#I couldn;t find if anyone else posted these here or not

[yandere-daze]

I´ve had this idea plague my mind for the last few days and now it´s finally time for me to unleash it onto the world. Feel free to comment on or ask questions about this idea/ AU if you find it interesting!

This work was inspired by the normalized yandere genshin AU I stumbled upon while scrolling through Tumblr, created by @fancyfeathers

Hope you enjoy!

gn reader

2,2k words

tw yandere, normalized yandere behaviour, mentions of obsession, possessiveness, kidnapping, stalking, murder, emotional manipulation and isolation

Yandere! Genshin Academy/Normalized Yandere AU

In this AU, yanderes are a normal and accepted part of society. Not only are their toxic attitudes and behaviours permitted but even encouraged. Somehow, over the years, people have even started to wish for a yandere as their partners. By Teyvat society at large, yanderes are seen as somewhat of an ideal partner. They´re fiercely loyal and would do absolutely anything for their darlings, right?

And yet, many darlings sing a different tune when reality suddenly comes crashing down onto them when a yandere actually starts pursuing them. Fantasizing about things such as being kidnapped is simply something entirely different compared to experiencing the real thing. And yet, when they call out for help from their loved ones, they´re simply patted on their back and congratulated. Some might even express their condolences to the poor yandere, saying that it always takes a bit of time for a darling to realize that this is for the best.

You are one of the few people who are completely horrified by the concept of a yandere and even more so to see everyone around you treat kidnappings or murder sprees as something completely normal or even romantic. You shudder at the thought of ever attracting the attention of a yandere, knowing that you would have no one to help you avoid that dreadful fate.

Which is why your complete world is turned upside down when you´ve been registered at the wrong academy by mistake. An administrative error, you were told. One, that might take a few weeks or even months to correct.

Now normally, you would have been annoyed but fine with this. You would just have to bear with it for a bit and attend a different school until the error is fixed and you can finally go to your desired one.

But you felt a pool of dread form deep within you when you did some research on the academy you had been wrongly assigned to. It actually wasn´t all that easy to find information on the academy, which you found strange, seeing as this has never been an issue with any other well-regarded academy. But no matter how much you search, nothing concrete is to be found. Only a few abandoned forum posts where people asked around about their missing friend who had last been seen close to the academy in question.

It made you feel a bit uneasy but you figured that it probably didn´t have anything to do with the academy itself. As sad as it was, disappearances were happening all over Teyvat, so this one case wasn´t really of note.

But seeing as you couldn´t find anything else, you figured that you would just need to figure things out on your first day attending the academy.

And oh, were you in for a nasty surprise.

As soon as you sat down for your first lesson, you noticed how strange the atmosphere was. Everyone had been staring at you so strangely when you entered the room, it kind of unnerved you.

After that, a few introductions were exchanged and you slowly calmed down again. Your classmates seemed nice enough and you thought that maybe, your time here wouldn´t be so bad after all.

All that quickly changed when your professor finally entered the room and introduced himself as the instructor who would teach you the subject of "stalking".

Turning your head left and right, you tried to see if anyone else was as shocked about this as you were but to your surprise, no one even raised an eyebrow at this very concerning introduction.

A class on stalking? Maybe this wasn´t what you actually feared and more so a clumsy way of saying that this would be a psychology class focusing on the mental effects stalking has on the victims? With all these yanderes running around unchecked, there were bound to be many victims and so a class like this might actually be beneficiary. I mean surely they wouldn´t actually try to teach young adults how to kidnap someone, right?

Right?

Well, it turns out you were wrong when the professor started outlining different forms of stalking. Following "your darling" around, stalking them online, placing cameras or microphones in their rooms to observe them anytime you wanted.

Your mind was spiraling as you listened to the lecture and you briefly wondered at just what kind of an academy you had been enlisted in. Surely this must be some kind of joke, right? A prank played on newcomers at the academy to get them spooked? Surely someone is going to come in any moment, clear all of this up and then laugh at you actually falling for this?

But no matter how much you hoped for this to be the case, no one was coming. No one was making fun of you for falling for such an obvious prank. In fact, none of your classmates seemed perturbed at all by what was being taught here. How could they be okay with a lesson that basically amounted to "how to stalk someone 101"? You felt like you were losing your mind.

Glancing to your right, you see your blond deskmate eagerly nodding along to whatever the professor was saying and swiftly taking notes whenever a sentence seemed to particularly strike a chord with him. His red eyes practically sparkled as he outlined "helpful tips and tricks for not alerting your darling of your presence" on his paper, using a text marker to highlight a particular passage as if to say that it would come in handy in the future.

On your left, you saw another tall male student and for a moment you hoped that maybe, just maybe, there was someone else here who was bothered by the lecture given. He had a bored look on his face and he was wearing some type of headphones over his grey hair. Was he even paying attention? Maybe he was trying to cancel out the horrific lecture taking place at the moment.

You discreetly leaned over a bit, only to see that he was actually holding a book hidden under the desk, his eyes carefully following the paragraphs of tiny letters. Well, it seems like he certainly wasn´t paying much attention to the lecture because what he was secretly reading seemed to be some advanced material on the success rate of different methods of stalking, from the looks of it.

You quickly turned your head back when you saw him glancing over at you with an unreadable stare. Well, it looks like your hopes were dashed again after all. This guy was nuts too.

Knowing this, you really couldn´t do much aside from waiting for class to be over.

Your small hope that this was just a really strange outlier was quickly destroyed again in your following classes.

Next was a class on emotional manipulation and how to get your darling to depend on you.

Then, a class on how to force yourself into your darling´s life and how to approach growing closer to them.

Finally, the day ended with a lecture on how to kidnap your darling and make them disappear without a trace.

As the bell finally rung, the professor informed your class that there was also an optional class about how to effectively "get rid" of a rival that you can sign up for. You pretended to not be bothered when several students raised their hands to show their interest in attending this course.

You scrambled to get out of your seat as fast as possible, not wanting to stay in this hellish classroom for even a second later. You fled into the hallway and walk by groups of students excitedly chattering about things you didn´t want to listen to.

"Oh, I hope I can find my darling soon! I just know I´ll feel a special connection when we first make eye contact! I´ve been waiting for so long", the first girl swooned as she twirled strands of her long brown hair around her finger, seemingly lost in her own fantasies.

"Agreed. I know that once I meet my darling, I won´t let anything get between us. I will never let them go. It´s only a matter of time", the taller, blue-haired woman chimed in, her voice calmer than that of her excitable friend.

You didn´t like the way her eyes linger on you as you pass by them.

Once home, you tried to make contact with the administrative office again to ask them if the process of your transfer can be sped up in any way. You didn´t want to spend another second in that academy.

With what you have seen today, you were easily able to deduce the true nature of this academy and it left you absolutely terrified.

The fact that you weren´t able to find any information about the academy beforehand, your strange classmates fixated on their potential "darlings" and of course the horrid classes being taught there.

Somehow, you have ended up in an academy for yanderes. Every single person you saw there today was a lovesick lunatic in some shape or form. And the more you thought about it, the more you realized you were in huge danger there. What would your crazed classmates do if they ever found out that you actually weren´t a fellow yandere but someone they could claim as a "darling"? The very thought of it makes you sick. You have to get out of there immediately!

Which is why your heart dropped when after some long hesitation, the person on the phone finally answered you.

"You must excuse me but I´m afraid to tell you that there have been some... unforeseen circumstances that do not permit me to work on your case at the moment. I have been asked to postpone this matter until further notice".

"What? Why?", is all you could manage to say in your befuddlement. You knew bureaucracy can take a long time but for this woman to specifically be asked to postpone this? Just what was going on here?

Again, the woman on the phone hesitated to answer and you could hear a tinge of nervousness in her voice when she finally spoke up. As if she wasn´t sure if she was allowed to say what she was about to.

"I´m afraid that I´m not at liberty to provide this information. The person asking me to...focus on different cases for the meantime wished to stay anonymous. Even so, it is not within my power to refuse their wishes as they have provided our establishment with a generous donation. I sadly cannot help you with this issue", at least the woman did sound generally apologetic but that didn´t really help you in this situation.

Your mind was still reeling as you processed this information. Someone specifically asked for your transferal to not be worked on? Why would anyone do this? And they seemed to have a large fortune too? Why all this to make you stay around?

It can´t be that you already attracted someone´s attention while at the academy, right? Surely that couldn´t be true! You made sure to not interact with anyone directly after you realized just what kind of people attended this school. How could one of these yanderes have "fallen for you" already?

It seemed so utterly unbelievable and if you were being honest, you didn´t want to believe that it was true either. But nothing else made sense. Why would anyone do this otherwise?

Noticing your prolonged silence, the woman spoke up once more.

"I´m sure that all of this will be resolved soon. It will only be a few months. I am sure you will find many friends at your current school soon."

You sure hoped not. The thought of being noticed by any of the yanderes already made the hairs on your neck rise. You vowed to stay away from anyone who even showed a fleeting interest in you. You had to keep yourself safe until you can finally switch schools. You could do this, you had to!

You barely registered when the woman bid you farewell and hung up the phone after you once again didn´t answer her.

Now completely alone, you forged a plan. If you didn´t want to get involved in anything dangerous, no one could find out that you were actually here by mistake and not a yandere. Nothing could be worse than these lunatics finding out that you´re a darling, so you´ll have to be very careful. But how do you do this?

Well, it seemed like you must act like a yandere yourself. You would have to pretend that you´re a lovesick fool who totally isn´t bothered by all this talk about kidnapping, stalking, and murder. Thinking about it again already made you sick but you didn´t really have any other options. No one could find out or it was over for you.

You only hoped that you could convincingly play the part and that no one was perceptive enough to see right through you. Well, it couldn´t be that hard, right?

Surely no one already had their eye on you. Right?

[sabine-smitten-obviously]

Good Omens - December reads part #3- fanfics recs 🤓🩷🎄

I ´ve decided to write a short summary each month about the books i read. I need this to let go of the stories, its a nice way of saying good-bye to them and to spread the love to the authors and to you. 🩷

I only read finished stories and rarely one-shots. You will find no WIPs in here, as i really like to dive deep into the plot and i keep losing track of WIPs. Also you will only find happy or at least hopeful endings here - i couldn´t handle anything else.

Also i try to find every author here on tumblr to link-to, but sadly some times i am out of luck. If you happen to know them, please tell them, write to me in the comments or DM me and i will update the post!

Ratings in ()

Multichapter Fanfics

Dark Literature (E) by @unproblematicme

Well this was a first for me. Human AU with our ineffable loves being exes. Ugh. Lucky for me, Aziraphale is hired by Gabriel to work for the same company on a regular basis. But all of this somehow fades into the background as a haunting starts on the 13th floor of the building. Massive ghoststory and halloween-vibes ensues! 🎃

I'd like to think i still know you (T) by @inherently_human

Human AU. Crowley and Aziraphale went to school together, before life took them on separate paths. Crowley actually detests the thought of the 30years reunion, but ... maybe he would meet Aziraphale again?

Biggest laugh: "Age has not done your eloquence any favors, I see." 😂

The ineffable bride (T) by @theravenmuse

Warlock asks Nanny Astoreth to read him a book he got from the gardener. The story is about a prince named Aziraphale, who fell in love with a farm boy that left to make good fortune, but never came back. Now he is supposed to marry Prince Gabriel.

Happiness, more or less (M) by @mllekurtz

Crowley moves into a flat above a bookshop, glad to have found a short lease. If it weren't for the strange noises in the night ... A ghost story, a love story.

Biggest laugh: "i'm not learning the riddle you have for a name." 😅 I love love love this one. It had me laugh, it had me on the edge and it made me cry. Please give this one a try! 🩷

Intermezzo (E) by @feraltuxedo

Crowley is a former Rockstar, whose career as opera-writer was crashed by Aziraphale Fell's official critique. 10 years later Crowley is offered to write a symphony and get a TV documentary on it, but there is a catch: Aziraphale is the one who will be presenting. Human AU, Enemies to lovers, very nice. Also the author has a way of leading up to and describing explicit scenes that had me wish for more. 😋

The accidental understudy (T) by @appleseeds

Human AU. Aziraphale is the stage manager, when he re-meets with famous actor and former school-collegue Crowley for a play of panto. Sweet fluff ensues as both have had their secret crushes for 30 years.

Love Thy Neighbor (E) by @snae-b

Aziraphale runs a successful bakery blog, but recently he is getting more and more delayed with his posts. The new neighbor is simply a nuisance with his construction noises throughout the day and his loud music in the night. One evening his temper gets the best of him and Aziraphale fists on the door. What will he see, when the door opens? You'll never guess. 😉

Oneshots

Naked in Malibu (E) by @cemeteryangel725

Human AU. Crowley is a famous actor, who is home early from his shoot without telling anyone. And naked. Aziraphale is the hired interior designer, who just so happens to be in Crowley´s home to redesign it. The rest is epic seduction and surprises beneath clothes.

Actually a re-read, as the author gifted us a with a sequel for christmas - see next! 🤓

Naked in New York (E) by @cemeteryangel725

Crowley and Aziraphale have been dating secretly for months now. They both have been falling in love and - of course, these are our beloved idiots! - they have NOT been talking about it. But there is this big red carpet-thingy coming up. Oh no, what is Crowley supposed to do? 😉

Hot Blood, Hot thoughts, Hot Deeds (E) by @supergeek21

Aziraphale sorts the books, when shortky before closing time a strange looking man, dressed all in Black and kind of outdated clothes comes in. He has quite some sharp teeth, too ... 🧛‍♂️🦇

The Serpent King (T) by @angela345

After the death of his father, King Gabriel rules the country. But a curse seems to have befallen the former prosperous kingdom. So knights are being sent out to the Serpent King of the neighbouring kingdom. Will they be able to break the spell? A fairytale.

Stocking Stuffers (E) by @cemeteryangel725

Yes, i know - this is the 3rd rec for @cemeteryangel725 in this blog alone. What can i say - she is a glorious (smut)writer. 😁 In this one we meet again with our beloved husbands from the human AU "Of fire and falcons", which you should definitely read, too. In this oneshot Crowley does a little christmas-strip for his Santaziraphale. 🌶️🎅

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boutique (T) by @dragonfire42

Aziraphale goes shopping with Jim to dress him up for the ball ... Sweet!

The Snake Prince (T) by @LTRisback

Aziraphale takes a walk and bumps into a snake - a talking snake. He offers to save him from the cold and takes him to his bookshop.

Sweet, short fairytale i found bc of another artist who made this beautiful Art to it @rocas-are-doing-well

Only Ever Meant For Someone Else (T) by @di-42

Human AU. Every year the night before christmas, Aziraphale drives his passengers for free as an act of charity. This year, when he has finally finished his shift, there is a commotion behind him. Realising the other driver has wrecked his bentley, he offers to take him to the hospital, where his - presumably - wife Anathema is in labour.

Beautiful little christmas story, seasoned with a bit of angst and a happy ending. 🎄

Biggest laugh: “Of course. I can see how this entire predicament is very clearly her fault.” 😅

I loved this story and it stayed with me for several days.

All the pretty girls (T) by @spectrallydistracted

Crowley has made a pact with Ana to date each week for a whole year - or as long as it takes to find a partner. Sadly all the pretty girls never click. Unlike the very male barista Aziraphale ... 😉

So thats 16 stories this time, next year i will start counting for the whole year, just for the fun of it. 🥳

Found something you like? Spread the love with kudos, sharing and loving 😅🩷

Have a wonderfull start to 2025! 🎆

[popcornpoppin]

Christmas with you - s. h.

pairing: steve harrington x GN!reader (no pronouns used)

word count: 1.6k

warnings: mentions of difficult family relationships, slight swearing (the word "ass" is used once), no use of "y/n", otherwise it's all fluff <3 

a/n: people probably won't read this since it´s fluff but i had the idea and really wanted to write it so… we celebrate on the 24th here so that’s why i chose to post it today. hope everyone has a wonderful holiday whatever you celebrate or if you don’t celebrate anything at all. no matter what you can consider this my gift to you. to anyone who finds the holidays difficult i hope 2024 is kind to you and know you can always message me if you want someone to vent to. i might not be able to give any advice but i´ll always lend an ear <3 as always idk how i feel about this but i´m trying to get back into writing, so i´m trying not to overthink it.

Christmas was always difficult. After the mandatory Christmas dinner you always spent the rest of the night holed up in your room to avoid all the yelling and arguing. You didn't even bother to come down to open the presents anymore. It was only nine in the evening but you'd rather spend the rest of the night doing nothing before falling asleep than spend a second longer around your family. 

