#I guess that possiblity is still on the table- but better save it for another day!

[lightsoutmatthews]

Your recents have been sooooo good! Can you do an Auston fic about whatever you want, but a little angsty and a little fluff? Thanks love!💗

Thank you so much for the compliments so, you ask and you shall receive 🤭 Usually I wouldn´t have had time to write today because of class but half of them got cancelled so I got right on it and I hope you like it 😁

6-8 Weeks – Auston Matthews

It was supposed to be a regular home game in the middle of the season. Nothing huge on the line, no bad blood with the other team. Just another night, another game in the row of many. You weren’t even watching that closely, scrolling through your phone, half listening to the conversation Steph Marner and Aryne Taraves were having next to you when you heard the thud. Not from the broadcast but from the way the crowd sucked in air, the entire arena all at once.

The camera cut to him on the ice immediately. Auston wasn’t getting up.

You knew immediately that it wasn’t just a bump or a trip. He wasn’t dramatic like that and certainly wouldn’t risk getting a penalty for it. If he was down and not getting up, it was bad.

You barely heard the announcers say he was helped off when you were already grabbing your stuff and rushed out goodbyes to the other girls.

By the time you got to the locker room entrance, the game was still going and that meant they wouldn’t let you in. That left you pacing in the hallway until one of the trainers came out and gave you a nod. The look in his eyes said everything.

You guessed that it was a sprain in his knee. He told you it wasn’t a full tear, and thank God for that, but it was bad enough.

“He´s still in the exam room,” the trainer said gently, the tone in his voice telling you all you needed to know about Austons mood. “Go slow.”

Auston looked like hell when you walked in. Hair matted down with sweat, his jersey halfway off and his right leg popped on a bench with a wrap already around the knee.

He didn’t look at you when you closed the door, but he spoke as soon as you did. “I´m fine,” rushed out of his mouth before you could say anything or even get close enough to touch him.

“You´re not, Auston.”

“I will be,” he changed.

You walked over and sat next to him, gently placing a hand on his arm. He didn’t pull away, but he didn’t lean into your touch either. You didn’t blame him.

“I´m not mad. I´m just…” he stopped there, and you waited, but he didn’t finish.

He didn’t need to; you could feel it off him. The frustration and the exhaustion, the missing weeks that would come with this injury.

Your heart ached for him. Hockey was everything to him and missing time was the last thing he wanted. You knew he didn’t want to let the team down even though it was not his fault that he was missing games.

“I´m sorry,” you said helplessly. You knew it wouldn’t make it better, but you had to try. When he didn’t say anything, you moved closer and carefully rested your head on his shoulder. An attempt of giving him a little comfort.

He didn’t move for a second but then, slowly, he leaned into you, resting his head on yours.

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

The next day a doctor confirmed the injury. High-grade MCL sprain. Six to eight weeks on the sidelines and that was if everything was healing quickly, he was possibly facing missing even more time.

You had sat next to him in the office. He didn’t ask you to come but since he couldn’t drive you had to. When his head dropped after getting his diagnosis you held his hand under the table, an attempt of saving him from drowning.

Then, he didn’t say much on the ride home. You offered to pick up food, he said no, he wasn’t hungry. You suggested calling his family, letting them know what was going on, he said not yet. You called Ema later that day anyways, knowing she was worried sick about her son.

You offered to stay with him and cancel on having pedicures and dinner with the other wives and girlfriends, that time he didn’t answer at all, so you left.

They told you it happens. That players completely shut down after an injury. They also said that it would get better, you hoped that would happen sooner rather than later.

When you returned home, he laid on the couch, one arm slung over his eyes like he wanted to disappear or like he didn’t want to see anyone or anything.

You brought him water and a plate of the food you picked up on your way home. Then left again and grabbed a fresh icepack.

You sat on the kitchen island until he went to bed, just in case he needed something but at the same time you were giving him space. You hated every second of it but chose to trust the girls and believe that it would get better.

What you didn’t expect was that the distance stayed present for days. He had always been a little quieter and distant when things went bad, but this was different.

He wasn’t just down because of the injury; he was shutting down from everything.

The first few days after it all happened were spent in near silence. He didn’t want to talk, he didn’t want to go outside, not even with Felix, and he didn’t want to answer, no calls, no messages, not even to you when you were speaking right in front of him.

You heard his phone buzz on the couch all the time, teammates were checking in, his family wanted to know if he was okay, he let everything go unanswered.

It went as far as you getting messages from them, telling at least half of the Leafs players that he was doing okay under the circumstances. You texted his sisters and parents what was going on. Ema offered to fly in to help you deal with it. You declined, she understood.

You tried not to take it personally when he didn’t answer you or made no attempt to say anything at all.

It wasn’t like he was cold, or mean, but he was somewhere else.

You wished he would talk to you in any way. Screaming about how unfair it all was would be better than the silence that was now hanging heavy in the living room.

The days went on like that.

You made breakfast and asked how he slept. He gave one-word answers.

You asked if he wanted to sit on the balcony, get some fresh air after being inside for a while, he said no.

You put on his favorite movie, the one hated, just to get him to laugh but it was like he was staring straight through the TV, not noticing what was happening on the screen.

It hurt. Not just because he was shutting you out, not really, it was that he didn’t trust you with the parts of his life that sucked.

All you wanted from him was that he opened out about how he felt, what he was thinking. The silence was defeating. You weren’t sure how long you could take it anymore.

At the same time, you knew that he had to come to terms with it himself before he would be ready to open up to you and as hard as it was to live in a quiet apartment with a man that didn’t talk, you let him. With a heavy heart and the hopes of it turning soon.

Day five was the breaking point.

You found him sitting in the kitchen at 2 am, hunched over the table with a bag of frozen peas on his knee and a half-eaten protein bar on the counter. He looked like a ghost. Pale, massive bags under his eyes, hair all over the place.

“You okay?” you asked quietly, flicking the light on.

He flinched a little at the sound and the sudden brightness, then he looked up. His eyes were tired, like, really tired. Like he had only slept one or two hours in the past few days. He had always told you he had slept fine, right now you didn’t believe any of it.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” he replied instead of answering your question.

“You didn’t.”

You sat down across from him, looking at him for a second. “Have you been out here long?”

He shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Another one of those short answers you hated so much.

You paused, looking at his tense facial expression. He was in pain, you could see it, but you were asking about it anyways. “Does it hurt?”

“Yeah, like hell, but that’s not it.”

You waited, careful not to push.

“I just… I feel like I don’t know what I´m doing when I´m not playing. I wake up and I don’t know what the day is for.”

There it was the actual reason why he shut down over the past few days.

“You don’t have to be okay right now,” you mumbled.

“I know,” he replied. “But I also feel like I shouldn’t be dragging you into it. I don’t know how to not be like this.”

You shook your head like he was saying insane things. “You think I´m only here because I expect you to be perfect all the time?” you questioned.

“I think it´s hard to watch someone disappear.”

That hit a little too close, because he had been disappearing, slowly, right in front of your eyes.

“I don’t need you to pretend everything is perfect, but I need you to let me in when it gets bad, okay? You could have screamed for all I cared, and it wouldn’t have been as bad as the silence.”

That made the gears in his head turn.

He looked at you like he wanted to say something but then just nodded.

You didn’t make him talk more that night. Just stood and pulled him to his feet gently, helped him back to the couch and sat with him until he fell asleep with his head on your lap.

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

Thigs didn’t magically fix overnight from then on but he slowly started to talk more again. not a lot and not all the time like before the injury but enough for you to not feel alone in a condo with someone anymore.

You woke up to him already on the couch, quietly scrolling through his phone or half-watching Sportsnet.

Sometimes you sat with him, and he leaned into you without saying anything, like he was learning how to be in the same space as you again.

One day, he apologized.

“I´m sorry I shut down. I just didn’t know what to say. Felt like I was trying to breathe through mud.”

You chuckled a little at his comparison, then squeezed his hand. “You don’t owe me to be happy all the time, but I think you owe me to not shut me out when I´m trying to be there for you.”

He nodded slowly. “I´ll try.”

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

Things improved from then on. One night, you crawled into bed while he was already half asleep. His back was to you, like it had been many times during this time, and for a second you thought he might not even notice that you were there.

Then he turned, slow and careful with his knee, and wrapped an arm around your waist.

“Don’t go,” he whispered groggily.

You tucked your head under his chin and placed a soft kiss to his chest. “I´m not going anywhere.”

Eventually, clearance came, and he could skate again. Just light movement and no contact but you knew he was itching to get back out there.

You drove him to the rink and sat up in the stands with your hoodie pulled over your head and your hands curled in the sleeves.

He took the first laps slowly. You could tell he was testing every push but by the end of the session he looked more alive than he had in weeks.

When he came off, he found you near the glass. His cheeks were pink, and his hair was soaked under his helmet, but he was smiling like he hadn’t since before the injury.

“I didn’t forget how to do it,” he said.

“You looked good.”

He leaned against the boards. “I´m still not 100%”

“That´s okay, but you´re here.”

He nodded, quieted for a second before leaning down and capturing your lips in a soft kiss. “Thanks for staying.”

You smiled. “Thank you for letting me.”

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

The first game back was rough. He was slow in the first period. Took a couple of soft hits. Missed a shot that he would usually snap right in. You could see the frustration in how he skated back to the bench, how he clenched his jaw and sat in silence during intermission.

Afterward, when the reporters were done and the team started clearing out, you waited near the back hallway. He came out looking exhausted and a little pissed off.

You opened the arms anyways and he walked right into them like he didn’t know he needed that until it happened. “It´ll come soon,” you whispered into his shoulder.

He nodded into your neck. “Thank you for being here.”

“I´m not going anywhere, I promise.”

[amorchai]

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐉𝐈𝐌 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆.

pairing(s): jim halpert x reader

words: 998

warnings/tags: established relationship, dwight being dwight.

you were typing at a rare fast speed, keyboard drowning out the sound of kelly squealing over the new season release of her favourite show. you didn’t even notice jim’s presence until his foot is nudging your chair, chuckling when you drag your eyes from the computer and to his smug face.

“can you sign these off by the end of the day? i need to pass them onto michael before five…” there was a hint of teasing in his tone, smiling at you. it been a few months of secretly dating, and the butterflies of a newfound romance were still swarming every time he looked at you like that.

“i have a few things to get through but after i sign these i can hand them to michael myself, saves you the task,” you smile back, overly sweet in sarcasm when his eyes glimmer. “oh great, well thank you, y/n.”

you smile in response, your gazes not leaving one another as he backs up towards the door to leave to the main office, not before smiling awkwardly at a peering kelly and glancing at the following camera.

“isn’t he like, so cute?” asks kelly. and you knew what she was doing, she was into ryan – which you heard all about – so she was playing matchmaker with you as she usually did.

thankfully it wasn’t with dwight this time.

“i guess.” you say back, typing on your computer with a wide uncontained smile, uncaring of the camera because at least kelly can’t tell your expression from behind. “why don’t you ask him out? i think he’s totally into you,” kelly continues and you look at the camera hesitantly before replying, “i don’t know, i’ll see.”

the next time you see jim is when you’re refilling your teacup, swirling your spoon around the aromatic herbs with a sense of boredom when your head turns to the sound of the door opening.

“hey, you,” jim smiles and you return it. he starts pouring himself a new coffee, shoulder pressed to yours in the empty kitchen. “what are you doing tonight?” you ask, pretending you don’t already know.

“oh, i don’t know, probably order some cheap takeout and watch the new movie i rented,” he says, as if you’re not involved in those plans, “what about you?”

kevin walks in the room, awkwardly smiling at you both as he heads to the stocked fridge and you try not to make it noticeable how much you’re staring at jim. his lips curling into a smile, raised eyebrows and some light stubble around his jaw ready to be shaved making him look better than normal, if it was even possible.

i clear my throat, “oh uh- dinner with some friends, then gonna go home and watch a movie myself.” jim nods at your lies, winking as kevin sits at the table, too busy struggling to open his boxed food to notice.

“have fun with that,” jim says when you begin to walk away, his usual smug smile making you want to kiss him there and then. you glance at kevin, who is in his own world, so quickly you lean up and kiss jim’s cheek. his cheeks turn red fast as his eyes widen, “how dare you,” he teases in a whisper as you walk back to your desk.

his eyes always look at you the moment you enter the room. the clock on the wall close to turning five when you enter the office from your desk at the other side of the floor. jim fidgets with a pen, stopping everything he’s doing when you walk through the room.

you smile at him knowingly, walking past him with a load of papers to take into michael’s office and he spins in his chair to stare at you when you shut the door. he can’t wait to sit out by his car to drive you back to his, finally being able to hold your hand and kiss you.

“never going to happen.”

jim turns back around, sighing as he clicks his mouse, “what’s that, dwight?” dwight rolls his eyes, invested in his work but too observant of everything else at the same time, “you and y/n.”

“oh really?” jim says, heavily amused. “y/n’s smart. too smart to date someone like you, jim,” dwight chuckles to himself, scoffing and sending a look of ‘am i right, pam?’ to reception as pam just watches in amusement with a shaking head by the constant bickering.

you walk out the office, sliding your hand over jim’s shoulder with a squeeze that only he notices and he smiles widely as the clock finally turns to five. jim didn’t mind what was being said, knowing he’d be in your company the rest of the weekend.

michael immediately sends everyone home – never a man to keep people late, stanley moving faster than anyone out the door as everyone bids their goodbyes.

jim shrugs on his jacket, watching as you wait in the kitchen area – laughing along to chatterbox kelly until everyone else is away. he loved it, the sneaking around, no one else knowing you were his or he was yours.

“you know what dwight, i think you’re right,” jim muses, minutes later. “i know. i always am. what am i right about now?” dwight says frustrated, scarf wrapped around his neck as he grabs briefcase, not correlating jim’s words to the previous conversation.

“have a great weekend,” jim replies, placing a hand on dwight’s shoulder, while smiling – eyes not leaving your frame. dwight gets defensive, pushing jim’s arm away, “bye, weirdo.”

soon, kelly walks away, waving jim off so it’s just you, him, and michael. and you walk towards him in excitement, both of you looking to michael from his desk, “see you monday, michael!”

“have fun, you guys,” he responds as you walk off. the moment the elevator door opens, jim’s tugging your hand into his, guiding you into the elevator. a stream of laughter follows, lips that missed one another meeting in a loving kiss.

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amorchai © ─ all rights reserved. no reposting/translating/copying will be tolerated.

[nebulaafterdark]

Exile (Part 7)

Summary: Y/N Undersee thought the games were over after becoming a victor. Unfortunately, life outside the arena has become just as dangerous. Prequel to Moves & Countermoves

Trigger warning: forced prostitution, explicit sexual content, alcohol abuse and other mentions of trauma. 18+ ONLY

SOTR spoilers

Part 6

Y/N doesn’t know Haymitch terribly well, but she does know him better than most. So she can tell by the look on his face that someone did have a bug in their ear. And that someone had once been very dear to him. “Haymitch, I don’t need to know everything.” She sighs.

