#I don't want to deal with anything anymore

[seat-safety-switch]

Kids are funny. In just one summer vacation, a child can make lifelong friends with a weird frog, be transported to a distant fantasy realm under attack by an evil magician, experience loss via the tragic sacrifice of a trusted warrior ally, and be returned to this earth, just in time to start school again in the fall. For the rest of us, we push the "snooze" button on our Slack notifications nineteen times in the same summer.

What adults are, though, is resourceful. We've figured out a long time ago that we should be taking advantage of anyone who isn't paying enough attention. The grift can never end, and if I'm scamming you, you can't be scamming me, unless you are, in which case I need to scam someone else too. So when our children started opening magical portals to fantasy realms all over the fucking place, you can't imagine we didn't see an opportunity.

First, it's the free babysitting. Sure, the deposed queen of that magical land is going to send them into some kind of kill-or-be-killed foreign war, but there's a fifty-fifty chance our government does it too. They'll learn some valuable skills, make those aforementioned friends, carry the trauma forever. And while they're gone, we can use the closets and wardrobes that they left open (and the lights left on! These kids think electricity is free!) to get rid of some stuff we don't want anymore.

Folks, if dumping nuclear waste in Narnia is wrong, then you can pay higher taxes to get rid of it. I'm charging the government a flat ten-k per barrel to chuck it through the portal, where some halflings can deal with it in their verdant, unspoiled fairyland. And if anything decides to come out, we can just kill it the way adults do: by ignoring it for several decades until it gets really bad, and then blaming each other for it. Yep, the way I see it, the political party I hate are the ones who keep releasing all those manticores. We should dump more nuclear waste in there to teach 'em a lesson.

[spacenoirdetective]

Being gay, I used to think the rainbow flag was this wonderful symbol of togetherness, a symbol of tolerance meant to bring gays and straights and bis together. Maybe it's because I grew up being despised just on the suspicion I might be gay. I was bullied to the point of near suicide and all I wanted was to be left alone. When I got to college and I saw people wearing rainbow flags, my response was one of shock. I couldn't believe that anyone could view gays with anything other than hatred or disdain.

I really cannot tell you how horrified I am by how the LGBTQ movement morphed into a bullying, authoritarian cult. It honestly broke my heart before it made me just plain fucking angry over the sheer hypocrisy and willful blindness not to mention self victimhood of the community in general. Generation Z and Millennials have absolutely no real idea what it's like to grow up in a world where gays were truly invisible or lived in true fear for their lives. The 90s brought gays into a new light and the media exposure they were finally allowed gave me so much hope that gay would somehow just become another thing that was no big deal.

Of course, my hopes turned to horror when I watched the trans community take over and usurp everything that gays had built to create goodwill and togetherness. The younger militant gays who don't have any idea what they're fighting for...they just want to be angry and enraged and spiteful even though the people they're targeting often don't give a fuck anymore and really don't harbor any hate. They invent reasons to be angry even though a gay person from anytime before the 1990s would fucking kill for a chance to live in Trump's America.

It's the refusal to see reality for what it is. The modern LGBTQ movement has completely overthrown the old guard. Only the militants remained after marriage equality was achieved. Much like the mentacide against black America, the brainwashing against the gay community has been an onslaught of false information designed to break the human mind. The modern movement doesn't fight hate. It creates hate. It fosters hate and breeds suspicion and paranoia.

And it's vicious. It believes in revenge. It believes in reputation destruction. There's nothing loving about punishing people who fall outside the boundaries of what you consider to be acceptable beliefs, acceptable speech, acceptable humor, etc.

It makes me sad and I want nothing to do with this movement while it's trying to sterilize children, expose toddlers to hypersexualized drag shows and pride parades, embrace pure communism and belligerently attack those who defy it. Communist ideals will do this. It's happened before that those who have been on the bottom of society get power, they are given some kind of favor in exchange for supporting a revolution and suddenly go wild with that power as they seek to destroy their perceived enemies.

Fuck your narcissistic shit movement and every worthy ideal that it has abandoned.

President Trump has banned LGBTQ pride flags at government buildings.

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Jack Howl - New Year's Attire Vignette

"That's how it should be."

[Mister S's Mystery Shop]

―Day 1 on the job

Jack: There's a ton of people here just for the New Year's sale. I gotta put my all into this.

Jack: Based on the shift schedule… Right now, Malleus-senpai and Jamil-senpai on the other team are doing ＴＡＫＯＡＧＥ battles.

Jack: Floyd-senpai's on the floor and register. I got stocking duty.

Jack: Everything keeps flyin' off the shelves faster than I can get 'em up, so I feel like I'm not getting any breaks, but…

Jack: If there's one thing I'm good at, it's breaking a sweat. I'll set up everything up all at once as my warming-up exercise!!

Jack: I guess I'll start with fixin' up the stationary corner. I'll just pick up this box filled with that stuff, and…

Jack: Notepads, quills, ink jars… All re-stocked. Nice! That should be good enough for the stationary corner.

Jack: Guess I'll do the clothing section next. I'll go grab the stock from the backyard…

Floyd: Ah, found ya, Sea Urchin-chaaan. I was lookin' for ya～

Jack: Floyd…-senpai. You need something?

Floyd: I'm handin' this customer off to ya.

Heartslabyul Student: I wanted to try buying some protein shakes to drink after muscle training, but I don't really get the difference between whey and soy.

Floyd: 'S what he's sayin', and I don't know nothing about muscle training, since I'm not into it, soooo. Plus, I'm getting tired of lookin' after customers～

Floyd: You're all about that training stuff, right, Sea Urchin-chan? Sooo I'll leave ya to it.

Jack: I REFUSE.

Floyd/Heartslabyul Student: Huh? / Eh?

Jack: Don't "Huh?" me. I've been tasked with restocking. Dealing with customers is your gig right now.

Jack: I don't care if you don't know anything about it, or are bored, or whatever. You do whatever was assigned to you. That's how it should be.

Floyd: Ehhh, but I don't wanna help customers anymore.

Floyd: If Sea Urchin-chan's not gonna help, then just run along and pick out whatever, I guess～

[Floyd leaves]

Heartslabyul Student: Eh? Pick out whatever…? C'mon, I came all the way to the store, here…

Jack: Whew, closing time, finally… I was using every muscle in my body, so my whole body just feels stiff.

Sam: Good job, my little doggy imp. How did the work suit you?

Jack: It was just the first day, but I definitely feel like I succeeded in doing everything I was assigned.

Sam: Nyeheehee, a reliable kid.

Sam: Only… If I were to compare you to the horned imp's team, I'd say your vibes are a little off.

Jack: Huh, vibes? A little off? What does that…

Sam: Well then, I'm counting on you tomorrow, too.

Jack: Wait, Sam-san!

Jack: My vibes are off…? I don't get it, was he saying that my work wasn't as good as the other team's work?

Jack: What did I do wrong? I definitely did everything I was supposed to do…

Jack: …Nope, I can't think of anything.

Jack: It's no use to just drown in my thoughts like this. I'll go for a run and try to clear my head.

[Sports Field]

Jack: Whew. As usual, I really like running in the crisp winter air, it helps clear my head.

Jack: …But I still don't get what was wrong with what I did…

Track & Field Club Member A: Hooray! My time got better since last time!

Track & Field Club Member B: See? Just like I said would happen, right? I told you this form's better to run in!

Track & Field Club Member A: Yeah… Now I'm really looking forward to the next meet. Let's get back to it after taking a quick break!

Jack: Hm…? Those guys are in the Track & Field club. And I'm pretty sure the next event's a marathon.

Jack: Hmph. Training together, huh. Listen to 'em acting all friendly with each other.

Jack: Well, it's true that practicing's the only way to get any better. So I need to make sure I work even harder tomorrow compared to today.

[Mister S's Mystery Shop]

―Day 2 on the job

Jack: I re-stocked, helped customers, and did my fair share of battles… I definitely worked twice as hard today as I did yesterday! My muscles got a crazy good workout!

Sam: Hey, doggy imp! It's break time, so make sure you rest up.

Jack: Sam-san! Thank you.

Jack: I know I did real good today. Uhh… And I think I had enough of that… what was it again…? Vibes!

