#GUESS WHO'S GONNA BE WATCHING PEARL TONIGHT!! >:V

[ramenheim]

OOOHHH HO HO HO

https://www.doesthedogdie.com/are-there-alligators-crocodiles

JUST FOUND AN "IS THE MOVIE GOOD" SELF-UPDATING ARCHIVE!!

[teyvatraveled]

hc. Ekaggata voice lines

* As a small note, Ekaggata has a very monotone voice.It’s also slightly deeper than you might expect just by looking at his face. He will hardly show any emotion in expression or his voice.

Hello... “ I’m Ekaggata. Did you need some information? ....That’s the only reason people really talk to me.”

Good Morning... “You’re late.”

Good Afternoon... “I don’t tend to operate in the middle of the day...mind if we stop for a moment to rest?”

Good Evening... “Sorry, just had to do a drop off. Need something? It’ll cost you.”

Good Night... “I got a job I have to get to....What? Expected me to say ‘see you later’ or ‘have a good night’ ? Neither of us have control on either of those things happening. But I guess I could say...try not to die.”

Chat - Fatui Agents... “Excuse me for a moment, I need to go take out some trash.”

Chat - Treasure Hoarders... “You think for a group called ‘Treasure Hoarders’ they would be better at protecting their treasure and their own lives...”

Chat - Headaches... “Ugh...sorry, give me a second. Sometimes my eye feels like it’s going to pop out of my head.”

Chat - Hairpin... “Hey, don’t touch that! It’s important!....Yeah, it’s a real pearl, real gold i think too. Vicara had it made for me. Touch it again and lose your hand.”

When it rains... “Can we find somewhere to wait out the rain? It’s gonna mess with my footwork if I try fighting in this weather.”

After the rain... “Watch your step, the ground is still slippery.”

When it’s windy... “Throwing my knives might get a little tricky, try not to get hit.”

When the wind is blowing... “Can’t Barbatos keep it down for two seconds?”

About Ekaggata... “You know that’s not really my name, right? It is just an alias, if you walked in the circles I do, you’d need one too. Though I suppose, in a way, everyone calling you ‘Traveler’ is just as good of an alias as any.”

About us - Information... “I can get you any information you want, for a price. Sorry, I don’t do discounts for those outside the group. What group? If you were apart of it, you wouldn’t need to ask.”

About us - Reflexes... “Don’t sneak up on me like that. I’m not going to be held responsible for accidentally stabbing you. What? Don’t be stupid, of course I’d stab you if you sneak up on me. One has little choice of what their reflexes do.”

About us - Knives... “Like the design? I make them myself. The wings on the hilt are supposed to look like the anemo sigil - I think I did pretty well. I can customize your weapons too, if you want.”

About us - Ciphers... “Oh, sorry, got distracted trying to decipher this. What? You want to see? Well, you wouldn’t be able to understand it regardless.... heh, the look on your face is priceless.”

About the vision... “Why don’t I use my vision that much? It just makes me tired, can’t really explain it...plus, well, I hate Barbatos. Why did I have to get an anemo vision, ugh.”

Anything to share... “My eyes? Oh, that’s not natural. I had an eye transplant, the red eye technically isn’t even mine. What? Why are you looking at me like that? It’s not weird. If anything I owe my life to this eye, and the one who gave it to me.”

Interesting things... “I’ve been to every nation in the world at least once. My favorite? ... I don’t really have one. But I can tell you my least favorite, Snezhnaya. You can practically smell the blood it was built on.”

About Piti... “Oh, you’re hurt. Let’s go see Piti, he’ll make sure you’re back up in no time. Don’t worry about Mora, he doesn’t really charge anything for his service. I can personally attest to his skill as a doctor too.”

About Sukha... “Sorry, I was at the church in Springvale- What? No, I’m not a devout or anything, least of all to Barbatos. I was just going to see Sukha, the priest there. He's a friend. I was just bringing him some wine I got over in Liyue.”

About Vicara.... “I never know what to do with the jewelry Vicara gives me.... I’m not a big fan of wearing such things. They look nice, sure, but they can make noise or easily get caught on something. They’d only interfere with my work. If I had a house, I’d maybe hang them up somewhere... Do you want it? Otherwise, I’m likely just going to sell it.”

About Vitakka... “Vitakka’s cooking is the best. Even if he does tend to overuse meat, I like nearly everything he makes. I’ll have to bring you some next time he cooks too much....which will probably be tonight, because he always cooks too much. Makes me wonder if he thinks he’s cooking for more people than he thinks he is...”

About the Indra’s Net... “I told you to stop asking about them. But if you won’t stop nagging me... They’re my family. We aren’t blood related or anything, but I feel safe with them. I’d die for them. I’d kill for them. That’s all you need to know.”

About Diluc... “Master Diluc? Yeah, I know him. Tried to kill him once. As you can probably tell, I wasn’t successful. You win some, you lose some. He’s alright, though.”

About Kaeya... “I don’t trust that Captain, not one bit. But, he pays well. So I guess I shouldn’t complain.”

More about Ekaggata I... “How’s work? Work is busy, as it usually is. There’s no shortage of people trying to underhand one another, thus my line of work is always profitable.”

More about Ekaggata II... “The city of Freedom, huh? What a load of garbage. Hurry up with your business so we can leave.”

More about Ekagatta III... “A missing sibling huh....I wouldn’t know the feeling. I’m an only child...I think.”

More about Ekaggata IV... “Sorry, I don’t think I can go out tonight. Had a bit too much to drink at the Angel’s Share, Might throw myself off balance. Say, do you think Master Diluc would let me spend the night in the tavern if I asked nicely?”

More about Ekaggata V... “Do yourself a favor, don’t trust me. You don’t want to share the blood I have on my hands.”

Ekaggata’s hobbies... “Hobbies? ...I don’t really have any. If I’m not working, I’m sleeping. So I guess, sleeping is my hobby? I do tend to sleep alot, I’ve scared Piti more times than I can count since sometimes I won’t wake up for days.”

Ekaggata’s troubles... “Huh? What? Do I got something on my face? ....Oh, it’s blood. Don’t worry, it’s not mine. Though I guess I need to wash my coat...Blood is so hard to get out once it dries.”

Favorite food... “I like hot or spicy foods, actually. Anything to shave off the cold...”

Least favorite food... “Get that radish away from me, or do you want to be my next target?”

Birthday... “Anything you want to know? I’ll give you a discount for today only.”

Feelings about Ascension... “Hey, how did you do that? Let me in on the secret - promise I won’t sell it.”

Feelings about Ascension II... “I guess teamwork isn’t that bad... thanks for the help, or whatever.”

Feelings about Ascension III... “I need to go show the guys what I’ve learned!”

Feelings about Ascension - Conclusion... “Look, I’m not good at this kind of thing. I don’t trust you, I don’t trust anyone. But...you’re alright, Traveler.”

Added to party... “Can you even afford me?” “Let’s hurry it up.” “Hmph.”

Elemental Skill... “Back off!” “Come at me, I dare you.” “Idiot! Don’t move!” (when someone is in the cage with him)

Elemental Burst....”I didn’t want to have to use this.” “You’re too slow.” “Let’s finish this.”

Damage.... “Ugh, I was too slow.”

Knocked out... “Piti - a little..help....” “So..tired...”

Dash... “Try to keep up.”

Glide... “This takes me back...”

Idle.... “Time is money.” “C’mon, I’m on a schedule.” “There’s secrets just waiting to be found, so what are we doing just standing here?”

[ms-maj]

Thrill Me, Chill Me, Fulfill Me

It only took three weeks to get six songs in, it’s cool. This one ended up being way harder than it needed to be. Song(s) that make you want to dance- Time Warp (or really any song from Rocky Horror). 

This is also the part where I heap copious amounts of gratitude at the feet of @theheavycrown​ for making this cohesive and also for the PERFECT graphic. She is best. 

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Jughead tried to get comfortable in his white boxer shorts and undershirt— he’d drawn the line at tighty whities—but without his beanie, he felt exceptionally exposed. 

Betty looked at him, wearing nothing but a thin satin slip and a bra that looked equal parts uncomfortable and sexy as hell. “I did no such thing. You were a willing participant when we discussed…”

“It’s hard to say no to you when your mouth—” her finger came up to silence him. 

“We’re here for Kevin, remember? It’s his first performance outside of Riverdale High and we promised we’d support him,” her finger lingered on his lip until he nods, smirking she slowly dragged it down until his eyes narrowed and he nipped at the tip.

Jughead could say, without question, that The Rocky Horror Picture Show was not his scene. He’d seen the movie, or parts of it, just once and decided pretty quickly that there was a reason it was a cult classic. He’d heard that it wasn’t the film, or the show, per se, but the event. The spectacle was what made it so special. Sitting in an auditorium full of half-naked people who ran the gamut of ages did not assuage his initial fears. Nor did the prop bag in his lap. (Why exactly did one need a rubber glove AND playing cards?)

But, Betty’s easy smile made being there just a skosh more palatable. The theater was dark, intentionally, he was sure. It was atmospheric, the din; the fraying curtains, the worn seats, the broken lights lining the aisles and running across the spanse of the stage. It had the faint underlying smell of decay he associated with places people refused to let go of. It lingered in every corner bar or old department store. It was the dirt and the dust embedded so deeply into the fabric of a place that removing it was practically sacrilege to the patrons. 

He could understand the appeal, wanting to preserve a piece of history as it was remembered. Just looking around at the crowd with their many costumes, some presumably older than himself, would attest to that. 

And being the cinephile he considered himself to be, he thought that being part and parcel for one of the biggest cult events in history would be more…

(Finish below the cut or on AO3)

“You made it!!” Kevin sashayed up the aisle to where they were seated. Betty, in all her scantily clad glory, leaned over him to stand and greet their friend. She did not return to her seat, just perched herself prettily on Jughead’s lap.

Kevin looked every bit in his element. Of course, if you were playing Dr. Frank-n-furter, you’d have to be damn good, and completely confident in yourself. He was assuredly both of those things, with his stocking-clad legs and red pumps. His black-gloved hands rested against his corseted waist as he apprised the group.

“I love that Archie looks the most uncomfortable even though he and Veronica are the only two in your group that are wearing actual clothes,” Kevin laughed as Archie flipped him the bird from their end of the row.

It had somehow been decided, if he remembered correctly between Betty and Cheryl, that the couples would be dressing as Brad and Janet, through the various stages of the film. Veronica and Archie got wedding Brad and Janet, Toni and Cheryl were dressed like the mannequins from the end, and he and Betty, underwear. 

“Who’d have thought Jughead Jones would come to Rocky Horror as anything but Eddie?” Betty threw her head back as his arms tightened around her midsection.

“Those Veronica’s pearls, Kevin?” 

“Of course,” he winked back. “I hope you’re ready for this, especially you virgins!” Before Jughead could question him, Kevin was headed back toward the stage and Betty was sliding off his lap and back into her seat, an indecipherable look settling onto her face. 

“Hey,” Jughead started leaning closer to Betty, “what does he mean virgins?”

She shrugged innocently. “Guess we’ll find out.” She pointed to the center of the stage where Kevin was now standing.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, non-binary and gender-fluid friends, and my sweet, sweet transvestites, welcome, to Rocky Horror!” Kevin transformed on the stage, he owned it, he was Frank. 

The crowd whooped and hollered.

“It’s been brought to my attention that there are several very special virgins in our midst tonight,” he said, stalking across the stage toward the side of the theater they were seated at. 

“What are you gonna do to ‘em, Frank?” Jughead heard yelled back, a smattering of voices throughout but most surprising, three from right next to him. 

“We’re gonna pop your cherries real good tonight, virgins!” Jughead could feel the blood drain from his face, stark white aside from the crimson lipstick V that adorned his cheek.

“Betty,” he said lowly. “Please tell me this scarlet letter isn’t going to lead to my very public humiliation?” 

“C’mon Jug,” she cajoled from beneath the thick veil of her eyelashes. “You like a little humiliation.”

He growled without meaning to. “I like to be the one doling it out, Elizabeth, you should know that by now.”

Her soft hand landed on his thigh. “Maybe you’ll just have to make me pay for it then.”

Eyes narrowed on the half-naked marvel next to him, he ran his tongue ran across sharp teeth before his mouth settled into a ravenous smirk. The words in his throat died as the house lights went down and the spotlights hit the crowd. 

“All virgins—those of you who were marked upon coming in—please make your way to the stage!” Kevin’s voice cut through the haze, snapping Jughead back to the present and making him painfully aware of the torturous glint Betty’s eyes had taken. He noticed more than a few people making their way to the stage. Veronica had stood pulling Archie up behind her, inching their way toward him; the aisle.

“We’ll see if you’re smiling later, poppet,” Jughead didn’t miss the way Betty shivered when the words hit her. He let Veronica and Archie pass before standing, raising a warning brow to his girl and stalking toward the stage. 

He could hear them: Betty, Toni, Cheryl, cheering for them as they hit center stage, but with the spots firmly affixed back to the production, he could barely make them out in the audience. 

“Look at this collection of delightful little V’s. Aren’t they just the cutest?” Kevin was wedged between an ever-increasingly anxious Jughead and Archie who, fully clothed, was enjoying being in the lights. When Jughead scowled in response to Kevin pinching his cheek, Kevin moved down to Veronica who preened under his attention, much to the delight of the crowd. “Don’t they just look good enough to eat?”

A chorus of delighted cheers ran through the audience.

As the lights followed Kevin down the line, the crowd became a little easier to discern. He could feel Betty’s eyes on him, even before he could fix her location. From the stage she looked absolutely in her element, shouting out random things along with Cheryl and Toni, looking way too comfortable in her underwear. He hadn’t been too happy about that if he was being honest. No one else was supposed to see her that bare, and yet, the possessive pride that swelled in him when she caught every passerby’s eye was enough to let him overlook punishing her for that particular offense.

Her smart mouth was another story. And so was this. Whatever this was.

And then he felt it. Something awkwardly large, not firm exactly but not soft either, something that prickled at his skin and pulled at the hair was thrust between his knees.

What he saw when he looked down is red. A balloon. A glance down the line assured him that he wasn’t the only one in this particular predicament.  With the quirk of an eyebrow and an impressive flourish, Kevin produced a giant hatpin; his eyes took on a wicked glint and he was standing at Jughead’s side. 

“Time to get rid of those pesky ol’ cherries!” Kevin paused and faced the audience. “One! Last! Time!” They all shouted in unison.

The ‘pop’ of the balloon Jughead was prepared for, even if he did jump a little. The moans from Kevin as he went down the line and took care of the rest of the balloons were also anticipated. What came most unbidden was that Jughead seemed to actually be enjoying himself.

It was probably because the whole process wasn’t half as humiliating as he’d imagined it would be. Or maybe he was just realizing he was one minute closer to being back in his seat. One scene closer to excusing themselves from their friends. Just a few more hours before he and Betty were back in their quiet little apartment (quiet until he had her screaming that is).

The newly devirginized were released to the raucous crowd, Jughead walking back with much more fervor than he’d gone up with. Maybe it was the ritualistic nature of the whole thing. The cherry popping or the dressing up or the audience participation lines that so many of the patrons knew. He only knew that the energy was palpable, it flowed through the space like electricity, crackling and sparking all around him as he finally sat back down. 

Betty was watching him from the corner of her eye, he could see her jaw clenching from biting her cheek, presumably to keep from smiling. “Something amusing, Elizabeth?” 

Their eyes finally met the moment the opening number began. She shook her head. “Nope,” the pop of her ‘p’ struck him like lightning.

“That’s good to hear because we’re already at ten when we get home, poppet. Five for knowing what was going to happen here and not telling me, and five for how much you enjoyed it,” Jughead sat transfixed, watching the graceful curve of her neck stretch as she sucked in a ragged breath. “Now watch the show.”

Her pretty, pink tongue slipped between plump, pastel lips as she turned her attention back to the stage. Before long, she and Cheryl and Toni were tossing lines out with the best of them, helping their virgin friends with their prop bags and truly embracing the spirit of Rocky Horror.

“So! What did you think?” Betty asked as soon as their feet hit the pavement. Archie and Veronica were doing the Time Warp as they walked out the door with several other revelers, Cheryl and Toni, now wrapped in heavy robes, were singing their best Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me’s, all-in-all he’d have to say the night was a success.

He stopped, wrapping his arm around her midsection and pressing his large, flat palm against her stomach. “It was something.”

Leaning back into his embrace, she turned to their friends and asked them the same.

“Well,” Cheryl started, tossing her crimson locks back behind her shoulder. “It’s Rocky so, I can understand how the production value could look like it costs less than a Jan Terri music video—”

“Get Down Goblin is a classic!” Archie interjected from behind, dancing his way into the circle. 

Cheryl turned to Archie, crimson-tipped fingers menacingly pointed in his direction. 

“Be that as it may, Ginger Rogers, I was simply stating a fact.” 

