#( && no one deserves to be forgotten ;; addie says )

[galaxydrcaming]

@rosewaterdrunk​: “I thought humans were more evolved than this.” from vex'ahlia

Addie snorts as she grabs her drink and takes another swig of it. “Coming from someone who has spent a lot of time around humans for a longer amount of time than you may expect, I can say with full confidence that humans are more in the middle of that statement. They can create such remarkable things and have managed to evolve along the way, but on the other half, they do stupid things all the time, I’ve certainly made a number of mistakes along the way.”

[galaxydrcaming]

Pressing her lips together, she nods in understanding and looks away. "So, are you telling me, that what you felt for me, was genuinely love? Or, your interpretation of it? Because when we were together and you had agreed that it had just been a long game, it didn't seem like you had felt any form of love." She points out, knowing she was being a hypocrite considering she would later decide to play him. It seemed they both still had things to work on, regardless of how she still felt for him.

As she listens to him, she takes in a deep breath and almost hesitates in her movement, but moves forward towards him and looks up. "If you are more now, then I want to try something." She muses, stepping up and pressing her lips against his softly, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting herself enjoy this moment.

@galaxydrcaming || In response to this

"Adeline, I was a god. A dark one yes, but a god. And one that had never experienced....any, love at all. I understand that it was broken, and unhealthy, but it was the only way I knew it. If obsession is what you'd like to call it, alright."

Luc shifted uncomfortably, used to talking with her bluntly but unused to trying to verbalize his existence. "I am changed because I remember mortal memories. A life, with family and loves that this place has given me, and what those relationships looked like. I am different because I understand how those relationships should be, and have mortal feelings and responses to those relationships. I'll never be fully human Adeline, but my thoughts aren't as...unexplainable, as they were when I was just the dark god you despise, I'm more now."

[canirove]

Friends, lovers… and an orange | Chapter 25

Previous chapter | Epilogue

Masterlist

A year later...

“Ready?” Mason said, squeezing Adele's hand.

“As ready as one can be” she sighed.

“Ok, let's go” he said, nodding towards the hotel's security member. As he started walking towards the door, Mason and Adele behind him, they could hear the screams getting louder and louder, flashes already blinding them.

“We can do this, Addie” he said, squeezing her hand again. “Walk behind me, I'll protect you.”

And once they were outside…

“Mason! Mason, Adele!”

“Over here, Mason!”

“Just a smile, Adele! Please!”

“Mason, marry me!”

“Adele! Adele!”

“Finally” Mason sighed once they both were inside the car that was waiting for them. “I swear today there were even more fans and photographers than yesterday.”

“The marry me was new too.”

“Uh?”

“These past days it's been all screaming your name and telling you that they love you, and today someone asked you to marry them. Didn't you hear it?” Adele chuckled.

“I didn't, no. I guess I was too focused on making sure you were ok.”

“Thank you, Mase” she said, kissing his cheek as the car finally started moving. “I don't deserve it.”

“You deserve the world, Addie” he smiled.

“Do I? Because all this chaos every time we leave the hotel is my fault.”

“What?”

“I was the one who insisted on shooting the Dior show again despite you and Maria Grazia telling me it was ok to say no.”

“But all those fans and paparazzis are there for me, Addie. So if it is someone's fault, it is ours. Both of us. We are all in this together” Mason sang.

“Did you just sing "High School Musical"?” she laughed. 

“Don't tell anyone” he said, lowering down his voice. “But I am obsessed with those movies.”

“Wait, is that why you had Troy Bolton's hair as a kid?”

“Maybe” he shrugged.

“Oh my God, Mase” Adele laughed again. “You better not buy me a necklace with the M like he did for Gabriella.”

“There goes your birthday present for this year…”

“Oh, shut up” she chuckled, giving him a little push. 

“I never liked Gabriella, to be honest. She was so…”

“Annoying?”

“Yeah. I'm team Sharpay.”

“Always knew you had good taste in women.”

“Because I like you?” he asked with a teasing smile.

“Precisely” she replied with a matching one. “Thank you, Mase.”

“What for? Loving you since the moment I understood what being in love is and feels like?”

“That too” Adele said, her smirk turning into a shy smile. “But thank you for this. For making me laugh and forget about all my worries even if it's just for a few minutes. For being there for me and supporting me despite everything that currently surrounds us and everything that has happened to you lately. I don't deserve you, Mase. I know you are gonna say again that I deserve the world and all those cheesy things you always say, but…”

“Addie” Mason said, taking her hand on his and kissing it. “You deserve everything good that happens to you. Me included” he winked. “Or have you forgotten that I am finally free from my agency thanks to you?”

Because it had worked. Adele's crazy plan… It had worked out.

Once their Valentine's day getaway was over, they went back to England, but not to London. They had escaped to the countryside, to the big mansion Edward owned and where they were joined by him and their parents.

The day the cover was published, they all had been together, holding their breaths as they watched the post being shared on Instagram and the interview posted on Vogue's website. 

“It's done” Edward had announced. “Did you do as I suggested?”

“We did” Mason had said. “Comments disabled on Instagram, all apps deleted from our phones.”

“You too?” he asked Toni and Elizabeth.

“Yes” Toni nodded. “And Luca and Alex have gone private.”

“Good. I don't want anyone bothering any of you. If they have something to say, let them do it to us. My team will deal with it, it is their job” Edward had said. 

And they had been busy, because Mason's interview and cover had been talked about all over the world, even making it to the news since more and more models had started to share their own stories, not afraid of speaking up anymore. But besides having to deal with everything that was happening on the media and online, they had also had to deal with Mason's agency. 

Erin had showed up at Vogue's headquarters in London demanding to speak with Edward, making first a big fuss about him not seeing her, and then when his assistant kept telling her that she couldn't reach him because the signal in the countryside was pretty bad (which obviously was a lie). Then, of course, she had been calling Mason and Adele nonstop, sending them text after text, asking them for an explanation. At first she had been nice about it, but as they kept ignoring her, she had started with the threats, with posting everything they had against him and ruining his career. That was when he had said enough, and had replied to one of her calls.

“Do it, Erin” he had said. “Post the video and the photos, I dare you. But it won't have the effect you are looking for. You've seen what has been published in the press, the support me and the other models who have worked with you have from both the fans and people in the industry. If you post that, you will only be digging your own grave a bit deeper. But remember how when you were too stressed, you always joked about retiring to the Caribbean? I think you should take your own advice and do it, Erin. Do it now that you still have the money and haven't wasted it on lawyers that won't take you anywhere. Because this is over, and not even a miracle will restore your reputation.”

A few days later, her agency had released a statement where they had announced her departure and a complete restructuring of the agency, no one hearing about her anymore. Though according to gossip, she had taken Mason's advice and was now enjoying life on a paradisiacal beach, which had been what he and Adele had also done: take that gap year and enjoy their life together.

While the world kept talking about the interview, and Mason's new agency had had to decline many other interviews and different job offers while also dealing with fake sightings or people wanting to know where they were, they had disappeared and gone back to one of their favourite places in the world: Italy.

They had rented a van and traveled all around the country, stopping only at small towns and discovering all the hidden gems they had to offer. They had taken hundreds of photos, eaten their weight in pasta and gelato more than once and twice, visited the most beautiful monuments and landscapes, and fallen in love even more with each other, something Adele couldn't imagine was possible.

“I feel so stupid” she had said one night as they cuddled and watched the starry sky, something she knew would miss once they went back to the real world.

“You just mixed words while talking with that man, Addie. Anyone can do it while learning a new language” Mason had replied.

“I wasn't talking about that.”

“Then?” he had said, kissing the top of her head.

“I feel stupid because I wasted many years dating other guys and getting heartbroken when I had you, my person, right in front of me. You were right there and I couldn't see you.”

“But you did in the end, didn't you?”

“I did” Adele had said, moving in his arms to look at him. “I certainly did.”

“Then that's all that matters” he had said, caressing her cheek. “I love you, Addie.”

“I love you too, Mase. Only you” she had said before kissing him. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

“And? What did he say? What did he want?”

“Can I at least take off my coat and my shoes before I answer all that?” Adele chuckled.

“Yes, yes. Sorry” Mason said. “But did it go well?”

“It did” she said, letting herself fall on the sofa. “Though I need to buy a new pair of boots, those are killing me.”

“Addie…”

“Ok, ok. It'll tell you why he wanted to see me. But you just look so cute all nervous and worried about me” she said, squeezing his cheek. 

“Adele!”

“Fine…” she sighed. “He wants me to work as his assistant.”

“What?” 

“Yep. That's why he wanted to meet. He has seen my photos for Dior and my Instagram account, and after talking with some people who know me and have seen me work, he offered me a job as his assistant, to join him in all his photoshoots and help him.”

“Oh my God, Addie. That's amazing!” Mason said, throwing himself at her and hugging her. “He is the best fashion photographer right now, getting him to shoot you is an honour not many can have! And you are gonna learn so much with him, Addie. Like, he's the best professor you could ask for.”

“He is, but if you keep squeezing me like that, I won't get to learn a thing.”

“Sorry, I'm sorry” he said, letting go of her. “But I am so proud of you, Addie. So fucking proud. Because you said yes to this, didn't you?”

“I'm not an idiot, Mase. Of course I did!” she laughed. 

“That's my girl” he smiled, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. 

“He told me something else, tho.”

“Something else?”

“Since he has his studio in Paris, he wants me to move there.”

“To Paris?”

“Yes” Adele nodded. “I'm afraid our world tour isn't gonna be happening any time soon. Though you can still go on your own, maybe take Alex with you now that he has finished his studies.”

“Nah, don't worry” Mason said. “If I don't get to travel and see all those amazing places with you, I don't want to go.”

“Oh… ok.”

“Addie… Addie, look at me” he said, gently lifting her chin to make her look him in the eyes. “If you are moving to Paris, so am I. Wherever you go, I will go too. And you know, this may be the sign I was waiting for to start working again. My new agency is respecting my choice to take things slow after everything that happened and not rush anything. But if I'm honest, I've been missing all the chaos that comes with photoshoots and fashion month.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… But I don't know, I still have to think about it. What I do know, tho, is that now that we are finally together, I'm not going to let you go. You are stuck with me, Adele Turlington” he smiled, his dimple showing.

“Shit” Adele said.

“Shit?” he laughed. “Were you planning on leaving me or something? Maybe run away with one of the celebrities you are going to meet at your new job?”

“I was actually thinking about this really hot footballer that plays for Arsenal and that Luca's boyfriend introduced me to. The one with an Irish name.”

“I beg your pardon?” 

“Have you seen how beautiful his eyes are? And his nose? Yours is good, but his… And he totally is boyfriend material. He… Mason!” she screamed as he lifted her in the air and threw her over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you to our room so I can show who actually is boyfriend material.”

“You what?” she laughed. 

“There” he said after throwing her in the bed, Adele giggling like a little kid.

“Mase, you don't have to show me anything.”

“Don't I?” he asked, arching an eyebrow and joining her in the bed.

“No, you don't. Mainly because you aren't my boyfriend.”

“What?”

“You are more than just that, Mase” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and caressing the back of his head. “People have always said that we were destined to be together because our mums are best friends, and they were right. Because you, Mason Mount… You are my soulmate. And even though like I told you that one night in Italy, it took me some time to see it and realise it… I love you, I've always had, and I will always do. I love you, Mase.”

“I love you too, Addie” he said while giving her that smile that was all dimples. The one she loved, she had always loved, and will always love.

[ivpapaemeritusiv]

Chapter 18: This Chapel of Ritual

Summary: In this chapter, Addeline is caught off guard as blood threatens to spill before her infant son in a ritual of human sacrifice. The Cardinal finds himself torn, wanting to comfort his wife but also grappling with an intense revelation of his own.

Word Count: 4,100 words

There is talk of human sacrifice in the chapter. SMUT (sub/dom, rough blow job, gagging).

After wrapping up Addeline's postpartum check-up, Papa and Addy eagerly headed back home, longing to reunite with their daughter and establish a comforting routine for their newborn son. Addeline was especially eager to hand him over to the nanny so she could get some well-deserved rest.

The click-clack of Sister’s shoes excitedly walked towards the door upon hearing the bell ring. She couldn’t wait to see her new grandson once again.

She hurriedly swung open the door to see the Cardinal, with a single suitcase in his hand.

“Where is he?” she asked, enthusiastically.

Addeline appeared behind Copia, holding the little bundle of joy that Imperator was so desperate to get her hands on.

“What a precious little boy!” she cried, taking the child from Addy.

“Where is Elizabeth?” Addeline asked.

“The nanny put Elizabeth down ages ago,��� Imperator said, “It’s quite late."

“I don’t care,” Addy replied, “I’m going to wake her. I haven’t seen her in so long.”

Sister was too busy gawking over the baby to pay the woman any mind, “Fine, dear, if you must.”

As Addeline walked off, Sister turned to the Cardinal who had set his luggage against the wall by the door, "Will you have Sister Annaliese take this to my room," he said, "She's usually here when I arrive home."

"Oh of course, C," replied sister, "I think she went to sleep too. We were expecting you two to arrive much earlier. I was really hoping to discuss a formal ceremony for Kaisarion."

"Well," Copia said, "I have a little bit of time now. I'm terribly jet lagged though, so just make it quick and we'll discuss details tomorrow."

