#AND NOW THE WHOLE MOVIE IS ONCE AGAIN FRESH IN MY MIND

[goblinbugthing]

the neverending story is the best movie of all time btw

[slothsluv]

“Are you afraid?”

PAIRING: Four x Reader

SUMMARY: [Following the Divergent movie] After learning your new result from the aptitude tests, Four wants you into his world to show you how to pass. He’s determined to make you pass.

—————

After learning your dear friend took the hard way of not accepting the fact he was going to become faction less, you felt fear take over your body. Your mind was running a thousand miles a minute after seeing your dead friend on the ground—how could I let him do this? You began rushing toward the doors that led outside, gasping for the fresh air of the odd morning to reach your drowning lungs. Before you could make it, you ran into a hard wall, looking up you see the hard wall being your instructor Four’s body.

“I’m sorry.” You sniffled as you tried to walk past him but you felt his hand grip onto your arm. He pulled you towards him but you ripped away from him. “Stop, please Four.”

“It’s not your fault he chose this way.” He says. You look up at him and see the way his eyes glistened in the lights of the hallways. His eyes.

“Even if it’s not, I don’t deserve my position I have now. I feel like an intruder.. like I’m-” you stopped yourself from saying the word. You see Four furrow his eyebrows at you. “Like what?”

You let out a shaky breath and looked into his eyes. A tear sliding down your cheek before letting him know what you felt. “They’re going to kill me.”

You felt more tears slide down your face. You knew your fate. You knew what was going to happen to you once you reached the second level of the training. You were warned what was going to happen if you were caught. You were determined to train yourself to not get caught but once you saw the cold, dead body of your once good friend lying on the floor, that hope and determination escaped your mind.

You knew what was going to happen to you no matter how long and how much you train yourself to surpass it.

“Why do you say that?” He asked but it didn’t feel like a question. It felt like a rhetorical question—he knew why but he wanted me to tell him the reason.

I looked up at him, tears staining my red cheeks and my bloodshot eyes piercing through his.

“You know why.”

He clenched his jaw from your response and let out a hum. “Follow me.” He says, turning around and walking around the corner.

You knitted your eyebrows in confusion and followed his order. You followed right behind him, his body becoming your shield from the dim lights of the hallways. His silhouette figure on the walls devoured yours—it was alluring to you.

Once you both reached the room you have been in before for the fear tests, you watch as he takes off his jacket and set it on the chair. He looks up at you and gives you a small nod, letting you know you can close the door. You do so and face him again. He begins to prep like he would do before testing one of his trainees for the fear exam.

“You’re going into my world.” He states. You widen your eyes, taken back by what he just said.

You watched as he gets the metal syringe ready for the serum. What felt like seconds ago he was telling you to be careful—to watch what you say towards him as you watched the way his jaw moved from the food he put in his mouth. Now he was allowing you into his world of fears. Into what kept him up at night and took over the controls of his body.

“You’re just going to let me into your mind?” You asked in disbelief.

“Mhm.”

“I don’t know a single thing about you and you’re just letting me into your world.” You scrambled. The way the vibration of the words slipped off his tongue made you tingle—his voice was deep and husky, it filled you with something you didn’t understand.

“What do you want to know?” He asked, stepping closer to you. Instinct kicked in and you stepped back. He stopped and scanned over your body, “are you afraid?”

During the whole duration of what felt like hours of him getting ready for the transition, he kept his gaze fixed on you. It felt intimidating the way he held his eyes so confidently over your face—your body. It was the first thing you noticed about him when he lifted you off the net when you first jumped down, the way he held his gaze so strongly over you. The feeling of his hands gripping your waist as he helped you onto your feet was engraved onto your skin ever since. The first moment you locked eyes with him and saw how dark and dusky they were, they seemed empty and bare the first time you stared into them. It made you want to know more about what he put a front on.

“You need to know how to handle your fears correctly. How a Dauntless would. If you want to pass without being suspected of what you are.” He stated. You watched as he injected the serum into the skin of his neck and release the liquid. You scan over his face to see his reaction but he was emotionless; like he’s done this a million times. He walks over to you with the syringe in his hand, ready to inject you next.

“Why can’t we just practice with my fears? So I know how to face them when the time comes.” You asked. He ignores what you say as he grabs your face with his left hand, his right with the metal syringe ready to pierce through your skin. Before he does so, you feel the pad of his thumb caress gently over your cheek, like he knew it was going to hurt you but he wanted to protect you from the pain.

“This will be a lot easier. I can’t see your fears clearly on the monitor. I need to show you what you need to do to pass.” The tone of his voice felt like he was pleading with you, begging you to open up to what he was going to show you, but he also sounded afraid of what you might think once you go and experience his fears with him.

You nodded at his words.

You felt a slight pinch into your skin, your nose scrunches in pain and you let out a small sigh from the contact. He slightly raises his eyebrows, like he was letting you know he was sorry for what he did. After he was finished, he placed the metal tab on the outer corner of your forehead along with himself. He then guided you onto his lap in the chair, your back facing his chest as your legs intertwined on the chair that was centered in the corner of the room. You felt him grab the sides of your waist as you lifted yourself to lean back into him, the warmth that overtook his body was now intact with yours. It felt nice feeling the rising of his chest every time he took an inhale and feeling the breath come out of his mouth onto the baby hairs of your neck.

“You ready?” He whispered, his lips so close to your ears. You nodded in response. You were ready to see what kept his mind uneasy on days he thought too much. You wanted to know what pained him in his dreams and screamed him out of them.

“I’ll see you in there.”

—————

A/N: hello my dudes, I am back! And with my first ever imagine of Four. I hope you all enjoyed this as I enjoyed writing this for you all.

Please let me know if you want me to write a part 2 to this of being in his hallucinations. This scene is my favorite part of the movie and I wanted to write a little something about it.

[ericshoney]

I got you ~ Nick Sturniolo

Summary: You head to the triplets place needing your best friend Nick after a heated argument with your boyfriend.

Warnings: possible swearing, angst, nicknames, abuse (emotional and physical), crying, random name for bf, mentions of smoking and drinking, mentions of cheating, fluff ending.

Reader's age: 20

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all happened so fast. One minute you were sat with your boyfriend, Will, happily watching a movie, when his phone kept going off with many messages. You didn't think much of it, knowing he had many friends, but the big ass grin on his face made you feel uneasy. You didn't know if you were paranoid or not.

"Who is it?" You called.

"No one important." Will mumbled, throwing his phone face down and watching the TV again.

You feel quiet and continue watching the movie. It was only a few minutes later when Will picked up his phone again, laughing and smiling at it.

"Babe, what's so funny?" You asked, tugging his arm to look at his phone.

And that's when he snapped.

"Will you fuck off! Gosh your so fucking annoying!" He shouted, pushing you away.

"What?" You called in shock.

"You heard me! Always putting your nose in my business! Give me some damn privacy!" He exclaimed.

You bite back the tears, chewing on your cheek. Why was he like this? You then grabbed his phone, looking for yourself, only to realise it wasn't some random video or message from his friends, it was another girl and the messages were flirty.

"Who is this?" You asked.

"Give me my phone back, Y/n." Will said.

"No! Who is this girl and why are the messages more than friendly and about meeting later! You got some booty call cause I'm not enough!" You shouted.

"You're so annoying. Like a little kid, always wanting to know everyone else's business, keep your nose out!" He responded.

You laughed and threw his phone down, crashing to the floor and smashing the screen. You didn't care, but that made Will more pissed.

"You now owe me a new phone!" He called.

"Ask your booty call." You spat.

You went to walk out of his house, when Will grabbed your wrist, tightly. You turned to look at him and saw anger in his eyes.

"Let me go, Will." You said.

"You're such a selfish bitch. I give you everything and this is how you treat me." He replied.

"Fuck you, Will. You're the one cheating! Now let me go!" You screamed.

You wriggled your wrist, but his grip got tighter. You looked at Will, seeing the man you once loved gone and now replaced with a horrible copy. Will laughed and slapped you across the face.

"Run along to those triplets, I'm sure you can climb in their beds." Will spat.

"We're done, Will. Have fun with your booty call." You responded, before running out his place.

You walked fast, your feet taking you to the safest place you knew. Nick, Matt and Chris' place. It was a twenty minute walk from Will's, but you didn't care, you had to get to their place.

When you arrived, the tears were fresh on your cheeks, your wrist burning from Will's grip and a sting on your face from his slap. You knocked quickly and only waited a few minutes before Nick answered the door.

"Hey, woah, what's wrong?" He asked.

You didn't answer but crashed into his arms, crying as he hugged you tightly.

"Shh, it's okay sweetheart, wanna go upstairs to my room?" He offered, to which you nodded to.

Nick led you upstairs to his bedroom, letting you cry as he rubbed your back, holding you tightly, until you were ready to talk.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Will's been cheating on me." You started, before continuing with everything that happened. Nick listened the whole time, rubbing your back for comfort.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. You're safe here, okay? He's not going to get you here. I got you." He said softly.

"Thanks, Nick." You replied.

You then laid with Nick. He helped ease your mind and relax. Happy to have Nick as a best friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tags:

@sturn-33 @lgbtq-girl @mattsfavbigtitties @onelesslonelygirlbieber6 @riowritesitall @sturniolo-fann @mrvlxgrl @melaniesturniolo @cl1tlover3000 @lottieluhvs @lovesturni0l0s @blahbel668  @emely9274 @nicksloverrr @emely9274 @nicksloverrr @pancjfrjb @luvr4miya @artloo123 @n0aa @sturn-rose @ivysturnss

[elektrantchios]

Wild flowers | s.p

pairing: Sejanus x gn!reader

summary: Sejanus finds you in the meadow

warnings: mainly fluff, small mentions of the games and some light spoilers for the movie and book

word count: 800

a/n: saw the movie a few nights ago and wow, I’m me fashion i did like the book better but the movie was still amazing and I have the old therebefore on repeat . I wrote this for my bestie because she couldn’t find Sejanus fics. This probably could be edited better

MAIN MASTERLIST | REQUEST OPEN

The summer air was sweet, the flowers of the meadow had bloomed overnight, as far as the eye could see. Lily of the valley, young primeroses , deep purple violets, and dozens more you couldn’t name.

Hidden behind a massive tree, its leaves shading you from the harsh sun. This time of year in district 12 was unbearable. Only the rich could afford to keep cool, and you certainly wasn’t that.

Six days out of the week you worked in the local doctor’s. It couldn’t quite be called a hospital but it was one of the only places people could go and get medical care.

You lent back against the tree, weaving your hands through the tall grass and flowers. Bees buzzed but gave no mind to you. The day was turning out well, you had brought some fresh bakers bread and a lump of cheese, and a jug of water. Simple and delicious.

The mockingjays song hit your ears, the tune was familiar but the name escaped you. Humming along, some words came to mind.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you

Deep in the meadow, a song a local brand was known to play, you had only seen them a handful of times but the songs stuck. Like it had for the birds.

The sound of stones falling and fallen twigs snapping pulled you out of a dream and jumping to your feet, frowning in the sunlight you spotted, Sejanus Plinth.

Sejanus had been a peacekeeper once but shortly after he had found his way to the doctors, where he was training to be a medic. He rarely spoke about this life before 12 but from the times he had (and from what the doctors said) he came from a rich family in the capitol.

“You following me, Sejanus?” you asked. Your tone was serious, his whole body went still. Then you laughed. “Come sit with me then, might even share my food with you”.

In his hand he carried a brown paper bag, “then I guess you can have some of mine”. He dropped the bag in your lap, opening the bag you found cookies.

Now this was proof he was rich, the baker sold cookies but only the other merchants could afford them Sejanus went on to explain, his Ma had sent them, blushing the whole time.

The shy blushed look made you laugh, “that’s very sweet of her, she must miss you an awful lot”.

“Just as I miss her” he replied in a sad voice.

“You might see her again, learn enough and you could go back to her” you said, laying a hand over his. His hands were cold, cold hands warm heart you mama used to say.

“I don’t want to go back there” he said.

What you said next came as a surprise to even her, “I can teach you a few things, like what plants heal and where to find them”.

“You’d do that” he asked unsure.

“Of course. We don’t have many doctors here and if you’re planning on staying I’d teach you”. You stood, putting the cookies on your bag. “There’s a lake deeper in the woods, you’ll find all the best stuff there”.

He followed and stood up looking through the trees, maybe he didn’t trust you and thought you were leading him to his death.

“Hey” you touched his hand again, “keep north and you’ll find the lake then it’s south to get back, you can trust me”.

He smiled and suddenly the sun seemed dimmer, he took your hand and squeezed it ,“okay, I trust you”.

The hike took a few hours, but the sight of the lake proved it was worth it. You found a patch of herbs close by one of the old houses, it might have been someone’s garden once.

You showed him peppermint that helped with nausea, liquorice to reduce swelling, lemon balm for sleep and any others you could make without the book of herbs and flowers you had at home.

“Where did you learn all this?” He rubbed a peppermint leaf between his finger and thumb. You pick a lemon Balm inhaling the smell, smiling.

“My mama was an apothecary, always been my dream to follow in her footsteps. What about you? Do you have any dreams?”.

“To help people anyway I can”

It was so easy to talk to him, somewhere in your heart you knew he’d understand. Maybe it was his eyes, brown the colour of chocolate. Sejanus was sweet, too sweet for the world, you thought that if it rained he’d melt away like sugar.

“I have a feeling you’re gonna do wonderful things Sejanus” I smiled and he smiled back.

[atleastpleasetelephone]

Gentle On My Mind - Chapter 7

Initially set in 1967 when Elvis is filming Clambake. Feeling miserable and trapped after the Colonel banishes Larry and the spiritual texts, Elvis invites Gloria to keep him company through the last five days of filming. Gloria is an aspiring movie editor and more importantly she's a lot of fun. Will she be what Elvis needs to get him out of the depressive funk he's in?

Catch up with the other parts here.

Many thanks to @sissylittlefeather being my beta reader on this one.

A/N: We're up to 1968 now...

Pairing: Elvis x OC - Gloria, a budding film editor.

Word count: 5.1K

TWs: Infidelity, p in v sex, fingering, possessive kink, size kink, dirty photos, angst.

Elvis doesn’t say a word on the drive back to the set, and he refuses to let any of the guys help him pack his things, closing the trailer door in their faces angrily. He takes his time putting clothes in bags, staring around the room at everything of hers that’s still there. Part of him is hoping if he does this slowly enough she’ll be back to pick up her things too. He’d spent the whole journey looking desperately for her car in the rear view mirror and not seeing it. But what would be the point? He wonders. Seeing her again wouldn’t change anything. If anything, it would make things worse. 

Picking up the last of his possessions, he suddenly realises he hadn’t ever given Gloria anything. He looks at his hands, but he’s barely wearing any rings, and he doesn’t want to just carelessly take one off for her. She deserves better than that. He scans the room again but there’s nothing. Sitting down on the bed, heavily, he wallows in self-pity. He can’t believe she is the one girl he hasn’t given something to. Even the rose he gave her on the first day she was on set was taken away again by Charlie. How will she remember him now?

***

Gloria walks around the trailer slowly, gathering her things. She’d waited for a long time before driving back from the beach. Partly because it took her a long time to calm down, and partly to avoid running into Elvis again. She wonders who really has the power to drag him away from her like this, she’s not sure that it’s the guy who found them and drove him back. That guy had looked strangely familiar, although she can’t place him now. Once she’s packed she sits on the bed and thinks of all the fun they’d had in this trailer. All the things he’d told her, the tears he’d shed. She can’t believe how sad she feels right now. Sighing, she picks up her bag and heads towards the door. It was just a fling, she tells herself. You’ll be over it in a week or so.

***

A couple of days later the wedding photos are plastered all over the papers. He looks so happy, Gloria starts to wonder if what happened on the beach was just because he felt guilty. Maybe he felt like he should’ve been sad, maybe he felt like she wanted him to make love to her like that. Make love. She shakes her head, trying to knock the words back out of it again. Absolute nonsense. It was just a fling for both of you. This proves it. 

***

“Let’s get rid of them. Come on. Let’s burn them. It’ll be a fresh start for both of us.” 