They kept at their squabbling for a while, the four of them sniping back and forth with no real venom until they grew bored of it. Jughead was just happy that the attention was finally off of him and his girlfriend. His hand crept higher, pressing her tighter to him as it came to rest fully on her ribcage, the other played with the band of her slip, fingers fluttering against the soft skin there.

Leaning up, Betty’s mouth landed at the juncture of his neck and ear. “You ready?”

The heat of Betty’s breath juxtaposed with the cool October air left trails of goosebumps down his already exposed skin. “Yes,” his voice had taken on a gravel-like lilt as the hand at her hip squeezed tightly. 

“Then let’s split, my creature of the night. I wanna be dirty.”

“Hot patootie, bless my soul,” he loved how it felt when she laughed pressed up against him. “Now tell our friends goodbye so I can take you home and remind you how good girls behave.”

The words were barely out of her mouth before he had turned them down the sidewalk and toward the subway station. It wouldn’t be long now before they got a taste of just how much pelvic thrusts could drive you insane. However, if that was insanity, Jughead Jones wanted no part of being sane. 

[wckdhook]

A Winter’s Ball - Harry Hook

Request: Request for Harry Hook x reader. Both harry and reader like each other but Harry doesn't want to go out with reader because he thinks he'll only hurt her so at the upcoming dance, reader goes with her best friend Jay. Harry sees them dancing and laughing, gets jealous and confronts the pair only to have reader tell harry that she isn't interested and Jay is already dating someone else (your choice).

Warnings: N/A

Word Count: 2,188

A/N: I really enjoyed writing this one! Also someone please tell me they caught the Hamilton reference in the title lmao.

**** "I don't understand why you just don't ask her out?" Gil mumbled.

Gil and Harry had been sitting at a bench outside, watching as you sat under a tree studying. Harry had been trying to get the courage to go over and talk to you for about fifteen minutes now and Gil was beginning to grow frustrated. Harry had a crush on you since the moment Ben allowed more VKs to come into Auradon. He sat next to you in one class, and he took every opportunity to talk to you in it. But talking outside of class was a different story, he just couldn't move his feet to go and talk to you.

Gil nudged Harry's shoulder. "I'm being serious alright? Back in the Isle you used to talk to girls with ease. What's the problem with this one?"

Harry sighed. "I'm scared, alright?" The frustration was clear in his tone.

"Poor Harry, scared of talking to a little girl. She's just some princess or someth-"

Harry cut him off, angrily. "She is not, just a princess. Her name is (Y/N) and she is lovely." Harry's eyes drew back to you. You looked so peaceful under that tree, it made his heart smile.

"Okay. So what's the big deal?" Gil face palmed.

"The big deal is she's not just any girl from the Isle. The girls I flirted with on the Isle were just flings, I didn't care much. They all had nasty attitudes and we're trying to backstab me. (Y/N) is so different from that. She's sweet and kind and beautiful and way too good for me. I don't deserve her. I'm just a dirty old pirate from the Isle. What if I hurt her? What if I end up hurting her so bad that she's no longer sweet and loving and kind? I don't want to take any chances with that. I don't want to ruin her." Harry's eyes were on the floor and his shoulders were slumped. "C'mon Gil, let's just go."

Gil tried comforting Harry as the two walked back to their dorm rooms and called it a night.

"Class please turn to page 172 on your textbooks." The teacher ordered.

You sighed as you flipped through the pages of your Magical History textbook. You looked at the seat across from you to see Harry Hook with an empty stare looking towards the floor.

"Pss. Hey Harry. What's up?" You whispered.

"Nothing." He whispered back.

"I'm not an idiot there's obviously something up, Hook. You can tell me." You smiled.

"Well obviously I don't want to tell you so how about lay off?" He bit back.

Woah. What was his problem? You tried playing it off cool like you didn't care, but you really did. You had the biggest crush on Harry since he first stepped into Auradon. Magical History class with him was sometimes the highlight of your day. You two mostly just goofed off the whole time. And sometimes you felt as though Harry shared those same romantic feelings towards you. But his attitude towards you today proved you wrong. Maybe he somehow found out that I like him. Maybe he doesn't want to be my friend anymore. A million thoughts ran through your mind. You brushed them off.

After class ended you immediately called your best friend Jay to tell him about this. He told you to meet him at the tables outside the cafeteria. You sat there waiting for awhile until you saw Jay run up to you.

"I have the MOST amazing idea!" He yelled.

"Woah, woah, woah. Slow down there, Jay. What do you mean?" You laughed.

"I mean I have a plan for figuring out if Hook really likes you or not." He explained.

"I can definitely tell you that he doesn't after today. He completely pushed me away!" You grumbled.

"Who said it had anything to do with you though? Maybe something personal is going on and he just really doesn't want to talk about it. We wont find out if he likes you or not unless we try."

"So... what's the plan?" You asked.

"You know how the winter ball is coming up soon?" You nodded in response. "Well, since we know Harry's lazy butt won't ask you himself, what if you went with me instead?" You began laughing. "Seriously, hear me out. If you go with me to the ball, and we see Harry get jealous, we'll know he has a thing for you. We can find out if he likes you without even asking!"

"Okay, sounds good enough to me. But what about Lonnie, don't you want to ask her?" You questioned. Jay has had a crush on Lonnie for awhile now, but he never seemed to make a move on her.

"See that's the thing. We don't know if Lonnie likes me either. But, if she sees me at the ball with another girl and shows signs of jealousy, we'll know she likes me too. It's knocking two birds with one stone!"

"Jay, you're a genius!" You exclaimed and ran up to him, giving him a hug. "What would I do without you?"

"Probably be single for the rest of your life." He responded casually.

You nudged his shoulder. "Shut up." You laughed.

It was the night of the ball, and you were all dressed up. You looked into your mirror and smiled to yourself, you honestly looked gorgeous. Your dress was a low v-cut light pink ball gown, with simple white embroidered flowers on the bodice of the dress. The bottom of the dress flared outwards and just barely grazed the floor. Your hair was slightly curled and pinned back, and your ears had simple pearl earrings attached to them. You looked like a petal from a flower. And you felt beautiful.

You met Jay outside of the ball and smiled at your best friend wearing his black suit with a light pink tie to match your dress.

"Ready to go make some people jealous?" He asked.

"Ready." You smiled.

You both confidently walked into the ball with arms linked together, you immediately caught sight of Harry the moment you walked in. His eyes were on you and his mouth was slightly ajar.

"I think it's working." You whispered to Jay.

"Okay you sit down at a table, and I'm gonna go get us some punch. Let's see if Harry tries to talk with you." He whispered back and you nodded, taking a seat at the nearest table.

Just as Jay had suspected, Harry immediately walked up to you.

"Hello, (Y/N). You look beautiful tonight." Harry complimented.

"Thank you. As do you."

"So... you came with Jay to the ball?" His voice was on edge.

"Yes I did. Why?"

"Oh nothing.. just wondering. You know, I was also wondering if you'd like to da-"

"Hey (Y/N) I brought us some punch!" Jay cut Harry off. "Oh, hey Harry! What are you doing here? Doesn't (Y/N) look so lovely tonight?" Jay asked.

"Yes. She does." Harry gritted through his teeth. "I was actually about to ask if she'd like to da-"

"Welp better get going now, (Y/N) and I were just about to dance. Isn't that right (Y/N)?" Jay cut Harry off again and you had to bite your tongue to stop yourself from laughing.

"That's right. Catch ya later Harry!" You replied, leaving Harry all alone at your table. "This is totally working! Did you see his face? He looked like a poor kicked puppy, I almost feel bad."

"Don't. He deserves it, it his fault for not making a move sooner." Jay responded.

"You're right."

"Now let's dance!" Jay laughed as he twirled you around. In the corner of his eye he could see Lonnie standing staring at you two with her arms crossed. He applauded himself at this tiny victory.

Harry stood alongside Gil and Uma and watched as you and Jay danced and laughed the night away. He was so angrily annoyed there was probably steam evaporating off his skin.

"Look at them. All happy. That should be me right there. Jay can't even dance very well, either. I could take his place so easily if she jus-" He crushed the empty plastic cup in his hands.

"Well, that could've been you in the first place if you would've just ASKED HER OUT like we told you." Uma scolded.

"I know, I know but still. What does he have that I don't. I have devilishly handsome looks, and charismatic pirate charm. What's not to love!" He flashed a toothy grin.

"Don't flatter yourself, Hook. Just go talk to her." Uma sighed.

Uma and Gil both shoved Harry towards you, and he straightened up his tie as he walked in your direction.

"Hello again, you two. Do you mind if I have a quick word with Miss (Y/N), Jay?" Harry asked.

"I don't mind at all." Jay smiled and left with a wink.

"Let's sit?" Harry offered and the two of you sat  back down at your table. "So how's the dance going?"

"Oh it's going great, Jay is such a great dancer!" You over exaggerated.

"Yeah speaking of that... are you two a thing?" Harry asked.

"What makes you think that?" You innocently questioned.

"Well I mean, you both came here together. You both were laughing and dancing together. You both hang out all the time after school."

"And why does that matter to you?" You asked.

"Because it just... does." Harry replied, feeling uneasy.

"It wouldn't matter to you unless you were jealous." You laughed.

"Me? Jealous? Of Jay?" He scoffed. "Oh please. I'm not jealous of him. There's nothing to be jealous of."

"So you won't mind if I go back to dancing with him?" You sat up.

"No! Please." He ushered you back down and sighed. "Listen. Maybe I was a little jealous. But that's because I saw you dancing and laughing with Jay and I couldn't help but think that that should be me. It made me so angry to see you with him with that beautiful smile of yours, the one I should be putting on your face. I guess what I'm trying to say (Y/N) is I like you, a lot, and for awhile now too. But I understand you're with Jay and you don't wan-"

"I'm not with Jay." You replied, breathless.

"What?" Harry asked with confusion.

"Jay's my best friend. We came together to get you jealous and find out if you liked me. We also did it to see if Lonnie liked him. I wanted you to ask me but you just pushed me away when I tried talking to you in class the other day. It seemed like this was the only way to find out if you felt the same way, and I guess the plan worked. You're not mad are you?" You spilled out.

Harry felt a weight lift off his shoulders and he smiled brightly at you. "Of course I'm not mad, darling. I'm actually quite amused that you came up with this whole plan just to get me jealous. And... I'm sorry for pushing you away that one day. I thought that if I got too close, I would hurt you. But it turns out, being away from you is what hurt you the most." Harry apologized.

"And I'm sorry I made you jealous."

Harry stood up and held a hand out in front of you. "Care to dance, love?"

You swore you could feel your heart leap out of your chest. "I would love to."

"Alright, let's get all the couples out on the floor for one last song!" The DJ announced.

How cliche. Here you were with the boy of your dreams, slow dancing at the winter ball. It felt as though you were part of some cheesy teen romance movie. It felt unreal.

You hooked your arms around Harry's neck and he wrapped his arms around your waist. You laid your head on his chest and looked behind his shoulder. There stood Jay with Lonnie wrapped in his arms, dancing. The plan had worked for both of you. He gave you a wink and you flashed a playful smile at him.

Harry smiled to himself as butterflies flew throughout his stomach. You two swayed to the slow beats of the song as the night dwindled down, and he held you tightly in his arms as if he was afraid you would disappear if he didn't. Harry realized he didn't have to be afraid of love, he didn't have to resist feeling this way to protect you. He knew pushing you away would only cause more harm. Harry knew deep down inside that the only place he could truly keep you safe, was in his arms. So he held you close to his chest, softly ran his fingers through your hair, and placed a kiss on top of your head. And he felt content knowing that as long as you were with him, you would never come to harm.

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Rise Up*

Chapter Thirty

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader  |  Word Count: 4432 Warnings: smut, swearing, NSFW, fluff 

Songs: I Choose You by Sara Bareilles,  At Last by Etta James

Steve could only stare in utter shock and awe at the vision before him and swallowed the thick lump of emotion threatening to choke him. “I… that’s… I…”

She pressed her hands to her abdomen. “Is it horrible? I never got a chance actually to see it, what with it being online. Buck said you’d shit and the girls said you’d like it, but do you hate it? Steve? Steven?”

Loki laughed. “Oh, darling. That is not the silence of a man who hates what he is seeing. It is one stunned into incoherent stuttering.” He snapped his fingers and flicked them at Steve. “There. I doubt you wish to spend the rest of the night in your armour. This is more in line with your Midgardian traditions I believe.” He turned and began to saunter away. “Do not take forever, lillesøster. There is celebrating to be had.”

“Steve?” she whispered, and he gave his head a shake.

“He’s right. Jeez, baby. This was your surprise? I can’t even…” He had no words to express how stunningly gorgeous she looked to him in that moment.

The incredible dress had ropes of tiny pearls and gems to hold it on her shoulders. A low bodice with a heart-shaped neckline lined with more tiny pearls. Lace, crystals, pearls, all graced the bodice, making pretty patterns in dips and swirls and flowers down to her knees where the dress fell away in a layer of unadorned tulle.

“Can… can you turn around?” he asked, his voice breathy and not at all sounding like him.

She smiled, evidently hearing the desire and awe in his words and turned to show him her back. The deep v went to just above her waist, more rows of draped seed pearls dripped down her shoulders, coming to a point where a satin bow sat in pride of place just above her waist.

Loki had taken her hair up, twisting it into a knot of curls and braids while leaving the moonstone crown glowing on her brow. Her gauntlet reflected silver and gleamed against the dress. Her ring shone. She just sparkled, a moon goddess granted to him by the hands of fate.

“I… I think… I may need to sit down,” he finally choked out but took the three strides he needed to reach her, step into her spine, and lay his lips on the bared nape of her neck. His fingers latched around the locket resting on her chest, and he held it in his fist, his hand against the beat of his girl’s heart. Tears burned his eyes as he held her tight to his chest.

“I take it you like it?” she laughed a little, but her voice was hoarse.

“I fucking love it,” he whispered against her skin. “It’s… I guess you’d call it a modern take on a forties era wedding dress. Buck… shit… he did good. But you make it perfect, baby.”

“Steven,” she gave a half sob and held onto the arm he had locked around her waist.

“Thank you,” he sighed and kissed her bare shoulder. “Thank you, dollface. This is… you didn’t have to, but I’m so glad you did.”

“I hated the fact I felt like you didn’t have a say. Rushed you into the wedding, forced you to follow our traditions, disregarded so many of your own. This is our wedding. You should enjoy it, too.”

“Sweetheart,” he sighed and kissed her throat before allowing her to turn around and lift her arms to his neck. “It was enough to see you walking toward me wearing this.” He gently touched the locket. “It was like having my ma here, even if I know she couldn’t be.”

“She’s here, Stevie. I believe she’s here, watching. I hope she’s happy for you.”

“She would be,” he murmured, caressing her cheek. “She’d only have to meet you once to know how right you were for me.”

A flush darkened her cheeks to go with her pleased smile. “And look at you, all cleaned up. Got to admit, you’re looking pretty snazzy yourself, Rogers. What colour is this suit?”

He looked down and gave a bark of surprised laughter, having not even noticed the missing armour. “Dark grey I think. Hard to tell in the dark.”

“Well, Captain. Whatever the colour, I’m looking forward to leading you around by that tie later tonight.”

“Oh? Kinky. You gonna save that stuff for the honeymoon?” he teased.

She stepped into him and forced him to step back, step by step until he sat down hard on a padded bench when his knees connected with it.

***

You stepped between his spread legs. “Captain, if I didn’t know damn well one of these nosy as fuck Avengers would come looking, I’d show you just how kinky I can get with that tie,” you purred.

His hands were on your knees, drawing the bottom of the dress up slowly. “Yeah? I bet we’ve got at least ten minutes before someone comes lookin’,” he snickered, his grin broad.

His hands went beneath your skirt, skimmed the backs of your thighs and drifted up to close big hands over your ass cheeks. A rather loud groan escaped him when he pulled you closer. “Why are you commando?”

“What?” you squeaked, only to have his fingertips drag over your completely bare skin. “Fucking trickster! Had to get his fun in somehow. Big jerk!”

“Bless him,” Steve groaned. “I one hundred percent forgive him for making me think I wasn't your sjelevenn with this one act of compassion.”

You laughed even as his fingers pressed hard against your flesh. “How is this compassion? Now you get to live with the knowledge I'm commando for the rest of the night?”

He froze, then his forehead dropped to your belly. “Dammit. You're right.”

“He's the God of Mischief for a reason, Steve,” you snickered while running your hands through his hair.

“I don't wike it.”

He was pouting, but the fact only made you giggle-snort. “Just think of it as a time saver later.”

“True.” His fingers skimmed your hip and over your belly before slipping between your legs and rubbing the gradually growing slick waiting there.

“Steven,” you sighed, both want and regret in his name.

“So, you never did tell me how this… mark comes about,” he said as he sought and found your bundle of nerves.

