#Hope you enjoyed it :)

[dreamingofmarauders]

You Know You Can't Stay Mad At Me

Sirius Black x Fem!Potter!Reader

Summary: In which Y/n gets mad at Sirius after he gets the both of them kicked out from the library

Warnings: Use of Y/n but that's about it I think, it's mainly fluff

A/N: So I've decided I'm going to rewrite my HP Character x OC oneshots from Wattpad, into x reader fics just so I have something to post, as life has gotten busier and I don't really have that much time to write anymore unfortunately. I hope you all enjoy it! <3

Masterlist

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Sirius, please stop tapping your foot." Y/n said with a tight-lipped smile to her boyfriend, who was sitting directly across from her, not having even touched his book. 

He gave an annoyed look in return, "Why can't we go do something else?" 

Y/n sighed in frustration, looking up from her Potions essay once more, "Sirius Orion Black! If you don't want to work, fine! By all means leave, but I'm not letting my grade drop down thanks to you!" The y/h/c haired hissed, before shaking her head and scratching away at her parchment with her quill. 

"You're already one of the best students like Remus and Evans! What will one bad mark do?!"

Y/n ignored the remark and continued working. Sirius only watched his girlfriend with a smirk. He leaned back on his chair, and went just a bit far for the chair lost balance and toppled back, gaining a yelp from the grey eyed boy. Y/n immediately stood up and went across the table to find Sirius sprawled on the floor, a mischievous smile on his lips. The concern on Y/n's face faded away. 

"What are you doing in here?!" Madam Pince, the librarian came around the corner with an angered expression visible upon her face. "BLACK, POTTER OUT!" 

Y/n stuttered, "B-But I didn't even do anything!" 

"OUT THE BOTH OF YOU!" 

Grumbling, Y/n gathered her belongings while Sirius grabbed his book. Y/n knew he did that on purpose, his smirk gave it all away. Mad at the Black heir, she walked out of the library without a glance back, her bag slung onto her shoulder. Footsteps caught up to her, and before she knew it her bag was pulled off her shoulder, dropped onto the ground, while she was pressed up against the wall. 

Y/n merely crossed her arms, glaring daggers at Sirius, who had one hand pinned onto the wall, while the other was around the young Potter's waist. 

"Oh come on, y/n/n, we both know you aren't really mad." He said, his breath fanning on the girl's face. She tore away her gaze and attempted to wiggle herself out of his grip, but Sirius only pulled her closer, their bodies touching. 

He slightly chuckled, "You know you can't resist me." He whispered into her ear, and Y/n found herself giving in but she wouldn't. Sirius looked back into her y/e/c eyes, knowing he was winning. 

"I have work to do so let me go, and you can't always get out of trouble by giving me those puppy eyes." She huffed. Sirius' eyes lit up even more mischievously and he moved forward to brush his lips against hers, and Y/n felt weak in the knees. 

"Come on, love, you know you can't stay mad at me. " He said, whispering into her ear once again, sending shivers down her spine. His hand moved ever so gently up and down her waist, only causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. 

That did it. 

"I hate you." She said before yanking him by the collar and locking their lips. Sirius smiled into the kiss. 

"Says they should be here- AAH! MY EYES!" 

The pair broke apart, only to find James and Remus standing not too far away. Remus, pink in the face and his gaze on his shoes as if they were the most interesting sight he'd ever seen. James, on the other hand, had his hands placed overtop his eyes, his glasses overtop, making him look bizarre. A parchment laid on the ground in front of the pair. 

Sirius groaned, "Prongs, you idiot." 

Y/n slightly laughed at the expressions of her twin and brother in everything but blood. "You can look now, Jamie." 

Remus moved his head up, while James peeked from between his fingers before removing his hands. 

"I've been scarred for life! My baby sister and my best mate, snogging!" He pretended to throw up, earning eye rolls from the other three. 

"As if you haven't seen us before." Y/n commented, picking up her bag and wrapping her arms around her boyfriend's. 

"Prongs, be a deer and leave before I beat you up." 

James gave Sirius a non-amusing look and bent down to pick up the Marauder's Map he'd dropped earlier in his haste. The group began walking towards the Great Hall seeing it was almost dinnertime.

"So, Y/n, done that essay?" Remus asked.

Y/n's brows furrowed together, a slight frown on her lips. "I would have if someone hadn't gotten us both kicked out." She said, looking at her boyfriend with narrowed eyes. 

He grinned, "You know you love me!" 

A smile made its way onto Y/n's lips, "How I ever fell in love with an idiot like you is still astonishing." Her eyes moved towards her brother, leading the group, "But then again, maybe it isn't so surprising since I've been living with an idiot known as my brother my entire life." 

"Hey!" 

The other three burst out laughing while James stood there looking at the three with a pout. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

[the-badger-mole]

"While I appreciate that you did that for me, I don't appreciate the fact that you nearly died because of it." Possible part 2 to the "Katara kisses Zuko to distract him as she pushes him to safety and sacrifices herself to get captured instead of him" little tumblr fic you wrote? Mayhaps?

Got this request twice, and I like this idea. @lollipopsandlandmines

Part 1

What were they waiting for? Katara wondered this not for the first time. It had been three days since she'd been captured. Three days since she'd seen her brother and friends escape in their stolen Fire Nation air ship. Three days since she'd seen the shattered look on Zuko's face when she pushed him off of the terrace. Three days since she'd surrendered to the Fire Nation soldiers who'd been hunting Zuko. She'd expected to torture to begin immediately. She had expected to be dead by now, or on the way to it.

After she'd been captured, Katara had been taken aboard the airship the soldiers had managed to keep. After she'd been locked in the brig, she had been more or less ignored, to her mild surprise. Maybe, she thought, they were waiting to move her some place more permanent. She'd spend the trip imagining the horrors that were surely in store for her when they got to wherever it was they were going. Boiling Rock, she figured. That was where they had taken her father. Hakoda hadn't told his children what he experienced at the hands of his Fire Nation captors, but there had been enough for Katara to heal for her to form assumptions. The though made her shudder.

Yet, here it was three days later (by her admittedly imprecise reckoning), and she was still unscathed. She hadn't been taken to Boiling Rock. There wasn't enough water around for that to be where she was, but aside from that, she had no way of knowing where she was.

Her cell was as dry as a bone. The only liquid she had access to were the tight rations that came with her two daily meals. Her cell's toilet was no help either. She could feel the heat when she squatted to relieve herself. She figured that wherever the pipe ended up, there was probably a fire burning, evaporating her waste as it came down. How many waterbenders had tried to escape this prison until the guards figured that out, she wondered.

The next full moon wasn't for another two weeks. Katara wasn't sure what her fate would be, but she vowed to be ready, if they made the mistake of leaving her alive that long. That was all she could do. No one had given her any clues as to what the plan for her was, and she was still certain that there would be horrific tortured in store for her before long. For the moment, though, she was being surprisingly well cared for.

On the evening of the third day, Katara was finally clued into why she hadn't been subjected to the torture she had anticipated. Azula was coming. Princess Azula had specifically requested that Katara not be harmed before she arrived. The soldier who had delivered the news had given Katara the most pitying look in spite of himself. A shudder ran down her spine. She'd heard enough stories from Zuko and Suki (though she still wasn't ready to divulge the worst of what she had experienced in her time as Azula's favorite prisoner). Azula was no one to scoff at, and without access to water, Katara was more vulnerable than she'd ever been. She was suddenly glad that she had no idea where Zuko and the others had gone. There was no chance that Azula would get anything from her, even if she did succeed in breaking Katara.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Sneaking into the Desert Tower prison was much easier than breaking into Boiling Rock. Zuko told Sokka that it was because this prison hadn't been built with firebenders in mind. It was a simple matter to bypass the security of the prison by going in through one of the massive furnaces used to keep the stone prison free from moisture of any kind. Zuko bent a path that was cool enough to walk through, and Sokka stayed on his tail.

