#“i placed my faith into the hands of random gods” yeah ya did

[xenomorphicdna]

So what goes into managing an iterator?

Because when you think about it, managing a massive semiorganic sentient ai that you depend on for practically everything, might not be easy.

While iterators aren't brought online as children per se, from broadcasts in game we can assume that young iterators probably start out fairly stubborn with their thinking. And while iterators are far more complex and developed than our current good ol' chat algorithms, I think that trying to tell a machine designed to not make any errors, that it is wrong, may come with at least a bit of back and forth arguing.

There'd be a lot that would go into managing a machine as is, even more into one with feelings and opinions.

I believe the ashy green pearl mentions how there's a parental relationship between iterators and ancients (this might not apply to all ancients and iterators but for the sake of the argument I'm going to keep going with this). It also mentions how it's important to keep good relations with their iterator - they are reliant on them after all.

Booting an iterator up and instantly expecting them to perform perfectly how you need them too may not be entirely accurate. Perhaps more mechanical tasks are good from the get-go but more social tasks would certainly require behaviours that would have to be learned. There would have to be someone to teach them that emotional maturity and social skills.

So, going back to what does it take to manage an iterator. I think it's a lot of things, a large team effort of multiple people of different specialties.

Alright let's talk about the food chain here now ey?

Iterator administrators would rank at the top. The administrator title would probably be assigned to two or three house councillors. The role would come with being the voice for whatever iterator matters the public would need to know. They probably make decisions of, hey this important thing needs to be done by our iterator. But I doubt they have any real knowledge on the iterator ins and outs.

That would go to the people just below, the chief technicians, mechanics, programmers, architects, the folks that manage the more machine parts of an iterator. But of course iterators aren't all metal, they're semi organic too. So there would be those who specialise in the biological parts of iterators. And there would be psychologists as well to make sure our beloved machines with feelings are doing ok.

I'm not exactly sure where the common trope of ancients being horrible heartless assholes to iterators comes from. I certainly didn't get that impression from the texts. ?

I think the iterators were certainly respectable members of the community. I think many people cared about them too. The whole ashy green pearl talk about how they have parental obligations. They say how the discourse about five pebbles' construction displeases him. They literally say, hey stop being mean to our iterator, and go in to defend him. Even tho pebbles didn't exactly find the discourse upsetting, they still wouldn't tolerate insults at their iterator. You can't tell me that the ancients - even those at the top - didn't care.

Iterators were created as gifts to word. Five pebbles received drawings from kids. They had sky-sail festivals.

Moon did state her general dislike of her citizens, she calls them parasites with opinions. But I cannot imagine managing an entire city would be easy, and even despite that, she still calls them her parents. They were flawed, yes, but clearly there was enough love there for Moon to apologize.

[sondepoch]

HC: MC breaks a bone!

Demons can’t break bones. Neither can angels. Nope, from head to toe, they’re pretty much indestructible. So imagine everyone’s utter shock when you break a bone, and they’re reminded of just how weak the human body really is.

Word Count: 5.2k

SFW + mild violence + mild description of broken bones 

Characters: All Brothers + All Undateables + Luke

MASTERLIST

Lucifer

Boi flips out

So it didn’t actually happen while he was around, which is why he has so much trouble understanding what happened

You tripped on the steps outside Majolish? And you fell the wrong way??? And somehow, that was enough for you to break your ankle?!?!?!

Poor baby, he has no idea how he’s going to relay the information to Diavolo

When Mammon and Asmo sheepishly enter his study to tell him what happened, they’re highkey terrified for their lives - but learning that you actually broke a bone has him so shook that he doesn’t even remember to punish them, and he’s instead rushing to your room to see the damage for himself

He sees Belphie napping on your stomach and sort of assumes that everything is okay, and that his brothers were making a big deal out of nothing

Then he gets closer and sees the horribly twisted angle your left foot is in

Suffice it to say, neither Mammon nor Asmo returned to their rooms fully unscathed that night

Overcomes his natural hatred of Solomon to call him and ask for—brace yourself—help, and when the mage offers to cast a spell that will revert your body to its prior state, Lucifer insists on doing it himself, no longer trusting anyone else with your all-too-fragile body

Relocates your room to the first floor of the house after all is said and done

Asks Diavolo to move all your classes such that you don’t need to climb any stairs

Refuses to believe you when you tried to insist that bones breaking is fairly common for humans

Becomes super overprotective

Insists on helping you with everything

“Lucifer, I can walk down the stairs myself, you know.”

“Yes, I’m sure you can” - he says with a straight face, refusing to let go of your hand as he takes you down the two-step elevation outside the House of Lamentation

(Bonus:) One day he catches you and Levi looking at parkour videos and from that moment and onward he refuses to let you out of sight for any longer than is absolutely necessary

(Bonus bonus:) Catches you doing "parkour" in your bedroom, jumping from Beel’s shoulders to the bed, and then it becomes a new house rule that you’re not allowed to climb onto Beel’s shoulders

Mammon

He was with you when it happened, and the second he heard the crack, he screamed

Honestly, the most high-pitched, shrill sound you’d ever heard

You were more scared of the noise coming out of Mammon’s mouth than the awkward way your pinky was dangling

Only when he was done screaming did the pain actually set in, and then you were hissing viciously in an attempt to distract yourself, trying your hardest to blink the tears from your eyes because Mammon already looked like he was about to cry, and the Devildom really didn’t need two blubbering messes in one day

The one saving grace for you both was the fact that Simeon was nearby, and he used his Celestial magic to heal you (you both begged him not to tell Lucifer, of course)

Baby becomes even more possessive over you afterwards

Still can’t get over how easily it happened

“Are ya sure?” Mammon asks whenever you casually tell him you’re about to do something. Doesn’t matter if you say you’re folding paper cranes or planning on jumping off the roof of the House of Lamentation, he’s lost pretty much all faith in your ability to do anything without your human body breaking in the process

Oddly enough, he becomes much more touchy with you

Needs you to “prove to him” that you’re not injured by squeezing his hand

And then he just doesn’t let go

Oh, you’re holding hands? What? Who said that? Wait, can you prove that you’re not injured and squeeze his hand again? It’s for safety purposes. For safety.

Occasionally, though, he really does have you move your pinky just to prove to him that there weren’t any lasting effects

Overprotectiveness increases by 500 points

Starts to hover around your room a lot more, awkwardly trying to help (really, he’s doing his best) but often doing things much worse than if you simply did them yourself

Gets into a fight with his brothers whenever one of them handles you too roughly

“Hey!” He shouts at pretty much anyone who touches you “Ya gonna hurt my human!”

Will drop anything and everything if he ever sees you trip to catch your fall

Legit, he was once holding Lucifer’s cup of coffee and out of the corner of his eye, he saw you jump to flop on the couch. Cue instant panic mode: he turned into his demon form and all - literally throwing the coffee on Lucifer as he ran forward to catch your body before the couch could break any of your bones

Yeah, he got into a lot of trouble that day

Leviathan

Has officially decided that he’s never going outside again

Ever.

It happened while you were both at one of Lord Diavolo’s parties - you were trying to maneuver the crowds in search of him, actually, and another demon tugged you close and tried to force you to dance. You fought back, of course, frowning as you escaped the demon’s hold, but apparently, they pulled you back and your wrist just snapped

God, he doesn’t think he’ll ever forget the sound of your scream

The demon was punished severely, Diavolo made sure of that. But Levi didn’t care anymore - he just wanted to get you back home, safe and sound

In the following days, he never leaves your side

You have to switch to online classes, at least for as long as your wrist is healing, and Levi takes it upon himself to make sure that the assimilation process is as smooth as possible

You start taking all your classes together, remaining in the same room even if you don’t have the same subject

Homework is a little harder, since Levi usually finishes before you, but he waits for you to finish while he reads manga

Evenings are spent watching anime in his room and debating random topics (oh, and you both marathon the entirety of TSL a couple more times ;))

He even tries to let you get the video game experience, and he picks an RPG game for you both to play and lets you tell him what to do an how to move around, since your wrist is broken

It’s actually super fun because he knows where all the traps are and which ones you’ll like, so he subtly guides your character through the gameplay process to get the best possible experience, and you actually end up enjoying this more than playing solo

(As a joke, he once offers to let you play with him. As in, you use your nonbroken hand to control the left side of the controller and he controls the right side, but that turns out to be a hot mess and you both quickly abandon the idea)

Even after your wrist heals, the two of you continue to spend boatloads of time together

This boy even stops calling you “normie” at one point

Real subtle about it but he tries to convince you not to go back into society again. Like ever. 

“What if you get hurt again?” He asks when you tell him you’ve made plans with Asmo to go shopping

“Then we get to spend even more time together, all over again!”

Cue leviathan/blushingmess.exe

Satan

Probably the ONLY brother to have actually known that it’s possible for humans to break bones

Why?

He read about it in a book once

Still, that doesn’t stop him from visually flinching when he sees you writhing on the ground after being shoved into a bike rack by a lower-level demon, clutching your arm which is disfigured so awkwardly that the bone is popping out

His demon form manifests immediately, and he’s about to rip this demon to shreds when you desperately call out his name, and then he’s more preoccupied with helping you than he is with beating this demon to death

(Inwardly, though, he’s quite relieved that you stopped him from killing the demon immediately. Now, he’ll get to spend the next four millennia torturing the creature slowly, keeping it just an inch from death until he’s satisfied that the demon has paid for injuring you so severely. :))

Runs over to you immediately and pulls you onto his lap, quickly muttering an enchantment that will temporarily numb the pain

Proceeds to ask you whether you want him to use magic to forcefully heal you or if you want to heal the human way

Will respect your wishes 100% no matter which you choose

Throws himself into reading and studying human medicine as soon as the two of you get back to the House of Lamentation

By the end of the month, he’s an expert on human anatomy (and where human strength lies on a comparative figure to demon strength)

Takes it upon himself to watch out for you, threatening any demons who express behavior that isn’t excessively cautious

Starts walking with you and Mammon to and from school

Keep it lowkey, but the truth is that he doesn’t trust his brother to fully make sure that you’re safe so he takes it upon himself

Doesn’t really panic too much, he knows that you getting injured was more the demon’s fault than it was yours

Is actually very considerate of your feelings in all this

Consciously makes sure that he doesn’t treat you too differently, not wanting to make you feel like he thinks you’re weak. But he no longer trusts other demons around you, and after getting your permission, he casts an enchantment on you which prevents lower-level demons from touching you without your explicit consent

Smiles devilishly every single time one of them tries to shove you in the hallways of RAD and gets sent flying 30 meters backwards in response

Devilish smile intensifies when he finally gets around to kidnapping and torturing the demon who dared to push and injure you in the first place

Asmodeus

He’s worried about you for a good hour

Not to say he’s inconsiderate

No, he’s understandably concerned immediately after he sees you on crutches, and when you come home with a broken foot, he’s immediately hanging out with you and completely (read: barely) restraining himself from making flirtatious comments in case you’re still in pain

The second he realizes that you’re fine as long as you don’t apply pressure on it, a switch flips

Now that he knows that the fracture isn’t going to spread to the rest of your body and destroy you from the inside, he’s overwhelmed with how cute it is that you need his help to do basic stuff

And honestly, you kinda vibe with it

He’s the shortest brother, so you having to ask him for help to get things off the shelf because you can’t stand is a rarity, and he is living for it

He lives with six overlords of hell, so the feeling of someone asking (no matter how reluctant) him for help in simple stuff like climbing up or down the stairs is something he absolutely cherishes

The second he realizes how good it feels to do stuff for you, he’ll never stop

Will 100% put Mammon to shame in how frequently he starts hanging by your side

He thinks of everything even before you do, always making sure that when you guys sit down, you have everything you need to be occupied for hours: from water to nail polish to the latest gossip at RAD, this man will make it his life’s mission to be the perfect prince while you’re injured

Seriously spoils you

Even when you finally heal and get better, he doesn’t stop helping you

Actually has the nerve to start complaining when you try to do stuff on your own

“You’re going to hurt yourself! Let me do it for you!”

“Asmo, I’m microwaving popcorn”

It doesn’t matter if you shower him with 'thank yous’ or if you grunt in annoyance every time he sits down next to you with an item you were about to get up and look for, he knows you appreciate the things he’s doing and that’s all he needs

Effectively gives you the royal treatment, occasionally putting Barbatos to shame with how diligent he is in helping you out

It never stops, even months after you’ve made a full recovery

Then again, who are you to complain? ;)

Beelzebub

Suddenly becomes terrified of his own strength

He’s there as it happens, and the way your face immediately contorts in pain right before you bite your lip to stop yourself from screaming will really never stop haunting him

It doesn’t help that you get injured from something that would usually be considered child-safe in the Devildom - a small windup toy which your fingers had gotten stuck in before two of them snap completely

Man is by your side immediately

The pit in his stomach isn’t caused by hunger but by genuine fear as he watches Lucifer and Satan soothe you with magic

He wants to run over to you and wipe your tears away, but should he? How can that be a good idea? He’s easily 1000000000x stronger than that toy you were messing around with, and what if he accidentally hurts you?

He knew it was possible for him to kill you before, but now he realizes how easy it would be - so simple that he might not even realize it

Instantly steps back and begins avoiding physical contact with you, trying his hardest to be there for you emotionally but struggling because every time you ask him for cuddles, he awkwardly changes the subject and looks away

He only comes clean to you about his concerns after you get mad at him and plant yourself in his lap, wrapping your arms around his head angrily as you demand that he give you affection

“Beel,” You mutter, a light pout forming on your face. “The reason you’re strong isn’t just because you have the muscles, it’s because you have control. You’ve never hurt me before, and nothing you do will hurt me now, so stop being such a stubborn goof and hug me”

Cue very hesitant hug

But it’s a start, and he slowly becomes physically close to you once more

(Subtly tries to let you stay in charge, though. He’ll initiate hugs, but you’re the one to squeeze tightly, and he’ll simply follow your lead)

Decides that rather than being afraid of what his strength can do, he’s going to use it to his advantage - and he resolves to become even stronger so that if there’s ever anything that can cause you pain, he’ll be there by your side protecting you, whether it’s against a demon strong as Diavolo or another windup toy from Majolish

Gets into the habit of running his fingers over your hand after it’s done healing, checking for scars and making sure that you’re still completely healed

Slowly develops into handholding - and who is Beel to complain? If he’s holding your hand, he’s by your side, and if he’s by your side, he can better protect you, so there’s no problem there

Belphegor

Quietly blames himself

It apparently happened while you were alone, and you fell down the stairs in the House of Lamentation. But Belphie is 99.99% sure that you were only going up to see him, and if he had just been awake, this never would have happened

Not to mention, this was the second time he had caused you pain, and it wasn’t even intentional!

Boy can’t look you in the eyes properly after the incident

Starts forcing himself to stay awake and isolates himself in the attic

Only when Beel finally gets serious and asks him what’s wrong does he quietly confess his thoughts, and his twin is quick to relay the information back to you

Honestly, you’re lowkey relieved when you hear the reason 

You were beginning to think that Belphie was avoiding you because he had grown tired of your company, and the thought was sort beginning to break your heart

That doesn’t stop you from yelling at him for being inconsiderate 

“This is why you need to talk about your feelings, Belphie!”

“But— “

“No buts!”

Honestly, he’s kind of relieved to see you yell at him so animatedly despite the cast around your arm, it makes him realize that although you’re physically injured, you’re mentally fine

Is very hesitant about napping on you, especially since he knows that if he falls asleep and accidentally shifts into a position that hurts you, you won’t be strong enough to stop him

You flick his forehead and tell him to not to be stupid, insisting that he sleeps next to you like usual, and he very hesitantly leans on the shoulder of the opposite arm you injured

Becomes way more considerate, even when tired

Shift in your sleep? He’s awake, checking to make sure that you aren’t uncomfortable or in pain

Wake up and try to get a glass of water? No problem, Belphie will get it for you, just stay here and sleep tight

Hogging the blanket? For the first time, Belphie doesn’t even mind, he’ll just carefully snuggle closer to you, double-checking that you’re comfortable before drifting back off to sleep

Even after the cast comes off, he’s still conscious about how tightly he grips you and how much physical exertion you put your body through, always reminding himself that, above all, you’re human and your body can’t handle the things his can

Solomon

Groans

That’s right, thanks to an awkward fall, your toe is broken, and this wizard boy has to audacity to groan at the sight of you on the floor, tears in your eyes as you clutch your foot through your shoe

“As if those brothers don’t hate me enough as is,” He grumbles, lifting you to your feet and whisking you back to Purgatory Hall, where he goes full medic mode and inspects the damage

Tries his hardest to convince you to let him fix it with magic, but just last week, he accidentally turned you into a cat while attempting to place a strength enchantment over you, so you’re understandably hesitant as you refuse him

As expected, when the brothers find out, they put him through hell (pun intended)

For not being able to protect you while it happens (they ignore his complaints that it was technically you who fell and injured yourself) he is now tasked with your recovery

Aka he is your slave

You make him carry your books when you go from class to class, you make him buy you lunch from the cafeteria, you make him give you his lecture notes whenever you don’t feel like paying attention in class

Hell, if he weren’t such a god awful cook, you would probably make him take over your cooking duty, as well

“This is abuse” He huffs one day, sighing in irritation after you ask him to go fetch you a glass of water

“I’m sorry?” You ask, feigning innocence. “What’s that? Did you ask me to go tell Lucifer that you aren’t treating me properly?”

Grumbles under his breath in six different languages, cursing you out in each one of them as you wink at him

You’re almost sad when your toe finally heals, and he’s finally free

Thankfully, the two of you somehow grew used to each other after spending so much time together for so long, and (much to the brothers’ displeasure) you continue hanging out with Solomon long after you’re off crutches

Will tease you about it when it’s all over

He doesn’t forget about how you lorded over him for as long as you were injured, and thus takes it upon himself to make sure that you don’t get hurt again under his watch

(At least, that’s what he tells himself as he holds your hand to march you down the steps outside Majolish, not letting go even after the ‘threat’ is passed)

Simeon

confusedangel.exe

First and foremost, how did this happen??

He’s so concerned and shocked when you show up to RAD one day in crutches because you broke a bone on your leg

Didn’t know that was possible

Actually goes home and spends half an hour on the Devildom equivalent of Google trying to maneuver his phone and search up how common this is and whether it’s normal for humans

Accidentally opens the images tab and sees a bunch of super disturbing and painful-looking injuries, and he nearly drops his phone altogether

Instantly assumes that your injury is as bad as those, despite your constant reassurances that you’re fine as long as you don’t apply too much pressure

Lots of pampering

He’s suddenly available 100% of the time for you, no matter what he’s already doing or the time of day

Insists on helping you wherever he can, like holding your stuff for you at RAD, ferrying you from class to class without forcing you to don that heavy rucksack 

Even takes over the responsibility of walking you to and from school

He doesn’t quite understand that your injury is physical??

Like he can’t seem to wrap his head around the fact that you’re mentally unaffected by the injury, because angelic injuries are typically so difficult to induce and severe that they always cause some kind of trauma 

He’s always testing you - double-checking that you remember facts from old lectures, holding up fingers to test your sight, even asking you details about himself every now and then

That’s actually the story of how you accidentally told him that you thought his eyes were prettier than the sky and he still hasn’t forgotten it

Never really forgets about your injury, even after your crutches are long gone

Protectiveness goes up by 5000%

He suddenly becomes acutely aware of the fact that you’re surrounded by demons and, although the brothers usually mean well, he becomes impossible concerned for how you’re faring

He expresses his concerns to you one day really sweetly and you’re so touched because ??? How can someone be this pure???

To ease his concerns, you both start hanging out a lot more - when before you mostly hung out at the RAD library before parting ways, Simeon now invites you over to Purgatory Hall more often and you bring him back to the House of Lamentation so that he can see how safe you are with the brothers

Luke

Just like Simeon, there’s so much confusion going on inside this smol bean’s head

Are you really telling him that you??? the person who has taken it upon themself to be protective over HIM??? are so weak and fragile??? that tripping over a pebble was enough to fracture your jaw???

The roles in your relationship are suddenly reversed

(Or well, Luke tries to reverse them)

He does his best to be there for you instead of vice versa, insisting that you no longer need to save him from the brothers when they make fun of him for being like a chihuahua 

Lowkey, he actually earns their respect for how protective he’s suddenly being over you, but the baby can only go so far because - face it - he’s basically ten years old

Doesn’t let that stop him from shooting dirty looks toward any demon who looks at the bandages on your face twice

Immediately goes home and researches what kind of foods you can comfortably eat, and enlists both Barbatos and Beel’s help in cooking soft dishes for you that you’ll be able to eat, despite your injury

Does his best to help you where he can

Takes over your cooking duty at the House of Lamentation

Takes extra-detailed notes so he can lend them to you after class

Even goes as far as to get high-quality Celestial bandages with natural healing properties and gives them to you, hoping that everything he’s doing will make your recovery a little bit faster

He’s really come to look up to you as an older sibling, so seeing you injured (even if you don’t necessarily show the pain) has him seriously torn up inside, and it takes all his effort to keep a straight face every time he looks at you and sees the bandages on your face

If you’re even a little self-conscious about any scars afterwards, he will spend hours convincing you that you look fine (and in truth, he can’t actually see the scar anymore, so he’s being honest)

Long after you’re recovered, he will remember at the most random times that you’re so fragile despite always looking so strong, and it tears him up inside

Because of this, random, tearful hugs become the norm

Occasionally, one look is all it takes before his eyes are welling with tears and he’s burying his face inside your stomach, holding you tight and promising to “protect you to make sure that you never get hurt again”

Very innocent, very sweet

Never fully forgets ever again just how fragile humans are

Barbatos

Knew it could happen

Was sort of prepared for it to happen

Didn’t actually expect it to fucking happen

This is probably one of the only times where he regrets not using his powers to check and see what the future held - literally, it would have been so easy to have saved you had he known it was coming 

Went to Diavolo asking to switch timelines but the demon lord said no

Highkey becomes incredibly protective of you, just in super subtle ways

You suddenly find yourself invited to Diavolo’s palace much more often, and it’s Barbatos who now entertains you, bringing you there under the guise of asking you to “taste the new recipes” he’s attempting to perfect

Pfft, his recipes are already the definition of perfect - the only reason he’s putting that food in your mouth is because he cast a spell on it, and it’ll make your bones stronger

Dodges all questions when you ask about it, real slick

“Barbatos, isn’t this the same dish you gave Beel when we came here last month?”

“I’m afraid I have no recollection of what you’re talking about.”

“You know, the dessert you gave him after he asked you for the biggest banana spli—”

“Oh my, would you look at the time. Let’s get you home, now, before it gets too late”   

Used to walk in front of you when walking you around the palace, but he now walks behind you so that he can watch you in case you trip

I mean, why wouldn’t he? You managed to break your collarbone while jumping down the stairs in Diavolo’s palace - you clearly can’t be trusted to look after your own health

(lowkey also never leaves you unsupervised around Mammon again, who in hell thinks it’s a good idea to try parkour of all things in the castle of the demon lord??? and encourages it?????)

Finds it incredibly endearing when your injury renders you unable to do basic tasks

Like if you were a helpless human in his mind before, now you’re less independent than an unpottytrained demonchild, and Barbatos is living for it, especially since you’re too stubborn to ask the brothers for help, so you turn to him instead

Absolutely loves when you text him for help

[17:39] MC: barbatos?

[17:40] Barbatos: Yes? Are you in need of something?

[17:40] MC: ...i was walking around the House of Lamentation and i accidentally banged into the wall outside Satan’s room and there was a really big sound and it turns out that i knocked a bunch of his books off the shelf and he comes home in half an hour and please help he’s going to kill me if he sees what happened

[17:40] Barbatos:

[17:41] Barbatos: I’ll be right there.

Diavolo

Oh boy

This man has lived a long, LONG time and never in all those millennia has he been as pissed as he is now, seeing you sheepishly lean on Mammon for support with the nearly all of your leg hanging limp

What he can’t grasp is the fact that this actually happened in school

Like, it would be one thing if a demon had injured you out of spite - he could simply punish them for all eternity and eradicate the root of the problem

But for you to be injured this severely? In spellcasting class, no less?

Instantly fires the teacher who was careless enough to let you walk into a casting circle which almost obliterated you whole - and spends ages commending Satan for having the wit to save you before things got even worse

But that doesn’t stop him from using the full extent of his princely power to ensure your continued safety

Instantly moves you out of the House of Lamentation and into his own palace, ignoring Lucifer’s repeated requests for you to not be moved

“I need to make sure they’re comfortable,” He hisses to his right-hand man, almost to Barbatos’s amusement. “The healing process for humans is long, and I need to make sure that they get better without the distractions your brothers provide”

Makes it painfully clear that if you ever get injured again under an RAD teacher’s watch, nothing will be able to save them from the unforgiving flames of his wrath

Starts spending as much time with you as humanly possible 

He always stops by your room in the afternoon, generally to check on your well being and to inquire on how you’re faring, but those conversations always seem to wrap up late at night, long after you’ve both abandoned the original topic at hand and are lost in discussion over something else

One time, when he was feeling particularly guilty after looking at the painful swelling on your leg, he invited you back to his own room to sleep on his bed because - as the acting king of the Devildom - his bed is literally the most comfortable place in the world and he hardly uses it

You sleep in it once and can never sleep anywhere else again

For more reasons than one

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

(Reluctantly) offers to let you move back into the House of Lamentation once you’re completely healed, but celebrates like crazy when you tell him that you’d much rather stay with him, and it becomes SUCH an ego stroke every time you remind him how much you adore it in his palace

Lowkey grateful that you got injured because it was the catalyst that allowed you both to grow close

But will absolutely make sure that nothing of the like ever happens again

[diaphragmjellyfish]

You Just Wait

gif is from @twilightofficial​

A/N: The hardest part of writing a fic is honestly choosing the love interest XD I have so many fictional boyfriends it’s hard to choose just one. I have noticed a significant lack of Jared Cameron content and he’s super adorable so here it is! Also, I left the concept a little bit more vague so more people can relate to it. It doesn’t specifically say vaginismus, it’s more of a general “sex doesn’t normally go well for me” type thing. 

