#I'm sorry but I won't be doing them right now however I'll hold onto them in case I'd ever like to in the future

[waywardstation]

Apologies, I've mentioned it in a post already, but my art requests are currently closed! Every request I'm posting right now was taken from a period of time where they were open a few weeks back, so I could have something to work on while I was disconnected from the internet. I'm not taking new requests at the moment, I'm so sorry!

[eubybubble]

slytherin boys after an argument

ft. Tom, Mattheo, Theodore, Lorenzo

Theodore Nott

Realization hit him hard after a prolonged silence. The air felt thick, and he felt nauseous as he shifted his gaze from a small crack on the wall under his fist to your face. He just swallowed and left the room without a word.

He was terrified of himself, didn't he promise to never raise a hand on loved ones? Technically, he hadn’t, but it was too close. Thoughts flooded his mind as he rushed up the stairs in a desperate attempt to breathe fresh air. It wasn't surprising that he instinctively headed to the Astronomy Tower – your favorite place. Reaching the top, he stood there and retrieved the cigarette pack with trembling fingers. After hesitating, he lit one. Everything seemed to remind him of you. It was never that serious, you just wanted to help him.

Now, he felt like a total fool. Leaning against a wall and sliding down, he pondered over the the relationships. You were too sweet, he couldn't let you suffer near someone like him. With that, he set his mind on ignoring you and breaking up with you because "that'd be better for you." It seemed like you would only agree, he didn't consider any other possible answer.

In the next few days, he deliberately skipped meals and tried to ignore your questioning gaze in halls. However, you heard a slight cough from behind after the lunch.

"May we discuss something?"

"Well, if it isn't Theodore Nott! What—" he didn't let you finish.

"Let's break up." you froze, staring at him in disbelief.

"Nott, are you insane? Didn't you think to ask me?"

"I'm doing it right now."

"Really? It felt more like you just stated a fact and I can only accept it. It was really low of you to avoid me." Your eyes became shiny as tears started to accumulate involuntarily. Theodore noticed it, and despite the cold agenda he planned, he rushed towards you, wiping the tears.

"You wouldn't want to be with me," he mumbled.

"What? We could've talked! We've always talked about how important communication is, but how come we don't practice it? I know you, and I know myself; I wouldn't give up on our relationship that easily. And more than anything, I know that I want to be with you. Why would you do that to me?" you sobbed, clutching onto him as if you were afraid that if he left now, you would never see him again.

"Shush, principessa, I'm so sorry-" he didn't expect such a reaction from you. As you hid your crying face in his chest, his heartbeat only became faster. What an idiot he was for even thinking of such a thing. "I'm so sorry. For everything I've done and said. I'll work to be better for you," he rambled quietly. "Do you trust me? Are you ready to give me another try?" His voice cracked slightly as he asked the last question. You just nodded, and he chuckled at the sight. "Tesoro... I'm so sorry. I promise you it won't happen again." He gave you a forehead kiss, and he really meant it. Even though he didn't say anything about it, he decided to quit smoking. Yes, it won't be easy or a short process, but at least he found a far better addiction - you.

Tom Riddle

From the moment you saw Tom, you thought it could have worked out. At least, you hoped so. It all felt dumb. All those times when your friends told you to break up or said that he didn’t care about you - you refused to believe them. And now, it got you here when the most precious person told you were some troublesome trivia. In the past, you and Tom would at least talk during lunch or sit next to each other in Potions where he patiently helped you, but now, he skipped most lessons, and if he attended one, he’d sit alone. Everyone noticed it, and you became the target of their whispers and snickers. Some even went as far as mocking you in the halls.

“Well, if it isn’t the one Tom Riddle dumped. What, did he finally realize that you’re pathetic?” you tightened your hold on your books and tried to leave hurriedly until the blonde boy from the group shoved you into the wall. “Aren’t we talking to you? Why are you leaving so suddenly?”

It was a pretty loud encounter, so Tom, who was walking nearby, heard it and stopped in his tracks. To tell the truth, he didn’t even want to break up. He invented this silly excuse to protect you because he was afraid of his own actions. He hoped you’d be stubborn and come once again, but you didn’t. That’s when he knew he messed up, but his pride held him back from going to you. And now, someone was bullying his treasure.

But they underestimated your power. You didn’t want it to escalate into violence, but they started it first. With a swift movement of the wand, you threw them off with a big blast. Not even bothering to look behind, you paced up and bumped into someone.

“Oh.” As he put his hands on your shoulders to steady you, he eyed the unconscious group behind. “Using a spell of such power at this hour?” he mumbled nervously.

“Care to explain why you care? Get off, Riddle.” You tried to shove him away, but his grip was strong.

“What’s going on with you? I didn’t even do anything to make you that mad.” You nearly choked at these words.

“Tom.” He hesitated. “Do you think I’m that dumb to fall for your words? Move out of the way.” But he just stood there without a change.

"Don’t leave. I was just... I was afraid I’d hurt you," he whispered as he clutched onto you. "I was afraid of my own plans, of my own thoughts. But please, promise me never to leave, even if I change. I won’t hurt you, just stay by my side. I never expected to fall in love..I had everything planned ahead in a neat way, but you came in like a surprise. Yet, here we are, and it's you. There's no turning back now" You never saw Tom being so vulnerable, and you could do only nod. You cupped his face.

"Hey, I’m here. Everything’s gonna be fine. I’ll be here," you softly reassured him, not noticing how easily he drew you right back.

Mattheo Riddle

You had hard time absorbing everything Mattheo said. It was already dark outside, but you didn’t care to turn on the light or illuminate the wand with “Lumos”. You sat on the bed and went through the box with a glossy eyes. You couldn’t believe that he saved every gift, every letter, note - even those that you gave him before dating. Quiet sobs escaped your chest upon finding the promise ring at the very top. Why does it feel so awful when you believed you made the right choice?

As if on cue, your roommate entered the dorm room. "Hey, look what everyone’s talking about in school- oh, are you okay?" She turned on the lights and noticed your teary face. Quickly wiping everything away, you pretended to be busy, gathering everything back into the box. "Yeah, my eyes are sore from reading in the dark," a lame excuse, "what were you gonna tell?"

She knew you disliked having your privacy intruded upon. "So, three students were caught for an outrageous duel and a series of mobbings in Hogsmeade! Surprisingly, it was two Gryffindor students and one Hufflepuff. That fits into the ‘don't judge a book by its cover' narrative. I wonder when the stereotypes about the houses will end. Remember when everyone didn't doubt that it was Slytherin?" she sighed.

As if it weren't enough of a heartbreak, you discovered that everything you had ever suspected Mattheo of was all filthy lies and gossip. Suddenly, you felt dizzy.

You didn’t care about decency or dignity as you rushed to Mattheo’s dorm. He, too, was struggling. Despite everything, he regretted speaking harshly and leaving the memory box. What if you never returned and tossed it away? His heart clenched at the thought.

Feeling too irritated and unwilling to join others in the common room for a card game, he was all alone for now. In futile attempts to fall asleep, he heard a light knock on the door.

"Who’s that?" he groaned, too lazy to open the door.

"Hey, can we talk?" His muscles tensed upon hearing that familiar voice. Rushing to the door, he unlocked it immediately. "Oh, hi," you blushed and stopped mid-sentence, staring at his torso. He glanced down, realizing he forgot to put his shirt on.

"Shit. Sorry, one second," he shut the door in embarrassment and put on a random sweater. "What do you want?" he still held a grudge against you.

"I wanna... apologize. You have every right to shut the door, but I wanted to tell you that our relationship isn’t a joke to me. I love everything about you. I was just so stupid to believe all the gossips floating around Hogwarts, but that doesn’t matter. I came here to tell you how insane you make me feel. I mean, these days when I tried to collect my thoughts and was avoiding you, I was thinking of you non-stop. Mattheo, I’d fight the world to be by your side." As you rambled on and on, his gaze softened, and he pulled you by the waist.

"That’s my girl. I felt terrible when you acted the way you acted, but I hope it won’t be the same in the future?... I also apologize for saying unnecessary things."

"That’s okay, you had every right to be mad. What about I’ll order the food and we’ll watch a movie?"

“Gladly” he was grinning now. It wasn't necessary to tell him that you were also ordering a new broomstick, the perfect one for the perfect boy to make it up. It was the least you could do now. As you scrolled through the list of new films, Mattheo coughed.

"So, uh, can I get my box back, please? You didn’t go through it, right?" a light blush covered his face.

“Actually, I did, Matty. I didn’t know you are so sweet” he groaned at this comment “but I’ll return it to you. Sure.”

Lorenzo Berkshire

The moment Lorenzo received his numerology exam back, he couldn't believe the mark he saw. 70, satisfactory. Many would pray for such a grade, but he had studied and sacrificed too much for this.

As he walked to breakfast, he scanned the Great Hall but couldn't spot you. The previous day's argument flared up in his memory, and he wrinkled his nose as he sat down to eat. As predicted, a white owl sat on his shoulder, delivering a letter with Berkshire's family logo.

He run his eyes over the text. “disgrace..wasting time..bad influence” and blah blah blah. Nothing’s new, except the threat that ordered him not to come home until he got back on the track academically. He's been following his parents' wishes for too long; he was too afraid to ruin the perfect son image that he completely lost hold of his priorities.

Oh, how he wished to be in your embrace now, to listen to your soothing voice and nuzzle up to you in the dark. But he ruined it single-handedly.

He stood up and went to lessons, scratching an apology note for you in the meantime. At DADA, the only class you two took together, he tried to sit next to you and apologize, but that place was taken by a Hufflepuff girl, to which he could only frown. Throughout the lesson, you felt his gaze on you, but never once did you turn your head back at him. If he needed a break that much, he could get one. After all, you got tired of constantly begging him to relax and spend time with you and felt like a total fool.

After the lessons ended, you were the first one to leave the classroom, but he's not an idiot either. You felt someone gently taking hold of your wrists and pushing you into the empty classroom. The door closed behind.

"Can we talk and communicate like grown-ups?" Lorenzo inquired.

"You said everything you wanted last time. I have to go, Hermione's waiting for me in the library," you blatantly lied.

"Oh, really? Because when I last talked to Hermione, she told me she would be with Ron," he calmly stated, stepping closer. "I don't really remember things I've said, but-" You didn't let him finish.

“Enzo, you needed break and I’m giving it to you” his jaws tightened in frustration at your unwavering stance. “You told me I was a burden and you know what? I think you were right because lately, that’s what I felt like in relationships with you. It’s like I’m begging you to spend time with me. Maybe it's best to return to being friends” you mumbled. But he just shook his head, moving nearer once more until he stood right in front of you.

"I'm sorry I made you feel this way. It's not an excuse for my behavior, but I've been stressing about..something," he sighed. "You don't deserve to be treated like that, but trust me, I'll be better." He gently reached out for your arm. "I need just another chance. The only one. I've already written back to my parents, and I hope they will get off my back. I've also told them about us," his voice got quieter. "I hope you won't mind." Your breath hitched. He had always been postponing this, even if you wished for it. There was a minute of silence and apprehension before he wrapped you in a hug. "I hope you can forgive me, sweetheart. How about we go to the cafe you like this weekend?" he mumbled, peppering your face with kisses.

a/n: I apologize if it's not the way you imagined, but hey, I tried my best. Also, I think they were super careful and sweet afterwards!

taglist: @lilanxietysstuff @nopedefe @marina468

[thevoidstaredback]

Okay, so maybe giving his calling card to a kid was a bad idea. He sees that now. Unfortunately, it's too late to take it back. On the bright side, the kid wasn't going to be able to figure out who he is yet based solely on a summoning circle. In the pitch black void of things, Danny can sense the card and the person who's holding it.

Maybe if he leaves Fawcett fast enough he can keep plausible deniability because there's no way that the tiny homeless kid he just met is Captain Marvel. Nope, no way. Not his circus, not his monkeys. He's leaving now.

"What happened to you?" Deadman had an insufferable grin on his face. Did he have the House drop him in Gotham? Danny wouldn't put it past him.

"Don't wanna talk about it."

"Where ya going?"

"To the basement."

"Why?"

Was the other ghost always this annoying? "Because leaving was a terrible idea. I'm going to go hide in the basement until the day I fully die."

"Aw," Deadman tried to pout, but he failed and started to cackle. "Don't be like that. Did you not enjoy your trip to Gotham?"

Danny was a lot of things. Violent usually didn't make it onto that list. However, he was willing to make an assumption. "So it was your fault."

Another cackle. "Don't be like that! You've never been to Gotham before. You can't tell me you at least didn't have fun."

They were at the basement stairs now. "For your information, I have been to Gotham. I didn't get to do much exploring this time because Batman and his gaggle of sidekicks surrounded me!"

"You've been to Gotham?"

"Not important."

"Oh?" The glee on the full ghost's face made Danny uneasy. "I sense a story behind that."

Oh, no. "No. I'm not telling you." He marched past and down the stairs, not bothering to unlock or open the door.

"Please!"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I said 'no'."

"Party pooper." he huffed. "You know I'm just going to keep asking, right?"

A sigh. "I'm not gonna cave. No."

"Ah, but you will!" That was the confidence of a ghost who knew he was right. Danny did not like how that bodes for him. "You, my friend, are a younger sibling. I am also a younger sibling."

Shit. "That....That means nothing. My answer will stay 'no'."

Deadman had the gall to chuckle darkly. "We'll see." Then, he disappeared.

Danny didn't sigh because he doesn't need to breathe. He was not going to tell what happened because what happens in Gotham stays in Gotham. It's a rule of thumb that people don't cross. Besides, Deadman doesn't know that Danny's actually the middle sibling. Dani, introduced to his parents soon after he'd told them he was a Halfa, was the embodiment of younger sibling because he had once been the embodiment of younger sibling.

***

"Please get Deadman to stop!" Danny begged Zatanna three weeks later. Maybe he'd overestimated himself a little bit.

The sorcerer raised an eyebrow as she looked up from the book she'd been reading. Something on runes? "What's he doing this time?"

"He won't stop asking me to tell him about my first trip to Gotham."

"You've been to Gotham?"

Danny groaned into the throw pillow he was clutching. "Yes. Please make him stop!"

"Sorry, hun," she focused back on her book, "But I can't see him."

"Oh. I forgot about that."

"Why don't you just tell him?"

Danny shot up, appalled by the very idea. "It's a matter of principle!" he exclaimed, "I am both the older and younger sibling: The middle child. If I give in, I'll have failed! I can't do that. Do you want me to fail?!"

"Okay, okay, geez!" she surrendered, "Don't gotta be so overdramatic about it."

"I'm not being overdramatic! I'm being just dramatic enough!"

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say, kid."

"I'm not a kid!"

"You look like one."

"Yeah, but I'm not! I'm-"

"King of the Infinite Realms," Constantine interrupted, "We know."

"Then don't call me a kid."

"Yeah, yeah, kid,"

"I'm not-!"

"Look, we can have this argument all day and we'll still end in a tie. I've got a case in San Francisco near Titan's Tower. Raven's coming along. Do you want to come with?"

"Don't you normally work solo?" Danny asked. Zatanna still hadn't looked back up from her book and he was pretty sure she'd tuned them out.

"Is that a 'no'?"

"No! No, I'll come with." Maybe having Constantine with him will deter the JL from hounding him. What do they even want with him? If they're upset that he died at fourteen, he's gonna scream.

The Brit smirked. "You sound almost desperate to get out."

"Shut up and let's go."

"Alright, alright."

Part 3 Part 5

Tag List: @zaiothe4th @someonebored0100 @wolfeyedwitch @angelheartgamer @nymanders

[deadbydangit]

Reader who was the killers wife/fiance before the realm? They were looking for killer for months after they were taken, and now they have to be a survior with their killer partner forced to hunt them, even after all the mental anguish of trying to find them after they went missing :((

This with Ghostface, Trickster, Wesker, Knight, and Artist possibly?

You can choose if Reader knew of some of the killers real selves. I'd imagine at least for a few of them (like Danny or Knight), they did.

Thank you! 💗

Aww. That's so sweet. I think I can do that. Sorry if it's a bit sad. Please enjoy.

With a Reader who was married to the Killer in a previous life.

Ghostface, Trickster, Mastermind, Knight, Artist

Ghostface

He's stalking you.

You're totally unaware.

Until he catches your eye.

