#Ada Combs

[richwall101]

Ada Combs plays Banjo and sings for the boys on her porch in 1959 Whitesburg, Kentucky, US.

Ada Combs was born in 1905 and grew up on Bear Branch of Poll's Creek in Leslie County. She tells about her windowless one-room school and of wading through the creek to reach it. She recalls farm chores and neighborhood activities such as stir-offs, bean-stringings, and gatherings to play music. She picked duck and goose feathers, made soap, and helped her aunt make maple sugar. Her family pickled beans, made sauerkraut, and sulfured apples as well. Combs especially remembers her grandmother's first cookstove because prior to that time cakes and pies were not made in her home. Combs recalls the flu epidemic of 1918 and comments upon herb doctors and "granny women." She indicates that she was twenty-one when she first visited Hyden. Combs married and left Leslie County before the advent of the FNS (Food Nutrition Service)

[yngai]

i think there's a lot of valid critique to make of how ada's character is portrayed & written especially with capcom's misogyny & their dependance on the cool sexy female character but i genuinely don't see how the remakes "fixed" ada's character by giving her a separate story/proper character motivation when those things already existed & were pretty heavy handedly given to the audience in RE4 (she tells them to the player verbatim) + the remake separate ways draws very heavily from ada's characterization in RE6 which was actually capcom's second/better executed foray into giving ada her own unique narrative that only scantly intersects with leon's, because the original separate ways was hastily put together & its story was relegated to ada interjecting her own thoughts between chapters. i'd argue the only appearance that fails ada the most is damnation because it's a rethread of 4 with less substance but even that movie gives the audience enough hints towards ada's purpose & the imbalance in her relationship with leon + the homoerotic fight scene with svetlana that there is at least something to enjoy

[lit3rallyll0yd]

boyfriend!dazai who...

headcanons

who is a sucker for your touch and attention!! in a sexual way or not, he will beg for you hands on his!

who guilts you into hanging out with him; even when he knows your busy.

who will take a day off just to be with you.

who lives for your kisses on his neck, he may be major sensitive there but he only allows your lips to kiss it.

who loves it when you so what he asks of you, not even in a sexual way; he just loves how submmisive you are to his words.

who goes on the most crush dates he can think of; amusment parks, movie theaters, ice cream dates, even just movie night at home!

who begs you to do your makeup; even if it's just eyeliner, or blush to make you look pretty!

who holds you close to his chest when he sees you crying about anything. he hates it when you cry, you have no reason to when he's with you.

who doesnt take all your "insecure crap!" not in a rude way- no, no, no- he just doesnt see the point in arguing with you about it; your astonishing!! almost to perfect for this sad and evil world.

who will brag to atsushi about you; to the point the boy gets prettt sick of hearing it. [ however, he would love to meet yoi sometime ]

who hates to fight with you; however he will when needed to. he tends to leave you alone and wait for you to come crawling back to him...

who asks you to do a "double suicide" with him...hes dazai, of course he will. he will stop if you uncomfortable with suicidal jokes, on the spot!

who gets possesive when jealous. pulls you to his side when he sees another man/women try to woo you away from him.

who is broke asf and uses most of the ADA's credit card to pay for your dates/hang outs; or if you want this or that that you come across on dates.

who loves to play with your hair...he loves to comb his fingers through; short or long- putting it in ponytails, styling it.

who makes you feel like your on cloud nine when having sex. he loves to hold you while hes ontop of you and seeing the look on your face.

whos gentle...to a certain extent. he will get rougher; but he does it more the more you ask him to do so.

who has the best aftercare; he will rub any sore spots on your body, mostly your back, thighs, and sometimes ass or arms.

who teases you in bed by kissing your tummy before suddenly biting your inner thighs.

who doesnt mind being the bottom, as long as he gets to feel good he's pretty much at your will.

[talesfromawannabejournalist]

The First Man

@things-arent-what-they-seem66 here it is, also @beef-brisket you can also join in the yandere-ness if you wish, anyways enjoy part 1 ;)

The first thing he was aware of was a beaming bright light. It shined right where in front of him, causing him to squint and cover his eyes. When he opened them again all he could see were two blurry figures, one much bigger than the other. Soon though the blurriness faded, and he then saw the world around him. It was vast and spacious, seemingly going on forever. Everywhere he looked it seemed colors of all kinds, mainly green, covered the Earth. That wasn't even mentioning the things that were walking around so full of, of

"WELCOME TO LIFEMY CREATIONS THE FIRST MAN AND FIRST WOMAN. I AM THE LORD HIMSELF, GOD, YOUR CREATOR"

Startled at the booming voice he turned and gape at the colossal figure of light before him.

"DO NOT ME AFRAID FIRST MAN FOR I MEAN YOU NO HARM."

and the first man believed the voice, which spoke once more, "

"YOU HAVE MANY QUESTIONS I AM SURE BUT I MUST FIRST INTRODUCE YOU TO EACH OTHER"

With a gesturing wave of his hand the first man turned to see a creature just like him. However this creature made him gasp as his eyes went wide, what he saw had to be the most captivating thing he ever saw since he opened his eyes. This creature was much taller than him, not as large as the voice, but still pretty tall. Their hair was so long it reached to their bottom. He just wanted to comb his fingers through it. Their skin was pale like his though with a hinge of a tan to it. It looked so soft that he wanted to touch it. However, their most engrossing feature were most definitely the eyes. They were the same color as their hair with a shade of a type of yellow light. They simply sparkled to him, this creature was simply so, so

"Beautiful"

The voice smiled at his creations first word and said happily

"I AM GLAD THAT YOU THINK SO, FOR THIS WOMAN IS TO BE YOUR MATE"

The first man looked back at the voice

"Mate?"

"YES, SHE IS YOUR MATE IT MEANS THAT SHE IS YOURS TO LOVE, CHERISH, AND PROTECT AS YOU ARE FOR HER TO DO THE SAME"

He explained before moving on

"NOW THEN THERE IS STILL THE MATTER OF PROVIDING YOU WITH PROPER NAMES. FOR YOU TWO SIMPLY CANNOT BE CALLED AND CALL EACH OTHER MAN AND WOMAN. NO, THAT SIMPLY WILL NOT DO. (turns to the man) YOUR NAME SHALL BE LUCIFER FOR IT MEANS LIGHT BRINGER, (turns to the woman) AS FOR YOUR NAME SHALL BE ADA FOR IT MEANS BEAUTIFUL"

The man, now named Lucifer, felt his lips twitch upwards at the fact that he helped name his mate.

"THIS PLACE THE TWO OF YOU STAND BEFORE IS CALLED THE GARDEN OF EDEN. THIS IS TO BE BOTH OF YOURS HOME. YOU MAY DO AS YOU WISH HERE JUST AS YOU MAY EAT FROM ANY OF THE FRUITS THAT HANG FROM THE TREES. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONLY ONE FRUIT THAT I MUST ASK YOU TO NOT ONLY NOT CONSUME BUT STAY AWAY FROM ENTIRELY FOR IF YOU EAT IT, YOU SHALL SURELY PERISH."

The voice said as it pointed over to where a grand tree not too far away stood. Hanging from the branches were the forbidden fruit as it shined a tempting red.

"WITH THAT SUBJECT OUT OF THE WAY WE SHALL NOW DISCUSS YOUR DUTIES. DO NOT WORRY FOR THEY ARE ONLY TWO. YOUR FIRST DUTY IS TO GIVE EVERY LIVING THING IN THIS GARDEN A NAME AS I HAVE GIVEN YOU. YOUR SECOND DUTY IS TO BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, WHICH BRINGS US TO ANOTHER MATTER. YOU TWO ARE NOT SIMPLY JUST THE FIRST MAN AND WOMAN. LUCIFER YOU ARE THE FIRST ALPHA WHICH MEANS THAT YOUR SEED SHALL SPILL INTO ADA AND HER WOMB SHALL ACCEPT AND SHE WILL THEN CARRY A CHILD."

Lucifer didn't understand why but that statement...excited him.

"NOW I MUST MAKE MY EXIT FOR I AM SURE THE TWO OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER."

In a flash of the light their creator was gone and it was just Lucifer and Ada.

[buzziightqueer]

Common Ground (more common than you think)

crack fic

(casey gets jealous at a work dinner, oblivious that the man she's fuming over is gay)

1.1k words

Casey thought they would attend dinner together. Casey thought she and Alex had been dating for well over a month now.

Casey had been pining over the blonde since she started at SVU, months after she finally got the courage to ask her out. She’d be damned if she let some man get in the way of her new and all-encompassing escapade.

The two were deeply involved in conversation, Alex even letting out one of her real laughs which were typically reserved for Casey. The man was short, barely making it to Alex’s shoulder. Alex standing at five-foot-ten meant that many men fell short compared to her. Did she like that? Was it a power thing? Casey was almost directly Alex’s height– just barely hitting five-ten on a good day.

He wore a smart suit with a crisp blue shirt and a striped tie. He looked well-off, the suit tailored to fit him perfectly. His dark black hair combed back, letting a single strand fall forward– he was meticulous.

Casey couldn't stand it; the laughing, the brushing of hands, the whispering and sharing of secrets, it was all too much.

She made her way over, silently seething, but holding it back the best she possibly could. When she got close to them, it made her sick how his cologne and Alex’s perfume mingled in the air. Two rich scents intertwining as one.

Casey tightened the front of her maroon suit before reaching out a hand:

“Casey Novak, ADA working white collar crimes ,” she said, using her full title to, I don't know… intimidate him? Show him that she could be rich and important and smell like vanilla mahogany and a freshly pressed suit too?

He smiled, seemingly unaware of her strained attitude.

“George Huang,” he shook her hand gently. “FBI.”

“George, you’ll scare her. He’s working psychiatry at SVU,” Alex joked, shoving his shoulder gently. “This is a work party, no place to flash your FBI badge.”

George laughed, seemingly used to Alex’s teasing. How long had this been going on?

“I’ll make my rounds,” he said, reaching over to squeeze Alex’s hand. “Save me a spot at the table? Don’t leave me with the psychiatric department, please.” He joked, Alex immediately nodding and agreeing.

