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katalyist · 1 year ago

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Life series!Grian a survivor not a traitor

Alternative title: I thought about Life series!Grian for too long again and because Tumblr doesn't have a character limit I'm putting my thoughts on the Internet.

I'm not normal in how while watching Cleo's secret life final episode there was a silent agreement that Grian was no loyal when they had that conversation with Scott when they were trying to convince Gem to be on their side.

"I mean, don't ask about Grian's loyalty"

And Scott response was "I have never seen a man drop a pair of sunglasses quicker in my life. As soon as Joel dropped, the bad boy glasses were off"

To which Grian responded "My boys died, what did you want from me?"

Like how is Grian seen has someone that betrays or isn't loyal to his teammates? HE IS LOYAL, HE IS JUST TOO COWARD. He has never betray a teammate first.

Look, for example to third life: He promised Scar his life, and altough he warns the rest of players at the beginning about the scams Scar was doing, he always do what Scar did, he helped him, he create traps and didn't thought on betraying him until Scar betray him first, until Scar did it, when he recovered he was so mad and just jump to them shouting out that Scar was a traitor. AND THEN when Scar apologies and offers Grian to have the win he refuses because he still considers Scar his ally, and then the cactus ring happens and he feels bad, he feels bad for killing Scar, I don't think a traitor would be that bad to the point of killing themselves

Then in last life, where he killed two of his four teammates and started his reputation as "allies killer". First of all, when he turned red he had the oppurtinity to just turn on them, sure, he went back to the nether and threat Mumbo, but it was mostly joking and I think the most messed up thing was how afraid he was of not having any teammates that he was willed his best friend but couldn't find the courage on himself. The next episode he has already a plan to go back with his team AND get Joel out of red, like- he planned a way to be back with his allies and get his new ally (that if I had to remember you, was the one that killed him, but Grian was perfectly with him because he understands it was for the red impulses) out of red. Once he gets his yellow life back and goes back to the southlanders for a happy teammate reunion and discovers Jimmy was exiled he doesn't hesitate in saying he doesn't want him back because he betrayed the southlands; they have the votation, he says 'no' inmediatly and is surprised that other people said yes but doesn't oppose to it.

When Mumbo and Jimmy turned red he didn't try to kill them until their few attempts of murder, he did not attack Mumbo when he tried to end cristal him, he didn't attack them, even when they had that terrible attempt of a trap for him and Martyn. He attacked them when Jimmy physically tries to punch him to the trap that he looses the little patient he had left and kills him and then Mumbo for trying to stop him. Then Martyn betrayed him because of the boogeyman curse and when Grian finds Impulse he sounds so wounded because of that but even then he doesn't try to go for him, he makes a plan with Impulse to put a Wither on the base of team B.E.A.S.T because they were one of the biggest threats. Once Impulse died he was back with Joel and he didn't betray or left him, even when he had the opportunity to join bigger alliances than him.

With that out of the way we arrive to the fatal Double Life, I feel that this is the catalyst of Grian's character misinterpretation, mostly because of the cheat situation but: 1, that him and Scar and soulmates doesn't mean they are allies (see the two pair of soulmates that were literally divorce) and 2, he really tried to protect Scar and be a good ally. He made a base, he warned Scar to not go to places he could die and he even trust him with the sugar cane, when he lost it he trust Scar the sand he isn't even that angry or dissapointed on him. It also applies to BigB, he was a great ally with him too! He gave him sugarcane, cookies, tnt, they didn't attack eachother and the only reason why he killed him was because he forgot BigB was soulmates with Ren in his red madness, he even had a funeral for him and apologise for killing him. That is not traitor behaviour if you ask me.

And then finally Limited Life (my excuse and the real season I wanted to talk because I haven't left that bread bridge), the season where Grian is in his most loyal teammate arc of all. He is a coward of course, he plays safe always, in every single season, and that is what ends up being one of the reasons why Joel ends up dead. The bad boys were too reckless and idiots (in an affectionate way, I love them) for him to not fear for their lives constantly, and yes they almost felt apart, but that was after Jimmy killed Grian. Grian left Jimmy get the kills, they were trying to save him, when Tango (the boogeyman) killed Jimmy he didn't took the two hours from him because that would had permakill him, at the end Jimmy didn't die because of him, he just slip from the platform. They had the funeral and all, he left diamonds at his grave as an offer.

With Joel it is a little different, Grian didn't betray him, he didn't kill him, but he wasn't there because he was afraid of dying, in the middle episode 7 Joel wants to murder the family because they wanted to kill Jimmy "It wasn't their fault he died" trying to persude him to not do that to which Joel answers "I'm gonna send Scar a message" and Grian almost begs "No Joel, you got to be careful or I'm gonna be alone. I'm gonna be a singular bad boy" but he doesn't follow him, he doesn't go to kill people with him because they don't have a plan and it's obvious they will die.

Grian is a survivor, when he notices things are getting ugly he looks for a way out. When Joel goes on his murderous rampage after they talk to BigB he reunite again with him and Pearl to offer himself as a ally, making a list of all the things he is useful for, selling himself because he knows he will be alone at the end of that episode and alone players are easy targets. At first he wants them to become bad boys, he doesn't want to leave the mark, but they refused, and a survivor has to do what they have to do. He isn't even hiding why he wants to be friends with them and they don't have a problem with that.

"I have already kind of accepted he's gonna die in a way" he says while making a trap for the nosy neighbours while watching how Joel died (again)

"I mean, you completely abandon him at this point" Pearl points out (and if I watched Pearl more I could talk about how Life Series Pearl seems to have really trust issues with people that is so confident in leaving allies behind because she keeps repeating how Grian is not with Joel, she is so 'I will die for you', and it was prove in the final of secret life, I love her so much).

And Grian doesn't deny it, he does try to excuse his behavior with a "Joel reaches a point where he just loses his mind completely and he was way past that a while ago. Jimmy's death has kind of got an adverse affect on him" just to be silent a second, finish placing the TNT cards and going "But I will have to go and see if he is okay in a minute"

He cares about his last truly ally even when he knows Joel will die, Grian can't just stand still and wait for it to happen "I'm gonna have to go and see if Joel is okay. He must be on less than an hour and if I don't say bye, I'm gonna regret it"

And once he is with Joel again he doesn't hide that he has allied with the nosy neighbours from him. It is the first thing he tells him actually "I've just been like making new friends because you have lost your mind". That is not betray behavior, that is not 'I'm gonna back stab you' or 'I'm leaving you now'. And Joel gets it, he gets that Grian is too coward to confront people directly, that he is not a pvper and accepts him like that. And then they have this conversation on Skynet while trying to get kills for Joel:

"Yeah, do you know what would be really funny? If I just knocked you off right now but I won't, I won't, I won't do that"

"I would do that for you. I would do that for you. Bad boys for life"

HOW IS THAT NOT LOYALTY? Grian, the one that is afraid of death, willing to die for his ally? Without hesitation answering that yes, he would do that for Joel. We have the hole "Kill me Joel. KILL ME" dialogue and scene after that even. Grian didn't wanted Joel to died, when he has five minutes Grian tries to tell him to kill him again before Joel denies. When they are going to see who Joel can kill is when he starts hesitating because he would lose two hole hours to get Joel back to just one hour, he is balancing saving his allies with keeping himself alive and at the end Joel's rampage ends up killing him and Grian is without his bad boy.

He enters in full survivor mode and downplays Joel's death in front of everybody but contradicting his discourse of 'It was getting expensive to keep him alive' once everyone is gone he tells Pearl and BigB they should have a funeral for Joel fully knowing they weren't his allies. He makes Joel a grave too, like they did with Jimmy and says some words for him. How could that not be loyalty? The last episode he uses the bad boy skin, all season he forgot to use it and had to be remember by the others to use it, and then he puts it even if he 'isn't a bad boy anymore' to honor his allies.

I think the most close he was to betray an ally was when at the end he enacted the sword and ally with Impulse and Etho whitouth talking it with Pearl and it ending with both Etho and Pearl killing eachother to be in peace. When they first met after Grian enactes the sword and Pearl goes to kill he tries to stop her, but he doesn't defend her (or Etho), he just tells them to stop. Grian character just... always leaves his allies do what they want? even if it is not the best for them, it is something he does with every one of his alliance really, he does his own and they do his own, Cleo actually points it out on their last episode while they are talking to the heart fundation and Grian gets bored and goes to do his plan to get Gem and Cleo is like 'yeah, he does his own things, don't pay attention to him'.

In Secret Life he was also truly loyal to the roomates, in part I think because he was afraid of loosing his only oportunitty to get some friends after three episodes of loneliness. Grian is always so desesperate to make allies every season, make people like him because it would mean someone would fight for him. The rommates is a very solid team and he reassures himself and they how he made the correct decision. They are not as attach as he was with his bad boys (that, talking about them, he had this weird no-alliance with Joel, changing hearts and not really attacking eachother until the very end) but it is stable.

Grian includes them in his plans, if they are not on board he respects it, but when he thinks it is something that can protect them he insists. He insists they should go to Joel's platform where he hide from the zombie apocalypse because it is the easiest to defend and they were chase by the people with more health on the server. When Etho died they took it seriously, when they are scaping he goes first through the portal that belongs to Gem, Impulse and Scott because "No point both of us dying" he could have left Cleo go first to be more safe but he didn't, he tries to make a trap to get Gem and the Scotts and he tells Cleo to back off because they would get hurt if they stay to close because he will manually activate it.

My conclusion? Grian is not a traitor, he has never betray his teammates until they cross the line first. He is a bad teammate? Oh, totally, not because he won't provide his allies with supplies or plans but because the moment it becomes dangerous, too risky for his constant safe plays he distants himself because he doesn't like risky plays, he is an expert in the 'long game' even if he won't win anything with it, he also has some kind of honor (if you want to put it that way) he won't attack the weakest unless he is corner to do it to keep himself alive, he always goes for the biggest alliance, the people with most hearts, the people with most potential of giving to bring them down with the rest.

As always thank you for reading how normally sane I'm about Life series Grian. Again, I write this mini kinda essays on the fly and don't check facts too much but Grian himself implying he is not loyal had me "are you sure about that?" and then this was write on my drafts. Thanks for coming to my Grian talk!

#traffic life series #trafficblr #grian #limited life #desert duo #bad boys #Grian is loyal even if he doesnt want to #so normal about Grian always

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xsaturnashx · 5 months ago

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Made the mistake of rewatching 3rd life again for the 20th time. I hate how Grian never left Scar’s side when he said he would, I hate how Scar gave him those flowers, I hate how Scott referred to them as husbands for a brief moment, I hate how excited Grian got when Scar killed Ren, and I hate how Scar and Grian fought in that stupid cactus ring. IhateitIhateIhateitIhate.