No... It can't be...

His heart stops

You're alive.

With shaking hands, he approaches you.

Dropping his knife.

"S/O?"

He's so afraid this isn't real.

He's missed you so much.

With the mask, you won't know it was him.

You've just seen the masked person running around and killing others.

Obviously you're frightened.

Danny realizes this, and throws off his mask.

He's been crying.

You started crying.

He pulled you into his arms in the tightest embrace.

Until the thought hits him.

He's going to have to kill you.

So while you're blubbering affection.

He's thinking about how he's going to have to hurt the love of his life.

You'd understand...right?

Trickster

Ah, another survivor hiding in a locker.

His favorite.

Watching their look of horror as the claw to hold onto the back.

He throws up the door to see a pair of horrified eyes.

Eyes he knew.

Your eyes.

Sinking to his knees and trembling, he reaches to touch you.

Was this a trick the Entity was playing on him?

Were you real?

You were!

Ji-Woon will yank you out of the locker and pull you into him.

He's missed you so much.

"My darling!"

You know that voice!

He was estatic.

He could finally see his one true love again.

The only person he had ever loved.

But then it hit him.

But he'd also have to kill you.

He'll explain the situation tearfully.

Understand that he doesn't want to do this.

He's forced to.

So, please, run.

Mastermind

He must be seeing things.

It couldn't be you.

You were back home.

Safe and unharmed.

Rushing in, he grabbed you by the throat.

Listening to those sounds.

Those little cries.

It was you!

He immediately dropped you onto your feet before enveloping you in a hug.

"Dearthart. I'm so sorry. I wasn't aware it was you."

Wesker won't cry.

But it looks like he will.

"My love, I'm so sorry. Why are you here? You don't deserve this."

He won't let anything happen to you.

He's a smart man.

He knows the Entity will have him try to kill you.

But that won't happen.

That damned beast could torture him however it wants.

It won't lay a tentacle on you.

Ever.

He'd die for you.

"I'll protect you. Forever."

Knight

Tarhos is always very focused in trials.

So much so that he doesn't realize who he's going after.

It was Durkos who first noticed that it looked like you.

No, it couldn't be you.

Tarhos had missed you dearly.

He would never say love, but he did.

He adored you.

His men knew that all too well.

As Tarhos spotted a survivor working on a generator, he grinned.

Finally.

Raising her sword above his head to stroke down, he saw a pair of eyes.

Eyes he knew.

Looking at you shaking like a mouse.

He promised himself that he'd never hurt you, never make you afraid of him.

And that promise was crashing down.

Throwing off his helmet, he bent down to your height, cradling you in his arms.

"Forgive me dearest."

Wiping the tears from your eyes with his blood stained gloves.

He was a monster.

But he was a monster that would protect you.

The Entity could kill him for all he cared about.

He wouldn't lay a finger on you.

Artist

She doesn't see as well as she used to.

The ink and anger clouds her vision.

But she knows it's you.

She was slow to approach.

Unlike some other killers, she didn't retain many of her human features.

She knew she was a monster.

But it was worth a shot.

You knew it was her.

That ever present curious look that was in Carmina's eyes.

She leaned in closer to you.

She could no longer speak, she could no longer hold you.

And, eventually, she'd have to kill you.

The thought made her ill.

As you approached, she slashed at the air next to you.

She wanted you to hate her.

To run and scream.

To be afraid.

She wouldn't be able to show you mercy.

It would be easier if you hated her.

[number-onekidqueen]

heyy !! i hope ur doing well (: can you write a luke x gn!reader where they are chubbier and short and luke Lovess the height x size difference but they thinks like making fun of them but in reality he’s just teasing ): they open up to him about past issues regarding that and he comforts them and says he’ll protect them ): maybe a bit of protective!luke

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐲?

Luke castellan x gn!chubbier!shorter reader

Summary: Luke loves to talk about all your physical differences and how you still fit together perfectly. But you have a few bad memories. 

Anon, I am sooooo sorry this took so long, I've had a mad case of writer's block lately, and I no time. It's kinda short and sweet (if you get what I mean *wink*) but I hope this is what you were picturing, and that you enjoy <3

warnings: mentions of fatphobia, mentions of insecurity, panic, teasing.

“Hey shawty!” 

Immediately, you stiffened. Even if you recognised the voice as one you trusted - Luke, your boyfriend of nearly a year, who you loved dearly - the nickname still made you feel cold all over. But Luke didn't mean the nickname in that way, you were sure.

Right?

You didn't have much time to ponder it however as a warm hand materialised around your waist, pulling you into him. You let the sandwich you had been making for lunch settle onto the table, freeing your arms so you could reciprocate his embrace, although rather stiffly.

"How you been?" He murmured into your hair, while he peppered kisses on your scalp. And then he noticed. He pulled away from you, still gripping your shoulders but gazing at you with concern. "What's wrong?"

You decided to drop it. He wouldn't have meant it that way. Even if your boyfriend before had, Luke wouldn't do something like that. "Nothing," you replied, forcing a smile, "you just caught me by surprise is all."

There was a pause in which he scanned your face, searching for signs you weren't telling the truth. He still appeared wary, but he seemed to let it slide for the moment, scooping up your sandwich plate and tugging you along to his table. Loud greetings hooted about, as his fellow Hermes siblings noted his and your appearance.

Your suspicions were confirmed as you sat, after saying hello to everyone, when he clasped his hand in yours, resting it on his knee. This was something he always did when you were feeling overwhelmed or sad, to reassure you that he was always there. He hadn't been convinced by your facade then. Damn.

Beginning to eat your sandwich, you were wincing at the near-stale texture of the bread, and how hard and dry it was in your mouth. Chiron must be running on his last few loaves and forgot to get extra supplies. You were glad for the distraction of Chris, who was always happy to explain his schemes with grand theatrics, and hand gestures that often tipped over glasses. That and Luke's wild laughter from beside you got you through the unpleasant meal.

"-and you won't believe what happened next, and even though it is coming from me, it was pretty damn impressive-"

"Ok man, I'm gonna interrupt your yap session right there while I can. Anyone getting seconds?" Luke asked, holding up his own plate.

"No dude, I'm sooooooo full, how are you not?" Chris groaned, laughing.

"He didn't steal my bag of jerky, Rodriguez!" Someone down the table accused.

"Hey, that was in the middle of the cabin floor, it was fair game!-"

"I'll have some," you volunteered, turning to Luke, and accepting his hand to help you rise from the benches.

"See, lucky I can be a big back with them!" He laughed, walking away with you and back to the table filled with food.

You weren't hungry anymore, at all. Every delicious, hot meal on the table that had tantalised you only moments before now seemed like soggy sticks. Luke had mentioned stuff about your body twice now, in such a short period. You were sure he meant it now. He must be just like your ex in that respect, even if he had treated you better. He felt the same as your ex had done. Even after all this time, your body wasn't good enough- you weren't good enough-

"Hey, you can't decide? Try the macaroni, I just had a bit and oh my Gods-"

"Uh- I don't really feel too hungry anymore." You said awkwardly, gulping down your insecurity.

"Ok," he said slowly, and there was his brown eyes again, deep and full of questioning. "Are you sure everything's okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's all fine just... not hungry." You smiled weakly, praying he would drop it as he did earlier. Your stomach rumbling punctuated the silence. He frowned at you, second helping forgotten and pulled you to the side of the dining pavilion, near some dense bushes where you wouldn't be seen.

"Hey. Please tell me what's going on," he begged, squeezing your hand. When you looked in his eyes, you knew you were a goner. You cracked.

"Do you still- like-like- do you still like me?" you mumbled, gazing down at your feet.

"What do you mean?" He asked, confused, "Y/N, I love you, so yeah, of course I still like you."

“I- just- I- I know you didn’t mean any harm and I know you only meant to tease, but it just reminds me of my ex sometimes.”

"Wait, what? What does?" He urged, pulling you closer.

"Just the... you know, like little comments- it's just-it's kinda like the stuff he used to say that hurt my feelings."

He pulled away from you, face hardening. 

“What did he say to you?”

“It was nothing, just he commented on my weight constantly and how much shorter I was than him and sometimes- look it doesn't really matter. It's just that the 'hey shawty' and 'big back' and all that, it shouldn't, it's stupid of me, but it reminds me of him... and like, I know it was a mistake dating a guy that was older in the first place, but the biggest mistake I made was letting him say the stuff he said."

"Don't you dare call yourself stupid," he began sternly, "because if anyone here is, it's me. My gods, baby, I'm so sorry I said stuff like that, it was just a joke or a little pet name to me, I-I didn't know it reminded you of that-ugh, if I had known I would've bleached my mouth out."

You laughed a little, and his face brightened.

"You know I don't wanna be anything like him, right? Man, if he was here I might have a hard time stopping from doing something to him, what a dick."

Laughing again, you nodded, smiling at him.

"And, you know you're also perfect right? Like who cares if you're shorter or a different shape to me? That's what makes you, like you, and I love you for all of it."

He kissed you swiftly, sweetly. It was warm, and you were both smiling through it. He was Luke, not your crusty ex that had broken contact the minute he got accepted to college. And he would always love you for who you were, you were sure of that now.

He broke apart, your noses brushing. "I love you," he whispered, each syllable falling softly on your upper lip.

"I love you too," you whispered back. He backed away reluctantly, holding your hands in both of his tightly.

"Ok, let's get you some macaroni now, because I'm not kidding when I say that it hits-"

And you let him lead you back to the chaotic normality of camp, with all of the delicious food and comforting people you loved.

[sourbinnie]

☆ overcome.mp3 ☆

/ happy ending /

♡ genre ¿? ♡ -> angst with a hopeful ending ♡ pair ¿? ♡ -> ot8!skz x gn!reader ♡ plot ¿? ♡ -> forgiveness doesn't come easy but they already knew that. ♡ warnings ¿? ♡ -> cursing ♡ request ¿? ♡ -> yes!

first part -> hyung line | maknae line

a/n: here's the happy ending that i promised and we're done with the series ¡! you can choose which ending you prefer to read.

chan ✉

staying all alone that night made you process a whole lot of things. mostly how much you loved chan and how much he meant to you for you to give up. but that didn't mean that what he said didn't hurt you and affect you in a way. second chances are not given, they're earned and you wanted for him to prove that. for him to show you that he really wanted this and he wanted it as much as you did.

when he opened the door in the morning to check on you, he didn't expect to still find you in your shared bedroom. even after crying all your tears out, you didn't have the strength to face him because you didn't wanna give in too easily. you were determined to try and make him understand what you felt.

"hey babe. i called but you did not answer." he said simply and you just looked at him taking in his appearance. the bags under his eyes, the clothes that he wore yesterday and the regret in his voice. "i don't even know where to start, i just don't know why i said that and i'm sorry."

"i know. i just needed some time chris, it's okay. well i mean what you said it's not okay but i don't wanna lose what we have." you said as you grabbed his hand, intertwining your fingers with his and holding onto them. "but i need you that if something like this happens again, i won't hesitate to walk out the door." 

"i won't take you for granted. i just need one more chance and i'll show you what you truly are worth. i just can't believe i said those things and-." he tried to explain again but you stopped him

"chris. i know and let's try not to repeat that mistake, okay? i'd rather not talk about it because i don't wanna remember but just please know that i'll stay." you said and he sighed as he nodded. he felt like a weight was off his chest but at the same time he knew he had to be better and do better. it hurt to know that he hurt you but this was his chance to fix it.

minho ✉

you knew how he was. he was 100% gonna chase after you left even if you insisted that you wanted to be alone tonight. you still hoped he would come after you anyways, even if it still hurt. even if he found the worst words possible to express his anger, you wanted to see him. it might've been delusional or stupid but you needed to hear him say sorry a few more times.

and there he was, absolutely exhausted from running. leaving his work scene even after winning another show but caring a bit more about saving his relationship than celebrating with his bandmates. you looked at him right in the eye and you could sense regret but you needed to hear from him first.

"baby, love, jagi i'm so fucking sorry." lee minho was on his knees in a public scenery begging for forgiveness. you would've never painted this picture in your mind but here it was right in front of you. "i would do anything for you if i have to. i know i look like a fool and you're probably dying of embarrassment but if you decide to end things, i don't think i'm gonna be able to take it."

"just like i'm not taking what just happened. listen minho and please get up." like he was in your command, he got up immediately. "i don't know what your ex boyfriends/girlfriends were like but i'm not gonna stand the hurtful comments you make. however i'm not gonna let you go but i need some time yeah?" 

"how much time?" you've never seen him so determined yet so desperate at the same time. he really wanted to be with you and it showed but it wasn't enough. actions spoke louder than words and you hoped he would demonstrate that.

"i'll let you know, for now just let me be." you said walking away not before he hugged you tightly and did not let go for a solid minute. you ruffled his hair as you pressed a kiss to his forehead. maybe time would heal the open wounds after all.

changbin ✉

"did you truly feel that way?" you asked when he arrived home from the studio. you were so ready to leave but you needed to know before you did if this was anger speaking or if he truly felt what he said. you were a firm believer that words were spoken for a reason. he sighed and left his things before looking at you, trying to take in the scene that you might just leave him if you didn't say the right things.

"no. i could never feel that way about you even if i wanted to. i was angry and that's not an excuse but i need you to know that the truth is that. take me or leave me, i would rather you be with someone who didn't provoke as much damage as i did tonight." he said and you could see the tears coming out like a cascade. it hurt to see him this way and you didn't know what to do. "love i'm sorry, i know i don't deserve it but would you please stay tonight?" 

"why? what's gonna change?" you asked, crossing your arms as you looked at him. he looked so fragile and broken at the same time. he expected for you to be mad but you just looked disappointed and that hurt even more. "binnie please say anything just to make me wanna stay."

"i love you. i want to be with you so badly even if all my insecurities are telling me no right now, i need you so bad. i know i'm not enough, i know i shouldn't have said any of those words, fuck them, i always wanted you and that's never gonna change." he said wiping his tears away and getting close to you. you didn't take a step back this time as you took in your arms and cried with him. "i won't ever make you feel like that ever again (y/n), please stay."

"okay. i'll stay for tonight but we'll talk in the morning clearly yeah?" you said as he nodded. he needed to make things right this time and not let you down.

hyunjin ✉

you could hear a lot of movement coming from the other side of the door. you thought hyunjin left but it looked like he didn't as you headed towards your kitchen where the noise was coming. he was there doing the dishes, he had done every task that was left unattended before. if that made him think that he was gonna forgive you, then he didn't know you.

"yes i know. it's not enough but i was complaining like an idiot and not doing anything." he said as he sighed looking at you. you were still mad at his comments and it looked like it wasn't gonna be easy for him but then again that's what he loved about you, you stood there proud like you were. "i'm sorry. i shouldn't have said anything and i don't know what it was that put me in a mood to say that shit to you. it doesn't matter, what matters is you and i hope you know that i will change if i have to because i can't be creating drama like this anymore."

"it's not that jinnie. i usually don't mind putting up with it but today it was too much. your words just hurt me in a way, made me feel like i was worth less than you and them for that matter." you explained and he nodded. he felt like crying but he didn't want to in front of you. he felt hopeless and so fucking sad that he made you feel like this. 

"i know. i'm sorry, you're worth more than i could ever ask for and i don't want you to feel any different. i know it's not easy what you do and i'm gonna help around more because we're a team right? we both need to put in the effort." he said as he got close to you, carefully planting a kiss on your forehead. 

"a team, i like that." you muttered as you gave in to his arms and rested your head on his chest.

jisung ✉

being without jisung was hell but you needed time. even if he tried to contact you in every way that he could, it went ignored for now. it was probably painting the worst image on his mind but one day you showed up back to the apartment you shared together. it surprised you to see him there, sleeping on the couch, you would've thought he was staying at the dorms.

"baby? you're here?" he asked as he opened his eyes and tried to compose himself in front of you. he got up so fast, he almost fell but he tried to put on his best look as he didn't know why you were here. well it was your house but after what happened, he lived there thinking the worst. "babe can we talk?"

"yeah that's why i came here. to give you a chance to explain yourself." you said firmly and it took him by surprise just like your arrival. he wanted a second chance so badly so he decided to look for the best words and to tell you the absolute truth of it all.