"Well I'd like to gather our followers and formally introduce him of course as the future Papa Emeritus V," she continued explaining, "I think he'll be ready to take over when he's 15. What do you think?"

"Fifteen is quite young," Copia grumbled, "He'll still be in school."

"School?" she laughed, "Oh all the children will be schooled right here in this ministry."

"I think Addeline would prefer they go to a public school."

Sister placed a hand over her heart as though Papa had said something outlandish, "Public school? Cardi, of course they won't attend public school! We don't want their little minds tainted by outside sources. Why, it's preposterous to think."

Copia continued, "And what children? We only have two. Who are all these hypothetical children you speak of?"

"Oh, C, my boy. Certainly, you will need more than just one male heir. God forbid something happen to Kaisarion that puts us in the same predicament we were in before his birth."

"Really, Sister, I don't want to think about something happening to my infant son--"

She cut him off, "Well, you never know, darling. We almost lost him before he was even born. All I'm saying is that life is unpredictable, and we must be prepared."

"Alright, Alright," the Cardinal grew frustrated, "And what will this ceremony involve?"

"Oh, well we've had one for all of Nihil's children. It's like a baptism almost, except..."

"Except what?" Papa grew intensely nervous not knowing what Sister would suggest next.

"Well, perhaps you are too young to remember but the ceremony usually includes a human sacrifice."

Copia's eyes grew wide as if she had dug up a memory from the core of his brain that had been long forgotten, I uh... he stuttered, "No, I remember. And I remember being terrified."

"Terrified?" Sister repeated, "My Satan, C, when I met your father, we were in the midst of a mass human sacrifice."

"My father?" Copia zoned in on that one word, "You've met my father?"

Quickly realizing the mistake she had made, she hurried to put the thought out of his mind, "Yes I have met him, but it is a conversation for another day. Let's just focus on the task in front of us."

"I'm not too crazy about the idea. It will terrify Addeline. I mean, certainly you can't really believe that human sacrifice actually brings good fortune."

Sister scoffed in frustration, "Of course, I don't believe it, Cardi, but they do. It keeps our followers in the palm of our hands."

"Isn't it enough that we just make people happy with our music, Sister?"

Imperator placed a motherly hand on Copia's cheek, "Oh, Nihil is right about you."

"Please don't ever say that again," the man rolled his eyes.

Sister removed her hand and began walking down the corridor with Copia following closely behind, "I just meant that you have a big heart. You're not quite like the rest of us here. I think that that is something that sets you apart from the previous papas."

The man didn't know the point Sister was trying to make but he was ready to join his wife, "I'll take Kaisarion to the nursery, Sister. I think Addeline will want to feed him before she goes to sleep."

"Talk to her about trying for another boy," the woman said as she gently handed the Cardinal the sleeping infant."

"I will discuss the matter, but should it not just happen organically?"

"Oh, C, you impregnate your wife how you see fit."

"Right then, well... goodnight," Copia bid the woman as they retreated to their rooms for the evening.

Papa went to the nursery to find his wife. She was sitting on a small love seat in the corner of the room trying to keep her eyes open. The man joined her on the small piece of furniture, stirring her from her light slumber.

"I brought you Kaisarion, dear. I thought you'd like to feed him before we go to sleep."

"Yes, Papa, thank you. I'd better feed him now or he'll be up in an hour screaming for food. Too bad your nipples are useless," she joked.

"Well," he began, "Perhaps we should have Swiss move in to take over fatherly duties."

"What's that supposed to mean," she was taken aback by the comment, but her husband brushed it off just as quickly as he had let the comment come out.

"I didn't mean anything, Amore," he changed the subject, "Look, Sister wants to have a ceremony for Kaisarion to introduce him to the members of the Clergy and some of our followers. She wants to officiate it with a… um... with a..." he didn't have the fortitude to tell her at that moment about the human sacrifice. “Never mind. Join me in the bedroom after you lay down our son?" he smiled.

Addeline returned the smile with a soft chuckle as she kissed her husband, "I'll be there shortly, Papa."

"Good," he replied. "Now that we're home, I can take care of you the way I really want to take care of you."

Addy exchanged a subtle grin with the man, fully grasping his unspoken message, though she foresaw his likely slumber by the time she reached his quarters. She herself felt the pull of sleep creeping in within moments. The homeward journey had been arduous, especially with Kaisarion proving to be quite a handful. Contemplating having a nanny accompany them on their next tour together, she pondered the cryptic nature of Papa's mention of Swiss. Was he harboring envy or resentment? His lack of connection with their son left her questioning. Unlike the angelic Elizabeth, their son demanded much attention, leading Addeline to a resolute decision in that instant; she desired no more children. Surely, Papa shared her sentiments on the matter after such an ordeal.

*

It had been a little over three months since Addeline and Papa returned home and the time had come for Kaisarion's introduction ceremony. Papa donned his black regalia embellished with the Grucifix and grand crown, his usual attire for performing Year Zero. Addeline was adorned in an elegant yet demure black dress for Kaisarion's ceremony. While Papa typically favored seeing her in attire revealing more skin, he found her allure undiminished.

"You look breathtaking, Tesoro," he said as he approached his wife.

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to his body. A well-placed palm slowly traced her spinal cord up to her neck, as he lustfully peered into her eyes. He fingered the outline of her vertebrae, tickling the bones in her neck until she pulled away. In an instant, he grabbed the back of her head, letting his fingers ensnare her hair as he forced her neck to his teeth. In this position, her neck was vulnerable to the man, the pale skin waiting to be tarnished by his bite.

Carefully, he nibbled at the thin layer of skin, taking bits into his teeth, tugging just enough to inflict a small stinging sensation. Addy let out a gasp as he moved to her cheeks," Papa, we can't be late," she informed him.

Ignoring her suggestion, he took her neck firmly into his clutches, squeezing as he walked her to the nearest wall where he passionately pushed her body against the flat surface. He pushed himself onto her, rubbing his growing erection into her thighs, "Grab it," he insisted.

Through the satin fabric, Addeline took his member into her hands, feeling that he was still quite soft, "Papa, you're not ready yet. Am I not turning you on?"

The grip on her throat became tighter, "Did you just call me soft, Amore?"

The woman smiled innocently, "Well, Papa, I--"

She didn't have the chance to finish before the Cardinal had her on her knees. He slowly lifted his robe, presenting his cock to her as she kneeled wide eyed before him.

"You know what to do," he said.

Addy didn't have a chance to protest before Copia was thrusting into her mouth. She was not quite prepared for the blunt force of it and coughed immediately. She was struggling to catch her breath as the Satanic pope unforgivingly pushed himself to the back of her throat. She struggled to speak to the man, trying to ask him to slow down, but her words fell on deaf ears.

After a minute of this, the woman gave her husband a few slaps on his abdomen, signaling for him to stop, "Red," she struggled to shout out, his cock obstructing her vocal cords.

The message was received, and the man finally pulled out of her, a look of frustration on his face.

"Papa, you're not..."

"I know, I know," he shouted, letting his robe fall back to the ground. He sighed as he grabbed hold of his wife's arms, pulling her to her feet. He was consumed by thoughts of the impending human sacrifice, his mind swirling with worry over his wife's possible reaction. The weight of the event hung heavily on his shoulders, filling him with a sense of unease and making a full erection completely impossible.

"It's the dress, isn't it?" she asked, thinking that perhaps Copia didn't approve of her outfit choice.

He took her chin into his fingers and kissed the tip of her nose, "No, Amore. You could wear a potato sack and still be the most beautiful woman in a room."

She smiled, touched by his words and ability to make her feel special.

"Let us go," he told her, "You're right. We shouldn't be late."

The couple made their way to the chapel, greeted by the presence of Sister Imperator, Nihil and other clergy members. Papa walked in, unphased by the eerie atmosphere, his steps steady and confident. However, Addeline was immediately stricken with fear. Her heart quickened at the distant, dissonant chants as they echoed through the cavernous church, each note sending a shiver down the spine. Hundreds of shadowy figures, draped in tattered black robes, sat motionless in the pews. Their eerie goat and wolf masks, with hollow eyes and twisted smiles, seemed to come alive in the flickering candlelight, casting grotesque and elongated shadows that writhed on the ancient stone walls. It felt like a sinister cathedral of dread, where every whispered prayer was a plea for mercy.

The couple made their way to the chapel, greeted by the presence of Sister Imperator, Nihil and other clergy members. Sister entrusted Kaisarion to Addeline for the start of the ceremony. Addy had attended several rehearsals and understood she was to place her baby in a basket of black silk at the front of the altar. Despite being absent during prior practice, a mysterious throne loomed behind the usual basket, unsettling Addy. With apprehension she placed her son on the dark silk inside of the basket, feeling a shiver down her spine. Returning to Papa's side, she braced herself as Sister began to address the congregation.

The ghouls were also in attendance, cloaked in their mysterious attire, adhering to the rules of anonymity. Addy's gaze met Swiss's behind her, sensing his presence even without seeing his eyes. As Sister began her address, the atmosphere grew tense. "Ladies, gentleman, and ghouls," she announced, drawing attention to the future Papa Emeritus V, "We are gathered here today..."

Her words faded and Addy could no longer hear what Imperator was saying due to the appearance of an enigmatic figure. Escorted by two members of the clergy, the figure wore a bag over his head. He was placed on the throne in front of her child.

"What's this, Papa?" Addy whispered to her husband, growing increasingly uneasy with the unfolding situation.

"Blood must be spilled onto the future heir, my sweet," Copia admitted to the woman. A look of disgust overtook Addy's face as she tried to comprehend the ominous turn of events.

Her already pale face turned a sickly white. "What?" she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. Papa joined Sister at the front of the altar, and Addeline watched in terror, frozen as a long sharp knife was held to the masked figure's throat. The scene left her feeling nauseous, her hand instinctively gripping her stomach in distress.

Addy, overwhelmed by the escalating tension and the crowd's fervor, reached her breaking point. No longer paralyzed by fear, she sprang to her feet, snatching her baby from his resting place. "No!" she cried out, her voice cutting through the chaos. Gasps of shock filled the chapel as all eyes turned towards the mother. She locked eyes with Papa, shaking her head in disbelief before swiftly making her exit through the chapel's door.

Swiss rose from the crowd and immediately followed her out. He pushed the doors open with force and found the woman in the hall, gripping tightly to her child in one hand and covering her mouth with the other. She was visibly shaken. She looked up, noticing the ghoul's presence. With a mix of anger and fear she snapped, "Did you know about this?"

Swiss approached Addy, each step causing her to retreat, "I did know, yes. I had no idea he hadn't prepared you."

"And you're okay with this?"

"It's not really my decision, Adds," he admitted with a hint of regret, "I'm just here to support the clergy."

"Jesus," Addy exclaimed, "This is fucking insane."

Papa Emeritus rushed out to find his wife. He attempted to pacify her, but she was inconsolable, pushing his hands away without delay, "Don't touch me, don't you dare touch me," she exclaimed.

Copia, understanding Addy's shock, knew she wasn't accustomed to such scenes. Her reaction was expected given her unfamiliarity with the Satanic rituals.

"Amore, I am sorry."

"You could have told me, you know?" she yelled, "You could have warned me what was going to happen."

"Tesoro, I--"

"You could have given me the option whether or not I wanted some innocent stranger's blood splattered all over my infant son!" She was shouting loudly, so loudly that she could be heard from inside the chapel.

"Allow me to speak, please," the Cardinal begged, taking her hands into his grasp, "Swiss, can you leave us."

The ghoul nodded and rejoined his fellow bandmates. Papa continued trying to gain Addy's focus, "Darling, I am so sorry. We felt it was best to keep it from you."

"We?" she repeated, "You mean her?"

"It was a collective decision, darling. I admit, such a ritual is unnecessary and outdated, but it appeases the congregation."

"So, you admit that someone is in there about to give their life for no reason?"

The Cardinal was at a loss for words. He realized he had made a grave mistake, letting his wife witness such a spectacle without prior warning.

"I have not prepared you well for life here, Amore. For that I am eternally sorry."

The woman looked at him, waiting for further explanation.

"You see, I began to witness human sacrifices at a young age, possibly as tiny as Elizabeth. I am used to this."

Copia gently wiped away a single tear that ran down Addy's face, finally able to embrace her without resistance.

“You shouldn’t be used to this,” she said with sad eyes, almost heartbroken for the little boy her husband used to embody.

"I will call this whole thing off, Darling. Do not fret. No blood will be spilled on our son’s account," he reassured her. Resting her head on his shoulder, Addeline nodded, their tiny baby crying amidst the commotion.

"Papa," she whimpered.

"Yes, Amore?"

"I don't feel…" she gulped, handing Kaisarion to the man, "I don't feel very…,” before she had the chance to finish her sentence, vomit rose in her throat, spewing out onto the floor before the Cardinal.

"Unholy Satan, my darling, are you alright?"

Sister Imperator burst through the doors, just in time to witness the unexpected scene of projectile puking. Copia turned to face Imperator, a look of anger upon his face, "Sister, call this whole thing off.”

"But Cardi, it is tradition—"

"I said call it off, Sister!"

Imperator was taken aback by Papa Emeritus IV's assertiveness in that moment. She thought it best not to challenge the man's authority and went to dismiss the congregation.