Elvis holds the books in his hands. It probably is best to put all of this stuff behind him, now Larry is gone. Cilla is probably right. He feels a pang of regret as he throws them, one by one, into the flames. His hand grips the numerology book, immediately thinking of Gloria telling him she was just a foolish impulsive girl and he’d be president someday. He swallows down the lump in his throat. 

“A fresh start,” he repeats, tossing the book into the fire, watching as the edges curl up and then the whole thing is engulfed in flames. “A fresh start together.”

***

It’s the third day of filming in LA for Chautauqua. As usual, Elvis is disappointed by the script. But he doesn’t have many more of these left to make, and at least this is a little different from his usual movies. After the disappointment of Charro! he actually feels okay about it. Plus, he’s just finished wrapping the Singer special and that’s something he’s definitely proud of. Finally finding a way to get back to seeing an audience again, the whites of people’s eyes. He’s still afraid of what people might think when they see it on TV. Does he still have it? But his confidence is back. Sometime soon he’ll be back in front of real audiences again. Just like he told Cilla he wanted. 

He’s making his way to the set for the day when he thinks he hears a familiar giggle. Gloria. He shakes his head. It can’t be her, why would she be…

“Elvis!” Suddenly she’s right in front of him, the same exuberant smile, the same beautiful face. His eyes scan down her body and he notices she’s dressed a little more demurely than the last time he saw her. She grins. “Fancy seeing you here!”

“Well I mean it’s my movie, honey. Think it should be me surprised to see you, not the other way around.”

He kisses her cheek, his hand on her arm. His eyes are sparkling, the blue set off wonderfully against the white suit he’s wearing, and it takes everything in her not to melt there and then. 

“I’m here helping with the editing work,” she explains, trying to control the blush that she’s sure has spread over her cheeks. 

“Oh really? That’s wonderful,” he replies, warmly. 

They both stand there for a while, looking at each other, not sure what to say or do. Eventually Gloria breaks the silence. 

“Congratulations, by the way. On your marriage, and your little girl.”

Elvis’ mouth curls into a lop-sided grin. “Ah, thank you. She sure is the apple of my eye.”

“I’m sure. I um… I have some news too.”

“Oh yeah?” Still smiling. 

“I’m engaged!” She waggles her finger at him, showing off the diamond ring there. “Getting married as soon as this wraps up actually. History repeating.”

His face falls, though he tries hard to recover. ‘Oh… ah… uh… well congratulations. I never thought ya were the marrying type, but uh… guess I was wrong.”

She smiles. “Well, when you find the right person it’s the only thing to do. You know that, of course. You have Priscilla.”

She doesn’t mean it to come out like that, so cold and accusatory, but it does. He nods curtly. 

“Yeah, sure. Anyway, I better go. Needed on set.”

“Good luck!” Gloria replies, brightly, trying to fix what she’d just done. “Break a leg!”

***

They spend the month of filming largely avoiding each other, and being polite when they find themselves in the same place at the same time. Gloria can’t help the feeling when she sees him though, every time her heart leaps and that familiar tingling starts between her legs. She bites her lip and closes her eyes and tries hard to think about her fiance instead. Roger had told her he loved her after three dates. He’d moved in after a month. He bought her pretty gifts every day and told her how he couldn’t live without her. She liked him. Of course she did, maybe she even loved him. But the important part was his devotion to her, which was unquestionable. Everything he did was to make her happy. She’d never experienced anything like it. So when he popped the question, of course she said yes. Then work sent her to LA, and she knew she’d see Elvis again. She’d tried to avoid reading about him, since the day his wedding was in all the papers. Thought that perhaps, over a year later, she’d got over their little fling. She had a man now who wanted her and needed her and provided for her. Once they were married she’d give this job up. But she had wanted to do this last movie, just to see that her feelings were really gone. Of course, they weren’t. 

She knows they’re really not gone the night her and some of the crew crowd around a television set to watch the Singer special. Of course she’s seen him on TV before, when she was much younger, but only once. After all the furore about his wiggling hips her parents put a stop to her watching him, even that awful show where they made him sing to the dog. And she saw him sing on set, when he was filming Clambake. But it’s nothing like this. For a start, he looks so damn good in that leather suit. The sweat is just dripping off him and Gloria can’t help having flashbacks to the time he carried her on his shoulder and then spanked her. But it isn’t just the way he looks, it’s the way he acts. The man she met on the set of Clambake was a shell in comparison to this. She can see he starts off the sit-down part slightly shy, awkward, a little nervous. But by the end, as he sings Memories to two girls on either side of him, that’s all gone. He’s a performer. He’s in his element. 

Her heart is beating so fast by the end of it. She feels like the whole thing was a whirlwind of singing and dancing and him on his knees in that suit, singing like a man possessed. Her brain tells her over and over again to go back to her trailer and touch herself, get it out of her system. But her legs carry her to Elvis’ trailer, and she stands outside looking in. He’s still in his Walter Hale get up, for some reason, but his hat is off and his hair is wild. The guys are all in there, laughing and cheering, all so excited they’ve clearly forgotten to put someone outside as a guard. All the same, she can’t go knocking on the door, not with so many of them about. She notices the guy that came down to get him from the beach that day, Joe? She’d remembered where she knew him from, several weeks after filming had wrapped. It just floated into her head one day. He was the guy at the party who’d told her about the beach. That’s how he knew exactly how to find them when they were gone. 

She walks back to her trailer and tries to make good on her promise to herself of masturbation and then sleep. But she keeps seeing flashes of him from that show, and she knows he’s not far away. And worst of all, she knows he’s still wearing that white suit. She groans. The only thing to do is call Roger. 

“Hi honey, it’s me,” she announces, brightly. 

“Oh… um… hi honey. How come you’re calling so late? Something wrong?” He sounds sleepy. 

She looks at her watch. It is kinda late. “Nothing wrong, just wanted to hear your voice.” Nothing wrong, nothing like I’m only just holding it together not to run into the trailer across the way and fuck Elvis Presley senseless. 

“Well that’s very sweet, but I was just in bed.”

“Oh. Naked?” She asks, hopefully. 

“C’mon Gloria, you know I never sleep naked. And I’m really tired. Let’s just talk tomorrow, can we?”

“Did you uh… did you see that Elvis thing on the TV tonight?” She has no idea why she’s asking this, beyond trying to keep him on the phone. 

“No. Look, honey, I really need my rest. I’ve got work tomorrow.” 

“Okay, sorry. I just missed you, is all.”

“I miss you too Gloria, but it won’t be long before you finish this movie now and then you and I never need to be apart again. Love you.”

And without waiting for her to reply, he puts the phone down. Gloria frowns. He’s usually so much more excited to talk to her than this. He’s probably just tired. It is late. She takes a few deep breaths and tries to stop thinking about Elvis and the sweat pouring off him as he sings. Her hand moves to her belly and the temptation to touch herself thinking about him gets even worse. She pours herself a drink and puts a record on. Think about something else. Anything else. 

Three drinks later and all remaining sensible thoughts are gone. She pulls a fur coat and her boots on and walks out of her trailer towards his. It’s much quieter than before and the blinds are down so she can’t see inside this time. Crossing her fingers that he’s alone, she knocks on the door. It’s a while before he finally appears, looking slightly dishevelled, raking his hair back from his face. He’s shocked to see her. 

“Glory.”

“Can I come in?”

He nods and opens the door wide for her, feeling her brush past him in the small doorway. Closing it before turning to face her. 

“You okay?” He asks, tentatively. 

She shakes her head. “No,” she replies, and before he has a chance to ask why her arms are around his neck and her tongue is in his mouth. 

He pulls her towards him with his big hands, holding her body tightly. “Shit,” he mutters, as they come up for air. “Thought ya were gettin’ married?”

She shakes her head in a way that tells him not to talk about that. Her eyes trail over his body in the white suit of Walter Hale and she tries hard not to moan audibly. 

“I watched the special,” she manages to get out before he kisses her again. 

“What d’ya think?” He asks, his breath hot on her cheek, trailing kisses from the corner of her mouth down her neck. 

“Fuck me.” 

He giggles into her ear. “That good, huh?”

“I really wanna tell you about it…” she breathes. “But first I really need you to fuck me with that big dick.”

“Oh God, I’ve missed that filthy mouth of yours.”

She giggles and they stand there for a moment, just looking into one another’s eyes. He’s missed more than just her filthy mouth. This energy, this joy. He’s missed her terribly. 

“Can you keep the suit on, though?”

He blinks. “What? The whole thing? Wardrobe will be mad with me if we mess it up…”

“Will they? Do you need to wear it again?” Her head is tilted to the side and she’s smirking at him. 

He can’t help smirking back. “Okay, fine. I don’t care. You want me to leave it on, I’ll leave it on.”

She bites her lip. “The jacket can go,” pushing it off his shoulders. “And we don’t need this tie,” undoing it and throwing it on the floor. “But the rest can stay.”

“What about the hat?” He asks, picking it up from the table he’d left it on earlier. 

She giggles, remembering that first night in his trailer when he’d put on a hat and a jacket and pretended to be her boss. “Put it on, let’s have a look.”

He grins, putting it on his head and then spotting a cigar on the table and putting that between his teeth too. “Ya like Walter, do ya baby?”

Giggling and nodding. “You gonna smoke that while you fuck me?”

“If you want me to.”

“I want you to.”

“C’mere,” he pushes her coat off her shoulders then picks her up in his arms and carries her over to the bed, putting her down carefully. She kicks off her boots.

Catching a glimpse of the long mirror on the closet door out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly has an idea he’s sure she’ll like. 

“You wanna watch yourself?” Nodding at the mirror. 

Gloria can hardly believe her ears. “Are you… okay?” She asks, but she doesn’t really want an answer. She likes him like this.

Elvis laughs, pulling her back up from the bed again and standing her in front of the mirror, his arms around her waist. He kisses her neck, cigar back in his hand for a moment.

“This way you can see me in this suit you like so much. And you can see yourself, getting fucked by my big dick.”

His hand moves down between her legs and squeezes. She hums with pleasure, grinning at his reflection. “I’d like that, big boy.” 

He pulls a lighter out of his pocket, lighting the cigar and puffing out a cloud of smoke around her. She can’t help giggling, until he unzips her pants and slides his hand into her panties. She gasps as his fingers touch her pussy and he presses more hot kisses to her neck. Roger never touches her like this.

“I don’t like it when girls wear pants, baby,” he tells her, teeth grazing her earlobe. 

“I better take them off then,” she replies, quickly reaching to shimmy them off. 

He grins. “Might as well take it all off,” he suggests, stepping back to take another drag of the cigar and look at her from behind and then at her reflection again. 

Gloria’s heart races at the idea of her being completely naked, in front of a mirror, and him behind her still wearing all his clothes. That TV special has certainly done something for his confidence levels, she thinks. She unbuttons her blouse and tosses it onto the floor, unhooking her bra and removing that too, so she’s just in her panties and socks. She looks back at his reflection in the mirror. 

He smirks around the cigar. “All of it, honey.”

She does as he asks, standing naked in front of the mirror. He takes the cigar out of his mouth so he can kiss her shoulder. 

“You’ve got a beautiful body, Glory. I missed it.”

“I missed your big dick.”

They both giggle, Elvis pulling her back against him. He slides his fingers back between her legs and starts to rub slow circles around her clit. 

“Your fiance…” he murmurs, close to her ear. 

“Average-sized,” she replies, quickly, panting a little at the pleasure building already. 

She knows it won’t be long before he makes her come, she’s so het up already.

“Mmm. That’s a shame, baby.”

“He’s nothing… like you,” she moans. 

Elvis smirks, taking another drag on his cigar as his fingers speed up their movements, watching her face in the mirror. 

“Come for me, Glory.”

She whimpers, tipping her head back and exposing her throat for his kisses. Her legs shake as the pleasure builds and builds and then finally reaches that wonderful crescendo. Moaning, her back arching, her head flopping onto his shoulder. 

“Mmmm. Good girl.”

She breathes hard, chest heaving, body tingling all over. He holds her for a few moments and then kisses her cheek. 

“Fuck. Elvis. That was so good.”

“Better than anything you’ve had lately?” His breath hot against her ear. 

She laughs, and elbows him in the side. “Stop that.”

“Okay, okay.” He runs his fingers down her sides gently. “How about you lean forward and put your hands on the closet… and spread your legs.”

“Something has happened to you since I saw you last,” she says, leaning forward and putting her hands on either side of the mirror.

He looks down at her ass and gives it a gentle slap, grinning as he grips his cigar between his teeth and unzips his pants, his dick standing to attention as soon as he releases it from the underpants he’d been forced to wear with the suit. Slowly starting to push inside her, he groans at how tight she is. Pulling her against him when he bottoms out, his mouth next to her ear again. 

“You’re so tight, Glory. Don’t think this man of yours can be giving you everything you need, hm?”

Gloria’s head spins. She loves Roger. Loves him. But the things Elvis is saying are turning her on so much. And he’s so good at this. 

“Hm?” He repeats, pulling back and thrusting into her, hard. 

She whimpers as he lets her body go and she falls against the mirror, looking at her own reflection smudged against the glass. He obviously wants an answer. 

“No…” she breathes, trying to get her hands back on the closet before he thrusts inside her again. 

“You like this?” He asks, starting to pick up a steady pace now, holding her hair to arch her back. “You like being fucked with this big dick?”

“Yes… Mr Presley…”

Smoke billows from his cigar as he continues to pound her pussy, watching his dick disappear into her over and over again, and then looking at her flushed, beautiful face in the mirror. She groans at the intensity of the feeling, knowing her second orgasm is coming soon. The sex was so good before, but this is unbelievable. She loves him being so dominant. 

He can feel her pussy clenching around him and it spurs him on to fuck her harder, knowing she must be getting close again. 

“Gonna come for me again?” He murmurs, mouth still around the cigar. 

“Yes… ohhhh…” she moans, feeling him hit that place inside her again and again. 

“Tell me I’m the best you’ve ever had.”

Her eyes go wide at his words, hands sliding onto the glass of the mirror, making it hard for her to stay upright. She manages to mumble, “mmm.”

“I wanna hear you say it,” he repeats. 

His impending orgasm is making him feel a little crazy, like he somehow wants to get one over on this guy who’s stealing his girl. His Glory. 

“You’re… the best… I’ve ever… had…” she pants, and then falls forward, her face against the mirror as he keeps going, relentless, fucking her like a man possessed. 

Her orgasm crashes into her with such force she almost screams, her walls squeezing him over and over as he continues to thrust. He moans and slams his palm against the closet as he comes deep inside her. Slowly, weakly pumping his hips a few more times and then falling against her fully. 

“Fuck me,” she says quietly, from between him and the closet mirror. “One TV special and you just think you’re God’s gift all of a sudden.” 

“Oh… ah… honey I-I…” he stammers, until he sees her face in the mirror, grinning at him. Realising she’s teasing. “Oh, you’re naughty.” 

He stands up and pulls her against him, his arms around her waist, growling into her ear. She giggles and squirms, but she’s enjoying the feeling of him still gradually softening inside her. He stops abruptly as he looks at the floor. 

“Ah. Shit.” Letting her go so he can pick up the cigar that is burning a hole in the carpet. 

She turns around and laughs. “Oh my God. Let’s try not to set the trailer on fire.” 

She admires him in the suit again as he puts the cigar out safely in an ashtray. But she wants to see his body now. 

“Let's get you out of this.” Her fingers undoing the buttons of his waistcoat. 

He smiles and lets her take his clothes off, feeling so much happier about his body now he’s lost that bit of extra weight. She stops to look at him once he’s naked, her hands exploring every inch of his skin as she follows her fingers with kisses. He’s lost the squishiness around his middle, and she’s almost sad about it. He’s so slight without clothes on, she wonders if he’s been eating enough. 

He’s still bashful though, laughing and blushing and asking her if she’s finished yet as she kneels down in front of him and runs her fingers down his legs. She giggles back, looking up at him through her lashes, wondering herself what on earth she’s doing. But she can’t stop, she even kisses his toes. She wants to touch every bit of him. His breathing is uneven as he stares down at her. No woman has ever done anything like this to him. She stands up again slowly and he takes her hand in his and leads her to the bed. They get under the covers and then just stare at one another, him absent-mindedly stroking her cheek as she runs her fingers through his hair. 