"okay. i'm gonna start by saying i'm sorry and letting you know that even if i did fuck up real bad, i still want you and only you more than anyone or anything. i don't think you're difficult and i definitely don't think you're bad. i just said the worst words at the worst time didn't i? now that i'm saying it out loud i don't think i even deserve a second chance. but i'm gonna fight for you every day because i truly believe you're the one (y/n)." he said and he expected not to cry but he still felt the sobs leaving his body anyways.

you welcomed him in your arms as he couldn't stop crying and sighed. jisung wasn't truly mean spirited, he wouldn't say words like that because he meant them you thought. it would take long to heal but you were willing to give him another chance.

"it's okay. we're okay but we still need to talk about it whenever we can yeah?" you said as he responded "yesyesyes" which made you laugh. you wiped his tears away and hoped that things like these wouldn't happen again.

felix ✉

i waited an entire day to text felix again. as much as i was doubting myself, thinking that maybe i am too clingy, there was a part of me hoping he didn't mean it at all. expecting that the worst was just out of anger or fear and not a pure emotion he was feeling so hurtful and devastating. i got an immediate response saying he would come over and before i could respond, he was already at the door.

opening up the door to see a distraught and tired felix was a surprise. it was a competition through your mind telling you that you shouldn't care about what he did but in the end your tender side always won as you took in his appearance. 

"love i'm sorry. i'm so fucking sorry." he repeated over and over as he came in but he didn't just pass through, he fell right into my arms as i held him. "i'm the fucking clingy one, i'm the one who can't be without you and you're not a bother at all. i invited you and every frustration got the best of me and i took it out on the person i love the most and i-."

"i know." i didn't exactly know because there was still this side of me that was deeply hurt by his words. but i was willing to understand where he was coming from and what was happening that led him to get so angry.

"i don't deserve your forgiveness. i don't even deserve to be standing here in front of you or you holding me but please know that i will always be sorry about this." he said looking me in the eye. bloodshot eyes suddenly closing as i leaned in and met him for a kiss. it was a painful one because it felt like a last one but i savoured every moment that i could get with felix. 

"i still want you felix." i said and he closed the gap again as he met me for another kiss. he wanted me as much as i did and sometimes doing something about it spoke louder than a million words.

seungmin ✉

as you unlocked the door of your unshared bedroom, you didn't expect seungmin to be sleeping on the floor on the other side. you crouched down as you slowly poked him to wake him up and that's when he opened his eyes, they were reddish and his hair was a mess. 

"i didn't even notice i fell asleep at the door." he said as you both got up and the tension was still there. you didn't know how to feel and he didn't know what to say exactly. he was convinced you were mad at him but you just looked so sad that it broke him. even when you closed the door and he pretended to walk away, he stayed. he wanted to see you so bad yet every part of him knew that you needed to be alone.

"minnie do you actually want to break up with me?" you asked and you never saw him shake his head so fast. he didn't cry very often but he was willing to cry in front of you if it meant that you would see how sorry he was.

"never in a million years. i know what i said is not okay and that i should've never mentioned it in the first place." he said as he took your hands and looked at you again. "i'm sorry love, i'm sorry for making you feel unappreciated and unloved because that's the thing i want you to feel the least."

"i just thought you were going to leave me when you said that." you sincerely said and if his heart didn't break before, the sight and the words before him were killing his heart slowly.

"no, never. you can't get rid of me that easily baby. i will always stay and tell you the truth." he said as he kissed your cheek and as soon as he placed it, you gave him a little smile that warmed his heart back again. maybe you wouldn't get over this quickly but then again he did not expect that to happen, he would be there in the healing process.

jeongin ✉

he did let you go that night but he insisted that he wanted to talk every minute of the day after it. as much as you thought that you needed time, you needed to see him again before it all crumbled apart. he was there waiting for you in your apartment as you got back from work. who knows how long he had been standing there, looking a mess and hoping for the best.

"(y/n), god i missed you." it filled your heart with so many feelings that you could not express the way he said those words. you were so hurt and you could tell by just looking at him that he wasn't doing well either. he wanted to lean in for a kiss or just have you in his arms again but he contained himself from doing so.

"i missed you too innie. i think we need to talk before... we do anything." you said and he nodded as he stood there awkwardly but he knew it was his turn to talk, to mend things and to make it right this time like he didn't do it that night.

"i'm sorry, i know that it wasn't an okay thing to say. i know exactly why i'm with you and i wouldn't want to be with anyone else in any other way. i want you because you've taught me so much, showed me so much of myself and loved me unconditionally from the start." he was in the verge of tears but he swallowed and continued talking. "i don't think i'm able to be without you, just right now it's been hell."

"i feel the same way, i don't like being apart from you even if i'm mad." you said honestly and he nodded 'cause he felt the same way. "i would like to take things slow, i don't forgive you fully but you're there innie. i wish i could erase the pain but i can't."

"i know, i'll show that i mean it baby. i'll show you how i actually feel." he said and you believed him. you truly did want him to show you what needed to be shown. before he could leave, you hugged him so tight and that's when he let the tears actually go.

[forfucksakesniall]

“Hearts on Hold” - a draft

a sequel to Car's Outside after part 4

𝐌𝐚���𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ*.·:·.✧ ✦✧.·:·.*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:

Pairing: Lewis Hamilton x Driver!Reader

Word Count: 1,692

A/N: This might be the only part for now. Not sure if I would continue it but I will be doing drabbles about it

The day you left was tough. It was a step towards your personal growth and independence. Yet, deep down, you wanted to be by his side throughout the entire winter break. Your mind was filled with conflicting thoughts.

Why did we leave? 

Because we need to rely on ourselves and not depend on others too much. 

So, does that mean our emotions stem from past issues?

No, not necessarily... maybe. I'm not really sure but that is why we're doing this.

You constantly debate whether you made the right decision or not. However, all doubts disappear when he sends you a text message. Each day, his words bring comfort and kindness. You don't respond much because thoughts of him make your mind race.

You don't intentionally ignore him, but there's a certain pleasure in having alone time, where you can fully immerse yourself in the moment. You've grown typical of being alone, and it feels like home. Some may see it as a lonely existence, but they can't grasp the experience of being solely on yourself.

You found yourself in the Czech Republic, a land rich in history and culture. It's a place that fosters personal growth and development. With its stunning architecture, like the iconic Prague Castle, and its vibrant arts scene. You felt like a princess, wandering through the city in search of love or simply a new adventure. 

As you sat at a charming café, savoring your evening coffee and engrossed in a book, it provided a familiar and comforting feeling.

Suddenly, your phone buzzed, breaking the tranquil atmosphere. You glanced down to see one of many of Lewis' daily text messages.

A day ago, 5:06 PM:

Lew

Good morning! You better manage to squeeze in some workouts today, haha. They already miss you - my niece and nephew. I miss you too, but you already knew that...

Yesterday, 5:44 PM:

Lew

Hey, just checking in to see if you're doing alright. Text me when you can. I miss you. I'll see you soon.

Today, 5:04 PM:

Lew

Still missing you, and Roscoe was looking for you.

Today, 5:10 PM:

Lew

Coachella was absolutely wild! Wish you were here. They kept asking if you were coming. I told them you were off doing something way more exciting. Maybe you'll join me next year, haha.

He persisted in texting you, as he could see that you had received and read his messages. Gosh, he deserves someone better, you thought, prompting you to finally respond.

You

Hey Lewis, sorry for not replying earlier. I'm actually doing really well. Sometimes, I do get a little lost, but that's what makes the adventure exciting, right? I won't tell my current location, haha. I hope I don't run into you here, following me around. I'll see you when I return to Monaco.

You reread the messages you sent, caught up in overthinking the entire situation. Just as you finish, he responds.

Lew

I'll see you back at home.

That familiar, tingling, warm feeling rushes back. You suddenly blush, feeling slightly embarrassed by your public display of emotions.

"Ughhh," you mutter to yourself.

Feeling compelled, you text him once again.

You

I miss you too

You quickly type and send it before locking your phone and slamming it onto the table. Frustrated with yourself, you feel like a silly schoolgirl texting her crush.

Lost in your embarrassment, you're suddenly interrupted as someone taps your shoulder. Your heart starts pounding, echoing in your ears.

You slowly turn around and find yourself face-to-face with none other than Mick Schumacher.

"Mick! W-what brings you here?" you stammer, taken aback by his sudden appearance. You were seated outside a café, with only a wooden fence separating you from the bustling street. Somehow, he still noticed you sitting there while riding his bike.

"Oh, umm... I was giving my friends a tour around Europe, and then I saw you sitting here... I should ask what you're up to," he explains a hint of curiosity in his voice.

You giggle, finding him endearingly cute. You and Mick are friends, or at least colleagues working for the same team. You often have chats and occasionally hang out after training, but you wouldn't say you're incredibly close.

"Yeah, well, it's a long story. In short, I'm on a little adventure for myself, taking a break from everything and just trying to relax. It's really nice to see a familiar face," you reply, feeling a sense of comfort.

"I know, right? Who would have thought?" he responds, sharing your amusement.

"Right?" you giggle in response.

"I should get going. It's great to see you again. I'll catch you at the factory then?" he suggests.

"Yeah, definitely!" you affirm with a smile.

He waves goodbye and starts pedaling away, leaving you with a mix of excitement and warmth in your heart.

✧*̥˚ Timeskip *̥˚✧

Weeks had passed, and it felt like an eternity. Finally, you arrived in Monaco, your home. You had managed to keep a low profile at the airport, although a few people still recognized you. The gossip pages had already spread the word about your return. You had considered texting Lewis, but it seemed unnecessary now that the Instagram gossip pages had made the announcement.

Now, you were in your cozy apartment, a place you called home. It felt warm and comforting, and it was all yours.

During your soul-searching journey, you had disabled all the apps that connected you to the outside world - Instagram, Twitter, emails, and more. Now, you decided to open them again, and your phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. Choosing to mute it, you placed it under your pillow.

"Some people sure missed me," you tell to yourself, looking around the house to find your laptop. It was exactly where you had left it, in the living room.

You opened your emails on the laptop instead and saw several team-related messages about an upcoming meeting. You stared at them for a while, realizing it was time to return to work and face reality.

A tinge of sadness and nervousness crept over you, but you pushed any negative thoughts aside. You didn't want to dwell on the idea that they might not want you or anything pessimistic. It was time to move forward.

A knock interrupts your thoughts, causing a small jolt of surprise.

"Why do people keep scaring me?" you mutter to yourself.

The knocking persists, growing slightly louder.

"I'm coming!" you call out.

Excitement builds within you as you jog to the door, eagerly unlocking and swinging it open without hesitation.

"Hey,"

"Hey..." you respond, your tone revealing a lack of enthusiasm.

"Well, that sounds like you weren't happy to see me," the coach remarks.

"Because I wasn't," you reply, adding a touch of sarcasm to your voice.

He was your performance coach, and truthfully, you were never thrilled to see him. His presence meant returning to rigorous training. You had been working together for a year now, and while there was still a connection, you had been avoiding it since last year due to past issues. 

However, you had undergone a transformation and were now a different person.

"Are you ready to get back out there?" the coach asks.

You gaze at him, newfound determination shining in your eyes.

"Hell yeah," you declare, a wide grin spreading across your face.

Throughout the day, you engaged in scheduling and planning, a common practice among Formula 1 drivers and their performance coaches. You both discussed training sessions, physical workouts, and practice sessions to optimize performance on and off the track. 

Despite feeling exhausted from the earlier flight, the overwhelming flood of missed notifications, and the planning for upcoming races, your determination remained steady.

As the evening grew late, the coach suggested that both of you grab a meal together. You ventured out and decided to go to "La Marée," a renowned eatery in Monaco. 

Stepping out of the car, a swarm of people immediately surrounded you. Cameras flashed, videos recorded, and requests for autographs came from all directions. It was the familiar scene you had missed—the support and admiration from the fans, which warmed your heart. With a wave of gratitude, you bid them farewell and entered the restaurant.

And there he was once more, Mick Schumacher, but this time accompanied by Toto and Susie Wolff. You greeted them warmly and approached closer.

"You've got to stop following me, man. It's becoming quite obvious," you playfully remarked to Mick.

"I could say the same to you!" Mick replied with a grin.

"Well, well, it seems like you two have been keeping tabs on each other," Toto chimed in, joining the conversation.

"Yeah, it certainly seems that way," you said, winking at Mick as he reciprocated. "So, are you guys heading out or...?" you inquired, curious about their plans.

"Yeah, we were just discussing... contracts," Mick added.

Contracts? Already? Why haven't they mentioned anything to me... you wondered, feeling a bit surprised.

Toto's hand gently squeezed your shoulder. "If you checked your emails once in a while, you would have known about yours already," he reassured you.

A sigh of relief escaped you. Thank goodness for that, you thought, realizing you had left your phone under your pillow and hadn't retrieved it before leaving with your coach.

"I had such a great vacation that it completely slipped my mind," you laughed awkwardly.

"We'll be expecting to see you at the factory, alright? We need everyone there," Toto emphasized the importance of your presence.

Then it hit you—Lewis. Where was he? You still haven't texted him.

After conversing for a while, you and your coach went to eat.

You enjoyed a pleasant dinner together before finally parting after arriving at your apartment.

Waving him goodbye, you made your way upstairs to your apartment. As you opened the door, you noticed that the living room was illuminated. Have you forgotten to turn off the lights? Perhaps your coach had left them on.

As you approached to switch off the lights, you froze. There, laying on your couch, was someone unexpected.

It was Lewis.

Lewis Hamilton had fallen asleep, patiently waiting for your return home.

[angelic-writer]

Blue Moon - The Night Erin Died

Day 24 of @augusnippets

Prompts: Animal attack/bear trap/land mine

Fandom: Blue Moon by @moonlightsmasquerade

CW: Blood, animal attack, gore, lady whump, (Temporary) character death

Erin was on top of the world. She finally had a chance to talk to her old high school crush again and reconnect with her. She thought she would never see her again after she rejected Anna's offer to go to college with her. She never realized just how much she missed her.

Anna... I'm so sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise.

She started to bop her head to the tune of Be My Baby when it started playing on her iPod, even singing along to the lyrics. It was the best night she could ever ask for. She couldn't wait to gush about her run-in with Anna to Mitchell when she comes to work again.

She had just entered the forest when she thought she heard something rustling in the bushes. She pulled one of her earbuds out, looking in the direction of the noise. "Hello?" She called out.

Nothing. She was just about to walk away when the rustling came again. This time, it was much more clearer. Erin wasn't sure whether to run or check out what's inside the bush. She has her phone on her. If something happens, she could just call the police. She picked up a branch and slowly advanced towards the bush. "Hello...? Anyone there...?"

Silence.

"Mitch? Is that you...?"

The bush moved more violently now. Just as she was about to swing the branch down, something jumped at her. It looked like a wolf, but it was much bigger. It had silver fur, golden eyes and teeth so sharp it can break through bone. Erin screamed and tried to hit the creature with the stick, but the wolf-like being clamped its maw down onto her arm, tearing through her clothes and skin.

It felt like her vocal cords were about to be torn apart as she screamed louder. Blood seeped down her arm as she tried to wriggle herself out. The wolf let go of her arm, giving Erin the opportunity to try and crawl away. However, the wolf was much bigger than her as it pounced on her, pinning her to the ground. It looked into her scared, amber eyes and growled "God, you're really annoying."

It raised its paw up and dug its nails into her chest, cutting deep lacerations into her skin. Something metallic bubbled up inside her mouth as her screams were reduced to gurgles. The crimson liquid poured out of her in large quantities, more than Erin had ever seen before. Before she could register what just happened, the wolf jumped off her and ran into the woods.

Erin laid there, the grass beneath her being stained red with her own blood. She tried to breathe, but it came out in a rattle. This... This couldn't be happening. She just patched things up with Anna. She was finally able to tell her how she really felt. She had so many things she wanted to do, things she wanted to say to Anna. And now... she won't be able to do them because she's going to die alone in a forest. Her phone was laying a few feet away from her, out of reach. She had no strength to even try to reach it. Her vision was clouding around the edges.

No... I don't want to die... I want... to live with the people I love...

She thought she heard something in the distance. It was a voice, but she couldn't figure out who it belonged to. Her question was quickly answered when a familiar face came into her view.

Mitchell... I'm sorry. I look like a complete mess right now.

