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zombiiegrr · 2 years

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HEYY! okay so this is my first time literally ever ask for a request but why not haha:)

okay so I was thinking if shuri being really busy and not showing much attention to the reader and the reader understanding she’s just busy and being the new black Panther is hard and stuff but even after asking shuri for a little time she kinda ignores her sooo (SORRY IM LITERALLY JUST WRITING IT ITS A BIG REQUEST) and then the reader decides to post a picture shuri wouldn’t “approve” of🤭 (can be a big angsty but omg smut pleaseeeee)

THANK YOU SO MUCH i was dying for some requests and to have someone put one like this in is amazing I'm a sucker for any kind of jealously and i love possessive stuff so let's get this show on the road!! I am going to change this a bitttt tho hehe I hope thats okay (I can always rewrite)

CW: smoking (weed) , a bit of arguing (reader and Shuri) , a lot of edging, Light degradation.

tags!!!: @luffyinlove @marvelsqrande @shurisblkwife @t-candy @noneofyabuisnezs @ziayamikaelson

Attention Seeker. (Shuri x Fem! Reader)

Shuri was busy, everyone in Wakanda knew that. She was queen, and black Panther she had shit to do and so did you but you always seemed to finished before she did walking around your own lab while looking up at Shuri in her lab walking back and forth getting stuff for different tables trying to put everything that she had been thinking onto a table so she could truly see what she was thinking even thought this always took the most time up for her. You almost never spent any time together anymore.

"Shuri?" you asked hesitantly while walking up the stairs to her lab from your own. She didn't even spare you a glance in fact she just kept working you weren't scared of her but a bit scared of disrupting her peace because no matter what or how stressed she looked you knew nothing brought her more peace than her work.

You didn't want to give up on talking to her or at least saying goodnight and asking if she would please come to bed with you. You sucked it up because you were her love, she would never hurt you

"Shuri my Love please, let us rest together I don't mind waking up with you and coming back to work later but for now let us rest " you get closer as you requested her to join you to rest but she was moving by the way she looked back at you, I don't think you were going to enjoy her reply

"Can't you see me working?" she is blurting out while slightly pushing you to the side not enough to hurt or do anything to really push you

"Woah, lets track back. There was no reason for you to talk to me like that, clearly i asked if we could rest together yes, I see you are working but I want you to rest" you were always calm with Shuri, but you weren't going to take her being disrespectful words to you which was extremely rare. Seeing as she had nothing but love and respect for you.

Shuri knew you were right, but she was tired, petty and just wanted to work until she passed out that's when she really worked her "best"

"Just get out y/n" ouch. get out? you weren't trying to be oversensitive she just had never spoken to you this was she might have asked you to leave a few times but telling you to get out? No, that wasn't your Shuri

You knew no more words could be spoke between the two of you for the rest of the night and because ever since you were taught to never go to sleep mad at each other you said you I love You's but didn't apologize because this wasn't your fault, but you couldn't just let this go to avoid an argument you decided to be petty but in your own way

When you got back into your room you pulled out your phone you had used sparingly when you had started living in Wakanda except the pictures you took of the city and Shuri

You dilled up Riri not thinking of the timing difference in Wakanda and Chicago, but you would see! "YO MY GIRL what's up!!" There she was Riri Willimas she reminded you of your teen years living back home running from the Avengers trying to force you into a teen training Crap while you just wanted to get rid of your gifts and be normal but also successful showing how a Strong women could really be.

"Thank the ancestors you're awake " A saying you had adapted from literally everyone and after learning everything you could about Your wife's home.

"yeah, up working! But no way you called to watch me work what's up? " Riri lightly yelled as she walked away from the camera. You didn't know how to ask her this, you know she knew a lot of people because of her "job" and wouldn't put you anywhere unsafe so what was the harm of asking if she was willing to take you and ONLY you to a party. She knew nothing got under Shuri's skin then going to events without her, without the black panther.

"Wanna take me to a party?" Yes! you loved you way you asked that even if you were expecting so many questions and maybe even a no.

"Word? We got one tonight at destiny's it's just going to be her, her dance team which is like 6 of them a few of the players and me well ofc!" that sounds nothing closer to perfect you agreed and then she started asking the questions. "Not that it matters because you're coming either way, why without Shuri?" she asked the question that really mattered off the bat!

"Oh, well that's a long story and this party is meant to be a getaway please don't ask" Riri wasn't going to pry any longer she was just happy to be with you again even if it would be better with all of you.

Fast forward a few hours you texted Riri you would be on your way just needed to get out of Wakanda without the alerting of Shuri. As petty as it was you were deciding if you wanted to leave your beads to prevent Shuri from finding you, it was dumb yes, but you would not be dumb enough to completed disappear and scare her like that you would bring your beads but leave them in Riris dorm.

It was hard but you got out of Wakanda extremely surprised a angry Shuri or Okoye didn't come after you on the ride there you took pictures of your outfit and everything else outside the window when getting into Chicago and when getting into Riris dorm bring her into the biggest hug like you hadn't seen her in forever.

"You look so good; I'm blow away Shuri let you leave the house" This made you giggle knowing what you knew about the whole Shuri thing. you sat on Riris bed waiting and listening to her talk about what she's been up to and what she was thinking and even working on. After a while of talking, she looked at the time changed a bit and told you it was time to go

"Wow Shuri actually hasn't found me yet." you thought to yourself while on the way to the small party.

Back with Shuri.

It wasn't that she didn't notice in fact if she did you probably wouldn't have made it to the party, nor out of Wakanda she was working when Groit was tried to alert her of your leaving before she shut him up not wanted to be disrupted just to keep working for another hour.

"Groit, can you ask Okoye to bring Y/N to my lab" A apology was in order and fast. Groit answered explaining how around a hour and a half he had attempted to inform her of plans of your departure, and it had been 5 hours since you had left. He quickly explained you were at a party with Riri which calmed her nervus but only a bit

"Do you want to see pictures of y/n at this party?" Groit asked. Shuri wasn't going to waste time, but she would lie if she didn't say she didn't want to see the pictures. Giving her a quick look at everyone there and how you looked. " How?" she questioned which he told her about to the quick social media search he had done quickly for her.

You looked cute she wasn't going to lie but either way the shit you were wearing wouldn't even be on for long. As Groit kept going through pictures it looked like you got more comfortable and more lose she wasn't mad until she noticed others around you were noticing too, I mean you were breath taking what did she expect? As videos played and your giggles grew, she couldn't bare it anymore.

"Can you provide a location of this party?" Shuri was proud of the AI she created when he pulled up the address as she asked quicker than she expected but not surprised she was the one who made him. She hadn't planned on going to her first American party upset or not even jealous, but you had made other plans for her.

Back at the party

You were having so much fun seeing as you had not been around so many new faces in a while, you weren't going to lie and say you weren't a little scared of being gone this long without letting Shuri know. But you knew it was just a matter of time before she found you.

"Wanna Smoke? " One of the dancers asked you before Riri spoke up to say no for you

"Nah Riri, it wouldn't be my first as long as y'all don't record or anything you know" Everyone collectively agreed especially the athletes and dancers.

After Two Blunts You could hear Riri talking with someone outside sounding concerned and trying to be loud enough to us to hear and clear the room of smoke which is what you and everyone else with sense thought and after slightly rushing to help you noticed that voice anywhere was slowed but also rushed your clearing. Shuri had smoked with you before and even grew some shit to show you Wakanda could do it better (They could) so you weren't scared shed find you smoking just she didn't like you smoking anything she hadn't grown for you including the adorable bong she created for you watching too much American tv about smoking and hiding for everyone making it for you

There's no way she'd walk in with a room full of people being the whole QUEEN of Wakanda but sometimes you questioned if you just forgot who you were dating.

"Shur- okay." Riri attempted to stop her before walking into the weed smelling room and seeing you sitting in-between two people too close for comfort.

Everyone started quietly fangirling while you didn't break eye contact with her. Her eyes screamed at you to get up and come with her and you weren't going to say no. You excused yourself, hugged up Riri promising to hang out with her for real as soon as possible which you knew Shuri would come with.

Shuri said her goodbyes to Riri grumbling about her coming to visit after dealing with you.

The ride home wasn't as quick as it normally felt. It wasn't quick you just had always enjoyed the ride home.

You could feel her eyes like knifes as she looked at your slightly high state. Something about this fear turned you on the way she was sitting while looking at you. "Was it fun?" her voice cut into the silence as you looked up quicky

You nodded your head and looked down again just to hear footsteps coming closer and closer to you. "I'm sorry. Telling you to get out? What was I thinking. I'm sorry I didn't just go to bed with you avoiding this whole thing." An apology was not you thought you were going to hear when she spoke holding your face in her hands and before you could reply apologizing for your behavior as well, she continued to speak

"But. I can't let this go y/n. Sneaking out? Not telling me? Thinking Leaving your beads in Riris dorm wasn't going to make me find them? Silly girl. I'm going to have so much fun punishing you, you won't have the strength to sneak out again for a week." as she said this, she stuck her fingers in your mouth while slowing zipping down your dress

"Matching underwear? Cute, what did you know I was going to punish you for this? How pathetic all this all because you wanted me pay attention to you. Oh, my love you got my attention." Shuri had a dirty way with words she knew how to push those buttons and knew what made you absolutely weak

She was in your underwear after she had denied your orgasm 4 times. At this point you were spewing out apologies and begs as she ignored and mocked you. She was cocky you wanted nothing more than to cum then touch her but she wasn't going to let you ether this was punishment Afterall she wasn't going to give in no matter how much she wanted to see you cum.

"Aw baby whose fault is this?" She fingered you with your needy clit in her mouth while teasing and bullying you. She did this all the way to Wakanda leaving you flustered and needy almost shaking from the amount of edging that had been done. She covered you up while you entered Wakanda even if anyone could see you, she wanted you easy to touch when you made it back to your room. Okoye welcomed you in not noticing anything.

You both walked a bit fast you went straight to the room laying on the on the edge of crying again if she didn't do something

she laughed at the doorframe calling you dirty before pulling you to the end of the bed

"Did you learn? As my princess you don't sneak out to silly American parties and smoke that disgusting American stuff when, I secretly grow that for you here." you were nodding in agreement while listening and slowing undressing

she put her hands right back into your underwear tease and driving you crazy again but this time when you close, she didn't stop.

"You have been such a bad girl. I'm only letting you cum because I can tell how bad you clearly need me to make you cum. Can't even take a punishment from me." she watched as you face locked with hers as you made you way to finally cumming. Even after you came, she didn't feel done

"Shuri Wait, fuck I just came please." you said as your whole body started to shake from the overstimulation

She laughed at that comment seeing as you spent the only time begging to cum, she mentioned that which caused a whimper from you while she slowed and kissed your forehead while you came down from the high from everything

she showered you in praises as your body finally claimed down.

"What about you baby?" you finally said after some water and a little cuddling she looked at you with a soft smile and whispered in her ear saying you just owed her (part 2? ;)

"Rest baby. I promise I will too in a few minutes" as you hear this you drifted off thinking of the ways you were going to pay her back and how you were the luckiest women on this earth.

end?

OH MY GOD SOOOOOOOO how did i do??? FEEDBACK IS LIKE LOVED!!!!!!!!!! this took me 2 hours please let me know ifs this is cringey or anything

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mintacle · 2 years

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Have you seen the "Invictus" Jason Todd Death Day Animatic by shyuwe? It's amazing and I want someone good at saying thoughts on the internet to talk about it.

Sorry for the late reply anon and no I had not! But I watched it now and yeah it's cool, here's a link to the vid by @shyuwe.

I find it really difficult honestly to talk about art, because good art already says more than words could express about it, you know? Just watch the video and see for yourself! However I will say something about the choice of the poem "Invictus" by Willima Ernest Henley, from Life and Death for Jason, because omg yes! Continued under cut.

Here's the poem first:

Invuctus means as much as unconquerable or undefeated. Frankly a title I can stand by for Jason. Seeing as one of my favorite aspects of Jason's character is his representation of victims and I stand by the fact that we are undefeated by what has happened to us. The word recognizes the gravity of what has happened and pays homage to your experience and finally we get to see ourselves not only as the sufferers of a poor fate, but also the victors, you're still standing. And I will be the last person to ever tell someone how that "standing" has to look like to be undefeated. Overcoming is not something you have to earn, you already overcame. You have nothing to prove to be undefeated.

The "unconquerable soul" is not exemplified in the body that is standing tall more than in the body that is slumping and panting, no matter how you stand or breath, you are still breathing. The other verses of the first stanza are rather straightforward in setting the stage. Our main character is in the black of the night, in the belly of the whale. They are where all is lost and seems hopeless, but that does not mean they are defeated.

Moving on to the second stanza. This part of the poem acknowledges a disillusioned worldview. It is hard to perceive the world as still containing beauty and hope after trauma. And yet you can be unafraid. And I do hope for everyone who has suffered to be able to return to a previous, more naive, less burdensome, perspective. But if you can't, then frankly that is alright, it does not have to diminish your spirit. I think Jason incorporates a lot of the concept of lost innocence, of not being able to return to how things were. But while Jason does grieve his own loss, he does not lose hope to that fact.

Finally, the last stanza, as a call to the strength of autonomy. Now Bruce might like to think he works alone, but Batman's strength lies in his allies. Jason however has perfected himself into the deus ex machina of himself. He has learnt that sometimes there is no powerful saviour who will swoop in for you. Jason is a one man army in combat skill, knowledge and in practice as well. We have seen team-ups, but they never seem to stick. Something about Jason screams lone wolf.

Because the truth is, after trauma, the only person you want to feel is strong enough to protect you is yourself. In a realistic sense, trauma does not make you dependent on other people, it can make you want to become the most whole and in control person you can be. This is why some children from abusive and neglectful homes have incredible emotional reflectivity and recognition skills. They will not be victims of the arbitrariness of emotions any longer and have mastered the flow of their own and others emotions just to feel a semblance of control. It's why victims might have incredible scheduling and self-discipline skill. Coming out of an unpredictable and volatile situation they have gained control of their surroundings. It's why vicitms might be high-achievers in academics, because they know what is expected and they can control their input and actually get the reward that was promised. Jason is to me an epitome of effective pragmaticism. He knows the value of reliability and certainty. Rather than going in hotheaded in an attempt to murder a man for trafficking children, he employs a failsafe by also poisoning his energy drink. Because Jason is the one in control. He orchestrates a distraction for Batman and spends three hours creeping up on the Batmobile to plant a bomb. His anger doesn't ignite him like an explosion, it fuels him, like the steady supply of purpose.

Jason is in command now, the captain of his soul. Because let us face it, so far Jason's life has been shaped only by other people. His parents' deaths, Bruce adopting him, Sheila betraying him, the Joker murdering him, Superboy Prime's punch returning him to life. Jason's life has been so far out of his autonomy and control, but he claims command of his soul and of his fate. No one has set him on his vengeance trip against Bruce and against the Joker. No one defines Jason anymore. Bruce does not actually have the power to grant whether or not Jason is a hero, It's Jason's jurisdiction now who he is and if he says he is a hero, the patron saint to victims, the avenging spirit of the innocent, then yes, he is.

This is not only about strength in the face of adversity, this is about the fact that you are the only authority you need, your autonomy is the only justification and permission you need to continue being strong. No one fucking else gets to decide for you anymore.

#jason todd #poetry #analysis or something #ask answered #thank you for this one anon! I had a lot of fun with this :)#ok I feel like I didn't explain this the best in all places but I have a bit of a fever so this is the best I can do atm #This has like seven different trains of thought or so in it #1. Jason Todd as a victim #2. Jason Todd as disillusionment or lost innocence/lost naivety #3. Jason Todd and the strenght in realism #4. Jason Todd the self-rescuing deus ex machina #5. Jason Todd and effective pragmaticism #6. Jason Todd's anger and why it is actually not scary but terrifying #7. Jason Todd and autonomy/ self-definition #so yeah the poem fits him very well I'd say. In my humble opinion #Don't know if this is what you were going for anon but I hope I didn't disappoint you!