“So, what did ya think of the Special, then?” He finally asks. 

She grins. “Incredible. You were amazing. I’ve never seen you move like that before. And the songs… I loved the whole thing. You must be proud.”

He smiles a little. He supposes he is. “Yeah. I’m really proud of the way it turned out. The Colonel wanted a Christmas special, but Steve really stood up to him.”

“A Christmas special?”

“Yeah, he wanted snowmen and presents and me in a Christmas sweater…”

Gloria giggles. “Oh well I’m sure you would’ve looked cute, but… I mean that suit…” 

“You liked it?”

She puts her hand on his face, gently moving his hair back from his forehead. Some things hadn’t changed about him. He still needed constant reassurance. 

“Obviously I liked it, it was tight and it made you sweat.”

He laughs, and she thinks about how pronounced his cheekbones are now. 

“You think I look better than I did when I saw you last?” He asks, almost shyly. 

“I think you’re just fishing for compliments now,” she teases, her arm around him and her leg between his. 

“Well I think you look real good Glory,” he tells her, pulling her tightly against him and kissing her neck again. “Thought ya might want to compliment me back.”

She laughs, rolling him onto his back and biting his neck. “I told you how good you looked already. You’re so needy.”

He growls, easily overpowering her and rolling on top of her. “I’ve been dieting. And I love food. C’mon.”

He leans down and starts nibbling on her collarbone, making her giggle. “Don’t eat me!”

“No?” He raises an eyebrow and smirks. 

She shoves his chest, laughing, and pushes him back off her again. They tussle back and forth for a while, giggling until they’re both out of breath. 

“You looked good when we met and you look good now. I love you no matter how you look.” 

The words are out of her mouth before she notices the inclusion of the word love. She buries her head in his chest, wondering what to do next. Does she love him? Well, she certainly just said she does. Does he love her? He has a wife. 

Elvis looks down at her, stroking her hair gently. “I love you too, Glory.”

It doesn’t matter whether we love one another, she thinks. That’s irrelevant. She looks up, slowly. “Elvis, I’m getting married.”

“You don’t have ta.”

Gloria swallows, hard. “But you’re already married. And I want to… I… I’m going to marry Roger.”

“His name is Roger?” Elvis is struggling not to smirk. 

“Stop it!” She shoves him again, laughing. 

“He’s not going to satisfy you, Glory.”

“And neither are you, Elvis. You’re married and you have a baby, and a career. And I… can’t wait around for my own family.”

Elvis sighs. “Cilla and I aren’t… I mean, we don’t sleep together anymore…”

Gloria shakes her head. “I don’t want to hear this. I don’t… I’m getting married and that’s all there is to it.” She pauses for a moment. “But I’ll stay here tonight if you want me to.”

“Of course I want you to.”

Elvis feels jealousy coursing through his veins, the urge to find this Roger and tell him to call it off with her is huge and he wants to demand to know her address so he can go right now. He tries to swallow it all down. Maybe she’ll change her mind if she stays tonight. Surely he can persuade her if she stays in his trailer for the next week or so, until filming wraps. There’s no way they’re going to be able to stay apart now.

They spend the rest of the night talking, rather than sleeping, and several hours in Elvis remembers something he’d brought with him to set. He pulls out a polaroid camera, it’s big and expensive and it produces photographs immediately. Gloria’s eyes light up when he explains the concept to her. 

“Can I take some of you, honey?” He asks. 

She grins. “Dirty photos?”

He blushes, a little of the old insecurity back. “Well, only if ya want to…”

“Of course I want to! You fucked me in front of a mirror with your Walter Hale outfit on. Obviously I wanna do filthy stuff.”

He takes a few photos of her face, and then she starts to pose like a pin up girl so he takes photos of her like that. Then she starts to pose like the centrefold of a dirty mag and he takes some of her like that, too. He finds himself between her legs, taking a shot of her pussy and barely even blushing. After a while she holds her hands out. 

“C’mon. I want some of you.”

He looks a little uncomfortable, so she gets up and grabs his white hat and another cigar. 

“Here. Let me have one with you like this.”

She lies back on the bed and takes a photo of him leaning over her, smirking around the cigar. 

“That better just be my face.”

“That one was,” she replies, gesturing for him to lie on his back and getting up on her knees to take another. “But this one definitely isn’t.”

He grabs her waist and pulls her on top of him, and it’s all she can do to avoid hitting him with the camera. “Let’s see.”

They tussle again for a while and then sit up, looking through the photos. He tries to tell her she can’t keep the photo of his dick but she just giggles and tells him she’ll keep it from falling into the wrong hands. Eventually they fall asleep in one another’s arms. 

Gloria wakes up after only a couple of hours of sleep and looks at her watch. 6am. He’ll be awake in an hour or so to start filming again. She looks at him sleeping peacefully next to her. Then she looks at the photos again and smiles. Slips them into her handbag and gets dressed quietly. She can’t stay here. Can’t stay on set. She’ll just end up in his bed every night and then what will happen with her and Roger? Elvis will never commit to her like Roger has. She sighs, pulling on her boots and coat. 

She can’t wake him up or he’ll just beg her to stay. But she feels funny about leaving without saying anything too. She looks around briefly for a pen, and when she can’t find one she takes her lipstick out of her bag. Applying it to her lips she picks up one of the pin-up style photos he’d taken of her and presses a kiss to it. Turning it over she scrawls on the back. 

“Sorry big boy. You know I love you. Glory xx”

Quietly slipping out of the trailer she thinks she will probably never see him in person again. She sighs. Well, they’d at least had some fun.

***

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[hailtothepumpkinqueen]

(This is probably the longest thing I've ever written, around 4.5k words, but it wouldn't leave my head til I made it real lol

From Shane's perspective. No one had seen the farmer all day, and he's the only one who goes to check on her. Lot of talking over drinks ensues.)

Everybody Talks

Gossip was nothing new for Shane. In a small community like Pelican Town, gossip was the lifeblood and social currency that kept it running. No "secret" was ever truly secret, everyone knew everyone else's dirty laundry. It was the number one pastime and practically a professional sport here. He himself knew far more than he ever cared to learn from his spot in the Saloon(and been the topic of discussion more times than he could count), but he at least had the good sense to drink his beer and keep his mouth shut.

And, on a Friday night like tonight, the not at all subtle gossip sessions were in full swing. Seemingly everyone clucking like excited hens about one topic in particular: the farmer.

Now, she wasn't a new topic of conversation either. The whole damn Valley was a-buzz about her before she even stepped off the bus, hungry for fresh meat. Hungry for new secrets to uncover and info to share. Speculating and predicting what kind of person she'd be purely based on their own biases. Not that he had been much better. Constantly hearing about her had soured his opinion before he even knew her name. Like hearing a harmless song on the radio so many times you'd grown to hate it. But, again, he at least kept his opinions to himself. Mostly. Not his fault his face gave away what he was thinking.

The specific reason why everyone was talking about her, however, pricked his ears up.

No one had seen her at all today. She hadn't come to Pierre's shop, she hadn't picked up one of her tools from Clint, and she was clearly absent from the Saloon on a Friday. No one could recall speaking to her and the requests on the bulletin board had gone ignored. It was as if she had just vanished into thin air.

But, in all the theories he heard bouncing around, he never once heard someone admit to going to her house to check on her. Fucking typical. Feign concern and then expect someone else to actually do something about it. Yoba forbid she was hurt or something..

The thought made his stomach churn and his chest tighten suddenly. Normally, someone dropping off the face of the earth wouldn't bother him. Maybe she just wanted to be left alone for once, that was her business. But, after their talk on the dock, knowing she was struggling, he couldn't help the nagging worry chewing on his insides.

Ah, fuck it. He wasn't gonna be able to enjoy his drink with his stomach in knots like this. Might as well be the one to at least make sure she was alive. Just get eyes on her and then back to the Saloon for a well deserved cold one. Easy peasy.

He found himself walking very quickly towards the farmhouse, shivering at more than just the chill of a particularly cold Fall wind as his brain swirled with worst case scenarios. Images conjured up by a mind that consumed horror movies on a regular basis and knowing the kind of damage farm equipment could cause. A new grisly mental picture cropping up every time he shook the previous one away. Blood and guts and exposed bone and lifeless eyes and--

The sharp sound of a dog barking ripped him from his gorey thoughts, making him freeze in place. The big ass german shepard he forgot she had was staring at him suspiciously, barking again as if to say "state your business!"

"Heeey, boy. Easy. I'm just here to check on your...master? Nope, that sounds gross. Owner? Uh, person?" He held a hand out for the dog to sniff, speaking softly and calmly. Hoping if he appeared chill he'd get to keep his appendage intact.

The dog, seemingly satisfied with that, licked his hand and looked back towards the wooded area of the property. Where Shane could hear, right on cue, the sound of approaching footsteps and see the light of a lamp growing brighter as it got closer.

Out of the treeline stepped the farmer, her dark hair pulled up in a bun for the first time he could remember seeing. It made her look taller somehow, maybe because her neck looked longer this way. Like a swan. She had an axe slung over her shoulder and presumably firewood under the other arm, the light he thought was from a lamp emanating from a ring on her pointer finger.

"Miller?" He called, more out of shock than anything. Inwardly relieved that she was okay and feeling dumb for worrying so much.

Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him before her face settled into an uncharacteristic scowl, setting the axe down with a muffled thump as it hit the dirt.

"Cooper." She replied coolly, breezing past him towards the house. Putting the firewood in its cubby and pointedly not looking at him. "Did Marnie send you? She'll get her vegetables first thing tomorrow, tell her to just be patient."

"Wh...no? My aunt didn't send me, I'm not her errand boy." He huffed, offput by the assumption and her weirdly icy demeanor. Yeesh, was this what it was like to be on the receiving end of his prickly attitude?

"Little late to be checking on the chickens, then. They're asleep by now. But the coop's over there if you wanna wake them up and say 'hi'." Nodding her head towards said coop and still not looking at him, throwing off her work gloves on the porch.

"I'm not here for that either. I--hey!" He reached out to grab her wrist as she moved to walk past him again. "Would you just stop a second? I came to see you, okay?"

She tensed up but didn't try to pull away from him. And, now that he was close, he could see her eyes were puffy and red, and her lip was quivering. She'd been crying again...

"You came all the way out here just to see me? Yeah, right." She gave a bitter sounding laugh and shook her head in disbelief, her voice cracking.

"It's true!" He insisted, leaning to try and look her in the eye. "The whole town's in a tizzy because no one had heard from you today. And I was..."

"Were you worried about me, Cooper?" She arched an eyebrow brow at him, the barest hint of an amused smirk turning up a corner of her mouth.

"I mean...a little? Maybe. If you wanna call it that." He felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment, releasing her wrist and stepping away. Shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. "Just wanted to make sure you weren't stuck in a well or somethin'."

She blew air out of her nose, and the smile became a little more pronounced, some of the tension visibly leaving her shoulders.

"Nothing so dramatic, I'm afraid. Just...ugh. It's so stupid..." She frowned again and looked away from him, putting her hands on her hips.

"Try me. I bet I've heard stupider."

She sighed heavily, sitting on the top step of the porch and digging a crumpled piece of paper out of her pocket. Holding it out to him to take. Which he did, carefully, smoothing it out to make sense of the scribbles he could see written on it.

It was a letter from her dad. Short and sweet, hardly anything worth getting upset over from what he could tell. Though a line about the dad retiring to the Fern Islands using her hard earned money admittedly rubbed him the wrong way.

"Uh...?" He didn't know what to say, handing the paper back to her with a quizzical expression. She sighed again.

"I have been begging him to come see the farm, to come see me, for weeks. But Kaiden has peewee gridball practice or JJ has a band recital or Debbie needed another couples' getaway, so it's always 'next time, next time, next time.' Good to know he's sooo impressed with my progress and expects me to pay for his retirement, though, I guess. Thanks a fucking lot, dad."

She crumpled the letter up again and chucked it into the dark with an angry grunt, letting out a laugh when the dog ran after it and gleefully ripped it to shreds.

"You call your mom by her first name?" He cringed as soon as the question left his mouth. Really, Shane? She's upset and that's what you focus on? Fuck's sake.

"What?" She gave him a bewildered look. "No. No, Debbie's my stepmom. Her and dad's kids are my half-brothers."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"...I'm still waiting to hear the stupid part." He said gently, daring to sit on the step next to her and putting them in close proximity again. And again she didn't flinch away from him, just scoot over a little to give him room.

"It's stupid to get my feelings hurt over a pattern of behavior I'm well aware of. I thought that, maybe, he'd be more interested in this place since Grandpa Miller was his dad and all. But nah. His new family is still the center of his universe and I'm only a blip on the radar when it's convenient." She shrugged like it didn't bother her, but he could see the way her jaw clenched and hear the way her voice wobbled. This was some deep rooted hurt. "Sorry. This is why I was a hermit today. No one wants to hear me whinge like an angsty teen because 'daddy doesn't love me'."

"You kidding? The old biddies back in town would kill to hear this kind of juicy family drama." He teased, pleased with himself when she laughed. Once again using humor to deal with the tough shit.

"Guess you'll have a good story to tell them then. Congrats." She grinned back at him, rolling her eyes good naturedly.

"Oh, yeah. You know me, biggest blabbermouth in Pelican Town. All your secrets traded away for the low, low price of cheap beer and spicy bar pretzels~."

She laughed again, throwing her head back and leaning against him for support. For some reason, the little gesture made his chest feel tight again, but in a good way? Weird.

"Well, I don't have spicy pretzels, but can I pay you in beer not to go blabbing my dumb family bullshit to everyone?" She waggled her eyebrows at him and smirked, whispering like they were making some kind of shady deal. He couldn't help but laugh at the silliness of it all.

"You drive a hard bargain, but I think I can agree to those terms." He held out his hand for her to shake, mirroring her smirk. She took his hand without hesitation and giggled, giving it a firm shake before using him as leverage to push herself to standing. Quickly disappearing into the farmhouse and leaving him alone with his thoughts.

He should leave. He had only wanted to make sure she was okay and head back. She was okay, physically anyway, just wanted to be left alone. He should leave. But she was offering him free beer...and honestly he preferred her company over everyone probably still gossiping about her in the Saloon. But did she want him to stay? Why would she? Half of the damn town was in love with her, all of them so much better than him, surely she'd prefer to be with anyone else than a miserable asshole. He should leave..

An amber colored glass bottle suddenly entering his line of sight startled him back to reality, blinking and looking up to where it had come from. She had returned without him realizing, holding out what he assumed was the beer she had promised while leaning over him. She'd let her hair down again, dark locks flowing over her shoulder in a curtain. The porch light illuminating her from behind like a halo, and she was smiling. At him. Seemingly content with their close proximity to each other. It honestly made his breath catch in his throat, and again he didn't understand why his body was acting this way.

"You good there, bud?" She chuckled, surely realizing he was gawking at her at the same moment he did. Mouth opening and closing wordlessly like a dying fish as he took the bottle from her.

"Uh. Yeah. Just spaced out a minute. Sorry." He cleared his throat awkwardly, grateful that the beer was already open so he could take a swig to distract himself. Surprised when it tasted much better than the cheap swill JojaMart was selling, and even more surprised when he went to check the label, only to see there wasn't one. "Where did you get this? I don't recognize the, uh, lack of brand."

"Oh. Um, I made it." She said shyly, sitting next to him on the step and looking into her own bottle. "Sorry, I brewed it. I think that's the right term."

He blinked. "What?"

"I brewed it." She repeated, her voice even quieter. "Turns out Grandpa Miller had a little brewery in the cellar, including actually really detailed instructions on how to, y'know, brew stuff. Beer, ale, wine, mead, et cetera. So, I figured I'd give it a shot. And when...if my dad came to visit, we could celebrate the farm's success with a few beers made from wheat from the farm. But, you already know how that story ends.."

He could feel himself doing a dying fish impression again, trying to process what she had told him. This woman went out of her way to learn how to brew her own beer for her dad, who has clearly never made his daughter a priority a day in her life. Beer that he was now drinking because she was gracious enough to share. Gracious enough to tell him all this to begin with.

