#I'll be lying here at the bottom of the ocean

[drugsforaddicts]

May i humbly present my offering on the bojere playlist altar as a novice:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0pxjJoTPBe0UfuqXZnkln4?si=wXCUyG7fTzeq_VnZ3RTzXA

Idk if it's already on there because i can't find the link anymore but it reminded me of cyprus holiday a bit 💚

aahhhh no, it's not on the list!! it's also giving me like, before and after the holiday vibes! The first verse is after bojan left helsinki and the second verse is their cyprus holiday aafsfgskd (and the chorus is jere going through it!!)

I woke up tired and feeling old And I wondered why my bed was cold And I thought could you have gone? And if so, where and how long? And why would I let you go? Why would I ever let you go? // Oh no, what if I never knew your name? Oh my god, the thought's insane What if your love is not the same As it seems inside my brain? What if you're not really in my sheets? Oh, just the thought gives me the creeps // I woke up young in lovers love And I felt my luck when I felt your touch And my skin, it wondered how Yeah, my skin, it wondered how Could you be touching me right now When in my sleep, you can't be found?

god I'm so normal about them and these goddamn coded songs!!! RAAH!!!!!

Oh and here's the list again! 💛

[joeys-babe]

Joey B Imagines: Call It What You Want

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Summary: Joe makes your first anniversary something you'll never forget. After some bumps in the road, Joe shows you there can be smooth sailing ahead.

Warnings: None, fluff, barely mentions of sex

Pairing: Joe Burrow x reader

Imagine universe: Everlasting Love

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December 20, 2023

(y/n’s pov)

Day two of staying with Joe in Cincinnati, and I couldn't be happier.

Today was extra special because it marked one year of Joe and I being a couple.

I woke up to tiny kisses being littered on my cheeks. A small smile spread across my lips without me even opening my eyes.

When I finally did, my eyes locked with those ocean-blue ones that I had fallen in love with the first time I saw them.

“G’morning, pretty girl.” - Joe

“Good morning, Joey.” - you grinned

Joe was leaning over top of me and gently lowered himself to place a huge kiss on my lips.

“Happy anniversary.” - Joe

“Happy anniversary, baby.” - you

“Can you believe it's been a year since I asked you to be my girlfriend?” - Joe

“It's felt way longer than that. Probably not seeing each other for two months made it feel like a longer amount of time.” - you

“I promise you’ll be here with me soon, full-time. That is… if you want to.” - Joe

I leaned up in bed and looked down at him, who was now lying on his back.

“Are you asking me to move in with you when I graduate?” - you

“Do you want to?” - Joe

“Yeah…” - you smiled

“Good. We can go back to Athens whenever because that's where both our parents are. If you want you can start slowly moving your stuff here every time you come over.” - Joe

“I would love that.” - you grinned and laid back down

Joe wrapped his arms tightly around my waist and held me against his chest.

“I can't wait to wake up to you every day.” - Joe

“Me too. Opening my eyes and seeing your gorgeous blues is something I'll never get over or take for granted.” - you

I ran one of my hands over Joe’s cheek and rubbed my thumb under his eye. That perfect smile found its way onto his lips.

“You’re so handsome, Joe.” - you

“Well, you are absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait for you to live here with me, it kinda gets lonely sometimes in a big house by myself.” - Joe

“Well trust me, you aren't gonna feel lonely with me here.” - you

“I know… fuck I’m so excited.” - Joe

“One more semester, Joey.” - you laid your head on his chest

I’d be finishing college this spring, and finally be done in May. My commencement ceremony wouldn't be till fall though.

——

After breakfast, Joe sent me upstairs to get ready and said I wasn't allowed to come downstairs till he said so.

Joe said I didn't have to put anything fancy on, and that comfy would be best, so I wore a pair of leggings and stole one of his sweatshirts.

After getting changed, I headed to the top of the stairs.

“Joe! Can I come down?” - you

“Almost! Give me like one more minute!” - Joe

I waited patiently, feeling a soreness between my legs as I stood there. Last night was so good, and Joe 100% made up for the two months without sex.

Before I could get lost in my thoughts over last night with Joe, the man himself snapped me out of them.

“Okay, you can come down, baby!” - Joe

I excitedly trotted down the stairs to find Joe waiting for me at the bottom of them.

“Should I be scared?” - you

“No.” - Joe laughed

When I got to the last step, Joe gently took one of my hands and led me to the living room.

A smile formed on my lips and I squeezed Joe’s hand when I saw what he had been doing.

There was a fort made out of a ton of blankets taking up the majority of the living room.

“Awe, babe. You made this?” - you

“Yup, after way too many, like an embarrassing number of instructional videos.” - Joe

Laughing as I faced him and got on my tiptoes, Joe and I both leaned in to kiss each other.

His arms wrapped around my waist as my hands found their place on Joe’s chest.

We stayed there for a second, intertwined.

In the end, Joe pulled away and started showing me more of his fort, which he was very proud of.

“I know we had breakfast a little bit ago, but there's a box of pizza in there for whenever we get hungry. Uhm… I have some movies picked out for us to watch. What else… oh and I have a gift for you.” - Joe smiled

“A gift? Joe, we exchanged our anniversary gifts a couple of days ago, remember? We couldn't wait to give them to each other.” - you

“I have another one for you.” - Joe

“You've already done so much though…” - you

Joe rubbed my back and pulled me back into his chest.

“And you deserve even more.” - Joe

“I love you.” - you mumbled into his built chest

“I love you too. Wanna get in the fort?” - Joe

“Yes!” - you

I excitedly broke away from him and knelt to get inside the fort.

When I was fully lying down, Joe followed behind me. His big 6’4 self barreling into the blanket fortress, causing me to bust out laughing.

“Shit, that wasn't the romantic entrance I was going for.” - Joe hid his face in a pillow

Running my fingers through his hair, I pulled on Joe’s blonde locks to pull his face away from the pillow.

“I love your silly self, now come up here and cuddle with me.” - you

“Yes ma'am.” - Joe smirked and crawled up the blankets

He cuddled into me, and I quickly became the little spoon to Joe.

“You comfy?” - Joe

“Mhm.” - you moved back against him

Joe abruptly grabbed my hip to stop my backing up and I flashed him a look over my shoulder.

“Just… don't do that. It'll end in this fort tumbling down.” - Joe

I giggled at the sexual tone behind his words before lacing my fingers with his. The hand of his was connected to the arm he had thrown over my waist. Joe’s arms were so long and thick, who wouldn't want to cuddle them?

——

A movie and a pizza later, Joe and I were feeling full and tired.

“It’s three o'clock but I want to go to bed. I don't know why I'm so tired.” - Joe

“I am too, baby. Wanna take a nap real quick? It's probably the comfort of this damn fort that's making us tired.” - you

“Aye! Don’t make fun of my fort!” - Joe

“Joseph, I’m not. I'm saying you made it too comfortable!” - you

Joe and I both drowsily laughed at each other before trying to find a comfortable cuddling position to get into for sleep.

Just as my eyes were drifting shut, Joe abruptly sat up behind me.

“Wait! I have to give you your gift.” - Joe

I watched him with a smile on my face as he wiggled himself out of the fort, coming back later with a gift bag.

Joe handed it to me, but I waited for him to get settled before I would even acknowledge the gift.

“Here, my love.” - Joe

“Should I be scared?” - you

“Babe, that's the second time you've asked me that today. I'm starting to think you don't trust me.” - Joe

“I do trust you! I'm teasing.” - you

A few seconds passed of us just smiling at each other till Joe spoke up.

“Open it.” - Joe

Opening the gift bag, there was a small box inside of it. Probably jewelry.

I looked up at Joe to see him smiling at me, I could sense nervousness behind his movements.

Pulling the box out and bag setting the bag to the side, I opened the box to find a gold chain necklace with a ‘J’ pendant.

“Awe, baby. I love it.” - you

“Here let me put it on you.” - Joe

Joe took the necklace out of the box after I handed it to him and maneuvered himself behind me.

He moved my hair to the side and placed a big kiss on the back of my neck, then put the necklace around my neck and clasped it.

When he sat back down in his spot and saw his initial resting on my chest, identifying me as his and his only, I saw the blush on his cheeks deepen to a rosy shade I’d never seen before.

“It looks great on you.” - Joe grinned

“Thank you, baby. I think J’s are a good fit for me.” - you

“I think so too.” - Joe leaned in and kissed you

There was no other boy’s initials that I'd rather wear than Joe’s. He showed me what true love is, and though we'd only been together for a year, I knew he was the one I’d be with for the rest of my life.

With all of the odds stacked against us and everyone saying it wouldn't work, Joe and I tuned out the noise. All because Joe showed me that all that mattered was the fact we were so in love.

All the drama queens taking swings, all the jokers dressing up as kings, they fade to nothing when I look at him.

So yeah, call it what you want.

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Authors note: A fic not posted after 9 pm?!

Request for this fic;

Hope you enjoyed! 💕

[2btheanswertothequestion]

(part 6 of November Paramedic; part 5 is here and the AO3 version is here.)

"... and the biggest problem is that I like him. I really like him! I haven't liked anyone this much since fucking high school, and that's not comparable because I never got close to those guys. Just hopeless pining from afar."

Eddie takes a step back from the dresser. The clothes in the top drawer are in disarray, and after rummaging through them twice he must accept the shirt he seeks isn't among them.

"I admit, at first it was primarily physical," he says, slamming the drawer shut and yanking open the middle drawer to search it again. This time he pulls out the incorrect items and tosses them on the floor. "He's the guardian of my spank bank – of course I wanted to sleep with him. I would've been fine with that happening once and then never seeing him again. There's nothing wrong with that. Right?"

He turns to Gareth, who's lying in an uncomfortable-looking position on Eddie's unmade bed, spinning a pencil between his fingers like it's a drumstick. Though grimacing in disgust at the spank bank-mention, he nods. Eddie nods too, punctuating their mutual agreement.

"Right. But then I just had to go and get to know him, and he just had to be the perfect man, and I had to… ugh. Catch feelings."

The middle drawer is an equally lost cause. He moves on to the bottom drawer for the second time. He knows the shirt is there and he will find it.

"So, the good news is that I'm pretty sure I'm going to snag the guy. The worst news is that I have to tell him all my secrets, or else our relationship will be built on lies. And I- ah-hah!"

Rising from his ocean of fabric, he holds the shirt aloft in triumph before donning it. It's wrinkled from having been balled up in a corner, but that's okay. The creases add to the aesthetic.

Awesome. He's washed, brushed, dressed, and he's still got – he glances at the clock – five minutes before he's supposed to leave. Some of his nerves cool at the certainty of, if nothing else, at least he won't be late.

"Where was I?"

"You have to tell him all your secrets," Gareth says.

"Yeah. I have to tell the truth without it sounding like the creepiest thing ever. Emphasize the flattering angles. Be clever about it." Yeah. Yeah! He can totally do that. Sighing, he drags both hands down his face. "I'll need to strategize. I'm going to put distance between us while I plan my next move."

"Uh huh," Gareth says, dropping the pencil and sitting up. "But, Eddie-"

"No!" Eddie foresaw Gareth disliking the 'distance' part of it all. If he had his way, Steve and Eddie would be married already, just so Gareth could rub his essential matchmaking into Eddie's face during his best man speech. "I don't want to hear your counterarguments. It's what I'll do and I don't care what you think."

"Right, yeah, sure, that's not it," Gareth says. "It's just that curious minds would like to enquire why, if you're distancing yourself, you're 1. going to see him today, and 2. wearing your seduction shirt?"

Eddie's gaze dips to his chest, and the aforementioned shirt. It's just a normal shirt! A black and yellow Anthrax shirt, to be precise. Sure, he cut up the sides and the neck because it was too small, but that's irrelevant. It's not that revealing, just airier. His clavicles are visible but you can barely see any of his torso in it, unless he bends over and the front piece sags. But he's not going to bend over today, because his jeans are too tight for that to be safe. He glares at Gareth.

"This isn't my 'seduction shirt'."

"Yes, it is."

"I don't have a seduction shirt!"

"You do. It's that one. You only wear it when you want to show off to someone."

"You're creepy for noticing that," Eddie says, crossing his arms over his chest.

Gareth leans forward with a shark-like grin. "Oh, so you admit it?"

"No! It's not a seduction shirt!"

"All right, a 'manwhore shirt', then. Listen-"

"Oh, fuck you."

Eddie flounces out of the bedroom and through the living room, gathering keys and wallet on the way. Gareth follows.

"Listen. I'm not against you going out to see him-"

"I'm not seeing him, it's a group outing-"

"-pulling back now is stupid-"

"-that Max invited me to-"

"-and I think you should go all out and get your man. So I'm all for this. It's exactly what I would do."

Eddie pivots; Gareth almost crashes into him.

"Well," Eddie says, wearing a barbed smile. "I suppose that is how I know it's a bad idea."

Then he leaves for the hallway to put on his shoes. He tries simply shoving his feet into them, but the knot is too tight and he must untie them. Gareth leans on one shoulder against the hallway wall.

"Oh, ouch," he says. "You're grouchy today. Is it because I, while sloshed may I add, gave you an excellent opportunity to get your dick wet and you still returned home unfucked? You had Steve and his pouty lips and one size too small clothes on a silver platter. You were like a towel draped around him after a really intense workout, man. He looked willing to wipe the sweat off his junk with you and you still failed. That's sad."

Eddie, shoe dangling from his fingers by the laces and face schooled into new-sketchbook-bought-to-combat-art-block levels of blank, allows himself one raised but carefully unimpressed eyebrow.

"Are you finished?" he asks.

"Hm. Yeah, I think so."

"You're never beating the 'wanting to fuck Steve' allegations after this."

Gareth shrugs. "I mean, if he had a sister…"

"Jesus Christ."

Shoes mostly on, Eddie continues storming out of the apartment. He'd have slammed the door behind him if he didn't need to lock it after Gareth. He compromises by chucking the keys at Gareth and letting him lock the door (and slam it, if he so wishes).

Max is waiting for him on the front steps, skateboard by her feet and one earbud in; she pulls it out when Eddie passes her and pushes off the steps. She's dressy again today: dark jeans and a crimson shirt left unbuttoned and tied over a black camisole. And heeled boots! No more than an inch, but it's a big deal considering Eddie's never seen her in anything other than sneakers before. He's not under the delusion that it's his business to tell her what clothes to wear, but it's nice seeing her like this. Also, her being spruced up means his outfit won't be under as much scrutiny. He appreciates her for that.

Scrutinizing him, Max smirks as she says, "You're showing skin today. Nice."

Never mind, she is detestable.

"It's his seduction shirt," Gareth stage whispers, both hands circling his mouth.

Max scrunches her nose. "What's with him and seduction?"

"I think he just likes how the word sounds."

"It's not a fucking seduction shirt. Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Eddie stomps over to his car. "We're leaving now!"

Max jogs to catch up while Gareth laughingly waves them off and tells them to have fun on their dates.

He's wrong, though. There'll be nothing datelike about this outing, and Eddie's determined to make it so. However, in the end, it seems like he won't have to. Two minutes in and it's as unromantic as it'll ever be.

Why? Well.

"Okay," Robin says, flinging a lined notebook and a pen onto the diner table. "It's settled: Nancy, Jonathan, and El will all be home during July. And Argyle and the boys have their plane tickets?"

Because they're planning a mass reunion. The plat du jour may be delicious, but nothing beats the taste of vindication!

"Yeah," Steve says through a half-chewed bite of pulled pork. It should be gross, but it's not. Neither is his tongue darting out to lap the BBQ sauce from his bottom lip. Eddie takes a big enough gulp of his pop to drown himself; Steve rubs his back through the coughing fit. Having a mere thin layer of fabric between him and Steve's big hand doesn't really help, but Eddie will be the last person to admit that.

(Okay, so maybe Gareth had a minuscule point in this counteracting the 'distancing', but shhhhh… Eddie won't tell if you won't.)

"And Erica has permission to come over?" Robin asks after scribbling check marks next to most of the names.

"Uh huh," Lucas says. His mouth is also full, with fried chicken, but he has the decency to cover his mouth with a napkin as he speaks.

"Great. So, about the accommodations. You have space for the boys?"

Lucas nods. "My housemates will be home for the summer and they're fine with me having people over as long as we stay out of their rooms."

"Where will everyone sleep if the bedrooms are off-limits?" Steve asks, reaching for his glass. His arm, tee-shirt sleeve folded up and leaving the whoooooole bicep free to view, brushes against Eddie's and leaves a trail of fire in its wake. Thank God he wasn't drinking this time.

"There's a couch, Sammy has a futon we can borrow, and I've an air mattress," Lucas says, counting on his fingers. "We'll have a weeks-long sleepover in the living room."

"The boys are accounted for." Robin checks three of the names a second time. She points her pen at Max. "You will have El and Erica at your place?"

"Yeah," Max says, nibbling on an onion ring in an unusually ladylike manner. As if to counteract the daintiness, she's slumped in her seat, one foot on the upholstery and head resting against Lucas' arm. She narrows her icy blues at Eddie. "Remember that you'll have to be quiet. There'll be virgin ears on the other side of the wall."

"You're not a virgin?" Steve says over Eddie's indignant sputtering that he's not that loud, the walls aren't that thin, and exactly what has she been hearing anyway?!

Max ignores Eddie to roll her eyes at Steve. "I'm talking about Erica. Pretty sure she's still a virgin."

Steve's expression clouds over. "She better be."

Robin scoffs. "Seriously? She's sixteen."

"So?"

"So! You were slutting it up at sixteen!"

"Now, hold on." Steve shakes his finger at her. "I was with Nancy then, and we were monogamous."

"Oh, excuse me," Robin says in a phony voice. "You were slutting it up at fifteen."

"That's different!"

"Why? Because she's a girl?"

"Because it was a mistake, and I don't want her repeating it!"

They're both glaring, leaning so far toward each other over the table it looks like they're either about to kiss or duke it out. Eddie doesn't know which option is less appetizing. In their corner, Max and Lucas share a squirmy look that can only be interpreted as 'mom and dad are fighting.

Then Robin withdraws with a curt nod. Steve relaxes next to Eddie. Crisis averted, it seems. Still…

"I wish I'd been slutting it up at sixteen," Eddie says, mock-mournful, because nothing evaporates tension like a well-placed joke. It works, too; both Steve and Robin huff a chuckle.

"Tell me about it," Lucas says. Max straightens up to stare at him; he flounders. "Uh, tell me about it because I've never experienced the feeling and don't know what it's like."

Max shakes her head, but re-settles against him. And she doesn't shrug him off when his arm slips an inch closer to wrapping around her shoulders, so he's forgiven.

"Anyway," Robin says, tapping her lists. "That leaves Nancy, Jonathan, and Argyle. If we" – she waves the pen between her and Steve – "share a bed that leaves one bed and the sofa for the others, but it'll be cramped."

"That's why Eddie is here," Max says.

As if on command, everyone's head snaps to Eddie. He clicks his tongue.

"Exploited for lodging purposes. I should have known."

Robin frowns, contemplative. "Put someone with Eddie?"

"Yeah." Max smiles and, oh. He sees what she's doing now. "Like Steve. Then there are four in your apartment, and you two in Eddie's. You're good enough friends by now to make it work."

How nefarious. Is this a coincidence, or are she and Gareth in cahoots? Do they conspire behind his back? How dare they concoct plots to improve his life against his will!

"Max," Steve sighs, "volunteering Eddie's home like this is rude."

"He doesn't mind."

The worst thing is, it's true. He wouldn't mind. Not only would he give his skimpy shirt off his back for these people. Not only is he getting queasy green at the thought of Steve sharing close quarters with his badass and apparently Pulitzer-worthy ex, his equally badass friend whom he used to co-big brother with, and a guy who's a tall, dark California hunk with hair longer and silkier than Eddie could ever hope to achieve. Not only that, but also? Just sharing a living space with Steve 'November Paramedic' Harrington?

A dream come true.

Eddie's couch is fine to lounge on for a couple of hours, but not to sleep on a whole night. But they could share his bed. And they'd have breakfast together. Exist in each other's space. He'd find out what Steve does in his spare time. What his favorite song is, if he showers in the mornings or the evenings, how he dresses when he wants to be comfy.

It'd be amazing… and it'd completely fuck with his plan to distance himself. Honestly, he can imagine two scenarios: him falling even harder and proposing marriage and permanent cohabitation within a week, or Steve unearthing the calendar by accident, calling Eddie a stalker creep, and leaving forever. He'll have to reveal himself before that.

"Uh," he says. "We can figure it out. It's a while until they'll be here, right?"

Steve smiles softly at him; Eddie's heart gallops around his ribcage, thudding so fiercely he can feel it in his mouth, and, fuck, he's blushing down to his exposed collarbones. He might propose now. Do any of his rings fit Steve? Their hands aren't the same size.