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lafbnetwork · 2 months

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Los Angeles Rams OC on Kyren Williams' Future in the Passing Attack

About a month ago Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Willimas told Rich Eisen that Blake Corum’s addition to the team would allow him to be used in the passing game. “I’m super excited that we went to go draft Blake Corum. Somebody who can run the ball very well. Hopefully that will allow me to get to the slot or allows me to just run routes out of the backfield, so that I’m able to really…

#Blake Corum #Kyren Williams #Mike LaFleur

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rickygoldman34 · 2 months

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Coming at you another Golden Blog.

Jacy Jane and Jazmyn Nyx vs Arianna Grace and Karmen Petrovic.

👍Good Points:

I like that Karmen got the win.

Jazmyn has really come a long way in a very short time.

👎Bad Points:

Very easily an NXT TV match.

North American championship.

👍Good Points:

Really good match.

Wes Lee certainly brought it.

Good storytelling match.

👎Bad Points:

Nothing.

Womens North American championship.

👍Good Points:

Good match.

Great that both Kelani and Sol was in this spot.

👎Bad Points:

This wouldn't have been out of place on NXT TV.

NXT Tag Team championship.

👍Good Points:

Good match here.

Neither tag team looked out of place.

👎Bad Points:

Tv match again.

NXT Womens championship.

👍Good Points:

Great storytelling match.

This was the best Lola has looked.

👎Bad Points:

I would have had Lola win.

NXT championship.

👍Good Points:

Great finish no one saw coming.

Great sequence of moves.

👎Bad Points:

I would have kept the title on Trick but fair enough.

I give it a rating of silver.

Ian's notes.

Arianna Grace/Karmen Petrovic vs Jacy Jayne/Jasmin Nyx: Simple warm up match to get the crowd going, for their first-time teaming Grace and Petrovic had great chemistry as an odd couple tag team that you think wouldn’t work but they surprised me enough to get the win.

NXT North American Mens Championship Match Oba Femmi (Champion) vs Wes Lee: Oba Femmi continues to show why he will be a star for many years, Wes Lee delivered one of his best performances as the Underdog trying to take the down the giant using many dives a frog splash and two attempts at the cardiac kick. The Talking moment was when Femmi delivered a move similar to the F5. Looking forward to seeing what Wes Lee’s next move is now that he’s out of the north American title scene.

NXT North American Womens Championship Match Kilani Jordan (Champion) vs Sol Ruca: The best of the two women’s matches on the card with fun spots and dives between the two former gymnasts who are fun to watch, each dive was nailed to perfection, hoping Kilani gets a long run.

NXT Tag Team Championship Match Axiom/Nathan Frazer (Champions) vs Chase U Andre Chase /Duke Hudson) with Riley Osbourne and Thea Hale. We are seeing the signs that Axiom and Frazer are coming to a close with Frazer showing up late and wanting to compete for the Heritage Cup and Speed Championship with cost him to make mistakes and hitting Axiom, the team still fun to watch. No sign of Ridge Holland who I though would have cost them the match, but they lost clean. Match reminded me of how NXT was the best brand for Tag Team Wrestling.

NXT Womens Championship Match Roxanne Prez (Champion) vs Lola Vice: Vice felt a little green in the match especially with the botch taking one of the multiple Pop Rox’s but still held strong, she delivered some good back elbows and many great submission moves thanks to her background in Belator. Future champion soon.

NXT World Heavyweight Championship Fatal Four Way Match Trick Williams (Champion) vs Ethan Page vs J’Von Evans vs Shawn Spears: Probably the best Fatal four way from WWE, we saw two of Canadas stars working together before turning on each other, Spears getting a perfect 10 reaction as a call back from his Tye Dillinger days while going mad with a chair like his Chairman character. J’Von Evans showing us why he’s the future of NXT and WWE with his high flying moves and dives. Trick Williams was the most over of the 4 men, loved the young and old mentorship between Trick and J’Von. For the ending it looked like Shawn Michaels took inspiration from the ending of his fatal four way with Cena, Edge and Randy Orton at Backlash 2007. After Ethan Page hits the Egos Edge on Trick Willimas J’Von Breaks it up Page takes his frustrations out on J’Von, goes 4 another Ego’s Edge which is broken up by Shawn Spears. Williams hits the trick show on J’Von to knock down Spears and then another Page which sees him cover Evans for a 3 and new NXT Champion.

Overall

Better PLE than Money In The Bank, really felt like a Black And Gold Era NXT PPV.

10/10

Match Rankings

1. WWE NXT Championship

2. WWE NXT North American Men Championship

3. WWE NXT North American Womens Championship

4. WWE NXT Tag Team Championship Match

5. WWE NXT Womens Championship Match

6. Arianna Grace/Karmen Petrovic vs Gacy Jane/Jasmin Nyx

👇!!MY SOCIALS!!👇

#wrestling #youtube #nxt women's division #nxt heatwave #oba femi #trick williams

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gmanwhore · 1 year

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Hey ho here she go

Either a little too high or a little too low

Got no self esteem and vertigo

Cause she thinks she's made of candy

WE ARE BOTH CANDY BY ROBBIE WILLIMA

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misssolitudesmusicblog · 2 years

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My Music for January 2023

Dear Tumblr,

Happy January 2023! I hope everyone is doing well. I am happy to report that I myself is well and thriving. To my surprise, I wasn’t aware that this lunar year falls under the year of the rabbit. I happen to fall under the rabbit and I feel like the Universe has blessed me personally with the music that just got released. From Lana Del Rey, SZA and just recently Kali Uchis. The leading ladies in my music love triangle are back at it again to guide me through yet another exciting year. Aside from those goddesses I just named, I would also love to mention that I have concerts and music festivals to also look forward to this year with Coachella and Cruel World Fest returning back to me and ready to feed my soul. I also have purchased tickets to The Backseat Lovers and Citizen as well. 2023 is looking like a promising year for this rabbit here. The music in January 2023 stuck a chord in me. I felt like the Universe was speaking musically. Music is definitely a love language to me and sometimes I shuffle my music library and it plays the most perfect sequence of songs I have to believe everything will in fact be okay. So here is the link to my playlist: Top Songs for 1.2023 available on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5KzHPsDLOBUqyvJBHdPrL3?si=843f29ff28d440c8

Without further adieu coming in at …

62. 666 by Sugar Candy Mountain

61. 413 by Baryy

60. Empezar De Nuevo (Que Pena) by Nina Cobham

59. Baby Pillz by Dizzy Fae

58. Fire & Desire by Raury

57. Try Again by Oddisee

56. Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight by Tennis

55. Only over You by Fleetwood Mac

54. GOATED.by Armani White, Denzel Curry

53. Moon Jumper by Helvetia

52. White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplaine

51. I’ll Miss You by Anthony Green

50. The Art of Letting Go by gnash

49. Never 4get me by Indigo De souza, Ethan Baechtold,Owen Stone

48. Like Smoke by Amy Winehouse

47. You in January by The Wonder Years

46. There’s a New Day Coming by Menahan Street Band, Saundra Willimas

45. SLEEPWALK by MOTHICA

44. Home by Modern Baseball

43. From the Hips by Cursive

42. Trash by Fuckin Whatever

41. Pretty When You Cry Lana Del Rey

40. Comfort, Edge by Helena Deland

39. I Know The End by Phoebe Bridgers

38. Most Of The Time by Turnover

37. Silencer by mewithoutYou

36. Even When I’m Not With You by Pierce The Veil

35. Untitled by Knuckle Puck

34. Deadringer by Knocked Loose

33. Head In The Ceiling Fan by Title Fight

32. Turn Away by Skinshape

31. Vacations by BOYO

30. Milk by Kings of Leon

29. Empty Space by Juntin Clancy, Slug (of Atmosphere)

28. Stressed by Doechii

27. Doctor, My Eyes by Khamari

26. I’m It by Kota the Friend

25. Fue mejor by Kali Uchis, SZA

24. Magpie by Lava La Rue

23. In the Morning by Mac Miller, Syd, Thundercat

22. Grateful by El Michels Affair, Black Thought

21. 48bars. By StainedTapes

20. CYCLES by R.A.P.Ferreira

19. 505 by Nessa Barrett

18. Space Cowboy by flipturn

17. Prelude 3.0 by Slipknot

16. Earth by Mac Miller, Future

15. Yes To Heaven(slowed+reverb)-remix by viral audios, slowed viral audios

14. Self Control by Frank Ocean

13. When I’m Small by Phantogram

12. Lemon Grass by MF DOOM

11. Miss you so by ocean sixteen

10. We all try by ocean sixteen

9. Blue World by Mac Miller

8. Empty by Metric

7. What We Had by The Drums

6. We Are Gods by SAULT

5. Champions by SAULT

4. God Is Love by SAULT

3. Joy Ride by Dash George

2. SOS by SZA

1. I Wish you Roses by Kali Uchis

Wishing you all a Happy February and a great rest of 2023. I will continue to blog here throughout the year of all the musical experiences I encounter.

Yours truly,

Miss Solitude

#january #Spotify #music playlist #music appreciation

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howl-at--the-sun · 2 years

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So, here's my first official lu fanfiction I'm comfortable posting. Beta read by the wonderful @imprisioned-in-the-hole

Title: Warmth

Relationships: Twilight & Four

Description: Somebody at some point in time made art of Four in Twilight's wolf pelt and that's basically all this is

When Twilight woke, frost had creeped its way into the hollows between his bones, ice had woven its way in between the stands of his hair to settle on his scalp, and a bitter winter had descended onto his shivering limbs.

All that to say that Twilight was cold. Very, very cold. It reminded him of his first trip up that hellish mountain, protected only by light chainmail and a persistent voice from his shadow egging him onwards. It had taken copious use of his wolf form and fleeing from more than a couple wolfos with his tail literally between his legs to get to the top of Snowpeak, and Twilight had vowed never again, at least without some more protection from the cold. That protection had come in the form of the wolf pelt given to him rather awkwardly by Zelda before he’d returned to Ordon. Twilight hadn’t asked how many tries it took to get a pelt as fine as the one he wore, and he guessed Zelda didn’t want to answer that question, so Twilight lived in peaceful bliss with one of the most comfortable pieces of clothing he’d every worn.

…..What was he supposed to be thinking about again?

Ah. Right.

Cold.

Why was he cold?

The last time he had been this cold, it had been without the pelt. But he had the pelt now, so he shouldn’t be cold. Right?

Still half asleep, Twilight reached his left arm across his curled up body and grasped at his right shoulder.

His hand came down on the freezing surface of his green tunic. His fingers searched left, then right, but only encountered more frost. He tried his left shoulder. Same result.

Twilight was going to fucking murder his brain.

Of course he was cold! He didn’t have his pelt on! Couldn’t his brain have told him that in the first place?

Just as Twilight started to mentaly berate his brain, another thought occurred to him.

If his pelt wasn’t on his back, then where was it?

A burst of adrenaline shot through him and he rolled clumsily to his feet, half lidded eyes searching sluggishly for his sword on the cold ground.

“Hylia above, wolf boy. What’s got your panties in a twist?”

Twilight stopped his frantic search (his sword was right next to his left foot), and looked up at Legend, opting to use his Mentor Stare than admit he was fumbling around in the snow like an idiot.

“Wild was right,” Legend said flippantly. “It’s not as intimidating as the Old Man’s”

Twilight’s glare fell into an annoyed deadpan as he flipped Legend off, then went back to looking for his sword. In hindsight, that might not have been the best thing to do, if Wild had seen that he would never let Twilight live it down. But at this hour and this temperature, Twilight didn’t care, and it had been worth it just to see the look on Legend’s face.

Reaching down to finally pick up his sword, Twilight’s hand brushed something soft and furry,

His pelt!

It was lying in a pile on the ground a foot or so away from him. He must have somehow dislodged it while sleeping, and then rolled away from it.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Twilight bent down to pick it up. With cold still freezing in the hollows of his joints, he curled his fingers into the soft fur of the pelt and pulled it upward. Surprisingly, it refused to give.

Eyebrows furrowing in confusion, Twilight tried again, with the same result. It was as if something was weighing it down from the inside. Trying to get a better grip, Twilight wiggled his hands under the pelt, finding that it was surprisingly warm, and moving slightly up and down.

The pelt twisted to the right, left, right again, and then sat up as dirty blonde hair fell into boyish features and cloudy gray eyes.

“Wha- Smithy?!”

Four’s eyebrows knitted together as he snuggled into Twilight’s pelt, still very clearly half asleep. The pelt, which Twilight hadn’t thought was too large, dwarfed him. The hood was pulled almost over his eyes and the remaining parts were tangled with his curled up legs. He looked so small curled up like that, like he was a kid who had just had a nightmare. Twilight knew that Four would absolutely hate that he had just compared him to a kid, but it was far too easy to make the comparison. And not just because of Four’s short stature, but because of his expressive, wide eyes and the childish glee that Twilight saw in them. There was no doubt that Four was a true hero of courage, but he was also a kid. In times like this one, that latter fact was painfully obvious.

Twilight felt himself soften as he sank to his knees next to the sleeping hero’s form.

“Smithy,” He murmured, carding his hands slowly through Four’s mess of hair. It was how he used to wake Colin up from a nightmare, and what Uli had done for him when he couldn’t go to sleep as a child.

“‘Ancher?” Four mumbled slowly, mouth too tired to form the first letting of Twilight’s nickname.

“I’m right here,” Twilight said softly, with a small smile on his face. “You stole my pelt,”

It seemed to take Four a few minutes to register the worlds but when he did, he jolted away, almost headbutting Twilight in the process.

“Shoot!” Four said, looking at the fur gathered around him. “I’m so sorry, I must have grabbed it in the middle of the night! Here, you’re probably freezing without it,”

Four riggled out of the pelt and gathered it hurriedly into his arms, breath creating small puffs of white in the cool air as he worked. When he held the pelt out to Twilight, the hero in question couldn’t help but notice that Four’s arms were already shaking from the cold, and his breathing was shallow. Despite having only gotten out of the pelt a minute ago, Four looked like he’d just trekked up Snowpeak without any cold protection.

Wait.

Oh no.

Four didn’t have any special clothes or items, at least not that Twilight could see, and although he had insisted he was fine, he had been shivering a lot. His regular tunic wasn’t very insulating, it was made for the environment of a forge. And Four was small and thin, neither of which were good for trapping heat.

Slowly, Twilight reached out and pushed the buddle back into Four’s chest.

“Keep it. You need it more than I do,”

Four looked absolutely flabbergasted, staring down at the pelt and then back up at Twilight in confusion.

‘Wha-” Four tried, but Twilight interrupted him.

“You’re shaking like a newly hatched chick, and if my guess is correct, you don’t have anything to protect you from the cold. I’ve made this journey before without my pelt, and I’ve always got Wolfie to keep me warm if I really need it,”

Twilight could already see Four shaking his head.

“And don’t give me that look. You’re already holding it to your chest like a blanket,”

Four looked down in surprise and saw that Twilight was right. Four had subconsciously drawn the budle closer to his chest, and had his arms wrapped snugly around it.

“Here,” Twilight stepped forward and took the bundle from Four, holding the cloak up to let it untangle and then put it around Four’s shoulders.

Four was so small that the hood drooped low over his eyes and the parts that usually covered Twilight’s shoulders fell down to Four’s arms. Twilight tugged the hood back so it wouldn’t fall into Four’s eyes and took a step back.

“So, how do you like it?” For a moment, it looked like Four was going to protest, but then his eyes dropped to Twilight’s boots and he hugged his arms to his chest.

“It’s warm,” He said softly, in a tone so fragile and young that it almost broke Twilight’s heart.