They were saying something to her, but she couldn't hear the words. Something pressed onto her chest in an attempt to staunch the flow of blood. She belatedly realized it was their own jacket and it was already soaked. Man, I really need to buy them a new jacket. She tried to move her mouth, but all that came out was something between a wheeze and a cough.

"H-Hold on, Erin. I'll call an ambulance. Just keep your eyes open!"

But... I feel so tired. I'm getting... so sleepy...

Mitchell had pulled their phone out and just dialed 911 when they noticed that Erin had stopped moving. "Erin?! Erin, no no no no no you're not doing this to me! You're not dying on me!" They shook her, trying to wake her up, but she didn't stir. Her head only lulled to the side. Pressing their fingers to her neck, they froze when they felt nothing.

Erin stared into the night sky, her eyes, once lively and bright, were now dull, the full moon reflecting off of them being the only light.

That night, Erin Hudson died.

That night, a monster was born.

[coldau]

Sorry to ask! I've been trying to find good resources to learn how to mod (both to create my own but also do mashups) and cannot seem to find any on my own that I can comprehend. So many rely on having basic knowledge of modding, and I'm at an assumed 0% of even where to begin. Do you have any resources you could share? ;w;

I long lost most of my guides but I'll make a walk-through for this here, with pictures.

HAIR MASHUPS:

Say you want to mash up a hair that's viera only with a hair that every other race has, like my longer styled for hire mod.

Find the hairs in Textools, and then EXPORT them as .fbx:

Next, open blender and import the hairs in from the dropdown file menu. It'll look like this. (NOTE THE FILES ON THE RIGHT SIDE! THESE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT!)

Now expand the files on the right side so they look like this. You'll be immediately joining the pieces together.

Select from the N_root of the hair you're stealing parts from, and drag up to the N_root you're making the base hair. HOLD SHIFT! Otherwise it'll be a bad boy.

and be sure to have ALL the things under that root node selected like I have it.

It'll drop the hair down to the ground like this. Click the orange box on the right hand menus and then, one piece at a time (don't select them all and try to do it, just won't work) rotate them to 90 degrees.

Next, join the bones together. They're those triangles.

SAVE! BEFORE! YOU DO THIS! Blender likes to crash randomly, but especially with "join" functions.

Select them either on the sandbox, or by holding CTRL and selecting the N_roots in the files.

Now you have one bone for all the hair pieces to work off of. You will have to reassign bones- i will show you later in the guide.

But now, we get to some very very important parts! Discussing node pieces.

First of all, before you do anything- look at their names. Au Ra Male is "1301", Viera male is "1701." I'll be renaming the Viera's pieces to match the Au ra's pieces in a minute, but don't start with that.

Instead, look to the numbers on the right. Those are the NODES. The numbers after the "." are just different parts, but the numbers BEFORE that are the actual different pieces!

0.X nodes will have different TEXTURES AND ATTRIBUTES than 1.X, 2.0 nodes. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR TEXTOOLS! Pay attention to what pieces of hair are in "0.X" and so on.

But for the X.1, X.2, X.3? As long as they're all on the same node, you are free to join them.

IN A LOT OF OLD HAIRS THEY WILL HAVE A LOT OF PARTS! Feel free to join them if they're under the same main node!

Now, the Viera hair honestly can be one piece. It's got main hair and some fragments. So, I joined them together like how I would bones.

THEN!

I renamed them to match the naming structure (including this green thing in the dropdown) but put them on a whole new main node! (NOTE: see, it's 2.0 now instead of 0.0)

That's MOST of the technical bits out of the way.

Now we focus on modeling the hair. There's two tabs to model under. "Modeling" and "Sculpting."

Modeling is for deleting/moving individual pieces of polygons/deleting entire polygons.

This is the tool I mainly use: Poly Build. It allows me to click and drag polygons by their verticies and make new ones.

If you make new polygons, you have to triangulate your build when you're exporting your save to a new .fbx!

When you have "poly build" on, you can hold "Shift" and delete polygons or verticies.

(If you need to join verticies together, use the select tool and hold CTRL and click on the verticies you want to join one at a time, right click, and go to "merge at center" or "merge at first/last" depending on what you need)

Sculpting is for the entire shape of the hair you have highlighted.

Here are the tools I use in Sculpting:

The top one is "Grab", it grabs onto a vertex and pulls on it SHARPLY, so use it for very accurate things.

However, the other one that I have selected in that picture is "elastic deform." It grabs a VERY LARGE AREA and pulls on it gently, I use it for shifting things around by a large margin.

NOW! Let's say you did everything you want. You deleted, you moved things, you joined things.

Now, assign a bone. The part of the hair we moved from Viera doesn't have a bone anymore! So sad. So go back to "layout" and click the part of the hair the viera hair is on, and go to "Modifier properties"

Ignore the part at the top, just click on "object"'s box and select "n_root" and it'll have bones now.

You did it! Wow, look at that hair!

(results my vary)

Now you save it as a .blend once more, just to make sure it's there in case you fucked up somewhere.

Once you've done that, you're going to save it as an .FBX again.

Name it what you want, untick "add leaf bones" and "apply modifiers", while also selecting "Triangulate faces" if you NEED to- if not, don't bother.

You now have the hair modeled out. This... was only half the journey. Now you need to harvest the Normal and Multi layers of the hair you joined in with your base model and make a new texture.

To navigate to the different texture maps, it's on the upper right.

Remember, Normal files are _n, and Multis are _s

NOTE: TEXTOOLS ONLY ALLOWS FOUR TEXTURES /APPLIED/ ON HAIR. You don't have to delete unused textures, but you can only use four of them max.

Since my hair uses Viera hair 14, I go to Viera hair 14 on textools (note, for midlander based hairs you'll probably have to go to the midlander hair menus for the textures. You will see why in a moment.)

Export these as .dds, extract them from the folder they go to (lower right again) and now go alllll the way up to hair 157 on MIDLANDER.

Even though this hair is being made for au ra, it's ALL based on midlanders! IT'S A CONSPIRACY--

Next you click "more options" on the lower left, and this will pull up. Click the dropdown for "backfaces" and click "show backfaces"

then click the button "use unique textures". After you do that, it should look like this in the menu, and click "save"

You now have a blank texture.

Press "import" and put the _n texture of the hair on the normal, then use the dropdown on the upper right and go to multi and import the _s there.

REMEMBER THE TEXTURE NAME, it'll probably be something like Acc_C or Hir_C!

Once you've done that, it's a matter of uploading the .fbx.

Go back to au ra hair 157, press "import" on the "models" tab, and click your .fbx. Then, don't have any of the boxes checked (unless you are a miqote, then it's UV1 to [1,-1]) and press "open editor."

This is the part where I told you to remember which Root Nodes applied to which pieces of hair.

The base hair is on 0.X and 1.0, so all we care about is editing rootnode 2.0 in this guide.

Go to Rootnode 2, click the dropdown, click custom, then type in the Hir_B or acc_c address you need, then hit import!

BEHOLD, ART

Now you load into game, check if it works. If it does, go to "mods>create mods>basic modpacks" and select the pieces you changed.

Ask or DM me if you need anything else :)

Extra tips: if you want to scale things, but are having difficulty because the scale point is way too low- go to layout, click on "object" and "set origin" to "geometry," then press "S" and scale easier.

[tetrakys]

Hi! How are you doing?? Hope you're doing well :)

I came here to ask you, how is it going with EDC? How you fealing about it?

(When arw we getting a mini spoiler, if we can)

Love you, and take care❤

Hello! 💕 I'm all right, and you?

I'm back on vacation and back at writing the final chapter. I'd felt a bit stuck before and didn’t know why, but now I got it sorted. All the other chapters I wrote them as one route for the main plot and then added route specific scenes for Valkyon and Lance. It wasn’t working here because this chapter isn’t so much about plot but more about feelings, Erika’s reactions and thoughts are very different throughout. So I decided to write the chapter separately for the two routes and it's finally working for me.

I'm adding a spoiler about the very beginning of the chapter (Lance's route, but this part is similar for both). Hope you'll find it intriguing.

Lance…

I felt my legs almost give up, and had to hold onto the bed frame to keep myself up right. "Lance is… dead?" I asked, my voice shaking. 

"Not yet, but soon. It’s a matter of hours at most." Ewelein replied, a sad edge to her voice.

"Is there really nothing you can do, Ewe?" Valkyon spoke calmly, but I could see torment in his eyes. It was so unfair, they had just found each other, what evil twist of fate could separate them again so soon. 

"I'm sorry," she shook her head, defeated. 

My ears were buzzing, my hands shaking. I… Lance and I… No, I could not accept this. It couldn't end like this, after everything we'd been through, after all the hate and distrust, which had turned into understanding and deep rooted feelings. 

This story had started with us fighting against each other, then it'd turned with us fighting next to one another, and now I was going to fight for him. There was no choice for me, I was going to save him. We'd faced terrible odds already before, we'd survived lava rain, we'd defeated a powerful magic dragon together, we'd even reached the depths of a volcano and…

I froze, an idea suddenly popping in my head. 

"Wait here for me, I'll be back in a second." I sprinted out of the infirmary before anyone could say a word and didn’t stop until I reached my room. As soon as I found what I was looking for, I ran back there.

"Here," I said, handing Valkyon Lance's eggshell. "As soon as he dies you can perform the ritual and bring him back."

I was so glad I'd taken Lance's egg with me. I had no idea why I'd even bothered at the time, something inside me had pushed me to do it and now I almost sagged in relief. 

However, my elation was short-lived. Valkyon looked at the egg with an unreadable expression, but before he could reply, Huang Hua, who had just joined us, spoke.

"It won't work, unfortunately."

[dragonmasterhiccup]

As Hiccup emerged from the crowd, Snotlout scoffed, gesturing his hand at him as he managed to grab a hold of Freya. "Yeah, whatever. You just came to get your girlfriend!" The group of Vikings snickered at his comment as they moved out of the way for them both.

Freya, however, was confused. Her vision was a bit blurry at first, and she hadn't fully realized who was helping her stand. She was just silently grateful someone brought her out of the place, or else she would've forced herself to drink more than she was able. "H-hey.. what're you doin..?" She mumbled, allowing for whoever's arms it was to haul her up to help her stand a little more properly.

If she remembered correctly, she had seen a pair of green eyes a few seconds before she was stumbling out of the Great Hall.

It was probably no big deal.

As she heard him talk, that was when her mind was able to comprehend that it was actually Hiccup - or someone very similar to him, she didn't fully know still. Scoffing, Freya glanced up at him, narrowing her amber eyes with rosy cheeks. "Are you.. kidnapping me..?" She snorted, swaying as she walked, still clinging onto the one helping her.

"Hiccup, s' that.. you..?" She lightly giggled, deciding to turn in order to face him, definitely still in her drunken state, as she leaned in closer to inspect him, weakly lifting his chin. "Why.. are you helping me?" Freya slightly stumbled forward, her head falling on his shoulder for a moment before she felt herself being lifted up, standing her up correctly once again.

"Just.. get me.. home." She muttered, her eyes slowly closing as they walked to their destination. "S-sorry, I'll keep my eyes open. Are we.. almost--" She yawned before continuing, "..there?" Freya's mind was congested with too many thoughts, leaving her straggling to figure out which ones to say and which ones to not speak out. "If I go.. home.. then Hiccup won't be there.. right? C-cause, I really don't wanna.. uh, be embarrassed again."

Forgetting who was the one helping her, she waved her hands in the air as she talked, "Yeah! He.. always.. is making me.. feel this way now, it's so annoying!" Freya quickly poked at his chest, narrowing her eyes as she swayed in her movements, "Did you know.. that, he has some freckles.. on his cheeks?" Scoffing, she turned forward once more as she spoke, "Annoying."

"Why did he h..hold my hand like that too!? Stupid, stupid.." Freya kept her gaze on the floor, not yet seeing that they were approaching her hut. "Did you know his hand was.. kinda warm?" She mumbled, blowing the hair out of her face, "Oh! A-and.. he.. said I'm.. kind." She giggled, shaking her head as she tried to breath properly, "I-I'm not.. kind! He, he also said I was like a dragon..!"

Turning to face him again, she gazed at Hiccup with a concerned frown, "Am I.. scale..y?" She felt tears swell up in her eyes as she questioned herself, "Do I.. look like a dragon?"

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "She's not my girlfriend, Snotlout."

He shook his head as they exited the Great Hall. "No, not kidnapping, just helping you by making sure you don't end up doing anything you'll regret in the morning."

Wow, she really is drunk, isn't she?"

"Yes, it's me--Whoa!" He managed to keep her from falling, tightening his grip around her waist. "Careful, there!"

"Uh...I'm helping you because...you'd do it for me. You have done it for me, actually...though I wasn't drunk, just feverish..."

His face grew warm at the memory, but he pushed it away, trying to focus on keeping Freya upright.

"It's alright. We'll get there soon..."

It seemed she was struggling more than he realized. Stopping, he said, "Put both of your arms around my neck. I'll carry you the rest of the way if you're that tired."

He scooped her up, and continued going towards her hut.

Her question though, gave him a pause. Did she forget that he was Hiccup? "Uh... embarrassed? What do you mean?"

He was making her feel embarrassed?

A light chuckle escaped his mouth. "Freckles? No, I had no idea."

Okay, this was kind of fun. He was seeing a whole new side of her.

Wait...when did he hold her hand? "Oh! The splinter, you mean?"

"Yes, you are. You don't like to be it seems, but...you are kind."

He stopped, just outside her hut, seeing the tears in her eyes. He shook his head. "N-no, not scaly at all..." Why has he said she was like a dragon?? "You just... keep others at a distance. You don't look like a dragon, Freya. Come on, let's get you inside..."

There was no answer at the door when he knocked, but it was pretty late.

He managed to open the door, and carried her up to where her room was, setting her down on her bed. Speaking quietly, to not wake anyone up, his voice was full of concern. "Listen--uh, you can, you can let go of me now-- Anyways...you should really get some rest. I'll leave some water here for you, for when you wake up. Is there anything else you might need, before I go?"

[eepychonker]

"recharge" — thomato streamer au

661 word count.

a/n:: rhythm cat is a random game i made up at 00:22 am. i apologize if there's already some sort of game with that same name. i also really enjoy the gamer bf x shy bf trope, so of course i was going to write it. i feel like i had a cringe take on it though, so i'm also sorry about that.

ayato had just come home that day from a week-long business trip, and he was utterly exhausted. he spent a week away from home, and a week away from his precious boyfriend. ayato knew thoma was going to stream soon, but he sat on his boyfriend's lap anyway.

thoma had offered to put off the stream for another time, but ayato wouldn't have any of it. however, ayato is extremely camera shy, resulting in thoma covering all of ayato in a blanket.

thoma smiled down at the man on his lap "are you sure you want to stay here? you know i'm about to start streaming."

ayato stuck his head out from under the blanket. "i missed you so much though.. i wish i never went on that trip."

"i know, my love; but, you know it was mandatory."

those words earned a tired whine from ayato.

thoma smiles and holds his lover's face, caressing his cheek with his thumb. "i'm going to start streaming now. if you feel overwhelmed, you can leave."

thoma slides his headphones on. ayato rests his head on thoma's shoulder as thoma starts the stream. thoma wraps an arm around his lover and smiles into the camera. he waits for his viewers to enter his stream before speaking.

"hiya, chat! before any of you say anything, yes, i have my boyfriend in my lap. he just got back from an exhausting trip, so he needs to recharge," thoma pauses to place a small kiss onto his lover's head. "i won't really play anything too crazy since he's here, can you guys give me some suggestions?"

the chat box floods with messages, though a particular game catches his eye.

"rhythm cat? that sounds interesting. chat, can you give me more details about it?"

the chat box floods with messages again, resulting in thoma struggling to read them all.