"Breaking in is always the easy part, though," Sokka said. Zuko only grunted in reply. He didn't care how difficult it would be, he wasn't leaving that place without Katara.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Azula had arrived. Katara had been given a grotesque mockery of a preparation ceremony, where she'd been fed, bathed, and dressed in a rough sackcloth shift before being shackled in the room where Azula would soon arrive to begin the torture. Katara was on the verge of dehydration. She felt weak and parched. She longed for the sweat that usually accompanied the sort of anticipatory fear she felt in this moment. Why had she been brought here so early? No one had told her anything outright, but Katara paid attention, and she had heard the snippets of gossip in her prison cell. Azula's retinue hadn't arrived yet. So, why prepare Katara so early?

The door behind her opened a few moments later, and she tensed up, anticipating the sound of Azula's oily slick voice. Instead, she heard the sound of the soldiers bickering amongst each other behind her.

"I had direct orders to-"

"Do you know who we work for? Directly?" Katara had to force herself not to gasp. She knew that voice. She would know it anywhere. She'd argued with Sokka far too many times to mistake him.

"The message from the Crown Princess said very specifically to-"

"She did not mean that the prisoner should be here before her." The sound of this voice sent a pleasant chill through Katara. She knew this voice, too. "Prepared means ready to present when the princess is ready to have her brought in. Princess Azula likes to put on a show for her...guests. She would be furious if she arrived and found the prisoner already here.

"I-I didn't realize-" one of the other guards said.

"That was your mistake," Zuko growled at him. "You're lucky we're here to cover for your incompetence. We'll take it from here. Dismissed." Behind her, Katara could hear her captors murmur hesitantly among themselves.

"You heard him!" Sokka snapped. "Beat it, or we'll tell the princess of your incompetence." That was enough for the three soldiers. Once they were gone, and the door was shut, Sokka rushed over to Katara.

"Are you alright?" he asked frantically, but quietly. Katara nodded.

"I'm fine," she said. "They were given orders not to hurt me until Azula got here."

"That tracks," Zuko said grimly. He approached Katara more slowly, but with purpose. His eyes were on the chains holding Katara to the floor. His nostrils flared and his look darkened, but it was surprisingly the only show of emotion from him. He removed the pin holding Katara in place and helped her to her feet.

"Keep the shackles on until we clear the cells," he said. He glanced at her apologetically. "We have to sell it until they're not watching."

Getting Katara out of the prison was shockingly easy. Katara kept her head cast down, and Zuko and Sokka walked purposefully with their chins high and haughty. Had Azula arrived then, everything would've gone to chaos, but Azula did not arrive. She would not arrive for another hour, eager to make her grand entrance and begin torturing her brother's waterbender for information on his and the Avatar's whereabouts. By that time, Zuko and Sokka would have managed to get by all of the prison's guards and successfully slip Katara out and away to the relative safety of their airship. They would flee through the night, not stopping until the sun began to rise nearly seven hours later.

Miraculously, the only injury Katara suffered during her time as a captive were the abrasions from her shackles. She hardly noticed them in her eagerness to get water inside of her. Sokka and Suki celebrated her freedom with wild cheers and laughter made too loud by the anxiety of the previous week searching for her. Zuko was quiet in his relief. He barely said anything while Sokka had been eager to tell Katara how they'd come up with this daring rescue mission, but he'd stuck by Katara like a shadow. She could barely turn around without bumping into Zuko. They didn't have a chance to talk until Sokka, and then Suki finally drifted off to sleep sometime between midnight and sunrise.

"That was reckless," Katara said, frowning disapprovingly at Zuko. That caught him completely off guard.

"Me?" he sputtered. "I was reckless? Katara, you got yourself captured by my sister's soldiers. Do you know what she would've done....done to you if we hadn't found you?"

"Much less than she would've done to you," Katara retorted. "I did what I did to make sure you were safe. The Fire Nation needs you. The world needs you. As much as it needs Aang. Maybe even more."

"I don't care what the world needs!" Zuko snapped at her. "I'm not some pai sho piece."

"I didn't say you were." Katara sighed and sank to the floor of the airship. She patted the space next to her and and motioned for Zuko to sit with her. He hesitated, but soon joined her.

"I don't want you to think that the only reason I want to make sure you get on the throne is to protect my people," she told him. "I want to make sure you become Fire Lord because you're the only one who has enough love for your people and enough honor to do what's right by the other nations. The world needs you, Zuko. It needs your compassion, and wisdom, and honor. I would gladly do anything in my power to make sure you get there."

Zuko swallowed hard past a solid lump in his throat. For a moment he couldn't breathe. He reached out tentatively for Katara's hand. He squeezed it tight.

"I don't want it," he confessed. "I don't want it without you. Maybe you'll do anything in your power to make sure I make it to the throne, but I'll do anything in mine to make sure you're there, too. By my side, or in the Southern Tribe, or just going wherever you please. I don't care, as long as you're somewhere alive. I-"

The words died on his lips, and Zuko cursed himself for being a coward. But then she reached up for his cheek and made him meet her eye. She kissed him again. Slowly, this time, and lingering. Zuko had enough time to respond this time. He cupped her face, tangling his hands in her hair and did his best to pour out all the words he was still to afraid to say in that kiss. When they finally broke for air, Zuko had the satisfaction of seeing the dazed look in Katara's eyes. She held him tight, as if afraid he would pull away. As if he had any inclination of pulling away.

"Well," she said breathlessly after a moment. "I guess we have some things to talk about."

"I guess we do." Zuko let out a short incredulous laugh. Katara smiled at him, brushed his hair away from his face.

"Zuko, thank you," she whispered. "For saving me."

"Any time."

"I really do appreciate that you came back for me." She sat up, and the dazed, just kissed look faded from her eyes, leaving a much sterner expression in it's place. "But, I don't appreciate the fact that you put yourself in danger to do it."

"What?" Zuko sputtered again.

"Don't do that again," Katara warned him. Zuko glared at her. He started to argue, but she closed the distance again, and Zuko decided kissing was a much better use of their time. They could pick their discussion up again later.

[sazernac]

I have a thing for rhaenyra undoing mysaria’s silk robe and then using the tie to bind mysaria’s wrists bc the idea just comes to her

Mysaria feels Rhaenyra’s heated gaze like flames licking across her skin. She shudders in anticipation of her queen’s touch, nearly moaning at the slight graze of Rhaenyra’s fingers as she slowly undoes the tie of her robe.

“Do you trust me?” Rhaenyra asks softly, her breath ghosting teasingly over Mysaria’s lips.

“Yes.” She replies without hesitation.

The garment slips fluidly from her shoulders, pooling into a silken pile at her feet while Rhaenyra stands in front of her, looking contemplative, still holding the tie as she rakes her eyes appreciatively down Mysaria’s body.

She’s wet, achingly so, and she can tell by the hungry way Rhaenyra bites her bottom lip that she knows it too.

“Turn around.” The queen growls, both a dare and a command. Mysaria does as bid, completely helpless at denying her, gasping softly when she feels Rhaenyra’s calloused palms guiding her wrists across one another before binding them with the tie. She weaves the fabric into an intricate pattern, effectively restraining her, placing Mysaria completely at her mercy.

Rhaenyra’s next words drip with the promise of sin coating each letter, her voice husky and lush as it falls on Mysaria’s waiting ears. “On your knees, sweet lover.”

[brontidepng]

3. who is she talking to?