“I always do,” she rolled her eyes. “You can hide in the corner spot between me, Olivia, and Warner.”

They shared another brief laugh, Casey facing her body away to fully roll her eyes and rub a hand across her forehead.

When he left to socialize, Casey linked an arm around Alex’s waist.

Alex raised a brow. “In public? You’re not typically one for PDA.”

“I can be,” she objected, kissing her cheek chastely.

Alex briefly leaned into the touch, keeping her posture and persona professional. It wasn't like how she was when they were alone– Alex was colder, her usual ice-queen .

When the food was brought out, Alex indeed did put her suit jacket on the back of a seat to reserve for George. The act was so colloquial, Casey felt sick.

What kind of womanizer is integrated into a group of all women? The ADA, the best SVU detective, the most talented M.E in the city– he damn-near collected them all!

“Why doesn't George sit with some male friends in the psychiatry department?” Casey quipped genuinely, but Alex only laughed it off. She wasn't really joking.

“He says they all need psychiatric care. The men especially– apparently they all have this grand ego. He always sits with us since he practically lives at SVU with how much Cragen trusts his experience.”

Great. So now Alex’s boss also viewed him as some mastermind?

“I just feel like he–”

“Just in time!” George appeared, sliding in and giving Olivia and Melina a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re a lifesaver, Lex.”

He reached across to grab a bread starter, Casey could only stare, mouth agape. Lex? No one called her Lex! Casey had never ever heard of the nickname. Alex wasn't short enough for Alexandra he had to drop the A?

Casey knew that she didn't belong in the group– she was younger, worked white collar crimes, she didn't fit into the conversation here. They talked about past cases, Alex almost turned in a way that completely iced her out from the table. Alex’s hand rested on her thigh, but it wasn't enough to ease Casey’s worries.

She got up suddenly, chair scraping across the ground loudly. The group and a few others turned to face her and find the source of the noise.

Casey left for the bathroom, walking quickly and not looking back.

She leaned over the sink. She wished she wasn't she jealous. She wished she fit in better. She just wanted to–

“Case?”

Casey whipped around to see Alex. She relaxed her posture, facing her, but not meeting her eyes.

“Casey, what’s wrong?” Alex said, increasingly worried. She placed a finger under Casey’s chin, asking for eye contact.

“I just… nothing. I don't know. It’s stupid,” Casey said, eyes flitting up.

“It’s not stupid if you’re upset, baby, you’ve been off all night,” Alex combed her hand across the back of Casey’s head, smoothening it.

“It’s… George.”

“George?” Alex’s brow furrowed at the unexpected turn.

“You two have been flirting all night! He’s all over you! “Oh, Alex, thank you soo much for reserving me a seat,” she made an exaggerated kissy noise. “You’re such a talented ADA, and I’m such a great FBI agent, let’s have smart babies!”

Alex let out a choked laugh, covering her mouth. “He’s not an FBI agent.”

“That’s what you heard out of all that?”

“God, Casey, you really don’t know do you?”

Casey squinted at her nonchalant nature. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Alex pulled Casey’s sleeve to align her with the door before slowly pulling it open just a crack so she could see the table where the group was sitting.

Huang, Melina, and Olivia all stared appreciatively at the male waiter. Melinda making eyes, Olivia fanning herself, and Huang making a whistling noise.

“He’s… gay?” She sputtered, disbelieving.

“Shh!” Alex said, shutting the door. “It’s no secret, but you’re shouting.”

“Sorry,” she ran a hand through her hair. “You’re serious?”

“Case, darling, your gaydar is horrendous, seriously,” she said, laughing while she scolded the redhead.

“Okay, one minor blunder,” she rolled her eyes.

“You thought I was straight until I practiced eye-fucked you at the hearing.”

Casey blushed a deep red. “That’s irrelevant.”

“Overruled,” Alex muttered, yanking the door open.

When they made their way to the table, Casey sheepishly sat down. The group acknowledged her, Huang, a knowing look in his eyes.

“So..” she started, Huang���s brow raising. “Did you see they put Lady Gaga’s VMA performance back on YouTube?”

[hansluvs]

close to you — itoshi s.

i burn for you, and you don't even know my name - in which you make your debut into the ton expecting to find true love, and instead catch the attention of piercing teal eyes belonging to the man you swore to never acquaint yourself with.

wc: 3.1k+ (ongoing)

tags: regency au, itoshi sae x f!reader, strangers to lovers, (eventual) mutual pining, slow burn, sae is a little shit in every universe i will die on this hill

notes: took me a few months to get back to this but here it finally is! very excited for this idea it's been fermenting in my brain for a while

masterlist | next part

Your mother was one of the kindest people you knew. 

Needing to raise a total of seven children, you’d think that even the effervescent Lady Nagi would have grown tired and snappish, rushing to marry off her daughters and son one by one until the house no longer had creaking floorboards from a dozen feet running over them, or relentless chatter and laughter echoing from the drawing room every morning. 

But instead, you and your siblings grew up never wanting to leave your home. Your sisters had all melted into your mother’s shoulder on the day of their betrothal, promises to visit every day accompanying soft sobs as your mother merely smiled and gave each one a kiss on the forehead, then proceeded to fuss over their white gowns and rouge coloured cheeks. 

One by one, until all that was left was you and your brother. 

With your current situation, however, it seems now that you most certainly will never leave your home, at all. 

“Maybe the callers are having a difficult time finding the estate?” 

You heave another sigh, sinking further into the plush blue cushions of the sofa. You almost wish you could fall into it and never be seen again. 

“My darling, please sit up,” you had half a mind to look up after hearing your mother’s pleading tone, but one glance at the clock above the fireplace has you in a dejected mood once more. “You’ll wrinkle your dress.” 

“It is already past noon, Mama. I do not believe any callers are to arrive anymore.” 

As you glance at your mother, you’re met with her knowing gray eyes, crinkled in what was supposed to be a comforting smile. But you knew that it pained her seeing you like this, especially the day after you'd attended your first ball. 

Where you had met one strange man with teal eyes and a knowing look.

The same look he wore when you had first seen him at the Queen Consort’s solstice dinner one summer ago, as he was heatedly locking lips with one of Lord Kunigami’s daughters behind one of the stone columns in the royal palace’s gallery— where you had been unfortunate enough to sneak away to the moment your mother’s attention had strayed from you.  

You can still remember the heaving of Miss Ada’s lace-covered chest, how she combed her fingers through the dark burgundy locks as she threw her head back, spilling profanities that you were certain her father would have her locked up in their estate for, had someone with a penchant for society gossip heard. 

But most of all, you could never forget how Itoshi Sae looked, with red-bitten lips and that piercing azure gaze. Almost as if he was taunting you from across the candlelit room, daring you to run and tell someone or worse– to come closer. 

The sound of several footsteps echoing in the hallway snaps you out of your daze as the pair of you turn to the front of the room, where your brother, Seishiro, and your childhood friend and neighbor Reo had made their entrance. 

Seishiro merely gives you a nod and half-heartedly hugs your mother, then heads straight to the sofa.  

Reo, ever the gentleman, greets her first a lovely afternoon followed by a kiss on the hand, then turns to you with a saccharine grin that, only with two decades of being his friend and knowing all of his sneaky little antics, tells you that there must be some kind of trouble lurking around the corner. However, none of that could have ever prepared you for the actual trouble awaiting; 

Until that trouble rounds the corner and enters the room in the form of Itoshi Sae. 

Your breathing all but stops as the enigma of a man you'd encountered only the night before now stands in the middle of your home; a place so different and much dearer to your heart compared to the vastness of the Isagi estate's ballroom.

Itoshi Sae wastes no time, and turns to address the lady of the house– your mother, with a bow. 

“Good afternoon, Lady Nagi. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, I am Itoshi Sae.” 

Your mother, the graceful woman that she is, doesn’t miss a beat and offers a curtsy in return. She flashes a gentle smile as she greets him. “Lord Sae, what a pleasure to have you in our home. Please, have a seat.”

You all take this as a signal to look for a spot on either of the two lounges or settees in the room, but are compelled to remain upright as your guest stays standing.

“Actually, my Lady, I have come to call on your daughter, if I may.” 

All eight pairs of eyes suddenly fell on you as the words had left Itoshi Sae’s lips.

You swear you could almost feel each of your family's emotions in the moment as you glanced from one set of eyes to another: Seishiro’s indifference. Reo’s surprise and immediate anticipation. Your mother’s hope, bubbling behind those silver eyes– but most surprisingly of all, the complete sincerity in Itoshi Sae's turquoise orbs.

It took you all of ten seconds to realize that they were actually waiting for you to respond.

“Oh! Well- well, of course!” you sputter, almost choking on your own spit. You clear your throat in a last attempt to desperately save your already shattered dignity and take in a deep breath. “It would be an honour, my Lord.” 

Reo all but drags Seishiro out of the drawing room when your mother leaves to call for the cooks to prepare an afternoon tea, and the housekeepers to tidy the room. Which technically left you alone, in the presence of Itoshi Sae, again. 

You were starting to believe that you were being punished by God for intruding on a pair of lovers, by sending one of them to intrude on your life in return. God must have a dismal sense of humor, you thought.

As if you hadn't been surprised more times in the past twenty minutes than you had your whole life, the man in front of you startles you once more.

“I apologise for coming late.” 

He turns to look at you when you remain silent, mouth twitching up in the slightest bit of amusement as he takes in sight of you, brows drawn together and lips pursed in confusion as you absorb his words. He takes this as a chance to keep talking. “I believe it is expected of callers to arrive in the morning.”

“Well, yes. They do, but I never expected you of all people to call on me,” you mutter, voiced laced with disbelief and ready to push on, before you remember who it is you were standing in front of. 

“...My Lord.” 

“What?” 

“Nothing! I simply forgot to call you that,” you trail off, feeling the awkwardness of the situation and almost wanting to slice it with the breadknife that one of the maids was arranging on the tea table. 

After a few moments of silence, with nothing but the tinkling of silverware and the scurrying of feet echoing around the room, you nearly jump out of your skin as Itoshi Sae clears his throat and starts heading for the doors, where your mother has made her reappearance. 