Sam: Nyeheehee… You really think so? It didn't really look all that different from yesterday, to me.

Jack: HUH…!?

Jack: But I worked so hard… And there wasn't any difference from yesterday? Why's that?

Jack: Ugh, at this rate, I can say bye to that special bonus… What does that other team got that I don’t?

[Mister S's Mystery Shop]

Jack: Ugh, at this rate, I can say bye to that special bonus… What does that other team got that I don’t?

[Beside Mister S's Mystery Shop]

Jack: …......

Jamil: Oh, Jack. Are you on break? Good work out there.

Jack: Jamil-senpai, Malleus-senpai… You as well.

Malleus: What is wrong? You seem to be rather fatigued.

Malleus: I think we may sweep the special bonus if you continue in your present condition.

Jack: …Dammit, I can't even argue back, after what Sam-san said to me.

Jack: You guys look like you're doing fine enough.

Jamil: Well, yeah.

Jamil: But everything is all thanks to Malleus-senpai! I'm very thankful.

Malleus: Heh. A modest comment, Viper.

Malleus: After all, I am simply standing in front of the customers when you instruct me.

Malleus: ...Because that seems to make your life easier, does it not?

Jamil: E-Easier…? Hahaha.

Jamil: I just said that because whenever we do that, even the rowdiest customer seems to quiet down. I just presumed that we needed the right man for the right job…

Malleus: No need to explain. It is a fact that I am not accustomed to customer service. I will gladly follow your tutelage.

Malleus: You would do well to continue to make use of my presence.

Jack: Somehow I'm even starting to feel the pressure now… Ah, I need to head back work.

Malleus: Understood. Another time, Howl.

Jack: …Man… I feel like I don't see Floyd-senpai at all while we're on the floor,

Jack: But somehow those two are getting all chummy. …Oh! Wait…

Jack: Is this what Sam-san meant by "vibes"…?

Jack: Am I supposed to work together with Floyd-senpai like they do?

Jack: …No way, that'd be impossible! He's a moody guy, who knows how he'll act at any given moment.

Jack: Besides, I don't care who it is, I ain't gettin' all chummy with anyone!

Jack: Winning only matters if you can get it yourself. What's even the use of getting someone else's help to secure a victory?

Jack: But…

[FLASHBACK]

Sam: It didn't really look all that different from yesterday, to me.

Jack: …He did say that I hadn't improved at all from the day before, even though I know I worked even harder.

Jack: At this rate, I'll just be stuck walking in place. And above all…

Jack: I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO LOSE TO THE OTHER TEAM WITHOUT TRYING EVERYTHING!

Jack: I have to be able to do something by myself…!

[Mister S's Mystery Shop]

Jack: Next customer.

[beep]

Jack: That'll be 800 Madol [8 Thaumarks]. Thanks.

Jack: Whew, finally the line for checkout's winding down. I should replace the receipt paper while I can…

Floyd: Ehhh, you want a new pair of running shoes to kick off the new year～?

Floyd: I know tons about designer and brand-name shoes, but I don't know nothin' about running shoes.

Floyd: Soooo, you should just give up on those and find some other shoes to buy.

Jack: …Looks like Floyd-senpai is working in the shoes section. I see he's not taking it seriously, like usual.

Jack: Urgh… I guess I should go and…

Floyd: What, you want some kind of recommendation since you came all this way to buy some running shoes?

Floyd: I mean, sure, we got a guy who'd know that kinda stuff working here, but he's working the register right now, so I doubt he'll help you or nothin'.

Floyd: That dude's suuuuper hard-headed and stubborn and totally inflexible, so.

Jack: …Hey, that's not me you're talking about, is it?

Floyd: Oh hey, speak of the devil. What brings the cashier to our neck of the woods?

Jack: I heard you talking about running shoes… So I thought I'd suggest something.

Floyd: Eh, seriously? You?

Jack: …Yeah.

Floyd: Nice, lucky me. If you're gonna attend to the customer, I'm gonna go on break, then.

Jack: Huh? A break? What're you talking about, get some other work done in the meantime.

Floyd: I don't have nothin' else to do, I'm already done with cleaning and re-stocking. And manning the register was your job, so.

Floyd: Orrr… What, you want my help, or somethin'? Suuuure, I'll totally do it for ya～ If. You. Beg. Me. To. ♡

Jack: NO WAY I'D WANT YOUR HELP! WHO'D BEG YOU FOR ANYTHING!?

Jack: Stop messing with me… Whatever, go on your break, whatever you want. I don't need your help at all!

Floyd: Is that so? Dang, Sea Urchin-chan, you're a boss, running the register and helping customers out all at once～ Mmkay, I'm gonna leave it all to ya then.

[Floyd leaves]

Jack: And hey! You're coming with me! I'll give you my recommendations while I work the register, so you need to stand close enough to hear it!

Scarabia Student: Man, this guy is so restless… At this rate, I shoulda just gone and picked something out myself…

[Sports Field]

Jack: [pant, pant]… AAAAAARGH! EVEN RUNNING'S NOT CLEARING MY MOOD!!

Jack: Sayin' he'll "help" me, or whatever. I swear he just says that to get on my nerves.

Jack: I get that I gotta take this gig seriously, but there's no way I'm gonna get dragged down to his pace… Hm?

Track & Field Club Member A: Geeeeez～～! That guy seriously pisses me off! Why's he gotta keep nagging me about my form each time!?

Jack: Isn't that one of the guys who was training for the marathon the other day?

Jack: Is he just finishing up his club activities? I don't see his partner from the other day… And he seems pretty frustrated.

Track & Field Club Member A: Juuuuust 'cause he's got a little more experience in running marathons doesn't mean he can look down on me like that.

Track & Field Club Member A: I thought if I just saddled up with a guy that had way more experience, I'd be able to participate in the huge meet coming up, but I'm reaching the end of my patience…

Track & Field Club Member A: He gets all snooty every time I mess up even a tiny bit! I'm seriously gonna explode…!

Jack: …Hey, woah. Wasn't he the one saying "my time got better!" last time?

Jack: They were all buddy-buddy, but he's just mouthing off now. Sounds like they were a terrible combo.

Jack: Hah. How stupid.

Track & Field Club Member A: I've already gone through so much for this. I'm gonna do whatever I can to reach my goal…!

Jack: …......

[Mister S's Mystery Shop]

―Day 3 on the job

Diasomnia Student: Hey! When I dropped this plate I bought from you guys yesterday, it broke. I bet it was already cracked to begin with, wasn't it!?

Jack: HUH? DON'T BE STUP…!

Jack: …Ah, I mean, I understand. Please wait one moment.

Jack: Um. Floyd…-senpai.

Floyd: What? I'm in a pretty bad mood right now, since I gotta carry all these heavy things.

Jack: …Uhh… So, uh, can I ask… Can I ask you to help resolve a problem with a customer… Please?

Floyd: Huh?

Floyd: …What's going on, Sea Urchin-chan? You're acting pretty docile today.

Floyd: Didja eat something bad? Or didja just come cryin' to me since you can't figure out how to stop the argument on your own?

Jack: Grrrrr….!

Jack: …[breathes in, breathes out]

Jack: …Yeah. I know you're definitely better suited to deal with complaints like that. So, I'm… begging you.

Floyd: Uh-huuuh… Man, you really are being a good boy today, huh, Sea Urchin-chan.

Floyd: Well, mmkay then. I was just feelin' like I needed to let off some steam, anyway.

Floyd: So, I'll work with the customers instead now. You go and do the stuff I was doing, then.

Jack: …Got it. That'll probably be better in the long run, anyway. Thanks.

Jack: …Whew! Somehow I was able to get through that…!

Malleus: Oh, well, that was surprising. You seem to be doing much better than you were prior.

Jack: Eh!? Ack, Malleus-senpai and Jamil-senpai… Did you see that just now?

Jamil: Looks like you and Floyd are actually working better together as a team now.

Jack: WE AIN'T A TEAM!!

Jack: I was just… using Floyd-senpai!

Jamil/Malleus: USING?

Jack: So, the other day, I saw a few guys from the Track & Field club training for a marathon.

Jack: It looked like they were getting along pretty well, with one guy listening to the other's advice on changing up his form…

Jack: But once the guy who was getting the advice was all alone, he just started harping on and on about the other guy.

