabs the door for her and she sneers at him—yeah, yeah—he deserves that. He closes the door behind her and runs over to the other side. When he jumps in, she’s got her hands pressed against the heater while she relishes in the welcomed heat.

He pulls away from her trapped car, he’ll come back for it when the snow has cleared up a little bit, but for now—it’s too dangerous to try and yank it out just for it to get stuck in the road because it has no traction. It's ten agonizing minutes of silence while Joel taps his fingers against the steering wheel, trying his damndest to keep a close eye on the woman beside him. She’s warming herself up and thawing out that burning rage Joel knows is inside of her. When they get closer to the driveway, she starts to fire off. “You takin’ me to some backwoods shack to tie me up and keep me?” He scoffs and looks out the windshield, trying to keep the truck steady in the snow.

“If I was going to tie up and keep some girl, I’d make sure she was less bitchy.” She growls at him, growls lowly and it actually does the job, makes his skin prick in goosebumps while he drives. “Wouldn’t be so bitchy if you didn’t leave me on the side of the road. You know I could have died, right?” He is painfully, agonizingly aware of that fact. “I came back, didn’t I?” The driveway is in view, a long fenced path up to the old farm house. “How’d you know I was comin’ here?” Her voice is a tad quieter now, less abrasive on his ears.

“Cus’ I’m comin’ here too.” He says quietly, halfway hoping it won't reach her ears, but her mom was right—she is quick, smart too. “You’re Joel, aren’t you?” She laughs menacingly, crossing her arms across her body and her left leg over her right with a scoff. “You know, my parents said it was Tommy I wouldn’t like. Said you were this big southern gentlemen.” She laughs a little harder, looking over at Joel. “They were half worried they’d have to chase me out of your bed, that you were right up my alley. My daddy said you were the type to charm any woman’s pants off. Guess they don’t know you like they thought they do, huh? Under all that chivalrous facade is just another self centered, selfish cowboy.”

Joel shuts off the truck and glances over at her. “Look, I’m real sorry. First impressions aren’t my strong suit, got a thing for people who don’t belong out here. Didn’t know you were their kid. Would’ve pulled your car out if I’d known.” She opens the door of the cab and steps out into the snow. “So you’re only a good person when someone’s lookin’, I’ll keep that in mind, dickhead.”

She slams the door and storms off towards the house while Joel slumps against the wheel with his head in his hands. Fuck…if it’s not Tommy risking their welcome, their jobs, then it was him, making an absolute ass of himself in-front of the bosses daughter. The bosses fiery, too good—too good looking—

“Son of a bitch!”

—

He gets into the house ten minutes after she does, his hands stuffed in his pockets and half expecting her parents to kick him out right then and there. He pretty much told her to fuck off and left her to freeze to death. There’s no doubt in his mind that they would have found her dead in the morning, the temperature was below freezing already.

To his surprise, it's quiet when he gets inside. Hank and Louise are in the dining room with their daughter, laughing and smiling and surprised to see her, to see her with Joel. “And he just found you there?” She looks so…so..chipper standing there beside her dad with her arm on his shoulder while he sits at the table. “Yep, got my car stuck because I was texting, I know—not bright.” She sounds so fucking fake and dramatic in her tone, Joel’s hands flex and unflex. “And I couldn’t get out and find a signal because of my stupid fucking shoes. I probably would have died there if not for…good ol’ Joel.” She cocks her head with this shit eating grin on her face that makes Joel's gut clench up and his heart pound.

This fucking bitch—is she blackmailing him right now? In those stupid fucking pants and that top he’s finally getting a glimpse at—and then…shit…

Look at you…just—his brain is going haywire right now. He hates your fucking guts right about now but his brain makes other notes about your guts and its desire to be in them—and that tight ass shirt with your tits just pourin’ out of it—Jesus CHRIST, Joel, get it together here.

He shakes his head, bites the inside of his cheek and meets your eyes, everyone else is looking at you, but you’re looking at him, fully aware of the way his eyes just ate your body up for dessert until he was stuffed. “Real winner you guys have here, mom and dad…real winner.”

If there’s one thing Joel is certain of, it’s that he is in big, big fucking trouble.

#joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #pedro pascal #joel miller x reader #the last of us #archive of our own #joel the last of us #joel tlou #rancher joel #joel miller moodboard #cowboy joel miller

[krillissue]

19 or 6 for merylwood

19. a kiss to shut them up - merylwood

these are the stampede versions, just good-old-fashioned pigtail pulling. for mwahrch! please send me more of these!!

Nicholas D. Wolfwood was a massive pain in the ass. She’d thought so from the very time they’d met. Meryl hadn’t meant to hit him with her car, of course. But he tried to blackmail her $20,000 to not sue. Absolutely ridiculous. But Vash had taken him in, immediately infatuated with the shady priest. Oh yeah, that was another thing that pissed her off about him. He claimed to be a priest but he drank and smoked, he flirted, generally lived a life full of sin and violence. What was his problem? 

They were both at the bar, drowning their sorrows in cheap beer. Vash and Roberto were off playing a game of cards, of which Vash seemed to be losing. Probably on purpose, he was nice like that. But Wolfwood was getting on her nerves, arguing about pointless things just to get a rise out of her. 

“C’mon, shorty, why won’t you try worm meat? It’s good for ya and you can’t be too picky out here on the road.” 

“Shut up, already. I’m an adult, I can make my own choices.” 

They had snipped at each other all day in the truck and now at the bar, several patrons steering clear of them both. It wasn’t getting heated, not really, until Wolfwood touched a nerve. 

“I bet you’d eat it for Vash, huh? If he pats those pretty blue eyes at you, you’d melt for him?” Wolfwood smirked around his shot of whiskey like he’d won, way too proud of himself. Meryl saw red, wanting to knock him down. 

“No, but I bet you would. You’re the only one weak to Vash’s charms.” How she felt about the legendary gunman wasn’t any of his concern, he should keep that big nose of his to himself. Wolfwood scoffed, that poker face of his shit with his big expressive eyes. He thought those shades of his hid them but she could read him like a book. 

“Watch it, little lady.” 

“Why? You started it, I’m just being honest.” Meryl crossed her arms, huffing. Wolfwood stood and started for the door without another word, clearly pouting. “What, running away already? Scared to admit it?” She pursued him, much to his irritation. But she was testy and frustrated, he’d been getting under her skin all day. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” He growled out, that gruff voice of his all gravely from his cigarettes. She wished he wouldn’t smoke so much but there was nothing to do about it. He was too stubborn. But so was she. Meryl followed him outside and down the street, the night dark and chilly. 

“What is there to know? You--” She never got to finish her sentence, Wolfwood yanked her to his chest faster than she could register what happened. 

“Watch where you’re going!” Wolfwood was yelling at the motorist who would have hit her had he not grabbed her out of the way. Meryl’s face was pressed to his chest, that little triangle of his open shirt showing just a hint of chest hair. She blushed, his arm firm and strong around her, his large palm dwarfing her shoulder. “Are you okay, little lady?” 

“Y-yeah, I am. Thanks,” Meryl mumbled, not even correcting him for not using her name. She looked up at him with wide eyes and he let her go, suddenly bashful. 

“Good, you need to watch where you’re going. You’re gonna get killed.” They went back to arguing, just like that. But Meryl had enough. She grabbed his suit jacket and pulled him down, kissing him silent. She expected Wolfwood to get all shy about it but he returned her kiss with more heat than she expected, backing her up against the wall. 

At least he finally shut up. Wolfwood might drive her crazy but maybe she could forgive it for this. 

#trigun stampede #trigun fanfiction #meryl stryfe #nicholas d wolfwood #merylwood #stryfewood #mwahrch #writing prompts #mouse writes #ask krill

[whitepolaris]

The Bridge on White Lady Lane

by Mindy Reznik

In Pembina County, North Dakota, the White Lady of local lore was a young farmer’s daughter destined for sorrow. The story goes that after she bore a child out of wedlock, her fervidly religious parents forced her to marry against her will. The unhappy bridge returned home after the wedding ceremony only to find that her baby had died in its crib. 

Apparently, her destress over the baby’s death and the thought of having to spend the rest of her life with a man she didn’t love were too much for her. Still clad in her wedding gown, the young woman left home and walked to a lonely lane on the outskirts of town, where she hanged herself from a bridge. Today, many people claim that if you travel to the bridge at night, you can see the ghost of the grief-stricken girl hanging there in her white dress. 

The bridge spans a small creek between the towns of Leroy and Walhalla, near the Minnesota and Manitoba borders. It is reached by a narrow, overgrown road off county Route 9 that leads through the Tetrault Woods. Known locally as White Lady Lane, the gravel road narrows until it’s barely wide enough for a car. The woods surrounding the rickety bridge are dark and eerie. All in all, it’s the kind of place that would scare you even if there weren’t a ghost lying in wait. 

An Ominous Feeling

I’m a student at North Dakota State University in Fargo, and a trip up to the bridge has often been the evening activity of choice for my friends and me. While some of them swear they’ve seen the White Lady hanging from the bridge, I’ve yet to see her for myself. Still, I get a strange sensation every time I visit the bridge-an ominous, unsettling feeling that I’ve never experienced anywhere else. It’s as if a melancholy presence were hovering nearby. It seems to be everywhere, yet it’s nowhere to be seen. The sensation goes away as soon as I leave the spot. 

I’ve heard that other visitors believe they’ve had closer encounters. They’ve claimed that the spirit of the White Lady has actually climbed into their cars or followed them as they left. They’ve also said that the feeling of being tailed ended as soon as they’ve left White Lady Lane. 

The old bridge in the woods always scares the daylights out of me, but my friends and I keep making the long drive north to see it. Someone, or something, keeps drawing us back. Perhaps one day we’ll find out whether it’s the White Lady herself who beckoning. 

#weird ghosts #type read

[artoriyasart]

I am once again losing the motivation to write, depression just wants to keep me down. The only thing that seems to drive it away is Sylvanas reading to me and maybe my birthday if I can afford the present I want.

#sylvanas windrunner #sad musings #really doesn't feel like im going to have a good birthday #the dark lady can drive away sorrow but then it returns #its hurting my creativity at the moment #im sure it will pass

[insomniasymphony]

Obsessive Hisoka Morow x Female Reader [He cannot hate you]

Constellation: Obsessive Hisoka Morow x Female Reader Words I got: → Protective → Duality → Affection Rating: Teen up and Audience

                            ►► He is the devil with a sweet tooth,                               And you are the candy on his tongue.                       Get on your knees and ask him to choose                                     Nothing sweeter than you.                              For sweetness doesn't last long. ◄◄

Hectically, you jerk your head from left to right, look around for other cars and take a breath when there are no others blocking the road. In the cold evening air, your legs carry you in hurried steps across the asphalt, to the other side of the pavement that should lead you through the houses of Yorknew. Further and further, until the hotel room is forever gone.

The breath on your lips rises in white clouds, bringing something wistful with it that you don't want to pay attention to. Still, you can't rid yourself of the thought in the back of your mind.

It's not too late to give up on your plan.

You could drag yourself back to the room you've been sharing with Hisoka for four days, put on something pretty and wait for the magician to return from his meeting. He'd tell you about his new plan, kiss you, and fuck your senses into no-man's land for half the night because you're his favourite toy.

That's the problem: you're just a doll that can be replaced.

He's never said that he loves you, even though you've been spending every spare minute together for six months. Hisoka took you on his journey and he hasn't let you out of his sight since.

You shower together, eat together, he kills anyone you exchange too many kind words with. It's as if he wants to shut you off from the world so that you belong to him alone.

But this obsessive nature of his is nothing but terror for you. Sometimes you long for freedom, which you know Hisoka will never give you. He would rather strangle to death with his own hands than see you go. His subliminal threats make that clear time and time again.

And tonight you are ready to die for your freedom.

A little more hastily, you hurry ahead, turn into a narrow alley and hear the echo of your footsteps rising up the stone walls. Each reverberation makes your skin seem colder under your soft woolen coat. The goosebumps don't subside, the shiver persists, and you can't help but believe that behind every shadow is a part of Hisoka. His intense gaze has made you paranoid.

Briefly, you shake your head. This time his eyes won't be able to pierce you. When Hisoka returns, the hotel room will be empty and you will be long gone – so far away from him, with a new name and a new life, that he won't find you. For three weeks you have been looking for someone who would save you and Hisoka from this relationship and you have indeed found someone who wants to fulfil all your wishes for a lot of money in exchange.

Your gaze wanders once briefly over your shoulder. Through the echo of your own flight, you can no longer perceive anything but your own movements. Hisoka could be walking right behind you and you wouldn't notice. The racing of your heart makes the blood rush in your ears and everything else inside you is so erratically tense that you don't know if your nerves can hold it all together.

Only when the alley ends and sends you between other streets to find safety, a tiny part of the fear falls away, still simmering underneath.

Across the street, at least fourteen cars have parked. This area of the city seems like a residential neighbourhood where men return to their loving wives. The husband old-fashioned in a suit while she wears an apron because dinner is boiling on the cooker. Docile women in the kitchen who have no time to look for other men. Probably that's exactly what Hisoka is longing for too. A woman who only has eyes for him. All day long. Without exception. Locked up like a bird in a cage.

Even though you never intended to replace him. Hisoka is the man who won your heart. A guy who goes through life strong and ruthless, but always takes great care to make sure you're okay.

Your steps slow down as you stop at the edge of the pavement. One of the vehicles is started, flashing its headlights three times. The sign that this is your getaway car. The man who will take you away. Away from Hisoka, whose arms have wrapped protectively around you more than once in the last six months. His warmth on your skin has always been comforting and even though you know he hates it when you talk to other men and he has left marks on your body as a safety for himself as a result, his company has always been loving. He has never hurt you unless you found sexual pleasure in it. He never raised his voice at you. Never did he try to lock you up. His only crimes are the threats that still jump through your senses and also the fact that he likes to corner and intimidate you.

On top of that, he messes with people for your sake who are more dangerous than one might think at first. Yes, you love him. But if you don't leave, he will either throw you away or he will be killed because of you. You are poison to each other, you can't explain it any other way.

Yet, you don't want to go. The fear in your heart has made room for sorrow and the desire to run back into his strong, protective arms is strong.

Swallowing dryly, you give yourself a push. You have no choice but to make the best decision for both of you. Your feet start moving again and you drag yourself along, reaching the car you're getting into. You find room in the back seat, the fabric of which clings to you strangely and uncomfortably as you take a shaky breath and look in the rearview mirror for a half-glimpse of your helper's round face.

“Are you ready, good lady?” His smoky voice scrapes through the atmosphere, merely making you nod before he finally starts the engine and drives off. Your heart sinks four floors deeper, smothered in grief and fear, both of which settle on too many things in your chest. Maybe you're making a mistake, but this relationship has no future.

You feel the car smoothly take the turns, hear the engine accelerate, sense every bump in your bones. You claw your sweaty hands into the upholstery as you reprimand yourself to rest with conscious inhales and exhales. It's over, you've escaped, given you both the freedom you deserve.

Yorknew's houses diminish for a moment, bringing trees and the parkland to the fore where you would have loved to have a romantic walk. But Hisoka doesn't think much of boring strolls. He likes sex. Togetherness where you are close to each other – all to yourselves, so that you can snuggle up to him and you just sit there. Amusement parks. Bungee gum. You.

The thought draws a sigh from you before the car makes a strange rattling sound, forcing the driver to stop. You halt at the side of the road, so you can't help but hold your breath.

“What was that?” you press out.

“If I saw right, I just accidentally drove over a marten,” the stranger returns to you, making you exhale because it's not a horror movie you're in after all. Then he gets out.

The open door, which he doesn't close, brightens up the inside of the vehicle, makes the outside world a little more unfriendly than it really is and forces you to get out too, because you can't find a quiet minute alone on this upholstery.

Slowly you push your way back into the cold of the darkness, glancing at the streetlights flickering conspiratorially before circling the car to check on your driver. But all you see in front of the bonnet is a trail of blood. Not a marten. No one. Probably he's just taking the dead animal away, burying it so the kids won't get spooked in the park the next day.

The cool air seems to bite down to your bones, numbing your skin as you count off two minutes. The restlessness keeps you looking around and for a moment you are willing to jump in the car and eagerly drive on. But your driver also has your new identity and all the other things that have been so painstakingly prepared. You can't leave without him. So you stroll a few steps towards the park. Just until the blackness seems to swallow everything, because the flickering streetlamps don't give enough light for more.

Tense, you cross your arms in front of your chest, bobbing up and down before gnawing fear begs for action. “Hello?”

Only silence returns to your question and you can't help but take a step over the dark threshold and venture further ahead to find your driver. Three, four feet ahead to the first tree closest to you. “What's wrong?”

Again you meet only silence, staggering a few more steps ahead and giving up in the same breath. A glance over your shoulder moves the car, which is already a few metres away from you, into a ghostly, almost lonely picture, apart from the other vehicles that pass by every now and then. No one seems to care about the abandoned automobile.

A little more annoyed, you take a breath, shake your head as something wet hits your cheek and you instantly look up because the sky didn't look like rain at all when you started running.

And it still doesn't.

Nevertheless, your heart stops for a beat.

Cold seems to consume you from within, makes you pull your coat tighter.

Up there, above you, fixed between branches, the lifeless eyes of the man who was supposed to help you escape stare back at you. His arms hang twisted above him and his legs are missing entirely. In the darkness, suffused with moonlight, you can only make out the bitter facts. And one of them is death.

“Do you like it?”

Instantly you suck in the air sharply, turning around in an instant only to catch sight of Hisoka. Leaning relaxed against a tree, he shuffles his cards as if nothing has happened. “I thought we had decided that you would wait in the hotel room. Where were you going with that man at such a late hour?”

His gaze lifts so that his amber eyes can look at you, while his features wait in a lack of enthusiasm for answers. You don't know if he's angry, but his expression seems to threaten you.

“I-I... I wanted to...” What do you want to say anyway? You don't know yourself what exactly you wanted other than to just get away from him for too many things that seem wrong. “Away.”

“Where to?”, Hisoka inquires, pushing himself off the trunk and coming closer. The cards disappear into the pockets of his white trousers in the same blink.

“Just... away,” you counter, unable to look at him any further because his eyes seem to look right down into your core.

“From me?” He pauses in front of you. “Why?”

Again your attention jerks to him and you hate the fact that he is wearing heels because it only makes him taller than he already is.

“You... are... constricting me.”

“Is that so?” The almost biting undertone in his voice is frightening. But you don't have time to think of what his next move might be as he grabs you by the chin and forces you to look at him very closely. His grip is so tight around your jawbone as he does so that you panic he might break it.

Then he leans towards you, breathes such a gentle kiss on your lips that, along with fear, terrible warmth rises up inside you. Your heart races wildly, but you don't know if it's the fear or the longing. Seeing him like this, knowing he is so close to you, is cruel because you love him, don't want to leave him, but don't want to see either of you die either.

The mere thought of losing him, or not being good enough anymore, knots your stomach as your vision blurs and the sobs in your throat quietly spill out.

