#Eleanor at the surface

[arsont-t]

[kluskinoodles]

IT IS FINISHED

Martin has both arms it’s just behind his back

[tothesurfacebioshockau]

jack, do you like puppies or kitties?

Jack, really likes dogs. He always watches them at park. Maybe a little more like staring but he watches.

[mosquito-queen]

“you need to work on your bedside manner.”

yelena rolls her eyes, shoves kate back down onto the couch - the couch she has painstakingly swaddled in a fresh blanket and kate’s favorite pillow. she ignores kate’s protests, tucks her back into the it’s-a-sickbed-kate-bishop-and-you-are-to-stay-in-it. but kate is an awful patient. she doesn’t want to sit still or take her temperature or watch tv.

so yelena traps her. traps her in a bed that in another lifetime natasha had made her in ohio. because yelena is an awful patient too. but she’ll stay still on a couch wrapped in a quilt and then covered with a favorite blanket. she’ll stay still for her pillows forted around her body. she’ll stay still for a person tugging their fingers through her hair. and so does kate.

(it also helps that yelena’s bedside manner is truly terrible and she threatens kate to an inch of her life.)

[jlf23tumble]

What's the blog that went over 2015 larry? There's the one video from the Grimshaw interview where louis looks hella in love with Harry. Literall heart eyes gazing up at him. But I'd love to read some counter thoughts to them not being together at that time.

I just spent a chunk of time digging, and those convos all happened, like, a year ago, rip me! So if you want to see some older posts, here's one and here's another one. There's no real timeline/masterpost that I remember seeing, but there were other people chiming in around then, too--I think it *does* help, though, to look at those interviews, as short as they are, in full vs. gif recaps. That context, bb! You can read it at least two ways!

[jackjolene]

BioShock/Sinking City: Welcome to the Surface

Onboard the apparent escape craft, Jack and Liz find five little girls and one teenage girl decked out in a diving suit like the one who had he had fought in Oakmont. The resulting tense standoff between Jack and Eleanor is thankfully resolved when Tenenbaum’s sphere surfaced and she gets the two of them to stand down. 

After getting Eleanor, Tenenbaum, Subject Sigma (aka Charles Milton Porter), and all the girls that they and Delta rescued onboard the Mary Catherine, Jack proceeds to chew out Tenenbaum for taking their submersible and going off on her own to Rapture of all places.

Tenenbaum points out that while it was foolhardy, it worked out: All the kidnapped girls have been rescued risking only the life of a single person (herself), and they have acquired the resources and people for a new mission. When asked what this mission is, she replies: “Saving the survivors of Rapture.”

For a while now, she has been theorizing about a cure for ADAM sickness. It would work by using ADAM’s own recall of past genetic changes to reverse the splicing and turn a splicer back to normal. The issue is the sheer number of potential bonding sites for such a cure. Tenenbaum needed a powerful computer to calculate these sites, and she found it in the “Rapture Operational Data Interpreter Network”, or the “Thinker”.

With the Thinker’s blueprints and the resources of Ryan Industries in hand, they’ll be able to make a second Thinker, create the cure for ADAM, and then return to Rapture to cure the remaining splicers and also save the surviving non-splicers.

This changes everything for Jack. For years now, Rapture was shoved into the back of his mind. When it became clear that someone in Rapture was responsible for the coastal kidnappings, the legacy of Andrew Ryan, his father, was brought right back up. 

Feeling responsible for the horrors that have continued on in Rapture during his absence, and while reluctant to go back, Jack is all for this cure and saving whoever is left. He pledges to return to Rapture after developing this cure and using the resources of the original rescue mission as the groundwork for another, larger expedition. With that, he orders the Mary Catherine to set a course to Iceland to get the rescued girls to the authorities.

After handing off the girls to the Icelandic authorities and making up a story for having found them, the Mary Catherine sets sail for its home port of Oakmont. They arrive just in time for Thanksgiving, with the Jolene girls and the Reed family waiting on their pier for them as they dock. 

After a joyous reunion, Jack, Liz, and Tenenbaum introduce Eleanor and Porter to their friends and family. Still a Big Daddy, Porter is stuck with having to wave and make a whale-like noise. Thankfully, the Jolenes and the Reeds are used to interacting with far stranger things than him.

As for Eleanor, thanks to the isolation imposed by her mother, she is very unused to interacting with new people, especially with her own age group. Due to her experiences, she finds it easier to talk and relate with adults. After managing to say hi to Masha, Leta, Sally, Annabelle, and Daisy, she moves on to the Reeds who, she realizes with a shock, she recognizes them as a rush of memories race through her mind.

She remembers growing up in Oakmont, looking up to her father and wanting to be a Navy diver just like him, achieving that dream, then going independent and working as a freelance diver, which led her to finding an undercity run by the missing tycoon, Andrew Ryan. Subject Delta, Johnny Topside, is none other than Jonathan Reed, the son of Charles and Joy Reed.

When she took Delta’s ADAM to preserve his consciousness in her mind, not only did she gain his plasmids and gene tonics, but she also gained access to the memories that he had lost in the process of becoming a Big Daddy. Faced with the family that Delta was denied for over ten years, Eleanor swallows hard and puts up a brave face as she greets her “grandfather”, “grandmother”, and the siblings of her “father”, somehow managing not to cry.

The Jolenes and Reeds have their traditional Thanksgiving dinner, which is held this year at Jolene Manor (formerly Blackwood Manor), with two unexpected guests. Having never seen so much food and of such variety, Eleanor stuffs her face, after which she takes a long and satisfied nap. Porter doesn’t contribute a lot to the dinner conversation, but the Jolenes and Reeds make sure that he knows he’s welcome.

After dinner, Jack and Liz take Charles and Joy aside and explain everything: Rapture, ADAM, plasmids, Big Daddies, Little Sisters, Big Sisters, and now, their new mission to save the survivors of Rapture. Charles and Joy aren’t really surprised; they figured that the backstories of Jack, Liz, and their adopted daughters were likely strange. After all, nobody that comes to live in or was born in Oakmont has a normal life.

Tenenbaum is for immediately beginning work on the new Thinker; she sees no point in stalling and Jack agrees with her. The sooner they get back to Rapture, the more people they can save. That just leaves one question: Who’s coming with?

Jack is a given; his status as Andrew Ryan’s heir means that Rapture’s security systems will be open to him. He doesn’t like the idea of Liz coming with, but she’s made it clear that where he goes, she goes as well. Besides, her skills with stealth make her a valuable asset in Rapture’s environment. Tenenbaum knows the ins and outs of both the city and ADAM, so she’s also coming with.

Charles would love to come with and help his friends, but he’s gotten on in years. He’s glad that his children’s lack of powers exclude them from going to Rapture; Jack is glad the same is true for his girls.

That leaves Eleanor and Porter. While both are powerful combatants and veterans of the insanity and horror of Rapture, Jack and Co. wouldn’t blame either of them if they didn’t want to come with. They’ve been through a lot, and asking them to go back to Rapture would be cruel.

It’s going to take a while for the new Thinker to be built and calculate the cure’s bonding sites, so that means that Eleanor and Porter will have time to recover from their ordeals. Sadly, Porter’s activities will be limited, as he’s still stuck in his Big Daddy suit and that’ll have people asking questions, even in a town like Oakmont.

Eleanor has more options. While she’s almost seven feet tall (Big Sisters are about 6 feet, 10 inches), she has no splicing damage and isn’t grafted into her suit. The city of Oakmont, with all its strangeness, secrets, and dark history, is about to become the playground and school for a daughter of Rapture.

[pathologicalreid]

separation anxiety | S.R.

spencer's first case back from paternity leave involves children, so a concerned party reaches out to you for help

who? spencer reid x fem!reader category: fluff content warnings: mom!reader, dad!spencer, vaguely described breastfeeding, word count: 1.28k a/n: this is technically the reid family from cryptic, but you don't have to read cryptic in order to understand this fic.

Your book rested in your lap as you pinched the thin paper of the novel between your index finger and your thumb. You had one foot on the ground, and the other was on the bottom of your daughter’s stroller, effectively rocking the stroller in two-four time so the infant would stay asleep.

Just because the A-Team wasn’t around didn’t mean there weren’t people working in the BAU. A crying baby would certainly disrupt the workflow in the bullpen – even if the baby belonged to a member of the BAU. Although, you had already fed her – mostly covered – at Spencer’s desk, so maybe you were past the point of no return.

You and baby Nellie had just been staring at each other at home – she was doing tummy time – when your phone went off. A mysterious text from Derek Morgan had popped up on your phone screen.

Derek Morgan: Got a sec?

It wasn’t that you and Derek never texted, it’s just that it was usually under the realm of “on my way” messages and, more recently, baby pictures, but you usually communicated indirectly using a massive group chat that was created by none other than Penelope Garcia.

So, when you answered and he asked if you’d be able to meet the team when they arrived at Quantico, you hesitantly said yes. He explained more once they were on the jet, the case that they had been on involved young children, and there was a little girl that had struck a particular chord with your boyfriend – who was on his first case back from paternity leave.

Eleanor was three months old, and you weren’t sure who’d have a harder time being away from one another – her or Spencer. You hadn’t considered how Spencer would feel when confronted with a case involving children now that he was a father. Quite frankly, you had hoped that he would’ve had more time before he needed to face a situation like that.

You waited, still using your foot to rock Nell’s stroller as the cover diffused the fluorescent light, you could hear her moving now, likely having woken up from her nap, but if she wasn’t crying, you saw no reason to stop her from playing with the colorful toys that dangled above her.

Sighing, you peered up from your book to see the elevator opening on the sixth floor, revealing the team behind the steel doors. Morgan clocked you first, winking as he passed through the glass doors to the bullpen.

Spencer hadn’t noticed the two of you yet, so you slowly opened the cover of the stroller and picked your daughter up, holding her gently to your chest. The infant fussed a bit while she was being moved, effectively gaining the attention of her father, whose face lit up at the sight of his family waiting for him at his desk.

Pushing past the rest of the team, who had also noticed the small being in the room by this point, Spencer approached his desk, haphazardly dropping his bag on the metal surface before pressing a soft kiss to your lips. Before even bothering to separate your lips, he was taking the baby from your arms.

“Hey,” he murmured, pulling away from you slowly as he secured the baby in his arms, bending his neck to place his lips on the crown of Nell’s head, “I missed you, angel girl.” His voice was gentle as you looked on fondly, she reached out a small hand and gripped the collar of his shirt. “How are you?” He asked, turning his attention back onto you.

You smiled at the two of them, using a cloth to wipe the drool from her chin before Spencer took it from you, deftly draping it over his shoulder in case he needed it shortly. “Good,” you answered, “tired,” you added.

Across the bullpen, Emily waved at Eleanor, grinning broadly as she walked over to her desk with JJ. To her enjoyment, the baby responded by letting out a coo and smiling before turning her attention to her dad, nuzzling her face in his chest, “Did I miss anything?”

Raising your eyebrows, you shrugged, leaning back and sitting on Spencer’s desk, “She pushed herself up on her arms yesterday.” It wasn’t a massive milestone – you were still grateful that Spencer had been present for her first real smile.

“Oh, yeah?” He responded, proudly looking down at his daughter, who had moved on from nuzzling and was now trying to see just how much of her hand she could fit in her mouth. “Did you know that babies usually go through a sleep regression right before they learn a new skill?” He asked, directing the question at Nell, “That must be why your mama looks so tired.”

You waved him off, crossing your arms in front of your stomach, “She’s lucky she’s so cute.”

The familiar click-clack of heels notified you that Penelope Garcia had made it to the party, likely signaled by another member of the team, “The cutest little girl in the world!”

