#It took a lot of persuasion to keep her from leaving after that

[drurrito]

Are You The One? - One

A/N: I've been sitting on this idea for a minute. Some quick background on AYTO: it's a gameshow -- there's usually 9 or 10 couples that are matched based on compatibility. They have about 10 weeks to figure it out by playing games and going on dates. They pair off at "matching ceremonies" to see how many light beams they get to clue them in on who might be a perfect match. Anyway, here goes nothing--all mistakes are mine of course.

Pairings: Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Warnings: Alcohol, cursing, Jerk!Vision lol

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

No match!

Wanda stares at the screen, mouth agape and mind racing. Vis squeezes her hand.

"Wanda-"

"You're not my match," Wanda whispered, "you're not my match and we only have two matching ceremonies to figure everything out."

"That doesn't change what we have," he turns to her, taking both her hands into his.

"It changes everything," Wanda bites, "I wasted so much time with you," she runs a frustrated hand through her hair. Vis just stands there, arms stupidly hanging by his sides. Wanda thought she was winning this game by sticking with him. She ignored everyone's pleads for her to pick someone else the last few matching ceremonies. That one beam of light was her and Vis without a doubt.

Until now.

"My match is still here," she's quiet again. Vis looks like he's still processing. He's been extremely persuasive up until this point. Vis would just talk Wanda out of actually playing the game every time she mentioned talking with anyone else. To the rest of the house, he sounded like a broken record, but to Wanda--he sounded like her favorite song.

"So, that's it?" Vis mumbles, his face contorts into something like disbelief, he looks foolish.

"That's the point, Vis," Wanda doesn't spare a second glance at him as she leaves.

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

The house buzzes with conversation. Wanda is sitting on the patio alone, twirling her glass in her hand.

"Hey," Shuri slowly approaches the seat across from Wanda. After the Truth Booth, everyone gave Wanda some kind of sympathy. A hug, some words, tight smiles and other gestures that did nothing to stop Wanda's stomach from churning something awful. The guilt has been making her shoulders sag heavily since coming back.

"We've been crunching the numbers," Shuri starts again, Wanda keeps her eyes on the dancing glass in her hand.

"We think your match could be y/n."

That gets a side glance and cocked eyebrow from Wanda, "she barely talks."

"Because she makes you do all the talking," Shuri shoots Wanda a knowing look who only rolls her eyes in response. You were good at getting Wanda to talk on your group dates. It only took a few questions to spark a conversation among the whole group, actually. Sometimes you just shared a comfortable silence, it threw Wanda off so bad. How can you connect with someone without a conversation?

"Look, y/n has won two dates in a row with you, that's two more dates than Vis ever won. Plus, you guys haven't sat together at a matching ceremony yet. If it's not you, then it has to be Carol--but we don't have any more time left to figure this out. If some of our guesses end up being correct this week, then we can figure out the rest of the matches from there."

"So you want me to sit with someone that I have no chemistry with?" Wanda asks, trying not to sound less than amused with the plan.

"Technically, you don't have chemistry with anyone," Shuri says without missing a beat, it makes Wanda flinch.

"But," Shuri drawls, "now that Vis isn't helicoptering over you, there are a few days to see if something sparks between you and y/n before the ceremony."

Wanda shifts in her seat with a heavy sigh that all but burns her nose. Outside the island, finding love is hardly ever a team effort. But in this game, teamwork is key. While getting a blackout would have costed money from the prize fund, it would have crossed off a lot of potential couples. That one beam belongs to someone, just not to Wanda and Vis.

"Have you talked to y/n about this?"

"Told her before your Truth Booth," Shuri flashes a nervous smile, "if it's any consolation, she was also hesitant at first."

Wanda can't help but look puzzled. She chews on her bottom lip for a few moments before nodding slowly.

"Alright, I'm in."

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

Wanda walks back into the house with Shuri. Everyone is sitting around in the living room, half of the group is gossiping about Bruce and Natasha sneaking off into the boom boom room for one last time. Shuri gives Wanda a parting glance before sitting down next to Namor. Half the room has paired off into new couples, Wanda realizes. Vis is nursing a bottle between Tony and Steve, Wanda doesn't look at him as she makes her way over to you. You're busy nodding along to whatever Thor is talking about, while Carol is leaning against you as she talks to Maria. Your eyes are on Wanda as soon as she fills in the space between you and Thor.

"Hey," you give a warm smile that Wanda barely notices over the burn of the alcohol in her throat.

"Hey," she rasps back to you.

"I'm sorry about today," you look frustratingly genuine as Wanda searches your eyes for a few beats, looking for a reason to be mad at you. She gives up, turning back to her glass to down the rest in one gulp.

"Yeah, me too."

---------

As it turns out, you're also good at having conversations. It only took one "and what about you?" from Wanda to get you to actually participate. Vis was seething from his spot on the couch until Tony tugged him away to talk with another group. Maria had to do the same against Carol's protests when she realized you and Wanda were trying to hit it off. Your housemates continued to leave until it was just the both of you sitting on the couch. Wanda never noticed. She figured the two of you were alone this whole time with the way you looked at her.

Wanda is listening to you talk about your favorite movie when she fails to stifle a yawn.

