#In this case he decided to pretend to be a ghost from stories

[nelkcats]

Haunted City

Danny could admit that pretending to be a "regular ghost" was pretty fun. He could hide in one place and scare people who were waiting for an open door and a creepy laugh.

Honestly, Danny could do a lot more than that, the ghosts people believed in were nothing like the ones he knew. He wondered if there were simply different types of ghosts, or supernatural creatures; it was quite likely, considering that the ghosts of the Realms weren't even of the same dimension so it wasn't a fair comparison.

Anyway, the halfa had spent a couple of days "haunting" Gotham. The place was too leggy and they needed a little excitement in their lives. Of course, this led to some rumors about a spirit suffering or something similar, he didn't really care.

The "heroes" of Gotham didn't seem to share his opinion, going through all the places that had been "attacked" (they were just jokes) and looking for some explanation before calling Justice League Dark, Danny had fun scaring them a little in the process.

But he wasn't too interested in being exorcised, banished or whatever they did with rebel ghosts, so he settled on a mansion that was too big for its few inhabitants. Scaring billionaires was almost therapeutic, although the butler didn't seem too impressed by his (minimal) efforts.

[mediumgayitalian]

fic rec friday 20

hi!! welcome to fic rec friday. every week, i pick five fics i have bookmarked and rec them with a little review. check them out!

farm to table by @buoyantsaturn*

“There’s another group of kids here,” she said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “Said they’re looking for the Ghost King.”

I FUCKING LOVE THIS SERIES. NO WORD OF A LIE IM OBSESSED. i got an ask a couple weeks ago on what i see will & nico doing in their futures and i havent answered it yet BUT this series in particular is never what i would have thought for them and yet it fully and completely convinced me. i love the way their relationship is portrayed here, i love the nuances about will's gender, i love them figuring adult demigodhood out! i love the solace family! this series is another one of those stories that i think back to when im writing bc it's so spectacularly done

2. hopeless case by @restinreesespieces

“Nico,” Jason wheezes as he slams the door to the Hades cabin open. “Nico, I think I’m in love with my best friend.” “No, really?” Nico drawls, barely looking up from his book. Or: in which nico is jason’s wingman this time around.

i was sold on the 'jason is a disaster. nico is also a disaster but more subtle about it' like that SENT me 😭😭 such an apt description of their friendship. and leo wearing crop tops bc there's less clothes to burn and jason losing his mind over it is so real and true

3. seize the day by @restinreesespieces

“-Hey, Jason? Are you okay?” “No,” Jason snaps. “You’re distracting me.” Silence. Leo comes forward. Jason’s back digs into the wooden edge of the table. “I’m distracting you?” Leo’s hand twitches, like he’s not sure where to put it. It lingers in the air between them, making a choice. Instead of a friendly shoulder pat or slap on the back, Jason’s fingers are met with the familiar warmth and completion of Leo’s. Their hands interlock, sliding into place as they’ve done so many times before under the cover of darkness. But this time there’s light, and they can’t escape the bright truth that it brings. “How, exactly, am I distracting you?" or: valgrace dead poets society au (with a happy ending)

this fic was so FUN like jason in theatre....ur so absolutely right. loved loved this story it was such a delight to read like who cares about reality what if everyone is gay at whatever time period we wish forever

4. crush the size of jupiter by @restinreesespieces

“Aw,” he joked. “And here I thought we had a connection.” “Yeah, maybe that’s because we’re tied at the ankle, Solace.” Or: In which Nico thinks he can ignore his budding feelings for a certain son of Apollo, and fate decides otherwise.

the flower symbolism had me GAAAAGGGGEED and nico going oh. oh, no had me CLUTCHING MY CHEST SHDNSJDNS. WHY IS HE SUCH A MESS

5. stars on my skin by @restinreesespieces

“Will,” he says, “I think you’re being silly.” “What?” Will tries to hide his confusion, and Nico rolls his eyes. “You’re being silly,” he repeats. “I told you your bedside manner is okay. So why don’t you believe it? Do you think I’m a liar?” “No! I just-” “Hmph,” he huffs, pretending to be miffed. “I think you’re afraid of nothing. Nobody’s gonna be mad if you’re a little enthusiastic about healing them. That means you want to save them! That’s what heroes do.” “I’m - I’m a healer,” he says quietly. “Yeah,” Nico replies. “Isn’t that what I said?” or: after the quest group to rescue annabeth leaves camp, a ten-year-old nico winds up in the infirmary and meets will for the first time.

BABY SOLANGELO BABY SOLANGELO BABY SOLANGELO IM LOSING MY MIND WHAT IF EVERYTHING WAS GOOD AND EASY WHAT IF THE WORLD WAS KIND TO THEM

thank you for joining me this friday!! happy reading!!

[embarrassingmf]

living dead girl

PAIRING: Sam Winchester x reader

SUMMARY: Sam’s been noticing the scars on your arms and decides to ask you about them.

A/N: the scars on the arms r not intended to be sh, but if you want to, you can pretend that there are sh scars! also, this is still written gender neutral despite the work title! I based it off a song which I’ll put down below:

WARNINGS: partial nudity (reader takes off their shirt, not for intimate purposes), sam is kind of awkward in this, not proofread, kind of got lazy at the end😭😭

WORD COUNT: 836

Sam had recently found himself growing curious.

Curious of the scars on your arms that he had taken more notice of.

Now it’s not like he blatantly ignored the faint scars that were there, you just never really allowed them to be seen to the naked eye.

You always wore shirts with long enough sleeves so nobody would see them.

But with warmer weather approaching, you knew it would just be annoying to wear long sleeve shirts in eighty degree weather.

That’s when Sam started noticing the scars. They fascinated him. He wanted to know every story behind them.

—————————————————————————

Weeks had passed since Sam started noticing the scars. He watched as the shirts you always wore got shorter and shorter in the sleeve area, revealing more of the taut marks there.

He felt himself growing antsy, he wanted — no, he needed to know all the stories behind them.

But, of course, he never had a good chance to ask.

He for sure couldn’t ask either Dean in the room, Sam would never hear the end of his elder brother’s teasing!

So, instead he opted for not-so-patiently waiting for a better opportunity to ask you.

—————————————————————————

After a couple days, that perfect opportunity arose.

You, Sam, and Dean were in Reno, Nevada for a case. A simple ghost case.

The only reason that Sam was able to ask is because Dean insisted on checking out the crime scene by himself.

Sam was eternally grateful that Dean actually went to the crime scene by himself that time, because now it left him with you.

It took him at least thirty minutes to find the courage to get up and approach you.

Frankly, he was kind of afraid you’d push him away, reject him and maybe even tell him off for even asking.

You were cleaning some weapons for the future hunt while sitting on the bed, Sam was sitting at a table with a laptop and lore book in front of him.

Sam inhaled through his teeth, finally standing up and walking over, sitting down beside you.

You briefly glanced at him before focusing back on the gun you were holding.

“Hi,” Sam greeted, rather awkwardly, in fact.

“Hey.” You finally put the gun aside and focused on Sam, turning to face him. “What’s up?”

“Uh, so- I have a question.” Sam mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

You hummed, nodding a bit. “Alright, shoot.” Waving a hand on his direction, you motioned for him to continue.

Sam flashed you a small smile, taking this as a good sign. “Okay, so, y’know those scars on your arms right?” He gestured to them, just for good measure.

You followed his line of sight, nodding slowly. “Uh-huh?”

“Well, I was wondering if you could tell me the stories behind them..” Sam uttered, clearing his throat and looking off to the side.

You laughed quietly, gently tapping Sam’s leg to get his attention before pointing to three consecutive marks on your forearm that looked like claw marks.

“These are from a Wendigo hunt, it was the first hunt I went on solo.” You murmured, looking up at Sam to make sure he was listening.

“This is from a Ghoul.” You pointed to another scar by your elbow, where it definitely looked like a blade made some sort of incision.

—————————————————————————

After a few minutes of you pointing out scars and blemishes that were on your arms, Sam noticed you pause. Like you were debating something.

“What’s wrong..?” Sam inquired quietly, his eyebrows knitting together in a look of concern.

“Oh, no, nothing’s wrong.” You assured with a smile, “I was just wondering if I should take my shirt off or not, I have more of ‘em.” You explained, obviously referring to the scars.

Sam cleared his throat, trying not to look too eager at the prospect of seeing even more of the marks on your skin.

“Oh, yeah, you can do that if you want!” Sam nodded reassuringly.

You chuckled, quickly discarding the piece of fabric and letting Sam look.

Sam almost felt his jaw go slack at the new expanse of skin. He wanted to run his fingers over every blemish, every mark. Sam even let out a quiet “woah..”

You couldn’t help but feel a little flustered under Sam’s intense stare, and you quickly pointed to a scar near your collarbone to distract yourself.

“This is from a Rabid..” You explained, before turning so your back was in view.

“This is from another Wendigo hunt, got too close to the fire.” You let out a dry chuckle as you felt Sam gently run his fingers over the faint burn scar on your back.

“They’re all so.. beautiful.” Sam mumbled, his eyebrows raising.

“Thanks..”

Realizing that Dean might be back soon, you quickly put your shirt back on and went back to cleaning as Sam decided to help you. His mind still lingering on the idea that you trusted him enough to be so vulnerable with him.

—————————————————————————

reblogs r appreciated! :))

[undeadcannibal]

141 team +könig with reader that scratches at their arms and neck till they bleed please:]

Summary: How Task Force 141 and  would react to a Reader that scratches at their arms or neck.

Genre: Headcanons, request(s) Characters featured: Price, Soap, Gaz, Ghost, and König

Warnings: mentions of scratching, etc.

A/N:  I got you, Anon. Spent my adolescent years struggling with that T-T Hopefully you enjoy! And as always, thank you for the request! <3 I tried giving everyone a bit of a different reason as to why just for a bit of variation. I hope that is alright. c:  ( Gif credit: xxx )

Gaz―

He catches you in the middle of relieving the itchiness of your forearms, taking a moment to realize what's going on before he tries to encourage you to stop in a calm and soft manner. 

He won't freak out, he'll just ask what's up, really just wants to ensure you're okay overall. 

Much like John, he won't pry for an answer if you truly don't want to give one, buuuut that doesn't mean he'd stop worrying about you. 

You mention that it's nothing too serious, it's unfortunately something you resort to in times of major stress. 

He doesn't pretend to understand what you deal with, but he's there to help regardless. 

Personally, he likes helping you take care of yourself. He won't hold it against you if you can't help but give in to scratching. 

Let him patch you up so he can tell you jokes or stories to distract you from thinking about everything, even if only for a little while. 

Soft but calloused hands drifting up your forearms carefully, making sure not to hurt you too much as he helps clean and patch you up. 

Do well and he says he'll give you a kiss as a reward for good behavior~ 

Ghost―

He notices something's up quickly. Whether you prefer to hide the marks of not, he wastes little time in asking you about it. 

He'll bring it up when the two of you are alone, or are at least out of earshot of anyone else. He won't want to embarrass you, but he'll be curious. 

I think Simon would ask a lot of questions at first: "What happened?" "Why do you have the impulse?" and "…Does it hurt?" or "Does it bother you much?" because he'd want to know why before helping. 

You mention that you struggle with allergies a lot, and in turn, sometimes don't realize just how bad it's gotten until it's too late. 

Unfortunately, the entire insides of your forearms suffer the most and as a result, are covered in large patches of scabs from previous bouts of itchiness. 

He wouldn't have noticed it had you not needed to pull up the sleeves of your shirt, revealing them to him. 

After you give him your answer, he won't say much, but I can see him silently telling you to stay put. He disappears only to return with a first-aid kit. 

While he might not fully understand what you're dealing with, he does help care for your wounds and patches you up. Even reminding you to change the bandages daily just in case you need a reminder. 

He might not be the best at helping heal others, but he does try to be there for you in his own ways. 

Price―

The first time he notices the marks on your neck, his eyes are widening and his jaw is clenching, numerous conflicting emotions rushing through him all at once. 

At first, he's unsure of the best approach for you, but eventually decides to just calmly ask you the next time the two of you are alone. 

Price doesn't want to pry -- he won't force an answer out of you if you haven't told him on your own time. So, he simply asks if he can help. 

If you choose to let him, he'll sweetly - and silently - tend to your neck and recommend some personal remedies since he's had many types of wounds over the years. He likes to joke that at his age, he's got an answer for everything. 

If you do decide to let him in, he's all ears: listening to you without adding in any unnecessary comments. Waiting until you explain that you struggle with a skin condition - have since you were born - and when the weather changes, that can be the worst for it at times. Sending you into a fit of resisting and giving in when you can no longer bear it. 

Like Soap, after he hears this, he does his best to try and help you. Whether that's gently reminding you to resist scratching as much as possible, or helping you care for it afterward. It doesn't matter. 

John just wants to help. 

Ooh, also asks if you'd like to borrow one of his scarves, just in case you'd like to cover up. If not, he doesn't take it personally. 

Soap―

At first, I can see him thinking the marks are possibly hickeys from afar. Once he realizes that its actually marks from you scratching at your neck, he's quick to apologize for his assumption. 

Afterwards, he'll soften his approach. Speaking quietly to you, bringing you somewhere where the two of you can have a private conversation over things. 

Like Simon, he's a curious man. He just wants to understand why. Though, he'll also understand if it's something you're not comfortable discussing. 

You mention it's a horrible habit you've struggled to break throughout the years, but even so, you're working on it. 

Either way, he just wants to make sure you're okay.

He helps patch you up if you allow him to. 

After he makes sure you're taken care of and tended to, I can see him wanting to help distract you if he can as well. 

He'll make sure the two of you do something that will help you keep your hands occupied with tasks. 

When he can, he helps keep you too busy to scratch, if he can help it, and if you're willing to put up with him. 

Please do, he just wants to be a sweet and helpful man~ 

König―

His eyes widen when he catches sight of the marks on your neck. At first, he's worried someone else hurt you and frankly, is out. For. Blood. Until you explain otherwise. 

If you choose to let him in as to why you scratch, he'll nod silently, letting you know he understands. 

If you let him know that the marks on your neck are from you scratching - for numerous reasons you don't delve into - König is silent for a while. Taking in everything you mentioned before nodding quietly. 

He doesn't get upset or hold it against you. 

Similar to Ghost, I personally see him as the strong and silent type during moments like this. 

His anxiety makes him worry and overthink any response that comes to mind, so he ends up not saying anything. Afraid that he'll say the wrong thing and accidentally offend you. 

Still, despite the silence, you can tell he means well. 

His large hands are a bit rough from years of warfare but even so, he touches you so gently that you barely even notice. Or care for that matter. 

Allowing him to tend to your wounds helps the both of you; it reassures you that he cares about you in his own ways. And, he likes being able to care for you, even if he can't really help stop you from scratching at your own skin. 

Really, he just likes to be as helpful as he can possibly be.

[lucid-loves]

Anon+ Requests: Come a Little Closer Part 2 (One Shot)

Pairing: Ghost x 141!reader (fem!reader)

Word Count: 6.6k, Second part to a One-Shot

CW: strong language, fluff, bullying, slight mention of violence, one-shot, clear attraction, reader POV and Ghost POV, Minors DNI, EXPLICIT SMUT, P in V, making out, oral, teasing, edging, rough sex, raw sex, protected sex (IUD)

Let me know if I missed any CWs.

Story Synopsis: You have just joined the 141 and getting to know the boys has been a lot of fun. The only one that you seem to be having trouble getting close to is Ghost. It doesn’t stop you from having a crush on him or trying to catch his attention any chance you get. 

Part Synopsis: Ghost makes efforts to make you feel better after learning about your harrassment. This includes getting closer to you, showering you with affection, and destroying the lives of your bullies. Feelings are finally confronted after a meeting for a new mission, leading to the both of you to indulge as much as you can before deployment.

Part 1 ~ Part 2

You woke up in an empty bed, feeling well rested, cozy, and warm. Your senses first registered that familiar scent you fell in love with, reminding you of where you were. An involuntary grin crept along your face. There was something about waking up in Ghost’s bed, even if he wasn’t there when you did wake up. It felt like you belonged in his bed. It filled you with butterflies. 

Sunlight poured in through the window, illuminating the room brightly without the need of the electric light. Ghost was nowhere to be seen, but it wasn’t like he left without a trace. On the nightstand was a light breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast with jam, a fruit salad, and tea. It was obviously food from the cafeteria, but the fact that Ghost went all the way there, organized a plate for you just how you liked, and brought it all the way back for you to wake up too had you melting from the inside out. You knew that he could be sweet when he wanted to be, but this was a whole different level. 

And he wasn’t even your boyfriend.

You took up the plate to enjoy, noticing a note underneath addressed to you. It was on a sticky note, so the message was brief. However, you still felt the care that went into each stroke of the pen. 

Y/n,

Try to take it easy today. See Price for a new room when you’re ready. There’s some better clothes for you on top of the TV stand. 