“I know it is,” Twilight replied in that same tone. “That’s why I wear it all the time, and that’s why I think you should wear it too,”

Four nodded slowly, before looking up at Twilight, down at his own boots, and then up at Twilight again, almost like he was trying to decide if he was going to do something.

Four’s eyes fell back down just before a force slammed into his torso, a very fluffy and very soft force.

“Thank you,” Four said softly, arms wrapped around Twilight’s waist and face pressed into his chest.

“No problem, Smithy” Twilight replied, running a free hand through the fur of his hood as he held Four close to his warm body.

#so yeah #first fic posted #i dont have an ao3 account yet but im going to get one soon #i hope you all enjoyed #levis speaks #levis writes #can finally use that tag #linkeduniverse #linked universe #also seriously who made that art i think it was willima but i cant find it #lu four #lu twilight #yes i am aware that the title sucks

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shadowedmagic-a · 3 years

Note

¥ - read any one random page in the codex out loud

Send me a ¥ and a command and my muse has to obey - accepting!

Maxwell let out a heavy sigh, at least he was within the confines of his tent ( although it was more of a place for storage and healing rather than rest ) with less chance of nosy survivors barging in. Some of them were too curious for their own good, really.

Taking the Codex out he flipped it open and landed on a random page, as was told.

...Heavens, he detested this.

“ Ut cor palpitat, adducet eam ad nos propius, qui recessit. Audite voces in tenebris... ” he flattered, his scowl deepening as the last words were spat out, “ Sequi incantations. Tenebris erit dux noster. ”

“ ...The rest are just drawings. Not that it’s of any use. ”

#skyistheground #v5 .:≛:. 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 #LATIN TRANSLATOR TIME BAIBEEE #[ @ latin fans don't murder me all of the mistakes are on maxwell's shitty pronunciation #[ this Was going to be willima #[ but i want to start messing with ruins hc's on blog so jfds #[ cheers for the ask sky #ic .:♚:. Maxwell the Great

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trashyswitch · 4 years

Text

Don’t Release the Spirits!

William finds out some devastating news that could ruin all his mind-boggling luck. So, in an attempt to keep himself away from the cops, William tries to destroy the evidence he left behind. But...5 ghost children lurk in the pizzeria...and they're never letting him go without a fight...

Disclaimer: The tickling gets intense at certain points, but I tried to make sure he could still breath. Also, there’s some dark, mature subject matter that’s represented in dark jokes within the writing. Just keep that in mind and read it at your own risk.

William drove as fast as he could to the Pizzeria. William had just learned that someone (or something) had taken the bodies of the kids he killed, and stuffed them into the animatronic suits. William, terrified for his luck to run out, was now travelling a good 30 kilometres over the average speed limit, in the middle of the night, to get rid of the bodies that had been stuffed in his suits. William was annoyed, but also filled with adrenaline and fear. What if the police found the bodies before he got there? What if they were exploring the place and gathering evidence right now?! What if they had already done both of those parts, and were now getting everything tested?!

This was horrifying news for William.

He had hidden everything so well! How did he mess that up?! Who even dared to touch a bunch of children's corpses, let alone shove them into suits?! Was the person aware of what he did? Not only that, but he's heading into a public property! are there night guards at the pizzeria? If so, will William have to pretend he's not anxious in front of them? Or, does William have to add another death to his list?! Gosh, murder is risky business...

William parked his car on a somewhat crooked angle and picked up the handle of a pocket knife he had on the passenger seat. Closing the pocket knife and shoving it into his pocket, William hopped out of his car and pushed back on the car door as he sprinted. But, William skidded his shoes on the concrete upon realizing his mistake, and quickly turned around to grab the car door. But, it was too late! The car slammed itself shut with all the force William had given it previously, in his frantic running. Now, the whole neighborhood could hear that someone was at the pizzeria! William growled into his hands as they covered his mouth and turned back around to keep on running.

William reached the door, and attempted to grab the keys out of his pocket. But he could not grab his work keys without jingling them as he messed with them. It sounded like William was trying to ring all of the sleigh bells on Santa's sleigh! The whole world was gonna know about this by the time he got inside! William began spitting out curse words under his breath as he looked for the correct key for the back door of the restaurant. When William finally found the correct key, William attempted to push them into the key hole. But his hands were so shaky from all the adrenaline pumping through his veins! The key wounded up clicking the steel surrounding the key hole a few times, before actually getting into the keyhole. When he DID get it in, William spun it to the right and kept spinning it to the right until it stopped, and opened up the door. William opened up the door with the handle as quick as he could, and pulled on the key to get it out. But the key hole was not letting the key out until it was spun down and facing the direction of the handle! STUPID KEYS!

"aaAAAAUGH! STUPID-" William shouted, giving the brick wall on the right side of the door a quick, anger-filled kick. William immediately yelped in pain and hissed at the feeling of sharp pain piercing his foot from his toes hitting the brick. Filled with pure rage from the pain, William growled like a pissed off dog. "Youknowwhat-!" William whispered to himself before abandoning the key and just sprinting into the door with a slight limp in his run. The last things William would hear of the outside world, was the jingling sound of his work keys just calmly swaying in the back door keyhole.

William ran down the back door hall, and reached the main dining hall in a matter of seconds. Trying to use his familiarity to his advantage in the middle of the rush, William looked around for the stage and pointed at it when he laid his eyes on the curtains. Sprinting up to the stage, William jumped and just about managed to get himself up on the top of the stage without injury. Only, his foot managed to catch on the end of the stage, causing William to fail his landing and smash his knee on the stage wood. But, Willima ignored the painful pulsing in his right knee and kept on going. No amount of pain was stopping THIS man.

William opened the curtains and headed inside the backstage room. William just about melted in exhaustion at the satisfaction of seeing the animatronics right in front of him. But, no time to waste! William ran up to a nearby storage room, and grabbed a nearby blue toolbox filled with animatronic tools, with the name 'Emily' carved into it with something. William opened up the toolbox, and happened to find a glasses kit right on the top of the toolbox. Seeing himself needing it for later, William pulled out the glasses kit, grabbed the super thin screwdriver from the kit, and put it into his pocket with his pocket knife. William has used those screwdrivers to break a lock open, so having one with him is always handy. William rummaged around the toolbox for certain tools, and began placing them down one by one. When he found all the tools he needed, William closed the toolbox and began working at the animatronics one by one.

William started with Freddy first. Turning it on, William opened the middle of the Fazbear suit by pulling on Freddy's bow tie. When the animatronic's middle opened, it revealed the music box, the ticking item in the middle, and the dark-haired corpse in the suit. William carefully removed the music box from the suit, and turned the animatronic off again to fiddle with the middle ticking item in the middle. He didn't want to get electrocuted by the fazbear suit. He's already learned his lessons multiple times long ago. With the swaying item in the middle removed, William removed the child's dead-weighted body and swung it over his shoulder. The body was super heavy. It felt like he was carrying a huge 70-pound weight on his shoulder! So, William plopped the body onto the ground nearby and walked back to the Freddy suit.

With suit #1 done, William placed the electronic items back into the suit and closed it up for good.

Moving onto Bonnie: William turned on the suit so that he could access it. After he opened up the middle of the suit, William turning off the suit and began removing the necessary parts so that he could better access the child without risking electrocution. With the sandy-haired child right in his grasp, William lifted the dead child's body out of the suit and placed the child right beside the first one. As William looked at the kids' bodies, William's adrenaline began to leave him as his facial expression softened a little bit.

The truth was, William liked these kids. Even though he only got to know them for an hour at most, William felt a strong connection to them. It was painful to see them die so suddenly. But, it also would've been painful for him to see the kids living with the traumatizing memory of their kidnapping. They were all very happy, very excited to see the animatronics. And when they saw them up close, William could've cried from how happy and excited they looked. But...the kids were being collected so that he could create a loving, caring family of his own. With kidnapping being an option that would end up making them sad, William had only one way to keep them happy without risking getting caught...

William snapped himself out of his head and moved onto the next animatronic. William repeated the same process with the Chica animatronic. He opened up the animatronic, turned it off, removed certain items and removed the corpses from each animatronic. There were 5 animatronics in the room, discluding Golden Bonnie. William remembered that Henry had locked him away in a room somewhere for repairs. So, there were only 5 animatronics to worry about. With all 5 kids' corpses laying on the ground, William threw each and every dead body into the outdoor recycle bin.

Suddenly, William felt a gust of wind blow into the room. William shivered at the cold wind, and around, feeling for a source. The wind seemed to have come and gone in a matter of seconds, leaving no trace of where it came from or where it had gone. William looked up at the vents. The vents were turned off for the night. Even if they were turned on, the weather was quite cool. So, no air conditioning was necessary in the room. If anything, it was probably an open door nearby. William did just let some air in by throwing the 'garbage' out. William sighed happily at a work well done. He smiled to himself and began putting away Henry's spare toolbox. With everything mostly back to the way they were, William smiled happily and placed his hands on his hips. William began to mentally congratulate himself for his ability to determine the unknown. Now, William would be able to live under a new identity, and experience life as a secret fugitive outside of bars. The name William Afton would be rendered 'Missing' for a long time till they assume him dead, while the name 'Dave Miller' would be settled down till the day he'd grow old and retire.

"You know..."

William's smug smile dropped as he heard a whisper hidden in another gust of wind. William, thinking it was his imagination, ignored the words and began walking towards the curtains. A gust of wind blew by him.

"You know what you did."

William paused his walking and kept his eyes widened as he looked around for a potential explanation to the gusts of wind. As he looked around, William discovered that there were absolutely no windows in the room he was in. The only window that existed, was a permanent window that was attached to the only door in the room. So, there was absolutely no explanation for the gusts of wind he was feeling.

Suddenly, another gust of wind flew at him from behind. But, this gust was strong! Strong enough to push William forward an inch.

"Your fault."

William's breathing began to quicken as he physically shivered at the coldness of it. It felt like a strong, winter wind that could blow a loose hat right off a person's head. It was real, it was strong and it was fierce.

But as fast as it came, it all just stopped. William's shirt stopped swaying in the wind. His hair rested itself back against his neck. All he could hear now, was his own heavy breathing. William's face was visibly white. He hanged his head in fear as he struggled to process what was happening.

A small gust of wind came and went again. Behind him, a translucent, brown-haired figure had appeared. "Your fault."

William lifted his head up and looked up. There was nothing in front of him, but he could feel eyes on him. William muttered the kid's name as he slowly turned his head to look behind him.

Another figure showed up to the left of the first one. This one had sandy hair. "You caused this."

William's eyes widened in pure terror. He quickly turned his head to the second figure with a whimper.

A third figure, with ginger hair and freckled pale skin, appeared on the left side of William. "Murderer."

William gasped and slowly backed up behind him.

A fourth figure, with blonde hair and a pink dress, appeared on the right side of William. "Monster."

William yelped and dove in front of him in fear. William laid on the dusty ground, visibly shaking and covering his face with his arms.

A fifth and final figure appeared right in front of his cowering head. "hypocrite."

William's breathing quickened to rapid speed as he lifted up his head to reveal a black haired, long-haired girl with bangs. William sat himself up and scooted himself back, attempting to get away from the oldest ghost of the group. All 5 of the ghosts flew themselves in front of William, to reveal all of the murdered children he had killed.

William slowly covered up his mouth and his lower nose with his shaky fists.

"Why?" The blonde girl asked.

"Why choose us?" the ginger-haired one asked.

"Why kill us?" The brown-haired boy asked.

"You stole our lives." the black-haired girl told him.

"We trusted you." the boy with sandy hair told him.

"You betrayed our trust." All of them said at the same time with anger in their voice.

William let out a loud cry before taking off running. William ran right through the curtains, and slid himself right off the stage using the side of his hip. William took off running again and sprinted right out of the dining hall and into the hallway he previously walked through. Running as fast as he could down the hallway, William had to slide himself towards the back door he used earlier.

As soon as his speed came to a halt, William turned the handle and pulled. But, it didn't open! William turned the handle and pulled on the door handle again. It didn't open. William tried one more time. He turned the handle down, and yanked on the door handle with all his might.

Suddenly, the steel handle completely broke off the door! William lost his balance and fell onto his back with the handle in his hand still. The inside door handle had completely separated from its joint! William had managed to rip the door handle right out of the door hole.

Realizing this was now a dead end, William dropped the door handle onto the floor and sprinted down the hall again. Seeing only one other door to go into, William ran up to it and tried it. It was locked. With William's choices minimal and unknown time before getting caught, William pulled the jewelry screwdriver out of his pocket and shoved it into the lock.

Out of nowhere, William felt a whole bunch of hands grab onto him at the same time. "NO!" William shrieked! William didn't even get a chance to grab the handle! Before he knew it, William was being dragged away by a pair of invisible hands. "HELP! HELLO?! SOMEONE! STOP THEM!" William shouted as he attempted to grab onto the ghost children's hands. But, he couldn't grab anything! William was being pulled to his demise whether he liked it or not! William continued to protest, hoping and praying that someone, ANYONE, would be able to his his shouts. But William was by himself. All by himself, in the Pizzeria at midnight. This was a horror story coming to life!

When they reached the dining hall again, William was dropped and surrounded by the ghosts of the children he killed.

The blonde-haired girl walked closer to William and grabbed his chin with her translucent hand. "You're right Cassidy. This IS him." the girl said. William threw his head to the side in anger.

"This is the right man." The sandy-haired boy said.

"William Afton: the Man Behind The Slaughter." Cassidy said to him.

"Do you remember our names though?" the ginger kid asked.

William was heavily breathing as he stared at the souls of the children. Was this for real?! Was someone playing a game on him?! Or...was this paranormal stuff a real thing?! William's anxiety only skyrocketed as he considered the last thought.

"TELL US OUR NAME!" The blonde-haired girl shouted at him.

William whimpered and curled his shaky body into the fetal position.

William began to name them off one by one, from left to right. Susie, Jeremy, Cassidy, Fritz, and Gabriel.

"Huh...so you actually had the heart to remember the names of the kids you killed...interesting." Fritz commented angrily.

The brown-haired boy began cracking his knuckles. "I've been waiting a long time for this." Gabriel said to the frightened Afton. "Let's kill him." he declared.

Cassidy stopped Gabriel with her arm. "Wait a second Gabriel. You're not going to be the only one killing him. I want to kill him too. I want him to feel everything that I felt." Cassidy told him.

"I want to see him cry." Susie told her friend.

"Me too." Fritz spoke up.

Cassidy crossed her arms and narrowed his eyes as she thought of what to do with their murderer. Slowly, Cassidy began to smile. Her smile grew more and more wide as a particular idea filled her mind. The black-haired girl tapped the ginger kid on the shoulder and whispered something into their ear. The kid's own lips began to perk up into an evil smirk as they spread it to their fellow friends. When all 5 kids heard the idea, they all agreed and readied themselves around William.

"On 3." The long-haired girl told them all. "1, 2, 3!" She yelled.

Suddenly, All of the kids yelled and dove onto William! William tried to curl into a ball, but ended up being unrolled by them anyway. The ghost children began punching him, kicking him, biting him, scratching him and stomping onto him in pure, vengeful rage. William yelped and shouted in surprise as his body squirmed around on the floor, flapping his hands absolutely everywhere and kicking his feet outwards.

One of the kids grabbed onto his arm and began pulling it out to the side. Another kid had jumped onto his middle and was trying to dig right into William's stomach like a rodent. Two of the ghost kids were kicking the sides of his ribs, while the last child was pulling on William's slip-on shoes. The kids were trying to pull him apart. Tear him into pieces. Mutilate him. Give him an agonizingly painful death. they wanted to make him SUFFER!

And they got exactly what they were searching for! William was curling in and trying but failing to cower away. William was squirming, pulling, shaking his head and destroying his vocal cords with his screaming!

