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thelunarbar · 1 year

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I Wanna Know What It’s Like(On The Inside Of Love)

In which: they somehow happen to all be back in Miramar at the same time. And they’re not about to let the opportunity pass them by.

Word count: 2603

Playlist!

-/-/-/-

“I know it’s been less than a year, but it feels like it’s been so much longer than that.” Phoenix states, leaning back, hands in the sand. Murmurs of agreement mingle in the air. Beer bottles and soda cans are scattered around their little party, as well as the remains of the fixings for hotdogs and s’mores. The sun is starting to set, melting into the ocean and washing the sky in a brilliant blush. The fire is cracking and popping happily.

“Every time I have shore leave I kinda don’t wanna go back.” Payback says, slouching down more in his folding lawn chair. “But at the same time I need to be back in the air.”

“It’s an addiction.” Maverick replies. He watches the fire intently, a can of ginger ale held loosely in his hand. It had taken a lot of convincing to get him to join them. He’d protested, making comments about how they wouldn’t want an old man bringing them down, and how he had to get up early. All bullshit. And when he’d been called on it, he really couldn’t come up with anymore arguments. So there he sits, in front of Rooster’s folding lawn chair, pant legs rolled up, bare feet buried in the sand. “Once you get a taste you can’t go back.”

“It’s a never ending internal battle.” Halo pipes up. “When you’re up there,” she gazes up at the sky. Stars are starting to become visible and the moon is almost full. “You’re always thinking about the things you’re missing down below. But when you’re down here all you can think about is getting back in a plane.” She sighs contentedly, still gazing upward. From his chair behind her, Omaha rests a hand on top of her head. She turns to look at him and smiles.

“Being free.” Omaha adds.

“Y’all are getting a bit too sentimental for my tastes.” Hangman stands and dusts the sand off his pants.

“So you’re leaving?” Rooster asks, “very mature response.”

“Actually,” Hangman drawls, leaning down so he’s nose to nose with Rooster and practically on top of Mav. “I’m going to grab something from my car.” And then he walks off.

“Hand me another beer?” Harvard asks, tipping his chair to side in an effort to reach the cooler sitting between Rooster and Bob’s chairs.

“Why didn’t we bring any water?” Bob asks as he hands Harvard another bottle. Harvard reaches a little too far and topples over onto Fanboy, kicking Yale in the process.

“Y’know I don’t think you really need another one.” Yale snarks while rubbing the spot Harvard had kicked. Harvard rights his chair and drops back into before sticking his tongue out at Yale.

“Alright.” Hangman drops back onto the sand beside Mav and in front of Coyote, a guitar held in his hands. A few cheers and whistles greet him. He plucks the strings, adjusts the tuning pegs and plucks again. He repeats this process several times before he’s satisfied. “What am I playing first?” He glances at Rooster, who shoots him a grin. “I already told you no.” Rooster just keeps grinning, undeterred by Hangman’s response. “Fine. But you owe me.” Rooster laughs and pushes his aviators up. Hangman plucks a couple strings and looks at Rooster. “One, two, three.” And he begins to play. Mav can’t help the snort when he realizes why Hangman said no to begin with. Rooster begins to sing.

“On a warm summers evening. On a train bound for nowhere.”

Rooster certainly has the voice for it though. Rich and resonant. Hangman grins despite himself. The songs ends and everyone cheers.

“Bradshaw, we should do Long Time Gone.” Phoenix says, sitting up straighter.

“I don’t think I know that one.” Hangman tells her while plucking idly at the strings.

“I do.” Rooster holds his hand out expectantly. Hangman squints at him for moment before handing the guitar over, nearly whacking Mav in the head. Rooster adjust the guitar in his lap and starts to play. He and Phoenix start to sing, voices overlapping perfectly. When the first verse ends Rooster let’s Phoenix go on alone for the next one. Joining her again when the chorus hits.

“I’ll be a long time gone.”

It’s a nice song, even if somewhat sad. Mav smiles as he listens, catches Phoenix grinning as she reaches up and lets Bob take her hand.

“Yes, when I leave. I’ll be a long time gone.”

They finish and cheers rise up around them. Bob kisses the back of Phoenix’s hand and Mav almost certain she blushes.

“Hey!” Amelia bounces over and drops down beside Maverick. “That sounded amazing, guys.”

“Thanks, kiddo.” Rooster ruffles her hair and she scowls up at him. He just grins and pushes his aviators up.

“Wearing sunglasses at night isn’t cool.” Amelia informs him. “You just look stupid.” Rooster sticks his tongue out and pushes against Amelia’s head in a playful manner, but does remove his aviators.

“Ooh. Yes!” Hangman chuckles, “fuck Rooster! I love it.” He puts his fist out and Amelia bumps hers against it. Hangman takes the guitar back and plucks a tune. He struggles through the first few lines of the song before it starts to come naturally.

“Wherever we are is where I wanna be, and honey for once in our life let’s take our chances and roll the dice.”

Rooster sincerely hopes no one can tell he’s blushing. Hangman shoots him a smile and winks. Rooster smiles, downing the last of his beer. There’s a warm feeling in his chest and he can’t determine if it’s from the alcohol or Hangman practically serenading him.

Halo joins Hangman towards the end. While their voices don’t meld the way Phoenix and Rooster’s did they still sound nice. More applause when the song ends.

Bob offers Amelia a can of root beer, which she accepts and pops open, taking a drink. Then she looks over at Hangman.

“Play a song for me?” She asks in her sweetest voice.

“Depends on what you request?”

“Can you play something by Taylor Swift?” Her request is met by a couple of groans. Hangman smiles in a way reserved only for little sisters who make requests you don’t like, but that you’ll follow through anyway. Even though Amelia isn’t his sister she may as well have been. Hangman hums to himself and plucks at the strings trying to figure out the song. Amelia gasps, excitement evident in on her face.

“I love this song.” She starts to sing. She’s got a beautiful voice and Mav can’t help but smile as he watches her sway gently while she sings, eyes closed and smiling the whole time. God, he loves that kid like she’s his own.

By the time the chorus comes around both Halo and Fanboy are singing with her.

“On a Wednesday in cafe I watched it begin again.”

Towards the middle of the song Payback and Harvard pull their phones out and turn the flashlights so they can wave them in the air while Amelia, Halo and Fanboy keep singing.

The song ends and everyone cheers. Amelia goes pink in the face and smiles shyly. Mav pulls her into a one armed hug and presses a kiss to her temple.

“That was beautiful, kiddo.” She grins at him.

“Thanks.” She says softly. Mav doesn’t let her go, she doesn’t try to get away.

After that the guitar gets passed around to anyone who can and wants to play. There’s interesting assortment of songs played due to the diverse musical likes of their group.

Yale plays a couple songs Mav doesn’t recognize. He’s a surprisingly smooth tenor that’s very pleasant listen to. After that Payback requests a Willie Nelson song followed by Harvard requesting Patience by Guns ‘n’ Roses. Rooster plays a couple Tom Petty songs before playing Country Roads by John Denver at the request of Omaha. Everyone sings that one and Landslide when Fritz plays it a bit shakily. Coyote plays a somewhat sad song about loving someone much you’ll follow them even to death. Hangman takes it back and plays some older classics that Mava actually knows and he finds himself humming along.

“Hey!” Amelia says when Jake finishes I’ll Follow The Sun. “Mav hasn’t picked a song yet.” Mav groans internally as all eyes turn to him.

“She’s right. Make a request Mav.” Hangman says. “I’m sure someone here can play something for you.” Mav wants to protest, but Amelia gives him her best puppy dog eyes and Rooster nudges him with his toe and Mav can’t say no to his kids.

“D’you know Wild Horses by the Stones?” He asks. Hangman grins.

“You got it, Pops.” He begins to pluck at the strings. Mav takes a deep breath and hopes his face isn’t as red as it feels before he starts to sing. He’s never been the best singer, but if he knows the song well he’ll give it his all. All eyes are on him and he doesn’t know where to look. He settles his gaze on the fire, gaining more confidence in his voice when he reaches the chorus. He squeezes Amelia a little tighter and hopes she understands. Hopes Rooster knows.

The song ends and cheers erupt around him. If he wasn’t blushing before he definitely is now. Rooster gives his shoulder a squeeze and when Mav looks up he says, “that was great.” And Mav can tell by the look in his eyes that he knows. Knows everything Mav can never find the words to say.

The guitar gets passed around again. They all sing a laughter filled version of Sweet Caroline followed by a couple Elton John songs and more John Denver. They’re all at least suitably tipsy, with a select few having stayed sober enough to drive others home, and the fire is starting to die out, but no one wants to leave yet. Eventually the guitar ends up back in Rooster’s lap and he begins to play a country song Mav doesn’t recognize. When the chorus hits Phoenix joins him and Mav is in awe again at how beautiful the two sound together.

“You don’t wanna fall in love.”

Mav looks up to watch Rooster and doesn’t miss the longing look he’s giving Hangman. Hopefully one of them will stop being stupid and they’ll deal with whatever’s going on between them. And if they don’t do it soon Mav may have to bang their heads together and tell them to get their shit together. He doesn’t want it to come to that.

The last notes of the song get tugged away by the breeze and Mav becomes aware of how cool it’s gotten. Everyone cheers again, but in a somewhat more subdued manner now that they’re starting to get tired. They sit in comfortable silence, but with their eyes turned skyward. The stars are beautiful and the moon is full.

“It’s time like this I wish didn’t live in the city.” Phoenix says. “I forget how beautiful the stars are.”

“Makes me miss home.” Hangman admits. “Used to lay out on the trampoline with my sisters.” There’s longing laced through his words. “Slept out there a lot.” He’s smiling, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Rooster reaches over and squeezes his shoulder. Hangman rests his hand on top of Roosters, but doesn’t take his eyes off the stars.

“The moon is so pretty when it’s full.” Amelia says after a beat of silence.

“I always wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid.” Fritz tells them.

“There’s still time.” Halo tells him. He smiles and nods.

“Stargazing always reminds me of going with Goose when he’d go back to Texas.” Mav says, voice cracking when he says Goose’s name. “The guest room at their house had a window that opened onto the roof and I’d climb out and lay there to look at the stars. Goose-Goose joined me a lot. Talk a lot about the future, being neighbors, sitting by a campfire in the evenings and watching the stars come out. Sitting somewhere more comfortable than the roof.” Mav chuckles a little at the memory and starts to get teary so focuses on the dying embers in front of him. Amelia squeezes him tight and he rests his head against hers. He wishes Goose was there. Could live that future they always talked about. Could see the incredible young man Bradley has become. Could get to know Penny and be Amelia’s weird Uncle Goose. He swallows the lump in his throat and blinks back his tears.

Over thirty five years later and he stills misses Goose. He thinks he always will. It hurts a little less as the years go by, but the pain of losing a brother stays with you forever.

They start picking up trash and leftovers. Chairs get folded up, sand is kicked over the remains of the fire and they all trek back to the parking lot. Mav’s watch tells him it’s almost midnight. Amelia is leaning heavily against them as they walk, but he doesn’t mind.

At the cars goodbyes are shared and confirmations of dinner at Mav and Penny’s the following night are given. Hugs are exchanged. Mostly given to Mav, who’s not expecting it and gets a bit emotional. Both Phoenix and Halo press a kiss to his cheek. He doesn’t cry, thank you very much, but maybe a gets little misty eyed. He watches his kids pair off and head toward different vehicles, laughing and talking and wonders how he lived so long without this. This wonderful familial kind of love. Rooster hugs him last and longest.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He tells Mav, searching his face for something, but Mav doesn’t know what. Mav smiles and nods. Rooster pulls him back into a hug. It took several hard conversations to get to this point, but Mav is so glad to have Rooster back in his life.

“Tomorrow, kid.” Rooster huffs a laugh against Mav’s neck and let’s him go, turning to pull Amelia into a hug.

“G’night, kiddo.” He mumbles and presses a kiss to the top of her head. Mav was admittedly very surprised by how quickly Rooster and Amelia grew attached to each other, but he’s glad they’re getting along. Whenever he asks what they got up to the day he took Penny up in his Mustang he only receives laughter in response so he’s given up asking. But something happened to have them form a bond like they now share.

Once he’s sure they’ll all be ok he and Amelia head back over to the Hard Deck. Penny is just finishing up her closing chores when they stumble in, laughing. Penny smiles. She loves watching the two of them. Amelia had been very dubious when she and Mav had first gotten back together, but Mav had been sincere when he said he wasn’t leaving again and Amelia let him in. And Mav clearly loves Amelia like she’s his own and while that still scares Penny a little she loves him and she’s so happy to him back in her life she’s willing to work past her lingering fears.

Amelia joins Penny behind the bar, offering to help finish up. Mav watches them and realizes not for the first time just how lucky he is. He realizes too that he’s been wondering for years what it really means to have a family and kids. And if this is what it’s like on the inside of love, well, it’s not a bad place to be.

#top gun maverick #bradley rooster bradshaw #pete maverick mitchell #jake hangman seresin #illusions to hangster #the potential is there #penny benjamin x pete mitchell #mavdad #Mav loves his kids #and his kids love him #also I live for Amelia and roosters sibling relationship #nick goose bradshaw(mentioned)

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anniesocsandgeneralstore · 2 years

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Love your stories so much! Jake and Ronnie are everything 😍

Would be keen to see your take on a werewolf Au between then. Any dynamic would be cool to see your ideas for that reality.

Ronnie and Jake forever!

i'm so glad you think so anon 🥺💕 i'm so glad people like jake and ronnie so much. makes my heart smile. and WEREWOLF AU?????? I am screaming, crying, throwing up at the mere thought!! Here we go!!!!!!!!! (side note this got so out of hand and I kinda wanna just like...write it for real)

Picture this: Pacific Northwest, a small logging town that has local tales about the settlers of the town being blessed by the Moon Goddess with strength and power. And those tall tales aren't that far off from the truth.

Ronnie and her brother Bradley are from this town, their family has lived there for generations. And her brother has carried on a tradition that started when the town was founded over 200 years prior: He is the alpha of the west side pack of werewolves.

Ronnie did not get the werewolf gene from her father, she's only human, but she is okay with that. She helps out the pack in any way she can. She helps them not to kill people by locking them up in the basement of the local tavern that she owns, stuff like that.

Bradley's pack definitely includes Phoenix and Bob and Maverick as an older wiser Beta.

But one day, a forest fire takes over the east side of town - forcing a bunch of loggers from that side to come work in the west. Forcing the east side werewolf pack to be on the wrong side of the tracks.

Ronnie has never met the other werewolf pack before. She knew from the stories that they once used to be one giant pack, but because of some unsettlable feud, they divided the pack and the territory with it.

But they come into her tavern one night and immediately the air inside is different. There's a palpable tension, like all the air had been sucked out of the room. The normal humans could feel it and they all practically ran out the door.

Jake's pack definitely includes Coyote, Fanboy, and Payback.

She makes eye contact with the other pack's alpha, Jake Seresin, from across the bar. And she knows. She knows the instant she sees his eyes flash red and him take in a massive lungful of air through his nose, his entire body going somehow tense and lax at the same time.

Ronnie was his mate. Destined to be by the Moon Goddess Herself. She feels an electric spark run down her spine when he looks at her again, a hunger on his face.

The two packs have a tussle in the tavern that she eventually breaks up because they're breaking her tables and she won't stand for it. She kicks the east side pack out, citing that there are plenty of other bars for them to hang out in. Does she accidentally touch Jake's arm? Yes. Does he look like he wants to eat her whole? Also yes.

Jake finds her on her way home. Stops her on the sidewalk. He's completely alone and so is she. Part of her knows that she should be afraid. But she can't even will herself to be. She can't help but feel protected and comfortable around him.

"You know what this means, little one?" (oooohhhh my gooooooodddddd)

"Yes, I know what it means. I'm a Bradshaw."

"I'll have you one way or another. Even your brother can't stand in the way of this."

"Not if I reject it."

"Now why would you do that?"

Jesus H. Christ. Anyway.

She doesn't reject him right then and there. Because despite hundred-year-long feuds and her brother and all that...she is intrigued by him. And she can't help but lean into the safe, loved feeling that his presence induces in her.

Over the course of a few weeks, she keeps sneaking out to see him. And he sneaks in once to see her, but Bradley just like immediately smells something off and comes to investigate. They don't get caught thank God but...it was pretty damn close.

We eventually learn that the forest fire was set on purpose, and Ronnie can only assume it was so that the packs would be forced to be in the same area. But why?

Then, one night when she's working late at the tavern and she's told Bradley to just go home already she's fine, a man comes in and kidnaps her. He takes her deep into the woods, roughs her up quite a bit.

It's an omega werewolf, once an alpha, determined to destroy the two alphas of this region's packs and unite the two under his own leadership. He started the forest fire to get the two packs together, hoping they would just kill each other, but it was taking too long. So he found common ground: Bradley sister, and Jake's soon-to-be Luna.