-Simon 

You were nothing but goo on the inside at this point. Your cheeks turned pink and you grinned with joy. It was crazy how happy you felt by his consideration. It seemed like he really cared about you. For a moment, you wondered if all of this chivalry could mean something more. Did he have feelings for you too? Would he be this way with another girl? Was he just being nice out of pity?

Shaking your head, you cleared the intrusive thoughts. Ghost wasn’t the type to be considerate out of pity. He was just considerate. You didn’t want to spoil your appetite either thinking about him doing this with other women. It may have been selfish, but for a little while, you just wanted to pretend that all of this was exclusive to you. 

As you ate through your breakfast, you thought about your potential new room. Cleaning up your old one and salvaging what you could was going to take a little time. Perhaps you should consider installing an extra lock just in case. 

Meanwhile, Ghost was busy examining camera footage from last night in a security room, trying to catch the assholes that decided to harrass you. He examined the monitors closely, watching the past-you head into the showers with your caddy and clothes without a care in the world. Then, he saw the culprits creep along the halls. A group of young boys. Four of them. After congregating outside the showers, they split into pairs. One pair headed into the showers, soon coming out with your clothes, while the other headed down to your room. They made quick work of picking your lock, the locks themselves quite dated since it wasn’t much of a priority to fix on base. 

Underneath one of the boy’s shirts was the outline of a few beer bottles. The door closed, hiding all the awful things that they did from the camera’s perspective. However, within just a few minutes, they all came back out, prideful grins on their punchable faces. He was quick to identify the men with the security tech. From there, he pulled their files up. 

He read all of their personal information without remorse. Reputation notes on base, strengths, weaknesses, family history, educational history. Ghost realized that this was your old squad. Compared to your file, the boys were unexceptional. No wonder you were pulled from them. 

No wonder they had a bone to pick with you.

The pieces of the puzzle began to fit together as Ghost investigated more and more. Pulling out old mission files from your old squad revealed consistent success, yet, not without teamwork struggles. Accidents, incidents, and “mistakes” were recorded in each mission. It was clear that you picked up the pieces and dragged the team to success despite the tension, an unfair burden to place on your shoulders. 

There was no record of explicit details of harassment or reports of bullying. He deeply sighed, picturing you facing your harrassment only to decide that it was better not to say anything. Surely, you weren’t afraid of the consequences if you spoke up. Ghost knew that that wasn’t how you were based on how you have worked with them. No, you kept your mouth shut to save your own reputation. You were someone that wouldn’t be sway by something as juvenile as bullying out of jealousy. 

For a moment, Ghost admired your resolved. At the same time, he wanted to scold you for being stubborn about not telling anyone. These boys didn’t belong on base. They didn’t even seem to belong in higher education. 

Ghost decided that these boys had to go.

~

You were cleaning up your old room, taking irreplaceable belongings to be moved to your new room. Price was notified about what happened from Ghost. When you saw him about a new room, Price more than complied. He got you a room closer to the other 141, figuring that you would feel safer if your neighbors were your teammates. He also demanded full details on any and every past incident of harassment, taking careful notes to keep on record. This would make sure that the boys would really be blacklisted from other branches of the military. 

It felt awkward telling him the long list of incidents, your captain’s eyes staring straight into your soul to get every ounce of the truth. Every so often, he looked like he wanted to scold you for not speaking up sooner, but he choked it down. You did what you thought was right and it technically was. It was clear that you were someone that didn’t crumble under pressure. You’ve proven yourself fully on that front. His trust in you grew as he looked at the long report you both worked on.

“Y/n, do you want these to fix?” Soap asked you, holding up a broken picture frame that, with a little wood glue, could be fixed. You would just need a new sheet of glass for it. Soap and Gaz had volunteered to help you clean as soon as they heard what happened. They were in your old room with you, picking up anything you deemed unsavable for trash. 

“Sure. Thank you guys again for helping me out.” You graciously thanked, putting the broken frame in a box along with other things you plan to fix. 

Gaz waved his hand, dismissing your gratitude. “It’s nothing. You’re one of us. We would do this for any of our team members.” 

“How’s Ghost doing? Have you seen him?” You couldn’t help but inquire. You haven’t seen him since last night when he tucked you into bed. There were rumors circling around the base that he was in a sour mood with the rookies, taking it upon himself to dictate their training regime today. 

Soap shook his head and chuckled at your question. “Giving them hell out there today. I saw him earlier doing spar training. He’s beating the shit out of them. Not sure if it’s actually helping better his mood.”

A laugh escaped Gaz as he swept up broken glass. “Knowing him, it’s probably not. He won’t be happy until he sees tears.”

You pictured Ghost demanding more laps, more push-ups, and more pull-ups. Throwing hard punch after punch towards your bullies as they try to figure out what they did to piss him off so bad. The idea of him defending your honor like that made you feel fluffy inside. Yet, your brain told you that you should probably talk to him about it, especially if he wasn’t feeling better after it all anyway. 

Looking around the room, you could tell that you were just about close to done. Cleaning was easier to do when you just simply had to throw most of the things away. You managed to save your pictures and personal trinkets. Anything cloth was ruined, but replaceable. The mattress had to be tossed, but that was on the military to replace since it was just one of their standard-issue barracks mattresses. 

As you took a look around, Gaz handed you a cold soda. “You going to miss it?”

You shrugged, the soda opening with a satisfying sound. Soap was handed one as well to which he gratefully drank. It was pretty warm in the rookie barracks, the building getting the most sunlight beating down on the building. The air conditioning system was pretty old as well, making air circulation a challenge. Soap, Gaz, and you were sweating through your shirts. 

“Nah, not really. As much as I tried to make it look like home, it didn’t really feel like it, you know? Not too many pleasant memories here either.” You honestly answered, tucking your small box of things between your side and your arm to carry out. Gaz and Soap finished their cans and grabbed as many trash bags as they could.

Before they closed the door to the empty room, you said a silent, final goodbye to it. You weren’t going to miss it, but it was still a small part of your life that you wouldn’t forget. 

As you and the men walked across base with your things, you could see your old team completing jumping jacks, sweat soaking their clothes and their skins completely red from exhaustion. Ghost was glaring them down, conveying that if they even thought about slowing down that he would have no problem tacking on another ten.

You sighed and turned to Soap, holding out your box of things to keep safe. “You mind holding this for me? I’m gonna go talk to him real quick.

Once he took your things, you made your way to Ghost who didn’t even realize you were coming. It wasn’t until one of the boys locked eyes with you with a contemptuous stare that Ghost realized that you were behind him. He had the urge to punch him just for looking at you like you were the bad guy. However, he held his cool for you.

“Y/n, something I can help you with?” He asked respectfully, his tone full of his lieutenant authority. As much as he wanted to be sweeter with you, he couldn’t let down his deadly facade in front of the boys who decided to take their jealousy out on you. 

You looked to Ghost and then to your bullies, seeing just how exhausted they were. Their chests were heaving, trying to take in as much air as they could. They had bruises forming on their arms and legs, injuries from sparring. They looked like they could drop dead at any moment. “I think they need a break. Don’t you think so?”

Ghost narrowed his eyes at them, seeing how exhausted they were for the first time today. He was pushing them hard. Too hard. He didn’t regret it though. But, he supposed that they suffered enough before being discharged. “Alright. You’re done with your drills. Follow me to your captain. We have some important news to discuss.”

The rookies sighed in relief, their legs shaking from fatigue. In the brief moment when they took a quick breather, Ghost turned back to you, his gaze softening slightly. “I’ll see you later. Still have business to take care of.”

You gave a respectful nod and salute before heading back to your new room. As you left, Ghost watched you go. The plain shirt and simple joggers he left for you fit nicely on your figure. He was worried that it wouldn’t be suitable for you. Thankfully, you seemed perfectly satisfied with your new clothes. 

The way the joggers hugged your hips and accentuated your curves near had him drooling, though. 

Snapping out of his stupor, he barked at the rookies to get a move on to their captain. Finally, they will be sent back home and learn more consequences for their actions. 

~

It’s been a week since you first moved into your new room. It was a little bigger than the rookie barracks, allowing more pieces of furniture to fit in the room if someone had a piece from the outside. You had spent your nights settling in. Fixing your things, putting them up, folding new clothes and uniforms, and decorating the space with new things. You had a new bookshelf now which Ghost built for you while you focused on the new wardrobe. 

You told him that you could build a simple IKEA bookshelf by yourself, already grateful that he was proactive in getting rid of trash soldiers that didn’t belong. However, he was insistent on helping you out, finding any and every opportunity to spend time with you. Not that you were complaining. You loved how much he was spending time with you. 

Everything seemed just about perfect. Until the 141 was called into a meeting to discuss the details of the next mission. Another deployment to save the world. The team was given their target, their route, and their grace period. Deployment would start tomorrow. 

It felt a little strange to say goodbye to your new room so soon. It felt like you just managed to call it home. As you looked around, taking it all in, there was a soft knock on your door. When you called for them to come in, you were met with a rather anxious-looking Ghost. You’ve never seen him this way before. 

“Hey, is something wrong?” You asked softly, conveying a certain gentleness that made his heart stir. 

He cleared his throat as he closed the door behind him, wanting a little privacy. “Actually, I wanted to check on you. You seemed depressed at the briefing.”

You gave him a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine. Just didn’t think we’d be deployed so soon. That’s all.” 

He nodded in acknowledgement, but didn’t make a motion to leave. For a moment, he looked around your new room, taking in all the pictures of family, friends, and art. You looked so happy in all of the pictures, a wide grin on your face in each one. The combination of smells from your detergent, perfume, and air freshener suited you well. He couldn’t imagine your room smelling any other way.

On the wall was an empty picture frame. It was small, only being able to house a picture less than the size of a standard sheet of paper. It was on your nightstand, clearly meant to be something important to you. “What’s supposed to be in that frame?”

You looked at what he was referring to and picked it up, tracing the smooth frame with your fingers. “I’ve been saving this frame for a special picture. A team picture whenever there’s a chance to take one. Gaz, Soap, Price, Kate, you, and me. Sorry if that sounds cheesy.”

“It’s not.” He corrected you quickly, taking the frame out of your hands to put back on your nightstand. He actually found it really sweet. He had a few pictures of him and his team, but it needed an update to include you. The picture he had was a little dated anyway, showcasing a team when they first formed.

With a warm smile you, pat the space on your bed next to you, gesturing for him to take a seat. He took it, his weight causing the mattress to dip in. You ended up moving closer to him from the sudden dip, your side pressed against his. Awkwardly, you laughed and scooted back further, trying to give him some space. Your cheeks were burning red hot from the contact, something that Simon definitely noticed. 

As he looked at you, his heart began to pick up the pace. It’s been a while since the two of you were in a private space together like this. While he did help set your room up, the door was always left open and you were obviously busy working. Now, he had your full, exclusive attention. 

Simon has been waiting for a moment like this. Since the team was to be deployed tomorrow, it was now or never to do what he wanted to do.

“Y/n, I got something important to tell you.” He began, his stomach tying itself in knots. He hasn’t confessed to anybody in a long time. Actually, now that he thought about it, he never did. He was always the one being confessed to. His feelings have never been strong enough for anybody to be the one to confess first. Until he met you, that is.

You looked up at him, your head tilting in curiosity. What could Ghost possibly want to talk about? His expression was gravely serious, making you filled with anxiety. “Yes?”

He took a deep, shaky breath as he tried to find the words to say. As much as he ran through a script through his head, it was hard to say the words out loud. It was like the words would stop in his throat and choke him. Damn, why was this hard? His gaze dropped to the floor as he kicked himself for being so pathetic.

Seeing him seem to struggle with his words broke your heart. Wanting to provide some encouragement and comfort, you took his hands into your, giving them a little squeeze. 

When his eyes met yours again, he saw nothing but warmth. Nothing but love. For a minute, one of his hands left yours to remove his mask. For the first time, you saw Simon’s face in the full light. It took your breath away. The way his eyes shone a brilliant blue, sharp to match his features that seemed to be carved from marble, made you feel like you could jump with joy. It was an honor to be trusted this much.

The hand that left yours went up to caress your cheek, Simon not being able to help but touch you when you looked at him like he was the most handsome man you have ever met. He took in your features too. Your beautiful eyes, kissable lips, the cutest nose he’s ever laid his eyes on. 

He still couldn’t say the words he needed to say, however, he was a man of action anyway. Slowly, he leaned in to kiss you, something that you met halfway because you wanted to kiss him just as bad. The feeling of his lips on yours gave you shivers, a warmth creeping to every part of your body. Simon’s lips were a little chapped, yet soft nonetheless. Already, you felt like you would become addicted to his kisses. 

Feeling a little greedy, you deepened the kiss, your kisses becoming more intense and feverish. Not being able to resist, Simon leaned into it, his tongue swiping your lips for permission to which you eagerly granted. When his slick tongue met yours, you moaned against his mouth, control crumbling away each second. 

God, he tasted so good. So much better than you imagined. His hands landed on your hips, pulling you closer to him until you were flush against him. He ate up every moan that came from you, his tongue gliding against yours to keep them coming. You shuttered as his hands gripped your hips, refusing to let you go for even a moment. 

Simon pulled to let you catch your breath. However, he was far from being done with you. As you gasped for air, he peppered your neck with intense, needy kisses. His tongue dragged along your skin followed by a bite to leave a hickey. Hands began to crawl up under your shirt, his large, strong hands feeling up your smooth skin. 

You trembled and bit your lip, praying that he wouldn’t stop touching you. Your thighs rubbed together tightly as you felt the electricity travel through your sex. There was no doubt in your mind that you were already getting hot and wet for him. The love bites he was leaving on your skin felt amazing.

Naturally, you fell back onto the bed as Simon kept leaning towards you. Before he knew it, he was on top of you, fondling your breasts underneath your clothes. His fingers worked their way underneath your bra to pinch your nipples. They were hard between his fingers as he squeezed, pinched and tugged. 

Your back arched from his touch, legs spreading unconsciously so he could fit right between them. As your back arched, he took the opportunity to unsnap your bra. His lips crashed into yours after he pulled your bra and shirt over your head, allowing him to have a clear view of your gorgeous body. 

As he looked down at you, he swallowed hard. Perky, pink nipples, blushing skin, shivers traveling through your nerves. Christ, he was turned on. There was a tent in his pants that rubbed against your crotch, sending delicious aches for more through you. 

“Sorry, love. I didn’t even say what I wanted to say yet.” Simon suddenly apologized, realizing that he was eating you up much too quickly. He couldn’t help it. You were his favorite meal now. 

You gave a genuine chuckle, finding his thoughtfulness yet thoughtlessness cute. “It’s alright, Simon. We can keep going. I don’t mind it if that’s how you want to convey how you feel.”

His eyes flashed with pure love for you. He was grateful that you could read him this way. Still, you deserved to hear the words out loud. “My feelings for you extend past just physical contact. I want us to be together with the long-term in mind. This is just me being unable to resist you.”

While unconventional, you still found his words to be romantic. He was making the effort to say them to you, after all. Your heart swelled for him, filling with joy as you learned that he shared your feelings. A large smile naturally formed on your face. “I feel the same exact way. I want to be with you as a couple. The more I have gotten to know you, the more I want you.”

Simon gingerly laid himself on top of you, sealing the deal with a deep kiss. You could feel his heart hammering inside his chest, feelings overflowing from the both of you. When he pulled away, you cleared your throat awkwardly, a new embarrassment sweeping across your cheeks.

“So. . . Are we going to continue?” You cautiously asked, afraid that you’ll sound like a complete pervert if you didn’t choose your words carefully. 

He quirked a brow, propping himself up with his muscular arms to see you better. Simon didn’t expect you to want more even with how far you’ve already gone. He didn’t want to rush you, but he wanted to be honest. “You want to? If we do, I can’t promise that I can be gentle right now.”

The sound of your beautiful laughter filled his ears again. “Thank you for your honesty. I still want to. I don’t mind if you’re rough with me. I just want to experience all of you before deployment. Who knows when we will get this chance again.”

Your honesty was a breath of fresh air, relief falling upon his shoulders. The fact that you were willing to accept all of him meant the world to him. You wanted him as is, no matter what that entailed. Ghost would do his best to not push you too far. However, he still planned to fuck you good. So good that you would never imagine being with another man.

He stripped his shirt off, allowing you to touch his scarred chest freely. Shivers went down his spine as your hands traced them, his muscles flexing under your touch. You were practically salivating at his muscles. Simon felt amazing to touch and see in the light. You could hardly believe that you had the privilege to touch him like this.

You gulped, your cunt getting slicker as he slowly pulled your pants off. The terms “boyfriend” and “lover” floated around your brain along with “Simon.” All you could think about was him and the fact that he was now your boyfriend. Plus, he wanted to fuck you as much as you wanted to fuck him. 

Raising your hips, you allowed your new boyfriend to remove your pants completely along with your panties. Simon took a second to get nude too, not wanting you to feel alone in your vulnerability. From his pants sprung his arousal, slightly bigger than average and girthy. Throbbing, aching. The sight made you shutter in anticipation, imagining it filling up your pussy and fucking you like he was claiming you. God damn, did you want him to make you his.

