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jeyramarie · 3 years

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Midsummers- Pogues x OC

summary: it’s party time on Figure 8 which brings a ton drama and questions, as usual.

wc: 3,038

a/n: here it is!! believe me it’s gonna get crazier. happy reading 🦋

prologue~ pilot~ the lucky compass~ the forbidden zone~ spy games

Previously on good life…

“Wait for me outside tomorrow.” Rafe nodded and she got out of the car quickly walking to her front door. Fallon waved at him before walking in, feeling dizzy from the special moment. The kook smiled and drove to his house as a certain pogue stared at the car. JJ stood alone on the street, holding flowers, completely shocked at what he had just seen. He wanted to go to Fallon to apologize for what happened but instead he showed up to see the kiss. He took a deep breath and walked around, making his way back home as he threw a dozen roses to the side of the road.

The day finally came, with a bright morning sun and a cool breeze. Midsummers, a day where rich people gather in nice dresses and flower headsets to talk about their wealth. Of course, pogues were never invited nor allowed to go. It would be like putting a prey in its predator‘s cage.

Kiara and Lani decided to get ready over at the Carrera’s. It was the kook’s first midsummers which gave her a lot of anxiety which caused the pogue to invite her. Lani didn’t know what to do with her hair, giving Kie the perfect opportunity to have fun with the kook’s curls.

“So these are going on my head?” Lani asked as she held white flowers while sitting on Kie’s vanity chair while her hands were moving around the curls.

“Yes, they are. Almost everyone wears them.”

“What color are yours?”

“Purple, I think. I’m not sure what color my mom chose.” Kie said, lifting her brow in confusion as she braided a section of Lani’s hair. They stayed in a comfortable silence the rest of the hair process, until the kook was about to start her makeup.

“So, what’s going on with you and JJ?” Kie timidly asked as she braided and pinned her own hair.

“Um.. nothing’s going on. We’re just friends.”

“I don’t know, you guys seem pretty close..” Lani turned her head to Kie and stared sincerely as she put down her powder brush.

“Nothing’s going on, I promise. He’s like madly in love with Fallon anyway.” They chuckled and the pogue looked in the mirror feeling a bit more relieved.

After an hour, both girls were done with hair and makeup which only left the dresses. Lani wore a satin yellow dress, similar to Kie’s but it had a lower cut on the back. Meaning that she couldn’t really wear a bra for it. They were gossiping over customers from the Wreck when Ana bursts through the door, quickly walking towards Kie’s bedside table.

“Sorry girls, just borrowing some earrings.” she smiled as she tilted her head to put them on. Kie and her mom, out of nowhere, start to talk about what has happened after the storm. About how people over at the Cut don’t have water nor power and yet the Kooks are enjoying a party. Lani just sat there, looking at them arguing, not knowing where to go or what to do. Ana concluded the argument when she told them that it was time to go. ‘Finally.’ Lani thought as she grabbed her small purse and walked outside.

When they arrived, everyone was piling outside waiting for the Cameron’s to arrive. The waiters were walking around, holding platters of small portioned foods as other’s held mainly alcoholic beverages. Lani spotted Pope first and nudged Kiara’s arm, making her look to find the pogue carrying things with his dad. As they went and talked to the pogue, Fallon stood outside waiting for Rafe. She tapped her heel against the pavement in a constant rhythm, feeling nervous about everyone’s reaction to her walking in with the Kook king. Especially her friends’ reaction (she didn’t care about Lani’s).

“Are you waiting for someone, ma’am?” a voice asked, making her smile, knowing exactly who it was.

“As a matter of fact, I am. I’m waiting for a tall, handsome man. Maybe you’ve seen him around?” Fallon said smiling as she turned around to see a grinned up Rafe.

“You look… wow.” he said as he grabbed her hands, taking a better look.

“You don’t look too bad yourself.”

“Are you ready?” She nodded and intertwined her fingers with his as the Cameron’s began to make their entrance. Ward and Rose walked in first, then Wheezie, Sarah, leaving Rafe and Fallon for the end. The pogue looked around with a bright smile on her face as she walked out on the beautifully decorated porch. She stayed looking around for a bit until she saw her friends. All three of them looked at her with straight confused faces.

“Fallon and Rafe? When did that happen?” Lani asked Pope and Kie who stayed looking at the pogue in shock.

“I-I don’t even know what to think right now.” Kiara stuttered as her mouth stayed agape. They stared at them for a bit until the kook decided to change the subject.

“Have any of you talked to JJ?”

“No.” Pope said dryly, turning around to handle the food he was serving.

“He's probably fine. He has the survival instinct of a cockroach.” Kie said, turning her face away from the Cameron’s to look at her friend, who had a worried expression. They ignored Fallon for the rest of the evening, not wanting to handle that situation at the moment. Lani stayed with Kiara drinking from their slightly alcoholic beverages when JJ showed up. The kook was explaining something to the pogue as she saw something from the corner of her eye, she turned as saw the blonde making her gasp. Lani gave Kie her drink and quickly went to the dance floor just when he was turning around to leave.

“Lani!” “JJ!” they both said happily resulting in a chuckle which quickly ended when the kook saw the bruises on his face.

“I was worried yesterday.. I’m pretty sure your dad didn’t tell you but I was the one that bailed you out..”

“You bailed me out?”

“Yeah, I- I just had to do something.” Lani said with sad eyes as she fidgeted with her fingers. Suddenly, he pulled her towards him by her shoulders and wrapped his arms tightly around her. She wrapped her arms around him taking in his beach boy scent.

“I saw what he did to you… I don’t know what I can do to help but you’re always welcome in my house.. You know, if things seem to get out of control or something.” she muttered into his neck making him tear up. No one has ever been this kind to him, ever.

“That’s enough, Lani. You have no idea how thankful I am.” he said and sniffled, then pulled away.

“I have to do this shit for John B. I’ll see you later.” the kook nodded and watched as he jogged away, inside the house. Lani walked back to the porch and stood next to Kie who handed her a drink. The pogue turned her head to the side and saw a very (disgusting) explicit site. Fallon and Rafe were making out against the porch railing, in front of everyone.

“Ugh, can they be more disgusting?” Lani turned her head as she drank her beverage, immediately choking on it.

“Oh my god, he’s literally massaging her throat from the inside.” she coughed out putting her drink back on the table.

“I still don’t know why or how that happened.”

“I’m as clueless as you are, Kie.”

“It’s disgusting really.” The pogue stared as she grew more and more uncomfortable.

“Let’s just not look at it.. Okay?” Lani said, turning Kiara by her shoulder.

“What did JJ want?”

“I don’t know. He said something about him doing some shit for John B, I don't know.” she shrugged and before Kie could answer the same blonde was being taken outside by one of the guards. When Fallon heard the commission she parted away from Rafe and turned her head towards the noise. To see the pogue already staring at her in disappointment. JJ finally got out of the harsh grasp as he walked out into the dance floor, yelling all sorts of things.

“Let go of him!” Kie shouted, making her parent’s head turn to her immediately.

“You can’t boot him!”

“Excuse me, ma’am?”

“Really?” Mike asked angrily.

“I invited him here.”

“Kiara, stop it.” Ana said with gritted teeth as she grabbed her daughter’s arm.

“I am a member of this club.” The guard got so focused on Kiara and her “speech” that he did not realize that his grip on the pogue was beginning to loosen. Giving JJ the perfect opportunity to break away from the grip and start to jog backwards.

“Sorry bout that. Hey, mandatory power hour at Rixon’s, Kie. Pope, Lani, you too.” He shouted pointing at all his friends until finally making eye contact with ‘his girl’.

“Princess, come on!” Fallon smiled and looked up at Rafe with sad eyes. She turned around and started walking down the stairs of the porch towards the dance floor where JJ and John B waited. Pope took off his apron and ran towards his friends while Heyward shouted at him to come back. Kie turned to her parents and apologized continuously as she walked backwards towards the stairs, ignoring their shouts. Fallon was almost with them when she saw Lani running towards JJ.

She jumped into his arms and he gave them a twirl making her stop dead in tracks. The pogue stared as they smiled at each other with joy. JJ put the kook down and turned to make sure that Fallon was behind him. Once he saw her stand in the dance floor alone he stopped too and stared at her with nothing but sadness. Her eyes became watery with tears as she slowly turned around and walked back to Rafe who received her with open arms. JJ saw the whole thing, feeling his heart crumble as the Kook king hugged the love of his life. Rafe looked over Fallon’s shoulder to see the blonde still standing there, without a second thought he gave JJ a death stare to warn him.

“JJ! Come on, man!” John B called out from the van when he noticed the blonde still far away. He snapped out of his trance and ran to the van quickly getting in.

“My dad’s already going to kill me so can you please explain what’s this mandatory meeting for?” Pope asked, getting comfortable on the seat next to Lani.

“Might as well tell them, man.” JJ said as he changed out of the suite he had worn to pose as a server earlier.

“So.. the gold never went down with the Royal Merchant.” John B grinned as he switched his head from his friends back to the road.

“Oh my god.” Lani muttered in annoyance as Kie rolled her eyes and Pope groaned.

“Not this again, John B.”

“Seriously, dude?”

“Just hear me out, please.” He said as he pulled into a secluded part of the beach, between the trees. JJ got out first and started a fire while John B put down a few beach chairs and a big tree log. Everyone sat around the fire, staring at the kook who started explaining everything about the gold. It never left the island, about Tannyhill. Everything was smooth sailing until a certain name was brought to topic.

“Sarah Cameron’s coming tonight-”

“Hold on, Sarah? W-why Sarah?” Kie said cutting John B off in the middle of his sentence.

“Oh boy.” Lani muttered under her breath as she spread out her dress.

“She.. um.. She got me into the archives in Chapel Hill yesterday. That’s how I got the letter.” The pogue said nervously as everyone stared.

“You were in Chapel Hill?”

“He’s mackin’ on her.” JJ muttered looking at his shoes with his hands in his pockets.

“I wasn’t mackin’, I’m just using her for access.”

“There was access alright.”

“J, stop.” The kook said softly as she nudged her head to the side signaling to the pogues.

“Did you tell her about the treasure?” Kiara asked with furrowed brows as John B stuttered out an answer.

“I was trying to get into the archives-“

“Is that a yes?” She yelled, feeling betrayed.

“I left out key details!” He shouted back making Lani’s eyes open wide, no one expecting him to shout back.

“What? You let a Kook in on our secret?!” He was about to answer as he pointed at Lani to make a point but her anger was louder.

“What about Pogue Lyfe? What about our t-shirt company, bro?!”

“I’m just using her for information.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“Okay, guys let’s just.. breath, okay? I get you’re both crazy annoyed at each other right now.” Lani said standing up as she looked back and forth between the pogues.

“I’m trying to make us filthy rich here.” Then he moved on to explain what he’d do with the money.

“You can’t trust her.” Kiara said, looking at the pogue with worried eyes.

“What did she do to you, anyway?” The kook asked, ignoring the boys’ bickers.

“She’s like… like a spitting cobra.” The pogue stated moving her hands to simulate the animal.

“Cobra’s spit?” Lani whispered, leaning towards Pope.

“Yeah they do, there’s like this tiny opening in their mouths-“

“Listen to me! Whatever we get she’s gonna try to take.” Kie shouted, interrupting Pope’s explanation.

“I’m sorry about Fallon.” Lani said sitting next to JJ who stayed quiet for a while.

“Nah, it’s fine. Just… wasn’t expecting it, you know?” The kook nodded in understanding and grabbed his hand.

“I know it’s hard but you’ll get through it.” The blonde smiled at Lani as his grip on her hand became tighter.

“Thanks.”

“No problem, J. I’m here for you.”

After some more arguing between them, they all got into the Twinkie and started driving towards Hawk’s Nest. John B pulled up a bit far away, afraid someone would see him, and began to discuss the plan again before he got out. The teens were left alone inside the van giving Pope time to explain the whole spitting cobra thing. Minutes went by when screams were heard from afar, it sounded like Sarah. Lani noticed first and quickly climbed out of the van, making a run for it. John B had been pushed off the tower, landing flat on his back. Sarah was crying hysterically over him as she asked him to wake up but nothing happened. Pope called for an ambulance as JJ asked the Kook princess what happened on the tower.

After what felt like hours, the ambulance arrived taking John B away with Sarah who had strict instructions on keeping the pogues updated. JJ drove Pope and Kie to their house which left Lani to be the last. She knew he felt bad about Fallon and Rafe but she felt the need to talk about it, as a good friend she is.

“Are you okay?” She asked softly not wanting to startle the blonde.

“Um, yeah..yeah. Why do you ask?”

“That whole weird thing between Rafe and Fallon. I know you saw it too and I know you like her so..”

“Yeah, it was weird but I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” He said, giving the kook a fake smile. Lani didn’t ask anything else since it was obvious JJ did not want to talk about it. All the way home, the only thing she could think about was if Fallon was thinking about the blonde the same way.

“So what happened back there with Maybank?” Rafe asked as he sipped from his drink, standing next to Fallon who was leaning against the railing of the porch. Watching the employees clear tables, fold chairs and unhinged the fairy lights.

“Nothing, just… I thought it was gonna go differently. I was wrong.” She chuckled dryly, turning to him.

“I’m glad I stayed here with you though. I had a nice time.” Fallon continued, placing her hand on his chest and looking up at his blue orbs. Rafe smiled and slowly leaned down, giving her a passionate sweet kiss.

“Can you drive me home? My mom already left.”

“Yeah, you have to come home with me though. So I can get my car.” Fallon nodded and smiled, taking his hand. Rafe walked in front as they both made their way outside where Ward was waiting for them. The ride was filled with wandering hands, whispers and giggles.

They walked into Tannyhill hand in hand as everyone went up to their rooms. Leaving them alone, playing with each other’s hands as the sexual tension grew faster. Suddenly, Rafe grabbed her cheeks with both his hands and pulled her into a kiss. Their lips moved in a perfect rhythm as Fallon’s hands went up his chest to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. They parted to catch their breaths with their foreheads together.

“Do you wanna see a movie? In my room, it’s still pretty early.” Rafe said, looking at his watch and back at the pogue. Fallow nodded and he immediately grabbed her hand, both of them making their way up the stairs. She walked into his room in awe, feeling surprised with how neat it was. She stood in front of the shelves next to his dresser, staring at vintage car figures.

“I didn’t know you collected things.”

“Um yeah, I’ve bought one in every country I've visited. Some of them were my grandfather’s.” He said standing next to her as she continued to admire him.

“I like them. They’re… cute.” They laughed and moved to the bed, sitting next to each other with their backs against the headboard. Rafe placed his hand on Fallon’s lap, grabbing her hand. She placed her head on his shoulder half way through the movie, making him peck her forehead. The pogue looked up at him and began to lean in. Their lips met in the middle in a soft peck, until it began to grow into something more intense. She slowly straddled him as his big hands went up and down her back, in search of the zipper. Clothes flew across the room as they explored each other's bodies under the covers. The movie was still on, giving them a bit of a background noise as their breaths got heavier.

Most of the night consisted of heavy breaths and soft moans. The sun came through the window in the morning, shining on the messed up sheets. Rafe and Fallon laid in bed asleep until the pogue opened her eyes slowly. She looked around the room and down at her naked body, remembering the events of the night before.

“Oh my god.” She whispered, running her hand through her hair in disbelief.

good life: @ilovefandoms102 @agardenofbooks @cloverrover @lynlovesouterbanks

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thekrazykeke · 3 years

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See You Again [2]

Fandom(s): Tokyo Ghoul

Relationship(s): Uta & reader.

Summary: in the sound of silence, we found sanctuary. in every word unspoken, love.

Warning(s): Angst, unspoken feelings. Pre-canon events but also very ambiguous timeline-wise. Disturbing mental imagery. Canon typical gore.

This little series was never meant to have a happy ending, so no screaming at me. I’ll accept your appreciation for my love of angst in reblogs, likes, comments or tears.

Seriously though, in all honesty, I hurt myself as I wrote this.

I dunno, I might indulge that impulsive urge of mine and write a one shot where they actually get together. Most likely not though, so no one hold their breath ahahaha.

[i.]

A smart person would never have returned to the little out of the way mask shop in the 4th Ward. You’d have chalked up the experience as weird and as common sense dictated, forgotten all about it.

That is the safer route, the sane option.

So of course, you decided to be stupid. You kept coming back to the shop, although you were careful with how you planned your visits, spacing them out in between sight seeing and being a general tourist.

The added bonus of your frequent visits being that although Uta’s face didn’t really change much expression-wise, you got the feeling that he was always a little surprised to see you.

“Do you really like it here that much?”

Pulling the oni mask away from your face, you glanced at Uta who stood a good distance away from you, hand in pocket, hip cocked against the edge of the counter. “What’s that now?”

“I said, ‘do you really like it here that much?’” Uta repeated himself, red on black eyes intently trained on your face. “This is the second time this week you’ve come by without buying anything.”

“Oof.” You exaggeratedly clutched at your chest. “That hurt, Uta-san. With how frequently I come by here, one would think you’d treat me as more than a customer. We’re friends now.”

“We’re not.”

The words are stated so bluntly and again, you clutch at your chest, miming being struck by an arrow. Uta didn’t respond to your joking around and playing, just stared at you. So, you cut the crap, reaching into your back pocket with a mock pout. “How much for this mask? I think it suits me.”

“10504.50 yen.” At the sight of your suddenly wide eyes and dropped jaw, Uta’s blank expression cracked, he smiled slightly and just for a split second. “Also, the mask doesn’t suit you.”

You turned your back to him, carefully returning the oni mask to the display it’d been set up on. The next second you turned around, you nearly jumped out of your skin at how close Uta is now. “Hey now! Shit, you need a bell or something.”

“It’s not my fault you don’t pay attention.”

You can’t even pull off your comedic routine and drop your head in an ‘ashamed’ manner because you’d probably most likely hit your head against his chest, he’s standing that close. Before you could ask him to either back up and inquire what was his reason for being in your personal space, a tattooed finger reached out, lightly touching your chin, encouraging you to look up, so that’s what you did.

“...I can create a mask for you. Something that suits you.” He’s now adjusting your face, the faintest touch causing you to move this way and that.

“Aww! That’s nice of you, Uta-sa-”

“The base color would be silver, perhaps. And the eyes would sewn shut, the better to hide your grief and... the anger.” He’s musing aloud, words quiet and almost a whisper, but you heard him. Part of you think it’s deliberate, that he’s making fun of you, mocking you.

And it worked.

You reached a hand up, setting it upon his wrist. Uta blinked, staring down at your hand, then his unique gaze switched to you, and he.... for a lack of better words, it’s like he snapped out of that artist’s mode. He dropped his hand and took one step out of your personal bubble then another and another before whirling around and started walking away.

He lifted a hand in farewell, waving it about in a sort of shooing manner.

“Come back again in two to three weeks.”

That should have been the end of you and his interactions.

Regardless of how intriguing he is, he’d pressed on one of your triggers, maybe even on purpose, and you already had too short of a life to put up with the bullshit. Then again, maybe it was for that reason entirely that you decided that you were gonna keep seeing him, even after he finished the mask, to annoy him to death of course.

Until he told you upfront to go away, you wouldn’t. That’s what you decided.

And with that resolution settled in your head, you could go about your business. You enjoyed the sights, the food, and although your judgement said it’d be a bad idea, you had a couple of one night stands. The first is a lawyer that you’re like pretty sure has kids and a wife, and the other is a stressed college kid.

The experience left you unsatisfied and irritated.

Since your last encounter with Uta had been...awkward and strained, you decided to bring a peace offering. Cream puffs for yourself with green tea and a cup of black coffee for him. You’d picked up on the fact that he liked the beverage without sugar and cream like the total heathen he is. You idly wondered if he even enjoyed sweet things or maybe he was one of those weird folks who liked sour and spicy stuff all the time.

The fact that you’re even thinking about this and it didn’t sink in as odd or out of place until the moment you crossed the threshold of HYSY Studios, taking note of the fact that the place is as gloomy and empty of customers as always.

“’Ey! Uta, where you at!?”

There’s a vibration against your leg. You juggle the items in your hold carefully before tugging out your cellphone and entering the passcode to unlock the phone. The most recent text message you’d received from Uta about four minutes ago informed you of the fact that he’s in the back of the studio, like the very, very back, where all the unused and returned masks were. Now the only reason you knew all this information is because of how often you pestered Uta about it.

You’re at an impasse.

You could do as he asked and bring your treat to him while you were at it or you could wait and avoid the potential jump scare that Uta was totally capable of inflicting upon you.

‘To go or not to go, that is the question.’

Everything pointed to the clear conclusion that no, you absolutely should not go back there. Every horror movie cliché ended with the female protagonist being killed or gravely injured because she was so stupid as to go in the dark, alone, by herself.

‘Uta isn’t a killer though.’ That’s what you tried to tell yourself, the argument weak and pitiful in your brain.

You did not know this man well enough to be in the back where it wouldn’t be easy access to the front door, where you couldn’t bolt if he did something strange. However, you did own a mini taser and always carried mace, just as a precaution, so...

So....

Slowly, reluctantly, you did as he instructed, every warning and life training you’d received up to this point in your life sending out red neon signs telling you to wait, not be an idiot, to please please stay where you are. And you ignored all those survival instincts, heading deeper into the studio, your footfalls loud and eerie the further in you went.

Until you find him.

He’s apparently unfazed by your belated presence, focus wholly consumed with his work. Red on black eyes glanced at you for but a moment and what you carried and then at the coffee. “There’s a mini fridge, leave everything there, except the coffee. I’m almost done.”

Having some mild experience with artists and creative sorts, you avoid looking at the mask he’s working on, instead setting down the coffee in an empty space he vaguely gestured to.

Then you walk the short distance to where the only mini fridge in the room is, reaching out, you pull it open. And it’s the scent that alerts you; the fresh tang of blood. It’s too late to stop yourself and you see it, everything. The jar of eyeballs, the carefully wrapped packages of ‘meat’.

‘I’m in a back room with the potential copycat Jeffery Dahmer or...or....’

You’re not an idiot, all these little things you’d casually dismissed because you hadn’t cared enough to pay attention, to see... And now here you are. Here you are.

Fuck.

Swallowing, you calm and dampen the inner voice sCREAMING, then casually as possible, grip wobbling only slightly, do you put your treat inside the mini fridge right alongside the human body parts and flesh, then close the door, turning around.

Uta is still hard at work on the mask but his movements are slowing down.

As if nothing is amiss, you stride over just as he finally pauses to take a sip of coffee. “This is one of the ways that you make masks. Really. That’s interesting…” And you meant it too. Legs crossed, you leaned against the table, watching the mask maker in his element.

He smiles at you in that enigmatic way. “Thank you.”

The visit continues without much else in the way of incidents and subtly unsubtle revelations.

You don’t really talk and Uta doesn’t make you.

Less than twenty minutes later, once he deems the mask complete, he stands up and stretches, arms raising overhead, revealing an expanse of creamy, pale, lean and muscled torso.

Glancing away a beat too late, you catch Uta as he smiles, again, the smile lengthens into a smirk. He reaches out and plucks up the half mask delicately, taking a step towards you and your heart traitorously lurches in your chest.

Self-preservation makes you want to run as he comes closer, closer, closer...

Logic keeps you rooted in place as he carefully puts the mask on you. Tattooed fingers brush the strands of hair away from the nape of your neck, lingering as he feels the flutter of your pulse beneath his fingertips.