"Shit, it's late," you watch the clock in the kitchen, realizing that you can hear it's ticking now. The rest of the house is dead silent. Wanda thumbs at the ring on her index finger. Shit, where is she supposed to sleep now? All the beds are likely taken.

Except for one.

"Hey," your voice is gentle, "I can sleep on the couch, you take the bed."

"I'm not going to ask you to do that-"

"You don't have to," you take a breath, "I just want to give you space, if you want it."

Wanda's brows furrow, space? She thinks back to the night when Vis made out with Hope and insisted on sleeping splayed on top of Wanda afterward. Space was never an option with Vis, that's why she's looking at you like you just grew a second head. You wordlessly grab Wanda's glass to wash, your way of giving her some time to think it over. You're drying off your hands when Wanda walks up to the bar.

"What side of the bed do you sleep on?"

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

Wanda tries not to think about the fact that you like to sleep on the left side while she tries to fall asleep on the right, the side she prefers.

[hoetao]

sooo sort of a masterpost of info about Wriothesley.

about his character:

hes basically incorruptible, is said to be "low profile and dependable"

‌mostly just cares about the peace and tranquility of the inmates (he's a protector at heart!!)

treats everyone equally and generally prefers to be "reasonable" rather than use more forceful methods

‌doesn't really like cruelty and violence but if the need comes, he will use it

‌he thinks of himself as "neither a good person or a villain, just another soul still living on in this world"

‌hes basically just interested in every bit of knowledge any person shares and in their unique talents

he says that he himself doesn't have many abilities, but he "knows how to find people who do and get them to work for him"

his past:

‌wanted to be convicted and spilled everything about how he killed his adopted parents (cough cough child traffickers), even though some wanted to treat him with leniency

‌learned to lockpick and create small gadgets as a child

gained Coupons in the arena of the Fortress (while injuring himself considerably)

‌when he got his vision after going to prison he just. hid it between the fabric of his clothes so that no one would know and/or steal it. and then he kinda just hid it some more, for years, until he went to the Palais to receive his title.

‌how he actually became the Administrator:

accumulated a fuckton of Coupons

got everyone's respect by being so rich, "observant, persuasive, humble and reasonable"

got his account emptied in retribution by the former administrator

‌convinced other ppl to protest and challenged the previous administrator to a duel

the former administrator run away from the fight, leaving Wriothesley on the last day of his sentence without anyone to sign his exit papers

‌"so he walked into the office and took over all relevant duties"

about his role as a Fortress Administrator:

‌has a private information network and many connections

‌rejected having a ceremony for his title of the Duke. no spotlight for good old duke.

‌basically his management style just helps the Fortress make money (with one of its main clients being the Palais); he even jokes that his title was basically bought because he's a leading tax contributor

‌after dealing with the Fatui spies he went for a swim. near primordial water. and he didn't say shit after realizing that the prophecy may be coming to pass, he just started preparing his funky ship.

relationships with others:

‌Clorinde actually admits that no one really knows all of the methods he uses to keep the Fortress up and running; it is stated that "very few people know him in his entirety"

he seems to think of Neuvillette as some sort of a. higher power that cannot show concern (BUT HE DOES OH HE DOES)

‌he indeed held out the umbrella for Neuvillette in the rain. the Iudex was polite, but distressed.

‌gifts a lot of tea to Furina.

‌got Neuvillettes trust (i think what he implies is that he got it by his actions, not words?) and the Iudex "fought hard for the title and reputation he now has"

‌when he went to prison Neuvillette told Sigewinne to take care of him and they frequently exchanged letters about his progress (and Wriothesley called her Neuvillettes spy…)

info that i find especially funky:

he's a big softie when it comes to animals and kids

‌may or may not go outside the Fortress incognito to buy snacks sometimes. he's actually too incognito to know really

‌doesnt treat boxing like a hobby, "more like a necessity"

‌melusines put stickers on him and he rarely notices them do so. they are just too good. and besides, it doesn't bother him. they also have bets on who will pit more stickers on him.

‌he would like to have a happy childhood and maybe the ability to trust people (i am BAWLING)

‌might be "a bit taller than Neuvillette"

drinks coffee with milk and tea with two cubes of sugar

‌he thinks Sigewinnes milkshakes taste of desolation

Sigewinne spiked his tea with anaesthetics when he was younger because he always refused them out of fear that they would fog his brain

[dayseternal-blog]

Fanfic you ve been reading recently? Love your tastes btw!

:) You sent this months ago, but here are the fics that I've been reading recently, like this August/September:

"The Mission" by Lunawrayth - Rated M, Canon-Divergent AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. It wasn't that Hinata never expected to work with Naruto, just never on a mission quite like this.

-I check this one for updates so often. at least once a week, but more like multiple times a week.

"thus a silenced memory" by @keroppri - Rated T, Modern AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. Eight years flown on by and Naruto makes his return to the city where he once fell in love, only for him to leave hollow and broken after she was persuaded to leave him. Plagued by her memory at every corner, a chance meeting changes fates, minds, and hearts. Thus he tries to silence the memories. Inspired and based on Jane Austen's Persuasion.

-ahhh loving the yearning angst of unrequited love (but it's actually requited) in this fic.

"Amaranthine" by @opttagoyeo - Rated T, Various AU, Series of unrelated one-shots. A few drabbles/ideas ranging from fluff, confusing, humor, and angst regarding the most iconic and popular canon couple of Konohagakure, Naruhina.