"Yeah," Steve says. "We'll find a solution."

After lunch they drive to a nearby park, to aid their digestion with a promenade (Steve's suggestion, of course). Reminded by Robin, Eddie brings up D&D to Lucas – they discuss possible campaigns while Steve and Robin spectate. Max, her boots exchanged for Nikes, skates circles around them. Every so often she'll ride close enough to call them dorks, but mostly she keeps a wide berth, alternating between zigzags and jumps and waving like a queen when they whoop and holler at her.

And then it happens.

She's ahead of them, having reached a stone staircase. Leaping onto the railing, she slides along it like a pro. But halfway she loses her balance and falls. Slamming against the stone, she then tumbles the last steps.

They freeze, a collective breath rushing out of their lungs.

Steve reacts first, speedwalking toward Max, still on the ground. Robin is babbling that she's probably fine, that she eats shit all the time and takes it like a champ.

Max rises on wobbly legs. She stumbles, sinks back into a heap.

Steve sprints.

In an eyeblink he's reached her, skidding to a stop and dropping to his knees in front of her. By the time everyone's joined them, he's examining every inch of her by prodding and poking, even as she mutters that she's fine. She's not, though. Her clothes are dusty, her hair has come loose from her ponytail, there are scrapes on her jaw and hands, and the left knee of her jeans is torn open, bright red glistening where pale skin should be. Lucas sits behind Max, hands hovering over her shoulders. Wanting to soothe but not quite daring.

At last, after an eon has passed, Steve puffs in relief.

"No need for emergency care. Knee might be sprained," he gestures to the bloody, bruised thing, "but that should be the worst of it."

"Told you," Max mumbles, picking dirt from her palm.

Steve frowns.

"You know, this could've been prevented if you wore knee pads."

"Oh, really?" she says, mockingly exaggerated.

"Yes. And a helmet."

Max pushes out her bottom lip; it leaks more sarcasm than her leg does blood. "I thought my head was fine?"

"This time! But might not have been!" Steve exclaims.

"But it was!" she snaps, matching his volume.

"Guys, please…" Lucas says quietly; they ignore him.

"I just think you should know better by now," Steve says. "I mean, you've done this for how many years? How many times have you seen others get fucked up? How many times have I told you-"

"Oh. My. God. I get it. You think I'm irresponsible. You don't have to talk to me like I'm stupid, or a child. I'm not."

"Oh, yeah? Maybe you should back that up with your actions."

"Fuck you!"

They're both screaming now. Lucas is sitting with his head in his hands. Robin has wrapped her arms around herself and is swaying to and fro in discomfort. The tension in the air is thick enough to taste. Eddie doesn't know what to say or do.

"Come on!" Steve barks. "I need to wrap your knee"

He reaches for her; she finches away and kicks at him with her good leg.

"Don't touch me! I'll walk on my own."

"You'll exacerbate your injury. I'm carrying you to my car."

"Like hell you are!"

"Max…"

"I refuse care!" She bares her teeth at him like a rabid dog. "Leave me alone!"

Steve glowers at her. His chest is heaving and his body is drawn taut, rigid with cold fury. He shoots up and marches off without another word, leaving awkwardness in his wake.

Max gets to her feet slowly, winces slipping past her clenched teeth. Lucas touches her elbow to help, but she violently shrugs him off and limps away.

Sighing, Lucas pats Eddie's back.

"C'mon, man. She'll get more pissed if we try to match her pace."

So they walk ahead, sometimes glancing back at Max and Robin, the only one allowed near her, apparently. Even then she keeps a five-foot gap between her and the human firecracker.

Steve's already by the car, with a thunderous expression and a first aid kit in hand. When Max finally arrives, he yanks open the passenger seat door for her. She sits, he cleans her wounds, and not one word is uttered. Once finished, he slams the kit shut and storms off again, stopping by a fountain some 50 yards away, hands on his hips and back toward them.

Max, face somehow even sourer, curls up in the passager seat with her arms tightly crossed. Gliding down the BMW's polished side, Lucas takes a seat right beneath her.

Robin tugs at Eddie's wrist.

"Come," she whispers. "Let's give them space."

She brings them to a bench where everyone is within their view but out of their hearing. She collapses on the wooden seat like a potato sack.

"I hate when it gets like this," she says. "Don't you?"

"Yeah." He sits beside her. "Does it happen often?"

"Not anymore. But back when the kids were actual kids, sheesh. They were easier with us than with their parents, but still. Hormones and rebellious phases. Not that we were much better. We thought we were so adult." She rolls her eyes.

"Have you known them as long as Steve?"

"No, I joined the gang a year or two late. At first, I only hung out with Steve and the occasional child, when they deigned to stick around. I'm closest with Dustin, the MIT wunderkind, and Erica, Lucas' sister, the one still stuck at home. You'll love both of them – they're so savage."

Eddie nods, worrying his lower lip. At the car, Max’s hand has slipped down for Lucas to hold, but they still seem not to be speaking. Steve is stubbornly staring at the fountain like it'll reveal all of life's secrets if he's patient enough.

"You know after our gig?" Eddie asks. "When you raced ahead and we walked and talked? We talked a lot. Overshared, really."

Robin nods. "As you do."

"Steve told me about something important that happened at your old job? He wouldn't say what, because it's about you and it's private. But I'm curious, so… ?"

She sighs while grinning fondly. "He made it sound bigger than it is. All right. So we worked this shitty summer job at a mall ice cream parlor. The uniforms were hideous. We actually had to film a local commercial for it?"

"Oh my God."

"Yeah. I think it's still circulating – I'll ask around for it. Steve will never forgive me for showing it, but it has to be seen. Anyway, it was a summer job that continued into fall. That November, it all came to an end when the mall caught on fire."

"No!" he gasps, already invested.

"Yes!" she says, waving her hands, growing theatrical. "In the middle of the day! Rush hour! There was a stampede; we were trapped in the parlor for ages. By the time we got out of the shop, the fire had spread. Smoke everywhere! I inhaled so much I passed out. Steve carried me outside and gave me CPR."

He blinks at her, jaw slack. "Holy shit. Jesus Christ."

"Yeah. I'd have died if not for him."

She shrugs as if it's nothing, merely a fun little anecdote from yesteryear. Perhaps, to her, it is. Eddie shakes his head in disbelief.

"Why didn't he tell me this? He talked about his dad being a shithead, but not this?"

"Yeah… I don't know. When it's about him, he'll happily overshare. But when it's someone else it's all 'it's not my story to tell, I need permission'. Unless he hates them – he's sooo gossipy about people he doesn't like," she says, giggling a beat before sobering again. "Anyway, I'm telling you now that it was him saving my life and keeping me alive until the actual professionals showed up with the oxygen mask."

"Wow," Eddie breathes out. He gazes over at Steve's rugged form. "He's amazing."

Robin nudges him with her elbow. "He likes you, you know."

He likes him. He likes Eddie. He likes Eddie. Eddie kind of already figured. But hearing it from Steve's best friend is still…

"Yeah," he says, ducking his head and pulling ringlets of hair in front of his face. "Not sure I'm good enough for him."

"Oh come on. Isn't that for him to decide?"

"He doesn't know yet… what I'm capable of."

"Are you kidding me?" Grabbing him by the shoulder, she forcibly turns him to look at her. "Listen: I'm judgmental and I'm not afraid to admit it. When we first met, I took one look and thought I had you pinned down. 'Check out this guy. Leather and tattoos and black black black. So hardcore and gothic-'"

"I'm not goth-"

"'-he probably thinks he's soooo tortured'. And then you turned out to be a geeky-sweet bundle of sunshine. Well done, proving me wrong. And now you're doing this?" She gently smacks his chest. "Hitting me with all your self-loathing? Get over yourself! It's not like he's perfect either. Look at him!" She points at Steve. "He's sulking!"

A fit of giggles bubbles from Eddie's throat. It's true – he is sulking. No matter how impressive or resolute he's looking, that's what he's doing. It's so ridiculous and adorable.

"Whatever you're capable of," Robin says once the laughter abates, "you deserve to be happy. He deserves it."

She sends Steve a long look of pure love. It tells Eddie everything he'd ever need to know about her, he's sure.

"Also," she continues. "I'm getting seriously sick of the pining. I know, I should be kinder because Steve endured years of me desponding over various girls, but I can't stand this."

Eddie emits a triumphant noise. "I knew it. Only a lesbian dresses like that."

Robin's chin dips to her suspenders and tartan tie. She raises her brows at him.

"You wish you had my drip."

He would have replied if he hadn't caught movement in the corner of his eye.

Max is leaving the car. Eddie observes with bated breath as she slowly hobbles over to Steve. When reaching him, he spins to face her but makes no effort to step closer. She says something. He nods, sternness carved into his features.

For a moment, they're still.

Then she sways toward him; his arms envelop her, pulling her into a full-body hug. She tucks herself under his chin while he caresses her hair.

Eddie breathes out.

"They're fine."

"'Course they are," Robin says. "Don't you fight like this with your family?"

"Yeah." Eddie chuckles. By the fountain, Steve seems to be coaxing Max into letting him give her a piggyback ride. "Guess I do."

Tag list: @rougenancy, @raisedbylibrarians, @yourebuckingkiddingme, @swimmingbirdrunningrock, @emma77645, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @eddielives1986, @stevesbipanic, @the-redthread, @fandemonium-takes-its-toll, @henderdads, @gay-little-bitch, @lenore1232, @zerokrox-blog, @eddiemunsonswife, @cherrycolas-things, @ediewentmissing, @princess-eddie, @atombombbibunny, @ajamlessbaby, @dogswithforks, @grimmfitzz, @cutiecusp, @cuips-not-cute, @manicallydepressedrobot, @messrs-weasley, @madaboutmunson, @mightbeasleep, @suikatto, @brassreign, @snapshotmaestro, @courtjestermunson, @csinnamon-fox, @spectrum-spectre, @spinmewriteround, @just-super-fucking-gay, @escapingthereality, @oneweirdcryptid, @deehellcat, @misticageri, @lovelyscot, @linkydinky06, @rynnytintin, @anything-thats-rock-and-roll, @theysherobinbuckley, @freddykicksasses, @winterbuckwild, @sideblogofthcentury, @subparbrainfunction, @pemsha

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

Part 7

[fairyhaos]

❍ the 2k event: jeonghan + jellyfish

vote for this fic in the poll!

alternative title: down here in the deep blue sea

pairing: siren prince!jeonghan x selkie!gn!reader

genre: mythical au, siren au, friends to lovers

word count: 1130

warnings: none

event taglist (send ask to be added): @slytherinshua @rubywonu @pepperonijem @amxlia-stars @weird-bookworm @my-moarmy-heart @hannyoontify @suminsfav @minhui896 @haocovr @lockburn-castle @sweet-like-caramel @horanghae8 @graybaeismytae @karionice @hopetiger10

The bottom of the ocean is dark and cold and unpleasant. There is little light, and the creatures that live here are fierce, hardened by the harsh environment they’ve evolved to survive in. Here in his palace, Jeonghan is shielded from the worst of it, but even he understands that the never-ending abyss that makes up his family’s kingdom is nothing like the glittering, lively seas that their distant mermaid cousins live in.

But it’s all that Jeonghan has ever known.

That is, until he met you.

“Jeonghan! Jeonghan, Jeonghan, I’m here!”

Jeonghan doesn't have time to look up before a selkie comes crashing into him, all sleek, soft fur and big eyes. He laughs, because he's used to this by now, and pushes away your head slightly so that you're not squishing your cheek against his. 

"Get away from me, you rascal, you're going to mess up my hair," he says, but he's smiling, and you beam at him in return, all twinkling irises and bubbling laughter. 

"Yeah, yeah, it's gonna get messed up anyway," you say, ruffling his hair just to prove your point. "Anyway. Ready to go?"

Jeonghan cocks his head, smiling. "Maybe. Where are we going this time?"

You tap your lips secretively. "It's a secret. You ready to come or not?"

He rolls his eyes, pretending to give a long-suffering sigh. "Alright. Let's go." He looks around the darkened sea garden, peering into the bushes. "Shua!"

Another siren pops his head up above a cluster of bioluminescent sea flowers. "Yes, sire?"

"I'm gonna leave," Jeonghan says, pointing to you. "Y/N's taking me hostage. Don't expect me back until at least supper time."

Joshua crosses his arms and swims towards where you and Jeonghan are sitting. "Jeonghan, I can't keep covering for you forever," he protests. "I think there are only so many times I can pretend you got lost in the Royal Seaweed Maze before someone realises I'm lying about the Crown Prince's whereabouts."

"Then just this one last time, Shuji," Jeonghan says easily, grinning. "I'll bring you along next time Y/N and I go somewhere. How about that?"

Joshua wrinkles his nose, the scales on his cheeks glowing neon pink in the light of the flowers. "Hmph. Just go. Tomorrow, I'm resigning as your personal guard."

"You do that," Jeonghan says with a smile,  because they both know that Joshua would never leave him. "See you tonight, Shua!"

"Yes!" you cheer. "Let's go!" You ruffle Joshua's hair in consolation before grabbing Jeonghan's hand, sending a bright grin over to the siren prince and then swimming upwards, up, up, away from the kingdom down in the abyss. 

———————————— 🪼

"Are you really not going to tell me where we're going?"

You look over at Jeonghan, whiskers twitching, and reply with a chirrup, bubbles escaping your mouth. 

He sighs at you, smiling, flicking his tail and swimming faster so he's beside you. You slap at him with a seal flipper when he attempts to poke your cheek, making more seal noises before he laughs and holds his hands up in surrender. 

"Okay, okay. But seriously, where are we going?"

You morph out of your seal form into one that's slightly more conversation-able, the faintest whiskers still on your cheeks and the sleekness of your selkie fur blending into something resembling human skin. You grin, and point upwards. "Not a where. A what."

Jeonghan looks up, and his eyes widen. 

You've led him so far away from the depths of the ocean, and with just a few miles of swimming he'd be able to break the surface of the water. But that's not what he's looking at. 

Above you both, there's a swarm of transparent, floaty things, tinted in pretty pinks and oranges with what looks like long, thin threads dancing in the movement of the sea. 

"We're here to see the jellyfish," you say, and he mouths the word to himself in wonder. 

He watches as the jellyfish bob around, following the movement of the current. They look almost like mysterious spirits, with elusive purposes and elusive aims and elusive goals. 

It's fascinating.

Their transparent bodies filter the rays of sunlight right through them, and it's a kind of glittering, crystalline wonder that Jeonghan has never been able to see before in the near-pitch black darkness of his kingdom. He finds himself awed, unable to take his eyes away even as you take his hand and draw him closer to the shoal. 

"Jellyfish have no brains, no hearts, bones, or eyes," you say. 

"Aw. That's actually really sad," Jeonghan says. "Imagine not having a heart." He pauses. "Oh, and no brain, too."

You smile. 

"They're actually mostly made of fluid and transparent muscles, which are the bell parts that you can see," you carry on, pointing to one jellyfish. "And these thin tentacles? They help the jellyfish catch their prey."

"How do they eat?" Jeonghan asks, confused. 

"They trap their prey in their tentacles, and then eat through the opening in the middle of their bell body," you say. "See? It's like their mouth is in the center."

"Huh."

"Do you wanna touch them? They're dangerous for humans, apparently, but I found out that they're pretty much harmless for us to touch."

Before you came into his life, Jeonghan lived almost entirely within the walls of his palace, surrounded by darkness, knowing and going no further than the surrounding cities. It was a miserable existence, to always be held on a leash, unable to stretch his fins and breathe in new water into his gills. 

But then came you. You stumbled into the palace gardens one day, all twitching whiskers and bright selkie eyes and a smile and an outstetched hand that promised new, bright, wonderful, fascinating. 

Jeonghan had grown up being told not to take risks, but taking your hand? 

That felt like coming home. 

You come to him randomly, with new facts and new adventures and every day he's with you feels like living a new life, witnessing the shimmer of aquamarine seas and vibrant coral reefs with his own eyes. It's exhilarating, makes the blood in Jeonghan's veins sing. And listening to your voice, filled with such eagerness and fondness, is more mesmerising than any siren song that even his father could conjure. 

"—not actually fish, you know? And they're pretty much harmless. Okay, maybe not totally harmless, but they don't bother you if you don't bother them."

You pause, then, because one jellyfish chooses that moment to bob upwards in a swirl of translucent jelly right into your face, and you scrunch your nose with a barking laugh. 

Jeonghan watches you, the smile widening on his face, before he pauses. 

Oh. 

He might be just a tiny bit in love with you. 

[monsoon-of-art]

Yay little mer snippet! Just a little thing as a break from Donut Hole. Probably won't post on ao3 (Edit I did lol)

Lost and Found

They didn’t see the storm coming.

Both clans knew the skies and the weather almost as much as they knew their watery home. They should've seen this storm coming days in advance.

But they didn't.

All they could do was hunker down in their settlements and pray to Almighty Sinnoh that their loved ones out at sea would return home safe.

Even deep inside their iceberg, Irida wanted nothing more than to curl up inside her den, like she did when she was a pup and a bad storm would roll over.

But as leader, she wanted to make sure her clan was safe first.

Thank Sinnoh, most of them were doing what she wanted to do; tucked away safe inside the many ice caves and dens they had made, little ones hiding under blankets and their relatives.

Lady Sneasler and Lord Ursaluna had plopped themselves down in the medical den with Calaba. Lord Kleavor and Avalugg would be safe under the waves, and Lord Arcanine…

Well, he didn't have to suffer this storm. It was a relief, in a strange, painful way.

Lady Sneasler yawned as Irida entered, without a care in the world. Lord Ursaluna barely even acknowledged her presence.

“Did everyone return to the settlement?” Irida asked.

Calaba let out a quiet, but still irritated, huff. “Palina has yet to return. Gaeric went out to retrieve her just as the storm hit.”

Of course. Since the passing of Lord Arcanine, Palina had been grieving away from others. She wanted solitude, as dangerous as that was, and Irida could respect it on some level.

But not in this weather.

And Irida truly respected Gaeric as her mentor and practically her brother, but he still struggled with empathy at the best of times.

“Right. Right. I'll go after them.” Irida decided, rubbing her cheeks and smoothing her whiskers, trying to not stress too much.

Palina and Gaeric were very, very good swimmers. She was positively certain she'd find them just outside the iceberg.

“Please be safe.” Calaba said as Lady Irida left.

Dipping into the frigid waters (for some, not that Irida was complaining), Irida was immediately hit with the turbulent, stormy sea.

With smaller storms, it was easy to hide under the waves. But with large storms like this? The currents would be thrown off kilter, the sediment on the sea floor would be dragged up, it was difficult for even the strongest of swimmers to keep their head on straight.

But Irida pressed on, weaving through the ice floats the best she could. Even through the dark waters she could see the flashes of lightning, hear the boom of thunder. 

This couldn't be a natural storm. This had to be from Almighty Sinnoh themself. Perhaps something had angered them. It was bound to be the false worship of the Diamond Clan.

(Little did she know, Lord Adaman was having the exact same thought.)

Just at the edge of the icy waters, where the glaciers were nothing more than floating bits of snow on the surface of the water, she found them.

“There you two are! This storm is too bad to be out!” Irida said as she rushed forward to greet them, unable to stop the worried tone in her voice.

“Blame her.” Replied Gaeric in a low rumble, narrowing his eyes at Palina.

“Oh? Oh? Blame me? Blame me for making sure Lord Arcanine’s only son and heir is safe in this storm? Yes! Yes, let's blame me!”

Irida loved these two like family. Siblings. Close as could be.

She would also love it if they could stop bickering for just one night.

“You two can fight about this later, inside the settlement.” she said, swimming behind to try and urge them forward. Irida had her fill of stormy weather for one night, thank you.

The three of them had barely started their trek home, when Palina spotted something lying at the bottom of the ocean. Thank Sinnoh that the waters were relatively shallow here, otherwise she never would've spotted it.

It was…a black and white….lump. 

“Wait…What…is that?” Palina asked quietly, finding herself slowly drifting down to investigate.

Gaeric turned, sounding confused. “What? No, we should go back. This storm is dangerous.”

As Irida began following her down, he grumbled under his breath, but reluctantly began to follow as well.

The three approached the mysterious object on the sea floor, and they all quickly realized that the black and white lump was big. Very big. 

“What…is it?” Asked Irida, glancing at Gaeric for guidance.

But he slowly shook his head. “I'm not…sure. Don't get too close. We don't know if this is a threat-”

His eyes narrowed as they approached, and for a brief moment, terror flashed across his face. Grabbing the two girls, he pulled them down to a rocky outcove to hide. “Orca, that is an Orca, stay down-” he hissed.

Palina did not do that, immediately slipping away to peek over the rocks. “Really? Just laying on the ground like that? That doesn’t seem very…Orca-Like.”