The two packs can sense that something is wrong with Ronnie. So they individually decide to after her. Following her scent through the woods.

But Jake gets to her first. He finds her with bruises and cuts on her face and asks that classic question: "Who did this to you?"

But then of course Bradley shows up and is like THAT'S MY SISTER WHAT ARE YOU DOING

They both go full wolf mode and start attacking the shit out of each other

Doing just like the omega wants them to do.

Ronnie tries to get in there and stop them, but then of course one of them (it's unclear who) literally smacks her into a tree and knocks her unconscious. Jake is the first to notice and break away from the fight.

And that's about when Bradley figures it out. They're mated. And if it's what Ronnie wants, he was no one to stand in her way.

But that's about when the omega jumps into the fight in his own werewolf form, larger and more feral than either Bradley or Jake. He wounds Bradley pretty severely, but Jake steps in to save him.

In the end, the two packs aren't exactly united. They're on better terms, but the territories they occupy and the lives they live are pretty well established. But their common ground is Ronnie, now accepted as Jake's mate, and the little pup she carries inside her.

omg omggggggg i am way too in love with this concept somebody sedate me. if anyone wants to talk more about this...i wouldn't be opposed.

#oc: ronnie bradshaw #fic: come over here and overwhelm me #fd: top gun #jake seresin x ronnie bradshaw #werewolf au #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #hangman #jake hangman seresin x oc #jake seresin x oc #hangman x oc

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pluton514 · 6 months

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Chapter 1: Speaking my mind, the beginnings.

In a wooden house far from any signs of civilization in the middle of a barren wasteland, except for a random restaurant a couple of miles away, there sat a boy by the name of Pluto on his bed in a dark room, with fluffy black hair, semi defined muscles, and scarlet eyes. Wondering about his own life, The boy doesn't have any recollection of his memories, but instead has small fragments of them scattered throughout his mind. He doesn't know why he's there, but at least he isn't alone. The house doesn't belong to him, but it belongs to a girl that goes by the name of Amelia. As far as he knows, she's been taking care of him for a while now. This is all weird and sudden for the boy, but as of right now all he can do...is wonder.

I don't exactly recall how I happened to be here. In this cold, spacious, dark room. I just remember running away from the bright flames, and the shrieks from indistinguishable beings. I remember the smell of smoke and the awful scent of rotting dead bodies. Screams of agony and fear; a giant blue light from the clouds almost striking me, it was all so sudden. I do however, remember my mother dying off in the distance seeing her flesh melt down into bones.

Before she left, she whispered these words into my ear, "This isn't goodbye."After that, everything went dark. I wake up in the middle of this room and here we are in present time. It's a peaceful night and the moon is full. I like to gaze at the beautiful nightsky; it makes me feel at ease. My Mother once told me that the stars align our destiny and that everything we do is for a purpose. I'm 16 and I'm still trying to figure out what is my purpose...

Although, there is tale, a tale of the constellations. They tell your purpose, your fate, or your destiny. It's all the same, but when I gaze up at the moon, at the starry night. I see the stars align the shape of a Phoenix. The animal of rebirth, the bird that starts anew after death, a new youth, a new cycle of life. I don't really understand it, but it's pretty cool to look at I guess.

Wanna know something? I'm sure you probably don't care or anything, but I'll tell you anyways. Have you ever felt out of purpose? Or maybe you feel like you haven't done enough with your life? If the answer yes, well I've got nothing to say to you, but if your answer is no, then I guess you and I have a long road ahead of us. I know, I know it's stupid...you're probably thinking "You're just a kid! You don't have to think about this!", right? But that's the thing, there really isn't much to think about. At least, not for me.

I want to do something with my life, I want to be part of something big, something that'll change...history? Ok, maybe not THAT big...or maybe that big..? I don't know, doesn't hurt to dream I guess.

A moment of silence ensues after the boy shares his thoughts...to himself. He sits there on his bed pondering. The dark room and the silence consumes him, making him feel drowsy, but his thoughts are what keep him awake. He turns his head to the side, seemingly looking at a darkened square with hints of lights in between its crevices. He slowly stands up and takes a few steps towards the dark square. Reaching his hand out, the boy clasps his hand on the square, he puts his finger in between the lines that show off a spec of bluish light, with a tint of white. He pulls his finger up allowing for the wooden curtain to open, revealing the moonlight, and the sky filled with stars. The boy looks up at the night, feeling a sense of calmness. The moon reflecting on his left eye, the boy looks upward, to see the constellation he spoke of earlier, the phoenix. A gentle smile forms on the boys face, he finds it calming to watch the sky, to watch the stars. It's probably his favorite hobby in a way, is it really a hobby? I guess you'd call it stargazing, so we'll call it a hobby.

A single tear falls from the boy's face, not because he's sad, but because he's tired. He yawns and stretches his arms up, he's ready to head to bed. The boy closing the wooden curtain, darkness takes over the room again. Slowly creeping his way to his bed, he doesn't make a sound. Sitting down on the mattress on the floor, the boy moves his body downwards laying himself face down on the bed. His eyes blinking as if trying to stay awake, but they slow down as the seconds come to pass. His eyesight dims, the dark becomes even darker, the boy's eyelids make contact, dozing off into deep slumber.

#story #action adventure #greek gods #original character #original writing #wattpad

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kopawz · 2 years

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this is the "Scale of Hot People from Date-ableness and Respectableness” according to my lima-bean sized brain

if you have no idea who a character is, please refer to the numbered list below, in the keep reading tab

1. my friends on discord who wanted to be on this graph to prove their hotness

2. krillin, from dragon ball. he is on the far left due to being married, i think he worked too hard to have somebody home-wreck his marriage

3. jadzia, from DS9. she is also married, but i feel like everybody in DS9 is already married to each other in some way, shape, or form

4. oliver armstrong, from fullmetal alchemist. she would likely be too busy to go on a date with me, and i respect that

5. stanford pines, from gravity falls. he’s just here to fill space, and to serve as a foil to his much more hot and date-able brother.

6. mina, from pokemon sun & moon. i respect her vibes, but she is also likely too busy as a trial captain

7. adrian farenheights tepes (A.K.A. alucard), from the castlevania series. i love a guy who can storm into his dad’s castle just to kick his ass, but i’m not sure how well a date with him would go; i’m on the fence about it

8. terry bogard, from the fatal fury and king of fighters games. i just put him here because he’s eye candy, while i don’t actually know much about him; apparently he has an adoptive son? that’s cool man, give me your number

9. the grim reaper, from the sims games. now hear me out; if every sim agrees to woohoo with the grim reaper after spending enough time with them- clearly there must be some kind of hotness to him, and i can’t deny logic

10. mia fey, from the ace attorney series. miss fey is one of the best characters in the ace attorney series, and wasn’t even held back from helping her friends and family by something as trivial as death itself; a loosely defined girlboss

11. telma from zelda: twilight princess. she runs a successful business, is a member of a resistance against zant and ganondorf, has an adorable pet cat, is a kind and brave person who helps whoever wanders into her bar; a textbook definition of a girlboss

12. kiryu kazuma, from the yakuza series. he’s strong and a huge cutie; i’d wanna take him to an amusement park so he can win me a comically oversized bear plushie from an obviously rigged fair game

13. stanley pines, from gravity falls. this man conned an entire town, the U.S. government, and himself for 40 years. he is the arguably the biggest MVP in the entire show.

14. klavier gavin, from the ace attorney series; he is just some guy to me. i don’t think i’d date him because he would take ten minutes to order something off a menu at a fast-food restaurant; yet his hot guy status is undeniable

15. vash the stampede, from trigun; i just think he’s hilarious, a huge dumbass with a massive heart of gold; yes he blew up two entire cities by accident, but hey, nobody’s perfect

16. phoenix wright, from the ace attorney series. he is also just some guy to me, but i feel like he would be more pleasant to go on a date with, even if i am the one that winds up paying for wherever the date is

17. lady palutena, from the kid icarus series. she has a wonderful personality, incredible power, and has great advice once she’s done bullying you; unfortunately she is a war criminal

18. wulfric, from pokemon X & Y. he’s incredibly hot, but his gym is far too easy in both puzzle sense, and battle sense- especially for being the final gym of the game; he has the looks and confidence, but i feel he needs to try harder as a gym leader

19. goku, from dragon ball. has no idea what a date is; self explanatory.

20. majima goro, from the yakuza series. i kinda just wanna go bowling with the guy, to be honest

21. midna, from zelda: twilight princess. a trickster, a scoundrel, kind of manipulative at first; i love her, and hope she has a nice time ruling over the twilight realm by doing absolutely nothing, luigi style

22. lupin the 3rd, from lupin the 3rd. i hate him so much. he’s so stupid, and nobody in their right mind would agree to go on a date with this embarrassment of a man; he’s lucky he’s cute

23. master utsushi, from monster hunter rise. he might seem like a total catch at first, but this guy just sits on roof tops eating mochi and playing with his pet owls all day. he only shows up on rare occasion to help during missions; cute, but not reliable or date worthy

24. ozychlyrus brounev tantal (A.K.A. zeke). he’s hot sure, but he’s too much of a clown for me to really respect or want to go on a date with him; his streak of deadly bad luck also is a deterrent

25. waka, from ōkami. a very talented, powerful, and knowledgeable man; if only he was less of a pompous tootsie-roll, i’d be happy to hang out with him more often

26. inuyasha, from inuyasha. i feel like he’d actually be alright to go on a date with; may get us removed from any establishment we go to because he won’t wear shoes, calls everyone bastards, and carries a sword everywhere

27. doctor octopus, from spider-man 2 (2004). man has tits; self explanatory.

#i got bored in class so i made this #peace and love

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thefoodwiththedood · 3 years

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"Good Guys"

Here's another story from a bit ago, this time about Hatou and Eobea going on a diplomatic mission to Darkon III, and Hatou making a new friend! This is sort of a continuation of my stories "Strategy" and "Rising Phoenix," so for more context, you could read those first. Either way, let me know what y'all think of this!

Characters: Hatou Koros, Princess Eobea Xovrada, Oesta Varg, Chieftain Haeris Varg & Khosti Varg (who belong to @kaminoanbat)

Setting: 21 BBY, Darkon III

Word Count: ~2,300

“Must we do this?” Eobea whispered, just loud enough to be heard over the trumpets announcing her arrival. Her own procession was rather small, compared to the reception she’d been given: All around the walled courtyard of the palatial fortress where they’d landed, Mandalorian warriors stood at attention, their freshly-polished armor gleaming in the sun. At the end of the courtyard opposite her stood two more Mandos, an adult and a child, with their helmets at their sides and their own entourage at their backs. “I thought visits like this were reserved for planets with some…value to us”

Before Hatou answered, he held out his elbow, and her mechanical forearm hooked itself in the crook of it. “We’re here to encourage the people that Iridonia is with them, same as always,” he said as the two of them walked, “the Darkonan clans are good people, and even better warriors—if we can convince Clan Varg to join forces with us, the other clans will follow, and they could help us defend the other colonies from Separatist attacks''

“I can always rely on you to be optimistic, can’t I,” Eobea smiled,but the disdain was still palpable in her voice. “Maybe it’s just my ancestors talking—the ones who were murdered when the Mandalorians occupied Iridonia, you remember them—but I’m not so quick to trust. As I far as I know, Darkon III might just be the final holdout of those same invaders"

Thankfully, Eobea had said the last part just before coming into earshot of the Darkonan chieftain ahead of them. “Have faith, Princess,” Hatou reassured her, choosing his words carefully now that he could be heard, “It’s possible we may find some life-long allies today”

At the end of their long walk, Hatou and Eobea came face-to-face with a tall, middle-aged Zabrak clad in regal yet battle-worn armor. “It is an honor,” he began in accented Basic, his voice a strong, baritone rumble, “to welcome you to Darkon III, Princess Eobea. I am Haeris Varg of Clan Varg, Chieftain of the Darkonan Clans, and,” he paused only briefly, as he and the child at his side bowed respectfully, “your humble servant for as long as we may host you”

Eobea gave one final look to Hatou, before clearing her throat and replying. “You are very kind, Chieftain. I look forward to my stay here,” she lied, “and I look forward to discussing business—my father has assured me that you will be most indispensable allies''

“We always endeavor to be,” Haeris smiled—it could have been genuine enthusiasm behind that smile, or it could be as much of a put-on as Eobea’s. Neither she nor Hatou knew him well enough to tell, but they both wondered about it. “Ah, but in the meantime, allow me to introduce my family; this is my son, Khosti,” he swept an arm over the child at his side, and Khosti bowed once again. The boy was awfully mechanical in his movements, and he didn’t dare make eye contact with the Princess—clearly, he’d rehearsed this, or his father had made him. “And,” Haeris sighed, “though she’s running fashionably late, there’s also—

A sudden, roaring sound cut Haeris off mid-thought, and everyone in the courtyard looked up to see its source. A lone Mandalorian warrior rocketed across the sky, only to then circle back and finally stop just above Hatou, Eobea, and the Chieftain. Hovering in the air for only a second longer, she cut the engine in her rocket pack, falling several feet and hitting the ground on one knee. She rose to her feet slowly, removing her helmet and revealing the big, toothy grin she’d rode in with. “Hey, dad,” she spoke, tucking her helmet under her arm as she turned to face the Chieftain, “Sorry I was out, thought I’d take the scenic route back here. What’s…” she trailed off, apparently just noticing Hatou, Eobea, and the amount of people there in the courtyard with them. She studied Eobea in particular, her smile fading as she looked her up and down. “What’s with the Iridonians?”

“Oesta, please,” Haeris seethed, calling her attention back to him. He gave her a single, stern look, and she scowled back at him before relenting and taking her place at his right side. He took a deep breath before speaking again. “Oesta,” Haeris said again, this time introducing her to Hatou and Eobea, “is my eldest daughter, and will one day inherit my throne—if she can ever learn how a leader ought to act” Oesta rolled her eyes in response, before continuing to silently size up the Princess and her bodyguard.

If the mere prospect of working with Mandalorians wasn’t enough to sour Eobea’s view of this planet, the sheer disrespect from the Chieftain’s daughter might be. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Eobea lied again, trying and failing to mask her feelings, smiling so fleetingly she was bordering on curtness.

“Perhaps,” Hatou chimed in, rescuing Eobea preemptively from what surely would have been a long, uncomfortable silence, “I should take the Princess to her accommodations—allow us time to settle in, before our negotiations begin” He surreptitiously took her hand, and he could feel her relax slightly as their fingers interwove.

Haeris cleared his throat. “Yes, of course, please do—if you’d follow me inside, someone will show you to your rooms”

Hatou nodded, once again hooking Eobea’s elbow in his. The two of them followed the trio of Vargs and their entourage as they turned towards the large fortress, and Hatou almost caught Oesta studying him over her shoulder as they walked inside.

. . .

Hours later, Hatou found himself quietly slipping outside, sighing in relief as the brisk evening air hit his face. Even better than the air was the peace and quiet; to everyone’s surprise, Eobea’s opinions on the Darkonans began to sweeten over the course of the evening, and now she was happily—not to mention drunkenly, and loudly—wining-and-dining with the Vargs’ most senior clansmen. Hatou himself couldn’t partake, of course. His duties to the princess came first, and he needed to keep his wits about him. So, here he stood: a balcony overlooking the sea, lit by the light of Darkon III’s moons, leaning back against a railing and watching his charge through the giant glass door. She was having fun, clearly. That much made him happy.

“Hey” a voice suddenly spoke up to Hatou’s right, and he jumped in shock. He instinctively reached for his sword, but, upon turning to see the voice’s owner, he relaxed. It was just the Chieftain’s daughter—Oesta, if he remembered right—resting on the railing in the opposite corner of the balcony, looking at him with a sort of half-smile. Two drinks, one full and one half-full, were sitting on the wall at her side, evidently brought out from inside some time ago. “This kinda party ain’t your speed, huh?”

Hatou took a breath before answering, removing his helmet and holding it at his side. “No, not exactly,” he admitted, “And you?”

She smiled. “Not tonight. Kinda dreading having to talk to my dad after this morning, in the courtyard. Here, wanna drink? I was gonna have both myself but, now that you’re here,” she slid the full mug towards him, but with a small wave of his hand he refused it. “Yeah,” she continued, “Best to let him get all boozed up to soften that blow, y’know how dads are”

“Actually, I don’t,” he responded, “we’re very close, my father and I, we almost never fight”

Oesta raised an eyebrow, and her smile faded slightly. “Lucky you”

“I…” Hatou stuttered, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“Must be nice,” she continued, interrupting him, “to be born into a thriving empire, to a parent who likes you just how you are, and to get to serve your planet’s royalty, that’s—”

“Iridia” Hatou interjected, interrupting her in turn. “I’m from Iridia, not Iridonia”

“...Oh” Oesta paused for a moment, silently retracting most of her prejudgements. “What’s the difference?”