Even though every member of the team had held your daughter at one point or another, you weren’t entirely comfortable with her being handed off like a hot potato. This, combined with Spencer’s aversion to germs, led to an unspoken rule: wait until one of her parents offered to let you hold her.

“Did you want to take her for a bit?” You offered, looking over at Spencer as you did. He needed time with her, it wasn’t your intention to deprive him of that, but you needed to check in with him without the distraction of the baby. Handing her off, you spoke up, “Watch your earrings,” you tapped on your earlobe, “She will grab them.”

As Garcia held the baby, she made her way around the bullpen, allowing Eleanor to make grabby hands at everyone and everything.

Keeping an arm around his waist, you looked up at your boyfriend, “Are you alright?” You asked, keeping your voice low as there was no sense in airing your concerns to the now bustling office.

Spencer’s smile faltered ever so slightly, “They were just kids. There have been kids before, but now…”

“Now you’re a dad,” you finished for him. “It’s not just something that you could see happening to someone else; it’s something you could see happening to yourself.” Pinching his side slightly, you smirked at him knowingly, “You know, your levels of empathy and sensitivity increase when you become a parent. Your brain adjusts to make yourself a better parent.”

Rolling his eyes slightly, Spencer raised his eyebrows at you, “You know, I vaguely remember telling you something very similar last week when you were crying at an ASPCA commercial.”

You reached up to ruffle his hair, “Nice try at sarcasm, babe, but you and I both know you never vaguely remember anything.”

“How did you know to come here? That I’d need to see her?” Spencer asked, watching as Penelope continued to parade around the BAU, now taking her up the stairs and through the roundtable room. “Was it a mother’s intuition?” He suggested, taking up a lighter tone.

Turning around, your eyes followed Garcia as she walked with Eleanor, “I was contacted by a concerned party.”

Spencer followed your gaze, “I’ll thank Garcia when she gives our baby back.”

You hummed, “Actually, it was Derek, he-“ Your voice cut off abruptly, “Oh, Penny, I told you she’d grab them!” You called from Spencer’s desk, but Garcia was already on her way to return Eleanor, holding one hand to her ear as she handed the baby back to Spencer.

[donnapalude]

i was thinking there's really something in max calling anne "the truest person i have ever known". black sails is a story about stories in many ways, not the least of which is about the stories we tell to ourselves about ourselves in order to survive our own choices. flint and eleanor mostly tell themselves that they are good people and that their 'bad' actions are justified or don't represent them i.e. they are not part of their identity. max cuts off pieces of her identity so that she does not perceive her actions as opposed to her self-concept. silver abandons any definition of his identity so that he can be flexible enough to do anything necessary to survive. and so they choose and they can live with it. but when it comes to anne, she can't do it. when she needs to choose whether to take her revenge on max she says "i don't wanna do it. i don't wanna live with it after". during the show she has been characterised as someone struggling to find her identity, tending to lean on others to absorb part of theirs. and that gradually changes after she meets max, but even at the end of the series it appears to be still a work in progress. yet, even at the beginning, and again throughout the show, even when she doesn't know exactly who she is in all of her facets, as soon as she perceives something about herself, as soon as it surfaces, she honours it. when she realizes she does not want vane's men to keep raping and beating max she does something about it, immediately. when she realizes she does not have it in her to kill max, she stops. she is not able and i think more importantly she does not want to tell herself any lies to live with it. she is similar to silver in that she has run from looking at herself for a long time, but she is opposite to him in that she is probably the character more intentioned to embark on a journey to shine light on her interiority moving forward. she is also the only character, as far as i can think of, that seems to conceptualize the definition of her identity as a process of discovery of a sort of tangible 'true self' that exists somewhere within her and that encompasses every moment of her life, every decision. in that way she is someone that never really tries to be the author of her own narrative, it's almost like for her, her story has already been written. not in the sense that her future is predetermined, but in the sense that she thinks events and choices have shaped her and will keep shaping her as they happen regardless of her will for them to do so. in that sense, when she tries to find herself she is less writing her story and more reading it. while everyone else considers their identity a negotiation between what they can keep in and what they can omit from the narrative they self-create.

[starlightsuffered]

Hate Fuck

Info - enemies, hate fuck, a little cnc, clothes breaking, cocky Timothée, insults during sex, legs not working from a good fuck, unprotected sex

I was so sick of hearing all about Timothée. Timothée this and Timothée that. So he'd landed a small role in a movie. He wasn't a star or anything.

Eleanor only wanted him along because she was ga ga for him. Her brother Henry was as well. Then there was Violet, Mary, and Harry. We'd all been friends since little up. Henry and Elenor were newer to our group and had brought Timothée into it.

Timothée had been like a shiny toy to the lot of them. I used to be the one they followed and admired. I used to be the one to make them laugh. Now everything was about that bastard of a show off Timothée Chalamet.

We had all scraped our money together to go on a trip to Florida and bask in the heat and beauty. It had taken a lot of work and planning but we'd managed it. At the absolute last moment Timothée had waltzed in and asked if he could go.

Everyone had voted yes except for me. It made me so mad that I had saved for SO long to help pay and he had just grabbed a wad of bills from his pocket. I fucking hated him.

The night felt long and I never slept well in hotels. I decided that I would make use of the out door pool. Perhaps the exercise would make my anger decrease.

The whole flight I'd had to listen to Timothée talk about his time on the movie set. As he spoke Eleanor gushed. I was sat beside Henry and he kept turning back to listen and comment since he was also enamoured with Timothée.

I had a migraine by the time we landed. Timothée had also be elected to choose where we ate that night.

Apparently, since he was part French, he would have better taste than us.

It felt like he was possessing my friends and I was sick of it. At least this swim would be Timothée free. I grabbed my towel and bathing suit. I headed into the bathroom and gasped in annoyance.

I thought for sure l'd packed my new bikini. However, in my hand was my old one. They were both pink, so l must've grabbed the wrong one. This one had clips that easily fell apart and my boobs had grown a bit so that there was a worry about them falling out.

I sighed. I'd have to buy a new suit when we went shopping tomorrow. This would do for now. It wasn't as if anyone else would be out there.

I walked the cold hallways, the ac was always blasting. It was like a blanket of humidity was thrown on me as I exited the hotel. I gasped as the heat hit me. The short walk to the pool had me swearing,

I jumped into the cool water. It soothed my heat prickled skin. I felt calm under the quiet surface. I could finally forget Timothée even existed. All would be right in my world.

SPLASH!

Someone jumped into the pool. I wanted to scream. Of course my nice midnight swim had to be ruined by someone. When I came up and saw who it was I wanted to scream again.

Timothée stood there with dripping curls and a smirk. I hated that he looked godlike in this lighting. His high cheekbones and perfect bone structure. It would be a hell of a lot easier if my arch nemesis was ugly.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded.

"Taking a swim," he offered as he leisurely paddled.

"It's midnight!" I shot back.

"You're here," he said blandly. I couldn't deny he was right. I put my hands on my hips and took deep breathes to calm myself.

"You know the world doesn't belong to you y/n. I can go places. I can make friends. I can come on trips. I can go swimming. I can-"

We both flinches as the clasp on my bikini top sprung open. My breasts fell out heavily. I would double D bras so there was a lot on display. Timothée's eyes were right on my nipples. I was too stunned to cover myself.

Suddenly, everything changed from slow and stagnant to fast. Timothée moved towards me. He was feeling me up and kissing me. I'd never felt such electricity. No one had handled my tits the way he did. The perfection in the way he squeezed, the way he rolled the nipples, the way he shuddered into my mouth.

"What are you doing?" l asked, but I didn't stop him.

"Kissing you, feeling you, worshiping your perfect body. It's all l've wanted to do since I first met you," he groaned. He pressed against me and I gasped. He was rock hard in his trunks and he felt big.

"Y-you hate me," I stuttered as one of his hands reached around to my ass. It all felt so good. Perhaps he deserved to brag and eloat if he could make someone feel like this.

"No, you hate me., I adore you," he professed.

"Well you're a pompous idiot, always showing off and-"

He grabbed my jaw and looked into my eyes. He looked filled with lust, like someone on the brink. He was pulling against restraints that would break any moment. Then, in the most surprising and gentle movement he leaned forward and placed a sweet kiss on my lips. It left me breathless and needing more.

"Why do you think I show off?" He asked me quietly, and then his long fingers were hooked in my bottoms. "Why do you think I brag and big myself up? Why do you think I mention only my best qualities and abilities?"

"Because, ohhhhh," I cut myself off as my bottoms were pulled all the way down. His large hands left me for a moment. I knew he was pulling his dick free and I couldn't imagine why I wasn't stopping him.

"To feed your own ego. To sound important. To make everyone obsessed with you," I snapped.

"No," he shook his head. I keened when his thick head pressed at my entrance. I could tell he would hit my g spot without even trying. He was so big. My clit throbbed. I hadn't been fucked well in so long.

"For you," he said as he pushed his head in. I grabbed wildly at his biceps.

"All for you, everything I do and say is to get your attention," he said. He had his forehead pressed against mine now. We were heaving together. I nodded slightly to the question that hung in the air.

He pushed all the way inside me. I held back but his moan of gratification was almost enough to make my knees weak. I clung to him. He began to rock his hips. His huge cock was filling me again and again.

"Uh oh fuck, it's even more perfect than I imagined. Uh, uh, uh," he groaned as he slammed home again and again.

I couldn't hold back my pleasure any longer. My nails were already embedded in his skin. I was clenching my jaw so that it ached. I had to make a noise or a sound or something to express how fucking, damn, good I felt!

"I hate you," I whispered, trying out the words on my tongue.

"What's that?" He panted as he pushed deep inside me. He had me against the pool wall. His hands were greedily feeling all over me.

"I hate you," I moaned as he hit a delicious part of me.

"I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world," he whined as he attacked my neck with kisses. I grasped the nape of his neck.

"You're hideous," I responded, my eyes squeezed shut in bliss.

"Your pussy feels, fuck, like heaven," he retorted.

"I can't even tell you're inside me," I nearly cried as he slammed in. He chuckled dark and low in my ear.

The water was splashing everywhere. He was mumbling hot compliments in my ear. I couldn't help but lift my legs up and put them around him.

"Mm, mm, mm," I nearly squealed as he went at me like an animal in heat.

"Please," he gasped

"Please what?" | growled.

"P-please," he said again. He sounded like he was pleading for his life. "Let me cum inside you. You can call me any name you want, just please, can I let loose in this perfect cunt."

"I-l- oh, fuck, yes, you fucking piece of shit, cum inside me raw," | screamed.

"Oh yes!" He shouted and rammed his cock inside me so hard I was seeing stars. My world was spinning as rope after rope of cum filled me up. Then I was coming too. I was exploding with lust and desire and pleasure. I was panting and clawing and making such pathetic noises as we both erupted.

"That was.... Wow," Timothée moaned as he reluctantly pulled out. I sneered at him as best I could.

"Speak for yourself," I said as I got out. However, Timothée giggled when my legs refused to work right when I tried to walk. I glared at the idiot.

[marvel-snape-writes]

To Be Alone With You.

Snape x original female character

18+ fluff and smut

5k+ words

Severus Snape and Eleanor's relationship has blossomed over the past months, though due to their working schedules, they often find it hard to share more than just a sneaky kiss here and there whilst at Hogwarts. With this being the case, they decide a weekend away in a cabin where some of those earliest memories were made may just be the best setting to make up for lost time... (please also note that although Eleanor is the same name as the female characters in the other one shots, the stories do not follow on! Just the same name because I seem incapable of thinking of another... 😂)

((the gif reflects the bad weather outside the cabin I guess😭😂)

Their fingers laced together like the roots of the trees beneath them, fallen twigs from the branches above snapping as they walked over them. The ground was damp, but they walked the already trodden path through the wooded area.