“No, I-” he breaks off, in an attempt to collect himself. “I’ll tell you.” I’d tell you anything.

“Let’s sit.” She leads him to the couch, grabbing one of the open bottles from the coffee table and holding it out to him.

His response is caught between a snicker and a sneer. “You might want a swig or two for this one, angel.”

Y/N plops down beside him, raising the alcohol to her lips and choking down a few mouthfuls.

Haymitch accepts her offering when she holds the liquor out again. Chugging down the remains of the half empty bottle before he begins. “Back in my day, we didn’t have the pretty, well trained, ponies you did.”

The games are ever changing, more ‘show’ each year. Like the Capitol is trying to outdo itself. Even Y/N’s stay at the tribute center was less grand than the accommodations made for Maximus and Denali. “Sure.”

“Some idiot let a firecracker loose, spooked the horses and they threw us off. The other female tribute from district twelve…her name was Louella McCoy.”

‘Turns out, somethin’ like this happened before. With the McCoy’s girl.’

Haymitch feels Y/N’s hand close over his. “I tried to get to her.”

“Of course you did.”

“It happened quick.” He tells her. “Louella was gone. I wasn’t sure what would happen. They needed her for the games.” Not like back in the early days when tributes were lost before the arena. They needed four tributes from district twelve. “Maysilee told me they were going to take her body. I couldn’t let them. Not yet.”

Y/N nods, hanging off every word.

“I jumped back on the only chariot with any chance of ending up at the mansion and showed Snow what he’d done. Applauded him even.”

“I’m sure he loved that.”

Haymitch chuckles, reaching for another open bottle. “When they finally did take her, I thought it was over.”

How could they bring her back to life?

“I received a belated birthday present from the president himself.” Haymitch tosses back another swallow. “It was ‘Louella McCoy.’”

“How?” There is something sick about the inflection in his voice.

“We called her Lou Lou.”

“So if she wasn’t Louella, who was she?”

“Our best guess was a rebel’s kid out of district eleven.” Haymitch squeezes his eyes shut against the unbidden image of the girl. “They’d starved her, injected something into her face to make it fuller. They…” He can hardly bring himself to say it, “god, Y/N, I don’t even know what they did to her.”

Y/N shifts closer, wrapping her arms around him.

“They had some kid of device in her ear that controlled her.” Haymitch recounts, “Wyatt died trying to save that little girl. He didn’t even know her real name.”

‘The Callow boy died a while before she did and didn’t smell half as foul when he got home.’

“I can’t imagine they buried her.”

“I’m sorry, Haymitch.”

“What aired in the districts…they doctored it.” Haymitch tells her, “there were things that happened in that arena they didn’t want anyone to know.”

Y/N guides the bottle in his hand to her own mouth. The liquid is still foul, burning its way down her esophagus.

“You told Plutarch you wanted to break the board.” Haymitch breathes, “I need you to know that I’ve already tried. It’s not possible.”

“Maybe we just had to be on the outside.”

“Angel.”

“Maybe we have to keep playing the game for while. But I think we can do it together. We can still break the board.”

“It will take years of playing the game.” He warns, “people are gonna hate you for it.”

“People already hate me.” Y/N scoffs.

“They’re going to hate you more.”

“Then they can hate me.” She decides, “one day they’ll understand.”

“I can’t let you do that to yourself.” Haymitch argues.

“You can’t stop me.” Y/N arches a brow.

He groans, tossing his head back against the sofa. Staring up at the ceiling as he releases a disgruntled, “I’m tired, Maysilee! Your niece doesn’t listen for shit and she’s drinking up all my hooch.”

Y/N laughs, a deep belly laugh that fills the baron walls of Haymitch’s house with joy. Breathing life back into it. Making it a home. “He’s lying, Lee. He’s the one who doesn’t listen.”

“Lee?” Maysilee never struck him as a ‘Lee.’

“It’s kind of silly,” Y/N says. “When I was really little, I couldn’t remember who was Maysilee and who was Merrilee. So I called them both Lee, when I got old enough to tell the difference it was too late. The name stuck.”

“Nicknames’ll do that.”

“It’s weird sometimes…how much you miss people who’ve been gone longer than you ever knew them.”

“Yeah,” Haymitch’s mouth twitches. Love is funny that way.

“That’s why we have to break the board, Haymitch.”

Haymitch grins, passing a hand over his face. “I’m not agreeing to anything, but that was a great pitch. I’ll give you that.”

“Come on, Haymitch!” Emboldened by the alcohol, Y/N turns toward him, straddling his hips. Their noses pressed together.

He can’t help but laugh, resting his hands against her waist.

“Everyone is rooting for us.”

“This is very compelling,” he assures her.

“We can do this.”

Haymitch inhales, pulling his face away from hers, a fraction of an inch. “I will consider it.”

She’s kissing him then, hot and heavy, hands buried in his hair.

His own hands wandering, catching on a folded piece of paper in the back pocket of her pants. It falls to the floor.

Neither of them can be bothered with it.

————————————————————————

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

Y/N rubs at her eyes, forcing them open.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

Someone is pounding at the front door.

Haymitch is still sleeping soundly, one arm draped over her waist.

“Haymitch,” Y/N shakes the limb, gently.

“Hmm?”

“There’s someone at the door.”

“And they can stay there until morning.” Haymitch nuzzles against her shoulder.

“Y/N!” The mayor calls, “Haymitch!”

“It’s my dad.” Y/N springs from the bed. Tossing one of the nightgowns, gifted by the Capitol, over her head. Shrugged on the matching robe.

Haymitch is slower to dress, pulling on pair of black silk shorts and button up pajama set.

In their slippers and bedhead, the victors of district twelve meet him at the door.

“What’s wrong?” Y/N demands, breathlessly.

“I’m so sorry,” her father pulls her in for a hug. “The house is up in flames.”

“What house?”

“The Carell house.”

No.

No.

No.

“They’re in the house.”

Haymitch rushes past them, taking off like a bat out of hell. Sprinting from Victors’ Village to the house at the far end of the seam.

The scene is familiar to him. The fire, everyone running either to or from it. Buckets of water that do little but fizzle in the heat.

“Are they still in there?” Haymitch asks one of the bystanders.

“Where else would they be? We ain’t all got a village to ourselves.”

I hate this. Haymitch is now the one holding someone he loves away from the flames, as they beg and scream to be released. I hate this.

The fire takes the house down to the studs, despite everyone’s best efforts. The Carell house is gone and so are they.

“Everyone please return to your homes, we are looking into this!” The mayor’s voice booms into the night air.

Onlookers scurry away from them and the shadow of death and destruction that follows. As though they are cursed…perhaps they are.

————————————————————————-

When there is nothing else to be done, Y/N and Haymitch are dismissed.

“If there’s any word, you’ll be the first to know.” Y/N’s father promises.

So they return to Haymitch’s house, locking the door behind them. In a state of shock, Y/N moves toward the nearest piece of furniture to lie down.

“No,” Haymitch steers her away from the couch. “You need to bathe, you’re covered in soot.”

Y/N stares down at her hands, stained with ash and dirt. She allows him to march her up the stairs and draw her a bath.

Haymitch washes her meticulously, though he himself remains dirty. The water is black when he’s finished. So he drains it, only to fill it again. When he is satisfied, he towels her off. “Do you think you can get dressed while I shower?”

Y/N nods.

He doesn’t dare close the door between them. The distance from the bedroom to the ensuite is excruciating enough.

She’s two bottles deep when he returns, passed out on the duvet, with the evidence in each hand.

Haymitch moves them away. Glass clattering to the floor. This game is going to break your heart. She is different than him. Better. Not nearly as selfish. Oh no, my angel. This game is not for you.

————————————————————————

Haymitch wakes to the afternoon sun, the mattress is cool where Y/N had been. He sets out in search of her, finding Y/N standing at the fireplace; note in hand.

As he moves closer, Haymitch is able to make out the words etched into the parchment.

‘Burn after reading.’

Part 8

Taglist: @spideysimpossiblegirl @ancientbeing10 @1-800-styles @l3xi3luv @lam-ila @druby2011-blog @liballer @readinginthe-am @rae-11 @champomiel @mariechristine00 @solacestyles @inky-sun @dadbodfanatic-x @sandorcleganeslutt @indigoashh @mustainelove @darkened-writer @ch3rrybutterfly @boredomquest @theladyofmanyfandomsofficial @kisskittenn @kwllakka @feeblemindedfool @oopsieikilledan @that-one-fangirl69 @just-levyy @thisisthepartwhereishutup @alixxhere @quackitys-amor @pepelachanel @lurkingsparrow @faithalsip09 @cwallace02sblog @animaloversammy @peachiesnsilk @libbyaller @juiceboxfullofslime @libra-2409 @heidiland05 @evansorry @caraxes-syrax

[lee-laurent]

Playing Pretend - Jamie Drysdale

Summary: In which Jamie and his girlfriend end things after pretending everything was okay. Or in which Jamie's girlfriend moves in with Trevor while attempting to keep her pregnancy hidden from everyone.

content: pregnancy, mentions of abortion, long distance, keeping secrets from partner (if that's a warning idk), angst, fluff, mentions of sex, implications of cheating/being unfaithful, jamie's trade :(

notes: this one is a bit more angsty than my other fics. i wanted to experiment with trying something new. possible happy ending tho. guess you'll have to read to find out ;) sorry if it seems rushed, i didn't know how to format it :/

"Of course, you have options. You can read more about those here. This is a judgement free zone," the nurse continued to drone on about scheduling another appointment, but Violet had tuned her out. In fact, the only thing that Violet could hear was her heart pounding in her chest.

"Thank you," she mumbled, grabbing the paperwork and shoving it into her purse. All she wanted was Jamie and he was on the other side of the country.

Once she was safely in her car in the parking lot, she let the tears fall. A baby? How was she supposed to take care of a baby when her boyfriend lived five hours away by plane. They barely spoke more than twice a week at this point. Their relationship was falling apart and a baby wasn't going to save it.

"How was the doctor?" Trevor asked as she walked through the door, kicking off her shoes.

"Fine. Just food poisoning, like you thought."

"I told you! Never eat grocery store sushi, Vi. Should've listened to me."

"Ha. I guess you know best, Trev. I'm gonna go lie down. I'm still nauseous."

"Make sure you text Jamie! He was worried about you."

"I'm sure he was," she mumbled, making her way to her bedroom. She looked at the picture on her bedside table. It was of her and Jamie at his first game with the Ducks. She'd been so proud to see him move from the Gulls to the NHL. He had his arm wrapped around her waist and was looking down at her like she'd hung the moon and stars in the sky, while she smiled happily into the camera. Violet sighed, putting the photo face down. She couldn't bare to look at Jamie's face right now, photo or not.

Her phone buzzed.

Jamie <3: Trev texted. Said it's food poisoning like he thought. Feel better. I love you

Vi: Thanks, Jam. Love you too

Lying to Jamie made her stomach churn. In fact, everything was making her stomach churn at the moment. Trevor had made sausages with his breakfast that morning, leading to her projectile vomiting in the kitchen. Which is when Trevor finally convinced her to go to a walk-in clinic. A walk-in clinic that sent her to Planned Parenthood. And now at the thought of Jamie not knowing about his child mixed with the baby in her womb hating the smell of everything, she was leaned over the toilet once more.

"Vi? Do you want some ginger ale?" Trevor asked from the doorway.

"No. I'm okay, Trev. Just, I- I'd like to be alone right now."

"Oh, right. Call me if you need anything," he sighed, gently shutting the door behind him.

Violet sniffled, reaching for her phone on the counter next to her.

Jamie was worried sick about Violet, but he was also focused on the game of NHL 24 he was playing with Cam.

"Wait. Time out. Violet's texting."

"Oh, shit. What'd she say?"

"That... that we need to talk?" Jamie furrowed his eyebrows.

"Shit. We can finish this later. Call her."

"Thanks, Cam. I- I'll be back," Jamie stood up from the couch, albeit a bit wobbly from nerves, speeding off to his room.

"Hey," Violet's voice cracked as it broke through the speaker of his phone.

"Hey, um, what did you wanna talk about?"

"Long distance isn't working, Jamie. I- I think we should end things."

"What? Vi? Where is this coming from? Did- did you meet someone in Anaheim?"

"What? God, no. Jamie- I wouldn't cheat. You know that. I just- this is too much stress for me right now."

"Our relationship is too much stress for you? I- I told you that you could move here. We could get our own place. I-"

"Jamie, I have a life here. I have a job. My friends."

"I had all of that too. But, I- I'm making it work here. You could make it work here, Violet! Please don't do this. You- you're the love of my life."

"Jamie, don't make this harder than it needs to be. I can't do this anymore."

"Please, Violet. Please."

"We- if you need anything call Trevor. Goodbye, Jamie."

Jamie didn't return to his game with Cam; he spent the rest of the night crying himself to sleep on his bed.

"You broke up with Jamie?!" Trevor shouted the next morning, waking up an exhausted Violet.

"Trevor? It's 6 in the morning."

"Yeah? Well Jamie just called me in tears, saying that you dumped him OVER THE PHONE?!"

"We're long distance. How else was I supposed to do it?"

"You weren't supposed to do it at all, Violet! You guys are made for each other! What's with this sudden change of heart?"

"We were barely talking anymore. I need a present boyfriend."

"Vi-"

"Drop it, Trevor! It's frankly none of your business!"

"None of my bus-"

Violet gagged, leaning over and puking on the hardwood floor. She looked up at Trevor, wiping her mouth.

"Get me a paper towel, please."

"Right. Um, right... This conversation isn't over."

He returned with a roll of paper towels. Watching as she pulled herself out of bed, to clean up the mess next to her bed.

"Why'd you break up with him?"

"I just told you. It wasn't working."

"But, you didn't even try to make it work. He said you didn't communicate it wasn't going well until yesterday."

"Wow. Does Jamie tell you every intimate part of our relationship?" she snapped.

"No."

"It was rhetorical, Trevor."

"Oh. He loves you."

"I know."

"Do you not love him?"

"What? Of course I love him. He's the fa- the first man I loved. I'll always love him."

"Then why break up with him?! He- he said you could go live with him in Philly."

"I don't want to leave Anaheim. I want to r- never mind. But, my job is here."

"Get a new one."

"God! You're so immature! It's not that fucking easy, Trevor! I'm not going to start my entire life over for Jamie! So fucking drop it!"

"I-"

"Drop it!"

Trevor dropped it. At least with Violet he did. He spent every day trying to convince Jamie to call her. To fix things. To figure what he could do. Jamie wasn't easily convinced though. After the mental anguish that the phone call with his now ex-girlfriend had caused him, he wasn't sure he wanted to go through it again.

Violet's morning sickness hadn't ended. In fact, it was getting worse. Morning sickness? More like all day and all night sickness. She was in agony. And Trevor as oblivious as he was, was getting suspicious.

"Maybe you should go to the doctor again? I don't think food poisoning is supposed to last this long."

"It's probably just stress."

"Why're you stressed?"

"Work."

"But- okay? I still think you should go back."

"Trevor."

"Yes?"

"I'm fine."

"You're pretending."

