#((hi m/ax remember them? because i do. forever and ever.))

[feelingdozy]

The Nightmares Return

Finnick Odair x Reader

Hunger Games Masterlist

Summary: long after the games and the quarter quell, you're still having nightmares about them and Finnick is the only one able to keep them away.

Warnings: talk of death, talk of killing,talk of blood, nightmares, swearing, crying, yelling, screaming, insecure thoughts/self blame, knife mentions

It's always the same. the nightmares always find ways to return. Your dreams feel like reality, replaying the same horrible events you dread and hate with all of your body.

"y/n!" "Y/n!" "Hurry up!"

Running. Faster than you thought your legs could ever go. Your lungs were exhausted and your tongue deprived of water. You looked back up at your district partner. You felt bad. The knife that struck their stomach didn't help, as the fresh blood splattered on your face covering most of it because they were in such close distance to you.

You ran again. And again. And again and again. you felt bad. You didn't even get their name and they'd already paid death a visit, now a permanent stay. They were so young. So beautiful. So deserving of life unlike you.

You were a loner, even from district 4 a career district, you had no such skills to survive. So you got your way there by sacrifices. human sacrifices. But not on purpose. The first was your unlucky district partner with a knife to the torso with the splatter staining your face.

The next was a random career tribute from 1 or 2- at this point you didn't remember because the only thing you did remember was their excruciating death and the pain they'd gone through by accidentally saving you. How did it come to that? Another career. It's always your 'alliances' til they declare you're not good enough and worthy of their team efforts.

The next wasn't a sacrifice for you, but the deaths to win the horrible games. They thought no one else was alive except for them, battling it out in the arena until they both got each other in the chest with an axe and the other a knife. Injured and bruised, you watched the blood splatter on the ground.

That forever stained your eyes, your brain, your memory. You could never, ever forget what went down those days. You'd never killed anyone, but they showed up asking for your mercy.

"don't kill me y/n. Don't make me die again. It's all your fault."

"I thought you'd help me, y/n? Didn't we have an alliance? You should've saved me from those careers."

But instead you'd sit back and watch. You were the disappointment of your district. How could you just sit back and watch everyone else do the work as a career? The winning tour or whatever it was named, didn't help the fresh nightmares either.

The parents stared into your eyes. You couldn't take it. You couldn't take the looks they gave you. The pain on their faces. Especially the two you were allies with. Their faces were nothing but anger and pain towards you, their eyes dark and wishing death upon you. But what could you do?

You knew it would've been better if you'd died out there and had the other tribute from district 4 win, or anyone else that just wasn't you.

It wasn't worth it.

You only found your meaning in life after the victory tours, in a man close to your age at the time. You had been 16 in those games, and him one year ahead of you making him 17. He was more knowledgeable than you, deserving of his young win and you looked up to his charming and amazing qualities.

By the time you both were somewhat in your 20's and had been mentoring kids for a few years, you knew you couldn't live without each other.

Then the quarter quell came. The greatest thing to tear you apart. Ruin what had been built. Tear years of friendship and love down in a matter of seconds.

Only 1 come out alive in a pool full of victors? It had been the death you had been looking for, desiring, hoping for, if only it had come earlier.

One night prior to the quarter quell, you couldn't sleep. Nothing could put you to sleep as the bad memories flashed through your mind with no remorse. You had cradled into a ball so tight your body ached, the air flow was tight, and your tears pooled up beneath you. At that point your cries grew louder and louder, you thought you had been secretive but most of the peacekeepers could hear your despair through the doors

Your cries muffled your hearing and your mind, so when someone put their arms around you, you jumped and accidentally smacked whoever it was in the face out of survival instinct.

"oh shit"

You said between sniffles, your crying now paused to apologize to however came to comfort you.

"I'm so fucking sorry oh my go-"

They held you closer, and at that point without a word said to each other you knew who it was.

"are you ok Finnick? That was a hard fucking hit"

You laughed, staying cautious because you didn't know if he was actually ok. You heard his contagious laugh after yours, it calmed you down a bit, making you forget about the wet tears down your cheeks.

"I think I should be asking you if you're ok. A little hit gets me a little.. more into the game?"

You both laughed at that, knowing he'd tease you for it later.

"but really y/n, do you need me to stay here? I don't need you missing out on your sleep the day before the games. You at least need to be energized."

He always tried to take your attention away from the bad things when you were upset, getting you to pay more attention to the positives.

"you're not gonna be able to help me when we're in the games y'know-"

"I can help you wherever you need me to y/n, you know that. I've been here for you since I met you and I'm not leaving now."

He said as he planted a kiss on your lips, leaving you suddenly longing for more.

Your eyes widened and guilt dawned on you. He was always so good to you, why couldn't you be the positive one comforting him? He had to get tired of this by now, you guys were in your fucking 20's! How could he not? Years and years and he hasn't once doubted your relationship? Bullshit.

"I don't know why you stay"

You mumbled under your breath before a big sigh. You were moving underneath the blankets as his hand grabbed your arm and held you still for a second, bringing you closer after you looked into his eyes.

"I stay because I love you y/n. No matter how many times you doubt yourself, or hate yourself, or whatever you choose to do. I stay because I love who you are."

You were tearing up again, your tear stained cheeks becoming obvious on your skin as you felt more drop in their place.

"you can't look me straight in the eyes and say that to me before we go into an arena where we're destined to die Finnick. You know I'm not making it out of there alive, you have better chances with someone else!-"

He was quickly towering over your form, hands to the sides of your head. Raising your chin with his soft hand that caressed your cheek ever so softly, you'd think you were already in heaven.

"there's nobody I want to spend my last moments with but you y/n."

He went in for another kiss, you deepening it this time as whenever he touched you, the whole world would disappear and all that was left would be you and him.

It had been years since that, and you both had stayed the same. Finnick ever so persistent with his love for you, and you had become more bold in your words as well. But there's something that had never changed, no matter how long it had been.

The nightmares.

They came in all different forms, sometimes they'd chase you til you awake in a cold sweat or just stand over you and threaten your life until you woke up screaming. His arms always wrapped around you knowing how it felt because sometimes you'd be the one to comfort him and his nightmares, as he had the same problems as you.

You both didn't know what you'd do without each other. Your arms comforted each other, sweet voices reassuring one another you were ok and there were no games anymore.

When would it end? You both never knew, but you knew that you'd always have each other.

[somepersoninlovewithmusic]

So randomly decided one day to create an account and write shit. Please give advice about anything I do with what I write. Advice is very much appreciated and needed 🙏

Anyways, ✨Creepypasta✨

How would Slenderman’s Proxies react to a sassy kid?

Includes, Toby, Masky, and Hoodie. (And yes I know Masky and Hoodie are from Marble Hornets and not Creepypasta but it’s not the same without them. And no I haven’t watched Marble Hornets but I do plan to.)

Little bit of bg on our adorable psycho. The kid is around 13-16, but it can be however y’all want. This kid is the most irritable little fuck ever. You can’t say anything and not get away with it. They have to have the last word. Once you get to know the kid, they’re not that bad, still sassy, but will spare you. (They would kill themselves for you.)

Toby

Ahh yes, he still remembers the day he met the kid.

He was having one of those days. He was fine and then the next second he was being the most irritable fucker in the room. Everything just ticked him off (hehe, get it?) The kid so happen to be present.

During that day, Toby walked into the kitchen where the kid was peacefully eating some Cheerios since it was healthy (Slender made the kid start eating healthier for their well being.) They made eye contact and even from underneath his mouth guard the kid could make out the most nastiest scowl ever on his lips.

“M-may I fucking he-help you?” His body contorted as cracks and a whistle from his lips could be heard

The kid made a face and spoke up. "You can actually, why don’t you go, jump off a cliff and see if then you can feel anything but bitchy after.” An annoyed smile made its why to their face.

That day was the day where many problems happened.

They did not get along at first.

They fought over anything. He almost killed the kids more times than he could remember.

It wasn’t until that faithful day that they finally got along for once.

“W-we need to pl-plan ahead bef-before we try anything-“ a groan could be heard from his right. “C-c-c-can’t you fucking talk right?!” The raven head turns his head to the brunette. “Gosh, it’s a wonder how you’re a proxy when you can’t even speak right.” He mocked.

Toby made a move to grab his axe when a young voice spoke from his left. “What is your problem, Jeff? He can’t help it, you know that. And the reason he’s a proxy and you’re not is because, at the end of the day, he’s better than you. So stop trying to be funny, you’re already funny looking.” It was unexpected. He didn’t think they would defend him. In fact, he thought they would add on instead.

It was safe to say they were on better terms now.

Since that day the kid wouldn’t say stuff back to him as often and would actually listen for once.

He became somewhat attached to the kid since he lost Lyra he needed something, someone, to rely on. To protect. And that was the kid.

That was the start of something that would last forever.

Masky

The day Slender brought home a kid Tim knew he was done for.

This man was running on coffee and prayers.

He cannot babysit while being a serial killer.

He made it very clear the first day they met that he would not tolerate shit.

You’re hungry? Make yourself some food. You’re hurt? Go to Eyeless Jack. You don’t know how to do something? Figure it out.

Of course he did the basics such as training, teaching how to shoot, how to cut off someone’s air supply, how to find the correct pressure point to temporarily paralyze them.

But that’s all the kid needed.

Tim did, however, never miss the chance to lecture the kid on what they did wrong.

You missed a shot? You aimed too high or low. You accidentally let the target get away? Get faster and stronger. You don’t know how to treat an open wound? You’re pathetic how do you not know how to do that?

One day, the kid finally, after a while of holding back because they did try to keep their sharp tongue at bay. They weren’t stupid enough to get themselves killed.

Crowbar in hand, Tim watched as the kid crumbled before him. His mask was on, but the kid could tell he had on a frown. “I’ve told you about a million times, are you deaf? You’re too damn predictable. Why don’t you-“ He gets cut off as he feels his feet leave him.

His back hits the floor. He was caught off guard. The kid…..tripped him? As he was in mid-lecture?! Oh no, this level of disrespect would not stand. He gets up, rather quickly. And opens his mouth to start raising his voice. The kid beat him to it.

“Do you do anything but complain?! I’m not used to this, I wasn’t prepared to be forced to kill people Tim!” Their eyes narrowed in on Tim’s little holes in his mask in which substitute for eyes. “It’s not my fault I’m not messed up in the head and actually enjoyed living my life as a normal person!”

The kid walked off with a huff. As their back was turned they shouted one last insult. “And why don’t you worry about yourself? Sugar tits!”

They were referring to Tim’s chest. He wasn’t skinny, he has a dad bod, but don’t let that fool you. He wasn’t weak by any means. But that still gave you a perfect opportunity to use that. (Brian so happen to overhear what just occurred and called Tim ‘Sugar Tits’ for the next 6 months. Needless to say, Tim was far from happy.)

After that, y’all’s relationship went from, “Okay..somewhat tolerable.” To “Stop breathing so damn loud.” Everything ticked the both of you two whenever you two happen to be in the same room.

But that all ended when this happened…..

An unsuccessful attempt to kill someone meant bad news. Tim was paired up with the kid to go kill a guy who got a little bit too close to the forest as they liked. Why did they get paired up together? Who knows? (Ben hacked the little file system they put up and put the two together to fuck with them.)

Turns out, the guy had suspected that he would get hunted after and made booby traps. Yes, booby traps. One of the booby traps consisted of a Stanley cup, at very high speeds, getting thrown. It got Tim in the head while the kid slipped on olive oil the guy spread out in the kitchen. The kid then got stabbed by the guy. They did the best they would with a random shoe, probably gave the man a concussion, but he still got away.

Slender was not happy at all. Static filled the room as Tim could feel a headache coming on. Slender wasn’t so pissed at the kid, since they did end up getting to the target and they were still relatively new. That was their 4th mission that was about killing someone. Most of the missions before that were tagging along with Eyeless Jack to practice their stealth.

But he was pissed at Tim since he was a seasoned veteran. How could he not have killed the man?

He was going off on him when something broke the annoying static.

“Sir, you have to understand, we didn’t see the booby traps coming. They were..nothing that I expected. This man had weeks to plan while we only had that day, it wasn’t entirely Masky’s fault-“ A hand pressed against their mouth. Tim was glaring at the kid, sending them a look that said, ‘Shut the hell up.’

After all of that, they left the room. Once they got far away Tim turned to them. “What the hell was that? You can’t just say stuff like that to him. Are you trying to get yourself killed?” “I couldn’t just let him blame you! It’s not right, it wasn’t entirely your fault. I mean, who the hell uses their sex doll as a fake person?!”

The kid argued back. It was then Tim realized…maybe they weren’t so bad..

But he would still lecture them.

No one escapes that.

Hoodie

The two of them never interacted much.

Brian would observe from far away as the kid would back talk.

He would shake his head but sometimes a faint smirk made its way to his lips.

Other than that, he had no opinion on the kid.

Little fun fact, Brian was the type of person you’d wanna watch what you’re saying when he’s in the room.

Most people don’t even notice he’s there and say some��.unwanted stuff. (Jeff had once confessed to BEN that he covered himself in oil and took a picture. The day Brian found out Jeff had a Only Fans.)

That meant Brian was being a little creep and the kid didn’t take like it very much.

Brian was in the corner of the living room. His hands in his pockets as his eyes scanned the room. Jeff and Toby were currently arm wrestling to decide how was stronger. BEN was recording and making side comments. The kid was also there, mostly because of curiosity of who would win.

Brian made a move to leave the room since he didn’t find the current situation entertaining. Over the insults of Jeff and the ticking of Toby the kid still managed to hear Brian step in a creaky board. (He had to watch out for their sharp hearing..)

The kid looked at the hooded man and made a comment. “I bet you were the weird kid. The one people didn’t talk to, and that caused you to learn how to conceal your presence to the point where people would spill out their secrets in front of you. If you were weird you were probably a theater kid.”

Brian didn’t find it insulting until the kid held back a grin.

And the fact that the kid was spot on didn’t help.

He needs to help humble them.

They sure would make his life interesting.

He had a long day. Brian had to break up a fight between Jeff and Jane. Toby caused a pot of water to catch on fire. Tim went through all of his cigarettes and was currently being an asshole. He needed to let out some steam. He walked outside and to the shooting spot in where people in the mansion would practice shooting or take some energy out.

However, Brian went out here to feel alive. And he knows his way around a gun. He was considered, unofficially, the mansion’s marksman.

He wanted some peace and quiet, but he heard some incoherent curses as it sounds like a gun was shot into a tree 8 miles away. He turned a corner and saw the kid, they were practicing. And they weren’t having too much fun by the looks of it.

The kid missed. They were too tense. They needed to reach their shoulders. Brian watched with a smirk. ‘Rookie mistakes.’ He thought to himself as he approaches the unsuspecting child. “You’re aiming too high, relax your shoulders.”

A screech was heard and birds went flying. Brian cringed as the sound wasn’t exactly music to his ears. The kid looked up at him. “What the heck man?!” They exclaim.

He merely shrugs.

They huff as they turn back to what they were doing. They decided to listen to him for once. One deep breath in through the mouth and one deep breath out through their nose. Their shoulders dropped.

They aimed, pulled, and bang.

It hit the target! They let out a laugh of success. They turn. “Holy hell! I’ve never made it before!” (They probably wouldn’t have acted like that if they weren’t so damn proud of themselves.)

Brian had to hold back a grin. Maybe the kid could be tolerable at times.

From that day on he decided that it was his personal mission to make sure you made every shot you would shoot from then on.

You were going to be his little sharp shooter.

Well that took longer than I’d like to admit. (It took 3 days, it would’ve been 2 but it’s 12:08 AM rn.)

If you guys have any head cannons that you think would be more realistic, appropriate, or cuter than what I shows here then please do share! I love to compare head cannons and take some into consideration.

Please leave a message about how you felt about this. If you liked it or not, any piece of advice will help!

[honeydewmuses-a]

“...”

He’s gonna hold his hand out all shy. She’ll probably ignore it. But there’s no harm in offering.

"Why is no one holding me hand? This is a crime against humanity."

[gwen-ever]

Until My Last Breath (Prologue)

Summary: When Smaug arrived, he not only killed the dwarves of Erebor, but he also destroyed the lives of the few who survived... whether he did it on purpose or not.After a hundred years, a part of Thorin's past will come back to haunt him in the form of a dwarf who last knocks on the door of Bilbo Baggins' house, resurrecting old grudges and the pain of a life no one wants to talk about. Geira, daughter of Geiri, is anything but an open book, an exiled who no one wants around, a warrior who has no one to fight for, but only an oath she must fulfil.

Relationships: Thorin x FemaleOC

Rating: M

Warnings: none.

AO3 LINK: HERE

Note Number I: English is not my first language, I have a wonderful beta @lathalea <3 (i am so much greatful you can't even imagine) but maybe I will mess up few times.

Note Number II: The Story takes place during the quest but there is a whole backstory that starts since Thorin's childhood so there are going to be a lot of flashbacks. THEY ARE NOT IN A CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER so the whole back story could be guessed but will be explained later in the story.

Note Number III: I will mix up the book events and the movie events, fixing what where (from my point of view) some mistakes were made. I have decided to do so simply because there are some lacks of infos here and there and so many lost possibilities in some actionless time, as happened in Mirkwood and Laketown.

I am blood of your blood, and bone of your bone, stone of your stone

I gift you my body so it can fall instead of yours.

I give you my soul so it can  wait for yours in the Great Halls.

I lend you my voice so it can order your commands

I present you my sword so it can slay the ones who wish to harm you.

No other dwarf will be mine, no other dwarf will own me,

no one will sleep next to me, no life will come out from the womb of mine.

No one I will serve over the crown, over the Seven Stars, over the Father of all fathers, over the King of all Kings.

I offer myself to you, until the end of times, until the mountains soar to the sky,

until all the blood dries, until the fires of Mahal’s forge blaze high.

Until my last breath, until my last glance, until my last blow,

until the last time my hands touch the rock our Father gave to us,

my life is yours and your wish is mine.

--------------------------------------------------

The house of Bilbo Baggins was more crowded than usual that evening, and the owner was more than a little disconcerted: not only had his peace of mind been disturbed, not only was his larder completely, utterly, depleted, but his kitchen, indeed his whole house, was overrun with dwarves! Thirteen dwarves! Plus a wizard he had met in the morning whom he barely knew and had marked the door with a rune, thanks to which his guests had recognised the Hobbit's dwelling. Truly, Bilbo Baggins did not know how to begin to drive them out, he had been trying since the first one (Dwalin, if he remembered correctly) had walked in through the round door, obviously without being heard by any of them.

Crockery, knives, pots and pans, everything had begun to fly from one side of the room to the other without ever stopping. He tried more than once to stop them, without ever succeeding! At that moment his Took blood was more useless than a fork when eating soup. In fact, his Baggins blood had gotten the better of him, leading him to accept the situation with no small amount of annoyance, including those black strokes on his yellow walls and the fragments of food scattered on the floor. Oh, not to mention his good wine, totally gone! It had taken him hours to sort out his pantry between days before and now all his food, all his tomatoes, all his wine, all his cheese, everything, gone, vanished, and it was not even the time for the spring solstice party yet!

And now, or in heaven's name, now Gandalf had even had the courage to tell him that he would have to get used to them! To all of them! To the twelve dwarves in his kitchen! And what on earth did the wizard mean by saying  that he would have to put up with them forever!

Annoyed, he began to walk down the corridor arguing with Gandalf and putting his hands on his hips.

"I don't understand what they are doing in my house!" he shouted, raising his voice.

The wizard didn't reply, but a small voice behind him did and before he knew it his entire set of porcelains was in the air.  His cutlery was being knocked over his table. Knife blades were being dulled by their rubbing against fork handles, and before he knew it, in time to the music, his entire kitchen set was flying through the air.  Oh no, no no no, not that chair, no, not that plate, no not that other plate! No, stop, please!

His pleas were soaring through the air, as if they were leaves on a wind, as were his dishes. And Gandalf sat smoking his pipe on a chair with an amused smile while all this happened before his eyes. Bilbo ran to the kitchen to put an end to this madness, but as soon as he did so, he noticed to his surprise that all the things that had been flying over his head until just now were neatly stacked on top of each other on his kitchen table.

He blinked, several times adjusting his braces, unable to believe his eyes.

The dwarves seemed highly amused by his reaction, and began to laugh, until three knocks on the door brought silence and an icy air that he could feel all the way down to his hobbit ankles.

"He is here," Gandalf said.

From the doorway a short while later another dwarf entered and it didn't take him long to realise that he was different, very different from the others who had entered his home moments before. Every single beard turned to face the newcomer as he walked inside.

Bilbo didn't know who it was and he didn't even really care, no one would enter his house unannounced, no one.

But he couldn't admit that his blood ran cold in his veins as soon as that dwarf started talking to him and asking him all those strange questions. What did he mean by axe or sword? Did he really believe that a hobbit like him had ever picked up either weapon? Who did he think he was? He could not hide his confusion at the last statement of the so-called Thorin Oakenshield.

"He looks more of a grocer than a burglar," he joked.

It was all too absurd for Bilbo's poor hobbit ears, all so surreal! His life, monotonous and lonely until a few hours ago, was now changing, he could feel it in his bones, and he could not understand if it was a good thing or not: he had always dreamed of adventure when he was a young hobbit, but now it was different; the walls of his home were so comforting and safe, every object was a certainty for him. His life was there and he would never leave it, no sir!

Calmness, however, continued to reign for a long time, during which the largest of the dwarves, with a long red beard, went to his kitchen and with an almost surreal care began to prepare a soup. Thorin Oakenshield sat down at the head of the table and was soon joined by the oldest of the dwarves who had entered his house, Balin, and two of the youngest, the two brothers Fili and Kili.

They began to talk in low voices, in a calm and quiet tone, just like everyone else in his house. It seemed absurd, but at least he was able to sort out some of the leftovers that had been left behind in the kitchen back in his own larder and eavesdrop, even if he didn't want to (it was rude) on some of the conversations that various small groups of dwarves were having. The ties of kinship were quickly understood, as was the realisation that Thorin was not really just another dwarf. No more plate was flying, no more song was being sung, but not out of fear, out of respect.

He turned his head, watching the almost regal profile as he spoke to the bear who came into the house first, but he could not hear what they were talking about, the fact was that their faces were dark, and Dwalin's eyes moved insistently over him.