“You have the self preservation of a sea cucumber.” he growled. “I’ve seen Orcas, you haven’t. Get back down here!”

She crept a bit closer, sticking close to the rocks in case she needed to duck back down. “No…the shape is wrong. And I can see…fabric?”

Irida now poked her head above the rocks, much to Gaeric’s dismay. “...I think she’s right. I’m going in closer.”

“You two are going to die, and at your funeral I will tell everyone how stupid you were.”

Palina and Irida inched closer and closer, still remaining cautious as they approached. More details came into focus. There was a torso, head, arms, hands-

It was a merman, wearing strange striped garments, curled up and completely unconscious. The only signs of life came from the subtle twitch of his fingers.

“It’s not an Orca!” Palina said over her shoulder, “I-I think it's a merman? With Orca colors?”

That finally got Gaeric to take a look, swiftly coming over to join them, brows furrowed in thought. “I…don’t recognize him. He’s not one of us.”

“He’s not part of the Diamond Clan, either. He doesn’t have their colors or insignia…” added Irida with a frown. “Would he have come from a migratory pod?”

Gaeric shook his head. “There’s been no reports of pods like that. We haven’t had traveling pods of Orcas like him in years.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “...he could be an exile.”

The very word caused Irida to recoil and Palina to wince.

Exile was the worst punishment possible. Practically a death sentence, forcing a mer from their group to live on their own, to grow sick and weak and mad from the isolation. It was worse than a death sentence, only for the most heinous of crimes. Neither of the three there had ever seen it before, from their clan nor from the Diamond clan. A punishment spoken only in terrified whispers.

Palina shook her head. “No, no. You can’t just assume the worst like that. M-Maybe the storm swept him away from his pod? Maybe he got lost?”

She turned to Irida directly. “We can’t just leave him here. He’ll drown. He’ll die. I can’t handle another death on my conscious like this.”

“Irida, I have to object.” counted Gaeric, leaning over to try and block Irida’s view of Palina. “I cannot allow you to bring this stranger to our settlement. He could be a threat! He could be a murderer. What if he tries to eat the pups-”

“Gaeric!” Palina shouted, tugging on his hair and earning a pained yelp.”Stop assuming he’s an exile!”

“I didn’t say he was! But if he’s been alone for Sinnoh knows how long? Merfolk go crazy when they’re alone!”

Irida hummed in thought, glancing between the two and the unconscious merman.

Palina was right, if they didn’t do anything, the merman would die. He’d drown, and in a matter of time the crabs and eels would descend upon the corpse until there was nothing left.

Gaeric was right, they didn’t know this merman, they didn’t know how dangerous he was. This merman was big, too, much bigger than anyone at the settlement, he could overpower them if he wanted. He could be a danger.

The merman shifted slightly, and began making a low, rumbling croon. His face, even while unconscious, looked pained. 

He was calling for someone. Something. Anything.

And as the three waited with hesitation, nothing came.

“We’re taking him back.” Irida said with an air of finality. “Gaeric, help us carry him.”

“What?! I’m opposed to this! I’m the one who said we shouldn’t take him in, and you want me to carry him?! He’s probably heavy!”

“Oh, what?” Palina said, smug from having won, “Those muscles you’re so proud of are just for show, huh?”

He growled at her, a rumble low in his throat, but agreed. “Fine. Let’s carry this stranger back home.”

[3d-wifey]

And They'd Find Us In A Week - Chapter 5

Pairing: Finnick Odair x Reader Word Count: 3.1k Synopsis: Here! Playlist: Listen up! A/N: Don't be scared to click the embedded links, you might get an auditory surprise (Ai voice cloning works wonders)

Past (v) - Finnick

[17 & 18] - DISTRICT FOUR

Finnick sits at his desk, the end of his pencil tapping a song into the wood as he thinks. The two of you have been exchanging letters for almost a year now, but he still gets excited whenever you send a new one. Excited and nervous. Getting them mailed between districts is a slow progression involving lying to a few mayors and he's sure Snow reads each one. Still, Finnick thinks, it's worth it. In your latest letter, you explained to him how a bear snuck in from the woods, and the peacekeepers were forced to gun it down. Luckily, no one was hurt, but the mayor was "generous" enough to divide the meat among the citizens who were working. You finish with a closing of 'With love', your signature, and a shitty little drawing of a bear at the bottom with X's over its eyes. He traces it with his finger and pictures you hunched over your desk, nose scrunching in concentration as you draw it. "With love, huh?" He whispers to himself and smiles. Along with your letter, you sent a parcel full of bundled brown sticks tied together with yarn. Licorice root, you had said. Only available in the Capitol and District Eleven, best used in tea with berries. He brings it to his nose and it smells sweet, like caramelized sugar. It smells like you, but it's missing that undercurrent of earthly petrichor. He looks up when he sees Mags approaching with a knowing look in her eyes. She looks at the letter in his hands and he folds it before she can read the contents. Not that it matters. All she needed to see was the signature. It's not like she doesn't know who you are. She was so ecstatic to hear your stories, insisting he got more from you. And you gave them freely, even after Finnick ran out of ones to trade. It’s odd. You wanted nothing in return. Sometimes, he gets a little ahead of himself and wonders if it’s because you like him.

It isn’t too far-fetched to assume that, right?

Right. "What's that face for?" He laughs. She takes a loose piece of paper and a pencil to write: "When's the wedding?" He opens and closes his mouth, words escaping him. "It's not like that. We're just—” Just what? You are friends, right? Finnick has friends, but none that he likes as much as you. And the way he feels with you? He doesn't feel like that around them, not by a long shot. To just call you a friend feels like calling an ocean a pond. It's almost disrespectful to condense it into something so lacking. He can’t force you, and everything you make him feel—into such a small box, it would only overflow and drown him. You are much, much more than a pond. 

Best friend, then? While true, it feels too juvenile. He considers it and he doesn't particularly like the idea of just being your friend anyway. He imagines you introducing him as such.

“Oh, and this is Finnick. My friend. Only my friend.”

No. No, he doesn’t like that at all. 

If he can't be honest with you, he can at least be honest with Mags. "—I guess it is something like that." She hums excitedly and pinches his warm cheeks. "She says she hopes you're doing well." Mags perks up at that, gesturing between herself and the blank paper. He grins at her enthusiasm, "I'll tell her you said hi. Promise." She nods and pats his hand with a smile. As she walks to sit on the couch behind him, he thinks about what to send you. He can't just send a letter. Especially after you went out of your way to send licorice roots after he offhandedly mentioned he'd like to try some. He wracks his brain but comes up empty. Other than rope, hooks, and seashells, there's nothing else he can give you. His eyes drift around the room, landing on his bare wrist.

There is something he can make you. 

Mags sits amused as he jumps up and rushes around the house to collect supplies. Technically, he doesn’t live here—she does. But this place has been more of a home to him than any other, past and present.

He grabs a spool of thin purple and blue rope, along with a few cowrie shells and little charms Mags has lying around. He sets up shop on the desk, cutting the blue rope to the length he wants it and folding it in half. He puts a shell in the middle, tying a knot on either side of it. He slides two little, silver charms on the left and right of the shell, a starfish and a turtle. He makes three basic Macrame knots with separate pieces of string. The two longest ones are slid on beside the charms and the smallest one is used as a closure.

Mags comes to stand beside him as he leans back to admire his work. 

"Do you think she'll like it?" He asks her. He wants to bite at his nails as she looks over what he made, but refrains. 

'She'll love it. :)". She writes and he hopes she’s right.

He repeats the process with the purple rope but uses a fish charm instead of a turtle and writes his letter.

Dear Star, Earlier today, I sat in the sand watching the sun rise over the ocean, and I imagined you were beside me. If I were a painter, I would capture the image for you. For now, I hope my words will suffice. The clouds shift from a dark blue to a ghostly white, parting and making way for the rising sun. The sky is a canvas of assorted colors. Navy blue, baby blue, and burnt orange chase each other in a swirl reflected across the water. As the sun climbs higher in the sky, a clear blue takes over the backdrop. Words can only take us so far. I really want to show you. Snow will only let us do so much, but maybe one day he'll let you come to Four and we can watch it together. Side by side, me and you in the sand. There's something else. I'm sure you noticed I sent you more than just the letter. There should be an intricate rope bracelet with a shell in the middle. I made us matching pairs, yours blue and mine purple—I remember you saying it's your favorite color. In hindsight, it would've made more sense to give you the bracelet with your favorite color instead of mine, but, it's kind of like having a piece of each other, you know?  The jewelry has a bit of significance, too. The starfish is obvious, but the turtle is from Mags’s story. I even found a little fish charm to put on mine. You don't have to wear it, of course. It's kind of childish in retrospect. I just hope you don't laugh at me too much. Regardless, I'll be wearing mine. I know you didn't make it, but, somehow, it makes me feel closer to you. When I glance down at it, I'm reminded that I'm not alone. That there's someone out there whose life was made at least a little bit better by my being in it. I hope it'll give you that same comfort. -Fondly yours, Finnick O. P.S. Mags says hi. She's quite taken with you. You've somehow managed to charm her without ever meeting. Not that I'm surprised. :) P.P.S. I can't wait to see you again. 

Present (V) - Finnick 

[23 & 24] - TRAINING CENTER; FOURTH FLOOR

Finnick rewinds the video and pauses. His eyes absorb your features greedily, taking you in like a man starved. And, honestly, he is. It's the first time he's seen you, outside of your picture, in two years, but it's felt like a lifetime. Initially, he watched your reaping in hopes of you proving him wrong. 

You didn't.

He can't help but find joy in the fact that he still knows you well enough to predict what you'll do. And he'll get to see you again. Really see you. He shouldn't be happy about that under these circumstances, but Finnick is under no illusion of being a good person. The camera focuses on you right as you're about to raise your hand to volunteer. He can see the conviction in your eyes and wonders why. Why did he ever think he could survive being away from you? "God, it feels like I've been watching you rewind for hours." Finnick freezes. There are five other people here, all women, and only four of them can talk. This voice is distinctly male. He looks over his shoulder and sighs. He should've guessed. "Haymitch. How did you—” He cuts himself off when he spots Mags standing a little behind him. That solves how he got in. He didn't hear him knock or notice him approaching, too focused on you to use his other senses. "Kid, I don't wanna say this is sad, but it's not, not sad." Finnick rolls his eyes at Haymitch's unwelcome opinion. Should he be embarrassed to be caught in this position? Maybe. Probably. Yeah, he definitely should be. But he gave up his shame a long time ago. He's honestly just annoyed at being interrupted.

"What do you want?" He turns back around to face you. "Why do I have to want something, huh?" Haymitch walks around the couch, Mags close behind him. "Can't I just show up to check in on you guys?" Finnick levels him with a deadpan stare. Haymitch purses his lips. "Alright, I'll cut to the chase," he starts before pausing, "is your prep team still here?" "No. They're off doing," he gestures vaguely towards the door, "whatever the hell it is they do." Something he considers a blessing. He already sees them more than he sees his own reflection. The less he's around them, the better. "Why?" "Because they're the last people we need to hear this conversation," he sits on the chair to the left of the couch. "Allies. Have you thought of any besides Mags?" "Can't say I have." He lies. Of course, he has. He's going into the arena with people he's known for a decade. Johanna comes to mind, but it's unlikely she'd team up with anyone. And you. He doubts you'd want him as an ally, but he'll help you regardless. And if it came down to him and you, well.

He’ll make sure you make it home. "You sure?" He leans his head on the hand that's propped up on the arm of the chair. "Not even a certain someone from Eleven? What was that nickname you gave her—Star, right?" He asks with that same tone he always used to take on when teasing Finnick about you. He bites down on the defensive response bubbling up, the snide comment on the tip of his tongue. He thumbs at the shell in the middle of his bracelet. He doesn't know, Finnick reminds himself, he doesn't know what I had to do to you. He isn't making fun of me. It's not like he told anyone other than Mags and Annie what happened between you and him—what Snow made him do. It's not like he ever could. Though he’s sure he, correctly, assumes that it’s Finnick’s fault. He takes a breath. "What is this about, Haymitch?" The older man sits for a moment, deliberating, before speaking. "When you get in the arena, I need you to protect Katniss and Peeta." 

"...Are you drunk?" Finnick looks him over top to bottom. Maybe he’s gotten better at acting like he’s sober. "Not yet, sadly. I'm serious, Finnick." "And why the hell would I do that?" Haymitch goes on to explain the impending revolution. How District Thirteen didn't become a nuclear wasteland, and, instead, was forced into hiding. And how, with the help of Plutarch Heavensbee, the rebels started planning a coup as soon as the Quarter Quell was announced. "You don't seem surprised." "I'm not. People talk. Especially when they feel guilty." When he started turning away his clients' money, they were desperate to pay him atonement so their consciences wouldn't be weighed down by their sins. You came up with the idea. Money wasn't worth its salt to a victor. But secrets? Secrets were cashed in gold. With everything he was told, it wasn't hard to connect the dots. What he is surprised by is Heavensbee's hand in all of this. He's in a position of power, one directly under the president. What did he stand to gain from throwing all that away? He's wary and he tells Haymitch as much. "I know this is hard to believe, for you in particular, but there are good Capitols." He tries to cross his ankle over his knee but fails—clearly not sober. "Or, at least people who wanna do the right thing who just so happen to be Capitol." He tacks on at Finnick's unconvinced scoff. 

"Alright, say I believe he's genuine, which I don’t. If this has been brewing for so long, why hasn't anyone acted until now?" "Every good revolution needs a spark and a flame." "And that's…Katniss?" "It's the romance! What it represents to Snow, but, more importantly, to the districts. The first act of public rebellion in over seventy-five years. But, the face of it is, more or less, Katniss." The Girl on Fire igniting a wildfire in the districts. He chuckles. "And where does Peeta fall in this metaphor?" "You can't have fire without air, right?" He asks rhetorically. "Well, we won't have Katniss without Peeta. She won't help us without him." Finnick rolls his eyes and sets the remote down beside him. The farce the two of them are pushing forward with this whole 'tragic romance' act will definitely keep them in the public's favor, but to let that get in the way of something this important is the kind of selfishness that can only be associated with a child. "She can't possibly care about him that much." "Yeah, well, you'd be surprised. Regardless, I need you—both of you to be a part of this. The Movement needs you. You're clever and a capable fighter. And you're one of the few who's experienced Snow's special brand of torture." He shouldn't flinch, but he does. It's an open secret among the victors, but to talk about it with anyone other than you is disquieting. He knows his face closes off and he's thankful for the fact that Haymitch knows when to stop while he’s ahead. Finnick looks to Mags. Her brows are furrowed resolutely, nowhere near as stricken as he is. She was alive during the first rebellion, but only a child. She must've been dreaming about this for years. 

Haymitch goes to talk, but Finnick raises his hand to stop him before he can speak. “No need.”

Nothing Haymitch can say now will sway him to the cause, he’s almost certain of it. Better to save his breath while Finnick thinks. Because, rest assured, there is plenty for him to think about.

"God, you too are so alike it's eerie—down to the mannerisms. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but it still throws me." Haymitch shakes his head in disbelief. "Who?" "Your better half. It took me a minute to convince her to join the Movement too, but only because she's so stubborn. You both are." And just like that, whatever illusion of choice Finnick thought he had is stripped away with the mention of you. Every path he takes leads back to you. What a heartening thought. "Alright. I'll be their ally. I'll," he takes a steadying breath. "I'll join the rebellion." "That's all it took? I would have brought her up earlier if I knew that, save myself some time." He sighs. "As a plus, the guys in charge agreed to rescue any rebels from the arena as long as you get Katniss and Peeta to the pickup point." Rescue? They'll make it out? Mags. Johanna. You. Abruptly, he gets a faint whiff of your scent caught in his head like a flashback. Hovering in his nostrils as faint as a memory. It is a memory. But if he goes through with this, maybe it doesn't have to stay one. "The pickup point?" "Is something you don't have to worry about right now. Everyone will be getting different parts of the plan that’ll need their full attention." If there really are as many people a part of this rebellion as Haymitch says there are, then, realistically, there's no way they'll all be making it out. Finnick's sure a decent amount of them will be trapped there in the arena after all hell breaks loose. And that's if they don't die beforehand. "Finnick, if we do this, and we do it right, that's it." "That's it?" "That's it. We're free. What does freedom look like to you, Finnick? I mean, I know what it looks like to me," Haymitch leans forward, elbows on his knees. He speaks about this with so much confidence, that Finnick is finding it hard to be pessimistic. "It looks like the citizens living without the weight of oppression and Snow losing any power he has over Panem. It looks like the Hunger Games ending permanently." Freedom. Now, that's an idea he's never even flirted with before. Something so completely out of his reach, he never dared to dream of it because it would hurt too much to wake up. He contemplates it. What does freedom look like to him? It looks like the generations following them never feeling the hopelessness they do now. It looks like the Hunger Games only being experienced through textbooks and the name Coriolanus Snow becoming a ghost story. Freedom looks like being by your side, loving you fearlessly. Finnick's never felt true freedom before—the closest he's ever gotten to it was when you touched him. He doubts it can feel much better than that. 

Even without knowing the full plan, Finnick can tell there are a lot of moving pieces involved. All it'll take is one misstep, one fuck up, and it all collapses. The cards are stacked against them higher than he'd like to think about. Finnick's not a gambling man, but this? This is something he's willing to bet on. 

Either they succeed or die trying.

Finnick runs a hand through his hair, pulling at the roots for a second. "Alright. What do I have to do?" 

Haymitch smiles, more genuine than it usually is. "Just get them there. We'll handle the rest."

[chaoticdelinqueerwithglitter]

I'll love you better when I'm dead

(chapter 206 from Sanzu's POV)

(tragic MuSan drabble)

(link to ao3 in case some one preferes to read it there)

First of all...I'm sorry for this (not really but yes a lot at the same time, but I did this to myself too). An evil snail shared with me this AMAZING AND BRUTAL essay on Sanzu & katana-chan and reading the last pages about Mucho, this fic happened. So first of all...

GO, READ THE ESSAY NOW!

Summary: "We are both dying here today, captain."

[or why Sanzu looses his grip]

Warnings: Manga Spoilers. Major Character Death (chapter 206, duh). Hurt/No Comfort. Like for real, comfort has been slashed with a katana and is sinking in the bottom of the ocean.

The title is from "Love you better" because I listened in a loop for two days while reading the essay and writing this.

Oh, I played with Sanzu name (again, yes) but this time doing a full Jinx, ooopsie!

(English is not my first language, so be nice please 🙈)

It’s been six months since the Kanto Incident. Six months of planning for this day, of imagining how he’s going to punish that damn traitor. Of pretending his whole body doesn’t ache at the idea of killing the only person that made him feel like he mattered.

Haruchiyo is good at that, at hiding his true feelings from the world, lying to himself as much as he needs as a way of achieving it. He’s good at rationalize the overwhelming whirlwind of emotions that threaten to flood his mind all the time. He’s used to repress the pain, keep his anxiety at bay, bury all of it next to the memories he can’t face without having the need to scream and break everything at his reach (including himself).

Six months that seem to crumble the second his captain’s eyes light up when he spots him outside the detention center.

The ride is dominated by silence, that only breaks with Muto’s simple questions about how he’s been doing during this time. Genuine concern plastered on the face he’s supposed to hate. Haruchiyo wants to laugh hysterically at this, the irony that even now the older boy is only worried about him. Instead, he just gives short answers, knowing the other won’t push his boundaries.

They are finally at the wharf and his resolve flatters for a moment, overwhelmed by a kindness that he forgot how warm it feels.

“I’ve been waiting for this day...”

Haruchiyo trails off, talking mostly to himself. His hands grip the hilt of the katana, steading his inner turmoil with the reminder of why he’s doing this. The tangible proof of his vow, of the promise that gives him purpose. Wielding it with years of practice, preparing himself to strike a fatal blow.

‘Is that it? Is that the only reason I’m doing this?’

He hesitates, consciously loosening his grip on one hand and landing a sloppy cut that buys him some precious seconds.

“You damned betrayer!”

‘Liar, you made me think I could trust you, made me feel safe, seen. How can you say you love me when you couldn’t tell your treason would rot everything we shared?’

“Sanzu...?”

Muto looks at him in shock, trying to stop the bleeding with his hand and falling on his knees. He’s the perfect image of bewilderment, like he can’t comprehend what is happening, why is happening.

“I’ve been fooling you all along.”

‘I’ve been fooling myself, pretending this never meant anything to me. Pretending you never meant anything to me.’

Haruchiyo keeps talking, winning some time in order to collect his thoughts, to understand his own feelings in order to let them go and fully put his heart on the second hit.

“Remember our conversation that day when we were playing shogi? I said it, right?”

‘Do you remember how you told me I also mattered? You made me yearn for more, you were the first person that taught me to be selfish, to listen to my own needs.’

