#I am trapped at my mother's office help

[2tcs]

Day 2 Meeting a new family member and Wire

“My brother has moved to Gotham and I intend to visit them tonight as Robin.” Damian announced as everyone began to eat dinner.

“You have. A brother?” Tim haltingly asked as he looked at Damian.

“Tt. That is what I said. I advise not attempting to contact him unless he invites you into his home.”

“Damian. Why didn’t you tell me you had a brother?” Bruce asked.

“It was irrelevant. Danyal is older than me and had been deemed a failure by the time Mother and Grandfather decided to make me. I had been under the impression that he had been disposed of. In a way, I suppose he was, seeing as he was placed in the hands of some scientists who worked for the league.”

“But he’s back. Do you know what he wants?” Tim asked as Bruce disassociated.

“He would not go into detail but it seems that the scientists who raised him have found a purer and more radioactive Lazarus water. It is why I am meeting him tonight so he can turn over the more sensitive information without the league hearing about it.”

“Damian.” Bruce started before rethinking what he was going to say. “I would like to come with. He may be your brother but he is also an unknown.”

“I am aware Father. That is why I am telling you now. You cannot come with me but I will stay in contact and keep the com channel open throughout the entire exchange.”

“I would still prefer”

“Father. You will not come with. Danyal has expressly forbade you from meeting him.”

“That makes this even more suspicious! If not me then at least bring Dick with you.”

“Richard is in Bloodhaven and will not be able to get here in a timely manner. I am going alone.” Damian said before standing up and walking off.

“Damian!”

“Give it a rest B. He’s on a mission and I have a feeling he’ll go alone no mater what you say. If anything we could try to tail him but I have a feeling he’ll be on the lookout for that.”

“Hn.”

👻🦇👻🦇

“Akhi. You have fortified this place well.” Damian complimented as he walked into the office of the warehouse where Danny had made his base. It had been years since Danny had looked into the child that was meant to replace him after he failed one too many missions for Grandfather's liking. But to see that his little brother had managed to escape the league made Danny’s core hum happily.

“Thank you, Dams. But we aren’t here for pleasantries.” Danny said as he walked over to the single desk in the room and pulled a thick file out of one of the drawers. “In here is a brief rundown of the Fenton's research as well as a law that has recently passed that is in violation of”

Before Danny could finish talking there was a loud crash and a string of expletives.

“What the fuck! Who puts two wire traps mere inches from each other!” The voice shouted before the sound of a body hitting the floor. A few moments later the voice started yelling again as they fell into another trap.

“A friend of yours Dams?” Danny asked while he watched the door.

“A member of our family. Unfortunately. I had told Father not to come and I was hoping the fact that it was in Crime Allie would discourage Drake. I had not counted on Father getting Todd involved.” Damian sighed before walking over to the folder.

“As long as he does not wake up the littles I could care less. Perhaps we should help him out?” Danny asked. Not noticing Damian’s head snapping up to stare at him.

“Littles? You did not inform me of anyone else.”

“Hm. Long story short? You are an uncle to two little ones.”

“ALL RIGHT! WHO SET UP ALL THOSE… Demon brat. I should have known.” Red Hood said as he barged into the office. Causing twin crys to echo from a door on the opposite side of the main door. “Are those?”

“Yes, and your entrance has just woken up my kids. Dams? I have also left a number in the folder if you need to contact me. I will be off now.” Danny said as he began to walk towards the door the cries were coming from.

“There is a family brunch every Wednesday at ten in the morning. I request you to be there so that I can meet the new members of our family. Father would also like to meet you.” Damian said while ignoring Jason’s stuttering.

“I will think about it. Until next time Dams.” Danny replied before disappearing through the door.

[olaadel-ouf]

Iam Ola Abu El-ouf, lam 34 years old🚨🚨🚨

A distress call from Gaza...a family searching for safety🙏🇵🇸

A family trapped in Gaza asks for help to survive 🍉🙏🇵🇸

I need to raise money to restore a beautiful and stable life outside the Gaza Strip. Everything I say leaves only a small amount of the suffering we experience. Here is a glimpse into the contrast between our lives before the aggression and the nightmare we have been experiencing since its beginning. Thank you for your support

About my family:

It consists of a mother, a father, two brothers, and a separate sister. She has two children. My mother and father, who are 66 years old. We were displaced from the city of Rafah after the occupation bombed our house without taking any clothes, furniture, gas, or cover. We were protected from the cold of winter, and we live in a tent in the worst conditions in terms of cooking over fire and pollution. Water, waste collection, and lack of detergents. A 36-year-old brother, a 21-year-old brother, and children are in need of the minimum necessities of life in light of the difficult circumstances and tragedy in which we live.

We urgently need support to ensure our lives and live in peace and security

An architect, I used to work in an engineering office in the Gaza reconstruction and I aspired to complete my master’s degree, but my work and studies were halted due to the war. I am divorced and have two children, Amir, 8 years old, and Maryam, 7 years old.

@nabulsi @aces-and-angels @ibtisam @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @vakarians-babe @7amaspayrollmanager @fairuzfakhira @fallahsart @sayruq @humanvoreture @kaapstadgirly @sar-soor @dimonds456-art @plomegranate @commissions4aid-international @nabulsi @stil-macher @soon-palestine @communitythings @palestinegenocide @vakarians-babe @ghost-and-a-half

[bunnys-kisses]

baby trapping (vol. 3) - nanami kento

pairing: nanami kento x fem!readerrating: 18+ summary: Nanami, Nanami, Nanami. Always such the gentleman. He brought you flowers, he drove you home from work. He was almost husband material! Except three months ago you rejected his proposal and since then he had been trying to get you pregnant.

So far had had been unsuccessful. tags: smut, pwp, baby-trapping, love hotels, dark themes, breeding/pregnancy kink, love hotels, unprotected smut

Vol. One (Toji), Vol. Two (Geto & Gojo)

join my discord!

Nanami, Nanami, Nanami. Always such a gentleman. He brought you flowers, he drove you home from work. He was almost husband material! Except three months ago you rejected his proposal and since then he had been trying to get you pregnant.

So far it had not been successful.

-

The blond drove to your work in the expensive car he owned. He was on his way to pick you up from the dead-end job you somehow loved. He thought your talents could be useful elsewhere. Like the importat role of a stay-at-home mother to two beautiful children. But he hoped you'd at least have four children. Make the large empty house he owned into a home.

But you were so determined to be a young professional. You wanted to be working in an office. You wanted to go out for drinks and have a good time. There was a lot you wanted to do before you settled down. But Nanami was tired of waiting.

If you wouldn't accept his ring, then you'd have to accept his baby. Or rather babies.

You left work on time and met Nanami in the parking garage. You spotted the expensive car right away and quickly headed over to him. Your heart was in your throat as you got closer. You had a deep love for Nanami, you thought he was so perfect.

You were under the impression that he took the rejection well and was going to wait till you were most established at work before you got married! You got to the car and happily knocked on the passenger window then waved at him.

He smiled at you before he unlocked the door and opened it for you. His eyes darted to your legs where you gave him a flash of your panties under your business skirt. The sight made him tighten his grasp on the steering wheel.

He soon patted you on the thigh before he watched you buckle yourself in. He leaned over to kiss you on the lips, ”I was thinking, maybe, we could check into a hotel before dinner.“ He placed a hand on your thigh, ”I've been thinking of you all day and I don't think you want to be fucked in a resturant bathroom. I know you love a nice bed.“ He softly chuckled before he tucked hair behind your ear, ”How does that sound?“

You cupped his face as he gazed at you, ”Nanami.“ You giggled, ”Am I really that irresistible?“

He leaned in for another kiss, the way a dutiful boyfriend was, and replied, ”Yes, you know I look at you and can't get enough.“ Then kissed you once me. His hand grazed your inner thigh briefly before he pulled away. He watched you nod to his earlier question before he put the car into drive and headed off towards the nearest love hotel.

The hotel was nice, it blended rather nicely into the other buildings in the neighborhood. It wasn't hard to get a room and before you knew it, you were being tossed onto the bed like a rag doll.

He grabbed you by the hair as he pulled you in for another searing kiss. His cock twitched in his slacks at the thought of your beautiful form. You would be so beautiful pregnant, round with his child.

You would be so perfect with tender breasts filled with milk, a sore back and a heavy belly. He believed you'd be happier as his wife, he didn't know what got into your head about being stuck working at  a job that would get you nowhere!

But you were so simple at times, sometimes women couldn't see the bigger picture. It wasn't your fault, Nanami would help you with that. He started to unbutton the front of your blouse.

  “You look amazing.“ He said, ”You look more beautiful than anyone else on this earth.“ He could feel the heat in his face as he exposed your breasts to him, ”Fuck.“

You looked away, ”They're not that impressive, Nanami.“

He kissed down your neck, ”It's more than impressive. It's perfect.“ Then he started to leave marks on your skin and down to the tops of your breasts. He felt you start to loosen his tie.

He didn't let you throw it off the bed. He wrapped it in his left hand while he continued to give all his attention to your breasts. The marks were dark and could be seen easily. The notion of having his marks on you made you wet.

  ”Nanami.“

  ”You're perfect.“ He rubbed his clothed cock up against your clothed pussy. You could feel the weight of his erection against you, ”Let me take control tonight. Don't worry. I'll keep you safe.“

  ”Nan-“

  ”Trust me.“ He said softly. It was time to put his plan into action. Make you unsuspecting of him orgasming deep inside of you. To fill you with his cum until there was zero choice but to get pregnant.

All it took was one cell to find home with another. The thought aroused him, he didn't have to be sneaky with holes in the condom. He could easily impregnate you tonight, all you had to do was put your full trust into him.

You looked up into his eyes, there was a look of worry. There was even a crease in your brow that he smoothed out with his thumb. He smiled at you softly. Play the sheep until he could become the wolf.

  ”Alright, honey.“ You said as you reached to unzip your skirt, ”I trust you. I'll always trust you.“ Then gave him a broad smile as you unzipped the article of clothing.

He looked at you for a moment, there was a glint in his eye that you couldn't put into words. But it made an unfamiliar feeling rise up in you. Your heart raced as you both got undressed.

His gaze was tense, he wanted to see every curve on you. You wondered what he was thinking about as he observed you. But you would've never guessed it was the idea of getting you pregnant. To trap you with his baby.

He knew better than you, he knew what you needed. And that was a Nanami brat running around. And if he was lucky there would be multiples. He put the tie over your eyes, ”Trust me.“ And you had no choice but to trust him.

  ”You brought a condom right?“

He chuckled softly, ”Of course I did, the thin ones. Just the way you like it.“ He dipped his hand between your bare thighs and touched along your pussy. His thumb brushed against your clit and you shuddered. He smirked to himself, such a vulnerable young woman. So gentle and sweet.

You'd make the perfect wife for him. He wondered if they sold wedding dresses for women who already had their honeymoons. He smirked, knowing you wouldn't see it.

He played with you gently. You got more wet the more he played with you. Your hands dug into the sheet on the bed.

Maybe this wasn't the ideal place to make a baby, but it would have to do. He'd make sure the delivery was somewhere nicer. Maybe at home where he could take care of you. The thought made his cock bob, he may be a pervert but at least he could take out all the sexual frustration out on his soon-to-be wife.

  ”I'm going to move you now, my love.“He said with his voice close to your ear.

You nodded, ”Okay, honey.“ Then felt yourself being put on all fours. You dropped your front half into the soft pillows and kept your hips up so he could reach you. You wiggled your ass to entice him. Which was soon followed by a harsh slap. You made a small ”eep“ noise from the pain but it only made your pussy wetter.

  ”Such a beautiful sight.“ He said, ”I love you, I want you more than anything. I look at you and think of no one else. You're mine,  my love. All mine.“ His words made your heart flutter.

He rubbed your cheeks as he got behind you. His grip was rough which made you roll your hips in an attempt to get out of it. But there was no escaping him.

  ”Nanami.“ You whimpered.

  ”What did I say? You need to listen, I need you to trust me. Be a good girl and spread those legs a little more. I want to see your beautiful pussy.“ He was excited that his plan was working. That you so easily fell into it. It was as if it were destiny that you were meant to get pregnant tonight. And if not tonight, then he'd keep trying until you ended up with a child.

He situated himself behind him and he reached between your legs to your stomach which he playfully touched. His cock leaked pre-cum from his imagination going wild over the idea of you pregnant with his child.

He shakily exhaled to compose himself before he pulled his hand away to hold onto your hip while he guided his hardened cock into you. He groaned out loud as he felt your heat consume him.

  ”Honey!“ You whimpered, ”You're so big. I can feel it so deep!“ You gripped onto the pillow under your head as you tried to relax. His size was impressive and you knew it was his even without seeing.

You held onto the pillows and moaned into them. You knew the rooms were soundproof but you were worried about being too loud. The sound of sex filled the room as he started to move.

  ”Please, honey! Ah, it feels so good!“ You whimpered as you held onto the bed to keep yourself steady. Your heart was racing as he thrusted up into you.

  ”Does it feel good?“ He asked, he smiled to himself. The idea of you succumbing to pleasure. You just let him finish inside of you, get you pregnant and become his wife. It was a dream for him.

  ”It feels amazing!“ You moaned as you rolled your hips in time with his thrusts. You held onto the pillows tightly as he started to move faster. Your heart was racing and you knew your face was flushed. You panted heavily into the covers.