I adore 3rd life so much but fuck does it make me want to draw fanart, make edits, and write fanfiction of scarian.

#scarian #rant #random #griscar #3rd life #life series #traffic smp

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birrdies · 2 years ago

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at the kitchen table (third life fic, 891 words)

Grian sits at grief’s kitchen table. It used to be his— theirs— but something far greater occupies it now. He can’t call it his, even though the birch is well worn with use. Beaten from dumping battered weapons and armor at the end of the day (before they started sleeping with it, before they forwent sleeping all together), far more than any shared meal.

The table’s empty. The last of their slim pickings is buried outside in the sand with Scar’s body. Grian sits inside, protected from the howling wind and pretending like he can drown out the spectators. One more death, they insist. This isn’t over yet.

Give me a second, he barks back.

He’s never been one for outright cowardice. He knows there’s no avoiding this fate. He practically wrote it himself. But Scar taught him a thing or two on how to delay the inevitable. How to buy yourself time, how to become slippery and escape all things that are meant for you. Bitterly, Grian can’t help but wonder why he hadn’t done it for himself in the end.

This is all Grian needs— a moment, a brief reprieve, a second to be untouchable— it’s all he asks for. Himself and the kitchen table, the empty chair across from him. Normalcy, or as close to it as he can reach.

Elbows propped on the sandy wood, Grian hides his face in his hands and chuckles. How ridiculous it is: a hollow kitchen standing around him, dusty and vacant and haunted. Grian never cooked anything in here. They never shared a meal at this table. It was always scraps over a fire, stale bread stuffed in their pockets, endless days in the blazing desert heat. Too scared to sit and eat properly. Too restless.

Why even build a kitchen at all? Grian’s laughter possesses him now, broken and shrill and hollow without Scar here to cause it. He presses the heels of his palms against his eyes until his vision splotches and his head spins. How stupid could he have been? To build a kitchen, to hope to use it?

He had wanted nothing more than to be free of the madman bound to him by nothing more than Grian’s misplaced guilt and a few meager promises. Weak strings, really. He could’ve left anytime he wanted. And Scar would have let him.

But he built a kitchen for them anyway. Before the loyalty set in like a fever. Before this was it: him and Scar and the vacant dunes.

Before Scar had made the choice for him.

There was room for love here, Grian thinks as his laughter turns to tears— a more silent affair.

The spectators nag in the back of his mind, more a sickening chill crawling the length of his spine than any kind of coherent voice. Goosebumps pepper his skin, but he refuses to move. He sits like a sentinel over this empty kitchen, the bleeding heart of their home, with nothing but his own anger as a weapon.

Anger can only do so much. Grian wipes his tears only to realize there’s still blood on his fingers, now smeared on his cheeks. Trembling fingers curl into fists. Grian studies the way they move, counting his shaking breaths and knowing they’ll be his last.

He’s hurt. It won’t take much else to finish the job. A cut on the crest of his cheek bleeds sluggishly, stings in the gritty air, but there’s no point tending to it. The bruises around his middle ache terribly.

Scar could’ve killed him. If he pushed a little further. Hit a little harder. If he wanted it enough.

But, no. Scar went down with a smile. He got what he wanted and Grian got this. Grian’s never hated him more.

Slowly Grian rises from his seat at the kitchen table. He runs his fingers over the sanded wood one last time before stepping back out beneath the desert sun. The hair on the back of his neck stands up. A chill swoops through him, nearly takes him off his feet. There are eyes on him, somewhere, but he’s never felt more alone.

He steps over Scar and Pizza’s shared grave and treks through the cactus ring to get to the edge of the hill. The part where the drop is steep and the base is rocky. It’ll be quick. It’ll be painless— at least, infinitely more painless than everything else he’s felt at the mercy of the game, at the mercy of the desert, at the mercy of Scar.

He’s the last man standing, but what exactly is it that he’s won? It’s hard to feel like a victor when all he feels is cruel and beaten. When his head is heavy with the crown of eager eyes and his legs shake with the burden of keeping the rest of him upright. When there’s nothing to stand over proudly except for unmarked graves and a lonely desert hill.

It doesn’t feel like much of a victory at all. There was room for love here. There was room for a lot of things. But none of it matters in the end. Because Grian doesn’t want to be left to haunt a kitchen Scar never even stepped foot into. It doesn’t matter, because Grian won. He takes a step over the edge.

#third life #third life fic #life series fic #desert duo #grian #goodtimeswithscar #gtws #desert duo fic #birdie writes #back at it with my BS

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pineapple-cheese-bread · 4 months ago

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I have a HC about the Winners of the life Series.

Essentially, everyone has a "Prize" and a curse, the reason I put prize in quotation is because the prize can amplifie the effect of the curses ( Only sometimes its a 50/50 chance (aka only does it when I want angst) )

as a disclaimer some are more thought out then others

Grian:

Winner of the 1st game where patterns and trends got established, the game with no extra gimmick. Grian pledged himself to Scar after accidentally killing him, he constantly remined others that it was just till he lost his first life, but that never happened. He sticks with his Scar, setting up traps and being the only green to kill, untill it was just the two of them. Grians game ended with a duel to the death between Him and Scar, a fist fight in a cactus ring with the sun rising behind the two of them, a part of Grian knows Scar let him win, all the same, after claiming victory, he jumps off a cliff and ends the game properly.

His Prize was a simple dagger with three hearts carved into the blade, a lether grip dyed cactus green and a handle that looks like a rising sun and his curse?

Grian constantly feels cactus spikes in his skin pricking just at the surface but, and he will never tell anyone this, his back hurts, not constantly but sometimes while he's just going about his day pain will bloom over his back and wings like he's just landed on it from a high place.

If he uses the dagger (and he gets unlucky) the constant prick under his skin turns painful the pain in his back that comes and goes a constant, he knows it will hurt but the dagger is a good reliable weapon.

Scott:

Winner of the 2nd game with the first gimmick, the trading of lives and the boogyman curse. He played the game honourably sticking with his allies and keeping his promises, He was the only person to resist the curse choosing to go red rather then to kill one of his allies. He won the game in a fair fight between the last 4 players getting the finale kill with the help of a Zombie under the Moon, the two symbols of his fallen allies, He didn't get to choose his final death, he was struck by lightning sent by the watchers he had upset.

His Prize? A wooden short bow that's beautifully curved with three Axolotls two holding each end of the string and the thirds the grip, in the space between are four hearts (two below the grip and two above) the hearts have a sort of aurora carved around them, the arrows of the bow are star shaped an infinity bow.

His curse? There's a constant chant in his head, telling him he needs to kill, someone needs to die so he can stay alive, he's pretty good at ignoring it. Sometimes Scott's body feels like it's full of lightning burning his muscles when this happens its incredibly painful to do anything but he grits his teeth and pushes through, it's usally gone fairly quick.

If he uses the bow theres a chance that the chant gets loud drowning out most other thoughts and the lightning pain is a constant, with this he doesn't usally use the bow, saving it for moments where he can afford to go through the pain, especially if it means saving an allie or friend

Pearl:

Winner of the 3rd game, a game full of heart break for some and loneliness for others, Pearl was alone for the major part of the game through by no fualt of her own, living in her tower with her wolves an honorary red name while still on green. Her game ended in bloodshed as all games had, killing the final two soulmates, taking pride in killing Cleo and Martyn two of the three people who had screwed her over at the start which left her and Scott. Pearl never got the final kill she wanted, never got the pay back for the pain Scott had caused her, her death was the result of Scott sacrificeing himself leaving Pearl as the winner.

Pearls prize is a Scythe a huge wicked thing with a cresent moon shaped blade, at the top and bottom of the pole is a heart conceted with a carved string however around the string are carvings of wolves some of which have the string in their mouth trying to sever the tie.

Her curse, Pearl has the echo's of her maddening loneliness forever in her mind, it's easier to manage when she's around others always apart of some group, sometimes heat prickles under her skin, heat pushing up trying to escape but never being able to.

She uses her Scythe in games always to scare others, she doesn't mind the side effects that could happen, doesn't mind when the madness takes over doesn't care for the heat that keeps pushing pushing at her skin trying to explode out.

Martyn:

Winner of the 4th game where time was everything, the clocks all ticking down a constant reminder that their time is limited. Martyn spent the game close with Scott his allie, he knew it was his best chance to win. Martyn spent his red and yellow life hungry for time, more time he always needed more time, he got his time and made it to the finale three. Him, Scott his allie and Impulse, a fair and honourable match was proposed, but there's no honour in a death game, it's kill or be killed he wasn't going to lose. Martyns game ended in betrayal, a betrayal that was always going to happen, Scott was first then Impulse. Martyn got his time but he, like everyone, had to run out of it eventually.

Martyns prize was a Cutlass covered in coral, an hourglass carved into the blade and a red planet made of gems in its handle, its a beautiful thing to behold.

Martyn constantly here's the tick ticking of a clock counting down to something. He doesn't have a reminder of his final death instead from time to time Martyns skin will dry out a remined of his time on the coral isles.

Martyn doesn't use his Cutlass very often if ever, the potential consequences not worth it, the ticking becomes louder he becomes obsessed with time again wanting, needing to kill to gain more and his skin becomes bone dry often starting to crack. Though it's a good weapon he doesn't want to take the risk unless absolutely necessary.

Finally Scar:

The winner of the 5th game, a game full of secrets, Scar spent the game alone but not lonely, there where others around but he never really had an allie, everytime he would plan to make friends and allies the secret keeper had other plans. Do the opposite of what people say, become the villian of the server sabotage three reds, he couldn't get a break. When the final came around, still without friends or allies, Scar went with whoever at the time and when the final two teams were left he had to choose between Gem and the Scott's and the Mounders, ending up with the Mounders, with the help of Pearl they killed Gem leaving just her and him. The final kill wasn't exciting in fact Scar missed it entirely having to be told by the Ghost of Grian, the first winner, that she was dead. Scar never got his own final death, he lived in the world for months following the end of the game wondering through the Sunflower fields untill finally he was pulled out officially ending the game.

Scars prize was a metal long bow not too diffrent from his Hot Guy bow but this bow is green and brown, with sunflowers and scrolls decorating it.

Scar doesn't really have any curses, maybe the Watchers were happy with how he played the game, but he's cautious he doesn't trust that he's safe, he wants to tell someone but he doesnt know how the other winners will take him not having any curses, so he keeps quite, never telling anyone and living with the secret.

Scar hasn't used the bow, there hasn't been a reason too, he has other bows and there hasn't been another game yet, so he's fine with just using it as decoration.

