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fernpost · 3 years ago

Text

looking forwards

[link to ao3]

Angus McDonald, boy detective. Greatest detective, if you asked him. And if you asked most of his clients.

He could solve any case, any mystery or murder or missing persons case. He’s always able to find the truth.

He just struggles sometimes, when it comes to himself.

His own emotions are swirling masses of weird bubbly feelings . He does not like how hard it is to decipher his own feelings.

Deciphering people's feelings about him is often just as hard. He knows social cues. He’s studied them thoroughly, and knows why people say what when he’s asking them certain questions and what they’re hiding when they ask him to leave.

Working a case is easy.

He’s solved plenty of murders before. Those are easy. Child’s play! And Angus is not a child anymore. He’s twelve whole years old, and had the first birthday party he’s ever really enjoyed to celebrate with all his friends.

Sure, most of them were adults, but he’s always gotten along really well with adults.

And they’re his family, so it’s fine-

Well. They’re not really his family. He’s not blood related to them. He’s not sure he has any immediate family now that his grandpa is gone. He’s never asked Taako or Magnus or Merle of Kravitz or Killian or- or any of them if they consider him family.

They’re his friends. That’s fine. He’s perfectly content with that (he thinks. Again, his own emotions are confusing).

But that’s okay. Because he’s going to school soon. It’s kind of far away from where most of them live, though. Far from the home Taako, Lup, Barry, and Kravitz have been sharing. Where Angus has been staying.

Very far from where Magnus has been setting up his school. And a whole day's ride away from Killian and Carey’s home.

The school is three hours away from Angus’s ho- from Taako’s house, where Angus is staying.

He hasn't- he hasn’t told Taako he’s going to school yet. He doesn’t know how to tell him he’s going to need to move out because obviously he would never ask Taako to uproot his whole life- all of them to uproot their lives just for Angus to be able to attend school. Not when they finally got settled down.

He really doesn’t even need school, but when his parents passed away and he went to live with his grandpa he dropped out. And if he wants to go on to college (if Lucas is serious about the potential teaching job) he needs to at least graduate high school. He was almost done too, but his grandpa didn’t have a lot of money like his parents did, so he started solving more and more cases to help out.

His parents didn’t give his grandpa any of their money because they didn’t expect him to be around when they passed on- not that they were bad people! He doesn’t mean to make them sound bad. They weren’t bad. They weren’t the best, he guesses. They’re not as fun as Taako, or as warm as Lup, and didn’t give as many hugs and Magnus, and didn’t talk to him about science like Barry, or-

But they were nice. They just weren’t really into parenting. They still left their small fortune to him, he’s just not old enough for it.

He’s thinking of petitioning the banks and saying he’s perfectly independent to get the money so he can move out easier.

He wonders if Kravitz would help, because he’s really good at that type of stuff, and the bank workers would be much more likely to listen to an adult than him.

Being young had its perks when solving cases, but it sucked for his day-to-day life.

It also sucked when his stomach churned for no reason that he could deduce. He’s just sitting in the kitchen, watching Lup cook in her still-slightly-fresh body as she sings a funny folktale song (Barry is sitting next to him, and he’d leaned over when she’s started singing to tell him how she learned this song early on in a world that had no writing system, and the song was about a man who could never remember where he left his pants. Angus didn’t really get it, but Barry kept laughing and smiling like it was the funniest thing in the world. Angus was pretty sure Barry would laugh at anything Lup did as a joke, though. He didn’t need to be a great detective for that).

But despite how good the food smells, his stomach hurts really bad. He’s barely eaten today, so it can't be food poisoning. Not that he’s had that since moving in- the Taaco’s are wonderful cooks and he trusts anything they feed him implicitly.

He tunes out Lup as he thinks.

The stomach pains are probably anxiety. Kravitz was telling him how he used to get them all the time, so it’s possible it’s just that.

But he shouldn’t be anxious . He’s a big kid- he’s just waiting for Taako to get home so he can tell him he’s moving out.

He has already looked for an apartment. Once Lucas' Academy of Arcane Sciences is fully up and running, he should have a highschool diploma and will be able to move on campus to work on his own degree. And be a student teacher while he works on it. It’s very exciting! If he should be feeling any physical effects from his emotions, it should be excitement, not this. This gross conglomerate of mushy feelings he can’t piece together.

He hates this.

Lup is holding a spoon to him, and Angus snaps back to the present to hear her softly ask, “you okay, little dude?” He doesn’t like the look of concern on her face- she’s been through too much to have to worry herself with him (he can’t get the century out of his head, these people are so amazing and they just let him hang around them. He doesn’t know what he’s doing right and he’s scared he’s going to stop doing that and they’re not going to like him anymore).

“I’m fine, Miss Lup! Thank you for asking.” He folds his hands tighter in his lap as he smiles. Whatever is on the spoon smells great, but he’s not sure his stomach is up for it yet.

Lup continues to stare at him for another second before pushing the spoon a little closer, “if you say so. Now, tell me, how’s it taste?”

Angus shakes his head and pulls back, “my stomach isn’t feeling too good right now, I don’t want to infect the rest of the food if it’s contagious.”

A hand appears on his head and he jumps a little, still not used to the casual touch-language of the household, and Barry’s nasally voice joins the conversation. “You don’t feel hot. Want us to call Merle over and give you a check up?”

The spoon is back, “it’s a good soup, Ango. It shouldn’t upset your stomach, and I can just get a new spoon. Barry can call Merle while you give me pointers.”

“You don’t need to, it’s fine really.” He waves his hands at Barry before turning to Lup. “And I’m not sure what help I can be with the cooking, I haven’t improved much these past few months even with Taako walking me through those other recipes.”

Lup snorts, “you’re improving much faster than Barry ever did. And I haven’t been helping Kravitz much with it, but he’s worse than anyone I’ve ever met at cooking. You’re doing just fine.”

Angus straightens up, discomfort momentarily disregarded, “Mr. Kravitz hasn’t needed to eat or cook in a long time, so he’s forgotten a lot of the basics so it’s not fair to judge me against him.”

“Sure, sure.” Lup waves her free hand in the air, the other still holding the spoon. “Still, this spoon is staying in the air until you taste it.” She glances at Barry, “and don’t worry about bothering Merle, he’ll never admit it but he likes the excuse to come over. Barry will pick him up; gives him more practice on perfecting the portal spell.”

Angus frowns, but reaches out to take the spoon anyways, “you really don’t need to call him. I’m sure it’ll pass by tomorrow.”

A hand is now on his shoulder, and Angus glances over to make eye contact with Barry, who speaks. “I won’t call him tonight, but if you still feel bad tomorrow we’ll tell him, okay?”

“Okay.” He’s not going to tell him if his stomach still hurts tomorrow, because it shouldn’t. Because he’s going to tell Taako right when he gets home and there will be nothing making him anxious or sad or excited or whatever that will make his stomach hurt. Because he’s going to do it.

He punctuates the thought by sticking the spoon in his mouth. Lup has turned back around, a fresh spoon stirring the pot, so she doesn’t see Angus’s eyes widen, but she turns back to face him with a smile when he gasps.

“This is really good, Miss Lup! Thank you.”

“Anything missing from it?” She crosses her arms, a new spoon dangling from her fingers as she twirls it around. It feels like a test, and the stomach ache is back.

Maybe it is from anxiety, because he used to get them before really hard tests. But why is he anxious? Taako is most likely going to take the news well, because Angus will finally be out of his hair.

(But maybe he doesn’t want that. Maybe Taako being okay with him moving out would hurt. Maybe the thought of Taako not just being okay, but being excited at the thought of him moving out is making him sick with worry and sadness and-)

“I’m not sure what else. It tastes perfect as-is.” He can’t think about cooking anymore. “I’m going to read on the couch, if that’s alright.”

The twirling of the spoon pauses, before she gives him a smile he knows is a bit forced, “okay, but when Taako comes home complaining that something is missing from the soup we’re blaming Barry.”

“Hey!”

Angus slides from the stool, moving to the sink and placing the spoon in there before heading to the couch. The living room is open to the kitchen and dining room, and he can hear Lup puttering around in there as she and Barry speak quietly to each other.

He’s unsure if they’re talking about him, or just being polite because he said he was reading, but his stomach twists again anyways. He picks up his book from where he set it on the coffee table this morning, and tries to read- he really does.

But he can’t focus.

The words blur together as he stares down at them blankly. He’s so zoned-out he misses the sound of the door opening, and the ensuing whispering in the kitchen.

It’s only when a hand is on his shoulder does he notice someone else is in the room, and he almost jumps out of his skin. Turning his head quickly, he catches sight of the gaudy sequin coat Taako had bought a few months ago. He’s paired it with a pair of jeans with tassels, and Angus doesn’t know much about fashion, but he’s fairly sure that’s not a normal outfit combination.

“Lup said your stomach hurt? Did you eat the so-called muffins Barry made yesterday? Because I told him those were toxic for human consumption. Probably dwarven consumption as well.”

Angus shakes his head, eyes following Taako as he slips his coat off and throws it on the armchair. He’d taken one look at those burnt muffins and slid them behind the milk, hiding them to prevent anyone from eating them. The elf walks around the couch and sits on the opposite side as him, tucking his knees under him as he stares at him with those eyes that are far more observant than most people think.

“Uh-huh. I’m throwing them out anyway. Don’t want to risk it.”

Angus nods, fiddling with the pages of his book. He runs a finger down the edge, finding a temporary calm in the weird texture of the uneven edges. He’s wearing a crease into the sides, he knows, but that’s fine. His grandpa liked to talk about the beauty of a well-loved book.

He’d spent all night planning on what he was going to stay. He wants to make sure Taako knows he isn’t throwing his kindness back in his face, and that he is going to be able to do this mostly on his own. He doesn’t have many belongings, so the move itself would be pretty easy. There won’t be much for Taako to worry about. Angus has always been very self-reliant. He isn’t a pushover, and is fine taking care of himself. While living here has been nice, he’s fine going back to living like that.

A foot knocking against his knee gets his attention, and he glances over to Taako. The elf’s face is pinched, ears flicking back and forth.

It’s a weird expression to see directed at him. Taako speaks, “you with me, Agnes?”

He nods, eyes flitting away. The nickname is an endearment, something he figured out soon after he started living on the moonbase. Their story being projected into his mind only reinforced that knowledge; seeing how Taako interacted with the others (and how the others teased everyone as well) proves that Taako being mean normally shows he cares.

He states instead at the fireplace; it’s still kinda dirty because no one has wanted to clean it out from when Lup caused it to flare up during a particularly intense board game night (they banned board games when the fire was going after that, at least while Lup was in her lich form. Far too much magical energy waiting to be released).

“Angus. You sure you’re feeling okay?”

He doesn’t mean to flinch, but seeing a hand come towards his face after already being stressed all day caused him to react unfavorably.

The hand yanks itself away, and Angus forces himself to look over at Taako, apology already leaving. “Sorry, sir. I just didn’t expect it- I’m fine, really.” He almost says ‘I promise,’ but stops himself. He doesn’t like lying, and it wouldn’t have been a lie but it wouldn’t have been the full truth.

Taako doesn't seem to believe him anyways, as he squints at him. “You’re a terrible liar.”

Angus starts, “I’m not sick!”

“I know you’re not sick, but you’re acting all weird.” He wiggles his fingers, and it almost makes Angus laugh.

He takes a deep, steadying breath. It only makes his stomach clench even more. His face gets hot, and suddenly his throat is tight and he can’t- he can’t do it- he doesn’t want-

“I need to move out.” The words leave him at once, just barely slow enough to be comprehensible.

The soft conversation in the kitchen stops at once, though neither of them walk over to the couch. Taako is staring at him, face blank.

He finds himself beginning to ramble. He hates it, he’s normally more composed, but working a case is much, much easier than navigating people he cares about. “Mr. Miller offered me a position at his school once I graduate, and the school is on the other side of town. I can’t make the commute each day, it’s too far and the walk would be too much. So, I found a small place that’s cheap, and once I get access to my parents money they left me I’ll be fine on that front. And-”

“Miller? Lucas Miller?” Taako cuts him off. He hasn’t done that in a long while, and it shuts Angus up immediately.

“Yes? He’s opening his school, the Academy of Arcane Sciences.”

“And he wants you to teach there?”

Angus' face flushes, and he gets hot with indignation. “I’m very smart, sir. I am very qualified to teach, and it’s not a stretch that he would seek me out and-”

Taako puts his hands up. “Not what I was implying. You’re just young.” He glares off to the side, before pulling his crystal out. “Thought Miller was above hiring a child.”

“I’m not a kid.”

“How old are you, then?” Taako glances back over at him, eyebrows raised in that annoying way he gets when he thinks he’s made an excellent point. He’s typing without looking down, and Angus wants to know what he’s doing.

“I- that’s not what I meant.”

Taako leans back on the couch, looking back at his crystal. “You should be focused on being a kid, not teaching nerds at Lucas’s subpar school.”

The indignation that started when Taako brushed off what he’s been worrying about has been building and building. He clenches his hands into fists, letting the book drop to the floor as he stands and yells, “stop trying to make me have the childhood you wanted!”

He regrets it immediately, but can’t bring himself to look at Taako. The room is so, so quiet. It’s almost worse than if they yelled at him. He runs past the couch, dodging the hand that reaches out as he passes by Taako. He slips into the room he’s been staying in, closing the door and locking it behind him. He sits on the floor, back resting against his bed, and shoves his face into his knees, pulling them tightly into himself.

At least he made it easy, right? He’ll wait for Taako to cool down, finish packing his things, and leave.

He doesn’t even know why he said that. He knows Taako was just being nice, even if he phrased it poorly. He just wants him to be a kid because he knows what it’s like to not have a childhood. Angus had no reason to say that. He didn’t mean it.

The hot press of tears builds in his eyes and he forces them down. He has no right to cry when he was the one in the wrong.

Knowing Taako, Lup, and Barry are in there, talking about him, is almost as bad as the guilt. Not knowing what they’re saying is disquieting.

It doesn’t take long for a soft knocking on his door to fill the room. He says nothing, but looks up at it. He stares at the handle, checking it’s still locked.

“Angus, it’s Lup. Can I come in?”

He considers not answering. They’ve been good about not barging in before, when he makes it clear he wants to be alone. He doesn’t want to be alone, though. He’s just not sure he wants to have this conversation.

“Yeah.” He stands, unlocking the door and holding the handle. Breathes. Opens the door.

Ears tilted down low, Lup stands there with hands in a neutral position at her side. Gods, she’s being so aware of her movements right now so she doesn’t startle him. He turns, walks over to his desk, and stands by it. He’s now very aware of his backpack and small suitcase against the wall, half-packed. Not enough to be obvious, but enough so that when he told them he was moving he could do so quickly.

Lup is staring at it. She hesitates, then goes to sit on his bed. She doesn’t shut the door all the way, leaving it just barely cracked.

He hates being treated like this.

“We’re not mad.” She begins, and Angus can’t bring himself to look at her as she talks, staring instead at his bags. “Taako isn’t mad either. We’re just confused as to why you want to move out.”

Angus furrows his brow, glancing over to Lup for a second before retraining his eyes on his bags, “I told T- I said that it was too far for me to walk there each day.”

“Me and Barry have basically mastered rifts, we could bring you there and back you know. So could Kravitz.”

“I already thought about asking you to, but you’re called to go help the Raven Queen randomly, and I wouldn’t want to be stuck on campus.” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, “I didn’t phrase it very well out there.” He forces himself to make eye contact, “I am very grateful for everything you all have provided me, and I’m not leaving because I’m unhappy or anything. I just know I’ll be fine on my own, and I really want to go to school.”

Lup purses her mouth, “I’m not going to argue that you aren’t responsible or that you couldn’t live on your own. But you are young, there’s no reason you should be teaching at this age.”

“I’m not though! I’m finishing high school, and then student teaching until I graduate from his school. I’ll just be helping the professors until I have the proper qualifications.” He clenches his hands, trying to keep himself calm. He doesn’t like when people don’t understand what he’s saying.

She takes in what he says, keeping her gaze steady. “Okay. That’s better. But, you still shouldn’t be living on your own, little dude.”

“I used to-”

She holds her hand up, “come on, this is a group conversation. The other two people living here should be here for this.” Angus casts an anxious glance at the door when she says that. She continues on, “before we go out there, though, we do need to talk about what you said.”

Panic fizzles through him again. “I know! I didn’t mean it, and I’m really, really sorry. I just got frustrated because he was patronizing me and I don’t like being treated like that. I’m very smart and capable- I’ve done- I’m just-” He feels his emotions begin to well up again, and it only makes him more upset. He knows he’s more mature than this. He’s caught numerous serial killers, solved murder cases, and helped so many people. He can keep up with serious adult conversations, as well as banter with everyone easily. He’s good at words. He hates getting sensitive like this.

“Hey, hey. Angus, it’s okay. Breathe.” She steps towards him, moving slowly to not startle him and he hates how he’s already shown that she needs to do that. “Taako was being rude when you spoke to him, no one is denying that. But what you said at the end was also pretty rude. And we understand needing to take a minute to ourselves, but we have to make sure we have hard conversations. You’re telling us you don’t want us to treat you like a child, and we are not going to baby you. But you are still very young, especially compared to us.” She closes the gap to him and rests a hand on his shoulder, kneeling down. “Being mature means hard conversations. Being nice means having harder conversations. All we want from you, Angus, is for you to be honest with us and listen to us when we want to be honest with you.” She removes her hand from his shoulder and spreads her arms wide, offering a hug.

If he says no, she won’t make a fuss. He knows this.

He crashes into her, smushing her face into her shoulder. Her arms tighten around him as she runs her hand through his hair. “Here’s the plan. We go out there, Taako apologizes to you for being an asshole, you apologize for snapping, and then we all talk about you moving out, okay?”

Pulling his head away from her shoulder, he nods. He knows if he tried to speak, he would devolve into tears. She smiles and pulls him back into the hug.

They stay there for another moment, before Angus pulls away. Lup stands and gestures for him to lead the way.

His stomach clenches again, but some it’s not as intense as it was a few minutes ago.

They walk down the short hallway, and find Taako and Barry sitting on the couch. Both are staring at them as they enter the room, and Angus finds his hands twisting into the hem of his shirt.

“I shouldn’t have said that, sir. I’m sorry.” Angus says it fast. He hopes it doesn’t sound dishonest, the way it tumbled out of his mouth, but he knows if he slowed down the tears would fall too and he doesn’t want that.

Taako moves to stand, but Angus watches as Barry’s hold on his hand keeps him on the couch. Taako, instead smiles. “It’s okay, Ango. I was being an ass first. Should have listened to you all the way instead of cutting you off. Taako’s better than that.”

Lup brushes past Angus, moving to sit on the armchair next to the couch. Angus stays where he is. “I am still moving, though.”

No one speaks for a moment, but all three of them look at each other. After a moment of silent conversation, the type born from living together for a long, long time, Taako speaks up. “Okay. We’ve been talking about getting a bigger house anyways. This one is too close to the city and when the others visit it’s far too crowded. We need more extra bedrooms.”

Angus blinks. Then blinks again. “What?”

Lup sighs. “That’s one way to bring it up. We’ve already been talking about it- there’s a chunk of land just outside of the east end of the city. It’s not far from the school we assume is the one you plan on attending. Magnus has already said he’ll help us fix up the house there.”

He is still wildly confused.

Barry gathers that, and he sighs, “we will all move. So you can be closer to your school.”

He starts shaking his head, “no, you guys just settled down, you don’t need to do that.”

“Do you really think you could make us do anything we don’t want to do?” Taako asks as he begins to walk over to Angus. He mimics the position Lup took earlier, squatting in front of him. “If you really don’t want to live with us, fine. But we had already been talking about getting a bigger place. This isn’t a sudden decision- if Krav wasn’t on some mission he could tell you the same thing. The house we were looking at was empty before the Hunger arrived, and it got fucked up even more during the fight, so the land there is cheap. So if you want to stay with us- and I’m not asking what you think we want, I’m asking what you want- then one of the rooms will be yours.”

The tears he’s been working so hard to hold back begin to fall, so he just nods quickly. He lets Taako pull him into a hug, “I’d- I like living with you. Are you- you sure?”

“When has Taako ever lied?”

Angus just laughs, and does so even harder when he hears a pillow thwack against the back of Taako’s head (it’s a common occurrence in this house).

He feels someone approach on the side, and their hug is yanked to the side, both of them stumbling as Lup pulls them towards her, and he glances up to see Barry hovers right beside them. Taako must see him too, “Come on, Barold. Looks like it’s hug time.”

It’s awkward, and not at all very comfortable, but it’s warm. Angus’s tears have dried up, and he’s about to pull away when the familiar zip of a portal being created precedes Kravitz’s voice.

“Oh, am I interrupting?”

Taako laughs, “just missing out on a group hug.”

“Come on,” Lup speaks up now, her voice coming from just behind Angus’s ear, “it’s a family hug.”

Angus barely has time to process that when Kravitz steps forward. He’s almost as awkward as Barry, but it’s nice.

They separate eventually, Lup heads back to the kitchen to finish the food, with Barry close behind. Kravitz gives Taako a hello kiss, the two of them sitting on the couch, and from their low tones Angus can tell Taako is giving him a quick rundown of… today.