  ”Good, good." He said softly to himself as he kept thrusting up into you. Your pussy clenched around him as he kept going. The feeling was erotic, it made his whole body warm. To be so close to you.

He wanted you so badly, he adored you. He was obsessed with you. He wanted to make sure that no one else could ever have you. His breathing became heavier as he moved.

The whole room grew hotter with each passing moment. Two people together, creating something beautiful even if one person didn't know it yet. The bed creaked under you as your bodies moved.

You felt hot all over as you two fucked in the centre of the bed. You panted heavily into the pillows as you tried to keep up. The feeling was amazing, it was like mini sparks were going through you. Your gut twisted with excitement over being so intimate with him.

He was a perfect lover.

Your head became cloudy the closer you got to orgasm. You felt like you were running off hormones as you felt so close to climax. You held on tightly as arched your back as you came. You groaned into the pillows, your voice was loud and almost got stuck in your throat from the feeling of the blond's cock so deep inside of you.

  “I love you, honey.” He said. 'you're all mine, wife,' he added in his head as he watched you go limp on the bed. He pulled you up by the hips and fucked into you even harder.

He was thrilled that he could finish inside of you. Your head was so fuzzy you'd barely noticed if he came with zero protection. It was simply nature telling you it was time to be a mother.

With one more hard thrust, he finished inside of you. He held onto your hips tightly as he gave a final thrust. He leaned a little to make sure that all of it got to its intended destination. He could feel his blond hair sticking to his forehead. He felt hot all over as he pulled out and laid down beside you.

You rolled into his arms, your mind was still blank from the intense orgasm you had. You didn't notice the cum that was oozing out of your poor cunt, but that would be cleaned up soon. As when Nanami came to, he made sure to clean up any trace that he finished inside of you.

You'd know what he did when that test came back positive. He wiped your clean, even the sweat on your forehead. He kissed the warmed skin. He had broken your mind with an intense orgasm and hopefully impregnated you.

The thought made him smile as he said, ”Let's get you in the shower.“ As he approached you. He had to be a husband and father now, which meant protecting what was his.

-

  ”That's it.“ He moaned, ”That's it.“ His wedding ring gleamed in the afternoon light, ”We have to be quick before Misao wakes up.“

You held onto his chest as you rode his cock. Your heavy breasts bounced as did your swollen belly. Two babies in two years, it could almost be a record.

Nanami rubbed your swollen middle, ”My beautiful wife. All mine.”  And you moaned in response. His cock twitched inside of you. This was all he ever wanted, but he'd only be truly satisfied with more than four children. He really wondered if he could break the record within a few years.

Either way, you'd only grow more beautiful. His beautiful wife, at home and caring for the growing home. Just as he wanted it.

xoxo, U・x・U

[chuubian]

solace and secrecy

Tags Fyodor x fem reader, angst, religious imagery, religious guilt, alcohol consumption, abuse, blasphemy?? kinda?

Summary Fyodor is determined to live as a righteous, holy man. Dedication to his god is all he has ever known and he would never stray away from it, but he starts to view his faith differently when he met you.

Intricate architecture and stained glass windows were familiar views to Fyodor. Spending all his free time as a child in the church, working on his faith. Terrified of what could happen if he were to ever give up his religion. His dedication bordered on obsession. When the time came to make his career choice, he chose something that would be worthy of going to heaven.

Becoming a priest involved things like teaching the congregation, performing sacraments, and counseling. Fyodor did all this with love and passion in his heart. It was familiar. There was no place he would rather be.

Fyodor is sitting in his office, offering counseling to his brothers and sisters is a welcome break from standing and preaching for hours at a time. Most problems people come to him with are not too serious. Family disputes and disobedient children, occasionally infidelity and thievery. Though… those are few and far in between.

Fyodor is cleaning up his desk while waiting for his next meeting. Stacking his books and arranging his vase of flowers to be just right. He opens his door and invites in the next person he’s supposed to meet with. Gesturing for you to sit down.

“Please, have a seat”

He takes a seat across from you, the golden light from the sun casting a heavenly glow. Fyodor looks angelic. It's hard to not immediately start begging for mercy. Suddenly feeling like you are unworthy of being in the presence of his divinity. Fyodor starts off.

“What can I help you with?”

You hesitate to speak, unsure if this is even something you could ever admit or speak out loud.

“Father… I’ve been having some strange thoughts and feelings.”

Fyodor hums softly, thinking. His voice is soft and reassuring, representative of his care for your wellbeing.

“Strange in what way?”

You hesitate. Can you really say this? Would he report you? While you’re taking your time considering what to say, Fyodor interrupts.

“I notice you are being awfully quiet. This is a confidential conversation, nothing you could say would make me think of you as unworthy or strange. I am a servant of God, sworn to secrecy. Everything said in this room is between you, myself, and our lord and savior.”

With that reassurance, you take a deep breath. Fyodor is looking at you with such kind eyes. It’s hard to not to get distracted. How do you even word this? What can you really say?

“Father… I’ve been having thoughts about murdering my mother.”

Fyodor's face remains unchanged. He almost doesn’t look shocked. He sits up straight and speaks in the same soft reassuring tone. It’s eerie.

“I see… Why is that?”

Old painful memories flood your mind. Your mother choosing her new repulsive boyfriend over you. Your mother isolating you from friends and family. Making you kneel on rice for hours at a time. Inventing new barbaric punishments just for you. She had never put as much love and care into anything, as she did torturing you. Being an adult now, you wrongfully believed that she would let you live your life. But that is not the kind of person she is.

"She's cruel and vindictive, I hate her. She's never cared for me in my entire life and I can't leave. She takes my money, traps me, beats me when she’s angry and drunk. I have nowhere to go. I've given up on my life, but if I can make her suffer one last time I think I could die happily."

Fyodor remains abnormally calm. It feels like the calm before the storm. You should've kept your mouth shut. What the fuck were you even thinking? Obviously that's not okay to say, why are you even here? For him to talk you down? Your legs are shaking. Although Fyodor is gazing at you tenderly, it's like he's looking right through you. Like he can read you.

"And you believe that this is the solution?"

You feel trapped. Breath hitching, your eyes start watering. You try to speak up but your voice is shakier than you expected. Why is it so shaky?

"I don't know what to do, Father."

He slowly stands up, making his way around the desk. You take a deep breath, readying yourself for what he might do. Maybe he'll restrain you and report you. But before you can let your thoughts go wild, he reaches out for your hand. His skin is cold, but it curiously makes you feel warm. It's like a shock to your system.

"I'm sorry that happened to you"

At those six simple words, you break down. No one in your entire disgraceful, miserable life had ever given you an ounce of genuine kindness. He gently wiped the tears from your eyes. You didn't even realize you had started crying, your throat and eyes were burning. There was a big lump in your throat.

"Do you not think that instead of doing something so horrible, so sinful, maybe you should turn to god?"

You pause at those words. Is that even a real choice at this point? This is a cry for help, you aren't looking for a god to follow. What use is he to you? God is the reason that you've had such a dreadful life.

"I have never seen you come to mass before, so why are you here? Is it because deep down you are hoping for god to save you?"

Taking a deep breath you try to calm down.

"I'm not a follower, I would never do that. God is the reason my life is so awful."

His eyes narrow. Fyodor's gaze is piercing and chilling. He takes offense to you talking about his deity in such a blasphemous way.

"I know you may feel that this is our lord and savior's fault, but that could not be further from the truth. This is the work of the devil, and the devil alone."

Shaking your head, you refuse to accept it. Is God not supposed to fix this? Is he not supposed to be all knowing? How could he allow this to happen in the first place? What did you even do to deserve this? Fyodor notices that you're deep in thought.

"I am sorry to be the first to tell you this, but you are not as innocent as you think you are."

His voice is much colder than it was before. It makes you shiver and tense up.

"All human beings are sinful. Do you not think it is better to acknowledge that and ask for forgiveness from our Father? What happened to you was unacceptable, but is the solution really to victimize yourself and act so foolishly?"

You were stunned. Looking up at Fyodor, who towers over you. He's so tall and imposing, it makes you feel small. He's so cruel. You had done nothing and now he was trying to make you feel guilty? Who does he think he is? You stand up angrily, deciding you don't have to take this.

"I'm leaving."

Fyodor raises an eyebrow.

"Please, sit back down. I understand that this seems harsh but violence is not the answer. Why are you even here?"

"I'm not sure."

Fyodor hums softly. Sitting back down he reaches over to his vase, taking a hold of a white rose, looking deep in thought. He gently runs his slender fingers over the petals and then holds the rose out for you.

"This is my offering to you."

You furrow your eyebrows, confused.

"What? A rose?"

Fyodor chuckles softly.

"Yes, a rose. But I am not only offering this rose, I am also offering you a chance to start over. So that you do not have to go back and see your mother."

You stay silent, completely bewildered.

"Why?"

He tilts his head, he looks almost baffled that you would question him.

"I am a servant of God. It is my job to help those in need, but in exchange I would like for you to start coming to church. I would like for you to at least try and follow the word of God."

You sit back down, considering the offer. Could he be telling the truth? This seems too good to be true. Fyodor notices your hesitance to take him up on this.

"I will provide you with a place to sleep and help you find employment. I am a well known priest around here, I promise this is a genuine offer."

He holds out the rose for you again. You finally accept it, nodding.

"All right then. I’ll take you up on it."

He smiles at you softly. As your fingers gently close over the stem of the rose, one of the thorns pricks you, drawing blood. You gasp softly, letting go of the rose as it falls to the ground.

"Are you okay?"

Fyodor looks concerned, taking your hand in his gently and inspecting the punctured finger.

"It is only a small cut, I could fix you up easily."

You look up at his face, noticing the kind look in his eyes. He's so ethereal. Delicately, he pulls your hand closer, cleaning the blood up and bandaging your finger.

After this, Fyodor shows you around your new living quarters and helps you get a job. He requires you to come to mass at least three times a week and have talks about how things are going afterwards.

Getting away from your mother wasn't easy. She was always watching you, looking for mistakes or something that may be off about you. Eventually, you finally saw a chance when you could leave without her noticing.

Since that fateful day, your days have been spent surrounded by ornate golden walls. The high cieling of the church make you feel like a small bug, crushed under the weight of God's will.

Fyodor has helped you see the mistakes in your thinking patiently. At first, you didn't even want to admit it but it was true that you're a sinner. However, God could cure you. He could forgive.

At this point you hardly ever spent any time outside of the church. Right after work you went inside that large, lavish building, repenting for your sins and working on your relationship with your lord and savior. Fyodor had even started planning for your baptism soon after you made the deal with him.

Spending so much time around that mysterious man, made you feel even more captivated with him. What is his story? Was he always like this? His eyes are so kind but so empty, there's something so off about him. Despite the bad feeling in your gut, you couldn't help but like him more. Whenever you would walk into his office, it was always beautifully decorated with white roses, fresh, blooming and shining in the sunlight. The bookshelves along the walls are always full of vintage books, smelling like parchment and wine. His demeanor is always serene. He would just sit there and listen to you, never once trying to interrupt you.

You came to appreciate his advice, he seemed to be on a higher plane of existence than you. In a way, he was your savior. Whenever he looked at you now, you could feel your cheeks warm and your hands get clammy. Disappointing him would be devastating.

It's night time now, about six months after you first met Fyodor. The church was completely empty at this time. Soft glowing moonlight is sparkling and radiating off the gold and stained glass decorations inside. Fyodor decided to sit on one of the pews at the front, admiring the large crucifix behind the altar. It fills him with a sense of pride. Pride to be one of the Lord's soldiers.

As you walk in, you feel uneasy. This is a building you love, with a man you care about inside, but it feels so cold… so isolated. No one else is here. It's just a big empty building. You can't help but notice how exquisitely it's decorated, compared to your cheap clothing. It doesn’t look like you should ever even step foot in here.

Sitting down next to Fyodor, he smiles at you softly.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Fedya."

"It has only been a few days."

Shrugging, you take in his appearance. He's still wearing his white baptismal robe, contrasting with his dark shiny hair. He looks so pure, so divine, it's hard not to be completely enchanted.

"A few days is too long. You're my only friend, you know?"

He hums softly.

“Do you need anyone else anyways?”

You go quiet for a few seconds, thinking.

“I guess not, I like spending my time at the church with you anyways.”

He slowly stands, walking up the stairs to the altar. You stay sitting.

“What are you doing?”

He doesn’t answer, standing in front of the crucifix, facing you. He pulls a chalice out of the communion table, filled with red wine.

“Come here, we may as well enjoy ourselves while you are here right?”

Your eyebrows furrow, letting out a little chuckle.

“Are we even allowed to drink from it under these circumstances?”

Fyodor tilts his head, almost offended that you would question him.

“Does it matter? Do not tell me youre scared.”

He pauses, sighing softly, noticing your hesitance.

“It is fine, you will not get in trouble for it.”

With that reassurance, you walk up the steps of the altar and stand next to him. He holds the chalice up to your face, intending to feed you the wine himself. Your cheeks flush, feeling babied and embarrassed.

“Can’t I drink it myself?”

He shrugs.

“Just drink, it is not a big deal.”