And that's all, I would add Cleo but in my head Real Life was just them all drunk and wasn't organised by the Watchers just a bit of fun sort of thing.

Also what do you think of the prizes and curses? All prizes have the gimmick of the game, a symbol important to the winner and their Celestial bodies,

The formula I used for the curses was something relating to the gimmick of the game plus their final death, Scar never had a final death so idk what to do there if anyone has suggestions I'm open to hear them, as well as any suggestions for how to amplifie Scars curse.

I would love to draw the weapons but I have 0 confidence in my ability to do it justice.

Anyway this was longer then intended I'm going to stop before I make it longer but if you want to hear me rant about my choices please tell me and I will.

hope you enjoyed it.

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ooffmlsorry · 1 year ago

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First of all Congratulations on 100 followers!!It's been an absolute pleasure reading your stuff! I love the way you write law, so I'd like to request for the prompt "Step away from the tree and put the present down" It sounds so hilarious, I can't wait to see what you come up with!! xx

OMG that’s so sweet! Thank you!! I’ve been having a great time doing this actually. I’m so glad I do a decent enough job of writing Law ‘cause I’m obsessed with him. This is gonna be fun!! I kind of ran away with this one soo....I hope you enjoy <3 :)!!

“You’re a mean one, Trafalgar Law.” You struggle to keep a straight face while singing and twirl just out of your captain’s reach. “You reeeaaally aaare a heeeeel,” you sing, all the while watching Law’s face grow increasingly stern. “You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Trafalgar La-aw.”

You twirl around the kitchen until you’re back to the counter where you left your bowl of cookie batter. The kitchen smells sickly sweet already, a tray of sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies cool on a rack. You suspect your captain has come to inquire why the Polar Tang’s kitchen has become a bakery.

“Sing that again and I’ll consider it mutiny, y/n-ya,” Law says cooly.

By no means do you think he’s joking, all the annoyance in his eyes and tension in his shoulders are real, but his threat rings hollow. Maybe because the only thing you’ve done is poke fun at him, you both know you’d never truly betray him. The fact that you were allowed to tease him at all was the real sign of how strong your bond was.

“Stop being such a grinch and I won’t,” you say. You begin pressing a person shaped mold into a sheet of gingerbread cookie dough.

You hear Law grumble something under his breath, but you don’t ask. The captain is welcome to grumble to himself as much as he likes, but it won’t stop you from bringing a little holiday cheer to the Heart Pirates. After all they’ve been through they need it, especially Law.

There’s a beat of silence before Law speaks. “Why are you doing this?” He asks. “There are much more important things to b–”

“Cookie?” You say. “I made one shaped like a polar bear just for you.” You turn around with a sugar cookie shaped like a bear’s face covered lightly with white icing for the fur and black for eyes, nose and mouth.

Law pauses to look at it, looks at you, and then to your surprise, begrudgingly takes it in his hand but doesn’t bite into it. “There are more important things to do than bake cookies,” he says.

You don’t dare comment on the fact that he just took one. You know well enough he’d hand it back to you if you did.“You're trying to come up with something else for me to do, aren't you?”

“There's always cleaning to do,” Law says. His eyes sweep around the kitchen littered with pans, bowls of icing, food coloring, wax paper, and cookie dough, “and you've made a mess. The cook will need it soon for dinner.”

“I know,” you say lightly. “We’re having a holiday dinner, remember? Decorate cookies, drink a little, dance? Bepo told you we’re opening presents before breakfast tomorrow.”

Law steadfastly ignored any invitation to join the fun. As the captain he was aware of all of your plans. He couldn’t help noticing the way the air in the Polar Tang was humming with excitement. The crew seems happier too, he wouldn’t yet say it, but Law knew you were good for their morale.

“I’ll be in my office,” Law says.

You knew it was coming but your shoulder’s still slumped a small fraction. Of course Law would stay in his office while everyone else was having fun. At first you thought your captain’s definition of fun was different from the crew’s but the longer you’ve stayed aboard the more you’re unsure. Every attempt you made to bring him out of his shell was met with resistance at best and outright rejection at worst.

“You won’t stay for a little?” You ask, no longer trying to hide your disappointment. “I was kind of hoping you would.”

Something passes across Law’s face, and then it’s gone and replaced with the cool, well-placed wall. Whatever it was, Law had decided to keep it from you. “No, I don’t have time for games, y/n-ya.”

“Will you be there tomorrow? We all put presents under the tree,” you say. “It’ll be short, we’re just going to open them in the morning after breakfast and then get back to work.” Not to mention you knew your present from him was sitting under the tree, earnestly wrapped with a bow.

“I doubt it,” he says.

Just once you wanted him to stick around the ones who love him, yourself included. You’ve always tried to keep your feelings hidden, buried deep under a warm concern for Law’s well-being and an admiration of his skills.

“I knew you’d say that, Grinch.” You have trouble keeping the bitterness out of your voice.

You watch Law’s eye twitch. “Am I supposed to know what a Grinch is or are you making up words now?” Law sighs.

Law’s not known to joke with you like this. The humor you two share consists of knowing looks, whispered barbs, and playful teasing, but you still stare at him for a moment expecting some kind of punchline.

“The Grinch?” You repeat.“You know the children’s story about a green monster guy that hated the holidays because he thought they were too loud and annoying so he tried to rob the neighboring town of all its trees, presents, and decorations? They didn’t have that story in the North Blue?”

“No, I guess not,” Law says. “I’ve never heard that story before.”

“Well,” you pull a sheet of cookies from the oven and replace them with another batch. “Does it not sound like a certain someone?” You ask playfully.

He scoffs, “he’s not wrong. The holidays are loud and annoying. They’re a distraction.” Law finally bites into his cookie and pauses to stare at it for a moment, a flash of enjoyment shines in his eyes. He quickly covers it, lowering his head to hide his eyes below the brim of his hat. “Remind the others to keep it down tonight,” he says, then turns and leaves.

You set aside some of the cookies cooling on the rack to decorate for him later. You chuckle to yourself a little; there were crumbs on your captain’s face.

You couldn’t lie to yourself anymore. The party is fun, the crew has split themselves into three factions: the ones stuffing their face with cookies, honeyed meats, and thick spiced drinks, the ones dancing to holiday music, and the ones still sitting around the table raucous with laughter as they play games. The only thing missing…the only person missing is Law.

At some point he made an appearance to grab a plate of food (much later than he should have, you noted) and then disappeared back to his office. Thoughts of your captain kept lingering, until you couldn’t ignore them anymore.

Which is how you ended up standing outside of his office, with your hand hovering before his door—too hesitant to knock. Why shouldn’t he stop for just one night? Part of you knows it’s your own selfish desire to see him that brings you here, but you know you’re right. After all he’s been through, you want to see him happy.

There’s a pause after you knock before he lets you in. Law’s seated at his desk, his gray eyes focused on a book in front of him. They slide up to look at you as you enter.

“Hi,” you say. To give yourself an excuse you take the empty plate sitting on his desk. “Things aren’t too loud are they?”

“No, thank you,” he says.

His eyes don’t leave you as you had expected them to. He’s not so absorbed by his work that he looks away immediately. You don’t go into Law’s office often, but you’re one of the few crew members that can without an emergency. The small room is an eclectic collection of all the things Law keeps in his head. Shelves of books, maps, and scrolls line the walls along with a desk, safe, and a couch which you’ve occasionally found him sleeping on. You also pretend you don’t know about the collection of Sora comics hidden behind said couch.

Law observes you, his hands folded in front of his face keep you from truly reading his expression. The air feels charged as neither of you can look away from each other. Are the tips of his ears red? You wonder.

“What?” You finally ask.

“Nothing,” Law says. He coughs slightly and looks away from you, “actually, I…” You watch Law think the better of whatever he was going to say. It’s not just his ears that are slightly red, his cheeks dust pink as well. Suddenly your heart is hammering in your chest, butterflies make themselves known fluttering around in your abdomen and below. You’re on the edge of something, you just don’t know what yet. “Thank you for checking on me,” he says. “I’m fine. That’s all.”

“Oh…okay.” For the second time, disappointment folds over your enthusiasm. “Don’t forget to give your eyes a break, Law,” you say. “Maybe come out and join us for a little bit? The holidays are all about being with the ones you love.”

Law’s grimace doesn’t quite reach his eyes, “good night, y/n.”

You’re pleased to know Law isn’t working himself to death in his office, perhaps he was taking a night off in his own way. Regardless, enough of your worry vanished to allow you to enjoy more of the party. You dance and drink late into the night, and even find that a holiday story is being broadcasted on a transponder snail. The crew, equally as exhausted and drowsy, pile together almost like kids sitting around a fire to hear a story. You flop down onto the couch beside them and drift off to sleep. The last thing you remember is the warm glow of the tree lights and the scent of pine.

You wake up to the sound of rustling pine and ornaments knocking against each other. Immediately you’re on high alert, heart bounding. All the sleep that would normally fog your brain and muscles evaporated. Someone was here, in the low light you could see a tall, thin figure crouched under the tree. At first you start to alert the crew, but as your eyes adjust you realize you know that frame, the shape and bend of that body.

“Step away from the tree and put the present down,” you say, using the most authoritative voice you have.

Having been caught red handed, Law stops what he’s doing and allows you to flick the common room’s light on. The clock on the wall reads some time just before four in the morning. Of course it could only be your captain.

Law straightens from underneath the tree. He scowls down at you, holding a present in his tattooed hand. He quickly hid it behind his back.

Tension slowly leaves your body and is replaced with annoyance and confusion. So many questions swirl in your head, but only one makes it out of your mouth: “I thought you said you’d never heard of the Grinch?”

Law nearly chokes. “What?”

“Sneaking in at night,” you say. “Stealing presents. That’s kind of what the Grinch does.”

“I’m not stealing it,” Law says between clenched teeth. His eyes are hidden under the brim of his hat. Is he…is he embarrassed? “I’m placing it for tomorrow,” he mumbles.

You look between Law’s blushing face and the tree.“Oh…” you mutter quietly. “I—well, that makes more sense, but…I thought you said you weren’t going to join us tomorrow?” You rub the back of your neck and look away from him.

“I wasn’t,” he says. “But I—” You’re surprised when he brings forward his hand holding the gift. Law’s blush deepens and his determination to avoid looking at you grows. To spare you both, you stare at the gift neatly wrapped in his hand. It’s no bigger than his palm, a matte gray box tied with a golden bow. “It’s yours. I wanted to say thank you for…for your kindness.”

You take the gift gingerly in your hands. “You were concerned about finding your place. I doubted you at first,” Law says as you unravel the bow around the box and lift the lid. “But I think your place is here.”

Inside, a gleaming gold locket sits delicately on a white cushion. A gasp escapes you.