But out of absolutely nowhere...an extra reaction sound began to fill the kids ears. The kids stopped screaming and completely went silent. The only person that was making sounds, was William!

And, It wasn't screaming. It wasn't crying. It wasn't even grunting noises! It was...

"AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOT THERE! PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE NOHOHOHOHOT THEHEHEHEHERE!"

...laughter?!

The kids jumped right off of him. They were SUPER confused! Upon being released, William fell into a fit of giggles as he clenched his stomach and kicked his feet instinctively.

"...You think this is funny?" Cassidy asked, dumbfounded by the super inappropriate reaction.

William's giggles had slowed even more, but he was still unable to talk without letting out a couple laughs in between. "Nohoho. I dohon't..." William replied. Though, his reply compared to his facial expressions, were completely different. It seemed like William was laughing in their face and lying about it.

Gabriel growled angrily and jumped right back onto William's stomach. "Tell her the truth!" Gabriel yelled before resuming his belly-digging.

William's eyes widened as he let out a yell with a big smile on his face. William immediately started squirming back and forth and laughing hysterically. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GAHAHABRIEHEHEHEHEL STAHAHAHAHAHAP!" William shouted.

"STOP LAUGHING!" Gabriel screamed at him with his arms angrily stretched out behind him. Upon hearing the kid's demand, William covered his mouth with his hand. Gabriel's face was SUPER angry. If William wasn't dealing with uncontrollable circumstances, he would've cowered away from the angry kid! But...he still had some leftover giggles from the phantom's scratches. They weren't even hard scratches at all! Or at least, not to William.

The scratches Gabriel was giving him, were super light and not painful at all! It was like a baby with no teeth, trying to bite down on a person's finger. It just didn't have the same effect! While Gabriel believed he was causing irreversible damage, William was experiencing ticklish reactions from it!

So, William was physically unable to stop the giggles that were leaking through his hand.

"This man is clinically insane." Fritz guessed.

William blinked and frowned at the kid. What did she just say?! Cassidy just frowned angrily at the annoying news.

"What does that mean?" Susie asked.

"It means he does stuff that's seen as wrong to our parents." Fritz explained.

Cassidy softened her facial expression for Susie. "An insane man would be Batman's enemy, The Joker." Cassidy explained.

Susie's eyes widened. The blonde-haired girl whimpered in fear as she hid herself behind Cassidy. That way, she felt safe.

William rubbed his nose. "I am not clinically insane." William told the ginger-haired boy.

Fritz frowned. "You stole and killed 5 kids in cold blood." Fritz replied. William's frown quickly changed into surprise.

William looked to the side, and looked back at Fritz. He began chewing on his lip. "Okay...I will admit, that's not exactly something a normal person would do without a reason..." William muttered. But, he focused himself back on the subject at hand. "But listen: I do not laugh inappropriately. That fit of laughter I had earlier, was 100% appropriate." William told him.

"How?" Cassidy asked. William groaned to himself. Do they seriously not get it?! They are children! CHILDREN! CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS!

Gabriel widened his eyes and dropped his jaw in shock. "How is laughing appropriate when I'm trying to KILL YOU?!" Gabriel shouted before resuming his scratching and clawing.

"BAHAHAHAHAHA! IHIHIT DOHOHOHOESN'T HUHUHUHURT THOHOHOHOHOUGH!" William shouted, attempting to grab the kid's hands.

"STOP! STOP! LAUGHING!" the angry boy shouted, ignoring what William said. In a fit of confusion filled with severe amounts of rage, Gabriel began pounding his fists one after the other, into William's lower ribs.

William threw his head back and practically screamed! "EEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHA! STAHAHAP IHIHIHIT! ITTICKLEHEHEHES!" William yelled, squeezing his arms against his chest and squirming like there was no tomorrow. Gabriel stopped his angry pounding and softened his facial expression for a moment. What did he say?! Gabriel didn't quite hear it properly through all the laughing. And William was STILL laughing! "OH GOD! OHOHO GAHAHAHAHAD! NAHAHAHAT MYHYHYHY FEEHEHEHEHEHET! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" William bursted out and began pounding his own fists onto the surrounding floor.

"I WAS WRONG!" someone shouted. Gabriel turned around and widened his eyes at the sight: Fritz was tickling William's foot! And giggling at William as he did it! "Mr. Afton isn't clinically insane, he's ticklish!" Fritz explained.

Just about all the kids' faces lit up as everything finally made sense. "Oooooooh!" All of the kids said at the exact same time. With that aside, Fritz put William's foot down and allowed William to take a breather. Gabriel began to smirk evilly as a brand new idea began formulating in his head. William almost immediately noticed the face change, and began to grow nervous.

"What are you planning?" William asked nervously.

Gabriel's teeth began to crack through the smirk. "Are you ticklish?" Gabriel asked. The brown-haired boy lifted up his hands in front of William and teasily showed off their wiggly fingers. William gulped and felt his lips form into a wobbly smile.

He was doomed. Absolutely doomed.

"Ihihi mehean...You ahalreheheady knohow that questiohon..." William replied.

Susie's head popped up. "Where else are you ticklish?" Susie asked.

"I know your feet are, but are your toes ticklish?" Fritz asked.

"Oh! Are your armpits ticklish?" Jeremy asked.

Cassidy actually giggled at the kids' reactions to it. "What happened to revenge?" Cassidy asked.

"We're still getting revenge. We're just gonna choose something different." Fritz replied.

William was interrupted by the feeling of someone grabbing his ankle. William sat himself up and reached his arm out. "Hey! Put my foot down, right now! I'm warning you Susie!" William threatened. Susie didn't see his warning as very threatening though.

Susie only giggled at his attempts. "I won't tickle you." Susie said. William let out a sigh of relief. But, Susie wasn't finished yet. "But I do know a spider who would LOVE to do the tickling for me!" Susie declared, before crawling her fingers up and down the foot like a crawling spider.

William pulled on the foot as he fell into a puddle of giggles and whined in embarrassment. This was what they decided on? They were going to destroy him with teases and tickles? And he was supposed to endure it?! Um...How about no?! Is that even an option in this scenario? Something told him that no: that was NOT an option.

Susie began climbing her spidery fingers up the foot, while imitating the baby talk her Mom would use on her. "up up up up up the ladder, aaaaand wheeeeeeeeee!" Susie cooed! All 5 fingers came sliding down the foot, all the way to the heel before repeating the home-made nursery rhyme. William loosely covered up his mouth as the teasing only made his laughter escalate.

Cassidy narrowed her eyes and lifted up an eyebrow at Susie's teasing. "Uh...Susie? I think Mr. Afton is a little too old for that." Cassidy commented.

Susie looked up at Cassidy with innocent eyes. "I know. Even my older brother is too old for this. But Mommy and Daddy still do it to him." Susie explained.

Fritz's lips perked up as he walked up to the other foot beside Susie. Fritz looked up at Cassidy, showing off his evil smirk. "Older people are much more embarrassed by the baby talk and nursery rhymes than kids are! Kids find it fun, while adults think it's cringy or just plain embarrassing." Fritz explained.

"You know what word makes my brother go crazy?" Susie asked.

Cassidy's smile grew wider as she realized just how hilarious and embarrassing this could be, for an un-remorseful man. "What is it?" Cassidy asked back, going along with her question.

Susie began wiggling her fingers all over William's foot. "Tickle tickle tickle tickle tickle!" Susie cooed, lifting her fingers up before planting them back down on his feet and repeating the teasing. "Tiiiickle tickle tickle tickle tickle Mr. Afton!" Susie teased with a smirk.

William shook his head and squirmed around as fits of laughter left his mouth. "GaaaAAAhahahahahaha! Stahahahahap thahahahat!" William begged through his hand.

Susie gasped excitedly. "It's working! Coochy-coochy-coochy-coochy-coo! A coochy-coochy-coochy-coochy-coo!" Susie teased, tickling his feet for a few seconds before lifting the up and repeating the tickling.

"Nohoho-nonononohohohohoho! Thihihis ihihihis sohohoho mehehehehehean!" William reacted uncomfortably. One of the first things Cassidy could notice, was William's face. His face was glowing a slight pink color! It WAS working!

"Wanna know what my mommy taught me?" Fritz asked Cassidy and Susie. Cassidy nodded and rested her hand on her hip. Susie paused her tickling and gave William a short break. "Normally it's supposed to be on the arm, but I can do it here." Fritz told them.

Fritz started drawing circles right around the heel. "Round and round the garden like a teddy bear," Fritz sang with a rhythm.

William's giggles started up again as he attempted to pull his foot away. But the kid had a really good grip on his foot! Well, for a ghost.

"Hey I know that one!" Jeremy declared. "One step, two step," Fritz and Jeremy both said at once as Fritz walked her index and middle finger up his foot.

"Dohohon't gohoho ahahany fahahahartheheher!" William warned.

Fritz gasped and placed his hands on his hips. "You interrupted my rhyme!" Fritz yelled.

William lightly giggled back at him. "Ihihi'm tohohoo tihicklihish thehehere..." William complained.

"Too ticklish where?" Jeremy asked. "Here?" Jeremy specified, scratching under the toes for a second or two.

"NohoHOHOHO!" William yelled. He sat up and reached out his hand with a big, wobbly smile on his face. "DOHOHON'T DOHOHO THAHAHAT!" William warned through his newfound laughter.

Fritz narrowed his eyes as he allowed his mischievous nature to take over his mind. "Do what?" Fritz asked, removing his fingers from his toes.

William whined. Seriously?! He was going to be like THAT?! "Yohou know what I mehean..." William replied.

Fritz smirked and giggled at him as he tickled under the toes again. "No, I'm not sure what you mean." Fritz teased.

William threw his head back and retreated his hand helplessly. "WAHAHAIT! AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" William yelled, laying his back down onto the floor.

"Wait what?" Fritz asked.

"STAHAHAHAP IHIHIHIHIT!" William yelled.

"Stop? Stop what? You gotta specify!" Fritz teased.

William growled through his laughter. This was SO unfair! SO UNFAIR!

"YOHOHOHOU'RE BEHEHEHEIHIHING MEHEHEHEHEAN!" William yelled back at him.

Fritz dropped his jaw. "You think that I'M being mean? What about you?! You're the one who's shouting at me! I'm pretty sure yelling is much more rude than anything I could be doing!" Fritz shot back.

Fritz, unable to get his finger in between the toes properly, began pulling back the toes so he could get better access. William tightened his fists and squirmed back and forth frantically as he slowly lost his mind! "ohoHOHOHO GAAAHAHAHA- YOHOHOU BAHAHAHAHASTAHAHARD!" William yelled at him, forgetting just how young some of these kids really were.

Fritz gasped and dramatically placed a hand onto his chest. Fritz changed his young kid voice into a low imitation of his father's voice. "How DARE you swear at ME, young man! Young, cursing boys like you should be PUNISHED! With TICKLES!" Fritz mocked before wiggling his fingers under the toes again.

"Wahahait, whahaha- JEHEHESUHUHUHUHUS! NAHAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOHO!" William shrieked!

"Yes, yes, yes! Only naughty boys get THIS much tickles! You must've been an EVIL one!" Fritz teased in his 'father' voice.

Cassidy giggled at the silly, imaginative voice Fritz was using. "I think you need to apologize, Mr. Afton." Cassidy hinted with her arms crossed.

"IHIHI'LL APOHOHOLEGIHIHIZE WHEHEN HEHEHE STAHAHAPS TIHIHIHICKLIHIHIHING MEHE!" William yelled back at her.

"Tickling? I am not tickling you. I'm giving you a foot massage." Fritz lied with a smirk.

"NOHOHO YOHOHOU'RE NOHOHOT!" William shouted back at him.

"You don't have to yell. I'm right here. I think someone needs to get their ears checked." Fritz teased.

Jeremy, Cassidy and Susie laughed at that last statement. "Are you calling him old?" Cassidy asked.

"Well...mmmmaybe I am! How old are you?" Fritz asked before retreating his fingers.

William took advantage of the break and took in as much breath as he could. Thank goodness! William was beginning to go insane from all the laughter.

"Ihihi'm nohot telling yohou my ahahage..." William warned him.

"Okay. Let's guess. 18?" Fritz asked.

William lifted an eyebrow. "Doho I look 18 to you?" William asked.

"I don't know." Fritz replied.

"Are you in your 40's? My Mommy is!" Jeremy asked.

40's?! Seriously?! "No!" William replied with a frown.

"107?" Susie asked.

William rolled his eyes and dropped his head onto the ground. "107 year olds are wrinkly, have grey hair and can barely move." William told him.

Cassidy frowned, but looked over at Fritz. "I think he's between age 30 and age 40." Cassidy told him.

"That'd be the most accurate." William replied with a smirk. Cassidy returned the smirk as she walked up to William's waist. She placed her hand onto William's hip. "Gabriel. Go for a spot of your choice." Cassidy encouraged.

"Sweet!" Gabriel replied.

"Wait, WHAT?! I thought we were done!" William reacted.

Cassidy shook her head. "Done, you say?" Cassidy asked.

William's face quickly morphed into fear and nervousness. "...Right?" William asked with no confidence in his voice.

Cassidy let out a deep, terrifying giggle. "That was only a warm up for the real fun..." Cassidy said with a glint of evil mischief in her eyes.

William widened his eyes and let in a quick gasp as he felt squeezing against the dip of his hip.

"Cahahassidy, Plehehease dohohon't..." William warned with a wobbly smile on his face and fear in his eyes.

Cassidy smirked as she remembered Fritz's statement. She leaned in and looked William in the eyes with pure confidence. "Only naughty boys get tickles. And you sir, are most certainly monstrous." Cassidy stated before squeezing his hip with her hand.

William threw his head back and shrieked! "NO! BAAHAHAHAHAHA! NONONONONOOOOOHOHOHOHOHOHO!" William yelled.

"Wow! I think you may be ticklish just about everywhere!" Cassidy commented and stopped her hand.

Even though her hand wasn't squeezing anymore, it was still sitting on William's hip. "Yohohohour hahand ihihihis stihihill ohohohon myhy hihihihip." William complained.

Cassidy smirked. "I know." She replied. "All the more to make you embarrassed." Cassidy teased evilly.

Gabriel began laughing excitedly and rubbing his hands together before digging all 10 of his fingers into his lower ribs.

"OOOhohohoho geehehehehehez..." William giggled with his hands tightened against his upper chest.

Hey! You know what this reminds me of?" Gabriel asked, not even waiting for an answer and just continuing. "A piano!" Gabriel declared. William's eyes widened as his wobbly smile grew wider.

Suddenly, Gabriel began playing William's lower ribs like a keyboard! With the left hand, Gabriel would play the bottom chords and with the right hand, Gabriel would play the song melodies!

William squealed helplessly and bursted into cackles. In an attempt to stop him, William reached out multiple times and tried to push him off. But, the horrifying thought of ghosts tickling him, was this: his hands would fly right through the ghosts! He couldn't touch them! And to make matters worse, ghosts don't have nerves! So he couldn't even get them back. William had to squirm, cackle, and protest his way through all of it!

"Gabriel! Can you play Dancing Queen?" Susie asked.

"Yeah! I love that song!" Cassidy reacted.

"Sure!" Gabriel replied.

Gabriel immediately started with the piano riff, and started pretending to play the piano chords. William's cackles only continued, and fell into normal laughter sometimes.

Cassidy and the rest of the kids started singing the lyrics acapella, while Gabriel 'played the piano'!

🎶You can daaance, you can ji-hive! Having the time of your liiiiiife, oooooh see that giiirl! Watch that sceene, digging the dancing queeeeeen!🎶

"Sing it Susie!" Gabriel encouraged. Susie fist pumped the air, and began singing.

