#the way I was hooting and hollering as soon as I saw what they paid a quarter of a million to get stuck inside😭😭😭 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

qvid-pro-qvo · 4 years

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Hello sweetie. May I have 7) “I dreamt about you last night.”, 14) “Can I have this dance?”, “I couldn’t live without you.” and “I’m yours, in every way possible.” with Sonny Carisi (I'm heads over heels for that man) with female reader, please. Thanks :) - @reading--mermaid

for @reading--mermaid. sonny carisi x female!reader.

word count: 2240

rating: e for everyone, because a wedding brings everyone together, for better or for worse, but in this case definitely for the better (pretty much fluff! tw: mentions of alcohol.)

For the moment, you remember why you wish you could be an only child.

“You’re bringing your boyfriend. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.”

“You know, when I dreamt about you last night, I completely forgot about the part where you’re absolutely insane,” you comment mildly. Your hand reaches for your glass, and Jane just sighs. “Guess it just slipped my mind.”

“Uh-huh. So he’s coming, then?”

Your sister is glaring at you from across the table, but you don’t look at her, focusing instead on the brunch menu.

“Seems like I might try the scallops today,” you hum, and she just rolls her eyes.

“You’re allergic to seafood, dumbass, and you’re bringing your boyfriend.”

“No, I’m not, Jane.” Your voice is firm, and when she narrows her eyes at you, it’s your turn to give the dramatic roll. “Look. I don’t want to bring him. Barb’s my friend, and I love her, and I’m excited for her, but that wedding is going to be shitshow. The last thing I want is to scare him off because dear old Uncle Phil decides to get too rowdy and Aunt Julia decides to drink two bottles of wine instead of one at the reception.”

“That’s just how weddings work,” Jane counters, and when you open your mouth again to argue, she raises her hand. “It’s a shitshow, but it’s sweet. You’re a bridesmaid, sweetheart. And unless you want one of the bridal party trying to flirt with you all night, your boyfriend is the perfect protection. Plus, I want to meet him!”

With a sigh, you lift up your hand to tie your hair back, your scrunchie forcing the mess into a bun. “You’ve met him,” you say, with no lack of petulance, but Jane just sighs.

“Once. For like, ten minutes, in passing. You’re both always busy, and not only that, but I know Mom and Dad wouldn’t mind meeting the guy that you’re basically swooning over every time you talk to them on the phone. How long’s it been that you’ve been gushing about him? A year?”

That makes your brows raise, and Jane can surely see them even over the menu. “They’re coming, then? For sure?”

“For sure. Uncle Phil paid for their flight. Said he wanted the whole family there, and that means every brother they can manage.” There’s a moment of silence as Jane glances around. The waiter still hasn’t come for your order, and so she busies herself with a drink of water before speaking again, letting you ruminate on the fact. “Just. Think about it. Please? For me?”

So, you do. You think. And while the prospect of Sonny meeting your… eclectic family is terrifying; you can’t help but think that he’s… well. He’s Sonny. And when you think about him meeting your parents, finally…

With a sigh, you put down the menu, interlock your fingers, and when you look up, your sister is flashing her puppy eyes at you.

“Fine. Fine! I’ll ask. And if he’s not busy, which he always is, I’ll bring him,” you relent, just to get her to stop looking at you like that. There are practically tears in her eyes. Immediately she breaks out into a grin, a little cackle added on. “But you owe me the name of your firstborn. I don’t care what David says, sister’s honor.”

“No shit,” Jane returns. You shake on it, making you chuckle. “Easiest deal I’ve ever made.”

Sonny says yes. Immediately. No hesitation. It’s a testament to how fantastic he is that when you bring it up over takeout that night, he seems absolutely delighted at the prospect.

Of course, you try to warn him.

“You might not be available the day of,” you point out.

His response is easy as he takes off his jacket, drapes it over the back of your couch. “If you give me the date, I’ll take time off right now. Liv’ll be fine with it, you know that.”

“My parents will be there,” you warn, and while the moment gives him pause, he ends it with a smile.

“Good.”

Good. Good. To meeting the parents? You want to poke him, see if he’s an alien or something, but he’s still smiling and all you really can do is kiss him for it.

“You know, all of my family is a pain in the ass,” you state bluntly, a last ditch effort. He snorts, and you reach to stab him with your plastic fork, the takeout he brought home not yet opened up and dug into. “I’m serious! It’ll be a mess, okay, and if I can spare you that –“

He just chuckles, reaching to pull you into his embrace. You melt into it – by this point his button down is off, leaving just his undershirt. He smells like home, and you can’t help but sink into the feeling. “Sweetheart, that’s family. Trust me, all right? You’ve met my sisters, you’ve met my parents. It’s about time that I return the favor.”

When he kisses your temple, you’re realizing with a twist of your lips that he’s unfortunately pretty damn great.

“You know, you won’t be able to really talk to me until the first dances,” you tell him, just for shits and giggles, and that earns you another kiss, this one on your cheek, your neck, your jaw, behind your ear.

“But I’ll be able to see you.”

So, it’s done. The car is rented, the hotel is booked, and when the weekend of comes around, and the two of you hop into your car and make the three-hour ride up.

Of course, the wedding is about as much of a pain as you expected it to be.

It should be noted that you love being there for your cousin, and she looks absolutely stunning her gown. It’s not the gown, or your own dress (which is plain and deep burgundy, styled perfectly with a matching lip). It’s not the ceremony, which makes you tear up, as her and her wife seal the deal with a kiss that you hoot and holler at. It’s not the food or the drinks or the venue or anything else that came together for Barb’s perfect day.

It’s the family.

Aunt Julia goes just as hard as you expect her to. Uncle Phil’s jokes are crude, but… inevitably get a laugh from one side of the family or the other. Your nieces are chaos incarnate, and half your time as bridesmaid is spent wrangling the dog that was made the ring bearer, your bathrobe getting caught on every doorhandle in the place. By the time the reception comes around, you’re exhausted and close to tipping over, navigating the intricacies of a big family with poise and grace you’re sure God probably gave you just for that day or something.

It’s a mess.

It’s your mess.

And Sonny, that day? Well. Sonny… is Sonny.

Sonny helps you catch the dog the first time it escapes (and the second time, and the third time). Sonny, due to some last-minute stomach bug, ends up helping out as usher, and makes every single family member he escorts to their row and aisle and seat smile. Sonny, at his place at the table where your parents sit, spends the whole night chatting them up, and you and your sister at the table with the bride and groom, can only watch from a distance.

“He’s crushing it,” Jane tells you. David’s sitting there, too, and he’s also enraptured with your boyfriend. The weariness of the day starts to wear off, and now that the pictures are done the drink in front of you is white wine and your belly is full. “Don’t look now, but I think Dad’s writing the invitations for Thanksgiving.”

There’s a pride that fills you, then. It’s been coming the whole day, but in that moment, you feel like you’re about to burst. You’re grinning, and when he glances over to where you are, well.

“You know what? Let him,” you say, and your eyes don’t leave Sonny as he winks and goes back to his story. “He really is crushing it.”

Soon the meal is done. There’s cake, and laughter, and you watch as Barb shoves her piece into Meredith’s face with unbridled glee. At that point you look around for your boyfriend, but he’s nowhere to be found. Neither are your parents for that matter, and you’re sliding out of your heels so you can troll around, eating cake, looking around for them.

Eventually, though, they come back. It’s in the middle of the first dance when you feel the familiar presence behind you, and his hands move to wrap around your waist as you watch the brides sway together, the rest of their lives ahead of them.

“Just in time,” you tease. “I thought I’d have to go solo out there.”

He turns you, so your vision of the brides is now full of him. You haven’t got to linger on it yet, but right here and now, he looks stunning. While the men in the bridal parties have black suits, Sonny’s is a beautiful navy, with a pocket square that matches the color of your dress (you’re almost ninety percent sure it’s from that lawyer he knows, but you don’t bring it up, kind of hoping he’ll keep the full ensemble). “And keep the world from seeing my awesome dance moves? No way.”

You giggle. The wine, the meal, the end of the day approaching. You’re loose, and he’s smiling, which makes you grin. “Saw you dodging the chocolatey fingers of my nieces and baby cousins,” you point out, and his eyes widen for a second before he glances around, peeks over your shoulder.

“Yeah, just, uh, don’t tell ‘em where I am. I think it’s part of their game to see who gets the most fingerprints on me by the end of the night.”

The DJ announces the end of the first dance, welcoming the bridal parties onto the floor. Sonny lights up at this, and offers his hand to you. “Can I have this dance, beautiful?”

Your smile softens, just a tad. “I thought you’d never ask.”

The music is slow, but not glacial, and Sonny starts it off by holding you proper. Soon enough, though, you’re moving into each other, and your head is resting on his shoulder, the slow sway of the brides what you’re mimicking. It’s gentle, and sweet, and for the moment you allow yourself to close your eyes.

Everything else slips away. All that’s left is the music and Sonny against you. Your dress brushes against your feet, still bare and cold against the dance floor, but nothing can bring you out of this ecstasy.

His voice is low against your ear, almost raspy as the song fades into something new, and the DJ announces the rest of the group can join with their significant others. “You know, I had a good time with your parents,” he murmurs, and you laugh lazily against him.

“I noticed. Be careful, I think my mom was thinking of kidnapping you so you can tell her all the Carisi family recipes.”

“Now those are top secret,” he informs you, seriousness in his tone, and when you pull back to look at him there’s mirth, even with his little pout.

“Obviously. I’ll distract, and you’ll hit the road.”

He laughs now, and it’s easy. It’s like breathing, the two of you. “Right. Well. We did talk about other things, while I was ensuring the safety of my family’s legacy.”

That peaks your interest, and you raise a manicured brow. “Like what?”

For a moment, he pauses. He’s caught, looking at you, under the lights, and for a moment you think he’s not going to say anything at all. But then he leans in, presses your foreheads together, and the world stops.

“I told ‘em… I told ‘em I’m yours, in every way possible. I told ‘em how I couldn’t live without you, and I told ‘em how I don’t want to.”

Your breath catches in your throat, and when you blink a couple of tears fall. “Sonny…”

“I told them, how one day, I’m gonna propose, and I’m gonna ask you to marry me. And I told them, how I really, really, hope you say yes.” His voice is definitely raw, now, and your swallow is tight. “You don’t have to say anything right now. Of course not, I’m not proposing now, but. I just… I need you to know how much you mean to me. How much being a part of your family, how much it means to me. And… I hope you want to be a part of mine.”

The slow music ends. The DJ is cheering now, and the crowd is clapping, and soon something more upbeat starts. But you’re stopped, in the middle of the dance floor, and before you can think you’re pulling him into a deep kiss, pressing up into it on your toes.

When you pull back, your mascara is running. But you don’t care. You couldn’t possibly care less. “If you think I’m saying anything but yes, whenever the hell you ask me, Dominick, I –“

He kisses you again. And when the world fades away once more, it’s because the two of you know that your whole lives are ahead of you, too.

#prompt fill #sonny carisi x reader #sonny carisi #dominick carisi jr #female!reader #law and order: svu #my fic #fluff #tw alcohol #mentions of alcohol

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jj-lynn21 · 3 years

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Cozy Cove: Best Man

Previous in Cozy Cove: Saved by an Angel , A side of tits with your pancakes, Fires Burn Hot , Spending the Nights, Learning and Loving, The end id not always the end, Axel Grease , Big Decisions, Sex and Jet Skis, Late night fun , Old Wounds , Storms pass Dangerous Waters, Nursing the patient , Making it Work Never Have I Ever , The Masquerade , The Proposal , Emotional Turmoil, sneaking, Best Man, coming home

@dragsraksllib @super-pink-a-palouza @loomiz @waywardtigersandwich @bskarsgardlove92 @dragsraksllib @bill-owns-my-asss @hornyhetero @taintedglass @grandpa-sweaters, @skarsgaard0 @screechingexpertperfection

not really much to warn: Strip club, innuendo

When we last checked in on Cozy Cove Eric had Proposed to Tami and she had excepted. When he told Axel, Axel was ready to take him out to celebrate. But when a call came from his Susie Q which ended with her being rushed to the hospital, Axel jumped on a plane to be by her side. Once she was safely back in her dorm Axel went home. We now continue this story.

It was raining bills on the dancers at Club Fin. Axel was cracking up as his brother Eric just tossed money at the mermaid and beach babes dancing for them. They had been drinking for hours as the club’s dancers performed great routines with a beach theme. He had the VIP treatment set up for the groom to be with tables near the stage for the whole crew. The women paid Eric close attention and he reveled in it.

“Hi, I’m Casey.” The waitress smiled at the groom. “How are we doing here? Another round? A lap dance?”

“All the above for him.” Axel chuckled. “We will all take another round when you are finished making him squirm.”

“Don’t leave out the best man.” Eric grinned. “Invite a friend over for him.” Eric held up some bills.”

“Of course.’ Casey snapped and another girl came over. ” I’m Christa.” She straddled Axel’s lap.

“What about me?” Josh pouted. “I’m their brother.”

“You can watch.” Axel and Eric said in unison. They laughed as Josh pouted.

“You are barely old enough to be in here.” Eric told Josh not taking his eyes off the dancer gyrating over his lap.

Axel was not completely into it, but he was not going to deny the groom a request for him to get a lap dance. He would rather it be with his Susie Q. grinding her hips towards him. The thought made him squirm. He stuffed a few twenties between the dancer’s bare breasts. “Excuse me doll.”

She got off his lap and went to another customer. Axel got up and padded Eric on the shoulder. “Enjoy, I will be right back. Save me a shot from the next round.” Eric nodded as Axel walked away. He found a quieter spot near the entrance to call his girl. “Hey, Susie Q. How are you doing?” His voice was a little slurred.

“I’m just studying tonight.” Susie giggled for him. “You having fun tonight? I thought it was guys night out with the groom to be?”

“yeah, Yeah, Eric is having a great time.” He glanced around. “I’m missing you. These girls have nothing on you Baby Girl. You are so soft and more pretty. You are going to be on break for the wedding, right?”

“I will have a week to spend in Cozy Cove before heading to Cape Canaveral.” She had told him this before, but she knew in his inebriated state he didn’t remember.

Axel pouted “What if I said that’s not enough for me. I want you home Baby Girl. I want you hear to stay.”

“I know Axel” Susie sighed deeply. “I want that to, but you also want me to finish my degree. We will have fun in Florida when you visit. You promised to take me to Disney World.”

“I would promise you the whole world.” He was getting drunken tears in his eyes as his emotions got stuck in his throat when he spoke. “I mean that shit Susie Q.”

“I know Axel.” She can hear his emotional state. “Why don’t you call it a night. Call me tomorrow so I know you are okay? I will answer even if I am in class. I love you.”

“I’ll get them wrangled up.” He wiped a tear from his cheek. “This place is about to close anyway. Everyone is a bit wasted. I have a limo waiting outside to take us home. They will drop me last since I am the organizer. I’m be fine. I will just be thinking about you all night because I love you to.”

She hears him take a deep breath before he hung-up. Axel stumbled a little towards his brother’s and friends as last call and last dance were called overhead. He tried to sound together as he rounded them up. “All right gentlemen we closed the place down.” The lights came up and it about blinded him. He had to shield his eyes with his hand. “Thank you, ladies.” He led around of clapping and hollers and hoots and whistles.

He helped Eric up. They both helped Josh up. Axel was in the middle as the three of them walked to the limo with four others, Henry, Sam, Ryan and Nick. They all fell into the limo.

“That girl have you riled. You got up pretty fast.” Eric chuckled his eyes a bit unfocused.

“Not really.” Axel rolled his eyes. The one kept rolling an extra second until he focused to calm it. “It just made me miss my girl.’

“I know what you mean.” Henry admitted. “I cannot wait to bask in Alison’s glow.

“You are a poet.” Eric bowed almost falling forward to the floor of the limo. “You need to speak at my wedding Henry or at least help Axel with his best man speech.”

Henry blushed. “If he wants me to, I could I reckon.”

“Thanks Henry.” Axel patted him on the back. “I will keep that in mind.”

Henry is the first to get dropped off. He had texted Alison. She stands waiting with a blanket as the sun starts to peek on the horizon. “Did you have a fun boys night, baby?” Alison asked as she ushered him to the door of their trailer near the beach.

“Yeah.” His cheeks turned crimson. “The girls were nice. They were good dancers.”

“Should I be jealous?” She got him into bed laying on his chest as his arm wrapped around her.

“Naw.” He smiled. “They ain’t you. You’r my only love.”

She smiled as they drifted off to sleep.

Others were dropped off one by one. Josh and Axel helped Eric into his home. Tami was waiting up and just shook her head to the drunken mess he was. His brothers plopped him down on the couch.

“I got it from here boys.” Tami grabbed a blanket and a bucket for beside the bed in case he got sick.

“Hi, Baby.” Erics eyes are barely slit open.

She smiles. “Did you have fun, Eric?”

Axel and Josh made their way back to the limo as the soon to be married couple chatted about the evening as much as Eric could before passing out.

“You did good Axel.” Josh slurred out as he got out at his place.

“Thanks, Bro.” He watched his little brother stumble to his door and open it before closing the limo door to head to his place. He gave the driver a few $100s as a tip when dropped off at his place. He dropped his keys on the table, stumbled to the restroom, and hit the bed face first when he got to his room. He was snoring in minutes.

When the sun brightened his room Axel stirred in his bed. A slight moan escaped his dry lips. Under his eyelids his eyes could be seen shifting back and forth. His chest extended and fell. Breathing was heavy. He grabbed hold of the sheets as he grunted. Body soaked. Still in the cloths from the night before. They stuck to his body like they were painted on him. His eyes flew open.

“Fuck.” Axel rasped his mouth feeling like cotton. He blinked a few times sitting up slowly. Whatever he was reacting to didn’t stick in his head. He scrubbed his face. His head was splitting. He held the wall stumbling to the bathroom. After he pissed a river, Axel turned the cold water on the tap and drank right from the facet. He could feel the cold water clear down his throat. The hot shower water beading down his body felt even more enjoyable.

He slid on a pair of shorts and went to the kitchen where he grabbed a Gatorade, He downed almost half of it. He laid on the couch turning on the television. He was back out in minutes. When the maid came to clean, she was extra quiet. No vacuuming. Just changing the bedding and putting away the clean cloths she brought and taking the dirty. She placed a blanket on him. The donuts she brought left on the counter. The juice in the refrigerator.

When he woke midday, his headache was gone. He felt better than the morning , just starving. He was excited when he saw the box of donuts. He opened the box seeing four specialty donuts. A chocolate cake donut with some white cream and sprinkled with Oreos. Another was a glazed donut sprinkled with chocolate chips. A third was covered in white icing with cinnamon toast crunch. The fourth has white icing with peanut butter crunch. He took the peanut butter one.

He licked the top down to the opening where he discovers the filling. His finger dipped in and swirled before he pulls it out. Popping it in his mouth he makes an almost orgasmic sound as he sucks off his finger. He uses his mouth and tongue to get the rest of the creamy filling. This whole ritual makes him think of his girl, so he goes to find his phone.