When did he do this? Why did he do this? Your heart beats wildly in your chest as your thoughts race. “I can't believe you….” The metal is cold and smooth against your fingers. It shines just enough to look thoughtful, but discrete enough that few would think of thieving it. That would be Law, you think to yourself, always practical. Still, the gesture touches you beyond words.

“Open it,” he says quietly.

The pendant opens with a small click and inside is a folded piece of white paper.

A vivere card.

You don't think you quite understand until the paper flutters away from you slightly. It moves in Law’s direction centimeter by centimeter.

You move the vivere card back into place and shut the locket. For Law to trust you with something so special and dangerous as his location stuns you. No matter what you’ll be able to find your way back to him. “I trust you, y’n... I trust you with the people most important to me and I want you to always be able to find me.”

“Thank you Law,” you say once you find your voice. “I…I can’t believe you did this for me.”

Law’s hand is warm and firm against yours, the feeling of him finally touching you melts every bone in your body. Your heart hammers in your chest. Your eyes slip from the softness reflected in Law’s gray eyes to his lips. “I’m attached to you in a way I’m not with most.”

That’s all he needs to say for you to pull him close enough to kiss. A surprised sound escapes his mouth before he begins to react. His hand leaves yours to slide around your waist and pull you closer to deepen the kiss.

You pull away when you're both breathless. A giddy smile pulls so wide your cheeks begin to hurt. Law pulls the necklace from the box and places it around your neck, still blushing as if this was more intimate than locking lips moments ago.

“Do you know how the Grinch ends?”

Law rolls his eyes but, clearly, decides to humor you. “How does it end?”

“He learns to love and his heart grows three sizes,” you say.

#law x reader #one piece x reader #trafalgar law #100 followers winter event

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jeena-says-hi · 3 months ago

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Omg Scar going to shoot Grian but then deciding not to

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mayhemscorner · 2 years ago

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The Beast Within

Gaara x f!reader

Summary: with the inability to control the sand demon Shukaku, it’s up to Y/N to bring Gaara and the demon back to peace

Warnings: injury, self harm, angst, swearing, topics may be sensitive

With the pressure of my lids bearing down against my eyes in an attempt to shut out the scene in front of me, hoping, praying that it was a horrible dream… the guttural screams of Gaara still pierce my ears and drop to a sickly feeling in my stomach. My hands clench over my ears as the screams die off to a dull ringing noise. I find myself shouting, but I can’t even hear myself anymore, forcing my eyes to witness Gaara worn out and barely conscious as Shukaku begins to take his final form. I’ve never seen the horrid beast first hand, I’ve never wanted to either to be honest. An ambush against the sand that had resulted in a particularly strong rogue summoning the sand demon had blind sided us all. Just as Shukakus tail slams down ahead a strong set of arms wrap around me and pulls me back under the shelter of a building. When I turn I see Temari shouting at me, but I only hear snips of her words over the ringing,” Go…. Run… Shelter… Gaara… Help…Possum…”

I shake my head violently, shaking away the ringing as the rumbling ground takes over the sound in my ear, watching as Temari turns back to me,” Y/N, I said you need to go and find shelter. We need to find a way to get Gaara help before he goes Possum.”

She blocks my view of the scene in front of me as Kankuro swings down from the balcony above us and jabs a finger upwards towards the chaos,” not gonna to happen. We’re too late. We have to find a way to wake him up… quickly.”

Shukaku’s horrendous cackle sends a shiver down my spine as we watch him trample almost dead center through the village.

“We have to reroute civilians, this is going to get very messy if we don’t get them to safety.” Temari huffs out, quickly grunting in frustration,” Kankuro, take the left side, I’ll get the right. Y/N, find Baki… anyone that can help. Send word to the leaf if we have to.”

“Temari, we don’t have time to request help from a village that’s days away. We need to focus on waking Gaara up.” Kankuro lashes out, starting towards Shukaku.

“Civilians first, Kankuro.” Temari seems almost hurt putting the village before her own brother. It was understandable, the last thing any of us want is to lose Gaara.

“I’ll work on waking him up.” I pipe up, dusting the sand from my vest and standing wobbly from hearing loss vertigo. Temari stutters in her steps, shaking her head in worry… maybe even disbelief,” Y/N, it’s too dangerous. You can get hurt or even killed. Going up there is a death wish.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re willing to sacrifice our lives for someone we love.” I muster out, internally panicking at the risk and my legs quickly becoming like rubber at the thought. But it was a risk worth taking if it was for Gaara. To him, I may just be an advisor or a paper pusher, or a Jonin of the sand village that was his neighbor. But Gaara… he was everything. The man who has rebuilt the village in morale and trust. The awkward neighbor who would drop off a cactus that reminded him of me, or even bring extra food Temari made for the night when I’d come back from missions. Even the person who just happened to be outside late at night when going for a stroll to clear my head. He saved me from my own demons. He owed me nothing, yet I feel like I owe him my life.

I take off towards Shukakus tail, seeing it was the best vantage point to get to his head where Gaara lay comatose. My vest is ripped backwards from Kankuro behind me,” are you sure you’re prepared to physically hurt Gaara to save him, or do I have to do it myself?”

“I can do this, Kankuro. Now get off me!” I shout out, tearing his hand from my vest and continuing on. I make it to the base of Shukakus tail, focusing chakra to my feet to climb the erratically moving tail, whipping back and forth in to lower buildings and leaving a path of rubble. A shock of pain spreads through my back as I’m slammed against a porch while gripping tightly at the sand like texture of Shukakus armor.

“What is crawling on me? Do I have pests?!” Shukaku bellows out, slamming his tail down in quick strides and almost knocking me off. I can’t help but shriek as his tail crashes down one last time, sending debris crashing down on top of me. I can only cough air in to my lungs and continue on as the beast becomes severely agitated, leaving no room for thinking as he falls forward in to more houses. When he stands, it seems he’s distracted elsewhere to notice me,” who would’ve thought puppets would be such an inconvenience! I finally have time to shine and you try to take me down with a puppet? You’re ridiculous!” Shukaku lets off a horrifying shriek of pain as I see the glimmer of blue threads weaving crow back and forth as a distraction to lure him away from the village. I can only manage to hold on to the demons lower back as he waddles in to the arid desert sand. I watch as he slams crow to the ground and find Kankuro shaking his head. He mouths a few words to me, but it’s a horrible day to not be able to read lips. I find my foot throbbing and dare to look down at the blossoming purple streaks that peek out from above my sandal. But I still push forward, finally making it to the back of Shukaku’s head.

“You’re a persistant little thing aren’t you? Nobody is home up there, it’s just me twerp.” Shukaku laughs out, tilting his head back.

My good foot slips, sending me sliding backwards a few feet before I can find my grip. My legs dangle above the rough sand below as my one hand holds against whatever it can grab. Wincing out, I thrust my other hand to reach for the serenity of some solid mass beneath it. The first try I slip off, yelping as both hands almost lose traction. The second try is a complete miss, but I finally manage to strike gold on the third. My abdomen burns as I pull my full body weight upwards, finally getting a view of Gaara, dangling loosely almost dead center of Shukakus face. I swing my bad leg over and manage to find my feet steady to walk over to Gaara.

“Gaara, anything I’m about to do to get you to wake up, I’m apologizing for now. This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you… maybe.” I ramble out nervously, watching as Shukaku’s eye focuses on me.

“You’re little for how annoying you are. He’s asleep. Leave him be so I can have my fun already!” Shukaku whines out, similar to the toddlers that play in front of my balcony every evening.

“Listen buddy, you’re making my job a lot harder than it needs to be. You’ve had your fun destroying half our village.” I yell out to his eye, not quite sure where to even look.

“A feisty one. What’s your name pest?” He grumbles out, shaking beneath me as he tries to prevent another fit of laughter.

“Y-Y/N.” I stutter out, confused. His laughter can no longer be contained as he whips his head backwards again, sending me crashing towards Gaara,” Y/N is it? I’m going to have fun killing ya!”

I cling tightly to Gaara’s morbidly lifeless form tilting my head up to confess upon unhearing ears,” Gaara, I’m sorry. I’m not sure what I got myself in to… but I’m going to wake you up if it’s the last thing I do.”

“He can’t hear you! You’re so pathetic it’s almost cute!” Shukaku yells out, twisting his head around to try and shake me loose. He stabilizes quickly as a rush of wind flashes against us. I turn to the direction it came from, seeing Temari’s fan fully open. Wind slices against us harshly, creating small tears in my clothes and even knicks on my face. In the moment of steadiness, I steel down, gripping Gaara’s shoulders to hold him steady. I can only freeze in the moment, seeing the tired rings around his eyes as his hair dangles loosely over them. It was almost serene that in a moment of chaos, he seemed to finally be at peace. I hesitate, quickly deciding to try and slap him awake. Shukaku only laughs at my attempt,” a measly slap won’t do a thing. I like the dedication though little pest!”

He shakes again, trying to reach an arm towards me that’s quickly deflected by another slice of painful wind. I reel back, gripping against Gaara’s sleeve as I send a fist flying to his forehead. I can only wince as bone meets harder bone, a trickle of blood coming from each of us. He only juts forward from the impact, causing my frustration,” come on! Come on, wake up damnit!”

I send fist after fist to different areas, his shoulder, the side of his face and even a cheap shot to his stomach. Nothing had worked. The uneasiness at the thought of using any jutsu works its way to the front of my mind. It had to be last ditch with the risk of burning Gaara, but I was running out of time. I manage to link my arm around Gaara’s to keep hold as Shukaku begins to rumble once again, conjuring balls of flames around us. Quickly unfurling from his arm, I tumble down and roll towards Shukaku’s eye, smacking the back of my head hard against the lower surface of his face as the balls of fire make impact against Gaara and Shukaku’s other eye.

“Now you’ve gone and done it! You’ve pissed me off!- w-what’s happening?” Shukaku bellows, tumbling back and reaching to cover his eye. Swiping my hand against the back of my head, it comes back bloody and my vision hazes. But I’m snapped back to wavering consciousness as a moan sounds faintly from Gaara.

“Gaara, Gaara wake up! Please!” I whimper out, crawling towards him, keeping one hand steady to weakly attempt at healing the back of my head and avoiding any pressure on my fully purple ankle.

“Y/N? … is that you?” Gaara coughs out, eyes still clamped shut and body flailing.

“Y-yeah. It’s me, I’m not going anywhere until you open your eyes, okay?” I yelp out as Shukaku’s hand manages to clip at my feet.

“Y/N, where are you? Are you hurt?” He breathes out, eyes beginning to flutter open and wander around.

