#I swear the only thing that can make him admit to it is retirement (as in how bad it really is)

[burirammin]

Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast : Misano 2024 - Nature's Sprinkler Surprise

"But yeah Márquez, I mean, anybody that thought he was.. didn't have.. That he lost the skill. That he lost the hunger. That he lost the willingness to take risks. I think this two last weekend would show that he hasn't lost anything" "And talking about his physical strength you never, he never mentions it. Never never mentions it. I mean he did say, somebody did ask him how's his physical strength now compared to 2019? and he said 'well it's not as good'. But you don't really hear him says anything specific about it but on Thursday I was walking through the paddock and Márquez was riding..." "He has no weaknesses, he wants us to think he has no weakness" "Yeah. He was riding through the paddock on his scooter with his right arm, you know right hand holding the throttle, and his left arm was holding his upper arm around where it was sawed in half and he was wincing yeah? So he.. he probably thought no one was watching then but you know, that told me straight away that he's still in a lot of pain with that. But he.. There's no way he will say that because as soon as you say that people can think 'right, he's got a... there's a chink in his armor and if I keep pushing, in a fight, I can sort of get in there'. He never shows, never says anything about it but that really showed me that he probably still got a lot of pain and discomfort from that arm and it's still probably isn't as strong as it should be"

We all already know this (kind of) but yeah... kms

[wooataes]

a wilted rose - ljh

pairing: mafia boss!lee jihoon x fem!reader

word count: 3k

warnings: mafia!au, arranged marriage!au, angst, hurt and comfort, mentions of violence and guns, injuries, bruises, crying, swearing, implied murder, slight fluff, jihoon being protective (yes, that’s a warning)

summary: an unfortunate encounter has jihoon realize his true feelings for his wife.

a/n: toyed around with the idea of mafia!boss jihoon and this is what popped out 🙊 happy new year, friends!

- tae 💜🌸✨

Masterlist

Part Two? | Ask to be added to my taglist

Lee Jihoon’s family is known as one of the most feared Mafia families in South Korea, his great grandparents having made a reputation for themselves that has been held up for generations.

Jihoon was born an only child and singular heir to the Lee fortune and the Lee legacy; having known from a young age that he would eventually end up being the leader of the Lee clan. He knew the family business was dangerous, and since being taught the ropes at 13, he knew that his relationships could be used against him from rival clans. This reason alone caused him to be cautious and callous with who he associated with. He only has two important people he would consider his friends.

His closest friend, Kwon Soonyoung also doubles as his right hand man. Both men grew up together due to Soonyoung’s father being close with Jihoon’s. Their frequent meetings caused the young men to be around eachother for long bouts of time, eventually being homeschooled together while their father’s talked business. For Jihoon, Soonyoung is the one and only person he could trust on this earth- time and time again, he has always proved his unchallenged loyalty to Jihoon and his father’s family. If Jihoon was irrational and unfiltered, Soonyoung was his voice of reason and his level-headed decision maker. To him, it was a match made in heaven.

The second person he considered his friend, or used to, was you. You came into both Jihoon and Soonyoung’s life at 8 years old, your family having been hired by Master Lee to work as live-in staff in their mansion. You were the only other child Jihoon and Soonyoung’s age, and despite Master Lee’s cold heart, he grew to treat you like his daughter and let Jihoon frequently spend his younger years playing with his two closest friends when they weren’t being homeschooled together until he was of age to get into the family business.

12 months ago, when Jihoon had just turned 25, Master Lee announced his soon to be retirement to his son. The only condition for Jihoon to step up to be head of the family business was simple but to Jihoon, was absolutely atrocious.

“I don’t understand why you think me marrying would be advantageous to the family, father.” He hisses, adjusting his chain around his neck, glaring at the stupid red rose, the Lee family staple, perfectly pinned to his lapel.

“It is not to a random woman, Jihoon.” Master Lee frowned.

“That makes it worse!” He barked, leaning his head back in frustration.

“Jihoon. You have to know that no one can be trusted in this business. I am not allowing you to marry outside of who we trust. They can slither their way into your heart and when you are at your most vulnerable, they take everything out from under you. If the enemy knows you’re committed to someone already, it keeps them from hurting us from the inside.”

“Yeah, it also makes Y/N the number one target to the enemy and they will try and swipe her away from under our noses!” He’s yelling now.

He would never admit it to anyone, but he cares too much for you. You’re too good to be associated with the dastardly business that is associated with being in the mafia; you’re a good hearted person who happily serves the Lee family alongside your just as good parents. You’re the one good thing that Jihoon has left, and he’d be damned if he couldn’t protect you.

“It’s not like you’re going to be parading her out for missions and stake outs.” Master Lee frowns. “She is only for the parties. So others know that you’re a committed man that will not waver. I guarantee you she will be protected. She will be treated like a queen in here, and she won’t ever have to see the dark side of the business. Son, I promise you.”

For 12 months, Jihoon, in the public eye was the perfect model husband with you. He stayed by your side faithfully at galas and parties, parading you around with a look of what was perceived as adoration by others. Behind closed doors however, Jihoon treated you like a ghost. Long gone was your once closest friend who you stayed up late with to binge watch stupid movies, playing video games and pranks on Soonyoung. The only thing that remained was a quiet man that only greeted you for one meal a day, to his insistence for the sake of ‘normalcy.’ In your opinion, it felt anything but. Your attempts at conversion were shut down with one worded answers or sometimes none at all, and over time, you grew to enjoy your meal with your husband in silence before going about your day around the Lee mansion alone.

Jihoon thought his father’s plan was working. For 12 months, his wife was safe and protected and never got caught up with any of the mafia business. He was in alliance with most rival clans and worked out plans and deals to work for the foreseeable future.

Sadly for Jihoon, Master Lee was full of shit.

Jihoon is frantic. The staff had alerted him while out for a meeting with an ally clan that you had been injured. They were intentionally vague with details, knowing their boss would fly off the handle at the extent to what your injuries were.

“She’s at home.” Jihoon hears Soonyoung’s voice over the phone.

“What the fuck happened, Soonyoung.” He is sure he is making his driver break at least 10 different road laws right now to get back to the mansion. He makes a mental note to contact the local police and send some generous gift baskets.

“The guards don’t know. I’m trying to get it out of them, but no luck yet.”

“She shouldn’t have been out unsupervised.” Jihoon winces, rubbing at his temples. “Tell them if they don’t give you an honest answer by the time I’m back, I will have their tongues.”

“Just go to her right now, Hoon-ah.”

Marching into the living room, Jihoon makes his presence known by the heavy thuds of his boots on the tiled floor. His eyes scan the room until they finally land on you, his childhood friend and arranged wife, sitting anxiously on the couch. He feels his eye twitch at the sight of no guards in sight, you having been left alone since you have returned.

You lift your head up shakily, your eyes widening at the sight of your husband. His long hair, usually sported in a bun atop his head is now strewn about and falling out of the elastic holding it together, suit jacket scrunched and twisted, red rose nowhere to be found. You’re astonished, having grown so used to seeing your husband with his perfect red rose on his lapel at all times. What you didn’t know that after having found out about your capture, he thrown it to the ground in frustration of his worst fears coming true.

“Jihoon?” You blink nervously.

This is the first time you’ve seen him properly (minus your daily lunches) for maybe a month. He stares intently across the room at you, scanning your body. You’re cradling your left wrist in your hand, a bruise in the perfect shape of a hand print forming around your wrist. His eyes lift to your face, his blood boiling at the sight of a small cut across your cheek, your right eye swelling up and starting to turn purple.

“I-I’m sorry,” you stutter, biting down on your lip. “I know I shouldn’t have-“

You flinch at the sight of Jihoon striding forward, only to pause when he walks straight past you and into the kitchen, causing your shoulders to deflate. You were stupid to think your best friend had come back for only a moment. You sink sadly into the couch, curling up slowly.

Your head stays facing down at the floor as you run your fingertip over the hand print on your wrist, wincing and hissing as you press a little too hard. You sigh after a moment, moving to stand up before you pause at the sight of Jihoon’s expensive dress shoes directly in front of you.

You look up nervously at him as he reaches out, delicately taking your wrist, face neutral as he runs his fingers gently over the bruise just like you had done, eyebrows furrowing. You shiver slightly, this being the first physical contact you have felt from your husband in months. Next, he reaches forward and tucks a stray hair behind your cheek before examining the darkening bruise over your eye. At this, you see his eyes darken, heaving a heavy sigh through his nose.

“Who the fuck did this to you.” His voice is soft as he eyes you.

“I-I…”

“I need to know who did this.” He pleads.

“It was Hwang.” You whimper.

His jaw clenches. Hwang has sworn vengeance against the Lee family ever since Master Lee cut ties and alliances with the Hwang’s over his unethical practices. In Hwang’s words, he wanted to poison the perfect garden of roses that Master Lee built.

“H-he said it was a warning..” you can’t look Jihoon in the face. “T-to keep your wife on a leash or else something could happen. Jihoon, I’m so sorry, I really shouldn’t have gone out, I didn’t want to cause any more trouble.” You’re crying softly now, wincing at the pain that your swelling is causing.

You tense up as you feel something cool delicately rest on your cheek, opening your eyes to see your husband holding an ice pack gently to your face. Your eyebrows furrow in confusion as he moves you so you’re sitting down on the couch once more.

“You stay here until Soonyoung gets back to look after you, okay?” He instructs you as you just stare at him, bewildered. “Do you hear me, Y/N?” You nod your head slowly as you cradle the ice pack to your cheek. “Good.”

You watch Jihoon turn around and march back towards the front door of the mansion, pointing to Mr Kim, one of the guards who has been in Jihoon’s family for years. “Make sure no one comes inside this mansion except for me and Soonyoung. You guard her with your life until he gets here.” The man nods his head sternly as he moves to stand in the doorway between the living room and the entryway.

“J-Jihoon? Where are you going?” You ask nervously as your husband adjusts the gun holster around his waist, his voice cold and deadly, sending a shiver down your spine.

“I’m going to kill the fucker who thought he could touch my wife and get away with it.”

And with that, the door slams behind him, leaving you alone with Mr Kim eyeing the door sternly.

You stay anxiously in the living room for what feels like an eternity, waiting to hear anything from Jihoon or his guards. You jolt at the sound of the door after only 15 minutes of sitting in silence, breathing a sigh of relief as you see Soonyoung rush inside and run straight towards you.

“Soon…” you whimper as he meets you halfway, immediately pulling you close and hugging you to his chest.

“Fuck, Y/N, I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” He breathes out, shaky. “The one fucking day I had to go run some errands…”

You hate the fact that Hwang probably waited for Soonyoung to be away from you to strike.

“Soon, it’s fine…” you whisper, wincing as he pulls away to look down at your face, closely examining your swelling eye.

“It’s not fine, look at you!”

“I’m still alive, aren’t I?” You whisper, and he just sighs with frustration, leading you to the couch and sitting you up against the cushions, laying a fluffy blanket over you.

“You’re going to sit here and we are going to watch some tv until Jihoon-ah gets back, okay?” He settles down beside you.

“Soonyoung, you can go have a shower or eat or something...” Your voice is low as he scrolls through random movies to play on Netflix.

“Nope.” He made a promise to stay with you until Jihoon gets back, and he will stay true to his word. Eating and washing up can wait.

“Y/N-ah.” Soonyoung glances at his phone after a few hours. The ice pack against your cheek is now lukewarm, your legs having shaken non-stop since you’d been forced to sit down.

“Hm..” you hum in response.

“Jihoon-ah will be home in 5 minutes. He asked for me to give you both some privacy and take care of some clean-up. Will you be okay with Mr Kim watching you?”

“Okay.” You respond nervously, teeth sinking into your bottom lip as Soonyoung gently touches your good cheek with his finger.

“I’ll be in the other room making calls if you get scared between now and then. Okay?”

“Thank you, Soonie.” You whisper, looking up at him with a grateful smile.

“You’re welcome.” He smiles back before turning around and walking down the hall, leaving you alone once more as the panic begins to rise in your body.

You’re lucky you don’t have to wait long, as true to Soonyoung’s word, Jihoon steps inside his mansion and into the living room not even 5 minutes later, heaving a sigh. When you spot him, you rush quickly to him, immediately noticing the blood on his shirt and causing you to panic even more.

“Oh god.. you’re bleeding, what have I done? Your father will have me for this.” You quickly try to wipe the blood off his shirt (which you’re relieved to realize isn’t his). Jihoon surprises you both as he reaches forward to take your injured wrist again, pulling you to him and wrapping his arms tight around your waist.

He pulls your head into the crook of his neck, squeezing you to him as his chin rests on top of your head, grip tight on your shirt. You’re shaking before you just melt into his embrace, holding onto his jacket tight as he hums.

“Are you okay.” When you just nod, he pulls back to look into your face. “I need to hear it from you, Y/N. Please… just humor me.”

“Yeah, I’m okay, Hoonie.” You breathe out with wide eyes.

Why does he look so scared?

He sighs with finality before he pulls you back to him, hugging you tight for the first time since he was forced to hold you at your wedding over 12 months ago.

“We will need more security.” He mumbles to you as he holds you tight. “Guards at every post. When we go out, when you’re out in the garden, everywhere. It’s clear they know your schedule so we need to throw them off your scent.” He is talking a mile a minute as he keeps you close to his chest, afraid you’d slip away. “As a precaution, I will have guards sweep the house for any bugs they could have planted. Tonight, we will sleep in the safe house. Is that okay with you, Y/N?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.” You whisper, your face buried in his shirt. You don’t want to leave his side as much as he doesn’t too - this being the most affection you’ve gotten from someone in 12 months.

“Fuck.” Jihoon didn’t account for the fact his safe house only had one king size bed. “You can take the bed, okay… I can take the couch.”

“Don’t be silly.” You hum, already dragging him to the bed. “We’re both adults here. I think we can handle sharing a bed. We used to in school, right Hoonie?”

“I mean yeah, but we weren’t married then.”

“We’re only married on paper. Why are you being so iffy?” You laugh, wincing as your smile hurts your bruising cheek. Without thinking, he reaches out to cup your face worriedly, examining the bruise before rushing out to the kitchen, returning a few moments later with a small ice pack to press to your cheek.

“I’d feel more comfortable if you were close, Hoon. Please.” You ask quieter now as he rocks awkwardly on his heels.

“Only until you’re asleep.” He bargains, and you nod quickly.

“Deal.”

After an awkward intermission of you both getting ready to share the bed for the first time since your wedding, you’re finally drifting off, curled up beside your husband as he sits up against the bed head, stiff as a board in sweatpants and a large jumper. Jihoon lays on top of the blankets so he can make an easy get away when you fall into a deep sleep.

He’s about to up and leave as your breathing evens out, thinking you’re asleep when he feels you shift. You scoot closer, hand finding his as your head nestles comfortably against his shoulder. You visibly relax at his warmth, your shaky hands slowing to a stop as you essentially glue yourself to his side. He tenses up, looking down at you with wide eyes as you finally fall asleep. He frowns deeply at the sight of your bruise showing before aggressively sighing to himself and wrapping his free arm around you to hold you against his chest. He is unable to resist your cuteness. That, and he wants to protect you, of course.

Jihoon refuses to sleep a wink in case someone tries to break in, but after hour four of him stroking your arm delicately with his cheek resting on top of your forehead, he feels himself drifting off.

When he wakes up, he sees you’re still cuddled up to him, but almost jumps out of his skin when he sees Soonyoung standing at the foot of the bed with a knowing smirk on his face.

“It took you long enough to treat your wife like she is your wife.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Jihoon hisses out as quietly as possible to not wake you, his cheeks bright red. “If she wakes up, I’ll have your head.”

“I’m sure you will.” He winks.

“Kwon Soonyoung I swear to god if my wife wasn’t sleeping against me right now, you’d be six feet under.”

“Mhm~” he sing songs, stepping out the bedroom door.

“If you tell anyone, you’re dead.”

ljh taglist

@breakfastburritosattiffanys @mar-627 @milopenne @lanatheawesome @sunnynapp @jaeminsbuckethat @opheliaas-stuff @hotricewoozi@lavayeon @seventeenthingsblr @zaggprincess2 @markleehee @kwanniesboo @beardedartgamingbakery @iarayara

permanent taglist

@misshale21 @etaerealboy @kawennote09 @im-gemmy @devinkelsey19 @woozieeeee @loveless-lie @lixiel0ver @keymins @nen-nyy @i-dont-give-a-fok @miriamxsworld @jojowantstocry @roe-sinning @sun-daddy-yoriichi @coveyland @side-angel @rinalouu @flwerrchild @apobangpowrld @ldysmfrst @adeptiixiao @lisaaaaamanobannn @jovialpartyneckoaf @sarahisupset

[latoyalestrange]

hi! i love your writing! 🖤 could you do one where sebastian is all jealous when f!mc starts spending a lot of time with another boy, seb says he’s a “bad influence” and she says something like “you taught me all three of the unforgivables seb, if you’re jealous you can admit it” just calling him out

accidentally escalated things near the end. oops?

green is for envy

s. sallow x f!reader

yes i'm using this gif again what about it

summary: you'd been friends with sebastian since your first day at hogwarts. during your seventh year, professor weasley assigns a project to complete alongside garreth, thinking you would be a good influence on him. you only thought of him as a friend, but sebastian didn't see it that way.

words: 3.1k (longest one to date oops)

warnings: aged up seb and mc, pining, jealousy, swearing, smut, unprotected sex pinv, soft!seb, virgin!reader not edited!

when professor weasley said you'd be partnered up with garreth, you were annoyed at first. he had a reputation of putting off assignments that didn't interest him. that of course wouldn't make professor weasley change your partner, so you had to persist anyway.

sebastian was distracted the entire study hall that day. you'd decided to sit with garreth instead of him, wanting to discuss the project. he sat on the opposite side of the great hall to you, your back facing him. he had a clear view of garreth as you talked. he scoffed as he saw the sly expression on the gryffindor's face.