“My Lord, my sincerest apologies for the wait,” she smiles as she sees him approaching. “The chefs are preparing the pastries as we speak. Might there be something you’d like to request?”

“Yes," he nods.

"I’d like to take your daughter out on a promenade. I believe it’d be the best setting for us to get acquainted with one another.”

[theonlyadawong]

this tells us ada did not use the name ada wong for her next mission but ALSO!!!!! the text is covering it up, but her scar looks relatively fresh; scabbed over but not yet healed, and i would assume a deep scar like that had to be stitched, which means there was maybe a 1-2 week period in between her leaving raccoon city and her packing up for her next mission.

"And as she says goodbye to Ada Wong, she can't stop her tears," is a line drop that is so interesting because it implies she had no intention of continuing to use the ada moniker, she just wanted to put everything behind her and move forward (mostly as a way to compartmentalize her trauma as evidenced by, "this is adas scar not mine") but she would be dragged back into the ada persona for years to come

[thefallennightmare]

Miracle-epilogue

*gif created by me. feel free to use, simply give credit*

Pairings: Noah Sebastian x Reader

Warnings/Tropes: forced proximity, slight enemies to lovers, slow burn, smut, angst, fluff, mentions of death, and swearing.

Summary: Reader is the merch girl for Bad Omens. It wasn't what she wanted to do with her life but when her mother got sick with Alzheimer's, reader took a job where she could to help with the costs. She thought it would be a one-time gig but the longer she was on the road with them, the harder she fell for Noah Sebastian; even if he wanted nothing to do with her. She needed a miracle to save her mom and her future.

Author Note: I couldn't stay away from these characters or this universe. I hope you all enjoy! Also, thanks @thescarlettvvitch for the small idea 😉

Tags: @ada-clarence @nonamessblog @thescarlettvvitch @malice-ov-mercy @crimson-calligraphyx @theoneandonlykymberlee @yumikitten @blackveilomens @cherrymedicine13 @thebadchic @notmaddihealy @jay02bo @beaker1636 @jakekiszkasguitarpick @punk-pr1ncessxoxo @er3nslovergirl @iamdesolate @lma1986 @jessitpwk @themodern-daywednesday @writethrough @bngurngheart @dreams-that-are-anwsered @loeytuan98 @omens-in-reverse @loverofagoodbeard @jay02bo @niicoleleigh @tearfallpixie @cupidsdreams

MOOD BOARD created by @madomens

The crowd cheered wildly behind me as I scurried in front of the barricade; the camera hanging loosely around my neck. Bryan and I gave each other a high five as we passed each other for me to come to a stop center stage, eyes gazing up at the man in front of me. His eyes shined as he spoke into the microphone, thanking everyone for coming out to another sold out show; the last show of the tour. The last night was always electric, exciting, and from the energy radiating from the crowd behind me, they felt the same.

“We only have a few songs left tonight,” Noah began only to be cut off by a loud ruckus of cheers. “But we can’t thank you all enough for your continue support and love for the last couple years ever since we blew up. We were this small town band from Virgina that moved to Los Angeles with a dream; one that came true.”

Noah’s eyes darted down to me and winked, a warm hue covering my cheeks. “And for some of us, we had a few extra dreams come true.”

With a bashful gaze, I mouthed three simple words up to him.

“I love you.”

The corners of his lips lifted as his eyes now sparkled, blowing me a soft kiss then started into Enough, Enough Now. This tour was all about their older songs, with of course their hits from their current album, but Bad Omens wanted to reinvent their older songs.

I let out a deep breath, stretching out the pain in my back and abdomen before busying myself switching between pictures and videos of all the guys for the next few songs. As I was walking down the steps from Folio’s drum stage, I nearly missed the last step and almost tumbled to the floor until familiar arms wrapped around me.

“Angel,” Noah hissed. “What did I say about walking around on the stage in the dark?”

Thankfully, it was a quick break in between the last two songs as the video intro started for the next one so our conversation was hushed.

“I’m fine,” I reassured him while standing on two feet. “I missed the last step, that’s all.”

His eyes narrowed under the stage lights while I brushed away the hair from his face. He decided on letting his hair grow again and it was almost a comb over across his forehead. He looked ethereal cast in the red stage lights as Jolly started strumming the first few notes of Concrete Jungle.

But I noticed he didn’t move, only continued to stare at me with those intense dark eyes and hands on his hips.

“Noah,” I sighed. “I have to work still.”

“I know, angel. All I’m asking is that you’re careful, alright? I don’t want anything to risk-,” His hands reached for mine and gave them a gentle squeeze.

“I will,” I promised while cupping his cheek. “I’ll be more careful.”

Noah gave me a small smile before laying a gentle kiss on my forehead, something the crowd noticed and cheered loudly. Pushing him back to the center of the stage, I giggled while walking to the side of the stage where I noticed Matt watching with a smirk.

“A bit of a difference from last tour, huh?” He asked while crossing his arms over his chest.

I hummed in agreement and stood next to him, opting to watch the rest of the show instead of take pictures, and thought back to how last tour went. It was about a month after Noah and I got married and I was still apprehensive about letting the fans know about us. We got married pretty soon after our engagement, less than a year, but that was only because we didn’t want to waste another second once Bad Omens finished writing their current record. Noah offered we could get married while they were writing but I declined, telling him he should only focus on one thing. The ceremony was quiet, in a hushed location in Washington, where afterwards Noah and I stayed for a month in the same cabin that he proposed in. We kept the marriage a secret for the first year since Bad Omens were about to go on tour overseas, one I of course followed with. Even though we were married, I continued to work for them as their social media ambassador; until the last few months.

Reading some of the darker side of the comments on posts or online didn’t sit well with me mentally, along with some personal things I was dealing with, so after a deep conversation with Noah, we decided it would be best if I continued taking pictures and videos alongside Bryan but they would have someone else posts and take care of the social media accounts. The entire tour overseas, Noah and I kept our relationship quiet and while he was on stage, we kept it professional, much to his dismay. But he always understood why we needed to keep it that way. We rarely went out in public just the two of us to avoid any untrue rumors and when we went out as a group with everyone, we did our best not to make it seem like we were together.

It was fucking brutal, and we hated every second of it. It was getting in the middle of our marriage and made the first year exhausting and heartbreaking when it should have been filled with love and joy. There was a night where we had an intense argument that Noah went to spend the night at his old place with Jolly and the rest of the guys while I stayed back at the home we were creating for ourselves. I didn’t sleep even for a few minutes that night and neither did Noah because I felt him crawling back into our bed hours later, leaving a soft kiss to my head.

“I’m sorry, angel,” he murmured while brushing away the dried tears from my face.

Now, we were both at a better place, mentally, that I felt comfortable with our marriage being out in the open. If people found out, good for them. It wasn’t because I was ashamed or didn’t want to be seen with Noah. In fact, it was the opposite. I loved Noah with my entire fucking soul. He was the miracle I’d been searching for.

So before this tour began, about four weeks ago on our first anniversary, Noah posted a 24 hour story on his Instagram, with my permission of course.

It was the picture. The one from that first party all those years ago, back during Noah’s long hair era. There were three simply words typed across the picture, ones that started a frenzy.

Happy anniversary, wife.

In return, I posted a picture of Noah and I, one that Bryan took on that one tour so long ago. It was back when we were sort of dating and the night of the storage closet. It was that moment after the show when I was sitting on Noah’s lap, playing with his necklace as he kissed my lips. Unbeknownst to us, Bryan took our picture.

My caption mirrored Noah’s: Happy anniversary, husband.

Matt nudged my arm, bringing me back to the present, and I hummed in response to his words.

“What did you say?”

He snickered while nodding towards Noah, who was giving a bow to the crowd as they cheered for one more song.

“I’m glad you came with. I know last tour was kind of rough for you two.”

I nodded. “Yeah but we worked past those issues. We’re in a good place, finally.”

“Good,” Matt smiled. “Because I don’t know if I could handle crabby Noah for another tour.”

Just as he finished speaking, Noah ran up to me and wrapped me in his arms, breathing in my scent. I giggled while leaving kisses along his shoulder, the salty taste of his sweat bittersweet on my tongue.

“Are you okay?” He asked while pulling away slightly so he could look down at me.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I’m fine.”

The rest of the guys bounded up behind Noah as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder to pull me into his chest.

“Usual last night tradition?” Noah asked.

My heart rate picked up, and I wrapped myself tighter around him, the nerves beginning to lock me into place. This was something we talked about for awhile now and I knew it was coming, but I was still so nervous to see how everyone would react.

They had the tradition on the last night of the tour to sit in the back of the bus and play Mario Cart until the wee hours of the morning. But this time, Noah and I had a little something extra planned.

Jolly nodded. “Of course.”

“That is if Y/N remembered to bring the game,” Folio gave me shit as we began walking back to the green room.

“Oh my gods,” I groaned. “Yes, I forgot it on the last tour but did you forget how many stores I went to find it? Spent my entire afternoon running around so you idiots could play it.”

Nick chuckled. “Are you going to join us this time?”

Noah squeezed my shoulder, but we both kept a neutral face.

“Nope. It’s your guy’s thing. I already planned on laying in my bunk and reading a book,” I said as we walked into the green room.

“You can, angel,” Noah said as he reluctantly let me go so I could pack up my things.

I smirked at his rouse and threw over one of his sweaters, it almost drowning me in it, and walked up to him leaving a peck on his lips.

“Please tell me you remembered the bag?” I mumbled against his lips.

His hands squeezed my hips. “It’s in your bunk, ready to go.”

I brushed away the sweat matted hair from his forehead so I could look directly into his eyes. I wanted to make sure the both of us were one hundred perfect on board with this decision. Noah was the one that brought up the idea last night and while I was still apprehensive, I agreed. They deserved to know; soon they would have found out if we didn’t say anything.

“You’re sure? What if we have another-.”

Noah wrapped a hand against the side of my neck and lifted my chin with his thumb. “We waited long enough, angel. We’ll be okay, we were before. This time, if it happens, we’ll have the support of everyone.”