Copia took Kaisarion to the nursery to join his sister and then escorted Addeline back to their room. He settled her in the bathroom, gently removing her vomit-covered dress before drawing her a bath. "There, there, Amore," he comforted her, lifting her and placing her in the tub, “Don’t you worry about a thing. Papa is going to take care of you.”

Addeline let her fingers move through the water as Papa tenderly washed her back. Far away from the evil she had almost witnessed, a sense of safety enveloped her. Papa's gentle touch and care eased her mind, especially as he noticed the remnants of vomit in her hair and began to cleanse it with shampoo.

“You are a mess, Amore,” he whispered, lathering the soap onto her scalp.

He handled her with utmost care, pouring water gently over her head, ensuring no suds entered her eyes. After cleaning her, he lifted her out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her. "You're shivering," he noted, "Here, let me dry your hair." Papa used a towel to pat her hair dry before leading her to their bedroom, dressing her, and laying her down in bed.

Addeline found comfort as Papa pulled her close, wrapping her in a warm and secure hug. The sense of security in his arms was a welcome relief, shielding her from the turmoil around them. In that moment, she cherished the feeling of safety he provided.

*

Papa woke up the next morning, seeing his wife still asleep beside him. Trying not to disturb her, he got up from the bed cautiously, intending to talk to Sister Imperator.

A bleary-eyed Imperator opened her bedroom upon hearing a tapping at her bedroom door, "Cardi, do you know what time it is?"

"Yes, it's 10:00," he admitted, “We overslept.”

"What?" Sister Imperator was surprised that she had let the morning get away from her. “Well,” she reasoned out loud, “It was quite a long night.”

“Yes,” he agreed, “It was.”

The woman stared on at her son, oblivious to his reason for disturbing her, “Is there something you need, C?”

“I was hoping to speak with you?”

“Yes, of course,” she said softly, “We do need to speak. Why don’t you meet me in my office in 15 minutes.”

Allowing Sister some time to get ready, Copia made his way back to his bedroom to check on Addeline. As he entered, he heard dry heaving from the bathroom. Much to his surprise, he found her hugging the toilet, throwing up once again.

“Cara Mia, again?”

Mortified that her husband had walked in on her, seemingly ill once more, she quickly collected herself from the floor and flushed the contents of the toilet.

“Are you quite alright, darling?” He asked, concerned for his young wife.

“I’m fine, Papa, really.”

“Certainly, the events from last night are not weighing on your mind still?”

“No, it’s not that,” she quickly said, “I think I’m just hungry.”

“Tesoro, please get back into bed. I will have breakfast brought to the room today.”

Addy complied with Copia's request and nestled back under the covers. He gently tucked her in, reassuring her, "My love, I have some matters to attend to with Sister this morning. I'll be back with you once that's taken care of."

She understood, giving her husband a kiss before he walked out the door.

Papa reluctantly made his way to Sister's office, preparing for an uncomfortable conversation. He aimed to keep things polite, anticipating a lecture about his wife, but reasoned to hold firm in his stance. He valued Sister's opinion greatly, however, and his affection for her was profound. The woman’s validation held significant weight for him, and he was afraid to let her down.

He cautiously entered her office, greeted by a cheerful "Come in." He walked in nervously and waited for her instructions.

"Have a seat, dear boy."

"Thank you, Sister," he replied, taking a chair directly facing her desk. "Sister, about last night--"

"Oh, we needn't discuss the events of last night, Cardi."

"Well," he started, "I think we do. You see, I know that the sacrifice is something we often do when male heirs are born, but Addeline is very uncomfortable with it. I must do what is best for her peace of mind."

"I understand completely, C."

Expecting resistance from her, he began to speak, "Now, Sister I simply must put my foot down…” but he paused realizing the woman had agreed with him, “Wait. You do?"

"Yes," she admitted, "I do. As you said, it is an outdated ritual."

He remained quiet, sensing she had more to say.

"When you were born, I opted to have a member of our congregation sacrificed for you. Your father, however, was extremely upset about the whole ordeal. I was forced to abandon the plan."

Copia remembered that Sister Imperator had mentioned his father before and this time he wanted to know more. He hesitated before asking, "Sister, forgive me for interrupting, but you’ve mentioned before that you know my father."

Sister Imperator let out a sigh, her expression heavy with emotion. The woman took a deep breath and looked up to the ceiling as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

"Oh Cardi," she looked at him and gently took his hands in hers, her eyes revealing a deep, hidden truth. The man held his breath, his heart racing with anticipation, unaware of the bombshell about to be dropped, "Cardi, I know your father because... Well, because I am your mother."

The man gazed into the woman's eyes, seemingly oblivious to her words. His eyelids fluttered rapidly, betraying the confusion he felt, “I’m sorry… come again?”

“Oh, my little, C. I am your mother.”

The man's eyes filled with disdain as realization dawned on him, "You? You are my... no. If you are my mother," he paused, lifting a finger in the air, "If you are my mother then my father is..."

The elderly voice of Papa Zero resonated as he materialized next to Sister, "What are you two talking about? Has this pretentious fool apologized for last night’s fiasco?"

“No…no…no…” Copia shook his head at the thought of being Nihil’s spawn.

“Oh, Papa, put a cork in it,” Imperator scolded, “Must I remind you of your behavior the first time you witnessed a sacrifice?”

The phantom fell silent. Sister turned to Cardi, seeking his reaction to the news she had just shared. Copia, visibly astonished, exclaimed, "You've got to be kidding me? This man is my father?"

Nihil, acknowledging Sister's revelation, remarked, "Seestor, you finally told him. Good for you."

Sister, disapprovingly shook her head at her former lover and redirected her attention to her son, "Cardi, please."

"I can't believe you kept this from me. All this time, I've been the son of THIS moron!" He stood abruptly, heading for the door. "Cardi," Sister called out, now standing.

"Let him go," Nihil advised, "He’s a child and children need to throw tantrums."

Nihil fell under the woman's menacing gaze, and he cowered under her stare.

"Sorry Seestor," he apologized, vanishing once more into thin air, leaving the woman with a throbbing headache.

The Cardinal quickly dashed down the corridor. He wanted to be furious with Sister Imperator for concealing such a secret from him all his life, but once he got past the fact that Nihil was his father, he started to feel a sense of relief. The bond he shared with the woman, the connection he had with her his entire life, began to finally make sense.

All this time, he longed to know who had abandoned him as an infant, and now he realized he wasn't abandoned at all but loved and cared for very much by the person who had given birth to him. Sister Imperator.

[mcflymemes]

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE PROMPTS *  assorted quotes from the book by v.e. schwab

books are a way to live a thousand lives, or to find strength in a very long one.

i simply want to be the one who breaks you.

this is how you walk to the end of the world.

dine with me.

was it real to you?

we can't help who we fall in love with.

the more you study, the less you believe in any of it.

time moves so fast.

you are not capable of love.

life always ends too soon.

in the end, everyone wants to be remembered.

were the instants of joy worth the stretches of sorrow?

i didn't think we were serious.

you have no desire to practice.

if you loved me, you would have let me go by now.

you don't know what you'll find until you step outside.

this is how you live forever.

the vexing thing about time is that it's never enough.

how can a thing not be real if it cannot be remembered?

stories are a way to preserve one's self.

love is hungry. love is selfish.

i loved that about them.

everyone else is a mile down the road.

what is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?

i remember you.

take your echoes and pretend they are a voice.

you're such a good friend.

it's easy to stay on the path when the road is straight and the steps are numbered.

i do not want to belong to someone else.

do not mistake this kindness.

take my life when i'm done with it.

time always ends a second before you're ready.

being forgotten is a bit like going mad.

dance with me.

tell me. was any of it real?

you better live a good life.

i just don't see us ending up together.

march is such a fickle month.

it does not seem such a bad word.

i was the night itself.

i am so tired of not having choices.

humans are so ill-equipped for peace.

what could i have done?

you've gotten lost.

cling to every moment until it's gone.

it's not you.

you deserve better.

it's just a storm.

you can have my soul when i don't want it anymore.

i do not want to belong to anyone but myself.

i am stronger than your god and older than your devil.

they say people are like snowflakes, each one unique.

nothing is all good or all bad.

you cannot leave a mark.

i would have lost my mind.

take a drink every time you hear you're not enough.

there is defiance in being a dreamer.

life can feel very long sometimes, but in the end, it goes so fast.

i don't want to lose you.

i set the pieces, and i choose when to play.

we're not on the same page.

blink, and the years fall away like leaves.

life is so much messier than that.

the greatest danger in change is letting the new replace the old.

it's amazing what you can learn when you have the time.

there's just something missing.

be with me.

never pray to the gods that answer after dark.

were the moments of beauty worth the year of pain?

let's stay friends.

i met someone.

it was just so... permanent.

you didn't come.

live long enough, and you learn how to read a person.

if you only walk in other people's steps, you cannot make your own way.

listen to me.

you didn't call.

[galaxydrcaming]

It was strange how uncomfortable silence had become, once her real memories had settled in, she had begun to fear the idea of becoming forgotten again, it had been a while now and it still creeped around in her mind every now and again, but she did her best to move forward, keep focus on the now and the fact that through some strange miracle, she was memorable again. So when she had asked the question to the stranger nearby, she shifted slightly in her seat and leaned forward. "Maybe?" Addie asks and turns her head a little in curiosity, unsure of how to feel about that answer when number one, she thought it'd be a good yes or no, and two, the person she was thinking about technically didn't even have a soul, he collected them instead ,so she didn't know if she was wondering, or feeling, or hoping honestly, that there could be more to just him wanting to give her soul to him despite how complicated it had all been and how much she fights him. "I never thought it would be wrong to believe in it, believe me, I'm an immortal and heard many different variations of beliefs but I think it could be true."

❛ do you think the universe fights for souls to be together? ❜ (Addie to Ten)

.｡.:*☆ "Well..." The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck, pondering in silence. This was a touchy topic, but of course, Addie could not know that. Her question seemed curious yet innocent. Maybe caused by a book or movie, who could really tell.

"Maybe?" It was the only answer he could give, really. Thinking or Rose, Ten knew she and him could never be together, really. And yet, it had seemed the universe had found a way. Just, it was a solution that only brought a happy ending to one of them, not both.

"It surely would not be wrong to believe in it. If that is what you have been wondering about."

@galaxydrcaming

[let-me-love-you-loki]

Welcome to Oblivion-Ch. 35

Chapter 35

           The super amazing Valentine’s Day plan turned out to be tacos drowning in queso from the local Mexican place and a marathon of John Hughes movies on Netflix. Dean blushed brightly as he confessed that it had been his job to get reservations for dinner and he’d forgotten because of a fight and his advanced engine mechanics exam. I just smiled and kissed his cheek as I passed by to grab my third taco. Roman chuckled from his place on the sofa, his feet propped up on the table next to a bouquet of pink, white, and red roses. They were sticking out of an empty spaghetti jar, but they were beautiful.

           “I’m sorry,” Dean said again as he plopped into place next to me. “I promise we had something really nice planned, princess.”

           “Stop apologizing,” I replied, bumping my shoulder with his. “This is amazing. I’ve never been one of those kinds of girls anyway. Plus, Ortiz makes the best tacos for a hundred miles.”

           Roman draped his arm around my shoulders and grinned. “While you might not be the kind of girl that likes that stuff, you deserve it. You know… getting showered with all kinds of amazing things. I mean… you do have two boyfriends.”

           My heart skipped a beat and a sensation of warmth and happiness bled through my body. It was more than just being caught up between the two of them on the sofa, their bulk radiating heat and the sweet scent of their cologne. Being with them made me feel at home in a way that I never had before. They made me feel like myself… the best version of myself.

           “I have two of the best boyfriends,” I said, tucking my feet up beneath me. “Who buy me tacos and watch sappy 80’s movies with me. There’s only one thing that would make this the most amazing Valentine’s Day ever.”

           Dean chuckled low in his throat. “And what’s that?”

           Before I could say anything, the apartment door burst open and Seth slipped inside. Rain settled on his shoulders and the beanie covering his dark hair. He cradled a white cardboard box in his hand. “Sorry, I know,” he said sadly. “I’ll stay in my room and not bother you guys. I picked up a cake from Maddie’s downtown. Red velvet with chocolate icing.”

           Seth slipped out of his jacket and tossed it over the back of one of the mismatched chairs by the kitchen table. He sat the cake on the counter and passed by with a worn, unhappy sort of smile. His eyes were dark and forlorn. The sound of his door felt like a heavy blow.

           The Breakfast Club played in the background, Judd Nelson going on about his horrible home life. Somehow, the mood in the room changed. Dean turned sideways, his fingertips tracing gently along the side of my face. He tucked stray hair behind my ear.

           “I see that look,” he whispered.

           “What look?” I queried, trying to look normal as I stuffed half a taco into my mouth.

           Roman’s hand curled around mine. His thumb rubbed slow circles along the back of my hand. “That endearing worried look. I’ve seen you look at Drew and Sonya that way. It bothers you that Seth is upset.”

           My heart fell into my stomach. I had a horrible sinking feeling in my guts. It was sour and bitter all at once. For some reason, the sensation felt familiar.

           “Maybe it does,” I replied at last. “I’ll check on him in the morning.”