Instead of filling you up like you wanted, he continued more foreplay, needing to make sure that you could fit him comfortably. Besides that, he wanted to drive you crazy. He wanted you to get so worked up that you would beg for him. He wanted you to not just want him, but need him.

Simon began raining kisses down across every inch of your skin. He nipped, bit, licked, and suckled everywhere, taking note of your most sensitive spots to exploit. So far, you whimpered when he attacked your neck. You gasped when he bit your nipples. You moaned when he squeezed your thighs. Flipping to expose your back, you absolutely squirmed when he traced his tongue along your spine. 

“Hold still, love.” He sensually whispered, kisses landing on your sensitive back with his weight trying to hold you down. You moaned as you felt him suckle, determined to leave his marks all over you. 

“I can’t when you’re teasing me like this!” You confessed, shuttered as his fingers slowly traced the curve of your back.

He smirked behind you, watching you tremble. “Your back sensitive, love?”

A small nod signaled that you were. Your hips were lifted naturally as you arched, perfect ass pressing against Simon’s hard-on. His breath hitched and he grabbed your hips to stop you from any attempts at grinding. Your pussy was drooling down your thighs, folds swollen pink. As he guided you to raise your hips further, he sighed. “Damn, look at this fucking mess. Hold still for me. And I mean it.”

Before you could ask what he was doing, you felt his tongue lap up your mess, causing you to moan loudly into the pillow. It felt like your whole body was charged with electricity as Simon slipped his tongue into your dripping, hot cunt, tasting you like candy. Trying to stifle your volume, you buried your face and bit your lip. 

He traced the length of you, feeling how soft you were from your entrance to your swollen clit. All with his wet tongue that you couldn’t get enough of. As he devoured you from behind, his hands grabbed your body, groping your hips, waist, thighs, and back to feel more of your softness. You were nearly screaming as he sucked on your clit, lathering it with his taste buds. It became nearly impossible to stay still, earthquakes running through you in waves.

“Even if I keep cleaning you up, you keep making more of a mess. Are you that turned on, love?” He teased, his tone light but his voice husky. Simon hardened his grip on you as you shook to keep you still.

“S-Simon!” You whined, embarrassed by his teasing. Hearing his name cry out for him like that made him throb, his cock aching to be inside you already. Little did he know that he was actually edging you. You were incredibly close to an orgasm with how long the foreplay was going. You felt your pussy tighten and leak, yearning for release. However, Simon always slowed down just enough to keep you hanging. 

What you really wanted to do was cry out for him, beg him to fuck you already. Of course, you didn’t say anything though. All you could really do was moan and whimper to avoid fully embarrassing yourself. You didn’t want to seem desperate, even though you were. 

Simon was ready to hear you beg, though. “What is it, love? What do you want?”

He continued to tease you, still darting his tongue out to play with every corner of your cunt. You gasped as he began to eat you out again, a mix of his saliva and your nectar running down your legs and staining your new bed sheets. Fuck, why won’t he just fuck you already?!

It suddenly clicked for you. Simon was waiting for you to beg. The longer you held it in, the longer he would wait to give you what you really wanted. You didn’t know that Simon was that kind of dominant man in bed, but Jesus, did it make you melt for him. 

“S-Simon, please! Please fuck me already!” You cried, not being able to take any more of his teasing. 

His kisses on your cunt slowed to a stop, a grin forming on his face as you begged for him. Just before he could reach down to the floor for his pants to fish out a condom from his wallet, you grabbed his wrist. Butt still in the air, you wiggled your hips. Your eyes were glazed over with desire, making his breath shutter. 

“Now, Simon!” You continued to plead, losing your patience by the second. 

“Love, I need to get a-”

“I have an IUD! Fuck, just put your cock inside me already!” You interrupted him, the need in your body almost painful at this point. Whether he meant to or not, he edged you for too long.

Ghost wasn’t prepared to hear such dirty talk come from your sweet mouth, but he loved it. He loved that you dropped your manners in desperation for him. Without any hesitation, he positioned himself behind you, rubbing his head between your folds to get some of your natural lube on him. The feeling of his hard erection entering you was agonizingly slow for your needs. 

Clinging onto the sheets, you whimpered, the feeling of his huge cock stretching you out making you quake. However, it wasn't enough. You didn’t care if it would hurt. You needed all of him. Now. “Si-”

Before you could call for him for more, he roughly slammed his hips against you, bottoming out completely all of a sudden. Your breath got trapped in your throat as an orgasm crashed over you. All that edging made you cum just from being entered so roughly. Pleasure traveled all throughout your nerves, Your pussy clenched down tightly, Simon having to grip your hips to steady himself. The feeling made his own head fuzzy. “Shit, love. You’re so fucking tight! Did you just cum?”

Your heart was nearly thumping out of your chest, still getting over your sudden climax. “You were edging me! I couldn’t help it!”

“Oh, sorry, love. I’ll make it all up to you.” He promised mischievously before absolutely ravaging you with his cock. His thrusts were hard and fast, sending ripples along your ass as he pounded into you.

You screamed into the pillow, the sensation almost overwhelming you completely. He rubbed against every sweet spot you had, hitting you deeper than you ever experienced before. Hands landed on the small of your back, holding you down on the bed as you took every single inch of him. This downward dog position had him rub your g-spot over and over again. Your mind began to feel numb, moan after moan leaving your lips that sent Simon into a frenzy.

He wanted to make you moan even more. More than that, he wanted to hear his name from those pretty little lips of yours. “Moan my name, love. Let me hear you cry it out.”

His cock pulsed as you gave him exactly what he wanted. You gasped, moaned, and cried out his name, each time sending you closer to the edge again. Having his name escape from your lips made you aroused as well, your pussy clenching around him in a way that made Simon want to give you even more. He was glad that you liked it rough. Of course, he would eventually make love to you nice and slow. Tonight though, he really wanted to keep fucking you as if you’ve been together for a long time already. 

This was him at his most wild. Thank god you could be wild too. 

“Fuck, love! Keep tightening around my cock like that and I’ll cum!” Simon groaned, getting lost in his own pleasure as your hot cunt stimulated every inch of him. Each time he moved out, your pussy tightened around him to keep him in. Your juices were covering him entirely, making a mess out of the both of you. 

Hearing him warn that Simon will cum inside you sent a delicious shock of pure pleasure through you. You wanted him to do exactly that as soon as he mentioned it. Your insides craved it, tightening around him more to incentivize him to do it. “Do it, Simon! Please, give it all to me!”

He moaned, completely losing it as you begged for his cum. Without warning, he took one of your arms and pinned it behind your back. His other hand rested on your head, grabbing a fistful of hair to completely pin you against the mattress in an inescapable position. Your vision blurred with stars as he railed you. Your abdomen clenched and your body trembled as you felt another orgasm hit you. 

As you cried out in ecstacy, Simon gave away his own grunts and moans, feeling the pressure build up. You felt so good cumming all over his length. How that much slicker you got, how you tightened to milk him dry, how you quivered against him. 

Before he knew it, he reached his own climax. Hot ropes of cum poured into the deepest parts of you. Jolts of electricity ran through you as you felt him throb at each release. You whimpered at the sensation, the feeling prolonging your orgasm. By the time he was done filling you up, you were shaking like a leaf. 

Finally, Simon let go of you, slowly pulling out and watching your combined fluids drip down your thighs and to the bed. He noticed your arms were red with how firm he gripped you. Sweat shimmered on your body, giving you a whole new beauty that he fully appreciated. He gently helped you lay down, your limbs feeling like total jelly and your mind nothing but fuzz. 

As you caught your breath, Simon grabbed one of your small hand towels along with a bottle of water from the mini-fridge he helped install in your room. For a moment, he was worried that he was too rough with you. However, as you came to, your expression seemed content. Satisfied. You’ve never been dicked down like that ever. It was something you always wanted to experience. Masturbation wasn’t enough to give you an orgasm that strong either. 

You were glad that you could experience it all with Simon as his new lover. 

He handed you the bottle of cold water, allowing you to drink first. As you drank, he cleaned you up with a towel. It was nice that he could be such a gentleman even after such rough sex. “You okay, love? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Not at all. That was fucking amazing!” You honestly confessed, a grin on your face. Now that the both of you were done and he’s seen it all from you, you weren’t as embarrassed as before. 

Simon gave a soft smile back, drinking from the bottle when you handed it to him. “Good. You really are something special, you know that, y/n? You take me for me. You aren’t afraid to say what you want and get what you want when it comes to things you really care about.”

His compliments were so sweet and heartfelt that you felt compelled to kiss his cheek. And that you did, your soft lips landing on his cheek. “Thank you, Simon. I really appreciate it. You know, I think you’re really special too. You were my muse during my training, you know? Seeing your high scores around the base, hearing about all the great work you’ve done, all the respect you earned. It inspired me to become the best soldier I could be for my country. So, thanks for believing in me and helping me do just that.”

Suddenly, he pulled you into a tight hug, laying in your bed with you. Hearing those words come from you meant everything to him. While he had confidence normally, a part of him always wondered if he had become the man he always wanted to be yet. You had just given that confidence boost he needed to know that he was a good soldier, a good man, and a good lover worthy enough to be yours. 

You laid in his arms, taking everything in as he hugged you close. Finally, he was all yours. 

~

The plane was getting ready to take off, just waiting for your team to load up and settle in for the ride. You had a long trip ahead of you. A tough mission too. Gaz, Soap, and Price patted your shoulder as they got on, you having beaten them in boarding first. Then, Ghost came aboard, skull balaclava clinging to his face. He looked you up and down before giving you a firm nod of approval, taking the spare seat beside you. You haven’t told the team that you two were officially dating yet, but they had their suspicions. Especially after Ghost disappeared into your room until morning last he was seen the night before. 

Now, it was quite obvious as he sat beside you, closer than every and taking your hand in his. They didn’t say anything, of course. They were just happy that the two of you finally got together. Everyone noticed how you looked at Ghost and how he looked at you. 

Simon squeezed your hand reassuringly as the plane took off into the air. You suppressed an obvious smile and closed your eyes, patiently waiting for you to arrive at your destination. 

While you were normally a bit nervous before a new mission, this time, you felt no fear. It was hard to feel any fear now that you had everything you could possibly want. A supportive team, friends for life, a new home, and the love of your life.

[just-an-enby-lemon]

The people are different versions but still exist in TMAGP and that absolutly is the one thing moving a very specific TMA AU.

Basically besides joining the Institute, Tim gets very into online supernatural foruns trying to find people with similar experiences. So one day he gets a mysterious mensage from someone about the "thing wearing my brother's skin". The e-mail is about a young lady that says something very similar happened to her and her uncle and she has been investigating similar stories since. They chat more and with Sasha advice Tim decides fuck it and meets the woman, both pretend it's a date.

Everything is well until Tim mentions working dor the Magnus Institute, she, who presented herself only by Gwen, pales and goes "oh you're one of them" and leaves after saying "I'm not playing his games. I'm not feeding him." Tim is very confused, he thinks maybe the Institue tried to investigate her case and failed. They are not in the archive yet so he asks Jon and Sasha with help without giving any detail, basically hoping Sasha conection with Gertrude means she has acess to the archives and Jon being way to into spending long nights working will help them sort whatever Sasha finds.

Except Sasha finds nothing. Until a random day were she comes up with a big grim and goes "you guys won't ever be abble to guess what I found out?" and open in a very funky web page advertising Gwendolyn Bouchard, paranormal lawyer. Sasha is laughting, Jon is ranting about what a paranormal lawyer would even be but Tim is like "oh shit, that's her".

He doesn't connect the dots at first. Or doesn't want to. But he keeps thinking about "I'm not feeding him" and he is like "random question what do you guys know about Elias" and Sasha goes research into it.

At this point he and Jon aren't close friends but they are friends and if their boss is one of the things that ate his brother he needs to figure out something. With the assumption Elias is a clown, Tim does actually notice how creepy Elias is with Jon and is fully "Jon won't belive me but Elias is totally into eating his insides or whatever". So he tells the truth to Sasha and tricks Jon into visiting Gwen's lawyer thing for answers.

I still did not figure out most of the other things, except that Alice and Gwen are together in this verse and Alice made the web design for Gwen's page. I also know I want alt Sam and I want just our Celia who keeps almost meeting them but never doing. Or even a Celia that came back and has a dificult time being at her world and interacting with different versions of people that mattered so much to her.

I don't know still what to do with Sam, because I think Martin was very clearly Jonah backup archivist and the thing is Elias will try to convince Jon Gwen is the crazy/evil one and either he'll suceed making Jon betray his friends and be the archivist but with different assistants (except Martin) or he won't and Martin will start as the archivist. And while backup archivist/archival assistant Sam makes sense I'm unsure I want that for him. I'm thinking maybe this version of Sam after failing to get into Oxford went into a "rebelious" phase instead of doubling down in trying to met his parents high expectations and ended up joining Melanie ghost hunting channel. But not sure.

Like if I actually go the route of Celia is back trying to find help for both her worlds a Sam that's not quite the Sam she knows/cares about would be interesting. Like he is deep down the same but also he isn't in some obvious ways and she might just miss her Sam more. But if this is an AU not as connected with Protocol than maybe a Sam that's pretty much our Sam but if he was in Archives would make sense. Idk.

And ofc Basira and Daisy that I'm always partial to but I have no clue how to add, except maybe with them starting as Gwen and Alice rivals because Gwen attorney bussiness interferes with their sectioned police work. Also Gwen being an attorney is a 100% because I fully think she was her normal manipulative rise to the top and keep the Bouchard's name girl and went into law school for it except she mets Alice and by the same period Jonah happens and she was close to Elias (even if in parts was because she looked better in the family eyes when they were together by comparison) and it changed everything.

I don't know a lot about Alice either but she was Lena's college roomate and atended classes with Colin (yes he is here as well, unsure what to do with him tho). She had a paranormal encounter that left a scar similar but in oposition to Georgie's where she has a "spider sense" sort of think and can feel when the fears are involved, she knows if a library or book fair has a Leitner and where for example. It happened when she was young and possibly involved meeting my boy Gerry but she tried to avoid the supernatural ever since. She was very reluctant over helping Gwen except she acidentaly overheard her talking to "Elias" and Jonah messed with her head. More importantly she knows that ignoring sometimes is worse because some secret involving her baby brother who may or may not have joined Grifters Bone and becamed a Slaughter Avatar.

The supernatural lawyer was a joke from Alice but Gwen took it seriusly and Alice was loke "really?" and guess this moron will need help to not die/became an avatar and became her paralegal (tho it had nothing to do with her actual college diploma).

[typicalopposite]

Got an idea I will flesh out into a more coherent full length fic closer to Halloween BUT imagine with me if you will…

Buck wanting to go to this haunted house… attraction or the real deal whichever.. and he wrangles in the whole team. (Tommy, Eddie, Hen, and Chim)

They go and on the way they are listening to scary stories, and the three believers are sharing experiences and so hyped up… meanwhile Tommy and Eddie are like … 🙄🙃 yall are ridiculous gullible scaredy cats.

So they arrive at the place. (Let’s go with an attraction but it’s AT a supposedly haunted place) and the believers are screaming and running and swearing they see/hear/smell(?) things not part of the experience! They are having a blast but also scared out of their minds… and the whole time Tommy and Eddie are still 🙄🙃

They disprove all the “real” activity. They call out the cheesy fakeness of the actors/jump scares… and by the end Buck Hen and Chim are pouty from the two being party poopers (Chim’s words) and boring.

So…

Buck gets an idea… a way to really see if they are as brave and non-believing as they insist they are.

He finds a school… abandoned after the earthquake, but it had been claimed to be haunted even when it was open to students. It was built over a cemetery and was extremely eerie and supposedly super active; especially now that the ground was split open beneath it and the graves were disturbed.

“One night,” Buck proposes. “From sunset, to sunrise… you two last without experiencing anything, and we will stop giving you shit about being skeptics.”

Tommy rolls his eyes, says this is juvenile and probably illegal (what would Athena say). Eddie, on the other hand, leaps at the idea.. eager to prove these three wrong ONCE AND FOR ALL! “Come on, man!” Eddie all but begs. “Let’s show them how ridiculous they are always being!” Tommy teases it’s easy for Eddie to be so quick to prove them wrong… he doesn’t have to go home to one of them after… but he ultimately agrees.

So they go to the school. Some flashlights and snacks- Eddie brings his baseball bat incase any other people decide to get the same silly idea, and pose a threat. Buck reminds them: from sunset… to sunrise. They have their phones to call in case of absolute emergency… but if they try to leave before that for any other reason then they lose the bet.

Fast forward to a few hours in. They are bored and tired… and nothing has happened… until—until Tommy hears footsteps from somewhere in the school. He’d be lying if he said the sound coupled with the over all decrepitness of the old building didn’t send a chill through him. But because it could be some person with bad intentions— after all… real people are FAR scarier than pretend ghosts and goblins.