“Your heart is racing like a hummingbird.” he muses. You stare out at him from beneath the safety of the mask, the bone surprisingly not pinching or cutting your skin. “And here I thought nothing could scare you.”

“Unfortunately fear makes up the majority of the human psyche.” You can’t help the quip, tone dry. “But you’re my friend, so it’s fine.”

That last comment causes Uta to blink and stare at you in blatant surprise for a minute or two. Then he pulls himself together and shakes his head, a chuckle rumbling through his chest. “...I suppose we are friends.”

“Cool. So how much for the mask?” You reach up, about to remove it but Uta swatted at your hands, the action hard enough to sting but not leave damage. You still squawk indignantly anyway.

“It’s free. Creating it got me out of my block, so thank you.” Bringing out a cellphone, he takes a couple pictures with you, making you turn, pose, and pretty much just show off.

Once he’s done, he snags your tea and cream puffs out the fridge, then walks you to the front of the studio, giving a small wave goodbye. Brain swimming with what you just learned, amazed that he hadn’t just killed you straight off, you glance at the chilled green tea in your hand then after mentally shrugging to yourself, you take a sip and shove a cream puff in your mouth.

Hell, after the day you’ve had, you deserve to be rewarded.

Time passes, as it inevitably does.

You receive more calls from Kiani, from other friends and family members, but you are resolute in staying in Japan.

Much to your surprise, you’d actually gotten comfortable being there. Though that might have had something to do with Uta, who you continue to visit, and if he’s surprised or put out, none of that shows on his face. It’s fun to drag him places, to be around him, and you can laugh at his jokes, even the deadpan, making-fun-of-humanity ones.

He even lets you meet his other ghoul friends, Itori and Renji.

Through it all, these changes and fun things, your health slowly, steadily, gets worse even as you and Uta get closer, muddling about in a rather confusing grey area of friends...and more...

As always, the two of you are hanging out, this time you’d dragged him to an amusement park, and he held onto some of the prizes you won, gamely snapped a couple photos of you in ridiculous poses and making silly faces, etc.

It felt like a date.

Like, you’re returning from a date.

When that thought ran through your brain, you automatically looked at Uta, catching sight of his profile in the light of the setting sun and your heart clenched as you realized that he’s beautiful.

It’s with difficulty that you manage to look away but not before he catches you staring from the corner of his eye. “You’re always looking at me… Yet, you never try and get closer…” Uta’s hands are in his pockets and he is barely a foot away. “Does fear keep you at a distance…” He took a step forward.

Coming almost uncomfortably close.

“Or is there another….”

Without conscious thought, you tilt your head up and your lips meet his.

The contact is light, barely a graze, and there’s the cool sensation of his lip ring...it’s odd but hardly distracting. Your heart is beating like a jack rabbit in your chest and you know this isn’t good for you.

As you go to pull away, to disconnect, that’s when Uta finally, finally, responds.

He places a hand on the back of your neck, keeping you close before tilting his head, leaned in and kissed you again.

There’s nothing teasing or patient about it. He nipped your bottom lip, barely waiting for you to part your lips before his tongue twined and stroked, expertly playing with your own, and you felt a zing of excitement travel down you spine as your tongue lightly grazed his tongue ring.

Your right hand goes to his shoulder, squeezing, holding on desperately as your legs threaten to give out.

Effortlessly, Uta holds you up, his other hand going to the dip of your back, and when you break the kiss to get some air into your burning lungs, Uta peppers feather light kisses down the column of your throat, sucking a spot just behind your ear. Only when you gasp his name, a mere whisper of a breath really, only then, does he finally stop.

Uta tops that....bombardment off with a light kiss to your forehead, lingering. Then he murmurs into your ear, “That’s how you kiss me from now on.”

With his piece said, as if he hadn’t pretty much swept you off your feet and left you stuck in LaLa Land, Uta brushed a hand down his shirt, straightening out imaginary wrinkles, before he walked away. It took a few seconds for your brain to reboot and then you hurried after him, chastising him for being mean.

There are a hundred different words that lingered on the edge and never escape your mouth. A thousand questions you never got the answer to.

There are no more kisses between you and Uta.

You pass away in your sleep that night December 31, 2XXX at 11:59 P.M. alone in your rented hotel room, dreaming of an impossible reality; of happiness between yourself and the ghoul who for a brief moment, made you feel important, seen, and desired.

Almost as if he could love you.

#uta #tokyo ghoul #uta imagine #black reader #uta tokyo ghoul #tokyo ghoul imagine #uta x reader #tg #human reader #tg imagine #thekrazykeke

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aethelflaedladyofmercia · 3 years

Note

prompt: can they just hug each other. they are both scared and comfort each other at the same time. reassurances. so soft, thank you <33333

So this blended with @sammininoofthelord‘s request for Photographer Crowley, and things went a little nuts. Not quite as Soft as I wanted but I think very cathartic.

“Well,” Aziraphale said with a smile he didn’t really feel, standing awkwardly in what Crowley called a study. Large empty room with a desk and a throne. Completely absurd. “I suppose we…have our plan, then.”

“I hate it,” Crowley volunteered. “But yes.” His legs were crossed, ankles perched on the edge of the desk, trying to look relaxed. Perhaps he would have fooled anyone else, but Aziraphale could see the tension in his neck and shoulders, and knew the way his eyes would be darting behind those glasses.

“If you’re going to argue—”

“Not arguing.” A shrug. “It’s the least bad of several bad ideas. We can do it. But. Still hate it.”

A quick glance out the window. It was still dark, hours until sunrise. “I suppose now…we wait.”

“We wait.” He wouldn’t take Crowley’s frown personally. They each had their own way of dealing with the events of the day, the threat of the next morning. Crowley, apparently, preferred to simmer in rage, while Aziraphale would be quite happy with a book and…

Oh…

Aziraphale pressed his eyes shut, trying not to think about that.

“What is it?” Crowley’s heels hit the ground with a click and he surged out of his seat, circling the desk.

“I…I don’t know what you mean…”

“I know that look. What’s wrong? Did you think of something? We can still come up with another plan.”

“Oh, nothing of the sort.” Aziraphale flapped his hands, trying for another smile. This one refused to stay on his face at all, and now his eyes were wet. “Don’t bother yourself…”

Crowley caught his hand.

His fingers moved stiffly, wrapping themselves around Aziraphale’s. Did they do that now? He supposed so. It was…quite novel, the way Crowley’s hand sort of…compressed his, holding in the tremors. No. Melting them away.

“You can tell me,” he whispered, voice strangely soft. “Whatever it is. I…don’t mind.”

“It’s foolish.” But Aziraphale drew a little closer, seeking more of that warmth.

“Don’t care. We’ve earned the right to a little foolishness.” Crowley’s feet shuffled, drawing closer, his forehead hovering close to Aziraphale’s. “You can tell me.”

“I…I just thought of the book I’d been reading, and it’s gone. I won’t be able to read the next chapter. And my whole shop is gone, my…my home…” his breath caught in his throat. “But…all I can think about is that one book. It’s not even rare…” His face burned with shame, and he found himself resting his head against Crowley’s shoulder. “Oh, lord, it had my favorite bookmark in it!”

Somehow, strangely, he felt he could have managed the loss of his shop if he’d just had that bookmark.

Crowley chuckled, low and rough, near his ear. “That is foolish.”

“Oh, I am well aware.” Aziraphale tried to push himself away. “You don’t have to – to—”

Long arms wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him back in. “My Velvet Underground CD was in the Bentley,” Crowley said, and now there was a tightness in his voice. “You remember, you saw it the other day? Had my favorite songs on it. I never put it in the car, in case…something happened to it…turned into more bloody Queen…but I just needed it this week. And now…”

Aziraphale slid his own arms around Crowley. “I’m sorry about your bebop.”

“I’m sorry about your bookmark.”

They stood there, leaning against each other, trying to wrap their minds around what they’d lived through, what they’d lost, a little at a time.

“I had this…this little charm. On a shelf. Carved in Rome. I carried it around for centuries…”

“My mobile was in the back seat. I’d only just beaten 2048 – do you have any idea how long that took?”

“Oh, my second-best tie! It was in my desk drawer.”

“I – I had a drawing Warlock did. When he was seven. Kept it in the boot of my car.”

“I just…” Aziraphale took a deep breath, and the strange, smoky scent of Crowley filled him. “I just wish I had…something. Anything. You have…this flat…your things…but I…I have nothing left…”

“You have me.” Crowley buried his lips and nose in Aziraphale’s hair, twining his arms in a constricting embrace, as if to hold the entire world together. “Whatever happens, tomorrow, next week, a hundred years from now, you will always have me.”

“I…” But there wasn’t anything Aziraphale could say to that, just let himself slide further into the security of Crowley’s arms. He was having trouble breathing, and his eyes burned with tears. He pressed his face into Crowley’s shoulder.

“S’alright, Angel.” One hand ran across his shoulders, slow circles. “I got you.”

Aziraphale clung to Crowley, until the trembling stopped, until he felt he could be composed again. He pulled away slowly, face turned away, wishing he could clean himself up. “I…terribly sorry…don’t know what…”

“Let me get you a drink.” Crowley’s hand rested on his shoulder, squeezed lightly, then vanished, leaving Aziraphale strangely cold.

It took longer than expected, long enough for Aziraphale to wipe his face clean with his handkerchief, long enough to make a circuit around the large room, long enough to consider each work of art with great care. Long enough to feel he could control his breath again.

Not quite long enough to remember how to smile, though.

“Alright, Angel. I, ah. I found something.”

He turned back to find Crowley holding a glass of water in one hand, and a thick book tucked under his arm. How odd. Crowley adamantly refused to admit he would ever have anything to do with books. He’d once spent an entire century pretending he didn’t know how to read, although the knowledge would return in a flash of insight any time he needed to order wine.

“What on earth is this?” Aziraphale eyed the book. Something about the pages was all wrong, but he couldn’t quite say what from this angle. There didn’t seem to be nearly enough of them, to start.

“It’s a…er…s’a photo album.” Crowley placed the glass on the side of the desk nearest Aziraphale, then settled the book in front of him. The cover was that deep red shade he liked almost as much as black, with a gold-colored shape pressed into it, like a very stylized feather. “I keep this…hidden, but. Nh. No point now I guess.”

“I see.” Aziraphale took a slow drink. “Photographs of what, precisely?”

“Ngk.” Long fingers nudged the album, straightening it, then pulling away as if burned. “S’not. I mean. Look, I just…I like cameras. Fun. Flashy. Always something new to try out. I photograph everything.” He slid the album closer to Aziraphale, then quickly stepped back. “But um. These are my favorites.”

Almost afraid of what he’d see, Aziraphale reached across to lift the cover. What he saw inside made him gasp. “Crow--! When did you--?”

“Look, I just – the lighting was a challenge, alright? Bright sunlight, deep shadows. Don’t – don’t read anything into it.”

Aziraphale slid the glass of water further away, and opened the album properly. The first page held a photograph of the inside of his shop, a few decades old. A beam of light landed on one book, resting on a table, illuminating it just a little compared to the shelf behind it.

He turned the page.

Four photographs, two square, two more rectangular, all taken ages apart. One showed Aziraphale, resting in his chair, eyes closed to enjoy his favorite record. Two were of him reading, one perched on a ladder, too preoccupied to fold it into a chair, the other standing with two more books tucked under his arm. In the fourth picture, he was clearly arguing with a customer, clutching one of his autographed Oscar Wildes quite defensively.

Page after page. Dozens, no, nearly a hundred photographs. A few of Aziraphale at the bakery or standing by the pond. One of him next to the Bentley, peevishly looking for Crowley, unaware the demon was right behind him. But nearly all of them pictures of the shop, of himself wandering happily through his home.

“Why…why did you…”

“Told you. S’a good place to experiment.”

“But this…this isn’t an album of my shop. It’s a collection of…of me.” Oh, his eyes were wet again. Aziraphale quickly took a drink.

“I mean.” Crowley shrugged. “I photographed the shop for the challenge. But, um. My favorites were always the ones with you in them.”

“But – you never said anything!”

“Ahhh.” He ran a hand through bright red hair. “Look. If anyone found it, I had to be able to say it was, I don’t know, surveillance. And you’re the worst at looking natural.”

“I am not!”

“Yes you are. You always do that – that smile, and you stand so stiff…look, no one would be fooled! So, I just…didn’t tell you.” He stuffed his fingers in his pockets. “Sorry.”

“I see.”

“And…nk.” Crowley shuffled his feet. “And…I didn’t want you to say no.”

Aziraphale reached the last page, where a large photograph showed him carefully unpacking his latest acquisition, a warm smile of anticipation as he studied the binding of the book. He slowly closed the album, and finished his glass of water.

“Thank you,” the angel whispered. He picked up the album, pressed it to his chest. “I…thank you, Crowley.”

“You can, um. You can have that.” Even with the glasses on, Aziraphale knew how his eyes must be darting nervously.

“Thank you.” He didn’t know what else to say, so he stepped forward, kissed Crowley on the cheek. “For everything.”

#good omens fanfiction #prompt fic #ineffable husbands #emotional h/c #hugs

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triforceangel13 · 4 years

Text

The Royal Guard’s Secret Ch. 1 (A SidLink Omegaverse Au)

Chapter 1: The Mysterious Beauty

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Sidon asked his sister as he pulled the curtain back a little to look out at the quieting Castle Town around them. During the day he was sure this place was bursting with life but they had arrived late as something had been brought up.

Prince Sidon was to be presented to the Princess of Hyrule as a mature alpha. The kingdoms of Hyrule as well as Zora's Domain were to join together with the matching of the prince and princess.

There was one rather large problem however. Sidon was not a mature alpha. He was in fact...a virgin. He didn't know the first thing about taking a mate. He didn't understand heats or marking an omega. All he knew about was things that his teacher Muzu had given him in the extensive pamphlets during school lessons, which was no experience whatsoever.

He honestly wanted to take a mate of someone he loved but he had yet to meet anyone who got his heart racing and a flush to his cheeks.

The only one who knew of this problem? His sister. She agreed that he needed to know what was going on before he even thought of giving himself to a princess. Alphas were suppose to know yet Sidon really didn't with his inexperience. Being an Omega herself, Mipha was not really much help at all. So this was the only thing she could think of.

Castle Town was known for having many different things from special food vendors to different types of clothing. A melting pot so to speak of people as well as goods.

Though in the outskirts of town held some other...places. The outskirts were a bit of a darker place where questionable things were held. Everyone was told to stay away from the outskirts unless of course you were looking for that sort of thing.

And that was why Sidon was there upon Mipha's insistence. They had to arrive in an unmarked carriage, Sidon having to leave all of his embellishments with his luggage. They needed to be discreet. It would be an awful thing if they found out that the prince of the Zoras was in a place such as this. So discretion was to be upheld. And that was the motto of this place, or so Mipha had been told by a traveler they had come across.

What kind of a place it was really was up for debate, though most men and women came there for one thing; to spend a rather physical night with the omegas that “worked” there. It was a dream for those who wanted to be able to mate with an omega with no strings attached.

As much as Mipha did not approve of such a thing she knew that this was the only place that Sidon could get practice before they were to meet the princess.

“It's either this or you end up on your wedding night with no idea what to do,” Mipha said to him. “We can turn around and head to the castle like we are suppose to right now. We'll just be a few days early is all.”

Sidon sighed as he let the curtain fall, tucking the money he needed into the belt that he wore in a pouch on his hips. “I'd rather know what I'm doing.”

“Then by all means, go ahead,” Mipha said. “I'll meet you at the castle tomorrow, alright?”

Sidon nodded his head, grabbing hold of the door hand a little nervously. Mipha pat his shoulder lightly. “Everyone feels like this when doing...well that for the first time. It'll be alright.”

Sidon gave a small smile tough still felt a little weird that his sister was encouraging him to do this of all things. But she understood how embarrassing it would be to go to mate with the princess and having no idea what he was doing.

He stepped from the carriage and onto the road. The cloaked Zoran guard lightly snapped the reigns of the horse and the carriage pulled away, leaving Sidon standing in front of the building. It didn't have anything on the outside, looking much like a normal two story home. The only indication it was the place he was looking for was the crescent moon that was on the small sign that sat before the front step.

“G Treasures” was the name of the place from what he recalled his sister saying. He was surprised she had been able to find such a place but he wasn't about to ask questions of who she was talking to. It was a little terrifying but he knew that she was old enough to make the right decisions and steer him in the right direction.

He stepped into the home, rolling his shoulders in a bit to shrunk down a little to make himself not so big. He was honestly an eye sore even without all of his embellishments. He was still a bright red, very tall, Zora.

“You in the right place?” came a voice from behind a desk as he entered. Sidon startled a bit, nearly knocking over a potted plant. He quickly grabbed it to prevent a mess, setting it back on the table he had bumped into.

“This is G Treasures, is it not?” he asked, looking to the masked man that sat behind the desk. He was large, nearly as tall as him, with bright orange hair. A mask of a pig sat upon his face, hiding everything of him except the orange beard and mocking smirk on his lips.

A large grin spread across his face and he rose slowly from the desk. “You found the right place. Welcome to this treasured home. A place where alpahs like yourself can have the most fun you would like, as long as you follow the rules of course.”

“How did you-”

“Know you're an alpha? I can smell it on you. Alphas like myself and you have a distinct scent, much like betas and omegas have them as well....You're inexperienced aren't you? Honestly have to say I've never heard of that one before.”

“Is it really that obvious?” Sidon asked, shifting uncomfortably. The man shrugged his shoulders a little bit.

“Well since you don't even recognize even another alpha's scent I would only assume that you don't know much. So what are you looking for to pop that cherry? Someone inexperienced like you so you could go on the journey together or someone who knows what they're doing?”

“I would much like someone who knew what they were doing. I just hope that they wouldn't mind helping me through this,” Sidon said, reaching for the pouch on his hip for the money. “You see I actually am-”

“No. No names. Don't want to be trailed back to you now would it?” the man asked with a sneer on his face. Sidon's scales paled and he shook his head.

“Goodness no.”

“Then quiet. Now the rules. One hundred rupees per hour with the one of your choosing. You do as you wish, just do not under any circumstances mark my omegas or get them pregnant. I'm assuming that's nearly impossible however considering I make sure they are all on a suppressant to keep that from happening,” the man explained, going through one of the drawers on the desk, pulling out a key with a blue gem sparkling on it.

“I only have four hundred,” Sidon said as he pulled the pouch from his hips. “Is that enough to get...what I need done?”

“I'll cut you a break here,” he said taking the pouch from his hands. “I'll give you this one for the rest of the night. Just be out of here tomorrow morning. You like men right?”

“I well-”

“Haven't tried anything. Give him a shot. If you don't like him, just come back down here and I'll set you up with another.”

“I'm not quite sure-”

“On the second floor all the way at the end. Now get moving. You're wasting your precious time,” the man finished with a scowl, turning when he heard the tinkle of the bell on the outside door. “Now get going, I've got other customers and I'm not about to hold your hand while you mate with the omega.”

Sidon clutched the key in his hand, stepping up the stairs as the masked man walked away from him. He had to get moving like he said. Mipha had also reminded him not to let too many people see him. Who knew what people would come in there and who would recognize him as the Domain's prince.

The key felt like a lead weight in his hand as he approached the door. The halls were lit with a few lanterns, making it a little hard to see. Each door he passed had a symbol on it, each a different color and shape. Questionable noises emitted from one room, quickly having him step up the pace so he could get there faster.

The door in question seemed to stare back at him with the painted blue glass, mimicking the same gem on the key in his hand. This was it. This was the one that he would be with that night. His nerves bubbled in his stomach, causing hesitation.

It wasn't like he could go back now. The masked man had his money and his sister was long gone off to the inn in the town.

“Come now Sidon. You're a prince. You can do this,” he said to himself, straightening himself up and using the key to unlock the door.

Inside the sweet smell of of cinnamon hit him like a wall. Slowly he inhaled, his eyes dialating slowly. What was that scent?

He slowly followed the scent further inside, closing the door behind him, until the bed hit his legs, snapping him out of his slight trance.

“Hey there,” came a warm voice from the bed. Sidon jumped a moment, looking in the dim light of the candles to the form on the bed.

A blonde hylian man lay naked on the bed, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders, blue eyes piercing at him through the darkness.

“H-hello,” he responded, captivated by those gorgeous blue eyes.

With a smile on his lips the blonde rolled his shoulders as he sat up, the blanket falling to either side of him, baring himself to the prince.

Sidon felt his mouth go dry, feeling a stirring in his pelvis. He certainly knew now that males were something he would prefer when it came to omegas. Though he had to keep that away when he married the princess.

Those thoughts quickly halted as the blonde rose a hand and gestured him to come closer with his finger. Sidon obeyed without a moment's hesitation. His knee pushed into the bed as he hovered over him, hands coming to rest on his shoulders.

“I've never been with a Zora before,” he purred as he laid down, pulling Sidon down with him. The prince braced a hand next to his head looking down at him as his blonde locks laid about the pillow. “Ever been with a Hylian?”

“I well...No.”

“Well it doesn't matter, you haven't ever been with someone like me before,” the blonde whispered, leaning up to run the tip of his tongue over his cheek.

Sidon visibly shook, tempted to give into the touches but his brain was having a hard time keeping up with it.

“What's...what's your name?” he asked as he took deep breaths to calm himself. Hearing that the blonde leaned his head back a skeptical look on his face.

“You care about my name?”

“Yes, why wouldn't I?” he asked confused. Was this not proper etiquette in a place like this?

“Just, no one has ever cared to know. They come in, do their business and then leave,” the blonde said with a shrug.

“I would like to know.”

The blonde hesitated at first but then sighed, laying his arms over his head. “Link.”

I’m open for written commissions

want to support? my patreon and kofi (just ask me for the link)

my a03 (triforceangel) as another place to read my fics

#breath of the wild #sidlink #omegaverse #the royal guard's secret

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uniquepoison · 4 years

Text

Juliet Wesson my MC in OBEY ME with profile info

Name: Juliet Wesson

Birthdate: August 14

Height: 5’5”

Race: Cambion (half-human and Half-Demon)

Eye color:

Sclera : black

Iris: silver / gun metal grey

Parent/s:

Dean Wesson ( Foster father)

Original Parents UNKNOWN

Powers:

When dormant:

Supernatural strength and speed can summon weapons at will

Healing injuries faster.

Awakened: (demon form)

Increased speed and strength and healing

Weapon summoning increased with element properties

Powers of duplication (doppelgänger effect)

Use of magic unlocks

Flying

Skin color changes in this state with red to maroon patches covering her fore arms and legs. Her hair, eyes stay the same her hands become sharp claws as her feet remain the same until her powers increase which turns them in to claws too further on.

She has a pair of demon wings which sprout from her back.

Weapon/s:

Ring blade

Daggers

Spear / lance

knowledgeable about gun use too

Bio/ About :

Dean Wesson found Juliet as a baby alone on an abandoned road. He took her home. With connections to some detectives and police there was never a missing file of a baby or record of her. He decided to adopt her as his own and raised her up with a friend a succumbs named Sera.

Juliet grew up learning from her dad, not just about the usual daily tasks and house chores but also to keep herself safe from intruders.

Dean taught her how to use a gun and several weapons. He knew that she was different from others.

Juliet loved her time to herself or with her dad when they would go to town to watch movies or go shopping or simple lunches out. Her hobbies Include singing, video games, dancing, cooking and gymnastics.