Angus see’s his book was placed on the coffee table at some point, and sits on the armchair once he grabs it, pushing Taako's discarded jacket to the side. Opening it to where he left off, the page is bent with a large crease down the center, from when he dropped it on the floor. He reads for a minute, before Taako speaks up.

“Mending should get rid of that crease, if you like.” Taako says.

Angus just smiles and shakes his head. “It just proves it’s used.”

He shrugs, looking down at his crystal, and Kravitz nudges him. It causes Taako to huff and hold out the crystal. A flyer for a recreational soccer team is displayed.

Join the new Neverwinter recreational soccer league! Ages 10-14. Help your kids make new memories and friends- Create everlasting bonds!

Angus frowns, “what’s this?”

“Soccer team. Was looking for one in the area when we started looking for potential houses to move to. Planned on signing you up.”

Tears begin to well up in his eyes again, and Angus finds himself frustrated. Not with Taako, no, of course not. Not now, not with this. But with himself, and how emotional he’s being.

Because he’s been talking about Caleb Cleveland books at Taako for so long now, and he’d always assumed he’d only been tolerating it. But Caleb Cleveland was a part of a soccer team- it wasn’t even a big part of the books. Angus has probably only mentioned it once or twice. And yet, Taako specifically looked for a soccer team and-

“Thank you, Taako!” He grins, and the way Taako’s ears are flickering, he knows he’s embarrassed.

“Just thought you could use the exercise. You know, you can’t be running around solving crimes if you can’t run.”

The smile doesn’t leave his face as he snarks back, “but sir, you never do physical training and you saved the world.”

“I just transmute my legs to be strong and fast if I need it. Or get Magnus to carry me.”

He leans further onto Kravitz, who smiles. “Or he just calls me to pick him up.”

“Exactly!”

Snuggling back into his chair, Angus holds the book close to his chest, “thank you, really, sir.”

“Come on, little dude. We’ve been over this. The ‘sir’ thing is so formal.”

“Would you prefer me to call you ‘sappy bitch’?” He turns up his fake innocent charm, the one he uses often on cases, as he says it.

Kravitz bursts out laughing, and he can hear Barry and Lup in the kitchen do the same.

Taako flares up, pointing an accusing finger at him, “who taught you that kind of fucking language!”

“I’ve always known curse words!”

“Not in my house!” Taako stands, and Angus climbs out of the chair and starts running. He knows what will happen if Taako catches him, so he runs to Barry, calling out for help.

Barry, the traitor, only holds him still so Taako can grab him and ruffle his hair. He begins yelling at Barry, cursing his name, but it’s hard to get the words out through his laughter.

Kravitz is the one who saves him, pulling him out of their arms and holding him high in the air. “Do not assault the child, please.”

Taako steps towards Kravitz, “you heard what he called me, didn’t you?”

“And he was right.”

Taako’s affronted gasp is so loud, it must scratch at his throat as he begins coughing.

Angus is giggling, kicking his dangling feet lightly in the air.

Whatever Lup is pulling off the stove smells delicious, and he cannot wait to begin eating.

As they sit down, Taako looks over at him and says, "you know, you should be careful about accepting a teaching job at Lucas's lame school. Taako here is working on a much cooler idea, and he could use a smart kid like you, if you can pass the rigorous application process."

"What is it?" Angus asks, getting excited. He hasn't heard Taako talking about anything like this.

"Top secret."

Angus laughs, "it won't be for long!"

"You're pre-emptively fired, then."

"Wait-"

#angus mcdonald #taako #lup #barry bluejeans #taz balance #my works

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hela-avenger · 4 years ago

Text

To the Stars Who Listen- 9a

Author: hela-avenger

Word Count: 2177

Summary: When Loki desires to never fall in love, he casts a spell to prevent such a thing from happening. Except, well, in the matters of love and magic, you never know the result it may have in the end. Loki x Reader

A/N: Ok so I started to write this and then had to go back to edit it and then I added more and then it was all just angst and it was just getting so long and I couldn’t fix it. ANYWHO, the Halloween special will now be two parts. I’m really hoping it won’t be three but we shall have to wait and see.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Please be safe out there!

Tags are open! (Send me an ask/message/response.)

TTSWL Masterlist

Loki refrained from groaning as he stepped into the jet that would take them back to the Tower. Sam and Bucky were fighting over the pilot seat while Wanda was chattering loudly about the costume she had managed to find for herself and Vision. Loki catches your eye and he can tell you wish to speak to him. He doesn’t allow you the chance as he storms out of the seating area in preference of the solitude found in the back.

The quinjet finally sets out of the compound and Loki manages to survive the short ride without being pulled into whatever conversation you wish to have with him. You most likely wanted to know the truth behind what you had revealed previously. An answer he would refuse to give you.

Loki is almost cornered by you in the arrival at the tower but by sheer luck, you are called away by the AI allowing Loki to peacefully make his way down to his residential floor. The peace he had in mind at the return of his familiar abode is disrupted at the sight of Thor waiting for him there.

Loki’s annoyance grows at the sight of his brother regaled in his Asgardian armor swinging Mjolnir with ease.

“Welcome back, brother.”

Loki just grunts in response as he tries to maneuver around the big oaf.

“I went ahead and prepared your armor for the party tonight,” Thor continues with a smile. “It should be a merry night full of drinking and dancing. We should thoroughly enjoy it.”

“I’m not going to that party.”

“Why not?”

“Because I refuse to partake in Midgardian celebrations.”

“I would think you would enjoy this one, Loki. It’s all about mischief and magic.”

Loki rubs his eyes tiredly.

“I am quite tired, brother. I am in no mood for festivities.”

“You never are,” Thor states, forcing Loki to stop right outside his bedroom door. “You always hide out here and avoid having any fun. You’ve been here for months, Loki, and you have failed to participate in any way or form to enjoy humanity.”

“I hate this place,” Loki responds. “Why would I try to find some silver lining?”

“If that is the case then perhaps I should report to father that you have made no progress and have you sent back home.”

That definitely deepens the foul mood Loki was already in.

“If I go to this party will you refrain from reporting to father?”

Thor thinks for a few seconds before relenting.

“Yes, I would.”

“Great, good,” Loki mutters as he slips into the darkness of his room. “I’m not wearing my armor though.”

“Then what will you wear?”

Loki doesn’t respond promptly slamming the door closed to Thor’s face.

The lab was as pristine and proper as the day before you had come in and destroyed it. The wall had been repaired and the equipment that had been easily thrown before was now bolted to the ground. You let out a sigh as you try to forget that dark moment of your life when you had turned against your friends for no reason.

You still couldn’t remember what happened but it still shook you to the very core. The truth was something everyone valued and yet you had overlooked the darkness it could truly hold. Lying didn’t seem so bad now and you miss having the simple ability.

Shaking yourself from that thought, you scanned the rest of the room looking for the man of the hour.

The moment the jet landed at the tower you were promptly told by FRIDAY that Tony requested your presence in the lab.

You tried to make a quick stop towards the Asgardian floor but the AI had overlooked your floor request in preference of following its creator’s demand.

The lab remained silent after you came in. FRIDAY had announced your presence but Tony was nowhere to be seen. You felt yourself being watched but could find no one. You were starting to grow paranoid which didn’t help when a loud bang resonated nearby.

Your head snaps towards the source of the crash and you relax when you realize it’s just Dum-E hitting against the nearby desk.

“Oh Dum-E, I thought I was…”

“BOO!”

You jump at the sudden shout behind you. Out of pure instinct, you throw your hands in front of you causing your gauntlets to shoot out two straight lines of energy. The beams scorch two black spots on the recently repaired wall.

“Well that’s new.”

You turn around and glare at Tony.

“What the hell, Tony!” you shout at him. “I could have killed you.”

Tony chuckles in response and is quick to apologize.

“Sorry, kid,” he answers. “Didn’t realize you were Iron Man 2.0.”

You roll your eyes at him and laugh sarcastically at him.

“Ha, ha, ha, very funny,” you joke. “These things are the only reason I have some semblance of control.”

“Let me see them.”

You raise your hands and show him the golden gauntlets.

“Interesting design,” he mutters as he grabs a hold of them, turning them around back and forth. “I’m assuming the stones are important by their placement. I wonder what they’re made of. Carbon-based, maybe? Rare space jewel? I would have to run some tests…”

“Yeah, not possible,” you comment. “I can’t take these off. Things could go very wrong.”

Tony scowls as he lets your hands go.

“Can’t risk it for a few minutes?” Tony asks. “I’m sure I could improve them for a nicer aesthetic and easier mobility.”

“Tony…”

“Come on,” he nudges. “You don’t see me wearing my blasters because they’re comfortable. It’ll only be a few minutes. Five tops.”

You hesitate and Tony pesters on.

“Let me do this for you. It’s the least I can do if you have to wear those atrocities for the rest of your life.”

You chew on the inside of your cheek before relenting.

“Just be careful with the stones and be quick, please,” you plead at him. “I don’t wish to have a repeat of my last mishaps.”

Tony snorts as he helps you slide the gauntlets off your hands.

“Heard about that,” he snickers. “A little birdie told me and by birdie, I obviously mean Sam.”

You laugh and shake your head at him watching as he steps towards his desk and pulls out an array of files into the screen. He flips through them quickly before stopping at one.

Pepper Gift Ideas.

“Um, Tony?”

He ignores you as he opens the file up and scatters out the multiple designs he’s sketched out. You’re shocked at the multiple documents in the file but don’t have the chance to inspect them closely as Tony finds the one he was looking for.

“Here it is,” he states as he picks the design and throws it onto the screen next to his equipment. “What do you think, kid?”

“Oh, wow,” you whisper as you look at the design on display. “That’s beautiful.”

“Was tinkering for a while about making Pepper her own jewelry,” Tony responds beside you. “But she never wears what I get her.”

“I’m sure she would wear this,” you tell him. “Are you sure you want to use this design on me?”

Tony is quick to nod.

“You’ve been dealt a shitty hand with this power,” Tony answers honestly. “I just want to make things better for you in any way I can.”

“Thanks, Tony,” you tell him, heartfelt at his generosity. “Really, thank you.”

Tony clears his throat from the rising emotion and looks away. He picks up your gauntlet and begins to disassemble them.

“Now go away,” he mutters. “Let me work in peace.”

“You told me it would only be five minutes.”

“Well I lied. I’m surprised you didn’t notice.”

You roll your eyes at him and Tony simply smirks.

“I’ll have them done soon, I promise, so why don’t you go ahead and find your partner in crime, Natasha. She’s got your costume in her room.”

You hesitate but you’ve already done your daily exercises to tire your powers out. Nothing could go wrong. Or at least that’s what you hoped for.

You wince at the sharp tug of your hair. You glare at Natasha through the mirror but she simply smirks in response. You had no choice when it came to getting ready for this impromptu Halloween party. Natasha dragged you into her room the moment you showed up at her door.

You didn’t mind her help for the party. In fact, you were glad to have it as the redhead went above and beyond to have everything ready for you. From the costume to the hair and makeup, Natasha had arranged it all. All you had to do was sit there and allow her to make her vision into a reality.

Though you would use this time to catch up with your close friend, your mind was far away at the moment.

Ever since your last lesson, Loki had avoided you like the plague. Any attempt of trying to apologize to him was somehow thwarted by Loki himself or some outside force. It didn’t help that Tony’s impromptu invitation and the jet that followed severed any chance of forcing him to see you.

You felt guilty.

You had crossed a line by revealing something he wasn’t ready to when all he had done was help you. You needed to apologize and you needed to do it soon.

“Ok, spill it.”

You look up at Natasha’s pointed stare and sigh.

“I can’t hide anything, can I?” you mutter tiredly. Nat tugs on your hair again and you hiss at the action. “I’m fine, Nat. Just trying to settle my mind.”

“Of what?”

You take a deep breath debating whether it was a good idea to tell her of your past week with Loki.

Nat despised him with every fiber of her being, but you… you didn’t.

“Loki’s been a great teacher considering I’m a ticking time bomb...”

“But?” Nat interrupts.

“But,” you repeat with a huff. “I keep ruining everything with this stupid power.”

“You?” Nat asks, confused. “You ruined everything? Not him?”

“Nat…”

“I’m sorry,” she sarcastically laughs. “That doesn’t make sense. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“You don’t understand,” you sigh. “If you just let me explain…”

“Then explain.”

You take a deep breath and turn away from the mirror to look at Natasha directly.

“I have invaded everyone’s privacy. I’ve learned things I have no right knowing and revealed things without permission. You already know how guilty I felt because of it,” you explain. “Yet, Loki wasn’t one of them. He’s immune to my power as I am to his but I recently crossed a line and uncovered something I wasn’t supposed to.”

“What was it?”

“You know I can’t tell you.”

Natasha huffs in response but shrugs her curiosity off.

“So?” she asks. “What’s wrong then?”

“I feel really bad about it, Nat, and he’s avoiding me and I just want to apologize to him because I invaded his privacy but he won’t even let me get close to him to do it.”

“He doesn’t need an apology,” Nat scoffs. “He’s a grown man. He can lick up his wounds and move on.”

You’re starting to regret confiding in her about your situation but Loki has yet to teach you how to evade telling the truth without necessarily resorting to lying.

“I apologized to you and everyone after my first outburst,” you remind her. “You didn’t need me to but I’m sure it helped.”

Natasha lets out a breath but she knew you had a point.

“Loki doesn’t deserve your kindness.”

She’s being honest with her opinion but you don’t feel the same way.

“I think differently,” you answer. “I think it’s been a long time since Loki’s been treated with some kindness.”

Natasha's eyes narrow down at you.

“Do you…” she hesitates. “What exactly is your relationship with him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you acquaintances? Friends? Or is it more?”

You’re surprised at the question.

“I guess we’re friends?” you answer unsurely. “Mentor and student seems weird so yeah… friends.”

Natasha seems unconvinced but she doesn’t speak up on it. Instead, she motions you to face forward again so she could finish up with your hair.

“So do you think I’ll have time to slip out to apologize or am I going to have to wait until the party?”

Nat can’t avoid the snort from escaping her promptly earning her a confused look from you.

“Loki doesn’t go to the parties,” she tells you. “Not since I could remember.”

“Then why did he come with us in the jet?”

“Maybe because he has to monitor you and we have to monitor him?”

Nat’s right but you can only hope that Loki might prove her wrong.

“If he’s there… apologize to him,” Nat tells you hoping to ease the scowl that was settling on your face. “Just don’t expect him to forgive you. He’s not apologetic, far less forgiving.”

TTSWL Tag: @catsladen @is-it-madness @manyfandoms-marvel @mejusttryintogetby @illogicalfangirl @ariel-snow-tmnt @islinglivesinshire @musicconversedance @missmadwoman @smaranshakthi @adaydreamingdragon @poetic-fiasco @like-a-wildfire @jasminecalia @ha-tep @charbokbok @setsuna-meiou31 @ms-blvck @country-cowgirl-101 @bepo-is-sorry @hufflautia @waitforthehurricanrose @fictionalhoomanofnowhere @sanniegirl1214 @telenari @anonymouscastiel12 @ddaeing

Loki Tag: @unicorniorosacomefrutillas @thesilentbluesparrow @oddly-drawn-muse @josiehosiedaninja @hp-hogwartsexpress @sadwaywardkid @wolf-lover74 @sizzlingbarbarianglitter @sigyn-nightshade @aoirohi @horsesandwolvesaremyanimals @just-a-donut-who-reads @day-dreaming-fox @heykathchuu

All Works Tag: @jmb959 @astudyoftimeywimeystuff @hellocookiecutter @steve-rogers-personal-hell @buckybarnesyard @not-zari-tak @strangersstranger @thefridgeismybestie @ariel-snow-tmnt @badhollandfluff @what-a-flammable-heart

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sanderssidesfanfiction · 4 years ago

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If There’s a Place I Could Be - Chapter Seventy One

If There’s a Place I Could Be Tag

January 10th, 1997

Remy was looking at the test his latest table-mate had given him and he frowned. “What’s so bad about it?” he asked.

“It’s a ninety seven!” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, so? I barely got a seventy two,” Remy said with a shrug. “It’s okay to not get everything perfect, or even close to perfect. All that matters is that you pass.”

“Figures you’d see it that way,” she scoffed. “You don’t care about grades at all. Do you even know where you’re going to college?”

“Don’t know, don’t care, Cindy,” Remy said. “I’m fifteen. I don’t have to care yet.”

She scoffed again and stormed off as the bell rang and Remy rolled his eyes. Another potential friendship avoided. Good. He had been worried he wouldn’t be able to shake this one. And perfectionists rubbed him a very particular wrong way that was not pleasant.

September 5th, 2002

Remy was working in the kitchen when Emile came up from behind him for a hug. “Hey, love,” Emile said.

“Mm, hi, mio amore,” Remy said. “Decided you’re finally ready for lunch?”

“Yeah. I was just doing some drawing earlier to fulfill the art class requirement I’ve been putting off, but the drawings are done for now. I just want to eat,” Emile said with a laugh.

“What were you drawing?” Remy asked.

“You,” Emile said. “Like, it wasn’t realistic figure drawings because I wasn’t looking at you, but I was working in different cartoon styles, and I figured I may as well draw one of the people I know best.”

Remy turned a slight red even as he continued to work. “Do I get to see these drawings eventually?”

“Yeah, if you want,” Emile said. “So long as you don’t tell me that my imitations of my favorite cartoon styles suck.”

“I would never say that,” Remy said. “You’re a pretty good drawer, actually. Maybe not make-a-living-off-it good, but definitely a your-art-shows-lots-of-care good.”

“Really?” Emile asked, and he looked surprised.

Remy paused in his work and faced Emile fully. “Yeah, Emile. You’re really good at art.” Emile frowned, and Remy mirrored the action. “Is there any reason that you wouldn’t think that?” Had he just found one of Emile’s insecurities?

“I mean, I guess not, it’s just...” Emile shrugged. “There’s a lot of things wrong with it. It’s like when I get a question wrong on a test. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t fix it.”

Remy squinted and walked past Emile, to the card table, where his sketchbook was still open. “Emile, your drawings look fine.”

“Fine, sure. But they’re not exactly good,” Emile said, walking over and pointing. “See, the eyes are slightly off compared to the She-Ra style, and in the Looney Tunes style I can’t get the hands and the fingers properly. And these are just the sketches I’m okay with other people seeing.”

Remy stared at Emile, then at the drawings, then Emile. “Emile, I’m not a cartoon expert like you are, but I know enough about art style differences from comics to understand this was just done by a different artist. It’s not wrong, it’s just a slight difference, like what can happen when more than one animator works on a project. The difference is that in animation, the frames go by so fast that it’s usually imperceptible.”

“No, it’s not the same style if it doesn’t look exactly the same. Otherwise it’s just an imitation,” Emile said.

“Okay...correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought you were just going for an imitation,” Remy said.

“I mean, yeah, but I realized how close I was and wanted it to be in the genuine style...and I couldn’t get it,” Emile mumbled the last part, turning away.

“What do you mean, honey? You definitely got it right,” Remy said.

“But I didn’t,” Emile argued.

Remy blinked. “Okay, maybe it’s not perfect, but—”

“—See?! You just said yourself that I didn’t get it!” Emile exclaimed.

Remy paused. Took a breath. Let it out slowly. “That’s not what I said,” he said calmly. Forcing away the irritation at being interrupted and the annoyance that Emile was apparently not listening to him. “I said you didn’t have it perfect. Not having it perfect doesn’t mean you don’t have it.”

“Yes it does!” Emile exclaimed with a huff.

The irritation faded away and was replaced with a blooming bud of concern. “No, it doesn’t, Emile...why would you think that?”

Emile laughed incredulously. “Do you really not know?”

“No,” Remy said. “I really don’t.”

“When I was in kindergarten the first time around, I was ‘the stupid one.’ I know you’ve heard this before, but listen. When it clicked and I finally knew how to read, I went to the top of my class in just about everything. Suddenly, school was impossibly easy. And everything I did was just considered perfect, perfect, perfect. That’s all it could be, that’s all it can be. I’m not allowed to fail. Because if I fail, then I’m just that stupid five-year-old who couldn’t even spell his own name. And suddenly everyone starts questioning me, saying they thought I was smart, I was supposed to understand this, and isn’t it easy? Why am I struggling?! I just need to push through until I understand, but I’m not even allowed to ask for help, because oh, that’s just for the stupid kids, Emile, and you’re not stupid! If something isn’t perfect, then it’s a problem. And I’m not supposed to have any more problems. Not after that.”

Remy didn’t know what to say. “Christ, Emile,” he breathed. “That’s terrible.”

Emile laughed and shook his head. “Not particularly,” he said, even as he was starting to cry. “Just the burden of being the smart kid, I guess. You have to keep up the appearance even if you have no idea what you’re doing. Because otherwise all the teachers see is that dumb kid who couldn’t tell the difference between an ‘o’ and a ‘v.’”

“I thought only your teen years were traumatic, but Christ. That’s just...I don’t have any words. I was never really ‘the smart kid,’ I never had to deal with that, but...wow, so many things make sense now,” Remy said. He shook his head. “Not the point, not the point. Okay. Emile, I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to listen to me when I say it, okay?”