It’s almost ironic, realizing killing Muto is a sick way of putting himself first. Realizing this is personal.

“Protecting the king is the priority. You betrayed Mikey, didn’t you?”

‘You betrayed me, didn’t you?’

He takes off his mask, the scars reminding him of his place, letting go the faint illusion it could ever be somewhere else. That it could be next to his captain. He can’t forget it again, can’t keep hiding his devotion behind his craving for affection.

A sadistic grin on his face. That’s the new mask he’s going to show to a world that will never be the same for him.

“Now it’s checkmate.”

This time the cut is fatal, slashing a lot more than flesh and bones and severing the ties between them.

‘We are both dying here today, captain.’

Somehow, Muto hears the words he never says. But his will be the only tears shed, no one else will mourn the Haruchiyo that knew genuine love.

Sanzu can’t allow himself to grieve. He can’t be weak again, these seconds that felt like ages will be the last entertaining the idea he could be more than a loyal knight to his beloved king.

He made a promise and Sanzu is willing to do anything in order to fulfill it. Even killing a part of himself forever. His weakness, the love that tempted him to break free of his sacred vow. In a twisted way, he can’t avoid thinking how fitting it feels burying it with his captain.

Haruchiyo is dead.

Only Sanzu prevails.

[mydarllinglover]

Alone || Better Man

Previous

Settling into the Commonwealth was a strange experience for the Dixon family, for starters, it was like being in the old world again, with electricity, stores, parties, and money, yes, the US dollar was the currency used in this place, and for the children who had never seen something like this, it was especially weird to explain.

Another thing that had made Natalia want to run for the hills, was being reintroduced to her parents, who she believed were both dead on a cruise in the middle of the ocean, but as luck would have it, they had wound up here of all places.

Not only was she surprised to find out that her mother had lasted ten years, but also that she had left her husband alive, instead of sacrificing Natalia's step father a long time ago.

The woman who had initiated the couple in, had been very thorough in where she was trying to place where she had seen Natalia's face before, and then it hit her, that one of their upper class elites, had to be of relation.

Apparently, due to their rankings, and how well off they were before, Natalia's parents had earned themselves a level of importance in the Commonwealth, because that was how things were done around here, who cares about walkers when you can have classism and capitalism.

Considering the parentage of Natalia, and her schooling, she was seen as a "well of" Person, from what she told them, at least, though Daryl, obviously, was not, which put them at not complete bottom, but they weren't becoming millionaires anytime soon, this had helped them at least get a house to fit their five children and Dog.

Evelyn, their eldest, had decided she didn't want to join her parents on their move to the Commonwealth, even though they had pleaded, and begged, and bribed, she'd stuck with her decision to go back to the Hilltop, with Maggie and Lydia.

When Natalia had finally met her parents, accidently, whilst on a tour of the community, it hadn't ended as sweet as you'd reckon a thirteen year reunion would go.

Natalia's mother had made a scene in the crowd, over the appearance of her daughters husband and children, the woman could not believe it, and had left in a hurry, not before delivering a slap to the adult woman's face, for her "whorishism."

It was late at night on their third day in the Commonwealth, the kids were all tucked up in bed, after a long day of unpacking, leaving Daryl and Natalia to finish exploring the downstairs part of the small house, changing things to fit their old one, until a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Daryl told her, as she stirred her herbal tea, hoping to lift up her spirits.

"Okay, baby." She sighed.

She dipped the teabag once more, before draining it and tossing it in the trash.

"Nat." Daryl hissed from the front door.

"Who is it?" She asked, leaning against the wall, looking at him.

"Yer step dad." His eyes widened in urgency as he revealed their late night visitor.

"What?" She gasped.

"Nah, I just made it up." he rolled his eyes "He's right outside, alone."

"Okay, here's what we're gonna do, just back away from the door, turn off the lights and pretend we're not home, problem solved."

"Talia." The old man called through the door. "I know you're in there, could you open the door, my old bones can't handle this weather."

"Stop lying, you ain't that old, Peter!" Natalia clapped her hands over her mouth as soon as she spoke, her eyes shooting wide.

Daryl threw his hands in the air, sick of her shit, always running her mouth.

She rolled her eyes.

"Please, honey, I just want to make sure you're okay, y-y'know, we thought you were dead, this entire time, and I still never managed to get over it... too painful." He stammered.

Daryl looked at her, and she sighed.

"Open it." She folded.

Daryl did as told, opening their new front door.

"Thought you guys were dead, too."  Natalia told the man, that had been her step father, longer than her real father was alive in her life.

"Oh, Tally." He sighed, rubbing his balding head, his eyes meeting hers, realising the daughter that he had spent years mourning, was alive, and well, and somehow, had travelled hundreds of miles to end up in the same place as him.

"Nat?" Daryl asked, quietly, wondering if this was too much for her, he'd kick the old man out of his home, if he had to, he didn't give a shit.

"S'fine." She nodded at him, but her focus didn't leave the old man. "Pete, how- what happened?"

"Do you mind if I sit down, this, this is just..." He couldn't finish his sentence.

"Sure." She waited for him to sit down, before she decided to sit down on the opposite couch. "Daryl, you mind getting Michael a hot tea?"

"'Course." He patted her shoulder, moving towards the kitchen.

"So, that's...?"

"Daryl." She answered.

"Looks nothing like Harry."

"And he ain't nothing like him, either."

"Thats good, never did like that boy. But what.... what happened... to him and- and Winnie?" He stumbled through his sentence, trying to speak through the clog in his throat, that man had loved her daughter, as if she were his own grandchild, it was something she had always admired and respected him for.

"They didn't make it." She whispered. "Was early on, I'm sorry."

"Honey, don't say that, I am incredibly sorry, I'm just thankful that you're here, and I hope they didn't suffer too much."

"They didn't, I promise." She lied, but what could she actually tell him? Definitely not the truth. "So you and Mom, how?"

"With a whole lot of luck, actually." He chuckled, but he didn't even find anything funny. "It was about two weeks into our cruise, they started getting this weird message on the radio feedback, but when they tried to get a response, there wasn't any, then we saw all these helicopters flying over the waters, none of them took notice of the large ship full of people, well, eventually, one had thought we were worth being filled in on, what was going on around the world, they had told the captain, over the bullhorn to redirect to Virginia, here, because of that Helicopter, they accepted us in, let us join the community, me and your mother, we helped set it up, we helped establish the same systems as the old world, matter of fact, you remember your mothers old friend Pam?"

"Yeah, sorta?"

"Well that's the Governor?" He smiled brightly.

"Yeah, I knew one of those, once..." Natalia commented, bitterly. "So, you and Mom have been here, the entire time?"

"Can you believe it, I'm just glad that you're finally here, but tell me, what have you done in the last ten years?"

"Here." Daryl set the tea on the small table in front of the man, he went to head upstairs, give them some space, but Natalia grabbed his arm, tightly, pulling him to sit down beside her, refusing to let go as she pinched the skin, in her grasp, without even looking at him.

Daryl got the message, she didn't want to be alone with the man.

"I see you have a ring." Peter looked at Daryl, "Did you have a wife before?"

He patted his thigh, looking at Natalia.

"Nope."

"Oh." He realised. "Well, congratulations."

"Uh huh."

"Y'know, your mother would be glad to know that you found happiness."

"Don't ruin this by lying to me." Natalia stared him down. "You were there the other day."

"Your mother, she doesn't know much about the outside world, we were very sheltered from it all, she thinks that you just simply left him, and moved on with... another man, that's all it is."

"Who gives a shit? Think I'm a bit old to need my mothers approval."

He laughed, "You haven't needed your mothers approval since you started middle school."

Natalia heard a scuffle In the hallway, but apparently the two men had missed it.

She held up her hand, twisting to look at where the noise was coming from.

"Girls? Why aren't you in bed?" She called.

"Told you to be quiet." Daisy hissed.

"Alright, come on out." Daryl called to the twins. "Now."

"We weren't eavesdropping, promise." Daisy told them, when they shuffled out, Bambi stood quietly behind her sister.

"Then what were you doing, should be asleep." Natalia said.

"Couldn't sleep." Daisy shrugged, as they both walked towards their parents.

"You got your first day of school tomorrow, you wanna fall asleep during class?"

"But, Mommy, I'm scared, you said it's gonna be different to regular school, what if the other kids are mean."

"Or what if they think we're weird, cause we ain't like them, we ain't soft."

"Honey, they're not gonna think that." Natalia shook her head. "And they ain't gonna be mean, either, cause if they are, then you tell me and I'll deal with it."

"But, Dad said that they're not like us, they're weak, and they won't like us, cause of it." Daisy huffed, pushing her hair out of her face.

"Well, your dad should keep his mouth shut, sometimes." Natalia looked over her shoulder at him.

"Mommy, who's that man?" Bambi whispered.

"That's..." She gave it some thought. "Babies, I want you to meet your Grandfather, Grandpa Pete." 

"What's a grandfather mean?" Daisy asked, confused.

"Well, honey" Natalia ignored the teary eyes of her stepfather. "You know how you have Daddy, one day, if you have children, they will have a daddy, maybe, and then, he" She pointed at Daryl, "Will be your children's grand daddy, the daddy of the parent, does that make sense, yeah, well Grandpa Mike, that's my step dad, so that's your grandad."

"Where's Daddy's dad?" Bambi asked.

"Dead, sweetheart." He answered. "Watched it happen, too, don' worry, he ain't coming back."

"Pete, you okay?" Natalia asked, finally paying attention, but making a mental note to bring up Daryl's dead dad talk, later.

"Yeah." He blinked. "Uhm, what are your two's name's?"

"Girls." Daryl urged them to answer, prying Bambi off of him to face the man.

"My name's Bambi."

"Daisy." Natalia warned her.

"Fine." The girl rolled her eyes. "My name's Daisy."

"I'm Bambi." Bambi gave him a small wave.

"Hello, it's nice to meet the two of you, I just- you both are just as beautiful as your mother, when she was your size."

"What was Mom like at our size?" Daisy tried.

"An angel." Natalia answered, quickly, earning a snort out of Peter.

"Y'know, I could tell you girls some story's about your mother." He chuckled, gleefully.

"We love story time!"  Bambi cheered.

"Aunt Nat, He's awake, again!" RJ called, from upstairs.

"He's crying for you." Judith reported, also from upstairs.

"Would you look at that? No time for stories, I gotta go settle your brother again, and you should be asleep too, so I think it's time for Pete to go home, as well."

"You have a son?" Peter asked, his jaw slack, his eyes wandering to Daryl, who gulped.

"Yes, who apparently needs me."

"And the other children, they are?"

"Our niece and nephew, look, it's really late, and I gotta deal with these lot." Natalia sighed, taking the twin's hands, leading them towards the stairs.

"Right, right, my apologies, but, Tally, please, I would love to take you to lunch, maybe the both of you, or all of you, I just want to get to know you and your beautiful family, if you'll let me."

"And what about..."

"Your mother doesn't need to know, not until she or you are ready to make amends, I promise."

"I'll think about it, Daryl, would'ya." She nodded at the door, and he took the hint, moving to open it once again.

"Mommy." Daisy started, as they walked up the stairs.

"Yeah, honey."

"Even though your Mom isn't great, I think you're the best mom in the world."

"I do, too." Bambi agreed.

"Girls." Natalia felt her cheeks get hot, as she smiled to herself. "I love you both, so much." She hugged them tight, as they walked to their room. "But I don't wanna see you until the morning, goodnight, and I love you, your father will be up to resay goodnight, in a minute."

"Momma!" Archie screamed from his bedroom.

"Aunt Nat." RJ repeated.

"Yeah, sweetie, I can hear, I'm coming." She turned back to her twins. "Lay down, go to sleep."

But before she could walk out the room, she rushed back in to tuck them in tightly and kissed their foreheads and cheeks, just as Daryl walked up the stairs.

"Your turn." She patted his chest, going towards the boys room. "Jude, go back to bed, lovey." She shut Judith's door.

"Momma." Archie whimpered, his tiny hands reaching for her, when Natalia entered his and RJ's room.

"Babyboy, what's wrong?" She asked, picking him up, wiping his tears, kissing his cheek.

"He just kept crying for you, guess he just misses you." RJ shrugged.

"I'll take him to my room, so you can get some sleep, buddy." Natalia gave the boy a side hug, kissing his head.

"Night, Aunt Nat." He yawned, climbing back into his bed.

"Night, sweetie." She walked out his room, closing the door. "Sleepover with Momma and Daddy, baby?"

"Yeah." Archie pouted.

"What's wrong?" Daryl asked, closing Judith's door, again, after saying his goodnights to her.

"Missed me." She answered, entering their room, the last one for the night.

"Ya missed yer dad?" Daryl asked his only son.

"Momma." He snuggled into her chest, making the woman smirk.

"It's okay, Mommy and Archie cuddles." She dropped him down on the bed.

"Hey, you alright?" Daryl asked, pulling his shirt off over his head.

"About what?" Natalia asked, pulling off her own top, exchanging it for a comfier one, for bed.

"Him." He nodded his head to the door. "Coming to the house."

She shrugged.

"Dunno how to feel, honestly, I'm too tired, what's the point of feeling, shit's just gonna happen anyway." She pulled off her jeans.

"He uh, he wanted me ta give ya this." He hesitated before holding out his hand, a silver chain on his palm.

"Oh my god." She gasped. "He gave this to me at their wedding, said he was trying to buy my approval." She couldn't help the small smile that slipped on her face, as she held the top of it, to examine it, the N dangling in the air. "I left it at my mothers, I can't even remember why, but I was so mad that I did, and he had it this entire time, help?"

She passed it back, grabbing her hair and holding out of the way, so that he could put it back on, which he did, kissing her shoulder when he had done it, but he wasn't expecting her reaction to be shrugging him off and moving to climb in their bed, holding their son, who layed in the middle.

He evaluated anything he could've done to earn that, before getting into bed on his own side.

Archie had fallen asleep pretty quickly and easily, in the comfort of his parents, but Daryl watched out the corner of his eye, how Natalia dragged that initial across her lips, her brows furrowed as she seemed deep in thought.

"You sure you're okay?" He whispered.

"Fine." She dismissed, the chain falling from her fingers, instantly, as she turned over, her back facing him.

A month had passed, with them living in the Commonwealth, Natalia had agreed to meet up with her stepfather, Peter, but she hadn't allowed her children, she decided she'd be keeping her family away from her parents, until her mother wasn't such a large question mark, on whether she would "attack" them or not, until she had joined Peter on one of their lunches, making the man double back on his promise.

Apparently, Monica, her mother, had given up on her daughter, but not her grandchildren, Peter, the weasel, had shared the news about their twin daughters, their two "adopted" daughters, and their son, she especially wanted to meet her biological grandkids, is what she had said in her own words.

It had taken Natalia a week, to finally approve of her mother joining them for dinner, in the instance that she pays, to be near her kids, letting them meet the wicked woman, this had only been, as Monica had kept appearing in the places they were, trying to make her own meet and greet happen.

"There's my lil cowgirls!" Natalia cheered, her Pumpkin, Archie, in her arms, as the twins were the first to emerge from the haunted house, dressed in identical cowboy outfits, Daisy sporting a green scarf, and Bambi in blue. Judith, who was dressed like a witch, followed, RJ and Daryl were the last to come out.

The Commonwealth had thrown an whole festival to celebrate Halloween, and it was the first time the kids would be even celebrating a holiday, which had made Natalia very, very giddy.

"Here, Luicfer, here's your devil mask, did you enjoy it?" She asked, handing RJ his missing part of his costume.

"RJ cried like a lil baby." Daisy told her, tilting her cowboy hat back.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Dais, didn't you scream for your daddy, when the fake walker came out?" Judith asked her, raising a brow.

"Yeah, only cause he didn't let me bring my bow, I woulda handled it." She rolled her eyes.

"Well, you ain't seeing that bow of yours again, since ya decided ta bring it to yer class." Daryl weighed in.

"It was an accident." She argued.

Judith nudged her head to go get a cake, from the bakery Carol works at, whilst Daisy argued her innocence, and Natalia smiled at her agreeing she could go off, on her own.

"Mommy, I wasn't scared of the house."

"I know you weren't, baby." Natalia told Bambi, petting one of her braids.

Carol had then walked over, with a tray of baked goods, letting the three pick off it.

"What do you say?" Natalia reminded.

"Thank you." All three kids groaned.

"Thanks, Carol" Natalia spoke for Archie, snapping bits of the cookie off so that he could eat it.

"So, what do you think?" Carol asked.

"Takes a minute to get used to all this, you know?" Daryl spoke.

"You know, this place was up and running long and before we ever got here." Carol commented.

"We're aware, my mother never lets me forget it." Natalia rolled her own eyes.

"Point is, maybe we don't have to do anything to make it work."

"No, there's always something you gotta do to make it work." Daryl slightly tapped the swinging apple, as the kids played around it.

Cheers erupted as Pamala Milton emerged from her building, her assistant, Maxine followed behind, with a tray of candy floss, as the Governor chucked candy into the crowd.

"Kids, scatter, where she is, your grandmother isn't far away." Natalia warned the twins.

"Well, she isn't gonna miss the pumpkin you're lugging around, if your idea is to hide from her." Carol warned.

"Yeah, but the perk of that is that Archie doesn't know many words, compared to his sisters, so he can't do or say anything to cause anything. He's just my sweet lil adorable pumpkin." Natalia kissed the poor boys cheeks, whilst he ate his cookie.

Next, the Governor had started the costume competition, a little girl who was dressed as Michael Mercer had won 10 lottery tickets, he was the guy who was in control of the "Military/ police force" at this place.

"I always thought she was so classy." Carol smiled as everyone clapped for the woman.

"I never knew anything about her." Daryl added.

"She shouted at me once, cause I got juice on her expensive rug, I was seven." Natalia sighed.

"Hey, you two look busy." Carol caught Connie and Kelly's attention, as they walked up to the three.

Connie smiled at Archie, waving her finger at his costume.

"Connie's a reporter for the paper, and we've got a full day, so..." Kelly explained, signing as she spoke.

"How's work?" Daryl asked.

"It's nice to be reporting again, but Commonwealth news isn't exactly... hard-hitting." Kelly translated as Connie signed.

"Have you met Pamela yet?" Daryl continued.

"I've interviewed her once before the world fell." Kelly translated again. "Yeah, and you also got her uncle kicked out of Congress, so..." Kelly said for herself.

"That was you?" Carol asked.

She shrugged with a smile.

"We got to go. We have a lot to do before the masquerade ball, so..."

"See you later." Daryl nodded.

Natalia watched her husband as he looked after the woman, with her sister, holding their son rather tightly, a weight on her chest, that had been there since a month ago, felt rather heavy.

"I hear the both of you are going to this ball." Carol smiled.

"We got to get to work." Daryl spoke for her, taking Archie from Natalia.

"Yeah. See you guys later."

"Yeah, see you, Carol." Natalia smiled politely.

They had dropped Archie off at the Daycare before getting ready for work at their home, where they had also met up with Rosita.

The three of them had ended up working at the military, Daryl and Rosita were troopers for the army, whilst Natalia, with her college degree's, had ended up becoming an interrogator/ detective, something she was planning on becoming, before she had become pregnant, of course. But it meant that they all worked at the station together.

"Hey, there you guys are." Rosita smiled as they walked up. 

"Hey to you, too" Natalia jogged forward, hugging the woman tightly.

"You want to tell me about any cases?" Rosita asked.

"Oh, you know I can't do that, that's for the big leagues to know, sorry, but Mike asked about me helping out with your guys training today, so, there's that."

"Mike? You're calling him Mike?" Daryl asked. 

"Well, yeah, we do work together, a lot, same as he calls me by a nickname." Natalia looked over her shoulder at him, holding Rosita's hand, as they walked in the rain. "Not a big deal."

"Yeah, yeah, I bet it ain't." He grumbled.

Once they had reached the abandoned houses, Natalia went off to speak to Mercer and the other lieutenants.

"Hey, you guys doing okay?" Rosita asked Daryl, watching him watch his wife.

"Yeah, yeah, we're fine, why do you ask?" He replied.

"I don't know, you guys seem pretty tense with each other, you hardly talk with out making things awkward."

"I don't know, neither." He sighed. "Probably got something ta do with her parents being around, gotta be weird for her."

"Yeah, yeah, could be that, or maybe it's just something to do with finding out her husband left her alone for months to go live with some woman in the woods, then lie about it for years to come, whilst she was pregnant, with his kids." Rosita said, thoughtfully.

"She- she told you-"

"Of course she did, said she forgave you... but, I was with her, when you wasn't, I had to see the pain she was going through everyday, Michonne might've lost Rick on that bridge, but Nat lost you, and you never were really gone."  She left him with that, before joining the other trainees.