“I-I’m fine. Just look forward and try to find Temari. Don’t focus on me, damnit!” I shriek in pain as Shukaku shakes once again, angered at seeing Gaara regain consciousness. I meet Gaara’s frightened gaze upon seeing me, my breath hitches at the pain constricting his face,” Y/N-“ he tries grasping at my now outstretched arm, disoriented by another assault of wind from Temari. Shukaku bows forward as she finishes the previous injury to his eye. My own eyes grow in horror, stretching out to try and grasp Gaara’s outstretched hand as my body slides forwards. Our fingers brush before I feel any solid ground beneath me disappear.

“Y/N!” Gaara shouts, becoming fully aware at this point as I look up, plummeting the long distance to the ground quickly. As I close my eyes in acceptance, a strong force tackles in to me from the side, laying me down gently as Kankuro’s voice wavers in and out,” I guess you really were prepared, huh?”

That’s the last I remember before waking with a dry throat and aching body. My eyes slowly adjust to the pulsing white lights signaling I was in the hospital.

“Take it easy killer. We don’t need you almost killing yourself again.” Kankuro huffs out from the doorway. I look over to see him posted against the frame, watching inside and out of the room like it was his duty to guard me instead of visiting.

“Kankuro! Gaara, we need to get ba-“ I begin, abruptly cut off by Kankuro’s sigh of annoyance,” you knocked yourself silly for a few days after trying to play hero. It’s over. He’s alive.��

“Alive doesn’t mean he isn’t hurt. Why are you being so bitter?” I spit out, staring back to the ceiling.

“Bitter? We could’ve lost both of you. You should’ve let me do it. Now look at you, it’s pathetic.” Kankuro growls back. I chuckle slightly, feeling the pain wrack against my ribs,” you’re mad because you couldn’t be the hero? I’m sorry but the village would miss me a lot less than they would miss you.”

Kankuro exhales heavily, sitting next to the bed to whisper harshly,“It’s not the village I care about missing you. The village is important, don’t get me wrong. But the thing that separates you and me… even Temari. My family comes before this village. It could burn to the ground for all I care if it means my family, and the ones they love… Live. It’s not about being a hero. It never was.”

“Good news, Gaara is alive. And so are you and Temari. You look to be in perfect health, so stop being so damn angry over something we can’t change. I’m just an advisor, Kankuro. If anything I mean more to the Kazekage than Gaara as a person.” I whisper back to him, wondering at this point why we were even whispering in a room that contained only us. I continue on after turning away,” sometimes love is a one sided story, Kankuro. You wouldn’t know that. If I can’t love them personally, I can at least sacrifice myself for the ones I love. I’d rather die heroically, than be known as someone who was head over heels about someone they meant nothing to. Now get out of here. I’m sick of your attitude.”

“Y/N, I’m sorry. I-“ Kankuro begins. A tear trickles down my cheek to my pillow and I stifle the silent sob,” Please leave Kankuro.”

“Am I… interrupting anything?” Gaara pipes up sheepishly after brushing clumsily against the open door.

“I was just leaving. She fell back asleep.” Kankuro huffs out. I can hear him stand and a clamp against clothing, I’m guessing patting Gaara on his way out. Thin plastic ruffles against the bedside table as Gaara sighs and sits down on the edge of the bed,” it’s not a cactus, but flowers. I heard you like camellias. That’s what Temari told me anyway. A million of the finest flowers couldn’t express my gratitude for you Y/N. I once thought it was pointless to talk to others while sleeping, but I find this comforting. I left a note in the flowers for you… so you know they were from me. Temari left you flowers too.”

I listen, frozen as Gaara spills out jumbled words. He sounded nervous even. But I didn’t dare move. After Kankuro, I wasn’t in the mood to face anyone with a tear stricken face. But Gaara continues on,” Kankuro can be abrasive, i hope he didn’t force you back to sleep with his harsh words. I seen him cry for the first time since we were children the night of the incident. He was worried for me… worried I was about to lose someone outside of our family that I loved without being able to confess. I feel like I just did, in a way… but you aren’t awake thankfully. Otherwise this would be really awkward.”

He finally trails off, and I can feel his weight shift. I quickly close my eyes as he leans down towards my face before he backs away bashfully,” that would be rude. I could never take advantage of my desires while you lay unconscious. I would want us both to remember the feeling of something as simple as a forehead kiss.”

He sits straight again, deciding to raise my IV riddled hand to kiss that instead,” thank you, Y/N. Truly.”

I Hope he doesn’t look back to my face as it quickly heats from my neck up at the intimate touch. My eyes decide to flicker against the adrenaline of my racing heart regardless, fluttering open to gaze upon his paler than normal face like a deer caught in light in the dead of night. He drops my hand anxiously and stands quickly, brushing his disheveled jacket back to tidiness and coughing,” Y/N- I-“

“Gaara… I would like nothing more to experience something as simple as a forehead kiss with you.” I giggle out weakly. He shuffles forward awkwardly, bending down tightly and internally fighting with himself before finally placing a ghostly soft kiss against the middle of my forehead. My hand catches his jaw before he can move away, causing him to freeze yet again as I sit up,” I nearly died saving you… I think I might deserve a real kiss for that at the least.”

I meant it as a joke, but he slowly leans in, brushing a gentle hand through my hair as my hand travels smoothly against his jawline, settling below his ear to cradle his head. We take it slow, looking in to his wandering orbs and down to his rose tinted cheeks. Finally landing on his slightly puckered lips that wait nervously. I bite my lip and nod as encouragement for us both. His kiss is soft, barely touching until I lean further in. His other hand finds its way around my waist to steady himself. I’m sure he hasn’t taken a breath and force myself to pull away. Gaara stares blankly at me, eyes wide open and cheeks becoming an even more furious shade of red. I see his chest rise and fall before he swoops back in, coming back for an even deeper kiss.

“Y/N, i brought you some flowers, I’m sorry I was rud- I’m gonna go.” Kankuro coughs out awkwardly, dropping yet another bouquet of flowers in the doorway and sprinting down the hall screaming for Temari. Gaara pulls away and sheepishly stands to place the bouquet Kankuro had dropped at my side,” I should go after him. I’ll be here tonight when you’re discharged to make sure you safely return home… I saved what I could.”

The memory of Shukaku’s tail plummeting across the row of houses that included mine pops back in my head. I distract myself and look over to the bedside table. A glass vase sits with vibrant sunflowers and a little paper placard

You survived. ~ Temari

short and sweet, the way we always conversed. I look down at Kankuro’s recklessly picked Iris’s

I trespassed to get these for you. I’m sorry I’m mean sometimes ~ your second favorite

He was possibly my third favorite after this mess, but he still held a place in my heart with his effort. Lastly, my eyes focus in on the largest bouquet. Full of stark white, vibrant pink and deep red camellias. I search for the placard, but find a folded note deep inside the petals in the center. I unfold it slowly and hold my breath.

To the ones we get can’t yet admit our personal feelings towards, we cherish them in flowers and small gestures such as a night time stroll. Your strong will and heart overshadows the most beautiful flowers in these lands. Any flower you pass here on out, is a symbol of my dedication and undying love I hold for you. ~Gaara

My heart skips a beat, and a tear drops down my cheek. I wipe it away as a stupid grin plasters itself across my face. The most troubled man I’ve met, happens to also be the most poetic.

Hours pass, filled with long unblinking moments of staring at the wall and struggling to put on clothes until finally a soft knock announces Gaara,” if you’re ready, I’d like to walk you home.”

I nod with a toothy grin, attempting to stand. The cast around my foot causes me to fall forward as Gaara catches me effortlessly. He lets out a soft chuckle and scoops me up from behind my legs,” I suppose I’ll be the one doing the walking.”

“I can manage.” I wince out as he adjusts me closer to his body,” I can’t miss our nighttime walk. It’s been lonely without you.”

“I’ll go wherever you take me.” I yawn, quickly tiring and looping an arm around his neck to curl in to him. He places one last kiss against the crown of my head and turns to walk out,” I’ll gladly lead you to whatever your heart desires.”

I smile and let the tiredness take over with the calming motions of his steady walk. This man could lead me to insanity, and I’d still cross over any obstacle to follow him.

#Gaara #kazekage gaara #gaara x reader #gaara fanfic #gaara sabakuno #gaara x y/n #gaara imagine #gaara fluff #gaara x you #gaara of the sand #sabaku no gaara #naruto fan fiction #naruto oneshot #naruto imagines

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hermitcraftx · 11 months ago

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I agree with your post about hermit fans in regard to things being very popular. I’ve seen more people being angry and annoyed about scarian in the last six months than people celebrating it. Not tagging shipping is shit but it’s better than harassing people. I don’t know what was put in the water but something changed drastically and I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s seen it.

IT'S FUCKING INSANE! This fandom used to be so positive and welcoming and overall way more pleasant than some... other MCYT fandoms, but now??? I can't log on without seeing untagged negative interpretations in the main tags, can't express an opinion without getting anons calling me heterosexual sympathizers and hoping that I die, everyone has turned their back on everything that used to make this fandom really... fun? Like, I don't tag ON MY BLOG, but usually I don't maintag my shipping posts, and if I do, I tag the ship name so people can filter it.... I don't maintag duo names. What the fuck happened to make everyone so- miserable. Anons are probably going to be permanently off for me, too many people comfortable with their opinions and not comfortable with mine and desperately needing to tell me that.

And like- look. I get not liking interpretations. Personally I'm not a fan of the Double Life cheating arc because of how abusive and out of character people made Grian be, and I had to avoid ao3 for a bit because of that and filter the fucking tags. Same thing with found family dynamics. Just because you don't like something doesn't make it "overrated and popular" and just because you don't like something doesn't make it immoral or unethical either!!! People have to make everything a moral standpoint nowadays and it's really exhausting-

But that's a tirade. All over all the confessions blogs there's "scarian is overrated" despite Grian having nearly 10mil subscribers and most of them being on YouTube and considering all the hermits friends or family truthing them. Yes, there is more shipping than before- that's because Hermitcraft season 8 made it very obvious that the people on the SMP and the people IRL are very different, and it's no longer considered RPF. None of the real hermits died via moon explosion, ZombieCleo often says she's doing "lore", they make different skins, even GRIAN acknowledges that he's acting and playing a part with the permit office. Despite all that, there's STILL wars on shipping and people insisting that we're shipping real people, I fought this war on the DSMP side of things and it's SO TIRING.

DND podcast listeners, do you ship the people playing the characters? NO!!!!! Unless you do, in which case, have fun with that. I don't really care about RPF and I filtered the tags for it a long time ago, so maybe they do do that.