🎶Friday night and the lights are loooooow, looking out for a place to goooooo...where they play the right music, getting in the swing, you come in to look for a kiiiing...🎶 Susie sang. If it weren't for William's inability to do much other than laugh and giggle, William would've told Susie she had a really good singing voice!

Next, was Cassidy!

🎶Anybody could be thaaat guuuuuuy, Night is is young and the musics, hiiiiiiiiiiigh...With a bit of rock music, everything is fine, you're in the mood for a daaaance...🎶 Cassidy sang. Gosh, even her singing was good!

🎶And when you get the chaaaaance-" Gabriel sang.

Everyone else joined him together for the Chorus. 🎶You are the dancing queeeeen! Young and sweeeet, ooonly seventeeeeeeen!🎶 They all sang.

Gabriel played the 3 chords on his ribs as well, making the sounds as he did so! William just threw his head back and began laughing more high-pitched!

🎶Dancing queeeeen, feel the beat from the tambouriiiiine, oooh yeeeeaaaaaah!🎶 They all sang again. William was not going to admit it, but he was actually having some fun with this! Especially with the singing aspect!

🎶Yooou can daaaaance,🎶

They clapped together!

🎶Yooou can jiii-hive! Having the time of our liiiife!🎶 They sang!

Suddenly, everything stopped. All the kids stopped singing. Gabriel stopped his piano-playing, and William could finally take a bloody break. "What was that sound?" Jeremy asked.

Gabriel was wide-eyed, smiling widely, and staring at the purple guy. William was trying to cover up his blush with his hand. But, his blush was now a deep scarlet color! And, it was covering his cheeks and ears, as well as the top of his neck! It was impossible to hide such a blush. Gabriel clutched his stomach and just bursted out laughing. Gabriel's upper body curled over in front, and he hung his head as he laughed and giggled at the silly sound William had made!

"MIHIHISTEHER AHAHAFTOHON SNOHOHORTED LIHIKE AHA PIHIHIHIHIG!" Gabriel yelled through his laughter. It didn't take long for the other four kids to join the boy in laughing at the snort the man made.

William was MORTIFIED! He was getting to a point where he couldn't properly breath through the laughing! So, in an attempt to instinctively get some air into his lungs, William's brain had caused him to snort! William growled in severe embarrassment and covered his entire face with his hands. He had never felt so embarrassed in his life! It was bad enough snorting in front of an adult. But in front of children?! He was guaranteed to get never-ending laughs and teases!

"I wanna hear it again!" Gabriel declared suddenly. The brown-haired boy laid himself across William's chest, and attempted to shove his hands inside William's armpits!

"NOPE! Nuh uh! Not happening." William warned, attempting to get control of the situation.

But, Jeremy had walked himself up to William and grabbed one of his arms! "Here." Jeremy said, laying his arm to the side and laying himself on top of it.

"Jeremy! Get off! Gabriel, don't even thinkabouti-hihiHIHIHIHIT! GAHAHAD DAHAHAHAHAHAMMIHIHIHIHIT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" William yelled before falling into an endless fit of cackles. Both of Gabriel's hands went into William's armpits and began tickling absolutely every tiny centimetre on William's armpit. William looked away from the ticklish spot and shut his eyes as he laughed. The poor man couldn't move his arm down, or even bend his elbow! Jeremy was laying right on William's elbow, preventing William from moving the upper arm whatsoever. Knowing that he couldn't do anything to cover up his exposed armpit, was making him go INSANE!

And as if it couldn't get much worse, Cassidy had started squeezing his hip with her hand in an unpredictable rhythm!

"AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOHOHOHOHOHO! HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! NAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" William laughed continuously.

After another minute of hip-squeezing, Cassidy removed her hand and sat beside Gabriel. "Let's give him a break." Cassidy suggested.

"Okay." Gabriel replied with a smiled as he removed his hands from William's right armpit. William was given a good 5 minutes, to breath and re-cooperate himself.

"And Jeremy? Come here." Cassidy asked. Jeremy got himself off William's arm and sat down beside her. "Do you remember that little game you told me about?" Cassidy asked.

"What game?" Jeremy asked.

"The game you used to play with your little brother. The story about the bumble bee." Cassidy reminded him. Jeremy gasped and looked up with a wide smile on his face. It looked like he immediately remembered! "I think, you should sing it to Mr. Afton." Cassidy suggested.

Jeremy closed his mouth and nodded his head. "Okay!" Jeremy replied and turned to face William.

🎶There once was a little bee, who needed a place to sleep!🎶 Jeremy sang. He lifted up his curled finger and wiggled it around. 🎶But he flew himself a-way too far, and needed to find some cover.🎶 Jeremy explained. Jeremy began moving the bee around, pretending to look for spots to sleep. 🎶He plopped himself right here,🎶 Jeremy shoved his finger underneath his toes for a moment. William squealed and lightly laughed in reaction. 🎶He nuzzled into here,🎶 Jeremy moved his finger under the shirt and wiggled it into William's belly button. William covered his mouth with his hand as gentle giggles spilled out. 🎶And alas he found the perfect spot:🎶 Jeremy sang.

He paused for a moment, before speeding his finger right at William! 🎶Right in your ARMPIT!🎶 Jeremy declared! The finger dug itself right where he said it would, and began wiggling and nuzzling itself in there.

"BAHAHA! Hehehehey! Cohohohome ohohohon! Nahahahat thehehehehere!" William giggled, tightening the space in between his upper arm and his shoulder.

"But Mr. Afton! It's the perfect spot! Don't you want the bumble bee to be safe?" Jeremy asked, trying to wiggle his finger deeper into the armpit.

"Yehehehes! Buhuhuhut nahahahahat ihihin thehehehere!" William argued over nursery rhyme logic.

"Okay. Whaaaat abooouuut...Here?" Jeremy asked before shoving his wiggly finger into William's other armpit.

"NOHohohoho! Nahahahahat thehehehere eheheitheheheher!" William replied through his giggles.

"Awww, come on! Be reasonable! It's either this armpit," Jeremy shoved his wiggly finger into William's left armpit. "Or that armpit." Jeremy removed his finger and dug it into the right armpit.

William's feet began to kick as he struggled to choose between the spots. Both of them were quite ticklish! "Ihihihihi dohohohon't knohohohohow!" William replied.

Jeremy sighed with a tiny smile on his lips. "Well, since you couldn't choose a spot, I'm gonna have to tickle both!" Jeremy declared, before shoving both wiggly index fingers into William's armpits.

William threw his head back and rocked himself back and forth a few times. Seriously?! There was a punishment for not choosing?! That is SO unfair! Now William is being forced to deal with 2 ticklish armpits at the same time!

"JEHEHEREMYHYHYHYHYHAHAHAHA! STAHAHAHAP IHIHIHIHIHIHIT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" William yelled through his laughter.

"I think someone's being a little over dramatic." Cassidy commented.

"You think THIS is bad? Just wait till I add more!" Jeremy declared! Immediately after, Jeremy tried to add a few more fingers. But, William was not letting him. "So, you're gonna play this the hard way? Hey Susie! Fritz! Can you each hold his arms out?" Jeremy asked.

"Sure!" Fritz replied.

"As long as I get to tickle him too!" Susie replied, walking up. Susie and Fritz happily grabbed onto his wrist and his upper arm, and pulled them upwards to open up the armpits. With more room, Jeremy shoved 4 fingers in one armpit each.

William shrieked and began pulling as hard as he could against the new restraints. "GAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! LEHEHEHET MEHEHEHE GOHOHOHOHOHOHO! PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE! IHIHIHIHI'M SAHAHAHAHAHARRYHYHYHY!" William pleaded and shouted.

Jeremy retreated his fingers and looked at him, puzzled. "Why are you saying sorry?" Jeremy asked.

William took a moment to breath and get his breath back. When he was capable of somewhat speaking, William began to answer. "Ihihi thohought...yohou wehehere tihihicklihihing mehe for rehehevehenge. Ihi wahahas tryhyhying toho rehehepehent to stohop thehehe tihihicklihihihing." William explained to the kids.

"I'm not tickling you for revenge." Jeremy told him. William opened his eyes a little more and tilted his head to the side, confused. "I'm tickling you because it's funny!" Jeremy replied.

"I was tickling you because it embarrasses you." Gabriel replied.

"I like tickling you because your laugh is silly. The piggy snort just made it even better!" Susie replied.

"I don't think tickling should be used as a torture method. But, I do think that teasing adults with baby talk and nursery rhymes can embarrass someone to the point of torture." Fritz replied.

"I'll be honest: Hearing you laugh and seeing you blush like that, actually convinces me you're at least a little human." Cassidy admitted.

William's facial expression softened.

Fritz let go of William's arm, turned himself around and laid his body onto his chest. "I don't know why you did what you did, but: murderers do have something in common: they all started out dealing with the most pain." Fritz replied. William, not sure what to think of a 9 year old telling this, wrapped an arm around the ginger.

Cassidy's eyes widened. "You looked up serial killers?!" Cassidy asked in shock.

Fritz nodded his head. "My older sister told me about them. She told me that people are never born that way." Fritz told him.

Gabriel looked over at William. "He's right. Serial killers are the most broken humans out of all of us." Gabriel stated.

William could feel emotional pain in his chest, followed by an intense need to cry. William's eyes welled up with tears almost immediately after hearing the boys' statements.

Even Cassidy felt a little saddened. "Why did you kill us?" Cassidy asked.

William shut his eyes and sobbed to himself as the tears rolled down his face. Slowly, William began to whisper. "..I...I just...wanted a f-family." he replied quietly.

Cassidy looked at him. "That's it?" She asked.

William's tough composure had completely shattered by then. His emotional face could perfectly explain all the pain he's experienced, and his body had began letting out loud, pain-stricken sobs. William rested his forehead against his arms as he continued to sob and cry.

Fritz used his ghost abilities to move through William's arms to hug him. William's sobs paused for a moment as he felt Fritz wrapping his arms around him. Soon, Susie had wrapped her arms around William to give him a side hug. Susie was followed by Jeremy, who had flown himself up on William's back to hug him from behind. Fritz hugged William around the shoulders, and Cassidy joined Jeremy in hugging him front behind. William's sobs began to subside a little, as he felt hugged and...loved for once. Truly, unconditionally loved. Though it wasn't by everyone, William felt the most love out of Susie, Gabriel, Fritz and Jeremy. That made him feel a little better about things. Even though it would take a bit for Cassidy to get some better understanding about things, it still made him feel nice knowing she tried to empathize with him.

In the end, William ended up staying in the Pizzeria all night. When asked why he was there, William didn't answer. He didn't want to answer. Everything he was feeling, was bittersweet.

So the next night, William walked into the storage room with the Golden Bonnie suit, and put it on one last time. Knowing he's gonna be in pain, mentally killed him. But knowing that the pain was going to nothing compared to his life with the children he befriended, sounded like a worthy reason to sacrifice his life. William allowed himself to laugh within the suit until the spring-locks killed him. But, William didn't make a sound. He moved around a bit out of instinct, but he didn't scream in pain. He just smiled to himself as one last tear fell down his face.

Soon, the suit's holes allowed William to seep his soul out of the suit. William's soul flew out of room's door, and into the back stage. Upon seeing William's translucent body, the ghost kids smiled and gave him a big group hug. Even Cassidy eventually joined the group hug! Though heaven could've allowed him to see his kids again, William managed to find peace in his new, unconditional family. A place where he could feel loved, cared for, and free to be himself.

#ticklefic #child death implied #fnaf #ghost children #lee!william #ler!gabriel #ler!cassidy #ler!fritz #ler!susie #ler!jeremy #fluff with hurt/comfort

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thecsquirrel · 5 years

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So, now that I’ve stopped crying...I can say that Ava Duvernay’s When They See Us might be one of the most important docu-dramas I have watched in the past 20 years.

I’m old enough to know the contours of the case of the Central Park Five and that’s only after they were exonerated in 2001, but it’s still a story I didn’t fully know. And yes, it’s a story I think that has been buried.

There are so many lines of discussion when thinking about the Pipeline to Prison that exist for too many Black and Brown young people, boys especially. Michelle Alexander has masterfully outlined this in her seminal The New Jim Crow and Ava explored these ideas with the 13th Amendment.

In four-plus hours Ava puts together 4 parts: Police Aggression, the Court system, Juvenile Detention & Parole, & Incarceration. Where the first two parts left me enraged and angry at a system that seeks to devour the very students I teach, parts three and four just devastated me with how this system took the lives of these young men and then went back for seconds.

Part 4, which focuses on Korey Wise is 90 minutes of soul-wrenching film. I mean I knew it worked out (if one can even say that), but to watch Korey’s story of survival is beyond pain.

And listen, every person involved with the production of this series deserves a damn award. I mean even the people at the Craft Servies table should earn awards. Jhareel Jerome destroyed me in part 4. Utterly destroyed. I had to press pause. I can’t believe he’s only 21. And the kids! The kids! And Niecy Nash and Aujune Ellis and Kylie Bunbury and Michael K. Willimas and John Leguizamo and Felicity Huffman and Vera Fermagia and Jason Jackson and Marsha Stephanie Blake and Famke Jensen and the whole damn cast!!

Like seriously. EVERY ONE deserves an award. Just close up shop on the Drama category now.

Anyway, I need to go rewatch “The Good Place” or “She-Ra” or something. I need a laugh. Seriously, this series is ridiculously important. It is a hard watch, but it is worth it. Even if you think you know this story, watch this story.

youtube

#when they see us #ava duvernay #netflix #bring like 4 box of tissues and possible a towel #take it one episode at a time #the prison industrial complex needs to be burned to the ground like King's Landing #Central Park 5 #rants and rambles #long post

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raywritesthings · 5 years

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Once Upon a Star (City)

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen, Sara Lance, Nyssa al Ghul, Damien Darhk, Ted Grant, Quentin Lance, Malcolm Merlyn, Dinah Lance, Robert Queen, Raisa, Tommy Merlyn, Thea Queen, John Diggle, Dr. Fate, Zatara, Zatanna Zatara, John Constantine, Olivia Queen, Willima Clayton Pairings: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen, Nyssa al Ghul/Sara Lance Summary: King Robert and Lord Lance enter their eldest children into a betrothal arrangement, only for the celebration to be interrupted by Damien Darhk. Will Lady Laurel fall victim the curse upon her, or will true love prevail? *Can be read on AO3 or FFN, links in my bio*

Long ago, the kingdom of Star had a very special year. Queen Moira was expecting a child, an heir to the throne. With this event quickly approaching, King Robert had his mind on the future. When it came time to meeting with the various nobles who had pledged fealty to the kingdom, this mindset went with him, including in his talks with Lord Quentin Lance.

Lord Lance was a prickly sort whose loyalty and sense of right could not be bought with money or simple gifts. He commanded a measure of respect among the common folk who tended his land and who he protected in times of strife. Good relations with the nobleman meant peace within his kingdom, and Robert thought he saw the way.

“Lord Quentin, I wish you well and congratulate you and your wife on the birth of your daughter.”

“Thank you, your Grace,” Lord Quentin answered with a short bow of his head. “We’ve named her for her mother. And it’s my hope she’ll grow into a true lady of the kingdom.”

“I am certain of that. It’s why I am prepared to make you a conditional offer.”

Lord Quentin frowned. “Conditional how?”

“On the birth of the new heir to my throne,” King Robert told him. “Should the infant be a boy, as I’m hoping he will be, I wish to propose a betrothal between your daughter and my son.” He could see the shock on the nobleman’s face.

“You’re serious?”

“I am interested in focusing on my people, Lord Quentin, not on the lands of others. The future Queen should be one of our own, and I can think of few families finer. But we shall wait for the birth before making any final arrangements.”

Prince Oliver arrived to much merriment, and the two families planned a grand feast to celebrate the births and the future union of their houses into one. All the kingdom was invited, save one.