Jamil/Malleus: NOT SURPRISING.

Jack: When I saw that, at first, I just thought he was a spineless coward to talk about the other guy behind his back.

Jack: But as I watched him do whatever it took to try and achieve victory… I started to think about how I was going about things wrong.

Jack: I ain't doing what he says because I'm a coward, or whatever. I'm just using his strengths to snag my own victory.

Jack: You two are doing the same, right? You're using each other to bring out the best in each other.

Jack: So am I. There's no way I'd ever want to work with Floyd-senpai for any reason, but to win, I'll do what it takes.

Jack: That's all it is. So please, don't ever say something as nauseating as me being part of a team.

Malleus: Even without similar ideals, you are still able to cooperate with one another. …Wouldn't you consider that teamwork?

Jack: NO WAY!!!

Jack: I don't care to work alongside nor befriend anyone.

Jack: However, now that I've fully gotten the hang of it, I'm going to finish this gig in the best condition.

Jack: The person who'll give his all to this shop and snag that special bonus WILL BE ME!

Requested by @farfalla049.

[livesworthlivingau]

Memory of Lost Letters

Spoilers for ISAT and Two Hats below! CW: Panic Attacks, Suicidal/Death Ideation, Unhealthy Obsession, Grief/Loss

Yet another memories chapter! Heavily inspired by this fic I read recently and I realized it would be prime angst to make an LWL version of the idea, 30 years of 'lost letters' to Loop.

("… Hello?… Are you there Loop?… Does this still work?")

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("Thank you again, Loop... I don't know if you can hear me, but I think I can still feel you somehow... I can't wait to see you again, whenever you're ready!")

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("Loop... I understand if you need some time, you can take all the time you need, I'll be there for you whenever you want it... but please say something, anything... I just want to know you're okay...")

...

(Sigh)

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("We're gonna be leaving Dormont soon, last chance to come accept everyone's thanks in person, if you want... We're heading to Bambouche so uhh... hopefully we'll see you there if not.")

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("... It still doesn't feel real... leaving Dormont, being out of the loops... I can only imagine how it might feel for you... I miss you Loop...")

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("PLEASE JUST ANSWER ME!! I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!")

|"Sif, please hold on a second-!"|

("NO! YOU DON'T GET IT!! NO ONE GETS IT!! ONLY THEY DO!!! WHY WON'T THEY ANSWER ME?!?! I KNOW THEY'RE THERE!! WHY-")

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("I can't do this… I can't do this anymore Loop… I don't deserve them, I don't deserve any of this… You do. You should be here, not me… Please come home. Please take it all back… Please…" Stifled sobbing)

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(Deep breath "... I'm sorry Loop, it's been... a lot to deal with... I think I'm doing a bit better now... We met Nille finally, she's really nice, tough too, I think you'd like her." Chuckles "... If you don't want me to call you anymore, all you gotta do is say so, I'd understand, I promise...")

...

(Sigh "Thanks again for everything...")

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("Happy birthday Loop!... At least I think it's our birthday, can't know for sure, can we?... I hope it's a good one for you!")

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("Everyone helped me find a therapist, a really nice one too... Would you mind if I... told them... about you? 'Us'? They said it's all confidential, they wouldn't tell anyone else if I don't want them too... It would help me explain everything a bit more to them... I promise I won't tell anyone else, not without you...")

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("I TOLD THEM! I TOLD THEM AND I'M SORRY!!")

...

("... Is it bad that I kinda wanted you to scream at me for that?... at least I'd hear your voice again... They actually recommended that I write letters to you, as a little therapy exercise... I told them I was kinda already doing that, heh... They also said I should start being more true to my feelings and tell people what they mean to me so... I love you Loop... I really hope you're okay.")

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("They're throwing some big gala for the saviors back in Dormont soon. It's gonna be really weird going back there, but I think it might be good for us... You're invited too of course, we wouldn't have saved everyone without you after all! So we'll be back in Dormont in... 33 days, if you're still there or wanna meet up... I love you Loop.")

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("... I'm at the favor tree... I told myself no more wishes... I told myself it's a bad idea and would only bring more pain... b-but..." Heavy sobbing "I-I found a leaf... a-and it looks like you Loop... I just want to see you again... please stop me Loop... please... I-I...")

|"Siiiiiiiif? Siiiiiif, where'd you go?"|

("No... Not now... I need you! YOU PROMISED LOOP! YOU SUPER DUPER PROMISED!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!?!")

|"SIFFRIN?!"|

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("... Why didn't you do it Loop?... Why didn't you kill me?... You should have, you know... You deserve it all, not me... I... I love you Loop...")

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("...")

(Soft snoring)

("Mnffff..." Yaaawwwwn-)

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("Sorry... about the other night... I thought I was doing better but... My therapist warned me it's common to have a relapse now and then, especially so close to the source of trauma... I ruined everyone else's night, I'm sorry I had to ruin yours too... Thank you again Loop, I love you...")

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("Heh... I'm so pathetic Loop... I can't even see a shooting star now without crying... Thought you'd get a chuckle out of that at least... I love you Loop.")

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("Happy birthday Loop! Hehe~! Odile-" Hiccup "Odile bought some reaaally nice Ka Buan liquor, and IIIII'm drunk~!" Hiccup "Heh... Remember how you said you didn't know what you looked like? Well just between you and me... You were reaaaal pretty as a star~." Hiccup "Is it weird that I kinda wanted to kiss you~? Hah! I wonder if it'd tingle... Do you even have a mouth? Heh... I loooove you Loooooop~.")

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("... Stars I really hope you can't actually hear these...")

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(Sigh "Still thinking about you... I love you, Loop.")

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("Happy birthday Loop! So much has been changing around here, I don't know if you really wanna hear about it all, but life's been good! Still think about you a lot though... I'm in Jouvente now if you ever wanna stop by! Just look for the 'Savior's Style' shop and you'll find us! I love you, Loop!")

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("LOOP!?... Loop?... I thought I heard you, are you there?... Was it just a dream?...")

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("Happy birthday Loop. Sorry I haven't been calling more, but I'm sure you're sick of hearing from me anyways. Everyone says hi by the way! I haven't told them your secret, don't worry, but they got curious why I kept sneaking off for a little bit every year, so I told the truth, just a little ritual of mine to stay connected with you in some way... I love you, Loop!")

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("Okay, now!")

{|<=-"HEY LOOP!"-=>|}

("Hehe, everyone wanted to say hi themselves this year! Nille too! I love you, Loop! And happy birthday!")

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("Mmmm.. Happy birthday Loop... Long busy day, so had to sneak it in before bed..." Yaaaaawn "Good night, Loop. I love you...")

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("Happy birthday Loop! You know you're still more than welcome to come visit anytime, right? Just wanted to make sure you knew. I love you!")

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("Happy birthday Loop! I love you!")

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("Happy birthday Loop... I miss you... Love you...")

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("I love you Loop, hope you're having a good birthday.")

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("I hope you're not sick of this yet because you bet I'm gonna do it every year, only way to stop me is to come and make me~! So happy birthday Loop! I love you!")

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("I love you, Loop. Happy Birthday.")

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("Happy birthday Loop... I hope you're doing well, really. I love you, so much Loop.")

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("Happy Birthday Loop... I love you...")

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("... I miss you so blinding much Loop..." Shaky breaths "B-But I think I need to let you go... for both our sakes... I really hope you found the peace you were looking for... I love you, Loop... Happy Birthday...")

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...

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[...]

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...

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("Loop... It's Odile... She..." Choking up "She's not doing well... I-I don't think she has long left... I-I just thought you should know... I love you, Loop...")

[avonne-writes]

This hit me in the soft squishy parts :( I feel for Bucky so much. I know they're both hurting, but with Bucky's initial attempt at actual proper communication and Gale's very visceral reaction it must really feel like whiplash after Gale teaching him how to do that in the first place - not to mention triggering his abandonment issues.

Is there anything you'd like to share about how Bucky feels during this time about Gale's behaviour?

Who is it that raises divorce as a possibility?

You don't have to answer all or any of this of course, but I do love this au so much.