Tears burned in my eyes as memories of the past came flooding back, something Noah noticed, because he pulled me into his chest and rubbed soothing circles against my back. His lips brushed along my hairline as his sweet words eased the pain that sat low in my heart. It never went away; it continued to fester there, stabbing the knife deeper and deeper. Especially now.

“It won’t, angel,” Noah reassured me, his own sniffles being muffled by my hair. “This time will be different. It already is.”

I smiled into his shirt when I realized he was right. This time is different, and there was already proof of it.

“Okay so before we start,” Noah spoke as we all lounged in the back area of the bus, it driving us the twelve hour drive back to Los Angeles.

“She forgot the game!” Folio bellowed while sitting up taller on the couch.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Fuck off, Folio.”

Noah hushed my words with a pat to my knee before he set a small gift bag on the floor in front of both Nick’s and Jolly, who stared at it with a raised brow.

“What is this?” He asked.

“That’s the whole point of a gift. You’re supposed to open it to see,” Noah urged with a nod.

Noah’s knee bounced with anticipation and I rested a hand against his thigh to ease him and he placed his hand over mine to link them together. We shared a loving gaze, one he ended with a wink and smirk as we watched Jolly pull out the first gift.

“Naruto socks?” He asked with a raised brow, confusion etched in his voice.

“Dude, these aren’t even in your size,” Folio snatched them and eyed them. “They look like they could fit a kid.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my smile away.

Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, about that.”

Nick then pulled out a Bad Omens beanie, bright white letters on the back that only Noah and I could read.

“It’s a new design,” Noah said when they all eyed it with curious eyes. “Its an infant size.”

The three of them shared a quick look before Nick turned over the beanie and his body went stiff when he read the writing on the back.

Sebastian.

With the infant beanie and infant size socks, the wheels were turning for them. But to give them that little of extra help, I held out my phone towards them; the black and white sonogram catching their attention immediately.

“No fucking way,” Nick said.

“You’re not fucking with us, are you?” Jolly asked with a small smile.

“My name is literally right there,” I chukled while showing them the part of the sonogram where it read Y/N Sebastian.

Folio smacked his hands together while letting out a loud yelp of celebration as he all but tackled me deeper onto the couch in a vice like hug. With a fit of giggles, I wrapped my own arms around him.

“Nick! She’s fucking fragile, man,” Noah cursed while pushing him off of me to pull me into his lap, large arms wrapping around me now protectively.

I kissed his forehead. “I’m not made of glass, Noah.”

His face grew stone serious. “Yes, you are.”

My shoulders fell, knowing there was a reason he’d been so protective. Not just tonight but since we found out four months ago. Only this time, we wanted to make sure we made it past this point before telling anyone.

Jolly quickly picked up on the seriousness of our conversation but waited until a round of congratulations and hugs were had before settling back into the couch.

“How far along?” He wondered.

Now sitting curled up against Noah’s warm embrace, I sighed into his chest. “Almost five months.”

Nick’s eyes widened. “How the hell didn’t we notice?”

“She wore baggy clothes. We wanted to make sure-,” Noah’s words trailed off, unable to find the courage to finish.

“Uh,” I began while sitting straight up. “I only have a small bump so it made it easy to hide. But there’s a reason we kept it secret for so long. Before this pregnancy, we suffered through two miscarriages.”

The guys sucked in a breath while Noah stiffened next to me. Even though he was strong during those two dark times in our marriage, I knew he was doing it for me. Deep down, he suffered through those losses on his own and was still dealing with it.

“Shit,” Jolly ran a hand through his hair.

“Please don’t say the typical I’m sorry bullshit. We don’t want to hear that,” I smiled weakly. “It was hard for us but we got through it. We just want to focus on now and what the future holds for this baby. And us.”

Noah rested a hand over my bump, eyes glittering as he stared lovingly at me.

“Oh,” he said while reluctantly looking away from me over towards teh guys. “Don’t go saying shit. If Jesse doesn't find out from me, he’d be so hurt.���

“Rightfully so,” I nodded with a smirk.

That night, the game was forgotten as we all talked about the future of not only Bad Omens but also the future of its newest little member.

A soft knock sounded on the door frame behind me and I looked over my shoulder, giving a small smile to Noah. He was shirtless as he leaned up against the doorframe, eyes tired but bright with so much love and adoration. His usual Levi cut a mess on top of his head. He knew how much I loved that haircut so instead of cutting it when it got too long; he was sporting that look again.

“Why are you awake? You should be sleeping.”

Fuck, his tired voice was so sexy but at almost nine months pregnant, that was the last thing I wanted to think about. I loved my husband and our sex life was amazing but I was miserable the last month, wanting the pains in my back and hips to stop. I reminded him once or twice that he could watch that sex tape we made a few years ago.

“I can’t sleep,” I shrugged from my spot on the floor of the almost ready nursery.

An array of pieces and an instruction manual lay at my feet, something Noah eyed with a brow. “Angel, I told you I’d put the crib together in the morning. You shouldn’t be doing it by yourself.”

He sat on the floor in front of me and reached for my hands, taking away the screwdrivers and set them into the pile of tools.

“I know. I thought I could get a head start on it though,” I began cracking my knuckles.

Noah sighed as he wrapped one large hand over both of my small ones. “I hate when you do that.”

“Sorry,” I looked away from him. “Nervous habit.”

“Are you nervous for Friday?”

I nodded while finally meeting his gaze. “There’s all these risks for C-sections. What if something happens and-.”

Noah hushed my worries with a firm kiss to my lips, his tongue brushing over my bottom lips before exploring every inch of my mouth. I moaned into the kiss and rested my hands against his bare chest, nails scraping along the tattooed skin.

“We’ve already gone over all the risk factors,” Noah sighed while pulling away, resting his forehead against mine. “But it’s the only way, angel.”

With his hand over my large bump, I nodded. “I know.”

We sat like this for a long moment, enjoying the silence and solace of the nursery. It was a simple design, nothing too over the top. But we made it special with pictures of everyone that mattered to us; our family. The center picture was the one of Noah and I from that party; thatpicture.

“Noah?”

My voice broke the silence, and he gave me a small smile. “What is it?”

I blew out a shaky breath. “What if I’m not a good mom? What if I get Alzheimers like my mom did and treat our baby the way she treated me?”

These worries weighed heavy on my mind from the second we found out I was pregnant; this time. The worry if I would be a good enough mother and treat them with love and honesty; not the way my mother did for me.

All these years later after her death and I still couldn’t find it in my heart to forgive her. I might have moved on, but the pain was still buried deep, sometimes clawing its way out. There was also the fear of if I’d get Alzheimers as I got older. Noah always had the same answer; we’ll figure it out if that time comes. Let just focus on the now.

As the tears fell, Noah was quick on my side to pull me into him, us resting against the wall of the nursery.

“You’re going to be a great mom, angel. I already know that because you take care of everyone before yourself. It won’t be hard but I’m going to be with you by your side through it all. Even if you get Alzheimers, I’ll record myself telling you we’re married so you don’t forget me.”

I couldn’t stop the small giggle that fell from my lips and pressed a small kiss to his chest before gazing up at him. “It’s the hormones.”

Bullshit, his eyes shined.

“Come on,” he kissed the side of my head. “This crib isn’t going to put itself together.”

“Angel, sit down. Let me get your water for you,” Noah hissed when he saw me trying to stand from the couch.

“But-,” I spoke.

His eyes pinned me in place as he held my bottle of water in one arm and the small infant in the other. Noah’s hair was a mess and his black shirt had a few spots of spit up but none of that bothered him. Even through exhaustion, he still wore the proudest smile on his face. We returned home from the hospital a few days ago and spent that time just the three of us, finding our ways as a family.

This entire pregnancy was constant fear and worry if we’d lose our baby like we did previously. I still didn’t believe he was real until I held him; Noah’s eyes staring back up at me as our baby's name fell from my lips.

Kenji Noah Sebastian.

“Thank you,” I thanked him with a kiss as Noah handed me my water bottle.

“I love you,” he muttered against them.

“I love you too.”

The noise coming from the kitchen made us raise our brows in confusion.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to let Folio filet a fish in our kitchen?” I asked.

Noah shrugged as he gazed down at our son, a wide smile on his face as he rocked him. “He wants to cook us dinner. Let him.”

Kenji began fussing in Noah’s arms but before I could offer to feed him, Noah shot me another look. “You were up all night with him, angel.”

“Yeah but you’ve been dealing with him all day. Kenji hasn’t stopped fussing.”

Noah brushed a finger along the side of Kenji’s face, his black wedding band catching the light from above. “They have cut you through six layers of skin and had your insides moved around to give birth to our baby. You need to rest, angel.”

With a pouted lip, I held out my arms. “Can I atleast hold him while you make a bottle?”

Once Kenji was in my arms, Noah bent low to leave another kiss on my lips before retreated into the kitchen where he heard Folio and Jesse arguing about something. Tonight, we had a full house of our family who came to visit us and meet Kenji.

Jolly sat down on the couch next to me, finger immediately being grasped my Kenji’s small hand.

“Y/N, your genes didn’t even try. That’s a printed copy of Noah. You just gave birth to Noah,” Jolly smirked while making funny faces down to Kenji.

“Gee thanks, it’s not like I grew him,” I grumbled playfully.

Noah returned and sat on the other side of me, taking a now sleeping Kenji to lay him against his chest, him brushing a gentle kiss across the baby’s forehead. I smiled wide and felt my heart spread warmth all throughout my body at the sight.

Never did I think that when I first started working for Bad Omens that I would be married to the vocalist and have a child with him. Our relationship might not have been perfect in the beginning but through all the hardships of the two miscarriages and all the fights that stemmed from it, we never gave up.

As I brushed through the thick dark locks of Kenji’s hair, a mirror image to Noah, I heard a quiet sniffle next to me and realized Noah was holding back tears. They pooled at the corner of his eyes but refused to let them slip. Always the stoic one but I could see that he was running through so many emotions.

“What are you thinking about?” I questioned.