“Iridia’s its own planet, a former colony just like Darkon,” Hatou said, his tone softening. In spite of his previous reservations, he decided to take the drink she’d offered him after all, and he paused to take a sip. “It’s beautiful, but not in the same ways as Iridonia. It has natural beauty, I guess. You go there, and it just feels warm and welcoming, like the planet itself wants to nurture you and take care of you. It’s motherly, in a way”

“Motherly…” Oesta replied, the word lingering on her lips a little longer than she’d meant it to. “It sounds nice. But then, if you’re from a colony, how’d you end up with...y’know…” she gestured towards the glass door, and the half-in-the-bag Princess seated inside.

Hatou smiled, unabashedly proud of what he was about to say. “Emperor Stotrau saw great potential in me, he said so himself. He needed a bodyguard for his daughter, and I was the best candidate, from Iridonia or otherwise. It’s a great honor”

“I’ll bet,” she said, her lips curling into a wry smile. “So, does he know you’re banging his daughter yet?”

Hatou, who was in the middle of taking another swig, nearly choked. Oesta tried and failed to stifle a laugh as he coughed, and it was several seconds before he even tried to speak. “I...we...well, see...who told you?”

“Well you did, just now” Oesta chuckled, earning a groan from Hatou as he realized his mistake. “I saw you two out in the courtyard, the way you calmed her down. Seems like she trusts you”

With a sigh, Hatou shook his head and smiled. No use denying it now. “The princess...Eobea...we were friends long before we ever, well...I don’t know, it just kind of happened” He felt himself blushing now, and moreso, he felt Oesta’s gaze on him. He turned away, just to spare himself a little embarrassment.

“No need to justify it, man, I get it—it’s your job to protect her 'round the clock, you two’re bound to get close like that,” Oesta smiled, taking another sip herself, “She’s cute, too. Total catch”

“It’s more than just physical” Hatou hadn’t quite meant to say that, but he couldn’t help justifying himself here. This was a talk he’d rehearsed many times, in preparation for the day when someone found out, when someone would question how a relationship between an Iridonian princess and a lowly soldier from the Colonies could ever work. Explaining it to a nosy Mandalorian was never in the plan, but oh well. “I mean...she values my company, and I enjoy seeing her happy. Every day I watch the stress she’s put under, the way she’s underestimated and put down, even by those who mean well. But she’s ambitious, smart, driven, more than any of them see. I want to help her succeed. I want to be there for her through good and bad times, and share in her triumphs. I don’t want her to be alone at the top, when she inevitably gets there”

Oesta’s smile faded as she listened, alternatively glancing at him, and through the window at the princess herself. “You’re really devoted to her, huh” she finally said, her tone an equal mixture of intrigue and confusion, with just a pinch of concern. “Does she feel the same way about you? Wanting you to succeed and everything?”

“Yes. Maybe. Well,” Hatou paused, considering the question. “I’ve never talked about this with her, not really. In our private moments, we’re more focused on...well... “

“Just having fun?” Oesta smirked, and in spite of himself Hatou smiled back at her. In the back of his mind, though, he was worried. He found himself mulling over that question in silence for a few moments—does she feel the same way about you? “I hope she does” Oesta spoke up, as if reading his mind. “You seem like you have a lot of love to give. Only fair for you to be with someone who gives it back”

“Yeah?” Hatou found himself looking at Oesta now, even as she was staring down into her drink. No one had said that to him before. Not even Eobea.

“Yeah” she looked up at him, their eyes meeting for the first time that night. “You’re a good guy. The galaxy needs good guys” Their eye contact held for all of five seconds, and when those five seconds passed, they both got the same feeling: either they looked away right then, or this night was going to take a new, serious, and probably wrong turn. They chose the former.

After another brief silence, spent largely with the two of them feigning great interest in opposite sides of the ocean view, Hatou regained his composure a little. “Thank you,” he finally said, “You’re very kind” Oesta responded with a barely audible mumble, which could have been anything from ‘You’re welcome’ to ‘Yeah, whatever’ to simply ‘mhm’, but whose sentiment was clear enough. Another, much longer silence followed, before Hatou finally downed the rest of his drink, sighed, and re-donned his helmet. “I...should probably get back inside, see how the princess is doing”

“Yeah...yeah, sure” Oesta muttered, re-donning her own helmet, mostly just as something to do. “Nice meeting you. Good luck with your lady, Sir...uh…”

“Hatou,” he finished. “Hatou Koros. And you’re—”

“Oesta...yeah” she said, the smile evident in her tone despite being hidden behind her helmet. Hatou had heard her name before, in the courtyard, but only from her father and only to scold her. Now, from her, the name sounded as it was meant to: strong, stable, and really kind of pretty. Even as Hatou was thinking this, Oesta was climbing up onto the balcony’s wall—and before he even registered that. she was hovering in the air with her jet pack. “See you around, Hatou” she said, rocketing away with the cold, seaborne wind. He watched her go, waving halfheartedly before sighing, standing up straight, and rejoining the party.

#star wars #star wars oc #zabrak #oc fanfic #ZLF #oc: Hatou Koros #oc: empress eobea xovrada #oc: Oesta Varg-Koros

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galahadwilder · 5 years

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Why Do Cats Play With Their Food, Ch. 2

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Cats Play Archive

AO3

Chat Noir is more than a little off his game tonight. He’s not really paying attention to where he puts his feet—he keeps slipping on loose shingles, or catching his toes on pipes and ventilation, and he’s pretty sure he accidentally put his staff through a skylight. Parkouring over rooftops isn’t just about the powers and the suit—you need to pay attention to a thousand different little things, and right now all the brain cells that he usually devotes to that have been overwritten by the way her laugh sparkles in the afternoon sunlight.

There’s a full moon out tonight, but he could swear he’s running blind. If he never sees again, the memory of the blue of her eyes alone—

His foot slips out from under him about a block away from the bakery, and instead of leaping across the boulevard, he finds himself flung into space, hurtling like a meteor toward the streets below. He barely has time to brace before her yo-yo wraps around his waist, yanking him to a stop just below the streetlight. He grunts, smacking bodily against the metal pole.

”Kitty?” she calls from the roof across the way, the one he was trying to jump to. “Are you okay?”

He looks up to call an affirmative, but then his breath is driven from his lungs at the sight of her, a vision in red, arms and legs trembling with strength and the force of holding him up, black hair framed silver by the moon. She’s glowing under the moonlight, his goddess, and for the moment his brains have been turned to undercooked scrambled eggs.

She tilts her head at him in concern. “I’m coming down there,” she calls, and with a flick of her wrist, the yo-yo unspools from his chest, unwrapping from the streetlight and snapping back toward her hand. (He hits the street tailbone-first with a grunt.) She tosses it behind her offhandedly, anchoring it to something he can’t see, then gracefully rappels down the side of the building.

He whimpers, unable to even think about standing. Dear Cat in Heaven, she’s incredible. And to think, just earlier this afternoon she’d tripped over an ice cream cart and nearly gave him a black eye with her flailing—he’d thought it was endearing, if a little frightening, at the time, but now... Yeah, he’s screwed.

She slinks up to him, lifting his chin with her fingers, and his heart stutters. “You okay?” she says, snapping the fingers of her other hand in front of his eyes. She holds one up, moves it side to side. “How’s your head?”

”M not... concussed,” he croaks. “Head’s fine.”

”You sure?” she says. “You didn’t hit your head on the way back over?” She turns his head with her fingers, her eyes boring straight into his soul with heavenly concern. “Balance issues can be a sign of a brain injury, and I haven’t seen you take a spill like that... well, ever.”

He presses a hand against the lamp pole, climbing it until he’s upright. “I’m fine!” he squeaks. “Just... distracted!”

”Distracted is right,” she says, then after a moment, she throws herself into him, into a hug. “I was wondering why you left patrol so early!” she adds with glee. “You never do that.”

His throat collapses at the contact. “Aww,” he strangles out. “You were worried about me?”

”Always am,” she says, squeezing him extra tight.

He chokes.

She reaches up, stretching, to noogie his head, scraping her knuckles between his ears. “What’s got you so down, little clown?” she says with a grin.

”Not—down,” he protests with a matching goofy smile. “I’m—I’m up!”

“That’s great!” she says, releasing him and taking a step back. (He fights the urge to whimper at the loss of contact.) She points upward. “Wanna talk about it on the roof?”

“So,” she says a minute later, when they've both availed themselves to chairs on a nearby balcony. “Whatcha thinkin’ bout?” Her smile is brighter than he’s seen it in weeks—does his mood really mean this much to her?

”Um...” he says. He’s not really sure how to answer that question. He can’t tell her what’s really on his mind, after all. “I’ve been—” he begins, but then his brain locks up and he just spews the closest approximation to a word that comes to mind: “Marinette!”

Well, shit. That is... super not what he meant to say.

A look of horror briefly flashes across her face as he says her name—he knows that look: Oh god, does he know? But just as quickly as the expression is there, it's gone again.

"Marinette?" she says, faking incredulity. "Multimouse Marinette?"

"Yeah, that's her," Chat says, and he sees her muscles sink a bit with relief as she (falsely) realizes that he doesn't know and her identity is safe. "I was on my way to her place, actually." And I was expecting her to be home already not out on the rooftops waiting to intercept me.

"Really?" Ladybug says. "Why?"

"Uhh..." He had not thought this far ahead. In fact, he's already run far ahead of where his brain was expecting to go—he is completely off the map with this conversation, and when he's caught off guard, Adrien Agreste is a very bad liar. "I'm... that's... complicated?"

Ladybug narrows her eyes. "Chaton," she says. "We're not supposed to be visiting civilians. You remember what happened last time you went to that bakery?"

"Okay, but that happened because I turned her down," Chat says. "I'm not doing that this time."

Ladybug turns to look at him, and instantly he knows he's messed up. "You're what?" she hisses.

Cats Play Archive

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volturialice · 4 years

Text

Spork Haven chapter 23: salt fucking peter

welcome to spork haven, where I spork the EL James fic you’ve never heard of

previous chapter | next chapter | contents

previously on Spork Haven:

actor!Edward got an outlandish fucking award and became Best Actor!Edward! hotel maid murder witness cello prodigy orphaned ““cajun”” heiress!Bella was his date to the awards show! Ed looked into Emmett’s dark burning eyes and had a Moment! Bella felt dizzy and then went missing! will the Volturi mafia succeed in murdering her? let’s hope so stick around and find out!

warning: this chapter is incredibly long. please check the tags for content warnings—there are a lot! it’s eventful, though, so we’ll give it a pass. but settle in and make yourself comfortable. maybe go get a drink or something. I know I needed a drink after I read this garbage.

chapter 23 opens with Edward attempting to process the fact that Bella has disappeared. he does this in what I have to admit is a pretty seamless fusion of el james’s and stephenie meyer’s trademark styles (negative space here preserved for authenticity):

wow. eat your heart out, New Moon.

once we’ve experienced that bit of totally original typesetting magic, Edward leaps into action!

just kidding. he’s “totally fucking immobilized.” paralyzed with fear, he “stifles a sob” and toys with whether to “wail, scream, and tear his hair out with impotence”

luckily, he’s very good at giving himself pep talks:

this bracing self-administered kick in the pants unfreezes him, allowing him to summon the mental faculties to go get Emmett.

Emmett clears the ladies’ room and calls for backup. He and Edward search the restroom and are joined by a rando Local security guard as they discover—gasp!—a secret second exit to the bathroom (shoutout to the phoenix airport womens’ room, amirite?) leading into a service tunnel.

the Local security guard informs them that the tunnel leads to an alley, but the alley’s only exit is onto Hollywood Boulevard. you know, the street currently clogged with limos, paparazzi, cameras, and fans. idk about y’all but I’m starting to think this kidnap attempt may have been just a tad poorly conceived. why kidnap her at all? they had ample time to kill her, dump her body in the service tunnel, and make their escape unencumbered.

as Ed, Emmett, and Local race down the service tunnel, Emmett radios for Jasper to go around and cut the Bad Guys off in the alley. Edward is the slowest of the bunch

so he quickly falls behind the other two.

he’s trying to catch up when—wait! what’s that on the ground? something...sparkly?

that’s right: he pauses in chasing after Bella and her kidnapper in order to notice “six thousand dollars’ worth of earring” lying on the ground.

then he stops and picks it up.

now, I know what you’re thinking, guys—is he seriously stopping to pick up a lost earring when Bella’s life is in danger?—but keep in mind, these earrings were twelve thousand dollars. also, Edward loves earrings! they make him horny! what else is he supposed to suck on at Bella’s funeral?

I mean, yeah, if your worst fear was that Bella might lose an earring.

what indeed, Edward. what indeed.

imagine for a second that you’re Emmett in this fic. you’re a law enforcement professional racing to protect your charge’s life, bellowing into your walkie for backup, preparing to apprehend an armed and dangerous suspect in an area full of innocent civilians...when suddenly, from somewhere far behind you in the dingy gloom of the service tunnel, you hear the sniveling, British-accented voice of the bitchass manchild celebrity who’s tagging along:

“I’vE fOuNd hEr eArRiNg!”

jesus.

still ahead of Eddie boy, Emmett and Local burst out into the alley, guns drawn. Edward hears gunfire and is terrified for Bella as he finally catches up and arrives at the scene.

this is about where erika’s writing gets...incredibly confusing. and not in a POV, “we’re in the character’s head experiencing the chaos with him in real time” way. more like in a “several dozen drunk blind amputees playing Twister” way. this is my cute way of saying “it’s bad” and “I had to read it four times before it began to make sense.”

in the alley, all is chaos. a gun has just gone off

I’m sorry. salt...peter? saltpeter? did someone shoot off a Ye Olde Civil War Musket? I know fuckall about firearms and even I know they phased that shit out in the fucking 1880s.

and while we’re here, fun trivia fact about saltpeter: in Olden Times, people would ingest saltpeter in order to nuke their sex drives. silly Olden Times! if it’s a bonerkiller you’re after, all you have to do is read this fic!

ok, back to the alley. security are cordoning it off, keeping the “fucking jackal” paparazzi at bay (already?)

the LAPD are arriving (already??)

but perhaps most interestingly,

real quick before we get into whose body it is, why we’re sexually objectifying it, and what it’s oozing, I just wanna draw your attention to the construction of that sentence. the artistry, if you will. below, I have replaced some of the nouns so that we may all appreciate the sheer poetry of the syntax:

“there’s a fucking meatball lying prone on the floor, all covered with cheese, a dark cloud oozing under the meatball.”

sitting a few feet away from the Skirt & Heels Body™ is Jasper, cradling the unconscious Bella. you could be forgiven for thinking that first body (you know, the oozing one) was Bella’s, because that’s what the narration wants you to think. the effect is somehow both enhanced and ruined by the fact that Bella’s actual body is mentioned in the next sentence. erika really tried to have her suspense cake and eat it too, with the result that by the time I finished reading this paragraph, I had absolutely no idea how many bodies there were or who they belonged to, which ones had on a skirt and heels, which ones were oozing, and where.

another excerpt I should probably share is the paragraph where we describe Edward reacting to this tragic pietà.

here’s our text, raw and unedited:

I can’t even begin to list all the ways this paragraph makes me uncomfortable, so I won’t attempt to.

anyway. remember how in the last chapter, there was an incredibly gay bit where Edward looked into Emmett’s dark, burning eyes? fasten your seatbelts because we’re about to blow that bit out of the water.

ｌｕｍｉｎｏｕｓｈａｚｅｌｅｙｅｓ

filled with

𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓃𝒶𝓂𝑒

the next sentence tries to take us back into heterosexual territory with

are we meant to understand that Jasper’s luminous hazel eyes are saying “don’t you just wish it was you getting to cradle Bella’s unconscious, injured body?” yes, that is exactly what we’re meant to understand. this attitude continues as Bella is loaded into an ambulance. at first, Jasper tries to stop Edward from coming, then the paramedic says they can both come but only if they sit on opposite sides of the ambulance like kindergarteners in Time Out.

l o n g i n g l y

the paramedics also checked the other body (you know, the oozing skirt and heels body) and Edward made a startling observation:

though oozing, the mystery person is still alive, and a second ambulance hauls off

and here I was thinking all this story needed to make it complete was some veiled transphobia! what a fun new direction for erika.

once at the hospital, Ed is banished to the waiting room with Emmett, Jasper, and Taylor. the doctors won’t let him see Bella, even when he tells them he’s her fiancé.

hmm. is it just me or is there a movie about this exact scenario?

yep, there are at least two movies about this exact scenario.

after the “fiancé” thing, Edward picks up on some bad vibes from Jasper

interesting. can you feel MY animosity hit you like a brick fucking wall? I guess it’s more of a brick fucking skyscraper at this point.

things we learn at the hospital:

Bella was roofied! so if you voted “poisoned” in the poll, I’m gonna give you this one. congrats on your victory.