You nod, leaning closer and taking a sip. The metal of the chalice feels cold on your lips, while the wine makes your throat and stomach feel warm. Fyodor tilts the container up to help you drink more. Once you drink about half of the wine, you lean back, cringing at the disgusting taste of alcohol.

“Wine is always so bitter.”

He chuckles at your reaction.

“You are such a baby, it is not that bad.”

Without hesitation, he gulps down all the wine that was left over. His pale cheeks grow pink from the alcohol, and of course, you can’t help but point it out.

“You’re blushing, you know that?”

“So what? At least I can handle my alcohol.”

Suddenly, it’s not so funny anymore.

“Hey, I can handle it just fine!”

He chuckles quietly, gazing into your eyes. His stare is so intense that you grow silent and still. The effects of the wine are now messing with your head. Your eyesight grows fuzzy and your muscles feel heavier.

You can’t help but stare at him, he’s so handsome it’s unreal. The tension in the room thickens. Fyodor reaches up to gently brush your hair behind your ear. You gasp. His touch is electrifying. It feels like your skin is on fire where his fingers brushed against the shell of your ear.

“Is something wrong, dear?”

Your eyes widen at the pet name. Were you really close enough to be this affectionate? It felt too intimate, it felt wrong. You look around the empty room, suddenly feeling guilty. What are you even doing here? You’re not supposed to be here, you don’t belong. You’ve never belonged anywhere. Not at home with your mother, and especially not in a place so sacred.

Fyodor places a hand on your shoulder, making you flinch.

“What is wrong?”

Shaking your head, you sigh softly.

“Nothing… I just…”

You pause for a few seconds, trying to articulate your thoughts. Fighting against the haze of the alcohol, your tongue feeling heavy in your mouth, making you slur your words.

“I shouldn’t be here.”

When you finally look back at Fyodor, he looks concerned. There’s something so angelic about him that it’s hard to not immediately lean in and kiss him. He looks genuinely confused, as if its unheard of for you to be undeserving.

“Why is that?”

You hide your face with your hands, sheepish and uncomfortable.

“I’m not a good follower of god… I… I don't belong here.”

Fyodor takes a step forward, wrapping an arm around your shoulder. It feels too close, but instead of shaking it off and backing away, you let him.

“Come on, let us sit down.”

He leads you over to sit on the stairs in the altar.

“Dear… Why do you not think you belong?”

You pause. Can you even admit this? This is wrong. You have thought worse things and he knows it, but this is different. This time it involves him.

“I’m a sinner…”

He looks at you like you’re stupid.

“So is everyone.”

This is so frustrating. He doesn’t understand.

“Fyodor… Do you ever think we’re too close?”

“Why would I think that?”

Your hands clench, grabbing onto the skirt of your dress.

“You’re a priest… you should act like it.”

At that, Fyodor's eyes narrow. He takes offense to the suggestion that he isn’t acting in a godly manner.

“Explain yourself.”

His tone is sharp, he’s clearly unhappy because of you. You grow nervous at his anger, fidgeting with the sleeve of your jacket.

“I just mean… I don’t mean to offend you or anything… but you called me ‘dear’ and I feel like we’re getting too close…”

He still seems peeved that you would suggest he isn’t doing his duties properly, but his gaze softens a great deal.

“I see… Well, you do not have to worry about that. We are friends, are we not? In fact, I am your only friend.”

You nod. It felt embarrassing to have him casually talk about how lonely you are. You really rely on him for everything at this point.

With everything finally calming down, you both sit silently, looking out at the dark empty church. It isn’t awkward. Fyodor is someone whose presence you can enjoy even when you’re not talking.

Slowly, you both grow closer and closer. Maybe leaning your head on his shoulder is too intimate but you can’t seem to care anymore. Fyodor doesn’t seem to mind and the wine is messing with your sense of balance and judgment.

Fyodor’s hand slowly slides from your shoulder down to your waist, pulling you closer. You suddenly feel too warm in your own skin. You feel restless but you don't dare move from where you are.

Looking up at him, you notice he’s already looking down at you, studying your expression, looking at your features so lovingly. The tension in the room rises. You don’t know what to do, but you don’t want to look away. You can’t let this opportunity pass.

“Fedya…”

Your voice sounds much softer and weaker than you thought it would. It’s clear you're nervous, even to yourself, and especially to someone as receptive and smart as Fyodor. Your heart is racing. You can barely even speak. A warm, heavy feeling pools in your stomach.

“Yes, dear?”

The pet name makes you feel warmer and causes your skin to prickle. You sit up, you’re so close now that his breath is fanning over your face.

“Fedya… I… love you.”

Those words hang in the air, echoing throughout the vacant room. Fyodor doesn’t react. After a few seconds, his gaze travels down to your lips before looking back at your eyes again.

“I see…”

He looks away. Your stomach drops. This can’t be. Did you read things wrong? Why were you so stupid?? Your eyes are starting to water, even your nose is burning. This is so embarrassing. How could this happen??

“I am truly sorry… I-I think we had too much to drink.”

His voice is soft and understanding.

“I am a part of the clergy, we are not allowed to be in relationships.”

Despite the reasonable explanation, you feel upset. After all, emotions aren't rational are they? You can't even look at him anymore. The humiliation is too much.

“Please dear… It is not your fault, but the Lord comes first to me. I would never do anything to jeopardize my position.

He notices your expression and body language, pulling you into a hug. You can’t help but break down. The embarrassment and guilt finally catching up with you. You just wanted to be loved. Is that too much to ask? Even when you thought you had a connection, of course it had to be with a man who is unable to return those feelings.

“You are beautiful, you have a great personality. I am sure that one day, you will find someone who can love you back, but that person can not be me. With time, these feelings will pass.”

After a while of Fyodor comforting you and holding you close, you finally calm down. You both sit quietly. Even with the rejection fresh in your mind, even with your heart feels like it’s been beaten and abused, you can't find it in yourself to hate him. You should’ve known this would happen.

Fyodor and you sit silently. He reassures you that this has nothing to do with you, and after a while, he leaves. You sit alone in the dark empty church, feeling much more alone than when you first came in.

You decide you can’t just let your friendship with Fyodor wither away. So you stick around, still talking and enjoying each others company as always. When you next visit Fyodor's office, you notice his vase lacks the same bright white glowing roses. Instead, they have all wilted and dried up.

[cat-angel-936]

What if Chris will work with Zach?

The first meeting part 1

I opened my eyes still tired, feeling how my body was passing me, it was not even 6 in the morning, the time when the boss and I normally woke up. It was dark, but the laptop screen glowed with an intensity that burned my eyes. Once I was able to get used to the light, I was able to check the time more calmly, 02:34 am showed on the screen...

Once again we had fallen asleep on the couch, it was not strange since we were doing some reports, planning schedules, events, locations, etc. I took a deep breath before standing up but something drew me back to the couch, I had a slight suspicion what it was and a quick glance at my waist confirmed it, my boss Zach Varmitech's arm was resting on it.

I let out a tired sigh and removed his arm that had me trapped and woke him up by shaking him a little.

"Sir..." I called him calmly, I didn't have the throat at that moment to raise the tone "sir" I shook him a little more, but it didn't help much "please sir, don't force me to use another method" I tried persuade him, it's strange usually he's not a heavy sleeper, but since he didn't react I was forced to use another method. With both hands I covered Zach's mouth and nose and waited a few seconds, just enough for him to wake up and the moment he opened his eyes I moved away "it's good that you woke up sir."

"Chris! How many times have I told you not to wake me up like that?" He complained while he rubbed his eyes, I just looked at him with certain indifference, as was my custom "what time is it?"

"It's 02:35 am sir, we fell asleep on the couch again, I recommend leaving this as it is and continuing in the office tomorrow" speak calmly, since these types of situations were so common I lost their fear a long time ago

"Are you sure we can leave it for tomorrow?" He asked while checking the laptop screen.

"Yes, remember that these are the plans for the Oryx mounts, and the trip to Africa is planned for two days, we can finish this quietly in the morning and have the mounts by that date with the Oryx as horses mount and present it at next week's conference" I clarified while reviewing the schedules, if I hadn't written wrong (and I hadn't) we would have the time to do everything and rest

"If we're with that...then I think it's fine" he said with a happy face, closing the laptop and organizing the plans and papers a little "we'll leave this for tomorrow and let's go to bed, see you in the morning Green boy "He said goodbye, using that silly nickname or well one of the many he has to refer to me, although that one doesn't bother me that much...

"Of course sir, let him rest" he just nodded and everyone went his way.

...

Africa 6:40 p.m.

"What a thrill to finally see these suits in action," commented Martin excitedly.

"Yes, I'm excited too, I wonder what the first animal we'll transform into will be" Aviva said taking her backpack.

"In Africa there are many interesting and ferocious animals" Koki typed something and animals such as lizards, leopards, elephants, lions, etc. appeared on the screen.

"This will be great!" Martin exclaimed.

"Yes, but we will only do a small investigation of the terrain, and tomorrow we will look for animals, I don't want to risk it now that it's getting dark" Aviva explained, Martin nodded and said

"Don't worry Aviva, it'll just be a quiet walk, and maybe we'll meet a cool animal in the process."

Aviva rolled her eyes in amusement and after a while they landed the mechanical turtle in a clearing, only to see Createrra emerge from it with Martin as the driver and Aviva as the co-pilot.

"Look, Martin, a herd of elephants! Awww, a little elephant." She was moved when she saw the little animal next to her mother.

"Hahaha that's very cute, look at a pride of lions!" She pointed with her gaze to a pile of rocks on which some lions were resting. "aww, the cubs are very cute," the girl pointed out when she saw them playing with the male.

"And look over there, do you see that they are Oryx? What are they wearing?" He questioned himself when he saw the antelopes with what seemed like a somewhat strange lie.

"Oryx?"

"Oryx is a genus of artiodactyl mammals of the subfamily Hippotraginae, or horse-like antelopes, composed of four species. The common name of the genus alternates between oryx, oryx, oryx antelope or oryx gazelle," the zoologist explained when in doubt about its friend "but these seem to have something on..." she decided to stop and they got out of the vehicle to see them more closely.

The animals seemed to be calmly grazing as they normally would, but they didn't like the device they had on, and some voices somewhat familiar to Martin and Aviva caught their attention.

"Hey...doesn't that one over there look like your brother?" asked one of the voices

"I doubt it, he's supposed to be in the United States with..." the boy with the green tie stayed still as did Martin when he saw him, it was as if they had seen a ghost.

"No, yes, although I must admit that the beard looks good on him," praised the boy in the black vest, "and the girl next to him also sounds familiar to me, but from where?"

"...I don't think this is the best time to question that, sir," his assistant responded, but without taking his eyes off Martin at any time.

"Excuse me, are you the ones who did this?" Aviva asked angrily, interrupting the small talk.

"Of course, my name is Zach Varmitech, CEO of Varmitech Industries, a pleasure," said Zach, shaking the girl's hand. "By the way, do I know you? Because you sound familiar to me."

"Oh, Zach? I think I met a guy named Zach at a science camp I went to," she responded a little strangely (he looked nothing like the guy she met there in attitude) "but that's not the point, "What did they do to these animals?" She asked firmly, Zach just smiled with some amusement and responded.

"You see these are Varmitech brand Oryx frames, do you want to join in and be the first to ride one?" She asked him, bending down a little to be at her level (the girl was very short).

"Of course not, you can't have these animals like that" he was very upset about that, but Zach seemed to take it as a joke.

"Don't worry, girl, they're fine, they even have a protective plate and everything," he said, taking the mask off of someone passing by and showing her the padded interior with an eye protector.

"He still doesn't fix it," he continued, boring Zach a little.

"Boring...look, honey, you're no one to tell me what to do, so if you don't want to get on one, you can take your boyfriend's immobile car and leave" he said, making a gesture with his hand so that they would leave, which made him react. Martin

"She/he is not my girlfriend/boyfriend!" They said ashamed

"Sir, I think it would be better to go back inside, the...the sky has already darkened and it could be dangerous" I commented in his ear "are you sure?" The CEO asked, to which his assistant said yes, "I'm sorry guys, but it would be better to continue this discussion tomorrow."

"Or but of course not *interrupted*

"Okay Chris, we'll talk tomorrow" he said taking Aviva by the wrist and leading her away from the place.

"and if you change your mind I'll let you get on one tomorrow" Zach commented before they asked to hear them.

"Oryx are not strolling horses!" She yelled at them, annoyed at being further away, "what was that!?" Aviva asked calmly being loaded into the truck.

"No...I couldn't be there longer, I'm sorry," a tired Martin apologized and seemed to feel like crying right there, which surprised and worried Aviva. Martin just nodded in response.

"Are you okay? You don't seem to be one of those who are afraid of the dark," Zach said as he trained the animals in a kind of pen.

"...if only, I didn't expect to see him here" Zach felt a little bad and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him, which Chris appreciated with a slight smile.

[blurredcolour]

“Nothing sexier then a fictional man suddenly noticing an injury on their love interest and going unnaturally still, their eyes darkening, their voice hardening with deathly quiet as they say "who did this to you?"

I can so see this with Bucky😘😅

Nonnnyyyyy I’m weak.

I’ve been stewing and simmering on this and cooking a lil’ somethin’ up for ya. I’m going to write it in what I am now calling the songbird universe (a sure sign this is going to turn in a fic someday) as a follow-up/related to this ask.