Hisoka watches this rection, loosening his grip around your chin and running his thumb over your lips. A little like he wants more words from you. And you can't help but give them to him in a gush.

“I love you, Hisoka. I really do. But this can't work.” You have to swallow to keep from breaking into a raspy cough. “You lock me up like I'm your pet and you're messing with people who might kill you one day.” The first tear rolls down your cheeks unintentionally, making you wipe it away in frustration because you don't want to seem like an effeminate damsel in distress. “You're going to kill yourself because of me. And if not for that, then one day you'll just throw me away because you're not a man for life. And I'm afraid that by then I'll love you so much that I won't be able to stand it. So I was gonna let you go. And I can understand if you hate the decision, but isn't that the duality you love to talk about? Love and hate, both sides of the same coin? I-” Hisoka interrupts you as he takes your face in his hands and forcibly pulls you to him, far enough to force you onto your toes to press a kiss to your lips. A warm touch full of affection so gentle it takes your breath away.

Then he lets go of you, remains close in front, but his features are adorned with a friendly smile that makes him a little suspicious, while his hand caresses your cheek. As he does so, he brushes your lower eyelid, collecting another tear that was about to escape.

The tenderness he has for you irritates you so much that every one of your brain cells shuts down for a breath before Hisoka focuses on you again, piercing you with a blank stare. The atmosphere between you grows heavier.

“You think too much about nothingness, love.” His voice is so soft that it seems almost deadly at the same time. “And because you're like that, I'm going to let you get away with it for today.” He leans down to your ear, licks once over the shell with the tip of his tongue. “But if you run away again, I will kill you.”

“H-Hisoka...” You don't know what you can say to appease him. Nothing seems good enough. But Hisoka understands, straightening up to look at you again, putting on that playful smile he goes through life with. “Or I can put you in chains so I can have you with me for the rest of my life. Whichever option you like better.”

He tilts his head, looking at you with mockery and at the same time with a barely perceptible commitment so that you can feel the blush on your cheeks. On one hand, he's making a fool of you, on the other, he's conveying in his own unique way that he's sure he wants you for himself – forever.

He can't stay mad at you for long, can't even punish you for your terrible action, just takes you as you are, as if he has a weakness for all your stupid words and your troubled feelings.

And in those seconds you know that he loves you no less than you love him.

[Picture from a card collecting game]

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#Hunter X Hunter #hunter x 2011 #hunter x reader #hunter x you #hisoka hxh #hisoka morow #hisoka x you #hisoka x reader #Female reader #reader insert #My writing #my Ao3 works #fanfiction #fanfic #love #obsessive #obsessed

[otonymous]

It’s The End Of The World (MLQC Headcanon)

Dear Nonny...

I say that now, Nonny, but the truth is that the ONLY thing I love more than smut is angst! Mwahahaha! 🤣🤣 That being said, let’s take a one-way trip to Angst Town!  Everybody got their seatbelts on?!  LET’S GO!!! (Please note warnings below before reading 💕💕💕)

Warnings: angst, explicit language, trigger warnings (mentions of speeding, near-death experiences and flashbacks, nausea & vomiting, insomnia, slight mention of possessive behaviour, workaholism, loss of appetite and weight loss, anger and violent behaviour (not towards other people though!)) and SPOILERS (basically up to chapter 24 in the EN server; includes dates and Rumours & Secrets for the boys) 

Gavin:

DEVASTATED.  This man is absolutely devastated.

Gavin has known you since high school and loved you since then

You were his dream girl — the one he thought had got away until his duties brought you back into his life.  He had vowed to protect you till the very end, had absolutely no qualms about giving his life for yours.  He made a solemn promise to himself that he would never lose you a second time

Until that fateful day when you invited him out for lunch at Lynn’s Kitchen on the grounds of your old high school

You order his favourites, spicy noodles and lemon tea; wait until his stomach is full before you open your mouth to gently broach the topic

“Gavin…I…”

A single glance at your face tells Gavin that something is terribly off.  He’s immediately setting his chopsticks down, asking, “What’s wrong?  You know you can talk to me about anything.  Whatever it is, I’ll help you—”

“Shaw.  We…we’ve decided to be together.  I know you’re not on good terms, and he did insist on coming today, but I thought it would be best if I told you myself…”

He cannot hear  

He cannot move  

And it isn’t until the burning sensation in his lungs catches up with him that he realizes he hadn’t even been breathing

Amber eyes, listless and dull, float from your lips to the wall decorated with Post-It notes just behind you, moving from one colourful slip of paper to another

“I hate it when people leave without saying goodbye.”

Gavin still remembers the loops and dashes of your handwriting on the Post-It note you had written so long ago, the way you dotted your i’s with hearts

And all of a sudden, he is back in his high school uniform, bloodied and bruised and free falling from the roof of the four-storey building

Except this time, he cannot hear the strains of a piano, no matter how hard he tries.  The gingko leaves around him flutter to the ground just before…

“Gavin?”  The touch of your hand on his snaps him out of his reverie.  He tries to force a smile and fails.

“I…I’m sorry.  There’s somewhere…I just remembered…I have to go….”  He hurriedly puts a few bills on the table — more than enough to cover the entire meal — and dashes out of the restaurant

Gavin hops on Sparky and just goes…riding for hours on end with no destination in mind.  He’s taken with an intense urge to go fast, as if his body were trying to outrun the feelings he doesn’t have the means of dealing with.  At one point, an overwhelming wave of nausea hits him and he stops at the side of the road, retching and retching until his stomach is as empty as his hollowed-out heart

He’s still thinking of you the entire time he’s MIA.  The last text from his phone is one sent to you, telling you not to worry about him and apologizing for the way he behaved back at the restaurant.  He’s asking if you’d still be okay with talking to him when he gets back, and of course, to contact him immediately if you need anything at all

He still feels you in the wind

Believe it or not, for a short period of time, Gavin actually develops a fear of flying: it reminds him too much of you, brings up too many memories of him holding you in his arms as you traverse the skies together.  He’s not confident he can do it anymore, partly because he thinks his Evol might suddenly give out when he’s high up in the air

The turning point comes when Gavin visits his mother’s resting place.  There, for the first time since you broke the news to him, he actually cries, and it gives him the strength to carry on

Let’s be clear: Gavin will never, ever be over you.  The two of you will remain friends though because Gavin intends to watch over you for the rest of his life (that is one promise he would never break)

With time, he gets used to seeing you with Shaw, even starts to relax a bit when he realizes that his younger brother is capable of protecting you

Someday, Gavin will marry — likely someone who was set up with him either by Minor or his colleagues (Birdcop would never take the initiative to actually meet somebody).  This person is absolutely smitten with the handsome officer and his gruff ways and cannot wait to start a family with him.  They would also have to be thick-skinned and stubborn enough to turn Gavin’s “no” into an eventual “yes”

And while Gavin would prove to be a loyal husband and doting father who would do anything for his family, a part of him would always, always, continue to burn for you.

Lucien:

How do you expect this man to behave when he’s lost the only colour in his life?

Lucien would never, ever recover from this.  He doesn’t want to.  The man for whom love was never meant to happen has no need for such an emotion.  He wants nothing to do with it unless it has to do with you

The professor’s world literally returns to being a drab shadow of blacks and greys — the rainbow disappeared when his little butterfly flew into the palm of another’s hand

“Do you love him?” He’ll ask you, dark eyes almost hypnotic in their intensity when he pierces you with that gaze

You’re ashamed to find that you have to think twice before replying that you do indeed love Victor

Ba-bump, ba-bump, BA-BUMP — Lucien breaks out into a cold sweat as his heart begins to race, face becoming pale as a sheet

His shaking hands are pulled into tight fists within the pockets of his lab coat.  He’s running his finger over the cap of his pill bottle inside one of them, not wanting to take them in front of you because in spite of it all, the last thing he wants is for you to worry about him 😭😭😭

Lucien nods, placid smile a mask on his face when he says,  “I wish the two of you nothing but the best.”

“Lucien!”  You start after him when he turns to walk away.  “We…we’re still friends, right?”

For what is possibly the first time in his entire life, Lucien can’t think straight.  His mind is a mess, logical thoughts tangled up with sorrow, hurt, anger, and the sense that the world could end at that very moment and he wouldn’t even bat an eye.

He takes a deep breath, composing himself before he turns to face you again: “Of course.  You can always come to me if you ever need anything.”  It takes everything in him not to fall apart when he lays a hand on the crown of your head, savouring the heat of your body for the very last time

In the days immediately afterwards, the people around Lucien better watch out as his ability to keep cool, calm and collected is challenged: he’s giving the side-eye to his colleagues at the research institute more often then usual, and Black Swan members literally want to run the other way when they see him coming.  If they thought Ares was ruthless before then they’d better watch out now…

As if it were even humanly possible, the professor sleeps even less now: if he’s not in the lab, he’s literally wiling away the hours watching old Hollywood films

Sometimes, he’ll place his hand on the handle to the door of your apartment, closing his eyes and doing his best to pretend that he can still feel your palm in his (he knows you’re not home.  You so rarely are these days…)

Unbeknownst to you, Lucien spends his weekends revisiting the places you used to go together: sitting on the same bench at the aquarium where you kissed him without a second thought, wandering to the theme park you ran away to as a child just to watch the carousel spin round and round, trying his best to keep a smile on his face when the kids at the orphanage ask him where his “pretty lady friend” is

Lucien actually has a kite that he bought ages ago, intent on fulfilling his promise to one day fly it with you.  It sits in his apartment still.  He can’t bring himself to dispose of it.

Gives you his pen, Iridescent, as part of his wedding gift to you.  “May it always bring you luck, wherever you are and…whomever you’re with.”

Regardless of where he is, Lucien will always be keeping tabs on you.  If Victor ever trips up, you can bet that Lucien will be there to swoop in and take his place

The professor will never love another person for as long as he lives.  That’s all there is to it.

Victor:

Throws himself into his work when you break the news to him that you’ve accepted Lucien’s proposal

“If that dummy can’t see that I’m the most suitable choice for her, then let her suffer the consequences of her foolishness.” — Victor will tell himself that, but don’t believe it for even a second

Victor has always been obsessed with working, but this is on an entirely new level, even for him: the man’s been missing meals (or taking them at his desk, at most) and doesn’t leave his office until close to midnight, most days of the week

Like a watch whose gears are irreparably damaged, the LFG CEO is broken on the inside.  He has to focus on work because he knows that if he stops long enough to fully consider the consequences of having lost you, he would never climb out of the depths of his despair

Even his dad and aunt become concerned, especially when they notice that he’s lost weight: “Victor, you have employees for a reason.  Delegation is not a weakness.”

His mind often drifts to you, especially when he’s driving.  There are many times when he finds himself absentmindedly heading in the direction of your office after work before he catches himself (the man is so used to picking you up that it’s become like muscle memory, in a sense)

Weekends will find him holed up in his attic space, fingers tracing over the uneven surface of the cup you had accidentally dropped and shattered, the pieces of which he had spent an entire night glueing back together

He shuts down Souvenir for a while: Victor cannot bring himself to step foot in the kitchen because he can’t help but see your face, smiling in rapturous joy to indulge in the caramel pudding he made especially for you

He spends his nights lying wide awake in a bed that suddenly seems much too big, wondering if you would’ve chosen differently if he took the time to tell you all the things he always thought were obvious: that he respected your fighting spirit, admired the brazen way you never gave up on the things you believed in, loved every single thing about you, even the things he seemed to disapprove of

His biggest regret: that he never had the chance to tell you that you were the love of his life

He often fantasizes about what it would’ve been like to stop time before you informed him you were choosing Lucien, to exist forever with you in a single moment when you made him the happiest man alive just by sharing your time with him

He still checks your Moments account religiously, murmuring “Dummy” with the faintest hint of a smile on his face to see your ridiculous posts, but he can never bring himself to reply.  Victor’s pride won’t let him.  He would rather die than let you know that each moment spent without you makes him feel like he is suffocating

Eventually, his worried family — especially his aunt — decides that enough is enough.  They force Victor to take a vacation while trying to discreetly set him up with daughters of other wealthy and prominent families

Victor is beyond annoyed at having his personal affairs meddled with like this, but is essentially strong-armed by his aunt, who turns on the waterworks and starts sobbing about wanting to see the progeny of her dearest nephew before she passes on or withers away from want of new blood in the Li family

Victor will eventually have to marry and have kids — he needs to have someone to pass LFG on to.  It will be a long while before he does settle down though; at one point, it’ll seem like he’s content to be a bachelor for life, married to his work

He will show up for your wedding though, and you can bet the most generous gift will be from the LFG CEO

“Try not to be such a dummy from now on.  I won’t be there to set you straight and your husband may not be as patient of a man as I am.”  Those jet black eyes are wavering with emotion when he reaches out to lay a hand on your head.  But he halts midway, awkwardly pulling back because he’s realized that he doesn’t have the right to touch another man’s wife so casually 😭😭😭

Kiro:

“Ahahaha!  All right, all right…you’ve got me.  You can stop playing around now, Miss Chips,” Kiro will say, hands held up in defeat when you tell him that you’ve accepted Gavin’s proposal

When he realizes you’re being serious, it’s like all the warmth and light has suddenly been sucked from the room

Those blue eyes go wide, the smile dropping from the superstar’s face.  For what seems like an interminable amount of time, Kiro just sits there staring at you, almost catatonic

When he speaks again, you’re so surprised you almost jump out of your skin: “Gavin…he’s that cop, right?  The friend you’ve known since high school?”

You nod and all of a sudden, it’s like the floodgates have been opened: Kiro’s grasping your hands in his, expression panic-stricken as his questions come a mile a minute:

“Was it something I did, Miss Chips?  I swear I’ll change!  I…I won’t eat junk food anymore!  Won’t even look at that stuff!  If you don’t like your nickname, I’ll call you by your real name, anything you want!  Or maybe it’s because my schedule is always so crazy?  I’ll cut back on my jobs, I don’t care about the money!  If you’re tired of running from the paparazzi, I’ll quit.  Just quit, stop everything — I don’t care, ok?  The only thing I care about is you!  Miss Chips?  Please don’t cry…I’m your hero, remember?  So please…please…”

A single tear rolls down his cheek — you have to look away or else your resolve would crumble

“I’m so sorry, Kiro.  I…I wanted you to be the first to know.  I wanted you to hear it from me…”

It’s like all the life has been drained from him; it actually frightens you to see him like that

“Kiro?"  You hesitantly lay a hand on his.  It’s almost cool to the touch.  Kiro gives his head a little shake, seeming to come back to himself

“I’m…I’m so sorry, Miss Chips.  I don’t know what came over me.  I didn’t mean to get hysterical.  God, what an awful way to react….”  He forces a laugh, but it is wooden and so goddamn heartbreaking to hear.  You almost wish he would scream obscenities at you instead

“He, Gavin…he’s a good man.  He’ll be good for you.  I’m happy that you’re happy, Miss Chips.”

The next day, Kiro drops off the face of the Earth: he’s MIA, no one can reach him

Everyone is panicking: his agent, Savin, and management, his legions of adoring fans all over the world, and most of all, you

That is, until he sends two text messages, one to Savin and the other to you, telling you all that he’s safe and not to worry; he’s just taking some time to work some things out for himself

In actuality, the only thing that’s happening is that Kiro is reverting back to who he originally was before you came into his life

His sun has been eclipsed by crushing sorrow and loss, the brilliance of your light and warmth forever taken from him and he is left in the cold shadow of solitary darkness

Kiro wants to be happy for you, and he hates that he can’t — this dissonance so disconcerts him that he’d rather not feel anything at all

When the superstar does eventually return to the world at large, there’s something about him that’s changed — Savin and the rest will be largely fooled by that ever-cheerful mask he puts on, but you won’t

Those blue eyes seem just a bit darker, the radiance of his being almost imperceptibly dimmed

Poor Kiro, loved the world over, would never love another person for the rest of his life.  It would always be you or nothing.

Shaw:

Hurt.  Angry.  Confused.

Shaw is angry with himself for ever believing that you and him had a future together; he hates that he saw the signs that you would always, always, always choose Gavin in the end and still continued to lie to himself in spite of it

He hates that he let himself become vulnerable by falling in love with you (Shaw sees vulnerability as the biggest weakness one could have, that’s why he’s always kept himself emotionally guarded in his dealings with people)

But for whatever reason, when it came to you, he just couldn’t help but fall (“Guess brothers are hard-wired in the same way after all, no matter how different we think we are,” he’ll say with a bitter laugh)

A lengthy and most unusual storm will hit Loveland City; expect an extended light show with lots of thunder and lightning

The boy is trashing his place, throwing whatever he can get his hands on: cans of Coke and Pepsi, dishes, clothing and books

He breaks the deck of his skateboard when he smashes it against the wall, bringing down a good chunk of plaster along with it

You won’t be there to witness the destruction.  Shaw will continue to front like nothing could ever faze him when you tell him that you’ve chosen to be with Gavin.  He’ll chuckle, brows raised as he bites on the tip of his straw, saying, “Whatever.  It’s your life.  Do what you want with it.”

Then suddenly, he’s standing up to leave, hand half-raised in goodbye as he makes for the exit without so much as a glance back at you.  

“Take my umbrella.  And don’t worry about returning it.”  

Those are his last words to you.  Not long after, you spy the handle of the black umbrella sitting in the stand near the front of the café (the only one there, since it had been bright and sunny out).  And suddenly, the clouds are rolling in to blanket Loveland City in grey, sheets of rain pouring from a sky cracked in half by a fearsome bolt of lightning

Shaw walks, letting cold rain soak him to the bones to take his mind off the ice that’s already started to freeze the blood in his heart

“Don’t cry…don’t let them f*cking see you cry…" he's saying to himself, over and over again like a mantra

Starts hanging out at the Live House more than ever, losing himself in the music and packed crowds there; he can’t stand to be alone right now.

When he’s not playing bass guitar as a last minute backup for the bands, he’s literally working on his thesis at the bar, sipping on his Coke and Pepsi blend (the staff know him so well that they’re pretty much cool with him doing anything at this point LOL)

STILL blows off every person who comes to proposition him for a good time

I’m sorry, but you know it’s pretty much gonna rain on your wedding day, right?  (The poor boy can’t help it, okay?  He is SAD, SAD, SAD!)

Much like his brother, Shaw will never really get over you.  You were, after all, the first person he ever truly loved

Would likely remain an eternal bachelor, only engaging in meaningless sex but never opening his heart to anyone ever again.  One lesson was enough for him. 😭😭😭

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

Thank you so much for reading!  Check out more of my work here! 📚

#mlqc #mr love queen's choice #love and producer #mr love dream date #evol x love #mlqc headcanons #mlqc angst #mlqc lucien #mlqc xu mo #mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mlqc gavin #mlqc bai qi #mlqc kiro #mlqc zhou qiluo #mlqc shaw #mlqc ling xiao #source: giphy

[cloudycrystalkpop]

SMOKY | Purgatory Within

Blind! Prince! Mingi x [unstated skin deformity] fem! Reader

words: almost 2k 

warnings: abuse trauma, smut, death

au: crown royal au | moodboard

series masterlist: SMOKY

~

you became more and more concerned for your husband’s behavior as time went on. the young man who had once been so careful and gentle, now stood with a silent rage behind his empty eyes.

however, after you confronted him about his possessive behavior, you watched him break down at your feet.