Bottomless, covered in chocolate sauce, walking through the woods, phone dead, in the middle of August on a weekday. How did you end up here? Jared Cameron. Your boyfriend. He had roped you in to an elaborate prank on Paul that hadn’t exactly gone as planned. Needless to say, you were desperate for a shower and a nap. A hot meal wouldn’t hurt. And you were beyond irritated, not even looking Jared’s way as he walked next to you in a similar state. 

“Babe, if you let me carry you, we’ll get home way faster,” he whined.

You didn’t respond, only walking with more frustration around the roots and fallen trees. It was growing dark, just about twilight, and you knew you wouldn’t be reaching either of your houses at this rate. You were miles into the forest. But your pride kept you from accepting Jared’s wolfy-back ride, because he tended to make lots of jokes about being between your legs and you riding him and blah blah blah, and you honestly might punch him right now if he did that. 

So you just kept ignoring him, arms folded tightly against your chest because, yes, it was August, but this was also the Washington coast. It got pretty chilly no matter what time of year it was. 

“I can see you shivering from here,” he pleaded, almost sounding in pain at the thought of you being uncomfortable. “It’s only gonna get colder. Let me help you.”

You ignored him. 

“C’mooonnnnnn,” he cried. His preferred way of cracking your silence was usually by annoying you out of it, and it was working. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon c’mon c’mon c’mon c’m-”

“Jared, I swear to God!” 

“Aha! She speaks!” he laughed. 

“”Only to tell you to be quiet, or I’ll-”

“Or you’ll what?” he cut you off. “I’m way stronger than you!” He was teasing you into talking to him. Even if it was in the form of arguing. Damn, he always got you to crack. You stopped walking, turning to face him, arms still held tightly around yourself. You couldn’t resist a good bicker, and Jared knew that. He would get the sass to come out, and then once you got tired, he’d apologize and you’d be made up within half an hour. That’s what always happened. And you couldn’t exactly stay mad at those big brown puppy eyes for long. 

“Physically, maybe,” you chided, “but I’m definitely way smarter than you.”

He stepped closer to you, a playful smirk on his face. “What, are you gonna read me to death or something?”

“I’m gonna strategize a huge plan, manipulate you, and leave you here in the forest by yourself. That’s what I’m gonna do,” you sassed. He never took arguments to heart, which is one thing you loved about him. He knew how grumpy you could get and would let you vent, and then make you forget all about the problem. 

“Oh, okay, yeah sure,” he giggled, hands going up in defense. “I’m just saying that in this situation, there is no way you come out on top. You run, I catch you. You hide, I sniff you out,” he teased. This made you crack an almost imperceptible smile, but one he noticed nonetheless. “And if you did somehow manage to get away from me, you’d freeze to death in an hour flat.” The cold breeze that caused you to shiver more violently could not have had worse timing. Obviously, Jared noticed, and his face dropped. He approached you slowly, silently asking if you were still mad enough to not let him touch you. When you didn’t step back or stop him, he wrapped both his arms around you and brought you into a huge bear hug. You sighed at his warmth, wrapping your arms tightly around his torso. He’d given you his hoodie hours ago, and was left in only a pair of shorts, though he didn’t seem to notice. Damn him and his werewolf heat. 

You still shivered in his arms, but his feverish temperature was a relief to your aching bones. 

“See? Could’ve been warm hours ago,” he teased once again, noting your clinginess. 

“Shut up. I’m still mad,” you mumbled into his neck. He laughed softly to himself, rubbing his hands up and down your body to create more heat. After a few minutes, you were starting to struggle to keep your eyes open. It had to be close to 2 in the morning, and you’d been walking for what felt like hours. Jared could have easily run home and let you brood alone, but he stuck with you no matter how long you went without speaking to him. 

“Sleepy?” he murmured into your hair. You just nodded softly, and didn’t protest as he bent down, one hand going behind your knees and the other staying around your back. He picked you up with ease and started walking through the woods once more with an “Okay Princess, I got you.” His stride never faltered, easily avoiding tripping over roots or slipping on rain-soaked moss. He must have been walking for about 30 minutes, never so much as breathing hard or shifting you in his grip. You didn’t sleep, but welcomed the rest he allowed you. Your eyes were closed, head resting on his shoulder when you felt him stop. You looked up, and in the distance, maybe 50 yards away, you saw a small building. 

“Hunter’s cabin, I’m guessing. No one’s home,” Jared stated, anticipating your questions. 

“Think there’ll be blankets?” you wondered, tired, yet still playful. 

“What, am I not enough for you?” he feigned mock hurt as you giggled at his unshakeable good attitude. Without another word, he began walking towards the small cabin, which was about the size of an average bedroom. When you reached the door, he set you down gently, holding his hands close to your waist while you found your footing, and then wrapping an arm over your shoulders to keep you warm. 

“I’m assuming it’s locked,” you sighed, disappointed. 

“Babe, no door is locked when you have super strength. Honestly, I thought you’d have more faith in me by now,” he smiled brightly. 

“You can’t just go around kicking random people’s doors in!” you scolded. 

“Okay, first of all, I can tell by the smell that no one’s been here in years. Second of all, how would anyone know it was us that broke in and not, like, a deer? And third of all, I’d say this counts as an emergency,” he sassed right back at you. You looked at him in annoyance, too tired and cold to actually care. 

After a long sigh, you muttered “fine.” 

He immediately turned to the door, not letting you so much as inhale before he slammed his foot into the space next to the knob, the door all but flying off its hinges. The whole scene caused deafening noise that interrupted the silence of the trees. 

“Jesus!” you called out in surprise, a hand shooting up to your pounding heart. You look around, though knowing no one was around for miles. Jared only turned to look at you, a cheeky smile adorning his face, and said,

“See? Told ya.” 

You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t help the loving and admiring energy that overcame you. Jared really was one in a million, and you were lucky to be by his side. He could be in the worst situation in the world and still find something to laugh about. 

He motioned for you to go in first, ever the gentleman. Walking through the door, the first thing you noticed was the dust. The entire inside of the cabin was covered in a thick layer of it. There was a small, rickety couch with cushions so worn they had holes in them throughout. And the fabric… my God. It looked like something from the 60’s, an obnoxious floral that had faded over time, and now just looked flat out stained. There was a flimsy throw blanket over the back of the couch, a cooler in the corner of the room that was covered in dirt, and on the opposite wall, a fireplace! No wood, no matches, but it was there. The floor was scattered with bullet shells, receipts, and decayed leaves. It was obvious no one had been in here for at least 3 or 4 years. 

“Okay, I can work with this,” Jared said. You really were jealous of his optimism. But, as disgusting as this place was, it beat the frigid breeze of outside, and had a place where you could rest your heads. You walked over to the couch, grabbing the blanket and beating the dust off of it. It was really only meant for one person, but you guys were okay with getting close. It would do. 

Jared walked over to the opposite corner where the cooler sat by the fireplace and opened the lid, peeking inside. 

“Just water,” he said, sounding almost disappointed. 

“Were you really gonna eat whatever was in there?” you spoke incredulously. 

“Babe, I’m starving. You have no idea how close I am to licking that chocolate sauce off of you,” he voiced. You had almost forgotten about the sticky sauce that covered both of your clothes. That prank really was a disaster. You looked down, face heating at the thought of Jared’s mouth on you like that, and turned to the fireplace where he stood. He was looking on the mantle, oblivious to the effect his comment had on you, and exclaimed “Aha!” before reaching up to grab something. “A lighter. We’re saved! Well, you are,” he laughed looking over at your shivering form once more. “Stay here and get comfy. I’m gonna go get some wood.” 

You tried your best, sitting on the edge of the couch and immediately feeling a spring poking you in the butt. The couch really was tiny. You guys were gonna have to bundle up close to fit. The thought excited you. Sure, you and Jared had always been comfortable touching and holding each other, but there were certain areas of your relationship you had yet to explore. More… intimate areas. It was your fault mostly. To make a long story short, you’ve just never enjoyed sex. You found yourself not able to get aroused, which made things painful. Sure, you wanted to. You’d thought about it a ton. But in the moment, your head was so full of thoughts of ‘What if he thinks I’m ugly? What if I smell? Am I doing this right? Is he having a good time? Am I taking too long?’ that you just stopped trying. And obviously you wanted to have sex with Jared, but you were worried he’d be disappointed. By the time he got back, just a few minutes later, you had brought your knees up to your chest, holding your legs close in an effort to preserve warmth. 

“Doing okay Sweetheart?” he asked gently. You gave a small smile and nodded in response. He plopped the logs in his arms down into the fireplace, scavenging the floor for receipts, dried leaves, anything that would catch fire. He dumped these into the fireplace and lit them, the fire catching within seconds. He walked over to the other side of the room where the couch was before bending down, grabbing the bottom lip of it, and pulling it (and you) across the floor, one-handed, and closer to the fire. “Better?” You had always been in awe of his strength. Let’s be honest, it was just plain sexy. Again, you just nodded your head, staring at him in adoration. 

He sat beside you on the couch, throwing an arm over your shoulders again, and leaning back, taking you with him. You cuddled into his side, watching the fire. 

“Ya know, if you take away the shitty couch and sticky clothes and add a few more blankets, this would actually be pretty nice,” he finally spoke. 

You laughed softly, replying, “It would. The couch isn’t even awful, but these clothes are really ruining the mood for me.” 

“Well why don’t you get out of ‘em, hot stuff?” he joked. You knew he wasn’t serious because you guys haven’t gotten that far yet, but something, maybe the exhaustion or the way he kept challenging you today, made you want to actually do it. Before you could lose your nerve, you reached down, pulling off the hoodie and shirt in one go and tossing them onto the floor. You relaxed back into his arms in just a bra, acting like nothing had happened. He was frozen beside you. Maybe it was mean, but you wanted to tease him a little. He’d put you through a lot today, so you wanted to mess with him a tiny bit. So, coolly, you brought a hand onto his thigh and began running it up and down, going higher and higher with each pass. He was still frozen, so you gave a light squeeze, and heard him inhale sharply, though he tried to hide it. 

“I thought you were tired,” he commented.

“Guess I’m not anymore,” you responded, turning to face him boldly. He immediately leaned in to kiss you, softly as always. You reciprocated, bringing your other hand up to cup his face. His arm that was around your shoulders slipped down around your waist, pulling you in further. Jared had always been gentle when kissing you, so you knew you’d have to make the first move to deepen it. Which is exactly what you did. Running your hand up his head and grabbing his hair, you pulled him towards you even more and traced your tongue across his bottom lip. He responded by matching your energy, tongue slipping out to caress yours before bringing your bottom lip between his teeth and nibbling softly. You guys had never kissed like this before. You felt a bead of warmth pool in your abdomen, something you’d never felt with a guy before. Sure, you’d been turned on while watching certain videos or reading certain fanfiction by yourself, but you’d never actually experienced it with someone before. It was exciting. Maybe it was the knowledge that you could stop things at any time and he wouldn’t be upset, or maybe it was how in love with you he really was, but you didn’t feel nervous or worried. You felt comfortable. 

Taking things a step further, you swung your leg over both of his, moving to straddle his lap. 

He pulled away slightly at this, making you ask, “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing’s wrong,��� he responded, “I just don’t wanna make you do anything you don’t wanna do.”

You smiled, “I’m not doing anything I don’t wanna do. Are you?” 

“Are you seriously asking me that question right now?” He laughed, making you giggle along. 

You leaned back in for another kiss, when he stopped you again. “What exactly… are we doing, though?” You knew what he was silently asking. Are we about to go all the way? And you didn’t know yet. This had started out as playful teasing, but now you were beginning to think that maybe you did want to try something. With Jared. He was it for you, the one you wanted to spend forever with. If you couldn’t trust him, you couldn’t trust anyone. And he’d taken such good care of you these last few hours, keeping you warm, making sure you were storming off in the right direction, that you knew he’d appreciate you in a more intimate sense. 

“I- I kind of would like to try… some stuff,” you answered. 

He looked at you, eyes wide, before answering, “What kind of stuff? I mean, I will do literally anything you ask me to do and you know that, but I didn’t really prepare for this. Like, I don’t… have what we need.” Oh, a condom. What a responsible boy. 

“I’m on the pill,” you replied a little too quickly before looking down and fiddling with your hands. “If you want to.” 

“Y/N, I would be absolutely fucking honored,” he breathed, before cupping your face and pulling you into the most heated kiss yet. Your tongues danced, hands wandering. Yours, across his muscled chest and abdomen, and his, down your waist and around to cup your pantsless ass, squeezing firmly. It felt nice. He handled you in a way that was gentle and painless, but still dominant and firm. And it made the heat in your belly grow. You continued kissing for several minutes, your hands moving up his neck and eventually landing in his hair once more, and his remaining on your ass and waist. You softly sucked at his lower lip, nibbling slightly, and it made him let out a low growl and pull your hips forward onto his, where you felt something hard push against you. You knew what it was, and it didn’t scare you like it normally would. You did, however, feel your damp underwear. Shit, that’s never happened before. You were normally bone dry at this point. You let out a soft sigh, grinding your hips onto him once more. 

He softened his kisses slightly, bringing a hand around to your stomach and running his knuckles lightly across your lower abdomen. 

“Can I?” He questioned delicately. 

“Yes,” you replied almost immediately. He brought his hand under the waistband of your underwear, when you said, “Wait,” and he stopped. “Just one thing. I kind of… have never been able to do this without it hurting a lot, so maybe you could just try to be gentle?” 

“Oh, baby, you’ve been in pain before? I’m so sorry,” he whispered genuinely. 

“It’s okay, I just…” It was now or never. He should know. “Normally I’m super nervous about everything, so I can’t really… get into it, and when girls aren’t into it it’s kind of… dry? And that makes it kind of hurt really bad.” You faded out at the end, feeling embarrassed. He brought his hand out of your underwear and up to your chin, tilting your face up to look him in the eye, looking concerned. “But I’m into this, I mean, right now. I’m excited. I just thought I should warn you,” you awkwardly laughed at the end. 

“You promise? Because you know that if you want to stop we will, and I would never be upset or pressure or anything like that,” he spoke sweetly, making your heart flutter. And you did know that, which is why you felt comfortable. Every other time, you felt that if you went past a certain point, you couldn’t say stop. Couldn’t call it off without making whatever guy you were with super mad and then… who knows what would happen. But when Jared spoke those words, you believed him. 

“I promise. And I know you’ll stop. But I don’t want you to.” 

With this, he scanned your face one more time for any signs of hesitation, and when he found none, brought you down into another heated kiss. You felt his hand trail from your chin down to your breasts, skimming over your bra, down your stomach and once again to the waistband of your underwear. Only this time he didn’t go under. He stayed on top of the fabric and brought his hand down between your legs, index finger brushing lightly against your core. You barely felt it, and began to worry that you’d once again feel numb. Oftentimes, when guys would touch you or go down on you, you felt nothing. It was like you were broken or something. And you started to become concerned that tonight would be no different. 

But he brought his finger down again, repeating the same movement, only with significantly more pressure this time, and it had you release an involuntary sigh. And instead of removing his finger like he had the first time, he kept it over your clit, drawing firm circles. 

Your mouth dropped open in a silent moan, Jared staring intently at your face. 

“Oh, wow,” you finally breathed. 

“Good?” he asked cockily, wearing a large smirk. He repeated the movement again, drawing a line from your core to your clit, stopping to rub circles. 

“Mmm hmm,” you sighed. He leaned in once more to meet you with the sloppiest, dirtiest kiss you two had shared yet, and it only made you grind your center into his hand. He repeated the action several times over, and you were a writhing mess in minutes. 

He brought a finger under your waistband once more, stretching the elastic out before letting it snap lightly against your skin. “Let’s take these off, hmm?” You’d never stood up so fast in your life, practically ripping the panties off of you, taking your bra off with it. Jared stood up to remove his shorts, but stopped to stare. 

“What?” you questioned shyly, moving to cover up.

“You’re literally the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” 

The boy quite literally had heart eyes for you. 

“Oh,” you responded meekly, cheeks heating up. When you kept looking back at him, he seemed to snap back into the moment and hurriedly ripped off his shorts and underwear, sitting back on the couch and opening his arms for you. You moved to straddle his hips the same way as before, and he brought his arms around to embrace you as you shared another heated kiss. One of his hands moved up to cup your breast, thumb rolling over your nipple as if you were made of glass. Jared pulled his mouth off of yours and trailed his lips down the side of your face, to your jaw, and down onto your neck, suckling lightly and leaving wet kisses. You tilted your head to the side to give him better access, and brought one of your hands down between you two to grasp him. He shuddered, only grabbing your hips and bringing you impossibly closer. His other hand trailed down to your center once more, going straight to your core and gathering the slight wetness there before bringing his finger up to your clit and circling. With your underwear out of the way, you felt almost lightheaded at his touch. You never knew how girls could cum during sex before, because you never seemed to feel much at all unless it was pain, but with how aroused you were right now and Jared’s movements, you thought for the first time that you may actually be able to finish. People do say that 90% of sex is mental, and you guessed this is what they meant. The more into it you are, the more physical sensation you actually feel. Groundbreaking. 

“Can I finger you?” he murmured huskily into your neck. 

You tensed slightly at this, but trusted him. If you said stop, he would. “Ok, just go slow.”

“Of course,” he responded before placing a sweet kiss on your shoulder and bringing his index finger back to your core, swirling around the entrance a few times. You took a few deep breaths to relax your muscles, and he looked at you, wordlessly asking, Ready? You nodded, and he slipped his finger in, just to the first knuckle, and held it still while he brought his thumb to your clit and continued rubbing. When he noticed you visibly relax, he slipped his finger in further to the second knuckle, stopping for a few seconds, and then all the way. He kept it here again, giving you time to adjust or tell him to stop, all the while keeping you stimulated with his thumb. It felt really good. Well, you didn’t exactly feel his finger at all, which was better than pain, and his thumb was making you crazy. Your breathing was labored at this point, eyebrows furrowed as you held onto his shoulders, nails digging in and sure to leave scratches. He pressed the finger inside of you onto your front wall suddenly, massaging the ridges firmly, and you let out a moan. Your first real moan ever. And damn did it get Jared excited. He continued this motion again and again, building in intensity and pressure slowly. When he felt how wet you had become, he pulled his finger back out to the first knuckle, and added his middle finger next to it, sliding them both back in slowly so as not to hurt you. Your eyes widened at the stretch, but it didn’t hurt. It felt amazing. 

“Oh, fuck,” you whispered to yourself, before moaning once more as his fingers began the ‘come-hither’ motion once more. 

“Am I hurting you?” he asked, concerned at your cursing. 

“No, feels so good,” you moaned, and he smiled at this, increasing the pressure even more. Your eyes screwed shut, hips stuttering over his hand, letting him finger fuck you for several more minutes as you began to feel a tightening in your stomach. He brought his thumb off of your clit finally, adjusting his hand for a better angle and bringing his other hand off of your waist and up to his mouth, licking his thumb and bringing that down to your clit, resuming the tight circles. You could hear how wet you were, feeling too good to be embarrassed. The heat in your stomach was building, spreading. You felt your legs begin to shake, muscles begin to tighten around his fingers, and your eyes screwed shut as you opened your mouth in a silent scream and came. The waves of pleasure washed over you for a long time, Jared slowing his movements down so as not to overstimulate you. When you finally opened your eyes again, you were panting, legs feeling like Jello. Jared was staring at you with a look of absolute awe on his face, mouth agape and dick rock hard, red, and leaking precum. He was more turned on than he had ever been from actual sex before, and it was only from watching you. 

“Fuck, baby that was so hot,” he all but moaned. 

You reached down to grasp him, panting a “your turn.” 

He grabbed both your wrists, stopping you. “Nuh uh, this is about you. Lie the fuck down.”

You gasped, his dominant tone turning you on despite your recent climax. You both knew that if you were even slightly uncomfortable, things would stop immediately. But it was fun for both of you to let him be a little aggressive. You did as told, lying long ways across the couch cushions, Jared moving to kneel between your legs, moving your knees softly apart so he could look at all of you. You didn’t feel insecure being exposed like this. You felt excited. 

“Are you absolutely sure you wanna do this?” he questioned. 

“I have never been more sure, Jared baby, I want to,” you pleaded. This was enough for him, so he brought his dick down to line up with your entrance, rubbing the tip up and down a few times to collect your wetness. He was worried that there wouldn’t be enough lubricant, so he brought a hand up to his mouth and spit, rubbing the saliva on his cock. 

“You just wait ‘til we get some real lube and a real fucking bed, Princess. You won’t be able to walk for days.” You shuddered at the thought of this, and of the sensation of his dick rubbing around your clit and back down to your entrance. He pushed in slightly, letting the tip in before pausing and checking your face for any signs of pain. When he found none, he pushed in slightly more, and more. He was being extremely slow, and you appreciated it. Guys normally would just shove themselves inside, not giving you any time to adjust before pounding away. But Jared was careful, despite how turned on you knew he was. He still had your best interest in mind. Within a couple of minutes, he was fully seated inside of you, staying still until you told him to move. He brought his face down to give you a sweet kiss, waiting for you to give him the signal. 

After a few seconds, you didn’t feel any sort of stinging or pain, so you nodded, saying “Just start slow.” 

“Of course,” he replied genuinely. He pulled his hips back just a few inches, before slowly grinding them back into yours. You closed your eyes, focusing on keeping your muscles loose and relaxed as he continues this movement a few more times. The next time he pushed in, he ground his hips further into yours, hitting the deepest parts of you. This had you release a gasp, eyes opening to meet his. “Okay?” he questioned. 

“Yes.” 

He did this several more times, letting you get used to the feeling of him being so deep inside of you, before your hips began to grind back into his. It felt really good. When he noticed this, he began pulling his hips back more, pushing back in slightly faster, and this had you moaning. You threw your head back, back arched, just enjoying the sensations. Your hands were grasping at his shoulders, definitely leaving scratch marks. 

“Oh my God,” you whispered. 

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he responded, planting sloppy kisses to your neck and collar bone. “Baby, I’m not gonna last much longer.” 

You smiled at this, glad he was enjoying it as much as you were. “Go ahead, cum for me,” you spoke, and your words had him right on the edge. He pulled out of you quickly, hand fisting his cock as he stared at your sweaty, writhing body below him. He came hard, spilling onto your stomach as he growled out, the sound making your toes curl, almost animalistic. You both remained in this position as you came down, breaths labored and eyes barely open. He stood up fully off of the couch and reached for the flimsy blanket on the floor, using it to wipe off your stomach. He threw it into the corner of the room and lay down next to you on the couch, gathering you up into his arms to cuddle. 

“Did you have a good time?” he asked almost nervously after a few minutes. 

“Nah, kinda sucked,” you teased, and he let out a playful laugh, lightly shoving you away before pulling you back and planting a kiss on your temple. 

A pause. “For real though,” he prodded, beginning to panic slightly. 

You burst out laughing. “Of course I had a good time, Jared. Best i’ve ever had, if I’m being honest.” 

“Ok good,” he sighed, relieved but trying not to show that you actually had him nervous for a second. 

Another pause. “Did… did you have a good time?” you questioned back at him. 

He seemed almost offended at the question, bringing a hand up to cup your face so that your eyes met his. “Y/N, this was the best night of my entire life. That was perfect. You are perfect. And I’m glad you trusted me enough to do that with you.” 

You felt your eyes sting slightly, emotions running wild. You considered yourself the luckiest girl in the world to be with Jared Cameron. Not only was he totally gorgeous, but kind, hilarious, and great in bed. 

In an effort to switch the tone back to a more playful one, you replied, “Yeah, well I was promised some more fun involving real lube and a real bed so…” 

He tugged you further into him, wrapping his arms around you in a way that made you think he might never let go. He laughed, and said “Oh, you just wait.” 

[ill-skillsgard]

Faust x Faith - No Looking Back

Warning: 18+ smut, public sex, violence, blood, arson, implied death, mentions of non-consensual touching (nothing explicit and no r-words used,) mentions of stalking, unconsciousness, anti-religious themes, strong language.

Note: Hey, hey. I’ve wanted to write this for a while, but haven’t had much time. This isn’t based on any requests—just something I feel needs to happen to move the universe along. After this, I’ll be basing future FxF stuff off drabble requests instead of going story-heavy for a bit. Likes, comments and reblogs are suuuper ‘ppreciated!

