#(said by person who has 7 piercings already)

[roombagreyjoy]

Siren's call to change unhealed piercings for new jewellery my beloathed

[matan4il]

The other day, I went with my rl bff to the Jerusalem branch of the Museum of Tolerance for an exhibition on the Hamas massacre.

This is the sight that greeted us. "Esthers of the world, rise up!"

It's a poster celebrating two women whose families had lived in Iran, one is Jewish, the other is Muslim, and both women ended up being murdered due to the Islamic regime of that country, even though the Jewish woman's family had escaped Iran and fled to Israel after the Islamic revolution. The face of each girl is actually a composite, made from many smaller pictures of her people who have lost their lives because of the Islamist regime of Iran.

I knew this right away, because I have shared a piece that was done about the poster and how it came to be almost 2 months ago. 

"You don't understand!" my bff (who works as a teacher) said, all emotional, "She," my friend points to the Jewish girl on the left side of the poster, Shirel Haim Pour, "is the cousin of one of my students."

There is zero distance in Israel between us and the Oct 7 atrocities. 

We go in and join the tour of the exhibition. The guide tells us it was built jointly with Malki Shem Tov, who is a well known name in Israel, if you work at a museum. Malki founded a "creative visual solutions" company with his brother Assaf, through which among other things, they helped build many Israeli exhibitions over the years. "His son..." the tour guide starts to say and I don't need more than that for something to click in my head. I know so many of the names, faces and stories of the hostages, and so Omer Shem Tov pops right away into my mind. I didn't make the connection before, but now I can only imagine what it meant for this father to work on an exhibition that recounts, among other stories, how his son was victimized and robbed of his freedom during this massacre.

There is zero distance in Israel between us and the Oct 7 atrocities. 

The opening wall has a huge time stamp, 6:29 in the morning. 

The tour guide doesn't have to explain this number to Israelis, or why it's designed to look like an alarm clock display. We were all woken up on that fateful Saturday morning by the alarm clock of Hamas' rockets. And it doesn't matter what we thought or believed the day before, as the full scale and horror of the attack were starting to become known along Oct 7, we were all woken up.

There is zero distance in Israel between us and those atrocities. I know this, and still it strikes me, again and again.

There's an area dedicated to the pictures of one photographer who went to the south soon after the massacre. I knew some of them already, like the pic showing the bodies of 13 elderly Israelis, who were on their way to a tour of the Israeli south on that Saturday.

Some are new, like the pic of the door handle in one bomb shelter. I stop for a second, because now that I've moved into my new place, it hits me that the bomb shelter door was made by the same company. Suddenly, I feel like I'm inside the picture in a reality where the terrorists took a slightly different route on Oct 7. The door was photographed from inside the bomb shelter, and the bullets that pierced it, they had to have hit the personal holding it shut. The handle has blood stains on it, and it's broken off. I can only imagine how many hours this person held, and how much force they had to use, for that to happen. I know one thing, even without knowing exactly who this bomb shelter belonged to... If this person was on their own, they would have probably ended up surrendering rather than keep fighting to hold on to the handle this desperately. This was likely someone trying to keep their family safe. 

One note retrieved from the body of a terrorist is on display. It says everything about the motivation of the monsters who committed these atrocities, and every word is purely motivated by antisemitism and religious zeal. The note is actually not in Arabic, as it may first appear, it's in Farsi, the language spoken in Iran, hinting at the source, the Islamist regime there, which doesn't care about the liberation of anyone, it aspires to create a global network of fanatic terrorism.

The translation: "You must sharpen the blades of your swords and be pure in your intentions before Allah. Know that the enemy is a disease that has no cure, except beheading and uprooting the hearts and livers. Attack them!"

There is a section dedicated to women's stories. The exhibition visitors spread out to watch the testimonies, each on a separate screen. It's a not like a forest, you can't really see it for the trees, and it's another moment of feeling overwhelmed because we can't truly get it. It's just not comprehensible, facing so many stories about intentional, face to face cruelty, brutality, sadism and joy in it. Mali Shoshana tells the story of how she tried to play dead while lying shot in a pool of her own blood, but her body wouldn't stop shaking, so she somehow turned on her side to the wall and knocked her injured knee against it, causing herself to pass out from the pain. It saved her life. Ricarda Louk tells the story of the last message they got from her daughter Shani, trusting she was right and there was nothing for them to worry about. Then Ricarda's son started screaming and crying, because he saw the same vid many of came across on that day, of his sister being dragged into Gaza stripped down, mutilated, abused, molested and humiliated, while Gazan civilians were celebrating the public degradation of her body. And there's more and more and more. "You can come back and continue to listen," the guide promises as he moves us to the next segment, but the truth is no matter how many stories I've listened to and absorbed, it still doesn't feel like enough.

There is a wall with the head shots of the victims in Israel who lost their lives due to this war, whether they were murdered on Oct 7 or since, but it's only been updated up until Mar 27 of this year. Even so, no matter what angle I tried, I couldn't fit in all of the pictures.

Interactive screens allow a geographic telling of the massacre's story. They show maps of Israel's south, with dots on them, red for the murdered, dark blue for hostages, bright blue for hostages who have been returned, grey for the injured. You can tap a dot and read a story. Or you can zoom out and try to comprehend how is it possible for there to be that many dots on the maps.

"From darkness to light," reads the exhibition title. That's the perception of time in Judaism. We always move from darkness to light. And there's a section for the light, for stories of resilience, of bravery, of rehabilitation, of mutual support and caring. Filmed interviews that do their best to summarize an incomprehensible amount of good we've seen in response to an incomprehensible amount of evil. It features people from every demographic in Israel, and in that way also serves as a reminder of just how diverse we are as a society.

This part, I think to myself, was included for visitors from abroad. We Israelis, we know.

There's one story I know already. Tomer Greenberg, an Israeli officer, rescued on Oct 7 baby twins from the carnage. He was later killed fighting in Gaza. Like a puzzle, I've heard this story from several angles, including from Tomer before he died. This movie features an interview I hadn't heard yet, with the volunteer paramedic that Tomer handed the twins to. Shalom, this medic, talks about how they clung to him desperately as they got to be fed and feel safe and cared for again for the first time in what's estimated to have been 14 hours. I'm sitting there, thinking of those babies crying, not understanding why their parents aren't coming to feed them, and I don't know how to deal with this.

Shalom shares that the experiences of Oct 7 have inspired him to try and become a combative soldier, something that wasn't on the cards for him before that. I wonder again at people who can act like subjecting an entire (already traumatized) society to a sadistic massacre can liberate anyone.

And I understand Shalom fully. When your family is in the pits of hell, there's nowhere you want to be other than there, with them, doing what you can, rather than sit and watch helpless from afar. Most people would say he did a lot on that day. Shalom must have felt like that still wasn't enough.

At the very end, visitors are invited to add their own little piece of light, through neon notes and pens on which they'd share their thoughts. Nothing feels like it can sum everything I'm thinking and feeling up, but not writing anything feels worse, so my bff and I add a few of our words to the notes.

I don't have any profound conclusions for this post anymore than I did for my note. I just know that this still hurts, that we're still losing people daily, that we can't begin to heal, because we're still in the middle of the wound being inflicted. But I also know that we WILL heal, that even if the wound can't be closed yet, our collective immune system kicked into action on Oct 7 already, that we will continue to share the pain and the comfort and the care, and this massacre and war will probably never stop hurting, that we'll never be the same, but eventually we will be alright. Where people choose to care, there's just no other option.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[intynidad]

yayayayayayayya!

Imagine a Soldier, a DILF,Huge, muscular, and so intimidating! But there are a few drawbacks.. He is VERY possessive and overprotective! (Yandere)

He can’t see you with another man! Or even the thought of a man breathing in your direction is enough for him to throw a sharpened knife at his head.. Even women are rivals to him.. He is a MaleWife! I’m his free time he wants to take care of you! like imagine the pink frills and bows but with camouflage pants and dog tags..

And the way he looks at you.. with so much adoration and love.. Even after transforming into a beast a few moments ago and glaring at the one who dared to even look at his sweet darling!

Scary dog privileges!! A huge almost 7 foot man stalking behind you with a preditorial gaze.. Sending death glares at anyone who passes near you..

you don’t know how he is so stealthyfor being so huge..

Has a huge and muscular body! So he has huge hands and arms.. With lots of bulging veins!

(Imagine grabbing his moobies after a hard day of work.. He would moan and whimper like a bitch in heat.. a string of Thank yous coming out his mouth..)

I imagine he has a hidden piercing probably on his tongue.. but no one knows.. except you.. but isn’t noticeable because he wears a balaclava at work!

Petnames!: Darling, Sweethear, Angel, My love, Princess, Lovely

It took some time but i really like how it came out owo

I got a little lazy on the end but is still good

TW: yandere behavior, description of violence(not towards reader), use of pet names (sugar cube and darling), female oriented reader ??? Tell me if i miss anything owo

Enjoy !

War was not kind to anyone.

First, your father was drafted to fight on the front lines. He tried to write every time he could, but one day, you and your mother stopped getting any letters. That's when you knew it - that your father was dead.

Your now-widowed mother was absolutely heartbroken. You tried to initiate a conversation, saying, -"Hello, Mom,"- but were only met with silence. This is how things have been going since the news of your father. It’s been a lonely and difficult time for your family.

You often found yourself staring out of the window, watching the seasons change. The world outside seemed to carry on as if nothing had happened, while inside your home, there was a void that couldn't be filled.

You saw how the war started to consume your little neighborhood, first your father, then your mother, and now your friends.

"I can't believe it," you said with a shaky voice. "You can't leave me."

You clutched the small phone in your hands while the other person on the line gave a low chuckle, full of sadness. "I know, I know. It's not like I want to."

"Dylan, please," you begged, your voice choked with a sob. "You're sick. You can't go to fight."

"I can't just stay still while the war consumes our lives, sugar cube," Dylan replied with determination. "Listen, I'm going to do everything I can to stay in contact, but I refuse to stay still while our enemies burn our homes and kill our people."

You understood his sentiment, but the fear of losing yet another person you loved was overwhelming. The war had taken so much from you already, and you didn't want to lose Dylan as well.

"Dylan, promise me you'll be safe. Promise me you'll come back," you pleaded.

"I promise I'll do my best, sugar cube," Dylan said softly. "And I promise we'll be together again when this nightmare is over."

As the call ended, you clutched the phone tightly, tears streaming down your face, thinking of the destiny of one of your closest friends. With your vision blurry, that's when you saw it:

[Be the hero of our heroes!]

[Become a war nurse and help today!]

——-

The training was fairly easy, but the hardest part was saying goodbye to your mother. It wasn't because of the response she gave you, but rather the lack of it. The war had taken so much from her, and you leaving to join the medical corps was another sacrifice she had to bear in silence.

After three months of training and preparation, you reached your destination - the front lines. Well, it wasn't exactly the front lines where bullets flew, but it was a place where you felt like you were helping. The makeshift field hospital was a hive of activity, with wounded soldiers being brought in, and the dedicated medical team doing their best to save lives and ease suffering.

Your heart swelled with a mix of fear and determination as you donned your nurse's uniform. You had a newfound respect for the doctors and nurses who worked tirelessly in these conditions, and now, you were one of them.

Every day, you encounter injured soldiers, each with their own story of bravery and sacrifice. You offered comfort, administered care, and listened to their fears and hopes. It was a harsh environment, but the camaraderie and shared purpose among the medical staff gave you strength.

As you continued your work on the front lines, you knew that this was where you were meant to be, where you could honor your father's memory, support your friends, and be a beacon of hope in the darkness of war.

That was until one particularly slow day. Well, as slow as it could be in a war hospital. You were preparing some medical supplies for the medics to take to their respective camps when a superior of yours called you.

-"Y/N! Could you come over and take care of this new patient? I'm kinda busy right now,"- the woman said in a calm tone.

-"Sure, just send them back here, and I'll take care of them,"- you responded.

Her tone was pretty chill, so it was probably just a bruise or maybe a cold. You were preparing some medicine and band-aids when you felt a small tap on your shoulder.

-"I'm sorry to keep you waiting; please have a sea-" When you turned around, you were shocked to see a man - no, a practical giant - towering over you.

The soldier was immense, with a rugged face that bore the scars of battle. He had a stern, almost intimidating expression, and it was clear that he had seen his fair share of combat. As he hunched down to enter the tent, you couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and trepidation.

-“Captain Samuel Reynolds, a pleasure to make your acquaintance"- he said in a deep, gravelly voice. His uniform was tattered and stained, and he clutched his side in obvious pain.

-"Y/N,"- you replied, trying to regain your composure. You quickly gestured for him to sit on one of the makeshift beds. As he eased himself down, it became apparent that he was wounded, a bandage around his abdomen stained with blood.

-"I heard you're the best nurse in this place,"- he said, his voice filled with both gratitude and a touch of humor.

You blushed at the compliment. The reality was that you were just doing your best, like all the others in the medical corps. You started to assess his injuries, trying to hide your nervousness as you worked to remove the soiled bandage.

-"You've been through quite a lot,"- you commented as you cleaned the wound.

Samuel winced, but he nodded. -"The front lines aren't a picnic, that's for sure. But I've seen worse."

As you stitched up his wound and administered medication, you couldn't help but feel watched as his gaze practically pierced through you. But you continued to do your work, focused on providing the best care you could.

-"Okay, that should do for the bleeding, Mr. Reynolds. Let me go grab some bandages and some painkillers for you,"- you said.

His response caught you off guard, -"...why?"- Samuel said, almost confused about your reasoning.

-"Because, um, you are hurt?"- You stammered, wondering if you had said something wrong.

-"Thanks for the offer, sweetheart, but this pain won't kill me. Plus, there are some other people around that probably need those painkillers and bandages more than me,"- Samuel said matter-of-factly. He expected it to be the end of the conversation. You would probably tell him okay and assign him a bed, and that would be the end of it.

But you surprised him with your firm resolve. -"No,"- you said.

-"Thanks, so I will be going to my bed, then,"- Samuel was more than confused when he registered your words.

-"Wait, what?"- he asked.

-"I'm sorry, Captain, but with all due respect, I will not allow you to do that,"- you said firmly.

-"Do what?"- Samuel was clearly taken aback.

-"I'm sorry, but as long as you are here, I'm in charge of you, and I won't let any of my patients go suffering when they can perfectly take some rest and medication,"- you said, giving him a small, determined smile. It was clear that you weren't going to back down.

Samuel's eyes met yours, and he seemed to be processing your words. His tough exterior had met its match in your unwavering dedication to your patients' well-being.

As you delicately applied pressure to his wounds to wrap them up in bandages, Samuel couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. The way your hands worked so skillfully and delicately had a calming effect, and he found himself strangely drawn to your touch. It was as if your care had the power to make his pain vanish.

However, the sensation of your fingers on his skin made him nervous. His heart raced, and he couldn't quite understand why he felt this way. Samuel, a battle-hardened captain, suddenly felt a wave of discomfort.

-"I'm sorry, but are you okay?"- you asked, looking into his eyes as you reached your hand to his forehead. -"You're a little bit hot."

-"I'm f-fine,"- he stammered, full of shame. How was it possible that he was suddenly stuttering? What was happening to him?

Samuel couldn't quite comprehend the mix of emotions he was experiencing. Here he was, a soldier used to facing danger and making difficult decisions, and yet in this moment, your caring presence and gentle touch had him feeling vulnerable in a way he had never felt before.

A couple of weeks passed, and you continued to care for him. It didn't take much time for Samuel to realize that he was in love. A cold-blooded soldier had become completely enamored by a tiny (in comparison to him) nurse. He couldn't help but follow you with his gaze as you waltzed around the hospital, tending to the wounded and offering comfort with your warm smile.

He felt a profound happiness with you in his life. The war, which had taken so much from him, had also given him something unexpected – love.

One day, when his wounds were practically all healed up, he went for a run around the hospital perimeters. Part of it was to use some of the energy he had built up during his recovery, but deep down, he also wanted to make sure you were safe.

During his run, he stumbled upon a small river with water lilies floating on its surface. They were small in comparison to his massive hands, delicate and beautiful, just like you. Samuel found himself captivated by their fragility and elegance.

He decided then and there. He would confess his feelings to you when the sun went down. Those lilies, a symbol of the tenderness he had discovered in the midst of war, would be his gift to you. They represented the love that had grown in his heart, unexpected and pure, just like the delicate blossoms on the river.

He advanced with a spark to his feet, feeling his heart sincronice to each step he took.

At the entrance of your “office” (it was just a big tent but you liked to call it that) , he called out to you, -"Um, Miss Y/N, are you there?"- He couldn't help but feel a certain nervousness in his voice. It was an unfamiliar feeling for him, like he was a teenager again, not a battle-hardened soldier.

When he didn’t hear anything he decided to just enter and wait for you.

It was weird. You usually would check for medical supplies and then come back to your tent to put on your uniform and THEN start the day…not like he had your whole schedule memorized of anything.

He started to worry. Maybe you had been distracted or were in some kind of danger. The concern for your well-being began to overshadow his initial nervousness. He scanned the tent, looking for any signs of where you might be or if there was trouble.

He bolted to his feet again running to the “hospital”, full with worry.

When he got there he asked to another nurse if they had see you

-“oh, Y/N. O boy let me tell´ya. They been all lovely dovey with somebody on the back”-

-…what- Samuel felt his heart freeze

The nurse continued without noticing -“ya’ apparently it was an old friend of them. Let me tell’ya boy. The moment that guy enter she almost fainted of happiness. She was like “omg its been so long and””-

Samuel stopped listening half way through. He didn’t care about that guy.

He cared about you.

Who was this guy

How do you know him

He was dangerous?

Was he an enemy ?

He walked with a heavy step. Until he hear a small voice sniffling.

Samuel froze. It was you.

-“aww don’t worry sugar cube. I’m alright told ya’”- a voice he didn’t recognize talked to you

He cringed at the nickname the stranger gave you. Sugar cube

Yes you were sweet and all of that but he had no right to call you that.

-im sorry Dylan is just that *sob* the tears don’t stop- you responded

Dylan huh…where did he heard that name before.