"What?"

"You're pretending everything is okay. You're just afraid to admit that things are worse without Jamie. Not better. You're more stressed. Hence the vomiting."

"Trevor, I- I have work to do."

Two hours later Violet was in the kitchen doing dishes when her phone started ringing.

"Trev! Can you get that?"

"Sure."

"Hi! This is Alice from Anaheim OB/GYN, I was just calling to confirm your appointment on Friday with Dr. Rhodes," the voice came through the phone.

"Trev! Who is it?"

"Sure, just let me get the phone to Violet. Oh, perfect! Thank you!"

"Hi?" Violet asked, pressing the phone to her ear.

"Hi! Is this Violet?"

"Yes, this is she."

"Perfect! Just a few questions to go over before confirming your appointment."

"Oh, of course."

"Any abnormal bleeding?"

"No."

"Dizziness?"

"Nope."

"How's the nausea you mentioned last time you were in?"

"About the same."

"Okay, I'll let the nurse know. We can get you some tablets for that. See you Friday at 11:30."

"Perfect, thank you."

Violet sighed, hanging up the phone.

"You're pregnant?" Trevor whispered.

"What? No."

"She said she was calling from the OB/GYN's office. Isn't that a doctor for pregnant people?"

"Not always. They also give birth control and stuff."

"But why would you need birth control if you're not seeing Jamie anymore?"

"For my periods."

"You're lying."

"I'm not lying, Trevor. Why would I lie?"

"You're lying. You always itch your wrist when you lie. You're pregnant. Does Jamie know?"

"Maybe it isn't Jamie's?"

"Yeah? Who else have you slept with? Nobody. You and Jamie had sex the night before we left for Nashville."

"Who told you that?"

"Jamie."

"Ew. I-"

"So it is Jamie's?"

"I'm not pregnant."

"Violet... is this why you dumped him? Are you getting... you know?"

"Not pregnant, Trevor."

"Fine, I'll drop it for now. But, if you were pregnant, I, um, I'd be here to help. I promise."

"Good to know if I am to hypothetically get pregnant," she mumbled, itching her wrist. Trevor let out a heavy sigh.

"You- you can tell me anything, Violet. I'm not going to tell Jamie if you don't want me to."

"You said you were gonna drop it. Plus there's nothing to tell him. Everything is normal."

"Right, um, I'm going out. Call if you need anything for your... food poisoning."

"Will do."

When she finally heard the front door shut, she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. The tension in the kitchen had been palpable. She knew deep down that Trevor didn't believe her, but until she was showing she'd be able to hide it... maybe.

A month had passed and Violet was shocked to find that it looked like she was bloated. Violet had always been on the thinner side, but not to the point that she thought she'd be showing this early into her pregnancy. The doctors had confirmed that she was just over a month when she found out, meaning she was nearing three months. Baggy clothes became her new best friends. Unfortunately, most of the baggy clothing she owned were items she'd stolen from Jamie. This led to lots of looks from Trevor as she moved around their apartment.

Trevor now knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Violet was pregnant. He'd gone into her bathroom to find some extra toilet paper and come across an array of prenatal vitamins. He didn't bring it up though. The apartment constantly had an air of awkwardness shrouding it. Violet and Trevor were tip-toeing around each other. And he knew that eventually he would have to be the bigger person and bring it up, which was uncommon for the Ducks player.

"I was talking to Jamie today," Trevor mentioned as he twirled some spaghetti onto his fork.

"Hm. How's Jamie?"

"Better. He, uh, he still asks about you."

"Good for him."

"I'm sure if you told him... about your situation, he'd be willing to help."

"What situation?" Violet smiled, taking a sip of her water.

"Can we stop pretending, Violet?"

She shook her head, pushing away from the small kitchen table.

"God! Grow up, Violet! You're going to be a mom! Start acting like a fucking adult!" Trevor shouted as she retreated to her room, that Trevor had not-so-lovingly nicknamed "the cave." Her door slammed in response, shaking the pictures hanging in the corridor.

"Hey, girl!" her best friend, Aly, smiled through the FaceTime call. "How're those vitamins? One of the moms I work with says they're the best ones!"

"Good, I think. I've got a little bump now."

"Damn! Baby Drysdale is growingggg!" she dragged out.

"Don't call them that. He- I still haven't told him."

"Girl! You told me you were going to like a week ago! What changed?"

"He- I saw him on Instagram and he looked so happy. I don't want to ruin that."

"So... you're just gonna wallow in self-pity until your baby is born? What about when he sees you with a baby? Isn't he gonna be suspicious?"

"He already accused me of cheating. So..."

"Violet! No! We are not claiming you cheated and got pregnant from another man."

"Jamie's not ready to be a dad."

"Who told you that? Jamie?"

"No."

"Exactly. You don't know that!"

"I'll think about it, Aly. Right now, the doctor said I need to avoid too much stress. It makes my nausea worse."

"Uh huh. Lemme tell you about this date I went on!"

"Do you think Violet would be okay if I came to visit?" Jamie asked Trevor.

"Um... I mean you're coming to see me. It has nothing to do with her."

"I guess, you're right. I'll get a hotel though. I don't want to intrude on her space."

"Her space is also my space, Jamie."

"Yeah, but she's my... ex. It'd feel weird. Is she, um, seeing anyone new?"

"Violet?" Trevor choked on his water, "No. No. She's been busy with... work."

"Makes sense."

"What about you? Any new women in your life?"

"No. I just compare them all to Vi."

"When you come, maybe you can get some closure. Talk to her."

"If she lets me."

"If she lets you," Trevor smiled, continuing to help his best friend plan his trip.

Six months pregnant. Violet couldn't believe it. Her baby was the size of corn, according to Aly. It was hard to hide her ever growing bump, but Trevor's hoodies and some of Jamie's old clothes did the trick. She had no idea that Jamie was coming to visit. It was all part of Trevor's plan to get her to talk to him... and admit her pregnancy.

Trevor was buzzing as he walked Jamie up the stairs to their apartment.

"Violet did some redecorating, but it looks similar to when you left! She's still asleep, I think. She sleeps in on weekends."

"Not surprising," Jamie bit back his smile.

"Welcome back, bud!" Trevor swung open the door, leading his ex-teammate into his home. Jamie looked around, it was similar to when he left. A few pictures had been taken down and replaced with new ones, but it looked pretty much the same.

"Trev? Why are you shouting?" Violet questioned sleepily, rubbing a hand on her stomach. The baby had recently discovered how to kick and it was their new favourite hobby.

"Look who I brought home with me!" Trevor beamed.

"Jamie?" the girl suddenly looked much more awake, dropping her hands to her side.

"You... you're pregnant," was all Jamie could manage, staring directly at her stomach.

"Surprise?"

The group sat in the living room. Well, Trevor and Violet were sitting. Jamie was pacing around the room, running his hands through his hair.

"You're gonna go bald, Jimmy. Stop."

"She- you're pregnant?!"

"Yes. We established that, Jamie," Violet rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. Is it... is it mine?"

"Um..."

"Yes, the baby is yours, Jamie! Are you dumb?" Trevor furrowed his brow.

"You didn't tell me?! Neither of you?!"

"She... It wasn't my place."

"Yeah? What about you, Violet? What's your excuse?!"

"I- I didn't want to ruin your career."

"Ruin my career? No! You were just being selfish. Don't pretend this had anything to do with protecting me!" Jamie exclaimed.

"Jamie, can you sit down? You're stressing me out," she sighed, rubbing over where the baby was kicking repeatedly, sensing its mother's turmoil.

"Violet! We... we're having a baby."

"I'm having a baby."

God, she was just as stubborn as before.

"Z, can we have a minute?"

"Oh, sure," Trevor left and Jamie didn't speak until he heard the door close.

"Violet, this is serious. Why would you keep this from me? Is this why you ended things?" he asked, kneeling in front of her.

"Sort of. I panicked. I just, I don't want you to feel forced to stay because of us," she motioned to her belly.

"I... I still love you. A lot. God, I never stopped loving you."

"Jamie..."

"You... you can come live in Philly! We can fix us. And raise our baby. Be a happy family."

"I want to stay here."

"You... you can't keep my baby from me, Violet. Please," his eyes started to water, "Not any longer than you already have."

"He-"

"He? It's a boy?"

"Shit. Yeah."

"I'm going to have a son?" he smiled, the tears finally falling. Violet could feel her hormones acting up, her eyes also welling with tears.

"Henry."

"Hm?"

"I- I've been planning on naming him Henry."

"Henry. It's perfect, Vi. Can I?" he gestured to the swell of her stomach. She nodded, letting out a sob as his hands met the cotton of her shirt.

"Hi, Henry. It's your dad. I'm sorry I haven't been here. I- I don't blame Mommy. She did what she thought was best."

Violet continued to sob. Why was he being so sweet to her? She'd kept his son from him!

"Violet, can you just think about it? Please. Us and Henry in Philly."

"I can think about it, Jams," she cried, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Are you sure you built that right?" Violet asked for the fourth time, "I don't want him falling on the ground in the middle of the night."

"I followed the instructions, Vi. It's secure. He'll be fine."

"Are you sure? I just-"

Jamie cut her off with a kiss to her lips.

"I'm positive, love. Now stop worrying. Poor Henry is going to pop out early if you keep that up."

"I'd appreciate it if he did. He's been sitting on my bladder all day."

Jamie kneeled down in front of her, placing a hand where he saw the imprint of a foot kick.

"Can you move off Mommy's bladder? It makes her pissy. And Daddy doesn't want to deal with it right now."

"He's not listening. I need to pee," she waddled out of the nursery and into the ensuite. Jamie laughed, following her into their bedroom.

"You look good pregnant," Jamie commented as she emerged from the bathroom.

"Shut up. We're not having sex until this monster is out of me."

"He's not a monster!"

"He's giant! I can't breathe."

"Here," Jamie walked behind her, lifting up her stomach. She let out a long sigh of relief, the pressure being alleviated from her back.

"Thanks, Jams. I love you."

"I love you too," he smiled. Although they weren't the most stable couple on the planet, Jamie was just glad to have his girl back. And now he had his little boy too. He felt complete. And so did Violet. Complete and happy with their soon-to-be family of three.

[seiya-starsniper]

Sandman S2E3 Thoughts

Ugh what a gross way to open up the episode, sir stop showing off your stomach muscles ajsdioidjoadioas

Azazel making Dream mad is NOT what you wanna do

"No I mean angry at me" LUCIENNE my beloved, I'm so glad you're so much more sassy this season, Dream desperately needs it.

CLURACAN YOU HORNY BEAST RIGHT UP AGAINST THE WALL YOU SHARE WITH YOUR SISTER?!?!?!?!?

SANDFLOWER ENCOUNTER?????????? BE STILL MY BEATING HEART

"Is your bedchamber not to your satisfaction?" Yeah it's missing YOU SIR, get your ass in Nuala's bed right meow

Oooooooo this is different! Nuala was at A Midsummer Night's Dream?????

"Relations became strained" - Another relationship Dream set on fire.

God what an AMAZING transition to this story, adding Nuala as part of it makes so much sense.

I miss twinky Shaxberd RIP to him

HOLY SHIT that faerie entrance. Stunning. The effects in this show continue to slay.

HELLO OBERON 👀👀👀👀

"That's you Puck!" Puck does not seemed amused by this whatsoever lmao

Nuala is SO CUTE I'M DYING. I love that she's part of the faerie delegation for this episode. 100000000% if she were introduced to Dream, he would've fallen in love with her and possibly bypassed all his current heartaches ajsodasidasjdioasdio. I NEED THE FIC

I'm writing the fic I guess

HOT DAMN DREAM no wonder relations were strained, your wholeass was hitting on Titania in front of her husband

RIP actor guy, time for Puck to have fun!

Puck really is so much better at playing himself though lmao

"Things need not have happened to be true." SIR NO OFFENSE but that's some qanon shit

"MERE FACTS" Dream of the Endless qanon confirmed ajsdiijdosaoia

OH PUCK TAKING OFF THE MASK EIIIIIIIIIII

THAT ALMOST INTRODUCTION TO NUALA. SANDFLOWER FANDOM RISE UP

Is no one going to bring up that Puck didn't go with them lololololol

Oh my god I LOVE that this was a story told from Nuala's POV, this was so sweet. I love love LOVE how much they've added to her role.

"I'm glad to have met you. Finally." I AM DYINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. I am writing 50 million sandflower fics tonight

THE WAY HE LOOKS AT NUALA FIRST WHEN MAKING HIS DECISION.

LMAO that fucking bait and switching thinking he'd give the key to Susano and then he looks UP at Duma and Remial instead. A++++ peak vibes.

Incredibly disappointed we didn't get Duma and Remial breakdown though. WHERE WAS THE DRAMA?????

SAVE YOUR WOMAN DREAM GET HER OUT OF THE ALIEN SLOP

Get fucked Azazel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy eternity in a goddamn vase!!!!!

Dream don't you fucking dare go visit her while she's sleeping I don't care that she's in your realm

The Kilderkin are so weird asjodasddsiodsioj

Chaos clowns my babies <3

WHERE IS MATTHEW'S BALLOON???????????

Oh RIP Loki aka Susano. Love that Dream knew IMMEDIATELY and was like hold on....let's see where this goes 🤣🤣🤣

"truly...epic" CLURACAN PLS

YES GET HIM NUALA TELL YOUR BROTHER OFF.

Oh my god I love that she takes the glamorr off herself!!!!! AND HER VOICE.

LOOK AT HOW HAPPY HE SEEMS TO BE THAT SHE'S STAYINGGGGGGGGGGGGG

HE SMILED SHE SMILED DREAM PLEASE I KNOW YOU'RE HUNG UP ON NADA BUT LOOK AT THIS NICE FAERIE GIRL

Loki omg you suck at pretending to be Susano you can't even walk in his SHOES 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Loki why are you so damn horny happy to see Dream figuring you out LMAO

"I'll do anything. Whatever you ask." WELP. WELP WELP WELP.

Dream you should've taken the easy fuck and not the debt, Loki hates debts ajsdosidjoasdiojsdaoi. This is gonna bite you in the ass later my guy

"Let us talk" - all right fanfic writers, let's gooooooooo

Dream, why must you sit weird on LITERALLY EVERYTHING.

"I wish I had thought of that." 🤣🤣🤣

"God's a cunt." Mood Luci, MOOD.

A SUITE????? Oh I wonder if she's replacing someone else's storyline....

Come on girlie where's my slappy, you can't bitch smack Dream from across the table.

Wow this encounter is so much more awkward than in the comics

"And you think perhaps you should apologize?" GET HIM GIRL. FUCKING BURY HIM

Oh come on that slap was WEAK. Is that really all we get??????

Oh this bitch ain't afraid of no Dream King, WE STAN. Love her.

Oh my god he FINALLY apologized yaassssssss character development!

Hold on wait he OFFERED TO GO WITH HER TO THE WAKING WORLD????????

"But I love you." OH GOD. I did not think he could get any worse and more pathetic but man

"I do not know if your kind is even capable of love" OOOOOO BURNNNNNNNNN

"That is not love. That is desire" OH MY GOD. SHE FUCKING MURDERED HIM BEFORE THE FATES COULD.