           Dean pressed a kiss against my temple. Roman settled his chin on my shoulder. “Go ahead,” he whispered against my ear. “I know what he means to you, baby girl.”

           I closed my eyes, scrunching them shut as that sick, sinking feeling settled in my stomach. I pressed my lips together. Fought back vomit as it clawed up my throat. “No,” I murmured, suddenly desperately exhausted.

           Dean trailed his fingertips along my jaw to the point of my chin. “Go on, princess. It’s okay.”

           I couldn’t make sense of how the two of them could read me so easily. My heart squeezed in my chest. I wanted to be sick, I wanted to cry, I wanted to shout and whisper and wail at how much I didn’t deserve them. There was something wrong with me. Something so desperately, deeply, undeniably wrong.

           I smiled faintly at Roman and Dean, lucky to have the two of them. They understood me so well, even when I didn’t deserve it. I kissed Dean’s cheek and squeezed Roman’s hand as I passed by. Faint light filtered out from beneath Seth’s bedroom door. Time seemed to move slowly as I rested my forehead against the wood and knocked.

           “Damn it, I know, okay,” Seth swore as he thumped around in his room. His footsteps were heavy as he stomped to the door, yanking it open so fast that I very nearly fell over. “I’m leaving. Just give me a sec—”

           His brown doe eyes went wide. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to be there. My heart skipped sideways, and I couldn’t explain why. Something danced over his face, lighting up his expression, but it flitted away before I could make sense of it. “What are you doing here?”

           I leaned against the doorframe. He smelled like coffee beans and vanilla. The scent hurtled memories before my mind’s eye. The two of us sprawled in the floor of the living room, notes and books strewn over the table, plates scraped clean of Dean’s famous breakfast sandwiches mixed in with fast food containers and a cascade of coffee cups stacked everywhere. Standing in the hallway before our lecture began, leaning against the wall and arguing about music and bad sci-fi movies.

           Something tugged in the space behind my ribs. For a moment, I lost my breath entirely.

           “You looked upset,” I whispered. I had the strangest urge to hug him—to hold him and protect him from everything. “What’s wrong?”

           The corners of his mouth tipped upward in a poor imitation of a smile. “Stop worrying about me, Addy. Go spend your Valentine’s Day with Dean and Ro.”

           I blinked, trying to stop tears that appeared out of nowhere. I couldn’t understand why I was crying in the first place. “Don’t do that,” I gasped, robbed entirely of breath. “Don’t act like you don’t care.”

           Seth backed up a step, looking at me as if he’d never seen me before. His fingers twitched at his side like he wanted to reach out but was restraining himself. “Don’t care about what exactly?

           My throat closed. I felt like screaming. Like beating my fists against his chest until he admitted it. I couldn’t entirely figure out what I wanted him to admit, but the irrationally emotional side of me didn’t care.

           “You’re unhappy. You’re hurt. My God, Seth, you’re here on Valentine’s Day when you should be with… Oh…” The flash of anger melted in an instant. His eyes lost focus. “It’s none of my business. I’m sorry.”

           “Don’t be,” he mumbled, propping himself up on the door. He was close, the scent of him stronger than before. “She had a very good reason for breaking up with me.”

           The urge to hold him rushed back at me. I had to restrain myself. I crossed my arms over   my chest instead. “And what was it exactly?” I heard the hesitation, the hitch in my voice, and hated myself for it.

           That look appeared in his eyes again—making him look impossibly dark and fathomless. He closed his eyes, swallowed hard, clenched his fists at his sides. It was as if he were fighting a battle with himself—one that he was clearly losing.

           With a sigh, he met my gaze. “It’s hard to be in a relationship with someone who’s in love with someone else. Even if it’s someone they can’t ever have.”

           He looked… broken. There was no other word for it. I hated it. Myself for putting him in this position. For ruining him… for ruining whatever friendship we had. How could I do this? How could I keep doing this?

           The tears dripped hot and molten down my cheeks. I swiped them away frustratedly. Seth was in pain, and it wasn’t fair for me to break down in front of him. Not like this. I sucked in a deep breath and nodded furiously.

           “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, Seth. Becky doesn’t know what she’s missing.”

           I turned on my heel and walked away, holding my shoulders as steady as possible. I wanted… I didn’t know what I wanted. Everything about me—about this entire situation—was wrong. Damaged. Ugly and desperately, completely twisted. Sick.

           The overwhelming urge to curl up with Roman and Dean nearly knocked me to my knees. And yet… I wanted them to hate me. To look at me and see that I wasn’t worthy of them and their hearts. That I was a selfish girl who wanted everything and then more and more. They were good and kind and deserved far better than whatever I was.

           Simple Minds hummed from the television as I practically stumbled into the living room. Dean sat sideways, watching the hallway and chewing on the edge of his thumb. Roman leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, a deep furrow in his brow. They both looked up when I stepped into the room, nearly stumbling over my own feet.

           “Addy,” Roman queried as he practically crossed the room in two steps. He wrapped me in my arms, catching me as I stumbled and fell against his chest. For a brief moment, I thought I’d passed out.

           In the next moment, I was curled in his lap on the sofa, Dean scooting closer. His worn fingers cradled the back of my head as he stroked the back of my neck with his thumb. Roman swept his fingers along my cheeks, wiping away the tears that still burned along my face. I ached in a way that I couldn’t explain. I hurt in a way that was more than I had the right to. It was a heartbreak that I hadn’t earned.

           “What happened, baby girl?” Roman murmured, his hand curling gently along my throat. “Did he say something?”

           Dean smiled against my shoulder. “Did he finally tell you the truth?”

           “The truth about what?” I whimpered, wanting to curl into a ball. It felt like a hole had been punched straight through my chest. “I thought he was my friend. I thought…”

           Roman kissed me gently, barely a brush of his lips against mine. “He is, Addy. He cares for you more than you could imagine.”

           Dean’s voice ran over me like water. He pressed his mouth against the curve of my throat. “He’s like me, princess. He’s just too scared to say it.”

Tag List

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[galaxydrcaming]

"Did you, really?" Addie questions, a look of intrigue clear now in her expression because of how different this place was in comparison to the other place she had landed in a few days back. Despite having lived for hundreds of years, there still seemed to be things that surprised her and she was rather grateful for that fact. "I think that with whoever or whatever has brought us here has changed things even in people's home worlds."

@galaxydrcaming​ // brooke & anyone

“I went to school here.” Brooke explained with a small smile. It all felt so similar but yet, so different at the same time. There were buildings she had never seen that existed here. There were people that SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE but were no longer here. Just another cruel trick that she could think for a moment that she had been home and back in some sort of normal world. “For culinary, did my time at this fancy five star resteraunt.” She explained before sighing. “But I can’t figure it out, it’s as if the people there… are completely different than the ones I knew back home.” 

location: asgard

[elapach24]

The Invisible life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab (Review and a little of analysis by me, Ela)

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

That’s the great premise that made me think about this book and reading it, made me dream with it and be one step away from looking for spoilers on purpose. But I also run from them and fanarts, because I knew I was going to love the book, and I didn’t want anything to ruin it for me.

Yep, I see future, because I LOVED THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE BY V.E. SCHWAB. Literally, this gorgeous book infused me with every single emotion a human can feel, in the best way, preparing me to enjoy all of them even when it was anger, sadness or apathy.

But how did the writer achieve that?

Well, this is one of the great questions I make to myself when reading ‘cause, how else I’m going to improve my own writing?

(Here come the spoilers)

First of all, an AMAZING beginning: a young woman running from her wedding… But Victoria’s note before the history got started already getting me into the mood.

Putting aside the plot by itself (fantastic and unrepeatable), the narrator and the verbal time they chose was what kept me inside the world(s) Addie was appreciating, and made me dream with her, of course.

The way and amount of descriptions would’ve been tedious if being in any other situations (I mean, not in 18th century). The descriptions even put some butterflies into my mind.

Now, the characters. I have to admit I didn’t connect with them that much, I’ve developed those bonds before with other characters so I’m just comparing, and I know I shouldn’t. But the reason I’m highlighting this is because that wasn’t a bad point while reading. Yeah, it was Addie’s story overall, but I just wanted to enjoy what she had to say and how she was to say it, I didn’t get to love Addie nor another character not because they didn’t deserve it neither they weren’t perfectly made for their roles, but because they aren’t ‘my kind of people’, that’s all.

And that’s all the analysis, now the “review”.

I think I sort of have an unpopular opinion about Addie×Henry’s relationship. They don’t have any chemistry as a romantic/sexual couple. They would be a perfect platonic duo. I just think they had the script on the side of ‘Luc needs to get jealous so we have to kiss’.

Besides, what do American writers have with freedom in romantic relationships? I mean, you put your mc on that situations, why are you gonna break it with the ‘free me’ line? Your mc knew how things were to be. Sexual attraction is not enough excuse to chain yourself to be him property, ya know?

Stop that please, I don’t want more love triangles where this is the only excuse why she can’t love one of them (In this exact context. If you don’t feel free with your lover, get out of there rn).

And the end. The heartbreaking end. It was a little bit unexpected, but not that much. The only bad thing about it was that I couldn’t see Henry’s development completed to live his life without Addie yet. He needed to face real life by his own before he could live alone, he’s not prepared. Maybe I see this because I really related to him.

To finish, I actually hope Addie could get to love Luc, and vice versa in their own unhuman way. She deserves it. And please stop that stupid war; if you’re tired, just free yourself.

PD: I have a question that won’t let me sleep: does Book (the cat) remember Addie??????

[galaxydrcaming]

@rosewaterdrunk

  it  didnt  take  long  for  naivara  to  get  down  the  latter  ,  when  she  was  down  on  the  ground.  the  elf  turned  the  corner  to  see  the  other  ,  a  bright  smile  pulling  at  her  lips.  ‘  hello  eldaths  blessing.  what  can  i  do  for  you  today?  ‘  naivara  asked  always  happy  to  talk  books  or  magic  depending  on  who  was  asking  for  what  information.   but  anytime  someone  came  into  her  shop  ,  vara  was  always  thankful.

"I'm sorry, eldaths who?" Addie asks as she tilts her head to the side and smiles at the other. "I was wondering if you had any books in another language, doesn't matter which one." She explains with a small shrug of her shoulders.

[fortheloveoffanfic]

Don’t Be Over Me

John Wick x Reader (A/n-this should have been the third part of The Arrangement, but I got distracted and ended up writing this)

Warnings- Angst 

Blinking slowly, Y/n hoped the motion would brush the hurt out of her eyes while the long sip of her martini would numb the ache in her heart. Why wasn’t he hurting too? Hadn’t he ever cared, or had they simply been words cast out to reel her in? She wished she knew; Y/n definitely had the courage to kill a man with her bare hands, but approach John after they’d broken up? She could never. 

It happened a month ago, but still, it hurt like hell, and didn’t help that John seemed to have already been over her. Their break-up had been his idea- if it were up to Y/n, they’d still be together, but John had pushed her away, with the flimsy explanation that he wasn’t looking for a commitment. He’d tried once and it hadn’t turned out the way he had expected, and now that John was back in the life, the last thing he wanted was to be attached. Y/n though, Y/n loved John, adored him, messy, bloody past and all; she’d had the same kind, though unlike him, she wanted more than a casual, label-less involvement. But instead of trying with her, John had chosen his own path, walking out of her house without even a second thought.

It killed her, more and more everyday, but Y/n had done her best to put on a brave face. Even if he’d broken her down, shredded her heart, Y/n wasn’t going to let it show. If she did, she’d feel like she’d lost somehow, like it was just a game; John would ruin her and then they’d see who was better at coping. Arguably, he had an advantage. 

In his life, John had done a  lot, more than most, he'd killed, survived, made hard calls, loved and lost. He'd made countless decisions, and had regretted few. At first, breaking up with Y/n was just like that, a decision that he wouldn't regret; he loved her, but she wanted commitment and something that was lasting. But John wasn't ready for that, it had only been a couple years after Helen and he'd only just rediscovered stable ground in the criminal underworld, so naturally, cutting off their relationship seemed like the best way to go. At first, it was okay, she was better off without him anyway. But then it happened, maybe he'd have been okay if he hadn't been there right at that very moment, that movie moment, where one party regretted everything that had led to that very specific moment;

She laughed.

And because the world was a cruel, cold, unforgiving place, it just had to be genuine, full bodied, melodious laughter. She’d thrown her head back, loose tresses grazing the navy silk fabric constituting the back of her blouse and her eyes slipping closed, long, dark lashes fanning the tops of her cheeks. John hadn’t seen Y/n laugh like that since their split, and when it happened, and he realized he wasn’t the one making her rousing that reaction, in fact, he wasn’t even privy to the reason. That was how disconnected he was from her. Really, it should have been okay, it was what John thought he wanted. 

But instead, it hurt, like hell. Like someone had punched him in the gut then drove a knife through his chest.

After that evening, in the Continental's lobby, when she was checking out and he was checking in, every time John saw her, the knife turned; slow enough so he’d be sure to soak up every agonizing ounce of pain. He’d let Y/n go, and now, she was okay without him.

All while he was falling to pieces.

He’d never let her see though. 