He peeked a little and what he saw made his blood boil.

You were there with tears staining your beautiful face. And that disgusting man was kissing them away. Like he had any right to do that.

He continued to observe in silence.

He saw how this man sat you on his lap while kissing you.

At this point the lilies were long forgotten crushed to mere crumbs into his hands.

And when he saw Dylan slowly caress your leg he couldn’t stand there any longer.

He opened the curtain that separated you three and walked with a heavy step.

-“may i know what you are doing, soldier?”- his voice low and authoritative

Dylan that was not paying attention, bolted his head toward him and with super speed put you down on his side

-S-Sir i'm sorry is- Dylan tried to explain himself while he brushed up his uniform

-“I don’t want to hear it,soldier. Identify yourself and your section”-

-“Dylan Ramirez sir. I just got transfer to site 2-A sir.”-

Ah. That where he knew him. He was a new transfer to HIS section.

-why are you in this stablishment and not reporting to me of your arrival- samuel said with maybe a little to much volume

-“i wanted to say hello to nurse Y/N sir. She is an old friend sir.”-

Friend…he didn’t believe that bullcrap

-i want you out and to run 10 laps around the perimeter.NOW-

And with that Dylan rise to his feet and run towards the exit.

You that were looking at the whole exchange. Felt slightly intimidated. Like the first time you met Samuel. He been so nice with you that you forgot that he is a high rank in the troops.

When your two sights encounter you couldn’t help but look to the ground.

-“are you alright?”- say Samuel on a voice much, much softer than the one he used with Dylan.

You didn’t say anything.

-“is just that…I heard you cry and got worried”- that was partially the truth but he was sure you wouldn’t mind.

-“yea i apologize for the whole scene…Mr Samuel”- you said with a hint of shame on your voice

-“you don’t have to apologize for anything,darling. Is just we are going tomorrow to the front lines again and maybe im a little nervous”- another half truth but alas it was for the best.

-“can i ask you to do something for me?”- you said, still looking at the ground

Oh if only you knew what he would do for you

-whatever you need-

-Please take care of Dylan on the front lines. He is a very important person to me-

Why. Why he was such an important person to you?.

Why does he had that he didn’t?

Why you looked at them without fear and when you looked at him your gaze was on the ground?

Why

Why

WHY

-“sure. Ill make sure Dylan is taken care of”- samuel say after a moment

-“thank you”- you said with a small smile

…..

He still though of that small interaction. He almost felt a hint of guilt for breaking his promise. Almost

He choose Dylan as his second in command to investigate a supposedly abandoned enemy base. That way they could maybe find supplies or a hint to end this war.

He had done this dozens of times.

The feeling of the bone breaking and the warmth of the blood on his hands. But the adrenaline on his veins this time made it a little different. Almost like if it was more personal.

If he had to compare Dylan to an animal it would probably be a deer of some kind.

A frail and sickly one but still a deer

First it was a shoot to the leg. He screamed in pain as he fell to the ground but we both knew that nobody would come.

Then Samuel stepped on his hand with all his force. It made a crack that send a pleasant chill to his own spine.

The beating continued for a while. For too little time on Samuel’s opinion and if Dylan had the ability to speak he probably said it was for far too long.

But no one can really talk with a broken jaw and without a tongue.

When he came back to the base. Nobody question the story of an ambush.

Nobody question that fact that his knife was missing.

Why would they?

After all he was the first in command. He was the commander Samuel

But the acting when he came back to you was supreme. Maybe he should had been an actor instead of a soldier but anyway.

You cried and screamed and punched the air.

It did broke his heart that you looked so sad. But don’t worry he would be here for you as long as you need him

And you wouldn’t need anybody else.

[pinkexpertnerdghost]

An analysis on Pavia from Reverse1999 (Alternative Title: Me yapping about Pavia's backstory and making headcanons/personal interpretation based on the crumbs of lore we get 😭)

I recently thought about this. I've been grinding in this game cause it's so pretty and the voice acting is delicious. That's my own opinion though. And I want to write this down because It will consume me of I don't.

So all you Pavia stans and fans, this one is for y'all since there is only a handful of stuff about him online.😭🥹

So if any players main/use Pavia a lot and build up Bond with him we get his backstory and more voiclines. And spoiler, in Pavia's second character story, it mentions how he was literally abused/neglected from his legal guardian (bitch-ass aunt) because according to her, he looked closely resembling her mother(aunt's sis).

Also that, the aunts sister (Pavia's mum) is apparently dead??? But present Pavia states She's in "an asylum in Rome in probably her middle ages" and "he's never visited her".

So...does he believe she's still alive? Or did the aunt tell him that his mother was just 'insane' and 'unwell' that she was sent to an asylum and was the reason he was under her care? Never informing her own nephew about the passing of his mother?? Cause man.....that's kind of messed up if so. 🫠😶

I'll assume that Pavia's mom, being a single parent since the dad was 'missing', felt overwhelmed or inadequate to be a mom and left him with her sister (the aunt). Since the aunt described her sister as 'sorrowful' 'who abandoned her' and that she 'left behind her troublesome kid'.

I want to believe that Pavia's mom did love him. To some extent. She sang rhymes for him when he was probably a toddler (mentioned in one of his voice lines). She probably sang them so often to him that a grown Pavia can vaguely recall her lullabies. She probably thought that she really wasn't cut out to be a mom; he already had a 'missing' father, what can she do? Keep in mind that this is probably set in the late 70's or early 80's. And based on the societal steriotypes/stigmas, this reasoning seems plausible. And maybe thought that the best decision was to leave him in the care of her sister.

Or perhaps she was in a dangerous situation because she did apparently 'died a few years later' after "going into the city."

Was she in a tight situation? Was this perhaps linked to why Pavia's father was missing? Maybe the family was involved with a crime group or dangerous people? I find it suspect that his father was said to be missing, and that the mom died a few years later after dropping off her son with the aunt.

Going by the later assumption, could this have been a decision to protect her son? If so....it just makes Pavia's backstory and with the way his aunt treated him makes his story that much more tragic and unfair.

But back to the aunt.

The sister...now being tasked to look after a nephew who resembled her sad, irresponsible and 'selfish' sister, she confines him to a basement 24/7 to not look at him because of her personal issues/resentment towards his mother.

Pavia as a child calls out to her, fucking apologies for something he had no control over (his looks, his mom's decision), and is angry at this treatment. (Which honestly, fuck the aunt bro. Fuck Pavia's aunt bro, me and the homies hate Pavia's aunt. The kid did nothing wrong. Just because you resent his parents doesn't excuse the poor treatment you push onto the child. Your biological sister left him in your care and then later on died, the least you can do is provide for probably the only living relative you have left.)

Maybe this is linked to why Pavia has such a flamboyant and artistic style in appearance. Dyed white hair, but his natural dark roots are showing. Tinted glasses, to obscure his silver blue eyes and deep shades under his eyes. Random jewelry on his hands he doesn't really care for. The varies ink on him that make his skin a canvas. The cool ass piercings.

And while this could be a tactic to keep his identity a secret or untraceable for the authorities due to his job as an independent merc, just maybe..... he didn't want to be reminded of who he looked like whenever he looks at himself.

Maybe he didn't want to resemble his mother. It was because of his appearance that his aunt confined him to solitude. Something he had no control over, but as he got older....he gained control over how he looked and dressed. He never visits her in the asylum, she was the second person who abandoned him and the cause of his aunts hatred towards him. So....he probably has either a neutral or negative towards his mother.

In the basement, he develops a very unhealthy lifestyle; having no real concept of time, little sunlight, the sound of dripping water and pests constantly providing an uneasy atmosphere, but he develops his arcanum.

His imaginary friends, who watch over him and keep him warm. Since the humans who were supposed to do that, failed him so horribly.

His imaginary friends who bloomed from the darkest shadows of the basement due to his budding arcanum. Quiet literally.... byproducts of his own loneliness, perhaps yearning to be a part of a family, and strong arcanum.

He couldn't and wouldn't rely on any human, he had to fend for himself.

And because of this, he became an "independent mercenary" with a fatal flaw of " lacking in collaborative skills". He is good at what he does...but his employers "can't stand his work ethic of ignoring his coworkers". He comes across as having an unlikable personality and rudeness. He has a hard time getting along with other people. And honestly? Who can blame him. With the way he was raised...no wonder he doesn't like people in general.

But why should he? Why should he rely on people? His own biological family left him alone in that basement, he never developed any real friends as a child, he didn't get the chance to grow up like a normal child.

He had no one but he made it work. So why should he start to rely on people? For them to abandon him or betray him?

His former boss had planned to betray him, to kill him. So Pavia struck first, keeping only his tie clip as memorabilia.

Pavia is a lone wolf....as corny as that sounds. But he grew up alone, in a dark den. So close yet so far from human society, he made friends from the shadows that kept him company. That once lonely confinement didn't seem so lonely after a while, he grew to find comfort in his predicament.

Adapting and pushing ahead, finding a twisted sort of 'fun' 'excitment' and 'joy' in the most tragic and unfortunate circumstances; his job as a merc and the 'unsavory' nature of his job.

_______________________________________________

Pavia has become one of my favorite characters in media, despite the media he originates from having limited personal information about their playable characters.

But I think this is also a reason why he's so interesting to me. It leaves little crumbs and pieces of background that is mostly left to be assumed by the player's/reader's interpretation. It's fun to assume and make these little narratives and head cannons about them.

And the fact some parts of his story hit a wee bit close to home. Just a little though. I mean... it is unfair and so infuriating for a child to be antagonized or disliked by family just because they look more like one parent than the other.

But ye....this is just my own personal interpretation of this characters background. Mostly just me yapping and connecting the dots on silly head canons. I should write a one shot or series about this guy. He's such a goob.

[kanmom51]

JK 28 July live

I'm exhausted. Can't seem to catch up with the speed JK's doing these lives. And every single one is louder than the one before it.

So, this is me posting about the live on the 28th, all while I haven't yet for the previous live, and just after he had his latest one.

But I guess here it goes, cause better late than never.

So the 28th live. Well, truthfully it was 3 lives.

1st he ended after close to 3 minutes because of the angle of the camera.

2nd was lagging and he eventually turned off after around 4 minutes.

He did manage to tell us the ice creams he likes concluding he likes savory.

He likes savory and JM likes rabbit spit. Ok then.

Don't blame me for being like this. It's JK's fault. Well, actually, it's JK and JM's fault, cause man did they come on hard in that next third live that followed.

Peeps, this one was a doozy.

This short live, and even shorter Jikook interaction (started pretty much at the start of the live and ended at around the 15 min. mark) is up there as one of the best Jikook lives. And JM wasn't even in the room for it, lol.

If you would have asked me a couple of months back if this day was in the making pre-enlistment I would have said no. But hell, something has shifted in the past few weeks. Like really SHIFTED. When I compared Jikook's Silver day dinner in NY to Tainni's Parris stroll, I knew what I was talking about.

And now, I take you a Taenni stroll and raise you a frigging JK half naked in bed live just having a flirt fest with his bf.

Subs are out, I suggest you all go watch it. It's short and easy to follow and JK makes sure to read out JM's comments and he's flirty and cheeky and totally informal and forgets what the word honorific even is. The man is in his element.

And JK, he's pushing. Pushing hard for JM to do the live together. Again and again. Just showing us in real life what it means to pursue the person you want to be with, you know the "love of my life", whom he wants to go live with him. And JM, well JM he's being flirty and playful, and when he gets a little too flirty, he catches himself and deletes his comment, lol. But JK he catches on and he continues.

And after sending JK a photo to show him he's not in a state for a live, a photo that JK doesn't get to see just yet, JK is disappointed but accepts it. And then JM dips and tells JK to spend some time with us, cause when they are at it, it's only the two of them, lol.

That's it in an essence, but there is so much to unpack from that, I don't even know where to start.

Maybe not with Jikook. Maybe I'll start with JK, our super masculine manly man calling his new piercings pretty.

Ok then. Now that I got that out of the way how about we talk about JK showing us outright that their relationship, it ain't no usual hyung dongsaeng relationship. No way, no how.

In the more or less 15 minutes that JM stays on the live and the conversation between them JK mentions JM's name 18 times, out of which twice adding the ssi and only 7 times adding the hyung. And not only does he 'forget' the hyung, at some point in the live he calls JM by his name and uses his flirty Jimin-ssi, but he also dares to speak to him saying his name with an authoritive commanding tone. JK spares absolutely nothing to get JM do that live with him.

Also, out of those 7 times JK says JM hyung most are when he's talking about him and not to him?

Do we actually remember who the hyung is there? Cause it feels like those two have already forgotten it, lol.

JK tried it all. He tries asking then flirting, then going assertive.

JK tries the logical path - we are both bored.

He tries batting his eyelashes and he even goes down the emotional manipulation path with a little guilt tripping.

He even goes aego on JM. That lip pucker was not for us. Good cover up (or not so) with the "I'm checking out my face and need to lose weight".

He literally tries it all, lol.

JM, ma man, you are a much stronger soldier than I would ever be, lol.

Thing is this.

JM knows he has to be strong here, when he has JK at arms length, cause he also knows that the second JK is near him, that's when he will lose his composure.

I kind of think it goes back to JM once admitting to us that he couldn't do a live alone with JK because they would get lost in each other and forget we are there.

Well hell yeah, that's exactly what we're banking on. Let the Jikook live begin.

Maybe, just maybe if the live is pre-planned and on neutral ground. Maybe then he can manage to have some kind of control. But like this? Just out of nowhere? No preparation?

JM is a strong soldier, but when it comes to JK he loses that battle. And he knows it, lol. So that would be a big fat no on an unplanned live with JK for him, lol.

And let's go right back to the flirting that was going on right in front of our faces. Because I mean, how can we not? How can we not keep talking about this? This was friggin' wild.

JM with his "I can handle it", his "I'm scared of you" and "he's going to hit me", and should we mention his "I'm not easy" (will get to that one in a sec)? Yo, and what's up with that pic he sent him mid live and telling us all he just did?

And JK, omg JK, with his satoori and informal and just that tone. That tone he was using with JM. Because all those words, and the dropping of the hyung they are only a part of it. It's the tone. The bloody to die for tone he was using talking to JM.

And his reactions to JM's comments.

JK's reaction to JM's "I can handle it", omg, that giggle and the smile after saying it again...

See I can't help but wonder... was that JK giggling because:

a. he knows jm can handle it as he's quite familiar with his chesties besties; or

b. he knows that JM's lying cause he most definitley cannot handle his chesties besties.

But seriously, can JM handle it? Can he really? Handle his chestie besties??? Perhaps from afar off camera, lol. And that is just another reason why JM thought it better to not have that live.

Food for thought. LOL.

We were literally third wheeling the whole time.

Even DT Parker could see it.

He sees some of it, but unwilling to go the full mile.

And that's also why JM decided he had to put an end to it, dip and let JK have a little time with army (which was another 10 min. of which 5 were him telling his goodbyes), lol.

Oh, a few more points.

What about "I'm not easy", ok, let's talk about that one for a minute.

Ok, so it's not 100% sure who deleted that one. My money is on JM. He knew EXACTLY what it looked/sounded like, and realised that perhaps this was him taking it once step too far, lol. I doubt it was someone in the company that deleted it, because if you go to the live and press live chat you can actually see that both the comments that were deleted are still there, lol. So, seems to me that this wasn't a company move and more a JM one. Because adding this to the tone, the lack of honorifics, the totally thoroughly flirty conversation between the two of them, this could be a little bit of a deal sealer, and maybe JM thought it to be just a little too much.

Did we talk about the song JK sings right after JM joins the live?

JM, ma man, you are a much stronger soldier than I would ever be, lol.

Thing is this, again, JM knows he has to be strong here, when he has JK at arms length, cause he also knows that the second JK is near him, that's when he will lose his composure.

And a little more I noticed (I don't really think it's so little though):

JM, of course, knows JK's schedule.

I know there are a few translations on this, but the official ones are pretty clear, and they also align with what JK told us in the first live, having to wake up at 1:20 pm. And there is also this:

JM was calling JK - Jung kook. Which is not something he's done that often. And it feels like this might also have to do with JK's change to his Weverse account, changing his name to Jung kook, perhaps wanting to have a more mature/adult image.

Oh, and how is this not exploding on SM?????

Like wtf? How has this not been all over the place?

The ease in which this was said. He'll grab his toiletries and go over to do the live? Shower at JM's before? Shower at his after? Do the live, shower and sleep over? Whichever of these you go with it's god damn fucking loud.

The man lives what? A few minutes away from JM? And yet he needs to pop over to his place to shower? And again, how naturally this was said, kind of like it's A THING they just do. Like, let's get real here. First of all, yeah, it's a thing they do, and he just told us that live!!! and second, I'm not sure he needs a full bag of toiletries. He probably has most of them already there on his side of the sink, or if there is a his and his sink, then next to HIS sink.

Also, and this is a question I'm still asking myself - did JK say this intentionally? Was this a slip of the tongue or was there intent. Either or is loud, but intent means he wanted us to know this, while slip of the tongue was that he just let himself act naturally with JM, which included that "I'll come shower at yours".

And JM? I didn't hear a no to the "I'll come over and shower at yours". Just a not now to the live. So...

Ok, enough is enough.

We still had another what? 10 min. approx. after JM left.

Did anything really happen in those 10 min.? Nah.

Well, one thing maybe. JK said he'll try to go live during his breaks while recording, cause he's sad he only got to perform in front of 280 army only.

Which he did.

And me writing these lines after watching that live just sitting here and laughing my head off. Because BURN BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, that's it.

We might not have gotten an actual Jikook in same room and same frame live, but we sure did get a JIKOOK live. And it was as loud as (minors hands over your ears) FUCK!!!!

And everything I mentioned there, my friends, is why it's ALWAYS better to watch the live and not rely solely on the translation accounts. Translations accounts are great, but they don't convey the tone.

Oh, and did we see this?