A short while later Bombur returned with the soup, handing it to Thorin, and in the blink of an eye the groups of dwarves in his house were grouped together again, sitting around the table. He wasn't invited, that's normal, there's a meeting in a house and the owner of that house isn't invited! Not that he cared, of course not, the apple he was putting in the basket in the kitchen was certainly more interesting.

But he couldn't help but listen.

"What news from the Ered Luin, did they all come?" asked the older dwarf.

"Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms," the voice of Thorin spoke, setting off a round of small laughs and joyful murmurs.

"And what do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?"

A long wait ensued in which Bilbo swore he could hear the heart of every single dwarf in the room beating wildly.

"They will not come,"

The dwarf's reply was sharp and decisive. Disconsolate murmurs rose from his dining room that only increased in volume and quantity when he spoke again. "They said this quest is ours and ours alone,"

They began to talk in low voices, in a calm and quiet tone, just like everyone else in his house. It seemed absurd, but at least he was able to sort out some of the leftovers that had been left behind in the kitchen back in his own larder and eavesdrop, even if he didn't want to (it was rude) on some of the conversations that various small groups in that group were having. The ties of kinship were quickly understood, as was the realisation that Thorin was not really just another dwarf. No more  flying plates, no more singing songs, but not out of fear, out of respect.

A coughing noise, however, stopped the murmurs and caused Bilbo to turn to the table from behind the kitchen wall as well, distracting himself from his chores. Gandalf settled into the small chair and began to search the sleeve of his grey robe.

"This indeed, it is not entirely true," he explained as he slowly pulled a long wooden pipe from his sleeve. "There is someone else who has yet to arrive," the sorcerer explained, barely looking Thorin in the eye.

For all the pipe weed in the world, again?

The dwarf at the head of the table stopped sipping from his goblet of ale, giving him a sidelong glance but remained silent. Instead, the dwarf named Gloin spoke, crossing his arms over his chest. "This means yet another division of profit, all of which should have been agreed upon first." he muttered.

"Agreed, this matter should have been dealt with weeks ago," Dori pinned, pulling himself up.

Gandalf did not even look up at the elder dwarf, adjusting the tobacco in his pipe.  "My decision was made after our meeting in the Ered Luin. And Master Gloin, I think that our member does not wish any of that gold in that Mountain."

"Who is it?" grunted Dwalin suspiciously, looking up at the wizard who lit his pipe with his fingertips.

Bofur chuckled under his big black mustache, puffing an avalanche of white smoke from the side of his mouth. "Another burglar?"

"A burglar for the burglar," Fili grinned at the back of the room.

"A burglar made for the burglar," Kili added and their banter invited the murmurs from just before. This time, however, they were louder, more confused, as was his hobbit head.

A torrent of questions flooded the room as they all asked questions of the wizard, who, bewildered, tried to answer; only Thorin's intervention put an end to the commotion created, shouting warnings in their native tongue. Then he turned to the sorcerer himself, glancing at him.

"The questions that have arisen around this table are fair," he began earnestly, "I have not been informed of any others, none of this was a part of the bargain, Gandalf."

Gandalf smiled with the side of his mouth taking a puff of his pipe. "I was told to find the fourteenth member of this company and so I did, the addition of a fifteenth should not be an unsolvable problem."

"As I said it wasn't in the agreements and last minute clauses at a time like this are not convenient, not at all," retorted the dwarf bringing silence again.

Bilbo looked at the dwarves, clouded by the smoke from the pipes and the warmth of the candles around the table. They looked at each other's hands or watched Thorin in silence, not uttering a breath.

Gandalf put down his pipe and crossed his arms on the table, moving slightly closer to the dwarf with long raven hair.

"I assure you that my choice was not taken lightly, and if I had thought it was right a few months ago I would have reported it to you back then. But it was not possible," Gandalf lowered the tone of his voice even further. "You must trust me on this."

"Is this person crucial to what we must accomplish?" he asked quietly, looking straight into his eyes.

The wizard murmured a small "yes" between his lips, nodding his head slightly as he continued to look the dwarf lord straight in the eye.

Thorin said nothing, watched the wizard for a few more seconds before letting himself go off the back of his chair and then he took a sip of ale from his mug again. The conversation had ended in a few simple sentences, yet Bilbo noticed how the wizard continued to look at Thorin insistently.

Gandalf brushed his gloves around his hands with his fingertips dropping his gaze downwards for a few seconds before turning his head back towards him.

"Bilbo, my dear fellow," he called to him in a manner far more cheerful than his face was capable of showing. "Let us have a little more light".

----/////----

A snort passed her lips.

She was dreadfully late, which she hated from the bottom of her heart; and she hated the fact that she was going to a strange house of a Hobbit whose identity she did not know, although after all those years she had become accustomed to being in the homes of strangers quite often. Perhaps the real reason for her stomach clenching was not whose house it was but who she was supposed to meet in that house and the reason why she was going to that house. Because when she would see them again, all of them , it would not be pleasant or easy.

Far from it.

She didn't even think it would ever happen, nor did he want it to happen again.

She slung her sack over her shoulder as she climbed up the little dirt road, passing funny grass-covered houses by the round door: if it had been daytime, a riot of colours would have accompanied her path and perhaps, for a few minutes, she would not have thought about the imminent meeting.

She would have stopped for a few brief moments on that bench next to the path and sat there for a short while, perhaps lighting her pipe or watching those very peaceful people go about their simple business. Watching them do simple, mechanical things, perhaps in another life she might even have stayed in such a place, in peace, with someone. But no, too many years had passed, she had seen too much, heard too much, and she would not be able to live like that, not there.

Suddenly, a faint pale light caught her attention: she approached it and, with a thump in her heart, recognised the rune that the sorcerer had traced so that they could all see it. She reached the garden and climbed the small steps that led to the round green door. She ran a hand over her leather bodice and gathered in her heart all the emotions she could possibly feel.

Hatred, fury, pain and anger, so much anger.

She gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the voices she could hear through the door.  Taking a deep breath to calm her already jangled nerves, she knocked, hearing a great commotion and excited voices from inside.

The door suddenly opened, and it was the sorcerer himself who filled her field of vision: he broke into a rather smug smile, proud to have been right for the umpteenth time.

He knew she would come at last.

She had met him only a few weeks before and he was exactly as the rumours said. Gandalf's every move was studied and planned and, who knows why, everything corresponded to the plan he had devised; how every cog in that mechanism worked was a great mystery. Yet for that, she could not but admire him.

So, after he had silently nodded his head, she entered the cosy, warm house that smelled of good food and wine and was lit by the soft light of candles; she followed him into a corridor and the smell of ashes and moss entered her nostrils, as well as that of processed tobacco and malt. In a few steps she found herself in front of a small room where, around a table, were crammed all the others who, as soon as they glimpsed their new guest, assumed the most surprised and astonished expressions she had ever seen. Their faces turned pale, their beards seemed to stretch to the floor, and none of them dared say a word. Only one of them stood up so fast that he knocked over the stool on which he was sitting, irate.

"What is she doing here?!"

The rumble of thunder rumbled through the room and like a thunderbolt it brought to light old hidden shadows, old whispered words, broken oaths.

--------------------------------------------------

You're blood of my blood, bone of my bone, stone of my stone,

I embrace your body to let it protect me

I take your soul and forge for it a place next to me in the Great Halls

I take your voice which I will hear above all others

I take your sword and I present you my shield which will protect you from my enemies.

No other dwarf will be yours, no other dwarf you will serve,

no one will  keep you company at night, no life will come out from you.

No one you will serve over me, over the Seven Stars, over the Father of all fathers, over the King of all Kings.

I offer myself to your hands until the start to the end, until the skies fall on the ground,

until all the bones crack, until the  fires of Mahal’s forge blaze high.

Until my last breath, until my last glance, until my last blow,

until the last time my hands touch the rock our Father gave to us

my desires are yours, your pain is mine.

[abloomntime]

A Bloom In Time Ch 1 A Flower Princess Lost

An non-beating heart is a bad thing to most, but not a bad thing if you were already dead and didn't need anything like that of course. Snatcher is a complicated spook that already has everything he wants now and with two little kids constantly playing in his woods and asking him to join, he has more than enough of his mushy love anyways. But when a familiar face and secret pops up, it may prove that the beating of love may still come from beyond the grave.

*******************************************************************************************

Warning: Mentions and briefly explains Snatcher's death.

Would it be so wrong to say I love you when you obviously didn't love me back the way I loved you? Would it be wrong to say I would I like you more than any other thing when you didn't see me more than a stranger? Would it be so wrong to want to hold you when you would be confused at my touch? Would there be any world where we were aloud to be together, with your hair flowing like rose petals and eyes of the beautiful blue sky. Where no one would stop them and no duties got in their way.....But it wasn't meant to be because no amount of begging or asking would probably change the way you see me right now. The smile I'm giving you as you talk about the flowers like they were your proud children and you were mother nature. You would make the best mother nature. With your fiery passion and gentle kindness. You always listened to me. Didn't pressure me to picking. Always smiled and never EVER treated me as some fairytale prince I wasn't, which is why after all these years of knowing you and loving someone who I know definitely loves me, but for all the wrong reasons, and as much as I love her back...I think I love you more.

"Your Highness? Are you alright?"

He snapped out of it and yellow eyes blinked up at the lady who's stolen his heart. The fairytale romantic love of a Queen with beautiful blonde hair and emerald eyes was the first to catch him heart and he fell hard for her, but overtime that vision started to blur into one of fiery red passion and smelt of flowers. He could imagine his Queen in a wedding dress of pure white and covered in lace, but now he couldn't get the idea of how the maiden with red hair would look shyly looking at him in a dress of white, flowers in her hair and a red hue to her face as he held her close, wedding bells sounding as he promised her he would always love her. Forever.....But he should get his head out of the clouds. From the day he was born, his parents and Vanessa's mother had an arranged marriage for the two royals, and he didn't think even though she was Queen now, she'd let him go so soon with how attached she was....and how forcing his parents were about this. So he smiled at the confused face on the beautiful woman with hair of the rose.

"I'm perfectly fine. Vanessa's just been....A b-bit cranky lately. So I wanted to surprise her with some flowers today. M-Maybe that'll help calm her down. "

That got her attention when she rose a brow at him and asked a question that made him flinch. "Is this like the time she banned everyone here from eating bacon?"

He waved her off. "N-No, no. She was only concerned about my health, a-and she's right. Bacon has too much fat. I could loose a few more pounds and eat healthier.''

Her beautiful blue eyes ran over him with a raised brow. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn't and instead smiled and pointed a hand to the flowers around her in her stand. "Well, how can I help you this time, Prince-y? We have a fifty percent discount on mixed wild daisies this week, more sprouted up than expected, but they smell great and multicolored. A colorful rainbow bouquet would brighten up anyone's day!"

He looked at the many flowers she was pointing to and smiled and nodded. "Y-Yeah. Vanessa's loves any flowers I give her! These are perfect! You know what, I'll take some thanks!"

She smiled and went to work on getting the flowers. Cutting them and getting the pretty pink paper to wrap them in so he could present them to his beloved Queen. He couldn't help but smile at the gentle way she handled the flowers ...but remembered. He didn't have any pons to pay her with. He spent the last on them on getting Vanessa an anniversary gift yesterday after she insisted he'd better do something to make her happy and 'prove he still loved her by not forgetting. And he didn't. He got her a beautiful bracelet with beautiful blue saphires studded into it and was getting her flowers on top of that....But- When she turned back to him with a smile, flowers ready to go...It was like it was stupid but-...He immediately held up the bracelet to her without question, smile on his own face. She blinked at the sudden gift held out to her before looking back up to his face in question.

"Take it. I-...I-I got three others at home just like it," he lied with a smile but it felt like the right thing to do at the time, "Besides. I-I don't have any pons on me right now."

He stared at him more. "Oh, no. I couldn't!" She held up her hands. "I couldn't possibly just accept it like that. Here." She held the flowers out to him. "You buy so much anyways. This time it's on the house."

"NO!" He insisted. Gently placing the small bracelet into her hand while staring into her eyes. "I may be a prince but even Im not above getting things for free just because I buy a lot of it. You obviously put so much work into growing such beautiful flowers and I won't let hard work like that go under paid."

They ended up just holding hands unintentionally for a few seconds as they talked and smiled. Neither noticed the beautiful golden sunshine haired woman with beautiful green emerald eyes suddenly stopping and watching from the dark corner of the alleyway. She stared in absolutely horror as she watched her prince, her beloved perfect prince holding hands with a...a...A PEASANT GIRL!! This girl with bland red hair that looked like it was dunked in tacky red paint and gotten red splotches all over her face, dirt smudging her tacky dress and obviously dirty and not fit for anyone other than another low life peasant like herself. AND YET THERE THEY WERE!! Holding hands, smiling, and giggling like they were...A Happy couple..NO! NO!! HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO LOOK AT ANYONE LIKE THAT!! HE WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT HER LIKE THAT!! HER! THE ONE WITH EYES OF EMERALD GREEN AND PERFECT HAIR SHINIER THAN GOLD!! FAIR SKIN AND BELOVED BY HER KINGDOM!! RICH AND COULD GIVE HIM ANYTHING HE ASKED!! THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIED WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME!! THEY WERE GOING TO ADOPT ONE OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE VILLAGE TOGTHER!! HE COULDN'T WAIT TO HAVE A CHILD BUT SHE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL A FEW YEARS INTO THEIR MARRIAGE BEFORE HAVING ONE!! IT WAS GOING TO BE THE PERFECT THING FOR THEIR IMAGE!! ADOPTING A CHILD OF NONE ROYAL BLOOD AND LOOK LIKE ONE OF THOSE FAIRYTALE STORIES!! THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT TOGETHER AND HE'S.....He's holding hands with someone who's not fit to even be in their story beyond a lowly subject!! With tears stinging her eyes she hiccupped and turned to run back into the darkness of the alley, if she would've stayed a little longer she would've seen the florist hand over the bouquet of flowers meant for her to he beloved prince and him paying her with the golden bracelet. The movement out of the corner of his eye made him look towards the swift movement and he easily recognized that fancy green dress running back into the shadow of the alleyway.

He jumped almost dropping the flowers he was just handed. "Vanessa!?" The florist looked to where he was looking but didn't see the woman that dashed into the alleyway as he stared in confusion. "Vanessa?.....Why did she run away so suddenly?"

...The florist shrugged lightly with a smile. "Maybe she was embarrassed she walked in on you getting her flowers?", she suggested.

....He gave a smile. "OH! Of course! She's considerate l-like that." He gave an almost nervous smile and turned back to her before bowing. "T-Thank you for your help once again...Ms. Poppy."

She waved her hand. "Oh, don't mention it! It's always to see just a nice man be so considerate and give the gal he loves so many flowers."

The gal he loved...Heh. He guessed that was true. He still loved Vanessa in some way or another...but lately..he wasn't too sure about things, but he was sure she was right. Vanessa was just in a bad place for a few years. Her mother was sick and dying slowly, she just got crowned Queen a month ago after her mother had an accident, her new duties were overwhelming her, and with him still doing his princely studies about law it musn't be easy for her. But like any betrothed, he was going to try and work through these problems together. But he still couldn't stop smiling after he left the Florist to her work. Cute freckles and blue eyes clouding his vision. He was sure as soon as Vanessa saw these flowers she would perk right up! She always enjoyed it when he brought her gifts like these- OH! How wrong he was. As soon as he got to the manor, Vanessa's vacation spot away from her huge castle, everything suddenly felt....off somehow. Like a tense and thick aura was in the air, so thick one would have to use a battle axe to cute through it, but upon further searching he found her. Vanessa, his beloved Queen with golden hair, weeping in one of the hallways, back faced to him and of course the sight pained him. What could've brought her to this state of being?

"Vanessa?!" She flinched when he shouted her name and came near her. The sound of his footsteps stopping just behind her. "Sweetheart? W-Why are you crying?" Sudden worry came over him. Oh no. Did she think he forgot their anniversary?! That made him hold out the flowers with a giant smile. "Don't cry. I-I got you these! Look. A-Aren't they beautiful?"

".....How could you betray me, Philip?" Her voice growled out. And he took a step back, was it just him or was the room suddenly darker? They needed to open up the blinds more. But the shadows seemed to come from her as she growled again in a voice that was clearly NOT the sugary sweet voice of his beloved maiden. And betrayl?? What was she talking about? "How could you CHEAT ON ME!? AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH!! ALL OUR LIVES WE WERE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER!!" Her form slouched over as the shadows continued to consume her and her once beautiful emerald eyes twitched with a red of rage and anger he'd never seen before tears beginning to consume her eyes, or the one eye that was exposed to him at the moment. He froze just staring at her in horror as the same distorted voice asked another question. "How could you give your heart to that PEASANT GIRL!?"

He stared at her in absolute fear as she growled like some wild animal at him, "W-WHAT?! You mean-...N-NO!! Nonono! You have it all wrong!" He held up the flowers with a strained scared smile. "I wasn't cheating on you! I would NEVER cheat on you! I was paying her and got you these! S-She grows the most beautiful flowers in the land, and you deserve no less than the best!"

"LIAR!!" The not-Vanessa shrieked like she was a banshee making him almost drop the flowers. "I SAW YOU HOLDING HANDS!! AND LAUGHING AT HER JOKES!! FUNNY HUH?! WELL I HOPE PLAYING ME FOR A FOOL WAS WORTH IT, PHILIP!! GUARDS!!"

As if being summoned out of thin air, two heavy footsteps of the iron dressed guards came stomping down the hallway and like an idiot he looked back to her with pleading eyes. "Vanessa! I wasn't I swear to you! I was merely paying her for the flowers n-not giggling at her jokes! AAH!!" He yelped in fright when he was suddenly surrounded. two giant armored arms snatched him and wouldn't let go!

She giggled without any humor. "Oh, Philip. You played me the fool for so long perhaps a punishment is in order for you. Take him to the celler and CHAIN HIM!!! I never want to see his face again.....And then seeze the florist. No crime against me shall go unpunished."

WHAT?! POPPY!! "W-WHAT?! VANESSA, PLEASE NO!!" Two arms latched onto him and no matter how much he kicked and struggled he couldn't get out of their grasp. The flowers dropped to the ground as he reached out for her one last time. Her tears forming deadly ice to match her cold heart. "P-PLEASE!! DON'T HURT HER!! SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!! VANESSA!! NOOOOO!!!"

He weeped and weeped when he was painfully suspended in the air by his wrists. The coldness taking over him as he hiccuped and mumbled to himself and choked on those tears. He didn't know how long he stayed down there actually. TIme flies when you couldn't see what was happening but he was sure he never stopped crying for all that time as he got weaker, and weaker. Just getting colder and colder as the cold seeped into his very core...he was almost gone. Looking back up towards the ceiling and through his tears he wondered what was going on up there. He couldn't hear anything but he hoped Poppy was alright. He'd never forgive himself if Vanessa did anything rash. He hiccuped. His beloved queen. This was all his fault.

"I-Im sorry. IM SORRY! IM SORRY!! IM SO SORRY!!" He yelled to the empty air knowing full well no one could hear him. But Vanessa was not the one he was apologizing to. The maiden of feiry red hair and ocean blue eyes. "I-Im s-so sorry, Poppy. *hic*"

The cold crept further and his body felt light, somehow his shadow was extending, his life force fading into it as those handsome brown eyes closed to the darkness and numbing-

"I-...love-..."

The shadows and darkness consumed him. The shadow enlarging and morphing and contorted into a being of power and enhanced abilities. A gasp escaped the creature as it looked down at itself. At the same time moonlight shown through the window and what was left of the prince and his willpower faded away into the moonlight, so when the creature looked behind it, the prince was gone from the chained wall. The prince with his heart split into two by his heart splitting between two and found attachment in two very powerful elements of dark and light. Moonshine and shadows. The creature looked down at his new self....feeling his grin widen and a powerful laugh that many would come to fear vibrating around the basement of his new found freedom.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!''

***************************************************************************************************************

"GAH!!"

Something wacked his head and he immediately jumped to the air. If he still had lungs he would probably be panting and looking around wildly around the room he was in. No cold walls caging him in. No coldness seeping into him. No Vanessa or chains or....Poppy. Instead a small pale little girl was staring up at him with concern as she watched his confused face darting around the area....He was on her ship. Her strange cute ship of the small seven year old in front of him. He had been laying on the pile of pillows she had and looking around the area as if he was afraid for a moment. Before he sighed in releif and reached up a clawed hand to rub at his head and hair. Staring down at the little girl standing upon the pile of pillows, holding one dangling in her hand, which he guessed must've been the thing that wacked. He sighed again and slowly lowered himself down look at her better.

"Kid. It's already pass your bedtime probably. What are you doing up?"

Her head tilted and those blue eyes blinked at him before a tiny hand reached out and poked his face where a nose should obviously be if he was human and he rose a brow. "Boop!"

"....Did you really just wack me with a pillow for THAT? Kiddo, you should really find better reasons to wake me up." Two clawed hands gently reached down and picked her up from under the arms. She dropped the pillow from her hold and instinctively wrapped her arms around him as he floated her back down to her bed, the covers were already pulled back from her getting up and her friend snored away happily on the floor next to her bed....He made a mental note to get her a bed sometime. Bow couldn't be expected to keep laying like that on the hard floor, he gently placed the young child on the bed and went to pull the covers back over her-

"You were mumbling something funny." She said making him stop and blink at her.

"Oh yeah?" She nodded. Dang nightmares. He barely had any, but he still got the occasional blast from the past. Wasn't being a cursed prince fun? He pulled the blankets up and she snuggled down with her stuffed toys he hand crafted for her. "And uh..What exactly did you hear me say?"

She shrugged again as she was recovered and he started tucking her in. "Your head was in the pillows." He went to roll his eyes when something grabbed onto his hand. And he looked at her wide excited smile spread across her face. "Can you tell me a story?"

"Squirt, I already read you the one you wanted with the space unicorns," he grumbled remembering the ridiculous book the girl begged him to read to her.

"Yeah. But I always sleep better with a story, and if I don't sleep I'll get up and bother you again." She gave him that cat lipped smug face and he groaned lifting a hand to rub his face and look down at the child in the bed. Before sighing and giving in. She was right. He'd done this too many times to not expect a sudden pillow attack from the hyper story deprived child.