That was why he was sat at the bar in the Continental’s lounge, fingers loosely closed around a half-finished, crystal glass of his favorite bourbon, stealing glances at her through the maze of patrons, as Y/n sat in a secluded booth, all by herself with a martini. John knew exactly how that martini was made; gin, always gin, never vodka, top shelf vermouth and a twirl of lemon peel instead of an olive. He recognized the dress she was wearing too; a short, black, velvet strapless one that hugged her curves and rode up her thighs when she sat. Her hair was held up in a high ponytail, strategic strands falling over her face and boasting her diamond earrings, she hardly ever wore her hair like that, but John always thought it looked nice when she did. But that night, Y/n looked better than nice, better than pretty or beautiful. She looked exceptionally stunning. Unattainably gorgeous. Light years better than he deserved. 

And she was perfectly fine.

No quiet tears or sunken eyes. No paled cheeks or quivering lips. No sniffles or fidgety posture. Instead, Y/n was okay. Sipping her drink without a care in the world, leaned back into the leather upholstered cushions with her legs crossed and her stoic gaze cast towards the uncaring sea of people. Occasionally, someone would stop by and she’d trade hushed words with them, sometimes chuckling quietly, other times just offering a soft little quirk of her deep red lips, waving briefly as they’d leave her to return to disturbed solitude. 

It was wrong, and utterly selfish, but John hated seeing Y/n like that. He hated that she was okay while he felt like he was dying inside. At least if she wasn’t, he could somehow summon up the courage to walk up to and admit defeat. Say the words that would ensure things went back to the way they were, “I’m sorry, I made a mistake.” But surely, he couldn’t do that when Y/n didn’t even seem to miss him. As far as he could tell, the only person John had hurt was himself. 

What was her secret for getting over him so quickly? 

Didn’t she ever love him?

When, eventually a man, younger than him but still older than Y/n, one he didn’t know very well, stopped at her table, talking for a bit before sliding in next to her, John’s stolen glances turned into a full on stare. At times, when some unknowing person or the other would temporarily interrupt his sight, John would groan quietly, hoping they’d somehow get the message and move out of his way. He needed to see. She couldn’t be over him that quickly.

But Y/n was.

Because soon chatting turned into low whispers, with heads drawn in, and then, whispers turned into huddling, and huddling turned into his lips on her neck. John had kissed her neck, as she emitted hitched, low breaths and soft pleading moans. His lips had traveled down her neck, slow, with his hot breath fanning her pulse erotically, just the way she liked it. He’d tasted Y/n’s skin, felt its softness and sought haven in her warmth. Her fingers had threaded through his hair and her bare leg, brushing his thigh had awoken something in him that John hadn’t felt in years. It was never just sex, it more than that, all encompassing, protective, soothing, it was love. 

And John had thrown it away, just so he could see her tangled up with someone else in a low lit bar. Her was drink forgotten, her eyes screwed shut in pleasure as Y/n’s new companion let his hand paw at her waist. Maybe to John it looked more provocative than it was. Maybe he was just a jealous, sore loser who couldn’t stand seeing the woman he loved give herself to someone else.

Maybe he was just too weak to have kept her.

But ‘maybe’ didn’t matter. Because it was actually happening, she had actually moved on. And now, she was letting her new friend urge her out of the seat, taking his hand as they weaved through the masses. And for a split second, John thought that their eyes met, just as she was being gently pulled along. There was no emotion in her stare though, it was brief and cold, yet John was anything but grateful when he was wretched out by a hand on his arm and a voice interrupting his thoughts, “Hey you.”

It was Addy, old friend and flame. In another life, she might have been the one that got away, but by then, the title had gone to Y/n. “Hey,” he pretended to clear his throat with purpose, turning to face her.

“On the house,” Addy, winked, topping off John’s drink, watching with dilated pupils as he downed it in one go, setting the glass to the counter with a thump, drowned out by the edgy jazz, “You know,” she dragged her lower lip through her teeth seductively, “My shifts a couple minutes from being over, and it's been a while since we hung out.”

John suppressed a smirk, Addy was always one to get to the point. Unfortunately though, John didn’t think he could bring himself to enjoy the company of another that night, “I think I’m just going to turn in,” he slid off the bar stool, fishing through his pockets for a gold coin, “Goodnight Addy,” nodded, slipping it onto the marble top.

“I told you,” she gleamed, sliding it back towards John, “On the house,” that was when she got closer, leaning over, probably standing on her toes so their faces would be within a hair of each other’s, “And Y/n’s already over you, maybe you should let me help you get over her.”

The smell of her perfume, mixing with the heady fragrance of booze was enticingly intoxicating, and John found himself drawing towards Addy. Their lips brushed, though just barely, not really in a kiss, but with enough contact to ignite the first sparks of lust. Besides, maybe if he kept his eyes close and her mouth shut, he could probably fool himself into thinking it was Y/n. “How long?”

“I can be done now,” she tossed a dish towel to the bar top, walking towards the edge so she could slip out and join him on the other side, “Let’s go,” Addy offered her hand, and when John took it, he kept his lips sealed, knowing that the sooner he sunk into the fantasy, they better.

Nothing. That was what he’d offered in his unaffected gaze when their eyes locked. It was what he’d shown when Y/n started leaving the lounge with a man who’s name she hadn’t even registered. John Wick had acted like Y/n was nothing to him when he took Addy’s hand, ready to leave himself. 

Not that she should have been surprised. 

And the worst part? Y/n still couldn’t even bring herself to hate him. In fact, she was jealous, she wanted him to hurt, for his heart to bleed and match hers. She wanted him to sulk up to her and apologize, just so she could tell him to ‘fuck off,’ only to take him back in the end. She wanted something. Anything but more heartache. But that was all John seemed to give her.

Maybe she was better off without him after all.

As Y/n let her mystery man lead her to the elevator, all she could think of was what John was doing with Addy. Were they just going to drink, she knew they had a history, so maybe they were going to do more. It was a dry, hard pill to swallow; the thought of John with another woman, sharing what they once did. Him, touching Addy the way he touched her, kissing Addy the way he kissed her, making Addy feel the things John had made her feel. It wasn’t fair, Y/n wanted that, she wanted that and more. She wanted to love him. 

The cool reflective doors of the elevator opened with an automatic ding, leaving Y/n and her companion to stagger out and towards his room at the end of the hall. By the time he was shutting the door behind them, there was barely a moment to slap the light switch before he was pawing hungrily at the hem of her dress, carnal desire over taking his being. With her fingers tangled in his short shock of dark hair, Y/n fought to sink into the moment, pressing his face to her chest as he crouched lower. But even as she stumbled backwards into the made bed, letting him nearly fall on top of her, still fighting clumsily to get her dress off, Y/m couldn’t do it. It didn’t feel right.

He, whoever he was, didn’t feel right.

His touch floundered about her body, quite unlike the way John's just glided across her skin. His kisses were far too sloppy, noisily trailing down the column of her neck, and all in all, he was in too much of a hurry. On top of that, it was hard to get out of her head, to accept that for a while, that might be her new reality, hook-ups with random men in an attempt to fill a John shaped void, nights spent with someone who seemed woefully inexperienced in savoring pleasure, or worst yet, with the kind of man that didn’t really care too.  

“Stop,” Y/n managed, suddenly shoving him off, immediately standing and regaining composure. Before the very confused man could protest, or even try to convince Y/n to stay, she was cutting him off, “This isn’t gonna work,” she huffed, readjusting the top of her dress, making sure that everything was in its place, “I should go,” and without another word, she turned on her heel, brushing a couple escaped tears away from her lids. 

Sniffing, Y/n stumbled out of the suit, shutting the door behind her, simultaneously as someone else a few doors down did the same. Her breath shook quietly, and she kept her head down, more interested in getting back to her room than seeing who it was. But apparently, they couldn’t condone her unspoken plea to be left alone, and tentatively, they interrupted her walk back to the elevator,  “Are you okay?”

Gasping quietly, Y/n jumped as she looked up at him. John. Looking quite unlike they way he’s looked back at the bar. His eyes were dimmed and his lips agape with surprise. “I….” Y/n trailed off, unable to offer more. Seeing him like that, with the hurt clearly painted on his rugged, handsomely worn features wasn’t half as satisfying as she’d imagine it would be. All of a sudden, she didn’t want to yell, scream or cause a row. She didn’t want him to break down a cry either. Instead, she wanted to make it better, wanted to hold him, tell him that despite it all, she still loved him with her whole heart. “No,” she finally sighed, her breath hitching in a quiet, broken sob, “I’m not.”

John’s eyes shone with mirrored pain, and he sniffled quietly as he slipped his hands into his pockets and turned on his heel to slowly approach her. For the first time, he seemed to be letting his guard down, showing everything that he’d kept hidden from the world. John wasn’t fine, he wasn’t okay, and certainly wasn’t over Y/n. “Neither am I,” he shook his head, his gaze panning to his feet before once again meeting Y/n’s. “It was a mistake,” they were closer than a foot apart by then, and all Y/n wanted to do was melt into his arms.

“Do you miss me?” Her inquiry was sorrowful, and Y/n’s lips quivered. Inside, she knew that if his response anything opposing a ‘yes’ would completely shatter her.

“Everyday,” John stepped closer, reaching for her waist in a leap of faith He seemed almost surprised when Y/n didn’t recoil or shove him away, the way he thought he deserved, “I was wrong Y/n. I don’t want casual, I’m ready for more. But only if it's with you. Please don’t be over me,” he pleaded with soft urgency

“I’m not, bu I don’t want you to just say that just-”

“This isn’t like that,” John interrupted, his eyes begging her to believe him, “I miss you so much Y/n. And it kills me to think that you could be happy without me, because I don’t remember how to be happy without you. I love you, and I promise, I just need one more chance to prove that this is exactly what I want.”

“Promise?” And John’s answer wasn’t verbal. Instead, he kissed her, deep and true, as if it was the last thing he’d ever do. Their tears mixed and Y/n felt like she was sharing the sheds of her soul with John, like they were pouring themselves into each other with just that one kiss. Shared breaths, salty tears and muffled noises held them together, reminding them both that it was always meant to be like that. 

There was no one else she wanted to kiss, there never would be.

“I promise,” cupping her face, John kept their foreheads close, the tips of their noses touching, just before he went in for another kiss, letting the walls around them fade away as they melded in to each other.

*****

Tagging- @harrisongslimited @magnificentclodpiebanana   @keandrews @greenmanalishi  @rdjloverxxx​  @danceoftwowolves​

[galaxydrcaming]

Addie playfully rolls her eyes at her sister's words as she crosses her arms over her chest. "Nothing says sibling love like your sister knowing full well that she's going to annoy you and proceeding to do so anyways." Addie teases as she smiles and shakes her head. "I'm doing as best as I can honestly, I ran into a man from home here and it's been..interesting having him here as well. Also, I can control Earth now so, that's crazy."

@galaxydrcaming || For Addie

"Hey sis, I know you usually find it annoying when I fuss, but I'm here to fuss at you." Alanna hadn't liked the shift in the world, her magic feeling off kilter, and when she'd discovered she could control water near at will, she'd expected others were having similiar strangeness happen. And being that both of her alternate world relatives were magical beings of some sort, she had immediately gotten worried about them. "Are you okay? Anything weird happening with you?"

[izzielizzie]

Okay so full disclaimer I’ve never read any of the books you write about but Begin Again is your favorite song so want to do a one shot thing based on a couple from any book idk and Begin Again?

ahhh thank you for the ask Begin Again is my favorite song you’re absolutely right. And as for not reading any OOU book, @natewynoou​ are remedying that

This is going to be a Addy/Keely fic, enjoy!

Took a deep breath in the mirror He didn't like it when I wore high heels But I do

Addy paused as she scanned the shoes in front of her. It had been months since she and Jake broke up, but she could still hear his voice as she surveyed her clothes. Not those, baby he would say when he saw her dark green heels. She could never figure out why he didn’t like them, but she didn’t wear them.

Not today Riordan, Addy thought as she slipped her feet into the shoes, reveling in their familiar feeling.

Turn the lock and put my headphones on He always said he didn't get this song But I do, I do Addy scrolled through her playlists as she swung up onto her bike. Her finger hovered over Fall Out Boy’s latest album, the one she never listened to because Jake told her that their songs gave him a headache. With a small smile, she hit play and kicked off, peddling hard toward the café.

Walked in expecting you'd be late But you got here early and you stand and wave I walk to you

Addy pushed through the door of the Epoch Coffee and looked around for the familiar dark hair. She didn’t expect Keely to be here, she was always late when they were friends. They even joked about that via text when she reached out a week ago to ask if Addy wanted to get together and talk.

“Addy!”

Addy looked towards the back of the café and was pleasantly surprised to find Keely waving at her. Addy smiled at her and wove through the maze of tables to reach her.

You pull my chair out and help me in And you don't know how nice that is But I do

Addy wobbled a little as she reached her chair. Okay so, maybe wearing heels to ride a bike wasn’t a good idea. Before Addy could fall, Keely jumped up and caught her arm, hitting her hip against the table corner as she twisted around the marble top.

“God Ads, careful.”

Keely pulled Addy’s chair out for her and guided her into it before sitting down herself, across from Addy.

Keely scanned the menu, talking about what they should order while Addy watched her with a smile. She didn’t think any of her old friends cared about her enough to dive around a table to catch her. And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did

“I forgot how funny you are Addy,” Keely said as she nearly chocked on her croissant.