"okay, so i just make the cats jump along with the rhythm using the arrow keys? that shouldn't be too hard. i could do it with one hand, as long as i pick easy levels."

thoma promptly opens up steam to search for the game. he buys it, then starts up the game.

meanwhile, ayato is listening to everything thoma says— well, trying to listen. he forces his eyes open, wanting to stay awake as long as his body allows him. he nuzzles his head into the crook of thoma's neck, earning a tigher hug from thoma's one arm around him.

thoma is clearly enjoying himself. he chose a beginner level for a chinese song called "flammable and explosive." thoma adored the fact that the cats meow along with the lyrics, and he swiftly adjusts to the controls.

after about an hour of playing, he finally calls it quits. by this point, thoma had somehow gotten so used to ayato's presence, he forgot ayato was on his lap. "chat, is there any other games you guys want me to play?"

once again, the chat box is spammed with messages. he settles with minecraft, and spends a little over two hours playing.

eventually, thoma felt it was time to end the stream. he had already taken his headphones off and started saying goodbye to the fans when he heard soft snoring coming from his boyfriend. thoma looks down and has the cutest sight, right in front of his eyes.

ayato is sound asleep, his head draped over thoma's shoulder and his arms around thoma's torso. thoma felt his lover breathing against his chest.

his heart melted at the sight.

he turned to the camera again and shook his head. "okay, chat. i know i was going to end the stream, but my boyfriend is 'recharging his batteries.' i refuse to move and i don't want to just sit in a chair doing nothing until he wakes up, so i'll just continue streaming until then!"

messages flooded the stream, most of them pleased with ayato being the cause of a longer stream.

end.

[rose-lizzzy]

Gem forced her to stay in bed for a week.

It was agonizing, staying still for that long, but the wizard refused to compromise.

They did make sure someone was always at her side. When it wasn't Gem, Scott came around, entertaining her with news of the other empires. Fwhip had made a crown, that whoever wore it got to make a rule. At Scotts festival celebrating Xornoths banishment, he revealed the crown, and it turned to a bloodbath.

Jimmy has the crown now, apparently, and everyone has to make a cod sanctuary.

But, Scott figured. The rule probably doesn't apply to those who can't do it. He's not cruel enough to expect Shrub to make one. He added that after the gnome started to shift to get up.

And then when Scott couldn't make it, Pearl came. Admittedly, Pearl coming was one of Shrubs favorite days. She only came once during the week, but when she did, Shrub was able to ask about Katherine.

"Katherine is doing just fine." Pearl assures her. "Gems with her right now doing one last check on her to make sure she's cleared to go. She's been itching to come here, but has needed rest. I've been helping her finish clearing out the Overgrown, and we're finally getting some plants growing, some young trees too."

The news was a relief to Shrub. It meant Katherine didn't hate her, she wasn't avoiding the gnome.

She spent the week keeping herself busy. Gem lended her some books, as well as a notebook she started to plan and draw in.

The corruption got to her the same it got to her family and home, right? Like the other empires. And it basically died after Xornoth was locked away, so that means her home is okay again. Right?!

Shrub doodled the portal, trying to remember exactly how it looked. Was it just like a nether portal? An end portal? She couldn't quite remember.

The door opened, snapping her out of her thoughts, and she closes the notebook with a similar snap.

"Hey!" Gem waves. "How're you feeling?" She asks, starting to unwrap her bandages.

"Better." Shrub admits. "A little bit of pain still, but much better."

After she unwrapped them, she looked at Shrub with a grin. "That's great Shrub!" The wizard starts inspecting the wounds, washing them off before applying some healing and regen potions onto the wounds.

After wrapping them back up, she looks at Shrub. "So...it looks much better, I think you're good to move. Slowly, but not until I get Fwhip to come make a brace for your leg. I don't think you're good to fly yet, and I'd be careful with too much exercise. The chest wound looks in better condition than your leg, however I'm sure it's still fragile and healing."

Shrub just nods along, excited to be out of the room. She starts to sit up, but Gem holds her hands out. "Not just yet! Well, you can sit up slowly, but don't get up yet. I'll drag Fwhip over here tomorrow. Until then, stay off your leg. Scotts gonna be here soon to come take care of you, but after tomorrow it'll just be me stopping by to redress and check it."

"Alright, alright." The gnome sighs, annoyed slightly, and Gem grins apologetically.

"I'm sorry, it's almost done." She gives Shrub a small hug, which the gnome returns.

"I know." She grumbles. "Thank you, Gem."

The wizard smiles and starts to leave. "Your welcome. See you tomorrow, Shrub."

She hears her fly off, hears someone approach, and then a muffled conversation outside she couldn't quite pick up on

"...y! What are.."

"...ere to...ze..please Sc.."

She strains, trying to hear more.

"....alright...if you...on her..I will.."

"I know...I won't.."

When the door opens, she expects Scott, but another guy enters the room.

"Hey!" Joey grins. "Long time no see!"

[faveficarchive]

A FLY IN THE OINTMENT

By IseQween

September 2001

The following is a continuation of my post-FIN "The Ghost of A Smile." You don't have to read "Ghost," though it does introduce characters and events referred to in this story. Beware lots of spoilers, especially for seasons 5 and 6. -- IQ

Gabrielle chewed thoughtfully on the shaft of her quill. Of all the battles she'd fought, few cost more sweat and tears than this one. It wasn't over yet, but if they won, the victory would be sealed in ink, not blood. The document she labored over served as their anthem. It sang of nearly everything she'd loved and worked for. Her hopes for peace and compassion. Her dreams for a strong Amazon nation. Her desire that Xena live on through her legacy of defending the greater good.

She glanced fondly at the urn on her desk. She'd had it specially made to hold her soulmate's ashes. Its bronze swirls duplicated the design on the warrior's signature breastplates. The lid copied Xena's joined dark and light chakrams. Gabrielle ran her fingers lightly over the sculpted images. "You said I could do it. I never should have doubted you." Sighing, she returned her attention to the unfinished scroll in front of her. "Now, if only I could find the right words '."

Bzzzzzzz.

Gabrielle swatted distractedly at the insect hovering near her nose. It flew a short distance away, only to return when Gabrielle put pen to parchment. She frowned and swatted again. This time the winged annoyance landed on Gabrielle's scroll. It was a fly. She blew on it, sending it skidding until it gained its balance and flew off. Gabrielle resumed trying to write.

Bzzzzzzz.

"Curses." Gabrielle glared at the fly, which proceeded to circle her head. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as they followed the insect shoot straight up toward the ceiling, then dive into a series of loops that ended lazily on the scroll. Gabrielle stared at the fly. It stared back. She shook her head, smiled thinly and leaned forward until they were eye to eye.

"Very impressive." The fly fluttered its wings. "However, your acrobatics aren't helping me much here. I'd appreciate if you'd practice elsewhere until I can be more properly attentive." The fly held its ground. Gabrielle held hers. It inched its way onto Gabrielle's hand.

"Uh uh. Sweet, but no cookies. Shoosh." The insect flew off to rest on Xena's urn. "Nice try, but guilt won't work either." The fly didn't move. "Fine. Stay there. But if I hear another sound from you, I'm going for the bug spray."

"Scout Leader?"

She turned to see a young girl standing tentatively in the doorway. Her Amazon leathers were unadorned, save for a diagonal slash of purple cloth with a small "X" at the shoulder embroidered in gold. Gabrielle smiled broadly, stood and gave the girl a salute. "Yes, Scout Tania, how may I help you?"

Tania suppressed a grin, returning the salute smartly. "Pardon me, Leader Gabrielle. The troop has finished its drills and wishes to know if you would like to review our form."

"Good, Scout Tania. If you're any better than my last review, I'm afraid you might embarrass the Amazon warriors. Please tell the others they're finished for the day. I'll review them once more before the ceremony."

Tania beamed. "Yes, Leader Gabrielle, I will do as you say." She stood tall and snapped her right hand to her forehead, before relaxing and letting out a giggle. "Bye, Gabrielle. And, um, you have a fly in your hair," she added jovially, skipping off.

"Xena?!!!! Xena, get ' out ' of ' my ' hair! This instant!"

The fly went back to the urn.

"No. You had your chance. You know how important this is to me. I'm sorry, but you're too much of a distraction. Find something else to amuse yourself that doesn't involve interrupting me."

The fly slowly lifted off from the urn, hovered a moment, then headed away.

"And Xena?"

The fly hesitated, its wings fluttering expectantly.

"I want to see you tonight."

The fly buzzed quietly out the door, just as Marta came rushing in. "Ugh," she said, ducking her head away from the exiting insect. "I hate flies."

Gabrielle winced. "Um, well, they're basically harmless, if annoying sometimes." She gazed fondly at the young redhead who'd been tagging along with her the last few years. Marta had matured into quite the scholar, soaking up every drop of wisdom that came from Gabrielle's lips or from the varied people they'd met on their travels. She was getting pretty good with a staff too, despite little desire to excel at physical skills. But the orphaned young woman idolized Gabrielle and was interested in whatever interested her mentor and, now, family.

"So, what's your news? You look like the hydra that swallowed a harpy."

Marta laughed. "Yes," she said excitedly. "The shipments of scrolls and tapestries have begun arriving. Eve's plowing through them now."

"Oh? Anything special?"

"Maybe," Marta said mysteriously. "I'm not permitted to speak about it, though." At Gabrielle's scowl, she added, "It's a surprise."

"Great," Gabrielle mumbled. "That's all I need. More surprises."

"Don't worry. It's nothing like that bunch of gargantuan sailors Singer conscripted to help us with the building."

Gabrielle laughed. "Good. But I have to admit they've helped enormously. Everything else going okay?"

"Yep. That's my progress report." Marta hugged herself. "I am soooo excited. I can't believe how calm you are."

"I don't have time to be anything else," Gabrielle chuckled. "Still no rumblings from Melop and his gang?"

"Nope. You must've really scared the pants off him during your last ' negotiations."

"Let's hope so. And when you see Eve, remind her it's not nice to trick Mother Gabrielle."

"Will do," Marta said, grinning. "Anything I can help you with before I go?"

Gabrielle sighed. "No, afraid not. You're doing a great job helping coordinate things. Just keep it up."

Marta blushed. "Thanks. I'll go check on Singer's group."

Gabrielle plopped back down in her chair. She eyed the incomplete scroll, then the pile of other ones on her desk that needed attention. Her thoughts drifted anyway to another hairy issue. She rested her head in her hands. "Gods," she muttered. "What's with her? She's the inspiration for all this. I know she's proud of me, yet makes me want to squish her every chance she gets."

She made a quick mental scan of everything that needed to be done. Three more days. Just three more days and so much would fall into place. She had to stay focused. Surely Xena of all people should understand that. Gabrielle looked wistfully at the urn before collecting herself once again for the task at hand.

*****

Gabrielle took her time preparing for bed. This was the most anxious she'd felt in four years. Sure, she'd had her ups and downs coming to terms with Xena's death in Japa. Even now there were times when the warrior's spirit was not enough. She knew she could count on Xena's wisdom during her contemplation of big issues, that Xena would be a comfort in her darkest hours. What she missed most was the carefree physicality -- like water fights, elbow nudges, or that game they played where one of them "fell out" and required resuscitation. But for the most part, she'd felt fulfilled, especially once her travels and studies had led her to the grand idea that rekindled her sense of purpose. And Xena had been with her, mostly as a presence she felt inside, but often glimpsed in a child's vulnerability, a mule's stubbornness, or in the shadowed beauty as the sun set and in the radiant promise of its rise.

She moved in front of the mirror that hung above her dressing table. She knew that face well. She'd made herself gaze into those eyes often enough, at first to see if they still had life in them. Examined the tiny lines at their corners for signs of good times, as well as of time itself. Wondered whether those lips would dry into husks that could continue to speak the truth and not crack. Practiced focusing on that still young visage to the point where she could see herself more than Xena.

She felt a warmth at her back, around her shoulders. She shifted her gaze up a little and smiled. Yes. She didn't have to see Xena to know that her soulmate was behind her. Her eyes caught something dangling from the mirror. It was the tiny Xena she'd fashioned that time the warrior had to single-handedly fight a Persian army. For a long time Gabrielle had worn the stick-and-leather doll nestled between her breasts. Until a couple of years ago, when she'd finally believed her soulmate would always be everywhere, anywhere, whenever Gabrielle needed her.

She looked once more in the mirror. She nodded. Yes, it was a good face, a peaceful face. The face of someone she was grateful to know. Still, she reached up and took the stick doll from its place on the frame. She tied it around her neck, tenderly tucking it into her nightshirt near her heart. She'd be seeing Xena tonight as she hadn't in some time. She had a feeling she'd need all the reassurance she could get. She blew out the candles, lay down on her bed, relaxed as best she could, and closed her eyes.

"You're sure I'm not 'interrupting' anything."

Gabrielle turned to her side to see Xena standing rigidly next to the bed. Gabrielle smiled. "Quite sure. In case you've forgotten, you're here at my express invitation."

"Well, I know you have more important things on your mind than the ghost of some old has-been warrior," Xena responded, continuing to stand. "I didn't want to be presumptuous."

Gabrielle clenched her jaws, then nonchalantly slid her hand over the doll's resting place, reminding herself to shift into sensitive-chat mode. "Xena, I much prefer talking to you like this, than to a fly on the wall."

Xena's posture loosened up a bit. One corner of her mouth twitched. "I see you've got that dolly in there again. That could be a bad sign, like maybe you want to smother me." Xena's mouth curled into a semi-grin. "If you could."

"No, silly." Gabrielle moved to the far edge of the bed and held out her arms. "Though I haven't quite given up on that yet."

Xena rolled her eyes, then cautiously put one knee on the bed. "No swatting?"

"No swatting. Promise. Now get your pesty self in here. This instant."

Xena suppressed a grin. She stretched out on her back, legs crossed, hands behind her head.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. She scooted over, resting her head in its customary place on Xena's chest, relieved when long arms soon pulled her in closer.

"Comfy? Contrary to popular opinion, we flies aim to please."

"Mmm. Quite."

"We haven't done this in awhile."

Gabrielle lifted her head and brushed Xena's cheek. "I know. It's not just that I've been busy. I guess I didn't think we needed words so much anymore."

"Yeah," Xena sighed, stroking Gabrielle's arm. "So what'd you want to talk about?"

"Flies," Gabrielle replied, still looking up.

Xena stopped stroking. "Flies?"

"Uh huh." Gabrielle laid her head back down. "Normally they bring out the 'kill 'em all' in me, but there's this one special fly I was hoping you could help me with."

Xena tensed. "You mean, like how to get rid of it?"

Gabrielle raised up again. "I thought you were supposed to be changed now - you know, more 'save 'em all.'"

"I am, I am," Xena protested. "It's just that you seemed to feel this special fly was a ' special pest."

"No," Gabrielle responded, settling down again. "I want this one buzzing in my ear forever. I'm trying to understand why it's been behaving the way it has lately."

"Oh," Xena said, relaxing again. "What's it been doing?"

"Well, for starters, it's been shifting shapes. It's been with me for a long time now, but more ' invisible. Sort of like my own private little cheering section and sounding board. It's traveled all over the world with me, encouraged me to build a new life. I thought it wanted me to rely on myself more, that it was okay if I put to use what I'd already learned from it."

"So you didn't need to see ' this fly ' as much anymore. That's a good thing, right?"

Gabrielle raised her head again. "Oh, no, I still needed the fly. Rarely does an hour go by when I don't see it in some person or some object I might pick up. I got kinda used to that. But lately the fly's been making itself ' more obvious. One time it was a spider, another time a bee, then a cricket. It pops in to surprise me, mostly when I'm doing something I'd think it wouldn't want to distract me from."

Xena chuckled nervously. "Bad fly! Must have a dark side that needs redeeming."

"No, I don't think that's it." Gabrielle held Xena's eyes. "This particular fly has been cleansed and redeemed and sacrificed so much you can't see it anymore. Unless it has a special connection to you, like it does with me."

Xena swallowed. "So what's wrong if maybe it shows itself sometimes? You know, just to prove it hasn't disappeared."

Moving away a little, Gabrielle inched up so that the two were head to head. "To itself, or to others?"

Xena turned her eyes toward the ceiling. "I'm not sure," she answered quietly. "But it's not your problem anyway." She looked at Gabrielle with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm sorry I've been acting like such a brat. Especially now when I should get out of the way and let you shine like I've always known you would."

Gabrielle studied her soulmate a moment. "Xena, if you have a problem, then it's my problem too. We've shared that along with the good. You're not in my way. You've never been. If I shine, it's because you've given me ways to do that."

Xena brushed her hand against Gabrielle's cheek. "Thank you," she murmured. "Whatever else I may have deserved, I'll never believe I deserved you. Let's not talk about flies, okay? I really am so full of joy at what you're doing. It's what I always dreamed. Seeing you fulfill it is all that really matters."