When she was a kid she found doing kart wheels and bending her body backwards fun so when she saw a tv show about gymnastics she asked dean if she could learn those moves. She went to gymnastics classes for 6 years. Sadly the studio she was learning from had to close cause of not too many people go to it. She kept herself practicing what she learned even after the closing of the studio even adding new stunts and parquor to her list. This made her body very flexible.

Schooling was a different experience since her classmates would ask her all sorts of questions as to why her eyes were that way or why she has red hair. Some would keep away and some would just be around her just to say they know her without really getting to know her.

She had several incidents of being bullied by other girls but she never acted upon fighting but instead used her wit and cunning powers to keep her bullies in line.

They would trap her in the toilet stall which she can get out off easily by climbing up then jumping off, running back to the classroom before the girls got back quietly smiling at them as they came back leaving them in utter shock and silence they knew if they said anything Juliet would put them and what they had done.

After finishing her studies in grade school and high school Juliet took on jobs that would take her in. Which she had pretty easy offers and she would try them as much as she can. Made her learn how to deal with crazy customers and whiners which didn’t seem to phase her much.

During one day out in the town by herself she wanted to check out the open air festival shops sale,then after buy food for dinner.

As she was checking out the outdoor bargain stalls, She was washed with a sense of eyes peering at her. She noticed two men in her peripheral vision looking at her, without letting them notice she planned to leave the current shop she was looking at. As she walked away the two men followed.

She ran out from the crowd loosing them as she entered the ally. She stood there trying to catch her breath.without warning a hand covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief with a weird-scent that knocks her unconscious.

She was brought to an abandoned hospital, tied into a straight jacket and locked in a padded room. The men that brought her there were not alone. she noticed several of them guarding her door. She noticed that she could not move her legs much. The only thing she saw was a blood mark staining her legs bandages wrapped around them. With her senses heightened she heard the men talking. They talked about their boss and a client.

Turns out she was kidnapped for a reason. Her rare breed was a wanted item in the underground black market, according to her father’s friend who is a underground bounty hunter they met before a Cambion can sell for a crazy amount of money alive. She heard that she was going to be sold to an important client. She knew she had to get out of there and get out as fast as she can.

One day passed from when she was kidnapped. According to her captors it seems their client wanted to view her personally before buying her yet he was abroad when the deal happened. So they have to wait for him to come back on the third day.

As time of the second day was running out Juliet planned to escape before the men shot her legs again with anesthesia.

Around ten she heard noise coming from outside her cell, shouts and guns firing. She heard a male voice unfamiliar to her call her name. She replied calling which cell she was in. She saw the door break from its hinges as it flew across the room falling near her. She looked up and saw a man with dark raven hair with glowing red eyes looking at her.

“I’m here to rescue you” he said as he knelt down in front of her.

“ I... I can’t move. The effect of the anesthesia is still present in my blood.” She replied to him struggling with the jacket around her.

“I see. So for you not to escape they did this... don’t worry I will carry you”

With one swift move the man picked her up in his arms.

She looked around noticing her captors were on the floor unconscious.

Juliet tried moving her legs she knew it was almost time for the anesthesia to wear off. More gun shots were heard from outside along with a huge explosion.

“ crap! Diavolo seems to be having fun out there..” the man muttered.

She looked at him. “ Diavolo?”

“ yes. My friend. Forgive me I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Lucifer. A woman friend of yours came to ask us to save you.”

“ save me.. a friend oh! You mean my aunt Sera! Dad must be worried”

Before Lucifer can reply their way was blocked with more men with guns ready to charge them.

Juliet began to have feeling in her legs once again.

“Shit ! I was told not to fully kill them... “ he said as he stopped in his tracks.

“ Lucifer I think my legs are getting feeling once again. Listen... I have an idea. Once you charge at them throw me I can knock them unconscious.”

“ ok, I‘ll take the right you take the left. “ he agreed.

“No time for games! Give us back the girl!”

The man in the middle shouted. Lucifer smirked.

“ want her? HERE TAKE HER” with that signal Lucifer threw Juliet at the man.

She then jumped up high doing a back flip she launched her self at him kicking him in the face. Gun fire roared as they tried to aim at her and Lucifer. With her fast reflexes she round house kicked the remaining men down. Lucifer was impressed with her moves. She walked towards him with a smile. “ it’s nice to use my legs again.” He nodded as they both headed outside.

There outside stood a man with maroon hair his yellow eyes glowing from the moons reflection. “ Lucifer, there you are. Ah! So you found her.”

“Yes, Juliet this is Lord Diavolo. Prince of the Devildom.”

“Nice to meet you” she replied.

“I’d shake your hand but it seems your still tied up.”

“Um..Diavolo we better get a move on before more men come.” Lucifer said looking around.

“ Oh right! Barbatos is waiting for us in a van we can continue this else where.... your dad is waiting for you..”

The three of them ran off into the dark to a van waiting.

“My Lord, Mr. Wesson sent me the coordinates to his home. And he also wants to speak to miss Juliet.” Barbatos said as they entered the van.

“Wow! Dad really did send you guys... “

“ Yes. He went to great Lengths to find you.” Diavolo smiled.

After speaking to her father on the phone. Juliet was relieved to be going back home.

Lucifer helped Juliet take off the straight jacket while in the van.

They had food and water for her take from the days she was gone.

She explained to them how it all happened. And she was worried that they could hunt her down.

As they finally reached Juliet’s home they were greeted by Dean and Sera waiting outside. Juliet ran towards them hugging them both emotions ran high as she cried in her dads arms. Sera thanked the three demons.

Dean invited them in the house the three agreed following them in.Sera and Juliet went upstairs for her to shower and change into fresh clothes.

Dean led the three into the kitchen. Thanking them once again. Offering them food and drinks. They talked about the people behind the kidnapping. Dean was worried about what the men can do now that Juliet is gone. He was afraid that she could get kidnapped once again. Or even worse things. Diavolo offered a suggestion, of Juliet living in the Devildom. Sean felt that he had no other choice but for Juliet to go. He felt she could be in danger in the human world as it is. She needed a safe place. They came into an agreement but the end result will of course be Juliet’s decision.

When Juliet joined them they told her their ideas and options. She opened up about being scared to go out of her house and what could happen. She didn’t want her dad to get in trouble too. She made a final decision to live in the Devildom.

With that Diavolo requested Barbatos for specially made DDDs. One each for dean, Juliet and Sera. They agreed for her to live in the House of Lamentation along side Lucifer and his brothers. They agreed for Juliet to visit her father any day she wants but with accompany of Lucifer or his brothers. Dean is allowed to go to visit Juliet too as long as he calls Diavolo in advance.

Diavolo also promised a charm of protection (works for humans and demons) around Dean’s house just in case these people track him down. He also vowed to investigate this client and black market seller and buyer to put an end to it .

That night Juliet packed some clothes with the help of Sera and Barbatos.

She hugged her dad tightly. Promising to visit him as soon as she can.

He told her to not worry. And to just be safe.

They opened a portal to the Devildom in the basement Dean and Juliet hugged and he kissed her forehead “ get stronger my sweet pea”

“I will dad. I’ll come back stronger.” She followed the three demons to the open portal And with a flash the four were gone.

They entered into a room with so many doors. Diavolo chuckled and opened the door in front of them. “Welcome to your new home Ms. Wesson, Welcome to the Devildom!”

#obey me #obey me mc #obey me oc #obey me original character #digitalart #oc #original character

11 notes · View notes

daily-dose-of-imagines · 4 years

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(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Matchup ♥

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

Hi!! First of all I’d like to congratulate you guys on your 1000+ followers!! It’s a massive milestone and I’m so happy and proud of you guys for it!! Admittedly I’ve only just found your blog but after hours of scrolling through it I can honestly say that I truly admire the work you put into every one of your requests and fics!! You guys deserve this a lot xx

I’d like to request a match-up for Haikyuu (all male characters) if you guys don’t mind!! Also hopefully the description isn’t too long!! :’)

I’m a 20-year-old Leo girl who’s studying Biomedical Engineering and Arts (with an English major!!) in Sydney. I used to be a guitarist in a high school band and am in general more of an independent individual than a leader/follower.

Physically I’m short with a generally small frame, and have naturally curly hair (though I’ve straightened the top half now!!) dyed a dark rose-pink/brownish color with loose eyebrow-length side bangs on either side curling outwards!! I tend to have softer features and my eyes are on the smaller side HAHHAHAH. My wardrobe basically consists of black, white, brown and beige with lots of jeans, boots and belts and almost no dresses ahahahah. (tbh my icon is me so yall can reference that but I usually have my hair let down ahahahh)

I’m a shy person but some of my friends say I exude a quiet confidence HAHAHHAH. Other ways my friends/family have described me include: smart, kind, awkward, cute, determined, hardworking, creative and being a happy virus. I generally do well in my studies and am particularly good in Physics and English! I do have my flaws tho, I can be too playful at times to the point where it accidentally gets someone hurt, I’m usually running late, I have terrible mood swings and I can be selfish or a little too competitive at times (especially towards my younger siblings unfortunately). Also I’m basically the most indecisive person ever!!

I love writing but I have a problem with not knowing when to stop and hence tend to go beyond word limits. I write well in both creative and academic writing though! I also love spending time with my dogs, napping/playing with them etc. I tend to work out quite a lot and I particularly love cycling! I love being up early and generally don’t mind waking up early but I like my mornings quiet and calm as I enjoy my breakfast hahahhah! But I also tend to stay up till very late at night so I truly am lacking a lot of sleep. I tend to spend a lot of time in my room and I like it that way but I love fun social events like parties and weddings (I’m not sure why??). I love cartoons/animated films a lot idk why but they give me a sense of relief from all my stress and they just make me feel good after watching them?? I also love creating random customized stuff like designing a birthday cake for my brother or creating a specialty dish for Mother’s Day- things like that. Things I don’t like include: loud noises, inconsiderate people, snails, being looked down upon, judgemental and close-minded people, presentations in front of large crowds and chocolate (sorry!!).

Some aesthetics of mine include: the colors of fall, comfy knitted sweaters, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked bread, apple-scented objects, the fresh air on the top of a hill at the end of a hike, the wind in your face as you cycle down a hill, receiving or giving a customized gift, glass/transparency, deep ideas, hugging a dog (most furry animals), being in the middle of a bustling city, the sound of rain in the middle of the night, the serenity at dawn, wrapped up in your blanket watching your favorite tv show at night, getting work done at a cafe, the satisfaction having completed all your responsibilities, the way cereal and biscuits melt in your mouth after being soaked in milk for some time, hugs, doves being the symbol of peace and freedom, nyc apartments and theme parks.

My favorite food include pumpkins, Marie biscuits, cereal, artisan bread, almond milk, eggs with runny yolks, tomatoes, brocolli, mushrooms, bibimbap, sashimi salads, deli sandwiches, bruschetta, prawn dumplings, tiramisu, tangerines and flat rice noodle soups. My favorite books include Looking For Alaska by John Green and the Fire and Flood series by Victoria Scott. My favorite movies are Pitch Perfect (1&2 were good but 3 was kinda disappointing), The Devil Wears Prada, Wreck-It-Ralph, Inception, Enchanted, Kiki’s Delivery Service, the new Jumanji movies and Little Women. My favorite artists are One Direction and the kpop group Pentagon, which are basically the only two fandoms I’m apart of (if you don’t consider the 1D boys having 5 separate fandoms) and fandom life is a big part of who I am hahhahah. Oh! The Marvel fandom too as I absolutely adore Tony Stark and hence RDJ hahahah! My favorite TV Show is Friends (cliche I know) but also some animated series ahahhahh.

Have an amazing day!! xx

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

Hello @ehlipses and thank you so much! I am so so so happy you like our work, it means a lot to us! And I sincerely hope you enjoy the boy I paired you up with!

>Admin 𝕋

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

𝐼 𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽...

Okay so, I feel as though Semi would be perfect for you! Admittedly when I saw that you played guitar in high school, I immediately knew that Semi would be very attracted to that, thinking he and you could definitely bond with music, and playing instruments. It would such a cute sight to behold! But on another not, he will be incredibly impressed that you are studying engineering, along with and English major! I see Semi as one who will be attracted to someone who is smart and independent, someone who can take care of themselves, and is more of a leader than a follower, yet would rather be an individual and not deal with labels. And you fit the bill to a T!

For appearance, I feel as though Semi would absolutely love you rhair! Like it won’t show in his face, but he would stare at it and just think that he wants to touch, to run his fingers through it, like all the time. It would become some sort of relaxation thing for him, especially before games to play with your hair! It would so freaking cute! And along with the style and the color of it? Yeah this boy would just love it; it would make him want to dye his own hair to make it cool like yours! Semi would love this soft look you have going on, and don’t think bad about your small eyes; Semi will think that just adds to your unique features, makes you different from the rest of the people he has met and known. It is what makes you, you and he will love it very much! And has for your style, he would be very appreciative of it, only because it is so cohesive! I feel as though Semi is a great sense of style and could see someone who also has a good sense of style and really appreciate it, and if you were the one with it? Well, that would just further his infatuation with you!

Semi will love how the things you love mostly line up with his! He loves writing music and he loves that you write as well, in the other sense! Semi would have this idea of where he writes a piece of music, and then he will ask you to write a story based around the music he produced! It would be such a cute thing between the two of you! Semi also likes to workout and would love to exercise with you, and have you show him how to cycle properly! He thinks it would be a great way to get closer to you, and just see how much cuter you could get to him! He will understand the feel of waking up early for some quiet time, though I see Semi as more of a person that would sleep in, he would enjoy your routine while he sleeps lolol. Your ambivert attitude would really intrigue Semi, how you can just spend endless hours in your room to going to social events and not have your energy drained would amaze him, seeing as I think Semi would tend to stay away from big crowds. He would be drawn to that brightness you have! Semi will like how crafty you are with your hands, going from baking a cake for your mom, to creating cuisines for special events. He will think those are great characteristics for someone, and would be glad to it is you that has it!

Semi also doesn’t like inconsiderate people, or judgemental and close minded people, so if you don’t like them and he doesn’t like them, it would be something you two can definitely bond on! I don’t see Semi being afraid of snails, but I see him thinking that it is extremely cute that you are afraid of them! He might tease you with one so be careful!

As for your aesthetics, I feel as though Semi will like all of them! Not necessarily because he likes all of them, but because all of them would remind him of you. From comfy knitted sweaters to the New York vibes, he would these things, feel these things, taste these things, and will automatically think about you. He won’t be able get you out of his head! And he would be okay with that, because that’s what he wants, to know you, think about you, love you, and be with you. Along with all the food you like to the fandoms you are in, he would be very supportive in what you like, in what you are interested in because all he is interested in is to see you happy with whatever you love, with whatever makes you interested in life, what makes you happy. And he would help in anyway he can, to make you just as happy!

#submission #submissions #matchup #anime matchups #haikyuu!!#haikyuu!! matchup #Haikyuu!! x you

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ryuukia · 4 years

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[Translation] Tsukihana Kagura Cast Presentation: Geppaku (Procellarum)

Merry Christmas everyone~! Working on this was a bit more difficult because, well... life, but at long last, here’s Procella’s cast presentation. Ryota’s already done with Alive so expect me to post those starting next week maybe?

Many, many thanks to Ryota and Chrome for assisting with this and helping with the proofread! Please don’t repost/retranslate/reuse my translations. Likes and reblogs are appreciated!

Nation: the affiliated country’s name Flower name: the name as a dancer Dance technique: the name of each person’s characteristic dance Dance props: the name of the tool used while dancing (there are cases when none are used)

Shimotsuki Shun

“Geppaku, let’s us go ♪”

Nation: Geppaku ※chief

Flower name: Geppaku (Moon Spirit)

Dance technique: Amanotokotachi no Kami

Dance props: Folding fan / Inscription: [Shisoku] (Downfall for everything)

This young man is the lord of the ‘Shimotsuki’ household, a lineage that carved its place into the core of ‘Geppaku’, one of the oldest and most mysterious nations as well as Shikkoku’s other half.

The powers he was born with are so strong that simply his presence can greatly affect his surroundings. Because of that, he spends most of his time in the depths of a palace kept under strong protection (seals) and layers of barriers…… Yet despite his awful situation, he simply answers with “It’s fine, it’s fine ♪” when being asked about it.

He prefers staying indoors as his palace is exceedingly comfortable (his soft, fur futon is his favourite) and if he’s required to go out he can just use a quick technique to do so.

In other words, the seals are pointless. He’s nothing but ‘a shut-in with no desire to work, both of his own volition’. Regardless of all that, his dance is beautiful enough to steal the soul of any person who happens to witness it.

Fuduki Kai

“It’s all right when we from Geppaku receive all the other colors!”

Nation: Geppaku

Flower name: Souhaku (Pale)

Dance technique: Wadatsumi (The God of the Sea)

Dance props: Long sword / Inscription: [Seigaiha] (Wave Pattern)

He's the son of a servant who visited the ‘Shimotsuki’ household frequently and is Shun’s childhood friend, the latter happening due to Shun’s wish of wanting to play with him more in his younger days.

He has always had a lot of great accomplishments, and while he plays around with Shun, his ability to use his techniques is exceptional. He has even become a very distinguished person in their nation.

He has a special connection with water and his strong point is a technique he uses to control it.

During the Tsukihana Festival's live broadcast, he and Shun incorporate a combined method that uses his water mirror technique atop a watchtower.

Interview with Shimotsuki Shun (Procellarum)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

You wouldn’t expect to see me on the stage dancing loosely with a folding fan in my hand, would you? Alright, Shun-sama will show you how serious he is ☆…… Just kidding. The rehearsals brought me the chance to watch and share advice with units that have dances similar to ours, like QUELL and VAZZY. Such exchanges happen often behind the scenes, it’s what makes joint stage-plays fun.

On the other hand, Shu and Takaaki have a lot of experience, they’re without a doubt professionals ♪

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

White tea.

A white tea with a pleasant scent would be perfect. I want to have a tea party with everyone!

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

In the innermost parts of a mysterious country, I’m the lovely character who snuggles in soft fur all day. All the Procella members have taken care of their hair and cut their nails with particular attention to detail, you know? ... Just like always? That's right (laughs). Fufufu no fu~♪

Interview with Fuduki Kai (Procellarum)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

The highlight is the elegant choreography that Shun's great at!

Eh? I seem like I'll be bad at it? No, no. This is where my experience as someone with a lot of ballad songs will shine through! ... Or at least, I hope it does (laughs)!

The song’s got a certain atmosphere to it, so in order to not ruin that I’ll practice until I can show off Fuduki Kai’s beautiful side. Fighting!

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Panna Cotta.

Holy Cotta.

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

This time my role’s a bit more mysterious than the previous ones.

While I do give some sort of advice to the other nations' members, I always do it with a bit of an enigmatic smile on my face (laughs). I’ll do my best!

Haduki You

“Well, I may take things lightly…but at the right moment I won’t lose, y’know?”

Nation: Geppaku

Flower name: Shirahae (White Breeze of the South)

Dance technique: Nanten Sojou (Ascent from the Southern Sky)

Dance props: No props

Ever since ‘Geppaku’ took form, the control of the power spots has been split between day and night.

The ‘Haduki’ household is in charge of the day territories, with You being the third son among the monk brothers.

His carefree character stands out a lot, though he's skillful and well-rounded as someone who has mastery over a wide range of techniques to match the situation.

His childhood friend is Yoru, the only son of the ‘Nagatsuki’ household, a lineage who protects the night territories. Dusk is the point when day is replaced by night, a moment marked by a joint dance between the two sides.

Nagatsuki Yoru

“Would you like to try your luck?”

Nation: Geppaku

Flower name: Jihaku (Innocent heart)

Dance technique: Unjou Roukaku (Celestial Castle)

Dance props: Rabbit mask / Inscription: [Gyokuto] (Moon)

Yoru is the only son of the ‘Nagatsuki’ household, a family who controls the night power spots. He’s a gentle person by nature, just like the darkness of the night which envelops people closely and quietly.

People who have lost their way look for him for some power when they're "down on their luck." He's probably someone who can bring hope to people who find themselves in a dead end.

You from the ‘Haduki’ household is his childhood friend, the two being on good terms even in the present.

Although the dance performed at dusk doesn’t hold any meaning whatsoever, for the two of them it’s more of a tradition. It seems that not performing any dance disturbs their balance.

Interview with Haduki You (Procellarum)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

I feel like it's both soft and strong. My movements are pretty heavy while Yoru's are pretty gentle and soft. It continues on for half of it and then at the end, our movements will match! I think that's the best way to summarize it. I think our movements are very fitting for a Japanese dance or a [kagura] so please check it out~♪

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Soft serve or vanilla ice cream.

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

I know you've missed me!

Interview with Nagatsuki Yoru (Procellarum)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

The rabbit mask I have to wear gives off the impression my dance is a light ‘walk on the clouds’...... or at least hypothetically it should be (laughs). For now, walking on top of clouds is still not possible (laughs bitterly). Since this rabbit is most likely to fall from the clouds, all I can do is practice.

Lately, You’s been devoting all his attention to this so I will also do my best and not waste a second until the real performance. I have a special mixed drink to help me with this.

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Geppaku rice cake.

One that makes use of pure white rice cake.

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

This story is about a world far away from here. I’m not wrong to say that even their customs, their food, the landscapes they see, and the words they utter are also completely different.

Being able to draw everyone into the world is important, too, isn't it?

Let’s join together this adventure detached from books!

Minaduki Rui

"May all sins be purified.”

Nation: Geppaku

Flower name: Asagara (Epaulette Tree)

Dance technique: Oharae (Great Purification)

Dance props: Evergreen / Inscription: [Namidafuri] (Falling Tears)

This young man is the son of the ‘Minaduki’ household, a family which apparently invited the mighty ‘Shimotsuki’ on this land a long time ago.

Upon the latter's settlement, a number of power spots took birth on the ‘Geppaku’ territory and the people living there were said to be able to use mysterious techniques.

The role of the ‘Minaduki’ household, who have the power to easily interfere with the ‘Shimotsuki’ household, was to keep the latter in line as well as heal and serve them.

…...Which is what’s written in history books, but now their complicated relationship is over and the households are simply on good terms.

Kannaduki Iku

“Let’s dance until your wish becomes a star shining high in the sky!”

Nation: Geppaku

Flower name: Shirogane (Silver)

Dance technique: Oguchi Makami (T/N: The kanji translates as ‘wide-mouthed wolf’. The name belongs to the Japanese God of wolves)

Dance props: Folding fan / Inscription: [Gyougetsu] (Dawning Moon)

When he was only a child, his parents met an unexpected death and Iku ended up being taken by a Shikkoku warrior who happened to be there. He spent the following 10 years touring each country, earning him a quite unusual personal history.

Although he lacks what some would call a ‘worldly sense,’ and he’s slightly unfamiliar with the ways of the world even among the people from ‘Geppaku’, he turned out to be a capable and valuable person, with general ideas and values.

Iku received a small corner of a room in the ‘Minaduki’ house, assists Rui with work, and puts up with Shun’s selfishness. Moreover, everyone seems to spoil him.

He goes on adventures together with Kai and You, eats Yoru’s meals and then sleeps. For him, those are the highlights of his everyday life.

Interview with Minaduki Rui (Procellarum)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

The combination of Ikkun and me is, probably, the one with the biggest difference in dance skills among all the units.

But that’s a story about how realistic the two of us are. I’m sure that the Rui who lives within “Tsukihana Kagura” dances as regularly as I play the violin and that he dances well.

That’s why I have no choice but to do my best.

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Milk pudding.