“I wasn’t making a joke,” Addy said, cupping her hands around her coffee.

Keely narrowed her eyes at Addy, studying her. “I know that. You’re just funny in general.”

“Oh. Well, thanks.”

“Of course.”

I've been spending the last eight months Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end

“Addy, the way Jake treated you wasn’t right,” Keel said suddenly, leaning forward.

“I know that now,” Addy said.

“And we knew it then. But we didn’t say anything.”

Addy shrugged, willing the tears not to fall. “The past is the past.”

Keely nodded, her dark hair brushing against the table.

But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

Keely opened her mouth, looking at her old best friend hesitantly. “But, Addy?”

“Yeah?”

“You deserve so much better.”

Addy smiled down at her plate. “Thank you.”

You said you never met one girl Who had as many James Taylor records as you But I do

“Okay, tell me something about you I don’t know,” Keely said. She had been keeping their entire conversation afloat, but something told Addy that she didn’t truely mind it. 

Addy tilted her head and thought for a moment, fiddling with her earring. “I have a lot of James Taylor records,” she said finally.

“No way! Me too! How many?”

“Too many honestly, like, fifteen.”

“Babe same!” Keely held up a hand for a high five, and Addy obliged. “I never knew anyone our age to have any.

“I guess we’re just outliers.”

“Outliers together.” Keely held up her mug for a toast. Addy tapped her mug against hers. 

Together. That was a word she hadn’t heard in a long time. 

We tell stories and you don't know why I'm coming off a little shy But I do

“Oh my gosh did I tell you about the time I was dating Luis and he dove into a lake because he lost a baseball game?”

Addy shook her head a little.

“God it’s so funny. We were with his brothers right? And I mean he’s always been competitive-”

Addy didn’t listen to the rest of the story. Luis had told her. She spend the next few minutes watching the way Keely lit up when she spoke, and how her olive skin was glowing against her green shirt and the way her golden necklace glimmered in the light. She had somehow forgotten how beautiful Keely was. 

“Addy what’s wrong with you?” Keely asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Nothing, why?” Addy was alarmed. They were getting along so well.

“You’re so quiet.”

“I just like listening to you talk I guess.”

Keely smiled.  

But you throw your head back laughing like a little kid I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did

Addy wasn’t sure when she noticed during the hour and a half they sat drinking cold coffee, but Keely’s laugh was beautiful, and hearing it made her immensely happy. I've been spending the last eight months Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end

“Addy?”

“Yeah?”

“I like your haircut.”

“Really? Jake hated it.”

“Well, Jake was an asshole and you’re beautiful, so there.”

But on a Wednesday in a café I watched it begin again

Addy stood for a moment at her chair as Keely returned their dishes. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had called her beautiful and seemed to mean it. And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up

Keely seemed to skip as they walked down the street to her car. Addy had forgotten she did that. “I like your shoes,” Keely said.

”Thanks, I haven’t worn them in forever.”

”Why not? They look great on you!”

Addy shrugged, not wanting to bring up Jake and his controlling tendencies. “I guess I didn’t have an occasion”

”Well, I’m glad you think I deserve those heels.”

You deserve everything Addy nearly said. 

But you start to talk about the movies that your family Watches every single Christmas and I want to talk about that

She thought about telling Keely that Jake banned the shoes, but before she knew it, they were talking about Elf and Edward Scissorhands and how Keely’s brother still insisted that Die Hard had to be watched on Christmas Eve and Addy couldn’t remember the last time she laughed that hard. 

And for the first time what's past is past

Addy was glad she didn’t bring up Jake as she stood by Keely’s car door, talking to her though the open window. Because Jake wasn’t important anymore. The only thing that mattered was the girl in front of her. 

'Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did

Keely and Addy were laughing so hard at the memory of Evan reciting a love poem meant for Bronwyn to Maeve during lunch that Keely leaned forward and her head hit the steering wheel, causing the horn to sound. Both girls jumped, met each other’s eyes, and started laughing harder. Addy had to hold on to the car door to keep from falling. 

I’ve been spending the last eight months Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end

It was weird, to Addy, how eight months ago she was miserable, but today she was laughing so hard her sides were hurting. Maybe the old saying Ashton kept reciting: time heals all wounds was right.

But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

Keely looked down at her phone and sighed. “I have to go Addy, I need to pick my brother up from practice. But this was so much fun. I miss being your friend.”

“I do too,” Addy said, stepping away from the car so Keely could pull out of her parking spot. Addy paused for a moment, indecision taking over. “Do this again next Wednesday?”

But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

Keely grinned. “It’s a date Prentiss.”

Okay enjoy!!! I have to go to soccer practice so sorry for any spelling or grammar errors

[bookswritinghappiness]

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue • Author: V. E. Schwab • Number of Pages: 442 • Rating: 5/5 Published: October 6, 2020 • Read: December 14, 2020 - January 14, 2021

Goodreads Synopsis: France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

Content Warnings: suicidal thoughts, death/grief, rape / sexual violence

My Review: I’m sure you all have figured out by now that I am a huge fan of V. E. Schwab and her work, and I’ve been following her on social media as she’s been sharing bits and pieces about the writing process for this book over the last few years, so I was so excited to finally have this book in my hands. I know you’re not supposed to judge books by their covers, but I think it might be the most beautiful book I own. That definitely applies to the writing as well - I’m honestly glad I took my time reading this book because every single line was so deep and so beautiful that I had to process it and appreciate it slowly as I read. I’ll get into details in a moment, but I loved this book more than I loved the Shades of Magic series, which is saying a lot, because that series is one of my favorites of all time.

I appreciate the way the narrative not only jumped between past and present, but between Addie and Henry’s points of view as well. This book probably wouldn’t have worked as well in a linear narrative because there is so much we learn in perfectly-sized bits and pieces about Addie, Henry, Luc, and their relationships with the people in their lives. I’m grateful that the chapters and time/POV jumps were strategically organized so they never felt abrupt or confusing, and I was always left excited to keep reading instead of frustrated by the jumps. I felt like I was unlocking a complex mystery as I read, which is the best kind of narrative in my very honest opinion.

What makes this book truly special is the incredible amount of meaning that is packed into it. Addie and Henry’s story is the epitome of “be careful what you wish for” and “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone;” I learned so much about life and valuing yourself and your own unique experiences, and I feel like I lived a whole lifetime (or three) along with Addie. This concept could have been written to be so beyond cliché, but this novel gave the premise the utmost care and respect, creating a story that transcends time, place, and sense of reality. I always feel awed and inspired when I finish a V. E. Schwab book, but this is a whole other level of awesome, the likes of which can only be achieved with her incredible mind and many years’ worth of work and preparation. The book jacket calls it a “genre-defying tour de force,” and as dramatic a description as that is, this book is deserving of it.

It’s ultimately really difficult for me to describe just how mind-blowingly awesome and beautiful this book is, so you’ll have to take me at my word because no word or phrase can truly do it justice. I have never read anything like it. I cannot recommend this book enough!!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue on Goodreads This Review on Goodreads My Goodreads The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue on StoryGraph This Review on StoryGraph My StoryGraph

Purchase this book from Bookshop using my affiliate link to support indie bookstores while helping me earn a commission at no extra cost to you!!

[alder-reid]

Adagio II // Self-para

Between his visit to Two and coming back to Seven, Alder takes a detour. It’s a long trip, in the wrong direction, nearly tripling his travel time. When he awakes in the early morning hours of his second morning on the train, outside the windows are the unending, golden grain fields of Nine.

When he gets off the train and he walks alone into the District’s center, only just stretching to life with the day’s sun, he realizes suddenly that just under a year ago he was here with Maverick on their bullshit trip from the Capitol. The trip had felt unbearable and endless, he’d hoped to never see Maverick again after the ordeal. He’d hated him more than he’d thought his body could hold, Maverick had represented everything he’d ever despised and denounced. How things change. He picks a different inn this time at random, unable to shake the paranoia of being followed if he goes to the same one. In theory, the matter is resolved, and he’s pretty sure he hasn’t been tracked in months now. It’s that or the Capitol has gotten stealthier, but he has nothing to hide on this trip. He doesn’t linger after dumping his things onto his bed despite the exhaustion that’s settled into his bones, instead stops at a stall selling flowers before bartering his way into another ride out to the edge of the District. It’s mid-afternoon when he arrives at the red house atop the hill, and it’s warmer than his last visit. Birds chirp a merry melody in the cornfields, and the stalks are tall and rustling on the gentle breeze, having only just given up their harvest for the season. The Shiloh family welcomes him again with coffee and small talk, though things aren’t significantly less uncomfortable than the time before. Despite the pleasantries, they’re still strangers linked through the tenuous connection of their dead son. Alder wonders to himself, not for the first time, if the grief he feels for Memphis even belongs to him. If he deserves to feel it. When he visits Memphis again, he suddenly feels silly with the bouquet of sunflowers in his hands, wondering what his friend might have had to say about it if he could see. He can’t place what his opinion might have been, and it strikes him suddenly that he’s forgotten the exact tenor of Memphis’ voice. That there was a universe of things he did not know about Memphis and never got the chance to. The simple wooden cross is still there, with his guitar pick and leather cord now faded from a year’s worth of weather. If it weren’t for the marker and the way the crops parted in a neat circle around the space, it would seem like any other sunny spot on the plains. Grass has completely overtaken the dirt that had still been bare the year before, and he decides he prefers it that way. It feels better like this, Memphis’ death is no longer a scar on the earth, instead it is healing over. Alder rests the bright flowers against the wood, sits down as he did a year ago.

This time, he talks to him.

He tells him about the past year. About the first few months, about Maverick, about the tracker. He spills the guilt about what he’d done to Addy, that he feels so alone now but there’s nobody to blame but himself. He talks about losing Theo and Maddie and Syca and Ponderosa, the way it had gutted him to see them die with so little a chance. He mentions Nick, Soleil, Daisy, and Eli too, though he didn’t know much about them. Maybe you knew them? There’s the good to share as well-- I didn’t just come here to complain, I swear. There’s a bright side, you were always looking for that. He lets Memphis know that he is growing, he deals with the anxiety a little better than he used to and is learning to be happy with the way things are. He sees a future, the real kind, with Maverick, he confides, and he makes him smile in a way he hasn’t since his parents died. The boy who won the year after him isn’t actually so bad, kindof adorable so long as he doesn’t cross him. The girl from this summer is terrifying, but he knows now how to keep his distance. There’s change coming, Memphis. I can feel it. I believe in it. There are people like me, who think all of this is evil too and will do what it takes to end the Games. He pauses. Just wish it had come sooner. Still feels all wrong to know you’re not here, but I haven’t forgotten you. I’ll make sure nobody will.

He falls quiet for some time, then, soaking in the warmth of the sun on his face and the fresh air. When he closes his eyes, the birdsong feels like Memphis calling back to him from wherever souls go. 

[smkkbert]

Time for a story - The Undertaking

“You knock.”

“No, you.”

“You’re the little one. She’s not going to be angry with you.”

“You do it, Emmy.”

Felicity pressed her lips together. She already put her pen down and closed the files she had been reading in. If her kids were discussing who of them was going to knock at her door and interrupt her work, she knew that it was a sure sign that she wouldn’t get to work much longer. They only fought about who was the first to interrupt her during her work if they didn’t intend for her to go back to her work.

Glancing at her watch, Felicity decided that it was time to call it a day anyway. For some reason, whenever she decided to work from home, things went overboard. She forgot time completely and locked herself into her office for like forever. Only her kids managed to get her out of here.

When Felicity thought about Emmy and Addie that were standing right in front of the door, she smiled to herself sadly. Her kids didn’t always get as much of their parents as they deserved or needed. It wasn’t fair.

“We do it together,” Emmy whispered, “on three. One, two-“

Before she could count to three and prompt the two sisters to knock at the door, Hawk barked loudly. He jumped up at the door in the next moment, opening it. He came in quickly, walking towards her and pushing his head into the pit of her stomach. Although Felicity knew that she should reprimand him for jumping against the handle of the door, she just patted his head.

“Mommy,” Addie said, stepping to her side and putting her hands to Felicity’s thigh, “you gotta come downstairs.”

Felicity gasped for breath, looking back and forth between her daughters with slightly narrowed eyes. Emmy understood exactly what was going on. Felicity could see it in her eyes. Addie, on the other hand, was just incredibly excited about it. She loved to be secretive, just like every kid at her age would.

“Why?” Felicity asked. “Why do I have to come upstairs? Is there a surprise for me?”

Addie giggled before she replied, “No, we just want to play Who or what am I?”

“Oh, really?” Felicity asked. “And who is ‘we’?”

“Everyone,” Emmy answered quickly, “dad, William, Tommy and Millie are getting everything ready. We were supposed to get you downstairs.”

“Are you coming?” Addie asked immediately, looking at Felicity with big, pleading eyes. “Please, Mommy?”

Felicity smiled, brushing her fingers through her youngest daughter’s blonde hair. Leaning forward, she placed a firm kiss on her forehead though. Addie smiled happily at the gesture when Felicity pulled back.

“Of course,” Felicity whispered, “so let’s go.”

Felicity grabbed Addie’s hand to hold it while they were going downstairs. She had just gotten up from her chair and turned towards the door when she already had to stop though. Hawk, who had stepped away from her and walked to the door was blocking their way now. He was standing right in the doorframe, looking at them with his tail waggling quickly. He barked and snarled again and again.