“We spoke too soon about the weather.” She looked up at him as the grey clouds turned even more ominous.

“I think we have a good fifteen minutes before the heavens open.” Severus glanced up at the sky before down at her, shrugging.

“And about… twenty minutes before we get back to the cabin?” She laughed, squeezing his hand gently.

“I could always…” He gestured toward his wand, arching a brow.

“What, and deprive me from potentially seeing you in a wet shirt?” She pouted her lips playfully, still looking up at him.

“Well, I could make it rain, but who would purposefully want that?” He chuckled, shaking his head.

“You’d be surprised.” She winked, crinkling her nose.

Her eyes moved from looking up at Severus to the path in front of them, walking in comfortable silence. Memories came back to her of the days not that long ago when they would take their walks here as often as possible for an excuse to see each other without the crowds or watchful eyes of Hogwarts. Glancing to her left, she saw the tree where they stood upon sharing their first kiss, blushing like mad, hands trembling, a nervous laugh after. Since then, it had become place they had coined as theirs.

Through spring to summer, autumn to winter, whether it be flowers blooming or snow falling, they had walked the same path for the last few months. Though the days of sneaking around Hogwarts and kisses in dark alcoves sworn to secrecy were pretty much behind them, they still weren't overly open about their fooling around or affections toward one another in front of people who weren't in their close-knit circle. That being the case, the woods offered them not only nostalgia from their early days, but also comforting privacy.

“Oh, god!” Eleanor looked up at the sky again when she felt it begin to drizzle.

“Are you sure you don't want me to clear the sky?” Severus asked, placing his hand over his wand again.

“I just think you're worried that you’ll get beaten in our race back to the cabin…” Eleanor giggled, nudging his side playfully.

“What race back to the cabin?” Severus squinted his eyes.

“This one!” She exclaimed as the drops of rain grew larger and began to fall at a faster rate.

Eleanor giggled loudly as they ran through the woods, each step creating a splashing sound as their boots hit the muddy surface. The rain continued to pour and soaked them down to their skin, feeling now as if the way back to the cabin was endless.

“Ha!” She grinned, turning to him out of breath as she pushed the wooden door open.

Severus opened his mouth to say something but remained in the doorway instead - only this time, he was hunched over with his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. His eyes were shut briefly before his gaze fixed to the floor, panting.

“Winner gets a kiss.” Eleanor walked closer to him with the grin still on her face.

Severus’ gaze lifted from the floor and met hers, a glaring expression on his face as he finally caught his breath enough to speak, “I don't recall making any agreement.”

“I recall you promising not to be grumpy.” Eleanor rolled her eyes, standing with her hands upon her hips.

“I don't believe I would ever make such an… unrealistic promise.” Severus stood up straight.

“Sev…” She pouted, narrowing her eyebrows.

“Hm?” He scowled as their eyes met again. Eleanor exhaled slowly as she focused on his expression, watching in amusement as his serious face broke, speaking with a smile, “Of course you can have a kiss, my love.”

Eleanor’s cheeks blushed as Severus cupped her face in his hands, pressing his smile against hers as they shared a kiss. She placed her hands against his wet shirt and kissed him back, leaning up on her tiptoes.

“Mm, thank you, Professor.” She winked as the kiss broke.

“You’re soaked through, let me get you something dry.” Severus said before walking in the direction of the bedroom and waving his wand toward the open fire to set it alight in the process.

“Hang on!” Eleanor called as he pushed the bedroom door open.

“Something the matter?” He arched a brow as he leaned against the doorway, facing her again.

“No, no,” She shook her head, biting her lip with a grin as she looked toward him. Her eyes took their time whilst gazing upon the rain-wet shirt that was clung to his body, trying not to smirk, “Just saving that image.”

Severus rolled his eyes playfully and shook his head, turning to walk into the bedroom again. Eleanor remained in front of the fire and removed her wet clothing, draping it over the closest piece of furniture to the fire in an attempt of drying it.

“I…” He began to speak as he walked into the room, stopping in his tracks when he saw her stood in her underwear and being mesmerised by what stood before him as if he hadn't had that exact same body in his arms last night. Eleanor hadn't heard his reentry into the room again and remained with her back to him as she stood in front of the fire, much to his relief, “It would appear we only brought one change of clothes, apparently… so you can wear my shirt. A dry one!” He swallowed hard, “Obviously…”

“I suppose we both assumed we wouldn't be wearing much during our time here…” Eleanor spoke with a grin as she turned around.

“Mm…” Severus’ lip twitched from the memory of the previous night as he stepped forward, handing her the shirt.

“Thank you,” She smiled softly as she took it from him, “Nice robe.” She said as her eyes scanned over the silky material that was upon his body.

“It’s nice to be in something dry.” He chucked.

“You’re telling me!” Eleanor giggled, unclasping her bra and placing it in front of the fire with the other items of clothing before pulling his shirt on and fastening a few of the buttons.

“Would you like me to get a towel for your hair?” He asked, laughing as he spoke again, “I think we could both do with it, actually.”

“Good idea!” She giggled, walking into the kitchen once he made his way back into the bedroom.

The rain was still beating against the windows, one of which were still on the latch. Eleanor hopped up onto one of the kitchen counter to reach it, carefully closing it as the merciless rain continued to pound on the glass.

“Ah, you’re in here.” Severus spoke as he stepped into the kitchen before asking in a slightly amused tone, “What do you think you’re doing up there, hm?”

“Just closing the window.” She smiled as she turned back around.

“It’s really not stopping out there, is it?” He sighed, rubbing the towel against his hair before handing it to her as he stepped closer.

“Not one bit,” She shook her head, taking the towel from him appreciatively, “But outside doesn't matter when we've got this right here, does it?” She arched a brow, looking around the cabin with a devilish grin.

“I like where this is going…” Severus licked his lips slowly, watching as she attempted at drying her hair with the towel.

“Oh, you do, Professor?” She smirked, about to hop off the kitchen counter before Severus stepped further forward, preventing her from getting down.

“Stay there,” He spoke softly, placing his hands against the counter at either side of her as he dipped his head, speaking before a kiss, “It’s perfect.”

Eleanor leaned back on her arms for a few moments as he leaned over her, though only staying in that position for a short while before sitting back up again and snaking her arms around his neck, wanting them to be closer to each other. The kiss began to deepen, though before it got too deep, Severus pulled back. Eleanor opened her heavy eyes to watch him, her lips parting also when he took a couple of steps back and placed one of her calves against his shoulder. He turned his head to the side and allowed his eyes to flutter shut as he created a pathway of kisses from her inner calf all the way down to her inner thigh.

“O—Oh…” She sighed softly from the feeling — aware of Severus’ smirk when he noticed her breathing getting heavier the higher up his lips travelled.

His feather-light kisses continued against her inner thigh until his nose was met with the bottom of the shirt - his shirt - that she was wearing. He heard her softly gasp when he pulled back all together, however not for long as it was only moments later that he had her other leg upon his shoulder. He silently praised how well she held herself in such a position - one of her legs on each of his shoulders at this point. His lips gently dragged along the skin on the opposite leg from before, then trading his lips for the tip of his tongue once he got to her thigh. After a short while, he began to take it in turn with either leg, turning his head each way as he peppered tender kisses up and down them both and savouring each patch of skin as if not to take a single inch for granted. His eyes opened briefly to capture her reaction: leaned back on her hands, head barely even upright as she allowed soft whimpers to pass through her partially open lips.

“Mm, Sev…” She cooed, wanting to place her hand on his head but afraid she would lose her balance in her current position, “S-Severus, please…” She tried to nudge her hips closer to the edge of the kitchen counter each time Severus’ lips reached the higher end of her inner thigh.

“I’m afraid not, my love.” He shook his head, keeping his face close enough for her to feel his warm breath against her.

“But, why?” Her question was more of a whine, now desperate for more contact from the Professor.

“I’m sure you were brought up to know better than to make a mess in the kitchen.” He teased, his smirk now even more prominent against her sensitive skin.

“Whoever made up that silly rule clearly never experienced your unshaven face between their thighs…” She bit her lip, letting out a soft noise when she felt him purposefully brush his stubble against her skin as he lifted his head back up.

He arched a brow as their eyes met again, carefully placing her legs down against the counter again and looked at her with an innocent smile whilst trying to play dumb, “Hm?”

“Come back here.” She narrowed her eyebrows.

“Was that a command?” Severus cocked his head, leaning a little closer.

“If that's what it takes to get another kiss…” She pouted her lips, “Yes.”

“You know what happens when you look at me like that, Miss Eleanor,” His tone lowered and eyes glanced down at her lips briefly, their faces now a lot closer, “And when you tell me what to do.”

“Come… fucking… here…” She placed one of her hands against his cheek, pressing their lips together.

“Now, now…” He tried his best not to smirk this time, “Gentle.”

“It’s been too long to be gentle…” She whined against his lips, her thumb trembling over his cheek, “Aside from last night...”

“But we must…” He paused briefly to kiss her, moving one of his hands to the small of her back and bringing her closer to the edge of the counter, whispering “…pace ourselves, sweetheart.”

Her lips parted to say something before being met with his again, willingly wrapping her legs around him and placing her hands upon his neck. Severus lifted her smoothly off the counter and into the middle of the kitchen with his arms securely around her, their kisses getting harder with each step. By the time they had reached the doorway separating the kitchen and the living room, Eleanor's nails were soothingly scratching against the sides of his neck, knowing the effect this had on him.

Their eyes were closed, but the fire could be felt against them through the minimal clothing they were wearing to indicate how far into the room they were. Eleanor could feel his shivers each time her nails made contact with his skin, lightly nipping at his bottom lips between her teeth. Severus carefully placed her feet back on the ground when he felt his arms begin to tremble around her as a result of her nails running against his skin and placed his hands on the small of her back again, desperate for the kiss not to be broken. Eleanor’s hands moved to the material of the robe he was wearing and down to the fastening tie around it, resting her hands there as their tongues tangled together. Severus murmured something into her mouth as his sweating hands trembled against his shirt she was wearing, now able to feel the swelling between his legs.

“It’s your turn to show me you can pace yourself…” She whispered against his lips, breaking the kiss.

“Wh…” Severus began to say as his eyes opened, seeing Eleanor now on her knees in front of him with her hands still on the tie of his robe.

“You heard.” She smiled sweetly.

Severus swallowed hard, his lip twitching as his gaze moved to Eleanor’s hands as she unfastened his robe. Eleanor’s mouth fell open, watching in awe as his erection bounded out of his robe, parting between the material like Moses and the Red Sea. She leaned up a little further and placed her hands upon his upper thighs, licking her lips as her eyes settled on the tip of his cock.

“E-El… fuuuck…” He exhaled his words heavily as she enveloped her lips around the head of his length.

Eleanor suckled gently, not breaking eye contact with him for even a moment from the second she had got on her knees and knowing how this drove him all the more wild. She began to ease more of him into her mouth, slowly beginning to bob her head back and forth at a very steady pace. Somehow, Severus’ hands found themselves tangled in her hair, his head tipped forward for a few long moments until his eyes gave up; shutting them in pleasure as his head tilted backwards instead. He was not grasping at her hair or guiding her head, more soothingly moving his trembling fingertips against her scalp as they tangled in her hair and enjoying whatever pace she pleased. His breathing was heavy but his moans were gentle and in the rhythm of her head.

“Mm.. mm…” Eleanor murmured against him, teasing her tongue every now and then as she moved her head.