His bottom lip trembled. “Just everything. How far we’ve come. The Airbnb, the pop up event you put together, our fight where I said hurtful things to you.”

I cupped his cheek. “Please stop beating yourself up about it, Noah. All has been forgiven.”

“But I can't help but wonder what would have happened if you didn’t forgive me. Would we be sitting here together? With our son on my chest?”

Noah placed another tender kiss to Kenji’s head, who stirred in his sleep.

With his free hand, I linked our fingers together my thumb tracing over the faded angel wings tattoo.

“I think we would have found our way back to each other,” I said matter-of-factly.

That made him smile just the tiniest bit but I could tell the darkness that still held tight to him. As he blew out a breath, a few tears fell.

“The fire, I think, haunts me to this day. I know you’ve overcome your nightmares from it but I can't even let a candle burn without thinking of seeing you hang from the house.”

“I didn’t know that,” I breathed, shocked.

While I overcame the trauma from the fire, I didn’t realize Noah was still dealing with it.

“Fuck,” he sighed while running a hand over his face to brush away the tears. “I didn’t mean to get so emotional.”

I brushed away another stray tear with my finger, the wedding band catching the light from above. “It’s the lack of sleep.”

Noah agreed with a chuckle and stared down at Kenji again, who was making soft coos in his sleep. Suddenly a large smile broke out across Noah’s face, instantly brightening up the room.

“All I ever wanted was a family of my own. I made one with my friends, but you, angel,” Noah squeezed my hand. “You gave me something I don’t even have words for.”

“Hey, you helped,” I rested my head against his shoulder.

Noah laid his chin on top of my head, chest shaking with his deep breath, which did nothing to bother the sleeping baby. “But you did everything, you gave my life new meaning. Thank you. You gave me that fucking miracle, angel.”

[juvnvalen]

If that's okay, can I please have yan Drives III, Tooth Fairy, and Tennant comforting fem reader who had nightmare headcanon

I didn't realise until after i'd written this that this was supposed to be headcanons that is a my bad Does anyone know Tooth Fairy's first name I couldn't find it anywhere (Her last I could) Also is druvis druvis's first name. My bias really shows with this one Characters: Druvis iii, Tooth Fairy, and Tennant. TW: Yandere themes, implied kidnapping, and bitch wife tennant

Druvis was awakened to the sound of your soft whimpers and sniffling, surprised to find you huddled up so close to her. She couldn’t understand what had brought you to tears when she hadn’t even been awake to upset you.

She brought a hand up to pet your head, and you startled at the touch, your head lifting up in alert. The sight of your teary-eyed expression made her squirm nervously, she wasn’t sure what she’d done to upset you this time but she wanted to fix it.

She sat up pulling you along with her, she pressed your head against her chest softly. “What is upsetting you my darling?” Druvis wasn’t quite used to offering so much sympathy, but she’d try her best if it aided in cheering up her dearest.

“I had a bad dream..” Your voice barely came out as more than a whisper, she almost didn’t catch what you’d said. “There is no reason to waste tears on a simple nightmare, hush now.”

Surprisingly her half-hearted attempt at comfort seemed to work well enough, your crying had calmed almost to silence. “It’s still late, let us rest a little longer, doll.”

She settled you back under the covers, shuffling back under them herself. Druvis couldn’t help the gasp of surprise that escaped her as you cuddled back closer to her, she combed her fingers through your hair in reciprocation. Druvis couldn’t stop the smile that found its way to her face, she was overjoyed to be on the receiving end of your willing affection. ♡♡

Ada lightly traced her fingers against your skin as you stirred in your sleep, she withdrew her hand away from you as you stirred awake. Your head shot up in alert, a choked cry escaping your mouth.

Tears welling in your eyes, your attention was drawn to Ada, who watched you with a teasing smirk. You opened your mouth to say something, but only a soft whimper left your lips.

“Something bothering you, my darling?” Ada was pleasantly unsurprised to see you reply to her teasing with a teary-eyed glare. “Aww, don’t be such a pouty girl, sweet thing. Was it a nightmare? Worry not, your noble protector is right here to watch over you.”

By now your tears had dried and your feeling of dread had been replaced by the annoyance Tennant always seemed to provide. “S-shut up, idiot.” You spat, stuffing your face into the pillow. Ada only pulled closer to you, wrapping her arms around you securely to keep you from pulling away.

“Seems I’ve cheered you up! Good on me, the night is still early so let’s get you back to sleep, my lady.” You groaned in response, not that you’d admit it but you appreciated her comforting you. Even if it was in a very characteristically Tennant way. ♡♡

You awoke with a gasp, lifting yourself up to glance around in alert. You looked down to see your darling Tooth Fairy still fast asleep next to you. Tears pricked in your eyes, still shaken from the fright of your nightmare.

Despite your hesitancy you decided to shuffle closer to her, burying your face forcefully in her shoulder. The sudden contact seemed to stir her awake, you felt her arms wrap around your waist to pull you flush against her.

“There, there..” Her voice was still laced with sleep, rough and low. Still half asleep herself, she flopped over onto her back, pulling you with her. She almost had you laid completely on top of her, you nuzzled into her warmth soaking up the comfort she was willing to give.

She hummed softly as she pressed her face against your head, lightly tracing her fingers against the back of your neck. “I love you..” She whispered, her voice muffled as she spoke.

Her breathing had slowed, and her hands had still, obviously fallen back into her rest. You couldn’t help but smile as you nuzzled your face against her.

“I love you too,” you whispered, your words falling on unhearing ears. ♡♡

[ketterdamskaelishprince]

ada's spectre, and why i'll likely always feel sad about it

here is the promised analysis/talk about ada's spectre. going to preface this by saying i obviously don't know the true intent behind everything and her design, i just like to look, giggle and then make sad little observations which just help me love this silly webcomic even more. so if you disagree with me on something– totally ok! i love to learn and i love to see different interpretations.

there's also a few bits i missed out because i wrote this all last night in a bit of a haze, and i cannot be bothered to expand on some of my ideas, especially when it's just stuff like "BROS SO PARANOID AND RAW RIGHT NOW".

anyways, here we go :) @mugcereal this one's for u pookie <3

so i think with ada's spectre, we first need to look at the instance as to how she gets it, because that always makes things way more sad!

to specify, she turns into her spectre at episode 69, and i think it's really sad how she does it. she basically gets a string of roasts from prospero that go along the lines of calling her "conceited" "twadry" and "... and stupid!" – effectively throwing back in ada's face what she believes everyone thinks of her.

(obviously, as a very big and glaring sidenote, i believe prospero is aro/ace or just aromantic so OBVIOUSLY i am not bashing him for this. bros told her so many times that he doesn't want to be with her, let alone to be touched. that is a flaw in ada's character and is a reminder to us on the importance of boundaries!!!!)

so, ada is basically there, collapsed on the floor in a robe– effectively showing the most intimate and private part of herself as an insecure and lonely girl. and that's when she transforms.

i think it's interesting to understand how this most likely links to her life and how she died. so we know she was killed with an axe, most likely by the man she fell in love with and worked for, and how prospero's words in this situation, hurt her just the same as the words before her death. why?

because they remind ada of what she knows and fears she is: just a stupid, fake and cheap person who will never have the same status and respect as the people she pretends to be and surrounds herself by.

i think it's also interesting that she's clutching her stomach/torso here, and correct me if i'm wrong but that could be a potential signal to the part of her that was axed to death (?). no idea if that's a good shout or not but it's what i first thought!

anyways! now we move onto her spectre design!

first of all, her spectre design eats. like just a personal side note, i love it. it's just so gorgeous and i don't care if she's terrifying to some because to ME? to me, she's my gorgeous little pookie who can scream and show people their worst fears and she looks amazing whilst she does it <3

ok anyways, actual design.

to first understand her design, i thought i'd show you what banshee's traditionally in folklore look like!

typically, they are described in two ways. the first way is a youthful women with long black hair, blue eyes and just super pale. this description could also lose the blue eyes and just keep the black hair– either way the first depiction of a banshee is a super young woman.

this is not the one we're focussing on today folks!

we're going to focus on the second depiction. a hag/ old woman, with red cheeks, a grey cloak and a green dress, often seen to be combing her hair. banshee's throughout folklore are known to wail, scream and cry when a family member had died. to most, the banshee was a sign that death was coming to your household and they are known in myths and folklore as a predictor of death.

now, hold onto the green dress and look at ada's design real quick for me.

here we see a lot of green, which yay! definitely shows signs it comes from the second depiction. i think, on top of it being a nod to the second depiction, i think it could also be an allusion to something else: jealousy.

green symbolism in media can often vary, from meaning new life, luck and also jealousy. and i think if we take in the things ada screams whilst in her spectre form, such as this from episode 82:

you see there definitely is some sort of jealousy there, but this isn't something i necessarily want to focus on, it's just an observation i made that may or may not be true!

anyways, to continue, i want to look at ada's outfit when she's a banshee. i'm going to basically be making my notes i took last night look nicer.