Summary: - Not based on Lords of Chaos. I use Faust!Valter’s likeness only as inspiration - 3.6K words -

Faust makes good on his word to protect Faith, taking drastic measures to assure her assailant never bothers her again.

Read more Faust x Faith here [x]

Thin raindrops pattered the man's leather jacket as he walked through the streets with his hood drawn up and his eyes low. For two days, the drizzle persisted and melted the black snowbanks into slush. Though the dismal atmosphere kept most inside, Sven had good reason to travel across town on foot. The promise of a girl's company waited at the end of his route, and he put off his regular nightly routine of masturbating to fetish porn for—what he hoped was—the real thing.

He glanced at his cracked phone screen every few minutes to check in with her, making sure she hadn't changed her mind, that she was serious. From the earnestness of her messages and the speed at which she replied to his questions, he determined she meant what she said about wanting to meet. Finally, his luck was turning. He’d show that miserable bastard Faust who was the better man.

- What abt ur bf? Lol

- What about him? Not here, is he?

- Thought u were a good girl.

- Haha, not really. Are you close?

- Ya. Y r we meeting at this random place?

- I need you to promise you won't tell a soul. If you can prove that to me, maybe we can keep meeting up.

- Lol ok. I PROMISE I won't say a word😉

- Thank you. Hurry, please. It's cold out!

- Be there in 5. I'll let u wear my jacket altho idk might not need it😉

- Hehe omgosh. You're making me blush.

- I'll make u do way more then blush baby. Just wait.

Sven lengthened his strides and turned the corner onto a hill leading toward the industrial area of town. Down the slope, he walked past several warehouses and legions of trucks parked inside barbed-wire fencing. It was a peculiar site to meet up, but his rendezvous insisted on a place nobody would think to look.

Betting his night would take an erotic turn, Sven popped a piece of gum in his mouth and chewed away the cigarette taste. He was seconds away from the spot she chose to meet, and his chest constricted with excitement. His boots crunched over gravel and garbage as he walked down a narrow alley between two faceless buildings. There was an open lot at the end of the lane, where he assumed she was waiting. As he made his way through the dimly lit alley, he whistled to make his presence known. The shrill tune reverberated off an overflowing dumpster to his left, and as he stepped to clear the reeking trash receptacle, something hard and blunt swung out at eye-level and flattened him to the ground.

Dazed and blinded from the sudden strike, he tried moving his mouth, but only a bubble of blood popped from his lips. A piercing stream of sound filled his ears as the edges of his vision turned dark. A large black figure came into view above, haloed by the soggy grey sky in the deepening veil. The featureless shadow chuckled deeply before a heavy boot's tread put out his lights.

~*~

Several hours passed before Sven's eyelids shuddered. By then, his assailant had had plenty of time to tie him to a wooden chair and organize his instruments of punishment. A headache blistered through the man's skull, throbbing in his eye sockets until he gained enough consciousness to open them. When he saw the person who had knocked him out, his throat closed and the gasp ripping through came out high-pitched.

"Faust... Please... Don't—" Sven hiccoughed. "Don't do this. I'm sorry. I'm SORRY!"

Faust, who had been facing the doorway at the end of a long red runner, turned toward Sven, holding a hammer's handle in one hand while cradling the head in the other. A malicious smirk peeked out from a curtain of black hair. He took a step forward, the clomp of his leather boots echoing through the church. Each step made a menacing sound that bit down on Sven's nerves and rattled his sensitive skull.

"What are you apologizing for?"

"I know you hate me, but please, don't hurt me. I swear I'll never talk to her again!"

Faust approached, flashing the obsidian hammerhead. He tossed the tool in his grip and stuck his hand into his pocket, producing several five-inch nails.

"No! God, no, please! Faust! Don't do this!"

The black-haired giant stopped to admire the curve of the hammer’s prongs. Sven looked around the empty church and saw a jerrycan taking up space in a nearby pew. He immediately started struggling against the jute rope binding his wrists and ankles to the chair as Faust drew nearer, smile uncoiling.

"I already gave you the chance to never talk to her again. Remember?"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Sorry means fuck all to me. You should know that. The only reason you left the campsite with your dick intact is because of the witnesses," Faust said, then spun around with his arms out, showcasing their solitude. "Now, it's just you and me."

"Please don't," Sven muttered through swollen lips. "Fuck, I'll do anything!"

"There's nothing you can do. Nothing a sorry sack of human waste can provide this world to make me change my mind."

"SHE LIED!"

Faust jingled the nails in his jacket, reminding Sven who held the weapon.

"Whatever she told you... It's not true! I was at the party, but I didn't do anything to her!" Sven's voice cracked.

"Oh... So you didn't follow her into my bedroom?"

"No! I talked to her for a minute, and that's all. That's all, I swear, Faust. Don't kill me."

The stomp of boots neared the altar where Sven struggled in the chair. He twisted to loosen the rope and slipped one hand out. Faust grabbed his wrist and pinned it to the arm of the chair, readying a nail between his lips as he gripped the hammer. Sven let out a scream, stifled instantly by the hammerhead. Faust wedged the metal between his teeth and hissed.

"Shut the fuck up, or I'll use this to smash your teeth out like a goddamn window. Understand me?"

Sven nodded and quaked as Faust placed the tip of the nail against the soft, flat part of his forearm.

"Stay still. If I fuck up and hit the Radial or Ulnar artery... You could bleed out before I'm done. Gotta get it right between the bones." Faust slapped the pale skin to reveal blue veins. He pressed the nail’s tip in place and rose the hammer above his head, bringing it down and stopping short of the head as Sven shrieked.

Faust cackled. "Jesus Christ, dude. Did you really think I was gonna nail you to a chair?"

Sven groaned, relieved and moist with cold sweat. "Faust, I'm serious. Please, man. You gotta believe me."

His dark laughter continued, bouncing off the high ceilings, the wooden pews and polished floors. As Sven let out his own nervous chuckle, Faust brought the hammer down in one swift pull, then slapped his hand over Sven's gaping mouth to stifle the screams. Howling, Sven rattled his head back and forth as a searing bolt of pain tore through his right arm, crackling in his shoulder where it burned and burned.

Faust tore his phone out of his back pocket and brought up a video, slamming the screen into Sven's face. The video of him grabbing Faith in his room while he was states away watching the live feed from the camera he'd set up on the desk.

"I knew these little cameras would come in handy. See? I know what you did, you stupid fuck. And you know what else? I would have just beat the shit out of you had I not stopped by your place before our little meeting."

Sven whined, tears pouring from his eyes in steady streams.

"Oh, yeah. That's right. I went into your room... Saw some interesting things on your computer. At first, I thought it was just standard fucking creep shit. Snuff porn, torture... Teen girls. None of that surprised me... Until I dug around and found your little stalker file buried in your folders. You didn't even encrypt it. How fucking stupid are you?"

"I'm sorry," Sven shook.

"Why are you apologizing to me?"

"I'm sorry for touching her. I should have left her alone."

"What'd you think was gonna happen? That she wouldn't tell me? Or that I wouldn't believe her? And now I know you've been following Faith around, taking pictures of her, you fucking predator. And what about those other women, huh? You sorry about them, too?"

"Yes! I'm sorry. I know I have problems! I'm trying to get help. Please, Faust. If you let me go, I promise I'll do it. I'll get better. I haven’t hurt anyone!"

Faust shook his head slowly, grunting in refusal. "No. I meant what I said when I told you I'd crucify you if you went near Faith again. I'm doing the world a favour."

Sven hung his head and bled from the grievous wound pinning him to the chair, shuddering weakly from his injuries. Faust would never relent. He'd witnessed the drummer's cold disdain, the malignant hatred living inside that made him turn to the dark with open arms. Faust wasn't an actor. He pledged himself to the darkness with unyielding conviction, never one to take such things lightly. This realization depleted Sven's will to reason with the man.

Faust gripped another thick nail and drove it through Sven's left arm, smiling as blood dripped from the wood onto the church altar. The violent yelps filled Faust with morbid delight as he pressed the bloodied hammer under his victim's chin and raised his face.

"You're gonna die tonight, Sven."

"What makes you better than me? You'll be a murderer," Sven stuttered. "You hurt people, too."

"You and I are not the same. Don't ever compare yourself to me. You're a coward, and I warned you. Tread on what's mine, and I'll destroy you. That's what I said."

"All this over a girl? Are you fucking crazy!?"

Faust stooped to one knee, looking up at Sven as though the insult had cut him. Faust's brows arched, bottom lip jutting outward as he studied Sven, who closed his eyes. Then, Faust rose to his feet, leather stretching from the motion. Faust tapped his chin, smiled, and leaned over to whisper, "yes... Totally fucking crazy."

With a powerful kick to the chest, Faust sent the chair and Sven toppling backward. He then unzipped his pants, pulled out his manhood and giggled as he emptied his bladder on the weeping man. While Sven cried and moaned, Faust closed his zipper, whistling merrily. He left Sven on his back and snatched the jerrycan from the pew, taking slow, calculated steps while twisting off the cap and dousing the altar in gasoline.

As the gas trickled, Sven's desperation mounted. He could not flail, so he screamed. Faust gently reminded him what he'd do to Sven's teeth if he carried on shouting. The pinned man blubbered and begged, but Faust ignored his pleas. Inside his head, all Faust heard was the sound of flames rushing into a circle around Sven, crackling over the carpet and up the old church's wooden beams. By the time the roof caught fire, Faust had planned on being long gone.

"Please, Faust... You'll regret this! I know you're a serious person, but this is too far. You won't be able to live with yourself!"

"Wrong. I couldn't live with myself knowing I let a vulture like you walk this planet freely." Faust poured a trail down the floor runner, far away from the altar. He tossed the can aside and looked up at the Catholic saints' stained-glass portrayals and Jesus at the center of it all, staring down with sad eyes. Faust took a book of matches from his pocket and ripped one from the bunch, running its tip across the ignitor strip until a small flame burst to life. Faust flicked the match to the ground without a second thought, and the flame ate up the gasoline trail swiftly. The church was illuminated, and the colourful glass windows came to life. Faust raised his eyes to the forlorn Jesus and leered while the fire spread.

He did not stay to admire his work or revel in the cries of a man burning alive. Faust fled before the fire consumed the church, not once looking back or wondering if his victim had somehow escaped. He trudged through puddles of slush, hair swinging in the wind, white shadows of breath leaving his mouth.

It was time to get back to finish the tour. But he had one more stop to make.

~*~

Faith left the mall after helping close the book store. She received small smiles and nods from the mall staff as they locked doors and unfolded security gates. Some of the people she had spoken to before, and some she had only seen in passing. Though she returned their pleasantries, inside Faith was fretting. She tried not to worry about her boyfriend or ask where he was under strict orders to go about her day as usual.

She stepped into the evening air as the sun sank, taking the blue from the sky along for the descent. Wisps of white cloud stretched across the pink and violet above. Faith took in a deep breath and walked to the bus stop situated between a movie theatre and a dollar store. She popped her earbuds in and turned on a song that reminded her of Faust; one he wouldn’t like. His music taste had no room for the upbeat indie rock she enjoyed. Still, she smiled when the lyrics reminded her of him.

The scent of cigarette smoke caught her attention, and she looked around, finding no culprit. She wondered where the smell came from if nobody was around but soon forgot when the city bus appeared in the distance. It had to make a long trek around the parking lot before it pulled up at the movie theatre. Faith readied her bus card to scan as another cloud of smoke enveloped her senses.

Faith whirled around, and there he was, all black and leather, white teeth clutching the filter of a cigarette. Faust smiled, his words bolting from his mouth as she clamped her arms around him and crushed her face into his chest. The leather and musk brought tears to her eyes. She ripped out her earbuds and tried not to weep.

He hushed her, lifted her off the ground and retreated into the shadowed alley between the theatre and the store. By the time the bus pulled up, Faust had pressed her against the brick wall behind the building.

"Faust. Oh my gosh, where have you been? I was so worried," Faith gasped.

"Sh, don't ask questions, baby." Faust smothered her mouth, holding her thighs around his waist.

"Mm—I love you. Oh my God. I can’t believe you’re here! I love you so freaking much."

"I know you do," Faust breathed against her lips. "I love you, too, babe."

"Tell me where you've been!"

Faust shook his head and kissed her neck instead. She raked her fingers through his hair, knocking his hood down so she could see him unobstructed.

"Told you... Don't ask... Mmkay?... Stop asking... Just let me... Mm—fuck!"

Faith pulled his pelvis inward with her thighs, rubbing against his crotch and the heavy bullet belt wrapped around his hips. In their cloud of lust, Faust pushed his black jeans down just enough to free his erection.

"Fuck, I love your little skirts. Makes it so easy," Faust murmured.

The thought of Faust showing up disquieted her, but his lips on her skin and his desire thwarted these anxieties for a while. She set aside her questions, happy to have him in her arms again and overcome by arousal. When he stretched her panties aside and pushed into her, they both froze in expressions of excruciating ecstasy. Faust tilted his head back and closed his eyes, and Faith clutched his shoulders, already writhing from the intense fulfillment between her legs.

Just as she thought Faust might drop her, he bent his knees and hoisted her higher up on the wall. In his arms, she weighed close to nothing. She missed feeling tiny against him.

"Miss my cock?" He growled in her ear.

"Yes, baby. Oh my gosh, of course, I missed it. I missed my big man."

"Yeah? Fuck, I miss my little pussy," Faust breathed. "Mm, show me those gorgeous tits."

Faith unbuttoned her work polo and stretched the collar down around her breasts for Faust to bury his face. Though there wasn't an abundance of flesh to lose himself in, Faust shivered from the first taste of her nipples. With muted groans of pleasure, he rammed into her until Faith could no longer contain her cries, unaccustomed to his girth. Faust absorbed her whimpers with his mouth, coaxing her tongue until she only hummed.

He felt ferocious from the last twenty-four hours. If he could make Faith scream without drawing attention, Faust would have slammed her into the wall and fucked her until she shredded her vocal cords. He had to keep a low profile. Even visiting Faith was a considerable risk, but one he relished taking as she clamped her thighs and rutted against him.

He supported her ass in both hands and shifted off the wall to fuck her standing up. While he took her this way, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whimpered, whispering, "yes, fuck my pussy hard, big boy. Oh, I love that big cock inside me."

Faust unhooked and held her out so he could watch her breasts jiggle with every bounce. "You still taking your birth control? I'm gonna fucking bust so hard inside you, baby."

"Yeah. Yeah, baby, do it. Fill my pussy, please. I want your cum."

Her dirty talk and sweet sobs for his cock pushed him over the edge. He cradled her head as he pushed her against the wall and throbbed between her legs until empty. Faust pulled out and immediately turned her around and bent her over to watch globs of fresh cum dripping from her wet slit. He used one finger to push some of it back inside and had her suck off the rest. Afterward, he pulled up his pants and compressed her against the wall, one hand over her mouth while the other worked her clit in gentle circles. Faust didn't stop until she squealed and shuddered against him, muffled in his jacket and writhing from the manual orgasm.

When Faith calmed down, he released her and stepped away, pulling a cigarette from the squished pack in his jacket pocket. The lighter's flame created an orange halo around his face and promptly died. He smoked like nothing had happened while she fixed her skirt, buttoned her polo and zipped up her coat.

Faith smiled up at her lover, the night blotting out most of his features.

"I'm so glad you're home," she said.

"Not for long," Faust exhaled.

Her heart quivered. "Wait, what?"

"I gotta go back."

"When?"

"Tonight."

"What? No! But... You just got back," said Faith.

Faust shrugged, his leather jacket speaking for him. The evening matured, consuming the details of her hurt expression until the streetlamps along the road came to life.

"Why did you come here?"

Faust took one last long haul off his cigarette and flicked it down the alleyway. "Listen to me, Faith... You need to quit asking questions. I'm serious. The more questions you ask, the worse it'll be. And you and I did not see each other tonight. As far as you know, I'm on tour. Understand?"

"Yes," Faith said to appease him.

"I want to stay, trust me. But I can't. You know why. All the answers you want, you already have. Don't keep bugging, don't mention it ever again."

"I want to go with you," she whispered.

"No. You stay. Go to your classes, go to work, go visit your parents. Everything normal. And I don't want you moping around either. You put on that pretty smile, and you pretend for me. I'll call you in a couple of weeks before the last show and arrange a way for you to get there."

"What do you mean you’ll call in couple of weeks?" Faith whined. “What about goodnights?”

"I don't have a phone anymore."

"Why—? Oh, um... Okay. I understand."

Faust gathered the girl up in his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Good girl. I love you, and I miss you."

"I love you, too."

He tipped her face up and sensed tears forming in her eyes. Faust shook his head. "No crying. We'll see each other very soon. Just a couple more weeks."

"I know," she sighed.

"I love you more than anything, Faith. Now, go catch your bus. Should be here in a few minutes."

"But what about you?"

"Don't worry about me. I'm on tour. I'm not even here," he explained.

Faust kissed her again, smoothed his hands over her shoulders and turned her to face the bus stop. He urged her along. "No looking back. Hop on the bus and go do your schoolwork."

"Okay," she said, determined to make him proud. Faith walked out of the shadows and into the lamplight hovering over the depot. Across the lot, the city bus pulled in, and though she longed to turn around to see Faust watching over her, she kept her eyes forward and waited. When the bus pulled up, and the doors drew back, she stepped onto the platform and smiled at the driver as she scanned her pass. Faith took a seat in the back and put in her earbuds. She searched through a list of bands and selected the only one whose logo was illegible. As she pressed play, she listened to the immediate assault of the drums, their constant and violent beat. Faith smiled—warm in her chest and between her legs.

[musings-from-mars]

@pollinationweek 2021: Day 1 - Band AU

They had been stranded here on the side of the road for a while now, and Ruby was not handling the fact that their van was seemingly broken down well, all while they were still hours away from their gig. “What do we do?” She asked for perhaps the twentieth time as she paced, her boots thump-thumping against the asphalt.

“We buy a new van,” Weiss grumbled, content with just staring at her girlfriend’s butt as Yang draped herself over the front of the van to check under the hood.

“About a week too late with that idea,” Blake said, also content with staring at Yang’s butt.

“Hey now,” Yang’s voice echoed from inside the van’s inner workings, her feet kicking up behind her. Her jeans were getting caught on the metal, revealing the top few inches of her plaid boxer shorts. So attractive… “I can fix this, don’t worry. I know Big Berty inside and out.”

Big Berty was an early-2000s era transit van with two hundred thousand miles on the odometer and a chipping coat of black paint. It was practically held together by Yang’s very hopes and dreams, and a liberal amount of duct tape.

“Yang, we’re in the middle of nowhere,” Weiss said as she stepped closer, glanced down into the van skeptically, diligently avoiding getting any van dirt on her white runners jacket. “Unless you can do magic, we’re not getting anywhere. We should just call a tow truck.”

“How much will that cost,” Blake asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Weiss assured her, alluding to her ability to still access her rich family’s fortune despite being disinherited. It would require a couple calls to a sympathetic butler and a particularly tech-savvy groundskeeper at her family’s manor, but she could acquire funds in an emergency.

“Okay, but how long is it going to take?” Blake added, pulling out her phone. “Because wherever we are, it’s nowhere close to a cell tower, so I don’t think a tow trunk is nearby either.”

“Ye of such little faith,” Yang said, then she tried to shift her position, yelped with pain, fell backwards and bumped the top of her head on the hood of the van. “Fuck!”

Weiss was the one closest by and caught Yang in her arms. “Careful, you dunce!”

Yang gritted her teeth as she rubbed her head with her hand. Then she sighed as she looked at Weiss, their faces close. “Heheh…okay, I’ll admit it. I think Big Berty is taking an impromptu sabbatical.”

“You mean it finally clunked out and we can get a new van?” Blake asked hopefully.

“I didn’t say that!” Yang said defensively, then stared at Weiss a little more. She sniffed and started to feign tears. “Don’t make me give up my Big Berty Baby, Weiss.”

“Someone catch her, I’m about to drop her,” Weiss deadpanned.

Blake volunteered to assume Yang cradling duties as Weiss sighed dramatically and turned to Ruby. “Hey, we’ll be fine. This is why we leave for long trips a day early, remember?”

“But it’s almost nightfall,” Ruby said, looking up at the orange dusk. “Even if we make it in time, we’ll have so little sleep. Gods, this is gonna suck, we’re gonna suck, I’m gonna suck…”

Weiss stepped closer, taking Ruby by the shoulders. “We’ll be fine, don’t worry so much.”

Ruby’s cheeks turned a faint pink, but she shook her head. “I just don’t want a repeat of last time.”

Weiss looked to the side and pressed her lips together. She remembered the last time they’d had a mishap. It wasn’t a big performance, just a local set at a club back home. But a combination of equipment mishaps, some rowdy club goers, and Ruby being on two hours of sleep at best made for a rough night. “This will be different, Ruby,” Weiss assured her. “We’re far better prepared now. We’ve got this.” She punctuated her point by leaning forward and giving her a light kiss. “Now come sit down while Blake calls the tow truck.”

“I just said I don’t have service,” Blake called while slowly lowering Yang to the ground since their drummer seemed to refuse to stand up.

Weiss pulled her phone from her pocket and threw it to Blake with a tremendous amount of trust that she would catch it. “I have service.”

Blake caught the phone with one hand and looked at her phone. “Full bars? How?”

Weiss didn’t answer, instead turning back to Ruby, who was calmer and more flushed-faced now. “Come sit on the tailgate with me. Maybe if you play something for fun that might help you settle a little more?”

Ruby’s shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath, but she smiled and nodded. “Yeah, good idea.”

While Blake called a towing company, Yang stayed on the asphalt for a little floor time, and Weiss and Ruby sat on the back of the van. Ruby had her acoustic guitar in her lap, strumming random tunes and chords as Weiss sat with her, her head on her shoulder. She chuckled as she listened to Ruby play. “You know what would be funny?”

“Hmm?” Ruby turned her head toward Weiss, pausing her playing to listen.

“What if we recorded a song right here? Like, on our future album or something, just out in the middle of nowhere?”

Ruby blinked and looked where she was looking. Besides the road, there was nothing but grass and trees as far as the eye could see. “It is pretty quiet,” Ruby agreed.

“Once we hit it big time, you know?” Weiss continued. “It would be a cool way to remember moments like this, just us in Yang’s shitty van. But hopefully by that time, we’ll have a bus or something.”

“Aww, but then we wouldn’t have to sleep in a pile like we do in the back of the van,” Ruby said with a giggle.

“Says who?” Weiss joked, smiling and kissing Ruby’s cheek. Ruby smiled and leaned against her, then returned to strumming on her guitar, playing a few chords from one of their songs that sounded a bit odd on acoustic, but was nice to listen to either way. Weiss even joined in and sang softly, though it was nowhere near her performance level register, like a soft lullaby. By now, Ruby’s worries about arriving on time had faded. Sitting here while Weiss sang was just fine with her.

Soon, Blake rounded the back of the van and sighed. “Tow truck is coming, should be about an hour-and-a-half.”

“That long?” Ruby asked as she stopped playing abruptly. Weiss sat upright as she looked up at Blake.

“We really are in the middle of nowhere,” Blake said, taking Weiss’ phone from her button-up flannel’s breast pocket and handing it back to her. “I also called the hotel and told them we’d be in late.”

“Should we…cancel the hotel to pay for the tow truck?” Ruby asked like it pained her to say. She set her guitar aside and hopped to the gravel ground, straightening her plaid skirt.

“I told you, I’ve got it handled,” Weiss assured her.

“Sorry, I’m just…” Ruby took a deep breath. “I’m anxious about us missing our gig, or running out of money…”

“Yang,” Blake called out, cupping her mouth with her hand. “Stop taking a road nap and come comfort your sister.”

A few seconds later came the thump thump thump of Yang’s boots, followed by her capturing Ruby in a hug. “Don’t worry sis, it’ll be alright!”

“Egh…loosen up…” Ruby grunted as Yang proceeded to lift her up and crush her rib cage.

“Whoop, my bad.” She gently placed Ruby down and patted her head. “But seriously, though, we’re going to be okay. This isn’t the only gig we have lined up, we have savings, we have, erm, a rich girl.” She gestured at Weiss, who rolled her eyes at her. “We’re good, okay?”

Ruby sighed and looked down, shuffling her feet on the gravel shoulder of the road. “I guess you’re right. I just worry too much…”

Blake stepped up and hugged her from behind. “Hey, while we wait, what do you say we put on some music, raid our snack stash and have a chill sesh until the tow truck arrives?”

Ruby smiled and leaned back into Blake’s arms. “Yeah, let’s do that.”

Yang grinned and pulled Weiss into a rough side hug. “Yeah, let’s have a chill sesh!”

Weiss grunted and tried shove herself away from Yang. “No sesh is chill if you’re involved, and you smell like the inside of Berty.”

“Aww come on, you love me,” Yang said as her strength overcame Weiss and pulled her into a proper hug.

“That’s irrelevant!” She claimed feebly, failing to hide the smile that was overtaking her face.

Blake hummed with amusement, then kissed the top of Ruby’s head. “How bout you pick that guitar back up. Maybe that’ll calm them down.”