He finds his phone plugged in on the nightstand. He thinks his cleaning person must have done it when she came to clean. Another thing he was grateful for her doing while he was passed out on the couch. He pushed one button to dial up Susie Q.

“Hey sweet girl, are you in class.” He purred into the phone with a deep gravelly voice.

“I’m between classes.” Susie talked as quickly as she was walking. “Can I video chat you back when I get to my room? I would love to see your handsome face.”

“I would love that.” He hung up going back to the kitchen to devour his treat and drink some juice as he waits for her to call. It is only minutes before she does.

“Hey sexy.” She giggled. “What’s that on your top lip?”

“It's there for a good ride.” He grinned.

She laughed harder. “I see that mustache trying to come in a bit fuller but that’s not what I meant. Go to the mirror.”

Axel went to the bathroom mirror. There was a huge glob of peanut butter on his upper lip. He proped his phone up against the mirror to wash his face. Water dripped around his features making Susie bite her lip.

“I wish I was there to just lick it off, Daddy.” She licked her lips.

Axel grinned. “I’m sure I would enjoy that Baby Girl. I enjoy everything your tongue can do. I miss everything you can do to me.”

“Only two more weeks.” She sighed deeply. Her chest slowly rising and falling making Axel so needy for your breasts and the rest of her. “How was the bachelor party?”

“I think it went good.” Axel made his way to plop onto the couch. “I haven’t talked to Eric, but the dancers took care of him well.”

“Did any of them take care of you?” Her eyes big and curious. “I wouldn’t be jealous.”

“Um, Yeah one of the ladies gave me a lap dance.” He looked away from her as he grabbed his juice. “I just closed my eyes imagining it was you, Baby Girl.”

“Is that so?” Susie smirked.

“Honest.” Axel smiled innocently. “I don’t really want anyone but you riding my lap, thigh or face. Damn, I couldn’t even eat a donut without thinking about you.”

“I’m sorry everything you do seems to put naughty thoughts of me in your mind, Daddy.” She smiles unbuttoning her sweater. “I have to go soon but if you call me later tonight, I will try to clear your mind. When I get home, I’ll do much more than make you watch. I can’t wait for your hands to touch these.” Under the sweater her bra was white lace leaving nothing to the imagination. “Can you wait?”

“I will try.” He licked his lips. “Damn you can be a tease.

#axel cluney #Axel and Susie q #cozy cove #series #fan fiction #au

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car-karaoke · 5 years

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Thaw

The beauty @x-valhalla sent this request in and I had way too much fun with it lol. Sorry it took me so long to finish this, life really sucks sometimes. But I greatly appreciate everyone being patient!!

R: I loved your handsy fic so much that I got another Marco request 😍 how about a group of you go away skiing and you get drunk, admit your feelings and have some fun in a hot tub

Warnings: language, s m u t, oral sex (f receiving)

Pairings: Marco x Reader

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"I swear to god, I can't feel my balls" Marco groaned dramatically, peeling off his snow covered layers. You huffed in behind him, stifling a laugh as you raised an eyebrow at him

"Was that absolutely necessary for you to tell me?" You asked in amusement, kicking off your boots next to his. Marco laughed heartily, nodding his head as he got off the last snow covered item

"It was, yes. I'm THAT cold" he stated. "We should definitely change and thaw out in the hot tub, what do you think guys?" Marco called to his other friends who had just come in. Everyone agreed enthusiastically, except you. Marco turned to you expectantly. "What about you Y/N? You coming?"

You bit your lip in hesitation as you mulled over your options. You were a little insecure about your body and rarely wore a bathing suit. Especially not in front of a man that you had feelings for. But to be honest, the temptation of seeing Marco shirtless in a hot tub was enough for you to muster up your courage. "Yeah, sure. I'll go change " you agreed

Marco seemed pleased with your answer and took off for his own room. You were lucky enough to be able to go on this trip. To be honest, when Marco invited you along with his buddies to come on a ski trip, you were nervous as hell. One reason was because you were the most uncoordinated person you knew. The other reason was that you have harbored some serious feelings for him for years. It has been 3 days since you guys arrived and you were indeed having a ton of fun despite being awful at skiing

You made your way to your room and walked in once the door unlocked. You kept forgetting how fancy this place was. The ski resort was a very high end one, making you feel a little uncomfortable at first. Marco's buddy came from a very well to do family, who owned shares in this resort and got all of you in for an entire week, all expenses paid. After a quick and nerve wracking look in the mirror at your bikini outfit, you wrapped a coverup around yourself and headed for the indoor pool

The indoor pool area was so nice, there was an adults only section that you were meeting everyone in. It had several hot tubes, a sauna, a bar, and other amenities. You padded over to where your group was in the hot tub. Oh god Marco looked so good....like WHY DOES HE HAVE TO LOOK THAT GOOD?? It's unfair!

"Hey Y/N! Grab a drink and join us!" Marco yelled, clearly already tipsy. You sighed and gave him a thumbs up, walking over to the bar and ordering a long island. You walked back over to the hot tub and set your drink down to take off your coverup. You were kind of hoping that no one would be looking at you, but of course, all eyes were on you. Marco's eyes seemed to literally be BORING into yours. You shyly lifted the fabric over yourself and set it down by your shoes, grabbing your drink and stepping in to the hot water

"Damn Y/N, you look good as hell in a bikini!" One of Marco's female friends complimented. You offered her a shy smile and thanked her

"Yeah you really do Y/N" Marco added, giving you a big smile. Well damn it, now you were REALLY blushing

"Thanks, Marco" you said sweetly, gulping down a large portion of your drink. He smirked at you from across the hot tub. You tried avoiding his gaze so as not to get too distracted. Instead, you focused on your drink. It was soon empty, and you left to go grab another delicious fruity alcoholic beverage. You were starting to feel much more relaxed and less insecure and nervous, cracking jokes with all his friends

After everyone was feeling nice and buzzed, the conversations started taking a much more playful turn. "Hey! Guys! Let's play truth or dare!" One of Marco's friends bellowed

"Truth or dare, seriously? What are we, 12?" Marco scoffed

"You just say that because you're too pussy to play" his friend joked, pointing a finger at him. Marco had never been one to turn down a dare

"Okay! Okay, fine! Let's play!" Marco agreed, straightening himself up. "You go first" he added, pointing back to his friend

"Alright dare" the friend decided. Marco grinned at that

"I dare you to run a naked lap around the hot tub"

Without hesitation, the friend took off his swim trunks in the hot tub, which quickly floated to the top, and jumped out. Everyone drunkenly cheered and hollered. The friend did his lap, just narrowly avoiding getting kicked out, and climbed back in and pulled his swimsuit back on before wrapping an arm around his girlfriend. "Altight, your turn now" he said to Marco. "Truth or dare"

Marco thought about it for a moment. "Truth" he decided. That actually suprised you. You hadn't expected him to choose that. His friend seemed pleased as he mulled over a question to ask

"Alright I got one. Do you currently have serious feelings for anyone?" He asked. FUCK. TRY NOT TO LOOK SO INTERESTED. You couldn't help but look at Marco with wide eyes awaiting his answer. Was that blush on his cheeks?? He looked straight at you and then away quickly

"Ehhhh. Uhm.....I do yeah, I do" Marco admitted. Everyone gasped and started asking who and for how long. Marco shook his head with a laugh. "No no no that's not part of the game! I answered the question, that's it"

You felt your heart drop to your butt as you thought about him having feelings for someone that wasn't you. You had gotten quieter, but nobody seemed to notice because everyone was drunk. You sipped another gulp of your drink and winced. That sip was much stronger than the others. Apparantly the bartender didn't mix it very well

"Alright dude truth or dare" Marco asked his other friend. His voice pulled you back into reality, you tried putting on a convincing smile like you had been paying attention

"Dare" the guy chose confidently

"Ok I dare you to kiss one of the people in this hot tub" Marco smirked, looking around at the people he had to choose from. Apart from the men, there were 5 women including yourself. You weren't even worried, because why would he choose you when the other women were so much more confident and beautiful than you?

"Y/N. I choose Y/N" the guy stated loudly, looking right at you. You hiccuped and tilted your head

"M--me?" You asked quietly, instinctively looking at Marco, who looked panicked. His friend nodded and stood up, walking over to you. You backed up until your back hit the jet of the hot tub

"No!" Marco yelled, standing up. Everyone paused, looking at him with anticipation. Your chest was heaving as you looked at him

"What? Why?? You dared me!" His friend complained

"Not her" Marco said sternly

"Why, because you want to instead?" His friend teased. Marco laughed and rubbed the back of his head

"Yes" he admitted quietly. Everyone gasped and whistled at you both. Your eyes felt like they were about to bulge out of your head. "If you want to, of course" he added as he looked to you. No way this is actually happening...

"Uhhh....yeah. I would" you agreed. Without another word, Marco closed the distance between you both and grabbed your face with both hands, leaning down to kiss you. The moment your lips came in contact, everything else faded away. Somewhere in the background, you could hear his friends hooting and hollering. But all you could think of was how amazing his lips felt on yours. You grabbed onto his biceps as you pushed yourself up on your tiptoes to deepen the kiss. Marco broke apart and smiled before pulling you back in with one hand behind your neck, his other hand finding your waist and pushing you tighter against him. His teeth gently bit down on your plump bottom lip before his tongue ran over the spot to soothe it

"YO! Marco!" His friend yelled in amusement. "Let her breathe man!!" Reluctantly, he broke the kiss and smiled genuinely at you, caressing your cheek

"I've actually been wanting to do that for a very long time" Marco admitted a bit shyly, scratching his man bun. You blushed deeply, very much aware that his friends were still there and listening to every word

"I have too" you admitted with a smile. You glanced at one of the lady friends, who was whispering something to another guy. The other friends all looked at each other and nodded

"I uh...I think we're going to head in for the night" one of them said as they all rose from the water. You blushed even deeper as Marco grinned when his friend whispered something to him. When you were both alone at last, Marco sighed deeply and leaned back against the wall of the tub

"You getting pruny over there?" He asked you, examining his own hands. You took a peek at yours, which indeed were pruny too

"Mhm. Almost to a raison" you stated matter of factly

"Well, you wanna change and come back to my room? We could watch a movie...or...you know, something" he mumbled. You couldn't help but laugh at his obviousness. You scooted closer to him and rested your head on his shoulder

"Or something, yes" you mumbled quietly, looking up at him and leaning in for a quick kiss. He just laughed and met your lips in a sweet gentle kiss before pulling you out of the water and giving you his spare room key

You felt like your heart was going to explode out of your chest as you changed into something dry. You chose a simple tank top and soft sleep shorts. You were very thankful that you were able to freshen up and make sure you smelled nice before heading down a floor to Marco's room. The handle lit up green and unlocked as you opened the door and saw Marco lounging on his bed in just a pair of basketball shorts

"Hey you" he called out happily, patting the bed next to him

"Hey yourself" you said as you hauled yourself up on the plush bed and scooted close to him. He slyly wrapped an arm around your shoulders. You grinned and settled in, letting one of your hands rest on his knee. You both chatted about the TV show that was on for a little bit before you felt like you needed to clear the air

"Marco?" You piped up quietly. He hummed in response. "I know you said that you've wanted to kiss me for awhile, but is that all you wanted from me?"

Marco raised and eyebrow at you and pulled away slightly so he could face you. "What do you mean? Like....do I want to have sex with you? Sure of course I do. But that's not all I want to do, I genuinely like you" he explained seriously, eyes focused on you. You sighed in relief and nodded your head

"Good, that's how I feel too. I just didn't know if you actually had feelings for me or if it was just sexual" you explained. "Because don't get me wrong, I'd love to have sex with you, but I've had feelings for you for a long time now" you admitted nervously. It was Marco's turn to blush. He nudged your head up to look at him with his finger under your chin

"I've liked you basically since I met you. Just ask literally any of the guys. Or hell, even the girls. They all know too" he chuckled, running his thumb over your cheekbone and around to your ear to tuck your hair behind it. "You are so beautiful" he whispered

You barely trusted your voice right now, given how shaky your breath was, so you just tilted your head up a little and pushed your lips softly against his. He responded immediately, humming in approval and pulling your head closer to his with his hand on the back of your neck. Your lips seemed to mold together perfectly, gently fighting with each other to see who could use the most muscle. When one of your hands started falling from his chest down his stomach slowly, the mood instantly changed. It went from lovey dovey kisses to crazy horny pent up sexual tension

Marco grabbed a handful of your ass, making you gasp. He took the opportunity to slide his tongue in and start dancing with yours, pulling you over to straddle him. You sighed happily into his mouth, which only turned him on even more. "Y/N" he sighed, breaking apart for a breather. Your hooded eyes bored into his awaiting his cue. His eyes scanned down your body then back up to meet your eyes. "Take this off you pretty little thing" he grinned, yanking at your top

You quickly removed your top and shimmied his off as well. The poor guy looked like he was about to melt into the bed as you unclasped your bra and let your breasts free. He slowly reached for them, goosebumps breaking out on them the second his hands made contact. Your nipples perked up immediately, Marco's thumb gently rubbed over it and he hummed in satisfaction. "You know something? You might have the most beautiful breasts I've ever seen" he whispered, lowering his head so his mouth was hovering right in front of them. Your lips parted as you awaited the sensation you longed for. After a few tauntilizing seconds, Marco's mouth was on the sensitive bud. His hot wet tongue circled around it before his lips closed around it. You hummed in approval, raking your hand through his hair and messing it all up

A small gasp left your lips when his teeth very carefully nibbled on your nipple, kissing the pain away immediately before sneaking up to steal a kiss from you before going to the next breast and giving it the same treatment. Your hips grinded towards his and you could feel just how hard he was beneath you. "Marco" you moaned needily, grabbing his head and pulling it up to look at you. His beautiful lips were pink and wet from his work. They looked so deliciously kissable. "I need you" you whispered as you felt yourself getting wetter by the second. The smug expression on his face was priceless

"And you'll have me, but not until I'm done exploring this incredible body I've dreamed about" he answered, supporting your back with an arm before laying you down on the bed and pulling at your bottoms. You realized what he meant and felt your heart threatening to beat out of your chest. You huffed out a breath and just watched him as he kissed a line down the middle of your stomach, past your navel, and as he got to your hips, slide his thumb under your bottoms and panties to slide them off. He took them off agonizingly slow, but when you were finally bare to him, it was his turn to have unsteady breathing

"Wooooowwwww...." he mouthed, eyes glazing over as he unabashedly looked at your nearly dripping core. You could feel yourself blushing but at this point could care less. "I can't believe how fucking sexy you are Y/N..." he murmured, shaking his head in disbelief. He situated himself in between your legs and leaned his head close before stopping and looking up at you suddenly. "Can I?" He asked politely. You nodded, biting your lip hard. That's all it took

With a sigh of pleasure, his tongue delved into your pussy, licking a straight line up from your ass to your clit. Both of you moaned in unison, your head rolled back in absolute bliss. "Mmmff fuck yeah" Marco mumbled, his voice muffled by your lower lips. He slurped obscenely delicious noises, making you feel like you were about to explode. "You taste...so...good..."

"Oh my god Marco..." you mewled, back arching off the bed in ecstacy. You swore you could feel him grinning as he pushed two fingers into your drenched opening which only made you moan louder. You felt almost dizzy in pleasure, but willed yourself to prop yourself up enough to see him. And dammit that was a mistake, because you nearly came right there. He was looking RIGHT at you, eyes blown with lust, head tilted to the side so you could see his fingers pumping in and out of you as he he licked you like a damn animal. You face contorted in pleasure, eyebrows raised and your mouth falling into a perfect 'o' shape

"That's it babygirl, look at me" Marco purred, tongue circling your clit before closing his mouth around it and sucking. You couldn't help your head rolling back again as you swore loudly, your orgasm overtaking you. Marco moaned happily, lapping up all the juices you left for him. Your chest was heaving and your legs felt like they were about as firm as jello. You felt the weight of him moving up your body and gathered the strength to tilt your head up to meet his grinning face

He looked so genuinely happy with a big stupid smile on his face. "Hey" he said casually, voice thick with arousal. You giggled and covered your face

"Hi" you mumbled underneath your hands. Marco laughed and pulled your hands away, kissing your cheek

"No point hiding from me now love, I've seen all of you" he pointed out. You groaned and heaved out a breath

"I know! I've never came that hard before. You are damn good at that" you complimented him honestly, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind his ear. He smirked and kissed you sweetly

"Thank you smukke, I guess I'm alright at it" he shrugged. You rolled your eyes playfully at him and forced your body to roll over on top of his. He quirked an eyebrow at you. "What are you doing baby?" He asked. You just smiled and moved to sit in between his legs and started pulling his shorts down

"A lady always returns the favor" you said confidently, licking your lips seductively. Marco took a shaky breath and let a light laugh out

"And here I thought you couldn't get any better" he said in amazement. You just smirked at him and pulled his shorts the rest of the way off, freeing his rock hard cock that would be inside of you shortly. Right after you had your payback 😈

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Thank you for reading guys!! As always, PLEASE let me know what you thought of it!! I love to hear your feedback :) And of course, a like/reblog is always greatly appreciated!!!

@odinsravendutchess @peaceisadirtyword @ivaraddict @ivarlcthbrok @honestsycrets @meleedamage @lisinfleur @grungyblonde @laketaj24 @headedforvalhalla @forvalhallaandodin @dangerousvikings @thevikingsheaux @kissme-hs @ivarthebonelessvk @ivar-theboneless @ivarslittlebadgirl @ivarsshieldmadien @ivarswickedqueen @ivars-heathen-army @therealcalicali @nikky-the-writer @oddsnendsfanfics @angryschnauzer @vikingsbifrost @vikingsstories @vikingdrabbles @ravens-of-kattegat @lisinfleur @ivarsrideordie @justacripple @normatural @tephi101 @whisperer-of-freya @supernaturalvikingwhore @shieldmaiden25 @westcoastselkie @evilispretty-dead @lauwu9 @allvikingsfanfic @yanii-the-hippie

#marco ilsø x reader #marco ilsø imagine #marco ilsø #marco ilso #vikings imagine #vikings smut

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redfoxwritesstuff · 4 years

Text

Coffee and a Wedding (Chapter 7)

Good morningish. We’re back to our regularly scheduled programming complete with me forgetting it’s post day! As always, thanks to @winterisakiller who puts up with my constant whining and stream of random thoughts.

I’m going to NYC in December for my birthday to see Betrayal, y’all!

Buy me a Ko-fi

Clint x ofc, warnings: glitter, bad kissing, references to sex.

Chapter 7

“On that note, let the real party begin.” The real party? The whole even reeked of entitlement but I didn’t have anything else planned for the night. I’m sure Matt would be glad to start some dumb rumor if I ducked out early anyway. Regardless, I wanted to get inside soon- the sky was heavy with clouds and I didn’t want to get rained on.