"Fine." He turned back to the bookshelf by her bed and looked over the many childish covers. "Which one do you want now? Space Adentures? Starella? Planets and Star Maps?"

"Your story!"

He paused, and snapped his head to her wide eyed. "What?"

She giggled and turned to her side yawning a bit before speaking. "I want you to tell me one of your stories."

..."My stories eh?" She nodded and he hummed. That..wasn't a very good idea. All the books he read were either lawyer/law books (what better way to help make his contracts better) and scary or mysteries books that were uh...N-Not suitable for children her age lets say. Plus he didn't have any on him at the moment so he guessed he could just make one up? How hard could making up a story for a kid be. She'll fall asleep if he just told her a story about a talking flower making friends with a bumble bee. His hand reached up to rub at his head again before looking at her now clutching the C.A.W agent plus he made her after telling him her adventures in the movie studio. ..."Ok, Ok! I'll tell you one I witnessed a long time ago....In a book. But you gotta promise to go to sleep." She hummed 'Mmm-hmm' and smiled patiently at the ghost who groaned and rolled his eyes again. Why was he doing this?...Well he just had a nightmare about his death-again- and talking about it even twisting the details sounded nice. Not that he'd ever admit it to the little girl. "Once upon a time there was a beautiful flower Princess named Poppy, and a-"

"Pop? Why is she named after a soda?", the kid interrupted blinking confused and he scowled.

"Not 'soda pop'. Poppy. Poppy is a kind of flower on this planet, Kid. Now don't be a rude little lady and let me finish the story unless you want to be grounded from them." She shut up and curled back down into the covers to his satisfaction. "Good. Now like I was saying! There was a flower princess POPPY not soda pop, an evil which named....'Veronica', and a stupid, stupid king." She raised her hand like in a classroom. "....*sigh* Yes?"

"Why was he a stupid, stupid king?"

"You'll see. Now" He grabbed her lamp and pulled the shade off, letting more light flood everywhere and she blinked at the sudden brightness, which a snap of his powers shadows slithered up the wall and formed the outlines of three people. Two women with their dresses and one wearing a witch hat, and a man wearing a crown. They moved as he talked and she watched amazed. "You see. WAY, WAY back before your great granny was even born there was these three. Like I said the Flower Princess was very beautiful. Her hair was a rose red and her skin was as soft a-as their petals. She had the most wonderful patience listeningto her friend The Stupid King, and his p-problems...."His face saddened for a moment as the king and princess shadows held hands platonically...."B-But..she didn't know the king was in love with her. You see...He was too cowardly to tell her or anyone else because he was betrothed to the Evil witch Veronica-" ANother raised hand. "...Yes?"

"What does 'betoofed' mean?"

"Betrothed, Kid. Not betoofed. You know contracts right? How you legally have to follow them because you promised to?" She nodded. "Well basically means the Stupid King promised to marry the witch a long time ago."

..She cocked her head. "But he doesn't love her. That's not like Starella and the Milky Way Prince. They fell in love before they got married."

He chuckled. Even a seven year old could clearly see the stupid logic in arranged marriages and she didn't even comprehend them yet. And his situation, but he shrugged before making the king turn around and ....ECK!! Kiss the hand of the witch who looked like she was giggling. "Well, you're wrong. He DID love her. A long, long time ago before she became evil."

"Why didn't he break with her like in the movies?"

He shrugged. "Promises are sometimes h-hard to break for some people. And he still cared about her in some way, the witch was really, really pretty too, and I guess he just couldn't see past her beauty and wanted to try and make things right."

"That doesn't sound like a healthy relationship." She held up a hand in knowing. "Conductor always says*ahem*!!" She tried to do a bad impression of the old bird and he smiled. "Lassie! If ye ever get yerself whatever the aliens call a wife, at thee first sign of trrrrrouble ask 'er if she loves the money ya makes with mah' movies. If she says yas, she's a no good golddigger and leave before she takes ye kids and house and most of ye money too!!"

He laughed a couple times and Bow stirred in her sleeping bag. Not waking up but almost as he stared at the proud Hat child. "Well that's good advice kid. But she wasn't a golddigger-"....His face slowly contorted to a scowl and looked down. "She was in love with a fairytale. She loved the Stupid King for being like a King from a story. She never loved him for who he really was as long as her fairytale wasn't tampered with. She was clingy, selfish, nothing was never good enough unless it was expensive, and she demanded all his attention all the time. ....Until one fateful day-" He waved his three fingered hand at the shadows and it contorted until it showed the witch with slated eye holes and the king and princess holding hands....platonically of course. "The witch saw the King And Flower Princess holding hands...AS JUST FRIENDS." He stressed. "Nothing romantic. Just two friends holding hands for a little bit. And she got really, really jealous. In fact she got so jealous-" The shadows contorted to the king looking sad behind a cage. "-she blamed him for breaking her heart and locked him away forever. And then she-" The shadows again contorted to show the witch still angry and this time over a cauldron. "-cursed the Stupid King's and Princess's kingdoms. All the plants died, all the animals ran away, and everyone...." he couldn't say they froze to death! "..T-They moved on from there. But karma struck her good and-" She raised her hand again. "...What now?"

"What's 'karma'??"

"It means he got revenge. Justice? Whichever one you wanna call it." The shadows formed to show the king opening the door to the cage and running. "The Stupid King managed to escape and get free, but the Witch's spell backfired. She cursed herself too and was trapped forever in her home, the black magic keeping her inside the cave she dug, but it was too late. The Princess was gone and he never saw her again. The shadows formed one more image of the King holding a flower with his head down in shame."

"WHAT?!" Bow stirred again and Snatcher shushed her. "He never saw her again?" She asked more quietly. "But that's not fair! He loved her so much!"

He shrugged sadly and put the lamp shade back on, making the shadows disappear and he sighed, "It's not all bad. He's free and he got to go rule again without worrying without pleasing anyone else. Not all stories have a happy ending kid, even if it's half decent like this." He stared down to the floor with a frown...before reaching over and ruffling her hair which she giggled at. "It's also a very important lesson. Don't let yourself be blinded in bad situations and don't let someone use you like that. Ok?"

"I'm never gonna fall in love! Yuck!!" She stuck her tongue out and he smiled.

"Good, good. You don't need to fall in love when ...well you're stuck as a kid for all eternity with me now don't you?"

"NOPE!! I don't like that mushy stuff anyways!"

He smiled wider. "Good. Good. Now go to sleep. I need all the energy you can get to fix the well tomorrow."

She giggled again but yawned and slowly closed her eyes and snuggled back into the blackets. As he smiled he looked back to the giant windows, as he looked to the darkned and frozen abyss of the planet they were above a frown slowly returned to the ghostly prince's face as he slowly floated over to the window. Placing a cold hand to the cool glass and watching as it slowly ticked by and he sighed once again.

"Sorry, Princess. I had to be the stupid king to do that."

"Snatcher...I can't sleep. Can I have a glass of water?" The Kid's voice piped up again and he chuckled.

"Sure, kid."

[dramaqueeenamby]

Waves [drabbles]

A/N: Literally no one asked for this, but I’ve been writing random ass drabbles in between breakdowns for the past few days so I figured I’d share em. 

Warnings: None

Words: Your guess is as good as mine bruh

Only tagging a few of ya’ll :)

TAGS: @90sinspiredgirl @disneysdarlingdiva @chaddaddybose @ljstraightnochaser @letsshamelessqueen-m @yoyolovesbucky @amethyst-dreams-and-candy-canes @forbeautyandlife @amore-fiore @brittyevans

"Hello, Instagram people."

"Why do you always say that?"

"Say what?"

"Instagram people."

"Because they are the people of Instagram."

"You’re giving me a head-Chris, no!" Summer quickly went to close the bathroom door. "You asshole, I told you not to put me on!"

"Oh, come on," he laughed, standing outside the door as he flipped the camera back to selfie mode. "She’s a little shy."

"I’m not shy. I’m half naked, you moron!"

"Missed you too, baby." He laughed at the tremble of the door from her aggravated kick. "Come on, July, you look fine."

Summer opened the door, her hair pinned to the top of her head with a hair tie, towel wrapped around her body, and an Oatmeal mask on her face.

"Instagram people, Christopher is an asshole who forever keeps the toilet seat up on purpose."

"Lies. That was only one time."

"Yeah. Times fifty," Summer hissed, going back to her nightly routine. "And get that damn camera off of me, I’m not going to ask again."

Chris shook his head. "Do you all see how cruel she is to me?"

"I am not!"

"She’s a real-life bully. No one likes her on set. They’re all scared of her if you really want to know the truth."

"Yeah. Your ass is sleeping on the couch tonight."

His mouth dropped as he let out an elongated, "wow."

"This is why I like it better when you’re gone."

"Well. You heard it, everyone. She wants nothing to do with me. I guess I’m a single man now-"

"Don’t make me fight you."

"Always with the violence. Really, June, is all of this necessary?"

"Call me another damn month, and you’ll find out."

———

"You’re a very busy man."

"I am."

"Not too busy to make a child, apparently."

"Never too busy for that." He winked.

Ellen stiffed her laughter. "No, really though, congratulations. For those of you who live under a rock, Chris and his beautiful wife are expecting a baby, or, babies, really, this summer. " The audience clapped as a screenshot of Chris’s Instagram post confirming the pregnancy showed on the screen.

"There she is."

Ellen chuckled. "There she is indeed. Now she’s gone, right? She’s no longer doing press tours?"

"Yeah, she’s actually at the airport now. The doctors have advised against unnecessary traveling so any press stuff she does will be from home."

"Oh, how convenient," Ellen joked with a straight face as Chris played along.

"Same thing I said." He rubbed at his arm. "She’s very convincing if I’m being honest."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah? How so?"

"Well, you see the wedding band."

"So you’re saying she coaxed you into marrying her?"

"Shh. She has ears everywhere."

"More like I’m everywhere."

Chris turned around, the audience cheering as Summer walked onto the stage with her arms crossed.

"Honey."

"Nu uh. Don’t honey me now." Chris stood up, walking toward her, wrapping his long arms around her. "Finish what you were saying. I tricked you into marrying me-"

"And convinces Marvel to let me off of promo," Ellen chimed, earning a smile from Summer.

"This is why I love Ellen," she giggled, pushing her husband out of the way to hug the hostess before the three of them sat down.

"Did you miss your flight?" Chris asked, ignoring the side eye Summer was sending his way as he knew it was all in jest.

"Don’t try to be nice to me now."

"Okay. Wrong show guys. Dr. Phil is the next lot over." The couple shared a laugh. "So, you guys are having twins, a boy, and a girl, right?"

"Yes."

"How are you going to handle that?"

"Well, lucky I have experience with taking care of children," Summer joked, pointing to her husband before clearing her throat. "No, you know, I don’t know if it’s because I’m simplifying it way too much, but I’m-im nervous, but not as nervous as I thought I’d be."

"Really."

"Yeah, like you have to remember that I’m the youngest of five. Being the only girl in a house full of boys created some experiences that I think well-prepared me," she chuckled. "And Christopher is one of three, again, all boys, so we’re both kinda experienced.

"That’s right. Your brother, Liam, didn’t he throw a knife at you?"

"He did," Chris nodded slowly. "That’s why I threw the ax."

"Stop," Summer laughed, leaning into her husband. "No, I can’t talk. I use to chase my brothers around the house with a bat whenever they made me upset sooo."

Ellen gave a strained smile. "You are you two should be bringing children into the mix?"

"Of course, friendly sibling discourse is good for everyone. It builds character."

"Chris!"

———

"Hello, I’m Chris Hemsworth."

"And I’m Summer Jones Hemsworth, and we’ll be playing ‘how well do you know your significant other?’"

*clips of Summer and Chris joking around at the photoshoot before camera transitions to them sitting across from each other*

"Okay, first question," Summer wiggles her eyebrows, lifting the card so that she could read it. "What was the name of my first pet?"

"Winston. Winston the goldfish who only lived for one day because you overfed and killed him."

Her mouth dropped open. "Now see, no one even told you to say all of that."

"Well, it’s true. Don’t leave your family pets with this one, people. All Fish Go To Heaven is a real thing."

"Fu-"

"What is my favorite pastime activity?"

"Oh, that’s easy, surfing. Well,-" she paused. "Really anything that allows you to be put on the beach."

"Us. Anything that allows us to be out on the beach."

"Yeah," she lifted and rolled her eyes. "He’s always dragging me places with him. So needy."

"Oh hush, you love it."

"Yes, yes, of course," she mouthed ‘’no’ to the camera before shaking her head and going to the next question. "What are some things that help me when I’m not feeling well?"

"Uhhh," he closed one eye, trying to make sure he got it right. "Well, it depends. When you’re, ya know, on your-"

"Period. It’s okay, babe. You can say it."

"-it’s best to leave you the fuck alone for the first two days because you turn into a psychopath."

"He’s not even exaggerating, y’all. I’m either screaming or crying. There’s no in between."

"But when it’s just, ya know, a regular sickness, cold, or whatever, you like for me to lay in bed and cuddle with you."

"I do," Summer gleefully lifted her arms as she spoke in a soft voice. "He’s the best cuddle buddy ever."

"Just taking in all of those germs," he muttered and laughed as Summer's smile dropped. "It’s alright. I know you have no consideration for contamination."

"Con-"

"What’s my favorite color?"

"Oh, that’s easy, black." She turned toward the camera and winked. "Obviously."

As she shifted in her seat, her body con skirt moving up her legs, Summer caught her husband staring at her thighs, their eyes meeting as he winked. "Oh my god, next question, uhh, what’s my favorite movie?"

"You have like eighteen, but uhh, the three you watch almost every week: She’s All That, The Lion King, and Poetic Justice."

Summer groaned. "God, love you."

"I love you too, Heatwave."

"I am literally going to choke you in your sleep tonight."

"Ha. That’s cute. She thinks we’re actually going to get any sleep. Not with that skirt. Time for the Thorm children.“

"Christopher!

[cameronspecial]

Best Friend To Boyfriend

Pairing: Roommate!Tom Holland x Reader

Summary: Tom and (Y/N) have been absolutely in love with each other for years now, but they never got the courage to tell each other. (Y/N) can’t wait for Tom forever, so she has to move on. The only question is will Tom let her?

Word Count: 2 476

A/N: This is for @starksparker 10k Writing Challenge. Congratulations on getting 10k followers, you truly deserve all of them, and I hope you enjoy!

(Y/N) sat on the couch curled in her blankets watching the Shinning. She had come home from work and when she turned on the T.V. that is what was playing. She was not a fan of horror movies and she had no idea as to why she was watching this. She had turned off the lights for whatever reason, so when the lights suddenly turned on the girl practically jumped off of the couch. Here head turns towards the laughing that came from her best friend and roommate. “Love, I don’t understand why you are watching the Shinning? You hate horror movies!” Tom laughs as he comes to give her a hug. Tom couldn’t stop the flutter he felt in his heart when he sees his best friend curled up on the couch under some blankets. He had liked her since they were kinds, which he know people will say it’s cliché, but he couldn’t help who he fell in love with. But poor Tom thought that his feels will never be able to turn into a relationship. If only he knew that she felt the same way and thought the same thing, then they could be together. Unfortunately, the two weren’t so open about their feelings. “I don’t know. I can’t find the remote and I wanted to watch T.V.,” she informs him. Tom surveys the room and immediately finds the room, “Well I think you need glasses, love, because the remote is right there on the T.V. stand. I am going to go to my room, I have some work to finish. Will you be alright?” (Y/N) nods as her eyes stay glued to the T.V. and Tom heads to his room.

The only thought she had whilst she tried to sleep was that she should not have watched the Shinning. Every single sound made her fear for her life and think that an axe was going to break down her door at any second. (Y/N) couldn’t fall asleep, so she decides to go see if she can sleep with Tom tonight. Since they have been friends since they were younger she has always felt safe with Tom. She quietly knocks on the door, but she doesn’t get a reply so she decides to go in any way. Tom was fast sleep on his comfy bed. His soft curly hair resets softly on his forehead and light snoring is the only thing that could be heard. Tom awakes when he felt the other side of the bed dips. His eyes flutter open to see that (Y/N) was getting into bed with him. “(Y/N), what’s wrong? Are you all right?” Tom worries. (Y/N) nods her and just cuddles into him, “I can’t sleep. I don’t think I should have watched The Shinning. Can I sleep with you tonight?” Tom sighs in relief that she was okay and just nods his head. He wraps his arms around her waist and brings her closer to his chest. As soon as her head rests on his chest, she falls asleep right away. Tom, however, didn’t fall back asleep again for a little while. He looks down at her and smiles softly. “I will always be here for you. I will always protect you. And I will always love you even if you don’t love me back,” he whispers as he gives her head a kiss and is finally capable of following asleep.

Tom wakes up and he is just in a state of pure bliss. (Y/N) was still asleep on his chest and she looks so peaceful. He wished he could wake up like this every day and he wished he could stay in that moment for just a few more minutes, but unfortunately, duty calls and he has to get out of bed. He slowly gets out of bed and places a pillow under her head. He gives her a light kiss on the head and goes to get ready for work. It kills him that he has to leave her, but he needs to go to work. (Y/N) wakes up all in Tom’s bed. She checks the time to see that it was 10 am, so Tom must be at work right now. She had the day off today and she decided that she should do some cleaning since it was her turn. She didn’t tell Tom, but she was going on a blind date tonight. She thought that if she told him then she would be cutting off any chances she had left of being with him. She had her hair up in a messy bun and she was wearing one of her favourite shirts of Tom’s that he lets her wear to sleep.

She was loading the laundry into the washer when she hears the front door of their apartment open. Tom was not supposed to be home yet, so she feels a wave of panic overcome her. “(Y/N), I am here,” Harrison calls out as he looks for her. She sighs in relief as she remembers that she asked her other best friend, Harrison, to help her clean up the apartment so she could get ready for her date earlier. Harrison was the middleman in their friendship. He knows that Tom likes her and that she likes him. Harrison had always tried to encourage his friends to reveal their feelings for the other, but they were always too scared of ruining what they had. Harrison finds the young woman in the laundry room and goes to sit on the dryer. “Why am I helping you again?” Haz questions her. “Because I need to finish all the chores early so I can go on my blind date that my mom set up. You know it’s my turn to do them,” she retorts. Harrison frowns at her in confusion, “Why are you going on a date when you are in love with Tom?” (Y/N) shakes her head as she throws some more clothes into the washer. “Because I need to move on. He only sees me as a friend and I need to accept that,” she sighs. “I think you should just tell him. You can never know what he is thinking unless you ask,” he advises. She closes the washer and just shakes her head, “I don’t want to ruin our friendship. Now, get your tushie off of the dryer and go vacuum while I dust.” Harrison listens to her and starts vacuuming.

Once they finished cleaning, (Y/N) asked Harrison to stay and help her get ready for her date. Haz could have told her to wear the less flattering outfit, but he was her best friend as well and it would be unfair to choose to favour one of them over the other. When she was done getting ready, Harrison thought that she looked absolutely stunning and that any man would think so as well. Poor Tom, Haz thought. Tom came home around the same time that (Y/N) was going to leave. Tom unlocks the door to see that (Y/N) was putting on her shoes, “Oh, hey, (Y/N). Where are you going so dressed up?” (Y/N) looks up at Tom after she got her shoes on and straightened out her dress. Tom looks her up and down and he was absolutely speechless with how beautiful she looks. The tank top dress was a made out of lace and was a nice raspberry red. It hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was braided to the side over her shoulder and her makeup was a natural look except for her lips which were a ruby red. Hanging from her neck was a small fake diamond ring that she used to wear when she was younger and had put it on a chain to wear around her neck.

“Her mom set her on a blind date,” Harrison responds for her. Tom’s face turns into a frown as he processes what Harrison said. Tom didn’t know what he thought would happen if he never told (Y/N) he loves her. He just always thought that maybe she would just wait for him forever or at least until he gets the courage to ask her out. Before Tom could say anything else, (Y/N) waves goodbye and she is off to her date. “Why is she going on a date?” Tom asks Harrison. “Because she wants to date to try to find a meaningful romantic relationship. Did you expect her to never go on a date again? You don’t have the balls to ask her out and she can’t wait for you forever,” Harrison answers. Harrison was right, (Y/N) couldn’t wait for Tom forever, but somewhere in the back of his mind he always hoped she would. Then everything he dreamed of with (Y/N) flashes before his eyes, but soon they start to change. Tom was no longer the man with (Y/N), but instead, the future he dreamed of was being lived by another man. Tom couldn’t let that happen; he had to disrupt her date and tell her he loves her. He couldn’t wait anymore. “I have to go,” Tom yells as he flings the door open again and runs to his car. Harrison didn’t have time to ask what Tom was doing, he had his suspicions though. Harrison laughs at his friend because Tom had no idea where he was going.

Tom soon realizes he has no idea where she went for her date, so he quickly calls Harrison and finds out where she is. Tom jumps out of his car after parking the car and sees that (Y/N) is at the window with her date. Her date was handsome and he was able to make her laugh, that made Tom worry that it really was too late. She found the person she wants to be with. (Y/N) sits across from Jordan as he tells her the story about how he had to run across a football field naked in the middle of the night. She wouldn’t deny that Jordan was handsome, sweet, and funny. However, Tom was still in her mind. She sees someone at the window of the restaurant out of the corner of her eye. She averts her eyes fully to the person and realizes that it was Tom. What was he doing here, she thought?  “Excuses me, I need to make an important call,” she excuses herself from the table. Jordan nods his head and stands up from his chair as well. “Yeah, of course. I hope you don’t mind, but I am going to head to the restroom,” he says.

“What are you doing here?” she interrogates. Tom takes a deep breath and lets it all out, “I know I have the worse timing ever, but I need you to know this. I love you, (Y/N) (Y/M/N) (Y/L/N), and I don’t want to keep it in anymore!” (Y/N) shakes her head although this was what she always wanted to hear; he was doing it at the wrong time. Before he could say anything else, she cuts him off, “Tom, I am on a date.” “I know, I know. I just need you to know that I love you. I love the way that you are kind to everyone. I love that you want to truly make the world a better place. I love when you bite your lip because you are nervous or concentrating. I love when you put your hair in a messy bun with one of my shirts on and dance around our apartment with your music blasting because you think no one is home. I love how great you are with kids and my family. I love everything about you. The one thing I hate about you is how much I love you. Please, just give us a chance and if it doesn’t work then you can go back to him.” Tom had finally declared his love for (Y/N) and he was terrified. (Y/N) didn’t know what to say. She finally got to hear what she always wanted to hear and she knew had to take the opportunity. Words wouldn’t be enough to show how she feels, so she did the first thing that came to mind. She ran to him and jumped; she wraps her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, then she smashes their lips together.