The day of the celebration, three of the kingdom’s most respected and sought-after Sidhe were in attendance to bless the future union and the infants individually. First were the gifts bestowed upon the Prince, starting with the one called Fate.

He rose half a foot in the air with both arms held out as he spoke. “To the young Prince, I give him strength of body and strength of heart, to endure the hardships of the crown. Where others falter, he will lead.” Thus spoken, he lowered back to the stone floor of the great hall.

“Show off.” Constantine was the second of these Sidhe to step forward, striking a match against the baby’s crib. “I give the Prince what some may call the gift of diplomacy. With his wit and his humor he will charm those who seek war and and soothe those with rancor against the crown. And with this gift, he will woo the fair lady to which he’ll find himself wed.” That said, he stepped back and lit a smoke.

Last if the three was Zatara, who held a hand over the crib as he said his own piece. “To the future king I give a warrior and a hunter’s skill. No weapon wielded by his hand shall be bested, and thus restraint shall be the true measure of his ability.”

With these gifts given to the Prince, the Sidhe turned their attentions to the Princess-to-be. Again, Fate took his turn first.

“To the child, I give the gift of beauty, within and without. Her face shall inspire the poets and her kindness shall inspire the people.”

Constantine breathed out a trail of smoke before speaking. “I give the little lady the gift of a strong voice. Raised in anger or song, all will hear her and all will listen, or quickly learn their lesson,” he added with a smirk.

Zatara stepped forth, but before he could speak a tremendous wind threw the doors open and blew out every torch in the hall. The King, Queen and Lady Lance all drew back in horror.

Damien Darhk, most feared of the Unseelie, stepped through the open doors to several gasps. “Your Majesties, Lords and Ladies. Forgive my tardiness. I only just learned of this happy celebration today.” He walked up the aisle of people that parted at his approach until he had nearly reached the dais upon which the two ceremonial cribs sat. “I’m sure the messenger with my invitation has a good explanation for it.”

Lord Lance stepped forward, a frown on his face. He had never appreciated Darhk’s encroachments upon the kingdom nor his veiled threats. “There wasn’t one sent.”

The Unseelie drew back, face transformed into a mockery of shock. “Not sent? But that means… you didn’t want my presence at your celebration. Such a shame. After all, I only wished to give the dear little girl a gift of my own.”

“You did?” Lady Lance asked hesitantly.

“Why yes. Do listen.” He raised a hand. “The future Highness will indeed be beautiful and kind, loved by her Prince and all that feel her kindness. But—” And here his voice turned from pleasant to cold and hard. “Before the Earth completes its turn past her thirtieth year, she will fall to an arrow, and die.”

“No!” Quentin lunged, but was held back by his terrified wife.

“Seize him, before he harms the Prince as well!” King Robert declared. His guards charged, but the laughing Darhk merely disappeared in a flash of light and smoke. When it cleared, all were left in confusion and dismay. A celebration that had quickly turned to a time of mourning.

“Do not despair just yet,” Fate told the families. “For Zatara has yet to give the final gift.”

“You mean, you can reverse what that monster’s done to her?” Quentin didn’t dare to hope as he looked upon the Sidhe.

Zatara bowed his head for a moment. “Not reverse entirely, but lessen. With my daughter’s help, our magic can divert the course of Darhk’s prophecy to some degree.” He beckoned a small dark-haired girl to stand with him, and the father took the lead. “Dear child, though others wish you harm, I give you this final protection. Should the arrow pierce your flesh, death it will not bring, but sleep.”

“Peaceful sleep eternal,” the young Zatanna repeated. At her father’s urging, she continued with a brighter gleam in her eyes, “Though many may try to wake you, only one way will they find: the kiss of true love, a power stronger than all the darkness of this world, will end the evil curse upon you and bring the happiness once promised to us all.”

A faint glow seemed to emanate around the Sidhe and the cribs, sealing the magic before dimming once more.

“Thank you, Zatara,” King Robert said. “But there is nothing else that can undo this wicked trick?”

“None, save hiding the child away, which is what I would do if Darhk set his eyes upon me,” Constantine remarked. Then he turned and walked away. The other Sidhe soon followed.

The Lances were both crestfallen at this announcement; they could not simply abandon their station to seek a hideaway nor could they expect to keep their daughter safe from the threat of arrows within the kingdom. Lord Lance, however, was loathe to trust the power of something so intangible as true love’s kiss, and so he resolved to have his daughter hidden away from everyone, even himself.

The task was entrusted to a retired knight who held the highest honors: Sir Ted the Wildcat. His wilder nature, already tempered with age, would soften even further in the presence of the sweet child he would raise as if his own. He even gave her a new name to better hide her from Darhk’s spies: Laurel. In the dark of night, he slipped away with the baby deep into the woods in a tiny cabin, as removed from the pomp and circumstance she might have been raised in as one could get.

Lord and Lady Lance produced a second daughter they named Sara. The nobles and the royals decided the betrothal agreement between their families would go on, this time without a special celebration to commemorate it. And though they raised the young prince and the young lady with this idea in mind, their children proved far more inclined to pursue their own fates…

---

Fourteen years later, Prince Oliver of Star rode through the woods. “Ollie, come on! Stay on the path.”

He looked back at Tommy, his closest friend from childhood, and laughed. “You stay on it if you want.” He urged his horse on and soon found himself hopelessly lost, which was probably what Tommy had been trying to warn him about. Oh well. He enjoyed being out in the woods where he wasn’t the King’s son, heir to the throne and all that. He could waste a day away out here if he wanted.

Not far away in a tiny wooden cabin, Laurel was preparing for a day out with a book to read and a basket for collecting berries, herbs and anything else that caught her fancy. “I’ll be back to make dinner, Ted.”

“Don’t go too far,” he cautioned her, as he always did.

Laurel smiled and shook her head. He was such a worrier. She stepped outside and shut the door behind her, humming under her breath. As she went further out, confident in her complete isolation from even Ted, her humming turned to song. First under her breath, then louder as her confidence grew. She liked her voice, but she’d grown shy of sharing it when she hardly had an audience.

Yet that was about to change.

Oliver looked up, pulling the reins to slow his horse to a trot, then a walk. Had he heard something?

Then it came again, off through the trees. The most beautiful voice he’d ever heard. Like a siren’s call, perhaps, it beckoned him. And so he went, riding quickly and jumping over brambles and fallen logs in his path.

He slowed once again to listen, then swung off his horse and walked the rest of the way through the trees that separated him from the owner of such a voice. When he at last lifted a branch aside to see into a small clearing, he was momentarily stunned. “Lord…”

A maiden with long, blonde hair and sparkling green eyes swayed her way this way and that. Her clothes were plain and she’d forgone stockings and even shoes for the moment as she seemed content to feel the grass beneath her feet as she moved to the music of her own making.

Heedless to any observer, Laurel continued her approximation of a dance, the little she had gleaned from her books of how one was meant to dance. If only she had a real partner instead of her daydreams to help show her how it was meant to be.

And then, quite suddenly, she did.

Oliver had tied the reins of his horse to the branch, stepping forward just as her back had turned to catch her hands and guide her in a spin. The surprise on her face mirrored what he felt at his own daring; he hadn’t been able to resist.

“Oh!”

Instantly, he released her and stepped back hands raised. “I’m sorry. You looked a little lonely there.”

Laurel backed up into a tree, eyes wide as she took the young man in who was standing before her. She’d never met a man in the woods before; she was usually so much more careful.

“I wasn’t lonely. In fact, I’m meant to be alone,” she argued. “Or at least, not with some stranger.” There was no need to make him think she was all by herself, after all, even if she feared she was very much out of Ted’s earshot.

Oliver shook his head. “We can’t really be strangers.” He didn’t want this encounter to end so soon.

Laurel stepped away from the tree she’d half-hidden behind, intrigued despite herself. “Can’t we?”

He thought quickly, then asked, “Haven’t you ever dreamed of meeting some handsome fellow?”

Laurel ducked her head and blushed. “Yes.”

Oliver spread his arms. “Well then, here I am.”

“You’re very confident about that,” Laurel teased. “I didn’t even say if he was blond.”

For a moment, he seemed stumped. But Oliver quickly rallied. “Some have described my hair as a very light brown. I’m adaptable.”

“Are you,” she replied, grinning so widely she thought her cheeks might hurt. She wasn’t meant to find strangers so charming, but there was just something about him, as if they really had met in some dream of another life. “Who are you, really?”

He grinned. No one ever asked him that question. He found he liked it. “You can call me Ollie.”

She thought he might be a hunter of some sort. She’d heard them pass by her home a number of times but never seen one so close. And his clothes were of a much finer weave than any she might have expected a common hunter to wear. But whether he was or wasn’t, she didn’t find herself terribly worried. So she curtsied and said, “Well, Ollie, I’m Laurel.”

He bowed in turn. “Laurel. A beautiful name to accompany such natural beauty as I’ve found here.” He was happy to see her pretty blush again. “Shall we continue our dance?”

“I’m afraid I haven’t learned the rest.”

“Then I’ll lead. Trust me, I know them all.” They’d been drilled into his head by tutors, and though he’d been irritated at the time, he appreciated the excuse now to be nearer to her. Laurel allowed him to take one of her hands again as he guided her other hand to his shoulder before placing his own at her waist. He nodded to her once and they were off, dancing around the clearing.

Laurel could hardly believe this was happening. She’d rarely met anyone in her life besides Ted, and now she was dancing in someone’s arms. Ollie guided her less sure movements and never complained or asked why she didn’t know them. He was a perfect gentleman.

Although as they slowed in the middle of the clearing and his arm slipped around her waist instead of resting at the side, she remembered herself. “Wait!”

Oliver, who had just been about to give into the temptation of kissing the beautiful maid, stopped. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure I should — it’s just that, before they died, my caretaker promised them I would wait for my true love to have my first kiss.” She had no way of knowing, of course, that the story was partly a lie; the Lord and Lady Lance still lived.

Oliver, for his part, was saddened to know her life had been marred by such a tragedy so young. He stepped back to allow some space between them again. “I see. But, if you don’t let anyone kiss you, how are you meant to find your true love?”

She shook her head, smiling. “I’d yet to find anyone until today, so I’ll have to let you know some other time.” She scooped up her basket. “I’m behind on my errands. I should say goodbye.”

“And wander through the woods with no escort?” He offered his arm. “Please, allow me.”

With only a moment’s hesitation, she took it, walking along towards the berry bushes she knew would yield the best results for Ted’s cooking; she could not seem to produce food of any quality on her own, but she knew what went into it.

“What is your book?” He asked, nodding to her basket.

“Today, it’s a collection of decrees by the King. Not many apply all the way out here, but I find them fascinating. Like a glimpse of the world beyond these woods.”

“How did you and your caretaker come to dwell out here?” He couldn’t help thinking that Laurel belonged in the palace with all the amenities and comforts such a life provided.

She shrugged. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I think it was a woodcutter’s cottage before it became our home.”

“Laurel?” A voice called, one familiar to her but not Oliver.

“Oh, Ted,” she whispered. She pulled her arm away from Oliver and smoothed her dress. “You have to go. He can’t see you.”

“Alright. But when can I see you?”

“Sometime,” she promised distractedly. Ted had called for her again. “I’m always out here for this or that thing. Just come find me — coming, Ted!” She stopped and turned back to Oliver, grasping his hand with both of hers. “Goodbye. And thank you for showing me the dance.”

“It was my pleasure. I’ll come find you again, Laurel.” He held onto her hands as long as he was able before they slipped from his grasp and she was hurrying away through the trees. Such a strange but captivating young maiden. He longed to be with her again already.

Oliver went back to his horse and rode for home. He evaded all questions of where he had been and what he had been up to, excusing himself to see his betrothed. Though, truthfully, he considered her far more a friend.

Oliver and Sara had courted for a time, and indeed still did to keep up appearances. But Sara had confessed she didn’t wish to settle down and be Queen with all the expectations that came with it, and Oliver, young and uninterested in commitment himself, had agreed to the ruse with little hesitation. So she was the only person he felt he could safely tell his secret to. He told her everything from the voice he had heard to the lovely maiden and the dance and conversations they had shared. “I never knew meeting someone, even for a moment, could change so much. But I think I’m in love.”

“After only one meeting?”

“I’m going to see her again. And I’ll keep seeing her the whole rest of our lives if she wants. I can’t explain it, Sara,” he told her. “I just know this is right.”

“It sounds wonderful, Oliver, it does. But you know your parents will never let you marry a common girl even if they let you out of marrying me.”

The reality of his position caught up to him once more, and his shoulders slumped. Laurel was everything he might have longed for in his love, and he was sure the whole kingdom would find her a most beautiful, intelligent and kind Lady. Even a Queen, someday. But it would never be.

“Then I simply won’t marry,” he declared. There would be two lives for him. One, Prince Oliver, heir to the throne of Starling; the other, Ollie, Laurel’s sweetheart and companion. It was the only way.

---

For years, their clandestine meetings continued. Whenever the Prince could catch a few moments of privacy, whenever the Lady could escape her minder for an hour or so in the summer sun. Winters were long and lonely as they had no place to see each other that protected them from the elements. Campaigns with the knights to protect their borders occupied nearly five years of his time as well, though the fighting kept him from having to answer his parents’ increasing demands to settle down.

And Laurel was growing impatient as well. “Haven’t we waited long enough, Ollie?”

“I thought you were worried about leaving Ted?” Her caretaker had grown quite old in the intervening years, after all.

“We wouldn’t have to abandon him. But I want to make a life with you. A home, a family. We’re already thirty. How much longer should we wait?”

He sighed. It was wrong of him to keep delaying and never explaining why, he knew that. But he was convinced that he had lied for so long about his title of Prince that she might reject him if he told the truth now.

The other complicating factor was that he wasn’t sure he even wanted to be Prince any longer. Oliver cared about his people, but he felt lost trying to fill his father’s shoes. And knowing he would only be allowed to rule without the woman he loved at his side left him defeated and uninspired.

Perhaps he wasn’t meant to be a great King like his forefathers. Thea was of age and a bright young girl at that. She could provide the kingdom with guidance, couldn’t she?

“I’ve loved you for nearly half of my life, Laurel. Is this absolutely what you have your heart set on?”

“It is.”

Oliver nodded. It was time to choose, and he already knew his choice. “Let me return home and make arrangements, gather provisions. We’ll leave tomorrow on your birthday and make our own way in the world.”

Laurel beamed, throwing her arms around him in a hug that he returned, nearly lifting her off her feet. “Thank you, Ollie. I’ll wait for you at the cottage. We can tell Ted and get his blessing.” She leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek — the closest intimacy they’d yet to share — and then they parted to enact their plan.

Once home, Oliver gathered his most trusted friends. This included Sara, Princess Thea, Tommy and Sir John, his most loyal knight and de facto advisor.

“Some of you know parts of this already, but I’ve finally made up my mind. I’m going to abdicate the throne.”

“What?” Tommy cried.

“Is it for your lady?” Thea guessed with a knowing smirk.

“Definitely gotta be the lady,” Sara agreed.

“Your Highness,” Sir John began with a frown. He had figured out some years ago that Oliver had been purposefully slipping his guard to go somewhere, but had never quite glean the location of the tiny cottage. A fact Oliver was grateful for, as it would have rather spoiled the whole thing. “What about the kingdom?”

“The kingdom is still in my father’s capable hands. And I’m sure Thea will make a better heir to the throne than me.”

“Whoa, who said I wanted to?” His sister asked.

“Ollie, just think for a minute. You’re going to leave your friends and family completely behind just for a woman you’ve met up with every so often?”

“And who you’ve been lying to,” Sir John pointed out.

“It’s not lying if I’ll no longer be the Prince,” Oliver argued, even as guilt twisted his insides. Maybe he would tell Laurel once they had gotten safely away, but he knew doing so right now would only complicate things, so what was the point? “I’ve made up my mind on this. Laurel is more important to me than anyone, so if I can’t have the life I want with her here, I’ll make one for us elsewhere. I just didn’t want you all to worry about me.”