Matt turned and with all the grandeur his scrawny suit clad frame could gather, pulled open the double doors. Inside was a warmly decorated Whiskey room that looked unremarkable. As I moved inside, I saw more warm redwood than I could have dreamed of. I was a sucker for the warm woods and rustic furnishing, though this was with a much classier touch than my own place.

Mark? Or was it Tim? Whatever his name was, one of the men made his way to the sound system and turned the music on. God, I hoped the music was going to be better than this at the wedding. Bass thumped through the air and it frankly felt like a sin to listen to such trash music in a whiskey room but what did I know? I wasn’t some rich trust fund kid.

A drink was well within my rights. So I wasted no time in ordering a double of whatever they had on the top shelf. I’m not picky but I have class. And dammit, I’ll not be outclassed by a bunch of children. It was bad enough that I was stuck socializing with the kids tonight.

Alexis had mentioned that Sarah was her older sister. I wondered, as I sipped my drink, how much older than Matt she was. I knew there was only a few years between the two women but Matt acted a lot like a boy freshly turned 21 and less like a man each time I had seen him. The short beard on his face worked well to make his age a question.

Wouldn’t it be funny if he really was as much of a baby as he acted? His own insecurity would go a long way in explaining his issues with mine and Alexis’ relationship. Our fake relationship. I had to remember that. It wasn’t real. She thought I was just pretending.

That was going to be a battle for another night. Somehow, I had to make her see I wasn’t playing a game. I wasn’t pretending. She was a light in my life. I just had to somehow convince her to take a chance on this old man. Her reluctance would make sense, I am her boss and a good bit older than her. But man, I would give anything for just a chance.

Looking around the room again, I noticed there was a lack of board games but I was thankful for it. The idea of drinking expensive whiskey and playing children’s games wasn’t my idea of fun. Maybe sometime next lifetime when I had a family of my own, children of my own but not right now and at a goddamn bachelor's party.

There was a shift in the music, rather suddenly as I finished my first glass. The base got louder. The beat came to life and at that exact moment, the doors were thrown open by two of the men (boys?) standing near by. I was half amazed to not have the bad luck to be standing next to them at the time. That honor went to another who fell flat on his ass with the power of the blow. I couldn’t help but snicker at the man and his ill fitting suit.

Half a dozen or so trench coat clad figures, tall and lean were making their way to the door through the empty street. The streetlights reflected off the wet ground as they marched through puddles.

It was a sight to be seen, their hats perched on their heads, hiding their faces from the streetlights. Rain was coming down, dripping off the rims of hats and splashing up onto calves with each purposeful step. Artfully curled hair bounced on shoulders.

These women were here because they had a job to do and it was very clear that they intended to complete their tasks to the best of their ability. The click of their heels on the pavement seemed to echo over the loud music. Really, that was a figure of the imagination, it couldn’t be heard but with the way they walked, you expected to hear it. I learned a long time ago that it was often intent that mattered.

I’ve seen women like this before. They were high class and high dollar. There was a time where they were a staple of a Stark Industries party though those days had long passed. Stark had settled down with the woman I was sure would eventually be his wife. I could only begin to imagine how much money was spent hiring these women and how much they would make when their night was through.

So much for the high class boring event this was billed to be.

When the women marched into the center of the room, two of the men who seemed to be in the know slammed the door shut behind them with far more force than needed. It was like they were going for ominous and failed to hit the mark with the too bright lights in the taproom and the music being a touch too harsh.

The women spread out, hips swaying dramatically with each step. There was a stomp of their feet when they hit what I could only assume was their preassigned places. How long did they spend rehearsing this? Every one of their movements were perfectly timed and totally in sync. It was kind of creepy, if I’m honest with you.

They looked around. Right in front of me- I could lean forward, reach and I would be able to touch her coat. This one was a redhead. Curls of bright nearly orange hair bounced as she looked around.

Her eyes locked on me as the other women selected targets. Each, in perfectly synced motions, hooked the brim of their hat in their fingers and flipped it off the tops of their heads. With practiced skill, they grabbed the hats from midair only to hook them on their target’s heads. Again, it was impressive and made me question just how long they spent practicing this and even more so, how much they were costing per the hour.

I raised a finger and snagged the brim of the hat intended for my head. “No, Thank you.”

“Oh Sir, you wound me.” Her voice was sticky like syrup in a way I couldn’t even begin to understand or describe for you. She batted her big and clearly artificially colored green eyes at me and scrunched her lips together in a way that was beyond sexy. “Perhaps, I can persuade you?”

I watched with mild amusement as the women around the room were flirting with their targets rather than answer her. Typically, if they know you’re not going to bite, they go and other someone else.

The unnamed woman- I’ll call her Orangie- was shuffling even closer to me with her swaying hips. As I looked back, she was undoing the belt holding her coat closed. She was close enough now that the leather was brushing against my knees.

“Leave that on, won’t you?” It was time for another drink.

“Oh, do you like to the undressing, Sir?” Swaying her hips, she had the intention of getting between my legs and nope. It was time to stand up and make it very clear that I was moving away.

“Nope.”

She looked doubtfully at me and questioned, “Not at all?”

“I mean, yes but not you.” I corrected.

She had her belt untied and coat on the ground in a heartbeat. For a second I took in the black lace that hugged her curves and kept what she and many men considered to be the best parts of a women hidden but just barely.

The men around me were hooting and hollering, each having the time of their lives. Hands were on hips and bodies swaying.

“Go dance for someone else.” It was hard to make it any clearer for her that I wasn’t interested. Another night, I'd think about it but not tonight. Not right now. Not when I cared for someone.

Slipping out of my seat, I down the empty glass and went for another. It was going to be a long night. As much as I didn’t want to, I needed to stick it out long enough that Matt and most of his friends wouldn’t remember me leaving.

“Barton!” Jesus fucking Christ, wasn’t Matt busy? “Are none of these girls to your liking? They are young enough.” Don’t punch him. Don’t punch him. Don't fucking punch him.

“Oh they’re beautiful and seem very talented. Well worth the money spent on them.” That drink wasn’t in my hand fast enough.

“Than find one. Enjoy your night. It’s my last night as a single man, so let’s party it up.” I’m pretty sure, if I am honest with you- and I’ll be honest with you, that this isn’t going to be the last time Matt parties it up like a single man.

“I’m just here for the whiskey.” Tipping my glass to Matt, I smile. “Enjoy.” I say before downing the drink.

With that annoyance making his way to a too skinny blonde with breasts that were very fake and judging by the way they moved, very expensive, I went for another drink to sip on and keep my hands busy.

With my back from the room, I nearly jumped out of my skin when long soft hands slipped down by back and around my side. Looking down, I found perfectly manicured red tipped fingers running over my abdomen.

“You’re strong. Fit.” Organgie, of course.

“I have a girlfriend.”

She laughed and leaned, pressing her full and seemingly natural breasts against my back to whisper in my ear, “As do most of the men here. It’s a bachelor party, you’re single for the night. Let me show you a good time.”

“Not interested.” I wrangled her hands off of me and she went on her way with a pout. More than likely, she would try again soon. They always tried again, made the rounds until they found someone to accept the attention she was paid to provide.

Leaning my back against the bar, I tried to figure out how the girls ended up with a sip n’ paint party and the boys ended up in a whiskey room full of strippers. Around me, men gathered around women, sometimes two or three around a single woman. They rocked their hips, danced and ran their hands up bodies.

In the back corner, Matt sat with one of the blondes perched on his knee. His hand was inching up her fishnet covered thigh. His other hand was running through bouncing curls as she leaned down. Closer and closer, I watched in disgust as their lips came together in a kiss that looked more like he was trying to eat her face than kiss her.

If this is what bachelor parties were about, I’m pretty sure I’d rather skip it and just go to a bar with the guys if I ever got my turn.

Matt struggled to lift the blonde while he stood. Her legs hooked around him as he gripped her ass tightly. So tightly, in fact, that it was clear he was struggling to hold her up and walk. With nothing but disgust, I watched as they disappeared into a cleaning closet. Wonder how much Matt was paying for the full service treatment?

Not that I had anything against hookers. It was the oldest profession in the world and as long as everyone was consenting and sane, more power to them. I never found myself needing of their services but I could see their appeal.

Again, hands ran up my chest. “Go away, Orangie.”

“I want you.” leaning forward, she purred the words into my ear. Glitter from her hair dusted my shirt. Yeah, I’d much rather she didn’t touch me than go back to the room covered in stripper dust. “I won’t even charge. I want you so bad.”

When she pulled my earlobe into her mouth with a suck, I slipped out from between her and the bar. “Nope. No thank you. Not interested. Bye.”

After downing my glass in a swift motion, I made the most direct path to the door. Was Smith fucking the Asian stripper on the coffee table? Was Smith even that dude’s name? Real classy dude, whatever-your-name-is. At least Matt found a room.

~~~~~<3

I looked up from my laptop when the room door flung open. Clint looked beyond flustered and his shirt shimmered in the light. Looking at the time on my screen, I saw it was hardly even 11.

“You’re back early?” Not that I wasn’t happy to see him, I am. I just hadn’t expected him back so soon. “And shinny.”

“Matt is a fucking scumbag. As are most of his friends.” Clint started in on his buttons.

“Okay? How do you mean? And why do you shimmer?”

"I'm a vampire." Clint deadpanned before answering again when I only raised my eyebrow at him, “Stripper dust.”

I looked at him in confusion. “Stripper dust? How?”

“Well the board games Matt wanted his party to play was ‘pin the stripper with your pecker’. I was lucky to make it out with my life.”

“What are you talking about?” Closing my laptop, I slipped it into that little space between the bed and the nightstand on what was unofficially my spot.

“That party was anything but tame or chaste.” Clint announced, pulling his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and tossing it onto the bed.

Looking down, I saw a picture of what appeared to be Matt trying to shove the entirety of a scantly clad stripper’s face into his mouth. There were two things that jumped out at me. Firstly, her hair was amazing- I could never get curls and volume like that. Secondly, I was looking at the single most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. And I’ve cleaned the men’s room at the cafe.

“Strippers?” Shit. Do I tell Sarah? Is it my place? Fuck. I needed to talk to her.

“Strippers. God, Matt is such a dick. Thinks he’s so grand.” Clint finally got the shimmery shirt off of him and tossed it to the side, little specks of glitter poofing into the air.

“Did you have a good time at least? I mean- your shirt shimmers so you must have.” I tried to make it sound like I was okay with the idea. I tried to make it sound like the idea of Clint watching a stripper, touching her didn’t make me jealous.

“What?” Clint froze, standing shirtless in our hotel room with his chest on display for me. I couldn’t manage to appreciate it at the moment. “No. God no.”

“Were they that bad?” I tried to joke as Clint ditched his pants and grabbed a pair of sweatpants from the dresser and slipped them on. I did manage to find it in me to admire his ass as he bent over.

“No, they were beautiful. But I’ve got a fake girlfriend right here to be loyal to.” He didn’t even look at me as he spoke. That was a good thing, if he doesn’t look at me, he can’t see the emotions play across my face.

“You should have.” I say as if it wasn’t killing me to say it. “It would have been a perfect reason for us to fake breakup. You could have had an easy way out of this fake relationship.” Maybe if I say ‘fake’ enough, I’ll feel like it was fake.

“Naw, I don’t want to go out like. What if you change your mind or need another fake boyfriend?”

“Change my mind?” What the hell did that mean?

“Never mind. I’m talking nonsense, too much whiskey.” Clint climbed into the bed next to me as if that’s where he always belonged. Such stupid thoughts. It was too easy to forget that it was all pretend.

“Babe?” He whispered once he had the light off. I could feel him looking at me in the dark, his breath fanning over my shoulder. I don’t know why he insisted on calling me that when we were alone.

“What, Clint?” I whispered back.

“I didn’t touch them. I didn’t dance with them. I didn’t let them dance for me. I told them 'no' and when she wouldn't stop, I left and came back here. You believe me, right?” Why did this matter to him so much?

“Yeah, okay. Yes, Clint, I believe you. Go to sleep, you’re drunk.”

Rather than answer with words, a soft snore slipped out of my bed mate. I was now the only one left awake in the small room. My mind went wild. It was hard to remind myself, to tell myself and convince myself that he didn’t care about me in that way when he would say those sort of things.

If I wasn’t careful, I could believe he felt the same way as me. If I wasn’t careful, I could fall deeper in love with someone who was only putting on an act.

~~~~~<3

It had been two days since the bachelor party of doom as Clint had taken to calling it and I’d spent a lot of the time studying. Sometimes I studied in the room. Sometimes I studied at the beach. But I was always studying.

Clint had been gracious about it. He’d been more than willing to help me review material as needed. I tired to get him to go out and experience the island without me but he would refuse time and time again. It was nice, to not be studying alone and he made a good study partner. Better than my classmates.

He made sure I took breaks, ate and moved. Most importantly however, he was always willing to help while taking care to never be a distraction. The test I had to take was online and once I finished it, I was officially done for the summer. This one class was all that I had left to finish.

With a sigh, I closed the laptop lid and picked it up. With a risky flair of dramatics, I tossed the laptop away from me toward the foot of the bed where in bounced.

“All done?” Clint asked.