Every other day I see "Third life is overrated" "Last life is overrated" (LAST LIFE IS OFTEN THE LEAST FAVORITE SEASON I SEE PEOPLE SAY!), "the life series is overrated" "the cactus ring is fucking stupid" "they left the desert but we didn't" "no, THIS interpretation of scarian is bad and wrong" and like... guys. Guys. Fandom is supposed to be fun. It is not supposed to be a full time job. It is not supposed to be moral or ethical and you shouldn't feel the need to police shit. Jesus Christ, every other month there's a new fad that tumblr users flock to and once it's over everyone goes "EWWW THAT WAS LAME AND OVERRATED AND I NEVER LIKED IT ANYWAY" like.... I promise you cannibalism as an allegory for love is not mainstream you are just on Tumblr.

Like Good God. If it's so bad here go to Twitter. I'm sick of all the complaining and misery and hatred and I miss when things were fun- people are so scared of being cliche that they don't want to write things that they enjoy. Where are the coffee shop aus???? Where are the fun silly things??? Where are the 100k grimdark fics with worldbuilding??? Wheres the 500k fics that aren't even about the same characters anymore but that we love just the same??? Where are the forums and people talking to each other in comments and meeting each other that way??? Where are the roleplay servers?????? What are you all doing??????

People are scared of being judged. They want to do what everyone else is doing. They don't want to be cringe or cliche and every day I see a "cringe culture is dead" post and then someone making fun of another part of fandom, an antithesis to their previous statement. They don't want to be late to things, either. Who cares if Last Life was a couple years ago? Draw the fanart anyway!

I'm scared. Maybe I'm just old, but every post I see I notice that I get maybe a 10th in reblogs of what I do in likes, and I don't even post my art or fics to this site. Every post is like that. More and more people only like posts and they die, unseen, by everyone. More and more people misuse archive of our own's functions, treating it like it has some algorithm, when it doesn't, and it never has and hopefully never will. I see fic reuploads to "gain traction" (not how it works) and people reaching out to find RP partners (breaking TOS) and all sorts of other shit on both sites and it fucking horrifies me. I'm not even that old- I'm eighteen, and I can already tell how fandom has changed for the worst for everyone. Fandom used to be a community. Not consumption.

It's just... sad. Old fandom had PLENTY of fucking problems, and we have problems here too, but at least the positives outweighed the negatives. It's so... mean here, now. Even the happy things are mean-spirited. People treat it as if certain people have invaded this fandom space, spreading horrible opinions and ruining it for everyone, but the truth is is that shipping is always going to be a thing. It's a foundation of fandom- fandom started with housewives in the 1950s writing Star Trek fanfiction. You can never get rid of shipping. You can just interact with what you want to interact with and leave others to mind their own business.

#sorry i kind of went on a rant i think i needed to get that out of my system #sort of went on several tirades but im SO FUCKING GLAD ITS NOT JUST ME #OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE IT. WHAT IS UP WITH EVERYONE LATELY.#ugh.... thanmk u for the ask :3333 #jamies bad posts #jamie answers asks #grimaussiewitch #jamies serious posts #discourse

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experimentfae · 1 year ago

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Finn mertens x GN! Reader

Oneshot

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

You left Up-Ton to go visit OOO and right now you were loving it, you even found a little bar at the candy kingdom that have’s all types of creatures.

“What would you like? newcomer.” You looked to see a, dirt jar guy? I’m (y/n) I’ll have a (drink choice).” “On it.” He went to go make you’re drink you looked around the area more you then see an another human he walked around were you were but didn’t seem to notice you yet.

“Give me the usual.” “Has a tough day on another adventure?” Asked dirt jar guy “yep dirt root beer guy, me and Charlie fought these evil cactus monsters it was nuts.” Explained the man you assume is an adventurer.

“Let me get that started then.” Spoke dirt root beer guy you’re eye’s trained back to the adventurer “I know that you don’t know me, but can you tell me what are the good parts of OOO I never been here and it seems like you know you’re way around here.”

He smiled “no worry I love helping I’m Finn mertens.” This made your widen “you’re Finn?!” Wow you look just like Minerva.” He chuckled “yeah I get that a lot, what’s your name?” This made you feel embarrassed you forget to tell your name “oh right sorry I’m (y/n).” He smiled “that’s a nice name.” “Thanks.” He then took another gulp from his drink, then turn is attention back to you.

“I’ll tell you the goods parts, you already know the candy kingdom is a cool place to see, and there’s a bear kingdom they party all the time.” He continued to talk about each place you should visit, the more intrigued you became of OOO.

“Wow they all sound amazing, gonna take me a while To see it all.” He laughed “yeah I have been here all my life and I still haven’t seen it all.” We both chuckled at that.

“Here you guys go.” Dirt root beer guy handed you guys drinks “thank glob been dying for this.” He admitted gulping down the drink. You two continued to make small talk until you decide to head out.

“I gotta leave to my vacation house I’m staying at for now.” You then left the money on the counter “yeah hope to see you around.” He agreed watching as you left.

You traveled at some places Finn recommended than you saw Finn again at the magic market. “Wow (y/n) didn’t think we see each other so soon.” You felt happiness sore through you when you saw him which took you by surprise “yeah I’m glad to see you again, I’m surprised myself.”

He smiled “yeah it’s funny, I was thinking about you.” You blushed “you… were?” You saw him blushing a little too “yeah i wanted to get to know you more.” You smiled “well you can have my number.” Finn eyes widen and a smile grew on his face “y-yeah that would be mathematical.” You both told each other’s numbers.

“So wanna possibly buy some magical items together.” He suggested wanting you to say yes “yeah I’ll love that.” You too hang actually getting too know each other more, after the day you were pleased to get a magic rings and a cute guy’s phone number.

You and Finn have been talking over the phone for a couple of months you occasionally visits OOO you thought of making plans to move there, you felt that OOO was more of you’re life style you desire.

You looked at your phone to see that Finn was calling you, you put him as (bear man) due to his hat of course, you clicked the button to answer “hey Finn what shaking?” “Nothing much but I wanted to… ask you something, it’s cool if you don’t want to.” You grabbed the nail clippers beginning to clip your toe nails. “I need to know what it is to answer first.” You chuckled out he laughed as well.

“Right sorry um… I was wondering if you wanna but he said the last part quietly “Finn I didn’t hear the last part.” You were hoping it was what you thought it was, it was hard hiding you’re feeling these three months.

“I said if you wanted to go on a… date.” He seemed extremely nervous but your heart burst in pure joy “Of course I would love to.” “Wow awesome an about tomorrow on 9:00 at the drive in theater, sounds like a plan? “Yeah definitely.” You assured Finn “rad, can’t wait for tomorrow bye (y/n).” You smiled “bye Finn.”

When he hanged up the phone you immediately ran around your home, looking for a nice but simple outfit eventually you found a perfect outfit. “Nice this going to be awesome, let’s hope I don’t do anything cringy.”

Next day at 8:30 pm

You got on your outfit at you were heading around the woods looking for the place thankfully Finn told you the location, you see that you’re at the drive in movie theater already “I made it faster than I thought.” You looked around to see if you find Finn but you couldn’t, “it’s still early.” you waited seeing couples go into the theater. You looked again to see that it’s almost 9:00.

“What time does this movie start.” You whispered to yourself, while glancing around you found a sign that said movie starts at 9:15 you looked at your time to see 9:12! “Glob why is time going so fast!? Where are you Finn.” As if the universe heard your call you heard Finn yelling “(y/n)! I’m so sorry I lost track of time during a battle between me and this turtle snake monster hybrid!”

You looked to see Finn in a great outfit and he seemed to have something behind his back”oh what you got there?” He seemed to be in a daze looking at you “Finn?” This got him out of his trance “sorry you just really mathematical.” You felt your face begin to flush “I got you these.”

He showed you a… chicken bouquet!? “I didn’t know if you liked flowers but I know you like food, so I figured why not get you this instead.” You smiled you immediately knew that he was the one “no one has down this for me before.” You smiled noticing that the chicken was heart shaped “I glad you like them, we should head in the movie is starting.”

You both go in taking your seat on top of the truck, as you guys watched the movie, you and him were eating the chicken “these are good where did you get this from?” “Got them from this shop seemed to be selling romance junk.”

You hummed continued to eat the chicken until you felt Finn wrap his arms around you pulling you close. Your face flushed again not even realizing Finn got close, but you happily leaned your head on his shoulder.

As stereotypical as it was you genuinely felt like your stomach had butterflies inside, you wonders if his stomach felt the same. Before you two know it the movie was coming to an end and the chicken bouquet was completely gone.

“That’s was delicious but I definitely need something to drink.” “Yeah we should, there some slushy’s at the shop over there.” After the movie was done he’d you guys left to the shop.

You guys got your slushy’s “this hits the spot.” You groaned out thankfully they got your favorite flavor “you could say that again.” After drinking the slushy’s Finn had an idea “before you go I want to take on a small adventure.”

This surprised you “at this time of night?” “Come on, no worry it’s not dangerous.” Well you don’t have anything else better to do “alright Finn take me to adventure.” a smile grew on his face and he held your hand.

As you let him drag you to his next location you saw that you were at a pond “huh?” You looked around to see notice big firefly’s and Finn walked towards one “wait Finn I think you- he immediately grabbed the firefly without a second thought and shook it.

This bewildered you which could only make you watch the interaction, he stopped and you two watch has the firefly throw up raindbow fire that becomes rainbow glitter that seem to stay in the air around you.

“Wow what the Ba-nay- nay.” You whispered in amazement you then see Finn talks out cassette player “so what do you think?” He asked “it’s amazing Finn I didn’t even know you could do that.” He then begin to play the cassette and you heard it was a pretty romantic song. “Can I have this dance?” He reached his hands out waiting for your answer.

“Of course.” You blushed getting into his arms and wrapping your arms around him as well, You two dance while looking at the glitter that shimmered around you two. You Almost felt like this was meant to happen.

“Thank you for an amazing date Finn.” “No need to thank me I wanted to do this.” He stated. You didn’t want the night to end feeling happy that you knew, you found the one.

<- Back to MasterList or back to Fionna and Cake/ adventure time

#adventure time x reader #finn x reader #finn mertens #fionna and cake #fionna and cake fanfic #finn mertens x reader #adventure time #finn adventure time

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thiswasinevitableid · 6 months ago

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Cactus Gorge (Sternclay)

For the yeehawgust "chaps n spurs" prompt poll, the tied winner was "cactus blossom." This fill is NSWF and does reference violence.

Cactus Blossom Gorge is said to be the prettiest place west of the Rockies. In the spring, the cacti bloom in waves of pink and orange, leaving the air almost candied in its sweetness and the vistas like a watercolor.