“I say you should follow your heart,” Sara recommended.

“Yeah, but… we’ll miss you,” Thea added. He stepped forward and gathered her in a hug for a moment.

When he offered his hand to Tommy his friend reluctantly shook it before taking his leave. Sir John did not even offer his own hand.

“I suppose you’ll need to be making preparations, Oliver.”

Oliver sighed. He knew the knight thought he should be doing more for the kingdom, but he had served it for his whole life. Did he not deserve some of his own happiness?

Tommy returned to the wing of the castle set aside for him and his father, the advisor to King Robert — and Queen Moira’s lover, though only a very few within the castle knew that. Though he loathed his father, Tommy knew that leaving his authority meant losing his status in the castle, and he was prepared to admit he could not survive as a commoner. Though Oliver’s impending absence from the castle made it a far less appealing alternative.

“What has you in a sulk today, Tommy?” His father asked, sounding faintly amused at his expense.

Well, he had news that would likely knock the wind out of his father’s sails. “Ollie,” Tommy answered him. “He’s leaving his crown to spend his days with a girl he’s been seeing. I’m sure she’s beautiful and a terrific singer and everything else he’s said, I just—”

“She’s a singer?”

“Yes,” Tommy repeated slowly. “Not professionally, she doesn’t travel with the minstrels or anything. Just lives out in the woods with some cranky old guy named Ted.”

“I see,” said Malcolm, the wheels turning in his mind.

What Tommy did not realize was that his father was not content with simply being the King’s advisor; he was hungry for ever more power, and if his suspicions were correct about the identity of this maiden, he believed he had a way to get it.

“I shall have to think on what this means for the kingdom,” he said out loud, excusing himself from the room. He stopped by the royal armory to retrieve a particular item, then descended deep into the dungeons until he entered a secret room which contained only a stone idol. Malcolm knelt before it and waited.

After a moment, a blinding flash of light emitted from the idol, then standing in the room was the Unseelie himself: Damien Darhk.

“You call upon me, Lord Merlyn?”

“Yes. I believe I have information on the Lady you have long sought. And I know how it can help us both achieve our own ends.”

---

In the old woodcutter’s cottage, Laurel had just finished packing her things when a knock sounded at her door. Drawing in a breath, she called out, “It’s open, Ted.”

Her old caregiver entered the room, raising his eyebrows as he noticed the state of her things. “You’re ready?”

Laurel blinked. “Well, yes.” How did he know? Was he just guessing, or had she been too obvious in her attempts to sneak away to see Ollie? “I’ve been meaning to tell you. I just hadn’t figured out how.”

Now Ted was the one confused. “Tell me what?”

“About my leaving to start a new life. I’ve met someone, Ted. Someone wonderful. And he thinks the same of me. He’s been a man of distinct honor,” she stated, as she could see his face already start to fall. “I kept my promise to you about waiting. But I — I really do think he might be the love of my life.”

To her disappointment, he only shook his head. “I should have kept a better eye on you. I didn’t want to restrict you to the house, that just didn’t seem healthy.”

Laurel frowned. “Ted—”

“It’s not your fault. You don’t understand. But Laurel, you can’t be with him.”

She felt the color rise in her cheeks as she marched forward a step. “And why not?”

“Because your marriage has already been arranged!” He exclaimed.

Laurel’s mouth dropped open, and Ted sighed.

“You are the Lady Dinah Lance, named for your mother who still lives. Her and your father, a prominent Lord of the kingdom of Star.”

“My parents? They’re still — but why—”

“At a ceremony commemorating your birth, an Unseelie cursed you over a petty disagreement with your father. The curse was said to take effect by your 31st birthday, but Lord Lance entrusted you to my care, to keep you safe and away from the evil seeking to find you.”

Laurel couldn’t even think of what to say. She’d been cursed? What even was it a curse of? Was it in effect now?

Ted continued. “At that same celebration, the kingdom was also celebrating the birth of the new Prince. It was decided by your parents that he was to be your betrothed.”

“I’m promised to the Prince?” Laurel managed to shake her stupor enough to ask. She didn’t even know who the Prince was! King Robert’s son, she supposed, but the books they had in the cottage were old and made no mention of him. What was he like? Surely nothing like her Ollie.

“When is your young fellow coming here?”

“Tomorrow. For my birthday,” Laurel answered numbly.

“Then we’ll leave immediately to reach the castle by sunset.” He raised a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “It is better to not involve him. For your own protection.”

She didn’t know what to feel. Her parents were alive? She had a family who had sent her away, but were waiting for her. She was a lady — but betrothed to another man!

It was this that finally caused her to sink onto her bed, her head resting in her hands.

“This isn’t fair,” she cried, her shoulders shaking.

“Life often isn’t,” Ted said simply, though she knew he meant it as a comfort. “And your life has been harder than most.” She heard his footsteps shuffle to the door and back again. “I purchased this from a traveling caravan. It might not be the standards of the court, but I thought it might better suit a lady of your standing than what I’ve been able to give you all these years.”

Laurel raised her head to see the blue gown he held out to her. It was the nicest thing she’d ever had to wear, and all she could think was that she wanted it out of her sight.

“For your birthday, huh?”

Laurel stood slowly, ignoring the dress in favor of hugging her caretaker. “Thank you, Ted. I just wish… but wishing won’t do any of us good.”

Ted nodded and left her room to allow her to change, taking her packing with him to prepare for their journey.

She would have to return tonight to see her parents; they had sacrificed so much to ensure her safety, she felt an obligation to at least assuage the worries they had to have held all these years. Once done, she could explain her situation and how she simply could not go through with the marriage they had arranged for her. Even if it was to the Prince? Surely they would understand.

If they did, would she be able to find Ollie again? How long would he wait at their cottage until he had decided she had left him? She couldn’t see any easy way out of this.

With defeat in her heart, she put on the gown and descended the steps. She felt strange, almost out of her own body in the formal dress. Ted took her hand and led her out to a horse he must have arranged for. He helped her onto it while she figured out how to ride side-saddle, and then he took the reins to lead the animal in a slow walk. To her, it felt like a funeral procession; the end of her old life and dreams.

They continued through most of the night. Sir Ted was wary of stopping for too long on the open road. But eventually, their horse needed to stop for water, so he helped Laurel off while he brought the animal to a small stream.

Laurel stared out at the trees while she waited, wishing for all the world that something might forestall this unexpected change to her life.

Then something did. A green glow off in the distance that was at once captivating and entrancing. It called to her, nearly sounding like the voice of her dear love. Laurel walked toward it, unable to help herself.

Sir Ted turned the horse back around for the path, but stopped as he discovered his charge missing from where he had left her. “Laurel?” Off through the trees, he just caught sight of her back and the green glow drawing her like a moth to flame. “Laurel!”

Laurel was heedless to his shout, hypnotized as she was by magic — for it was Darhk’s magic guiding her steps, closer and closer. She believed herself to be reaching her beloved Ollie, and therefore raised not even a hand to defend herself when the Unseelie stuck her side with an arrow from the Prince’s own quiver.

Sir Ted crashed through the undergrowth just in time to watch his dear charge collapse into the deep slumber the Sidhe had predicted. “No!”

Damien Darhk laughed to see his revenge at last carried out. He dodged the knight’s enraged strike with ease before throwing him against a tree. “You mortals thought you could outwit me, did you? Let this be a message to you all. Of course, I haven’t finished my fun. There’s a Prince I need to see to next.” With that, he disappeared in a flash of blinding light.

Sir Ted crawled towards the fallen maiden, despair filling him at the sight of her still form. “I failed you. Lord forgive me…” His arm outstretched towards hers, he fell insensate for a time.

Sir Ted roused at the sound of hooves against the dirt path. “Prince Oliver!” A voice shouted. “Prince Oliver!”

“Help,” Sir Ted mumbled weakly, before rallying his full voice. “Help, please!”

A number of guards led by Lord Merlyn himself found them. “What has happened here?” The nobleman asked, directing his guards to help both the older knight and the young lady off the earthen floor. “Speak quickly.”

“I am Sir Ted, the knight Lord Lance sent with his daughter years ago to protect her from Damien Darhk. But this night, I have failed my sworn task. Darhk appeared to her and lured her into a trap where she met with the arrow that he foretold.”

“The Prince’s arrow,” Lord Merlyn said, picking the offending weapon up from the ground. “And the same night that he has fled the castle. There has been some treachery at work tonight.”

“It was Darhk, I tell you,” Sir Ted tried to explain.

“Lord Lance must be informed, and the kingdom prepared,” Merlyn said, ignoring the retired knight. He snapped at a pair of guards. “Bring the young Lady Lance. She should be allowed to rest with her family at last.”

They carried her away before Sir Ted could voice another protest. He hurried to his horse, determined to follow the group. Even if he had failed to stop the dark prophecy from unfolding, he refused to abandon his duty to Laurel.

And he sensed a kind of treachery indeed.

---

Within the court at Star, the Lord and Lady Lance were preparing a massive feast, for it was finally the day their daughter would return. Only the older servants truly knew this, though; Quentin and Dinah had long forbidden any mentions of their lost baby, for fear it would incur the interest of the Unseelie who lurked their lands.

Yet in the midst of their preparations, a servant showed in a most auspicious guest along with two of his guard.

“Lord Malcolm,” said Lady Dinah, curtsying low. “We are honored by your presence tonight.”

“I wish I could say the honor was mine, Lady Dinah. But I fear I bring you both news of a tortuous sort. My men encountered Sir Ted the Wildcat in the woods on his way here with a young lady. The one you have been waiting for, I believe.”

Lord and Lady Lance both held their breath. Unknown to them all, Lady Sara had stopped just outside the room, curious and straining to listen in on this conversation.

“She was struck down by an arrow just as you have feared these thirty years,” Lord Merlyn told them at last.

“No!” Lady Dinah’s legs could not support her, and she fell back into a chair.

“What’s more, it was done by the Prince’s hand.”

“What?”

Lord Lance’s exclamation covered his daughter’s own gasp. Oliver had killed some young woman? He would never! And anyway, he was on his way to the woodcutter’s cottage to run off with his lady friend.

“I have begun a search for the Prince. We have no idea what he plans to do next, but it is clear the royal family has turned on us if they have seen fit to rob you of your daughter on the eve of your reunion.”

Daughter? Sara mouthed the word to herself. What did that mean? She was right here.

“I cannot believe this,” Lord Quentin said. “After everything King Robert promised. That his son would — it’s unthinkable!”

“He’s gone mad.” Lady Dinah turned to her husband. “Quentin, if he struck down our eldest, what of Sara?”

“Lord Malcolm wishes to offer protection for her,” a guard stated.

“Thank you,” Lord Quentin said. “I would ask that you protect her and my wife. Lord Malcolm, I wish to join you in your search for the Prince so that my firstborn will be avenged.”

“Wait.” Sara came out into the open at last, startling the group. “What is going on? You’re all talking like I have a sister.”

“There isn’t time, dear,” her mother said. “Go with Lord Malcolm’s guards and I’ll join you once I’ve seen to the servants.

“Come, Lady Sara,” a guard said, taking her by the arm and having to drag her out of the home where they were joined by even more guards.

“What happened to her? Why did you lie to me?” Her whole life, she’d never thought she was anything other than an only child. Why would her parents have sent one of their own away, and why would Oliver ever do something so cruel as to harm her before Sara even got to meet her? This didn’t make any sense!

“Let me go!” Sara struggled to free herself from their hold, but they outnumbered her greatly and had weapons besides. So it was to her surprise that her captors suddenly stopped.

“Move off the path!” One of them ordered.

“I will not,” said a woman’s voice, powerful and vaguely foreign-sounding. When Sara peeked over one of the guard’s shoulders, she caught a glimpse of the stranger; cloaked and with a scarf over her nose and mouth, what struck Sara first was her dark and piercing eyes. Then the sword at her side.

“You will release the maiden and tell me where I may find Lord Merlyn.”

“We’ll do no such thing. Seize her!”

What happened next, Sara could hardly believe. The woman ducked and weaved through the guards, cutting them down with practiced ease until none remained standing. Then she was suddenly standing right in front of her, but Sara found she was the one breathless.

“Come with me if you wish to be safe from those men.”

Sara took the woman’s hand without question, being pulled along away from her family’s castle, through the village, and into the surrounding trees.

“Who are you?”

Her rescuer looked back at her. “I am Nyssa, Heir to Nanda Parbat. I have been sent to settle a quarrel my father has with your kingdom’s advisor.”

“So why save me?”

“Because you required it. Is it not common for those on a quest to rescue beautiful ladies in your land? I had read as such.”

“Um, yeah, it’s common,” Sara replied, feeling her face heat up. She thought she could see the outline of a smirk beneath the scarf still adorning her rescuer’s face. “I’m Lady Sara,” she said, rallying herself. She wasn’t usually so shy, but then, she’d never been saved by a gorgeous lady before!

“Lady Sara,” said Nyssa al Ghul, bowing low over Sara’s hand and pulling her scarf down at last in order to kiss it. Sara has been right; she was gorgeous. “Do you know where I may find Lord Merlyn?”

“All I know is he’s leading my father and a bunch of men to try and capture my friend, the Prince of Star. He’s claiming Oliver hurt my sister or something — he’s claiming I have a sister in the first place, which is already news to me.”

“The fabled Lady, cursed by Darhk, perhaps?” When Sara stared at her blankly, Nyssa elaborated. “My father’s sources told him of a Lady in the court of Star cursed upon birth to fall into eternal slumber after her thirtieth year. She was secreted away from your kingdom to protect her from the Unseelie they call Damien Darhk — but it seems to me this plot is one of Lord Merlyn’s design.”

“Eternal slumber?

Sara wished she could have a minute to just process all of this, but her eye had caught upon an older-looking knight riding in on a horse with some sort of jungle cat embroidered upon his tunic. She pulled Nyssa along toward him.

“Sir Ted?”

“I am, yes. Forgive me, but I must find Lord Lance. I have news for him.”

“He knows about his daughter already,” Sara told him. “And I’m her sister.”

The knight’s face fell, and he dismounted. “I am sorry I could not protect her. But there has been a grave error made. The Prince was not her attacker. I must tell the court the truth, and then return to the cottage to see if I may find Laurel’s love waiting for her there. He may be her only hope.”

“Then it is true love’s kiss which breaks the curse?” Nyssa asked.

“My sister’s name is Laurel?”

Sir Ted looked down. “I called her such for thirty years to better hide her, yes. Her true name is Lady Dinah, the betrothed of Prince Oliver and therefore the future Queen of our kingdom. But if the man she met on her own is her true love, then nothing can stand in the way of bringing him here.”

“No, but my friend, Oliver, he’s the Prince. And he met a girl out in the woods years ago. He’s planning to meet her at her cottage and run away, and her name is Laurel.” Sara gasped. “Ollie’s Laurel. He’s walking into a trap!”

“Then we will attempt to intercede,” declared Nyssa. “I must borrow your horse, Sir. Come, Lady Sara.” Nyssa helped her step into the stirrups, then mounted the horse behind Sara, bracketing her with her arms as she reached for the reins to spur the horse into a gallop.

“Find Laurel!” Sara called back to the knight. “We’ll bring Ollie to her!”

She could only hope they reached Oliver before her father and Lord Merlyn did.

---

As Oliver approached the woodcutter’s cottage for the first time, he observed his surroundings and slowed. The air was still, the trees quiet. Not a single creature making noise, and no candles were lit inside despite it being just after daybreak. Something was amiss.

The door swung open, and a man with nearly white-blond hair stepped out. “Oh fine, don’t fall for it. I can improvise.”

Oliver reached for an arrow in his quiver. “Who are you, and what have you done with Laurel?” He could tell by the man’s voice that this certainly wasn’t her caretaker Ted.