[ficklecat]

Hatake Clan Lore

I cannot for the life of me remember if I ever posted my Hatake lore head canon but it's been bouncing around in my brain so fuck it here we go -

WARNING: long post ahead, all of this is head canon and none of it is based on anything other than conjecture and ✨vibes✨

also not that I anticipate this but people get touchy about this stuff so - if you disagree with me so strongly that you feel the need to yell at me about it, please save your energy; I literally cannot express to you how disinterested I am in engaging with that kind of thing it's just anime you'll be ok pookie

Clan History

Before the First Shinobi War, the Hatake clan was a largely pacifist group unaffiliated with nation or creed. They started out as nomadic but eventually settled into farming & hunter/gatherer communities across the Land of Fire. Though they had no kekkei genkai develop, they did have some persistent clan traits that were easy to spot. Particularly, ancestral traits of early people would remain dominant through generations instead of recessing, such as sensitivity to smells and seasons, characteristics like coarser hair, sharper teeth, longer nails or limbs, and instincts that aligned with the native fauna. This allowed them to live in harsher conditions than the newly settling villages and clans, gave them the ability to self-sustain and develop natural affinity for the wilds of the elements, and eventually, aided in the use and presentation of various chakra natures in some of their clan members.

The Hatakes were small in number and fiercely independent of other clans and families, despite being extremely tight-knit in their own communities; they were not necessarily unwelcoming, rather, they lived very differently from the newly forming clan powers, and were not interested in the quarrels of man. However, due to their reluctance to ally and the growing strains between larger war clans and families, they didn't stand much of a chance when major conflicts began to arise.

When the first war finally began, the already sparse farming and hunting communities of the Hatake clan became widely dispersed as lands were torn up in battle or claimed by other families; they were displaced or absorbed into warring clans over time - some Hatake had already been taken in by the Senju, while some sought refuge with the Uchiha, only to face each other on the battlefield and recognize their clan members in the heat of battle - the wild hair, the piercing eyes, the way they would fight with teeth and claw and kunai over complex justu or weaponry.

By the time the first war ended, there were very few Hatake left to remain in tact as a clan. Many had died in battle, some had renounced their clan to assimilate into the powerful Senju or Uchiha, and the scarce few that remained had to make a choice - let their clan die out with them, or integrate into another.

Thus began the efforts of the Hatake to affiliate with the growing Inuzuka clan - an ally of the Senju but still independent of them, this clan had roots in the Land of Fire's villages already, and their affinity for canines and comparable clan traits and practices made for an easier approach than some of the more "domesticated" families. Even still, the reluctance of the Hatake to fully submit to the 'new world' and lose their precious way of life was enough to keep them at arm's length from the Inuzuka, their need for freedom clashing with the Inuzuka's desire to serve the new developing nations and hidden villages. As such, the remaining Hatake began to dwindle into disappearance, until there were only a handful left.

Kakashi's Family

This bit is also fully personal head canon and an idea I'd always wanted to turn into fic but could never get right; works better as a hc anyway -

By the time Sakumo and his partner, Hoeru Inuzuka, had Kakashi, the Hatake clan was gone, either fully absorbed into the Inuzuka by way of marriage or willing induction, or killed in action during the Second Shinobi War. Sakumo, along with Sakumo's elderly uncle, Kama Hatake, remained alive around the time of Kakashi's birth. Kama had sustained significant injuries during his service in the war, and had been in decline ever since, unable to recover. He never married and had no surviving family apart from Sakumo, but was extremely close to his nephew and Hoeru, particularly during her pregnancy. Hoeru herself was a fierce matriarchal member of the Inuzuka, but had deep respect for Kama and the Hatake clan's heritage - after all, despite their small size and initial reluctance to integrate, the Hatake had become a major part of the Inuzuka clan over generations, and had helped their clan to grow into a foothold in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Kama himself did his best to impart the importance of keeping their clan's memory alive in Sakumo - he would share stories and techniques passed down from his own uncles and parents, grandparents, elder clan members who had long since passed. He shared the importance of their preserved weaponry like the tanto or the kunai - highly usable, compact, and versatile for farming and hunting as well as in battle. When Hoeru was pregnant, she and Kama would spend a lot of time together, in the garden or inside reading when Kama's health began to worsen. Hoeru insisted he promise to live at least long enough to see the birth of their child, and Kama made good on this promise.

He died three days after Kakashi was born, and in his honor and out of a deep love for Sakumo, Hoeru made the choice to allow her son to keep his Hatake clan name. She and Sakumo planned to teach him the important history of their clan, and how both the Hatake and the Inuzuka had come together to help keep their wild spirit alive.

Unfortunately, Hoeru's death when Kakashi was still an infant left Sakumo heartbroken and hopeless. With his dear uncle and the love of his life both gone, being the last remaining member of his clan aside from his son brought him immense and crushing grief alongside his already significant battle with depression. Still, as the years went on, Sakumo did his best to teach his boy about their clan, and about the importance of belonging while keeping the memory of precious people alive. But the excommunication following that one fateful mission brought the final blow to his despair - and with everyone turning his back on him, with no clan, no lover, and no family, he lost the battle to his grief, leaving the only remaining Hatake clan member to be his son, Kakashi Hatake.

[fanfic-she-wrote]

Second Chances

Beetlejuice x Lydia Deetz

Chapter 1 Link

(Beetlejuice Beetlejuice spoilers⚠️)

Chapter 6

“I killed you twice! How do you keep coming back?!” Yelled Betelgeuse as he, Lydia, and Astrid made their way down the stairs.

“When you want revenge anything is possible.” Delores answered in her heavy Italian accent. From behind her Samantha appeared.

“I’m sorry Astrid.” She whimpered, her makeup smudged like she had been crying.

“What did you do?!” Astrid questioned her.

“We had a seance and she appeared asking for someone named Betelgeuse.” She explained in a small voice. At the sound of his name, Betelgeuse shrieked and covered his head. “Don’t say that!”

“Just get out of here Sam!” Astrid ordered her. “She killed them Astrid…” The young girl told her. “What?!” Astrid couldn’t believe it. Only a few weeks ago she had seen the Samantha and her friends walking around town, now they were dead.

“Go! Hurry!” Astrid insisted. She nodded her head and turned to run, but Delores grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back.

“I don’t think so.” She pulled the girl close and began stealing her soul. You could see it in the air as it slowly left her body. “No!” Astrid screamed as Delores dropped Samantha’s shrunken body onto the ground. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Samantha and her friends always bullied her, but she never wanted them to die like that.

Delores turned back to Betelgeuse and took a step forward, her arms outstretched. “Come here, darling. Give me a kiss.”

Lydia stepped forward in front of Betelgeuse. “No fucking way!” Betelgeuse’s lips curled into a proud smile and tears formed at the corners of his eyes. He couldn’t believe she was actually defending him.

“You! I know who you are. You are the woman my husband thinks he is in love with.” Delores said, pointing at Lydia.

“I ain’t in love with you! You killed me remember?” Betelgeuse shot back.

“Yes, but you killed me before I got what I wanted and nothing is going to stop me from getting it now.” She declared, taking another step forward.

“No you’re not!” Lydia shouted standing her ground even though Delores did intimidate her a little. Astrid stepped forward as well.

“You know you’re beginning to bug me.” Delores glared at Lydia and with a wave of her hand she sent her flying across the room and into the wall.

“Lydia!” Betelgeuse cried as he watched her slide down the wall and onto the floor, lying there unconscious.

“Astrid, go help your mom! I’ll take care of her.” He told Astrid, turning to Delores his eyes flashing dangerously at his ex wife.

“Two can play at this game.” He growled, snapping his fingers making two black and white striped pythons appear and wrap themselves around her legs, quickly slithering their way up towards her neck hissing loudly at her as they went. She didn’t appear frightened in the least, instead she pulled them off of her and tossed them into the air, turning them into hawks instead.

“Get them!” She ordered them sending them in Lydia and Astrid’s direction. Betelgeuse waved his hand once more making a bolt of lightning shoot through window striking both the birds dead.