Barclay’s never had a reason to be in the canyon until now; it’s a day's ride from town, is steep and treacherous to descend, and is rumored to be home to a race of monsters. So, the fact that the blossoms can be boiled into syrups that make desserts taste amazing (and sell out faster than his flapjacks) has always taken second place to staying alive.

He wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for the fucking kidnapping.

He’d been hired out as a day cook for a party of wealthy tourists from back east. He didn’t take those jobs often, but with summer on the horizon, visitors to Kepler Desert will get scarcer, so he took the generous fee and left Moira to run the kitchen.

It should have been easy; pack a picnic and drinks, show off cooking on the campfire at dusk, then call it a day. But the group hired a guide they met at the station, rather than asking in town.

Turns out the guide was a member of the Copperhead Gang, looking for a fat mouse to lead straight into a trap.

So now he’s stuck here, five days later, arms tied except for when the bandits demand he cook something. They’ve left his legs undone, because his first escape attempt was also his last; he can afford the broken nose. If they get his fingers, like they promised they would, he’ll be fucked when he gets back home.

If he gets back home.

He’s laying on his side, in the shade of a boulder, wondering if anyone is looking for him. Mama, Aubrey, all his friends, they must be worried sick, must know what happened. The gang left the bodies there for the coyotes, after all.

But what if the sheriff and his men assumed Barclay’s body had just been dragged off? Told everyone it was a shame, that they’d catch the varmits eventually (as they’ve been saying for the last four months, in spite of there now being bounty hunters prowling the desert, looking to catch what they clearly can’t).

Dirt crunches behind him. Before he can sit up, a kick catches his upper back.

“Up. Buddy shot some quails.”

Barclay spends the sunset plucking the birds, cooking them over the fire. Sprinkles a seasoning blend over them; he intended to make these assholes eat the blandest food alive, but after they threatened to cut out his tongue since it was clear he wasn’t using it to taste, he’s been using his special mixture on sad stews and shot birds.

The leader, Bobby, snarls that he better not overcook it. Or he’ll end up like the last cook.

Barclay tries not to think about the last cook. The guy must have had friends and family, must have sat by the fire with these same copperheads circling him, hoping someone would save him.

(“Copperheads” he can hear his friend Duck’s voice in his head, “we ain’t even got those out here.”)

The meal is good enough to keep him alive, though he gets ash kicked on his shirt and nearly in his eyes for trying to snag a stray piece of skin.

Then he’s tied up by the boulder once again, eyes stinging, stomach rumbling, and hope fading.

It’s when empty plates are being scraped that one of the men says, “Where’d Mike go?”

“Powder room.” Bobby chuckles, still pleased with his idea to call the privacy granted by some stones twenty paces from camp.

“No I know, but he’s not back. Ain’t been since the start of dinner.”

“Then eat his share and shut up.”

“I’m worried-”

“Then you go check on him.”

A set of footsteps disappears into the darkness.

“Boss!” Buddy’s call is cut off, like someone knocked him out.

“What in the hell-” Another of the men, the one closest to Barclay, stands. Barclay rolls over in time to see him disappear the moment he steps out of the shrinking ring of firelight.

Guns are drawn now and Barclay curls further against the rock as bullets ricochet off stones and get stuck in cacti. A rock hit’s one of the remaining three men in the head, and when they all turn to shoot at the thrower, Barclay watches a huge, lithe figure dart past the fire, a tail kicking up sand to douse the flames.

The darkness only makes the gang fire more panicked shots. One man turns to flee, only to scream a moment later, and then there’s a horrible, clicking sound as the remaining henchman is dragged from view by clawed hands.

“Come out and fight me, fucker!” Bobby screams.

The monster is back, leaping from the surrounding boulders directly onto the outlaw. There’s a struggle, a moment of panicked, sobbing screaming, and then nothing as the creature sinks its teeth into Bobby’s neck.

Barclay is shaking, hands over his mouth, praying to anything that might listen that the thing hasn’t seen him.

The narrow head raises, then snaps his direction. Eyes, glowing eerily, faintly blue, lock onto him, and the beast stands.

Barclay closes his eyes. But the creature doesn’t move.

Or he thinks it doesn’t. When he opens them, it’s nearly to him on silent, clawed feet.

At this point he’s hiding his face in his arms, trying to do something, anything, rather than shake and whimper like a whipped dog.

“It’s okay.” The monster’s tone is cool but not unkind, and Barclay does not feel any less like a hound when it says, “it’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

He freezes as it grips his arms, but a moment later the ropes drop away.

“Can you stand?”

He nods, lets the creature lift him until he has no choice but to take his weight or risk his feet leaving the dirt. Then the hands retreat, falling by dark-furred thighs. Barclay wills himself to look up; the monster is a head taller than him, face close to that of a wolf yet narrower, with a small mane of fur. It’s arms and legs are long, it’s tail like one of the lizards Duck is always trying to get to eat the ants who attack his garden. Short spines sit along it’s back from below it’s shoulders to it’s tailbone.

It takes Barclay a moment to register that the spines are poking through a men's shirt. No, not poking, it looks like it’s been tailored to let them through.

He looks down again; since when do monsters wear pants?

“Since I was able to get some made to fit. But I’m guessing you didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“S-sorry.” He looks away, “I, I don’t, I can’t…” he hugs himself, “what’s going on?”

“The short version is I don’t believe in letting murderers escape justice. The longer version is I’m a bounty hunter, they’re my quarry, and your friends back in Kepler will be so glad to see you.”

“How did-”

“You’re Barclay Cobb, right?”

“Yeah. Yeah I am.” He feels like he’s speaking from far away. Like he’s about to wake up and discover he’s still tied by the boulder. He shivers; it gets so cold in the canyons at night, it isn’t fair.

“I’m Joseph.” The monster extends his hand and Barclay shakes it, “Let’s get you somewhere more comfortable for the night, Mr. Cobb.”

“You can call me Barclay. Basically everyone does.”

A smile, charming in spite of the sharp teeth, “I can manage that.”

He follows his rescuer out of the camp, doing his best to pick his way over small rocks and patches of plants without any moonlight for help. After his third, near-miss with a cactus, Joseph pauses.

“Do you want to take my hand? Night vision has its perks.”

Barclay takes the offered hand, holding tighter than he really means to as Joseph winds them through the canyon and up onto a ledge the size of a homestead. Barclay can make out the shape of an abandoned Pony Express depot; they’d tried to place one here once upon a time, only to half complete it before the express stopped running.

Joseph holds the door, allowing Barclay to pass inside. He stands awkwardly in the dark as there’s a rustling of a drawer, a thwick of a match, and a lantern springing to life.

The inside of the building is shockingly tidy; there’s a small bookshelf, a bed that’s been made as neatly as if they were in a hotel, and small wardrobe that looks like it’s been fucking dusted.

He glances down at himself and growls in frustrated disgust; his clothes are a mess of dust, sweat, spit, and blood both his own and not.

“Let’s see, order of operations…” Joseph is moving through clearly familiar motions, lighting lamps and opening doors, checking cabinets and running his claws though the fur atop his head.

“Please tell me there’s somewhere I can rinse off? Or change?”

“There’s a spring in the hillside. I have a towel somewhere, and I should be able to find you something of mine to wear.”

Barclay looks toward the back door where Joseph gestured. He can’t go out there. What if the gang isn’t all dead, what if one of them comes looking, what if Joseph isn’t the only one of his kind out here and the others aren’t nearly as friendly-

“Or” Joseph is studying his face, taking in his huddled posture, “I could fetch a few buckets of water and bring them in.”

“Please?”

“Make yourself comfortable.” Joseph picks up two wooden buckets and slips through the door. Barclay hears that same clicking, not as menacing, and the words, “here Nessa, brought you some blossoms.”

Barclay is still trying to figure out why someone like Joseph needs to ride a horse when his host returns, buckets sloshing slightly as Barclay holds the door for him.

“Here we go.” Joseph pulls over a stool, then sorts through the wardrobe, pulling out a washcloth and a bar of ivory soap and presenting them to Barclay, “there’s not much privacy so I, um” his spines ripple a moment, “I promise I’ll keep my eyes elsewhere.”

“Don’t mind if you peek, not like I haven’t been naked around guys before. But if you want a show, I might charge you.”

Fuck, where did that come from?

“Sorry, I, that was weird.”

Joseph lays a hand on his forearm, “You don’t need to apologize. You’ve been out here for close to a week, scared out of your mind and being mistreated. People say all kinds of things when they’re stressed. Or coming out of it.”

The hand retreats, the claws brushing his skin making him want to sigh and melt, to beg Joseph to trace them over him again.

The water is cold, Barclay’s skin going goosebumped after only a few minutes of scrubbing himself, but just being able to get clean makes him want to cry with relief.

When he’s done, he hangs the cloth on the little washline strung up on one of the windows, and picks up the towel Joseph left for him. He turns as he finishes tying it around his waist, and catches Joseph looking quickly back down at the newspaper he’s reading at the little table.

“I found a shirt that should work” Joseph stands, handing him the white fabric, “but none of my pants will fit you. The ones I wear, you’ll be swimming in, and the ones I have for a human body won’t fit someone as big as you.” His eyes stay politely on Barclay’s face, but the spines ripple again, “this should at least let you make a very comfy skirt.”

“Thanks.” Barclay takes the clothes, pulls on the shirt and wraps the soft blanket around his waist in place of the towel as Joseph pours them water and sets out a handkerchief with some hard tack and cured, even harder sausage.

He sips his water, finds it floral and bright, “Cactus blossoms?”

“It’s what I grew up putting in water jugs. If you don’t like it I can-”

“No, no I like it. Just surprised me. Kind of a delicacy up in town.” He takes another sip, “does that mean you, like, live down here?”

“Only sometimes; it’s often a better base camp if I’m hunting than town is. And since this stretch of canyon technically is my family territory, it does feel like home.”

Something about the way he says ‘technically” suggests a sore spot, and so Barclay flicks his gaze to the folded newspaper, looking for a new topic.

“You were solving the chess problem?”

A smile, “Yes! This was a quick one, at least for me. Do you want to give it a try?”

“Maybe after dinner. I try to solve those when it’s slow at the Lodge. I like the little mystery they’ve been running in the town paper lately, too.”

“Yes.” Joseph nods emphatically, “those are so tricky, I love the challenge.”

“Y’know they’re actually by the McElroy’s youngest? Kid’s got quite a mind for puzzles.” He snickers, “they’ve been coming to Lodge long enough I remember when his brother went through a phase where he’d only eat beans.”

“At the restaurant or…”

“Nope, period, poor Mrs. McElroy kept coming to me for recipes…”

They eat up the remainder of their dry, but pleasant, dinner discussing some of Barclay’s stranger customer requests, and Joseph’s memory of a fellow bounty hunter who seemed to survive on Parsons Cashews alone.