Emile took off his glasses, wiping away his tears, and he nodded. “I’m listening.”

Remy grabbed Emile’s cheeks and brought their foreheads together. “You have my explicit permission to fail.”

“You...what?” Emile asked.

“You have my permission to fail. Okay? If you don’t get everything perfect, you’re not stupid in my eyes. If your graduating GPA is three point nine, I won’t focus on the one class you got a ‘B’ in. I’ll focus on the fact that all your other classes you aced with all ‘A’s! That’s freaking amazing! I would never be able to do that! If you get one thing wrong, if you ‘fail’ in your eyes, that’s okay. No one can be perfect all the time. It’s okay to need help. It’s not just for people who are struggling. This operates on the same principles as therapy. Therapy is not just for people who are drowning in their own emotions, it’s also to teach those people how to swim, or to find a boat. The same is true if you have to ask a professor a question, or enlist the skills of a tutor. You’re not stupid for doing those things, you’re learning more so you don’t make the same mistakes in the future.” Remy kissed Emile. “You’re not stupid, Emile, and you never have been stupid. ‘Stupid’ as a concept is just...well, it’s stupid. It makes no sense. And getting one or two questions wrong on a test doesn’t mean you’re stupid. It means you got all the other questions right, and you get to learn from those mistakes.”

Emile blinked. “What if I get all the questions wrong?” he asked, voice small.

“You’re still not stupid. You just need to stress less and maybe study harder next time. But I doubt that would happen, okay? You’re Emile freaking Thomas, and you can do anything you set your mind to. Don’t sell yourself short,” Remy said, giving Emile a crooked grin at the end.

Emile slowly removed Remy’s hands from his face and stared at the floor. “Honey, I appreciate the sentiment, but...I can’t just stop this. I’ve been doing it for fifteen years.”

“I know you can’t just stop it at will, honey, that’s not what I’m asking of you,” Remy said. “I’m asking you to go a little easier on yourself. You don’t have to be perfect. If you get everything right, more power to you, but beat yourself up a little less if you make a mistake. If you do nothing else, at least remind yourself that you have my permission to fail? That no one will hate you or think that you’re stupid if you mess up?”

“I...” Emile trailed off, actually considering Remy’s words, which Remy counted as a win. “Yeah, okay.”

“Yeah?” Remy asked.

“Yeah, I’ll try,” Emile said, not looking Remy in the eye, but his tone sounded hopeful. “It would be nice to not feel like everything has to be perfect, I think.”

“You’ll either find it incredibly liberating or incredibly terrifying, I think. Possibly both,” Remy said drily.

Emile snorted. “I’m willing to bet you’re right,” he said with a nod. “I’ve never really considered what it would be like to be allowed to fail. Even when we moved out of the college dorms, I didn’t think about the possibility of failing and not managing our money correctly, because failure just wasn’t an option. And I guess it saved us issues with rent and food and the like, but I’m willing to bet it did a number on my mental health too. Just a hunch.”

Remy laughed. “Honey, you’ve worked yourself sick before because you’re so focused on helping friends and going to work and keeping that perfect GPA. I know for a fact that it’s done a number on you not only mentally, but physically.”

“Okay, I see your point,” Emile said with a slightly sheepish smile. “That was me going a little overboard.”

“More than a little,” Remy said with a snort. “That in and of itself was a bit of a failure. Failure to take care of yourself.”

Emile went oddly quiet, before he softly went, “Oh.”

“Oh?” Remy asked.

“I have failed in the past, then,” Emile said. “And you didn’t change how you treated me. I mean, you might have called me stupid for pushing myself too far and getting myself sick, but you didn’t...treat me like I didn’t know what I was doing.”

“That’s because you do know what you’re doing,” Remy said. “Making one or two mistakes, or outright failing doesn’t mean you don’t know anything. It means you might need things explained to you in a different way, or just explained period, but you know way more than most people, Emile. I would argue you’re smarter than most twenty one year olds I’ve met. At least, academically. Street smarts are another story.”

“Look, that was one time I got lost on the way home from McDonald’s!” Emile defended. “That doesn’t mean I don’t have street smarts!”

Remy burst out laughing. “No, that means that you have no sense of direction, and no street smarts.”

“This coming from the guy who purposefully picked a fight with a guy who was buddies with linebackers from the football team,” Emile snorted. “That’s not exactly prime ‘street smarts’ either, mister.”

“Okay, okay, so we’re both dumbasses coming to street smarts! I still know more than you on that front!” Remy exclaimed.

“Oh, you wish!” Emile declared, “I’d bet actual money that I have more street smarts than you.”

“A fool and his money are soon parted,” Remy said with a wicked grin. “But fine. If you’re so certain, let’s get an impartial party to determine this. Next time we see Bernie, we’ll ask him. But be prepared to lose whatever money you’re betting!”

“We have joint bank accounts in all but name anyway,” Emile said with a shrug. “We regularly buy stuff for each other. What difference does it make if that money is in my account or yours?”

“You have a point,” Remy hummed. “Okay. How about we bet food? If you win, we get the stuff to bake cupcakes. If I win, we get the stuff for brownies. And the loser has to help bake the sweets that we’ll be eating for the next two weeks or so.”

“Oh, you are so on!” Emile exclaimed.

Remy grinned. Emile was hopefully going to go a little easier on himself, and Remy was going to get to eat brownies next week! This was great!

#if there's a place i could be #sanders sides fanfiction #remile #emile picani #ts sleep

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fandomsfeelsandfanfics · 5 years ago

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Professor Black/// Sirius Black x Reader

REQUEST(S): Hey sunshine, I was thinking about Sirius x reader Where she is a teacher in Hogwarts (wife of Sirius and godmother of Harry) and friend of Snape so, Harry send a latter to Black just to tell him how things have And Sirius is so jealous who goes there just to “greet” his godson (Sorry if this is so bad, English is not my first language) love u (anonymous)

WORD COUNT: ~1500

WARNING(S): none!

A/N: i am out here serving you guys domestic Sirius Black realness! Thanks for the request (your English is perfectly fine btw), and I’m really sorry but I just couldn’t find it within myself to write Severus into this (me and that man have beef). In this one we’re just gonna pretend Sirius never went to Azkaban. Anyways, enjoy.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

You marked the last question on the exam incorrect before setting it to the side and beginning to grade the next one in the pile. It was extremely tedious and you could name a thousand spells that would get it done easier, but there was some type of rule against that for whatever reason.

What was it that McGongall had said? “Not accurate, and prone to mistakes” and “not everything should be done with magic.” A bunch of bullocks, if anyone wanted to know what you thought.

But you followed the rules, nevertheless. You were at least proud to see that the students were performing well, for the most part. Ancient studies was by no means an easy class but they all seemed to be catching on fine.

There was a knock on the doorframe of the classroom, and without looking up you said, “Come in.”

“Are you sure? You look quite busy, I can come back,” came the reply. Your eyes bolted up from your exams.

Sirius Black stood leaning against the doorframe, smirking at you.

You were up from your seat in an instan, practically running over to him. “What are you doing here,” you asked, as you wrapped your arms around his neck.

He kissed you, a sensation that you’d both been missing desperately. He only came to visit you one weekend out of every month, and in the time between visits no amount of writing could compensate for actually being there with each other. Getting to see each other. To touch each other.

“Well, my favorite godson wrote me a letter and in it he was talking about his favorite teacher. Going on and on about Professor Black and I figured, well, I must meet this Professor myself and see what all the fuss is about.” You smirked, slapping him lightly in the chest.

“I’m kidding,” he continued. “Really I just missed you. I know I was supposed to come next week but I couldn’t wait.” He kissed you on the top of the head and then ventured further into the classroom. “It’s downright unfair that he gets to see you everyday and I have to wait an entire month. Do your students know how lucky it is that they get you as a teacher? I never had teacher’s as hot as you!”

You laughed, following him toward your desk. “Are you jealous of my students now?”

“Just the tiniest bit.”

“Well, that’s your own fault. You could be with me everyday if you just bloody moved.” Sirius rolled his eyes.

“That’s not happening.” You already knew that’s what he’d say because that’s what he’s been saying since you got this job. He absolutely refused to move this far out.

“So,” Sirius ventured, “what do you say I treat you for dinner?”

You looked over his shoulder at the pile of tests you had yet to grade. He followed your gaze and looked at the pile knowingly.

“Isn’t there a spell for that?” You walked around your desk, and sat down in the chair, gazing at the pile.

“There’s plenty but we aren’t allowed to use them. Because,” you cleared your throat and put on an obnoxiously thick British accent, “not everything is to be done with magic.”

Sirius burst out laughing, clutching his stomach in an attempt to contain himself. “Was that your McGonagall?” You smiled confidently and nodded. “It was bloody awful, never do it again.”

You rolled your eyes. “As if you could do better.”

“I certainly could but I don’t want to make you feel any worse than you already ought to after that.” He gave you a smirk, trailing around your desk to stand behind you.

His hands rested on your shoulders, massaging them slowly. One of your hands came up to rest on top of his. “You’ve been working so hard, I think you deserve a break,” he murmured. He brushed your hair to the side and planted a soft kiss on your neck.

“Mm, that is incredibly compelling.” You looked over your shoulder at him. He had his bottom lip between his teeth and that mischievous glint in his eyes that you knew too well.

You rose from your seat, wrapping your hand around his neck. His hands instinctively grasped your waist, pulling you against him. You came crashing together, a messy kiss full of nothing but longing.

Sirius sighed against you, pulling you up so that you were sitting on top of your desk. He laughed slightly as you yelped from the sudden movement.

His mouth went back to your neck and you were just praying he wouldn’t leave any marks. The last thing you needed was for one of your students to see that. His mouth came back up to your, pecking your lips softly.

“Merlin, I really have missed you.” He pushed his hair out of his face and smiled down at you.

“Really? I couldn’t tell.” He chuckled, offering you his hand so you could climb down from the desk. You took his hand and stood next to him, straightening your skirt. You cupped his cheek in your hand and kissed him again. “I miss you too, dear.”

You turned to fix the papers on your desk, neatly arranging them into two piles. Sirius’s hands wrapped around your hips as he stood close behind you. “Let me take you out for dinner,” he repeated. You leaned back, pressing your back into his chest and resting your head on his shoulder.

“That sounds lovely.”

You spent the remainder of the night nestled in a booth in the corner of Three Broomsticks. Sirius sat beside you as close as two people could be in public while still being decent. Sirius’ hand ran up and down your thigh under the table, perfectly innocently. He missed touching you so much that he’d take anything he could get.

You talked about whatever was new: Order of the Phoenix business, Hogwarts gossip, etc. Anything that you couldn’t quite fit in letters or simply preferred to talk about in person.

Sirius couldn’t keep his eyes off you and you felt the exact same. You never quite got used to being away from each other for long periods of time and each time you saw each other you tried to commit every detail of his face to memory as if this would be the last time you’d ever see him.

“Dad?” You both looked up. Harry stood at your table with Ron and Hermione on either side of them. He looked between the two of you in confusion. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming until next week.”

“Well, I decided to surprise your mum.” He kissed you on the cheek, and Harry groaned in embarrassment. He hated when you guys did PDA in front of him and it was absolutely mortifying when you did it in front of his friends.

“Right,” he replied, his cheeks quickly turning red. “Well, we better be off, it’s getting late.” He turned on his heels and was nearly about to leave before Sirius called after him.

“Not so quick.” Harry turned back around slowly. “What do you say you to getting brunch with your mum and I tomorrow morning?”

“Alright,” he returned quickly. “I’ll see you then.” He took off toward the door.

“Ten o’clock on the dot! Do not be late,” he called after him. You shot Sirius a look. You both knew that it was impossible to get that boy out of bed on time. And brunch wasn’t going to miraculously fix that.

“I won’t be,” he lied as he made his way through the restaurant.

“Bye Professor Black, Mr. Black,” Hermione called as she followed him.

Ron issued a quick “bye” and then they were all gone.

When the door closed behind them, Sirius looked over at you. “Do you think he’ll ever get over seeing us kiss?” He kissed you on the mouth with a coy grin.

“Not a chance,” you mumbled as you pulled away. “But I reckon he’ll just have to get used to it ‘cause we aren’t stopping.”

Sirius laughed against you as you pulled him into another quick kiss. “So,” you began, “how long do I have you for?”

“A week.” You both smiled at each other excitedly. It was rare that you got to spend that much time together. “I reckon we can put some good use to my time here, hmm?”

His hand ventured further up your thigh and you leaned into him. “I reckon we can.” You kissed him slowly, this time savoring the feeling of his skin against yours. There was a lot you could do in a week and you were determined to make fantastic use of his time.

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swimyghost · 4 years ago

Text

Be Careful

Sup bros, this is the first fanfic in what I’m calling the Shared Universe between my friends @wickedhellagoodtime @holyfandomsnazz @self-insert-nonsense

I hope you all enjoy.

College was boring. That wasn't an opinion but a fact to many. Although college was newly free humans and nonhumans’ first taste of freedom, the long lectures and the even longer list of assignments wore many down.

All except for one.

??????, or simply Six-Q to their three friends, was an odd student, to say the least. They were nonbinary, a target for simple teasing and major bigots alike, but they never fought back. No, they left the fighting to their 6'1 werewolf friend who wasn't afraid to use her natural strength again childish older teens. Six-Q also suffered from the fact that no one could identify if they were human or not. Their eyes were a bright neon purple, a color that matched the tips of their black hair. Their body was slender and tall, but not a giant compared to the real giants that occupied the campus. Six-Q was also quiet, very quiet, but it wasn't due to shyness or being anti-social. It was because their mouth was sewn shut with ebony thread.

"Why do you have that stupid thread anyway?" asked Six-Q's first-ever college friend, Riley.

Six-Q let an exhale out of their nose. Riley Stormcross was a stubborn, high-class woman who didn't take a simple 'no' for an answer. More simply, Riley was a well-off daddy's girl who hated simple explanations and wanted to pry into everyone's life. That wasn't to say she was completely full of negative traits, Riley was fiercely loyal to her friends but downright venomous to her enemies. Six-Q once saw her drunkenly fight off two frat boys because started calling them a queer. They were rather impressed after she won that battle while completely intoxicated and could walk stably enough to get more drinks.

"I told you, it’s complicated," Six-Q said, flashing signs underneath the rounded lecture hall table so the teacher won't notice.

"Yeah, well, I've been your friend for like, two years now? You have to tell me why." Riley huffed, crossing her arms over her teal crop top. Six-Q could vaguely make out a worn cartoon storm cloud with an angry face printed in the middle of her crop top.

"Please, I don't want to talk about it." Six-Q attempted to weasel their way out of the conversation. Their literally sealed lips were a sensitive topic they'd rather not think about.

"C'mon, it can't be that bad! Besides, I told you my secret technique on how to get neckbeards to tip more when-"

"Ms. Stormcross! Leave Mr. Q alone. Just because I seated you next to him to translate doesn't mean you have the right to speak with him whenever."

Oh, no was they only thought Six-Q had. All the rest of the students thought the same because nervous looks they had when they peered over at the electric blue-haired girl. Riley's left eye twitch. "They."

"Pardon?" the teacher said, sounding tired as if he had this conversation before.

"Six-Q uses they/them pronouns. We've been over this, like, what, six times, old man." Riley snapped.

"That's Professor Walker to you, young lady, and I don't appreciate your tone." Professor Walker's eyes narrowed into slits.

Riley's own sky blue eyes followed suit. "I'd be a lot happier if you actually tried to use the correct pronouns for once. Have you forgotten who my father is? One call to the dean and he'll have your teaching license suspended."

Barrett Stormcross was a meteorologist to the rest of the world. But to the nonhuman and human communities who knew about the world of witches, he was a powerful storm witch with the ability to predict and create most, if not all, storms. Six-Q hadn't met the man, but judging by the quiet gasps and the reddening face of the teacher, he was a big deal.

"I will not tolerate threats in my classroom, Ms. Stormcross! Leave, now!"

"Fine!" Riley shouted back. She began shoveling her textbooks and notebooks into her tote bag and stormed out of the classroom while giving Professor Walker a death glare. The hard slam of the wooden door shook the whole room. Six-Q swore another crack had been added to the list of cracks and missing wood fragments on the door. The lecture hall wasn't big, so Six-Q couldn't easily hide under the desk in shame, away from the stares that all the students, from the students sitting on the same level as Six-Q to those in the higher level desks.

"Uh, Mr. Wa-"

"Professor!" the teacher snapped. Six-Q could see that he was frantically trying to compose himself by brushing his white hair and beard and flicking off invisible pieces of dirt from his vest.

"Yeah, right. Professor Walker, what do we do about the deaf kid?"

Mute! Six-Q thought tartly. Professor Walker glared at them, causing the older teen to shrink into their seat.

"Well, guess he won't be able to participate, will he?"

No one dared corrected his misgendering, choosing to listen to the professor ramble on about psychology and the human mind once more. Six-Q could barely focus on Walker's words. A wave of anger was building in their chest. One that wasn't entirely their own.

Calm down, please! Six-Q silently panicked.

"And that concludes the topic on social cognition. Now, we have a test next week on Wednesday so study, all of you!"

Six-Q blinked back to the present noticing their classmates passing them without even looking in their direction. The only thing a student did that got any sort of reaction from Six-Q was one of their Fae classmates had flown directly over them, nearly hitting them in the back of the head. Six-Q quickly stuffed their books into their backpack and tried to race out of the classroom.

"Mr. Q."

Six-Q froze in the middle of the doorway. Classmates shoved them aside so they could leave the room. Six-Q slowly turned and nodded towards the Professor. The Professor took his glasses off his forehead and rested them on his podium.

"I understand you kids like forging new genders and titles to make yourselves feel special, but try to tell your friend to not have tantrums in class if her feelings get hurt."

Six-Q flashed a sideways okay hand underneath their chin. Professor Walker took that as a sign that Six-Q understood and waved his hand like he was waving away a stray dog. "You're dismissed."

Six-Q bowed their head then shuffled out into the crowded white tiled hall. They couldn't help but smile. That sideways okay was the sign for "asshole". Six-Q didn't like to swear, but Riley's and their roommate Rei's unfiltered mouths had rubbed off on them. Speaking of Riley, Six-Q knew they had to find the hot-headed girl or else a fight would ensue. They trudged through the slow-moving crowd then managed to stumble onto the campus grounds.

Despite it nearly being the middle of fall, the trees still held onto their bright green leaves. A peaceful atmosphere hung over the grounds as students and teachers alike walked around on the freshly cut grass. Six-Q could see two centaurs playing frisbee with each other, laughing as it spun in the air like a dancer. Harpies, Fae, Sylphs, and other winged nonhumans happily flew through the sky, laughing as a harsh, yet warm breeze blew over them and ruined one Fae girl's hair. Six-Q could see a study group taking place as well as a picnic date. They took a deep breath and let out a content sigh. This was what college was about, not transphobic old men.

It didn't take Six-Q to find Riley. She was sitting under a tree with one leg folded close to her chest and another laid straight on the grass. She had some wireless earbuds in listening to some type of loud music, so it wasn't a surprise when Six-Q didn't try to get her attention it failed. She was also hypnotized by something on her phone so it lessened Six-Q chances of gaining her attention. Finally, what got Riley to notice them was Six-Q lightly kicking her checkered slip-on shoes. At first, Riley furrowed her brows and glared up at the disturber of her peace. When she realized who had bothered her, her expression turned positive and she pulled the earbuds out.

"Hey, is class over? What did old man Walker say about me?"

"Nothing. But he didn't call one of the translators from the head office or anything so I had to sit in silence." Six-Q explained.

"That bastard!" Riley snarled. For once, Six-Q didn't feel like calming her down. In fact, they wanted to match her rage. Sadly, they had to be the reasonable one in the relationship or else Riley would've been put in jail for life already.

"But I did call him something on the way out." Six-Q continued, hoping Riley noticed their devious smile.

"What?"

Six-Q showed her the sign and she immediately burst into high-pitched laughter.

"Please tell me this isn't a joke! Please tell me you actually did that!" Riley asked through her laughs. Six-Q proudly nodded, causing her to laugh more. It took a while, but the witch finally stopped and caught her breath.

"I think I'm a bad influence on you, Q." Riley declared.

"Yep!" Six-Q replied.

Riley chuckled, then stood up, dusting some dirt off her shorts. "Hey, you don't have any classes after psychology, right?"

Six-Q, worried about where this was going, nodded. Without warning, Riley wrapped her arm around their's and set off towards the campus's exit.

"C'mon, let's go shopping!"

"Shopping?!" exclaimed Six-Q, being forced to spell it out on one hand due to the other being stuck in Riley's tight grip.

"Yeah! My monthly Patreon money just came in and I need some new clothes," Riley looked them up and down, "I think you need some too."

Six-Q just glared at Riley as they continued to be dragged away from campus. The guards watching the campus's gates barely batted an eye at them, sealing Six-Q's fate. They were stuck with Riley for the rest of the afternoon. They let the upper part of their body go slack and let their legs do all the hard work.