Emmy frowned and looked at her mother. “What’s wrong with him?”

The question wasn’t coming out of nowhere. Hawk was a gentle soul. He only barked when he was extremely nervous or excited. He only ever snarled at strangers and only when he believed that they wanted to cause harm to his family. He had never barked at the kids, especially not this darkly, and he had never snarled at him.

Emmy’s question as well as the way Addie was clinging to Felicity’s leg, hugging it with both of her arms, proved how unusual this behavior was for Hawk.

Felicity frowned, looking at Hawk intensely. The dog seemed to look right back at her. She could almost see panic in his eyes. More importantly, she could see her own panic mirrored in his eyes.

It took her a long moment, it almost felt endless, until she finally realized or at least suspected what was going on here.

“Hide under the desk.”

“Mom, what-?”

“Hide under the desk.” Felicity turned around to her kids, already pushing them towards her desk quickly. “Cover your heads and necks.”

“Mommy, what-“

“Now!”

She could see the fear in her kids’ eyes, and she hated that she could do nothing against it. She did her best to ignore her own fear and the need to call out for the rest of her family that was downstairs. She knew that, if she called out for them with the panic she was feeling, Oliver would rush towards her. She couldn’t have that. He had to stay where he was. She trusted his ability to manage crisis enough to know he would get this handled even without a warning.

As soon as her kids had crouched down Felicity followed into hiding behind them. Just when she had crouched down with her arms wrapped around her kids, the earth started shaking violently.

The kids started screeching in panic, clawing their hands into her clothes and into her hair. She did her best to tighten her arms around them and hush them, telling them that everything was going to be okay, but the violent shaking scared them nonetheless.

Through the rushing of blood in her ears, Felicity heard Hawk’s barking. She turned her head to see that he was still standing a couple of feet away, barking at the floor now.

“Hawk,” she shouted out, “come here.”

Hawk looked at her briefly before he started looking back at the floor and barking at it again. He wanted the floor to stop shaking.

“Hawk,” Felicity hissed now, hoping a stricter voice could help, “come here now!”

The young Bernese Mountain Dog refused to listen. He was too confused about what was going on here, and his urge to protect his family was too strong.

Felicity tightened her arms around her girls for a moment before she hurried to move out from under the desk just enough so she could reach out her right hand. She grabbed Hawk at his collar and pulled him under the desk. He fought against her pull at first. As soon as he was under the desk, he snuggled up against the girls and only whined though.

A loud, crashing sound made everyone screech out. Felicity put her arms back around her daughters and turned her head in the direction where the sound had come from. The ceiling light had fallen down right where Hawk had been a moment ago.

Felicity didn’t know how much time had passed – it could have been hours – when the earth finally stilled. She kept her arms wrapped around her daughters firmly because both of them were crying and clinging to her. Felicity lifted her head carefully though and looked around. Apart from the ceiling lamp that had come down and a vase that had fallen from the table next to the door and dropped to the floor, everything looked away.

“Hey,” Felicity said softly and lifted her daughter’s gazes to hers, “are you two okay?”

Emmy and Addie both had tears welling in their eyes and rolling over their cheeks. She wiped them away, looking at the two girls intently. From what Felicity could see, she assumed that they were in shock, but they were unharmed otherwise.

“Felicity?!”

Oliver’s voice made a heavy weight fall from Felicity’s chest. She hadn’t felt it before, or maybe she had just forgotten about it. Either way, she was relieved that Oliver seemed to be okay.

“We are here!”

The last syllable had just fallen from her lips when Oliver was already standing in the frame of the door. He looked at her and the kids that were still crouched under the desk with wide eyes. His chest was heaving from his quick breathing.

“Are you alright?” he hurried to ask, helping them out from under the desk. “Is any of you hurt?”

“I don’t think so,” Felicity replied, crawling out from their safe spot at last, “apart from the shock. What about William, Tommy and Millie?”

“They are fine,” Oliver replied quickly, “we have been hiding beneath the dining room table.”

Felicity nodded her head. “Hawk warned out.”

Oliver was holding Emmy and Addie close to him, but his gaze was directed at Hawk, who was still walking up and down nervously.

“Hawk.”

A lot more focused now, Hawk put his ears forward and looked at Oliver. His tail waggled slightly, unsure what to expect.

“Good boy.”

Now, Hawk waggled his tail even more, excited about the praising.

Only now Felicity realized how shaken she really was about what had happened. She stepped towards Oliver, leaning her head against his shoulder. Her lips were placed against his shoulder with only his shirt between her lips and his skin. Her nose was pressing to the top of his shoulder, breathing him in.

“It’s okay,” he promised in a whisper and placed a firm kiss to the crown of her head, “we are all safe.”

Apparently, that wasn’t the case for everyone, Felicity thought to herself when her phone started beeping with like every possible alarm she had set once she had started working for Team Arrow. As soft as the earthquake seemed to have been here, it must have done a lot of damage to other neighborhoods.

Felicity turned to her computers, but she didn’t get any connection to the internet. The earthquake might have done some damage to that too. Grabbing her phone instead, she hurried to skim the alerts that had been set.

“Nine-one-one is getting a lot of calls,” she said almost absentmindedly, “people are hurt or dead. Others are buried alive. Building were destroyed. The city is falling into chaos.”

“Where is the epicenter of the earthquake.”

Felicity shot Oliver a meaningful glance, and she could see that he could read the answer in her eyes.

“The Glades,” he answered his own question and shook his head, “that can’t be true.”

Oliver didn’t have to say it for her to know what he was thinking about. It had been thirteen years now since the Undertaking had taken place. Back then, the artificial earthquake Malcolm Merlyn had caused, had killed thousands of people and taken so many people’s homes. This couldn’t be happening again.

Felicity remembered the night of the Undertaking very well. She remembered being alone in the foundry, afraid that the building was going to fall apart right above her. John and Oliver had been outside after they had tried to chase Merlyn down. Oliver had believed that he had killed him, but he hadn’t succeeded as he had found out months later.

“I will use the rebuild mansion to help people,” Felicity said, already typing away on her phone to make sure this information was spread, “maybe I can do some good.”

“I am sure you can,” Oliver agreed, nodding his head, “while I will go to the Glades and help there.”

“I come with you.”

Felicity looked past Oliver to William, who had come upstairs. He was holding Millie on his hip and had his free hand wrapped around Tommy’s.

“This is dangerous,” Felicity said carefully, “so maybe you should-“

“I know what I am doing,” William interrupted her with gentle but determined voice, “and I want to do that.”

Felicity nodded her head slowly. She always wanted to protect her kids from the worst of the worst, and an earthquake as well as its consequences wasn’t an easy thing to do. Going out into the Glades after an earthquake when you were connected to the Queen Family certainly wasn’t going to be easy. It would rip out old bruises for a lot of people.

“Can I come, too?” Emmy asked, looking at Felicity with pleasing eyes. “Maybe I can comfort people.”

Unsure what to tell her, Felicity shot Oliver a brief glance. It was sweet of Emmy that she wanted to go there with Oliver. Still, Felicity was still worried. Emmy was significantly younger than William. Because of that, Felicity felt even more obligated to protect her.

Oliver didn’t seem to be too pleased about the idea either. Still, they both had to wordlessly agree that, if their kids wanted to help, they couldn’t stop them. They had raised them to be responsible and supportive human beings, aware of the privileges they had been born with and the responsibility they carried because of that.

“If you go with daddy,” Felicity told Emmy, “you have to listen to him. Whatever he says you are supposed to do, you will do it. And it might be dangerous.”

Emmy nodded her head. “I will do everything. I just want to comfort people.”

Felicity nodded her head although she didn’t feel too well about this. Kids weren’t supposed to go into critical areas like that.

“We will take Hawk with us,” Oliver said, nodding for Hawk to follow William and Emmy already as they were going downstairs, “so he can help finding people.”

“He is not trained to do that.”

“No, he’s not,” Oliver agreed, “but he is smart.”

Felicity nodded he head in agreement, knowing Oliver was right. Hawk had warned her of the earthquake, and maybe he could help some other people to survive too.

With two long steps, Oliver crossed the distance towards Felicity. His lips pressed to hers in a firm but gentle kiss. His hands stroked from her hips to her back, up and down there, and back to her hips.

“I love you.”

His whispered words made Felicity’s throat burn. She was used to say goodbye to him whenever he was going out in the field. When he was heading out into the streets, she knew that she could trust him though. She knew his abilities. She knew he’d always do everything possible to come home to her. With an earthquake, a natural catastrophe, it was different though. He couldn’t fight against it as he could fight against criminals.

“Be careful,” Felicity whispered, “and come home to me safely.”

Oliver nodded his head. Framing her face with his hands, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. When he pulled back, she could see that he knew as well as she did that this was different. He was going to put his life at even more risk now than he did every other night.

“Take care of yourself too.”

Felicity nodded herself in agreement. Her eyes stayed locked with Oliver’s for a long moment. She took his hands from her face, squeezing them firmly, before he turned around and left. Looking towards the ceiling, she tried to reach whoever was directing things from heaven, asking that God to make sure that this wasn’t the last time she saw her husband alive.

 → → → → →

 Driving through the Glades after yet another earthquake while sirens were sounding from all directions made a weird feeling spread in Oliver’s stomach. So many things had been different back when the Undertaking had shaken the city. The city had been different. Oliver had been different. His family had been different.

Oliver would never forget that day. His mother had informed the entire city that she had helped Malcolm Merlyn to prepare the Undertaking, a terroristic project to destroy the Glades. She had been arrested in front of Thea’s eyes. At the same day, Oliver had thought that he had killed his best friend’s father. The Glades had taken hundreds of lives, including Tommy’s.

The hate that his mother’s involvement in this terroristic act had caused to be directed at the Queen Family had lasted for a long time. Oliver had done his best to show through his actions as the mayor and an ordinary human being that he was nothing like his mother. He didn’t want to destroy the Glades. He wanted it to be reunited. Still, the people of the Glades distrusted him sometimes or right out hated him for his connection to his mother, and he couldn’t hold it against him.

Tightening his hold on the steering wheel, Oliver shot a nervous glance into the rearview mirror. Emmy was sitting on the bench in the back, Hawk right next to her, and Oliver felt his heart skipping a beat in nervousness. A crisis like this could easily cause people to forget common sense. Oliver wondered if the hate they had for the Queen Family or at least some members of them would cause desperate people to turn against children.

“She’s going to be okay,” William whispered, sensing his father’s nervousness, “she’s tough.”

Oliver shot his son a brief glance before he nodded his head. He knew William was right. Emmy knew what she had gotten herself into. Since she had started school, she knew that not everyone loved the Queen Family as much as it seemed sometimes and-

“Dad.”

Turning his head into the direction William was pointing to, Oliver nodded his head quickly. He directed the car as close to the collapsed apartment building and stopped it then.

“Emmy, you stay right at the car.”

“Yes, dad.”

They all got out hurriedly. While Emmy stayed right at the car, just like Hawk, William and Oliver ran over to the collapsed apartment building. Where a giant complex had been a couple of minutes ago, there was only wreckage now. A young woman was kneeling in front of it, crying out loud and sending quick prayers towards heaven.

Oliver didn’t have to ask the woman to know that she had family or friends in there or rather under that wreckage. He could see in her desperation.

“Ma’am,” he said to her, grabbing her by the shoulders and looking at her urgently, “I need you to step back. The rescue teams won’t be here anytime soon. They have their hands full. We will help you, but I need you to step back.”

The woman shook her head, unable to say a full sentence. She just cried out even louder, and she almost sounded like she was about to choke.

“Ma’am.”

Oliver was about to rant with Emmy about not listening to him as she was standing right next to her. Looking at her and seeing the soft expression in her eyes as she talked to that devastated woman mad him shut up though. She looked like Felicity had looked whenever she had calmed him down after a nightmare.

“I know you are scared,” Emmy said, her voice as gentle as the expression in her eyes, “but you need to let my dad and my brother work. They will help you, but they cannot do it when you are standing here. We go to the car, okay?”

Emmy’s softness seemed to help. Although the woman was still crying, she nodded her head. Shooting her a smile, Emmy took that woman’s hand and helped her up onto her feet. Continuing to talk to her quietly, she led her away then.

Oliver could have watched Emmy forever, getting lost in the feeling of how much he loved to see the empathic human being and beautiful soul she had grown to be. It was inspiring in a thousand different ways.

Instead of doing so, Oliver turned towards William. “We gotta be careful or that thing will crash right under our feet.”

William nodded his head. “Okay.”

“I will go first.”

Oliver started climbing on the wreckage, calling out for people to shout if they heard him, but there was nothing to be heard. Nobody answered. He climbed over the wreckage carefully, continuing to shot. William did the same.

Shooting a nervous glance back over his shoulder, Oliver could see that Emmy was still talking to that woman calmingly. She was holding her hand, trying to make sure she could comfort her. The woman’s eyes were glued to what had probably been her home, but Oliver could see in her eyes that she was listening to what Emmy was telling her.

“I have a bad feeling,” William said quietly, making sure that nobody but Oliver could hear him, “nobody is answering.”

“They might be unconscious,” Oliver replied, “or too hurt to answer.”