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

Please come and see Geppaku’s good sides, at least once.

We’ll also do a prayer for good luck.

Interview with Kannaduki Iku (Procellarum)

Q. Please tell us about the highlights of this stage play and your impressions or story behind your partnered dance.

When Rui told me at the end of our joint lesson that he’d like to work overtime, I was a bit moved (laughs).

He may say he’s still got a long way to go, but I can see that his stamina is definitely better than before and the way he treats his body has really improved. To me, it doesn’t seem like he gets tired as easily anymore.

No, I also have to practice even more so I won’t lose to him!

Rui~, let’s perform a beautiful dance!

Q. In Tsukihana, all 12 nations have their own specialties, but if you could come up with a new specialty for your own country, what would it be?

Something with a strong milk flavour!

Thick ice cream!

Q. Lastly, leave a short message for the fans.

Although the dancing is the main part, the drama part is also pretty complicated! Archaic words are mixed into the script, and there’s a lot of difficult expressions (oh man…). With a dictionary in hand, I’ll force it all into my brain!

Everyone, make sure you come and see the results of my hard work!

If you like my work and you want to support me, you can now buy me a coffee by clicking right [here]. I also started taking commissions, more details are right [here]. Thank you~

#tsukiuta #tsukihana kagura #procellarum #english translation #pamphlet translation #agf 2019 #shimotsuki shun #fuduki kai #haduki you #nagatsuki yoru #minaduki rui #kannaduki iku

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leggomylino · 4 years

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Dark Rising☽✮☾Act Two

☽✮☾ Dark Rising Masterlist ☽✮☾

Genre: Horror/Thriller, Drama, Romance, Comedy

Pairing: NCT’s Johnny Suh x fem!reader (x ???)

Word count: 9.3k (we’re covering a lot of ground in this one! :D)

Warning(s): mentions of blood, yandere-esqe themes, cuts/injuries, soul stealing and kidnapping. Possibly more in the future depending on what the original authors decide. They write for ot9 and so do I.

A/N: Main Masterlist in BIO! | This is a spinoff series to the SKZ fanfiction Twisted Karnival, by @gaiyofanfiction. It can be read alone, but you are encouraged to read the original story first. At the authors’ request, I will take this down if asked to do so. I do not own Twisted Karnival or Stray Kids, or Johnny Suh, or any characters used in this. All credit goes where credit is due. The events that happen in this story are not canon in the original story, this is simply a work of fandom and appreciation, and thus will tie into canon events as closely as possible in respect to the original works. All that being said… Thank you. <3

~ ☽✮☾ ~

It was two in the afternoon. After complaining to Johnny that there was no way you were staying overnight in some spooky, definitely-haunted, no-fun funhouse little-shop-of-horrors, he ended up grumbling about how useless you were already proving to be and walking you all the way home. You, useless! When he was the one that came to you for help!! The nerve of that guy!!!

“I have an order for...y/n?” a waiter asked, stopping just at the corner of your table. You smiled gleefully while bobbing your head, smacking the already dish-packed tablespace, pastry crumbs and croissant flakes flitting about the area. “Yeah! Set ‘er right here, please!”

“Hn.” Johnny scoffed, watching disdainfully as you shoveled a double order of German chocolate cake down your throat and washed it down with a caramel milkshake. “Do you ever stop eating? I swear you’ve inhaled the entire dessert menu in less than an hour.”

You kept onto that milkshake until the last drop was gone, eyes peering up boldly to meet his. “...I thought you didn’t swear,” you asked, setting the glass down and going for the cherry that awaited you in its cream-stained contents. C’mere, you! <3

Johnny looked away, albeit for just a moment. He began crunching commands into his phone. “I don’t, but—”

“Then buttout.”

He gave an annoyed sigh. Outside the Urban Grind Cafe, life went on as normal, despite the fact that hundreds of people had gone missing just last night. Whispers filled the streets and alleyways, about sons and daughters who never came home, mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles that never called, never left a message of any possible sudden work meetings or last-minute plans; but no one had the gall to actually say anything out loud. It was as if they were afraid to, defaulting to cling onto false hope: Oh, it’s okay. They probably stayed out so late they decided to crash at a nearby inn. Maybe there was an all-nighter event. ...Who, so-and-so? (S)he’s a party animal, probably went to (friend name)’s house.

“...ou listening to me? Hello? Johnny?”

You’d pushed yourself up to wave the blank cherry stem in his face, lightly poking his nose with it. Johnny flinched a bit, swatting your hand away while you chuckled and fell back into your booth seat.

He groaned. “Y’know, most guys don’t care much for girls that--”

“What? Eat a lot? Talk back? Interrupt your call to the Mothership?”

“...Yes. All of those.”

It was your turn to scoff. “Bite me.” ...Then you had to smirk, pausing a moment as you crossed a spoonful of pudding from bowl to blissful heaven. “...Are you by chance trying to say that--”

“No. Definitely not.” He gave you a serious glare that stopped any giggling rising in your throat. “Enough chit-chat. You can keep stuffing your face if you want, but I need you to listen to me.”

You wanted to throw your spoon at him, but the risk was greater than the reward of seeing him with vanilla pudding all over his face and a black eye. So instead you grunted, shoveling another spoonful of whip cream. “Yeah, alright, I’m listening. But I still have questions for you too. Like, how come—”

“Please don’t talk with your mouth full. No one wants to see that.”

“...”

Now you really were going to throw that spoon. Or you would have, if the same waiter from before hadn't shown up with a helping of creme brulee. Yum! 😍

“......” Johnny folded his hands before his face, leaning in with elbows on the table. “...I’ll start from the beginning. As I told you before, I’m—”

“An angel, yes, I know.”

“...Right. And it’s my mission, along with the other messengers, to combat the evils of this world and defend mankind. However, we can’t always act alone, because we’re not allowed to corrupt freewill...and that’s where matters can get really complicated.”

You continued inhaling creme brulee, eyes flitting back and forth between Johnny and the dessert before you.

“A long time ago...a long time ago, there was a period of peace on this earth. It didn’t last long, but time flows differently in the realm above this one.” He steadily exhaled, and abruptly his face scrunched up in distaste, seeming to decide on something. “...I lied, this is going to take too long, and you don’t need to know everything; at least, not yet. All you need to know is that there was a short period of prosperity, and then...something serious happened, and one of our own was cast out to be…”

He cleared his throat. You paused again, setting your spoon down to listen more intently.

“...She was…” He swallowed. “...She was sent down to earth. But only because of the sacrifice that many of us made on her behalf.”

Your head tilted, drawing a blank. “...Sacrifice?”

“Yes. She was tricked by demons and did some things she shouldn’t have. Her punishment was to be cast out to the other side, but many of the others stood up for her and offered to take her punishment in her stead.”

“Wow...she must have been a true saint.”

The look in Johnny’s eyes was soft and distant. “...She was. She was beautiful, and had the purest heart imaginable. But she failed to guard that heart, and she was deceived into a great sin.”

“So...sort of like, Eve and the Tree of Knowledge?”

He nodded. “In a sense, that’s an accurate comparison. It’s not the same per say, but loosely speaking, yes. That day…” ...His voice grew quiet. “That day, everything changed. The sky grew dark, and everything sort of lost its color, if not just for a single moment. There was a cackle of laughter that echoed from down below, but we could all feel it, with our own intuition. We knew she was gone.” A painful sadness filled his eyes. “And there was nothing we could do. There was nothing...I could do…”

“But...wait,” you said. “I thought you said you all made a great sacrifice for her? And then something about her being on earth?”

He rested his arms down on the table. “We did, and there was. After many trials and God’s grace, she was still stripped of her wings, but rather than being sent to the underworld, she was reborn a human.”

“...That’s...a punishment?”

Johnny scowled. “Think about it. Use that big head of yours.”

“Hey! ...Urk, well, okay…” You frowned, steadily losing your appetite as you shuffled the remaining three bites of creme brulee around. “I guess that makes sense. Life does kinda suck from time to time, and heaven is supposed to be pure bliss.”

“It is,” Johnny assured, the corners of his mouth raising just slightly. “It’s wonderful. And life on earth is no picnic, but it’s much better than an eternity below. Trust me.”

You nodded. “Yeah, I get it…” Paused again. “...Hey, so, what was her name? Can you tell me?”

“Yeah…” He of course, paused for effect. The suspense was practically suffocating, the way his features seemed to sharpen, the hollow silence that filled the small space around the booth the two of you shared.

What if...What if it’s… —Am I…? Could I be—

“Her name is Evangeline.”

...Oof. You mentally shunned yourself for being so conceited as to have thought it could possibly have been you. But then...

An image of a girl with silky smooth hair and bright, passionate eyes filled a blank space in the center of your mind. Quickly, you swallowed down your most recent mouthful you’d forced in too soon, coughing a minute before leaning over a tower of empty dishes, a cup of tea nearly spilling over given how hard you slammed the table. “That...That girl from before.” There’s anxiety rising in your chest, though you’re not sure why. “Was it her?”

Johnny’s eyes widened in slight surprise, almost seeming to have trouble focusing on your own. “Yeah. Good guess.”

Not really. Somehow, you just...knew.

“Whoa...so then…” You slowly descended back into your seat...then jumped back up with more fervor than before, startling a few nearby customers. This time, you did end up spilling that cup of tea. “Those demons have her! They have your one true love! We have to save her!!”

“Uuuu—“ Johnny was leaning back, glaring at you again with even wider eyes. “Whoa, okay, I never said we were in love. And if you can find it in that pea-sized brain of yours to settle and keep your voice down, I’ll agree that you’re right and it is a main aspect of the mission.”

“Wha?!” You did glue your bum to your seat, but as for lowering your voice? Quite the opposite. “Just a second ago you were saying I have a big head, and now I have a small brain?!”

He huffed, crossing his arms. “Isn’t that how it always goes with brazen girls?”

“Brazen?!” You rolled up your sleeves. “Oh, I’ll show you brazen—!”

“E-Excuse me…” Your waiter had partially hidden himself behind an empty tray he was holding. “I’m sorry but, I’ve been getting a few complaints about the volume of noise over here and um...we don’t allow violence in our cafe. If you don’t calm down, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Oop— well, it certainly wasn’t your fault!

“Tell that to him!” You roared, pointing an accusatory finger at...no one.

Johnny was gone, a closing door and the faint scent of aftershave the only trace that he’d ever been.

Something heavy and full of numbers was set down timidly beside you. It carried a hefty burden on your nearly-empty coin purse, causing it (and any excitement you’d had left) to shrivel up and die.

“Your bill, miss. You can pay at the register over there.”

…………

The wails of a heartbroken young woman filled the chattering silence.

~ ☽✮☾ ~

“I can’t believe you just LEFT me!! What kind of a gentleman does that?! Huh?!?”

The two of you were wandering the back alleys of town, taking some sort of shortcut somewhere, you had to assume. All you knew was that you were lucky you had a decent sense of direction when it came to navigating the city and not many people were incredibly tall and wore an old trench coat in the middle of Spring.

Johnny glanced back at you from over his shoulder, at the angry expression on your face where puffs of animated smoke arose, and your hands rubbed raw from having to wash dishes. He smirked. “I never said I was a gentleman.”

You faltered, feeling like a ton of bricks had fallen on your head.

AAARGH! You seriously wanted to pound him into a poundcake for this! You’d only know him for like, what, a day? Maybe two? And he was already unbearable to be with! Did you seriously have to work with this guy…?

“You were supposed to treat me! That was your apology for scaring me half to death and getting me involved in all this! Y’know, a real man would have— oof!”

You bumped right into his frozen backside. After quickly retreating two steps and rubbing your nose, you placed aggravated hands on your hips like some sassy middle school student.

“Oh, what is it now?! Wait, don’t tell me…” You turned one palm to gesture upward. “There’s a demon! Oh NOOOO, what will we— mmph!”

Johnny secured one hand over your mouth, the other balled and ready for action. His voice was tight and laced with concern. “Be quiet, and start walking back, slowly. Get to a populated area as soon as possible. Don’t make a sound you can help, understand?”

What-

“I just don’t understand,” a gruff voice said. “I’m always careful about counting tickets. Jeongin and I sealed the chamber after everyone was accounted for. I know.”

“Well obviously, you miscounted this time.” a second said. The hairs on your neck were beginning to stand. “It’s fine, it’s just one human. That’s nothing compared to the hull we got this time; and anyway, it’s not like they were special or anything. You were probably too distracted by my new sub— I mean, our new plaything, to be paying very good attention.”

The first voice let out an ominous growl.

They were talking about you; you didn’t need the proof of seeing them with your own eyes. Seeing wasn’t always believing. Their voices alone dripped with malice lying secret beneath succulent temptation, the most dangerous of siren songs.

A song...didn’t Johnny mention something about that before?

...Hey, wait a sec. Did those guys just say you weren’t special? 💢 How rude!!

Something pushed you scant but roughly away, towards the faint rays of sunshine feebly reaching out from the nearest shopping district. “Get going. Move.”

You furrowed your brow at the man separating you and danger lurking up ahead. “Okay, okay!” you hissed. “No need to be so rough…”

You’d taken about three nimble steps back the way you came at a cat burglars’ waltz before the mutters up ahead once more caught your attention. When you turned around to look, Johnny had vanished, and you found yourself whipping in every direction before nervously taking shelter behind some pipes jutting out the back of the nearest building.

“Sigh. This is stupid. I could be spending time with our precious doll but instead I’m stuck out here looking for a heap of rubbish.”

The second devil’s eyes grew menacing and serious, a soft purple hue sweeping over the surface. You shuddered at the sudden temperature drop. “My creations are not rubbish. It was just a misfiring of signals caused by the pressure of the oncoming storm. I can ensure that it doesn’t happen again when we get back, now quit whining about your screwup and help me look.”

“...A…” The first demon paused, frowning concern at his partner. “...Not to sound like Jisung, but is that even possible?”

The other snorted, bending down to shuffle through a pile of old broken pipes and other junk. “Han wouldn’t have even known what I’m talking about. But yes, it is possible...ah! Here she is~”

He smiled while pulling out a small toy robot, the hair and paint job looking...rather real. The first demonic being, who you could now see had hair the color of a Halloween sunset and a face full of stars, made a slightly grotesque expression, being sure to hide it stoically the moment his comrade looked back. “Great for you, now can we get back?”

“......” The latter looked sideways, almost seeming to be looking right at you. Your breath hitched, squeezing the pipe in front of you so hard it may well have burst. He closed his eyes with a smile. “...Yeah, sure. But first, there’s something I wanted to get off my chest as well.”

Freckles looked puzzled. “Wha? Right now? To me?” He furrowed his brow with a slightly annoyed pout. “Why? What is it?”

“Well…”

His voice dropped slightly. You leaned forward in a feeble attempt to listen.

“...Do you remember what Chan was saying? About the concern for lack of performers?”

“Huh? When did Chan say— OW! Why did you step on me?!”

The robot man frowned, glaring. “Do you remember what he said now?”

“...Ah…” Freckles glanced around. He suddenly seemed to catch wind of something, smirking the next moment. “...Yes, I do recall hearing something about that. I was, uh...busy...before.”

Mr. Robot rolled his eyes. “...Right...you were at that...thing. Anyway,” he announced loudly, “I don’t know what I’m going to do! He asked me to hire more performers, so I’ve decided to hold tryouts for new talent tonight at 8 pm.”

“Oh? Tonight at 8 pm??”

“Yes,” he repeated rather...automatedly. “Tonight at 8 pm sharp.”

“...”

Freckles abruptly leaned forward, whispering something. Robo-boy heaved a sigh, muttering back, then announced once more, “Oh, fine! We can hold it at 9 pm if that’s what you really want.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to— mm?!” A piece of duct tape was slapped over his mouth from the other’s toolbelt. He began pulling him promptly farther down into the alley, toy doll secured in the other arm.

“Great, so 9 pm sharp then! We better hurry or we won’t be ready for all the star talent!” ...And then they were gone.

You wasted no time scrambling around to find Johnny, wheezing out his name into the dim-lit area: “Johnny! Johnny?! Johnny!! Where are you?”

A flourish of feathers rushed past you from an offbeat breeze, fading into silver dust that vanished in the dank air. Something landed beside you, a bored expression on its face.

“...Don’t tell me you actually believed all that.”

You blinked at him. “What?”

He nodded to where the demons had once been gossiping. “That. Over there. If you couldn’t tell that was a trick to lure you back there, then we have a lot more work to do than I was hoping for.”

Your cheeks inflated to represent a pouting Jigglypuff. “It’s not like that! Don’t be so suspicious, they don’t even know I’m a Sailor Guardian chosen by the Moon!”

“A...A what?”

You grabbed both his hands. “We’ll never know unless we try! This could be our chance to save your one and only true love!!”

“Urk—“ He winced. “...I told you, she’s not my true anything! Quit putting words in my mouth!”

You took a step back. “But—!”

“No.” He groaned. “...I thought you hated being involved in this whole spectacle, anyway. Since when do you want to march into a demon-infested funhouse and pick a fight?”

...You had to think about that a moment. He did have you there; but being a hypocrite was sort of your thing. And what about Evangeline?! “...Since...Since…!” Urgh! “Since I have this! And this!!”

You held up the necklace and whistle proudly, both of which had been resting in your pocket. For some reason, Johnny stared at them in contempt and rising anger. “I told you, these are not toys! And do you mean to tell me you weren’t wearing the necklace this whole time?!”

You’d been cackling proudly until...this point. “...Uh...y-yeah—“

“Idiot!”

“Whaa!” You fell on your bum, the weight of his words sending you flying. Johnny just glared like he had every right to throw you into the nearby dumpsters and trash piles where that toy robot had been. “You’re so naive and dense! I told you, you need to be wearing that necklace at all times! DO NOT take it off, ever, for anything!”

He snatched the whistle out of your hand, leaving marks of anger in his wake. A small hiss of pain left your lips, and you held your breath, gripping the injury in pain. When you let go a second later, a stain of blood greeted your eyes.

You’d opened your mouth to say something back, but he silenced you real quick, waving the silver whistle inches away from your face. “And this is not a toy! You can’t use it whenever you feel like it, or put your full reliance on it! It’s only for a serious emergency when I’m not around, or you get separated from me and need immediate help! It’s strictly for dangerous situations only, as a backup plan! It can’t be your only means of fighting, because I can’t fight all your battles for you! I TOLD you this, I’m not allowed to intervene in the laws of freewill! Why can’t you open your ears and listen to me?!”

“...I-”

“What? You what?” He tsked. “Are you just too stupid and incompetent to do that too? Good grief, you really are useless…hey, wait…” His eyes shifted down, to your hand now nestled in the sleeve of your trendy store-bought Letterman jacket. You were shaking and breaking out in goosebumps all over. “...What’s wrong with your hand?”

You refused to answer him, the silence blaring far and wide. The heated haze gently lifted from over his eyes, awakening him from his rampage; but it was too late.

“...Y/n…” He kneeled down. You let out a hiccup, followed by a sniffle. Guilt quickly took him over. “...Y/n, I’m—“

Your head shot up like a volcano erupting, red-faced and teary-eyed. The atmosphere was yours to command, anger rising over everything. “SAVE IT!” You roared, snatching the whistle back. You ran with all your might down the alley, made a swift turn into civilization, and kept running until you were exhausted and could run no farther, and had to result to power-walking, even after Johnny had called for you to stop, to slow down, to wait, to come back.

You ran all the way home, glaring heatedly at the dumb slender whistle in your hands before tossing it into the blender, and slamming the on button. But for some reason, it refused to start. When you took it out and tested the power, it worked just fine. When you tossed the whistle back in, it wouldn’t start at all.

Letting out another frustrated scream, you instead marched upstairs, throwing open the balcony doors and tossing it as hard as you could into the forest behind your house. You hoped a rabid squirrel or a bobcat would find it and carry it far, far away...maybe swallow it or something.

With a defeated huff you collapsed to your knees, resting your arms and head on the balcony railing. Seriously, why did Johnny have to be like that?! It wasn’t your fault this was all happening so quickly, and there was a lot to take in— forty eight hours ago, you’d been a normal girl just doing your job, minding your own business, living your life. And now you’d been scouted out of nowhere by some tall wack-job claiming to be an angel, when you hadn’t even seen his wings...just a few feathers, and an impulse to believe…

Why? Why were you so gullible? Why would you just believe him without knowing for sure? Even if he did have the strange power to calm you… well, now he’d also hurt you.

Your cellphone buzzed, but you ignored it. The home phone rang, but you let it go to voicemail.

“Y/n, it’s me. Pick up. We need to talk.”

What the heck...how did he get your phone number? How did he…?

Hng. You were starting to learn not to question Johnny, save for the matter of his true identity, in the scheme of how fast things were going. He may be an angel, and he may not be. But he was basically out of your league in terms of being crafty and resourceful.

A notification bell chimed from your computer, the screen coming to life. You could have sworn you turned it off before leaving the house, though…

You sat down at your desk and searched for a notification to respond to, but there was nothing. Strange. Wait...what was this?

There was a window minimized on standby. You opened it, finding a digital flyer for the Twisted Karnival.

The words spoken by the two demons before resonated in your mind: tryouts for new talent. 9 pm sharp.

Your fingers tightened around the necklace still in one hand, and as much as you wanted to hurl it off the balcony as well, you threw it over your head instead, burying the pendant beneath your shirt. You were still mad, but if you were going to do this, you weren’t going to be stupid about it. You’d march right over there and blend in perfectly; you’d put on a disguise so good, no one would be able to recognize you, not demons, not even Johnny! And this necklace would provide you with protection, just like he said! ...That was what he said, right…? ...Whatever. You’d make this work no matter what! Even if it was a trap! You’d just have to turn it around and bust that trap! Then he’d really see who was useless!!

“Who’s resourceful now?” You’d say. “Huh?!”

A sharp sting pierced your right hand, and you winced, shutting down your computer and running across the hall to wash the wound. It really wasn’t that bad of a scratch, so you had no idea why it was stinging so much…

Sigh. There were a lot of things you didn’t know as of late. Instead, glaring back at your reflection in the bathroom mirror, you decided to focus on things that you did know.

And one of those things was that you were about to prove Johnny very wrong.

~ ☽✮☾ ~

After taking a nap to be in tip-top shape for kicking demon ass, fueled by rage and determination to prove a point, you awoke just shy of eight to find you’d gained a bit of common sense...in other words, you were starting to have doubts.

According to plan, you were to march into uncharted enemy territory that had a 50% chance of being (...okay, 99.9%...) a trap, without Johnny, without anyone, to fight supernatural beings that possessed freaky powers you likely didn’t stand a chance against. You had no strategy, no combat experience, and no weapon save for the silver cross that was supposed to keep you safe somehow; but you couldn’t even remember exactly what it did. Something about making you invisible, maybe…? ...There was just so much information…

Perhaps you needed to think this through a bit more carefully, now that the previous flames of anger had died down to a subtle wisp of ember. With the smoke clearing, you were now able to see the real danger that lied up ahead; it was like you were standing there all over again, on carnival grounds, watching that girl’s life being sucked away…

No, not sucked away. It’d been corrupted. She’d been put under some sort of spell, and supposedly, you were the only one...or at least, the one chosen...to stop it. Johnny has chosen you for this. There was something he said...there was a reason you were chosen for this. Again, too much information in too little time…

...What if that was you? What if you rushed in there, full of spirit but no power to back it up, and ended up just like her?

...Even if that were to be the case, and you were wrong, and Johnny did turn out to be crazy, you couldn’t just abandon the thought of someone in need. Not when you’d seen her suffering with your own eyes, waiting to be saved.