Tom kisses back immediately while wrapping his arms around her waist for support. Tom runs his tongue along her bottom lip asking for entrance and she lets him have it. The kiss was heaven on Earth and neither of them wanted to stop. The sparks coming from the both of them must have been too hot for the universe because it started raining. Even though they didn’t want to they had to pull away for air. They press their foreheads together and giggle. “This is so cliché,” (Y/N) laughs. Tom just smiles at her and give her a quick peck on the lips again, “I don’t care. I would do every romantic cliché for you if it would make you happy.” Someone coughs behind them, which causes both of them to look back to see Jordan standing there awkwardly. (Y/N) quickly remembers why she was here in the first place and she unwraps her legs from Tom’s waist. “Jordan, I am so sorry. Now, I feel horrible. I honestly didn’t know this would happen. It’s just-” she tries to explain, but Jordan interrupts her. “You don’t have to explain. I heard everything. You two really are meant to be. Your mom has talked about you two and how neither of you would tell each other that you liked the other person. You seemed like such an amazing person, you are, I just really wanted to meet you even if I knew you were in love with someone else. I just hope we can be friends because you truly are a kind person, and maybe I can talk about this moment at your wedding. I’ll leave you two alone, goodbye.” (Y/N) and Tom watch as Jordan walks to his car. She was a little shocked by his response, but she was glad that he was okay with it and still wanted to be friends.

The both of them were soaked because of the rain and they were freezing. Tom takes off his leather jacket and wraps it around her shoulder as he pulls her into his side. “Let’s go home, my love. I’ll make hot chocolate with whip cream and marshmallows then we can cuddle up on the couch and watch whatever movie you want with some pizza,” Tom suggests while he leads her into his car. She walked into the restaurant, so they didn’t have to worry about her car. She puts her head on his should and smiles, “I would love that. You know me so well.”

Permanent Taglist:  @tmrhollandkay  @embrace-themagic @whereartthouwakanda @smexylemony @bookgirlunicorn

[lapinbunwrites]

His Last Breath

The end of the war was drawing a close. But there was a couple of things standing, King Garon was one of them. Everyone was tired and near death. Elise and Sakura were trying their best to heal the wounded. It became exhausting for everyone. They could only think of what would come of the next battle. Garon made a a gurgling laugh, seeing that everyone in so much pain and discomfort. The Nohr royal family couldn't believe what the man had become, especially Xander.

For him, he changed so much, so very much. When he was younger, when his mother was still alive, he was such a kind benevolent man. When he wasn't being a king, he devoted all of his time him and his mother. He was such a caring man. Whenever when they were in public Garon was overly doting, overly gushing towards Katerina. She was his everything, his world. The people loved Katerina, but not as much as his father. But, alas, he was empty, hollow, a puppet now.

"Must....Kill you," Garon gurgled. It sounded different. "So...much...pain," flowed out of his mouth as he swung at his youngest child. Xander rushed towards Elise and took the blow for her. It knocked him off his horse and he laid on the floor. He saw the axe his father held come towards him, but he didn't care if he were to die from it. His world was already shattered. Sakura took her bow and shoot at the sludge monster that once was a human. She was able to shoot him in the hand, which led him to drop his weapon. Camilla then came swooping down from the air and cut her father. He moved backwards the more hits he took from his own children.

Ryouma rushed over to him, grabbing him so he could rush him over to their sisters. Takumi grabbed his horse and moved him to the four. He laid there as his younger sister and the Hoshidian Princess healed him. "Kat...eri...na..." Garon gurgled out. As soon as he heard those broken words, he laid in disbelief. He didn't think his father ever remembered that name, or who she was. "Mother," he slowly said. Years and years he went without saying that word. No one could ever replace her, no one. To him, hearing his father say his mother's name felt hallow and meaningless.

At the worst possible time, Xander started to think, think about a time when the three were still together, when they were still a family. This memory he was remembering was the time when his father took him and his mother on a picnic in the forest that was near the castle. His father was really nervous, a bit quiet. That was unusual for him, it concerned his mother so much. Once they got to the destination, Garon had surprised Katerina with a garden of flowers. It wasn't big, but it made her happy, very happy. His father was able to take care of the flowers in the harsh lands of Nohr. It truly surprised her.

They sat in the small garden and ate their food, but Garon still spoke little words. Xander wasn't really paying attention to him being nervous, he was able to spend time with man he looked up to and the mother that he cared so much for. In that memory, Xander remembered that Garon proposed to Katerina, again. He knew that they had been married for only a little while, about ten years, and had their son only five years later, but he wanted to do something romantic and renew their wedding vows. Katerina gladly accepted it, she absolutely loved the idea.

Xander slowly got up, trying not to show that he was still hurt. The others were begging him not to fight anymore, he should rest. They needed him for the last battle. He limped over to his father, grabbing his sword along the way. Laslow protested him to stay back, he couldn't bear to lose him. Luckily for him, Garon was distracted by Camilla, Leo, Nyx, and Hinoka and luckily for him, he was behind him, in his blind spot. That didn't last for long though, Garon viciously turned around, hitting Xander, making him fly a few feet. The Monster King looked at him and recognized someone else that wasn't him. "Kat...eri..na....I...m.....so..rr..y..." he gurgled.

The curly blonde gripped his sword tightly and used it to get him back onto his feet. He became angry when he was called Katerina, even by his own father. Xander used the last bit of his strength to rush towards his father and stab him in his heart. The grey mush started to flow to the ground. Garon held onto his eldest son and smiled a smile that he couldn't see. He then fell to the ground, but Xander was able to catch him and he was able to lay him down. "My...son, My Little Prince," he whispered. "My Sweet Little Prince, is that you," he asked.

Xander was in shock. His father hasn't heard that fall out of his mouth in so long. "Father, yes, it's me. Your Brave Little Prince," he replied. Garon smiled a sweet, kind, genuine smile. He reached his hand up to his son's cheek. Xander put his hand on his and let it tenderly sit on his face. "I'm so sorry, for the pain I have caused you. I must have been a terrible father, to you, and your siblings," he said, softly. "Your mother, Katerina, My Sweet Queen Katerina, I loved her very dearly. I wanted to stay with her forever." His voice started to become shallow and broken. Xander knew that he was being genuine and sincere.

"Your mother...She was very dear to me...Don't let anyone....tell you otherwise," he said. "Xander," he added as his hand slowly losing grip. "Father," Xander asked, trying not tear up. It was the first time in forever since his father acted like this. "Know...that I...love...you," he said. His voice then became quieter. "Katerina...My Sweet Queen...I'm on...my...way," he said, breathing his last. Xander closed his father's eyes and started to softly cry. "I love you too father. Please tell mother I love her and that I'm doing well," he whispered. "Tell her that I'm proud to be your son," he added as he laid him fully on the ground. Xander looked at his father one last time before he went to prepare for the final battle. "I will see you soon. Goodbye."

------------------------------------------------------

I've been wanting to do this for ages. How Garon died in Revelations pissed me off. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I was really hoping that the armies would fight Garon in this one and then maybe get eaten when Anankos got irritated with him because he was a useless puppet. I don't know, so I wrote this. Is it touchy feely. I can't tell.

[bewareofchris]

@chamiryokuroi, i have so many feelings and so few of them are good that i almost don’t want to go into it on the internet.  but,

(This turned into a dissertation) OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE INFINITY WAR SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT.

first off let me say that I walked into this movie with the expectation that marvel was going to behave in a predictable marvel way.  and what exactly is a predictably marvel way to act?

Cap is the Hero, Tony tries but fails, Thor can’t understand that reference but he’s super powerful, for reasons unknown powers that worked yesterday fail today, a critical part of the plot hinges upon a relationship or a decision that the audience hasn’t had enough time to form a bond with and so the critical emotional peak of the movie falls flat

so what happened in Infinity War?

Lets get started by saying that I don’t honestly care if Loki dies, but I am 100% disappointed that he didn’t have a better plan, more action or a real shot at doing anything.  I mean.  This little shit is basically a cockroach that’s been alive forever and he’s done all kinds of shit in that time but the BEST IDEA he had was to try to stab Thanos right in his stupid face?  

I see that the Bifrost works however it wants now.  Good to know.  

WOULD YOU FUCKING MAKE UP YOUR FUCKING MIND ABOUT TONY FUCKING STARK’S GLOWING FUCKING CHEST MY DUDE.

Look, I don’t think its a leap for Tony to wear nanobots and a hoodie that turns into a suit.  I think that’s 100% in character, but Marvel you’re a bunch of morons that took the shiny thing out of Tony’s chest several movies ago you can’t just show up now and act like that didn’t happen because he looks better with it.  This is like 0% relative and 100% nitpicky but it’s part of a greater Marvel Realized That Was Silly So They Changed It and Acted LIke We Wouldn’t Notice issue.

Bruce exists in this movie basically as a cheap joke and a town crier.  THANOS IS COMING, THANOS IS COMING.  Its like someone in the group writer meeting was like: dude, the Hulk is too much.  We’ve literally seen the Hulk take on everything.  We’ve established he’s undefeatable.  We can’t go back now.  How are we going to deal with the Hulk being a thing?  And the guy sitting next to him, balancing a pencil on his nose was like IDK what if we just like, inexplicably and for no reason we ever need to explain, make the Hulk not show up?  What if the Hulk gets hurt or scared by Thanos?  And he doesn’t show up?  OH DUDE then Bruce can use an Iron Man suit and we’ll do the trailers and make it look like the whole group is there!  

You know else is too fucking powerful to let loose too early in the movie?  Thor.  You know they did this in Age of Ultron too, they were like: lets give him a vision of Ragnorok and send him to a sparkle pool to take his shirt off and see things, so he could not be present when Cap was fighting Ultron.  Here they send him off with a Rabbit (this genuinely amused me no lie) and Groot.  And Thor speaks Groot.  A language he learned in high school.  He’s 1500 years old.  How does he remember high school Groot?  but that’s not important, what is important is that he’s off on a side quest waking up some dead star to forge some Thanos-killing weapon because as we see in the final battle as soon as Thor shows up looking hella fine, the show is basically over.

COULD SOMEONE PLEASE SLAP THE FUCK OUT OF STEVE GOD DAMN ROGERS.  Look, I understand that its upsetting when someone randomly suggests that killing themselves is the only way to save the planet but Rogers, if you aren’t the single most annoying hypocrite that ever walked the earth.  (At least the movie did point this out.  At least it did that.)  “We don’t trade lives?”  FUCK YOU STEVE.  It was ONE FUCKING LIFE versus HALF THE FUCKING UNIVERSE.  Everyone can do that math.  One Life < Half the Universe.  SEE, THE OPEN MOUTH GOES TOWARD TEH BIGGER NUMBER YOU SANCTIMONIOUS FUCK.

Honestly, Steve at the end, collapsing as he said ‘oh God’ is the only part of the entire MCU wherein Steve seems to sort of grasp that just because he wants the world to work a certain way doesn’t mean it will.  I hate to be a petty bitch but I’m 100% okay with everyone dying because at least Captain Fucking Rogers was wrong AND THE STORY CANNOT DENY IT.

This is going out of order, I’m sorry.

Lets talk about Thanos.  I actually liked Thanos.  I bear him no ill will.  He’s completely insane, but he’s doing what he thinks must be done for the greater good.  (*COUGH* THE SAFEST HANDS ARE STILL OUR OWN */COUGH*)  He is consistently insane which is nice.

but honestly.  I mean, honestly, if this bastard was this set on doing this shit and this capable of it, why the fuck didn’t he show up earlier?  Was it because he didn’t know where all the stones were?  I feel like it’s been a couple of movies now that he should have known where most of them were?  Why not collect them one at a time?  Why not send out his assortment of assassins to collect them individually?  He could have gotten all of the not-earth stones and then shown up to the party like HAHA BITCHES GUESS WHO THE FUCK I AM and 0 people would have known.

but this way is good too.  I guess.

This plot hinges entire on a string of inconveniences.  If not for bad timing, this series of events would not have unfolded in this way.  I try not to get bitchy about conveniences because things happen in real life that would seem a lot like the cosmic writer whose dictating our lives never took a writing class, BUT if it progresses your story and makes things easier for you (the writer) to accomplish what the plot (and not necessarily the characters) needs/wants to happen next it’s lazy.

The iris mechanism breaking?

Thanos having already found the reality stone?

Gamora secretly being the only thing he loves?

Nebula only escaping after it’s too late?

Cap’s abilities being literally ‘whatever the story needs, is he mortal, is he not?’

Bruce and Hulk’s domestic issue

Dr. Strange apparently being able to not only tolerate 14 million alternate futures but also remember them with enough confidence to make decisions for everyone without consulting them

Everything that happened when Quill found out about Gamora

The end part where the axe to the chest didn’t stop Thanos

the convenient core-member survival of the Avengers

I truly believe in my heart that Marvel decided to kill Black Panther before they realized how popular that movie and character would be and fuck them.  

While we’re at it.  Fuck them for that whole thing.  Like I get that T’Challa was leading his people, but the movie is framed in a way where he’s kind of an afterthought?  

They definitely underestimated him, that’s all I’m saying.  And Shuri.

THEY MISUSED THEM.  THEY DID NOT TREAT THEM FAIRLY.

Look, I love Tony and I”m super happy that the MCU finally, finally stopped treating him like he was insane.  Don’t get me wrong here, having Thanos show up and having Tony be like I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS is great.

What’s not great?  Is the fact that Tony who literally has been waiting for this this whole time suddenly had very little back up plan?  He had enough time to send Peter Parker a suit but he didn’t have a trove of alternate suits, or weapons, or anything that he could have sent along with it?  I know he had a few minutes to think but ALIENS ARE INVADING IS LITERALLY THE THING HE’S BEEN FRETTING ABOUT SINCE AVENGERS 1.

I’m just saying, they could have had him be slightly more prepared.  

Having said that, Tony was amazing.  

One of the best parts of the movie is that twenty seconds where it looks like he’s having a stroke when he realizes he’s working with idiots.

WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU LET THEM GET THE GAUNTLET OFF IF YOU WERE JUST GOING TO HAVE QUILL FREAK OUT?

No I’ll tell you.  Because it’s Marvel.  

Honestly that fight V. Thanos in space was amazing.  10/10.  Until Quill.

I have never been more furious about anything in my life than I was about Thanos trying to smash Steve Rogers into the ground and being unable to.  Like, even his face seemed to be conveying some kind of ‘what is this bullshit happening before me’ 

(IS HE MORTAL?  IS HE NOT?)

I also hated Steve’s shields, but I appreciate that they went with a pointy design so that he could more directly murder his helpless victims in combat.  Someone needs to introduce Steve to Jeff Goldblum because I feel like he’d either invite Cap to join the harem or the gladiators or both and it would be glorious either way.

Gamora’s death shouldn’t have won the soul stone because Thanos is a piece of shit.  He’s nuts.  The Soul Stone should have just thrown her back up there while laughing hysterically something like “AHAHAHA MY MAN, YOU’RE A PSYCHO, HAHAHA, YOU DON’T LOVE ANYTHING.”

That moment when you realize that if even one thing had changed in this movie the entire sequence of events would collapse.  That moment.

Also, how the living fuck did Tony live through getting impaled?  How?  HOW.

Dr. Strange: LET TONY LIVE Thanos: like, aren’t you a medical doctor? Dr. Strange: yes, but that’s not important Thanos: I’m not a medical doctor, like I’m just a crazy man, but he is definitely definitely dead. Dr. Strange: ok, yes, but. Thanos: no wait, I’m just--you’re really going to give up the time stone, a stone that as of this moment is basically impossible to get off you, just because you want Tony to live?  He’s definitely going to die.  I stuck this whole sharp thing through him. Dr. Strange: I KNOW IT SEEMS UNLIKELY BUT ROBERT DOWNEY JR SELLS MOVIES, OK.  HE’S ADORABLE. Thanos:  ...whatever dude.  Give me the green glowy thing

NO HUMAN BEING CAN COMPREHEND 14 MILLION ANYTHINGS.   This isn’t a number people can relate to.  It’s meaningless.  Why do all these movies have to overact?  Lets blow up a whole planet, lets kill half the universe, lets act like a human mind can comprehend 14 million alternate timelines

The fanservice in this movie was incredible.  Like, I’m now convinced there’s a whole team of interns at Marvel scouring the internet for more jokes.  

“Hey boss, they seem to think Rocket trying to steal Bucky’s arm would be hilarious.  So should we do that?” “GREG MY BOY WHAT A FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC IDEA.”

I loved Tony’s whole outfit.  I loved the nano bots.  I even loved at the end when he was running out and he had to redistribute them.  It was amazing

“Home” says Steve Fucking Rogers, the international war criminal that was like ‘but he’s my friend’.  BITCH THAT ISN’T YOUR HOME.

I’m actually 100% furious just at the fact that Rhodey who supported the accords immediately didn’t give one fuck about them as soon as it was convenient to want to be on Cap’s side instead.  I’m FURIOUS that the Accords didn’t matter.  They never did, but the fact that Rhodey was the last man standing that believed in them and he handwaved that shit away as soon as he laid eyes on Steve’s gruff unshaven face, its just like getting kicked in the nuts.

I just looked it up apparently Black Panther and Infinity War were filmed back to back which meant that Marvel had 0 idea how well Black Panther would do in theaters and honestly that must have been why they were like “ah yes you guys remember T’Challa?  Well. basically he just gives Steve some shields and that’s fucking it.”

(I know he did more than that, but he was still treated like a convenient secondary character who had convenient abilities, like Groot who couldn’t be bothered to do anything until someone needed an axe handle.)

C O M M U N I C A T I O N.  It really could have solved so many things. Dr. Strange: 14 million alternate futures Tony: cool.  how many did we win? Dr. Strange: 1. Tony: wait what?  TELL ME EXACTLY WHO DID WHAT Dr. Strange: I’m sorry I can’t just tell you the plot I’m not Mark Ruffalo.

Peter Parker did break my heart.

this is just personal preference but since I don’t find Chris Pratt funny at all, basically all the minutes that were put into his character were wasted on me

This movie cannot stand on it’s own.  That’s not a negative.  You don’t go see a movie like Infinity Wars if you haven’t already spent the last decade on the others leading up to it.  

but, my dudes, you did not set up Wanda/Vision well enough.  And so much emphasis was put on this.  SO MUCH.  She’ll have to destroy him, it’ll have to be her.  Ok.  Cool.  So lets get to it.

I may be heartless.

Gamora crying when she though she’d killed Thanos felt more authentic than Wanda’s entire crisis about Vision.

But, hey, I’m sure in the next one they’ll do something stupid as fuck that’ll make the emotional punch of this movie completely fucking worthless.

[mcsmlightnings]

Chapter 5. Not alone.

I cut down anoter birch and took some birch wood blocks, two saplings and even an apple. I looked at the fruit, fighting desperation to eat it. But I was not allowed to eat anything exept that one loaf of bread they gave me every evening. So I sighed and put all the drop in a small chest behind me. Yeah, even although I had been cutting these stupid trees down, I had never kept any drop. Four guars, who surrounded me, watched my every move, ready to attack if I do something that is considered to be dangerous. But, of course, I didn't even try to. What was the point?

Suddenly I saw something moving behind a tree, not so far from me. I only mentioned it moving, but had no idea about what it was. Probably, another hallucination.

I've been imprisoned for almost a year, and my mental health was really unstable. Througout this time I had been having nightmares and hallucinations, as well as fear of darkness, which somehow became stronger, than ever before. However, no one cared. To everybody I was just an imprisoned villain, who would take every opportunity to escape. To be honest, there were times when I actually thought about escaping.

Probably if I were braver, I would have at least tried to. So what stopped me? My fricking cowardice. Oh, yeah, I was so scared to even try! I knew that I wouldn't be able to live behind the bars much longer, but at least now I was alive. This was the main reason I begged Jesse to take me with him, wasn't it?

I shook these thoughts off and continued cutting the trees down. Then I suddenly felt someone watching be and turned around, only to be met with sharp blades near my chest. But then... Then I saw someone else.

They stood near a small lake, in the shadow of a huge oak. I couldn't see their face or even recognise the gender of this person since they wore a black cape and a black hood, hiding their body. The next moment they just disappeared, like there was nobody even close to that spot!

- What are you looking at? - One of the guards asked.

- There was a person. There, near that lake!

Then a few things happened in the same moment. Two of my guards turned around but weren't fast enough to see anybody. John, strong bald guard with dark skin and gray eyes, punched me in my stomack. I fell on the ground, groaning in pain.

- Why?! - I looked up and froze, seeing four sharp blades pointing directly at me. - Wh...What have I done?!

- Try lying to us one more time, criminal, and you will rot in your smelly cell forever! - John should, grabbing my forearm and pulling me on feet. - Now grab your little axe and cut all these trees down, or else.

I had no need to be reminded of my powerless-ness. But even when I quetly obeyed and continued working, I couldn't forget that figure. I was sure it wasn't just a plot of my imagination - they felt so real! And, yeah, their non-human speed and reaction were creepy, but what actually freacked me out was the fact that whoever they were, they were watching me. I mean, my brain wasn't so damaged it created such a good hallucination. It wouldn't be possible... Would it?

One good thing about community service - after few months you learn to ignore these hours of doing stuff. That was what happened: suddenly I realised it was almost sunset. So I finished with the last oak, put all the drop in the chest and closed my eyes, breathing freely. Man, I love sunsets! Then I turned to my escort and held out my wrists. The cold metallic cuffs wrapped around and I felt somebody's grip on my forearm. Without waiting for an order to move, I started walking towards the prison. Just another day in this world. I got used to beeing a prisoner, I just wished I could see Maya and Gill more often. I hadn't talked to them since the court but I knew they had to show people crafting recipies.

- Stop! - I suddenly heard and my instincts made me obey.

I turned around and saw another guard, Harry. And he was furious - his fingers were flenched into fists, his brown eyes shot lightings.

- Is something wrong? - One of my guards, Robert asked. I wasn't allowed to talk, so I kept my mouth shut.