“You...expect me to talk while you do that?” you whined softly, loving how precise he was when he touched you. It took only seconds for him to have you hovering at the brink.

“Is a Valkyrie so easily distracted?” he teased. “I'm shocked!”

Your talons raked gently over his scalp, and he moaned, losing his rhythm for a split second before continuing the swift circling.

“Gods, Steven.” You couldn't stop your hips from rocking into his hand if you tried.

“Tell me about my mark, baby.”

A quiet moan saw you shifting toward him. You clenched your hand on his shoulder and continued to sift your fingers through his hair. The intense pleasure was quite thoroughly fogging your brain, but you fought past it to give him his answer. “It starts with us, together…” a small gasp escaped when his fingers sank deeper.

“Together? Together how?”

“Don’t be dense, Rogers,” you quipped and locked your knees to keep your legs from shaking.

“Ah, that way,” he chuckled and wrapped his arm beneath your buttocks, giving one a firm squeeze but helping hold you up.

“Such a gentleman,” you teased and tugged his hair. “While you are relaxing, letting me do all the work like the lazy slug you are-”

“Hey!” he huffed.

“-I’ll be working a bit of Valkyrie magic.” You tugged on his hair, pulling his head back to force his chin up. Holding him there, you lightly brushed your nails down the cords of his throat. “Right here, Steven. I’m going to work you up, drive you so wild, and when the time is right, I shall place my mark here and seal it, making you mine for all to see.”

“And what,” he breathed out on a shuddered when you scratched him with your nails, “does the mark mean?”

You closed your eyes, the flood of pleasure throbbing through your veins as he began to plunge his fingers through your walls with vigour, sending sensation slamming outward. The grip he had on your thighs tightened when your legs grew weaker. “Wings… wings of the Valkyrie…” you whimpered.

“And?” he growled, knowing precisely what he was doing to you.

“The rune… means… Rekker.” You threw your head back, so close to coming on his fingers you could barely breathe.

“And what does Rekker mean?”

“Steve…” Your hand closed spasmodically on his shoulder. “Stevie, please…”

“Tell me what Rekker means, and I’ll finish.”

“It means…” you sucked in a breath, “Warrior Man!” It was nearly a scream when the wave you’d been riding crested and poured through you, sending you sliding into bliss and profound pleasure as you fell against him. Panting softly, you rested your forehead on his and waited for your system to steady. “Oh… damn… Steve.”

He drew his hand from your core and out from beneath your dress. His fingers went into his mouth, and he sucked on them.

It was incredibly sexy and set you squeezing your thighs together.

He stroked his other hand down your leg and helped you sit on his thigh. “You’re so beautiful, baby.”

You chuckled softly and let your arms drape around his neck while he cuddled you close. “And you’re not at all biased.”

“Not at all,” he laughed, setting his chin on your hair. “So, warrior man, huh? There’s a special rune just to say soldier?”

“It doesn’t mean soldier. It means Warrior Man. Men who are warriors in the sense of their courage, bravery, deeds, and feats.” You set your hand on his cheek. “You’re a warrior, Stevie. It’s not just a job, but who you are in your soul.”

“And are all sjelevenn Rekker?” Steve asked.

“Usually,” you nodded. “They tend to join us in battle.”

“Mm,” he hummed. “I want my mark, sjelevenn.”

You laughed softly and ran your talons over his scalp with barely there pressure. “Oh, Steven. You’ll have it, but I promise you there isn’t nearly enough time to do all the things I have planned before someone comes looking for us.”

He growled and made you giggle. “Woman, don’t tease me. I’m already strainin’ these pants.”

“Are you now?” you asked, arching a mischievous brow as you let your hand trail slowly down his tie.

“Don’t start,” he huffed, grabbing your hand. “Let’s go before you get any friskier.”

“Me!” you laughed. “Who had whose hand up whose skirt but moments ago?”

He stood to his feet, taking you with him. “Yeah, well. I didn’t hear you complaining,” he smirked and kissed the end of your nose.

Snickering softly, you linked your arm through his and let him lead you toward the compound. The crunch of gravel beneath your combined feet filled the air, and you gave it enough time to reach the bridge before asking, “So, what did Sharon do?”

He stumbled and grabbed the railing to right himself. “Uh, why would you think she did anything?”

You arched a brow and threw him a sarcastic, “Really, Steven? This little interlude wasn't part of a distraction?”

“No, I, she… um… nothing?” His voice went up an octave.

“Sjelevenn…” you sighed and lifted your hands to his chest. “Just tell me. Not telling me is only making me think the worst.”

“How did you even know she’d done anything?” he asked.

“Between the way Bucky and Nat quick-marched her outta here practically at sword point, the nasty scowl she had on her face, and the way she glared at me? It was hard to miss. Now, quit stalling and just tell me.”

He sighed and linked his fingers with yours. “We figured out who the leak was.”

“Sharon!?” you gasped. “That seems… unlikely.”

“Not so much Sharon, but Eric. I guess he’s been listening in on mine and Sharon’s conversations. Tony figures he’s the one who sold us out to Ross.”

You frowned. “Okay, so he managed to piece together your generic conversation and pass along possibilities to Ross?”

“Yeah, and they’d put a transmitter on her phone.”

“Shit. No wonder she was angry. But what does that have to do with me?”

He sighed. “You know how she was engaged?”

“I’m assuming she isn’t any more or won’t be for long after this.”

“Apparently, she hasn’t been for weeks. He accused her of… well… of still having feelings for me, and they… broke up.”

“Oh,” you whispered. “And she does, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah. She was rather vocal about her… disagreement with our “rushed” wedding.”

Anger surged but quickly faded. “Well, you always want what you can’t have. If she’s jealous, that’s her problem, and there is nothing she can do about it now.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “You’re taking this better than I thought you would.”

“Getting upset over someone suddenly coming face to face with the reality that they’ll never have you is silly. Now, if you’d said she made you have second thoughts, I’d be stabbing you both,” you chuckled.

“Definitely not. After Bucky told her to plant her ass and keep her opinions to herself, all I could focus on,” he tugged you closer, “was you.”

“Good.” You patted and smoothed down his tie. “I’d hate to ruin this suit with a sword.”

“To say nothing of me?” Steve asked.

“Rogers, if you’d had a single doubt, you would have deserved it,” you grinned brightly, turned on your heel, and sauntered away.

He burst out laughing and caught up quickly. “Guess it’s a good thing the only girl for me is you then, huh?”

His arm went around your waist, and he scooped you up against him, spun in a circle, and made you laugh. “Put me down, sjelevenn!”

“I don’t think so.” He held you tight to his chest and let your feet dangle.

“You keep this up, we’ll never make our own party,” you scolded but you wrapped your arms around his neck and held on just as tightly.

“I can’t help it. I’m so happy!” he laughed and lifted you up in the air. “We’re married!”

You squealed and held onto his biceps, his incredible strength a huge turn on. “Steven! Put me down, crazy man!”

He dropped you gently to your feet and held your face between his palms. “I love you so damn much. I don’t care if people think it was rushed, or other stupid reasons, you make me happy. This makes me happy. I can’t believe how happy!”

He sealed his mouth to yours, sank in, and wallowed. The kiss stole the bones from your legs and had you leaning into him when you knees gave out.

“Oi! Lovebirds! Shake a leg!” Scott’s voice broke the two of you apart.

“Lang! Don’t make me hurt you!” Steve bellowed.

“Don’t shoot the messenger, Cap! I pulled the short straw,” Scott turned and darted back the way he’d come.

Taking Steve’s hand, you tugged at it. “Come on, Cap. You gonna dance with me tonight?” you asked coyly.

“At least once,” he teased.

“Oh, Stevie. It’s going to be more than once,” you stated, and it was a promise you intended to keep.

***

Steve walked into the lounge and stopped dead. “Wow, and I thought the ceremony space was something.” He turned to look behind him, and then back into the hall. “We did come inside, didn’t we?”

“Yeah,” you snickered. “Don’t tell him I said so, but Loki’s a bit of a romantic at heart.”

“I would never have guessed,” Steve chuckled, taking in the woodland setting.

Trees grew along the walls, and vines lifted toward the roof as living centrepieces to cover the ceiling with dripping leaves and flowers. Round glass lanterns flickered with candles. More candles and greenery decorated the tables; a ‘U’ shaped one sat at the head of the room, all your friends - your family - waited for you there.

“Is it as magical as it seems?”

“Baby… it’s stunning.” He took your hand and stepped over the threshold causing applause to erupt and wild cheering to thunder through the room.

On a stage to one side, Tony tapped a mic. “Ladies and gentlemen, Captain and Mrs. Rogers! How about that first dance, Cap?”

You laughed and pulled Steve toward the open space with the wooden floor. “I had Bucky brush me up on a dance lesson.”

“Yeah?” Steve chuckled and spun you under his arm. “You gonna show me some moves for our first dance?”

“How about I just don’t embarrass you when you lead?” you laughed and placed your hand on his shoulder.

“And what song did you pick, baby?”

The first strains of the song poured from the speakers.

“You did hit all the high points for makin’ me sentimental,” he smirked and shook his head.

“Well, it's also fitting.”

As Etta James sang, you swayed together, happy and relaxed. Steve eventually coaxed you into a few dance steps, leading you around the floor with rather suave grace before returning you to the center to sway again.

Your arms snuck up around his neck, and he dropped his to wrap around your waist. You rested your head on his chest and felt his cheek settle against your hair. It was sweet and tender, exactly what you'd come to expect from your sjelevenn, and when the last strains of the music died, he dipped you low and kissed you deeply to the clear approval of your guests.

Laughing together, you made your way toward the head table where there was a continual stream of hugs and tears.

“Hey, (Y/N)?” Tony called from the stage, causing everyone to quiet down.

“What you want, Stark?” you shouted.

The smile on his face was wide, wicked, and full of amusement. “Damn, girl!” The group as a whole burst out laughing, but he waved his hand to get everyone to quiet down a second time. “I know your Queen now, but I never expected you to be such a diva as to require a wardrobe change!” he teased. “And to drag Cap along with you? Talk about bridezilla!”

“Hey!” you barked and held out your arms. “When you’ve got it, flaunt it!” You shot him a wink and took your seat, Steve laughing at your side.

Tony chuckled into the mic. “It appears I’ve been roped into emceeing this shindig,” he shot Pepper a look, “thanks, dear.”

“You love it!” Pepper shouted. “We all know you like hearing yourself talk!”

He didn’t bother to deny it. “Be that as it may, I have something to say.”

“When don’t you?” shouted Sam.

“Bite me, Wilson!” Tony barked, and everyone chuckled. “As I was saying before I was so rudely heckled, this last year I’ve watched two people stupidly in love dance around each other like idiots.”

You scoffed, and Steve scowled.

“But then they got the nudge they needed,” he waved his hand behind him, “thanks to an even bigger idiot.”

You frowned when everyone whistled and cheered loudly until Steve leaned over and murmured, “You remember the video of you kicking Garry’s ass that night we got together?”

“Oh, shit,” you sighed and covered your eyes.

“That’s our girl!” Tony laughed, the sound of Garry connecting with the window thudding loudly through the room. Again he waited for things to quiet down before speaking. When he did, his voice was softer, still full of amusement, but also heavy with affection. “I know you two have had tough times together. There’s been pain and tears along the way, but you’ve triumphed because of the deep love and faith you have in each other. I’ve never seen two people more suited to each other than the Captain and the Valkyrie. So I invite those gathered to raise a glass in toast-”

“Wait!” Thor bellowed, surging to his feet.

“It’s kind of too late, big guy. You can’t protest the wedding now, especially as you married them,” Tony huffed.

“Not that!” Thor huffed. “Heimdall, the cask.”

The big guardian stood and hefted an oak barrel to his shoulder.

“Thor, you didn’t,” you sighed, then groaned when he nodded.

“You can’t disregard this tradition, Sváfa. I won’t allow it,” Odin said, a smirk twitching his lips.

“Baby?” Steve asked as Thor tapped the cask.

“The brought the Bridal Ale,” you sighed. “It’s… potent.”

“How potent?” he asked, slight concern in his voice.

“You’ll see,” you muttered and got to your feet, muttering about asinine and archaic rituals.

“In our culture,” Thor was explaining, “The Bridal Ale must be served and shared together for the marriage to be considered valid. The lovely bride must assume the foremost of her duties as the wife in the ceremonial serving of drink.”

“You mean, the marriage is… not accepted if (Y/N) doesn’t do this?” Vision asked, sounding intrigued. “The entire process can be voided because she did not play the servant?”

“It is a compact,” murmured Odin. “A wife’s agreement to care for the household. It is only a formality, but she is Queen. We will have no one contesting the validity of their marriage because of one missed step. By drinking together, the bride and groom are made one in the eyes of the law and the gods, symbolically affirming their new kinship.”

“Darling,” Loki said as you passed, his hand out holding the kåsa.

“Thanks, Loki.” You plucked it from his palm and rounded the end of the table to where Thor stood waiting.

He and Heimdall hoisted the cask, and you shook your head at their theatrics. “Just gotta show off all those muscles, hm?”

“My queen. Would I be so prideful?” Heimdall asked while Thor only grinned.

“Yes, I believe you would,” you chuckled and reached for the tap. You filled the wooden bowl to half full and turned off the tap. “You better not have brought enough for a month, Thor.”

“Of course not,” he huffed. “You won’t be here for a month. I’ll have it sent to the Hall once we return to Asgard.”

You groaned softly, knowing he would expect you to indulge in the ale at every opportunity. “Thanks,” you muttered sarcastically and turned toward Steven.

Walking toward him, you held the bowl outstretched and presented it to him with a short bow. “Ale I bring thee, thou oak-of-battle. With strength blended and brightest honour, mixed with magic and mighty songs, with goodly spells, and wish-speeding runes. I bid thee drink, husband, so thy health and strength are assured.”

“Shakespeare in the park,” Tony coughed into the mic.

You ignored him, focusing on Steve who reached to take the bowl from you. “Make motion with the kåsa toward Thor, then offer a toast to Odin, drink and hand it back,” you whispered so he could complete the ritual.

“Do I have to make it sound so formal?” he asked, and you shook your head.

The bowl left your hands, and you stepped out of the way. Steve lifted it to Thor and offered a tilt of his head, before looking at Odin. “A toast to the All-father. May he bless this union between the daughter of his heart and a man who vows to love and protect her with everything he is.”

Odin appeared pleased and nodded when Steve lifted the bowl to his lips. He drank, and you tried not to laugh when he wheezed after swallowing.

“Damn!” he gasped and passed back the bowl.

You smirked but lifted the bowl. “To Freyja, wherever she may be. Bless the union you've been meddling in for years. Strengthen the ties that bind us.” The ale went down smooth as silk until the tail whipped you in the tonsils and the burn of alcohol scorched your lungs. “Woo, good stuff!”

“Can I continue now?” Tony asked.

“Have at it, Iron Man!” you called, waving him on as you returned to your seat beside Steve.

“Then I ask those gathered to lift their glass in a toast to the bride and groom!”

While the rest here-here’d and cheered, you did a quick search of the room with your senses before turning to Steve and lifting your chin for the kiss you knew was coming. He tasted like the ale, and you hummed appreciatively.

“Tasty, sjelevenn,” you purred against his lips so only he could hear.

“Not bad yourself,” he chuckled.

“Alright, folks! Let’s eat so we can get this party started!” Tony called out and motioned to the caterers.

You had no idea how he’d pulled it off, or what he’d paid for the short notice, but when the servers began coming around with giant platters of food for the tables, you shook your head. Only Tony could pull off something like this.

A young girl placed a basket of bread on the table and smiled nervously. “Congratulations,” she said, hands shaking a little.

“Thank you,” you smiled, and Steve nodded.

“I can’t believe… Captain America… married.” She shook her head and moved on before you could say anything.

“News is going to break like wildfire,” Steve murmured, laying his arm over the back of your chair as he bent closer. “There’s gonna be a lot of love, hate for a while I think.”

“Guess that’s what happens when you steal Cap away from the women of the world,” you snickered softly.

“That’s okay. Tony’s got pictures of you from when you threatened to beat Ross. Once those get out,” he snickered softly, “the men of the world are going to hate my guts.”

You laughed and reached for your glass of wine. “Maybe it’s a good thing we’ll be gone for a while. Give people time to get over themselves.”

“Yeah,” he murmured, glancing toward the other tables. “Probably a plan.”

You knew exactly where his eyes had drifted having searched her out yourself. Sharon sat with a few of the tactical response boys in the back. Apparently, she hadn’t left after all.

The hand coated in metal slowly clenched in your lap.

Things were about to get interesting.