Reader injury, classism under the cut

Your interactions with the handsome American Major had not gone unnoticed by the well born girls

They had gone out of their way to bat their eyelashes at him, flaunting their perfectly coiffed hair and polished accents, yet he continued to seek you out in his free moments

Asking naive questions about crops or trying (in vain) to help you round up the cows that one time they ran amuck across the base

The last straw was apparently when he’d asked you to attend the dance with him that night, within earshot of them all

They’d set up a trap for you in the barn, knowing you were usually the last to file in for the night, burying a pitchfork beneath the straw so you might step on the tines and lever the handle into your unsuspecting face

It worked with brutal precision, the wood handle with its metal core cracking against your eyebrow sharply making you cry out in pain as they dashed off into the evening, their cruel laughter echoing in their wake

You stumbled back with tears of pain and mortification streaming down your face

By the time you made it back to your billet your eye was barely open and tender to the touch, the mother of the family you were quartered with clucking and fussing to get some ice on it as the rest of the girls filed past in their lovely dresses to head to the dance

“Don’t worry we’ll tell him you changed your mind”

Dashed up to bed knowing there was no way you could show your face, this face at the dance

Were working out in the field the next day when you heard his voice chatting with some of the other officers

Carefully turned your back to continue working but the wind caught your hat and your quickly spun to to try and grab it and suddenly his voice died on his lips as his eyes landed on your face

You rapidly looked down, giving your hat up for lost, but the sound of his footsteps swishing through the barley followed by his hand gently landing on your shoulder sealed your fate

“Songbird, who did this to you?” His voice had a sharpened edge to it, not unlike honed steel, and you frowned, shaking your head quickly

“Freak accident with a pitchfork…” you lied, glancing up at him slowly

He gently pinched your chin in his thumb and forefinger, though the tension in his body was anything but gentle

“I’ve had my fair share of shiners in my life…you got this last night didn’t you. The very night you ‘changed your mind’ about coming to the dance with me?” He raised an eyebrow skeptically and you gulped painfully

“Was it the stuck up blonde or her brunette friend with the horse teeth?” He asked

You guffawed at his irreverent choice of words and he grinned slightly, pressing his lips to your forehead just above your swollen, split brow

[redjadethewriter]

Agatha All Along Is So Good: Episodes 6 & 7

It has been two weeks since my last discussion about my thoughts on Agatha All Along. I wanted to wait until now to share my speculations and reflections. Last night, I watched episode 7, which, in my opinion, is the best episode so far. It truly tugged at my heartstrings. In episode 6, the focus was on Teen, who we now know is Billy. Episode 7, on the other hand, delved into the bigger question surrounding Lilia. Before I delve into that, I must say that this show has truly opened my eyes to the intricacies of the Witches Road. Like many others, I am also speculating whether this is another case of Wanda Vision.

What do I mean by that? A theory suggests that Billy might have unconsciously created an imaginary version of the Witches Road, similar to how Wanda ensnared Westview and brought her TV show fantasies to life. This theory would explain why Agatha told Teen that he resembled his mother, Wanda.

In episode 6, we finally see what happened and how Billy is still alive. We discover he is currently inhabiting a body named William Kaplan. On the day the barrier came down after the intense battle between Wanda and Agatha, Billy’s parents were trying to drive to safety when they veered off the road and crashed into a tree. The backseat passenger side, where William was seated, was severely damaged. As a viewer, I realized the kid would not be alright. True to my expectations, we hear the sound effects of his heartbeat slowing down, and his mother, trapped on the driver-side, immediately notices that her son has stopped breathing. I appreciated the inclusion of when William’s heart stops, as it signified his death. Then, we see Billy taking his first breath through William’s body, looking confused. I particularly liked the scene where he gazes into the reflection in the ambulance, seemingly unfamiliar with his own appearance.

Before the crash, William and his family were celebrating his bar mitzvah. And guess who was doing divination readings at the party? It was Lilia. This marked a significant turning point in their intertwined fate. William received his reading from Lilia, and it was ominous. Lilia mentioned his lifeline was split and even blurted out the reverse tower card. She also advised him to live in the present moment. From this, I gathered that she already had some knowledge of what would happen to him. However, what truly struck a chord was the mystery of the sigil. Lilia was the one who gave him the sigil. William accidentally left his coat in her tent when he left, and she took a stone and drew the sigil, placing it in his coat pocket. She promptly forgot his name and handed it to someone at the party, claiming that someone had left it behind, but she couldn’t recall who when asked. Naturally, during the evacuation of the party, William’s coat was in the car, and that’s when the accident occurred, completely altering his life. Now, why did Lilia give him the sigil? That question was answered in episode 7. But before I delve into that, let me conclude the discussion on the characters�� fateful connections. Guess who the responding officer was when William’s father flagged down help after the crash? It was Alice, the officer who came to assist.

During the three years when Billy was adjusting to life as William without any memory of his true identity, he managed to build a life for himself, including having a boyfriend and developing an interest in Witchcraft. Billy even followed Jen on social media and was intrigued by the products she made. However, there is something suspicious about The Witches Road that seems to be a product of Billy’s imagination. When Billy first entered William’s room, by the way, I’ll treat them as separate characters in one body for this analysis, the room was decorated with various pop-culture items, featuring light colors and a tidy appearance. There were posters of classic films like the Wizard of Oz and toys representing iconic characters. But later on, the room becomes darker and more cluttered, with the poster of Lorna Wu and playing The Ballad of the Witches Road in the background. This transformation in the room mirrors the confusion and clutter in the merging of Billy and William’s identities. Interestingly, the items in the room also appear in the trials. This connects to Agatha’s reaction when she first entered the Witches Road in episode 2, where she seemed bewildered. It’s possible that Agatha had once walked the Witches Road, but the one they are currently on is not the actual road.

After watching episode 7 and considering the Mid-season Trailer, I’m starting to believe the speculation that the road is a creation of Billy’s mind, which opens up the idea that our characters might not be dead. In the mid-season trailer, we see Alice waking up on the floor after Agatha’s trial, but that scene wasn’t in episode 7. So that means Alice will appear again in one of the last 2 episodes.

As I mentioned earlier in this blog, episode 7 shifts its focus towards Lilia. Lilia is the one who gave William the Sigil at the party, knowing that William would die and Billy would take over his body. Her intention behind this was to give Billy some time to adjust to his new life without any Witches detecting him. We later discover, through Agatha, that once the sigil was no longer necessary, every witch with even the slightest heartbeat could hear him. Lilia was trying to spare him from that.

Throughout the season, we also learn that Lilia is incredibly old and has used the craft to prolong her life. She has a quirky and whimsical personality, often spacing out during each episode, but she possesses a great deal of wisdom and serves as the heart of the group. In episode 3, we witness her fear of death when she has a hallucination of an older lady sitting at a table, with a dark, skull-faced figure appearing behind her. When Agatha snaps her out of the trance, Lilia blurts out that they are all dead. In episode 7, we discover that her entire coven and family perished from a fever. Lilia discusses this with her grandmother, in her mind traveling moments, who is also her divination teacher, and we learn that Lilia’s ability causes her consciousness to float through her timelines in a non-linear order, resulting in gaps in her memory. When her consciousness enters the body of her younger self on the first day her grandmother taught her divination using tea leaves, her grandmother switches from speaking Sicilian to English, which Lilia understands. This exchange reveals an interesting family trait of consciously traveling or, as her grandmother described it, visiting. We also come to understand that Lilia has been ignoring her powers. Despite being a powerful divination reader, she feels that something is missing in her life. As her grandmother points out, every witch needs a coven. Lilia longs for her coven, but her original one died, despite her forewarning. This experience has discouraged her from seeking out connections. Lilia confides in Jen, revealing that all she sees is death. Throughout this season, we observe Lilia struggling to get along with the new coven members: Jennifer, Alice, Agatha, and Teen/Billy. I won’t consider Sharon as a member of the coven because I don’t think she was meant to be there with them. Why? Well, it’s because of Lilia’s flashback moments in episode 7 that help clarify certain doubts.

During a flashback, we are shown the eviction sheet with all the names for Agatha to find her coven. I noticed that the drawn black heart was not just an outline, but it was filled in to represent a black heart. In Episode 1, Rio reveals that she has a heart, a black one that beats for Agatha. This made me believe even more that Rio was destined to be part of the journey. And then, during Lilia’s trial, she had to read her own tarot card and we officially learn that Rio is Lady Death and The Original Green Witch. So, all this time, they were walking alongside death.

The episode is titled “Death’s Hand In Mine,” but I don’t perceive it as something ominous or fearful. Personally, death is not a taboo subject and not something that I fear. It reminds me of a quote from Lilia’s vision of Rio: “All roads lead to me.” To me, this quote represents a broader philosophical idea that all existence eventually comes to an end, which is death. It is a natural part of the cycle of life, including death and rebirth. Therefore, when I consider the title and connect it with Lila’s fears, particularly her fear of death, it makes sense to me that the last scene is about acceptance. “Death’s hand in mine” suggests that she had to embrace death and acknowledge that her time was coming to an end.

Lilia’s visions grew stronger as she felt her life drawing to a close, or so she believed. But what truly touched me was how she faced it, especially towards the end of this episode. She selflessly sacrificed herself to protect her new coven, choosing to confront the deadly Salem 7 all on her own. Amongst the group, she stood out as the most compassionate character, which perfectly matched the outfit she wore during the trial, where she cosplay’d as Glinda the Good Witch. When she turned over the tower card and watched all seven of those black-cloaked ladies meet their impaling demise, it brought tears to my eyes. She had chose Agatha, Jen, Alice, and Billy to be her new coven and did everything in her power to shield them from harm in that critical moment. By doing so, she ensured they could continue their endeavors without being relentlessly hunted. That’s why, as she clung to the table and eventually let go, falling to her death, there was a sense of peace in her expression. In that moment, her consciousness traveled back to her younger self. Sitting at the table with her grandmother, she smiled, a departure from her usual look of worry and fear. In that moment, she fully embraced her power as a witch and stopped ignoring it. Now, the Salem 7 are no more, or at least that’s what we believe, although maybe all of this might be a figment of Billy’s imagination.

Just like in the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy woke up to find that everyone she cared about was safe and sound. It would be quite amusing if this turned out to be a situation where Billy had simply imagined it all. However, I believe there is more to the story. It’s possible that the Salem 7 may have perished, but perhaps Lilia managed to survive somehow. The reason I say this is because of something Lilia mentioned in episode 3. Even when their faces were swollen from the poison, she expressed her love for them. That particular line stands out to me. It was said during a flashback as well, but it seems out of place. Nevertheless, we do know that Lilia provided us with some insight into what will happen in the last two episodes. She told Agatha, “When she calls you a coward, hit the deck.”

Based on the mid-season trailer, it seems there will be a heated battle between Rio and Agatha. It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime domestic dispute that I’m eagerly anticipating. Lilia may be involved in this situation, although it’s hard to say for sure since she could be dead, . But I'm riding on the theory of this being a Wanda Vision situation. In addition, there are scenes of Jen emerging from the ground and Alice waking up. While we don’t witness Lilia’s death directly, she now has a clear understanding of what happened and has fully embraced her power. So, I want her to be alive.

Episode 7 was particularly moving and sad because Lilia was the heart of the coven. She had the ability to read each member within the cards and accept them as part of her coven, which allowed her to perceive things clearly and know what needed to be done. Her final words to Jen, “I loved being a witch,” despite the pain it caused her, were truly touching. Their bond, with Lilia even considering Jen a sister in their craft, melted my heart. Especially when Lilia expressed her need for Jen’s help, even though Jen had the option to leave. There were two underground paths revealed, one leading to the trial and the other to a failed metro system network. This made me question the authenticity of the witches road. It was intriguing that Jen and Lilia ended up in the underground network beneath the so-called witches road. Moreover, when Billy expressed his wish for Lilia to be there with him and Agatha, it seemed that Lilia and Jen could enter the trial. The path through the bookshelves was already prepared for them, which struck me as odd. However, the main point is that our struggling coven is gradually becoming more unified, and the truth will be revealed in the final two episodes next week.

I also wanted to point out that I’ve noticed a change in Jen lately. She has become less focused on herself and more interested in connecting, especially with Lilia. Her attitude had really shifted, and she seemed genuinely interested in learning more about Lilia and her powers. What surprised me the most, though, was when Jen helped Lilia during the trial to assist Billy and Agatha. In the past, Jen would have probably walked away, but Lilia’s plea of sisterhood had a profound effect on her. I can already imagine that in the next episode, Jen will take the loss the hardest because she had gotten to know Lilia on a deeper level than the others. However, I still don’t know the full extent of Jen’s powers. All I know is that she was somehow bound in the past. Like Lilia and Alice, I believe that Jen’s lack of belief in her gifts may be because of a mental block more than an external force binding her. Lilia suppressed her own powers until she couldn’t ignore them anymore, and Alice had blocked out the reality of her powers since her mother’s death. Billy, on the other hand, struggles to control his powers, but his focus is on finding his brother Tommy. Agatha, too, is not behaving like her usual self. She has become more distant than ever since Billy revealed his powers, and she is vulnerable without any powers to protect herself. It’s fascinating to see the layers of these characters gradually being revealed throughout the show.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Catch and Release

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: AU where Jason doesn't die in the explosion and he and Tim end up attending the same high school months later.