“p-please... please don’t leave me...” his large frame was once again curled in on himself, shoulders shaking as he kneeled on the floor, hands fisted in your robe. his head was hung low as he begged you at your feet.

“Mingi, what has been going on with you?” you insisted, refusing to touch the man as he tried to bury his face in your lap.

“I can't- I can't let the Duke take you! or your whore of a knight! Please my queen please, take me instead, take everything I have!” the man let out a broken sob as you sighed at his words.

“enough.” you growled, grabbing a hand full of his hair and lifting his head. he yelped in shock, neck exposed to you as his Adams apple bobbed in fear.

“you are to be a king Mingi. you are a grown man, and I am your wife. you are not a little boy to be crying at the feet of his mother.” you pushed the man off your lap and stood. “and you will be a fool of a king if you let such foolish insecurity cloud your judgment!”

Mingi hid his head low, covering his face with his arms.

“I'm sorry! I'm sorry! p-please don't-” his normally deep voice cracked in terror. you stopped, anger at he man before you evaporated.

“Mingi...mingi I'm not going to hit you.” you spoke softly, gently falling to your knees on the floor. his body shook, arms still held to protect his face. “I hope you know, I would never do that.” your voice was sorrowful as you reached out a hand to his head.

he flinched when you touched his hair, but as you began to run your fingers through it, his muscles slowly relaxed. dropping his arms from his face you could finally see the puffiness around his eyes, the cloudiness of the dark pigment stared blankly back at you.

“...do you promise?” he hiccuped, turning his head to try and find the direction of your voice. you cupped the man’s cheeks, pulling his head to face yours. his eyes fluttered shut as he rested his head in your hands.

“oh my darling boy, who did this to you?”

~

Mingi found a small kitten in the garden. a runt, tiny thing. you had thought the bundle of orange fur was some nobles lost purse left out in the rain. he named her Daisy, saying her fur smelled of the flowers when she curled up in his big hands.

You rarely saw the man without her, the small kitten often purching on Mingi's large shoulders.

Your husband still held ribbons of his possessive behavior, however he began to distance himself from you. You rarely saw him now other then in passing on when the pair of you went to sleep at night. He also began neglecting pleasing you, but you assumed he was simply not interested as both of you often went to sleep without any contact.

Now you found yourself facing a different delema. You had always been a woman with a high sex drive, its one of the reasons you had chosen Seonghwa as a concort. However your poor knight had been frightened quite badly by yourself and your husband, and you knew he wouldnt return to you unless you seeked him out.

But you had also made Mingi a promis. One that was getting increasingly hard for you to keep.

"My lady, is everything alright? You seem lost in thought... If there is any responsibilities weighing heavy on you i am more then happy to help however i can!" the young Duke's voice was as sweet as ever.

You sighed, looking over to Yeosang, a man you had been trying not to look at for to long. His hair lay in soft curls around his face, lightened by the many years spent outside in the sunlight. Likewise his skin was warm in hue, tanner then the rest of your court.

You had heard some of the other ladies snickering about him. Yeosang surely didnt live up to some of the standards for desired beauty the royals had. A strange thought flashed in your mind. Is that why Mingi was chosen to be your husband over Yeosang? Mingi's frame was large, an incredibly masculine figure just looking at him, with dark hair and skin untouched by the sun.

Little Yeosang however, had small and dainty hands, with long thin fingers, his features were softer then Mingi's, even his skin looked soft to the touch. And the many years spent as a playmate for his sisters left him with an unthreatening demeanor.

Indeed it wasnt hard for you to imagine him, flowers in his hair, sat on a blanket in the valley, perhaps painting or writing for his own amusement. You shoved away such thoughts as you saw a line of concern crease in his brow.

"My lady..."

"I am sorry Yeosang. Truthfully ive been feeling a bit... Forgotten about in these last weeks. And its left me feeling distracted." you answered him.

"Forgotten... Ah, by your husband?" perceptive as always. You sighed, gase dropping to your tea once more, before nodding.

"Have you tried speaking to him? He has a shy nature, im sure-"

"Hes trying to help." you held up a hand to stop him. "He did not trust me, and hes trying to offer me space to show he does." you clarified.

"... I see." Yeosang chewed on his lip in thought. His lips were a pretty blush color, not as round as Mingi's but plump, they looked soft... Very soft.

You cursed yourself in your own head. His fingers, his lips, youd be lying to deny they hadnt crossed your mind when you bathed. Your hands wandering your own body, head leaned back and eyes closed. Imagining it was Yeosang's long fingers in place of your own as you gasped in pleasure.

You shooed away the maid who came to offer you more tea, informing her it wouldnt be needed. Lust was a vice that would only cause you harm as Mingi's wife. And yet, something stirred in your gut.

"Yeosang, will you come walk with me?" the Duke nodded quickly, standing to his feet to follow you deeping into the gardens.

~

Your husband would be furious. And yet, such a worry seemed to melt away as you let yourself become lost in his touch.

"My lady please, you must be quiet. Or else we shall scandalize some poor stable boy." Yeosang's voice purred in your ear, pressing soft kisses to your neck after speaking.

You bite your tongue as Yeosang let another finger slip inside you. You were right, his fingers were deliciously long, able to reach places within you your own faltered. His hand snaked up your skirts and inside your undergarments, the heel of his hand pressed against your clit, his wrist not forgetting such an important part as he rubbed it gently.

You could almost see stars as he began sucking on your neck, a third finger sliding within you.

"... I promised you, anything you ever needed, i will provide. If its council, wisdom, or even such sinful favors... I am at your service. Always." Yeosang's voice was honey on your skin. You pulled one of your hands up from where they were fisted in his jacket, tugging gently on his hair. He pulled away from your neck, eyes now staring into your own. A look of pride took his features, seeing the state of pleasure you were in at his hands.

Tugging his hair again, you let a small whine fall from your lips. He chuckled, increasing the pace of his hand, and before a moan could fall from your lips, he covered them with his own.

~

That night, cheeks finally faded with the glow of what yourself and the Duke had snuck away to do, you crossed paths with a guard.

“your highness! just who I was looking for~” dread pooled in your gut as you saw Hongjoong, cheerful grin on display, with a small kitten in his arms. Daisy shook like a leaf, eyes slit to spite the darkness of the hallway.

you opened your arms and Hongjoong placed the small cat in your hands. Daisy immediately pressed herself as far from Hongjoong as she could, a small hiss let out in his direction.

“how rude. if it wasn't for me she would have been stuck at the top of a lamp. ungrateful feline.” he huffed. you began to gently stroke the cat’s fur, in hopes of calming her down.

“an animal as small as this knows when it is in the jaws of a predator.” you stated. Hongjoong smiled, and your stomach dropped. humans are so stupid. Hongjoong is known as a cheerful and smiley person, but yet the cloud that follows him hides the nature of his grin. a wolf does not offer you a smile, he bares his teeth as a warning.

“and yet your little prince is so blissfully unaware of what he is toying with~” Hongjoong giggled. you simply blinked back at the creature before you. “you know, your fondness for that Duke will upset him. but if you wanted a straightforward solution-”

“I am not a fool like the other idiot humans that reside here.” you growled.

“oh no, absolutely not. but, witch, neither am i.” you narrow your eyes at him.

“I could have you hung for accusing the future queen of witchcraft.” you threatened. Hongjoong lay his head back and let out a hearty laugh.

“that would be a sight! do you really want to see what happened if you try and kill me?” Hongjoong stops himself before he begins laughing again. “actually I believe I know that answer. regardless, my offer still stands. just as our deal already does.”

“deal?” you feel panic rise in your throat.

“why yes, the silent one of course.” Hongjoong grins that same one that appears in your nightmares. the one that pulls his cheeks up and shows just a few to many teeth.

“you don't tell them what I am, and in exchange, I do the same.”

~

you awoke the next morning, without Mingi. his side of the bed was cold, and even Daisy had gone missing. you thought little of it as you rose to begin your day, however, you were not greeted by one of your handmaidens, but rather, a guard.

“your majesty, I come bearing news.” he swallowed nervously.

“oh? at this hour?” you inquired. you were then greeted by a sorrowful meow, Daisy crawling between the guards legs and hiding under your nightgown.

“your husband, Prince Mingi, was found dead in a poll of his own blood last night.”

~

who killed the king?

suspects : Yeosang | Seonghwa | Hongjoong

#smoky au #prince au #mingi x reader #mingi au #ateez x reader #Ateez au #yeosang x reader #Yeosang smut #royal au #fantasy au #demon au #knight au #Hongjoong au #Seonghwa au

[sonnet009]

Wilder: Amir’s Story (Route Summary)

PROLOGUE:

MC decides to flee Ziya alone. A rotund wine merchant named Barlow offers her a timely rescue, smuggling her out in one of the wagons in his caravan. On their journey across the Shining Sands MC learns that Barlow is a wealthy and ambitious man who can afford not only a team of djinn guards but even a pleasure slave. It is this pleasure slave who warns MC that Barlow intends to ransom her back to Ziya and urges her to leave the caravan. Though MC suspects the surly Jamal just wants to no longer share his wagon, she takes his advice and flees from Barlow under cover of darkness.

CHAPTER I:

A sandstorm drives MC up into the Western Hills. There she is captured by a tribe of wild djinn and presented to the tribe's chief, Amir, who takes great interest in her and decides, instead of killing her, to keep her as some sort of prisoner. MC cannot understand the djinn tongue and Amir cannot speak hers, and so their interactions are fraught with misunderstandings, frustration, and mistrust.

As her time with the tribe passes MC is treated with contempt by most of them, attempts an unsuccessful escape, and continues to butt heads with Amir – an arrogant man-child with no manners as far as she can tell. She also meets Hani – an older ex-slave who is also an outcast among the tribe. Hani speaks both the human and djinn tongue and, being a kind woman, starts translating for MC and Amir. As MC and Amir start trying by themselves to learn parts of each other's language, their relationship begins to slowly improve.

Every night after dinner Amir will tell animated, theatrical tales for the enjoyment of his tribe, while Hani translates them for MC. Hani also teaches her things about the tribe, such as the fact that Amir went from orphan to the youngest and strongest rahki (chief) in the Hills, and how MC should watch out for Amir's closest friend, the hateful and vicious Kherga.

CHAPTER II:

Amir decrees that MC is no longer a captive but a guest of the tribe, allowing her freedom to move about the camp. This is an unpopular decision among his people, especially with Kherga. As the days and weeks pass, MC spends time with many of the tribe, pitching in with chores, and finds that not only is she growing stronger and hardier but that some of the tribe members seem to be warming to her – and she to them.

One morning a hunting party, led by Kherga, is about to head out. Amir impulsively invites MC to join, to Kherga's disgust. MC fails rather spectacularly at hunting a wild boar and cuts her legs on an undergrowth of thorns – the hunters find this uproariously funny. Amir takes MC to a nearby river where she can wash her injury while he leaps into the water and splashes around like a child. He tries to coax her in as well and is dismayed to learn that she cannot swim. In turn, MC learns that Amir is picking up the human tongue much quicker than she the djinn tongue. He acts the immature fool, but he is very intelligent and an enthusiastic learner.

After bonding, the two return to camp. The atmosphere turns dark. Kherga holds court and has been whipping the tribe into an angry frenzy. MC doesn't need to speak the language to know that her continued presence here is the main cause of contention. Kherga challenges Amir's leadership and the two fight. But when some of the djinn grab MC in the chaos, Amir immediately abandons the challenge to force them to release her. As the tribe surrounds the two of them it is clear that Amir has lost his place as chief. He throws MC over his shoulder and runs, pursued by his former brothers and sisters, until he reaches the mountains known as the Knives – a place where the tribe will not follow.

CHAPTER III:

As soon as they are clear of the tribe Amir just stops and sits on the ground, shattered by disbelief and grief. MC believes the coup to be her fault but Amir is quietly firm that it is his. They have nowhere to go but forward, so they journey on. Amir is despondent and distracted; entirely unlike the djinn that MC had been getting to know.

Suddenly Amir goes entirely still, alert in a way he hasn't been for days now. He has sensed Hamza and his men approaching from behind. A battle ensues in which Amir brutally takes down any man who dares attack him – and MC does her own share of violence, shocking herself. But when Hamza is at his mercy Amir refuses to kill a helpless foe and instead takes MC's hand and starts running. Newly alive and euphoric from battle Amir pulls MC into a kiss – then, once the adrenaline fades, collapses from his wounds.

MC and Amir shelter in a cave while she tends to his injuries. He requests more lessons in the human tongue while he recovers and in return she asks for more traditional djinn stories. They are soon on the move again and make it to the other side of the Knives. As they continue on their journey they share more stories and lessons – and learn that there is a particular insult that both their cultures share. “Ki bo ki,” Amir teaches MC. “Fuck yourself,” she teaches him in turn.

CHAPTER IV:

Amir follows MC even past the Knives, into the farmland on the other side. He has nowhere else to go and neither seem to want to part just yet. He is also as excited as a child to see so many new sights. The two run into a blind woman on the road and help lift her cart out of a ditch. In thanks, she offers them lunch.

Once they reach the lady's farm she offers them both some of her produce and some clothes for Amir – at MC's request. Amir hates the shirt and he doubly hates the trousers, but MC insists that he keep them on while they are in human lands.

On the road again it isn't too long before they are waylaid by bandits who demand all their money, possessions, and Amir himself. Amir doesn't understand what is happening until MC explains the situation to him, after which he confidently tells the bandits to fuck themselves. After easily defeating the men, Amir and MC go through their ill-gotten belongings and find some broken slave bands. Amir agrees to wear them in order to fool any humans they may meet in the town ahead, but both he and MC feel disgusted by the performance.

CHAPTER V:

Now in the port town of Dijarah, Amir is amazed by the place but simply does not blend in. A man who takes offence to Amir spits at his feet, shocking the former rahki who has never been so affronted or so lost. He and MC stop at an inn for dinner, sharing a table despite the taboo, and learn that they have come to town on the right night – the Fish Festival is tonight.

Neither MC or Amir have ever attended a festival and let their excitement and curiosity overpower their common sense. When night falls they walk the now colourful streets, enjoying the food stalls, the games, and... the alcohol. Another first. They sit together at the water's edge and share another kiss, this one not fuelled by adrenaline but their shared sorrow at the thought of parting. MC shares the whole story of her escape from Ziya and journey to Umar. Amir vows to see MC safely onto a ship but then he must return home to the Hills, to seek justice and redemption with his tribe.

The fall asleep there by the water and wake wrapped around each other and facing the bemusement of the dock worker who finds them. MC finds a ship heading for Umar but is reluctant to book passage and say goodbye to Amir right then and there. Amir feels the same, casually suggesting breakfast in an attempt to distract her. But things are soon thrown into chaos as Hamza appears, spotting them and giving chase. Amir helps MC hide in a crate being loaded onto the ship from before, gives her knuckles a kiss, then leads Hamza away through the crowd. As the crate is loaded onto the ship, MC waits in the dark. A stowaway. Alone.

CHAPTER VI:

MC hides in the cargo hold, the ship having left port. She is alone, hopelessly worried about Amir, and heartbroken to know that she will never see him again. Then he pops out of the crate next to hers exclaiming, “MC!” and clapping his hand over her mouth to muffle her startled scream. Turns out he lost Hamza and doubled back to join her, unable to leave things as they were. Their days as stowaways begin. They pass time with stories and Amir finally tells MC about the expectation his tribe had for him to take a mate, and how it was part fascination and part rebellion that led him to claim MC as his when she was brought before him.

The confinement soon takes its toll on Amir who hates being unable to see the sky. MC makes him promise to stay hidden but he soon breaks it, discovered by sailors who take him before the ship's captain. MC follows in a panic and offers all the money she has – but the captain is surprisingly friendly, saying Amir has told him of her plight and that he is happy to give them passage to freedom in Umar. He gives them a cabin and asks in return only that MC remembers him and mentions him to all of her highborn friends and family as the gracious captain that saved her life.

One night there is a terrible storm. MC finds Amir up on deck, naked, arms outstretched, face raised to the rain. As the thunder and lightning crack around them, MC and Amir embrace passionately. They spend the night together in their cabin, primal desperation eventually turning to gentle intimacy, and fall asleep as close as two people can be.

CHAPTER VII:

Upon arrival in Umar the captain directs MC and Amir to a safe place to stay called Minerva's. It soon becomes apparent that Minerva's is a pleasure house. They stay the night anyway, though Amir barricades their door with heavy furniture just to be safe from everyone's... rapt attention. In the morning a free djinn called Royo appears to escort them to her employer, the merchant-turned-lord Yasir. It seems the good captain tried to sell them out but, fortunately for them, Yasir has no interest in cooperating with Ziya.

At Yasir's estate there is one more surprise waiting – Uncle Makram. He and MC share a tearful reunion and he vows that he will keep her safe from now on. MC also makes him promise to ensure Amir is returned safely to his homeland. Bemused, Makram agrees. The arrival of a righteous and unstoppable Hamza breaks the peace of Yasir's estate. He demands that MC be turned over to his custody immediately.

Makram is the one to stand up to Hamza. He calls in the Heartseer who long ago proclaimed MC guilty of murder and has him confess to lying about what he saw – though he will answer none of Hamza's questions as to why. Makram, Hamza and Yasir go to another room and, when they return, Hamza seems cowed and ground under Makram's heel. Though still clearly disturbed, he apologises to MC and declares her innocent.

CHAPTER VIII:

MC, Amir, Makram, and Hamza are journeying back to Ziya together. They are currently passing through the Shining Sands in a carriage manned by a driver generously gifted by Yasir. When they pass close by to the Hills, the carriage stops to allow Amir to disembark.

Amir and MC stand in the starlight, sand under their feet, and know that this time they must say goodbye. MC asks for one last story and Amir tells her the tale of two legendary djinn lovers and the reysoko (blood bond) they shared by marking each other's flesh and drinking each other's blood, making them inseparable by even death. Unable to embrace under the scrutiny of the others MC and Amir must then simply say farewell and part ways. Amir heads off, up towards the Hills. MC returns to the carriage.

As the journey to Ziya continues through the night, MC suddenly realises that Hamza is no longer sitting out beside the driver. She forces Makram to admit what he, Yasir and Hamza discussed in that private room back in Umar – a plan to blame the shah's murder on a djinn plot, claiming that Ran was an assassin from Amir's tribe. As they speak, Hamza has met with a squad of his best men and they are following Amir's tracks to lead them to his people. MC slaps her uncle and leaps from the carriage, unhitching a horse and riding as fast as she can back towards the Hills to warn Amir and the tribe.

CHAPTER IX:

But by the time MC makes it to the camp there are already signs of a razing. Some djinn lie dead. Hani is leading many of the survivors in an attempt to avoid the soldiers by moving about the forest – as she knows the human tongue she alone is able to eavesdrop on their plans and work around them. MC leads a squad of Hamza's men away from them and into the undergrowth of thorns that she once blundered into, back when she briefly lived here.