The town wasn't small per se, there was a considerable amount of people and even a large almost urban distract twenty minutes away from the college, but the main street in town gave off the coziest feeling. The old brick buildings had seen plenty of young, dumb students and they'd probably see many more. Children raced through the groups of adults to get into the nearby candy shop all while squealing in delight. Adults either sat on benches, happily chatting about the day, or popping out of stores carrying several bags full to the brim with clothes, jewelry, and other fancy new trinkets. Six-Q was so enamored by the bustling town life they didn't notice the looks people were giving both them and Riley. But Riley certainly did, as she death glared in the direction of anyone who dared look at the pair.

"C'mon, it's just down this block," Riley said, finally loosening her grip on Six-Q.

"But I need to get home, I have homework!" Six-Q pleaded.

It was a fruitless effort since Riley just shook her head. "You only live once, Q. You can't let things like homework and responsibility drag you down all the time."

"Is that why you needed to copy off all my notes and tests?"

"Silence those hands, mutey."

Six-Q silently celebrated their victory as the two turned the corner, nearly bumping into both a streetlamp and a couple. The man glared at them only to get flustered as Riley batted her eyelashes sweetly. As the couple disappeared around the corner, Six-Q heard the man's girlfriend chide him in a shrill voice. Riley seemed to get a kick out of that as she snorted loudly.

The sun was lazily setting behind a cluster of wispy clouds. Its glowing oranges and reds were shifting into blue and purple hues. Stores were having to turn on their lights to let passerby’s know they were still open. Six-Q felt a chilly breeze pass over them. They were left to wonder how Riley managed to stay warm while wearing only a crop top that showed her middle (which proudly held a shiny belly button ring) and jean shorts with tights under them. She wasn't even wearing socks.

Note to self: ask her if it's magic or simply not giving a darn!

"We're here!" Riley announced, jolting Six-Q back to their senses.

It was some type of shop dedicated to various popular clothing brands. Nike, Adidas, Levi's, Prada, and Lululemon were just some of the few brands that dressed the mannequins and shoe racks in the front window. Six-Q didn't even get a chance to look at the name before they were dragged into the store. A bell rang as the glass metal-framed door swung open.

"Oooh, Miranda~!" Riley called out in a singsong voice. "Guess who it is!"

A brunette woman wearing a black turtleneck stepped out into the open, hidden behind a rack of pants. She squealed in delight and rushed over to hug the equally excited Riley.

"Oh my stars, Riley, I haven't seen you in, like, forever!" the girl, Miranda said, after letting Riley go from their shared bear-hug. "What's happening in the life of the coolest witch I know."

"Ah, nothing much. Got kicked out of class today and my boyfriend fucking cheated on me." Riley said. Their voice was bitter at the end. Miranda gasped in surprise.

"Really? With who?"

"Sarah."

"Sarah McLaughlin?! Isn't she-"

"One of my exes, yep."

Miranda's eye grew to the size of dinner plates. "I can't believe it. And she was just in my store yesterday! I swear, if she comes back I'm going to give her a piece of my mind."

Riley casually waved her right hand, as if the brush away the idea. "Don't. A hussy like her doesn't deserve your time. Besides, it happened over a week ago. I'm over it."

Six-Q blinked. It was only two days ago Six-Q had to walk to Riley's duplex to comfort the drunken witch, who was having a complete emotional breakdown over the breakup. They didn't question how an underage girl like her even got two bottles of tequila (probably from one of her sketchy drinking buddies), just sat there in her bathroom rubbing circles on her back and holding her hair as Riley both sobbed and vomited into the toilet. They decided that they weren't going to embarrass her by sharing such a personal experience. Miranda's eyes trailed up to Six-Q. She ogled him for a few seconds before breaking out into a grin.

"Oh my, hello~. Are you the new boyfriend?"

Six-Q cringed. But because the idea of being romantically involved with Riley was a terrible thing, but the fact the clearly oblivious woman used the term "boyfriend".

Can I be gendered correctly for once?

Riley instantly came to their defense. "Actually, Six-Q uses they/them pronouns and they're nonbinary. Also, not my partner. They're too much of a softy to actually deal with my way of flirting."

Six-Q decided they also wouldn't mention the first time Riley and they met it was in Psychology 101 and Riley was trying to seduce them and get their notes. How they managed to become friends after that series of awkward events still confused them to this day.

Miranda's expression from joy to panic. "Oh my Gosh, I'm so so SO sorry! Is there anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable? I'm the store owner so I can gift you some coupons or-"

Six-Q held up their hand and flashed a couple of signs at Riley.

"They said they're fine and that there is no need to worry." Riley noticed the confusion on Miranda's face. "They're mute so they communicate through ASL. They are actually the reason why I learned the language and why I continue to take psychology even though the professor is a piece of shit."

"Mute? Oh, what happen-" Miranda noticed the thread sewn through Six-Q's lips and immediately went quiet. An awkward silence filled the store until Riley spoke up.

"I actually got paid recently and wanted to get some cute new clothes. Got any recommendations?"

Miranda instantly brightened up. "Oh, yes. Here, I know a pair of jeans that would just look amazing on you!"

The store owner pulled the witch away, leaving Six-Q to explore the building on their own. It was a mix of rustic charm and contemporary with the front count and walls being made from real wood while the shelves, racks, and other exhibiting items were something akin to an IKEA display. The lights the dangled from the ceiling were rectangle, adding to the modern feel. The mannequins were posed in ways that felt almost too real for Six-Q. Instead of focusing on the lifeless figurines, Six-Q decided to browse the clearance aisle. They were light on cash so they were hoping to find something in their price range.

You'd have more money if you weren't a coward. A voice hissed in their head. Six-Q frowned but kept searching.

It wasn't their fault that they struggled to hold a job. When all the misgendering, stares, lack of translators, and just judgmental people got to them, Six-Q's automatic next move was to flee. Were they a coward? Yeah, probably. But they suffered through worse so if they were in desperate need of cash, Six-Q could probably ask their friends Rei and Trixie for a position at their job.

Would Marty even want someone like me as one of his... Dancers? Six-Q thought, shivering as he remembered the merman club owner's sharp gaze.

"Hey, Q! Find anything good?"

Six-Q found a pair of pants that were reasonably priced and held them up from Riley to see. She nodded her head, "Nice, dude."

The enby craned their neck to see what their friend had bought. It was several brightly colored shirts, hoodies, and pants, and shorts. If Six-Q could, they would've whistled in both amazement and the fact they were thoroughly impressed.

The Patreon gig must be seriously well.

"Will that be all for today?" Miranda asked in her friendliest customer service voice.

"Yep!" Riley said. Her friend nodded with a smile.

The two paid for their own clothing then stepped outside after saying their goodbyes. The sun had sunk a little lower, but there was still enough daylight where it couldn't be considered night yet. Riley pouted at Six-Q's single bag.

"You only got one thing?"

"I have to save money and I don't have that much anyway," Six-Q said.

"Well, I know some places you can get some nice and cheap clothes!" Riley had all the enthusiasm back in her voice.

"Wait, I-"

Riley silenced them by covering their hands with her own. She started to pull them down the street with an adventurous smile.

"C'mon, Q! While the sun still shines!"

Six-Q had a bad feeling growing in their gut that this would be a long night

-----

Six-Q stumbled out of what was hopefully the last store. Although several bags were in their grasp, most of them were not theirs. They had only purchased two other sets of pants and three graphic t-shirts plus a new makeup pallet, lip gloss, and eyeliner. Riley, however, acted like the old British Empire and sought to claim everything she had touched. From lipstick to perfume to clothes from the latest clothing trend, Riley decided to snatch up everything. Six-Q was worried that her card was going to get declined at some point, but that fear never came to fruition.

The pair started to make their way down the streetlight lit street. The sun had completely set and was replaced with an ethereal half-moon and twinkling stars. Six-Q gazed up worryingly at the sky. They stomped their feet on the ground to get Riley's attention. She looked up from her phone and Six-Q could see she was editing a selfie of herself.

"Yeah?" she said.

Six-Q tried to sign but the bags got in the way. Riley noticed and swiftly took some from them. The enby then asked. "It's late, Riley."

Riley shrugged. "It’s only 8:45. Don't tell me it's past your bedtime."

Six-Q frowned. "I need to finish some homework."

"You can do that later. Besides, aren't you hungry?"

Six-Q cocked their head. "I don't need to eat, remem-"

Riley grinned. "Great, because I'm starving! I know a cafe not too far from here! They have the best eclairs!"

Once again, the pair rushed off down the street. Six-Q's feet were beginning to hurt from all this running.

It can't possibly get anyway worse than this.

The cafe, as Riley promised, was not far at all as it was just around the corner. It was an unassuming little shop with it literally being a corner store. Riley was the first one inside leaving Six-Q to scramble behind her. The interior design wasn't something to rave home about. Common fake wood circular tables and chairs were stationed on one side of the cafe with the display case filled with all types of wonderful desserts and the cashier on the other. The cashier clearly was a young girl, probably sixteen at the most, and looked incredibly bored in her green apron and white shirt. It was the customers in front of the counter that got Six-Q concerned.

One was a brown-haired young man with brown hair and eyes who was digging through his wallet not paying attention to the people around him. He wore a dress shirt and pants along with a tie, clearly showing he was someone vaguely important. The man next to him worried Six-Q the most. It was a curly-haired ginger man whose hair basically covered his barely visible emerald green eyes. He wore a gaudy black shirt and black pants. A star with neon stripes coming off it was placed in the center of the shirt and had several multi-colored sparkles coming off it. Six-Q wanted to leave but Riley was the one to get the first words out. "Jesus fucking Christ why are you here?"

Both men turned around. The first one seemed surprised to see the blue-haired witch while the ginger one was both excited and mesmerized.

"Really? Is that the magnificent Riley and-" he screamed and pointed at Six-Q, "THE DEMON!"

Six-Q winced at the sudden noise while the well-dressed man groaned. "Tobias, please. We're in public."

"It’s Tobi and he's gonna hurt Riley!" Tobi whined, trying to put up a tough demeanor.

Six-Q wanted to snap. Can't someone gender me just this once?!

Riley was quick to snap back. "Please, don't even try that Alpha Male shit at me, Tobi. I've seen you cry for hours over that stupid robot show."

Tobi gasped loudly. "Star Pilots of Galactia is not stupid!"

"Also, the 80s called? They want their fucking rancid shit back." Riley continued.

"I'm on break from work, casually getting a donut with my cousin who just got off a shift from his lame job, and now I'm stuck between a seductress and a demon! Riley, you need to get away from him! He's dangerous!" Tobi cried, pointing at Six-Q. They could feel hot rage bubbling in their chest.

"It’s they, you waste of oxygen and witch talent!" Riley snarled, taking a step forward.

"You're a powerful and beautiful witch, my dear! Can't you feel his negativity?"

"I swear upon ALL the Gods if you compliment me or insult my friend again I'll snap your fucking neck."

"Oh yeah! Well, why don't I just summon some plants and-"

"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" a feminine voice shouted.

Six-Q, Riley, and Tobi turned to the cashier who nervously shook her head. Then they turned to the only other person in the room. The cousin looked completely stunned with his head hung low. His hand was clutched around his throat. Six-Q noticed his entire body was quivering. Tobi took a few steps forward, clearly considered. "Hey, Rowan, are you."

"Tobias, get in the car." He responded. His voice was ice cold.

"But-"

"Now!"

Tobi stammered for a bit then rushed out of the building. Rowan pulled out a twenty and slammed it on the table. "Keep the change." He didn't even look at Six-Q or Riley as he stepped out into the night. Six-Q felt a shiver run down his spine.

"C-Can I he-help you?" the cashier nervously asked.

"Yeah... Yeah, you can." Riley finally answered.

Riley ordered her Caffe mocha and some type of cake and éclair. Six-Q just followed them out of the store without saying anything. The two walked in silence for a long time. The streets were almost completely empty except for a few stragglers who were hanging around bars and small diners. Six-Q pulled out their phone pocket to check the time. 9:01. They exhaled out of their nose then tapped Riley on the shoulder. She must have been deep in thought because she jumped at the touch.

"Sorry." Six-Q apologized.

"I-Its fine just..." she sighed. "Look, I know Rowan more than you do. He's sensitive about his voice because he's... You know... Transitioning. Just, don't mention it to people, okay?"

Six-Q frowned. "Do you think that lowly of me?"

"Of course not!" Riley countered. "I just know how people are and... Listen, my relationship with Tobi and Tobi himself fucking sucks but I don't want Rowan to get in the crossfire, okay?"

The enby college student just nodded. They didn't want to get into Riley's messy relationship history any more than they had to.

"Listen, I think it's time I head home," Six-Q said, just wanting this night to end.

"Sure, sure. Hey, I'll walk with you to-" Riley then remembered who Six-Q shared an apartment with and scowled. "Never mind, I need to get home too."

Six-Q wasn't going to argue. They just handed over Riley's shopping bags, waved goodbye, then set out on their own.

The walk home took twenty minutes but Six-Q wasn't too concerned. The neighborhood they lived in was relatively safe with only a few minor incidents. They also weren't scared about being mugged. If they learned anything from growing up around people like Tobi they all feared Six-Q's unnatural eye color. They liked to imagine a scenario where someone tried to threaten them or their friends and all they had to do to become the hero is to flash their eyes like Medusa. They let out a happy snort. They barely had any muscle mass so fantasies like that one were the only way they could be strong.

You know that's not true, kid.

Quiet, you.

Six-Q finally made it to their old brick apartment and entered. They noticed the landlord was not tending to the front lobby area. They figured the elderly woman had to be asleep so just went over to the mail slots to see if they had mail. They opened their compartment and only a letter from a company they never heard of was there. Slowly, Six-Q crept up the creaky stairs while tearing open the letter. They climbed another flight then finally made it to their apartment. The moment they stepped in, Six-Q tossed the letter. It was talking about they owned money after the recent car wreck they got in. Six-Q didn't even own a car.

The décor in the apartment would've scared most people away. There was a giant picture of a naked woman that Six-Q’s roommate took plus several punk art pieces that showed violence and people flipping each other off. The skull of a deer hung over the blood-red couch. The flat-screen TV'S stand had chokers, knives, rings, gemstones, and other oddities scattered on the top and on the shelves. The item Six-Q was most proud of was the red rug with black skulls that laid beneath the coffee table was sewn by Six-Q themselves. Six-Q passed through the living room and ignored the mostly brown and white kitchen. Although most people would've been turned away by the vulgarity and creepiness, Six-Q and their roommate embraced it. Six-Q thought it was better than most scarcely decorated modern buildings.

Speaking of scarcely decorated, Six-Q entered their small, barely decorated bedroom. The twin-sized bed only had standard black sheets with a nearby bedside table only containing a lamp and a clock. The nearby desk in the corner only held notebooks, textbooks, a sewing machine, and a laptop; also a lamp rested on the top of the desk along with a box Six-Q knew that contained makeup. Six-Q got to work put their new clothes into their antique wardrobe and setting their backpack beside their bed. The rational part of the student knew they should start working on homework, but after all the running around and high emotions, Six-Q just wanted to nap.

They leapt onto their bed, only kicking off their shoes after they landed. They nestled under the covers and quickly fell asleep. However, it only felt like a few minutes before they heard muffled swearing and someone struggling to open the door. Six-Q knew it wasn't an intruder, just their roommate. Judging by how hard they were struggling, they must be had a bad night at the club.

I must tell them how much I wish I could have their patience.

After stretching and cracking their neck, Six-Q slid out of bed. They winced at how cold the floor was and left the room. They got excited when they heard the door finally open. They speed-walked down the hall, ready to greet one of their closest friends on roommates. Before they could, they immediately stop dead in their tracks.

Rei de la Mora, Six-Q's roommate, was wearing nothing but a red and gold sea-themed bikini that was twice below her size and a pair of red stilettos. As they hung up her coat, Six-Q watched in horror as one of the cups holding up her rather large breasts started to slip. Before anything else could happen, Six-Q started to slam their hand against the wall. Rei jumped, causing her chest to bounce but, luckily, the bikini continued to do its job. Six-Q was sweating uncontrollably. This entire situation felt wrong.

Rei, meanwhile, simply adjust the bikini top and bottom. Then, they casually raised up a hand. "Sup. How was your day."

That sent Six-Q throwing themselves back against the wall. Their spine painfully was the body part that first made contact, leading them to fall on their hands and knees. They heard Rei shout something, but they half scrambled, half crawled their way back to their room, and locked the door. Six-Q was panting heavily. While Six-Q respected Rei's work, it still felt wrong to see her like that. Then the knocking started.

"Goddamn it, Six, not again! You've seen me in much worse!"

Six-Q backed away from the door. Rei has both the power of a werewolf and natural body strength on her side. If she wanted, she could kick that door down.

Six-Q rushed over to their desk, ripped open a notebook, quickly wrote something down, then tore out the piece of paper. They slid it under the door and awaited Rei's response.

They heard Rei sigh. "For Christ's sake, Six, it's just a bikini. Besides, you're not a perv like all those other weirdos."

Once again, Six-Q wrote a note and slid it under the door. Once again, Rei sighed, "Fine, alright, I'll change. Happy?"

The enby student happily slid another piece of paper on the door. Six-Q listened the Rei's footsteps grow farther and farther away and sighed in relief. They remembered their homework needed to be completed. Six-Q went to work while they waited for their friend to change. It didn't take long as Rei didn't hesitate to start banging on their door.

"Come on out, purist. I'm decent."

Six-Q slipped their work back into the bag then slung it over their shoulder. They opened the door and saw Rei wearing a tight-fitting punk band t-shirt and black sweatpants.

"Better, Lord of Woman's Purity," Rei smirked.

"It's not like that," Six-Q explained. "I just feel like… We shouldn't be that open with each other yet."

"You act like we're dating and, I should remind you, I'm a lesbian." Rei ruffled Six-Q's hair. "Hey, you promised we'd watch To Catch A Killer together. And don't use homework as an excuse, you can do it while we watch."

Rei didn't drag Six-Q into the living room but had the authoritative aura to make Six-Q follow anyway. The two sat on the couch, Six-Q sitting cross-legged while answering the question of how the brain's thoughts influence feelings and how do people interpret other feelings and emotions and the social cues that follow and Rei with her feet on the coffee table. The pair were quiet for the most part, only the TV and Six-Q's light pencil scratching. It was Rei who finally spoke up.

"So, you didn't come back after school. What happened?"

Six-Q set their pencil down. Riley and Rei were the definitions of bitter exes, they needed to be careful not to mention her name. "I decided to go shopping. Got some new pants and shirts plus some new makeup. You can help me practice eyeliner like we've been talking about.".

Rei didn't stop the TV, just gave their roommate a sideways glance. "You went shopping?"

Six-Q cocked their head. "Is that a problem?"

"Six, I was the one that had to convince you to buy new clothes. Twice. You suddenly decided to go on an hours-long shopping trip by yourself is… Weird."

"Well, I finally took your words to heart and-"

"It was Riley, wasn't it?" Rei interrupted.

Six-Q flinched as if they were just slapped. Rei's voice was cold, just like Rowan's was. Oh God, they were going to have to explain what happened at the café. Six-Q started to explain but Rei raised their hand.

"No, it's fine. It's alright. I don't care," Rei said, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself then talk to Six-Q. "So, anything… Big happen."

Six-Q explained to Rei what happened at the café, excluding the part about Rowan. She ground her teeth together in a snarl. "Goddamn it, Six, why don't you let me kick that stoner's ass."

"Because you'll get arrested and fired," Six-Q replied.

"Nah, Marty and Hydna would bail me out and Marty can't fire me. I'm his dancer because of these-" she flexed her muscles, "-and these." She lifted her breasts with her hands. Six-Q nearly fell off the couch in shock. Rei grabbed them just before they fell. "Will you calm down, you big baby."

The two shared a smile before Rei frowned. "Can I share something with you, Six?"

Six-Q nodded, giving Rei the okay to speak. "I know you like Riley and that she is one of your closest friends, but you saw how she treated me and you see how she treats others." Rei rested a hand on their friend's shoulder. "Just… Be careful, okay?"

Six-Q nodded once again. Rei held her gaze for a few moments then let her hand fall to their side. "Finish your homework. I don't want you failing college."

The two sat in silence, watching Mike Arntfield solve cold cases and catch the bad guy, all while Rei's words rang through Six-Q's head.

I'm always careful

Yeah, right

I wasn't talking to you and I don't want to talk to you.

Six-Q's head was silent and that worried them.

#oc #ocs #original characters #original content #original story #transphobia tw #misgendering tw #transgender #lgbtqiia+

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enchantedisabella · 5 years ago

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Why Annabeth is not Hermione 2.0

I’ve been wanting to write this post for a long time, because so many people compare Annabeth Chase to Hermione Granger when they’re really nothing alike. Yes, they’re both the smart, female best friends of the main protagonists, but that doesn’t make their personalities identical. Here are my reasons why.