Chapters: 3/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Tim Drake, Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Sebastian Ives, Jack Drake, Janet Drake

Relationships: TBA

Additional Tag: Jason Todd Lives, Jason Todd-centric, POV Jason Todd, POV First Person, Tim Drake Has Issues, Tim Drake Has Issues, Tim Drake is Not Robin, Jason Todd is Not Robin (Anymore), Bruce Wayne Needs a Hug, Alfred Pennyworth is the Best, Alfred Pennyworth Knows, Stalker Tim Drake, Jason Todd Has Chronic Pain, Jason Todd Has PTSD, Angst with a Happy Ending, Unlikely Friends, Injury Recovery, Emotional Baggage, Rage, Bruce Wayne is Bad at Communicating

Chapter Three: Timeout

The on-campus suspension wasn't that bad. It beat riding in the car with Dick. I finally managed to stop crying before we got to the school, so I had enough time to hold the icepack in my lunch to my eyes to look normal again. Mr. Ames sent me straight to the counselor's office anyway. The counselor was new, or I didn't recognize him. I sat down and looked around until he tapped on the desk with his pen. "Hey, Jason, I'm Mr. Finney... Can we talk about yesterday?" he asked. "Short-term memory's shot, but I'll give it a try on one condition," I replied. Mr. Finney nodded. "Can you open that window? I'm feeling shut in." I wasn't joking. I hid it well, but I'd developed claustrophobia from the accident. "Of course," Mr. Finney replied as he opened the window for me. "Would you like the door cracked?" I shook my head. "You were saying?" I asked. "Can we talk about the fight yesterday?" Mr. Finney repeated. I nodded. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "I should've had better control over my feelings," I mumbled. "Jason, what were you feeling at the time?" Mr. Finney asked. The last thing I wanted to talk about was how I felt. "I was just sick of feeling weak," I answered. It wasn't a lie. I didn't have any reason to lie. That was the last substantial thing I contributed to the conversation. He wasn't bad at his job, not by far. I think he knew I'd be shut off. I'd give him nothing but breadcrumbs. "How long have you been claustrophobic?" Mr. Finney asked.

"I started having symptoms in April," I answered, "It's January now. Nine months."

"Because of the accident?" Mr. Finney questioned. I nodded. I shut my eyes as I recalled what it felt like to be trapped between my mother's body and the debris from the explosion. "Jason?" "I'm done talking. I don't-. I'm sorry," I stammered. Once I had the thought in my head, it took a while to push it back down. I squeezed my hands together to stop them from shaking. "Can I go now?" "Sure, Jason... You can go," Mr. Finney replied, and I walked to the designated campus suspension room. I'd never been back there before. I worked on homework while I was there until the lunch bell rang. Alfred made me two chicken wraps for lunch and a cup of pudding. After lunch, Bruce came to talk to Mr. Ames in person. They had a long conversation that resulted in Bruce taking me home early. "What's wrong?" I asked. Bruce shook his head. "Nothing. I want to know what happened between you and Dick this morning," Bruce whispered. I looked out the window. "You can't pick me up early from school to make me apologize," I replied. "What happened?" Bruce asked once more. I didn't want to talk about it. Maybe I should've. It might've helped. "Fine, but that's not why I picked you up early. I almost forgot we had to reschedule your Wednesday for today." "So, nothing on Wednesday?" I asked.

"Ophthalmologist on Wednesday morning and the optometrist right after, but you'll be there for the second half of school," Bruce replied.

"Are my glasses ready?" I asked. "They should be," Bruce answered. Even after my orbital bone fracture healed, I couldn't see well out of my right eye. "But they also want to see if Monday affected your sight." I grew silent. I knew Bruce wanted me to talk about what happened, but I didn't feel like talking about that. "Is Dick gone?" I asked. "No, he's gonna be here until the end of the week," Bruce replied, "Business..." I rolled my eyes. Business. "Don't be like that," Bruce chastised me.

"Be like what? I'm just peachy," I muttered. I knew Bruce was short with me, and I wanted to push him. I just needed him to snap back. "I have a role to play, Jason," Bruce explained. "You have a lot of roles. Hero, philanthropist, businessman, bachelor... Oh, and an involved father. Guess we both forgot that one, huh, Bruce?" I chuckled. Bruce pulled over on the side of the road and pointed his finger in my face before catching himself. "Hope you enjoyed that. That was your last cheap shot, Jason. I'm serious. You're on thin ice," Bruce warned. I grinned. "I've got tons more, though," I joked. "Enough!" Bruce yelled. I grew silent. "Jason, you've been more insufferable now than you've been in months. I'm sick of it. You have until we get to the doctor's to get it together. I get it. I do," Bruce berated me. He'd finally gotten tired of me pushing him. I didn't expect that to be the last straw, though. I shut my mouth and let him drive me to my appointment. I didn't know what to say to him anyway. I got what I wanted, and it was a hollow victory. I didn't have to see my Wednesday doctor, but Bruce made me go to a pulmonologist twice a month after my lung collapsed again during a bout of pneumonia in October. It was painful. The nurse checked me in and asked me a few questions before sending the doctor in. I sat on the hospital bed, staring at her as she checked my breathing for herself. "You got in a fight. Did you experience any shortness of breath?" she asked. The pulmonologist was no-nonsense, and she quickly got to the point. "Nuh-uh," I replied as she let me pull my shirt down. "What about school? Do you have P.E.?" she asked. I shook my head. "Any concerns or changes?" "Nope," I replied. She nodded. "Okay, what's wrong? Not a single joke?" she questioned. "I've told one too many today," I replied, "And today kind of sucked..." She nodded and sent me out to Bruce. Bruce embraced me as soon as I walked out the door. I would've pushed him away any other day, but I needed it then. I hugged back, and he pulled away. "I love you. I don't say it enough," Bruce whispered.

I walked ahead of him so he couldn't see me crying. He wouldn't start the car when we got to the parking lot. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. "You wanna grab a bite to eat before we go home?" Bruce asked. I nodded. I almost felt like myself again, but it didn't last. There was an explosion down the street, and Bruce left me to sort things out. He parked me outside the restaurant, and I ordered food and sat in the car. All the anger and bitterness I had toward him came flooding back. I ate my food in the car and waited until Alfred came to pick me up. "Master Jason-." "It's fine, Alfred... Can we go home now?" I asked. I don't know. Maybe there was no use in trying.

[jukti-torko-golpo]

A Moment with the Mothers :

Hiranyavarna

It has always seemed that I am not built for the corporate life. I sit in the office shivering in the cold air conditioned room. The air seems so synthetic. I can see the sky from the large windows, the brilliant clouds painting the sky with so many colours, the birds....I feel trapped. The screen burns my eyes, the fear of failing eats me up. I have dreams to lead a creative life with the love of my life. The corporate life is a stepping stone for that dream life some day. The fear of the dream shattering keeps pulling me down with mind-numbing anxiety. I want to run away...far far away.

I return home, exhausted, after a day in the office. My bag is heavy, hair plastered on my forehead, I feel some deep sadness in my heart, a longing for my freedom. I sit on the bed crying. I know I have privileges but I cannot help feeling how I am feeling.

A soft scent of incense wafts into the room. There is a warm golden glow behind the door. I wipe my tears and open it. I walk into a cozy little hut. I am greeted by a man with a beak-like nose and a familiarity that I cannot explain. It feels like we have been siblings for so long.

'Kire? Etokkhone eli?' (1) He asked me. 'Meye elo naki?' (2) A voice sweeter than honey called out from another room. A woman walked out wiping her hands on the anchol (3) of her saree. A golden glow emanated from her fair skin. She had a heart shaped face radiant like a comforting winter sun. Her lips were the colour of fresh rose petals. She was dressed in a soft pink taant saree with intricate golden borders. Delicate gold jewelleries adorned her body. It seemed as though she was the one for whom solah shringar was made. Her alta stained feet looked like fresh buds of lotus. Her anklets chimed with every steps sending waves of joy each time.

She looked at me and smiled the warmest smile. Her eyes beheld me with the love of a mother who is looking at her child tucked into bed happily and peacefully. 'Hyan re bhaat bere rekhechhi toh...chol...khabi na naki?' (4) She held my hand and led to me to the other room where she had prepared somefood for me. Khichudi and bhaja. It tasted like the first time I had tasted puja bhog. I could not help my tears. I finished every bit of food on that plate. She stood up and walked up to me.

She held me close to her, occasionally wiping my tears. I cried my heart out. She then took me to a bedroom dimly lit only with her glow. 'Ne ghumiye por toh shona meyer moto,' (5) she said smilingly. I laid down and she sat beside me stroking my head. I shift my position to lay my head on her lap. She lets out a loving giggle. There is such a beautiful sense of peace. This is where I belong.

As if hearing my thoughts, she tells me this is where I actually do belong. This is where I can return to anytime. It is not silly to have dreams. It is not silly to be scared of that dream shattering. But we must carry one. She resides in that dream which leads to a happy honest life. Money is not something that should govern life. But it is a blessing from her that lets our spirituality and principles govern our lives efficiently. We often face a bumpy stretch of road. But we must not give up. She is there holding our hands and waiting with food after a tiring time. Vairagya is not everything that fulfills a person. Sometimes the smiling faces of our loved ones are the biggest peace before we attain moksha. In fact it is a stepping stone for the same. We must seek out simple joys and comforts which leaves our hearts feeling warm. Only then can we strive for knowledge and wealth. The perilous road is unavoidable but stopping for a while to look at a pretty wildflower does not deters from our path. In fact it fills us with more motivation and bhakti. Life should be a balance of gyan, samsaar and adhyatma.

I clutch the corner of her anchol tightly. She laughs ever so sweetly and plants a loving kiss on the top of my head. The golden glow fades and I wake up clutching my pillow. My mother is calling me for dinner. My room smells of incense and there is a pink cotton thread on my pillow.

(1) - You came so late? (2) - Is daughter home? (3) - pallu of a saree (4) - I have laid the table for you to eat...won't you eat? (5) - Go to sleep like a good girl. ( Shona literally translates to gold and is a term of endearment )

[angelosearch]

Hooray Tumblr is letting me post this now!!

The following is a super intense, probably too personal essay about trying to process the overwhelmingly GOOD news that I got into grad school.

I wasn't sure about posting this, but ultimately, it is a story about never giving up, because you never know where you will be in a couple of years. So maybe this will help someone who is struggling with feelings of being trapped in their own lives.

It can get better, and it will.

I look at my life right now and I am so overwhelmed and grateful. I get to be creative every day. I am writing again. I am always learning new things about art and psychology. I have a lovely home and amazing husband and great dog that I cherish. I have met some incredible people that, now that they are in my life, I never want them to leave.

And now I have gotten into grad school.

It all seems impossibly fantastic and I wonder what I did to deserve this. There is also a part of me that is curious when I will mess it up, but in this big tangle of emotions I am feeling, I am trying not to dwell on those.

There is a cord of sentiment that is thicker and wrapped around the rest. Something that I can't put a name to, but it has a color the shade of something thankful. Every time I twirl it around my mind I start to tear up.

It is the feeling that I am living a life I never could have imagined in my darkest days and I am just... so so so happy I am still here for them.

In the winter of 2020, after a life-long battle with mental illness, I gave up. I didn't try to give up, I actually gave up. It is only by some kindness of the universe that I am still here to type this post.

Suicide is a permanent answer to a temporary question--but the problem is, when you spend a good portion of your life haunted by depression and trauma and a voice that tells you that you have nothing to offer the world, the question does not seem temporary. When I became unable to imagine an escape from a job that made me feel worthless, a chronic illness that put me in pain and left me in isolation, a blanket of guilt I could not shake, and a global tragedy with no end in sight, I took my own emergency exit. It was like jumping out of the window of a burning building on the 32 floor. I believed I would die either way, but the fall to the ground would require less suffering.

I was lucky enough to be caught on the way down - but I didn't feel lucky. They wanted to put me back in the building, and now the fire was hotter and had consumed my furniture.

I woke up in a very poorly run psych ward. So poorly run, my husband did not know where I had been taken for 18 hours after he called 911. I was given a roommate who was way too much like my mother, and I slowly became manic without the knowledge of the staff. They discharged me a few days before Christmas.

I had been hypomanic before, but I never had a word for it. When I was crying at the sunset that night and feeling so energetic and happy (and telling the funniest jokes I had ever told, from my skewed perspective), I just thought I was happy to be alive. But I didn't sleep. I couldn't sleep. My pressured speech and grandiose ideas scared my husband and I ended up in psych ward #2 (a much nicer one). I had to spend one night in the ER screaming and hallucinating, believing my heart would give out before I'd fall asleep, before I got there, though.

They called it "manic psychosis." I called it "the darkest timeline."

On Christmas eve, I was given the gift of a new diagnosis: bipolar disorder. I was too unstable to know what that meant or to conceptualize that the burning building was crumbling in some parts.

On the day I was discharged, I slept very little and was extremely lethargic. I had trouble moving and my assigned counselor had to prop me up to help me to his office. I don't know why they discharged me when I had to be taken downstairs in a wheelchair, but they did.