“E-Eleanor, sweetheart…” Severus narrowed his eyebrows, feeling himself falling under the spell of her mouth already, “Allow me to please you.”

Eleanor paused for a moment, pulling him out of her mouth completely before gazing up at him with an innocent expression, “Sev, there is nothing else I have craved more than your weight on top of me, but, please, let me worship your cock for a little while.”

“Mm, go ahead, Princess,” Severus nodded, after a few moments of shocked silence swallowing hard, “How can one say no to that, hm?” He let out a breathy chuckle.

Eleanor pushed him back into her mouth again after his words and massaged her tongue against the underside each time she moved her head back and forth. Severus’ hands moved behind him when he felt the tip of Eleanor’s tongue brushing under the head of his cock with a little more pressure than the rest. Several moans passed through his lips, leaning back against the arm of one of the sofas with his hands gripping onto it until his fingertips turned white. He fought the urge to move his hips in sync with Eleanor, content with the rhythm she had built already as his head remained hung back.

“Y-You are so good to me, baby,” He gasped as his cock pulsed, “That feels incredible…” His breath caught in his throat, trying his best to concentrate on the rain still pelting against the windows of the cabin so he wouldn't allow himself to give in to the pleasure too quickly, “Y-You’re such a good girl, agh…” He inhaled sharply, feeling his thighs beginning to tremble.

“I’ve been dreaming of giving you a good ‘welcome home’,” Eleanor grinned, pressing a few light kisses to the tip of his length as she pulled her head back, “With my mouth.”

“You bloody minx,” Severus lifted his head as he spoke, and he was even a little bit thankful that she had stopped devouring him with her mouth as it was so long since they had been alone like this until this weekend that he wasn't entirely sure if he could take any more of her foreplay, “Come up here to me,” He paused to soften his tone, ensuring it didn’t come across as a command, “Please.”

Eleanor began to get up, her eyes on his as she watched him lower himself, placing both of his hands on her cheeks as he gently pushed her back to her knees. Their lips pressed together desperately but tenderly, Eleanor’s hands now upon his shoulders as her face remained cupped in his, “Meet in the middle,” He smiled against her lips, “I couldn't wait any longer.”

“Pathetic.” She joked against his lips, teasingly denying him a couple of kisses.

“Don't push your luck.” He spoke in that tone; the one that sent her head spinning.

It wasn't long before the passionate kisses on their knees turned into Severus hovering his body over her, both of them keen to be horizontal as quickly as possible. Severus’ quick thinking of comfort lead him to reach for one of the blankets on the couch nearest to them, ensuring it would be laid out for Eleanor before her back touched the floor. Though the cabin was cozy and warm - especially as they lay in front of the open fire - it didn't make the floor any softer.

Eleanor laid completely flat on the floor and pulled him down with her, her arms now around him and her legs parted as an invitation for him to settle between. Severus’ thumbs repeatedly caressed her cheekbones, tongues tangling as their breathing became heavier when she felt his arousal prodding against her lower stomach. Quickly, she pushed his robe off him completely and he swiftly unbuttoned his shirt that she was wearing, dropping it to the side and resulting in them both being completely in the nude.

“Ugh, I want you…” Severus groaned against her lips as she laid back completely again, weakly pulling at her bottom lip, “Badly.” He emphasised, letting out a heavy breath against her lips.

“Take what's yours, Sev…” Eleanor whispered, tracing her nails down his back until they landed on his bottom.

Eleanor’s words made him shiver from head to toe and he slotted himself between her legs perfectly, melting into one another in one, effortless motion. The two of them met the motion with a moan, encapsulating it into a kiss as their lips touched again. Her hands against his bottom urged for him to start moving his hips, whimpering against his lips when he began.

“Oh, baby…” He spoke breathlessly between kisses, trying to brush her hair out of her face as his hips continued to move, his own beginning to fall over his already sweaty forehead, “Oh, Jesus fucking Christ, I have missed you so much.”

“Show me…” She could barely speak from the pleasure surging through her, trying to kiss him properly as their bodies moved together.

Severus broke the kiss and instead dipped his head to the side of her neck, planting kisses upon the sensitive skin with each thrust. Eleanor’s back arched in pleasure, tilting her head to the side to allow Severus’ kisses to continue with ease. One of her hands slid up his spine with her nails before delving into the hair at the nape of his neck and hooking her legs around him at the same time. Her shaking hands grasped clumsily at his hair as his lips settled at the crook of her neck, latching onto the skin this time and suckling gently as his hips continued to move.

“Ugh, Sev… Severus…” She moaned out her words, raising herself off the ground even more when she felt his tongue flicking against the same patch of skin followed by a cool breeze of air from his lips.

“Mhmm…?” Severus lifted his head, hazy eyed as he gazed down at her, “Are you okay, my darling?” He asked, and she couldn't remember ever hearing his tone so soft.

“Mm… wonderful.” She nodded and smiled contently with her eyes still closed, though opening them when she felt his eyes on hers.

“You’re beautiful,” He blurted out, hissing through his teeth briefly as his thrusts drove the pleasure for both of them, “H-Have you ever been told?”

“Shh…” Eleanor blushed - well, as much as she could blush with her already flushed cheeks, “Sex really brings out the soppiness in you.” She teased, biting her lip as she continued to gaze into his eyes.

“No, you,” He shook his head, cupping her face in both of his hands as he moved their faces closer together, “You bring out the truth in me.”

Eleanor grinned as the gap between them closed once more, one hand grasping a fistful of his hair and the other trembling up and down his back. Despite their lips being attached, it didn't stop the moans leaving their mouthes over and over again. Eleanor could feel his cock pulse with each thrust, his gasps each time only driving her more wild. The pleasure began to bubble up in her body, tightening her legs around him as she whimpered his name into his mouth.

“Severus, baby, ugh!” She shouted in pleasure, arching her back like before but also squeezing her legs around him simultaneously this time.

“O-Oh, I'm going to c…” Severus lost his breath as he felt his length twitch madly, his thumbs now trembling over her cheeks as he continued to cup her face in order to kiss her properly, “E-Eleanor!”

“Don't hold back…” Eleanor whispered shakily against his lips, “P-Promise me you won't hold back, Severus… I- I’m almost…”

Both of them struggled to form full words at this point, let alone sentences. The heat within the cabin coming from the open fire mixed with the heat between their bodies had caused the windows to steam, drips of condensation dripping down now and then. Their bodies moved together like they were made for one another; meeting repeatedly in increasing but still merciful thrusts and motions. Everything began to synchronise; the breaths they took, their moans between, their movements, the rise and fall of their chests and their heartbeats within it.

It was only moments later that their breathing changed, now holding onto each other tightly as they gave in to the overwhelming amount of pleasure that eventually erupted from them both - each caused just as much by the other. Despite the sounds of the crackling of the fire or the rain still beating against the window, it was nothing compared to the blissful noises of ecstasy coming from both Snape and Eleanor as they rode out their orgasms together, still tightly holding on to one another as if a bond they never wished to be broken and a feeling they never wanted to end.

The two of them writhed against each other in pleasure, trying to make it last as long as possible until they eventually collapsed into a panting heap on the floor. Eleanor stretched her arms up above her head, attempting to catch her breath in between the sweet kisses Severus was dotting against her forehead. He felt her hands leave his body and moved his own to meet hers, lacing their fingers together.

“Everything alright, my love?” He asked, moving one of his hands to brush her hair out of her face.

Eleanor nodded with a breathy giggle, “Everything aside from you regularly making me have to catch my breath.”

“You flatter me far too much.” Severus chuckled, squeezing her hand gently.

They laid there for a long while, breathing in each other’s afterglow musk and trying to get their breathing back to normal, also. Severus rested his forehead against Eleanor’s collarbone and closed his eyes — it was sticky with sweat, and the blazing open fire didn't help the case, but she didn't mind. In fact, she was flattered that one of the most famously grumpy men at Hogwarts felt comfortable enough to hold himself in this position, or, more to the point, that he was allowing himself to be held. Completely vulnerable.

After their lazy, worn out cuddle in front of the fire, and once they had gathered themselves enough energy to put a robe on each, they found themselves back in front of the fire, though, on the couch this time. The weather was still wild outside, but they paid it no mind. Severus was in one of the corners of the couch and Eleanor was snuggled up at the side of him, arm across his body and cheek against his shoulder.

“We have to stop having so much time apart.” Eleanor spoke softly with a quiet sigh, “Not that I don't think this weekend has somewhat made up for it.”

“I know…” Severus kissed the top of her head, “Fooling around in dingy, dark archways and sneaking a kiss between classes not doing it for you anymore, hm?” He teased.

“Oh, no, no,” She pushed open his robe and began drawing patterns against his bare chest with her finger as she gazed up at him, “Please don't stop that.”

“You are so bad.” He let out a singular laugh, winking as he looked back down at her.

“We’ll just not leave it so long next time.” Eleanor shrugged, knowing how difficult that would be with him being a Professor and herself only just starting as a Professor, but smiling at him confidently.

“Please do not think I do not enjoy the… sneaking around whilst we are within the grounds of Hogwarts, it is quite the opposite and I even confess I find it… particularly dangerous and arousing,” He swallowed hard, playing with the ends of her hair between his fingertips, “But… this, you know? Just to be alone with you… that is when I am at my happiest.”

“Sev…” Eleanor’s cheeks turned an impressive deep red and she hid her face against his chest, grinning madly, “This is not the Severus that scolds his students for not having their school shirt tucked in.”

“Look at me,” He tried not to react to her words, waiting for their eyes to meet again before he continued, “This is Severus, this is Professor Snape, this is me… happy. Because of you.”

Eleanor remained quiet for a few moments, taking in all that he had said before she responded, “You really mean it?”

‘Don’t you dare question the words of your Professor. Who do you think you are? Do you know who you are talking to?’Would have been his usual response. Eleanor, however…

“Over the last few months that we have spent time together, you have reignited something within me that I had long thought had been burned out for good,” He cupped her cheek in his large hand, lightly brushing his thumb against her plump lips, “Think of it like this; if you were wanting to create something you once remember enjoying the feeling of or something sacred, deeply personal… but think this is somewhat impossible, you also begin to believe that the ingredients are also impossible. Whether that be a feeling or potion and its components, say a hair, feather, or a flower. You have become, to me, almost as precious to me as that of a rare flower.”

“Severus…” She pressed a gentle kiss to his thumb, “All I can say is… the feeling is mutual. Very, very mutual.” She grinned, tilting her head up and kissing him softly.

“Eleanor, I want you in ways I did not even know existed.” He spoke sincerely against her lips, his eyes falling shut as he kissed her back.

“Take me, have me,” She spoke in between kisses, “In any way you please, Severus.”

“Oh, do not forget my age,” He teased, laughing against her lips, “My stamina is not what it used to be.”

“Severus!” She gasped with a loud giggle, playfully prodding his chest as the kiss broke, and joking, “No complaints from me, old man.”

Severus didn't respond this time. Instead, he let out a content sigh, leaning forward to kiss her forehead and pulling back with a genuine smile. His lips remained pressed together and Eleanor laid her cheek back against his chest, both of them enjoying the comfortable silence with the pitter patter of rain in the background.

“Are you okay?” She asked in a kind tone, squeezing her arm around him.

“Absolutely fine, darling,” Severus nodded, nuzzling his nose against her hair before pressing several kisses to the top of her head. There was silence for a few moments before he spoke again, “I’m afraid I’m falling in love with you.” He said cooly with a shocked, singular laugh from his own words.

“Y…” Eleanor lifted her head again, lips parted in shock, though also threatening a wide smile, “You’re what?”

“Sorry, allow me to… say that how I intended,” He exhaled quietly, leaning forward and resting his forehead against hers as he spoke in a soft, sincere tone, “I’m afraid. I am falling in love with you.”