Next Chapter

[imagineaworlds]

Personal Bodyguard--Billy Hargrove

Written By @rune-of-a-writer / @hellimagines

Request: “Can u do a billy imagine where she and billy reunite and Dustin, max and co. See and max also reunites because everyone loves max. But the rest are surprised to see dat billy is actually has some emotions. Like mabey in front of the arcade where billy picks up max. If u can do it I would appreciate it v v much! Have a nice day/evening love!❤️❤️✨✨”

Warnings: cursing (at this point this is just a given in my writing, like honestly. I’m sorry)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x fem!reader

Summary: You work at the local arcade, and your usual band of middle-school customers find out who your Personal Body Guard is.

Word Count: 1,318

A/N: I do NOT own the gif, credit goes to the owner. I hope this is what you asked for, and it’s okay!

You had the closing shift at The Palace, Hawkin’s local arcade. It closed at 11, and almost every night ended with you practically kicking out five 13 year olds. You didn’t mind, they were sweet and hilarious, and on nights when you didn’t have homework or a date with your boyfriend, you’d let them stay an extra fifteen minutes.

“Alright you guys, it’s 11:15,” you called out across the arcade, snickering when you heard a chorus of groans and one of your machines receiving a blow from a shoe no doubt. “I know, I know. I’m a horrible staff employee. You can write me up tomorrow afternoon,” you sighed dramatically, walking through the counter and allowing the bar to slam shut behind you. Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max walked around the corner of the Q*bert game machine, looking thoroughly dejected.

“Come on, (Y/N)!” Mike whined, coming to stand directly in front of you. “Please let us stay for fifteen more minutes! We’ll… we’ll… we’ll get Keith to leave you alone! We know how much he bothers you!” Mike offered, smiling up at you in hopes his offer would work. You laughed and shook your head.

“No thanks, lil’ man. If Keith crosses a line, I have my personal bodyguard to take care of him,” you joked, leaning against the Q*bert machine with your arms crosses. You saw Dustin’s face fall, a sorrowful look coming over it.

“What? You mean you have a boyfriend?” he whined, standing beside Mike and looking up at you as well. They looked like little puppies.

“Indeed I do, curls.”

“Man, I really thought these pearls would work this time! I was positive of it!” he whimpered, looking defeated. He didn’t even bother purring at you to prove a point, either. Your eyes widened, and you bit your lip to try and hold back a smile at how adorable he looked.

“Aw, Dustin,” you cooed, ruffling his curls. “You’ll always be my best man,” you saw his eyes light up, “but not if you brats don’t get out.”

“(Y/N), come on!” Lucas yelled, as you began shooing them out of the store and towards the door. “You’re like, our favorite person, ever. Have we ever told you that?”

“Yeah!” Max chimed in, whipping her head around to look at you. Her ginger hair whipped you in the face, and you spluttered to get pieces of it out of your mouth. “You’re the coolest person in Hawkins! In Indiana! And that’s saying something, coming from me.”

“I’m sure it is, Mad Max,” you laughed, a teasing tone in your voice at the nickname. “But not tonight I’m not. I know Will over here as a curfew that he’s already past,” you raised an eyebrow at the quiet boy who diverted his eyes, “and I’m tired as hell. High school? Not easy, guys.”

“We’re not saying it is!” Mike yelled as you finally got them, and yourself, out the door. You turned around to lock it, chuckling as they continued their attempt at persuasion.

“Yeah, high school is horrible! Terrible, despicable, the epitome of a nightmare,” Lucas agreed, throwing his back against the doors so he could look up at you. “So wouldn’t you want to relax with us, play some video games for a few hours?”

“I have played the games in there so many times, that I have calluses and blisters on my fingers and palms,” you laughed again, shaking your head.

“Shit!” Max suddenly cursed out loudly.

“Language!” you yelled back unconsciously. You paused, realizing you went into mom mode.

“God, I forgot about Billy,” she moaned, swiping her skateboard from the side of the building. Your eyes widened and you whipped around, spotting the familiar blue Camaro.

“Wait, how do you know Billy?” you questioned, watching as the car pulled up in front of you guys. Lucas stood behind you, his arms crossed across his chest, with Mike and Dustin walking in front of him. Will stood to your side, unsure of what to do.

“He’s my annoying step-brother,” she sighed, waiting for the car to come to a stop.

“You’re ‘that annoying little shit’ he’s always talking about?” you cried, your eyes wide in shock. You had always heard the two talk about one another, never with names. And both described the other as horrible and the bane of their existence.

“Yeah, probably,” she mumbled, without thinking. But then she stopped, and turned to you. “Wait… how would you know that?”

“Because that ‘asshole, psychotic dick with anger managment problems’,” you said, quoting the kids from various conversations, “Is my personal body guard.”

“He’s your boyfriend?” Dustin yelled, and your face heated up when you saw Billy’s head snap towards you guys. His eyes widened, bigger than yours, when he noticed you among the kids. A quiet ‘oh fuck’ left his mouth, the two of you staring at eachother, frozen in shock.

A sudden shove against your side broke your trance, and you watched in horror as Mike marched over to Billy’s car. Dustin and Lucas’ hands shot out, trying to grip onto his blue jacket and pull him back, but they missed. Max stood on the sidewalk, next to the car, watching him approach the passenger window.

“Now you listen here, Hargrove,” Mike spit out, leaning his upper body through the open window. You ran forward, attempting to stop any damage that could be done. Billy didn’t like his car being touched. “You see this girl here? This really nice girl? She’s our friend. And if you hurt another one of our friends, we’ll hurt you,” he threatened, and you stopped mid-jog to the car.

Did this 5’7 thirteen year-old, just threaten your 5’11 seventeen year-old boyfriend, with I.E.D issues? Did he… Did he really? Your teeth clamped down on your lips, holding back a laugh in order to give Mike a confidence boost. Billy eyed the smaller boy slowly, debating on what to do. Finally, he took the glowing cigarette out of his mouth, and flicked it out the window.

“You’ve done it now, Wheeler,” Will whispered.

Billy got out of the car, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. Mike ducked back out of the window, stumbling backwards and into the safety of his huddled friends. Dustin gripped onto the hood of his jacket, making sure he wouldn’t run off again. Walking around the front of the car, Billy came to stand in front of you.

“Hey there, handsome. Fancy seeing you here,” you grinned instantly, unable to help yourself. He had a loose jean jacket on, over a red silk shirt. You’d stolen so many of those things, you were surprised he had any left at this point. Max mad a gagging noise when Billy smirked down at you, his hand snaking around your waist.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he hummed, pulling your body up so he could kiss you. It was gentle, unlike his usual public displays of affection. You smiled into the kiss, wrapping your arms around his neck, with the arcade keys dangling off your fingertip. When he pulled away, he pulled you into his side and looked over at Mike and the others. “I’m not gonna hurt her, twerp. Promise.”

“You better not. We have back up,” Dustin threatened. Their backup involved breaking into Steve’s trunk and getting his bat, but it was still backup. Billy nodded his head, without saying anything. Your hands rested on his chest, your fingers curled around his necklace. His hand rested on your hip, gently rubbing a patch of bare skin while the other was in his jacket pocket.

“The way you talk about your girlfriend all the time, I should’ve guessed it was (Y/N),” Max sighed, shoving Billy away from the passenger door and climbing in. “Nobody else has that amount of patience to deal with you.”

[riverdalewritings]

Single Fright Female - Betty x Veronica Imagine (Part 1)

Warnings: Blood

Request by anon:  Prompt idea: AU where Veronica is a vampire(the Lodges are known to be a vampire family). So when she comes to Riverdale, everybody is avoiding her, except Betty who tries to understand Veronica.

Thanks so much for this prompt! Sorry it took so long to write, but it’s my favorite prompt so far, so I wanted to really focus on it. I love vampires, and I love Beronica :)

Read the second part here.

“Did you hear?” Kevin whispered as he slid into the diner booth that was being occupied by Betty and Archie. Betty looked over at Kevin, who was clearly excited about something, and then glanced towards Archie. His head was shifted down a little, eyes averting Kevin. Clearly, whatever it was, Archie already knew.

Betty looked back at her friend and shook her head a little. “No. Hear what?” She leaned into Kevin a little more, strawberry milkshake forgotten.

“An old family just moved back to Riverdale.. An old family who harbors old secrets,” he said, in a teasing tone. When Betty didn’t pick up, he rolled his eyes. “The Lodges.” He paused, waiting. When Betty said nothing, he continued. “Hermione and Veronica..Lodge. As in, the Lodges of Riverdale..?”

Betty pulled the sleeves of her grey sweater over her hands a little, still not comprehending why this was huge news to Kevin, or why Archie was being so quiet. She gave Archie a look again, trying to plead with him for some help, but he offered nothing.

“What’s the big deal over the Lodges moving back to Riverdale?” Betty was sincere. She knew the name, but couldn’t place the importance of it. Kevin rolled his eyes.

“Betty, come on! Hiram Lodge..the richest man in Riverdale..? Well, I guess he isn’t in Riverdale anymore, since they moved, and then moved again, but this time it’s only Hermione and Veronica..so I don’t know where Hiram is..” Kevin trailed off, lost in his gossipy thoughts. Betty smiled in spite of herself.

“Anyway, you’ve never heard..the rumor?” Kevin whispered this part as quietly as possible, and Archie rolled his eyes. Betty shook her head.

“Well, you know how people say the Blossom’s are in a cult? They also say that the Lodge family is filled with..” Kevin looked around the diner, making sure nobody was listening.

“With what, Kev?” Betty was becoming a little agitated.

“Vampires.”

Betty chuckled, thinking that Kevin was joking with her. She looked toward Archie, but he wasn’t laughing along. He couldn’t possibly believe that the Lodge family were a bunch of..vampires..could he?

“Arch..you don’t,” Betty tried, looking at Kevin, then back to her redheaded friend, “you don’t really think that, they’re vampires, right? I mean..that’s a myth.”

Archie adjusted his position in the booth, tugged his letterman jacket a little tighter around him. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “I mean, it’s silly, right? But you grow up with these stories.. I mean, my dad, Kev’s dad,” he said, gesturing to Kevin, “they both went to school with Hiram and Hermione. The stories had to come from somewhere, right?” At this, Betty full out laughed.

“You can’t be serious.”

Archie shrugged, and looked at Kevin, eyes wide.

“Well,” Betty said, looking between both boys, “tomorrow, at school, I’m going to make especially sure that I talk to her, just to prove you both, and apparently, everyone else, wrong.” With that, she slid out of the booth, ponytail swaying behind her.

Betty didn’t know why she was so nervous. She already knew that she was assigned to show Veronica around the high school, and, of course she didn’t actually think that she was a vampire, but she wanted this to go well, and she supposed that that’s what was getting her. She wanted to show Archie, and Kevin, especially, that there was no reason to avoid the Lodges. Especially Veronica.

Betty walked into the principal’s office, ready to ask if Veronica had gotten there yet, but she was greeted by a girl her age, instead. An unusually pretty girl, with dark hair, and a cape coat. A string of pearls glinted around her neck as she turned around and extended a gloved hand.

“Betty Cooper, I presume?” Betty nodded, and shook the girl’s hand. “Veronica. Lodge,” the girl said with a slight smirk, as if she already knew the prevailing rumor about her and her family.

“N-nice to, meet you,” Betty stammered, blushing. She didn’t miss the way Veronica’s eyes quickly made their way down her frame. She would soon learn that Veronica was a lot of things, but subtle, she wasn’t.

Betty bit her lip and glanced to the floor, trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing. “Uh..school!” she blurted, then blushed harder. “I’m, um. I’m supposed to show you around..school. So, should we..?”

“Show me the way, Betty Cooper,” Veronica cut in, smirk seemingly plastered on her face. She gracefully stepped around Betty and made her way out the door, a scent of rose perfume wafting behind her. Betty stood transfixed, until Veronica looked back and lifted a brow. Betty, tightening her grip on her books, hustled after her.

“I told you it was just a myth.” A little more than a week had passed, but people were still avoiding Veronica. They would avert their eyes when she passed, and then turn and whisper to their friends when she was gone.

Betty was seated with Kevin outside, on their school lunch break. “She’s just like everyone else,” she told him, annoyed that everyone kept judging Veronica when they didn’t even know her.

“I’m just saying, I haven’t seen her in the sun yet. Aaaand speak of the vamp she-devil..”

Veronica walked towards where Betty and Kevin were sitting, a small smile on her face. Apparently, it didn’t bother her that her only friend, as of right now, was Betty. She seemed content, and, for some reason, that made Betty feel happy. Not that everyone was scared of Veronica, of course, but that Betty was the only one Veronica liked. It made her feel..good. Wanted.

Kevin turned towards Betty, eyes wide, and mouthed ‘no food’ before turning in Veronica’s direction. Betty rolled her eyes in return, but, now that Kevin had brought it up, Betty couldn’t remember a time when Veronica actually had eaten food.. She pushed the thought away quickly, motioning towards her friend to sit down next to her. Veronica took her up on the offer, and all but floated over to Betty.

Veronica looked expectantly at Kevin, but when he did nothing, she reached her hand out, this time wearing a new pair of gloves, but the same cape coat, to introduce herself. “I’m the vamp she devil, but my real name is Veronica, though I’m sure you knew that,” she said, all but laughing. “You can call me Ronnie, though. Or V, like Betty does. Which I find endearing.” She looked over at Betty and smiled, letting go of Kevin’s hand.

Kevin looked at Betty too, but his eyes were wide. He was smiling, but Betty could tell he had a thousand questions, like why Veronica was so confident and forward, or why she had an amazing fashion sense, or, when did Betty get so close to her that she started calling her V..

“So..Veronica,” he started. Betty gave him a warning look. “You moved from the City, right?” She nodded her head. “What was it like, growing up there?”

“Oh, amazing. The nightlife was to die for.” Veronica knew what she was doing. She smirked at Kevin, a devilish thing, whilst he shot a glare towards Betty. Veronica thought it was funny, the effect she could have on people. Even if they didn’t believe the rumors..the truth, it was fun. She didn’t intentionally toy with people, but sometimes, she couldn’t help it.

Kevin, glancing between Betty and Veronica, didn’t know what to do. He looked around him then, at other students eating their lunches, and then turned back to the girls. “Am I getting punk’d, or something?”

Veronica laughed out loud at this suggestion, to the delight of Betty. “Kevin, I’m teasing you. I know what you, and everyone else in this town, thinks of me and my family. That we’re big, bad, scary vampires, right?”

Kevin nodded, then leaned in, whispering. “I mean,” he said, splaying out his hands for emphasis, “you’re not..right?”

“All I’m saying is that if I am, it’s a real tragedy that Damon Salvatore is only a character on a TV show.” Betty couldn’t help her smile from faltering a little, but Veronica was quick. “Or Caroline Forbes. I have a thing for hot, blonde cheerleaders, I guess.” She looked directly at Betty after she said this, her tone a little pointed.

“Uh..yeah.” Kevin’s eyes kept flicking between Betty and Veron..Ronnie..whatever, uncertain of what this whole conversation had meant. “I’m gonna go..do.. I’m just gonna go.”

Veronica caught up with Betty after the last school bell rang, black cape swishing behind her. “I was wondering if you’d want to come to my place, for a sleepover tonight? My mom is out of town, so I figured we could just hang out, watch movies or, something.”

“Yeah!” Betty said, a little too quickly. “Yeah, no. That sounds..great. What time should I come around?”

“How about 8? That way I can get the house together. Not that it’s messy. Just, you know. First impressions and all.” Betty couldn’t help but to focus on the fact that Veronica was so close to her, their shoulders kept bumping into each other, even though there was room in the hallway. She also couldn’t stop the butterflies in her stomach at this realization, either.

“Ok. I’ll see you at 8 then.”

“See you,” Veronica smiled, sweetly, and with that, she was off.

Pulling up to Veronica’s place, Betty couldn’t help but to feel a little intimidated. She knew that the Lodges had money, but she wasn’t expecting..this. There was so much ornate stonework, and the eye for detail was exquisite. She raised her fist to knock on the door, but as she did, the door opened to reveal Veronica, who was swathed in midnight blue silk pajamas.

“Hi! Come in.” Veronica stepped out of the doorway so Betty could enter, then closed the door, and made sure to lock it.

Betty could tell that Veronica was a little nervous, but it came off as jumpy excitement. It she was being honest, Betty was extremely nervous, as well. She wasn’t entirely sure what this relationship was..if it was just friendship, or if it was something more, but she was too scared to bring it up. She didn’t want to scare Veronica off, if they really were just friends. Not that she had seen anything that could scare Veronica off so far, but, still. She didn’t want to be the reason.

“Oh, food!” Veronica said suddenly, turning around to face Betty. “Do you..do you want food? Did you eat already? Um..I should have bought snacks. And breakfast.” Veronica sighed, steadying her voice. “I don’t have any food..I’m sorry.”

“That’s fine. I’m not hungry anyway,” Betty assured her, though she did think it was a little strange that Veronica apparently never ate..and didn’t have any food in her house..and that she never denied being a… No. Betty was just being silly.