Cause what the hell?🤣🤣

And for funsies:

Now JK has to stop. Just stop. Like take a couple of days off, go be with JM for a little and let me catch my breath goddamnit.🤣🤣

[circusmania]

SIN CHAPTER 1

꒷꒦︶︶₊꒷꒦︶︶₊꒷꒦꒷꒦︶︶₊꒷꒦︶︶₊꒷꒦꒷꒦︶︶₊꒷꒦︶︶₊꒷꒦

Notes: This story is first-person narration, since I couldn't decide on an x reader or x oc. This gives free imagination on who will be in the main character's shoes. The main character will be a nameless character, meaning no one will address the main as anything specific. The only detail will be that the main is perceived as a male.

STORY INTEL: A new boy, Marcus, has just transferred to Cheshire High. Everyone is warned to stay away from him, as he looks as if he just crawled out of a grave. However, our main character seems to be somewhat drawn to him. Judy displays her negative feelings towards Marcus, wanting the main character to stay away from him. Although she seems unreasonable, there has to be more to the story, right? Just what are they hiding? What secrets lie in wait for him to uncover?

CHARACTERS ARE NOT MINORS

Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11

♡

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I wish that

Across your back

Was a zipper

And that I

Could just crawl in

Forever a part of you.

I'm suddenly shaken awake. I look to my side to find my girlfriend, Judy Presley, giggling to herself.

“Sleeping already? Class barely started!”

I quietly laughed, raising my head to look at her.

“I've been busy with football practice, I'm worried about the upcoming tournament. I've only just found out that Oliver broke his-”

“Hey, no worries!” Judy rubbed my back. “You can come over to my house today, so you can catch up on some sleep.” She winked.

I laid my head back onto my crossed arms on the table. I wasn't in the mood for that today… Anyway, I ready myself to fall back into slumber, fully expecting to be hugged by sleep.

However, that idea was cut short when the teacher clapped his hands.

“Quiet down everyone, today we have a new student.” This piqued my interest. “Marcus, come on in.”

A tall, slender boy with long (and I mean hip-long) black hair came in. His hair covered half his face, with only the septum piercing and mouth left out in the open. I could tell he was a gothic-alt based on his clothes.

Judy cringed next to me. “What's with this guy? He's so ... depressed, looking. She chuckled, causing” the teacher to look our way.

“Alright, Marcus, go sit at the desk table next to Judy. Judy, raise your hand, please.”

Marcus sat at the nearby desk; there was something about him, I couldn't pinpoint. I realized I was staring too long when Judy elbowed me.

“Ow!” I whisper-yelled.

“SH! You two!” The teacher side-eyed us both before going back to teaching.

“What's with the staring?” She asked, suspiciously.

“Nothing just found him-”

“Weird, satanic, faggy-”

“JUDY! You can't say that!-”

“I've had it with you both! Since you both cannot stop being lovey-dovey with each other…” The teacher scanned around the room, “Judy switch with Marcus.”

“But sir, I-” Judy argued, still blushing from the lovey-dovey accusation.

“No buts Judy, if you're going to be disrespectful in my class you're going to be punished. This isn't kindergarten anymore.” He said, turning back to the blackboard.

I whispered a silent apology to her, but I'm not sure if she heard it.

She sighed before grabbing her stuff and standing up. She passed Marcus, silently glaring at him before sitting down. I'm sure she won't let me hear the end of it at lunch…

I looked back at Marcus, who was now organizing his binder and pencil case, occasionally looking up at the lesson. Now I could get a better look at him. His clothes consisted of only black and grey shades with ripped baggy jeans, platform boots, and a t-shirt with some rock band, I presume. He wore all kinds of chains, necklaces, earrings, and rings.

He was the complete polar opposite of Judy. She always put her light brown hair in a ponytail with a white bow, wore perfect matching season clothes, and had well-made makeup. I would be lying if I said she wasn't something but, Marcus, he was also something… Wait, why am I comparing them??

I rubbed my temples and groaned.

I looked back at Marcus, only to be met with him facing me!

“You have very pretty eyes.” He said, giving me an affiliative smile.

Gasp His voice?? Holy shit, it's … almost unrealistic…

“T-thank you…”

I internally slapped myself, was I seriously stuttering?? God, I'm so embarrassed.

I heard him lightly chuckle beside me.

What's going on with me? I must be coming down with something!

ﾟ+: *✧･ﾟ:﹤ 🔔🔔🔔﹥: ･ﾟ✧*:+ﾟ

“Judy this, Judy that, shut your goddamn mouth!” I shut my locker, half listening to Judy's rant. “I hate that fucking teacher! Who does he think he is, separating us like that!?” I nod, just letting her get it all out of her system.

“Hey guys, wait up!” A small voice behind us made Judy shut up.

We both turned towards a familiar girl. Vanessa Kareem, Judy's BFF (as she calls it). Vanessa and her have always been friends. She was pretty much the spitting image of Judy except for her black silky hair that was in a grunge haircut, her blue eyes, and her much paler skin.

“Hey V, how's it going?” Judy smiled, forgetting all about her rant.

“Nothing much, however, you'll never guess what happened! I've just received another A! In science too!” She waved her test around, looking at me for words of praise.

“Oh, uh, congrats Vanessa, although I'm not all that surprised… you're pretty smart. I can't remember the last time you've gotten a B.” I rub the back of my neck.

“Me neither…” Judy said, a bit sourly.

Vanessa laughed, “Oh, stop it! Both of you! He-he. Anyway, how are you guys?”

“I'm glad you asked, we're doing pretty miserable,” And there she goes again… “I got switched seats with the new vampire wannabe.”

Vanessa blinked. “You two aren't sitting together anymore?”

“No! Can you believe it!? We always sit together! Ugh! I'm so pissed off! Fuck that new kid.” Judy screamed.

“Hey, don't say that! He's not all bad.” I intervened.

“And what makes you say that?” Judy cocked an eyebrow.

“He… He said my eyes looked nice.” I pinched the palm of my hand.

“Your eyes indeed do look nice,” Vanessa said, causing Judy to side-eye her.

“Yeah, well, I say that all the time! As a matter of fact, I think your hair looks immaculate today!”

“Thank you, Judy, and erm, Vanessa.” I give them both a wary smile before continue walking to the cafeteria.

There, MY best friend, Omar Thomerson, sat devouring his lunch. Omar, he's been with me since the universe was created. We're convinced we were best friends in our past lives. I've always thought of him as the geek in our friendship. He's always been obsessed with any fantasy fiction he can grab on. Greek mythology, science-fiction, astrology, you name it. He has dark brown hair with a shag haircut, freckles, and brown eyes. His typical wear is a worn-out hoodie and cargo pants.

“Hey, Hey, there's my best friend!” Omar patted the seat next to him.

I sat down with Judy and Vanessa trailing after me. I gave him a high five before opening my lunch box.

We all chatted and ate, Omar occasionally bringing up the big party he is planning on having at his house this weekend.

“Our whole grade is going to be invited! You guys better all be coming, especially you” Omar said, smirking at me.

“The whole grade? Don't you think that's too much? I mean, I know you own a big house but…” She sighed, “Not only that, but I might have plans this weekend.” Judy said, taking another bite of her salad.

“I'm for sure coming, I would never miss your parties!” I slap his back jokingly.

“I'll be going too!” Vanessa beamed.

“Well… maybe I'll have time to swing by,” Judy said.

“Great! I'll be holding you all to that then.” Omar smiled.

We continued our conversation until something caught my eye, a familiar half-face going out the back cafeteria door. The only thing behind there are dumpsters and roaches…

“Hang on, guys, I'll be back.” I squeezed out of my seat.

“Want me to come with you?” Judy sat up.

“No, no, I won't be long anyway,” I said before running out after Marcus.

I opened the back door and closed it behind me. I looked around and as expected there were only dumpsters.

I advanced towards one of them and looked behind it, but nothing-

“What are you doing?”

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Want to read ahead? Click here!

[madisonthetimewalker]

You know what fuck it take modern AU Adamai headcanons

1. Adamai works in retail do not ask why he just does.

2. He has clip on ear rings he got his ears pierced once and he regretted it because of the pain

3. He doesn’t like to express himself very much mostly keeping to himself and not talking about his problems.

4. He likes to read and I mean he LOVES reading, if you’re lucky you can catch him on break reading a comic book.

5. He knows how to skateboard (yugo does not and he laughs at this)

6. He mostly stays in his room only coming out for food or unless he wants to be outside for a bit. Other than that he doesn’t really leave his room.

7. He’s very smart about specific dragon cultures, every so often you can catch him in the library reading about dragon myths and possibly ancient food recipes.

8. Surprising he’s very quiet, sure at a young age he was bubbling with joy but now he’s more quiet and sometimes shy.

9. He doesn’t really like big gatherings it was never his thing. If he didn’t know anybody there then he would sit in a corner and mind his own business. (This man has horrible social anxiety)

10. His taste in fashion is decent most of the time he just wears baggy jeans and a shirt, he isn’t much for looking nice.

11. I like to see him as this huge nerd, for example if you ask him about a specific event involving ancient dragonic history. He will talk for hours explaining every detail and every bit of lore (look at my nerdy boy)

12. He doesn’t have many friends at work or at all for that matter, he just works although yes people have tried to talk to him in the past he rarely interacts with them.

13. He loves listening to drama, he loves to listen in on interesting conversations it’s like a hobby at this point.

14. Adamai isn’t much of a people person (as I have said multiple times in this post) and if your lucky enough he might talk to you about specific issues and topics, although he has this bad habit of dozing off during conversations. (Just like me fr)

15. He’s a heavy daydreamer, often times you can see him standing in the middle of nowhere dozing off we don’t know how he does this or how he gets himself in these situations but god is it funny.

16. He gets embarrassed easily when told he did a good job on something, Adamai rarely if ever gets compliments so telling him he’s the best guy in the world it makes him hide his face due to how red it gets.

17. He gets scared easily but not like “omg everything scares him!” More like if you come up behind him without him hearing you he will scream like a banshee.

18. He can run and I don’t mean “oh he’s just fast” HE’S PRETTY FUCKING FAST, if this man so much as sees a big ass spider he’s fuckin GONE

19. I like to believe Adamai has a huge sweet tooth. He loves to eat sweets whenever he gets the opportunity

20. He hates night shift and I mean HATES IT if he so much as hears one creek from the ceiling his ass is already out the door.

21. He has humor trust me it’s there, he isn’t one to make jokes but when he does none laughs sadly mostly because they don’t get it and Adamai has the humor of a broken down 1950’s truck. (Don’t worry Adamai I’ll laugh at your ridiculously stupid jokes)

22. He rarely sleeps (unlike qilby who’s sleep schedule is so bad that it could rival that of Xelor himself) but when he does he’s knocked out for Atleast 2 days. Adamai honey please take care of yourself I’m begging you.

23. He listens to music a lot it’s mostly to block out the annoying noise of people talking and baby’s crying for no reason

24. He can babysit (if you pay him enough) he hates it but he does it for people who need a break.

25. He gets bored easily, sometimes you can find him in the skatepark minding his own business.

Ok that’s all for now can you tell he’s my fav? And can you tell how much I love modern AU’s?

[gayautisticraccoon]

15 questions, 15 people

I was tagged by @fr-wiwiw! Haven't done this before so thank you for that!

1. Are you named after anyone?

Nope!

2. When was the last time you cried?

Literally last night lol

I'm fine trust xD

3. Do you have kids?

No. Never even been in a relationship but also never want kids for various reasons

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Ye, probably a little too much. And due to the way I talk thanks to my tism people often don't realize I'm being sarcastic LOL makes for some very awkward moments sometimes but I'm trying to get better at that lol

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Not sure tbh! Probably the outfit and choices they made about their appearance like Tattoos and Piercings. I just love seeing peoples different styles

6. What's your eye colour?

Blue C:

7. Scary movie or happy ending?

I enjoy both but my silly little brain needs it's happy endings tbh, I'm already depressed enough as is LOL

8. Any special talents?

Not that I can think of tbh. I am a very average person LOL

9. Where were you born?

A small town in the North West of Germany ^^

10. What are your hobbies?

Gaming, watching movies/shows, reading fanfic, indulging in fan content in general, listening to music

11. Do you have pets?

Nope! I used to have a bunny and 7 mice though but haven't had any pets since then. I hope one day I can get a pet raccoon, I love them sm

12. What sports do you/have you played?

I don't exercise like at all (I know, I'm fat n lazy but I just cannot find any activity I enjoy, fight me). I used to do gymnastics back in elementary school and was in a tennis club during 6th grade but as I said, nothing ever really stuck with me. P.E. was my worst nightmare back in school

13. How tall are you?

173cm (5'7'' in freedom units I believe?)

14. Favourite subject in high school?

English 100%

15. Dream job?

Funny thing, this topic has been bugging me for a while. I never planned on making it past the age of 16 so here I am at the ripe age of 24 working in retail with no idea what to do with my future. I studied Media Design (so like Digital Art n stuff) but I can't see myself actually working in that field tbh, I mostly did it to not do nothing after graduating. My brain just shuts off as soon as it becomes mandatory to be creative. That and I don't think I'd be good enough for a proper job in the field. So yea, I'm just kinda rolling with it for now lol

I'm not sure who to tag so I'll just leave this open and say anyone who hasn't been tagged and wants to participate can join in on the fun!

[euphoriajunkie000]

underdog. prologue

ღ

-7 years ago- 

ღ

“The Jian, also known as the bird who shares wings. Only possesses one wing. Unless two people lean on each other and act like one, they’re incapable of flight. They’re imperfect, incomplete creatures.”

"But, for some reason, their way of life struck me as profoundly beautiful.....It was beautiful, I felt."

ღ

...How do you explain to a child that their parents have just been murdered...?

...A seven year old child no less...

...Do you sugar coat it...?

...Or do you tell them the horrible truth...?

...Do you lie and say that they are in a better place now…

...A place wyoue they’re flying with beautiful, white wings…

...A place wyoue angels thrive…

...Or do you say the five words that nobody ever wants to hear… 

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

...No one would ever want to be the person to break the news...

...But that was okay...

...Do you know why...?

...It's because you had to experience it yourself...

ღ

My darling,

It was late at night. The moon was shining over the dark night as stripes of the luminescent light was making its way through the windows. The scenery was still. It was beautiful. Too beautiful to even be real. But not everything had to have a grim setting in a tragedy like the stories your mother would read to you. No. This was your reality. And honestly, you didn't want anything to do with it anymore.

By the time you read this, everything has changed.

The moonlight was your one and only light source as you could only see what had laid out in front of you. You were crouching behind a rather large sofa, your hands over your mouth. The screams of escaping your parent's lips were horrifying. They kept on bouncing off the walls and you already knew that those wails of pain would forever haunt your dreams. You felt your heartbeat rising faster and faster as you broke out in a cold sweat. Your eyes were practically bulging out your head as you were afraid. Afraid of what would happen if you came out of your hiding spot. Afraid of what might happen if you even let out a squeak. Afraid of the dark figure that was in your house.

I won’t be able to wake up to your beautiful smile everyday.

When it all went quiet, you turned your head to the side to see what had exactly transpired. There was a man looming over your parents. He held a knife that was dripping with thick pearls of blood. "Where is she!" he yelled. "I’m not going to let any witnesses out of this damn house if it's the last thing I do!"

Or be able to see you on your wedding day.

"Get the hell out of my house!" your father yelled. His piercing blue eyes were gazing dangerously into the murderer's eyes. If he even did have the ability to move, there was no question he would kill the murderer with his own two hands. He would do anything to protect the only family that he had.

But I hope you know that your dad and I would do anything for you.

"Don't you even dare touch my darling!" your mother snapped with tears rolling down her face.

I hope when you're older, you can find this letter.

The man let out a *tsk* sound as the knife clattered to the floor. "Whatever," he said in a dangerously low voice. But you could tell that there was an evident smirk on his face. He grabbed the shirt collar of your father and raised him up. He gnashed his teeth together and slammed your father's head to the ground. He didn’t move after that. The villain bellowed at the top of his lungs, "I’ll search every square inch of this house if I have to!” You heard the creak of the white, carpeted staircase as the murderer began walking up the stairs slowly. Once it was dead silent, you had immediately scrambled away from the sofa.

As you looked around, your throat tightened up. There on the ground were your parents. It wouldn't even matter if the ambulance had arrived because by that time, they would have already left this world.

I know it hurts to finally realize that we’re gone by the time you read this.

Your breath hitched. your mother’s beautiful, long, pink hair was laid out in a fan. Her hair and clothes were drenched in blood. Some of it had started clotting around her recent wounds. Your father's black hair that was once combed neatly was now tangled up in a rat's nest. He had stab wounds that littered his body trying to protect your mother. They were laying on the once white carpet floor as their skin tones were a sickly pale color. The red liquid was everywhere. Not only was the blood dripping down the walls, but it was splattered on the floor in a horrifying manner. But the most heart-stricken thing you saw was your parent's eyes. They looked so dull and empty to the point you couldn't bear to look at them anymore. Your mother's once sparkling sea-foam green eyes and your father's deep, ocean blue eyes were now gray. Like they had lost any emotion connected to them in the world. You saw them barely move their fingers as they both tried to cling onto the last threads of life.

But it won't matter.

YOU FELT LIKE YOU COULDN'T BREATH.

Do you know why?

The most depressing part was the fact that they didn’t have the chance to name you. When holding the infant in their arms, they had a million thoughts running in their minds that were only filled with love. They had thought of a thousand dreams of what they wanted their beautiful little girl to achieve. Too bad they didn’t have the chance to see what their child grew up to be.

It's because we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Their names and actions would forever be engraved in your memory. If only someone could stop what was going to happen to you and the adversities you would be forced to face. 

Our ghostly fingertips will forever be connected to you, heart, mind, and soul.

It truly was such a shame for them to have died such a young age and quirkless as well. No wonder you felt so helpless, you felt like you were nothing. You felt like a zero, like you were worthless. 

You are worth so much.

You. Had. Nothing. 

Don’t feel grieved by what you couldn’t save.

If you had been a bit stronger, you could have saved them from this cruel fate. Your stomach was doing flips and front handsprings. You felt like you were about to puke. You had to get out of here, fast. You didn't want to see the sickly pale corpses of your parents.

If you ever miss us, call our names.

"M-mom? D-dad?"

If you can learn to do just that, you will be okay.