This wasn’t working, Betelgeuse thought. He had to figure out a way to get rid of her once and for all. Chopping her up and having her get eaten by the sandworm didn’t work. What would?

His looked around the room for something, anything that might help him defeat her. His eyes fell upon the fireplace. He smiled. Fire! That’s it!

Suddenly, the fireplace lit up with bright green flames. “There’s only one way to get rid of a witch like you. Burn em.” He retorted sending a fireball in her direction. It missed her by mere inches crashing into the wall beside them instead. Quickly the fire spread across the wall and up the curtains.

He sent another one flying her way, but she dodged that too, then another, and soon the whole room was alight with flames. “Oh come on!” He groaned, punching the air in disgust.

“Enough!” Delores uttered pushing her hands towards him, there was a loud bang, and Betelgeuse was knocked off his feet. He sat up, letting out a sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Maybe he should just let her take his soul and get it over with? He thought feeling hopeless. No, then she would just move on to someone else probably Lydia and Astrid. He had to end this, but how?

Betelgeuse looked up at the ceiling praying for an answer. He noticed the beams beginning to snap and more of the second floor becoming exposed with each passing second. Thats when it hit him. If this didn’t work, he didn’t know what would, but it was worth a shot.

“BJ! We have to get out of here.” Astrid called out, her voice sounding muffled and distant. He looked over at her and shook his head. From his expression she could tell just what he was thinking.

“No! No! You can’t!” She pleaded, tears streaming down her face. Betelgeuse gave her one of his usual smiles, the ones he usually gets when he’s planning on doing something mischievous, and winked at her. Before she could say anything else, he snapped his fingers making her and Lydia disappear.

He slowly rose up from the floor, dusting himself off. Betelgeuse and Delores now stood face to face in the center of the room. “Now, you are mine.” She spoke in a low triumphant voice, leaning towards him.

“I will never be yours, but we started this together and now we’re gonna finish it together. Arrivederci bitch!” Her eyes widened looking both confused and frightened as Betelgeuse took her in his arms and kissed her. She tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let her go. She wanted to scream, but his lips were pressed hard against her’s. It was like time had slowed down as little by little the house fell down around them, the wood creaked loudly like it was letting out one final scream, and then collapsed.

Lydia and Astrid watched on the lawn as what was left on their house went up in flames, reduced to nothing, gone along with Betelgeuse. They stood there in silence, holding each other.

Clouds appeared overhead but instead of snow, it brought a heavy rain. Before long the flames had died out, leaving nothing but ashes behind. Lydia got up and ran over towards the pile of charred wood that was once the ghost house. Desperately she searched for Betelgeuse throwing aside anything that got in her way.

“Where is he?!”

“He’s gone, mom.” Astrid put her hand on her mother’s shoulder trying to comfort her.

“He can’t be!” She sobbed pushing aside another board. Underneath, she spotted something with black and white stripes and picked it up. It was his jacket. It was a little burnt, but still remained intact. She held it close for a moment thinking about him.

Maybe if she called him? That always worked, she thought. “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!” She waited and looked around, but there was nothing. She half expected to hear his voice call out, saying something like “Gotcha didn’t I?” but he didn’t. He was gone.

She was about to give up when Astrid called her attention to something lying on the grass across from them. She could just make out the hints of green in his hair in the dark.

They quickly darted towards him hoping he was all right. They saw that he had several cuts across his face and his shirt was torn in several places. “BJ?” Lydia whispered, gently pushing the hair out of his face. He remained quiet and motionless.

“Betelgeuse?” Nothing.

Astrid placed her hand over her mouth.

“This isn’t funny. Wake up.” Lydia implored her voice cracking, nudging him. Still nothing.

Astrid was right. He’s gone, this time for good. She could feel her heart ache the longer she looked at him. Seeing him like this felt so wrong. He always had so much energy, so much life. Did Delores steal his soul? She wondered, holding his hand. For so many years she feared his return and now she can’t picture life without him. She never even got to tell him how she really felt.

Carefully, she leaned over him, their faces so close that if he could breathe she would feel it, instead all she could feel was the cold dampness coming up from the ground. “I love you Betelgeuse.” She spoke in a soft voice, hoping that somehow, somewhere he would hear her. Then she placed her lips gently upon his, lingering there for a few seconds before turning away and closing her eyes, unable to look at him for another second.

“Lyds?” A familiar voice spoke. A voice that wasn’t her’s or Astrid’s. She opened her eyes and saw Betelgeuse looking up at her, only he looked different than he had a couple minutes ago. He had messy blonde hair, blue eyes, and was no longer pale and dead looking with mold all over him. Did true love’s kiss work after all?

She let out a gasp and pulled him into a hug. “I thought I lost you.” She cried into his shoulder.

“It’d take a lot more than that to get rid of me babes.” She noticed her voice wasn’t as gruff as it used to be.

Slowly they got up off the ground, still holding on to each other. Lydia took a moment to examine his features. Betelgeuse felt his cheeks becoming hot under her gaze. “Whatddya think?” He asked nervously. She tilted her head and gently stroked the side of his face. He leaned into her hand and placed a quick kiss on her palm.

“Does this mean you’re mortal again?” She asked.

“I think so. There’s one way to find out.” Lydia immediately caught on to what he meant. She was hesitant at first. She didn’t want him to go.

“It’ll be ok.” He assured her. She quickly looked at Astrid, who gave her a slight nod to continue.

“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice…” They all held their breath as she spoke it one more time. “Beetlejuice.” Nothing happened. He didn’t disappear or change. It was finally over.

He let out a sigh of relief. No longer would he disappear if someone said his name too many times and he was going to test that even further with Lydia later. Right now, he would settle for another kiss. One he would actually be awake for.

Gently, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Lydia could feel blush forming on her face as they stared into each other’s eyes. “I love you.” He told her, planting a kiss on her lips. His lips felt just as soft as they did the first time she kissed him, only warmer. Lydia slowly ran her hands up his chest and around his neck, deepening the kiss. He let out a soft moan as she did so. How long he waited for this moment to finally be able to kiss her.

Astrid suddenly felt awkward and looked away, fiddling with her phone instead trying to let them have their moment. They deserved it after all. Finally Betelgeuse and Lydia had their happy ending.

“Wanna get hitched babe?” Betelgeuse asked when they had to stop for air. Lydia chuckled and kissed him again. Same old Betelgeuse. “Hell yeah!”

the end

(tag list: @msshadows97 )

[soulshellcaseart]

Hi hi I'm here with some more content for my little au of the celestial cafe bay! Tho from here I'll be changing the name of the fic I am writing for it to cafe love bites. I'm so very happy to actually have something to share on my silly little fic and I hope you guys will enjoy this little tad bit of the first chapter, that I have to share. However this is my first fic ever so do try not to take it that seriously.

A surprise guest!

 For as long  as you could remember you've always wanted to run a cafe of your own,and help make people's day a little bit better by giving them a place to rest or just help by getting them something to help start their day. Unfortunately the world or the universe, whatever  governs your existence, didn't make achieving that dream easy. A  lot of things were  thrown your way but you finally got your business off the ground! Finally opening up a place called the Celestial cafe bay and so far it's  going pretty decent.a little bit more than you expected but nothing you can't handle,right?..

Wrong. You were very wrong. Everything  was a lot harder to  do alone than you expected, turns out your cafe is a lot more popular than you imagined. You expected to get one to two customers a week ,but not 10 or 20 customers every day of the week! You're  already  struggling to keep up with the supply and demand, having to wake up early every day to set up the cafe,prep and prepare the baked goods. You have to bake bread and cupcakes, put frosting on the pastries , make the bagel sandwiches and sometimes make yourself some  breakfast with a cup of coffee.but who has time to eat breakfast when you have customers to serve. Besides all the money you earn helps pay all the loans you've acquired trying to start up the cafe and a couple small upgrades to the cafe's aesthetic .Should you probably hire someone to help with the cafe? Yes most likely but you hardly have time for that with how you're running the cafe and barely being good at managing your own time , much less someone else's . It's hard to run the cafe by yourself  but you guess this is what you should expect running a business by yourself. Especially when you have a hard time getting to sleep ,so you fall asleep on the couch watching tv most nights. 