(keep in mind that when i wrote these, my ideas were literally bouncing off my brain and sometimes they're a bit contradictory, but i think that's the beauty of my crack theory analysis!)

i think the act of almost showing her bones to the outside, there's a level of rawness to ada we don't usually see. her spectre form essentially gives her the power to scream out her anger, and by seeing her bones it's almost as if to say this is the ada she doesn't show people. this is the ada that she keeps to herself because god forbid anybody love her (because in life and death it's become abundantly apparent to her that nobody does seem to love that ada).

but then, what i thought was also a super cool thing as how the bones almost act like a corset!

then i got sad because i looked at the bows, and because something dawned on me and it made me start to frown. there was a sad realization to me as i looked at ada's spectre design that even in this all powerful form, she hasn't lost her insecurities, they just become more prevellant. because for all of the traditional wrinkles, hag-like appearance a banshee is meant to have, ada barely has any.

obviously this could be in part to character design and stuff, and yeah probably– but let me be sad!

because ada carries her frills and bows from life here because she doesn't want to be ugly, she doesn't want to be this creeping monster who rips apart people. because if she's not got her intelligence or status or anything going for her, she has her appearance and by god she's not going to let that go to waste. so here her spectre form is, a banshee.

so what must ada do? she must takes her frills and keep her insecurities, her fears and her crippling need to be loved.

another aspect which is super interesting is the stitching on her body. one one hand, it could be an allusion to her violent death, suggesting the man she fell in love with didn't just stop at axing her once, but just kept on fucking going (which, you know: fuck you, whoever you are).

but on the other hand, it could be a metaphor for ada's thinly veiled facade she puts on of being a prim and proper lady (which we actually, interestingly enough, see she looses a lot the more time she spends with montresor– opting to take parts of his language like "ain't" and "beggin'". this sort of leads on from previous ideas people have made of ada willing to change herself to be loved. she swaps civility for the wild wild west all for a bit of love).

ada offers up parts of herself in this metaphor. that's what she always does. she offers herself to the rich man she fell in love with, she offers herself up to prospero (again, look at the. side note. bro wasn't wrong for rejecting her he literally can't like her) and she offers herself up to the acolytes and she fucking barks for them (because i'm not over that).

piece by piece, she strips away everything she is until she literally is just skin and bone. and once she's torn herself apart, she needs to stitch herself back together– because it's against the facade she's put on to look so broken and messy. and so she repeats the cycle again, giving more and more until she is literally hanging on by a thread.

her powers are also super cool. traditionally, as i said, banshees wail when a family member is soon to die/has died, and is often like an omen/predictor of death. so yeah, ada having a banshee scream makes sense. but the whole 'fear itself' is also super cool. i kind of like that she has this– because its sort of satisfying for her, the girl who's been pushed over but still comes running back, to watch as people become paralysed with fear. idk, retribution or whatever.

i'm going to leave you with this not very profound thing i wrote last night (and then just some other mumblings):

i think that although spectres are super powerful and also just a very fantastic concept, they're also fragile. spectres are quite literally the monster inside of you. yet here ada's monster is, and with all her bows and revamped dress of a banshee (or potentially an allusion to her life as a maid) she tries desperately to be anything but that. because to here it's ugly and it's too much of her on display. and with some much of you on display comes the very fear that if you are hated, disliked or something repulsive, you no longer have anything to blame on anybody else. you just have yourself to blame.

(as morella says here in episode 88).

i'm not saying ada isn't deeply flawed, because she is. she has so much fucking baggage and insecurities that they literally forbid her from doing the right thing sometimes. i don't think she's a good person, but i also think that she has the opportunity to be a good person/ do a semi-good/ non-bad thing, and all she has to do is take it. but i also think it's nice how that's shown in her spectre design.

and, you know, if none of this makes sense, that's also fine!

anyways, yeah. somebody tell me never to make a random analysis at night again because it's a bit of a bitch to translate in the morning.

[adamantine-ribbon]

rinsed it to get some potentially shitty product out. now it's crunchy (affectionate)

freshly washed hair stay moisturized challenge

[storiesofsvu]

Not What It Looks Like

Rafael Barba x reader x Rita Calhoun Established!Poly!Barhoun Warnings: language, alcohol, smut, threesome, praise kink. Covers a square for @prentiss-theorem bingo! Don't wanna miss any new stuff? Sign up for a taglist here! Like what you're reading? Tip your author here!

Rita knew she was home late, having worked through dinner and then gone for plea agreement drinks with an ADA from White Collar, but she didn’t expect to come home to such a quiet dark apartment. You were a natural night owl, often up into the late hours of the night, the television on a low rumble while you tidied up around the house, caught up on work or binged through something in Rita’s book collection. Even if you were out, she was used to Rafael motoring his way through piles of paperwork at the kitchen island, indulging in a very late dinner or Spanish ramblings coming from the other room as he had his weekly phone call with Lucia. Most days she came home late the two of you were some degree of tangled together on the couch, a glass of scotch in Rafael’s hand while the other scribbled through questioning, simply enjoying each other’s company in mainly silence.

Letting out a soft sigh she slipped out of her blazer, leaving it draped over the back of the couch while her bag was lightly dropped onto the cushions, when she spotted a bottle of wine on the coffee table and that spurred on her taste buds. Wandering back to the kitchen she pulled out a bottle of red, pouring herself a glass, a happy hum escaping her lips as she took the first sip, shoulders relaxing as the stress of the day finally began to wash away. She pulled the clip out of her hair, shaking it loose, fingers combing through the loose curls as she meandered down the hallway. She noticed the door to the home office cracked, a sliver of light coming from within it and her lips curved up into a smile, figuring Rafael was working away inside. Once in the bedroom she took out her earrings, slipping off the rest of her jewelry and placing it into the appropriate spots in the jewelry box. She scooped up the glass of wine, heading back toward the office with the thought of enticing Rafael away from work in favour of a drink and some positive socialization.

When she approached the door she heard a small giggle come from within, your voice murmuring softly along with Rafael’s and her lips curved up into a smirk. She was no longer wondering where you’d ran off to, you no doubt were already trying to drag Rafael out of the office and back to the couch where the half bottle of wine still sat. She pushed the door open and her brow raised at the sight in front of her, Rafael was, of course, sitting behind his desk, sleeves rolled up, shirt unbuttoned, tie and suspenders already gone. It was more you she was amused by, perched in his lap, facing her, your cheeks flushed, lips kiss swollen. Your eyes widened as you noticed her in the doorway and Rafael swore quietly, attempting to catch his breath before you managed to find your voice.

“You wouldn’t by chance believe me if I told you this wasn’t what it looks like?”

Rita chuckled, her eyes darkening as she stepped into the room, “oh really?” She cocked a brow in your direction, “you’re telling me you didn’t come in here all dolled up in a pretty little sundress to taunt Rafael? Get him all hot and bothered, distracted from his work?” She bent down, scooping up your discarded panties from the floor, letting them dangle from her finger as she approached the desk, “I’m so sure your intentions were innocent and you had no plans of his cock being buried in that pretty little pussy of yours, did you?”

Now standing in front of the two of you Rita’s free hand pinched at the hem of your dress, pulling it up to expose your bare cunt where Rafael’s skin met yours, your juices coating him and your thighs. Rita let your skirt drop, her eyes moving from where you were joined up to your face, a smirk on her lips.

“Always look so beautiful nice and full.” She leant back against the desk, crossing her arms over her chest, looking to Rafael, her head tilting, “well… don’t stop on my accord. Get the poor girl off.”

Rafael’s hands tightened around your waist, leaning back in his chair as his hips rocked up and you began to gently bounce on his cock again.

“Fuck…” You muttered; your eyes fluttering shut for a moment before you felt Rita’s hand cupping at your cheek gently. Her thumb rubbed at your chin affectionately before it traced your lips and you looked up at her, your lips wrapping around her thumb, sucking it into your mouth.

“Good girl.” She praised, pushing the digit deeper into your mouth, “always so skilled with your mouth aren’t you?”

“You know she is.” Rafael grunted, thrusting deeper into you and you let out a low moan.

“Well we should put it to good use then, shouldn’t we?” Rita’s hand disappeared from your mouth, slipping under her skirt to rid herself of her own panties letting them drop to the floor before she bunched up her skirt, settling on top of the desk, her pussy bare and on display as she spread her legs. You let out a louder moan and she chuckled darkly, “is he throbbing inside of you?” Her eyes darted to Raf, “like what you see?”

“Yes...” He groaned back.

“Figured I may as well have some fun too,” her hand stroked at your head, “lean forward darling.”

Rafael shifted, standing from the chair as his hold on your hips tightened, keeping you upright and in the right position as Rita relaxed on the desk and he flattened your back out, watching your hands brace against her thighs. He felt his cock twitch at the eagerness you presented, hands already tracing patterns across her skin, your pussy fluttering around him as he kept a steady deep pace of his thrusts. Rita quickly placed her hands on the desk behind her, supporting her weight as she leant back, feeling your lips press a quick kiss to her inner thigh before you bit into the supple skin and she let out a small hiss.

Your hands curled around her thighs, fingertips soothing back and forth as your surged forward, your tongue wide and flat as you licked her folds from bottom to top, flicking at her clit and she let out a satisfied moan. Behind you Rafael gave a particularly powerful thrust and you whined out, your nose bumping her clit with the forward push. He let out a small chuckle, watching your face bury between her legs as you started to eat her out with expertise, tongue plunging into her, eager to get her juices spread across her cunt and smeared over your lips.

“Fuck darling…” A hand came to tangle into your hair, “that’s it, you know just how I like it.”

“Mmmhmm.” You mumbled into her, sucking her lower lips into your mouth as your tongue probed into her, little whines and moans sending vibrations into her pussy, making her body shiver as Rafael continued to thrust into you. He began alternating pumps, throwing in the occasional swirl of his hips, his cock brushing right against the sensitive spot within you, your fingers clenching harder at Rita’s thighs.

You could feel Rita getting wetter with each ministration of your tongue, her moans getting more and more breathy as you continued. You couldn’t see her, but Rafael could, her head thrown back, her hips rocking toward the edge of the desk in time with your motions, matching the pace he was fucking you. Her sleeveless blouse was riding down as her back arched, the curve of her chest peeking out more each time she took a breath, her chest heaving, a shimmer of sweat breaking out across it.

“God you’re so fucking beautiful like this.” He muttered, a hand spanking gently at your ass before he squeezed the flesh, “both of you. Fuck.” His hips faltered as you clenched around him and he let out a moan, “always take me so well querida, tight little pussy loves this cock, doesn’t it?” His next thrust was more aggressive as he began to pick up the pace a little bit, rocking your body out of line and you surged upwards to not crash directly into Rita.

“Yes! Fuck. God I love it.”

Above you, Rita chuckled, her hand pinching at your chin, “oh darling, you’re always so good for us. You know, we should really stuff you full one night soon. How would you like both of our cocks at the same time? I think you’d rather enjoy that.”

“I would. Please ma’am.” You nodded quickly before ducking between her legs again, eager to show her just how much you would love to be used like a toy between them, even more so than right now.

“That’s my good little princess.” She cooed, letting out a gasp when your lips wrapped around her pulsing clit, sucking the nub into your mouth, “fuck! Oh god… I’m close.. more, darling.”