She finds Hamza and Kherga, surrounded by dead djinn and humans alike, circling each other and both badly wounded. Hamza lands the killing blow on Kherga just as Amir comes running onto the scene, howling in grief and fury. Amir faces Hamza and they fight once more. This time, when Hamza is at his mercy, Amir does not hesitate to kill him.

When the last of the soldiers limp away in defeat, the tribe comes back together. Silently they build a giant pyre and burn their dead upon it. Amir watches Kherga's body burn, clasping MC's hand tightly in his. They stand there until the fire burns out and Amir's brothers' and sisters' souls have flown to the sky.

BITTER END:

The tribe reinstate Amir as their chief. After the ceremony Amir escorts MC to the edge of the Hills. Though she will miss him, she simply cannot leave behind civilisation. Whether she will stay in Ziya or begin a new life in some other city, she is not sure. But she has a choice, which is more than she has ever had before.

They share one final embrace, then MC turns and walks away. She feels Amir's eyes on her back until he is so far away that he is no longer even a blur on the horizon.

SWEET END:

With newfound respect and gratitude for Hani, and with Amir's blessing, the tribe choose her as their new chief. After the ceremony Amir escorts MC to the edge of the Hills to say a final farewell. MC makes it ten steps before turning and running back to Amir. She asks if she can stay with him. He is kissing her before she finishes the question.

Free from their old responsibilities, MC and Amir find a place to settle in the Hills just for themselves. Amir is teaching her to swim. Exhausted from the lessons (and perhaps more than that) they lie on the bank, lazily playing with each other's hair. Just like the legendary lovers that Amir once told her about, he marks MC's shoulder with a bite. She does the same to him, and their bond is forever sealed.

#Wilder #Amir #Route Summary

[rainydaymiddleearthimagines]

Destiny Calling: Chapter Seven

You all seemed lost, feeling this sense of overwhelming hopelessness. You were now leading the group, walking through the woods of Lothlorien. You after all, were the only one that actually knew the way. "Stay close young hobbits! They say there’s a great sorceress lives in these woods, an elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell..." Gimli said, unaware that you actually shared blood to said "Elf-witch". "... and are never seen again." Gimli finished. Aragorn looked over, noticing blood seep through your clothes. "Y/n, did you suffer another wound outside of the scratch on your head?" He asked. "If you're referring to my shoulder Aragorn, I am fine." You said softly.

You stopped, the trees speaking of another presence outside of your group. "Well, here is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Gimli announced before meeting a guard face to face. Lorien guards aimed before a familiar face stopped them. "Princess Y/n." He noticed, all guards reattracting their weapons at the sight of you. "You found us." you said, seeming very calm. "The dwarf breathes so loud we could've shot him in the dark." Haldir said making you chuckle. "Haldir o Lórien. Henion aníron, boe ammen i dulu lîn. Boe ammen veriad lîn. (Haldir of Lorien, we come here for help. We need your protection.)" Aragorn said. "Aragorn, these woods are perilous! We should go back." Gimli huffed. "You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back. Come, she is waiting." Haldir said. You all followed Haldir. "you seem very confident about your choice in leading us to this woman." Gimli muttered. You said nothing, walking ahead of him.

You climbed the stairs before standing before Galadriel and Celeborn. You bowed, Galadriel lifting your face. "You have matured since we last spoke." She said, smiling softly. "It is nice to see you again." You admitted. She nodded before looking at the group. Aragorn gave his proper greeting, making it clear to everyone that he too, had met her before. "Nine that are here yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him." She said. She looked in his eyes and paused. "He has fallen into shadow." She realized. "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all." She said. She looked over at Boromir who couldn't meet her gaze. "Yet hope remains while the company is true." She said. She looked at Sam and smiled. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." She said. You nearly walked off but Aragorn halted you. "Might we receive medical assistance? Y/n was struck in battle." Aragorn asked. "I have herbs in my-" "Come." Galadriel said. You sighed and walked off with her.

You looked over at Galadriel. "How are you taking it? Gandalf's demise?" She asked. "I think I'm in denial. It is almost as if my body just isn't reacting." You muttered. She nodded as you entered a small hut. "How did it happen?" She asked, wringing water out of a small cloth. "There was a monster, one of flames. We had to pass through Moria-" "We both know how dangerous that was Y/n." She scolded. "We didn't have a choice. Saruman betrayed us, if we had made for the Gap of Rohan, we'd be killed or worse." You muttered. She nodded. "Gandalf fought off the monster so we could escape. He... He fell so we would succeed." you muttered. Galadriel nodded solemnly. She touched the wound on your shoulder, you wincing. "You made it here. That is what counts." she said softly. You nodded, looking down. "Your mother would be very proud of you, you know." She added. You looked over. She began crushing herbs. "She would be terrified but still very proud." she said. You smiled slightly. "are you proud?" you asked. She turned, that soft smile reminding you of home. "we all are darling." She said. "I.." you cleared your throat. "I want you to know... I am proud to be your grandchild..." you told her. She put the herbs on the wound, wrapping it before she kissed your head. "I am proud to call you my grandchild." she said.

As everyone else sat around, elves could be heard around them, singing. "A lament for Gandalf." Legolas noticed, him pouring water into a small reflection pool. "What do they say about him?" Merry asked. "I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near." Legolas answered. Aragorn noticed Boromir sitting alone on a tree root. He walked over. "Take some rest. These borders are well protected." Aragorn encouraged. "I will find no rest here. I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me even now there is hope left. But I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope." He admitted. He knew for a fact that if his father remained on the throne, there was less of a bright future to one day see. This fact had been haunting him since he picked up the hilt to Isildur's broken sword. "My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing. And now our…our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right and I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored. Have you ever seen it Aragorn? White tower of Ecthelion, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver. It's banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?" He asked. "I have seen the White City, long ago." Aragorn admitted. "One day, our paths will lead us there. And the tower guards shall take up the call: The Lords of Gondor have returned!" He said, clearly missing home. Aragorn opened his mouth to speak but saw you walking over. He walked over, hugging you. You didn't care about the slight discomfort from your shoulder. You hadn't had a real moment to breathe since you left. You hugged him back, him pulling away slightly to kiss your forehead. "Your wounds? How are they?" He asked. "They are minor, she believes them to be healed in days." you said.

He sighed. "You need to be more-" "What's the rule?" you halted. He sighed. "No telling Y/n what to do." He said. "Let us try and rest. We still have a long journey." you said. The group looked over as you sat down. "Are you alright?" Pippin asked. "Fear not Pippin, I am well." You assured. "Where are you sleeping?" Frodo asked. Aragorn cleared his throat to answer the question and you nodded your head in his direction. "Thank you Y/n.. For protecting me back in Moria." Frodo said. "I am only doing what I promised. I don't deserve the praise." You stated. "How did you meet the witch- woman?" Sam corrected. You chuckled. "Galadriel is my grandmother." you answered. "You're related to the witch?" Gimli asked, shocked. "She is my mother's mother. Very kind woman despite what many believe." You answered.

Pippin seemed confused. "Y/n... If your grandmother is here then why weren't you sent here instead of Mirkwood?" Pippin asked. "Father was most likely afraid of the path here... It was the same path my mother took when she was attacked." You said. Merry looked at you as you sighed, looking over at Aragorn who was still awake.

"Sleep." you told him. "I cannot." He admitted. "...You're joking. You seriously cannot sleep without me being there?" You asked. "Not fully, no." He admitted, making Sam crack a smile. "With the way you two speak to each other, you'd think you'd be lovers." Gimli sighed. You all froze, looking at him. "What?" He asked. "Nothing." Pippin said, resisting a strong urge to laugh. "We should rest." Sam said, also trying not to break. You moved to Aragorn, lying down next to him. He wrapped his arms around you, his breaths getting deeper as time passed.

The morning soon came, you and Aragorn being the first ones awake. You leaned up and stretched, tapping Boromir as you slid on your boots. He woke up the hobbits who (eventually) woke up Gimli. You all set off once more, Galadriel parting you with Earendil, their most beloved star. You all went off in canoes, riding down the river. You all were silent, Legolas and you both listening to the nature around you before reaching a pass. "Frodo, the Argonath! Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old. My kin." Aragorn said to Frodo, nodding to the large statues of the kings. You all finally reached the foot of Amon Hen, making camp while you rested.

"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north." Aragorn said. "Oh, yes?! It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better! Festering, stinking marshlands far as the eye can see!" Gimli huffed. "That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength master dwarf." Aragorn said, making you smiled. Gimli seemed almost offended by the mere idea of him needing to rest. You looked up, alarmed by something. "What's wrong?" Boromir asked. "Something's coming." you answered. You looked around. "Where's Frodo?" you asked.

Frodo walked through the woods, Boromir noticing the hobbit as he was collecting firewood. "None of us should wander alone, you least of all. So much depends on you. Frodo?" Boromir commented. Frodo looked over, slightly alarmed by his presence. "I know why you seek solitude. You suffer; I see it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways, Frodo, other paths that we might take." Boromir said. "I know what you would say. And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart." Frodo said. "Warning? Against what? We're all afraid, Frodo. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have. Don't you see that is madness?" Boromir questioned. "There is no other way!" Frodo said. "I ask only for the strength to defend my people! If you would but lend me the Ring..." Boromir tossed the wood aside, staring at the ring. "No." Frodo said, stepping back. "Why do you recoil? I am no thief." Boromir asked. "You are not yourself." Frodo answered. "What chance do you think you have? They will find you! They will take the Ring and you will beg for death before the end!" Boromir yelled. Frodo ran from Boromir, alarmed of the greed and darkness taking over the young man. "It is not yours save by unhappy chance. It could have been mine!" Boromir yelled before tackling Frodo. "It should be mine! Give it to me!" Boromir yelled. They struggled against one another for the ring.

"Give it to me!" Boromir yelled. "No!" Frodo struggled. "Give me… Give me the Ring!" Boromir yelled. Frodo slipped on the ring, kicking Boromir before running away. "I see your mind. You will take the Ring to Sauron! You will betray us! You go to your death and the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you! And all the halflings!" He said before falling. It was like a simple fall was all he needed to see reason. Regret instantly hit him. "Frodo?...Frodo?...what have I done?...please...Frodo!" He called.

Frodo ran off, reaching an area away from him. "Frodo?" You asked, standing there with Aragorn. "Huh?!" He gasped, meeting your eyes. "It has taken Boromir." Frodo said, clearly panicked. "Where is the Ring?" Aragorn asked. "Stay away!" Frodo yelled before backing away. "Frodo!" Aragorn halted. Frodo stopped. "We swore to protect you!" Aragorn said. "Can you protect me from yourself?!" Frodo asked, clearly frightened. He showed the ring in his palm. "Would you destroy it?" Frodo asked. You looked away, feeling this intense dread. Aragorn slowly approached Frodo though, ignoring the whispers of the ring, closing Frodo's palm and pushing it to his chest. "I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor." He said. "You will not yield me from your journey Frodo." You said. He frowned. "Y/n, I cannot ask this of you." He said. "Frodo, my father was the one that went with Isildur. He did nothing to stop him... I know I can do something so please. Let me." you said. He nodded slowly before you slid off your necklace, giving it to Aragorn. Aragorn shook his head. "Y/n-" "keep this as a reminder that someone is fighting for you. Always." you said softly. He clutched the necklace, before pulling a chain out from his pack. He took off his ring, sliding it onto the chain. "I will not take the throne without you. If I lose you, the throne will remain as it is." He said. "This is your only proof of your identity Aragorn-" "I know. Because without you, I cannot make my claim." He said, putting the chain around your neck. He gave you one last kiss, your heart filling with sorrow before you pulled away. "Look after the others, especially Sam. He will not understand." Frodo said before his sword started to glow. "Go on you two!" He said. You hesitated, seeing the finality in this choice. Would you leave your lover or stay and leave Frodo?

You shook your head, taking Frodo's hand and running. Sam searched the woods frantically. "Mr. Frodo!" He called before hearing swords clashing. Legolas and Gimli ran forward, Legolas shooting three of the orcs quickly. Gimli slammed his axe into one of them. "Aragorn! Go!" Legolas yelled. You sprinted with Frodo, trying to reach the boats as the orcs were ready to kill. You ran hiding behind a set of trees, Merry and Pippin looking at you with urgency. They noticed the orcs ready to follow you. "Run you two! Go!" Merry whispered before cupping his hands. You two ran off as Merry yelled. "Hey! Hey you! Over here!" He shouted, diverting attention away from the two of you. "Hey!" Pippin chimed in. "Over here!" Merry called. Pippin waved his arms. "This way!" Pippin yelled, running away from Frodo.

As you ran you heard three loud blasts from a horn, your heart dropping. This was it... Boromir's final stand. "The Horn of Gondor... Boromir.." you whispered as you ran. Merry and Pippin locked eyes with Boromir as he fought. "RUN!" He told them, fighting for his life. "Boromir!" Aragorn called, rushing toward the sound. Fear coursed through Boromir as he fought before an arrow hit his shoulder. Merry and Pippin stopped, looking at him in shock. Boromir fell to his knees, breathing hard as the pain seemed to overwhelm him. No. Not like this.

The orcs came closer, Boromir letting out a battle cry as a final stand. He stood up, stabbing an orc as he did. Another arrow fired, this time to Boromir's stomach. He fell again, still his will to live too strong for this as he got back up. He killed another orc, another arrow hitting you, this one being the final blow. Boromir fell to his knees, staying down this time. Merry and Pippin both looked at him. They knew this was it. That he would not rise again to fight. This was their friend that kept them safe. If he was dying, they were going to defend him till his last breath. Merry and Pippin fought, screaming "SHIRE!" before stabbing an orc or two.

You reached the boats, heart pounding as you were unaware of the dangers ahead of you. Then you felt it. A loss. A hit. You put a hand over your mouth. "Y/n, what's wrong?" Frodo asked. "Boromir has fallen." You whispered, hearing the trees tell you of the brave sacrifice he made.

Aragorn kneeled to Boromir. "They took the little ones." Boromir said weakly. "Be still." Aragorn instructed. "Frodo, where is Frodo? And Y/n?" Boromir asked. "I let them go." Aragorn said. "Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the Ring from him." Boromir admitted, his breathing getting weaker. "The Ring is beyond our reach now." Aragorn assured. "Forgive me, I did not see it. I have failed you all." Boromir whispered. "No, Boromir, you fought bravely! You have kept your honor." Aragorn assured. He reached for the arrows that were ailing his friend but Boromir stopped him. "Leave it! It is over. The world of men will fall, and all will come to darkness… and my city to ruin." Boromir whispered. "I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the white city fall, nor our people fail!" Aragorn said, his heart in pain. "Our people?" Boromir asked. Not once had Aragorn even referenced his homeland or people... Boromir smiled at his friend. "Our people." He breathed, barely holding onto life. Aragorn put Boromir's sword in his hand, Boromir bringing it to his chest. "I would have followed you my brother, my captain, my king!" Boromir said before his face grew still. Your vision was indeed true. Boromir was dead. "Be at peace, son of Gondor." Aragorn whispered before pressing a kiss to his forehead.

You heard rapid footsteps, turning to land which you hadn't left yet. "Frodo!" Sam called. Frodo seemed spaced out, recalling a conversation that he had with Gandalf before Sam sprinted out from the woods. "Frodo no! Frodo! Mr. Frodo!" Sam frantically called. "No Sam." Frodo said, continuing to paddle. You opened your mouth but closed it as Sam sprinted into the river. "Go back Sam! I’m going to Mordor." Frodo yelled. "Of course you are, and I’m coming with you!" Sam replied. He trudged deeper into the water. "You can’t swim! Sam!" Frodo gasped. You watched Sam go under, forsaking your cloak as you dove into the waters and pulled up Sam.

You put him in the boat, you climbing in afterwards. "You are insane!" You breathed. "I made a promise, Mr. Frodo. A promise! 'Don’t you leave him Samwise Gamgee.' And I don’t mean to! I don’t mean to." Sam said. Frodo's expression softened. "Oh Sam!" Frodo wailed before hugging Sam. You smiled at the two friends before Frodo yanked you into the hug. You slowly hugged the two hobbits back, them clinging to you.

Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas gave Boromir a proper send off, laying him one of the boats with his sword and shield, his cloven horn by his side. The boat went off the side of the Falls of Rauros, falling to the mists below.

"Hurry! Frodo, Y/n and Sam have reached the eastern shore." Legolas called. Aragorn did not move. "You mean not to follow them?" Legolas asked. "Y/n and Frodo’s fate is no longer in our hands." Aragorn said, clutching your necklace that he was now wearing. "Then it has all been in vain! The Fellowship has failed." Gimli said. "Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let’s hunt some orc!" Aragorn said. Legolas and Gimli smiled. "Yes! Haha!" Gimli exclaimed. Aragorn ran into the woods, Legolas and Gimli following.

You stood on the hills of Emyn Muil, looking at the Dead Marshes and Mordor." Mordor. I hope the others find a safer route." Frodo muttered. "Strider will look after them." Sam said. "I do not think they will accompany us from here." You said, clutching Aragorn's ring. "I don’t suppose we’ll ever see them again." Frodo said. Sadness filled your gaze. "We may yet, Mr. Frodo. We may." Sam reminded. You smiled at Sam. Frodo turned to the both of you "I’m glad you’re with me." Frodo said to the both of you. You smiled softly, roughing up his hair before walking. "We have a long journey ahead of us." you said. "Think we'll see something new?" Sam asked. "Let us hope not." You said earning smiles from both of the hobbits.

You had no idea of the dangers ahead. Or how many events were to play out in front of your eyes.

#aragorn #aragorn imagine #aragorn x reader

[nasaty]

Noctilucence

Student Aizawa x (she/her) student reader, so much angssssttt and grief and a bunch of fluff. (Do not bring any pedo shit into my presence or I will fucking destroy you)

MANGA SPOILERS until episode 107 comes out. - also this requires context that I am not providing from MHA manga and the arc with Aizawa in Vigilantes. TW: death. 9 part series.

Ch. 1 here | Ch. 6 here

Ch. 7 Movement

Your eyes fluttered open and you realized it had gotten significantly darker out, as it had likely been a few hours. A bright light momentarily blinded you and you noticed it was your cellphone. Hizashi sent both of you some texts because he hadn’t heard from you and he usually saw either one or both of you for at least a second after school. It really was sweet of him to check on you both. You saw the time and realized your parents would be home in a few hours. As you stirred to grab your phone, Aizawa woke up from the movement. He looked over to you in the dark as your phone screen lit your face up, and noticed your puffy, red eyes and tear stained skin. He slowly stood up and you looked up at him.

“…um… do you have like.. a linen closet? And a bathroom?”

You lead him to your linen closet and opened it up, wondering what he could need in there. He pulled out a soft washcloth and tugged your arm gently to lead you to the bathroom.

You both stood in front of the sink as he let the water run until it’s warm, dampened the washcloth and held it up to ask for permission to move closer to you. You hummed in agreement. The washcloth glided over your face gently, soothing your skin. The feeling was beyond comforting for you. He was incredibly careful around your eyes and moved slowly, steadily. He gazed at you softly as he massaged the apples of your cheeks.