"No, Xena, that's not all that matters. Not to me. I thought you were at peace. Just as I saw you in everything, I thought your ' existence ' was full of everything, not just me. I didn't worry about you, but I see now that maybe I should."

Xena sighed. "It's nothing, really." She chuckled. "We souls have a grand old time. I'm luckier than most because I'd already been in so many different spirit realms even when I wasn't dead. Heck, I'm known in some I hadn't visited. They're all eager to meet up with me, even some I put there." She grinned sheepishly. "You thought those loops I did earlier were impressive. Well, news of the 40,000 souls I saved traveled far and wide. Seems I set some kind of record."

Gabrielle grinned. "That's my girl. Always the champion, no matter what field." She felt an answering rumble in her soulmate's chest. They lay quietly, until Gabrielle suddenly raised up and regarded Xena curiously.

"You're bored."

"Pfff. Me? Bored? You gotta be kidding." Gabrielle continued to look at her. "Oh, come on. I get to commune with dead folks from around the globe. Mortals see or speak of me even when I'm not there. I can be a bird and soar higher than I ever did with my flips. I can peek in on you or be there for you, which I like most. How could all that possibly be boring?" She looked to Gabrielle for confirmation. Gabrielle didn't seem to be buying. Xena sighed. "Yeah, okay. Sometimes I'm bored."

Gabrielle resisted the terrible urge to laugh. Boredom might sound innocent enough, but not when it involved Xena. Instead, she gave her soulmate a sympathetic squeeze and carefully considered her next words.

"You know what's funny?"

"What?"

"I was afraid I was boring you."

"What?!! You? Never. How could you think that?"

"All those questions I had, those mistakes I was afraid to make. You'd already been there, done that. You were right about it being good for me to try things on my own, to have confidence in my judgement. After awhile I thought that was best for you too. I realize now that maybe I gave you the wrong impression."

Xena shook her head. "No, you're not taking the blame for this. I did what I thought was right, with no real idea of what it meant. I got peace, but it wasn't the freedom from earthly cares that most of the other souls have." Xena gazed wryly at her soulmate. "We knew our connection was strong. Boy, is it ever."

Gabrielle smiled gently. "So it is partly my fault."

Xena rolled her eyes. "Maybe so. Happy now?"

"Infinitely. Tell me more."

Xena glared. "You know, I always suspected you were the evil one." She begrudged a lop-sided grin, accompanied by a kiss to Gabrielle's forehead. "I'm such a ninny," she sighed, relaxing back onto the bed and nudging Gabrielle back to her chest.

"At first everything was fine. You needed me more then - I mean, to help you through indecision or ' or through your pain at losing me like that. As you got stronger, you needed more space to figure out things on your own. I didn't mind knowing less and less of your thoughts. It was fun being surprised. I could see how good you felt learning just how much you're capable of. And you had Marta and Singer with you, and later Eve. It touched my heart to see how you supported each other, how they came to treasure you as I do."

"But?" Gabrielle prodded softly as Xena fell silent.

"That's when I started checking out the other spirit realms. I figured it was time for me to find a ' an 'existence,' as you call it ' for myself, till we met up again in another life. But it wasn't enough. I was still drawn to you, to your world. Except there wasn't much for me there either."

Gabrielle nodded. "I see. These last couple of years must've been really tough for you, with me so focused on my grand plans."

Xena kissed the beloved blond head. "And it's coming together wonderfully. I'm so proud of you. I knew you could do it."

"But you felt left out. Invisible."

"Worse," Xena admitted. "As much as I wanted that dream fulfilled, I feared it would mean exactly what I said I wanted for you." Xena closed her eyes. "A life of your own."

"Oh, Xena. You mean without you? Without thinking of you or needing you?"

"Yeah," Xena murmured, so softly Gabrielle barely heard her. "I pictured you with such a full life, surrounded by people who needed you. Saying 'thank you' to my urn, then storing it away in some cupboard where it belongs."

Gabrielle raised up again and took Xena's face in her hands. "Xena, I want you with me tomorrow. I'm working on a couple of documents that I must do by myself. But if you promise to be quiet, not to crawl up my arm or otherwise startle the life out of me, you can visit in whatever form you like."

"Could I tickle your toes, maybe as an ant?"

"Only if I'm not writing or trying to have a serious conversation with someone. Deal?"

Xena grinned. "Deal."

*****

Gabrielle dotted the last "i" and crossed the final "t" on the all-important document she'd been worrying over the last couple of days. She surveyed the completed scrolls on her desk. "Done," she said to herself with satisfaction and more than a modicum of relief. "And not a moment too soon."

She threw a kiss to the fly on the wall, which, as agreed, had stayed out of her hair. It zipped across the room a few times, did a series of intricate dive bombs, buzzed some laps around her head, then finally came to rest on her shoulder.

"I know, I know," she laughed. "Must've been Tartarus having to sit still that long. I hope the wait is worth it." The fly fluttered its wings excitedly. Gabrielle had spent the last couple nights with Xena, but hadn't told the warrior everything about her plans. She knew Xena was bursting to see all that Gabrielle had wrought. "Go on, now. I'll be out in a little while. I've got a couple things to do that won't be helped if I'm lulled into those enchantingly beady eyes." She wasn't sure how, but the fly managed what appeared to be indignation before it winged its way through the door.

Gabrielle walked into her sleeping quarters. She donned her most impressive Amazon leathers, which just happened to complement the purple sash she draped across her shoulder. She stood before her mirror, making sure every hair was in place. She gazed into the eyes that smiled back at her, green with confidence and serenity. "This is for you," she murmured. "And you," she said, stroking the gold "X" at the top of the sash. "For both of us."

"Gabrielle? You here?" It was Marta.

Gabrielle walked back into her office. "Yes. Is it time?"

Marta gasped. "Oh, Gabrielle, you look positively beautiful!"

"Thank you. I figured if there was any time to pull out all the stops, this was it."

"All the dignitaries are here. Singer said we can start the tours as soon as you're ready."

"All right, then," Gabrielle said, straightening her shoulders and striding for the door. "Let's do it."

*****

Even Gabrielle was stunned. The presentation platform seemed more like an Athenian stage than a structure cobbled together on the outskirts of Amazonia. Large strips of purple and gold satin hung at intervals from a tall frame mounted on the floor. Bouquets of flowers in every hue ringed and softened the edges. Girls with purple sashes stood at ramrod attention on either side of a long purple runner that led to and covered the few steps up to the platform. At the top gleamed a podium painted in gold. Gabrielle gave a sideways look at Marta and Eve, wondering which one of them was guilty of this flair for the dramatic. Both beamed back at her with no shame whatsoever.

"Gabrielle's coming!" someone yelled. The large assemblage began to quiet. Gabrielle proceeded down the carpet, the girls along her path saluting her in succession as she passed. When she reached the top step and turned, the blaring of trumpets startled her into nearly taking an ignominious tumble down the steps she'd just climbed. Teeth gritted behind her smile, she vowed never again to tell anyone to use their imagination.

Gabrielle stood in front of the podium and gazed lovingly at those gathered before her. "I am Gabrielle. It is with great pride and humility that I invite you to see what wonders you have helped create. Welcome," she said, spreading out her arms. "Welcome to the Village of Dreams - your home whenever you need it."

A roar of approval met her words. She waited for the din to quiet, thankful that it gave her a few moments to stem the tears streaming down her face and to find the voice that threatened to choke into silence. Marta and Eve made their way to the platform to flank her. She squeezed their hands in appreciation. She nodded at the third presence she felt at her back. Eyes still brimming, she cleared her throat and forged on.

"This afternoon, you'll have a chance to sample what the Village has to offer." Gabrielle took a deep breath as she surveyed the neat new buildings within eyesight. She pointed to her left. "That way is the hospice. It has healers to care for mind, body and spirit. Over there is the library. Its scrolls, tapestries and other works will take you on journeys to lands from every part of the world." Gabrielle gestured to an area behind the platform. "That section is devoted to developing the talents of girls and young women. They will be on the practice field throughout the afternoon, demonstrating their leadership and physical skills. Most of the smaller huts you see in the residential area will serve as quarters for refugees from disaster, abuse and bigotry."

Gabrielle put an arm around the waists of the two young women beside her. "Marta and Eve will be your guides. We'll meet back here before sunset for the official ceremony. Enjoy."

*****

The Village of Dreams couldn't have opened to a more perfect day. The late Spring sun warmed the celebrants just enough to allow those from both the hottest and coldest climes to wear their traditional garb. The rainbow of faces and costumes blended naturally in the wooded oasis verdant with wildlife. Birds and a nearby waterfall added their voices to the symphony of sounds emanating from varied instruments and throats throughout the compound. Open grassy areas joined the practice and planting fields with the housing and activity sections. Large trees protected the roughly circular layout and provided shade in strategically located relaxation spots. A communion-meditation hall centered the village, its cone-shaped roof alive with fluttering bright ribbons that beckoned any and all to join in.

Gabrielle peered out from behind one of the drapes on the presentation platform, which she had surreptitiously mounted again shortly after the tours began. It was a dream all right - one she still couldn't believe was real. But the people milling about had believed in it - in her - even when she had doubts. Some had begun sending her items and preparing for their trip here before the first public structure had been raised.

She noted the ebony-skinned guests conversing with Amazons outside the hospice. They were representatives from M'Lila's homeland. Word reached there long ago about how the abducted young woman had been freed by a warlord turned hero who later became known for "the pinch" and bronze swirls she'd borrowed from M'Lila. Singer had found M'Lila's people on one of his voyages. They felt honored to participate in efforts that Gabrielle credited M'Lila for helping inspire.

Near the refugee section, a clump of men and a Centaur seemed to be arguing the finer points of hut construction. Many were children of violence who knew intimately of the need for safe havens. Virgil had watched his father, Joxer, die at the hand of Xena's daughter Eve. Ephiny's son Xenon had barely escaped the massacre that wiped out his people because they walked on four legs rather than two. Next to him stood Borias' son Belach - the perpetrator of that heinous deed as well as grandfather to Xenon's own son. Belach donated most of the funds needed for these homes, the first of which had been inhabited by Xenon's little family.

Gabrielle swept her gaze over to a small group of women talking with her sister Lilla in front of the communion hall. She recognized one as Lao Ma's daughter Pao Ssu and another as the Norse Valkyrie Grinhilda. The other women appeared to be from Japa. Gabrielle's eyes misted when she realized they were probably relatives of the souls Xena had died freeing. She felt a gentle caress across her cheek, a whisper in her ear, knowing it to be more than the light breeze that stirred the ribbons atop the communion hall. She closed her eyes and folded her arms around the satin drape, hugging it to her. It meant so much to see dreams come together like this, to share it all with Xena. She wondered, not for the first time, how a body could ache with so much with joy.

*****

Lamps and firelight now supplemented the sun's dimming glow. Laughter, drums and savory scents filled the early evening air. Youngsters squirmed impatiently, while adults shifted where they sat with barely contained anticipation. They watched the procession of dignitaries and honorees file to the presentation platform. Gabrielle smiled down at them. They were all like children at a magic show. She hoped they didn't lose their wonder and enthusiasm when they realized what lay behind maintaining its reality.

Singer stepped to the podium. "May we have your attention please!" he boomed in his resonantly deep voice. Once he had everyone's attention, he graced them with a moving song he'd composed especially for the occasion. Gabrielle grinned at him with the usual affection. The multi-talented sailor had been a rock to her since she'd met him on the ship from Japa. She and Marta had journeyed with him, waited eagerly for him to meet them in various ports, relied on him to spread word of their project and to help build their dream. He'd been the first to help her free Xena to more than a memory of what couldn't be and to free herself for the possibilities of what could.

"Thank you," Gabrielle said to him when he had finished. She hugged the surprisingly bashful man of the world. "`Listen For The Sound Behind' is beautiful." She glanced at her shoulder and whispered, "We couldn't have asked for a more fitting song."

Singer smiled conspiratorially. "My pleasure," he whispered back. "I thought she'd like it."

Gabrielle walked over to the podium, which was piled with scrolls. "All right," she shouted with a mischievous grin, "let's seal this deal!" The crowed laughed in agreement.

"Will the representatives please step forward."

One by one, representatives from the surrounding communities approached the podium, including Gabrielle's niece Sarah from Poteidaia, Xena's nephew Xoris from Amphipolis, Singer's brother Lyceus from Lythos, and the Amazon Queen Cyane.

"You have all read through these treaties, correct?" They nodded. "Then I will simply summarize their contents for all present." They nodded again.

"Let's begin with the defense agreement," Gabrielle said, selecting the top scroll. "Your people have agreed to establish a combined force to protect the area, each other and, especially, the Village of Dreams. Are there any objections to the terms outlined for the composition, leadership or duties of this force?" No one objected. "I call for signatures to this copy, which will be kept in the Village. We will provide duplicates to be signed later this evening, which each of you can take with you." The representatives signed.

Gabrielle held up a second scroll. "This trade agreement covers the goods and services that will be exchanged between the Village and your communities. Each community has been designated to provide the Village with a particular resource, such as food, transportation, building supplies or skills. In return, the village will provide a haven for those of you in need, including the care of orphans until they become of age. You will also have full access to our library, communion hall and grounds when they are not in use by the Village. Are there any objections to the conditions set forth in this document?" There were none, so everyone signed.

"This next document is the key to all we dreamed of accomplishing today. It is a pledge to support the principles governing this Village, which seek to promote peace, safety, understanding, and growth. No one will be turned away because of who they are. This is not a sanctuary for those seeking to escape punishment for some crime. However, individuals' rights to privacy and voluntary departure will be respected unless the agreed upon documentation or the Village council establishes otherwise."

Gabrielle paused and turned to the onlookers. Her hand slid up to stroke the gold "X" at her shoulder. When she began speaking again, her voice was heavy with emotion.

"I have known those who should have had the innocence of babes, who instead had rage in their hearts and came to harm nearly everyone in sight. I have known those who harmed, yet had love in their hearts and came to defend nearly everyone in sight. I won't promise you that we can always tell the difference, because sometimes those people may be one and the same. I can only say that, if I hadn't tried, we probably wouldn't be here today. I ask you to think long and hard before you commit to do likewise."

A hush settled over the assemblage. They knew Gabrielle was putting her faith - their faith - on the line. A line that went straight through the heart of a certain Warrior Princess' legacy. Most knew of Xena through hearsay and believed the good parts because they believed in Gabrielle. Some believed the good because that's all they had experienced. A few had been touched by both the bad and the good. Regardless, Xena seemed larger than life, a mystery, a phantom that wouldn't show up at their door to either threaten or save them. But their neighbors - well, that was a different matter.

Many on and around the platform stole glances at their fellow celebrants. Some had fought against each other, been long-time rivals or even mortal enemies. Had competed for land, fortune or mates. Others held conflicting beliefs about everything from divine wisdom to whom one should bed. It dawned on them that this day wasn't really about a dead woman. It was about them. Whether they could trust enough to fulfill the spirit of the treaties they signed. Truly support a Village of Dreams that might harbor their fears along with their hopes.

Gabrielle inhaled deeply, wanting to breathe Xena's presence inside through every pore of her being. This had to be about the living for it to work. They needed to face themselves and their faith in others. To believe in themselves, not just in her or Xena. And so she waited, buoyed by the love and trust it was her quest to share.

"Stop! Let us through! You people are fools to listen to that woman!"

Gabrielle didn't have to look up to recognize this potential pin prick. Melop. A warlord turned politician who'd used his rag-tag "associates" to bully the entire region into accepting him as "governor." He'd taxed, extorted and terrorized the people at will -- until Gabrielle's arrival. When he learned of her activities, he pronounced her a dangerous cultist and sent emissaries to persuade her to move elsewhere. They limped back bloodied and bruised. Word of Gabrielle's successful defiance enabled her to organize a motley crew of Amazons and local villagers who convinced him they could do without his services.

With force no longer a viable option, Melop resorted to the usual divisive tactics, dredging up and fueling every old feud or bias he could. In the end, he proved to be his own downfall. Gabrielle's inter-village defense force discovered they shared common goals and learned that some "strange" ideas weren't so bad after all. The concrete threat Melop presented to their well being contributed greatly to the widespread energy and commitment that succeeded in building the Village of Dreams.