Annabeth has ADHD and dyslexia and is unfocused at times. Hermione has no disorders we know about and is attentive in class. I understand that Percabeth in high school is a very popular headcanon among the pjo fandom, and Annabeth is indubitably ridiculously clever, but she is NOT going to be raising her hands every second of every day in class and she definitely won’t pass every single subject without even trying. I’d be very surprised if she could stay focused for a full lesson. Honestly, I’d expect her to be labelled as even more of a ‘troubled kid’ than Percy, because Percy has spent years in mortal school while Annabeth hasn’t. It would be Annabeth, not Percy, being the one desperately trying to pay attention but the first to lose focus halfway through. Hermione, as we all know, is the exact opposite, and hates when people disrupt classes.

Hermione is a rule-follower at heart. Annabeth is not. We all remember that time when Hermione Badass Granger kept a woman in a jar for a year, right? However, we also remember the numerous times she’s threatened to report Harry and Ron for breaking the rules- mainly in the earlier books, when their friendship isn’t as developed, but she still acts scandalised whenever rule-breaking is brought up. Hermione will break the rules, because she’s a Gryffindor at heart and she will do anything to protect her friends (trap Rita Skeeter in a jar, report the Firebolt to McGonagall because it might have been cursed), but that doesn’t mean she necessarily enjoys it. Annabeth is a different story altogether. In fanon, it’s usually her who is expected to restrain Percy from doing something stupid (like Hermione and Harry’s canon friendship), but in actual pjo canon, it’s the other way around. Annabeth Chase is smart and clever but she’s also prideful, impulsive, and downright reckless, while Hermione is most definitely not. Annabeth will use any excuse to break the rules and sees no point in regulations if they don’t make any sense, and thinks that authority figures should earn her respect. Hermione basically hero-worships all authority figures unless they’re really bad (eg. Snape and Umbridge). It takes a lot for her to rebel against someone in a higher position than her, and she will willingly give teachers her respect even if they haven’t earned it yet.

Hermione is book smart. Annabeth is street smart. I’m not saying that Annabeth doesn’t like to read, because it’s clearly stated in The Lightning Thief or Sea of Monsters (I can’t remember which) that Annabeth reads so much that Percy forgot that she also had dyslexia. However, in school aus, Annabeth would probably not perform that well on tests and she would absolutely not join spelling bees and win, or have we as a fandom collectively forgotten that in SoM, Percy said that Annabeth could have spent the whole night trying to spell ‘cyclopes’ due to the fact that she kept messing up the letters? And if I hear any reasons like ‘they removed her dyslexia because it didn’t fit their fanfiction, and there’s no need to be so pressed about it’, that’s very fucking ableist, for one, and defeats the whole purpose of Rick Riordan (bless him) making the book’s protagonists have ADHD and dyslexia for his son. Also, it says a lot about fans trying to make Annabeth into Hermione 2.0 when she’s very much not, and then fooling themselves into thinking that the girls’ personalities are carbon copies of each other. Hermione is repeatedly described as the brightest witch of her age- she’s deductive, rational and calculated. She has no problem paying close attention to detail. She spurts out so much information in the books that she has been repeatedly compared to ‘swallowing the textbook’, courtesy of Ron. I can’t even imagine how much she would have to memorise to be compared to that. Annabeth would not be capable of that, nor would she even want to be. She would not see the point in memorising facts, because Annabeth Chase learns things by doing, and Hermione Granger learns things from books. In the Philosopher’s Stone, Hermione is distraught at their first flying lesson because she can’t learn it from a book first. You know who wouldn’t be? Hands-on, street smart, capable Annabeth.

Annabeth values knowledge more than Hermione does. Some of you may not understand why this is, but Annabeth is a daughter of Athena and Hermione is a Gryffindor. They have very different learning strategies and if they ever met, they’d be nothing alike and probably wouldn’t even see eye to eye. Hermione canonically scoffs at ‘books and cleverness!’ both in the movies and the books of the Philosopher’s Stone. Hermione is Sorted into Gryffindor because she values bravery over everything else- even knowledge. Annabeth has always put knowledge first. That’s not to say that Annabeth Who-Took-A-Knife-For-Percy Chase isn’t brave, but she values knowledge above else and she’s willing to fight dirty to get it (as is Hermione, but that’s beside the point). It’s understandable that Annabeth would put knowledge above bravery, because of her parentage. Hermione’s choice is also understandable, given the circumstances, and it’s noteworthy that she repeatedly chooses friendship over cleverness in the series just because she knows its importance. Just to reiterate: the girls are different people. Don’t put them as madly competing in your Hogwarts x Camp Half-Blood fanfictions. Do you honestly think Annabeth would compete with Hermione for the best grades in History of Magic, or that Hermione would ever try her hand at sword-fighting and archery? I don’t think so. This might seem like it’s contrasting my point, but Annabeth probably isn’t going to be interested in most of the lessons while they’re taking notes in a classroom without any hands-on work. She doesn’t function like that. She would do well in Charms or Transfiguration and positively shine in Quidditch, not History of Magic or Muggle Studies or Divination. She values knowledge she deems useful, and the only way for knowledge to be deemed useful by her standards is if she used what she’s learnt in practical spells and not note-taking.

Hermione has flexible moral principles. Annabeth’s are set in stone. Hermione is a very complex character. She repeatedly chastises Harry and Ron for breaking school rules on a daily basis, but it was her idea to go through with the Polyjuice Potion in CoS, her decision to keep Rita Skeeter in a jar, her decision to use a Time-Turner to get to all her classes on time. (Well, she also had to appeal to Cornelius Fudge through McGonagall, but it was her idea.) Hermione’s moral code is flexible, to say the least. She won’t break it for mundane days, but will for special occasions, and that’s because she knows that desperate times call for desperate measures. None of her moral code is written in stone. There is always a point where she justifies her behaviour by decreeing that the situation needs it. There is no line that she isn’t willing to cross depending on how bad the situation is. Hermione has a justifiable reason for breaking rules, and though she doesn’t enjoy it, like I said earlier, she will do it of her own accord if the situation calls for it. She has no point where she says to herself, ‘Okay, this is one rule that I’m not going to break no matter what.’ This girl, this brilliant, ruthless girl, is willing to cross every single line if she absolutely must, and that is why she is not at all like Annabeth Chase. Annabeth Chase, whose principles are set in stone. Annabeth Chase, who is prideful and stubborn and who does not compromise her values no matter what. Annabeth is not ruthless; Annabeth is not cruel. She is the embodiment of- not exactly goodness, but fairness and equality. She gives everyone what they deserve. She literally told a Sphinx off for not giving riddles that make you think, but instead asking questions that you just need a certain amount of knowledge of facts to answer. Let that sink in, because it’s the most perfect example I have. Hermione Granger would have answered them quick as a flash and moved on, because it’s an easy way out, she knows all the answers anyway, and she’d probably treat the Sphinx like an authority figure whose test she has to pass, not change. Annabeth Chase, instead, gets offended and demands riddles that make you think because she will not compromise her principles for anyone or anything, and places so much faith in her intelligence (which is why she values it so much) that even if the questions will be harder, she thinks that it’s downright insulting that they aren’t already. She takes it as an insult to her intelligence. Hermione is flexible; Annabeth is hard as stone.

Annabeth has the makings of a hero; Hermione has the makings of a villain. Sure, Hermione started SPEW and cares for the welfare of creatures and is portrayed as sensitive time and time again, but if she believes that what she is doing is right, she will use wrong methods to get to her goal. After all, when the greater good is at stake, who wouldn’t use less morally superior methods to get to it faster? What’s the murder of a few people who deserved it- maybe Bellatrix or Umbridge- when a greater number of lives can be saved? Hermione is unnervingly logical and although she is sensitive, she is not weak. She might feel pity for Sirius’s experience in Azkaban, because he’s ‘good’, in her mind, but would she feel for Bellatrix, who ‘deserved’ it? And of course Bellatrix did deserve it, but Hermione conveniently ignores that they went through the same experience because only Sirius deserves her pity, because he’s good. Hermione wouldn’t sacrifice Sirius for the greater good, but she would sacrifice Bellatrix, and Annabeth wouldn’t, because as I’ve said, Annabeth does not have a flexible moral code. Annabeth would not stand by and sacrifice Bellatrix, because she is still a person in Annabeth’s eyes, but Hermione would, because there is no line she wouldn’t cross. As long as Hermione thinks that what she’s doing is right, she would condone any action to achieve her goal. I think we all know enough about history to know that that is terrifying as fuck. Hermione, under different circumstances, could be a villain; Annabeth would be the hero and do the right thing no matter what.

These two girls are so inherently, intrinsically different that I have trouble wondering why anyone would think that they were anything alike just because they’re smart and friends with the protagonist. There are probably more points, but I’m tired and it’s a school day and I can’t think of anything more to add on. Anyway, thanks for reading this and I hope nobody makes the stupid, stupid mistake of saying that they are in any way similar after reading this, because I could honestly relate Annabeth more to Ron than I could to Hermione.

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pillow-ghost-nan · 5 years ago

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SPAMANO FANFICTION REC LIST

Because I’m a spamano trash and I think I’ve read way too many fanfictions than I should have.

I will try to keep this list updated. If you know some good story that isn’t here let me know. Also if there’s anything wrong with the sources feel free to message me too

Multichapter:

All of our flaws by lastdreamofmysoul

Antonio is a man whose world revolves around anyone but himself. Lovino is a man with dreams bigger than a job behind a drugstore counter. Antonio is broken; Lovino is incomplete. Will a chance meeting lead them to mending their cracks and finding their missing pieces? Human AU, trigger warning for self-harm. - Ongoing

Credo by Cameron Kennedy

AU, 1502. Fueled by revenge, Lovino Vargas hasn't failed an assassination job yet - but when a new Spanish captain comes to Rome, killing the unorthodox Antonio Carriedo might just be the death of him.

The lemon tree by StarsMadeinHeaven

AU Lovino didn't want to be a slave in that scary mansion. He needed to break free. The fight for independence, however, is a difficult path, and falling in love with the man that destroyed his life doesn't make things any easier.

This fanfiction is just absolutely beautiful. Everything is just 10/10

The Many Personalities of Spain by Writer-Girl-19

England casts a spell to rid himself of Spain. As expected it goes wrong; leaving Romano to deal with the many personalities of Spain. That sounds like a normal day for Romano, right? It would be if the personalities not had their own personifications. - Ongoing

And the Birds Sing No More by Burlesque Romantique

"Don't ever leave me." Lovino said nothing. He allowed the tense heaviness to settle among his shoulders, tighten his lungs, and spread between the space from where he stood to where Antonio was seated lethargically. Antonio's gaze sharpened. Lovino, inclining his head slightly, whispered, "I won't." Spamano, AU

Bottoms Up! by Sunny Day in February

Follow Lovino on his weird and, well, at least quite interesting trip around Europe in order to find out some of the greatest secrets ever about himself, Europe, tomato-shaped alarm clocks and the past of his lovely, but complicated Spanish partner.

This one is just hilarious. It is a bit silly but will definitely make you laugh from the beginning to end.

Softness and Light by betka23

AU. Odrzucany przez bliskich licealista Lovino nieoczekiwanie otrzymuje pomoc od swojego nauczyciela. Choć nie chce się do tego przyznać, coraz bardziej zależy mu na uczuciach Antonia. Spamano, zawiera także lekki FrUK i GerItę.

Translation: Lovino is a high school student rejected by his relatives. All of the sudden he receive help from his teacher, Antonio. Even though he doesn’t want to admit that he cares more and more about Antonio’s feelings. Spamano. FrUK and GerIta mentioned.

So this one is in Polish. If you don’t mind reading with a Google Translate help then I really recommend it. It’s short but it’s an amazing story.

Secret Tunnels from Madrid to Sicily by PrincessSmuttButt

When Antonio Fernández Carriedo begins work as a professor at a prestigious university in Britain, one of his students, a Sicilian boy who goes by the name Romano, immediately catches his eye. He is a clearly gifted writer, who closes himself off in the wake of a dark and painful history. Even wrapped in his darkness, pushing everyone away, Toni finds himself determined to bring out the potential within Romano...They drag each other into a passionate, inevitable affair--doomed, they know, to end in flames.

A very beautiful and mature story. It’s also amazingly written. I cried like little shit at the end.

Tesoro Mio by spinyfruit

Antonio’s the charming, handsome farmer with an infuriating Spanish accent, and Lovino is the mysterious wine entrepreneur who comes and goes. When Antonio falls in love, he throws society, expectations, and religion to the wayside, but can a strict Catholic like Lovino do the same?

We the Dreamers by TheGoliathBeetle

New York City, 1940: Antonio is a recently arrived refugee from Spain, a scarred soldier with firm political convictions. For Lovino, everything is pointless and nothing ever lasts. The two of them live, love and dream desperately, as World War Two threatens to take it all away.

Greasy by evetnt

Summer time 1955, a mechanic equally as hot as the weather had been fixing up Lovino's car for what felt like forever and their fascination with each other grows passed auto-shit and sandwiches even as the pressure from Lovino's over-protective grandfather and greaser/soc gangs rise. -ongoing

Tight Rope by TheFreakZone

Rich, spoiled kid Lovino Vargas hates pirates. Pirate captain Antonio Carriedo hates rich, spoiled kids. None of them ever thought they could feel something different from hatred towards one another. However, Fate seems to have different plans for them, and twists their lives in unexpected ways. -ongoing

Breathless in the Atmosphere by Spinyfruit

Antonio only needed money for marble. He needed to make his art. And a chance encounter on the subway offers him a job as a male escort. It was just for the money. He could stop anytime he wanted to. Really.

The Space Between the Balconies by Spinyfruit

There's a space between the balconies, where glances are stolen, smoke flies, and dreams wander. Lovino draws the blinds, and Antonio opens his windows. They see each other sometimes.

Left me crying like a little baby. This is one of my favourite spamano fanfiction. It’s short but absolutely powerful and touching

Dance with me by StarsMadeinHeaven

AU. Lovino Vargas started taking tango lessons completely by accident. Who would have thought that one day he wouldn't mind those hands roaming over his body? That he would be dancing with his teacher as if there was no one in the room but the two of them? -ongoing

Bésame Mucho by George deValier

WW2 AU. Lovino Vargas only ever wanted something exciting to happen in his boring, everyday Italian village existence. He never expected war, Resistance, love, passion, treason, or a cheerful, confusing, irritatingly attractive Spanish freedom fighter. -ongoing

Ok, I am very aware that everyone knows about this fanfiction but still I couldn’t resist

Numbered Lithograph by youaremarvelous

AU Spain x Romano. When Lovino starts attending art school with his brother he finds his most important lesson doesn't come from his professors, but from a culinary student at a sister school: sometimes the flaws hold the beauty.

Good Vibrations by The Cilantro Family

Lovino wasn't a fun guy to talk to, he knew this very well. When he signed he was speaking, not putting on a show. Usually his expression represented what he was feeling, rather than what he was saying. But this guy, for some reason, was different. He acted like he wanted to talk to Lovino even though Lovino had nothing interesting to say, and no interesting way to say it.

Oh boy, this fanfiction is one of the best things that happened to me. Absolutely recommend

One shots/ Two shots/ short stories:

Before the Snow Falls by Spinyfruit

Lovino, jersey number nine, right winger. He was ready to pass the ball, ready to set up the win, but Antonio, opposite team, center fielder, was ready too. Someone thought, and someone didn't, and they crashed. Hard. A few months later, Lovino's on crutches, Antonio has scholarships, and they have to deal with the aftermath of what happened. —Spamano, two-shot.

Liar by starshards

Spain cannot resist Romano, even though he hates himself for it.

Fool by faerichylde

Spain really was a fool. Otherwise he wouldn't have wanted Romano so badly. After all, fools always want what they don't have.

Rebels in a Sleeping City by konstellasjon

"I felt like we were in limbo, two blindingly awake rebels in this sleeping city. I didn't know your reasons for being up and about. But, you were, and so was I, grinning at you like it was going out of fashion."

Light by annapotterkiku

Lovino was convinced that he didn't have a soulmate.

25 MPH by writingandchocolatemilk

"Any reason you were driving fifteen miles under the speed limit?"

"Safety?"

Officer Vargas frowned. "Yeah, sure. Willing to take a breathalyzer test?"

"No!" Gilbert stumbled out of the car. "That is a bullshit request! Because if you don't, Antonio—"

"I'll shoot you," Officer Vargas muttered, and Antonio wasn't sure he actually heard that. He doesn't think he was supposed to. "Sorry, do you want to take the test, instead?"

Five Times Romano Unintentionally Made Spain Blush by darkhue

...and one time he did it on purpose.

Conversations on Cups by orphan_account

Lovino is not particularly fond of his job: working in a coffee shop can get infuriating, with the long orders and hard to spell names. But frustration at one customer has melded into friendship, and even that’s beginning to shift.

Leading the Blind by steingasse

Lovino Vargas’s life was simple, tedious, and a functional amount of lonely. Then one day a hung-over stranger broke in and passed out on his couch.

Door to Door by Canadino

Do not open the door. It could be a zombie, an unwanted boyfriend of your brother's, or a persistant salesman by the name Antonio Carriedo.

Chalk Dust by counterheist

Lovino Vargas (grandson, philosophy graduate, teacher, brother, man): 1. Fate: a lifetime. It’s a start.

The Spaniard and Death by Oboeist3

The tale of a young reaper, a heavy soul, and perhaps a bit of love.

whose thing is this anyway by ShippingEverything

In which Lovino and Antonio get their clothes, among other things, mixed up

Lovers by fuckingtomatoes

Antonio loved him. He loved everything about him

Language Barrier by TheFreakZone

Even though he doesn't understand him, Antonio loves talking to Lovino in Spanish. Lovino doesn't say it, but he loves it too.

It’s a story based on a prompt that Antonio thought that Lovino doesn’t know any Spanish so he kept saying many filthy things because he was sure that Lovi did not understand. Oh boy was he wrong Super cute and hot

Non Omnis Moriar by Burlesque Romantique

Antonio knew that once someone is bitten, they're dead after dying. So all he can do is run.

Unrighteous by SnowyWolff

Lovino has been unrighteously charged for crimes he did not commit and has been sent to teach at a remote northern Magical College. There, he meets Antonio, who makes the never-ending cold a little warmer.

Lifeline by antiheroics

AU (human names used); Suicidal Lovino Vargas makes a suicide pact online with equally suicidal Antonio. They meet, they get mistaken for a couple out on a date, they drink a lot of badtasting vodka, and Lovino begins to wonder not so much if he wants to kill himself, but if he wants Antonio to.

32 Thursdays by counterheist

Antonio is a physics student in love. To Lovino’s embarrassment, so is he.

Aroma by Jacquzy

This is how it happens; how Antonio Fernández Carriedo comes to fall in love with the sweet-scented child seven years his junior.

Progression by Horribibble

When the Vargas Famiglia lost its Don, Lovino was abruptly faced with all of his nightmares. The worst of which wants nothing more than to give him a kiss.

A Trip To The Cinema by lullabyemyuu

Surrounded by the ruins of the ruined cinema, an elderly Lovino both remembers and forgets.

I wouldn't if I were you by starshards

Romano comes to the shocking realisation that people actually think that Spain is attractive.

Cupcake by writingandchocolatemilk

"No, Lovino!" Feliciano pointed, tears evaporating. "It's a dog!"

"What?" Lovino looked around. "That's a fucking bear."

"Lovino," Antonio hissed, "be respectful! No swearing!"

"Shi—sorry. Antonio, look at that dog." Lovino pointed. "Look, it's a bear."

Ludwig leaned closer. "That's a newfoudland."

Lovino scowled at him. "That's a bear."

Disgustingly Sweet by Sunny Day in February

We all have this urge sometimes.

El Despertar by Tyranno's girl

Or 'The Awakening'. This world is filled with many strange things, people, and occurrences. Once must always be careful of who they put their trust into; everyone has a dark secret behind the mask they don in the day.

Spostare by Canadino

She was just one girl, one body in the whole human race, that made him realize he was undeniably, helplessly attracted to Antonio; and she was the one who stole Antonio's heart away. High school AU, onesided Spain/Romano

How It Is by counterheist

This is how it is in the house of the never-setting sun.

on the dimensionality of an n-night stand by counterheist

Antonio is the one night stand who just won’t leave.

Diplomat's Son by writingandchocolatemilk

Lovino is content to let Antonio touch him. Antonio is happy to do this, and he runs his hands up Lovino's sides, relishing at the feeling of skin against skin, at the quick heartbeat he can feel. His head spins and Lovino pulls him into another kiss.

"Oh, Lovino," Antonio murmurs.

"What?" he asks, sharp, but that just makes Antonio's heart melt. "Take off your shirt. I'm not going to be the only one naked."

"Yes, sir." Antonio laughs.

A Sprinkler of Disaster by SnowyWolff

Lovino comes home one day and the surprise that waits for him behind the door is not exactly what he had expected

Baile Con La Bula by Wendigo Heart

Romano thought the bulls were actually rather pathetic, allowing themselves to be slain. It was the matador’s control that really ignited his passion. But he would forever deny a certain matador’s passion; Romano refused to be his bull to slay -The original source was deleted... That was hell of a good fanfiction

The Art of Flying by The Goliath Beetle

They're both a little bit damaged, a little bit unscathed. Lovino can only truly see the world when Antonio describes it to him. Words can be magical, words can drive the darkness away.