It was a beautiful night outside. The pavement and all the trees were covered in beautiful white dust. All the houses on your street were adorned with beautiful lights and decorations. The street lights were cascading beautiful shadows and making the snow sparkle. It all seemed like an idyllic Christmas, except it wasn´t.

Even if it was early you decided to try to sleep and wash away the loud voices that were carried from downstairs. You were just about to turn off all the lights in your bedroom when you heard the hard thud of a pebble hitting your bedroom window. 

Knitting your eyebrows together and slightly tilting your head in wonder, you walked over to the window. It was too dark outside to see anything. Due to the contrast of the darkness outside and the brightness in your room, all you could see with the window closed was your own reflection. Opening the lock and lifting up the window you were met with a cold breeze. Leaning the top of your body out of the window you looked down to find out who had thrown the small stone.

“Steve?”

You were met with a smile you knew all too well and a beautiful head of fluffy, brown hair.

“Grab your jacket, I want to show you something” Steve shouted, just loud enough for you to hear without your parents hearing him from inside the living room. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes, an offer you couldn´t refuse.

“What do you have planned this time, Harrington?” You laughed as he tilted his head in amusement; his boyish grin making his rugged, good looking features shine even more.

“It´s a surprise. Now hurry up, I´m freezing my ass off down here” but his smile only grew bigger as he complained. 

“Fine” you dragged out the ´e´, laughing as you continued “You're so impatient” 

Quickly, but silently, closing your window you headed over to your closet and grabbed your spare jacket and shoes. Both of which you kept in your room just in case you had to sneak out.

Lifting the window again you quietly and carefully climbed out and onto the drain tube. You softly started closing your window again, slowly closing it this time so your parents wouldn't hear. Making sure your window was just open enough so you could slip your fingers under it and open it again later, without too much cold air coming in and making your room freeze. Satisfied, you let yourself slip down the tube until your feet hit the ground with a soft thud.

Wrapping your arms and jacket closer around you, you walked over to Steve with small, hurried steps.

“Close your eyes” He grinned when you stopped right in front of him.

“Why?” You wondered aloud. You trusted Steve more than anyone else but this behavior, all the mystery, was a bit unusual for him.

“Like I told you, it's a surprise. Just trust me?” There was a soft, nervous expression grazing his features now so you decided to do as he said.

“Ok” You closed your eyes and let Steve put his gloved hands over them. He quietly told you when you could start walking and led you away.

From what you could tell with your sight gone it wasn't a long walk. You assumed he had taken you to his house, after all it was only a couple of houses down from yours. 

All you could hear around you was the quiet night breeze blowing against the few leaves that were still left on the otherwise bare trees and the soft crinkle of yours and Steve´s feet against the snow.

“Okay you can open them now” Steve removed his hands from your eyes and let them drop back to his sides.

Slowly opening your eyes you let them adjust to the light again as everything slowly got less blurry. 

“Wow” You let out a stunned breath.

“Do you like it?” Steve asked cautiously.

Tears started welling up in your eyes as you were met with the sight of the treehouse behind Steve´s house covered in Christmas lights, the one you had built together as kids. 

“It´s wonderful” You quietly muttered, almost unable to speak as you felt so moved by the gesture. Steve smiled softly.

“Come on let's head up” He ran ahead towards the small wooden ladder and started climbing.

You quickly followed after him, grabbing the planks with a firm grip so you wouldn´t slip. Steve held the hatch open for you so you could easily climb in. As you looked around inside you were taken aback by the sheer amount of work he had put into decorating the treehouse. Just like outside there were lights adorning the walls. In the middle of the room he had put a blanket on the floor with soft pillows for the two of you to sit on, a fluffy blanket in case you got cold and a picnic basket. In the corner sat a small, plastic Christmas tree which he had decorated with various ornaments the two of you had made when you were younger, including baubles you had painted one christmas after accidentally breaking the ones his mom had hung on their Christmas tree. The memory of it tore on your heart, remembering a time when his parents actually came home and celebrated Christmas with him. He had later told you that he preferred spending it alone, because at least then there was no fighting. 

Shaking the memory you pushed your body into the treehouse and walked towards the picnic blanket. Taking off your jacket you watched Steve do the same, revealing that he was wearing the Christmas sweater you had knitted for him. Smiling softly you sat down on the pillow next to Steve. Once you were settled he started gesturing towards the basket. 

“I made us some food” 

He started by pulling out plates, cutlery and napkins and setting them down between the two of you. After everything was placed in an orderly manner he started pulling out various boxes of Christmas food that he had prepared for the two of you. Finally he pulled out two glasses and a bottle of sparkling cider. Popping the bottle he first poured one glass, which he handed to you and then another one for himself. 

After you were done eating, you started putting everything back in the basket. As you placed the items back you felt a cool breeze prick your skin. A small, barely noticeable shiver rushed through your body. Steve noticing the movement grabbed the blanket and held it out for you.

“Here, I don't want you to grow cold and get sick” He muttered, pushing the blanket into your hands. You knew for a fact that if you were feeling the cold creeping on then Steve was definitely cold too. 

“I don't want you to freeze either” You answered with a frown. Moving the basket, you scooted closer to him until your side was pressed against his and wrapped the blanket around both of you. 

Neither of you said anything, sitting there in complete silence. The warmth of his body against yours made heat flush your cheeks. Turning away to hide the tint of pink from Steve, you didn't notice that he was blushing as well. 

The silence was finally broken by the sound of shuffling. Steve carefully and slowly moved his arm until it was resting around your shoulder. Even though he had a reputation in school for being a ladies´ man, it was all different with you. Whenever he was around you he felt like the little eight year old schoolboy who had grown a crush on his best friend. 

His body was stiff and you could tell he was holding his breath, awaiting your reaction. He let out a deep breath, his body visibly relaxing when you put your head on his shoulder. Closing your eyes you took a moment to breathe in his cologne, it was natural and comforting. You let yourself enjoy it, carefully memorizing it all - so that you could always remember how the two of you, for the first time ever, had a happy Christmas memory. 

“Uh oh”

You were snapped out of your thoughts by Steve´s voice. Tilting your head up towards his face you furrowed your brows “What?”

Steve only pointed upwards in response. You followed his gaze up to over your heads where he was holding a mistletoe between the two of you. Your eyes shot back towards his face, he was grinning slyly now.

“Oh, you are such a dork!” You laughed, pushing at his chest.

Steve only grabbed your wrist in response holding your hand against him and using it to pull you closer to him. Your lips met in a soft kiss and you melted against him, his thumb lightly rubbing circles on your cheek. You let out a content hum. There were no words spoken about what this meant for your friendship. There was no need, you both knew each other well enough to tell this was something you both desired. A small part of you guessed that this was something you both had wanted to do since you first learned what a crush was.

[zoideramy]

New HMM Zoids!  These were announced during Koto’s Zoids event, Second Stand River Battle I think it was called, held on April 27th.

New Models: Rev Raptor, Wild Liger, Fang Tiger, and Gilraptor (no photo).

Variants: Gojulas with Ogre weapons, Geno Saurer bone color ver., Gun Sniper Bone color ver, Shield Liger DCS-J, Godos Old Republic specification.

Rereleases: Saber Tiger (new markings plus ver.), Geno Saurer.

Personally, I’m really excited by all these announcements! Rev Raptor, Wild Liger, and the DCS-J especially. 4 Brand new Zoids, several variants, and a couple of rereleases was way more than I was expecting them to announce. The Zoids Wild HMMs were a pleasant surprise too, I hope the next set they do has Hunter Wolf!

From Kotobukiya’s Twitter

[random-yandere-fandom]

Hey! I loved your Estarossa/Mael post! I was wondering if you could do a scene where Mael's S/O is having troubles with a pushy 'suitor' and she's trying to handle it so as not to bother/worry Mael, but the guy actual left a bruise on her arm when she tried to tell him to leave her alone? And then Mael finds out, which is always fun. Maybe some cuddles at the end. For comfort.

I love your writing, I'm really happy I chanced upon this blog! Hope you have a good day!

Thank you, that`s really sweet!

Btw. sorry to everyone that i only posted now, I had two tests this week and zero motivation but on the bright side, it`s the weekend soon! Yay!

Here is Part 2

Yandere Mael with an injured darling

This guy is annoying, creepy and incredibly determined. You`ve been trying to get him to leave so often now and in the end you always had to make up an excuse and run away. However he just keeps on finding you, always when you are alone, always when you didn`t have the chance to make a run for it as quickly as you would have liked. What unsettled you the most though was that dangerous aura he gave of, you had thought of beating him up but those goddamn eyes made you shiver and freeze up in fear. And then he`d go and try to seduce you, complimenting you but disgusting you all the same.

There was one person you could be asking for help but god damn it you saw how tired Mael looked when he thought you weren`t paying attention. Even though he always assured you how well he was feeling, especially when he was with you, you didn`t believe him, not when there was a literal war going on. So you decided to handle this piece of shit yourself, even though his persistence made you desperate in your measurements against him. He didn`t care that you were dating someone else or that this someone else was Mael, powerful and protective Mael who wouldn`t let him of the hook if he knew what was going on. Another reason not to tell him, though. You knew your boyfriend well and even though he was well respected he would still get in trouble for harming an ally.

Another failed attempt and your `suitor` snapped. The guy was screaming at you, his face contorted into an ugly visage and his arms flailing around as if you would somehow agree to him if he did this. You clearly weren`t fast enough in getting the hell out of there as he grabbed your wrist, painfully dragging you back and turning you around to face him. The fear and hatred you felt in this moment was enough to make you want to kill him if that was what it took for him to let go, but it turned out a kick to his groin was enough for that. Sprinting away, cradling your hurt wrist you heard his yelling getting quieter the farther you got.

Trembling back in your home you quickly shut all windows and doors before falling into your bed, hugging your boyfriends pillow tightly as you felt your exhausted self slipping into a deep and dreamless slumber. You only awaken when you hear the front door open and relax as you recognise Mael`s footsteps. Jumping up you dashed into his arms that he quickly engulfed you in, chuckling at your grand welcome. Goddesses, you missed him so much.

Mael immediately notices something wrong though and scans over your face before moving on to the rest of your body, the foreboding feeling in his gut worsening the more he checks for injuries and his chest tightening when he notes the bruises forming on your wrist. A fiery rage lights up inside him but he does his best to calm down, he has to take care of you first and foremost.

He questions you, his voice eerily calm but his eyes so worried and soft that you barely notice. Not knowing what to do you tell him, revealing your concerns to him. Mael is stunned while listening to you. How did he not notice? How can he proudly call himself your boyfriend when something drastic like that has to happen until you can finally confide in him? Even when you take the blame, saying that he couldn`t have known because these thoughts are written all over his face he won`t have it. He`ll make you promise to always come to him for help.

He patches you up, carefully changing the topic when there is nothing more to say. He is so incredible gentle, even more so than normal and makes sure that you can rest comfortably. He prepares your favourite food, makes the bed and always makes sure to somehow stay close to you, to comfort you and give you a feeling of safety. When it`s time to go to sleep he hugs you, draping one of his wings over you for good measure, with a soothing warmth that makes you melt into his embrace. He lets his hands glide up and down your back in a comforting manner, murmuring soft nothings into your ear. He plays with your hair, makes sure the temperature is warm but never hot and does anything he can think of so that you may sleep well. Mael is careful, soft, gentle and warm, he is home and he is safety and he is comfort, all for you.

It`s only when your breathing calms that he allows his thoughts to wander to that jerk, his teeth gritting and his hug becoming a tad bit tighter when the fire in his chest erupts once again. It`s an ugly feeling, only being soothed by your presence and how he wishes to just rest with you but he can`t. Not when there is someone out there to get you, to harm you and take you away from him. The hatred threatens to burn his very soul as he plans revenge, all kinds of sinister thoughts clouding up his mind. How dare anyone hurt his darling, his love and his sunshine?! Maybe he`ll take care of that bastard personally, claiming him to be a spy of the demons or maybe he`ll cause some kind of accident. He is the sun and he loves you, he can`t lose you. So Mael is brutal, ruthless, sadistic and scorching, he is terrifying and he is unforgiving to any threat.

[iammissfortune]

Adrinette=Bad Relationship

Hello it has been a while since I posted anything and after careful thought I have decided to post about why I am against Adrinette or more specific why I do not support Adrinette.

(Note if you are a shipper of this couple that is good and I think that is wonderful. But I am not.)

Now here are my reasons why

Marinette does not respect boundries. In several episodes Marinette has invade Adrien's privacy (Chat Blanc, Party Crasher,Copycat)

Chat Blanc: She broke into his room as Ladybug, walked all over his room, and sniffed his pillow. Just to leave him a present. Question?

She saw him beore a few minutes before doing that in his limo. Why couldn't she just run to his house (and wait until he got home) or call out to him and give him the gift?

Party Crasher: Adrien wanted to have a guys only party. Instead of respecting that she puts on a awful disguise to get in just so she can be near him. It's selfish on her par because she ditched her other friends to go to a party she was not supposed to be at. Question?

Was this fair of Marinette to do to her friends or Adrien. My answer No.

Copycat: She stole his phone. She phone because she left an embarassing message. Question?

Why couldn't she just call him and explain what happened or why couldn't she just confront him at school explain what happen and ask him to delete the message.

She does't trust him around other people (specifically other girls) (examples: volpina, ikari gozen, onii-chan)

Volpina: She didn't say anything say about Lila lies until Adrien came in the picture. For half the episode she followed Adrien and Lila around. Then when Lila was getting close to Adrien she chose to transform in Ladybug just to call out Lila. Question?

Why didn't she just confront them both in the library? Why didn't she as Marinette just take the book and go. (Even tikki called her out on her jealousy.) I do not approve of Lila lying but if it was a big deal why didn't she say anything to her other friends? She told them several lies all of which could have been debunked with research.

Ikari Gozen: (This mainly focuses on Kagami) She joined teams with her for the sole purpose of sabotaging her. She didn't join her in that friendship scavenger hunt to be a good person but to ensure that Kagami won't be able to be with Adrien. Then throughout she talk bad behind Kagami back to Alya as if Kagami was the bad guy. Then come the selfie challenge: when given Kagami phone instead of completing said task she proceed to snoop around in the hopes of finding something. Question?

Why did she join with Kagami if she didn't want her to win. Why couldn't she just tell her the truth? Why couldn't Marinette swallow her pride and actually helped Kagami? Who knows Kagami might have insisted Marinette go with Adrien as a thanks for her help. But no instead it ends with Marinette and Kagami becoming friends. That is not realistic in any sense (atleast in my opinion).

Onii-chan: She tried to break into Adrien house just to spy on him because Lila was there. Marinette knows that Adrien knows that she is a liar so she knows that can handle himself around her. (I am more upset with the firefighter). Question?

Why?

The schedule book and pull down schedule. Kagami even stated that she know Adrien schedule for the next three years. That is not normal. She knows where he is going to be 24/7 and where he should and will be in the future unless the schedule changes. Question?

Why does she need these things? She is not his family, his assistant, photographer, or any thing that would require her having it so why? Why does she need to know where Adrien is all time? Does she think something is going to happen if she doesn't know where his next photoshoot is?

She does not know him. She fantasizes about. only a handful of episodes has she actually spend time with him genuinely. However from what I have seen she mostly fantasizes about him. I do not think she really knows him. She only spends time with him as Ladybug and Chat Noir. She has only spent time with him because of something else. She never tries to get to know Adrien as a person but only sees an image of the "perfect" boy that she has created in her head.

Above I do not believe a relationship would work between Adrien and Marinette. She does not respect him or his privacy. She shows a lack of trust in him (by not trusting any female his age around him she thinks something is going to happen). She stalks him and has a warped idea of their relationship (or what she thinks is their relationship: Volpina: calling Adrien "the love of her life." I know it was probably made as a joke but her behavior around him and Lila seemed somewhat possessive. That is a trait that is never good in a relationship. Her behavior around Adrien when she teamed up with Chloe in Animaestro. The fact that she not only willingly teamed up with someone she does not like just to sabotage another a girl (Kagami) all because she was with Adrien. Now Chloe definitely played a role here but no one made Marinette and the fact that she did this speaks to her level of insecurity.