-

Thank you for reading! This is my first soft Snape that I've written, so I was a little nervous 😬😂

Tags! ♥️

@vulnus-sanare @nympha-foresta @smilingformoney @sorryimdyingrn @liv2post @walkingdaddyissues @kitty-blades @blasiusramm @extra-venomous-tentacula @coco177 @jj-grm @dasnook13 @ironstrange1991 @decaffeinatedgrlie @mercuryacejonez @mm2022ll @puppi-sonnenschein @missgurlthang @girlblog2003 @msfandom22 @megladon045 @hisleastfavbrit @icytrickster17 @c-kayp @kimmyp12 @nordengaard @hazedwords @wepannaholmes @ominousminx @whats-that-puppet-boy @mija-novella @marisimps @letters4lucas @severelykinky @bibliosophie @chxelsxaa @architectofimagination @eyesinmymindinmay @gamoraaaaaa @kleinefeekaterina @georgiesgirl1223 @colorcrypt @lupinmoonlights @malfoyfanclub @my-cherie @thatweirdchristians @pxge394 @paperandlace @princesspolite24

(I'll tag everyone else in the comments! Please note: I tagged as many as Tumblr would allow, please don't take it personally if you're not tagged, it wouldn't let me tag some ☹️🫶)

[xxspringmelodyxx]

The legend~

Childe x reader (angst)

Part 2/?? For part I, here

A/n: here it is! Part two of The Legend! Please enjoy my lovelies and thank you all again for the support🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

It had been a few, but long, good years… well, for you at least. You had already mastered five out of the seven elements, with only Electro and Hydro left to finally obtain the final element. The journey had been the most fun you’d had in years, and it made you stronger both mentally and physically. There was still much to work on, but with the progress you were making, you felt confident that you’d be ready to fight the darkness in no time.

“No, not like that. You must be graceful as you move. The stiffer you are when trying to move the water, the harder it will be. Remember, work with the water, not against it. Now, do it again, this time with more fluidity,” Eleanor instructed.

You nodded, closing your eyes as you stood in the deep waters. The sensation of nothingness surrounded you, making you feel like you were flying. Slowly, you lifted your hands and placed them together. You relaxed your body, allowing the water to fully envelop you, listening to the deep, bassy sounds of the liquid.

You began to drag your left leg in a half-circle around you, lifting your knee, your hands following the same motion. The water started to vibrate around you, mirroring your movements. You then pushed your hands down softly, as did your leg, and suddenly, a huge part of the water was pushed down all the way to the ground. For about three seconds, the waters were separated. You looked down and smiled widely as you saw your favorite ring.

Why was it down there, you might ask? Well, the answer is simple… Eleanor threw it down there to help you with your training. You had not been improving much in mastering the art of the Hydro element, so she decided to push you a bit by sacrificing something meaningful to you.

Seeing the ring, you reached to grab it… but lost control due to your focus on the ring. The waters caved in, trapping you underneath. You were too deep underwater to swim out alive. Panic struck as you tried to figure out what to do… but the more you thought, the more precious air you lost!

Desperation set in, and you tried to calm yourself, but it was just too hard… especially knowing there was a chance you could die! You placed your hands together and pushed upwards, hoping the water would lift you to the surface… but nothing happened.

Time was running out and you couldn’t do anything, but keep trying. You kept doing different motions forcefully, your emotions getting the better of you.

Slowly, your vision started to fade, and that's when something unusual appeared. Glancing to your right, you saw a small tornado forming from the ground. Your eyes widened in surprise. The mini tornado grew larger with each passing second, moving directly toward you.

It enveloped you, lifting you back to the surface. You gasped for air, coughing as you tried to fill your lungs. Before you, a pair of feet stood firm, making you look up.

“You must learn to focus,” Eleanor said sternly.

“I-I was! Or… at least I was trying to,” you stammered.

“If you were truly focused, the water wouldn’t have almost drowned you. You were too fixated on the ring and lost your connection with the water. Imagine fighting someone who holds someone you love hostage. You’re doing well, but then you spot the hostage and become distracted. Blam! The opponent strikes, catching you off guard. It could be a fatal blow,” she said, helping you to your feet.

“I’m sorry… but that ring is special—” you began.

“If it’s special, then you must do everything to protect it. To do that, you need to eliminate the threats. Steady your mind, and you'll find it easier to control your surroundings. Had you not been distracted by the ring, you could have easily retrieved it while keeping the waters separate.”

“So… what should I do? I can’t just ignore something important to me. What if someone I care about is in danger? How can I not think about them?” you asked, frustration evident in your voice.

“This is a difficult lesson, but you must learn to set aside those feelings in the moment. Block out distractions and focus solely on your primary objective. That way, your chances of success are much higher. Once you succeed, you can then devote your attention to the person you care about,” she explained.

You nodded, taking in her advice.

“How about we take a break? I need to buy more herbs for tea. We’re running low. I should be gone for about two hours. Please, don’t cause any trouble, alright?” she said, making you smile.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. E! I won’t even make a sound,” you replied, eliciting a chuckle from her.

“Good. I better get going now. The sun will set in a few hours, and I want to return before then. I’ll be back!” she said, heading toward the city.

As she disappeared from view, you sat by the water’s edge, reflecting on her words. The training was more challenging than you had anticipated, but you knew it was necessary. You picked up the ring, holding it tightly, vowing to master your focus and control. The path ahead was still long and arduous, but you were determined to overcome every obstacle and harness the power of all seven elements.

*****

About an hour passed by, and still, there was no sign of Eleanor. I sighed, feeling the weight of boredom pressing down on me. My feet dangled in the cool, refreshing water as I sat perched atop a rock, my mind wandering aimlessly in search of something to do. The stillness of the surroundings only heightened my restlessness, and I found myself wishing for some kind of distraction.

As time crept by, a spark of inspiration ignited in my mind. Perhaps I could try to retrieve the ring while Eleanor was gone! Surely, she would be impressed by my initiative and progress. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? Well, aside from the fact that I almost drowned the last time I attempted it. Pushing that thought aside, I exhaled deeply to calm my racing thoughts. If I wanted to master the elements, I needed to keep practicing.

With newfound determination, I placed my hands together in front of my chest, then gracefully pulled them apart, swaying them to the side and up toward the sky. Suddenly, a small ball of water plopped out of the sea, shimmering in the sunlight. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight—it was adorable!

“I think I’ll call you… Blob!” I said, giggling at my own whimsy.

Keeping my left palm facing the blob of water suspended in the air, I began making spiral motions with my right hand. Gradually, strands of water rose up and started to spiral around the blob, forming intricate patterns like double helixes encircling a small nucleus. It was mesmerizing to watch.

As I maintained the motion, the strands of water grew longer and thicker, causing the water level in that specific area to lower. After about thirty seconds, I finally reached the bottom, where the sunlight glinted off my ring, making it sparkle. Excitement bubbled up inside me as I saw it. I hopped off the rock and waded through the water to retrieve my prized possession.

“Remember to focus on your main target…” Eleanor’s voice echoed in my mind, reminding me of her wisdom.

I took her advice to heart, concentrating on the water around me to ensure I maintained control. Slowly, I picked up the ring, careful not to lose focus. With the ring securely in my hand, a sense of triumph washed over me. I had accomplished my goal.

“Haha! I did it! Take that water!” I announced proudly.

However, my celebration was cut short as the water began to tumble around me. I glanced up in alarm and quickly raised my hand, focusing intently on the impending wave.

“Oh you’ve gotta be kidding me…”

Closing my eyes, I forced myself to relax and reconnect with the water’s essence. I placed my hands up above me, shielding me from the incoming water. Inhaling and exhaling steadily, I felt the water touch my hand but not engulf my body.

Opening my eyes, I was met with the sight of a massive body of water hovering above me, emitting deep, resonant sounds. The sheer size and power of it made me shiver, but I couldn’t help but smile. I had managed to control the water and prevent it from harming me. Slowly but surely, I was becoming one with the element, inching closer to mastering it.

I slipped my ring on, feeling its familiar weight, and placed my hand down, spiraling it once more. The water responded, circling around me and lifting me gently to the surface. I cheered as I made it to land, elated by my success.

I ran back to our old little cottage, catching my reflection in the mirror. I noticed that I looked more fit than I used to, my muscles more defined. A few scars adorned my arms and stomach, reminders of my journey. I smiled as I recalled my transformation and how challenging it had been to master even a single element.

**Flashback**

"Come on. You cannot give up so quickly!" Eleanor urged, her voice firm but encouraging.

"But it’s been five weeks since we started, and I’m getting nowhere!" I complained, frustration evident in my voice.

"Patience is key, my dear. You must remember that you cannot force the element to obey until you learn to become—"

"Become one with it, yeah, I know. You've only said that like a hundred times," I interrupted, my tone tinged with impatience.

"Again," she insisted, pointing to my hand where a small pebble rested. "We are not going to stop until you at least move that pebble from one hand to the other without physically touching it."

After a few seconds of futile effort, I became frustrated and dropped the rock. "Okay, I’m done. Obviously, I’m not supposed to master this, which means I’m definitely not going to master the other six. I am not going to be the next host of this light element, so it’s better to just stop now before we waste more time."

"Y/N—"

"No, maybe you made a mistake in choosing me. You should find someone who can actually handle this. Maybe someone who has already mastered one of the elements. I can’t do this," I said, turning to walk away. However, a huge pile of rocks formed in front of me, creating an impassable wall.

I clenched my fists, my frustration mounting at her persistence. Eleanor appeared in front of me, her expression calm yet resolute.

"At least allow me to speak before you leave," she said, making me sigh in resignation.

"Fine. But you won’t be able to say anything that will help me."

"Fine, but let me try," she insisted. I nodded reluctantly, and we both sat down to talk.

"When I was your age, I too struggled. I almost gave up because I thought there was no way I could achieve something as monumental as mastering an element," she began, her eyes distant as she recalled her past. "I was impatient and frustrated, just like you. But then, I realized that every great achievement starts with small steps. The process requires patience, dedication, and most importantly, belief in oneself."

Her words struck a chord with me, and I felt a glimmer of hope reignite within. "How did you keep going?" I asked softly.

“Atlas.” She spoke with a smile.

”He never gave up on me,” Eleanor continued, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “Every day, he would greet me with a smile, ready to impart new lessons. Months passed, and I still wasn’t making much progress… until one fateful day.”

“There was a deadly battle between us and another group, specifically one person. A boy chosen as the host for the dark element,” she said.

Your eyes widened as you listened intently.

“His name was Micah. He was a truly terrifying being—large, muscular, covered in scars, and bloodstains all over his clothes. He was ruthless.”

Eleanor paused, her expression darkening as she recalled the memory. “On that day, Atlas and Micah were locked in combat. Atlas was fighting to protect me, but he was struggling because the darkness had grown more powerful. I remember seeing Atlas get stabbed in the stomach with a sword, and I screamed in pure terror.”

“Did he die?” you asked, unable to hide your concern.

“No, but he couldn’t move due to the severe blood loss. Micah placed his hand over Atlas’ mouth, and I saw purple lines spreading all over both of their bodies.”

“Why? What did he do to Atlas?” you pressed, leaning forward.

“He was draining Atlas’ power, trying to extinguish the light… but I couldn’t just stand there and watch him die. I had to help. And suddenly, I felt an immense surge of power from within.”

**Eleanor’s Flashback**( A flashback within a flashback. Flashbackception)

“Master Atlas!” Eleanor screamed, her voice filled with desperation.

“Run, Eleanor! Save yourself!” Atlas shouted, struggling to free himself.