Having made his living off his victims' insecurities, Melop figured those to be his best weapon against Gabrielle's idealism. He'd swaggered into the Village with about ten cronies - enough to make a scene, but too few to have a "fair" fight with the seasoned Amazon warriors closing in menacingly on the unarmed interlopers.

"I thought this was supposed to be open to everyone!" Melop yelled at Gabrielle. "I'm one of the people. I deserve to be heard, yet you send these unnatural women in to crush us like bugs."

BZZZZZZZ.

Gabrielle turned away from the big pest in front of her to a smaller one buzzing angrily near her ear. A wasp. "No!" she said, louder than she intended. A hush fell over the assemblage, as all eyes focused on her. She cleared her throat and looked out. "I'll handle this," she instructed, signaling to the Amazons to move away from Melop's group. One of the representatives on the platform cautiously approached her to warn her about the wasp, but it flew off on its own at Gabrielle's command to the Village guards.

"Melop." Gabrielle made the name sound like something that smelled bad. "I wondered when we'd have the pleasure of your company. Please excuse our welcoming party if they were a bit overzealous. You had something to say?"

Melop stood tall and leered at the celebrants. "See what she's brought you to. You used to think for yourselves. Now you listen to a ' woman ' who follows in the footsteps of a murderer. You looked out for yourselves, protected your own. Now you get in bed with people you despise. You had morals and a way of life that your ancestors died for. Now you want to study heathens and teach womenfolk how to destroy your families. I upheld the values that allowed you all to carry on as you have for centuries. This so-called Village of Dreams will become a nightmare of chaos and back-stabbing. Come to your senses before it's too late. Leave this place with me tonight, and tomorrow we will restore it to the peacefully uninhabited valley it was before it became haunted by that woman and her gods forsaken ghost."

People murmured and shifted uneasily in their seats. They looked from Melos to Gabrielle, waiting for the latter to say something. She stood with her arms folded, looking at them.

Suddenly Belach stood. "My men slaughtered his people," he said, pointing to Xenon, "because I didn't want my daughter to be with his kind. I became the villain I wrongly accused my father of being. Now my grandson must learn true honor and integrity from the one enemy I failed to kill. I can't bring those Centaurs back, but I can make sure there's at least one place where people like that will be safe from people like me." Belach locked eyes with Xenon. Xenon nodded. Belach nodded back and resumed his seat.

Another man rose. "I am Kellum from the village of Balsus. My family has a farm that borders sheep land in Lythos. We've feuded for generations with our neighbors, each side accusing the other of thievery, godlessness and worse. We lost nearly all our possessions in last year's terrible storm. If it hadn't been for our neighbors lending us clothes, our new baby might have died."

Before Kellum could sit, a woman stood. "And if it hadn't been for Kellum's family, ours might have starved." Soon others were up on their feet, revealing how they'd been wrong about someone, or someone had been wrong about them. A few walked over to each other and embraced. Those still seated looked on in amazement or exchanged opinions with the person next to them. Melop could only watch with his mouth open.

Gabrielle turned to see those on the platform equally engaged. While she was more than happy to be forgotten in the melee, she was becoming concerned about how to get things on track again. She searched the crowd until she finally saw Marta. Marta smiled and gave her the "okay" sign, then resumed talking with the woman beside her. Gabrielle shouted and waved her hands until she got Marta's attention. Marta gestured for her to calm down and gave her the "okay" sign again. Gabrielle sighed in frustration. Then was nearly blown off her feet by the sudden blaring of trumpets. She noted with satisfaction that she wasn't the only one. "Heh," she chuckled to herself. "Maybe imagination isn't so bad after all."

Gabrielle strode back to the podium. The crowd had recovered from their startlement sufficiently enough to give her their attention. "So," she grinned, "should I take that as a yes?"

"YESSSSSSS!" the onlookers yelled back.

"And you?" she asked the representatives. "Are you prepared to approve the document before you?" In response, each representative walked over and signed.

"Melop? I believe you have your answer. Perhaps those women you admire so much can escort your entourage to safety. We wouldn't want it said we allowed you to be attacked by heathen beliefs." Gabrielle smiled evilly. "Or wasps." She waited until Melop was lead none too gently away, before clasping her hands together and addressing the crowd. "Well, enough for the intermission. Let's get back to the main show, shall we?"

Gabrielle turned to those on the platform. "By agreeing to the principles of the Village of Dreams, you have cleared the way to honor some of its first fruits." She beckoned to the small group of girls with purple sashes who had been standing quietly on the platform throughout the proceedings. They marched with dignity to stand to one side of the podium. Gabrielle turned back the audience.

"Of everything we do today, nothing fills my heart more than recognizing young people dedicated to embodying the honor, perseverance, compassion, and excellence of the Warrior Princess who is my inspiration for the Village of Dreams. A little over a year ago, I came to some of you and explained a plan for developing such girls. I told you that we would instruct them in a variety of disciplines - from philosophy and the arts, to practical skills for nurturing and protecting life. You trusted us with your children. Today, we recognize them for striving to be exactly what we hoped."

She gestured to about 50 girls with purple sashes seated around the platform. They rose. Gabrielle addressed them.

"Each of you has faithfully attended sessions here at least twice a month, often more. You have passed a rigorous test in mental and physical skills. You have pledged to serve yourselves, your families and your communities with respect in whatever capacity you choose."

Gabrielle looked out at the audience. "Brothers and sisters, I now officially present to you the first class of Xena Scouts!"

Everyone grinned and clapped, including the Scouts. Gabrielle addressed the girls again.

"Some of you will continue seeking higher levels of accomplishment. Some may choose to petition for acceptance into the Amazon Nation. All of you will leave knowing that you are more prepared for whatever life presents. Go forth, proudly, in the name of one of the truest, noblest warriors of all time."

Fifty hands went up in salute. "YES, LEADER GABRIELLE," fifty voices shouted. An astonished Gabrielle watched the Scouts strike their fists into their chests, as they chanted, "XENA! XENA! XENA!" They stopped in unison, gazed a long moment at Gabrielle in silent tribute, then resumed their seats.

For what seemed like the umpteenth time that day, Gabrielle found herself struggling to maintain her composure. "Thank you," she said, her eyes glistening. "Now, let's hope I can get through the rest of the program without some of you having to use your skills to save me from drowning in my own tears."

The Scouts and the crowd laughed. "That's okay," someone in the back yelled. "We've got all night."

"Ha! Maybe you do, but I don't," Gabrielle responded, smiling. "Besides, I'm anxious to get to the second part of my favorite activity." She turned to the Scouts on the platform. "I will now award badges of merit to those who have distinguished themselves in a particular area."

She called each girl forward and pinned various symbols on their purple sashes - a quill for scholarship, a staff for martial arts, a bird for nature studies, a hammer for building skills, a dinar for commercial projects, and a bundle of wheat for farming and homemaking. Singling out three in their late teens, she said, "These young women have excelled at leadership. They are prepared to head troops in their hometowns, as well as to journey to other places which have expressed interest in the Scouts." Gabrielle pinned an insignia above the gold "X" on their sashes. "Wear this chakram with pride. We entrust you with nurturing Xenas for the future."

Gabrielle addressed the crowd. "Sisters and brothers, please join me in congratulating all the girls and young women who represent what the Village of Dreams stands for."

The guests rose and gave the Scouts a long, appreciative ovation. When the applause dwindled, Gabrielle announced, "This concludes the formal ceremonies. Please join us for food and celebration in the -" She paused, puzzled, as she noticed Eve making an unscheduled trip to the platform, carrying a long bundle wrapped in brown cloth. "Um, hold on. It seems we're not quite finished yet."

Eve walked to stand beside Gabrielle. "Greetings," she said to the audience. "I am Eve, daughter of Xena by blood and of Gabrielle by adoption. Gabrielle has given so much to us. She's wanted nothing in return except our happiness and prosperity. I would like to present her with a gift in gratitude for this day."

Eve unwrapped the bundle and held up the contents for everyone to see. "This exquisite tapestry is from Japa. It depicts Xena's battle with the evil spirit Yodoshi and how my mothers made the decision to put others above themselves. The people of Higuchi sent this to honor the love that saved the lives and souls of their village."

Gabrielle listened, fingers pressed to her lips. In the silence that followed Eve's words, she reached out and touched the tapestry. She traced some of the figures that represented her and Xena, as though reliving the events portrayed. Finally she took the tapestry and held it to her body, mouth trembling. Eve placed her hands on Gabrielle's shoulders and bent to hear some whispered instructions.

Eve smiled and turned to face their guests. "Gabrielle apologizes for her uncharacteristic loss of words. She thanks all of us for our generosity, especially the people of Higuchi." Eve signaled to some drummers in the back, who began tapping their instruments lightly. "She says we've had enough crying for one day. Please -- eat, drink and be merry!"

As one, the guests brought their hands to their foreheads, then their fists to their chests in the Amazon salute. Like the Scouts, they stood silently a long moment, paying their respect to Gabrielle, before moving to pick their way to the refreshment area.

"Gabrielle? Are you all right? I didn't mean to upset you."

Gabrielle was leaning against the podium, seemingly a million miles away. She focused on Eve. "What? Oh, yes, sorry. I'll be fine." She slowly rolled the tapestry and stood it against the podium. "Come here, you naughty girl," she scolded, holding her arms open to Eve. "Marta hinted you had a secret," she said, hugging Eve tightly. "This makes everything complete. For Xena and for me."

Eve broke apart and smiled through her tears. "I pray so. I'll talk to you about interpreting it on our way to dinner. You'll be '. Oh, look," she whispered.

Gabrielle glanced down to see a golden butterfly perched atop the tapestry. It fluttered over to Eve's shoulder. Both women smiled. Gabrielle reached her hand to the butterfly, and it walked onto her finger. They watched as it seemed to preen, then finally flutter off gracefully to follow the crowd headed to the food and wine.

"My," Gabrielle said. "Wonders never cease. You think maybe it's trying to tell us to shut up and get something to eat?"

*****

The day over at last, Gabrielle sat wearily in her office, soaking up the welcome silence. She'd made sure the guests were safely ensconced in their quarters, that all was prepared as it should be for the next morning's breakfast and closing activities. Marta and Eve had assured her that she could relax now, that they had everything under control. She glanced around, relieved to see her desk cleared and all extraneous paraphernalia removed. Sighing contentedly, she stretched and reached across the desk to retrieve Xena's urn. She caressed it fondly before carefully storing it in a carry bag which she took with her into her sleeping room and placed behind the curtain that covered her clothing closet.

Gabrielle felt exhilarated, despite her tired feet and a slight headache. She did some deep breathing exercises to calm her whirring thoughts. She wanted to see Xena as soon as possible tonight, as they had much to discuss. She lay on her bed with anticipation and closed her eyes, letting herself drift into the one dream she'd never tire of having.

"Xena?"

"I'm here."

"Where? I can't see you."

"I - I don't want to intrude."

"Intrude? Xena, you can't intrude on a conversation you're supposed to be a party to."

"I meant intrude on any conversations you were having with yourself. It's been a long day. An important day. I've gotten a lot more sensitive to your need to be alone with your thoughts at times like this."

"Are you a fly on the wall?"

A chuckle in the darkness. "No."

"A spidah? Gnat, wasp or something equally unsavory?"

"No, I'm considering it, not likely, that depends."

"Well, get over here so I can see for myself."

Xena appeared next to the bed, a smile playing at her lips.

"Hmmm." Gabrielle slowly examined the tall figure from head to toe, then in reverse. "You look savory enough to me." She patted the bed. "Sit."

Xena eased down onto the bed, her hands in her lap, eyes on Gabrielle. Waiting.

Gabrielle rolled to her side and propped her head on her hand, looking up at her very serious friend. "We're awfully formal tonight," she teased.

Xena gave her a little smile. "It was a big day for me too. Awesome, in fact." She looked past Gabrielle thoughtfully. "I used to wonder what you meant when you told me what is was like watching me lead armies or leap across oceans. Hearing people applaud me when I saved their children. I guess I took it for granted, because I didn't see it as that extraordinary, the way you did." Her eyes returned lovingly to her soulmate. "I understand now. I felt it today. It was like watching the woman of my dreams." She slid her hand across the bed. Gabrielle grasped it, too moved to do or say anything else.

"Everything's in place now. Your life is full with work and people who need you."

"Yes," Gabrielle agreed, her eyes brimming with emotion.

"I see you've ' you've packed up my urn."

Gabrielle blinked. "Um ' yes, I did."

"Seems you're ready at last to move on."

"Yes, I believe so."

Xena swallowed, finally moving to Gabrielle and pulling her soulmate into a mighty hug. "I am so honored that you let me share in this. You've given my life more meaning and existence in death than I ever could when I was breathing and kicking." Xena smiled wryly. "I'd tell you I can now die a happy woman, but I'm afraid it'd be a bit redundant."

Gabrielle pulled away to give Xena a long stare. "Is that supposed to be some kind of farewell speech?"

"I'll always be here when you need me. That won't ever change."

"But you're expecting that my thoughts of you will be packed away now, sort of like your ashes."

"Yeah, I guess so. I understand that. Like I said before, it's what I'd dreamed for you."

"Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"You're right. You can be such a ninny sometimes."

Xena's brows shot up. "What?"

"You heard me." Gabrielle rested her head on Xena's shoulder. "Remember back in Japa when I said it wasn't right for you to stay dead?"

"Gabrielle, I thought we were past that. We agreed -"

"Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"You're interrupting me again."

"Oh. Sorry. Once a pest, always a pest."

"Not necessarily. We'll work on that. Now, as I was saying '." Gabrielle readjusted herself to think more comfortably. "I'm not sure I was talking about justice or even the greater good. I've gone over and over that moment for four years. I believe I felt it wasn't right because it wasn't meant for you to stay dead."

Xena frowned. "You mean like fate or destiny? I told you when Caesar tried to change our lives that I believe things happen precisely as they should. As much as I'd love to be here with you in the flesh, I still believe that." She looked down at Gabrielle. "Don't you?"

"Sort of. I can't deny there's been some good to this. You got to respect yourself in a way you might not have otherwise. I got to prove to myself - and you - that I could carry on, even prosper, on my own. Neither of us has to worry so much about your shadow anymore."

Xena gave Gabrielle a squeeze. "True. It was worth it to me if only for that."

"I'll give you that," Gabrielle said, squeezing Xena back. "It's the staying dead part I'm still having problems with."

Xena sighed heavily. "Gabrielle, I know I promised not to fight you on that, but --"

"No, if I remember correctly, you said you'd try to be happy if that made me happy." Gabrielle paused for Xena's exasperated huff. "Hear me out, okay?"

"Fine."

"I wasn't stuck in trying to bring your body back. I was trying to make sense of what happened. I've talked to holy people, shamans, healers - you name it - everywhere I've traveled. When I found Eve in India and told her about it, she was devastated. Nothing in Eli's or anybody else's teachings seemed to explain why those trapped souls needed to be avenged, especially after you risked your life to eliminate Yodoshi's evil spirit and free the souls. Eve sent inquiries to a priest she knows in Japa. She was a little surprised to hear back that the people of Higuchi mourned you as a hero."

"As opposed to rejoicing that a criminal had finally been punished." Xena placed her fingers against Gabrielle's protesting lips. "I'm only saying the coin had two sides; it was a toss-up as to which one they'd see." She smiled gently. "Not everyone flips it so it always lands up, the way you do."

Gabrielle ducked her head. "Um, well, sometimes you can have a hand in something even when you're just going along minding your own business."

"Oh?" Xena asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, see I went to the Ghost Killer's memorial service. I felt a special bond with him, I guess because he'd understand the real sacrifice you'd made." Gabrielle exhaled a deep breath. "The true loss."

"Yes," Xena said quietly, "He trusted the love and courage in your heart that was the key. He understood your sacrifice as well."

Gabrielle nodded her head against Xena's chest. "He'd told his family how you'd agreed to work with him and that he'd given me the secret to bringing you back. They expressed regret that I'd run out of time. I said I hadn't, that you'd chosen to stay dead so the lost souls could have peace. They looked at me strangely, but didn't say anything, just backed away, bowing. They must've told their neighbors."

"I couldn't believe representatives came from Japa. That tapestry they sent was stunning."