“You think so?” Ruby asked with a giggle, watching as Weiss still flailed in Yang’s embrace.

“Worth a shot.”

~~~

An hour later, Weiss had fallen asleep in Yang’s arms. The two had laid down in the back of the van on the mattress, and after Weiss got through with her complaining and Yang had pared back her teasing, they’d settled into a close cuddling position and were asleep soon after. Ruby’s soft playing probably helped, as did the gentle breeze that had begun to blow through. The sun was almost set by now, bathing the sky in a deep graying blue.

Blake sat behind Ruby, holding her around the waist she she played with her legs to the sides. She was playing a slow, light tune, low in pitch and a careful rhythm that came and went like a tree swaying in the wind. Blake had said it many times to her before and Ruby never believed her, but Ruby really was the best guitar player Blake had ever met. Even while casually playing while stranded on the side of a road, her music was masterful. Blake felt so lucky to just get to hear it. “I love you,” she whispered.

Ruby hummed and smiled, continuing to play as she spoke, “I love you, too.”

“Thank you,” Blake said, kissing Ruby just above the temple.

Ruby chuckled quietly. “For what?”

“I mean,” Blake said as she began to reminisce. “You’re kinda the reason this is all real. If you hadn’t been crazy enough to convince us all to abandon our sensible career choices and form a rock band, I never would have gotten the chance to fall in love with you three.”

“I did kinda ruin all of your lives, huh?” Ruby said with a giggle. Her playing was slowing and getting quieter.

“Hardly,” Blake said, tightening her embrace around Ruby a little. “Because of you, Weiss got away from her dickhole father, Yang escaped the fate of becoming some bored shop mechanic, and I, well…I’d be in a shitty apartment doing nothing.”

“You’d still be writing,” Ruby pointed out.

“Maybe. ADHD doesn’t do well without motivating factors,” Blake said and Ruby nodded knowingly. “This band, though? My girls? That’s all the motivation I need. I’ve never been this happy.”

Ruby smiled, now no longer playing, her hands frozen in playing position. She didn’t realize she had stopped. “We wouldn’t even get to be stranded here in who-knows-where if not for me, huh?”

Blake giggled and kissed her head again. “Exactly.”

They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the wind blow. It was properly nighttime now, stars dotting the sky.

Ruby yawned, finally setting her guitar aside. “Honestly…I’d be okay just sleeping here tonight.”

Blake hummed, turning her girlfriend so she could cradle her sideways in her lap. “Sounds inviting. But a hotel room with a bathroom sounds even more inviting.”

Ruby shuddered. “Don’t say that, I’m trying not to think about needing to use one of those bushes for cover.”

Blake snorted, looking down at Ruby’s face. “You’re such a dork.” She leaned down and kissed her softly, cupping the back of Ruby’s head with her hand. Ruby hummed into the kiss, then placed a hand on Blake’s shoulder and pushed. Blake slowly leaned back until she was lying on the mattress as well, with Ruby parting from the kiss and adjusting to lie on her chest.

“So you’re really happy?” Ruby whispered, her hand resting in the center of Blake’s chest with Blake covering it with her own, she stared up at the Edison bulbs they had strung along the upper trim of the van’s interior, bathing them in warm light.

“Ruby, being in this band is a dream come true. Being in this polycule is a dream come true. Hell, being here right now is like a dream,” she smiled and tugged Ruby a little closer. “I’m more than happy.”

Ruby snickered. “Sappy.”

“I know.” She turned her head to look towards her other two girlfriends, Yang on her side and facing towards them, face partially obstructed by blonde hair, with Weiss held close to her chest, the girl’s back to Blake and Ruby and her face tucked against Yang’s shirt. For a pair who loved to bicker, they sure knew how to cuddle.

Ruby noticed Blake staring and smiled. “I’m happy, too. To get to do something like this with my sister and our girlfriends, I just…” She took a deep breath and sighed. “Dream come true, like you said.”

“Sappy,” Blake teased.

“You started it,” Ruby joked, tucking her nose closer to Blake.

They faded into a natural silence, and soon, Ruby was asleep on Blake’s chest. Blake figured she’d try to stay awake so she’d notice the tow truck arrive, but no way was she moving from this spot until then. The music, the performances, the travel was all fulfilling and exciting, but these moments with her girlfriends were what made it all truly worth it.

Even if Yang was kind of a snorer. And Ruby was kind of a drooler. And Weiss was…Weiss. They were her girls. She loved them with every inch of her sappy heart.

[douxspider]

— 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐧.

‘ARVIN RUSSELL x READER INSERT’

( potential spoilers for “the devil all the time” ) —  Reader is new to town, working at a bakery ran by a kind old lady. Getting used to the ropes of the city, a man in blue arrives unsettled, holding a bloody rag against his knuckles and shivering just slightly. (occurs after arvin approaches the three bullies.) 

warnings: blood, mentioned alcohol abuse, bullying. word count: 2,330 published: 9/17/20 ao3 link — part 2, 3

— — • — —

You didn’t ask for much in life. You didn’t want much. Your entire life you let the sea take you where it wanted to take you, and if it brought you to a flourishing island with the most beautiful sunsets and the softest sand, you let it. If it wanted to take you to the dangerous, icy hurricanes where waves clashed and thrown against each other and you drowned in the salty depth, you let it.

You don’t have a will, the town would mock you.

You were new to Ohio, originally coming from New York, and they liked to call you city girl. Your accent was more urban compared to the rural dialect around you. You stuck out like a sore thumb. The community grew together, knew everyone’s names, and when a random strange girl with only a plastic bag of clothes arrived at the nearest motel, it was all the rage.

Luckily, you managed to find a sweet baker lady to take you in. She had a plump figure, rosy cheeks, and graying auburn hair that spoke of pies and sunshine. Her name was Marilyn McCann, she was in her late 50s, and she had lost her two dear sons in the Vietnam war, her husband previously passing from health complications. Marilyn opened the baker, naming it McCann Boys in honor of them.

You were seated behind the counter on a stool, picking at a lemon and poppyseed muffin, placing chunks of the bread in your mouth and eating slowly. It was a quiet day, rain splattering against the window, most people wanted to bake indoors.

While you fidgeted with the book in your lap, idly reading it, you heard the bell ring. You glanced up, and instead of the man moving to the counter, he only took a seat by the window, a rag covering his knuckles as his hat hid his face. He refused to return your eye contact, which was used as a silent method of do you want me to come to you?

You were running the shop alone. You couldn’t ask Marilyn who this strange fellow was. You had to take the initiative.

Getting up from your seat, the stool groaned against the hardwood beneath you, and you made your way towards him. He was bouncing his jean-clad leg excessively, winding the rag around his tightened fist. There were dark stains on it, but you paid it no mind.

“Sir?”

The man twitched his head in your direction, his cap revealing only an inch more of his face before moving back down to the table. “Yeah?” His voice was low, a bit hoarse.

You leaned to the side a bit, crossing your arms, crooking a brow upwards. “You good?”

“Yeah, ah,” he spoke, moving his chin upwards to look at you, and he stopped. You did as well, a silent, complex tension thick between the two of you, before he continued, “Just uh… needed to sit down, s’all. Do I…” he cleared his throat after a voice crack, “do I need to buy somethin’?”

Shaking your head, you gave a quiet, slow, “No.”

Taking a better look at his hands, you noticed it was blood on the rag. So, he was getting that post-fight clarity. You moved to the back and grabbed some pure alcohol you and Marilyn liked to keep, pouring only a bit on a clean washing rag, before heading back to the mysterious man’s location. Taking his hands, he gave a quiet noise of surprise as you tore open his fingers from the old rag and placed it to the side.

“Lady, what are you— ow! Shit...”

Lightly sponging the rag against his knuckles, you then placed the new cloth in his hands, taking a seat in front of him.

The man in front of you seemed somewhat offended, clutching onto the rag and padding it over his knuckles, but also giving you a scowl. “The hell you do that for…? ‘Didn’t need that, I can take care of myself.”

“So, what’d the man do? Pissing contest taken too far?”

He removed the cloth from his hand and wrung his knuckles together, and you stared at the scabs. “Maybe you should keep your nose where it belongs, darlin’.”

You hummed, leaning over the table and resting your bare arms against the surface, looking out the stormy window. “Y’seem like a sweet girl,” the man spoke up, catching your attention, “but that kinda behavior here… askin’ too many questions, it can get ‘ya hurt.”

Eyeing him up and down, you tilted your head so it nearly rested on your shoulder. “Well… y’gonna hurt me, stranger?”

Brown eyes fogging over with clear distant memories, you watched his expression dampen, no longer seeming agitated but only conflicted. “No… no, I wouldn’t hurt ‘ya.” His voice was only a low grumble. “I was taught better than to hurt girls.”

Giving a hum as a response, you tapped your painted fingers against each other. “I’m not trying to be nosy,” you then confessed, “...just curious. Don’t hear much from this town regarding fist fights.”

“You’re the city girl?” With a wince, you nodded. “Ah.”

“That a bad thing, mister?” You asked, trying to analyze his expression. He seemed distant, staring off, before his eyes turned as round as saucers glancing at you.

“No, no, miss, I ain’t imply that. Lotta people know about you ‘round here, it’s rare for a cityfolk to come to this dot on the map,” he explained, “Just curious.”

Clearly that was an insinuation for you to indulge him on his question. Though, feeling smug, and honestly in your right, you told, “You tell me why you’re bleeding from your hands, I’ll tell you my harrowing tale of ending up in Ohio. How about that?”

Surprisingly, the stranger let out a quiet laugh. It was breathy, and for some odd reason you could tell he doesn’t do that often by the way it seemed foreign coming from him, the product from his lips being stopped with his mouth closing. “Fair. You’re good at this game, little lady.” He let his knuckles out into the open air before crossing his arms together, leaning back in the booth.

“My old man,” he started with a distant voice, grimacing at the latter, and you assumed there was a dark history there, “he taught me t’protect myself. To protect others. Now, he was no layabout, he was straight outta the war,” the stranger chuckled, “if anyone tried anythin’, he wouldn’t let ‘em. He taught me that with physical expression.” The jean jacket around his arms got tightened with his whitening grip. “Now, y’see, lotta folk in this town ain’t kind. They ain’t acceptin’, they don’t like new things. They don’t like concepts.”

You listened quietly, feeling your heart slow its pace within your chest, trying to silence itself to take in every word. “I got a sister. Step-sister. She’s sweet, but she ain’t like the others. They don’t like that.”

His jaw tightened as he looked out the window, his blue cap shading his eyes. “...Had t’put an end to it.”

An understanding finally settled in your head. You fiddled with the apron draped around your legs, chin tilted downwards as you took in the information. You looked back at him. “...That’s a good thing.”

“What?” He glanced at you from the corner of his eye.

“Protecting your sister. That’s a good thing.” You could tell he felt guilty only slightly, perhaps he was scared of himself, scared of what he did. “I never had a sibling growing up,” you told, “having someone there to protect me would’ve done me wonders.” The stranger moved his hand up to his mouth, rubbing the side of his index finger against his chin. You gave a weak smile. “People aren’t too kind here to me, so I don’t need to fantasize your sister’s reality. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be outcasted from your own town like that. Your sister must be a kind soul, being thrown to the wolves like sheep like that.” You shook your head. “It’s not right. I think you did what you had to do. Sometimes that’s the best you can do.”

He was staring at you, and you couldn’t help but to wonder if you said too much. If you were prying too much. You had never met this man before, he could’ve just killed someone for all you know for no rhyme or reason, he could be a sociopath, luring his next victim, but you trusted your gut on saying that this man was right in what he did.

The corner of his lips quirked upwards and he gave a quiet exhale through his nose, nodding his head before glancing at you, head tilted downwards. “Now, your story. Fair trade, little lady.”

With an amused smile, you shrugged. “Came from New York, had no ties. Father ditched when I was still learning my ABCs, mama abused alcohol, that’s what wound her up in the grave. Took that as my sign to go.” You recalled the dirty poor Manhattan streets you grew up on. “Manhattan… it’s a busy city. Too busy. No one knows ‘ya, but they assume they do.” You pointed at him to exaggerate, closing an eye, “If you’re in the wrong neighborhood, that’s what you are now. Wrong. I was a wrong, poor girl with no faith.”

“No faith?” The stranger asked.

“Faith didn’t keep me alive there. Only money.”

He nodded slowly. “Surprised to see someone here not lookin’ to God.”

You clasped your hands together and shrugged. “Well, when he brings me something nice, I’ll go to church.” Glimpsing up at him, you asked, “Do you have faith?”

“Only for my grandmama and sister. I ain’t got no interest listenin’ to a man for hours.”

“You seem like a family man, mister.” You smiled, leaning back. “Are they the only reason you’re here?”

A moment of hesitance resulted from him. “Yeah.”

You decided not to press further.

Taking in the quiet rain, you tapped your hands on the table beneath you three times and stood up, placing your hands on your hips. “Well, mister, do you drink coffee?”

He seemed so small in the booth, huddled up with his arms crossed, brown eyes that were no longer iced over with memories, but instead focused on you with a round childish charm to them. “Ah… yeah, I do.”

Smiling with a nod, you headed and started up the yellow coffee machine. You looked back at him, saw him staring out the window, and you finished up the mug of coffee and gave it to him, hot. Sitting in front of him with your muffin, you both indulged in your delicacies in a peaceful silence.

When his coffee was just about gone, he asked, “Mind if I smoke in ‘ere?” He wondered, and you gave him permission.

“Sure. The only thing I’m concerned about is the gross taste coffee and tobacco must have together,” Wrinkling your nose at the thought, the man laughed, amused as he placed a cigarette in his mouth and used a lighter.

He puffed in the smoke and then removed the cigarette from his mouth, pulling over an ashtray that rested on the table. Blowing through the thin slit between his lips, he murmured, “Arvin.”

“Hm?” You asked, wiping off your hands on your apron from crumbs.

“My name is Arvin Russell.”

Blinking at him, you smiled, testing out his name carefully. “Hi, Arvin. I’m Y/N L/N.”

Arvin seemed a little shy, his cap hiding most of his face before he moved his head up just slightly, catching your eye, pointing out, “‘Like that name. Suits you. A pretty name for a pretty girl.”

A little flustered, you pinched your bare lips together before giving out a breathy chuckle. He moved his cigarette to his lips, watching you closely, inhaling the smoke. “You’re sweet.”

Arvin smiled, the paper-wrapped cancer stick between his lips, he pulled it out with a quick huff and said, “You’re the sweet girl talkin’ to bloody strangers sulking in the corner of your shop and givin’ em free coffee, Y/N.” He was staring at the window when he said this, but his head turned towards you, relaxed against the seat behind him, tapping the ashes into the ashtray. “Y’deserve better than this place.”

Feeling overwhelmed with all the positive comments— you didn’t receive many— you tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear. “Well, Arvin, I think you deserve good things, too.”

Arvin gazed at you, a soft expression on his face before checking his watch. “Have to head home.” You both stood and you began to clean up. Arvin went up to the counter and gave a few dollars, and you stared at the money, gawking before giving a nervous smile and shaking your head.

“You don’t need to do that, Mr. Russell—”

“Arvin was doin’ just fine, sweet girl,” Arvin said with a smile. “Y’helped me out today. Thank you. Genuinely. I wanna pay back however I can.”

You took the money cautiously, feeling shy.

“Take that money for yourself. Buy yourself another pretty dress,” he said, eyeing the one you wore and tipping his hat. He was about to leave before he turned, hand flat against the glass, the other tucking his old rag into his coat pocket and gazing at you. “...We’ll be seein’ each other again, Y/N.”

Feeling overrun with flustered emotions, you smiled and said, “I would sure hope so, Arvin. I liked having you around.”

Arvin looked to the side, murmuring, “Likewise.”

You were left in the silence of the bakery, the rain turning into a light mist outside. Pressing your lips together, you changed your weight from foot to foot, turning to lean your back against the counter and giving a sigh.

Each encounter with him from then on would slowly grow into something more.

[impala-dreamer]

NJCon and My Tattoo

Spent the day hanging out with @assbuttaf and the hubs, people watching and chilling and generally freaking out. I was only there for Sunday this year, but it was still awesome. I love being with my people <3

I did not have a Jared Op at all this year, which was odd, but it didn’t matter because I ran into him constantly. He walked passed early in the day, then as I was chilling in the vendor room, he came by to talk to his sister at her table and then walked by me again and I played it cool and went “Hey, Cliff…”, and then a third time, I was checking my phone and almost literally walked into him while he was checking out the prices of the photo ops. He’s so… Jared, ya know? <3 <3 

For my Cockles Op, I go in and I say hello to the guys, and then say “Do you think we can all be the bad guys? Casifer and Michael?” And Misha goes “Ooo, yeah!” and kinda moves me to stand between them, and Jensen looks at me funny and goes “What?” and I said “Bad guys. We’re the villains.” He still can’t hear me bc it’s like a god damned heavy metal concert in there, so he leans in next to me and yells in my ear “What!” so I lean into his ear and yell back, “Be Michael!” and he goes “Ah… cool.” and then turns towards me, puts his hand on my shoulder and CLICK! Op over. I hate my face in it, so you’re not gonna see it but the boys look awesome. 

Now for the big deal: 

I only had a general admission Sunday pass, so I had no autographs with J2. However… @justcallmeasmodeus worked some magic and hooked me up with an awesome chick who sold me her Jensen auto. (ps, turns out she knows my husband from facebook and now we’re all going to Momento Con next year but that’s another story)...

So, I’m worried. I’m freaking out. I can’t stand how anxious I am. Ash (@assbuttaf) was with me the whole time and really awesome and I love her. Finally, I get to the line, and I’m holding a freaking blank piece of paper which everyone is confused about. Jensen is signing behind a curtain, so I go through, and they’re taking groups of 4, and I happened to be #4, which was helpful, so I linger and then go up to him…

I place the paper on the table and he grabs his pen to sign and I leaned in and took a breath and asked him… 

“Would you please write my one and only tattoo?” 

He nods and grabs his sharpie, and his handler goes,

“He can’t personalize.”

I ignore her and look Jensen in the eyes and say, “I’d really like for Dean to write ‘x xxxx xxxxx’.”

And again, his handler says, kinda nasty, “He cannot personalize!” 

And Jensen looks at her, waves a dismissive hand and says, “This one’s fine.” 

And he looks back at me, no smile or anything, but dead in the eye and kinda nods and then writes it perfectly for me, and I take it and I’m like near to tears, so I thank him and walk away. I was so grateful because he shouldn’t really have done it, and really did not have to do it, but he did. He knew it was important. I’ll never forget that. 

And...That was it. 

Today, October 20, I walked into a random tattoo parlor with my husband and had Jensen Ackles’ handwritten Dean Winchester line of dialogue permanently tattooed onto my arm. 

So what is it and why? 

Not to get into everything, but I have some self harm issues occasionally, and I deal with suicidal issues as well, and heavy depression and panic and all that good stuff. 

During one of those bad nights, something struck me in our favorite television show…

Season 13, Episode 15, “A Most Holy Man”, in the wrap up scene: 

Dean: What? Come on. I know that look. What's on your mind?

Sam: I don't know. Nothing. I mean -- I mean, you know... You ever feel like we're -- we're doing nothing but playing defense? You know, bouncing from one apocalypse to the next?

Dean: Well, it's not exactly our call.

Sam: I know that, and I'm not saying we don't do good. But -- but no matter how many people we save, there will always be more people that need saving. No matter how many monsters we kill--

Dean: There's always gonna be another one around the corner.

Sam: Exactly.

Dean: Mm-hmm.

Sam: You think we could ever change things? I mean, really change things? You know, stop all the monsters, all the bad?

Dean: That would be nice.

Sam: Yeah. So what are you thinkin'? Think that'll work?

Dean: I have faith. 

I couldn’t stop thinking about Dean saying that. After everything that happened to him, to his brother, to everyone, he still had faith (let’s ignore s15 for now because that has no bearing on this.) 

My best friend @because-imma-lady-assface​ has told me so many times that she has faith in me that I can make it past the bad times and come out stronger. No matter how many times I say I can’t do it anymore, she’s always there to remind me that I can and she has faith in me that I can. 

My father was a minister and gave his life to the church and his faith, and he just passed away this year, and it’s been weird and hard, and this stuck with me too. He had enough faith to devote his life and career to it. 

Maybe, I can have faith in something too. In myself, in my family, in my life, my friends, the people who love me. In Me. I can have faith in the fight. 

So, where I can see it every day, near a place I used to open my skin, Dean Winchester will always be with me to remind me to have that faith. 

[phantomphangphucker]

The Whole Ass Fic A.K.A ClockWork Is Paying At Least One Person Hush Money

Vlad’s dumbest plot yet leads to a grade A gravy bowl of a dumb reveal. Danny’s class feels left out, Wes is literally left out, and ClockWork is forcing me to not leave them out at gunpoint.

Now that y’all have voted, I present to you, the Whole Ass Fic

Danny was having a nice day, he honest to the Core was. But then a blue portal half fucking blinded him, a startled Mr. Lancer accidentally threw a whiteboard marker into his eye, and Dash finally succeeded in hitting him -in the eye of all places, ugh- with a spitball. All of this followed by a -probably not quiet- mutter of, “ClockWork end me”. In short, he had already filled his quota for ocular trauma today.

But looking to the front as a -very not cheesetastic- certain someone stops monologuing, he’s experiencing a-whole-ass-nother kind of ocular trauma.

Danny gets up from his desk and slowly walks up to the front, eyes filled with disappointment and the residual energy of his three breakfast Red Bulls, “okay, so you’re telling me-”, Danny gestures erratically to Vlad, who's tied up on the floor and in ghost form, “-that you overshadowed ClockWork-”, gesturing even more erratically at ClockWork -who’s just sitting on a desk and inspecting their nails- but Danny maintains wide-eyed eye-contact with Vlad instead of attempting down the rabbit hole of why ClockWork is still here. Glaring at floor Vlad harder, somehow, “-so you could travel to the future, to team up with your future self and bring him back here-”, Danny points both hands at the floor a bit aggressively, “-so you could tag-team pulverise a teenager-”.

While Vlad rolls his eyes, not even slightly apologetic or willing to admit that throwing fists with teens being his number one past time was arguably pathetic. Danny gestures at the future Vlad, who’s glaring bloody murder at normal timeline floor Vlad, “-but said future you instead assaulted ClockWork”, facepalming and muttering into his hand, “least I know this future you really is you, being enough up his own ass to even consider attempting to do that”, looking back to floor Vlad, “so you used ClockWork’s powers at random and just came back to this timeline?”.

Kwan adds in, “through the ceiling”.

ClockWork smirks, “he got quite lucky in that regard. Not quite luck though”, Danny sighs exasperatedly at ClockWork when they wink with a smirk. Anything involving ClockWork required a lack of luck, not a wealth of it; that, or making a collection of the stupidest decisions you’ve ever made. Considering floor Vlad’s state of looking like an extra for a truly terrible Vampire BDSM film, Danny’s going with the latter.  

Floor Vlad manages to spit out his gag, “well they somehow tossed me out of their body immediately after! I mean the audacity! And this Cheesehead-”, jerkily attempting to nod or point at the scruffy-looking future Vlad, “-gets more pissed and assaults me, ME! Instead of you”.

Future Vlad kicks him and snarls, “it’s been two years in this timeline! TWO! I stopped with the stupid fiddlediddling after six months!”, turning his head to the side and mumbling, “sure everyone close to him had to die first, but that’s a moot point”.

Dash snorts, “why would a ghost even want to assault Fentit. And wait, what? People died?”.

Danny meanwhile, throws his hands out to the side, “of course that happened!”, then gesturing towards ClockWork, “you can’t overshadow ClockWork, that’s not even possible! They literally had to have allowed you to”, actually turning to glare slightly at ClockWork, “why, I haven’t a shot-glass of pennies close to a clue”. Danny then blinks and slowly looks at the future Vlad, his words finally registering; while Danny also simultaneously massacres his last brain cell, “wait....you’re that Vlad? As in the one that technically murdered me? The one that sort of caused the near extinction of humanity and ghosts? The one that basically saw the big red ‘DO NOT PUSH, THIS IS A STUPID IDEA’ button, slammed your fist on it, and activated the apocalypse? The one that stabbed past me when I tried to fix the future? Sure I requested it, but ya still did it”.

Mr. Lancer, who had been progressively going more wide-eyed, “Crime and Punishment?!?!?! I mean, go off I guess”.

While Danny scratches his head nonchalantly, muttering more to himself, “also the one that gave me any faith in past you ever being capable of being good”.

Floor Vlad sputters, wiggling in his bindings like a worm, “how is murdering you what it takes to make you have even an ounce of faith in me?!?”, floor Vlad looks to future Vlad, “you can’t judge me, you fudge-bucket of a hypocrite”.

Danny rolls his eyes and snorts, “that’s not even pot calling kettle black, that’s a wad of chewed gum calling a fork an unchewed stick of gum, and actually expecting that insult to stick”. Danny then squints and turns to ClockWork, “wait”, pointing emphatically at future Vlad, “how does he even exist?!?!? That future was literally destroyed?!?”.