"Welcome to the kill house." Mercer began, when ready. "In this exercise, killing is not your primary goal. I'm looking for speed and teamwork. Two teams of two will start the course simultaneously. One team goes through the house on the right, the other team takes the house on the left. There's one weapon per team, that must be shared. Your objective; get through the house, and all the rotters inside. There will be a rotter marked in red at the end of each house. First team to take out their red gets one step closer to earning their stripes. But fail to work as a unit, see what you get. Dixon, wanna tell them the teams." Mercer waved for Natalia to step forward.

"Alright, Hart, your with Tomas. Espinosa and Green. Quintana, Johnson. Dixon and Daniels. Team up, and lets get to it, we ain't got all day."

"You mind if I go with Espinosa? We make a good team." Daryl asked, as Natalia handed him a knife, looking at Mercer.

"Daryl, I didn't choose the teams, we did it by random, there's no switching." She looked at him through her brows. "So work well with Daniels, you guys are up first"

"We got this. I know you're the fastest and I'm the baddest, so we're good." Rosita laughed with her team mate, Green.

"Let's do this." He nodded back at her.

"Hey, I'm Jake." Daniels introduced himself.

Daryl put the knife in his open hand.

"What's up, Jake?" He grunted.

"So, I'm guessing that's your wife, heard she's Mercers new deputy, or something." He nodded at Natalia, who checked with the rest of the duos, before walking away to stand by Mercer, again. 

"Your guess is as good as mine." He replied.

Mercer raised his hand, before blowing his whistle, letting the two teams start.

"Taking it he doesn't work well in a team."

"Neither of them, really,  but they're good at what they do, can get creative when need to."

"But that's not what this is about, its about teamwork."

"That's the part which scares me." She sighed.

Daryl had ended up failing the mission, when Daniels called out for him, Mercer had to shoot the walker.

"Man, what was that, He was good, I was right there." Daryl told him, as they walked out the house.

"I said speed and teamwork." Mercer replied. "Green, Espinosa, nicely done. Dixon, You're with me."

"You're an idiot." Natalia snapped at her husband, following behind the large man.

Next

[catty-words]

If you're still doing the albums thing,,,would it be too much to suggest every MT album because you talking about them makes me feral enough to chew through an internet cable in the ocean? (If it is then just Astoria is aso fine lmao)

my pal. it would be an honor to do a track ranking for every marianas trench album for you, i'll see you at the bottom of the ocean.

fix me:

say anything (any siren could sing this to lure me to my death, it would work in a fucking heartbeat)

skin & bones (I ACHE)

push

alibis

decided to break it

vertigo

shake tramp (never over how much of a bop it is, but also never over slap you like a bitch, y'know? the internal wince is hard to deny)

september

alive again

low

far from here (r.i.p. you're a fine enough song but if i skipped through MT albums - WHICH I DON'T - you'd be my most skipped fix me track and that's the gospel truth)

masterpiece theatre:

celebrity status (catch me panting like a rabid dog the second this comes on)

masterpiece theatre i (🍍)

masterpiece theatre iii

acadia

lover dearest (is this an insane ranking already? i feel a little insane, but. i am going with the gut, rapid-fire style)

sing sing

all to myself

cross my heart

perfect (i'm sorry, boo, i love you, i do, but you're just not a standout track)

masterpiece theatre ii

good to you

beside you (it's so sweet i get it, but one of my most unpopular marianas trench opinions is that i feel extremely normal about this song. maybe if i'd heard it as a teenager desperate to be loved.......)

ever after:

ever after/fallout/desperate measures (no. i will not pick a favorite you can't Make me!!!!!!)

haven't had enough

truth or dare. or is it toy soldiers...? (*starts to pull my hair out in clumps*)

no place like home

by now

stutter

so soon

porcelain (holy shit. i think the rumors are true. i like 'so soon' better that 'porcelain', which i am mostly insane for insofar as the end leads into 'fallout' 😳)

b team

astoria:

wildfire (king of the second-act ballads!!!!!)

astoria

(august burns red into) this means war

one love

(hospital bells into) dearly departed

while we're young

shut up and kiss me

burning up

yesterday (i think of this and 'burning up' as mostly on par with each other, though the lyrics in 'burning up' speak more to my general mt illness than 'yesterday'. though 'yesterday' does have love like mine, met with mixed reviews so. maybe i'm lying.....)

hollywood renaissance

never say die

who do you love

forget me not

(and straight on til morning into) end of an era [the one closer that doesn't fuck :/]

phantoms:

the death of me

glimmer (or possibly switch those. but probably not. but maybe every other thursday.)

the killing kind

eleonora

echoes of you

wish you were here (i never think of this as one of the best tracks, but you know what? the rhythm does drive me to alluring madness so. on theme.)

i knew you when

only the lonely survive (i think i like the composition of this one better than 'i knew you when' but the sentiment behind 'i knew you when' makes me WEAK. WEAK I TELL YOU)

don't miss me? (one of the mt songs that features the word "taste" in a way that sends a tingle up my spine, but that's the most memorable part of the song so.)

your ghost

[mrawkweird]

It’s that time again, who were the best waifus of 2022?

I kept operating under the idea that this might end up being a slightly larger list but the truth is I don't think I got into as much as most people, at least not yet, so this might be a bit more manageable and contained than I thought.

Or I'm lying. We'll see.

Mirko:

My Hero ladies tend to just be an automatic given because everybody involved be knowing what they're doing so I will just narrow it down to as far as I'm concerned THE girl of the bunch for 2022.

Himeno:

I know the streets seem to be down bad for Makima, and I totally get it, but ultimately Himeno was the one that stood out for me. Now would I let what happened in that restaurant happen to me? I don't gotta answer that.

Jolyne:

I enjoyed the absolute hell out of Stone Ocean and I really liked what they did with her story, her character and I appreciate that she got that prison workout in during the summer because when she pulls back up in the 3rd batch with them super shoulders the streets were in awe.

Meadow:

I'mma be real, she caught me slipping. Wasn't expecting to but then had my ass out here seeing stars in Entergalactic.

Lucy/Rebecca/Dorio

Edgerunners got me with the hat trick. I can't even sit here and act like it didn't. Many evils were committed by this show and I respect it.

Dolores:

There are words and none of them I feel comfortable saying out loud other than I just really think she’s neat.

Ima:

Absolute utter and irredeemable bitch BUT.....I don't need to explain myself. However..

Mira:

She secured her MVP spot in more ways than one. Ride or die to the ultimate degree. If you don't put a ring on it then you're the fool. Your only excuse is to actually be dying.

Marian:

She was a W when she was in that shop then and she is an absolute beast in these streets now.

Callisto:

I would have also jumped into a strange world blindly. "Oh, you counting on me? Guess I'll die then".

Junker Queen:

I can't tell you how many times I rage quit the bullshit that is Overwatch just to have something that would eventually pull me back in and she pulled me back in. However, I did recently rage quit the game again just to keep the tradition going. I'll never quit Junker Queen though.

Coco Diablo:

From moment one she just absolutely solidified herself and if I was Velma I would have switched teams mid-game too.

She-Hulk should be on this list but they let her down. They let everything down from top to bottom and I'm never going to be able to forgive them for that. But I'll carry on and try to keep being that friendly neighborhood MrAwkweird because I know that's what she would have wanted.

[ambient-anemoia]

i'm getting tired of all the violence

Things have been peaceful lately. Well, other than that time I knocked one of your teeth out, but that's pretty tame as far as your injuries go.

I was embarrassed when you asked to shower with me, but I didn't mind it once we actually got in there. The warm water soothes me and the steam triggers my asthma, but I don't really mind the feeling of being breathless, not when you're here with me anyway. I glance to the left, eyelashes dripping with water, and become mesmerised by the blurry image of you at the edge of my peripheral vision. I'm entranced by the way your hair sticks to the back of your neck when it's wet. I keep wanting to reach my hand out and touch it, but we're here to get clean and we can't get distracted by pointless things now.

We argued earlier today. We used to argue a lot, back when I started my life sentence in Outer Space, but we haven't been doing it so much as of late. I guess we both got tired of saying the same things about the same topic over and over again.

What was it about now?

I said there was a new entity at the bottom of the ocean, and you didn't believe me, but really you just didn't want to believe me because a new entity means a new rival, a new person I can throw myself at and beg to fix all of my problems. Your jealousy always irritated me, always gave me a good excuse to swing my fists into you until you stopped whining. I kind of despise you when you're right about me. But I didn't hit you this time, because I'm starting to lose my enthusiasm for it, and I think for you that felt even worse.

(earlier today a researcher asked me to define the word 'enthusiastic' and i couldn't do it)

A tension settled over us for the rest of the day. It's unfair. We made up right away, but our riled up emotions made it impossible to talk normally. All our interactions felt hollow suddenly. It's strange because I don't think I like you but I feel so empty without you.

Just now the silence finally broke, and we talked for a long time. I have a fever, and I was lying on the floor mumbling, and you knelt beside me and replied to what I said. We tried not to antagonise each other this time. I don't know if we came to a understanding or if we just collectively agreed that neither of us could bear the loneliness for a second longer. You said during our argument that you're afraid I'll leave you all alone. All you have is me. But I'm the same, aren't I? There's no one left. Only the brain ghosts, and they might be dead, and the horrors down in the depths, but I loathe them, and the new entity, but it doesn't want to talk to me.

We got in the shower and stood side by side under the water, and things felt normal between us for the first time all day. I stared at your side profile, your eyes closed to block the water out, your wet hair and long eyelashes and the water droplets rolling over your bruised neck and face. And you stared at me when I turned to rinse my hair, and I didn't feel uncomfortable under your gaze the way I sometimes do when the intensity of it unsettles me. And it was nice, getting clean and stealing glances and talking occasionally but not about anything important. I was trying to figure out how tall you are, but I'm not good at guessing heights.

I wonder how long we can carry on like this.

[thisisalltherewillbe]

I painted her

I'll start with a one-second glimpse into the sex: My right hand gripping her right hip on the heel grazing the top of her ass while my fingers gain leverage on the smooth skin over her hip bones. I'm currently driving my dick into her, from tip to taint. We both know the fit is extraordinary. It almost feels tacky to mention it. Something about being 6 inches taller, 60 pounds heavier, sixteen years older makes it even more perfect. It's legal. She wants it. I want it. She moans, just like she has every time, as I fill her from the inside out, I press my hips into hers, her hips into the pillow, the pillow into the mattress, and, I assume, through the crust, mantel, and core of the earth, and back out the other side, alerting seismographs in the Indian Ocean, sending automated tsunami warning messages to coastal towns in South Africa and Western Australia. Donate to the Koalas here. She throws her head back onto my neck, her hair drapes my shoulder, grazing my ear. I squeeze her left tit, and wrap my right hand around her throat, as we finish the forward thrust together. We inhale and pull our waists back in synchrony, my dick gliding slowly out. Our open mouths connect in some strange mashup of a kiss, a lick, a shared breath, and a tiny hiding spot, away from the world, and in a moment without want. The skin over my pelvis and abs brushing the small of her back from the tailbone up. My inside of my right thigh squeezes her slender leg, realigning our frames. Yes, that was one second of our sex. I wish I had the time to write more, but honestly, it went on and on. And on. And again.

And we didn't just fuck.

We became friends. Seriously.

We went on some dates. (A couple great ones, actually.)

I tried to cook her homemade pasta. It came out soggy and sad.

We took a lot of pictures. And videos. One video I edited to be black and white, which made it more erotic and less "porny I think." The best clip, in my opinion, is one in a bedroom hallway, adjacent to a full-length mirror on the door. I'm standing behind her, sliding my dick over her wet labia. She arches her back and bends her knees to set it in exactly the right place. [Out of frame, and lost to history save for this document and my memory, her toes curl and she lifts her back with the bottom of her foot.] Later, I threw her on the bed, kissed her body, and fucked in every position I could think of while remaining face-to-face. Don't get me wrong, the sex was out of this world, but the sweet spot, we both came to know, is when I hit it from behind. We got to eventually: I held her across the body in a spooning position, fucking her while she giggled, moaned, gasped, and buried her head in the pillowcase. I pulled out when Houston counted down from ten and shot the first rope past her ear and onto the floor. The rest landed between her shoulder blades, puddling in the channel of her spine.

I painted her. Well, I painted a portrait from a picture of her toned, smooth, naked body lying on my sheets. I'd post a photo, but I think it's wiser I don't give you any revealing information about this person. I'll tell you she's in her early twenties. She's petite with light hair, a fit body, a cute face, and a small but round ass. God, I want to include so many other great details (coughfrecklescough), but let's try to keep it anonymous. Anyway, I'm proud of that painting.

Can I describe her? How about a list of words? Cute, funny, intelligent, sweet, goofy, beautiful, sexy, awkward, charming, loving, curious, and sensitive. She has great taste, excellent style, and apt I could write a story on each of those points, but we're here to talk about sex.

She was wild. The times we had together were wild.

We fucked outside on a June night in perfect weather as fireflies started to light the back yard. Her handprint remained on the porch's glass until I washed it the next week.

There's more to the story, but that's what seems right for Tumblr.

This is just my way of [not] saying hello.

And [obviously] goodbye.

God it was hot, @livvinitt.

[wandawiccan60]

The Witch of Camden Town: Part 15

Alfie Solomon's X Jovonka(FemOC)

A/N: Hey everyone I want to say I apologize for bringing the next part out very late. I honestly had a hard time knowing where the ending should stop but here it is part 15!!! I hope you all have a lovely chill day and I am very proud of this part mostly the ending got a bit intense. As always everyone please comment, reblog, and thank you all for sticking around reading this story. I really am proud to have come along with this story I never thought it would change my way of writing. I appreciate every single one of you guys. As always good morning, afternoon, and evening wherever you guys are in the world. I'll catch you all in the next one and again Enjoy!!! See Ya!!!

Word Count: 7,496

ALFIE SOLOMON"S MASTERLIST

WARNING 18+ ONLY!!!: Some Cussing, Some Lit Graphic Blood, Some Themes of Assault, Fluff, & Death

TAGS: @hecatemoon87, @kittycatcait219, @i-love-th-characters1, @zablife, @alikaheroes, @ao3feed-symbrock, @theshelbyslimited, @theshelbyclan, @annisse, @omgeternal, @jarvisrocks, @weirdgirl16355, @97freaknik, @mollybegger-blog, @rikki-b-lake, @buttercup32sstuff, @bubblyani, @raincoffeeandfandoms, @dailydeliciousdesires, @tomhardyspinkyfinger, @edwardthomashardy1, @veddieiscanon, @solomons-finest-rum, @symbean, @madame-wilsonn, @queenofthefaceless, @queencoraline3, @quarterpastmidnight, @thefics-that-drip, @lovebitesimagines, @alfiesolomons-treacle, @professor-alfie-solomons, @ninja-potato-shelby-solomons, @smellslikeillusorydreams, @shelby-solomons, @evita-shelby, @twvstedsouls

🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹

The quiet, chilly, smooth breeze of Margate became a welcoming greeting to a new day. But a certain peculiar vehicle rode its way along the dirt road overlooking the endless blue ocean. Sabini took in another long drag from his cigar while Bob had his eyes fully forward on the road. It has been over an hour since they left London to come to Margate. All because Sabini needed to see for himself that Jack and Bob were telling the truth and they were not lying to his face. Sabini felt a sense of hope to see the boy that Jack and Bob informed him of. Especially what he wanted to look forward the most to was the girls themselves, particularly Jovonka. He imagined the amount of money that he will get when he returns the circus runaways to Gustovo. Or if he chose to not accept the money, Sabini would rather buy Jovonka off the circus. Only to have her as a pet of his own and possibly a gold mine that he would inherit money from her. The Italian wouldn’t care how tired, warm out, and physically damaged the witch dancer will become. What mattered in Sabini’s eyes was a warning about his money and nothing more. 

“Fuck me, it’s cold out here. How far are we from the Jews’ house, sir?” Jack complained, wrapping his black coat around his body more tightly, already on the brink of losing his mind because of the cold.

“Oh, will you shut up you fuckin’ twat, I also am freezin’ my arse here as well. So enough with your childish whining’ will ya?’ Said Bob, keeping his eyes on the road while he breathed out hot air on his right hand.

Sabini didn’t bother to shut the two men up since his mind was more focused on speaking with Alfie. While he took in the last few drags from his brown cigar, he noticed the house up ahead of him. 

“Ah, finally we have arrived gentlemen,” said Sabini between letting out a cloud of gray smoke as Bob made the vehicle come to a full stop in front of the house.

Bob made his way to open the door for Sabini while Jack’s bottom lips chattered. Sabini got out of the car and threw the small piece of cigar on the ground. He looked at the nice big house that Alfie possessed, thinking how his loyal friend got so lucky to get one. Especially in a place like Margate, looking out at the endless ocean.

Lucky fucking bastard you Solomon’s…

“This won’t take long boys, I’ll be back before you know it. If any of you lads need to piss, do whatever you please and piss whenever you like. I’m sure Mr. Solomon’s wouldn’t mind if you water his plants for him,” said Sabini over his shoulder with a sly smirk on his face while walking his way toward the front door. 

“With pleasure, sir,” Bob said as he took out a cigarette from inside his coat pocket, giving one to Jack.

Once Sabini made it to the wooden door, he then knocked twice, patiently waiting for anyone to answer. After what felt like minutes going by, he impatiently banged on the door knocker. Then suddenly the door flung open as an old maid appeared in front of Sabini. 

“Well, this is very surprising, isn’t it? Darby Sabini good afternoon. I thought it was a madman doing all that dreadful knocking. But I was terribly wrong. How may I help you, sir?” Edna said, opening the door wider as Sabini gave a smirk at the old maid.

“My apologies for my unnecessary behavior madam I didn’t mean to startle you at these hours. And yes afternoon to you as well, may I ask if your master’s is in? I would like to speak with him. It’s urgent and I need his help very much. If it’s not too much to ask,” Darby said, tipping his hat off from his head and giving another smile at Edna.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Sabini is still in Camden Town, which you should already know by now. He will come back until late tonight, but if you would like, I can let him know you came by to speak with Mr. Solomo-.”

“Edna darling, do you think I am the type of man who wants to leave a message when my request is being rejected? Now I will ask you one more time my dear,” Sabini took out a small pistol from inside his dark blue coat pouring it directly at the poor and frightened old woman as he continued on speaking, “where the fuck is Alfie and those pathetic circus runaways? My men told me they saw one of them around here in Margate and made me wonder if Alfie might have helped them. This could be the reason that nobody hasn’t found them for the past few months. And that is why I need to speak with your boss, you old hag.” 

Edna held back a breath, feeling that her heart was stuffed inside her throat. Feeling everything around her went slowly. Edna knew exactly what Sabini was talking about since Jovonka came with Alfie all those months ago. She grew a bond with the young woman, loving every second and minute of her company. Helping the old woman with cooking foods she never imagined tasting and making, sharing stories about herself when she was younger, and feeling as if Jovonka was like the daughter that she could have never had. Before she came along, Edna felt only loneliness when Alfie left for Camden Town. Silence only consumed the atmosphere. But once this young creature came into the picture, the house never went back to that same old dark and quiet place. Edna’s eyes grew wide, fearing that this might be the end of her life, and never thought of being killed by Sabini more than a peaceful death. As the Italian clicked the hammer back with his right thumb, the old maid's eyes glistened, forming heavy tears. Edna lifted both of her hands up, her bottom lips quivering with fear. Having a terrible feeling that this could be the last breath she will breathe in.

“And if at any moment you are lying to me where exactly he is right now, I swear I’ll put one right against your pathetic skull. Do I make myself clear, you old bitch?” said Sabini in a threatening tone, gently resting the front muzzle against Edna’s forehead and closing her eyes while her muscles tensed up at the small icy touch.

“Mr…, Mr. Solomon’s is at the marketplace near to here, Mr. Darby. Please, that’s all that he told me just… don’t hurt me,” Edna said between broken shivers in her voice, feeling that her end is not too far away.

“Marketplace, you say. Was there something specific about why he went there? Or does he have someone that I should know about as a secret companion of some sort, hmm? Maybe went along with some sort of circus runaways that have been missing for many months. Does that seem to ring any bells for you, madam?” He said, trailing the weapon from her neck and landing it between her breasts. Edna let out a small whimper, feeling a small tear trailing down from the side of her right eye. 

“N-no sir, not that Mr. Solomons and I are not aware, but he has mentioned the times when you went to visit him at the rum distillery. That you told him that these young girls and a young man were missing from Mr. Gustovo’s circus. But I have seen none of these people around Margate. If I would have seen them, then I would have told Mr. Solomon’s by now. I’m sure they might have left the country already, as we are speaking. Please, Mr. Darby, that’s all that we know… just… I don’t want to waste any more of your time,” Edna said, feeling the mullet of the gun pressing further against her skin while Sabini gave a deathly stare at the woman.