Gabrielle smiled against Xena's chest. "More than you know. Eve's friend heard about the tapestry and told the villagers I'd probably like it for the library. She wanted to surprise me with it at the ceremony, so didn't tell me it had arrived yet. A note came with it, explaining that a seer had woven it, that every scene has a certain significance. Apparently Eve's been examining it in minute detail. She saw something puzzling that she wanted to talk to me about after the presentation."

"Yeah?"

"Uh huh. It shows you and me with our hands on your urn, just before you told me not to immerse it in the water that would restore your body. Then it looks like you're somewhere with what must be the freed souls, looking down on me standing alone." Gabrielle paused. "But it doesn't end there."

"It doesn't?" Xena asked, not sure she wanted to know how it did end.

"Uh uh. The souls appear to be pushing you away."

Xena swallowed. "They don't want me?"

Gabrielle chuckled softly. "We're not sure why," she responded diplomatically. "They do seem to be pushing you toward a blond figure with its arms outstretched."

If Xena had had a beating heart, it would've been thumping or skipping. She swallowed again. "Is the blond figure '. Is she '."

"Dead? I certainly hope not." Gabrielle smiled impishly. "At least not while she's still got that deliciously firm body, those defined -"

"Grrrrrr."

"Okay, okay," Gabrielle relented, laughing. "She's looking up. Her arms stretch up. The souls seem to be pushing you down toward her arms, her world. The last scene shows you walking off with her into the sunset."

Xena lay silent, absentmindedly stroking Gabrielle's arm. Finally she asked, "Does it show how to make that ending happen?"

"Eve's friend thinks the seer may know. That's why I packed your urn. We're going back to Japa."

Xena gently disengaged from Gabrielle and scooted up to prop herself against the wall. "Are you sure that's what you want? You said yourself everything is finally the way you wanted. Why leave all this for what may be false hope and more heartache?"

Gabrielle raised herself up to rest against her soulmate. She reached over and turned Xena's face toward her. "Xena, I planned to start that quest even before I knew about the tapestry."

"You did?"

"Yes. It's why I've been working so hard to put things in place, to make sure there are others to carry on this work. It's a base for Eve and Marta, for me. I've received invitations from all over the world to help establish other villages like this. I planned to combine that with searching for insights to bring you back. Maybe do a little barding here, butt-kicking there, along the way. The only thing that might have stopped me was you."

"Me?"

"I didn't realize you could think all this would ever replace you." Gabrielle turned away. "But I can see why. I think maybe that's what I was trying to do at first. I accepted that you did what you felt you had to. But questions kept nagging at me. Why did it still feel wrong? Why couldn't anybody explain the spiritual basis? Was there no forgiveness possible in those freed souls? Was it, in truth, to appease the living? But those were my questions. I didn't want to disturb your sense of peace unless the answers would make you 'whole' in every sense."

Xena pulled her soulmate closer and grinned. "In other words, you missed me."

"Grrrrr." Gabrielle whacked Xena lightly across the midsection. "The issue is that I didn't know how much you missed me, not until you started ' bugging ' me like that. And when you admitted you were bored, I didn't feel so selfish about wanting to bring you back. The tapestry confirmed what I felt all along, except now we've got somewhere to focus."

Xena shook her head. "Amazing."

Gabrielle nodded. "Yep, amazing."

The two sat a few moments, side by side, each contemplating the possibilities that lay ahead.

"So when do we start?"

Gabrielle nearly choked with laughter. She gave her soulmate a long, grateful hug. "Not tonight, that's for sure. Some of us need sleep."

"Will I get to be more active on this quest? More involved in your thoughts and decisions?"

"Yesssss." Gabrielle smirked. "Your advanced wisdom could be useful. After all, I figure I'm still at least a couple of years younger than you."

Xena smirked. "All the more enticing to gnats and bees."

"Speaking of which, that was lovely how you appeared at the ceremony."

Xena grinned malevolently "It'd've been even lovelier if you'd let me sting the bastard. Um, not that I had any doubts you could handle him, of course."

"I meant the butterfly, after Eve gave me the tapestry."

"Oh, yeah, wasn't that something the way it showed up like that? Made me think of Lao Ma."

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying that wasn't you?"

"Do I get points if I say it was?" Xena noticed she was getting an exasperated glare instead. "Pffff. Not creepy-crawly enough for my tastes. Too flimsy to do dive bombs."

"Xena, I swear I don't know how anybody can be such balm to my soul and still be so -"

"Like a fly in the ointment? Bwahahahahahaha!"

"Xena?"

"Hey, fair is fair. You said yourself you're partly responsible that my otherworldly retirement home wasn't the paradise advertised."

"Xena."

"Yes, my dear, sweet, forgiving, irreplaceable, eternal soulmate?"

"You know how I said you'd been cleansed to the point of invisibility?"

"Vaguely."

"That hasn't quite worked out like I thought either. It may be that you can take the fly out of the darkness, but that you can't take the darkness out of the fly. Which may not bode well if - when - we get your body back."

Xena's brows furrowed. "It's true," she said seriously, "we haven't really talked about what we might be getting if I'm mortal again. Are you ' are you sure it's worth the risk?"

Gabrielle pulled her soulmate's head down and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'd bet your enchantingly beady little eyes it is. Good enough?"

"For now." Xena wriggled down to a prone position, pulling Gabrielle with her. She smiled to herself. Yep, the butterfly was a nice touch, but even in death she had a certain stoic image to maintain.

Gabrielle yawned and snuggled into her soulmate. She smiled to herself. That butterfly had been the perfect touch. Yes, even in death, Xena couldn't resist doing the right thing.

[bleachanimefan1]

Desert Flower Part 1

The Boy with the Red Hair,

Nighttime had fallen in the Village Hidden in the Sand. There was a slight breeze gently blowing the sand around. A little girl with pale skin, reddish-brown eyes, with long brown hair that was tied in a red ribbon up in a ponytail stood with her mother inside a shop while she was getting supplies from the shopkeeper. She was wearing a green robe with a white scarf wrapped around her neck to protect her face from the sand when it was hot. She sneezed when a dust of sand blew into her nose as she walked with her mother as they exited a shop.

"Don't worry, Yuri. You'll be feeling better once we move to the Village Hidden in the Leaves." Yuri heard her mother's warm voice said to her. Yuri frowned as she held her mother's hand while the two of the walked, heading back home. "But I like it here. I won't know anyone if we move. What about Temari?" 

"You can still write to her and besides might like the Hidden Leaf Village even more and make new friends." Yuri's mother smiled.

"Okay." Yuri nodded. Her mother smiled.

"That's my good girl. Now we mustn't keep your father waiting. Let's head back." The two continued to walk.

Her parents were from two different villages. Her father came from the Village Hidden in the Leaf while her mother was from the Sand. Despite the animosity between the two villages, in secret, the two of them fell in love and eventually they had her. However, when Yuri was born, her parents noticed that she would get sick often, mostly caused from the sand and the dry air. They decided that it would be best to move back to Konoha for their daughter's sake and safety.

"Shoot! I knew I forgot something." Yuri heard her mother mumble. "Yuri, I'll be right back. I'm just going into that shop of there. Wait for me here."

"Okay." Yuri smiled. Her mother smiled and quickly rushed into the shop, leaving Yuri outside as she waited. Yuri shivered, feeling the cold breeze of air. As she was warming her hands up, Yuri saw something moving quickly in the dark and squinted her eyes to see what it was. Her eyes widen when she saw that it was a boy with red hair, smiling as he carried a small bag. Yuri knew who he was. Gaara. Everyone knew, in fact, the entire village was scared of him. When she asked her parents why everyone hated him. They told her that when he was upset or angry, Gaara could unleash his beast that was sealed in him and possibly wipe out the entire village. She still didn't understand why anyone could hate someone, especially a child and even told her parents this. Her words shocked parents, but also, they were very proud of her. But they still told her to stay away from Gaara for her own safety.

This morning at school, while she played, usually by herself, Yuri saw the other kids would often avoid him, leaving Gaara out of their games. One of the kids kicked a ball onto the roof, getting it stuck. It was Gaara who got it down with his sand. The kids ran away from him in fear. Without thinking, Gaara unleashed his sand, tripping a girl, and accidentally injuring her. It took Gaara's uncle, Yashamaru, to talk and calm him down. Often, Yuri would see Gaara's uncle pick him up from school, but never his father or mother. Why was that? She wondered to herself. And what was Gaara doing with that bag? 

Yuri looked back into the shop to see her mother still talking with the shopkeeper then turned in the direction where she saw Gaara heading. It would only take a few minutes. Her mother would never notice that she was gone. Yuri quickly sped off, chasing after Gaara, quietly following behind him. Yuri stopped and panted as she tried to catch her breath, taking cover behind a corner of a house when she saw Gaara stop and knock on a door. It opened revealing the girl that he had hurt earlier today. Her eyes widen in fear once she saw Gaara, who smiled, holding out the bag to her.

"Here, I brought some medicine. I'm sorry about earlier." Yuri heard Gaara spoke. She saw the girl glare at him.

"Get out of here, freak!" She spitted out, venomously, and slammed the door in Gaara's face. Yuri's eyes widen and she felt her blood began to boil and clenched her fists. Without even thinking, Yuri had already walked past Gaara, who was surprised, but also startled, to see her. Yuri picked up the bag of medicine that Gaara had dropped then pounded hard on the door. The door opened again, revealing the girl.

"I thought I told you to-" Yuri flung the bag right into the girl's face. Her eyes widen in shock and her mouth dropped slightly, completely dumbfounded. Gaara stood where he stood, staring at Yuri, speechless, as she continued to chew the girl out.

"You and everyone here, call this boy a monster, but the only monster that I see here is you, all of you!" Yuri screamed at her. "Apologize to him or I'm going beat it out of you!" Then Yuri pointed towards Gaara, who tensed up. The girl slightly glanced over to him, shifting her eyes away from him.

"S-Sorry." She muttered and quickly closed the door.

"Unbelievable. How rude can you get?" Yuri huffed, trying to calm down.

"Um, who are you?" Gaara asked her. Yuri blinked, realizing that she was standing right next to Gaara. Her eyes widen and she slowly backed away from him. 

"Oh, I-I'm Yuri." She told him, quietly. "I already know who you are."

"Why did you do that?" Gaara questioned her. Yuri's eyes widen, wondering herself.

"I guess I couldn't take it anymore. Seeing the way you've been treated, it isn't fair." She told him and started to walk away, waving goodbye to Gaara. "I got to head back. My mom's probably already noticed that I'm gone." Gaara's eyes widen a little. "Wait!" Yuri felt a tug on her wrist, and she looked back to see sand. Yuri already knew she was playing with fire. One wrong word, one wrong move...

"Do you want to come over to my uncle's house? Maybe we can play?" He asked her. Yuri shook her head.

"I'm sorry I can't. In fact, my mom and dad and I are moving tonight." She told him.

"Y-You can't leave!" Gaara shook his head. "I won't allow it!" Then an idea came to Yuri's mind, and she turned back to Gaara. She tugged on her red ribbon, letting her long hair fall down. Then she tied the ribbon around Gaara's wrist.

"How about a promise?" She asked him.

"A promise?" Gaara questioned. Yuri nodded.

"You cannot take this off or lose it until we meet again. Come find me in the Village Hidden in the Leaves and return it to me. Maybe we can test out each other's skills to see how much we've grown." She told him and smiled then held up her pinky. "So, is it a deal?"

"Deal!" Gaara smiled and locked his pinky around hers. Yuri heard her mother calling out to her, not too far off as she was looking for her. She didn't want to know what would happen if her mother caught her with Gaara.

"I have to go! But we'll meet again! I know we will!" She told Gaara and ran off, leaving him, waving goodbye.

"Goodbye." Gaara solemnly waved back to her, hoping she wasn't lying. Her eyes were different from everyone else's. They still were afraid but, there was something else. Something that Gaara, couldn't understand what it was.

What was it?

[ask-idv-shepherd]

Sniffling quietly, Pearce couldn't help but whimper in pain, tightly closing his eyes as he helplessly laid there. Still, he as a coward, and he' always be a coward. Yet... Once he heard the other, Pearce couldn't help but feel more pathetic, rubbing his eyes, even though the tears kept pouring.

"I'm sorry..."

His voice was weak, hoarse as he dug weakly into his pocket, taking out what started their feud, it was the bracelet that Archer made for them. However, it was now stained of blood. Looking at the shattered item in his hands, Pearce inhaled sharply, coughing a bit as he did.

"I'm so... so sorry for everything that I've done... I hurt you so many times... And I know I'm selfish, I'm dense, I'm impulsive... But I couldn't let myself sit in that god forsaken bed and let you wallow."

"... When I was getting ready to leave, a slip of paper fell from my clothes... It was simple, it was understanding... A-And I realized how much of a fool I was to believe Alu's lies.... I thought you just wanted to be friends, and I was selfish to let my demons get to me..."

"You accepted me, when I turned you away, and I never meant to do so, I didn't want to... b-but... Alu just kept telling me it was right..."

"It wasn't... So... So I silence him, in my blade..."

Still holding onto his stomach, Pearce wiped away the tears, biting his lip as he weakly sat up, another pained whimper escaping his throat. Despite not being able to stand, Pearce was trying to limp closer, holding his gut, now visible in a tint of red.

"I was stupid... Too afraid to tell you the truth... I still am, somewhat... I never wanted to hurt you... You're not a toy, n-nor did I ever consider you some sick toy. But Alu just made it seem that way- AAAGHH!!"

Collapsing in front of the other, Pearce shook before shaking his head. Taking a moment as he hung his head.

"Despite this mess I made... I still care- No, that's not good enough. I still love you a lot... so much it hurts when my filthy hands can't o anything good for you... I'm... I'm not asking you to forgive me, or return these feelings, or... or anything..."

"I know we can't start over, we can't be something... Because it's me. I'M the problem, so... I just wanted to take accountability, shed whatever guilt off my back... I will still protect you in matches, and heed your advice, but... I won't hurt you ever again, at least... I'll try harder to stick up for myself..."

Softly clutching at the fabric of his shirt, Pearce seemed to finally relax, or rather quiet. Maybe this was therapeutic for him, or maybe he was tried from all that transpired. It just felt good, even if Archer did forgive him or not, whether they wanted to be more, back to friends, or cutting ties to never speak again.

Pearce was finally ready to make his own choice No backing out, no complaints, he deserved this and he knew it.

// @ask-idv-shepherd - he approach.

Rushing into the woods, Pearce panted slightly, still ignoring the searing pain in his stomach. At least he was wearing his old clothes, so the blood would be less visible. Coming to a stop, Pearce halted his search to catch his breath. Just how long has he been searching? He couldn't even find the usual trails before being so deep into the forest.

Pulling his hood down, Pearce's ears twitched, hoping to pick up any sound, or sense Alu's aura. Yet, all he could hear was buzzing of bugs, and the songs of birds. Gripping his sickle, Pearce trekked onwards.

Then he stopped, a sudden snap getting his attention. There it was, stalking him as Pearce froze in fear. The grip on his sickle as he held his breath. The wendigo… A creature so evil, so vile, it was enough to rattle Pearce's bones. And yet, he still didn't want to leave, it was a risk, but he'd be prepared for an attack.

"Where is she..? I know you have her hiding here… Please, I just want to fix this. I doubt I can, but I hope I'm not wrong…" As he spoke, Pearce backed away, still pointing his sickle at the creature if it did try anything. It appeared this time, Pearce wasn't going down without a fight.

As soon as the Shepherd had entered the forest, the hunter had been watching and tailing the other quietly. Sure, it was a distance away but the forest was like its own it came from and it easily found its way around - unwitting to the fox that it was keeping the man from straying to close to where Archer was. It was not time nor did the hunter feel like letting the man get off easily.

Once they were a good ways away from Archer was when the Wendigo purposefully revealed itself. Hisses escaped out of the hunter as if warning him. There was a bit of snapping of bones as it became more clear that the muzzle that was on the hunter once was now gone as it started down at him. There was a quick sound of air slicing as the weapon of the hunter slammed into Pearce's sickle, holding it close against him as it hissed slower, the croak of letters barely being heard.

"₦Ø. ⱧɄⱤ₮ ₳₴Ⱨ. ₦Ø ₥ØⱤɆ. ₦Ø ₣ł₦Đ ł ⱧɆⱤɆ" came the hissing sounds as it jolted its weapon once more to throw his sickle downwards before it let out a deafening scream.