“Ok, well,” Veronica said, sidling up to Betty. “I’ll show you to my bedroom. So you can put your stuff there,” she said quickly. She didn’t want to imply anything. Even if that’s what Veronica was thinking. She was just happy that she thought of putting a bed in her room in the first place. She hadn’t needed one in 64 years, and it was something she almost overlooked.

When they got to her room, Veronica reached for the door handle, until Betty stopped her.

“Oh, V,” Betty said, nonchalantly, “I think you got a little scratch.”

Confused, Veronica looked towards her, then down to her hand, where Betty’s eyes were. And there, on her right hand, was a smear of blood. Nothing too gory, but noticeable, nonetheless.

“Um..” Veronica pulled her hand away so quickly that the action was a blur. “Yeah. I’m going to go wash my hands.” She went to turn, but stopped. “Make yourself comfortable.” She smiled as sweetly as she could at her friend, to cover up for the fact that she was internally freaking out. It’s not that she cared about Betty finding out about her, condition, but she had wanted to test the waters first, to make sure that Betty wasn’t scared. Back in New York, where there were others, it hadn’t been a big deal. But in a small town..

Veronica walked to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. After she had turned, (early, for her age) she was beyond thankful to find that the no reflection myth was just that. She liked clothes and makeup too much to never be able to look at herself again.

She had been careful to feed that night, making sure that no trace of the man she killed had found its way into her home. She thought she had gotten everything, but couldn’t believe that she missed a smear, on her hand, of all places. She licked it off, bloodlust showing temporary on her face, the veins under her eyes peeking through, and returned to Betty, once more.

[ronyxfic]

Educating the Victim: Act V, Chapter XXXIII

Pairing: Pearl/Amethyst

Rating: Mature

Warnings/Tags: none for this chapter

Read it on AO3!

Educating the Victim Masterpost

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CHAPTER 33: Attack

  Amethyst actually tried to be on time today.

“Tried” being the operative word. She only arrived five minutes late, though, which she counted as a success.

She’d had no word from Pearl since the party. When she’d woken up, Pearl had been gone.

Pearl was already there, so Amy trudged over to her.

“Can I sit next to you?” she asked.

 "Sure. Do whatever you want." There was a little broken flatness in her tone. "Sorry. Rough morning at home. Oh. I should write that down. How are you, Amy?"

   “I’m okay,” Amy said, looking at her hands. “Are you okay?”

 Pearl found a small pale blue journal in her bag and leafed to the chart she'd stuck in with pritt stick. "Yeah. Just getting on top of a bunch of good deeds. I need to make up for a year of assholery."

 Amy watched her for a long moment.

Then she asked, “What’s that?”, gesturing to the journal.

 "Something I'm doing. It's... it's for Aurora." Pearl mumbled. "I've been a dick to her long enough. I'm getting better and... this is a thing for me to fix myself with."

 “Ohh, like therapy. I get it.” Amy averted her eyes; it was private. “So you actually talked to Rori? She just told me you left before I woke up.”

 "Yeah. I did. I figured it was time to say something. You know. Be proactive." Pearl scribbled in the journal. "How's it shaking at the pad anyway?"

 “It’s okay. Not much different from usual. It’s nice. Hey... Rori probably told you but if you ever need to crash somewhere you can come over anytime, okay?”

 "I'm on a tight leash right now." Pearl forced a smile. "But that's okay. It's probably karma."

   “No, don’t say that. Nobody deserves shitty parents.” Amy looked down again. “Just tell them to fuck off and come hang at ours.”

 The bell rang. "I'll do my best," Pearl sighed.

 “What do we have first?” Amethyst asked, more out of habit than anything.

 “Oh, we’ve got math-“

 Pearl was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. Aurora awkwardly stood outside before walking in. “Um, yes, Amy. I need you to come to Principal Marigold’s office.”

Pearl quirked a brow and nudged her. “What gives? You skiving early again?”

 Amy paled.

“Shit, this must be about that one time I called her a cunt to her face,” she whispered to Pearl before getting up. “See ya later. If I live.”

 Pearl watched her leave, aghast. “Oh, let... me know how it goes,” she murnured.

Aurora waited for Amy to join her outside. “This doesn’t sound good. Looks like she had getting back to you at the top of her agenda.”

 Amy grimaced.

“She can’t, like, legally do anything to me, right?”

   “Of course not. But I did warn you, she does have a lot of connections and she still is the headteacher of this place. Even if you don’t respect her, poking a bee nest is going to get you stung.”

 Amy hung her head.

“Okay,” she said, “I guess I better go in. Pray for me, or whatever, tell Pearl I lo- I mean. I’ll see you later.”

 “If it’s awful, let me know. I can mark you absent and give you my car keys, I’ve got a twenty note left in my glove compartment.” Aurora offered a smile. “Just... try and bear it. It can’t be too bad.”

 “Okay.”

Amethyst sighed, hesitated for a long moment, then knocked on the Principal’s door. Straightened up. I’m not scared of you, Maricunt.

 “Come in,” came that steely voice. Aurora stepped away and sat down. She gave Amethyst one final look before switching her laptop on.

 Amethyst opened the door and stomped in.

“You requested my presence, Principal?” she said in the most fake-posh tone she could muster.

 Marigold stared at the display. “There will be none of that,” she said, swiping her arm and indicating to the chair in front of her. “Sit down, Amethyst.”

   “None of what, exactly?” Amethyst said, flopping down and putting an innocent smile on.

 “Kindly do not feign ignorance with me. I have brought you here to discuss your inproper conduct in prior to the holidays. Tell me, Amethyst, what do we spend our first homeroom hour every year doing?”

 Amethyst pretended to think for a moment.

“Oh yeah, I know! The diaries, right? I always doodle in mine. Is that against the rules?”

 “Not officially.” Marigold sniffed. “I don’t stifle creativity. What kind of monster do you think I am? It’s a shame you crass youth choose to defile them with... penises. I digress, now, one of the first things I get my students, yourself included, is to carefully read my code and conduct, which is revisited every year. Could you find me your homework diary?”

 “Why do I need that? I kind of lost it.” As Amy tended to do about two weeks into the first term.

 “Ah, now that is against the rules. A lost diary is a lunchtime detention, please attend it... I shall see to Aurora to hold you to that. But that’s fine, I have a spare few in my desk. Here, why don’t you open it to page two and read aloud article seven of respecting school staff.”

 Amethyst opened the diary, fiddled with it, dropped it, got out of her chair to find it again, then sat back up. “Sorry ‘bout that,” she said. “Article seven, you said? Hmmm... ah, found it!” She loudly cleared her throat. “All pupils must at all points show proper respect to staff. Misconduct against this rule includes but is not limited to: Paper-throwing, name-calling, slandering, finger-pointing, and childish arguing.”

 Marigold mouthed the paragraph to herself as Amy read it aloud and finished it for her. “in return, members of staff will be expected to adhere to the same code of respect for their students. Yes. Now, what was it that you deemed appropriate for you to call me?”

 Amethyst locked eyes with her, straight-faced. “Principal Diamond.”

 “Please don’t play games with me. I can punish you harder than I already plan to.”

 Amethyst raised her eyebrows for a long few seconds. “O-kay,” she said, “Kinky, but okay. What’s your punishment, Principal?”

 Marigold flushed, but pretended not to hear. She stood up and began to pace before turning and staring her down, hard. “What on Earth made you think it was acceptable to call me a ‘cunt’ to my face?”

 “Oh, did I do that? Oh man, completely forgot about it.” Amy grinned. “Sorry, man, in the heat of the moment and all that. You did some shitty things to some of my friends, so I mean. We cool?”

 Marigold cocked a brow. "No. We are not 'cool'. You have after school detention every day this week. Writing lines."

 Amy shrugged. “Whatever, just means I get to ride home in the car with Rori.”

 The Principal narrowed her eyes. "Has... Aurora said... No. Never mind, Take this form and get out of my sight. Get it signed at detention, bring it to the office next week."

 Amy didn’t take the form. “Who’s detention gonna be with? Obviously not you, Principal, if you hate my face that much.”

 "Heaven's sakes, I don't know. Whatever teacher is on duty. Don't get too close, though. Too many girls in your year getting into all sorts of business."

 Amy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, whatever,” she said, “so what sort of lines should I be writing?”

 "'I must respect members of staff." Marigold sniffed. "Minimum two sheets per detention."

 Amy grimaced. “Cool. Can I go now?” She snatched up the sheet Diamond had given her.

 "Please do."

 So Amy turned on her heel and left. As soon as the door fell into the lock behind her, she was at Aurora’s desk. “I got detention,” she said. “And only a week, hah.” She lowered her voice. “Wanna stay after hours and graffiti the place? I liked that thing you had before. Ya know, the whole ‘Principal Diamond must fall’ shtick.”

 Aurora perked up and then nodded. "You okay to go back to class? I'll text you about this whole thing, okay?"

 Amy broke into a grin. “Did not expect you to agree. But cool, let’s do it. I’ll see ya later!” And with that, she left the office.

 -

 As the day passed, Aurora found her stay in her office atypically unbearable. It appeared Marigold had spent her entire holiday cataloguing loose ends, as the whole morning was one poor looking girl after another being summoned into the office. Her tissue box was running awfully low due to a constant need to dry adolescent tears. It was exhausting.

By lunchtime, she found herself no longer able to take it and found the detention list. Marigold had, many years ago, implemented an opt-in schedule for teachers to supervise afterschool detentions. Thankfully, the task appeared to mostly be ignored. A few phone calls and memos later, she was in.

 When Amethyst showed up after school (she’d considered not going, but ultimately, what was that going to achieve?) she stopped dead in the doorway and stared at Aurora.

“I didn’t realise detention was gonna be with you,” she said. “How’d that one get past Maricunt?”

 "She hasn't checked the rota for... probably years." Aurora gave an amused smile. "Here, take these before I get accused of favouritism." She swiftly passed a box of McDonald's goods. "This is actually a pretty good meeting space. I saw all these girls with Marigold today, actually... I wonder what she's up to."

 Amy’s eyes went huge at the McDonald’s. “You’re the best,” she said, “I’m starving.” She dug out some nuggets. “I dunno,” she said with a full mouth. “Probs rounding up all the ones she thinks are gay or something.”

 "...You know. I actually.... wouldn't be too surprised if it was all that far from the truth." Aurora sniffed. "Wonder if it's worth talking to any of them."

 “If you want. Or you could sit here and we could plan for breaking in tonight.” Amy grinned.

 Aurora paused and then let a sly smile creep atop her face. "Oh, yes. I almost forgot. I haven't... gotten up to any kind of mischief for a while but... considering the way these kids looked after they came out of her office... Marigold may need a gentle reminder that she's making enemies."

 “Oh heck yeah she does. We gotta show her that she ain’t the boss here,” Amy said, grinning. “Well, although technically I guess she is.”

 "Now is probably the best time, too. Marigold is going to suspect everyone in this room after today. Right. So, here's the plan. The school security system automatically switches on at nine. We need to sneak in here before that and hopefully not get caught on CCTV."

 “You know where the cameras are, though, right?” Amy said, brows raised.

 "Indeed. I even know about the secret hidden one by the parking area bushes that we need to avoid." Aurora nodded. "Now... we might need a quick getaway. For both of our sakes, I really shouldn't get into trouble. But I do have an idea..."

 “Let’s call Pearl and get her to bust us out,” Amy chimed in eagerly. “She literally said earlier, something along the lines of ‘if you need someone to bail you, don’t call me’... oh. Well, let’s do it anyway.”

 "No, no. Even better. So, the second Blue was old enough, she got her bike. And I used to get rides everywhere. I um, know how to drive."

 “Wait, you... wait, really?” Amy gaped. “So where we getting the bike from?”

 "Blue can probably drive it over and spend the night. Or just drop it off. I'll give her a call while you get on with your lines. I'm afraid I can't let you get out of that."

 Amy pouted. “Oh man,” she said, “okay. Wait, I forgot what I’m supposed to write. I can make up my own, I guess? ‘Maricunt is really fucking gay and it’s about time everyone realises-‘ wait. Rori, I got it.”

 "Please. Just do what she's told you." Aurora gave an exasperated sigh. "You know, upholding any kind of neutral alignment is spoiled by your chaotic good.”

 “No, no, not the stupid lines. I mean how we can get back at her. Expose her. Rose was talking about it, remember? We need something big. You should tell her about what happened with you and Diamond, you should tell all of them.”

 Aurora opened her mouth and then stopped. Her eyes searched Amy, and then the room, and finally the floor. By the time she finally spoke again, her cheeks were aflush and her hands balled. "No, Amy, I can't."

 Amy grimaced. “Well, I guess it’s up to you, but I sure know I’d rather people hear it from you rather than, uh. Other sources. And it’ll fuck her up, everyone’s gonna lose so much respect for her. She’s a hypocrite and an abuser.”

 "Please keep your voice down," Aurora snapped. Indeed, their conversation was already starting to score a few glances. "Look. She... she didn't know what she was doing with me. I know she didn't. She can't just be outed like that. It's not right. Even if she deserves it. And... us breaking in is different. We do a thing, we mess around with her things and maybe steal some stuff. But... me telling everyone? The school? The kids, too? I don't know, Amy. It might be easier to be gay now, but it's still terrifying."

 “You don’t think she deserves a taste of her own medicine?” Amy hissed back. “But okay, yeah, I feel ya. It’d be cool, though. Anyway. I have some lines to write, I guess.”

 "...No. Amy. You don't... you don't know her like I do. She's terrified of it. Of anyone knowing. She didn't even like me knowing when I was probably two fingers deep. Just... let's drop it." Aurora sighed. "Sorry. But... yes. Crack on with the lines. I'll start planning. We attack tonight."

> Act V, Chapter XXXIV

[cupcakeshakesnake]

Watching SU for the first time: Season 4 ep 6~10

Last One Out of Beach City

-WHAT

-The fuck kind of puzzle is that

-What even

-”Oh, a sky piece.”  That reminds me of the one time I attempted to assemble a 500 piece Transformers Bumblebee puzzle.

-You mean “better.

-RENEGADE PEARL

-Pearl: *struggles to open can*

-lol that woman looks like Rose

-Um don’t you think someone’s gonna question why you have a giant white dome protruding out of your forehead

-I’ve been looking forward to this episode and I’m laughing so much

-OH DAMN BREAKING THE LAW

-That police car popped out of nowhere

-Like, what were they even doing, were they just lurking around under some giant Invisibility Cloak and then “oh there’s our victim who put a toe out of line tonight” and then ZOOP

-”What was I supposed to tell the DMV? That I’m from another planet? I’m not exactly a citizen, Steven!”

-DAMN

-This episode’s the best

-”Ocean town, no longer on fire”

-I thought Pearl had projected those garments like the rest of her outfit but NOOO she was wearing actual jeans and a jacket on top of them

-OMFG she said “But noooo”

-I said it first

-I thought handshakes were supposed to be right-handed...?

-HOW TALL IS THAT WOMAN

-I mean she’s almost Garnet-sized based on height alone

-Congrats Pearl, you got her number.

-THE END CREDITS

-”Starring Pearl as Repressed Nerd”  “Amethyst as Ultimate Wingman”  “Steven as Voice of Reason”  “And introducing Mystery Girl as Herself”

-But wait...  mystery girl...  who was she??  *earrape version of gravity falls theme horribly merged with X-files theme starts playing* (To experience said music, open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6kTjup5F4o and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkYH1VpNNVc and... synchronizing the music is up to you. But be warned. It can make your ear bleed.)

Onion Gang

-Steven invited Onion over?

-Steven’s narrating?

-What even?

-”Not knowing any other kids his age” or any other kids without ears.  I mean, how old is he even?

-He’s gonna sacrifice you to Satan

-He gon summon Bill Cipher

-They’re quite weird

-And they all only talk with their names

-Plot twist: They’re all humanoid Pokemon

-GARNET  she probably foresaw it

-*eats a bug* Hakuna matata.

-That caterpillar reminds me of the dead one I found in my food last month

-”Lars 1, Lars 2, Lars 3″  wut

-The fuck

-HE’S FUCKING CRYING

-I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING

-THAT WAS A TOUCHING BUT WEIRD EPISODE

Gem Harvest (pt 1~2)

-”Did I just die and go to the back of a cereal box?”

-AAAAH IT’S PERIDOT AND LAPIS

-AAAAAA

-*SHRIEKING NOISES*

-OMFG THEY’RE HANGING OUT

-HADKHFASDKHFGSAKDHGSKHDFGAKSDHGFALSHG

-FUCKING PERIDOT OMFG

-THEY LOOK LIKE THEY REALLY ACTUALLY THOUGHT THE VEGETABLES WERE GONNA WALK AND TALK

LOOK AT THE DISAPPOINTMENT ON THEIR FACES

-EVEN LAPIS

-You guys could make a shit ton of Halloween pumpkins.

-Steven, you’re traumatizing the pumpkin dog.