You hopped over to the linen closet to grab another washcloth to do the same for him. You were both looking into each other’s eyes with such sweetness and were carefully taking care of each other. It was a different kind of intimate than you’d ever experienced, but you noticed you had never been this comfortable with one person before. Especially in silence.

~~~~~~~~~

Visiting after school became a regular occurrence for you two. Other than being at your house, Aizawa was at school, training, or sleeping. You noticed how he focused his pain into his hero work, possibly as a distraction, but you accepted that everyone grieves differently. After school, Aizawa would either drive you home or walk with you, depending on if he had the car that day. Most of the time, you sat in soft silence, enjoying each other’s company while doing homework or studying. Life went from being sorrowful to comfy day by day at a grueling pace. One afternoon, you noticed his stomach growl.

“Do you want a snack? I forgot I used to eat snacks after school.” You flashed a faint smile.

“That would be great….thank you.” His voice was incredibly genuine, it seemed as if he really was thankful for you and your actions. You pondered how someone’s words could carry that much emotion while simultaneously being sparse and almost monotone. The way he spoke was deliberate, and had so much meaning behind it even though his words were few and far between. You marveled at the sounds of his voice in your head as you placed the popcorn in the microwave.

Waiting for the popcorn to finish, you walked over to the tv, turning it on low volume as you knew neither of you could get any work done. Aizawa seemed to agree with with this decision as he put his homework away and sank more comfortably into the couch. You silently handed the remote to Aizawa and he nodded affectionately. As you made your way back to the kitchen you called out.

“Aizawa? Do you want anything to drink? We have water, tea, and some lemonade if you want.”

“Water please. Thank you so much.”

The popcorn slowed down in the microwave and you snatched it out and poured it into a big bowl to share. You balanced the drinks, popcorn, and napkins in your hands and made your way back to the couch.

Aizawa mumbled something you couldn’t quite hear.

“Sorry, what’d you say?”

“…you can call me Shouta…you don’t have to call me Aizawa all the time…” he breathed.

You failed to hide your surprised expression as you blushed, never expecting him to allow you to address him that way.

“Shouta….thank you. That means a lot to me… and I really do love your name,” he turned beet red and mumbled out a thank you in return.

Soft ambient sounds played from the tv in the background as you both sat in silence and ate your popcorn. You noticed Shouta no longer had the remote, so you grasped it from the table and started shifting through channels. On the TV guide channel, you went through what was playing and couldn’t find anything interesting. You were going through some channels that played horrible tv adapted movies, and Shouta spoke up.

“He uh… used to love that movie. He thought the lead lady was soooo hot.”

“Well he wasn’t wrong, shes fucking gorgeous”

“She definitely is. Not entirely my type though,” you questioned what he meant by that, wondering what his type could be. Shouta read your eyes like a book and smirked slightly.

“You just must have ridiculously high standards then,” you teased.

He looked at you like he didn’t know what you meant. You didn’t really know what you meant either. You sort of forgot about the whole ‘Shouta has a crush on you thing’ and the ‘you have a crush on Shouta’ thing with everything else happening, but it now floated back into your consciousness. Debating asking what his type was, you blush. Shouta noticed and swiftly looked away from you, pretending he didn’t see.

#aizawa fluff #bnha aizawa #aizawa fanfiction #shouta aizawa x reader #aizawa x female reader #aizawa x y/n #shouta aizawa #mha #mha eraserhead #yamada hizashi #hizashi yamada #present mic #aizawa slow burn #slow burn #kayama nemuri #nemuri kayama #midnight mha #loud cloud #character death #shirakumo oboro #oboro shirakumo

[rpmemesbyarat]

DISNEY'S "GARGOYLES" SEASON 2 QUOTES RP MEME

Why do you read that stuff?

I like a man who brings me weapons.

Nice wake up call.

We won't have to find them. They'll find us.

Revenge, as they say, is a sucker's game.

I'll settle for tearing this jerk IN HALF!

Want to see me use both hands?

That's no way to treat a lady!

That was no lady.

Thanks for saving my bacon before it got fried.

Look, just promise you'll call if there's trouble.

Go ahead, try something!

I'd love to do that again!

That wasn't a tranquilizer dart.

It was loaded with a mutagenic formula!

You don't know anything about her!

Why are you stomping on my friend here?

I was particularly proud of my death scene.

You never let me drive.

The important thing is, you're alive.

Are you sure this is a good idea?

Something's not right here.

Then you leave us no choice!

How are we supposed to find them?

Please, I beg you, be quiet.

This isn't a good idea.

I'm best qualified to go.

My memories are clouded.

Why should I trust you?

If you can't trust me, then trust your heart.

Why do you fight me, my love?

We are destined to be together for all eternity.

I will choose who I love!

Now we'll see what this creature looks like up close.

Why stare at marks on a page when you can rent the video?

Well, I can't read and I don't think I'm missing anything.

Harrier jets! They can take off and land like helicopters. When your life's this exciting, who needs books?

Are you all right?

I had a little trouble.

This beach isn't safe after dark.

Do you need a doctor?

Come on in. I've got a fire going.

There's little I can offer in return, except my thanks.

You understand, I don't get any real pleasure from this. Well you've got courage, beastie. I'll give you that.

Funny, something about your voice made me think you were a soldier, once.

You were there.

I'm old, but I'm not that old.

I'm glad you came back.

I'm afraid I can't stay, but I think I left something on the terrace this morning.

Have you come across a large canister?

The name sounded phony.

I do know him, but he's not a friend!

A magic book?

They're worthless. No magic at all.

The written word is all that stands between memory and oblivion.

Without books as our anchors, we are cast adrift, neither teaching nor learning.

Books are lighthouses erected in the dark sea of time.

Is this how you welcome all your guests?

They have a sense of humor. You have none.

Yeah, I know, you're as relieved I am that everything's back to normal.

Wouldn't it be great to be a shapeshifter?

Well, let's just get this over with, shall we?

How can I be of service, hmm?

Out with it. I haven't got all night.

I'm sure you'll fit right in.

What is it you really want?

This just might be fun after all.

I thought everyone knew this.

Shapeshifters, elves, fairies, you mean they're real?

You mean, you thought I was ugly?

I want you to get rid of the humans. ALL of them.

Does this look like Aladdin's lamp? I have limits, after all.

Humans love a battle hearty.

I'll never get the hang of jumping off rooftops.

I'll always be there to catch you.

Do it, and you win your freedom.

It will be my pleasure. But afterwards, I'm going to need a very long nap.

There. You're free.

The sun, it's glorious! I never thought that it could feel so good.

I'm sorry about the bomb. But it proves how dangerous this case is.

When someone messes with your partner, you're supposed to do something about it.

You still haven't learned that crime doesn't pay.

A trade?

Let's just say, I don't trust you with it.

So, now you know my weakness.

Only you would regard love as a weakness.

A momentary lapse, I assure you.

Halloween! Tonight is the night!

Come on. I've wanted to stroll down a city street with you for a long time.

Marry me.

Are you serious?

We're genetically compatible, highly intelligent, and have the same goals.

You could've been hurt. I should've been with you.

Oh-well, spilt milk. Let's move on to plan B.

Don't listen to him. It's a trick! He couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it!

Even if what you say is true, why should I help her?

Because you know what it means to lose some you love.

Not a good night for you.

You can't believe anything he says.

If someone like him can love, perhaps there is some hope for this world.

Take this as token of my love.

Upon this I pledge my heart to you forever.

Why do you need all this?

I wanted it, so I took it.

It's so unlike you to attack first.

I simply invited you here to talk.

Our past encounters have not inspired me to trust you.

It's crazy to even consider going!

I'm not interested in reminiscing!

Have you no respect for anything?

Believe me, I know exactly how you feel.

I will never be like you!

I do not wish to hurt you.

I do not wish to be you!

What am I to do?

Do nothing.

Do not worry.

Live in the moment.

Attend the petty angers and jealousies that fill your heart.

Fortify yourself with love and trust.

Fulfill the vows of love you make, for they can surely save you.

Time travel's funny that way.

Get away from me, you sentimental fool.

It's a pretty good likeness.

You know more than you're letting on.

T'was your handiwork.

very life is precious.

Take care not to become what you fight against.

Vengeance begets only a further cycle of more vengeance.

Do you want vengeance or a solution?

This is bigger than either of us has ever faced.

We'll have to work together to stop her.

Truce?

You are the cause of all this.

Humans will learn to respect you.

I would rather they fear me.

What are you doing to help?

That's one way to settle an argument.

I thought I'd rid myself of you long ago

You've forgotten about me.

You're too late. You can't save them. No one can!

I'm not here for them. I'm here for you.

I want it over between us!

I wear this as a reminder of your treachery.

Let's not start that again. You blame me, I blame you. Aren't you tired of talking about it?

I'm not here to talk.

Killing me will gain you nothing but your own death.

Death is never the answer. Life is.

I'm just so tired

Your thirst for vengeance has only created more sorrow.

I offer you one last opportunity for forgiveness and mercy.

I merely offer a sample of what you planned for me.

You have learned nothing.

I will still have my revenge!

What do we do with them?

You come in handy now and then.

I'm quite glad the plan worked.

I'm no hero, I just do my job, and my job for tonight is over.

All I want to do is hit the sack.

Why would you want to hit a sack?

How long was I out?

Even shadows must be true to their shade.

We don't need to wait for sunset.

Is it supposed to hurt that much?

Just get on with it.

Recognize the woman?

She seemed familiar, but I just couldn't place her.

You're getting real good at bypassing alarms

Don't give me credit.

It was too easy!

Maybe misery loves company.

If you're human, then you're subject to human laws.

Either way I win!

I fear no human!

There are forces at war within me.

I will return some day, if I can.

You sound like every human employee I ever fired!

Crush all of them together and you couldn't squeeze one iota of personal integrity from the lot!

No excuses, creature!

Learn to take responsibility for your own actions! And STOP whining!

Oh, I am trembling in my chair.

You believe I am not responsible. Yet I remain your prisoner?

Who said you're not responsible?

It doesn't matter that you were tricked, you know now that your actions inflicted grievous damage. Do you take responsibility for them or not?

Well, what are you going to do?

You seem distracted, having second thoughts?

We'll celebrate over breakfast.

No more excuses. I accept full responsibility for my actions. I was wrong.

Integrity is never easy. It's a daily struggle, a costly struggle.

I know I owe you a great debt for the mistake I made a year ago.

If the text wasn't new to me, it was at least worth revisiting.

All I know is I'm about to be wiped out!

It doesn't have to be that way.

I can break these chains. But only you can get me past the bars.

Automatons know nothing of betrayal or honor. They know only what they're programmed to know.

Only living beings possess the ability to change, and make new choices.

You've given me much to consider.

We are friends.

I'd rather not have your death on my conscience

You'll never reach the bridge!

You have two minutes until impact, one minute before I detonate.

I don't want any innocents hurt!

If it goes down, I'm going down with it.

I knew you wouldn't let me down.

Yes, well, you have that effect on people.

I built this company for you!

I'd probably give it to you, if you'd just stand up and ask me for it honestly!

Asking for it wouldn't be any fun at all.

'Fun' is still more important to you than honor. I can't understand that.

Well, maybe you'll have better luck relating to the next generation.

You should've heard him laugh.

Made my hair stand on end, if I had any.

Surely you know I am not in the habit of playing childish pranks or laughing maniacally in the dark.

Do you even know how to laugh maniacally?

Don't tempt me.

Typical. You do and do and do for them, and what happens? They twist the knife in you!

I think I've created a monster.

Have you ever considered the bounties of genetic engineering?

Or maybe cybernetics is more your style?

Save the horror show for Halloween.

I'm sure tired of taking punishment, and I'd love to be able to give some back

That's the source of the trouble.

I hope you not planning to eat your catch.

Now that I'm in charge, I'm not taking any more of your cracks!

You're barely our species!

I'm in charge, here!

I find him very attractive.

Well, that's sicker than usual.

I'm a partner in a freak show!

I should'a figured it was crazy to stick with this crew

And if you play it smart, there'll be plenty of lettuce for everyone!

I should get my own cable TV show.

Oh, me and my big mouth.

It is the cure! It has to be!

Of course it's the cure! You must trust me!

It was you all along! I trusted you!

You turned me into a monster and I defended you!

I'm sorry it had to turn out this way.

You always overplay your hand

Tell me something' Why me?

You're old, and getting older.

I thought you might even appreciate the opportunity.

Growing old terrifies you, doesn't it?

Nothing terrifies me, because nothing is beyond my ability to change.

True immortality isn't about living forever, man; it's about what you do with the time you have.

When all your scheming's done, what will be your legacy

You're still alive! It's a miracle!

Boy, the city sure is different when it snows.

Not a bad life, all things considered.

There is a cure. There must be!

You can't keep me in here forever!

I'll get out! Do you hear? I'll get out!

About time you came back.

Why did you kidnap me? What do you want of me?

See, it wasn't as hard as you made it sound.

Ah, you wish to be immortal.

If the procedure is successful, I'll release you.

This is just a sculpture's model. The real thing is life sized, and lifelike.

What's in this for you?

Service is its own reward.

I wouldn't even know where to start looking.

You may as well be of some use to me.

Open this cage, and I'll show you how 'useless' I am.

It's hard to top that.

What you seek demands a heavy price.

Death and old age have their price as well. And it's too expensive for me.

Without your sword, you're helpless.

Swordless? Maybe. Helpless? NEVER!

What you choose to do with your life is your own affair, as long as it's got nothing to do with me.

You're just full of surprises.

No, let him go. He's earned it.

I wish it hadn't turned out this way.

I was so close to finding out if the legend was true. Now there's no one to test it on.

Throw down your weapon!

Is this a whole city of fools and lawless ruffians?

I'm the law here, pal!

You are a guardian, like myself.

I will submit to your law.

You are learning.

It will take some time.

Prepare to do battle!

I have no fight with you.

What is this, merit badge test night?

Oh well, better make sure it's an uneven fight.

The weak are to be protected, not exploited.

Aaah, who died and made you king?

If you don't know anything, why were you shooting at us?

Do I really need an excuse to have a good time in my own home?

They say a man's home is his castle, and what fun would a castle be without a dungeon?

If it gets any more saccharine in there, I'm going to put a finger down my throat.

I'd sure like to know how you got here, but I'm programmed to shoot first and ask questions later.

I demand a favor.

Death is always pointless. That is the point.

I demand reparation! My son was cruelly and unfairly taken from me!

Death is the ultimate fairness. Rich and poor, young and old - all are equal in death.

Our planet cannot support so many lives at once.

I apologize for any trouble I caused in my efforts to reclaim it.

It seems I'm out of practice dealing directly with mortals.

It seems I am unaccustomed to dealing with a god

We have all gained rare enlightenment this night

Mmmm, what a peculiar sight.

Now, that's odd.

Do you often go wandering about at night, young lady?

My dear, are you saying you don't remember your own name?

I can't seem to remember anything. I feel lucky I know how to talk.

How did I end up in the middle of the Pacific?

I guess I could use a ride

I thought you looked familiar. We've met before.

Do you know what a scroll is?

Get your claws off me!

You might want to reconsider your request.

We're gonna die!

I will not let anything harm you.

You win. I'll behave.

I cannot believe you pulled the trigger on me.

Just shut up and land.

I just don't remember! I'm not even sure I want to remember!

I understand your words, I simply do not believe them.

You have been long expected.

This trough is filled with acid. In about ten minutes its going to do a very nasty job on that soil carving, not to mention your rugged good looks.

It's my first real stab at clichéd villainy. How am I doing?

How are you doing this? No machine can hold me!

I should sue you for trademark infringement.

I've always considered myself a trickster at heart.

History cannot be changed.

You will not win!

What are you going to do? Bite my kneecaps off?

I know from experience the transforming power of a child's love.

The future is not written yet.

I have a sunny disposition and I'm always kind to animals

I've always respected you as a fellow inmate

He's a fool, but he may be useful.

I can work with that!

Now, now! That's your friends' genetic make-up you're insulting.

You are master now?

I should've known. But why this subterfuge?

Hey, I live for subterfuge!

I do not want escape, I want vengeance!

There's no such thing as "a little" vengeance.

No catches. No tricks. No strings.

So, things have come full circle.

You know how I feel about you, right?

#rp meme #rp memes #rp starters #roleplay memes #roleplay meme #roleplay starters #disney's gargoyles #gargoyles

[lynettethemadscientist]

Concept: An Alternate Universe(?) Saeran x Reader fic based on the 50s sci-fi movie The Alligator People. 

~

I’m standing on a train station platform in Louisiana swamp country. Alone.

Nearby me sits a box labeled radioactive. It’s been hours but surely someone will come for their mail. So I wait.

An old pickup arrives. A mint-haired man wearing dark shades steps out of the truck to pick up the package.

I ask him if he knows of the place I’m looking for and if he’ll take me there.

“They don’t usually have visitors.” His voice is low and cool. “Are they expecting you?”

“No. Not exactly. But they will know who I am.”

The bluenet smiles before telling me to hop in and loading the crate onto the truck. 

The drive through the swamp is rough. The man introduces himself as V and gives me a kind smile. Perhaps in an effort to ease my apprehension. But my unease does not come from him.

When V stops to remove a large branch from the roadway, I see two men attempting to wrangle an alligator.

“Have you ever been in bayou country before?” V asks as he returns to the truck.

I shake my head, still staring at the gator thrashing and hissing in the grasp of the men. “It’s so wild and primitive.”

“And deadly. You ought to be careful around here.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The rest of the drive is no more smooth and no less tense than it began.

We soon reach a plantation house. V drops me off and drives away. 

I knock on the door. 

The door opens and I’m greeted by a stunningly beautiful white-haired man with scarlet eyes dressed in butler attire. He flashes a charming smile but before he can speak, I hear a cheery male voice from within the house.

“Who is it, Zen?~” The voice chimes.

“It’s a fine lady.” Zen answers as he effortlessly tosses me a wink.

“Well don’t be rude, let her in!~”

I step inside and see a man with racecar-red hair dressed like a Southern belle. His face looks strangely familiar.

“Is this your place?” I ask.

“Of course!” He flourishes an ornate fan. “Welcome to my lovely manor!”

I catch a glimpse of the butler rolling his eyes before I respond. “Well...maybe you can help me. For a long time I’ve been looking for my husband. He disappeared the night we were married. I’ve searched everywhere. I’ve tried everything. And this is my last hope.”

The vermillion-haired belle’s face is still plastered with a silly grin but his eyes show no mirth. “But, why here? Surely you can’t expect to find anything in a swamp but alligators~ And snakes~ Hisssss~”

I hesitate, trying to process the unorthodox demeanor of this man. “I received a mysterious message stating that my husband lived at this address.”

“What is your name?”

“Mrs. Saeran Choi.”

His expression falters for a moment. “Well, there’s no one by that name here~ Some charlatan must have been playing a cruel prank on you.” He touches a hand to his cheek. “But no matter~ There’ll be another train tomorrow~ May we offer you the hospitality of the manor for the night?”