Harry walked to me, almost growling. Okay, now I was a little bit freaked out. Everyone on the meadow, which was chosen to be the center of the new-born town, turned around.

- Now you are going to tell me where they are, and I will let you live your pathetic life, understand?

All right, now it was my turn to talk.

- I'm sorry, but what are you talking about?

Instead of answering me, Harry punched me in the face. Long imprisonment did its job - my reaction became worse and I couldn't duck. I fell on the ground and felt blood in my mouth. Then somebody grabbed me and pulled on my feet, only to push me into some wall. Harry pressed his sword against my throat, making it hard to breathe.

- One more chance, criminal! Where did you hide them?

I struggled to get away from this madman when I heard familiar furious voice. Harry stepped away and I fell on the ground. I wasn't able to stand up since my hands were still cuffed but then I felt somebody pulling me up. Harry held my forearm tightly, spreading the pain through my body.

- What in a world is going on here?! - The Founder asked, walking to us.

- Ma-am, this prisoner stole the apples!

Wait, what?

- He did what? - Milo asked, standing near the Founder.

- No, no I didn't! - I tried to answer but Harry punched me again.

- Today he was cutting the trees down and putting the drop into the chest. There also were some apples, but when we were sorting the drop we found none!

Alright, now I was scared and confused. I remembered some apples that I'd got from trees but was sure I'd put them in the chest.

- That's impossible, - I gasped. - I put everything I got into the chest!

- Shut up! - Harry shouted right into my ear. - You stole them!

- Aiden, you better confess now. - The Founder demanded.

- But I didn't do anything! - I was almost crying.

Milo sighed and looked at Harry.

- Empty his inventory.

The guard gladly followed the order only to find out I had nothing. But this didn't stop him from framing me.

- Of course he doesn't have them with him. Because he ate them!

- No, no-no-no, I didn't! - Of course, nobody listened to me. - I was watched all day, I wouldn't have time to!

- How about the time when you distracted the guards and tried to escape? - John came closer.

- It-It lasted barely a few seconds! And there-there was a person! And I didn't try to escape, honestly!

The Founder looked at me with hate and disgust. Then she looked at Harry and John.

- Throw him in his cell. I'll talk to him later.

My eyes widened as I tried to say something, but guards started dragging me away, cleary not caring if they hurt me.

- No, wait, please, stop! - I screamed. - Please, wait, I didn't do anything! No no no, come on, please!

But they didn't listen. They punched me with a lot of force and threw me in my cell.

- I think you've had enough food for today. - Spitted Harry.

They left me, slamming the door behind them. I was crying, my tears mixed with my blood.

- No no no no no! - I whispered with my shaking voice. It was hard to breathe, I could feel my crazy heartbeat in my toes. I heard unnatural, imaginary voices in my head and I screamed, trying to save myself from this insanity.

- Shut up, shut up, shut up!

I stood up and started hitting the wall. Scarlet blood poured from my wounded fists and head, it was everywhere. I fell on the cold floor, and started rolling, wanting these voices to get away. Suddenly everything stopped. I slowly sat and started shaking, my clothes were wet because of my tears, sweat and blood.

- Make it end. - I begged.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

- Aiden, man, it'll be alright.

I looked around the room but there was nothing. Was I going out of my head?

- We're here, boss.

Only one person I knew called me like that. I tried to stand up but failed and collapsed on the floor.

- Over here, Aiden.

I crawled to the wall that seperated me from the other Blaze Rods. Could it be?

- M-Maya? Gill? - I whispered. Oh, please, let them be real!

- It's us, boss. - Gill's voice was silent.

I weeped some tears and blood from my face.

- But... But how?

- Gill has been trying to make a hole in this wall since we were thrown here. - Maya answered. - There're no guards here at night, so we can talk. We... We are sorry about what happenned, Aiden. But we are here for you.

I couldn't bare it and started crying again. Leaning against the wall. After everything I've done they still were here.

- Even... Even after all these times you've suffered because of me?

- Always. - Maya's and Gill's voices sounded as one.

[josai]

we’ll take the best parts of ourselves and make them gold

Read on AO3 | Chapter 1 of 6 | a collaboration with @frenchibi

Tooru has a dream.

It’s been with him for as long as he can remember, really - the beginnings of it aren’t clear in his mind, hazy like so many childhood memories become with time, but he knows the thought it was born from, because it’s a thought that governs most of his choices.

He remembers running through fields of gold, remembers laughter and stories, shared and discarded in equal parts in days that seemed endless, in limitless hope and wide-eyed wonder, in excitement and opportunities.

He remembers wooden swords and shields, carved carefully by a man he loved like his own father - gifts that fueled dreams.

But most of all, he remembers warmth - and a face, clear as day, to go with the feeling of a hand holding his. A face, a grin, toothy and wide, freckles like stars.

“When I grow up, I’m going to be a knight!”

He remembers listening, with bated breath, to this boy’s stories of grand adventure, and to his promises. We’ll go there, together!

It’s a dream, yes, but it’s also a decision, when they beg their parents for permission to leave.

It’s a long ride away, and the choice of a lifetime. It means never look back, it means know who you are and remember where you came from.

It means goodbye, maybe forever, to the rolling hills they called home.

“I just wish you’d let me keep you a little while longer,” is what his mother says. There’s sadness in her eyes, but hope in her voice. Tooru will learn, later, that she always knew she would have to let go. That her son would always strive for greater things, bigger things, larger than her life could provide.

When his journey begins, Tooru isn’t afraid. He’s got a hand clasping his and a dream in his heart, and enough determination to carry him there.

He knows it won’t be easy - but he’s never alone.

-

The days are long and grueling.

Tooru strains muscles that he never even knew that he had, learning how to fight; how to handle a sword, shield, and a spear. They’re fitted in armour, taught how to walk as knights, talk as knights, how to hold a line-

It’s hard work, but if this is what it takes for them to accomplish their dreams, Tooru is more than willing to make the sacrifice.

-

“Faster!” The commander calls yet again.

Tooru grits his teeth, pushing himself up off the ground, tightening his hold on his sword.

It still feels weird in his hand.

Awkward, heavy.

Not right.

That’ll go away, he’s sure - it must - but he has to focus on keeping it straight, on tightening his wrist. Swinging from all sorts of angles, not just from his shoulder, where his swing is strongest.

He’s not as quick as the others, not as strong as Hajime-

But he can’t think of that, not now. He might not be gifted, but Tooru is, if nothing else, a damn hard worker.

He focuses on the boy standing in front of him, his training partner. He’s a shorter, stocky kid. Doesn’t have much reach, but makes up for that with power- but he’s slow, and his movements are all incredibly textbook.

Tooru inhales.

He can do this.

The other boy moves as soon as their commander calls to start, lunging for Tooru and swinging his sword. Tooru hears it as it slices through the air next to him, sending a chill up his spine; they’re training, but the weapons are real. The fighting is real, the blood spilled is real-

Tooru parries at his next swing, feeling the pressure as he blocks, stepping back and out of it, creating more space between them.

Tooru’s taller, faster, he can use this to his advantage-

Another swing and Tooru just manages to dodge, turning his body and lunging forward, knocking his opponent down this time with a strong blow. This time he’s the one who hits the dirt, sputtering a bit while Tooru moves back to guard, glancing to see Hajime nodding at him approvingly from the grounds next to him.

-

“A good knight needs to know not only how to fight with a sword, but understand the craftsmanship that goes into the making of each and every blade..” The blacksmith picks up the blade, red-hot from the fire and plunges it headlong into a vat of oil, steam hissing as it rises.

The entire group of recruits watches, curious (and a little tired- they don’t get days off training very often, instead being gathered up to trek around the castle grounds, through town, or wherever their commander deems fit - but when it happens is always after a brutal week of training sessions, such as this one). Tooru’s feet still ache from the week they spent travelling through the forest, learning to hunt and survive on their own, so he leans against Hajime as they watch the demonstration.

Hajime is giving the blacksmith his rapt attention, bless his heart. Tooru chuckles under his breath when he looks over to see Hajime looking closely at the series of runes being carved on the hilt of a greataxe.

“Hey,” Tooru whispers, nudging Hajime with his elbow. When Hajime looks over, Tooru nods at the axe that the blacksmith is currently detailing. “That one, there? It says whisper.”

“Huh?” Hajime blinks, confused. “Whisper? Why would you want your axe to say that?”

Tooru shrugs, chuckling under his breath. “Maybe you wanna be quiet like a whisper? Stealthy?”

He gets a laugh from Hajime, which he covers up quickly by turning it into a cough when the blacksmith looks up. Once his attention is elsewhere, Hajime says, “If you’re gonna be stealthy I don’t think an axe is the right choice. How do you know that anyway?”

“The library,” Tooru responds, “There’s a whole book on the rune alphabet… and there are other books with passages that use just the runes so it made sense for me to start by reading that book…”

Hajime looks over with a frown. “When did you have time to do all of that reading?”

Tooru looks away guiltily. “Well you know, sometimes we’re dismissed early, and everyone heads to sleep right away, so the library is so empty-”

“Tooru…”

“None of the teachers seem to care, anyway, as long as I bring my own candle - found that one out the hard way - and put away anything I take out… and if I read in the library then I won’t accidentally wake anyone up-”

“Idiot,” Hajime scoffs, knocking him with his elbow. “Don’t stay up too late, okay? We should rest during our break today, sound good?” The blacksmith dismisses them with a wave of his hands. “You can tell me more about these runes while we have some lunch.”

Tooru brightens, nodding his head excitedly. “I’d love to!”

-

Swords continue to feel weird in Tooru’s hands. He gets used to them, sure - he has to, he’s going to be a knight for god’s sake - but it doesn’t feel quite… right. Natural.

The first time he puts his hands on a bow, however? It’s completely different.

The delicately crafted wooden longbow is heavy, but balanced. He moves it from hand to hand, testing the weight, getting used to the feel.

It’s good.

“The longbow takes great strength to draw, and precision to aim and shoot your arrows smoothly. When shot correctly, it can pierce right through a knight’s armor - it takes time and great dedication to learn this skill, but it’s extremely advantageous in battle,” the commander explains, walking along the line of recruits, many of whom are struggling to hold their bows correctly. He fixes their posture, adjusts their hold-

Walks up behind Tooru, noting his position, and nodding his head approvingly.

“Notch your arrow,” he calls, and Tooru picks up one of the arrows from his quiver. He notches it as instructed, adjusting his bow, closing his eyes and inhaling.

He’s surprised to find that he’s not even nervous.

“Draw back your bow.” His commander’s voice feels far away as he focuses in on the target nailed to a tree at the other side of the field.

Tooru pulls back the string of his bow, feeling it tremble in his arms. It resists as he pulls, but he doesn’t let that stop them - right until it’s drawn all the way back.

He can feel his thumb twitching, he can feel his muscles burning from the effort of holding it up, but it’s good, it fits-

He hardly hears the commander’s order to fire as he releases his bow, listening to the arrow shoot through the air, sailing across the field. Where many of his fellow recruits wind up with arrows stuck in the grass at different points on the field, Tooru looks up to find his arrow embedded deep in the trunk of a tree, just a short distance below his target.

He grins, more than ready to spend the rest of the afternoon practicing how to shoot.

-

Sleep becomes difficult. It’s strange, really, because he feels more exhausted than he’s ever been in his life, yet once he’s able to collapse back in the barracks his mind races as if on overdrive. He’s thinking of all the things his commanding officers have told him - all the maneuvers, all the tactics, the plans… not to mention the worrying.

Tooru flips over on his bed, trying to cuddle up to his pillow and push away all these thoughts. He needs to sleep, he knows it- there’s no way his body can handle a full day of training tomorrow if he doesn’t get a proper night’s sleep. He kicks one leg out from under his blanket to get a little fresh air and cool off his body, sighing in frustration as this really doesn’t seem to be working-

“Hey.” A grumble from Tooru’s right has him flipping over, propping his weight up on an elbow to peer at the bed next to him… Hajime’s bed.

“Hajime?” Tooru whispers, not wanting to wake up any of the others - not that he could, they sleep like rocks - “Why are you awake? You should be sleeping-”

“I could say the same for you,” Hajime interrupts him gruffly. Ah. Right. “I can practically hear your thoughts from here. Stop worrying.”

Tooru huffs, dropping back against his bed and burying his face into the pillow. “‘m not overthinking-”

“Can’t hear you when you’re mumblin’ into the pillow,” Hajime says, leaning across the space between their beds to nudge Tooru on the shoulder. “Speak properly.”

Tooru turns his head to look properly at Hajime, his eyes adjusting enough in the dark to see his figure. He looks comfortable, sprawled out on his bed. He probably wants to sleep.

Tooru sighs.

“Sorry,” he says instead, knowing that lying about this will get him nowhere. Hajime is too damn perceptive. “Can’t seem to turn my brain off.”

There’s a grunt from one of the beds on the other side of the barracks, and both boys pause to see if whoever it is is going to wake up. It’s followed shortly by a snore, though - so they’re safe.

“I know,” Hajime replies, letting out a soft breath. He does know, and that’s the hard part. There’s not much he can do to stop the tidal wave of thoughts in Tooru’s brain and they both know it. But- “Wanna talk about it? It’s not that late yet.”

Tooru peers over at Hajime, trying to read his expression in the dark. “It’s okay, you need your rest-”

“And so do you. Ten minutes, alright? Fresh air. Then we can come back and sleep even better than before.” Hajime’s not waiting for a response, already sliding out of bed, stepping into his boots and reaching for his coat hanging beside his bed.

Tooru breathes in, and follows.

He really does sleep better after, too.

-

The throne room is even larger once you’re standing in the center of it, instead of off to the side. It also feels, to Tooru, like it’s growing in size with every pair of eyes that is resting on them now.

They came here only twice before - it’s a ceremonial hall, after all. The entrance ceremony is conducted here, as well as a lesson in etiquette - and this, right now. The highest privilege for a student at the Academy: ten years of training, to be chosen and appointed.

Tooru wants nothing more than to glance over to his right, to share this feeling, but he keeps his head down.

We’ve made it.

“What do you fight for?”

The prince’s voice rings clear into the silence, authoritative even through the clear youthful tone.

“Honour and Duty,” they recite, “to our land and to the Crown.”

Tooru can practically feel Hajime vibrating with excitement, and knows he is faring no better, barely concealing his elation. This is it. This is what they’ve been waiting for, what they’ve been working for, all this time.

Together.

“And what is it you vow to do?”

They raise their heads, as is the custom, to face the man they are pledging their allegiance to.

“To serve and protect, our duty and privilege.”

The prince nods, rising from his throne and motioning for them to do the same.

“Iwaizumi Hajime,” he says, “and Oikawa Tooru - you are hereby appointed to the Royal Guard.”

-

The first weeks are everything Tooru has been dreaming of - and at the same time, they’re nothing like he’d ever imagined.

Of course the fantasies they’d had as children, of fame and glory, of epic battles and endless fortune, were wiped out as soon as they started training - but still, the job does entail some of the glamour and splendour Tooru had imagined. They are direct escorts to the prince, so they go where he goes, study chambers, courtrooms, garden parties and all - but it also means following the prince’s every whim, and, most of all, a large amount of standing and waiting in silence.

Tooru knows he should be thankful for the peace and prosperity that their country is living in, shouldn’t wish for the heat of battle, the swish of blades outside of the training grounds - thankfully this is a place they frequent, as the prince seems very keen on learning everything there is to know about swordsmanship - but some small part of him, the remnants of the starry-eyed boy that no hardships could eradicate, still does.

Hajime can sense it, Tooru is sure - he’s always been able to feel his unease, sometimes even before Tooru notices it himself. He makes sure to reassure him as best he can - always catches his eye when Tooru seeks him out, always reaches out first when they have a moment to themselves, always makes a point of asking about how Tooru feels.

In that respect, it’s like nothing has changed - Hajime carries him, reliable as ever, and Tooru thanks him in grateful smiles, in shared glances and jokes, leaning into familiarity.

There is a reason, Tooru thinks, why nothing has managed to separate them. There are days when he wishes he had a name for it, wishes he could voice it and get rid of that last bit of uncertainty - but he decides against it, every time.

Hajime is here - there’s nothing more he could ask for.

-

“Where are you going?”

Tooru stops in his tracks, realizing that Hajime is no longer beside him. It’s not like they never part ways, but… usually when the night guards take their shift, the two of them head to dinner together and then back to their quarters - there’s rarely a need for them to go anywhere else. This is the life they’ve worked for, after all.

Hajime is quiet for a moment, long enough to cement Tooru’s unease.

“...are you okay?”

He takes two steps back, back to where Hajime is standing in the middle of the hall, eyes on the floor.

“Iwa-chan?”

“...I can’t go back yet,” Hajime says.

By all accounts, it makes no sense.

“What do you mean?”

Tooru doesn’t like the trepidation rising inside his chest. Hajime isn’t looking at him. Something’s very wrong.

“I’m… the Prince has asked for me.”

Tooru blinks.

“Oh. Well, we should head back then-”

“No.”

Hajime looks uncomfortable, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “No, Oikawa, it’s… he’s asked for me.”

Tooru frowns, not understanding - they’re a pair, after all, trained together, raised together, appointed together, why would the Prince-

And then it sinks in, and it’s like someone poured a bucket of cold water over his face.

“...oh.”

It’s like all of his words are gone, then, sucked away with the last bit of oxygen.

Tooru knows the Prince often requests maids to keep him company, to amuse him, to entertain - and he’s heard talk of him taking stable boys too, on occasion. Sometimes there will be concubines, exotic dancers or company that can be bought for a price higher than the wages he and Hajime earn in a month.

But he’s never asked for a knight - at least not to Tooru’s knowledge.

Hajime still isn’t looking at him.

“...go ahead without me,” he says, but he makes no move to turn around.

It’s like Tooru’s thoughts are stuck in quicksand, everything feels sluggish and surreal. He doesn’t dare think of what this means, can’t seem to think anything other than oh, oh, please tell me you’re lying.

Because if the Prince is asking for Hajime, then-

It means that everything Tooru feels has to cease to exist.

Honour and Duty.

It’s like the oath - nothing before the Crown. No matter what happens.

It was an easy oath to take, for Tooru, because there was only one thing he treasured more than the cause - and he’d been right beside him then.

He’s always been right beside him, just out of reach, but close enough for comfort. There, warm and comforting.

Knights are told to try and think of home, during the harshest days of training. They say it helps to remember what you’re here for, what you’re fighting for - the realm you want to protect, that keeps your loved ones safe.

When Tooru thinks of home, he sees Hajime’s face.

What do you fight for?

Tooru knows the words, but there’s only one in his head, only one possible answer as he watches his partner turn and walk back the way they’d come, hands clenched tightly at his sides.

What do you fight for?

Hajime stops, but he doesn’t turn around. He knows he must be listening for footsteps, waiting for Tooru to do the duty assigned to him - serve and protect.

Obey.

Tooru wishes he was more like Hajime - always the one to speak up, to defend, to give voice to injustice.

Honour and Duty, to my land and to the Crown.

All he can do is stand and watch as the world crumbles around him, taking his certainty with it.

What do you fight for?

Hajime.

-

Chapter 2  →

[cornfedfatporn]

Liar

My gums bleed constantly. It's not that I don't take care of them. I brush in the morning, at night before bed, and after every single meal. I floss after every brush. That's right, every single brush. I have a rare disease called Hemophilia Dente. It strikes 1 in every 900,000. Pretty scary, huh? I've lived with it all my life, so it's not a big deal to me. My breath always smells metalic, like a rusty penny, and my teeth are always ringed with blood. It's not tons of blood, just a little twinge here and there. The guy across from me, he sees it. About the only problem I have with it is that it interrupts my stories. Takes the audience right out of them. How much attention could you pay to someone's words if you saw blood? Not much I bet. I suck at my teeth and try to clear the blood away quickly so I can reel this guy back in. These bus rides, they are the highlight of my day. Always a captive audience. Always. Most people think you're a creeper when you turn to them and start a conversation. These days, that never happens. People are content to pull out their phones and get lost in the digital world. But, if you have a good story, it's not long until they are caught up in your words. "So, I pulled down her panties, and you will never guess what she had going on down there. Man, it's like nothing you've ever seen. You won't guess I promise you." My guy, my listener, his eyes got a little wider. He leaned forward. God, I love that. The lean forward. Doesn't get much better, I tell you. Guys are easy targets. Sex. You can tell them any story about sex and they are in. Even if you don't know them. You have to be careful, make sure they aren't a priest or anything, but otherwise, sex it is. If you got a good tale about a prostitute with a 3rd nipple, or some barely legal co-ed with Daddy issues that you met at some dive bar, man, they are putty in your hands. I don't really get it. Truth be told, I've never even had sex. I guess it would be women for me, if I had to choose. But any sex seems completely insane. The vagina, man its just about the most disgusting thing mother nature ever dared to shit out. I mean, think about it. Calling it an ax wound is probably the most accurate description you could give it. It's a gash, an open, unhealing, forever leaking gash. It even bleeds for almost a 4th of a month. It oozes. Slippery, slimy liquid. Like an infection, always giving over its disgusting spittle constantly. Some of them even smell bad. Put my dick in that? No thanks. The asshole isn't much better. I mean, you shit out of it for christ's sake. You want to mash around in a pool of old feces with your most prized digit, you go on ahead, be my fucking guest. But don't expect the same from me. And don't even get me started on the cesspool that is the human mouth. I got porn and a bottomless supply of lube. It's not the most glamorous way to shoot a load, but it will do. "What was it? Was she pierced or something?" This guy. Really? Pierced? How commonplace. Completely workaday. Pierced? "Nah man, she had a tattoo of her dad's face around her snatch, her lips started right about where his would. She said he had his face down there so much anyway, that she figured she might as well get it stamped there permanently."

"Man, that's so fucked up. Poor girl." "Yeah, that's what I thought too. She was okay though. Not screwed up about it. She said it was his sick ass problem. And he was dead anyway. Car crash. She said she originally got it to keep him off of her but it didn't work. Now it's just there, she doesn't really even think about it anymore." Man, this guy was so into this. Not in a sick way, at least I don't think. Just so intrigued. My captive audience. "Anyway, after I banged her dad's mouth so to speak..."