I think in order for Adrien and Marinette relationship to work they would have to spend genuine time together. She would have to get to him as person and he would have to get to her. Find out the things they have in common and bond that. They could bond over the fashion industry (her being a designer, him being a model) or they could bond over videogames. Or they find something they both lie and just talk about it.

If anything I said offended anyone I apologize. These are opinions. Just as I will respect yours I hope that you will respect mine.

If I missed anything please let me know

Stay safe out everyone.

[adaodinson]

Little bird

Hi! So, it´s been a while since I posted a fic, I apologize for that. These past months have been… weird, to say the least, but now I´m back :)

I recently finished watching Daredevil and Punisher, so of course I have to write for Matt and Frank. I´ve had this idea stuck in my head for a while so here it is, I hope you guys like it. And yes, I recommend all the songs and artists that I mention in here.

Summary: An interest thing about you gets Matt´s attention enough to want to know more about you, but also to be nervous to actually do so.

Warnings: Nothing, I think, just mentions of pain but it´s muscular so… and well, English is not my first language, so sorry for any mistakes.

Relationship: Matt Murdock x gender neutral!reader

You knew moving into a new city (especially one like New York) would be tiring, you knew it would take a lot of mental and physical effort, but this was ridiculous. You had been trying to carry that stupid table upstairs and were halfway when you felt your back couldn´t take it anymore, the table wasn´t big or anything, but it was quite heavy. You had been carrying things inside all afternoon, so it made sense for you to be this tired. You had started off at a reasonable hour, when the sunlight invaded the windows and spread to all corners; now, the only source of light were the weak lightbulbs that hung from the ceiling, and it was getting harder and harder to focus on where to place your next step not only due to your aching legs and back, or the poor illumination, you also started to feel the rush of the other residents getting home from work.

You had only seen your neighbor twice: the day you arrived to take a look at the apartment before buying it, and the one time it took you a while to find your keys and open your door so you bumped into each other on the hallway. You knew his name was Matt, and he knew your name as well, he also knew where you came from, but that was about it. He seemed like a nice person, he was definitely handsome, but there was something about him that you couldn´t quite place your finger on that made him… intriguing.

You had only been living there for about a week, and had had no time to rest or even think for more than five minutes, but what you missed the most was taking your singing classes, or at least getting to seat down while playing games on your phone and sing along to your playlist. Singing was one of your passions, you weren´t amazing at it, but decent enough. You sang all the time: while cooking, while showering, while working, all the time. It made you happy, helped you relax, you just loved it.

As you carried your table through the final stair block, your mind drifted to the next song you would want to practice with your teacher (she was from the same place as you were, and you decided to keep taking classes with her through Skype or FaceTime). It could be “Without you” by Air Supply, ooor Wherever you go by Lola Lennox. You were so immersed in your thinking you didn´t realize you had stopped moving, or that Matt was standing beside you, waiting for you to keep walking.

He was between amused and confused, he could feel in your heartbeat you were happy but tired, he could sense you weren´t moving and also the fact that you were carrying something. He thought you might be resting a bit, but you were only three steps away from the top so that wasn´t it. He cleared his throat in order to make you aware of his presence, and that simple gesture took you out of your thoughts like a lightning, so suddenly that you almost fell on your back. Good thing you didn´t.

-Matt, hi! I´m sorry! I´m sorry! Wait a second- You said as you hurried to walk upstairs, leave the table in front of your door and go back to him. He giggled softly, it was the cutest sound you had ever heard.

-Again, I´m sorry, I got lost in my thoughts. Here, I left the table I was carrying in the hallway so let me help you get to your door- You said as you placed your arm near him for him to notice it and grab it. He did so.

-Thank you Y/N, and you don´t have to worry or apologize, we all get lost in thought sometimes- He said as you led him to his apartment avoiding your table.

-Yeah, I guess we do-.

You got to his door. He opened it, said goodnight kindly and walked inside. Normally you would have wanted him to stay outside with you and talk for a while, but it was not hard to see he was just as tired as you were. You headed inside your own apartment and settled the table in it´s place. You gazed around the room feeling proud that you had managed to put everything inside. For all the bigger things of course you had had help, but the rest were up to you.

You sighed and felt all your body parts urging you to drop to the floor and sleep, you could feel your arms and legs trembling and that familiar knot in your muscles after making such efforts. You headed straight for the bathroom, needing a shower more that anything. In the past few days, you had only showered for the sake of being clean, but not to actually enjoy it. You had to rush and hurry, but now, you took your time to choose the songs you wanted to listen to, humped in and sang your heart out.

The walls of the apartments were thick, so it was really hard to hear what was going on in other rooms, but for Matt this wasn´t a problem. He was reading in his couch when he heard a small hint of a familiar song: “Rock DJ” by Robbie Williams. He made an effort to hear it more clearly, and that´s when he reached it. He distinguished your voice singing along to the song. It wasn´t the best voice he had ever heard, or the most tuned, but it was his new favorite one, it definitely was beautiful. There was something about your passion, your heart being poured into each word you sang that filled his ears like the strong smell of a chocolate cake fills your nose. He couldn´t get enough of it. Even when you sang out of tune, when you ran out of breath, when you failed at singing a difficult note. Also when your breath was just enough, when you hit a hard note like a baseball player hits the ball. All the time, no matter what you were singing or how you were singing it, he found it impossible to focus on anything else.

It became his “ritual”. You had started taking your classes again, so when he learned the time and day you took them, he would try to get home in time to hear you. Queen, Air Supply, Pink, Erasure, Rick Astley, Måneskin and Adam Lambert were the artists and bands that you sang the most, and through you he had found new songs that he adored and re-found old songs that he considered golden. Many times he walked over to the door, ready to compliment your singing after you finished a class, but, what would he say? That your voice had become his favorite sound? How would he explain how he could hear you so clearly? He just couldn´t. Every time he felt ready, with the right words at the tip of his tongue and ready to escape, doubt filled his mind: What if you found him creepy? What if you don´t want to be complimented? What if he said something stupid?

Of course, thinking that you wouldn´t enjoy hearing compliments on your singing was a stupid thought on it´s own. You enjoyed singing so much, but you were quite insecure about it as well. It was really hard for you to sing in front of other people, especially for the first time, and every time anyone complimented your singing, not only did you remember that person forever, but also it always made your day. Oh, but hearing a compliment from Matt, that idea sounded so perfect it didn´t even cross your mind. The gorgeous, nice and mysterious guy from across the hall complimenting you… not even in your daydreams. But just like they say, there is a first time for everything.

Matt was so immersed in the conversation he was having with Foggy, he didn´t stop to hear your heartbeat, to know if you were home. You were.

-I´m telling you, Foggy. It´s just magnificent, the passion and heart they pour into their singing, it´s beautiful. And now I know their class is at 8 every Wednesday, so when I get to be at home at that time it just makes the rest of my week- Foggy had rarely seen his friend this passionate about something, and he was really happy for him, but he wondered why he didn´t try to get to know you. If he wanted to find a good reason for him to hear your singing with you knowing he was, why didn´t he just become friends with you? All his questions were answered when you opened your door with the brightest smile Foggy had seen in a long time.

-Do you really think that, Matt?- you asked almost shyly. Matt froze for a second and then turned around slowly to face you. After seeing that tiny interaction, it was more than clear to Foggy that his friend wasn´t only interested in your voice, he was interested in you.

-Well, yeah, I mean, it´s always very pleasant to hear you- he said with a shy smile.

You were so happy you didn´t even stop to think before embracing the man in a tight hug. You could feel tears ready to exit your eyes and fill your cheeks, but you held them back. He hesitated before returning the hug. You both felt as if your missing puzzle piece was being taken away from you when you parted.

-You have no idea how much it means for me to hear that, especially from you- you couldn´t control that last part.

-Well, hi. I´m Foggy, and I was just leaving- Foggy said happily as he turned around ready to leave.

-No wait! I´m sorry, I´m Y/N. You don´t have to go, I just…-

-Nice to meet you Y/N! And don´t you worry, I´ll get to talk to Matt tomorrow at work, tonight you two should go out for dinner- Foggy answered with a smirk.

-Did you just ask them out FOR me?- Matt said, trying to sound offended.

-Well, someone had to do it- he said with a wink and left.

-Mmmm, I heard about a great Chinese place a few blocks away, if you are up for what your friend proposed- You said trying to measure Matt´s reaction.

-I love Chinese, let´s go, little bird- Matt said as he extended his arm for you to grab. Both of you with the biggest smiles either of you had had for a while, including the one you had when you heard his compliments. Oh, and the smiles would go on with you two, that´s for sure.

[berryblissbby]

Fiercest; devoted;

Pairing: Princess!reader x Guard/Warrior! Hajime Iwaizumi

Word Count: 9,500

Warnings: Use of blades and knives

A/N: Sooo this is the longest thing I've ever posted on tumblr and one of the longest fics I've ever written. Ive only even written a handful of things to completion before so please be kind (⩾﹏⩽). I'm currently reading TOG and this story was born from me trying to process HOF so if you see some parallels just look away! This is fanfic we borrow, not steal. And finally I must say, must I write a plot? Can’t they just learn to tenderly love each other in the end? 

AND! AND! Here's the pinterest board i made for this fic, i'm so sorry that all the references are white people omg, pinterest has shit diversity.

Summary:

The moonlight won’t let you forget, the sunlight brightens the truth.

You are his princess, and he is your warrior. Raised together Hajime is your greatest source of comfort when he suddenly pulls away, igniting your temper and flaring animosity towards each other. Either under the light of the moon, or the rays of the sun, you’ll fight it out, just like always.

 You were the princess of an empire. Heir of the kingdom that was the pinnacle of learning, healing and safety for anyone who wished to stay there. Books, music, and art were all treasured, and culture was allowed to thrive and breathe. Your court was beloved, held strong by devotion and loyalty, “the strongest court in the world” the people said. You were loved as well, by your parents and their people. Adored, you were their future.

 Hajime was a lesser by his kingdom's terms. In a kingdom of magic wielders, he was unwanted nobility. So he was sent to you, to your kingdom, where compared to your human court, with a little magical blood in him, he would be strong. He was to be your guard, to keep you safe, and when you were ready to rule your bond would be unbreakable.  

You were nine and he was thirteen . Delightfully shy- to adults- you lacked true friends. Hiding behind your mother, father or nursemaid, you could be found with your nose in a book. Even at celebrations it was the same, unless you convinced your mother or father to dance with you, much to everyone’s joy. 

 But then you had Hajime, and even though you were scared, with red rung hands and shifting eyes, he danced with you. Uncoordinated and silly, gentle smiles turning to grins and grins to giggles, you landed on the floor in a heap of laughter. Everyone could tell- when you were with him your timidness melts, and is met with ferocious quips and laughter full of love- that you would grow to be a shining queen. You didn’t worry, your child princess self, because when you were sat on your heaviest burden, your own little throne, he would be behind you. With his chest puffed up, his daggers sharpened and shining. Already your fiercest warrior and most devoted protector. 

 -

 You grew together, his dark eyes were always watching you, blanketing you in warmth. When you learned  how to fight and hold a dagger correctly he practiced with you, until your coordination and form were perfect. When you were strong enough for a sword he was right there as well, much to the captain of the guards dismay. You practiced together, but he never let you win. It was infuriating, his determined expression and unrelenting jabs. But “it’s for your own good” and you knew you'd best him one day. 

 -

 He snuck into your room, when your chambers were too big, and the darknesses fingers too long. He stayed in the chair in the corner, and listened to you talk until your words slurred and you fell asleep. Your maids usually find him still there, curled up, in the morning.

 -

 He was right beside you when you learned how to ride a horse by yourself at ten years old, with shaky hands and gasping breaths. And when you fell off- the one and only time- he picked you right off the ground, dusted off your dress, and growled at the stable master. 

 He wiped the tears off your face as fast as they fell. Your little hands gripping the front of his shirt begging him not to leave.

 Hajime pulled you to his chest, shushing you again. It was awkward, just two little kids clinging to each other, one barely old enough to comfort the other. But you needed him nonetheless.

 He was right there the day you got it, hanging off the rails of the round pin, pumping his fist in triumph as you and your horse trotted in circles.

 Looking over, a grin breaking across your face,  you met his own grin. It sent shivers down your spine, blooming in your tummy. You could see it, with that feral grin on his face, you understood what type of man he would be. He truly was a warrior.

 -

 He stood behind you when you first attended state meetings with your father, against the wall with the other guards. You had been terrified. You hadn’t known, really, what they were talking about, and you had been scared that they would ask you questions you wouldn’t know the answer to. But Hajime was there, and that made your words a little more steady. 

 -

 He was eighteen and you fourteen, budding into adolescence, and it seemed to be everyone’s business. He was turning into a man and you couldn’t help but notice, not that you would ever speak of it.

 He was leading you horse, walking you around the gardens. He liked to pick and choose when you should be treated as a princess. With swords in your hands he tended to ignore it, but at times like these, you were an heiress and he was an indentured servant.

 “I don’t understand”

 “It’s a tragedy, it's supposed to make you sad!” You say. “It’s about the ‘what if’s’ and the yearning, you have to focus on the yearning.” You giggle at your words, as you drag out your syllables. 

 You were telling him about your latest book, and how it had left you heart broken for the two lovers. With bad timing, and greedy people stealing their chances at love, they could never be together. 

 You always told Hajime about your books, you couldn’t help talking about the ones that you couldn’t get out of your head. He was an amazing listener, and you appreciated him dearly for it. Even though his face would remain blank and his eyes would shift all around you, looking for threats, he would always pay attention.

 He scoffed. “ Well, what if I don’t care about yearning, what if they’re just stupid? The answer was right in front of them.” 

 “That’s not the point Hajime,” you pout.

 He scowls up at you, stopping your horse. 

 “What?” You can’t help but laugh at both of your dramatics.

 “Just don’t let me catch you doing anything dumb like that,” he doesn’t let you answer, starting your horse walking again. ¨Idiots.¨

 ¨Hajime!¨

 You appreciate him, in every sense, always protecting you, in body and soul.

 -

 He was twenty and you sixteen. Your temper was epic, it shook the stone walls and snapped as easily as the ribbons on your dresses. But your heart was just as easily broken. You were a slave to your emotions and you could feel it, festering in you. You would never let it show to the court, but your family knew, and so did Hajime. There was little left of the girl who used to hide behind skirts.

 You didn´t know if it was a gradual process, or if you woke up to it one day, but suddenly you couldn´t stop watching him. You couldn´t stop admiring him. He was so big, and strong, and he made you laugh so hard. His hands were soft, and large. He was smart, catching things you hadn’t in meetings, and his voice would send shivers down your spine when he whispered in your ear, telling you things about the people you were surrounded by. Things that he had learned to keep you safe; precautions. You couldn't stop your cheeks from heating up anymore, they were perpetually flushed, and it was impossible to hold his gaze. Things that wouldn't have mattered before made you stutter. But what set you off, was when you would look up to him, when you expected to meet those cool eyes, they would be somewhere else.

 Before, when you had been upset, you would drag Hajime to the training rooms and throw him a sword. He would let you get a few hits in, before winning, of course. But only after you got everything you needed out. He was the cool water to your raging disposition. He had a sternness to him now, even though his fiery character could rival yours sometimes, he knew when to hold back. And when he did, his easy answers and cool voice were equally frustrating as they were calming. You shared more together while in those practice rooms swinging swords than anywhere else. But now you had lost the thing that had made it better.

 Now you only saw him when mandatory, behind your throne and next to you at meals. He seemed to be more interested in the guards and other warriors than you, so you ate in silence and read alone at night. You eventually requested a new guard, and your parents said no. You two were friends, and he was sent here for you, that would not be changing overnight. But he didn't feel like your Hajime anymore, your friend or defender. Because he wasn't paying attention to you anymore, not like he was supposed to. Or how you wanted him too.

 It made you burn when you looked up and he wasn't looking at you. The embers in your chest that would flare when you didn't get your way, when someone disagreed with you, when Hajime said something brash, were a roaring fire. You didn't understand why things had changed, where it had come from.

 You saw it, when his eyes met the older courtiers- well, older compared to you. You saw the eyes of the women on him, how they trailed over his broad back and strong arms. You knew that the lady’s had started taking their walks through the section of the palace they had previously thought of as unpalatable. They would bat their eyelashes and fan their fans in front of them as they walked past the training rooms, hoping to catch Hajime in only a thin damp shirt. It was infuriating.