"But I do not love you." APODAOPDIOASDOKASFKASKODASJDASDOPKASDASDKOS

Oh she's definitely replacing Thessaly's story and somehow this is even MORE BRUTAL than in the comics I love it.

Oh man I bet I KNOW what's coming next, SAD WET BOY DREAM LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOO

[gumycandyyy]

Hey there! Your writing is OUTSTANDING! I was wondering if you could write a Winter King x fem!reader fic where the reader rescues him along with the scouts but ends up badly injured? And tee hee WK pampers her and takes care of her THE BRAIN ROT IS REAL

୨♡ "Ｔｉｓ Ｂｕｔ Ａ Ｓｃｒａｔｃｈ" ♡୧

Type: Oneshot

Fem reader (I was originally gonna make her an ice creature, but she works better as... not an ice creature.) Someone please rq a male reader, I wanna write a male reader wahhhh

Request: Yes! Still open, but it'll take a while to write, as I have other requests.

No use of y/n

hurt/comfort (literally)

Summary: Winter King got kidnapped. Again. And you get hurt while saving him. Fluff ensues.

Word Count: 1278

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

"Ice Scouts? A little help?"

You looked up, hearing Winter King. You were training with the scouts, just having a gay old time sword fighting and skating. However, It appeared Candy Queen had made some giant type candy monster, and used it to snatch Winter right out of his throne room and carry him to the Candy Kingdom.

Great.

"Oh, you too..!"

Winter yelled just as he left earshot, obviously referring to you. You were the captain of the royal guard, and Winter's best friend. The ice scouts sheathed their swords, ready to leave immediately. They spoke to you in unison.

"Miss Captain! You must accompany us to save our King!"

"Miss Captain! You must accompany us to save our King!"

You nodded, sheathing your sword. You guessed that Winter would be held at the top of the Candy tower/mountain thing, as always. You left swiftly, along with the scouts.

"Ice scouts! You take care of any candy monsters, I'll take care of the Queen!"

They nodded, ready to follow your every order. You eventually made it to the Candy kingdom, and climbed the mountain. You made it to the top, ducking and weaving around the monsters to get to Winter as soon as possible.

Kicking down the door, you saw Candy Queen playing her keyboard, as always. Winter was in his cage, scratching another tally mark in his 'times kidnapped' wall. His crown was on a small table just out of reach of the cage. Candy Queen looked at you and deadpanned.

"Aww, not again! C'mon, ya can't give me one afternoon alone with him? I'd take good care of him!!"

Candy bumped her pointer fingers together, trying to win your favor. It was honestly pitiful. She tried so hard, but still. She was a creep.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously! I mean- You wouldn't miss him! I wouldn't scratch him up too bad! Well, unless..."

You looked over to Winter, who looked quite uncomfortable at the current topic, a strained smile on his 'save me from this maniac' face. You sighed, putting your hands at your sides.

"Fine."

Candy's eyes sparkled.

"You- you mean it?"

She bounced up and down on her heels, ready to give you a hug. No thanks. Winter looked shocked, and ready to pass away.

"Yeah, yeah- OF COURSE I DON'T MEAN IT."

You brought out your sword, flipping it around, and knocking the wind out of Candy with the hilt. She coughed, and you grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. You brought her over to a window, kicking it open and dangling her out of it.

"Come on, come on! Let's talk about this! Maybe we could share him? I get weekdays, you get weekends? Please?"

You deadpanned, ready to tell her off. Though her expression suddenly turned devious, and you heard something from behind you.

"Miss Captain! Watch out!"

"Miss Captain! Watch out!"

You turned around sharply, pulling out your sword. You let go of Candy, but she was able to grab onto the windowsill and pull herself back inside.

A banana (At least you think it's a banana) guard roared in your face, and lunged at you. It seems the ice scouts missed this one. It clawed at your stomach, tearing the flesh and causing you to cry out in pain. The ice scouts broke open the cage, and gave Winter King his crown.

The next thing you knew, the banana guard was frozen in a block of ice, hovering right above you. It seems the blast also knocked Candy out. You cursed, getting out from underneath the guard. You were about to run to Winter, checking to see if he was okay, but you collapsed, clutching your stomach- which was bleeding profusely. Winter caught you before you hit the floor, and wrapped his arms around you.

"Are you o-"

Winter gasped, seeing your bloody midriff.

He almost started to panic, and ordered the ice scouts to go to the winter palace to prepare anything you might need. He started to pick you up in his arms, but you held your hand out to stop him.

"Winter, I can handle it. I'm captain of the royal guard for a reason-!"

You seethed, feeling air hit your open wound. You started to stand up, using Winter as an anchor. You stood up straight, breathing heavily. You started to walk on your own, however, you collapsed yet again, and fell into unconsciousness.

This is what you get for acting like you're invincible.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

You woke up, breathing in cold air. You didn't need to open your eyes to know you were back in the Winter Kingdom. You felt something gripping your hand, and you were no longer in pain. Well.. Excruciating pain, at least. You fluttered open your eyes, trying to get used to the bright blue light of the palace.

"Y- You're awake! I.."

You looked over to Winter King, who was sitting at your bedside, holding your hand. He looked disheveled and tired. He took his hands away to adjust his glasses, and cleared his throat.

"N- Now that I know you're... Okay.. I-"

He seemed unusually somber, which was way out of character, especially for him.

"How long was I out?"

"..."

"Winter. How long was I out."

"..."

"Four days."

Woah. You left your King unprotected, for four days. And judging by the dull throb where your wound was healing, it would be much longer than that. You sat up sharply, then felt a stabbing pain. You seethed and rested your hand on your midriff.

"I'm so sorry Winter, ah- My king. I can't believe I've left you unprotected for that lo-" "Shut up."

"Pardon?"

"I said, shut up."

Winter's expression was pained, and he seemed to be very conflicted with his emotions.

"You think I care about that? Why would I care about not being protected when I could have lost you!?"

He had stood up. His voice was raised and shaky. He looked as if he was about to start sobbing. He then looked just as surprised at his emotional outburst as you were.

"I.."

"I don't know what came over me, that.. What just happened, it.." "It shouldn't be possible..."

"Pardon me?"

Winter brushed his strange behavior off, and sat back down. He took your hand in his, and spoke in a calm manner.

"I apologize. What I meant, is I could care less about myself right now. I was worried you would die, haha!"

There it was. His strange optimism, though.. It felt kind of good to see him so emotional. It just went to show how much he really cared about you. You took your hand back, and moved it up to cup his face, his soft hair ticking the skin on your hand.

"Thank you."

Winter's cheeks turned pink, a nice contrast to his normal pale blue. He laughed softly, turning his face slightly away from you.

"It's what anyone would do."

He smiled sweetly at you, turning his face back to you. He stood up, bending over you to place a soft kiss on your forehead. Your face flushed, and you looked away nervously. You laughed together in a wonderful kind of oddity, before Winter stood up fully.

"Well, I suppose I should get back to ruling my Winter Wonder World, shouldn't I? If you need anything, ask me. I want to be the one to take care of you."

You nodded in response, and watched Winter gracefully glide towards the door. You snuggled up in the sheets and blankets you were surrounded by, and before Winter left, you asked him a question.

"Wait, what room am I in?"

"Oh, mine."

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

Oh man, I loved this one. Here's your complimentary WK art ^^

reblog for a beginner writer?

[minor-annoyance]

Anti-Schooled AU!!