"Miller, you're incredible." The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop them, soft and earnest.

She spluttered and giggled at the sudden praise, seemingly torn between hiding behind her hair and tucking it behind her ear, pale face very noticeably turning red. It was cute, she was cute. How had he not noticed that before?

"Shut up. You're just saying that 'cause I'm bribing you with beer." She pushed at him playfully, still frazzled by his compliment. He made a mock offended gasp and pushed her back, hiding a grin behind taking another swig of beer.

"I'm serious." He assured her. "And if your dad doesn't realize that, he's a brain dead moron."

Her expression softened at that, eyes suddenly shiny with what looked like unshed tears. A watery little laugh escaping her before she took a drink of her own beer.

"I...thank you, Shane." She said quietly, wiping at her eyes with the heel of her hand. "And thank you for checking on me. Sorry I was so snippy with you before."

He scoffed and gave her a mildly bemused look. "Really? After all the times I've been a dick to you? 'Bout time you threw some it back at me honestly."

"I know, I know. I just...I'm not used to people remembering I exist unless they want something from me, I guess. No one ever just wants me, no one cares about just me. So, when I saw you I made an assumption, and I was wrong. So, I'm sorry." Her posture sunk and she curled into herself a little, fingernails tapping against the glass bottle.

Well, fuck. No wonder she always seemed so eager to help out everyone in town, including him. She didn't think she existed unless she was being useful. The idea of that broke his heart, which he didn't think was still possible.

"How many beers do I owe you not to tell anyone that?" She piped up again before he could respond, looking to him with a weak little smile. Obviously taking a page from his playbook and joking to lighten the mood. He chuckled softly, pretending to mull over a decision while tapping his chin.

"How many you got?" He eventually grinned, holding up his almost empty bottle.

They ended up drinking through her entire stash, sitting on the porch and talking for what must have been hours about...well, about a lot of things. She told him more about her dad, who never really tried to bond with her because she was a girl, and he couldn't figure out how to "relate" to a daughter. About her controlling mother, who cut contact with her when she quit her secure job to move to the uncertainty of Pelican Town. Clearly waiting for her to fail and come crawling back to the mom's "good graces". He, in turn, told her he hasn't spoken to either of his parents since he moved out almost two decades ago and was all the better for it. Not that he had much of a relationship with either of them to begin with. Toasting to the hope they didn't turn out like their parents.

She told him that before she was a data entry clerk for Joja, she was on track to becoming a professional ballerina. Until her achilles tendon snapped in the middle of a recital, effectively killing her mother's dream to live vicariously through her. So he told her of his varsity gridball days, how his dream of going pro was crushed when he tore his ACL during practice. She showed him the scar running up her heel, he showed her the scar running down his knee, and they laughed at an alternate universe where they'd be retiring from their lucrative professions by now. Toasting to knowing when it was going to rain before the weatherman because of joint pain.

They talked about music, about movies, about tattoos, about their animals, about anything they could think of until eventually petering out into a comfortable silence. One she broke after a long moment with a soft laugh.

"What?" He glanced at her curiously.

"Nothing. It's just...you're really easy to talk to when you're not being a complete asshole." She grinned, tongue poking out between her teeth to show she was teasing. He laughed, shoving at her playfully and pulling her back when he almost pushed her off the step by mistake.

"Well, you're really easy to talk to when you're not being the town kiss ass." He countered with an equally playful smirk, earning a laugh from her in return.

"Okay, fair. I deserve that."

She was still giggling as she polished off her drink, swaying a little where she sat and clearly intoxicated at this point, much to his amusement. Before she suddenly leaned into his space, close enough he could feel her warm breath fan across his skin. His own breath seeming to get caught somewhere in his sternum, body frozen in place.

"Did you know...when you smile, it's like your eyes light up and I can see how green they are. I never noticed before, but it's real obvious when we're close like this. S'pretty shade of green, too.." She relayed this to him in a hushed tone, almost in awe of this "revelation". He felt his stomach do a somersault and a blush creep across his face and neck like a wildfire. He and the word "pretty" had never been used in the same sentence, especially not from the mouth of someone like her. He didn't know how to deal with it.

"Oh Yoba, you are drunk. I think it's time to cut you off for the night." He huffed out an awkward laugh, scrambling to his feet and almost tripping over himself in the process. Brain screaming at him to run away again. Coward. Feeling like an absolute jerk when her expression fell into a panicked one.

"Oh. Oh shit, I'm sorry. That was weird, huh? I'm so sorry, I just said that without thinking. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Fuck. I'm sorry." The words tumbling out so fast they almost blurred together, desperate to apologize for the perceived slight.

"Hey, hey. Relax. It's not you, alright? Me and compliments just don't mix. S'not your fault, okay? Promise." Using the same gentle tone he would when Jas needed comfort after a bad dream, one meant to soothe fears.

Thankfully, she did relax a little, the worried crease in her brow smoothing out. Looking between him and the house a moment before sighing.

"We probably should call it a night, though.." she frowned, almost sounding disappointed. But that was almost certainly just wishful thinking on his part. "It's getting late, I didn't mean to keep you so long. I know Fridays at the Stardrop are a town tradition, and I'm sure Emily's wondering where you went."

"Aaah, she's so busy tending to everyone else, she probably didn't notice I slipped out. Besides..." He rubbed the back of his neck and kicked at a pebble in the dirt, feeling a bit bashful all the sudden. "I had a good time talking and drinking with you."

Her face lit up at that, practically beaming at him before looking away again. Actually twirling her hair around her finger like girls do in the movies, but it was endearing when she did it somehow. "Yeah? Me, too. This was nice. Definitely made a shitty day a lot better."

That shouldn't have made him as happy as it did, but he couldn't deny the warmth spreading through his chest at the idea that he had made her day better just by being there. Her happiness was infectious, he supposed. No other reason for it.

The good feeling was quickly snuffed by the realization of how far he was going to have to walk to get home. All the way back into town, down past the Saloon, past Emily's house, past Sam's house down the path that finally lead to Aunt Marnie's house. Buh.

"You know you can just cut through my farm, right? It's much faster." She piped up again, startling him. Was she a mind reader?? Or was he talking out loud without realizing?

"Oh. Uh. You sure? If my aunt sees me, she'll know I was here and probably tell her whole aerobics class." Already cringing at what stories could be spun up by a bunch of women with nothing better to do than speculate on someone's (nonexistent) love life. She deserved better than to have her reputation hitched to someone like him.

"Eh, let 'em talk. They're gonna do it anyway." She shooed the idea away dismissively, getting to her feet with a groan and meeting him where he stood. "Here. Gimme your hand."

He complied, confused, watching her take off the glowing ring she was wearing and easily slip it onto his middle finger. Feeling heat prickle up the back of his neck as she continued to hold his hand and meet his eyes with a little smile.

"It's pretty dark that way. Wouldn't want you getting hurt tripping over something. Or have you fall in a well." Her tone light and teasing, using something he had said earlier back at him. Seemingly unaware of the affect she was having on him as she absentmindedly stroked the back of his hand with her thumb. He swallowed thickly, mouth suddenly dry, carefully (reluctantly) removing his hand from hers to focus on the ring giving off an absurd amount of light for being so small.

"Don't you...don't you need this, though?" He asked hoarsely, scarcely able to hear himself over his heart doing acrobatics in his chest.

"Well, I'm going to see you tomorrow, aren't I?" She arched an eyebrow at him, an amused smirk gracing her lips.

"Are you?" Had they made plans and he'd already forgotten? Focus! Stop staring at her mouth!

"Unless you suddenly don't live with Marnie anymore. I already told you I owe her some vegetables, and I was gonna drop them off first thing in the morning. Figured I'd get the ring back from you then."

Ah. Of course. She was being "helpful", and he just happened to live where she already had plans of going. It wasn't like she was going out of her way just to see him. That would be ridiculous.

"Right. Yeah, for sure. Guess I'll see you later then." He mumbled, flexing his fingers as if to shake off the lingering feeling of her hand on his. It didn't help.

"Or I can just walk you home?" She offered, tilting her head at him. "Save you the trouble of worrying about if I need the ring or not."

"And have you walk your drunk ass all the way back by yourself? Nuh uh. Don't worry about it. You gotta come by the house anyway, I'll see you tomorrow."

He gave a little nod and turned to leave, only to be stopped by her grabbing the elbow of his jacket sleeve. Swiveling around to glance over his shoulder and give her a quizzical look. She was chewing on her lower lip, eyes downcast but still holding onto his sleeve. And maybe it was just a trick of the light, but he could swear her face was flushed again.

"I wanted to...I wanted to thank you again for tonight." She said softly, the barest hint of a wobble in her voice. Releasing his jacket to tuck her hair behind her ear again. "I really did have a good time. And, um, and couldn't let you leave without saying 'good night'. So, good night, Shane."

"Good night, Katherine." He breathed out a quiet laugh, warmth spreading through his chest again. Putting his hands in his pockets (which didn't muffle the ring's light at all somehow) and beginning the much shorter trek home for real this time, smiling to himself as he walked past a patch of fairy roses growing. He'd have to tell Jas about that, and about the fact "Miss Kat" used to be a ballerina when she was Jas's age.

He could feel himself walking briskly, finding he suddenly didn't care if Aunt Marnie caught him walking from the direction of the old farmhouse. So what if she told people? Would it be the worst thing in the world if people assumed something happened? Not really. And, if he thought about it, he almost wanted to get caught. Wanted people to know everyone's favorite farmer spent time with him. Alone.

Huh.

That...that was an interesting feeling. One he did not have the mental bandwidth to deal with tonight. That was a problem for tomorrow Shane. Or next week Shane.

Or never. Never was preferable. He was too old to be feeling...whatever the hell this was. And it didn't matter anyway. They had just talked, that was all it was.

That was all it'd ever be.

[heartfullofleeches]

Practice

College Yan + Older Neighbor Reader [M + G.N]

Summary: A friend requests a favor from you after a rough night

Warning: Legal age gap, mentions of alcohol and drugs, emotional manipulation, groping

-

12 missed calls....

"..Hey, Y/n. Just realized you're probably still at work right now....l I just wanted to say thanks for everything. Without you - I don't think I'd be out here tonight.."

"Y/n - hey! Oh... just missed you I guess. I just arrived, and... honestly I'm really nervous. There's more people than I thought there'd be and I don't know anyone. You mind if I call again? Even if you don't answer - it's nice not being alone."

"Y/n... things are going pretty good so far. Someone just came up to me and handed me a cup. I've never drank before, but I have too many regrets already to have another. This goes out to you."

"Are you afraid of dying alone?.... it never crossed my mind until my grandad died a few years back. Nobody liked the guy so he just.... wasted away alone in his house. I don't want that to happen to me. I wish you were here."

"Y/n?.... fuck... please don't listen to that last message. Can you come pick me up? I sent the address to you earlier, but I forgot to tell you. I think I drank too much and I know it's late but... fuck."

"You're coming to pick me up...aren't you? You wouldn't leave me behind like everyone has... I'm so happy I-"

Message Saved.

You didn't need to hear the rest. Teddi was the sweetest guy you've met in recent years. A little rough around the edges, sure, but it's a given with everything he's been through. Once you cracked that shell, he revealed that dorky, loveable self of his who still cried when animals died in movies yet gushed for hours about his fascination with horror media as a whole. You thought you were doing the right thing by trying to get him out of his comfort zone - keep him from turning out like you.

Breathing through your teeth, you toss your phone into the passenger seat as you exit the vehicle. Beer glasses and someone's glasses left out in the field crunch beneath your feet as you cross the lawn up to the house and adjacent door. Poking your head through the crack; a sea of young adults and their peers overcrowd the living space - egging each other into boisterous acts and having the time of their new lives. Realistically you couldn't be a few years older than the older face in the crowd, but this wasn't your click. You walk up to the nearest, unattended person and tap them on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, looking for someone. Thick glasses, nose ring, blue...ish hair? Should've brought my phone out-"

"Oh!! You must be Ted's partner. Y/n - right?."

"We aren't dating. I'm their neighbor."

"My bad - he's just been talking about you all night so I thought - anyway, he's up on the roof. Said he needed the fresh air. Just head upstairs, the ladder to the attic should be right there.

"Alright. Thanks." You push past them and up the stairs - bracing your foot on the ladder rails that creek under your weight as you climb up into the attic. The room is foggy, musty fog filtered out the open door leading to the patio. You reject an offer for its source as politely as you could as you brush by the individuals occupying the space, pulling your shirt over your nose as you step out into the chilly night. Laying on a blanket made of someone else's coat, Teddi sits beneath the stars wearing the jacket you lent him about a week ago. He takes the blunt offered by a peer, breaking off its tip as he pulls it to his lips. You knock on the door frame twice - smoke violent exhausted from his nose and lungs as he turns around to see you.

"Y/n." Teddi staggers to his feet, legs tangled in his makeshift blanket as he trips and stumbles his way towards you. He sports a dopey grin, fixing your jacket to his shoulder. "Hey, we were just talking about you - this is.. uh.." He snapped his fingers. "Fuck."

"Trudy."

"Trudy! Right, haha - they're great, but not as great as you."

"That's great." You wrap an arm around their shoulder, turning them towards the door. "We're leaving."

Teddi slurs out a whine, leaning back - trying to pull you with him. "What? But you just got here. I wanna introduce you to everyone first."

"Maybe later. I need to get you home." Your right hand finds the small of his back, locking around his waist. "Car - now."

His pink face flushes further. "Okay...."

-

Loading Teddi into the car, his head slumps against the passenger window as you shut the door. The ride home is mostly quiet - his hand glued to your lap no matter how many times you nudge him away. His head rolls over to your shoulder and the alcohol on his breath fans your face as he speaks.

"Do you think somebody will ever love me, Y/n?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"I meant someone tonight."

He studies your face. No twinge of jealousy or sadness. You almost looked relieved. He swallows, buring the ache as he continues. "I meant someone and.... I know they're way out of my league. Kind....smart....when they smile it's like the whole room lights up. We hadn't known each other for long, but they've always been there and... I can't imagine life without them now that they're here. Despite our differences I know we are meant for each other."

You ease your foot off the gas. "....Ted. You're a good kid. If I had known a guy like you back when I was your age I would have loved to get to know him."

Teddi sits upright, looking down as he rubs his face. "Quit talking like you're so much older than me..."

"We're here."

Teddi glances outside. Always when he works up the courage to talk to you.. You park outside your house and round the car to help him get to his. Teddi clutches your arm as you face his yard.

"Please don't make me go home tonight, Y/n."

His nails dig into your shirt. "Please."

You sigh. Helping him up the driveway and into your home, you guide Teddi into your bedroom- afraid of what's happen if you give him the couch. Teddi relaxes as you cross the threshold into your living room. The familiarity of your home, just the two of you in this vast space - he wouldn't give it up for anything. The lingering stress melts from his face as you lower him into your bed, resting on the pillow you lay your head on every night. You set his glasses on the dresser and bring him a glass of water - wishing him good night as you turn off the lights. Hovering over the bed, he grabs your wrist as you turn to leave.

"Y/n..... please stay with me tonight."

He brings a hand up to your face, stroking your jaw as he pulls you closer. "Kiss me, Y/n."

".... how much did you drink, Teddi."

"Alot, but - I need you... to help me I mean. I've never kissed anyone before, and I need the practice if I'm ever going to tell them how I feel. You're the only person I can turn to for this. You promised that you would always be there for me."

You knew that would come back to haunt eventually. "Ted, when I said I'd help you with anything, I meant like teaching you how to do your taxes or change a tire. This isn't something we should be doing."

His cheek presses against your neck, fresh tears staining your skin. "We can forget about it in the morning.... They're all I have. You're all I have... Please don't leave me too."

"....show me."

"Huh?"

"How you would confess. Show me."

You sit on the edge of the bed. Teddi props back against the frame, tucking his hair behind one ear and fixing his shirt. He chews on his bottom lip - the moonlight reflecting off your skin basking you in that heavenly shine he always saw. He looks down. "I'm gonna use your name just to make it easier - okay?"