 You took to ignoring him, long lonely months. It was intense, the war between you both, silently throwing glances at each other, both sets of eyes holding promises of worse words to come. He was a weight behind you at all times, dragging your heart deeper into a pit of solitary despair. He left you whenever he could afford, never letting your parents or the other guards see. You were kept safe, but it wasn’t comforting like before. The walks to your rooms after dinner were the worst, the internal battle inside you was tearing you to shreds. Should you talk to him? Confront him? Bear a dagger and rough it out? But he would leave you by your door and walk away before you could decide anything at all. 

 You had burned too bright, the fire in you now gone. The fury that had kept you warm was nothing but a cold pit in your chest.

 You were all alone, every day that knowledge split you open like a cold blade. You were determined to stay away from him, to not bother him, since he obviously didn’t want anything to do with you. But one day, it all became too much. 

 You had attended a dinner tonight, with a distant royal family. And they had said things to you that they had no right to say. They had spoken as if they had known you. They knew things about you that made your skin crawl. All of those things were somewhat common knowledge, but then they had started making assumptions about you, asking you things that if you were a queen you would have known the answers to. But you weren’t, you were a stupid little princess, with no one. And you felt so small. 

 The only thing that made it worse was when you realized you were bracing for something. After every one of their comments, you were waiting for one of Hajime's raging blows. For him let his temper go, just a little. To tell them how it was, to defend you. But it didn’t come, you looked over and he wasn’t paying attention. What happened to your warrior? Your watcher? Your protector?

 -

 You remembered a conversation between you and Hajime, before. It was late at night, Hajime was laying on the rug in front of your heart, his arm thrown over his eyes. Your book set to the side.

 The candles had all burned low, but the fire stood strong. It casted a blood orange glow across half of his body, the other half a stark blue. You didn’t know if he was asleep, and took your time admiring him.

 The side away from you, from your vantage point lounging on the couch, was flushed. His mouth was pulled down slightly, but it didn’t scare you. That looked like you’re Hajime, with sharp teeth and a barking laugh. Who felt everything thrown at him. 

 You didn’t know how he hid it so well, but he really did experience everything; he might conceal it, but it was in there.

 You looked at the other side of him, the one in a cold blue light from the moon coming in your windows. You wondered if that was what other people saw, the straight backed man, who knew who he was and what he stood for. 

You said his name gently, he grunted in response.

“Do you remember… that tragedy I read years ago, about the two lovers…” you explained a little more, trailing off.

He took a deep breath saying, “ yes, with the idiots.” 

You don’t bother hiding your pursed lips before you say, “what… what would you do in their situation, since they’re such idiots.” You pluck at a thread on the couch, not looking at him.

From your peripheral vision you could see him turn his head to look at the flames, and suddenly a wave of anxiety hits you, you're scared to know his real answer, his honest one.

You get up and walk to the window, and the stark difference in temperature makes you shudder. It was starting to snow, just barely. The moon was so bright, causing the gardens below your window to glow. The marble walkways mirroring back the moon.

“I would…” you look back at him, with a hand still on the window sill, and almost gasp. “I would run too, because I wouldn’t know any better, just like them.” He had sat up and turned away from the fire, his whole front blue and cold. 

You couldn’t stand the window anymore, and went to sit by the hearth. 

-

You think he’s run. He’s carried himself as far away from you as he can without abandoning his responsibilities. The gap between you is the largest thing you have ever felt. A dark ravine, and on the other side was him, with his back turned to you. Everything is blue, the moon won’t let you forget, it refuses to shroud out the light, so you can’t remain ignorant. You hate it. And every day, you come closer and closer to falling into that deep crack in the earth, reaching out your arms, stretching your fingers, feeling the rocks shift under your feet, pebbles falling into the dark pit, maybe to never hit the bottom.

-

 You couldn’t calm yourself even hours later, your mind would go back to dinner when you tried to read, and you couldn’t sleep. Sometimes, when it was too late to brandish swords or you were too young to hold one, Hajime and you would walk the palace halls. Running from guards not to be caught, jumping on chairs in forgotten sitting rooms, daring each other to grab things from the kitchen. All before putting his grumpy cool mask back on and escorting you back to your rooms. But you never dared walk the halls yourself, you were always too scared. Hajime... Hajime, he would always take you, and make you feel better. 

 You had been pacing your rooms, trying to find a way to fix your hurt. Trying to come up with any solution. Sitting down on your bed, you put your head in your hands, pleading with the tears not to fall. You wanted him to make you feel better again, you wanted to feel safe with him behind you, not cold and unwanted. 

 You didn't know what to do, really, you told yourself as you snuck your way into his rooms, holding your breath the whole way there, still scared. Closing the door behind you you leaned against it, and for a moment, it felt like before. He smelled the same and the room was so warm it made you shiver in satisfaction. But he was a warrior, so your moment of peace didn’t last long as he rolled over, almost reaching for a weapon before he realized who you were. 

 You tried smiling, but seeing him like that, with his dark hair messy, and cheeks ruddy from sleep just hurt you more. You couldn’t stop the quiver in your lip.

 “You've been crying,” he said, pushing himself off the bed slightly. You tried not to watch the blanket fall off his shoulders.

 Nodding, you turn your head, wiping away tears with your wrist, not looking him in the eyes. You took a moment, trying to calm yourself and almost took a step towards him, but you caught yourself. That made the tears come faster. If things had been like before, you would have ran to him. You won't have hesitated, you wouldn't be bracing for something foul to come out of his mouth. 

 But those things didn't matter, not when he finally sat up and opened his arms letting you throw yourself at him.

 He rocked you back and forth, pulling you onto his lap, cooing at you. “What’s wrong, what’s the matter my princess.” The vibrato in his voice echoed through you, made you want to melt, but it was also painfully familiar. 

 His kind words only made you cry harder. How long had it been since you had heard him speak to you at all? And it had to have been even longer since he had been kind to you like this, only reserved for when you were totally alone, and desperately in need. 

 There was so much wrong, but you could only find it in yourself to shrug. He let out a scoff. Pulling you back, you tried to hide your face, but he grabbed your chin to make you look up. He swiped a thumb under your eye, catching a falling tear. You almost smiled at his frown, how you had missed it, when it only promised light scolding, not cruel disregard.

 “I j-just... want you t-to m-make me feel better,” the last word comes out in another desperate sob and he pulled you to him again. 

 He hummed saying, “Don't tell me someone did this to you.” 

 You shake your head, burying your face in his chest. You didn't want to face the truth, that he had been so neglectful that he really hadn't seen what had happened at dinner.

 “Let's get you to bed, okay?” 

 You desperately nod, you had missed this so much. You had missed his kindness so much. You almost felt like little kids again, and he led you through the dim hallways clutching your hand. Like when you had first met.

 You woke up alone.

 Cold, sober reality washed over you like water, slithering down your spine. Oh. Things were not back to before. You hated Before, it taunted you. It laughed at you as you broke each time the word crossed your mind. Before was better, the most shining and brilliant version of what you had lost. 

 -

 He was escorting you across the castle, and you battled with yourself again. Just like always but worse, now that you knew he was still in there. The contrast ached more. You almost didn't say anything, but you passed by a set of windows and happened to look outside.

 It was spring, almost summer, and everything was green again. The hills outside rippled as the green grass swayed. Beyond the grass were wildflowers. You wish you and Hajime could ride out there and lay in them. But you couldn't- or, he wouldn’t.

 That makes you stop for some reason, and you walk up to the window looking out. He stops too, remaining behind you.

 “Hajime,” You say quietly. He doesn't say anything, facing forward.

 He wouldn’t look at you. He refused until you grabbed him as hard as you could with your little hands, not holding back when your nails dug into his wrist and forearm.

 He tried pulling back, but you wouldn’t let him. Grabbing one of your wrists he made you yield. 

 “I’m not... we’re not going to talk about this, not yet,” he said the words with shifting eyes, not able to meet yours for too long. “I can’t.”

 You had never minded him when he was his serious self, because you would always see the loving side of him eventually. When you were alone, when it mattered. But this, the firm cold shoulder, it wasn’t the protective one you were used to, it was cruel. 

 “Well,” you spit out, ripping your wrist from his grip, “ when you can finally tell me your secret, it better be important, because right now I don’t appreciate being ignored- ignored and...” you struggled to find the right words, your chin quivering, eyes filling with tears. Unloved? Unprotected? 

 “Whatever this is,” you gesture at him, the venom in your voice dissipating with each syllable. Until each blink yielded more tears.

 ¨You´re dismissed,¨ you tell him, you could make it to tea just fine by yourself.

 -

 You were furious, angry, livid. The only thing that dosed the ever flaming embers in your chest was the announcement your father made. You had known it was coming, but him telling everyone solidified it.

 He had called you and Hajime to his private rooms a few nights before, you two had met in front of the door.

 You were to decide which member of your court  would take the oath to be your protector and advisor. Everyone knew it was going to be Hajime, but sometimes a ruler didn't have such loyal followers, and they would choose from a selection. But your father wanted to follow tradition and tell you properly. You had come of age, it would be time for you to take up more responsibility, and this was the first step.

 You could feel him standing next to you, facing your father and mother where they sat. The emers in you were doused, replaced by a rush of freezing water that contrasted your hot tears. You couldn't imagine spending the rest of your life like this. You would be a horrible queen if this was the future that awaited you. 

 Before he made his oath to you, there was to be your birthday celebration. A frantic day of eating, receiving gifts and dancing. Who would you dance with?

 Tight lipped, you thanked your parents and walked out. You could hear Hajime behind you, and you didn't try to quiet your ragged breathing as the tears flowed. 

 They had threatened to fall when your father stood up at dinner and told your court.

 -

 It was your birthday, you hadn't danced with Hajime, and you always danced with Hajime. Everytime you could, you let your face relax and your smile melted away. You were exhausted. But someone asked you to dance.

 The man no older than Hajime, with fluffy brown hair and beautiful brown eyes, asked you with a hypnotizing smile. He spun you around and said the most outrageous things in your ears, you couldn't help the grin that spread across your face. 

 You would pass a couple and he would share their most treacherous secrets. Nothing too bad, just outlandish enough that you would blush and want to hit him- only lightly.

 He asked you again and again, until you finally had to say no, your face was hot, your skin was covered in a layer of perspiration and you were sure that your hair had fallen out of its updo.

 You made your way back to your seat on the dais, next to your parents. You didn't realize that Hajime had moved from his spot on the wall, blending in with the other guards, to stand behind you.

 Taking a seat, you hear a scoff. Straightening your back you almost don't believe it. Maybe it was the exercise, or the fact that you were feeling loose after laughing so hard. Or maybe it was because you were actually having fun, but you found that tonight- tonight you had energy. 

 You could feel it in your chest, that scoff has blown a harsh wind over those embers, fanning them a glowing orange.

 “Yes, Hajime,” you say, slightly turning your head in his direction. You tried to keep your tone light.

 He grunted, not saying anything. You place your hands in your lap. He won't even give you words.

 “Tell me,” you say, face blank, friendly tone gone.

 “Nothing, Princess.”

 How dare he scoff at you and pretend you were the crazy one.

 You spun in your seat. There he was, in his nice uniform, with your kingdom's mascot and colors. Your mascot and colors. Your kingdom's mascot and colors. The kingdoms that you would rule, mascot and colors. 

 The blades strapped around him were intricate; polished and shrap. He looked straight forward, not acknowledging you. He looks good, something inside of your chest whispered, but was whisked away as your eyes caught on the dagger on his belt, with the same color jews as his uniform

 You stood up in a flurry, so fast that he only had time to brace himself before you were grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him down to your level. Nails digging into him all the while.

 “Follow me,” you say through gritted teeth. Pulling back looking him in the eyes, you tell him exactly what he needed to know. It was an order, an order from his future ruler. The exchange was so fast you knew no one would see it.

 Spinning on your heel you walked down the dais and straight into the crowd of dancing people as they desperately tried to not step on you.

 “Princess,” Your father said from his seat behind you. You knew he was objecting at your rudeness, but you didn't care, the act of disobedience spurring you on. You hear the music halt, only for a second, but you keep moving.

 You could feel everyone's eyes on you as you made your way further and further towards the doors out of the hall. Each breath wasn’t enough oxygen, and your vision spotted, but the chills rippling over your skin were addicting. 

 You knew Hajime was behind you.

 -

 You didn't answer any of his furious remarks as you grabbed his forearm, dragging him through the palace. You turned down a certain hall and he stopped talking.

 You threw open the doors of the practice hall, letting go of Hajime’s arm. Marching down the long open space, so big it could probably hold dozens of bodies, you open one of the cabinets across from the row of tall windows. The room was dim, and you don´t think of lighting candles.

 Selecting two swords, you slide one to him across the floor, to where he stood still at the door. He stopped it carefully with his boot, as it spun towards him.

 Looking up from the sword, he says, ”No.”

 “Pick up the sword, Hajime,” You say from across the room, sword in your hand. You’re not sure why you threw it at him, he already had one on his hip. Maybe because it was unfair, that he could always have one and you could not.

 He scoffed at you, leaving it on the ground. 

 “Pick it up,” You growled.

 He didn't have time to roll his eyes before the twin dagger to the one on his belt landed in the door frame, next to his head.

You watched his eyes flick to your hand, smoothing out your skirts, hiding the slit that led to your thigh. You switched your sword back to your dominant hand, breathing already ragged, not looking away from those sharp eyes as he picked the sword off the ground. 

 You stayed exactly where you were as he walked towards you.

 “You are b-”

 “I don't want to hear any of what you have to say about my behavior.”

 He rolled his eyes, stopping in front of you, getting into his proper stance. You mimicked him.

 “You are being a brat.”

 You swing for him, and he easily blocks, sending your sword arcing through the air, still in your hand. He sends a shallow jab at you, which you take a step back from.

 “What right do you have judging the people I spend my time with?” You say, jabbing right back at him, which he blocks with a sweep of his sword. “And when am I not?”

 You go for his left, which he dodges, and as he came around spinning to face you again, he swung low at the wide skirts of your dress. You hear it rip and feel the cold air hit your calves. Taking two steps back he observes you, lowering his sword, intentions clear. 

 He thought that would end your little fight.

 He thought that the ruining of your dress would make you stop, that you were shallow enough to ask for his mercy just because of a tear in your skirts. It made you furious, knowing he wasn't taking this seriously.

 You feint lunging at him, he swung from the right, and you blocked, swords suspended in the air for just a moment. 

 “Stop it.” You say, voice almost a whisper.

 You grunt and pull back. Circling each other, you watch as the moonlight brightens his face. The circling continues, and no words are exchanged, giving you time to think about what had been said, only making you more upset.

 You had faults, in moments like these, you couldn't hide your next move, anger making you just want to act. You swing at him, and he blocks. While your sword is up, he takes the chance to roll, and shove you backwards away from him. A dirty trick.

 “Stop what?” He says to you, looking at you from where you had stumbled a few steps away, face blank.

 You looked at him, with his back to the windows, face shrouded in darkness, and you hated him.

 Before you could think about it, before you could flinch and regret your actions, your arms were arching up, throwing your sword across the room. Watching as Hajime involuntarily followed its arch through the air, sinning blade spinning over handle, until it landed in a clatter. You watched him all the while, and saw his shocked expression before he could hide it.

 “I am your princess,” You growl, his head snapping back to you.

 “I am your princess!” You yell, taking a step towards him, chest pressed to his.

 “I am your Princess!” You scream, shoving him backwards toward the large windows.

 You pressed against him, leaning him back against the window sill. You stretch to your tiptoes, your hands clutching his shirt as you stare into his eyes. With all the venom you can manage, panting, you say, “I am your princess! I am your princess and you will do as I say!”

 “What are you doing?” He asks, eyebrows furrowed. You barely hear his words, or his sword clatter to the ground, your breathing too ragged, your heart beat too loud. You could feel it, in every part of your body, it echoed through you.

 And in that moment you can almost see him. That flash in his eyes, that tone of voice, his breath fanning over your face. He was your Hajime, only for a second.

 “Stop it,” you say, losing momentum with each word, “stop it.”

 He finally tugs himself free, ripping your hands from him. He doesn't let go as he presses you a few steps back and leans down to look into your eyes. 

 His eyes were dark, and you lost him again, the Hajime you want. You yearned to bang on his chest and beg for him back, but you don't dare break the delicate dance you two were in.

 “I see them,”  you hiss, trying to get in his face, “I see how they look at you.”

 “Who?” He spits.

 “Your courtiers.” You say the words as if it's a curse.