-just started reading this! Full of cuteness.

"After Office Hours" by Pandora_Imperatrix - Rated M, Canon-Divergent AU, Multi-chapter, Complete. Naruto is lonely after Sakura and Sasuke left the village to travel together, he keeps leaving the office later and later, things start to change after one night when his secretary Hinata and him share a couple of vending machine beers. In this AU Naruto becomes Hokage a lot earlier than in the manga and The Last never happened.

-It's been years since this was updated, and recently Pandora updated and just finished it!!!!!!

"Friends with benefits" by @pastillesch - Rated T, Modern AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. "I'm dumping you" --Naruto blinked once. Twice. "But we're not even together". It was more a stress relief than anything romantic, really. A hobby one would say. And now it was time to search for a new hobby. Or at least a new partner for this kind of hobby.

-Another one that I was super excited to see updated again!!!!

"Casual Touches" by Lunawrayth - Rated M, Canon-Divergent AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. It's the casual touches that do it.

-Since I'm really feeling Luna's style, I checked out this story, too, and it's super cute. Love it.

"Fairy Tale" from "NaruHina Erotica Oneshots" by @makuro767 - Rated E, Fantasy AU, Two-shot. Naruto moved to an old family home to start anew and found an unlikely existence in his backyard...

-I am a total sucker for this type of size difference au. Like, it's just such a weird trope. It's just so weird. I love it. Makuro767 does a wonderful job with it!

"Love Is Not A Cage" by @nightowl27-writer - Rated E, Canon-Divergent AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. When Naruto comes back to his senses after the battle with Pein, the first thing he remembers are those baffling words she said just before she nearly died for him, and he NEEDS to hear them again. Will the truth set them free? Or are some confessions too much for the soul?

-that recent update killed me. In a good way. but oh man.

"Hinata (Mirror, Mirror)" from "Chicken Ramen for the Pervert's Soul" by @wickermayne - Rated E, Canon-Compliant, One-shot. Naruto rolled his eyes at the purchase asking why she needed it and complained about how much room it took up, but Hinata enjoyed modeling different dresses in front of it, loved how it let her see all the many different angles. And that seemed to keep Naruto quiet enough about the mirror.

-🙊🙈🔥

So, I guess it's been months since I worked on this list. Because it's nearing the end of March 2024 now. And up at the top, apparently I was last working on this list in September 2023. And at that time, it had been "months" since the asker sent this. Well, here's the ones I've been reading recently:

"clash of possession - naruhina" by @powerful-niya - Rated E, Yakuza AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. In the heart of the yakuza underworld of Tokyo, the passing of Hiashi, the leader of the Hyūga clan, does more than just break Hinata's heart, but it exposes her to vulnerability. Seizing the opportunity, the ruthless Naruto, Uzumaki clan leader, targets not only the conquest of the Hyūga clan but also wishes to claim Hinata as his most prized possession, no matter the cost.

-It's been awhile since I read an irredeemable Naruto, and Niya's not lying when she calls the characterization ruthless!!

"Prey" by @sessakag - Rated E, Modern/Gangs AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. Following a midnight chance encounter with Hinata Hyuuga, a smitten sociopath, Naruto Uzumaki, tries his hand at romance, determined to make her fall in love with him the only way he knows how.

-it's the mystery of Hinata's background that really fuels this piece for me. Icing on the cake is Naruto as a wonderfully sexy and dangerous stranger and the sexual tension between them that is absolutely exquisite.

"Paper Rings" by Its_Levioooosaa - Rated E, College/Soulmates AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. In a world where soulmates are found after a touch and after a brief moment of pain, resulting in a red loop circling the first knuckle of each person's pinky finger. Fating the two people together and leaving it up to them to decide what their relationship will be. Hinata had just stopped at her friends for a piece of pizza, little did she know that she'd be leaving with a soulmate.

-It's a cute premise and I can't wait to see what happens next! I love a good soulmate AU!

"Wanting More Than A Poolside View" by @bunny-hoodlum - Rated E, High School AU, Multi-chapter, Ongoing. Just a Sukumizu fetish scenario where Hinata is the target of a panty thief and recruits Naruto to investigate himself.

-I've been loving all of Bunny's updates this year, but I'm really hoping for an update on this one....or Narutoland haha, but I dunno what it is about High School NaruHina and their immaturity, it's just so fun!

Kay, that's all. If I don't post this now, I never will lol.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

I Am Blackened Bones (Part 26)

Spirit Azula isn’t exactly one to be convincing or persuasive. But she is stubborn and she does refuse to leave even when Katara asks her nicely to do so, just for the duration of the council meeting. Katara imagines that Azula has some choice words for the spirit. She also imagines that the spirit has gotten used to Azula’s prickly demeanor and blunt harsh words. Accustomed enough to ignore them entirely. And so, with the declaration, that she let Azula be there for the sky curtains, so she will be staying at the forefront for as long as she pleases. But it does have its perks to take her to the meeting instead; it puts the council members at ease to speak with a softer version of Azula. To look into those innocent, curious eyes rather than to meet human Azula’s fiery, intense gaze. To watch a terribly bored spirit Azula fidget and count the icicles on the ceiling instead of seeing human Azula sit stiffly and imposingly.