“All done.” I agreed.

~~~~~<3

Tag List (Coffee): @winterisakiller, @theheartofpenelope, @ruebx, @hufflepuff25, @0-0-0-0-0-0-0-7, @theoneanna, @bradfordbantams, @toozmanykids, @alexakeyloveloki, @j-u-s-t-4, @missaphrodite23, @bambamwolf87, @nonsensicalobsessions, @tinchentitri, @xoxabs88xox, @queenoftheunderdark, @myoxisbroken, @wegingerangelica

#clint x reader #clint x original character #clint x original female character #clint barton x reader #clint barton x female reader

36 notes · View notes

chromecutie · 5 years

Text

Cable x Reader - burlesque fluff!

A/N - unedited because I got sleepy but I still wanted y'all to be able to enjoy it for Saturday Night!

Tag: @starman-thorsus-canos-jock @emma-frxst (idk who else would want to be on a Cable taglist if I had one, but here y'all go!)

________

It was a Saturday night, and the team managed to not have a mission. Colossus tried to suggest a board game from the fancy high-strategy collection, but was quickly shot down by Wade (“What, so Domino can ruin us all again? I don’t think so!”). Wade tried to suggest a movie, but Cable cut him off before he could finish his suggestion (“I cannot watch the porno version of Predator again.”).

Domino hoped you might make a suggestion everyone could agree to, and finally asked, “Where the hell is Y/N?”

Wade howled at the top of his lungs, “YYYYY/NNNNN???”

“SHE’S NOT HERE,” Cable practically roared to make himself heard.

Colossus couldn’t help glancing around. He hadn’t noticed when you left, and felt a little embarrassed like he’d made a rookie mistake. “Do you know where she went?”

Cable fixed his gaze back on the gun he was cleaning. It was already clean; at this point he was fidgeting. “If she wanted us to know,” he hedged, “she would’ve said something before she left.”

“Ohhhh my god,” Wade gasped, “You do know!” He clapped his hands, excited to play a guessing game. “What’s she up to? Underground boxing? Secret meth habit? Robbing a bank?”

“No.”

“High stakes poker? Cock fighting?”

“No!”

They all said some variation of, “Then what??” in unison.

Cable sighed. He couldn’t deny that he wanted to see you, but he was pretty sure you wouldn’t want the whole gang showing up. Surely, if you had, you would have dropped some kind of hint. “We gotta dress up,” he said finally. “Black tie. And we gotta pick up flowers on the way.”

…

The gang had done their best on short notice. Domino wore a short, black cocktail dress cut so tight it was a wonder it didn’t split when she got in and out of the car. Colossus still wore his cargo pants and work boots, but classed up with a dress shirt, black suit jacket, and a tie. Wade, to no one’s surprise but everyone’s quiet exasperation, was in full Deadpool gear with a bow tie. Cable had managed to find a full three-piece suit, and though it wasn’t a perfect fit, he made it work. In his metal hand he held a bouquet of roses. They weren’t the freshest flowers, but they were the best that the store had.

They stood in the parking lot of a shabby strip mall and Domino said, “Looks like a nice neighborhood to sell your kidney.”

“This way,” Cable led them to the back door of one of the suites. He knocked and was quickly greeted by a drag queen in green glitter eyeshadow and three-inch long lashes.

“Hi honey,” the queen made a kissy noise and asked, “Who y’all with tonight?”

“Liz Lugosi,” Cable said as if he had been here several times.

The queen lit up with glee and put a long-fingered hand on Cable’s shoulder. “Ohhh! Lizzie didn’t mention anyone coming tonight!”

Cable gestured vaguely to the roses. “She’s not expecting us.”

The queen made a purse-lipped smile and shimmied her shoulders, hardly able to wait until she could spill this tea later. The team paid for their tickets and were ushered inside to pick a table.

The floor was full of glammed up people milling about, sipping cocktails and snacking on Chex Mix. The tables all faced a makeshift stage with a curtain made of cheap velvet. “What is this place?” Colossus folded himself into a chair that was too small for him, but he wouldn’t complain.

“It’s a kids’ ballet studio during the day,” Cable replied. “This is probably how they pay rent, though.”

Domino caught on and grinned, “It’s a speakeasy burlesque show.”

Wade cracked up laughing in earnest. Pretending to wipe away tears from his mask, he said, “What’s her act? Kicking off her boots and sexily peeling off a spandex onesie?”

“You’ll see,” Cable said impatiently. “Shit like this is probably why Y/N - Liz - never mentioned it, you assclown.”

The show started soon enough. Three performers in sparkly costumes made a show of sneaking out from behind the curtain. Each held a microphone. “Good eeeevening, daaaarlings!” the one in purple sequins drawled. The crowd applauded, some hooted.

The second performer wore something like a green velvet bikini with a lot of feathers. She tossed her blonde curls and said, “Who here has been to our show before? Come on, make some noise!” Almost everyone gave a shout except Cable, Wade, Domino, and Colossus.

“I don’t know that we should have come here,” Colossus whispered. Domino hushed him quickly.

The third performer wore a long, black satin robe, trimmed in purple rhinestones that glittered in the stage lights. She wore a wig of bright pink waves and cocked a hip as she turned toward their table. “I understand we’ve got some new blood in the house tonight.” The pink-haired performer sauntered between tables as she continued in a sultry purr, “So let’s go over the ground rules. If you’ve been here before, say them with me! Rule One!”

The audience responded, slightly drunk and mostly in unison, “No photos or video! We do this show live and only live!”

“That’s right,” she let out an easy giggle. “Rule Two?”

“No touching the performers unless you are specifically asked!” One young woman added in a buzzed, but enthusiastic slur, “Consent fucking matters!”

“YES, HONEY!” the blonde in the green bikini agreed.

The pink-wigged woman beamed. “Wonderful. You know, just to make a point,” she went over to the buzzed woman’s table. “Why don’t you give me a good slap on the ass, huh? Not too high on the cheek now, nice and low.” She leaned over, sticking out her round butt. When the patron gave a smack loud enough for every table to hear, the performer snapped straight again with a surprised hoot. “That’s how I like it! Haha, and Rule Three, let’s go!” She gestured grandly, long sleeves swaying.

The veteran audience chorused, “If you see something you like, make some noise!”

The three performers gathered in front of the curtain again and struck a sexy pose that showed off cleavage, thighs, and arched spines. The crowd made a good ruckus of whistling and applause, the X-Force gang included.

The show continued - there was an opening group number, the drag queen from the entrance sang a parody cover of a popular love song, there were a few aerial silks numbers, and of course classic burlesque striptease. Domino and Wade had gotten comfortable quickly, cheering and applauding each performer like they were the sexiest they had ever seen. Colossus took a while to loosen up, but even he enjoyed the athletic fluidity of the silks performers. Strength, flexibility, and making it all look beautiful with a big showgirl smile? Gold star in Colossus’s book. Each performer had gotten a funny and colorful introduction by the drag queen, who was emceeing most of the show.

“Our last lady of the night,” the queen teased, “has a slither that’ll make you shiver and she has NOOO idea how to just SIT in a chair!” The crowd chuckled. The drag queen bobbed her head and gave a wide flourish, “Just make sure you check for fangs before you kiss her - it’s Liiiiz Lugosiiii!!!!” The crowd hollered and clapped as the curtain drew back, revealing the pink wigged woman with the black satin robe.

Something steamy and full of saxophone blared over the sound system as Y/N, aka Liz Lugosi, swirled her robe - and disappeared. She reappeared a few feet away in a puff of smoke, similar to Colossus’s friend Kurt. As Liz Lugosi swirled, floated, and poofed around the stage, Colossus couldn’t help but note that where Kurt’s ability was abrupt like popping a balloon full of smoke, Y/N was smooth and soft, like drips of ink in water. A simple folding chair was on the stage, and in another few beats, Liz let her robe slide from her shoulders, down her back, and onto the floor. Domino glanced over at Cable and saw his face was relaxed in a gentle smile, eyes shining in the light.

Liz Lugosi turned to the front - and revealed that she appeared to be wearing nothing but black and purple rhinestones. Of course, her thong and pasties were there, but they matched her skin tone and the stones and beads had been carefully stitched and glued to cover them. The crowd screeched their appreciation. Wade yelled, “Holy shit!” but Cable barely even registered it.

“How did you find out about this?” Colossus asked him.

Cable answered without taking his eyes off Y/N, “I followed her to rehearsal once, to see where she goes.”

The stage floor filled with rolling fog as Liz Lugosi tossed her pink waves and slid over the chair so her chest was on the seat and her legs arched over her head. The rest of her routine was a series of acrobatic rolls and stands on and around the chair. Just when it looked like she would sit normally, she would turn and suddenly she was upside down, nearly sitting her butt on her head, with her legs in a deep split.

“Is that a mutation?” Domino asked, astounded.

“No,” Cable beamed, absolutely smitten, “she can just do that.”

Wade clapped for a particularly unexpected roll off of the chair. “I can’t believe she’s been holding out on us!”

Colossus agreed, smiling despite the awkwardness of seeing a coworker mostly naked for the first time, “You can tell how much she’s enjoying herself.”

As her number ended, Liz Lugosi bowed, dramatically tossing her pink waves. The team cheered louder than any other table and drew her attention. If she was caught by surprise, she didn’t let it show, maintaining her stage persona. She swayed her wide hips over to their table, and made the rounds expressing her thanks. She kissed Colossus on the cheek and left a red print on his chrome skin, though he froze when her boobs touched his arm. Domino soaked it up when she got a kiss on the cheek too. Wade didn’t get a kiss until he laid his palms on the table, and he all but squealed with delight. Cable, subdued and a little sheepish, offered the roses when she got to him. Instead of kissing his cheek, she pressed her lips to his and made it steamy enough that the crowd hooted and whistled louder than ever.

Y/N pulled away and teased in Cable’s ear, “Do I need to learn to cover my tracks better?”

“Aw, I hope you never do,” he was still grinning like a fool, “I’ve been wanting to bring you flowers for a while.”

She pulled away and she was Liz Lugosi again. Bouquet cradled against her heart, she winked and sashayed back to the stage to pick up her robe. The curtain closed, and Cable didn’t even try to hide how light and pleased he felt after getting to kiss the woman he’d been quietly pining after for months.

#cable x reader #summer snacc #fluff #fanfic #deadpool 2 #xmen #nathan summers

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aghasexxy · 5 years

Text

Roll The Dice | Jackson Wang

Pairing: Reader x Jackson

Words: 2597

Genre: Smut

Warnings: Dirty Talk/ A LOT of Teasing/ Dominating/

Summary: BoyToy gets Jackson a rather, well, interesting gift and you and him take it on a test run. Things get hot and heavy. Fast.

I’ve finally finished my four years of university and I’m ready to take on the world as a screenwriter. All throughout these years I’ve had tons of people help me get my foot in the door. But no one could compare to my best friend Jackson. He connected me with the best the industry had to offer so I was all set and ready to go right after graduation. My english and literature grades were top notch so I was able to score a paid internship at Walt Disney studios in California. As a graduation gift (mostly for his sake), Jackson flew me out to one of the best clubs in Korea to celebrate the release of his first solo album. No matter how much time goes by, I will always be amazed at his success, whether it be in Got7 or on his own. All of the fame and fortune that came with it was something I’d never get use to. Jackson has always been extremely protective of me but over the past six years he’s done the absolute most. He knows absolutely everything about me. So much so that whenever he had his jet come and pick me up, the plane is filled to the brim with all my favorite things. From Tim Tams to fuzzy socks, he makes sure that I have everything I need for the 10+ hour flight. Same thing as we’d touch down. He’d have his driver of the night waiting outside with Chipotle or baked salmon. I wish I was kidding.

We touch down in Korea, the cold air hitting my delicate skin as I step off the jet and into the black SUV. I crawl inside and smile to the driver Lawrence, quite frankly my favorite shoufer. “Hey Y/N! You hungry? I gotcha something up here whenever you want it.” I sigh and reach up for my burrito bowl. “You really know the way to a woman's heart Larry.” I undo the tin lid and dig in. “So what’s the destination this time?” Lawrence adjusts his shades and looks in the rear view mirror. “We’re heading to Club Face in Seoul. All of your stuff is being dropped off at the condo.” I nod in between mouthfuls of chorizo and grilled veggies. We swerve out onto the busy highway towards the most popular nightclub in Seoul.

About an hour and a half later we get to the club. Before I can step out of the car, Larry gives me a long black plastic bag with a hanger at the top. “Jack wants you to wear this.” I stare wide eyed at the trash bag. “Well that’s new.” I grip it and peek inside. My eyes widen. A hunter green sugar free dress from Fashion Nova stares back at me. A thigh high slit displayed in the front of the dress with nude heels to tie it all together. I scoff. “Was he high when he picked this out?” Larry laughs. “I told him you wouldn’t give it a chance but he got it anyway. He swears you’ll look sexy in it.” I roll my eyes. “I mean, shit. I aint got nothin’ else to wear.” Larry steps out of the car so that I can change. “Jackson I swear to god…” The dress slips on with ease along with the heels, not like I would expect anything less. I step out into the chill early evening air and I’m instantly greeted with a whistle. “Nevermind!,” Larry exclaims. “Ya look good man!” I smile nervously as he drapes a fluffy sweater around my shoulders. We walk through the back entrance into the bustling night club, the smell of soju strong in the air along with the occasional drag of a cigarette. We head straight to the backstage entrance and turn towards the dressing room. The door is open just a crack but I can see Jackson inside checking himself in the mirror. He is head to toe in his Fendi tracksuit with a plain black baseball cap. I see him look down at his watch and shake his head. I sigh. He’s waiting for me to tell him I’m here. I slip into the room while he’s looking down at his phone and pounce on his back. He yelps before he realizes it’s me. “Hey Wang Gae!,” I exclaim. He chuckles. “I know that voice anywhere.” I hop off of his back as he turns to face me. He wraps his arms around my waist, lifting and twirling me around with ease. I wrap my arms around his neck in a loving embrace. “You better be lucky Jinyoung wasn’t here to hear you say that.” I laugh as he sets me down. “Missed you kiddo,” I say but I soon notice his gaze. He scans me up and down like a lion on the prowl when he sees the outfit he picked out for the evening. “Goddamn!” he exclaims. He grabs my hand, encouraging me to give him a twirl. I do it in the absolute goofiest fashion earning a laugh from him. “I did a damn good job,” he says under his breath. I shrugged. “You did alright.” He smirks and hums to himself while stroking his chin. “What’s with the dress code anyway? You never buy me outfits.” He shrugs. “I saw it and thought it would look good for tonight,” He scans my frame again licking his lips slightly. “and I was so right.” I roll my eyes. “I’m obsessed with the color. It looks good on me.” “Yeah I know.” He grabs my hand as we make our way out of the dressing room. He stops and turns to me. “How do I look?” I look him up and down. “Like a million bucks.” I smile and he smirks. “Damn, you look good…” He mumbles as he turns to walk down the corridor still holding my hand. I don’t know what’s gotten into him tonight but this new found confidence is nice.

“Aye yo everyone shut up! DJ cut the music!” The DJ obliges as the room fills with hushed murmurs. Jackson is given the mic by BoyToy and winks at me from side stage. He looks back out to address the crowd. “How we feelin’?” He yells and the crowd erupts in applause. “Yo for real,” he puts his hand to his chest. “thank you all for coming out tonight to celebrate this momentous occasion,” the a-list guests exchange hoots and hollers to the man of the hour and applause erupts once more. “Most importantly, thank you to my best friend Y/N for coming out to Seoul so last minute,” whistles rang out as I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Actually, she just graduated from university. She’s been studying to be a screenwriter,” I see him walk towards me with an extended hand. His eyes are glued to mine. “Come here princess,” he says smoothly into the microphone. I scoff and grab his hand as he escorts me to the center of the stage. The whistle erupt once more along with applause. What’s gotten into him tonight? “This is Y/N,” he looks down at me. “Don’t forget that name. She’s gonna be an Oscar winning screenwriter someday.” I tilt my head and cover my face in embarrassment. He smiles and addresses the crowd. “Thanks again everyone! Drinks on me until closing! Have a great night!” The crowd explodes as we get off stage and make a b-line straight to the SUV parked out back. We file into the car and speed off down the highway.

We get to the condo in an hour and I immediately kick off my shoes. I walk over to the extended window overlooking the city and sigh. The hustling and bustling of Seoul never ceases to amaze me. No matter how late in the night or how early in the morning, the city and hills are alive covered in neon lights and skyscrapers from as far as the eye could see. Seoul was my second home. I fall backwards onto the couch as Jackson comes into the living room. He’s tracksuit was replaced with a black tank top and gray sweatpants. “What a night!” He exclaims, his head upturned towards the ceiling. I chuckle and turn to face him. “I’m so proud of you.” He looks to me and smiles warmly. “Thanks princess,” he caresses my face causing my heart to flutter. “I’m really happy you came for me.” I shrug shyly. “What can I say? I can’t turn down a private jet and an endless supply of Tim Tams.” He chuckles. “Oh!,” he suddenly exclaims as he jumps up from the couch and runs to his bedroom. I scrunch my eyebrows at his sudden outburst. He strolls back in with a blue velvet pouch. I sit up. “What’s that?” He smiles and plops next to me. “BoyToy found these on Amazon the other day,” he undos the tie on the pouch and pours out the contents. A pair of dice fall into the palm of his hand. “These are a special kind of dice,” he turns one of them between his thumb and index finger. “Instead of numbers, one has body parts and the other has commands. So if you put two and two together,” he places them on the coffee table. “if you roll them, whatever it lands on you gotta do that action on that part of the body.” I could feel the blush forming on my cheeks. “I didn’t know these were real,” I turn one of them between my fingers intrigued. I turn towards him. “Let’s play.” Jackson scoffs. “You aren’t down.” I raise an eyebrow and yank the dice from the coffee table. “Three rounds. Right now. No chicken shit no matter what it lands on.” He smirks and shakes his head. “Your words not mine.” I smile and toss the dice. I lean forward to look at the dice. Kiss chest. I start to laugh. “You see them. Take it off Wang Gae.” He rolls his eyes and yanks the shirt over his head. “Kiss it like you miss it Y/N.” I scoff and give his chest a quick peck. He scrunches his face. “Oh that was lame!” My mouth drops at his insult. “Okay fine let’s see you do better!” He raises an eyebrow and tosses the dice. “Ohhhhh,” he stares down at the dice and then back up at me. “Kiss lips.” I groan and throw my head back. “You said no chicken shit soooo,” he projects loud and obnoxiously. “Yes I did,” I sit up straight as he closes in on my face. He gives me a quick and rather painful peck. We both erupt into a fit of laughter. “You suck so bad!,” I yell. Jackson calms down from his laughing fit and keeps the dice in his hand. “I’ll do the last toss Y/N.” I nod and give him the go. After a few seconds he stops and tosses them. My heart dropped to my stomach and I can only imagine Jack felt the same way. Suck Inner Thigh. I clear my throat and look at him. He was already looking at me. He smirks again. “No chicken shit?” I roll my eyes and nod. “No chicken shit.” He leans forward placing a clammy hand on my bare thigh. “Lay back,” he says under his breath. I obey seeing as though he could get to my thigh easier that way. He places himself right between my legs with either hand on each thigh. I cover my face in order to keep my laughs at bay. My chuckling stops when I feel his hands caress my thighs gently but also with a hint of need.

“Your legs are so soft Y/N,” without warning he places a kiss on my thigh. I remove my hands from my face to look at him. “T-thanks.” He looks up at me and I shiver from his intimidating gaze. Jackson has never looked hotter than he does right at this moment. He smirks as he knows he’s starting to frustrate me. His right hand travels upward and stops at my lower stomach. “Y/N,” he says under his breath. I bit my lip at the sound of my name falling off of his lips like that. “Y-Yes?,” I ask nervously. His hand grips my thigh hard and I yelp at the sudden pain. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted you like this,” his lips attach to my inner thigh and he begins to suck before I could even get a word out. I gasp from the pulsating pressure his lips were giving me. “Wh-What do yo..,” I yelp as his tongue drags over my new purple and red bruise. I try to close my legs but he forces them back open causing me to whine. “Jack wha-,” he switches thighs and licks it before biting down on the sensitive area. He looks back into my eyes. I turn away from him as I know my face is as red as a beet. He chuckles softly. “No chicken shit, huh?,” he says in a sexy mocking tone. I try to steady my breathing but I can’t even form a coherent thought. “Look at me.” His voice booms in a demanding tone that causes me to shiver. I obey and look at him. “Look at you,” he says as he pecks my thigh again. “You’re so aroused,” He pushes my dress up to my chest. “To think that I have this affect on you by doing so little…,” his voice was low with an almost evil tone. He, quite literally, has me in the palm of his hand and he was loving every minute of it. “Jack,” I say in a needy tone of voice. He groans gripping my thighs hard again. “Oh my god I love the way you say my name Y/N,” he grabs my panties and slowly removes them from my shaking body. He leaves sloppy wet kisses on the top of my thighs and stomach. “I know your pussy is aching right now, huh princess?” I moan and try to put my hands in his hair, on his chest, anything. His arms grab mine and moves them behind my back. He keeps them in place with one hand and I squirm under him. “J-Jackson please…” he smirks to himself. My hips move upward towards his face. He forcefully pushes my hips back down with the other hand arousing me further. He refuses to lose control of the situation. He sends a harsh lick up my right thigh again and I roll my eyes and whimper from the overwhelming pleasure. “Je-J-Jesus,” I moan out. “Y-your mouth i-i-is so g-good,” I whisper to myself. “What was that princess?,” he whispers as he kisses my thigh sensually. His tongue circles the fresh bruises he would create causing me to squirm. “Y-your mouth…,” he hums, encouraging me to keep talking. “I-I love yo-ur...m-mo-outh...s-s-so much,” I say breathlessly and he continues to kiss and suck my now trembling legs. I notice the couch rise a bit and I immediately sit up. Jackson grabs his dice, throws them in the velvet sack and makes his way back to his room. I stare breathlessly as he walks away. He looks back and winks at me before closing his door. “Looks like I win,” he yells from the other side of the door.

Soooo yeah that was my first one shot of my ultimate bias Jackson. There may or may not be a part 2 to this 👀

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ryocos · 6 years