Bella is fine now

Jasper shot the mysterious kidnapper in the chest.

that’s right, Jasper is the cause of all the oozing. well done, Jasper. good luminous hazel eye.

finally, Bella wakes up and asks to see Edward. He goes back to see her

and

she

dumps his ass.

not for any Sane People reasons, of course. having decided she’s “too dangerous to be around,” she breaks up with him in a scene straight out of New Moon, complete with “eyes full of tortured pain” and dialogue like

“You are too precious to me. Please. Go.”

Edward spends the whole scene in panicked denial, to the point where he’s practically gaslighting Bella, telling her she’s just been through a traumatic ordeal and she can’t possibly mean what she’s saying.

then he interrupts her mid-breakup

to fucking propose.

🤣🤣🤣 READ THE ROOM, BUDDY. Bella is resolute for the first time in her doormat life, turns down the proposal, and firmly breaks things off with Edward. he returns her earring (you remember, the six thousand dollar earring we paused in the middle of the climactic chase scene to pick up), “inhales her fragrant hair for the last time,” and leaves.

and with that, the chapter is FINALLY over.

possibility.mp3

best “fucks”

“level fucking head”

“a fucking microsecond”

“fucking sirens”

“loud fucking noises”

“enough fucking damage”

“a soothing fucking balm”

“fucking Hale”

“fucking purgatory” (the hospital waiting room)

“pale as fuck” (bella)

“fucking lifeless” (bella)

“non-believing fucking arse” (edward)

“like a fucking idiot” (edward)

best “shits”

next chapter: fucking blinds and curtains

#spork haven #twilight fanfiction #twilight revival #anti e.l. james #long post //#transphobia //#drugs //#guns //#injury //#blood //

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teamhook · 4 years

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The Orphanage ~~ CS AU

I wanna thank @ultraluckycatnd for letting me talk things over, unleash my crazy and helping me when I got stuck. She also checked it over. @gingerchangeling for Betaing and being patient with me. She’s the sweetest!

Never enough eyes to look over a fic, specially if it’s mine.

FFN

AO3

A/N: Not all beginnings are happy, but sometimes the journey makes the end worthwhile.

The Orphanage

Convent of the Sisters of Saint Meissa

The orphanage's dull, colorless walls framed with religious artifacts and idols left little to hope for. The old orphanage was stuck in time without the luxuries of the modern world which currently served as a residential group home for the small towns and surrounding area. The children ranged in age from toddlers to teenagers. This was the place you came when no one wanted you. Emma Swan was one such lost girl.

The young blonde girl had moved from family to family. Once upon a time she had been adopted and had a home. Her happiness didn't last, though. She was soon returned when the family had been blessed with a biological child of their own.

Emma would sneak to the garden to gaze at the buttercups; the colors in sharp contrast to the inside of the archaic building. The garden that night was filled with the aroma of the sweet flowers. The stars and the moon lightly illuminated the colorful blossoms. That is where she first saw him.

The translucent outline of a young child.

She could make out his brown hair, pale skin, and hazel eyes. Her curiosity pulled her to the boy. The closer she got, the colder her surroundings became. She could see her breath as she called out to him. "Hey, who are you?" she asked curiously.

The boy only smiled. "Hello, my name is Henry. Can I be your friend?"

Emma couldn't stop her smile. She didn't have any friends at all; the other kids bullied her by calling her names or taking her things. She had told Mother Superior on them, but that only made things worse.

Nothing else mattered. She had her friend Henry and that was all she needed. He gave her hope. They played together; their favorite game was hide and seek.

The other kids would look at her oddly. The name-calling hadn't been creative, mostly calling her crazy or making fun of her imaginary friend. It should scare her that no one else could see her friend but instead, she felt special. He would only appear to her. Mother Superior would tell the kids that there was nothing wrong with having an imaginary friend.

Henry would encourage her to dream. He would tell her to believe in herself as he did. Following her best friend's advice, she recorded a short song on an old audio tape recorder she found but was interrupted by an older girl in the group. "Poor little Emma, do you really think you are good enough?" the mean girl asked with crossed arms as she glanced at the paper advertisement for a singing competition. "Don't you know Emma? No one wants to hear an orphan sing and you will be alone forever like the rest of us. You are not special." The mean girl walked out of the room.

Emma stared at the ad and crumpled it. "Emma, don't listen to her. She is just jealous because she knows how special you are." Henry smiled as he stood in front of her.

Throughout the rejection, she maintained hope because of her old friend. She never felt alone. Henry had become her constant, her rock.

Sadly there were days when she couldn't shake the feeling of not belonging.

On a fine day, a day that should be a happy day, eleven-year-old Emma and the other younger kids watch as a little girl left in a car for her new home with her adoptive parents. Mother Superior stands next to Emma, as the young girl stared with longing after the family now fading away into the horizon. "Emma, you will have a family someday too."

Once Emma is back in her room she cannot help but mourn for the dream that is slowly dying as she grows older.

The cold gust of air announces her oldest friend's arrival. "Henry, I wanna be alone."

The boy's image solidifies as he smiles at her. "Emma, someday you will have the home you deserve. Once I had a family too, but it wasn't full of love. My mother gave me up to give me my best chance. She was young and fell in love with someone that only wanted to take advantage of her. She left me in a basket outside the door of this very orphanage. I was adopted as a baby but my mother never loved me," Henry sadly confessed. "That is why I'm here. She liked to push me to conquer my fears and one time she pushed too far." He shrugged.

"Oh, Henry." Emma wanted to hug her friend. "How do you know all of this?"

"I don't know how but I just know. I believe that is why I'm here." His form started fading, "I'll leave you alone now. Just remember that you will find the home you deserve. I'll help you find it." He was gone. She knew in her heart that he was right but the pain lingered a while longer.

~~~At Age Thirteen

She had tried to fill the void. She had been placed at several foster homes as she was getting older but nothing stuck. Sometimes she would run away. Or towards something. She still didn't know which one it was.

On one of those occasions, Emma finds herself living on the streets. She is ripping out pages from a fairytale book she had found in the trash. She starts burning the pages to keep warm. As she reaches the page from The Ugly Duckling story, an old friend makes an appearance, although he's clearer than normal. Henry smiles fondly at her. "Emma, stop. Don't do it. You are a lot like that duckling. I think that is why your name is so fitting. This story is about transformation." He smiles. "Do you know what that duckling turns into? A beautiful Swan."

Emma returns the smile and whispers, "I think the duckling was always a swan and didn't know it."

"You might be right but I think she turned into a swan because of the power of belief, and if someone believes in something hard enough, they can change their fate. Emma, if you don't want to be with those families, Mother Superior will always have a place for you at the convent."

~~~At Age Sixteen

Emma becomes a beautiful young lady but somehow that doesn't make life easier for her. Some of the homes interested in her have less than genuine concern for her well being. All they care about is the money they get paid for keeping her. Once she becomes more trouble than she is worth is sent back to the orphanage. She keeps to herself to stay away from trouble but inevitably it finds her. Whether it be harassment from the other kids or unwanted attention from the husbands and the wives turning a blind eye to the unwanted touches, Henry is always with her protecting her. He saves her, always interrupting at the perfect moment with a loud door slam, breaking things; whatever it takes to stop the advances.

Emma decides that it's time to make her own luck. She hops on a bus to Arizona. In Phoenix, she enters a store, her stomach growling. She goes to steal a box of Poptarts, which are her favorite. She notices a girl watching her, but the latter quickly walks away. Emma goes back to the task at hand, food. She conceals the box of pastries in her jacket. Emma slowly begins her escape when a store employee stops her and is about to call Security. The other girl comes to the rescue approaching Emma with a shopping cart smiling. "Thanks for waiting while I went to go get the card to pay for the food. Did you find them?" The employee doesn't seem to believe them. "Come on, let's go pay." The girl encourages Emma to follow her and discreetly put the Poptarts in the cart. The employee follows them to the checkout where the girl pays with a credit card. Emma was relieved that her cover wasn't blown.

Once outside, Emma tells the girl "Thanks for helping me."

"No problem, my name is Lily. What's yours?"

"Emma."

They become friends. Emma assumes Lily is like her, an unwanted orphan. They both notice a man following them, and Emma believes he is a social worker trying to return Lily to her group home. They manage to lose the man. They find a vacant home that they decide to squat in for the night.

Inside the house while they're playing home, Emma notices a star imprint on Lily's wrist. Lily tells her it makes her special so she draws a matching one on Emma's wrist. The two girls smile at each other. While exploring the house, they find a video camera and record themselves pledging friendship forever.

Later that night, somehow the man that was following them tracked them down. Annoyed, Emma confronts the man as he exits his car. "We are not going back!"

The man smiles. "I'm here to take my daughter home. We have been worried sick."

Emma is shocked. "Daughter? You are not here to take her back to her foster family?"

"No, she is our daughter."

Emma feels betrayed. She walks to Lily. "Your father is here for you."

Emma doesn't stop walking as she leaves her friend behind.

Lily screams out Emma's name but is ignored.

Emma rubs off the star Lily had drawn on her wrist.

She misses Henry; he hasn't shown up for some time now. Perhaps he finally tired of her.

A few months later Emma's new foster family already had two boys. Things are going well. In fact they're even taking her on her first camping trip the following morning. She is so excited that she decides to go pack to be ready. While she is packing she is searching the garage for her sleeping bag and finds Lily hiding out there. Emma can't believe she is there. Emma hisses, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry, but I didn't lie about being an orphan. We are alike. The difference is that I was adopted.''

Emma scoffs. "We are not alike. I don't have a family," she sniffles. "No one cares if I run away, no one will come looking for me. So no we are not alike. You should leave before my foster parents see you."

Sadly it's too late.

"Emma, did you find the sleeping bag?" her foster father asked as he approached the garage. He reaches the garage and stares at Emma and Lily. "Who is this?"

"Oh hi, my name is Lily. I'm new to the neighborhood."

Lily's ease at lying should have been a warning to Emma, and it led to Emma begging Lily to leave. The girl refused to leave without her missing crescent moon necklace. Lily's true colors were shown when she steals from Emma's foster family After a few calls, her foster father finds out the truth. Her new foster father had been furious that she had knowingly allowed a criminal near his children. By the end of the night, Emma was left with nothing. Emma grabs her things and runs. At the bus station, Lily approaches her to apologize but Emma doesn't want to hear it. Lily begs her to stay together that she is the only light in her life. Emma walks away from Lily one final time.

Months later Emma ends up in a group home in Richfield, Minnesota. Somehow the camera was still in her possession. One of the older boys noticed it and wanted to take it away from her. She screamed for him to let go of it. Miss Fisher had quickly intervened and promptly returned the camera to Emma. Once the foster mother returned to her activities before the altercation the bully warned Emma of the consequences of not turning over the camera to him. Emma still refused to give it to him. That night she is caught mid escape by Sarah the foster mom. In a moment of conspiracy between the two she tells Emma that the boy is afraid of spiders and where she can find some rubber spiders. Emma decides to stick around. Maybe she is home.

Sometime later, while Emma is at a carnival with Sarah alone, Sarah tells Emma that she is a special girl. Emma starts to feel nervous. She had seen papers from an agency in Sarah's purse. Emma assumes this treat is a goodbye. However, Sarah confesses that she wants to adopt her. Sarah knows Emma might not see her as a mother, but she will be happy to be like an older sister to her. Everything seems to be falling into place for her and she remembers Henry always told her that she would find a home. She misses Henry terribly but she still feels him with her.

The pair are waiting for their bus ride. Suddenly Sarah pushes her in front of oncoming traffic. Before she can think, Emma is pushed onto the sidewalk by an unseen force- Henry. Emma glares at Sarah and flees after realizing that Sarah Fisher is a lunatic who never truly loved her. Emma runs away and never returns.

Seventeen-year old Emma ends up in Portland, OR after getting emancipated before she turns eighteen. She notices an old yellow bug. The car is an antique, she rationalizes; no one would miss it. She is about to break into the car when a whisper stops her. "Emma, don't do it."

She pauses, "Henry?"

"Emma, please don't do it. This will not lead you to your happy ending." Emma's breath hitches, and she slowly walks away from the vehicle. The decision is easy to make because she trusts her only friend.

Minutes later, inside the same yellow car's backseat a man wakes up from a nap.

Across the sea, three men say goodbye to a loved one. The younger two hold each other as their tears fall. The older man, stands behind them promising undying devotion to the boys he now considers his. "My lovely Alice, I promise to take care of your boys as if they were mine. I will guide them and ensure for them to be good men," Dakkar Nemo pledges his lost love. He had met Alice Jones shortly after her husband abandoned her with two young sons. The youngest of the two was only a few months old when he met them, but he was now 17 years old. The slightly older man had become smitten with the young mother soon after their first meeting. Alice had gotten cancer. She had won a few battles but overall lost the war. After her death, in order to start over and provide the young men with a fresh start they leave England and travel to the United States.

Dakkar Nemo had had an exceptional Naval career. He retired not long after he lost his love, and was able to start a successful business in America. They had found their new home in Storybrooke, Maine.

Although Alice Jones had never married Dakkar Nemo, her two boys had grown to love the man that doted on their beloved mother.

The eldest boy enlists in the Navy following in his father's steps. The youngest decided to stay in their new home.

~~~At Age Twenty-One

Emma continues her life of petty crime, just enough to survive on. For years she was able to get away with it. While traveling back to the Maine area where she was found as a baby, she asks an old lady at the local diner for information about anyone who might remember the incident, but she receives nothing. Escaping her troubled past with the law just in time, each time it catches up with her.

She was so close to the orphanage she had called home in her youth. While at the local library she was so lost in her research she didn't notice an older woman sitting down next to her. The lady looked over Emma's shoulder guessing that the abandoned baby was Emma. A startled Emma turns to leave. "I know you stole from stores in Portland and you finally got arrested and skipped bail."

Emma looks back at the woman and tenses; she has a feeling the woman wants to apprehend her. Emma does what she has learned to do best and runs, leaving her research behind. The woman catches up with Emma at the bus station. A defeated Emma goes with the woman, whose name she learned is Cleo.

They go to a motel. Cleo handcuffed her bounty to the bedpost, and decides to jump in the shower.

While the bondswoman is in the shower Emma picks the handcuffs lock easily and steals money from Cleo's wallet. Emma finds an old picture of a girl she suspects is the woman's daughter. Emma is about to leave, but she spots Cleo's laptop which has access to courthouse documents. She does some quick browsing, and discovers the Camden County Courthouse has a file on her.

Cleo gets out of the restroom to find Emma staring at the computer screen. In a moment of weakness, Cleo decides to help her. Emma reminds her of her daughter. They drive to Camden to get the file. "Emma, this file might not have the answers you are looking for or want to see.."

Emma looks at the woman, "I have to try."

Even with Cleo's help the search had been pointless. No solid leads to follow. Days had become weeks and Cleo notices the disappointment in Emma each time they reached a dead end.

"Do you see this?" Cleo points to her red jacket.

"Yeah, what about it? It's just a jacket."

"No Emma, this is my armor. You need to learn how to protect yourself."

Emma's tear-filled eyes, "I just want to go home."

"Emma, I think you should let go of the past, your parents. Sweetie, you're not going to find them. You should pay for your crimes, and start a new life."

"You don't care about me. All you care about is your payout for taking me in."

Cleo stares at Emma, her guilt over giving up her daughter is haunting her.

"I'm going to help you."

"Why would you want to help me?"

"You remind me of my daughter." With those words, Cleo decides to take Emma under her wing. Cleo had gotten some legal help and in the end, Emma was only given community service since her petty crimes had not been too costly.

Emma convinces Cleo to look for her daughter.

"What if she doesn't want to see me?"

"If I was her…. Hell I am her! If I was in her shoes, I'd want to see my parents," Emma says sadly. "It won't be easy but isn't she worth it?"

Working together they soon find Cleo's daughter, Tasha Morris. They find her in Boston working in a clothing store. The reunion is a whirlwind of emotions at first but in the end, it's the calm after the storm.

A few years later they go into business together using their combined savings to open a bonds company, Fox Swan Armour Bonds and PI. They stay in Boston in order for Cleo to stay close to her daughter. Emma understands why they don't want to be apart.

Henry has been quiet since Cleo found her. But Emma tries to not let the yearning of a family of her own haunt her.

~~~At Age Twenty-Four

Things were good for Emma. She was part of a successful business, and Cleo and Tasha were the closest thing to family she had. But something was still missing.

Chasing after her newest skip, a wannabe writer, Emma ends up in a small town in Maine. Storybrooke by all accounts appeared to be straight out of a fairy tale. Perhaps that is what drew the writer to it. He had a good lead on her and she was losing him as she was approaching the corner. Should she go straight or turn the corner? Emma turn - a voice from the past tells her. She turns, except now she's not running into her skip, but a different man as they collide. They both fall and her skip is gone.

Emma mutters, "Shit" as she turns to the cause of her lost paycheck.

Beautiful blue eyes stare up at her from his spot on the floor. He turns to gather his things. "Lass, I'm sorry about that."

"Yeah, well he got away," she sighs dramatically. "What's all that?" she asked as she pointed at the objects he was putting in a box. Some hooks, an iron wolf, and other decorative items.