-HE MUST LOOK LIKE A PSYCHOPATH TO THAT DOG RIGHT NOW

-Oh well, that worked either way.

-WHO THE FUCK IS THAT

-”A hobo is a man’s job”  I don’t like him

-Oh THERE they are. The attack drones I mean.

-YOU MEAN STEVEN ‘UNIVERSE’ WASN’T HIS REAL NAME

-WHAT

-I THOUGHT THE SHOW WAS NAMED AFTER HIM FOR THREE SEASONS

-WELL I GUESS IT STILL I SHIS NAME BUT IT ALSO COULD MEAN ‘STEVEN’S UNIVERSE’ AND WHAT

-”THEY’RE ILLEGAL ALIENS”  Potential Trump supporter spotted.  And anyway, they’re not illegal if they were here first.

-I would have preferred to see those attack drones reactivated.

-”Our Greg is clearly the superior one.”  PFFFFT

AAWWWWWWW

-I’m so glad we’re finally having a nice comfortable happy-ish episode, well, comparatively anyway.

-Where are they going off to

-”Your aunts are back”

-PEARL THAT’S NOT HOW MARRIAGE WORKS

-”I heard you like marriage so why don’t we all marry each other?”  Fandom ships in a nutshell

-Fucking Rebecca

-REBECCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

So we got some lesbians, some straight couples, a pair of gays, and another pair of gays, but unfortunately the gay guy’s partner seems to have fallen and died.

-Or are those all symbolizations of Peridot’s ships in Pining Hearts or whatever

-”And if that’s not human enough for you we can throw in a little orgy being born and some DYING”

-”We’re very sorry for your marriage”  *hands over a timbstone*

-A FUNERAL IS NOT A CELEBRATION

-GEEZ ONE WOULD THINK YALL WOULDA LEARNED SOME TACT AFTER 6000 YEARS ON EARTH

-What’s the passing-a-dish-around-the-table about

-DAMN FIRE BURP

-Jokes, jokes all around.

-ummm UMMM THAT GOT UNCOMFORTABLE

Good to see them laughing though

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

-”Hangin’ off a floatin’ lady”

-HOW THE HELL IS HE EVEN HOLDING ON

-Doesn’t Steven have floating powers -  never mind.

-I thought the back of his bomber hat was flesh colored but turns out it’s the back of his head

THEY’RE SO SERIOUS ABOUT IT

-”WOW THANKS FOR THE BARN”

-I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE THE SHOW COULD HAVE BEEN ‘STEVEN DEMAYO’

Three Gems and a Baby

-Exactly ONE episode of Autumn, and then it’s suddenly the middle of winter.

-AWW BABY STEVEN

-IT’S BABY STEVEN TIME

-Pearl is still salty

-FUCKING AMETHYST

-FUCKING PEARL

-”Well maybe you guys could use it to look up what a baby is”  DAMN i love that line

-DAMMIT PEARL

-GOG DAMMIT THEY STILL HAVEn’t gotten over Rose.. but of fucking course, it’s probably been only a few months... jesus christ this show...

-FEELS

-There was this theory that Rose literally gave up her physical form, as in, permanently damaged. That as we have seen in the show, even shapeshifting for half a day or so can do a number on a gem’s physique, so even if Rose Quartz was a strong gem, what would have happened to her after keeping her shapeshifted stance for nine months? Certainly nothing good.

-WHAT THE FUCK GEMS

-THEY STILL THINK ROSE IS IN THERE, SOMEWHERE, THEY’RE TRYING TO DENY REALITY, THEY THINK ROSE IS STEVEN AND I JUST

-IT’S NOT FUSION, WHO WOULD’VE SHE EVEN FUSED WITH

-HOLY SHIT PEARL STRAIGHT UP TRIED TO MURDER- wait. What would even happen to Steven if his gem was taken away??

-HOLY SHIT PEARL

-FEELS

-WAIT YOU THREW A FUCKING JUNGLE GYM

-AT A BABYSITTER

-AND WHAT THE FUCK’S WITH THE CREEPY ENDING MUSIC THAT’S BEEN THERE FOR THESE PAST FEW EPISODES

[theartificialdane]

Galactica, part 224

In this Pearl looks at her girlfriend, the V-list strikes again, Tatianna comes home, Courtney practices, Sutan visits, Fame tries not to worry, and Trixie removes the demon.

Thank you @toriibelledarling @veronicasanders and @samrull <3

TW: Mentions of self harm.

“Come on, babe! The water’s warm!” Pearl was already neck deep in the bath, enjoying the raspberry scent of bubbles around her.

Laila walked into the bathroom with a sour expression, holding up two t–shirts. “Which one should I wear tonight? It’s my first time doing a livestream and I want to look, you know, good? I guess.” She shrugged, showing Pearl the shirts, both of them generic Forever 21, black with writing on them. Laila deserved better.

“How about that crop top I got last week? From Victoria’s Secret? You’d look, like, fucking hot in it.”

Laila frowned, dropping the shirts to the floor and stepping out of her clothes to join Pearl in the bath. “I don’t know. Hot isn’t really my brand, you know?” she said while taking off her bra and Pearl was ready to argue a completely different statement.

“Bullshit. Hot was always your brand.” Pearl said, wrapping her arms around Laila when the other girl finally climbed into the bathtub and situated herself between Pearl’s legs, leaning backwards against her. “You look hot in your pyjamas, with your hair unwashed for three days, in your underwear, without your underwear, in ripped tights, in a fancy dress, in a–”

“Okay, shut up, shut up or I’ll feed you some foam.” Laila threatened, taking a handful of bubbles and smashing them on top of Pearl’s head instead. “I’ll check the crop top later, fine? Do you wanna guest star in my livestream?”

“I’d be, like, honored, BonBon. What do you need me to do? Do you want to paint me? Are we doing unboxing? Are we–”

“Nah, I just need a glamorous assistant to hand me my brushes,” Laila grinned. She was so beautiful when she smiled like that, Pearl couldn’t resist…

… smacking her in the face with a handful of foam.

***

Alright, muffins. We promised a full review of Li’l Courtney Act’s first album, Kaleidoscope, once it dropped, so here you go…

CONTENT: These songs are not bad at all. We know that sounds like damning with faint praise but that’s the truth. You know how most pop music is total garbage? Well, frankly, we expected garbage. Especially when we saw her listed as co-writer. (HARD EYE ROLL.) But yeah, a lot of the songs are catchy and danceable and her biggest flaw is her tendency to use nonsensically pretentious turns of phrase. That said, we’ll take pretentious lyrics over “yeah, baby, yeah yeah” any day, so take that criticism with a grain of salt. (We just think it’s silly when pop music pretends to be smart. Like, calm down, please. We don’t go to the VMAs to find an SAT tutor.)

EXECUTION: Okay, so as we said after her first single dropped, the girl can sing. She doesn’t have the voice of the Next Mariah, but neither is she the Next Britney, being shoved down our throats because she’s cute and mediocre. She has a good, solid voice and it’s also clear that she’s working for it, which it important. Solid B.

BEST TRACKS: We are totally in love with “Kaleidoscope,” which we hear is the next video/single (although it’s one of the worst offenders of the above mentioned pretentious nonsense lyrics, it’s a very exuberant, fun dance song), as well as her angsty unrequited-love ballad, “Across the Ocean,” which we assume is about BDR especially with lyrics like “her smoldering eyes taunt me, turn me to dust in her hands” - sure sounds like B. And then of course there’s the totally cheesy but ultimately fulfilling, sexy bass-pumped follow-up, “Found.” I mean, you gotta hand it to this kid for putting her heart out there. And of course we love what we think is the best dance track, “Ecstasy.”

VIDEO: The single that dropped today with the album was “Body Heat,” accompanied by a music video. Our review? HOLY SHIT. BASICALLY PORN. 10/10. GO WATCH IMMEDIATELY. The story is very simple. Courtney is trapped on a crowded subway car in the middle of the summer. Lights are flickering, everyone is sweaty and beautiful, and she’s being banged around (pun intended) between Ruby Rose and Naya Rivera. YES YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT. WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE????

TL;DR - Who cares about anything else, Courtney should be fucking SAINTED for that video.

Kisses, V

***

“Allison? Are you home?” Tatianna opened the door to her apartment. “I got ingredients for hot pot since we’re staying in tonight!” Tatianna threw her keys in the bowl by the door. Tatianna loved hot pot, even though it was technically way too fattening to eat on a model diet, but she didn’t care, not tonight. She hadn’t expected to like living with Allison as much as she had, but somehow it had turned out for the better, the quiet, big eyed, blonde girl a calm and quiet presence Tatianna had no idea she needed.

“Allison? Where are you, come on, I’m hungry!”

Tatianna toed off her shoes and walked into the apartment, all the lights were turned off, except the warm glow that came from the bathroom door that was cracked open.

“Allison?”

“Please don’t… It hurts…”

“I know sweetheart, I know…”

Tatianna didn’t recognise the voices. She knew one of them had to be Allison, but the girl sounded so broken, so small, the other voice a deep baritone that sounded familiar but she couldn't place it.

“Please...”

Tatianna pushed the door open, and saw Sutan of all people in the world, sitting on the floor with Allison, her cheeks dark with mascara, her hair a mess, Sutan sitting between her legs neither of them noticing that Tatianna could see them.

“I’m sorry... I’m so sorry…”

“It’s okay.” Sutan was gently dabbing a cotton pad on Allisons inner thigh, her pearly white skin covered with tiny red cuts, drops of blood still clinging to her, the woman only dressed in a sweater and her underwear. “You did good.”

Allison shook her head, a sob coming from the deepest part of her chest.

“Hey, hey.” Sutan gently grabbed the side of Allison’s face, the man forcing the girl her to look at him, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. “You did good. You called me, and you did good.”

Allison nodded, the girl clinging to Sutan’s hand while she cried, small sounds of pain leaving her as Sutan finished cleaning the wounds on her thighs.

Tatianna gently closed the door, neither of them noticing her as she tiptoed into the kitchen, her stomach one giant knot. She knew Allison was going through a rough time, but to see her friend, her roommate and someone she cared so deeply about hurt her to her core. Allison had gone out that morning for a modeling job, the two of them eating breakfast on the couch while watching Good Morning America as Tatianna nursed her hangover from the day before. It felt like lightyears away, but she was pulled out of her trance when she heard noises from the bathroom, Allison on her feet, and Tatianna instantly went to the front door, opening it and slamming it shut before she turned around, a fake smile on her face.

“Allison, I’m home!”

Tatianna was a lot of things, and had been called her fair share of names by jealous girls and rude ex lovers, but if there was one thing she’d never be, it was a bad friend.

***

“5, 6, 7, 8…” Derrick counted Courtney in and she began the routine, flanked by two of the backup dancers with whom she’d be performing on Friday. She tried to concentrate, to not worry about how her album was doing on the iTunes charts, what people were saying, what reviews had come out...

Ben sat in front of the mirror, watching her closely, scrutinizing her every move. When she finished, he jumped up to give her some tips. “I think you need stronger arms, and to hit harder with your hips. You’re missing some of the accent beats.”

Derrick raised her eyebrows. “See?”

Courtney nodded, out of breath, watching Ben demonstrate, taking care to milk the part with the sexy backup dancer. “Hello, sir,” he simpered, body rolling against him. Courtney giggled.

“Yaaaaaas!” Derrick exclaimed. “See Court, how his hands are flexed and his legs are straight on the extensions? Sometimes when you do it, it’s like you’re marking.”

“Okay, let’s try it again,” Courtney said. “Sometimes I worry that I’m gonna forget the steps, or I get distracted, so I hesitate. I think I just need more rehearsal.”

“What you need, is to be a fucking confident, sexy bitch, who knows you are in total charge of the stage,” Ben replied.

Courtney grinned. “So I need to be Vanity?”

Ben tossed imaginary hair over his shoulder. “Couldn’t hurt, love.”

“I’ll do my best!” she promised, getting into her opening pose and winking at him.

***

“Thanks Katya, but I’m good!” Sutan smiled as he made his way through Violet’s apartment, Katya and Trixie in the kitchen with Ivan, baking pumpkin pies with the woman Sutan briefly recognised as Max’s girlfriend Ruby.

Sutan opened the door to Violet’s room, the light in the room dim, a single scented candle burning, a low male voice talking and Sutan realised Violet was meditating. Sutan gently took off his jacket, trying his best not to give Violet a shock, he sat down on her bed, waiting for the girl to open her eyes as he took out his phone. Sutan was dressed in a green sweater and black jeans, the man meeting Jaslene, her new husband and a lot of his friends for a pre halloween bash, Sutan hoping he could potentially find someone Tatianna could date for a while. Sport stars always needed models on their arms, and the press had started to wonder a little too much if he and Tatianna were too close, Sutan nearly rolling his eyes when Raven had sent him a link to an article from her hospital bed, Raven somehow always on top of the gossip.

“Sutan?”

Sutan looked up from his phone, a smile on his face when he saw Violet reach out and grab the hoodie next to her, quickly pulling it on before she got up from the floor and walked over to him.

“What are you doing here? You didn’t text...”

“I came to see you.” Sutan reached out and placed his hands on her hips, leaning forward to gently kiss her stomach that was bare, Violet only wearing leggings and a sports bra, the girl wrapping her arms around his neck, not saying anything as Sutan mouthed her skin.

“You did?”

“Mmmh...” Sutan pulled Violet down, the girl falling forward, her legs folding so she was sitting in his lap. “Kiss me?”

Violet bit the inside of her cheek, and Sutan was almost sure she was hesitating before she leaned down, their lips meeting in a kiss, Sutan gently prying Violet’s mouth open with his tongue, but Violet gently pulled back.

“So you came here, just to see me? Not for any other reason?

“What’s with all the questions?”

“No reasons…” Violet kissed Sutan again, her stomach in knots, but as Sutan pulled her down on the bed, the two lying together, Sutan holding her close, their bodies together, chest to chest, their legs intertwined, Sutan’s hand in her hair, and the knot was slowly replaced with warm desire. She was mad at the man who was holding her, mad and even a little hurt that he had apparently just come over to have sex, but the worry was slowly disappearing as Sutan whispered in her ear, his voice low, his breath hot, and Violet allowed herself to drown in her lover’s embrace, forgetting her annoyance.

***

“Hi, sweetie. What’s the matter?” Jinkx asked, opening her door to reveal Adore, holding a duffel bag. She’d been a little puzzled when her doorman had called up to say that Adore was there, and now her confusion was replaced with concern.

“The pipes are leaking again. My kitchen flooded. I have no hot water,” Adore told her, a look of shame flashing across her face. “I’m sorry, I hate doing this. I can call Bianca but Courtney’s brother stole my bedroom.”

“Don’t be silly,” Jinkx said, pulling Adore inside. “Come in. I was just about to order some lunch. It’s so dreary out, I was thinking some kind of hot soup. Maybe pho or ramen? Chili? What do you think?”

Adore sighed happily, following Jinkx and flopping down beside her on the sofa. “Whatever you want sounds amazing. And thank you, I’m really sorry to keep bugging you like this.”

Jinkx kissed Adore on the forehead, picking up her phone. “Please don’t apologize. I love having you here.” She wrapped an arm around Adore from behind, nuzzling the back of her hair. “Stay as long as you want.”

Adore pulled a blanket around them and leaned back, closing her eyes. “I love you, Jinkxy,” she murmured blissfully.

“Me too, honey.” Jinkx said.

***

Holy shit, you guys! So apparently Li’l Courtney Act has at least one ex who did not delete the nudes from their phone after they broke up. In what appears to be incredibly suspicious timing (her album dropped like, YESTERDAY), some very racy photos hit the tabloids this morning. Uncensored versions are all over the web and damn, girl. (After the jump.)

*

So these pictures are clearly from a few years ago, back when she had the roots of a poor person and some obvious dorm room decor going on. (Unframed movie posters and loft bed? Classy, Court.) If it makes any difference, we think she’s hotter now, but that doesn’t mean we’re not saving these. For...science.

***

The cafeteria in the late morning was Pearl’s favorite place at work. The suits had all left, the Johns and Larrys and Michaels all gone to their respective offices. Pearl liked the peace, liked hiding from her employees and taking the time to sit and eat without anything bothering her. Pearl was checking her Instagram, slowly making her way through a banana when a shadow blocked her screen and someone sat down next to her.

“Hey, this table is taken asshol-” Pearl looked up, expecting one of the suits that she had somehow missed to have forced their way into her space, but as she looked up, she came face to face with... Violet?

“Hi...” Violet smiled slightly, the girl looking incredibly insecure. “I... Umh... Is someone sitting here?”

Pearl shook her head, slightly shocked that Violet was even talking to her. Violet was the queen of the cold shoulder, and her friend had barely acknowledged her existence for weeks.

“I got you this...” Violet held out a cup of coffee, Pearl realizing that she hadn’t said anything at all since Violet had started talking.