I was in urgent care not 24 hours later when I could no longer walk or sit up, and I even had trouble speaking. A nice EMT, who I remember had a name that included two US presidents, though I don't recall which, took me to my third hospital in two weeks. By time I made it to my room, I had trouble swallowing and was put on a liquid diet.

It is hard to say what the worst part of this terrifying saga was. However, laying in that hospital bed with no ability to regulate my body temperature, stuck awake and unable to move with relentless, restless, manic energy, without so much as the relief of distraction from the picture on the tiny hospital TV because I didn't have my glasses, was excruciating in ways I still have trouble coming to terms with. I watched a lot of basketball, I think, by the squeaky sounds of the shoes.

After being assaulted by a frustrated nurse on New Year's Eve, I laid in my hospital bed wishing for the release of sleep while hospital staff hooted and hollered distantly for the ball drop. 2021 had begun and I was in the darkest place I had ever been.

When I could eat by myself again and manageably push around a walker, I was discharged on a rainy January day. No one could say for sure why my strange, temporary paralysis happened. Could have been the benzos I had taken too many of. Could have been the adjustment to the Lithium that would chase away the mania. Most likely, it was the sloppy transition off of Effexor at the first psych ward.

I was finally back in my burning building. I was fired from my job as soon as I had the strength to hold a phone. I had to explain and apologize to friends and family who were stunned and afraid of my actions. And then January 6th happened. In a few days, I would have to start physical therapy and a Partial Hospitalization Program (group therapy school).

I looked at my disintegrating surroundings and thought they expect me to fight for this? Why? I wished I had been successful in my attempt but I had only succeeded in making my life harder.

I guess those who cheered me on could see the possibility of my happiness and success, but I had a lot of trouble catching a glimpse. I went to another psych ward at the beginning of 2022 and ended up in a residential care facility for Halloween and Thanksgiving that year. I had two different jobs, both I ended up quitting for treatment. I tried group therapy and different therapists. I switched medications countless times and even tried Ketamine therapy for a while. Up until April of 2023 (when I started EMDR) or so, it really all felt hopeless, but for some reason, I fought for the unknowable just beyond the horizon. I kept asking for help.

And now I am here, and I can't believe all of this almost didn't happen.

I look around my office and see pieces of art I would have never created. I would have missed concerts and weddings and road trips. There is so much music I would have never listened to! I would have never rediscovered my childhood passions and learned how to be myself. I would never have met some very important people in my life.

It almost never happened, but I was given a second chance.

I have so many feelings right now, some good, some bad. I am excited. I am anxious. I wonder if I can handle the challenge and I fear my bragging or arrogance. But the biggest feeling is my desire to go back in time and hold a version of myself that couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and kept walking anyway.

Now we get to chase our dreams, and teach other people to hold on like you did.

[missvelvetsstuff]

Guarded Heart

MobAu

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Y/N is the daughter of a powerful mob boss who only cares about her horses and making it to the Olympics but her father expects her to marry an equally powerful boss to help strengthen his business. Bucky is looking for a wife to help his business and give him an heir which his longtime girlfriend, Natasha, can't do.

Chapter 21

Note: sorry this is so short but I am getting ready for a trip and didn't want to leave y'all hangin till I get back. It's unlikely I'll make any updates until I return, after 6/10.

Hope you enjoy.

Bucky heard a gunshot and saw Y/N falling to the floor, in what seemed like slow motion. He dove across the room to catch her before her head hit. He looked at her and saw she was still breathing but unconscious, he flinched at the slight rotten smell. Bucky looked her over but didn't see any blood besides a spot on her arm where the bullet must have grazed her and the thin cut on her neck. He could feel that she was burning up.

Loki walked over and kicked Zemo, satisfied when he groaned, then ordered his men to take Zemo back to his office. He looked over at Y/N then up to Bucky "She was shot? Can you find any other injuries?"

Bucky shook his head "just a graze but she's burning up and something smells. I'm guessing her shoulder wound needs attention and she's got an infection. I'll have Dr Cho meet us at my parents." He looked around "You have this handled?"

Loki nodded "Of course, take care of her Barnes."

Bucky nodded and gently picked her up. He carried her out of the house, noting the bodies of Zemo's men, some injured others worse, seemingly stuck in various traps. He shook his head and chuckled softly "Like Home Alone."

On his way to the SUV Bucky saw Wanda and Pietro and gave them a dark look. "We need to talk, meet me at the townhouse."

Wanda looked at Pietro and gulped "He looks angry."

Pietro took her hand "Dont worry, we knew he would be but I won't let anything happen to you."

She looked at him angrily "Like you took care of Y/N?"

Pietro shook his head "Everything will be alright.

Bucky strode quickly past them to

check in with his father and Steve, who were staying behind to help deal with Zemo and his men. He gently set Y/N down in the passenger seat, making sure she was buckled in before coming around to the drivers seat. He drove as quickly as he could without tossing her around before pulling into his parents garage and carrying her upstairs.

Winnie was sitting at the dining room table with Y/N's mother, both stood when they saw Bucky carrying her.

Her mother looked her over with fear in her face then looked to Bucky questioningly.

Bucky gave a grim look "She has a flesh wound on her arm and a small cut on her neck but I'm not worried about those. She definitely has a high fever and her shoulder smells. Helen Cho is on her way but I'm guessing that her shoulder is infected. She probably neglected her dressing. I'm taking her up to my room." He looked to her mother "Can you come help get her into some clean clothes?"

Helen Cho arrived shortly after Bucky and was left alone in the room with Y/N who hadn't woken up yet. She cleaned her injuries and redressed her shoulder then started her on an IV before going downstairs to report on her patient.

Helen looked at Bucky "You were right, her shoulder is infected. I started antibiotics, a fever reducer and pain meds then cleaned it thoroughly."

She narrowed her gaze

"Someone is going to have to get through to her that she needs to rest and let her body heal or she'll never be able to have a prosthetic and that's if she doesn't kill herself first. That means no stress, James." She sat at the table and accepted some coffee from Winnie "I'll stick around in case any other injuries come in."

Bucky wanted to sit with Y/N but her mother was by her side and he didn't want to intrude. He fell asleep sitting up in the hallway outside his room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the scene, Steve was helping Loki sort through the survivors to let them know Zemo was down and offer the chance to join one of their families. Most caved when they saw Zemo being dragged through the house. A few refused to budge and Loki took care of them.

When they were done with the mess and police had arrived, Loki pulled Steve aside shoved him against the wall and kissed him hard, pulling his hair "I am unsure of what you have done to me Steven but I was almost as worried about you as Y/N. Will George allow you a few hours to recuperate?"

Steve just nodded, a bit dazed and called George to let him know he would be working on some business with Loki. George nodded and smiled "Of course son, you've both earned it."

Sam looked at George then laughed as George shrugged. "Cops have this handled, let's go home."

When they arrived at the Barnes townhouse, Winnie was relieved to see her husband and Sam were unhurt but looked around "Steve?"

Sam smirked "with Loki. He's fine."

Winnie smiled and nodded.

Wanda and Pietro followed quietly behind, sitting at the table without a word.

The commotion they caused downstairs woke Bucky up. He groaned, stiff from sleeping on the floor, and stretched before standing up. He looked into his room to see Y/N and her mother both asleep.

When Bucky went downstairs he was relieved to see everyone was there except Steve. He looked over at Sam questioningly, who smirked and Bucky smiled and nodded.

Then he saw the twins "You two are in deep shit. How could you take her away when she was obviously not well? You risked her life tonight and I don't know if I can forgive that."

Pietro stood up, almost as tall as Bucky if more slender, and squared his shoulders "I'm not sure if you're aware of this, Barnes, but we dont work for you. We work for Y/N and follow her orders. Taking her was dangerous but it would have been worse if she had gone on her own and she was determined. You don't know how stubborn she is. If she chooses to take action against us we will accept it but not from you."

Bucky growled "Fine. I'm going to have words with her when she's up. We'll see who's more stubborn."

Y/N's mother came down the stairs. "I don't think thats a fight you can win, James but some people have to learn for themselves.

She's awake and asking for you."

@bigphattygyal @cjand10 @lokiandbuckysdoll

Chapter 22

@kimomoraba @avery199 @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @esposadomd

@sebsgirl71479 @calwitch @hhiggs

[ralibo14]

The Promised Neverland season 1 rewatch: Addictions

I'm going to do this before analysing the second half of season one. Because this is important.

Ray's role as the Traitor a.k.a Mother & Son or Caretaker & Cattle:

First let's go back to Krone's death a little bit.

⬆️⬆️ This is the scene your honour! ⬆️⬆️

This is the scene which can still fuck me up emotionally. This and Norman's adoption.

Isabella telling Ray that;

“I got rid of her”

And Ray immediately knowing what that means. His wide eyed stare as he realise that by writing that note, he got Krone killed and their plans revealed 🥺.

Ray is silently panicking and that's why he runs into the Sister's room instead of signalling to Gilda and Don. Then Isabella locks the door, which was actually a genius move on her part. Getting Ray trapped in a windowless room was... chef's kiss.

But I can't help but think about the internal struggle both Ray and Isabella gone through during this 'betrayal' (Somehow I always end up here, aren't I? Yapping about their complicated relationship. Sorry can't help it😅😭).

In my opinion, the Ray's spying was a way they both could cope with their situation in the House. Mother and Son or Caretaker and Cattle ⬅️ This is their struggle or their curse. Are they allowed to get a genuine and caring relationship? Of course not. Do they settle with anything close to that? Heck yes! Like here for example...

The delivery of Ray's last present, the camera holds such a meaningful place in my mind. The whole scene having this night time, bittersweet and sonder tone to it.

Orange and purplish blue being complementary to each other but also representing both Ray and Isabella. Isabella is in front of a dark background while the light of the lamp brightening up the wall behind Ray. It shows what roles they started playing. Villain and survivor/saviour. (because Ray did everything just so he can save Emma and Norman. Talk about a self sacrificing idiot, am I right?)

I also appreciate how they both forgot about wearing their emotional masks for a second when they were in Mom's office. Ray genuenly smiles at the first time and for one expresses his personal interests and Isabella looks away guilty. Knowing that she has to betray this fragile little thrust Ray has in her in order to encourage him and Emma to actually escape. (Because let's be honest... If Ray thought that his mother cared about him even a tiny bit he wouldn't want to leave her behind).

And Ray actually looks at her! He is deep down so desperately hopeful, but all he sees is Isabella turning away/ distancing herself so of course he stops smiling and puts back his mask of indifference.

Emma's and Norman's Plan set into motion:

Haha anime! Ha ha Shirai and Demizu! Well played, very well played! Cause only a rewatcher can notice what is really going on in this scene.

This is right after Mom broke Emma's leg and as they go back to the House you can see the other kids reaction. Phil wide eyed stare and his worried expression shows how much he admires and looks up to his big sis, Emma. He is concerned of what happened to her. The olders on the other hand...

...They are frigtened, absolutely frightened, terrified even. Why? Because Emma and Norman already set their plan into motion. Because Nat, Anna, Lanni and Thoma already brought to eaves drop to the conversation with Krone. They already know who Mom really is and what Emma's 'accident' actually represents.

Shout out for them! They are also amazing actors as they quickly recovered from the shock and put on an act so Isabella wouldn't know that they are also involved in the escape.

_____________________________________________

Okay that's all for now. I hope you are all doing fine and that I don't bore you with these lengthy posts. Byee, see you later 🥰

[tojikai]

Yoooo, first of all, memaw Gojo better stop writing them checks her ass can’t cash. She needs to straight up die! And low and behold, wouldn’t u know it, it turns out she’s a hoe too. I feel like she’s projecting her whore mentality onto reader fr. Pawpaw Gojo don’t want shit to do with her hoe ass 😭

Anyway, I actually feel bad for Satoru now. Yikes, he’s not doing too good. (Also, now I see what u meant about writing scenes with Gojo and Naomi. I literally gagged when she went down on him and tried to baby trap him). I have ZERO sympathy for Naomi. She gets on my eff’ing nerves tbh. She’s becoming a desperate hoe atp and I think her n memaw are about to do some scheming.

Also, am I reading correctly that Naomi was “hired” to help Gojo get his shit together with reader?!?! If so, then she’s a MEGA scheming hoe. Reminds me of the movie first wives club where Diane Keaton’s characters marriage and self esteem therapist wound up getting together with her husband. There’s a special place in hell for bitches like that.

Anyway, I loved every moment of the new chapter! I can’t wait for more. You have a gift of making me feel like I’m having an aortic dissection when reading your stories 😩 almost threw my damn phone twice and I woke my poor dog up shouting “WHAT?!?” and “Nah, helll no!” at my phone 🤣

But seriously, I’ll b happy regardless of who reader chooses. I just want her and baby Yui happy! Here’s to the next chapter and heartbreak 🥴

the first part is so funny PLSSS the "needs to straight up die" part is 😭😭😭😭😭 and yas, it's tough for satoru esp. with a man his age, having a mother who's always trying to pry can feel very restricting. as for naomi, no she wasn't hired to help satoru, she was working for his dad, they already know each other before he even separated from yn but it was nothing between them, he just sees her when he visits his dad's office. and then when he and yn broke up, his mother formally introduced naomi to him, they became close and she was with him during those times :'') anw thanks so much, im happy that u enjoyed it 💕 i hope you're doing well~

[allthelittlecreepycrawlies]

With A Flap of Wings, part 3

(warning for discussion of suicide at the end)

------------

With the assistance of Nie Jinghe's infamous puppy eyes, Nie Xunyao has just succeeded in dragging his two older cousins out of the sparring round for dinner when his uncle blows past, visibly stressed. 