 He throws your hands down, taking steps to the door, still facing you.

 “Nothing?” You ask. “You never have anything to say anymore.”

 “Why does it matter?” Squaring his shoulders he looks at you straight on. 

 “Wh-”

 “Why does it matter if they look at me?”

 “It- I-”

 “Tell me why it matters, Princess, and maybe we can talk. I don't want part in your tantrums.”

 You watch him walk away, listening to every fading step, until you only have your breathing to fill the silence.

 -

 You couldn’t stop thinking about that night, it made you sick, haunting you with the memories of what you had said to each other.

 Maybe you had been wrong. Wrong to order him to follow you, wrong to act so brash, wrong to scream at him, and to accuse him of those things.

 You scolded yourself for acting that way, to let your temper control you. It had felt good, until you had crashed. 

 The option-less future spread in front of you. What would you do? Exhaustion was seeping into you, a new type of tired, one that you would do anything to amend. 

 If your temper wouldn’t fix your problems, you would have to try something else, even if it burned you from the inside out.

 -

 You called him to your rooms, something you had never done before. There was no need to call upon each other, you always knew where the other was

 Hajime found you in the chair in the corner, the one he used to stay in; you rarely used it.

 The last rays of evening sunlight were shining in your windows, cascading over your body.

 Your face was illuminated by the sun, every beautiful line and imperfection was open in the light. It made you glow, like you should have been kept in a painting so you could be adored forevermore. You were golden, hair caught fire, glowing like a beacon of truth. The heir of an empire, the hope of thousands. 

 “Majesty,” he bowed, something he had only done a handful of times, for special occasions. It felt forgien and stiff doing it there.

 “Iwaizumi” you said, it sounded like a song, a sigh and a prayer and a plea. But it wasn’t right.

 When was the last time you had called him that? Never, a furious voice in the back of his mind told him.

 “It’s almost time for me to choose.”

 He stood up straighter, meeting your eyes for the first time. There wasn’t that look in them like before, of hurt and hardness. Determination that you would power through. It was just a fact.

 It was almost time for you to choose the person of your court to swear a never ending bond with. To protect each other, in body and soul, to in turn protect your kingdom.

 You looked down at your hands, and he was compelled to take a step forward to make sure he heard you, but not too close. He had a feeling that if he took another step he would see your  red rung eyes, and he didn’t want to think about that.

 “I want it to be you… I'm sorry for that night, for yelling, and trying to cut you into pieces. But…” You take a deep breath and look out the window. “ I don’t know what’s changed, and I’m so sorry for how I’ve acted, and whatever I’ve done, but I want it to be you” 

 With those last words you looked him in the eyes. The anger was gone, and all he saw was a tired princess. His tired princess. You didn’t break his gaze, not saying anything more .

 He almost wanted to question you, the maturity in your words shocking. But he stayed quiet; that wasn’t his place anymore.

 You had said your peace, he knew, as he looked into your eyes, with your face passive. It was his turn now, to come to you and bear his teeth, to gouge the hurt out of his chest in to lay it bare for both of you.

 -

 Hajime had a memory he kept close to him, right on his hip. He might have kept it on his ribs, the ones that protected his heart, if that was where you kept daggers. 

 It was the winter solstice celebration from years before. Hajime and you were in your parents' private rooms, giving gifts.The two of you sat on the floor next to the fire, with your parents on the couch in front of you. 

 “Now this one is for both of you.” Your mother explained, handing you both identical boxes. “Open them at the same time.”

 You gave Hajime one look before tearing into yours. He didn’t get to see your reaction as he worked on delicately undoing the ribbons, but he heard your gasp.

 Resting in your hands was an exquisite, shining dagger. You gently held it up, and both your heads turned in to stare at it. 

 “Oh my…” You gawked.

 Hajime went back to his gift and opened it to an identical dagger. Twins. 

 He held his up, and you two compared.

They had blades of shimmering silver, with curved tips that looked sharp enough to split hairs. The handles were of matching silver formed into delicate patterns, inland with jewels that matched your kingdom's colors. The metal reflected the light of the fire behind you, flickering gold and orange, like the blades held the sun.

 Looking up to your parents your father explained. “I had those made for the two of you.” 

 You waited, but that was all he offered. Hajime watched you balance the dagger in your hand, turning it over and examining it. 

 “They’re beautiful.” You say.

 “I would hope that you don’t use them on each other, and only wear them for celebrations, but I doubt that is something that will happen.” 

 Hajime chuckled, looking down at his own dagger. The king might not have said it, but he had a feeling he knew what the daggers were for. 

 They were the two of you. Cut from the same stone, at each other with blades as sharp as diamonds, all while in your shining castle. 

 They were to remind you where you came from, that you two were one in the same, and that you were to work together. Much better to mar an enemy with the same blade than have the one that matches your in your gut. 

 “Thank you,” he said.

 Hajime looked at you, and you were smiling. Leaning over, your grin was feral, and he couldn’t help the electricity that went down his spine.

 “Do you know what this means?” You ask. “I need to get my dresses tailored.” 

 Hajime ruffled your hair, but your smile was burned into his memory. One in the same. Maybe his future queen really would be as strong as him. 

 Hajime could learn to like that.

 -

 Hajime was trained by your father and his men to be a warrior. Your warrior. While you were trained in how to fight men across oceans and continents, he was taught how to fight men with steel and teeth. You did give him a run for his money when you brawled, but he knew that he would never want to be facing you in a killing field, with an army at your disposal.

 Your cleverness was beyond him, not that you would ever give yourself credit for it. But you were still young, and when he caught something that you had missed in meetings or conversations, the sparkle in your eye, the way he knew you were in awe of him, was addictive.

 In all honesty, Hajime wasn’t your only lover, or admirer, you had many. Your parents were kind to you, your father could often be found making you giggle, especially when you were seated next to him at meetings. Your mother and you discussed books and music. You would often receive compliments from your father’s advisors and friends, which always made you blush in thanks. And your mothers lady’s loved to give you advice about clothes and any romantic endeavors you might go one. Not that there were many. The boys liked winking at you, and making you blush. Hajime tried his best to keep that to a minimum. Your court did love you, they loved the princess that was bashful and kind, but had the cleverest ideas at council meetings. You were the beautiful shining light, in your beautiful shining castle, and you would keep your court strong.

 Those were all things that Hajime knew well. Painfully well. Because he was always the first to notice. He had seen how they all cared and vowed to make sure that you would stay that way, that you were protected and cared for. So your light never went out, so your kingdom was always strong. He would do what he must, he would not let your court fall.

 So when he had looked at you and the light in your eyes had changed, he felt responsible.

 It wasn’t a bad change, just different. It only took him a short amount of time to pinpoint what it was.

 He couldn’t love you, not like that. He couldn’t let himself break you, because he knew he’d manage somehow, he was always a little heavy handed.

 What protector would he be if he broke your heart? If he was the first one to weaken you? To welcome you into the cruel world you would be entering, of choosing the best of horrible options, of lying and deceiving? He would not be the one to welcome you to that.

 -

 Maybe he was wrong, maybe you could take it. He wouldn’t be the one introducing you to the hurt, he could be the one to guide you through it.

 -

 He was surprised when he found you, always too afraid to wander the place at night. You were in a sitting room, long forgotten by the court, locked away and covered in sheets. 

 It was one of the rooms you would play in as children, with the furniture pushed to one corner; each and every one of the walls between the tall windows was covered in paintings.

 By now both of you had them memorized, whether that be by sunlight, candle light or moon light, both of you knew each of them well.

 You were only looking at one, standing right in front of it, your favorite painting of them all. 

 Hajime watched you, in the light of the moon, stare at the picture. Your profile was perfectly outlined by the stark light.

 “Tell me about her again,” he asked, voice carrying across the room.

 You spare him a glance before turning back to the painting.

 You take a step closer and take a breath. “Her name was Kiyoko.”

 You bring your hand up, and with only a finger you delicately trace the frame. 

“She was the most beautiful woman in the land, and the man who painted her was in love with her, but there were few who weren’t.”

 Hajime didn’t have to see the picture to know what it looked like, he had spent plenty of time looking at it with you. The girl was beautiful, with silky black hair, pale skin, and eyes that felt like they knew all, like they were windows into the fiercest storm.

 He knew the curve of her lips and the mole on her chin, and the pastel color of her dress. She was framed in a sea of greenery; plants, grass and trees all around her. Despite her pale dress and cool eyes she was surrounded by orange flowers, and in the corner of the painting, were perched crows.

 He wasn’t sure what made you stare at that painting like you did. Like you could see details that weren’t there. You had always said that when you looked at it, you longed for the frame to expand, for the picture to grow wider, to see what she saw.

 You also had a thousand questions for her, you wanted to know her as intimately as you knew her face. But she never answered, staring back with those eyes, until only Hajime was left to answer your questions.

 “She was loved by everyone, it was said that you would be blessed if she acknowledged you, and if she spoke to you, you were destined for the most devine heaven.” You move your finger from the frame to the painting, looking like you would touch it, but you don’t, only coming infinitely close.

 “She married the man she loved, and had a laugh that sounded like bells.” You bring your hand down and step back from the painting. 

 “You would be her most devoted admirer.” Hajime said.

 “I already am,” you smile looking down at your hands, “but I think she would have deserved a beautiful friendship.” 

 -

 It wasn’t a real story, her name was Kiyoko, that was the name of the painting, but each time you told it, it was different.

 Looking up to reply to Hajime, you met his eyes. On his face was a smile that delicately curved, turning his mouth up.

 That smile… the curve of his mouth, the sharp teeth behind it. It made your knees week, the relief of seeing it again.

 He took steps towards you, until you were standing shoulder to shoulder looking at her again. 

 “What do the crows mean,” he asked, encouraging you to keep going.

 You take a moment before answering. “They’re her other admirers, only to ever love her from afar.” 

 He hummed, and you swear you could feel it in your bones. 

 You turn to look at him, right in the eyes.

 “It matters… it mattered because you weren’t looking at me.”

 He tried to speak, but you stopped him. “No, listen to me.”

 He wouldn’t look away from your eyes, face cool.

 “I couldn’t- can’t- you just… you weren’t looking at me, and I didn’t know what to do. It’s unbearable.” Your words were so quiet, always so quiet in moments like these

 It seemed like he couldn’t bear to break the silence as he said with narrowed eyes. “You think I don’t know, that I didn’t see?”

 “You won’t break me Hajime,” you say with a scoff. He almost flinced, coming close but stopping. Like you had seen right through him when he wasn’t expecting.

 “You don’t know that,” he hissed, “I know, saw it, everything, and I made that decision. I won’t be the one to introduce you to that, to be the first one to hurt you.” 

 He spoke with his hands, and you watched them as they moved. They were so wide, well taken care of, you remember them being softer than expected.

 “You’re supposed to protect me,” you grit through your teeth. You don’t know if he can tell how flushed you are, but you know he can see the silver lining your eyes.

 “H-how am I supposed to protect this kingdom, t-this court without you! I can’t do it without you.”

 “You’ll do just fine,” he said, standing up straighter.

 “Don’t say that! Why would you- why would you say something like that.” 

It was getting hard to get the words out, every time he spoke you ached more and more.

 He was panting, like those words had winded him. His face was hard, unyielding. You wrapped your arms around yourself, and covered your wobbling mouth. A sick imitation of a comforting embrace

-

 He didn’t know what to do. His princess was shattering right in front of him and there was nothing he could do. 

 There was no one to point a blade at, no where to keep you safe. Looking at the tears in your eyes, he knew that this had been happening for a while. You were begging him to take his words back, any of them, but he wouldn’t let himself.

 Hajime resisted the urge to look down at his hands. He’d always been heavy handed, that's what he had said to himself. He was trying to shield you, gods-dammit, but those hands had done more harm than good when it really mattered.

 All he could do was watch you crumble in on yourself, while he stood feet away.

 -

 He was clueless. He always knew what to do. Your faithful, balanced Hajime was at a loss.

 You could see it, you blinked and you were there. No longer in that moon-bathed room, but outside, children again.

 How old were you? Nine? Eleven? How old was he? Thirteen? Fifteen? You were just children; the same as always. Had you even grown up, were you always clutching each other like this? So dependent yet so unaware of each other?

 You had never seen him like this, he lived with a sword in his hand and a shield on his back. His upper lip stiff, his will unmoving.

 But the man standing in front of you was desperate, with his hands splayed in front of him, like they would burn you if he got too close.

 Why couldn’’t you just say it, why were you two always dancing around it? Your own choreography, your own sacred, unique steps. 

 “I’m tired,” you say, shoulders dropping, eyes lifting to the ceiling.

 “I am too,” Hajime admitted.

 You closed your eyes tight, feeling more tears fall from your lashes. And when you opened them again, you were met with steel. Not like the steel of blades, but unforged steel, ready to be shaped, reborn.

 Looking into those eyes, the irises that framed hurricanes, it felt like those roaring winds blew right through you. Breathing life into you, fanning your flames. Maybe she could answer just one question for you.

 This is the last time, you vowed to yourself, no matter how it ends.

 -

 Hajime didn’t ask questions as you dragged him through the palace, his presence giving you a little more confidence than before.

 Up and up you went, just when he thought you were done taking him up stairs you found another set, and headed right to the top. You only felt him hesitate once, but you didn’t look back, and he followed. You made it to the top. A tower that was once a sentries station. 

 “How did you… isn’t there someone working here?” Hajime asked.

 You didn’t have to look at him to see the crease in his brow. “No, there’s no need to have anyone up here.”

 Your kingdom had been peaceful for years, if any attacks were to come, they would not be so often as to need guards on the lookout every day. Hajime knew that, so you followed. “I haven’t been sleeping, so I’ve just been walking around at night… and I wound up here.” 

 He didn’t say anything, but you knew what he was thinking. You never walked alone, the fact that you had been in that sitting room tonight was shocking. But you? Wondering up here?

 On one hand, you hoped that he was feeling guilty. On the other, you felt horrible for tearing him up like that. But you knew that was how he was feeling, he wouldn’t push it to the side this time. Not with it spelled out in front of him.

 Crossing his arms and leaning back, he gave you a look of disapproval, but you were no stranger to those cunning eyes. You tried not to dwell on the picture before you, slowly focusing into something- someone you recognized.

 You walked up to the window, leaning against it, staring at the slowly brightening horizon. 

 “Just tell me why.” Was all you said.

 -

 Hajime stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder with you, hand on the cool window sill. The warmth that encompassed Hajime's side almost made him purr, you were so close.

 He took a moment to look at the view, the mountains in the distance, silhouetted by the rising sun. The dark sky was slowly becoming a splash of deep colors.

 “I don’t just protect you, your life isn't your own. What I do affects you, what I see keeps you safe. What I let you do… it could change so much. If I stumble, if I overlook something- so much is at steak. And I know what you were thinking when you looked at me.”  He paused as you nodded, and watched your eyes move from the horizon to the city nestled below the palace. “So I stopped, and you were pissed.”

 “I’ll be disappointed if you say you didn’t see that coming.”

 “Well, it worked to my advantage… until you woke me up that night…” 

 Your smile melted, but you didn’t say anything. Maybe he was bracing for something, that crackling irritation he was used to. But it didn’t come.

 Hajime stiled. Maybe this wasn’t him talking to his princess anymore, as you listened, as he spoke, he realized it was his queen in front of him. 

 “You hurt me. You were mine and then suddenly you weren’t.” He sat there and listened as your voice cracked

 “I’m sorry”

 You turned to look at him. “You can’t break me that easy Hajime, we’re one and the same, in sword and devotion. I want you at my back, I want you protecting me. I need you to want the same. I thought- I thought we agreed on that. So please… let me choose you.”

 “Please let me be your princess, please let me choose you, I want you to protect me, the right way.”

 With you next to him he could see the sunlight reflected in your eyes, how it made them sparkle, how the roofs of your city seemed to wink up at you with the last slivers of moon light. Telling him how much hope they had for you, how they knew that their princess would keep them safe.

 “I'm sorry,” he whispered.

 With that admission, you threw yourself at him, wrapping your arms around him and squeezing him as hard as you could. You took a few breaths before pulling back, still keeping your arms around him, looking into his eyes.

 “Let me be your princess Haji, please.” It was like you were looking for something in his eyes, not breaking the connection.

 “Always,” he whispered, leaning closer, not looking away.

 “But you aren’t my princess.” He watched your eyes flutter and he drew closer and closer, wrapping his arms around you, keeping you right against him. “You're my queen.”