“You’re not mad anymore?”

“No...” Violet smiled slightly and shook her head. “I woke up this morning, and I couldn’t remember why I was mad at you, and when I remembered, I realised that all I wanted was to talk to my friend…” Violet sat down, Pearl quickly moving so there was space for Violet, the two sitting together. “I’m sorry I was so mad, and that I was mad for so long...”

“You kinda had the right to, I was being a dick.”

“You didn’t mean to.”

“Doesn’t mean I wasn’t one.”

Violet held out the cup of coffee once again, a sigh of relief leaving her when Pearl accepted it, the two girls smiling at each other before Pearl started laughing.

***

Fame hugged Bianca tightly. “Thanks for meeting me.”

“Of course, blondie. How are you?”

Fame avoided eye contact, dodging the question with an exuberant, “I bet Courtney is excited about tonight!”

“Yeah, well...I don’t know if ‘excited’ is the right word. She’s turned our bedroom into a zen monastery.”

Fame leaned her chin on her hand, eyes glittering dreamily. “Oh yeah?”

“What? Why are you giving me that look?”

“You said OUR bedroom,” Fame simpered.

Bianca cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I hate it when you get all touchy-feely. Why are we even talking about me? Aren’t we here to discuss your failing marriage?”

Fame straightened up. “Nice, Bianca.”

“Sorry.”

“Whatever,” Fame replied, as the waiter walked up. They gave their orders and then when she left, Fame was still avoiding eye contact.

“Fame...I really am sorry. How are you doing? Have you talked to him at all?”

Fame shook her head. “Nope.”

“And…?”

“And I’m miserable. I miss him so much. I hate the way we left things. The more I think about that last fight, the more regret I have about everything. He’s not perfect, not remotely, but he didn’t deserve to be treated the way I...he didn’t deserve that.” Fame’s voice was soft.

Bianca nodded. “Yeah, well, listen, it sounds like you might have to do our least favorite thing now.”

“What’s that?”

“Admit you fucked up. To him.”

Heaving a huge sigh, Fame shook her head. “I don’t even know if he’ll want to hear from me now.”

“How will you know if you don’t try?”

“I just...I think this may be bigger than the two of us. I may need reinforcements.”

“Like the fire department?”

“Like a couples therapist.”

Bianca scoffed. “Pfft, therapy is for whiny assholes who don’t know how to deal with their problems.”

Fame rolled her eyes. “Bianca, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I have never known someone more desperately in need of therapy than you in my entire life.”

“Don’t take that the wrong way? What way am I supposed to take that?”

“Well,” Fame began, “I mean, it’s an expression. Take it however you want. It’s true, though. You’ve got major issues.”

“What ‘issues’? My life is fucking awesome.”

“Right. Nevermind.” Fame rolled her eyes. “Aaanyway, where do you think I should suggest Patrick and I meet? I need somewhere neutral.”

***

“Trixie, what are we doing up here?” Ivy asked, trying not to let her extreme fear of heights take hold, as brisk autumn wind whipped her skirt around.

“/What/ are we doing up here, or what are /we/ doing up here?” Trixie responded coyly.

“Both!” Roxie exclaimed. Roxie wasn’t afraid of heights, and peered boldly off the edge of the roof. Holy shit, were they high up.

Gia yawned and examined her nails, and Betty crossed her arms, irritated. As relieved and happy as the design department was to have Trixie back, they were all still worn down and burned out from their months working under Bendela the Bitch, and had less patience than usual for his charming antics. The assistants were simply confused.

“Listen,” Trixie began, as he felt himself losing the crowd, “I know you guys have all had a very, very difficult few months. I’m really sorry for what you’ve all been through. I’m sorry I wasn’t here, and I’m sorry that you felt like you were, to put it simply, abandoned to live with an evil stepmother. She did a LOT of things wrong - basically she did everything wrong. The first thing was, she didn’t listen to any of you, or let you feel free to express yourselves creatively. As you all know, that is DEATH for a company like ours. The second thing was, she had you attempt to mass-produce what were supposed to be one of a kind couture garments. This put tremendous pressure and strain on all of you, and it also devalued the garments.”

“No shit,” Betty chimed in.

“Well, so, I thought...maybe today we could take care of both problems. Obviously, we need to get rid of the knock-offs. They are hastily made imitations of the originals and they shouldn’t be in the marketplace.” Trixie held up one of the jackets. “We’ll say there was a warehouse fire…” he grinned wickedly and poured a little lighter fluid into a large metal trash can. “And while we do this, we can vent, or yell, and get out all this negative energy, and start fresh on Monday.”

“Are you serious?!” Gia exclaimed.

“Yup! Let’s think of it as a cleansing ritual. Nothing more cleansing than fire, eh? So what do you say? It’s voluntary. No one has to participate.”

“Oh, I’m fucking IN!” Betty yelled, pumping her fist in the air.

April squealed and jumped up and down, clapping.

“And I think my friend Shane should do the first one. If he wants.” Trixie looked at Shane hopefully.

Shane had been standing beside Betty quietly. His eyes a little misty. He stepped forward and slowly took the jacket out of Trixie’s hand. Trixie helped him light a sleeve, then he tossed it into the bin and watched as the entire garment was engulfed in flames. “Burn, baby, burn!” he chanted, then turned to the group, eyes dancing with glee. “Who’s next?!”

***

Courtney paced around Bianca’s bedroom, muttering lyrics to herself, having totally given up on meditating. Ben appeared in the doorway, watching her for a few moments before startling her with, “Hello there, Sybil.”

Courtney nearly jumped out of her skin, whirling around. “Ben, you scared the FUCK out of me!”

“Just what are you doing?”

“I’m...I dunno.”

“I thought you were supposed to be having a relaxing day. What happened to your meditation stay-cation nonsense?” he asked.

“I can’t clear my mind, so I decided to drive myself nuts instead.”

“Sounds like a great idea. I don’t get it, didn’t your run through go great yesterday?”

“It was fine.” Courtney chewed on the inside of her cheek.

Ben rolled his eyes. “Okay, well, you need to stop stressing yourself out.”

“How?” Courtney fretted.

“Come play dress-up with me. I’m almost done with your Halloween costume…” he teased.

“Really?! I thought you said you’d be sewing it onto my body!”

“Yeah, well, I severely underestimated how bored I’d be living with you two. Now, come on, let’s see how much tailoring I need to do since you’ve lost inches in your waist and gained an actual female’s ass for the first time in your life.” Ben grabbed her hand and tugged her down the hall, and she followed him, laughing.

[ronyxfic]

Educating the Victim - Act V, Chapter XXIX

Pairing: Pearl/Amethyst

Rating: Mature

Warnings/Tags: recreational drug use

Read it on AO3!

Educating the Victim Masterpost

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CHAPTER 29: Forgiving

 Pearl found herself walking down a dark street, far closer to the metropolitan districts of the city than she ever truly dared to go at this hour. She'd been texted a cryptic address; illegal raves around the area typically worked as such.

She hoped that the heat wasn't too bad tonight. The last thing she needed was to be chased around by the police after her grounding.

   Ruby and her friends were picking up Amethyst, so she had no idea where they were going until they were there.

Pearl was already there. As soon as the car stopped, Amethyst jumped out.

“Yo, P!”

She wasn’t quite sure how to approach her. Not after… everything.

 "Amethyst!" Pearl tried to smile. "...Hey."

 “Hey,” Amy said. “You, uh. Look cute.”

   "Thanks! Oh. This is just my... sneaking out outfit. I don't even know if it really works. Guess we'll find out if I make it home safe."

 Amy frowned. “Wait, are you actually grounded? Are your parents, like, aware that you’re an adult?”

 Pearl's face visibly looked more than uncomfortable. "I, uh. Was going to tell you. Whatever Rori and Blue did really set them off. It's been rough."

 Amethyst’s frown deepened. “Fuuck,” she said. “Dude, I know things are weird with you and Rori just now but if you need to crash you can probably come to ours. God knows Rori is better than abusive parents any day. I should know.” She pulled Pearl into a hug.

 Pearl didn't pull away, but she didn't look sure either. "I still need... some more time to think about things between me and Rori. I'm still... working through it and the last thing I want to do..." She struggled, fists clenching. "Is hurt her more. It's fine. Let's just go and drink."

 “Sounds like a plan.”

“Pearl!” Ruby bounced over. “Good to see ya! How’re you?”

“Oh, yeah,” Amy said, “these are Ruby’s friends from uni, I don’t know if you’ve met them? Uh. This is Jay, that’s XL, she’s, uh… I don’t really remember all the names yet.” She blushed.

 "Psch, you'll get there." A larger girl poked at Amy, and punched at Ruby's shoulder. "Gonna go get the party started."

Ruby nodded. "Yeah, I have hard that you two need some time to talk about shit so... Bye."

 Amethyst grimaced, once again taken aback by Ruby’s bluntness. “See you around!” she said, waving to Ruby and her friends.

Then turned to Pearl. “Uh.”

She wasn’t quite sure how to bring up the fact that she’d seen Quartz mere hours before.

 Pearl wasn't going to let herself forget it, though.

"So. Where did you meet Ruby and Sapphire?"

 Amethyst coughed. “Uh,” she said. “well, we all had a nice little get-together earlier. It was cool. Did you know Diamond suspended Quartz? Apparently someone ratted her out.” She stared at Pearl.

 "Oh no, what a shame," Pearl replied, monotone. "I have honestly nothing to say about it."

 “Liar.” Amy stuck her hands into her pockets. “Why’d you do that? I mean, I’m not the biggest fan of Quartz, but man, Pearl. She doesn’t deserve this.”

 "She was a danger. She was using me and she'd done it to others. I had to protect future people. Nothing I told Diamond was a lie or exaggeration."

 “It was still a major dick move. Quartz was protecting you. You went into that relationship knowing that she wasn’t exactly clean, I mean, you’re her student, but that didn’t matter when you still loved her, huh? Just saying.”

 "I know it was a dick move. Maybe I'm a dick. Who cares? I was angry and needed to protect others from being hurt this way."

 “Whatever.” Amy kicked a rock. “Let’s just go and try to have fun.”

 "Yeah," Pearl replied, blushing. "Got weed?"

 “Just a little. But there’s gonna be stuff available here.” Amy sighed. “I can roll with what I have, I guess.” Maybe it’d make her feel less awkward around Pearl.

 Their entire exchange had made Pearl physically repulsed to the thought of living.

She needed something to forget.

"Even a small roll to get things started will do.”

 “Okay.” Amethyst unceremoniously sat on the ground and took out her little case. She was well practiced at rolling now.

“Done,” she said a few minutes later.

 "Well, you can light if you want. It's your honours." She passed her set of matches over.

 “No need,” Amy said. “Got this one here.” She pulled out a windproof zippo lighter and lit her joint, taking a few drags before passing it over to Pearl.

“You wanna chill out here for a bit before we go inside?”

 "Whoah, where did you get that bit of gear from?"

 Amy grinned. "Rori gave it to me," she said. "Sweet, isn't it?"

 Pearl frowned. "Oh. Hah. Yeah, it's cool."

 Amy looked at her pointedly.

"Yeah, Rori can be really generous if you don't attack her at any opportunity," she said, keeping her voice flat.

 Pearl balled her fists, frustrated. She'd... she'd tried. It was difficult. "And sell out? No, thanks."

 "Don't be stupid. She's not buying my love. You don't think I know what that feels like?" Amy took the joint back, had a deep drag. "I'll need another one after this," she commented.

 "We can go and buy some." Pearl sighed. "So. It's 'love' now?"

 Amy rolled her eyes, not giving an answer.

 "Listen. You can't just fuck me while dating my sister."

 "I'm not. We're just friends. Can you maybe stop putting words into my mouth?"

 "Maybe I wouldn't if you actually spoke about how you really feel for once."

 Amy stood up. A cold, defiant look in her eyes. "What, and get told more about how much you love Quartz and how you want to give all of you to her? And how you don't want anyone else, especially not me, because you need me to be drunk or stoned to get any use out of me? Yeah, sure, I'll do just that."

 "Look. I'm sorry I did that to you. I didn't understand that it would hurt you at the time. I can't help getting obsessed with people. It's a hubris. And I'm obsessed with how you feel about me too. If you want me to just leave... I can. I want to be your friend but if you're just never going to forgive me for not realising how you felt... then I'm sorry. I can't."

 Amy still stared.

"I don't believe you," she said,  "I don't believe that you didn't know - I slept with you. It was my first time and you knew that it was, and I told you I wouldn't do it with anyone else. How thick can you be? So, no, kind of, apology not accepted." She finished the joint. She still had more weed in her grinder, so she sat back down and started rolling again.

"Wanna share this one too?" she asked.

 "Sure," Pearl replied, numb. "What the fuck do you want from me, Amy?"

 Amy kept her head down. Rolled. Did not reply.

 This had been a shitty idea. "How do you expect me to please you and make amends if you're so terrified of conflict?"

 It stung. Amy still didn't respond.

She was done with her second joint. Barely feeling the effect of the first, so she'd packed this one tight.

"You can light it," she said, holding it out for Pearl. "Do you want my lighter?"

 "Fine." Pearl took it and the lighter. "Oh. This one is pretty full."

 "Yeah."

Amethyst didn't know what to say. Just watched Pearl now, like a cat.

What did she want?

Amy had no idea.

 Pearl passed the joint back, exhaling. "I need to lie down."

 Amy didn't take it.

"I wanna shotgun," she said, her eyes still on Pearl. A challenge. For herself as much as Pearl.

 Pearl coughed. "Are you... serious? After all... that?"

 "Are you saying you don't want to?"

 "Is it really what you want?"

 "Yeah. Why would I be asking otherwise?"

 Pearl drew a breath, exasperated. So. If this was what Amy wanted.

"Okay. But it has to be your hit."

 “Fine.”

Amy took the joint. Took a deep hit, then pulled Pearl close and pressed her lips to Pearl’s. Exhaling slowly.

Her heart was beating far too quickly.

   It felt surreal. Amy was mad with her. Amy had avoided her. Made her feel repulsive.

She took the hit. Kissing her back.

  Finally.

She still held the joint, but it seemed she’d forgotten all about it as she kissed Pearl, holding her close, tasting her lips. Her tongue dipped into Pearl’s mouth briefly before she pulled away.

Her cheels were dark, she was breathing fast.

“So, uh,” she said. “You wanna do that again?”

 "Alright."

It felt like a whirlwind. Everything seemed upside down at once. She kissed Amy quickly for good measure.

Relieved.

 Amy kissed her back, then took another hit. Feeling herself go dizzy.

She shared it again. Kissing Pearl heatedly in the process.

 This pattern of supposed sharing carried on until after the joint was over, and then for another ten minutes. Pearl was flushed, her shirt riding up. Back a little slick. She finally withdrew. "I'm still so sorry."

 Amethyst’s hands had strayed underneath Pearl’s shirt, touching a little, but not exactly sure how far to go.

“It’s okay.” She kissed Pearl again. “Mostly because I’m high and you’re hot. You know I was planning to ask you out, yeah? Had my entire speech ready. And then you come in and don’t even give me a hug and go ranting on about how Quartz broke your heart and how you don’t want anyone else.” She looked away, trying to hide her tears.

 "I'm sorry. I should've realised. I really... only recently had enough time to think and try and remember that phone call. The night you sent me those pretty pictures of you," Pearl replied. "I was blackout drunk and hungover on Monday. I didn't... remember anything. I didn't want to. And it made me forget about... anything but my own stupid feelings. I'm sorry."

 Amy's shoulders slumped. She leaned in to Pearl.

"You should be. I don't wanna ask you out anymore." She clenched her teeth. "I don't wanna be your girlfriend. But. I... I like making out with you when I'm high and touching you and fucking you and I'm an asshole because I want to keep doing that. Maybe I should've just stayed home."

 "Maybe we just... should keep doing that."

 Amy huffed. “You shouldn’t be this okay with that.”

 "Why not?"

 “Because it’s cruel,” Amy said, harsh. “It’s what M-“ She stopped herself. Pearl still didn’t know about Aurora and the Principal. “It’s what assholes do.”

 "God forbid you enjoy sex with a bit of social lubricant." Pearl rolled her eyes. "You don't want to date me. I get it. We don't need a label. We could just be buddies that fuck because fucking is fun and God knows we're not going to risk pregnancy. So what if we're a bit stoned in the meantime?"

 “If you say so.”

It was, apparently, all it took to convince Amethyst. She pushed Pearl back and rolled half on top of her, kissing her again.

“Rori’s got a date tonight,” she mumbled against Pearl’s lips. “Depending on how it goes you might be able to come home with me.”

 Pearl giggled, putting her hands over Amy's, encouraging. "You can fool around. No one is gonna mind. I haven't been to Rori's pad since... before the accident. I. Used to sleep over in the spare bedroom on weekends last year."