Spoilers for Schooled below bc it's kinda tied to the plot.

~~~

Capricorn was raised to believe violence was the only way to get anything. This, plus the way Rain treated him, made him extremely bitter. Rain and him have constant fights, both only deciding what's best for themselves.

Hugh isn't bullied as he was in the original story. Don't get the wrong idea, he's still a complete outcast at school. But instead of being a nerdy target, everyone avoids him for being very... disturbing. Stories are shared around about how he talks about death and gore WAY too much. Sometimes from horror movies, but often from true crime cases. Hugh likes the reputation of someone to be feared.

Zach is still the most popular guy in school, but he isn't there by bullying his way to the top, instead he's nice to people—although he never really interacts with them. Deep down, he feels as though he's better than everyone else. And even deeper down, he knows it's wrong. He just needs to find a way to ask for help without pushing everyone away.

Darryl is the only one who interacts with Hugh before Cap comes around, and even then it's just to be polite and to make sure Hugh or the school doesn't end up on the news. He desperately wants to make Hugh fit in, but too scared of the kid to do anything. Darryl and Zach are best friends in this AU as well.

Mr. Kasigi does try to stop the bullying that Capricorn does instead of being passive, but because of how little it happened before, he gets to freaked out by having someone be so violent.

The Donnelly's just avoid Capricorn as much as possible, especially Sophie. The first day they met, Cap screamed obscenities at her. Ms. Donnelly tries her hardest to get Capricorn to understand the error of Rain's way, but it's just not getting to him.

Naomi is there too, I guess. Just like the original.

Off the back, Capricorn can tell something is up with Zach. Living with Rain will do that to you. Suspicions high, Cap goes on to have fights with other students and get in trouble with the teachers. Capricorn and Hugh become fast friends because of their love of violence. Also, Cap needed someone to explain the real world to him while also keeping up his own image.

Cap doesn't directly save Mr. Rodrigo (the bus driver) in this AU, instead he drives the bus to the side of the highway to save his own ass. Then after cussing out police when they came to investigate, he was arrested. Mr. Rodrigo still survives, don't worry.

Capricorn doesn't have a fish-out-of-water to Mr. Popular story, instead, since he's the only one who can see Zach's problems—although not the regret—he becomes hellbent on dragging Zach down to his and Hugh's level.

And he and Hugh are very successful. After planting seeds of doubt into practically the whole school's mind, Zach's cracks start to show. As the school begins to question him, these cracks become gaping holes. He falls further and further down the social ladder, until he reaches the very bottom—sitting at the same lunch table as Cap and Hugh.

Zach despises the other boys for what they did, but it's better to hang out with kids you hate and hate yourself. At least, better than to be alone with your thoughts and hate yourself.

After coming home and hearing about how much Cap hated school—save for the boy's life he ruined—Rain decides to sell the farm, because it means she can live in peace for a 7 hours a day and make Capricorn miserable.

Another fight ensues, but making Zach suffer more is the silver lining—for Cap anyway.

[justanother-janedoe]

Everywhere

(Chapter 1: Chocolate Chip Cookies)

Steve Harrington x F!Reader

Summary: Steve and the gang find some sweet treats at their doorstep along with a special guest.

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1k

After finally buying an apartment for himself Steve felt proud. Saving enough money that he earned (by himself) he can finally call his place his own.

Well, his and Robins. Sharing the modest flat together.

Although there were a couple of disagreements on living arrangements it was nothing outside of their usual banter.

Other than that everything was perfect and it seemed like Steve's life was finally turning up.

What could possibly go wrong?

As Steve just got back from work, today being one of the days where Robin and him didn't share shifts, he felt off. Perhaps from the lack of Robin's rambling, or the kids surprising him from around the corner.

When he shared the news with the kids about their new apartment he didn't expect them to treat it like their new hangout zone. But it seemed that whenever he was just about to open the door, there they were making themselves at home.

Dustin even begged to get a copy of the keys which he firmly said no to. Yet the party always appears as if from thin air. Steve suspected they took his when he wasn't looking to get copied.

Though Steve wouldn't admit to it no matter the amount of taunting, he did feel better knowing what he would call his home wouldn't be synonymous with lonesome.

In times like today, it was nice to hang out by himself once in a while . Even as a social person Steve still had times when he liked peace and quiet. A dramatic difference between the "King Steve" people thought they knew at parties.

But today as he was walking up the stairs he had the feeling like in the beginning of a scary movie that someone, or thing was watching him.

Looking around he tried to keep his guard up. "Don't think about trying something. Cuz I got a bat... somewhere." he trailed off in a whisper as he tried thinking up a plan of defense.

Deciding to just get inside the apartment he tried reaching for his keys but just fumbled them in his hands till they fell to the floor.

 "Typical" he said under his breath reaching down till he noticed a pair of feline eyes staring back at him.

It was a black cat sitting atop of a Tupperware container.

While he could hear his mother now telling him of the bad omens and possible diseases a stray black cat could hold he wasn't a strong believer in superstitions.

"Hey kitty. It's okay." He said gently, worried the mysterious cat would scatter. Surprisingly the cat cuddled against Steve's leg. As if the feline were familiar with him.

"Oh. Okay well I guess your coming home with me." Steve said before looking at the cat's collar.

"Rhiannon. Interesting".

Grabbing the Tupperware, cat, and keys; Steve entering the small apartment.

As he put his stuff away he placed Rhiannon down as she walked around the apartment.

Looking in the refrigerator for some milk to feed the cat, Steve spoke to himself "Is there something about me that attracts strays.", thinking about the kids.

Speaking of which he heard the sound of the front door opening, turning around.

"Hey Steve, it's us!" Robin exclaimed as he heard the kids arguing about something, per usual.

"So much for quiet time." Steve said

"Oh please, you love us." Dustin said, sitting on the couch grinning at Steve.

"If there's something I love it's to keep the apartment clean. Feet off the coffee table heathens." Steve said

“Notice how a girlfriend isn’t on the list,” Mike added.

“You call us the heathens, but don’t think to share these delicious-looking cookies with your guests?!” Lucas said, opening the Tupperware.

“When did you bake?” Robin asked 

“I didn’t I just found those outside the apartment and-Why are you eating it?! We don’t even what’s in them, who made them or-”

“Relax Steve, it’s just a cookie. A really good cookie. I doubt anyone has ever died from eating one.” Max said, grabbing another. 

“-She said, her famous last words.”

“Well, it was worth it cuz these are amazing.”

“Cmon just try one Steve.” Robin said holding a cookie close to Steve’s face. 

“Wow never thought I’d be peer pressured by you” he said grabbing the cookie and finally just taking a bite. 

“Well?” 

“Okay, it’s good but I still don’t know where these came from. They were just sitting by the door.” Steve replied to a grinning Robin, reluctant to how oddly delicious the mysterious cookies were.

Lucas grabs the milk from Steve pouring himself a glass.

“Hey chill out with the milk. I’d like to remind you that you don’t live hear kid.”

“But I’m a growing boy. Gotta stay strong for varsity.”

“That is if you get off the bench,” Max says.

“I’m wounded woman,” Lucas says holding his hand to his heart and grinning at Max as they share similar light blushes. 

“Well regardless of if your playing or not I was using that,” Steve says grabbing the container back. 

“For what?” Robin asked.

“The cat.” “You guys got a cat?” “We have a cat?” “Since when” 

“Okay relax, relax. I just found a stray outside and was just gonna feed it.”

“Aww looks like the Tinman has a heart,” Dustin said 

“Ha ha” Steve said looking around the apartment for the cat.

“Here Rhiannon.”

“You named her?”

“No that’s what was on her collar,” Steve replied trying to lure the cat back out.

“What a cool name,” El said fascinated at the thought of a cat in the apartment.

“I’d be cool if I could find her. Wait did you guys leave the front door open again?! How many times have I told you. Close the door.” Steve said locking the front door.

“Maybe she left.”

“Yeah I guess so. Hopefully she’s okay.” Steve said feeling dejected.

“We’ll I’m sure she’ll show up again. No one can resist the Harrington charm.” Dustin said jokingly to which everyone rolls their eyes and went back to eating the mysteriously brought cookies.

Not noticing the sticky note that had once been attached to the Tupperware now scattered in the hallway with a message from their neighbor just across.

[snippydippy]

Making up Lost Time

Midas shares a moment with his daughter late one night. Their connection is frayed, but mending with time.

*This short was written with the context of the Tumblrverse FN-RP community. It is canon to @king-midas-fortnite and his relationships with characters mentioned.*

Midas was sitting in the lounge of the yacht very late at night. Not an unusual time for him to be awake, and he expected to be alone. Especially now that the majority of the crew was living in the condos up the Zipline. Valeria was in his bed. She had stirred when he'd gotten up, but with a soft kiss to her temple, she seemed to have settled back into sleep. 

He'd come down when rest again evaded him, bringing along a couple of the books that Valeria had bound for him. He'd poured himself a drink and was reading one that told the story of Orpheus in his native language when movement at the entry way drew his eyes up.

Expecting Valeria to have woken up, he was surprised to see Jules there. She stayed at the doorway, looking unsure as she fiddled with her hands, "Hey, Dad. What're you doing awake?" 

"Hey, Jules." He smiled softly, happy to see her, "I should ask you the same thing. What're you doing down here? Wandering aimlessly?"  

She smiled a little, stepping into the room and over to the seat across from the couch he was on, "I guess..." 

Midas set the book down over his knee to save his page, "Are you alright?" 

"Yeah." She answered quitely. Midas suspected she had more to say, so allowed the silence to give her time. Eventually she said, "You know I'm glad you're back, right?"

This surprised him. In a good way, but it pulled silence from him nonetheless. Which she seemed to allow him time for in return. A smile found its way back to his face before he answered, "Of course, though it's wonderful to hear you say that." 

They both looked at eachother for another moment. Soft, knowing smiles on both of them. Midas set his drink down on the coffee table, "You know I am glad to be back, right? Glad that you have let me into your life, even more so." 

"I know." She replied with a quiet laugh, looking back to her hands, "I came down here because I figured you'd be awake. Wanted to take the chance to say that, I guess. While you were alone. I know you haven't been sleeping...that you barely ever sleep, actually."

"Thank you, Jules." He said. Conversation with his daughter was difficult. Everything their relationship had been through up until this point, everything Midas had put it through had made any sense of normality difficult to achieve. However, Jules coming down to see him warmed the King so thoroughly. He wanted to soak in as much time with her as possible, having lost so much of it already, "I'm sleeping a bit better now than when you had all brought me back. I think spending time with everyone has done a lot of good." 

"Hm, probably helps to be sharing your bed with a heater?" Jules asked. They softly laughed together. 

"Valeria has helped, yes. She..." Midas paused. He was not an open man with anyone. But if there was anyone with whom he wanted to be, it was Jules. So he stuffed the hesitation, "She has been there for several of my night terrors. Waking up to someone there is new, and sometimes frightening with, well." he lifted his hands, gold catching the warm light in the room. Jules nodded in understanding. He continued, "But, she calms me, talks me through panic. Her company is something I cherish."

Jules nodded again, another small smile on her face. This man sitting in front of her was so different than the one she'd first met. Her father had been cold. Calculating, often downright cruel. She still did not feel completely comfortable being close to him, but she could see that he'd changed. he was trying.

"As is yours." Midas said, pulling her from her thoughts as she looked at him, "Everyone on our team here, but yours most of all." 

Jules had to look elsewhere. The tenderness on his face was not unpleasant, but so foreign. Her eyes fell to his book, and she gestured to it, "What're you reading?" 

"Oh," Midas lifted the book from his knee, showing her the cover even though he knew the Greek would mean nothing to her, "It's one of several books Valeria gifted to me. Stories older than I am, she recorded and bound them herself. All in older Greek dialects." 

"That was thoughtful of her." Jules said, holding her hand out while her father handed it over.

"Very, yes. This one is about Orpheus, which you've probably heard. A story that a younger version of me would have taken as a warning on looking back, rather than a moral on trust I now believe it to be."

Jules flipped through it. The Greek on every page was indecipherable to her, but the writing was pretty anyway. 

There was another book sitting on the couch next to his leg. She closed the one she had, gesturing to the couch as she handed it back, "What about that one?" 

Midas looked to the other book, a flash of something crossing his face. More hesitations he had to fight against.

"That one," he started, trading the story of Orpheus for the other title. He held it in both hands like it weighed more, though it looked to be a much shorter story, "This one I am.. working up to."

"What do you mean? Is it about you?"

"No, older than me." He said with a dry chuckle, "It's a children's story. A short one, about a minotaur." 

"You're working up to a children's story?" Jules asked, leaning forward with elbows rested on her knees, "Is it like, scary or something?" 

"No, no." Midas laughed again with a shake to his head, "Certainly more violent than stories meant for kids these days, but that's not why." 

He stared down at the book in his hands, the corners of his lips slowly falling down. Jules could tell the answer also took some working up to. She waited patiently, bringing up a hand to rest her cheek in. 

After a moment, Midas tore his eyes from the title to glance at Jules. A smile returned to his face that didn't meat his eyes, "It's just a bedtime story. One that I..." 

He paused again, his throat suddenly feeling a little tight. As open as he desired to be with Jules, he did not want to cry in-front of her. He cleared his throat against the feeling, "One that I used to tell to my daughter. My first daughter, Marigold." 

Jules blinked, her turn to be made silent once more. She didn't want to let this one linger, though all she could manage was, "Oh." 

"Yeah." Her father said in close to a whisper, setting the book down on the coffee table between them. His eyes flit between her and it, "Valeria didn't know what it was when she gave it to me. She couldn't have known, obviously. But seeing it in the collection was a surprise. I have not laid eyes on it since...back then." 

Jules nodded, looking at the book before holding out a hand, "May I see it?" 

Midas looked to her hand and then picked up the book, handing it over with a nod. Jules slowly flipped through it in silence. Again, it was filled with beautifully written words that she could not read.

"Marigold..." She said as if pondering the name. Her father watched her face as her eyes showed contemplative thought, "My half sister. My uh, much elder half sister." 

He smiled with a short breath of affirmation at her attempt at levity, though he felt a pagne in his chest. While born some 2000 years before Jules, Marigold had never reached the age his daughter was now. The stubborn lump in his throat grew harder to swallow down. 

He looked down to his hands folded together over his knees. The precious metal over his skin refleced his eyes, threatening to well. 

The silence came back. Jules closed the book, letting her fingers trail over the title that had been carefully burned into the leather.

"What was she like?" Jules asked.

Midas blinked, eyes quickly raising to her. She was still looking at the title. He was grateful for her tact as he felt the sting of tears. 

"She was..." Another hard swallow, his voice trembled as he continued, "She was beautiful. Intelligent from the moment she could talk, and friendly. She hated her classes, sitting still for too long bothered her. She always wanted to speak with everyone in the palace instead. Her mother had to come and carry her out of my meetings many times." 

Jules smiled, keeping her eyes on the book, "She sounds kinda like me."

Midas felt moisture on his cheek, and he brought a quick hand up to clear it, leaving it to rest over his mouth, "You remind me of her."

While he still saw Marigold often enough in his night terrors to know they shared a few features, he wished he could confirm the likeness in their developing personalities. But, he could not. He had not known Jules when she was that young.

He wished that instead of keeping his distance, that he had been around for his second daughter's childhood. He wished that his anger, his guilt, and his fear hadn't kept him away.

Jules finally looked at him. Her father was glad not to find pity in her expression. Only a small, empathetic smile. One he returned. She looked back down to the book, taking a breath before asking, "Would you read it to me?" 

Midas let out a single laugh. A heavy sound, edging on a held-in sob, "You want me to read you a bedtime story? You're a little old for that, aren't you?" 

She laughed, too with a roll of her eyes, "Yeah, but I want to know what the story's about, and I can't read Greek." 

Another look exchanged between them, Midas eventually nodded with a smile that did reach his eyes. He expected Jules to simply hand over the book, but she surprised him again by getting up from her seat and moving to sit with him on the couch.

"Hang on, I want to get comfortable for my bedtime story." She said, placing the book in his confused hand. Jules then grabbed a throw pillow to hug in her lap as she faced him and leaned back against the arm of the couch, "Okay, go." 

Midas laughed softly once more, turning to face her while he opened the book to its first page. Live-translating to English would be a little tough, but he was happy to do it. Thankful, even. The tears in his eyes remained, but they did not spill over again as he began the story. 

[lilac-verse]

hi lilac! if there's any possibility, could you write a fluff to smut fic of fem! reader treating knoxville's wounds after getting into dangerous stunt, leading to him showing his love for all she does?