You still didn’t know why it had to be you, but time was running out, your alarm clock reading 8:15. You’d made up your mind. You’d just have to find out along the way. If you died trying, well, hey— at least you died trying. You wouldn’t turn your back on someone in danger.

And even if I did call the police,what are they gonna do? Heck, the demons would probably brainwash them and have ME arrested instead. 🗿💧 There’s no way I’d be able to afford a bail fee on my school salary!!

Okay, y/n, it was time to get ready! Game on!! —Hey, hold on.

After jumping out of bed with a fiery new spirit, you looked down to your hand before you. The injury Johnny had given you…

...was completely gone.

~ ~ ~

Standing outside the carnival gates was like standing at the gates of a cemetery. As creepy and unfavorable as one could imagine, it was ten times worse.

You hadn’t known what to wear exactly in regards to the demon-slaying-attire department, but you also needed a good disguise, so you’d opted for your one-piece swimsuit from middle school that you miraculously found lying in your closet and just as miraculously still fit your matured body. A solid navy blue, you paired it with some stretchy ballet flats and a trench coat similar to Johnny’s belonging to your roommate, Jisung...more on him later. Basically you’d probably be owing him a new one after this, which may or may not have been more expensive than a brainwashed-officer’s bail fee...since it was…

Givenchy?! 😱 S-Son of a—

“Oh! There you are!”

AHH!

The appearance of Cherry Boy nearly made you jump out of your skin. He was so close, his face smiling sweetly to you from the other side of the twisted black fence, the thickening fog washing out his pale features (other than that blindingly bright red mop on his head). You pulled your Jisung’s jacket like a hug.

“Uhm...y-yes! Hahah, heeere I am~”

A strangely excited glint filled the young boy’s eye. Oddly enough, he didn’t move to unlock the gate for you or anything; in fact, he did the opposite, stepping back into the dense miasma as the gate just...opened itself… “You almost didn’t make it! Good thing you got here on time! Auditions are about to start!”

Your jaw was about to drop, but you did good to snap it shut, not wanting to show any forward emotion that may tip him off. You were an unsuspecting young girl, just trying her luck at auditioning to perform in the risingly-famous Twisted Karnival. No big— ...

Hold on. Cherry Boy had seen you. He’d gotten dangerously close to you and looked right in your eyes and spoken directly to you. But…

Weakly, but with fever, you patted your chest. Checked your pockets.

Johnny’s necklace was gone.

“Are you coming~? No need to be shy! Come on in! Oh, what’s your name?”

You stared horrifically into the blank atmosphere filled with mist. You couldn’t see Cherry Boy anywhere. “...Y/n...I mean!” Shit. “That’s what I wish my name would have been! But it’s really, uh...uh...S-Samantha!”

You could no longer see the demonic redhead anymore, but you could feel his presence twice as strong. His voice sounded as if he were right in front of you. “Samantha…? Hm. You sure don’t look like that name suits you at all. No offense or anything, it’s still such a lovely name for a lovely young lady~”

And then he was right behind you. His breath tickling your ear.

“Say, since you like the name y/n so much, how about we call you that instead? What do you think about that?”

...You thought you were this close to whopping this guy in his cute face and making a break for the shelter you passed two left turns ago. But alas, he was gently walking you forward, escorting you to your doom awaiting you in one of the many striped tents hidden in the mist. No turning back now.

The moment you crossed the gate’s threshold, something instantly didn’t feel right.

“So what will you be auditioning for today?” he asked in a bright, cheerful voice. It stood out like a sore thumb given the dank depressing carnival air. “Oh, I’m not one of the judges or anything, I’m simply curious to know.”

Okay, this was it. You’d decided on the way over that you would be auditioning in some form of acrobatics, since you’d also had minor experience in gymnastics as a kid and well...that’s really all you had to go on…

You sunk your head farther down into Jisung’s thousand-dollar jacket. Man. This plan is already proving to have way too many holes. What should I do?

You had to give him some kind of answer. “Um...yeah, sure! I’m...auditioning for…” You gulped. Felt his eyes glued to you, like a bullet to the back of the head. “...Uh, it’s a surprise! No spoilers!”

You’d jumped forward and spun around, making an X with your hands. Cherry Boy blinked.

“...Oh, I see! Yes, of course...wouldn’t want to ruin the fun!”

“Right?!” Phew.

“Yes, of course~” He stepped around you, pulling open the side-flap of a smaller tent to your left. “Well, here we are!”

“Oh, but…” You examined the size of the tent. No we ain’t. “This isn’t the main tent?”

“...No, it isn’t.” Cherry Boy confessed. He pointed somewhere North, maybe toward the center of the carnival. It was too hard to tell with all this blasted fog in the way. “The Main Tent is that way. I’ll be escorting you there once you finish getting ready! We have a professional makeup artist on standby, so hurry and get changed, and we may be able to make it on time!”

A wha??

“H-Hold on— I already have a costume—!” …

There was no holding on. He’d already pushed and closed you inside.

The tent was small and dim-lit by candlelight, barely big enough for four people. It held a trunk, a narrow wardrobe, and a compact vanity with a box of tissues and makeup supplies. A smiling young woman was waiting for you, one leg crossed over the other in her tight pencil skirt and bright pink lipstick. She looked...a little pale and...out of place. Like she didn’t belong in a circus, or a carnival, or whatever.

The woman didn’t say anything, not even when you slightly waved and muttered a less-than-confident hello. She stood up, gestured for you to sit down, and started mechanically slapping random compacts of powders and shadows to your face. The oddest scent of burnt rubber filled the air the more she awkwardly jerked and moved…

“Um...are you okay…?” You frowned. “Ma’am, you’re kind of...well, your movements are—”

She dropped the blush she was holding and paced over to the other side of the tent, jerkily, where the wardrobe was. Something snapped as she took a step halfway there, and she suddenly dipped, but before you could finish gasping at her expense and leap across the space to steady her she’d righted herself like nothing happened. Uncomfortable with all of it, you stared strangely at the blush that simply rested on the floor.

“Hey, Miss? Are you sure you should be working right now? I think that maybe you oughta go home...also, I’m sorry but, I don’t know the policy here...is makeup supposed to be left on the floor?”

She, again, didn’t answer. Something clicked and sparked while she rummaged the closet, though, and next thing you knew she was wrestling you into a new outfit.

“Hey, hold on, stop it! I don’t need a costume, I brought my own! I’m wearing it! Please— ack!”

Your face smacked into plastic, floor-abandoned foundation shoved up your nose.

After managing to shove her off and sneezing/coughing a few times, you were yanked before a mirror that...definitely wasn’t there before. Spooky…oh, but…!

The girl that greeted you back actually wasn’t that bad. Her makeup was kind of sloppy, but the idea behind it was pretty classy and kinda sexy. The outfit you now wore— a pure white leotard with an open back and a flashy, glittering pink trail (y’know, those skirts that are open in the front, like a cape for your waist), and pristine, matching white gloves— altogether, the ensemble was...dare you admit...actually pretty dang cute.

This woman may have had too much caffeine or been drunk off her ass, but she knew what she was doing in the scheme of things. “Say, this is actually really cute! Thanks!”

She bowed. Very unnaturally. It was way too low, like you were royalty or something, and you could have sworn there was a spark next to her hip. Weird. When she didn’t get back up and you could hear Cherry Boy calling, asking if you were ready, you snatched your Jisung’s coat and skipped out of there, muttering another awkward thanks.

Outside the tent Cherry Boy was grinning at you from ear to ear, a disgustingly adorable rosy tone to his cheeks that counteracted to your false one. Curse him. “Wow, look at you!” He padded closer to stroke your cheek, an action you didn’t call for to occur. It left you stiff and frozen solid, color fleeing where his skin met yours. “...That outfit certainly is stunning...to make a last debut in.”

Those last words didn’t quite make sense to you, but you were more concerned with the way he was examining you, scanning his eyes up and down the length of your body like you were an exhibit on display, and he was an aspiring artist, trying to take in everything that he could…and the fact that he still had his hand on you…

You felt like a corpse. But also, for some unnamed reason, you felt almost angry...

“Jeongin! Hurry up— oh!”

Both you and Cherry Boy— Jeongin, you guessed— pivoted your heads in the direction a new player called from the main stage. After only seeing a silhouette for the longest two seconds of your life, at last, Mr. Robot himself came into view.

Nervously, you gripped the sides of your sparkly half-skirt, shivering from both the chill of settling mist and the heavy negative vibes ascending in the air. When Jeongin released you, you stumbled back a step and a half, gripping the gaping hole swelling in your gut. Your mind clouded with backlash thicker than this impenetrable fog: how stupid this was, how dumb you were, that you should have never come—

You came to a death trap empty handed with no survival skills or redeeming known qualities except that you were somehow “the one.” ...Were you insane?!

Just like Johnny’s outburst, it was too late to escape. You were already too far in. Two of them now knew you were here, and you couldn’t even run if you’d wanted to; fear held you down like a magnet, and the hole in your stomach was beginning to fester.

Yet, beneath that, in the pit of your stomach, in the center of that swirling vortex, there was also something...stirring…

...Maybe you just need to throw up again. “You must be the last audition we’ve been waiting for! Everyone else has already gone, we’re just waiting for you!” Robo-boy smiled like a kid that knew he’d won before the game was over. “Are you ready?”

You dragged your foot a step back, then another, clinging to your coat for dear life. It was a miracle you even found your voice at all. “H-How did you know I was going to audition? How did you know I’d come here?”

...What? The jig was basically up anyway.

“Hmm…” He thought. Or pretended to. “I suppose you could say we had...a hunch.”

And then you aren’t sure what happened, because the next second his eyes were glowing that purple hue you saw in the alleyway, only it was stronger now...brighter...and you were left with nothing but a will to follow him.

Though you could no longer control your movements, you still had an awareness that was all your own. Jeongin and Robot Guy snickered the whole way they led you to the Main Tent, joking about how they wished they’d had more time to play and experiment before it was time for you “to go.” They laughed at the expense of how smoothly you’d just waltzed right into their plan, and Robo Boy in particular stated something along the lines of hoping one “Chan” would allow him to use your body as a spare part (or spare parts) for some side project he was working on...whatever the heck that was supposed to be. It didn’t sound good.

You jerked and jimmied on the inside, pulling back with all your might, but it proved fruitless on the out. Like you weren’t even struggling at all.

Dang it, dammit all! I can’t move!!

Struggle and pull as you might, it was completely useless...just like Johnny had called you. Useless. You really were useless…

The two demons (well one, really) marched you through the back entrance of the mothership, down a dark passageway, and directly to the stage...only to make an unannounced sharper-than-a-knife right turn and up a tall ladder hidden behind some dull velvet curtains. Every step and reach was intensified, like your senses had become twice as strong; you were more than aware of what was happening, being forced to lock in on the current moment.

When you reached the top, you were standing on a thin white platform...with nothing but a thin, fraying rope that led to the other side. To a matching platform some three hundred, four hundred feet away.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Robot Boy called from below. “But I riffled through your brain and found a coherent thought about wanting to try your luck at a game of balance? It should prove to be quite...interesting.”

He let you look downward, only for a moment. If allowed to show expression, your jaw would have hit the floor...er, platform. The main tent was HUGE— way more massive within that it looked outside. It was like a freakin’ coliseum made to look more festive and carnival-istic, though gothic-ly so. There had to be at least a thousand seats, probably more...and all sorts of strange equipment and contraptions littered the stage. Canons, various raised platforms, hoops, some large...vacuum...thing?

The demonic population had grown. Instead of two, there were now seven of them...and after you’d closed and opened your eyes, a whole room full. Every seat had been filled: with a demonic creature, a shadowy blob, or some kind of horrific mortification of the two…

You wanted to scream, but you couldn’t. Tilting your head to face forward again, two of the seven original monsters had teleported themselves to be waiting on the platform opposite to you, one sitting, the other standing. The standing one flashed you a smile that would have been priceless were it not tainted by brutality and fear; the other one, a short but muscular man sitting down, was holding a ball of fire in one hand. He rolled it gently onto the twine connecting the distance between, and the whole thing engulfed in a line of fire. You whimpered, but still couldn’t move.

The Givenchy coat caught onto the flames, or perhaps the flames caught onto it— regardless, it burned away and crumbled to ash, but amazingly the fire didn’t touch your body...or at least, you didn’t feel anything. You were now standing vacantly in the borrowed outfit that was most likely your funeral gown. Nothing but a hollowed version of your former self.

The standing demon that had a killer smile to boot flashed you his pearly whites in the most graceful way possible, and carefully but with little effort he walked into the flames, though he remained completely unscathed. He padded and strolled across the wire with the gracefulness of a swan, pausing when he reached the center. He did not waver, didn’t lose his balance or second guess himself, for an instant, never taking his eyes off of you rather than where he was walking. He extended a graceful hand out to you.

“Come to me...my angel.”

His eyes glowed green, the color of emeralds in a sea of fire. It was beautiful, mesmerizing…

Slowly, you raised you right slipper, taking a placid step forward—

“Y/N!!!”

Huh…? Who—

A blindingly white light pierced the skies, washing out everything around it.

“Release!!!” Someone yelled.

One of the demons cursed, and whatever spell that had been holding you vanished, your heart turning you towards the source. Could it be…? Was it really…?

It was. You smiled.

“Johnny!”

...And then feeling something hot and burning dangerously close, stared into the pits of hell you’d almost walked and fell into. “AAAAAH!!”

Something swooped by and grabbed you, like an eagle catching and carrying off its prey. Fearfully, you tilted your head back to see…

“Johnny!!” :D

“Yes, you already announced that,” he smirked. But wait…

Curiously, you focused blurry eyes on what had been supporting the weight of you both behind him. It was soft and feathery, a mix of brown and white, glowing faintly with a yellow-golden aura…

It was Johnny’s wings. He really was an angel...for real this time.

“Don’t worry,” he said, zigzagging slightly to avoid incoming fireballs and flying daggers. “You’re safe now, I promise. But you have to—“

“WHAAAAAA!!!”

“W-Why are you still crying?! I just told you you were safe!”

“That’s not iiiiiit!” You sobbed. “I...I thought bad of you before. I still didn’t believe what you were saying, but...you were telling the truth all along. ...And…” You looked up to him with teary eyes. “J-Jisung’s jacket...I’ll never be able to pay it off! I’m gonna be poor forever!! Whaaaa…!!!”

“What—?” 💧

“Grrr…” one of the demons growled. “Quit MOVING!!”

A flaming kunai came hurling after the two of you at blinding speed compared to the previous attacks, and at last your luck had run out...or maybe not. Fortunately, though Johnny went down with a hurt wing, the two of you managed to crashland on the nearest platform, and he flicked the knife away like it’d only barely punctured him.

“Goodbye, BLTs…” you sobbed, still too hung up on broke-life. “Goodbye, kpop album collection—“

Johnny gave you the 🗿💧 face. “You can cry about being broke later! Right now, I need you to focus on becoming Sailor Moon and stopping these guys!”

“What?! But why can’t you— aah!”

You both ducked for cover as a flaming frisbee-contraption nearly cut both your heads clean off, slicing through the pole behind you. Gulp.

Johnny scowled, his temper rising again. “I TOLD you already! Don’t make me have this argument with you again, I— ...hnn,” he groaned. “I’m sorry...for the way I treated you before. I should have found a better way of introducing all this to you. I should have known better and I shouldn’t have lost my temper…” His eyes sparked with a fire as he turned to you, determination leaking from every part of him. “But right now I need you to set all that aside and focus on the mission! Please! You can do it, Sailor Y/n!”

“B-But…” You faltered still. “I-I don’t know how! What am I supposed to do?!”

“For starters,” he squinted his eyes, tossing something over your head. “Wear this. And don’t lose it next time!”

“Ahh!” You smiled gleefully, relief washing over your nervous system. “The necklace! You found it!”

“Enough talk!” A new demon you had yet to meet, with smooth parted hair and a tiger at each side of him, smiled up at you from the center stage. “I have orders from Chan. We are to eliminate this girl and the angel immediately.”

Uh-oh. You worriedly took a few steps back, as his eyes glowed a yellow hue that only got brighter. The beast beside him growled and hissed, positioning themselves to pounce and attack.

“All of you stand back. I’ll finish her myself.”

“What? No fair, you and Felix and Seungmin always have all the fun, with your dumb tinkering and running around selling tickets.”

“...That’s Felix and Jeongin, Han.” Robot Demon said.

Han rolled his eyes. “Yeah, whatever. Minho and everyone else gets to have just as much fun. I haven’t even gotten to do anything yet!”

“Would you shut up?!” Green-eyes yelled from above. “All you do is ride that dumb bike of yours all over camp! It’s annoying and you’re constantly running into stuff and scaring away potential victims!”

Han’s eyes glowed pink. “Oh-ho! Looks like someone remembered to take his bitchy pill this morning, huh Hyunjin~? PMS still got you down?”

Green-eyes...threw his shoe at him.

Freckles— Felix— sighed, scowling almost as much as Robot Guy (Seungmin?) and the others were. He placed his hands on his hips in a familiar sassy-middle school student pose. “Can we maybe not fight right now? If you haven’t noticed, we have company.”

Hyunjin blinked, shifting his attention to the star-faced boy. “Woah, hey, was Felix actually sensible just now?”

“ENOUGH!” Minho barked. Everyone else snapped to attention. He sighed. “All of you stay out of this and go strengthen the barrier or something. Let me handle these two, I’m more than enough of a match.”

“For a little girl and an old man?” Han scoffed. “I’d hope so.”

“Go.”

“Hmph.” Han swung around over a bike behind him, probably the one Hyunjin had been complaining about. “Fine. I’m out of here.” He smirked. “I’m gonna go cut in line to play with my doll~”

Hyunjin stared at the retreating dust incredulously as he zoomed away. “WHAT?! Oh no you’re not! I have her next!”

He flipped off the tightrope with ease, landing just as gracefully as before and retrieving his missing shoe. He then hightailed it after him.

“......” The man who’d quietly been sitting on the platform (besides trying to kill you with flaming balls of fire) sighed once they left, jumping down the long distance and landing like it was nothing as well. “I better go make sure they don’t kill each other again. You got this, Minho?”

Minho growled. “I told you, I did. Get out of here.”

He held his hands up, rolling his eyes a bit. “Okay, okay. See you later.”

He met your eyes before vanishing, the orbs glowing orange. You “eep”-ed and covered yours, and you heard a distant chuckling as he vanished from sight.

When you opened them, a small fire burned at your feet.

“AHHH! Hot, hot, HOT!!”

You danced and jumped into Johnny’s arms, the remaining demons chuckling at your expense.

“Awww, did Changbin’s fire burn you? It’ll be okay, if you come down here and let my babies eat you, I’ll make sure it’s a swift and painless death.”

“Hey, wait,” Seungmin frowned. “Leave her body in one piece. I may be able to use it for my latest side project.”

Minho frowned more. “You sure as hell didn’t say anything when Changbin and Felix were throwing flaming daggers.”

“That’s because I knew they’d miss. You actually have a chance of mauling her.”

In the background, Felix twitched. “Hey! I did so land a hit!”

“Yeah, one. That did little to no damage.”

“Shut up!!”

They just kept going back and forth like this. Back and forth, back and forth. As they bickered, you followed Johnny’s gaze to one of the far side entrances, where the ones called Han and Hyunjin had disappeared through.

You thought. And pondered. And puzzled. Until…

“Oh!” You declared, landing a fist in your palm. “That must be where they’re keeping your one true love!”

“Huh?!”

The remaining three demons all turned to look at you. Wait, you could have sworn there’d been four, though…? “Hm? Coming up with a strategy to escape?” Minho chuckled, crouching down. “I can’t allow that.”

Now it was your turn to scowl, a new confidence suddenly swirling within you like a vortex. Really, you were just tired of being here, and getting kind of hungry.

You pointed an accusatory finger at Minho, mimicking your best Sailor Moon pose. “Augh, enough already! I’m sick of being here and I wanna go home!” You flashed a few more poses, giving your best fighting stance. “Alright demons, listen up! In the name of the Moon™, I’m shutting this carnival down! Get ready!”

“U-Uh…” Behind you, Johnny began to sweat.

Minho laughed again, the other two standing their ground with a smirk. “Are you now?” He ran a hand down the back of one of his beasts, the creature both purring and growling lowly. “And just how do you plan on doing that? Hm?”

…Well once again, the supernatural had gotten you there. “Uh...I’ll…” You wracked your brain for an suitable answer that wouldn’t make you sound too dumb or inexperienced. “...report you to the BBB! I’ll make sure to leave a bad review, too! No stars!”

Johnny facepalmed.

“......” Minho turned over his shoulder. “...What is she talking about? What’s a BBB?”

Felix shrugged, appearing just as lost. “No idea. Let’s just take her soul and give it to this guy. It’s gonna be my turn to play with our doll soon. ♥ ”

Like beetle juice, Hyunjin reappeared in the doorway, arms stretched wide in prehistoric rage like a certain popular internet meme. His hair and clothes were a mess from the previous battle with Han. “Wha?! No way, Chan said I could have her next!”

Minho began groaning and growling all over again. “Quit fooling around! We have to fight already!”

Felix gave him a skeptical glare. “What? But you told us to—“

“Be quiet!” His eyes shone brighter. “Go get her!”

“Grrrrwar!”

The tigers both pounced in unison, landing halfway up the pole and making an unnaturally powerful climb toward you. You shrieked, latching back onto Johnny and demanding he take you as far and high into the clouds as he could go.

But he didn’t. Instead, he pushed you off (gently...ish), squaring your shoulders to face him as death quickly crawled up from below. “Listen! I’m only going to say this once! You can and will do this! Believe in yourself!”

“WHAT?!” It was an understatement to say you were panicking; you were downright having a nervous breakdown. “WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?! I LIED, I CAN’T SHUT ANYTHING DOWN!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO—“

And then he just...floated away from you.

Your jaw dropped. “JOHNNY!!!”

“Grwar!!”

“AAAA!!!”

You braced yourself as one of the tigers pounced, knocking you back. When someone (Johnny) broke your fall but you still managed to land with a thud, you wasted no time hopping to your feet and making a beeline for the exit, tossing as many obstacles as you could behind you in an attempt to give yourself time.

“Stay away! Leave me alone!! EEP!!!”

You tripped as the other tiger came out of nowhere, tackling you down. Because Johnny intervened and held it back for a fraction of a second, you instead skidded forward, faceplanting a far wall.

“Ow…! Dang it…” You looked back over your shoulder, as Minho and the two beasts were closing in, twistedly stalking closer. Spinning and pressing yourself as hard against the wall as you could, your eyes frantically scanned the area for Johnny, but he was too busy distracting the other two...really three...from ganging up on you, even if Minho had insisted for them not to.

“It’s over…” He mused, splaying an open hand toward you. “Finish her.”

“GrwaAAAAR!!”

“AAAA—!!!”

...This was it. You held your breath. Shielded your face. Closed your eyes. Waited for it to be over…

…But, then…

Time came to a stop. Your stomach churned, swirling, the vortex growing stronger. Stronger, stronger, and stronger, until…

You heard Johnny gasp, the chaos of battle coming to a halt. “Y/n…!!”

“Ahhh...aAAAAAAH!!!”