    So here you are again waking up on the couch, with the tv  still running. You feel groggy and disgruntled with  dried  saliva on your face. Pushing yourself up, your body makes its protests known as the joints of your hands and elbows  ache. You groan, wiping the sweat off your  brow  before reaching  for the remote and turning off the Tv. 

 You get up with a stretch before making your way to the stairs to start your day.Making your way to the kitchen you hear The whirl of the winds followed by sounds of the heavy pitter patter of the storm outside. You yawn , walking into the kitchen flipping the switch next to the door frame .Pushing back the curtain, you enter the room.  passing by the tall and lanky figure in your kitchen, to close the window blocking out the sound of the pouring rain outside. now hearing the subtle whirring and clicks of the fans of something Similar to a sound that you would think an animatronic would make. But you didn't leave a fan on did you? Wait actually you don't have a fan at all in the kitchen , last you checked. So where's that sound coming from?..

You blink and yawn, rubbing out the sleepiness that lingers in your eyes before turning around and finally fully acknowledging the tall ass animatronic that was standing right behind you. Staring up at it now you feel almost speechless and dumb founded, as you watch the Sun-like animatronic come to life. Stunted by this sudden turn of events you are unable to find the words to speak as its eyes settle on you . Feeling the air rise with tension the longer you both stare at each other in shock and bewilderment. You fumble as you try to speak still trying to wrap your head around the situation only managing a small squeak before it screams and you scream in turn started by it screaming and confusion as to how it got here.you point at it, stumbling back a little barely missing the puddle behind you as it settles in that there's a animatronic in your kitchen! Your scream rising a pitch as the life from its eyes flicker out, falling back as it's scream was cut short. You stumble back nearly tripping over yourself in the process, falling back into the big puddle of water by the window.

[rantingravingliving]

Caution, Hot Jimin!

I just can't do 1 Thirstday post for Jimtober, right? Plus there are tons of carnal (well. in my opinion, haha) snapshots of my favorite Libra. So to leave us all breathless, here's the one and only PJM accompanied by some of the sexiest/thirstiest lyrics of all time.

“I can imagine you touching my private parts/ With just the thought of you, I can’t help but touch myself” - “You’re Makin’ Me High” by Toni Braxton

"Send chills up and down your spine / Juices flowing down your thigh." - "Pony" by Ginuwine

“Ooh, when your lips undress me/ Hooked on your tongue/ Ooh, love, your kiss is deadly/ Don’t stop” - “Señorita” by Shawn Mendes feat. Camila Cabello

“Throw your clothes, on the floor/ I’m gonna take my clothes off too/ I made plans to be with you” - “I’ll Make Love To You” by Boyz II Men

“You’d be a fool to stop this tide/ Spread your wings and let me come inside” - “Tonight’s The Night�� by Rod Stewart

“Can you feel the magic in my hands/ When I touch and rub you the right way/ Stroke applied with tenderness/ When I hold and rub you the right way” - “Rub You The Right Way” by Johnny Gill

“When you talk to me, when you’re moanin’ sweet & low/ When you’re touchin’ me and my feelin’s start to show” - “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Roberta Flack

"Dirty babe / You see these shackles? Baby, I'm your slave / I'll let you whip me if I misbehave" - “SexyBack” - Justin Timberlake

"You got the peaches I got the cream/ Sweet to taste saccharine” - “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard

"It's gettin' hot in herre (so hot) / so take off all your clothes / I am gettin' so hot, I wanna take my clothes off" - “Hot In Herre” by Nelly

"Oh, turn the lights turn the lights down low/ Yeah, now I'm feeling you breathing slow" - “Lights Down Low” by MAX

“Do that to me one more time/ Once is never enough with a man like you” - “Do That To Me One More Time” by Captain & Tennille

“I can see you with nothing on/ Feeling on me before you bring that on” - “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland

“I’ll take you to the candy shop, I’ll let you lick the lollipop” -“Candy Shop” by 50 Cent feat. Olivia

[goblin-writer]

Sometimes all you need is Magic

It was a dark and stormy night. Rain sluiced through the grand streets and whispered down alleys. The night sky lit starkly by the near constant rolling flashes of lighting. Even the wind could, at times, be roused to run past a window, howling or cackling madly. Flinging about all manner of muck.

Leaves were plastered against windows. Mud adorned the fresh painted walls. And a great many people crowded indoors.

After all, indoors keeps you safe from the predations of the weather. A good roof, closed windows, and well plugged walls all speak to a well-kept household. And many well kept households made a neighbourhood. And these neighbourhoods, when sufficiently, convinced would form a town.

Or even, when the fancy struck, a city.

But every city had a neighbourhood that was less well regarded. Not due to any fault of the people living there. In fact you could often find people that would give you their last left boot if you needed it. Just the left, mind you. The right was, after all, the foot you should keep dry for your so-called helth.

No, the great wizard Mildew thought, these neighbourhoods were often predisposed to being just leeward of the tanneries and dye makers. Just below a sewage outlet. The place the hoipolloi preferred to forget about.

But the rent was cheap, he thought as he emptied the third bucket of the night out the window. Four stories down into a street that was doing its best river impression.

Sure, his roof leaked, and the window didn’t shut properly, but the people here helped replace his books after the book worms got in. They did wreak havoc on the hardcovers. And they had helped when the paint peeled off his wall after his last foray into alchemy.

A sheet of rain drenched the wizard as the storm seemed to think badly of his attempt to pail the water from his study.

“Amon, come quick.” Mildew called and heard a crash from the other room. He shook his head. Amon, his assistant, had a bad habit of pulling down the curtains when called to assist.

He shut and latched the window, daring it to open again.

“Dark and stormy. Just as I get everything packed away from last time.” He turned to the doorway and saw a bundle of cloth making its way toward him, “Careful, Amon.” He unfurled the remains of a blue curtain from a tabby cat, and nuzzled it, “We can’t have you catching a cold. I need you to fetch my flint.”

Amon looked up at Mildew and blinked before turning about and ceremoniously hopping onto the last chair unoccupied by books, curling up and closing his eyes.

Mildew shook his head. He had read that wizards were meant to have cat familiars. They would help with spells and sending messages but every time he asked something of Amon he would get that same blink and no assistance. At least he stopped cleaning himself upon any request. Why did wizards bother with familiars?

He wondered the same as he ventured into the other room. Peeling wallpaper and boxes piled three high. Rifling through first one, then another. With some flint he could cast a protective ward. It would keep at least some rain out.

By box five he despaired in ever finding his flint. And he was enticed to surrender his search as the window crashed open in the other room. With a start he dashed back in, towel in hand, and spread it below the window.

“Where did I leave that flint?” He wondered aloud. Only to be answered once by the crack of lightning and once by the bored meow of Amon. He could imagine what the cat was saying.

Don’t worry Mildew, I know where it is. Just go to the kitchen and bring me a tuna mayonnaise sandwich. Then I’ll give it to you.

“We don’t have tuna, Amon.” He sighed and looked at the cat, “And the flint will help both of us.”

Amon yawned and stood, hopping off the chair, tail high, and sauntered into the bedroom. As Mildew watched he spotted flint and steel next to a candle, dripping its wax into ever higher towers on the back of a pile of leather-bound books.

He closed and latched the window, grabbed the flint and started casting a spell. In his mind he could extend the magical cover to the entire ceiling of the room. And, much as he had been taught he chanted and visualised the space above the roof. A thin protective field diverting rain into the street below and not onto his floor, nor into his nearly full bucket.