Exasperation by ReinMaker

Lovino reflects on how it came to this, thanks to himself and his mother-in-law.

PWP/Porn with some plot/basically smut

Praise by learninghowtosmut

Tumblr request for praise kink, ft blindfolds and gross sappy adoration

Six Times Romano Failed at Seducing Spain (And One Time He Unintentionally Succeeded) by sapphiire moon

Spain is sick and tired of Romano constantly flirting in front of him, and so he decides to punish Romano by not having sex with him anymore. Romano does not like this at all, and he's determined to win his way back into Spain's bed (and heart) through seduction. Awkward, awkward seduction.

A Way to Say I Love You by sapphiire moon

Spain and Romano's first time

With No End in Sight by stardropdream (orphan_account)

It's hot and Antonio is distracted.

For The First Time In A Long Time by Chaosride

Antonio has been hunting like this as long as he's been a vampire. Human's were more ripe during sex, and the bite was pleasurable anyway, as long as he didn't drink too much, but this times a little different. He picked up an Italian in a bar, expecting a quick meal.

Beautiful by Chaosride

A tumblr prompt requested Spamano BDSM

Give and Take by mareepysheepy

After hundreds of years in the making, Romano is in what he would grudgingly call a relationship with Spain. At least he thinks he is. He's really not sure. Weren't relationships meant to be about mutual give, and take, after all?

Jesus Christ I think this is the best written smut I’ve ever seen

Spirito Di Punto by starshards

After Romano's driving skills send another car to super-car heaven, his boss decides that it's time for him to have something much more modest. Luckily for Romano, Spain's there to help him learn how to appreciate it.

Like a Virgin by The Cilantro Family

Antonio's never had sex before. Lovino walks him through it.

Great spamano writers:

Basically almost all of their fanfictions and great, I just didn’t want to put them all on the list

Canadino

TheGoliathBeetle

sapphiire moon (aka best spamano smut writer you can ever find)

StarsMadeinHeaven (former Happymood)

writingandchocolatemilk (basically tons of amazing spamano one-shots)

userscounterheist

SnowyWolff

#spamano #aph spain #aph south italy #hetalia #axis powers hetalia #fanfiction #ao3 #spainxromano #aph romano #Antonio Fernandez Carriedo #lovino romano vargas #fanfic #aph fanfiction #aph #hetalia axis powers #hetalia fanfiction

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edgydepressedchoicesthot · 4 years ago

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Act of Courage (Noah/MC, Lucas/MC)

Summary: It shouldn’t feel like this, after all this time. We won, didn’t we?

No, Josh realized. We didn’t.

In which a survivor contemplates what was, what is, and what could have been.

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24061654

@ladyseaheart1668, @marmolady, @it-lives-in-westchester

A/N: Between work, college, and my f*cked up head, finishing this up took a lot longer than it should have. I'm trying to make writing into my coping mechanism, so that I'll do it more, lol ;D

I have one more fic I promised on tumblr, an AME one I'm gonna work on. I'm also gonna try to go back to my ES novelization, so stay tuned for that for its continuation.

————————

The two of them were at Josh’s place, waiting for Ava, Andy, Dan, and Lucas. Lily was sick in bed and Stacy was visiting her grandma out of town, leaving Noah and Josh waiting for the four others while they drew figures in the dirt in the yard with sticks and talking about anything their minds jumped to.

“Hey, Noah?”

The boy turned towards his friend.

“Yeah?”

For a moment, Josh, who was as lively as ever seconds ago, was being uncharacteristically quiet.

“Do you…like anyone?”

“‘Like’,” Noah repeated. “Like I like you and Jane and the others? Or you mean like-like?”

“Um, yeah” Josh nodded, blushing. “Like-like.”

“Then no,” the other boy shrugged. “Stacy, Lily, and Ava are fun to hang around, but I don’t like-like anyone.”

“What about,” Josh began hurriedly, but slowed down. “What about boys…?”

“Huh?”

“Do you like-like any boys?”

Josh was beet red. Noah was just confused.

“No,” he shrugged. “I’m a boy. It’d be weird if I liked-liked a boy. That’s what my mom says though.”

“Right…” Josh looked hurt. “Right, forget it.”

Noah wanted to ask why his friend looked so sad.

He hated it when Josh got upset. Unlike Jane, who’d get mad, Josh would be quiet, pouty, and would go off by himself, refusing to ever acknowledge what made him upset in the first place.

But before Noah can say anything, the doorbell rang and their friends poured inside.

Noah forgot that Josh even asked him any question about who he liked.

It was something they’d both forget in the years to come, a memory of the conversation fading into a small feeling.

————————

After reading Lucas’s texts, Josh shoved his phone into his pocket. His smile started to fade as he continued down the road, focusing on his surroundings.

It really is a beautiful day, Josh mused.

And he hated it.

The sun shone through the trees in a way that reminded him of an image you’d find on a tourist pamphlet.

It made Josh think about how the only thing this town is good for is being fake.

Like how the town somehow fooled themselves into thinking everything was just a freak animal attack.

But the more he thought about it, Josh guessed he couldn’t blame the town for that. Having to deal with the truth might actually be more of a clusterfuck than it all happening.

It was all a question of why.

Why did this all happen to them? Why was he the one who had to find Redfield’s shack?

All he had to do was keep his goddamn mouth shut about some stupid fucking rock floating all those years ago…

It’s my fault.

Josh scoffed.

Like that’s big news.

And when it was time to pay the piper, Josh was too much of a coward to do anything…

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Josh forced himself to think about something, anything else.

His mind wandered from the date Lucas promised they’d have before he went back to his university, to that new video game Lily’s been raving about, Stacy’s latest Pictagram post about celebrating another perfect score on an exam, Ava’s latest binge on occult books in the library, Andy whining about how he just wants to be free of high school already, Dan’s updates on his new art blog…

…Noah crying, apologizing…

Josh wiped tears from his eyes as he kept walking.

————————

Noah always envied Josh.

He was a charismatic go-getter where Noah was shy and bookish. Josh always got stickers that came with having a perfect score on spelling tests, ones that Noah just passed by never more than five points. Josh was brave enough to make the first move in befriending him and Jane, and began their circle of friends the same way.

Noah not only hated how he was too wimpy to ever say any of this out loud, but also that he held this kind of resentment towards one of the best friends he’s ever had.

Noah hated how nervous he feels around Josh too. How he can’t help but constantly compare himself to him.

Josh was like the sun; radiant and bright and impossible to miss, and Noah had felt like the grimy earth beneath it.

But everything changed after Jane died.

Their whole group of friends changed. They started to see each other less and less, and eventually, they never saw each other outside of school.

Having different classes in middle school widened the gap between them, leaving silent nods as the last bit of interaction they had.

Soon, even those were gone.

Even after they all fell apart, Noah couldn’t help but notice Josh.

Before, Noah had always seen Josh happily chatting with at least one person.

Now, Noah never saw him hang out with anyone ever again. He was like the dusty remains of a star that went out.

There were times Noah wanted to reach out, to see if they could be friends again, to hang out, laugh together, be together-

-and Noah would stop himself when he came short of any reason Josh would want to talk to him.

————————

“You look like shit.”

“Hello to you too, Ava.”

Josh was semi-thankful that his shift at one of the town’s few fast food places started early in the morning. Only a handful of people stepped in here for breakfast, and none of them were impossible to deal with. So, for a few hours, Josh could enjoy a bit of peace before the lunch rush.

And it was always good to see a friendly face.

“Alright, fuck the pleasantries then.”

Usually.

Ava stretched her hand at Josh and waved it dramatically.

“In the name of the Dread Goddess Hekate, get me my usual.”

Josh punched in the register an order for an apple pie and a milkshake.

“That’ll be $2.78.”

Wordlessly, Ava hands him money and Josh went in the back to get her order.

“Talked to Tom today,” Ava said. “He looked really interested in the stuff I found in Cora’s shack. Maybe he can be my apprentice or some shit.”

“A witch’s apprentice?”

“Turned him down. Teaching is a rock bottom I’ll never hit.”

“Cuz the teacher’s at school we sooo great.”

“You get it.”

Josh finished up, pie in a paper bag and milk in hand.

“So, you talk to people,” she asked before he held out her order. “You’re social like that. Everyone’s gonna be at the memorial tonight, right?”

“Yup,” Josh nodded. “All seven of-”

Josh stops himself, remembering what happened to the seventh.

Ava’s face went steely, and for a moment it looked like she had a lot to say.

“Hand me my order,” she sighed. Josh obliged.

Before Ava walked out, she stopped and did a half turn. Josh sees several shifts to and from anger and sympathy.

“Tale care,” she said before leaving.

————————

Noah couldn’t remember the last time he and Josh talked.

So, when Josh sat next to him at the pep rally, he hoped his quietness came off as indifference, and hid his anxiety about the whole situation.

Josh didn’t seem to mind, since he started talking semi-comfortably. He was mellower and less gloomy than he used to be, and Noah felt the familiar jealously that was always the third companion amongst the two.

The pep rally ended after the blackout, Josh called everyone to meet after school, and four of them were stocking up on makeshift weapons.

When Josh told Noah that he won’t leave him again, he let himself believe it.

Noah halfheartedly thanked Josh, and for a second was afraid his sort-of-friend would take offense.

But instead, Josh smiled at him, and Noah felt like he was looking at sunshine.

A warm feeling bloomed in Noah’s chest, and it stuck around even when they were done talking and gone back to looking for weapons.

Noah remembered the warm feeling later on, when he noticed how Josh’s face was red when he was close enough to Lucas, how he stammered a bit more when the two were talking.

Noah wasn’t as dumb as he was as a kid. He knew that Josh liked Lucas. He also didn’t want to believe he was feeling jealousy, because of what it implied.

It wasn’t until during Britney’s party that Noah started to ask himself where these feelings for Josh came from. Was it sometime after everyone drifted apart, and their absence leaving an ache in his heart? Or was it before, when they were younger, innocent, and still friends?

After the party and after Josh revived his hope for the future (something he’d been doing well the past few days), his own personal devil reared its shadowy head, and signaled the end.

In the near future, while they were all forced to play the game again, Noah would wonder if anything could have happened to keep this whole mess from happening.

If he just told Redfield to fuck off, or just ignored him (no, her).

————————

“In school,” Andy said with a mouth full of pizza. “You froze up every time you had to present something. And up there, you didn’t break a sweat.”

Josh was taken by surprise when Stacy’s mom called him up to say a few words (he didn’t even think the town’s mayor even remembered his name). Surprisingly, where there was usually quick breath and sweating, there was just emptiness.

His mind flashed to Cora when he was up, about how she risked her life to help them and went to warn them while she was injured and dying.

And then it went to Noah.

He kept his part about Noah as brief as possible, and stepped down the second he gave his last “thank you”.

Josh would like to say that Lucas’s hug and quick kiss after the memorial made him feel better, but after talking about Noah, he couldn’t shake the feeling like he was betraying him.

“I get a lot of speech practice when dealing with customers from hell,” Josh finally answered, shrugging.

“You mean Ava?” Andy snarked.

“Andy, don’t be mean,” Lily scolded

“You think I take offense to that?” Ava grinned evilly. “I go there on the weekends.”

Josh finished his Graveyard, and turned to Lucas, right next to him.

“Bartender, one more.”

“One for me too,” Stacy smirked, wiggling her empty cup.

“I think you’ve both had enough,” Lucas said in mock seriousness.

“How can you stand to drink those?” Tom asked. “I almost hurled taking a sip!”

“That’s it, you’re dead to me,” Stacy pouted theatrically.

“Aw, come on,” Lily nudged Stacy with her shoulder. “We all just pledged our eternal devotion to each other five minutes ago!”

And just managed to avoid talking about Noah…

Noah could be here. Right now.

Maybe not here though. The others might still hate him, maybe not, but at least he’d be alive. Maybe everyone would even slowly come to stop hating him.

He could find a way to pay for culinary school. He could open up the diner he talked about…

And I wish I could just stop thinking about those last moments…

Josh has vague memories of blushing and being embarrassed around Noah when they were younger, but he didn’t think it had meant anything.

Every time Josh started thinking about his...crush, if he could call it that, he’d just start thinking of Lucas, and guilt of betrayal would stab at his gut.

Josh’s eyes drift over to Dan, who’s been silent the whole time, aside from giving halfhearted laughs and accepting Graveyard refills…

…along with bringing up the one who’s been on Josh’s mind for a while.

“Well…not the whole group.”

Josh remembered that this night would end, and that everyone would go back to dealing with their trauma.

Not alone. Please for the love of god not alone.

He felt like some kind of traitor again, for feeling this awful around people with whom he should be happy.

It shouldn’t feel like this, after all this time. We won, didn’t we?

He remembered the panic attack he talked Lily through by phone after Britney called him, begging for help. He remembered Ava’s blank face as the signs of a flashback started to show. He remembered the bags under Stacy’s eyes as she drank more coffee than was healthy. He remembered the late night texts from Andy faking small talk when he couldn’t sleep and needed some anchor to reality. He remembered the way Dan finally admitted with tears that he wasn’t fine, was anything but fine.

And he remembered seeing the thing that used to be Noah in the ruins, looking back at him with those white eyes before vanishing.

No, Josh realized. We didn’t.

————————

Seconds ago, Josh had gotten Noah out of Redfield’s (no, Jane’s) control as he was seconds away from being stabbed.

He goaded and taunted the monster they all feared since childhood, and fended it off with a whistle.

So this should be easy, right?

Taking Jane’s place so she could finally be free of the hell she spent nearly a decade in.

“I’m sorry, Josh,” Noah sobbed. “Please…please tell my mom-”

“Wait!” Josh said shakily. “It doesn’t have to be you!”

“Josh, please, it had to be me,” Noah begged. “Let me do this. Let me fix my mistakes.”

“NO!” he screamed. “Don’t you dare! Let me do this! Let me take her place instead!”

Except…

Josh didn’t say any of that.

He wanted to stop Noah, he wanted to so much, but no matter what, his throat wouldn’t obey.

When it mattered the most, all he could give is silence.

If the two of them were any closer, their faces would touch. Unfallen tears pooled in Noah’s eyes, filled with regret

Josh didn’t know what to do. He wanted to scream at Noah. He wanted to hug him and never let go. He wanted to punch him.

But Noah acted before Josh could.

His lips weren’t soft, but warm and gentle, and soon turn salty when tears hit their lips. Neither of them knew whose.

“I’m sorry,” Josh lost count of the number of times Noah’s apologized today. “I just…I needed to do that. Just once…”

Those are the last words Noah ever said as a human.

————————

The night ended with everyone promising to see each other tomorrow, and soon after that.

And so, here were Josh and Lucas, waiting together on a bench on the sidewalk for Josh’s mom to come pick them up and give Lucas a ride to his house.

Despite everyone parting with the unspoken promise of this goodbye isn’t for good, Josh couldn’t help that irrational fear that the opposite would be true, and they’d all fall apart over again.

“You good?” Lucas pulled Josh out of his thoughts.

“Huh?” he mumbled dumbly.

“You’re squeezing my hand pretty hard there,” Lucas shakes his hand holding Josh’s, and he finds out he’s right; Josh is squeezing Lucas’s hand like some kind of lifeline.

“Sorry,” Josh says sheepishly as he eases his grip, but Lucas gives a gentle squeeze, keeping him from pulling away.

“Hey, you’re alright,” Lucas says before Josh can apologize any more.

Josh smiled at him, not trusting himself to speak right now. Unfortunately, it just gave way to an awkward silence.

“Josh?”

“Yeah?”

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” Lucas asks.

“What…” do you mean, Josh wanted to say, but he just didn’t have the heart to lie to his boyfriend’s face.

“I know,” Josh sighed.

And he did. But that was a different story than being able to do it.

“I’m here for you. So is everyone else. And if something’s been on your mind, we’d all listen if you wanted to talk.”

Josh wanted to.

He probably needed to.

Josh remembered Dan, how he desperately needed someone to talk to, how he needed help, and what happened after he didn’t get it (it wasn’t his fault, it was mine).

But what could he possibly say?

Is it okay for me to have lingering feelings for someone else? Someone who betrayed us and led us to a monster? Someone who’s a monster now himself? Someone almost all of you understandably hate?

There’s no way he can bring that up. Not to his friends, not to his boyfriend.

“I don’t wanna talk,” Josh sighs. “Could we just…be here…? If that makes any sense?”

“It doesn’t,” Lucas jokes. “But it’s a good thing I’m a mind reader.”

Lucas put an arm around Josh, pulling him closer.

Josh rested his head on Lucas’s shoulder and closed his eyes, enjoying his boyfriend’s presence.

In the future, when Josh finally found it in him to talk, he’d be able to go back to the cabin. Against all advice, he’d look for Noah in the shadowy figure that haunted the woods. And he’d find him. And soon after, Josh would be able to help more people who were forced into a world of monsters like he and his friends were.

#playchoices #pixelberry #it lives in the woods #fanfiction #noah marshall #lucas thomas #ava cunningham #andy kang #stacey green #tom sato #lily ortiz #dan pierce #my fics

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ramblings-of-a-mad-cat · 4 years ago

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I never understood the sentiment of seeing Rakebitch as a second mom to MC ngl. Even before chapter 30. Probably because I saw right through her from the beginning, but she never had a motherly feel to her imo. She said shit like “if you can’t survive this mission, I suppose you don’t deserve to live” all the time, and she literally tests MC’s defences by casting a deadly spell against them on the day they met. If she was a mom, I doubt she’d be a very good one. I’d feel sorry for her kids. 😒

You’re not alone in that, anon. A lot of people saw Rakepick for what she was almost immediately and hated her/mistrusted her all along. I think that’s part of the sting behind the betrayal twist. It plays on the assumption that after two years of her being an ally and mentor, even the most suspicious players would have, if not started to like her, at least accepted that she probably wasn’t outright evil. Oh how wrong we all were.

Obviously, the mother/child angle feels pretty horrid in hindsight. (Though with the lioness patronus, they still seem to be hinting it, which is part of why I suspect she’s somehow secretly good. But never mind right now.) Speaking as someone who truly enjoyed the unconventional mentor/student dynamic that Rakepick had with MC, I can fully admit that Rakepick is not fit to care for children and, were she a real person, would likely be an abusive parent. Because you’re right, a lot of the stuff she does is unacceptable. It’s easy to disregard lines like the one about MC not being worth it if they can’t survive, but that’s still not an okay thing to say. I think what made a lot of players who like her enjoy the character was that she treated MC like an adult most of the time. Not an equal, but she didn’t talk down to them. Her superiority was not as a grown-up or teacher, it was because she was more powerful. She wasn’t playing by conventional rules...and after four years of classic Dumbledore nonsense, that was pretty refreshing.

@missnight0wl has covered Rakepick’s character better than I ever could, but one of my favorite things she talked about was how a lot of Rakepick’s lines, while they seem ruthless and dismissive, are actually masking that she does care about MC. (Or at least, was very good at pretending to. It all depends on if she’s a double agent.) Even casting deadly spells at them, to me, wasn’t a serious red flag. I mean, speaking as a someone who has been a teacher figure...you don’t do that. Ever. That goes without saying. But the reality is that MC is going to face deadly curses, and the staff have proven woefully inept at stopping them. So training them to face deadly curses in a controlled environment is...probably a smart thing to do, actually. Of course, it could have all just been to prepare them for the Portrait Vault because she needed them...but there are several clues even now that Rakepick doesn’t actually want MC dead, no matter how much she keeps declaring that she does.

At the end of the day, the parallels between MC and Rakepick, and the surrogate parental bond that they shared, which seemed to at least hint at genuine care...is all the more reason why the Portrait Vault twist stings. The same could very much be said on Merula’s behalf, perhaps even more so, given how she latched onto Rakepick and verbally compared her to her mother. Wormtail’s betrayal wouldn’t have meant as much if he wasn’t a lifelong friend to James...and Rakepick’s betrayal wouldn’t have meant as much if she wasn’t the closest thing MC had to a mother...this is an entirely different topic, but I think another reason this happened has to do with MC’s mum. It just doesn’t like they’re that close. I’m not the only one to suggest this, but it feels like she just tuned out after Jacob disappeared - kinda like Katniss Everdeen’s mom from the Hunger Games.

#Patricia Rakepick #HPHM Jacob's Sibling #HPHM Analysis #Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

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imagine-loki · 6 years ago

Text

Giftless

TITLE: Giftless CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 4/50 AUTHOR: nekoamamori ORIGINAL IMAGINE:

Imagine that you are Stark’s niece and you secretly share a strong relationship with Loki since he entered the crew. One day you get hurt so bad during a mission that you are about to die. Loki knows a spell that will save you and share his immortality with you but you and he will be linked forever sharing thoughts, pain, emotions…

RATING: T NOTES/WARNINGS: Underage reader (no sex!!) Also on AO3 click here

When you and Tony returned to the tower, Tony took Loki’s things to Fury. You carried your new books upstairs and gathered the homework you still had to finish before class the next day. Tony had reports to write and other boring adult things to do that afternoon, so you were left to your own devices, namely, doing your homework. So you carried all of your homework and laptop and headed back downstairs. You didn’t want to be alone, and you had found out that if you worked on your homework in the common room, you could usually find someone to help you if you got stuck on something. That was the great thing about living with such a large extended family.