Future Vlad squints at him, looking affronted, “you mean you destroyed my existence too?!?”.

Danny turns to him and waves his hands around wildly, “THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU UNRAVEL TEN YEARS OF TIME! THOSE THINGS AND PEOPLE GO POOF!”.

ClockWork sticks up a finger, “that’s not how time works”.

Danny and both Vlads’ turn to them, both Danny and future Vlad pointing aggressively, “YOU STAY OUT OF THIS! THIS DOESN'T CONCERN YOU!”.  

Nathan mutters, “or the rest of the class apparently”.

ClockWork smirks, “pretty sure the author disagrees on that one”. Everyone squints at them but goes back to bickering. Future Vlad points a little aggressively at Danny, “you were just supposed to fix the past! Not obliterate me!”.

Danny throws his hands up, “sacrifices had to be made! That’s what good guys do!”, gesturing at floor Vlad, “plus! You’re still here! And still A CRAZED UP FRUITLOOPY DICK!”.

Floor Vlad, looking a bit insulted, “language my boy”. Danny just looks down at him and knocks one of the desks on him; some kids water bottle -who the heck uses glass water bottles? Seriously?- smashing apart all over his face.  

Future Vlad pinches his nose and gestures at floor Vlad, looking at Danny, “that’s because he hasn’t been horribly traumatised....yet”.

Floor Vlad sputters, “yet?”, before scrunching up his face and licking his cheek, “is this vodka?”.

Future Vlad glares down at him, “you don’t know suffering”, getting into floor Vlad’s face a little and shaking his finger violently, “you don’t know the meaning of the word”, while Danny mutters, “neither do you, by the way”, future Vlad keeps talking, “and you really think you can collect all these stupid cheese curd plots and not turn yourself into curdled milk?”.

Floor Vlad rolls his eyes, “says the murderer”.

Danny rolls his eyes almost in sync with floor Vlad’s eye-roll, “oh like you haven’t killed anyone”.

Mr. Lancer coughs, “um? There are other people here you know. And some of us don’t appreciate casually talking about murder at-”, glancing at his watch, “-nine a.m. in the morning”.

Floor Vlad glances at him, “no one but us and dear Maddie qualify as people”.

Danny sputters incredulously while ClockWork points at floor Vlad, “and that is not how classifications of species and words work”. No one so much as acknowledges the arguably most power-being ever this time.

Floor Vlad looks back to future Vlad, “and Daniel’s the one that messes everything up. Not me!”, glaring at Danny and muttering, “I would have had a perfectly viable clone otherwise”.

Future Vlad shakes his head and gestures aggressively, “you cloned him?!?!?!”, throwing his hands up and walking around, “this me’s insane! Wonderful!”.

Valerie snickers into her hand, “I want to get involved but...”, before gaping and sputtering incoherently to herself about Dani.

Danny snorts, “you hadn’t already figured that out when he decided to abduct and control the body of the dude who controls time itself and oversees everyone’s futures. A literal living legend and basically a god?”, shrugging and sounding nonchalant, “and yeah, technically we have a kid now. My genetics, but Vlad made her. So technically, we’re both her parents”, kicking floor Vlad, “I should sue you for child support”.

ClockWork nods, “and you would win actually”.  

Danny looks tickled green, while floor Vlad shouts dramatically, “WHAT!?!?!?”. Future Vlad is just walking in a circle throwing his hands out randomly and making faces.

Dash mutters, “I can’t believe I’m saying this but, the damn twinks life would make a great soap opera”. ClockWork smirks ever so slightly at this.

Floor Vlad screws up his face and wiggles in the bindings some before squinting at Danny, “wait a biscuit buttering second, how do you even know about the ghost from the clocktower?”, sputtering and squirming, “how do you know their name?!? Even I didn’t! And you know their powers! Daniel what in the name of Gouda?!?”.

Danny deadpans, “oh don’t you use that tone with me, mister. You’re not my father”. While ClockWork smirks, “my name was actually the first thing he said, you just conveniently ignored that for plot purposes”.

Danny just speaks right over them and gestures at ClockWork, “and of course I do! They’re my Time Daddy!”.

Everyone goes silent immediately and you could hear a pin drop. Instead, a different voice breaks the silence, “wow! Didn’t know you had another dad, son!”.

Both halfas and the ex-halfa turn slowly and look at the doorway, where one Jack Fenton is standing and munching on fudge like he’s engrossed in an intense tv show.

Danny blinks and sputters, “how long have you been there?”.

ClockWork smirks, “since almost the beginning of this fic”. Danny glances at them, “that doesn’t make sense”. ClockWork shrugs, “well the audience might appreciate knowing, and I aim to please”.

Danny speaks thick with enough sarcasm to kill a lesser being twice over, and as if to prove this point floor Vlad starts hacking like someone force-fed him nails, “oH yEaH tHiS hAs BeEn A rEeEeEaAaAaLlLlL pLeAsUrE”, before squinting, “...what audience?”.

Star slams her face into her desk, “oh my Zone, seriously?”.

While Jack pipes up, “since Danno repeated vampire Vlad’s story back to everyone with so much disbelief I really couldn’t bring myself to interrupt”, standing and practically throwing the plate of fudge -having forgotten he even had it- when he throws his hands out to the side.

Mr. Lancer sighs and speaks as the fudge slowly smears down the classroom wall, “this was not in my job description, but thanks for the reminder why I don’t moonlight as a babysitter anymore”.

Jack, sounding way too happy for this situation and oddly not looking angry or even bothered, “and I’ve never heard my boy so passionate before!”, tapping his chin and looking at the two Vlads’, “though I do have to say. What the fuck is wrong with you V-man”.

Danny grumbles, “welcome to the life of having a half-ghost, who’s three nuts short of a fruitcake, that wants to aggressively be your uncle and/or father”, before sputtering incoherently over his dad swearing.

Jack tilts his head, looking like a confused puppy, “but, I’m your dad?”, quirking an eyebrow at ClockWork, “one of your dads?”. ClockWork looks like they just got blessed by a god... a god other than themselves anyway.

While Danny stares down at the floor unsure if he should feel deep horror or boyish wonder. Muttering, “did I just result in ClockWork getting adopted into my family through arguably convoluted and highly illogical means?”.  

ClockWork makes a face that is the closest thing to insulted Danny’s actually seen on their face, “it was my belief we were already kin”.

Danny sputters and waves his hands around erratically, trying desperately to back-pedal, “what, I, er, no, I mean yes! Yes! Totally fam!”.

Valerie can’t help but let out her inner gossip rich girl mode, “ooooooooooo, someone’s in trooooouuuubbbbllllleeee”.

Floor Vlad sputters in utter disbelief, it was he that was supposed to be gaining new family members here! Not that oversized puff pastry! “This, that, THIS IS NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO GO!”.

Future Vlad blinks at Jack, “why are you not freaking out over the ghosts?”.

Star sighs, “are they really just ignoring that none of us have been freaking out?”.

Jack shrugs, “one’s tied up and the other gave me fudge”. Floor Vlad just shrieks in frustration and disbelief. While Danny gives a dramatic thumbs up to ClockWork, even going so far as to use a little ecto-energy to make his thumb sparkle like some anime bullshit.

Future Vlad kicks floor Vlad but speaks to Jack, “well if it’s anything, I’m not a ghost or half of one”.

Multiple people mutter, “half ghosts are a thing?”, while Valerie grins like a loon.

Floor Vlad shrieking, “WHAT?!?!?!”.

Future Vlad looks down at him but points at Danny, “he ripped out and ate Plasmius”.

Mr. Lancer grimaces and has to physically restrain himself from assaulting Kwan when he actually sticks his hand up and asks, “what’d that taste like? You know, for reasons”. No one’s honestly surprised at this point, when the bickering guys’ just act like the entire class are just extras added in after the main plot was established and without the main casts knowledge.

Danny blinks and gestures wildly at his dad, “are we just ignoring the uniformed third partly?!?”.

Mr. Lancer glares, “the class has been here the entire time”.

ClockWork smirks, “Vlad’s the authors' bitch right now so...yes”.

While floor Vlad gapes at Danny, “YOU DID WHAT NOW?!?!?”.

Danny throws his hands up exaggeratedly, “NOT IN THIS TIMELINE!”. While Vlad just quietly sputters about how Daniel could and even would, apparently, eat him. Danny has to severely resist spewing out a list of vore jokes at this. While ClockWork mutters with a smirk, about how the only reasons Danny’s not doing that is because the author’s tired of their phone crashing every time they try to write them.

Future Vlad points aggressively at floor Vlad, “we were the ones who thought ripping out his humanity would be a good idea!”.

Jack adds in some side commentary, “yeah, please don’t do that to my son”.

Floor Vlad mutters at the floor, “I need some bloody scotch”, before looking up at future Vlad and shouting, “WHY WOULD I DO THAT!”.

ClockWork points at floor Vlad, “the vodka hasn’t totally evaporated off your face yet, so you’ve got options. I have no pity for you”.

Floor Vlad glares at them, “I have standards”.

Half the class saying, “you sure about that?”.

Danny and future Vlad respond to floor Vlad in unison, with matching deadpan tones and judgmental facial expressions, “because, for all accounts and purposes, you are a sociopath”.

ClockWork sticks a finger up, “this is not how psychological diagnosis works”, gesturing at the class, “for one, patient confidentiality is a basic prerequisite, not an option”.

Nathan makes a mocked delighted gasp, “did we just get acknowledged?”. While Danny and future Vlad share a look tm.

Floor Vlad sneers, “rather that over an overgrown oaf, a self-sacrificial fool, a weak old man, or whatever is up with the time ghost”.

Danny glares while future Vlad socks floor Vlad in the face for that. Danny off-handed commenting, “‘Observant puppet’ is really the only insult that applies”, looking at ClockWork, “why aren’t the eyeballs up in a tissy about this anyway?”.

ClockWork smirks, “the author has decided they no longer exist”.

Danny blinks, “what kind of power does this ‘author’ have????”.

ClockWork mutters ominously, “the ability to outrun writers' block...for now”.

Danny ignores ClockWork out of slight horror and feeling like someone’s threatening him with another? dissection fic if he doesn’t stop encouraging ClockWork to derail the plot. Turning his attention to the two Vlads’ just in time to catch Valerie getting up and smacking both Vlads’ over the head, which just turns into an all-out fistfight. Well okay, floor Vlad is just squirming in his bindings and kicking like a feral rabbit, but still.

Valerie steps back and nudges Danny with a wily smirk, “who you wanna bet on to win?”.

Danny snorts, “future Vlad, based on sheer tenacity”.

ClockWork smirks and points a finger at the ceiling, “that’s my bet”, another portal opening up and yet another Vlad falling through and landing on the two others in a heap; knocking all three out, floor Vlad finally transforming back human. Danny looks to them, “the fuck is wrong with you?”.

While Maddie’s voice mutters from the doorway, “oh my Zone, Vlad?!?!”. Standing next to her is yet another interviewer from Genius Magazine: For Women Geniuses, By Women Geniuses; who slowly lifts up her phone and snaps a photo, while patting the pocket where her recorder is.

The next day Danny inexplicably gets pelted in the face -which, coming full circle, predictably stabs him in the eye in the process- by a magazine as soon as he steps through Mr. Lancer’s classroom doorway. Danny just lets it flop onto the floor unceremoniously, due to his veins being clean out of the consciousness juice that was Red Bull and thus incapable of caring about those pesky things called reflexes.

Danny sighs down at the abused magazine while slowly and dramatically covering his right eye. Sighing even louder at the cover somehow making everyone but the Vlads’ look kinda hot and ClockWork just being a black hole with a wicked grin -how they still seemed visually attractive is beyond Danny’s comprehension. The title reading ‘[REDACTED] Ghosts, Time Travel, And Illegal Cloning. Oh My!’, with the wonderful subtitle of ‘What Happens When Science Grows Fangs!’, and the sub-subtitle of ‘See Some Scientific Sin!’.

Danny’s sure the ‘[REDACTED]’ has something to do with ClockWork and them messing with an entire companies autocorrect function, but he decidedly doesn’t want to know.

Wes kicking in the classroom door seconds later only to pelt Danny with yet another copy of the magazine and shriek, “WHY!?!?!?! WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME!?!?!?!”.

Danny looks down at the magazine, which magically opened up to the page with the article when it landed, and snorts. It looked like someone had applied ‘[REDACTED]’ on the paper very liberally and with a pepper grinder. Danny then slowly turns and points at Wes with a massive shit-eating grin, “that’s what you get for being weak enough to fall victim to flu season. Sleepy sniffling sleuths earn no secrets”.

At this, the whole class laughs like they’re just a laugh track and an edited in fake audience.

END.

[supermarvelgirl15]

One Man Band

Summary: Dean Winchester has played in the Los Angeles for a couple years, trying to get a break through with his music. He always felt like he was missing a melody in his life. That was until he possibly found someone to sing the tune.

Pairing: AU!Dean × OC Faith Ramsey (reader)

Word Count: 1,526

Warnings: None

A/N: Hi! This is my first one shot on here, so I apologise for any mistakes. Feedback is welcome! This is based off the song One Man Band by Old Dominion. Enjoy!

××××××

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Dean groans as he sits up in his Impala, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He reaches for his phone on the dash and turns the alarm off. It was six thirty in the morning, giving Dean time to get ready for one of the busiest times of the day in Los Angeles.

Stepping out of his beloved car, he stretches out all of his limbs. Dean takes a deep breath as he looks around the parking garage that he had stayed the night in. Since the only way he earned money was from playing his guitar, he didn't have enough to buy a place to stay in a city such as Los Angeles, so his car would have to do.

He climbs back into his car and cranks it up, Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl blasting on the radio. Dean flinches slightly at the volume as he quickly turns it down. He changes the station until he finds a song the satisfies him before he pulls off.

Dean later pulls up to a familiar place with the lit up sign that reads ‘Benny's Café’. After he parks his car, he walks into the cafe, smelling the delicious breakfast that was being prepared in the kitchen. He sits in his regular seat, which was a corner booth, as he pulls out his notebook that was filled with songs that was written by him from his bag.

“Good mornin’, Winchester. I see that you're just in time to help clean the place before the morning rush comes through.” The chef and owner, Benny, says as he steps out of the kitchen.

Dean shakes his head, smiling slightly, before he looks up at his friend. “This place would be dirty as hell if it weren't for me,” Dean jokes as he stands up from his seat, closing his secretive notebook.

Benny shakes Dean's hand as he walks to the counter. “You might be right about that, brother. You know where the rag is, get to it,” Benny calls as he returns back to the kitchen.

Dean walks behind the counter to grab the rag and bucket, filling it up with clean water. He cleans the counter before he makes his round to each table. When he finishes, he washes the rag out and cleans himself up just as Benny turns on the neon open sign.

“Here's the usual,” Benny states as he lays down a plate of eggs, bacon, and hash browns, along with a black coffee. Dean mutters a thank you before digging into his delicious breakfast.

Under his coffee, he finds a twenty dollar bill. “Benny, we agreed that...”

“I know, I know. Just call it a head start on today's pay at the subway,” Benny interrupts. He waves off Dean's protesting as he welcomes the customers that had just walked in.

After finishing his breakfast, Dean puts his things back into his backpack and hesitantly slips the twenty into his pocket. Throwing his bag over his shoulder, he waves goodbye to Benny. “Better see ya tomorrow, bright and early. Unless you finally get a gig somewhere,” Benny calls out. “That'll be the day,” Dean calls back before he walks out the door.

It was a little after seven o'clock when Dean arrived at the subway. He grabbed his guitar and stool out of the backseat before he made his way to his normal spot, laying out his guitar case in front of him. He placed the stool down to sit on as he began to tune his guitar.

People rushed passed him to get to their designations, some pushing and shoving. The city was a weird place to live when someone like him lived in a place like Lawrence, Kansas all of his life. However, the more people there were, the higher the chance of getting paid.

Dean begun to strum the chords to Always by Bon Jovi. He took a couple breaths before he sang the first verse. “This Romeo is bleeding, but you can't see his blood...”

Four Hours Later...

Around fifty, maybe sixty, bucks laid in his open guitar case. A couple of people that were waiting for their train had stop to listen to him, and an elderly woman complemented his playing and singing abilities. It was sometime after eleven, but Dean felt exhausted. Doing the same routine everyday was starting to get dull.

Dean grabbed his water bottle and took a swig out of it. The somewhat cool water was refreshing as it went down his throat. He decided that maybe one more song wouldn't hurt, then he would be back in time for rush hour that late afternoon.

Picking his guitar back up, he strummed some random chords, waiting for a song to come to him. Maybe some Lynyrd Skynyrd would do the trick.

He picked the strings to the melody of one song that he had played what felt like a thousand times over the years. However, before he could start with the verse, someone had beat him to it.

“If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?”

Dean immediately stopped playing, scanning the subway to find the voice that had mesmerized him. Across from him was a woman with a Virginia Cavaliers football hoodie, singing the song that he was previously playing.

“For I must be traveling on now, ’cause there's too many places I've got to see.”

She was singing aloud, a melody obviously playing in her head. A tin box was on the ground in front of her, so she was here for the same reason Dean was.

Before he even knew it, he picked up from where she had left off in the song, and started strumming it.

“But if I stayed here with you, girl, things just couldn't be the same.”

It was her who stopped this time to see who had joined her on her singing. She looked around until she made eye contact with Dean, smiling slightly to herself. They silently made the agreement to continue it together.

“’Cause I'm a free as a bird now, and this bird, you cannot change.”

They both continued to sing the song together, sometimes taking turns. Strangers would had thought that they had sung this song multiple times together before. People had stopped to listen to them, and it was the biggest crowd of people that Dean had gained for an audience.

Bills had found their way into both Dean's guitar case and the woman's tin box. This was the most money Dean had made on one song alone.

When the song came to an end, the crowd cheered them on, and Dean felt like he was on top of the world. He looked across to see the woman smiling, and God, it was breathtaking.

Soon after, the crowd had dispersed, and Dean had to talk to the woman that started the same melody as him. It would be idiotic if he didn't. He quickly put all the money in his bag, where it would wait until it was counted later, and placed his guitar into it's case. Dean ran his fingers into his hair to fix it up some and took a deep breath before walking over to her.

“That was... awesome,” Dean complimented her, mentally cringing at himself. The woman smiled up at him. “Yeah, I know. You can play the guitar very well. And your singing isn't too bad either,” she replied as she picked up her tin box.

Dean set down his guitar and stuck out his hand. “My name's Dean Winchester,” he introduced himself. The woman gladly shook his outstretched hand. “Faith Ramsey.”

“So, I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new in town?” Dean questions as he picks up his guitar. “Yeah, just got here a couple days ago. I've been trying to get here for a little over a year now,” Faith answers, shrugging slightly.

Dean gives her a sympathetic smile. “It's not all what it's cut out to be, is it?”

Faith sighs and nods, putting her tin box in her backpack. “But hey, I did just have a mini concert with a stranger I met in the subway. I'd call that a win," she smiles at him. Dean shakes his head, chuckling to himself. “I'd call that a win, too,” he says.

She throws her bag over her shoulder, looking down the poorly lit subway. “I guess I'll see you around, Dean. It was nice meeting you. Maybe we can do it again someday?” Faith says, looking back at him.

Dean's face falls a little, but he hides the disappointment that follows. “Yeah, maybe,” he replies. Faith gives him one last smile before she heads down the subway to the stairs that lead up to the unforgiving city.

As Dean watched her walk away, lyrics filled his mind. He didn't know where they came from, but he would have to write them down when he gets back to his car.

I found you like a melody

You were singin’ in the same key as me

We had ’em dancin’ in the streets

××××××

[adriellej]

Hidden In The Stables - part 2

Pairings: No pairing

Characters: Jo Harvelle, Jensen Ackles,

Summary:  Working in a big stable with expensive horses and brilliant riders is a great job. The wish to ride for such a stable is big, and maybe that day is closer than you thought.

Warnings: Don’t think there is any, maybe a little condescending way of being from one of the characters, but that’s it. 

Word count: +1.7

A/N: Sorry it has taken so long with the second part! But it’s here now!! I promise I will try and do a little better, but with my studies it can be difficult, but I try! As always the beautiful and awesome @hiddenwritingsintheworld​ was my beta on this! 

Mucking out stalls were a big part of your job. Doing it in the heat of the summer, was definitely not your favourite part. In fact your favourite part of the job was turning the horses in and out, and the rare times you had, watching the riders train the horses. Not one horse was alike, no stallions or mares resembled one another. 

Making your way down the line you thought about how amazing it would be to be one of the riders, and not the stablehand. Riding in the big arenas, at the big competition on a big beautiful horse, who was trained to be a part of the elite; more specifically Ahearn. The dark liver chestnut stallion was beautiful and powerful. His gait was big and rounded, and he had temper just how you liked it. Back home you had worked with a lot of different horses, but they were for the cowboys and the drive of cattles. Here it was show jumping and dressage, the dance of the horse sport. 

“Hey Y/N, when you’re done cleaning this stall, could you finally take the time to turn out my horse?” Isabella, one of the most winning riders, asked as she gestured with her hand and a grimace when saying the word cleaning. 

“Yes, of course ma’am. I am sorry I haven’t gotten around to it,” you excused yourself even though you wanted to tell her to stick it up her ass and do it herself. It was your job, even for the most prestigious and stuck up people, who treated you like you were a nobody. You put the fork in the wheelbarrow. “I’ll get to it right away,” you said walking out of the stall and towards a horse named Buckshot Brandy. 

“Well thank you,” Isabella said putting her nose in the air as she turned and walked away. Brandy was a mesmerizing mare, her golden colour had a shine that none of the other horses had. She was kind, always seeking out attention, treats and kisses. 

“Hey there Brans,” you said smiling as she whinnied happily and stuck her muzzle up to your cheek. “I know, I know, I’ve missed you too,” you laughed gently stroking her head before putting her halter on her and a leadrope. “C’mon girl, let’s get you out, what ya say?” You looked questioningly at her as she sighed as answer. 

Walking towards one of the pastures with Brandy you saw Jo Harvelle riding one of the jumpers. Jo had chosen to take in a dark dapple grey gelding who was a bit of a project. He was supposed to be a showjumper, except he didn’t exactly feel like jumping, and the owner wasn’t too happy about it. Which was what led Jo to take him in and train him.

“Here we go Brandy,” you said as you pulled off her halter, and Brandy ran off to enjoy getting her legs stretched and graze. “Might as well take a break from the stables,” you spoke to yourself as you walked towards the jumping arena. The gelding had a big gait, fiery and fast that made it difficult for Jo to keep him in a good stride. The distances fitted poorly no matter how much Jo tried to keep him back. After several failed jumps Jo took him down to a walk to let him breathe. 

“Still not getting anywhere with him?” You asked from the sideline, and Jo turned her head towards you and let out a small laugh. 

“Damn Y/N, you scared the crap out of me,” she laughed as she gave the gelding a stroke. You and Jo had been good friends since the day you started your job here. “But no, unfortunately I can’t get him to work with me, and I am about to be at a loss of what to do,” she let her head hang a little in disappointment. “I am not sure I can help him, Y/N,” Jo’s voice was laced with sadness. She hated not being able to help the horses she trained, especially on this level kind of horses. If they didn’t live up to their expectations, their owners would be more than likely to sell them, often to places who pushed them too hard. 

“I know it’s not my place, but maybe he just wants a break, and a run?” You questioned. “From looking at him, he looks like he wants to just run for it, and seems to get sorta pissed at you for holding him back,” you laughed as you remembered how he had lifted his head, taken the bit and ran more when Jo pulled a little on the reins. 

“Hmm… could you saddle up Blue?” She asked you with a smirk on her face. Seemingly having a big plan. 

“Uh yeah, sure I can do that,” you smiled and nodded as you walked towards the part of the stables where Blue Jeans stood. Blue Jeans was Jo’s own horse, a small jumper, but despite his size, he won most of the competitions they entered in. He easily jumped 1.50 meters, and he was fast.  “Hey Blue,” you said as you got close to his stall, and he popped out his head to look at you. Your hand gently stroked his muzzle before you went to the tackroom to get his saddle and bridle. 

“Okay, here ya go Jo,” you said walking Blue Jeans out of the doors to the stable. 

“He isn’t for me, I can’t ride two horses at the same time,” she laughed and you looked confused. “He is for you, silly,” Jo broke out laughing. 

“What? Me? But you don’t even know how I ride…” you mumbled. Not that you didn’t want to ride him, more that you were afraid of missing it too much once you got back and you couldn’t ride anymore. 

“I know for a fact that you trained and broke in several horses back at your home. So get your ass in the saddle,” she smiled. You stretched out your arm with the reins, indicating you wanted Jo to take the reins. She did with a confused look and was about to speak, when you ran off, shortly after coming back with your dusty helmet. 