Katara imagines that Azula’s natural overall demeanor wouldn’t do her any favors on this particular endeavor. She supposes that Azula, with enough effort, could threaten and intimidate her way to the Spirit Oasis. But that would be nowhere near as efficient and effective as spirit Azula just being herself with Azula’s sweet, silky voice, soft face, and tiny stature.

Afterall, what harm could a precious thing like her do?

Provide a good disguise. 

Act as a vessel to conceal a bomb.

The spirit, innocent and unassuming, could walk into the Oasis and human Azula could force her way out and do whatever she pleases with Tui and La. But she wouldn’t do that…would she? Katara furrows her brows at the realization that she doesn’t think Azula would take advantage of them letting her into the Spirit Oasis.

Maybe she is letting her guard too far down. Being too trusting. Maybe the spirit has instilled exactly the kind of trust that can pave the way to Azula doing something horrible. Something to usurp Zuko and take back what she thinks is hers. 

But no. She had seen the way Azula looked at her. The things that Azula had confessed to. She can fake a lot of things, but love has a certain look and feel to it. One that Katara has come to recognize very well. And Azula, both versions of her been very sincere. And so she concludes that Azula only wants what truly does belong to her; her firebending. She can only imagine just how much Azula misses it, Katara had been so lost when TyLee had chiblocked her for the first time. 

The council members continue to chatter amongst themselves after Aang finishes his recount of everything that he has observed of both Azulas. That the spirit is friendly and playful and quite fun to be around and that Azula herself is cooperative. Snarky and standoffish but not particularly combative. She mostly keeps to herself. 

“Regardless of how we feel about her, I think that we can all agree that it’s cruel to let someone suffer like that. A bender’s bending should never be taken from them, let alone become a source of suffering to them.” He concludes.

“You took Ozai’s bending from him, did you not?” A council woman asks, she studies Azula’s face for a reaction. Whatever Azula’s might have been, the spirit takes with indifference. 

“Former Fire Lord Ozai was an active threat who could be stopped in any other way.”

“Any other way that you were willing to perform.” Says the man next to her.

“Either which way, taking someone’s bending is a last resort and it’s not necessary with Azula.”

“If the spirits choose to keep her from her bending then there is probably a reason for it.” Chief Arnook counters. 

Katara has a feeling that this is the exact back and forth that has been keeping this meeting in session for so long.

“The spirits have their own biases. And they aren’t always right.” Sokka points out. “That Wan Shi Tong guy, he sunk a library with us inside of us because we were trying to use his books to try to keep the Fire Nation from conquering everything. An angry spirit terrorized Senlin Village because it thought that they destroyed its forest.”

This gives the council pause. 

It gives Azula pause. 

Azula who studies him with a look of confusion.

“He did say that he was going to try to get along with you.” Katara whispers to her. 

And the conversation carries on with a brand new debate. Should they trust the spirit’s judgment? If they can’t trust the spirits then why seek out their help? It goes on and on until Katara feels like they are talking in circles and the spirit seems to nod off. 

It is in the spirit’s exhaustion that Azula works her way back in and Katara’s stomach flutters. But Azula keeps quiet, a silent observer until they ask her why she thinks that she should be granted access to the Spirit Oasis.

Azula holds her silence for a moment before answering with a question of her own. “What have I done, specifically, that makes you think that I shouldn’t be granted access?” She pauses. “My brother did more to warrant distrust than I have but you welcome him into your city with open arms.” 

“And he will never see the Spirit Oasis again.” Chief Arnook assures. 

“I don’t need to be awake when I go there.” Azula shrugs. 

“But the spirit will be and you can harness from her, any information that might be useful to you.” 

“In any capacity.” She clarifies. “I don’t need to be awake in any capacity. Someone can carry me, unconscious to the Oasis and out of it.” Katara is certain that she is terribly uncomfortable with her own idea. It would leave her terribly prone and vulnerable. 

There is a murmur around the table.

Katara wonders how the spirit would have answered. 

.oOo.

It has been some time since she and the spirit have been together in this dark place, listening to the raging of the fire beyond it. Azula wonders if the crackle will fade and the walls of that flaming labyrinth will finally extinguish.

The spirit sits across from her, her posture is lax but it bears a much closer resemblance to her own than it had before. She, in fact, recognizes more of herself in the spirit than she has ever been able to.

There is an intelligence in her eyes, a knowingness. A very particular kind of knowingness. The kind that Azula herself often possesses. And that is the knowledge that she knows something that someone else doesn't. Or something that many people don’t. To be on the other end of that is unsettling. Worse still in that she can’t possibly fathom what that little spirit version of her can know that she doesn’t. But the look suits the spirit so well. It suits the spirit because it suits her. 

The spirit is starting to talk like her too; with the same inflections in the same places and the same tones. Her word choice is growing increasingly eloquent. 

And somehow that terrifies Azula. 

“We’re going to get our bending back.” She says as though it isn’t still possible for Tui and La to reject them. Or for the Oasis water to simply be ineffective. “We could go back to the Fire Nation.”

“That is the goal, yes.”

“Is it?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

And the spirit shrugs. “I quite like it here. The sights are extraordinary. It’s something new.”

“And what would you know about that? You’ve never been to Caldera City for yourself.”

Her mirror image extends an arm. Her fingers touch Azula’s forehead. “I have.”

“That’s not the same.”  