"Just some of my work," he says as he finally rises to his feet and extends his free hand for her to hold.

She hesitates for a second before he is pulling her up. "So what do you do?"

"I'm a blacksmith."

"What are you, two hundred or something?"

He laughs. "It's mostly artistic work with iron. I do what blacksmiths did in the old days too when needed."

"How about you, lass? What were you in such a hurry to capture?"

"Well, I'm a bail bonds person, and I was chasing a big pay day. He gave me the slip. I will get him, it's just going to take longer than I wanted."

"Ah, you're a tough lass. I'm sure you will get your man." He looked at his box. Nothing seemed damaged. "I'm sorry, where are my manners. My name is Killian Jones."

She smiled. "I'm Emma Swan. I guess I better go. It was nice meeting you. Sort of." She was about to walk away, this time in the opposite direction.

"Swan, if you're going to stick around, you should go to Granny's Inn. That's the only hotel in town. Unless your man has family here, you should probably find him there."

"Yeah, cause I didn't think about that, but thanks." She didn't mean to be snarky. It wasn't his fault she lost the skip. "I'm sure the dude is long gone. I was just going to go see if I could get something to eat. Then, maybe see if I get lucky and get a lead."

"If you don't mind some company, I was going to get lunch myself."

Emma was hungry and the guy had been nice. There's something about him that makes her feel comfortable and apparently her stomach agrees, so it growls. "Okay, so where are we going?"

Killian smiles. "Come along, Granny's Diner is this way." He points in the direction that she was coming from.

Emma vaguely remembers seeing the little diner on her drive into town. It was a quick walk to the diner from where they were. The bell rings as they enter and they find a seat.

"This feels very cozy, very homey."

"Aye, it is. Granny is everyone's grandmum."

"So what do you recommend?"

He looks at her and smiles. "I have a feeling you will love the grilled cheese with onion rings."

The pair enjoys their meal. Killian introduces Emma to the local Sheriff, a greying, good looking mid-forties man, and his perfect counterpart, his bubbly, energetic wife in hopes that he can help with finding the elusive skip.

With the Sheriff and his wife's information on a potential match for her skip, Emma was able to use the background they'd given her to track him down. Turns out the wannabe writer was the adoptive son of the town carpenter. Emma's heart broke for the kind old man as she cuffed his son. She was happy that Sheriff Nolan was there to explain to the man the situation his son, August, was in. Emma had exchanged cards with the Sheriff.

Emma was about to leave the town when Killian stops her to give her a small token. He had one of his first sculptures with him, a swan. She hands him a card just in case he ever needs it.

A couple of days after meeting the young bail bonds woman, the Nolans can't stop thinking about her. Sheriff Nolan was talking with his wife about it. "Sweetheart, I know what you're thinking, and I-" "David, I know what you're going to say. That it's not her and that you don't want me to get my hopes up. I mean we don't know anything about her. But, I can't help it." His wife, Mary Margaret, puts her hand on her heart. "This time, it's different. I feel it here, and it's not because of her name or because she has my chin or that she has your hair. This is it. Our girl found us." She finishes with tears in her eyes.

"Sweetheart, how can you be so sure she's an orphan or ever was?" He didn't want to have to pick up the pieces of her broken heart once more.

"She had a look in her eyes. That look was there when we told her about Marco adopting August as a young boy, and again when we told her he had been getting in trouble with that Cassidy boy, and that the last we saw him was when they stole poor Marco's old yellow Volkswagen and ran away, breaking poor Marco's heart. That was until he showed up here last week. I think that's why she gave them some time to spend together before she hauled him away."

"What are you planning on doing? You can't just tell her, she will think we're crazy."