“I took this with me, hoping I could get to a point where I could get to ride,” you smiled taking back the reins, pulling them over Blue’s head, before putting your foot in the stirrup and getting in the saddle. “Now shall we go?” You smiled widely, feeling how much you had missed sitting on the back of a horse. Jo laughed and nudged Atlas, the gelding, in the sides, indicating for him to walk forward. 

After walking the horses a good 15 minutes you turned onto a big field. Hearing the grass bend under the horses’ hooves and weight was a sound you had soon missed. The feeling of being rocked back and forth from the movements of the back. You loved every part of it, taking in every moment and sense of it. 

“Wanna give him a little trot before we try something?” Jo asked, and you looked at her with christmas lights in your eyes. You gave a big nod as response and nudged Blue forward, changing his gait into a trot quickly adjusting to the rhythm of his movements under you. Though he was a small horse, his gait fitted perfectly to him, but his steps were long, a lot longer than you had expected them to be. He was easy to ride, stayed with you all the way, working on the bit not at all going above the bit like Atlas. After a good five minutes of trotting, you turned to Jo. 

“God, I have missed sitting on a horse,” you said smiling from ear to ear, as you stroked Blue Jeans’ neck and letting him walk. 

“I want to try something, if you put Blue into a gallop, and Atlas and I will follow you. Okay?” Jo questioned you, and you were more excited than ever. Even though it had been a long time since you had ridden, it was like riding a bike, you hadn’t forgotten anything. 

“Sure, first one to get to the end wins!” you said as you nudged Blue Jeans’ sides, he replied to your signal with silence. Just as you were about to get confused, Blue Jeans leapt forward into a full gallop, catching you off guard. You quickly regained a proper balance, and laughed as Blue Jeans’ legs moved in a high speed beneath you. He was fast for his small size, though not as fast as Atlas. You thought you had left Jo and Atlas behind, just as Atlas came running full speed past you, ears forward and stretching out his long legs. Jo turned her head back towards you.

“Guess I am winning!” She yelled from in front of you. 

“Not on my watch,” you said to yourself. “C’mon Blue!” You encouraged the little black horse, and he sped up even more. You gained slightly on Atlas, but as Atlas saw Blue Jeans getting closer he gave even more of himself, loving the racing, and staying in the lead. 

--- Jensen’s P.O.V. ---

Jensen walked out from the rider’s lounge and towards Ahearn’s stall, taking a bite of the apple in his hand. As he walked his attention got taken away from loud laughter further down the stable’s land, and onto a field. Two riders were racing each other in one of the big fields belonging to the stables. One Jensen recognised as Jo on the project horse she had taken in, and if Jensen wasn’t wrong the other horse was Blue Jeans. 

“Who is riding Blue?” Jensen asked himself as he watched in awe at the control the rider had of the high speed the two were riding. As they were galloping back towards the stables, he got impressed by the posture and balance on the supposedly unknown rider. “She is good,” he said impressed. “Though a tad bit crazy,” he chuckled to himself as he took another bite of the apple, and continued his walk towards Ahearn. 

------

Tags: @thing-you-do-with-that-thing, @winchesterswoonathon, @for-the-love-of-dean, @ellen-reincarnated1967​, @teamfreewill-imagine​, @deascheck​, @hiddenwritingsintheworld​, @impalapossible​, @sis-tafics​, @deanwinchester-af, @talesoftheimpala​, @ilostmyshoe-79​, @unadulteratedstorycollector​, @loveitsallineed, @faith-in-dean​, @mrswhozeewhatsis​, @curliesallovertheplace​, @random-fandom-fangirl2112​, @sandlee44​ (sorry it took so long)

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff’s Best of 2018

WARNING: I just want to say cheers to you for making it through another year. I send you best wishes for next year to be fruitful. Thank you, take care out there, and enjoy.

Dedicated to Stan Lee, Stefán Karl and Stephen Hillenburg, the number ones of children entertainment

Bow Whacka Wow, playas and players. 2018 gave us quite a lot to consume while society continues to fumble like a Tumblr update. While hopefully the chaos has died down for the final weeks of the year, I’m counting down the best cartoons/animations I’ve seen and loved this year in no particular order. Only two rules, no sneak previews of future projects (sorry 101 Dalmatian Street and MP100) and no potential entries from last year’s list (sorry True). With that said, roll it....

10. UNIKITTY!

I love the Lego Movie. I’ll potentially like the sequel. I like Unikitty. She got a show, and it was a great show to start off the year. Upbeat, colorful, off the walls sometimes, perfectly capturing the spirit of the eponymous character. I’m glad the other characters are just as enjoyable, I never get tired of the theme song, every episode had me smilin’ one way or another, it’s just a quality bottle of positivity juice. Don’t know how else to explain it, Unikitty, the show and character, just makes and continues to make me smile.

9. POP TEA-- SIKE!

This anime ain’t nothing but unfunny randomness and skits with a forgetful arc in the first and final episode. I don’t get it, never gonna get it, so I don’t want to get it! MORE LIKE POOP TEAM EPIC, ‘nuff said. Which is why the actual number nine is....

9. BOB EPIC TEAM

Honestly, there is something endearing about the way Bob Epic Team presents itself. The simplicity and variety of its animation is remarkably good and makes it feel timeless sometimes. The comedy works in a way that gives you a clear grasp on the two characters while letting them do whatever they want. The surrealism of this is fun to think about, showcasing a hedonistic philosophy that rivals that of Epicurus. The duo’s chemistry is what especially got me, as they felt like the best of friends, potentially love birds *wink wink*. This anime was just creative in every sense of the word and, like Unikitty, it was a great anime to start of the year.

8. CRAIG OF THE CREEK

The ska is RAH. I honestly find this to be the loose spiritual successor to Hey Arnold and Recess. Like the playground, the creek is a well fleshed out setting with the many characters that hang there, from the TAZ trio to the loving witches of the creek. Though I will say the best episodes are when we get insight on the main three’s personal lives with their families and when the characters themselves go through a personal trial to understand themselves a little better. The shows thrives in the theme that the creek is a place where you can enjoy getting your hands dirty and work towards something you want, even if it doesn’t add to any concrete long term benefit beyond learning a thing or two about yourself and others. And I say for somebody that relates to Craig as a character, that’s a welcoming thought that the show has yet to perish. And the ska is a welcome choice of music, IMO.

7. THE EPIC TALES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS

It’s funny in how a little over a year of getting a movie, Captain Underpants gets an animated series with not only original stories in lieu of just animating the already printed stories, but puts it all in a format similar to reading a book with a sardonic narrator and separating the plot of the episode into chapters with subtitle cards; one of the first I’ve seen do this. But really, a “Captain Underpants cartoon” is something I can’t say would turn out bad, and I’m right as this is a show that revels in what made CU great in the first place. George, Harold, Melvin, and Mr. Krupp/Captain Underpants are all great characters with the additional supporting cast providing welcome life to the world. Every Incredible Violence Chapter is brilliant in their own right, and while I wasn’t a fan of the ending they had for the season, it’s great that almost every episode is self-contained, boosting its replay value. Honestly, any compliment I have for this was already said in my review of this and the movie, so I’ll just say this too was faithful to its source material and benefited heavily for it.

6. GARY AND HIS DEMONS

Rick and Morty done better. BOOM, send tweet! It is safe to say that this was quite the sleeper hit and I can’t help but say it’s lowkey one of the best adult cartoons this year next to Ballmastrz and Final Space. And while I certainly appreciate the other two *hint hint* this one got a step above on the grounds that it works as a comedy and a solemn tale of a chosen hero that stumbles through years in the office life. It’s improv humor feels natural and it can be as melancholic as Bojack Horseman without making it all too deep like so; has a great balance of both. Main man Gary, unlike Rick for the most part, is a guy that’s both reasonably reprehensible yet pretty relatable. Not to mention, while it was bittersweet, it had a very satisfying finale to where I feel like this was a complete series all together. With a rough art style that compliments it’s tone, this was a series that surprised me in its sharp quality.

5. APPLE & ONION

I’ll admit. Initially wasn’t a fan of it as it felt like a knock-off to Regular Show (may it rest). Just had a duo of bros living together, doing mundane labor while coming up with impromptu tunes along the way. Then again, I was gladly proven wrong because the charm of it generally being a simple show, even with every person being food, somehow more regular than Regular Show. Every song they make is upbeat and catchy, all of the characters are endearing, and with only 10 episodes, each one was well paced and had quality writing to the point where I teared up a couple times. It stinks that this and Summer Camp Island have generally been receiving the shaft this year after their premieres, but I'm just glad that they haven’t been truly forgotten by CN and are getting more episodes next year. Plus, I love food and this show is about food. Debate over.

4. LEGEND OF THE THREE CABALLEROS

I was familiar yet never saw The Three Caballeros, ironic since Donald is one of my favorite Disney characters. But then, out of the blue, I found this and I was stunned, amazed, confused, nonetheless invested. It has a bumpy start, but it’s a joyous adventure from that start to end. The look of it is something I’ve rarely seen in animation since... freakin’ Wakfu. I love Xandra and I was glad to see her be an active player on the team. The villains are such a hammy delight. And Jose and Panchito were very lively and entertaining foils to Donald’s cynic nature while all three work as well together like the 3 stooges. Donald himself gets a great arc of his own throughout the season. And the theme, HO MY GOD I LOVE THIS THEME! It’s a damn shame Disney hasn’t released this already (since it’s all online already) because this series is much better than it has any right to be.

3. GOLDEN WIND/VENTO AUREO

I say, the beauty of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is that regardless of what part you start from, you’re enthralled into its world and ya feel compelled to dig into it more. Parts 3 was what got me into Jojo, like most I bet, but it was part 5 that got me “Oh yeah, this series [just] works on more than level”. The characters are what keep me hooked, regardless of Crunchyroll refusing to give their stands proper English names [Zipper Man, CR?], Fighting Gold and Freak ‘n You will never get old, and David Productions putting great effort into the small details and giving life and style to the original manga. I’ll just say, as one who’s read and loved the manga, this anime has not ceased to keep me impressed and guessing for more.

2. INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Funking superb, you afro having web-slinger. I hate to say it, but 2018 didn’t have the most impressive line-up of western animated features. Most were average, entertaining sure, but nothing felt like 110% was given. Until Spidah-Man came on the scene and I was like “WIG...

The only major problem I have with this film, besides a bit of slow pacing, is more of a missed opportunity where the stakes of getting the Spidermen back to their dimensions before dying felt like an afterthought. Then again, that’s ALL I have for problems. It looks fantastic. The action is smooth, coherent, and satisfying to see. The tiny details and comic book aesthetic of it was a blessed touch. I loved almost every character here. Nick Cage and John Mulaney. The fact that it has so much yet was able to juggle it all blew my mind. Even the post credits scene made this such a love letter to the wall-crawler. This film was refreshing to say the least and the central theme behind the idea of Spider-Man made this as great of a superhero movie as Infinity War and Lego Batman. Just saying, this better make its budget back and THEN SOME. It deserves it.

1. HILDA

Netflix, we’re not on good terms mind you, but ya done did it again. This is honestly one of the few shows that I genuinely took my time with as opposed to binging it, because binge watching is a devil in itself. Like the Spider-verse movie, it got the style of its source material down to cozy colored T with its autumn color palette and etched lining in the characters. Like the Captain Underpants series, while having a grounded arc of Hilda journeying through the city life and her colliding wildlife, each episode can be generally be enjoyed on their own. Like Gary and His Demons, it felt like a complete season and the fact it’s getting a season two made things all the better. But above all, it was a generally peaceful yet captivating fantasy cartoon to watch with incredible animation, an endearing main character, amazing looking folk creatures of all sizes and powers, and a cuddly deerfox for a pet. I say this is to the fall what Harvey Beaks was to the spring, and if I can compare a show to Harvey Beaks you know you’ve achieved greatness. Like True and the Rainbow Kingdom, gives you a moment of honest bliss and happiness that can influence your outlook on looking forward to better things because like Hilda herself, you push forward and have some fun exploring.

Just saying, I cannot stress this enough this is NOT my number one favorite show of the year, hell of all time. THAT goes to....

1. 👏TEEN 👏TITANS 👏GO, BABEEEEEEY!!

ONCE AGAIN, Teen Titans GO reigns supre-- Huh, what’s that? Oh my god, you’re serious?! The Number One is

TOTAL DRAMARAMA OUT OF NOWHERE! IT IS NOW CARTOON NETWORK’S ‘NEW FAVORITE SHOW’.

THE STREAK *DING DING DING* IS OVER

[marveling-chrisevans]

What If - Winners Meeting

Chris Evans x OFC Chapter Four - 1050 words

Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Warnings: None as of right now but won’t saying there will be none later. Summary: What if. What if you out of the blue and on an impulse applied for a contest, and what if you won that. What if you met someone who didn’t know you existed, and what if you asked them for a drink after.  What if this impulse changed your entire life.  ** note I didn’t win so I don’t know how all this would go down but this would be how I would have loved it to happen.. the first chapter completely happened.. the texts might not be the same. But it happened** Tag List: @smoothdogsgirl @torntaltos @patzammit – If you wanna be tagged just make a comment below and I am happy to do that or just DM me, whichever

**A/N: I made a thing for this. so ill be uploading this along with it. From now going forward. Hope you enjoy this part -- AuroraBurrows is my wattpad and AO3 name.. if you wanna go find me in both places.. I have other stories and such on there.. just FYI 

About 10 mins later. Faith was pacing like she was a rat stuck in some sort of box. She got it they didn't want to worry about random people wondering around and getting lost and causing problems. They were right down the hall from where she could hear everyone shouting to get peoples attention. Rose looked at faith as she leaned against the wall "would you calm down, because we just met Anthony and Sebastian.. and those blue eyes in person with that baby blue suit already got me dead.." She said honestly Faith laughed as she looked over at rose and walked over and hugged her best friend "you damn well know you want that.." She whispered in her ear as they were in public she didn't want it to get really awkward. Which caused them both to laugh even louder and Rose push faith away. Faith kept laughing as she between laughs "you know I don't lie" she said as she sat in one of the chairs as the hander came back "and Chris, your winner of Omaze is right here." Faith quickly got up when she heard Chris. She wiped her eyes from the tears that had formed in them from laughing "uh hi, yes thats me, sorry uh, im faith" she said as she went for a hand shake cause she felt awkward "and this is my friend Rose, she came with me on said trip," she introduced them "i saw you guys on the carpet earlier" Chris smiled at them "im glad you guys are here, to see the movie live with the rest of us for the first time" He shrugged Faith smiled "yeah im not much about doing what im told so we escaped and Anthony gave us the tour and told us to behave.. and brought us back here.." She said honestly and bite the inner part of her lip "i try and talk her out of the crazy stuff going on in here" Rose replied poking Faith in the head "but it does not work, but its really nice to meet you, She is a huge fan, and an even bigger fan of Captain America" Rose replied Chris smiled "well how about we go for a walk, into the theatre, take a few pictures, and get ready for the movie. Make sure everything is set, and go from there?" He said cause ya know the movie was going to start soon" "Oh of course, and you have to make me a promise if I cry you are taking me out to a drink later" Faith smirked and held her hand out like a hand shake on it "well how about I do that either way then?" Chris smiles at her and took her hand "I love your dress by the way" he smiled and spun her around like the gentleman that he was. To get the full affect of it

Anthony walked up and looked at Chris "what are you doing with my girls, hands to your self Evans" Mackie walks up and puts his arm around Rose "come on we got a movie to see if I die or not in" he smirked cause he just as well didn't know what entirely happened.. jk he did but he wasn't going to tell them how it worked Sebastian who was walking behind Mackie "oh shut up you know what happens. You only filmed it, don't lie to the poor girl" Chris smiled as he held his hand out to Faith "alright come on my lady I guess that is our queue that the movie is going to start" he said back to her as the group of them walked into the theatre. Faith and Rose found their seats in the middle of the seating area. The two watched the 3 men walk toward the front of the stage, and the directors came out and did some talking with the producers and then the movie started to play.. The girls had all the emotions during this movie. They laughed. They cried. They screamed. The just after the movie was over sat they are expecting something else to happen. How could the last 10 years end like that.   The cast got up on the stage after the showing was over. Everyone was stalking and discussing the movie. The lights lite up the audience and faith looked over at rose seeing they were both making sure their little bit of make up we're not running. Just as the actors started to talk and Robert thanking everyone for the past 10 years. Faith locked eyes with Chris. Even from a distance they had a connection that wasn't breakable. Rose pushed Faith and Faith quickly broke her gaze with Chris and looked at Rose as she spoke "did you not hear what I just said?" She asked her friend "uh nope you are going to have to repeat what you just said" Faith said honestly as she whispered back "i said if we do go out with Chris, we should see if Sebastian and Anthony wanna come, I mean do I wanna climb Sebastian like a tree.. Yes will this be my only chance.. Maybe so I don't know" Rose said with a smirk Faith couldn't help but laugh a little louder than she was suppose to and quickly covered her mouth "oh god" She bite her lip as Chris kept watching her as she could see the smile grow on his face when he heard her laugh at a moment that wasn't the best for it. After the little conference, everyone started to get up and leave, The girls let everyone else who wanted to get out first go, because people were like trying to run out the door, to use the bathroom. The Girls just stayed talking to themselves until they heard a voice "so I think I owe you that drink" Chris said as he walked up to them with only a few people remaining in the theatre "did someone say drink. I am so in, HEY SEABASS YOU IN FOR A DRINK" Anthony said walking up behind Rose Rose jumped as she wasn't paying attention to the other side of her "God damn make a noise would you just MAKE A NOISE!"

[awfully-sadistic]

Having a holly, jolly Christmas

Because it’s the best time of the year!

I don’t know if there’ll be snow,

But have a cup of cheer!

Silent Night Vector Hyllus did not know what Christmas was and even less about what it stood for. Coming from a time where the galaxy and everything that happened in it happened a very “long time ago” and “far, far away” one could argue that he didn’t have to. It wasn’t like it was celebrated in any of the planets he had known and it made less sense to try to understand it since joining the hive mind and becoming Dawn Herald for an alien race that looked like giant ants known as Killiks. It just seemed so insignificant given the race had no use for human holidays and thus, Vector remained in ignorance for a very long time as he remained as one with the hive. 

Each and every Killik were in mental contact with one another, however, far away from the hive mind now, far away from any duties where he had nearly nothing to do but learn about different cultures and customs, Vector had gotten curious. The Haushold provided so many new experiences, rich, that he thought even exploring the galaxy couldn’t prepare him for the things he had seen in the Family. He was a silent observer, noting things, taking in everything with those seemingly lifeless blackened eyes and almost stoic expression.

Right now, those black eyes were trained on Dot. She was opening a gift that had been offered to her despite sitting in a wealth of presents from others who have known her longer, more intimately.

Yet, she was opening a gift from him.

The concept of gift exchanging was not as foreign as the concept of Christmas. Killiks had their own customs but he didn’t think she’d appreciate rubbing their forearms together. Or appreciate what others had called his “bug milk”, he hadn’t wanted to make a bad impression on her.

“We had hoped you liked it.” Vector finally spoke in that peculiar way that he does; when he speaks, he speaks in a soothing tone and for the hive he has joined with. Even far away.

Dot pulled an intricately designed necklace from the box, stunned by the exotic beauty of something she knew had to come from another galaxy. There were stones on it she’s never seen before and couldn’t even begin to describe. “It’s... beautiful,” she admired, unable to take her eyes off the way the gems glittered, shifted, twinkled. It sounds like a song, almost.

“We are glad.” Vector replied. It might have sounded like an ordinary statement but the way his shoulders relaxed showed Dot he had been holding onto tension based on her reaction. “We think the sound reminds us of The Song of the Universe; more specifically, we think it reminds us of your part.”

“Song?” Dot asked, looking up in a startled expression. “My? Wait, what does that mean?”

And Vector smiled softly, anxious in his own way to talk to her about this mysterious melody that was created by all living things with a part to play. He especially wanted to share what he thought about hers.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

“Your name is Carol. How can you not know Christmas carols?”

“I’m going to give you ten seconds to get out of my face before I send you to another dimension like I did with Tony.” 

Carol Danvers and Jason Todd were staring down at each other; both with big personalities and headstrong stubbornness that could out-mule any jackass in the Haus. This wasn’t anything mean-spirited but more that everyone had a lot to drink and manners were becoming unhinged.

Unfortunately, with huge personalities and clashing egos, a lot of manners would be unhinged. It was also an interesting mix considering the Marvel side and the DC side mingled quite well with one another. Too many people were like two sides on the same coin. It was nuts but it would also take a charging rhino to break up anyone (or these two) when they got going. 

Most of the time, it would end up with Carol as the victor because... she really was incredibly stronger than Jason (or nearly anyone else for that matter). Yet Jason was as stubborn as Ripley had been during the first merging month with Atamu, trying to get the jump on him.

Dot sat in her booth staring at the two with her mouth posed around a straw. She was drinking a milkshake and there was no way she was going to be stepping into that argument.

Well, at least until Carol made the first attempt to send Jason Todd bam, pow, straight to the moon. So, she decided to step in with a harmless statement.

“What carols do you know, Jason?” she smiled around the straw as Jason’s head whipped around, searching the crowd before they settled on Dot. Immediately, he got a lazy grin on his face and it seemed like he forgot he was talking to Carol. He came strolling over, sliding into the booth next to her.

Unfortunately for him, Carol followed. She slid in on Dot’s other side, effectively trapping the girl between the two; something... she really didn’t think through despite only a few moments ago deciding not to... be in the middle of them.

“I know lots,” he boasted.

Carol wasn’t buying it. “You do, do ya? Then how come you were makin’ a big fucking stink about me singing carols?” she asked, wrapping an arm around Dot’s shoulders and tugging her onto her side (of the argument). “Why didn’t you just sing somethin’?”

Jason’s expression deadpanned; one, he knew what Carol was doing and two, who invited her?! But as Jason was going to find out, no one invited Carol. She came because she wanted to, IF she wanted to. And Dot was around so duh, of course she was here.

“JARVIS, give me a Christmas carol.” Jason stated before the A.I. asked, “And what would you like to listen to, sir?”

Carol wasn’t even trying to hide the grin splitting her face. It was apparent Jason had just expected JARVIS to just play a carol over the loud speaker. Dot was trying to be a lot more polite though, clearing her throat and glancing up at her Mommy.

“...Any... one of them,” Jason said through grit teeth.

“Yeah, but which one?” Carol asked before JARVIS could play something, thus bailing Jason out. She was giving Dot a wink, one that Jason caught and Dot giggled at. They both knew he was more or less had--Jason didn’t know a damn carol even if it bit him in the butt... or sent him into another dimension.

“SOMETHING SOMETHING, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS, DAMN.”

Carol burst out laughing and Dot found herself doing the same. JARVIS, sounding like an unappreciated Alfred sighed and played a random carol that did, in fact, talk about Jesus.

O Come All Ye Faithful

“He’s... where and doing what?” Dot asked, unbelieving but at the same time, not surprised. It was a weird combination considering she had tried to be optimistic about it and figured it would be the one time Wesker wasn’t hiding down in the lab basements missing all the festivities and mingling with Family on Christmas. He’s been with everyone for HOW long and he’s still acting like an anti-social butthead?!

Jake rubbed a hand on his closely shaven head; at least he had been in the festive mood, wearing an “ugly” sweater that matched with his younger siblings; notably Flash, Petey, and Miles. He was grinning and looking down at his Ma, before his hand dropped to his side and then back towards the general direction of the Lab entrance.

“You know how that old bastard is. It’s probably better without him, scowling at everyone. Being the Grinch while we’re all trying to have a good time.”