“It is.” The spirit insists. 

“How so?”

“I can feel the things that you do if I want to.” She pauses. “I can push you out if I want to.” She draws out another longer silence. “You aren’t stronger than me. You can’t ‘snuff me out’ as easily as you think you can.” 

Azula’s stomach churns and she begins to wonder just how innocent the spirit truly is. And just when it had stopped being ignorant and goofy and started playing the part. 

Or maybe she is looking too much into it. Projecting what she would have done onto a spirit that truly is kind and goofy. 

She hadn’t even considered that the spirit can be intelligent and playful at once; a new, evolve version of her.

A superior version of her.

She hadn’t even considered that the spirit might just be able to take over her life. Azula would lose her firebending for good if she exorcises her spirit self. The spirit, now that she has gotten re-acquitted with her vocabulary and the human world, has nothing to lose but baggage and hurt.

Maybe this whole time she was the one who was meant to fade. She almost certainly was. She was the one left behind in the maze. Perhaps it is time to let go. She can’t achieve what the spirit can earn for her. Affection, comfort, friends…

It wouldn’t be so bad to just let go. Aside from these brief, fleeting moments she only suffers anyways. 

There is a flicker of satisfaction the eyes of her spirit self. The thrill of a conquest. A bold sparkle that comes with knowing that she has the upper hand. Triumph, complete and total. And, Agni, she wears that look so well. Well enough that even she has trouble distinguishing the two of them apart. The spirit tilts her head and that look fades. “I don’t want to push you out though. You hate me so much, but I don’t hate you.” 

Azula swallows hard. It has been a good while since she has made herself cry. 

She can’t watch herself be happy without feeling embarrassed to the point of anger. Being carefree and happy, she realizes feels like making a fool of herself.

She hates the part of her that is happy because that part of her is everything that she wishes she could be. She can’t even look at the good parts of herself without feeling resentment and dissatisfaction. 

The spirit regards her with what can only be pity. She sits down next to her other half and when Azula doesn’t push her away, she takes her into her arms. She is so broken, so very broken that she can’t stand to see herself happy, can’t stand to imagine what that might be like. “Go ahead.” She murmurs. “You can have Katara for yourself.” 

“When you asked her, Katara said that she didn’t want that.” 

“She’d never know.” 

“I don’t want that. And you don’t want that.” The spirit informs her. 

She doesn’t want that. 

She doesn’t want to fade. 

But she doesn’t want to hurt either. 

Beyond their little dark place, where the spirit holds her close, a wall of flames fades into ember and smoke.

[kame-writes]

Another AU that's up for adoption, because I like the idea, but don't have the brainpower to do anything but a couple of doodles for it.

Amnesia!Exorcists

Basically: Exorcists were members of Lillith's rebellion against heaven, but with their memories wiped.

Lilith WAS indeed staging an uprising against Heaven, with an army of demon's under her.

To prevent them from attacking a deal was made with Adam, which Lucifer agreed to to, to Allow Lillith and all her followers into heaven.

Lillith agreed, but some of her followers were secretly planning to take down heaven from the inside.

However, heaven had anticipated that, and once they arrived in heaven, all of Lilith's followers had their memories wiped, and became the exorsists.

Not being winners, their appearances changed once in heaven. Sera was surprised when they gained halos, but the halos were black, signalling that they were still damned by their sins.

Everyone's memories of the exorcist's past lives also are affected. People do not remember them, and are unable to recognise them when meeting them again. However, day ja vu and confusion is very common for people who interact with them and used to know them. When trying to think of of past, others remember things they did, but not the person they did it with, or what happened to them.

Technically the angels hands are clean, since it would be demon's killing demon's, using power gifted by the Angel's. Meaning that Sera and heaven don't technically have blood on their holy hands

Lucifer was tricked by the wording of the deal. Being naive, and already upset that Lillith was leaving him, he didn't think of the repercussions. The contract stated that he wasn't to intervene against Heaven doing whatever they chose to stop another rebellion from happening

Heaven's method to prevent another uprising from happening involved killing Sinners every year so they couldn't make another united front against them.

Since he'd already made the deal, Lucifer was powerless to stop it, and too ashamed to tell Charlie what really happened that day. That he was tricked, and her mother who she admired so much, had left them for a chance at a better life in heaven.

Which is part of why he spirals into depression. Guilt, hurt, and being ashamed. Then after some time, he felt too awkward, and convinced himself that Charlie must hate him for leaving her to deal with her mother's disappearance alone.

Character information:

Vaggie was an Overlord known for helping sinners ruthlessly take over territory in a very war-like manner. She often was involved with collaborations and deals with Camillia Carmine.

Lute was a hellborn from wrath, who ran a league of assassins. She idealized Lilith, and the way she controlled and inspired so many sinners into action, so jumped at the chance to work with her and help mobilise an army against Heaven. However, she was often too ruthless and violent for Liliths tastes.

Alastor was a sinner who took the opportunity to side with Lillith shortly after his death, to get power as quickly as possible. Possibly even making a soul contract with her.

He recruited powerful demon's into Lilliths army, by persuasion, force, or deals made. Some were killed, by him or by Lillith, but a lot were recruited for her army.

Niffty was a sinner who worked at Lillith's Palace before the Queen disappeared, who Alastor adopted into the group of sinners he had collected. He doesn't own her soul, they just have a mutually beneficial agreement between them.