Joseph insists Barclay take the bed for the evening, so he settles himself on top of the quilt with the chess puzzle as Joseph snuffs out all but the nearest lamp and goes to check on Nessa one final time.

Barclay holds his breath the entire time his host is outside, afraid he’ll hear a thud and then a human face will peer through the door.

Joseph returns unscathed, tipping the last of the water into Barclay’s cup before setting himself in a chair with a book of ghost stories. The wind in the canyon is picking up, carrying blossoms past the windows as it rattles them.

Once he solves the puzzle, Barclay flips to a new page, reading the mystery for the day and solving it a bit faster than he’d hoped. Then he reads the news, then the want ads, then advertisements.

He’s considering starting the paper all over again when Joseph yawns, “I think we ought to turn in for the night. We have a long ride back to town tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Good point.” Barclay sets the paper away and crawls beneath the blankets. Joseph murmurs a goodnight and Barclay responds with the same.

Then he lays there. Wide awake. His brain plays the same song of “what if” over and over again; what if Joseph didn’t get them all? What if one escaped and brought back friends? What if Bobby was just playing dead and is waiting for them to sleep so he can sneak in and gut Barclay like a trout?

The window shakes again and he winces.

“Everything okay?” Joseph’s eyes glow up at him from the floor.

“Are you sure they’re all dead?”

Joseph sits up, “No. Because I didn’t kill them.”

“What?”

“I paralyzed them. My bite can do that, and I have enough practice to know how hard and long a bite I need to give in order to keep them out and immobile until I can round them tomorrow and take them into town. I…prefer to at least let there be a trial before someone dies. If you hadn’t been here I might have just tossed them all into the cart I have waiting and started for town, but you needed rest. And care. Besides” his smile is a little bitter, and a little ashamed, “I also don’t feel too bad if someone who murders people in cold blood loses a toe to a coyote because my bite has them too paralyzed to run.”

Barclay nods, trying to take all that in at once.

Joseph leans forward, resting a hand on his knee, “I’m good at what I do, Barclay. But even if somehow, someone slipped out of it and came here, I wouldn’t let them hurt you.”

“Thank you.” He takes Joseph’s hand, clinging to it, “fuck, I’m sorry, I know we need to sleep but I can’t, it’s awful, I keep jumping at every sound and when I close my eyes I see them leering over me or, or I see, see what they did, what I only survived because they’d seen me at the campfire.” He holds tighter, “I’m so tired. I could barely sleep because of how scared I was, or because they thought it was fucking funny to kick me awake.”

A low, rapid click, as Joseph’s tail twitches. Then he clears his throat, rubbing his thumb over Barclay’s knuckles, “Is there some way to help you relax.”

He starts to shake his head, then meets Joseph’s eyes, “What happens if you give someone a little bite?”

The spines straighten a moment, then relax, “It depends on how little. If it’s very small, it will produce a sense of relaxation and mild euphoria. You’ll still be lucid, but it might be easier to sleep if your body isn’t holding all that tension.”

“Please bite me.”

“You’re sure? I can try to think of something else, I don’t want it to backfire and leave you feeling helpless or like I’m hurting you-”

“Please” He says again, rolling onto his side, “I…I trust you.”

Joseph studies his face a moment, then lifts Barclay’s left hand. Carefully, he brings the tip of the thumb to his mouth, parting his lips. A hint of pressure, then a sting, and before Barclay even finishes gasping his monster is setting his hand gingerly back down on the mattress.

“How long does…does..” he blinks, suddenly finding his legs and neck heavy, but not unpleasantly so.

Joseph chuckles, “It happens incredibly quickly. In humans it’s almost instantaneous, but even for my kind, a bite only takes thirty seconds at most to kick in.”

“You bite each other? Like when you’re fighting?” The image of Joseph attacking Bobby comes back to him, but this time his mind lingers on how graceful Joseph was, how swiftly and smoothly he rescued him.

“Sometimes, but we love a debate more than a fistfight for settling arguments. Even if the debates take longer and can result in more bad blood in the end. But we do more biting with, um, with mates. Lovers. These mouths aren’t exactly as easy to kiss with as a human one is, so love biting takes its place.” The spines are rippling again, and Joseph is looking away from him.

Barclay reaches down, pulling Joseph’s hand up to his mouth. Then he turns it, palm up, and bites down on the soft, short fur and the skin beneath.

Joseph yips, surprised, but doesn’t pull away until Barclay lets him go.

“It’s not nice to tease, big guy.” He murmurs, tracing a line along the edge of Barclay’s beard.

“Not teasing. Was trying to kiss you. Besides, you just called me big guy.”

“It slipped out.” Joseph’s posture suggests he’s blushing, “Barclay, you’re incredibly handsome, and I’d fuck you in a heartbeat if I knew that’s what you wanted. But I don’t want you to do anything with me you might regret. Like sleeping with someone whose appearance scares the hell out of you.”

“I mean, it did.” Barclay tries to scoot closer but can’t without risking falling out of bed, “but it doesn’t now. Now I know you’re Joseph and not just something waiting in the dark to tear my throat out. And you’re, uh, It’s” he drags a hand over his face, “I almost never find guys who are bigger than me and it’s so fucking hot and it makes me feel so safe. Felt that way before you bit me, too.”

“In that case…” Joseph pulls the blanket off him, “you can bite me as many times as you like.”

Barclay undoes the knot on his makeshift skirt as quickly as his fingers allow, letting it fall open under Joseph’s appreciative gaze. A different noise bubbles from the monster’s throat, more a purr than a click, and he bends forward, tongue longer than humans lapping at Barclay’s cock as he cradles it in one palm.

“Ohhhhfuck, fuck, Joseph it, that feels incredible.” He’s heard of people paying to have wax dripped on them during sex, and maybe that’s because it feels like this; warm without being painful, smooth as it covers his skin and leaves him tingling.

“Better test it a few more times to be sure.” Joseph swirls his tongue over the head, licks lovingly up and down his shaft from every side. The claws of his free hand run with a comforting prickle along Barclay’s thigh and card through the hair on his stomach and chest with obvious pleasure.

He’s weightless, he’s in heaven, he’s getting the best head of his life.

And he’s not getting hard.

“Fuck” he groans, frustrated.

Joseph sits up, though his hand continues stroking and teasing Barclay’s cock, “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t, I think I’m too exhausted, or stressed or something, I can’t get it up, I’m sorry.”

“My sweet Barclay. That’s nothing to apologize for.” Joseph leans down, nuzzling his cheek, “All you have to do right now is let me take care of you, however feels good. Besides” the tongue drags up his throat, “who said anything about us needing your cock?”

“Fuck, yes” Barclay tries to spread his legs, but they feel as if they’re too heavy, or as if he’s too far away from them somehow.

“Oh, big guy, has it been too long?” He says it with genuine sympathy as he rolls Barclay onto his front.

“Uh huh, fuck, people get one look at my dick and they, they think I wanna be in charge, wanna be on top, fuck” he gasps, clutching for the pillows as Joseph’s tongue runs from his neck down to his ass.

“Well, they can have their narrow ideas while you and I have a great time.” Joseph nuzzles the top of his head this time with a happy sigh, “now, be a good boy and hold still for me.”

“You’re not gonna prep me?” Fear reemerges, threatening to spread through his system in a wave.

“It’s a little different with my, well, set-up,”

Barclay glances back; Joseph’s cock is thinner than a humans but a good seven or eight inches long, absolutely dripping with something golden and sticky, with short, knobbly spines scattered across it.

“They won’t hurt. Here, feel.” He rubs the shaft along Barclays ass with a hungry growl as the spines bend, soft and flexible.

“Okay.” Barclay takes a deep breath, spreading his knees wider, “okay.”

The tip of the cock presses into him with ease, whatever’s slicking its way seeming to open him as it does. Joseph wraps an arm around his middle, sets the other hand on top of Barclay’s own, “I’ve got you big guy.”

Joseph works his hips in short, deliberate thrusts, his cocking sliding deeper and deeper until he’s flush against Barclay’s ass and Barclay is nearly clawing the sheets from how good it feels. The spines rub against him, finding sensitive spots he’s not even sure he knew existed before now as Joseph’s breathing picks up.

“You feel so good, big guy. I think I might just stay here all night. If you can’t sleep, I could just keep fucking you until you’re too tire to keep your eyes open.”

“Fuck, yeah” He moans, trying to push back to meet the thrusts but finding his limbs to relaxed to do anything but keep him how Joseph has arranged him.

“Mmmm” Joseph laughs into his neck, then trills and clicks when Barclay turns to nip at his forearm, “maybe that’s my real reward for this bounty. Not the money, but the chance to demand that because I saved your life, I get to find you every night and fuck you until you’re dripping and so relaxed that all you can do lay there and let me be good to you.”

“Yes, fuck, yes, Josephohfuck” His toes curl as Joseph picks up the pace, his cock finally responding to being ground against the bed.

“That’s it big guy, let go for me. You’re mine, I’ve got you, I’ll never let anyone hurt you ever again, I take care of you, I will, ohfuck, shit” he pulses into Barclay, working his hips frantically as Barclay rocks against the quilt, desperate to cum. Eventually Joseph gets his breath back, little clicks and purrs leaving him as he whispers, “I love feeling watching you fuck my cum back into that perfect ass.”

Barclay cums with a weak cry against the sheets, Joseph rubbing his sides and doing his best to kiss his shoulders as he shakes and twitches through it.

There’s a mess on the quilt the instant he pulls out, but neither of them minds. Instead, Joseph curls around him, promising him he’s safe, telling him how wonderfully he did, and Barclay falls asleep petting soft, black fur.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Barclay steps into the morning light to find Joseph hitching Nessa to a wagon full of bleary-eyed, terrified outlaws who, upon seeing Barclay, begin begging him not to let the monster get them.

“It’s funny, what heat and liquor can do a man.” Joseph produces a silver ring and slips it over his finger. Suddenly there’s no monster to be seen, just a tall, black-haired man with blue eyes and the most charming smile Barclay’s ever seen.

“Agreed. Makes people see things that aren’t there.” Barclay steps beside Joseph, ignoring the ongoing shouts from the wagon to press a kiss to his cheek.

Joseph passes him the reins to one of the outlaw’s horses, “We should hit Kepler before sunset. I need to take these men to the jail and collect my bounty.”

“Any idea what you’re gonna spend it on?” Barclay climbs into the saddle and Joseph does the same.

The bounty hunter sets a black hat onto his head as blossoms begin dancing in the breeze, “How about taking you to dinner?”

#sternclay #agent stern/barclay #western au #yeehawgust 2024 #human/monster romance #terato

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