Photo

For @threehoursfromtroy. Thank you for being a staunch writer in the Korrasami fandom! You’ve been such a great influence in keeping the Korra community alive and well. Without people like you, this fandom surely wouldn’t be as great as it is today.

And Now My Favorite Color Is Blue

Rating: All

Slight AU. Avatar universe/setting, Korra and Asami have yet to meet. Divergence from canon meeting. Book 1 timeline, no Amon stuff.

Asami regretted her decision to join the gym as soon as she entered the double doors. A cloud of sweat and heat hit her like a satomobile, and she had yet to set foot in the gym. The front area had some seats, their fabrics worn down over the years from all the use and little care. The giant, wall to wall windows drained the color from the couches against the wall. Though, who would really want to sit in the sweltering heat of the sun beaming through the windows, while enjoying the musk of all the lads working out?

She could have decided to workout in her own private gym - a luxury afforded by her father and his company - but she already spent so much time alone. Either doing her work in her personal office, of training in her sparring in her very own sparring room. She ate dinner alone most nights as her father was far too busy with work to join in for more than it took to enjoy a few bites before running off to make another deal. It was all getting dull, and so very lonely. She really needed to get out of the house.

But looking out at the gym before her, she reconsidered her options. The cardio area seemed sparse compared to the weights section, where the men had gathered and were tossing weights around as if it were a competition. Asami felt as if she had just walked into a zoo, where the monkeys were throwing things around and howling out their personal bests.

She took up a spot in the corner, away from the chaos at the center of the weight floor. By now she had gotten used to the strange smells, and even the obnoxious heat paid her little problems. Working around cars at least had its perks, heat and cold were no problem to her. The sounds around her were startling, though, and she couldn’t help but jump at every loud clang of the weights.

Pushing all of that aside, she got to work. She was here to improve on her sparring capabilities, not dawdle at every sight and sound. She set to work on some simple shoulder exercises, and after a few minutes felt herself at ease. Maybe coming here wasn’t so much of a bad idea after all?

“You’re not doing that right, how about I give you a tip.” Asami felt the person before she even saw them as a man came up behind her. She spun around before he could grab ahold of her elbows in an attempt to dole out ‘advice’. He had placed himself so close she could feel his body heat radiating off of him.

“Excuse me?” Asami bit back, taking a few steps backwards to get the man out of her space. It was incredibly rude.

“You’re going to get too big doing stuff like that.” The man replied, trying again to get closer to show Asami how to do the exercise. He reached out to grasp Asami’s arm, intending to show her the ‘right’ way. “Guys don’t like that, you know.” Asami pulled her arm out of his reach easily, anger bubbling in her chest like molten fire.

He was cut off by a wicked punch to the arm. Asami blinked hard as she turned to see just what was going on. Striking handsome, tanned, and muscular, Asami thought at first that another one of these gym bros had interrupted the other, but upon a closer look it was not a gym bro. Well, at least not a conventional one.

“She doesn’t want any advice from you, chicken legs.” The tanned woman rubbed at her knuckles after the swift punishment she had just given. Her striking blue eyes stood out against the dirt and grit of the gym like a diamond in the rough, and despite the aggression, a smile lit her face like none she had ever seen.

“Back off Korra.” The man meekly said, despite his previous bravado. He was nursing his sore arm now.

“C’mon, leave the lady alone. Can’t have you scaring away all the pretty little things around here. All that we’ll have left will be the ugly mugs like you.” This woman, Korra as she had been called, turned to give Asami a small smile.

Pretty?! A faint blush ghosted over Asami’s face.

Before Asami could get a word in to thank the kind stranger, Korra was already pushing the guy along, back towards the chaos at the center of the gym where the other gym bros hooted and hollered at his failed flirting. Meanwhile, Korra seemed to still be chiding some of the men around her about not bothering the ladies around the gym.

Asami turned back towards her weights, feeling far more flustered than before. As she got back to her exercises she couldn’t help but keep glancing in the mirror, towards the direction of a beautiful, tanned woman.

Asami somehow found the time to make it to the gym, day after day and week after week, despite her work load with the family business. She tried to convince herself that she had just found a good groove at the gym. That the lifting was just a great way to relieve stress. That she was starting to enjoy the crowds and the old machinery…

She really tried to think that, but really. There was one reason she was still going, and she was big, buff, and tanned.

Korra, as she had learned, was actually the Avatar. The Avatar that had not been out of the Southern Water Tribe lands for years, and yet was now here working out at a random, run-down gym in Republic City. Perhaps Asami had just neglected the morning paper, but surely this would have been huge news?

In between sets Asami spent a lot of time observing the young Avatar. It was purely for business purposes, of course. A great business women and inventor needed to be curious and watchful. Korra was a bit awkward, yes, but she was amazingly kind and sweet. And that smile! That laugh!

‘My team could use an Avatar.’ Asami would think to herself. ‘To add a benders’ perspective and showcase the new models, and maybe go out to lunch and…’

A flash of blue and Asami suddenly realized she had been staring. Very obviously. At Korra. Who had definitely noticed.

“Oh spirits.” The Inventor muttered under her breath as she spun around on her heel and began doing whatever machine was closest to her.

Another week had passed, somehow without another embarrassing incident on Asami’s part. She would still sneak her coy glances at the tanned woman every now and again, but today was different. Today Korra wasn’t at the gym.

‘I’m sure the Avatar has business she needs to attend to. The gm can’t be everything.’ Still, Asami chewed her lip as she continued her exercises.

Then another day went by, and another, and the young water tribe girl had yet to make another appearance.

The gym just wasn’t the same without Korra around. The bro’s walked around unhindered, flirting freely and taking up much more space than they had before. And maybe it was just her imagination, but the gym seemed so much more dim.

Halfway through her workout, Asami decided it was time to go. Nothing felt right, the weights just felt too heavy and a cloud of worry fogged her mind. No progress was going to be made today.

On the way out she noticed an employee doodling at the front desk. It seemed like a long shot to ask, but it felt worth it to at least give it a shot.

“Hey, about the Avatar. About this tall,” Asami waved her hand a few inches shorter than the top of her head, “tanned, water tribe colors. Does she still attend this gym?”

At first the young man at the desk frowned. It surely was against company policy to talk about gym members, but recognition dawned over his face as he realized just who was speaking to him. “Oh, Mrs. Sato! Yes, uhm..” He pulled at the collar of his shirt as he worked up the nerve to fudge the rules just a little bit.

“You see, the Avatar, uh, Korra, she is delinquent on her membership fees… And, well, our policy and everything.” He looked back down at the paper he had previously been doodling on and quickly pushed it out of view. “We had to inform the Avatar she could no longer work out at this facility.” He finished quickly.

A long, pregnant pause followed.

“You’re telling me that you kicked THE Avatar out of the gym?” Asami carefully said.

“Er, my manager, yes.”

“The Avatar that could be a mascot for this gym? The Avatar that could be helping you gain new members?”

“Mrs. Sato-”

“Korra, who could be the sole reason why I-, er, people would be working out at this gym?”

“Mrs. Sato!”

“I mean, why would anyone want to visit this gym now? It’s just not a sound business decision. If I were your manager, I would be letting Korra work out here for free. In fact, I’ll pay her membership fees right now! This place just isn’t as great without her-”

“Mrs. Sato!” The attendant finally managed to break Asami away from her small rant long enough to point just behind her. “Perhaps you would like to talk to her yourself rather than me.”

Asami froze while a cold sweat beaded at her forehead. Sure enough, turning to look behind her she found the woman herself, a light blush dusting her face as she played with a small bag in her hands.

“Thats… uh, well.” Korra began, one hand coming up to play with the bottom of her bangs. “I actually came back to pay my fees. I just barely got my money from the pro-bending stuff.” She scuffed a foot back and forth, her blush getting deeper as she spoke. “It took a little longer than I thought.”

It took every ounce of her courage to speak, but Asami managed to meekly hold her hand up. “No, no. Let me cover your fees.” The engineer thought she would faint from embarrassment as she gently pushed Korra’s outstretched hand, her tiny money bag clutched in her fist, back towards her chest. “I think you deserve spending your win on something else.”

Without another word to Korra, Asami spun back towards the desk, quickly handing the man her business card. “Please inform your manager that I would like to negotiate paying for the Avatar’s gym fees for as long as she would like to attend this gym.” And with that, she did as any cool, calm, and collected business woman would do.

She ran out of the gym.

The next day was tough, but Asami managed to get herself to the gym. Despite her previous embarrassment and dread of having to face Korra again, she found herself scanning the gym for the aforementioned muscled woman who was nowhere to be found at the gym.

‘Great, you scared her off.’ Asami groaned as she slumped against the wall. A light tap on her shoulder made her jump nearly a foot into the air, but that mild scare was nothing compared to the flip her stomach did when she turned to face bright, blue eyes.

“Hey there Asami.” Korra said, a finger scratching at her own cheek. “I asked that guy what your name was.” She quickly added as Asami gaped, at a complete loss for words.

Korra pulled a hand out from behind her, a bouquet of bright red hibiscus clutched in trembling fingers. “I wanted to thank you for helping me out, and I was thinking that maybe we could go get some noodles together?”

Asami gently took the flowers and held them against her chest. She could feel herself blushing from head to toe at the accidental, huge compliment Korra had given her by choosing these flowers.

“I would love to.” She finally managed. “These are absolutely beautiful, and really, one of my favorite flowers, thank you.”

Korra grinned, her features beaming. “It was a lucky guess really. I figured your favorite color was red and I went from there.”

Asami leaned her nose down into the flowers, letting their smell ease her rapidly beating heart.

“Well, I’d say that now my favorite color is blue.”

#threehoursfromtroy #fanfiction #korrasami #writing #ryocos writes

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infinitum-imaginaerum · 6 years

Text

Embers // Jung Jaehyun; One

When a scrapped government experiment leads two lost souls together, something changes in both of their lives. Jaehyun reveals the light that’s been hiding all along.

Embers One | Embers Two

They were laughing and fooling around like they always did, pushing and shoving as they headed home—a little noisy, but not too much to disturb anyone indoors. It was late afternoon; the sun was looking hesitantly at the horizon as it continued to approach. You were walking home from work, your car having been in the shop for a couple of days for some repairs when you heard them hooting and hollering. You smiled, not bothering to look over, knowing it was a group of boys just being boys.

The laughing paused, but still you didn’t look up. A sharp elbow hit Jaehyun’s side who was busy fixing the ball cap atop his head and grooming his hair a bit. He looked at the shorter male who’d administered the sharp pain before following his eyes out.

“Eye-candy or what?” Taeyong asked, glancing at his taller counterpart.

“Damn, she is pretty fine,” Jaehyun replied, getting a good look as you walked by not but fifteen meters away.

Taeyong whistled, loudly, and then dipped his head as he turned away, leaving Jaehyun out in the open as you turned to look, answering the cat-call. He watched your brows rise as you looked at him, pinning him for the offense. “That’s disgusting,” you called over.

Jaehyun swallowed, hard, and threw his elbow back into the ribs of the older male who’d just put him on the spot. “Didn’t mean any offense by it; just know a beauty when I see one,” Jaehyun tried to save while Taeyong clutched his ribs.

You turned to face him—typically men didn’t respond like that when you called them out for something like that. Your head tilted slightly as you eyed him up and down, following his legs a little longer than you thought, but you knew you were caught when he cleared his throat. “You obviously know there are better ways to compliment a woman,” you noted and your eyes met his after you took a few steps closer.

He looked at you, most cautiously now. “Tell your friend there that cat-calling is rude and distasteful and that he could take a few pointers from you,” you commented with a wink and turned on your heel to head back down the street.

“You hear that, Taeyong? You’re rude and distasteful,” Jaehyun muttered through his teeth as he continued to watch you go. In their business, it was easy to come across anyone that they probably shouldn’t, even girls—Jaehyun was cautious while Taeyong was reckless; it got them into a lot of trouble sometimes. “I thought you would have learned your lesson fucking around with girls the last time that happened and she gave you a titty-twister and kicked you down.”

“She did not kick me down!”

“He doesn’t even deny the titty-twister part,” another laughed.

“How could he, his nipple was purple for weeks.”

Jaehyun phased out of the conversation, looking into the distance to watch you go. He had a suspicious feeling about you, something was unsettling. Your hair whipped back and forth as you walked, and just the way you walked told him a lot about you.

“You good, Jaehyun?” a voice brought him back to earth.

“Y-yeah,” he stuttered, turning towards his friend that was now grabbing his arm while the others continued to tease Taeyong.

“What’s up?”

“It’s nothing; just a feeling I guess,” Jaehyun replied, turning back towards the group as the boys gathered to head the opposite direction. The boys were pushing each other around in front of Jaehyun as they walked, just general goofing around. Their dynamic was interesting; it was hard to tell when there was good time off or not.

NCT was what they were called. That was the code name given to them by a government experiment that soon fell off the map and was swept under the rug. They were all psychoanalyzed to find out how they would react to committing crimes—it was supposed to be a social experiment to survey crime in the city, to see how certain group would interact if they were threatened by another.

They all received proper training by the highest decorated operatives in not only martial arts and weapons training to make them lethal, but also intelligence, technology, basic skills such as lock picking, hacking, fingerprinting, sweeping… any skill they could possibly need to commit the most high profile crimes, they were trained in.

It just made it extra interesting that they were all young kids. Who would suspect them to do anything more heinous than corner store robberies? Well, that was the whole point of their unit.

Only, it spiraled out of control. Basic police couldn’t apprehend them and the government branch that brought NCT to light would never admit to being the culprits behind it—they were stuck between a rock and a hard place: give themselves up to get NCT off the streets, or sweep it under the rug as if it never happened to save their own asses.

In a corrupt government system that only cared about themselves, of course the only option was to sweep it under the rug.

The hard part for NCT was trying to live a normal life after that. They’d had no proper life skills, they’d all joined the program since being young kids, desperate parents to give their kids a better life while blindly throwing their lives away. Crime was all they knew before too long. Yuta was the only one who held a steady job for any amount of time longer than a year, but that wasn’t going to pay bills and put food on the table.

Most of them resorted to basic pickpocketing, going to the richest part of the city and use the tactics they’d learned. Stealing expensive watches, jewelry, car keys, wallets, identification and credit—anything they could get their hands on, that’s what put food on the table and paid their rent.

The hardest part about the whole thing was, once joining this government program; they were given new names with no actual record. Anything that hit a record concerning any of their names was automatically deleted. The whole point of using crime to survey crime was to ensure your operatives didn’t get caught. Their identifications didn’t show up on any database imaginable, no family records, no school records, no birth records. They were basically invisible people living in a real people’s world. Which is why it was so hard for any of them to get jobs—if they did, they’d have to be paid under the table.

Not to mention, because of their skills and resources, it wasn’t hard to forge identification and records which they all kept themselves. Some would say it was an impossible program, that there was no way a group of young boys could run an operation as smoothly as this, but that was the whole point of their training, right? Once everyone was convinced it was impossible, that’s when it all blew over. There were less search parties looking for people that no longer existed, all “evidence” was burned or erased.

But the crime continued. It was their only livelihood anymore.

All of this was spinning around in Jaehyun’s head while they walked. Something in him triggered that whole very, very recent past. It was swirling so hard and so fast that the only thing that seemed to bring Jaehyun back to earth was the sound of a blaring car horn and three or four different hands on him to pull him out of the way of oncoming traffic.

“Jaehyun! Are you good, bro?” a hand waved in front of his face.

“I swear I’ve seen her somewhere before,” he muttered, basically ignoring his friend, Johnny’s question.

“You need sleep, man,” Taeyong commented, taking a good hard look at Jaehyun’s face. Sure, he looked a little tired, they all did—it was part of the job.

“I don’t think I’m hallucinating, if that’s what you’re implying.”

“I wasn’t implying,” Taeyong laughed. “You’ve been pretty out of it all day. Maybe some food would do everyone good.”

Jaehyun and the rest of the group nodded. They headed out to the nearest restaurant, a lot of chatter focused around Jaehyun to keep his mind where it belonged; which was here and now. But even as the chatter continued, shifting away from Jaehyun, his focus shifted back out, drawing Yuta’s attention. He was Jaehyun’s partner—the ones who were always on the floor doing the recon and the distracting. They were the smooth talkers, so they were pretty close.

“Hey; seriously, are you okay? Even since you saw her, you’ve been out of it. What did you see?” Yuta muttered to him, trying to keep the conversation between the two of them as to not cause a fuss.

“Maybe I am just tired, I didn’t recognize her face but I’ve seen that walk before.”

“Are you sure you weren’t just fascinated by her backside?” Yuta joked but after earning a glaring look from Jaehyun turned it back serious. “I believe you, Jaehyun. But there are just so many people we see on a daily basis, plus I’m not really sure what its relevance is. Just chill, yeah?”

“Yeah…”

#jaehyun #nct #jaehyun scenarios #nct scenarios #jaehyun series #series: embers

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halcyon-wra-blog · 6 years

Text

Pyrewood

The sounds of war filled the air. Commanders shouted orders to their units, soldiers marched in formation, and ballistae, trebuchets and catapults alike sung a blood hymn. The siege had taken days.. weeks.. months? How long had they been here? How long had the Forsaken bled them for? It was supposed to have been a quick, lightning blitz as Azurelode and Southpoint had been.. but no. The Forsaken had walled themselves off, and they had been prepared for the Halcyon's advance.

Every advance their footmen made against the Forsaken's hastily constructed palisades had been repelled with rivers of blight, fields of mines, and nigh on invisible pitfalls which sent soldiers to unceremonious graves, only for the Undead to scour the field of the fallen after the fact, resurrecting the Halcyon's chosen into more of their mindless zombies. For every Crusader that fell, another Forsaken rose. There was no mercy; there had been no mercy; there would be no mercy. In the early morning, there had been a great cry: a breach had been made in the palisade. It had collapsed in on itself, crushing dozens of Forsaken. The Halcyon's vanguard had swept in like a tidal wave, foaming and thrashing at the monstrous undead until they had broken through. Fields of decayed, distended wheat, human skulls and fresh entrails greeted them, the stench of rotting corpses invading their senses. It was all a grand show from the Forsaken, specifically designed to demoralize and disgust their living counterparts.

Line after line of Deathguards took up formation, linking arms, locking their crude, ghastly shields together, forming a secondary shieldwall, a tertiary shieldwall, quaternary.. quinary.. senary...more and more Undead stormed into Pyrewood's streets. With a collective, thunderous roar, the first of the Forsaken lines began to maneuver forwards, the bulwark marching in unison. They formed a half ring around the breach, their swords jabbing outwards, stabbing at the Crusaders, hoping to drive them back whence they came, or better yet, butcher them like cattle. The Forsakens' ghastly lines tightened into formation throughout the narrow causeway. The semi-circle around the breach shunted, convulsing against the press of the plated Crusaders before them. Then, a bright light erupted behind the undead lines. They paused, turning, scattering to the sides, trying to see - and avoid - whatever devilry the Crusaders had concocted. The Forsaken line began to splinter. Behind them, the second line of deathguards were already marching forwards, fresh and ready for battle. Score upon score of tireless, immortal soldiers filled the gaps left by those before them, absorbing shock after shock of an impending assault. The Forsaken line soon buckled under the Halcyon's thrust, undead falling in bodily heaps to the cobblestones below. At last, they buckled completely, and the Forsaken began to march back, retreating as slowly as they possibly could. They paid no heed to the screams of their brothers-in-arms as they were turned into smoldering, sludgy pools from the Halcyon Commander’s holy fire. The second line of Forsaken were practically decimated, and their formation tightened. As one great force, they continued forwards. Their focus was singular now: Kill the one who'd destroyed them so thoroughly. It was almost a perfect pincer, the Forsaken had the Halcyon’s Commander squarely between them, with nowhere to run. The Forsaken backpedaled away as quickly as they could from the Halcyon's onslaught. They scattered, falling back to try and desperately escape the oncoming Crusaders, but time and again, they fell to the charge. The Forsaken were practically in a route now, trying with all their might to- The ground was on fire. Cracks, splinters of golden magic spread far and wide, and with a collective cry, the first bulwark of the Forsaken's defense turned to ash. A bright, purple sword careened and slashed its way through their armor, score after score of deathguards slumping limply to the dirt, with very few remaining in -one- piece.