THE LUCKIEST IDIOT ALIVE

pairing ; johnny knoxville x fem!reader contains ; fluff, hurt/comfort, established relationship. word count ; 882 (sorry it's short) a/n ; aghhh i love writing these types of fics about johnny summary ; your boyfriend gets injured, again, and you clean his wounds, again.

YOU HEAR THE front door creak open before you see him. The shuffling footsteps, uneven and slow, are enough of a clue.

You sigh, setting down your book on the armrest of the couch and glancing at the clock. 6:42 PM. Right on time for another "I'm-fine-it's-just-a-scratch" parade.

The footsteps draw closer, and then Johnny appears in the doorway, grinning wide despite the blood crusted on his eyebrow, a growing bruise painting his cheek, and a torn shirt that had clearly seen better days. You resist the urge to roll your eyes, even though your heart does a tiny flip of worry.

"Hey, darlin'," he says with that familiar Southern drawl, like he's just come home from a long day at the office and not - apparently - being launched out of a giant shopping cart into a wall.

You fold your arms. "Don't 'hey darlin' me."

He chuckles, then winces and grabs at his side. "Oof. Okay, maybe save the lecture for after I sit down?"

You're already up and heading toward him, hand under his arm, careful not to touch any obvious injury. "Let me guess. Bam had a 'brilliant' idea again?"

"Well, this one was kind of my idea," he says, and then grins when you glare at him. "It was a good one though - at least until I hit the fence."

You shake your head, gently guiding him to the couch. "Johnny, this is the third time this week I've had to play nurse."

He slouches into the cushions, letting out a long groan. "Third time's the charm, right?"

You shoot him a look as you grab the first aid kit from the hallway closet. "Keep joking and you'll be lucky if I don't disinfect you with vodka."

Johnny snorts. "Woof."

You can't help the soft laugh that escapes, and his smile only widens at the sound. Despite everything - despite the worry, the bruises, the constant heart attacks he gives you - there's a part of you that can't stay mad. Not really. Not when he looks at you like that.

You kneel in front of him, setting the kit on the coffee table. "Shirt off."

He raises an eyebrow, grin still in place. "If I had a nickel for every time you said that."

"Johnny."

"Okay, okay," he laughs, lifting his arms with a hiss as you help him out of the shredded fabric. Your breath catches in your throat as the damage is revealed. Purple bruises along his ribs, a scraped shoulder, and several angry red lines running down his arm. "Damn," you mutter, more to yourself than to him.

"Still sexy though, right?" he quips, wincing again.

You roll your eyes, dipping a cotton pad into antiseptic. "Hold still."

He does, for once. You dab carefully at the scrape near his collarbone, and he hisses through his teeth but doesn't pull away. "Sorry," you whisper.

"S'alright," he murmurs, voice quieter now. "You're gentle."

You glance up at him, and his eyes are on you - soft and shining, like you're made of something he's never deserved but somehow got anyway.

You clear your throat and focus on the next cut. "You know, most guys your age are content with jogging or, I don't know, golf?"

"Golf's boring," he mutters.

"Golf doesn't break your ribs," you counter.

He shrugs with one shoulder. "Where's the fun in that?"

You give him a look, and he grins sheepishly. "Okay, okay, point taken. But I'm fine. Just a few scrapes."

You dab a little harder than necessary at a particularly nasty cut on his arm and he yelps.

"Yeah, okay, maybe a few more than a few."

You sigh, blowing a strand of hair from your face. "You know this is the third bottle of disinfectant I've bought this month?"

"I'll reimburse you."

"Not the point, Johnny."

He falls silent as you work, the room settling into a quiet, familiar rhythm. The kind that comes from repetition - not in a bad way, but in a this-is-us way. He gets hurt; you patch him up. He jokes; you scold him lovingly. And still, no matter what, you're here.

Your fingers are tender as you wrap gauze around his bicep, and when you lean in to secure the tape, his eyes are already on you. Watching. Soft. Quiet.

You glance up mid-wrap and catch his stare. "What?" you ask with a slight laugh.

He doesn't answer right away. Instead, his lips curve into something smaller, more honest than his usual smirk.

"You're just.. somethin' else, y'know that?" he says, voice low and thick with his Tennessee roots.

You turn to look at him, your features shifting from the amused expression you wore before to something calmer as your eyes gaze into his.

He just smiles. Not the cocky one he gives the cameras, but the real one - warm, a little tired, but so full of love it makes your chest ache.

"You patch me up like I'm not an idiot," he says, shaking his head slightly. "You laugh at my dumb jokes, you don't run for the hills when I come home looking like I got into a fight with a lawnmower... You take care of me. And you do it with a smile, even when I don't deserve it."

You feel your heart squeeze, and a smile tugs at your lips despite yourself.

"You're an idiot," you say, half-joking.

Johnny laughs, a full, joyful sound that makes your chest warm. "Well, I'm the luckiest idiot alive," he smiles.

[eeveestarstudios-blog]

Alright here's the thing.

Okay here we go…

I have 6(?) Users to apologize to, but to make this more organized I'm using a table of contents.

Part 1: Sonicphobia

Part 2: Not the axolotl/Magic raccoon (a.k.a Darthestrawberry)

Part 3: Mothie (Cipher)/ Yuki / Everybailey

Also, comments are ON for questions and responses to this. This is able to be shown everywhere, but it was made mainly for the reasons/people above.

Tw for: mentions of s/a, s/h, mental illnesses, and suicidal thoughts

Part 1:

Hi Puddie.

You're probably gonna reject this anyway, so idk why I'm writing this. Ig it's because I sort of messed up and want a way to repay you. So here's a sort of explanation why I immediately was so quick to judge you.

So around 2023, my life was awful as heck. I basically was in a state of constant panic, fear, and I was one move away from going to Barnaby's party permanently. That's when I found my friend. Throughout the months, I felt less lonely because of it (it use it/its pronouns. Please respect that.)

Recently in 2025, I found out that Mothie had been harassed and assaulted by another user that was blacklisted. This upset me greatly. Mothie unfortunately is still trying to cope with the trauma, and the fact that it could've had yet another person hurting it sent me into a manic, angry spiral that caused me to hurt you tremendously. My overprotective attitude caused me to belive anything blindly, and now I figured out that was wrong.

I have had thoughts of being inhuman/unable to connect with others, and I felt the need to find a “correct” opinion to be normal, and that obsession combined with the manic spiral I had made me take everything too far. My extreme thoughts of being correct and the overprotective nature of someone who saved me from something caused me to overlook things, falsely accuse and simply go with others because of cowardice.

At first, I didn't know that you had also had said things about these allegations in your stream because I

Joined late and missed some of it

Accidentally turned volume too low because everyone was asleep

Was dealing with stuff that I still am struggling to explain

I didn't know the screenshot aligned with the stream stuff anyway because of this. And I thought these were much newer allegations. I didn't mean to falsely accuse.

(Also, you weren't banned. You were kicked meaning it was more of a server leave than an actual ban.)

Part 2

So this is grouped into one because you both seem to be upset for the same thing (false accusations and powertripping)

Hello Luca and Dar. (using Luca because I think it's much better than calling you not the axolotl all the time

..)

So I understand why you left. I was powertripping because of some sort of episode I had. I genuinely didn't mean to upset anyone and had no idea that Puddie was unfortunately stalked. I had a moment of manic insanity and instability, and the feeling of being correct made me want to cling onto something to forget about all my stress. I wanted to heal and become a perfect person in the server. I guess I wanted to be the best possible owner, but all I did was become mean and terrible to anyone who opposed me. I'm sorry my perfection ruined everyone. I just wanted a safe space for the server members…I didn't want you to be unsafe.

Part 3

Hey Yuki, Bailey, and most importantly, Cipher.

I understand you never would want to talk to me again after my breakdown, but I'd like to apologize after making you uncomfortable. I now understand that you don't need saving, but whatever happened to me caused me to become weird and overprotective. The fact that Cipher was going to get hurt triggered an intense flight or fight response, and my body chose a weird mixture of both. My goal to make the Fandom perfect wasn't just an escapism or result of an illness but a weird way of protecting everyone I cared about, regardless of whatever happened. Someone like you didn't deserve even HALF of the shit that happened, Cipher. I wish I could've stopped it. I wish I could've helped you. I'm sorry that I became one of your harassers as well.

I'll always remember all the good you've done for me, even if you forgot it. Thank you all three of you. I'm sorry I failed in actually doing something good for you.

Thank you so much for checking on me Bailey. I appreciate how you at least tried to help me through what happened yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't listen.

Alright. I think that's all. I don't expect anything good to come out of this. But ummm

Here?

Sorry.

[kotaro-yumekuma]

Timeout #01 : A Heavy Step, A Heavy Heart.

→next chapter

In a world where saving lives comes first, love struggles to find its place. Amid the relentless pace of the ER, where time is a luxury few can afford, a psychologist and a doctor find themselves caught between their professions and their emotions. When misunderstandings, jealousy, and unspoken truths lead to heartbreak, they walk separate paths…

I walked through the hospital corridor, the harsh fluorescent lights casting their cold glow overhead. Each step felt heavier than the last, a dark weight growing in my chest. Outside the break room, I paused to take a deep breath. My reflection in the glass showed a face worn with fatigue, tear-stained cheeks, and dark circles under my eyes, my hair a disheveled mess.

"He should be here now..." With a whispered reassurance to myself, I pushed open the door. The rich aroma of spices greeted me. At the far table sat a man with messy jet-black hair, a small gold earring catching the light. His wild appearance seemed deliciously out of place in the sterile hospital environment. Law sat eating his curry lunch with his usual stoic expression. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow on his white coat draped carelessly over the sofa. "...Bad timing?" He didn't look up at my words. Stacks of paperwork surrounded his lunch - typical Law, working even during his break. Nobody else in the hospital dared approach him, but I knew better. Behind that cold exterior lay hidden traces of kindness. I was probably the only one who talked to him casually outside of work. I slipped into the chair across from him, fighting the urge to collapse onto the table. The wall clock's ticking echoed my pulse. "Hey, Law..." "Mm?" His curt reply came between bites. I drew another deep breath, my chest aching as I forced out the words. "...Marco and I broke up." Law's chopsticks paused mid-bite. "Oh?" His reaction was exactly what I'd expected. I wasn't looking for sympathy or comfort - I just needed someone to listen. I pressed on. "He never keeps our plans. Always canceling. Always 'Work is busy'..." The familiar pain washed over me as I remembered each time Marco's cancellation calls had turned my hopeful anticipation to cold disappointment. The feeling was still raw. "Last time, he got called away in the middle of a movie..." Law finally looked up, his mouth twisting into a sardonic smile. "Of course he did. He's the ace of the ER." He stated flatly, stirring his curry. The Emergency Room - the most demanding department in the hospital. Marco's chosen battlefield, where he strove to "save as many lives as possible." Those words that once touched my heart now felt like they belonged to another lifetime.

Last night, Marco had shown up three hours late for our one-year anniversary. The dinner I'd lovingly prepared sat cold and forlorn on the table. "I hate doctors! And I hate Marco!" My chest tightened remembering his expression when I screamed those words. But I'd been hurt too many times. Instead of listening to his usual excuses, I'd thrown him out, telling him never to come back.

"...I guess I was just convenient for him." At my whispered words, Law finally set down his spoon. "Hey." His irritated eyes fixed on me. "How many times did I warn you about hospital romances? ...Such a pain." His piercing gaze made me feel like a scolded child. Law heaved a deep sigh. "I know, but... you can't choose who you fall for. Even you, Law - if you found someone special, wouldn't you want to be with them regardless of who they were?" "...Don't be naive. Surgery residents don't have time for romance. The department heads keep us running ragged." He was a cardiac surgery resident. Though not as intense as the ER, his schedule was brutal too. Yet here he was, listening to my troubles. His kindness meant more than he knew. But his next words were merciless: "We surgeons live in a different world from you nine-to-five clinical psychologists." That comment made my blood boil. "What! That's professional discrimination. They covered this in sensitivity training!" Law glanced at my outburst before silently returning to his paperwork. Through the window, colorful flowers bloomed in the courtyard. Their vibrancy seemed jarringly out of place against our heavy conversation. "Just stay away from doctors... especially that one." Something in his tone caught my attention. Why single out Marco? Did Law know something? Anxiety stirred in my chest. "Why..." Just as the question formed on my lips, the door opened. Another staff member walked in. Reality crashed back mercilessly. I took a deep breath and stood. Though my heart was still in chaos, work waited for no one.

◇

The walk to the elevator hall felt endless. Time for afternoon patient visits. My steps were heavy, my mind foggy. As I approached, a familiar voice reached my ears. I stopped without thinking. There was Marco, laughing with a young nurse. Lately, I'd only seen him exhausted or apologetic when canceling plans. Yet here he was, flashing that brilliant smile - at another woman. My chest constricted painfully. I hated myself for feeling jealous after ending things. But I couldn't help it. I hurried past toward the emergency stairs. Five flights up. Though physically demanding, anything was better than being trapped in an elevator with him.

As I reached for the stairwell door, hurried footsteps approached from behind. That familiar voice called my name. Unable to ignore him, I took a steadying breath and turned, struggling to keep my expression neutral. ...That face again. The apologetic look he reserved just for me. As if I was always angry. As if I was always the difficult one. That expression twisted something in my chest. Though I'd ended things, he still affected me so deeply. I felt frustrated, hurt, and pathetically weak.

The elevator hall's noise faded away as Marco's words cut through the tension. "About yesterday... I'm sorry-yoi..." I stayed silent, hoping my quiet would convey that I wanted nothing more to do with him. Marco scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Let's talk properly." "...Talk? About what?" My voice came out cold. But that was fine. I couldn't handle any more pain. "I don't want it to end like this... I don't want to break up." A bitter laugh escaped me. "Talk? When? You're always buried in work. You've never really been present." "..." "I was just convenient, wasn't I? Someone to fool around with when you had time." "That's absolutely not true." I stepped back as he reached for my shoulder. "I have patients waiting." His next words stopped me as I turned to leave. "Wait, please. There's something I need to tell you." The intensity in his gaze made my heart flutter. I'd never seen him so serious. Thinking this might be my last chance, I turned back. Relief flooded his face as he closed his eyes briefly. Then, "I meant to tell you yesterday-yoi... I..." A harsh electronic beep cut through the air from his pocket. Marco's expression transformed - confusion, urgency, and something else I couldn't quite read. My heart went cold. "...Go on, then. Your emergency must be far more important than me, right?" I regretted the bitterness in my words immediately, but it was too late. Marco started to speak, then grimaced and pulled out his pager. "...What is it? ...Understood. I'll be right there." He sighed quietly. As I reached for the stairwell door, he called out hurriedly. "I'm sorry-yoi. Let me explain everything properly later." (*Later? When is later supposed to be?*) Too drained to respond, I stepped into the stairwell. As the door swung shut, I couldn't help glancing back, foolishly hoping he might still be watching. But all I saw was his back as he rushed toward the ER. In that moment, the distance between us felt vast and unbridgeable.

Five floors. With each step up, memories of Marco played through my mind like scenes from an old film. As I reached the final step, I felt warmth on my cheek. A tear I hadn't noticed falling caught the light as it landed on my hand.

→next chapter

[lyrical-fics]

I’m All In, I’m Falling

Character: Yelan

Song: Must Be Love - Laufey

Synopsis: Two gambles at once, what could possibly happen?

Warning: suggestive part in the last bit (men dni)

A/N: I’m back after almost a year LMAOAOAOAOAOOAOA HI GUYS 🔥🔥🙏🙏 btw guys I have no idea how to play poker correct me if I’m wrong 😇😇

Gambling with Yelan has always been a privilege that you’ve had over others, leaving them confused as to exactly why the skilled gambler took such an interest in you. Well, I guess most of it was due to the fact that you two were childhood friends, but point still stands. Maybe you think of her as more than friends, it’s irrelevant though.

It was never your forte, nor did you ever plan to do it anyway, you liked to play safe, after all. However, Yelan insisted that you needed to “feel the thrill of gambling.”And being the good friend you are, you ended up letting her teach you how to play all sorts of games from poker to blackjack. Somehow, you did enjoy all of the things she taught you.. until she then proposes an idea. She says that if you win against her in a match, she’d fulfill one thing you wanted and vice versa if you lost the deal but you only had 2 weeks. But what can you say? You were quite the competitive kind and if there was a challenge, you don’t intend in losing or backing down. Never.

Yelan had mercy for you anyway, so the two of you used rocks as currency! Really, your wallet would be obliterated if you tried using real money, she knew it was for the better. The more special the rock was, the higher was its value, and it was pretty fun collecting them.

Of course, since you were up against a pro, you always lost your matches, making you even more determined to win against her.