Overwhelmed by fear, Eleanor began to run, tears streaming down her face. But she stopped in her tracks when she heard Atlas scream in agony. Turning back, she saw him from afar.

“Atlas!” she yelled, sprinting back toward him.

Micah turned and shot a beam of dark energy at her, striking her in the back. She groaned in pain, her vision swimming with spots.

“Now, you will die… and I will take over the world,” Micah declared.

Atlas let out a bloodcurdling scream, and Eleanor, driven by sheer will, forced herself to stand. She focused intently on Micah, her breathing steadying. Ignoring the chaos around her, she raised her hands and brought them together. Slowly, flames began to surround her body, lifting her into the air.

Both Atlas and Micah stared in shock. Micah released Atlas, who collapsed, coughing up black residue and struggling to breathe.

“You never know when to give up, do you?” Micah sneered.

Eleanor remained silent, channeling her energy inward. “I will not allow you to hurt Master Atlas! If I have to sacrifice myself, I will!” she proclaimed, thrusting her hands forward.

A massive fireball shot toward Micah, hitting him squarely. She continued her fiery assault, each blast pushing him back. Seizing the moment, Atlas rose behind Micah and launched shards of light at him, eliciting a screech of pain. Working together seamlessly, Eleanor and Atlas overwhelmed Micah, who eventually realized he was no match for them. He fled the scene, leaving them alone.

Eleanor rushed to Atlas’ side, helping him to his feet.

“You did well, my child. I knew you could do it,” he said, his voice weak but filled with pride.

“Thank you for always believing in me… but enough of that. We need to get you help. Let’s go,” Eleanor replied, determined to save her mentor.

***End of her flashback***

Eleanor’s eyes met yours, a soft smile on her lips. “It was that day I realized the true extent of my power and the importance of never giving up. You have that same potential, Y/N. Remember, every great journey begins with a single step. Stay determined, and you will master the elements, one by one.” She started

“That moment was pivotal—I knew I was destined to become the next host for the light element. From then on, I trained harder and grew stronger. Within five years, I became the new host. But you, you have the potential to achieve this in even less time if you learn to clear your mind."

"Clear my mind?" you asked, intrigued.

Eleanor nodded and brought her hands together, forming a sphere of water between them. As she slowly separated her hands, the water expanded and swirled in various directions.

"Look at this water as a representation of your mind. Right now, it is agitated, frustrated, angry, and sad. You can't see through it clearly, can you?" she asked.

"Yeah. So?"

"Well, if you allow it to settle and calm down…” She said, causing the water to still, “Soon, you'll be able to see through it clearly," she explained.

"This is your mind. When you become angry or frustrated, you'll find it difficult to accomplish many things. But if you calm down, relax, and focus on your main goal, you'll see that it becomes much easier to achieve."

Eleanor placed a small pebble in your hand. "You haven't been able to move the pebble because you're too focused on your frustration at not being able to move it. If you forget about that frustration and instead focus solely on moving the pebble, you'll have a better chance of succeeding. So, let's try it one more time. This time, think about nothing but the pebble. Learn from your past mistakes and use that knowledge to help you now."

You sighed, taking a deep breath to calm yourself. Fixing your gaze on the pebble, you focused your mind entirely on it.

"Remember, do not worry about your surroundings, and do not let your anger or frustrations get to you. Put your mind at ease. Be determined to move the rock," Eleanor advised.

You relaxed, clearing your mind of all distractions. Slowly, you felt the pebble begin to shift, and you gasped in surprise. As you moved your head up, the pebble followed your movements, floating in the air.

"I did it!" you shouted, letting the pebble fall in excitement.

Eleanor smiled warmly. "I told you, once you calm your mind and have determination, it's much easier to do things you once thought impossible."

You couldn't believe it—you had finally done it. Suddenly, my smile turned into a frown as I looked up at her.

“Do you really think I can do it? Do you really think I am destined to be the holder of the light element?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," she replied confidently. "And I will be here to guide you every step of the way. But you have to promise me one thing: never give up on yourself."

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "I promise."

**End of Your Flashback**

The memory of that moment filled you with renewed confidence. Now look at me. I’ve mastered five, almost six, of the seven elements. It’s something that has been unheard of… but not anymore. I am the new standard, the new example. I will prove those who doubted me wrong. My achievements aren’t just for me but for everyone who ever believed in me, and those who didn’t. They will all see what I am capable of.

Suddenly, my thoughts drifted to Ajax, and a frown crept onto my face. I wondered how he was doing these days, how he and Lumine were faring together. Despite everything, a part of me still longed to be with him, even after the awful things he said. Maybe it was because I missed him—the old him. The boy who brought joy with his smile, who lulled me to sleep with his warm voice, who made me feel like a princess. All of that was gone now… because of another girl. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I knew I had to move on.

I sighed, rubbing my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. “Stop thinking about him, Y/N. It’s over,” I muttered to myself, hoping that speaking the words aloud would make them more real.

Barely a moment later, I heard a cry for help—a little girl’s voice piercing through the quiet. My eyes widened as I rushed outside to see what was happening. I followed the noise, my heart pounding in my chest, and saw a tiny girl… flying? She was hiding behind a boy who looked to be my height, if not a bit taller, with blond hair tied in a braid at the end. I’d never seen him before, but then again, I’d been gone for three long years, and much could have changed in that time.

Ahead of them were two figures. A girl with a red blindfold, brown hair tied in high pigtails, and wielding small hand blades stood poised for a fight. Beside her was a man with short blond hair, blue eyes, and a black mask. My eyes widened as more figures appeared behind them—at least fifteen in total. They looked menacing and ready for battle.

The boy with the little girl, who was still crying for help, held a sword and was trying to fend them off. He looked determined but outnumbered and overwhelmed.

Should I help him? It might make things easier for them… Eh, why not. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do, and it seemed like the right thing to do.

I quickly circled around the group, ensuring I stayed out of sight. Positioning myself behind the enemies, I raised my hands, ready to intervene.

-Aether’s POV-

Paimon and I were sprinting, a horde of people hot on our heels, intent on delivering us to their “leader” for some twisted reward. We found ourselves in an unfamiliar locale, a breathtaking vista of azure seas stretching out before us. It was a scene straight out of a vacation brochure, but there was no time to admire the view. I had to focus on evading our pursuers.

As Paimon’s cries for help echoed, I made a split-second decision to halt our flight. There was no way help could reach us in this remote spot. Turning to face our aggressors, I drew my sword, bracing myself for the confrontation.

Just as our adversaries closed in, a sudden gust of wind erupted, sending them sprawling in all directions. Shocked expressions mirrored my own confusion. Was it Venti’s doing? But no, there was no sign of him. A second onslaught, this time a combination of wind and fire, sent the attackers reeling.

“Are you doing that?” Paimon’s query hung in the air, but neither of us claimed responsibility for the elemental barrage.

Caught off guard, I found myself momentarily distracted, my attention diverted elsewhere. In that fleeting moment, a menacing figure charged toward me, sword raised high, poised for a deadly strike. But before his blade could find its mark, a verdant tendril burst forth from the earth, coiling around his leg with formidable strength, hoisting him into the air.

My gaze shifted ahead, drawn to the source of this unexpected intervention. Standing before me was a young woman, her presence commanding and her demeanor resolute. My eyes widened as she addressed our assailant, her words carrying an air of authority that brooked no defiance.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, her presence commanding attention. Was she friend or foe? Her actions seemed to be in our favor, but appearances could be deceiving.

"Who are you?" The man bellowed, his voice laced with both pain and defiance.

"That's none of your business," she retorted, her tone unwavering as she clenched her fist.

The man's laughter mingled with his anguish. "Is that all you can do, pretty girl? You’re just gonna use your green little plants to stop us? There’s no chance, bunny!" he taunted, but the girl remained unperturbed, a smirk playing at her lips.

"Oh, I can test the fires if you’d like," she countered, her hand igniting with a brilliant orange and red glow. With a swift motion, she slammed her palm onto the ground, unleashing a ring of fire that engulfed her and the man in a fiery barrier.

My eyes widened in astonishment at the display before me. "She has…two visions!?" Paimon gasped in disbelief.

"I don’t think she has just two…" I murmured, realization dawning upon me. Three elements wielded with finesse and power, yet only one young woman stood before us, a testament to her extraordinary abilities.

The man’s pleas dissolved into the charged atmosphere as the girl advanced, her presence commanding respect. “You insult me, I demonstrate my capabilities… and now you recoil in fear?” she remarked, her tone tinged with authority, causing the man to falter.

With a firm grip, she grasped his face, his whimper echoing in the stillness. “I will grant you clemency this time… but further transgressions will not be met with such leniency,” she warned, her words resonating with consequence as the man nodded solemnly. “Y-Yes, ma’am! We will depart! I give you my word!” he pledged, his fear palpable.

However, danger lurked in the shadows, as a sword dancer crept toward her, poised to strike. Without hesitation, I sprang into action, intercepting the blow meant for her.

“Thank you," she whispered softly, her gratitude conveyed with sincerity.

Before I could fully process her words, another assailant lunged towards me, but the girl swiftly intervened, conjuring a fiery sword to intercept the attack.

"I suppose you're all itching for a fight, aren't you?" she remarked coolly, her gaze steady as she addressed our adversaries.

"Very well... hey," she called out to me, her tone steady and determined. I met her gaze, observing the faint smile that graced her lips.

"Are you ready?" she inquired, her voice carrying a quiet resolve. I nodded in response.

"Always," I affirmed, my commitment unwavering.

With a soft hum of acknowledgment, she lifted her sword, swiftly disarming our assailant with a precise strike. Following her lead, I mirrored her actions, swiftly rendering another opponent weaponless.

Together, we fought with valor and unity, our movements synchronized as we defended ourselves against our adversaries.

As I glanced over at her, I witnessed her engaging four opponents with a grace and skill that left me in awe. With a swift and precise motion, she hurled her sword at one of them, piercing their stomach and incapacitating them instantly. Without missing a beat, she retrieved her weapon and swiftly dispatched another assailant with a forceful strike to the chest, eliciting a cry of pain.

Meanwhile, the remaining two assailants closed in on her before she could retrieve her sword, prompting her to unleash a torrent of flames from her hands. In a dazzling display of power and control, she summoned forth blazing infernos that engulfed her attackers, leaving them writhing in agony.

I stood transfixed, marveling at her prowess as she effortlessly held her own against multiple adversaries. However, my momentary distraction proved costly as I failed to notice the incoming threat before it was too late. With a sharp impact to my stomach, I felt a surge of pain and the warmth of blood seeping from the wound.

-Back with you-

Amidst the chaos of the skirmish, a groan of pain caught my attention, drawing my gaze towards the wounded boy lying on the ground, his stomach grievously injured and blood staining the earth beneath him. My heart clenched at the sight, a surge of urgency propelling me into action as I realized the severity of his condition. He needed help, and he needed it urgently.

But before I could reach him, I was accosted by four assailants, their grasp firm and unyielding as they sought to restrain me. Frustration boiled within me, mingling with a fierce determination to break free and aid the wounded boy. Ignoring their demands to cease, I pleaded for release, my voice echoing with urgency and desperation.

The boy’s pained expression spoke volumes, his silent plea for assistance driving home the gravity of the situation. With every passing moment, his life hung in the balance, his need for aid growing more dire by the second. In the midst of the tumult, I knew that I couldn’t stand idly by while he suffered.

“I said. Let. GO!” I yelled.

Suddenly, as if conjured by the urgency of the moment, a towering wave surged forth from the depths of the sea, its colossal presence commanding the attention of all who bore witness to its awe-inspiring might. In an instant, the assailants' grip on me faltered, their fear palpable as they realized the magnitude of the force arrayed against them.