When you made it to the common room, you noticed that Loki was gone. You couldn’t help being a bit disappointed that he wasn’t there, but you knew that you couldn’t expect him to be here all of the time. That was your job. Besides, they’d probably be sending him on patrols soon and making him a real member of the team.

So you sat and worked on your homework for the afternoon. Tony came up to help you with your math homework and Bruce came up to help you with science. The older Avengers tried to make time, especially on Sunday afternoon to come help the teens with their homework. So you weren’t the only one benefiting from their visit. That didn’t mean you didn’t thank them for their help as always. They didn’t need to take time out of their Sunday afternoon to help you.

You stayed up way later than you should have, engrossed in your new book, sitting in your usual spot on the couch when your homework was done. You were secretly, ok, maybe not so secretly, hoping that Loki would return, but he never did. You hoped that he was he was ok, and that people were giving him a chance, though you highly doubted that.

You finally relented and went to bed once it got too late, your books and homework cradled in your arms. When you got to your suite, you saw two of the books you had lent Loki waiting outside the door for you, sitting on a decorative knick knack table placed beside your door. You picked up up the books and added them to the stack already in your arms.

When you did, you saw a note written in an elegant careful script. There were only two words printed:

You smiled warmly at the note and ducked into your suite. You carefully reshelved your books, packed your homework and your bag for the next day, and took the note with you into your bedroom. You set the note on your nightstand and scribbled out a reply. All that was on it was your phone number. You made your way back out of your suite on tiptoes so as to not disturb your neighbor and slipped your note under Loki’s door before darting back to your own room to get some sleep.

You didn’t get much sleep, though you tried. You were plagued as usual with nightmares of the fire. You didn’t tell anyone that you still had nightmares. They didn’t need to know. It would just make Tony even more anxious and worried about you if he knew.

Once you finally freed yourself from the nightmares, you went to your sitting room and read until it was time to get ready for school. There was no way you were going to attempt to sleep again after nightmares of the fire. You left the door to the hallway open, an unspoken invitation for guests and company.

No one came.

You weren’t surprised, it was stupidly early

So you waited until it was time to get ready for school and closed the door to the hallway again so you could dress in your stupid school uniform. You knew that you shouldn’t hate it. You went to the most elite private school around, thanks to your buttload of money and Tony’s insistence. That, of course, meant uniforms.

You grabbed your bag when you were dressed and headed downstairs. Tony was waiting to drive you to school. The school was within walking distance, but he always insisted on driving you, or walking with you if it was nice, or having one of the other supers escort you. You understood the reason: the world knew you were his kid sister, and so did the villains. Tony wouldn’t take any chances with your safety.

“I’m working this afternoon. One of the others will pick you up,” Tony told you as he pulled up to the school.

“I can walk home myself,” I reminded him as you climbed out of his sports-car. “I’m 17, not 6,” you grumbled, slinging your bag onto your back.

“You’re on the hit-list of the every villain in the city,” he reminded you dryly. You sighed heavily.

“I know…” you finally replied, defeated. There was no winning when the supers were intent on protecting you.

“So someone will pick you up,” Tony replied sternly.

“Fine,” you replied and stomped up to the school. You were in an awful mood thanks to the nightmares and the reminder that you had no powers. You hated being treated like a little kid because of it, even though you understood the reasoning for it.

So you suffered through your classes during the super long day. You couldn’t stand most of the girls in the school, they were all preppy cheerleader types, and you were a bookworm. You didn’t get along on a fundamental level. They were nice enough when they needed help on their homework or wanted to cheat off of you during a test, but that was the extent of their kindness. You put up with it, because the education was worth it.

You were beyond grateful when the last bell of the day rang and you were finally free to get out of that miserable place. You rushed out of the building to see who your ride would be that day and saw Nat waiting for you in one of Tony’s fancy sports-cars. You headed straight for it and hopped in quickly. Nat despised waiting. You had a feeling she also hated babysitting duty, which is what this amounted to. You didn’t blame her; you hated being babysat just as much as she hated babysitting. She had better things to be doing, despite that she liked you.

The trip home was short at least. Nat liked to drive fast “Thanks, Nat,” you told her as you jumped out of the car. She would drive it around the city for awhile longer to get back at Tony for making her babysit. She really did like driving fast. To prove that, she sped off the second you were out of the car.

You trudged back into the compound, chuckling at her antics. You hung up you jacket in the coat closet and went to see who was in the common room. It was just Loki there. You smiled brightly and waved at him. "Hi, Loki,” you greeted him with a smile. He looked up, startled, from the book he was reading.

“Lady,” he replied with a polite nod. He looked over your outfit and you felt myself blush. “That does not seem like your usual attire,” he commented carefully. He was right, of course, short plaid skirts, button-up shirts, and jackets with the school logo on them were not your normal attire.

“No, it’s not,” you agreed. “Unfortunately, the school I go to requires everyone to be dressed identically. Except the boys get to wear pants,” you explained, making a face at how unfair that was. He inclined his head, accepting your answer. “I’ll be back down in a few minutes,” you told him as you dropped my school bag by your spot on your couch. “I usually work on homework down here,”

“Homework?” he inquired. You sighed. Alien, of course he didn’t understand the concept

“Stupid busywork that teachers give to students to torture them,” you replied instinctively. Loki chuckled. “In reality it’s supposed to be assignments to help us retain the knowledge we learned in class today. Do they not have it on Asgard?” you asked curiously. He shook his head.

"No, once lessons are done for the day, the students are done,”

“Lucky kids on Asgard,” you replied. He laughed outright at that. You smiled at his laugh, proud of yourself for eliciting it, and headed out of the room, stripping off your uniform jacket on your way up the stairs. You needed desperately to change into more comfortable clothes. You chose a pair of jeans and a t-shirt instead of your usual pajamas. Loki wasn’t family, not yet. And you had promised Tony you’d be careful.

You bounced back downstairs to find that Loki had moved so he was sitting on the other side of your couch. You offered him a warm smile and took your seat before you dug your homework out of your bag and got to work. You sat in comfortable silence with Loki, him with his book and you with my homework until you growled at one of the math problems.

"Is there trouble?” he asked, looking up from his book to see what the problem was.

“Just that math makes no sense,” you grumbled in exasperation “I’ll have to wait for Uncle Tony to get done with work so he can explain this nonsense.” You had wanted your homework done early tonight too so you could have some free-time. Stupid math interfering.

“Might I be of assistance?” Loki asked. It couldn’t hurt to let him look, so you shrugged and handed the problem over to him. He looked it over and nodded. “I can explain this concept. In exchange, would you be willing to show me how this device works?” He held up a cell phone, one of the Stark issued ones that all the supers had. That’s what your phone was too.

The chain between Loki’s wrists clanged as he moved. You hated those damn chains. He didn’t deserve them. He had switched sides and helped the Avengers during his and Balder’s attack on New York. Now he was working with the Avengers. That should count for something.

You pushed the thought from your mind and grinned at him.

“You have a deal,” you replied, holding your hand out to him with a grin. He hesitated, but gave you a tentative smile and shook your hand in return. He spent the next twenty minutes explaining the problem, and then the concept behind it, making it way easier than the teacher had that morning. You showed him the basics of how to turn the phone on and make and answer phone calls. You traded more math problems for teaching him how to text, and told him if he helped with your science homework that you would tell him about Facebook and other social media. With his help, you got through your assignments in record time and by the end, he had a Facebook account, to which you were his first friend, and was comfortable with his new phone.

You felt it was a fair trade.

#Loki #Lover #Submitted fic #submission #giftless #chapter 4 #Nekoamamori

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kukuandkookie · 5 years ago

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So, I'm making a story which may or may not be a remake of a old story I made, but with a new setting, new characters, a different tone, and a new storyline. Any writing tips?

Ahhh first off, I just wanted to say how honoured I am that you’d feel like asking me for writing tips! And I must also apologize if this is at all late, since Tumblr has this bad habit of not really notifying me when someone sends me an ask. PS: This might get long ahaha. I tend to ramble a lot. 😅

My first piece of advice is to read and study what you read! I often get inspired by a good book after I’ve finished reading and begin itching to write, but I actually learned how to write stories by imitating the Warriors series when I was a kid.

I’d also highly recommend studying grammar. Not so much so that it becomes boring and no fun, but enough that it doesn’t hinder your story. Bad grammar or spelling doesn’t usually ruin a story unless it’s really bad, but it can pull someone out of your story. When reading over my classmates’ works, I usually found they worked quite well when read out loud, but reading it over myself caused me to spot those sort of grammatical errors and it would draw me out of the atmosphere they were creating for their story.

And on the topic of atmosphere, it is important to set the scene and also describe things, but definitely don’t go overboard. It often comes off as pretentious or cumbersome, breaking the flow of writing. I do describe certain things while writing, but I usually focus more on dialogue.

When it comes to dialogue, every character has their own voice, so they won’t all sound the same! Make sure to tag their dialogue with variety as well (like, don’t constantly use “he said, she said”). Try looking at other novels. Sometimes authors use “cried, scolded, screeched, begged,” etc). Sometimes they don’t use any dialogue tags at all so as not to break the flow of dialogue.

For example, this is a piece from the chapter I’m currently writing:

Or for something more casual:

The second one had four voices going on, but hopefully the voices flowed naturally enough and it wasn’t too confusing who’s who. If flow is hard to tell, you can try reading it out loud; it’ll also help you pick up on repetition.

Repeating something can be really good for dramatic effect, but too much repetition can also be bad. This is something I’ve had drilled into me by my English teachers since high school. Seeing the same few words a thousand times isn’t very interesting, so try to vary your vocabulary! There’s a whole internet out there to help you find the right words (for example, instead of always writing “angry,” you can look up “angry synonyms”).

Fictional writing, or creative nonfiction, is also where you can break a few rules of English for more dramatic flair. For example, there’s no need to always have full sentences. An incomplete sentence will stand out.

Definitely be sure to vary sentence length so not everything looks the same. And every time a new action/piece of dialogue happens, it’s a general rule to start a new line.

I like keeping certain things about my characters and world vague and versatile so that I can play around with it more, although I know worldbuilding and detailed characters are important to many writers. It’s okay if your characters start off a little flat—the more you write for them, the more their personality will come alive and have proper depth.

Sometimes I make a character because I feel like it and I give them a name I just feel like fits. I once made a character with curly brown hair and green eyes and randomly named him Ross, but I eventually incorporated the meaning of his name into his backstory (promontory or headland). He evolved while writing from a more cocky character to someone who is kind and quiet, but stubborn, distant, and has trouble getting over the past.

Of course writing characters also depends on your style. I have a friend who enjoys picking meaningful names for their characters, and there are authors who like to write down all the personality traits, flaws, and strengths right away. I prefer going with the flow, which I find isn’t a bad place to start, but the other way isn’t bad at all!

I usually like fleshing out the backstories for all of my characters, probably more than things like height or birthday. And that’s mostly because every person has their own story and their own scars, so it can affect them in different ways. Even flat characters I first develop just to be a villain often end up becoming more sympathetic later because I decided to focus on their backstories.

And of course we know everyone says “don’t write a Mary Sue!” but characters that seem pretty perfect can still come off as flawed and likeable. Not writing a Mary Sue doesn’t mean writing someone who is boring or terrible at everything or horrible to everyone—there is often a reason the hero is the one with some form of hidden skill or talent.

I’m going to pull on the character of my current obsessions as an example: Wei Wuxian from the novel Mo Dao Zu Shi. He’s intelligent, heroic, kind, and powerful, but such good things can also be translated into bad ones. Flaws are often exaggerations of positives. So for example, even though Wei Wuxian is intelligent, he’s still brash and reckless. He’s heroic, but this translates into a hero complex with impulsiveness, a lack of foresight, and can drive other people away. His kindness can turn into rage or self-sacrifice, and his power makes him arrogant.

Like with the thing on Mary Sues, try not to always worry about avoiding clichés or tropes. It’s good to avoid them, but they’re also staples of writing for a reason, and people do like what’s familiar (in my Film Studies classes, we describe movie tastes as “people want to see what they’re familiar with, but with something unfamiliar sprinkled in”). So it’s okay to use clichés/tropes sometimes, but don’t rely too much on them or your story will feel generic. Add your own twist!

But speaking of twists, don’t try and shock your readers with plot twists out of nowhere. Don’t panic if a reader picks up on your clues and then change the twist to something that doesn’t make sense just to shock the reader. This often cheats people of their experience. If they guess your plot twist, it can mean you laid down the right clues! But if you really want to shock them, try to drop enough hints for the new twist so it makes sense. For example, I find Coco’s plot twist much more sensible than Frozen’s.

Oh, and try not to worry too much about things like Chekhov’s gun. I had a Writing prof ask us to keep it in mind, but I find it more applicable to short stories, and that’s because it started as a rule for theatre. If you show a gun in your play, it should be used later by a character as a sort of payoff. In a longer story, this is less relevant as not every prop has to be important. Still, if you focus a lot on a particular thing, you should probably go back and explain it later.

I have a bad habit of sometimes mentioning things that seem important to characters at the time and totally forgetting it later until I reread old chapters. For example, I had one character who doesn’t have his mom with him anymore be interested in a ring box in one chapter, but I forgot about it for awhile. I later explained that it was his mom’s wedding ring, which is why he cared about it so much.

I do often get lucky, as my two long-term stories (one that’s close to being wrapped up and one that’s already finished) have both filled most plot points sometimes by chance. I usually just start writing without a real idea of where I’m going—sometimes the stuff I write just establishes characters or their backstories—but they usually start forming into a proper plot later on when I’ve established more characters and backstories and figure out where I want the climax to go.

I’m not saying that my way is the right or only way though! It helps a lot of authors to map everything out from the very beginning. I just find certain plot points change as my writing improves, so I start off with less plan but usually end up coming up with a proper story bible for me to follow as I write. Research and planning, at the end of the day, are still really helpful!

The hardest problem with writing is that we need our readers to care. If they don’t care, then the thing you work painstakingly on won’t feel as rewarding. And it’s easier to have people care when your characters/plot/world are interesting, feel real, and are likeable (or at least have a “love to hate” thing going on for them). Not every character needs to be tragic and edgy—most people recommend against this—but they can still be sympathetic. Sometimes though, characters are just villains or just background characters, and that’s fine too!

Plus everyone has different tastes, so it’s never guaranteed everyone will like your story—but then again, it’s no guarantee everyone won’t like it either!

I hope all of that helps, and that I haven’t scared you off with my ranting! Writing is a world of infinite possibilities, and I find it easier to test more of those possibilities than with drawing. At the end of the day, don’t forget to write for yourself and write what you also like. Improvement comes with practice, after all!

#advice #reference #writing tips #kuku answers #kuku88 #kuku rambles #quite a lot oops #wei wuxian #mo dao zu shi #svtfoe next gen #svtfoe

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l0chn3ss · 6 years ago

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Inmates - 3

“On The Offense”

Different words were exchanged every day, and oftentimes they were matched with playful pinches or hard jabs to the stomach.

The others who watched them interact were worried, to say the least, but truth be told, Maka and Black Star really wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Chicken, Maks?”

Black Star stood in her path to the classroom, acting as if he were some big obstacle that no one could face. His feet were wide apart, arms crossed, and he wore a smirk on his face that could only be read as a challenging one. If she spent any more time on him than she’d already had, Maka would have to call the day a loss.

“Move, Star,” she glared.

“So, you are chicken?”

Maka was weak to these simple words, ones that grade school children were taught to ignore. And she would have forgotten them easily had it not been for the person making the remarks in the first place. She rolled up her sleeves.

“I’ll wreck your shit,” came her response.

In the middle of a busy hallway, in front of their next class, they clasped hands and butted foreheads, trading insults and swear words.

Inside of the room, Kim sighed. “They’re at it again. Really? Right in front of my salad.”

“You hate salads,” Jackie said, barely glancing up while a crowd of freshly admitted NOT students crowded outside.

“My point is, it’s too early for this shit.”

“Agreed,” Soul said. He’d gotten the chance to slip in when Maka had wrestled Black Star away from the door. “I’m pretty sure that Maka called him something in the morning, though, while they were still at home.”

“Anything could probably trigger that fire cracker. I don’t know why she didn’t know otherwise.”

“I think she enjoys it,” Tsubaki called from a row down.

Kilik joined in. “The crowd enjoys it, too, apparently,” he said, jabbing a thumb behind him. “Do you think class will start late again?”

“It better not.” Jackie clenched her book tighter. “I studied for too long to run out of time on another test.”

The group of friends continued to watch, minus one, until two teachers came to pull Black Star and Maka apart.

“Yeah, just come in. Leave your bag wherever,” Black Star said, pushing his door open.

Kid took a brief look around before following his friend; Patty and Liz trailing behind. They didn’t do home visits often, but Black Star had an opportunity that they couldn’t refuse.

“I’ll get my fame-moose corn and clam chowder re-heated. How’d y’all find out about that anyway?” he questioned.

“‘Smelt it on ya hands,” Patty said, tapping her nose, following him to the kitchen. “And everybody knows soups are ya specialty.”

“Plus Kid forgot to go shopping for dinner.”

“I was away for five days, Liz. What have you both been eating for the last week?”

“Out,” was the answer.

Black Star ignored the conversation. “Soup is easy. You start it early, throw everything into a pot, and let it do it’s thing-- hmm, half is gone.”

“Thieves? Bandits?” Patty cracked her knuckles. “Those mutherfuckers.”

“Chill, there’s still plenty for all of us.”

Liz asked, “Enough for Maka to join, though?”

Before Black Star could answer, the person in question stepped out of her room, fully dressed and adjusting her gloves.

“Hard pass for today,” she said. “I told some kids I’d beat them until they were better. Try to enjoy dinner, though. We have Pepto-Bismol in the bathroom cabinet.”

“Guess you guys will be out there for the whole week, then,” Black Star squinted, crossing his arms. “Good luck helping, I guess. I hope they don’t give up on you too early.”

“There’s a reason why they asked for my help and not yours.” Maka crossed over to the counter to pick up a heavy thermal bag, hanging it on her arm.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, just going to force feed them some chowder as punishment.” She gave it a pat. “A torture device, but still legal in the state of Nevada.”

“Ah, giving the kids a proper final meal before you send them to their grave, eh?”

“Bye, choke on dinner!”

“Choke on my d--”

“Okay, who’s setting the table?” Liz intervened.

“Oh look who came in. Mr. Late McLate Pants.”

Black Star mocked her tone. “Hurr, I’m Maka, Miss Always Early. Why don’t you tell everyone why I’m late, huh?”

Kilik tried, “Actually, there’s still some time before--”

“Oh sure! I’ll tell them,” Maka sneered. “Someone was stuck doing a mountain of dishes before they could leave. How are your hands? Pruney?”

“You knew it was my day to be on sink duty, so you made a huge ass breakfast for yourself and only left me with toasted Wonder Bread. You’re a sick, cruel monster.”

“At least I toasted it for you,” she said sweetly. “The entire loaf, too.”

“How do you think it makes me feel to wake up to the smell of a breakfast burrito, only to get pointed to fucking Wonder Bread?”

“I just thought it fit your standards.”

Ox whispered, “But I love Wonder Bread…”

“Why do you hate each other so much?”

They looked at their friends, and then at each other, suddenly bursting into a fit of laughter.

“Hate? Oh my lord, nah fam. No, no, no,” they wheezed. “Who hates who? Us? Me? Nah, you got it so wrong, my dudes.”

Confusion settled into their friends’ faces; awkward laughter joined in.

“Ah,” Maka sighed, calming down. “Guys, come on. What on earth are you saying?”

Liz waved a tentative hand. “Well, you’re always insulting each other, and smacking, and angry, and-- I don’t know, acting like you do?”

“Like that time you tripped Maka while she was carrying her lunch,” Tsubaki chimed.

“Or when you both started throwing other people’s shoes at each other,” said Soul.

Kilik muttered, “Sometimes with the person still attached to said shoes.”

“As if you all haven’t been tossed around as weapons or meisters before,” Black Star snorted.

“That’s an entirely different thing,” Liz said. “Come on, what the everloving fuck is going on with you two?”

Black Star threw an arm over Maka’s shoulder, who reciprocated the action, grinning.

“No, we don’t hate each other. We’re just offensive soulmates,” she explained.

“Sarcastic squad goals,” said her roommate.

“A deplorable duo.”

“Bosom bitches.”

“Significant shitheads.”

“One true problems.”

“I’ve got ninety-nine problems and all of them are you!”

Black Star pointed a finger gun, “Ayy!”

“Seriously the only thing I hate about him is that he slurps his ramen--”

“Ah, ha. And she does the same. Like a goddamn vacuum picking up screws--”

“As I was saying-- he slurps like a toddler learning how to eat--”

“At least I know how to.”

“Now what the fuck is that supposed to mean, you little shit?”

“You need me to spell it out for you? I said, at least I know how to eat like a basic human being.”

“Well, at least I am a basic human being--”

“Yeah, basic as fuck!”

“Ok, now you want to fight, huh? Is that it? Let’s go, Star.”

“Prepare to get wrecked, Maks.”