"The card she gave you says Private Investigator too, right? Well, I'm going to call the number and speak to her boss."

~~~Weeks Later

Back in Boston, Emma can't shake the feeling that she's missing something. She had stayed in touch with both Killian and the Nolans. Killian in particular was never far from her mind, her eyes always landing on the swan sculpture that he had given her that day. On her birthday, she had chosen to stay home. Cleo and Tasha had given her their gifts earlier. Tasha gave her a red leather jacket from the store she worked at. Cleo, for her part, gifted her a paid week off work and insisted, with a wink, that she return to the small town that had her so captivated. All Emma could do was promise she'd think about it.

As Emma was about to light the candle on her twenty-fifth birthday cupcake, there was a soft knock on her door. She wasn't expecting anyone so she approached the door cautiously.

She opened the door and there stood a smiling Killian Jones, with a single red middlemist.

"Uh, Killian, what are you doing here?" Her wide green eyes blinked, before narrowing in suspicion. "And how did you know where I live?".

"Lass, may I come in? I promise I will answer whatever questions you might have." His blinding smile warmed her heart.

"Ok, but don't think I'm taking my eyes off of you for a second."

"I would despair if you did." Killian slowly entered her apartment.

Emma guided him to the sofa in her living room.

"I made a delivery not far from here, and I thought I could surprise you. I hope I'm not overstepping," he sighs.

"So how did you find out my address? I hope you're not some kind of crazy stalker."

He smiles. "I called your office. Your boss said you were off."

"Oh. Cleo told you?"

"She also said today was your birthday."

"Cleo has a big mouth," she sighs. "I always spend my birthday alone."

"She also said you had a week off, and perhaps you would consider going to Storybrooke?" he asked with a hopeful tinge to his voice.

Reluctantly Emma agrees. She feels a connection with the blacksmith that she simply cannot ignore.

Cleo hesitantly agrees to meet with Mary Margaret, where Mary Margaret shares her suspicions about her connection to Emma. Cleo nodded her agreement, saying she will look into it. If she can help Emma find her family like Emma helped her find her lost daughter, she will.

While Emma is in Storybrooke, Cleo visits the Convent of the Sisters of Saint Meissa and speaks with Mother Superior. It had been a miracle to Cleo's ears when they told her that they stored items left behind in the attic. After a few apologies about the oversight from the nuns, they give her a box labeled Emma. Once she is alone in her car, with shaking hands she opens the box. Inside, she finds a blanket with a torn corner just as Mary Margaret described.

Cleo headed towards Storybrooke to meet with Mary Margaret and David Nolan to confirm their suspicions.

Killian and Emma are enjoying their food at Granny's when a text message alert chimes.

"Is something wrong, love?"

"I don't think so, it's Cleo. She wants me to meet her at the Sheriff's office."

"Are you sure nothing is wrong? Your eyebrows are furrowed together," he says, concerned.

"No, it's just that she never calls me on my time off." She sighs, "she's also driving out here."

"If you want, I can go with you," Killian offers.

After a soft encouraging whisper from an old friend she hadn't heard from in a while, without thinking Emma nods.

They arrive at the station soon after.

Sheriff Nolan is waiting for them when he notices the blossoming bond between the town's blacksmith and the lovely bondswoman who happens to share his wife's chin.

Emma turns to Killian nervously. What the hell is going on? Killian squeezes her hand in support as they follow the Sheriff to the interrogation room.

Cleo is sitting next to Mary Margaret Nolan. A box is set on the table. Cleo smiles at her. "Hello, Emma. Please, sit down. You too Mr. Jones."

Killian, always the gentleman, pulled a chair out for her to sit while Mary Margaret is quiet, watching the scene unfold in front of her. David sits next to his wife and immediately holds her hand.

Emma turns to Cleo, "Okay, so what's going on?"

Cleo smiles, "I'll let Sheriff Nolan explain."

Sheriff Nolan clears his throat. "Twenty-five years ago, there were a series of kidnappings. Four newborns were stolen from St. Joseph Hospital during the night shift. The police were able to recover two children right away once the kidnapper was captured. A third was recovered almost a month later. The child had been found by an older couple and they had watched the news. However, there was one child that was not found. Our child. We tried everything. Private Investigators rewards for information, but since the woman had snapped when she took the children, she was of no help to us. She was a nurse at the hospital at the time of the kidnappings. It turned out years before, she had lost her own daughter. Once in custody, though, the woman still remained unresponsive and unwilling to cooperate with police about the whereabouts of the last child. We don't know all the details yet and to be honest, we don't care." David chokes up and turns to his wife, "Mary Margaret could you please continue?"

Mary Margaret sniffles, "We had been on vacation and I went into labor. We never thought that our little girl would be kidnapped at birth. We tried looking for her, but every lead we found was a dead end. Yet we never lost hope. I held on to this for twenty-five years. This is part of a blanket Granny knit for our little girl along with this matching hat." The little hat had twin buttercups on each side.

Cleo smiled, "You will find that the torn piece is a perfect fit to this one." She pulled out a baby blanket with the name Emma with a buttercup next to the name.

Emma is staring at the blanket, her eyes tearing. "What are you saying?"

"Emma, I was so wrong to discourage you from looking. I truly thought I was helping you and protecting you from disappointment. This is your blanket. Mother Superior gave it to me. She was supposed to give it to you, but you never returned."

Killian squeezes her hand gently. "Emma, love, I think you found your family."

"How can you be so sure?" Emma shakingly asks.

Mary Margaret laughs, "For one thing, you have my chin and this is the same blanket I wrapped you in as a baby. But if you need more proof, I'm sure we can get a DNA test. I don't need it, we don't need it." Mary Margaret points to her husband.

Emma still cannot believe it. "I-"

Killian smiles. "Emma, when you love someone you just know."

"I think I need a moment." Emma gets up and rushes out of the room.

Emma walked to her car and needed to think. While contemplating a place to go, she hears footsteps approaching. "Swan, I know you said you needed a moment alone but I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I took you to the perfect spot. If you would allow me to accompany you?" Emma stares at him with teary eyes and agrees.

Emma and Killian arrive at Storybrooke Heritage Park and walk to his favorite bench by the duck pond. They sit in silence as they watch a family of swans swim.

Emma turns to Killian, "I can't believe it's real."

Killian smiles. "It's real. I had wondered why they didn't have kids and Granny told me they had a little girl but it wasn't her story to tell. Emma love, you deserve this. They deserve it too. Please, don't shut them out."

"No, it's just I always wondered why I wasn't enough but I never thought that they were suffering as much as I was."

Killian slowly grabs her face and gently wipes the tears away. "The wondering is over, and now you can have the family you always wanted. Give them a chance, don't lose more time."

Emma smiled, she knew he was right. As crazy as it sounds, it wasn't their fault. Some unbalanced lady did this to them. Should she feel bad for that lady? Because mental issues are horrible, but in this moment she didn't.

"Okay, we can go back." Emma grabbed Killian's hand.

On the way back to the station, she couldn't help but be thankful for meeting Killian; he was nice and sweet. She wasn't blind, he was handsome. She felt connected to him and it was beyond the physical attraction.

Killian could feel her eyes on him. He fights the urge to run his hand through his hair to scratch behind his ear. He feels connected to her. He had laughed when the thought first occurred to him. It was crazy, they've known each other for such a short period. He was smitten, though; that was a given.

Once back at the station, Emma hesitantly embraces her parents for the first time.

Cleo advises her to stick around in Storybrooke longer to get to know her family.

After a few months of living with her parents, Emma finally gives in. She moves permanently to Storybrooke, her life is here. She has loving parents and she had started dating Killian. Their first date had been an experience. Her mother had been so excited, they had gone shopping for a dress to wear and had taken so many pictures of her and Killian. Emma wore a light pink dress that had a v neckline with a bodice and belt. Killian wore his dark jeans, a black shirt, and vest. Her father had done the overprotective thing even though he has known Killian longer than her. She acted like it bothered her, but deep inside it made her smile.

One year and a short courtship later, Emma and Killian marry in an intimate wedding at Storybrooke Park Heritage. Family and close friends gathered to congratulate the pair.

Nine months later they welcome twins Hope and Henry Jones. The little girl shared her dazzling blue eyes with Killian. The boy had hazel eyes that reminded her of an old friend.

This was a new beginning for them all.

Tagging:

@hookedonapirate @kmomof4 @searchingwardrobes @seriouslyhooked @profdanglaisstuff @let-it-raines @revanmeetra87 @snowbellewells @hollyethecurious @kymbersmith-90 @branlovestowrite @thejollyroger-writer @shireness-says @ilovemesomekillianjones @killianjonesownsmyheart1 @thisonesatellite @thesschesthair @winterbythesea @stahlop @resident-of-storybrooke @superchocovian @lfh1226-linda @artistic-writer @thislassishooked @shardminds @winterbaby89 @xhookswenchx

#Captain Swan #CS Crew #CS Mafia #cs au ff #cs ff

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angsty-nerd · 4 years

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Echo-inspired Season 1 Playlist

So I’ve been meaning to share this for… a really long time. But I’m kind of glad that I waited so long because I found a bunch more songs to add and ended up doing an edit on this playlist this weekend, so this is where it landed. It’s a bit of a beast—40+ songs. (And it’s my shorter Echo playlist… I have another one I’m still playing with that has all of these, plus the show’s soundtrack songs, plus recommendations that I’m still considering for future Echo use…so this is the reasonably lengthen one…haha). If you just want to go to Spotify and check it out, here’s the link.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/14ZIHN2MwjfgFbA6yF3RAO?si=5vPkiahyQw-voaZjqMLWsw

If you want to read my rambles about the progression of the songs and why I picked them, along with some lyrics from each one that make me think of Echo, that beastly monstrosity is below the cut for you! Here’s just the track list:

1. Armor - Sara Bareilles 2. People Need a Melody - the Head and the Heart 3. A World to Explore - Joshua Radin 4. Missed Connection - the Head and the Heart 5. Summer Years - Death Cab for Cutie 6. It’s OK - Natalie Taylor 7. Something American - Jade Bird 8. Anchor - Novo Amor 9. Harvest Moon - Neil Young 10. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band 11. Silhouettes - Oscar Blue 12. The Storm - The Airborne Toxic Event 13. The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band 14. Walls - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 15. Ruins - Jade Bird 16. The Last Time - Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody 17. Run No More - the Talbott Brothers 18. Wild Heart - Bleachers 19. Dream - Bishop Briggs 20. Lullaby - Lord Huron 21. Watch Me - Labi Siffre 22. Grew Up Fast - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 23. 17 - Jade Bird 24. Your Hurricane - Death Cab for Cutie 25. Lose that Light - Folly and the Hunter 26. Such a Simple Thing - Ray LaMontagne 27. Make These Colors Real - Hush Kids 28. Surrender - Natalie Taylor 29. I’ll Be Your Mirror - Clem Snide 30. Courage - P!nk 31. Easy - Camilla Cabello 32. Day Too Soon - Sis 33. Truly Madly Deeply - Yoke Lore 34. Side by Side - Layup 35. Electric Love - BØRNS 36. Duet - Penny and Sparrow feat. Stephanie Briggs 37. Atlas: Two - Sleeping at Last 38. Another Story - the Head and the Heart 39. Come to this - Natalie Taylor 40. Six Feet Under - Billie Eilish 41. Hello My Old Heart - the Oh Hellos 42. Poetry by Dead Men - Sara Bareilles 43. Recovering the Satellites - Counting Crows 44. The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson

PRE-SHOW

1. Armor - Sara Bareilles

Stolen from Carina’s Liz mix, and obviously heavy on the Ortecho vibe in general. I might associate it a little more with Rosa back in the flashbacks, being proud of Liz and protective of her.

You think I am high and mighty mister Wait til you meet my little sister

2. People Need A Melody - the Head and the Heart

This song just gives me images of Max sitting at home over the years, listening to music, and then Bright Eyes comes on and it just takes him back to that day in the desert when he was lucky enough to be openly in love with Liz for one day before everything went to hell. 💔

All those books in your head, Is that all this really was? Just a role you play that you could hide behind Is it what you want? To bury yourself away Before your time goes I don’t want a love that holds us back I don’t want a life that I can’t have

Cause people need a melody to open their eyes Like a key to a memory frozen in time Holding onto everything, you’re stuck in the past Boy, when you gonna learn the world moves fast?

3. A World to Explore - Josh Radin

Liz leaves on her road trip, pushing the past away, and moving forward into her new life.

Yesterday rains came Everything’s changing The past has closed its door Well I know there’s something more I know there’s so much more So far to go On this open road, a world to explore So far to go On this open road, away we go

4. Missed Connection - the Head and the Heart

Somewhat self explanatory, I think. Mostly I just think of Max staying in Roswell haunted by all of the what ifs, and how close he and Liz came to being something real.

Did you find what you were looking for? Had to open every single door I get the feeling you’ve been here before From a missed connection Don’t tell me I lost a step Criss-crossed in the wrong direction Found myself in a conversation From a missed connection

5. Summer Years - Death Cab for Cutie

This is, like, my #1 Max over the 10 year gap song. I just hear him all through it, haunted by Rosa’s death and the coverup, heartbroken by Liz’s sudden departure, and trapped in his life.

Sometimes I’m overcome by every choice I couldn’t outrun… And I wonder where you are tonight If the one you’re with is a compromise Cause we’re walking lines in parallel That will never meet and it’s just as well

6. It’s Ok - Natalie Taylor

You know in the pilot, Max says he used to think about what he’d say if he ever saw Liz again. Meaning he didn’t really anymore. Meaning at some point he let go of the hope of her returning to Roswell. That’s kind of where my mind goes listening to this song.

It only hurts me to live this way Holding on to yesterday… Close my eyes, you’re gone And I’m the only one still holding on It’s ok I’ve got to let you go

7. Something American - Jade Bird

I have an old-school song fic just waiting to come out inspired by this song… I hear a lot of different things in it. Mostly I hear Max and the memory of Liz and Cameron in it. With a little bit of Kyle thrown in too.

In my dreams I find The stars align and they all collide And it’s you and I back in time It feels so right But you don’t call me now And I don’t think too much about you When she’s not around I can feel you’re lonely

PILOT

8. Anchor - Novo Amor

Max’s reaction to Liz finally coming home & hoping she’ll stay.

I hear your ship is coming in Your tears a sea for me to swim I hear a storm is coming in My dear, is it all we’ve ever been Anchor up to me, love

9. Harvest Moon - Neil Young

Max gets that brief smile on his face when he’s watching Liz dance in the Crashdown, before he lets her know he’s there. And this is what I hear going through his head in that moment.

When we were strangers I’d watch you from afar When we were lovers I’d love you with all my heart… Because I’m still in love with you I want to see you dance again

10. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band

It honestly took me a long time to get on board with adding this one, because it’s such an important OG Max/Liz song. But a while back in one of her Q&As, Carina said that if she could give the pilot a title it’d be this, and even with this different version of Max and Liz it still is the perfect song and perfect metaphor for their experience in the pilot.

Lost for you I’m so lost for you You come crash into me

11. Silhouettes - Oscar Blue

I mean….

Do I need to say anything more? Okay, well here are some lyrics to emphasize my point.

She’s a diamond in the coal Something that enchants my soul Graceful and captivating Just one glance and my mind is invaded… So should I try really really hard Or just keep loving you from afar… Oh can we walk into the sunset Until our bodies are silhouettes Cause busy days cause busy lives And maybe you’ll just keep on walking by Are my hopes just gonna suffocate in my doubt Or am I being my anxious self drowning my chances out

SO MUCH FOR THE AFTERGLOW

12. The Storm - the Airborne Toxic Event

I definitely stole this from someone else’s Echo mix…but take it as a compliment! I definitely see a little bit of Liz coming home in this song, both from her perspective and Max’s. But in my playlist’s narrative I also see this as being kind of like the end of 1x02, when Liz makes the decision to stay and investigate Rosa’s murder.

I surprise myself sometimes The way the days unfold and this road unwinds You tell me you see it too And the miles seem like inches when I think of you It’s been 25 days since I’ve been gone 25 weeks since I’ve seen my home I spent 25 months chasing this song and all of this time I’ve been alone Then you walk right through the doorway You tell me you’re here to stay

TEARING UP MY HEART

13. The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band

So if the last song was the end of 1x02, that means now we’re in the awkward, heartbreaking period where Max is pouring his heart out, and Liz is pretending to feel nothing because she doesn’t trust him. 💔 Which is basically the running theme for the next few songs…

You cannot quit me so quickly There’s no hope in you for me… The space between the wicked lies we tell And hope to keep safe from the pain… We’re strange allies with warring hearts…

14. Walls - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

My brother played this song while we were driving from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon in February. It was the morning after Smells Like Teen Spirit aired, Liz had just told Max that she never wanted to see him again, and I heard this song for the first time and said to myself, “YES.”

All around your island there’s a barricade That keeps out the danger that holds in the pain Sometimes you’re happy sometimes you cry Half of me is ocean half of me is sky But you’ve got a heart so big it could crush this town But I can’t hold out forever even walls fall down

15. Ruins - Jade Bird

Just…I think about Max and that painful scene between him and Liz at the end of this episode, and how much her accusations throw him off. And the resulting explosion that caused the blackout.

How do we have to do this again? I’ll tell you how I’m feeling You’re like a cryptomaniac trying to connect the dots and the facts How do we have to be here? ‘Cause these hotels, I just can’t relax The more I bend, the worse that I snap I feel like a goddamn maniac

Tell me what did I do to deserve somebody like you? It’s too hard to tell the truth nothing’s real and nothing’s rude I’m just a product of my emotions and they’re all setting off again… You sure you wanna do this now? Oh, you sure you wanna do this now?

'Cause I mean it when I say that I don’t understand And I mean it when I say that I’m not sure who I am 'Cause one minute I love you and the next it’s all in ruins One minute thinking of you and the next my mind’s in ruins

WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE

16. The Last Time - Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody

Very much the Crashdown “how do you truly feel about me” scene.

Find myself at your door just like all those times before I’m not sure how I got there all roads, they lead me here I imagine you are home in your room, all alone And you open your eyes into mine and everything feels better And right before your eyes I’m breaking No past, no reasons why just you and me This is the last time I’m asking you this Put my name at the top of your list This is the last time I’m asking you why You break my heart in the blink of an eye

DON’T SPEAK

Don’t Speak is one of my favorite chunks of this playlist. I love the pre-pilot set of songs, this set, and then the Recovering the Satellites to the end set the most out of all of this whole thing. Just thought I’d share. Also 3 of my 4 favorite episodes. Hmmm… 🤔

17. Run No More - the Talbott Brothers

So, this is kind of my interpretation of Max’s POV after learning that Isobel sent Liz away. I feel like that knowledge and the realization that Michael and Isobel had manipulated the biggest heartbreak of his life, and lied to him for a decade about it, kind of freed him in a sense. And for the first time he felt like he could stop hiding and release his guilt. If Liz hadn’t been in trouble, I think he would have gone straight to her and confessed everything.

It doesn’t get easier the further I run It gets harder to carry the weight of what I’ve done I am speaking from experience I don’t wanna run no more

18. Wild Heart - Bleachers Pretty much same themes as above. These two songs to me are kind of the combo of that determination in Max. Above is more focused on his guilt and wanting to reveal the truth. This one is more about his love for Liz and his determination to find her and protect her and love her.

As I sat with the echoes of lies that I told I felt young, never changed by crooked hearts… Well, everything has changed And now it’s only you that matters I will find any way to your wild heart

19. Dream - Bishop Briggs

I don’t remember who did a fanvid to this…was it Mo? It was wonderful and it’s perfect for the end of this episode. Max running to save Liz from Wyatt Long and wanting to come clean to her, even though he knew it would likely still make her turn away from him. Liz breaking down at the end…sniffles.

Oh, I had a dream that you couldn’t hear me screaming Trying to tell you everything but it wouldn’t stop you leaving I wanna wake up where your love is 'Cause your love is always waking mine

I wanna break down where your heart gets So torn it’s almost breaking mine I wanna lay here, lost and bitter So long, I feel like I could die I wanna tell you what my truth is But it’s buried down inside

20. Lullaby - Lord Huron

I heart this song… and I think it speaks to Liz in this episode so much. The danger she puts herself in, Wyatt!Noah coming after her, Max desperately wanting to protect her…

You arrive along with the sun Where have you been darlin’? What have you done? You were out finding trouble again There’s a fire in your eyes and there’s blood on your hands Come inside and lie down to sleep You ain’t gonna run and you know that you’re beat Rest awhile, they’re coming for you There’s a price to be paid for the things that we do

Fall asleep and forget all your troubles Dream of laughter and old friends and lovers Dream of when you were innocent

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT

21. Watch Me - Labi Siffre Early in the episode, when they were happy and innocent. I feel like this song just kind of captures that young love, high school vibe.

Watch me when you look my way See me smiling, be my night and day Touch me in your own sweet way Feel me tremble, you take my words away All of the time I love you Make you a rhyme, I love you

22. Grew Up Fast - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Here’s another Tom Petty song from my brother’s playlist that we listened to on the way to the Grand Canyon on the day after this episode aired. I heard it, and immediately thought of the Pod Squad (and Liz) and how the incidents surrounding Rosa’s death kind of forced them all out of their youth and into a traumatic adulthood. Also I think it kind of bridges back to the present with Max telling Liz the story of Rosa’s death and her reaction towards him at the end of the episode.