You didn’t know what to do other than to drop down onto your knees and intertwin your small fingers with theirs. Your lips began trembling as clear tears were about to flow down your face.

Don’t hide away.

You tried not to cry. You didn’t deserve to.

Never hold back your tears, you're trying so hard to be strong.

But as that same action replayed in your head, you couldn't hold it back anymore. "P-please... D-don't leave me... This is a joke right...?" You gripped harder. "...so please..." You inhaled a deep breath as you snapped your head to look at the ceiling, your beautiful wide eyes letting the tears cascade down your face. "...wake...up..."

I love you.

"...Darling..?" You lowered your head towards your mother. "...Darling... are you here...?" you mother asked. Her sweet as honey voice was now dry and cracked as it wavered in the air. 

Do you know why?

"Ye-yeah, I'm here, Mom..." You said with a shaky voice. 

It’s because.

"I just- I just want to let you know that we love you so much, darling. You have always been the light of our lives. And I know you're such a bright girl. I'm just- I'm just so sad that I'm never gonna see you when you grow older..."

You.

Your heart sank to the bottom of your chest. "This can't be happening-"

are.

She lifted up her hand as she gently caressed your face and wiped your tears away. She had put on a small smile yet, it held so much pain. "Hey, hey, hey. As long as I get to see you one last time, I already know that I can finally rest happy... Be the hero you want to be... And… I love you so much..."

my.

And then, she went limp.

everything,

The perfect wings that had once adorned your body were now ripped from your body as they would forever leave a wounded battle scar. They were your wings, and then they were ripped apart from your future in a blink of an eye. There was a hole in your heart that you couldn't cover up. But one thing’s for sure, you have finally found your name; it's...

Absolute Zero.

ღ

Bursting through the doors, you could never fathom the thought of any innocent people dying. From that day on, you wanted to be a hero. A melancholic smile appeared as you recollected your memories. You wanted to do what you couldn’t have done for your parents. You honestly didn’t know where you were going. All of that didn’t matter anymore because you just ran; with you tears overflowing until all you saw was darkness. The sting of the snow sticking onto you feet was just enough for you to stop moving.

It was such a shame that you didn’t notice the taller figure watching your every move.

As he aimed the tranquilizer at your neck, he shot it. He bounced off of the dark tree. He smiled painfully as he was pleased to say for a fact that you were unconscious. Bringing his mouth close to the communication device he only said one thing. 

“Phase 1 is complete.”

Ღ

The tall figure reached down and you in his arms. The touch of your skin was starting to get colder and colder with each passing second. He traced the features of your face with an indescribable look. He looked solemnly at you, as if he was recalling something from his past. You were only a child. He bit his lip and positioned his eyes to view the night above him. Sighing to himself, he slowly carried your unconscious body towards the center of the forest, where you were originally running into. 

The silhouette of the tall trees surrounded him. A rush of wind and snow blew through his hair, he felt a shiver run up his spine. He closed his eyes out of instinct while holding the girl closer to his chest. As he peered around through the dark night, he had come to notice a very distinct concrete square. Piercing eyes stared down at the potential gateway.

Now stepping onto a concrete square, there was a certain symbol embedded onto the surface. It was a zero with a line slashing the number diagonally, left to right. As he rested his hand directly onto the emblem, he only whispered one thing, “Code:1016.” It glowed a beautiful blue hue. Suddenly a rush of azure and green colors came to life. They blasted upwards to the sky, the colors that had mingled together could put the northern lights to shame. When the light died down, you both were gone.

ღ

And there he was. 1016 stood on a clear launchpad that looked to be used for astrology and rockets. The pad looked to be strikingly similar to the hues of colors that the figure had experienced only a few minutes ago. The colors had a mind of their own as they began thrashing around wildly until they cooled down into a more peaceful state. Though, it wouldn’t matter because the tensile strength of the glass was unreal because it never let the colors out.

1016 looked around in his surroundings and it never failed to take his breath away. Above him was a transparent dome which led him to see the galactic hues up close and personal. It was almost as if the barrier wasn’t there and he could have just brushed his fingertips against the stars. The floor was made of tungsten or some other metal he couldn’t identify. Tubes that were filled to the brim with all the shades of the color wheel, ranging from green, blue, and purple. They glistened and glowed with sparks of light that appeared to be stars in each individual one. Black wires were everywhere, interconnecting within each other. But the one thing that he noticed was the hospital bed that laid in the corner. There was a recurring aesthetic of galaxy colors, tubes, and glass. But that was no different. The hospital bed was big with a clear, thin cylinder surrounding it. The top and the bottom that sealed the ends of the chute were both made of connected metals with an abundance of buttons on each side. A pillow rested peacefully against the mattress accompanied by delicate, white blankets.

Suddenly a soothing voice asked,“Did you get her?”

1016 nodded his head. “Yes, I did.”

A relieved chuckle was to be heard. And there he was. There was another young man sitting on a chair looking through a grand telescope. It was enormous. A tense silence filled the air until 1016 took a deep breath. “Can’t we think of another plan… You know one that doesn’t involve her?” As soon as those words fell out of his mouth there was a dangerous aura that radiated from the teen that was now standing in front of 1016.

An airy laugh left his lips until he exploded. 

“Do you still don’t understand?!” he demanded. There was a menacing glint in his eyes. He gritted his teeth together while gripping the 1016’s wrist tightly and dragged him to a telescope. Pushing him down into the chair, he said, “Look.” As the teenager looked to the dark night, he was absolutely spell bound by what he saw. It was absolutely beautiful. Splotches of purples, blues and pinks filled the nights until they were all mushed together in a brand new color. Stars were swirling around as they brightened luminously. It was perfect, too perfect. That is, until he spotted it. It was a meteorite hurtling towards them.

 “Now do you understand?!” he yelled. He pulled 1016 away from the telescope and forced his head to look up at the sky. He pointed to the meteor and fumed, “In about a few years or so, that fucker is literally about to obliterate the entire Earth! And do you know who has to pay up for our screw ups?! Us, you idiot! And that includes me.” The male pinched the bridge of his nose until he dragged his legs to sit in his chair. An inaudible ‘sorry’ whimpered out of the once furious man. He leaned his back against the cool metal chair with his palms pressed against his eyes. “What are we going to do…?”

1016 was shocked by the sudden outburst. In all his life when working with his partner, named 1004, he had almost always kept a cool composure. Sure, he would occasionally crack a few jokes or two, but he would never blow a fuse. As a result, 1016’s stomach churned with uncertainty.

1004’s gaze was cast down. “Look, 1016,” he started to grieve. “It's been around 20,000 years since you fell from grace and when I got banished.” There was a long pause. “We did something that we weren’t supposed to do. And this, this is the punishment for our actions.” A deep breath was to be heard from 1004 as he continued. “But you know the deal. In our punishment, we’re supposed to protect this planet, but because of our actions, we had most of our powers stripped!” 1004 groaned. “I mean- if we fail to protect this planet, it’s really going to be over.”

1016 thought hard for a moment, trying his best to think of any possible answer. “Oh-! I got it!” 1016 snapped his fingers. He grabbed 1004’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “I know what to do but you have to trust me.” Quickly, 1016 grabbed your body and handed you to 1004. Pushing one of the buttons of the capsule he laid you on the hospital bed. He attached a gasmask to your head. On the back were numerous ports that were connected to an abundance of the same wires he saw earlier. Gripping the black wires in his hand, 1016 plug each into a very large computer.

In a flash 1016 fingers typed at an alarmingly fast pace, his eyes never leaving the keyboard. 1004 looked over at his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing this time?”

But 1016 ignored the question of his partner. “You said that they only deleted some of our powers right? Well if you still have your time powers, I need you to stop time itself. Only for 2,000 years. This is the only way.” He looked directly at the screen that had an illuminated blue and continued. “I’m loading some data into her head. I honestly don’t know how it will work, but she’ll mentally be ancients of years old, though her physical appearance wouldn’t change. There are some things we have to alter though, understand?”

1004 nodded his head in agreement. 1016 grabbed a pen as well as a piece of blank paper. When he was done, 1016 slipped the paper to 1004. “At this exact time and place, I need you to release you. This is crucial. Like I said, you need to trust me.”

ღ

Your eyes opened.

ღ

You were starving. The piercing internal jab that kept on stabbing your abdomen was getting severe. Living on the streets was hard. How many years have passed? Three? No, four? You had lost count after a while. You found solace in a beaten up cardboard box. It was placed in a very dark alley as there were piles of garbage growing bigger with each passing day. You had managed to survive only on the table scraps that restaurants had no use for. Using the garbage bags as pillows, you curled into a ball on your right side and you waited for the night to engulf the city whole.

If anyone thought that the days were bad, the nights were hell in comparison. Heavy gunshots echoed between the alleyways while the air smelled like liquor. There would always be blood splattered on the concrete while drunk laughs and hiccups were heard from nearby bars. Neon signs that ranged from pink to blue and even a purple appeared everywhere if someone had just simply opened their eyes. It honestly would have been comforting knowing that the darkness wasn’t the only thing that consumed everything; if only the signs weren’t promoting sketched out night clubs.

You really did try resting your eyes but as soon as you did so, you woke up again. But no matter how much your eyes were battling the urge to close them, you couldn’t even sleep. You couldn’t take it anymore. You could survive. No. You needed to survive. You would do anything to see the next sunrise, even if you did get your hands a little dirty.

You pulled yourself together, what else could you do? Taking a deep breath, you set off to the neon lit streets. As you started walking, you ran into a boy who looked a bit older than you, not by much, however. You bumped into him, fully expecting pain to follow through, but nothing happened. In fact, he seemed quite fluffy, like an enormous teddy bear, the kind you would see in those rigged carnival games. 

“I’m so sorry!” you gasped.

But the person you ran into just smiled and waved his hand dismissively. You almost laughed because of how unreal he looked. He looked tall, though. If you had to give an estimate, your bet would be around 195 centimeters. He looked wide and friendly with his big smile touching the corners of his cheeks. It was as if the main fat animal from Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totaro came to life and had sandy blonde hair.

“Are you okay?” he asked, with genuine concern overflowing from his facial expression.

Your face shamelessly heated up. He was too nice, it almost made you feel guilty for what you were about to do next. “Yeah!” you grinned. And unbeknownst to you, his face had also heated up. Although the dirt and grime was muddled in your hair, it didn’t take away from the shine in your eyes. He actually thought you looked… pretty cute, in a way. A short silence had ensued and you quickly broke the ice. “Thank you for worrying about my safety,” you expressed, but then you quickly started to run in the direction you had previously gone and lazily waved your hand. “You should go home before your parents start to worry!”

“W-Wait!” the middle schooler stuttered. “I didn’t catch your name!”

You bit your lip at the sudden words. It certainly has been a long time since you’ve had a friend. But, what if you scared them away because of the way you lived? You gulped and pushed those disgusting doubts away. You grinned, “You’ll know soon enough!” And with that, you ran, and you didn’t look back.

ღ

Once you were alone, you sighed. You were scared that you were going to get caught. In between the dark alleys, you sighed and leaned your back against the cold cement. You opened up a wallet, a wallet that did not belong to you. You had pickpocketed that nice middle-school boy who had tried to make sure you were okay. God, you were such a scumbag. You knew it wasn’t right, but life wasn’t fair. Survival of the fittest, right? That was the phrase that you had used to single-handedly justify your poor actions. You shrugged it off, you’ll pay him back soon enough. As you looked at the contents of the wallet, you saw and identification photo and name of the same boy you had ran into and his home address, along with–

“30,000 yen!” you gulped. Oh shit. You didn’t need this much money to enable you to do what you needed to do tonight. You bit the inside of your cheek, you weren’t going to use all of his money, just enough to help you survive this night. You smiled sadly, showing remorse for your actions as tears began to well up.

“Thanks, Taishiro Toyomitsu…”

ღ

As you navigated the grimy stairs that led to the underground tunnel, you scrunched up your nose. The air smelled of grime and dried blood. It made your stomach churn and your eyes very, very unhappy. The concrete below your feet was stained with water and mold started to form on the walls. The dull lights that illuminated the tunnel looked unstable, flickering as if they were about to burst a fuse at any second. You finally reached it, the front desk. The lady looked at you with sad eyes. Probably wondering why a young girl such as yourself would be in a place like this.

“May I help you?” she said.

“Yeah,” you said bitterly, but you tried your best not to show it. She didn’t do anything to you, so why should you take your anger out on her? Save it for the fight, you always remind yourself over and over again. “I’m here to compete, actually.”

“O-Oh,” the lady spluttered. “What’s your quirk?”

“You can’t turn me away,” you said apologetically. “This ring allows anyone of any age to compete. And, unfortunately, I don’t have one.”

“N-No! Sorry, that’s not what I meant. I just mean that there is an entry fee of 10,000 yen! I’m just not sure if someone as young as yourself can come up with that kind of cash-”

But before the last could say anything, you slided the demanded amount of money (thanks to Taishiro) on the cheap, plastic table she was sitting behind. She counted the money and nodded for you to go in.

You gulped, half terrified for what was to come next. You were about to fight for money in an underground martial arts ring,

ღ

Your duffle bag had already been waiting for you in the women’s locker room, you just needed to grab the bag with your belongings. You got ready in the dimly lit, unsanitized bathroom. Your long hair was tied back into a ponytail and you put on the rest of your uniform. It consisted of loose parachute pants that had hung by your hips, a sports bra, and a tight fitted black shirt. No quirks, and no armor to protect yourself, this was definitely going to be a long night. You shoved Taishiro’s wallet in your bag with the clothes you wore. You gripped your towel and your water bottle and pushed the bathroom door open. You shuffled through the packed stadium with your head feeling light. You knew that in the shady parts of the big city, people paid to see fighters dual it out in illegal rings. In addition to this, you also knew that fighters could enter by paying a rather hefty fee, but if they made a good enough show, they would also get paid a rather hefty fee. In the years you fought, you made a name for yourself. You weren’t the best by any means, but you were… respected among your peers. They were a lot older than you, and they knew that you didn’t have anything. No job, no education, no family, no quirk, and no future. During practice when you sparred against them, they didn’t hold back at all. They didn’t need to because you could get up by yourself. After a brutal beat down, they’d buy you snacks as a little token of their appreciation. And you’d graciously take it. You always did.

Now, you were watching the fight that had unfolded in front of you. You sat in the front row, the ring itself was a lot lower than where the audience sat. It was a safety precaution for if any fighter had a dangerous quirk, at least the difference in height between the ring and the stadium could offer protection. The element of the ring would change, it would offer a water based zone, earth based, you could name it all; anything to keep their patrons hooked. As you gazed below, your cheek resting on your forearm which was in turn resting on the railing. Although the cheers were so loud that you could have sworn that your ear drums would burst, you managed to block them out. You had other things to worry about. You looked at the one victor that had stood proudly. And you looked at the victim with such sadness, he was obliterated. Blood gushed from heavy hitting wounds with a black eye to match. You grimaced. That was going to be you.

ღ

“And now!” the announcer boomed. “What you have all been waiting for. The darling of this ring! Although she may look small in stature, I promise you that she kicks one hell of a punch! Give it up for… Honeysuckle!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd and claps filled the air. You smiled ever so graciously and you waved a hand in the air, pretending that this crowd won’t know what your bloodied face will look like in the span of twenty minutes. You had to pretend. You were good at pretending. So, you pretended that everything was fine. You looked up to see your opponent's face. He was a large, muscular man. A torn up wife-beater was tightly worn on his body with black cargo pants to match. And when you looked at his face, his right eye was completely white with a nasty scar that made its way from the right side of his forehead, through his eye, and ended at the corner of his lip. And your heart dropped. You studied all of the opponents in the databases this ring had to offer. And his quirk was nothing to sneeze at. It was shock absorption. Everytime you hit, he could hit harder. Everytime you kicked, he kicked harder. This felt like a sick joke. You were only a teenager for fucks sake, a teenager living out in the streets trying to make ends meet. You were angry at the organizers of your event. You were quirkless trying to face upon a stone, cold fighting machine. Your mouth ran dry, ‘Oh shit.’

“Ready! Three! Two! One! Fight!”

The man made no hesitation to strike first. He threw a right hook at your face and you dodged, only by a millisecond to lose. You gasped, you didn’t expect him to be this fast. While he was still fixed in his position, you gathered up the strength to kick him square in the ribs. It was powerful and you could hear the audience mourn in favor of him. You looked up and he only paid you a sickening grin. He harshly gripped your foot that had kicked him and he spun you around like a rotating top. You felt the air whipping your hair carelessly until he let go. Your back had hit the wall of the ring, hard. You felt yourself coughing up blood and you saw double. However, your opponent didn’t spare you any mercy as he kicked your ribs and you have sworn you felt your spine crack. 

‘Get up!’ you pleaded with yourself.

‘Get up!’

‘Get up!’

‘Goddamnit! Get up, Absolute Zero!’

Unbeknownst to you, he had grabbed a hold of a boulder. You felt the shadow looming over you and your eyes were blown wide open. He was about to smash your skull into a pulp. ‘Are they even allowed to do this!?’ you screeched. And with every fiber of your being, you did get up. With your hands planted on the ground, you pushed your torso from the ground up and moved your legs in a windmill fashion and kicked his legs with such an unwavering force that he fell down, boulder in hand. And you did it, you did manage to get up on your feet. But, he didn’t like that at all. Unfortunately, he recovered quickly as he started to bolt at you.

“You think you’re so cocky, huh?” he spat, lifting you in the air by gripping your collar.

You must have had a death wish because before you could stop yourself, you shot back, “Yeah, a cocky brat that knows how to use mouthwash.” 