Bored. So fucking bored. It's hard for me to sleep. I run around all day, getting so high off of people. Night is the hardest time for me. I could go out and talk to some people but I don't much like being out at night. The part of town where I live, it's not much good for being out at night. Lots of druggies and whores. Guys that want to shove you around or take your wallet. I'm not a good fighter really. I focus on words, not fists. But, in my part of town, words don't really do you much good. So I stay in. Stare at the cracks in my ceiling and listen to the old Armenian couple next door. They are fighting. I have no clue what they are saying, I don't speak Armenian. It's either this or fucking. All these two do is fight or fuck. It's a wonder they haven't killed each other. My sheets are damp with my sweat. There's no air conditioning. It's one of those shit house apartments with 1 bathroom per floor, that's the kind of joint I live in. It's never clean in here. Couldn't be, I never clean it. I don't mind. It's not like I spend most of my time here anyway. I could move, if I wanted. My monthly allowance is such that I could get a much nicer place. I like this place though. The higher the rent of an area, the less likely I would be to find anyone to talk to. The wealthier the person, the less likely they are to talk to you. Rich people, they don't care for my stories. I tried for awhile. I kept a really nice place, in a ritzy part of town. I ran around in crisp business suits and drove a nice, shiny black Audi. It didn't work for me. I got a lot more attention from the ladies, but only cause they thought I might like to marry them. Take care of some kids I never wanted and build them a big house with white columns in front. No, thanks. Fuck that. Who wants that? Great, now I'm getting all moody. I throw on a clean tshirt, you can't smell too bad when you tell stories or people won't listen to you. I rinse out my mouth and make sure I'm not too bloody. I pop some strong mints to kill the metallic twinge my breath always has, and head out. I shouldn't go out, I know this, but I can't stay in this room another minute. I can't be this bored and moody right now, it will kill me. Bars are fun places for meeting new people. I guess that's not a profound observation or anything. But the more liquored up people get, the more likely they are to listen to your stories. I yank open the heavy door to Randy's Place. It's a dive. No nice way to put it. Randy rolls his eyes at me when he sees me heading for the rickety old bar. He doesn't like me much. I think it's because he has to hear so many of my stories. Everyone hears one, but Randy, he has heard tons. He likes to mutter under his breath about me. "Lying ass" or "fuckin' nut job" he says. Luckily I don't think the folks I talk to hear him. He just shakes his head and pulls out a Dr. Pepper for me. I don't drink. I take some medications. Bum ticker you know. I was born with this rare disease. Cardio Defibulla. Hits like 1 in every 600,00 people they say. I have to take a handful of pills every morning just to keep my heart beating. I've been in the emergency room over 150 times. Sometimes, man, no matter how well I eat, how much I excersize on a regular basis, it just stops beating ya know. Just like that. It'll probably kill me someday. Just bam, stop. And never start again. I look around the place to see if I notice any easy marks. Just some bored fuck who feels like hearing a story. That's all I need. It's slim pickens tonight. I go up to the bar and sit. Take a couple of swigs of my soda and hope things pick up. It's only 10:30 or so. Surely, things will pick up. Everyone here, they are trying to hook up with someone. I guess I am too, in a way. I just don't want to fuck em. This guy, big motherfucker, he walks in and takes a look around the place. He makes his way to the bar and I give him a once over. Macho dude, kinda scary looking, but hey, don't judge a book by its cover right? I mean, at least he doesn't look like he's trying to bury his dick in someone, so I know he's not distracted. He sits off to the side and orders a beer. He looks a little irritated, but hey, maybe he just needs cheering up. I hop off of my bar stool and head in his direction, taking a seat near, but not right next to him. Guys, well most guys, they don't like it when you sit right next to them. They need at least one bar seat between the two of you. Just a little extra space. Most people like just a little space. "Shit night, huh?" "I'm not looking man, just fuck off alright." "Not looking either man, just bored straight the fuck out of my mind." You have to adopt the same air as that of your subject. They cuss, you cuss. They talk about Jesus, you say you still remember the day your were saved. They say vaccinations cause Leukemia or some shit, you mirror that same stupid bullshit right back at them. It's key. You can't be a heroin addict talking to a cop and you can't be a priest talking to a Atheist. It doesn't work that way. People feel more comfortable around their own kind. You have to be fluid. "You wouldn't believe the night I've had man. I just witnessed a murder a few blocks from here." "You? You just witnessed a murder huh?" The guy smirked at me and took a swig of his beer. I look at Randy and he rolls his eyes and takes a tray of glasses to the back. He doesn't want to hear my shit tonight. But this guy, he's in. He doubts me right now, but his eyes cut to me over his beer. He's waiting for my response. Anyone that bothers to wait for your response, they're in. "Yeah, couldn't believe it. Craziest shit I ever saw. Looked like a mob hit, or some kind of drug deal gone bad. I was walking down by 8th and this guy came out from the alley, he looked afraid. His eyes kept jerking back and forth and he looked around like he expected someone to jump out after him. I just kinda watched him for a second, I thought maybe I could help, ya know. But he took off running. He was only running for a minute when someone snatched him into another alley. So I walked up to the alley, and kind of peeked around it, I didn't want to be seen ya know. I don't carry a cell phone, so I couldn't call the cops. No one else was around. It's kind of empty around 8th, you know all those abandoned businesses and warehouses and such. It's not like there are many people running around there, and not at this time of night for sure." The guy, I notice he's stopped drinking, right in mid swig. That's how good of a storyteller I am. I'm the type of guy that could tell you a story so well, you'd stop mid swig. "Around 8th huh? What were you doing over there?" I'm a little annoyed that he is interrupting my story but at least I know he's engaged. "I work for the city. We have to sometimes go to these abandoned areas and write up these reports. We just take a look around and report back anything suspicious that we see. Matter of fact, I'm on duty really. Just stopped in to get a beer. What I saw, man. I needed a minute before I called the office. Hell, I haven't even called the cops yet. Hey man, don't tell anyone what I'm telling you. I could get in a lot of trouble for not reporting this right away, ya know. But yeah, we go to these rundown areas of town and just make sure there is no major damage or break-ins. Ya know, just to kind of keep things on the up and up." "Seems like night isn't really the best time for that shit. Why they make you go when it's the hardest for you to see anything?" "Well, they want to see if we can catch some of these guys in the act. If we can catch some of these guys in the act, then we can put them away. I got a pretty dangerous job, really. Being in these neighborhoods, it takes some huge sac. But I don't mind, I don't scare easily. Anyway, I usually carry a gun, but I took it apart earlier to clean it and didn't have time to put it back together before my shift started. So I rolled the dice. Boy, I wish I wouldnt've done that, on account of how dangerous my job is and all. It's really not too smart." "Yeah, doesn't sound like it." "So anyway, I can't say much more about my job. But, this guy. Man, he's dead now and all. There's no way he survived what I saw. If I had had my gun, that guy would still be alive. It's a mistake I'll never forgive myself for. Not ever. But, you know, sometimes shit like that just happens. It's fate, or God, or whatever you want to call it. But it was this guy's time. What I saw, it happened in the shadows. But this bigger guy, he had wrapped something around this guys neck. You know in movies, you always see ways for people to get loose when someone is choking them from behind with something. That's all bullshit in some cases. I mean, yeah, I'm sure there are some bad asses that know a million ways to get out of that situation. But this guy wasn't one of them. The guy, the killer I mean, he had this guy wrapped up so hard around the neck that the other guys feet were almost dangling in the air. Not quite, really, but close. The vic, victim, ya know, he was just grabbing at his neck and struggling as hard as he could but he couldn't get an inch. This killer, he had this guy rightly fucked. There's no way that guy could've got away. I thought about stepping in, ya know, I mean I'm no coward. But what the fuck was I going to do. Clearly this guy was like an assassin or something. I mean, that's not really a crime of passion sort of scenario. He knew how to take a guy down. I'm not a huge guy, not like you. Maybe if I was a big guy like you, I'd have given it a shot. But I didn't have my gun, and not a chance of taking this guy down. I mean this guy had been waiting. Practically hunting, like a pro. So all I could do was watch. I tried to take in as many details as I could but it was in the dark. Nothing but shadows..." I kind of left that hanging in the air, all dramatic like. "So you didn't really see what the guy looked like?" "Well, I mean, I know he was tall. Probably about your height actually. He even had a buzz cut like you." I laughed softly. I was teasing him. This big ass guy, he was so wrapped up in my story. Little old me, I had this guy on the hook hard. So I teased him a little. I do that sometimes, just to lighten things up before I draw them back in. He didn't seem too amused but he gave a little snort and took a big drink of his beer. He seemed in a hurry to finish it all of a sudden. "Yeah, so I think if I had to I could give a few details, but nothing too detailed. So after this guy strangled his victim, he just sort of dropped him and rummaged through his clothes or something. He must've found what he was looking for, because he put something in his pocket. Then he just drug this guy up to one of those massive garbage bins, the kind the trucks have to pick up to dump. Then he just hurled his ass in. Just like that. Like he was one big sack of old rubbish. Man, I can't imagine how hardcore this guy is, to just do a guy in like that and dump him like a garbage bag. That's one salty old dog if you ask me." "And this guy didn't see you I take it?" "Nah, no way. I just rushed off because I knew he'd be headed out of course. I hid in a doorway and pretended to be some homeless wacko talking to myself and stuff. But I lucked out anyway because he must've gone the other way, he never even walked by me. I waited for like 20 minutes, but nothing. So I finally worked up the nerve to peek out of the doorway and look down the street. Not a soul in sight. Boy, I'm one lucky fuck. I'm not so sure my crazy homeless guy trick would've worked after all. That's when I lit up out of there and headed here. I needed a drink like you read about." "Buy you one?" Wow, this guy really must've liked my story. Offering to buy me drinks like I'm the sexiest broad in the bar. Sometimes I even impress myself, my way with words is something else. "Nah, this here is just soda. Dr. Pepper. I can't drink. I got this rare condition, you see. Ethanol Aversia. Only hits in like 1 in every 800,000, or so they say. I can't even use alcohol wipes when I get cut or anything. Gives me a really heinous reaction. Not a pretty sight, not that it's all that great to begin with, eh?" I chuckle. You have to put in a laugh here and there, it makes for more entertaining conversation. The guy, he just raises one brow at me and lets out a quiet belch under his breath. "Why don't you come with me, we can hit up another bar and talk some more. This place is dead. Whatdya say?" I don't really know what to say, which never happens to me. I pretty much always know what to say. I start to say nah, because I usually only stick to one story. The funny thing is, as much as people enjoy my stories, they can only take one, two tops. The more people know me, the more people don't want to know me. I doubt this guy would be any different. For some reason, maybe because it's so slow in here tonight and I don't want to go home and bore myself to sleep, I agree. After all, if this guy starts to get on my nerves or something, I can just leave. I can catch a bus and find another soul to entertain. "Sure sure, lemme just square up with Randy." "Don't worry about it, he and I know each other. Put your glass here, by mine, and he'll know to charge my tab." So off we go, into the night, like a couple of good friends out on the town. This guy doesn't talk much, but I talk enough for both of us. I try not to do too much storytelling. Just offhand stuff about politics and how the president really needs to relax a bit on the whole pot thing, or how I can't believe what a bunch of greedy pigs consumers can be, seeing as how black friday is just around the corner. I just spit some old clever ideas and see how he takes them. I follow him around, yamering on and on, waiting for us to arrive at some place he said has good drinks, better than Randy's and all. Out of nowhere, this mother fucker, he turns around and pops me right in the face. He just full force hits me right in the mouth. I get one of those shocking white light snaps to my vision and then it's lights out for your old friend. Just gone.

When I wake up, I'm tied to a chair in some old, shitty warehouse. A single bulb is swinging over me slowly, just like in the damn movies. Can you believe it? Of all the damn things to happen tonight. I mean, I could see getting into a fight or something, over my wallet maybe. I could maybe even see getting into it with some guy who didn't like one of my stories. But this? Who would ever believe it in a million years? The big guy walks up and stares me down, like I'm supposed to be scared or something. Damn right I'm scared. "Well bud, looks like you went and got yourself in a fine mess. See, I was that big fucker you saw in the alley. It was piano wire, that I wrapped around his neck. It chokes and cuts, so much quicker. So, I can tell you this now. There's no way you are getting out of here. But, you can buy yourself some time, and save yourself some pain. Why don't you go on ahead and tell me who you really are? Because there is no fucking way, that you were there, by that alley, tonight of all nights, by chance. This city is big, but those streets, I know them. Those streets are mine. I know who comes and goes. There is no city job that sends some scrubby looking fuck out in the middle of the night to patrol. Even if they did, they would turn the other way when they saw me. So let's have it. Who do you work for?" Boy, I just couldn't believe it. This guy. This fucking guy. He was having a laugh at my expense, friend. He had to be. That whole story I gave him, fakest thing I ever said. I'm no liar really, but I was just having a goof, ya know. It was all bullshit. I ain't ever seen a murder in real life. I'd pretty much faint straight out if I did. So I laugh, what else could I do but laugh. He was having a go with me, there's only one polite response really. Then I get hit right in the stomach with his sledgehammer of a fist. Man, this guy could hit harder than a freight train, I'd put money on it. It took a minute for me to catch my breath. I'm all for a laugh, but come on, sometimes people just take jokes too far. I smiled at the guy and tried to tell him I was onto him. He could let up on the act now. And buy me a drink for my troubles by the way. But then down came another hit, right side, towards the bottom of my rib cage. I thought he must've broke one, a rib I mean. These hits just kept coming. I mean this guy was really working me over. It finally started to dawn on me that this wasn't kidding. He really thought I'd seen him off some guy. I hadn't been hit this hard since leaving my pop's house. This fucker could give ole Dad a run for his money with these hits, I tell ya. "You ready to give me some answers?" he said. "Well, yeah, if you give me a minute to catch my breath." I'm stalling. Just flat out buying time. I damn sure better come up with the best story of my life. It needs to be the best if its going to get me out of this fuck of a situation. Like I said before, words don't go for a penny on this side of town. So my story, it better be a winner. I could take two routes really. I either had to be a real big deal with the law, CIA, FBI, somthing like that, ya know. Or I had to be a real big bad dude. A scary fucker like him. Now, I'm not much to look at, so neither option is going to be easy to pull off. But I gotta try one or the other, and make it good. "Boss is worried your losing your edge." This guy stands up, slow and brings his fist down even slower. "What?" "Yeah, said he isn't quite sure you got this sac for the wet work anymore. So he sent me to check up on ya. I did see you take that guy down, but I was talking to you in the bar to get a feel for you. Trying to check up on you and such. I wasn't lying when I said that I'm a guy that checks up on things. I know what to say, how to talk to someone to get a feel for them, ya know. I can read people. You, you're still on the up and up. And I don't mind telling the boss so. But, that's only if you untie me real quick like, cause I got no patience for this shit. All I have to do is tell the big man that you're the wettest pussy I ever saw and your ass is grass. We both know it." He just stands there, chest heaving from all those thrown punches. I'm not too proud to say that I was piss scared right then. Just about as scared as grown man can get, really. I'm surprised as all hell that I didn't piss myself. He looks me over, so I cut my eyes up at him, all intimidating like. I must be a fine sight. Blood and gashes everywhere. I have this condition that makes my gums bleed like crazy, you see. It's a rare condition. Sanguina Majora. Only hits in about 1 in every 1,500,000 people, or so they say. So blood is just steady falling from my bottom lip. I got a busted cheek and a fucked eye for sure. So I peer up at him, trying hard to look menacing, when all I want to do is shit myself. He's not sure. I can tell. He's rolling it over in his mind. "Maybe I should just send you back to him in pieces, think that would convince him I haven't lost my edge. I'd say that would make him damn sure. Whatdya think?" "Well, I guess that's one route you could take. But I'm not entirely sure he wants me back in that state. Not many folks can read a man like I can. Yeah, I'm sure he can eventually find another one of me, but it would be a pain in the ass. Maybe a pain enough that he'd take it out on you. After all, he isn't exactly a man who cares to be inconvenienced, is he?" I spit a huge blood loogie to my right and put my head back. I give him an expression like I'm about as bored as I possibly could be. Truth be told, this is the best time I've had in years. If it weren't for the fact that I might die any minute I mean. And the fact that I'm seriously struggling to hold in my bladder. I think he might've damaged me with one of those punches or something. "So what's it going to be big man, cause it makes me no difference, either fucking way..." Now, I have no idea why he didn't call his boss. I'll never know if I'm just that good of a storyteller. There's a million holes he could punch in my shit story. I didn't have any details. I mean, why the fuck would he believe a word out of my mouth, when he could lift the phone and verify everything with just a bit of effort. My guess is he was tired, I mean killing a guy takes a lot out of you. Then he had to punch on me for awhile. Hell, he looked tired when he was nursing that beer back at Randy's place. So I'm thinking, he just didn't want to deal with the situation. So I think he chose to believe me. I mean really, it is quite a good explanation if you think about it. And plus, I think I really pulled it off, if I do say so myself. So just like that, he untied me. He wasn't too gentle about it, asshole that he was, but he did it just the same. "You tell boss that I'm just as sharp with the blade as I ever was, you fucking hear me. Don't you forget that you're only alive because I allowed it. Now get the fuck outta here. I don't ever want to see your ugly ass again." I ran the back of my hand over my mouth to get rid of some of the blood and gave him a nod. "Thanks for the drink, friend." I told him that, can you believe it? Like a real hard ass. I don't know where I get this stuff. Then I just walked out. Walked straight out of that warehouse. That's how I got all these bruises. He really worked me over, didn't he. I know you probably wondered when you saw me, huh? Yeah, man it was quite a night. That's why I had to come here. I needed a cold one. Not beer I mean, I can't drink. I take these medications, you see. I'm real dodgy on the heart. Aortic Malformia. It's rare, only hits in like 1 and 20,000,000. Pretty scary stuff really. Anyway, I'd tell you more but I have a wife and kid to get home too. I'm already going to have to come up with a pretty crazy tale to explain the state of my face to my old lady. Boy, I tell ya, she's a real ball buster. If it weren't for the fact that she has the sweetest pussy I ever tasted, I'd've left her ass years ago...

[jflashandclash]

Attrition of Peace

Twenty-Five: Ajax

“Because Dad Loves You More,

I’ll Put Your Face through the Floor.

Haiku that, You Bitch.”[1]

 Warning! Graphic depictions of violence. Sad Pax baby. Unfortunately no weasels. But seriously, this chapter is the majority of the reason this book is rated M. Regardless, thanks for reading! :D

                 Pax felt like he’d really screwed up Alabaster’s Daily To Do List big time.[2] He imagined the first note was consistently: keep Jack from murdering people. When trapped under a net, Pax didn’t think he could do that. He wasn’t sure he could do that when he wasn’t trapped under a net.

               Will Solace gasped in air. Although he couldn’t sing, he still must have had some healing capabilities. Unlike Piper or Annabeth, he managed to keep on his feet, mouthing the words to some song. Pax liked to imagine it was Steal My Sunshine.

               Will fumbled in his medical fanny back, jamming something into his mouth—likely an ambrosia square. Then he tossed one to Annabeth and one to Piper.

               There was no way Piper could ingest it. She’d collapsed onto the ground. The ends of her feathers were soaked in vomit. In the eerie cast of silver light, Pax could see a darker, thicker substance dribbling from her beautiful mouth. She clutched her stomach, her breath rattling like a hoard of tiny chipmunks were going nuts on… well, some nuts in her throat.

               Jack stepped up and kicked the square from Annabeth’s outstretched hand. He’d never stopped producing the abominable screeches of song with the occasional retch of laughter.

               “Stand apart and fall together.

               Nothing ever lasts forever.”[3]

               When they were back at Camp Othrys, Pax remembered how euphonic and soothing Jack’s voice had been. When they had nightmares, Jack would sing them back to sleep. Here, now, this shriek was that of monsters and machines. On the ground, beside the two withering from pain and expedited atrophy, Pax understood the emotion The Plague Bringer’s name conjured. It wasn’t happy.

               Will had regained enough strength to whisper-sing a heal. As the words came out, Pax winced. It was a song Will probably sang to Nico when they were curled up. “Every time you kiss me, it’s like sunshine and—”

               Pax could tell Will must have an amazing country voice when he was at full power, but he wasn’t. His voice was hoarse and sickly. He’d just gotten enough strength to notch an arrow on his bow. Pax wondered if he could even pull it back.

               But Pax couldn’t focus on them.

               Annabeth had collapsed onto her face. She stared at him with glassy eyes and mouthed the words, help them.

               Yep, that was going to haunt him.

               Pax scrambled, dropping the lollipop Will had given him. He rolled the net, snatched up the fallen ambrosia squares, twisted to Annabeth, and shoved the square into her mouth.

               Beside him, he could hear Jack’s thrilled giggle as he hissed, “Have you ever had chickenpox, Will? Because I’m going to give you a late stage of shingles. I’ve been told it’s very painful.”

               Something cracked beside him. The shattered splinters of a long bow exploded over Pax’s head and showered into the grass. Trying not to focus on it was like trying to ignore a goat licking your foot, but Pax twisted to Piper.

               He also tried to ignore the liquidy thing that went squish as he knelt by her. The soil reeked of bile and iron. When he offered the ambrosia square to her lips, she sputtered out more spittle and blood.

               “Holy Titans,” Pax sobbed. By this point, he was surprised he could still be crying, but he choked on tears. This was like a triathlon for his tear ducts. He didn’t want Piper to die. She was sickly pale and black nodes were sticking out of her neck. One had broken open, leaking something white and red down her neck and into her jacket.

               She needed this ambrosia inside her system. But—

               “Sorry-not-sorry,” he whispered and shoved the ambrosia square into the open sore.

               Piper whimpered. Although she remained curled forward, clutching her stomach, she stopped vomiting. She tried to speak, but nothing would come out.

               Now, on to the fun task: Jack.

               “Because Dad loves you more,

               I’ll put your face through the floor.

               Haiku that, you bitch!”

               Jack shrieked with glee.

               Pax had to give him props for composing poetry while on a homicidal rampage.

               When Pax glanced up, he saw Jack prepare to dive at Will. Not to say his surrogate father figure would lose the fight, but even a trembling, rash-covered Will could probably wrestle the pink-clad Jack to the floor. Will stepped backwards to brace for impact, holding a scalpel in one hand. His breath was raspy as he kept trying to sing.

               Jack tossed his electric base to the side as he dove. The corner of the instrument was cracked. He must have used it earlier as a weapon. There was blood soaking his forearm, probably where Will tried to slice his wrist.    