Re: this post

Thank you so much for the questions, I like discussing these more serious topics. ❤️ I could talk about this for several pages, but I tried to summarize some key points.

Yes, absolutely - while Gale feels like he has been betrayed, his visceral reaction is like a slap in turn. Bucky doesn’t expect it. It hurts him, and he finds it unfair.

During this fight, Bucky's confidence takes a big blow. He doesn’t know anymore if he can predict Gale's reaction to things as surely as he used to think he could. He wants to backtrack (his need to appease Gale) but he also doesn’t (his need to have a conversation). All the personal development he has gone through is now up against his fears and insecurities. Should he back down or risk losing everything?

But he also feels guilty, because yes, he knows that Gale doesn’t want kids and yes, in 15 years of a relationship, Bucky never once told him that his desire to have one (or a few) has been growing over the years. He never thought to push the subject seriously - the most he did was telling Gale he'd be a cute dad and letting Gale brush it off with a playful "come off it".

It feels like something so easily avoided going terribly wrong. An issue that he now thinks he could have prevented with easy changes in the past, but younger Bucky and Gale didn’t have the foresight, nor did it seem easy at the time to act any differently. Bucky at 17, 18, 22 was more likely to just go with the flow in general and he truly convinced himself that he didn’t really want kids either. And once you aligned yourself with something, it’s harder to express a change of opinion than to choose the other option in the first place. Bucky marinates in this guilt, regret and helplessness cycle during the fight.

At the same time, once the conflict is well underway, he's really angry with Gale for acting out. He knows Gale's petty side very well but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with it. Whenever Gale gives him the cold shoulder or fucks off on his bike, Bucky wants to scream at him or punch something.

When they actively fight, it gets really painful sometimes and grows past the issue of whether they want to have children or not. They need to apologize for the things they throw at each other's heads during these fights before they could move on to the actual discussion.

And then, of course, Bucky continues feeling a lot of love for Gale, and he longs for him constantly during this time. Not for angry, hurt Gale, but for the Gale who pulls Bucky's head to his chest, holds him close and murmurs the nicest things until the world feels bearable again. The Gale who sets up an opportunity for one of Bucky's silly jokes and then laughs as if he didn’t expect it. The Gale who asks him if Bucky really thinks he’s good enough for NASA, the Gale who smiles into his coffee when he feels Bucky's eyes on him.

Bucky has emotional support from Curt (and his mom, but he doesn’t want to share the issue with her), but nevertheless, these complicated emotions are not easy to deal with.

They never say the word "divorce" to each other. Gale never even implies it during the fight, but they both think about it, Bucky with fear and Gale with despair. Bucky's the one who acknowledges that it hangs between them, but he always calls it "leaving". Gale understands it all the same.

[oogaboogaspookyman]

So i've been having thoughts...

[EVERYTHING]

Another day, another thing to fight over. N is getting tired of this.

"NO NO NO, YOU CHEATED! YOU DEFINETLY CHEATED! YOU DESERVE THOSE EXTRA CARDS I MADE YOU PICK UP!" Uzi pointed fingers at V, who's currently at the front with one lone card. Yes they're playing Uno.

"I AM NOT CHEATING, YOU ROTTEN GRAPE, I'M ALLOWED TO PUT DOWN MORE THAN ONE CARD AT ONCE!" And V pointed fingers back at Uzi like she's being discriminated.

N just spaced out, looking at the front of him with half-lidded, tired eyes like a parent hearing siblings fight over the Xbox. At this point, nobody would deserve to hold the controller and it would be given away to someone more competent than the two of them, more deserving.

Meanwhile Cyn, Uzi's tail, is coiled around a can of oil. She's sipping from it like a kitty cat.

Right in front of my oil can, too. Annoyed expression.

N knows what to do, but it's gonna hurt and be slightly out of character for him, being the golden retriever of the group...

The entrance door to the bunker opens swiftly, and out comes a flying pair of Uzi and V, soon after faceplanting onto the snow ground.

"You're getting back in once you get along, or when it's getting late and i feel like you should get in." And right after N's first piece of dialogue, he closes the door on them.

The pair of girls looked at the now closed door to the bunker liked puppies having been thrown outside. Man N really did that, huh?

Strike one.

"zip it- Yeah! Sure! Whatever N, it's not like we need you or anything!" Uzi shouted back, trying to hide the hurt in the fact she's been pretty disciplined by her own fucking boyfriend.

"Careful with your words, rat." And V, being someone that cares about N a whole awful lot, bit back defensively.

Strike two.

"What are you, her girlfriend now? That's me!" Uzi you're way too smug.

And here we go.

"I USED TO HAVE HIM ALL TO MYSELF BEFORE YOU HAD TO COME ALONG!!"

Uzi's eyes widened and hollowed in shock as V yelled back.

"I HAD WHAT FELT LIKE EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING I TELL YOU, AND I LOST IT ALL TO THIS IDIOT ELDRITCH HORROR THAT TORE US APART AND PUT BACK TOGETHER LIKE TOYS. WE ARE A KITBASHED MESS OF A DRONE SQUAD AND YOU JUST HAVE THE NERVE TO BE A LITTLE SHIT TO ME JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT I AM AND WHAT I DO TO SURVIVE!"

Uzi walked back as V took her steps forward, slowly and menacingly, and while this happens her hands swap out for her signature claws. They're shaking.

"I CARE ABOUT HIM, I CARE SO FUCKING MUCH ABOUT HIM, I WANT THE BEST FOR HIM EVEN IF IT MEANT I HAD TO STEP OUT, STAY AWAY FROM THE ONE DRONE I LOVE, AND I CAN'T PROTECT HIM WHEN YOU'RE ACTIVELY MAKING EVERYTHING A PROBLEM!"

She makes one step forward, strong enough to make some snow fly off the ground.

"YOU CONSUMED OUR WORST FUCKING NIGHTMARE AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOU AND THAT FUCKING THING, CAN'T YOU JUST CUT ME SOME FUCKING SLACK?!"

V's optics start to glitch as tears begin to sprout from them. Her vision blurs.

"DO- DO YOU KNOW HOW I FELT WATCHING CYN HOLDING N'S CORE?! HAVE YOU- HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED HOW I FELT AT ALL?!"

Her voice begins to shake, just like her claws. Just like her entire body.

"I... I-I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE, WH- W- WHAT DO I D-DO TO MAKE YOU TREAT ME WITH B-BASIC FUCKING DECENCY, I REALLY DON'T KNOW!"

Uzi's hands begins to shake, a quiet sob coming out of her throat. Quiet enough to not be heard.

And as soon as Uzi slowed down to a stop, V took the chance to pounce and pin her down onto the snow.

Holy damn.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO I DO AT THIS POINT, TELL ME!!"

V's panting, sounding animalistic, slowed down to a halt as she notices the face on Uzi. She's quietly crying. There are tears in her eyes.

V gets off of the crying drone and looks down on her, guilty. Guilty because you got tired of her antics? Really?

"Get up..."

Uzi, for some reason, obeyed and got up on her feet. Her legs are shaky...

...

A surprise hug from V is given to Uzi. A safe one, as she swapped out her claws for hands. I forget to mention shit sometimes.

"I'm sorry..."

...

"No, fuck that, i should be sorry..." Uzi's voice is so unsteady...

"But-" The sobbing drone held onto V's back tighter. "You need him more than i do and- and i took him from you b-because you did a mistake, you deserve to make amends and love him like i do... I'm sorry"

...

"Just let it all out, you need it... You need him more than me, V"

A crying mess of a dissassembly drone is heard screaming her voice away, quickly overpowering Uzi's noise in loudness.

God damn you two...

The two sit down on an abandoned car, the front of it to be specific, both of them in thought of what had transpired...

"What should i do to apologize properly?" V whispered to Uzi. She may or may not have lost a bit of her voice.

"Dude... Your voice..." Uzi looked at V with worry in her eyes.

"My voice doesn't matter, how should i apologize to N properly?"

... Uzi looked away in thought about it... Then back at her. "I think a simple “sorry for everything i did” and a hug will do... Maybe a kiss since you uh... Love him?"

"I can hear you, you don't have to whisper... I'm not gonna kiss him" She just... Stays, looking at the nothingness instead of the night sky, tired.