He wiped the smug grin off your face by giving you a punch square in the jaw and on your eye too. Pain coursed through your body, but you weren’t done yet. You moistened your lips and with your core strength you swung your legs and crossed them over the arm he was grabbing you with. With one fell swoop, you rotated your body on top and his back hit the floor. While on the dirt of the ring, you knew you had to act fast. In all the years you have been fighting, you knew that you couldn’t win by brute strength alone. Endless night you have been studying about the pressure points located in the bodies of humans. Everyone has a constant flow of energy that allows them to use their quirks. Once you block that energy flow, you block their quirks, temporarily. It was this small piece of knowledge that was going to make you win the battles to come. Without a second to lose, you positioned your hands in order to make a certain formation. Your pinky and ring fingers were held down by your thumbs leaving your middle in pointer fingers extended. You jabbed the pressure points located in his neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and chest. The stadium soon fell silent. As your opponent came to his senses, he groggily tried to get up, although his eyes looked tired and clouded. He tried to throw a right hook at your face, but you dodged. You grinned, his movements were significantly slowed and it felt like fighting a drunk. Slowly breathing in then out, you enacted a front handspring and finally jumped so high as to see the top of your opponent’s head and you used a hook kick that took him down from the neck where your leg made contact. He fell, and you were victorious.

Everyone applauded you and you offered them a lazy grin. This was the first fight that you weren’t beaten into a pulp. You were escorted out of the ring with a genuine smile plastered across your face. You went to the bathroom and took a hot shower and cleaned yourself up. It felt like a reward in itself. You changed into a baggy crew neck and equally baggy cargo pants as well. Your hair was still wet, but you couldn’t care less. As you looked at your complexion in the mirror, you touched your jaw gently and you hissed with pain. Although you won, you didn’t feel like a winner. You felt like a girl who had escaped getting killed on the field and was given a head splitting migraine.

Putting on your shoes and clutching your duffle bag, you left the bathroom for a final time. You met the lady at the front desk; the same location in which you had given her the entry fee. She smiled ear to ear once she saw you.

“I’m so glad that you made it out okay!” she beamed. “I watched the footage and you truly are the darling of this ring! I made a bet on you because I knew you could do it!”

“Thank you,” you smiled shyly, “I’m glad that you didn’t lose your money.”

“Are you kidding me? I’m glad that you made it out in one piece! Which reminds me!” You saw her lean down and grip a safe that was hidden from others in plain sight. She placed it on the desk and opened it using a combination. “You award for tonight!” With that, she pushed a check for 550,000 yen to you.

You couldn’t believe your eyes. “550,000 yen?” Your voice wavered, this was ten times the amount that you were supposed to earn for this one night. “I-Is this a joke?”

The lady looked at you with concern. “N-No! It’s all authentic darling. I actually spoke with some of your friends that train with you. And they say that they want you to have a better life than this.” She sighed, “Their words not mine, but they say that you aren’t very good at hiding that you are homeless. Since your first day at fighting, they were actually matching the amount of money you earned and putting a deposit in a separate account once they think the money they will give you can support you, for fighting for good, or something like that. They overheard that you had dreams of becoming a hero and they wanted to help you reach that threshold.”

As the lady babbled on and on, your voice began to crack and you couldn’t hold back your tears any longer. The years of busting your ass trying to survive off in the streets, even opting to sleep in public restrooms for safety—it was all going to end today. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

“You could say thank you.”

You heard a familiar voice and you whipped your head to see your friends who you fought with standing at the end of the tunnel. You gripped the check in your hand and you raced toward the people you could have called your family. You jumped and hugged everyone that was there. Your hug was filled with gratitude and love for the people there. Heartbeats mingled into one unwavering rhythm.

“Why would you guys do this?” you asked with such happiness in your eyes.

“Because!” one of your friends said. “You’re too damn young and too damn kind to be living like this. You deserve the whole world for making it out this far.” He looked at you with tired eyes that had seen the world for decades now. “We all want to see you thrive, and smile like there’s not a care in the world. We all want you to make it to U.A. and become a hero!”

Now, you were just a mess. Ugly crying was to be heard along with sniffles and smiles along the way. “I don’t know what to say other than…

Thank you!”

As you ran outside of the underground tunnel, you heard one of your friends joke around and say, “If we don’t see you on the big screens, we want our money back!”

You laughed and waved. “Don’t worry! I’ll be sure to give it back with added interest!”

Ღ

As you gazed at the high-end houses that stood neatly next to each other, you walked and looked at the addresses that could potentially match the one you were looking for. Then you saw him. For what you could assume to be his bedroom light, you could have sworn the boy you had met earlier had walked briskly past the window. It looked as if he was pacing back and forth frantically. Your shoes pattered against the sidewalk until you reached the front door of his house. His room was on the second floor and you cursed. Although you were good at hand to hand combat, you weren’t good at climbing people’s walls Rapunzel style. You were, unfortunately, not Flynn Rider. As you scaled the wall silently, as to not wake up any of the neighbors, you managed to find a resting stop under the presumed Taishiros window sill which was a minor roof that jutted out from the main body of the house. As you stood up on your tippy toes, you saw Taishiro pacing back and forth in a hurry. It looked like he was on the phone with his mom.

“I-I don’t know where I put it! I’m so screwed!”

The pit of guilt in your stomach just sank lower. God, you were just a selfish jackass weren’t you. Shaking your head, to get rid of those thoughts, you carefully opened his window once you saw his retreating figure head to another room. And carefully placed his wallet on the window sill. You heard his footsteps come closer and closer and you began to panic. You lost your balance and fell onto the ground. Thank god a rose bush was there to help the fall, not. You groaned but then as soon as you remembered your current situation, you ran as fast as you could into the moonlight.

ღ

“You know what, I think my teacher likes me, maybe she’ll be more lenient-” but Taishiro’s voice stopped to a halt. He looked at his window. He… He never remembered opening it up at this hour. “Hold on, I’ll call you back…” he said hesitantly and hung up the phone before the person on the other end could say anything. As he started to walk closer and closer to the window, he found the wallet he had been looking for, the wallet that made him nearly lose his mind over.

Opening the wallet, he saw a note tucked in the clear, plastic protector allocated for his middle school ID photo. It read:

“hey! absolute zero here! i just wanted to say that you lost your wallet somewhere and thank god there was an address along with your shining face :D here’s my number if you wanna talk (xxx)-xxx-xxxx”

Taishiro’s face burst into flames and he looked outside to see if you were there. You weren’t, but nonetheless, he grinned. As he counted the money in his wallet once more, he noticed the extra wadded up 1000 yen bill that was to be seen between the stacks of 10,000 yen bills. And he gave a boisterous laugh that echoed in the halls of his home.

Word count: 6775

[nintickleswitch]

Strung in Her Web

Fandom: The Magnus Archives

Characters: Annabelle Cane, Statement Giver OC

Word Count: 1965

Content Warnings: CNC tickling, bondage, arachnophobia (no spiders directly involved, but they are mentioned and Annabelle has spider-like features), implied NSFW

Summary: Statement of Marjorie Winters, regarding a... A really weird first date. F/F, monster bondage + tickling. enjoy :)

Statement of Marjorie Winters, regarding a... A really weird first date. Let's just call it that. Statement given July 21st, 2014. Audio recording by Marjorie Winters, per my request. Statement begins.

Look, I'm sorry. I know this isn't how you usually do things. But... When I got an ad for your Institute last night, I knew I had to tell my story. I'm not really articulate in writing, though, and I don't think I could tell this to another person with a straight face. So I'll just do the tape myself. Hopefully I've done all the formatting correctly. Anyways, I suppose I should begin.

I'm a database administrator. It's not exactly a glamorous career, but it lets me live in London without going bankrupt so I suppose I'm happy with it. You've got to understand though, it's an incredibly demanding job. You have to stay on top of everything to make sure it's running smoothly 24/7, which means weird schedules and constantly scrambling to fix outages. At least I get the choice of working from home most days, which gives me room to at least half enjoy my hobbies.

On the flip side, it means I don't really get out much to meet new people. I've always been introverted, so making the effort to trek to a bar or club has never been worth it for me. IT also happens to be a boys' club for the most part, and the couple of fellow trans girls that I do know live overseas, which is a problem when you prefer women. So you can understand with the pressures of having to keep everything under control and my lonely lifestyle, I needed something to cut loose for once.

I never really trusted dating apps, but it wasn't like I had much choice. It was that or go out and try to mingle in person. I ended up creating a pretty decent profile, with a few cute pictures of myself, my job and a list of my hobbies. I actually managed to get quite a few hits - some from male chasers, which I mean, that does happen, but most from women who seemed to be genuinely interested in me.

I didn't swipe right on most of them even then, as I was somewhat picky about people in general, but there was one woman who caught my eye. Her stark white hair complemented her beautiful dark eyes and eccentric outfit so perfectly, along with that elegant spiderweb dyed into her undercut. I was almost magnetized to her from the start. So I swiped right, and it turns out she'd already matched me. I was giddy from excitement, my hands almost shaking when I dropped her a line. My flirting was... Beyond awkward, let's say, but she took it in stride and seemed to find it rather charming. In the end, she dropped the location of a cafe and invited me to meet her there around mid-afternoon. Of course, I accepted.

You know, it's odd. I don't seem to remember learning that much about her. I know her name was Annabelle Cane. She was just as gorgeous in person as she was online, wearing a beautiful vintage tweed suit with a maroon shirt underneath. It turned out we both liked black and white movies and thrift shopping. She said she was a huge fashion enthusiast, being really fond of needlecraft and weaving in particular. She liked a bunch of cool bands I never heard of, and eagerly listened to me ramble on about my job and my life, never once taking those piercing dark eyes off me, like she was studying my every move to see what she should do next.

When she brought up that she played piano, I decided to be a little bolder than I was. I took her hand, and said I figured - she had the most elegant hands. At this, she broke into a wide smile. For a moment, I saw something strange behind the corners of her mouth - like something *retracted*. But I blinked, and it was gone. She stood up, and said her flat was just a 10 minute walk away from here if I wanted to see just how skilled they were. I couldn't believe my luck. So obviously I followed her, up to a modest little flat decorated in dark wine, purple and green hues, styled effortlessly just like the rest of her was.

She poured me a glass of red, and told me not to be so nervous. That she was going to take care of me. Now, she was 5 years younger than me, and a couple of inches shorter, but the way she spoke made me feel like I was down on my knees for her already. I hastily downed the glass, and before I knew it, I was in her bedroom. She pushed me down onto the bed, kissing me with a hunger I hadn't experienced in years. Her deft hands made quick work of my outer layers, leaving me just in my camisole and skirt, stroking and pinching me in ways that had me sighing desperately for her before anything had even happened.

Eventually, she pulled away with a wicked grin, and asked me if I wanted to do something a little more special. Before I could ask what she meant, she grabbed several lengths of silk rope from a nearby drawer. I'd written that I had a fair amount of experience with kink in my profile from my college days, and I was always down to experiment, so I hastily nodded. I lay down on the bed prone, with my arms raised above my head, waiting for her patiently and eagerly.

She started with my body, her hands working quickly to create an intricate pattern that I only recognized as a web when she was finished. It was as mesmerizing as it was complex, and the tightness of it underneath my chest, around my hips and my thighs made me ache for her touch even more. Her work continued with my arms and legs, securing them to each of the four corners of the bed. I could hardly move by the time she was done. My heart pounded in my throat like a caged bird battering itself against the gilded wire as she told me to close my eyes, whispering the safeword in my ear before leaving imprints of her teeth in the cartilage.

The stroking started off slow, sensual. By that time I gathered she liked being in control, and I relished in it. I could tell she was having fun by her pleased little hums whenever I squirmed too much, digging her nails in slightly more wherever I was particularly sensitive. She pulled light giggles and soft, delighted moans out of me, mapping out every inch of my body with her hands. Even when she intensified the pace, making me buck and squirm and laugh properly with her clever touches, I couldn't help but melt into her touch. Her nails caressed my chest, up along my inner arms, circling my stomach and the grooves of my hips, dancing along my inner thighs... I was in heaven.

In fact, I was so caught up in how good it felt to let go that I didn't even notice that something was definitely amiss. I mean, I did notice, but not consciously. Trying to cut through all of those mixed nerve signals was almost impossible in my state. It didn't click for me until I felt a fourth hand tracing the curves of my neck until I realized what the problem was. My eyes snapped open, expecting to see a second person she'd brought along without warning me. But that wasn't what I saw.

Kneeling on the bed in front of me was Annabelle Cane. It wasn't the woman I saw before, though. Her eyes... Oh god, you don't understand. She had so many eyes. Protruding from her lips were a set of vicious looking mouthparts, clicking and chittering with excitement. And where I once saw two perfectly normal arms, she had four more, their languid movements unnatural. Inhuman.

Believe me, I tried to scream, with all my might I tried. But the moment I did, it turned into cacophonous laughter when every one of those six, swaying arms descended on my prone body. And I realized I never knew what true helplessness felt like until that moment.

One set plunged its thumbs into the pockets of my hips, kneading there mercilessly. Another raked its neatly manicured fingers from my ribs to my underarms, scraping those hollows with what felt more like stiff bristles than nails. I was almost reminded of the bristles on a tarantula's leg. One of my exes was a real exotics nut, and he'd often try to convince me how cute and fuzzy they were, holding his prized pets up to me with a wide grin. But all I could see were those beady little eyes, watching me like they were plotting my every move - the same eyes that were now staring down at me with utter glee.

The last set wrapped around my knees, squeezing the caps and skittering its fingers along the underside. Occasionally, they roamed to my tight calves, the tender underside of my thighs. And all I could do was laugh. Do you understand? I couldn't - I couldn't move an inch. If this was normal bondage, I would have at least been able to squirm - she certainly gave me plenty of room to, but I couldn't. It was like I was hypnotized under some horrible spell, like a fly caught in her web, forced to endure the barrage of unbearable tickling torture.

So I laughed. And I wept. Once I got over the shock of it, I even remembered that she'd given me a safe word. But I didn't say it. Because I think the worst part of it was, I didn't really hate it. I mean, yes, I was begging for mercy, begging to do anything for it to stop, and I was petrified with fear like I'd never been in my life. But I just... I couldn't help myself, I guess. The rush that came with losing all that control, terrifying as it may have been. And she was gorgeous, and such a skilled domme...

When it finally, mercifully ended after what felt like forever, I was a wreck. My hair was plastered against my forehead, I was sweating like crazy. My body couldn't stop... Trembling. That was all the movement she allowed. All she did, leaning in close with those clicking mandibles and those dark, beady eyes sprouting from her forehead and her cheeks, was whisper a single word to me in a low, husky voice:

And I answered.

"Safeword?"

"Chelicerae."

"Good girl."

She leaned in for a kiss, and it was... God. Intoxicating would be the best word for it. At some point, she bit my lip, and I started to feel... Fuzzy. Sensitive, helpless. When she finally drew back, that was when I saw what she really was. Each of her arms a chitinous, segmented leg with those bristly little hairs all over that scratched and tickled like cruel little brushes. But it didn't matter at that point. I was all hers.

Statement ends. 

I'll spare you the rest of the details. For my sake, and for yours. I think you know what happens next, and this statement is... Hardly appropriate for your archives at this point, I think. But I had to get it out there. Had to save whatever poor soul runs into her next. She's scheduled a second date with me at some contemporary art exhibit. I think I'm going to go. After all... I just can't help myself.

[skyler10fic]

Lightning Strikes Twice: Ch. 7

Summary: Melinda May has an excellent sense of perception when it comes to character, but there's one person with a big secret she didn't anticipate. And with that, the plot thickens!

Read on Ao3

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Phil Coulson was an excellent judge of character. He simply mentioned people to his wife and gauged her skeptical reaction to counter his own naturally affable one. The truth was usually somewhere in the middle. After all, people are complex beings with mixed motives and layered backstories.

It was saying something then that when they arrived home that night, instead of revealing she’d found something suspicious and foreboding about Carol, Melinda simply got ready for bed, checked her phone to make sure there were no urgent messages, particularly from Skye, and kissed Phil goodnight.

“That’s it?” Phil asked.

Melinda raised an eyebrow that meant he’d have to do better than that.

“No, no, I didn’t mean…” Phil clarified. “We just left our daughter with a stranger who was raised by the aliens who abducted her as a child and you’re totally fine with this.”

Melinda soothed her fingers over his bare bicep. “She’s not really a stranger though. She’s Carol Danvers. She’s exactly who I thought she would be if we ever found her.”

Internally, Phil found himself playing the skeptic in a role reversal and didn’t like it. He decided to put his faith in her judgment, as he was always wise to do. Trust didn’t come easy for her, and if she trusted Carol, he could too.

“She just fell from space today,” Phil pondered. “I know she’s the same girl, but she was away for so long and we’re letting her in like she never left. But it doesn’t feel wrong, somehow. For someone raised by the Kree, she’s so … kind? Good? Empathetic.” His signature thinking wrinkle developed between his eyebrows. Melinda kissed it away, and then kissed his lips.

“You want to know my real worry?”

Phil nodded once.

“I see the way Skye looks at her already. If Carol decides not to stick around, or does but doesn’t feel the same, we’re going to be dealing with an earthquake with a broken heart. And I don’t mean her powers. When Skye falls, she is all in. She gets that from you, you know.”

“Oh! Ohhh.” Phil knew Skye liked girls as well as boys, but it had been so long since anyone in particular of any gender had been in the picture that it never occurred to him. Part of him always saw her as his little girl, more interested in puzzles and tree-climbing than dating and, well, other, more adult things. But she was well into adulthood by now and was free to do whatever with whoever made her happy. As long as, of course, they did make her happy. If not, he wasn’t sure how Carol’s integration into Shield would go if breaking Skye’s heart was the first thing everyone knew about her. Melinda was right; more than being an alien threat, if first impressions held true, it would be Carol’s naivety to Earth culture, natural charisma, and open heart that might get them all in a pickle.

“Moms can tell. She didn’t have to say anything,” Melinda added, misinterpreting his silence as confusion about how she knew from one day.

“Yeah, I know.” He forced a soft smile, knowing she wouldn’t be fooled by it.

“Besides, we’ll see what this version of Carol Danvers is made of tomorrow in the training arena,” Melinda said breezily before turning off the light and cuddling up against him. He understood the conversation was over but still chuckled to himself and kissed her forehead. She wasn’t letting Carol off too easy. She was simply evaluating the situation, one piece of data at a time. But Phil rested that night only because he knew what his beloved, cautious, perceptive Melinda saw led her to trust Carol, and that was enough for him.