               When Will’s foot made contact with the grass, he grunted in pain and stumbled, completely losing his footing.

               Pax remembered what the Goddess of Mischief and Ruin said: Two demigods with one nail.

               Will stumbled backwards and crashed onto his back. His shirt slid up, revealing red rashes encasing his torso.

His aim was off when Jack followed after him. Instead of cutting through Jack’s jugular—where Pax assumed he was aiming—his scalpel jammed into and through Jack’s cheek.

               With the misstep, Jack smashed him into grass.                When Will tried to withdraw the scalpel to jam it into Jack’s neck, Jack grabbed Will’s wrist.

“I’m going to heal you,” Jack shrieked with mirth as he straddled him, “And then I’m going to cut your foot open and give you accelerated gangrene so you can watch your leg rot!” He didn’t care about the hole in his cheek; something Will neglected to point out as a horrific misstep in clinical cleanliness. To be fair, Pax realized Will was distracted.

Jack spat blood into Will’s face. Will reached up to jam his thumbs at Jack’s eyes.

Instead of wrangling Will’s other hand, Jack dug his nails into the rashes on Will’s torso.

Will released the hoarsest scream Pax had ever heard, almost like someone had done chest compressions on a corpse for kicks and giggles. Will writhed in pain. Tears glistened on his cheeks. Although Pax felt like he was trying to scowl stoically at Jack, Will looked scared.

“That’s right, little brother. Because you’re one of Dad’s favorites. I just wish it was daytime, so Dad could hear you shriek and scream to die. Maybe I’ll give you appendicitis next. I’d love to feel your organs rupture.”

Jack jerked his head down and snapped his teeth into the rashes.

Will released another airy squeal. With Jack off balance, he bucked and managed to dislodge his older half-brother. But Pax could tell Will was getting too weak to fight back. He trembled violently from whatever fever he had and couldn’t seem to lift himself more than a few inches off the ground.

Someone tugged on Pax’s arm gently and almost made Pax yelp. He didn’t realize he’d been frozen in horror until Annabeth, sweaty and crawling, touched his arm. She’d cut a section of his net with her dragon bone sword.

The rest of her strength was spent by whatever illness she was suffering. Annabeth collapsed, staring at him.

Fortunately, Pax didn’t need to be a daughter of wisdom for this part.

He snatched up her sword, cutting the hole wider.

“Jack—Jack stop!” Pax begged. He needed to act fast. As soon as he’d squirmed through the net, Pax grabbed the closest thing to him—Jack’s ankle.

Pax pulled.

“Not ‘ha ha’ funny, Jack! Please stop—”

Jack kicked him in the face.

Pax flopped backwards, dropping Annabeth’s sword.

When Pax looked up, he could see Jack crouched. He ripped an embedded scalpel out of his arm. Blood spurted out. “You went for my brachocephalic artery, you little bitch!” Jack laughed. “Well, if we wanna play like that—Walk in the world, it’s so empty and dull—”

Jack reached behind himself and picked up his electric base by the neck.

From where Pax had landed, he couldn’t see much more of Will than where his legs squirmed. Pax scrambled to grab Jack as the child of Apollo hefted the electric base like a battle axe.

“In the land of the beautiful, beauty is cold.”

Before Pax could get close enough, Jack brought his electric base down.

There was a loud crack.

Will’s legs twitched violently.

The base broke at the neck. Jack snatched up the main part of the body and slammed it downward again.

Pax cried. He wasn’t sure what he was shouting at Jack, but he knew it didn’t matter anymore. This time, he slammed bodily into Jack, knocking him off his little brother.

Far in the distance, Pax heard a horrible wail of rage and pain.

This time, the loud crack came from the ground beside them as a fissure split open.

They had to roll to avoid tumbling into the crevasse of blackness.

“Oh no,” Pax whispered.

Somewhere, probably several houses down by how faint the call was, he could hear, “NICO! STOP!”

Pax dragged Jack to his feet. Although Jack grinned like a monster, Pax needed to get him out of here. First, he had to give Will ambrosia—or a smilie Band-Aid—or find the lollipop he’d dropped as a sorry my friend tried to kill you—

Pax glanced over at Will, hoping the electric base had been a glancing blow.

Tried…

Tried was the wrong word for what Jack had done.

A dark shade rose from beside Will’s body. All the grass around Will withered into dried shrivels. When Nico stepped out of the shadows, the intensity in his black eyes was more terrifying than anything Pax had seen from Jack… and clearly Jack wasn’t right in the head.

Nico didn’t look completely human. His form flickered in and out of shadow like the scattered reels from an old movie.

Pax cowered backward, edging around the fissure that Nico must have caused.

He thought he’d have time to tell Jack to run, even if he didn’t think Jack would run.

Nico leaned forward to sprint—

--disappeared into shadows—

--and reappeared beside the Plague Bringer with his sword drawn.

Jack couldn’t sing a single verse.

Three feet of stygian iron sliced cleanly through his neck.

A thump hit the ground by Pax’s feet.

A second later, Jack’s corpse crumbled.

Pax opened and shut his mouth. That happened so fast, he wasn’t sure he’d seen it. Faintly, he thought he could hear Jack singing about losing his mind over love, but that couldn’t be right. Jack’s vocal cords were too far from his lungs to do that.

Nico turned to Pax. Sort of. His form fuzzed in and out of shadow. Pax remembered Will—back at camp—cutely fussing over Nico for using his powers, scared Nico might puff into moonshine, vapors, and Halloween decorations. The thought of the sunboy’s happy disposition contrasted with Will’s current smashed and bloodied face…

Pax tried to think of how to talk his way out of this. I didn’t—So, I know this looks bad, but you don’t really want to wish me out of existence, right? I really am thinking about your own good…

But Pax didn’t have to. As soon as he took another step backwards, a skeleton hand shot out of the dirt, anchoring his foot.

Nico’s sword slipped out of his hands. Really, through was a better word.

Then death boy froze like a statue.

The skeletal hand slackened on Pax’s ankle.

A woman laughed—someone he’d heard earlier that night.

A half-mummified, half-blood drained shade shifted into Pax’s sight: Melinoe.

               Her blackened stump of a hand clenched beside Nico’s stiff form, like she’d wrapped him in bubble wrap and held the ends there. “Percy can’t save you this time, Nico,” she hissed. “In this condition, you’ll make the perfect shadow bridge for my ghosts to come in their true form.”

               Pax thought Jack’s singing was getting louder. “Shut up,” he whispered. In the distance, from the same direction he’d heard the shouts, several figures were rapidly approaching.

               “L-let him go!” Pax snapped at Melinoe.

               She hissed out a laugh. “Oh, if I do that now, he’ll disperse into shadows. Now,” she spoke louder as the others grew near, “Thank you, Ajax. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

 Song inspiration: Entire scene was conceived listening to Hollywood Undead’s Disease, but the scene was written to Aria—inflammation (Kill Bill music video), Dear Alice—Arai Tasuku (Fake-AMV/MAD) and Sufjan Stevens—4th of July (Tokyo Ghoul “Why do you Cry?”).

Footnotes:

[1] Like father, like son.

[2] Mel Beta Note: I feel like Pax’s existence messes up all of Alabaster’s lists. “I didn’t plan to do this,  didn’t plan to do that, I didn’t plan to question my sexuality….”

[3] This, and the quote about beauty later, are from the song “Disease” by Hollywood Undead. This is also the song Jack is strumming when he introduces himself in the last chapter.

[killscreencinema]

Castlevania (NES)

What with all the hype surrounding the upcoming Castlevania Netflix series, it got me in the mood to whip some skeletons, zombies, and the occasional brick walls containing a fully cooked ham.  Of course, it doesn’t take much to get me in the mood to play any Castlevania game as it is one of my favorite game series ever!

Castlevania, released by Konami in 1986, follows the adventure of vampire slayer, Simon Belmont, as he traverses the absurdly colossal castle of Dracula to eventually confront the evil Count himself. Simon Belmont’s weapon of choice to take down the legendary vampire: a whip.

Huh?

I’m sorry, no offense to my S & M friends out there, but I always thought this was a strange idea.  Why equip a legendary vampire hunter with a whip?  Where in vampire lore has whips ever figured in?  In fact, when have whips ever been considered a viable weapon of choice?  They seem effective enough when the person being whipped is tied to a pole in the ground, but against live enemies?  Eh.  I guess if it’s cool enough for Rygar it’s cool enough for Simon Belmont.

I know what you’re thinking by now - “Craig, we’ve all played Castlevania.  Stop mansplainin’ Castlevania to us.” Well, first - I prefer to write these blogs with the assumption that the reader has never played these games before, no matter how common they may seem.  Second - for games like Castlevania, which is universally considered a good game, I try to take a different approach to it other than reviewing the game.  Instead, I try to write about what the game might mean personally to me.  

To that end, I should note that while this is the first Castlevania game, it isn’t the first I ever played.  That dubious distinction goes to Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest, which I’ll cover in more detail on a later date.  Suffice it to say, because of that game, I had the wrong impression of what a Castlevania game was for a number of years until I finally got to play the first game.  For reasons I can’t remember, I had to stay over at my mom’s boss’s apartment for a few hours while my mom got some work done.  At the time, my mom worked at a spousal abuse shelter, so sometimes she’d get unexpectedly called into work.  On this day, I had to go with her because she had no other options available.  To make it easier, my mom’s boss offered to let me hang out in her apartment (which was in the same house as the shelter) while they did whatever they needed to get done.  She told my mom that I could play their Nintendo, which was all the convincing I needed.

This was back in the day when the prospect of visiting someone else with a Nintendo was exciting because YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT GAMES THEY HAD!  Sometimes it’s the same ol’ disappointing titles you see everywhere, but most of the time it was a wonderful cornucopia of games you had never even heard of before.  I remember she didn’t have very many options, but that didn’t matter, because she DID have one game that caught my interest: Castlevania.  I had enjoyed Simon’s Quest well enough, and absolutely LOVED the creepy tone of the game, but the non-linear gameplay and the difficulty of figuring out what to do next got in the way of the fun.  Still, the lore of Castlevania fascinated me enough that I read the novelization of Simon’s Quest (again, I’ll elaborate on that in a future post).  So boy was I surprised to find the first game was a pretty straight forward action platformer - pleasantly surprised.  In fact, EXQUISITELY surprised!  Gone was the incredibly tedious task of collecting enough hearts to buy new weapons or items that seemed to serve no purpose.  Instead, the hearts were used, strangely enough, as ammunition for the secondary weapons you can you use in the game, such as the axe (useful), the knife (useless), holy water (surprisingly useful, especially against Dracula), the cross necklace (pointless), the stop watch (very useful in levels with floating Medusa heads, but doesn’t work against bosses!), and my favorite, the cross boomerang.  While hearts being used as ammo is  pretty traditionally accepted nowadays in regards to Castlevania, it’s confusing as fuck when you’re a kid and you expect hearts to, I don’t know, fill your fucking life bar.  Nope, to do that, you have to find the occasional baked ham hidden in the walls - yum!

With what little time I had to spend on the game, I didn’t make it far as a kid.  The farthest I could make it was beating the second boss, which is Medusa.  Believe you me, I tried convincing my mom’s boss to let me borrow the game, but she told me no due to the completely understandable reason that she had the Nintendo in the first place for the children of spouse abuse victims to play while their parents worked with people like mom to figure out how to get out or their predicament.  Stupid kids and their need to escape reality that far exceeded my own...

Anyway, I eventually played through Castlevania with the help of an emulator and save states, but fuck that noise!  I had to do this legit!  So I bought the game for my 3DS and set to the task of beating it for reals.  This will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the series, but this game is HARD.  The difficulty ramps up considerably after the first boss, in the second level, when the Medusa heads show up to knock your ass in pit after pit after pit.  Getting knocked into a pit is probably the most likely way you’ll meet your demise, as whenever Simon is hit by an enemy, he fucking FLIES in the opposite direction, either to safely land on his feet or plummet into an awaiting abyss... usually the latter.  As an adult, I had little trouble getting through the first three levels, though the mummy bosses in level three can be assholes to deal with.  It’s the next couple of levels and their bosses that gave me pause. 

In the fourth level, you fight Frankenstein (specifically the monster, but the game calls him Frankenstein), who is accompanied by a “Flea Man” who bounces around the room like an asshole, shooting projectiles at you.  While you dodge the Flea Man, Franky slowly advances on you, occasionally shooting electricity at you.  His life meter depletes laboriously slow no matter how fast you seem to whip him, making this an incredibly frustrating boss fight.  You think that’s bad though?  Wait until the next level, where you have to fight through Medusa heads and Axe Knights (which take forever to kill) before you fight the Grim Reaper, who floats around while a shit ton of spinning scythes chase you around the room.  The Belmonts are not much known for being spry, so dodging the sickles can be a bitch, though thankfully you can whip them out of existence instead.  This was easily the most challenging boss fight in the game for me - harder than even Dracula.  In fact, Dracula wasn’t terribly difficult once you got the hang of his pattern.  His second form can give you trouble, but that’s when the Holy Water comes into play.  If you spam the Holy Water, it effectively freezes Dracula in mid-air, leaving you free to whip his ass into submission!

Once Dracula is destroyed, his castle crumbles, and Transylvania is free of his darkness for another generation... or at least until Simon is forced to resurrect him in the next game.  Anyway, I just love these games and greatly look forward to covering more of them in future blog posts.  Until then... here’s hoping that Netflix series is good! 

[maxbronte]

▤[grey]

SEND ONE FOR MY MUSE’S REACTION // STILL ACCEPTING.prompt.  ▤  :   f a l l i n g   a s l e e p   o n   t h e m .set. one week after Ruby gave him his iPhone, one week before the Gaslit Reunion & Winter Formal, one morning before Max’s google search of Grey’s story.disclaimer. permission HAS been granted from Blythe for the godmodding in this post.

                                                       -☸-

    The smell of carnations starts to remind her of the smell of her old corsage, which reminds her of the smell of sweat and adrenaline, which reminds her of the smell of a lover’s dead body, just settling into rigor mortis. And they’re everywhere. Everywhere she goes, she finds them– they find her; they’re on all edges of campus like cold steel prison bars caging her into a traumatic cycle and she just wants out already. 

     Solution: maybe tell the police or someone about this situation. No, no, that won’t do. That would require formally accepting reality. Solution: go to sleep and ignore it. Tried it. She can’t sleep knowing that some kooky prankster keeps finding a way into her room at night. Solution: Leave campus. This is not a permanent fix. She can’t leave forever. But temporary escapism gives her an immediate comfort and she’s too miserable right now to care about what it means for the longrun.

     Besides, she already knows a foolproof place to go to clear her head. Max has been trying to take a trip to the nearest pier since her parents first confirmed her authorization to drive off campus. But Sid won’t come, too sour to indulge her, tells her to “get out of here with that white girl shit.” And she wouldn’t invite Ruby– Max is too embarrassed to ask her, needs to keep up her non-sentimental partygirl cool. And she doesn’t want to invite Mitch– docks are too special for her to share with him. And maybe she’d call Cypress if she didn’t recently come to the realization that Cypress totally sucks.

     She’s still determined to go despite lack of a date, but survival instinct says she needs to take someone to talk to so she won’t fall asleep at the wheel– because, as disappointing as her life’s production may be, she refuses to willingly walk out of the theater before the final scene. Lucky for Max, she may not have to call curtains on this trip just yet. She has one fail-safe dark horse in her contacts list.

    Gʀᴇʏ ᴄᴀᴠᴇʀʟy is the one masochist out there with that perfectly specific blend of boredom and free time necessary to humor her company every so often. He has the offbeat sense of “adventure” to entertain a high-maintenance space-case’s antics, but enough common sense not to get emotionally invested. And hassling him to go on a road trip at this hour may very well be the third strike he needs to stop talking to her entirely, but she’s willing to take the chance– best to lose him sooner rather than later, for her as someone with much less of the common sense needed not stunt emotional investment.

                                                       -☸-

[one-missed-call-two-missed-calls-three-missed-calls from Miss Maxine at 5:09am.]

Miss Maxine [5:11am]: 📣📣 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥, 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙Miss Maxine [5:11am]:𝙬𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡Miss Maxine [5:12am]: 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙡𝙮 🌅 

[seen by 👽Scary Pixie Dream Boy 🌚 at 5:20am.]

                                                       -☸-

    Max heads out early early to load the car up with blankets & trail mix & two thermoses of her favorite peppermint espresso, but the  f a k e  c h e e r  she worked so hard to muster completely DROPS when she finds putrid red carnations in her glove compartment and littering the gas pedal floor. She picks out every stray petal one by one, stomps them into the parking lot asphalt, opens a new pine air freshener to drown the faint and maddening smell out of her car before he meets her there at the negotiated time of 6 am.

     She regains her cool as Grey meets her Jetta for the first time, and then Max explains that when she said ‘raise hell,’ she meant that they were going to watch a terrific ball of flaming hell rip the night sky open and rise to the top-center of the earth, and she hoped he would be too tired to realize that this was her way of trying to make ‘watching the sunrise’ sound hardcore. As her luck would have it, Grey’s just as sharp-witted and wise-assed in the early morning– calls her right out on her underwhelming plan of action. But that sure doesn’t stop him from hopping in shotgun.

     ( Suddenly she’s not faking the cheer anymore. )

     They tell the guard in the parking lot security booth they’re going out for coffee and bagels before classes start. Handheld GPSes are tossed to the backseat. Max says they’re navigating this trip the old fashion way, says it’s become tradition since their first meeting that they don’t keep their phones on hand when they’re together. She’s really saying this because she’s desperate to get off the grid and escape reality with him, but she makes it sound like this is a playful boho thing when she insists he keep his phone off and read the map to her.

     Eugene’s about an hour away from the Pacific. With the combined sense of direction of a serial wanderer and a Sagittarius, it takes about an hour-forty-five to get to the nearest pier. In sleepy delirium Max cruises right through every other stop sign, and Grey waits every time to see how long it takes her to realize she did it and break into a fit of whoops-a-daisy giggles. He has to make his usual crack about her fatality rate, of course, and say that at least there’s nobody else stupid enough to be on the road at this hour.

     Between her wrong turns and his insistence that they take a detour down every cool-looking road in Oregon, there’s a high chance they won’t make it down the docks by sunrise, and there’s definitely no way they’re going to make it back to campus in time for first period. The former potential valedictorian in her is screaming, but Max can’t hear her over the sound of the terrible Dad pop-rock blasting through the stereo. She’s sure Grey will be DEVASTATED about missing french class with his very favorite teacher, but she swears that the euphoria of his first time watching the sunrise on a port is going to make up for it.

     They miraculously make it to the beach when their antsy sun is just peeping and they make a mad dash to get to the coveted VIP seats before they miss any more crucial sunrise action. Grey’s legs are longer, and it’s hard for her to run while wrapped up in blankets to protect her from the cold, but when that salty sea smell splashes against her face she forgets what carnations even smell like, and suddenly she has the burst of energy she needs to outrun him and lead the way to the very end of the dock.

     They station themselves hurriedly but efficiently, with two blankets each, feet kicking off the edge, sat just close enough to share platonic body heat only, bag o’ trail mix locked into position in the space between their thighs, faces huddled over their espressos with way too much cream and not nearly enough of the caffeine required for this adventure, but every factor of this situation combined makes Max feel alive for the first time since she died. There’s nothing on this pier but them and the view, and in a way that only seems to happen in Grey’s presence, time stands still, and all day-to-day weights and permanent baggage feel suspended. She’s free– and happy. Too happy to remember that they’re both exhausted in every physical and spiritual sense of the word.

     In bliss, she gets to talking about how long it’s been since she’s done this, and then she starts yapping about anything else that comes to mind here. She reminisces about the days when her life was low-tide tranquil, tells him childhood stories no one in the world could possibly care about– about how she used to go fishing with her dad every Saturday morning, except then they had to stop when she became a vegetarian in the sixth grade and felt too bad for the fish, so then they would go for strolls along the shore and pick up sea glass, and sometimes she would take her cat for walks on the docks at sunset, and everyone thought it was so silly, because you don’t walk a cat, but Max’s cat is so special and didn’t even need a leash, and Max thought she was so special when she would sneak out at night to have bonfires in the dirt clearing of the woods by the port, and one night they took her friend’s dad’s boat out, and that’s when she decided she wants to get a compass tattoo right here on her hip so you can see it when she’s wearing a bikini… and this goes on and on, and Grey– ever the trooper– does an incredible job acting like he doesn’t want to push her into the icy water to make her top.

     Eventually she quiets down on her own and lets him take in the real ambiance they came here for: tranquilizing water and fiery pastel glows creeping across the sky. …All in all, it’s probably not that fantastic to a guy like Grey; it’s nothing the world hasn’t seen on every preset computer desktop wallpaper or in the uninspired paintings cluttering every rich white aunt’s walls. It’s just a sunrise. It happens everyday. The mysticism is in the eye of the beholder, and maybe Max’s eyes only finds it fascinating because her life has always been so equally uninteresting.

     But the boy next to her– he seems too rock and roll for this. He’s the boy who raises his own hell as opposed to watching it. He’s the world wonder that’s waking up in wild places and droppin water balloons off of the school roof. He’s his own sunset. And when he can’t stifle his yawns anymore, Max wonders if the whole trip she spent hyping the Great Pacific Northwest Aurora may have doomed him for disappointment. Her eyes sink low in shame, but light right back up when she catches glimpse of a JELLYFISH close to the surface of the water on her side of the dock, and she grabs his arm with a gasp.

                                                        “ Look at this cute jelly !! ”

     Max doesn’t turn to face him, because her eyes are fixated on this stupid sea-bag like it’s the most incredible thing she’s ever seen and the very spectacle of it is going to make the last agonizing three hours he’s spent with her all worthwhile. Grey leans into her to get a closer look without having to move– rests his chin on her shoulder. She starts listing off jellyfish trivia to keep him interested, and then she explains that she knows this stuff because she did a research paper on jellyfish once, but she doesn’t know why she picked jellyfish because her favorite animals are seahorses… And then she stops herself before she rambles again; she takes a pause and gives him the opening for a sly dig at her motor mouth or jelly-themed quip. She listens for it, but all she hears is a light nasally hum.

     The  boy  is  s n o o z i n g .