 He met your lips, and you were the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. He didn’t think he could ever forgive himself if he made you feel like you had again. 

 And as the sun created the mountains, and it's morning rays illuminated you and Hajime, he knew that his hands might have broken you, but they had also put you back together. 

 -

 Pulling away from Hajime, you try not to look as out of breath as you felt. You stared into his slate eyes and felt like he had never left, that the time between you that had hurt you  was just a memory, a distant past.

 They say you can’t remember pain. Maybe its to give you the courage to forgive, to be able to try again.

 You watched his mouth as he said, “I'm a fool.”

 “Then that would make me a fool too,” you muse, tone playful.

 “No,” he said, shaking his head slightly, furrow in his brow. “We can’t have a queen who's a fool.”

 “Then what am I?”

 “An idiot,” you watched his mouth as he said it. His smile was crooked, like he was trying to hide it.

 “Like the lovers,” You breathe, your own smile spreading across your face.

 “Like the lovers,” he repeated.

 The word lovers echoed in your head when you decided you wanted to kiss him again.

 -

 With each breath, you felt the embers inside of you cool to ashes, blowing in the wind like ash. 

 You might have lied, that night wouldn't be your last fight, but it would never be like that ever again.

 Hajime and you were once again in the practice hall, but this time things were different. You were both giddy, as the early morning sun glinted in your eyes. You tumbled and swung your swords at each other, but this time it was laughter shared between you, not savage words.

 You felt like you two were dancing again. With your dress whispering around your legs, and the dagger that matched Hajimes visible around your hip, you felt like you had that night as children, when Hajime first taught you to laugh. 

 You weren’t upset, or nervous this time, as you gave each other bruises and sore shoulders. Because later that morning at the ceremony you knew who would be standing next to you, with his back straight and his shoulders down. Your fiercest warrior and most devoted lover.

[daisukejigenfans]

I found this awesome Doujinshi Cover while browsing through mandarake.co.jp. Unfortunately I cannot read japanese, but as far as I could read in the description the cover was illustrated by Amanagi Maro. 

I couldn´t find anything else, but maybe someone of you is able to find their social media or something? If possible I just like to add links to the artist that made this wonderful artwork! :) 

EDIT: Got some info from a friendly fellow fan who gave some thoughts about the japanese text here:

“I don’t know the artists info and you might have already translated it, but from what I can tell the cover of the doujinshi you posted says “Ru-Ji (as in lupin and jigen) Rice Anthology.” if anyone knows otherwise please correct me but I think that’s what the japanese text says!

I think it can also be translated to Meal Anthology because a lot of japanese meals include rice, so ごはん can mean meal too. might not be much help but it might make it easier to search for!”

(thanks again for that info~ :)

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Shielded. Chapter Four

Happy Sunday all, back to the usually scheduling this week. I hope you enjoy the next week of lockdown with Jamie and Claire <3 Mod MBD.

Anonymous said to imagineclaireandjamie: 

It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it. [Seneca]

CHAPTER FOUR: WEEK TWO - Home and Away.

As Monday rolled around again, the weekend having passed by in a blur, Claire sat at the breakfast table with a fresh cup of coffee in her hands. Having ventured down during the day on both Saturday and Sunday, she had hoped to bump into Jamie and pass on her thanks to his generosity but he had been out before sunrise each day and she had been asleep before he’d returned home.

Resolute, however, she chose to spend her day downstairs and hopefully get something on for dinner before he came back so she could at least start the week off right.

Fate, however, wasn’t on her side. By 10pm, with the lasagne tucked away, wrapped in foil, in the fridge, she covered her mouth with a yawn and pulled herself up the stairs to bed.

The crash and smashing of a glass bought her out of her sleep as the clock beside her bed clicked over to 3am. Pulling herself from beneath the sheets, she crept downstairs, eager not to scare him as she approached the kitchen.

“Couldn’t sleep?” She asked, knowing full well he had only just returned home.

He was stood by the sink, cold lasagna on the countertop and his mucky boots still on his feet. With the fork held to his mouth, he smiled as he took another bite of the pasta, chewed and then shook his head. “I havena ever been the best sleeper but it’s lambing season, aye? One of them got into bother and I couldna leave her until I knew she was safe.”

“And she made it?”

“Aye. I was luckier tonight than I was at the weekend.”

“Oh, dear...that doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s the job, I’m afraid. If I didna lose at least a handful a year I’d be shocked.”

It was the first real (and longest) conversation they’d had since she’d arrived and she was suddenly grateful for the company. He was calm, grounded and relaxed in the way a lot of city dwellers weren’t. She could tell in the slump of his shoulders that it didn’t matter how long and awkward his day was, how messy or how little sleep he had gotten the night before, he was still weightless almost, free of the constraint modern living brought to most.

“I wanted to say thank you,” she broke in, remembering the reason she’d half-blindly stumbled down in the middle of the night, “you’ve been so amazing - to get me materials for a garden, that’s...above and beyond the call of duty.”

“Ach,” shaking his head, he finished the last of his supper, balled the tin foil up and placed it in the bin, “dinna fash yersel’ about that. It’s no’ a problem.”

He was embarrassed, she could tell. Abashed, his accent had become incredibly thick and almost impossible to understand. But it was quiet enough here that there was no background noise to blot out his sentence and luckily she didn’t have to ask him to repeat himself.

“Well, nonetheless,” ignoring the slight reddening of his cheeks she continued, “I am very grateful to you. For everything.”

With nothing more to say between them, she waved, smiled and backed off, feeling strangely pleased with herself for breaking the silence between them. Hopefully, she thought as she climbed the stairs back to her room, there would be some evenings in the future when they could eat together and she could show her appreciation by making him something warm and fresh.

-- --

By mid-week, she had yet to see Jamie again. His work was intense, and yet, despite that, he had still managed to begin construction of her tiny garden.

In her haste she had forgotten that she wasn’t allowed outside the house and, as she’d watched the greenhouse foundations being laid, she had become almost inconsolable about the fact that she probably wouldn’t get the chance to tend to any of the produce grown in it.

She knew, however, that safety was more important than new hobbies and she chose, instead, to make detailed lists of the daily needs of each of the seeds and plants Jamie had procured for her.

She started with the tomatoes and grapes, which needed to be contained within the glass walls in order to collect enough light and heat to survive. She noted water levels, soil PH and balance and daily rituals which would need to be abided by in order for the best crop to be formed. It filled most of her days and when the sun went down, she’d swap her notepad for the computer as she researched all the differences she might see in her fruit and veg determined all by the way they were treated as they grew.

Though she had never been an artist, she started to search for youtube videos on how botanical art could be created. Having no coloured pencil crayons or watercolours, she stuck to pencil sketches and began to leave more post-it’s, this time with future predictions on what the garden might produce for the household.

Once again Jamie enjoyed coming home. There had only been a few days lapse in her communications but when he didn’t see her for days, it was the one thing he could rely on to buoy his spirits.

They were different, in so many ways, but on a subconscious level, he pondered to himself at night as he held the drawing of some rare cabbage in his hands, Jamie felt as if they had very many similar quirks. He’d been pleased that his idea to leave her be for as long as she needed had been a success and was grateful she felt at home enough to reform her life around his. Her asking for the garden made him realise how easy it might be for someone else to fit into his own life without causing him much grief.

It was only a small thing, but to him it had made a huge difference. Having lived alone for so long, he had almost forgotten how malleable people could be. Though, he thought as he rifled around in the fridge for more pre-made meals, he had probably just gotten lucky with Claire.

The thought also occurred to him that she had been inadvertently raised more suited to this life than her old one, but he didn’t know enough about her to advance on the notion.

It wasn’t until late on Thursday when they came face to face together. After another heavy day and late night, Jamie finally toe-ed off his work boots at nearly midnight and made his way, quietly, through to the kitchen.

He had not expected to nearly bump straight into Claire has she dished up what looked like a very tasty stir fry.

“I thought you might be sick of reheating pasta dishes, so I thought I’d try and wait for you this time.”

“Ye didna have to, it’s very late.” He scratched the back of his neck bashfully, even she couldn;t find the truth in his words and she smiled as she placed a fresh bottle of soy sauce in the centre of the table. “But this does smell delicious.”

“It’s taken me a few attempts to hone it, but I’ve been practicing most evenings this week to try and get it perfect, flavour as well as how long I need to cook the veg for.”

“What’s the meat?” He asked, watching as his stomach rumbled audibly.”

“I used the duck, I hope you don’t mind. I used chicken earlier in the week but I couldn’t seem to get it as tender as I wanted it and a few forums online suggested that duck might be a better substitute if I wanted meat with a bit more moisture.”

“Perfect. Use any meat you want from the freeze, for anything. Honestly, I forget most of the time what I’ve got in there.”

Placing several bowls filled with various meats, vegetables and sides, she went back to the sink to wash the remaining stickiness of her hands before beckoning him to start without her. “I had hoped you weren’t saving anything for a special occasion.”

“Ach, I think the virus has put pay to anything like that for a while,” he began, filling his plate with noodles, duck and beansprouts, “my sister - she lives in Canada now - had planned a summer visit, but we’re no’ sure of anything at the moment.”

“Is she the one in the photo,” Claire enquired, taking a mouthful of her own concoction and swallowing back the relief when it tasted nice - a mixture of sweet and savory that wasn’t as overpowering or as dry as it had been earlier on in the day when she’d made the first of the final tests. “The one with brown hair?”

“Aye, she is. Her partner, Ian, got a job out there a few years ago and they emigrated. We talk as often as we can on Skype and FaceTime but it’s become sporadic recently wi’ my erratic work hours. She’s a nurse, ya see, and works odd shift patterns too. But we try and keep in touch at least once a month.”

“Do you miss her?”

“I didna really think about it, we were close....until we werena. Then they moved away and I fell into a new routine.”

He had begun to speak without thinking, filling up the silence with answers to her questions as they ate in between conversation. He had, though, had the forethought to stop before giving too much away. The thought hurt his heart and he had to inhale between a bite of his dinner to gather himself back up. He knew, given time, that he would be alright with sharing his past (as he hoped she would be with hers) but tonight wasn’t the night for revelations.

Sensing his reluctance to continue, she moved on, understanding that she herself wasn’t in a place to open up about her own family life.

“I can imagine Skype is about the only way most are communicating at the moment.” Sighing, she started to collect the empty dishes and load the dishwasher. “I’m quite grateful, actually, that I don’t have anyone to keep in touch with. It’s all...quite scary.”

It was the first time Jamie had consciously thought about the pandemic, being cut off from the outside world had its benefits and he felt relieved that he could separate himself from the constant barrage of news that he supposed others would be exposed to. He realised that both he and Claire were unique now, part of a smaller section of society where being remote was almost a blessing rather than a curse.

“If you ever need to talk, lass,” standing, he helped to clean up the remaining mess from dinner, his hand almost brushing against hers as he wiped the countertop down, breaking only to hover for a second before returning to his job, “ye know where I am. Please dinna think you have nobody...if yer concerned, aye?”

“Thank you Jamie.” Pulling her fleece cardigan across her chest she walked slowly to the kitchen door, pausing for a second in the doorway just to make sure she’d left nothing out to go cold and mouldy overnight. “The same to you. I’m a good listener, I promise, if you ever need to talk, or if you need any help.”

She’d been thinking about his life on the farm for a few days now, watching the rolling hills out of her window, seeing the sheep and cattle on the horizon and -very occasionally- seeing the silhouette of him roaming his land. There was little she could do from indoors, she knew, but there had been chores around the house that she could potentially complete. Putting herself to task, she had learned new basic kitchen skills but only this morning she’d noticed the beginnings of a hole on the seam of his trousers as they dried on the rail in the courtyard and she thought it might be something she could tend to...should he be alright with it.

Leaving with the quiet settling calmly between them, she noted the relaxing of the muscles in his face as he smiled and nodded as she turned and carried herself to bed.

Resting against the faux-marble worktop, Jamie closed his eyes as he waited for the soft slam of her bedroom door before he followed her up. She just might, he thought to himself as he undressed himself, taking a towel from his radiator and making his way to the shower, be better equipped for this life than I am.

[redrosesartcabin]

Calibans journey

Hello peeps: I started writing a fanfiction with an alternativ ending and consequencial continuation. I hope I´ll finish this one, but if zou like it you can just push me to do so! This is the prologue of the whole thing. I will also post this fanfiction on my A03 account (Redrosessoulcabin). I hope you like it!

Edit: Hey guys! I’ll be continuing this fanfic over in A03. Here’s the link to the fanfic. I hope you’ll like what I have in store!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/28525986/chapters/69900519

Prologue: 

Caliban sat, alone, in the Void. He heard the others cry in silence, they wanted to leave the darkness, the brightness, the nothingness, too much for the human mind to comprehend.

But he did not care. All he cared about was getting out of here again, getting the body of his bride and finally honoring her death. 

If he hadn't been made out of clay, maybe he would've cried too. 

But he wasn't. 

Did he even feel anything at all like they do?

He supposed so. 

Around Sabrina Morningstar, he had always felt like a pottery figure in the oven, burning a strong foundation, almost undestroyable. 

Now it felt like he was drying out, falling apart, as though the figure had been thrown out of the oven before having finished the process, being left to crumble away.

´That´ he thought ´must be what clay feels like when in love and when in pain´ and he started contemplating this, almost feeling cold, almost feeling like fading away.

“Stop this pity party!”, he yelled, angrily at himself, into the emptiness -not receiving an echo which would´ve sent shivers down his spine if he had human skin- stood up and tried summoning the fires of hell to get him back.

But nothing came.

He tried and tried, but nothing came of it. 

He sighed and sat down again. Feeling his soul wanting to leave his body.

“I wish I could come to you, my love”, he whispered, looking up, or maybe down. He couldn't tell. There was no up or down, no north nor south. 

Suddenly he felt a vibration. Time had passed, how much, he could not tell. Time didn´t matter here, nor did it ever matter to him. 

But not much time could´ve passed as he saw the former human friends of his bride run into the no space of the void, looking just like as he remembered them, and from the little he knew about mortals, he knew that they age and therefor change in appearance. 

That somehow gave him a vague sense of relief. Not much time having passed means there was time to maybe fix things, to make things right… the way he thinks it's right at least.

At first he was thinking that maybe the other Sabrina asked her friends to save him too, but as he heard them walk to the mortal miners, not shouting his name, it was clear he was condemned to be left alone.

Maybe he should just make them take him! But what would that do? Why would he want them to know where he is inside of this non-realm? He was in the weaker opposition right now. And who knows how long they had till the portal would close? Until everything would cease to be? They had no time to fool around! He had no time to fool around.

´No´, he thought ´I have to escape myself´. 

He was thinking back and forth, if he could run through the portal, unnoticed. However, he was sure shortly after contemplating that simplistic plan, that the other acquaintances were surely waiting on the other side.

Maybe he should…

He could feel it. The energy as he called for it, asked if it surrounded him.

“Could it-”, he wanted to ask himself but felt it dwindling slowly again. 

´I have to try it again or I will never be able to try again´

So one last time, he called for Hellfire. And surely: It surrounded him, wrapped him up like one wraps themselves into a blanket on a cozy afternoon. 

The opening of the portal must´ve connected to Void to the realms once more, making him able to use his powers again.

Before he was sucked away he could see in an indeterminable distance, Nick, the other Sabrina's lover, with Pandora's box. He opened it and screamed in pain, as it sucked in all, including himself. For a moment Caliban thought it was too late, that he´d be sucked in too. He closed his eyes, felt the fire protect him, hoped it would protect him well enough...

...and there it was. As he opened his eyes he could see its autumn colored beauty. Hell.

“Oh my beautiful Hell! Thank you unholy fire for bringing me here!”, he screamed. He breathed out air out of his nonexistent lungs and exclaimed a little shaky 

“That was close”, before venturing off to the throne.

Meanwhile, back at Spellmans sacrifice, they saw Pandora's box, having fallen to the floor, Nick disappeared, he had sacrificed himself as well as she did.

A tragic event.

The living cried tears of sorrow for the young couple that had died together, but it was said that at least they'd be together in the afterlife.

Non of both had been left behind to live a life of pain with thoughts of suicide, no after tragedy for either one of them.

So it happened to be, that Sabrina Spellman and Nick walked, in spirit, hand in hand, into the room of the afterlife, crying together for their lost life, but happy to have given peace in union…

Their story was over.

Caliban's story and his mission however just started. 