"just look at him, trying to flirt with her. pathetic." if looks could kill, garreth would've been on the floor minutes ago. a searing scowl replaced his normally handsome eyes.

"merlin, i knew this was going to happen." ominis instantly rose out of his seat, closing his book and taking it in his arms.

"where are you going?" his tone was harsh, his mind still on you.

"i'm not going to listen to you mope about this. you've had plenty of chances." he started to take his wand out to light his way out, but sebastian placed his hand on his wrist, halting his movements. if it were anyone but sebastian or you, he would've blasted them with his wand.

"what's that supposed to mean?" his voice softened, almost sounding hurt. ominis sighed and retired his wand back to his pocket.

"i mean you've fancied her for two years and have avoided every possible opportunity to make a move. i wouldn't blame her if weasley was winning her over right now." sebastian's shoulders slumped at his words, looking more defeated than angry.

"i try flirting with her, but it doesn't seem to phase her. what am i supposed to do?" he let his head fall into his hands as he rested his elbows on the sturdy wooden table. ominis rolled his eyes dramatically and returned to his seat.

"you're oblivious, aren't you?" he asked, his voice hushed. sebastian peeked at his friend from behind his hands, his face feeling suddenly feeling warm.

"probably. to what?" ominis bit his lip, trying so hard not to laugh when he was supposed to be annoyed at him.

"she flirts back, you git. she's just not as arrogant as you, she's more shy. when she gets you little sweets from the kitchen, asks you to walk her to hogsmeade, or asks you for help on assignments, she's flirting with you." sebastian looked away for a moment, contemplating what ominis was saying.

"for merlin's sake, has she ever picked someone other than you to duel with? do you notice her doing those things for anyone else? no."

"bloody hell, ominis," he turned to face his friend and placed a firm hand on his shoulder, pleading with him. "how do i fix it?" ominis rolled his eyes once more.

"send her an owl. tell her to meet you in the undercroft tonight." sebastian quirked his head to the side, expecting more.

"yes, and then what? fall to my knees and beg for her hand?"

ominis shrugged, "sure, i don't care. just don't break the couch. i like that couch." sebastian shoved him where he sat, withdrawing his hand back to his lap.

"don't speak of her like that. she's a lady." ominis stopped himself from chuckling, but his cheeks flushed a bright red as a knowing smile still shined through. "what's that face for?"

"you should hear some of the things she's said about you in confidence." sebastian's eyes went wide as his friend allowed himself to laugh. he swallowed down hard, his tie feeling much tighter than before. "don't ask, because i won't tell--"

"right, right, of course." sebastian wiped his brow with the back of his hand-- was he sweating? why was it suddenly so hot? and just his luck, you had turned around to check on your friends in that moment. you smiled sweetly at him and waved. with his jaw clenched tightly shut, he painfully waved back at you. you turned back just in time to miss garreth mocking sebastian by waving his fingers and batting his eyelashes. he didn't have the heart to fight him right now, he was already so distraught. he could've had you this entire time.

Undercroft tonight. Urgent.

S

seeing his lettering on the page made you feel like a giddy schoolgirl. maybe because you were one. you practically skipped down to the undercroft once the common room was clear and your roommate was asleep. part of you knew he was just going to ask for a favor or needed council on something, but another part of you hoped so badly that he just wanted to see you. to be in your presence.

your heart was racing as you were anticipating your answer, the door to the undercroft letting out a series of mechanical clicks as it opened. you stepped through, slowly advancing into the dimly lit room with anticipation. about half of the candles that were usually lit were put out, creating a gloomy orange hue. perhaps he wasn't there yet?

"sebastian?" you looked over the room once more, unable to spot his familiar figure. then, just as you relaxed as you knew you were alone, a pair of firm hands gripped your waist, startling you out of your skin. you gasped instinctively and forced yourself out of their grip, turning around as fast as you could. you let down your defenses as his eyes met yours.

"you have to stop doing that, sebastian. one of these days i'm going to blast you on accident." you placed your hand over your chest that was still heaving from the adrenaline. he was unphased, chuckling at the sight of you. he quickly stopped to place a comforting hand on your arm, rubbing circles with his thumb.

"okay, okay, i'm sorry." a pleased smile still remained on his face as he allowed you to regain your composure.

"you better hope that's not why you sent for me," you teased, fixing your hair slightly, which sebastian took note of.

"absolutely not." there was something behind his eyes that you were trying to decipher. something you'd never seen before. the smirk, sure, he looked at you like that every day, but you could tell that his mind was somewhere different. it made you feel like his prey as he towered over you.

"well go on then, i don't have all night." you folded your arms, but your face was anything but intimidating.

"i'll get to that in a minute. first," he took a small step towards you, his muscular hand still gently resting on the back of your arm. "how was your day? haven't seen you since you ditched me for weasley in study hall." his hand shifted upward and ghosted over your skin until it met your cheek as he delicately brushed the stray strands of your hair behind your ear. you tried to suppress the rouge that unfortunately persisted to your cheeks.

"yeah, i'm sorry about that. i was worried he was going to leave all the work for me, but he actually seems very interested in the project. he even offered to work on it after class with me this week." his hand fell to his side as he rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"of course he did." you furrowed your brow at him as he grimaced.

"what does that m--" you cut yourself off as it all started to click in your head. the lighting, the urgent letter, the attitude, everything made sense. "i can't believe it. sebastian sallow is jealous?" to your surprise, he didn't defend himself. in fact, his face was entirely confident.

"so what if i am? he's a bad influence on you."

"really, sebastian? you taught me all three unforgivable curses, the worst that he's done is procrastinate." he took a few steps forward, returning to your comfortable proximity.

"it's not what he's done, it's what he'll do. or rather, what he can't do." you found his hands palming the sides of your arms again, squeezing gently.

"yeah? and what's that?" you pushed through the sickening feeling of your stomach fluttering and looked up at him innocently, something you knew for a fact affected him. he met your gaze hungrily, then shifted down to your lips.

"there's absolutely no world in which garreth weasley can treat you better than i can." your breath stalled as he loomed over you, unable to find your words. it felt like he moved in slow motion as he brought his hand up to your cheek, palming your blushing skin. his amber eyes searched yours for any sign of hesitation. when he found none, he still waited for a moment, just breathing heavily with you. unable to hold back any longer, he connected your lips in a firm, but romantic kiss, tangling his fingers in your hair and letting his other hand pull you in by your waist. your arms eventually settled around his neck when he didn't pull away. he greedily snaked his arm around your back, bringing you further into him.

when you finally came up for air, he only trailed his lips further down until they were attacking the crook of your neck. you lips flushed and swollen, you still had the mind to tease him.

"is this what was so urgent, sallow?" he paused, and you could feel his devilish smile against your skin.

"maybe." he straightened his spine and composed himself a bit. "is that a problem?"

you shook your head, "not at all." you found your hands grasping at his neck and hair, desperate for contact. he obliged and pressed a gentle peck to your lips before retracting once more.

he sighed, "i want to do this right. come here." he directed you to the couch and sat opposite to you with your hands in his.

"are you sure this is what you want?" he didn't have to say it. the both of you knew exactly what was on the other's mind. you nodded softly, your doe eyes making him feel guilty for ruining such a pure thing with his touch. "i need you to say it."

"yes, sebastian, i'm sure." he returned the nod, looking as if he were going to burst at the seams if he didn't get some kind of release.

"okay," he breathed out heavily. "if you want me to stop at any point, just tell me."

he knew you were a virgin. there was no way someone had touched you and he didn't hear about it. you told him everything. so to say he was nervous was an understatement. perhaps more nervous than he was during his first time. he couldn't take something so precious and mess it up in the process. he needed this to be perfect for you.

he started with another gentle kiss while he refrained from letting his hands roam your body. you were disappointed when he stopped to fidget with the buttons on your uniform vest. he took his time, unhooking each one and licking his lips as he watched you toss it to the floor and start on your blouse underneath. he helped you shimmy out of your skirt and you were suddenly entirely exposed for him.

"lie back," he shifted, facing you as you let your head rest on the couch arm behind you. "just relax, okay?" he sensed tension in your stomach as he allowed his hands to needily search your body, wanting to memorize every dip and curve. he peppered loving kisses all down your stomach, stopping at the hem of your underwear. your skin felt like it was burning underneath his lips, sending electricity through your legs. he hooked his fingers under the band and slowly pulled down. you lifted your bottom half to aid him, your legs shaking as you did so. you felt so vulnerable as he took in the sight of your naked body. his eyes devoured you as he bit his lip desperately.

you let your gaze drift to the ceiling as he trailed kisses along the inside of your thigh, leaving purple marks with every few. you couldn't contain your voice, feeling so incredibly sensitive.

"probably never been touched like this, hm?" his mouth was still buried in the plush skin of your thighs.

you shook your head, "nuh uh." just as you answered, he dove straight into your core, gently circling your bundle of nerves. your back instantly arched into the couch and he forced your hips back down with his hands. your own clenched tightly at your sides, unsure of where you should put them. he noticed and placed them in his hair, encouraging you to grip onto the strands. you followed, using some of the pent up tension on his locks. he groaned, the vibration overwhelming you further.

"oh, sebastian!" your eyes screwed shut tightly as you tried your very best not to scream. everything felt so good, too good. your knees clenched around his face, which seemed to just encourage him. luckily, he came up for air, but only for a moment before he slowly pushed a finger into your heat that was already dripping. you stretched around his digit, making his pants even tighter than before. you let out a guttural moan, throwing your head back into the cushions.

"fuck, you're so tight." he couldn't help but grind his hips into the couch in search of some for of relief. after a few pumps, he added another and he could feel you starting to come undone around them. in hopes to not overwhelm you further, he retracted both of his fingers and began trailing kisses up your tummy, in between the valley of your breasts, all the way up to your lips. you could taste yourself on him, unsure if you should find it as attractive as you did. he paused to half-undress himself, leaving him in an unbuttoned dress shirt and disheveled tie. you took the opportunity to pull him toward you, connecting your lips in a heated exchange.

"eager, are we?" he teased, going back to kissing your neck. you nodded, biting your lip as you looked up at him. "don't tempt me. i don't want to hurt you." you blush deepened at his caring words as you felt his hardness press in between your legs. almost as an instinct, your back arched against him as you lifted your hips to meet his. he growled in your ear, sending a chill down your spine. he quickly planted a hand next to your head to hold himself up as he rubbed his tip against your slick entrance. you could feel the nervous pit in your stomach return as you looked down to watch.

"eyes on me, love. eyes on me." you felt his hand force your gaze upwards to meet his own. he placed one last gentle kiss on your lips before letting himself sink into you. keeping eye contact, he watched you unravel beneath him, unable to contain your moans any longer. he slowly bottomed out inside of you and stopped there, letting you adjust to his size.

"i know, i know. you're doing so good, darling," he cooed sweetly in your ear, a complete contrast to the sounds coming from you. he finally found his pace, an agonizingly slow one at that.

"sebastian, please!" you could feel tears start to brim your eyes from the frustration.

"please, what? tell me, princess." his sultry tone could've drove you mad.

"more, seb, please-- i want more!" he chuckled mischievously in your ear, lifting himself to face you again. the look in his eyes was almost scary. he quickly snaked an arm under your hips to angle them upwards, and placed his other hand on your lower stomach, pressing down gently. unsure but trusting, you closed your eyes as he aligned himself again. his pace wasn't rough by any means, but it was firm, and your cries were louder than ever before. you'd never felt anything like it before. your stomach felt like a spring that was so tightly wound that it could burst at any moment.

"oh, yes!" with each thrust you felt closer and closer to euphoria, all of your senses were drowned out by what he was doing to you.

"it's okay, i got you. let it happen." his voice was broken as he was close to his own release. he dipped his head down to push through it, sending the two of you over the edge and then some. warm tears finally fell down your cheeks as you let go, a blur of his name and other curses falling from your swollen lips. with one last go, he emptied himself inside of you.

"feels so fucking good...fuck." he fell into a heap on top of you, his warm body trapping you on the couch. not like you could move anyway. you felt stuck, your chest heaving with his.

"i'm sorry i didn't do that earlier." he admitted, his head resting on your torso. you were finally able to giggle, smoothing his disheveled hair down.

"it's okay." he sighed at your words, it wasn't okay. he placed another gentle kiss on your chest before pulling himself off of you to remove his dress shirt and tie entirely, leaving him in his shorts.

"can i get you some water?" he rose to his feet and trailed off to a dark corner to retrieve a blanket.

you shook your head once more, "nuh uh. can you just hold me?" he smiled sweetly at you as he returned, unfolding the blanket to drape around his shoulders before he sat on the couch again.

"of course." he opened his arms for you as he stretched his legs out next to you. you happily accepted the offer and found yourself engulfed in his warm, muscular arms with the blanket trapping the heat in around you.

"it's not okay, y/n." you quickly looked up to analyze the expression on his face. he looked remorseful.

"i could've said something too. i just had no idea you thought of me that way-- this way."

"that's my point exactly. i was sending mixed signals. but no more of that, okay? we tell each other absolutely everything from now on." you chuckled and nestled into him, feeling more comfortable than ever before.

"agreed."

you spent the rest of the night wrapped up in his arms on the couch.

reblog if you made it to the end!

[monzamash]

tears and scraped knees — daniel ricciardo

fatherhood is about learning the art of letting go. dad!daniel ricciardo x you | 2k warnings – cute shit, mentions of injuries and swearing. masterlist

She was the light of his life the moment she entered it, screaming the house down and crying her lungs out. Pure love personified. She was the apple of his eye, the most precious gift he had ever been given and simultaneously the reason for the grey hair speckling his dark curls; the ones identical to hers. Like him, she was a firecracker, the joker, and the life of the party everywhere she went; smile bright, eyes warm. A rich chestnut brown, flecked with yellow, charming and stunning just like his.

To Daniel, she was your little twin. Your beauty was reflected in her in different ways – in her long locks and dark sense of humour, her tenacity and moral compass. She was strong like you, stoic in her beliefs and confident in her skin.

Smart, magnetic, a bit book-ish like you.

Sporty, energetic and kind like him.

Looking at your daughter was a daily reminder that he was half him and half you – a beautiful symbol of your love, your miracle.

“How ya doin’ back there kiddo?”

“Fine,” She mumbled under her breath, eyes focused on the perfect distraction from the morning ahead – her phone. 

You and Daniel shared a knowing glance; traffic building at the lights as you waited for the signal. There was no doubt in your mind that your daughter was saving herself from a stirring speech by bottling up her feelings. Her father was basically a glorified inspirational speaker in his retirement and she had been on the receiving end of too many over the years – each one cheesier than the last, she would confess to you whenever he was out of ear shot.

“Does Dad realise that I’m not one of his rookie drivers? Like, I know what I need to do to win.”

Strong in her convictions, just like him. A carbon copy.

“Remember to keep your elbows out today, especially around that Maddy girl. I know her dad and I reckon she’s dirty like him so watch her at the sta – ouch.”

Your fingernails digging into his forearm cut off Daniel’s spiel, his eyebrows furrowed and silently asking, ‘what the fuck was that for’.

“Just have fun out there, sweetheart,” You interrupted, saving your daughter from her father’s pep-talk, “Keep your elbows tucked in, shoulders with the part like you were taught.”

Daniel sighed and turned his attention back to the busy streets of Fremantle, weaving his way through the traffic like he was back in Monaco, living out the glory days. He was the first to admit that he was living vicariously through her and passionate about what the world had in store for his not-so-little girl. He saw so much of himself in her now, sixteen and on the cusp of what could be.

But you saw things differently to him. Her path wasn’t paved so clearly in your eyes and you made sure that she remained open to whatever life had to bring. She had it all in front of her; possibilities endless with opportunity and success but that didn’t have to be racing. Your dreams for her weren’t as rigid as Daniel’s; his plan to move the family back to the UK had been vetoed by you when your daughter came to you in tears, begging to stay in school and graduate with her friends.

“But babe, those friends don’t last. It’s all just in the moment when this could be her chance at getting her foot in the door,” He argued until he was red in the face.

“Says the guy who just had Blake and his wife around last week for dinner? Come on, Dan – it’s only a year away.”

“Realistically we should’ve moved when she showed an interest in bikes…” He grumbled, frustration simmering behind his closed eyes.

“What? When she was four? Baby, she’s only sixteen but still, she has her dreams set on riding and when the time is right, we will do everything we can to help her make that a reality…”

Your voice was soft; calming as you rounded the dining table and nestled into the open arms of your husband, “Just let her take the lead.”

Daniel dropped his head onto the top of yours and sighed, “You’re right.”

“I almost always am.”

That wasn’t the last conversation you and your husband had about Joey’s future, her grandfather and namesake chiming in with what he thought was the best thing for her budding career. She was the pride and joy of the whole family; everyone saw her talent from a young age but that kind of pressure had to be managed and that had become your life’s work. Her youth had been so hyper focussed on honing her craft that sometimes you felt like she had lost her childhood to the trials and tribulations of racing.

So you put your foot down where you could; namely saving your daughter from having to sit through another car ride hearing all about her dad’s accomplishments and mistakes – hoping she would learn from him but you both knew better than that. She was so young and so ready to make her own mistakes to learn from, like it should be.

She was stronger than both you ever were – a perfect amalgamation of your love.

One of hardest part about race day for Daniel was taking a step back. Of course everyone knew who Joey’s dad was and of course she copped shit for it. Your dad’s a flog and the only reason you’re here is because of him, had been a couple of the unsavoury post-race reports your daughter eventually confessed to you – teary eyed while she begged for you not to tell Daniel but you did because if anyone knew the power of harnessing negative energy, it was your husband.

But the hardest part of all for Daniel was controlling his emotions. He had Italian blood coursing through his veins after all, passionate and fiercely protective of both his girls. Once Joey came along, you knew the papa bear within that had been lying dormant would arise and alas, you were right. All of those crazy nights in bars all around the world, fighting off sleazy men had prepared him to be a girl-dad.

That side to him was glorious to you, endlessly sexy and usually rendered you useless when he decided to bust out the dad moves but to his teenage daughter, he was a total embarrassment.