Hearing her words Rafael picked up his pace once again, hips slapping against your own with each thrust he gave you. You moved one hand from her thigh to her pussy, swiping two fingers through her folds, coating them in her wetness before you plunged them into her cunt.

“Shit!” She swore, her head dropping back once again as your fingers pumped inside her in the same tempo that Rafael’s cock plunged into you. Your fingers twisted, curling as your mouth continued its motions on her clit, tongue flicking across it as you sucked her.

You could feel the coil building deep within you, the fire coursing through your veins at the pleasure both of them were bringing you. You would never say no to being used like this, you would happily eat Rita out for hours on end, you had before and you’d do it again. Usually Rafael would watch from the chair across from the bed, lazily thrusting into his hand until he came across your tits or into your mouth, but having his cock buried in your tight cunt was a whole new level of sensation. You could feel sweat coating your skin and you half wished you’d decided to forgo the dress, being completely bare while the two of them were still dressed would be a different type of pleasure all together. If you’d had any sense in your brain you would’ve tucked the idea away for later but between Rita’s juices and the power of his thrusts you were nearly senseless already.

Rita’s hand tightened in your hair, shoving your face harder into her cunt as your fingers began to curl with each thrust, pushing into her g-spot with each pass. You could feel her squeezing around you, juices practically dripping down your wrist already as her hips continued to rock up towards the touch. Her eyes were tightly squeezed shut, string of swears and throaty moans escaping her lips as her chest heaved, pleasure coursing through her body higher and higher with each thrust of your hand.

“Fuck…” She groaned out and Raf spanked you again.

“So good querida, make her come.”

You crooked your fingers again, this time lingering on the sensitive spot right as you gave a powerful suck to her clit and Rita cried out, her thighs threatening to close around you as her orgasm washed over her, body trembling as she almost lost strength to keep herself upright on the desk. She shuddered as your fingers slipped out of her, your tongue kitten licking at her pussy to clean up the mess you’d made smeared across it and her thighs. You half straightened up, letting out a moan as Rafael plunged into you faster now, one hand still braced on Rita as you caught her eye, sucking your fingers into your mouth and cleaning them of her wetness.

“So good darling.” She panted, her hand caressing at the side of your cheek before her gaze turned to Rafael, “pull her up all the way, she’s almost there.” His hand grabbed at your shoulder, pulling you flush to him and you let out a moan, his cock hitting deeper within you, brushing past your g-spot at a whole new angle.

“Oh god!” You yelped, “Raf.. more… please.”

His free hand wrapped around you, shoving up the skirt of your dress to pinch at your clit, rubbing furiously at it as you clenched down around him your juices dripping down your thighs. You were so close, the fire about to burst from right under your skin when Rita slipped off the desk, quickly fixing her skirt before she tugged down the top of your dress, your tits popping out over the hem. Her hands slid up your body before cupping your chest, rolling your nipples between her thumbs and fingers, a smirk on her lips as you suddenly couldn’t keep your eyes open. The triple sensation was rocking through your body, your eyes clenched shut as you yelped, your pussy pulsing harder and harder, Rafael’s cock throbbed inside you and you were seeing stars. You did your best not to collapse against either of them, trying to stay upright as he fucked harder and faster into you, chasing his own release.

“Shit!” He grunted, “oh god… so fucking wet.” He groaned, his own eyes fluttering shut, “gonna come…”

“Come inside her.” Rita offered with a shrug, “I think you deserve it once in a while.” Her hand pinched at your chin, “think she’d like that. Wouldn’t you?”

You nodded at her, eyes barely breaking open as you panted, letting out a little whine and a moment later you gasped loudly at the feeling of Rafael’s cum painting your walls. He grunted, fucking into you a few more times until he finally stilled, shuddering at the way your cunt was continuing to flutter around him.

“Fuck…” he muttered, hands softly rubbing at your body, his lips coming to meet the soft skin of your neck, “you alright?”

“Mmhm.” You replied breathlessly, turning your head to kiss him softly and his hand smoothed back a piece of your mussed up hair, “more than alright.”

“Seems like I should come home late more often.” Rita teased, pulling a chuckle from both of you, “now how about we get you cleaned up before bed?” Her hand softly pinched at your chin again and you nodded, whimpering as Rafael’s cock slipped from you and you could feel his cum leaking down your legs.

He laughed softly, watching his release for a moment before he swiped some of it up with his fingers, “someone definitely needs a bath.” He smirked before your lips wrapped around his fingers, sucking them clean with a quiet moan.

“Well, there’s a reason we have a three seater jacuzzi tub.” Rita replied with a shrug, a steady arm wrapping around your waist as she pressed a kiss to your temple, a hand squeezing at Rafael before she finally greeted him with a kiss.

Scooping up the abandoned pairs of panties and various drink glasses she guided you from the room, making sure you were on steady legs before she began to run the water into the tub, adding in whatever oils she deemed appropriate. It was in pure satisfied bliss that the three of you finally slipped under the water, letting the last of the day melt away as you truly enjoyed each other’s company as the evening came to a close.

__________________

@svulife-rl @ms-calhoun @momlifebehard @alexusonfire @godard-muse @summergeezburr @daddy-heather-dunbar @kmc1989 @thatesqcrush @plaidbooks @lannister-slings-and-arrows @witches-unruly-heart @swimmingstudentchaos891

[nevermorgue]

Hello Hayley! I've been binge reading your Nevermore headcanons and I LOVE every single one. If you're taking requests, may I ask for some Montresor and Morella friendship headcanons please? I feel like they would tease each other, but be able to bond over a shared love of food. Thank you for all of your work :D

YES!!! I was so inspired by pluto’s morella and monty platonic art in the server. i love the idea of them getting along. but to start, i’m gonna be evil

- Obviously things wouldn’t go so great. Morella doesn’t like him and actively stands up against his nonsense. Montresor probably only sees her spectre, really. He understands that her defense skills are necessary. Probably thinks she’s too kind hearted. Probably also thinks she’s stupid to some degree, but not entirely because of how she stood up to him.

- I can only imagine their relationship changing if Morella just kinda forced herself to tolerate him to keep the peace as much as possible. She doesn’t want unnecessary problems to arise (like the wall thing) nor does she want to feed into what he wants (her to snap/react)

- So her method is to attempt to treat him the way she treats everyone else. Montresor finds it amusing, using her kindness against her and purposely being worse to get her to break.

- That backfires. He’s trying to put her on a Will/Ada level, but Morella is too headstrong to be fooled. She’s kind to be kind, and his pleasantries don’t work on her. If anything, she’s more responsive when he drops the whole charisma thing- because he’s being REAL.

- With this dynamic established. Imagine. She’s a great cook. She ends up making a big meal for the misfits and is oh so kind enough to save a bowl for him. She knows damn well he doesn’t deserve it, but her continuing to be nice to him despite how horrible he is…it’s kinda like a game between them now. She’s trying to say she’s better than him with every kind act. And he’s not only entertained/mildly pissed, but he’s stubborn and wants her to snap and drop the act so he plays along.

- “Lemme guess, doll. Poison’s in here. Naw…maybe dirt.”

“Just spices and care, Montresor. Try it!”

And of course, it tastes fantastic. He says it tastes like shit and slams the door in her face. He eats the entire bowl.

- As time goes on, Montresor doesn’t realize it but he’s starting to see her as less of a game like his lackeys and more of a neutral company that he doesn’t really necessarily hate. And he can tell that their ��game’ goes more and more stagnant as Morella becomes less faux-kind, allowing herself to pout or scold him. It’s become less of a “try to get the other to back off” and more of a natural sort of interaction.

- She genuinely asks him if he’s ever brushed his hair in his life. He proceeds to answer by running his fingers through his hair, only to cuss when he hits a particularly nasty knot.

- She just kinda tosses a spare hair brush at him. She’s not willing enough to touch him/comb his greasy ass hair for him, but at least gives him the means to do it himself.

- I do agree that they bond over food. They have big stomachs and Morella is just so good at cooking.

- Ada invites Morella to sit with her and Monty in the common area once. She was hesitant, but agrees after she’s encouraged by the misfits to go for some strange reason.

- But once the interaction starts, Morella can tell that Ada doesn’t really want her there. She keeps glaring and tugging Montresor’s sleeve, as she always does.

- It doesn’t dawn on her why she was invited until Ada spills it.

“Why did you want her here so bad, dear? I wanted my alone time with you…” Ada would whine. Ada doesn’t HATE Morella, but she’s still not very happy about their argument in the cellar.

Morella can’t believe what she’s hearing. It wasn’t Ada that wanted her here- but Montresor

- She grins. She has no idea what their relationship really is or if it can be anything other than a okayish neutral, but perhaps this moment right here is proof that Monty can feel something that isn’t cruel or unnecessary.

- And Montresor? Refuses to look her in the eye. She’s not terrible. But don’t get him wrong, it’s only because she’s in the middle. Not smart enough to be on Annabel or Prospero’s strategy levels, but not pushover-y enough to be of any use to him. That’s it.

[wisecrackingeric-2]

SPOILERS FOR SEPERATE WAYS UNDER CUT N O T OPEN IT IF YOU DONT WANNA SEE EM!!!!!!!!

Here’s my little tiny exploration of Luis’ character because it is my god-given duty to pull him apart and analyse him

• Ok so first off………. THE OPENING SCENE??????????? Oh my god there’s S O MUCH TO TALK ABT. Yes Luis dancing is hot as SHIT but also???????? He was about to get TORTURED and MURDERED and he STILL decided to have fun with it and do a lil dance?????? That’s so!!!!!!!!!! He wants to live out his fantasies right until the end!!!!! He truly does think his confidence can get him anywhere!!!!!!! And then when the dance ends he’s READY TO FISTFIGHT THE MONKS?????? NO WEAPONS HES FULLY ABIUT TO GO FISTFIGHT THEM???? He KNOWS it’s a loosing battle but he’s gonna fight tooth and nail to the very end!!!!!!!!!!!