—----------------

One person Melinda never did trust was Alexander Pierce. There was something in his eyes when he smiled, a glint of ego, greed, and ruthless ambition. Perhaps that was a projection from observing his behavior and speech. It was never overt; he was too cautious for that. But Melinda wasn’t the type of woman he could charm and melt with a well-timed word of praise or gift. And she certainly wasn’t the type of woman to patronize and belittle. So the best he could do was discredit her concerns by wooing everyone around her. Phil found this amusing as a game and played along, knowing exactly what was happening. Skye steered clear of him, not only at her parents’ warning but of her own volition, echoing her mom’s concern that something about him gave her the creeps despite his impeccable reputation.

But secretaries with flowers of gratitude on their desks and fellow men in suits all praised him as such a model of gentlemanly behavior. A real throwback to another era. Only his personal assistant, Natasha, shot imaginary daggers from her eyes whenever he wasn’t looking.

Melinda cornered Natasha one day, and the poor girl was eager to have an ally. Melinda could tell from their conversation that Natasha was done with all his manipulating and was secretly concerned about bringing Carol into the equation.

“What do you know about Carol?” Melinda asked cautiously. Natasha hesitated but made her decision.

“Come with me.”

Melinda followed her down a side hallway and through two secure doors, the last of which Melinda didn’t have clearance to access on her own. Suddenly, Natasha walked with purpose, no longer the meek assistant but confident and self-assured.

They walked through a door that blended into the wall around it and arrived in a sleek office, with windows only open to a view of the city below. Had Natasha not been guiding her, even the famously perceptive Melinda May might not have noticed the door if she hadn’t been looking for it.

“Welcome to my office.” Natasha smiled slyly and gestured to two leather office chairs turned toward a large screen.

“I thought your office was—” Melinda sat down and Natasha followed, finishing the thought.

“This is my real office. I’m bringing you in.”

“In?” Melinda raised an eyebrow.

“That okay with you, Director Fury?” Natasha pressed a button on the armrest of the chair and the director appeared on the screen.

“Hello, Melinda. I see you’ve met Natasha Romanov. You might remember me telling you about a young woman many years ago who defected from a Russian group known as the Widows. No one else knew her out here while I’ve been putting her to good use elsewhere, but now, her assignment is internally undercover, as an assistant to Alexander Pierce.” Fury paused and addressed Natasha, “It’s your call, but this is exactly the team I’d put together if it were mine.”

“That’s what I mean by ‘in’—on the team to investigate Pierce,” Natasha explained. She turned back to the screen. “She asked what I knew about Carol Danvers.”

Fury tented his fingers and furrowed his brow. “We’ve got two options on the table. Melinda, you’ve had more contact with this space girl than we have. Maybe you can help us figure which of these two is worth pursuing.”

Natasha picked up from there. “We know Pierce is working with extraterrestrials. A double agent. I’m on the inside to keep an eye on and control the intel he passes on to the enemy.”

“The Kree.” Melinda felt the old pit of dread in her stomach.

Fury continued, “The variable we did not factor into the equation was your old unsolved missing child case all grown up and crashing down to earth right outside our front door.”

“So,” Natasha wrapped up, “the question is, accident or summoned? Was she escaping them or was she part of Pierce’s plan to infiltrate Shield before an attack?”

Melinda turned the evidence over in her mind. She was far too seasoned a spy not to consider it.

Fury leaned forward. “You don’t know. Or do you not want to voice your suspicions since the girl is close to your daughter?”

Melinda shot him a cold stare. “You know if I had any doubt, I would never put Skye in danger.”

Fury relaxed. “What makes you sure then?”

“What makes you doubt?” Melinda countered, genuinely asking. “Do you have any evidence, besides where she came from, since she’s been here?”

Confused by Fury’s silence after this question, Natasha grew restless and interjected, “A Kree Starforce warrior was welcomed into Shield with open arms and you’re not concerned?”

Melinda started to speak, but Fury interrupted. “Yeah, it’s almost as crazy as having a former elite Russian spy running internal investigations against my own staff.”

Natasha was quelled and bowed her head in deference. “I just mean, it’s due diligence. We know Pierce is a mole. We know he’s working with the empire she was fighting for, who raised her. Yes, I know what it’s like to defect. But I also know what it’s like to play a role to get the job done. As do you.” She met Melinda’s curious gaze and held it until Melinda turned back to Fury.

“If she’s a spy or infiltrating or plotting with Pierce, we’ll know,” Melinda assured. “What better way to spy on a spy than to keep her close to home? And in the meantime, bootcamp.”

“Bootcamp.” Natasha agreed.

“You’re gonna be her S.O. then? Well, now I just pity her,” Fury teased but then grew serious. “Melinda, I want you to bring in Phil, but keep Skye neutral. If she gets suspicious, let her come to us. Communication open, understand? And Natasha, keep Pierce off Carol’s case until we know more. Fury out.”

The two women were left with their assignments as the screen went blank.

Melinda tilted a nod of sympathy to Natasha. “I don’t envy you having to babysit Pierce.”

“I’ve had worse jobs.” Natasha shrugged. “And hey, I want to believe Carol is who she says she is too. But whether she’s in on it or not, the Kree have their sights on Earth, and Pierce is expecting a big reward when they do. There’s only so much I can do on this end.”

Melinda sighed. “And with a mole, you can’t afford to leak information to the rest of us to prepare for it.”

Natasha frowned. “Well, the Marias might have been pressured by the director to move forward with SABER. On an accelerated timeline.”

“Space division? Phil’s gonna geek out when he hears that.”

“Sci-fi nerd?”

“Oh yeah. I can tell he wants to ask Carol questions but is waiting for the right time.”

Natasha lowered her voice despite the security of the room, speaking with empathy. “It can be hard to leave the only thing you’ve ever known, even when you know they’re wrong.”

“She tries to be fine, especially for Skye, but the pain is still there. I know you could see it too if you met her.”

“Maybe I will.” Natasha said, and Melinda understood that was as close to a promise as she’d get out of her.

Natasha stood and Melinda followed, and they made their way back to their assigned offices with minimal coworker banter to keep up appearances as they passed colleagues in the halls and on the elevators.

Melinda admired how easily Natasha slipped back into her assistant role: pretty, demure, attentive, naive. It was a game they were all trained in to perfection, sometimes as a matter of life or death. But it was disconcerting now to think that Carol’s heart-on-her-sleeve personality, so far from the practiced guardedness of Shield agents, might be purely an act to let someone like Alexander Pierce lead to the downfall of Shield, and potentially, Earth itself against a powerful alien empire.

[crazyunsexycool]

Is it a crime?

Chapter 9

Pairing : mob boss!bucky barnes x mob boss!reader

Word count: 3.3k

Warnings: mentions of domestic abuse, mentions of smut, violence, knife use, loss of limb, drug use, alcohol consumption

A/N: the long awaited chapter for this series… honestly I don’t know how to feel about this chapter but here it is I do have some interesting things planned for this series though!!

Series masterlist

9 years ago

James Buchanan Barnes was a ghost.

He was the shell of who he used to be. A whisper in the shadows of the already dark and seedy underbelly of the city. Since the night of the infamous Y/L/N murder it was clear that Bucky Barnes had changed. The switch that flipped inside of him was losing you.

Even being the heir to the Barnes family empire Bucky had always been known as charming and even kind. Not to be considered weak, he was a beast in his own right. Some would even go as far as to say he could instill more fear in someone than his father. Yet he had earned more respect from others in the business. It wasn’t fear disguised as respect no, the now twenty one year old had gained genuine respect from the others in this business. It was the worst kept secret that eventually the Y/L/Ns and the Barnes would become one when you and Bucky inevitably married. Everyone fought to be on Bucky’s good side lest they be the target of his wrath.

Now though, that person had died. His heart had been ripped away and sent out of New York. What was left was a ruthless man who thirst for blood. Specifically the blood of hydra. It was enough to send hydra’s associates running for the hills. There were some that didn’t care. They didn’t believe the whispered warnings. They saw Bucky as nothing more than an inconvenience until they were face to face with him.

Like right at this moment.

Bucky stood in the dark alleyway. A cigarette between his lips and a knife in his hands. Hydra had been pushing their business closer to his territory. It’s not like he needed a reason to kill hydra men but that could lead to a war and George Barnes didn’t want that. If it were up to him he’d call a truce with Pierce just for getting rid of you but Bucky had done too much damage in the span of just three months for that to happen now.

Bucky tosses his cigarette on the ground and steps on it before heading out of the alley. Pierce’s men had stolen from him and he was determined to make them pay. Before he even rounds the corner completely Bucky has already stabbed one of the guards. The knife slicing right into his lung, the man wheezes and falls to the floor. Bucky makes sure he won't get up again. On the other side of the street Steve handles some other of Pierce’s people, while Bucky makes his way into the warehouse.

By the time he was done the warehouse was on fire and all of the hydra scum that was supposed to protect Pierce’s assets were inside.

7 years ago

The music was deafening. Bucky’s first club was up and running successfully despite his father’s insistence that it would fail. Bucky sat up straight after trying the new drug the infamous Bruce Banner had cooked up. There’s some leggy redhead that had attached herself to his side the moment he walked in and he was already wasted so he didn’t care.

“Why don’t you try that and tell me what you think?” Bucky whispered in her ear as he held out what looked like a tiny piece of paper. She stuck her tongue out and when he placed his finger on the tip she wrapped her lips around it. Her tongue swirling around his finger until he pulled his hand away harshly.

It didn’t take long for the effect to take place and Bucky found himself shaking hands with Bruce after closing a deal to sell his new concoction only through Bucky and only at his clubs.

“Bucky, we have to go. You have a meeting.” Steve said as soon as Bruce walked out of the vip area.

He was beyond annoyed with Bucky’s behavior. Steve had even parted ways with him for a few weeks because Bucky was being so reckless he was sure to get one or both of them killed. He understood the pain Bucky had been hiding under the recklessness. He hadn’t been the only one to lose you. Frankly Steve had been just as upset when he heard the news and he was ready to go out and bring hydra down. Both men had thrown themselves into work but in very different ways. Steve became more calculating, double and triple checking his plans to make sure everything fell into place. He couldn’t lose anyone else.

“If my father thinks I’m not smart enough or for old enough to take over already he can fucking go to the meeting.”

“Buck…”

“Get out. I don’t give a fuck about the damn meeting.” Bucky was up and in Steve’s face.

“The only reason you’re this upset is because Y/N’s birthday is coming up.”

There was an instant and drastic change in the room. The tension builds so quickly it’s suffocating. Bucky reacts without thinking, his fist already flying toward Steve’s face. Fortunately he was high and a bit drunk so Steve was able to move out of the way just in time.

“What did I fucking say about mentioning her?”

“You,” Steve points at the redhead. “Get out.”

She scowled in his direction but left anyway.

“You need to get your shit together. At some point the way you’ve been acting because of Y/N is going to get you killed. What if she comes back and finds out you’re gone huh? At least you have your mom and Becca and your friends. Y/N is out there with nothing and I can’t fucking find her to make sure she’s ok. All you do is get high or drunk and act like a child that had their toy taken away.” Steve yelled. “You’re not the only one who lost her so man the fuck up already.”

“Get the fuck out Steve. I’m not gonna deal with your bullshit.”

Bucky moved to the bar and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. He returned to the couch and sat down before taking a drink directly from the bottle.

Steve just stared at him for a moment before he started walking out. “She’d be so disappointed if she saw you like this.” He said over his shoulder.

The bottle Bucky had in his hand flew into a wall and shattered on impact. A blood curdling scream turned into a sob in his throat. He knew Steve was right. If you saw him right now you’d probably hate him. Still he couldn’t bring himself to be better. What was the point?

Underneath everything he had become, Bucky was still that 20 year old that had to watch while you ran for your life. At the time he didn’t have enough influence within the Barnes crime family or in New York. His hands were tied behind his back and he blamed himself for failing to protect you. That would always be his biggest regret. All he had left was hope that you were still alive and that you could somehow reach out to let him know you were ok.

But everyday that hope dwindled a little more. Until he was left with nothing.

6 years ago

A trap had been set by hydra. George had willingly given Becca to Pierce as a bargaining chip. Hoping that she would be enough to stop the war before it began.

Bucky was furious when his mother told him what had happened. And even though his relationship with most of his friends was rocky he called on Steve and Sam to help get Becca back. He should have known that Pierce and Rumlow would use his sister to lure him out.

Bucky doesn’t remember much of what happened once he stepped into the abandoned building. All he knows now is that he’s in a hospital. He goes in and out of consciousness. The doctors go on and on about something but whatever they have him on has thrown him for a loop.

Arm.

Amputate.

Pain.

Miracle.

Lucky.

Those are the only things he was able to capture. Everything is hazy and far away. Whatever pain medication they're giving him is the best thing he’d ever had. Bucky swears he can hear your voice, see your face and feel your hand on his face before he’s unconscious again.

When he fully wakes up the first thing he does is ask for you. Winnie and Becca are at his side reminding Bucky that you aren’t there. Bucky cries over the fact that he imagined you but not so much at the news that he lost his left arm. He looks at Becca who is beaten and bruised and all he wants to do is get back out there and destroy Pierce. Then find a way to destroy his father.

The pain is unbearable, nightmares interrupt his sleep. Adjusting to not having a limb is so difficult Bucky thinks it won’t get easier. He’d prefer to just crawl into bed and never get out. Winnie, Becca, Sam and Steve don’t allow that to happen.

5 years ago

It took a year of doctor visits and appointments before he could be fitted for a prosthetic. Of course he did intensive research with the help of Becca to find the best money could buy.

Now with a metal arm more people seem to be afraid of Bucky. A feeling he relished and used to his advantage. Something in him changed too. He felt the old him die. There was no use in emotions; he would only hurt himself. Bucky closed that part of himself off. The part of himself that thought he could have a happy life and love. Instead he focused on his job, on hitting hydra back for touching Becca. Of course George is furious at this but he isn’t as vocal about it afraid of Bucky, considering the rampage Bucky is going on.

****

He’s relentless in his pursuit. Bucky had managed to pull together a group of men he trusted. None of them had any connections to his father. They were just trying to make a name for themselves. Luckily enough for Bucky. Hydra had also screwed them over so it was easy to get them on board with the promise of their own money tacked on. They called themselves the Howlies because of how they made their enemies cry out in pain.

When Bucky isn’t destroying hydra or their associates he’s either high or drunk and fucking some girl he met at his club. When he’s done he feels disgusted, like he’s cheated on you. The most recent girl gets kicked out of his office before she’s even dressed. He can hear her cursing up a storm but he couldn’t care less. Bucky sits in his office alone, looking down at the dance floor through the large window. Every time he did he wished for you to magically show up.

That would never be the case and for the first time since that night he began reluctantly accepting that he’d never see you again.

3 years ago

It was a rumor. Not really a rumor but a whisper in the wind. Just something said in passing but it was enough to give Steve hope. A group of mercenaries or something was traveling around taking jobs others wouldn’t. Starting connections and dealing with groups no one else could. All of them led by the so-called mob princess of New York.

Steve walked into the Barnes residence knowing Bucky would be finishing up a meeting with George. He had possible good news and he was going to tell Bucky before leaving in search of you again.

“Steve.” Winnie intercepted him before he could make it to Bucky.

“Mrs. Barnes, you aren’t going to believe it. I think I can find Y/N.”

“I’ve heard, how sure of this are you?”

“I’m pretty sure.”

“Steve if you aren’t even 75% sure that it could be her— you can’t tell him. If it isn’t or you don’t actually find her it will break him. He’s already on edge because of his father. And I can’t see him like that again.”

“Please don’t cry.” Steve moved to comfort the older woman. “I won’t say anything. Just tell him I had to go away on business and I’ll see him in a few days.”

“Thank you, please be safe.”

*****

“Where have you been?” Bucky asks Steve without even looking up from the documents he had in his hand.

“I had some business to take care of.”

“That’s what my mother said. What business?” His head snaps up to look at Steve.

“Nothing important. The plans fell through anyways.”

“So nothing to do with Y/N then?”

“I’m sorry what?” Steve did his best to look confused.

“You heard the rumor about some team being led by the so-called princess of New York and you tried to go find her. Am Icorrect?”

“Yes, listen I didn’t tell you because-“

“It doesn’t matter why you didn’t say anything. She’s not here so it obviously wasn’t her or you missed her. Anyways it doesn’t matter.” Bucky shrugged his shoulders.

“Why doesn’t it matter?”

“There’s no reason to keep-“ Bucky clears his throat. “To keep looking for her.” He said quietly. “She’s been gone this long with no type of communication. It's obvious she isn’t interested in coming back.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I have a business to run and that’s what I’m going to focus on.”

Steve looked at him with concern. “Did something happen while I was out?” He asks.

“Nothing to worry about. Why don’t you rest today and I’ll catch you up on what you’ve missed tomorrow morning?”

“Buck-“

“Don’t. I’ve made my choice. I can't continue to live hoping that she’ll show up here one day when I know she won’t.”

Steve just nodded and decided to leave and talk to Sam. It’s obvious his father got to him and he was going to need back up.

1 year ago

“It’s time you stop fooling around. I thought that by giving you time you’d straighten yourself out but you’ve been insufferable.” George Barnes told his son from behind his desk.

“I’m doing my job. I’m making this family money, I’ve strengthened our relationship with the rest of the families and I’ve kept hydra in line. So please enlighten me on how I’m fooling around?”

“No one is going to take you seriously if you keep fucking around with those whores. You need to settle down.”

“I would have settled down if you had kept your promise when Pierce killed Y/L/N. Y/N and I would be unstoppable-“

“Enough.” George slammed his fist on his desk. It was a move that used to instill fear in Bucky as a child, but not so much now. “It’s been almost ten years, get over it. You sound like a pussy every time you whine about her.”

“Fuck you. I’m never going to get over it. She was everything to me and you knew that. But you only care about yourself and your money. If you hated having a family and children why did you get married in the first place?”

“Because it was my obligation. To keep the family name and business going. And just like I had to do it, so will you.” George pulled some documents out of a drawer and dropped them in front of Bucky. “I’ve already found someone for you. All you have to do is sign the contract and we can proceed with the wedding.”