"Juuuuust a suggestion..." Uzi responded softly, looking back at what's above.

...

Maybe V should try it..? Who knows...

There's a knock on the entrance door to the bunker. N responds to it, and looks at them like a disappointed parent. "Did you two get along now?"

...

Uzi looked away, as did V... They're both seemingly tired. N notices this and immediately his demeanor switches. "Are you- are you doing okay?? Come in, come in, i'm so sorry i really shouldn't have done that-"

"No. I'm sorry, for everything i've done... And yeah let us in" she whispered to N, trying to raise her voice so she could be heard a little more. N notices this and, now worried, decides to let them in.

And now once inside, they head to Uzi's room...

"V, what happened to your voice?? Did you scream??" N is full of fear and worry and guilt, something could've happened and it would've been N's fault it could be anything it could be the worst thing ever it could-

A hug... From V.

"Stop worrying so much, my voice doesn't matter here... I'm sorry."

N puts his arms around her body, hugging back. "Alright... But what happened??"

"Me and Uzi got along... She says she's sorry even though i... We just- we just set aside our differences, okay..?" She pulled back from the hug to look at N in the eye as she spoke. She's smiling...

...

"I hope Uzi gives you what i failed to give you-"

"ROBO-GOD DAMMIT V!" Uzi yelled and pushed V onto N, causing their faces to collide. Causing their lips to collide.

V let out a muffled squeak as she kisses N, and he does the same noise, both from the shock of the kiss, the push, and the fact they've fallen onto Uzi's bed, V on top of N...

V pulls back from the kiss to look at N, shocked. He's feeling just as surprised. "Uhh..." V, for the first time in a long time, blushes so much her visor becomes an LED and feels a gratuituous amount of butterflies in her stomach. And so does N, after a while of thinking his feelings towards V had faded away... Looks like they still remain.

V whips her around to angrily glare at Uzi, who's enjoying the moment of the couple finally being a couple, and that V got what she needed the most.

She takes a deep breath, and gets off of N. "You win this time..." She said, sternly.

"You got what you needed most, can't you just say thanks??" Uzi threw her arms up, offended by V's ungratefulness.

"... As a thank you for forcing me to give a kiss to my ex i might as well return the favour~" Uzi immediately regretted her choices and began to try to run away... But she can't. There's V's tail coiled around her waist. Fuck.

"V NO OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY HOLY SHIT- MMPH!!" Uzi squeaked, and it's muffled from V's lips colliding with her own. She didn't win at all, definetly /sarcasm.

Gross. Annoyed expression.

Once V pulled back, slowly, and smirked at Uzi's reaction. Her visor is overrun with purple blush, overlapping her eyes.

"i definetly didn't like that-" V quickly interrupts her. "Oh yes you did~" and finishes that sentence by licking her lips... "meep!"

"V don't be mean now-"

"I'm not, i'm just giving Uzi a thank you gift~!"

"That's my girlfriend you're kissing? Hellooo??" He said with his hands on his hips. Looks like Uzi's sass rubbed off on N.

"Wanna double team her, then~?" Uzi whined at that, gaining the attention of the two dissassembly drones. They look like cats when you go pspspspsps.

EW! Disgusted expression!

"... We'll do that later~, for now... How about we cuddle? We've had... A harsh day, y'know?" V made an actually nice suggestion. It feels like the first time she does this... Maybe they do need a cuddle session.

Uzi thinks about it... After their most intense interaction and all, it sounds good right about now...

"Sure! I love doing anything that makes my girls happy!" N didn't think about it at all, all cuddles are accepted in his case... "You know what? Why not, let's give it a go..." And Uzi accepted, seeing as N was happy about it... Besides she really needs to chill out too.

N pulls his girls in so that they're resting against him his tail intertwining with V's and his head resting on Uzi's messy wave of purple. He sighs in relief. "Thanks for getting along, you two..."

"Hey Uzi..?" V has one last thing to say...

"mm..?"

"Thank you..."

...

...

Uzi sniffs once and hugs the two of them... Especially V, the most hurt of the group...

And suddenly, V has everything all over again, and she'll make sure that this time... Nothing will take them away. Never again.

[end.]

[mosquego359]

𖤐One Kiss and A Quidditch Match — Chapter 6: A Quidditch Rivalry𖤐

Prologue (recommended to read)

Chapter 5 (previous)

Pair: Cedric Diggory x Male Slytherin Reader

Word count: 2.7K words

Summary of the book: You and Cedric Diggory hate each other. It has always been this way. But everything changes one night when you kiss each other at a party. Now, it seems you can’t escape each other — from being partnered up in Herbology for an important project to having to help Cedric during the Triwizard Tournament.

Summary of the chapter: Professor Sprout requests that you help Cedric out and befriend him. You meet him in the library and things don't go as planned

Notes: Please comment anything I should change to improve this. Also, I am not British so I am not 100% sure how to correctly write people from the UK.

Content warning: A lot of curing.

!PLEASE DO NOT REPOST ANYWHERE WITHOUT PERMISSION OR CREDITS TO ME!

...

“No.”

Professor Sprout sputtered, “Mr. (Surname)—”

“I said no,” you spat, despite how disrespectful that was, “I don’t want to be associated with him anymore! I know I agreed to partnering with him for Herbology, but look how well that went. I’m sorry but you’re quite mistaken if you believe we ever got along.” And with that, you turned on your heel and walked off

“Mr. (Surname)! Please calm down and listen,” she said, running after you. For a teacher, she didn’t have much authority, “I care about my students-”

“No you don’t. You only care about the Hufflepuffs and those who take interest in herbology. But not me. Why would you? I’m just this silly little Slytherin who loathes your beloved Cedric Diggory.”

“Of course I care about you!” Professor Sprout said, “I hold all of the students close to my heart whether you know it or not.”

You stop and swivel around to face her, “Then why do you want me to spend time helping the person I despise most in the school? If you really wanted the “best for us”, you wouldn’t want us clashing again.”

A short silence passed between the two of you. The stout woman sighed, “Sometimes, what’s best for someone isn’t evident.”

“What do you mean?” You huffed, your confusion and irritation obvious.

“We can’t have the top students in Year 6 constantly butting heads. It’s not even friendly competition; both you and Mr. Diggory are constantly at each other's throats, whether it’s helpful to the situation at hand or whether it bothers everyone!” She explained, “And now that you are 6th Years, you hold so much more influence over your houses. Every corner I turn, it seems that no one gets along if they’re from different houses!”

You frown, perplexed at what she was talking about. Maybe it was because you stuck close to your group and didn’t bother venturing to make new friends, but you’d never seen any conflict between Slytherins and Hufflepuffs. 

“I’m not actually aware of this, Professor.”

“Of course you’re not! You’re so engrossed in your rivalry with Cedric that you don’t notice how the problem’s spreading around campus,” Professor Sprout attempted to keep her voice soft as usual but it held a twinge of annoyance, “Now it’s time to grow up and forgive each other.”

You looked away, a bit irritated yet understanding where she came from. “Apologies, but I don’t like him enough to try and solve whatever’s going on. And, anyways, it’s been going on for a while, so it's kind of hard to forgive.”

“Well, do you even know how this whole deal started?” She asked.

The question made you pause, attempting to recall what caused you to hate him. You racked through your brain to find the root of the problem or even an interaction between the two of you before the start of your rivalry but your mind was blank. 

“I-I don’t know, Professor, it just seemed to always be that way.” You furrowed your eyebrows.

“You don’t even know the root of your problem and look at how your relationship with him turned out!” Professor Sprout responded, then more kindly, “It’s unfortunate; Cedric — Mr. Diggory — is a kind lad, and you two could have gotten along quite well. What a duo you would have made.”

“And…you’re saying that kids younger than us are fighting because of us?”

“Yes, that’s the main issue.”

“Oh. So I have to…talk to him nicely to fix this?”

“Well,” Professor Sprout chuckled, “It’s a tad bit more complicated than that, but in theory, it could work. And who knows, you might even make a friend…or more.”

You gave her a slightly judgemental look but didn’t confront her on anything, “Did Diggory agree to this or…?”