Teddi takes a deep breath. "Y/n - you... you're the most amazing person I've ever met. When I'm with you, it's like opening my eyes for the first time. You're someone I know I can trust through thick and thin... you've always been there for me, and I want to be here for you... forever."

He scoots closer, placing a hand on your lap as he cups your cheek - leaning in til his forehead rests against yours. "I like you...I love you. Please, stay with me."

Teddi slowly closes the distance; fingers restricted round your thigh as his lips fall flush against yours. It feels like a crime - your soft skin beneath his chapped, bitten lips. He presses deeper, engraving every each of you into his memory and being that his mind would allow. His tongue ghosts your lower lip, snaking against your teeth. His hand clasps the base of your neck as he adds his weight to your chest, pulling you up on the bed as he brings your hanging leg up to his side.

"y/n....."

He cards his fingers through at your hair - the taste of whiskey and desperation hot on your tongue as you wince from the abrupt tug at the back of your skull. The depth of your mouth is more indicating than any substance he had all night. His fingers sink into the flesh of your leg, working towards the curve of your ass as a moan vibrates through your teeth centered from throaty whine he makes as they close around his tongue. His lip ram yours as he tilts his head for a better angle with enough force to bruise, and by god he hopes it does. Biting down doesn't stop his tongue from barreling down your throat - ball piercing sucked to the roof of your mouth. He gives pause only when he finally accepts the stars dancing in view are from the lack of oxygen rather the magic of the eve- falling to your chest with a few links and kisses between greedy intakes of air and your scent. He giggles, hiccuping as his arms shoot around your waist.

"My first kiss...... I made sure to tear off the end when I smoked with that girl so I wouldn't lose it even indirectly. Was I your first too? Can you by my first in other ways too?"

You pull from under him as he nips at your shoulder. "You're not into Trudy?"

"Trudy?" The name rolls off his tongue with such disgust and confusion. "Heck no. The person I like is so much more special than her. I'm lucky to even be in their presence. I wanna give them the world. My heart. I love you.... them- so much."

You fall silent as he nuzzles his face against your torso, eyes growing heavy. "It's late, Teddi. Go to bed."

"Will you sleep with me?.... Stay with me until the morning?..."

".....Always."

Teddi cuddles up to your side as you join him in bed - fighting exhaustion to treasure your sleeping face beside him.

[lunarubra]

Pairing: Cillian x OC (Jiyan Fabris)

Summary: Cillian returns to find himself in an unexpected situation.

Warning: Angst and Comfort, Mention of Miscarriage, Unplanned Pregnancy, English is Not My First Language.

Words: 5395

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Chapter 5 - Contraria contrariis curantur

Cillian felt that strange, restless mix of exhaustion and adrenaline, as though he could either collapse into bed for a week or run a marathon. He’d just wrapped filming his latest project, Retreat, in a secluded house deep in the Welsh countryside. The whole week had been especially intense, with long days that kept his energy simmering beneath the surface, demanding focus and action over and over again. Now, with the project done, that pent-up energy hung around like static—buzzing and restless���while his body ached to fully unwind.

He unlocked his phone, looking for what felt like the hundredth time that day at the lock screen—a picture of Jiyan in Venice. Then, he checked his messages again. A few reminders from his agent caught his eye, mostly about the upcoming movie he was set to film in the U.S. in a few weeks. But still, nothing from Jiyan. His chest tightened, frustration and worry clawing at him. Beneath it all, he felt anger bubbling up.

This was the part he dreaded most in relationships, the moment when things started to slip out of his control. The silence stirred up memories of past breakups, times when he’d been too wrapped up in work to notice things falling apart until it was too late. But with Jiyan was different—or so he hoped. It wasn’t like her to just go silent like this; something must’ve happened. He hated the helplessness of it all, knowing he couldn’t do anything about it from here, miles away and tied down by his schedule. Being on set often felt like pressing pause on his life, freezing everything personal in the hopes that people, relationships, and emotions would just…wait. He knew that wasn’t fair, yet here he was again, hoping she’d understand.

She had told him more than once that it was okay, that she had her own life and could handle the times he had to focus on work. She’d compare it to her own moments of research, the stretches of time when she’d hole up in libraries, totally absorbed in her world. She understood the demands on his time, how sometimes when he was on set all he could manage were quick calls in the evenings or the occasional text. And still, despite her reassurances, that old fear gnawed at his stomach, dredging up the doubts he’d buried.

The cab finally pulled up outside his building, and after thanking the driver, he dragged his luggage to the front door, feeling that first rush of coming home. Inside, everything looked just as he’d left it. Though he’d given Jiyan a spare key, she rarely used it, saying it felt too empty and lonely without him there. She had even joked once that unless he got a pet, his place was far too depressing without his energy filling it up. So, aside from his cleaning lady, who’d tidied up and kept his plants alive, his house felt frozen in time, as though it too had been waiting for him to return. There was a hollow stillness to it all, a sense of both comfort and sadness.

​​Cillian dropped his suitcase by the door, feeling the quiet of his apartment settle around him like a heavy blanket. The whole place seemed to echo with his own frustration, his mind churning over the days’ silence from Jiyan. He’d been trying to keep things together, focus on his next project. The script lay on the coffee table, fresh from his agent, waiting to be dissected, practised, internalised. Yet, he couldn’t get past the feeling of tension that had wrapped itself around him tighter with each ignored call and curt text.

He let out a sigh and tossed his phone on the counter, deciding it was time to stop checking for messages that weren’t coming. Just forget it, for now, he told himself, as he swung open the fridge. He pulled out some bread and whatever toppings hadn’t yet expired. As he assembled a sandwich, he felt the sharp edge of each movement—the spread of the mustard, the familiar squeak of the fridge door closing. It was a simple enough task, but tonight, even making a sandwich felt like a half-hearted ritual meant to drown out his thoughts.

Biting into his makeshift meal, he tried to savour it, to focus on the simple comfort of eating alone after a gruelling workweek. But the quiet nagged at him. He couldn’t shake the sense that he was waiting—for what, he didn’t know. A call, a change, anything. Jiyan’s last few texts had been so short, each one giving less than the one before, almost as if she were pulling away in slow motion. And each time he’d called, she’d let it ring out, sending him straight to voicemail. He felt like he was grasping at air, trying to catch something that kept slipping away.

Halfway through the sandwich, his phone buzzed against the counter, the vibration cutting through the stillness and startling him enough to make the sandwich slip from his fingers onto the plate. The screen lit up with her name, a simple notification that sent his heart into a quick, uneven rhythm. For a moment, he just stared at it, his breath catching as he reached for the phone, bracing himself for disappointment or another clipped, impersonal reply. But this time, it was different:

Hey, are you back? Can we meet? I think we need to talk.

The words hit him like a stone dropped into still water, rippling outward and disturbing every fragile bit of calm he’d tried to build. His stomach twisted, an ache blooming that he couldn’t quite name. We need to talk. The phrase sat heavily in his mind, stark and unyielding. He read the message again, then again, as if his repeated glances might alter its meaning, soften its edges, or offer some reassurance. But it remained stubbornly the same, each word charged with quiet finality.

He could almost hear her voice—steady, measured, carrying the weight of something that couldn’t be left unsaid. It wasn’t accusatory, but it wasn’t light either. The thought of meeting up, of sitting across from her and hearing whatever she had to say, pulled at him like an undertow. Yet the discomfort settled deeper into his chest, a slow, creeping dread.

He’d been here before: the late-night conversations that unraveled into confessions, the careful silences that felt more like barriers than space, the inevitable conclusion that his life—chaotic, demanding, and all-encompassing—was too much to fold into someone else’s. But Jiyan had been different. She wasn’t just a balm for his loneliness or a fleeting distraction. With her, for the first time, he’d felt like the life he was building wasn’t just his own; it was something shared, something as important as his career. She’d seen him, truly seen him, and he’d dared to believe that what they had could endure.

And yet, here he was, staring at her words, feeling like he was back in a storm he thought he’d left behind. The sharp tang of mustard lingered on his tongue, bitter and unsettling, as he sat frozen in his chair. His thoughts churned, spiraling into every possibility of what Jiyan might need to say, but none of them brought him comfort. The silence in the room pressed down on him, as heavy as the unanswered questions hanging in the air.

Cillian’s mind raced as he typed out a quick response to her message, imagining the worst. He could practically see the whole breakup unfolding, the same way it had in every other relationship before this. He clenched his jaw, feeling a surge of anger and hurt. How could she just go silent, cut him out, like everyone else?

Grabbing his jacket, he was out the door in minutes, the cold night air biting at his face as he hailed a cab. The city blurred past him, a kaleidoscope of lights and movement that barely registered as his thoughts churned. His heart pounded in his chest, a drumbeat of frustration and dread, his mind racing with everything he wanted to say, everything he needed to hear from her. By the time the cab pulled up to her building, the storm inside him had only grown fiercer, each unanswered question fueling the fire.

He climbed the stairs two at a time, his breath shallow, the tension in his chest winding tighter with every step. When Jiyan opened the door, the sight of her gave him pause. She looked pale, her face drawn, as though she’d been carrying the weight of this moment far longer than he had. She stepped aside without a word, retreating to the corner of her small studio. Her movements were quiet, deliberate, as she sank onto the edge of her bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes met his, calm but shadowed with something he couldn’t yet name.

The words spilled out of him before he could stop them. “Is this how it’s going to be?” he began, his voice sharp, louder than he intended. “Every time I leave for work, I come back and you’re…you’re just gone, shutting me out! I thought we were okay, Jiyan. I thought we understood each other. This is my job, my life. You knew that! And now you’re cutting me off, leaving me to guess if we’re even still…still us.”

He stopped to catch his breath, his chest heaving. “You can’t just leave me in the dark like this,” he said, his voice breaking, softer now but no less raw. “I thought things were different with us. You said you were okay with it.”

Jiyan sat quietly, her pale fingers gripping the edge of the bed. She hadn’t interrupted him, hadn’t even flinched as his words poured out. But her eyes—wide and glistening with unshed tears—betrayed the turmoil beneath her calm exterior. When he finally fell silent, she lowered her gaze, taking a long, trembling breath. Her jaw tightened, and she blinked rapidly, as though trying to keep the tears at bay.

“I’m not… That’s not…” she murmured, her voice thin, halting. She looked up again, meeting his eyes, and in that moment, he saw the full weight of her emotions laid bare. “Cillian…” she began, her voice a whisper. “I think… I think I’m pregnant.”

The words landed with the force of a tidal wave, sweeping away everything else. His anger, his frustration, his carefully rehearsed arguments—all of it dissolved, leaving only stunned silence in its wake. The room seemed to tilt, the air thick and heavy as he tried to process what she’d just said. He stared at her, his mind grasping for something to hold onto, some way to respond.

She looked at him, her eyes glistening, her vulnerability cutting through his daze. Before he could think, he crossed the room, closing the space between them in an instant. He knelt before her, his hands reaching for hers, and as she hesitated, he wrapped his arms around her trembling form. She clung to him, her fingers gripping his shoulders, her face buried in the curve of his neck. Her body shook with silent sobs, and he held her tighter, his own breath unsteady as the reality of her words began to sink in.

He held her tightly, her familiar scent filling his senses—the scent he’d missed every day they were apart. She started to cry, soft apologies spilling from her lips between small, hitched breaths. He stroked her back, his fingers tracing gentle circles, trying to calm her, trying to steady himself. He wanted to mend the sadness he saw in her eyes, to ease the fears that he’d just unleashed in his anger.

It took a while, but eventually, her breathing steadied, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she lifted her head. Her fingers reached out to fiddle with the edge of his sweater, a small, nervous gesture that seemed to anchor her. Her gaze dropped, and in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, “I’m sorry, Cill. I wanted to answer, but I just… I didn’t know how. You were working, and I didn’t want to disrupt you with something I wasn’t even sure how to explain. You called me the night that I first thought about the possibility, and I thought giving myself time to think would help, but it only made everything harder.” When she finally met his eyes, they were filled with a mix of guilt and vulnerability.

He studied her for a moment, letting her words sink in, feeling their weight settle in his chest. He could see how much this had been eating at her, the way her fingers clung to the fabric of his sweater like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

Pregnant. The word echoed in his mind, a mix of shock and something deeper, more complicated. He didn’t know how to process it yet—how to grasp what this meant for them, for her, for him. But one thing was clear: she was carrying the weight of this alone, and he needed to take some of it from her, to steady them both.

He reached out, cupping her face gently, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks. “Jiyan,” he said softly, his voice steadier than he felt inside. “You don’t have to carry this on your own. I’m here now, and we’ll figure it out together. Okay?”

He cupped her face gently, his thumbs brushing away the wetness on her cheeks before pressing soft kisses on either side, feeling the warmth of her skin under his lips. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have come in so angry; I panicked when I felt you pulling away, and I jumped to the worst conclusion.”

She nodded, resting her forehead against his chest, as if seeking his warmth to calm her pounding heart. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, tracing soothing patterns along her back. It felt so right to be here, comforting her, absorbing her presence. Even though they’d only been apart a week, he had missed her with an ache he hadn’t realised until now.

After a while, he pulled back just enough to look at her, his hand moving to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “What did you mean when you said you think you’re pregnant?”

She let out a shaky breath, dropping her gaze as she whispered, “I haven’t been to the doctor yet. I just… I don’t know what to do.”

“I…I don’t know what to do,” she murmured again, her voice so small it nearly broke his heart. “I don’t want it to happen again…” Her voice trailed off, and she pressed her forehead against his shoulder, gripping his sweater as though he might slip away.

Cillian leaned back slightly, searching her face with concern and confusion. “Again?” he asked gently, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and waiting as she struggled to find the words.

Jiyan swallowed hard, her gaze somewhere distant as if reliving a memory. “After Samyah…after she… after her suicide…” She closed her eyes briefly, a shudder running through her. “I found out I was pregnant. I had no idea until it was over.”

Cillian’s arms instinctively tightened around her, his chest aching as he imagined the pain she’d endured, the loneliness wrapped around those memories.

“I… I lost it,” she whispered, her voice trembling as her fingers gripped his arm like a lifeline. “Not long after that, I had a miscarriage. It just… happened.” Her words faltered, a raw pain threading through every syllable. “I didn’t tell anyone—not really. I couldn’t, not then. My mum knew; she stayed with me those months after. But now…” Her voice broke slightly, and she took a shaky breath. “Now, I couldn’t face this alone. I didn’t want to go through that again. That’s why I waited. I couldn’t even take the test… not without you.”

Her words hung heavy in the air, and then, slowly, she began to share more. She told him about the miscarriage—the sterile lights of the hospital, the ache that seemed to seep into her bones, and the overwhelming grief that left her feeling hollow. “I couldn’t even call Kareem,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I let my mum do it. I didn’t have the strength, I was a coward.”

She talked about those months after, how she’d shut down because it was all too much—Samiah’s death, the aftermath, the slow unraveling of her relationship with Kareem, and then the miscarriage. Each event had piled onto the last until it felt like she was drowning. “I buried myself in university,” she said, her gaze distant. “It was the only place I felt like I could breathe again. That’s when my professor approached me with the research opportunity at Trinity. It was a lifeline, a way to run away from everything.”

He held her close, absorbing everything she’d shared, his arms a protective shield around her. The weight of her pain settled heavily in his chest, a knot of guilt and helplessness tightening as he realized how much she had endured alone. He wanted desperately to take it all away, to undo the hurt she’d carried, but he knew it wasn’t that simple. This wasn’t something he could fix with a few comforting words or a reassuring gesture—it was her trauma, her loss, and all he could do was be here now, fully present for her.

For a moment, he rested his chin gently on the top of her head, closing his eyes and letting the silence stretch between them, warm and steady. Then he pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his hands still holding hers. “Okay,” he said softly, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside him. He gave her hands a gentle squeeze, grounding both of them.

And then, with more resolve than he truly felt, he added, “Come on. We’re going to buy a test.”

She hesitated, a small smile flickering through her worry, blushing a bit. "I already bought two," she admitted, glancing down. "They're in the bathroom."

Cillian stared at her, picturing the past few days, the silent anguish she must've felt with the unopened tests looming on the bathroom shelf. "Alright… do you want me to…" He paused, fumbling for words. "Should we, um, go to the bathroom then?"