You needed to focus, you had another match with her. You’ve been saving all of the unique-looking stones that you saw in the beach, mountains, everywhere you went. And so, you put all of the things that you considered lucky into your bag, gathered all of the pretty rocks, then headed out in order to meet Yelan at the Yansheng Teahouse.

Surprisingly, you arrived first. You sat down and looked around, watching the people place bets, lose, win. The idea of gambling still doesn’t quite appease you because why would you risk losing something you didn’t want to? But who were you to judge when you gamble with the literal owner almost every single day; you wonder how she even has so much time in her hands to do it with you especially considering the fact that she is also an agent and she probably has a lot of stuff to do.

The door opens and you see the hydro woman that you’ve been looking for, whispers of “it’s that gambler,” or “isn’t she the owner” ensuing inside the casino, making their awareness of her obvious.

Yelan lets out a breathy chuckle before plopping down directly in front of you, “Relax, everyone, I already have someone I’m playing with today.” After all, the two of you didn’t meet up here much— you played poker with her in random places but never here.

“Let’s have a nice game, shall we? This is your last chance.” You huff at her before responding, “Hmpf, I’ll win this, just you see.”

The woman calls over a dealer and the game begins. 3 rounds pass and so far you’ve been very lucky, winning all of them, flashing Yelan a smug smile to which she only laughs to. The fourth round came, you bet a few rocks, flipped your cards, and boy, you were so glad you brought all your lucky charms; the cards you had in hand was a straight flush, almost the highest rank. Yelan bets all of her rocks. You weren’t gonna lose though, once you saw your hand, you gathered all of your rocksl again, and with full confidence, you were proud to say, “I’m all in—”

“I’m falling.”

.

.

.

“Eh?” You blink at her, confused yet still reluctantly placed your cards on the table to reveal your hand.

“Also, I’ve got the royal flush.”

“Eh!?” Your eyes widen even more because how!? How lucky is she!? Your hand was the SECOND highest rank, and she just had to have the actual highest one. How?

“This— this is cheating!” you protest, but she cuts you off again.

“I've been wanting to tell you something that's been on my heart for a while now. You know how much you mean to me as my best friend, but there's something more I need to say. You've always been there for me, through thick and thin, and I cherish every moment we've shared together,” Yelan lightly takes your hand in hers.

“As I've gotten to know you better, I've come to realize that my feelings for you run deeper than just friendship especially when I saw the determination you had while I was teaching you about my personal interests. You bring so much joy and warmth into my life that I can't imagine it without you. Your laughter is like music to my ears, and your smile lights up my world in ways I can't even describe.”

“Hold up your end of the deal, please be my girlfriend,” she finishes. You couldn’t believe it, your crush (or as you’d like to call her your “happy crush” because you only admired her from afar) just confessed to you, and you lost your last game!

“But you know, if you don’t want to be my girlfriend then it’s fine I’ll look for something else to ask you f—”

“I’ll do it, Yelan. A deal’s a deal, right?” you say, slowly approaching her with a beaming smile in order to mask the soft blush spreading across your cheeks. “You’re blushing,” she whispers before pulling you into her lap. “You didn’t need to make this your wish, I’d be your girlfriend even without it.” you mumble against her as you wrap your hands around the hydro user.

“Oh? Would you like me to ask for something else? Like—“

“No. Shut up.”

You’ll admit your defeat, maybe, just this time though. You’ll make her pay for this one day.

[tact-and-impulse]

Narumayo Zine 2024

Thanks @narumayo-zine for another fun and successful event! My fic's also on the AO3 collection. Everyone's amazing work can be found here!

A Cute Voice

Phoenix stamped the snow off his shoes. The wreaths on the lobby’s walls were a duller green, a few decorative pinecones had fallen on the linoleum. Holiday cheer had given way to a regular morning at work, back to business as usual. He checked the Wright & Co. mailbox, grabbed the stack of envelopes, and headed to the upper floor.

Hm? It’s not totally quiet. Music blared from behind the door, and a muffled voice joined in.

“Go, go! Steel Samurai…”

It sounded like Maya, especially because of the theme song, although he’d never heard her sing before. Curious, he turned the door handle as quietly as possible. The office was much tidier, the desk and table cleared of stray papers. But his attention landed on Maya, pulling up the blinds with her back to him.

“That brave hero will save the town, fly high!” A clear, sweet soprano left her lips. Effortlessly, she reached the high note, perfectly on pitch. She spun around and froze. “Ack, Nick! Uh, hi?”

“Hey, Maya. Having fun?”

She blushed, scrambling to turn off the music. “I came early to help clean, I thought you’d be here later.”

“Early bird catches the worm. Anyway, you don’t have to stop. You sing really well.” He insisted.

She let out a nervous laugh. “Oh, I don’t know. Aunt Morgan once heard me trying a lullaby on Pearl when she was a baby, and she told me to never do it again, so…”

A spark of righteous fury flared within Phoenix. “That’s-”

“New year, new stuff, right? What have you got there?” She dove for the mail, and then, they were occupied with sorting through the requests.

One potential client was at a ski lodge, and when Pearl returned from Medium Valley, they decided to make it a weekend trip. Of course, they were inevitably stuck in traffic. As Phoenix tapped the rental car’s steering wheel, Maya punched the radio button. A pop song poured through the speakers and from the backseat, Pearl screamed in delight, adding her own slightly off-key but animated enthusiasm.

Maya turned to grin at her. “You like this band, don’t you, Pearly?”

“I really do! Mystic Maya, won’t you sing along?”

“It’s okay, I don’t know all the lyrics.”

She pouted. “What about you, Mr. Nick?”

“Same here. But I’ll try if there’s something I’ve heard before.” And as if on cue, the next song was familiar. Just his luck. He could carry a tune, he wasn’t going to win any awards though. He sang the chorus and the bridge, glancing at Maya. She was smiling wide, her eyes lit up like shooting stars.

“Wow, you’re awesome.”

“I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic.”

“Totally serious, Nick!”

“Well, you can take a turn. You’re probably better than us and we won’t judge you at all.” He said, holding her gaze. Her lips trembled.

“What if you both sing a duet?!” Pearl exclaimed. “That would be so romantic-”

Then, the cars ahead moved, and the rest of the drive smoothly sent Pearl into a nap. Dense trees lined the road, glittering with salt, and signposts pointed to the main resort. In a promising sight, snowy slopes emerged from cloud cover, tiny dots of skiers creating downward trails. Phoenix spoke first.

“I’m sorry, Maya, I didn’t mean to pressure you.”

“You weren’t!” She countered. “It’s only…I don’t know. I guess I’m nervous?”

“That’s alright. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be cheering you on.”

“…Thank you.” Her soft whisper rose and fell, a caress sliding around his neck.

Within minutes, they rolled into the parking lot. Maya tumbled out, her face flushed as she coaxed Pearl to wake up. It had to be the brisk wind. Nevertheless, the cold wasn’t quite touching Phoenix, his ears still hot.

***

Cards flipped, fabric rustled, applause resounded again and again. Trucy had pleaded to attend this magic convention, and by her unwavering expression of wonder, Phoenix didn’t regret it. She watched the other magicians with rapt attention, happily relaying to him what she learned. While she practiced some new maneuvers with Mr. Hat, he went to grab drinks. Apple juice for her, cider for him.

As he picked up the glasses, murmurs rippled from the entrance. Some rich patroness, apparently. However, his breath caught at the figure assisting the newcomer. Long dark hair, cascading over purple robes. A touch of mascara and lip gloss, highlighting more mature features.

Maya.

There had been furtive phone calls and tearstained letters, but this was the first time he’d seen her in person since his badge was taken. He almost wanted to hide. However, any escape was rendered impossible, when he found Trucy chatting with Pearl, who had a growth spurt. He felt Maya’s gaze on him, unable to meet hers, until the convention ended and the girls declared they wanted to get dinner together. So, they ended up at a ramen shop, receiving generous bowls. Trucy and Pearl held an excitable conversation, Maya offering small compliments about the food.

In the dark blue evening, they returned to the hotel. Phoenix carried Trucy, as he walked alongside Maya and a staggering Pearl. Their room was because of Maya’s employer, she explained, who liked the occult. It was certainly a far cry from the Wright Talent Agency; Pearl crashed onto a large silk-covered bed, while Maya insisted on giving them some of the goodies. He couldn’t bring himself to walk away. In his arms, Trucy stirred, her brows creasing in internal turmoil. Pearl rolled onto one side, then the other. Maya started to hum, that became a verse under her breath, in a low, soothing song. The girls grew calmer, and Phoenix felt like breathing was a little easier.

“This is my happiness, I want you to know. I’ll turn to the sky, and keep singing by the window.” She handed over the bag, with a brave smile. “Here you are, Nick.”

He managed to choke out. “Thank you, Maya. For this, and the singing.”

“Not a lot else to do under a waterfall, so vocal training must have paid off.” She deflected. “I’m getting stronger, so I can help you. Just…please, wait. You’ll have your badge back, I know you will.”

He could only nod and pull his beanie further down. More than ever, he wanted to believe in her words.

***

The thought didn’t occur to Phoenix until they were stateside again. Outside the airport, it was pitch black. Bleary-eyed with jet lag and adjusting his watch out of Khura’in time, he asked Maya. “Where are you staying?”

“I guess I can find a hotel room.” She yawned.

After everything that had happened? “Or, you can stay over with me.”

Her eyes widened.

He quickly corrected. “And Trucy! I think she invited Pearl too, I’ll call…” Embarrassed, he brought out his phone and let the girls know, who said they’d have hot drinks and their bedding ready.

“Separate rooms, Daddy?” Trucy innocently asked.

“Y-yes, of course!”

“Aw, okaaay. See you soon.”

As they waited for the cab, they sat in an empty area. Maya gave a bemused look at his suitcase but instead, she said. “You know, I don’t think I’ve said it enough times, but thank you, Nick.”

“I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. And now, you’re home again.”

“Yes, it’s so good to be back.” She ran her fingers through her sleek dark hair, closing one eye.

“If you want to rest, you can use my shoulder.”

“I’ll take you up on that.” And she promptly did.

Phoenix dropped his gaze; their hands were an inch apart, and carefully, his moved closer, just enough for the slightest touch. She shifted, but didn’t speak. Still, he recognized that she was awake. It just felt right to summon his voice, into a tune from one of his daughter’s shows. A closing, and an invitation to see another magic act soon.

And unexpectedly, Maya began to quietly sing. Low warm notes, climbing to that pure bright soprano. “Tides may ebb and flow, and the sun may rise and fall. Still, you’re with me through it all.”

He held his breath. He didn’t want to miss a single second.

“The shell you gave me sings a lullaby of the waves. It takes me back to that summer day.” She paused. “My mom and Mia used to sing this to me, but that’s all I remember of it.”

“It was wonderful.”

“Even in my exhausted state?”

“Not that I could tell. You’ve always had a cute voice.” He murmured.

Her hand bumped his, in protest. But she didn’t draw away. In the next instant, he captured her wrist, and she twisted around to intertwine their fingers. “Probably, no karaoke yet. At least, for now, I can sing just for you.”

He couldn’t resist smiling. “I’m glad.” And maybe, a little thrilled he was the sole exception. He did like her singing voice very much. The minutes stretched on, and he was on the verge of dozing off when his phone rang with the cab’s arrival. Their hands remained in place, as they wheeled their luggage through the airport. And they walked into the cool night, towards a well-deserved homecoming.

[singledarkshade]

Stubborn Consequences

Part Two

(Part One can be found here)

Author’s Notes: This month’s @gateathonworks fic. This is the final part of the story. Enjoy.

                             *********************************************

Daniel sat in the cell in the SGC he’d been beamed into from the cell on the ship, reading a book. He looked up when the door opened and Jack walked in.

“I had no idea Finch was planning that,” he instantly said, placing Daniel’s Abydos journal and photograph of Sha’re on the small table, “Harald sent these for you. I’ve kept the cup so that it’s somewhere safe.”

“Thank you,” was all Daniel said.

Jack grimaced, “I am doing everything to get you out of here. I promise, Daniel.”

“I have no regrets, Jack,” Daniel told him, “No matter what happens now, I did the right thing.”

“Finch is demanding a trial,” Jack stated, “Considering the secrecy of the SGC it won’t be easy to find you a lawyer with security clearance. But I’ve got a possibility.”

“Jack,” Daniel stopped him, “I don’t need a lawyer.”

“You kinda do,” Jack argued.

Daniel shook his head, “The IOA have already confirmed it will be an internal investigation. They can’t do a trial because of the secrecy of the SGC and can’t court martial me since I’m not military.”

“Guessing this investigation will be in front of the IOA council,” Jack frowned, “With Finch leading the ‘prosecution’.”

Daniel nodded.

“I’ll defend you,” Jack stated.

“I’m better doing that myself,” Daniel said, a slight smile touching his lips, “But I could use your help to get some things that will help my case.”

Jack stared at him, “You’ve been planning your defence all this time, haven’t you?”

“It was only a matter of time before Finch thought to use a dart to remotely tag me since my chip was accidentally deactivated before I left Earth,” Daniel noted with an amused raised eyebrow, “Honestly, took him a lot longer than I expected, but I’m assuming no one in the SGC likes him enough to make the suggestion.”

“You got that right,” Jack chuckled.

Daniel took a piece of paper and began to write, “I need you to sort this for me.”

Taking it, Jack read the information before nodding.

~

It took two weeks for the IOA to get themselves sorted for their ‘investigation’ into Daniel. He wasn’t too bothered, other than being stuck in a cell, because it gave him time to think over and plan his defence in detail. He’d worked on it on and off over the past five years. Daniel knew he’d become complacent as time passed but he’d made a place for himself on Cimmeria and felt comfortable. Now he was hoping that he wouldn’t lose yet another home.

Dressed in his best suit, the one Sam and Janet had forced him to buy for important functions, ready to face the investigation, Daniel glanced at the small bedside cabinet where Sha’re’s picture sat so he could see it before he went to sleep and the moment he woke up. Many years had passed since her death, and he still missed her. He knew she would be proud of him for saving Ella, for protecting someone who couldn’t protect themselves, despite what it cost him.

The door opened and Daniel turned, unable not to smile at the man who was standing there.

“Morning, Doc,” Ferretti grinned at him, “Jack thought you’d want a friendly face to walk you there.”

Daniel smiled slightly before replying, “And he couldn’t find one so sent you.”

Ferretti chuckled, “Are you ready?”

“As I will be,” Daniel shrugged, “Do me a favour. Make sure that my Abydos journal is safe. I don’t want Finch sending one of his minions here to get his hands on it. It’s my last link to my family.”

Ferretti nodded and took the journal, tucking it inside his jacket.

With that safe, Daniel gathered up his notes and followed the other man to the conference room where the IOA were set up.

Jack was sitting waiting for him at a table on one side of the room and Daniel slid into the seat at his friend’s side aware that Sam and Teal’c were sitting nearby as was Landry and Mitchell. Finch was sitting at the table opposite them. He looked smug and Daniel forced himself to keep his expression neutral.

The six members of the IOA council walked in and took their seats then, to Daniel’s surprise, they were joined by Richard Woolsey who took the central seat.

“I am calling to order this investigation into the actions of Dr Daniel Jackson in the regards to the theft of IOA property and the removal it from Earth,” Woolsey stated, reading the file in front of him.

Daniel’s hand fisted at the use of the word property but Jack caught his arm, telling him silently not to argue. Forcing himself to relax Daniel took a drink of water to centre himself.

“For the record,” Woolsey continued, “I have been asked to arbitrate this investigation as I was not a part of the IOA or SGC at the time of the incident. However, due to my time on Atlantis, as well as my previous role working with the SGC, I know how the Stargate programme works. Are there any objections to my fulfilling this role?”

“No,” Finch stated.

Daniel paused for a moment before replying, “No.”

“Then we can start,” Woolsey stated, “Please note I will not accept any theatrics or playacting. This is an investigation. I expect it to be thorough and only the facts to be provided.” He paused and took a drink of water, “Alright, let’s start. Mr Finch, you are noted as the accuser. You can begin.”

Finch stood, he undid the button on his tailored suit jacket before he stepped forward.

“The facts speak for themselves,” he stated, “Mr Jackson stole the Goa’uld that the IOA had approved would be interrogated for information and took it through the Stargate despite the orders from his superiors to the contrary. He cannot deny that, can you Mr Jackson?”

Finch turned to him and Daniel stated, “Doctor Jackson.”

Confused that Daniel hadn’t tried to defend himself, Finch asked, “What?”

“I hold two PhDs, one in archaeology and the other in anthropology,” Daniel stated, “As well as a Masters in sociolinguistics. Since we’re dealing only in facts then you should refer to me as Dr Jackson, Mr Finch.”

Annoyance covered Finch’s face before he stated, “Then Dr Jackson, you cannot deny you stole IOA property.”

“I didn’t steal anything,” Daniel replied.

Finch shook his head, “Really. Then what did you do?”

“I believe this is your time,” Daniel stated, “When it is my time to speak, I’ll explain to you properly but first I’d like to hear each of your points. So, we don’t miss anything when I explain what actually happened.”

Finch grimaced.

“Dr Jackson is correct,” Woolsey stated, “Mr Finch, please explain your accusations.”

~

Jack was good at being stoic when he had to be but watching Daniel smackdown Finch with barely any effort was really making it hard not to grin. The problem so many people had was that they underestimated Daniel. They always saw the academic who on occasion became flustered stumbling over his words and was easily distracted by his work, they never saw the edges that spending so much time with the military had made or the core of steel that his losses had forged within him.