“Well, actually, I visited him right after the first task and he was the one that came to me for help. Not specifically for your help but he was never very good at puzzles and I thought that you could use this opportunity to make up. He found it an excellent idea.” She beamed.

The fact that Diggory thought of it as a good idea to speak to you was suspicious but Professor Sprout tended to be a little positive when summarising things so you didn’t think much of it. But your mind wandered to the kiss you shared at the party. The one that kept you up at night.

“Fine,” you sighed, giving in, “I’ll do it.”

“Really?” You nodded apprehensively. “Fantastic! I’ll schedule a date with him and inform you then. Thank you so much, (Name)—Mr. (Surname). Sorry! I have to go now, so I wish you a safe return to your dorm or wherever you may be heading.”

You smiled and waved her goodbye as she slowly backed away.

At around 6 PM, she came to you as you were looking for a book at the library. She informed you that Cedric wished to figure out the egg’s secret as quickly as possible, so they scheduled the meeting for tomorrow afternoon.

For the rest of the day, all night, and the next morning, you pondered on what you were going to say to him and felt generally nervous about the interaction. 

Your thoughts wandered to the kiss back at the party. It’s been over two months, and you still had it stuck in your head like a catchy song. Maybe you two could’ve been friends if not for the entire rivalry thing. Or more. The back of your neck grew warm at the thought. You quickly shook it out of your head.

As per usual, you informed Winnie (who reacted rather pleasantly to the news), Brian (who started theorizing the other possible reasons why Diggory wanted to meet with you) and Elsie (whom you felt you could trust and joined Brian in his speculation). 

You didn’t inform Alistair, though. You hadn’t forgiven him for his rudeness after the first Task of the Triwizard Tournament and generally didn’t feel you could trust him with something like this. He always seemed to dislike Cedric more than you ever had and never handled his emotions well.

So after class, you bade Winnie goodbye as you headed to the library where you expected Cedric to be.

You found him sitting in a corner by himself, back to the window where the glass rattled, the shimmering golden egg on the table next to a book he was reading. On the table lay a pile of books. You recognized a few about riddles and old treasures. Diggory seemed focused on the novel in front of him, hand in his hair. 

He looked so calm, so at ease, that you nearly forgot that you were supposed to hate him. Nearly.

The handsome Hufflepuff looked up as you approached him. His face was blank, but his eyes seemed to glare daggers into your own, taking you aback with how much hate was in that gaze. 

Diggory stood up and walked past you, “Follow me.”

You gave his back a perplexed look but followed him nonetheless. “Where are we going? Why aren’t you taking the egg? Answer me, Diggory! This isn’t about wanting to apologise and becoming friends, isn’t it?”

“I’d never be friends with someone like you.”

“Then what do you want?” You replied, slightly peeved at his response, and somewhere in your heart, you felt stupid and betrayed. Of course he wouldn’t be friends with you. “Where are we going? Respond or I’m leaving.”

With that, he swivelled to face you, causing you to nearly bump into him, “I challenge you to a one-on-one Quidditch match.”

You stared him down, finally getting a look at his outfit. What you thought as his school garments were actually his Quidditch uniforms, and with all the hints he gave you, you realised he was leading you to the Quidditch storage rooms where the brooms were kept.

You stepped away, feeling a bit weirded out. Earlier in the year, you would’ve probably accepted his challenge, but now, with the knowledge of the conflict between your houses and the turmoil of emotion clouding your head, you hesitated. And that hesitation gave Diggory the information he needed to get your answer.

“So you’re too scared for a competition?” he snarled.

“No, I’m just being logical.” you huffed, peeved, “It’s a tempest outside. Too dangerous to use our brooms.”

“So what? I don’t mind the extra difficulty.” Diggory looked you up and down, a cocky look in his eyes, “But it seems you do.”

The challenge triggered something in you, “I never said I refused. Get ready to get your ass beat, Diggory.” You spat his name at him and brushed past him to go to the Quidditch storage where you knew they kept extra brooms. Whatever hope of fixing the problems with the Houses vanished from your mind.

You were going to crush that motherfucker.

You grabbed your old broom — which you had given to the school for their own use — and stomped to the back door the Quidditch players used to leave unnoticed by other students. Along the way, you passed little to no students, most locked up in their dorms, cosying up by the fire as they watched the storm pass.

As you expected, Diggory was waiting for you, a confident look in his striking grey eyes. “You regret quitting, (Surname)?” he asked, eyeing you up and down.

Since you quit the team, you renounced your Quidditch uniform and stuffed it in the back of your closet back home instead of throwing it out. Maybe one of your cousins would grow up to love Quidditch. Who knows?

But now, you regretted your decision not to bring it to Hogwarts as you stood in your school cloak and warm uniform.

You huffed, “I’ll only regret if I lose to you, Diggory. Which would never happen, no matter how we play this game.” After a short yet intense pause, you added, “How do we do this with only two players?”

“Good question,” he said with a smirk and pulled out a small golden ball, “The goal isn’t to score points but to catch the Snitch. But for a little extra challenge, we also have to avoid the Bludgers.” He patted a case next to him.

A bead of sweat ran down your neck, and you silently gulped down your nervousness. “Sounds like you put the odds in your favour. Can’t wait to see the look on your face when I obliterate you.”

Diggory clicked his tongue, brows furrowing slightly as he pushed the backdoor open.

A gust of wind bludgeoned through, causing you to block your face with your arm. Rain splattered you in the face, and you turned it from the entrance.

“Are you sure this is safe, Diggory?” You asked, hesitant.

He handed you big goggles and put his own on his face. “An Impervius spell has been cast on them, so you’ll be able to see.” As you grabbed it, he added with a sly grin, “I can’t be beating you that easily.”

You shot him a glare as you put the goggles on your head. It certainly helped against the beating rain, but you kept flinching when it touched your face. You hated playing in shitty weather.

Diggory stepped outside, and you followed, closing the door behind you. You had to slow it so it would slam loudly.

Once the two of you were in the middle of the court, you got onto your brooms, and Diggory released the Snitch, keeping it in his line of sight until it zoomed behind him. As the case where the Bludgers rattled, you felt your heart rate increase; never had you felt unsafe playing Quidditch — there was always a professor around and Slytherin Beaters having your back — but now, the vastness of the court and unseen danger of it all frightened you.

“Three. Two. One.” Cedric counted over the blasting wind.

“Go!”

Then the both of you took off.

You scanned the court for the minuscule ball of gold that circled the arena — which was difficult because of how foggy and rainy it was but mostly kept away from Diggory. That was until he flew right next to you.

“I’m going to release the Bludgers. Be careful.” He yelled over the roaring wind and pulled out his wand, heading away from you. Your stomach dropped as he said those words; you had secretly wished he had forgotten about them.

Despite the tempest around you, you somehow heard the chains of the Bludger case falling and the sound of them zooming in the air in search of you. You let out an unconscious whimper and gripped your broom tighter, heart pounding your chest.

The rain drenched your clothes and skin, sticking your hair and uniform to your skin. The roaring wind reminded you of a howling pack of wolves: hungry and ready to take what they wished to feast on.

Your eyes frantically searched for that flash of gold, eager to get the game over with. It was rather difficult, considering the amount of fog and rain hindering your vision and the wind beating against you and your broom.

You occasionally saw Diggory close to you or heard the sound of a Bludger, but every time that any of the two seemed to approach you too much, you quickly flew to a different area to search for the Golden Snitch as you fought against the harsh winds of the growing storm.

Suddenly, you saw a dark shape in front of you, zooming towards you. A Bludger.

You swerved to the right, barely dodging the ball and willed your broom to fly away as fast as possible. The Bludger chased you across the pitch like a starving lion chasing an injured antelope. 

You rolled to the left, turned to the right, rushed up and dropped down, desperately trying to get away from it. It nearly hit you once, but instead ran into your broom. You hoped it wasn’t damaged. At that point, you had completely forgotten about the Snitch, the beating of your heart against your chest blurring your thoughts. You normally don’t feel this fear. You shouldn’t feel this afraid.

At some point, you’re flying neck to neck with Cedric. Throwing away your pride you yelled at him to put the Bludgers back in their case.

“What, are you scared? You’re backing out this early?” He mocked.