“He’s still part of this Family!” she said though she knew Jake wasn’t the one who needed to hear this. She sighed and reached up--which still wasn’t enough and Jake, used to the gesture, bent his large frame so that Dot could cup his cheek. “Thank you for telling me. Now I’m going to give your father a piece of my mind and you can expect him to be up here, wearing a sweater of his own.”

Jake grinned again, leaning into his Ma’s hand. “I can’t wait to see that,” he said, pressing a kiss to the center of her palm. “That’d be a merry fucking Christmas for me!”

Dot had did her best to assure Jake that Wesker wasn’t going to get away with just an ugly sweater but he was going to give each and every one he usually hassled a Christmas present--with love, and personally delivered. Even if she had to lead him by the ear to do it.

The lab doors opened to its elevator and Dot stepped in, jabbing her thumb at the console, hitting the Basement sublevels. She had her arms crossed and ready to go OFF--

But then the elevator doors opened and the scenery before her stole her breath away. The lights were dimmed as she stepped out of the elevator and hanging above her head were strings of lights with a delicate lighting setting. It cast the usually harsh fluorescent scene of the labs in a soft glow reminiscent of a snow fall during the night. Quiet, serene, personal, private.

Standing at the other end of the hallway was Wesker. By now, Dot figured she was... set up. Jake working with Wesker? Well, she never expected that. And that was probably how she was lured to the labs without a second thought about being set up and all worked up about it, too.

Now the air was let out of her balloon and she felt entirely aware of walking towards the mastermind behind.. whatever this was.

It took her a little bit to actually reach Wesker considering she was still admiring the time and effort it took to string up the lights. Sure, the servants must have done it but the thought had been no doubt Wesker’s own. When she stood in front of him, he was already staring down at her. That stupid smug grin on his face was in place and the sensation flared up to smack the glasses off his face. But he surprised her by presenting her with a small box.

Slowly, she took it, giving him a quizzical glance. “Why couldn’t you have given this to me upstairs. You know, with everyone else?” she jabbed, only half-serious. It was more so being a brat out of anything.

“That is precisely the reason,” Wesker replied with a sigh, slightly only serious himself. “there were too many people.” Dot was going to further push it by mentioning that was the point of being Family but Wesker cut her off and added, “It’s not a crime to steal a little of your time. Everyone else does it.”

Dot didn’t point out that he has, on more than one occasion, has committed crimes on securing some quality time well spent with Dot but dropped it as soon as the lid to the box had been pulled off. She wasn’t aware that Wesker had placed his hands over hers, helping her open her present in an attempt to steer her attention away from scolding him or otherwise giving him a “hard” time. Hardly a hard time; he loved their little verbal spars. It kept him sharp and on his toes--but he didn’t want to sully this, their, moment with something like that. He wanted to show her that she was special.

“...This is...” 

“Mm hm. It is.”

Dot laughed a little, staring down at the gigantic heart shaped diamond. “...You’re surprisingly sentimental.”

Wesker made a thoughtful sound at the back of his throat. He looked a little uncomfortable, perhaps having to share more than a thimble of emotion. But he managed to do it because Dot was worth much more than that and she had the right to know and had all his attempts on ...opening up. Despite how hard it was for someone like Wesker to. 

“Only with the right person.” Wesker replied, “and you are the right person.” He enclosed the giant jewel in Dot’s tiny little hand. It didn’t even fit but it felt like a good example of how his heart was held in her small hand. It might be a little cold and harder than any precious metal on earth but it was precious to her and she would keep it safe.

[* I’m sorry there’s not a lot! I wrote until I had to sleep for tomorrow and this was all I managed to get done! @.@;  ]

[wildroseofarran]

Dreamwalker, Part I || Gralloway

MJ: *sits MJ in Pete's lap

Pete: -Pete holds him tight-

MJ: *sinks his weight in

Pete: -nuzzle nuzzle nuzzle-

MJ: *kisses each finger absently

Pete: "Hey, you."

MJ: "Hey yourself."

Pete: "Been a while."

MJ: "How long?"

Pete: "Ages and ages."

MJ: "For real?"

Pete: "Feels that way."

MJ: "Ya miss me?"

Pete: "Every waking moment."

MJ: "Are we asleep?"

Pete: "Maybe. Are you a dream?"

MJ: "I'll be whatever ya want me to be."

Pete: "Then I want you to just be here, with me."

MJ: "You got it, baby," he smiled.

Pete: Pete smiled back. "Can I kiss you?"

MJ: "How many times?"

Pete: “As many as you want.”

MJ: "Give me ten. Count them slowly."

Pete: "Okay. Ten it is." He wrapped his arms tighter around MJ and pulled him in for the first one.

MJ: A simple chaste kiss. He followed with the second. Both hands dipped underneath his shirt. "You'll wake up at ten."

Pete: "Then I'll make the next eight feel like a thousand."

MJ: "Prove it," he grinned.

Pete: Ask and you shall receive, Mr. Calloway. Pete's third kiss would be slow and deep and seemingly eternal. He tasted MJ like the finest wine.

MJ: His companion offered his tongue, and the softest of moans followed. He missed his taste, but couldn't comprehend how long they'd been apart.

Pete: Just now it didn't feel like they'd been apart at all; everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be. MJ was in his arms, the familiar weight of him was in his lap, those beautiful lips were pressed to his, and all Pete could think was 'mine mine mine' over and over again.

MJ: MJ felt hazed. They'd argued. He'd left. Something terrible had happened to Pete. Had that been a dream? This was reality. He squeezed his boyfriend's shirt in his fist, tugging away from his chest in a silent request.

Pete: Pete pulled back slowly, dreamy smile curving his lips. "What is it?" he whispered.

MJ: "Strip me," he whispered.

Pete: The smile grew. "My pleasure." He pulled MJ into another kiss, carefully undressing him by feel alone, only moving away when absolutely necessary.

MJ: His vampire explored with the same careful pace. Fingers swept into the depth of his thick hair, giving a playful tug.

Pete: A soft chuckle rumbled somewhere in Pete's chest. He'd missed that.

Almost as much as he missed the feel of that beautiful skin. It deserved just as much affection as MJ's lips.

MJ: The skin was cold as Pete would remember. He kissed into that hair he'd missed so much. Feelings which confused him still.

"Are we okay?"

Pete: "We're okay," he murmured, nuzzling MJ's cheek. "I love you so much, baby."

MJ: "I love ya, too..." And he did. Why that felt taboo to say he couldn't place. "Did we fight recently?"

Pete: Pete shook his head. "No fight." Not in this blessed, beautiful dream world that was his current reality.

He kissed MJ again.

MJ: His eyes closed, and his worries were dismissed. For now. Both hands rested behind Pete's head, offering him a firm foundation as he deepened the kiss.

Pete: He hummed against his vampire's lips, pulling him as close as possible for maximum contact. He knew every inch of that body and God, but he missed it. Surely in his dreams he'd be able to touch it all at once.

MJ: This man was somewhat different than Pete would remember from the waking world. He was softer, slower with purpose, and followed each action rather than led. Each look into his eyes was one for guidance.

Pete: The differences weren't lost on Pete, nor was he confused or bothered by them. MJ felt soft and pliant and delicate in his arms and Pete's entire chest hurt with how much he wanted him.

Over and over he whispered his love, kissing every bit of that beautiful face.

MJ: "I love ya, too," was answered each and every time, eventually followed by shy laughter. "You're gonna water the meanin' down, babydoll."

Pete: "Impossible." One more kiss to MJ's lips one more time before moving on to his neck and shoulders and chest. "The ocean couldn't water it down."

MJ: "I hope you're right," he whispered. He held on for dear life. "Does it mean the same if ya love someone else?"

Pete: Pete nuzzled MJ's temple, idly rubbing the small of his back.

In the real world that question would've brought a tidal wave of guilt and pain. Here there was only the enlightened certainty he'd found in Brittany.

"There's no one else that I love. My heart is yours."

MJ: The image before him seemed to falter, like a blink. A twitch of the waking world as reminder of the faithful truth.

"What if mine goes in two directions?"

Pete: His dream self reflected on something his mentor had said to him one cold evening on the beach.

"A forked river still ends up at the sea. Am I one of them?"

MJ: "Ya always have been," he whispered.

Pete: "Then that's all that matters." He pressed a kiss between MJ's eyes. "We're still in the sea."

MJ: "Why d'ya love Fletch?"

Pete: "I was young and he was kind and had a nice smile and was quiet. He made me think of that still waters saying. I wanted to get to know him. Should've known it was doomed but teenagers only see what they want to."

MJ: "No. It ain't just young love that don't mean nothin'. Ya woulda let it go...as adults."

Pete: Pete nodded. "If we had dated back then, yeah, I think we would have. There would've been...closure. Who knows, maybe just being friends would've let us work through it."

MJ: "...Ya can love him. Somethin' 'bout him is... lovable, I guess."

Pete: "I did, for a long time. But things change. People change and emotions change. You realize that some things aren't meant to be. It's not in the cards."

MJ: "Are we?" He began to study their surroundings. "I think I'm - I think you're..." a dream I'm having. I made you up.

Pete: "I think we are." Ever so gently he traced MJ's cheek with his finger. "There are some things a man just knows. Some truths he can't shake. You feel like home. Like peace. I would lay down my life for you in a second."

MJ: "I wanna forgive ya. I did somethin' stupid. Ya did somethin' stupid. We're both fuckin' stupid fucks."

Pete: Pete smiled softly. "We did. We are. Fallible and really fucking stupid."

MJ: "The...um...guy...ya met...before..."

Pete: It took him a moment to remember who MJ was referring to. Although here it felt more like sifting through dreamscapes than wracking his memory.

"In your garden?"

MJ: "Yeah. He's my-" how to say? "fork in the road."

Pete: "Is he a good man?"

MJ: "Too good. Like...he never does anything wrong. Ain't that a flaw?"

Pete: "We all do things wrong, baby. Even the people who seem perfect at first glance. We just don't always let it show."

MJ: "Feels like he was a king in another life."

Pete: "Could've been. I was an escort in my previous life. Anything is possible."

MJ: "Say the fuck again?"

Pete: Pete chuckled. “My previous incarnation was a high-class male escort.”

MJ: "How the fuck ya know that? Or am I callin' ya a whore in my dream subconsciously?" Highly suspicious.

Pete: A full laugh this time. “I learned about him when I lived in France. Had some magical help from my mentor.”

MJ: "Him. Ya mean you."

Pete: “I always do that. Still feels weird to say me since this me is well...me.”

MJ: "Guess reincarnation is a thing, then."

Pete: “Sure is. It’s kinda crazy.”

MJ: "Not a thing I'll deal with."

Pete: “You already have.”

MJ: "What?"

Pete: “Technically you’ve already been reincarnated.”

MJ: "Ya looked into me?"

Pete: “No, but my mentor said it’s rare for souls to be new. Everyone has had at least one previous incarnation.”

MJ: "What, ya think we're soulmates?"

Pete: “Do you?”

MJ: "I don't ... believe in that stuff."

Pete: Pete nodded. “I think it’s another one of those things that depends on luck of the draw.”

MJ: "Ya believe we are?"

Pete: “I honestly don’t know. To me what matters is that I love you. The rest is just technicalities.”

MJ: "If it were absolutely real, wouldn't we know it?"

Pete: “I would imagine so.”

MJ: "Then it's just, like...it's just legend, then."

Pete: “Maybe so,” he said thoughtfully. “Maybe so.”

MJ: "...What do we do now?"

Pete: Pete hugged MJ to his chest and kissed his hair. “Now we just be.”

MJ: "You're not curious at all if this is real?"

Pete: “What do you mean, baby?” This was a dream, and like in all dreams, he was unaware of it.

MJ: "We're talkin'...for real. I'm real. Isn't this conversation abnormal for a dream?" Was he more aware because of what he was?

Pete: “Of course you’re real. I’m holding you in my arms.”

MJ: "In a dream."

Pete: Pete’s brow furrowed. Surely not. How could this be a dream?

He looked around, recognizing the room but also...not.

MJ: "Just as confused," he uttered, "but I know in my gut it's really you."

Pete: "....Should we test it?" Because MJ did feel more solid than he usually did when Pete dreamt about him. More real. He could feel him.

MJ: "How we gonna do that? I still think I'm dreamin'. I just think you're not a figment of my imagination."

Pete: "Hmm...tell me something completely random and weird that you've never told me before and I'll do the same."

MJ: "N'then what, you're gonna call me?"

Pete: "Either that or the next time we see each other, we test each other on our weird facts."

MJ: "How often ya think that is?"

Pete: "Not often enough."

MJ: "Bad shit between us...go figure."

Pete: "Yeah," he said softly. "I can call you if you don't want to come to Edenton."

MJ: "I still don't feel welcome there."

Pete: "What can I do to help you feel more welcome?"

MJ: "It's a lot of weight I feel."

Pete: "Let me lift it off your shoulders."

MJ: "D'ya really talk like that now?"

Pete: Pete just smiled softly.

MJ: "Well, stahp. It's full of cheese."

Pete: “Cheese and truth.”

MJ: "You're doin' more of it!"

Pete: Pete laughed. “I can’t help it. You make me wanna strap on a suit of armor and ride up on a white horse.”

MJ: "Ya gonna do that?"

Pete: “Just so happens I know where to get a white horse. Suit of armor might take some doing but where there’s a will.”

MJ: "That gonna be your "please forgive me" outfit?"

Pete: “Yep. Along with any other outfit you please.”

MJ: "I... Okay. Yeah. I wanna see ya in a suit of armor," he smirked.

Pete: “I’ll find one. And the white horse.”

MJ: "Maybe...Rohan will find that funny."

Pete: Another soft smile. “Think he has armor I can borrow?”

MJ: "I have no idea. Probably Xavier."

Pete: Pete tilted his head. “Xavier?”

MJ: "Yeah...he's a uh - he's a demon. Don't tell me ya know any."

Pete: “I know one but why are you hanging out with demons?”

MJ: "I have been for a hot minute."

Pete: His brow knit. “That seems dangerous.”

MJ: "He's saved me from Simon."

Pete: “Is he holding it over your head?”

MJ: "Nah. For some reason everyone just loves him."

Pete: “Really?” He was thoughtful for a moment. “Well. Guess that makes sense in a way.”

MJ: "I mean, demon. Yeah. Meant t'be charmin'."

Pete: “Yeah. So the two of you just hang out?”

MJ: "Yeah. I, uh, pretty much live on his property. S'how I met Ro."

Pete: “Rohan hangs out with him too? This demon must have serious pull.”

MJ: "He's like... I dunno how t'describe their relationship. Like a ... secretary? I guess?"

Pete: "Huh. Who knew demons had assistants?"

MJ: "N'butlers, n'maids, n'a nanny."

Pete: "Jesus, what is he, a Rockefeller?" Wait... "A nanny?"

MJ: "Yeah. Demon baby. Adorable demon baby."

Pete: "How the hell did he pull that off without triggering some sort of biblical apocalypse? Demons can't procreate."

MJ: "Maybe 'cause it was with a fae...person?"

Pete: Pete's brows shot up. "A demonic Fae baby. Christ. How many layers does this onion have?"

MJ: "Ro is a witch. I'm a vampire. We're like some kinda modern family over there," he grinned.

Pete: "Next you're gonna tell me the butler is actually Lurch from the Addams Family."

MJ: "No. God, no. He's fuckin' beautiful, though."

Pete: "You sure you're not actually in a sitcom?"

MJ: "Ya wanna meet em?"

Pete: "Meet the Addams Family? Would Xavier allow that?"

MJ: "Ro's opinion is more important." Perhaps said with too much confidence.

Pete: "Demons are tricky. Not looking to have my head cut off or light on fire when I sneeze or sprout some extra limbs."

MJ: "The hell ya think a demon does?"

Pete: “If they’re pissed? All those things.”

MJ: "No. Just - Just no," he laughed.

Pete: “Demons in general or him specifically?”

MJ: "I mean, I guess him? He's the only one I really know? I mean, I don't really know his brother."

Pete: “I’m almost positive there’s a demon out there somewhere chopping some poor unfortunate soul’s head off. Good to know it’s not him, I guess.”

MJ: "He might when no one's lookin'. Keep your head on a swivel," he grinned.

Pete: "Always do," he said, grinning back.

MJ: "We're so cheesy."

Pete: "You love it."

MJ: "You're still cheesy?"

Pete: "Yep. You still bring it out in me."

MJ: "I mean with other people."

Pete: “....I compliment June?”

MJ: "I mean ya ain't with no one else? At all?"

Pete: He shook his head. “Nope, no one.”

MJ: "C'mon. Not anybody?"

Pete: Pete shook his head again. “Nobody.”

MJ: "Why?"

Pete: “What do you mean?”

MJ: "Does Fletch count?"

Pete: “I guess so. As far as current relationships, there are none. Just been me on my own.”

MJ: "Ya shoulda tried."

Pete: “I have you. That’s all I need.”

MJ: "You're...jumpin' ahead on that."

Pete: “If we don’t have hope, we don’t have much.”

MJ: "C'mon. Say somethin' like...normal. Say somethin' less optimistic."

Pete: "Optimism is my new normal, baby."

MJ: "But it don't even sound like how people talk!"

Pete: "I speak like a novel now," he said, smiling.

MJ: Maybe his true irritation couldn't be conveyed in the dream world. Maybe he didn't want it to be. Either way, he stood and began to pace. He felt more awake, a foreshadowing of his impending wake.

"Has Fletch tried t'be with ya again?"

Pete: Pete shook his head. "No. We don't speak. Barely see each other."

MJ: "But that's just...guilt, ain't it?"

Pete: "It was a very deliberate decision. The last time I spoke to him I told him that I was in love with you and that I was going to try for you."

MJ: "Why were ya talkin' t'him?" His balance between jealousy and acceptance had yet been established.

Pete: “It was um....it was that night at the sheriff’s house.”

MJ: The light of his eyes, despite being an illusion of dream, faded. "Right."

Pete: Pete nodded. He wouldn’t comment on that night, not even in this bubble they were in. “That was the first time I’d spoken to him since I came home from France and the only time I’ve spoken to him since.”

MJ: "I know he's somethin'. There's no way he ain't."

Pete: “He’s got his own life and I have mine. What do you need to be able to believe me?”

MJ: "Hear it from him, I guess."

Pete: “I can ask June to help you get in touch, when you’re ready.”

MJ: "June? Why June?"

Pete: “She’s friends with him.”

MJ: "He has friends?"

Pete: “He’s got her.”

MJ: "Mm..." His smile was half-hearted. "Don't feel very dreamlike anymore, huh?"

Pete: He chuckled softly. “It still does.”

MJ: His image blinked, as it had moments before, on the verge of waking up.

"...What are you?"

Pete: “A bear,” he said with a smile.

MJ: "For real?"

Pete: “Shocked the hell out of me, too.”

MJ: "Ya didn't think t'tell me?"

Pete: "I didn't find out until I was in France. I wanted to tell you in person, it felt like an in-person kind of revelation. I had a whole...thing planned where I showed you the serenity garden and brought you with me during a full moon."

MJ: "Was that how ya wanted t'win me back?"

Pete: "I don't know if that was 'part of the plan' necessarily, maybe not consciously, but it was something I wanted to share with you. Not just the information. The....experience I guess."

MJ: "So, you're like...a werewolf? Selkie? What are ya?"

Pete: "A very diluted Fera."

MJ: "So, you're a late bloomer?"

Pete: "Yep. Part diluted bloodline, part extreme stress."

MJ: "Stress makes a werewolf not wolf out?"

Pete: "Stress made me in particular...bloom...so to speak. I was sick for days, it was a mess."

MJ: "I don't get it..."

Pete: "My mentor thinks my Fera-ness presented itself when it did not only because my bloodline is diluted making me prone to late-blooming already, but because I'd also had a prolonged period of stress beforehand. Hence why I was so sick when it happened and why it happened so violently."

MJ: "So, what, ya were always stressed, or a chill bill n'then suddenly had stress in your life? Fuck. I made ya a bear."

Pete: "More like my stress was always at normal people levels and spiked suddenly and spiked hard. And I was always a bear, baby. I would've bloomed eventually. You didn't cause this. DNA did. And my mama."

MJ: "Ya punched people in your bar. It's a wonder ya weren't sued. Ya were with me, n'my shit situation. And it's also a wonder ya didn't sprout fur n'ears night one."

Pete: "MJ, you cannot and aren't going to blame yourself for my being a Fera. You're not my mama, you didn't cheat on my dad with some guy who didn't think it was worth the time to check to make sure the condom didn't break or didn't bother to tell the woman you were about to have sex with that you were a werebear. And you certainly weren't the meth-head walking in the middle of the road on a dark night that made my dad swerve to avoid you, causing him to end up with part of his steering column in his torso and lose a lot of blood that needed to be replaced."

MJ: "If they didn't do that, ya wouldn't be...a bear, I guess. Ya wouldn't exist. Can't be mad about existin', Pete."

Pete: “I’m not,” he said softly. “Not anymore. Just want you to understand that you didn’t cause this whole sudden Fera bloom or my tendency to punch rabble rousers. I sprouted fur and ears exactly when the universe planned.”

MJ: "Don't talk like fate is a real thing," said bitterly. "That means everything with me was meant t'be, too."

Pete: “Not fate. God playing dice.”

MJ: "That just sounds worse."

Pete: “Having some all-knowing apathetic fuck messing with the lives of unsuspecting people? Absolutely.”

MJ: "Didn't take ya for religious. I guess it suits ya. That a recent thing, or a French thing?"

Pete: “I’m not really. I just take the evidence as it comes.”

MJ: "Sounds like melancholy t'me."

Pete: “Comes in waves. The Druidism helps. Guess that’s kind of religious. Maybe more spiritual, Druids are pagan after all.”

MJ: "Callum, right?"

Pete: “He’s a Druid yeah, but it was my mentor that introduced me to the spiritual aspect. He’s a Druid too. Hell, maybe he’s actually God. He’s lived an eternity.”

MJ: "I - I don't think so. That's - no," he chuckled. Another blink. A complete fade and return as though static.

"What were we talkin' about?"

Pete: “Hmm?” The room seemed to shift around them, and Pete accepted it without question. This was a dream. Dreams were fluid.

“Me being a bear.”

MJ: "Oh. Right. I think I'm awake. No, the other thing. Wakin' up. Like that part of a dream ya can start t'manipulate."

Pete: “Lucid dreaming,” he said with a nod. “Stay a little longer, baby.”

MJ: "I can't control that. I've never done this before." At least that he could remember.

Pete: “Then can I have one more kiss before you go?”

MJ: "...I shouldn't." He couldn't become the very thing he despised.

Pete: Pete nodded, smiling sadly. “Okay, baby. I love you so much.”

MJ: "You too, Pete. I'll see ya 'round." He wanted to yank himself to consciousness, just to understand what had just transpired. His eyes opened slowly, burning with confusion.

[ritacaroline]

Starshine                         Ch. 19    Jimmy Page         Fan Fiction

Sequel to In The Light

Clare and John Henry were home at their kitchen table. He was just giving her one last kiss and a warm hug before exiting. On his way, for a few errands and later, a morning practice at the studio. Clare was just finishing off the last of her salami and watermelon fruit roll up sandwich. It had extra mayo on a seeded roll, with a side of herring. “Mmmm, that was divine,” she said aloud to herself. Only a small fart was heard by the house keeper nearby, this time. Just a little one. She picked up the phone to call Linda, who had a late starting workday on her agenda.

Linda : Hello ?

Clare : Hi Lin. It’s me, Clare. How’s it goin, my girl ?

Lin : Oh, it’s goin. Ok, I guess. I feel ok, work’s ok. I do miss Rob. I love him still, though I’m also very angry. I miss his company. We used to be constantly talking. And his comments and discussion were always so funny and uplifting. And now I’ve been cheated on and what’s worse, I’m fucking lonely. No man to hold and kiss. Nothin. 

Clare : Oh, my darling. I’m so sad to hear that. And I so understand the feeling, we’ve all been in that place before and it sure does suck. Hey, want to have a girl’s night out tonight ? I’ll round up all the local lawbreakers. We could get slammed on tequila at that Mexican place, Aunt Chilada’s ? What do you think ? 

Linda : Yeah, that could be fun. I’m in. But, I’m having a hard time in general, just draggin myself out to work. Even my clients are starting to notice at the salon. Can’t seem to lift myself outa this funk. 

Clare : Well, I do have an interesting proposition for you. I happened across someone’s business card, from the New York tour last Spring. It was the security guard who watched over Jill and I. Remember the really tall blond guy, Julian ?

Lin : Yeah, I do. He was phenomenal. I love a tall man. And his eyes, the blue eyes, threw me for a loop.

Clare :  I’m so glad you remember him, and in a good way. Well, it just so happens that I’ve learned he’s available. And in a private discussion which we had, he remembers you well, and he’s quite interested in a nice get together with you. How does that land on your hedgerow ?

Lin : Uhhmm, ? I don’t know. Haven’t been thinking in that direction. But, maybe. Yeah, I’ll toss it around in my head. He was pretty handsome and friendly.

Clare : Hey, what could it hurt ? Even if doesn’t turn out to be a true love connection, he may be able to offer you a great way to take the tension off. Ya know, girl ? If I were single, I promise you, I’d try that out in a heartbeat.

Lin : I see what you’re saying. And in that light, I’ve decided my answer is yes. Give him my number, I’ll be glad to do him. I mean, see him. 

Clare : Oooh, I know what you meant, baby ! 

Meanwhile, at Preston Hospital, London, Jill worked at her lab bench. She chatted quietly with her assistant, as they waited during the resting time for the test samples to ready. 

Rachel : So, Miss Jill, I see you’re sporting a glamorous engagement ring. It’s spectacular. How did you meet your fiancé ?

Jill : Oh, thank you. We met at my workplace at New York General Hospital. New York, New York baby. He was a patient I met at the out patient lab station. 

Rachel : Wow, you can actually meet someone worthwhile at a blood drawing station ?

Jill : Oh yeah. This guy was glorious from the get go. And it only got better.

Rachel : Wow, you’re restoring my faith in the belief that great things can happen, just by random luck.

Jill : Well, meeting him was incredible random luck. Everything else that happened after that was pure magic. He is heaven on Earth, sorry to brag, but Hell, I’m in love. 

Rachel : What’s his name ?

Jill : It’s Jim.

Rachel :  Jim, that’s a sweet name. I have a boyfriend, he’s Gordon. We met in school. After graduation, he’s going on to be a photographer and an artist. He’s begun his own photography business recently. He also draws and paints beautifully. I’m really proud of him. 

Jill : Oh, how awesome. He sounds great.

Rachel : Yes. He’s got a strong hold on my heart. And, he’s my first boyfriend. 

Jill : I understand. How exciting. 

With that, the timer went off and back to work it was. Rachel began the next step in the process and just then the phone rang. Jill stepped away, and picked it up in the side room, a small private area. 

Jill: “Hematology Lab. Jill speaking.”

Jim : Hello, this is the London bureau of fashion, my name is Leland McPairington. May I ask if you’re dressed appropriately for work today, Miss ?“ 