Husk was supposed to be recruited for Lilith's army, but Alastor instead decided to keep him as a thrall instead, since he was very useful, being able to read people so accurately.

[thefalseapp]

Wraith Wrath - Chapter II

It took Kaz’s every bit of strength to conceal the rush of emotions that surged within him when Anika told him about the return of The Wraith. His heart was pounding. Too fast for his liking. Way too fast. He hadn’t planned this. Or maybe he did. He couldn’t tell between the moments he dreamed of her coming back and those where he wished for her to stay away from this city and him so he wouldn’t have to deal with the feelings that came along with her company. 

I can help you. Those were the very first words she ever addressed to him. And she did help him. In more ways than one. But he was certain he couldn’t live up to the expectations she had for him. He couldn’t be the boy he was before Jordie. That boy wouldn’t survive in a city like this. And he didn’t want to be that boy again. He had let him sink at the bottom of the sea along his brother’s body for a reason. Kaz Brekker was the only way to survive and thrive. Even if all the broken pieces couldn’t be put back together anymore. Even if he was only half a man. Kaz Brekker had been who he needed to be. 

All those years, working together, side by side, he had done everything to make sure Inej wouldn’t believe he would become something he was not. But she was headstrong. Way more than he was. She made him yield quite a few times. He never quite understood the hold she had on him. But the only thing he was certain of was that they had saved each other. Again and again. 

The sharp pain in his leg warned him of his fastened pace. Patience was not on his side today so he shifted his weight to rely more on his cane. He needed to slow down if he wanted to arrive at the Slat standing. 

Those two last years have been pretty time-consuming. Pekka Rollins vanished into thin air. The Dime Lions left behind became stray cats. Roaming the city to find a place. All the gangs wanted to put their head in Pekka Rollins’s old crown and their feet on his desk, claiming the title of King of the Barrel high and loud. After all the trouble Kaz brought in the Barrel, he wasn’t going to leave any crumbs behind to pick after. He was going to make sure that nobody would become the next Pekka Rollins, the next Jakob Hertzoon. And it took a lot of work. A lot of bruised shoulders, a lot of persuasions, and a lot of transactions. Diplomacy wasn’t his forte. He preferred to leave that to what was left of the Merchant Council. By the end of last year, a lot of the members had been replaced by new ones. Roeder was still helping him keep tabs on all of them. Even if they were barely adult enough to take some serious missions, their youth, their desire to please, and their recklessness could become serious threats. 

But right now, all of this could wait. He turned right in an alley and took the main one leading to the Slat. Kaz flexed his gloved fingers. Saying that he was nervous would be an understatement. He was completely frightened. Like a boy. Suddenly, fighting a Grisha drugged with Jurda parem didn’t seem so terrifying after all. 

He crossed the hall and started climbing the stairs. He knew where she was. He composed himself before opening the door but when he did, the tiny bit of confidence he built after each step suddenly left him. He was right. She was there. He had forgotten how enchanting she could be, sitting on that window ledge, her legs dangling in the air, with strands of her soft hair around her face. Her beautiful dark eyes were closed and her long lashes were caressing her cheeks.

For how long had he stood there looking at her? Turn around. He turned his back to her and went towards the sink. He set aside his cane, took good care at removing his gloves, and put his hands under cold water. This simple routine helped him recover a sense of control. 

“Hello, Inej”. His voice had been deeper than anticipated. 

He could sense her presence getting closer. He finally dared himself to look in the mirror and his eyes met hers. Her gaze on him was so timid yet tender that, once again, he completely lost the ability to command his own body. How absurd it was of him to think that observing her through the mirror would be more reassuring than meeting her eyes directly.

His hands were freezing, still in the faucet. Neither of them were sure what to expect from the other. He could tell. But she will always have her place in Ketterdam. And she will always have her place near him. 

“Hello, Kaz”. Her voice was like honey and he was ready to feed on every drop of it.  

“You and your crew have a place to stay?”, Kaz said in a tone that he sincerely hoped seemed detached. 

“I was hoping you could help with that.” 

“I cleared the two top floors of the tavern that replace the Kaelish Prince across the street from the club. One for your crew, and one for you.” 

“Are you hoping that after two years at sea, my men will fill the coffers of the Crow Club?” Her eyes were playful and so intense that he had to look away for a minute. Coward.

“I don’t need your men to fill the coffers. Plenty of pigeons have already taken that task very seriously. But who am I to refuse honest workers a seat in my establishment? What they do after is up to them. And you, Captain Ghafa.” 

An honest smile captured her face while she looked down at her feet. He missed this. But mostly he missed her. Her presence. They could be talking or staying silent, it was her company that he cherished the most. 

“I don’t need an entire floor, Kaz.” 

“You can sleep in the broom closet if you like, but the top floor is yours”, Kaz said firmly. 

No need to argue this one out. The two top floors have always been vacant. Many of the Dregs were curious about that. Kaz Brekker doesn’t do something for nothing. Especially when it can mean financial gain. The thing is, he didn’t owe any of them an explanation. 

The truth, however, is that Kaz had always hoped Inej would come back to Ketterdam, to him, and he wanted her to have something more than what he was able to offer her before. That something was Sanktum.