She looked up, a teasing glint breaking through her anxiety. "Are you asking me to go pee?"

"Well… yes?" he replied, flushing. "Kind of? Isn't that how this works?"

She shook her head, an amused smile easing some of the tension between them. Already, she felt a bit of the weight lifting, now that she wasn’t holding it alone. "Alright. It’s better if I don’t drink before, I’ll take them now, but could you make some tea, please? I want something to warm up" Her voice softened. "Apparently, it’s more accurate if you haven’t gone for over four hours."

"Why?" he asked, still puzzled by the details.

She gave him an exasperated look, both amused and serious. "The hormones are stronger if it’s, you know, concentrated. We learned that in sex ed."

"They taught you how to take a pregnancy test in school?" he asked, astonished.

"Yes," she replied, as if stating the obvious. Her look asked a silent question, like he hadn’t been in the same class.

"In Ireland, we didn’t have sex ed," he told her, grinning wryly. "We didn’t even have condoms legally till the '90s."

She stared at him as if he’d just admitted to some outrageous historical atrocity, before shaking her head. "I don’t think I’m mentally prepared for a deep dive into the consequences of a Catholic state in the Republic of Ireland. I’m going to pee on these sticks now. Please make some tea before I start freaking out again," she said, her voice both blunt and fond, leaving Cillian standing alone in the room.

He stood there for a moment, taking in the surreal weight of everything before turning to find the kettle. As he waited for it to boil, he looked around the kitchen, scanning the jars of herbs and spices—most still unfamiliar to him. Before long, Jiyan emerged, visibly apprehensive, still carrying the tension that had been coiling inside her.

"So?" he asked.

"We wait."

"How long?" he asked, uncertain if he wanted more time to process or if he needed an answer right away.

"Five minutes," she replied quietly.

He moved to her side, wrapping her in a gentle embrace, hoping to absorb some of the heaviness pressing on her heart. "I’m here," he murmured against her hair. She nodded, her head nestled against his chest, and he added, "I know I wasn’t, but I’m here now. Whatever you decide, I’m with you every step of the way."

"I’m terrified of deciding, Cill," she whispered. “I’m terrified of what is waiting there.”

"I know," he said softly, holding his breath. "I know."

“Come on, help me make your tea and remind me of how many cinnamon sticks you need."

"There’s never a ‘right’ amount of cinnamon in life—the more, the better," she teased, though he could feel the tension still in her shoulders.

They sat together in the kitchen for a while, and she told him about her night at the pub—how the smell of fish sent her running for the bathroom, and how Scott had joked she might be pregnant, a thought she hadn’t even entertained until that moment.

“I don’t even know what to feel,” she confessed, not meeting his eyes. “I’m not sure I want to keep it, I’m not sure I want to get an abortion, I just don’t want to go through all of that again.”

Cillian paused, wrestling with his own feelings. A knot tightened in his stomach at the thought of her choosing not to continue the pregnancy. He respected her choice, and he was prepared to support her either way, but part of him had already begun to imagine a future with a child, as irrational as that felt given how quickly everything was happening. He reminded himself it was her decision.

"Whatever you're feeling is valid," he told her gently. "Even if it’s… nothing right now. There are options, and we just have to plan. If you’re pregnant and don’t want to go through with it, we could go to Italy or the UK—it might be simpler in Italy."

"Wait, what?" She looked at him, completely baffled. "The last thing I want is to go back to Italy for an abortion. One miscarriage was enough, thank you."

"You can’t do it here," he said softly.

"Why? Is it because they'd recognize you?"

"What? No…" He exhaled, searching for the right words. "It’s illegal here—in Ireland."

Jiyan stared at him. Almost as if she didn’t understand him. The shock spreading across her face as she processed his words, he could almost see the gears in her brain going into overdrive. “Wait, what?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Abortion is illegal?”

"Yes," he replied, resigned.

"What…? How?! And what if someone needs an abortion?"

"Most people go to the UK," he explained.

"But what about girls who are too young or can’t afford to go to the UK? Medical cases? People that get pregnant and don’t want to?" she pressed, anger flickering in her eyes.

"Jiyan, you told me earlier you didn’t have the energy for a conversation on how Catholicism affected Ireland. Are you sure you want to dive into the government and Church’s restrictions on women’s bodies?"

She looked at him, her expression torn between exasperation and nerves, muttering something under her breath in a mix of Kurdish and Italian. "You’re right—not tonight," she conceded quietly. Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall above the sink, the seconds ticking louder than they should. After a pause, she added hesitantly, "Could you… Could you check the tests? Without me? It’s been six minutes."

He studied her, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers digging into her sleeves. "I think we should go together," he said gently. "I know this decision affects you more than me, but it’s the both of us in the end, right?"

Her gaze flicked to his, a brief flash of gratitude in her eyes, but then she shook her head, biting her lip. "I can’t," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can’t go in there, Cill. Please."

Her words hung between them, heavy and raw, until she crossed her arms again, giving him an almost pleading look. "Could you just… peek?"

"Peek?" He raised an eyebrow, scratching his head as his gaze darted toward the bathroom. His feet felt rooted to the kitchen floor. "You make it sound like I’m about to open Pandora’s box or something."

She let out a nervous laugh, the sound fragile but welcome. "Maybe it is," she said, her voice trembling.

He sighed, his hands dragging down his face. "Alright," he said at last, "but you’re coming with me. Half a step behind. Deal?"

She hesitated, wrapping her arms around herself before nodding. "Promise you’ll look first?"

He raised his hand solemnly. "I’ll look first."

Finally, she pushed off the counter, standing just behind him as they made their way down the hall. The silence between them felt alive, every creak of the floorboards amplifying the tension. They stopped just outside the bathroom door, exchanging nervous glances.

Taking a deep breath, he reached for the door handle, his fingers brushing against the cool metal. With a glance back at her—her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her eyes wide with worry—he pushed the door open. They both held their breath as he stepped inside, his eyes darting toward the counter. She leaned in just behind him, clutching his arm like a lifeline.

“There they are,” he whispered, staring down at the two tests, side by side.

“Can you see anything?” she whispered back, her grip tightening on his sleeve.

“Um…” He squinted, leaning closer, his heart racing. “I think… wait, what do the lines mean again?”

“Oh my god, just look!” She nudged him again, her own voice wavering with nerves and a hint of a smile.

“I’m looking, I’m looking!” he muttered, bending over the tests. After a few more seconds, he turned back to her, his face unreadable.

“Well?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“I’m really not sure what I’m looking at. Aren’t there supposed to be lines? In movies, it’s always two lines.”

“Yeah, well, we’re not in the States. Do you see a line?”

“Where?” he asked, squinting at the tests.

“Oh, dio mio, Cillian!” Jiyan muttered, stepping forward to see for herself. Then she froze.

She stood motionless in front of the sink, her hand still clutching his sleeve as she stared at the plus signs on each test. “Oh,” was all she managed, her voice faint, almost lost.

“What?” he asked gently, his curiosity blending with concern. “Jiyan, what do they say?”

She didn’t look up, her gaze locked on the counter as if willing the lines to change. “They both have plus signs.”

“Positive?” he asked, his voice catching as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “They’re positive.”

A rush of warmth filled Cillian, flooding through every vein and reaching every cell. A baby. A child. A little piece of him and Jiyan. Before he could stop himself, a smile spread across his face. He wanted to laugh, to hold her tight, to shout with joy. But then reality struck as he looked at her, still staring at the tests, her expression frozen in fear, as though the lines might disappear if she waited long enough.

Cillian took in her fear, her uncertainty, and his heart pulled toward her even more fiercely. He took a small step closer, his voice soft. “Aji…” He used the name with gentle affection. “I know it’s huge. And terrifying. But you don’t have to decide anything right now. I’m here. I’m with you.”

She looked away, biting her lip. “You don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I can see it in you—you’ve already fallen in love with the idea. But for me, this is real. And real is… terrifying”

He nodded, moving closer, his gaze gentle and steady. “I know it’s messy,” he replied quietly. “And I’m not expecting it to be anything else. And that it reminds you of every painful moment of what happened then, but it’s us. Me and you, I am here. It’s our life.”

She shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself as if to shield herself from the weight of it all. “I don’t even know if I’m capable of… doing this. A baby, Cill. That’s… that’s a whole person. And what if…” Her voice cracked, and she took a shaky breath. “What if I’m not… enough? What if I… if it ends in a miscarriage again?”

He closed the distance between them, pulling her gently into his arms. Not even wanting to imagine that this little life he just got to know could disappear like that, a stabbing pain went thorugh his chest and he hided his face in her curls, feling her trembling slightly. “Jesus, I cannot even imagine, love,” he murmured into her hair. “But I already know you’re more than enough, together we are more than enough. Whatever you decide… you’re enough.”

She buried her face in his chest, and they stood there in the quiet, the weight of it all pressing down on them both. She felt his hand warm on her back, grounding her, even as her thoughts spun with a thousand doubts and fears.

After a long silence, she finally looked up, her voice still edged with uncertainty. “And if… if I decide not to go through with it?”

His smile faded, and for a moment, a flicker of sadness passed over his face. But he nodded, steadying himself. “Then we’ll face that too,” he said, his voice soft and steady. “I meant what I said—I’m with you every step of the way.”

Jiyan’s eyes softened, her fear mingling with a fragile sense of relief as she leaned into his embrace. “You say that now,” she murmured, her voice laced with a faint, wry smile, a grimace.

They stood there, holding onto each other, neither one speaking, just breathing in sync, as if trying to match the beat of their hearts. Finally, Jiyan pulled back a little, brushing her fingers over his hand, still hesitant.

“I just… I keep thinking,” she began, her voice tight, “what if I’m not ready? What if… I’m never ready?”

Cillian looked at her, his gaze steady and gentle. “Jiyan,” he said quietly, “I don’t think anyone ever feels completely ready for something like this. But that doesn’t mean we can’t handle it. You’ve handled so much already.”

She let out a soft, almost bitter laugh, looking away. “Those things were… different, Cill. With those, I could walk away if I needed to. But this… this changes everything, I cannot run from this.”

He nodded, his voice tender. “I know. And I don’t want you to feel trapped by any of it. Whatever you decide, I’m with you. Not just saying it—I’m here, for real.”

She nodded slowly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on the back of his hand, a small gesture that somehow steadied her. “This is… this is crazy,” she murmured, her voice wavering between fear and the faintest edge of a smile.

“Yeah, it is,” he replied, a warmth creeping into his tone. He pulled her a little closer, his thumb brushing across her knuckles. “But maybe… maybe that’s okay. I mean, life was already pretty crazy before, right?”

She looked up at him, a hint of something softer in her eyes, a flicker of hope. “You’re really not going anywhere, are you?”

“Not a chance,” he said, his voice low but certain. “One step at a time. I’m right here.”

They stood there in the quiet of the bathroom, the gravity of everything finally settling in, but with an unexpected sense of calm between them. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart—a reminder that she wasn’t alone.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read. Your feedback, in any form, makes me happy. See you at the next one :)

amazing dividers from cafekitsune

[okaylorrainee]

her way of water

characters. neteyam & female metkayina reader. sully family. tsireya.

synopsis. neteyam and his family left their clan to seek uturu from yours. on their first night, neteyam wanders by the shore to clear his mind. he finds himself away from everyone’s marui pods and comes across you as you bathed - he couldn’t get you out of his mind since then.

contains. aged up characters but only by a few years. timeline and some parts of the plot of the movie may be ignored. sometimes out of character.

note. hello! welcome to my first avatar ff :)! this was supposed to be a one shot, but as i wrote it, i’ve decided one part isn’t enough. sorry if any parts of the story seem weird. i still have a lot to learn about the na’vi. do they even bathe? idk. english is not my first language so please feel free to correct me if i get anything wrong! also, this may be the first avatar ff i’ve ever written and published but it might not be the last so stay tuned!

Ch 01 [ masterlist . next ]

he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. a low grunt left his lips as he sat up in frustration. he looked around and his family was in deep slumber, perhaps due to exhaustion from all of the water training they’ve done all day. he wished he could be the same, then at least he’d silence the sadness he felt from leaving his home. 

neteyam didn’t want to voice it out too much. he knew it was harder for his parents, especially for his mother whose whole life was the forest. he refused to burden the family with his emotions, so he suppressed them, like the responsible eldest son he always was.

he sighed, making his way out of their family pod. he didn’t know where he was going at this time of the night, but he just allowed his feet to keep going. wherever he’d end up, he’d just make sure to find his way back again before the sun rises. because tomorrow was another day to learn the ways of the metkayina, to be one of them. 

neteyam uttered not a single word, and nothing but the sound of waves surrounded him. the breeze accompanied him as he walked, his hair flowing with the wind that the beads braided with them collided every now and then. he found the air relaxing, that every time he inhaled he felt like his lungs were being cleansed from how fresh it was.

awa’atlu was indeed a very beautiful place, but neteyam adored his clan’s forest more.

neteyam found himself by the edge of the shore. beside him stood the palm trees that formed the forest he has yet to explore. thinking he had gone too far away from the village, neteyam was about to turn and walk back, until he heard low humming come from his left, the parallel of the village’s front. 

curious, he carefully approached and followed the sound. the humming got louder as he got closer. and soon, a figure came into view in front of him. it was a silhouette of a metkayina na’vi, waist deep within the water, staring into the vast ocean in front of her.

neteyam hadn’t felt his eyes gape at the sight of her. she was undressed, nothing but her long hair covering parts no one but only her future mate should see. her skin was wet and the freckles all around her body made her glow. this kind of scene should not be new to him, after all, he too had freckles that glowed in the dark. but for some reason, neteyam seemed to be so mesmerized by her that he found it hard to look away. only when her whispers of singing reached his ears once more did he realize that he was staring at this naked na’vi woman. he immediately turned away and hid behind a palm tree.

neteyam’s cheek burned from embarrassment. just what was he doing? but actually, what was she doing? at this time of the night while the rest of the clan was asleep, she was here apparently bathing at the opposite side of the village’s island. for someone who spends so much time in the water, this metkayina woman had the thought of washing herself in the middle of the night - neteyam found it a bit odd.

however, he stood still from his spot. he didn’t want to walk away, he was curious as to what she might be up to. this wasn’t weird, right? it’s not like he was watching her. he was simply… waiting.

a couple of minutes passed but nothing else happened. she continued doing whatever it was she was doing by the water, creating small splashing sounds here and there while humming another song different from the previous one. this whole time, neteyam was leaning on the tree, staring at the sand and doing nothing. but he had to admit, instead of being bored out of his mind, he enjoyed his time listening to her voice.

soon enough another gentle splash came from behind him, it sounded different from the ones before, indicating that she might be leaving the water. neteyam felt a sudden wave of nervousness, worried she might find him. so without looking back, he quickly ran to the direction of the village, moving carefully to not alert her of his presence.

it had been long since then. hours had passed and the sun had risen. neteyam and his siblings were once again under the care of the olo’eyktan’s children to learn about metkayina customs. today, they were polishing their riding skills with ilus.

tsireya and her brother were watching the sullys from near the shore, both mounted on their ilu companions. ao’nung spent most of the time snickering as he watched lo’ak fail over and over, and tsireya would smack him to make him stop. she flashes a gentle smile to lo’ak when he peeks to look in her direction, and he nods at her trying to appear cool before getting thrown off once more for losing focus. she giggled, lo’ak appeared very cute to her.

tsireya shifted her eyes to the others. kiri and tuk, who were accompanied by ao’nung’s friend, rotxo, seemed to be doing better than their brother. tsireya noticed how kiri appeared to be a natural at everything they have taught them so far, and she thinks it may be because of the special kind of connection kiri had with nature. but tsireya didn’t comment on it any further, she had only met them yesterday.

meanwhile, neteyam was alone on the far right of the group. tsireya noted how neteyam was quick to adapt and learn, and that it wasn’t difficult to teach him. compared to his brother, neteyam took things slow at first and it made him grasp the idea of riding the ilus easily. 

tsireya hadn’t missed how distracted neteyam looked today. he was paused above the water, staring at it in deep thought as he held his ilu in place. tsireya wondered if something was wrong, so she motioned her ilu to swim to neteyam’s direction.