He hears it again— this time closer. Light tap tap tapping of footsteps coming down the hallway outside the room they are currently sitting in. “Hey… do you hear that?” he asks Eddie, who rolls his eyes and says it’s probably the others trying to scare them. He tells him to chill out. Tommy rolls his eyes at himself, thinking Eddie is probably right— that’s definitely something Buck and Chim would do… he’s not sure about Hen but he wouldn’t fully doubt it.

The night continues and Tommy doesn’t hear the footsteps again… for a while. They have wandered around a little and suddenly he hears them coming from behind them. Next to him, out of the corner of his eye he sees Eddie go still. They turn slowly and there is nothing behind them. No where for someone to have ducked down to hide either… and nothing to rationalize as the culprit for the footsteps. They (shakily) shrug it off and continue to explore the school.

There are pictures of the gravestones that were removed to make way for the foundation of the school. And plaques telling about spooky occurrences that have happened. Eddie scoffs saying they deserved to be haunted for disturbing a burial ground like that.

From down the hall a door slams shut. Both men jump, look at each other, then shine their lights towards the noise… it takes them a moment to decide whether it’s worth investigating, and ultimately decide if it’s the others… they don’t feel like listening to their teasing that they were to scared to check the noise out. So they make their way towards the room of the door that slammed, and Tommy reaches for the knob as Eddie readies his bat… just in case it’s NOT Buck, Chim, or Hen.

He pushes the door open and a breeze blows out, sending goosebumps all over Tommy’s body. He lifts his flashlight and shines it in the room… and it’s empty. He sticks his head in to be sure and yep… empty. Well— It’s empty minus a single red balloon floating ominously in the corner. He holds the light on it… Tries to make some sort of logical sense of it… asks Eddie what he thinks of it…

“I think I’m gonna kick those idiots asses come morning…” Eddie concludes, and lowers his bat, grabbing the door and pulling it shut. He walks off mumbling to himself about them needing to grow up, this being stupid… blah blah blah… and Tommy is about to turn and follow when the knob to the door slowly turns and it creaks open. Eddie stops and calls back to Tommy, asking what he’s doing.

“That�� that wasn’t me…” Tommy says, shining his light at the door. Eddie walks back over and they watch as the door fully opens itself— both lift their lights and the balloon from the corner is now in the center of the room. They stare at it, and it sways forward— towards them. “Are— are you seeing this too?” Tommy asks.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah I see it. It’s— it’s just a draft, or— or something, yeah?”

“Yeah. Yeah yeah yeah… for sure.”