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you think; I value my safety. This is certainly not keeping me safe!” You growled, “Put the fucking Bludgers away! Ah!” A gust of wind had pushed you, and you nearly ran into Diggory.

“Safe? The way you’re flying isn’t safe!”

You grunted, trying to keep your broom under control, but for some reason, it was swerving wildly. “I can’t — It’s not doing what I want! What the–” You yelled over the screaming wind, your panic increasing and your stomach dropping.

By now, Diggory had noticed something was actually wrong, and you weren’t fucking with him. “(Surname)! Your broom is broken!” He warned, realising too late that the Bludger probably hit your broom, cracking it.

You swore under your breath, the crazy winds abusing your broom, and the ride suddenly worsened when your broom seemed to stop working altogether, causing you to go spiralling across the arena.

You held onto your broom out of fear as you screamed.

Oh God. Oh God.

You were going to die.

Suddenly, you felt your body jolt. You felt branches whip at your face and limbs, and your right arm felt numb and like jello, but the tree nevertheless caught you and prevented you from hitting the ground, which would have probably killed you instantly.

Your head felt light. You probably hit it when you crashed into the tree.

If this was how death felt like, you wouldn’t mind dying.

You closed your eyes, and it was as if the light in your body was snuffed out, and everything around you turned black.

[twst-drabbles]

Hello! this is my first time request something so I hope I didn't break any rules.

I want tooth rotting fluff sanctuary au with Leona and Ruggie. Nothing specific but I want to have a glimpse on their everyday lives with the caretaker mc

Leona and Ruggie 5

Summary: Ruggie and Leona are irritating to deal with when they decide to team up to bother you. Especially when you finally decided to start your walks again.

(Who doesn't like to indulge in cuteness? I certainly do!)

"Ruggie, can you not?" Sure sure, he doesn't really weigh much of anything, embodying the wind, but you never once said you'd be carrying him on your back while hiking. "Get off."

"What? You don't like my company? You're hurting my feelings here." Ruggie did, in fact, not get off and instead wrapped his arms tighter around your neck. You can practically hear the grin on his face, the brat. "I may not be tiny anymore, but this form consumes a lot of energy. I just get tired too easily, Caretaker."

Yeah and you have a flesh and blood body that's aging and breaking down in ways you don't want to talk about. You too get tired! It's why you're walking again.

"Should've stayed home then if you're that bone tired." You reached back and grabbed Ruggie by the scruff. He went limp and it was easy to slide him off. Ruggie was still smiling, though it was a little stiff. Looked funny. "Off you go."

"I didn't realize you've become so cold, Caretaker." Oh and here's the other familiar that decided to tag along as soon as Ruggie that announcement that somehow missed Jack's ears. "Here we are, putting in the effort to keep you company and you punish us by making us walk on our own legs."

"You're not even walking, Leona." He's laying on a large mound of sand that's been trailing behind you like a snail.

Leona waved you off, one arm behind his head. "Don't we deserve to be spoiled a little? Look at Ruggie's face. Can you really say no to that?"

Ruggie, still grabbing him by the scruff, pouted, ears flat against his head as stray leaves gently swayed around his body. You tossed him towards Leona's sand.

Leona gave a bark of a laugh while Ruggie whined out your name.

"Hey, do you really want us to go home?" Leona picked off the twigs and leaves collecting in his sands, flicking them off into a nearby puddle. "We can be quiet if it bothers you that much."

"We can just hide away so you can pretend we're not here, if that's better." Ruggie popped out from the sand, crossing his arms.

…that's a little too serious a tone to take on this early in the morning. That's concerning.

You raised an eyebrow. "You both really want to be with me, right?"

Leona didn't say anything, preferring to close his eyes, while Ruggie gave a big, defeated sigh. "Isn't it obvious? We'd end up worrying ourselves sick if we let you walk all alone."

…ah, alright. That's the core of it huh, worry. Well, hopefully there will come a day where they won't worry about that.

"Then walk with me all you like. Just, no surprise carrying. I need to used to my own weight first."

[fucco-san]

hi, are there other websites that I can follow you on since you’ve left ‘Orrible X?

Idk I'm too tired with people right now I don't want anything from them anymore

Can't believe I have enough patience to deal with them til now but I'm at my breaking point right now so we will talk about it later

[richeeduvie]

If we’re living in perfect madman world and Lalo and Princesa are happy and pregnant at the hacienda with cockblocked nacho, I can see Lalo getting super warm and blood thirsty when he sees nachos growing silent love for Princesa- there’s like a week straight of headboard banging banshee screaming sex coming from the master bedroom that nacho is forced to bear (and that Lalo did just for nacho to hear and be jealous) ; nacho has his foot in his mouth and clumsily tries to tell Princesa to keep it down during sex and she’s immediately sad and embarrassed and withdrawn

It’s on sight for nacho when Lalo finds out why princesa is quiet and doesn’t want to have sex every night anymore

Lalo is such an asshole lmao.

"I need to talk to you."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"You and...you and..."

Princesa's staring at Nacho. Nacho closes his eyes, it's a visual sigh. But he manages to keep eye contact with her.

"You and Lalo are loud."

Princesa's heart feels like death. She thinks she's dying. She thinks it's stupid that she feels like she's dying, but she can barely think anything else. It's pure embarrassment on her cheeks.

"Oh. I'm sorry-"

"It's fine. Just...the house can hear you. Or at least I can."

She's immediate in her scratching of her knee. Nacho actually sighs.

"Stop. It's not...it's not a big deal, these things happen. I just thought you should know about that type of thing."

"Okay. I'll keep it down at night. I'm sorry."

"Not just at night."

Princesa stills. Freezes.

"I'll be right back."

She will not. She'll try not to cry in the bathroom for the next ten minutes. Then she'll watch TV while knitting to calm her down. Nacho will be cursing at himself in his room. All good. All good until Lalo comes home...until the night comes along and he wants to hear her.

"What's wrong?"

He's inside Princesa, and he can tell she's trying to keep herself silent. He kisses her cheek, the only thing he can do cause she won't look at him.

"Nothing."

She moans softly. Lalo's hand squeeze her cheeks. She's forced to look into his eyes of coal.

Her hands run through his hair.

"What's wrong?"

It's asked as simply as the first time.

"I didn't know how loud I was being."

"...What do you mean?"

"People in the house can hear us."

"...Who?"

"Lalo. It's just--I didn't know I was so loud."

Lalo's not blinking, he just rubs Princesa's breast. He tilts his head.

"Who told you you were being loud?" He taps her lips when he finally removes his hand from her cheeks. "Was it Nacho?"

"...He just mentioned it-"

"Why is he talking about that kind of thing with you?"

"What thing?"

Lalo scoffs. He slips his cock out of Princesa. "Talking about sex with you. He knows to ignore. What the hell is he doing? Talking to you about how loud you're being. That's-"

He's asking like he didn't want Nacho annoyed in the first place.

He kisses Princesa's cheek before leaving.

"Lalo, where are you goin-"

He shuts the door, pants on. Today was one of the days he went commando, as the Americans say.

He slams Nacho's door open. Nacho's shirtless. So is he. He may or may not still have his cock hard.

"Nacho. You like making girls insecure? You like making her insecure?"

"I don't-"

"Keep your mouth shut when you hear things, alright? It's my house. You're a tough guy...you can deal with it, eh?"

Nacho doesn't say anything. His eyes flicker up and down. Lalo scoffs again.

"Maybe you're not as tough as I thought you were."