• Also when he turns to face the person who was also dying in the cell and says “this next dance is for you brother” and we get a close up of his face……….. god it hurts to know that that was a person. Somebody who was beautiful in their own right and maybe even somebody who meant something to Luis. Even in the face of death Luis sees the beauty in it ARGHGAGWHSGSB

• Also also I’m sure SOMEBODY could find meaning behind the Flamenco (somebody more knowledgeable in Spanish culture than me) but I’ve heard some people say it symbolises capture and death???? CAPCOM HOW DARE YOU HURT ME SO

• I LOVE that we get to see a more relaxed side of Luis around Ada and less of his flirtiness and damn. It’s so obvious he and Leon are in Love. He’s trying soooooooo hard to impress Leon every time they talk by being super flirty with him and then whenever he’s with Ada he’s a total nerd he’s soooooooooooooo in love w that blonde twink

• GODDAMN THAT FIRE SCENE. WHAT I S N T THERE TO TALK ABOUT??????? First of all the paralells between his childhood where he watched his grandfather die in a fire?????? Also he FULLY RAN INTO A BURNING BUILDING AND ALMOST DIED J U S T TO GET LEON HIS MEDICINE????????????? HE CARES ABOUT LEON SM I WANNA RIP SOMETHING APART. He didint wanna see Leon die in the same way his Grandfather did because he couldn’t save his Grandfather back then!!!!!!!!!!! He wants to make things right!!!!!! HE WAS LITERALLY ON HIS HANDS AND LNEES CRYING I CANT I CANT

• Also ADA CARES ABT LUIS SM,,,,,,,, SHE RAN INRO A BURNING BUILDING TO SAVE HIM AND MAKE SURE HE DIDINT DIE,,,, THE BESTIES EVAH

• godDAMN that scene where Luis heals Ada?????? I LOVE that we see him hesitate for a good solid few seconds on wether or not he should run away from her or stay,,, wether or not he should go back to his usual habits of running away from the people he loves or stay to help,,,, ANS HE STAYS TO HELP BECAUSE HE CARES ABY ADA AND ALSO??? ADA BEING LIKE “leave me here……… besides…… you’ve got a promise to keep……..” OOOOOOOUGGHHH SHE KNOWS,,,, SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH LEON MEANS TO HIM I CANNOG RN also that lil apothecary thing he had was sooooo gender of him

•OH MY GOD HIS DEATH SCENE WHERE HE CALLS HER?????????????? I don’t remember EXACTLY what he said and I’d have to comb through like hours of footage to find it again but,,,,,. THE FACT THAT HE CALLED HER TO SAY GOODBHE????? HE CARES ABOUT HER RIGHT UMTIL THE END?????? AND HE CALLS HIMSELF HER ‘Good Samaritan’ IN THE SAME WAY HE CALLS HIMSELF DON QUIXOTE TO LEON AOAOAISAUJSSOSISKS,,,,,, and then he’s like “sorry I’ve gotta go Leon needs my help ;)” OUGH,,,,, I’m gonna reference another post from my mutual but it’s so sad that Luis got to spend the rest of his life with Leon but not the other way round………………..

• I’m so glad we got to see more of Luis and more of his personality when he’s not tryna swoon the blonde twink he’s in love with BXNSBEHEJXIAIS he feels like such a deep and real human being especially whenever he interacts with Ada and I just,,,,,,,,,, sigh. He’s my favourite character for a reason. 10/10 no notes

• Edit: also the parallels between Luis calling himself Ada’s ‘Good Samaritan’ and Leon his Sancho like AAAAAAAAAA???? You could pick apart the meaning and argue abt how good samaritans are usually friends and Sancho is a code word for Gay Lover in a lot of old fashioned Spanish bars like how ‘friends of Dorothy’ was but ANSNWUENDUNXXUNDDHXN SHUT UP I can’t rn

•Also I’m SURE you could pull some symbolism from the bugs and from Luis having an apothecary as catholic self-exorcism and how ‘science is the roof of all evil’ and Luis is using it to help others etc etc etc……….

Also if anyone else finds anything abt luis lore wise like how you have to find a picture of his grandfather or of him with Umbrella in the original PLEEEEAAAAASSSWE SHOW ME I NEED MORE LUIS BACKSTORY I NEED IT IN MY VEINS

• ALSO ALSO EDIT: the fact that one of the ingredients for his cure are butterfly wings???? And butterflies symbolise CHANGE????? HIS ENTIRE ARC IS ABT CHANCE??????? I’m actually gonna be sick.

[witchpassing]

an intervention {iii}

{ first | prev }

They barely make it ten. 

It’s Laplace’s fault, probably. All that counterscry work should have done something other than what it did, and they should have spotted the raven first, and everyone knows you can’t trust a wizard (root wise-ard, which is to say too fucking clever) behind the wheel of a car. 

Laplace’s fault or Harrier’s fault or hers, it doesn’t really matter now. The car is rolled into the ditch, a burning carcass, great rolling plumes of gold and red eating at the night. Laplace has fled down the road, melted into darkness; Exit Sorceror, stage left. Mairead, if she lives, does not expect to see them again. Harrier lies in the heather, firelight glimmering in the blood on her forehead. 

The shadows roil. Hot metal ticks and groans. There should be a reek, burning oil and molten tyre, all the evil fume of a fresh-killed car, but instead Mairead smells only sweetness. Like honey, or rich incense. 

The Witch of Midnight’s Gyre is here. 

Ada is pooled at the apparition’s feet, fingers knotted in the skirt of a gown blacker than night, a gloved hand sunk deep  into her hair. There is an expression on her upturned face that Mairead has never seen before. 

“Ada,” Mairead begins, picking herself out of the road, and the eye beneath the hat-brim falls upon her. 

There is a sensation of going at the seams, of being turned open, shucked. Hands of cold and massless shadow thumb her skull inside-out and comb through its contents and she does not know how to even begin to resist, does not know no, stop in this language of thought-as-action. (Once her mother taught her to devein prawn. It was a little like this.)

-

She can hear Chrysanthe talking, very faintly, very far away. It is hanging on the terrible presence’s arm like a skittish prom-date, pleading in its gentle, unobtrusive voice for Mairead not to be hurt. The witch stoops a moment, touches her lips to the porcelain brow, assures in a velvet murmur that she is not hurting her friend at all, simply correcting something. The doll nods and clings a little closer, watching Mairead with tender worry in its unblinking eyes. 

And indeed, it does not hurt. When Mairead is decanted back into herself, the place where she used to know Chrysanthe’s name is a smooth and gentle hollow, like the socket of a tooth pulled years ago. 

The heather rustles. Chrysanthe is crouching beside her. No, not Chrysanthe, not its name, not an it– 

“Shh,” it murmurs. “Easy now.” Cool fingers card through Mairead’s sweat-tangled hair. In the corner of her awareness there stands the witch, permitting. “It’s okay, Maisie. Everything’s going to be okay.” 

“It’s ffucking not,” Mairead slurs, hating herself for the sob that comes with it, but Chrysanthe is still talking. 

“Let it explain this time, please. It’s important.” Mairead quiets, but only because it doesn’t matter what she says any more.

“You believe that it did not want… this.” Chrysanthe makes an all-encompassing little gesture. Itself; the abhuman body with its clicky-clacky joints, the eyes like still pools, the dress which, though flatteringly cut and prettily adorned, is unmistakably a servant’s. “Yes?” 

Mairead nods mutely. 

“Yes. Or rather - you believe that it could not want this. Because, how could anyone? How could your Ada? She was so strong, and so wonderful, and you loved her so much.” The bitter note in its smile - that is intimately familiar, like an old scar. 

“But only this one can know what your Ada desired, or why. Only this one and its Mistress can know the circumstances under which she was remade, whether it was forced upon her, begged for, a cruel trick…” Wind stirs the heather. A little of Chrysanthe’s hair drifts into its face, fine as spider-silk, and it pauses to tuck it behind its ear. This gesture, too, is torture by familiarity. “And you’ll never touch the truth of it, Maisie, because you can’t believe in either of us. The witch is your enemy, the monster who took your wife and broke her spirit, and the doll… well, dolls can be made to say anything, can’t they.

“And so you will believe what suits you best. You will live your whole life, quite probably, believing that you and Harry and your friend in the big coat were doing something kind, and that it was very sad you failed. You will know best, forever.”

Chrysanthe stands, dusts off its earth-stained skirts, and lets go a deep breath. It nods to the witch, who steps from background to foreground without effort, like a figure in a dream. Mairead recoils, instinctively, like a dog kicked once and expecting another. But nothing happens. The witch simply puts her arm around Chrysanthe’s shoulders. It leans deep into her, weight more off its feet than on them, head laid against the sabled shoulder, hers. 

This is the witch’s revenge, Mairead understands, but not in full. This is the first hour of it, and it will continue until she dies. 

“I am going home now,” Chrysanthe says. “Goodbye, Maisie.” 

“Wait! Wait, wait, please, wait-” Mairead lurches forward, reaching, but the distance, nightmarish, refuses to close. “Chrysanthe - please - We’ll see each other again - won’t we?” 

In the last moment before the shadow of the witch’s cloak folds her away, Chrysanthe smiles, beatific. 

“No.” 

[cuffmeinblack]

Garreth Weasley x f!OC

Tags: explicit | friends to lovers | dark themes | trauma

Chapter 33

“Oh Merlin’s bloody—” Garreth threw the comb into the sink and rushed from the bathroom, forgoing his cloak as he swept out the front door. Too engrossed in preparing for Darcy's arrival and subsequent judgement upon his lifestyle, he'd given the man precious minutes to linger outside of the potion shop. But he was not outside the door when Garreth arrived, out of breath and rosy-cheeked; far worse, he was inside, cosying up next to Adanna. Garreth's stomach twisted and snarled at the slight touch Darcy gave her wrist, the soft smile she returned to him. He cursed himself for leading the wolf right to the rabbit's den. The door near flew off its hinges when Garreth crashed into the shop. He didn't care. It had been a necessary intervention. “Sorry I'm late,” Garreth said, offering no explanation. “Morning, Ada.” “No apology necessary.” Darcy dipped his head and whispered something into Adanna's ear that made her throat bob.