“I’m not signing shit without my lawyer reviewing and adding my own stipulations.”

“The family lawyer was the one to put it together.”

“I have my own lawyer.” Bucky said as he glanced down at the document. “See, the family lawyer works for you so I don’t trust him, or you for that matter. My amended contract will be the final say if not, this arrangement isn’t happening.” Bucky got up and walked out.

******

It took almost a week but Bucky finally returned to the family home with the revised contract and set it on his father’s desk. His personal lawyer found too many requests that would screw Bucky over permanently.

“It’s this or nothing.” He states calmly and then proceeds to sit and watch George Barnes lose his shit over every stipulation he’s added.

“You’ve got to be out of your damn mind if you think I’ll agree to any of this.”

“You either sign and walk away with a nice retirement plan or I move on you and your men. Either way I’ll end up in full control of our territory and you’ll be gone.” Bucky states calmly.

Bucky’s requests were simple. He would be allowed to divorce after 2 years of marriage at which time the bride’s family would sign their businesses over to Bucky for a large sum of money. The day of the wedding George Barnes would officially step down as the head of the family and Bucky would take total control of everything. But the most important and the one request he wouldn’t change was that George would have to grant his mother a divorce and move away from the city.

“This is my city boy. I’m not moving and I’m not letting your mother go either.”

“You will sign the divorce papers, that’s non negotiable. If you don’t I will personally do to you every single thing you ever did to her. Everything.” Bucky’s eyes were ablaze with rage.

“You wouldn’t dare-“

Before George could finish the sentence Bucky had reached over the desk, grabbed his hand and held it there before stabbing him with the knife he had been wielding in his left hand. George cried out in pain as Bucky pulled the blade out.

“You ungrateful brat.” George spat.

“I was six years old when you did that to my mother at the dinner table because she didn’t make the meal you wanted. Then you refused to let her see a doctor until dinner was over. I suggest you sign the contract because if you don’t you’ll be in a lot more pain.”

****

A blonde that looked like she had been plucked out of a 1940’s housewife guide comes walking in. Curls bouncing, hips swaying, heels clicking, smile blinding. Bucky hated her immediately.

“Hi, I’m Dorothy but you can call me Dot.” She stretched her hand out in order for Bucky to shake it although it seemed she expected a kiss to the back of her hand.

“James.”

“I know,” she giggled, it was infuriating. “Your dad has told me so much about you.”

“It’s a shame I can’t say the same about you.”

“It’s ok, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other.”

Bucky rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately.” He mumbled.

Present

The bar was a little hole in the wall. You’d miss it if you didn’t know it was there. Bucky and Steve walked in with purpose, the other patrons stopping their conversation except for a table at the back. They were a rambunctious bunch.

“Well look at what the cat dragged in.” Tim Dugan called out from behind the bar. “Hey guys! Look who's here.”

The rest of the Howlies turned their attention to the bar. All of them immediately get up and welcome Steve and Bucky with open arms. They spend some time catching up before the question is asked.

“So what are you doing here after not seeing each other for some two years?” Falsworth asked.

“I need your help again. I know I said I wouldn’t drag you back in but there are very few people that I trust with my life. Most of them are sitting at this table.”

“What do you need help with?”

“Hydra.”

The men looked at each other before deferring to Dugan.

“When do we start?” He said with a sly grin.

Ch 10

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[oraclekleo]

Yuta (NCT) - Kinky Tarot Reading

Disclaimer:

All celebrity readings have purely entertainment nature

I don’t know any of the celebrities personally

Don’t base life decisions purely on tarot readings

I can never guarantee any of what’s said in the reading

Feedback: Feedback is very important for content creators and for me it’s even more important. Please, let me know whether the tarot readings resonate. If there’s anything you dislike or find off about my readings (like wording, topics, focus), just tell me. I don’t want you to write 1000-word feedback, very simple comments will do for me to stay motivated. I don’t know why I have to keep repeating this but this is something I do for you, guys, and when I don’t feel motivated to do tarot readings, I have many other things to do. The more motivation I get, the more readings you will get to read. The logic is very simple but it’s two sided.

Reading Info:

Rating: 18+

Reading Type: Single - Couple

Requested: Yes - No

Requester: /

Deck(s): Dark Wood Tarot

Spread: Kinky

Questions:

Position

Libido

Turn On

Kink

Dirty Secret

Celebrity Info:

Full Name: Nakamoto Yuta

Stage Name: Yuta

Group: NCT

DOB: 26.10.1995

Blood Type: A

MBTI: N/A

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Chinese Sign: Wood Pig

Life Path Number: 6

Masterpost: NCT (All sub-units)

Yuta (NCT)

Full Name: Nakamoto Yuta Stage Name: Yuta Group: NCT DOB: 26.10.1995 Blood Type: A MBTI: N/A Sun Sign: Scorpio Chinese Sign: Wood Pig Life Path Number: 6

Spread / Question: Kinky Deck(s): Dark Wood Tarot

Position - 9 of Pentacles, XV The Devil

LOL! I should have known that Yuta is going to be something extra. Let’s do this! Yuta is a straight up dom in a relationship, there’s no way he would actually submit. On the other hand, his partner might not fully notice this as he’s quite a manipulative dom and it’s possible Yuta will make his lover think they are in charge while in fact everything is in Yuta’s hands completely. He’s the type to actually bring out the worst in his lover, and might have a strong corrupting influence on them. Yuta, willingly or unwillingly, makes people addicted to him, obsessed with him, completely devoted to him, drooling over him and simping over him 24/7. He can be like a drug to a partner whose personality is weaker than Yuta’s personality. On the other hand, Yuta himself remains pretty immune to his partner, he’s likely to stay in the no strings attached mode most of the time. He’s a great individual and if there’s nobody to actually tick his boxes, Yuta is happy being single.

Libido - Knight of Swords, 5 of Swords

Bad boy Yuta! Yuta is not one of the emotional or even sensitive or gentle or faithful lovers. As a matter of fact, he’s pretty much a thief of hearts and a playboy in his own wicked way. Yuta seems to put his brains into action when it comes to passion and he might be a manipulative, fierce, cruel or even brutal lover. He sort of doesn’t take no for an answer. This applies to someone who’s his lover already, okay, I’m not saying Yuta would actually break the law. He might have tendencies to humiliate his partner, to flex his intellectual and sexual superiority over them. However, Yuta is too smart and cunning to actually hurt his lover, he can sense very well when the boundaries have been crossed for them and he should end the game and withdraw. Yuta might need to find a really special person in order to be fully satisfied in the relationship, especially in the sexual aspect of it. Yuta isn’t evil, but he might need to find someone genuinely open minded and with great endurance, so he can let his inner beast out. And the cards suggest he's truly insatiable in this matter. With the swords all over the place here, I’m thinking of a swift act resembling being pierced with his metaphorical sword.

Turn On - Page of Swords, I The Magician

With what has been said, you would imagine Yuta will feel aroused but total subs but no! He actually likes the challenge and naturally feels more attracted to people with vast curiosity but with a dominant nature. This is interesting as both the cards actually denote a person who loves to explore and learn and really get to the bottom of things. They might have tendencies to approach life in a non-emotional, more like an observatory way when they don’t really get attached to people emotionally but they love to learn all about them and they love to deep dive into their brains and souls. When you think about it, they might be a good match for Yuta. It’s more likely for Yuta to pick someone younger than him, or if they are older, they probably are less experienced in sex than he is. 

Kink - 4 of Pentacles, 9 of Wands

Yuta is a possessive man. While he remains pretty much free and unbothered by the shackles of a serious relationship, his lover should never even look at anybody else. Yuta is not the type to make a scene but he’s pretty capable of coming up with intricate and complex punishments including grounding his lover and making them stay at home as if they were a misbehaving teenager. Yuta is likely to mark his lover with hickeys, bruises, scratches, even tattoos when it comes to it. He likes to let the world know that this person is his and nobody should dare to touch it. I have mentioned Yuta having a thing for corrupting and humiliation, he’s got a pretty wide range of kinks, actually but all of them somewhat connect to the concept of control. He might be into bondage, shibari even as he has outstanding patience and will take his time with his lover. He might be into blindfolds, whips, crops, floggers, handcuffs and all range of toys. Yuta is likely to enjoy edging his lover, bringing them nearly to the climax and then leaving them unsatisfied. He’s a bit of a sadist. On the other hand! Yuta’s after care is superior as he takes good care of all his possessions.

Dirty Secret - 10 of Wands, IV The Emperor

I mean, yes! The theme of utter control is repeated over and over again in Yuta’s reading. It’s possible that Yuta’s secret dream is to actually assemble a whole harem of utterly devoted lovers of his. He would like to feel like their ultimate ruler. On the other hand, Yuta knows that this isn’t very likely to happen unless he actually starts some sort of cult. But while being a sultan in his own harem isn’t an option, Yuta might actually aspire to have as many lovers in his life as possible. He might have goals set like having sex with 1000 people before Yuta’s 30th birthday or something like that. I know I make him sound like a monster but this is not everything he’s got in him. This is topic reading so it’s focused on this type of information but Yuta has his very bright sides as well. He might actually be one of the kindest human beings for real. People are complex. We all have light and shadow within. 😊

This reading was actually so fun I feel tempted to do Yuta's BDSM_Dom reading and his After Dark analysis but as you know I rarely have time for extra things so I'm not promising anything. 😂

Thank you for reading!

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[flingcat16]

Fic #7 >:3

A version of the previous fic (#6), where it is now partially third person and partially from Sloan’s POV. A more sad and angsty one.

Word Count: 1970

TW for descriptions of blood.

Where did this go wrong? What point in history decided that it was my life that needed to change? What sort of past led to this? The creation of this place, the way it was built, its existence! The ornamentation and stone structure is nothing like anything else I’ve seen, the gemstones here don’t originate from this area, yet they seem to have been growing here for thousands of years!

There’s not really a way to know. Especially with something like this. Especially with the state of me… For once in my entire career, I have no idea what’s going on, not a single clue.

Something had to have been here, some kind of folklore or religious practices. The orientation of the patterns and stones, the way things are placed and carved, it’s unfamiliar in terms of details, but overall it generally matches most religious sites.

It doesn’t make sense, but it had to have been something spiritual or divine. It speaks to me; I can hear its words. It’s like an echo in a cathedral. It’s terrifying but… I can’t help feeling relaxed by it.

A gentle ring, a warm presence.

My entire body aches. I can’t feel my muscles enough to move; all I feel is a pain like crystal shards piercing my skin and flesh. It’s strangely not as painful as I thought, or as painful as I think it should be. It doesn’t change the fact that it still hurts; a lot.

I can feel the warmth of my blood on my skin; I can feel it pool in the sleeves of my jacket. It has to have been getting through my jacket onto the ground by now, staining both the ground and the fabric. Yeesh, it’s gonna be hard to clean out.

It's weird. It’s a chilling warmth, it both burns and makes me shudder. I feel like I shouldn’t be alive; something like this pain, needles all over my body, the amount of blood I can feel soaking my clothes, the lightheadedness, it all should have killed me by now. I don’t even know how long I’ve been lying here.

I can’t see anything. I can barely feel it, but there’s something covering my face. It feels like some kind of silk cloth; it feels both worn, and freshly made. I feel like I have some kind of opening on my forehead, some kind of cut maybe. It’s not surprising considering the fall I just had.

My feet and hands feel numb, yet I can feel them almost seem to crush themselves internally; it’s like my skin and muscles are becoming more dense, harder. The pain remains, now with a layer of pressure. When will this end? What is going on?!

How can I find a way out—

…

Find a way out..?

What about the other Wayfinders?!

Where are they all? This is a completely undiscovered place and yet, I know they’d be able to find me. I just know it! They knew I was going this way, they’ll come for me. I won’t die like this, I still have more stuff to see!

It all hurts so much, my lungs feel like they can’t take in anything more. I feel like I’m suffocating while I just… bleed.

It can’t be over, right..? This can’t be how I die! It can’t!

But… my entire body won’t respond to me… I can feel things, I just can’t move! I can’t call for help, I can’t even move my jaw enough to speak…

It’s over, isn’t it..?

“Get up, Sloan.”

“What?”

“I said… get up Sloan..!”

“It… It knows my name..? How does it know my name?“

“You won’t die. Not while I’m here.”

“What does it mean I won’t die..? I can’t move and I’m bleeding from what feels like my entire body—“

“I won’t let you die, Sloan. Stand up.”

“It… It won’t let me?”

“You don’t know who I am?”

“No— Who..? Are you… a god?”

“If that’s what I’ve been told you call the divine, yes.”

“Oh… Well that must mean I’m dying—“

“I already told you! You’re not dying!”

“How do you explain the blood loss then?! I can’t move, I’m lightheaded, and I’ve lost most of the feeling in my body!”

“You don’t get it. Do you, Sloan?”

“Get… what..?”

“You feel the changes. I know you do.”

“You mean the feeling of needles in my body?”

“Yes and no.”

“Yes and no..?”

“Your mortal body is adapting to handle divine power.”

“It’s what?! What are you— No! I can’t let this happen!”

“It’s not something you can just stop, Sloan.”

“Then why..? No— Why did—“

“It’s a lot for a mortal to process.”

“…I just don’t get it! Why me?! Of everyone in the world, why me?!”

The walls of the room began to house spidering cracks within the stone bricks, gemstones beginning to crack down these fissures. Was the place falling apart?

“You don’t need your mortal sight anymore. Open your third eye.”

What Sloan had previously thought to be a cut on their forehead slowly peeled apart at the words in their head. Within mere moments they could see clear as day through only one eye.

“I… I have a third eye..?”

They were finally able to see again, but what they saw was horrifying. They saw their hands and arms lying in front of them but… they were orange and shiny. They seemed to glow and twinkle faintly in the dark room, reflecting sparkles in the pooled blood from a few moments ago. Their heart pounded in their chest as they were finally able to feel their arms and legs again, their lungs heaving to take in air. What is happening to them..? This can’t be real, right?

“Stand up. We’re running out of time.”

The words from this voice weren’t just sound now. Sloan could feel their words create waves through their body, commanding their muscles to move. Their body responded; they slowly pulled their arms and legs in, dragging the blood pools inward as they laid their palms against the stone floor in pools of blood. They pushed up from the ground as they put their weight on their hands, shakily lifting their head to look around at the room.

The walls continued to crack and creature fissures, the gemstones in the walls beginning to fall and shatter on the ground. They could see it now, the place was falling apart.

“I can’t stay here, I have to find everyone else! This is something they have to know about!”

“You can’t go back to them, Sloan.”

“I… can’t..? Why?”

They shakily got to their feet, resting their hands on their knees to support their weight.

“Did you not see part of yourself?”

Sloan once again looked at their bloodied hands. It finally connected.

“No… No it can’t be!”

“This world chose you, Sloan. You have no choice but to answer.”

“I-I can’t do this! I can’t just leave them! They need me!”

Giant pieces of stone began to fall from the ceiling, one barely missing Sloan, crashing into the bloodied stone floor in front of them. They jolted, stumbling backwards and away from the impact point.

The pain in their body had begun to die down; replaced by a strange warmth. With each wave and pulse of this sensation within their body, a piece of the pain faded away.

“This place is falling apart, we have to get out. Now!”

Sloan’s heart skipped a beat. They looked around in panic, seeing their excavator a small distance away. They ran over to it, taking hold of it. They looked over at the tunnel they created prior, their body unsure of what to do. Do they stay? Or do they listen to this… god?

“What’s become of me..? What am I?!”

For once. The god was silent.

Their excavator began to crystallize just like their body, starting from where their hands held it. They stared at it in shock.

“History chose you, Sloan. Will you make it?”

Sloan stared down the tunnel, their foot lifting to step forward. They took a deep breath as they began to slowly walk towards the tunnel.

“What should I call you?”

The god sounded as if it laughed.

“I suppose a name would make this easier for you.”

As Sloan walked through the tunnel, the crystallization in their body had fully engulfed their arms and upper chest, their legs and their waist. Not much was left. They stopped their advance down the tunnel; they rested the end of their excavator on the ground as they looked down and stared at the area of their body that was left. They felt a deep sense of fear and longingness, already missing who they once were, and fearing what they became. Can they go back? Is it too late..?

“Crystal may be the easiest name for you to remember. The others I have are ones beyond your comprehension.”

Sloan sighed, continuing down the tunnel. They turned around for a moment to look back at the room they were once in, it was completely caved in. How did they not notice? Were they too enveloped in their thoughts to hear it?

“Crystal, do you have any idea why it was me of all people in this world? Why did this happen?”

There was a moment of brief silence.

“I don’t know as much about any of this as the others do. I was created in this very moment, the very instant you came here.”

Rumblings could be felt through the entire tunnel. The tunnel Sloan had made prior was beginning to cave in.

“They saw potential in you beyond anyone else. Your strength, your want to protect history, your craving for the truth, your passion, your need for adventure. All of it was taken into account.”

“But… The others I know are just the same…”

The rocks continued to crumble, and Sloan picked up their pace, knowing they’ll be caught in it if they stay too long.

“That doesn’t explain why you chose me!”

The light of the moon bled through the tunnel’s exit, and Sloan’s heart relaxed seeing the surface. Being in caves and historical sites was normally soothing to them, but this? This was a whole new level of exploration, a whole new discovery.

“As much as I’d like to tell you, I’m in the dark for specifics. I may be divine, but I haven’t been here long.”

“Why can’t you just get some answers then?”

“If only it were that simple, Sloan. I thought you of all people would know it’s not?”

The moon laid a blanket of light over the mountain ranges and grasses of the surface. It was eerily quiet other than the sound of the collapsing tunnels.

“I’m sorry it was so sudden, Sloan. As you know, that’s how history is.”

As much as Sloan didn’t want to accept that their old life was over, they had to. They had no choice.

The last remaining pieces of their body and excavator closed their crystallization. The wind was blowing against their body and through their hair, but it almost seemed to just slide off. Their body was so heavy and smooth that the wind couldn’t catch on anything, their hair barely moving in the wind. They lifted their arm, splaying their fingers in front of their face to look at them. Their hand was shiny, beams of moonlight refracting through their body.