“Racing under number 33 is Joey James Ricciardo.”

“Give ‘em hell, JJ!”

Daniel’s loud woo echoed through the small crowd, heads turning in your direction including your daughters and you could sense her scowl under the helmet – mortified.

“Daniel,” You scolded, smacking your husband gently, “She’ll kill us both.”

“I know I know,” He grimaced, “Fuck, I’m sorry – I can’t help it... That’s our baby girl out there.”

The image of your daughter, barely two years old, always flashed in your memory when he said things like that. It reminded you of the weeks spent teaching her how to walk. She was so small but so tenacious and you could see that same proud glimmer in Daniel’s eyes now as he did watching her take her first steps. It was mixed with the same wash of fear he had when he let go of her bike seat down that old gravelled road for the first time, praying to god she didn’t hurt herself and end up with tears and scraped knees.

And sure, that happened. Many Band-Aids and tubes of antiseptic were applied to her bloodied elbows and knees but she was a kid after all, feeling every bump in the road until she found her strengths and soared above the rest. She was as quick as a whip and even faster on track – destined to be her own hero but always inspired by her first.

“I’m gonna be sick,” Daniel mumbled as the two of you waited for the race to begin, his foot tapping on the dead grass and nails already chewed down to the skin.

His white cap was still pulled down, disguised as a promise to his daughter who wanted him to just blend in. Wishful thinking. But there was a time that she didn’t want him to come to her meets, insisting that her life would be so much easier if her dad wasn’t ‘the Daniel Ricciardo’ but you couldn’t buckle on that one.

“Your dad is a strong man but that would kill him, J.”

“But he yells out and brags to all the parents about me and the other kids bully me for it… He doesn’t understand how hard it is being a Ricciardo.”

“Hey,” Daniel’s soft voice startled you both, heads flying towards your daughter’s bedroom door, “If that’s what you want, honey I can stay home.”

She sighed heavily and clutched the lilac pillow on her lap, “I want you there, Dad but people are so mean to me and I just want to be normal for once.”

The mattress dipped as Daniel sat down beside you and reached out for his daughters hands, “You can be anyone you want to be, darlin’ – just say the word and we’ll make it happen. We can be normal… or try to be normal.”

You couldn’t help but chuckle at your husband and give him a teasing nudge, “Try being the operative word.”

Daniel smiled and shrugged, “I’ll even wear a disguise. How about that?”

And here you were, hidden behind a couple of gum trees watching your daughter flying through the air and making her fathers hair greyer with every passing second. She was a force to be reckoned with and karmic retribution for all the years you spent white knuckling in garages across the globe.

“Now you know how I felt back when you were racing. Karma is a bitch, my love.”

“Maybe encouraging her to do this was a bad idea after all…” Daniel groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose with his shaky fingers as you slid an arm around his waist and pulled him close.

“This is sleepover camp all over again. You have to learn how to somehow let her go and spread her wings. That’s all she ever says to me, you know? I wanna be like dad – not afraid, free.”

“I didn’t even realise she felt like that…”

You softly smiled at your husband and pressed a soft kiss to his stubbled cheek, “Don’t tell her I told you.”

my hope for this little story is to build a cute world around it. i have a really nice outline for another part of this story so let me know if that's something you would like. and thank you to @vetteltea for her supportive nudge to post this x

[lazycats-stuff]

Depois de ver sua última postagem do ra's, tive que vir fazer esse pedido.

Leitor tendo a idade de Dick e sendo filho biológico de Bruce, Ra's e ele têm um relacionamento e estão prestes a se casar.

(no dia do casamento temos a liga da justiça e os bandidos presentes, você decide como continuar, por favor tenha um momento fofo entre pai e filho)

Okay, here is a translation for everyone (including me) who don't speak Portuguese:

After seeing your last post from ra's, I had to come make this request. Reader being Dick's age and being Bruce's biological son, Ra's and he have a relationship and are about to get married. (on the wedding day we have the justice league and the bad guys present, it's up to you how to proceed, please have a cute moment between father and son)

Summary: (Y/N) is getting married to Ra's. Bruce is not sure how to proceed.

Warnings: everyone put their own differences aside for our couple, Bruce is proud and emotional, fluff, wedding fluff, (Y/N)'s mom is not Talia, emotional family, mentions of the Light.

Bruce was still in shock. Even days later after being told the biggest news in his life right now. It has been a normal dinner with Ra's and (Y/N). The two have been together for about 3 years now and even though everyone was skeptic of the relationship at first, later they saw how (Y/N) was being treated.

Somehow, Bruce has felt at ease, but there is always that underlaying feeling of fear for his son being manipulated, but he didn't let his son or anyone else see it. (Y/N) is happy, Ra's is happy with is son and treats him like he is royalty.

When (Y/N) moved out of the manor to live with Ra's, Bruce had to admit, it was difficult. (Y/N) has moved to a whole another side of the world and Bruce was sad, but it was (Y/N)'s life and he is an adult. And Bruce has made sure that the manor is always a place where (Y/N) can come back.

There would be no judgement if something is to happen with (Y/N)'s and Ra's relationship. Bruce has threatened Ra's that if he hurt (Y/N) in any way, shape or form, Bruce would go after Ra's big time and would destroy everything that Ra's has built.

Ra's has promised Bruce that he genuinely loves (Y/N) and would never do something to hurt him intentionally or unintentionally.

Bruce knows that Ra's doesn't lie and that he is a man of his word, but there is always that fear in back of Bruce's mind. He knows Ra's very well and is aware of everything he has done.

(Y/N) and Bruce have been talking about the changes on the phone during their talks on the phones whenever they managed, but it was at least once a day. (Y/N), as much as he loved his suit and his vigilante identity, he has decided to retire it for now.

And as much as it pained Bruce to hear it, again, this is (Y/N)'s life and he can do what he wants. At first, Bruce thought that Ra's forced him to retire it, but (Y/N) and Ra's quickly shut down the idea of being forced.

Bruce could only sigh quietly in relief.

But one thing that he didn't expect to hear from his son was 'Ra's proposed to me.' That made Bruce head spin and he swore that everything went blank for a moment.

Then he passed out cold after standing up. There were shouts of his name and he was promptly hauled onto the couch, Alfred putting a cold towel in his head. He suspected that his blood pressure that just went down.

Bruce came to after 5 minutes and he gave his son a hug. He will swear and claim until the day he dies that it was from shock and not from anything else. Pure shock. And it takes a lot to get Bruce to pass out from shock and just to shock him in general.

Ra's, as much as he was concerned for Bruce as his father in law, he wanted to laugh. But then he realized that the others would go after him big time and (Y/N) would be mad at him.

Bruce and Ra's don't talk about it at all. Even when Bruce was with his son in (Y/N)'s room. It was nerve wracking for (Y/N), who never thought that he would ever get married. Especially in front of the League of Light too, but everyone came as civilians.

They have agreed to keep things civil for Ra's and (Y/N).

And once the wedding is over, they are going to go back to fighting once more. Bruce watched as (Y/N) paced, nervous in his white tuxedo.

" Bruce, I'm so nervous. " (Y/N) said, rubbing his face.

" What is there to be nervous about? I know you love him and that he loves you. " Bruce said and (Y/N) chuckled, shaking his head.

" I love him Bruce. There is no doubt about it. I wouldn't have said yes if I didn't love him. " (Y/N) said and sat on the bed next to Bruce.

" You know what you didn't tell me? " Bruce prompted as he put an arm around (Y/N)'s shoulders.

" What would that be? "

" It would be how he proposed to you. I passed out when you told me and then we didn't talk about the proposal, we talked about the wedding preparations here. I still can't believe that the Light is in my garden. " Bruce grumbled and (Y/N) chuckled quietly.

" All right, I will tell you the story now. " (Y/N) said, adjusting himself in his old room. It felt very weird to be back here after moving to live with Ra's.

" He came to Gotham and we went to my favorite restaurant. " (Y/N) started, sighing quietly and dream like. He leaned on Bruce and Bruce happily allowed it.

" Then he took me to Paris, you always know I wanted to visit. And in a VIP booth of the restaurant we were in, he started telling him I'm the best thing that has ever happened to him and then he got down on one knee and popped the question. I cried for 10 minutes. " (Y/N) said and Bruce snorted.

" I didn't think you were such a sappy person. " Bruce joked and (Y/N) tried to get away from him in mock hurt, but Bruce hugged him tightly. " I'm just kidding son. "

" You better. " (Y/N) said and Bruce smiled.

" You know, I never thought that you would be getting married. " Bruce said, giving (Y/N) a soft kiss to the head. " Especially not to Ra's. "

" Way to ruin the moment B. " (Y/N) said, patting his dad on the arm to let him go.

" Are you ready to go? " Bruce said and (Y/N) nodded. Was he really ready? He had enough anxiety for at least 3 people so that would probably not be a yes, but a no.

" Just relax. Once you exchange vows and you have your first dance, you will want to get out of here. "

(Y/N) just raised his brow in question. " And you know that how? " (Y/N) asked as Bruce lead him through the familiar halls.

" A good friend told me. Now, put a ring on him and go to your honey moon. Where are you going? Bahamas, Maldives... " Bruce started, trying to coax an answer.

" Actually, we are going to Switzerland. He has a cabin there and it has just snowed. "

" So you, Ra's and the woods? " Bruce asked, crinkling his noes together. (Y/N) smacked Bruce's arm at the implication.

" Stop it. " (Y/N) warned with a warm smile, no anger in his voice or face. Just pure amusement.

" You know I'm kidding. Now, lets get this show on the road. " Bruce said, adjusting his grip on (Y/N). Bruce still didn't believe that he would give him away, as if he was a bride, to Ra's.

(Y/N) took a deep breath when the music started. Bruce didn't show any type of anxiety, but he was... He does not really feel like he can do this calmly.

The ceremony went without a single hitch. A single one. Bruce and the rest of the guests have shed some tears when the vows were being exchanged. These two really love one another. Bruce wiped his eyes quickly and hugged Damian from the side. Damian was quietly crying from the emotions he felt.

Damian has never felt those emotions. Ever in his life. Jason, Dick and Tim weren't doing any better. Dick was on the verge of wailing and Jason was just trying not to cry. Tim was crying quietly in his seat. He was huffing quietly and everyone clapped when the two shared a kiss.

They had their first dance outside on the stage outside in the garden. The two were surrounded by gentle light, dancing to their song. Bruce had to hide inside after the dance to compose himself. After he got some composure back, he went outside to the garden.

He watched the villains as they mingled through the crowd. Bruce knows for a fact that they all want to hurt one another, but it is nice to see that they can all be civil for once.

Especially when they all knew each others identities. The reason why they don't even try to kill one another is because there is the factor of revenge. You do something to the kids, you can expect the world to be burned to the ground.

And if you go after the parents too, the kids are going to burn the world for them. Same would go for the villains and their kids too.

In conclusion, the world would burn.

Bruce had to admit it was all nice to see. There are no plans to destroy something, nothing to send a message or just hurt anyone. Just people having fun and celebrating love.

" Hey dad. " (Y/N) greeted as he sat down next to his father outside in the garden. Everyone moved inside to continue celebrating, but Bruce needed some air. And evidently so did (Y/N).

" You left Ra's already? " Bruce teased and (Y/N) snorted at the statement.

" No. I left him to deal with everyone talking. I have hit my social limit. Ra's is thankfully an extrovert who can do it for hours on end. " (Y/N) said and Bruce had to nod at that.

" I still can't believe you got married. " Bruce said, looking at his son in his white tuxedo. He appeared relaxed and happy, despite being surrounded by a lot of people, both heroes and villains.

" I know. I'm more shocked by the fact that everyone is civil tonight. " (Y/N) noted and Bruce had to admit, it is shocking. But as long there is no trouble, it will all go smooth.

" I want to thank you. For allowing us to have the ceremony and reception here. " (Y/N) said and Bruce hugged him tightly.

" No need to thank me. I will do it for every one of you. Expect for maybe Damian. I love him, but I don't think that he will open his mind to love. " Bruce said, resting his head on top of (Y/N)'s.

" Never say never B. Give him time. " (Y/N) mumbled and Bruce nodded. He looked over to the entrance where Ra's was standing, watching the scene. (Y/N) turned in Bruce's arms, smiling at Ra's, his husband.

Still a weird thing to say.

" I don't mean to intrude, but we have to go to our honeymoon. " Ra's said and Bruce let go.

" I will walk you both out. " Bruce said and led the duo through the house to the front entrance. The other boys followed too and Alfred also decided to see his grandson off.

" Now, I want weekly phone calls and dinners at least every 3 months. Ra's is invited too. " Bruce said as he hugged his son and shook hands with Ra's.

" You know the drill, something happens to (Y/N), Alfred is going after you. " Bruce said and Ra's nodded. (Y/N) said goodbye to his brothers and Alfred with hugs and promises of communication often. After the goodbyes, Ra's and (Y/N) got into the car and left.

Bruce brought his sons and Alfred into a hug when the left. Everyone teared up to a certain degree.

" I can't believe he grew up. " Dick said, tears flowing.

" I can't believe I don't have my partner in crime anymore. " Jason said, wiping his eyes every second.

" I can't believe he is... No. He is not grown up. " Tim declared.

" I can't believe that he is marrying my grandfather. " Damian declared with some amusement in his voice and everyone laughed.

" And I can't believe that (Y/N) grew up in front of my eyes. " Alfred concluded the circle and now everyone officially teared up at this thought.

" Now, get some composure and then we are going to escort the guests and then we are going to break down. " Alfred said, wiping his eyes.

There was a chorus of yups and yesses. Damian yawned and couldn't even stand at this point.

" Dick, I need you to carry me to my room. " Damian said and Dick nodded.

" I don't know if I can sleep when (Y/N) isn't officially here anymore. " Jason has admitted and an unspoken sleepover arranged.

" My room, 10 minutes? " Dick said, putting Damian over his shoulder as if he was a sack of potatoes.

" Yup." Was the unanimous answer.

" Master Bruce, I will need some assistance. I need someone who can take those villains on. I feel like I'm going to get my ass kicked. " Alfred said as he turned to walk back to the house.

The others followed too and Bruce stayed for a few moments. It will be difficult to adjust to (Y/N)'s absence, but they will manage. If (Y/N) doesn't call weekly, he will have to resort to kidnapping him back home.

[curseofhecate]

My heart wont start anymore, for you

Sirius Black x fem!reader

She was in love with him. He never felt the same

1.7k

tw: mention of Y/n, slight swearing

This has been in my drafts since August. The ending is sloppy.

It had been going on for years now. Ever since she'd first saw him, that September 1st on platform 9¾, she'd only ever had eyes for him.

Stolen glances, innocent brushes of her hand against his, so many signs and yet he never picked up any of them.

Sirius Black was too focused on other girls to notice his best friend pinning after him, even now, after all these years. And yet her feelings never changed.

"So, who's that?" James teasingly asked the black haired boy, glancing towards a ravenclaw girl in their year, who was practically eyefucking Sirius from across the room.

"Jessica Monroe" Sirius smirked, then continued eating his breakfast. "Dude, that's like, the 3rd one this month" Remus pointed out.

"It's not my fault the ladies can't resist me"

"And as it seems, neither can you" Peter chimed in. "At least n/n here hasn't fallen for your charms yet" James joked, eyes set on the only girl in their friend group.

"As if!" She laughed, trying to cover up the rosy color of her cheeks.

Little did James know how wrong he had been.

It wasn’t until two weeks later when things really started going downhill. She had just returned from her perfect's duties when she found Sirius waiting for her in the common room. It was well past midnight and everyone had retired to their dorms long ago.

"Finally, I've been waiting for you for hours" the boy jumped up from his spot on the couch once he saw her. She stared at him confused. He gently grabbed her wrist and dragged her to sit beside him as he plopped himself on the couch.

"What are you even doing down here at this time?"

Sirius ignored her question. "I need to talk to you."

"Well, couldn't it wait until the morning? I'm exhausted" She groaned, leaning her head back on the couch.

He ignored her again. 

"I realized something."

His words had her sitting straighter in mere seconds.

Had he finally figured out her feelings for him?

She wasn’t exactly subtle about them either.

He must know.

Sirius looked at her. Whatever it was she was suspecting at that moment could have never even come close to what was yet to come.

"I've been sleeping with Thalia" he breathed out.

It wasn’t unusual for Sirius to sleep with different girls then dump them within the course of the next week. Most of the time he didn’t even mention who it was he was having sex with, so why would bringing her up now?

"Okay?"

She finally said not knowing how else to respond.

"The thing is, I want us to be more. As in, I actually have feelings for her. She makes me the happiest just by smiling at me. So much that makes me want to stay by her side until the end of my days."

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm in love with her. Hopelessly and utterly in love."

And it was in that moment when the little candle of hope she had burned out. 

The thing was, that even if Sirius was with other girls, it never lasted long simply because he had never loved any of them. The flame was just weaker, flickering.

And now there he was, talking about how he couldn't imagine a world without the blonde Gryffindor, going as far as to admit being in love with her. There was no candle anymore, only a paddle of melted wax where it once had been.

The girl in front of him, blinked back tears as she shook her head. "I want her to ask her on a date '' Sirius continued.

"But when I do, I want it to be perfect. This is where I need your help. You know her better than me, you can tell me what she likes, for example which kind of flowers does she like the most? And what’s her favorite color? Does she prefer a picnic by the black lake or stargazing at the astronomy tower?" the boy continued rambling until the Y/n stopped him.

And as much as it hurt her to do so, she did value his happiness more than hers. In the end she agreed to help him.

It had been three weeks since Sirius and Thalia started dating. And it was safe to say they were stuck to the honeymoon phase.

The two couldn't keep their hands off of each other. They were always touching somehow and every chance they got to kiss, they did. They'd go on dates every other day and more often than not they slept in each other's bed, at the point where Remus had started complaining that she was practically living in their dorm.

Not to mention that they were always together. And when they weren't, which was a rare occurrence, all Sirius could do was talk about her.