All four of the kids trade looks, then follow, curiosity outweighing hunger. 

"Diedie?" Nie Jinghe asks as they poke their heads into the door of his office. 

"What happened? Has someone been attacked?" Nie Mingjue adds. 

Nie Haoran looks up from the knot of talisman papers he is hurriedly weaving together and smiles, but it is so painfully forced that Nie Xunyao can't help shuddering and even Nie Jinghe looks uneasy at it. 

"Nothing the lot of you need to worry about," he says, and if his expression is unconvincing, his effort at sounding cheerful is almost insulting in how blatantly fake it is. "Shouldn't you be at dinner already?" 

"Jue-ge and Hui-ge wanted to break their sparring draw first, yizhang," Nie Xunyao says. 

"Fair enough. But you should get going before the kitchen aunties form a search party for you." 

With some apprehension and a lot of questions left to ask, they hesitantly edge away from the door to do as told, but not before Nie Xunyao recognizes what his uncle is making. 

It's a long-distance emergency summons. 

—

The question of whom the summons was for is answered the next morning when Nie Zonghui spots the figure in white and blue robes approaching from the south. 

Lan Qiren flies right past the fortress, but it's easy to pinpoint where he descends. 

Xinglu Ridge. 

Nie Xunyao checks with his mother and learns that his aunts hadn't come back the night before, and Nie Mingjue can't find his father, which means they must already be up there themselves. 

"If they wanted us to be involved, they would have asked us to come," his mother points out gently, but he can see that she is worried as well. 

They decide to go.

They have traveled halfway up the path to the family tombs when Nie Zonghui quietly signals a stop, then points up into the trees. 

"Go home, He-mei!" Nie Mingjue calls without even having to look, and there's a rustling in the leaves before his little sister tumbles down from the branches with an indignant scowl. 

"I wanna know what's going on too!" 

"You're too little to go up to the ridge!" 

"Am not!"

Meng Shi loudly clears her throat to cut into the argument. "He-er, come here. Hold my hand, there's a good girl. Now, then, you will stay with me and be my guard while everyone's gone, hm?" 

Nie Xunyao has to look away to hide a smile at the way his little cousin's scowl doubles in ferocity at the realization she's been had. "I'll send down a note as soon as we know what's happening," he promises his mother, then he and Nie Mingjue and Nie Zonghui resume their hike towards the family tomb.

—

They can hear the music and sense the swirling waves of spiritual pressure before they reach the treeline. Nie Mingjue is acutely aware that he couldn't identify any of the Lan songs by ear even at sword-point, but it doesn't feel like a banishment song. 

Indeed, when they peek around one of the trees, the ghost struggling in the grip of Lan-xiansheng's music isn't fading or being dispersed. Hands wrapped around his own throat, he seems instead to be fighting a command to... 

A broken sob takes his attention away from the spectacle and he looks over to find that his mother and father are practically carrying er-niang, her hands over her mouth as all three- 

-wait. 

He looks more closely at er-niang's stricken expression, then back at the ghost trapped in Lan-xiansheng's spellsong. 

It can't be... 

It can’t be... 

The ghost is too old. 

A full-grown adult. 

But as he stares, transfixed by the tears streaming down the ghost's face and disappearing like steam as soon as they drip from his skin, he can see-

The ghost’s desperate attempts to break free fail, the musical command shattering the last of his defenses. Still clutching at his neck, he drops to his knees with an anguished howl that doesn't reach their ears, but seems to tear through Nie Mingjue’s soul.

He suddenly finds himself assaulted with a wave of dozens –hundreds– of emotions all at once and it's like taking a direct kick from a horse. 

And he knows- 

He knows-

"Didi..." he gasps just before he collapses in an unconscious heap.

—

When Nie Mingjue snaps awake, it's under a smothering blanket of panic. His breath wheezing in his chest, he tries to lunge to his feet and tumbles out of the bed he hadn't realized he was in. Strong familiar hands catch him by the shoulders before he can meet the floor with his face, but at the sight of his mother, the panic only doubles. 

"You can't- you can't banish the ghost, you can’t-" 

"Breathe, Jue-er. No one's banishing him," his mother says soothingly as she lifts him up and pushes him back into bed. "We're not exactly sure yet what we will be doing with him, but banishment is definitely not going to be in the plan." 

Relief washes over him, dousing the fear so quickly that, for a moment, his very bones might as well have turned to jelly. His mother presses a cup of water into his hand and he gladly gulps it down while he gathers his nerve for the question that's going to hurt no matter what answer she gives. 

"Lan-xiansheng confirms that our ghost is Sang-er," she says softly before he can ask, having always been able to read him like a child's book. 

He nods shakily, grateful that she has spared him from having to force the words out. "Did... did he say why Sang-di is... like that?" he asks instead, unsure whether he's asking why his baby brother who never was is grown, or why he is dead, or both. 

The expression that flickers across his mother's face is a complicated mix of emotions and, for a moment, he thinks she might refuse to tell him. He's all set to argue that he's old enough to know when she sighs deeply and rubs her eyes. 

"It's... As I'm sure you're already aware, Sang-er didn't exactly reply to Inquiry in words, so making sense of it all has been difficult. As best as Master Lan can figure, something caused Sang-er's soul to have a prophetic vision." 

Nie Mingjue frowns. "He wasn't even born yet, how-?" 

"We don't know. We might not ever know, because he's trying to shut us out again." She reaches out and gently pets his hair, and her face softens in a sadness that has him bracing himself for the worst news possible. 

"A-niang... tell me." 

"Whatever Sang-er saw, it convinced him that his birth would bring a chain of disasters down on the sect. On our family. So he stopped it from happening." 

The bracing didn’t help. Nie Mingjue feels the bed seemingly drop out from under him. 

His brother... had killed himself? Before he'd even had a chance to live? 

These disasters... had Nie Huaisang somehow known Nie Mingjue’s feelings about having a younger sibling… that he hadn’t wanted one? Would that have been part of it? Would they have grown up resenting each other… or worse? Would- 

The cloth of his mother’s sleeve carefully swiping his cheek brings him back to reality and makes him aware that there are tears dripping down his face. 

"A-niang, I- I have to go talk to him. I have to."

“In time, Jue-er. I promise he won’t be going anywhere. For now, you have to rest.”

[maria021015]

“Sorry, but I can't let you walk out with this. It's way above the legal voltage limit.” Parish refused to hand over the metal baton along with the rest of the belongings that had been seized upon Chris Argent and Derek Hale’s arrest.

“I only use it for hunting,” Chris defended himself, not wishing to part from the device that had saved him from many a hairy situation. At his lack of description of what he used it to hunt, Derek shot the man a pointedly exasperated look. Argent could do nothing but roll his eyes in response.

“Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure you could use it to jump-start a 747.” The young deputy sassed, not budging on his decision.

“This property belongs to me, and the charges were dropped,” Chris continued to argue the point. “Although, I'm not exactly sure who's responsible for that…”

“I am,” A familiar voice spoke up as Sheriff Stilinski entered the space. Both Chris and Derek were surprised to see the man, considering he’d been away for several days consulting with medical professionals regarding Stiles’ MRI results. “I'll take care of this, Parrish.”

“Stilinski, I'm not kidding - this thing's a few watts from being a lightsaber.” Parish scoffed, but his superior officer waved him away.

“I said I'll take care of it,” Stilinski nodded, and Parish finally conceded, leaving the Sheriff to take charge.

“I didn’t expect you back so soon,” Chris commented genuinely. He knew that if it were Allison whose brain scans had come back displaying signs of frontotemporal dementia, he wouldn’t be returning to work any time soon.

“I expected you sooner,” Derek grunted gruffly, obviously bitter about being arrested for the second time for a murder he did not commit.

“The specialist I saw in LA told me the thing that every doctor says when he's trying to avoid a lawsuit - ‘We can't say for sure’. And then, I spoke with Melissa.” Noah pulled out an envelope of medical documents, placing two images side by side on the table. “These are brain scans - my wife's, and Stiles'. I knew they were similar, but those are the same. Exactly the same.”

“And I'm guessing this isn't possible?” Derek assumed, not betraying the slight sense of relief he’d felt when hearing the news.

“Not even remotely,” Stilinski shook his head, confirming what they all now knew to be true. Stiles had never had frontotemporal dementia.

“So, the trickster is still playing tricks,” Argent sighed heavily, staring at the identical brain scans laid before them.

“But why this trick?” The werewolf amongst them questioned the Nogitsune’s motives for such a thing.

“When I was in the Army, an officer told me, ‘If you want to defeat your enemy, you don't take away their courage - you take away their hope’." Noah quoted grimly.

“You don't look like a man who gives up hope easily,” Argent’s lips pulled into a faint smile.

“But Stiles might,” The Sheriff clarified his concern. “If this thing inside him...if it's using his mother's disease as some sort of psychological trick, then this isn't just a fight for his body. It's also a fight for his mind. Right?”

“You know, he's left people severely injured,” Chris cleared his throat, hating to be the one to bring it up. Stiles was Noah’s son, but he was also a threat that needed to be dealt with as such. He briefly wondered if it had been Allison, what would he have done? In all honesty, he didn’t even know the answer to his own question.

“...And others severely dead,” Derek chimed in harshly, not holding back.

“That's why I need the two of you,” Noah nodded in understanding. “I need people who are experienced in this kind of thing. I need you to help me stop him. Both of them.”

Both Chris and Derek picked up on what the Sheriff was not saying. “And by stop them, you mean trap them.” He deduced. Noah confirmed the man’s statement with a short nod.

“Then we’re going to need a lot more help than just the three of us,” Derek stated.

“This is everything non-lethal I could find…” Allison led them into the Argent’s study, gesturing to the weapons she’d laid bare over the desktop.

“Take all of it,” Her father advised her, eyes scanning over the contents.

“What's the plan, here?” Noah asked with slight concern in his features at the assortment of gear.

“Our best shot right now is for Derek to try to pick up Stiles' scent at Eichen House - especially if he went through something stressful there,” Chris answered, knowing the chemosignals would be strongest there. “We find Stiles, we’ll find Zaida.”

“Should all four of us be going to the same place?” The Sheriff questioned the rationality of pouring all of their resources into one location.

“Where else have Stiles and Zaida been showing up?” Chris glanced at his daughter for the information. Being arrested had meant he and Derek had been mostly out of the loop.

“School...the hospital…” Allison began listing places from the top of her head.

“Okay, hold on - we did this already. He disappeared, we started looking for him...then walked right into a trap at the hospital.” Derek pointed out in frustration, eyes opening to the pattern.

“...He's getting us to repeat the same moves.” Chris agreed with a grumble of realisation.

“So, what do we do? Wait for them to come to us?” Allison suggested unsurely.

“We can't.” Derek shook his head. “Not if the Oni find them when the sun goes down.”

“Scott's working on that right now with Kira,” Stilinski informed them, having been told by the werewolf himself that they were speaking with Kira’s mother, who apparently controlled the Oni.

“That's the problem - we're all trying to outfox the Fox,” Argent commented lowly.

“Listen…I'll understand if anyone wants to back out,” The Sheriff put out the disclaimer, secretly hoping no one would balk from their mission. Like Derek had said - he needed all the help they could get. Noah had never seen Zaida in action but from the sound of things she was the one to watch out for, and they’d never known until she wasn’t on their side anymore.

“Are you kidding? Zaida and Stiles are two of my best friends. We’re more than that - we’re a family. A pack.” Allison scoffed at the notion, looking to the others in the room. “I’m not going to give up on them. We’re going to get them back.”

“I won't be the first Wolf to run from a Fox,” Derek set his jaw stubbornly as he locked eyes with the huntress.

“Apparently, I'm carrying a lightsaber…” Chris held up the metal baton with a slight smile. None of them was going to be backing away from this.

“Dad, you and Derek hit Eichen House. Sheriff, it's you and me in the hospital. We all meet in the school.” Allison decided, calling the shots like a true Argent matriarch. As the huntress and the Sheriff split from the group, leaving to head towards the hospital, Chris stayed behind.

“...Making sure you have a few lethal options, just in case?” Derek arched a brow at the man, who was slipping pistols into hidden holsters.

“I like to prepare for the worst,” Chris answered grimly. He only prayed he wouldn't have to use them.

“You know what? I don't know how you guys do it. You're all so strong. You're fearless. Hell, you even manage to keep your grades up…” Noah Stilinski rubbed his hand over his face, his nerves jittering and stress overcoming him as they waited in the silent elevator of Beacon Hills Memorial Hospital. If the situation was getting to him - a full-grown man with army experience who works in law enforcement - how were the others still standing? How had they done it all this time alone, without the help of their parents?

“I am failing Econ…” Allison said slowly with a glum demeanour. The man clearly had more faith in them than was warranted.

“Is that Coach's class?” Noah questioned, remembering an interview he’d had with the teacher once about Stiles detailing the entire history of the male human anatomy for his Econ exam. When Allison dipped her chin confirmation he reassured her. “Well, I'll have a talk with him.”