As he spoke the last word he heard a loud crash as smoke wreathed him for just a moment. Next a cold wind surrounded him.

His eyes adjusted to the light.

Above him?

The barrier had worked.

Above him the rain splattered down onto an invisible forcefield.

He looked down.

It was a dark and stormy night; Amon was curled up in a mostly empty moving box.

And the great wizard Mildew was stuck on his roof.

---

Thank you @flashfictionfridayofficial for this wonderful prompt. I had wanted to go a decidedly gruesome way originally but couldn't get this out of my head.

[kcuf-ad]

Yami: Wait.... can you explain one more time?

Mai: Okay, so this is my boyfriend Shinchi...

Kenneth: Right....

Mai: And this is my girlfriend Nobara.

Yami: I thought you were straight...

Mai: Oh I am, she is an exception.

Kenneth: I am going to act like I understood that.

Nobara: And these two doofuses *points to Megumi and Yuji ordering food* are my boyfriends.

Giana: So... you are dating those two, who are perfectly fine fine with that... and then she is dating two guys at the same time, who are also fine with that.

Mai: Pretty much, yeah.

Giana:...okay...

Lolopechka: It is really not that difficult to understand.

Yami: You are not allowed to speak. The last time you tried to explain your situation, you gave me aneurysm.

Giana Silverstone, Mai Silverstone and Shinchi (I think?) belong to @artistic-endchamber

[gwinverarrouz]

Folktale week 7: Found

This one is very loosely inspired by The Wild Swans, by Hans Christian Andersen (and also a call back to day 1: Lost, of course~)

[the-worms-in-your-bones]

ok, so, loved the episode, but i genuinely thought that they were going to leave donna behind for a minute and now i can't stop thinking about an alternative ending based on that

so basically the doctor doesn't realize in time that the donna on the tardis isn't actually donna. he goes back to switch the donnas but it's not in time, he manages to push her out of the tardis but the explosion is too close to be able to actually look for donna, but in the short glimpse the doctor is able to get he doesn't see her

it turns out that the toymaker saw the doctors shenanigans and took donna to taunt him, that's why she wasn't on the ship. he goes back to earth, preparing himself to tell donna's family that she's gone but gets interrupted by the toymaker fucking around on earth. this is where the doctor realizes that she's not dead, but is instead being held captive by the toymaker so that the doctor will play his games. cue flashbacks to the events of divided loyalties

[lilacwriter07]

Adam apple kids name Apple and Lily

Lily walks into the car sitting they're scared

Adam : hey sweetie we had to wait a minute for your sister to get out of her band practice

Lily in her head : no yelling no lecture he's not going to even say anything about it wait a minute he didn't get a call from the principal he doesn't know what happened that's not right he needs to know it's got this spot in my arm for nothing

Lily takes a deep breath: look what Jeremy did to me

Adam sees a bite mark on his daughter's rest

Adam: oh hell no

oh I think I saw the video of it on youtube ! I don't remember much of it, so I go my own may with it .

Apple hurried her way to the car, before she hears yelling coming from the principal's office . She snickers some loser is getting their butt kicked .

But she stops as she hears her dad's voice ."And how in the fucking hell ! Do ! You ! Think ! Speaking ! To ! Me ! Like ! That !" With every word a fist sound slam can be heard outside .

The door opens with a smiling Lilly walking out, and her dad his fist covered in blood ."Next time you even breath in Lilly or Apple's way, I am coming for your fucking kneecaps kid ."

Jeremy shaking as his dad lay bloody beaten on the floor, the Principal shaking as a leaf not even daring to move .

"Apple !" Lilly run up to her sister hugging her, as Apple stares at Adam's fist ."Does it hurt ."

"No .. Come on we are getting burger queens."

"But didn't daddy say .."

"He will shut up when he gets his crown ."

[willsimpforazula]

Sokkla Saturday Wk 3: Earth

My humble submission for sokkla saturday 2023 week 3. not quite good enough to put up on AO3 or FFN, but good enough to make it to tumblr, ig. very heavily inspired by Pictures of the Past, figured it could sorta work for when the kids start asking questions about what did mom do in the EK during the 100 years war *ps: there is the word 'earth' in the fic so that counts as meeting the theme *pps: TalesofOnyxBats is a goated Sokkla writer no cap fr anyways...... ******* It was going to happen at some point, they figured. After all, they figured that their kids had inherited enough intellect between the two of them to put two and two together. Or at least, have a good theory as to why everytime they travelled to Ba Sing Se (which wasn't often, but enough for them to have a semi decent idea of what the Upper Ring looked like.), their mother would often meet them at their granduncle's tea shop in disguise. Or why they would stay in the United Republics' embassy grounds instead of the Earth King's palace, among other questions.  __________________________________

Airship Lounge

Somewhere over Full Moon Bay

If it was any consolation, when the question finally came they were travelling in their private airship instead of on the ground in Ba Sing Se itself.

"Mom?" 

"Yes Miska?"

"Why do you need to put on disguises every time we go to Ba Sing Se?"

"Well…-"

"Also why can't we stay at the Earth King's palace? Aunt Katara and Uncle Aang and their family always stay there." Risa asked. 

Turning to her husband, Azula shot him a glance, which Sokka immediately understood. Taking a deep breath, she answered "Meet me in our room in 10 minutes.". 

"But wh-"

"We'll answer your questions then." Sokka cut them off, his voice taking on a serious tone that Risa and Miska understood to mean I will not repeat myself.  _________________________________

Azula and Sokka's bedroom

"Sokka?" Azula asked, her gaze fixed on the carpet of their room. 

"W-what do I tell them?" Azula asked nervously, simultaneously wanting to tell her kids the truth while not wanting to tarnish their image of her. 

Taking her hands in his, Sokka replied "As much or as little as you think they need to know. It's your story to tell, not mine."

"You were there when…-"

"We didn't know any better, Azula. Whatever you choose, know this: I will always still love you." he replied, kissing the back of her hand. __________________________________________ __________________________________________

Meanwhile, outside their room…

"Riri?"

"Do you think mom and dad are mad at us?"

"I-I don't think so." 

"You saw how mom reacted right? D-d-do you think we shou-"

"If we did they would have shut it down immediately, not ask us to see them in 10 minutes."

"I suppose you have a point."

"Once again, your big sister proves that she is always right." 

"Uh huh…like dating both Min Seok and Sakura clearly wasn't going to lead to…whatever that was."

"A momentary lapse in judgement." she handwaved, not eager to relive that particular set of memories.

"So you say, so you say. I suppose there is no reason to delay any longer?" Miska replied, giving their parents' cabin a quick few raps.

"Mom? Dad?"

"Come in."

Closing the door behind them, the twins waited with bated breath for whatever their parents had to say. "First off," Azula began,  "both of you aren't in trouble. That said, please stay back after this Risa, your father and I have some things we would like to discuss regarding how you conduct your…relationships.", to which Risa swallowed a gulp.

"But back to the topic at hand, what I am about to tell you is only for your ears alone and no one else outside this room. Do I make myself clear?"

When the twins nodded, she continued, giving Sokka's hand a squeeze as she did so. "How much of the Hundred Years War did your teachers tell you about?"

"Um…only that dad was part of the team that defeated the Fire Nation and ended it? Oh and that the Fire Nation staged a coup that toppled Ba Sing Se in a single night and occupied it for six months." Miska answered.

"Mom?"

"Yes Risa?"

"Were you the one who staged the coup and overthrew Kuei?"

"I wasn't alone in that, but yes, I was the one who planned and carried it out, among other things." Azula replied, before briefly explaining what had happened that night in the palace, though there were details that she omitted, choosing to set that aside for another time. If nothing else, they deserve to at least hear my side of the events, she thought.