The both of them clasped hands and butted foreheads, pushing each other with all of their might while their friends left for lunch. They were tired, all of them were goddamn tired.

Written for @mastar-week MaStar Week 2018 Day 1: Tomfoolery

Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

#soul eater #mastar week 2018 #makaxblackstar week 2018 #maka #blackstar #nessie spills #inmates au #brotp: i had faith #mastar #mastar week

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the-fandom-crossroads · 6 years ago

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Does Nobodies is Trans? The Rumor Come Out. ch.2

This is a preview. Because someone *cough* @schemingthroughdarkness *cough* is being impatient about getting this chapter. It’s finished mostly, I just need to write one last scene with King Ansem. That’s the only reason I’m okay with posting a preview right now. Enjoy Baby Ienzo and Even’s first meeting.

Chapter warnings- mention of minor character death, use of deadname, and misgendering

Rating K

Summary- Ienzo may only be 6 years old, but that isn’t going to stop him from proving to everyone that he is a genius. This test a stranger from the castle is passing out might just be his chance to prove everyone else here wrong.

A small child sat in complete silence in the mostly empty waiting room. Most children that age would be fidgeting or playing with the toys in the children’s area. The child didn’t move an inch. An older professionally dressed woman approached the child.

“Hello you’re Nozomi right?” The woman offered the child a friendly smile.

“Ienzo.” The child mumbled not looking up from their lap.

“Hmm?” The woman held the fake smile on her face.

“My name is Ienzo.” The child still didn’t look up.

“Oh, is that a nickname your parents gave you?”

Silence and then a slight nod.

“Alright sweetie I’ll add that to your notes.” The woman made no move to write it down.

“Alright dear, do you know why I’m here?” Ienzo’s hands tightened on his pants. “I’m here because something really sad happened to your parents. Do you know anything about that?”

The lady was taking down to him like he was a child. Ienzo hated it when adults did that. He knew why he was here. He knew what the answer was if this lady was here.

“My parents are dead. Aren’t they?” The lady froze at the blunt reply.

“I’m so sorry sweetheart. The doctors did everything they could. I’m sorry but yes they did pass away.”

Ienzo had been waiting for the news all night. Ever since his parent’s coworker had come to the daycare and said there had been an accident in the labs. But it was different to hear it said out loud by an adult. It hurt, it hurt so much. He knew what death was. He knew this meant he would never see his mother and father again.

That night in Radiant Garden general hospital a five-year-old silently cried for parents he would never see again.

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

-a few months later-

“Alright, children let’s all settle down. Quiet, quiet please.” It took a moment, but eventually, the children in the playroom settled down and looked at their caretaker. “We have a very important guest that came to visit all of you today.”

A young man with shoulder length blonde hair, wearing a lab coat stepped forward. “Greetings children I’m an Even, head assistant to King Ansem.” The children paid more attention at this. People from the castle rarely came to this part of Radiant garden.

“Dr. Even is here for a very special reason. He is here to oversee a special test designed by the king himself.” The children’s eyes widened.

“Indeed, King Ansem has decided that all children should be tested in the fields of science and mathematics. The goal is to find the gifted and highly intelligent among you to become his newest students and apprentices.” The room broke out into murmuring as children started whispering to their friends.

The female caretaker clapped her hands to get back the attention of the children. “There will be a basic spelling and math test for children 4-9. Everyone 10 and up will have the chance to take the king’s personal test.” The caretaker smiled. “As your tutor I expect you all to do me proud.”

“Yes, Ms. Harada.” Came the group reply.

In the very back a 6-year-old’s eyes narrowed. Ienzo had been living at the orphanage for exactly 7 months and 12 days. In the first week, he had convinced the caregivers to call him Ienzo by breaking rules and refusing to stop if called anything else. After that Ienzo refused to play with children his age and rarely listened during to lessons. This along with his refusal to speak labeled him a “problematic” child.

Ienzo was tired of the other children and caretakers thinking he was unintelligent just because he refused to talk. This test was a way to prove them wrong. He had been stealing textbooks from the older children’s classroom for months. He simply switched the hardcover sleeves with a book “on his reading level”. No one had bothered to question why he had been reading the same hardcover fairytale book for the last 6 months. With a firm nod to himself, Ienzo came to the decision that he would not take the younger children’s test.

Coming to this decision Ienzo silently stood at the edge of the room. The older children were split off and told to follow Dr. Even into another room. Ienzo’s small form easily slipped into the group of older children. Ms. Harada probably wouldn’t even notice his absence from the younger children’s group. The older children didn’t notice the small 6 year old following them, at least not until they reached the classroom.

“Hey who let the little girl in here?” Whispered one of the older boys sitting in a desk near Ienzo.

“Ms. Harada must have missed her, because of how tiny she is.” Whispered the boy’s friend back.

Ienzo glared at the two quickly silencing them. Ienzo was a boy on a mission and he wasn’t going to be stopped by some noisy teenagers.

Dr. Even didn’t hear the conversation and didn’t seem to notice the little addition to his testing room. Dr. Even started passing out the test. “Alright, this test is incredibly difficult. Do not be surprised if you do not know how to complete some of the equations. It is expected that most of you will have to skip over some of these questions.”

Dr. Even paused at the desk he was about to place a test on and looked down and kept looking down. A small child sat in the desk before him, barely able to see the top of the desk from their seat. The child was wearing overalls and a grey shirt, their hair was messily cut short implying the use of child scissors and no adult supervision.

“What are you doing in my testing room? Ms. Harada made it quite clear the children 9 and under would be staying with her.” Ienzo glared up at the scientist and held out his hand for the test packet.

“That’s Ienzo, she doesn’t talk much.”

“I think she wants to take the test, sir.”

Ienzo looked at the other two boys with surprise. Where they backing him up?

Even looked at the young child in front of him. “This is an incredibly hard test, young lady. I don’t expect someone your age to even be able to finish the first page.” Ienzo simply glared more at Dr. Even. He wasn’t leaving until he had a chance to try and take the test.

“I think she’s serious about wanting to take this test doc.”

Even sighed, there was no rule forbidding a child so young from taking the exam. If this little girl really wanted to take the test. Why should he stop her? “Very well, if you want to take the exam I won’t stop you.”

Ienzo’s eyes widen as he was handed the test packet and a pencil. The packet was huge in his small hands. He set down the pencil and started reading the first question.

Even shook his head as he continued passing out the test. “You will have two hours to complete as much of the packet as you can. Begin.” Even moved back to the teacher’s desk as pencils began scratching on paper.

Ienzo quickly wrote down his name, Nozomi (Ienzo) Ishida and his age (6) before starting on the first question. Ms. Harada mentioned spelling and reading being tested for the younger children. There were no reading questions in the older children’s packet.

The first page of the packet had simple math equations on it. The second page had general science questions. The packet continued switching between the two each page having harder questions than the last. Ienzo was happy to say he was able to answer all the questions on the first two pages. It frustrated him that he had to skip some of the harder science questions later. Ienzo was relieved when some of the later science pages where different. They were just math equations hidden in scientific sentences, he was certain he could answer those.

Even observed as the older boys and girls worked on their exams. It was satisfying seeing their faces go from confident to frustrated to defeated as they got farther into the packet. Dr. Even had snuck some of his own equations into the later physics questions.

Throughout the test Even kept an eye on his youngest test taker. When he had administered this exam to the public school the teachers had barely let any 10-year-olds take it. Ienzo was certainly the youngest person to ever take this test.

Even watched surprise growing as Ienzo worked on the first page. From where Even was sitting it looked like Ienzo was writing an answer for every question. Perhaps she was just guessing and writing gibberish?

Slowly around the one-hour point, children started coming up and turning in their tests. It was clear these students had reached a part of the packet and had just given up on trying to answer any of the harder questions. Even began grading the tests as they were turned in. It was quick work since most only completed half of the packet. Around the hour and a half mark, children started being more confident as they turned in their tests. A quick skim showed that these children didn’t finish the later questions either. The two boys that had stuck up for Ienzo finished just before the 2-hour mark. When they left just Even and Ienzo was left in the testing room.

Even picked up the ungraded papers before quietly moving to sit in a desk closer to Ienzo. Ienzo quickly looked up from his test and looked at the clock. A sigh was released as he read the time.

“Are you still working on the questions?” Dr. Even inquired.

Ienzo refused to meet his eyes and instead nodded to the desk. He was embarrassed, the older kids had already finished. They answered the questions faster than him. That probably meant they were smarter than him and he had been wrong about taking this test. He had even skipped questions! Questions that were supposed to be the easy ones.

“I can give you a little extra time if you would like.” Even wasn’t supposed to give kids extra time, but he was curious about how far this child could get in this test. Ienzo’s head shot up as he made eye contact and quickly nodded.

“Alright, you have until I finish grading the other students’ tests.”

Ienzo quickly returned to the packet. He was dead set on finishing this thing. There were only 3 pages left and they only seemed to have one or two questions each.

The two fell into an amiable silence as Even returned to grading the exams. Even was reaching the bottom of his grading pile when a quiet tap-tap on a desk broke the silence. Even looked up to the surprisingly determined face of a 6-year-old.

“Did you finish?” A nod. “Were you able to answer all the questions?” A pause and then an embarrassed shake of the head no. “It’s alright none of the others were able to answer all of the questions either.” A blink. “If you wait a moment, I can grade your exam right now.” With an enthusiastic nod, the packet was shoved in Dr. Even’s face.

Even chuckled as he took the packet. He looked at the name signed at the top, Nozomi (Ienzo) Ishida Age: 6. So she was slightly older than she looked, but only slightly. Ishida, Even vaguely recognized that name. One of King Ansem’s researches had that name. Perhaps that scientist and this child were related.

Even began grading the first page, 100%! He moved to the next page which was also 100% correct. After that, there were a few wrong answers here or there, but most were correct. It wasn’t until mid-way through that he saw his first completely blank question. It had been one of the anatomy ones that asked for a list of all the muscles in a person’s jaw. After that, it was a good balance of correct and incorrect/blank answers. What surprised Even was when he got to the hard equations on the last few pages. Equations no one else even attempted to do. There was a half point off here and there for missing negative or positive signs, but all the equation work was correct.

How had a 6-year-old done this?

Ienzo sat in silence, his hand tightening under the desk with every mark Dr. Even made with his red pen. This had been a bad idea. He had made a lot of mistakes and he doubted the older kids made them. He should have just taken the test with the younger children.

Even finishes grading the theoretical physics equations and looks up. “Well Ienzo, I will say you got quite a few incorrect. Your final score was 73.”

Ienzo looks down a “C”, a failing grade.

“It is not an ideal score, but factoring outdoor circumstances it is an acceptable score.” Ienzo hesitantly looks up. “Seeing as the other students did not score above a 64, your score is promising.”

Ienzo audibly gasps. He couldn’t have, could he? Did he really get the highest score?

Even moves to stand and holds out his hand for the gifted child. “Congratulations.”

Ienzo shakes the hand and smiles. Even gets the feeling it is a rare gesture.

“Unfortunately I have made the decision to not announce your score.” The smile vanishes. “I wish to inform King Ansem first. It is his call as to where we go from here.”

Ienzo nods. Informing the king makes sense. Ienzo signs the zipped lips gesture with a little smile. He wasn’t going to tell anyone.

Even chuckles, he did not know this mute child knew sign language. He stands collecting all the tests. “I must inform the caretaker of the results.” Ienzo slides off his seat to follow Even out. He grabs the tail of scientist’s lab coat to keep up. Even doesn’t notice.

“Ah, Ms. Harada all the students have completed the test and I have graded them.”

Ms. Harada turns to face Even and smiles. “There were promising scores I hope?”

Dr. Even nods slightly. “Yes, there were some acceptable scores. I will have to report back to King Ansem for the final verdict.”

She nods. “Of course Doctor.” Ms. Harada finally seems to notice Ienzo and frowns. “Ms. Ishida, you should be playing with the other children.”

Even holds back a chuckle at the glare he sees form on Ienzo’s face. “Ienzo somehow snuck by you and has been in my testing room all afternoon.”

“We are terribly sorry Dr. Even. She has a habit of running off.” Ms. Harada’s frown hardens. “She will be disciplined I assure you.” Ienzo looks at the floor.

Even isn’t surprised this wasn’t the first time Ienzo had run off. The fact that no one came to check his room for the child was troubling. “There is no need for punishment. Ienzo did not disrupt the test or cause any problems.”

Ienzo looks up at Dr. Even surprised. He was standing up for him?

Ms. Harada seems surprised by this statement as well. “A-alright if it wasn’t an issue then.” Ms. Harada glances at Ienzo. She wasn’t going to argue with someone from the castle over this troublesome girl. “I guess there is no reason to discipline you, this time. If you continue running off there will be consequences young lady. Do you understand?”

Ienzo doesn’t look at her but nods. He was so close to having someone notice how smart he really was. He wasn’t going to risk losing it by getting in trouble for running off now.

“It is time I take my leave. The final test results will be delivered in a few days. Good day, Ms. Harada.” Even gives a polite if stiff farewell to Ienzo’s caretaker. He then looks down at the 6-year-old. “I have a feeling our paths will cross again very soon, until then, Ienzo.” With that Even walks through the front door and leaves.

Ienzo smiles as he watches Dr. Even leave with his test score. He ignores the suspicious look Ms. Harada gives him. “What did you do in Dr. Even’s testing room for two hours?” Ienzo stares her straight in the eyes and signs “secret”, before walking away to the playroom.

Hope you liked the preview. I’ll post this on AO3 when I finish writing the King Ansem scene. Ienzo’s full name was thought up by @schemingthroughdarkness so credit goes to them. I don’t remember the meaning behind it sorry. Random orphanage caretaker got a random common Japanese name, it has no meaning. I hope how I used pronouns wasn’t to confusing. Ienzo uses he/him pronouns for himself in his head. If it’s someone else’s POV they use she/her or “the child”.

Thanks for reading!

#ienzo #even #pre-bbs #kingdom hearts #zexion #vexen

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audliminal · 7 years ago

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Hi Deaf, I’m Dad!

So!!! I have an actual fic for you, courtesy of the signing-verse. It’s about Virgil and Patton’s first meeting, but before you read it I really wanna point an (extremely grateful) finger to @all-da-fandoms for bringing up the idea of mute!roman to me in the first place. They’re an extremely awesome person, and if I had had any idea how popular that post was gonna get, I would have made sure to credit them much earlier than this!

And now, without further ado; the fic!

Word count: 1433 (Also on Ao3)

Nothing makes Virgil dread getting up more than the first day of a new school year. A new year means new teachers, and being deaf, that can never be a good thing. First, there are the assholes who decide that his deafness is a personal attack on them and do their damnedest to get in the way of every little accommodation he needs. Worse than that, though, are the teachers who stare at him as if they’re on the verge of crying. Those ones manifest their concern for his supposed wellbeing by inflating his grades on homework and tests, and constantly trying “improve” on his accommodations. Virgil hates both kinds of teachers equally.

His overhead light flashes on and then off again. He blinks and rolls over with a groan. The vibrations feel strange in his throat with no sound to accompany them, so he cuts himself off and stares at the doorway, where his mother is standing. She smiles, waves at him and begins to sign.

Breakfast’s ready when you’re ready. Okay? Virgil frowns and nods in response, pushing himself up into a sitting position.

I’ll be there soon. Virgil signs back, once his hands are free.

Light on? She asks, and at his nod, his mother flips the light switch once more and leaves Virgil to lean over and check his phone. The time blinks back at him, 6:30 am. Far too early to be even thinking about getting up, but alas, he has to leave for school in twenty-five minutes. So, he gets up, grabs a pair of jeans from his floor, and once he’s dressed, he pads into the kitchen, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Good morning. His mother signs, pressing a gentle hand to his shoulder as he walks past her to sit in front of the plate of food she’s left on the table for him. He eats the eggs silently and watches as his mother runs around, getting ready for work. Eventually, she comes back into the kitchen and waves over at him before signing goodbye. Virgil waves back, and then stares down at the rest of his breakfast. He keeps a careful eye on the time as he eats, and as soon as it reads 6:50, he dumps his plate in the sink and goes to get his stuff for school.

Keys in hand, Virgil finally leaves his apartment and heads down the street. Not for the first time, he thinks about how grateful he is that they live so close to the school. It’s a bit of a walk, but at least he doesn’t have to take a bus- that had been the worst kind of hell when he had started mainstream school in eighth grade. Nothing could ever hope to beat that first morning, getting on the bus all high hopes and ready to make friends, only to be surrounded by a bunch of kids who didn’t even notice him, as they all chatted away with voices he couldn’t hear. Virgil had tried turning on his implants, but it had been too loud, and he hadn’t been able to make out any words amidst the chatter. After that, he had quickly given up on the idea of making any friends.

He was still grateful for the transition year- it had definitely taken a long time for Virgil to even begin to get the hang of learning in a mainstream environment, and the year of eighth grade had allowed him the time he needed to figure out (mostly through trial and error) how to keep his grades afloat. Now, three years later, he’s managing fairly well- his grades are far from perfect, but he survives, even when the teachers are especially stupid and act like his deafness isn’t their problem. Virgil arrives at the high school with ten minutes to spare, and he immediately heads for his first-period class. He opens the door, and with a sigh, he slides into a desk at the front of the room to wait.

Five minutes later, he catches movement in the corner of his eye and looks over. A kid he’s never seen before is sitting at the desk next to him, but his head is turned away, to look at another kid who’s sitting nearby, so he can’t tell what the boy is saying. Luckily, a moment later, the other kid starts to talk, and he frowns when he catches the word ‘deaf’ in their lip movements. A moment later, the new boy turns back to him, and Virgil nearly falls out of his chair when the boy starts to sign.

Hello! This kid knows sign language?! Virgil helplessly responds with a half-hearted wave of his own, feeling like the entire world has turned upside-down in a split second.

My name is Patton, the boy signs, practically bouncing in his seat. What’s yours? Virgil quickly fumbles to spell out his own name in response.

Nice to meet you! Patton’s grin gets even wider, as he leans forward in his seat. I can’t believe I got lucky enough to have a class with someone else who knows sign language!

Are you deaf too? Virgil asks, trying to sign through his complete shock. He immediately winces at his phrasing, though, wondering if that came off as rude

No, but my father is. Patton replies. So I use a lot of sign language at home. Virgil nods absently at the response and glances away. Looking down at his arm, he tries to surreptitiously pinch himself. It hurts.Virgil looks back up, and Patton immediately starts signing again.

Where’s your interpreter? Virgil grimaces and shrugs.

Don’t have one. He signs back. I’m pretty good at lip reading, so we didn’t think it was worth it. Besides, I’m not sure all the teachers would let me. Patton frowns at Virgil’s last comment, but he doesn’t argue, and a moment later, a girl walks up to them. Virgil is preparing to read her lips when Patton’s hands start moving again.

Are you deaf too? Patton’s hands spell out, in time with the girl’s moving face. Virgil stares in wonder, as Patton answers her with still moving hands. Is this kid interpreting for him?

No, I’m not deaf. Virgil catches the frown forming on Patton’s face, and glances over at the girl. Why do you ask?

Then why are you using sign language? Oh, Virgil knows this chick. She’s the daughter of Mr. Gelman, his absolute worst nightmare from last year. He had been convinced that Virgil was just using his deafness to get away with being lazy, and had behaved accordingly all year. Every little accommodation had been a struggle, and Mr. Gelman had taken great joy in forcing Virgil to use his cochlear implants, discomfort be damned.

He has cochlear implants; you don’t need to sign. Patton’s hands falter momentarily, and Virgil glances up to see the surprise on the other boy’s face. You shouldn’t encourage him to disrupt the class.

The words are pretty much exactly what her father had told him last year, so it’s clear where she got the notion from. Virgil is about to formulate a response, but Patton beats him to it.

Who said we were signing because he needed it? Patton is still translating, but Virgil takes a moment to examine his face. Patton’s expression has gone from a somewhat childish excitement to the most intense frown.

Since you asked so nicely, Patton is still talking, and Virgil makes a split second decision to start lip reading because he has a feeling that whatever Patton says next isn’t going to be quite so easily translated into ASL.

We happen to be using sign language because we want to, Patton is saying. It’s comfortable and easier for both of us, and anyways class hasn’t even started yet, so I think you should butt your face out of our business. Virgil snickers at her stunned look, and knows that Patton delivered that with every ounce of force it looked like he was. He waves a friendly goodbye as Kayla retreats back to her desk, and then turns back towards Patton. Thanks. He doesn’t really know what to say past that. Patton has just done something that nobody else has ever done for him. Don’t mention it. Then, after a pause, do you get that a lot? Patton’s frown deepens even more when Virgil nods, but Virgil can’t exactly offer much more explanation because at that exact moment, Patton’s attention is caught by what must have been the first-period bell, and the teacher starts class.

**Okay, so there we have it! I know this isn’t super long, but I’m still kind of figuring out how to write these characters. And if any of you are deaf (or hoh) I’d love any pointers or corrections you have. I’m not deaf or mute, so it stands to reason that I’ll probably make some mistakes.

(There’s also a sequel now, featuring Logan, if you’re interested!)

#my fics #moxiety #singing-verse

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