[blushyeleven]

Tickletober - DAY 18

Magic

Characters: lee!wednesday, ler!y/n

warnings: tickles

a/n: yes I know this is the 3rd day I’ve written for Wednesday and I apolagise.. and also I apolagise for how similar this is to a fic I wrote a while ago called ‘floating from affection’

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬 𝓸𝓯 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷

After you joined nevermore or honestly felt like your home; you were finally surrounded by people who you felt didn’t judge your every move. Seeming as it was a school for outcasts, you finally fitted in somewhere. You quickly grew to make new friends and seeming as the whole school was full of the wide variations of outcasts you finally felt accepted. You were witch, but you couldn’t fully controll your powers yet.. and obviously for safety, you were unable to use any of your dangerous powers or try any out on other students. So in a similar style to the sirens, you were made to wear this amulet that captured your abilities, making you unable to use them while you were wearing it. Which has to be all of the time.

You were also roomed with Wednesday Addams, who you had done a little.. researching on before you met and after a little digging you knew she was going to be your type of person. And you weren’t surprised that your first encounter with her she gave off the whole snarky goth girl vibe. But it didn’t phase you.

Fast forward 6 months and you had practically fallen for the pigtailed girl. Past all of the unfeeling and intimidating persona was a girl who really understood you. She even took an interest to your powers and what you were capable of. Which was something you never spoke about a lot, mostly because of the embarrassment from the fact you couldn’t really controls your abilities yet.

One chilly night you bursted through the door of your dorm after previously coming from the woods.. which is we’re you practiced your powers and weems agreed to turn a blind eye as long as somebody, or yourself didnt get injured.

After your abrupt entrance your roommate, Wednesday turned her head to see the biggest grin plastered across your face.

Usually you would practice your power to transform things or even your ability to shape shift, seeming as that didn’t involve a person to test it on. But today was different. As you were reading through your spell book you decided to try out a new spell.. the ability of floatation. Since it was new territory for you, you tried it out on a rock at first. Just to practice and master it.. but after an hour of trying you figured you nailed it and you came back to ramble about it to your former roommate.

“Wednesday! I think I mastered a new spell!” The goth girl raised her eyebrows in satisfaction, waiting for your excited tangent. “Well.. I can now make things float! And I can even do cool things like throw them or just keep them trapped in the air.. but I haven’t tried those yet!” Your eyes were widened with joy and exhilaration as wednesday was occasionally nodding at you. Clearly intrigued by your new self discovery.

“i want to see this” Wednesday said a little lighter, a change from her usual cold and un-expressionless demeanour. Your smile stretched further at your roommates interest and you said “come, I’ll show you!” As you turned to leave you were stopped with wednesday speaking up again “no, I want to see it here.. I want you to try it on me” she spoke, with a small smirk on her face, eager to be a victim of one of your spells. You sighed “Wednesday, you know we’re not aloud” you we’re never much of a rule breaker; on the other hand, Wednesday was.

“What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like your going to set me on fire” the pigtailed girl mused, her persuasive tone was working.. as much as you didn’t want to risk it you also wanted to prove how cool it was. “Okay.. fine” you said reluctantly as you took of your amulet and gently placed it on the side. Wednesday, who was already arisen from her chair was now walking towards you. “Stand there” you pointed to a space that was a few inches, directly in-front of you. without a doubt, wednesday obliged. You really wanted to impress her, the fact that she was so onboard and that it was her idea made your heart all fuzzy and warm.

As the pigtailed girl stood their patiently you reached for your spell book, opening to the right page. “Although, I don’t know how this works on people.. I’ve only tried it on a rock so far” you warned, a little embarrassed but Wednesday remained unbothered “y/n, it’s fine, nothing bads gonna happen” She was trying to be reassuring, but it really didn’t suit her.

You let out a other sigh, if this went well.. it could really impress Wednesday.. but If it didn’t go well.. you’d risk being kicked of nevermore. You shook your head, trying to think of the positive possibilities and trying to gain some focus. As you stood across from wednesday you asked “ready?” In a slightly shaken voice as the goth gave you a nod.

You began chanting the words from your spell book, your hand slightly arisen and out in-front of you. As you continued to chant, not even looking up at your roommate yet.

On the other hand, Wednesday felt an.. unusual sensation course through her body. At this stage any normal person would began to feel a slight panicked, but Wednesday stayed calm. The only thing that was bothering her was the feeling of little shocks of electric all over her body.. which actually felt.. tickly. Although she’d rather gauge her own eyes out with a spoon before she’d ever admit that.

It wasn’t long after Wednesdays feet began to lift off the ground as she began floating a few feet above the air, the sensation only growing worse as the goth had to shut her eyes and bite down on her lip. The tickling feeling shooting through her body. Meanwhile your eyes were still focused on the words of your spell book. As Wednesday was brought up a few more inches of the ground.. and the higher she went up.. the more ticklish the feeling grew.

After you finished the rest of your lines you looked up in shock, she was actually floating. It worked. You quickly became overjoyed and was observing your creation. “You alright up there?” You giggled out of excitement seeing that you actually got it right. “yeah.” Wednesday responded quickly, a slightly break in her voice from were she was forcefully holding back her out of character snickers.