“I suppose…” This man is so absurd, I cannot determine if he is mocking me or just ill-mannered. 

“Terrific!” He claps his hands together. “Yoosung!”

A door opens to reveal a blond man with violet eyes wearing a maid outfit. He exits what appears to be a kitchen. “Yes, Master Luciel?”

“Show Mrs- what was your name again?”

“Mrs. Saeran Choi.”

“Show Mrs. Choi to the guest room please~”

Luciel whispers something into Yoosung’s ear before I follow him upstairs. 

~

I distractedly unpack in my room amidst thoughts concerning the strange owner of this house. I’m tempted to dismiss his behavior as merely the eccentricities of a man who’s lived in the swamp too long. But I cannot help but feel that his odd behavior is merely a ruse. 

I hear gunshots outside.

I rush to the window and see a blonde woman in a black dress cackling and firing a pistol wildly at gators. I run to the door but find it locked. 

I retreat to the bed. I’m trapped here. If I were really a guest they wouldn’t have locked me in. 

The gunshots stop.

The maid enters carrying a tea tray.

“Yoosung,” I plead. “Those gunshots. What were they about?”

“Oh...” He throws a mildly contemptuous glance at the window. “That’s the swamp witch. She hates gators.” He sets down the tray and stares at me for a tense moment. “I have to go.”

“Wait please!” I tug at Yoosung’s arm. “Somebody has to help me. Is it true what he told me? Have I come to the wrong place?”

“I can’t- I ought not to say anything, ma’am.”

“Can’t you tell me anything?”

I see pity surfacing in his lavender eyes. “I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s not my secret to tell.”

He slips a key into my hands and leaves the room.

I hear a door slam and look out another window to see Luciel leaving in a car that looks ill-fitted for the terrain. 

~

I wake up to the sound of a piano playing a sorrowful tune. I feel as though I’ve heard this theme before. I unlock my door and walk softly down the stairs. I can hear the music coming from behind a door to my right.

I open the door and the piano stops playing. In the dark I can barely see a male figure turning to see me before he flees out a side door and into the swamp. I turn on a lamp and see muddy footprints on the floor. Upon approaching the piano I find the keys are wet. 

~

In the morning I stand outside the front door. A man drives up in a fancy boat with wheels. He introduces himself as Jumin Han, the local doctor. 

“Is Luciel inside?” He inquires.

“He hasn’t come down yet. Has he been ill, doctor?”

“No. I have some other business with him.”

I pause for a moment before introducing myself. “I’m Mrs. Choi. Mrs. Saeran Choi.” I examine his face as I enunciate my words. “That name doesn’t mean anything to you?”

“No. Should it?”

“I don’t know. Let me explain, doctor. Since my husband disappeared I’ve done nothing but search for him. And I’m going to keep on asking questions.”

“What brings you here?”

“A mysterious message.”

“You came all the way down here. Traveled thousands of miles. On nothing more tangible than that.”

“I’ve traveled much farther, on even less.”

“I see.” The flash of conflict in his eyes is brief but unmistakable. “You found no other evidence?”

“Why? Is there other evidence?”

“Of course not.”

“You did know Saeran didn’t you? I can tell. What is it, doctor? Why won’t any of you tell me about him? What are you all trying to hide?”

“You are obviously overwrought. But that’s understandable given the circumstances. I wish I could help. Please tell Luciel I couldn’t wait, but I’ll stop by later.”

Even as he walks away I’m sure that man did not come here to see Luciel at all but instead to interrogate me.

When Zen brings a car around to bring me to the train station I refuse to leave.

Luciel returns home to find me rifling through the paperwork in his desk.

“What are you doing??” He hikes up his dress and rushes towards me.

“Looking for answers.”

“Get out of there. You’ve no right to look through my things. You were supposed to leave on the train.”

“I’m not leaving here until I get the answers to the questions that brought me here.”

“I told you yesterday you were mistaken.”

“I think you’re lying.”

“Get out of my house.”

“I will not. Who was playing the piano in the dark last night? Someone who left wet footprints on the carpet.”

“You’re imagining things-”

“No I’m not. Anymore than I’m imagining that you want to get rid of me. That you’ve got something to hide.”

His expression hardens. “Just leave it alone. It’s none of your business.”

“The hell it isn’t! What have you done with my husband?”

“Your curiosity will get you nothing but trouble. You need to leave. Now.”

“Saeran is my husband. I’m not leaving until you tell me whatever terrible thing you’ve done to him.”

“I don’t give a damn if he’s your husband! He’s-” His breathing is frantic.

“He’s what?”

Luciel heaves a weary sigh. “He’s my brother.” His eyes glisten. “I have to protect him. No matter what.”

I am halted at this revelation. My confrontational demeanor is whisked away.

~

As night falls, I wait for Saeran in the piano room. I sit concealed in a large cushioned chair. Behind me I hear the door open and a gravelly voice speak.

“Saeyoung, is she gone?”

“No Saeran, she isn’t.” I stand from the chair and face him.

He covers his face in an instant and flees. I call out to him, but he disappears into the dark, rainy swamp. I take off after him, pleading for him to come back. 

“Saeran! Saeran!” I wail. The mud is above my ankles. My arms and legs are bruised from the logs and branches. I have to find him. I call out for him over and over, desperately trying to scream above the storm. But I can’t see him. I can hardly see anything.

I stumble upon a snake that strikes at me and I shriek in fear. The blonde woman I saw earlier appears from the foliage and uses a stick to push away the snake.

“You ought to have better sense, dear.” She coos into my ear. “Nobody goes out into the swamp on a night like this.”

She wraps her arm around my shoulders and leads me into a cabin.

“I don’t understand. Why did you bring me here?” I shiver.

“Well, dear, I thought you’d appreciate me saving you from that snake.” She smiles. It is not a kind smile.

She offers me a drink. It doesn’t look like any alcohol I’ve seen. It’s bright blue. I try to decline, but she insists I take a sip. It’s very bitter. I cough and she chuckles.

I’m sniffling. More from the renewed loss of my husband than from the cold.

“You poor dear. You’re so cold. Here, have another sip.” She says cloyingly as she attempts to push the flask into my hands.

I utter a brief response amidst my tears. “I’ll be alright. Thanks.”

“Alright dear.” She sets down the flask and lifts up a blanket. “Here. We’ll wrap you in this then. So you don’t catch a cold.”

I stand up and she wraps the blanket around my body. She doesn’t let go. Her arms curl tightly around me. She presses her cheek against mine.

“Please let go.”

“Oh now, don’t say that. We’re only just getting to know each other.”

I struggle against her embrace. “Let go!”

She chuckles and tightens her grip.

I start struggling more frantically as she restrains me. But I can feel my movements becoming more sluggish. I hear her cackle through my screams.

The door slams open but I can hardly react to see who it is before I’m thrown onto the bed. 

I can hear a struggle. I try to roll over and see who stopped the witch, but I can barely move now.

I feel cold, rough hands lift me into their arms and carry me back out into the rain. But for some reason I am not afraid. Before my vision goes completely dark I try to look at my rescuer’s face. He has white hair, but his skin is olive green and leathery.

The last thing I hear before I lose consciousness is a woman screeching: “I’ll kill you alligator man! Just like I would any four-legged gator! You hear me? I’ll kill you!”

~

In the morning, I am told that Dr. Han wishes to see me and I’m escorted to his laboratory in the swamp.

As I enter the building, a shapely brunette leading two cloaked figures approaches me.

“You’re Mrs. Choi?”

“Yes,” I responded, watching the two figures as they walk away. They’re completely concealed. Even their hands and faces. “Dr. Han is expecting me.”

“Please follow me. You may wait in his office.”

From his office I can see Dr. Han overseeing several men carry a gator from a gurney onto a table underneath a large, strange apparatus. They strap the gator down as Dr. Han turns to leave.

I watch silently as he enters the office and begins to operate the apparatus. A high-pitched noise fills the room as Dr. Han stares at his watch.

After a few seconds, the sound is stopped and Dr. Han speaks through a comm.

“Take him out. Put him in a cage alone. We’ll run the test series on him in an hour. And bring in another specimen.”

He turns to me before speaking again.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Choi, for the wait. This experiment is very urgent.” He pauses for a moment to adjust his tie. “Remarkable creatures aren’t they?” He gestures to the alligator being carried away from the table.

“I suppose.”

“I’ve been conducting experiments for years, exploring the possibility of accelerating the healing process of humans using extracts from these creatures. And about two years ago, I thought I’d found the answer. I conducted an experimental treatment on those who had been badly mangled in accidents. The results were miraculous. Bones, tendons, muscles, even nerves and skin mended completely in a matter of weeks.”

“That’s very interesting, doctor, but what does that have to do with my husband?”

“I’m afraid it has everything to do with your husband. I’m sure you’re aware of the plane crash that nearly killed him?”

I slowly nod.

“Your husband was the worst of the lot. He was on the brink of death. Completely broken. And horribly disfigured.”

I vaguely remembered telling my husband before he vanished that he hardly looked like he’d been in a crash at all.

“Sadly, several months after his recovery I became aware of some unintended effects-“

The brunette assistant entered the room.

“Doctor, come quickly. It’s #6 again.”

“I see. Mrs. Choi please follow me.”

As I followed the pair down the hallway I could hear growls. Upon entering the room I see a snarling man on a bed, writhing underneath the grip of three men. The left half of his face is covered with green leathery scales.

Dr. Han performed a brief examination.

“Another sedative, doctor?”

“No. It seems the brain tissue has been affected. Use the ice pack and monitor him.”

The assistant left the room and returned with a large heavy blanket which was draped over the struggling man. Shortly after, his muscles relaxed and he became calm.

“Who is this?” I asked.

“One of my patients.”

“Then this is…” Horror crept into my heart.

“The aftereffects.”

“I don’t understand- how-“ My voice trembled.

“I do not know. I have been trying to find out for the past several months.”

“And the ice blanket?”

“Reptiles cannot internally regulate their temperature, so cold has a depressant effect on them.”

“Reptiles? But these aren’t-“

And then I understood. Or rather I was forced to accept it. As much as I didn’t want to. Dr. Jumin Han’s patients were turning into alligators as a result of his treatment. And my husband was one of those patients.

I should’ve been distraught. Or maybe angry. But all I could think of was how Saeran felt he needed to carry this burden himself. I couldn’t imagine how scared and alone he had been these past several months. I needed to see him.

As the doctor walked me out I asked him whether there was any hope of reversing these effects.

“There is a slight chance. But my testing is far from complete. Against my advice, your husband insists upon taking that chance tonight. The risk is extremely great, Mrs. Choi. This treatment could worsen his condition or kill him.”

“I will talk to him.”

“Please do.”

~

As night fell, I waited for Saeran to arrive at the doctor’s office. 

When he saw me he once again tried to conceal his face and flee. I grasped his arm.

“Saeran! Please don’t run away! Not again. Dr. Han explained everything. Including why you’re here tonight.” I tugged at his arm, trying to get him to face me. “Please, Saeran. It doesn’t make any difference. I’m your wife and I love you.”

Saeran still wouldn’t look at me. “You know about tonight?” 

“Yes. Please don’t do this, Saeran. The risk is too great. Please just wait. Wait for Dr. Han to complete the tests. Please I can’t lose you. Not again.”

“I’m sorry, darling. I’m so sorry. I didn’t want you to see me like this.” His voice was gravelly but choked with emotion. “I’d rather have died.”

“Please don’t say that, Saeran. I love you. No matter what. You know that, right?”

“…yes.”

“Then please trust me. I’ve been so worried about you. I’ve missed you so much. Look at me please.”

Saeran turned to face me at last. Revealing his crocodilian face. His eyes shone with tears.

I cradled his face in my palms.

“I love you. And I don’t want to lose you. Even if it means being married to an alligator man. Please don’t do this.”

He muttered my name in a half-sob and I embraced him. He felt so cold to the touch. And his soft skin was replaced with scales. But none of it mattered. He was still Saeran, so he was perfect. He sank into my embrace as if he had existed for an eternity without being held. His hard hands clung desperately to my back. His ridged face buried itself in my neck. 

“Are you sure?” His breath shuddered against my skin. “You can love an alligator man?”

“As long as the alligator man is my Saeran.”

#mystic messenger #mysme #saeran #saeran choi #ge!saeran #saeran x reader #zen #jumin han #saeyoung choi #luciel choi #yoosung #v #jihyun kim #rika #jaehee #The Alligator People 1959 #50s sci-fi #50s horror #FINALLY #ITS DONE #HUZZAH

[teenwolfsnippets]

Nothing Like Her

There was a knock at the front door, making Stiles freeze mid-step on the stairs. No one ever used the front door anymore. It’s like his bedroom window was the front door. He cautiously makes his way downstairs and peeks out the closest window, finding a woman impatiently waiting on the porch. Opening the door, he stares stupidly at how beautiful she is. Her hair was jet black and in an elegant up-do, contrasting nicely with her creamy skin and vibrant blue eyes. She was wearing a black strapless shirt and dark blue jeans. The sun glinted off the dangling onyx earrings that were framed by stray wisps of hair. There’s also something familiar about her, but he’s not sure what it is.

“Can I help you?” he asks.

Her smile is tight lipped. Not exactly forced, but not exactly friendly either.

“Hello, is John home?” she asks.

Stiles can’t help the brow raise because hardly anyone calls his father by his first name and definitely never a strange beautiful woman.

“Um, yeah, but he’s sleeping at the moment,” he mumbles.

The woman frowns slightly and looks at her watch.

“It’s 4 in the afternoon,” she says, squinting at him.

Her sudden attitude has him bristling, but he remains calm, mostly because he’s still confused.

“He worked a double shift last night,” he replies, crossing his arms.

“Oh, I see,” she says, nodding. “Well, would you mind waking him? I have news he’ll want to hear.”

There was no way in hell he was letting this lady in or waking his exhausted father for her.

“Yes, actually, I do mind. If you’d like to leave your name, I’ll tell him you stopped by,” he says, forcing a smile.

She scowls and crosses her arms as well, a hard and controlled anger visibly rising in her.

“I certainly hope you’re not his son. You have terrible manners,” she says.

Before he can even retort, he hears a door upstairs creak open.

“Stiles? Who was at the door?” his father calls, already coming down the stairs in his pajamas.

Stiles points to the woman, who is now wearing that tight smile she’d had earlier. His father looks up and literally stumbles to a stop, his eyes widening and mouth parting in shock. Stiles looks between them as his father slowly comes forward.

“Susan?”

The woman smiles somewhat more warmly, though to be honest it’s still pretty chilly, and takes a small step forward.

“John, it’s been awhile,” she replies.

His father frowns and blocks her at the door.

“I’d say 20 years is more than awhile,” he grumbles.

Her answering grin runs a shiver up his spine and he instinctively wants to take a step back, but doesn’t. He’s learned not to show fear when facing a predator. Human or not, which he hasn’t decided, this woman would never be prey to anything.

“Yes, I know I should have kept in touch more, but Claudia and I never really got along, as you know.”

At the mention of his mother, both he and his father wince slightly. Comparing this woman to his mom, he can see why they wouldn’t have gotten along. His mother had been warm and nurturing, right up until the day she died. There was nothing warm about this woman, unless you counted the hidden anger as warm.

“Understatement,” John mumbles.

The woman scowls again, but doesn’t comment.

“So, why are you here now? If you were looking for redemption, you’re about 7 years too late,” his father says, arms crossed.

Stiles has never seen his father look so unwelcoming when off the job.

“I know. It’s terrible what happened. I’m sorry for your loss,” she says. “Both of you,” she adds, glancing his way.

The statement actually sounds sincere, catching him off guard.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Stiles did take an involuntary step back that time. His father’s ‘Cop voice’ has always made him nervous.

“I’m here because we need to talk. We’ve decided it’s time to come home, John.”

“Who’s we?” his dad asks, looking out at the lawn.

“You know who I mean. We’re all moving back to Beacon Hills within the week and I felt it was necessary to give you a heads up. I’m inviting you and your son to have dinner with us tomorrow night at the old diner-”

“We’re not interested.”

The woman huffs in false amusement, her eyes narrowing.

“That wasn’t a request, Jonathan. You and your son will be there and welcome your long lost family to the neighborhood once again. Dinner will be at 5, don’t be late,” she says.

The woman spins on her heel and struts down the driveway before climbing into a bright yellow Porsche. Stiles was about to watch her drive away, but his father slams the front door shut and then stomps his way into the kitchen. Stiles stumbles after him, a million questions racing through his brain, which unfortunately come spilling out at rapid speed.

“Who was that? Who was she talking about? How does she know mom? The old diner, as in mom’s diner? Why did you let her order you around? Why are we going to meet her for dinner? What-”

“Stiles, stop,” his father snaps.

He shuts up fast, not having been on the receiving end of that tone for a long time now. The man sighs, pours himself a glass of whisky and then sits at the table. He motions for Stiles to do the same.

“Susan is your mother’s oldest sister,” he says.

Stiles’ heart clenches, his mind buzzing with confusion.

“But she told me there was no one left,” he replies, almost whispering.

“We lied about it because we wanted to protect you. Her family…” he trails off, sighing.

“They’re not all good people, which you could probably tell. Susan was a big reason your mother stayed away. She was controlling and manipulative, someone we didn’t want around you. So we moved to Northern California for a while, but eventually her family spread out around the country and it was safe to return to Beacon Hills. Only a few of them even cared when your mother got sick,” he says, grip tight around his glass.

“And only two of them made the trip for her funeral. Two out of 10 sisters,” he grumbles, shaking his head.

He downs the rest of the whisky and pours himself a second round.

“If you hate them, then why go to dinner?” Stiles asks, swallowing around the forming lump.

His dad sips at his drink and looks up at him.

“For the two that did care about your mother. They had to run just like Claudia,” he says, eyes going distant.

“If they’re back, it wasn’t by choice.”

Stiles wanted to ask more questions, but could tell his dad had hit that state of sorrow that wouldn’t be broken until at least four more drinks and a good night’s sleep. Besides, he had definitely hit the ‘Mom talk’ quota of the day, possibly of the entire week or year. He hated talking about her, more than his dad at times. Talking about her wasn’t going to change anything. Iit wasn’t going to bring her back. It was easier to push it away than deal with it.

Stiles cringed at the unwanted memories and got up from the table, chair scraping harshly against the wood flooring. His father didn’t say anything as Stiles practically ran from the room, up the stairs, and into his room. He rummages around for his phone, finding it tangled inside his blankets.

To: Scott

-Coming over. Time to get drunk.

Stiles quickly found his keys and dashed out to his car, ignoring how his father still hadn’t moved. He should talk with him, he knows he should, but he doesn’t know how. Stiles still hasn’t told him about the whole werewolf thing or why he’s been lying for the past year. But all this stuff coming up about his mother is making it even harder to talk to him and he doesn’t know how to fix it.

His phone chimed with a message as he backed out of the driveway.

From: Scott

-Not home. Hanging with Isaac. Talk later?

Stiles scowled and didn’t bother to answer. He didn’t know why he kept trying. This was the fourth time this week that Scott had been ‘too busy’ to spend time with him. It was complete bullshit and Stiles’ mood was going downhill fast. He pushed the jeep to go faster until he found himself parking outside the preserve yet again. It probably wasn’t the safest place to get wasted, but he didn’t really care.

#teen wolf #teen wolf fanfiction #stiles stilinski #sheriff stilinski #stilinski family #scott mccall #fiction #flash fiction #isaac lahey

[arigatouiris]

of daisies and sunshine // tanjiro x reader