Instead of finding the man’s words comforting, Allison felt her resolve crumble. She’d been holding on by a thread, but that has swiftly snapped at hearing of the man’s misplaced trust. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t lead the Argents - it was largely because of her that their family had been decimated, leaving only herself and her father. Her features twisted as the tears prickled at her eyes and fell. She was only a teenager and here she was with a crushing weight on her shoulders. She suddenly wasn’t sure of anything - of any decision she’d made since moving to Beacon Hills. Her friends were scattered across town, all desperately trying to keep up with the world crumbling around them. Xander was on life support and still hadn’t woken since his surgery, Isaac was lying in a hospital bed, she was losing Scott more and more every day. Scott , who was with Kira - whom Allison still didn’t fully trust - trying to stop her mother from sending assassins after Stiles and Zaida. Her father was alone with Derek and the last time one of her parents was alone with Derek…Well, her mother had died. Every time they went through something like this together, the others would remind her that they’d made it - that they were the lucky ones because they’d all survived. But they hadn’t all survived. At least, not to Allison. Kate hadn’t survived. Her mother hadn’t. Maybe no one else in their pack had been impacted as Allison had, but when would their luck start to run out? Would it be today? Tomorrow? Her heart trembled at the notion.

Upon seeing the girl’s reaction, Noah reached for the kill switch, forcing the elevator to stop in its tracks and buy them some more time away from the prying eyes of others. “Are you okay?” His brows creased in sympathy as he tilted his head at her with a soft voice. “Hey, you okay?”

“I'm not fearless...I'm terri-terrified. I'm always terrified.” Allison shook her head, choking out her words between sobs. “I...I act like I know what I'm doing, but I don't. I don't know if Isaac is dying right now...I don't know if I made a mistake with Scott...I don't know what my dad is thinking...I don't know if we should trust Derek...I don't know if I’m ever going to look into Zaida’s eyes and see my friend again…I don’t know if we’ll be able to save her and Stiles…I don’t know…I don't know anything!”

“You know what's funny? You sound just like a cop.” Noah’s lips smiled slightly in a supportive way as he recognised her sentiments, pulling her into a tight hug. She sounded like him - like the cacophony of worries that had been sounding off in his mind since his son had started having these nightmares. Since Stiles had gone missing. Since Noah had found out what was truly happening in Stiles’ head - and Zaida’s. Zaida, whom he considered the daughter he’d never had and hoped one day it would come true. “Hey…You're gonna be okay.”

“Okay,” Allison nodded, her voice shaking and she took control back over her breathing. Just as she managed to pull herself back together - shattered piece by shattered piece - she heard an alert go off. Pulling away from the Sheriff, her brows drew together in a curious frown. “What's that?”

“Someone's breaking into my house…” Noah recognised the sound and pulled out his phone to see a notification from his home security system. Clicking into the app, he explained it to Allison. “After Stiles started sleepwalking, I had some safety precautions put in - motion sensors, cameras…”

Leaning over to see the live video feed up on the Sheriff’s phone, she saw Stiles sitting on a bed and wiggling his fingers as he stared up at the camera tauntingly. “Is that his room?” She asked, a newfound sense of urgency instilling in her.

“What is all this? What are these sticky notes for?” Chris glared down at the chessboard the Nogitsune had left on the desktop in Stiles’ room.

“This is what Stiles used to try and explain to me about...all of you,” Noah recalled that strange conversation that he hadn’t quite believed at the time it had happened.

“Well, maybe it's a message from Stiles - the real Stiles,” Allison suggested, hope shining in her wide brown eyes. Her fingers brushed the top of the white queen labelled with Zaida’s name as her brain whirred over the possible hidden messages behind the placement of the pieces.

“Do you think there's any reason my name's on the king?” Derek asked with a raised brow.

“Well, you're heavily guarded…” Noah offered. “Though, I guess the alarming detail is that you're one move from being in checkmate.”

“It's not a message from Stiles - it's a threat from the Nogitsune.” Argent landed on the answer swiftly, looking at the board as a battlefield. “Look at the pieces and their purposes. Ethan, Aiden and Isaac are all pawns. Isaac’s been taken off the board, while Ethan, Aiden and Peter are all defending the king.”

“And Zaida’s the white queen, the most powerful player on the board, and the most unpredictable. She’s protecting the white king, but is also in a position to attack if she wants to.” The Sheriff analysed, picking up the white king piece. “I’m guessing this is supposed to be Stiles. The king is the most powerless piece and yet still the most important.”

“He’s trying to tell us we’ll have to get through Zaida to get to him, and getting through Zaida right now without hurting or killing her is pretty impossible,” Allison deduced, the cogs in her mind churning. “But he’s also unwittingly shown us his hand. Zaida is the power player - Deaton thinks she’s the reason the Nogitsune took Stiles, to take control of her through their telepathic connection. But the game is dependent on Stiles. Stiles is the one who has to be defeated to win, yet he’s hiding behind her. He’s been distracting us with her this whole time - when he made us believe she was the one possessed, when he made her kill all those people…He’ll do it again tonight.”

“So targeting Zaida is what he wants us to do,” Chris followed along.

“We need to call Deaton,” The huntress instructed, remembering the shot the veterinarian had used on the girl to inhibit her powers. “Find out if he has any more fennel.”

“Wait, if targeting Zaida is what the Nogitsune wants us to do, then why are we doing it?” Derek interjected, not seeing the sense in falling right into the fox’s ploy.

“If we do get her to attack…” Allison explained and reached for Zaida’s piece, sliding it across the board to where it lined up with the black knight - the one labelled with her name. T he naiad versus the huntress. By moving the white queen, there was an undefended opening around the white king. “It leaves Stiles vulnerable.”

Moving Zaida’s piece back to its original spot, Allison shifted the black rook labelled with her father’s name so that it had an unobstructed line to both the white king, and the black knight. “And the way to get her to attack, is to threaten the king. Only, Zaida is too valuable to risk losing, so she won’t place herself between you. ” The huntress added and instead of making the obvious moves, she repeated her earlier play and had the white queen take the black knight. When she was done, she locked eyes with her father. “She’ll come for me, betting on the fact that she’ll best me and that you will choose to protect me over capturing Stiles. You need to prove her wrong. Can you do that?”

Chris’ jaw locked as he was faced with the impossible question. Choosing the mission over his daughter… “If it’s between Stiles and you,” He muttered under his breath. “You can’t ask me to make that choice.”

“I’m not asking,” Allison’s gaze hardened. As the matriarch, this was her decision to make. “I’m telling .”

Chris couldn’t bring himself to say anything, he simply dipped his chin in a sombre nod of confirmation as conflict brewed within him. “If we’re going to get to them before the Oni do, we have to get moving.” He broke away from his daughter’s stern gaze to glance outside the window at the darkening sky.

“He's at the loft. That's what he's trying to tell us. And he wants us to come there.” Allison gestured to the board. “We just need to figure out how to capture Stiles once we get an opening.”

“This couldn't sound any more like a trap,” Derek grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest.

“I don't think it is…” Noah shook his head, leaning against the desk as his eyes fixated on the board.

“I think your opinion might be slightly biased, Sheriff…” The hunter pointed out.

“Hear me out! What we're dealing with here is basically someone who lacks motive - no rhyme or reason, right?” Noah began his explanation.

“Meaning what?” Argent raised a brow at the man.

“Our enemy is not a killer...It's a trickster.” The Sheriff identified the difference. In his experience, motive was the most powerful tool to predict an opponent’s actions. “The killing is just a by-product.”

“If you're trying to say it won't kill us, I'm not feeling too confident about that…” The werewolf trailed off sarcastically.

“It won't. It wants irony. It wants to play a trick - it wants a joke. All we need to do is come up with a new punchline.” Noah reasoned.

“The sun is setting, Sheriff…” Argent reminded him of their time limit. “What do you have in mind?”

“Go ahead.” Noshiko held out the healed sword to her daughter. “It's yours now.”

“What if I don't want it?” Kira eyed the blade warily.

“You need it.” Noshiko’s lips pursed as the younger kitsune took the sword and whirled it a few times experimentally. Her surprise was written on her face when she realised how perfect it was in her hands. “You see? It gives you balance. My power is yours now, Kira. If the Oni cannot stop Stiles, you have to, the same as I did...And maybe seek out a wolf to help you…”

As Noshiko’s gaze landed on him, Scott’s jaw clenched in frustration at the waste of time. “You didn't tell us anything.” He stated.

“You want to save Stiles and Zaida? Kill the boy.” The woman surmised the moral of her story.

“You agree with this?” Scott turned to Mr Yukimura in disbelief.

“Sometimes, history does repeat itself, Scott.” The man admitted regrettfully.

“Only if you don't learn!” The werewolf exclaimed, refusing to give up. There had to be another way to save Stiles and Zaida. A way that didn’t involve risking either of their lives.

“But sometimes, even then, fate conspires against you.” Ken tilted his head.

“There's a way to save them. There has to be.” Scott’s eyes hardened determinedly, turning his back on the two and leaving.

“Kira…” Noshiko stepped towards her daughter, but Kira followed Scott out into the hallway, making her alliance clear. Once the two of them were gone, she held her last tail up to the golden light of the setting sun, seeing the concern in her husband’s eyes. “I'll take it somewhere safe.”

“That's not what I'm worried about,” Ken’s lips pulled into a tight line. “History has not done well with making children into killers.”

“These children played their part in it long before we came back to Beacon Hills. I buried the jar deep within the roots of the Nemeton…” Noshiko shook her head. “It was their sacrifice that brought its power back...They let the demon out of its cage..”

“Scott’s on his way with Kira,” Allison relayed the information from the text message she’d received to the rest of the group as they climbed the stairs to Derek’s loft. “Noshiko wouldn’t help - the Oni are still coming.”

“Well, then let’s just hope our plan works,” Sheriff Stilinski sighed heavily, reaching for the handle of the sliding entry door.

“Good luck,” Chris nodded to the man, and the rest of them stepped back and out of view as the Sheriff opened the door and walked through.

As he stepped inside the swiftly darkening space, he caught sight of both Stiles and Zaida standing before the far wall of windows with their backs facing him. Simultaneously, in unison, the two slowly turned to look over their shoulders and stare at him. The way they moved in sync was unsettling, sending a wave of chills up Noah’s spine.

“Hi, Dad…” Stiles greeted him in a low voice, and something within Noah’s heart told him that the figure he was looking at was not his son.

[recurringwriter]

The Fool: When has your character been excited to start a new journey?

The Devil: Does your character ever neglect their wild side?

The Magician in Reverse: When was your character manipulated?

The Empress in Reverse: When has your character felt dependent on another?

Judgment in Reverse: When has your character found it difficult to forgive themselves?

ooo thank you for the ask! (this game )

i didn't specify any characters and you didn't specify any characters so i'm going to just ramble about anyone that comes to mind! exciting perhaps? we'll see!

The Fool: When has your character been excited to start a new journey?

I'm going to think about Boreas at 17, setting out for the Officer's Academy with his trusted friend, Prince Gwynhael. He's excited to learn, and confident he'll be the best fighter there--and that maybe he'll finally even surpass the prince despite the older boy's Crest. He's sure that the other nobles are soft and delicate and that he will stand out from them. I think he believes this to be a good thing, but that there's a part of him, holding back, that wonders if they'll be impressed by how rugged he already is or if they'll think his desire for strength makes him brutish and beneath them. He's interested in the climate and the nearby woods and all the places he'll explore. He's worried he'll miss Faerghus and being able to run wild as he has.

The Devil: Does your character ever neglect their wild side?

oh that's cute after the last sentence i just wrote! i think that if Boreas neglects it for too long he starts to get antsy, stressed, and even unwell. he needs to be able to roam the wilderness alone regularly.

Rodina neglects her wild side to great detriment as well. In regular au's, her refined demeanour is something she is very particular about keeping up, but she needs to be able to let loose with other knights, or Brier and Shamir, so that she can relax and just be herself. in werewolf au's if she tries to hold in her emotions, she transforms.

The Magician in Reverse: When was your character manipulated?

am i allowed to say Lee from the Guarded Depths? ahaha umm i'm sure this happens to my ocs more often than i can think of rn.. but definitely Felicity is manipulated by her family to be that way herself, and to put the Gloucesters first to the detriment of others, through whatever means they deem necessary.

The Empress in Reverse: When has your character felt dependent on another?

In many au's but especially Wildfire, Felicity feels dependent on others. She's dependent on Rufus to have a place to stay and to feel understood, and she thinks that she needs to 'earn' being allowed to live in Itha and ask for his care. She doesn't like being dependent so even if it's a good relationship or she needs to ask for help, she is uncomfortable with it. Also in Wildfire, Felicity then becomes dependent on Neris to 'give her purpose' so that she can still feel like a mother. When Emyr returns, Felicity hates that she still feels like she has to work for Itha to be allowed to stay there. In all cases she's so wrong about it.

Also this is Bastard when he has to let a young Rodrigue dislodge a stone that was trapped in his hoof

Judgment in Reverse: When has your character found it difficult to forgive themselves?

they can't all be about Felicity but her 'letting' Glenn be a knight only for him to die. Mia going digging on Felix's history and learning about Glenn's death before he's ready to talk to her about it. Boreas when telling Melodie they shouldn't have any more children, to protect her health, and also in how hard he is on Rodrigue and times he failed to understand his son.