Something dark and vibrant exploded throughout the room, the source coming from your stomach. The fabric over the area burned away, leaving a sizzling hole, rays of ultraviolet light beaming forth. It sent the creatures fixing to murder you flying the other way, soaring past Minho, who cringed and squinted his eyes, shielding them with one arm. The sudden windstorm caused his hair and clothes to whip around him, all of it like a scene out of a movie…

“What...What the hell…?! ...Nngh, ahh!”

Then he went flying as well. But not from the wind as you’d momentarily thought. When the light faded and the air settled down, a dark shadow landed before you, having attacked Minho. The shadows dripped and slithered into a pool beneath it’s center, revealing…

A boy. A man with purple hair.

From somewhere far off, you heard Johnny say something, remaining as still as the waters of a cysteine chapel:

“...Oh, shit…”

...Guess he did swear after all.

~ ☽✮☾ ~

A/N: Hi, everyone! c: Thank you for reading the Dark Rising series thus far, it’s been a blast to write! If you liked this story, please do me favor and give it a like and reblog! And be sure to leave me your thoughts in the tags or my inbox, it means a lot and I’d greatly appreciate it! Thank you so much for reading; I’ll see you in Act Three!! <3

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ditherwings · 4 years

Text

Magic Trick—A Good Omens Secret Santa Gift Fic

This is my belated GO Secret Santa gift for @hardly-functioning-morals! I’m sorry it’s late, but hope you like it!

Sorry about the odd formatting; I had to post this on mobile, and it came out a bit wonky. I expect I’ll cross post this to AO3 once I have a chance, and clean it up. My account there is bastet_in_april.

***

Magic Trick

by bastet_in_april (ditherwings), for hardly-functioning-morals

Aziraphale had always developed fascinations for peculiarly specific bits of human culture, and Crowley usually enjoyed indulging even the ones that he found a bit odd. What was the draw in Regency-period silver snuff boxes, for instance? It wasn’t as though Aziraphale had any particular use for them--he didn’t use snuff, and so had no reason to wish for a dainty container as a means to carry the stuff about in a pocket. Crowley saw little interest in collecting ancient leather-bound first editions with cracked spines and dusty pages, either. He didn’t read, he liked to insist, and, if that was a lie, then surely glossy coffee table books full of remarkable photos were more his style.

Still, Crowley loved to indulge Aziraphale’s fascinations. He enjoyed the excitement on his face as he examined a new find for his bookshop, turning the pages carefully with gloved hands. He loved the surprise on Aziraphale’s face when Crowley present him with a beautifully engraved little snuffbox, with mother-of-pearl inlay. He loved the way Aziraphale would expound on the delights of a new patisserie shop, and the way his eyes would roll up ever so slightly at the ecstasy of a perfectly prepared piece of nigirizushi.

Stage magic, though, was where Crowley drew the line.

It had happened while Crowley was asleep. In 1871, an up-and-coming stage magician named Alexander Herrmann parted ways with his brother Carl, in order to establish his reputation via a solo act. While Carl continued to tour Europe, Alexander headed for London.

In 1871, Aziraphale was still an angry, terrified recluse. It had been nine years since his fateful meeting with Crowley in St. James’s Park. He hadn’t seen Crowley since their argument, and he wasn’t sure whether he was more likely to dissolve into tears or shouting if he saw Crowley again, or, frighteningly, if he didn’t. So he stayed in his shop, fretfully conditioning old leather bindings and being increasingly curt with the few customers who dared cross the shop’s threshold. Perhaps the neighborhood noticed. Perhaps it was a concerned neighbor who thought that odd Mr. Fell really ought to get out of that dusty old shop more often who slipped the advertisement under the shop’s door. Perhaps it was simply a paperboy who’d been paid a bit extra to distribute the fliers. Perhaps it was chance. Perhaps it was ineffable.

Regardless, Aziraphale picked up the flier and was charmed and arrested by the image of the thin man with the goatee and curling mustache, dressed smartly in a black tailcoat and brandishing a magic wand. “Herrmann the Great!” it proclaimed. “Master of the Magical Arts! Now Performing at the Egyptian Hall!” The man was surrounded by whirling petals, playing cards, and doves in flight, and comically outlandish cartoon demons peered from the edges of the playbill to marvel at the magician.

Helpless, Aziraphale’s first thought was that this was exactly the sort of show Crowley would love--a perfect chance to see humanity’s remarkable capacity for imagination at work, while the demon snarked and snickered into his hand at the feats of “magic,” from where he sprawled into his seat. Aziraphale crushed that thought down into something small and sad, like a crumpled ball of paper, and tucked it neatly away. He took a deep breath. There was no reason not to attend the show on his own. He couldn’t hide in his shop forever, as the world continued to move around him. And perhaps Crowley would have the same thought, and Aziraphale might yet see him in the crowd at the Egyptian Hall, heckling the performer and downing expensive wine.

So it was that Aziraphale found himself in a packed theater, its ceiling bedecked with pseudo-Egyptian frescoes complete with strings of artistic renderings of hieroglyphic text (having resided in Egypt for a time during the Ramesside period, and categorically unable to resist reading anything with words on it, if it was within view, Aziraphale was rather bemused to find that the hieroglyphs on the column to the left of him read, “your mother keeps house with water buffalo, and your father smells of lotus root”). Aziraphale was disappointed not to spot a familiar shock of red hair, or a distinctively sauntering gait, amongst the theatergoers.

The crowd buzzed with excitement as Herrmann took the stage, looking theatrically dapper in a tailcoat and tophat, and slightly malevolent, with his goatee and curled moustache like a villain from a penny dreadful. He produced a deck of cards, seemingly from thin air, fanning them out in flourishes, conjuring them from audience members’ pockets, and then turning them into an explosion of colorful ribbons that streamed through the air. Aziraphale felt himself get drawn into the show, as pieces of set dressing--grand fruit trees, ruby-colored lamps, even a burbling fountain--appeared in puffs of incense-scented purple or green smoke. The crowd gasped in wonder or shock, as Herrmann unveiled each new wonder. He produced a dove from a woman’s evening glove, making her laugh with delight. To the surprise of the crowd a rabbit leaped from his tophat, after he tapped it twice with his wand. The onlookers erupted into delighted laughter, as the conjurer tried and failed to convince it to return to his hat, finally turning it into a monogrammed handkerchief, instead. Aziraphale marvelled quietly at the ingenuity of humans, to create miracles of their own. This was so different from the times he had witnessed angelic miracles being performed before crowds of humans. That had been a thing of terror, each witnessing mortal made small and helpless before the gaze of Michael or Gabriel. The magician, conjuring marvels and wielding powers the crowd did not comprehend, instead welcomed them into the experience with humor and charm, sharing the wonder of it with them, and delighting in their reactions.

Aziraphale thought again of Crowley, and bit his lip.

The magician waded a bit further into the crowd, pulling a shiny coin from behind a boy’s ear, and offering him the prize. He paused before Aziraphale, and doffed his silk top hat, offering it to Aziraphale, “You, good sir! Look into my hat! Can you confirm for the crowd that it is empty?” Aziraphale stood, peering into the hat, before agreeing for the rest of the audience that it was empty, and an ordinary hat, as far as he could perceive. “Thank you! Now I see by the lines of care and worry upon your brow that something troubles you, so I have the spirits to deliver a wonder to set your heart at ease. The imps and spectres have told me that what you fear shall not come to pass! Now, reach into this empty hat, and see the wonder the demon has delivered as a sign!”

Aziraphale reached into the silk hat, and felt his hand close around a smooth, round shape. He pulled forth a perfect, shining red apple.

***

Mrs. and Mr. Device were celebrating their anniversary by going on a short trip to the seaside, and needed a babysitter to look after six-year-old Magrat. Adam and the Them had each been given due consideration as potential sitters, but it was nearing end-of-term at school, and university applications and exams were making the teens look increasingly unglued. While Madame Tracey might be trusted with a small child, both parents agreed that Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell (retired) was a last resort, only in case of impending apocalypse, option. So, after some deliberation, and after Anathema’s cousin had begged off due to plans involving concert tickets, the professional descendant (retired) and witch (current) rang up Crowley’s mobile.

Crowley always sounded hunted when he answered his mobile, as if he were a bit worried about whose voice might be on the other, but was pretending at nonchalance. “Yeah, who’s this?” he asked. “Anathema Device,” Anathema answered.

“Book Girl!” Crowley exclaimed, relaxing. He’d attended her wedding, and known her for years, but some nicknames stuck. She rolled her eyes.

“Are you and Aziraphale free on Thursday evening? Newt and I are going on a day trip, and need someone to look after Magrat while we’re away.”

“And you thought you’d ask a demon to babysit?”

“I thought I’d ask my friend. Don’t pretend you don’t adore babysitting her. She told me that you read her stories, last time, and did all the voices.”

“What can I say, she’s a little hellion. What’s not to love?” Crowley hummed thoughtfully. “Give me a moment.” There was a pause in which Anathema could hear Crowley having a murmured conversation with Aziraphale, before Crowley lifted the mobile again, voice coming through clear and audible. “Sure, we can take her for the day. You two kids go have some fun.”

Anathema breathed a soft exhalation of relief. Promise secured, she began to let Crowley know exactly what he was in for.

***

Magrat Device did not want a babysitter. She was very certain that she should be allowed to stay up late on her own, thank you very much. She knew how to work a microwave, and had her parents on speed dial, and wouldn’t eat ice cream for dinner (honest!).

Her parents disagreed, which was why Crowley and Aziraphale were currently poring over a takeout menu, on her parents’ couch, trying to determine what one might order in to feed a six year old.

Anathema and Newt had named their daughter Magrat because Anathema knew the value, to a growing child, of being able to read one’s name in a book. Newt was pleased that this book, at least, while full of witches, fools, kings, and mistaken identity, did not involve an apocalypse.

It wasn’t that Magrat didn’t like spending time with Crowley and Aziraphale. The last time they had babysat her, they had gone to the park and Aziraphale had showed her how to feed the ducks, and Crowley had gotten her an ice cream, and then they had gone home and read from her favorite book--the one that had her name in it. But, the thing was, that had been when Magrat was five. Now, Magrat was six, and that was different. Six was grown up. Six year olds didn’t need babysitters, because six year olds weren’t babies.

“What would you like to eat, dear girl?” Aziraphale asked. “Is a curry too spicy? Or would you like some of the smoked trout and quiche from that lovely little cafe down the street.”

Magrat scowled, shoulders hunched up near her ears. “I don’t want anything to eat.”

“You’re a growing child. Can’t you try to eat something?” The angel looked pleadingly at her. “It’s alright if you don’t finish it, but I shouldn’t like to think of you going hungry.”

Magrat shook her head stubbornly.

“Tell you what,” Crowley said. “How about we order a sampler of a few things, and if anything piques your interest, you can try some of it. If not? Well, we’ll just leave the leftovers for your parents--save them having to cook tomorrow.”

When the takeaway arrived, it smelled enticingly of saffron, spices, butter, and fresh bread. Magrat stubbornly turned away, even as her stomach growled.

“Right,” Crowley decided, clapping his hands and straightening up out of his artful sprawl. “I know you don’t want to be babysat. Why would you? You aren’t a baby, and babysitting just sounds a bit demeaning. Or painful. The thing is, though, we aren’t just your babysitters, Magrat.” He tilted his head down to meet her hazel-colored eyes. She could just catch a glimpse of his bright yellow ones beneath the dark lenses of the sunglasses. “You’re a witch, so we’re your magic babysitters. Like when Hagrid took Harry Potter to Diagon Alley for school supplies.”

Magrat came slowly out of her slouch, considering this. “You’re not magic, though,” she argued. “Not like wizards, or witches, anyway. You’re an angel and a demon. You don’t have magic wands, or pointy hats, or cauldrons. You don’t pull rabbits out of hats. You might as well just be boring old regular babysitters, like Wensleydale or Auntie Sue.”

Aziraphale perked up, looking triumphant. “Oh, you think so, do you?” he asked. “Find me a hat, my dear, and we shall see!”

Crowley groaned. “Oh, angel, please not that. If she wants a rabbit, just miracle one up! Don’t you remember what happened last time? This is going to end in cream cake stains and tears--mostly mine--you mark my words.”

Aziraphale smiled serenely. “Nonsense, my dear. Now, Magrat, a hat, please?”

Magrat pulled a baseball cap from where it had been tossed onto the end of one of the umbrellas in the stand by the door. “It’s not the right kind,” she said.

“Oh, any hat will do. Now, I want you to check that it’s empty.” Magrat reached into the hat, feeling only the canvas material it was made from. “It’s empty,” she confirmed, interested in spite of herself.

“Right, now I need a magic wand.” Aziraphale looked around himself, as if expecting one might conveniently appear. It didn’t, so Azirphale snatched up a fork from the bag of takeaway on the table. He puffed out his chest, and cleared his throat theatrically. “Abracadabra expecto patronum bibbity bobbity expelliarmus!” The angel tapped the slightly rumpled baseball cap three times with his magic fork, and then picked it up and put it on his head. He wiggled his fingers, his eyes theatrically wide.

Magrat leaned forward, despite herself. Crowley covered his face with his hand.

With a dramatic, “Ta da!” Aziraphale whipped the cap off of his head and presented it to his audience. “One rabbit, as ordered!”

There was a pause. Aziraphale looked into the still-empty hat with bewilderment. Magrat and Crowley, however, were unable to tear their eyes away from the furry, bewhiskered little bunny rabbit that was perched comfortably amidst Aziraphale’s fluffy curls. His little pink nose twitched.

Slowly, Aziraphale’s eyes turned upwards towards his hairline, and he yelped, and made a grab for the rabbit, which leapt off of his head acrobatically and right onto the table, upturning the dish of eclairs, sending them flying through the air.

“What did I tell you?” Crowley asked, snapping his fingers. The eclairs settled back onto the plate on the table. And the rabbit was rather confused, but ultimately pleased, to suddenly find itself in the middle of a heavily guarded and carefully fortified garden of prize-winning vegetables (inciting wrath and suspicion of sabotage in the gardener, when he discovered the ensuing damage).

“Mmphghhahaha,” a peculiar half-strangled noise escaped Magrat’s mouth, like the first bit of water springing through the crack in a dam, presaging the deluge. She laughed until she had tears running down her face. Aziraphale, his face softening from bewildered shock to delight and fondness, laughed with her. Crowley, despite himself, let go of his second-hand embarrassment to join them.

The real magic trick, Aziraphale would explain to Crowley after the angel, the demon, and Magrat had finished their dinner, and demolished a respectable number of chocolate eclairs, was not pulling the rabbit from the hat. The real magic was surprise, wonder, and laughter.

#good omens #fanfiction #good omens fic #GoodOmensSecretSanta #aziraphale #crowley #stage magic #ineffable babysitters

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victoria-daydreams · 4 years

Text

Skylark - Chapter Two

Chapter One

Word Count: 1.6k

A/N: Sorry if there's any mistakes.

Pairings: Collins X OC

The air around Alice smelled of books, that wonderful scent of ink and paper that she reveled in. To Alice, the smell was calming it set her a little, if not at all, at ease. Working at Arthur's Bookshop was a lot quieter than working at a nightclub as one could imagine, but this suited Alice just fine, it was the perfect balance. The scratchy record player behind the front counter played softly which could be heard from the backroom of the bookshop where Alice resided. She was sorting the new deliveries of books that came in earlier in the day.

Alice took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, thankful for the lack of customers today. It was a Friday, which meant a slow day at the bookshop, but at least she could get caught up on some reading. The soft sound of silvery chime from the small bell that hung above the door echoed in the shop followed by the soft bang of the door closing.

"Good afternoon sir," two female voices greeted simultaneously.

Alice arched an eyebrow at the flirtatious tones of her co-workers, Mary Parkes and Edith Drake.

When Alice was first saw Mary, she reminded her of a Hollywood starlet from the states. With her high aristocratic cheekbones and slightly angular heart shaped face, a straight nose, arching eyebrows, and blue almond shaped eyes. Which were all framed by the golden waves of her curly blonde hair. Then there was Edith, who was just as pretty as Mary. A bright smile always graced her pale, oval shaped face, and the darkest lashes and brows which drew attention to her hazel colored doe-eyes.

At first, Alice wasn't sure how her two co-workers would respond to working with her, but her worries were erased when Mary embraced her excitedly after Alice told her she was the new employee, telling her they'll have loads of fun together compared to the last girl that was here. Edith offered Alice a simple handshake, but she still welcomed her in a warm manner.

Hearing the giggles and hushed whispers of Mary and Edith, Alice grabbed a stack of books from the table and made her way to the front counter to find out what was going on.

"What's got you two giggling like two schoolgirls?" Alice inquired quietly, placing the books down on the counter.

Mary's blonde curls danced across her shoulders as looked at Alice with a grin.

"The most handsomest man I have ever seen just walked into the store," Mary sighed dreamily, placing both of her hands over heart.

The brunette on Alice's right rolled her eyes, "You say that about every guy you see Mary," Edith retorted, her voice low. Mary narrowed her blue eyes at Edith and Edith childishly stuck her tongue out in return.

"She does have a point Mary," Alice agreed smirking, with a shrug of her shoulders.

Mary silently scoffed in faux shock as Edith placed her hand on top of Alice's, getting her attention again.

"But I can't disagree with Mary on this one, he's quite the catch," Edith stated, nodding her head. "Go take a look for yourself," she suggested, flicking her chin out.

Now it was Alice rolling her eyes, "I will, but once we're done ogling at this customer, please help me with the books in the back," she requested, picking up her stack of books again.

"Will do!" Mary called, from behind her.

Alice walked away from her coworkers and from behind the counter to the many bookshelves that filled the shop. Hundreds of new and used books lined the shelves that slightly dipped under the combined weight of them. Alice moved down an aisle, her eyes sweeping over the sections: 'fiction', 'history', 'cooking'. Each bookcase boasted a different subject.

As Alice placed the books that were in her hands in their respective sections, she got a glimpse of the man that Mary and Edith were gushing about. Well, she at least got a glimpse of the back of him, all she could see was that he was tall and blond and was wearing forest green cardigan and brown slacks. Alice watched the man browse the shelves in a fashion that appeared almost mindless, quietly she followed behind him as he continued aimlessly walking through the aisles.

"May I help you?" Alice questioned, from behind the man.

The man turned around and Alice's eyes widened in shock at the familiar bright, blue eyes gazing at her. It was Jack Collins.

"I'm just lookin' around," he answered, as Alice took a step forward.

Alice lifted an eyebrow, asking herself why didn't he recognize her. Maybe Jack wasn't as sober as Alice thought he was when they met that night at the club.

"I wasn't expecting to see you soon Mr. Collins," Alice joked, and he slightly cocked his head to the side in confusion.

"I'm sorry?" Jack asked, moving closer to her. "But how do ye know my name? Have we met?" he questioned.

"Jack it's me, Alice. Alice Lloyd from two nights ago," she replied, still not understanding why he was finding it so difficult to recognize her.

Alice lifted her hand and pushed her black, round frame glasses up from her nose and that's when she realized why Jack was having a hard time recognizing her. Alice removed her glasses from her face and Jack’s eyes widened in surprise, Alice had no doubt he was struck by how different she looked with glasses on.

"Alice?" Jack breathed, his eyes scanning over her figure.

In contrast to two nights ago, Alice had her hair pulled up into a neat chignon with two dark curls hanging on either side of her face. Her red halter dress that she wore that night was now replaced with a blue A-line skirt and a cream keyhole short-sleeve sweater.

"Why I didn't even recognize ye," he laughed softly. "Ye like-"

"Superman," the two of them said simultaneously.

Alice bowed her head in laughter, "I get that all the time," she chuckled, shaking her head. "How on earth did you find this bookshop," Alice asked, sliding her glasses back on her face.

Jack held his arms behind his back, "I just stumbled upon it," he shrugged, now walking beside her. "I was walking te get some fresh air and then I saw this charming bookshop," he explained, glancing over at Alice. "I've been meaning te get a book to entertain me while I'm away, but now I think found something better," he finished, a smile on his lips.

A soft grin made its way on Alice's face and she cleared her throat, "Can I help you find a particular book?" she asked, looking over at him.

"No, but can ye do somethin' for me..." he trailed off, and Alice arched an eyebrow as she noticed the cheeks of his fair skin turned slightly rosy. "Will ye join for me a cup of tea?" he asked softly, as they stopped in front of the counter where Mary and Edith both stood. "And maybe you can tell me what books I should read while we're there," he added playfully.

The two women had halted in sorting the books they had picked up from the backroom, staring at Alice and Jack with their mouths open. Mary was the first one to recover from her stupor.

"Of course she will!" Mary said excitedly, answering for Alice.

Alice turned her head towards Mary, and silently gave her look that expressed 'What the hell Mary', before facing Jack again so she could give an answer herself.

"I would like that very much Jack, but my shift doesn't end until another thirty minutes," Alice explained.

"No, go ahead Alice," Edith grinned, looking at Alice. "Fridays are always slow, your presence won't be missed," she reassured, her grin widening as she glanced at Jack.

"Well then, let me grab my coat," Alice said, lifting her eyes to meet Jack's and he nodded, a smile on his face.

Alice's heels clicked along the floor as she went to the backroom, Mary and Edith followed behind her shortly after, but not before they shot a smile in Jack's direction which he kindly returned. Mary closed the door behind her and turned around to face Alice, letting out a quiet squeal as she rushed over to her. Edith grabbed Alice's left arm and Mary took a hold of her right arm, both of them grinning excitedly.

"How on earth do you know him already?" Edith asked.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Mary questioned.

"We met at the Garden Rouge," Alice answered, tugging her arms from the grips of Mary and Edith. "I didn't know that was him walking into the bookshop," she answered, now free from her friends. "I was back here, actually doing work," she reminded, grabbing her coat from the coat rack and sliding it on.

"You're a lucky gal Alice," Mary commented, with a grin. "I was about to make him mine if another a minute had passed," she added, folding her arms against her chest.

Alice rolled her eyes, "I'm sure you were Mary," she joked, as she placed her black, wool beret on top of her head.

Edith handed Alice her purse, "Have fun!" she wished, as Alice opened the backroom door.

Alice smiled and nodded her head in thanks and walked to where Jack was waiting for her.

"Shall we?" Jack asked, offering his arm to her.

"With pleasure," she answered, gratefully taking his arm.

Chapter Three

#black!oc #black original character #collins dunkirk #jack collins #dunkirk #dunkirk fanfiction #collins dunkirk imagine #jack collins imagine #dunkirk imagine #dunkirk imagines #collins x oc

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rhetoricalrogue · 5 years

Note

In a bar for Rolfe and Cassandra for the kissing prompts if you like!

Thank you for the ask! This is set in a modern au, purely because I had an image of Rolfe making drinks a la Tom Cruise in Cocktail.

________________________________________________________________

”Come here often?”

Cassandra didn’t even turn towards the voice at her right. “Not if I can help it.”

“Now that’s a shame,” Rolfe said, leaning against the bar. “You have lively music, tons of people to watch, good drinks, and believe it or not, the food is excellent here. If you’re hungry, I suggest the hot wings and nachos.”

“I take it that you come here often.”

“As often as I get a chance to. The staff love me.” Rolfe punctuated his statement by winking at the bartender, who was busy building drinks for a rowdy group of college kids of dubious legal drinking age.

The bartender rolled his eyes and kept mixing. “He tips well and the assholes being handsy with the ladies on staff get taken down by half when he steps in, so we like to keep him around.” Sliding the completed order onto a tray for a waitress, he started up a new order. “You really want to help, Rolfe, get your ass behind the counter and sling some drinks. The place is packed and there’s only one of me.”