Author’s Note: Someone requested a Tanjiro one shot, and while I am glad to say I’m working on it, I’m also so so sorry that it’s taking so long! This is not the request, this is something that’s been in my draft for SO LONG that I felt bad and had to publish it before the request came out. I’m sorry it’s taking so long, but please bear with me, it’s getting a bit harder each day for me to continue with this quarantine. I love ya’ll and I hope you like this. 

Word count: 3686

Pairing: Tanjiro Kamado x Reader

Warnings: depressive themes, angst, SPOILERS FOR KIMETSU MANGA, fluff at the end? 

If there was something that could describe Tanjiro Kamado as a person, it was that he was a big brother. He was used to having his little siblings steal food off his plate, taking care of them when they were sick, making little sacrifices that one normally wouldn’t even be aware that he was making. Except maybe Nezuko, who also had to do something similar at times.

But, Nezuko had a big brother. It showed and displayed in his aura, and Tanjiro wouldn’t have it any other way. While he would never say otherwise, there was no space in his heart where Tanjiro wished things were different. 

Perhaps the angst that followed drove his mind into completely accepting his role as a big brother, if he hadn’t already. His life revolved around having Nezuko safe, figuring out some way to turn her back into a human being—there were no distractions. Only with her recovery can there be hope for a new, good life; only with Nezuko bring brought back can there be a chance for Tanjiro to let a tad bit of selfishness course through his veins, and there was nothing that could change what was set out for them. 

Nothing, except you.

When Tanjiro first met you, you were just another demon slayer, with a tragic past—a past that he could whiff off of you, but nothing that surprised him. His heart went out to how you carried that sadness, as if you were unashamed to own it, a part of your life that now drives you, motivates you, brings you strength. However, your personality was that of sunshine and daisies, with you around, laughter followed closely behind, and your eyes carried such softness with them that it almost took his breath away.

He understands that you could be mistaken for being careless, but Tanjiro’s senses forbade him from letting things slide—he sensed your sorrow, like no one else had, and he was more than glad to be there if ever you need him to. Yet, you carried on—silly and carefree, play-fighting with Inosuke, ignoring Zenitsu’s attempts at befriending her, trying to learn more about what was in Tanjiro’s box, everything made him curious to what you carried within yourself. An aroma of sadness lodged in your heart, only made him wonder what else drove you.

It was one night when he was tending to an awake Nezuko did Tanjiro realize he was missing you. It wasn’t strange that he felt the familiar emotion of ‘wanting someone who is not there to be beside him’, he had lost his entire family apart from his little sister, but it was strange, for Tanjiro, to miss someone who was still alive. Nezuko watched him curiously, and he understood from her gaze that if she could speak she would ask him what’s wrong.

     “It’s just...” The way you would smile at him captivated him when the sunlight hit your hair. “Nezuko, I...” 

He gulped, feeling as if something was stuck in his throat. Nezuko grunted in response, but waited—it was Tanjiro’s turn to figure things out. He turned to look at his sister and noticed how heavy her gaze was. It was strange for Tanjiro to miss another person, not having felt this way before in his entire life. But, he wasn’t oblivious to it, he knew what it might be but he felt so devastated that this emotion chose to meet him now. He clenched his fingers on his thigh, his legs outstretched by the engawa, and he took a deep breath.

He remembered how you looked, how you smelled—daisies and sunshine, he had attributed the appearance to you based on what you made him feel—and he could never forget the smell of your trauma, whatever it was.

He shook his head and shut his eyes. If only he could feel this way and not have guilt wrap around his features; Nezuko’s penetrating gaze reminded him of what he could not forget, of what he could not ever forsake and if it meant forsaking the fact that he loved you, then so be it.

However, things began to get strange. Missions were shorter, and required very little of Tanjiro’s presence. The only one who seemed happy was Zenitsu, for their trips to the wisteria estate increased in number, with missions ending in a day or two. Inosuke would run off doing god knows what, but it was always the three of them—Zenitsu, Tanjiro and Nezuko, who’d arrive to rest. Tanjiro considered these collection of days to be the calm before the storm, he knew that the rest was important. Nevertheless, the one night that he entered he was given something by the old lady.

     “The one with the weird face told me to give you this,” Tanjiro thought it was a bit mean, but the old lady meant no harm. Weird could mean pretty too?

His eyes widened when he saw a daisy stuck to a small letter. His heart was beating rapidly now, his hands shaking at the sight of something so small that was moving so much inside of him. Zenitsu popped up behind him and his eyes widened.

     “Did... Did (y/n)-chan give you this?!”

Tanjiro knew it was you. Yet, he couldn’t understand how you knew he associated you with that flower. A soft smile sat on his features, a part of him not wanting to open the letter and just stare at it for all eternity; another part of him was quickly reminded of Nezuko and he knew he had to put her to bed. Bringing his hand down, he quickly rushed inside, ignoring Zenitsu’s wails to open the letter to see what it says.

It was after dinner and after his friend went to sleep did Tanjiro come back to the engawa to open the letter. He half prayed that it wasn’t what he thought it was, it would only make things harder for him—tears filled his eyes when he thought of how he wished it wasn’t anything close to love, how badly he wished if he could wish for the same.

Tanjiro-san, it read. I hope you’re wasting some time from time to time. 

He chuckled, scrunching his eyes a bit before continuing to read. I know you think of daisies when you see me, because Inosuke-kun told me. Not that I mind, daisies are so pretty! Also, I left a daisy there on purpose so you’d think of me for a moment.

I think of you for more than just a moment, he thought regretfully, but you would never know. 

Because I think of you a lot these days. Tanjiro’s breath got stuck in his throat. I think of you a lot because your hair reminds me of a warm autumn evening, and while I know autumn is never warm, you are the warmth that one would feel during a severe winter. Your smile is generous, yet careful, and I see what you try to do. 

His lips were quivering now.

Tanjiro-san, I won’t say anything you don’t want to hear right now so I’ll wait. Because I am certain that whatever it is that you achieve to do, you will. You have a heart of gold and nerves of everlasting strength, so if you feel weak at times like this, always remember, you are my symbol of fortitude. 

Tanjiro wiped the tears before they fell. Closing the letter and holding the daisy close, he thought of you—wherever you were at the moment—and allowed himself to feel what he felt for you. It was going to be a long, dark night but not quite as dark as it was in the abyss of his heart where there was nothing but hollowness, yet it felt heavy, almost as if someone still resided there. No, someone did reside there—you were slowly building a home for yourself there and not one part of you wanted to wait. Yet, there came a patience with this letter that brought him a strange sense of strength; strength that could only come with a lover saying, ‘be still, my heart’, and Tanjiro could be who he wanted, finish what he started and return home to you.

The next morning, Tanjiro handed the old lady a persimmon, asking her to give it to you.

    “She’s got a pretty face,” Tanjiro said with a smile, and the lady nodded.

     “You know,” He heard Zenitsu say, “It’s getting really pathetic, Tanjiro.”

     “What is?”

     “This entire dance that you’ve got going with (y/n)-chan,” Tanjiro blinked, “You’re being a sap.”

     “A sap?”

     “You know,” the blond groaned, “If you like her, you should tell her!”

     “I like a lot of people, Zenitsu. Even you!” Tanjiro laughed it off only to hear his best friend curse at him some more.

The next mission reunited Inosuke to the three of them. They had to scale a mountain by the wisteria estate to finish off a group of demons before they could come back for some rest. Inosuke was wounded, having broken two ribs, for which Tanjiro knew he had to escort his friend back to the estate. That evening however, time stilled as they reached the place.

By the engawa, composing another letter, was you. 

     “Ah!”

You blinked and looked up to find Tanjiro, Zenitsu and a wounded Inosuke, before your face turned a bright red and you haphazardly hid the letter you were writing. 

     “Tanjiro-kun! Zenitsu-kun! Inosuke—”

     “Hah?! What are you doing here?! Do you wanna—”

     “No!” Tanjiro and you screamed at the same time at Inosuke, who seriously needed a beating before being taken inside.

That night, you approached Tanjiro bashfully, sitting beside him.

     “Zenitsu is...?”

     “He’s asleep. It was tiring, this mission.”

     “Why aren’t you asleep?” I’m glad you aren’t, you thought.

Because I wanted to talk to you, “Just not as exhausted, I think?”

     “That box...” You started, “The demon inside is someone important, right?”

Tanjiro’s eyes widened, “How—”

     “Give me some credit, I’m a demon slayer too!” You giggled.

Tanjiro paused before looking away, sighing deeply, “She’s... She’s my sister. Nezuko. She was turned into a demon one day, and... Muzan butchered my family... She was the only one alive.”

Your eyes widened. “But she—”

     “She hasn’t hurt anyone! She hasn’t even killed a human before. She’s made to think that she has to protect humans and kill demons. I know I can turn her back. I know I can... Muzan needs to... Muzan needs to die.”

You paused, your throat stuck with a hard stone. Tanjiro suddenly smelled the sudden rush of angst from you, noticing your eyes welling with tears. It was as if you were weeping to cleanse yourself, like your body needed to be emptied. Tanjiro wanted to touch you so badly right then, but he wasn’t sure what to do. For the first time, comforting you felt strange.

     “(y/n)-chan—”

     “It’s so hard to not love you, Tanjiro-san,” Tanjiro’s eyes widened and his breath was stuck in his throat, “I understand now why... Why you hold back—”

     “It has nothing to do with you, (y/n)-chan! I just—”

A grunt sounded from behind the both of you and your eyes met a girl’s—pink eyes and beautiful, wavy brown hair. She wore a pink kimono and a bamboo nuzzle on her mouth. You immediately understood that this was Nezuko, Tanjiro’s sister, and somehow seeing her in the flesh made you cry more. Nezuko’s hand touched the top of your head and that had you fall into her hands and sob like no tomorrow. The female demon sat infront of you, holding you and cradling you as you cried, while Tanjiro watched.

His heart was pounding and he almost couldn’t breathe. It was as if he was sunk into water and there was no room for air, watching the woman he loved with all his heart crumble before him shattered his soul, but seeing Nezuko comfort her gave him a twisted sense of joy.

     “I had a sister,” You said, pulling away from Nezuko. Your hand reached over to pet her, her eyes closing, “She’d be Nezuko’s age now if she was alive.”

Tanjiro didn’t want to guess what happened. 

     “My sister was turned into a demon,” Tanjiro froze, “She killed everyone in our family. My father, my mother... My grandmother... It was... It was the Love Pillar who killed her after that. She embraced me and told me to become a demon slayer because I was strong and I’d meet people like me... She gave me a home for a while and trained me... But she... I see Nezuko-chan now and all I can think of is how much I can hope again.”

You turn to Tanjiro and held his hand, “Please... Please turn Nezuko-chan back. I know you will, even without me having to tell you, but now... Do this for me, too?”

Tanjiro’s grip around your hand tightened. He nodded once before feeling warmth return to your heart. 

     “I try to smile and laugh all the time because... My sister always told me that there’s beauty in being silly.”

     “Your sister sounds like a smart girl.” Tanjiro said, unconsciously shifting closer to you. 

     “She was.” You whispered, laying your head on his shoulder, Tanjiro’s hand traversed to your shoulder and held you close. 

Nezuko laid her head on your lap and closed her eyes. You believed you could stay like this forever.

     “You deserve the world, Tanjiro-kun.” You whispered, not sure if he could hear it. 

Tanjiro turned to you, your faces inches apart. 

     “(y/n)-chan, I’ll marry you one day,” Your eyes widened at his sudden outburst, “We’ll start a family. I want to—”

You shake your head, your hand was on his cheek now. Tanjiro paused, unsure of what to do. 

     “You have to kill Muzan first. Help Nezuko-chan. Once everything is over, come find me. There is no use as long as Muzan lives, and Tanjiro-kun, you’re the only one who can stop him. I can feel it. I pass my wrath to you, Tanjiro-kun, so I beg of you, win. Win for me and my family, and for Nezuko-chan.”

Tears fill both your eyes and Tanjiro softly places his forehead on to yours.

     “I’ll come find you.”

You nod, wanting nothing more than to kiss him. He knows you feel the same and if neither one of you pulls away now, it may have led to a kiss. But, you were sure. Neither one of you was going to confess now. You were not going to let your love for this boy shatter his resolve, you were not going to make him sway. If anything, your love for him would only motivate him to finish what he started, to get where he needs to be. You lean aside and plant a soft kiss to his cheek before pulling away. 

     “Not a word until then!” You whispered playfully.

*

You had heard of Muzan’s defeat only a week after it had actually happened. Your first thought was of Tanjiro and Nezuko’s well-being, and if they survived the war. You’d also heard of Kanroji’s demise, along with Obanai-san’s, Gyomei-san’s, as well as several other demon slayers who’d given their lives to save humanity. However, you cursed yourself for feeling a tad bit relieved that Tanjiro and the crew were safe. It wasn’t that you weren’t allowed to rejoice that the man you loved was doing alright, but it was among other things. 

You heard they were at the butterfly estate and you quickly headed over there, feeling guilty that you had not taken part in the duel, having not been there for Tanjiro when he needed you most. You had just completed a mission and were resting when the big fight broke out, and not being part of the entire ordeal was something you promised you could never forgive yourself for, till the day you died. 

And if Tanjiro or Nezuko were hurt during the whole thing, you’d regret it till your last breath.

You walked over and gasped when your eyes fell on Nezuko’s form, your eyes welling up with tears as you watched her interact and talk—having been turned back to a human being. Your hands shook as they covered your mouth, with you mumbling silent prayers to any god that was listening to you. Nezuko’s gaze fixed upon you, taking a second to recognize who you were.

She rushed to you and embraced you quickly, her scent embedding in your form rather sharply.

     “Nezuko-chan, you’re... you’re—”

     “(y/n)-san, right?” She pulled away, staring at you lovingly, “You saved my brother’s life!”

Your eyes widened, and you couldn’t believe what you were hearing. You shook your head slowly, unable to process her words. Nezuko noticed your hesitance in grasping her words, and she giggled lightly before her grip on your shoulders tightened. 

     “Nii-san was... He was turned into a demon for a brief second,” You let out a gasp at her words, “And he wasn’t turning back into a human. He even attacked Inosuke-san, and me... But... I talked to him! I reminded him of us, his family... And I reminded him of you. Upon your mere mention, (y/n)-chan, he paused and stilled, as if something was still alive in him! I am glad you never got to see him that way, because if he had let you see him the way he was, he’d never forgive himself. But, he won’t deny it. You saved him. Your memory, the love he has for you. It made all the difference.”

Your eyes welled with tears, it was getting difficult to see Nezuko’s smiling face. Her hands were still on your shoulder, gripping them and instilling in them confidence that you had lacked because you blamed yourself for missing the fight. You blamed yourself for resting when others sacrificed themselves, but here she was, telling you that your absence made a difference. 

It was still something you couldn’t believe.

     “Nezuko-chan, I want to see him?” You had no idea why your words came out like a question.

     “He’s asleep, but yes. He’s recovering slowly.”

She led you to where Tanjiro slept, and all you could do was gaze at him lovingly. He looked the way silence looked before it was broken. You were tempted to touch him, but you didn’t want to disturb his peace—you silently prayed he was having a good dream, a dream well deserved of all the trouble he had gone through. You didn’t even realize you were crying, just the mere thought of how much Tanjiro had gone through was enough to put your mind into utter chaos, and if you could shoulder all of his pain, you would gladly step into fire for this boy. 

Sometimes, it left you breathless with how much you loved him.

Days passed and Tanjiro slept on. You had made good friends with Kanao, who was equally bed-ridden; she had woken up a few days after you arrived to the estate. Kanao told you about the fight, of how Tanjiro pressed on; she became your eyes and narrated the entire ordeal. You noticed Inosuke learning the ways of being a regular person—not stealing food, learning to use chop-sticks, gazing at the stars at night, watching over Tanjiro as he slept. Zenitsu told you about his grandfather and helped with watching over his friend as well; the boys had changed so much in such a short time.

After having gone through such an ordeal.

You entered Tanjiro’s room one day, almost a month after the ordeal and found him staring out the window. You froze at the sight before rushing over to him and hugging him softly, tears spilling out your eyes and onto his hair and face. His one fine arm wrapped around you and you could hear him chuckle, you wanted to beat him for laughing at a time like this but when you pulled away, you were met with a pair of the kindest eyes you had ever seen.

     “Tanjiro-kun... I wish... I wish I was there for you—”

     “You were,” His good hand went to yours, and he brought it to his lips, “You made me human again.”

You wanted to deny his words, you wanted to give him more, and you didn’t know what more you could give.

     “You deserve so much! You deserve so much more than me...” You cried, thinking of him and merely him.

     “If you think I deserve something then what I deserve is to choose who I want to be with,” His words were calm and mellow, though his eyes were tearing up, “You may not want to believe how you helped me, but it was your thought that kept me going. I wanted to come back to you, introduce you to Nezuko, marry you, have kids with you!”

You bit your lip and a bitter smile sat on your features, “I did say you had to come back and find me.”

Tanjiro’s hand rested on your cheek as he whispered, “There you are.”

A moment later, you kissed him squarely on the lips, not bothered by the tears leaking out of his eyes, or yours. You made sure to hold him softly, not intending to put any pressure to any part of his body—though it felt like years that you’d wanted to kiss him. You pulled away for a second to tell him,

     “I love you so much.”

And to have him say, 

     “I love you, too, (y/n)-chan.”

And to have him continue kissing every single inch of your face. He did not know he was even capable of something like this, but the thought of you being here, in his arms, alive and well, intending to fulfil a promise made over sunshine and daisies was all he could care about.

Pulling away, he saw it for a brief second—his future. You, him—a field of daisies. It was only beginning now. For the first time in his life, Tanjiro was going to think of himself; not as a big brother, not as a caretaker, not as anything else in the world other than—

—Tanjiro himself. 

#tanjiro kamado #tanjiro x reader #tanjiro kamado x reader #demon slayer #kimetsu no yaiba #kamado tanjiro x reader #kamado tanjiro #nezuko #kamado nezuko #nezuko kamado #zenitsu #inosuke #kanao #kanroji #obanai #hashira #muzan #tanjiro vs muzan

[parkvcrs]

Hi can I request for you do to any Ewan McGregor character + cheating? It doesn’t matter who, how or when just a cheating prompt please 😊👍

Y/n L/n stood near the emergency exit of The Black Mask Club, frozen in place. One minute she looked over to where Roman once sat where he discussed with fellow mobsters about confidential topics. The next, he was dragged away by an arbitrary harlot — interrupting his meeting and dragging him to the corner of the club — believing that they blended in the crowd.

Roman was a generally flashy man in terms of clothing so it came to no surprise that his fiancé almost immediately spotted him being forced in an undesirable sin. Adultery. The kiss was expected but it still managed to astonish Y/n, her mouth hanging agape as she watched Roman’s hand clasped gently into the back of her hair, pressing in softly. After a few seconds, he broke away and smirking before taking the woman to a disclosed location as Y/n could only watch in horror as they exited her line of sight.