“I am Damien Darhk, the infamous Unseelie. And what I’ve done to your beloved is what I promised to do thirty years ago as thanks for the slight her father Lord Lance dealt me.”

Oliver froze. Lord Lance was Laurel’s father? But she’d told him she was an orphan, and Sara had never made mention of an older sister.

“I can see the wheels struggling to turn,” Darhk remarked with amusement. “Allow me to explain. When you were a baby, your parents entered you into a betrothal arrangement with Lord and Lady Lance’s daughter. Their eldest daughter. The whole kingdom was invited except me. Kind of a harsh way to find out you’re so disliked, right? So I cursed her to die before her thirty-first birthday.”

Oliver had been taught about the Sidhe and Unseelie by his various tutors, but this seemed unconscionable. “You cursed an infant for something she had no control over?”

“Yes. I am evil, that is the idea,” Darhk replied. Just as Oliver nocked his arrow on the bow, the Unseelie raised his hand and he felt himself frozen in place. “I wasn’t done talking,” Darhk said, his voice turning cold for an instant.

Try as he might, Oliver couldn’t seem to break the spell over him.

“Now, the dear girl’s parents hoped to keep her safe by hiding her out in the woods, and it might have worked. Except you told your good friend Tommy all about your sweet maiden with the beautiful hair and stunning voice, and he complained all about how you were leaving him behind to his father, Lord Merlyn. Who works for me.”

Anger, white hot, burned in his gut. His father’s best friend had betrayed them all?

“And see, this has all worked out even better than I could have planned. Your love now sleeps forever unless she can be awakened by true love’s kiss, which is you. But right now, Lords Merlyn and Lance are on their way here with a small army because I may have borrowed an arrow from your armory to do the job. Whoops!”

If he had his voice, Oliver would have uttered a thousand curses and oaths at the Unseelie by now.

“So, you get to battle your way through your own kingdom’s people on your way to the kingdom for your true love, who you may awaken with a kiss assuming you don’t die or have to kill her father or something else horrible,” Darhk said. Then his grin turned sharp. “Or I could just end it all right now and ensure the lovely lady never wakes up.”

He closed his hand into a fist, and Oliver suddenly found his breath stopped. He was choking on nothing.

An arrow shot past him and very nearly embedded itself into Darhk’s eyeball had he not grabbed it at the last second, breaking whatever hold he had on Oliver. “Hm, craftsmanship suggests Nanda Parbat…”

Oliver did not hear anymore. He went crashing through the trees, knowing he needed to put as much distance between himself and the Unseelie as possible if he was to ever reach Laurel.

To his right cane a shout. “There he is!”

Guards normally under the command of his father descended down a slope with swords drawn. He struggled to outrun them and knew they would soon be upon him—

“Ollie!”

Sara’s voice had him looking round. She was holding the reins of a horse while an unknown woman holding a bow swung off the back.

“How did you—”

“Come on!”

“Rescue your love,” Sara’s new friend ordered him. “And leave Merlyn to me.” She stride past him to face the oncoming guards.

Sara reached out a hand to help pull him up. “How did you figure all this out?” He asked her.

“I’m kind of learning as I go. Now you have to go wake up my sister so I can finally have one. I can’t believe you never brought me to meet her.”

“I didn’t know!”

“Sara, what are you doing?” Lord Quentin yelled upon seeing his other daughter preparing to take off with the man he believed to have harmed his eldest.

“You’ll understand later, I promise!” She snapped the reins, and the horse took off.

Lord Merlyn sent some of his mounted guards after them, led by Lord Quentin. Then he approached his adversary on foot. “Nyssa. I suppose I should have expected this.”

“And yet you made no preparations. How thoughtless of you.” She exchanged her bow for her sword, watching as he did the same.

“You think by beating me you will finally win your father’s elusive approval?”

“It matters not. You have conspired against a dear lady and her family.” She readied her stance. “For that alone, I will be glad to rid the earth of you.”

At once, the two charged, meeting in the middle with a clang of swords. Though Merlyn possessed great height and strength, Nyssa was his equal if not better in skill. She had prepared her whole life for the warrior’s path, and her fury at what had been done to hurt Lady Sara and her sister propelled her to new heights. They exchanged blow after blow, circling the small clearing again and again, until at last, Nyssa’s sword caught Merlyn’s and flung it out of his reach.

He held up both hands. “Nyssa, wait. I’m a father, the only family my son has left in this world.”

“Yet you ally yourself with those who would steal children from their parents.” Unwilling to hear his pathetic pleas any further, she cut him down.

Meanwhile, Sara and Oliver’s progress through the woods was greatly impeded by a forest of thorns spontaneously growing in their path every which way Sara turned the horse. “It’s Darhk,” Oliver realized. “I’ll have to go on foot. Hold off your father. Try to explain.”

“Alright, but hurry, Ollie.”

The Prince plunged into the brambles, hacking at them with his sword over and over, slowly but steadily cutting his path. They tore at his clothes and his skin but he battled through the pain, knowing that at the end of all this was something he wanted more than life itself.

He fought off beasts, transformed and monstrous with Darhk’s magic, and forded streams that had turned into raging rapids threatening to flood the land. When at last he spied the gates of the kingdom, he was forced to dodge a volley of arrows from the guards at the ramparts. Oliver used a back way he and Tommy had discovered as children to sneak over the castle walls and into the place he’d called home.

The castle itself was quiet and still. The sudden upset of the coup seemed to have all on edge. Nevertheless, he snuck his way to the kitchen where he hoped to find aid.

“Raisa?”

Sure enough, their old cook still busied herself by the fireplace, though she jumped in alarm at his voice. “Prince Oliver!”

He shushed her, and she glanced around before engulfing him in a hug.

“I’m so relieved you’ve made it home alive. But if you’re seen—”

“Some allies of mine are dealing with Lord Merlyn and the guards. What’s become of my family?”

“The Queen and the Princess have been confined to their rooms. No one is to go in or out, save select servants. I am one.”

“And my father?” He asked, dreading the answer.

Her crestfallen face told him the truth before her words. “Slain by Lord Merlyn. The servants all know it was him.” She wrapped him in a second hug, this time one of comfort which he gladly accepted. “I fear for your life as long as you remain here.”

“I have to put an end to this, Raisa. I have to break the curse, so that peace can be restored and the truth known. Tell me, do you know where they are keeping Lord and Lady Lance’s daughter? I don’t mean Sara.”

“So it is the lost Lady,” Raisa breathed. “I brought water and bread to a knight long retired from his duties. He has hidden himself in the highest room of the tallest tower, where he guards the young lady you speak of.”

“Thank you, Raisa.” He left the kitchens and made his way to the tower. Oliver took the stairs at a run, knowing he was trapping himself the higher he climbed. If he was discovered before reaching the highest room, it might all be over.

At last, he cleared the final stair to find a locked door. He knocked, calling out, “Sir Ted?”

For his part, Sir Ted has done as Lady Sara requested and found her sister. The guards had placed her sleeping form on a cart while they discussed their orders to shoot the Prince on sight, only leaving one guard to watch Laurel. Ted has chosen not to engage the younger man in formal combat and instead punched him out before securing his charge and hiding them within the unused room in the tower. He had hoped to spy the return of Lady Sara, Nyssa and Prince Oliver, but the forest of thorns had obscured his sight. Now, he rose and answered the door.

“My Prince,” he said, bowing his head slightly. Then, with a wary look down the stairs beyond, he opened the door another few inches to allow Oliver inside, taking his place on the stairs to watch for any guards and to grant the couple a moment’s privacy.

Laurel rested on the room’s only bed, her hair like spun gold fanning out over the pillows. Her chest rose and fell slowly, the one indication that she was not totally lost to this world.

Oliver walked forward, kneeling at her bedside and taking one of her hands. “Lady of the court or not, betrothed or not, you will always be the love of my life. I still need you, Laurel.” With this declaration, he softly kissed her lips with his own, pulling back to look at her with his breath held.

Her eyelids fluttered. That was the first sign. Then the color returned to her cheeks. Her fingers curled around his, and her green eyes blinked open.

“What? Where am I… Ollie!”

His eyes felt strangely wet for the wideness of his smile. “Prince Oliver of Star, actually.”

Laurel’s eyes widened. “You- you knew this whole time?”

“Not about this!” He hurriedly clarified. “I didn’t know you were really my betrothed who was cursed by an Unseelie or that I needed to break the curse by kissing you — but I’m glad at least about the last part.”

Laurel touched a hand to her lips. “You kissed me?”

He nodded. “Sorry. I would’ve waited for you to be awake, but that was kind of the problem.”

Laurel shook her head. “I cannot believe we were really supposed to be together this whole time.”

“I can.”

She smiled at him, shaking her head a little as she brought both arms around his shoulders to draw him closer.

But a flash of light startled them both and announced the arrival of Darhk himself. Angered by Malcolm’s and his own failures to impede the young lovers, he sought to take revenge for himself — until Lady Laurel released a scream from her mouth that threw him from the window of the tallest tower and to the ground below. He remained there, unmoving.

Laurel placed a hand over her mouth as Oliver checked this, and both turned upon Sir Ted rushing back into the room. “Laurel!”

“I’m fine, Ted. We both are. I just…”

“The Sidhe’s gifts,” Sir Ted concluded. “They are known to work in mysterious ways.”

Down below came a series of shouts. Loudest among them, the voice of Lord Lance. “Lay down your weapons! We’ve been tricked, all of us, by Lord Merlyn! The Prince is not our enemy!”

“I must tell your father the curse has been lifted,” Sir Ted explained, leaving through the door once again.

“My father,” Laurel echoed, standing to watch the people rushing about down below.

“That’s him there,” Oliver pointed out for her. “The young lady beside him is Sara, my friend. And your younger sister.”

Laurel gasped. “I have a sister?” A tentative smile rose on her lips. “And who’s her lady friend?”

Oliver watched the woman with dark hair who had taken on Merlyn as she followed Sara’s every step like a keenly devoted shadow. “I… don’t actually know yet. But they seem pretty close.”

“You’re the Prince. I’m betrothed to the Prince, which means… I’m going to be a Princess.”

“Not exactly.” When she looked at him, Oliver explained. “Merlyn killed my father, which means I have to succeed him on the throne.”

Laurel stared at him. “I’m going to be a Queen?”

“If you would. I was prepared to run away just to have a life with you, Laurel. I could never imagine doing this without you by my side.”

Laurel’s heart felt warm and nearly overflowing, to the point where all she could do was nod.

“We’ll worry about the details after you’ve had a chance to meet your family,” he promised her.

“And after you’ve had a chance to mourn yours,” she added, taking his hands. He was glad for that measure of comfort and support, and gladder still when she guided his hands to rest on her waist.

“For now, I for one believe I am still owed a kiss.”

“A kiss?” Nevertheless, he obliged.

Though the kingdom was in some disarray from the sudden upheaval wrought by Darhk and his conspirators, the emergence of the young royals would help to soothe the pain of King Robert’s loss for all. King Oliver, helped by his friends and advisors, would work to improve the lives of all the peoples of his kingdom. The most salient advice he found nearly always came from his Queen, whose own experiences growing up outside the courtly life often proved invaluable.

Her sister, Lady Sara, would go on to be the kingdom’s emissary to the land of Nanda Parbat, which made both Sara and Nyssa very happy. The Ladies Lance would also quickly grow close and exchange letters and visits often. And even when Sara was away, Laurel found she had her father, Oliver’s mother and sister, Sir Ted and always Oliver himself to provide the companionship and belonging she had often craved in her youth.

And they all lived happily ever after.

---

“More, more, more!” Chanted four year-old Olivia Queen, still as wide awake where she bounced on her bed as when he’d brought her up here for her story.

“More?” Oliver let his mouth fall open in a gape. “But that’s it! That’s all that happened.”

“Nooo!” Olivia cried, the word drawn out. “They gotta bring peace to the kingdom and get married and go on dates with Lady Sara and her girlfriend and find a nice house for Sir Ted—”

“For the record,” said William, standing in the doorway, “it doesn’t make any sense for Sir Ted to have taken Laurel to the highest room in the tallest tower. How was he going to escape if he needed to?”

“Well,” Oliver said, floundering for a moment. “He didn’t need to.”

“An’ it’s special,” Olivia told her half-brother. Oliver gave her an approving nod.

“You mean it’s Disney?”

“Hey, we don’t support the monopolization of the entertainment industry in this house,” Oliver reminded, pointing a finger at his eldest. “But fair use is fair use, so—”

“I am not hearing snoring children,” Laurel’s voice came in partial sing-song from down the hall before she stopped behind William. “You nitpicking your dad’s storytelling abilities again?”

William shrugged. “A bit.” He wasn’t quite out of the teenage years, clearly.

“Mommy, you were a Princess!”

“I was? Well, that’s news to me.” She stepped around William and walked to the bed, guiding their daughter to finally lie down under the covers instead of hopping around on top of them.

“Uh-huh. And you were asleep an’ dad kissed you.” Olivia giggled, clearly thinking the idea very silly.

“Well, now it’s your turn to get some rest, Sleeping Beauty,” Laurel told her. “I can’t promise you a true love, but I can promise your dad’s pancakes in the morning before we take William to the train station.”

“Does Will have to go?” Olivia whined.

“Yes. We can’t hog him from his mom all the time.”

“Okay,” Olivia agreed, subdued.

“We’ll see him in two weeks,” Oliver promised, meeting William’s eyes and getting a nod from him. Then he stood and joined Laurel to finish tucking their daughter in. “And we’ll do a new story, then.”

Olivia smiled up at him before yawning wide. “I love you, daddy.”

And damn, that really always did something to him. Oliver blinked back the stinging at the corners of his eyes and bent down to kiss her forehead. “Love you too, beautiful baby.”

Laurel and William each exchanged similar good nights with Olivia before they shut all but her Flash-symbol nightlight off and left her room.

Laurel loosely draped an arm around William’s shoulders as they all moved down the hall. “You all packed?”

“Pretty much. Just, you know, toiletries and stuff.”

“Okay, good. Go get some rest, honey.”

“Goodnight, Laurel. Night, dad.”

“Goodnight.” Oliver watched his son head into his own room for the night, breathing in once and letting it out again with a distinct air of contentment.

“Sleeping Beauty? Really?”

He looked down at Laurel. “Why not? You’re beautiful, even when you sleep.”

Laurel swatted at his arm. “Why pick the story where I have to be asleep though?”

He shrugged. “You were only asleep for a little bit. And it kind of, I don’t know, mirrored our lives. The, the life support,” he muttered quietly, still finding it hard to talk about that horrible time she’d been hovering between life and death at the hospital.

It had forced him to grapple with his feelings for her and the conviction he needed to finally do right by her, but he would gladly pay any price never to have to live through something like that again.

Laurel seemed to sense his spiraling mood, for she stepped in close and wrapped her arms around him, fitting herself against him in that perfect way they had. “Hey, I’m fine. We both are.”

He held back a smirk hearing her unknowingly echo some of the lines he’d given her in the story. They really did know each other too well sometimes.

“We have a beautiful family, a city that’s on the mend even if it still needs some help here and there. And we have each other.” She tilted her head back to meet his eyes. “That’s my idea of a fairytale.”

“And here I thought you’d groan if I used a ‘happily ever after’ pickup line.”

Laurel’s forehead dropped against his chest. “I am groaning. That’s so bad.”

He grinned unabashedly. “So bad it’s good?”

“...if I say yes, does that get you into the bedroom?”

“It’s a safe bet.” He allowed Laurel to start pulling them along without an answer.

Fatherhood had certainly given him the opportunity to polish his storytelling skills, but it had also taught him not to let a quiet moment go to waste. And if that was one of the biggest challenges to his day, he had to agree with Laurel that they really were living their once upon a dream.

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