The balloon gently lurches forward again, now just on the other side of the open door. Tommy and Eddie— flashlights still aimed at the balloon— slowly back away from the door, down the hall to the point the rooms no longer visible. The school sits eerily silent, save for their staggered breathing. Then there’s a loud crash from somewhere behind them, causing both of them to turn. Theres nothing fallen over or broken… they turn back… and now the ballon is right infront of them.

~~~

Outside the school, Hen is shushing Buck and Chim who are in a fit of giggles as they pull dark hoods up over their pale and grotesque painted faces. “Shut up or you’re going to give us away!” She hisses, her phones camera aimed at the two as they sneak around the side of the school, creeping towards the entrance into the school so they can scare the shit out of the non believers.

The hear two loud terrified screams wail out from inside and watch as the schools doors are flung open, Tommy and Eddie running out and towards Eddie’s truck. One falls over his own feet grunting and groaning as he collides with the ground, one is possibly sobbing as he frantically tugs on the trucks door handle. And in less than five seconds they are loaded in and peeling off down the road away from the school… leaving Buck Chimney and Hen staring after them… extremely confused… but it doesn’t matter… because they won the bet.

👻👻👻👻👻

Idea sparked from THIS FANART omg it is GOLDEN!

Also inspired (the school on the graveyard and the balloon) from THIS TIKTOK that follows the same premise and is CREEPY AF! 🫶👻

[bri-sonat]

Life Eternal

Follow up to Enjoy the Silence

Pairing: Brienne of Tarth x fem!knight!reader

Warnings: NSFW!!! heavy smut, semi-public sex, spit kink, scratching, praise kink, lil bit of degradation, corruption kink if you squint, sub!brienne, thigh grinding, angst.

A/N: i apologize for this. it was meant to be smutty but the song made me do it. i am already working on the very smutty (for real this time) ending, just so i don’t leave you all in the pit of despair. once again, english is not my first language so ignore grammar mistakes and such. once again, very sorry.

thank you to my dear bestie aron @queerofalltrades for proof-reading this for me. they’re doing the fandom a favor.

The first thing you noticed as you roused from sleep was the warm body next to you, her form pressed against yours, skin against skin.

The feeling of her naked flesh against yours was something you wanted to savor. Something to lock away in your memory vault to pull out in case of emergencies.

The taller woman had her arm slung over your waist, your legs gracefully tangled together. Deep, hot breaths against your cheek made you open your eyes, taking in your surroundings.

Brienne was still asleep, soft snores leaving her slightly opened mouth. Taking advantage of the situation, you locked away the sight of her, face so peaceful and unforced. Her hair messy from sleep, blonde locks falling freely.

It was only you who would ever get the chance to see her like this, with her guard down and utterly defenseless. Knowing the amount of hurt she had suffered in her past made you even more proud of her for trusting you in this way.

Brienne had trust issues, that much was obvious for those who knew her. Eyes hiding so much sorrow only seen by those she trusted enough, people like you. She wanted you to see everything about her, therefore she allowed you to look inside the deepest and darkest corners of her soul.

However, that also permitted you to see the most lit up ones, shining so brightly it was blinding. Like the glint that would appear in her eyes when she smiled, or the way they would light up as she ranted about her various travels. The secret enjoyment her deep ceruleans would harbor when she spoke about putting men who had underestimated her in their ‘rightful place’. All of this could be seen, if she let you see it.

So there was not only misery behind her beautiful eyes, because along with the deep sorrow that was written on her soul, was also joy. Joy and glee that was a sight to behold, a privilege extended to those she held dearest. Her laugh, reserved for you only, was the most wonderfully composed aria you had ever heard. It was deep, and unapologetically free, coming naturally after she had met you.

Then there was the laughter that wasn’t as true, the laugh she would let out in the middle of a heartbreaking story in an attempt to lighten the mood. It was silly really, and unbelievably sad that she felt the need to pretend that her heart didn’t cry when reliving her most miserable tales. Almost like she felt that her feelings didn’t matter enough to be taken seriously, like she didn’t matter.

One of these anecdotes had been about the ball her father held. She had told you how he had hosted it to find a potential suitor for her, inviting lots of young lords to Tarth. They had been showering her with attention and had even danced with her. She explained that she wasn’t entirely happy with the arrangement, knowing that she had no interest in marrying a man; but decided to attend for her fathers sake. Allowing herself to be joyful at the regard she was receiving, even if she wished that it was from a lady.

Despite the undesired recognition from the young lords, she couldn’t help the grief she had felt when she realized she was being mocked. Woefully vocalizing her disappointment when she had seen the boys snickering amongst themselves. Apparently this was when the nickname ‘Brienne The Beauty’ had been invented and it reminded you once again how cruel the world could be towards those who were different, if it was by choice or not wasn’t of importance.

“Brienne The Beauty they called me. Great joke. And I realized I was the ugliest girl alive,” she had said it with such spite, giving your hand a squeeze before she uttered five words that made your heart swell, “but then I met you.”

She had told you this under one of your late night meetings in your room. During it you had held her hand, softly stroking it as she spoke, as an act of comfort and to let her know that you were listening. You had seen tears threaten to spill out, but she had laughed instead, an empty laugh, cold and false. Fooling her body in to thinking that it wasn’t a big deal, and was successful in keeping the tears at bay.

She was a person, a human-being with emotions, but people seemed to have forgotten that. Using her as a target for their bitterness and loathing, because she didn’t fit in to the expected role as a ‘Lady’ or a woman. As much as you hated to admit it, not everyone saw her the way you did, didn’t see the appeal of her rugged and masculine appearance, did not see the woman she was underneath the steely exterior. The wall she had built up over the years was fortified, insults bouncing off like arrows on stone. The rough façade turned people away from getting the chance to see her, the actual her. The vulnerable, lovable, honest, and beautiful Brienne.

It saddened you, that so many individuals would lose out on someone as amazing as her, all because of the way she looked. But maybe that was for the best, Brienne deserved people who didn’t judge her from first glance, people who loved her unconditionally and true.

Tucking one of the loose strands of hair behind her ear, you observed as she stirred at the sudden contact but she remained asleep. Resting your hand on her cheek, you filed away this memory, the gentle and tender nature. The memory of waking up next to your love for the very first time. You traced the small scars on her face with your fingertips, making sure you appreciated every single inch of her, even if she wasn’t awake to be aware of you doing it.

Shifting your eyes from her unrestrained face, you took a glance around the room. Jumping from the clothes on the floor to the hearth. The fire from last night had burnt out during your slumber, but judging from the faint glow of the firewood, you drew the assumption that it couldn’t have been out for more than an hour.

You remained in Brienne’s warm embrace, relishing in the fact that you could feel her everywhere. Her breath against your skin, body pressed against yours, your hand on her cheek, her fingertips resting on your back. It was intoxicating and you had to hold back the excitement when you realized that this would be your life from now on, it was almost too good to be true. She was too good to be true.

Basking in her touch, you were quickly reminded of the persistent throb between your legs, not having gone back to your chambers to relieve yourself like you usually did. You had expected it to die down during the night, but Brienne’s naked body against your own had reignited the flame, it now burning stronger and brighter than ever.

Not knowing what time it was but having matters to attend to before sunrise. You gave her a quick kiss on her forehead before reluctantly maneuvering your way out of Brienne’s arms, careful to not wake the sleeping beauty. Grabbing your clothes off the floor you deftly put them on, taking one last look at your lover before exiting her chambers.

It was still dark outside, you guessed it would be another hour until sunrise. An hour before the castle and village woke up, leaving you with sixty minutes of uninterrupted time to wash yourself and polish your armor.

You always took a bath in the mornings to wash off the day before and to start the day clean before meeting Brienne for breakfast. Now it was needed more than ever. The aching between your legs was relentless, never letting up as you took large strides, almost running to the bathhouse.

You knew it would be empty, no one else was awake this time of day. Only exception being the few times you would cross paths with Brienne as she exited when you entered, or the other way around. Her skin wet, hair clinging to her forehead from the steam of the water. If you were lucky she had washed her hair and had it slicked back. It took your breath away every single time.

The times you would see her come out the first six months of your arrival were pure torture, wanting to just reach out and touch her but settling for discreetly and respectfully admiring. However, after you had begun your midnight conferences you would take the liberty to grab her, placing a fast but searing kiss to her lips whenever you would see her in the early mornings. The surprised hum she would release was priceless, her face turning red as you walked away, leaving her frozen in place. Seeing her at breakfast after those morning meetings always played out the same. She had her usual stern and intimidating expression on her face, but you saw the slight blush that would form on her cheeks when you sat down across from her.

Entering the baths you quickly stripped yourself of your clothes, folding them up and placing them close by before stepping in to the steaming hot water. You let out a sigh of relief as you felt the comforting liquid envelop you. Allowing your muscles to loosen, you leaned up against the half-wall of the bath, tilting your head back, legs extended in front of you. Arms stretching out on either side as you placed them on the edge behind you, eyes half-lidded.

Small moments like this, being alone in complete silence, nothing to be heard but your deep breaths and the soft sounds of rippling water, had become your favorites. The time spent with the much taller knight was also dear to you, but they competed not, for they were two sides of the same coin. Important to you in their own way.

When you were with her she made your heart flutter in the most beautiful way, raising your heartbeat significantly, just from a simple smile. The feelings you had when around her were overwhelming, taking over all other senses.

Permitting yourself time to unwind in the bath gave your mind and body the time to restore those senses. Like a reset. You knew that having someone affect you in this way was dangerous as a knight, always needing to be on guard, ready to unsheathe your sword and fight at any given moment. Brienne was dangerous in the most addicting way.

Removing one of your arms from the resting place on the edge, you brought it under the surface, spiking your ears to listen for even the smallest sound that would indicate people. Your fingers making contact with your neglected clit made your body jerk, a quiet whimper forcing its way out of your closed lips as you drew gentle circles with your hand. Making sure to stay silent and make as little movement as possible, so if someone were to walk in, they wouldn’t know what you were doing. You had to maintain an image as a knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and if someone were to walk in on you touching yourself, the entire town had. Gossip spread like wildfire, and you knew that it would be frowned upon.

This was restricted to the privacy of your chambers, but right now you couldn’t care less, you needed to be rid of the uncomfortable pressure between your legs. It was an emergency, simple as that. You knew you wouldn’t be able to focus all day if you didn’t alleviate the tension, especially having to be around Brienne during the majority of it. So this was a hail Mary, all dependent on the peoples sleeping habits, and how quick you could bring yourself to orgasm.

The steam from the water had clung to your skin, your hair slightly dampened and slicked back, face in an expression of silent pleasure as you added more pressure. Fingers picking up the pace, small waves created in the water by your somewhat moving arm.

The familiar feeling of release was building in your stomach, screaming to be let out. You held back a moan that threatened to leave, capturing it at the very last second. It came out as a strangled whine instead, you were so close. Images of Brienne from last night entered your mind. Her blissed out face as she came, her screams and moans. The intense eye-contact you held as you ate her out and fucked her senseless. Her beautiful breasts, and the beautiful noises she had made when you sucked and nibbled on them. All of this played through your mind as your fingers worked harder than ever. Just a little bit more and-

A noise stopped you in your tracks, quickly removing your hand and placing it back on the edge behind you. Irritated and frustrated at the interruption of mind numbing pleasure, you realized you would have to wait until night fall to get your much needed orgasm; this was going to be a long day. Your face was flushed and you were panting but it was subtle enough to not be noticed.

You kept your eyes trained on the ceiling as you heard someone enter the room. Shuffling footsteps stopped before speaking.

“Morning.” You’d recognize that voice anywhere. You hummed, a small smile making its way on to your lips.

“Brienne.” It was spoken softly, almost like an affirmation to yourself, or a confirmation to her that you recognized her presence. Tilting your head down you met her eyes, her blue ones staring straight back at you. Her eyes wide as they wandered over your naked body, the opacity of the water not leaving much to the imagination. “Morning.”

Your words brought her eyes back to yours and you shot a tired smile her way, the annoyance of disrupted release forgotten, just being in her vicinity calmed you. In your diminished state you didn’t notice her wandering eyes, but you were definitely paying attention when she started stripping in front of you, never breaking eye-contact. Her mouth marginally open and eyes as dark as the sky outside.

She hadn’t done this before, always having been quite self-conscious of her physique. It took some time for her to be comfortable with you touching her body, even if it was over clothes. You had showered her with compliments and affirmations, until she allowed herself to melt under your touch.

Even after she let you put your hands on her, you continued with your barrage of compliments, hoping that she would eventually see herself the way you did, and judging from the show in front of you, it had worked. She had grown emboldened and self-assured with the help of your sweet words, and for the first time in her life she felt hot, sexy, and attractive; and based on her facial expression she knew you thought so too. It was such a good look on her, the brazenness, it was maddening.

You watched as she unlaced her tunic, your eyes wide as they followed the path of her hands. She opened it and your eyes landed on her breasts. The marks you had left last night were a hue of purple, a strong contrast against her pale skin. Your throat was dry as you watched her take off her tunic, folding it up and placing it next to your clothes.

Her torso exposed to you, she moved her hands to her trousers, starting to unbuckle them. “You weren’t there when I woke up this morning.” Her sudden words ripped you away from your trance, practically having to force your eyes to meet hers. There was a coy smile on her pretty lips.

“No. I, uh.” You cleared your throat, trying to gain your voice back. The effect this woman had on you was staggering, “I had some things to do before breakfast. Sorry.” She watched you with unsullied eyes as she let her pants drop to the floor. The metal buckles on her trousers hit the tiles with a clink. She stepped out of the bunched up material at her feet and bent down to pick it up. You watched her intently as she neatly folded her pants up and placed them on her tunic.

“No need to apologize. I just missed you.” She cocked her head to the side the tiniest bit as she watched you. Your mind fighting tooth and nail to keep your self-control, you desperately wanted to let your eyes wander all over her now almost naked body, but you needed to be respectful.

She looked down at her body and pouted, an innocent action with malicious intent you were sure, “Oh, look what you’ve done!” Her voice was angelic, so pure, purposely used to rile you up, knowing you got a kick out of the thought that you were corrupting her sweet, virginal soul.

You looked to her hips and saw small bruises of where your fingers had dug in to her skin the night before. Seeing what you had left behind sent an almost haughty feeling throughout your body. “How did you know I would be here?” She looked down at you, fingers hooking in to her undergarments.

“You forgot your dagger in my room, I went to yours to return it. You weren’t there, so I drew the conclusion that you could only be here based on your morning habits.” She slowly, teasingly, dragged the piece of fabric down her long legs, your eyes landing on the mound between her legs.

“I’ve had enough of our near misses, therefore I decided to take matters in to my own hands. And after last night, I could use the soothing warmth. I woke up aching this morning.” She said the last sentence with faux confusion, as if she had no clue as to why. You didn’t think you were that rough to the extent that she would be in pain. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that she had been a maiden, your fingers stretching her out could surely be reason for soreness.

You closed your eyes, the familiar pounding feeling between your legs returning. This woman would be the death of you.

“I hope it’s not an excruciating ache. I apologize if I was too rough last night. I didn’t injure you, did I?” It came out more composed than you thought it would, voice more flat than desired. Despite your current predicament, Brienne naked in front of you, you had to make sure she was okay.

Brienne furrowed her brows, your voice not matching the tenderness of your words. “No, you didn’t injure me. It is quite a pleasant ache. It reminds me of last night, you being, you know,” she trailed off, her tone was seductive fading in to shyness, stopping before she could utter the words inside of me. She just put on one hell of a show, but was bashful talking about you fucking her last night. Even with her new-found confidence, she was still shy to talk about the actual act of intimacy but had no problems referencing it.

“Good.” You let out a shaky breath at her answer. She assured that you hadn’t wounded her and that she was fine. Brienne kept watching you, still quite confused of your flat tone but decided not to dawdle on it, you had your reasons. She didn’t fold up her discarded underwear, instead she just kicked it in the direction of her clothes on the floor, she was impatient; wanting to be in there with you as soon as possible.

She had dreamt of this moment since you first passed each other, it was mostly because you looked at her with such admiration but also because of her mishap. She had accidentally walked in on you getting dressed after your bath, her high honor conditioning her reflexes causing her to look away the second she saw your bare back, but for a split second she had seen your naked silhouette, and that fraction of a second was enough to have her a blushing mess.

That one millisecond was enough to keep her mind distracted during the late nights as she laid in her quarters. Throughout the day however, she would keep her thoughts busy with her knightly tasks. Even though she had done them hundreds of times to the point where they had become muscle memory, she just kept going over the process and the order over and over again. Every single day, until night fall when she let her mind run rampant in the privacy her own four walls but even Brienne had her moments of weakness.

There were times, always over the course of your suppers, that you would smile at her in that very special way, causing the taller woman’s mantra to falter, if only for a second. This allowed the image of your wet bare back to intrude the blondes thoughts, a flash of skin flooding her mind. It was a short interference but it was enough for Brienne to chide herself for invading your privacy. She felt perverted, depraved, and immoral for seeing you undressed, even if it wasn’t on purpose.

Even after your late night rendezvous’, she kept her thoughts strictly professional in public, still having a reputation to uphold. She did allow her imagination to have more leeway, the image of your naked form on repeat as she ran her hands all over your back during your heated make-out sessions.

She was done with the crossing of paths, the morning pecks always leaving something more to be desired. She had even begun waking up earlier to increase the chance of you still being in the bath when she arrived but on those days you polished your armor before bathing, meaning you entered as she left. Finally, you were both here at the same time, no one was getting ready to leave. Brienne’s wish was about to come true, after a year of misses she had finally hit the bullseye.

Small waves hit your submerged form as Brienne entered the pool, taking a seat next to you. She leaned her head against your shoulder, and you wrapped your arm around hers, pulling her close to you. Enjoying the rare moment of public intimacy along side each other, it other wise being confined to the privacy of your quarters. It was a change of pace compared to your usual meetings, almost domestic.

“I was very sad waking up to an empty bed this morning,” Brienne spoke up, her head vibrating against your shoulder, “I was hoping to return the favor you gave me last night.” Your eyes shot open as you felt a hand on your thigh. Slowly moving up to where you had touched yourself mere minutes ago.

Your demeanor completely changed once you realized what Brienne was initiating, she wanted to touch you, and you let her. “Is that so? Well then, allow me.” You grabbed a hold of the hand on your thigh and guided it to your cunt, releasing a sigh when you felt her strong fingers on your clit. God, she was so good with her hands.

She hadn’t expected you to be so direct, shocked at how fast you had switched. She noticed that your daily attitude completely differed when it came to sexual intimacy. It was almost like you traded personalities, you becoming dominant, her taking the role of submissive.

As a female knight she needed to appear dominant in her appearance, otherwise men would walk all over her. If she didn’t, they might undermine her, not listen to her, or respect her even less than they already did. Her height unquestionably helped intimidate people into submission. You didn’t have that luxury, so you had to rely on your other qualities. You were more careful, using your intelligence and wit to get people to respect you, the title helped.

That completely shifted once it got heated, Brienne became the careful one, watching and learning. She absolutely loved being dominated by you, especially after doing so herself all day long. It was a welcome change in your usual dynamic.

You, knowing what you were doing having spent a lot of time studying and practicing in Dorne, would take the role as the dominant one. Showing Brienne ways to make you tick, neck kisses being a thing she excelled at once shown.

Brienne’s fingers carefully worked against your clit, intrigued by the way you writhed and pulsed under her touch. She had shifted her head so that her mouth was on your pulse point, kissing and licking. Her hand was so agonizingly slow in its movements, you didn’t know if it was on purpose or not but you needed release, and you needed it fast.

“Spread your legs,” you breathed out, voice tip-toeing on the verge of a moan. Brienne removed her head from your shoulder at your request, and spread her legs. Drawing her hand away, she watched with curious eyes as you climbed on to her. Settling one of your legs in between hers and one on the side, straddling her thigh.

She watched you with an intense look, enthralling eyes following your every move. Sinking down on to her leg you began rolling your hips on her broad, strong, muscular thigh. Brienne’s hands were sitting at her sides, she didn’t know what to do with them; so you assisted. Grabbing her hands, you placed them on your hips so she could help guide your movements.