Panicked cries filled the air, a chorus of voices clamoring for escape as the relentless tide bore down upon them with unrelenting ferocity. Frantic shouts echoed amidst the chaos, urging retreat and flight as the looming wave threatened to engulf everything in its path.

"We gotta get out of here!"

"Everyone flee! Flee!"

"Let's go! I don't wanna die like this!"

The urgency in their voices was unmistakable, their terror mirroring my own as we stood on the brink of disaster. In the tumult of the moment, there was no time for hesitation or second-guessing—only the instinctual drive for survival and escape.

Amidst the chaos and confusion, the wave crashed upon the shore with a deafening roar, its relentless force driving the assailants to scatter in a desperate bid for safety. With each passing moment, their cries grew fainter, swallowed up by the tumultuous roar of the sea as they fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of chaos and destruction in their wake.

Relief flooded through me as the tumultuous wave subsided, my attention immediately drawn to the boy writhing in pain on the ground. With each wince and gasp, his suffering became palpable, igniting a fierce determination within me to ensure his safety.

Without hesitation, I rushed to his side, my eyes softening with concern as I took in the extent of his injuries. "You're hurt! We have to get you somewhere safe," I insisted, my voice laced with urgency and determination.

"No, I-it's okay. I think... ngh... I can manage," he protested weakly, his words punctuated by the strain of his labored breaths. "Are you kidding me? You are losing way too much blood. Come on. Let me help you and tend to your wound," I countered firmly, wrapping his arm around me with gentle yet firm resolve.

"Paimon will help as well!" the little girl piped up, her voice infused with a sense of determination and solidarity.

With their support bolstering my resolve, I guided the injured boy toward safety, each step a testament to our shared determination to overcome adversity. "Come on, my place is right over there," I reassured him, leading the way with unwavering resolve and determination.

*****

I gently lowered him onto our dining table, wincing at the sound of his groans of pain. "Sorry!" I apologized, feeling a pang of guilt for his suffering.

Hurrying to gather the necessary supplies, I retrieved disinfectant, cloth, and bandages, my heart racing with urgency as I returned to his side. As I approached, I noticed his condition worsening, prompting a surge of determination to alleviate his pain.

"Okay, I'm just going to apply some pressure to stop the bleeding. This might hurt a bit, so grab onto my arm if you need to. Okay?" I explained, meeting his gaze with reassurance as he nodded in understanding. Gently, I placed my hand with the cloth onto his wound, his sharp intake of breath accompanied by a tight grip on my arm, the pressure of his hold sending a twinge of pain through me.

Persisting through his discomfort, I maintained the pressure until the bleeding finally ceased. With cautious precision, I dabbed disinfectant across the cut, his grip on my wrist tightening further, the strain threatening to overwhelm me.

"Ah... you're doing... really good! Just keep breathing. I'm almost done," I offered words of encouragement, my voice strained with effort as I worked to ease his suffering.

With the last few dabs of disinfectant, I sensed his tension beginning to ease. Carefully, I helped him sit up, preparing to wrap his wound with bandages, each movement infused with a sense of relief and gratitude for his resilience in the face of adversity.

"Okay, I'm gonna need you to sit up a bit for me, alright? I need to get this wrapped around you tightly," I instructed, receiving a nod of understanding from him.

"Could you help me a bit, Paimon?" I requested, and she quickly obliged, assisting in maneuvering him into a sitting position.

As I wrapped my arms around his chest and Paimon pushed his back, he groaned in pain, his discomfort weighing heavily on my conscience. "We're almost there. Keep breathing," I urged, offering whatever comfort I could.

After what felt like an eternity of careful wrapping, we finally got him situated against the wall. I began to work on securing the bandage around his waist, ensuring it was snug but not constricting. Gradually, his breathing steadied, and his grip on me loosened.

"Thank you," he breathed out, his gaze meeting mine. I offered a slightly awkward smile in return, nodding in acknowledgment. "No problem. I wouldn't want to just leave you out there," I replied, my voice tinged with sincerity.

Just as I was finishing up, I pulled the last strip of bandage a bit too tightly, eliciting a hiss of pain from him. "Sorry! I guess I did it a bit too tight. Here, let me loos-"

"No, it's okay. I need it to be that tight," he interjected, mustering a small, tired smile. Despite my inclination to adjust it, his reassurance quelled my concerns. "But I can-"

"Trust me, I'll be fine," he assured me, his words carrying a sense of resolve that I couldn't help but admireI looked up at him and nodded, slowly backing away from him.

I held my arm where he had grasped it, noticing it beginning to bruise. The boy observed it too and promptly got off the table.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"No, no, no. It's fine, really. I've been through much worse than this. I'll manage," I reassured him with a chuckle. He took a step back, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Okay... just wanted to make sure you were okay," he said.

"I appreciate that," I replied warmly.

He continued to stare at you, something about your features reminding him of something. It's like he has seen you before…but he's not sure where? Maybe it's just in his head?

A few moments of awkward silence passed by... so you decided to break the ice.

"Uhm… so if you don't mind me asking… what's your name?" you asked the boy.

"Oh… I guess that is something you should know now… especially after helping me," he said, holding his hand out.

"I'm Aether. And you are?"

You took his hand and shook it.

"Y/n. Nice to meet you, Aether. I don't think I've seen you around anywhere before... but... for some reason… you look oddly familiar now that I think of it."

He smiled.

“That’s a nice name. And yeah, I just ‘arrived’ here about two years ago. I’ve been traveling all around the place to find my sister…” he said, his voice trailing off as if lost in memories.

“Ah…I see. And your sister, what is her name?” you asked, your curiosity piqued.

“Her name is-“

“I’m back! Oh y/n, the nice men at the market gave me three brand new things of tea for free! Isn’t that-oh…whose this?” Eleanor burst into the room with her usual energy.

“Oh! Eleanor! This is…a friend of mine.”

“Friend? Y/n…don’t treat me as a fool. I know exactly who this boy is. It’s nice to see you again, Aether.” Eleanor greeted him warmly.

“It’s nice to see you again too, Lady Eleanor.” Aether smiled politely.

“What!? If you knew who he was, why’d you ask?” you inquired, curious about Eleanor's playful charade.

“Just something to do, I guess—Ah!” She cut herself off as she noticed the ring on your finger. Hurriedly, she came closer to inspect it.

“You did it! Without me watching you?! Y/n, you could have been seriously hurt!” Eleanor exclaimed, her initial joy turning to concern.

“Hey, I still did it! That’s all that matters! In fact, I accomplished even more,” you announced proudly.

“What?”

“Well, you see, Aether is only here because there were a bunch of people chasing him and Paimon over there,” you explained, gesturing to the little floating companion beside him.

“Haiii again!” Paimon chirped, earning a smile from Eleanor.

“So, I decided to help and fight with Aether! Needless to say, we kicked their butts!” you said with enthusiasm.

“No, it was more like you kicked their butts. I mean, especially with that huge wave you caused—” Aether interjected.

“Wave? You made a wave?” Eleanor asked, her excitement evident.

“Yeah. It was gigantic! Paimon thought it was bigger than a giant!” Paimon added.

Eleanor looked down at you, pleased. “Well, my dear. This is certainly wonderful news. It sounds like you are one step closer to your goal,” she said, patting your head.

“She also helped bandage me up. I have a lot to owe her,” Aether added, his gaze fixed on you. You smiled, thanking him.

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you both are safe. No need to repay me,” you reassured them.

“Well, I think it’s getting a little late, don’t you kiddos think so? Let’s all head to bed, shall we?” Eleanor suggested, prompting nods from all of you.

Taking Aether's hand, you carefully guided him to your room.

“I know we just met and all, but if Eleanor trusts and likes you, then I think it’s safe to say you are a good guy,” you said with a light laugh.

“So, here,” you continued, pointing at your bed. “You can sleep here tonight. You need a good night's rest, especially after today.”

“But…what about you? Where will you sleep?” Aether asked, concern evident in his voice.

“Oh, we have a pretty decent-sized couch out there. I’ll sleep there tonight—”

“No! You need your rest just as much as I do…maybe even more,” Aether insisted.

“No, Aether, it’s fine! You take my bed,” you insisted in return.

“No, I wouldn’t feel right if you had to go sleep on the couch. I’ll go sleep there—”

“Hold it!” you interrupted, grabbing his wrist.

"I know this might sound a bit unusual, but considering the circumstances, I do have a fairly large bed. How about we both just sleep on it tonight? We’re both adamant that the other should rest here, so why not? We’ll be far enough apart that it won’t even be noticeable," you suggested thoughtfully. Aether's cheeks flushed slightly at the proposition.

“Aether! You’re turning red! Are you feeling unwell? Now I’m certain you need to sleep here tonight—”

“No, no, I’m fine. It’s not that... I mean, I agree with your idea. It’s just two friends sharing a bed,” he stammered awkwardly, eliciting a chuckle from you.

“Let’s not make it any more awkward than it needs to be. Just relax and get comfortable. With a good night’s sleep, we'll be better prepared for whatever tomorrow brings,” you reassured him, easing under the covers.

“Yeah, exactly,” he responded, settling onto his side of the bed. You extinguished the lights, bidding each other goodnight.

“Thanks, y/n... and to you too,” he murmured gratefully, quickly succumbing to sleep, with you following suit not long after.

—With Childe—

Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and soon months turned to years, yet Childe couldn't shake the haunting absence of your presence. It had been precisely 3 years, 10 months, and 27 days since you disappeared, and not a day went by without him feeling the weight of your absence. He was consumed by regret, tormented by memories of his own mistreatment towards you.

Each passing day without you felt like an eternity of remorse, as he replayed the moments he took your laughter and smile for granted. Your infectious joy lingered in his mind, a bittersweet reminder of what he had lost. He longed to turn back time, to undo the hurt he caused and hold you close once more.

“Something troubling you, Childe?” Pantalone's voice broke through his reverie, pulling him back to the present.

Childe's expression remained distant as he replied, "Just lost in thought."

Pantalone raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes. "Ah, it seems you're reminiscing about that girl again. What was her name…?"

Before Pantalone could finish his sentence, Childe interjected with a hint of urgency, "Y/n. Her name is y/n."

“Ah, y/n…such a beautiful name…and from what I’ve seen of her…very beautiful. I should’ve shot my shot when I heard you chose someone else over her~”

Childe’s jaw tensed as he resisted the urge to lash out at Pantalone’s taunts. His grip tightened around his weapon, the threat of violence simmering just beneath the surface.

“She would never go for someone as heartless as you,” Childe retorted, his voice strained with barely contained anger.

Pantalone’s laughter only fueled the fire within Childe, but he maintained his composure, refusing to let his emotions get the better of him.

“Me? Heartless? What about you? Surely if I had someone like y/n, I would never treat her how you treated her. Oh how cold and hurtful you were to her. I bet she ran far away from you and has found somebody else to be with~” Pantalone continued, making Childe clench his fists.

“Even I wouldn’t stoop that low.” Pantalone finished

Childe’s restraint snapped. With lightning speed, his sword whizzed past Pantalone’s head, a warning of the consequences if he continued his cruel taunts.

“Keep talking and I’ll cut your head off,” Childe threatened, his tone dripping with venom.

“My, you are getting impacted by this whole situation, aren’t you?”

Pantalone chuckled.

Before the tension could escalate further, another voice intervened, bringing a temporary reprieve from the heated confrontation.

“What’s going on here?” Another masculine voice asked.

“Ah, Dottore! Just in time,” Pantalone chimed in, eager to share the drama unfolding before them. “Childe here is feeling regret for his actions. You know, the one where he completely broke that poor girl, Y/n.”