We grew up fast when lies were just a fact of life We grew up mad cause we never had a home… Hey, my brother I’ve got no fight with you, I just can’t lie down Hey, my brother I’ve got no fight with you, I just can’t lie down No, I just can’t lie down, I just can’t lie down Well, you know who I am So don’t treat me like I’m someone else… You never talk like that to no one else You never scream like that for no one else

23. 17 - Jade Bird

This…just…the look on Max’s face when Liz runs out after telling him she never wants to see him again. It’s like his heart is breaking all over again.

You asked me to be yours, well you’re tempting fate How I left a promise but it’s one I can’t make Lord knows it’d kill me if you walked away But darling my lies, they hide you from the pain Stay, let me explain why I act so mean Don’t look away, baby, it’s not all that it seems I’m so afraid that you’ll just get up and leave My heart will break like I’m 17

I SAW THE SIGN & BARELY BREATHING

24. Your Hurricane - Death Cab for Cutie

“Liz Ortecho is my hurricane.” Max is such a ball of anger and angst in this episode. This song may lean a little more on the anger side than really played out in the episode, but I still think it works, considering that Liz spends much of this episode creating the serum.

You used to be such a delicate kid A lonely fish in a sea full of squid So I can’t blame you for leaving how you did You just fell off the grid 'Cause heaven is a hole in the sky The stars are cracks in the ceiling of night But you can’t be your own alibi As hard as you try It’s a tired refrain you’re singing over and over again As you try to explain who’s at fault for your mistakes But I won’t be the debris in your hurricane

25. Lose That Light - Folly and the Hunter

I don’t recall where I got this song from…it may have come from someone else’s playlist. But it makes me think about how rough of a go Max has it in Barely Breathing and how Liz is, like, the light that kind of guides him through it, that he has faith in to save his sister.

In my arms you fell, after fighting tooth and nail. The convictions you have are all gone now. You followed that trail, just to take a chance and fail. Do not let that dark voice call you out Even if it gets hard, don’t lose that light…

26. Such a Simple Thing - Ray LaMontagne

I see this as the end of the episode, when they are so close to being on the same page, but Liz is still afraid and still puts up that wall. Max sees how amazing she is, how she’s willing to fight to save Isobel for him. And Liz is beginning to feel it as well, because the drive to do it for Max, to comfort him, was so powerful. “My heart is like paper” = Max, “yours is like a flame” = Liz.

Tell me what you’re feeling I can take the pain Tell me that you mean it That you won’t leave again Tell me what your heart wants Such a simple thing My heart is like paper Yours is like a flame

SONGS ABOUT TEXAS

27. Make These Colors Real - Hush Kids

This song just makes me think about that vibe all through Songs About Texas prior to the kiss. The heart eyes looks, the touches, how close they are to going there, even though it hasn’t happened yet. This is also the only song I couldn’t find lyrics for online so I transcribed as best I can, but I couldn’t figure one line out, so I just left it off the post! Sorryyyy…

I guess you win, I guess I’ll see you around again Locked eyes, brushed hands. I’ll lie and say we’re only friends Yes I want you but I don’t want to Cause I can’t hold you when I want to So maybe I’m selfish, maybe it’s reckless Maybe I’m out of my mind

Ooh you make me weak you, you make me seek you You’d make me dive down to the depth of your ocean Ooh if I could hold you… I’d make these colors real

28. Surrender - Natalie Taylor

Throughout this whole episode I feel like there’s a general sense of Liz giving up her fight against Max. She can’t hide how much she loves him anymore. She hasn’t quite decided to be with him yet…but throughout the episode that wall thins more and more until she finally does give in to him.

No one will win this time I just want you back I’m running to your side Flying my white flag, my white flag… Whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re ready Can we, can we surrender I surrender

29. I’ll Be Your Mirror - Clem Snide

I’m pretty sure this came from another Echo playlist…because it’s the perfect song to represent Max’s speech to Liz to reveal how well he sees her.

I find it hard to believe you don’t know The beauty you are But if you don’t let me be your eyes A hand to your darkness, so you won’t be afraid When you think the night has seen your mind That inside you’re twisted and unkind Let me stand to show that you are blind Please put down your hands 'Cause I see you I’ll be your mirror, reflect what you are

30. Courage - P!nk

That split second before Liz decides to grab Max and pull him in for the kiss…

See, I let the light in the darkest places Let the sun shine, pain goes away Nothing is permanent for me Have I the courage to change?

31. Easy - Camilla Cabello

It’s almost ridiculous how Echo’s first kiss this song is. Like, seriously, Camilla? Do you watch RNM? Are you an Echo shipper? Is this your own personal fan song?

You really, really know me The future and the old me All of the mazes and the madness in my mind You really, really love me You know me and you love me And it’s the kind of thing I always hoped I’d find

Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy Touch me 'til I find myself, in a feeling Tell me with your hands that you’re never leaving Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy All I know is you, heal me when I’m broken, heal me when I’m broken All I know is you, saved me and you know it, saved me and you know it

32. Day Too Soon - Sia

Liz making the choice that it is finally the right time for her to stop running. Okay, Max has been waiting patiently, but for Liz everything has finally perfectly collided.

Pick me up in your arms Carry me away from harm You’re never gonna put me down I know you’re just one good man You’ll tire before we see land You’re never gonna put me down You’ll risk all this for just a kiss I promise I will not resist

Promise you won’t hold me down And when we reach a good place Let’s be sure to leave no trace Promise they won’t track us down

Now I’ve been running all my life I ran away, I ran away from good Yeah, I’ve been waiting all my life You’re not a day, you’re not a day too soon

33. Truly Madly Deeply - Yoke Lore

Awesome cover of 90’s song? Check! Super romantic to the point of almost cheesy? Check! It’s got Echo getting together written all over it.

I’ll be your dream, I’ll be your wish, I’ll be your fantasy. I’ll be your hope, I’ll be your love, be everything that you need. I’ll love you more with every breath, truly madly deeply do I want to stand with you on a mountain I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me

I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING, CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA, CREEP

34. Side By Side - Layup

Sadly, I don’t have a lot of songs for this chunk of episodes for Echo. But they’re finally together, on the same team, being awesome, so that’s pretty much all I’m getting at with this song.

And so, now I go down all these roads with you, my home And now, I’ll keep you close I hope you know - I love you most So here I walk by your side, oh, on our own time Oh, we’ll be alright, as long as we stay side by side From the coldest nights to warmer degrees we’ll get by You and I, side by side

RECOVERING THE SATELLITES

35. Electric Love - BØRNS

I mean… Alien!God Max channeling all that lightning to get the job done is fucking sexy. And then he just marches home to worship his love the way Liz deserves. *nods firmly*

Baby you’re like lightning in a bottle I can’t let you go now that I got it All I need is to be struck By your electric love Baby, you’re electric love Electric love Rushing through me I feel your energy rushing through me…

36. Duet - Penny and Sparrow f/ Stephanie Briggs

Echo love scene. Just ignore that Liz is not wearing a dress. Everything else fits. And the chorus? *chefs kiss* “Because I’ve seen you and I know you”...ties right back to their first kiss and Max proving to Liz that he isn’t holding onto some high school fantasy. “And I’m not going anywhere”...it breaks my heart because it was 100% true in that moment…but hours later Max is dead. 😭

I bet your shoulders can hold more than just the straps of that tiny dress That I’ll help you slide aside when we get home I’ve seen 'em carry family and the steel drum weight of me Effortless, just like that dress that I’ll help off I bet your back can carry more than just the weight of your button-down One by one, they’ll come undone when we get home I’ve seen you carry family and all my insecurities One by one, they’ll come undone when we get home

Because I’ve seen you And I know you And I’m not going anywhere

37. Atlas: Two - Sleeping at Last

This is, like, the most Max song ever. Especially where his head is at right at the end of Recovering the Satellites after he and Liz make love, when he is straight up in worshipful puppy mode. It makes me both 😍 and 😭, because I love how much he loves her, but I know how unhealthy his devotion is, and that it leads to him dying.

Sweetheart, you look a little tired when did you last eat? Come in and make yourself right at home stay as long as you need Tell me, is something wrong? If something’s wrong, you can count on me You know I’ll take my heart clean apart if it helps yours beat It’s okay if you can’t find the words Let me take your coat and this weight off of your shoulders

Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you with every single thing I have Like a tidal wave, I’ll make a mess Or calm waters, if that serves you best I will love you without any strings attached It’s okay if you can’t catch your breath You can take the oxygen straight out of my own chest I know exactly how the rule goes put my mask on first No, I don’t want to talk about myself tell me where it hurts I just want to build you up, build you up ‘til you’re good as new And maybe one day I will get around to fixing myself too I don’t even know where to start Already tired of trying to recall when it all fell apart I just want to love you, to love you, to love you well I just want to learn how, somehow, to be loved myself Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you without any strings attached What a privilege it is to love A great honor to hold you, love Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you with every single thing I have Like a tidal wave, I’ll make a mess Or calm waters if that serves you best I will love you without any strings attached I will love you without a single string attached

38. Another Story - the Head and the Heart

In my head this is another afterglow, Max manic on love & power and it pushes him to do something crazy song...I both see he and Liz happy together in his bed in the morning sunlights and flickering firelight...and Max deciding to heal Rosa. 😍😭

These are just flames burning in your fireplace I hear your voice and it seems as if it was all a dream I wish it was all a dream I see a world, a world turning in on itself Are we just like hungry wolves howling in the night I don’t want no music tonight

Every time I hear another story Oh the poor boy lost his head Everybody feels a little crazy But we go on living with it

39. Come to This - Natalie Taylor

Liz crying over Max’s body 😭😭😭. There is no heart eyes here. It’s all just paaaain. 😭😭😭

How can this happen? How can this be? There is no ending, there is no peace The darkness is so close The light so quickly goes And now it’s all gone Now it’s all gone Will you hear me when I speak? Do you feel the pain with me? I’ve tried to be so strong I thought that hope would come But you’re not here

Oh, the darkness keeps its grip Oh, how’d it come to this? Oh, please come back Please come back

40. Six Feet Under - Billie Eilish

More Liz crying over Max’s body…and just love and pain and death and sadness. 😭😭😭

Retrace my lips Erase your touch It’s all too much for me Blow away Like smoke in air How can you die carelessly? Our love is six feet under I can’t help but wonder If our grave was watered by the rain Would roses bloom? Could roses bloom?

POST-SEASON 1

These are just kind of my headcanon songs of various post-S1 reactions from Liz at various different dark moments.

41. Hello My Old Heart - the Oh Hellos

I see a lot of people attribute this song to Liz at the beginning of the show, but I think it’s more appropriate at the end of the season. I’d love it if they use this song in Season 2. I see it more as Liz putting the walls she had at the beginning of the show back up again after loving and losing Max, which would break my heart. But I think it’s how she would cope while he’s gone and then those walls would come back down.

Hello, my old heart It’s been so long Since I’ve given you away And every day, I add another stone To the walls I built around you To keep you safe

Oh, oh, don’t leave me here alone Don’t tell me that we’ve grown For having loved a little while Oh, oh, I don’t wanna be alone I wanna find a home And I wanna share it with you

42. Poetry By Dead Men - Sara Bareilles

I can see this scene in my head. I can see Liz and Max both longing for this scene in their head. Just the simple domesticity of drinking coffee together in the afterglow, while Max reads poetry to Liz. Except that he had to go and die first and that just fucking sucks. So I hear some anger and a little bit of “don’t let the door hit you on your way out” in this song, and I could see Liz occasionally just having moments of anger in her grief where she feels this way. Briefly.

By the time you hear this, who knows where I might be Singing about another near-miss love that ended incomplete I was ready, but you weren’t So jump with your net from this bridge you’ve burned I wanted to tell you things, all the secrets I’ve been keeping I saw it in front of me, but then you just kept disappearing A good dream, almost, now I tell your ghost

I wanted to be your girl in a white T-shirt Over coffee, stirring in the cinnamon While you read me poetry by dead men I wanted to be your girl with your hands on my skin Stirring in the cinnamon While you read me poetry by dead men

43. Recovering the Satellites - Counting Crows

This is one of the few episode titles where the lyrics actually get to me, like in a plotty way. But not necessarily from what happens in the episode, so much as the idea of Liz questioning later whether the brief moment of love she had with Max was worth all of the accompanying pain. 😭😭😭😭

So why’d you come home to this sleepless town? It’s a lifetime commitment, recovering the satellites All anybody really wants to know is When you’re gonna come down, when you’re gonna come down But we only stay in orbit for a moment of time And then you’re everybody’s satellite I wish that you were mine, I wish that you were mine

44. The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson

Definitely stole this from someone else, but it’s perfect and I love ending with it, because even though it’s loaded down with all of the pain we’re feeling at the end of the season, it also has a little twinge of hope and possibility for that future day when Max comes back (which we all know he will)! So in other words, it’s 😭😭😍😍

The sky looks pissed The wind talks back My bones are shifting in my skin And you my love are gone My room feels wrong The bed won’t fit I cannot seem to operate And you my love are gone

I’ll never say that I’ll never love But I don’t say a lot of things And you my love are gone

So glide away on soapy heels And promise not to promise anymore And if you come around again Then I will take, Then I will take, The chain from off the door

#music of my soul #rnm echo music #rnm echo

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valnune · 4 years

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Task 1: Chapters 1-5 (Marshmallow Perspective)

Task 1: Chapters 1-5 Before we start: I will be rewriting various sections of the story as a novel style thing, both for Wine Mom (Althea Severine) and Marshmallow (Dani Falko) these are both OCs with varying different personalities. I will be as faithful to the canon characters as much as possible only adding dialogue to make it flow better, or to add additional scenes or sections of scenes I think would be fun to explore. I may write in the future specific scene requests that are just named as MC with they/their/them as the pronoun, but for right now, both of my MC OCs are female using she pronounce. I think all MC OCs are valid, I welcome them all, encourage them all, because we all wanna share and enjoy this fandom together. Without further delay, enjoy! ----------

Where am I…?

I’m in a place that looks like a courtroom. Several men are looking my way.

…..

Everywhere hurt. It was the feeling of being ripped from the ground and thrown about, like a dizziness swayed over made you want to throw up. Such a pounding headache. Where was this? Turning around and looking about the room it was… a courtroom? Oh- th- there were people here. Oh that was concerning. Scratching a hand to the back of her neck, she was staring up at one, two… three, four, five… five men. They were in front of her and sitting at a long table like something out of Harry Potter. In fact, now that she looked about, this did sort of look like that, didn’t it? Well. Except for the windows in front of her and- wow. Look at that Moon. That was… that was a big moon. Wait, there were banners behind them between the windows. A phoenix, a.. Crow or was it a Magpie? A snake. A unicorn, scorpion, fly, bull…

No- she could take a look at those later. There was something more pressing before her- people. Oh dear she must be making a terrible first impression. Rubbing a hand to her wrist, her eyes remained forward. It seemed that they were waiting for her? No, it couldn’t be. But, perhaps? They were giving her courtesy to help her gather herself. That would be nice. Who… were all of these people, why was she here? Just- Just breath. Just… calm down. It was going to be okay. Somehow.

The man in the seat of the chief judge, higher than the others, be that symbolic or not, starts speaking.

“Welcome to the Devildom, Dani. Oh, pardon me. Feeling a bit shocked, are we? Well, that’s understandable. You’ve only just arrived, after all. As a human, it will probably take a while for you to adjust to things here in the Devildom.”

“Is… is this real…? Or… am I dreaming?” Those words fell from her lips as if she hadn’t realized it, ah-! Jumping a little, Dani clasped her hands over her mouth and then realized how silly that looked as well, hands falling to her side.

Yet he just gave a warm laugh and a comforting smile. Without knowing him, it did seem a bit out of place, but something about the expression seemed to fit on the welcoming man.

“What a very human thing to say. Outstanding. I have a feeling you might be just the sort of person we’re looking for.”

Rubbing her hands together, she was fretful, concerned, brow knit upwards. Devildom… As a human? Were these people not human? They looked human. But they were all un uniform. The person who just spoke was tall and had darker skin with brown hair. He was in a red uniform, the other four were in black uniforms that appeared militaristic. Wait. Why were all of them attractive? She didn’t like being stared at so directly, especially when she was already taken out of her comfort zone.

“I suppose I should start by introducing myself. My name is Diavolo. I am the ruler of all demons, and all here know of me and someday soon, I will be crowned king of the Devildom. This is the Royal Academy of Diavolo… though we just call it RAD. You’re standing within the assembly hall, the very heart of RAD. This is where we officers of the student council hold our meetings and conduct our business. I’m the president of said council.”

Academy? This was a school? A school for… demons? She just sort of stared a bit with shock and awe upon her features. This… This was too much. This was crazy. A school. For demons. She was in HELL. Like. H. E. Double hockey sticks Hell. Like. Where bad people go where they die HELL. Yet. It looked rather pleasant and mundane well. As mundane as a place can be with a giant moon in the background. Still. It was like he was expecting a response from her so, with a deep breath in and a hard swallow from her throat, Dani took a step forward and bowed respectfully towards him, quickly, rising up, she had to take a few more breaths in and out to calm herself. Just. Well. She wasn’t nervous around others normally, of course not but, these were demons and this person was supposed to be crowned King one day? That made him a Prince?

“H-Hello Ah… Hello there. It’s very nice to meet you- all of you. Ahem. As you said- I am Dani, but well, of course you already knew that. Ahem. Might I kindly know why I am here? Ah- Not that I am not grateful to be here- but I am rather confused. And well- do people know I am here? I… I don’t remember what I was doing before I came here. My parents are probably worried about me…”

She rambled too much. That was going to make her come off way too immature and nervous. No. She wanted to appear cool in front of demons. A pained winced crept upon her brow, no just. Keep calm. It was going to be okay. No one was saying or giving any negative expression so far. Keep it all calm. But really. Did anyone know she was here? Was she dead? Were her parents aware of this? What was she doing before? She was… what happened.. Going to start school. That’s what.. But. Why is it all fuzzy? Why did it hurt whenever she thought about it. Ugh, there was that sensation in her stomach again, the one that made her want to throw up.

Then a man stood up, the very definition of tall dark and handsome. Black hair with wisps of grey, deep red eyes, and a stare that seemed to melt the bones to jelly. Why was everything getting worse? Yet as he spoke there was something calming? Reassuring about it… it brought a much needed sense of stableness, if only for a moment. It was needed.

“I will explain everything to you.”

“Dani, this is Lucifer. He is a demon and the Avatar of Pride. He’s also the vice president of the student council and my right-hand man…and not just in title, I assure you. Beyond that, he’s also my most trusted friend.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere, Diavolo.”

Hearing that name. Lucifer. That caused her eyes to widen and snap her attention back. What? Lucifer. THE Lucifer? Him. Right. There. Standing in front of her? Her breath seemed to catch and freeze in her lungs, for she found herself out of breath. There was a bit of a tremble from her now. What was going on? Why was she here? Was this a dream? As if to check, she pinched at the back of her hand, and sure enough it was sharp to the touch. Oww. The imprint of her nail upon the skin.

“Speaking on behalf of the entire student body at this great and storied school of ours, I offer you the most heartfelt welcome, Dani.”

As he addressed her once more, she folded her hands in front of herself and kept attention once more. Yet, he didn’t answer any of her questions. Would… would he answer them for her? Would anything happen? Did it matter? A bit of melancholy was sinking in, but what did he mean? Students? Demons really didn’t go to school. Did they? That just seemed a bit silly. What could they have to learn?

“I… I am sorry, could I please have my questions answered- Uhm. At some point. Please…” Her voice squeaked and cracked a bit as she tried to gather a bit more backbone to make a coherent sentence.

“...Interesting. This one is quite different from Solomon.” He said in an aside while giving a glance to his left.

“As for your questions, I will answer what I can for the moment. Diavolo believes that we demons should start strengthening our relationship with both the human world and the Celestial Realm. As a first step toward this goal, we’ve decided to institute an exchange program. We’ve sent two of our students to the human world and two to the Celestial Realm and we’re welcoming four students to our school: two from your world and two from the Celestial Realm. So, I take it you’ve probably put two and two together at this point, right? You’ve been chosen from among the people of the human world to participate in this program of ours. You are our newest exchange student. Your period of stay is one year. You will have to work on the tasks that you will receive from RAD. After one year, you will write a paper about your exchange here in the Devildom. However, as not many of the human world know of the Devildom outside of Witches and Sorcerers, which is to say that no one knows you are here.”