As he returned to the throne, he noticed Lilith there, Satan was gone.

“Oh no”, he only whispered, deciding, instead of risking a fight he wouldn't win, to flee into the shores of sorrow. 

Everything seemed out of control and out of reach for him, but he wouldn´t give up. He couldn´t give up. All could not be lost. 

So, since he did not know what else he could do right now, he looked at the sorrowful sea, that he knew too well and did more thinking than he had ever done before.

Finally, after two days, as though the huge wave that had almost engulfed him had brought it, an idea flooded his mind, and he decided to go on a journey, to find his bride. 

How, you might ask?

Well, he had thought, what happened to Morningstar after she died? Her soul couldn't just have disappeared? It must´ve returned to hell. For why wouldn't the soul of the queen of hell return to hell itself? And since they had found Spellmans body, and that he knew from sources that shall not be revealed -(stalking probably)-, he would return his lover's soul to that body (the other body was too wounded, too poisoned to have a soul return to it), that technically was hers anyways. The way he saw it, it was all Spellmans fault. His bride deserved every version of her, every life of hers. 

He decided to shortly visit the mortal realm before starting his search, where from afar he watched the burial of his beloved and the false-one. 

Caliban waited for a while, quite patiently, which he usually wasn´t, and, when the ceremony had ended and everyone had gone home again, he buried out Spellmans body and quickly fixed the grave again before anyone could notice his presence. 

They had managed to unfreeze Spellmans body quite well. She was in one piece, well conserved and dressed in a beautiful black gown and golden glittery eyeshadow with deep dark red lips.

“Let's find your rightful soul, my love”, he whispered, carrying her like a bride, before disappearing in his fiery swirl. 

He searched for a place to hide her body whilst he would look for her soul and found a beautiful tempel amidst the dark trees in the forest of torment.

“Here, you shall be safe for now. Nothing wants you here, the torments will keep you safe. There is no hope for you yet, so they will find no way to give you mental pain. I´ll be off now, and I promise to find you, no matter what it takes…”

[junipasims]

Hello, sorry to trouble you, I like your /i-had-this-idea-of-a-cyberpunk-building-that-was . I have some wcif problems. In the last picture of this post , there is a big chinese arch with "云彤山庄‘’ , can you tell me where I can find it ? Also in the last picture, there is a old grey white wall with holes behind vending machines, Where can find the old grey white wall with holes ? I think it is a fence or decor ?

Hello! This beautiful arch is made by @kozasakura, sadly their blog is down and they have removed the download, and I couldn´t find it anywhere else  :( Maybe anyone else knows if you can still find this somewhere?

But at least I can help you with this one :) It´s by Granny Zaza, you can find it here (it´s called fence block)

[theotherace]

The Woman In The Caves Isn’t Real

This is a Work In Progress, but I haven’t posted any of my writing in a hot minute, so here we go. 

–oOo–

Tulok had been a few months shy of a year when the woman in the caves had first started appearing, too small still to remember a time in which nobody whispered about her all autumn long, too young by far to remember the only time she’d stepped foot into any of their settlements.

Puja remembers, though, very well, and Akna does, too, for the most part, and Rupa pretends to, as well, just to hold it over his head like she always does with everything. They tell him about her ghostly eyes and strong step, and none of them insist she is a spirit, though many of the other children – and even some of the adults – do.

“They’re idiots”, Puja says, waving her hand and shaking her head when her friends tell scary stories and Tulok hides under her arm. “She was real, trust me.”

“Spirits are real”, he whispers with wide eyes.

“Course they are.”

She clucks her tongue.

“That’s not what I meant. Spirits are real in a diff’rent way than you and I, and she wasn’t.  She belonged where we belong. But even if she’s a spirit, I don’t think she’s evil. She wouldn’t have minded her business in those caves for so long if she were.”

“Maybe she’s waitin’”, Ya drawls from the other side of their fire and wiggles his fingers. He’s grinning even as Puja shoots him an annoyed look. “The woman in the cold, dark caves. Waitin’ for just the right moment t’ strike, just the right person t’ enter her realm. Maybe she’s waitin’ for … you!”

And Akna jumps when his finger lands on her, even if she doesn’t believe in his stories, and Tulok buries himself deeper into Puja’s side.

“You’re terrible”, his middle sister grumbles.

Ya laughs.

“Just waitin’ for you t’ come t’ close to her caves, and then – bam! – she’ll suck you in and eat you up in a second.”

Akna sticks her tongue out at him.

“She’s not even a spirit.”

“Proof it, then.”

Which he shouldn’t have said, for Tulok’s sake if not for anyone else’s.

Because of course she hears him, smirking still, and immediately decides that is just what she needs to and wants to and will do, and she can’t go alone, of course not. She has to drag Puja with her, who’s supposed to be watching Tulok and also can’t say no.

So, that’s what they do the next day, Akna walking in the front, Puja behind her with a whining Tulok on her back, and Rupa behind them, because she refuses to be left behind, refuses to be left out.

Their mother isn’t home to stop them, somewhere on her own trek through the swamp to find an exceedingly rare herb, and their father hasn’t been home for months, though he should be back soon, and Tulok, hanging from his sister’s back, wishes not for the first time that Pa would’ve taken them with him.

They wouldn’t be chasing spirits, then, and he really would’ve liked to see the snow.

“Can’ we just go home?”, he whines.

“No”, Akna says.

“We coulda just left you home”, Rupa says.

“Nu-uh, you couldn’.”

“Yeah, we could.”

“Mama would be angry with you.”

“Mama’s not here.”

“Enough”, Puja says, because her brother’s yammering is very loud in her ear, and shuts them both right up. “We’re all going, we’ll find probably nothing or an old woman, which is basically the same, and then we’ll be back home before Mama’s back. Easy’s that.”

“I don’ wanna go.”

“Yeah, you said, Tu. You’re going, though, and there’s no reason to be scared, okay? There’s no evil spirit.”

“But–”

“But if there is, we’ll protect you.”

She sighs.

“Right, guys?”

“Speak for yourself”, Rupa mumbles, and Akna snorts, but says: “Obviously we will. Rupa, too.”

Tulok tightens his grip on Puja’s neck, pouting, and though she grunts, she doesn’t protest, even as his chin digs into her shoulder, deep and deeper with each step they wade further through the murky waters of their home. His eyes are drooping soon, the slow sway of his sister’s steps lulling him into a light almost-sleep. He can hear Akna humming still, but he doesn’t know that it is Akna humming, can hear a bird screaming behind them, but doesn’t remember its name.

He’s good at remembering, usually, at recognizing, he listens when his mother talks and tells him which animal to avoid, which plants not to touch, which parts of the swamp better not to step foot in. Some of them are more dangerous for the unformed mind – and sometimes anybody – than others, and children are taught early, lest they be lured away by a restless spirit or a stray thought.

Rupa groans.

The boy blinks.

“Are we there yet?”, Rupa whines and Tulok yawns.

“You’d know it if we were.”

“Not long anymore, though.”

So they trudge on, past high trees, all the same at first glance, through seemingly endless green, but they have never seen anything but this, never been surrounded by anything but green and same-trees, so where a stranger might get lost and turned around, they know exactly where to set their feet.

Tulok wonders for how long he’d dozed off when, true to his sister’s words, the caves come into view not fifteen minutes later, or that’s how much time he guesses has passed, anyway, and something tugs on his heart, and his stomach twists.

“I wanna go home”, he says, and means it, tugging on Puja’s hair.

“We’re here now”, she retorts, not unkindly, but certainly annoyed.

She lets go of his legs and he dangles from her back from a second in surprise before falling to his feet and crossing his arms over a scrawny chest, pouting once more.

“I won’ go in.”

“You don’t hafta, chicken”, Akna says and pats his head even as he tries to duck her hand. “Just wait here, and be our look-out.”

“I’m not a chicken!”

“Yeah, you are.”

“Nu-uh!”

“Yu-uh!”

“Nu-”

“Do you wanna be look-out or not?”

Akna raises her eyebrows, and then a second later, so does Rupa, as Puja rolls her eyes in exasperation like only an older sister could.

“I wanna go home.”

Arms still crossed, he glowers up at them, and from within the caves, someone calls for him – something, something, there is no one in there, and maybe even nothing –, so he shuffles from foot to foot, just a little, undermining his would-be stern demeanor; not that any of his sisters care, either way.

“I feel weird.”

“Go behind a tree.”

“Not like that.”

He stomps a foot.

Rupa rolls her eyes.

“Just wait out here”, Puja says. “We’ll be back in a minute, promise.”

They’re not.

Of course not.

Big sisters can’t  be trusted.

He watches them walk into the cave and be swallowed by shadows just a moment later, and then he stands and waits and stands some more, and time passes, a lot of it, minutes and minutes, more than one definitely, hours, probably, and they don’t step out of the cave again.

He hasn’t heard their steps echoing from the stone walls in forever.

He doesn’t want to go in after them, doesn’t want to give into the tugging, the pulling, the call of the caves, but when an hour has ticked by – or five minutes, but what difference is there between the two in the mind of a nervous young boy –, he does.

Straightens his back, calls out for his sisters once, and then enters the caves.

Darkness envelopes him soon.

Sooner, still, the path before him forks.

Always go left in a labyrinth, Uncle Due says, and this is as close to a labyrinth as Tulok has come in his life, so he thinks for a moment which hands he uses to hold his spoon and then turns that way.

His fingers brush along the clammy walls, the only thing guiding him, and his heart drums in his throat, his body vibrates.

He doesn’t like these caves.

Maybe this is exactly where he needs to be.

“Rupa?”, he calls, too nervous to shout, and his voice bounces from the walls, shakier with each echo. “Akna? Are you here? Puja? Hello?”

He stands and blinks and scratches at the wall, collecting dirt under his nail.

Pa would make him clean his hands long and hard before dinner if he were here.

Mama won’t care; a bit of dirt cleans the stomach.

Right now, he’s half-sure he won’t ever eat dinner again, so it doesn’t matter, either way. He’s already hopelessly lost in the darkness, he won’t ever leave this cave again.

“Hello?”, he says again.

And jumps when an old voice replies.

“And who would you be, little one?”

His eyes take a moment longer to catch who’s spoken and they widen considerably once they have landed on the woman not too far down the path, not much more than a silhouette in here.

“The Lady in the Caves”, he breathes.

[yandere-daze]

Mine forever- Yandere Risotto Nero x reader (Smut)

A continuation of the Risotto yandere scenario I posted earlier today. You can find it here!  Literally no one asked for this but was in the mood to write this. I´ve actually never written smut before so I´m sorry if it isn´t all that good. I hope you´ll still like it tho!! ^^

Also @kindajared because you wanted a tag when I post this. Here you go!

You were right with your earlier assumption. You wouldn´t leave this office anytime soon, not if Risotto had any say in it. His hand was gently caressing your face, but you knew. As soon as you showed any kind of resistance, he would harshly grab your face and pull you close again. You couldn´t leave, even if you wanted to. But now as Risotto was practically devouring your lips, biting them now and again, you weren´t so sure you really wanted to leave anymore. You felt yourself slowly relaxing and easing into the kiss, returning his fervor as you grabbed him by his shoulder, pulling your boss even closer. You could feel his warm breath against your face as he chuckled lowly. “Is someone getting excited?”, he mused.

“No! I- ahh!”, you tried to explain yourself but any kind of defense you might have conjured up in your mind seemed to disappear when you felt a foreign pressure against your lips. Risotto had lightly parted his own lips to press his tongue against yours, asking for permission. Seeing how he gazed at you expectantly and almost demanding, you couldn´t help but submit as you did the same, granting him entrance to your mouth. Without wasting any time, you immediately felt his tongue intermingle with yours, creating a strange foreign feeling as you two wrestled for dominance. While you felt Risotto further explore your mouth, he started to lift the hand resting on your cheek and moved it further down along your neck with fluttering touches. His hand went lower and lower before resting on your butt, giving it a teasing squeeze. You let out a light gasp at the feeling “C-capo! Stop that! What are you trying to do?”. “You know exactly what I´m trying to do amore.”, he whispered after breaking off your passionate kiss. Moving his hand upward again, he slipped it under your shirt, gently caressing your back with calloused hands, before repositioning them again, now resting on top of your breasts. You let out a shaky breath as he slowly moved his hands, playing with your nipples. “Risotto! Ahh- are you sure about this? ” , you couldn´t help but ask. Were you really going to…? Was that even allowed? He WAS your boss after all. Seemingly noticing your hesitancy his face morphed into a smirk as he continued fondling your breasts, lowering his voice again to whisper into your ear. “You have no idea, darling. I´ve wanted to do this for so long. Having you under me, moaning my name as I pound into you, claiming you forever as mine. You will be mine, amore. I´ll make you feel so good you won´t ever want anyone else again. So please, be a good girl for me and let me take care of you.”

To say that what he whispered into your ear had no effect on you would have been a bold-faced lie. You felt heat rise to your face and a strange feeling pool at the bottom of your stomach as you subtly tried to squeeze your thighs together at the strange sensation. This of course, didn´t go unnoticed by your boss who immediately focused his strong gaze onto your lower body. He removed one of his hands from your chest while the other one continued to circle around your nipples, teasing them relentlessly causing you to let out soft mewls in pleasure. Completely focusing on his left hand, you were surprised when you felt pressure against your clit coming from his right hand. It seemed that while you weren´t paying attention, he had slipped his hand under your skirt now fondling you through your already  soaked panties. “ Fuck, you´re so wet for me amore. You want this as much as I do, don´t you? You love the attention I´m giving you. Let me get rid of these needless distractions.”, he said as he almost teasingly removed your shirt and skirt, leaving you standing in your underwear in front of his hungry eyes, clouded over by lust. “I´m half naked and you´re completely clothed? That´s not very fair now is it?”, you decided to tease back. Letting out a low chuckle at the display of your playful nature, he removed most of his clothes, leaving only his boxers on which gave you a …. very nice view to say the least. Risotto´s giant bulge was very visible now, stretching the material it was incased in. You couldn´t help but reach out a curious hand, wanting to touch it now that it was so close to you. Finally touching the soft material of his boxers, you decide to be bold and slip your hand under the garment, just as he had done for you. You were surprised to feel how hard he had already gotten as you start to slowly move your hand up and down his giant cock. How was this even supposed to fit into you, you wondered. “Fuck, tesoro you´re being so good for me. Don´t stop! Can you see what you do to me? I´ve been fantasizing about this for so long, having you writhe underneath me. Ahhhh.”, your ministrations obviously did something to him, letting out low groans while he kept rubbing at your clit, now tossing your panties aside. You couldn´t help but let out a loud moan as he slowly pressed one of his fingers against your entrance before pushing further and entering you. It was a strange and at first a bit painful feeling, but you soon became accustomed to it. Apparently feeling your walls slowly relax around him he inserted a second finger, stretching you even further as he began to do a scissoring motion and you continued to stroke his hard cock. You could feel a pool of pleasure build up inside you as you slowly started to meet his fingers by pushing your hips forward, trying to create more friction in the process. “God, I don´t think I can hold back anymore y/n. I want to fuck so you bad. Bend you over my desk as I pound into you. I´m going to mark you all over so everyone will know you´re mine. I´m going to fill you up so good amore! You´ll let me do that, right?”. You couldn´t do anything except shakingly nod your head in approval. The feeling of your capo´s fingers twisting inside of you felt good but it wasn´t quite enough anymore. You wanted the real deal. You waited impatiently as Risotto stood up to remove his boxers, now feeling incredibly empty without his fingers inside of you. He shot you a teasing gaze while sliding them down painfully slow so you couldn´t help but send back a small glare. He only chuckled before now standing completely naked in front of you, his impressive length being right in front of you, almost teasingly. “Now”, your boss began while roughly grabbing you by your shoulders, pushing you down on your back so you would lie on top of his desk, not caring what kind of mess you two would make. He grinned down at you with hungry eyes as he started to teasingly rub the tip of his hard cock against your wet folds, making you shiver in anticipation. Not being able to handle the emptiness any longer you exclaim “Just put it in already!”. “Feisty are we now? You know who´s in charge here right? But I´ll comply this time.” He then pushed into you, slowly stretching your tight walls around him as he entered you. It hurt but you knew the pain would fade away soon, just as it did with his fingers, so you tried to relax to make the beginning more bearable. “That´s it tesoro, you´re taking my cock so well. It´s like your pussy was made for me to claim. You´re perfect for me. Let me hear your pretty voice call out my name in ecstasy!”, he proclaimed as he slowly picked up the pace when he saw you were adjusting to his size. You felt so satisfied and full now as your boss started to thrust into you, moving his hips as he pushed in and out of your pussy. You couldn´t help but let out a loud moan and curl your toes as he hit that sweet spot inside of you. “That´s it, moan for me! Let everyone hear that you´re mine!” He pulled you closer so he could get easier access to your neck, leaving hickies to further mark you as his as he continued to pound into you, going at a rapid pace now. “God your pussy feels so good, you´re so tight. You´re making me go crazy y/n!”, he exclaimed while drilling into you, making you feel so good as he kept hitting that spot. You felt like you were in heaven, it just felt too good to be true. “Fuck yes, Risotto! Please keep fucking me! Make me cum, capo!!”, you moaned out. You didn´t care what you sounded or looked like right now, you just knew that you didn´t want this moment to end. Hearing you call him capo seemed to awaken something in him. He let out a low groan as he picked up the pace even more, fucking you relentlessly, balls deep inside of you. “Ahhh y/n I´m growing close. You´re close too, right? You´re clenching around me so good! Let´s cum together. This is an order from your capo y/n. Cum for me! Cum on my cock and milk me dry!”. You´ve never seen your boss like this before but you hoped it wouldn´t be the last time. He made you feel so good, you were seeing stars as you frantically screamed his name as you felt your climax approaching, your toes curling up again. “Fuck! Risotto I´m going to cum!”, you exclaimed as you frantically met his harsh thrusts , gradually getting closer to the edge before finally feeling white hot release as you shuddered and twitched unvoluntarily. You felt Risotto was close too, you felt his dick twitch inside you as your walls clenched around him.