Dottore’s laughter filled the room, a sinister sound that sent shivers down Childe’s spine. The mockery in his voice only deepened the wounds of Childe’s remorse, twisting the knife of guilt even further.

“You? You’re feeling remorse for something you caused? Hahaha!” He laughed maniacally.

“What about that Lumine girl? Weren’t you and her together-oh wait…” Dottore’s voice trailed off, his malicious grin widening as he relished in Childe’s discomfort.

“She betrayed you didn’t she? After all you did for her. After all you gave up for her? Especially the girl who has been by your side for years? You threw her away like she was plastic…just so you could get the all mighty traveler…”

Childe’s heart plummeted as Dottore’s words cut through him like a knife. The weight of his betrayal bore down on him, each accusation piercing deeper than the last. He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, a painful reminder of his own shortcomings.

The memories flooded back, each one more agonizing than the last. He remembered the day he found out about Lumine’s betrayal, the shock and disbelief etched into his every fiber.

In a flashback, Childe recalled the moment vividly.

***Flashback***

He had been on his way back to their shared home, a bouquet of flowers in hand, when he heard the desperate cries for help. Intrigued, he followed the sound until he stumbled upon a scene that would forever haunt him.

There, lying on the ground, was a man in dire need of assistance. But what struck Childe to the core was the figure kneeling beside him—Lumine.

“Lumine?” Childe’s voice wavered with disbelief as he took in the sight before him. The man on the ground pleaded for aid, his eyes filled with fear and desperation.

“Please! Help me!” the man implored, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Lumine!? What the hell are you doing?” Childe’s voice cracked with desperation as he rushed to intervene, only to be met with a forceful kick that sent him sprawling to the ground. Pain seared through him as he looked up at her, his eyes wide with shock.

”Stay away. I need to-have to do this. It is the only way~” She spoke, walking towards him.

With each step she took, Lumine’s aura grew more menacing, her intentions shrouded in darkness. Childe’s heart clenched as he pleaded for answers, but his words fell on deaf ears.

”And I will not allow someone like you to get in my way.”

Childe's heart sank as Lumine's chilling words echoed in his ears, the finality of her betrayal piercing through him like a knife. He struggled to comprehend the darkness that had consumed the person he once thought he knew, his mind reeling with disbelief and anguish.

"Lumine… W-What are you talking about!? Why are you doing this!?" Childe's voice wavered with a mixture of desperation and confusion, his eyes pleading for answers. But Lumine's response was swift and cold, her actions speaking louder than words.

Before he could react, Childe was met with a brutal kick to the face, the force of the blow sending him sprawling to the ground once more. Pain radiated through him, but it paled in comparison to the agony of witnessing Lumine's descent into darkness.

As Lumine approached the injured man, she placed her hand over his mouth. A sense of dread washed over Childe. He watched in horror as dark purple lines began to snake across her hand, a sinister energy emanating from her touch. The man's agonized screams filled the air, sending shivers down Childe's spine.

Unable to stand by and watch any longer, Childe forced himself to his feet, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. With trembling hands, he reached for his sword, his gaze never leaving Lumine's twisted form.

“Shh. This will all be over soon.” She said.

“Lumine, stop!” Childe yelled, bringing his sword out. He threw it towards her hand, but she dodged it, glaring at him.

“You just never know when to stop, dO yOU?” She said as her voice became distorted.

Childe looked at her, terrified. What the hell was going on. Suddenly, a snap was heard from the man, and all went silent. Lumine sighed with satisfaction, lifting her hand from the poor man’s mouth, a trail of black smoke being left behind.

Childe stared at her as she got up, purple lines forming across her body.

“Sorry you had to find out this way, Childe.” She said

“What is this?! What did you do!?” Childe’s voice quivered with a mixture of fear and outrage, his sword hand shaking uncontrollably. But Lumine’s response was chillingly casual, her smirk sending a shiver down his spine.

“Relax. I only took his power and strength away so I could use it.” Lumine’s words sent a cold wave of realization crashing over Childe. He had been blind to her true intentions, deceived by the facade of the person she played out for him.

“Why? How?”

“Can’t you see, Childe?” Her voice echoed through the area, carrying an ominous weight. “This world is teeming with power, with those who claim dominion over others. The Archons, the Harbingers, those gifted with visions… They wield their strength without consequence, ruling over the masses with impunity.”

“And now,” she continued, “I am here to cleanse this world of its corruption. I will rise to claim my rightful place as its leader, to usher in a new era of justice”

Childe stared at her with concern. She walked up to him and lowered to his level.

“And I won’t let you get in my way.” She whispered in my ear.

She then touched his temples and knocked him out as her fingers pressed against his nerves.

-end of flashback-

“Honestly, you would be the one who falls for a traitor.” Dottore said

Childe glared at them, slamming his fist

“Shut up! Both of you!”

“Awe, is someone getting sensitive?” Another voice pitched in

Arlecchino appeared from the dark, with a smirk.

“Come now, let’s not make the child cry.” She teased.

Childe was beyond pissed at this point. He walked over to Pantalone, grabbed his sword and left, needing to get some steam released.

—

Childe’s training sessions became a battleground of conflicting emotions, his mind torn between honing his skills and grappling with the void left by your absence. With each swing of his sword and every surge of his elemental power, he found himself haunted by memories of you—your laughter, your warmth, the way your eyes lit up when you were together.

But these fleeting visions of you only served to deepen his despair, reminding him of the irreversible mistake he had made. The weight of his regret pressed down on him like a leaden cloak, suffocating him with the knowledge that he had driven away the one person who had always stood by his side.

As he sparred tirelessly, his movements grew erratic, his focus shattered by the specter of your absence. The image of you, tears glistening in your eyes, seared itself into his mind, a constant reminder of the pain he had inflicted upon you.

And then, as he collapsed to the ground, exhausted and defeated, the floodgates of his grief burst open. Tears streamed down his cheeks unchecked, his sobs echoing in the empty training grounds as he surrendered to the overwhelming anguish of your loss.

In that moment of raw vulnerability, Childe realized the depth of his need for you. You being gone left a horrible wound on his heart that refused to go away. He longed to turn back the hands of time, to undo the choices that had driven you away, to reclaim the happiness he had foolishly cast aside.

When he came back from a mission, you’d always be the first to help aid him. You’d always cook him something to eat as well since it’s probably been a while since he ate.

When he was in need of comforting, especially after a hard mission, he would always come to you to hear your soft, yet kind hearted voice. It was soothing to him and made him relax every time he heard it. But most of all, he missed your touch. The way you would hug him, rub his arm, play with his hair, all of it.

Now all of that is gone…you are gone. The thought of you out there, alone and vulnerable, haunted him day and night. Was he too late to save you? Was there any hope of finding you alive? The questions tormented him, gnawing away at his sanity with each passing moment.

Childe’s mind raced with a thousand possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. Was someone hurting you? Were you suffering in silence, your cries for help going unheard? The thought of you in pain, or worse, dead, filled him with a sense of dread that threatened to consume him whole.

Childe refused to entertain the notion of your demise. The mere thought of such a tragic outcome was too much for him to bear. To accept that something terrible had befallen you would be the ultimate blow, shattering the fragile remnants of hope that still clung to his heart. The prospect of losing you, of never seeing your smile again or feeling your touch, was a nightmare he couldn’t bear to face.

He pulled out the picture you had in your room from out of his pocket. He looked at the neatly folded picture of you and him. You both were so little and full of joy…you two were like two peas in a pod. No one could separate you both.

But he, himself, did. He managed to do the unthinkable. He broke you two apart.

Tears fell down his face as he stared silently at the photo, clenching it in his hands as if he could go back to that time.

He let out a shaky sigh as he held it close to him.

“I’m so sorry, y/n…I’m so so sorry.” He whispered.

————

Part three up soon!

taglist:

@esthelily

@moloteco-real

[kluskinoodles]

Can’t stop, won’t stop, I need to do the comic but baby Eleanor (I know she would be like 6-7 but I don’t care)

[tothesurfacebioshockau]

To Eleanor, how do you feel about everything that’s happened so far? Do you like the surface? What do you think of all these new people you now live with?

[ MARTIN IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ASKS ]

[arsont-t]

It's just a thought but ... Adult Eleanor? Living at the surface. What does she do now?

[thestarsarecool]

Hearing "Mistress and Maid" next to "Eleanor Rigby," "For No One" and "Yesterday," I realized that McCartney's public image as an eternal optimist is not supported by his work. It was something I'd been circling around since I heard Steve Earle's new version of "I'm Lookin Through You," as bitter a put-down song as ever got softened in the studio. McCartney has certainly written lots of positive songs, but from "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be" to "That Day is Done" and "Put It There," his optimism is always in the face of a shadow. There is always some awful thing that has to be overcome. If there's a defining subtext in McCartney's music it's probably "Take these broken wings and learn to fly."

"Yeah, well," McCartney said quietly, "that's me I suppose. I think that the danger is if you just get into the happy songs then it can be a little bit music hall. It can get a little bit light. So I like to always have a little bit of edge, or else a little bit of tongue-in-cheek. You know, 'When I'm 64' isn't really a song about growing old, although on the surface it is. It's a joke song, but it has serious concerns in it, a little melancholy.

'Yesterday'--she went away and all that shit. 'Suddenly I'm not half the man I used to be.' But if you think about it, I was writing those in my early 20s! Talking about not half the man I used to be when I was barely a man!" I said, if you'd been half that man you'd have been eleven.

"They have more poignancy now," McCartney said, "just because of the water that's been under all our bridges. So we all now relate to those lyrics a little bit more seriously. Perhaps." He changed gears and said, "But you know, my composing has always been made up, it's a fantasy. I remember George Harrison saying to me when I did 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,' 'How'd you do that? You don't know anyone named Desmond or Molly, you don't know any of these people.'

I said, 'I just like making up a story.' A short story writer doesn't necessarily know the pit and the pendulum, he hasn't necessarily been to Dracula's castle. But he makes it up as an escape in a way. I think a lot of my songwriting always was, and still is, an escape."

From?

"From the harsh realities of the world. If I'm in a bad mood, I always find that a good time to write a song. Go off on your own and put the feelings in a song rather than in someone's face. The fact that it's a musical vehicle seems to defuse it a bit. Rather than just shouting at someone or wagging a finger, you can get those emotions out.”

Paul McCartney in Musician Magazine, August 1st 1995.

[jlf23tumble]

I’m with you, I can’t wait to see how/if Elounor will be framed in Louis’ documentary. Also, you’ve mentioned that you think we’ve already got a feel of what the film will be like and I agree which leads to something else I’m very curious about: will we learn anything new about Louis from this documentary? He’s got a chronic case of tell-the-same-story syndrome, and I’m not sure whether that’s intentional or not, yk? Guess we’ll see!

omg, so well put, he DOES have tell-the-same-story syndrome! I honestly do think it's intentional, he has an overall vibe of what he wants put out there, and he just paints by numbers to do it, he creates and controls his own narrative as best he can. I can't imagine this'll be all that different, especially given the director (which reminds me, I still haven't seen "As It Was," the award-winning movie he directed that maybe begat a song, yes, i'm gonna sony plant that one myself), so get ready for an extended ig reel or story or whatever we call it these days. My view of the moodboard for this piece is broad strokes "man of the people," lotsa drinking/smoking/pranking with the lads, Doncaster b-roll, the importance of family (Freddie here, too), working class roots, crazy bits of fame, aftermath of grief, forging his own career, frustrating setbacks, settling into dad mode, I love my fans, tons of concert footage (from the stage, in the line, backstage), just the endless noise of his life. He's gonna keep so much on the dl, and I am looking forward to what that negative space looks like