That just elicited a small, “Oh,” from Dani as she looked to her feet and shuffled them a bit. Yet, all of that information. Celestial realm. Is that… Heaven? Were there angels in Hell too? They must be even more uncomfortable than she was feeling right now but well. Chosen. Why was she chosen to be here? Surely there were better people, smarter people, more virtuous people. People who were more than just. Her. Like this Solomon guy, he shared the name of the great sorcerer king Solomon from the bible, or was it the Torah? Wait. The Torah was the old testament? Oh Gods, how much of that was true? Oh- And God? What? What was that? Was it true? Was it a lie? Did that mean she needed to start believing- ugh, the feeling just felt worse the more she thought about it. She just needed fresh air or water or something to calm herself down.

“Well then… I.. will be glad and happy to accept. I am just sorry right now. I am not making the best impression. All of this is… It’s- It’s a lot to take in. So many things I didn’t think were real and.. They are. I… I think it will take a while to adjust. Please have patience with me. I really am excited for this, but it’s just.. Just a bit daunting.”

“It’s not like I will abandon you all by yourself here in the Devildom. You need someone to look after you, and I think that someone should be my brother Mammon. He’s the Avatar of Greed and… how should I put it…? Oh well, you’ll understand soon enough.”

It was at this point that Lucifer stepped down from the table and made his way over, handing a device that looked very much like a phone, in fact it looked exactly the same but apparently it was not. Did this thing have YouTube on it? What about Spotify?

“Here, take this device. It’s called a D.D.D. It’s a lot like the cell phones of your world. This will be yours to use for as long as you’re here. Now, go ahead and try calling Mammon with it.”

Accepting the D.D.D. It was easy to be able to navigate its menu. D.D.D…. She was just going to call it a phone. That’s what it basically was, a phone. It had the call and messaging option, contacts, apps. It even had a handy little helper app with a picture of a crow on it. How cute. Maybe things weren’t going to be all that bad? And well.. She was excited. This was an opportunity she never would have before…

“Yoooo.” The voice over the phone awkwardly said upon picking up.

“Hi there, Mammon? Am- I speaking to Mammon?” Dani first had the phone normal, but then switched it to speaker, even if she still held it closer to her ear.

“Huh? Who the hell are ya? You ain’t Lucifer.”

“Ah? Sorry- I’m Dani, Dani Falko. I’m right by Lucifer in the Assembly Hall right now. He said to give you a call so… I am. So. Uhm. Hello.”

“Whaaaa? A human? Geez, I was gettin’ all chilly here thinkin’ it was Lucifer again. Ya should’ve told me right away. You’ve got a lotta nerves callin’ on THE Mammon, exchange program or not.”

“I’ve been informed that you’ll be keeping an eye on me during my stay in the exchange program.”

“No way! There’s nothin’ in it for me. Besides, Whaddya even mean by, keeping an eye on ya? I ain’t gotta do nothin’. See ya.”

“Uhm. Ah- Well. Lucifer said you’d be doing this and well. I don’t really know what else to say or do here… I’d appreciate your help.”

“Pfft, whatever. Ya think The Mammon would listen to ya just ‘cause you’re tryin’ to scare me with that name? And besides, I don’t help no one for free!”

Though, it was thankful that Lucifer stepped closer, pulling the D.D.D. from her hand for that conversation was going nowhere fast. Speaking into it, he barely needed to speak at all to get Mammon’s attention.

“Mammon, You have until the count of…” “Y-Yessir!”

The line disconnected as he presumably was making his way to the assembly hall. Where was he exactly? Dani took the phone back and just clutched it tightly to herself. What sort of person was this Mammon? They really didn’t seem all that reliable, or responsible. But then again. He was a demon.

“Well, wasn’t that a nice little chat you had. ” The expected smug reply from Lucifer as he certainly seemed self satisfied.

“Are… are you sure he’s going to be able to take care of me…?” Dani murmured this from her lips.

“Well, if you were suddenly brought to a strange place and then get told that an unfamiliar face will now take care of you, you’d feel anxious. However, Mammon isn’t the only one to help you out. Now then… we still need to introduce our new friend to your brothers, Lucifer. And it’s probably better that you do that instead of me, wouldn’t you say?”

“There’s more brothers-” Dani couldn’t help but give an even more confused look.

“As much as I dread the idea of doing so, you’re right.” Though, as Lucifer was about to continue, one of the other men at the back stood up and started to make his way down.

“Oh, come now. Really? You should be honoured that you get to introduce such a sweet and charming little brother like me!”

“This one here is Asmodeus. He’s the Fifth Eldest. He is the Avatar of Lust.”

Asmodeus? She only really knew that name from… Well. From D&D but also well. What else did she hear that name from? Who was he related to in legends… Was he related to Solomon? It would be a bit impolite to ask but well. This young man didn’t really look anything like the others there. Well. None of them looked alike. Were they really brothers? He had soft almost orange hair, but was it still technically blonde? That, and eyes like coral, pink and orange and gold.

“Wh… I can’t believe you totally ignored what I said! And not only that, you referred to me as this one. How rude!” Oh- The way he reacted was a bit concerning. That wasn’t really ignoring, was it?

“Hmph. At least he didn’t ignore you altogether. How do you think I feel?” The one who spoke up next had bright blonde hair and bright green eyes that had sparkles of yellow in it. He actually looked rather pleasant.

“That one there is Satan, the fourth eldest of us. At first glance, he may seem like a responsible demon with a good head on his shoulders, but looks can be deceiving.”

“Aha, so I’m that one, am I? Nice to meet you, Dani. I’m Satan, the Avatar of Wrath.”

S- Satan? Bloody… Satan and Lucifer… and Asmodeus of course but well. And the Prince of Hell, Diavolo..? Ah. This was just making the blood run from her face and go cold a bit. This was unbelievable in so many ways and yet… And yet it was? Why was the nice happy looking one the avatar of wrath? Well. Lucifer did say it, looks can be deceiving and well. Ned Flanders said that the devil would be attractive. Devils... demons? Was there a difference? Is that racist?

“Thank you… ah- thank you both for the warm welcome. Once more, I am sorry that I am not really well composed right now. I do try to make better first impressions and well- I fear I am doing, hehe- ah- an absolutely dreadful one. I can only hope that you’ll forgive me and that our second and third meeting goes more smoothly from there.”

“Ooooh! You are just so adorable, come now, don’t be shy. Come a little closer to Asmo, I won’t bite much. There’s something I want to show you, a little demonstration! Dani, could you gaze into my eyes for a moment? It’s okay, I won’t hurt you. I promise it’ll be fun…”

As Asmodeus had come down from the assembly table and stepped closer towards Dani, even as she took a half step back, he took a half step forward. He was too friendly, and not in the Diavolo friendly. He seemed to take delight in how shy she was acting but… with a bit of a deep breath, still clutching onto the phone for dear life, somehow the small human managed to look upwards into his eyes. There was something pleasant about them. They reminded her of peaches. Just not as fuzzy.

“Yes, great! That’s perfect! Now, keep your eyes fixed on mine… Just… like… that…”

As his words trailed off, the expression of delight changed to one of confusion and then dismay. Something wasn’t going the way he intended. Should she say something? Wanting to look away, but not wanting to be rude, Dani stood there, a frozen little rabbit, or perhaps a deer caught in headlights. All of this was terribly confusing for herself as well.

“You… you have pretty eyes…?” Dani just mumbled this out as she was at a loss of words on if she was supposed to do or say something.

“Oh, why thank you dear, I knew that but there’s something not right here...hmm..”

“I should probably warn you, Dani; you’d best be wary of Asmodeus’s gaze. He can charm and manipulate people and use them to his own advantage. If you’re not careful, he’ll charm you. And once you’re under his spell, he’ll eat you.” As Satan spoke that from behind Asmodeus, Dani just froze up a bit and half-jumped back.

“Hey, don’t go around saying things like that. Hmm. Regardless, my power doesn’t seem to work this time for some reason, I wonder why.”

“Ah-! I- ahem. Well. I- Ahem. Ah...Thank you for informing me but I would have appreciated to know that before..” Once more a mumble parted from her lips as she shrunk back away from the two demons.

“Are you done? Now, the one there with the very grumpy look on his face is Beelzebub. He’s the sixth oldest.”

“Lucifer, I’m hungry.” Beelzebub had hair as orange as well. Oranges. Or carrots. Or pumpkins. They were all orange. Regardless, from what she could tell he had pretty purple eyes with a bit of pink in them. All of them seemed to have pretty eyes and.. Painted nails? Even though Lucifer was wearing gloves, everyone had painted fingernails, even Diavolo. Was that a demon thing or like- a club thing?

“That’s too bad. Now behave yourself.” Lucifer gave quite the stern expression in response.

“I’m Beelzebub, the Avatar of Gluttony.” As he came down from the table as well, all of them were now in front of her and not behind a table. It was a bit daunting but at the same time comforting? They all looked like regular humans. Even if well. Lucifer, Diavolo, and Beelzebub were over a foot taller than her- not that it was hard to be, and not that the other two weren’t quite taller than her already but still.

“So. There are seven of us brothers in all, and I am the eldest. Mammon, the second oldest of us, will be here soon. My other brothers aren’t here at the moment, but… well, we can get to them later. All in good time.”

“During your stay in the Devildom, the seven brothers will lend you their strength. To keep you safe, you are to stay with them at the House of Lamentation.” Diavolo seemed to be enjoying himself, light hearted and smiling. Was he doing that to try and make her feel better or perhaps he actually was doing this for a good reason.

“Most agree with Diavolo, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t vulgar demons out there who wouldn’t harm you. If anything were to happen to you, it would be our responsibility. And I won’t betray Diavolo’s expectations. So, I will do everything in my power to make sure you survive your stay down here in the Devildom. Although we will all be living together, you should still have the means to reach us at any given time. All of our phone numbers are already in there. And your D.D.D. also has a messaging app. Make sure to add all of us.”

“I’ll go ahead and send you a message!” Just as he said that, Diavolo sent a message and it buzzed within her hands, giving a bit of a startle for a moment.

“Isn’t that nice, Dani. Now you will be friends with the future king of the Devildom!” Looking towards Satan, he had a pleasant smile on his face too.

All of them, except Beelzebub who seemed to be grumbling about food still, had a smile on their face and looked at her. As much as she wanted to just jump headlong into this and throw caution to the wind, there were so many things that just rattled her nerves. Yet. This wasn’t about her, of course it wasn’t. She was just someone selected, likely at random, to be dragged along in a whim of another more powerful person. These sort of things weren’t supposed to happen. This was like out of a bad movie or anime. Well. Harry Potter wasn’t bad and Izakai is a genre unto itself. Okay. Maybe not a bad movie or anime, but it still seemed cliched. Still. With a bit of a sigh, Dani lifted her chin up and put on as best a smile as she could showing she was on board for this. Even if she was internally stressing out.

“Well. you’ve got that done now, and it seems the idiot has arrived as well.”

“HEY! Just who do you think you are, human? You’ve got a lotta nerve summoning the Great Mammon! Listen up, because I’m only gonna say this once. If you value your life, then you’ll hand over all of your money now! And anything else of value, too! Otherwise I’ll wipe that happy-go-lucky smile right off of your face… by eatin’ you! Startin’ at your head and working my way down, until-”

“Mammon, shut up or I’ll punch you!” That was the warning- except Lucifer didn’t hesitate to follow up with his threat before giving Mammon a chance and decked him in the shoulder, causing the tanned skin, white haired demon to stagger backwards, nearly losing balance.

This was Mammon? Her caretaker? The way that he walked towards her, practically stomping and pointing a finger towards her was a bit daunting but other than that he didn’t look too intimidating. His uniform was a bit more disheveled than the others, loose tie, like he was some stereotypical popular teenager, even if he did look… maybe twenty? It was sort of hard to tell. They all looked ambiguous. Lucifer and Diavolo looked the oldest but even then they only looked late twenties at most. The other brothers seemed to appear around twenty? She was only seventeen herself but all of this just seemed to scramble her head.

“GAH, OWW! Hey, what’s the big idea? I thought you were actually gonna give me a chance to shut up before punching me!”

“Dani, Mammon here is the Avatar of Greed. He governs and oversees all forms of it. Whenever he takes a liking to someone, they suddenly find themselves awash in money. But from what I hear, if he decides to break it off with someone, that wealth evaporates. They’re left without a Grimm to their name.” The ever informative Satan.

“And he’s also a masochist. That part’s important.” As Asmodeus added that last part, Dani couldn’t help but jump a little, a flush of red on her cheeks. Was that part really important?

“Indeed. And it just so happens I have a job for my masochist of a brother.”

“Y’all, stop telling lies! I ain’t asked for that punch, and I AIN’T a masochist!”

“Mammon, you are going to be in charge of seeing to this human’s needs during the whole exchange. I expect your full cooperation.”

“What?! Why me?!”

All the while as she stared between the various people here, she wanted to run, wanted to hide. This was all very overwhelming for her but she did all she could to stand still, stand polite as she held her hands locked into themselves, gripping her wrist to prevent herself from fidgeting. Turning her gaze towards the windows, staring at the large and unnatural moon just beyond the vantage of the room, it was just starting to hit her that all of this was real. Real… The stars that twinkled around the moon. Real. The demons around her. Real. God? Probably real. Satan was right there. Lucifer. There. Asmodeus. Beelzebub. Mammon. Wait. Pride. Wrath. Lust- these are the Sins. The seven deadly sins. Why didn’t she think about this before?

“Aww, lucky you, Mammon! I’m so jealous…” A feigned pout came from the Avatar of Lust as he was taking care of his nails. Oh? They were pink and turquoise. That was actually rather cute.

“All right, then why don’t YOU do it, Asmodeus?!”

“What? Hell no, too lazy.” Thankfully that was his reply. Dani didn’t like the idea of pairing with someone associated with Lust.

“I thought you said you were jealous of me?!”

“Just give up, Mammon. There’s no getting out of this. You know you can’t refuse a direct command from Lucifer, correct?” Even though he was the Avatar of Wrath and told that he was basically two-faced. Satan seemed like a more reliable option than Mammon, so why was she being stuck with someone who didn’t want to, and didn’t seem like he was good at the task? Yet as if Mammon was thinking the same thing…

“But why does it have to be me?! What about Beel. Why can’t he do it?!” As if to exclaim, Mammon walked in the direction of Beel, waving a hand towards him. He too had painted fingernails. White in fact.

“This isn’t a job we can entrust to Beel. We might as well ask him to eat this human.” Asmodeus kept his poise disinterested in the situation, shaking his head as he canted his head to his younger brother.

“Mm, yeah. I can’t promise I wouldn’t.” Though Beelzebub was younger, he was just as tall as Lucifer and Diavolo, and just as broad as the latter. Surprisingly, he also had painted fingernails. Orange like his hair. This was actually sort of a cute theme they all had.

“You’re useless, you know that?!” Mammon continued to stomp and protest around, waving his arms and making a loud show of disliking the task.

“...Mammon?” Lucifer stared towards his younger brother and just by saying his name it caught Mammon’s attention.

“...Wh-what?”

“Surely you’re not going to tell me that you object to this arrangement, are you?” Whatever Lucifer just did caused Mammon not only to remain focused, but seemed to become serious for a few moments. But beyond that, Lucifer seemed to have this aura around him that was one of authority and enforcement. It was practically visible, like the dark purple and black cloud of oppression as the sickness in her stomach just got worse. She never felt this kind of anxiety before that gave her physical sickness.

Though it seemed that Mammon was giving in as he pulled back and shrugged his shoulders. Pacing about, the demon waved his hands when showing his displeasure. All of this just made her feel even worse now. She wanted to like that she had this chance and she did- really this was what people dreamed and fantasized over. This was the call to adventure that storybook heroes had. Just smile, it was going to be alright, Dani. It was all that she could tell herself now as Mammon looked in her direction.

“Ugh.. I hate you guys! Every last one of ya! Fine… FINE! I’ll do it, okay?! All right, human, listen up. As much as I don’t want to look after you, I’ve got no choice. It’s a huge pain in the ass, and I’m too important for this kind of thing, but Lucifer told me to do it, so I will. But in return, you better make sure you don’t cause me any trouble, got it?!”

“I am sorry this is an inconvenience for you, Mister Mammon Sir. I’ll do what I can to not get in your way, and uhm. Hopefully we can get along? Maybe? I- If that isn’t too much of a problem for you! Th. That.. That is..” The quiet murmur fell from her again, trying to remain polite. She didn’t have much expectations but perhaps they could at least not be enemies.

“Good, that’s what I want to hear. As long as you do as I say, we won’t have any problems. Just be sure you don’t forget which one of us is the boss here. - And don’t go around callin’ me Sir. If you’re going to call me anything, call me The GREAT Mammon or somethin’ cool like that.”

“Don’t do that, it’ll just go straight to that empty head of his.” Asmodeus couldn’t help but jab at Mammon, beaming a smile that seemed rather jovial.

“Hey- Shaddap! I don’t have an empty head. I just don’t fill it full of dumb stuff like makeup and stuff like you!”

The interaction was thankfully cut off as Lucifer spoke up, continuing the explanation of what was to take place, the tasks that would unfold before them, and what kind of expectations there were for her and to say the least, it was not what she expected. The more she heard him speak, the worse she felt about this.

“We have decided who will take care of you, so on to the next subject: your tasks. Along with attending the Academy, your task is to polish up your soul nicely and to acquire the power to resist demons. You see, demons like humans with nice souls. Let me put it another way, nice souls look like shiny jewels. Do you understand now? Demons will use their wisdom and abilities to tempt humans so they can get their hands on their souls. Other demons at RAD also have tasks assigned to them just like you. In other words, either humans will be tempted by demons, or demons will lose against the shiny and noble soul of a human and make a run for it. You could say it is an experiment to find out who will win.”

“I wanna make one thing clear right now; Don’t blame me if someone gets eaten, ‘cause it ain’t my fault.”

“Lucifer, I’m hungry.”

“That’s too bad. Now, behave yourself.”

Was this all just a game to them? Certainly she didn’t expect to be treated as an equal when around demons. After all they weren’t demons for nothing. Even if things defied the expectations that she had of Demons based on movies and books and what religion says of it, but there was still a shred of truth in all of that. Now she was told that she’d have to polish up her soul and resist demons? She could hardly resist staying all day in bed on the weekends or sneaking an extra cookie when no one was watching. It’s not like she felt like she could be tempted with things. After all, she didn’t want for anything, not things that could be given anyway. Well. Not that she thought she had anyway.

“Well. I suppose I.. I don’t have a choice one way or another, ah.. do I..? No... I- I don’t… But, well...I’d very much like to enjoy my time here- you know, as well, this isn’t something that I’d ever be able to dream of doing, let alone even thinking it could be actually possible. So, um... for that, I thank you for picking me, even if I don’t know why. I can only hope to do the best I can and be myself through all of this. I just hope that I can live up to whatever expectations and results you’re looking for.” Her hands were fidgeting the entire time, eyes shifting ever so slightly between the faces, even if she was trying to keep focus on Diavolo. All of this was something she was excited about, but at the same time, deeply, deeply concerned with. After all, she only knew things of Hell from movies, videogames, and books, and even the nicest representation of Hell, was a dark parallel version of the real world in some shows and games. They all still painted the place as one of those things you joke about with friends, but in reality would never really want to go to.

“Well ain’t ya a goody-two-shoes. Welp, I won’t stop ya from havin’ some fun.” Mammon just sort of shrugged while Lucifer gave an enigmatic smile, apparently pleased with the response.

“Dani, from now on you will be living in the House of Lamentation. You’ll be staying there with Lucifer and his six younger brothers. Humans, angels, demons, I imagine a universe where each accepts the other. Where we are brought together as friends. This is my dream, and I’m asking you to be the foundation for it. One year, that’s all I ask of you. Though you may be nervous now, I think you’ll be able to help the brothers out just as much as they’ll help you. Good luck, Dani.”

Help them out? How was she supposed to do that? Well. At least he did want to have angels and humans and demons all alongside each other as friends. She didn’t know if that was what he actually wanted or if that was just a facade. After all, he was a demon, even if he was smiling a lot. Still. She wanted to believe it, so for right now, she’d just smile towards Diavolo.

“I want to believe in your dream as it sounds really nice. If such a thing can be real, I want to do what I can to help.. Wait- Living in the… House with all of them? S- Seven brothers, seven boys- is…” The words just sort of stuck in her throat in realization.

“Mm..? Is there something wrong Dani?” Diavolo just smiled down at her, as if he already knew what was making her comfortable but just wanted to hear it.

“Oh, don’t tell me you JUST realized you’d be living under the same roof as ME?” Asmodeus beamed, hearts practically floating around him as he spoke. “Who knows. You might even catch a glimpse of me stepping out of the bath.”

“What, ya never lived with guys before?” Mammon looked over his shoulder, hands shoved in his pockets.

“I have- Just. Not ONLY guys… and only my family so. I just- it was just an uncomfortable realization. I’ll get over it and not let it bother me. S- sorry. I- ahem. Sorry.” As Mammon started to walk to the doors, presumably to lead her to the House of Lamentation, Dani turned and waddled after, trying to resolve the blush on her cheeks.

. . .

As the pair left and the doors closed, Diavolo looked over to Lucifer and smiled, seemingly quite happy with how that interaction went.

“Well, what do you think, Lucifer? She’s a very human human, don’t you think?”

“Technically every human is very human. Except for Solomon that is.” Lucifer kept his eyes on the door, having watched the two as they left.

“Well, I think this human is going to be fun to tease! The shy ones are always the most naughty.”

Asmodeus’ response resulted in a group sigh that seemed to echo through the assembly hall. The moonlight which shifted through the windows showed that only a small passage of time occurred to what seemed like it lasted forever to the human taken from her home. However the silence was soon disrupted and the sigh drowned out by the thunderous grumbling from Beelzebub’s stomach to overshadow such a sound.

“Lucifer, I’m hungry.”

“Yes Beel, I know.”

#ObeyMe #ObeyMe!#ObeymeOC #I don't know how tags work

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