She didn’t blame him. Thalia was a girl made out of angel dust, the prettiest and kindest one could ever be. She had to be the sweetest thing to ever walk on this earth.

Yet Y/n couldn’t help but envy her. The blonde was everything she wasn’t.

Once the two reached their one month anniversary it had started to become frustrating. And the closer the couple grew, the further the two friends slipped apart. 

Sirius didn’t know what had happened between them. One second she was there, the other one she was gone, completely out of sight. It seemed to him that earth might as well have swallowed her whole and left no trace behind. 

In the months following Sirius and Thalia getting together, Y/n had avoided him at any and every cost. She still hung out with the rest of the marauders, they were her best friends after all just not when Sirius was around.

Instead she’d now hang out more with Lily, Marlene and Mary, the three growing closer ever since she started sitting with them at dinner. She’d joke about how her and Marlene were practically married at this point and she’d even had made friends with Regulus (or something along those lines) after finding him up at the astronomy tower. 

To say things had changed was an understatement. 

It was a slow progress too. Yet Sirius failed to notice it. Until now.

Him and Thalia had had their first argument the night before. It was unusual for the two to fight at all, much less not be on talking terms. Sirius needed to talk to his best friend but how could he do that when she was nowhere to be found.

It was in the common room, well after dinner when Sirius managed to spot her. She was sitting next to Peter, helping him with his potion’s essay. 

“Hey” he greeted taking a seat opposite her. She muttered a quiet ‘hi’ back but didn’t look up. 

He sat in silence for a little while, waiting for them to finish. When he finally decided he couldn't wait anymore, he cleared his throat. The two looked up at him confused. “Anything you need Sirius?” she asked, rather coldly. 

He wasn’t used to her calling him by his first name. It was either Siri or pads and sometimes ‘my star’ but never just plain Sirius. “Yes, actually. I need to talk to you.”

“Well can’t it wait. I have to help Pete with this and then I promised Lily I would put her hair into French braids” she said, trying to make up a lie to avoid him. She didn’t even know how to do French braids.

“It won’t take long, I promise”

“Fine,” She sighed. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Not here” he said, motioning for her to get up before doing so himself. He guided her upstairs to his and the boy’s dorm room. It had been a while since she’d last been there. And yet nothing had changed.

“What is going on with you?” Sirius asked after shutting the door closed and turning to her.

“What? Nothing. Everything is perfectly normal” the girl shrugged trying to play it off.

“Except it isn’t. You are never around anymore.We never talk anymore, you don’t even sit with us in the dining hall. I haven’t seen you since the last full moon and even then you didn’t talk to me. You were my best friend. Us against the world, remember? What the hell happened to us? What the hell happened to you n/n'' The more he spoke the more his voice rose. 

“No” she shook her head.

“What do you mean no?” He asked, frustrated.

“Sirius, you were the one who started pulling away. After you got with Thalia you were always with her. And when you weren’t it was your main, not to say only, topic of discussion.”

“That’s not true” he argued.

“Yes it is! Tell me Sirius had you even realized I wasn’t around you as much before today?” she defended. 

She was right. He hadn’t.

“And you know what’s worse? I was in love with you. I have been in love with you since the first day on the train.”

She has done it now. 

“Do you even know how fucking hard it is? Listening to someone you love constantly about someone else?”

Silence. She hadn't intended to say this but she couldn't have controlled it. She had finally reached her limit. 

Sirius looked down at the floor. He hadn't expected to hear such words from her yet he felt extremely guilty.

This was it. Her entire world came crumbling down and it was clear that whatever hope she had for salvaging their friendship was now gone. She had ruined it. 

She looked up. Sirius' gaze was still pinned to the floor. It hurt her that he wouldn't even look at her. 

She left the room slamming the door shut behind her. There were too many unanswered questions, more than before. There was confusion and then there were mixed feelings. It seemed that nothing was certain anymore. 

And in that moment her heart stopped. And she knew, her heart wouldn't start anymore, at least not for him.

[miasmaghoul]

From the prompt list

Dew/Aether #26

From this list.

#26 - as an apology

-----

"You're serious?"

Aether nods, but he can't look up. The disbelief in Dew's voice is something he expected, but it feels so much worse that he'd anticipated.

"Yes," he breathes, fiddling with a bracelet. "I told Papa this morning." Aether swallows, mouth dry. "I would have told you sooner, but -"

"Why?"

Aether sighs, scrubs at his face with both hands. The scent of antibacterial soap floods his nose, skin made dry from endless washing during his infirmary shift. He stares at the little ghoul's boots, black leather stark against the white tile floors. Maybe it was a mistake to do this here. Maybe he should have waited until tonight, until they were tangled up in bed and Dew was blissed out and half asleep. Maybe he'd sound less betrayed.

Somehow, Aether doubts it.

"I told you," he sighs, shoving his hands in his pockets, "I'm tired, Dew. Too tired to keep up with the rest of you." Aether rubs the back of his neck. "You remember the last leg, right? How many times did Papa talk to me about my mistakes? How many times did you have to pick up my slack?"

"Aeth -"

Aether holds up a hand, and Dewdrop pauses. Aether can feel his scowl, eyes burning into the top of his head. He still can't make himself look up.

"How many nights did you have to spend massaging my hands, just so I could play the next day?"Aether cracks his knuckles, wincing at their stiffness. "Besides, they need me here." He gestures vaguely at the empty infirmary lobby. "Now that Omega's gone, I'm the only full-time healer we've got."

He huffs out a harsh exhale, pinches the bridge of his nose. This was so much easier in his head. He watched the little ghoul cross his legs, scuffing the toe of his boot against the floor.

"I just...I can't do it anymore, Dew. I don't have the energy."

He falls silent after that, shoulders hunched and hands shoved into the pockets of his slacks, and waits. Waits for Dew to yell, to grab his coat and throttle him, to punch a wall - anything to express the rage he swears he can feel pouring from that slight body.

"I understand," Dew says instead, and somehow that's the thing that makes Aether look at him.

Dewdrop's expression reads cool, but his shoulders sit tense. The tip of his tail flicks through the air, obvious agitation, but it seems to be unconscious. There's something hard in his copper eyes, and Aether swallows hard.

"You...you what?"

"I get it," Dew says with a shrug, rolling his neck. "I was around when Zeph went through this, remember?"

That's...a fair point. Zephyr may have only joined them on stage for a few months, but Aether remembers very clearly all the evenings spent helping with their pain and exhaustion. He sighs, nods.

"Yeah, I do. But this isn't the same -"

"You could've told me, y'know," Dew interrupts, softer. "Before now, I mean. Before you told Papa."

"I almost did," Aether admits. Dew's casual demeanor has him off balance - he expected to have his coat singed by now. "But I was worried -"

"I wouldn't have told anyone," he interrupts, voice soft, and Aether stutters to a halt. Watches the little ghoul wring his hands. "Wouldn't have done that to you."

Aether blinks. Twice. That thought hadn't even occurred to him, not for a second. His hesitence came only from the risk of upsetting Dew, not from some fear of having his retirement revealed before he was ready. He cants his head and peers at Dewdrop, brow furrowed, and finds something new in his eyes. A watery glimmer of something so obviously sad, so fearful, that it makes Aether's heart ache.

"Oh, Dew..."

In half a breath they're caught up in each other, Aether holding the little ghoul to his chest in a crushing embrac, one hand on the back of his ash blond head and the other arm curled tight around him. Dew's hands fist into his shirt and he plants his feet between Aether's, huffing against his chest, and for a few moments they stay like that. Holding one another in silence while Aether collects his words and tries to figure out what he could possibly say to assure the one he loves more than any other that he'd never question his trust. To apologize for even making him think otherwise.

Then Dew pulls away just enough to look up at him with those gorgeous eyes, the gentlest smile curving his lips, and Aether has his answer.

The kiss is soft, gentle. No urgency, no tongue, just the perfect meeting of their mouths. Dew's warm hands come up to cup Aether's cheeks and Aether sighs through his nose, muscles he didn't know he'd tensed going lax. It feels like an age before they part, and Aether knows he doesn't have to say it, but -

"I'm sorry, firefly," he whispers, rubbing Dew's back and nosing at his temple. "I didn't mean -"

"I know," Dew assures him, stroking his face, eyes searching his own. "I...I know."

Dew kisses him again, and Aether decides any other words can wait until his hands stop shaking.

[shinechermont]

Can you give us a lore dump about any of your ocs?¿ I love hearing about them <3

Nimh technically isn't my original character, but her presence in my swapdreamtale is primordial.

One thing I noticed is the Tree of Feelings isn't exactly mentioned in ANY of the original works of swapdreamtale, or barely appears a background for flashbacks???

The OG Nim is barely discussed already, which is kind of sad considering she is the entity who brought Dream and Nightmare to life???? But at the same time that leaves A LOT of space for headcanons and personal interpretations.

Since swapdreamtale is my current brainrot, I am dibs on the forgotten SwapDreamtale Nim, Nimh.

This post is going to be a bit longer than usual, so before anything, lemme give the credits to the people I need to give it to:

Swapdreamtale by litemong and song_a

Original Dreamtale by jokublog

Nimh, like Nim, is the original guardian of the Tree of Feelings (which I am just calling ''Tree'' to keep it short)

Nimh was the first one. Nobody - not even the twins - know how she was made. Perhaps she was a creation of the Tree just like Swad and Swan, or maybe some person/entity who was chosen to protect the Tree, or even a conscious part of the Tree itself?(I suppose the last one is the most accepted explanation for this, but I am going to keep things up to YOU, fellow reader, to think of)

Regardless being the Tree herself or not, she was the only guardian for ages. Being a god-like creature just protecting a big apple tree for thousands of years in the heart of a very big and dense forest... it is an important chore, but it sure gets boring after a while. Besides, as much as she hates to admit it, her attention spam and overall magic got harder and harder to control properly.

She, unlike Nim, decided herself it was time to "retire" and become one with the Tree for now and always... but to do that, she had to find someone to be in her place. After all, who would protect her and the apples?

That is how she creates the twins - Nightmare and Dream.

The new guardians are taught what to do -more or less, as being fused with a tree has its limitations, you know? She swears she did her best. For years things were peaceful, with the twins doing exactly what she told them to.

Until one day...society starts growing inside the forest, taking down all the nature that served as a barrier of protection to the Tree besides the twins.

It is no secret Nimh thinks of mortals as lowly ones. She never was seen by anyone other than the twins and elder entities ofher past. Ever.

Meanwhile Nightmare is hostile towards the newcomers, Dream is willing to let them stay, kind of curious about them, as he never talked to anyone else but his brother and mother.

Nimh gets displeased by this. It is when she starts preferring Nightmare over Dream - literally just because he refuses to leave the Tree alone.

The more Dream gets along with the villagers, the less she interacts with him, to the point of her only appearing to Nightmare and making sure he won't let his mind get persuaded like his brother's.

Of course, this upsets Dream. He knows why his mother is ignoring him, but at the same time he likes the time spent with the villagers. His relationship with Nightmare gets a bit tight, as he gives Nimh reason - mainly because the villagers bully him, not because of the whole guardian thing.

The very first time Nimh will appear for Dream in years will be in a very, very unfortunate occasion...

[bronx-bomber87]

Happy Weekend! How exciting we have a premiere date! Feb 20th. The light is at the end of the tunnel wonderful fandom. It’s beautiful and bright. I’m going to crank up to 3 reviews a week so I finish the week before s6 premieres. So this worked out nicely heh

Ahh this episode is another giant friggin work flirt. That competitive fire that drives one of their love languages is prominent af in this episode. Only they could take a shift apart and turn it into a flirtatious competition. The marriage vibes are extreme in this one in the best way ha Let’s get going.

4x06 Poetic Justice

We start off with Tim getting an assignment from Grey. He wants to get Jerry Mcgrady to retire. They’re running out of things to assign him to that aren’t a strain on him. Front desk he takes too much time telling stories. Even the kit room is becoming too much for him. So it’s Tim’s job today to have the ‘It's time to retire talk.’ Tim being Tim says it’ll be a piece of cake. Wanting to prove himself to Grey he can handle it no problem. That the tough conversations aren't an issue.

That if he doesn’t agree he can use his injury for an involuntary retirement. Cold Timothy. Cold. Tim makes it to the Kit Room and is instantly thawed. He is ready to hit him with the cold hard truth as he put it to Wade. Before he can Jerry gives him a load of praise right off that bat. It makes Tim stumble off the blocks super early. It's so sweet and genuine too. How could he not struggle after saying he's proud? I'm sure those are words he never got from his own old man.

Tim tries again and fails for a second time. It’s the way Jerry is looking at him. Tim can’t pull the trigger. Instead he invites him out to ride with him LOL Well done Tim baha This was not the plan at all my love. Tim Bradford is a softie and we all know it. Grey walks up asks how it went? Tim admits he faltered and he’s riding with him instead.... Grey is beaming. Knowing he wouldn't be as ruthless as he claimed in his office. Wade can’t help but give him crap on top of it. Asking what happened to the 'Cold hard truth?' Tim swears by end of day he’ll get him to retire. Mmhmm sure.

In the cold open Nolan and Harper arrested a man digging in a city park. He was following a treasure hunt riddle. With Tim swapping Lucy out for Jerry she is riding with Nolan. He hands her the riddle and she starts to decipher it. Lucy figures out the first clue and they go to the pier. When they roll up people are fighting. A young woman is killed by getting an ax to the chest. People are insane.

This is what brings it to the LAPD’s full attention since there is a casualty. They find out the author of the riddle is a previous criminal. He was apart of a robbery where he hid 2 million in gold coins. They never recovered them. So the city is losing it's collective mind trying to find it. They need to be the first to get it. Grey calls Lucy up cause she was the first to solve a clue. She is beaming as she makes her way up.

Let’s first admire the forearm porn we’re getting in this first gif. Man makes me so thirsty I need a glass of water. Arms-crossed Tim is one of my fav poses. Those glorious biceps popping out of those sleeves too. Whew lord. Anyway Lucy is so very excited to present her findings. How she got the clue she did. It’s adorable how proud she is of it. Look how Tim never takes his eyes off her the entire time. You know he loves when she analyzes and breaks things down.

Her intelligence is a turn on for him whether he wants to admit it or not. He can’t let anyone catch onto his admiration... So he calls her ‘Nerd.’ to make fun of her. Which fails because it comes off super flirty. Negating his idea to to tease her for her brain. It comes across as banter more than anything else. Fail Timothy big fat Fail. Your mouth is saying one thing. Your body language and intense gaze say another...

Jerry is a sweetheart and tells her not to let Tim shame her. It’s a great catch. This is why it's hard for anyone to have the retirement talk with him haha A kind station grandpa to them all. Lucy goes from being annoyed to thanking Jerry. Tim’s sly little smile when she does is so cute. You know he’s proud of her being in the spotlight. Sporting her brain but has to tease her. It's how they function haha They’re so cute I can not. Flirting once again for all of the station to see. It's truly a wonder they're in the dark about it.

I love this moment between Harper and Tim. I'm glad I had the room to add this in. She joins in with Lucy's train of thought for the rest of the poem. Flaunting her brain as well. Tim gives her a look wanting to make fun of her as well. Nyla is on it and dares him to call her a nerd too LOL The looks between them make me laugh so much. I love their teasing camaraderie. It's my favorite. It's how Harper and Lucy get paired up to decipher the rest of the clues. Nolan feels left out cause well it's Nolan. Like that kid picked last for dodgeball. Grey tells John if he asks nicely he's sure he can join them. SMH. Friggin Nolan ha.

The cuteness continues when Lucy asks if Tim and Jerry wanna be part of her task force? That she can make it happen haha She’s adorable and I can not stand it. Tim does what he does best battles back with a flirty tone. Trying to talk down about her ‘task force’. Saying old fashioned policing will get it done just fine for them.

Flirt more you two…oh wait they do. Ha Lucy offers up a bet she knows Tim won’t refuse. Because once again why deal with feelings when they can channel it through a work flirt instead? Honestly how Jerry could allow Tim to date his daughter after this display I couldn’t tell ya. It's so painfully obvious how into one another these two are.

They lay down the terms for the loser. Tim saying she has to be quiet an entire shift. Please Timothy like you really want that…but ok that’s your “reward” if you win. I mean it would drive her crazy not to talk so it’s not the worst pick. Lucy choses something way more apropos IMO. He would have to do something out of his comfort zone. Not only that but it’s her choice. Can only imagine what Lucy would've chosen. Something that would've been good for him I'm sure. Cause she's good like that. Her track record with him is solid.

Lucy's face is so smug from the minute she brings this bet up. So convinced she has this in the bag. Gah these two love a good competition and flirting it up a ton in the process. Like pre-get together foreplay for them haha They then start the worlds longest handshake to seal the deal. They once again are in their own world. Like Jerry isn't even there…

The best part is while they continue to work-flirt they're holding hands. They could've broken it off but nope. Basically holding hands while they fiercely flirt. The flirty competitiveness continues with their jabs. The poetry club shot from Tim. Her being sassy af about their 18 old case files. Saying how ‘easy’ that’ll be for them to crack. LMAO Shots fired. All the while still holding hands. Because the work flirting wasn’t enough of a bat-signal to everyone else. They continue to hold hands while doing so. Seriously Jerry couldn’t you see the man was already taken?

We return to Lucy still at the whiteboard with Harper/Nolan. She gets a text from Tim saying they had a big breakthrough. Lucy could not be more dejected and anxious for them to get their own. Nolan and Harper tell her to ignore Tim. He’s just trying to get into her head. Yeah that's what he does. He kinda lives there rent free and vice versa with this kind of stuff. Good luck getting her to listen to that advice haha She is far too wrapped up in this competition with Tim to have that clarity. She does eventually put her phone down though.

Her taking a phone break does help her focus a bit. Because once she does they have a breakthrough of their own. They’re headed to the Griffith Observatory. Lucy is vibrating with excitement over this. She’s more excited to tell Tim they got something more than anything else. It’s so funny and adorable. The commentary in the gifs above is hilarious.