“Y/n,” Victor Zsasz approached his boss’ soon-to-be wife. “Is everything already? You seem like you’ve seen a ghost.” He noticed how her demeanour drastically changed from optimistic and not having a single care in the world to glum in a matter of minutes as she secluded herself from the rest of the crowd.

“Yeah, Zsasz, I just I need some fresh air.” She fabricates, her voice accidentally cracking as she masked her sorrow.

“Do you need any company?”

“No, I don’t that is necessary,” Y/n waves the henchman away from herself while plastering a faulty smile. “I’ll be back before you know it.” That was another lie but she cannot trust Victor with her life.

She used the exit as her excuse to hastily get away from anything that remotely reminded her of Roman Sionis. She got into her vehicle and drove. She had no location nor company. Only her thoughts to make her fall deeper into depression. Roman constantly said that he loved her, but that was all a ruse, wasn’t it?

One thing is for certain and the fact of the matter was that she needed to get as far away from Gotham City as humanly possible. Fleeing the country seemed like a swell idea at the moment. Roman was a Mafia boss with several links to sources of crime bosses who would not hesitate to turn Y/n in on the spot. She feared what Roman would do to her for she knew what was in the warehouse. That is when Y/n slammed on the brakes — gripping on the leather on the steering wheel tight as her mind was put to work. A fork in the road presented itself.

Y/n could either return to Roman and become his wife but having the knowledge of this cruel act that he was bound to find out sooner or later... or, of course, there was another option. She can move to a different state or foreign country. Hypothetically, it would be making her betray him in a way but Y/n would go under a different alias, alter her personality and find interest in a variety of hobbies that she despised. It was beserk but the h/c haired woman preferred those chances over staying another minute with that monster that is Roman Sionis.

The following morning, Roman strolled around his penthouse only to find that Y/n was nowhere to be seen. “Zsasz,” The criminal spoke up, approaching the framed serial killer. “Have you seen—”

“No, I haven’t seen her since last night. She was acting... strange.”

“How so?” Roman inquired, he was now intrigued by that claim. Surely, there must be some logic behind that strong accusation. He sighed before sitting down, gesturing for Victor to continue. “You know about that one dame you were with last night? What was your name again?” Victor began his analogy only to be halted by a question with Roman replied with a rebuttal.

“Her name doesn’t concern you. It is inconsequential to this narrative.” Roman scowled, clenching his teeth.

“As I was saying, after we,” Victor proceeded to slid his finger against his throat as an action to represent murder. “Y/n just disappeared. Her car was taken. My hypothesis is that she saw something that she didn’t fully have all the facts to conclude whether or not she was correct.”

“Do you think she believed that I was cheating on her?” Victor didn’t respond to Roman’s pressing interrogation but his silence spoke for itself.

Roman rested his head in his hands. This wake-up call was so unforeseen, he had to take a few moments to process the situation at hand. The persistent honking outside made his blood boil because it was merely stopping his thoughts to the point where he couldn’t think. His mind, scattered. His fingers curled tightly around his hair, he could to see Victor become uneasy because he knew that Roman would burst any second.

Roman grabbed a nearby pillow, standing up before throwing the cushion aside in a harsh manner. “Fucking fuck!” He screamed before taking ahold of a beer bottle as he threw it to the ground, thousands of glittering fragments to an errant stone. He proceeded to destroy various objects around his penthouse such as vases, furniture and expensive art pieces. When Roman’s tantrum came to a long-awaited end, he fell on the couch — exhausted.

“She’s not getting away that easily. Zsasz, notify our colleagues about this incident — we are sending out a search party.”

There were several parties with the same objective that was to find Y/n L/n. On the other hand, Roman wanted to go alone because he had an overwhelming urge that he knew where his significant other was hiding out.

After the long hours of nonstop driving, Y/n sought refuge in Midway City even if it was out of her comfort zone. She decided to spend the night in a remote hotel building in Room 208, the same room where she and Roman first met when one of his men attempted to assassinate her because he mistakingly thought that Y/n was one of their clients. It was a huge slip-up, to say the least, but she had the privilege of that issue weaving into her meeting Roman. She didn’t know why she came here due to the multiple other options in her range. Perhaps this was the first thing that came to mind since she didn’t know this area all that well.

In the middle of the night, a loud crash caused Y/n to awaken from her deep slumber in what she presumed to be a gunshot followed by several more. She looked around the room to see any weapons to arm herself but to no avail. She quickly hid under the bed, watching the door carefully.

Adrenaline floods her system when she heard footsteps approaching her room. It pumps and beats like it’s trying to escape. “Come on out, Y/n,” A familiar voice shouted, the heavy footsteps consuming the adult’s hearing. He most likely murdered the front desk lady, the staff and the other occupants of the hotel.

That is when the front door clicks before ever so slowly... opening as Y/n heard heavy boots connect with the wooden flooring. She clasped a hand over her mouth to make her breathing quiet, her entire body wants to either run fast for the safety but she knew that was nearly impossible when it came to escaping Roman Sionis. All she saw was a part of his silhouette that was carved out of the darkness from the artificial light beaming from the main hallway. Roman moved around the relatively petite hotel room, examining the restroom to ensure you weren’t hiding in there before his opticals focused on the bed as a smirk appears on his face.

“Got you.”

#ewan mcgregor imagine #ewan mcgregor x reader #ewan mcgregor #birds of prey #harley quinn and the birds of prey #roman sionis #roman sionis x reader #roman sionis x you #roman sionis imagine #dceu #the black mask #harley quinn #the joker #submittion #mobster #mafia

[thewritewolf]

Multiple Second Chances Chapter 1: Pranks

When something goes wrong with the miraculous of the main duo, they each choose a hero to take over for them while Marinette tries to make things right. Of course, with so many former heroes now compromised, they can't let old guardian rules drain their pool of heroes even more.

A Snekmouse story.

@adrinetteapril

First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Read on Ao3

“Hey, sugarcube!” Plagg said as he phased into the purse where Tikki was hiding.

“Plagg!” She hissed at him. “You aren’t supposed to be here! Go back to your chosen right now!”

“Yeah, yeah, in a minute,” Plagg said, irritably waving a paw at her as he peaked out. It quickly returned to clutching his prize.

“No not in a minute, right-” Tikki suddenly froze. “What are you holding?” Her voice became edged with panic. “What are you holding?”

“What, this?” Plagg hefted the black orb he held. To a human eye, it would look like nothing more than a black pearl. But to a kwami? They could see the rolling clouds of crackling dark energy in it. “Just a little gift for a too-handsy little snake.”

“Get rid of it! That can cause some serious damage in the wrong hands!”

“Relax, sugarcube,” Plagg said, rolling his eyes. “I didn’t charge it that much. Just enough for some bad luck and maybe some illnesses. Real ones, to go along with her many fake ones.” His ears twitched as he sensed a good opportunity to cross the room. The moment he tried, he was pulled back. He looked around to see Tikki grabbing at his orb.

“While I agree she isn’t good, this is too far! And you might endanger our chosen with this recklessness. Not to mention their identities!”

“Then it's a good thing I wasn’t asking for your permission!” Plagg tugged at his pearl, but Tikki refused to let go. Being the ancient being of immense cosmic strength he was, he did what came naturally - he pulled back even harder. “Gimmie my ball!”

“No!”

“Spoilsport!”

“Instigator!”

As they each drew on more of their energy, the orb - fragile enough already - began to crack. White energy, no doubt Tikki’s doing, poured out.

The orb shattered, driving them into opposite corners of the purse.

“See what you-” Plagg coughed. “See what you did?”

“Me?! You- You’re the…” Tikki trailed off as she rubbed at her forehead, whimpering. “I don’t feel great…”

Plagg couldn’t reply, all his attention focused on gripping his stomach and trying not to be sick. Outside the purse, there was a commotion and Plagg slinked away into his chosen’s bag just before the class emptied.

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

Adrien wasn’t entirely sure what happened, but after what had sounded like a small explosion, the room had filled with a horrible stench that had effectively canceled their Physics lessons for the day. And since that was his last class of the day, Adrien quickly found himself back in his room.

“That was super weird.” Adrien set down his messenger bag and opened it. “Any idea what it could have been, Plagg?” His heart dropped when he found his kwami curled up into a ball, shivering. “Plagg!” He gently grabbed his kwami and held him in his palm. “What’s the matter?”

“Blegh…” Plagg opened an eye and looked at him. “I, uh, I won’t bore you with the details but you’d better transform. Ladybug will be looking for you.”

“Wh- Huh?” Adrien frowned. “Are you sure? Will you be alright?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, pigtails has a good head on her shoulders. She’ll know what to do.” Plagg gagged, his fur standing on end. “Or at least she’ll be able to figure it out with all those musty old Guardian books around.”

“If you say so… Plagg, claws out!”

Something immediately felt off. Besides being more than a little nauseous, he didn’t feel as strong as he usually did. But there was something that he couldn’t quite define that wasn’t right about this either. It was almost like there was something heavy in his gut, like a stone. Shaking it off, he got ready to leave.

After locking his door and turning on a piano recording, Chat Noir slipped out of his bedroom window and began running over rooftops. Just like Plagg had said, it wasn’t long before Ladybug was calling him. He answered quickly.

“Hey bugaboo.” With Plagg’s health on the line, he got straight to the point. “My kwami said you might know what to do?”

Ladybug bit her lip, a sure sign of worry. “I do, but I don’t like it. We’ll talk about it in person. Meet me here.”

Her face was replaced with a map of Paris, a blinking red dot showing her location. He raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t any of their usual haunts - the top of the Eiffel Tower, the spires of Notre Dame, any number of rooftops across the city. Instead, it was a garden filled with hedges. With how early into spring they were, they weren’t likely to see many civilians around, but still. He had a bad feeling about this, but followed her dot anyway.

“M’lady,” he said with a bow as he landed beside her. “What’s the news?”

“Plagg is sick, right?” Chat blinked in surprise but nodded. “My kwami is too. This isn’t the first time she’s gotten sick but, well…” Ladybug began pacing. When she started talking it was like a dam breaking down and everything came flooding out at once. “Last time I had Master Fu, but now we don’t have Master Fu and he was supposed to teach me everything but then, you know, and now he’s gone and I have his notes but I might be able to decipher them but I don’t know if I can do it and I-”

“My lady.” Chat caught her shoulders and stopped her in her tracks. “Take a breath, please. Okay? You can do this. If there is an answer to be found, you’re the one that can do it.”

To his surprise, Ladybug wrapped him in a hug. “Thanks, chaton.”

“No problem, bugaboo. Now,” he said, “is there anything else I can do to help? I want Plagg to be better as soon as possible. Plus, I don’t know how well I can fight feeling this weak.”

“About that…” She stepped away and pulled out an egg shaped item and opened it. Chat’s eyes widened as he saw all the miraculous ever seen fight alongside him. His wonder turned to dismay when he looked up to see sorrow in her eyes. “We’re going to have to take a break, kitty. Plagg and Tikki can’t get any better unless they get some rest.”

“You… want to take my miraculous?” A pit of dread opened up in his stomach. “But-”

“I know, and I’m sorry. But I promise it’s only temporary! I’ll even let you pick your… the person who will be filling in for you.”

“Okay…” That was something, at least. “So what miraculous would I be handing out?”

“I’ve actually given that some thought,” Ladybug said as she sat down. Chat followed her lead and watched as she sat the miracle box on the ground between them. “So the main issue to us taking a break is that we have to purify akuma, right?”

“Right. That’s why Master Fu brought out the Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous in the first place, right?”

“Exactly! Now, I was doing some research and found out that the Yang-aligned zodiac miraculous can also purify corruption.”

“So…” Chat screwed his eyes shut as he struggled to remember his Chinese lessons. “Monkey, Tiger, Dog, Dragon, Horse, and… Rat?”

“Well, in our case the Mouse. Very good!” Ladybug smiled and Chat’s heart skipped a beat. “So those six miraculous could replace me. Well, mostly.”

“First, no one could ever replace you,” Chat said firmly. “But what do you mean ‘mostly’?”

“Only the Ladybug has access to the Cure. Which is why I think this one,” Ladybug pulled out the Snake miraculous, “would be the perfect choice to pair with one of the others.”

“The Snake?”

“Yes. It’d be the best way to reduce collateral damage until we can get the Cure back. If worst comes to worst, I can transform, but we have to avoid it whenever possible so Tikki can recover.”

“Smart as usual, m’lady. Who do you plan on giving it to?”

“Chat,” she chided. “You know I can’t tell you that.” She clapped. “Now, I know I usually choose all the new heroes, but given the circumstances, I’ll let you pick the other.”

Chat perked up a little and looked very carefully at the six miraculous. He had never seen the Tiger or the Dog in action and ruled them out. Monkey? Helpful, but too random. Horse? Too situational. Dragon? Maybe. But then he saw the Mouse and remembered the last wielder of that miraculous. He grinned as he picked it from the rest.

Marinette would be perfect! She was smart, just like Ladybug so she could definitely help take the lead. Not to mention Multimouse made for an excellent hero. He wasn’t super certain on how viable that powerset would be, but knowing Marinette, she’d find a way to make it work.

“The Mouse?” Ladybug said with a little confusion as he slipped the necklace into his pocket. “Not the one I was thinking you’d pick, but it’ll work just as well as the others.” She pulled the bracelet out and stashed it in her yoyo. “We’ll meet up tomorrow evening so you can give me your miraculous.”

Chat Noir smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Careful, you’re sounding like Hawkmoth.”

She rolled her eyes and gently punched his shoulder. “Go home, Chat.”

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

Naturally, Chat Noir did not go home. After all, his mind was already made up on who he wanted to give the Mouse miraculous to. Pulling his civilian phone out of his pocket, he sent a text to Marinette and asked about homework. Once she responded, he knew she’d be home. Hopefully alone in her room.

It took longer than he thought it would, but after a few minutes Marinette responded and Chat Noir went on the prowl. He couldn’t see much as he looked in from afar, but what he could tell was that there wasn’t anyone else in her room as she paced it frantically. In a few heartbeats, he had crossed the distance and landed on her balcony. His cat ears twitched as he heard her talking to herself.

He crouched down and knocked on her skylight and sat down while he waited.

The trapdoor opened just a crack. Blue eyes peering up at him, first curiously, then in shock.

“Chat Noir?!”

He bowed his head. “The one and only!”

“What- Why are you-”

“Can I come in?”

“I- Sure?”

Marinette opened the trapdoor completely and he slid inside, landing on the floor of her bedroom.

“So, um what can I-” Marinette was cut off when he pulled out the little box holding the miraculous. “No…”

“I, uh,” Chat Noir rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Sorry, I know Ladybug has a whole little speech, but I’ve never heard it in person.” A lie, but he wasn’t about to admit he had been so caught up in Ladybug’s eyes that he hadn’t committed her speech to memory. “I’m sure she told you it when you got picked to be Multimouse last time, but…”

“Chat, I can’t be-”

“I know, you’re worried about the identity thing,” Chat said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It really wasn’t a big deal that I found out. I’m surprised Ladybug took your miraculous over it, but I know that you’re more than up to the task. You’re smart, you’re brave, and you made a great hero!”

She looked between him and the box. While she was clearly torn, it was also very clear that she had been touched by his praise. Slowly, she took the box from his hands.

“I… accept.”

“Good. Let me fill you in on everything that’s going down. Or, at least as much as I’m allowed to tell you.”

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

Several hours later, Adrien was back in his room, playing the piano for real this time. It wasn’t his usual arrangement, but rather a jaunty ragtime tune, the kind that he knew Plagg liked. His kwami was resting in his favorite trash can, the last time he’d do so for who knows how long.

The prospect of not being a superhero weighed heavily on Adrien. What if he never got to become Chat Noir again, and he was shoved back into his regimented life with no hope of escape? What if Multimouse and his replacement were too good and Ladybug decided that he didn’t need to come back?

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away. Ladybug cared about him, she’d never just abandon him. And he had meant every word he’d said to her - he knew that if anyone could heal the kwami, it was her.

But still the lingering fears remained…

At least until he heard a knock on his window. Framed against the dying light of the setting sun was Ladybug holding onto the string of her yoyo, face pressed close to the glass as she tried to look inside. His heart began beating a million kilometers an hour as he jumped up from his seat, nearly falling flat on his face as he rushed to open the window.

“L-ladybug!” He said, poking his head out the window. “What, um, what are you doing here?”

“I’m sorry to ask you this, given how awful your previous experience with this miraculous was, but…” Ladybug pulled out a black box with red markings and presented it to him. “Adrien Agreste, here is the miraculous of the Snake, which grants the power of Second Chance. You will use it for the greater good.”

“I accept!” He eagerly took the Snake miraculous. The excitement of being a hero became tinged with fear. “...Are you sure, though?” He frowned. “I kind of made a mess of it less time…”

Ladybug smiled warmly at Adrien. “It showed that you have determination. Not many people would be able to go that long trying to make things work. It also shows you are patient.” She took his free hand and set it over the miraculous. “Plus we both know how kind and caring you are. Perfect traits for a hero.”

“And what about Luka?”

“Hawkmoth knows his identity,” Ladybug said with a shrug. “Besides, I know you have the makings of an excellent hero. Now,” she said, moving past him to sit on the edge of his bed. “Let me tell you why we need you…”

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

The following day came far too swiftly. After giving Plagg all the hugs the kwami would allow, Adrien had transformed to meet up with Ladybug. He must have looked like a mess since her blue eyes softened immediately when he landed, and in a moment her hand was cupping his cheek.

“I’m sorry, kitty. I know how much this all means to you, but I promise you’ll be back in the cat suit before long.”

He sniffled and put a hand over hers. “I’ll miss you.”

She got a thoughtful look in her eye and looked away. He let her hand slide off his face, where it took up position cupping her chin.

“You know… we could still keep in contact.”

“How?”

“Master Fu had a dropbox that he prepaid a couple years in advance. We could leave letters there for each other, if we’re really missing each other.”

Chat perked up. “Really?”

“Mhm,” Ladybug hummed. She reached into her yoyo. “Here, you can have the spare key. It should have the location written on it.” She closed her eyes and turned around. “Detransform, hand me your miraculous and I’ll leave a letter when I’m done.”

“Right. Claws in.” Adrien gave one last sad look to Plagg before he took off the miraculous and he vanished. He pressed the ring into Ladybug’s hand. “See you soon, m’lady.”

“We’ll be back before you know it, chaton.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Adrien said. He ran away until he was out of the gardens before slipping on the Snake miraculous. In a ball of green light, a new kwami appeared. “Hey, Sass. Miss me?”

#Miraculous Ladybug #AdrinetteApril2020 #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Adrien Agreste #Adrienette #Ladybug #Chat Noir #Ladynoir #Tikki #Plagg #ml fanfiction #my writing #Multiple Second Chances