[remaineds]

she doesn't even think to just go against his wishes and send the money anyway, because yeah. it's not actually about the money. his laughter only pisses her off more, repeating her shoving as though it'll work better the second time. (it doesn't.) "don't tell me what i don't know!" her frustration level is so high, anger and adrenaline licking up her spine and clouding her head, that she's willing to fight just about anything he says. "just because you've been inside me, doesn't mean you know a single goddamn thing about me." except, well, she isn't sure that's completely true. and isn't that part of the problem? "because... because you pity losers, and idiots, and people with shitty lives, and that isn't me! i have a great fucking life, dax. it's not my problem if you don't know what that's like." each critique he throws at her is more cutting than the last, and she doesn't know how to keep up with this anymore. she's just so tired. "so what, we spend one night together where we're not tearing each other's throats out, and suddenly you care about me?" scoffs harshly. "you meet my dad for five minutes and you're a fucking expert on our relationship?" for whatever reason, it's his last comment that gets her to back down. because he's right, and that hurts enough on it's own, but also who gave him the right to be the one to make her confront it? arms fall to her sides and she's unable to keep the hurt off her face, like he's just struck her. "you know what? i think you should go." just can't deal with the bullshit anymore. "i mean it. i want you to leave."

dax doesn't even bother to address the money situation anymore, hellbent on not taking anything from her especially when the argument clearly stems from something else. it's his saving grace that she's not sent him anything through cash apps and the like, otherwise she could put a pin in this with a few taps of her phone. "you sure that's not what you're saying? do you even know what you're saying right —" the light press to his chest does nothing to faze him; in fact, it makes him laugh that she thought such a feeble attempt would get her anywhere. with tessa, words will always cut deeper than anything physical and something tells him that would still ring true if she stabbed him right then and there. "what the hell is so wrong with feeling bad for someone who clearly isn't happy with how things are?!" her dad, mainly, but surely that's just part of the whole problem. is that also why she didn't care to apply herself in med school? "this isn't charity, i'm just bein' fucking honest which is something you can't even do for yourself!" even though their upbringing places them in two totally different worlds, there's one thing that dax feels she can see eye-to-eye on. "we're all alone in this fucked up world, tess — you and me. and if you can't accept that your god damn asshole of a dad isn't gonna pick you up if you end up in a ditch somewhere, i don't know what to tell you!"

[randomaj]

something something about how it really sucks that it's basically impossible for me to not be discriminated against being in so many minority groups and minorities within that, but also I feel like I can't get angry/stressed by it because I am infinitely more well-off compared to other people, but also I experience a lot of things first-hand and shouldn't have to deal with that ( as should no-one else ) but also actually it shouldn't even matter because you're allowed to feel angry about stuff and be mentally ill and not have to justify and fuck.

[thecherrygod]

//

[sergle]

had another consult w Dr. Boobs about my reduction to check on my healing progress, and I continue to get a good grade in boobs

[ashton-ryder]

Ashton didn't flinch at the outburst volume, but did wince at the substance of those words. It didn't change his question, compared to her, if she declared his out casting, would they really deny her? He didn't even have the answer to his question, what could they have done? Nothing, it wasn't their fault. He inserted himself into their lives and they owed him nothing. Instead, all he could say was what encapsulated his decision to keep quiet, "and she's family too, isn't she," Ashton started before steeling himself to look at JP's heartbroken face, "how could I do that to you, hurt you and make you choose between your family to turn against?" Telling Jeremiah or Charlie hadn't changed much of the status quo, even if Jer managed to quell her at times (in ways he rather not know and let the jealousy fester over) for Ash to last long enough till now. And he rather spare JP the hurt because he would be the one to hurt the most by this, and it still won't change anything.

He paused at the second painful question, eyes looking away before he even dare murmur, "well, you made it plenty clear you didn't want me there tonight." If he'd admit it, it hurt a little to barely be acknowledged, not during the fight, not as they shared words of love, not as they left the room while he picked up broken glass. He felt like he didn't belong in there, but so much worse for being the one to have caused it. Instances came in small doses over the years that unconsciously drew a line he knew he shouldn't cross; celebrating birthdays, family nights, JP protecting Sada, they were all small and petty and meant nothing individually, but piling them up together alongside Sada's constant torment of reminders for years was a bad recipe for his overthinking mind.

There wasn't enough time in the night to tell him all of it. But Ashton doesn't comment on that and instead opened the can of worms he can never close ever again. He didn't know if this was the right thing to do, he was so afraid of it being the wrong thing to do, but he was so stuck, what else could he do? Ashton let out a long, shaky exhale when he finally ran out of words, he couldn't do anymore of this tonight. When JP's voice finally calmed into something softer, anger dissipated, sharp edges no longer there, did Ashton genuinely look up to him from the floor, a small breath escaped through a ghost of a smile, "..it does," mirroring the complete opposite reply of the similar words of comfort he told JP earlier, greeting it with softness instead of rage. He was trying to bargain with himself that the moment he got his PhD, he had to leave New York, he couldn't do this for the rest of his life with Sada breathing down his neck, but even with that deadline approaching he wasn't sure if he had the heart to leave what had been a second home that welcomed him with open arms since day one. Not that it mattered any more, PhD not even in his sights right now.

It was a valid question that brought a sigh that came out half a laugh of the crude way it was asked, Ash was about to answer when JP decided to make a guess that caught him off guard, "huh-?" He hadn't been ready to think about that, even if JP had been teasing him about it and him denying it for years, suddenly it all felt too real within just days ago, and yet not real at all. It was.. confusing if only on a very miniscule level. Jer's words still ringing heavily in the back of his head as a reminder; there's Sada, there always will be Sada and that's never going to change. "No- no. I don't-- think so.." it was perhaps the first time Ashton actually hesitated debunking JP's theories about the two of them, always quick to deny because nothing ever happened between them before. A seed of doubt now wondering if Jer told Sada, but he quickly swatted it away, it was too soon for either of them to want to deal with that. He wouldn't.. right?

Ashton ran a hand through his hair ending up rubbing over his face, thankful for the darkness of the night that JP couldn't see him properly, "we- I mean.." So much truth came out today Ash almost kept going, stopping himself in time. But the sudden panic rose, "please don't tell her." JP could break his trust and run back to Sada with everything else, but not this one, "you'll probably actually find my corpse if you do," he tried to add an air of joke but in the end felt much more heavy as a fucking true possibility, and his deep blues glanced up with an underlying desperation, words uttered so softly but seriously almost as a beg, "..please." If JP wanted proof of good will of Ash trusting him with the truth, this was it. It felt like he was putting his heart in JP's hand and guess this was about to test who he really was to JP, compared to Sada.

"I really don't fucking know, I just.. I had a mission once in New York - I'm sure she's told you this already. It's just been so much worse since she followed us back here and we're essentially stuck in here together."

"You're fucking family!" he roared, reminiscent of his older brother. "That's what you are. And to the Roses, that matters. What do we have to do to make you believe that?" he asked almost rhetorically. Being accepted as one of them was a fucking honor that Ash should have just taken. He didn't have to keep doubting himself like he was and, mad or not, that broke John-Paul's heart. "Fuck Sada," he said surprisingly even for him, but he was pissed at her for keeping her mouth shut and even madder with the possible truth to Ashton's revelations. "When have we ever made you feel anything less than one of us?"

Why else would he have gotten so mad at him for keeping things from him. He had, for the most part, been honest and open with him. With the important stuff anyway. John-Paul didn't understand why Ashton felt he couldn't do the same. Or how he had been so blind to the fact that his friend had been suffering so badly because of the woman he considered a mother. What anger he'd felt at the party had, by now, dissipated into a self-reflective hatred. Had he really made Ash feel like he couldn't be trusted?

"All of it," he answered as if it had been a question when Ash scoffed. Then he shut the fuck up and let him talk.

His brow furrowed in deep regret when he fully realized he hadn't been the safe space he'd thought he was for him, the pain in Ash's eyes nearly fatal. Worse still he remembered overhearing Amelia say something about a break-in during a facetime call. And how, when he asked about it, it had been brushed off as misplacing her earrings. What Ash didn't know was that he'd asked Sada to use her connections just to check it out, worried about Amelia's safety, and he been reassured she was fine. Had Sada lied to him?

He gave a short, silent nod when he asked about his telescope - because yes he did remember Charlie trying to get some money together some years back. And how he'd given her most of what she was needing when he finally got her to admit why she'd needed it. However, he'd been given a story of Ash dropping it. John-Paul suddenly felt like he didn't know anyone anymore, each confession distorting the reality he once knew.

The realization of what an asshole he'd been was now painfully obvious to him. But how did he say sorry now. "If it means anything at this point I'm glad you didn't leave," he offered quietly. "You could tell me why she has such a hard on for you," he added crudely. "Is it over Jer?" he guessed, Ash's feelings for his brother unspoken knowledge between the two.

[ghostoffuturespast]

Honestly, getting real tired carrying and supporting other folks around here when most of them aren't returning the favor...