They are legit just trying to solve this case. While Lucy gets amped that they're gonna catch up with Tim and Jerry. Harper and Nolan’s reaction to her is priceless in the second gif. Lucy is too caught up in her work flirt. Telling them before they go she has to text Tim first. Let him know they’re gonna kick his ass. Because priorities LMAO

The way they look at each other is the funniest part. First and foremost they didn’t ask to be apart of this flirty bet haha They’re in it just to solve a case. Second they’re thinking does she not see it? She has to see it right? We know she doesn’t baha If she does she’s pushing it down real hard since 4x01 and it’s coming out in other ways. I.e. this moment. It’s so funny how lost in her bet she is. Doesn’t notice their hilarious reactions at all. I’m dying haha.

Tim tries again to have a frank conversation with Jerry. Since it’s day 2 of him riding with him and he was supposed to retired by yesterday... Jerry looks at the file again while Tim tries to muster up the courage. It's then he has an epiphany. Says he knows where the gold is. Tim asks if he’s sure? Jerry replies absolutely.

Now Tim’s first thought isn’t yes we solved the case. Or they got redemption for Jerry and his friend who never found the coins. No it’s excitement he’s going to beat Lucy in a bet LOL Man is amped about beating her to it. Like a high he’s been chasing the entire episode. God I love this so much. Flirty idiots in love have no idea.

This next portion is their married moment of the episode. Lots of work flirts but this interaction is all married. They are so ridiculous and I love them for it. The trio have figured out where the treasure is through the poem. An underground subway system sitting beneath the city. One of the people that has been chasing this thing since the jump causes chaos once the trio arrive. He shoots the last person also going after it. He takes off Lucy and Harper leave Nolan with the wounded one so they can pursue him.

They find him and he starts running again. Out of nowhere Tim comes into the picture and uses that sexy forearm of his to clothes line the guy. Lucy is shocked and impressed all at the same time. Me too. *fans self* Asking how they got here so quickly? Tim tells them they were already down here. Lucy then asks if they found the treasure? Tim smirks and says they’re gonna find out. Walks them over to a hole with a suitcase in it.

The final competitive flirting begins. Tim immediately claiming victory for him and Jerry. Because that suitcase is holding the missing gold. Nyla fights him on it though. Saying they would’ve been here first, but they had a police matter to deal with. Tim scoffs and tells them good job but they still won LOL The absolute sass coming off this man.

Lucy backs Harper in agreement and doesn’t let Tim battle back. Sassy return fire with her cocky smirk. Then the ladies just decide it’s a tie LMAO That Tim gets no say in the matter. I love their body posture mirroring one another in this moment. Lucy leans towards Tim then Tim does the same when he's upset it's considered a tie.

I saw someone call Tim ‘Sargent Sore Loser’ for a parallel of this moment hahaha it’s pretty apt when he loses to his wife. I love it sfm. Lucy waving by then pointing at herself as they walk off is amazing. It's hilarious. It's decided it's over and there is nothing he can do about it. Their flirting was off the charts in this episode. It was wild. Their string of work flirts continue on. One of the themes of S4. It makes me so happy.

I do love this next part with Jerry. It’s very sweet. It shows Tim’s wonderful heart. He went into this trying to prove he could handle the rough convos. That he could dispatch people with the cold hard truth. When it came to it his empathy won out. I truly believe he’s always been a sensitive empathetic person. It's been at his core this whole time.

Talked about this before. Just got lost in the shuffle of everything he went through with Isabel. Lucy reawakened that part of him. Now he taps into it like he does anything else. That heart of his let Jerry go out in a much better way. It’s why he thanks Tim for it. He knew what was coming and appreciated Tim for indulging him one last time. It's so sweet I might have a cavity.