“I must warn you right now Edna if you and your boss were involved in helping these people all this time. Let’s say I’ll put this lightly on both you and Alfie, keep your eyes from behind your heads wide open. For you know what will happen if someone is lying right in front of my presence. And if you two were giving these circus girls and boy under your bosses protection,” Sabini then pulled the trigger with his right index finger but no bullet came out of the pistol making Edna left with shock in her eyes while he continued finishing his speech, “this bullet that you got yourself lucky to avoid will one day go inside your body yea? Do you understand what I am saying, Mrs. Edna?”

She couldn’t speak a word because she just nodded her head ‘yes’ in a slow gesture. Sabini put away his pistol as he placed his hat back on top of his head.

“Now then, I must pay a visit to my dear friend. You have a good rest of your evening, Edna, don’t forget about what I told you, hmm?” He said with an arched brow and a smug ugly smile towards the old maid. 

He didn’t wait for Edna to agree with him, so he instead made his way back to the car where Jack and Bob finished smoking their cigarettes. Jack then opened the back door of the car for Sabini as he made his way inside. Once the car moved forward, Sabini took out his pistol, opening the cylinder and revealing only one bullet inside. 

You got yourself lucky Edna… but it’ll come back to you without you noticing…

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“Jovonka, Jovonka, can I get one of those hats please, please? Can I?” Elena said, pulling gently on her big sister’s hand, making Alfie smile at the little girl’s behavior. 

“Elena, you just bought yourself a new dress. Don’t you think that is already enough for today?” Said Jovonka, but her little sister didn’t listen as she made her way to look at the many hats.

As Elena was busy putting on different hats on top of her head, Alfie was enjoying the time with both the little girl and his beloved. However, his mind still remembers the vision that he had seen since the morning. Alfie couldn’t believe that his own lovely queen was carrying his own blood inside of her. And those words that kept repeating in his mind for the entire day only made him feel nervous and yet happy all at once.

We are going to have a child together… you and I are going to create life…

He wanted to believe in the future he will have with Jovonka however, his doubts and worries were not letting him feel joyful. Alfie hasn’t yet forgotten the many horrifying nightmares he has been seeing. What does the blood, the scars on her body, the bruises, everything that he has seen, including Sabini? Alfie has been on his guard when he goes to Camden Town, keeping an eye out for Sabini’s and Gustovo's men. Whenever he was with Jovonka and her sisters, he would walk further behind. Even if he had both of his trustful and loyal men, Adam and Vlad. Alfie still thought it was still necessary to look out for Little Elena, Isabel, and especially Jovonka. Not wanting to lose sight of the girls for even a minute or even small seconds. While Alfie was busy looking at the immense crowd of people walking around the marketplace, Jovonka looked back. Seeing that his full attention was looking beyond the many townsfolk of Margate. She walked her way to Alfie’s side, reaching out her right hand, which she placed on his muscular hand. He then flinched at her touch but then relaxed his body knowing that it was Jovonka and no one else.

“Alfie love is everything alright my dear? You seem distracted as if you are not here presently. Is something bothering you?” She said, gently caressing her thumb against his knuckles. He then gave a gentle grasp against her, hand feeling calmer.

“My apologies, my treacle, and, of course, nothing is bothering me at all. Just… thinkin’ about how Ollie might do at the rum distillery since I am not there. But I’m sure he’ll manage. After all, he is a big boy with big pants, and well… I also thought about… our vision you shared with me,” he said, cupping Jovonka by her chin with his left hand, making her crack a smile. 

They both exchanged a sweet kiss, and suddenly Alfie saw the same image inside of his mind. Jovonka carrying his future baby boy, while the little infant laughed and cooed, looking directly up at his wonderful mother. Alfie only had this big smile against his lips as he wrapped his arms around Jovonka’s waist. Feeling so many emotions that he couldn’t accept the fact of how blessed and lucky to have a beautiful woman who gives him a small bundle of happiness. Jovonka leaned back from his lips, resting their foreheads against each other. 

“Hehe, I’m sorry my love, I had to show it to you again just… I can’t believe that I am carrying our child that we will raise together in the future. This child will mean so much to both of us, knowing that we will be wonderful parents. And Alfie, I’m sure Ollie is doing fine, but poor dear, I think he might stress out without your guidance. You know it’s still not too late for you to go to Camden Town, you know that don’t you love?” Jovonka said Alfie only groaned at this, not really wanting to go to work, but she was right at the same time.

“Jovonka, Jovonka, can I please get this hat? I promise you this will be the last thing to ask you. I won’t ask for anything more. It is such a nice hat and it’ll look nice to my dress,” Elena said, holding the small material in her hands, making Alfie chuckle at the little girl.

“Alright fine, but this will be the last thing and nothing more, alright?” Jovonka said with a smile, knowing that she wants to make Little Elena happy with whatever she wanted.

Little Elena only gave a big smile as she put the hat on top of her head and Jovonka only chuckled while shaking her head. 

After Alfie paid the vendor for the hat, they continued walking around the marketplace while Elena held onto her big sister’s hand. The crowd became larger as they got closer to the middle of what looked to be a statue of some sort. But right next to the monument, there stood a small wooden stage while some performers told a story with some puppets. In the front sat a small group of children of all ages while laughing at the silly puppets. 

“Jovonka looks over there. Can we go, please?” She begged while pointing a finger at the stage.

“Of course, little sister, find yourself a seat. I’ll be there with you soon. Alfie, do you want to come along?” Jovonka said, grabbing onto his right hand. 

“No, no, I’m fine dear. You and Elena run along and enjoy the show alrigh’? I’ll be over here watching you girls from afar, yea?” He said, giving a small wink and smile at his beloved, making her chuckle. 

“Very well then, we won’t be long,” Jovonka said, making her way toward the sizeable crowd, but before she did Alfie grabbed her left hand, making her stop in her tracks. Without a second to react, Alfie clasps his lips once more against her sweet lips, wrapping his other arm around her waist. They both let go of each other’s lips. Jovonka then caressed Alfie’s right cheek with her hand. 

“I love you very much, Jovonka. I hope you always remember that,” said Alfie, giving a kiss on top of her forehead, feeling her cheeks turn red. 

“I also love you more, Alfie, and of course, I will always remember how could I not?” She said as she nuzzled her nose against his, making the bearded man break into a small chuckle. 

Jovonka then made her way towards the crowd of people, seeing that Elena found herself a seat to sit down. The sun was setting as some lamplighters turned on the street lamps. As the show continued on for some time, Jovonka, Elena, and the rest of the townspeople were laughing, cheering, and clapping at the performers. Who were now doing some magic tricks that everyone was mesmerized and entertained. All the while, Alfie was overlooking the crowd as he sat down on a wooden bench where he could see Elena and Jovonka. He felt warm to see how the girls were enjoying the moment, knowing they haven’t felt this much freedom before in their lives. As the performers continued on with their magic but somewhere on the other side of the marketplace, however. Sabini was walking through the crowd while Bob and Jack followed behind him. They reached where the show was being held, seeing the now more crowded audience. 

“Hmmm, this is pathetic nonsense. Would rather see a group of dancing girls instead of this ridiculous magic that is false,” he said, taking another puff from his cigar and seeing the many smiling faces of both children and grown-ups.

Looking around, his gaze stopped dead when he saw Alfie sitting on the other side of the crowd. Sabini’s eyes went wide, surprised to see his friend in these types of events. Knowing that Alfie is not the type of man that doesn’t enjoy seeing these silly child shows. But the other half of his mind questioned why he was here in Margate and should be instead in Camden Town. Without a moment to lose, Sabini then told his men that he’ll go have a talk with the Jewish man. And told them to keep an eye out for any sign of the girls or the boy. Jack and Bob nodded their heads as they went their separate ways, one going one way and the other going the other path. Through the laughing crowd, Jovonka and Elena were still busy being entertained by the magician’s performance. When they were preparing to finish their final magic acts, Jovonka looked back in Alfie’s direction. But her heart pumped uncontrollably, noticing Sabini walking towards him. She held her breath, feeling a lump forming in her throat, trying her best to act normal, gazing her eyes forward. She lowered her head, hoping that they did not easily see her. Elena wasn’t noticing any of this since all of her focus was on the magicians. Jovonka slowly looked back at where Alfie was still sitting. Her eyes grew wide in fright, seeing Sabini talking to her beloved king.

“So Mr. Solomon’s,” the Italian said, taking a seat next to the Jewish man as he continued speaking, “what brings you to this festival that you’re oddly here than being at Camden Town? What happened just felt like not doing any business. Or is there something or someone that kept you from going to work?”

Alfie stayed quiet for a moment, gripping his hands on top of his wooden cane. He could feel his heart pumping out of control. But Alfie steadies his breathing, looking back into the eyes of Sabini, waiting for him to reply.

“Well, I heard this festival was coming to town, so I said why not? A man of business like me should have a day off for himself, don’t you think so, Mr. Darby?” Alfie said, arching an eyebrow at his friend as they overheard some cheers and claps from the audience.

“Hmm, I see, and you think seeing a bunch of low-life frauds is a thing to do on your day off? That seems a bit out of your character Alfie, and here I thought you weren’t ever interested in such things,” Sabini said while he eyed both Jack and Bob from the other side as the two men looked around the crowd that was scattering from one way to another.

“Elena, come quickly and keep your head down and do as I say, ok?” Jovonka told her little sister, grabbing hold of her small right hand as they tried to blend in with the rest of the people.

The girls rushed their way toward an alleyway as Jovonka looked back behind her. Seeing Alfie still speaking to Darby as they both now were out of view from the outside. 

“You might wonder why I came all the way here to come and see you. If you haven’t heard or noticed, but some of my trusted men informed me they’ve seen one of those runaways around these parts. And I was wondering if you have been helping them out in any kind of way since this search has been going on for months,” said Sabini resting his left hand against the grip of his pistol trying his best to get some details out of his best friend as he kept a steady hand on his weapon.

“Are they really? Well, that is some news to me, that is. How did I not overhear or see these people around here yet, eh? What a coincidence inn’t guess I was too busy looking after the bakery too much without realizing these people have been staying here for God knows how long. Seems I might have to keep me eyes wide open the next time I see them around here,” said Alfie pretending to look and sound surprised, knowing very well that Jovonka, Elena, Isabel, and Novel have been under his care all these months for a good amount of time.

Sabini quietly nodded his head toward him, thinking if he was being serious or likely fucking around with him. The Italic was this close to putting his gun between Alfie’s eyes, thinking that would be a way for him to get the truth out of him. But Sabini also knew the consequences of killing another gangster, mostly because he has made deals with Alfie many times. If he was just a normal-looking man, Sabini will gladly end the man’s life right in front of him, but it was in the end business. And if he dies, so will the business crumble down to the ground and everything will be meaningless. 

“If you're wondering mate if I have any involvement with these circus people. The answer to that righ’ is no since I already told you in our last talk. I don’ have any interest, especially in that girl dancer Jovonka. She doesn’t catch my attention, let alone don’ want anything to do with her sexually. I have no time for women in my life anymore Darby you already know why,” Alfie said looking straight ahead and seeing small groups of people walking one way to another what he really was searching for was Jovonka and Little Elena but they were nowhere to be found.

“Yes, yes, I know, women for you are off the fucking table. Come on, Solomon’s, don’t you want to at least you know maybe be curious about how she might be and feel behind closed doors? Imagine, oh, I can really picture her in all her lovely physique while she dances for me while naked. Won’t that be something to don’t you agree mate?” Darby said, feeling his aching bulge forming between his gray trousers. Alfie felt furious on the inside about how he would really love to punch, choke, and kill this man with his bare hands again. 

Unfortunately, he couldn’t since there were people around walking about, which bothered Alfie very much. 

“Goddamn look at the time now, eh,” Sabini said, taking out his watch from his right pocket as he continued on, “well then my friend, I must get going then. However, I’ll still keep you posted if I find any of these circus freaks. Seems like the search might have to be expanded, which that idiot Gustovo should have thought of since the beginning. But fuck him, might as well do my plans smarter than he does. Don’t you think so, Alfie?”

“Do whatever you think suits you Sabini, I still believe these people have been long gone by now. Pretty sure they probably might be back in their homeland already. While Gustovo keeps hoping for his own people, or we’ll find them first, that is. But I wouldn’t keep my hopes high if I was in him righ’, anyway I also should be headin’ back home. It’s gettin’ fuckin’ cold around these times, but it was an unexpected pleasure to see you again, my friend. Best of luck to you in finding those girls and that one young boy, but farewell Mr. Sabini,” said Alfie hoisting himself up with his cane and extending his right hand out to the Italian both men shook hands like they had nothing between the two.

Jovonka meanwhile, took a careful, quick peek out, seeing that both men were parting their ways. She reclined herself back as Little Elena sat on the gray concrete floor, hugging her legs together.

“Elena, follow me. We’re going to walk straight back toward Alfie’s home. But we have to hasten and not look back, you understand?” Jovonka said to her little sister, nodding her head in agreement. 

“Oh, believe me, Alfie, I have a feeling or two that she might be close by soon,” Sabini said, knowing where his next stop would be before leaving Margate. 

As both men parted ways, Sabini made his way past the somewhat deserted marketplace and the Italian turned a sharp turn, seeing up ahead both Jack and Bob. Talking to one of the local girls of Margate, Sabini just rolled his eyes in annoyance. 

“Hey you two, let’s get going, we’re not finished here, not yet,” Sabini called out as Bob and Jack tipped their caps to the two ladies and they giggled together.

“So any luck, sir? Did he say anythin’ about these circus folk?” Bob asked, walking beside his boss as did Jack.

“No, but I got a better idea that’ll capture Alfie’s attention eventually,” Sabini said with a devil-like grin forming on his lips, as the trio made their way to a particular restaurant that he was interested in visiting too.

I hope this will get your attention Solomon’s… 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Back in the safe walls of Alfie’s home, Jovonka and Elena were sitting in the warm living room waiting for Alfie for his return. Jovonka felt a sigh of relief to be out of harm’s way from Sabini, out of all the people she feared the most. It was making her realize that this could mean that he was this close to maybe capturing her and her family. And possibly which Jovonka didn’t want to think of too much, even wanting to murder Alfie with his own hands. It made her think of the many possibilities of what made him coke all the way here to Margate. Could it be that the false spell is thinning out? Or could it be possible that one of his henchmen discovered their hideout without them noticing their presence? Jovonka only felt on edge in all of this, thinking about the safety of everyone. Little Elena, Isabel, Novel, and as well as Alfie. 

“Jovonka dear, don’t you worry so much already, Mr.Solomon’s will be home soon. You’ll see. He is a big man that can defend himself no matter what,” said Edna, trying to reassure the young woman as best as she could, knowing how troubled Jovonka is feeling.

“I know Edna just frightens me that Sabini is this close to discovering us at any moment. And what troubles me the most is your safety, Elena’s, Isabel, Novel, and also my lovely Alfie. I feel this is still all my fault. I should have never run away or tried to fool with Sabini at the night of the party,” said Jovonka, covering her face with her hands resting her elbows above her thighs, “I’m so sorry.”

“No, no, my dear Jovonka, this is not in any way your fault my child,” Edna said sitting next to her on the long velvet couch and gently placing a hand behind her back, “if it wasn’t for Alfie to save you that night, I wouldn’t want to imagine what horrendous things that scumbag would have done to you.”

Jovonka wrapped her hands around herself, looking back at the old woman, nodding her head in agreement at Edna’s words. She knew for a fact if Alfie never came to her rescue, she would have gone back to the circus and suffered the same old life she has grown to hate. They suddenly heard the front door open, hearing Alfie’s voice calling out Jovonka’s and Elena’s names. 

“Jovonka, Elena, are you here girls?” he said, closing the door behind his back, not bothering to take his coat and hat off.

Jovonka made her way to meet Alfie, Cyril and Elena were following right behind her. 

“We’re right here, my love,” Jovonka said, standing outside of the living room. Alfie suddenly dashed his way toward her as both lovers embraced in a tight hug.

“Fuckin’ hell my dove, you all gave me a fright. I thought they took you away from me, but I’m glad you and Elena came straight back home,” Alfie said, placing both hands against the side of her face and resting their foreheads together.

“I’m sorry for scaring you, my king, but what matters is that you are here with us now,” Jovonka said, giving a small kiss on his lips.

“Alfie, Alfie, your home safe at last,” Elena called out, giving a big hug against Alfie’s left leg, making him stumble back a bit. Cyril only wagged his tail, happy to see his owner once again. 

“I am happier that you and your sister are alrigh’ and nothing bad happened to you both,” he said, hoisting the little girl up in his arms as Elena hugged him around his neck.

As everyone settled down in the living room, Edna brought a tray of hot tea along with a plate of chocolate biscuits for everyone to eat. Edna, however, spoke out about her chilling encounter with Sabini earlier in the evening. Alfie only became infuriated with rage after Edna told him everything that had happened to her.

“That fuckin’ bastard, he is going to fuckin’ hell for this,” Alfie said, looking out of the window balcony gripping his hands into fists, “did he hurt you besides threatenin’ you with his pistol?” 

“No, Mr. Solomon’s, he did, however, ask me about Jovonka and her family, thinking that you might have been helping them all along. But I lied to him straight at his pathetic face about you keeping everyone safe. I fear he might come back anytime sooner, sir,” said Edna, recalling the encounter in her head that sent chills down her spine.

“I hope to God he doesn’ come back here, because if he steps a foot here again. I’ll end his life with my own hands and send him straight to fuckin’ hell,” said Alfie, still gazing out into the dark night. His eyes were full of nothing else but rage.

Sometime later, Jovonka helped Edna with washing and putting the dishes away. While Little Elena was resting her head against Cyril’s warm stomach. Sleeping restfully without a care in the world, Alfie then gently carried the little girl upstairs to the room. As he put Elena to bed, he then covered her up warmly with the white bed sheets. Cyril cuddled next to her, resting his head on top of her small stomach. 

“You take care of her, you big mutt, yea?��� Alfie said to his dog, petting him on top of his head only for his tail to wag in reply.

Before making his way out, he then heard Elena call out his name.

“Alfie, will the bad men still come looking for us and try to take us back to the circus? I really don’t want to go back to that evil place ever,” she said, sitting up straight from the bed. Wrapping her small arm around Cyril, Alfie made his way to sit on the edge of the bed.

“They will not take you away or your sisters or Novel. Not as long as I’m here to protect you all. And I know, my child, I won’t let you step foot in that place ever again. I promised you already that I will keep a close eye on you girls and Novel. So you worry about it too much yea?” He said, giving a reassuring smile at the girl nodding her head in silence. 

“But what if… what if you’re too late to save us in time? What do you think they might do to me, Jovonka, Isabel, Novel, and you?”

“Sweetheart, why are you askin’ me these outrageous questions? I don’t want to imagine what things they might do to you all. Especially to you, since you’re the youngest out of your sisters. A child like your age, I worry very much so, I wouldn’t imagine what they will do to you or take you somewhere that I will not see you again. But as I have told you before, my dear Little Elena, none of those demons won’t have a chance against me. Even if it means for me to die to see you all safe and out of those filthy hands of that Sabini devil,” Alfie said, placing a hand on top of her right shoulder. Elena then embraced the Jewish man in a small, yet big hug.

Alfie returned the hug gently until Jovonka came inside the room, seeing her sister and beloved sharing a tender moment. 

“Oh thank goodness, I thought you both went off somewhere, but you are all here. Elena dear, go back to bed now. It’s getting awfully late,” Jovonka said, kneeling down beside her baby sister.

“But I’m not tired anymore, besides I don’t have school the next day. So why go to bed so soon?” Elena protested, Alfie only chuckled, and Jovonka smiled and shook her head.

“No excuses young lady or you will feel tired throughout the next day,” Jovonka said only for Elena to make a pout with her lips.

“You should listen to what your sister tells you, Elena, how about this yea? First thing, when I get back from work, I’ll take you and your sisters to go on a shopping spree. You can get whatever you want and, even better, we can bring Cyril along. What do you think of that, eh?” Alfie said Jovonka’s eyes grew wide in surprise, thinking he was crazy to say such a thing.

Elena only nodded her head ‘yes’ a smile grew across her face. 

“Well, that settles then, now get some rest yea. Tomorrow is another new day for us all,” said Alfie as he stood up from bed while Jovonka did the same gesture. 

“Goodnight, Little Elena, we’ll see you in the morning,” Jovonka said, covering the little girl with the bedsheets and lastly giving her a kiss on top of her head.

“I love you sister so much,” said her little sister Jovonka, smiling back and placing a hand against her small left cheek.

“I do as well, Little Elena, so much.”