With bated breath, she leaned against Sokka, a fluttering sensation in her stomach as she hoped against hope that her kids wouldn't outright disassociate themselves from her given her past or worse, hate her for her actions (who could blame them, really, she thought).

As the silence continued, Azula felt the urge to fill the space growing within her and just as she could no longer resist, they stood up and wrapped her in a hug, taking her by surprise as they let their simple action speak on their behalf. At this, her eyes started to tear as her worst fears proved unfounded and she hugged her kids tightly in response, even as Sokka wrapped his arms around them all. 

"Thank you Risa, Miska." she whispered.

[cytryndor]

So, remember when I said I might write a little scene of Oliver's coming out (more to us, an audience, than anyone else)(kind of)? Here it is, with special dedication to @elizmanderson

[SCENE: Some fancy-schmancy Broadway related event. OLIVER, MABEL and CHARLES are standing in the middle of room and camera view. OLIVER's really excited, looking around and just glowing, feeling (and looking) like a kid in a candy store. MABEL is sipping her wine, and CHARLES just don't want to be there, but is still awkwardly smiling, in his usual Charles-way. OLIVER notices someone, and turns his attention toward that person]

Oliver: Well isn't it Patti LuPone, as I live and breathe!

Patti: Oliver!

[PATTI hugs OLIVER like you would hug your not-so-close friend, or a coworker; she's using just one arm, holding a glass of wine in the other. After that, OLIVER puts his arm around her shoulder, and turns towards his friends]

Mabel: You two seem to know each other.

[MABEL says that more to her glass than them, looking somewhere else. OLIVER does not care about that, and picks up her comment]

Oliver: Oh yes, we do know each other. You see, when I wasn't such a failure of a man, way back in the seventies-

Patti: Come on, Oliver, you were never a failure to me. I have never missed any of your premieres, no matter how more off-off-off Broadway they were getting.

Oliver: Oh, I know. You made everything to let me know what you thought of my plays.

[Although still in cheerful manner, the last line was pretty sour. PATTI does not care, or simply doesn't notice, and continues]

Patti: Well, it's not my fault that your musicals were getting worse and worse. It was that boyfriend of yours who put his money into producing them.

Oliver: Oh don't you bring Teddy into this, you Wicked Witch of the West. And even if, our plays were magical, [and, a bit quieter, adds] at the beginning at least.

Patti: Of course they were, honey.

[She looks at CHARLES]

Patti: Hey, is your friend over here good? Is that... Blood?

Mabel: Oh my god, Charles-

Oliver: Come on, Charles-Haden Savage, I know Patti is undeniably a big deal, but we just met Mel Brooks and you didn't had that much of reaction-

Charles: Teddy? As in, Teddy Dimas?

[MABEL presses her lips together, looking at rest of her company. OLIVER does not have time to respond, as PATTI answers]

Patti: Oh, yes! They were inseparable back in the days. But then, this Roberta came in-

Oliver: -and the rest is history! Listen Patti, I think I saw Glenn Close coming this way, how about you're gonna find Andrew and threaten him with lawsuit again?

Patti: Charming as always, Putnam.

[PATTI smiles one last time, and walks off. MABEL's lets out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding; OLIVER is still smiling in the direction that PATTI went, and CHARLES is wiping off blood from under his nose]

Charles: What on Earth was that?

Oliver: What was?

Charles: You have never mentioned that you're into men!

[A moment of silence, OLIVER is looking at CHARLES like he's not understanding something]

Oliver: ...that what's shocking you?

Oliver: Not the fact that I was with Teddy Dimas of all people, but the fact that I enjoy sleeping with men?

Charles: Well, it's not like you ever told us that you're into-

[Before CHARLES says something stupid, MABEL cuts in]

Mabel: I mean, I knew.

Charles: What? When did he told you?

Mabel: Never. I mean, have you seen this [she points at OLIVER with her glass of wine still in hand] man?

Oliver: Thank you.

[Still shocked, OLIVER leans forward slightly, as if bowing. Move's unnecessary and almost not noticable if you'd blink, but it's still there]

Mabel: And anyway, when did you came out as straight to us, Charles?

Charles: I mean, why would I do that?

Mabel: Wow. That is so straight of you.

[END OF SCENE, at least as of now. Don't have an idea for the rest yet, but there might be something]

[drifting-pieces-blog-blog]

Nothing and Everything - Part 9

Nothing and Everything - Part 9 

Summary: Certain times of the year are harder than others. This is the first year where they have all been present to face the memories of all the trauma. How can they come together when they each have their own traumas to face?

Pairings: Gen fic (they love Layla and she loves them)

Warnings: Heavy dissociation, Mentions of child abuse, some mentions of violence, Depression, mentions of self harm, PTSD, mentions of hospitalization.

Word Count: 2422

Part Nine: Epilogue - The first steps are never easy, but perhaps they can lead somewhere better than this.

Previous Chapter HERE

It was hard not to resort to old measures. 

It was so unimposing, but it was the fear of what was inside that made him want to run the most. Or, if he was being honest with himself, the fear of what he imagined to be there. 

As a child, the fear was of those who did not understand. Who tried to kill him with so called ‘science’ and ‘medicine’. 

When they were already in pain and suffering, those that claimed to help only caused further trauma and pain. 

Now, a deep seated mistrust existed and a memory that woke him up time and time again. 

The fear had spread and worries, rational or otherwise, trickled down through the system like a toxic fog that hindered their ability to function. 

I will do this. I need to do this. 

Jake set the expectation that he would not run. He would be the one to walk in and he would be the one to sit through the meeting. 

But if you would not mind waiting with me…

He made space for Steven and Marc. He was realistic. If he tried to run, he fully expected them to stop him. If he dissociated into space and beyond, they would take over and guide him back down later. 

They would not force it. Steven had made that very clear when the decision was made. If it became too hard and too painful, he would take them home. 

Layla waited at home for them with a large comforter on the couch to snuggle into when they were done. She called it ‘after care’. Something Marc had rolled his eyes at, but that had been very important to her. 

She had insisted that she make them a good cup of spiced tea, curl up with them in the blanket, and that they would sit in the quiet of the evening when they got home. 

A hand found his shoulder and squeezed gently. “Are you ready, Jake?” 

Jake looked to Jean-Paul then sighed. “Let’s get this over with.” 

Why is it always in a basement? Marc grumbled as they walked into the old creaky building that looked like it had seen better days. And why is there always that smell? 

It smelled of old cigarette smoke and mildew, though no one had smoked in that building for decades now and it seemed relatively dry. There was a folding table with bad burnt coffee, stale donuts, and fliers with dates to other events. 

Jake passed by the refreshments but stuffed a flier in his pocket. If this went well enough, perhaps he could convince himself to come back. 

The people around him were not what he expected. 

Old faces, with wrinkles and thin skin hiding the bones of young soldiers that could no longer carry the weight of unspoken memories. Young faces of men and women that had done and seen too much for their short time on this earth. A few were his age, wearing patches and tattoos that spoke of the world they had traveled. 

All had tired eyes with deep circles under them. Some had scars that were visible. Others were missing parts of them that had been left behind on blood soaked fields. 

Jean-Paul filled a paper cup with the terrible coffee and guided them over to a plastic folding chair that was deeply uncomfortable. 

It was too hot in the windowless room and it felt cramped and dirty. 

Jake picked out the patches and hats that advertised veteran status. They were proud of the time they had served. A reminder to those around them that they were heroes. Or, perhaps a reminder to be gentle. They had been through a never ending war and one must speak softly to be heard over the memory of gunfire. 

Marines. Marc pointed out a man near the front of the room. I know that unit. Might even have served with him once or twice. Ask him if he lost the leg in Pakistan. I knew a guy that lost a leg.

You will do no such thing! Steven hushed Marc and gave him a scandalized bit of British muttering. 