Jerry's send off is equally as lovely at the station. Ashley is there to help celebrate his retirement. They all do their radio tribute that is beautiful to watch tbh. Once everyone clears Tim ends up asking Ashley out. (boo) She says yes and he smiles BUT it was most definitely not a 'Lucy smile.' No one compares at all. It’s unreal how by a smile you can tell when it’s Lucy driven and when it’s not. This for sure was not. So ends another ep. Such a good one for them.

~~~

Side notes-Non Chenford

The introduction to Ashley….how I dislike her so….just gotta make it to 5x05 and she’ll be gone LOL Was around longer than she should’ve been but we’ll get into when we hit s5 heh Also I’ll add more of why I don’t like her as the season progress in this rewatch. There is a reason he dates her IMO which I will also go over at some point as well.

I love any and all Lucy and Harper scenes we get . This one had loads. Amazing how they've bonded over the last 2 seasons. I love it so much. Them working on the riddle together at Lucy's place over beers. My heart. Watching them working this case together brings me joy. Hopefully we get more of this in s6. I need more Nyla/Lucy in my life.

Thank you forever and always to those who like, comment and reblog these reviews. You all make me so happy ❤️ See you all in 4x07 :)

[lumenflowered]

Pelipper mail! A nightmare, maybe? Or just a dream...

It is a normal shift at the Yharnam Coffee Shop, in your home town in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. You have lived here all your life, and have been satisfied enough.

The owner, Gehrman, hardly ever comes into the shop to manage things. He prefers to sit in the chair out front and greet customers, all day long, and he swears this is critical to Yharnam Coffee's successful operation. When he's not present, it's up to you as most senior employee to make sure things run smoothly.

Not that there's ever much difficulty or tension, here. The shop's only competition was your former employer, the Cainhurst Brewery, and it burned to the ground three months ago. Your coworker Alfred seems unusually happy about that and you have your suspicions, no matter how many times you've tried to tell him that companies don't deserve his loyalty or outside-work efforts.

Eileen is here, as usual, sitting in the corner with her black coffee and blacker clothing. You don't know what she used to do, but she's retired now. She likes to people-watch, and will comment briefly to people who make the effort to sit beside her, but she always pushes visitors away eventually.

At the front of the line now is Djura, who used to work here but quit in favor of a better job last year. He is polite but curt, asking for his latte to go as he always does, because you know he doesn't like to spend time in here any more than he needs to. You take his payment and write his name on the cup, spelled correctly as so few people can. Behind you, Gascoigne begins making the drink for him.

It is an uneventful day. After a while, Eileen gets up to leave. Another one of your regulars, Gilbert, enters wearing a face mask, but he assures you what he has is not serious. At the end of your shift, Gascoigne's daughters show up with an order for four hot chocolates. Laurence and Amelia are already here to replace you, making this as their first order of the day, and you help Gascoigne carry everything out to his wife waiting in the car.

Then you head home yourself, and Reina meets you at the door with a smile and a hug, and all is well.

I. That.

What.

I have so many questions and I am, in fact, just confused enough to actually begin asking them.

Where is Portland? Where is Oregon? Why a coffee shop? I'll admit I'm rather amused by how thoroughly useless Gehrman was, given how thoroughly useless I am led to believe he became in his old age. Yet—

Cainhurst? A brewery? If anything, they would be a winery, they were always all too pretentious about their particular vintages—on a related note, do not drink the wine there, it is not wine and it is not sanitary—and I don't know who this 'Alfred' is but if he burned Cainhurst to the ground he cannot be entirely terrible.

I do know Eileen, and she would be the sort to drink entirely black coffee. She would... also be the sort to push people away. Especially after being retired.

...I can scarcely imagine her retiring. Not willingly, at least. She was... she was younger than me. She was an old woman in that dream.

I have... never met a Djura, or a Gascoigne, or a Gilbert. I suppose that they, like Alfred, must have been after my time... and like whoever Amelia must be.

Laurence is... familiar. I would not trust him in food service. For several reasons.

Still, I...

How can I feel nostalgic for something that never was, and never could be? For people I have never met, only heard of, in many cases?

Why do I miss something that I never experienced?

...Enough of that, I suppose. Victory Road is close, and I'm told that the Pokémon League is just beyond it.

Perhaps...

...Perhaps I'll consider coffee further, the next time I am in civilization. I always preferred tea, though that was more out of familiarity rather than anything else. It certainly smells nice, or did in that... dream? Nightmare?

I don't know what to categorize that as, in complete honesty.

[papacopia-crucified]

Primum Movens pt 1

Papa Emeritus Terzo x Reader

Warnings: swearing, dark themes, impregnation, forced sex, drunk!Terzo, best friend Reader, Seestor being a good grandma, child birth, Prime Mover Reader if you squint, rude Terzo, possessed Terzo

Summary: You've been best friends with Cardinal Terzo, and when the time comes he ascends to Papa. Not only he forced his best friend to become his Prime Mover and force her to do things, he doesn't even remember all of it.

“I hope you’re ready for your party.” She was pretty excited, for him. He was a Cardinal for so long and finally his time came to an end, he’ll become Papa Emeritus the Third. And you, you were his friend, well basically almost his best friend, since he was little you were there for him and vice versa.

“I was born ready, finally they’ll acknowledge me.” He was in the bathroom, getting ready for his ceremony to become Papa. The new Cardinal will be Copia, the shy, rat loving man. He was a little bit awkward when he talked with you the day before.

“You know Copia right?”

“That shy rat?”

“Don’t be like that! He’s so sweet. By the way, he’ll become Cardinal just after you’ll become Papa.” You sat down on his bed, all of his belongings, well most of them were in boxes cause they’ll be placed to his new quarters. You heard shuffling from the bathroom and something fell to the ground with a loud noise.

“Merda.”

“Is everything alright?” You stepped to the bathroom door placing one hand on it.

“Sì. Just applying my makeup.”

“Your Papal or Cardinal makeup?”

“I wanna say Papal, but only my Cardinal makeup, besides I’ll get my Papal paint on the stage. Uhh this black makeup, can you maybe help me? My hands are like jelly.”

“Of course. I’m comin’ in.” You opened to door to find a very confused Cardinal, his paint was smuggled so you were there to help him. You grabbed one baby wipe and showed it to him.

“First of all we gonna wipe everything down, so I can make it again. So please sit down and I’ll work on it.”

“Alright. I’m sat.” As he saw down you saw that he was a little nervous. You know that you never saw his without his black paint.

“Don’t be nervous.” You stepped between his legs and stared into his eyes and he just nodded. “I’ll start now.” You gently started to remove the smudged paint from his upper lip, and in the meantime you were burning up inside. You had feelings for him for so long, but never admitted it to him. Why bother? He’d only say no, or it’s what you thought. You were a fool for thinking that he did not have feelings for you. His heart pounded harder i his chest, his body heated up, his cheeks become red from the hidden feelings he did not confessed yet. He decided that he’ll tell it to you after the ceremony. His thoughts were cut short when you told him to close his eyes, so you can wipe off his eyelids. As soon as he closed his eyes, his nostrils were filled with your scent. You smelled like flowers. Maybe only because you occasionally helped Primo tend to his garden, and that’s why you smelled like flowers. The retired Papa was glad that you helped him.

“That’s it.” He opened his mismatched eyes and stared at you, as you did too, stared at him. Your breathing became raggedy, heart hammered in your chest. You never admitted that you were in love with him. So you just tossed the idea aside and did not tell him.

“Thank you, Sorella.”

“Khm. And now just stay still. I’ll paint your upper lip and your eyes.

“Do as you please, amore.” You always blushed when he called you that. Amore, it’s something that only lovers use, but there he is, calling you amore. You grabbed the makeup brush and dipped in into the black paint and moved it to his upper lip. You painted it from corner to corner. Terzo fell more and more in love with you.

“There it is. Good as new. And now for the eyes, close them please.” He nodded and closed his eyelids, he looked…..calm as you painted around his eyes and his eyelids. You were never this close to his face before. Sure he gave you kisses on your cheeks, but it was something else.

“You know Dolce, you saw me without my paint, and I have to admit it made me a little anxious.”

“Don’t worry about it one bit. You’re as handsome as ever, with or without makeup.” A smug grin appeared on his face and you realised what you said to him.

“Really? Even without paint?” You stepped away from him and tossed the brush into the sink which was already filled with hot water.

“You’re ready. Come, take a look.” You tried to talk about something else, but Terzo was pressing it.

“Hmm… not bad.”

“Excuse me?! It’s ‘holy shit’ good.”

“Unholy per favore.”

“Ah yes, unholy sorry. But seriously it’s that bad?” Ha grabbed your hands in his and moved it in between you two.

“You’re magnificent Sorella. I can’t thank you enough.”

his eyes mesmerised you, couldn’t even make a move around.

“Well.. ehm.. I think you should get ready for tonight’s ritual.” He let go of your hand.

“Ahh, sì. Thank you again Amore. I guess I’ll see you in a minute.” He smiled down at you and you reciprocated his smile and bid him farewell. You were extremely nervous about tonight’s ritual. Sure you were happy for Terzo, but it made you worry that he’ll forget you after. There’ll be no time for that, when he becomes Papa Emeritus the Third. But it’s for the better you thought. He’ll become who he always wanted to be and you on the other hand will see him ascend. He’ll be the most popular man in the Ministry and you, you’ll become an ordinary Sister of Sin.

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

The ghouls have already seen Terzo in his papal paint, and you were a little jealous of them, for seeing him first. He usually make sure that you see him first, I’m every occasion. Sister imperator was talking to the Sisters of Sin and motioned for you to come to her, and shooed the sisters away. What did you do this time?

“Yes Sister Imperator?”

“Please you can call me Sister, I already told you.”

“I know but it feels like I’m breaking a rule.”

“Ahh. Don’t worry about it. Anyway I spoke with the new Papa, and he requested that you made it to the first row.”

“What? I’ve never been to the first row.”

“Maybe that’s why he spoke to me about it. Go now, I’ll be in the Chapel shortly to introduce the new Papa to the Clergy.”

“Thank you Sister.”

“You’re welcome (y/n).”

You could not believe that Terzo spoke to Imperator about getting you so close to the stage. You made your way to the Chapel and two ghoul were there to open in for the sisters to enter.

“Thanks, Aeth, Sodo.” They just smiled at you and nodded. The stage was already filled with guitars and the drum set along with microphones. As you went to your place you bumped into one sister of sin, which was a big mistake, considering that they don’t really like you.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re going, freak?”

“Wow.. that’s all you can do Martha?”

“That’s Sister Martha to you. What are you even doing here?”

“I’m taking my place on the front so if you excuse me…” you wanted to turn around but she grabbed your hand at your elbow and nudged back and almost spat in your face.

“Like hell you’re going there.” That’s when a familiar scent filled your nose. He’s here.

“Would you please let your sister go?” Filled your ears Sister Imperator’s voice from next to you and Martha immediately let you go.

“I’m.. sorry Sister Imperator. She was..”

“I believe she is allowed to be in the front row, unlike you. If you’re acting like this Sister I’m sure the new Papa’ll be very disappointed in you.” Imperator’s scolding was enough for her to retreat and murmured something like ‘Sorry.’ To you and left.

“You know, you should stand up for yourself. Maybe one day, you’ll understand it.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Wonderful. And now go. The show must go on.” Sister smiled at you and left you thought to introduce the new Papa. When everyone took their position Imperator came on to the stage and tested the microphone.

“Welcome again, in the house of the Dark Lord, it’s my pleasure to introduce you, the one and only, Papa Emeritus the Third.!” She moved his hand up and motioned to the side that’s when you saw Him. I’m his fresh paint, and you just stood there, mouth agape as he majestically went to the middle of the stage. The Sisters were screaming, but you still did not make a move. Then his mismatched eyes met yours and suddenly there were only the two of you, like the time just stopped around you two. He winked and you blushed.

“Thank you Sister! And as she said, Welcome to the night of Ascension. This special night is my gift to all of you, so I already know that you’ll enjoy it.!” He was rather flirty, like he’s never been before. It made you worried how the sisters were practically undressed him with their eyes. So the ritual began, and you never knew that Terzo has this beautiful, mesmerising voice. Your heart pounded faster in your chest as he lingered near you, almost every time he stopped right in front of you to make you see him in his glory. And you did not mind at all. You felt the sisters’ eyes on you at it made you a little bit nervous, but the only thing you could focus on was Him. “We love you Papa.” One of the sisters screamed and Terzo winked at her, And you knew which sister it was. Martha was always jealous of you, cause you were everyone’s favourite. And she knew that Terzo’ll become Papa eventually. So she wanted to make him hate you at some point but it never went according to her plans. “There’s a new song, that I wrote. And we are gonna perform it now. It is called ‘Cirice’. “ he motioned to the ghouls to play the intro of it and fuck it was such a work of art. As he sang it, his eyes met yours and he was smiling. When he came to a part in the song he kneeled down right in front of you on the stage and requested your hand to grab it in his. And as you did he sang the song for you. ‘Can’t you see that you lost! Can’t you see that you lost without me?’ And he kissed your hand, right after he stood up and carried on with the song. Your whole body was on fire. It’s true that he wore gloves, but the heat of his hand still lingered on yours, as you pressed that hand to your chest. As the song came to an end, everybody was a screaming mess around you, and you were too, screaming to him, his name. “I see you liked our new song. It’s a shame that tonight’s ritual has come to an end. Don’t forget to join the after party. Be naughty ya filthy bastards!” The Ghouls went to Terzo and all of them leaned in, and the room was filled with clapping and whistling. Terzo and his ghouls disappeared backstage and you knew it was time to get ready to the after party.

You changed into something more comfortable. As you were not really popular, you went with black jeans and a fancy T-shirt. You decided to wear ballerina shoes, a black one so it matched with you jeans. As you were looking at yourself in the mirror, your thoughts were somewhere else again. The worry.

“Ahh, stop being so paranoid.” You made your way to the Chapel and the doors were already opened. They’re tables there with chairs around it maybe like 10 or 20 tables. And there he was, sitting on a chair, sisters were all around him. He was already a bit tipsy, you know him like you know your own palm. You hesitated again to approach his table.

“Waiting for someone?”

“Ahh, Aeth. Stop scaring me!” Hie was looking in your eyes and it made you blush.

“Sorry. I was wondering, maybe you can join us at our table?”

“Ohh..”

“Or you wanna join your boyfriend instead?”

“What are you…?”

“I know your feelings towards Terzo. I can feel it.”

“So what? He’d never date me. Besides I’m just his friend, there’s no way he’d feel something towards me.” You shrugged your shoulders and the ghoul just nodded.

“About my invitation…”

“Oh yes of course I’d like to join. Terzo has his own “audience” anyway.” You murmured sadly and Aether grabbed your hand and started walking towards the table where they sat.

“Hi (y/n). How did you like today’s ritual? Even though you don’t have to say anything. I saw how you looked at Papa.” You could tell if Rain was joking or not, but he winked at you and you just sit down and rolled your eyes at him.

“The hell are you talking about? I was respectfully watching him perform. That’s all.”

“Yeah…yeah. Of course.”

“I thought that you’re on my side Cirrus.”

“Even the blind see that you love him.”

“Woah, hold your horses, what’s going on here?” Terzo grabbed onto your chair and leaned in so his head were next to yours. You blushed like mad and buried you face into your right palm.

“Nothing. We are just discussing tonight’s ritual.” You did not know how to escape from the situation, but you guessed that it was too late to get back into your room. Terzo let out an ‘Ahhh’ and sat down next to you, as he could manage. As he was already a bit drunk.

“What do you think?” Terzo asked you and motioned to himself.

“Well… “

“She thinks you’re hot.” Sodo interrupted you immediately

“Aww, really Sorella? You don’t look so bad yourself.” He leaned on the back of your chair and practically almost hugged you. He leaned into his chair and spread his legs. You did not want to look there but it was hard not to.

“See something you like amore?” His eyes were on you, wanting to read your face and he smiled as he realised that he made you a mess. Your breathing quickened as his head slowly moved to your ear and his lips were mere inches away from your ear. “You look so innocent now, but I know what a filthy sister you are.”

“I… I don’t know what you talking about.”

“You should close your door, your moans slipped out onto the corridor and maybe the previous handsome Cardinal heard everything you moaned, even the name of the man you desire.” When he finished and looked into your eyes he was that your lips were agape a little, breathing become raggedy, your cheeks were painted rosy red. The reaction he always wanted to see.

“T…Terzo. I’m sorry.”

“Why you would be?”

“It was inappropriate. You’re my best friend.”

“Even best friends crave each other.”

“But it’s wrong. I know you from the beginning. It would ruin our friendship and I don’t want that to happen. You’re important to me Terzo. But it’s I mean the whole sexual attraction is getting out of control.”

“So you want nothing more, but to remain my best friend?”

“Is it that bad to ask?”

“Ya know after the whole ascension thing, I thought that we could become much more than friends.”

“You’d never feel more towards me, I know that Terzo.”

“If you say so.”

“C’mon Papa. Come with us, it’s your night after all.” One of the sisters approached the table and put her hand on Terzo’s shoulder. He flirtatiously smiled at her and it made you sick to your stomach.

“I’ll be there in a minute Sorella. I’ll finish the lovely conversation with Sister (y/n).” The sister looked at you with disgust and kissed his right cheek and as she left Terzo slapped her butt. And it made you furious.

“Wow, just wow. You came to me with the more than friends bullshit and right after I said no…. You know what Terzo.” You stood up and looked down directly stared into his beautiful eyes. “We, are done. I’m not your friend anymore.” You started to leave and you heard him shouting something, but at that moment it did not matter to you. You practically ran to your room and when you closed the door behind you, tears started to fall from your eyes, you hugged yourself and slowly sat down, your back leaned into the door.

Tears were endlessly streamed down your face, and felt betrayed. After some time, you decided to wipe away your tears and slowly started to change into your nightgown. Just as you wanted to go to sleep someone knocked at your door, very loudly.

"Open this damn door now! Or I swear I'll knock it down."

"Go away Terzo. I do not wanna see you anymore!" You shouted back at him and he kept knocking so you decided that you had enough and furiously opened the door, but you did not know that it was the worst decision you ever made. He grabbed onto your upper arms and moved you further into the room alongside with him and tossed you down on the bed. He was clearly in a drunken state and you were pretty scared of him at that moment.

"You... really think that... Anybody can have you? He pointed a finger on you and continued his sentence. "You...are mine. Only..MINE." He forcefully made you lay down on the bed and he positioned himself on top of you, he pressed his crotch to your panties, he was half hard now, and he wasn't going to stop there. You tried to fight him, ganged on his chest, tried to kick him, but nothing made him move.

"Scream and kick as much as you want Amore, no one'll hear your cries." somehow you managed to kick him on his crotch area and finally pushed him off of you. You opened the door of your room and ran as much as you can, you heard him let out a frustrated growl as he chased you around the whole Ministry. Your breathing was raggedy by the time you almost ran in every common room the ministry had and you were exhausted. And you heard his footsteps become more and more close to you, and while it did, you turned on your survival mode. Did not even tried to stop. Cause you knew what he want to do with you.

"Come to Papa. I'll promise if you'll obey me, I'll be less rough."

"Fuck you."

"So you're close. Your wish is my command, just let me catch you il mio unico. (my only one)." he was now closer than you thought and in an instant he jumped out from nowhere and caught you in his arms. "I got you Amore. Now, you're all mine. And don't worry, I'll fuck you so hard that the only name you'll be chanting is mine." Ha forcefully dragged you into a room, and it was the Ritual room. That's it, you're doomed. When he dragged you to the altar, he looked you up and down, like you were just a mere pray and he was the predator. His hands grabbed onto your nightgown and with one swift motion he ripped it off and you were standing before him naked. Your body broke out in goosebumps because how cold the ritual room actually was.

"You look ravishing Amore. I can just eat you up. And no panties? I'm thinking that you actually waited for me, cause I like my woman naked." You just wanted to vomit at his words, You considered him as your friend, who you're kidding, he was your best friend and now, he wants nothing more just to rail you.

"I can't believe you're actually doing this. You're drunk Terzo."

"I'm drunk because of you!" He shouted and pushed you up to the altar and when you wanted to get off of it Terzo warned you that if you try anything he'll want be merciful, and you obeyed. All of the candles suddenly sprung to life, and it startled you. What is he up to? Your thoughts were interrupted when you slowly crawled up to you and kissed you deeply. You moved your head aside so the kissing was cut short. He growled and grabbed into your hair and made you look at him, his eyes were blown wide with lust, and something else was off. His usual green eyes was now red, his white eye was glowing.

"In nomine Domini nostri Obscuri Luciferi ,Me, Papa Emeritus Tertius Fac tibi puerum meum armigerum, Meus primum movens. (In the name of our Dark Lord Lucifer Me, Papa Emeritus the Third, Make you my child bearer, My Prime Mover. )" You felt something poking at your entrance and when you looked down, his cock was already hard, the tip of it glistered with pre-cum. You bit your bottom lip and a loud whimper left your mouth, he chuckled. "Don't worry Amore. I'll fill you up with my seed, it'll stretch you out so good, the progeny you'll be carrying inside your womb'll raise up to be the Antichrist. Would you like that? Ready or not here I come!" And with one swift motion, he ripped your pussy apart, taking your virginity as well. You screamed at the pain he caused, both emotionally and physically, it hurt you how he was treating you.

"Terzo! Stop!" You tried to break free from him but he grabbed both of your wrists and pinned them down on the altar. Tears started streaming down your face, as he started to move in a brutal pace, your insides wee screaming for him to stop, but he did not budge. His grand and moans filled the rom as he pounded into your bloody pussy, in and out, just as how he liked it. Finally he can have you, but at what cost?

"That's it. Moan my name, scream it (y/n). Let everybody know who you belong to. Let them see as I fill you up, let them hear your cries of pleasure.

"It's not pleasure if you FORCE someone to have sex. Ahh..." He bit down on your neck, and you felt your blood pour into him mouth, he gulped your precious nectar, he was acting like a vampire sort of, which in other circumstances would love. He kissed the wound and he kissed his way up from it to your ear and grunted, like he was an animal in heat.

"Brava Ragazza! Prendendo il mio cazzo così bene. (Taking my cock so well.)" He kissed you on your lips hard, not giving you time to refuse it as his tongue snaked into your mouth, battling with yours.

"Please...." You sob and let go of your wrists just to kneel between your legs, cock still in your wet cunt, and he grabbed onto your hips and lifted you up a bit, just to begin his pounding again. Now you had a better look at him, and of course he stared at your smooth skin, your boobs were bouncing to his satisfaction. Sweat covered your entire body.

"Y...Yess... I'm close. My Prime Mover."

"I'll never be yours! Your voice were filled with venom but he just laughed.

Nothing can separate us. Our Dark Lord already mad you mine. Mine to fuck, to please, to.... love. Isn't it what you wanted Amore?" His breathing became raggedy and his cock was swollen now, ready to fill you up with his seed. And your orgasm was close too, to your surprise. But you did not want him to know it. "I can feel it ya know. Come for Me, Your Papa. I command you!" The last sentence was more than growl and it did it for him.