He let out another low groan before pulling out, stroking his hard cock some more before quickly pushing inside your pussy again. “I´m going to come too darling! You´re just to good for me. You´re going to let me come inside you right? I want to so badly. I´ll fill you up with my cum and claim you forever! You´re mine right? Say it!”. He was growing dangerously close, you could tell from his frantic thrust so you decided to say what he wanted to hear to drive him over the edge. “I´m all yours capo! Please fill me up! I want your cum inside of me, I want you to claim me as yours!”

“Ahhhh fuck- I´m gonna, I´ll-!”he let out rushed sentences before finally finding release as you felt his cum fill you up, some  even dropping out of your pussy from the sheer amount of it. Both of you heaving and panting, you slowly started to come down from your high as he practically laid on top of you, cradling your hand. “You´re all mine now. You´ll never leave me and no one is going to take you away from me. We´ll be together forever!”

He´ll never let you out of his sight now.

[random-yandere-fandom]

Hey-o! The Yandere Mael post was absolutely fantastic! I thoroughly loved reading it, you've done a wonderful job! Would it be possible for a Part 2? Where we see what Mael does to the creep? I'm not sure if you're still doing asks right now or if they're closed, so if not ignore the request. Seriously tho, I've reread the thing like five times, the little thing you did with the contradictory words with how he is with his S/O compared to how he is with others- at least others deemed a threat. It's wonderful and I was delighted when I realised. Well done!

Thank you so much, I`m grinning so much right now! And, well, requests were closed at the time but I`m a sucker for compliments so whatever. 

warning!: swears, burning

Yandere Mael with an injured darling Pt. 2

The next morning seemed peaceful enough as you prepared yourself for the day. The events of the day before had you still shaken up, but Mael was doing his best to calm you, his evidently never ending tranquility influencing you. His gentleness was surprising seeing as you had prepared yourself for an emotional outburst but it was welcomed nonetheless. It`s better to settle this matter with a clear mind, you think.

After your boyfriend presses a kiss against your forehead and whispers some loving words he leaves, having to get to work, a meeting he told you, about half an hour or so before you have to get going, too. There`s an undeniable warmth in your now light chest as you remember his promise to talk to the guy, there is no way that he could bother you again after, seeing how influential Mael is.  

As soon as the door had closed behind him a grim expression replaced your boyfriend`s smile. He had been able to comfort you, now he had to take care of someone, no, something else. How anyone with a consciousness could dare harm you was beyond him, he wouldn`t have been surprised if he had found his target had no soul to begin with. That would at least explain his missing morality, his devoid heart and overall stupidity. 

If asked how he felt at that moment, Mael would have responded that he despised that dirtbag through gritted teeth, and even though despising someone is less a feeling and more something one does it was the most accurate description of his mind at that moment. 

He placed a neutral facade on his face, what he`s about to do is nothing others should suspect him of after all. He had spend most of the night planing, his imagination coming up with the cruelest of punishments before deciding on a quick but painful one, he didn`t want to waste much time on that bastard after all. Controlling each of his movements as to not let his sinister thoughts shine through he made his way to the place he guessed the criminal to be at or at least someone that knew where he would be. Was it creepy that your boyfriend was able to find out where the creep lived even though he didn`t leave your side? Yes. Did Mael believe that it was necessary so he`d be worthy to protect you? Absolutely.

Meeting the guy face to face certainly was an experience. The flames he had been trying to suppress and smoother sprang to action and his rage was hard to control as he send him a closed eyed smile. Mael desperately reminded himself of your eyes, your voice, your touch, fighting with himself as to not kill the guy right then and there. 

Coming back from his little daze he noticed the confusion and nervosity of the one in front of him and almost laughed, so he knew why he was here. In the end he had decided against killing him, at least for now, that would have been too merciful after all. He was grateful that he was able to exact revenge and warning in the way he had planned.

Besides the two there was no one else around and Mael let a genuine smile slip out at the thought that he wouldn`t have to drag the creep somewhere else first. Letting his left hand fall on the guy`s shoulder he bend down a bit as to come eye to eye with him. He opened his eyes, carefully watching as the bastard started sweating buckets, asking what the god wanted.   

Mael`s smile widened as he squeezed the guy`s shoulder painfully before mumbling some words, chuckling as the guy screamed and fell to the ground, clutching the part of his body that shined bright for a moment in agony and then returned to normal. He towered over the fallen man, the glare he sent him feeling more burning, scorching than the curse inflicted.

Describing his little trick as he called it he turned around, making his way back home, humming happily. Maybe he could catch you prior to you leaving home, explaining that the meeting was either cancelled or rescheduled and that he can walk with you. The flames had calmed down for now, you no longer had to worry about the guy.

Waking up from having passed out, the waste of space wondered what had happened. The last he remembered he was laying on the ground, his shoulder burning to ashes but his arm now seemed to be fine? Was that a dream? Wasn`t there someone else? The fog in his mind cleared up as the memories came flooding in and he shivered, the sharp gaze Mael had send him, so devoid of any emotion but disgust making him want to run and hide. But he no longer seemed to be around. And what had he talked about again? Fear seeped into his bones at the thought of the curse. He had to tell someone! He had to get he- his knees buckled and a silent scream left his mouth. His leg! It was burning, it was on fire, it was hurting. Looking down he felt his sanity slip as there was nothing. Nothing. But he could feel it, his flesh being devoured by hungry flames that seemed to carry a rage in them that he couldn`t fathom. Tears streamed down his face and the last thing he took note of being the slight ache in his shoulder. Somehow he knew that it was connected but it was hard to grasp any thought. Before long, he blacked out again.  

[alexlabhont]

I didn’t mean to fall in love with you

Chapter Two

Book: Queen B - Choices (Universe)

Pairing:  Poppy Min-Sinclair x Trans!Male MC  (Beck Hughes)

Genre: Canon re-write (Because I can)

Rating: Anyone can read it, really... I think.

I´ll be posting this one over here because Tumblr, for some reason, thinks my secondary blog is a bot...

This is me trying to write by and for the Trans community, specially FTM community, meaning, trans guys, but I actually took the liberty to use They/them pronouns for everyone out there who´s interested (Also, the name Beck was the most neutral one I could find, trying to use the cannon Bea Hughes)

Now, about the PAIRING... I will be using choices style, kinda. If you have any comment, PLEASE BE RESPECTFULL and patient with me. This is also my first english fanfic and english is not my mother language, so... i’m sorry fo the grammar errors

CHAPTERS

The beginning

Chapter one 

ONE-SHOTS

Just a dance (Zoey x MC)

—————————————————————————–

One of their favorite things of all New York experience it's having lunch with Zoey. The girl was funny and interesting and she always had the right conversation to spend time with. Also, she had an incredible taste in music, they both even shared some classes together, working in pair so often that the rest of their classmates just knew they weren't available to them.

So when Beck found out Zoey co-produced the last summer hit, they weren't surprised, what was making some teeny tiny noise in their head was…

“Did you really co-produced Lightning and you didn't tell me?!”

… That.

Beck was impressed, of course. They where proud! That song was one of their personal favorites, so the fact of knowing they were collaborating all this time with such a spectacular talent was an honor.

“To be fair, you never asked” She chuckled.

“Oh, yeah. Yeah, Zoey: Hey, my name's Beck, had you ever co-produced a summer hit? Because I haven’t”. Beck ironized. The news were all over The T, and it definitely had to do with a little lunch Zoey managed to have with the same Professor Roberta, making her finally be friends with Beck. “By the way, thank you very much. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Babe, you just bought us a $200 lunch. I think you deserved not to have some teachers bad blood”

“Maybe I did it to be on your good side” Beck winked towards her, making Zoey laugh.

“Such a charmer, aren’t you?” Zoey opened their room door, finally reaching their home. “Careful, Beck. You’re going to make me believe I'm your favorite girl.”

“How says you aren’t?”

“Hum… I don’t know” She tapped her chin with a perfect polished fingernail, pretending to be thinking about it. “Maybe some little bird called Ina Kingsley.

Ow! Low blow

“Ah, gotcha!” Zoey laughed.

“Ok, that’s completely unfair! You know it was one-time thing and we ended whatever that was as soon as we found out we were teacher-student” Which was practically the very next day, by the way… kinda.

“Still… I think you should make it up to me for it.” Oh, that little flirty game between them. Beck was curious about it most of the time. Was it just a joke? Something more? Back at Farmville they never had a friendship relationship like that one, but Zoey was never really clear about the matter neither.

Instead, she always came up with some Ina related topic and it was confusing as fuck. I mean, yeah, they kissed Zoey in front of everyone in that football kiss cam. Beck thought that time that it was very clear they wanted to be more than friends with her. But apparently, she didn't feel the same, so… they won’t be pushing her. Beck would never oblige someone to be into… well… them.

“What can I do? Please tell” They said, playing along with her.

“You're a smart one. I'm sure you’ll find a way to do so.” Damn it, Zoey…

“I already have a few ideas… Scandalous lingerie.” Beck joked some more, a mischievous smile on their lips. “I’m thinking satin sheets, handcuffs, maybe a blindfold…”

“I like this image. You, sprawled out on the mattress, completely at my mercy…” Zoey moved closer to them, trailing her finger up their arm, making them shiver.

“Come on, Zo. Back down already! At least show me something, do something.”

“I might just take you up on that someday.” She said before walking away, teasing them.

“Gwaah!”

Beck hated that. Really, that kind of frustration was no good at all.

“Crap, I'm gonna be late for music theory! This is not good. The prof is a total hardass.”

“Told ya! You should’ve choose professor Liam as I did. You brought this on yourself.”

“And now you’re just an asshole” She said smiling, hitting Beck right on their arm.

“Ouch! Rude…”

“I’ll catch up with you tonight, yeah?”

“It’ a date”

~~X~~

“Are you sure you’re ok, Poppy?” Veronica asked. She looked preoccupied, and she was… But Poppy wasn’t the one in her mind. The blogger was worried for Chloe.

She was number one now, dethroning Poppy so suddenly that it was suspicious, especially knowing the blonde dumb head girl. She adores Poppy since they were kids, Chloe would never betray her, never. But of course, Poppy wouldn’t see that; no, the strawberry blonde was furious, feeling backstabbed, feeling like revenge…

Of course, you couldn´t blame her. She lived all her life between smoke and mirrors.

“Of course I am!” She replied, knotting her white transparent beach dress, covering up a sexy pink bikini. Poppy took a deep breath and accommodated her cleavage so it shows part of her chest, just a little, seductively inviting, but demure enough no to seem made on purpose. She was an expert on it, and she was about to prove her theory right about now. “I´ll take care of that traitor later…” She checked the hour on her phone. She had invited Farmsville to come there around this time. Test number one: They needed to be punctual, no lover –real or fake- of hers is an irresponsible with her time. She had better things to do than waiting around for an asshole. “Now come, Hughes must be here by now”

 “No, I think I’m going to stay right here. Light’s perfect” Poppy rolled her eyes at the way Veronica was trying to find the right angle to make her face look impossible good. She always manages to do so, though.

The strawberry blonde crossed the room, walking through the cabin towards the swimming pool room, she could see Beck there, on time, talking with Michael. Poppy smiled to herself.

“Test passed, Farmsville…”

“… It was built by the Alphas and Zetas as a place to study, party, hook up… Now the only people who come here are - -“

“The people I decide should be here.” She made her entrance.

Test number two: Is Beck into girls? Kissing Zoey didn´t count, Poppy herself had kissed a lot of friends without liking them, she had to prove it herself first hand. So she walked to them with confidence, head up high while moving her hips seductively, attentive to Beck´s every reaction, reading their face, their expressions, the little gulp in their throat, the way their eyes opened wild, checking her out, looking at her boobs…

“Disgusting pervert”

… to her eyes, were Beck fixed their own to stay, always to the face. Beck was trying to be polite, respectful, but the red on their cheeks was exactly the same they had back in the class. They liked what they saw, Poppy knew it. Just to verify, she took a look at the rest of Alphas, who looked away the moment they were discovered. Ugh, gross.

“… but… you have manners. I like it… Second test approved. Well done.”

“Welcome, Farmsville. Let’s discuss our little project, shall we?” An inviting smirk was drawn on Poppy’s lips, willing to test the limits of her new discovery, how much more could she play with Beck today?

“Oh, sure. See ya guys at gym” Beck said, bumping fists and shoulders with the Alphas as if they were good friends. One more of them. For an instant, Poppy found herself wishing they won’t turn Beck into a brainless gorilla. Beck was fine just like already was.

A blonde head caught her eye from behind Beck, saving her of questioning what was that though about because the anger crawled its way up her stomach, keeping her from minding of anything else. “Hold on. What is she doing here?”

The fucking nerve!

The audacity!

Every person in the room was watching Chloe, but nobody had the rage Poppy had. Of course she made them block the entry, how dare she?! After a little scene, that bitch finally went away. To think she considered Chloe her very own best friend! Deep inside, she was hurt, she felt used… The society was right: never to trust anyone, because their always pretending, always faking no matter what they said. Waiting the right moment to strike. That was a mistake she was never going to repeat. Never. She was about to leave, ready to start the project, but of course, Beck was about to ruin her mood one more time.

“That was… pretty rough…” What did they just say? The strawberry girl observed Beck. There was no rest of respect in them, conversely, Beck looked at Poppy as if she was Narnia´s White Witch, what happened to the little lamb look? “I get it if ya’ll are in a fight, but isn’t she supposed to be, like, your best friend?”

God, they were an idiot.

“You´re not here to be my moral compass, Farmsville. Shut the fuck up and walk with me. The rest of you, get out. Now”

Once alone, they both walked slowly around the pool, silence… She didn’t enjoy that. At all. But it was necessary and she couldn´t show any weakness sign to anyone there. Especially not Beck. But… She was now sure of one thing: Beck didn’t care about looks, but actions, or… feelings?

“Have you checked the student ranking today?” She asked, her voice softened. Beck shook their head. They looked at her phone, and after a while…

“Oh boy. Chloe is…”

“Don´t say it…” She was angry, venom caught in her throat, but instead, she let that out like a whisper. A hurt one. She wasn’t faking it, but controlling her emotions on her benefit. Wanting more test, Poppy slipped off her heels and went to sit at the edge of the pool. A moment after, she felt Beck doing the same.

“Bingo”

“It’s just as my parents told me… You don´t have any real friends, Poppy. Just allies. Hmp! Looks like they were right all this time.”

“Poppy, I…” They said, unsure.

“Such a shame.” She stopped him, going back to the anger. “I don’t know who she thinks she is, or who she had to sleep with to knock me out of my spot, but if she thinks this is over she is so wrong. It’s utter betrayal is what it is. That girl is dead to me.” Silence. Was that too soon? Did she got it wrong, again?

“Poppy, you´re too hot to worry about this”

Yes… now they can play.

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