The next two Forsaken battalions began to slowly march -backwards- away from the breach, forming a tight, collective line just behind the ruins of two tall townhouses. Their shields rose to meet the crusaders, their helmets ducked behind the macabre barricade. Their new shieldwall, a platoon of archers, had taken up formation. With a rush of snapping string, the sky blackened with dark, feathered arrows. As several Halcyon forces made their way to the unassuming wall, from under the cobblestones there came a click. The three had set off a landmine! Shrapnel, dust and blown stone sprayed in every direction. At the sound of one of their exploding traps, the Forsaken let out a collective guttural cheer, their mocking laughter echoing throughout the township. Arrows nocked against bows and bowstrings, the straining groan of bowstrings being drawn screaming out through the streets. Then,dozens of black, steel-barbed arrows soared into the sky, casting a shadow over the houses and crusaders as they arched their way up.. up.. and then down onto their heads.

Again, the Forsaken howled and hooted with laughter as the Halcyon floundered and staggered. More arrows were nocked.Then, from behind the vanguard, there came a loud, cheering roar. Reinforcements! Through the breach they marched, their shields raised to provide their ailing allies with cover from the volleys of arrows that were overtaking them. A fresh-faced captain poked her head out, gesturing towards the wounded soldiers, "Get your asses in here, boys! We've managed to break through their citadel defenses, now c'mon! We'll get you to - and through - that wall."

With that, her face dipped back into the column, resiliently marching through the streets, straight towards the Forsaken line. Almost immediately, the Undead’s hollers and hoots were replaced with eerie, snarling silence. The Halcyon crashed against the second shieldwall, the Forsaken shields bending, but unlike the first one, they didn't break. The Undead held firm against the Holy onslaught, however, they hadn't anticipated the magical blades of Light the Halcyon’s Lieutenant Commander hurtled their way, and moments later half of that carefully prepared line crumbled to ash. By the time her magic dissipated, it was as if the Forsaken had never existed to begin with.

The archers, seeing that half of their defenses were already falling by the wayside, began to backpedal from the fray, until they were pressed against the ring of trees which marked the town's center. Their bowstrings pulled back, and, despite one of their number being "PINGED" squarely in the forehead by a magical hammer, they loosed another volley, right into the Halcyon's back line. The archers weren't expecting the crusaders to breach through so quickly! They saw a crusader charge through the lines, and before they could even begin to reorganize into a defensive posture, their captain had taken an arrow to the eye. A Halcyon archer’s thick shaft pierced him square in the peeper, and he fell to the ground with a clatter, the arrowhead pushing back into his brain from the force of it.

Meanwhile, his former unit was thrown into disarray, some of them dropping their bows and turning tail to flee, others trying in vain to draw their dirks and daggers, stabbing uselessly at the plated monster in front of them.

Though eventually they regained their composure, and as a swarm they descended upon the Lieutenant-Commander, dog piling atop her, stabbing ruthlessly with their short knives. The Halcyon's backline might be safe.. but the crusader? She was not so lucky. The Halcyon's reinforcements descended upon the remaining half of the shieldwall like a wave, pinning the deathguards close to the cliffside, even as the Knight Lieutenant slammed them in the rear and stabbed wildly at their backline. Down, down the last of the shieldwall went as they were shunted and pinned against the cliffside, their armor scraping, tarnishing itself.. until finally, with a great heave, the Halcyon's soldiery -crushed- the undead under their own shields. They were dead, once more, and they would not rise again.

The archers, meanwhile, stabbed fitfully at the Lt. Commander, clawing to get through her armor.. and then the Commander lunged towards them, slaughtering them one by one like cattle. By the time they were done, there wasn't a single Forsaken left standing. The town's center was silent.. completely, dismally silent. Until, at the last, from what could only be considered the town hall, there came a slow, steady "clap. Clap. Clap."

A single Forsaken stepped from the doorframe, dressed in the finest garments a lord of the Forsaken could have. For those who were attentive, this was the same Forsaken they had spied during their reconnaissance, who had marched so proudly into the town with his guardsmen.

"Well.. done," he crowed out to them in broken, strained common, his cracked lips curling into a smile. "Very well done. As lord of Pyrewood and the Banshee Queen's envoy, I bequeath unto you this town.. and surrender it willingly." His smile widened, eyes narrowing. "Well.. I would, if I didn't have another ploy up my sleeve." With that, he reached for a small, shimmering crystal about his neck, clutching it intently. "You see, one of your own lot managed to do something we'd been having quite a bit of difficulty with. We just.. -couldn't- get him working. Thank you for fixing it for us."

With a cackle, the Forsaken's grin began to falter. He coughed, spluttered, the "life" draining from his face.. and then, in a slump, he fell lifeless to the ground. Once more, the town was silent- A rumble. A tremor? As a crusader made his way towards the noble, the Forsaken's skin began to take on a sickly shade of green. Ooze began to seep from his lips, and then, with a low gurgle, the corpse -exploded- with an eruption of bile, bone and blood. The tremors grew louder, louder, pounding in the crusaders' ears. On the Lt. Commander's orders, the column of reinforcements spread out into three even groups, all around the town's center. There came a rush, as if a waterfall had just sprung.. and then, from behind the houses, towards the great sea itself, there came a low, guttural groan.

"Grrrrgghghghghgh.." It was wet; fleshy, and hungry. Atop the town hall, a gigantic, stone hand gripped the shingles, sending them scattering and flailing in every direction. A second hand rose up to the opposing side of the structure, and with a great heave, whatever -it- was pulled itself from the ocean. Like a child leaving a bathtub, water splashed -high- over the town hall, splattering, cascading down across the streets, mingling with blood and bile. The support beams of the building buckled, snapped, and broke. The bell tower collapsed in on the hall, crashing in a metallic heap, giving way to the towering golem that had used it so carelessly. It was gigantic, standing well above the tops of the highest trees. Not since the likes of Thaddius of Naxxramas had any living mortal seen such a creation of stitched flesh and metalworking.

It was clad in armor, a tattered cloak falling far behind its back, with a wispy white beard and -burning- blue eyes. Upon its head was a crown, and those of Lordaeron would be able to recognize it immediately: the monster's face was a bearded caricature of Terenas. Slowly, the monster marched out from the bay, his wide legs smashing through the ruins of the town hall, reducing it to little more than rubble.. and he just -stared- at the gathering. A Knight Captain’s hammer throttled towards its forehead, clashing against its metal frame with a loud, resounding "P-tink!" but the creature barely even winced from it. It did, however, get its attention. It began to move forwards.. and then, lacing around its right arm, their Lt. Commander’ golden chains wrapped up, past its bicep, almost to its shoulder.

It gave the colossus pause, its monstrous head turning towards the chains. With a shrug, the Light shattered, crashing into a thousand tiny pieces. Its attention turned towards the Halcyon again, and with two heavy footfalls, it reached them. A Crusader’s magic sailed towards its arm, and once again, the beast took it without complaint. If they didn't know any better, the Halcyon would be forgiven for thinking it was immune to such magic. Its litchfire eyes blazed, a deep, guttural roar emanating from its core, and its left fist rose high above its head. It snarled, and with a rush of air, the fist swung down -hard- towards the Captain. The colossus' fist crashed into the pavement, creating a crater in the ground. It let out a loud, angry yowl as a Crusader began his channeling of magic, its burning gaze turning away from its makeshift pothole towards him. Its callous lips contorted into a sneer, and its right hand reached out, sweeping away at all the crusaders that stood between it and its target. Its body contorted with the motion, its left fist rising up off the ground, leaving a crushed Captain and a smushed battle-mender in its wake.

The wispy, light blue rune atop the monster's head blazed brightly as a Crusader attempted to siphon the magic away. But even -that- seemed to falter. The rune began to blaze a deep shade of red, completely opposing its original setting.. and the Terenas Mk. 2's eyes morphed, shifting from their lichfire blue to a bloody red. They had made it angry.

Once its sweep was complete, it stomped its way towards the Crusader, reaching out with its left hand to attempt to lift him up off the ground. The colossus didn't have the time nor patience to realize that an archer was nocking a veritable fireball onto his bowstring. There was a twang, the head jerking momentarily to see what the noise was. The monster let out a bellowing yell, staggering, letting its grip on the Crusader go. It stumbled, faltered, and with a crash, it tumbled backwards, right into the path that it had previously swept.

The colossus dove where a Captain had been mere moments earlier, and let out a pitiful wail of pain as a Lieutenant’s sword dug into its neck, the soldier having leapt up onto the giant and climbed onto its shoulders. The creature once more rose up to its feet, thrashing, flailing, trying to shake him off its shoulders once more. Cannons fired, trebuchets launched their stones, catapults snapped their loads, and a hail storm of projectiles careened through the sky towards the towering monster. Rocks slammed against its face, crushing its one good eye, distending its jaw, its nose.. everything. It staggered back, beginning to slow down, to stop.. and then, with one, clean, "Ftwip!" one of the Halcyon’s archers’ arrows landed squarely in the center of its rune. Its arms fell to its sides, and like a tin soldier, it began to fall backwards. The colossus landed in a heap in the center of the township, limp and dead. They had done it. Pyrewood was conquered.

#IC #Guild Plot #Guild Event #Synopsis #Pyrewood

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impossible-rat-babies · 6 years

Text

Writing Snippet #13

—

Antiva City—9:33 Dragon

The musty air hung heavy with the smells of tobacco smoke and liquor, the smoke making lazy paths across the large wooden ceiling beams overhead. The only thing more dominating than that was the nearly unbearably loud combination of tavern music, drunken conversation and inevitable bellowing from the drunken patrons. All taverns were the same, no matter where one went. From Starkhaven to Ansburg—even places deep in the seedy parts of Antiva City—all had the same feel. The booze was cheap, the people numorous...and the perfect places to hide and make money. No one cared who you were in backwater places which made for easy money when it came to cheating at cards games and card tricks.

And Darva Lavellan was good at both.

He swung back another shot of some Antivan whiskey and he twitched his hands, his ears wiggling under his hood before he sneezed. The cinnamon always made his nose runny...

The bartender came up and looked between him and his cup before Darva shook his head. Two was enough for one night. He passed two silver off to the bartender with a flick of his wrist and the man expertly tucked the coins into a secret pouch inside his shirt before he slinked off to his paying customers. Not like Darva wasn’t paying for a room upstairs, but drinks got rid of their money faster and two was enough for Darva.

Darva cleared his throat, turning in his seat at the bar to look around at the tavern. A few bar maids passed between tables, refilling drinks for the men who seemed to frequent this place after their work. Many had strong arms and big booming laughs; ones that could shake the whole establishment. And a whole crowd of them to boot Dock workers or labors coming for a drink after work, Darva would’ve ventured a guess. He couldn’t see their hands from here, but he bet they were calloused.

Another group sat not too far away, keeping quietly to themselves; he hadn’t seen them in here before. By their cloaks and solidarity, they were probably a merc group stopped for the night. Would probably move on the in the morning to find work elsewhere. Darva couldn’t say who would be hiring mercs in the seedy underbelly of Antiva city. More likely to hire a thief than anything else.

Small groups and singles decorated the other old mismatched furniture, keeping to themselves or talking to each other. It only added to the loud din of the establishment. But next to the men was a minstrel not too far off; he had a lute strapped to his chest that he happily strummed upon and a small set of pan pipes dangled from a string upon his chest to play at will. He sang happily about something or another that the patrons nearest to him seeemed to be enjoying. It was pleasant enough from what Darva could hear over the other tavern sounds.

Another hoot and holler rose from the men as a tankcard slammed on the table, rattling the whole of ensemble of drinks and food atop the table. They were going to leave a mess, that was for sure.

One of them called for another round from a waitress and Darva watched her bring the drinks back around, setting each one down as she maneuvered from wandering hands. Smart girl...or perhaps more practical.

Called herself Talia if Darva remembered right. She’d asked him what he was looking for when he came downstairs and he’d playfully teased about looking for her. She’d blown him off with a roll of her eyes and a smile meaning she knew he wasn’t serious. He’d given her a grin back from under his hood; a kinship started, as one would say.

He still watched her and he paused tapping his foot to the rhythm of the music when one of the men grasped her wrist and held fast. He raised an eyebrow, but lowered it as she expertly twisted her grasp from his hold. He was getting too drunk to hold his liquor, much less anything else. He caught Talia’s gaze once she finished and she wandered over to him, ducking in and out of other bustling patrons. He turned as she tucked herself between him and the patron on the stool beside him. Her waist pressed against the sides of his knees tucked close to the bar and he could’ve easily reached out and touched her from their close proximity.

“You watching me now, elf?” Talia asked and he grinned from under the hood. At this vantage point, he sat higher than she stood, so she had full view under his hood at all the tattoos that decorated his face and the shape of his ears tucked back. But from this close he could see the sharp look to her golden brown eyes and the sharp turn of her nose that meant it had been broken before.

She could more than handle herself, that was for sure.That and the two knives tucked into her bra and along her bodice would do the trick.

“Would that be too presumptuous of me?” He asked and she laughed, the sound lost to anyone else in the bar but the two of them. The volume saw to that concern.

“Only if you were too drunk to defend my honor should it come to that.” She spoke in a mocking drawl and it was Darva’s turn to laugh.

“I am not too drunk to defend your honor, Talia. But it looks like you’re capable of taking care of yourself.” He told her with a genuine smile and her lips twisted into a smirk, her bright blue eyes searching his green ones inquisitively.

“I like you, boy.” She told him and he let out a soft chuckle.

“Most folks do. Now,” He waved his hand, “don’t hesistate if those men give you more trouble than they’re worth to you.” He told her before he sat back and she scooted away.

He returned his gaze to the bar, idly watching the patrons scurry in and out of each other’s way like some elaborate dance timed to the minstrels song. He watched and listened as the time wore on, groups and people moving like the tide through the tavern’s doors. The mercs moved upstairs, but were soon replaced by another group who looked much less shady. Merchants it would seem—local traders who had just enough coin for a drink each night. He spied several dwarves huddling in a corner at one point, whispering to each other. Some illegal matter, no doubt. Lyrium was to be traded or someone would die tonight; both not unusual. Darva swore he saw an escaped mage at one point if the bright purple and blue of the robe hidden under the cloak was any indication. But they didn’t stay for long; either a lack of money or something else threw them off. Probably the whispering dwarves.

Or more likely the laborers who showed no signs of leaving soon. They continued to get more and more drunk and continued to eat and eat. It must’ve been some sort of celebration if Darva could guess. He watched Talia serve them round after round, dodging each and every touch from the men each time. It seemed some were turning it into a game of sorts: who could catch the pretty bar maid. He watched her put on a smile as they grabbed for her, but Darva knew better. But, she never ventured a pleading gaze his way to say she needed help.

All until the next round she passed around the table.

She deposited the last tankard upon the table when she was snatched up around the waist and pulled into one of the men’s laps. She tried to slink out of his touch her own ways, but he still held fast. Darva could see her asking for him to let her go and it only made them laugh. He watched as the man held her close and even grossly snuggle against her, pulling her tight. He tapped his toes against the rung on his stool, watching carefully as she looked towards him.

It was brief, but he saw the flash for help in her eyes.

He quickly stood and snuck through the people, not taking long to reach the table.

“Excuse me, good sir.” He spoke clearly from under his hood and the man turned sharply to face him, raising one drunken eyebrow. “I am very sorry to disturb you, but it would seem you would be most interested in a card trick or two. I am quite gifted in such matters of fancy finger work and you seem like a man to fancy such things, hm?” Darva spoke quickly to the drunken man and he seemed to only be getting half of the words.

“Would anyone else be interested?” He asked the table and he received a few nods of confusion and agreement. He grinned from under his hood and pulled his cards from his pack.

“Now, these are card tricks and such they require a little...added fun. Money as one could say; betting as a fancy man would say.” Darva spoke as he brushed aside various tankards and plates to make room at the center of the table. Darva carefully, but quickly explained the rules of the game to the men, quickly gazing about the table to spy on Talia. The drunken man holding her seemed to grow more enraptured with each second he spoke to them, thus his grip on Talia loosened more and more. She would be able to get out on her own in no time.

He continued going, cajoling the men into opening their coin pouches to throw in for a game or two. Darva carefully watched the men and his own spread of cards, making sure each trick was working out as it should. It wasn’t hard to run cons on very drunk men and to milk their coin from them either. Blurry eyes made for simple hand work. Darva flipped and showed off his cards with a flourish over and over to reveal it was not the correct one each time. Each time the table protested as Darva collected their coins into his own pouch. Darva laughed as the men guessed and poked at what trick it could be and why they were losing so much, but they still kept playing.

Once the fun had worn out—and it never took long for it to run out on drunk men—Darva played the last hand that was once again a jest. The men yelled and protested, some calling for another round as he gathered up his cards and shuffled them, tucking the cards he’d be hiding and trading out in his shirt sleeves back into the deck where they belonged.

“Now, now settle down.” He spoke with a smile in his voice that seemed to calm the men. “You men still have a tab that needs paid; wouldn’t want to waste all of your money only to realize you’ll be paying off a debt to this tavern? What would your wives back home think of you?” He asked them, the astonishment in his tone enough to get their drunken minds thinking and talking amongst themselves. Darva took the chance and he slinked away from them and back to his seat....

Where Talia had planted herself, her arms crossed and shaking her head.

“You sure live up to the stereotype of a fast talking elf.” She spoke as he approached and he chuckled softly, pulling his hood back from his face completely. His ears wiggled a tiny bit and he ran his fingers through his hair.

“I have a standard to live up to, my dear.” He told her with a gracious wave of his hand and she giggled, turning the stool as he squeezed next to her.

“Oh, what prize does my dearest savior desire now?” She asked him expectantly and he scoffed.

“Now Talia....I only gave you the opportunity to slink away.” He spoke as he messed with the coin pouch out of sight of her. “But you made a good com possible. So....” Darva took Talia’s hand in his own, slipping half a dozen coins into her palm that he closed tightly. He gave her a brief smile and a nod of the head before he turned to slink into the crowd of the bar, disappear up the stairs.

Talia watched him go before she carefully looked down at the coins in her hand. Sure enough, seven good pieces were pressed into her hands. She clicked her tongue and tucked the coins into her shirt, adjusting herself. She raised an eyebrow as she felt something new pressing against the side of her breast. She carefully reached down, pulling a single playing card from her shirt.

A joker, in fact.

She flipped the card over, finding no other decerning marks upon the card. She snorted and shook her, but nonetheless tucked the card back where she had found it.

What a scoundrel.

#dragon age #owen writes #oc tag #darva lavellan #alcohol //123 #he was a bit of a tit after he left the clan #con people in bars #he can have a bravado but its all faked #he is terribly anxious underneath #but he’s got to eat #and pay pretty waitresses he fancies

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kingkeerys · 6 years

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the art of chasing ♔ billy hargrove [two]

concept: steve has a female best friend and billy has taken it upon himself to flirt with her just to piss steve off. that’s it. that’s the plot. [vol. 2]

a/n: holy moly, i did not expect so much feedback for this! i’m totally blown away by the response the first part got so soon and i’m so happy you guys are enjoying this so far, thank you for all the positivity! here is part two my lovelies xoxo

[part one]

kids were laughing in my classes

while i was scheming for the masses.

who do you think you are

dreamin’ ‘bout bein’ a big star?

Annie was starting to see a pattern.

Ever since Billy gave her the orange at lunch she’d been keeping an eye on him. It surprised her just how true Steve’s words had been – “He’s fucking everywhere,” – because, really, Billy Hargrove was everywhere.

She’d never taken much notice of him before because she had no reason to. Besides the occasional snide remark he directed at Steve, they weren’t even a blip on each other’s radar. But now that she was actually looking for him, she found that they shared a lot of the same classes. This one was easy to miss because more often than not he never showed up to them. She could only imagine what his report card looked like, but that was neither here nor there.

Every morning when she pulled into the Hawkins High campus, she spotted his dark blue Camaro parked haphazardly across two spaces in the back of the lot. It surprised her to know that he got to school so early yet rarely showed up to his morning classes, which they happened to share. What did he get up to at seven in the morning and how had he not gotten caught yet? And every afternoon when she left, his car was still there. It’s not like he engaged in extracurricular activities before and after school (how laughable would that be?) so what was the deal?