"No, please Terzo, T...Terzo, fuck, NO!" his hip work became more and more fast, he was moving in a brutal pace and with a loud moan, he came into your cunt. You felt his seed make you full, he was not kidding when he said that he'll fill you up to the brim, but he kept going and your orgasm soon followed. " TERZO!" You screamed is name when your orgasm washed over you. His whole body began to shake and when he looked down at you finally, his expression totally changed. Like he did not even know about the whole situation.

"A...Amore? What..uh..what happened?"

"Get off me you monster!" You commanded and that's when you heard Sisters Imperator's voice. It was too much to me to bear and a little later you slipped into unconsciousness. The ghouls followed Sister and they grabbed Terzo and got him off of the altar.

"What have you done to her?" Sister was impatient to Terzo, but he just stood there still naked unable to tell what had happened between the two of you. He looked at your body, you seemed, peaceful. He slowly realized, that he forced himself on you, not stopping with his actions and it made him sick to his stomach. Imperator were at your side and tried to wake you up, but you were exhausted. He doesn't know how he'd look into your eyes after all of this.

"Are you gonna tell something?"

"I swear mother I... I don't know what happened. I remember drinking away my sorrow and pain but after that, I don't remember I swear. W..What have I done?" He finally broke down in tears, which was new to him, cause he never cried before.

"I believe you."

"Truth to be told, I always knew that you love her, I know you'd never do it to her without her consent. There must be something Terzo. Try to remember." His head stated to ache and memories flew to his head. He was with the sisters who hated you. The drink. The prayer, now he knew what had happened.

"I know, I was drinking heavily. Tried to forget what we spoke about with (y/n), and after that one of the sisters got something into my drink, I don't know what it was. I felt powerful after and that's all I remember. Is she okay?" Terzo stepped closer to the altar and held onto your hand, watched your face.

"She'll be fine. Except one thing. You made her your Prime Mover."

"What? I did WHAT? No no no no. This can't be happening. How can I do it to her?" He grabbed his head with both hands and sat down before the altar, Sister put a blanket around his shivering body and hugged him. It was a pleasant surprise to him. At that moment he could not hold his tears back anymore. they steamed down his painted face, but he did not care one bit. Sister tried to calm him down but nothing helped at that moment, he just want you to be alright. Suddenly the door opened again and Papa Nihil's shocked face met with Sister's.

"Out." The ghouls disappeared in a puff of smoke, he approached the altar and looked at your face and after he searched Terzo's eyes, but his son could not look at him. "What happened?"

"Terzo please get dressed and bring (y/n) to the infirmary, I'll talk to Papa." She smiled at him but Terzo just nodded and gathered his clothes, dressed himself and placed the blanket onto your naked body, scooped you into his arms and he mouthed out a 'Papa' and left, did not even looked back. He knew that this was the end, you'll never be the one who used to be. He ruined you forever, and why? Cause he couldn't control his emotions. You'll hate him forever, he thought as he opened the infirmary door and asked for a nurse there. They motioned him t put your body down on a bed. For further examinations he had to leave you there. He did not want to leave your bedside, but it was for the best. After that he paced down slowly on the endless corridors of the Ministry, his legs was trembling, his hands were shaking, his heart ached. He approached his bedroom and opened the door and swiftly closed it after he get into the room. He looked around and memories started to arise within his brain, it was all about you, how you were always there for him. And then he remembered when you were painting on his Cardinal paint, your beautiful flushed face, your smell, your everything. You're everything for him and his foolish actions will separate you from him forever. Even if he made you his prime mover, you can choose not to give birth to his progeny.

"You need to sleep Terzo." and he did just that or he tried to. At the middle of the night, he woke up from a horrible nightmare. His whole body was sweating and of course he dreamed about you, in it you did not woke up after the ritual. He dressed up as fast as he could and made his way to the infirmary. He knew that he need to see you.

[shirohige-pirates]

A Truly Mythological Christmas

Cisfem!Reader x Marco the Phoenix

Also on Wattpad // Ao3

18+ - this story is going to get steamy in ways not allowed for your holiday Lifetime specials. Swearing, cheating, assassins, intrigue - you know, all that simple small town stuff.

Chapter 13: Ice Cold

“I can’t sign that severance package.” You tell Katakuri on the phone the next day. He called right after breakfast had wrapped up and you had to leave the boys to Dadan. “The monetary parts are fantastic, but the NDAs, the limitations on what was a personal matter, are just straight up deal breakers. I can’t sign something that limits talking about my own life.”

“I’m not surprised.” He sighs. “But negotiating something different isn’t going to be easy. Mama’s declared this is a slight against the family, and isn’t being reasonable. I’m still trying to reach out to some contacts and see what I can line you up with, but your only options at this point are to come back to work after your vacation, and face pressure I won’t be able to protect you from.” He admits with a sigh.

“Or resign.” 

You sigh in turn, sitting down on the couch. “Yeah… Fuck.”

Getting the news from Katakuri meant it wasn’t going to be covered in bullshit, and false honeyed words, but it didn’t make the truth of it all any easier. The possibility of salvaging your position at the company had already been an impossibility, but now you needed enough control of your future prospects to not have to actually retire. 

And without the severance package, you would have to come back to Sphinx permanently, or at least while you spent what would probably be a couple years looking for a comparable job on your own.

“The good news, if it can be called that, is that we cannot fire you.” Katakuri says. “Mama’s been pushing for it, but there’s nothing for us to work with. Your performance reports are stellar, your attendance, your reviews, even your social media presence doesn’t give her any room.”

“Good to know my stellar track record still makes me less valuable than her son.” You grumble and you hear Katakuri snort. It’s as close as he is to get to laughing, especially in this situation.

“Hang in there Miss Curly,” he says warmly. “We’ll get it to work out by the new year.”

“With you in my corner, I don’t doubt that.” You agree, feeling at least a little better. You might not end up with the outcome that you wanted, but you won’t be job hunting almost endlessly with his support.

“Hey… I…” You make an odd sound as you chew on what you’re about to say, Kata waits patiently, in his experience letting you have an extra second always works out for the best. “This is going to sound insane.”

“I fear whatever you say may be uncomfortably sane, Miss Curly.” He says assuringly.

You grunt. “I’ve recently learned that your mother once had, we’ll say, less than savory connections. I say this because I’m good friends with Edward Newgate’s sons, and that’s how I heard about it.”

“… Ah.” Katakuri’s tone is much heavier. “He and my mother did run in similar circles at one point. It’s been a while since I’ve seen any of the Edward children.”

“Let me tell you another story then, one that can’t possibly be connected.” You say, and then tell Katakuri about the wild adventure you had with your three little brothers yesterday. When you finish the breakdown of events there’s a heavy silence from him.

After a moment he sighs. “Miss Curly, I have to ask, because I don’t know, but is pinky meat a delicacy of some sort?”

“It’s barely fit for survival food.” You balk at the idea of eating it. Once was enough, and that was a dare. “But it is a massive powder pink bird, and it’s not impossible to think someone who didn’t know better would want to bring one down.”

“Alright. I’m going to look into things on my end and I’ll get back to you. Hopefully the next time we chat I’ll have some good news for you.”

“Thanks boss, I appreciate everything, no matter how it turns out.”

“Mm, have a good day, Miss Curly.”

“You as well, Mr. Charlotte.”

Hanging up the phone you lean back and see Dadan looking down at you. “Would you eat pinky meat?”

She grunts. “I think I’d rather eat my own leg.” Pinky meat was pretty bad, but you didn’t know that you’d agree to that extent.

“Where are the boys today?” you question, changing the subject. 

“Off at the school, you were deep into your conversation with your boss and I told ‘em to leave you be.”

“Oh right, school.” You had just about forgotten about the whole concept of grade school. Dadan walks around the couch and comes over to sit in her recliner. “I’m going to be out of your hair in the afternoons, so you can have a little peace and quiet.”

“What’re you up to?”

“Gonna help out at the store.” You admit, hiding your gaze in the cup of coffee she’d handed you.

“Need the wagon?”

“Nah, it’s not that much of a walk.” You assert. “If I need a ride home I’ll give you a call, I should be back for dinner.”

“If you need a ride home it’ll be because someone nicked that SEL.” Dadan grunts and you can’t disagree.

“Yeah, yeah.” You grumble half-heartedly. 

You and Dadan don’t do much between breakfast and Lunch, letting the early morning be as slow and as lazy as possible. With yesterday’s excitement you were glad for it, and it was nice to have time to relax before going to the store. Considering how “on” you had been since you first got here, it was honestly just nice to have a lazy morning on its own.

Once you’re done with an early lunch you head out, a wave to Dadan as you set off down the driveway. Leggings under your slacks kept you warm, and the simple button up shirt you were wearing would keep you from overheating inside the store. In the meantime the wool-lined winter coat did enough to keep you warm. 

It’d have to storm, and you’d have to be stuck in it for an hour, before you’d be worried about the weather.

You: omw

Marco: Coming in a little earlier than expected?

You: Nah, walking. I’ll be there on time.

Marco: Be careful, there’s a few hunting groups in town, but we aren’t sure which ones were trying to tag that pinky.

You: the closest thing to a gunshot inside the town limits has been mom’s wagon.

Marco: Just be careful, little warrior.

You: <3 

Tucking your phone away you pick up the pace a little bit. It’s getting colder pretty fast, and with snow scheduled for tomorrow, it was lining up to be a nice white winter. But that also meant that the afternoon sun might not be enough to make the walk to the store pleasant, good wool-lined coat or not.

It’ll be nice however, to enjoy a proper snow-covered Christmas. It wasn’t really something that happened in the city. Even if you went to one of the parks there were so many people around that there weren’t just big tracts of undisturbed snow. The cold was still a part of it, and being able to watch your breath rise up into the air, or how the frost glimmered when it coated things, but that just felt like it was teasing you.

You weren’t surprised to see Marco when you reached the general store. He was carrying some bags for a lady who was, herself, carrying a small child. He put the bags in the back of the car while she got her kid settled in, and then gave you a wave as you caught up to him.

Bidding farewell to the customer, he steps away from her car, walking slow enough that you catch up easily.

“Ah that small town service,” you beam, falling in step with him.

“Ah that little bit of guilt trip from a lady who wants to leave her husband, yoi.” Marco mutters and your eyebrows nearly disappear into your hairline.

“Home wrecker,” you tease, elbowing him in the ribs a little.

“I’m precisely the opposite, yoi.” He grumbles.

“You’re just too smooth, you needed to retain some of that goofy-shit!” Your feet slip out from under you from ice you hadn’t seen against the blacktop of the parking lot. You reach out for Marco and He gets your arm, but the angle is awkward, and after a brief pause you shift inside your coat and sit hard on the ground.

There’s a loud POP! when you land and you stay seated for a moment, eyes closed before you let out a sigh.

“You alright, pretty bird?” He questions. You expected more of a teasing tone, but he sounds legitimately concerned.

“I am.” You admit, standing up with a little bit of help. “I’m just hoping that sound was the ice, and not my phone.” You clarify, pulling your phone out of your back pocket. The screen’s not cracked, and the face lights up when you turn it on.

“Well, aside from my pride, everything seems good.” You admit with a good natured sigh.

The two of you head into the store and after getting your things tucked away in his office, Marco takes you out onto the floor and gives you the run down of what’s needed. Most of it is straight forward, just putting things back where they go. People will often trade one brand for another, and sometimes trade out seemingly unrelated foods.

Non-perishables go back to where they belong, as does produce, unless they’re visibly damaged. Anything frozen or meats that aren’t cold anymore just go into waste. If you’re unsure better to pitch it than risk it, as far as Marco’s concerned. It was simple enough.

The first hour goes by with little concern, but your earlier poor luck seems to be rubbing off on the people around you today.

“Whoa!”

“Steady!” 

A heavy crash from the other side of the aisle shakes the shelves you’re working on causing you to take a quick step back in case anything fell. The first voice wasn’t familiar to you, but the second voice was Marco’s. The impact against the shelves gave you a new appreciation for how sturdy they were.

“You okay over there?” You question, looking up and down the aisle to see if anything fell.

“Yeah,” Marco’s voice sounds strained, but he continues and sounds fine. “Poor guy saw his life flash before his eyes for a second there, yoi.”

You hear a nervous chuckle from the other voice. “Sure seems so, thanks buddy.”

“Everything good over there?” Marco asks.

“Yeah, nothing fell.”

“Good, I’m going to ring this guy up, if you want to tidy up over here next.”

You grin at the professional tone. Well, you did tell him to behave while you were helping, so you can’t complain.

“Sure thing, boss.” You hum. You catch sight of Marco and the other guy, a shorter blonde in a baseball cap and a pilot’s jacket. Something about Marco’s grip on the man’s shoulder looked a little awkward, but he was smiling. Something about the other man left you with the distinct impression he said things like “Golly gosh” and “aw shucks”.

Coming around to the other aisle you see the aftermath of the impact. The Christmas tree shaped cone of soups that had been set up was caved in, and a few cans were in the aisle itself. The nearby shelves were in disarray, but not too bad. At least nothing had punctured and was leaking soup concentrate on the floor.

You set about the tedious task of tidying up, and boy Marco was not kidding. Organizing shelves like this was dull work, spacing out was about the only way to really make the time go by, unless there was someone around to talk to. Marco had been busy with customers, even with all cashiers on hand and two stockers it was still a lot. 

They were still working through lines four customers deep when you came in, and you didn’t even think that many people even lived in Sphinx.

Though the town had almost doubled in the last couple years, according to Dadan. More jobs from the tourists, more homes for the people who were working those jobs, and the number of bed and breakfasts were still going up, so it was likely the town’s expansion would continue for a while longer at least. Just slow and steady enough that the small town could adjust to it.

“Doing alright, pretty bird?” Marco asks, coming up behind you and adjusting some items on the top shelf.

“You weren’t wrong, it’s dull work, but I’m happy to be helping.” You admit. “Everything okay with the clumsy guy?”

“Yeah. Gave him a hefty discount to keep it from becoming a headache in the middle of the season.” He says, leaning down and kissing your cheek. “Let me know if you need a change of pace, yoi.”

“I’m good still,” you assure him, smacking his arm lightly. “I said behave.”

“I made no promises,” he retorts with a wink.

“You made minimal promises.” You correct, and he kisses you on the other cheek.

“Considering I’m doing the minimum of what I’d rather be doing, I’d say I’m doing exceptionally well.” His voice is low and right by your ear when he says it and you can feel the heat rush up to your face.

A soft squeeze of your arm and he leaves you in the aisle again, off to check on his cashiers. 

This time when your mind wanders, it’s thinking about the warmth of his hand traveling down your arms. The heat of his body at your back. 

Not just his body, but the warmth of that need.

That desire.

You’d only ever seen Marco angry once, really angry, and that had been when him and Thatch had pulled Teach off you. Both boys were full of rage, where Thatch would show the same level of energy while watching a sport on TV, Marco just didn’t. He wasn’t apathetic by any stretch, but even when he was a dorky kid he was pretty mild, and even-tempered.

Understanding, and supportive…

You shake your head and focus back on the task at hand. You were not going to have a moment of existential clarity in the soup aisle of Pops’ Stop. 

Despite that desire, your mind wandered right where it damn well pleased.

“This is embarrassing.” Marco mutters, face buried against the back of your shoulder as you carry him.

“There’s nothing embarrassing about being carried by a friend.” You huff.

“Everyone else can cross the stupid log, yoi.”

“You’re just afraid of falling,” you point out.

“That doesn’t stop me from falling.” He pouts.

“Then why be afraid of it?” You hum, it was the advice Mama Dadan had given you, and it seems to have worked. “If it’s gonna happen either way, there’s no need to worry about it.”

“It’s not the falling part that-.” Marco stops and sighs. “Thanks for carrying me across.” 

You let go as Marco sets a tender foot on the dirt path. “It’s not me carrying you that bugs you, is it?”

“Huh?”

“I mean like… I don’t mind carrying you. It doesn’t bother me, but I know a boy being carried by a gi-.”

“That’s not it.” He interrupts, putting his hands over his ears cause he knows they’re turning red and you’ll pick on him. “It’s cause it’s not cool to fall off the log.”

You laugh, pinching his hands so he’s not covering his ears anymore. “Why would I care about you being cool? It’s not like you gotta impress me.” 

Ah. 

Leaning your head against the shelf in front of you, you wonder for a moment if you aren’t just going to lose your mind at this rate. It’s not that you were worried about moving too, or too slow. It’s not that you weren’t willing to give it your all, or that you had misgivings about anything. You and Marco worked well together, in several different ways, you knew that. 

Right now, at this moment, it was more the fact that somehow you managed to miss all the signs for almost twenty solid years.

[inkedover]

some Block Tales headcanons that are canon to Playerswap (to substitute for me not posting a chapter in 9 hours, oh the horror.)

these basically don’t ever show up in the fic and I don’t think they’ll ever actually he important lmao, they’re kinda just fun facts.

long post under cut!!!

Lorenzo and Player are twins. Builderman loved both of them equally and attempted to get them both to become sword guardians (eventually), however Lorenzo felt like it just wasn't his calling.

Mayor Monty was originally the guardian of the Ice Dagger, however due to his old age and the Ice Dagger's passive frigid decay effect he needed to pass that duty onto somebody else. that somebody else just so happened to be his nephew.

…yes. that does mean Player murders Mayor Monty's nephew in cold blood. RIP.

most Noobs/Noob variations work for Noobador. this includes Nooblets.

Gemi baked the apple pie himself. he would never admit this and would rather say he stole it like the epic ninja he is (not).

Rockstar is insanely popular. he has a fanbase and regularly makes music. like, he has his own merch and shit. every teenage girl ever loves him because he makes that edgy "my dad is a helicopter parent" type of music and they eat that shit up. like, "OMG HE UNDERSTANDS ME SO WELL!!!!!!"

surprisingly enough I don't anticipate myself mentioning this until way later, so I may as well write this down now: Accountant Jim dies. he dies trapped under the debris in the mineshaft during the blizzard, as he tries to call out for Player to save him but they pick up the dynamite and ignore him. RIP my boy Jim. he will come back as a ghost when I write the manor scenes, though, I swear.

Banished Knight actually dies as well. he's one of the many knights that dies attempting to defend Blackrock Castle against the whirlwind of pure malevolence that it Player. he fails knowing that he had fulfilled his knightly duties to the King. Benevolent King is devastated since Banished had actually been one of his favorite knights, realizing he had been killed in duty makes him want to cry.

Varrick continues selling ice cream through the blizzard. the other knights continue buying his ice cream through the blizzard. literally nobody knows why and Benevolent King is definitely going to give them a long lecture on why that was a stupid idea.

Annoyed Looking Guy was originally a fighter in an underground fighting club to make extra cash. he's retired now, the cards he sells were cards that the club gave to him to make fights more entertaining.

Gene Tai plays D&D. huge TCG card collector, only selling his extras so that he can keep his shop up and running.

…anyway. have fun with these! feel free to use any of them for your own headcanons or AUs, I don't mind at all! do tag me, I like reading things .]

[offsidekineticist]

I'm really nervous about this one, since...well, look at the content warnings. And this is probably the least likeable or justifiable Giliys has ever been in his life, so...also worried about that!

CW: serial killer being a serial killer, blood and gore, burn injuries, xenophobia, slavery, suicidal ideation, interupted suicide attempt

Why?

You tell your contacts that you're retiring. They don't buy it, but you don't stick around long enough for them to start asking questions. Instead you go east, to the place you always wanted to live: Andoran.

You're barely across the border when things go south. So you're so afraid of that mouse that you've forgotten our bargain?

You hold your breath. Of course she knew about Thay's threat. Of course she had been watching–she's always watching. And now you feel her rage in your soul, burning you from the inside out. Hey, boss! You think towards her, ignoring how her anger burns. Good to hear from ya! Was starting to think you mighta lost interest in little old me.

The burning only gets worse. I'd love to lose interest in you, but whenever I let you think I have, you go and pull a stunt like this.

Hey, now, there are souls in Andoran, too. And then your mind seizes on an odd bit of trivia you heard once. You know, Andoran has one of the largest aasimar populations in Avistan.

You can feel her wrath pause, intrigued. Oh?

The fire burns in your chest, but you fight your way through it to focus–'Oh,' that's all you give me? 'oh?' c'mon. We both know you love playing with heaven's toys.

The burning gets worse and you swear you can smell smoke as she speaks. Yes, heaven's toys–not its castoffs.

Aw, you know how heaven is–the second you start having fun with 'em, they suddenly won't be castoffs. C'mon. Having your hunting hound running around a country with a patron celestial who has taken a personal interest in its success? Damning aasimar souls, celestial spark and all? You love that shit, boss, don't tell me you'd rather keep taking the runaways no one will miss.

For a moment you fear you were too forward. Then a cruel laughter fills your mind and soul, replacing every thought that used to be there, piercing your eyes and ears and - You're no hound. You are a fly who fancies himself a spider, tangling yourself up in schemes and deceptions. There's a pause in her laughter, but the pain remains. Fine. You may go to Andoran. Bring me aasimar souls. Bring them often. Or I will take yours instead. Understood?

Loud'n clear, boss!

The burning sensation and piercing headache remains, but you know her attention is elsewhere now, which means it's safe for you to curl up under a tree and take huge gulps of air and wait for the pain to pass while you try not to think about what the fuck you just promised, or, even worse, what Thay would think. He would despise you even more than he already does. He doesn't understand that you don't have a choice.

But of course he doesn't understand. He's always been free. He doesn't know what it's like for your life to depend on doing as you're told. So you put him out of your mind, and once the pain has passed, you continue to Andoran.

Despite having dreamed of coming here for years, your expectations of Andoran were fairly low. You are too jaded to accept the utopia promised by the Andorens you met. You know better than to trust when tallfolk make such promises. That's why it is almost begrudgingly that you must admit it's more than you had ever hoped. You can go out at any time, day or night, without risking the notice of slavers, which is a relief. You actually hadn't realized how much that danger had weighed on you until you didn't have to deal with it anymore. There are halfling majority settlements that aren't just the slave quarters of a manor. And when people think their government is doing something stupid? They just say "I think this is stupid." No veiled doublespeak, no dog whistles, no playing coy for plausible deniability–they just say what they think and get on with their day because there aren't any black armored goons out to shut down independent thinking.

It's refreshing. It's liberating. You just want to bask in this feeling of safety as you live a normal life doing odd jobs or buying groceries. It's the salve you didn't know your soul needed. And whenever Thay crosses your mind–when your thoughts turn towards that night–you remind yourself that he'd never have agreed to come here anyway, so really you're better off this way.

And you repay Andoran for this peace by preying on its people.