 “That’s my room now,” Amethyst said, hiding her face in Pearl’s neck and giggling. “You can still sleep over, if you want. Ya know, once you and Rori actually talk to each other again.”

She slipped her hands under Pearl’s shirt again, feeling the smooth skin of Pearl’s belly.

 Pearl let herself be touched. Responding to Amethyst's touches with little kisses. "Maybe."

 “We could head inside,” Amethyst said. “Dance like crazies and make out. Wouldn’t mind some loud music with my makeouts.”

 Pearl smiled at that. "Sure."

    > Act V, Chapter XXX

[ronyxfic]

Educating the Victim - Act V, Chapter XXVIII

Pairing: Pearl/Amethyst, Yellow Pearl/Yellow Zircon, Yellow Pearl/Yellow Diamond (mentioned)

Rating: Mature

Warnings/Tags: none for this chapter!

Read it on AO3!

Educating the Victim Masterpost

(Previous chapter) (Next chapter)

CHAPTER 28: Moving on

Introspection sometimes cut through her fears like a samurai sword, and that evening, Pearl found herself with the courage to finally send Amethyst a message.

‘Hey. I'm really sorry. Could we maybe please talk? Even if all you do is tell me how much you hate me. I just want some closure.’

   Amethyst, having returned from the meeting, looked at her phone.

Frowned.

After about half an hour of careful deliberation, she finally texted back.

‘Fine.’

The fact that she was using capital letters and punctuation should probably serve to show Pearl that she was taking this Seriously, with a capital S.

‘Wanna meet up somewhere? idk. A cafe or something.’

She sighed.

‘And I don’t hate you.’

 ‘Isn't it late?’ Pearl frowned, ‘nowhere is going to be open. We could call.’

Knowing she wasn't hated was fairly relieving.

  ‘i was more thinking like tomorrow or something’

‘dunno if i wanna call’

  ‘that's alright.’

It wasn't. She sighed and tried to swipe away the messenger bubble. She noticed an earlier conversation she'd had with Sapphire.

‘so, uh. There's a rave tonight. I'm kind of grounded but might try and sneak out.’

 Amy frowned.

On impulse, pressed the call button.

 Oh.

Pearl picked up. "Hey." She said, nervous. "I'm sorry."

 “Nah man, forget about it. Did you say rave? I was talking to Ruby earlier and she told me about one – this wouldn’t happen to be the same one?”

 "Down by the junkyard? I'm not too sure how safe it is but Sapphire wouldn't invite me out to something dangerous."

 “Oh, man, so we are talking about the same thing!” Amy grinned. “I saw Sapphire texting but I didn’t realise she was talking to you. I wasn’t gonna go, got no one to go with. Well, until now. You down?”

 Pearl then frowned.

"Um. What are you doing with... them?"

 Amethyst cocked her head.

Oh yeah, Pearl didn’t know.

“We were just hanging with your ex,” she said casually, “nothing you need to worry about.”

 "Um!" Pearl was flabbergasted. "UM!"

 “Dude, chill, I’ll tell ya about it later. Though, ya know, ratting her out to Diamond? Not cool. Anyway. Whatever. Do you wanna-“ Wait, inviting Pearl over was probably not a great idea. “Uh, I could come to yours? Or we could just meet there?”

 "Meeting there. Parents aren't letting me have anyone over."

 “Ok, sure. Uh. When?”

 "Hang on. Need to ask Sapphire when it starts."

 Amethyst laughed. “No you don’t,” she said. “It starts at eleven. I talked to them, remember? Ruby told me everything. She’s gonna be there too.” She then realised her mistake. “I mean they.”

 Pearl paused.

Oh.

She felt envy. Upset. Amy wasn't meant to know them.

"I'll see you there at eleven. "

 “Cool! See you soon then,” Amy said, and waited for Pearl to hang up.

 Her voice betrayed her heartbreak. "Can't wait!" She promptly dropped the call.

 "Amy!" Aurora called out. "I'm going out!"

 Amy instantly jumped up. “Yo, where are you off to?” she said. “I didn’t realise you had plans.”

 "Um, I forgot to mention." Aurora looked awkward. "I set up a tinder account. I have a date."

   “Oh man, that’s so cool! Incidentally,” Amethyst nodded at her phone, “so do I. I’m going to the rave Ruby was talking about, and Pearl’s gonna join me there.” She grinned at Aurora.

 "Oh!" Aurora seemed surprised. "You're friends again?"

 “As of like five seconds ago, I guess,” Amethyst said. “So who’s your date?”

 "She's really cute. Rich, too. A lawyer. She's from out of town, but look." Aurora swiped up a profile and passed her phone to Amy for a look.

   “Aw! Cute. Not as cute as Pearl, though.” Amy grinned at Aurora. “Anyway, yeah, I’m going to the rave. I guess you can’t drive, but I can take the bus. You have fun, yeah?”

 "You... take care of her, okay? Don't get too drunk and just lemme know if you're going to crash somewhere. Even if it's a very drunk call, lemme know you're safe."

 “Will do, mum.” Amy grinned and came in for a hug. “You stay safe too, yeah? Don’t let lawyer girl kidnap you. She’d win the court case for that, probably.”

 "Oh, she might. I'll try and not let her steal my heart." Aurora winked. "There's lamb chops in the fridge to heat up when you get back."

 “Thank you!” Amy waved. “I’ll go back to my room, I need to find a cute outfit.”

 Aurora watched her leave and finally allowed her face to drop. An odd pang of envy sent ripples of upset through her. She shrugged it off.

She had a date. They'd arranged to meet up at a conveyor belt sushi bar that was open until late. She was ready to try and move on for tonight. Amethyst had been right. Everyone seemed to be enjoying some form of romantic love in her life and she was tired of lagging behind over her loss of Marigold.

Adorned with her usual pretty yellow evening dress, she pulled up at the location they'd agreed on.

 Zaira Giallo was already there; she’d only ever been late for anything once, and that had been a complete embarrassment.

(She was fairly sure everyone else involved had long forgotten about it.)

She was intrigued by this girl she’d managed to find online. Several years younger than her, but Aurora didn’t seem to mind that in the slightest.

She caught Aurora’s eye and waved her over. Eyes wandering over the flattering yellow dress she was wearing.

“Good evening,” she said when Aurora was close. She leant in to kiss Aurora’s cheek. “A nice location. Sushi isn’t usually my fancy, but it’s always nice to try something different.” Her English was accented, but otherwise perfect.

   Aurora blushed, not quite expecting the contact, but heavily appreciating it all the same. "This place is pretty good, they do a lot more than just the fish, so it's not that bad. What do you usually enjoy?"

 Zaira smiled as they settled down. “Well, I’m from Italy,” she said, “I have high standards. This country...” She grimaced. “Well, let’s just say, it could do better in many ways. How has your day been?”

 "Oh yes, you mentioned it on your profile. What brings you here?" Aurora smiled. "I've had a... busy day. Had to meet up with a friend since she's been suspended from work."

 “My boss is here investigating something,” Zaira said. “I can’t disclose details, but it’s an odd little case, and she’s called me here to help her sort out things. I won’t be staying for long,” she added, “so I do hope you’re not looking for anything permanent. I don’t do long distance.”

 "Just some fun from a pretty older woman. I'd appreciate a distraction and," she pressed a soft, seductive stroke against Zaira's hand. "I'll try my best to help you have a good time."

 Zaira frowned, displeased. “I am really not that old,” she said, “and if you insist on making me feel like I am, I might just leave.”

 Aurora could only apologise. "Sorry; I didn't mean for it to come out like that. Wanna order drinks?"

 “It’s forgiven.” The smile was back. She held on to Aurora’s hand before Aurora could pull it away. “Of course. They actually have some decent wines. What will you have?”

 "Oh, I'm feeling just the cider for now. That might change if something else catches my eye, though."

 Zaira nodded, then waved the waiter over to order their drinks.

When he was gone, she turned to Aurora again.

“So, tell me a little about yourself, Aurora Jaune,” she said.

 "Well, I'm not very special. I'm local from here. A personal assistant and secretary for now but I'm planning to go to university soon." She looked a little mournful for a second. "If there's anything interesting is that my high school sweetheart was the headteacher."

 “Gosh, you’re so young. But that sounds exciting. What was your headteacher like?”

 "Tall. Loud." Beautiful. "Annoying. It wasn't a good time, but hey. Kept me close to my sister for a while."

 Zaira frowned mildly. “How so?”

 "I graduated high school five years ago. I could have gone to university then, but I didn't trust my parents to look after my sister. I raised her, you see." She looked a little distracted for a second. "We had a decent relationship for that time until last summer."

 “Sounds like quite a ride,” Zaira said. “Tell me about your sister, then.”

 "She's unfortunately rather vulnerable. Gave me this number on my nose." She laughed, unable to really be bitter about it anymore. "A fighter. The thing was that I was really a permanent part of her life until my boss started to chip into more and more of my personal life."

 “Hmm. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, or children, so I wouldn’t know what that’s like. Almost all my life is work, which is how I like it.” A small, slightly cheeky smile played around her lips; almost like she had made a joke that Aurora wasn’t in on.

 "Oh, yes!" Aurora blushed a little. It felt like she was somehow being made fun of.  She wasn't going to let it make her feel defeated, however. "Your job does sound incredibly exciting. I must admit it was one of the things that drew me to you. Tell me about it."

 “Oh, being a lawyer is really not all that exciting. Unless you’re very good. Like me,” she smirked. “I got hired by someone rich. So I get to do their court cases. Have been for several years. And it’s Italy, so yes, occasionally, the Mafia is involved.” She winked.

 "Oh my god." Aurora gasped. "Now that is exciting. Though, I take it that disclosure agreements mean that you can't tell me much."

 “You have the right idea, bella.” The way she said it was sincere, a little arrogant, but didn’t cross the line to condescending yet. “I’m sure there’s things about your job that you wouldn’t be able to tell me about. So let’s not talk about jobs, hm? What is it you like to do in your spare time?”

 "Now that I have a little more time to myself, I've been getting more enthusiastic at reviving some of my old video games in my spare time. I also spend way too much time watching makeup tutorials on the Internet." Aurora laughed, awkward. But unashamed in her earnest glance. "What do you do?"

 Zaira smiled. Aurora was cute.

“I don’t get much free time, and I tend to spend a significant amount of it trying to find someone to spend it with,” she said, nodding at Aurora. “But when I do have time, I like roleplay. Any kind – Dungeons and Dragons, online, or … sexual.” She deliberately held Aurora’s eyes.

 Aurora bit her lip, eagerly. "Oh, that's exciting. My twin was always into that, so I was kept up to date. Never really tried it, but I could be persuaded to try anything." She rubbed her own wrist. Her dates had never been this forward. This open.

She liked it.

 Zaira’s smile widened. Her gaze going from calculating to seductive in a heartbeat.

“Well, if you’re up for it, you could come back to my hotel after we’re done here,” she said.

As if on cue, their waiter brought their drinks. “Would you like to order any food?”

 "It would be a pleasure." She winked back and then paused, picking up her cider. "Hmm... I'll start off with just salmon sashimi."

 Zaira shot her a look and then looked at the waiter. “I’ll have whatever she’s having.”

Displaying an air of confidence even though she really did not know her way around sushi.

 "Tell me, then," Aurora said, sipping as they were left alone. "What's the main appeal in role play for you?"

   Zaira took her time answering, taking a long and calculated sip of her wine.

Not too bad.

She then smiled at Aurora again. “Should I be honest with you?”

 "I won't run, I swear." Aurora was charmed by that mysterious smile.

 Zaira could tell. She chuckled. “Okay then,” she said. “Well, my job… excites me. More than it should. I like the power it gives me over people, the legal means to… interrogate. I like to imagine that power in different settings… what I would do to them if I was given the chance… but I like how controlled it is. I’m held back only by the law, or, in roleplaying scenarios, by my own moral code… and yet that is the strongest force there is. That balance – between being in power and being controlled… well, I’m sure you know how it is.” She gave a soft little giggle. “Even in non-sexual settings, I always play a lawyer. Or judge. Somebody who has power, but only as far as the law allows. It excites me.”

 Aurora was somewhat aflush by the time Zaira was finished, watching her with net typical adoring intensity she'd only shared with Marigold in prior.

"My goodness," she finally replied. "That really is something. Is the fact that you're getting off to it something you can hold a keen poker face to? Or have you ever been accused of enjoying proceedings a bit too much?”

 “No, no. Please, Aurora, I’m a professional.” Zaira laughed. “The only people who ever know about this are my sexual partners. Who I tend to keep strictly separate from my work. Hence the dating app.”

 "I figured it was worth asking." Aurora giggled. It had been a dumb question. "It's clever, though."

 “It’s just the way I am.” Zaira shrugged, still smiling. “So, what do you like? What… excites you? I can tell you’re into women who are a little older than you. Anything else?”

 "I suppose I'm drawn to an imbalance of power. But I'd like to explore it with a fair bit of control. I feel that regardless of the amount of self empowerment I feel, I'm naturally fairly submissive and enjoy being led around."

 “Oh, I feel we are going to get along splendidly,” Zaira said.

Their food hadn’t even arrived yet and Zaira was getting impatient, ready to leave. Aurora seemed like the perfect girl for a one-off thing, just casual play, nothing serious. And the way she took Zaira’s interest…

It was all so exciting.

 Aurora noticed the slight fidget and lightly smiled. She'd found the same impatience in Amy.

Once the slices of fresh sashimi arrived, adorned prettily with vegetables, Aurora broke apart her chopsticks. "I take it you would like to head back to yours fairly soon?"

 “Please. Though I won’t hold it against you if you want to eat your fill. If the evening goes as planned, you’ll need your energy later.” She winked before digging into hers as well.

She was a little clumsy with the chopsticks, but managed.

“Oh, this is really good. Maybe I should have sushi more often,” she said after having a few bites.

 "Oh," Aurora flushed and dug in, spreading some wasabi paste over the pink fish and then letting it soak in a tiny dish of soy sauce. "I like it the best when it's so salty I can't feel my face. My twin likes hers completely on it's own and thinks I'm utterly mad."

 “Hmm.” Zaira hadn’t tried the condiments yet. “The wasabi is spicy, right?” She picked up a tiny bit with her chopsticks and laughed. “White people spicy,” she commented before spreading some of it on her sushi, copying Aurora. “I have to say I probably agree with you. It’s a little dry on its own.”

 "It's just the right amount of controlled spice for me, I feel." Aurora beamed, licking her lips and picking up a bowl of edamame beans off of the conveyor belt.

 “You do seem to like controlled spice, hm?” Zaira chuckled. Watched Aurora pick up beans off the belt and let her eyes wander along. “Anything on there you’d particularly recommend?”

 "The wafu salad here is pretty excellent." She smiled. "And the gyoza - that's the veggie ones passing us by on the purple plate."

 Zaira picked up one of each. She started with the salad.

“Unusual,” she commented, “but I like it.”

 "It's the weird seaweed crunch that gets me every time. " Aurora watched, finding a selection of tuna and vegetables.

 Zaira nodded, concentrating on eating. Maybe if she ate fast (which she knew how to do; five-minute lunch breaks were a regular occurrence for her) they’d get to the actual interesting part of the evening more quickly.

 Aurora finished her food and ordered another cider. It would be her last but she already felt more drunk than she had been in a while. "I'm just going to head to the bathroom," she said, flushed. "I'll be right back."

 “Okay,” Zaira said. In the time Aurora was gone, she topped up her makeup a little and fixed her hijab. Which, hopefully, she would not be wearing for much longer.

She also took the opportunity to pay the bill for both of them, not even giving Aurora the the chance to protest. By the time Aurora got back, they’d be ready to leave.

 Aurora made it to the bathroom and ran her hands under the water. She neatened her fringe and spritzed on a new wiff of perfume. She'd even shaved down there. Shaved.

In her many years of physical and sexual services to Marigold, most of her expectations were more behavioral. Marigold had never mentioned her hair. Nor her body in any way that wasn't calling it beautiful.

Why did she even care? Her date hadn't expressed anything about her appearance and yet...

And yet she found herself under pressure. She had standards. She needed to meet them and prayed she'd done enough to not disgust Zaira.

She sighed and walked back, a pleasant smile on her face. "Oh! Is that the bill?"

 “All paid. You ready to go?” Apparently Zaira hadn’t been the only one to neaten herself up. Excitement boiled in her belly. It was so rare to find someone she could do this with – she only hoped Aurora wouldn’t wimp out later on.

 "Oh, would you like me to pay you back at all?" Aurora asked, grabbing her jacket. "I'm all set."

 “Oh, please don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’re doing well, but I probably still earn significantly more than you. Shall we?” She slid out of her seat and held her hand out for Aurora. “We could take a taxi, or we could walk. It’s not very far.”

 "I'm quite tipsy," Aurora gently took that hand, cheeks indeed rosy. "Maybe a taxi would be a good idea."

> Insert 7

> Act V, Chapter XXIX