Daniel had always been stubborn, Jack had witnessed it on their first trip through the Stargate, but nowadays when Daniel dug his feet in it was near impossible to get him to move.

Finch was about to have a very, very bad day.

“The IOA decided that the Goa’uld Heffer,” Finch started, “Had valuable information that would ensure the safety of Earth, as well as our allies. Dr Jackson decided that he had the right to put Earth in jeopardy by removing the Goa’uld from Earth.” Finch gestured towards Daniel, “This man proved once again that he has loyalty to the Goa’uld rather than his own people.”

“What?!!!!” several people around the room cried.

Woolsey frowned, “I will ask for silence within the room. Mr Finch, that is quite an accusation you have made. Please explain.”

Finch turned to Woolsey and nodded, “Of course. Dr Jackson’s connection and loyalty to the Goa’uld is evident if you study the files for the SGC.”

Jack rolled his eyes, “For crying out loud.”

“You, General O’Neill,” Finch jumped on Jack’s murmur, “In your report from the original Abydos mission notes that after he was killed, Dr Jackson was revived and then spent a full night alone with Ra. During which he has never told you what happened and the next morning he almost executed you along with your men on Ra’s orders.”

Forcing himself not to lose his temper, Jack stated, “Daniel had little choice at the time. Ra was going to destroy the city and the people there.”

“Or so he says,” Finch stated, “Then he spent more time alone on the ship during what you call the ‘Battle for Abydos’.”

“He was saving Sha’re’s life,” Jack stated coldly, “Who died protecting us. And Ra tried to kill him.”

“Again, we only have his word for it,” Finch replied before waving away Jack, “After this he abandoned Earth for a full year. Then not long after Apophis attacked us, he attacked the planet Dr Jackson was living on. Which allowed Dr Jackson to return to Earth and into the inner circle where he could glean information for his allies.”

Jack glanced at Daniel and saw his jaw was clenched tightly. As much as he would do anything for his friends, Daniel wouldn’t follow without question but Sha’re, she was his one blind spot and his biggest weakness.

And Finch clearly knew this.

It wasn’t like it was a hard thing to guess though. Daniel’s quest to find and free Sha’re had been his entire reason for joining the SGC, everyone who had joined in those years knew that not to mention it was in the reports.

“Of course,” Finch continued, “During this his so-called wife was taken as a host. Considering the one photograph there is, it is clear why she was accepted by them. You must have bought yourself a great deal with her. You’d clearly grown bored of her after a year.”

“I suggest you be very careful what you say about my wife,” Daniel stated softly but firmly.

Finch laughed, his glee at having got to Daniel all over his face, “Yes, your ‘wife’. Tell us how a man who, as you corrected me earlier, has two PhDs and a masters found anything in common with a woman whose people weren’t able to read or write for centuries. Or was there no talking involved.”

Daniel let out a soft chuckle, “Of course, you think that. You have no idea the strength she had, her quick mind, her wit, her kindness. Nor the fact that she learned three languages in a year, started a school for the children of Nagada and made her world better for everyone. All this after starting a rebellion against the creature her people had worshipped as a god.”

Finch rolled his eyes, “And we only have your word for both that as well as the fact she wanted to marry you. Considering her photograph, I have no doubt why you were happy to marry her.”

“Both myself and Colonel Ferretti were on Abydos when Dr Jackson met Sha’re,” Jack said before Daniel could attack Finch, “Sha’re was an incredible woman, and trust me she was very happy that he stayed on Abydos.”

“Yet, he then allowed her to be taken as a host,” Finch continued turning back to Daniel, “Which as we know meant you ingratiated yourself further with Apophis. Before you try to pretend you haven’t, there is footage of you talking to him before his body was sent through to Sokar to be resurrected, in the report from ‘hell’ you were alone with him for longer than any of the others before you managed to escape. And here was yet another Goa’uld for you to work with. That is why you stole it from Earth, to release it. What did you get this time, Dr Jackson?”

~

Daniel forced himself to unclench his fist. He knew that Finch had brought up Sha’re to unbalance him, and it nearly worked. Thankfully Jack had spoken up, giving Daniel a moment to refocus himself.

“Dr Jackson,” Woolsey said, several minutes after Finch sat down smugly.

Daniel took a slow breath before he stood, “I’m not here to defend my reputation against these allegations Mr Finch has brought against me, especially since my time in the SGC has meant I have been killed, tortured, as well as losing my wife and the extended family she gave me. Mr Finch’s accusations regarding that I was instrumental in what happened to Sha’re at the hands of the Goa’uld, and that I have been working with them is one I will not take lying down. My wife, and if you wish to do any checks you will find that our marriage was confirmed as legal back during the first year of Stargate operations, was an intelligent woman who I adored beyond all measure and losing her nearly destroyed me.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “I am ignoring the nonsense allegations Mr Finch made against me regarding the fact he believes that I worked for or was working with the Goa’uld. Although I will point out that the footage you have where I was talking to Apophis,  I was in fact giving the host the Egyptian version of last rites. Because despite what you seem to have decided and against all evidence gathered over the years, the host witnesses everything. The host of the Goa’uld, Hei’fier,” Daniel paused and glanced at Finch, “Which is the correct pronunciation, her name is Ella. She was fifteen years old when invaded and forced for many years to witness things no one should. She asked for my help. So, I helped her.”

“Impossible,” Finch stated.

Daniel turned to him, “Why would think that? We know the host survives and can on occasion take control. At Ella’s request, I took her to the one planet that I knew would remove it.”

“Why not to the Tok’ra?” Finch demanded.

Daniel smiled slightly, “Now, there’s a good question for you. The Tok’ra have been our allies for many years and would have not only remove the Goa’uld, but be able to retrieve information,you instead decided to interrogate Hei’fier.” Pausing to let this sink in, Daniel then asked, “What did he promise you?”

“I am not on trial here,” Finch snapped.

Daniel smiled slightly and answered Finch’s original question, “I didn’t go to the Tok’ra as they have an Iris over their Stargate similar to us and I didn’t have access to their version of the GDO. As for your insistence that Ella didn’t ask me for help, I have a few people who can corroborate my assertion if you agree, Mr Woolsey.”

Woolsey nodded, “This is your defence, Dr Jackson. Bring in who you need to.”

Daniel turned to Jack, who motioned to Ferretti. Ferretti moved out of his seat and allowed the blonde woman who had been sitting at his side to walk to the front of the room.

“This is Dr Sarah Gardener,” Daniel introduced her, giving her a warm smile, “For several years she was the host of Osiris.”

“And your former girlfriend,” Finch spoke up, “Another woman you sacrificed to your Goa’uld masters.”

Sarah turned to Finch stating, “Daniel had nothing to do with Osiris invading me. We’d not been in contact since before he joined the Stargate programme. And your insistence he was working with the Goa’uld is ridiculous.”

“Sarah,” Daniel said, “I hate to ask this because I know how traumatic your time under Osiris was but how aware were you of what he was doing.”

She took a deep breath, “I was aware of all of it. He took great glee in that fact. Osiris was determined to kill Daniel.”

“Yet,” Finch noted, “When you were released from Osiris, it was after multiple visits to Dr Jackson’s home.”

“Osiris was trying to get Daniel to translate something by infiltrating his dreams,” Sarah replied, “Once he had that Osiris intended to kill him. Thankfully that didn’t happen, and I was released.”

“Thank you, Sarah,” Daniel said softly before continuing, “I have another person to confirm the hosts are aware of everything the Goa’uld does.”

~

Jack forced himself not to smirk at the sour look on Finch’s face, Daniel had been very thorough on his defence. He hadn’t expected Finch to bring up Sha’re, especially in the way he had but Daniel was thankfully not letting that distract him.

Sarah returned to her seat and the next ‘witness’ stepped forward.

“Colonel Caldwell,” Daniel greeted him, “Thank you for agreeing to talk to the council about your experience.”

Steven Caldwell nodded, “Of course, Dr Jackson.”

“You were infiltrated by a Goa’uld who used you to try to destroy Atlantis. Can you tell us what happened?” Daniel asked.

“The Goa’uld within me set up a bomb which would activate when they opened the Stargate,” Caldwell explained, “I was unable to stop it and unable to tell the team there what had happened.”

“But you were aware of everything it did,” Daniel said.

Caldwell nodded, “I was.”

Jack was watching Finch closely as Caldwell was able to return to his seat. Daniel took a drink of water before he continued.

“Colonel Ferretti,” Daniel stated, “Can you bring in my final, I guess witness is the word?”

Ferretti nodded and left the room for a moment before he returned with Daniel’s ace in the hole. The young woman looked nervous as she walked in with her adoptive father, Harald had his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulder.

“Thank you for coming, Ella,” Daniel said as she reached him, taking her hands, “I know you’re scared but I promise after this Harald and Colonel Ferretti will take you home.”

Ella nodded.

“Dr Jackson,” Woolsey spoke up, “If you could explain who this young lady is.”

Jack forced himself not to smile, because he could see Woolsey knew exactly who the girl was.

“Mr Woolsey, council members,” Daniel said, “This is Ella. She was once the host to the Goa’uld Hei’fier.”

The surprise covering all faces made Jack chuckle before he looked at Finch whose eyes actually had panic in them.

Jack glanced at Ferretti, tilting his head towards Finch. Ferretti nodded and resumed his position to keep watch.

“Ella,” Daniel said softly, “I know this is not easy for you, but if you could tell Mr Woolsey what happened before we went through the Stargate.”

Ella took a deep breath, she looked over at Harald who nodded encouragingly at her before she looked up at Daniel again, “Hei’fier was sleeping when you came into the room to look at some of the writing he had given. I recognised you as one of the Tauri who the Goa’uld both hated but knew had skills they could use.”

“What did you do?” Daniel asked softly.

“I asked you to help me,” Ella whispered, “I knew you fought the Goa’uld, that you had tried to save the host of Ammonet and had saved the host of Klorel. I hoped you could save me because Hei’fier had made a deal for freedom by given information to…” she trailed off.

Daniel rested his hand on her shoulder, “I know you’re scared but Harald is here and so are my friends to protect you. Who made the deal?”

Ella licked her lips before she pointed at Finch.

“This is preposterous,” Finch snapped, “He has clearly coached her.”

“But it leads back to my question,” Daniel said, “Why not take Hei’fier to the Tok’ra? They would be able to get any information from the Goa’uld and release the host. So, what were you offered?”

Finch suddenly jumped to his feet and tried to grab a gun from one of the security team. He let out a cry as Sam and Mitchell grabbed an arm each slamming him onto the table.

“I believe Mr Finch has just confirmed that Ella’s statement is true,” Woosley stated, “Dr Jackson, if the council agrees with me then all charges will be dropped as you clearly were trying to protect and help Ella. Any objections?”

Jack smiled as all six members shook their head, he knew several of them were still annoyed that Daniel had managed to get her through the Gate without any resistance but considering Finch’s reaction they knew they couldn’t do anything to Daniel anymore.

“Then Dr Jackson, you are released from custody and all charges are dropped,” Woosley stated, “Mr Finch, you have a great deal of explaining to do.”

                             *********************************************

Daniel sat on the top of the mountain, staring at the night sky with a mug of coffee in his hands.

“Thought I might find you here,” Jack said as he sat beside Daniel.

“Just needed a few minutes,” Daniel told him, “Did Harald and Ella go home?”

Jack nodded, “Ferretti took them. I promised you’d be in touch.”

“Thank you,” Daniel murmured.

“So,” Jack stated, “Your office is still there. They didn’t close it just locked it down and Dr Markson only allowed people in when they needed to check or borrow something. Your house is currently being rented, but the lease is up soon so you just need to find somewhere for a few months before moving back.”

“I’m not staying, Jack.”

Daniel could feel his friend’s confusion but didn’t turn to him because he knew what Jack’s expression would be.

“Why?”

“I ran into Landry and Mitchell after the investigation ended when I was given a VIP room,” Daniel stated, “They were suspicious of Finch’s motivations but were waiting before making a move.”

“That’s good to know, isn’t it?” Jack asked.

Turning to his friend, Daniel shook his head, “Why didn’t they tell me? Why was I just told to follow orders and not trusted?”

Jack shrugged, “I can’t answer that.”

“I can,” Daniel replied, “Because no matter how long I’ve been a part of the SGC, and all I’ve done, the fact I’m not military means I’m still an outsider. I’m not trusted.”

“I trust you,” Jack reminded him.

Daniel sighed, “But you’re not in charge of the SGC anymore. And I can’t go back. I made a life on Cimmeria,” he continued, “I have my work, I help the council, and I have friends. Finch poisoned this place for me, and they let him. I’m going to collect the things that I want to take with me then I’m heading back to Cimmeria.”

“Daniel…” Jack started before sighing knowing there was no point in arguing with Daniel because his friend had made up his mind, “You’re going to start getting a lot more visitors now this has been resolved.”

Daniel smiled at him, “You’ll always be welcome, Jack.”

Jack stood to head back inside before he stopped and asked, “You know what’s bugged me for a while, it’s how you got through the Gate with the Gould all by yourself.”

Not looking at his friend, Daniel shrugged, “I guess I got lucky.”

Jack’s grin let Daniel know he had his suspicions, and that he was probably right about who had helped Daniel.

“I’ll talk to Landry when you want to return to Cimmeria,” Jack stated, “But before you do, you know there are some people who want to see you. I had to promise Carter that I wouldn’t let you leave without us all having dinner together.”

“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” Daniel assured him.

As Jack left him alone once more, Daniel closed his eyes and sighed in relief. He no longer had the shadow of the IOA coming after him, would no longer have to worry about someone removing him from his home.

Standing he headed back into the mountain, ready to spend time with the friends he’d missed over the past few years before he returned to his home once more.

[rosieuv]

The ground to the hog to the ground to the day (I watched Groundhog Day for the first time today)

I heard it was some time loop film from a few various YouTube videos so that made me interested in it as I love stuff that does reality warping things. Overall, I say it's a pretty good film. Not as good as Back to the Future Part 1, but not a lot of films are as good as that. Nothing wrong in it's execution that makes me feel that way, it's more down to it's tone and genre that I prefer certain films over it. In fact, I can't even really think of a criticism for it that isn't it's terrible film poster. It has a vision and it does it very well. I just prefer things with more action and complexity personally but I still found this entertaining.

The plot of the film is simple: guy gets sent to some random town to report on the event known as "groundhog day", guy gets stuck in time loop, guy goes insane. For a premise with no clear goal or direction, it still flows very well. It uses jump cuts for pacing but uses them in a way that you can tell what cycle he's on very clearly. I see it as 7 phases:

normal day

confusion but quick realisation

carelessness

trying to get laid

depression and agitation

suicidal

redemption

I didn't realise that he would actually be free from the time loop because it's unconventional structure makes it a bit hard to predict things. I had a feeling he'll just accept it and continue for the rest of time in the loop, but I didn't think that he would actually try to become a better person, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Wait I just thought of a nitpick: they never show what happens between 5:59 and 6:00 am. It's clearly established that 6:00 am is when everything resets, but if he was idk like eating jam on toast in his bed at 5:59 am, would the toast vanish at 6? would he be forcefully jolted into position when the clock struck because he's always lying in a specific position? Would he blink and be in position? I guess another nitpick is that he said to the camera guy "hey we never talk much, do you have kids?" and we never find out if camera guy does. I just feel like 20 seconds of conversation could've made his character a little more in depth.

It's a very clever film though. It takes a repeating setting, repeating characters and simple narrative and really explores what you can do with it. The writing on the news reporter guy is also very clever. You can see him becoming more arrogant and pushy the more he realises he can get away with anything but gets humbled by...Rita? Sorry I'm terrible at remembering names, and that's what leads him into becoming cynical and an overall asshole. I assumed that if he died with the groundhog, then some override would happen and it would be fixed, but that didn't happen which is good as it lead to some really good scenes like this one where he picks up the toaster from the B&B kitchen while the toast is still visibly in there, and takes it to his bathtub to kill himself. I find it hilarious just because he never bothered to take the toast out he just plucked it from it's table and was like "well toaster you're coming with me!".

The poor toast is gonna go soggy...

Then there was that conversation with I think Rita which is what convinced him to try use his ability of knowing basically everything at this point about the town, to try make it a better place as he can see the future. The part where he tried to save the homeless man from dying only to have to give up because no matter how much he tried to keep him healthy that day, he would still die of old age, was quite sad.

At it's core it's a story about becoming a better person, and it showcases this really well. He only manages to escape the time loop by using his knowledge to try to help as many people as possible in a single day and develop many skills, to the point where he becomes a local celebrity and he gets Rita to fall in love with him but not in the same way as the "trying to get laid" section and he doesn't do this with the intention of breaking free, he does this because he learned to care and it's such a nice ending even if it leaves it up to interpretation about what happens next.

Overall I give it an 8.5/10. 9.5/10 if I was a proper critic with no biases.