“See? He loves me.”

“I can tell.” Cassandra didn’t really expect Rolfe to move from where he was sitting, so she was surprised when he did in fact slip behind the bar and start mixing drinks. “I didn’t know you actually worked here, I thought he was just teasing.”

“Well, work is a technical term. I told them I didn’t want a paycheck since I can’t be around for a consistent amount of time and I help when I can. They pay me in free nachos.” Turning, he pulled a mug of beer from the taps and handed it off to a customer. “So, what can I get you?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t come here to drink.”

He raised an eyebrow. “So you’re not here to have top quality bar food and you’re not here for a nightcap. I’d ask if you were in the right place if you didn’t want to have fun, but I don’t want to sound rude.”

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “I’m here because Varric said that he’d be around to discuss the case we’re working on. Since he’s been avoiding me at work, I thought bringing him to a venue he’d be more comfortable at would help.”

“Well, you did happen to throw a chair at him and call him a lying, traitorous snake. Not the friendliest of gestures if you wanted to get information from him.”

She huffed. “I was angry, all right? And technically he did lie about not knowing where Hawke was all this time. I dislike being lied to.”

“Fair point, and I’ll try not to lie to you in the future.”

“You’re a spy. You lie for a living.”

Rolfe poured another drink, this time a bright neon pink concoction in a martini glass. “Pentaghast! I’m hurt! I’ll have you know that I never lie. I may twist the truth until it’s hard to tell the difference or omit certain facts, but I never lie outright.”

She played with the napkin he set in front of her. “Sometimes that’s just as bad, if not worse, than lying in the first place.”

Rolfe made change and handed off another beer to a customer that had stepped up to the bar next to her. “Well, if it makes you feel better, I’ve never lied or fudged the truth with you.”

Oddly enough, it did make her feel better. “So that means that if I ask you about your past, you’ll tell me the straight truth?”

He leaned against the bar and gave her a toothy smile, the dimple at his cheek showing up. “I knew all I had to do was bide my time and you’d want to learn more about me.” He pointed at a patron who shouted an order at him. “Tell you what,” he started, pulling a bottle of rum from the shelf behind him and making a flourish with the way he poured it out into a shaker. “I buy you a drink and tell you a tidbit from my sordid past. You get a free drink and a little insight into who I am.”

“And what do you get out of it?”

He lined up several shot glasses for another order. “The pleasure of your company while you wait for Varric to show up.”

Cassandra bit her lip before giving in. “Nothing alcoholic. I’m here for information, I need to keep my wits about me.”

“You got it.” After sending off his round of shots, he pulled out a glass and filled a shaker with ice. She didn’t see what he poured in, but the scent of lemons hit her nose.

“What is it?” she asked, watching as he picked up a bottle of simple syrup and twirled it around in a way she had to admit was impressive before pouring a generous amount into the shaker.

“I call it the Seeker’s Punch.”

“How original.” She leaned on her elbows and tried to ignore the blush she could feel color her cheeks. “What’s in it?”

“One part iced tea, one part lemonade. Add in a shot of lavender syrup and serve over ice.” He shook the shaker several times and poured the finished drink into a glass. “Smooth yet tart, with just the right amount of sweetness.”

She took a sip. “And the lavender?”

“It reminded me of the perfume Leliana got you with the other day. Every time I caught a whiff of it in the office, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He smiled at her again. “Maybe I should add a touch of grenadine in at the end, that way it could match the cute way you blush.”

Cassandra opened her mouth, then closed it again. “I am not cute.”

“No, you’re not. You’re exquisite.”

She took another sip, hoping that the coolness from the drink would tame the heat that flared in her face. “I do believe you still owe me a fact,” she said, trying to change the topic.

“That I do. Okay, Pentaghast, let me think about it while I take a few orders.”

Casandra sat back on the barstool and sipped at her drink. Rolfe hadn’t added enough of the lavender syrup to make the drink cloying and undrinkable, but just enough that there was a subtle flavor that complimented the lemonade and tea. She checked her phone to see if she had missed any messages, namely to see if Varric had texted her to tell her that he was there. He probably isn’t showing, she thought morosely, idly swirling the straw around her glass to chase the cubes of ice around. She wouldn’t blame him, she had blown up at him the last time they spoke in a fashion she was embarrassed of now that she wasn’t blinded by anger and betrayal.

The sound of Rolfe laughing at something a patron said shook her out of her thoughts. It was incredibly easy to watch him at ease with himself, the sleeves of his shirt pushed up to his elbows as he stuffed change into a tip jar she knew he wouldn’t collect later. She gave a slight smile as she stared at his profile, the overhead lights hitting his hair just so, making red highlights stand out from the rest of the dark brown strands.

“I’d accuse you of staring, but I don’t want you to stop,” he commented, coming back to her.

“I…” she cleared her throat. “It’s hard not to, you seem in your element.”

“I am.” He wiped at the bar with a towel he slung over his shoulder. “It’s easy to be myself with people who don’t have unattainable expectations from me or preconceived notions to my character.”

Rolfe interrupted her before she could defend herself from the teasing accusation. “But I believe I owe you a fact about myself.”

“I’m at the edge of my seat.”

He smirked. “Say that with more conviction and I may believe you next time.” He cleared his throat. “I unwillingly began my twenty year service to the Chantry when I was seventeen. My parents threw me into the Ostwick chantry to hide a scandal that had I not been swept under the rug like the dirty secret I was, would have ruined my father’s business opportunities. As it was, it managed to ruin my sister’s then-engagement and forced her to marry someone she didn’t want to in order to secure yet another business tie for our father.”

Cassandra leaned closer, her eyes wide. She hadn’t known that about him. “What sort of scandal would have done that?”

Rolfe made a tisking noise. “I owed you one secret truth, which I told. Any more would require another drink.”

She huffed. “I could have asked Leliana for that.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Well that answers one question I had. Thanks.”

“For what?”

“You have the left hand of the Divine as a friend. She hoards secrets like a dragon hoards gold and yet she’s likely to share a juicy bit of gossip. I have very little doubt that she knows pretty much everything about me and yet you’ve never asked her to share. I don’t know if I’m disappointed that you didn’t want to know more about me or if I’m glad that I still carry an air of mystique.”

Cassandra felt her blush come back with a vengeance. “I’d rather get my information from the source when I can instead of relying on second hand knowledge,” she said defensively.

Rolfe gave her another soft smile that made her heart do strange flips in her chest. “I’d be willing to share more later, if you’re interested.”

She sat up straighter. “We do have a job to complete. Discovering who this Corypheus is ranks a little higher than getting to know you.”

The second she said it, she regretted it. Rolfe’s smile stayed in place, but something in his eyes shuttered closed. For someone not looking closely, his friendly expression didn’t change a bit, but Cassandra had a sinking feeling that his mood and changed, the jovial expression a well-used mask to hide whatever he was thinking. “You’re right,” he said, reaching down and grabbing a snifter. He turned to get an expensive looking bottle of brandy and poured a generous serving. “Speaking of work, Varric showed up five minutes ago. He’s at a table in the back; take this as a peace offering to get back into his good graces.”

“What?” She slid off her seat and turned to look around. Sure enough, Varric was seated at a table at the very back of the bar. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

“Because then you would have gone straight over there and he would have teased you about being eager to get your information, which then would have pushed one of your buttons and you two would have gotten into an argument and you probably would have stormed off without learning anything new. This way, he’ll probably grumble about being kept waiting, but will stay as long as it takes him to finish his drink, especially since I know for a fact that he can’t turn away a free and very expensive brandy. The fact that he thinks you sprung for the good stuff will impress him enough to keep whatever barbs he has from being too terribly sharp. He’ll still try to get a rise out of you, but he won’t go out of his way to try to piss you off.”

She blinked. It was easy to forget that Rolfe was trained to read people as well as he was. “Thank you,” she said, reaching for her wallet. “How much do I…”

He shook his head. “On the house. Consider it my contribution to the intel gathering.”

Cassandra picked up the snifter in one hand and the rest of her drink in the other. She paused, turning to watch Rolfe already building another round of drinks. He didn’t know that she was watching, which she bet was the only reason why she got to see his shoulders slump as he gave the smallest of sighs as he shook his head while he worked.

“Hey, Rolfe?”

The mask was back in place as if it had never been taken off. “Yeah?”

“Do you know where that place that Josephine got those sticky buns the other day from?”

“I do.”

She licked her lips. “If you’re not busy tomorrow morning, maybe we can stop in and have breakfast there?”

He paused. “You’re just trying to see if I’ll divulge any other juicy secrets,” he teased.

She shook her head, slightly disappointed that the smile he gave her didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was good at hiding how he felt, but she’d seen enough of his smiles to know better. “Maybe I want to tell you some of my own secrets instead,” she countered.

He tilted his head, ignoring the person who yelled from down the bar for their drink. “I never say no to sweets, especially when they come with good company,” he replied, winking as he blew her a kiss. “Can I consider it a date?”

She smiled. “Depends. Do you want it to be one?” There was something satisfying to see Rolfe, who usually was never at a loss for words, be stricken speechless. “See you tomorrow morning at seven?”

“I...uh, yeah. Yeah, seven works good for me, sure. See you then, Pentaghast.”

Cassandra felt the tightness that had constricted her chest loosen at the sight of the lopsided smile that made his blue eyes twinkle. “I’m looking forward to it, Trevelyan.” She turned back towards Varric, who had spotted her and was watching the scene before him with what could only be described as sheer glee. She sighed and grumbled a quick prayer under her breath for patience as she walked towards his table.

“You know, I had some smartassed comment to give you, but I think I’ll save it for later,” Varric drawled. “I couldn’t hear whatever the two of you were talking about, but I bet I could make something up just from body language alone.”

She sat his drink in front of him and watched him sniff at it and make appreciative noises. “I already know I can’t stop you,” she told him, sipping at her own drink as she sat down across from him. “I owe you an apology. I shouldn’t have reacted as angrily with you as I did, I’m sorry.”

Varric took a sip of his drink. “Apology accepted.” He paused. “I should have told you about Hawke earlier. I’m not sorry, but I should have told you.”

“As much as I hate to say it, I understand. You were protecting a friend. Had I the talent for subterfuge, I would have done the same.”

Varric let out a low whistle. “I really should be thanking Charmer. Who knew that he’d be the one to get us to play nice. If the world wasn’t already on the verge of ending with all these damn rifts spilling demons everywhere, I’d swear that the end was nigh.”

“What makes you think that Rolfe is the reason we’re sitting here?”

“Because, Seeker,” Varric took another sip. “He was the one who talked me into asking you here in the first place and he’s the one who knows my preferred poison. And here I was thinking that he’d be serving me up some watered down well drink instead of the good Antivan name brand stuff.”

“Well,” Casandra fidgeted with her straw. “I guess we should make the most of this truce and get down to business. Tell me what you know and I’ll tell you what I know. Maybe between the both of us we can make some headway on how to help save the world.”

Varric held up his glass as a salute. “I’ll drink to that.” He steepled his hands together and settled into his seat. “Like most of the things with Gavin Hawke, this story starts out with yet another group of people trying to kill him.”

Cassandra listened to Varric with half an ear, mostly because she could tell that he was adding embellishments in to draw out the part where he and Hawke actually met up with Corypheus and partly because even over the background noise of the bar, she could still hear Rolfe shout out a greeting to someone she assumed was a regular.

She couldn’t deny that he had a way of making her feel better just by hearing him laugh. Deciding to tuck that little bit of information away for future introspection, she squared her shoulders and tried her best to pay attention to the story being told in front of her.

#otp: bad flirting and disgusted noises #my writing #modern au #cassandra pentaghast #rolfe trevelyan #alittlestarling

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arcane-literary-dreams · 5 years

Text

Ink Florets, Modern!AU

My gift for @mosaic-marquise for #FieldsOfVesuvia and @fieldsofvesuvia! I am so sorry this was so late!! Thank you so much for your patience! I've been... so sick,,,

It perhaps took a little longer than he initially thought, to decide on another tattoo. There was a gentle chime of bells as he lightly pushed past the glass door, delicate and soft, yet loud enough to alert any worker of his arrival.

This tattoo shop, was one he long saw each morning to work. Tucked nicely away, Gil could quite honestly walk on over to it each day from the greenhouse nursery if he so chooses! His own shop was but a few stores down, holding seeds, flowers, bouquets and bulbs alike.

He lingered in the doorway for just a little longer, before gathering himself to shift towards the waiting room. There was a lingering smell of chemicals, most likely sanitation to prepare for the inking process, but it was a smell he somewhat recognized.

"I'll be right with you!"

It was a relaxed voice, one in which kind of both reassured him, and heightened his nerves. He could deal with acting professionally, but sometimes things like this make a little nervous and shy.

"Of course!" He called back in return, hesitating in his spot.

It wasn't a very long wait, and Gil wasn't exactly sure who to expect when he ducked in from the backroom. With fluffy white hair, and crystalline, vivid eyes, Gil found himself momentarily taken.

“The name's Gil, I... Hello, I wanted to... book an appointment for a tattoo?” Gil asked, after deliberating over his words for a second.

Asra, he saw from the nametag, smiled, friendly. “Welcome! Of course, what can I help you with? Is there anything you have in mind?” He spoke with a customer service mannet, which, understandable, but his voice was friendly, and smooth, perhaps even a little airy, and Gil found it pleasant to listen to.

"Oh, I was thinking about a flower inspired tattoo? Like a bouquet of sorts, that had different flower meanings?"

"That's fine," Asra paused, gesturing over to a nearby seat so they could converse more. "I can sketch out some concepts, and we'll see what we can do?"

"Yeah! That sounds uh, good." Gil hummed, before pausing when Asra looked expectantly at him, as though waiting for him to speak.

"Oh, uhm, I was perhaps thinking of something with marigolds, dahlias and foxgloves?" He began, "maybe with... marigolds being a focal point? Like, uh, with aloe as well, and..." he spoke uncertainly, and soon began stumbling over a few of his words. It continued like that for a little longer, before clamping his mouth closed shyly.

God, he knew exactly what it is that he wanted, truly, and he could remember them clearly, but he found that maybe actually describing the flowers individually were a bit more difficult, huh?

“...Hey, uhm...? I’m not, the very best, at uh... describing these flowers.” he paused, thinking, "I... I think I could do much better if I had them?"

Asra paused, a patient, yet slightly teasing air to him. "Is that so?"

"Yyeah," he glanced down, "Though, uh, let me check the reference book first, maybe?"

Asra blinked, "Sure."

It was a little bit of an awkward, little subtle and shy sort of silence, but his posture began to relax as Asra's gaze softened.

Flipping rather urgently through the book, Gil deflated when nothing quite came up.

“Hey, uhm, actually?” meeting new people was difficult, “I... I’m going to be honest, but describing them is really difficult..."

"I can... stop by the greenhouse and get you some references? Though uh, by the time I get them to you, they might have wilted..." he offered, though grimaced.

"Maybe if you come with me...?" He was only muttering at this point, but Asra perked up at that.

“Is that a date?” He asked, with a hint of a sly smile, yet there was a gleam of surprised hopefulness in them.

“Oh! Oh, uhm, no...?” he flushed, though didn't miss that hopeful look. “You don’t have to consider it that, not unless you want to? We just met after all.”

"Hmm, haha~? Maybe I'm just teasing," he hummed mysteriously, though gave a nod of acknowledgement to Gil's words. "I wouldn't mind that. I have time before my next appointment." He reassured, brushing his hands against his pants momentarily.

Mind what?? It being a date or going to a greenhouse with a near stranger?

"Oh! Great!" Gil laughed uncertainly, though watched in a slight giddy apprehension as Asra removed his apron. It was a bit embarrassing, and he felt almost like a teenager going on a blind date.

Well. Blind dates are a thing, as long as they both saw it as that, and they're mindful of each others boundaries.

"Just give me a moment, we can talk a bit before we go."

___

The walk to the greenhouse was rather quiet, with soft conversing about just the weather, about each other. If it was okay and comfortable for them to be doing this. Asra even admitted to having seen Gil walk past the window each time he went to work.

It was awkward at first, but... it was nice.

"Oh, this is a nice place!" Asra commented idly, and Gil brightened up at that. It truly was, with gentle sunlight streaming in from glass walls and ceilings, and a lush growth of lovely plants and vines alike.

It was colorful, and the scent maybe overwhelming sometimes, but also amazingly gentle too. It was nice, here. It was familiar.

"Really! I'm glad, haha," he hummed at that, gesturing in onwards. "It really is. I hope you like it."

And... they continued to walk about, idle chatter here and there, soft, gentle laughs to body shaking guffaws. It was delicate and it was light, but the tension of what was initial a shy and awkward invitation between an artist and their client became a fun little outing with a new friend.

"See? These are marigolds, they're really pretty, aren't they?"

"Mhmm, I think they'd look good on you." Is he laying on the flirting?

Each time he may have felt a little at a loss for words, bumbling, trying to keep the conversation going, Asra would ask a question about a certain plant here, and certain bloom there, and truthfully? Gil appreciated that. Talking about his experiences, and being surrounded by so many lovely flowers really allowed to be a conversation starter.

"Hibiscus," Asra interrupted suddenly, though he sent a flash of an apologetic grin at Gil, "I mean, I think Hibiscus flowers would look nice in the bouquet."

"Oh? Really?" Gil responded automatically, before taking a moment to consider his words. He brightened up, though, and with his fingertips, brushed against a delicate petal of a hibiscus.

"Ooh, yeah! It really would!" He hummed excitedly, and Asra watched as he peered about, thinking. “Oo, and! The foliage from the dahlia would look so lovely??” He was delicate with the flowers, but with experienced hands he gathered them, the bouquet growing and feeling more and more complete as time progressed.

“I think the colors could work well in general, being on the darker side, it could be a pretty nice backdrop to the rest of the flowers, especially since they’re so vivid!”

And, he was rambling, perhaps a little more than he wished to admit, and he paused. “Oh, sorry, I—”

He glanced up to meet eyes with Asra, only to freeze, taken. There was such a fond, odd gentleness in the other’s gaze, eyes prettily glinting in the filtered sunlight of the greenhouse.

"Oh." He mumbled, before adverting his gaze. And they fell silent, an almost unreadable, but not at all unpleasant atmosphere draping over them.

Almost as though he was reading the situation, Asra cocked his head almost thoughtfully. "...Say, what made you decide to become a florist?"

Gil rose an eyebrow at that, surprised, but took the way out of the silence, smiling almost excitedly once more.

"Well," he hums, fiddling with the flowers in his hand, grip loose. "I've always loved gardening. Growing things, helping things grow and thrive. It's very pretty, too."

He shot Asra a curious glance. “And you? What made you become a tattoo artist?”

“Me, huh...?” He seemed to deliberate that, and Gil wondered if he was considering half answering his question once more. “I do wonder." He began, "You meet a lot of people like that. Little glimpses of them. It's nice." He admits, smiling wryly.

"It sounds nice." Gil responds softly. "Of course," he starts up, snickering a bit, "Working like this, we're bound to get some pretty awful customers, huh?" He joked, knowing it jabbed the both of them with an awful bit of truth.

"Pfft, haha! True." Asra admitted, a wry smirk on his face. "Though, you're not a bad customer."

"Good! I'm glad." Gil laughed warmly, though paused, "Is this... Do you still consider this a work sort of thing?"

Asra peered down at him, "If that's what you're comfortable with."

He hummed in response, smiling, "I think... I wouldn't mind if it was more than me being a client. I'm having fun, and... I think you're cool."

"!!" Asra flushed the slightest at that, and it rather startled Gil. "Is... Is that so? Haha, well, I wouldn't mind if it was more either." He laughed, "Though uh, what day would actually work best for you?"

"Oh! Yeah!" Gil smiled, feeling oddly giddy. It was like an odd little hangout, a date of sorts, even? "How about next week, Friday?"

Asra hummed. "Isn't that a holiday?"

“Oh, is it? Lemme google that...” Gil grimanced, reaching into his pocket to slip out his phone.

“Oh, I was wondering about that, actually.” Asra mentioned, “You could have googled the flowers, too? Instead of having to take me here?”

Wait, what?

Gil froze midtype, a frantic, embarrassed and mortified smile spreading on his face.

“Oh,” He, uh... never really thought about that, huh? “Oh! Oh wow, I really could have oh! Gosh, I’m sorry about that, that.... Really slipped my mind.”

“It’s fine, I enjoyed this. Getting to know you was nice.”

Oh.

He wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, not initially, but, "Then, I'm glad. Getting to know you was... really nice for me, too."

There was a soft pause, and Gil found himself somewhat regretting those words out of sheer embarrassment. "Uhm!" He raised his head, though Asra laughed amusedly.

"I'm glad too. Perhaps we shall do this again, hmmm?"

It was a lovely smile, careful and with a gentle touch, Asra cupped his hands over Gil's, fingers furled lightly around the flowers he held. And the motion was short, quick, and Gil could only blink when he felt the feathery touch of Asra's hair when he pressed a light kiss against Gil's cheek.

"Well, perhaps next time, it could be an official date."

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chalabrun · 5 years

Text

cut to the cool (trephacard)

@teamseaslug requested: I don't know if you're still looking for prompts, but: Trevor catches a cold due to sleeping on the gross ground and night. Alucard is totally unaffected because dhampir and Sypha is fine because she knows how to bundle up better. Cue doting but teasing duo trying to help him get better, torn between being genuinely worried and wanting him to feel better, and making fun of him

Warning(s): G, none

“I’m not sick.”

A loud, body-shaking sneeze.

It was in that moment that Sypha and Alucard, on their own mounts, exchanged glances with each other before peering over their shoulders in unison at the brunet trailing behind by at least several strides. Trevor Fucking Belmont was slumped over his horse, huddled into his shaggy, furry mantle, and clutching the reins as far back into his covering as he could allow without bringing his horse to a complete halt as it trod through the snow.

“Trevor, you’re sick.” He winced as though he were a vampire struck with holy water. “Adrian, why don’t we stop in Buda? We have to head to Pest by morning, anyways, and my Hungarian isn’t too shabby.”

“Hm, you have a point. I believe it’s only a few more miles and there should be ample inns. Especially considering Belmont’s condition.” Fair, honey gold eyes studied him for a moment before turning back with a faint, amused smile. His expression became kinder once it was upon Sypha. “You and I might be playing nursemaid tonight.”

Trevor snorted indignantly that was broken by a sneeze. “I don’t need a fucking nursemaid. Especially from your smug ass,” Trevor groused in Alucard’s general direction, the dhampir merrily ignoring him. “Sypha, can’t you just…cast some fucking spell and cure me?”

The blonde rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. “Trevor, stop being so dramatic. You’ve lived how many years before I came along…? Besides, I don’t know healing magic. Not yet, at least. I can make potions and the like, but I need ingredients to do it. Ingredients easier found a little closer to civilization.” Alucard couldn’t help but chuckle at Trevor’s wounded ego.

“My mother taught me a great many things about the healing arts. I think I could be of assistance, Sypha,” Alucard concurred brightly, there a rare enthusiasm shining in his eyes. She couldn’t help but beam at him, Trevor feeling a distant pang of jealousy at something they had in common he wasn’t sure if he could share in or not.

“…Fine. We’ll go to fucking Buda,” Trevor conceded begrudgingly with a sullen sigh, if so that he wouldn’t feel left out or anything of the like. Still, he sulked for the remainder of the ride there, their steeds practically wading through the deep embankments of snow. A few snowdrifts lazily cascaded from the umbrage of the firs, but their journey was otherwise uneventful.