Jake’s leg started to jiggle as he struggled not to give into his basic nature. “I’m fine.” He muttered to himself. “I’m safe. We’re safe.” 

“First meeting?” A man next to him spoke up. The man had a white beard and thick glasses. He could be anyone’s grandpa. Soft in the cheeks and heavy in the gut. 

Jake looked him over quickly. 

The man waited for Jake to decide he wasn’t a threat. “I’ve been out for over fifty years. I still wake up at least three times a week thinking I’m somewhere else. Vigilance and caution saved my life. It’s hard to put that bit away, isn’t it?” 

Jake frowned then nodded. “I’m not sure I’m supposed to be here.” 

“You serve?” The man gave him a sideways look. 

“Yeah.” Jake felt Marc start to slip in as his accent thickened. It was Marc who felt ashamed to be there. To be in the room with those who had served properly and done good. Marc who felt his time as a mercenary left him with a dark mark that meant he should be shunned from being around others. 

“Then you belong.” The man sipped his coffee. 

“You don’t know what I did.” Marc muttered. “Trust me. I don’t belong.” 

“You ever held a flame thrower?” The man looked at him seriously. 

Marc hesitated. “No. It’s-” 

“It’s banned by the Geneva convention now.” He looked down and a far away look that Marc instantly recognized drifted across his face. “You belong just as much as the rest of us. Only one exception.” 

Marc gave the man a hard look. “What’s that?” 

“You a Nazi?” 

“Of course not! I’m-” Steven was appalled by the very notion. 

The man laughed and patted him on the back. “Welcome to the meeting.” 

They settled in, listening to the opening speech by the lead therapist. They spoke about the difficulties of quiet and peace. 

Jake sat with his arms crossed, attentive but also doing his best not to draw any attention or let the others do anything to make those around him think they were crazy. He knew what happened when others saw them as such. 

Jean-Paul raised his hand and Jake’s attention dialed in as his friend shared a piece of himself. 

“Last night I woke up weeping. No bad dreams or stress. No anxiety or even anything that triggered any memories. I could not stop the tears for at least an hour. It was not the first time.” He sat forward, arms on his knees as he looked down at the ground. 

The ground had never garnered so much attention as it did in this small basement with ghost ridden eyes seeking something solid that had always been there for them. 

“This is where the quiet slips in.” One of the organizers spoke up. “You have spent so much time in a state of constant hypervigilance that it’s hard to let anything else through. Stay alert and you stay alive. When the threat is gone, you are still alert. You still keep your guard up and all other emotions sit on the sidelines. When you are finally able to accept that there is nothing hidden in the quiet that poses a threat, it can get quite loud, can’t it?” 

“Deafening.” Jean-Paul sighed. 

“Same with peace. We don’t yet know how to live with peace. We expect violence every second of every day. Threats everywhere. Hidden IEDs with every step, rigged trucks and cars on the side of the road, people with guns and knives waiting to jump out at us any time we walk into an unfamiliar area. When the threats go away and we accept that we are safe, that is when you can finally experience all the other things that you have been avoiding or unable to feel. Grief, loss, anger, fear. They can finally be released from that vice grip and overwhelm you.” The guide looked to all the faces, many of which were nodding. 

Jake put his hand up before he realized he wanted to. The speaker nodded to him and Jake took a moment, shrinking back in his seat a little. “What about… Trauma? Past trauma. Before the military. Why would that come out now?” 

“Most of us joined because of trauma.” A young man in the front snapped then looked sheepish. “Didn’t have anything else to do. Join or get fuck, you know?” 

“Running from trauma and into more trauma.” A woman behind him agreed. “Stay at home and die or go over there and die. What difference did it make? Only this way I got to make the call and fight back.” 

Jake relaxed just a little. 

“I hope none of you are still in those situations. I hope you are all in a safe place now and know that this is a safe place.” The therapist spoke up again. “But now you are in a difficult spot. Fight or flight has kept you going. You fled those situations and learned to fight. Now you no longer have to fight or run. As you and the body realize you are safe, it can now start to unwrap and deal with your past traumas. Your mind is trying to process at long last. Your current situation is over, so now it feels like old scars and old traumas are being dug up out of the blue. I promise you, it’s not out of the ordinary. It feels random, but trauma is trauma. Trauma can mask other trauma.”

It’s because we’re safe. Steven agreed. For the first time, all three of us are safe. All three of us… And we all hold our own trauma. Now that we’re talking… We’re sharing memories and sharing our trauma. 

“Great. How do we stop it?” Jake muttered. 

“You don’t.” The therapist looked at Jake and Jake looked away, embarrassed to have been heard. “The more you try to suppress it, the harder it will be to deal with. I’m not saying to face it all head on, either. Processing in a healthy way is not easy and difficult to do. Some of you are going to need outside help. I can recommend trauma specialists if you see me after the meeting.” 

The room was quiet, each one lost in their own thoughts. 

“Every one of you has trauma. You didn’t come here because you’re coping well back in civilian life and are looking for a good time. You’re here because of difficulties returning to normal life, grief, loss, anger, or looking for someone to relate to. Loneliness can be very damaging. I would encourage you all to make connections here if you can. Find someone to talk to. Someone to share your experiences. It isn’t everyone in the world that can speak the lingo and understand what it means when you say you lost a brother in arms.” 

Jake glanced over at Jean-Paul. Jean-Paul crying alone in the dark of the night and not knowing why. A man years sober and still seeking help while also offering to help them. 

He reached out and lay a hand on his arm gently, giving him a soft squeeze. 

Jean-Paul looked over at him and smiled. He patted his hand on his and squeezed back. Maybe they could face and deal with some of their issues together. 

–

“And then we talked about tips for dealing with flashbacks and triggering events.” Steven prattled excitedly to Layla, curled in the blanket nest she had built on the couch. “They even talked about dissociation a little! I mean, different from our type, but not by a lot. The kind used to escape stress or dealing with real world problems. Apparently the sense of smell can be a huge help! Jake’s going to get one of those car tree things that make everything smell like pine.” 

Layla smiled and sipped her tea. “It sounds like it was a good meeting. Do you think it will help?” 

“It can’t hurt, right?” Steven pulled a blanket closer. “I think Jake wants to go again. Marc said he was open to it. I think Marc wants to talk to some of the older guys. We met one that chatted to us a bit.” 

Steven was quiet for a moment as he settled down at last and thought about the things they had learned. “I think it will get worse before it gets better. We have to accept that and prepare for it. The more we learn about one another and our past, the more things are going to come up. Jake has agreed to stop hiding things from us. Within reason, of course. He said he’ll still keep the real nasty things away. There’s only so many nightmares we can handle at a time, right?” 

Layla nodded, deep in thought. “It will take time. Is there anything I can do to help?” 

Steven looked at her, feeling sorry for the future her that would have to wake to their nightmares in the middle of the night. To the her that would find them crying without reason. To the her that may have to travel to strange towns to collect them again and again. He felt sorry that she would have to witness their pain as it unraveled before her. 

“Be you.” He moved to lean into her, resting his head against her shoulder. “Don’t let yourself get lost in our pain. Push us to remember that you are a person too. That you have your own trauma and sorrow.” He felt Marc’s guilt and Jake’s fear. “Make space for yourself too. Don’t let me take up the life. You deserve to live as much as the rest of us.” 

“Steven…” She kissed his forehead gently and nestled into him under the blanket fort. “Whatever comes next, I’ll be there.” 

Steven didn’t know what would be next. If it would be enough to heal or if they were even capable of healing. They had to try, though. They had gone too long floating in the nothing. It was time to place the nothing behind them. 

They all squeezed Layla’s hand gently. Maybe this was what waited for them beyond the nothing. Maybe moments like this, filled with tea and blankets and soft and quiet and gentleness… Maybe this was everything. 

Steven hoped so. Maybe everything wasn’t so bad after all.