“hey, neteyam.” she said to catch his attention.

the said man lightly jolted before turning to her. “oh, tsireya, hey.”

her brows furrowed in worry. “is everything alright, neteyam? it seems like you are unable to concentrate today.”

neteyam’s cheeks flushed. “i am okay, tsireya. there is no need to worry.” 

she hummed, still not convinced. “well, alright. but if there is anything we can help you with, let us know.” she turned to swim away. but before she could get farther, neteyam called her.

“actually, tsireya, there is something that’s been on my mind for hours now.” he started. “but you must not let anyone know.”

curious, tsireya went closer to him. “what is it?”

he let out a deep breath before shooting her eyes a serious look. “last night as i was taking a walk by the shore, i came across a woman who was alone at the opposite side of the village.”

tsireya pulled away in shock and interest. “metkayina? what was she doing?”

neteyam nodded then gestured for her to lean closer again. he whispered, “she was bathing, i think.”

“bathing? that is strange.” she tilted her head in confusion. “did you approach her?”

neteyam shook his head. “no. i could not bring myself to interrupt her. she was undressed after all. how would she react if a man came to her while in such a state?”

tsireya nodded in thought, agreeing to what he said. “you are right. did you see what she looked like?”

neteyam sighed. “no, but i listened to her sing.” he spoke. “she has one of the most beautiful voices i have ever heard. her tone almost made me fall asleep from how relaxed i was, you see. and her skin,” he sighed once again, “tsireya, i had only caught a glimpse of it because i had to turn away. but i could not forget how divine she looked around the glow of the bioluminescence surrounding her.”

tsireya couldn’t hide the smirk that was growing from her lips as she listened to him talk. when she didn’t respond, neteyam turned away in embarrassment when he realized what he was saying. tsireya covered her lips and giggled. “so, you have developed a crush on this woman you saw last night. is that it, neteyam?”

“be quiet, tsireya! the others might hear you.” he scouted the surroundings and saw that everyone else was still busy with their training. “but… i don’t know for sure. i told you because i don’t know what she looks like, and i am hoping that you might know who she is.”

tsireya shook her head. “i am sorry, neteyam. i do not know who you are talking about.”

a slight frown becomes visible on his face. neteyam’s shoulders dropped in defeat. “oh. that’s okay.”

“but hey, do not worry.” she placed a hand on his arm as a gesture to comfort him. “i will help you look for her. there is not anyone in this village i am not familiar with. perhaps with more details, we can figure out who she is.”

neteyam gives her a small smile. “thank you, tsireya.”

she smiles back. 

loud laughter from everyone else in the group interrupted their conversation - lo’ak had fallen off his ilu once again because ao’nung had taunted him. tsireya and neteyam exchanged looks before heading to the commotion.

-

tsireya enjoyed spending time with the sullys. she thought they were a very fun bunch. when they arrived, her days became something she started to look more forward to.

because she believed this arrangement would be permanent from now on, she thought it would be important for an acquaintance of hers to be introduced to the sullys as well. it would happen eventually anyway since they would become fellow clan members soon. 

also, tsireya believed this acquaintance of hers would be a great addition to the sullys’ circle, especially from all the trouble her brother and his friends were bringing them. tsireya was sure that a kind and open-minded na’vi would make her new friends feel more welcome. that, and she needed another capable hand to help teach the sullys better.

“sister, are you here?” tsireya peeked inside the marui of her friend.

you turned your head to her direction, away from the new top you were working on. a smile appears on your face when you see your friend. “tsireya, it is nice to see you.”

©️ okaylorrainee 2023. please do not re-upload, translate my content anywhere without permission.

ch 01 [ masterlist . next ]

[plusultraetc]

I'm having a normal time which is why I literally teared up during the first ten minutes of You're Next bc I am so proud of that kid :')

movie spoilers under the read more!!

DEKU HAD AN ALL MIGHT MOMENT. That was honestly all I could think when he stopped that trio of villains at the beginning like it was nothing. That whole sequence was so well done and I was sitting there with tears in my eyes and a huge stupid grin on my face like I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. I saw the movie with a friend who is familiar but not at all caught up with the series and I think talking about MHA with her and having her perspective so fresh in my mind made me kind of emotional about how far these characters have come.

I'M SO PROUD OF ALL OF THEM ACTUALLY. 1-A killed it in this movie. Keeping up that hopeful, heroic spirit on patrols. Prioritizing comforting & rescuing people over confronting villains. Seamless teamwork. The kids are alright!!!

Bakugou was so funny in this, we were genuinely wheezing laughing every time he spoke. Also he and Todoroki 🤝 'destroy everything,' guys PLEASE.

Midoriya was lowkey a mess in this movie but in a fun & funny way. He and Giulio were an enjoyable duo even though I found Giulio's characterization a little wobbly throughout (I still really liked him, and not just because his cybernetic eye was SICK. I was and am and forever will be OBSESSED.)

EVERYONE had a long-lost relative in this movie. Shinsou. Kirishima. Aizawa (x3). Nomu. Everyone. This is our Italian relative family reunion academia. That being said NEW SHINSOU BACKSTORY JUST DROPPED FOR ME SPECIFICALLY.

MIRIOOO!!! I did not know he was in this, when I tell you I clapped (I remembered at the very last moment that I was in a movie theater and it was the softest clap you've ever heard in your life). Hawks said he sent a hero into the fortress and I went from ?? to :D so fast.

Aizawa was not in this movie (though Mirko was, preserving the all-important Nine Lives timeline even though I am... kind of confused about when this takes place in canon) but he was there in spirit & ✨thematic relevance✨ Once again we have a character with a nullification quirk whose job it is to stay close to a character with a dangerous, uncontrollable quirk. I definitely will be chewing on some of the ideas Giulio & Anna raised but for now, if I had a nickel for every time a character with a nullification quirk lost an eye and a leg...

Todoroki's dream. Listen. Listen. The second Touya spoke I grabbed my friend's arm and just kind of clung there like a miserable little barnacle. And SHOUJI'S DREAM. Such a brief flicker of a scene and yet it knocked the wind out of me.

But my favorite dream sequence was Midoriya's. Baby Izuku!! All Might!! YOICHI!!! When the vestiges showed up immediately to snap him out of it?? You can never and I mean NEVER brainwash this haunted ass quirk!!

UNEXPECTED BIRD BROS SCENE. Hawks was in this movie way more than I expected (my Hawks cardi summoned him obv) and I was delighted, but then we get a super quick Tokoyami team up?? Truly blessed, tysm.

The pros in general,,, So many cameos by so many faves, including Mt. Lady, Ryukyu, Mirko, AND VLAD. HE DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING BUT I CHEERED. Vlad babe you literally just have to show up and I will be thrilled.

I really enjoyed how thoughtful certain elements of the movie were. Just little things--I knew from the second I saw Anna's flowers to look out for a rose on Dark Might's suit when he ditched the cape; the little nod to 1-A having a lot of experience with cancelling quirks; OFA and Giulio's cybernetics being disconnected from Deborah's quirk. A lot of things felt very underexplained, but I liked these little inclusions.

Overall both Dark Might's quirk and his motivations were incredibly underbaked to me, but honestly I didn't even mind bc I was having such a good time. I will let so much slide in the name of fun and this movie was so fun. 100% recommend.

I had a couple of other notes but this is already So Long. Anyway I needed this movie so much & could absolutely see myself rewatching it in the future, thank u You're Next

[stillwinchester]

“Okay, I need a shower, but later, we can watch TV,” says Dean, looking at Cas hesitantly. “If you don't have any other places you should be in right now, of course.”

“I don't.”

“Awesome!” Dean smiles and grabs a clean T-shirt from his bag. He disappears in the bathroom, and Cas was left alone in the room.

They stay in a crappy motel, the one with shitty lighting and not-that-fresh sheets. But Cas doesn't mind, it's not like he needs anything comfortable; besides he likes life on the road with Dean. Especially the 'with Dean' part.

Before they arrived here, they stopped in the small bar with burgers, but Cas remembers Dean loves eating during the movie too, even if he had a big dinner. That's why he decides to go outside and buy some stuff from the vending machine. He doesn't have his own money, he doesn't need it, so he grabs Dean's wallet (he knows exactly where Dean keeps it), and leaves the room.

The vending machine is right there, full of cans with soda, crisps, chocolate bars and some other things that Cas can't identify.

Cas takes the first coin and puts it in. Unfortunately, it comes back to him. He tries one more time. It doesn't work again. Cas tilts his head, confused. He's seen Dean doing it many times, it should be easy. He probably should punch it, it was Dean's way to fix many things.

He does what he thought, his fist lands on the machine and makes a hole in it. But somehow it still doesn't work.

“I see...” murmurs Cas to himself. “You don't want my money... We will do it in old-fashioned way, then.”

He puts his hand on the glass, and his eyes glow, after that, snacks start falling... All of them.

He's not sure how he's going to take all of this at once, but he will find a way. Dean will be gratful when he sees so many treats.

Eventually, he puts in his pocket as many sweets as he can, and he takes even more up both of his hands. He comes to the room, where Dean's waiting for him - clean, wearing his favourite hot dog sweatpants.

“Dude, did you just rob a whole vending machine?” asks Dean at the view.

Cas' face stays dead serious when he gives his short answer: “Yes.”

Dean laughs. The way he always does if Cas says something hilarious, with his head tilted back.

Cas doesn't understand what was so funny about the things he said or did, but he smiles too, just because he made Dean happy.

“Okay, come on, the movie will start for a moment,” says Dean, wiping away the tears from the corner of his eyes. “And don't forget taking off your shoes! I don't wanna it on my bed!”

They sit together, side by side (without the shoes) and stare at the small screen. The television made weird noises, but they don't care. Yes, Cas likes life on the road with Dean. Especially the 'with Dean' part.

[bluewithpurplepolkadots]

Honestly I might (might) write a longer post about it at some stage but like… my current feelings on finishing MAWs second season is that the new characters (as in those introduced in this show and didn’t exist prior to it) were very solid.

Certain older characters (as in: those that existed prior to this show). Uhhhh.

Um.

In any case I feel a reason for this is because those in charge of season two did of course watch season one: or at least had it fresh in their minds.

Because of this, they were aware of some things which didn’t work in that first season in terms of its newer characters and that the ending wasn’t satisfactory (particularly for Tylor and Val) and decided to make something better out of it: all while still making it feel like something that could organically grow out of the events of season one.

Things like monsters thinking comedy wasn’t respectable feels realistic. Tylor failing hard at it is also inevitable. Val being well suited to it also. (Especially as being more like a cool babysitter rather than doing stand up). I thought the fact they made them into a comedy duo was a very clever idea I didn’t see coming: but also didn’t feel like it came out of nowhere. It’s really a way for Tylor to be realistically involved with comedy again which doesn’t feel as forced and off as season ones doughnut joke did.

This is good solid writing to me. With their own new characters that they themselves made, while they may have stumbled in season one: I feel the show really gets them now.

But… I honestly wonder if the writers watched either MU or MI upon first starting to write for this show. At least recently. Since they got the job in question I mean.

They’ve clearly seen it at some point in their life. They also perhaps fast forwarded and zeroed in on a specific scenes like Sulley in the laugh floor with Boos picture in season one. They’ve researched the sets that were available and expanded. That sort of thing.

But otherwise it feels like they based the older characters off vibes and half forgotten memories they had of what they thought they were like. Like it’s possibly been more then a decade anyway since they’ve given it a look. Even in season one something feels off with Sulley to me. I’m not sure how to describe it.

And: Randall is indeed violent in MI. There he’s the kind of guy to turn invisible, throw a scream canister at you, state he’s always wanted to do that, darkly chuckle and then choke you out while your friend blathers on at you without realising what’s happening. Randall in MI can be dark man. But: The MAW version… it isn’t really Randall at all. He’s way too… cackling and bouncing off the walls for some reason. He doesn’t know these mifters. With Sulley, Randall has been bitter as hell for a long time and he wasn’t like this. The only take away from the original movie would be a call back to Sulley unplugging the machine to save Mike: like Randall did to them to stop them from taking back the laugh power.

The only possible explanation I’ll take is that his head got scrambled by the shovel. Which would be… fairly dark and possibly interesting as an implication. For Sulley and Mike to be responsible for that happening. But rather like the fact that in season one they just have CEOs legally able to banish monsters if they have the right excuse, I kind of doubt we’ll ever get a look into it or we’re supposed to think on things like that in any real depth.

Also, as a major Sulley fan. I have to say the whole evidence in Tylors locker things and jumping to belief of guilt kind of pissed me off. Granted while better than only-fifteen-minutes-lunch Johnny, he ain’t the best boss at points. (He had his comedians work a double shift? Mike almost dying from a drug overdose on energy drinks Etc) But once again… I’m not sure we’re supposed to take it that way or as a potential thing he has to work on which is kind of… disappointing?

Like he could have an arc. Learn to be a better boss? Maybe Roz shouldn’t have done the random idea of throwing it on them immediately. (Where is the board of directors Waternoose complained about anyway? Yeah see: this is why I think it’s been a while since any major writer has seen the movie).

Johnny was actually pretty solid until the finale and until he chose to tell Tylor of his plans for…. Absolutely no reason. Like Tylor had been working there for a day. He was expressing doubt even. Before this, given vague spoilers I had, I thought Johnny was being handled well and they could make his secretly-evil!Johnny reveal be good even if Randall wasn’t exactly sounding too hot.

Like just have Tylor sneak around and be suspicious of something. Did you run out of time? I guess it’s possible. Season twos pacing before the final two is pretty solid. But if you only had ten episodes? Hrm. Idk. Hard to know what to cut honestly to make room if you don’t want a cliffhanger ending.

I guess this may be an odd example of competent original fiction writers failing to write convincing fanfic.

[anxious-witch]

inspired by my recent trip to Ljubljana where I saw the holiday lights: Kris taking Bojan to see the holiday lights (they are magical and fairytale esque, can provide references) and they totally kiss in beautiful magical nighttime Ljubljana

Good god, sorry this took so long, this writer's block plus all the decorating has taken a toll. Here it is finally, so I hope you like it ❤️

Being back home was odd. Not that Ljubljana didn't feel like home anymore, no. But Bojan felt like it had been years since he was there, his apartment strange and unfamiliar. 

The city, that used to feel too small for him and all the dreams he had, somehow seemed to have grown while they were away. Full of wonder again.

Bojan looked out of the window, at the snow gently falling down. He was startled out of this thought by Kris’ arms wrapping around his waist. Kris leaned his chin on Bojan's shoulder, looking through the window as well.

“What got you so lost in thought?”

He shrugged.

“I was just thinking of how strange and different everything feels now. Like, it feels like home and it also doesn't. Y'know what I mean?”

Kris hummed, kissing the side of his neck, which made Bojan breathe in sharply. He turned in his arms and pulled Kris down into a kiss.

He kissed him back, but he almost seemed distracted. Bojan pulled back, a pout already forming, when Kris spoke.

“How about we just go for a walk and go on the advent? It's beautiful every year and now we have a fresh perspective of sorts.”

Bojan blinked at him. That…wasn't a bad idea at all, especially with the snow outside. It would be truly like something out of the movie. Bojan grinned.

“Yes! I love that idea!”

Kris chuckled.

“Let's get dressed then. It is pretty cold.”

Bojan didn't run to the bedroom to change, but it was a near thing. He got dressed quickly, picking a nice beige sweater he knew Kris liked, and black pants.

Then he saw what Kris was wearing and burst out laughing. He opted for a black sweater with beige pants, making them look like opposites. Like they had matching couple outfits.

Kris turned to see what he was laughing at and when Bojan pointed at their outfits, Kris chuckled too, shaking his head.

“We might not wear very festive colors, but at least we match.”

“Well, won't we look like a proper pair of fools,” Kris said, but Bojan saw the way the corner of his lips curled into a smile.

He was pleased. Bojan knew he would never admit to being possessive at times, but he knew him well enough to tell.

He wanted people to speculate if they were together. Bojan could give him that. He grinned and grabbed Kris’ hand pulling him towards the dood.

“Let's go then!”

“Bojan! Don't forget the jackets!”