Buda was by no means a modest city, comparable to places like Gresit but far richer in scope. The Voivode of Buda was likely a wealthy man, a member of the Corvinus family if Trevor remembered correctly. Woodland area soon gave way to the metropolitan cityscape of the Hungarian capital, Trevor being one to whistle appreciatively if his nose weren’t so congested. “Let’s find an inn before it gets too dark,” Sypha suggested, the other two following her as the blonde seemed to instinctively know the way.

The first inn they came upon seemed a respectable, working place and not one of the more glamourous haunts of traveling noblemen found in the inner city. Torchlight framed modest windows and earthenware grew from its four corners and joined at a grey, slanted roof with adobe eaves and prettily wrought lamps that hung from their perches. People milled in the courtyard and stable hands brushed through some customers’ horses while they were tethered in crossties between two posts. The clangor of a farrier shoeing a horse could be heard, but it was hardly of import.

“Thank you,” Sypha thanked as she dismounted from her steed, a shy groom collecting her horse’s reins and blushing at her smile. Well, he could hardly blame the kid. Sypha was a beautiful woman, after all. In faint amusement, he saw Alucard watching the exchange with a dark expression, smirking to himself.

He ribbed the dhampir once who raised a brow at him, scowling deeply. “Try not to scare the fucking locals, will you? Last thing we need to be chased from town with a bloody torch mob on our heels,” Trevor warned him with a raised brow, clutching his mantle over his shoulders. He took Alucard by the sleeve of his elegant black overcoat, the blond appearing indignant the entire time.

“I can handle myself, Belmont,” Alucard hissed under his breath, flinging open the door that startled some of the bar patrons.

Truth be told, the three of them received stares. Trevor for his ruggedness, Alucard with his unearthly beauty, and even Sypha had a fair few men scrambling to finish their drinks so they might acquire the chance to at least exchange a word or two. Though, the latter two seemed oblivious to the stares they received, the dhampir to glad to fend them away with a pointed glare that usually made it subside. Trevor chuckled to himself under his breath while Sypha made a beeline for the counter.

“One room for three, please,” she requested of the innkeeper kindly, the matronly woman exchanging the Ducats Sypha paid for it with a room key. Though the din of conversation was comforting to her, the unchecked irritation on Alucard’s face and Trevor’s own sickly state made her reconsider any want to converse with the people there. At least she hadn’t forgotten much Hungarian since she’d been there last.

Alucard and Trevor followed in tow while Sypha led them to their room, relieved when they stepped inside and she flitted about lighting several candles and a gaslit lamp. Alucard closed the door behind him, then backing into it to lean against it. “Sypha, where do we go from here?”

“Hm? Oh! Well, Trevor obviously needs to get into bed and rest— I, Trevor, don’t change yet!” Sypha yelped when Trevor shed his mantle and began stripping off his clothing, down to his trousers that hung from his hipbones. A blush colored Alucard’s cheek rosily and Trevor smirked triumphantly before his smugness was ruined by an enormous, recoiling sneeze.

“Fucking hell,” Trevor groaned as he flopped unceremoniously on one of the beds, cocooning himself in sheets while Alucard chuckled. “Fuck you laughing at, Adrian?”

“Nothing,” Alucard dismissed rather smugly, turning instead towards Sypha who looked ready to venture outside again. “Are you going out?”

“Not quite. I’m going to speak with the innkeeper’s wife about any herbs she might have stored I can make a poultice or remedy from. Tea, too. And Trevor, if I find you’ve drunk any alcohol, I will personally kick your ass. It’s the last thing you need right now!” With that, she exited the room with a slam of the door and left the two men in silence.

Alucard took a chair in one of the corners and relegated himself to sentry, even though Trevor would be damned before he spent a night of silence with him. “So, what was that earlier? Do you always get that jealous when she speaks with someone who isn’t one of us?” He raised an eyebrow at Alucard, rolling on to his back.

The blond tucked a strand of hair behind a tapered ear. “…I’ve become so accustomed to loss that I hold those I cherish too closely. Am I supposed to be always so civil when it comes to you two?”

That sent a pang through Trevor’s chest as he glanced quizzically at the dhampir. Sometimes, he forgot this whole arrangement they’d begun, that the three of them would be each other’s exclusive lovers. Sometimes, it was too easy to cut himself out of that equation with a life like his that made him used to feeling like the shit people scraped off their boots. Having that declared was like being strafed by a Morningstar.

“Us two?” Trevor echoed with an uneasy chuckle. “Could’ve fooled me, Tepes.”

Suddenly, he found Alucard at his bedside in an inhuman spurt of speed with a hand commandingly on his chest, but instead of roughness, the dhampir gently pushed him back down among the sheets before removing it again. Then, a sudden smile. “You are an idiot, Belmont. But an idiot I am happy to be stuck with.”

Feigning contemplation Trevor suddenly seized a pillow and slapped Alucard in the face with it, emitting an airy and soft collision that left the dhampir blinking stupidly, unsure as to how to react. Trevor squatted on the bed, grinning as he took the pillow and smacked the back of Alucard’s head this time. “Are you sure you want to be so vulnerable, Adrian? You’re wide open,” Trevor taunted and Alucard smiled gamely.

“Try me, Belmont,” he challenged as Trevor swiped him again, this time Alucard ducking in perfect time. Trevor wanted to laugh loudly, but it dissolved into a fit of coughing with tears building in his eyes. Alucard easily pinned Trevor back down among the sheets, the Belmont throwing back in mock defeat. “Alright, you have me! Satisfied?”

“I’d say so,” Alucard agreed just as Sypha walked into the room with a basket of ingredients and a noticeably lighter change purse.

“Were you two fighting again?” she demanded as she set the basket down on a sparse table, hands on her hips. “…Who won?” Trevor rolled his eyes, tongue poking out and jabbing his finger towards Alucard. Sypha couldn’t help but giggle and began fixing together the beginning of a brew of tea, setting the smaller cauldron over the hearth fire and igniting it.

“I propose something other than fighting to help time pass while we nurse this idiot,” Alucard began as he brought a few chairs near the fireplace, parallel from the bed like a round robin. “A contest, of sorts. We tell each other three stories, and whoever can guess which one is false….hm, gets one wish.”

“That sounds like an easy enough game. You’re shit at lying, Tepes,” Trevor said cockily, sitting up on the bed with the scent of the brew filling the room pleasantly. Chamomile, by the smell of it. Tea he used to drink as a child.

“And with your complete lack of imagination, Belmont, you’ll be far too easy to rule out,” Alucard simpered with a soft chuckle.

It was Sypha who beamed smugly at them both. “Well, seeing as Adrian sucks at lying and Trevor has no imagination, you two are more than welcome to concede defeat now and give me two wishes,” Sypha offered with a puckish grin, merrily stirring the pot. “Besides, even if the former weren’t true, I’m a Speaker. I have you beat without even trying.”

“Do you want to bet on that, Sypha?” Trevor challenged, smirk only seeming to grow.

“If you do, I’ll bet on myself to spare you both the embarrassment,” Alucard teased, chuckling at them.

“In your dreams, Adrian!” Sypha and Trevor exclaimed in unison, the three of them breaking out into merry, warm laughter.

Maybe being sick wasn’t so awful, after all.

#trevor belmont #adrian tepes #alucard #sypha belnades #castlevania #trephacard #my writing #GENTLEMEN BEHOLD: FLOOF #ok i'm done spamming the trephacard tags today i SWARE ON ME MUM

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kpopisthereasonihavenolife · 6 years

Text

From Black to White

Monsta X

Lee Jooheon/Reader [F]

Genre: Demon AU, Fondness, Fluff, Demon to (Guardian) Angel

Words: 3.8k (Not proof read)

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

He monitored all the bad and the ugly in the worlds. Some would say his eyes reached to the furthest depths of the known and unknown universe. Maybe even further than that. He saw all the toxic in every world he came too, and he laughed, smiled and played along with them. Even furthering to worsen them if he was particularly tickled by an event. That is until he settled on just keeping his eyes on one planet. A single rock floating in space and it continuously had something somewhere going on. He decided to spy on Earth.

Starting wars for nothing, or for everything. Fighting diseases or struggling against the immovable forces of nature. Building, only to destroy and build more over the remains of whatever was broken before. Shaming and discriminated others for small attitudes and locking others in cells for heinous crimes. Yes, humans of Earth were quite fun to monitor and watch.

However, after 300 years of watching, Jooheon was getting bored.

Though it’s true he always helped cause mischief, he himself never physically did anything. It was more negative influence he poured into the people to urge them on their dismantled ways. Maybe that was the change he was looking for. Maybe it was time to change things up and to actually stir something among the common folk. He had to of course familiarize himself with the times, however.

Sitting on top of a building, just high enough to catch a breeze and but allow the streets below to still be visible. He had cloaked his presence so that if someone should chance look up, the wouldn’t notice him. He wasn’t invisible, but he had masked himself to where someone wouldn’t give him a second glance. It was like passing yet another seemingly unfamiliar, boring face on the streets.

He observed the way people dressed. Some were dressed more than others, some more fancy for jobs, some more casual and even a few just sporting a few risque clothing choices, one that he wouldn’t judge. Some with jewels, some with chains, and if he focused just enough he could even catch a few with hidden guns or knives tucked away. The world sure it on edge, it’s like it doesn’t calm down or give itself a break.

Shrugging, he lifting himself up to stand on the edge of the building now, stretching as he casually took a step off the edge and gracefully glided down to set his feet on the ground. His apparel he had as a demon was nothing like what you humans normally wore on a daily basis. A long, back trench coat that hugged his chest and arms delicately, tigers printed and decorated either side of his lapels. Underneath, a black dress shirt, tucked into his black pants that hugge his thighs and fanned out around his black boot clad feet. A matching, black cravat tucked into his shirt.

Over all of this, his trenchcoat was just covered by a rather color coded vest. Littered with pins, patches and words of the worlds and galaxies he’s seen or messed with. Wearing them like prizes. The vest was rimmed the brightest, boldest shade of red he’d known as the collar of the vest stuck up, almost like a cliche vampire-like look. Chains and ropes loope over the shoulders of the vest and made him look almost like a decorated soldier.

His hair was curled into several loops and swirls as they framed his face and brushed his ears, making them tickle with the light intent of scratching them with the light wind. Threatening to poke his eyes and with each blink of his eyes lashes caught the end of his bangs. Needless to say, if he wanted to be visible, he’d definitely have to change.

He stuck his hands in the pockets of his coat, spinning on his heel as the trench swung around his legs in his action and he made way into an alley. He stepped away from the opening, away from the light as he cleared his throat and rotated his neck, ready to try and blend in as a human.

He pulled off his vest as he tossed it to his side, but it didn’t flutter to the ground, instead stayed hovering next to him, like there was some invisible counter at his side. Next, he shrugged off his coat, as he held it in front of him he snapped the fabric in front of him as if to get rid of any wrinkles or loose dust that caught onto it, and once the tail end of fabric made the sound of that ‘snap’, it vanished like he never held it to begin with. He untucked his cravat from his shirt, tossing it with his vest, still floating beside him.

He took one last look outside the alley and saw the passersby as his clothes started changing themselves. His black, ankle fanned pants changed to that of a pair of dark jeans with the knees frayed and a white t-shirt with a flannel over it. His hair remained the same, but his eyes now held piercing in the lobe and in the other a cartilage cuff gleamed. His boots changed into flat, black and worn looking Vans as he kicked his toes into the hard ground beneath him to adjust to the new feeling.

With a flick of his wrist, his vest and cravat vanished, spinning into nothing, like they were being sucked into a void of somesort. He’d change back into them later when he left or was done for the day. He didn’t really intent on pretending to be a human for very long. Just long enough to cause something, anything, to make him a bit less bored. He clapped his hands together, like they were covered in dust, he didn’t lower the mask he had over himself, he wanted to wander around aimlessly for a bit, and look how they acted before fully letting himself be known.

He left the alley as he stuffed his hands back into his pockets. He turned and started down the sidewalk, walking by person after person, no one sparing him a glance as he just strolled. Looking in windows, watching how people spoke, how they moved their hands and the faces they made. They were also nearly addicted to the phones they held, some small, some large, some touch screen and few rare flip, dial phones for the older ones. People with headphones plugged into their ears, or over their head. How technically obsored.

He was walking by a window, not looking ahead of him when something rant into his left side, making him stumble backwards and widen his eyes as a surprised noise fell from his mouth. He looked down, and then behind him as the thing that hit him had moved to be slightly at his back. He regained his balance and saw a girl, a woman older than his physical age looked. She was hunched over, taking a skip or two to keep herself from falling, he had half a mind to reach out just in case she did end up on her face.

Her arms in front of her as she stumbled, she let out a sigh as he turned around and looked at him. His eyes widened further as she seemed to look straight into his eyes, even when his presence was masked. She should’ve just thought she stumbled on her own feet, but she turned with an apologetic look directed strictly at him.

“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going! You’re not hurt, right? I had a lot of force into that!” He opened his mouth to respond, but only shook his head. He cleared his throat as he turned to her, turned to you, and rubbed his neck.

Wearing a pair of blue jean, without any sort of damage in them, and a grey shirt, you had a hair tie around your wrist and your hair was loose as you looked up at him. Eyes bright and wide.

“I’m fine,” was his simplistic reply. You sighed, this time in relief, and put a hand on your chest. The watch strapped on your wrist caught your attention as you gasped. You hopped a bit in your step, ready to turn and bolt it.

“I’m sorry-I’m late,” you pointed over your shoulder with your thumb. “I’m sorry again!” You turned and he watched as you ran and moved around slower people. You seemed ordinary enough. Just a regular human woman, who just so happened to be late to her job, or wherever she was heading. His sensitive nose had taken in your scent that rubbed off on his shoulder when you collided with him, and with a smirk on his face, he started to follow the trail the scent left behind.

You were quite mysterious.

About a 10 minute walk later, he stopped in front of a small cafe. Along with the strong smell of coffee, pastries and the smell of warmth, also came your scent. You must’ve been in a hurry to get here. Looking through a window a bit longer, he caught sight of you. A smile on your face as your held a pen and receipt book in your hand, taking orders from table after table. A waitress, huh?

You wore a black apron, and your grey shirt was gone, replaced with a brown one that fit with the aesthetics of the cafe. He finally, with a heavy breath out, dispersed the mask around his aura, and made himself look like every other human around him. He moved to the door and pushed it open, the dinging of the bell on the top of the door alerting everyone that someone had just entered.

You turned and greeted him with a happy smile as you finished up at a table and another one of your co-workers seated him. Placing him by a window, which worked out for his people watching, in a single booth fit for himself. They placed a water in a small glass on a coaster, something they did complimentary for each customer seated. He was given a menu and left with a smile and usual ‘your waiter will be be right with you’ before the coworker stepped off.

He watched as they stopped you, pointed to the table he was at, and you nodded, flipping your receipt book to a clean slate and made your way over. He curled his fingers as he brought his elbow up to rest on the clean, wax cleaned table, as his knuckled pushed against his cheek slightly. You stopped at the end of his table, taking the pen out from behind your ear and smiled to him, eyes closed in a friendly manner. You practically oozed approachable, which he assumed was good for a cozy little cafe like this.

“Welcome! I’m Y/N, and I’ll be waiting on your this morning. Can I get you started with anything?” He smiled as he just opened his mouth, eyes scanning the menu for a mere second, but with his demon instincts and sense, he was able to read and basically record the menu in moments.

“A black coffee would be a fine starter, I would say.” You nodded as you opened your eyes and wrote it down on your small little book then looked to him, finally seeing him as you simply let a small gasp out and covered your mouth lightly with your finger, your pen laced between your thumb, fore, and middle finger. “Hello again,” he cheekily greeted with a smirk at you.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry about before!” You bowed to him as he just waved it off. It wasn’t like he was offended, any other man might be, but he’s a bit different. “I was just running late and wasn’t watching were I was going. I really didn’t mean to run into you.” He smiled a bit more genuinely as he realized, you really did see and take in his appearance earlier while it was masked.

“There were no bruises or scrapes, so forget it. It’s all cool.” He was rather unuse to speaking so informally. However, it was a nice change he supposed. You put your pen in your apron pocket as it joined your receipt book.

“Thank you. I’ll be right back with your coffee, okay? Just stop me if you need anything else.” He nodded as you bowed once more and trotted off. He watched you wait on and disappear back into the back, reappearing with trays of food, drinks and moving so fluidly it was impressive to see that the stumbling girl from before was so steady with a tray of so many things that could clatter to the floor.

You had brought his coffee to him, black as he wanted, and the placed a small plate of lemon bread next to it as you smiled. You put your finger over your mouth, slightly smiling as you shush him.

“It’s on the house.” You then stood and walked back to where you had placed your tray, and waited for the next task, passing a small moment of time with a coworkers conversation before a table had flagged you down for an extra straw for their glass of chocolate milk.

Jooheon admittingly never really had human food before, much less something sweet. He hadn’t always been a fan of sweet things, explaining the bitter, black coffee he had already consumed half of. But, has he picked up the soft bread, the yellow around the crust and the crumbs of flavor sticking the pads of his fingers, it didn’t smell horrible. Sweet, but not sickening. He was pleasantly surprised when he took a bit and didn’t want to spit it out. It was a nice flavor.

When the plates was empty, save for the few crumbs of lemon, you had come back and skillfully picked it up and placed it on the tray you held at shoulder height adding it to a small stack of other dirty, used plates and bowls and cups. You asked for his opinion on the bread, and he responded positively making you smile as you walked away.

He stayed at the cafe for probably going on 3 hours now. He kept glancing outside, but it was like all time and motivation to leave was lost to his head. He watched you working, and when he did so, he felt no reason to leave. He laughed at the irony. He was content, sitting in a peaceful, calm place like this cafe when his real reason to this entire farce of being human was to stir up some trouble. But even with this peaceful route, he surprisingly wasn’t bored.

You had stopped by his table, once again, coffee pot in hand as you refilled his mug, the steam from the new, warm liquid floating into the air. You looked over your shoulder once your pouring stopped and listened to a coworker telling you that you were due for your break. You nodded as you passed the coffee pot to a coworker needing it.

Jooheon had half a mind to ask you to sit with him, but you smiled and did it first.

“You��ve been here a while, mind if I take a seat and keep you company for the next 20 minutes?” He nodded, not minding at all. You untied your apron, setting it on your lap as you slid into the booth, a coworker sliding you a water for your break. You took a sip of it, happy for the cool feeling to refresh your throat. Jooheon leaned his chin on his palm as he opened up the conversation.

“Hard worker, aren’t you?” You shrugged, smiling.

“I try. I like this job a lot more than my other one.” He rose his brow at you and you two talked for the entirety of your break. You almost didn’t want to go back to work. He had learned you work a separate job at a local convenience store, stocking shelves and taking inventory. You had wanted to go to college, but didn’t make it through, as the pressure to be successful lead you to drop out at the end of your first year.

You had an apartment alone for cheap not too far from the cafe. It wasn’t in the best condition, but you only had to worry about rent, as the utilities and everything was taken care of by the landlord, a blessing really. You two had chatted and by the end of your break, you had asked about his story. So, he had to make something up of course. Blurting out he was a demon just here for fun wouldn’t go over well, not to mention it’d be far too ridiculous.

He had made up the story that he was in the process of moving, and was house hunting in town. He told you he was your age, as he looked the part, and explained his love for bitter things, and how earlier the lemon bread wasn’t his type of thing, but he did enjoy. You two exchanged words and before the end of your break, you pulled out your phone.

A blank, creme colors case over it. You had asked for his number. He nodded as he stuck his hand in his pocket, and with two taps of his forefinger to his thumb, he grasped a phone out of nothing and pulled it out. Opening it, it had apps and fake contacts to people that didn’t really exist for the appearance of a phone that’s been well used.

He handed it over to you for you to put your number in it and text yourself. You handed it back as you were called back to work. Standing up, you slipped and tied your apron back on and waved him off. He left soon after you got back to work and found himself thinking that’d he’d stick around for a bit longer than he thought he would.

A month has passed, and Jooheon had been playing human everyday of it. He had altered the memories of a small little duplex landlord and secured him a place to live, the papers and money to go with it. Decorated the place with food and furniture fit for a human and was content being there. He was always in his demon state when he was in the walls of his home, but with each knock he would quickly change back.

Another change was that he was visiting the cafe on the days that you worked. You had quickly become friends, something he deemed he didn’t need, but you were an exception. He found you the exception to many things. He would scold you if you tripped, he would ‘pass’ you on the streets and walk you to wherever you were heading, tell you to eat and ever take you out if you had time. It was so rare, but he almost felt protective of you.

That’s what lead to the pure white tattoo on his back. He noticed it one day, a white ancient looking circled symbol, faint at first, but with each day and each encounter with you, it grew more bold. Practically glowing white on his skin by now. He knew what it was, and what was happening, and in any other situation he would be annoyance, furious even. But, he wasn't. He was content with it.

The symbol was the symbol angels had on their backs when they didn’t have wings. He had passed wingless angels before on the same streets at him, he even ran into one once, speaking with him briefly. He had his number on his phone now too. Bleached hair and an attention span and innocent of a puppy. He was easy to see as an earthland angel.

Earthbound, wingless angels were usually sent to the ground for a few reasons. Watching the people and boosting morale of a place in need, keeping a specific place save, some even serving as priests of pastors at churches. But, normally they were sent to watch over someone. He supposed they could be called guardian angels, but that felt too cliche to him.

Even though that white had began plastering his skin, he dressed like he use to before. The black never failing to make him reminiscent on his full demon life. But, he only wore them for one reason anymore, he was waiting for them to shift.

Black was to demons, so it was only natural that white be for angels. He was waiting for the day he was cloaked in white from head to toe. It was only a matter of time now. He was walking around his living room when the ding from his phone caught his attention. Grabbing it off the charger he sat down and opened up the text he was alerted of.

[Sent: XX/XX/XXXX xx:xx AM]

You: Hey Stranger! We should go out today, since it’s rare I have a day off. Don’t you dare reject me either. As your best friend, I say you should go with me shopping.

He smiled as he got up. Moving around his home to his bathroom, he felt the air around him change, a slight tingle in his back. He looked in the mirror and smiled as he watched the black from his clothes and hair fade out. Hair a lighter shade of blonde now. His clothes washing out the black as white took it over, like squeezing the soap out of a rag. His vest, once black and red rimmed changed into one with a tamed collar and gold and white lines.

Trench coat disappearing for a proper white, tucked in button down with a pair of white, hugging pants and boots with a slight heel to them. Cravat being replaced with a tie as a white earring hung from his ear and a small tattoo appeared around his neck, attached to the giant one on his back. A sign of a changed demon to angel. It was rare for this to happen, but he couldn’t even be angry at it. He smiled as he looked at your open message and typed in a reply.

[Sent: XX/XX/XXXX xx:xx AM]

Him: Only if we get to catch a movie later. My choice of course.

[Sent: XX/XX/XXXX xx:xx AM]

You: Deal!! Meet me at the cafe at 10!

Changing his clothes and taming his hair slightly, he looked at his reflection once more before slipping on his Vans and locking the door behind him as he left. He’d drink a coffee at the cafe while he waited for you. Maybe a bit of creamer to sweeten it up this time. It was always a good time for change.

The best change of his entire existence was coming to earth as a demon and deciding to stay as an angel, leaving his demonic life behind with a smile on his face. Just for the chance to be your very own guardian angel.

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