     …Well, maybe he’s earned it, after suffering her all morning. And they’re already showing up late to class– they may as well hang out here until they’re sure the same security guard won’t be at the post to ask what took them so long. So she turns her body forward and makes sure his head tilts out to face the water straight in front of them, slooowly readjusts the blankets until they’re tucked in as one unified burrito with windchill protection on all sides, and she even lets Sleeping Beauty continue using her shoulder as a pillow, on the condition that she can lean her own head on his in return.

     She soaks in this position for a while, listening to his little hum harmonize with the rustle of tiny waves as high tide comes in, and it’s so peaceful, it’s so peaceful, she’s not thinking about stalkers or death here. She’s not thinking about anything but the way the movement their breathing chests are so in sync with the still water’s gentle sway, and how their bodies fit together so organically even when they just fell into each other so thoughtlessly.

     And then she thinks: this is how lovebirds cuddle. 

     Not Valentine’s Day lovebirds, but literal, winged lovebirds. Like the pair in Hitchcock’s The Birds. –-Intrusive thoughts like this one, comparing her life to horror flicks, are always daunting her peace of mind, but she’s okay with this one. In the movie, the two lovebirds are the only living creatures that inexplicably manage to stay sane while the whole world around them, human and avian, goes berserk.

     ( Maybe because they had each other to weather the entropy together. )

     When the sunlight comes in full, Max can see her breath dancing with Grey’s in the icy December air, but she feels snug and toasty. It’s like in this place all their own, they are without bother, discomfort, inhibition. No creeps or killers or pasts or futures can come hurt them in this haven. And now she finally falls asleep, with cheek nestled into a pillow of fluffy hair.

     They’re safe here.

[abloomntime]

A Bloom In Time Ch 1 A Flower Princess Lost

Would it be so wrong to say I love you when you obviously didn't love me back the way I loved you? Would it be wrong to say I would I like you more than any other thing when you didn't see me more than a stranger? Would it be so wrong to want to hold you when you would be confused at my touch? Would there be any world where we were aloud to be together, with your hair flowing like rose petals and eyes of the beautiful blue sky. Where no one would stop them and no duties got in their way.....But it wasn't meant to be because no amount of begging or asking would probably change the way you see me right now. The smile I'm giving you as you talk about the flowers like they were your proud children and you were mother nature. You would make the best mother nature. With your fiery passion and gentle kindness. You always listened to me. Didn't pressure me to picking. Always smiled and never EVER treated me as some fairytale prince I wasn't, which is why after all these years of knowing you and loving someone who I know definitely loves me, but for all the wrong reasons, and as much as I love her back...I think I love you more.  "Your Highness? Are you alright?" He snapped out of it and yellow eyes blinked up at the lady who's stolen his heart. The fairytale romantic love of a Queen with beautiful blonde hair and emerald eyes was the first to catch him heart and he fell hard for her, but overtime that vision started to blur into one of fiery red passion and smelt of flowers. He could imagine his Queen in a wedding dress of pure white and covered in lace, but now he couldn't get the idea of how the maiden with red hair would look shyly looking at him in a dress of white, flowers in her hair and a red hue to her face as he held her close, wedding bells sounding as he promised her he would always love her. Forever.....But he should get his head out of the clouds. From the day he was born, his parents and Vanessa's mother had an arranged marriage for the two royals, and he didn't think even though she was Queen now, she'd let him go so soon with how attached she was....and how forcing his parents were about this. So he smiled at the confused face on the beautiful woman with hair of the rose. "I'm perfectly fine. Vanessa's just been....A b-bit cranky lately. So I wanted to surprise her with some flowers today. M-Maybe that'll help calm her down. " That got her attention when she rose a brow at him and asked a question that made him flinch. "Is this like the time she banned everyone here from eating bacon?" He waved her off. "N-No, no. She was only concerned about my health, a-and she's right. Bacon has too much fat. I could loose a few more pounds and eat healthier.'' Her beautiful blue eyes ran over him with a raised brow. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn't and instead smiled and pointed a hand to the flowers around her in her stand. "Well, how can I help you this time, Prince-y? We have a fifty percent discount on mixed wild daisies this week, more sprouted up than expected, but they smell great and multicolored. A colorful rainbow bouquet would brighten up anyone's day!" He looked at the many flowers she was pointing to and smiled and nodded. "Y-Yeah. Vanessa's loves any flowers I give her! These are perfect! You know what, I'll take some thanks!" She smiled and went to work on getting the flowers. Cutting them and getting the pretty pink paper to wrap them in so he could present them to his beloved Queen. He couldn't help but smile at the gentle way she handled the flowers ...but remembered. He didn't have any pons to pay her with. He spent the last on them on getting Vanessa an anniversary gift yesterday after she insisted he'd better do something to make her happy and 'prove he still loved her by not forgetting. And he didn't. He got her a beautiful bracelet with beautiful blue saphires studded into it and was getting her flowers on top of that....But- When she turned back to him with a smile, flowers ready to go...It was like it was stupid but-...He immediately held up the bracelet to her without question, smile on his own face. She blinked at the sudden gift held out to her before looking back up to his face in question. "Take it. I-...I-I got three others at home just like it," he lied with a smile but it felt like the right thing to do at the time, "Besides. I-I don't have any pons on me right now." He stared at him more. "Oh, no. I couldn't!" She held up her hands. "I couldn't possibly just accept it like that. Here." She held the flowers out to him. "You buy so much anyways. This time it's on the house." "NO!" He insisted. Gently placing the small bracelet into her hand while staring into her eyes. "I may be a prince but even Im not above getting things for free just because I buy a lot of it. You obviously put so much work into growing such beautiful flowers and I won't let hard work like that go under paid." They ended up just holding hands unintentionally for a few seconds as they talked and smiled. Neither noticed the beautiful golden sunshine haired woman with beautiful green emerald eyes suddenly stopping and watching from the dark corner of the alleyway. She stared in absolutely horror as she watched her prince, her beloved perfect prince holding hands with a...a...A PEASANT GIRL!! This girl with bland red hair that looked like it was dunked in tacky red paint and gotten red splotches all over her face, dirt smudging her tacky dress and obviously dirty and not fit for anyone other than another low life peasant like herself. AND YET THERE THEY WERE!! Holding hands, smiling, and giggling like they were...A Happy couple..NO! NO!! HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO LOOK AT ANYONE LIKE THAT!! HE WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT HER LIKE THAT!! HER! THE ONE WITH EYES OF EMERALD GREEN AND PERFECT HAIR SHINIER THAN GOLD!! FAIR SKIN AND BELOVED BY HER KINGDOM!! RICH AND COULD GIVE HIM ANYTHING HE ASKED!! THEY WERE THE ONES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIED WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME!! THEY WERE GOING TO ADOPT ONE OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE VILLAGE TOGTHER!! HE COULDN'T WAIT TO HAVE A CHILD BUT SHE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL A FEW YEARS INTO THEIR MARRIAGE BEFORE HAVING ONE!! IT WAS GOING TO BE THE PERFECT THING FOR THEIR IMAGE!! ADOPTING A CHILD OF NONE ROYAL BLOOD AND LOOK LIKE ONE OF THOSE FAIRYTALE STORIES!! THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT TOGETHER AND HE'S.....He's holding hands with someone who's not fit to even be in their story beyond a lowly subject!! With tears stinging her eyes she hiccupped and turned to run back into the darkness of the alley, if she would've stayed a little longer she would've seen the florist hand over the bouquet of flowers meant for her to he beloved prince and him paying her with the golden bracelet. The movement out of the corner of his eye made him look towards the swift movement and he easily recognized that fancy green dress running back into the shadow of the alleyway.  He jumped almost dropping the flowers he was just handed. "Vanessa!?" The florist looked to where he was looking but didn't see the woman that dashed into the alleyway as he stared in confusion. "Vanessa?.....Why did she run away so suddenly?" ...The florist shrugged lightly with a smile. "Maybe she was embarrassed she walked in on you getting her flowers?", she suggested. ....He gave a smile. "OH! Of course! She's considerate l-like that." He gave an almost nervous smile and turned back to her before bowing. "T-Thank you for your help once again...Ms. Poppy." She waved her hand. "Oh, don't mention it! It's always to see just a nice man be so considerate and give the gal he loves so many flowers." The gal he loved...Heh. He guessed that was true. He still loved Vanessa in some way or another...but lately..he wasn't too sure about things, but he was sure she was right. Vanessa was just in a bad place for a few years. Her mother was sick and dying slowly, she just got crowned Queen a month ago after her mother had an accident, her new duties were overwhelming her, and with him still doing his princely studies about law it musn't be easy for her. But like any betrothed, he was going to try and work through these problems together. But he still couldn't stop smiling after he left the Florist to her work. Cute freckles and blue eyes clouding his vision. He was sure as soon as Vanessa saw these flowers she would perk right up! She always enjoyed it when he brought her gifts like these- OH! How wrong he was. As soon as he got to the manor, Vanessa's vacation spot away from her huge castle, everything suddenly felt....off somehow. Like a tense and thick aura was in the air, so thick one would have to use a battle axe to cute through it, but upon further searching he found her. Vanessa, his beloved Queen with golden hair, weeping in one of the hallways, back faced to him and of course the sight pained him. What could've brought her to this state of being? "Vanessa?!" She flinched when he shouted her name and came near her. The sound of his footsteps stopping just behind her. "Sweetheart? W-Why are you crying?" Sudden worry came over him. Oh no. Did she think he forgot their anniversary?! That made him hold out the flowers with a giant smile. "Don't cry. I-I got you these! Look. A-Aren't they beautiful?" ".....How could you betray me, Philip?" Her voice growled out. And he took a step back, was it just him or was the room suddenly darker? They needed to open up the blinds more. But the shadows seemed to come from her as she growled again in a voice that was clearly NOT the sugary sweet voice of his beloved maiden. And betrayl?? What was she talking about? "How could you CHEAT ON ME!? AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH!! ALL OUR LIVES WE WERE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER!!" Her form slouched over as the shadows continued to consume her and her once beautiful emerald eyes twitched with a red of rage and anger he'd never seen before tears beginning to consume her eyes, or the one eye that was exposed to him at the moment. He froze just staring at her in horror as the same distorted voice asked another question. "How could you give your heart to that PEASANT GIRL!?" He stared at her in absolute fear as she growled like some wild animal at him, "W-WHAT?! You mean-...N-NO!! Nonono! You have it all wrong!" He held up the flowers with a strained scared smile. "I wasn't cheating on you! I would NEVER cheat on you! I was paying her and got you these! S-She grows the most beautiful flowers in the land, and you deserve no less than the best!" "LIAR!!" The not-Vanessa shrieked like she was a banshee making him almost drop the flowers. "I SAW YOU HOLDING HANDS!! AND LAUGHING AT HER JOKES!! FUNNY HUH?! WELL I HOPE PLAYING ME FOR A FOOL WAS WORTH IT, PHILIP!! GUARDS!!"  As if being summoned out of thin air, two heavy footsteps of the iron dressed guards came stomping down the hallway and like an idiot he looked back to her with pleading eyes. "Vanessa! I wasn't I swear to you! I was merely paying her for the flowers n-not giggling at her jokes! AAH!!" He yelped in fright when he was suddenly surrounded. two giant armored arms snatched him and wouldn't let go! She giggled without any humor. "Oh, Philip. You played me the fool for so long perhaps a punishment is in order for you. Take him to the celler and CHAIN HIM!!! I never want to see his face again.....And then seeze the florist. No crime against me shall go unpunished." WHAT?! POPPY!! "W-WHAT?! VANESSA, PLEASE NO!!" Two arms latched onto him and no matter how much he kicked and struggled he couldn't get out of their grasp. The flowers dropped to the ground as he reached out for her one last time. Her tears forming deadly ice to match her cold heart. "P-PLEASE!! DON'T HURT HER!! SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!! VANESSA!! NOOOOO!!!" He weeped and weeped when he was painfully suspended in the air by his wrists. The coldness taking over him as he hiccuped and mumbled to himself and choked on those tears. He didn't know how long he stayed down there actually. TIme flies when you couldn't see what was happening but he was sure he never stopped crying for all that time as he got weaker, and weaker. Just getting colder and colder as the cold seeped into his very core...he was almost gone. Looking back up towards the ceiling and through his tears he wondered what was going on up there. He couldn't hear anything but he hoped Poppy was alright. He'd never forgive himself if Vanessa did anything rash. He hiccuped. His beloved queen. This was all his fault. "I-Im sorry. IM SORRY! IM SORRY!! IM SO SORRY!!" He yelled to the empty air knowing full well no one could hear him. But Vanessa was not the one he was apologizing to. The maiden of feiry red hair and ocean blue eyes. "I-Im s-so sorry, Poppy. *hic*" The cold crept further and his body felt light, somehow his shadow was extending, his life force fading into it as those handsome brown eyes closed to the darkness and numbing- "I-...love-..." The shadows and darkness consumed him. The shadow enlarging and morphing and contorted into a being of power and enhanced abilities. A gasp escaped the creature as it looked down at itself. At the same time moonlight shown through the window and what was left of the prince and his willpower faded away into the moonlight, so when the creature looked behind it, the prince was gone from the chained wall. The prince with his heart split into two by his heart splitting between two and found attachment in two very powerful elements of dark and light. Moonshine and shadows. The creature looked down at his new self....feeling his grin widen and a powerful laugh that many would come to fear vibrating around the basement of his new found freedom. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!'' *************************************************************************************************************** "GAH!!" Something wacked his head and he immediately jumped to the air. If he still had lungs he would probably be panting and looking around wildly around the room he was in. No cold walls caging him in. No coldness seeping into him. No Vanessa or chains or....Poppy. Instead a small pale little girl was staring up at him with concern as she watched his confused face darting around the area....He was on her ship. Her strange cute ship of the small seven year old in front of him. He had been laying on the pile of pillows she had and looking around the area as if he was afraid for a moment. Before he sighed in releif and reached up a clawed hand to rub at his head and hair. Staring down at the little girl standing upon the pile of pillows, holding one dangling in her hand, which he guessed must've been the thing that wacked. He sighed again and slowly lowered himself down look at her better. "Kid. It's already pass your bedtime probably. What are you doing up?" Her head tilted and those blue eyes blinked at him before a tiny hand reached out and poked his face where a nose should obviously be if he was human and he rose a brow. "Boop!" "....Did you really just wack me with a pillow for THAT? Kiddo, you should really find better reasons to wake me up." Two clawed hands gently reached down and picked her up from under the arms. She dropped the pillow from her hold and instinctively wrapped her arms around him as he floated her back down to her bed, the covers were already pulled back from her getting up and her friend snored away happily on the floor next to her bed....He made a mental note to get her a bed sometime. Bow couldn't be expected to keep laying like that on the hard floor, he gently placed the young child on the bed and went to pull the covers back over her- "You were mumbling something funny." She said making him stop and blink at her.  "Oh yeah?" She nodded. Dang nightmares. He barely had any, but he still got the occasional blast from the past. Wasn't being a cursed prince fun? He pulled the blankets up and she snuggled down with her stuffed toys he hand crafted for her. "And uh..What exactly did you hear me say?" She shrugged again as she was recovered and he started tucking her in. "Your head was in the pillows." He went to roll his eyes when something grabbed onto his hand. And he looked at her wide excited smile spread across her face. "Can you tell me a story?" "Squirt, I already read you the one you wanted with the space unicorns," he grumbled remembering the ridiculous book the girl begged him to read to her. "Yeah. But I always sleep better with a story, and if I don't sleep I'll get up and bother you again." She gave him that cat lipped smug face and he groaned lifting a hand to rub his face and look down at the child in the bed. Before sighing and giving in. She was right. He'd done this too many times to not expect a sudden pillow attack from the hyper story deprived child. "Fine." He turned back to the bookshelf by her bed and looked over the many childish covers. "Which one do you want now? Space Adentures? Starella? Planets and Star Maps?" "Your story!" He paused, and snapped his head to her wide eyed. "What?" She giggled and turned to her side yawning a bit before speaking. "I want you to tell me one of your stories." ..."My stories eh?" She nodded and he hummed. That..wasn't a very good idea. All the books he read were either lawyer/law books (what better way to help make his contracts better) and scary or mysteries books that were uh...N-Not suitable for children her age lets say. Plus he didn't have any on him at the moment so he guessed he could just make one up? How hard could making up a story for a kid be. She'll fall asleep if he just told her a story about a talking flower making friends with a bumble bee. His hand reached up to rub at his head again before looking at her now clutching the C.A.W agent plus he made her after telling him her adventures in the movie studio. ..."Ok, Ok! I'll tell you one I witnessed a long time ago....In a book. But you gotta promise to go to sleep." She hummed 'Mmm-hmm' and smiled patiently at the ghost who groaned and rolled his eyes again. Why was he doing this?...Well he just had a nightmare about his death-again- and talking about it even twisting the details sounded nice. Not that he'd ever admit it to the little girl. "Once upon a time there was a beautiful flower Princess named Poppy, and a-" "Pop? Why is she named after a soda?", the kid interrupted blinking confused and he scowled. "Not 'soda pop'. Poppy. Poppy is a kind of flower on this planet, Kid. Now don't be a rude little lady and let me finish the story unless you want to be grounded from them." She shut up and curled back down into the covers to his satisfaction. "Good. Now like I was saying! There was a flower princess POPPY not soda pop, an evil which named....'Veronica', and a stupid, stupid king." She raised her hand like in a classroom. "....*sigh* Yes?" "Why was he a stupid, stupid king?" "You'll see. Now" He grabbed her lamp and pulled the shade off, letting more light flood everywhere and she blinked at the sudden brightness, which a snap of his powers shadows slithered up the wall and formed the outlines of three people. Two women with their dresses and one wearing a witch hat, and a man wearing a crown. They moved as he talked and she watched amazed. "You see. WAY, WAY back before your great granny was even born there was these three. Like I said the Flower Princess was very beautiful. Her hair was a rose red and her skin was as soft a-as their petals. She had the most wonderful patience listeningto her friend The Stupid King, and his p-problems...."His face saddened for a moment as the king and princess shadows held hands platonically...."B-But..she didn't know the king was in love with her. You see...He was too cowardly to tell her or anyone else because he was betrothed to the Evil witch Veronica-" ANother raised hand. "...Yes?" "What does 'betoofed' mean?" "Betrothed, Kid. Not betoofed. You know contracts right? How you legally have to follow them because you promised to?" She nodded. "Well basically means the Stupid King promised to marry the witch a long time ago." ..She cocked her head. "But he doesn't love her. That's not like Starella and the Milky Way Prince. They fell in love before they got married." He chuckled. Even a seven year old could clearly see the stupid logic in arranged marriages and she didn't even comprehend them yet. And his situation, but he shrugged before making the king turn around and ....ECK!! Kiss the hand of the witch who looked like she was giggling. "Well, you're wrong. He DID love her. A long, long time ago before she became evil." "Why didn't he break with her like in the movies?" He shrugged. "Promises are sometimes h-hard to break for some people. And he still cared about her in some way, the witch was really, really pretty too, and I guess he just couldn't see past her beauty and wanted to try and make things right." "That doesn't sound like a healthy relationship." She held up a hand in knowing. "Conductor always says*ahem*!!" She tried to do a bad impression of the old bird and he smiled. "Lassie! If ye ever get yerself whatever the aliens call a wife, at thee first sign of trrrrrouble ask 'er if she loves the money ya makes with mah' movies. If she says yas, she's a no good golddigger and leave before she takes ye kids and house and most of ye money too!!" He laughed a couple times and Bow stirred in her sleeping bag. Not waking up but almost as he stared at the proud Hat child. "Well that's good advice kid. But she wasn't a golddigger-"....His face slowly contorted to a scowl and looked down. "She was in love with a fairytale. She loved the Stupid King for being like a King from a story. She never loved him for who he really was as long as her fairytale wasn't tampered with. She was clingy, selfish, nothing was never good enough unless it was expensive, and she demanded all his attention all the time. ....Until one fateful day-" He waved his three fingered hand at the shadows and it contorted until it showed the witch with slated eye holes and the king and princess holding hands....platonically of course. "The witch saw the King And Flower Princess holding hands...AS JUST FRIENDS." He stressed. "Nothing romantic. Just two friends holding hands for a little bit. And she got really, really jealous. In fact she got so jealous-" The shadows contorted to the king looking sad behind a cage. "-she blamed him for breaking her heart and locked him away forever. And then she-" The shadows again contorted to show the witch still angry and this time over a cauldron. "-cursed the Stupid King's and Princess's kingdoms. All the plants died, all the animals ran away, and everyone...." he couldn't say they froze to death! "..T-They moved on from there. But karma struck her good and-" She raised her hand again. "...What now?" "What's 'karma'??" "It means he got revenge. Justice? Whichever one you wanna call it." The shadows formed to show the king opening the door to the cage and running. "The Stupid King managed to escape and get free, but the Witch's spell backfired. She cursed herself too and was trapped forever in her home, the black magic keeping her inside the cave she dug, but it was too late. The Princess was gone and he never saw her again. The shadows formed one more image of the King holding a flower with his head down in shame." "WHAT?!" Bow stirred again and Snatcher shushed her. "He never saw her again?" She asked more quietly. "But that's not fair! He loved her so much!" He shrugged sadly and put the lamp shade back on, making the shadows disappear and he sighed, "It's not all bad. He's free and he got to go rule again without worrying without pleasing anyone else. Not all stories have a happy ending kid, even if it's half decent like this." He stared down to the floor with a frown...before reaching over and ruffling her hair which she giggled at. "It's also a very important lesson. Don't let yourself be blinded in bad situations and don't let someone use you like that. Ok?" "I'm never gonna fall in love! Yuck!!" She stuck her tongue out and he smiled.  "Good, good. You don't need to fall in love when ...well you're stuck as a kid for all eternity with me now don't you?" "NOPE!! I don't like that mushy stuff anyways!"  He smiled wider. "Good. Good. Now go to sleep. I need all the energy you can get to fix the well tomorrow." She giggled again but yawned and slowly closed her eyes and snuggled back into the blackets. As he smiled he looked back to the giant windows, as he looked to the darkned and frozen abyss of the planet they were above a frown slowly returned to the ghostly prince's face as he slowly floated over to the window. Placing a cold hand to the cool glass and watching as it slowly ticked by and he sighed once again. "Sorry, Princess. I had to be the stupid king to do that." "Snatcher...I can't sleep. Can I have a glass of water?" The Kid's voice piped up again and he chuckled. "Sure, kid."