She also learned he never brought his lunch to school and rarely did he pay for cafeteria food, probably because he’d racked up quite the tab and the lunch ladies had lost their patience. Yet despite his lack of eating, he seemed to be really good at sports – a fact that also pissed Steve off. The three of them shared the same gym period and it was hard for Annie not to stare at Billy as he danced across the basketball court or aced a spike in volleyball. It was the California in him, she surmised. All the guys there were apparently really good at athletics.

Through all of this (creepy) staring, she realized that Billy only paid her attention whenever Steve was around. It was never anything dramatic, just small things like complimenting her hair or tossing a wink in her direction. And each time he did it she found that Steve was either within earshot or eye line of the two of them, and Billy would have this self-satisfied smirk on his face every time Steve noticed. It was like he was planting some sort of seed and he was waiting for it to grow and fester in Steve’s mind just to screw with him.

So basically Steve had been right. Billy was messing with her just to tick him off, and Annie found that she was incredibly annoyed by it.

A very small part of her thought about confronting him, but the bigger part of her – the smarter part – was too much of a wuss to go through with it. Steve almost did once but she talked him out of it and thankfully his life had become too consumed with schoolwork and the continuing saga of Nancy Wheeler drama for him to even think about trying again. The last thing he needed right now was to escalate the ever-growing tension between him and Billy all because she was getting a little extra attention.

So for the moment Billy was just the annoying bug on the windshield of their lives that was stuck somewhere in the upper corner mostly out of sight, only occasionally making itself known whenever it slid back down into view.

“’King Steve’,” Steve mocked a few days later after their gym period. “’Afraid the coach is gonna bench you now that I’m here?’”

“He said that?” Annie asked.

They’d just finished their own respective games split between boys and girls – the boys playing basketball in the gymnasium and the girls playing soccer out on the field.

Annie had done what she usually did in situations like this, which was avoid the ball at all costs until the game was over which usually got her through the day in one piece. She wasn’t nearly as gifted athletically as Steve was, not that it bothered her any. It’s not like the two of them would ever be in a situation where they’d have to run for their lives and she’d have to find a way to keep the pace with his unusually long legs.

As usual, Billy took pleasure in knocking Steve down a peg every chance he got during the game and Steve was recounting everything to her with a scowl marring his face, hand gestures and all.

He continued on, ignoring her question. “’You were moving your feet. Plant them next time. Draw a charge.’”

Annie licked her lips. “At least he gave you some advice?”

At Steve’s bemused look she quickly backtracked.

“But I mean, no, that was totally uncalled for. He should’ve at least helped you back up.”

Steve groaned. “Why can’t he just lay off?”

They slipped into the hallway where all the students were chattering outside the locker rooms.

“Probably because he knows it riles you up,” she pointed out.

“Yeah but he’s got this whole school to torment. Aren’t there more people for him to pick on besides me?”

“I’m sure he does in his own time,” Annie sighed. They paused between the boys and girls locker rooms and Annie glanced sympathetically up at him. Sweat marred his forehead, his cheeks flushed a light pink, and there were stains along the collar of his gray t-shirt from the cardio. “Look, why don’t you go in and take a shower? Clear your head and relax your muscles. Is your side still hurting?”

She motioned to his ribs were Billy had apparently jabbed him with his elbow. Steve gingerly touched the spot and winced.

“A little,” he said, clenching his jaw before looking away. “This is so stupid.”

“Just take a shower,” Annie nudged him towards the boy’s locker room, feeling a bit like a mother hen. “He’s probably already gone anyway.”

Steve took a reluctant step towards the door. “Meet out here after? I’m starving, we should get a bite to eat.”

“Sounds good,” she nodded with a smile. He fleetingly smiled back before disappearing into the locker room, the echoing hoots and hollers of the boys inside reverberating out into the hallway.

Annie exhaled slowly before making her way into the girl’s locker room to change and collect her things. She wasn’t a fan of showering at school so she usually did that once she got home. The girls inside were just beginning to change, giggling amongst themselves as they stood in front of the lit mirrors with their hairspray and makeup at the ready. While she was getting dressed she overheard some of them gossiping about Billy and others she heard whispering about what happened with Steve.

Vowing to stay out of it, she silently packed her dirty clothes in her bag before stopping at one of the free mirrors to check her hair. It was a bit frizzy from the activity and she stuck her hand under the faucet, running her wet fingers through her hair to tame it a bit before heading out the door.

She smiled at the select few girls she knew who had congregated in the hall before leaning against the wall opposite the locker rooms as she waited for Steve to come out. She knew it’d be a while since he took even longer showers than she did, so she occupied herself on one of the benches with her English homework in her lap.

She sat in silence on the bench, legs crossed Indian style as she wrote answers onto her paper for what must have been ten minutes before the door to the boy’s locker room opened. The hall was now empty save for the occasional janitor shifting around in one of the cupboards around the corner.

Knowing it was too early to be Steve, she kept her head down and continued with her assignment, only to hear footsteps coming towards her and then the sound of a grunt as a body plopped down beside her on the bench. She turned curiously, only to have her shoulders stiffen and cheeks flush at the sight before her.

Billy was sprawled out beside her, legs outstretched in front of him and torso bare and glistening as he leaned his head back against the wall. Droplets of water were falling from his damp hair, curlier and darker now that it was wet, and his cheeks were delicately pink from the heat of his shower. A pair of jeans rested low on his hips, unbuttoned and loose, and she quickly averted her gaze as her throat ran dry. He looked a little too comfortable to be out in the open where an adult could walk by at any moment and see him.

She stared down at her English paper without really seeing it, her mind only able to comprehend the way his toned chest seemed to glow under the fluorescent lights. She bit the inside of her cheek and readjusted the grip on her pencil but couldn’t bring herself to write anything.

“Isn’t the whole point of homework supposed to be that it’s done at home?”

She blinked at his slow drawl, sated from the lull of the shower, before glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. His head was still resting against the wall except this time it was facing her direction.

“Um,” she didn’t really know what to say. “I’m just getting a head start on it.”

She saw him raise a dark eyebrow lazily but he didn’t respond and she tried focusing on her paper again.

“You’re not writing anything,” he pointed out after a brief moment of silence. Annie licked her lips.

“That’s because you’re distracting me,” she said, attempting to sound stern but coming across as anything but. She could feel the warmth radiating off of him in waves as there was only about six inches of space between them. The bench had plenty of space on his other side.

“I’m not doing anything,” he told her, sounding amused. She readjusted the pencil in her hand again, casting him a quick look.

“You should put a shirt on,” she said instead.

“Is that what’s distracting you?”

She opened her mouth to say yes but upon realizing that’s probably what he wanted to hear, she closed it and chose not to respond.

“Did I hurt Harrington’s feelings today?” Billy then asked. He didn’t wait for her to reply. “Sorry,” he said, not sounding sorry at all. “I was just trying to help him out. He’s got so much tension, it’s making him sloppy. Shouldn’t you be helping him out with that?”

Annie wanted to ignore him, she really did, but found it impossible now that her curiosity was piqued.

“Sorry?”

“You know,” he grinned brazenly, lifting his hips suggestively. Her cheeks heated up again. “A little stress release. He’s got so much of it; you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Annie stuttered for a second. “I’m not dating Steve and we’re not… doing anything.”

“No?” Billy’s brows furrowed, lips twisting in confusion like he had genuinely thought so.

“He’s with Nancy,” Annie stated, though she wasn’t entirely sure that was true or not anymore.

“Right,” Billy laughed sharply. His abdominal muscles clenched from the laughter and Annie had a hard time not staring. “Nancy Wheeler. She’s a piece of work, huh? Boy, I really thought you two were bumpin’ uglies.”

“We’re not,” Annie said with finality, avoiding eye contact and hoping the conversation had reached its natural stopping point. Clearly Billy thought it hadn’t.

“His loss,” Billy shrugged, kicking his legs out a bit more. This caused his jeans to fall further down his hips, revealing the black band of his boxers. Annie’s jaw clenched and rather than focusing on his last comment and what it could’ve possibly meant (and whether she was offended by it or not), she went for a different approach.

“Why don’t you button your pants?” she asked in a clipped tone.

His blue eyes flickered up to hers and he ran his tongue over his white teeth in a callous smile. “Why don’t you do it for me?”

Annie felt hot somewhere in her chest and she didn’t know whether to snap at him or get up and leave, too flustered to really make up her mind. The lack of knowing left her face slack-jawed and frozen as she stared at him, and he raised his eyebrows with a wicked smile.

“No thank you,” she snipped after a pause, grateful that her voice didn’t shake.

“Why not?” he countered easily. “No one’s watching. I’d hate to be indecent in front of the studious and proper Annie Lane.”

Annie tried to think of a quick comeback but before she had the chance to connect her brain to her mouth, Billy was leaning forward.

“I’m much better at it underneath you.”

His warm breath fanned her cheeks and she blinked at the fresh scent of soap on his skin. Up close made him look like a completely different person – his eyelashes were long and thick and light freckles dusted the top of his cheekbones. She figured not many people got the chance to see him this close and upon realizing she was now one of them she flinched back and put an extra foot of space between them. Billy watched her go, eyes glittering like he’d achieved the exact response he’d been going for.

To her relief, Steve chose that moment to step out of the locker room, hair damp and lacking volume as he tugged his bag over his shoulder. He stopped short once the scene in front of him registered and his shoulders squared like a cat arching its back at its reflection.

“The hell’s going on?” his gaze flitted quickly between the two of them accusingly.

Billy chuckled, the sound gravely and low in the back of his throat and it sent chills up Annie’s spine. He rolled his head against the wall, breaking eye contact with her as a smile curved up the side of his tan face.

“Nothing to worry your pretty little head over, King Steve. Just havin’ a chat.”

“Well have a chat somewhere else,” Steve snapped.

Billy bit his lip and stretched out his arms before pushing himself up off the bench, eyes gleaming with mischief. He glanced back down at Annie who was balancing herself on the far edge of the bench and flashed her his usual wink.

“Raincheck then?”

It was curt and brisk, clearly a sign of open mockery that made Annie feel chagrinned and belittled.

He stepped past her and paused next to Steve and the two exchanged tense looks before Billy slinked past him and headed back into the locker room. Somehow his jeans never fell despite their sagginess, not that Annie had been looking.

“What did he say to you?” Steve demanded.

She carefully began packing her things into her bag, willing away the redness in her cheeks and framing her face with her hair in hopes that he wouldn’t notice.

“Nothing,” she denied casually.

“Bullshit.”

“Honestly,” she looked up at him when her face no longer felt warm. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and zipped up her bag before standing. “He was just talking about how he gave you a hard time. That’s all. Just his usual spiel,” she eyed him carefully and tried to shake off the last five minutes. “Did he mess with you in the locker room?”

“No,” Steve replied after a pause. “I didn’t see him.”

Annie had a feeling he was lying, which probably meant he could sense her lie too, but she chose not to comment on it.

“Okay, that’s good. You want to go get something to eat now?”

Steve’s eyes scanned her face, contemplating whether or not he wanted to press the issue further, but seemed to decide against it for now.

“Yeah, I’m ready. I’ll drive.”

The two of them headed down the hallway and out of the gymnasium, Annie’s stomach coiling as she remembered the way Billy had looked at her and the sight of his pink tongue flicking against his teeth.

Right when she thought she had him figured out he threw a curveball at her. Because unless he planned it just right to where Steve would come out and see them sitting together – which was entirely possible – then this was the first time he had deliberately messed with her without the intention of getting Steve involved. She dreaded the thought of being his new primary target, but what she dreaded even more were the implications behind it.

What was so special about her?

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove x reader #stranger things imagine #dacre montgomery

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thran-duils · 7 years

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Breaking the Ice

TITLE: Breaking the Ice (APA Part 2) PAIRING: Reader/AU!Castiel SUMMARY: Your parents are having their 30th anniversary and you are visiting your hometown after years of being gone. After living in the city for so long, coming back to your small town is overwhelming and also brings about a lot of baggage. Including your intense high school romance with Castiel. WORDS: 1,872 Warnings: Slight smut AUTHOR’S NOTE: Italics are the past. Also, this song completely inspired me.

Part 1 || Part 3 || MASTERPOST || Fanfic masterpost

You waited up against the gate, the jersey you were wearing too big. You’d tied up a side of it in a bow to bring it in along your hips, not worrying about if it looked silly. You were wearing his number and his name on your back and that’s all that mattered because his face lit up whenever he saw you supporting him.

Castiel walked up to plate and there were hoots and hollers from his team as well as the crowd. They were expecting a home run which would push your school team one run over the other team. Counting him and his teammate on first. And with only minutes left at the bottom of the ninth, your team was sure to win.

Bouncing on your feet, you watched him tap the home base and fixate his eye on the ball. Raising the bat with purpose, he stood ready. When his bat made contact with the ball, you knew it was gone by the arc. The crowd stagnated watching it, suspended, not paying attention to Castiel who had taken off immediately. As soon as it reached the fence, just as Castiel was rounding second, the crowd erupted again, their attention on him again.

After the game and congratulating other team members, he ran out of the dugout straight towards you. He’d left his gear behind and picked you up, giving you a deep kiss.

“Mhm, you did so well, baby,” you told him, your lips moving against his.

He smiled, dropping you back down to the ground. You wrapped your arms around his neck and gave him another kiss.

“You’re so sweaty,” you teased him.

“Well, I did just make a home run. And it’s hotter than sin out here,” he told you back, grinning from ear to ear.

“Well, when you put it that way… I guess I can forgive you.”

Castiel pulled away and said, “I’m going to get my stuff. And then we can go eat or something, okay?” You nodded and he flashed you another smile before moving back towards the dugout at a slow jog.

“You’re lucky,” someone said from behind you.

Turning, you saw one of your classmates, Rachel was standing there. She was chewing gum obnoxiously as usual, her cut off shorts almost too short. She had always had a thing for Castiel and had always been superficially nice to you, even before you and Castiel began dating. He’d had a crush on you for years but you’d been too busy to put aside time for boys. Until you realized you had felt the same.

Forcing it out nicely, you responded, “I’d like to think so.”

Her smile was faker than press on nails, which she was also currently wearing. “Oh, honey, you should know so!”

What a load of shit. You held back the urge to roll your eyes.

“I’ll try to be more confident I guess,” you responded, hearing Castiel come back up.

“Hiya, Rachel,” he greeted her and she almost melted on the spot.

“Hey, Castiel. That was sure a great hit. Saved the game!

God, you wanted to sock her straight in the jaw and send her reeling. You knew Castiel was not interested in her but that she was alright with flirting with someone was in a relationship. And that irked you in all the wrong ways. All that was missing was her twirling her hair around her finger, trying to look innocent.

Castiel nodded, “Thanks. And it was a team effort.”

“Don’t be so humble all the time. Take some credit for your amazing skills!”

“Trust me. Y/N praises me all the time. If I was going to listen to her and act on it, I would be the most conceited thing,” Castiel told Rachel with a smile. You moved into his arms that he offered and you saw a dark look pass across Rachel’s features just so. He kissed the top of your head and said, “But, I shouldn’t ever complain about that. Lucky to have that support.”

Rachel forced a nod, “Yeah. For sure.”

Castiel smiled again and said, “Well, thanks for the compliment.” He looked at you and said, “You ready?” You nodded and he gave Rachel a wave and you did too before he turned with you with him, going towards the parking lot.

You didn’t have to look over your shoulder to know that Rachel was scowling at your retreating back. But you didn’t care anymore that you were in his arms, him holding you close.

<> <> <>

Rachel. Sitting in the back of the bar near Castiel. Close enough to flare up an old flame of jealousy still licking away inside you at the thought of him with someone else, which was silly since you had been the one to leave. But not close enough that you suspected they were seeing each other or were intimate in any way. You couldn’t stare too long but you wanted to see her reaction when Jackie told them about you being there.

And it was satisfactory. You saw a falter in her happy demeanor and looked away before she could look for you and make eye contact.

“They’re not seeing each other if that’s what you’re worried about,” Amanda called to you over the music.

You took a sip of your drink and responded, “Well, that’s a fucking relief. That’s one thing I wouldn’t be able to stand. Her triumphed behavior and snotty bullshit.”

Amanda laughed and said, “Castiel was never interested in her. Although, I won’t lie – she tried her damnedest after you left. None of it has paid off much to her annoyance. But, she’s pretty relentless.”

“That she always has been.”

There was a pause and Amanda leaned in close. “You’re going to have to do it sooner or later,” Amanda told you. “He keeps looking over here. He’s gonna decide to just come over here to get it over with if you don’t make a move soon. Wouldn’t you rather be in control?”

Pouting, you took another drink. You knew she was right. The two of you speaking to each other tonight was inevitable.

“Fine,” you mumbled. She couldn’t hear you over the music but you knew she could read your lips.

She grabbed your hand and said, “I’ll lead the way.”

You let her take your hand and let her begin leading you through the crowd back towards your old classmates. Your heart started beating faster, anticipating the clash that was about to happen with your past and your present. Jackie looked excited seeing the two of you coming and hopped off the bench. Rachel looked less than pleased. Everyone else, like Jackie, looked happy to see you though.

But, Castiel… he looked like he was hit. Like you were shaking him up. He was still in love with you. There was no doubt about it. And you couldn’t deny your feelings again, being this close to him. You knew they had never gone away. You had just suppressed them.

Seeing him looking at you the way he was just brought so many emotions back.

<> <> <>

“You sure it’s safe out here?” you asked Castiel, looking around. The two of you were laying in the bed of his truck, the sky painted dark with sparkling stars above the two of you. It was Saturday night, there was a party going on down the way that the two of you had been at before. And were planning to go back to. But, you wanted some time alone. Castiel had come up to you, grinding close and you knew what had been on his mind and let him lead the way.

You gave a little yelp as he pulled you on top of him and raised his head to capture your lips with his own. You fell into the kiss, your hands running through his hair.

“There’s nobody out here.”

“That’s what every teen having sex in the middle of the nowhere says before they’re murdered by a crazed killer,” you challenged.

Castiel’s hands slipped up the back of your shorts, caressing your ass. You forgot your fear feeling his erection through his jeans and the feeling of his hands on your bare skin.

You unbuttoned his jeans quickly and he gave a little chuckle, sounding excited. You slipped your hand down the front of his jeans and underneath the band of his boxers. He groaned as you stroked him slowly.

“You drive me crazy,” he breathed against your ear.

“I think I can drive you crazier,” you taunted removing your hand and sitting up. You pulled your shirt up over your head, tossing it aside and did the same with your bra. Castiel’s hands were on your sides, rubbing and caressing, watching you with hooded eyes. Standing up, you turned away from him and slowly pulled your shorts and underwear down, tantalizing him. You heard him rummaging behind you as you slowly stood back up and kicked your bottoms off.

Turning back to face him, you found him bottomless, explaining the rummaging, with his cock in hand. He was jerking himself off slowly watching you.

“You’re not patient at all are you, Mr. Novak?” you teased and he smiled, loving when you called him that. “Am I even needed?”

Castiel’s nod was desperate and his hand left his dick immediately. He said breathlessly, “Yes, you’re needed. Please.”

“You sure?”

“God, yes,” he breathed, beckoning you towards him with a quick wave.

Lowering yourself back down, lining up with his cock, you said quietly, “You’re gonna have to make sure you show me that’s a truth.”

Castiel’s hands were on your hips, moving you to lower yourself onto his cock. He threw his hand back as you took him slowly and you bit your lip, biting back a moan at becoming full of him. Castiel groaned, “I’ll show you, baby. I promise. You’re so wanted. You’re all I want.”

<> <> <>

You don’t know how you did it normally but you greeted everyone around, smiling and cheerful. You saved him for last because you didn’t want to lose your stride and look foolish.

Castiel looked up at you, seeming glued to the spot. You knew everyone else was watching the pair of you.

“Hey,” you broke the ice.

“Hey,” he returned, a small smile playing on his lips. Unexpectedly, he scooted over and patted the seat next to him. You didn’t notice the sour look on Rachel’s face and you honestly wouldn’t have cared if you had. “Need somewhere to sit? Those heels look like they might hurt.”

Your face broke out into a grin, a small laugh leaving your mouth. “These heels might hurt if you get hit with them for insinuating I can’t handle walking in them,” you retorted.

Castiel beamed at you. How easily the two of you fell back into an old routine of banter. You took up his offer and squeezed in between the tables and sat down next to him. He still had the same musk.

The two of you locked eyes and he swallowed sharply. You didn’t miss the nervousness in his eyes before he asked, “So, how you been?”