Your hands held on to her shoulders, nails digging in to her skin as you fruitfully held your moans back, knowing that the acoustics would give away your current activity if someone were to walk by. The knight beneath you just stared, completely mesmerized, mouth slightly open as she released quiet whimpers at the feeling of your heat against her wet leg.

Looking down at her through half-lidded eyes, you saw the moment she noticed your chest was eye-level with her. Your breasts were wet and the way they moved as you continued your actions had Brienne bewitched. She was as in a trance, her mouth watered and she licked her lips. Smiling sensually, you brought a hand up to her head, stroking the now damp hair. “Is there something you want? You only need to ask.” Your voice was husky, dripping in sex, and sickly sweet.

Brienne looked up at you and gulped. Her voice low, filled with wonder. “May I?” Strong hands slowly started to move from your hips, up your waist, before stopping under the curve of your breasts.

“You’re such a good little thing, asking for permission. Of course you may.” At your confirmation she moved fast, her hands cupping your breasts, fondling them, loving how easily they fit in her big hands. She took one of your nipples in her mouth, the other one being worshipped by her calloused fingers.

A strained moan escaped your lips at the feeling of her talented tongue and fingers on your sensitive skin. Your restraint wavered for a millisecond before you dug your nails even harder in to Brienne’s skin, continuously stroking her hair, careful not to hurt her pretty little head. You were almost painfully drawing your lips together, but she had already heard the inviting sound that you made.

She grew confident, flexing her thigh muscles to harden your grinding surface. It was an entirely new sensation and you couldn’t hold it back anymore. A dark and sensual moan exited your mouth as your hips sped up their movements, riding her thigh for dear life. Your actions caused waves to form in the water, hitting the sides of the bath with a splash.

The blondes large hands snaked around your back and you felt her nails push in to your skin, dragging her fingers down from your shoulders to your lower back; groaning at the new sensation of pain working in tandem with pleasure. The amount of pressure Brienne had applied as she scratched your back was intentional, she wanted to leave marks, just as you had done on her.

The hand that had been mindlessly stroking her hair grabbed hold of the blonde locks, pulling her head away from your chest. She was startled at the sudden interruption, her eyes moving to meet your gaze. Your pupils were dilated, darkened by the over-whelming desire, watching her with a smirk on your lips.

“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you? Open your mouth, slut. I have something for you.” Your voice was strained, breathy moans mixed with disgustingly sweet fake ridicule.

Brienne hesitantly opened her mouth unsure about your reasoning. Releasing a whimper as she watched you spit in her mouth and at the same time as your saliva landed on her tongue, you pushed the knee that was between her legs forward; making contact with her center.

You mocked her whimper as she released a growling moan, not expecting the sudden pressure. She was closer to orgasm than she thought, having watched your performance had her extremely riled up and she could already feel the same coil from last night tightening in her stomach. You loved the look of corrupted purity on her face as your leg moved with your hips, pressing and rubbing against her clit.

The strange feeling of having someone else’s saliva in her mouth as she was being pleasured made her brain short-circuit for a second as she sat there with her mouth still open, small whiny groans coming out; unsure what to do.

“Swallow it.” The hand that had been holding on to Brienne’s shoulder was brought to her chin, encouraging her to close her mouth. You watched with heavy eyes as she swallowed, her fiery blue eyes staring right back at you. The knee between her thighs kept working her and she knew she was on the edge, orgasm threatening to spill over. By your heavy breaths she knew you were almost there too, so she held out, wanting to reach climax together.

The sight of her completely under your command, mouth open in pleasure, breathy moans coming out drove you over the edge, the coil in your stomach tightening and snapping at the same time as Brienne’s. You threw your head back as you felt the orgasm rip through your entire body, muscles tensing.

The woman beneath you screamed your name as she came, your moans mingling as you reached your zenith in unison. It was passion and intimacy on a whole different level, used as a way to convey your love; wanting the other to feel as good as you did.

What started as a hot and dirty sexual interaction had ended with you and your knight making love. It was beautiful, affectionate, and romantic.

Brienne’s hands flew to hold on to your waist to keep you steady and herself grounded, her mouth coming to your shoulder to muffle her groans as pleasure tore apart her body from the inside out. You felt as she gently sunk her teeth in to your skin and you yelped, releasing a loud moan as you stopped the movement of your hips.

Realizing you still had your armor to polish before meeting the blonde woman for breakfast, you climbed off of her, Brienne releasing a whimper at the removal of your knee, already missing the sensation of your wet skin against hers. Taking a deep breath you collected yourself before clearing your throat.

“I’ll see you at breakfast.” Switching personalities, Brienne smirked as she watched you climb out of the water. Humming in delight when she saw your back, red nail marks running down the length of it.

Feeling her eyes on you as you quickly dried yourself and put your clothes on, covering up the red bite mark on your shoulder and your scratched-up back.

“See you later!” You could hear the cocky smile on her lips as she called out after you. Speedily marching out of the bathhouse, leaving a smug Brienne behind.

———

Half an hour later your armor was polished and strapped on to your figure. Your mind wandered to the session that had occurred just thirty minutes ago and you blushed at the memory. You and Brienne had been bold displaying such physical intimacy outside of your quarters, but the possibility of getting caught had made it so much more filthy and erotic.

It being Brienne who had initiated it made it even more exhilarating in a way. You were impressed and intrigued, she had never displayed such riskiness before. She had wanted you so bad that she didn’t care where you were, the need to hear you moan and to watch you unravel in front of her was stronger than the need to keep it in the bedroom.

You secured your scabbard to your hip before taking a quick look-over to make sure you were presentable. The shine of your armor was blinding and you grimaced, wondering if you had gone a little overboard. The edges of your sword were sharpened and shiny, the grip decorated with various carvings; the symbol of your house sitting on the pommel. It had been a gift from your father given to you when you were knighted, specially requested and custom made for you. It was quite similar to Brienne’s hilt in a way.

Deeming yourself fit to be seen, you straightened your back, opening your door and stepping out in to the hall. Closing the door behind you, you turned to walk towards the mess hall but almost ran into an armor clad Brienne, stopping yourself at the very last second, as she stood outside, waiting. Her chin held high and hands ceremoniously clutched behind her back. The messy and damp hair from earlier had been dried and neatly combed back, she looked so elegant and noble. Her dark armor had been polished, the tiny nicks from hits scattered all over the steel plates were accented by the shiny surface.

“By the Gods Ser Brienne, I almost walked in to you! That could’ve ended in injury had I not halted myself. Announce your presence next time, please.” Looking up at the taller woman you smiled, her usual unemotional expression on her face cracking for a second to give you a one back before falling back to a impartial one.

“Apologies, Ser. I was hoping to accompany you to breakfast. After last night and this morning, I thought we might as well.” Her face and voice was empty of any tells, keeping up formalities in public. You could see her lips twitch, a smirk threatening to break through at the mention of your escapades.

“I’d be honored.” With a quick step you were standing next to the taller knight, and you made your way to the mess hall together, large authoritative strides sounding, your footsteps synced. You formally greeted those you passed on your path with ‘morning’, a nod or a bow. Keeping Brienne at arms length was torture, having to hold back the urge to grab her hand, to pull her closer to you.

You hadn’t really discussed the manner of your relationship. There was a silent agreement stating it was probably best to keep it a secret, mostly for appearances, but also for safety. If someone caught wind of your non-traditional relationship it could be used against you. If someone wanted to hurt you or Brienne they could easily take advantage of your relationship, a weakness used as a bargaining chip. Both you and her were strong, but if stripped from your weapon there was only so much either of you could do.

There was also the issue of respect, your duties were dependent on peoples trust and opinions of you. Barely having enough respect as it was, unwillingly harbored by the men because of your higher rank and title, you couldn’t afford to lose any of it. If you did and your trainees started to defy you, it could have fatal consequences. The safety of the people and your obligations came first, both you and Brienne knew this, which meant neither of you could afford to be self-absorbed and display your love.

So you both understood that it was best to keep it under wraps, but sometimes, like now, you wished you could scream about how much you loved her. You wanted to show her off to the world, talk about how proud you were of her. She deserved to be bragged about, deserved to be talked about with such care and such love, you yearned to extend such a basic act of courtesy.

However, you kept your mouth shut, walking along side her as if you didn’t fuck her last night, as if you hadn’t made love in the bath that same morning, as if you didn’t love her with your entire being to the extent that you felt like your heart could explode.

You could detect the faint smell of her, soap from the bath mingled with the strong aroma of the polish and the fragrance of fresh grass that was undoubtedly Brienne’s. It was a weird combination of scents but it was comforting nonetheless.

Turning one last corner, the taller knight pushed the doors open, entering the large gathering hall with you on her tail. You followed Brienne through the crowds of people, her tall form serving as a beacon so you never lost track of where she was.

You removed your sheath and leaned it against the edge of the table before you took your normal seat across from her at your usual table. She sat down shortly after doing the same thing, her hands placed flat on the surface. Looking at her with eyes full of yearning and adoration as your hand longed to reach out and grab hers.

She stared back, face impersonal but her magnificent blue eyes betray her. There was an almost remorseful look in her eyes, there was no need for her to feel guilt, yet she did. It wasn’t her fault that you couldn’t show any form of affection in public, somehow she felt like it was. Both of you knew that giving in to the urge to grab the others hand would end poorly, it wasn’t exactly an act that could pass as platonic comfort now was it.

It could have if you and Brienne had shown any form of physical closeness in public but you hadn’t, meaning such an act would stick out in the outwardly professional friendship you had tried so hard to maintain for public relations. It had come back to bite you in the arse, knowing not even a quick graze of fingers would be overlooked.

You were the one to break eye-contact, tearing your eyes away from her magnetic gaze. Brienne’s face remained disinterested, eyes looking down at her food and then back to you. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it shortly after. Words just wouldn’t come out. She tried again, words failing her once again.

“You don’t have to say anything. It’s fine,” Brienne barely heard your mumble over the bustling crowd. You had started eating and had noticed the knights inability to speak. She had wanted to apologize, say sorry for a situation she had no command over, an act you couldn’t allow her to perform.

It was ridiculous how she wanted to take the blame for something she couldn’t influence, something she had no way of controlling. You offered her a small smile as you continued eating, gesturing to her untouched breakfast before speaking, more clearer this time. “You should start eating. We have training soon and we can’t be late.” The tall blonde didn’t utter a single word, she just looked down at her food and started eating.

———

Training went on as usual, assisting Brienne, sparring, trying your very best to not stare at her as she barked orders; you failing miserably. The ‘conversation’ from your earlier meal was still fresh in your mind and you wondered if you had been too harsh towards her by not allowing her to apologize; but hastily realized just how ridiculous the mere thought of it was and that the actual uttering of said words would be preposterous. You couldn’t permit her to ask for forgiveness, not for this.

Glances were exchanged during the session as they usually were, but these were different. There was a stronger sense of longing, a more lustful one derived from finally knowing what the other sounded and looked like at the height of ecstasy. Whether she wanted them to or not, Brienne’s gorgeous blues showed more than her stern face did, eyes filled with desire and regret.

The urge to drag you away and let you devour her fought with the urge to ask for pardon. Indecisiveness spread in her body like a bad rumor and she wondered how long she would be able to keep herself away from you in public.

You took one last yearning gaze at each other before parting ways to continue your daily assignments.

It was during your last errand that a raven carrying a message arrived for you. It landed on a fence post nearby, cawing to get your attention. Approaching the bird as it watched you with its dark eyes. You rolled out the small paper and immediately identified your family’s stationary, ghosting a hand over the familiar stamp of your house.

Reading through the message made your heart drop. This could not be happening, surely it wasn’t real, surely your mind playing tricks. You had only been here a year, had only just felt the incinerating touch of your Brienne. She had placed all of her trust in you, trusting that you would not leave her, that you wouldn’t break her heart. You had promised her that much with your oath. Fuck, your oath. She held honor, righteousness and honesty above everything else, she was going to despise you for this.

You read through the message over and over again, tears welling in your eyes as you willed the words on the parchment to transform; but they never did. The words stayed the same and the fact that you had to leave never changed.

You had to leave tonight, and by doing so it meant leaving her behind as well. You couldn’t tell her, how were you supposed to tell her? It would break her heart, but you couldn’t just leave without saying goodbye, she deserved more. Either way, her heart would be crushed, there was no easy way; you just hoped she would understand and not abhor you.

You quickly marched to the throne room, needing to notify your sudden departure; you had sworn an oath after all. You explained to Brienne’s Grace the emergency of the situation and they understood, stating that your services were no longer needed. You gave a quick nod and strode to your chambers to pack up your things and to leave your love a message.

———

When you didn’t show up for dinner in the evening Brienne grew worried, you were never late. Abandoning her seat at your usual table she set out to find you. Frantically searching, letting her composure slip, distress taking over once she reached your chamber, finding it empty.

Panic settled in when she saw all of your belongings gone, you were leaving her as well, weren’t you. All the time you had spent together was a lie, all the sweet nothings you had whispered to her, all of the embraces, everything was a lie. All a part of the forever on-going ruse to ridicule her.

She had given you everything: her heart, mind, soul and flesh, and you took it. She felt naked, exposed, humiliated. Embarrassed of how rapid she had been to trust you with your compliments, your lingering glances and touches. Nausea settled in when she realized how you had sworn yourself to her, she had high integrity and valued other people with the same honorable qualities as her. Apparently, that wasn’t you.

Taking a step in to your room, she looked around, trying to find some sort of idea of where you had gone. Her eyes landed on a note, it was neatly folded, placed upon the empty desk in your chambers. Large steps carried her over to the wooden surface and she gracefully picked up the piece of paper. Unfolding it, tears welled up in her eyes as she read your beautiful handwriting.

My Dear Brienne,

I wished to tell you this in person, but I could not bring myself to do so, I would not be able to bear the look on your face, it would break my heart.

It is with a heavy soul that I must tell you this, though I wish I did not have to. If I could, I would stay in your arms and by your side forever as your knight and partner. Sadly, I am unable to for the near future because I must leave Winterfell.

A raven arrived for me this afternoon from my family’s maester in Dorne. My father has fallen ill and I must return to be by his side. As his only child, and as a knight, it is my duty to honor my family.

Know this, my darling. I meant every single word I have spoken, every kiss, every touch. Every breath I take will be for you, and until I return to your side and into your arms, you will always be in my thoughts.

For I will long for you forever, I will touch your soul forever, and I will say your name forever. This is unfortunately the moment where we must let go, until our souls are reunited once again.

My dear sweet Brienne, you are the embodiment of beauty, grace and handsomeness. The way you carry yourself is so robust, yet your soul is one of the most gentle ones I have met.

From the moment I saw you I was captivated by you, you intrigued me and I only fell more and more in love with you for every second that passed.

If you are reading this during our usual dinner time then I am still here. I wish to see you one last time before I depart.

I am by the stables until sunset. Come find me, please.

I am eternally yours, my love, Ser Brienne of Tarth.

Brienne couldn’t hold her tears back anymore, droplets falling, staining the paper. She sobbed as she read your carefully crafted words. Eyes lingering over your signature before she ran to the stables, hoping she wasn’t too late.

———

You anxiously watched as the sun sunk further and further down the evening sky. Hoping that Brienne would see your letter in time was a foolish idea, but you knew her. You knew that the second you were a no-show at supper she would come looking for you. She would find the letter, read it and come here. But as the sun hit the horizon, the hope disappeared.

Maybe she had read it but was so upset with you that she didn’t want to see you, or maybe she was still reading it, or maybe she was sitting at your dinner table waiting for you. All of the circumstances in which Brienne could miss seeing you off ran through your mind at rapid pace.

You had given yourself over to despair as you fastened your sleeping sack to your saddle, she really wasn’t coming. A sigh left your mouth, materializing as fog as your hot breath reacted to the cold winter air. You should’ve just have told her, because then you would have at least been able to see her, one last time.

You heard the commotion before you saw it, heavy footsteps running towards you. A familiar sight came around the corner, your heart shattering at the tear stained face. Brienne was distraught, her usual calm and collected demeanor nowhere to be seen.

Her eyes immediately locked on to you where you stood, securing the last strap on the saddle. She called out for you, her voice breaking as she sprinted towards you.

“Brienne.” Breathing out her name in relief, you turned towards her so she could take you in to her embrace. She had read your letter. You felt the familiar burning sensation behind your eyes as the tears welled up; allowing them to fall freely. You nearly threw yourself in to Brienne’s arms when she was close enough to you.

You held each other as it were the last time, not knowing when the next opportunity might come. “When I saw your room empty I thought you had abandoned me, I thought it was all a lie, but then I read your letter. I’m so sorry for doubting you,” she started rambling, words stumbling over each other in a desperate attempt to say whatever she needed to say.

Her voice was weak, arms holding on to you for dear life, “I am selfish for suggesting this but stay here. Stay with me. Please.” The please was gut wrenching, her voice broke, burdened by all of her pain, all her love, all the ache.

You felt your heart break at her plea, you didn’t want to leave her, you would stay by her side your entire life if she asked you to. However, you didn’t have a choice this time. “Stay.” It was so quiet, weak, almost like a squeak, but you heard it.

You had to force yourself to let go of Brienne, looking up at her with tearful eyes. No one had never seen her like this before, eyes red, tears glistening on her face in the setting sun. Her emotions and heart out on display for anyone to see.

“You know I can’t do that. It’s a matter of honor, I know you understand,” you placed a hand on her chest, “deep down, I know you do. For your heart is the most honorable and righteous one I have ever had the pleasure of loving.” You smiled up at her, bringing your hands up to wipe away her tears, before settling them her cheeks.

“Then let me come with you, I will request to be removed from my services and accompany you to Dorne,” you knew her words to be true, it was heard in her voice. She would drop everything in the fragment of a second had you asked her to, that was just the kind of person she had become. The person currently standing before you was not the coherent and composed Ser Brienne of Tarth anymore, it was just Brienne who had let her heart take over her knightly persona, for the first time ever.

You smiled up lovingly at her, you desperately wanted to say yes, to have her join you, “You are needed here, my darling,” but you couldn’t.

“There are plenty of other knights who would kill for my position, they’ll find someone to fill my spot,” her words were clawing at you, hands fidgeting on your back trying to find something to hold on to, only finding the cloth of your fur cloak.

“You know that’s not true. They’d never be able to find someone else that would live up to the example you’ve set here,” the standards and discipline she harbored had raised expectations, meaning if she were to leave, her absence would leave a massive void, and it would be noticeable if some inferior man tried to fill it.

“So this is it? I’m just supposed to let you leave?” She stared down at you in bewilderment, voice so small and defeated.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to. I will never stop thinking of you, and we will return to each other’s arms, for I am meant for you, and you are meant for me,” you withdrew your hands, taking a step back, “I will send ravens for you, and my oath stands the same, I am yours forever. Forever devoted to you, I shall not break this promise. This I swear.” You bowed, a gesture of knightly promise, a formality you knew Brienne would appreciate. It was not only empty words, for honor gave them the weight she needed to soothe her aching heart.

She could only watch as you mounted your horse. Taking one last look at her before riding away, leaving a weeping and wailing Brienne behind, your name falling from her lips, pleading you to stay. It fell on all too aware ears as you rode further and further, her screams fading away in to the evening sky, until the only thing heard were your own sobs.

———

Follow-up: Kisses of Fire

tags for the gang:

@na-shoba

@pastanest

@the-fuck-do-i-know

@mayfair-fleur

[ddesertmoon]

Batman Fic Recs Feat. Jason Todd’s Return

All my favorite fics about Jason’s return to the family. Gen, and mostly hurt/comfort.

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Red Hood by envysparkler

“Gotham doesn’t relinquish her soldiers, no matter how far they’ve fallen from the nest.”

In my opinion, this is THE quintessential Red Hood debut fic. It’s got this one trope I love: regular civilians take a chance and protect their protector (it happens a lot with Spider-Man and its really great to see crime alley thanking Jason in the same way).

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Vermillion by xandromedan