Jill : Hmm, let me take a look, hold on. Ok, well I’ve got on a deep rust color skirt, it’s kind of short. But all the men here seem to approve of it. Uhm, also a gold color top, and some sexy lingerie. Black lace.  However, no one can see it. It’s only for my sexy man, when I see him at 4. 

Jim : Oh, how lovely you sound. Your man must love you in that lingerie. He’s fucking lucky. You sound like a goddess. I hope he keeps you happy, you know, at home ??

Jill : Oh my Lord, he is the end all of lovers. So loving, so hot, his lips drive me insane. His hands, Oh my God. There’s not another man on this planet who can satisfy me and make my blood race like this man can. 

Jim : Wow, Miss, you sound awfully happy with your choice. I hope he appreciates you. I mean, I’m personally starting to sweat, just hearing about this situation.

Jill : But, Leland, don’t you have your own girl ?

Jim : Yes, yes I do in fact. I have no idea why she would choose me, though. I adore her. Every tiny thing she does turns me inside out. And I love her more and more every day. Even if I’m sad, her smile brings me to paradise. And her beautiful green eyes, oh my God. They sparkle like diamonds. And her lips, well, ….kissing her is the joy of my life, she makes my heart pound. I can’t ever get enough of her. And when we make love, Lord above. I can’t, I can’t…I’m confused just thinking about it, that’s how intense and spectacular it is.

Jill : Oh my God, I love you so much.

Jim : uhhh, ok ? Isn’t that a little unprofessional of you, Miss ?

______________________________________________________

Next Ch. (20) https://ritacaroline.tumblr.com/post/185729929196/starshine-ch-20-jimmy

Chapter Index for “Starshine” is located at bottom section of Ch.1 , click here : https://ritacaroline.tumblr.com/post/184383708541/starshine-ch-1-jimmy-page-fan

Link to “In The Light” - original fan fic - https://ritacaroline.tumblr.com/Fan%20Fiction

JimJam Mistresses @tremble-and-shake @ledoftherings @gimmeeshelter @adonna1964 @justanotherzosofangirl @starchild0985 @girlofthemoon75 @bonscottintheimpala @12909168 @jullz @cherryfloyd @tenementcrazylittlefruitcake @save-me-from-the-gallows-pole @soy-laprincessa @marauderofworlds @ultrabitchystudentperfectionus @satanspizzadeliveryguy @misspenylane @zi-zidane @catherine0627 @pagingpage-the-original @amythesticon @strangerspassinginthestreet @ thezeppelinbeatles @pour-some-sugar-on-mee  @carryfire18  @j-james-thlk @70shoney @strange-broo @page-daddy @nadianad1337 @yerawizardjimmeh @jimmyypagey @magnetacuddles84 @rock6880 @ledxzeppelin @kinkyspice  @thelandofnevermore  @my-golden-lion  @itsblackbetty  @magnetacuddles84   @luvejimmy  @palenickelsaladparty @jennmarieetn @honeydewgroupie  @how-many-more-times-blog   @loveinher-eyess @rocknrollababes-blog   @princesssofpeace @frauweide @dontyouhearmecallingyou @zozjaa @miniaturewinnerwonderland @http-jinx @chennington @venicebeachx @wanna-be-groupie @where-the-hot-springs-blow @basementmermaid @crying-over-rock-legends @cherrrywitch  @rocknrollababes @scarletrossetti  @sixpackonthefrontseat @miamorjimmypage @boomervonlouder

[pyropsychiccollector]

            Invel pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as his gaze remained forward. They had not yet reached Magnolia, but they would soon.

            “Fascinating… Of the Spriggan 12 members, only five remain uncaptured. Four of the twelve were even killed off…”

            By his side, Yajeel shivered in shock and horror.

            “Four of the twelve are dead…?! Does that mean Ajeel…?” He trailed off, not wanting to fathom the thought.

            Invel shook his head.

            “No, Ajeel remains uncaptured. Apparently, Larcade and Bloodman disappeared after his Majesty’s demise, which leads me to surmise they were Etherious. Wahl was eliminated by a member of Fairy Tail… and apparently Acnologia slaughtered God Serena. As for Dimaria and Neinhart, they are detained in Hargeon, and Brandish remains a captive in Magnolia.”

            Yajeel stared down at the ground, immense sadness in his eyes, as they continued their march.

            “This war inflicts a heavy toll… I never would have imagined over half of the twelve could be defeated. I dread to think the losses we have suffered amongst our other soldiers…”

            “They serve their purpose.” Invel coldly remarked. “I am more concerned about the twelve; we cannot afford any more deaths. Neinhart can bring back the four that have passed away, but it will be a troublesome burden on his Magic power, even for him. I do not know how Irene plans to proceed, but Ajeel, Jacob, and August will most certainly make their respective moves on Magnolia. I have faith that in time, Brandish will be freed, and the tide will turn back in our favor. As for myself, I believe it would be beneficial to make a detour to Hargeon and secure Dimaria and Neinhart…”

            Yajeel looked up at Invel in shock.

            “You plan to make the army change course?”

            Again, Invel shook his head in denial.

            “No. I will leave everyone under your care – keep advancing and do not stop for anything. No matter how much the enemy begs, give them no quarter. I will deal with Hargeon myself.”

            Having given his orders, Invel took his leave. Yajeel stared after him with a lost expression. Was there truly nothing else that could be done? Though he would like to call off the Western flank, Yajeel was just an old man who now answered to the Spriggan 12; Invel was going to pursue vengeance no matter the cost, Irene would likely go along with him, and Lord August…

            “What would you have me do, O Magic King…?” Yajeel thought aloud, reluctantly following Invel’s orders as he hobbled along.

            ~*~

            The Moving Temple, Olympia… a majestic, proud, and ancient structure-

            “Hey, wasn’t this thing a water vehicle? How come it can fly, too?” Racer butted in on Angel’s inner monologue. A vein pulsed on Angel’s forehead as she twitched.

            “You’re really going to complain at this point? Really?” She hissed.

            Racer shrugged nonchalantly.

            “Got a while ‘til we arrive, right? I’m bored.”

            The twitching intensified.

            “Would ya let me off this deathtrap already?!” Cobra groaned as he sat in a fetal position. Forgetting her ire for a moment, Angel chuckled mirthfully.

            “You’re still going on about that? I thought you said motion sickness was a First Generation Dragon Slayer problem?”

            Cobra groaned louder.

            “I was wrong, okay? Never gonna make fun of Dragneel again.” Cobra solemnly swore. And he wasn’t lying through his teeth, for once.

            Midnight shook his head in dry amusement.

            “We’re not nearly at the Northern battlefront yet. If anything, we only passed by Magnolia a short while ago.”

            “Then let me off there.” Cobra muttered stubbornly. “Northern’s not the only battlefield.”

            Angel raised a delicate eyebrow at the Dragon Slayer’s attitude.

            “You’re really willing to defy Jellal’s orders?”

            Cobra scoffed at the inquiry.

            “Jellal and Meredy went off on their own. Don’t see why we gotta move as a unit!”

            For a while, Angel and Cobra just stared at each other, neither seeming to budge on their stances. Then, Angel spoke up again.

            “… You really don’t want to be on this ship, do you?”

            Cobra deadpanned at her. No, no he did not. Now that he got some fresh perspective courtesy of his queasy stomach, vehicles were manmade monstrosities. Real Frankenstein shit right here. People had two legs for a reason, right? To walk on the ground. Not have the ground move for them. Just as Kami intended.

            “If Cobra wants to get off in Magnolia, I can go with him, if that’s what you’re all concerned about! Oh yeah!” Richard abruptly chipped in.

            Midnight rolled his eyes.

            “Erik’s a big boy. If he insists on getting off, he goes alone. We need all the muscle we can get on the Northern battlefront. Muscle includes you, big guy.”

            Rather than be irked his real name was used instead of his codename, Cobra smirked at being given exactly what he wanted. An opportunity.

            “You wanna just ditch me, huh?” He stood up on two shaky legs, but his grin never losing its cockiness. “That’s fine. I won’t be alone. I’ll get to see Cubelios again!”

            … Unfortunately, Cobra’s big confident moment was ruined by his face looking like he was going to blow chunks.

            ~*~

            Makarov narrowed his eyes as he stared at the map of Fiore.

            “The Spriggan Shields in the East have stopped moving… Have they stopped their advance?”

            Mavis looked just as grave. Despite the death of God Serena being very good news for them, the deaths of the Four Gods of Ishgar – particularly Warrod – hit Fairy Tail’s First Master hard. She was the only Founder left alive now. Well… ‘alive’ might be a bit of a stretch, at least with the current state of her body…

            “There’s this unrest that I’m feeling…” She murmured. And not even a few moments later, the doors to the Guildhall were shoved open with impressive strength. Everyone was tense as the newcomer took a look around casually.

            “Hmm… This is a neat Guild…” The dark-haired man muttered, hands stuffed in his pockets. “The sweet smell of liquor… absorbed into the wooden walls of this place…”

            “Wh-Who are you?!” Mest exclaimed. The new man grinned.

            “One of the Spriggan 12, Jacob Lessio, from the Alvarez Empire… At your service!”

            “When did he…?!” This brought about mass panic, and Warren inspecting the map to see if it was functioning properly.

            “Those markers have no meaning to them…” Jacob grinned as he slipped his hands behind his back, gentlemanlike. “Ya see, we’ve got this mad Wizard called August on our side, and… Well. That makes fooling your radars not that hard at all!”

            Cana glared at Jacob.

            “So you walk into our Guild alone?” She asked skeptically.

            Jacob chuckled darkly as he walked over to a random table, like he didn’t have a care in the world.

            “I don’t have… an army, or subordinate. But that just makes me all the more versatile. The man I told you about, August, he’s on his way here, too. He really has mad skills, I wouldn’t mess with him! But, hey, have you guys heard of Respect-for-the-Aged Day? Hm? Oh, you don’t have it here?” Jacob sat down comfortably, crossing one leg over the other. “We have it in Alakitasia, though. It’s a day where you respect the elderly and show your appreciation for them… And it just so happens to be today. So there’s no way I’m letting Old Man August do any hard work, thus my early arrival here!”

            Jacob then turned to Kinana with a suave smirk.

            “Hey, give me some liquor, won’t you? The stronger, the better…”

            “We’re not giving you anything!” Makarov barked, a stormy expression on his face. Jacob sighed theatrically as he leaned forward in his seat.

            “Well, it’s too bad, then… I was about to toast to the life you’ve lived up ‘til now, but… Let me tell you this, though. Assassinations are my work. And I’ve never failed any of them before.”

            Max scoffed at Jacob’s assertion.

            “Would you really announce that you’re an assassin, just like that?”

            Jacob raised two fingers to his eyes.

            “That’s a good point! But, assassination in its very foundation, is the art of hiding oneself in the darkness and hunting without noise. But I don’t do that. Do you know why? That’s because there is no need for me to hide!” He began to bring his palms together. “The only things I need to hide are the dead and witnesses… But by then, there won’t be anyone left!”

            “Dead bodies and witnesses?!” Cana exclaimed, just as Jacob’s palms connected. In the next moment, there was a blinding light throughout the Guildhall, and then everyone but Jacob and Mavis vanished. As if they faded from existence.

            “N-No…” Mavis whispered in dread, before she began panicking. “Makarov?! Macao?! Cana!! Everyone… where are you?!”

            Jacob tilted his head slightly.

            “Oh…? There’s one more… A ghost, I see…”

            Mavis tensed as she eyed Jacob warily.

            ‘The only people that can feel, hear, and see me are those from the Guild!’

            “There you are!” Jacob made a shooting motion with his fingers, and Mavis found herself in pain suddenly.

            “’There you are?!’ AHHH!” She choked out. ‘Wh-Why?! I don’t even have a body…!’

            “Heyyy… I’m pretty sure you could talk to me if you put some effort into it, no?” Jacob spoke carefreely as Mavis lay hunched on the ground, groaning in pain. “I think I’ve got it, though. So you’re the Fairy Heart that the Emperor has been talking about… So tell me, where is your ‘body’? Tell me!”

            Jacob continued to hurt Mavis through some means, leaving her unable to speak, save for her shrieks of pain. In the basement, the top of her body began to bleed mysteriously…

            “I’ll return your Guildies, if you tell me!” Jacob promised. Mavis’s eyes widened.

            “H-Huh...?”

            Jacob stood up and towered over Mavis.

            “They’re currently in the boundaries between life and death, but technically still alive! But if I let them go, then they will die…”

            ‘Everyone’s still alive…?’ Mavis thought to herself in shock.

            “You’re the only one that can save them…” Jacob stressed, making his demands clear through a threat.

            ‘If I choose my Guild members… Then it would mean giving up the entire world… But can I even trust this man?! What do I do…?’ Mavis glared at Jacob defiantly, feeling conflicted. But before she could make her decision, Lucy came up from behind and kicked Jacob brutally, dressed in her Taurus Star Dress.

            “Are you okay, First?!”

            “Lucy!! You’re okay!!” Mavis exclaimed happily.

            “Happy, too!” Lucy replied with a thumbs-up. Happy floated in the air with his wings and looked around.

            “Huh…? Where is everyone?”

            “He’s got them hidden somewhere!” Mavis informed them. “We’ve got to take him down!!”

            Lucy switched over to her Capricorn Star Dress.

            “Oh, so he’s the reason for that weird Magic!”

            “Bring everyone back!!” Happy demanded.

            Jacob groaned as he sat up on the floor.

            “Impossible… My Magic should have covered the whole Guild…” He grunted as he stood up.

            Lucy and Happy giggled mischievously, revealing they had received aid from Horologium. Lucy had lost her clothes as a result of the abrupt save, but she salvaged that through the Star Dresses.

            “We’ve got the Celestial Spirits’ protection!” Lucy grinned, wagging her finger proudly.

            Jacob grinned right back, unsettling Lucy and Happy.

            “Aha… If you had disappeared like you should have, you wouldn’t have to go through something as scary as this…” He cocked his head at Mavis. “Hey, spirit! I’m changing my terms. I will now tear this girl to bits. So come down if you feel like it… But if you don’t, then enjoy the show! Maybe all I’ll leave behind for you will be her head!”

            Jacob rummaged in his jacket before throwing some invisible blade, a dagger.

            “Lucy, watch out…!” Mavis cried out.

            Lucy, unable to think on the spot, stood there and tried to shield her face. However, at the last second, Loke appeared and deflected the blade. He then stood up at full height and straightened his tie.

            “Now, that’s a terrible thing to say to a Lady…”

            “Loke!!!” Lucy and Happy cried out in glee. Jacob just stared at the Lion Spirit blankly.

            “You seem like a chivalrous gentleman kinda guy… Tell ya what. I’ll let you leave here with that broad – save her from seein’ something so unsightly. I’ll even throw in the cat! Waddaya say?”

            Loke frowned at the offer. He got into a fighting stance.

            “Thanks for that ‘generous’ offer, but as a knight in shining armor, I’ll gladly give you my all!”

            ‘Knight in shining armor? Really?’ Lucy deadpanned in her head. She twitched as Happy stared up at her with puffy cheeks, as he clearly held giggles in.

            Jacob rolled his neck, getting several cricks out.

            “Well, don’t complain when I rip her to shreds, then. I did give you the chance to back out!” Jacob then vanished from view. Lucy, Loke, and Happy whipped their heads around in an attempt to see which direction the Spriggan Shield would be coming from. Loke cried out in pain as he was abruptly sent flying by a punch; in the next moment, Jacob appeared again, standing where Loke had been. Lucy stared in open-mouthed horror.

            ‘I… I didn’t even hear him…!’

            “What the hell was that?!” Loke’s arms were up in a defensive position as he glared at Jacob. The Spriggan Shield wasted no time in striking Lucy and sending her careening into a wall with a savage kick. “Lucy!!!”

            Just as Loke started charging at Jacob, the man disappeared again, and the Lion Spirit found himself overtaken again by the strange man appearing right at his side, mid-sprint.

            “You got no chance in hell, prettyboy! Go back to that sparkly Celestial plane!”

            Jacob struck Loke yet again, and followed up with a few more successive strikes as the Spirit tumbled on the ground. From her spot over by the wall, Lucy grimaced and held up a Gate Key.

            “OPEN! Gate of the Sea Goat, Capricorn!” The aforementioned Spirit then shimmered into existence by her side.

            “How may I be of assistance, Milady?”

            Lucy pointed at Jacob angrily.

            “Take him down!”

            Capricorn nodded tersely.

            “Right!” He entered the fray, managing to catch the Spriggan Shield off-guard with a swift kick and several punches.

            “Another one?!” Jacob growled as he blocked the next few strikes and dished back a punch at the goat. “You’re just makin’ things harder for yourself, brat!”

            Jacob then disappeared again. Capricorn frowned shrewdly.

            “Sir Leo…”

            Loke stood up shakily.

            “Yeah, I think I’m getting the hang of it now…”

            “He’s using ‘Stealth’!” Mavis piped up from where she was still collapsed on the floor. “It’s complete transparency camouflage!”

            Jacob then appeared over her and stomped down on her head.

            “That’s not all. I can also see that which cannot be seen. Like this ghost girl, for example!”

            “Bastard… Take your damn feet off of…!” Lucy growled, but then Loke and Capricorn took action.

            “Shining Lion!!!” Loke emitted a brilliant light around himself that caused Jacob to raise his arm to shield his eyes. “Tag, you’re it!!!”

            Loke punched the man like a speeding bullet train, sending him reeling back across the floor.

            “Now this guy’s a pain in my ass…!” Jacob growled as he squinted his eyes. He attempted to fight back with another invisible weapon, but Capricorn stepped in and snagged it in midair after ascertaining what kind of movements Jacob was making with his hands, catching Jacob off-guard and allowing Loke to get more hits in. Jacob roared furiously. “DAMNITTT!!!”

            Jacob let go of that whip and in quick-draw fashion brought out his gun again and shot both Loke and Capricorn, making Loke dispel the light and Capricorn drop the whip. Jacob smirked, pocketing the gun and picking up his invisible whip effortlessly, proceeding to wave it all around, striking both Celestial Spirit and human alike. Believing himself to have the upper hand, Jacob homed in on Lucy and increased both the speed and power of his strikes.

            “You ain’t stoppin’ the Spriggan 12, brat!!! We always get what we want, all for the sake of our Emperor!”

            Though Lucy was his primary target, Loke and Capricorn were still kept at bay with the occasional lash of the whip. The man was certainly skilled at wielding it. Not even Happy and Mavis were spared.

            But just when all hope seemed lost, a fast-moving blur appeared behind Jacob.

            “I can hear it… You’re scared of these Fairies actually putting up a fight!”

            Jacob whipped his head around at the sound of the new voice, but it was too late.

            “WHAT?! HOW’D YOU…!” He cried out as Cobra, channeling Poison Dragon Slaying Magic into his hand clawed at Jacob’s backside and sent him flying. Cobra gave a toothy smirk at his handiwork, even as Lucy, Happy, Mavis, Loke, and Capricorn stared dumbfounded at him.

            “Sorry I’m late… those jackasses wouldn’t actually drop me off at the Guild, so I had to walk. Still, seems like I made it.”

            Despite being enemies with him in the past, Lucy couldn’t help breaking out in a wide smile.

            “Cobra!!”

            “Just in the nick of time!” Happy cheered.

            “Th-Thanks…” Loke’s expression was torn between a grin and a grimace, as he was clutching at his injuries. Capricorn straightened his sunglasses.

            Cobra suddenly frowned as he turned to face the assassin, who he’d disregarded for a few moments.

            “Ya got a lotta nerve, attacking this Guild! Don’t think I’ll let you off the hook. Even if you beg, I’m kickin’ your ass into next week.”

            Jacob stood up, wiping a few flecks of blood off of his mouth. His back now had a huge gash in it, and he could feel some poison circulating throughout his body now.

            “Funny, I was about to say the same to you, punk… Striking a dignified gentleman while his back’s turned! I won’t forgive ya!” He disappeared once again.

            Lucy and the rest were worried about this development, but Cobra just grinned cockily and charged up Poison Dragon Slaying Magic in his fists and perfectly countering Jacob before he could materialize at his side.

            “Gentleman?! Don’t make me laugh!” Cobra dished out an uppercut under Jacob’s chin and then slugged Jacob in the chest, making him appear again. He didn’t let the assassin have breathing room, he followed up his initial attacks with more savage punches that whittled away at Jacob’s power because of the poison. “You Alvarez chumps come into our turf and whine about getting attacked?! Man the fuck up!”

            Jacob managed to catch Cobra’s next punch, and attempted to strike him in the face, but the maroon-haired man craned his head to the side and dodged the punch. Jacob’s eyes widened as he felt a searing pain in the hand he caught and withdrew it from Cobra’s poison-coated fist.

            “The hell are you?! You’re weaker than me!!!” Jacob clutched at his hand, which had developed some kind of burn or rash from coming into contact with Cobra’s poison.

            Cobra just smirked cockily and continued to press his advantage.

            “Me? I’m but a humble Dragon Slayer… And you’re no dragon. You’re just a two-bit punk of an assassin. Poison Dragon ROAR!” Cobra brought his hands together and unleashed a stream of Poison Dragon Slaying Magic that overtook Jacob and made him scream out in agony. And while his opponent was in a petrified state, Cobra charged right through him with scaly claws for hands. Jacob coughed out blood as he sank to his knees, before collapsing to the floor unceremoniously. Claw still outstretched and his body still leaning forward, Cobra smirked darkly. “… Show’s over!”

            Lucy and the others appeared flabbergasted as they drank in the scene. Cobra’s hands returned to normal as he stuffed them in his pockets.

            “H-H-How did you do that?!” Lucy yelped. “I thought you’d need our help for sure!”

            Cobra sneered.

            “I just used my greatest strength without tellin’ him about it… He didn’t even have a clue. I can hear thoughts, remember? He could cloak his body, muffle his movements… But his thoughts rang loud and clear!”

            “Amazing…” Loke muttered while Capricorn helped Lucy to her feet. But before they could celebrate, Happy cried out fearfully.

            “W-W-Wait…! That guy! He took everyone somewhere!”

            Lucy’s eyes widened at the reminder.

            “That’s right…! Without that guy, who knows what’s going to happen to them?!”

            Cobra rolled his good eye.

            “Relax, they’re fine.”

            And just as they were going to press Cobra about his nonchalant attitude,  a brilliant light shone throughout the Guildhall as everyone reappeared. Everyone looked confused about what had just happened, but looked none the worse for wear.

            “I guess with that guy knocked out, he can’t maintain his Magic…” Loke deduced correctly, while Makarov took a step forward and glowered at the fallen assassin.

            “Lock him up! He had the nerve to endanger our Guild, so he will be given no quarter!”

            Cobra gave the Guildmaster a smug grin as it was his turn next, when Makarov turned to him. Jet and Droy moved to comply with their Master’s command. Lucy followed after them, as she wanted to check up on Brandish.

            “Yo. Glad I decided to get off here, or you guys would be screwed!” Cobra decided it was best to leave out the part that he just wanted off Sorano’s deathtrap because he was feeling sick…

            Makarov nodded tersely in gratitude.

            “For saving the lives of my children, and protecting our First Master, you have my eternal gratitude…” He turned his head to eye Warren, who was checking on the map. “I take it Crime Sorciere have decided to lend a hand?”

            Cobra spread out his arms lazily, gazing up at the ceiling.

            “Pretty much. Ishgar’s our home, too, y’know? Plus, Jellal’s got that whole vendetta against Zeref anyway…” He eyed Makarov with a modicum of delight. “And… I won’t deny it felt good to get my pound of flesh.”

            Makarov nodded in understanding. Kinana then broke away from the crowd and ran up to Cobra with a bright grin on her face.

            “Erik…!”

            Cobra frowned marginally, but reluctantly accepted her hug all the same. He kept his eye on Makarov, though.

            “Your help is appreciated, Cobra.” Makarov replied honestly. “Though Zeref is dead along with our Natsu, we still have a war to fight. Alvarez won’t give up because their Emperor is gone – if anything, they will strike back out of revenge. We also have Acnologia to worry about…”

            Cobra grimaced at the summation of current events, still holding Kinana securely.

            “Sounds like a mess, alright… So that fireball got himself killed already, huh?”

            “Not without taking Zeref with him.” Makarov affirmed, to which Cobra nodded blankly.

            “Guess I shouldn’t have expected anything less… So what now?”

            Warren shook his head sadly as he set down the device with the map of Fiore.

            “With August jamming our radar, I can’t get an accurate picture of where we stand… There are at least four Spriggan Shields to worry about, though. Ajeel – who Erza beat, but didn’t capture. Invel to the West. August to the East. And some unknown Spriggan to the North…”

            “Sounds better than I was expecting…” Cobra remarked dryly. Makarov shook his head.

            “On the contrary. We fought tooth and nail to reach this point! And the harshest battles are still to come… August, the King of Magic, is in a league of his own. He is possibly more powerful than Zeref ever was.”

            Cobra’s eye bulged in shock and horror.

            “You want to fight a monster like that?!”

            Makarov turned to the side, appearing deep in thought.

            “Not if we can speak with him… And I think we have someone that may be willing to do that for us. That is, if she’s willing to cooperate…”

            ~*~

            Brandish eyed Lucy as Jet and Droy dragged in Jacob, clothes in tatters. Next to her, Marin looked shocked that Jacob had been taken down.

            “… I’d like to speak with your Guildmaster.”

            Lucy, Jet, and Droy all froze at the request…