The first is a musetouched aasimar named Fin Wenton. You meet him in Almas, sitting on a street corner beating out a song on his hand drum. He was a sailmaker's apprentice, he tells you, before the knife slipped and he lost most of the fingers on his right hand. "Can't make sails with no fingers," his mentor asserted, and that was that. Finn had no family, no education, no apprenticeship, and no home. "But I figured out how to drum without my right fingers, so I think maybe I got a future as a bard," he says with a crooked grin. You toss a gold coin into the hat he's using as a collection bowl, and his eyes widen in disbelief. You disappear into the crowd before he can thank you.

He spends the coin on a warm meal and a round or three of drinks in a tavern. You don't blame him. Given the shit he's been through, he deserves to unwind. He eats and he drinks until he's thrown out, and then you follow him as he stumbles into an alleyway.

You are quick. You always are. You know the spell to bind the soul to hell so well by now that you can cast it almost silently, and you learned long ago how to kill with compassion. He doesn't feel a thing. You feel the warmth of her approval burn in your soul, and you use it to incinerate the body before anyone sees. You don't search the ashes for what's left of your coin. You'd like to think there's nothing left, that he got to spend it all before he went.

The second is only two months later–so much sooner than you were expected to deliver in Cheliax. Her name is Kestrix. She has no surname because she is like you–a runaway slave from Cheliax. She is an emberkin with radiant eyes that light up even brighter when you tell her you're from Egorian. You tell her you've only been in Almas for a couple of months, and she immediately takes it upon herself to give you a crash course in the best places to buy Chelaxian spices, which places to avoid with your Chelaxian accent, and which temples will turn you away because you're damned. It takes you a moment to realize she isn't speaking of your bargain.

"It's ridiculous," she says, and her halo burns as she speaks. "You can't just say 'I'm the queen and I decree all my subjects are damned!' You can't be decreed into damnation. You have to earn it or agree to it–you can't be born into it. Obviously the Third Damnation is just a pledge that Thrune will actively evangelize for hell." She sighs tiredly. "But many of the temples in Andoran seem to think otherwise." 

"I take it your faith is important to you," you guess.

"It…it gave me hope. Kept me alive long enough to make it here," Kestrix agrees, taking a holy symbol of Milani out of her pocket. "I wanted to give something back to her–maybe become a cleric or one of her champions or something. They turned me out as soon as they heard where I was from." She chuckles in that 'I could laugh or cry' way as she stows the holy symbol in her pocket. "Imagine worshiping the goddess of the oppressed and turning away a runaway slave because of where she's from. Imagine missing the point that badly." And then she sighs. "But the Everbloom's following is small. There's just the one temple in all of Almas."

"I think I ran into a congregation the other day, actually," you lie. "They're easy to miss cuz they just have an old barn instead of a church."

You curse yourself and your lies because her eyes light up as she demands that you lead her there. She dies in the barn, her throat slashed as she bends down to inspect something shiny in the dirt (it is the coin you left there before you first spoke to her). She must see you coming, because she jerks back suddenly as you strike–not enough to save her, but enough that it isn't instant. She stands up straight and holds a hand to her wounded neck. You see her lips move, but there is no sound. You've stolen her voice, but she doesn't need her voice to be understood. You can read her lips easily enough.

Why?

She collapses, and you have no answer.

You wonder if you should say a prayer to Milani–apologize for stealing away her follower. You decide against it. The only thing it might accomplish is getting you smited, and you still want to live.

The third is a plumekith aasimar named Yantur from Vudra with bright blue and red feathers that remind you of a parrot. He came to Avistan by way of Jalmeray looking for trouble.

"My family are padaprajnas–warriors. I am untested, so I travel to find the fight and prove myself."

"There not enough trouble in Vudra for you?" You ask with a wry grin, and Yantur laughs.

"Truthfully, I've always wanted to travel. And even in Vudra we have heard tell of the successes of Mendev's Fifth Crusade against the worldwound. I want to join that fight. I would be proud to tell my grandchildren I was part of that fight."

His plan is to find a caravan going northwards and ask to pay his way by working as a guard. Tonight, he says, he will seek shelter at the Temple of Irori, because he knows nobody in the city.

"I know where that is–I can show you," you offer, and Yantur's eyes narrow.

"I think I can manage myself, thank you," he says, suddenly looking you up and down, as if seeing you for the first time. He pays for his meal and says farewell. You likewise pay for your meal and follow him from the shadows.

You only make it a few blocks away from the tavern when he stops. You duck behind a trash barrel obscured by shadows to hide. He stands still for what feels like an eternity, not speaking, not moving, just standing completely still.

His body launches towards you. His foot crashes through the trash barrel, first one side, then the other, and you barely have enough time to step aside. Somehow Yantur is able to land on his feet, and he renews his attack.

"Behold the light of perfection!" Yantur recites as he pushes both hands, palms outwards, towards you. You suddenly feel sluggish, weaker–more vulnerable, somehow.

Oh shit.

You targeted a fucking paladin.

You need to get out of here. You don't fight toe-to-toe with fucking paladins. If you have a problem with a paladin, you slit his throat while he sleeps and then slink away undetected. And right now, you are very, very detected.

A foot crashes into the side of your head. Your head snaps to the side suddenly, and you completely lose your balance. It's hard to say if it's the blow to the head or the smiting, but you're seeing stars and can't tell which way is up.

A boot presses down on your neck. "Who do you serve?" Yantur the Paladin (apparently) demands, and as you fight to win yourself room to breathe, pushing up on the boot with both hands, you realize there's a very good chance of this overzealous novice killing you by accident. You need to get out from under this boot now. So you do what you hate: you call out through the bargain that binds you to hell. The wrath of hell itself flows through your soul, burning worse than any of your mistress's punishments, ready to do your bidding–if you can control it.

"Tell me who you serve!" Yantur commands.

"Take a wild guess," you croak, and you push that hell wrath from your soul into his. Tongues of hellfire flare from your hands. He jumps back, startled and burnt, but it makes little difference. You force yourself to your feet as a stream of hellfire flows from your fingertips to the paladin's chest, burning him alive. You see the moment he realizes what you are doing–that wide-eyed look of terror as he realizes he is bound to you by hellfire, and so through your soul, he's bound to hell.

"No! No! Please, no!" he pleads, but hell shows no mercy and so neither do you. You watch shapes form in the hellfire, watch as the hands of the damned reach out and grab a faintly glowing spirit and pull it out of Yantur's body. 

The body collapses, and the hands of hellfire, gripping Yantur's soul, abruptly retreat, rushing into your chest, using your soul as the conduit to carry Yantur to hell. You are alone, in an alleyway beside a body that still breathes, whose heart still beats, but will never wake again. You look down at your own smoldering, red, blistering hands. This is why you hate using hellfire–it always burns you too.

Fucking paladins.

And then, sitting alone beside that smoldering corpse, you realize: Yantur smited you. You're no altar boy, but even you know a paladin's smite only affects evil.

Evil. You? No, that couldn't be–you're not good, by any means, but evil? That's a little over the top. But it must be true–the paladin's magic worked on you. The universe has stood in judgment over you and decided you are evil.

That is fucking bullshit! Yes, you do some fucked up shit. Yes, you work for a fucking devil. But you hate it! Doesn't that count for something? What kind of evil person hates being evil? Would an evil person torture himself by learning his victims names and hopes and dreams because somebody should remember them? And it's not like you had a choice–if you don't send souls to hell, she'll call in your soul earlier. Your life is at stake–you shouldn't be judged on shit you do to save yourself. What else are you supposed to do? Lay down and die?

Thay would.

The thought hits you like a ton of bricks, and only partly because it's a thought about Thay. Thay would absolutely die before damning anyone to hell. He tried to damn himself to spare a stranger from hell, for fuck's sake. Of course that's only because Thay is unbelievably, almost impossibly good, but that's the point, isn't it? If he were damned, Thay would rather die than drag anyone else down to hell with him, so he's good. You would drag all of Golarion down with you for a chance to live just one more day, so you're evil.

It's not fucking fair! You tried to be good, to make the world better! And you had! All those people you ferried to freedom–that's why you had to live, that's why you couldn't just lay down and die, and then that was stolen from you by a self-righteous bleached out librarian. That night, when he told you he'd kill you if you didn't quit your work with the Bellflower Network, he didn't just end your friendship. He stole your reason to live.

…Except he didn't, did he? Because if he had, you would have chosen death by now. Freeing slaves wasn't why you served a devil. It was just how you made yourself feel better about it.

You stare at the living corpse on the ground, and suddenly you find yourself asking the same question Kestrix asked: why? Why was this young man, who had chosen to travel across half the world to fight demons in the service of his god, damned to hell? Why was his corpse on the ground beside you? This time you know the answer.

He was damned for eternity to buy you a couple more months.

You stand over the body, and for the first time since Thay kicked you out–or maybe the first time in your life–the fog clears, and you understand. 

You're approaching sixty. Middle aged for a halfling. Halfway through. You can spend the next sixty or seventy or maybe even eighty years doing this, damning innocents so you have a few more months before you're put on a rack in hell–or you can cut to the chase. And if there's anything good left in you, you know what you have to do.

You take your dagger from its sheath. It's a good blade. Balanced, easy to sharpen, and it actually fits your hands. You've taken a lot of lives with this dagger. Fitting that the last one you take with it will be yours. You know how to do it quick enough you won't have time to regret it–you've done it to others enough, doing it to yourself would be easy as pie.

And then your thoughts are interrupted. A voice rings clearly in your mind–but not the voice of your master. It's the voice of Qweck–Thay's daughter in all but name (who hates your guts).

Meet me in the Temple of Aroden in Rego Cader, Westcrown. I need your help. Name your price, I'll pay, just please be here.

You want to say no. You should say no–too much risk of Thay finding out and deciding to carry out his threat. But if it's bad enough that she's asking you for help and offering a blank check in return, then she must be in real trouble. And even if Thay did ruin that story you told yourself about why you damned souls–or maybe partly because of that–you owe him. You owe him for making him your accomplice in this. You owe him for not being the person he believed you could be. And that means you have to help his family.

I'm in Andoran. I'll be there as soon as I can.

Whatever the problem is, you can afford to help out. You'll still have your dagger when you're done.

[doctorknightley]

WHO: Doctor Knightley and Howl Forey SUMMARY: Told you he's efficient, Knightley had a chat with Howl. TW: Violence, Misgendering

If Knightley's honest it had taken every fiber of self control he possessed not to simply grab Howl and throw him into the crack. Though that would leave a few questions left unanswered, ones that despite her best efforts clearly bothered Eagan during her check up. 

The bruises and the way that their limp had partly returned brought that familiar flash of anger. He had very few people he considered a priority in his life, friends sure, but gaining the label of family was limited to a small handful. 

Walking into one of the houses that had been damaged during the festival, he glanced around before spotting Howl. He was wearing boots and gloves, grumbling as he peered down the stairs towards the basement. 

Glancing over at Knightley, Howl blinked expecting one of the construction guys or Lui, even if the prick seemed pissed at him lately. He and Vero had been giving him the cold shoulder, he was pretty sure their little brother had gone crying over Eagan. It was frustrating how much that tiny fuck was still ruining his life. 

“House is closed for repairs, whatever shit you left behind is gonna have to wait till we finish,” Howl grumbled, the water was annoying and with a flooded basement he was going to be stuck here all day. 

“Lui sent me, offered to volunteer and help out,” Knightley replied, briefly giving Howl a once over when he'd looked away. Knightley had about an inch on him, they were both likely in the same weight class. For the most part any muscle Howl had seemed to have come from manual labor, all things considered he was fairly confident in being able to handle him. 

From talking to Eagan he knew the man was impulsive which was his only real concern. Impulsive people were easy enough to predict but it also meant if he wasn't dealt with properly someone else could be the target. In this case Eagan, which had him more focused on figuring out what all Howl seemed to know about her mother. 

Eagan had seemed convinced it wasn't simple insults, that Howl had acted familiar. If that was the case it was likely he'd either known Eagan's mother, though there was the small chance Howl was the man who had killed Eagan’s parents but that seemed unlikely all things considered. 

“Shit, you volunteered for this? Are you a masochist or something,” Howl asked, glancing back at Knightley with his brow furrowed. 

Looking at Howl's face again, Knightley can see the swelling had gone down on his face. A few bruises still scattered on one side of his face. 

“Just wanted to do my part,” Knightley replied before giving him a curious look, “Did you get hurt during the festival? I can look it over if you like, normally I work at the retirement home as a doctor.” 

As he spoke he'd moved closer, briefly glancing down the stairs and seeing the water at the bottom. He grimaced as the smell hit him, making a mental note to continue that line of discussion with Zarina later. 

“Well ain't you a saint,” Howl grumbled before shrugging, he hadn't actually ever gotten checked out at the clinic. Too pissed about the whole thing and unwilling to admit what had actually happened. “Yeah alright, can you check my nose? Swear it looks crooked now but maybe I'm just seeing shit.” 

Knightley moved closer, placing his gloved hands on Howl's face and turning it to properly inspect. Vaguely he wondered which hand Eagan had used to punch him, the thought that maybe adding a punching bag to her physical therapy wouldn't be a bad idea. 

“Most of the bruising and swelling seems to have healed on its own. Did you have an accident during the chaos?” Knightley asked moving his thumbs to press on Howl's nose, ignoring the way he winced. 

“Fuck…,” Howl hissed still feeling sore, “Watch it,” he snapped. He debated how to answer but considering the mini Luna had likely been running his mouth he might as well try and do some type of damage control. “Some little shit ran at me, thought he was a tough guy and put him back in his place. Shit do you need to touch it this much,” he questioned, wincing again. 

“Just making sure nothing is broken,” Knightley said, keeping the same neutral tone. He hates Howl for this, for having to act apathetic towards Eagan, for having to keep from correcting him. Eagan is one of his priorities and having to act like they aren't bothers him more than he'd thought it would. 

“If they just attacked you out of nowhere, you could have reported it to the police,” Knightley muses. 

“Wasn't worth the hassle besides fucking town blew up with all that water,” Howl said frowning to himself, “Cops in this town are gloried hall monitors. The hell I need em for. I can handle a little bitch wolf.” 

Knightley’s hands stilled on Howl's face for a brief second, only the years of training keeping him from physically reacting. Any other time he'd have written that insult off as a coincidence, but Howl's face and tone. It was said with too much familiarity, too much real disdain for someone who was meant to be a stranger. Staring at Howl, with his face so close he can see it, one of the few ways that he could even have any idea of who Eagan's mother is. 

“That's a specific insult,” Knightley said, voice soft. It’s too specific, considering as far as he knows only two people had ever referred to Eagan as little wolf. Himself when he’d learned her full name and as well as what one of her middle names meant, and her mother. Eagan hadn’t told him that directly but the reaction when he said it the first time, as well as a few other things had clued him in.

“Yeah what of it? You've seen the little shit in town,” Howl said and thinking about Eagan has that same frustration coming back in full force. Not bothering to think over what he's saying, “He's a bitch who makes all his problems everyone else's just like his bitch mom. Can't even fight and stupid as hell, actually thinks his brother's alive cause he's too much of a dumbshit to-”

Whatever tirade he was planning on continuing is cut off when Knightley lets his hands drop to Howl’s shoulders and firmly shoves him down the basement stairs. He can hear him cursing as he tumbles down before there's a splash. For a moment Knightley holds his breath, takes a moment to recollect himself. That had been impulsive, the white hot anger settling in his chest as he forced it down. 

Walking down the stairs he can see Howl rolling onto his back, cursing and hissing in pain, both from the fall and the water now soaking into his clothes. Moving towards him he settles one of his boots in the center of Howl's chest keeping him firmly in place, crouching to lean onto his knee and ignoring the way he can hear Howl's breathing get rougher with the pressure on his chest. 

Looking him over, Knightley bites back a sigh and says, “You're Eagan's father.” It's not a question, it's a statement. The anger in his chest is almost overwhelming but he has self control, he can shut it down to stay focused. He was already impulsive once, again annoyed at Howl for having him act this way. 

“Motherfucker,” Howl said, he wanted to shove Knightley off, but between the fall and the water he doesn't have enough leverage or strength to. “I ain't his fucking dad, I signed that shit away.” 

Knightley can feel his lips twitch, he knows how long it takes someone to drown. Has more than a lifetime of experience with that sensation, it would be easy to flip Howl over and use the water down here he thinks. Still as tempting as it is, he can't act on something like that without Eagan's knowledge. 

With everything he knows about Eagan, what she's gone through, he has to hold his breath to collect himself again. If Howl had stayed away Knightley wouldn't have much of an issue with him, but the bruises on Eagan's body flash in his head again. Putting more of his weight on Howl's chest he ignored the grunt, “There's no water in your ears is there?” 

Howl's brow furrowed, moving his hands to try and get Knightley's foot off his chest. Wincing at the way the water is stinging him all over, “Fuck you,” he snaps grunting when Knightley presses harder, “No there's no fucking water in my ears, happy?” 

Knightley hums in thought, “Good, so you'll hear me clearly. Personally? I don't care what reason you had for leaving Eagan or her mother. And it's her and sometimes they for the record,” his eyes narrowing as he looks down at Howl. “I do want to know, however, were you ever contacted about Eagan after leaving?” 

Howl wants to tell him to go to hell but the water is fully stinging him now. “Like twice, but that shit wasn't my problem. Not my fault hi-her,” he corrects when he feels the pressure on his chest increase, “her mom couldn't find a guy who could actually keep em safe.” 

Eagan had mentioned how Howl didn't seem to know when to stop talking. He knows what reaction they'd have at hearing this, so he doesn't feel guilty when he raises his foot and slams it twice against Howl's side. Rolling fully onto his side Howl yelled, clutching at himself.  

Leaning down, Knightley shoved Howl’s hands away and lifted up his shirt. Tilting his head he gave a brief glance, ignoring the burning on his arms from Howl's gloved hands trying to shove him off. “Bruised ribs, you should ice them tonight to keep the swelling down. I'll let Lui know about you accidentally tripping down the stairs. Like you said the glorified hall monitors aren't much help right?” 

Pulling back he barely has to move to dodge the kick Howl throws his way as he scrambles back onto his feet, one arm wrapped around his midsection. The blank expression is back at the glare Howl gives him. 

“For what it's worth, my wife is the town pharmacist. Keep that in mind if you're considering visiting the clinic,” Knightley said, tone casual like he was remarking on the weather. 

Howl was panting, wincing as he struggled to get his breathing in order. Considering no one else was here and how Lui and Vero felt about him he knew he wasn't getting any sort of backup to dispute Knightley's claim. Clenching his jaw he felt his fists trembling. 

“You know when you go to medical school you learn more than just how to help treat someone, you also learn how far you can push the human body without risk of death. Just some food for thought,” Knightley said, his tone never changing, before he shook the water off his arms. “Don't forget to ice your ribs,” he added before walking back up the stairs and out of the house. Taking the gloves off he shoved them into his back pocket and ran his hands through his hair, already dreading the talk he was going to need to have with Eagan.

[thehighpriestess1]

Okay I'm just gonna start of like when I read the spoiler that satoru was gonna die I thought he was actually gonna die but turns out he isn't good thing it's only a dream hopefully it stay like that

Can we all just take a moment of gojo being petty like when I read through the scene where he just throw the all the resume paper with all the male to the trash I thought he was a menace but sending another ma to Africa for our dear milf queen having a homie moment damn like I guess we ain't getting our date night after all it was guees we ain't having no friends unless their good in satoru radar or a girl 😔 does make me wonder imagine this instead of males being interested to our girl what if it's the same gender thought???? 🤔🤔🤔 Like what's gojo plan of action then 😂😂 it was kinda sweet of him waiting with keiseku for y/n in their bedroom IDK HOW y/n DIDN'T FOLDED WHEN GOJO ASK FOR HER TO JOIN IF I WAS HER I WOULD HAVE FOLDED WAY WAY BEFORE I SWEAR 😩😩

Also am I the only one who got the coffee reference from sdf I was literally laughing when I read those and said i guees we getting another noritoshi LOL

Their argument pretty based on them not being able to communicate much better I swear now whenever I eat anything related waffle I'm gonna think of the waffle scene man was crying while eating those soggy waffles like he was a kid who was forced to eat vegetables but instead of throwing it away he probably ate them thinking it better than five course meal i somehow come the point that I hate him salute to him to his dedication still eating them like a champ think anyone agreement Jerry the true MVP in this chapter like where was him when we needed him in the first chapter like it was mentioned y/n and Jerry met before 99% of the problem in the series would have been solved if he was there was he Also the one who taught gojo about fashion like ain't no way satoru got good fashion Sense in him when he choose those clothes for our queen

I feel like the two just need to not fucked each other to avoid any angst coming their way because whenever those two do the deed something always come up but on the good side we got feral gojo he got me running lapses in my room I swear he's like that person that sooo scary but still come out being a hot person like two dangerous combination but super hot also how big was the couch in the dressing room to be able to fit the two of them baby number gonna be shocked af when the parents told them where they were created 😂😂😂

Also can I just get a moment that my cat literally name is yuri she's a little feisty but I care about her she's a mother two kids ok I'm going off the track I saw someone saying that geto might join yuri side and I admit it was good but what if hear me out it was utahime helping her out what's drug gojo was on must have really knocked him out real bad man didn't even gave consent my first though that yuri paid someone to dress up that to get those pictures what ever it is she's delulu praying for yuri to get admitted to retirement home by retirement home I mean the cemetery but it's the same thing right 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Okay first of all I LOVE YOU for getting that SDF reference!!! Like guuurrrrl that made me happy! Thank you!!!

If a female was interested in the reader then gojo would be just so confused! But I doubt he'd get that feral. He'll give that woman a bombastic side eye like 😒

Y/n lowkey folded when Gojo asked her to join but our girl is resilient 💅🏻

That waffle scene was a way to make Gojo realise what he missed out on because of his pettiness and anger. He would NEVER make that mistake again.

Gojo and y/n should do a energy cleansing every time they do the deed because.....it seems cursed and I want them to make more babies without any complications 😂😂😂

That leather bench/couch was something like this except in maroon colour.

We'll have to wait and see who has been helping Yuri because someone is definitely on her side 😉 why send her to cemetery once when Gojo can k**l her everyday 🤫🤫

I apologise to your cat I bet she is the cutest floof ever with two kittens snbabdkaman!!