“Jason Todd returns to Gotham with a bang. In between setting up a criminal empire, dealing with national conspiracies, and the Joker, he re-learns how to be a person.

When the Bats learn of a new face in Gotham's underground, they get interested. Some of them get friendly. His plan becomes... complicated.”

I love when Red Hood becomes close to the bats without revealing his identity… idk something about how he BELONGS with them even though he’s changed…

-

hang on ‘til the chaos is through by JustGail

“BEFORE:

Jason likes Tim. Or, he thinks he does. Tim has spent most of the week since he moved in locked up in his room, only coming out for meal times and sometimes to use the big TV in the media room, but the few words Jason has managed to extract from Tim show a bright kid who can clearly easily keep up with the best of ‘em, despite his young age. So he’s pretty sure he likes Tim, or at least will, with time.

AFTER:

Tim knows there’s something going on, and the worst part is that Batman isn’t even trying to pretend there isn’t something going on.

Stay out of it, he’d told him. Like something as big as a new player in town is something that Robin could stay out of. That Tim could stay out of.”

So so SO good. The story focuses on Jason and Tim and how they both join (or return, in Jason’s case) to the family. Both of them are characterized perfectly.

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ghost story by envysparkler

“Jason Todd dies in Ethiopia. Well. Kind of.”

After Jason dies, he’s forced to watch his family grieve as a ghost. This gives him a new perspective when he returns to Gotham (which changes everything). I LOVE this fic. It’s suspenseful and emotional, AND there’s found family.

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Twists And Turns Will Take You Home by Sun_Moon_Stars_Jedi

“Bruce Wayne is used to getting kidnapped. He's used to Gotham's villains hating him.

So why does this new crime lord come to his aid when he can't defend himself?”

Short and sweet. A little identity reveal fic because Jason Todd + identity reveal is my favorite combination of things. The fact that it’s told from Bruce’s perspective and you can see his slow realization… perfect!

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miss me? by envysparkler

“Jason’s plan to observe his family’s reactions to his resurrection…does not go as intended.”

Basically, Tim, Dick, and Bruce assume Jason is a hallucination because they’re all so fucked in the head that them hallucinating him makes more sense than like. Magic or something. Very good! I love it when characters are fucked up and sad.

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Late Night Encounters by paperxcrowns

“Not long after Jason comes back to Gotham and asserts himself as the Red Hood, Tim meets Jason in a diner late at night and by some miracle he doesn't recognize him. After another chance meeting where Jason still doesn't make the connection between him and Robin, Tim decides that this might just his chance to get to know Jason Todd.”

Pretty much exactly what it says in the description. Red Hood hates Robin, but he befriends the sad teenager named Tim. The secret identity thing causes issues which cause explosive emotions and slight agony for the characters!

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best laid plans by Valkirin

“Tim Drake knows that Batman needs a Robin. When Bruce and Dick aren't interested in what he has to say, Tim makes his way to the cemetery to say a few words to the boy he's trying to replace.

Tim has the chance to say far more than he expected when Jason digs himself out of his grave that night. Tim does his best to get Jason home to Bruce. The League of Assassins finds them first.”

This one’s more about both Jason and Tim “coming home” but I’m going to count it because I love this fic. In the end, they’re all together which is all I can ask for.

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dead ringer by punkrockhades

“‘Oh, are you guys talking about Jason?’ said a familiar mechanized voice from across the rooftop, and the Bats spun around to spot the Red Hood casually leaning against the rooftop access door. ‘I miss that kid, he was a riot. Hope he’s doing alright.’

There was a moment of silence as the entire group stared at Red Hood, processing his words, and then Red Robin blurted, ‘Wait, you know Jason?’

‘Sure,’ Red Hood responded breezily, amusement written in the lines of his posture. ‘We got pushed into the Pit at the same time. He went a little crazy and fell off a cliff, but shit could only go up from there, am I right?’”

Basically Jason (as Red Hood) pretends to be his own friend and casually makes the batfam lose their minds. Very funny!

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Aftermath by ivy_and_ivory

“Now: Batman is in Paris, pulled there by a case that extends beyond Gotham’s borders, when circumstances lead him to a badly injured Red Hood – who might hold the key to Batman’s investigation.

Then: The Red Hood storms into Gotham, begins to stake his claim on the criminal underground, then abruptly disappears – but only after he breaks into Arkham Asylum and leaves the Joker dead in his own cell.”

You have to have an ao3 account to read this fic (sorry) but if anyone wants to know how to make one I can help! This is a really great case fic. Batman doesn’t know who the Red Hood is, but their relationship is complicated from the start because he was able to do what Batman never could: kill the Joker.

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Tap by CKBookish

“Bruce returns home from the time stream, haunted by phantoms and dreams. Dreams of a past that can't be real.

But all of that wouldn't be so bad if his home didn't feel so empty in the absence of one of his children. Jason, refuses to talk to him or even answer his calls and Bruce can't figure out why or what he did wrong, not after they had mended their fences before his disappearance.

Meanwhile,

Catherine struggles to hold it together for her and Jason as life falls apart around them. When all she has to give is love she does her best to give it all.”

I really love this fic because it shows vignettes of Jason’s life with his mom without shitting on her as a character. Also, it’s a bit different from the other fics here because it takes place after Bruce comes back from the timestream instead of at the beginning of Jason’s stint as Red Hood.

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when my cage is by the window (I can see the sun) by mikkal

“When he was seven, Damian finally escaped the League of Assassins - but not without his brother sacrificing himself to give him time. Now, six years later, he's Robin and Tim's been captured by Ra's in his latest plot. The family goes to Nanda Parbat to rescue him only to run into a revelation that might just break them.”

This fic is INSANELY well written. The small snippets of Jason and Damian’s time together are beautiful. It doesn’t have a happy ending necessarily, but you could probably interpret it as a happy ending!

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robin’s roast by envysparkler

“There’s a new coffee shop in Crime Alley. It’s called the Red Hood.”

Jason gets to establish himself in Gotham as the owner of a new coffee shop instead of as a crime lord. This ends up being more effective in completing some of his goals than being the Red Hood would have been.

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grave secrets by envysparkler

“Jason only came back to confront Batman and kill the Joker. His job is done.”

Be sure to mind the trigger warnings in the tags. This fic is very different from a lot of the ones on this list, but it’s VERY good.

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The Long Road Home by BumblingBeesAndWillowTrees

“The first time Jason held Damian in his arms, the green abated and he knew he had never loved anyone else so fiercely before.

The thing about love is that it is so rarely enough.”

Jason raising Damian!!!! The family meeting Damian and not knowing that Jason raised him!!! Identity reveals! Aaaaaaaaa!!

Also, you need to have an ao3 account to read this fic, sorry.

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prodigal by punkrockhades

“Dick liked to think he had a pretty good handle on the whole ‘big brother’ thing by now, even if Tim still saw sleep as optional and Damian still got a little stabby when a hug lasted too long.

But then Damian’s other big brother comes to town, mysterious and red-helmeted and oddly familiar, and seems to want nothing to do with the Bats sans Damian. Damian is strangely close-lipped about his other brother's past, but Dick is determined to find out more about the Red Hood - he could always use more little brothers, anyway!”

The batfam knows the Red Hood as a violent vigilante (and as Damian’s mysterious brother) but then they get to meet Jason!! Identity reveal and all that jazz!

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the bird, the fog, the mist by bacondoughnut

“Jason Todd returns to Gotham with a foolproof plan, to kill the Joker and protect the city as the Red Hood in a way that Batman never could. But when he gets there he makes one major decision that's not a part of the plan. He goes home.

aka; The one where Jason tries to balance being the Red Hood with repairing things with his family, and maybe learns a thing or two about forgiveness and family and love along the way”

Jason comes home but he’s still the Red Hood and there’s a WONDERFUL amount of secrets being kept. I like this one because it’s the opposite from a lot of the other fics on this list (in that the family meets Jason Before they meet Red Hood)

You need to have an ao3 account to read this fic

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forward tho’ I canna see by nex_et_nox

“One of the thugs trying to sneak up behind Robin stoops low, comes back up swinging at Robin's unprotected back with a fucking crowbar—

Metal clatters against the ground; the body follows it a second later.

Jason lifts his finger from the trigger.

Robin whirls, taking in the body dropped with a headshot. With a scowl, Jason kneecaps the idiots trying to take out Robin from behind again.

[or: Jason, newly returned to Gotham as the Red Hood, keeps accidentally helping out the Bats. It's really frustrating.]”

Oneshot with a bunch of interactions between Red Hood and the bats. Identity reveal that’s soft and sweet and everything I’m looking for <3

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Bonus: Incomplete Fics (at the time of this list’s creation)

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riptide by punkrockhades

“Jason’s first mistake was hacking the Bats’ secret comm channel.

Although could it really be called hacking when they’d never bothered to change their frequency since his Robin days? All he’d had to do was log on, and boom – instant access to the best ways to avoid meddlesome Bats while he got shit done. And since his end was carefully muted, they wouldn’t even know anyone was listening.

His second mistake was thinking he could listen without getting sucked back into their drama.”

I love this fic SO much. It made me feel so many emotions… the buildup to Jason’s reveal is amazing and the reveal itself is perfect. The last chapter is (as of right now) not posted, but that chapter is an epilogue so the story is able to stand without it! A million out of ten, would recommend.

Chapters: 5/6

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what you’re longing for (you claim to abhor) by Ghxst_Bird

“He smiles, all teeth, ‘Come on Replacement, I even got to the door with both legs busted. This should be nothing.’

‘You’re right. Jason… Jason wouldn’t have given up. He would fight, I can still—’

The boy wobbles, and Jason has to suppress the mortifying impulse to jump to his aid.

‘I can still fight. Batman needs me.’

‘That’s a terrible idea,’ he muses aloud, and if there’s a hint of real concern somewhere under all the roiling green, well, nobody can prove it.”

AAAAAAAAAGH THIS FIC. This fic is SO good. There’s a ton of interactions between Jason and the family when they don’t know his ID because they assume that Red Hood’s relationship with Jason Todd isn’t “of course I know him, he’s me” but something Very Different. Angst, humor, the whole shebang.

Chapters: 10/11

(likely to update soon as the author has been posting a lot recently, but who’s to say. Either way, great story!)

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Welp, there they are! Hope everyone enjoys because this is a fun trope :D

[bridenore]

HD House Magic fic recs

Here are a few Harry/Draco recs featuring house magic. Listed in alphabetical order, as always.

Changing with the season by @harryromper [36k]

Harry’s determined the first time he hosts the extended Weasley clan for Christmas will be a success. The Grimmauld Place advent calendar has other ideas … until Draco shows up to help.

The Claiming of Grimmauld Place by @bixgirl1 [74k]

When Grimmauld Place begins fighting against Harry’s ownership of it, he decides he needs help to train the historic home — but little does he expect that it’ll be Malfoy who’s most suitable for the challenge. However, as Malfoy and Harry get closer, Harry comes to understand that expectations aren’t always the best path by which to guide his heart — and in the process learns just what is needed to make a house a home.

Coffee, Cakes and Doorknob Snakes by Omi_Ohmy [40k]

Harry’s house is trying to kill him, and only one person can help him: pity it’s Draco Malfoy.

Make Yourself by @anyaelizabethfic​ [103k]

Harry just wants to be safe within the freshly painted walls of Grimmauld Place, with his friends around him. But when he hears Draco Malfoy has been spotted at the local soup kitchen, he can’t help but encourage a different type of stray to come under his roof.

Martyred by @doingthechachaslide [82k]

Harry Potter only wants one thing: to take care of the people he loves. After Teddy’s abrupt departure from his role as Andromeda’s caretaker, Harry decides it’s finally time to step up and handle the job himself. Castoff Manor, an old Black family estate, has never seemed as sinister as the stories make it sound, but it’s there that Harry stumbles upon ghosts, haunting family secrets, and a familiar, snarky blond gardener hell-bent on chasing him out. Maybe if Harry sticks around long enough, he’ll finally learn why all of Andromeda’s previous caretakers have fled without looking back.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker by @firethesound [11k]

Sometimes, Harry can't help but wonder why such strange shit always happens to him.

Stately Homes of Wiltshire  by @waspabi [57k]

Malfoy Manor has mould, dry rot and an infestation of unusually historical poltergeists. Harry Potter is on the case.

Title & Possession by @kbrick [49k]

Harry Potter’s life is going well in the aftermath of the war. Sure, his house is dark and run-down and might hate him (while his house elf definitely hates him). But other than that, things are good. Except, yeah, okay, Hermione and Ron are no longer on speaking terms. Worse, they keep trying to get Harry to pick sides. But otherwise, Harry couldn’t be happier. Well. Except for the fact that Ginny is being super weird about their relationship and never wants to have sex or talk about the future. But other than that, Harry is perfectly fine, thankyouverymuch. At least, he is until Draco Malfoy sues him for ownership of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Then Harry really isn’t fine at all.

The Unknown Door by @amywaterwings [60k]

There is something wrong with the Bellcrest. The heart of the place beats rotten. Everyone says so. Where Draco is a magical property manager, Harry is a recluse, and they’re definitely not hiding from their problems in the run-down flats of the Bellcrest. Not at all. Not one bit. It goes as well as one might expect.

The Unplottable Time Conundrum by @writcraft [45k]

When the past starts bleeding into the present at Grimmauld Place, an old academic article pulls Draco Malfoy out of his life of luxury. Haunted by the memory of a fleeting post-war kiss and thrust into the ghostly spaces inhabited by Unspeakable Harry Potter, Draco’s easy life is about to get a whole lot more complicated.

What Dreams May Come by @firethesound [36k]

If Harry had to get called into work on his day off, at least he was able to get Malfoy called in too.

What We Pretend We Can’t See by @gyzym [131k]

Seven years out from the war, Harry learns the hard truth of old history: it’s never quite as far behind you as you thought.

Who Will Guard the Door by musamihi [36k]

The day his father is sentenced, Draco takes the Mark and is given his impossible task. Thorfinn Rowle, assigned to be his mentor, is less interested in assisting him than in satisfying his own appetites. As Draco sinks further into failure and watches the war sweep his parents away from him, he takes refuge in the Manor – a member of the family he never knew he had. But the Manor suffers its own wounds during Lord Voldemort’s residency, and the Chosen One may be the only force that can heal them.

You open always (petal by petal) by birdsofshore [65k]

Harry’s not the kind of person who pays for sex. He really isn’t. Until he is.

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did!

[istanmyman]

Soap gets Amnesia (Part 2/2)

Part 2 of the ghost/soap Amnesia AU. This time for Soap! 

I think in Soap's case that having amnesia would ruin him in a way. 

He's a social butterfly, a hard working soldier, a man with playful wit and a bit of a short fuse. A man who always has a clear purpose in mind. 

I think that if he wakes up in a hospital bed, surrounded by forgotten faces and with no idea who he is or who he's supposed to be, that it would break him in a sense. 

Where is the line? How hurt must his family and friends be by him forgetting them? How could he go back to a life that he has apparently worked so hard for but has no idea how he got there. 

It's demoralizing in a sense, not knowing what he worked so hard for, and it hurts to see his friends and loved ones struggle because he forgot them. Especially his family struggles and John feels even more guilty when he decides not to go home after being put on medical leave till the situation resolves itself. 

He believes that staying at base might clear the haze around his memories, so that is what he does. As soon as he's physically better, he works hard like he's a recruit again; following his training regiment, teaching himself the basics again, reading through past reports and his journal.

He's getting desperate to remember. He talks with Captain Price, about how much he is still allowed to work, almost begging the man to let him go on as much as normal in an attempt to trigger his lost memories. 

The man's insistence that he must rest has started several arguments. Kyle, apparently one of his best mates on the team, has his back; tells him stories about past missions when he asks, but also answers questions about himself. He leans on Gaz a lot during this hard time. 

The one who he wants to ask the most questions to is avoiding him like the plague. 

Simon 'Ghost' Riley, his Lieutenant. 

He was there when John first woke up and the masked figure had startled him a bit on sight. "Johnny?" The man had said his name with such familiarity, his eyes so hurt when he figured out John had no idea anymore who he was. 

The first two weeks the man had avoided him like the plague while John had really wanted to ask him so many questions; 

Were they close? Friends, maybe? Why were sketched images of the masked man scattered around his journal, a shirt that wasn't his in his room with the words "Lieutenant Riley" on the back. 

Why did this "Ghost" seem to care so much about him, but each time he reached out, he stopped himself and turned his back to John again. It hurt, but John knew the other man was hurting too. He had to be with how he's acting and it is eating John up inside. 

It is why he decides to take the first step after several weeks of dancing around one another. Ghost had gotten back from a week-long mission when John searched him up in medical. His lieutenant had apparently been shot in the leg. 

Which also means that the man can't run away from John anymore each time he tries to hold a serious conversation with him. 

He knocks on the door before heading inside, seeing the man's eyes widen when he notices that John is paying him a visit. John takes a hint out of his own journal, deciding to address the man like he does while writing about him. "Hello, Lt. Heard you had a rough time out there."

"Soap." Ghost greets him neutrally, but John notices the surprise in his voice. "Didn't expect you to visit me." 

"Well, you were there for me when I woke up after being injured." John smiles a bit sheepishly. "Thought you could use some company as well, if that's okay."

“Is fine.” The lieutenant rumbles and John takes a seat on the chair beside the man’s bed.

“Can I ask you something, sir?” John asks, wanting to get straight to the point. He apparently never was one for patience. 

“What do you want to ask?” Ghost says, pretending like nothings wrong, like talking with John doesn’t affect him, but John knows the man is nervous and is trying to conceal his pain from John’s predicament. 

John has heard the rumors, is sure that there was something going on between them and he wants answers. “About us.” John says straight up. “Apparently you and I were close before I hid my head.”

“Is that so?” Ghost says, his eyes narrowing like he’s trying to figure out how close John is implying. “And who told you that?”

“I did.” John says and that has Ghost’s eyes widening. John corrects himself. “Or rather my journal did. Seems like I wrote a lot about you, Lt.” 

Ghost’s eyes flash disappointed for a moment. Maybe he thought that John remembered him again. Ghost quickly catches himself and continues the conversation with him. “What kind of things are you writing about me?”

“Work related things.” John says at first, then flashes a smile, grabbing a small stack of folded papers in his hand and holding them up. “But also personal ones. Found this hidden in the cover of my journal. Tricky to find so I didn’t notice I had hidden this until last wednesday.”

John holds them out for Ghost, or rather Simon, to look at the papers. Ghost takes them from John’s hands and folds the pieces open one by one. 

John knows what they show; drawings of the man’s both masked and maskless face, notes with written down feelings of admiration for the other man, their experiences together both in and off the field and written down moments detailing the love they shared.

He looks at Simon, sees how expressive the other’s eyes can be as he seems to read through these notes for the first time himself. It pains John that he can’t comfort Simon like he once could, that he can’t love him like he once did. 

Simon puts the notes down on his lap and lets out a shaky sigh. The sound has John’s chest tighten. “I’m sorry for forgetting, Si.” He says and it has Simon snap his eyes up to him. “I want to-”

“Johnny.” Simon cuts him off, his voice a calm rumble. “I know. It’s- I know that you’re trying so hard to remember. I don’t blame you for forgetting.”

John has to hold back tears. Simon is clearly hurting, but still tries everything he can to make John comfortable, to keep him from feeling even more guilty for forgetting, because he certainly would have if he had known about their supposed relationship. 

“I’m still sorry.” He says, not being able to not feel sorry about just forgetting everyone. Especially Simon. “Johnny-” Simon tries to interject, but John cuts him off. 

“It sucks." John starts with wiping a stray tear that threatens to fall. “It sucks that I can’t remember, because I miss you. I know it sounds stupid because I don’t remember us and maybe I was wrong about this and it is just me who was hoping for something more between us and I’m currently just making a fool of myself, but-”

Simon leans over the side of his bed and grabs John’s hand, gently pulling him onto the bed and into a hug. Simon runs a hand through his hair and hugs him tight like he’ll fly away if he doesn’t. 

John melts into the contact, burying his tear covered face in Simon’s shoulder. Then Simon whispers into his ear. “I miss you too, Johnny.”

“Then stop avoiding me.” John sobs, hugging Simon back just as tight. “Please, stop avoiding me.”

“I will.” Simon whispers beside his ear. “I won’t run away anymore. I promise.” John feels so relieved by the promise that he can’t help but laugh a little. 

Seems like he’ll finally regain a bit of his life back…or all of it. Not even two weeks later John remembers everything again. While Simon and him have taken the time to explore their relationship for a second time (staying up many nights talking, with Simon doing most of it, explaining their time together and what he loved so much about John. Even going so far as to start over in John’s case, flirting and falling in love a second time with Simon, experiencing what he remembers to be their first kiss again) now it could all go back to before. 

Simon is gone the first time he remembers, which leaves John to tell everyone else first. He fills in Price and apologizes for his stubborn behavior. The man isn’t mad, just glad to have Soap back. John then calls his family and promises to visit soon. He hugs Gaz when he tells his best mate he remembers again and they talk for a long time about old memories they share together.