“I’m not Venture anymore, am I..?”

The blood on their hands from before had started to dry and flake off, easily coming off their now smooth, almost polished stone skin.

“Yes. You still are.”

The winds died down, the grasses and trees falling still.

“Live up to that name, Venture. We will defend history, as one.”

[vibratingskull]

Imperial secrets

Part1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Tags : mention of cheating, reconciliation

FemaleReader x Thrawn

You decide to take matters in your own hands and discuss your fiance with someone who might know him for longer times

You wait at the dinner, hiding under your hoodie and some sunglasses. You twirl your straw in your drink, awaiting. You side eye the dinner, you know some of your friends come and work here, you’d rather not be seen. But that’s where she chose to see you. You sigh and slouch in your seat, is it reasonable? You wonder. You don’t know what Arzel said to them, but all your friends stopped talking and texting you for some day now. You didn’t realize you would lose so much by getting on his bad side…

"Lieutenant commander (y/l/n)?" A woman appears at your side, in a black trench coat complimenting her black hair and green eyes. 

You rise up in a jump. 

"Yes! It's me, Captain Hugtan." 

She sat down in front of you, without removing her coat. She looks at you with piercing inquisitive eyes. You always thought she was beautiful, she is even more that close. She could still model for the Empire posters, like before. Your cheeks fluster as your old crush comes acting up again.

"So?" She ask impatiently 

"Yes. I wanted to ask you about Nather Satlove."

She looks ultimately uninterested. 

"And what do you want to know about him ?" 

"You frequent him for longer than me, has he ever appeared… strange to you?" 

"When was he never strange? He's a whole circus by himself." she snarls. Maybe their relationship is not as good as you first thought. "He always has been a self centered prick and if I'm judging by the latest news I heard about him, he didn't change."

You lower your head a little, that sounds like your man. 

"Well" You start. "I'm sure he has some qualities…" 

"Oh, he does! I have an immense respect for his work methods, that doesn't help the fact that he's insufferable."

You pout.

"Okay, has there been a period where he has been especially… Insufferable ?" 

She takes a ciggie out of her pocket, lights it up and takes a deep puff of it. You cough because of the smoke but she doesn't stop. 

"Well, you realize I can't disclose information about a respected Governor of the Empire to you like that."

"I'm his fiance" You retorted. 

She looks at you dubious. You decide to show her some pics of Arzel and you together. You're a bit annoyed having to display your private life like that, but you swallow your pride. She looks at them with a raised eyebrow, and gives you back your community with a grin.

“I see every taste is in nature…”

“We’ll talk about my taste another time.” You respond, losing patience “What can you tell me about him?”

She stares into space for a moment, surely gathering her memories. 

“We did our study together at the Academy, even though I was two years ahead of him. As far as I can remember he has always as been a free spirit, with a talent to gather people around him. He regularly spoke about the treatment of the aliens, which had the effect of enraging the teachers and some students. But what can I say? A solar personality and an influential family can melt any ice, and he was popular, except for one other thing…” She takes another puff of her cig. “He was a fucking classist.”

You look at her in surprise. You already knew he had a military education and he used to go to the Academy, but you didn’t suspect this aspect of him. You let her continue.

“Despite being his elder I was a victim of his scorn and disdain because I came from the working class, with other students. He finally showed some respect when some of us graduated.” She pouts.

You don’t feel rancor in her speech, only a profound lassitude. You sip on your drink, all ears.

“For him we didn’t have our place in this elite space and only the ones overcoming the odds deserved his respect.”

Now that you think of it, he never lingered too much in your former neighborhood and speaks to a restricted number of people in church.

“We lost sight of each other when his family “introduced“ him officially to this weird church…” She continues.

“His family?” You're surprised, a bit disappointed even “He never speaks to me of his family…”

She tuts, clearly unsympathetic.

“Well they're all in this weird cult. It’s a family thing apparently, if I remember correctly it’s one of his grandmas that started it with some other illuminated priests.”

“Belegs.” You correct her with anger lingering in the tone.

She squints at you and sneers.

“Of course, you’re part of it.”

“You have a problem with that maybe?”

“No, absolutely not. It’s just another proof that birds of a feather flock together.”

You breathe deeply through your nose. Keep calm, you think, she’s a superior…

“Either way, it appears he selectively chooses his friends after that, and would you look at that : they all come from his circle, except for those who overcame the odds, with whom he looks like he has a weird adoration thing.” She takes a puff.

You keep silent, digesting what you just heard. She looks at you with what you think is pity melt with amusement.

“Oh don’t be sour, if he didn’t tell you about all that it’s because he thought you weren’t ready.”

You snarl at that comment, you hope it’s not that.

“That, or he doesn’t actually trust you…”

Your eyes widen, Eli’s kiss flashing in your mind. You quickly chase this thought, don’t think about it…

“Say, it’s not that I’m bored but I hope you didn’t bother me just for heart reasons.” She throws.

“In fact not.” You respond, straightening your back and with a hard gaze. “Tell me everything you know about the Rear Admiral Marttilf…”

________________________________________________________________

You're curled up over yourself, completely entranced by your screen. It's the only light in your chamber, reflecting on your face and walls. You corroborate all the data you have with the new ones recently obtained, and more importantly the ones about Martlif.

The Empire is losing slaves, or assets as Thrawn would have said. Either way, the Empire is losing precious resources and you’re sure Martlifs is part of that problem, accomplice of those pirates that you chased after for so long and the underworld of Tyrahnn. 

You compile everything on a data card and decide to head toward the ISB. You take your airspeeder and fly at full speed on the streets of Coruscant, your mind wandering just as quick. The recent events shined a light on some truths about your situation and yourself. Losing Azrel is losing his love, your friend group, your home, your moral support, stability… And it is too much at once. Your whole life would be in ruins, so you had to take the next logical step : presenting excuses.

You stop in front of his office, looking at the window pensively, ready to forgive him all of his slips for a better life. You take a big breath and get in, you have to act like a proper adult from now on you decide, being the bigger person…

As you walk in the hallway you see someone leaving Azrel’s office, someone you didn’t expect.

“Eli…” You say in a breath.

He sees you and his whole face brightens, he embraces you with joy.

“(y/n)! What an unexpected pleasure to meet you!” He laughs “What are you doing here?”

You gulp, all your defenses going down in front of that smile. How can you be mad at that face? You feel yourself melt in front of him, and your heart drops in your stomach. You don’t want to hate him.

“I came to see Azrel.”

“Who?”

“Nather.”

He nods comprehensively. After all that time, anger led to acceptance and confusion. You’re not even sure of what you saw anymore, there was so much steam and they were away from you. After replaying this scene in your mind so many times, the memory got corrupted. Beside you have no proof of what you saw, all you have is some foggy memories of a moment of vulnerability. 

"I thought you were on duty." You manage to say. 

"We'll depart in one month, the Chimaera is in repairs. I just wanted to chat a bit with Nather."

Your heart pinches, you want to believe him, you want to believe Azrel. You want to believe a future is possible for all of you. 

Eli looks at you with tenderness. 

"I'm gonna be honest, at first I didn't like him all that much. But talking to him and his political views, I came to appreciate him." He ruffles his hair with a chuckle, like he didn't want to vex you. 

You nod with a faint smile. 

"Yes, he really feels strongly about some subjects…”

He put his hand on your shoulder.

“He’s a good man. Strange, but fine.” He hits your shoulder lightly and bids you farewell.

Hand on the door handle you look at Eli walking away in the hallway. You shake your head, take a deep breath and enter.

“Azrel?” You ask, passing just your head through the door.

You see him raising his head from his screen at the mention of his name. He recognizes you and raises an eyebrow.

“(Y/n)...” 

You pout. (Y/n) not Roween. He opens his fan in a clac that resonates and hides his face behind it, letting only his eyes visible. You approach with little steps, trying to put a front.

“I came to see how you are since the last two weeks…” You start.

“Good.” He retorts shortly, his eyes following you walking inside his office.

“Good, good.” You pout, licking your teeth trying to continue the conversation.

He slouches on his chair, crossing his legs on his desk, waiting for you to state your true intention.

“I…” You stop and look at the beautiful sunny day through the transparisteel wall behind him, taking inspiration from nature.``I also wanted to present my excuses for what happened last time, I shouldn’t have sold short our principles for a simple date night with a friend, a friend you judge improper for our cause. I just wanted to reassure you that I still firmly believe in it and that I will do what you all judge necessary for it to advance.”

He stares at you in silence. You release a deep breath trying to stay calm in this agonizing moment. Finally he stands up, lowering his fan and shakes his head.

“No. It’s me who should present to you my excuses. I judged harshly someone who thinks differently than me, someone you hold in high regard. I shouldn’t have done that, and I wanna say I am sorry.” He looks at you with a small, pained smile.

You didn’t expect him to say that. You’re pleasantly surprised and taken aback at the same time, you don’t know what to say at first.

“Oh, well… I forgive you.” you whisper.

“So I took the liberty to speak to him.” He continues in a joyful tone that takes you off guard.”Him and his aid. Fascinating duo, those two! They will surely go far!”

“Huh… Yes?” Your eyes open wide at his speechify cheerfulness.

“Besides, that’s not because they aren’t part of the church that they can’t help. Take the Admiral, only by succeeding as he does in his career he contradicts all those pesky cliches about aliens, and therefore helps us in a way!” He walks beside you, with grand theatrical gestures “Really a fascinating man, I understand now why you hold him in such high regard. His aid too, really intelligent. He just told me ten minutes ago that he envisioned himself as a supply officer at first. Can you imagine? What a waste of his talents!”

Hearing him complimenting Eli makes your heart pinches once again and the kiss flashes in your mind. You hug yourself.

“You seem like you appreciate him really much…”

“I do. He’s even interested in the church and what we believe! It would be marvelous if we three could all go to the temple together at some point!”

“Surely…”

“But like you, his career takes all his time. It’s a good thing that this Thrawn is your superior after all, his aura and his victories could shine upon you and propel your career!”

You grimace at that and the word of Hugtan comes to your mind.

“Say, it’s not the first time you speak about propelling my career. You already talked about it at the Opera back then. Are you…” You gulp, is it why he looks interested in Eli? “Are you ashamed of me, in some way?”

He stops in his movement and considers you like you just spit in his face.

“What kind of idea is that?” he asks, horrified.

“Nothing. It’s just that it looks like you're dissatisfied with the speed of my career. I know it slowed down tremendously. That I would look bad at your arms just being a low lieutenant commander…”

He almost runs to you and caresses your cheek, forcing you to look at him. You only see a bit of pain and sympathy in his eyes.

“Do I need a reason to use my influence to positively push the career of the woman who shares my life? Especially if she deserves it?”

You pout, feeling a bit bad now.

“Probably not.”

He looks at you with a light smile and strokes your cheeks with his thumb.

“All is forgiven?” he inquires full of hope.

“All is forgiven.” You nod.

You embrace each other and you sigh of contempt that everything is back in place. But deep down, buried deep in your mind a light flickers in bright red. You snuggle against him, debating if you should ask…

You throw yourself in waters

“Azrel?”

“Hmmmm?” He hums, caressing your hair.

“Do you consider our relationship seriously?”

His hand stops caressing you, remaining at the top of your head.

“Why?” He’s rigid under your touch.

“Did you..” You part with him to look him in the eyes

Did you kiss Eli, is what you want to ask, but you’re at a loss for words. Maybe if you don’t know you could cover it and pretend nothing happened? You try to sound his gaze but you only see confidence.

“Why did you never present your parents to me?”

His shoulders lower. 

“You never even told me one of your family members is part of the founders of the church.”

He pouts.

“Who told you that?”

“It’s not important.”

He sighs.

“Well, I wanted it to be a surprise.” He admits. “I wanted them to see you at the feast I told you about, since it will be a gathering of all the upper crust of the church of all planets.”

“But why not before?”

“They are really busy people that rarely leave Tyrahnn. But I promise you I planned this for a long time.” He kisses your forehead.

This will have to do. 

“Can I steal you for dinner at the restaurant?” He asks, all cheerful.

“I’m sorry but I have to go to the ISB quarter. I have something to give them.”

“Oh!” He raises an eyebrow “What that might be?” He demands with a conspiratory tone.

“If I’m not mistaken, the solution to your pirate problem, around Tyrahn.”  You show him the datacard “But I need an in-depth investigation to gather real proof.”

A smirk slices his face and a light shines in his gaze.

“Would you look at that? Everything works out in my favor today, I secure a deal with an important import company back home, I get you back, and you bring me the solution to my  problem.” He open his hand for you to give him the card. “Give it to me, I will give it after my shift.”

You hand it to him at first, then decide otherwise.

“No, sorry. I will give them now. The sooner, the merrier.” You put back the card in your pocket, his hand keeps open an oddly long second before getting back to his side, his smile disapearing.

You decide to leave but before that, you have a vengeance to execute. A vengeance for those two weeks of solitude and isolation.

“Say, what do you think about giving the church fundraising initiative to the lower neighborhood where the poor need it the most?” You ask innocently.

“Sure, we will give the check to a brother or sister that will lend them it.” He smiles.

“No, I meant giving the check ourselves.” 

His smile remains, but you see his eye twitch. Touche!

“You want us… To go… there?” He demands, incredulous.

You play with his collar with puppy eyes.

“Please. It would be a good action to celebrate us making up.” You coo.

He throws his head back with a sigh.

“Okay, Roween… But that’s because you asked for it.” He reluctantly gave in.

You kiss him on the cheek, smiling and wave him goodbye. You exit the building relieved, but with an unknown bitter taste in your mouth. It’s at this moment that your comlink vibrates, it’s Thrawn. 

“Hello, sir.” You salute gleefully

“Hello, lieutenant commander (y/l/n). I hope I do not bother you.”

“Not at all. What can I do for you?”

“I need you for a service. I would like you to observe Admiral Konstantine and report to me your discoveries.”

You enter your airspeeder and put your hand on the wheel, disturbed.

“You want me to spy him?” You inquire dubious.

“It would prove most useful to me.” 

“I… Can I know why?”

He remains silent for a second.

“I need intel on my different colleagues. I can only ask that to my most trustworthy comrades.”

Those words resonate in the airspeeder. My most trustworthy comrade…

“Alright.” You sigh. “I accept.” A lightning flash in your mind. “Wait, should we really speak about that on our comlinks?”

“I am scrambling the signals, do not worry.”

“Ah.” You lean in your seat. “Do you need anything else?”

Once again he remains silent for a moment.

“I appreciated our evening at the gallery the other night. We should do that more often.”

It feels like your heart beats faster at the mention of the date. He liked it, he wants to see me again, your mind whispers. A chance Azrel gave you his blessing.

“Sure! Whenever you want.”

“Why not next week? There is something I need help with, I could use the presence of a friend. Let us meet at the Chimaera at dockyard seven.” 

You note it 

“Dockyard seven, noted.”

“If I can do something in compensation, let me know.”

“Well… Do you know anyone at the ISB? I need an investigation pronto.”

@bluechiss @justanothersadperson93 @al-astakbar @thrawnspetgoose @readinglistfics @twilekchiss

[hauntingjasper]

Headcanons about our beloved Vampire King Marshall Lee?

(i love your art so much!)

Awww, thank you!! 🫶💖

Marshall Lee headcanons then:

1- His backstory is also slightly different from Marceline's. I really like the idea of him being raised in the Nightosphere with his mom, only visiting Ooo once in a while, and then permanently moving there for a freer life. I got that concept from the How To Warrior book! Baby Marshall was such a menace, I love him.

2- AU stuff but he and Fionna are roommates! The treehouse belongs to him, similar to how Marceline used to own it in Adventure Time, except he actually keeps it and lives there with Fionna and Cake. He moved his stuff to an attic that he was supposed to turn into a studio and made it his bedroom-house of sorts, he still comes out to have meals together and hangout. Schwabelle is also there, stealing Fionna's lunch every other day.

3- Speaking of Schwabelle, Marshall Lee adopted her as a kitten, and he was also the one who got her reanimated when she first passed away. He's unhealthily attached to that cat and WILL throw hands for her. Needless to say that he's a cat person.

4- He's Demisexual. I actually posted that on Twitter a while ago but not here uhhhh sorry then, he's one of us aces 🫶

5- He can't eat normal food because of his vampirism, it makes him feel nauseous and throw up. Normally he doesn't give a fuck, or he fills his food with red dye, he can still taste his meals even just by sucking out the color. He also drinks blood from time to time, because only drinking the red off things doesn't give him enough nutrients and it messes with his powers.

6- He's got a big sweet tooth. His favorite flavor is strawberry, and he also likes to drink maple syrup.

7- He often plays as a solo musician but I like to think that he's also in a band with a couple friends (said friends being ocs of mine but shhhh).

8- He can purr when he shapeshifts to his bat form (both small and huge), and he tends to get more cuddly as a bat. He curls into a ball like a cat does.

9- He hates getting sick, just the fact that he's still able to get sick even though he has healing powers pisses him off enough, but he also hates doctors and taking medicine. He spends like 2-3 days dying until he heals, or until someone drags him to a doctor.

10- He didn't inherit many demonic abilities from his mother, other than her soul sucking, but one that he did inherit is that he's able to move his body in a strange way, like Hunson does. He likes to scare people by rapidly turning his head back in 180°, which makes a nasty crack sound. Yes, he already pranked people by pretending to be dead with this amazing talent.

11- He watches a lot of vampire movies, he can go from tragic romances to the Rated-R ones. It's a personal interest of his that he doesn't share with anyone.

12- He can't get piercings or tattoos because of his healing powers, so he resorts to fake ones. If he could get a real piercing though, he'd get a tongue one.

13- He doesn't have a reflection in mirrors, so to be able to cut his hair and put on some dramatic makeup for concerts, he either trusts the process or gets a friend to help him. In addition to that, he often practices his makeup skills on Fionna's face, because she's closer and he likes to mess with her.

14- He likes to customize his own clothes, he knows how to sew and he has a lot of paint in his room for that. He also likes to draw posters for himself. He's pretty artsy.

Uhhhhh, what else, what else… I think that's all I have at the moment. Thank you for the ask!