~~~

CASTIEL TAGS: @prince-halfblood, @splendidcas, @klaineaholic, @letsthedogpackandthecats, @alexastacio, @winchesterforever12 @seirensou @tacos-and-trenchcoats @the-amaranthine @greenappleeyes @waywardmoeyy @stori-teller @xxslytherinprincessxx @morbid-apricots

#castiel x reader #au castiel #spn fanfic #supernatural fanfic #castiel fic #my shit

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youreghanamissme · 6 years

Text

The Last Conference, Wli Falls, Last Ditch Efforts

1/26/2018

Close of Service conference was bittersweet. It was such a hoot to see all of the folks in my cohort together again after such a long time, but there was a disheartening pang that I couldn't shake knowing that this was probably the last time I was going to see most of them. I'll run into the Northerners at least once more before we all go our separate ways on separate days, but the majority of the #selfiescholars (Our group name... a lot of other groups who weren't keen on the names bestowed upon them by their trainers re-branded themselves. Despite a general dislike of our own nomen, we never took that leap and have remained the only non-Ghanaian-theme named troop) south of Dagombaland are probably lost to me, save for the few I'll see in Accra on the day that I COS. On the upside, I'm excited to meet some of the #selfies in America! It'll be great to reminisce with people who understand what I went through; a relief to share a meal with cheese and beer and not break the bank! One of our own is tying the knot in San Diego 2019 to another RPCV (what a lovely “How I Met Your Mother/Father” story)! There will be a PC Ghana reunion then, for sure, so who's joining me for tequila shots on the other side of the border, post-reception?!

COS conference was held on the outskirts of the Volta region. The resort—yes, a resort! PC really treated us as we're on our way out—was on the Volta River and many of us paid a little extra to go on a boat ride. We saw the dam, the summer vacation home of President Nana in the hills (hey-oooo!), and plenty of locals just doing their thing, going about their day. The food was divine and plentiful, and I ate allll... until I got sick (eek). Aaand then I ate some more :) The whole affair was short and sweet and to-the-point. I appreciated its laconic qualities but also regretted how brief of a goodbye (and somehow unceremonious) our's had to be. I guess I'm still processing; it hasn't fully hit me yet that goodbyes are real and there won't be a next time, at least not any time soon.

On the Volta River.

I have separation anxiety. What else can I say?!

My official COS date is March 29th, and I. Am. Stoked!! But there are a plethora of tasks I need to do before I can GTFO. The checklist itself is already giving me anxiety, ugh.

After the conference wrapped, a group of us ventured deeper into the Volta region to climb Wli Falls (pronounced “Vlee” Falls), the highest waterfall in Ghana. I almost died, literally. No, not from the killer views (hey-o! ;) but because I tripped a lot and almost fell off the side of the cliff more than once. It was a six hour hike, but it took us seven because we were seven individuals of varying fitness. Guess where I lay on the muscled spectrum? A strapping, robust, young lass, I am not.

But what a sight to behold! Arriving at the peak was sublime; the views grandiose, the bullets of sweat consistently obscuring my view as they pelted my glasses, the adrenaline a little transcendent. We had clambered to the peak on the 19th of January—the day of the second Women's March. And in our own way, every stomp we made was with solidarity for gender equality, reproductive rights, and access to health care.

The hike led us on a winding, arduous (the descent was twenty times worse than the ascent), and at times, lamentable trail to two separate waterfalls, and at one point, we leaped onto Togo territory when we strayed 30 feet off our path! That last detail is debatable, but we did converge with French-speaking hikers whose passage originated from the neighboring nation. That being said, we also encountered—and for a time, mingled—with plenty of German (so many!) and Danish climbers. The higher waterfall was probably my favorite. It was a little more intimate and less populous as many hikers eschewed a six hour trek in favor of a forty-five minute leisurely stroll to the lower falls that resembled something of a public pool with booze and hollers and many 'suited foreigners (the most white flesh I've seen in Ghana... though I enjoyed seeing many young local Ghanaians just shooting the shit with their friends at the majestic watering hole). It took us three hours of more or less perilous traipsing before we were awarded our reprieve. The taller waterfall was gorgeous, and the pool wasn't deep. I was able to go underneath the waterfall, feeling the impact of millions of water droplets come crashing down on me.

Yes, it is like you imagine: I thought, at one point, I might drown from the shear force. It was literally and figuratively breathtaking.

But hey—I checked “Be underneath a waterfall” off my bucket list. Twice. Holla!!

So. Many. Bats!!

The shitty part was that we were only halfway done. We had to dry ourselves off, put our dirty clothes back on, and climb back into our dust-filled shoes in order to hike a further few hours earthwards to reach the lower falls. I know, I know—was there ever a moment where we considered giving up? Dear readers, that was impossible... because we were on a loop. Quitting was never an option; it was finish or make the Wli Falls trail our new home.

Not that we would ever dessert the mission any way. It was very much a group “GO BIG and then Go Home... and treat ourselves to pizza and chicken and mac n cheese” temperament. And we rewarded ourselves very well that night, in large part because we were ravenous and tired and slid on our butts going downhill too many times to not buy an extra order of fries.

I was truly proud of us. We did it! It took seven hours. We were bone-weary. But we finished!! We climbed 262.5 feet, saw two waterfalls, stood under both cascades despite their mighty force, and then walked all the way back to our place of stay. How amazing is that? I couldn't shake the fiery gratification I felt for all of us; the pleasure to have done it with all of them.

The next day I traveled to Accra, my layover before I retreated to the North. And as usual, I used my stay in the capital to get some medical work done. I succeeded in getting an unsightly mole-growth-thing snipped off and sutured. Unsurprisingly, it became noticeably infected after a couple days (thanks, Ghana), but it mended itself all hunky dory once I extracted the stitches at site. Lesson learned: wear sunscreen, go to your doctor, advocate for yourself and your health, and utilize that free medical care while you have it.

Mah crew.

Now I'm back at site, and I'm making some last ditch efforts to be productive AF. I really should start writing my Description of Service (DOS) and updating my resume... but I'd much rather stencil and cut out reusable menstrual pad materials, paint a mural, and hang out with JHS girls before I bounce. Future me can take care of all that stuff later. She can deal. She climbed two waterfalls, fer chrissakes!

#wlifalls #dontgochasingwaterfalls #waterfalls #pcvlife #pcghana #ghana #ewe #volta #peacecorps #howiseepc #cosas que escribo #hiking

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classicfilmfreak · 7 years

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New Post has been published on http://www.classicfilmfreak.com/2017/04/20/stagecoach-1939-starring-john-wayne-claire-trevor-and-thomas-mitchell/

Stagecoach (1939) starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Thomas Mitchell

“Now, folks, if we push on, we can be in Apache Wells by sundown. . . . Then it’s only a hoot and a holler into Lordsburg. We got four men who can handle firearms—five with you, Ringo. Doc can shoot if sober.” — Marshal Curly Wilcox

Like a number of other films in Hollywood’s greatest year, 1939, Stagecoach has a number of distinctions that makes it one of the great American films—of America and in the spirit of Americana, drawing upon folklore and becoming, itself, a part of movie folklore. While forever regarded as a “B” Western, mainly because of its low budget, it’s a label deemed unfair by many. It’s much more than a “B” Western.

Stagecoach is director John Ford’s first sound Western, since at least two silent films, The Iron Horse (1924) and 3 Bad Men (1926), are of some distinction. One of his greatest Westerns, period, Stagecoachis the first of seven he would film in Monument Valley. “My favorite location,” he said in a 1964 interview. “I feel at peace there. I have been all over the world, but I consider this the most complete, beautiful and peaceful place on earth.” Cheyenne Autumn (1964) would be his last Western, and the last filmed in the Valley.

This area of the eastern Utah-Arizona border became Ford’s trademark, and for a while respected as his personal property until other directors began borrowing the landscape. The backdrop of Stagecoach’s main title is, in fact, Monument Valley, behind alternate views of Indian horsemen and the U.S. Cavalry on the move. Then, the credits concluded, the evocative prehistoric stillness is broken by two men on horseback moving, though distantly, toward Bert Glennon’s camera. Glennon shot a variety of Ford movies, including The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936), The Hurricane (1937) and Rio Grande (1950). The stagecoach will traverse the Valley at least three times during the film.

In Stagecoach, Ford delineates the dangers for a group of disparate, and often desperate, passengers in a cross-country trip by stage. For the Mormons in Wagon Master (1950), the means of transportation is covered wagons as they encounter stranded travelers, a lovely damsel, the expected bad guys and, of course, Indians. Men move about mainly on horses in The Searchers (1956), both the isolated settlers and a lone horseman from the past who comes calling at a small prairie dwelling.

The West Ford portrays in these last three films had largely faded by 1962’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, where the critical means of transportation, the railroad, symbolizes both the civilizing of the frontier and the annihilation of the West as folklore. The film represents a darkening of the director’s view of his beloved West, and, mostly set-bound, Liberty is the only one of these four films not shot, partly or entirely, in Monument Valley.

The mention of John Ford implies, for all time it seems, John Wayne. After seeing Wayne in Howard Hawks’ Red River (1948), Ford said, “I never knew the big son of a bitch could act.” It was a typical “compliment” of the often cruel, sadistic director, and Wayne was, for him, a lifelong whipping boy. Beyond the verbal abuse was a deeply embedded affection, and they made twenty-four films together, though, granted, not all are Westerns. Wayne made a total of over eighty in the genre during his career, which began in 1926—not with a Western, however—and ended in 1976 with The Shootist, a Western which portrayed a West that, finally and irrevocably, had disappeared.

After years of making down-in-the dust “B” Westerns for Monogram and Mascot Pictures, though sometimes appearing in minor roles in “A” movies, Wayne made Stagecoach at “only” thirty-two, launching his career. Even in Stagecoach, he takes second billing to Claire Trevor, the highest paid star in a cast that includes Thomas Mitchell, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Tim Holt, Hank Worden and Jack Pennick. Most would become part of Ford’s stock company of favorite supporting players.

Stagecoach is an early version of The High and the Mighty (1954), Airport (1970), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Murder on the Orient Express (1974) and many other films where a cross-section of society endures, and usually survives, possible peril on a long journey. Or, in the likes of Grand Hotel(1932) and Separate Tables (1958), the location may be stationary, and while not necessarily implying physical danger, the equally confined occupants encounter their various phobias, anxieties and jealousies.

In the 1880s, six individuals board a stage in Arizona Territory for Lordsburg in New Mexico Territory. Although, even by that time, the characters were time-worn clichés, the actors are so perfectly cast and their performances so polished that all handicaps are overcome. It helped that Ford often scripted his films knowing in advance who would play the parts and matched the actors with the characters accordingly.

The main title is typically Fordian, full of American folks songs. The tunes are “Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie” and “Jennie with the Light Brown Hair,” with alternating views of Apache (actually Navajo) horsemen and the U.S. Cavalry on the move—and Indian drum-like music. These and other such tunes will support most of the score.

When stagecoach driver Buck (Devine) informs the town marshal, Curley Wilcox (George Bancroft), that the shotgun guard is off tracking down the Ringo Kid (Wayne), who has escaped prison and is searching for Luke Plummer (Tom Tyler), the murderer of his father and brother, Wilcox volunteers to ride shotgun.

First of the passengers to board is a prostitute, Dallas (Trevor). Being chased out of town by the ladies’ Law and Order League, she asks alcoholic physician Doc Boone (Mitchell) if the ladies can force her to leave. Boone, who can’t pay his rent and has abandoned his office, says “We are the victims of a foul disease called social prejudice, my child.”

Arm in arm, they walk to the waiting stage, accompanied by one of John Ford’s favorite hymns, “Shall We Gather at the River?” Usually rendered at his frequent movie funerals, it now appears in the soundtrack as a comic march, both a little risqué and slightly tipsy.

Also making the journey are whiskey salesman Samuel Peacock (Donald Meek) and a snobbish Easterner, the pregnant Lucy Mallory (Louise Platt), on the way to meet her military husband.

At the last moment, a Southerner, Hatfield (Carradine), boards after what he interprets as an inviting smile from Lucy. Later, when Boone refers to his medical service in the recent Civil War as the “War of the Rebellion,” Hatfield corrects him: it is the “War for the Southern Confederacy.”

A cavalry unit led by Lieutenant Blanchard (Holt) arrives with news that Geronimo and the Apaches are on the warpath and that they will escort the stage to Lordsburg. “Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie” is the leitmotiv for shots of the stage crossing the landscape.

At the edge of town, banker Ellseworth Gatewood (Berton Churchill) flags down the stage. He has stolen $50,000 from his own bank.

Further along the trail—eighteen minutes into the film—the Ringo Kid greets the stage with a single rifle shot. (Although the scene is obviously in brush country, possibly Chatsworth, Los Angeles, the first view of Wayne twirling his rifle—a rapid tracking shot, ending in a close-up—is filmed against a process screen of Monument Valley.) Ringo’s horse has gone lame. Marshal Wilcox arrests him and asks for his rifle. “You may need me and this Winchester,” Ringo says. “Saw a ranch burin’ last night.” He surrenders his rifle and sits on the floor of the already full coach.

At a stopover at Dry Fork, Mrs. Mallory resents eating with a prostitute, but Ringo sits beside Dallas. Mrs. Mallory, Hatfield and Gatewood move to the other end of the table. En route to Apache Wells, Mrs. Mallory further snubs Dallas’ concern for her health. Hatfield offers her some water, but instead of giving her the canteen Wilcox passes down from the driver’s seat, he fills his folding silver cup for her. Yet when Dallas asks for water, Hatfield extends the canteen. So much for this Southern “gentleman.”

At Apache Wells, Mrs. Mallory learns that her husband has been wounded in battle and taken to Lordsburg. She faints, inducing labor, and through his drunken stupor, Doc Boone delivers a baby girl. Ringo asks Dallas to marry him. She doesn’t reply, but the next morning she accepts. Not wishing to leave Mrs. Mallory and the baby, she tells Ringo she’ll stay and meet him later.

Ringo escapes, but when he sees smoke signals, he returns to warn the stage passengers, who re-board and, now without the escorting cavalry unit, reach Lee’s Ferry. The Apaches have killed the station-keeper and his family. After crossing a river and believing they are safe, the travelers are attacked by the Indians. An arrow enters the coach and strikes Peacock.

During the seven minutes as the Indians chase the coach, Buck is wounded and everyone soon runs out of ammunition. Just as Hatfield is preparing to shoot Mrs. Mallory to spare her a ghastly death from the Indians, he is fatally shot. At this moment the U.S. Sixth Cavalry arrives, and the stage continues on safely to Lordsburg.

The stagecoach chase would justify an exciting, fitting climax. What could be better? But John Ford must tie up the many loose ends in the remaining twenty minutes of film. First, Mrs. Mallory learns her husband’s wounds are not serious and she thanks Dallas for taking care of her baby. Peacock, who survived the arrow, invites everyone to his home in Kansas City. Gatewood is arrested. And Dallas, who hasn’t told Ringo about what she does for a living, leads him to her part of town. He still wants to marry her.

But Ringo has one last thing to do. Reminiscent of the central shootout in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance—both at night—Ringo walks down the street toward Luke Plummer and his two brothers (Vester Pegg and Joe Rickson). Their slow, edgy strides are underpinned by some actual original music. As Ringo drops to the ground to fire, the film cuts to Dallas and only shots are heard. “Ringo! Ringo! Ringo!” she cries. Ford temporarily misleads the audience and shows an apparent triumphant Luke entering the saloon, only to collapse dead on the floor. Ringo has killed all three of the Plummers.

Ringo, having given his word not to escape and expecting to end up in prison, returns to Wilcox. Boone and Wilcox are waiting with a buckboard. After Ringo has said good-bye to Dallas, the marshal suggests she might “like to ride a ways with the Kid.” After Dallas climbs aboard, Boone and Wilcox throw rocks at the horses and shout, sending the two animals off at a gallop and giving Ringo his freedom and a presumed happy life with Dallas.

The signature trademark of Stagecoach is not the long coach chase by the Indians, however exciting and epoch-making it may be, but by its central stunt. Yakima Canutt has two “performances” in the sequence. In the more famous one, dressed as an Indian, he leaps from a running horse to the lead pair of animals in a six-horse team. He is “shot” by Ringo, falls, grasps the harness and drags his feet between the two lead horses. Ringo shoots again. Canutt lets go of the harness and the horses and coach pass over him.

In his own words:

You have to run the horses fast (35- to 37 m.p.h.), so they’ll run straight. If they run slow, they move around a lot. When you turn loose to go under the coach, you’ve got to bring your arms over your chest and stomach. You’ve got to hold your elbows close to your body, or that front axle will knock them off.

After the coach passes over him, he attempts to stand up, then falls and remains inert, to show a dummy hadn’t been used. From the flat plain of Lucerne Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert, Canutt selected the hardest part, so that the coach wheels would sink as little as possible into the surface.

Of course, there’s the obvious question few viewers of Stagecoach seem to ask, one that exposes an obvious inaccuracy: Why didn’t the Apaches simply shoot the horses?! “If they did that,” Ford once replied, “the picture would be over.”

English theater critic and writer Kenneth Tynan asked Orson Welles in 1967 which directors he most admired. “The old masters,” he famously replied. “By which I mean John Ford, John Ford and John Ford.” If not compliment enough, Welles showed his high esteem for Ford by, he said, viewing Stagecoach forty times before beginning Citizen Kane (1941). Ford’s influence is clearly seen in many aspects of Welles’ film, including those “original” shots of ceilings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE-VWDsdkwM

#Claire Trevor #John Ford #John Wayne #Thomas Mitchell

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