Right. Would have been the smart move, he supposed.

Once they finally made it outside, Bojan was practically hopping around, making the dents in the fresh snow.

Kris had to pull him in the right direction several times, until they made their way to the main square. Bojan's eyes widened, as if he was seeing it for the first time.

It almost felt like it.

The trees, the buildings, everything was covered in Christmas lights and Bojan couldn't help but be in awe. It was like the whole world had become brighter for a time and his chest felt lighter, too.

Bojan turned to look at Kris after being mesmerized by the lights for some time. Instead of finding him admiring the square the way he had, he found Kris already looking at him.

“What? Do I have something on my face?”

Kris shook his head and gently pushed Bojan's hair back. Bojan leaned into the touch, briefly closing his eyes.

“No. It's just really nice seeing you so excited about everything.”

Oh. Bojan felt his cheeks grow warm at that. Kris didn’t have a habit of outright admitting things like these, so he always felt a bit caught off guard when he did. So he blurted our the first thing that came to mind.

“Can we go get something to eat and drink from one of the stands?”

“Sure.”

This time, Bojan was the one tugging Kris in the right direction. He got them mulled wine and they took one of the tables nearby.

He watched Kris under the twinkling lights and felt an odd sense of Deja-Vu. If he squinted, he could see all the younger versions of Kris as well.

Remember all the times they came to this very square, even the times before they could even drink mulled wine and instead drank hot chocolate.

An annoyance. A friend. A band member. A crush. Annoyance again. Then a friend and a band member again and I'm the end, boyfriend.

He couldn't believe he almost gave that up. For a chance to maybe have a solo career. Bojan suddenly felt tears sting his eyes.

 He reached for Kris’ hand, gently squeezing it.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just…thinking. Of how we got here. How I could have left the band and we never would have…”

“Hey,” Kris gently cupped his face, his blue eyes laser focused, “it's okay. We are here now.”

Bojan swallowed past the lump in his throat.

“But we almost weren't. And I keep thinking how long I've known you and how much time it took us to get here and-”

He pursed his lips, and tried to breathe. Kris stroked his cheek, seemingly lost in thought. Bojan waited for him to speak.

“I think it would have happened either way. Even if you left the band for good. I don't think I could have let you go, even then.”

Bojan laughed, more in shock than anything else. 

“You called me a dumb asshole that wants to chase fame. I very much doubt that.”

Kris leaned closer. Dangerously closer, since they were in public. Bojan's breath stuttered, his gaze skittering around, making sure no one was paying attention to them before settling back on Kris again.

“Oh, I was mad, don't get me wrong. But if it was permanent, well. I would have found the most dignified way to start talking with you again.”

This time, Bojan's snort was genuine.

“The most dignified?!”

“Well. I wouldn't want you to think I care that much.”

Bojan rolled his eyes.

“Naturally.”

It did make him feel better, though. That, no matter what arguments and obstacles they had, they would have still ended up together, sooner or later. It was not a matter of fate but rather, of the fact that they simply couldn't stay away from each other.

His anxiety slowly dissipated, leaving only a warm feeling in his chest. Kris pulled back and they finished their wine in an easy conversation. 

Then, an idea struck him. He grinned up at Kris.

“Do you want to go into the alley and makeout like we are teenagers?”

Kris choked on the last of his wine, coughing violently.

“You are insane,” he said, after finally catching his breath, “if anyone sees us, we'll be all over the portals.”

Bojan shrugged.

“What's the point of sneaking around without a little risk? Com'on, it'll be fun!”

Kris narrowed his eyes at him and Bojan made his best begging expression. It lasted a few seconds before Kris sighed.

“Fine, you absolute menace. But if someone takes a picture, I am blaming this on you.”

Bojan grinned again.

“Deal.”

The city he grew up with might feel strange, and the decorations might look brand new, but Kris would still be Kris. And Bojan would love him just as much as he did at seventeen, and twenty and twenty four. With any luck, he might still love him just as much in all the years to come.

That was something that would always feel familiar. That would feel like home.

[iheart-nana]

xxv. between notes and secrets

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE ─ between notes and secrets.

❛ and i feel so high school

every time i look at you ❜

Choi Yumi's Perspective

The sunlight peered into my room through the translucent curtains hanging over my window. The light cast itself on every surface- my desk, the wooden floor littered with various teenage junk and my spinning chair. Even my bed, which was in an obscure corner of my room couldn't avoid the stingy hot rays of the sun. I lay on my bed like a dead starfish abandoned on the sea shore, staring blankly at the ceiling above, deep in thought.

It's been a couple of weeks since I started learning guitar from Taesung. No matter how hard I tried to be nonchalant about it- I couldn't help myself. He was on my mind, all right, consuming my thoughts day and night. Here I was, rotting in my bedroom on a perfectly pleasant summer Sunday afternoon, thinking about a boy who probably never had a comprehensible thought in his life. Scenes played in my mind like flashbacks in a movie. His gentle tone explained things to me; How our hands would brush ever so often and my stupid heart would start racing like a mad horse.

I wanted to believe so desperately that I was the only one in the world who knew this side of him. Sensitive, kind, gentle- vulnerable. His tough-guy act was all just a pretence. I could see a new part of him now that I had spent so much time with him. His eyes showed a glint as he spoke about music- passion. There was something else about him that he wasn't ready to tell me. The melancholy in his voice whenever the subject of family came up- neglect.

I felt pathetic thinking this to myself, but I wanted to know. Curiosity pierced through my heart, a desire to know him better. What kept him up at night? What makes him smile? Or cry? I wanted to know it all.

I lazily moved to my desk, slouching in my chair as I propelled myself towards the table with my legs. I gazed at the music sheet lying on the table. This music sheet wasn't an ordinary one. It was for the song Taesung was teaching me on the guitar. My fingers played with the corners of the paper, mindlessly folding it. My other hand reached for my pencil as I began to scribble on a different scrap of paper.

The long-hidden time, calls us back again.

💿

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

"Have you ever felt like someone is keeping something from you?" I asked Sunjae as we walked back home from the bus stop through the warm Monday afternoon.

"The feeling of being lied to?" he asked.

"No," I replied, "Like they're withholding information on purpose."

"I don't know," he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck that glistened with sweat, "Is something on your mind?"

"It's probably nothing," I shrugged, looking up at him to smile reassuringly, "Yumi had been coming home late these days. She said there are extra lessons at the music club, but I have a feeling that isn't the whole story."

He smiled back at me, flashing his dimples. My face must have turned the colour of a fresh tomato because I could feel the heat rising. I tried to play it cool, but it was no use. 

I knew it was silly. But there was something about him that just drew me in. Maybe it was his kind eyes that sparkled in the sunlight, or his laugh that not once failed to bring a smile to my face, or it was just the way he made me feel. Whatever it was, I couldn't deny it. I had a stupid, hopeless crush on him.

"It feels amazing to take off my shoulder brace," he sighed as we turned a corner.

"Does it still hurt?"

He shook his head, "The doctor said that it won't get triggered unless I engage in strenuous physical exercise."

"I'm glad you're better now."

A comfortable silence filled the air, our smiles never leaving our faces as we journeyed home. I don't know when I'll be going back to my time, or how much time I had left. In that moment, none of it mattered. All that was important was the soft melody of "Sonaki" in my mind and Sunjae's company which was as warm as the summer breeze flowing through my hair.

💿

I stared blankly at my flip-phone screen displaying a message from an unknown sender.

Hello Eunyoung. 

It's your dad.

My heart raced, threatening to burst out of my chest. I felt my breath become shaky and my hand reached up to my heart in attempt to calm myself. There were a million thoughts and questions running through my mind since the moment I saw the message. What did he want? How did he find my number? But one question brought my spirits crashing down to rock bottom. Where had he been my whole life?

Everything seemed to come back to me. Memories of me as a baby, tiny and vulnerable, desperate to be loved. Now I remember everything I did to try and get my dad to look at me longer than a fraction of a second. I once even tore his favourite pair of shoes to catch his attention. That seemed to make things worse. I thought he hated me. I never once thought he was capable of love. The way he screamed at my mom...

I covered my ears in agony- I could hear the scene replay in my head.

Another message flashed on the screen.

Let me make things right. Can we meet up somewhere?

"Eunyoung?" My mother's voice fell upon my ears. In shock, I spinned in my chair to look at her beady eyes staring down at me.

"M-mom..." My voice stuttered and stammered as I felt a lump in my throat, "D-did you..."

I want to cry.

"Listen, Eunyoung," she began, her voice cold and stiff, "I know this isn't your fault, but under no circumstances will you agree to this. Do you understand? I hope I've made myself clear."

"Yes, mummy," I said, faking a smile, trying to blink away my tears. A warm smile appeared on her face as she pulled me in for a hug, "You're all the family I need." I said to her, biting my lip, trying desperately to hold back the urge to cry my eyes out.

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nana's notes: i'm so proud of that header 🥹 also eunyoung is so real for that last line.

delphi's notes: the way she calls her mom mummy ;(

next chapter: saturday (out now!) list of chapters here!

[theone-with-thestuff]

Power Rangers: Zeo💠

Hey guys! Here's an awesome new series of commissions made by the super talented @artandfail showing what I think could have been the 2017 movie sequels!

Following Zedd's attack and the Rangers separating, a new threat rises from the wreckage of the destroyed alien main ship. Capturing civilians and building an unknown structure. What is this new enemy's goal? And without the Rangers, who will be able to stop them?

We now get to the next part of Tomi's story! Where she has to take up the mantle of Red Ranger and train a whole new team to become Rangers after the previous team separated following their losses and sacrifices.

____________________

In the aftermath of Lord Zedd's invasion, the loss of their friend and losing their ability to morph, the once proud Rangers have disbanded.

Zack has decided to leave with his mom for a new city to focus on her health and treating her long-term illness.

Jason and Kim, grieving and in need of a fresh start, applied and were accepted to a college far from Angel Grove.

Tomi and Billy stayed behind... resolute to maintain the ship and keep watch over the reformed Zeo Crystal.

"After Trin-... I'm sorry, I just need some time to deal with this. And I can't do that here."

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

Deep in the quarantine zone, in the heart of Lord Zedd's mothership wreckage, evil still remains.

Analyzing its new habitat, capturing preys to assimilate, reconstruct and remold. Creating the perfect warrior, the perfect hunter. Create an apex predator, a drone to control just as its Bio-metalic system dictates.

It recreates the greatest warriors of this planet in its own image. Recreates these... Power Rangers.

But it will need more drones to construct a signal tower to contact the rest of its kind. It will need-

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?"

To assimilate another prey.

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

School project partners Aisha, Adam, Rocky and Kat were taking pictures near Angel Grove's quarantine district when the... Ranger attacked. They tried to talk to it, tried to run but it was useless, it was hunting them, separating and isolating them.

But moments before it could strike and capture one of them, someone else managed to strike IT.

"I don't know what you think you are, but you are no Ranger. YOU'RE NOT WORTHY!"

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

After facing the Dark Ranger and reviewing the pictures taken by the four teens she had just saved, Tomi came to a simple conclusion. Angel Grove needed the Power Rangers again. This new threat was too big. It was building some strange structure within the quarantine zone, not only that but it was also capturing civilians and transforming them into these Dark Rangers.

With that in mind, Tomi headed back to command center, unknowingly being tailed by the same teens she had saved.

With the help of Billy, Alpha, Zordon and a broken piece of her own Power Coin, Tomi managed to imbue slivers of the Zeo Crystal with Morphing energy and strap them into six pairs of modified wrist attachments in order to create a new method of morphing, stronger than before, the Zeonizers!

Tomi took the first set and shortly followed by giving Zeonizers to each of the four teens that had followed her into the ship, finding them worthy after seeing them in action and observing them at school. She then offered the final Zeonizer to Billy... Who refused it, holding his own now powerless Blue Power Coin in his hand.

"I was proud to be a Ranger, we were heroes, we saved the earth over a dozen times... But my time is over. This isn't my team, It's yours. You are the new Red Ranger, this is your time."

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

With the help of her new teammates, Tomi dove back into the mothership of the monster that had taken so much from her. Intent on stopping this new enemy and destroying the mysterious machine sending deep-space signals that has been constructed in its center.

Fighting these bio-metallic twisted versions of her previous team, Tomi and the new Rangers will show them that no matter what, Power Rangers never lose!

"I've fought against witches, aliens, monsters, invaders and tyrants. You think you upstart Venom-wannabes are going to be the one to conquer earth? Well you've got another thing coming!"

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

Celebrating their victory, the newly formed Zeo Rangers returned to the ship and celebrated in the pit. Four teens joking together in the sandy terrain as two others stood farther away, picturing four other friends who once stood in that very same spot, joking in a very similar way after a difficult battle.

"So, what did you think of them?"

"They'll need training, lots of it... But they have the heart... They'll be fantastic."

"Rangers at the core, huh?"

"You could say that... What about that sludge we brought back for analysis from our latest planet ending event?"

"Metallic bioplasm, living metal, I'm not sure how to even start defining it. We ran it through the ships archive and had a match but the files are encrypted. Not even Zordon could access them. Alpha is trying to brute-force the system but we can't figure out exactly where that deep-space amplifier was trying to send out a signal until then.

"I just hope we were able to destroy it in time before it could reach whatever it was aiming for."

"Me too... We were able to access one thing from the files though."

"What was it?"

"Just two words, something called the Machine Empire."

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

In a deep, old and forgotten part of the universe, an ancient evil awakens.

Something so depraved and vile, even Lord Zedd himself had deemed necessary to seal away.

A hive of living machines, assimilating all biological matter it finds.

And after millenias of slumber, a blip, a hint of a signal reaches one of its communication captors, breaking their weakened prison.

The Machine Empire lives once more.

Hope you guys like it!

[babyitsbeautiful]

I gotta stop doing these life updates and just get on with it, but nevertheless...

Where do I even start?

I know I promised I would get back to 'crash through the surface' and I swear I will, I feel my creative muse has resurfaced but through a different fandom this time...

Twisters/Glen Powell/Tyler & Kate

I've seen this movie 3 times in the theater and once at a Drive-In but that was kind of a hot mess. Also, Glen Powell-- why, wtf, this man should be illegal in this movie. I live in TN but never got the whole cowboy thing until I saw him in this movie. (Men like that don't really exist here, btw)

I honestly have not loved another fictional couple this much since Gendrya. It's been a minute since I had an unhealthy obsession with something and I am living for it. It has got my love for reading fanfics back to the forefront of my mind again and I feel like I can finally pick back up where I left CTTS off just to get it and Gendrya finished for good. (Gendrya is still the main inspiration behind Beautiful Dangerous and the screenplay I am going to write, so they'll always be in my <3)

Anyway, a lot has been going on this year. A year ago around this time I found out about Lucy's cancer and I can't believe she's been gone for this long. Still miss her everyday. My brother is getting married in October and I'm serving as a bridesmaid, so that should make for a fun story.

But for the moment, I have A LOT going on in August including three out of state trips:

Poll Worker for tomorrow's Election

Nimesh Patel's show at Zanies

5 Days in Florida for my 32nd Birthday

Dermot Kennedy show at Blue Bird Cafe (tickets on sale Friday, wish me luck)

Train & REO Speedwagon Concert

Team Member for Creation Con Indianapolis, Indiana

Then an end of the month Bachelorette trip in Washington D.C.

In the in between days of all of these events, I plan to work on the next chapter of Crash Through The Surface and get that out sometime soon after finishing as well as work on some brewing fanfic ideas for Tyler & Kate in the growing Twisters fandom.

Seriously, go see this movie if you haven't yet.

I already have so many fics to start reading on Ao3 for Tyler and Kate, who needs a ship name BTW. Tate? Kyler? Wrangler Tamer?

Anyways, that's a little bit of where I am right now.

I'm trying to spend less time working on fan art and fics at work due to a new IT system that seems to know everything I download (pics for mood boards being the main) and it's honestly making me very self-conscious so after work is where I'll be letting my creative bitch reign supreme.

I have ideas for Twisters and an outline already for CTTS but any fresh ideas and suggestions are always welcome.

Twisters fandom, if you want a feel of what I love creating the most, search the #gendrya tag on my blog.

Love you all.