As Alfie and Jovonka quietly made their way out of the room, closing the door behind them. They made their way to his bedroom, and the couple entered inside. Once inside, Alfie then took off his hat and coat. Jovonka, however, sat on top of the bed silently, without saying another word. Alfie noticed her body language change, knowing something was wrong just by the way she was acting.

“Jovonka love, are you feelin’ alrigh’ my dove?” he asked her, making his way to sit next to her, placing his right hand on top of her lap, staying silent for a moment or two.

Without saying a word, Jovonka stood up on her feet, strolling to the other end of the bed. Wrapping her arms together tightly, thinking about what happened today at the marketplace. 

“My dove, what is troublin’ you, eh? Tell me, don’t go all quiet with me. It makes me feel anxious when you don’t speak-.”

“Alfie, we should run far away from this place, out of London completely. I worry about what will happen next if we stay here much longer. I saw him with my own eyes. I have feared all along he’d be coming around these parts,” Jovonka said, her back facing Alfie’s direction, hunching her shoulders and feeling a chill running through her body.

He then ambled his way toward his woman, hearing a small shaky whimper coming out of her. Alfie, with much affection he could give to her, placed his arms gently around her, hugging her tightly against his muscular chest. 

“Come with us, Alfie,” Jovonka said, placing her hands above his forearms and looking sideways, their heads touching against each other as she continued talking. “come to our home in Romania my love, please. We all can start a new life again. You, me, Elena, Isabel, and Novel everyone will feel safe in our homeland. I just… I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt, including you, my love.”

“Treacle,” he said, turning her around now facing each other, “I would love that very much. I truly, really do. I made a promise to Little Elena that I’ll keep you all safe. But let me tell you something, yea. I cross my heart and I swear unto God and to you and your family, we will leave tomorrow night. After finishing our shopping, we will take off, leaving no traces behind. How does that sound to you, my queen?”

Jovonka’s eyes went wide in surprise, not believing what Alfie had just proposed to her. She gave out a small smile, placing her hand against his right cheek, feeling nothing but hope in thinking about all of this.

“My king that… that sounds amazing, yes. You do not know how much I feel at this moment about what you’re telling me. Imagine you and me enjoying a sweet warm day, Elena, playing in the green fields with Cyril, while my sister Isabel and Novel cooking traditional foods together. We used to love to eat. And being together with no worries and away from everything that will try to harm us. And most of all, bring a child into our life,” she said, grabbing Alfie’s left hand and placing it against her stomach as she pressed her lips towards his thick lips.

Those visions once again manifested, hearing now a small and yet strong beating heart, the laugh of the infant, Jovonka smiling down while carrying the small baby, and Alfie hugging and smiling with so much glee on his face. As their lips parted away, they were back in reality. Alfie smiled, holding her closer, placing his hands on top of her hips. 

“I will never get tired of you showing me our future with the child that is growing inside of you. Your blood and my blood will live on within this baby girl or boy. I never thought I would create life with you out of all women. I’m glad that it is you and nobody else,” said Alfie, nuzzling his nose against hers and letting out a small chuckle. 

The couple exchanged another long tender kiss, not noticing they were both now on top of the bed. Their kiss became deeper while Alfie was hovering on top of Jovonka, trailing small kisses on both sides of her neck. They both lean back, catching each other, some breath looking deep into each other’s eyes. Alfie then notices Jovonka’s eyes turning, that same bright amber glowing eyes appearing in front of him. 

“I mean everythin’ I said to you, my lovely jewel, we will get out of this place and start a new beginning in your birth land. We will be there sooner than you think. I love you, Jovonka,” Alfie said, kissing the top of her forehead and caressing his right thumb against her cheek.

“And I also love you more my Alfie Solomon’s and I can’t wait to reach that new life with you forever,” she said in return, giving another kiss on his plump lips as it became much more passionate than before.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Meanwhile In The Restaurant

“Novel, take these last few trash bins outside in the back for me, please. And you can go on your way home, my boy. Again, I appreciate you very much. You have been such good work around my place,” Lars said while wiping down some tables while Novel did what he was told.

“Not a problem, sir, just doing my job that I am grateful to do. But yea, I’ll bring them to the back. I won’t be long then,” the young boy said as he went to take both bins into the cold midnight.

As Novel tried his best to empty the trash, he didn’t notice two unknown figures coming toward him. 

“Mr. Novel, is it?” said an unknown voice, making the young man look behind his back and saw two men with their caps covering half of their upper faces.

“Who, who the hell are you people? And how do you know my damn name?,” Novel said, demanding an answer, feeling uneasy about these men.

“That is something you shouldn’t worry about, my dear boy,” said another voice behind the two first men until they parted ways, revealing the man that Novel recognized the man’s face puffing into his brown cigar.

“You… no, this cannot be true. How the fuck did you know I was here?” Novel shudders his words, not wanting to believe that Darby Sabini is here in front of him.

“Well, you see lad, my most loyal boys here told me about seeing you here in Margate. And not only were you mentioned, but they told me you also had others you might be familiar with. Some certain I don’t know circus girls,” Darby said, giving a wide ugly smile as he puffed out an enormous cloud of smoke.

Novel shook his head with nervousness, still wanting to deny all of this. The circus boy then stepped back a bit, thinking of fleeing from the alleyway to get away from Sabini. Suddenly, they all heard the voice of Lars coming from inside the restaurant.

“Novel. Is everything alright out her-.”

The man stopped speaking as he saw the three strangers not recognizing them from around town.

“Lars, please go back inside sir, I have this under control trust me,” Novel said, trying his best to make his boss go away, but Lars ignored his command

“Who are you? And why are you bothering this young boy at these hours, huh? We are trying to close shop-.”

Without letting the man finish his sentence, Bob drew forth his pistol and released a bullet that went straight into Lars’s chest. The old man let out a small heavy breath while blood spilled out from his chest. He slowly fell to his knees, landing on his side with a loud thud, only for his body to become lifeless and cold.

“NO, you fucking bastards,!” Novel yelled out, making his way toward Lars, but Jack and Bob were quicker as they restrained him.

“Oh, very sad, isn’t it? It would have been fair if I just let him live and go on with whatever was left of his life. But I am a man that doesn’t like to leave witnesses alive,” said Sabini, lightly kicking Lars with no remorse. 

Novel tried to fight back as best as he could, but he was too weak since it was two men against one. Suddenly Jack placed his arm around Novel’s neck and tighten his grip. Ever so, Novel suddenly couldn’t breathe any more air. Slowly, his vision became black as Jack kept a firmer grip on him. And sometime later Novel passed out his whole body, unconscious and out cold.

“He is out cold for now. What should we do with that old man, sir?” Jack asked, grabbing Novel from under his arms as Bob hoisted the man’s legs.

“Cut him to bits and throw him in the ocean. What matters is that we have the boy. Make it quick now, will you, boys?” Sabini said, giving his last drags from his cigar as the two henchmen said ‘yes sir’ in unison while carrying Novel’s conscious body back to the car.

Now this is going to be fun… and let the games begin… 

🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹🤎🥃🌹

[endless-nightshift]

Okay so one of the things I really like doing in fandoms where the reader/listener is physically present in the story is depictions of physical character progression. Especially if the "player character" experiences a lot of shit that would reasonably affect their appearance.

I currently don't have the artistic ability to complete these to the level that I would be happy with SO I tend to use picrews (instant gratification baby)

This is my very long winded way of saying. I made a character progression for Baby from the Sadism Hold series (yandere boy Ivan) and I think it's neat so I'm subjecting the Internet to it.

Enjoy <3

PotatoLord's Picrew

Breakdown of why I did what for each image below if ya like! (Spoilers for Sadism's hold probably)

Me and my listener stand-ins are all masc and use he/him but I'll be nice and use they/them for the breakdowns

Also Disclaimer: Picrew 1 is based mostly off the information given to us about Baby and their life by Ivan. There is every likely hood he was just lying to get Baby to break... but I like the stark physical progression so we're running with it but maybe not as bad as he said it was.

Picrew 1: The Before

Decent life. Spends most of their time working. Doesn't go out much. A little lonely.

- don't panic shirt is truly hilarious to me

- short hair

- lack of freckles

- hesitate but sweet expression

- Muted background, muted personality

Picrew 2: 8 Months of Hell

- has been kidnapped

- is being brainwashed By Ivan

- Being affected by Vega

- ... like 7.5 months into hell

- pale as fuck from 7.5 months inside

- not sleeping

- I imagine Ivan doesn't provide very.. full coverage clothing

- longer less maintained hair (still clean tho)

- I couldn't not with the choker (collar)

- black background (actively mentally breaking)

- the blush... Sorta to convey the "don't know what they want anymore" idea. Blush usually conveys attraction but with everything else it looks unnatural and sickly

Picrew 3: The after (memory wipe)

- fulfilling life

- good job

- Lots of friends

- not as pale

- FRECKLES!! (self insert feature my freckles go away if I don't spend enough time outside. Yk I'm doing good If I've got lots of freckles)

- hair is long but cared for (more than just clean)

- Vibrant background! Vibrant personality

My reasoning for the backgrounds.

One thing that stood out to me was the water symbolism in that one audio so I wanted to represent that here. So the wave background is present for all three but they all represent different states(?) of water

I also picked green cause A. I like it. And B. Because it's a natural color in nature and in water but Blue felt a little too close to Ivan.

Background 1. Very muted green. To me this represents stagnant water. Stagnation is not inherently bad but if you're not careful it can harm you (don't drink stagnant water kids)

Background 2: Deep black. this is Contaminated water, and also crushing water. I wanted it to resemble Ivan's whole water wearing things down speech. It's also mental rock bottom (of the ocean *ba doom ching*)

Background 3: very vivid multi-hued green. The vivid and variegated colors represent a healthy and thriving ecosystem with lots of diversity. Like a lake with lots of plants and animals living in it. A call back to the rich social and work life we're told about in Cams video

[youcancallmesina]

The Merman & His Pirate Captain [part 1 of 2]

Note: This fanfic was supposed to be finished weeks ago but I kept getting busy, but I'm finally done with the first part! Yeah, I'll have to split it up because if I don't, it'll never be done so here's part one!

This fanfic was inspired by @us-ugay 's merman Alfred AU which I loved so much, so consider this a gift for them <3

[Story starts under the cut]

Anime: Hetalia World Stars

Ship: USUK

Rating: T

Wordcount: 5700

Summary: Merman Alfred loves to watch the land-dwellers from the town nearby and hear their stories, and he's especially obsessed with a particular land-dweller, the fearsome pirate, Captain Kirkland.

"John, ye arse, pass the damn bottle!", a brown-haired man slurred at his friend, who merely grunted as he took a big swig of the bottle before finally handing it back to his friend.

"You are real prickly today, Ralph. What's got your bottoms?", the second guy, John, questioned his friend as he leaned closer.

"What's got me bottoms, ye ask?! Have you not been living with us these past weeks!", Ralph slurred angrily, swishing the bottle wildly as he glared at John, who only rolled his eyes and let out an irritated sigh.

"Oh, it's about that then, huh?", he leaned back as he dug into his pocket and grabbed a cigarette. "It's honestly becoming troublesome and it's giving me quite the headache so I choose to ignore it.", he added with a dismissive wave and Ralph only blistered.

"Ignore it?! How the fuck can you ignore it when it's everywhere?! The arse is here and there too!", Ralph exclaimed as he pointed an accusatory finger at the other. "And tell me, how bloody hard is it to catch that damn bugger! If I were those stupid guards, I would have put an end to him within the seconds.", he claimed and John only snorted as he gave him a look over.

"If you ever came across him, he would have made you fish bait within seconds. Besides, you could barely stand on your own for five seconds and you expect yourself to be able to take down a pirate captain? Talk about dreaming.", John pointed out as he snagged the bottle out of the other's grip and took a swig of it. "But yes, that Kirkland is becoming a nuisance indeed. At this point, whether he's caught dead or alive, it doesn't matter. Folks just wanna get rid of 'em.", he sighed as he pushed himself off the floor and reached out for Ralph.

"What's that supposed to mean, ey?! I could definitely handle that skunk!", Ralph only yelled more but took the hand offered to him regardless. "If only we could actually locate the bastard...", he muttered.

John only shook his head as he wrapped his arm around the other and guided him off the dock, both still bickering about the wanted captain.

Once the two drunken men were out of sight, the water under the docks was disturbed as a figure with the upper half looking like a human and the lower half looking like a big fishtail, made their way back into the depths of the water. The figure swam deeper and deeper, making its way through the rocks until they reached what looked to be a cave with seaweed draped over the entrance like a curtain. Inside the cave, there was another similar figure lying on a rock covered with more seaweed, seeming to be asleep, until the first figure rushed to them and started shaking their shoulder violently.

"Matt! Oh, my ocean, Matthew, wake up!!", the figure, a merman kept shaking the other sleeping merman until they woke up, flailing their arm.

"What! What!", the other merman, Matthew, asked with worry but then glared once he saw the other, a wide grin on his face. "For fish sake, Alfred.", he muttered as he dragged a hand down his face.

"Matt, you won't believe this!! So, remember that cool pirate captain?! Turns out he's really wanted in that town and they even wanna kill him! I have no idea what he did recently but isn't that cool?!", Alfred rambled enthusiastically while Matthew only sent him a deadpan expression, right about done with his brother's obsession with humans.

"This is about your humans again.", he only said before heaving a sigh once the other nodded. "Al, I couldn't have cared less about what the land dwellers are up and even less about their drama. Please, leave me out of your obsession."

"But Matt! it's been so boring recently and the land dwellers are being funny!", Alfred whined as he flopped over his brother who tried to push him off.

"I don't see what's funny about wanting someone's head because they're being problematic.", Matthew stated and Alfred rolled to look at him properly.

"It's entertaining to see them do their silly fights.", Alfred argued while his brother rolled his eyes and turned his back to him to go back to sleep.

"Their silly fights end with more debris in the water and dead bodies floating around which we have to clean up.", the other argued with a yawn and Alfred pouted.

"You just don't get it, the stories and drama are really entertaining. Besides, brother, it's about Captain Kirkland! The-"

"The coolest and deadliest pirate to ever exist, I get it. You've said that a thousand times before.", his brother cut him off with another yawn. "Look, Al. I'm glad that you're having fun with this and all but I don't appreciate it when you wake me up to tell me this. You should go sleep too.", Matthew added with a final tone before getting comfortable and drifting back to sleep. Alfred stuck his tongue out at the other, although he knew he was already fast asleep, before swimming to another rock on the other side of the cave. Lying down on it and getting into a comfortable position, Alfred sighed as he looked at the cave ceiling with a smile, all that was going through his mind was the Almighty Captain Kirkland. Although the guy was clearly a bad guy, he just sounded so cool. Like how he was able to set a whole nation on its toes and how no one was ever able to catch him. If that isn't cool, Alfred doesn't know what is. He was able to get a glimpse of said pirate once, and admittedly he was caught a little off guard at first. The man was just...small? Well, compared to the guards that were chasing him, he looked smaller but he was so fast and agile, Alfred was impressed. The way he maneuvered between the stalls and crates, the way he was able to effortlessly knock down everyone, and the way he was able to jump and swing from the roofs- it all just had Alfred in awe. The pirate was also quite talented with the sharp things called swords too, and his words! Damn, the witty things that man said just had Alfred gawking with a wide grin. He was obsessed with the captain. He always fantasized about meeting with the guy and it always left him feeling giddy even if he was aware it was practically impossible, but he could still dream. After some while, Alfred started drifting off to sleep with Captain Kirkland swimming around his mind.

Alfred awoke as early as he could, to see if he could catch any new stories about captain Kirkland from the land folks, though unfortunately, his brother caught him before he can leave.

"We need breakfast.", he simply said before tossing a bag made out of seaweed at him.

"But-"

"The land dwellers can wait, Al, they won't vanish.", his brother sighed before swimming off to collect whatever he decided to collect for the day. Alfred pouted and grumbled under his breath before swimming out of the cave. He tried to catch fish for a while before he couldn't help himself anymore.

Casting a glance back and not seeing his brother, Alfred swam towards the town and resurfaced under the dock he usually hides under. He had barely even arrived before he heard a shout combined with people frantically calling out to each other. Curious, the merman made his way from underneath the dock to a rock nearby to get a better view of what was happening and was immediately ecstatic. It was Captain Kirkland! The merman observed with glee as the man ran and avoided the guards, a smirk on his lips as he leaped onto one of the crates, hung onto a rope close by, and swung around to kick one of the guards in the face. He then realized the rope and kicked the other guard in the chest with both his feet. Quickly regaining his momentum, he sprung away towards the shore, where a boat with two other men in it were waiting for him. He had almost made it but another guard was able to tackle him and Alfred gasped as he leaned closer to see better. Alfred had thought that the guards had won but Captain Kirkland elbowed the guard in the face and swiftly pulled out a small shiny thing that looked like a tiny sword and stabbed the guard in the leg, who screamed as they fell back. The pirate pulled the tiny sword out and scrambled to his feet, giving the guard one extra kick in the face for extra measurement before running towards the boat again. This time he was able to hop onto the boat and quickly paddled away from the shore, a victorious grin on the captain's face. Alfred was cheering behind the rock as quietly as he could and felt energetic after witnessing this whole thing. After calming down a bit, he realized it was the perfect chance to see what kind of ship captain Kirkland owns and who is his crew, so without a second thought, Alfred swam after the boat, trying to keep as much distance as he could. It took a while, but after taking some turns behind a couple rocks, there lay Captain Kirkland's ship.

Alfred hid behind one of the many rocks around as he watched the small boat reach the giant ship. The captain was helped up by his crew, throwing the bag he was wearing to one of the men who rushed off somewhere with it. Carefully, Alfred tried to make his way closer to the ship, hoping he can get a better view of its surface.

"Amazing as always, Captain!", Alfred heard one of the crew boys say once he got closer.

"As expected of him!", another man cheered and Alfred heard someone scoffing. Pushing himself up slowly, he was able to see the crew a little better, easily spotting the pirate sitting amidst his crew.

"It was a piece of cake handling those idiots.", the captain spoke and Alfred couldn't help but gasp and feel giddy, it was the first time he heard the captain's voice! It was smooth and had an accent that Alfred was already obsessed with. He leaned forward a bit, wanting to hear the other's voice more clearly.

"Anyway, we should have enough resources to be able to head off, I'm assuming?", Captain Kirkland asked his crew and Alfred only grew more invested. Caught up in his excitement, Alfred misplaced his hand as he tried to push himself further up causing him to slip and fall into the water. He cussed as he heard the frantic footsteps on the ship and quickly hid underneath it, as to not be spotted.

"What was that?!", he heard the captain demand as he hastily neared the edge of the ship.

"Sounded like something fell."

"Do ye see anything?"

"Maybe it was one of the fish jumping around?"

"A fish wouldn't make such a big splash, moron."

Alfred heard all the commotion going on above him as he held his hand over his chest, feeling his heart beating rapidly. Cursing to himself, he tried to swim away quietly, deciding it was about time he heads home anyway before he gets caught. It really was a shame though, he wished he could stay a little longer and listen more to captain Kirkland speaking. The merman swam away, nearing his home, relieved to get away from the commotion he had caused. He however still had a huge grin on his face, until he saw his brother waiting with his arms crossed over his chest. Fish poop, Alfred had completely forgotten about the food.

"Alfred! Where were you? I was so worried!", the other merman swam quickly over to him once he spotted him, worry written over his face.

"Relax, Matt, I'm fine!", he assured and Matthew sighed after giving him a look over. "Gee, what's with you all of the sudden?", Alfred questioned as he swam around the other, spotting a school of fish passing by.

"What's with me? There were a bunch of ships sent out a while ago and I was worried you were going to get caught or something!", his brother explained and the merman was confused.

"They sent out ships? Why?", he questioned and Matthew looked at him funny.

"I thought you were near the town, doing your daily eavesdropping?", Matthew asked, his eyes narrowed at the other. "If you weren't there and you weren't collecting food, Where were you?", his brother demanded and Alfred spluttered a little. He knew getting too close to pirate ships was a big no-no and they were taught from a young age that any merfolk that dares get close is basically asking to be killed and if Matthew finds out, he's going to get in big trouble with their father.

"Oh, um...I saw, uh...I saw things floating?", he tried to come up with anything but he could tell from his brother's expression he wasn't buying it. "...I was just swimming around...", he finally mumbled but Matthew only narrowed his eyes more.

"Alfred.", he called, his calm voice sending chills down Alfred's spine, remembering the same lecturing tone from his mother. "You weren't doing anything you aren't supposed to do, were you?", Matthew asked and Alfred gulped.

"What? What makes you think that? I'm a good merboy!", he laughs nervously and Matthew raises a brow at him.

"Your gills are quivering.", Matthew simply stated and Alfred knew he was caught but tried to laugh it off.

"Nah, they're not. It's just...um...", he trailed off, knowing that whatever excuse he comes up with won't save him. "I saw the captain...", he finally sighed, not looking at his brother.