William nodded his head. “We could need a rescue team here.”

“But they won’t come.”

It wasn’t a question. Oliver wasn’t feeling any doubt about it. He knew that nobody was going to come. Right now, there were like a three hundred emergency calls coming in every minute. Nobody had been prepared for this earthquake. The fire department, the police and the hospitals were certainly doing their best to cope with the situation, but they weren’t able to handle it well.

They were on their own here, and they needed to make a decision. They needed to decide if they should continue searching for people here or if they should give up. It wasn’t an easy choice to make. If they stated here for too long, they couldn’t help others. If they gave up too quickly, people died right under their feet.

Oliver hesitated. Was it already time to give up hope?

Hawk’s loud barking made Oliver look at him. Even a few weeks before they had gotten Hawk, Oliver would have said that dogs couldn’t think and couldn’t tell people anything. Looking at his dog now, Oliver knew that that had been bullshit though. Hawk was standing right there next to Emmy, and she was telling him to not give up. He knew more than Oliver knew.

“Come here, buddy!”

Hawk didn’t have to be told twice. He ran over to the wreckage and climbed it almost graciously. Instead of coming right towards Oliver and William, he stopped a little bit under them. He sniffled at some stones before he looked at Oliver and barked.

“They are there.”

Oliver knew that he could be terribly wrong, but he wanted to believe that Hawk was telling him not to give up and he was telling him to trust him. He did.

Climbing to where Hawk was standing and barking, Oliver shot another look at William. He didn’t look exactly convinced, but he followed his father quickly.

“Okay, we have to move these parts away,” Oliver said, pointing at some pieces of the destroyed walls and roof, “but we have to be careful.”

William nodded his head, taking in a deep breath. He was old enough to know that this could go terribly wrong. One wrong movement could cause them to increase the instability of the crashed building and crash it even more. If that happened, they might not survive.

Carefully and piece by piece, they lifted the pieces of wreckage away. The building was shaking beneath them slightly. Every piece that was taken away seemed to make the rest move too.

“Dad.”

At William’s voice, Oliver looked at what William was staring at. Three fingers could be seen sneaking out from between several bricks. They looked grey and without any tension. Oliver touched them briefly. They were still warm, but he could feel that there was no life left. He had had enough experience with death to know.

“That doesn’t mean that there is nobody else alive there and-“

“Dad, what-“

“Pssst,” Oliver hushed his son quickly, “do you hear that?”

William frowned, trying to listen closely. Even Hawk stopped barking and seemed to listen. Despite everything that was going on around them, all the voices and noises from near and far, Oliver could hear it. He could see in William’s eyes that he heard it too – scratching and whines.

“There are people.”

Oliver nodded his head, and he and William both started to take even more pieces away. Their hope made them a little bit less careful, but they couldn’t stop. They needed a success here.

Indeed, it didn’t take long until they had opened like a little cave inside the wreckage. The eyes of three kids, their arms wrapped around each other, were looking at them. Their faces, hair and clothes were covered in dust, but their eyes seemed to shine in the darkness.

Oliver knew that their eyes would forever be burnt into his memory. He would never forget the expressions of relief and fear that his gaze was met with. These girls were happy that they had been found, but they were so scared of what their life would look like if they were pulled out from the wreckage.

Oliver reached his hands inside. “Don’t be scared. It’s going to be alright. I will pull you up now.”

 → → → → →

 “We have to clean this wound,” Felicity told the old man gently and shot a brief look back over his shoulder to see that her kids were still giving out water, fruits and blankets for everyone in need, “and you should take some rest because this might be a concussion. Are you feeling dizzy?”

“Not more than I usually do,” the man replied, shrugging his shoulders, “and you should take care of others, younger people first.”

Felicity shook her head and applied some of her disinfectant onto the cotton pad. “I am exactly where I am supposed to be.”

There was so much chaos around them – people were crying or screaming over the loss of their loved ones, while others were trying to reach their loved ones on the phones and a third group of people was busy with the physical wounds they had been left with – that Felicity knew she had to spread some calmness. Hopefully, it would affect people around her.

“It might hurt a little,” Felicity warned with low voice before she brushed the cotton pad against the man’s forehead, “but it’s necessary.”

The man didn’t even flinch when Felicity cleaned his wound. He just looked at her, his eyes soft and almost a little reverent.

Felicity smiled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You remind me of someone,” he said, his voice sounding as reverent as the expression in his eyes made him look, “a nurse that cleaned my wounds after what happened in Pearl Harbor.”

“Pearl Harbor?”

Felicity perked up her eyebrows. Pearl Harbor had happened more than eighty years ago. If this man still remembered any of what had happened there, he had to close to a hundred years.

“I look younger than I am,” he told her with an almost amused smile, “which doesn’t make me look young, but it makes me look younger.”

Felicity smiled. “So, that woman that-“

“Mrs. Queen?”

Shooting a look back over her shoulder, Felicity saw new people being carried in. A tall man with broad shoulders was trying to hold another man upright. The second man’s clothes were torn. His skin, hair and clothes were covered in dust.

“I’m sorry,” Felicity hurried to say to the man she had just talked to, “just try to clean it yourself some more. If you need help-“

“I can help,” a young woman that had been sitting on the floor next to them said, “I can help with that.”

Felicity shot her a brief smile before she got up from the floor and hurried over to the people that had joined them now. Six hours had passed since the earthquake. Some things were calming down, others were just now really starting. There was a lot of coming and going in the Queen Manor. The official and unofficial rescue teams were still searching for people that had been buried under the building that had collapsed.

“Sit them down over there,” Felicity suggested, gesturing to some empty cots in the back of what has used to be the living room, “I will take care of them.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Queen,” the man said, “and I brought you a car full of food and water. I thought you could need it.”

“We do,” Felicity said, accompanying the men to the cots, “and you will be paid for everything you brought. Please contact Queen Incorporated in the next days and-“

“No, no,” the man replied, shaking his head, “that is not necessary. Consider it my contribution to helping people in need.”

“You already do by searching people and bringing them here.”

The hurt man sat down on the cot, and Felicity helped him out of his jacket carefully. She was about to take a look at his injuries, but Millie stepped closer.

“Do you want water, Sir?”

The man flashed her a smile. It didn’t quite reach his eyes because the exhaustion and fear that was still seen there couldn’t be hidden easily. The attempt at a smile was enough for Millie to smile and reach him a paper mug of water.

“I will unpack the supplies I brought and head out again,” the helper said, “and-“

He swayed slightly, his lids fluttering. Quickly, Felicity pushed him down onto one of the cots and gestured for Millie to get some more water.

“I have to get out again and-“

“You,” Felicity interrupted him firmly, “have to take a break. You cannot help anyone like that. Take a break. Drink some water. Eat some food. Maybe nap for half an hour. You can still go out after that.”

“I-“

“You should listen to my mommy,” Millie said, holding out a mug of water for the man, “she is always right.”

“Oh, really?”

Millie nodded her head. “Always.”

The man seemed to be amused. At least his lips twitched slightly, no matter how much he was trying to hide it. With slightly shaking hands, he took the paper mug from Millie.

“Thank you,” he said and took a sip, “it’s really good.”

“Now, if you please give me your keys,” Felicity said, already holding out her hand, “I could make sure that the supplies are already-“

Felicity stopped when her focus shifted to a scene that took place a couple of feet away from them. A mother was sitting on one of the cots, holding her baby to her chest tightly. Her kid, maybe in Emmy’s age, was sitting next to her. A woman that Felicity remembered faintly was kneeling in front of them. A barely visible camera that she had hidden in her purse was directed at the family that had had to watch as their husband’s and father’s dead body had been carried outside before they had been brought here.

“Excuse me,” Felicity said quickly, “I will be right back.”

With quick steps, Felicity crossed the distance towards the family. Liv York, the reporter of Channel 21 as Felicity remembered now, got up and tightened around to her. Her hold on her purse tightened almost instinctively.

“The camera, Ms. York,” Felicity said, holding out her hand for the camera the same way she had held out her hand to get the keys a minute ago, “now.”

Liv York pushed her chin forward. Her jaws tightened, and her eyes grew cold. Felicity could see that she considered how to get out of this situation with the video footage she already had in her purse and maybe some more.

“Mrs. Queen-“

“Don’t even try it.” Felicity’s voice was low and soft, but it didn’t hide the potential of a thread that was in it. “This city has been put through a lot today. These people have been put through a lot today. Many old wounds that the Undertaking has left here was ripped back open for sure. In moments like these, we have to show each other compassion. We have to support each other. It what good people do when their lives had been turned upside down.”

Only now Felicity realized that everyone in the room was staring at her. Wide eyes of the people that had come here for shelter were directed at her. They were too shocked and too weakened by what had happened to them today to stand up for themselves. Felicity had to do that for them.

“This house was opened for the people in need to have a safe spot to recover, so they could grieve and energize. Coming in here to exploit these people’s misery just so you can maybe get away from that lame reports you have to go to is lacking solidarity. So give me that video and get the hell out of my house.”

There was only a beat of silence before the people around her started applauding. Who could got up, almost like they were giving standing ovations.

Felicity didn’t think it was necessary. Her reaction was how everyone should react in a situation like this. She was exhausted after the day she had had and she worried about Oliver, William and Emmy although Oliver texted her once each hour to make sure that she knew they were okay. She had been getting out of this earthquake rather easily, so it was her duty to protect those who hadn’t.

It was the strongs’ duty to protect the weak.

Liv York handed Felicity the camera despite the sourly expression on her face. She pursed her lips before she turned around on her heels and walked away. Felicity looked after her, shaking her head. Not on her watch.

 → → → → →

 “Emmy fell asleep.”

Oliver shot a brief glance at William before he turned his head back over his shoulder. Emmy had indeed fallen asleep, lying across Hawk, who had been snoring loudly since he had lain down. It was way past their bedtime for both of them, and they had had an exhausting day.

With a low sigh, Oliver leaned his head against the headrest of his seat and looked at William. His oldest son was looking towards the Queen Manor. There was light burning behind the windows, something that happened rather rarely these days. The last time the mansion had been inhabited had been a while ago when he had turned himself into the police after Malcolm Merlyn had hired a reporter to blackmail Felicity.

“Everything alright?”

Oliver’s voice was lowered to a whisper while he was watching his son’s face closely. William, who had worked right at his side the entire time, had seen a lot that no person should be forced to see. The destructions of home, the bodies of beloved pets and people was something even Oliver had had trouble seeing. For William, who wasn’t used to the dark side of life as much as Oliver was, it had had to be harder.

“I wouldn’t call it alright,” William said, his voice hoarse, “but it’s going to be okay. For now, I just really want to go to bed.”

“Let me just get Tommy, Millie and Addie. I will drive you home and-“

“I can drive,” William said firmly, “so you can stay. I am sure Felicity will want to stay here too.”

“Are you sure?” Oliver asked. “It’s a long way. You are tired. You had a long day. I could-“

“It’s fine,” William replied, taking off his seatbelt, “I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure.”

Oliver knew that it was true. William knew what he was capable of and what was too much for him. If he said that he could drive, he could drive. He wouldn’t endanger his own life or the ones of his siblings like that.

“I will come inside with you, so I can grab the three of them, while you can help Felicity.”

Again, Oliver nodded his head. He unbuckled his own seatbelt and dropped his keys into William’s palm.

When William and Oliver stepped inside everything was silent. At first, Oliver believed that most people had fallen asleep. Instead, most cots were empty. Only a few people were sleeping under the thick blankets. Oliver frowned.

The distinct sound of a familiar voice made Oliver head towards the second, private salon. Well, it had used to be that back in the days when Oliver had lived here.

By the time he had reached the door, he could clearly hear Felicity’s voice. She was reading Robin Hood out loud, using her voice to make the story even more interesting. She always did that for their children when it was time for bed. Even Emmy, who liked to pretend that she was growing up quickly and far from being a little child, crawled into her parents’ bed for the nightly bedtime story.

Pushing the door open quietly, Oliver could see Felicity. She was sitting on the floor cross-legged, surrounded by kids. Some of them had already fallen asleep with their heads resting in the laps of other children or the adults that had come with them. Others were staring at her with wide eyes, listening to every word. Adults were sitting on the couches around, some of them half-asleep, some of them still kept away by the trauma this day had brought.

Oliver looked at Felicity closely. She wasn’t trying to show it, but she looked terribly exhausted. Her skin was pale, making the shadows under her eyes look even darker. Several strands of her blonde hair had fallen from her neatly done ponytail. She had taken off her shoes, massaging the ball of her right foot with one hand. No matter how exhausted and tired she was, she was still doing everything she could to make the reading as good as it could possibly be.

Seeing Felicity like that told him once more why he had fallen in love with her. She was smart and beautiful, strong and kind. She was so many wonderful things, and Oliver loved her for every single one of them.

While reading the next passage, Felicity lifted her eyes to look into the faces of the kids that were there. Oliver moved slightly, and it caused enough attention for Felicity to lift her gaze to him. She smiled, relief and warmth spreading on her face at the same time.

Neither of them had to say anything. They knew each other long enough and well enough to know everything they wanted to tell each other. Both of them had had stressful days. Both of them had seen things that would like to forget. Both of them knew there was still a lot of work ahead of them.

They were in this together though and that told them everything they needed to know to make it through this.

* * * 

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