Then Simon comes back and he can’t wait to tell him. He waits for Simon till he comes to his office, knowing he will have to write a report after his mission debrief and when Simon opens the door John is standing there, ready to embrace him and welcome him back. 

So that is what he does. What he also does is pull Simon in for the longest kiss they have yet to share. He only pulls away when he has to catch his breath and when he does he looks up at Simon with the brightest smile. 

“Guess who’s back to work?”

Simon needs a second to connect the dots, then states breathlessly. “You remember.” Simon immediately throws off his mask and pulls John right back into another kiss, a bright smile of his own tugging at his lips.

[terresdebrume]

Messrs Payne and Rowland's Adventuring Agency

Part 1: The Arrival of Young Crystal - 23

Getting there! This is going to get some SERIOUS revisions before it ever goes near AO3, but the general idea is built and at 13k some for the draft, I'm guessing it'll be a decent sized story xD Now, if someone could tell my gdoc to behave and stop pretending like I didn't write a couple thousands of new words in that whole Crystal & Charles v the early supermarket shift session, that would be great.

It's surprising how fast some things become familiar. They found an alleyway at the edge of the residential areas, calm but not quite deserted, and they're waiting for Mr. Payne to finish his incantations with a game of boulder parchment shears that Crystal is, as usual, winning with almost frustrating ease.

She'd have less luck if Charles actually paid attention to it, but at this point she's come to expect the way he keeps an eye on the mouth of the alley and another on Mr. Payne, always on the loukout for danger. Crystal is leaning against the wall beside him, aching and tired and looking forward for her not-a-treehouse of a room, with its comfy bed and its soft light. She is also, despite Charles' best efforts, still pissed.

"It's just not fair," she whispers angrily, trying to angle her mouth away from Mr. Payne, just in case now is the time he decides to pay attention to her again. "I don't even know how I did what I did! It's not like he can't learn combat spells in his precious books."

"You're really convinced he's jealous of you, aren't you?" Charles chuckles, and turns back to the front of the alley just in time to miss the flat stare Crystal throws his way.

Shouldn't he see it too? He said he and Mr. Payne have been partnered for longer than Crystal has been alive. Presumably. So how can he not see the way Mr. Payne grimaced every time Crystal's magic came up after their fight against the sea creature? Well, maybe he sees it and he's just trying to sweep it under the rug, but somehow Crystal doesnt think so. It would seem too... well, too underhanded, from what she's seen of Charles so far.

"I can't think of any other reason for the hostility," she says. "Other than him being a stuck up ass."

"You have to be a little patient," Charles says, finally turning back to fully look at her. "We haven't had anyone stay with us this long before-I know you don't remember right now, but most people would be unnerved at having an unexpected guest stay in their home indefinitely."

Crystal winces and looks away from Charles. He's not wrong. She is an imposition, she doesn't need her memories to realize that, but where the fuck else is she supposed to go? She has no idea where she's from, or what she can do aside from hitting things hard and apparently hurting them with her mind, it's not exactly the kind of skillset the city seems to need. Even if it were, well. It's not like she's seen an abundance of women in the city guards--there are some, yes, but not many, and all older than her. She can't sit on a bench until she's old enough to join.

"Ah," Charles says as the door of the agency clicks open. "Here we go."

He follows Mr. Payne inside, leaving Crystal literally on the outside looking in. The walls show the dark green of the office, always the first room they see upon arrival, which kind of makes sense. It's elegant and no nonsense, but not austere, at least not unless Mr. Payne decides to make it so. There's a sense of personnality in it, Charles' trinket mixed with his colleagues' books and manuals, and after almost two weeks coming back to it every night, Crystal has to admit there's a comfort in seeing it, too. She wonders if that's what it feels like for them. Coming home. She wonders if there's a place out there that'll give her the same feeling twenty years from now.

"You will have to make a choice eventually," Mr. Payne calls out, appearing in Crystal's field of vision like a particularly miffed ghost. "If that could happen sooner rather than later, we would all be quite grateful."

Crystal rolls her eyes and steps in, carefully hiding the small pinch of relief when the spell lets her in again. She bites her gauntlets off, first, then gets started on the rest of her buckles with a grunt of annoyance. Charles said she'd get better at it, but it's been a couple of days and frankly, right now she's not seeing it. At least she mostly figured out how not to snag her hair when she takes her breastplate off, but that doesn't prevent her from glaring at Charles when he comes in and chuckles at her.

"Shut up," she grumbles, stepping into the office and going straight for the bookshelves.

[randomfoggytiger]

On this lazy Sunday I would love to hear some of your Mulder/Scully early relationship and post-revival headcanons if you feel comfortable sharing 😊

**Note**: No beta testing, we ghost edit later like men.

I'm not a Revival girlie; but I shall play fair and by the rules! >:DD

Hm. I think the Jackson story line would have made more sense if Jackson was a clone from one of Scully's ova, ala Emily or the Kurt Crawford project. But that aside, I think...

I haven't seen the Revival, so these are speculations.

I think Mulder and Scully would have reduced their workload, if not retired. Not because they could but because the second pregnancy would necessitate a "time out" for them to heal. It's their second chance; and with Mulder saying "what am I, if not a father?"-- horrible phrasing of that aside-- his focus would be hardwired in that direction. Requiem all over again: "there's more than this."

CSM's dead, right? Jackson's out there-- his expression from one screenshot after Scully's confession on the dock leads me to believe he knew she "gave him up" for his sake, and he'll be returning sooner rather than later. Jackson's Mulder's son.

I do, unfortunately, believe Miller and Einstein will be worked into the basement somehow, someway. I think Monica Reyes dies ala a Diana Fowley betrayal; but I'd love to see a confrontation between her and Scully on Monica's deathbed-- maybe a way to air grievances or work towards redemption? Skinner's forced into retirement, bless him: he did so much for his agents only for them to eat up his emergency cash on muffins. Maybe take up a position that allows him to get things handled while leaning on a cane? ...In that case, he probably wouldn't retire.

The baby's a girl, her name's Lily, GA and DD have spoken. Her parents never could decide on a middle name for her with all the lost people to honor. Maybe Lily has powers? Probably not-- there's no Messiah undercurrent to her story (...yet.) She adores Mulder and Scully, they adore her. Mulder tries to teach her words Scully will snort adoringly over. Scully tries to hone her motor skills faster-- in vain-- so Lily can pitch or toss or catch a baseball with Mulder. Her interests change daily and neither of them can figure out who she takes after more. Her hero is Horton, but because of the story where he hatched someone else's abandoned baby, not the Who one. She loves to lose things, purposefully: walking over a bridge, she'll toss her favorite toy in the lake below just to see what happens. She's not only the baby but the only niece on both sides of the family-- she is over-spoiled but philosophical with her wealth, handing them out to the unfortunates (her older male cousins) as an expression of her love and benevolence. Scully watched her like a hawk for a week when Lily's eyes grew wide and determined after Mulder told her about "Mommy pretending to eat a bug once."

On Mulder and Scully's early relationship: I wrote a LONG dissertation that I'm sticking under a "Read More" section.

Mulder and Scully were drawn to each other immediately, Scully's interest in his abilities turning into a crush in his basement turning into a tempered understanding after his Samantha revelation-- knowing him transformed him from "idol", in a way, to a human, a friend. She falls in love with him somewhere after, realizes it ~Darkness Falls or Tooms, but doesn't start acting on it until Little Green Men through her abduction. Mulder doesn't fall in love until ~Darkness Falls or Tooms; and doesn't realize it until One Breath (while Maggie knew by the end of Ascension and Melissa knew after their first few conversations.) Season 2 was tender healing, Season 3 was unhurried friendship-- the type where you can jealously cross lines and shove other kids on the playground outside the inner circle with a claim that hasn't crossed into romantic possession, strictly.

Early Season 4 began the shift for Scully: not that she wanted them to change, but that she felt that something should without realizing why-- not wanting to settle down in Home, but entertaining thoughts of Mulder's genetics; not wanting to believe in soulmates but aching that she wasn't Mulder's; believing it was the endless line when really it was Mulder's focus on that endless line instead of what was between them. Never Again taught them both lessons: Mulder became more attentive, tailoring Leonard Betts to her expertise and Scully walked away from more complicated issues (like she did later in Detour.) Memento Mori shifted from "we" are fighting this to Scully looking deep into her soul and making this battle-- not just her cancer, but also the mission-- HERS. Mulder was delighted; then began to panic as her condition worsened. Scully, seeing he couldn't handle her weakness-- out of fear-- became strong for him as well as her mom.

Redux II: emotional openness Mulder couldn't express at any other time. Detour: a return to his status quo because he, again, wasn't ready-- same with Fight the Future to The Beginning and Dreamland I. Scully was willing to wait not because he was dying over him but because he and the work fulfilled her; and she knew post Redux II (and was affirmed again in Fight the Future and Amor Fati) that he returned her singular devotion. In the meantime, she worked through her own pain and struggles, her own inability to trust attachment.

I believe Millennium was their first time, not just because of the IVF timeline I broke down, but also because Mulder had to see the alternative without her to set aside his last excuses and live a life with her. Then Samantha was found, and he was free... and then he ditched Scully to run off to England. Scully's unresolved issues from Never Again rose up in a new way: "did I make the right choice?" was called into question after so much of her life had changed but nothing really had, at all. By the end, she realizes it had, it did; she had, she did. And this was the perfect life for her, just as she'd always chosen. And she needed to accept it fully, like Mulder had post Amor Fati and Millennium.

[bstroobery]

Tips for writing trans characters from someone who was afraid of writing them wrong:

Write their narrative in a way that makes sense for the characters.

For example, my character Dex Dieunarrah discovered he was trans very early in life (after entering kindergarten). This makes sense for his character because he is someone who knows what he wants and doesn’t stop in pursuit of it. He knows who he is and is extremely self-confident. So it makes sense that he knows he’s trans early on in life.

My character Currant Numerfein’s story revolves around how much her life changed after a traumatic family accident when she was young, and revolves around self-discovery and free will. She discovers more about herself and family history through others. So Dex was the one who explained what his experience with gender dysphoria was like and why he socially transitioned when he was younger. Currant decides to give it a try, and finds she much prefers living as a girl instead of a boy. So she sticks with it. It also affects her brother Leno, who is having difficulty moving on with the trauma but loves his sister anyway, despite how much he wishes to return to the past. Furthermore, after noticing how much happier his sister is now that she’s socially transitioned, it helps him realize that the past was actually worse for the people he cares for. I would also like to add that Currant does face a lot of transphobia throughout the story, and biphobia as well since she is also bisexual, which is a major part of her story as she fights to have the freedom to choose for herself in her life instead of allowing others to choose for her.

Another tip is to not bring too much attention to the trans-ness of a character unless it fits in with the narrative.

Such is the case with Ghost Long. He discovered he was trans relatively early on in life too, but he’s a character from a completely different culture as well (one completely fictional btw). He’s been around trans people his entire life, because he lives in a culture that is extremely accepting of a lot of things, and where gender identity is explored very early on for children and it is encouraged that you try out different things at a young age. So of course it makes sense he knew he was trans since he was little. When he decided to socially transition, his parents didn’t even bat an eye. They just said they would accept him and moved on with their lives. A major part of his character is the massive culture shock when he arrives on Earth, because it’s so different from where he’s from.

Then there’s D’Ghala Kanabo, a genderfluid alien who knows who they are, but hides it constantly until they finally feel comfortable around the main cast and embrace their full identity, including their quirks and bad parts of their history. It’s a major part of their character, since they try to hide their kind’s history and pretend it never existed and a huge part of their character is learning to accept that part of their heritage.

The final trans character I want to mention is Squid Fisk. They’re nonbinary, and absolutely refuse to elaborate on what they were identified as at birth. It’s no one’s concern. They already know they’re nonbinary when the reader meets them, and the reader never finds out their sex. Because it doesn’t matter. Their character struggles with trauma and depression, but their past remains mostly a mystery to everyone but their fraternal twin brother Pallet. No one else learns of this, because they deem it unimportant as they attempt to move on from the past at every turn and accept that what was will never be again.

With those three characters, they’re mentioned to be trans and the narrative brings that to a focal point only when necessary, such as when D’Ghala breaks away from their toxic ex-friend group and proudly expresses that they’re genderfluid because now they’re no longer tied down to the expectations had on them by others.

Sometimes you don’t need to write in how a character figured out their gender identity. You can just have them start off that way and never explain it, but give hints here and there. Sometimes you can write about a character discovering that they’re trans. Just remember that the story should fit the character. Don’t force the representation. Make it make sense to the character that you are writing.

Have a great day!

-🍓

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Paranormal Masterlist

A Day in the... Life? (ao3) - carefully_crafted_cliches

Summary: A day in the... er, life of Dan and his ghost boyfriend, Phil.

chaos in bloom (ao3) - vvelna

Summary: The adventures of Dan and Phyl, ghost removal experts.

Dead of Night (ao3) - PoisonedMind

Summary: The windows rattle and the floor creaks and Dan writes i miss you to Phil before he goes to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

As he crawls into bed, he checks his phone. There’s a message from Phil waiting for him.

I'll be home soon

(TW) Early Sunsets Over Monroeville (ao3) - Morguesick

Summary: Dan had found his first ever safe space in Phil, and for Phil, someone to truly love. Yet, their relationship - and Dan's trust is jeopardised when Phil begins acting strangely following unexpected events on a caravan holiday in an abnormal country town with Chris and Pj.

A story of Dan losing his sense of reality following Phil's spiral into gradual paranormal depravity.

- set in 2010 -

Dragonfly (ao3) - lvckyphan

Summary: Something terrible happened in Littlerock Mental Asylum in the 1970s. Dan and his group of historically-crazed friends know this for certain. But when you throw in corporate secrets, paranormal activity and a chilling boy with very, very blue eyes, things begin to get a little more complicated.

four hotel walls (ao3) - watergator (orphan_account)

Summary: dan and phil are paranormal investigators from the 90s

House Haunting (ao3) - Indelible_Faith (TheWaterGoddess), nebulous_frog, PoisonedMind

Summary: Their house is haunted, Phil is certain of it.

Dan, on the other hand, has doubts. But when certain events begin happening, Dan doesn’t really think it’s quite amusing anymore...

in the woods somewhere (ao3) - antiadvil

Summary: After Dani bit Fi, Fi started to change too.

Mystery House (ao3) - multifandomer

Summary: Dan has just moved into a new house. The house is nice and looks expensive, but doesn’t cost as much as it should. He meets some unexpected people that will play a big part in his future.

oh invisible (ao3) - vvelna

Summary: The Happy Phantoms team takes on a ghost in a crawlspace.

Puppy Love (ao3) - citizen101erased

Summary: Phil goes to the dog show. He comes back with more than just fun stories and instagram selfies. Dan is pretending not to be pleased, but honestly, he can’t say no to those cute puppy eyes.

But then, strange things start to happen…

quiet on widow's peak (ao3) - dvp_95

Summary: Phil's got a list of paranormal experiences a mile long that he likes to share with the world. Abandoned buildings, cemeteries, and ghost stories have always called his name, and a particular fan of his has a really, really good ghost story.

(TW) Runaway Poltergeists (ao3) - kittycatrin (orphan_account)

Summary: Dan Howell dissociates, and Phil Lester is a ghost. Somehow, Phil still seems more real than Dan does.

SPI: A Dan and Phil Paranormal Investigator AU (ao3) - trancelover99

Summary: So I made a TikTok where Dan and Phil were Paranormal Investigators, and I decided to make an AU based on it.

The X-Philes (ao3) - UnorthodoxSavvy

Summary: Phil is a psychic. Dan is a detective. When Phil is visited by the ghost of his brother, he knows something isn't right. Can he and Dan solve the case, or will they become the next victims?

Watchful (ao3) - cafephan

Summary: Phil is part of one of the world’s most famous paranormal investigator groups, along with his friends Joe, Zoe and Louise. The never before investigated Harrowick Penitentiary catches the group’s attention, and they settle in the town for a week long investigation. Most importantly, they hope to make contact with one spirit in particular, Dan Howell, who was falsely imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, and was murdered in the building. When Dan becomes attached to Phil, things become a lot more complicated.

[withasideofshakespeare]

We all know I shouldn’t be allowed to make Tumblr posts after 1 AM, but here we go again… This has been in my brain for so long so now I am going to ramble about it (shoutout to the Hamlet Discord server for joining in the Thinking)

Surveillance Hamlet!!!

(Or, rather, the theme of surveillance in Hamlet and some fun and exciting ways I’d like to see it portrayed on stage assuming this mythical theater program has unlimited money)

(Warning- this thought is undercooked. This is going to get rambly…)

Surveillance is a major theme in Hamlet. Nearly everyone in the play engages in some kind of spying or scheming or is the victim thereof (or both). I love plays as a medium for the fact that each individual performance has the opportunity to completely change which themes get the most emphasis and surveillance is a theme I’d love to see take center stage with Hamlet specifically!

Hamlet is a pretty meta play. It ends with a message on the act of storytelling within the specific context of the story the audience has just watched just after it calls out the “mutes and audience” to the ultimate tragedy for their inaction during the runtime of the play. It’s also been performed and adapted plenty of times with a modern lens. Grief, depression, existential anxiety, and gay people are, apparently, universal pieces of the human experience, but if anything looms larger than ever over today’s society, it’s surveillance. Hell, I’m typing this on a device that is for sure selling my data to the government and probably also scam artists! So give me a performance where extreme surveillance heightens all the other aspects of the play, where Hamlet’s paranoia is exceedingly justified.

First, choose a good venue. Outdoor theater is almost always my favorite, but in this case, choose a massive indoor theater with a movie theater style sound system. Hang massive screens above the stage like you’d see at a big concert.

Now, these actors are going to be doing some major method acting. Put cameras above the stage at all angles. Put cameras in the wings. Put cameras on the crew. Put cameras in the audience- maybe some employee plants instructed to stream the show to the screens from their view or even to obnoxiously take photos and video throughout the show. No matter where these actors go, so long as they’re in character, there’s a camera on them. Put mics everywhere too, so even low whispers are heard from the backrow.

I want this play to start with an attempt at secrecy. The ghost appears, Hamlet begs his friends not to speak of it, but he can hear his whispers echoing right back to him and he knows it’s useless. The curiously missing line where Marcellus, Horatio, and Barnardo do finally swear upon Hamlet’s sword isn’t implied to be there as usual. It doesn’t exist. The ghost is only “satiated” by the coming of dawn, even this first, simple wish remains unfulfilled.

Hamlet spends the end of act 1 wavering between a genuine breakdown and an acted portrayal of madness. Pretending shields him from showing legitimate emotion on those screens.

To be or not to be is performed offstage, but on camera. Hamlet seems to think for a moment that he’s truly alone or perhaps it’s all part of the facade. Either way, emotion gets the best of him eventually and he realizes he can’t escape the cameras (or mortality). He comes on stage for get thee to a nunnery, frantically trying to get away from his ever-echoing voice, only to find a spotlight on him. The lines come across as cruel as they are pathetic. Ophelia is also being watched. Ophelia didn’t decide alone to speak to him. In some ways, she has far less privacy than he does, but Hamlet isn’t looking for solidarity in the watched. He wants to be alone. He wants to not be seen.

When he stabs Polonius, Ros & Guil track him down on the cameras. There’s no need to run, but he tries.

The only time Hamlet is truly outside of surveillance is on the ship to England (and then with the sailors who return him to Denmark). Maybe Claudius doesn’t want the world to know he has sent the prince to be executed, but it is clear that he too has lost any real control of this surveillance system. You saw him praying. Or was it a publicity stunt? Hamlet returns and simply tells Horatio (and by proxy, you) what happened on the ship, maybe resentfully. The only time he gets privacy, he doesn’t need it.

By the final scene, he no longer wants not to be seen. He isn’t sure you see him at all. No, you mutes and audience look right through him as if you know infinitely more than him, as if he hasn’t proven that he knows he is a sparrow that will fall. But you know the lines and he doesn’t.

He asks Horatio to tell his story. Maybe there’s something personal about being told a story rather than watching one play out. Maybe you can’t look through a storyteller.

Hamlet canonically knows he’s being watched. He uncovers Ros & Guil’s spy mission in the span of minutes, kills Polonius in the act of spying on him, and comes to mistrust the people around him because almost no one seems to be genuine with him (besides horatio). But it’s not just the characters, it’s the audience. In his darkest moments, he looks out for just a second, almost begging for help, only to discover that no one is coming to his aid. When he tries to exit, the spotlight follows him and so do the cameras. It’s inescapable. When he delivers the “mutes and audience” line, it should be as accusatory as it is pleading. You, the audience, have seen his life projected on massive screens, you’ve heard his every word and whisper, you know him, don’t you? Yes, you know him better than his closest friends. He’s spilled his soul to you because he knows you can’t be escaped, that you, rows upon rows of darkness to this actor blinded by spotlights, are always watching. Will you help? he asks, one final time. The answer is an obvious no, not because you’re heartless but because that’s not why you’re here. You’re here to see a play.