"Saw him? Where?", his brother's tone was getting firmer and Alfred really hated how it made him feel like a child.

"Um...don't tell father, but I may or may not have found his ship...", Alfred finally admitted and Matthew's eyes widened.

"You didn't get close, did you?!", his brother immediately asked.

"What! Pffft, of course not. We aren't supposed to do that, remember?", Alfred lied, desperately trying to calm his gills down before they gave him away again. Matthew narrowed his eyes again and Alfred could have sworn he was looking into his soul but after an agonizingly long minute, his brother closed his eyes and sighed.

"Look, Al. I trust you have enough common sense to know what's right and what's wrong so I'll assume you're telling the truth. I won't tell father about your little hobby- yet. If you do something dumb that puts you in danger then I'll have to take it to our parents.", Matthew warned with a soft but firm tone and Alfred only nodded. He knew his brother was only looking out for him so there was no point in arguing. Alfred went back to catching more fish for them while Matthew left to deliver the things he has collected to their parents.

*****

A couple days had passed since the last event, Alfred still went to the town to hear more stories about Captain Kirkland and often watched his ship, this time keeping an appropriate distance between himself and said ship. Captain Kirkland was still causing trouble wherever he went and Alfred would always watch with awe how he was able to win every time. However, one day, Alfred was awoken before the sun had risen by the sound of bombing and the water vibrating around him. Startled, Alfred looks over to his brother's side, who was also awoken. Before either of them was able to register what was happening, a mermaid from their school rushed into their cave.

"The stupid land dwellers are having another ships war. Everyone is advised to stay in their cave until they're done so no one gets hurt.", the mermaid delivered the message and left quickly. Alfred and Matthew looked over at each other and Matthew had an expression that clearly said "don't do something stupid" before lying on his side and trying to go back to sleep. Alfred didn't say anything but kept watching his brother for a moment before quietly and swiftly making his way out of the cave. If there was a ship war, then Captain Kirkland had to be involved, right? This was Alfred's chance to actually see the Captain in action and he wasn't going to miss it.

Making his way to the surface, Alfred tried to locate the safest but closest spot to be able to watch the breakdown. resurfacing behind a rock, Alfred saw Captain Kirkland's ship surrounded by two other ships and their canons were firing at each other. one of the ships was close to the pirate's ship, so the crew of the other ship was flooding Kirkland's ship. Alfred couldn't see exactly what was happening but he was so excited to watch the whole thing go down. Looking a little closer, Alfred was finally able to locate captain Kirkland, swinging from the ropes on his ship and knocking his enemies out. At some point, the pirate was cornered by three of his enemies and Alfred was clenching the moss of the rock he was watching from behind. Was that it? Have they got him? Will he be able to run away? So many questions ran through Alfred's mind as he watched with wide eyes and a wide grin on his face. Before one of the men surrounding the captain could strike with his sword, Kirkland ducked down and did a wild spin, knocking two of the men with his leg, one of them was able to jump away. The third man brought down his sword but the pirate met it with his sword, both clashing harshly with each other. The pirate was able to evade the other's strike but before anything else happens, a big boom echoed as one of the rivaling ships launched a big canon that hit the base of the pirate's ship. Alfred couldn't see anyone's expression but the pirate was turning around wildly as the three men surrounding him ran off to get back to their ships. Alfred saw the bodies that fell dead in the water and the canon balls tearing through the woods of the pirate's ship and he couldn't help but feel excited. This, by far, was the most exciting fight he had witnessed. Amid the panic, another big boom echoed and the pirate's ship started completely falling apart, Kirkland lost his balance and was flung into the sea.

Alfred gasped and his eyes widened before he quickly dived back into the water, immediately locating the pirate. Alfred was ecstatic. This was his chance to see Captain Kirkland up close! The merman swam a little closer, still trying to be as cautious as he could. He couldn't wait to see the other as he swam to safety, except the closer the merman got, he realized the pirate wasn't moving, and the more Alfred looked, the more it looked like the pirate was sinking. Huh, that's weird, was what the merman thought before it hit him. The pirate was unconscious, he was drowning. Panicking, the merman swam quickly towards the unconscious pirate, easily catching him and swimming to the surface. Once he was up, the merman realized he really didn't know what to do. There was an unconscious human in his arms and he couldn't take him back to town since he was wanted dead and Alfred had no idea how he was supposed to help a human. With no other idea in mind, Alfred decided to take the pirate to an island close by he suddenly remembered.

Swimming with an unconscious body in hand was harder than Alfred had imagined but after a while, he was able to get the other to safety. Gently, he laid the pirate on the shore and quickly back into the sea, hiding behind a rock as he proceeded to lose his mind. He saved him! He saved The Captain Kirkland! Alfred was so excited, he didn't know what to do with himself. Finally, he was able to gather his bearings somewhat. The merman gingerly peeked out from behind the rock to find the pirate was still unconscious. Hiding again behind the rock, Alfred took a deep breath as he thought about what he was going to do next. He knew humans needed food, probably some water and after such a fight, the pirate definitely needed to rest. Alfred took another deep breath before he peeked again at the pirate, the sun at this point had started rising and as the sun rays fell on the unconscious form of the pirate, Alfred realized he didn't get to properly observe the pirate earlier, too preoccupied with saving him. With that in mind, the merman swam out from behind the rock and neared the shore. Alfred never liked being onshore because it made his muscles feel strained but he pushed himself and crawled a little on the sand to get a better view of the other and Alfred felt his breath stutter. The man was quite beautiful, kind of like the coral reefs he used to swim between as a child beautiful. The first thing Alfred noticed was the big eyebrows and weird dots decorating the man's face, which he thought was some kind of dirt so he tried to wipe it away but couldn't, he then noticed the other's skin was somewhat soft, his blonde hair glistering in the sun rays. Alfred ran his finger's through the other's hair and was fascinated by its softness until his fingers reached the man's forehead and noticed what looked like a scar. He ran his fingers over it and slowly lowered his hand to touch the other's cheeks again. He neared his finger's near the other's nose, and felt him breathing softly in and out, he then caressed the man's lips, which were sort of chapped compared to his but the merman was fascinated regardless. Alfred hadn't realized how distracted by the pirate he was until the other suddenly frowned and started coughing out water. Startled the merman scrambled back quickly but hadn't jumped back into the sea yet. He saw the other's eyes slowly flutter open, still unfocused but Alfred couldn't help but near again, captivated by the color of his eyes, a shade of green he had never seen, so beautiful like the jewelry he saw in the sunken ships, framed by long eyelashes. The other looked at him into his eyes for a moment before his eyes fluttered shut again. Alfred blinked rapidly as he realized the other had passed out again but still didn't look away from the pirate. After a while, Alfred decided he should go catch some fish for the man and hopefully try to sort out his thoughts.

By the time Alfred returned to the small island, the sun was almost in the middle of the sky but the pirate was still unconscious. Alfred neared and dumped the fish he had caught by the man's side, he then proceeded to watch the other again. Even as Alfred was catching the fish, all he could think about was the captain, especially his green eyes. Alfred reached out his hand and gently ran his thumb over the other's closed eyes. The merman never thought something could captivate him so much as this pirate had him. Alfred leaned in closer to the other's face but quickly jerked away when he realized the other was slowly gaining consciousness. The pirate started coughing violently and Alfred immediately dove back into the water and observed the other from behind a rock. The captain slowly pushed himself off the sand to sit up and looked around, squinting his eyes, not used to the bright sun yet. He then looked out into the sea, an unreadable expression on his face, before he grabbed his hair and pulled at it, seemingly frustrated with something. Alfred wanted to get closer but knew better. He was going to have to keep the distance. For now, anyway.

The pirate then suddenly froze, as though he just remembered something. He blinked twice, before looking frantically around himself as if searching for someone. Alfred was confused but then it dawned on him. The other had seen him. Well, more like his face but still. The merman bit his lip as he slowly lowered himself in the water, trying not to get the other's attention. Not seeing anyone around, the pirate calmed down for a moment but when he lowered his eyes, he finally noticed the pile of fish next to him. He stared at it, not sure where it came from before he reached out and grabbed one of the fishes. It was fresh, the pirate seemed to note. He slowly put the fish down before getting to his feet, and immediately grabbed a dagger out of his belt.

"Show yourself!", the pirate yelled, his voice cracking a little at the end and he coughed again. Alfred felt his heart do the same funny thing it did when he heard his voice for the first time, and the merman was tempted to get closer again, and he would have. Had the other not have an object that could kill him.

"I know you're somewhere here! Who else would pile fresh fish like this?", the pirate yelled again and Alfred decided it was about time he went back to his den. Maybe the pirate will relax eventually and Matthew is probably looking around for him anyway. Quietly, Alfred dove back into the water and swam away. He could come back later to check in on the pirate, who probably was still panicking. He couldn't really blame him, with a whole Nation on his back, of course, he would be on defense. He just hoped the pirate wouldn't get too far from the shore or that anyone finds him meanwhile.

*****

To say his brother was pissed is an understatement. He got so mad it hurt.

"You're lucky our parents aren't here today.", he recalled the other vaguely threatening him and Alfred was upset at first but he understood why his brother would be so worried. With the whole ship war thing that just took place, most merfolks would be on edge as they could get hurt if not careful enough, and although Alfred really didn't like lying to his brother, telling him he saved a pirate would probably be the worst idea ever so he had to keep that to himself.

After begrudgingly finishing his chores, Alfred managed to sneak away from the den and made his way to the small island he left the captain on. The sun had already set and most of his kin would be asleep soon anyway, so no one should notice his second disappearance.

Finally reaching his destination, Alfred slowly resurfaced behind the same rock he hid behind earlier that day. He peaked from around the rock and was relieved to find the pirate hadn't left the shore, but there were some adjustments done. Alfred noticed the other had somehow managed to start a fire, the pirate's coat and shirt were lying close by, probably to dry out. The pirate himself was sitting in front of the fire but wasn't entirely shirtless as Alfred had expected. The other had what looked like bandages wrapped tightly around his chest and Alfred wondered if it was because the other was hurt during the fight. On the other hand, the merman was delighted to see that the pirate was in fact eating one of the fishes he had caught for him this morning and felt pride swell up in his chest, his tail swishing with excitement in the water. Since it was dark already, Alfred slowly lifted himself behind the rock and crossed his arms on top of it, resting his head on them as he watched the other eat. Some time passed like this, when the pirate finally finished his food and leaned back against the rock behind him, his eyes closed.

Back then, when Alfred had heard about the tales of the pirate for the first time, he was purely curious about him and wanted to watch him in action. Now, However, It's as if that one close look Alfred got of the pirate had stirred different emotions within him, emotions he couldn't entirely explain but it left him feeling warm and giddy. As if locked in a trance, Alfred slowly left the rock he was hiding behind and approached the beach as quietly as he could. The pirate still had his eyes closed, so the other found it easy to sneak behind another much closer rock. The merman then pushed himself up on the rock to get a better view of the other. Alfred watched for a moment before an idea started to form in his head and he probably should have weighed the pros and cons of it, but being as reckless as ever, he didn't. He grabbed some of the seaweed clinging to the rock he was hiding behind and quickly threw it at the other before dunking as fast as he could behind the rock again, peeking a little. The pirate was startled when the seaweed hit his face, quickly sitting up and looking at it with pure confusion before looking around. Alfred knew it was a little unfair to play with the exhausted pirate like that, but he was still a merman, and teasing the land-dwellers was basically in their genes, and so, Alfred was stifling a snicker as he watched the other turn around himself with confusion.

"Bloody hell! Where are you? That seaweed didn't just throw itself at me, you wanker, so show yourself!", The pirate yelled with frustration and Alfred had to lower back into the water, so the other doesn't hear his snickering. Forcing himself to calm down, the merman resurfaced again and watched the other's frown deepen as he didn't seem to find the culprit. Toying with the idea a little, Alfred just decided to throw caution into the wind and just do it. If things go sideways, he could just swim away. So taking in a deep breath, Alfred made sure he was still well-hidden before carrying out his little plane.

"I would like to show myself, but with that dagger in your hand, I don't think I will.", Alfred said and the pirate stilled and turned to the location of the voice but wasn't able to make out exactly where it was coming from.

"I'm not putting the dagger away, you could be here to kill me for all I know.", the pirate replied sternly, still glancing around and Alfred couldn't help but snicker again but quietly.

"Don't worry, I'm not even a pirate. Actually, I'm the one who saved you from drowning and brought you here.", Alfred confessed, still hiding behind his rock but he saw the pirate freeze as he glanced out at the water.

"You...saved me? Wait. Were you- Are you the man with the blue eyes?", the pirate asked, still hesitant to put away his dagger, if anything, his grip on it seemed to tighten.

"Yes...", The merman simply replied and the pirate's grip loosened a little.

"Who are you? and where on earth are you?", the pirate demanded with a frown and although his grip was loose, the dagger was still out regardless.

"Put your dagger away, and I'll show myself.", Alfred asked again, feeling nervous as the reality of what he has done finally settled in but he couldn't back away now. The pirate still looked hesitant and Alfred almost thought the other wasn't going to do it but eventually, the other gave in with a sigh before tucking his dagger away back in his belt, securing it as well and Alfred felt a little relieved.

"Alright, the dagger is out of the way. Now, do your part.", the pirate demanded again, still frowning. Alfred took in a deep readying breath before finally, slowly leaving the rock and swimming closer to the shore so the other could see him. He only revealed his top half though, unsure if it was safe enough to let the other see the rest of him. The pirate stared at the body emerging from the water, his eyes widening a little.

"My name is Alfred. Nice to meet you.", The merman introduced himself with a friendly smile to let the other know he was no harm. The pirate stared at him for a moment, still not trusting the other.

"Alfred.", The pirate repeated the name slowly and Alfred felt his gills shiver. "Alright. Why are you hiding in the water?", the pirate asked and Alfred cursed himself, not having thought this through.

"Oh, I-uh... I was just swimming...", Alfred lied, knowing full well it was probably obvious. As expected, the pirate raised a questioning brow at him and Alfred gulped.

"At night?", the other asked and the merman laughed awkwardly, not sure how to defend himself. The pirate's gaze was still fixed on the merman, trying to make out his features as much as he could in the dim light the fire provided. Suddenly, the pirate froze and his eyes widened again.

"You-Are those gills?!", he wondered, and Alfred swore as he quickly tried to cover them but realized it would be a futile attempt since his body had scales scattered around it anyway and some parts of his skin were tinted a bluish color similar to his tail. The pirate gawked as he seemed to notice the rest of his features before gasping and suddenly stumbling back.

"You are a merman!", the pirate exclaimed once the realization dawned on him and Alfred cursed out loud this time as he was indeed exposed. The pirate quickly reached for his dagger, pulling it out and the merman immediately backed into the water a little, his hands held up.

[To be continued]

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

Love On-Set (Pt. 10 of 10)

Pairing: Dacre Montgomery X Reader

Word count: 1.2 K

Summary: You knew acting on Stranger Things season 3 would be a challenge, and you also knew, from the start, you'd have to work closely with Dacre Montgomery. But is wasn't a big deal for you, since this is your job and you're determined to act professionally. You had it all figured out, or so you thought, until the moment you were out face to face with Dacre. Then, this job became a lot harder than it was supposed to be, since you can't seem to focus whenever you're around Dacre. And you'll have to be around him a lot until the end of production.

<- Previous part (09)

{Dacre Montgomery Masterlist}

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

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What Comes Next...

The last three months have been hectic, in between shooting the last scenes of season three, the premiere, and the interviews that always follow. The Internet is going insane because not only Billy, one of the villains from season 2 changed and got a love interest, but you and Dacre, outside of the cameras, are together. The fans absolutely love it. But after the events and all the talk shows and YouTube channels wanting you both for a meeting, you had to call it out eventually and head back home.

It's not that you don't like it, the attention and the fans all rooting for your relationship, but you also like the private life, the one you get to share with Dacre alone, as well as your friends and families. But not everything is broadcasted. This moment is an example of that.

Seated on the sand, you watch the sun rising, casting its light on LA, lighting up the blue sky, mixed with the ocean ahead of you. Both your cellphones were left at your place, and the beach is empty. This moment belongs to you alone. Well, to you and the paparazzi that took a few pictures of you some minutes ago, but he's gone now.

“What are your plans after season four?” Dacre asks, his deep, strong voice being carried by the fresh morning wind.

Billy and Amy survived, unlike Hopper and Heather. It was a pleasant surprise you only found the day before shooting the last scenes of the Battle of Starcourt. And of course, you're already down for the next season, and everything you know so far is that Billy and Amy left with the Byers, and are now in an established relationship. The rest will only come when you get the script, which will take several months. “Uhm... Season five if the characters make it that far.”

“Uhm... And after that?”

Giving Dacre a glance, you wonder where he's going with this. Season four is only due to next year, and the production won't start in at least five or six months. “I don't know. Some studios are calling me but I'm not interested in the roles they have. What about you?”

“I'm thinking of holding to Stranger Things only.” He shrugs his shoulders, leaning closer to place a quick kiss on your lips. “Then I want to make a pause. Settle down, focus on my personal life.”

“Sounds good.” Raising an eyebrow, you can't help but ask. “And am I on this personal life thing?”

“Only if you want to.”

Blushing, you bite your lip. “Only if I want to.” You repeat, the wind suddenly stronger, messing with your hair. “I think I do, Mr. Montgomery.”

“There's something else I've been meaning to ask you.” His voice gets serious, and he pulls away so he can stare into your eyes.

“What is it?”

“I was thinking about going to Australia.” Dacre starts, holding your hand in his. “My family still lives there and I want to formally introduce you to them, not only through video calls. And there's a lot of places I'd love to show you.”

Oh... That's something. “I'd absolutely love to go, Dacre. Just tell me when and for how long.”

“That's the thing...”

“What's the thing?”

“I was thinking about staying there... Until the shooting for the next season starts.” There's insecurity in his voice and you know why. Dacre was only renting this house in LA because of the show, but his home is in Australia. “But honestly, going back there, and staying literally half a world apart from you is too much.”

“Yeah, I'd hate it too...” Holding your hair so it'll stay away from your face, you look at the ocean. “But this is... Something. I mean, I could rent a place near yours and–”

“We literally shared the hotel room, and now I either spend the days here or you stay at my place, so I guess that would go on for a few weeks until you decide to just stay with me.” Dacre has this cocky tone and a smirk, so you playfully punch his arm.

“Oh, don't tease me!” A small fight, filled with giggles start, as you try to slap him. But Dacre easily holds your arms, and suddenly, he pushes you down until you're lying down on the sand with him hovering above you. “I'll go with you.” You burst out because the possibility of not going didn't even cross your mind. “But only if you give me that amazing massage in the back after the flight because I know it takes like 48 hours to get there.”

“If we're lucky we can find a 24 hours flight.” When the wind pushes some hair over your face, Dacre moves it away before leaning down to kiss you, slow and passionate. “But yes, I'll give you all the massages you want when we get there.”

“You should really be more careful with the things you promise, sweetheart.” You tease, pushing him off of you. “So. When do we leave?”

“What about next week? Enough time to buy the tickets, pack everything, and to enjoy LA a little longer.”

“Speaking about enjoying LA...” Smiling, you stand up, taking off your shoes. “I'll go for a swim.”

“Babe... You can't swim.” Dacre keeps the half-smile as you walk backwards, eyes on him as you move closer to the water.

“Yes. I really wish I had a strong boyfriend to help me out but apparently–” You stop talking when he stands up, walking fast until he reaches you, and in a swift motion, he lifts you up, parting your legs so they'll be around his waist.

“You were saying..?”

Wrapping your arms around his neck, you giggle when the waves start hitting your back, soaking your clothes. “I was saying I do have a strong boyfriend.”

“Interesting how you change your mind so quickly.” You feel when his feet stop reaching the bottom, and the two of you just stand there, floating, and despite knowing you could die here, you feel safe with Dacre.

“It's gonna be amazing, you know... Australia. The two of us.” You mumble, a hand caressing his cheek. “I am quite scared of the wild animals they have there, but I know you'll protect me.”

“I sure will. I did save you from a freaking Mind Flayer, didn't I?”

Giggling, you nod. “That you did.”

With the calming waves surrounding you, you kiss him, deep and sweet. It tastes salty from the water, but soon enough the taste of his lips overcome everything. And it also tastes like promises, spoken and unspoken. And you know that wherever you are, here or on the other side of the world, you will be fine, and happy, and safe. With Dacre, you don't have to be afraid of what you feel anymore, you can just let it out. You can trust him with your whole heart.

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@baker151910 @shinydixon @dreamin-of-dacre @hanoi15 @lickmymelaninn @foccus @multific @uncookspaget @kellysimagines @peakascum @thisbreakableheaven @nope-thanks