You quirked a brow at how tense she was “are you sure? I can put you down?” You offered, seeing she looked.. embarrassed?. “No.. no it’s okay” she was trying to voice as little as she could seeming as the intensity of the feeling never decreased. You trusted that wednesday was okay.. and that she’d say otherwise but it didn’t stop you from being skeptical of her peculiar behaviour.

Wednesday was practically fighting to save her dignity, desperately trying to swallow any potential noise trying to escape. “So, how are you feeling?” You asked with pure elation. Your mind was crowding with echoed thoughts as you were extremely overjoyed with the outcome. “g-gohood” she stumbled over her own speech, letting out a small snicker.. who’d was barely noticeable. Although, unfortunately for Wednesday.. you noticed.

“You sure?” You giggled, looking at Wednesday and noticing that it looked like she was trying to fight her own.. laughter. You didn’t know wether to be concerned or not because Wednesday was acting really strange to say the least. The goth couldn’t even repond, she just nodded quickly; her face all in a glow of a rather rosy red.

It only took a few more minutes until she shamefully, broke out in a minuscule squeal, clasping her hands to her mouth. This is when you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. You wondered if she was hurting, but it wouldn’t explain the barely noticeable snickers lingering in her voice?… oh.. ohhh… you then came to the thought as your facial expression gave away the fact that you figured it out. And this only made the floating pigtailed girl more embarrassed.

your eyes then widened, after realising what just happened. “Does it tickle?” You asked casually, seeing your roommate clench her eyes shut and just not saying anything, a few more snickers escaping. “I’ll take that as a yes” you giggled as the roommate didn’t know how much longer she could keep control of herself so she decided she needed it to stop.

“Cahan.. can you puhut me down.. plehease?” She asked, desperately needing for the ticklish feeling to end.. even though all of her dignity was thrown out of the window. “Ofcourse!” You stated before carefully floating Wednesday over to her bed, giving her a soft landing as the goth girl felt herself sink into her mattress and she layed there, lightly hyperventilating.

“I didn’t know you were ticklish..” you mused, smirking at the state of your roommate. “Don’t ever mention it again” she tried to sound threatening as she finally regained her breath and you giggled, reaching to put on your amulet again. “Well that was fun!” You exclaimed, walking over to sit beside the girl. “Yes.. that was entertaining..” she admitted seeing how pleased with yourself you looked. Wednesday sat up slightly and observed how overjoyed you were

Then Out of nowhere, Wednesday then found herself admiring you.. staring at you affectionately. You weren’t even realising as your eyes were busy somewhere else. The raven then found her eyes slowly drifting to your lips.. she didn’t even know where all of this was coming from. She just had this massive build up of what felt like.. love?. It was all so new to her and she’s never felt like this before. You then turned back to look at your roommate as your mouth moved to speak but you didn’t voice any words as you noticed what Wednesday was staring at. Your eyes widened in a mix of shock and disbelief and before you could even respond, wednesday did something that she never.. ever thought she’d do. She cupped your face and brought you in for a kiss.

[krikeymate]

What is/are your favourite Sam/Tara moments?

You sent me this a while ago, and it's not the only one I've gotten asking me this. It took so long because I used it as an excuse to rewatch 5 and 6, multiple times.

This was so so so hard because like, all of them, obviously. So, I've tried to narrow it down. I've picked one little/subtle moment and 1 big moment in each movie for both characters and then for them together.

5 Tara: The end of the confession scene in the hospital: the way Tara watches Sam leave, the way she looks slightly shocked that she does and the way she takes a deep breath once the door closes. / The entire hospital 'anti-chase' scene. It was just incredible. I really really love it. The way Tara is in so much pain but she keeps trying anyway, she's determined, and even once Ghostface pulls the wheelchair away she keeps crawling. And we get the "I'll make sure to hit all the organs I missed last time." "Fuck you." This is actually my favourite scene in the whole movie. / Also honourable mention clotheslining Amber with the crutch.

5 Sam: The way when Tara tells Sam she wants her to stay and Sam immediately starts nodding. / Cocky Sam "Guess you're not as persuasive as you thought" and the phone ringing "That's for you." / And of course, her Richie stabathon.

5 Sam & Tara: Idk if this counts or if it's individual but the way when Sam goes "No, we're leaving. That's the only way I can protect Tara." and we pan to Tara's face and it's like she's realising something and it has to be directly linked to her heavy breathing in the next scene and her looking for her inhaler. / ALSO the way they stumble into each other's arms after Tara shoots Amber, the way they're both crying and shaky (also the way Tara side-eyes Amber's body while they hug 👀 before closing her eyes and hiding her face in Sam's shoulder). / "You're not going anywhere without me. Don't worry, I'm gonna hold your hand all the way there."

6 was actually so much harder to narrow down scenes for because we get so much more.

6 Tara: Tara is constantly looking towards Sam the entire movie. I've seen a lot of jokes about her side-eying her, but she's doing it because she's looking for cues on how to respond or what to do from Sam. / The Kirby conversation. I've mentioned it so much, you all know how much I love it. / Honourable mention, obviously, the Gale punch, and how she's feeling protective of Sam and lashing out, physically and verbally (and also, notice how the reporters are mostly calling out at Tara, and the "Tara, do you feel safe around your sister").

6 Sam: The way Sam sees the police lights and presence and it instantly fills her with anxiety and so she calls Tara - because Tara calms her down - and we get the "You know you're supposed to pick up when I call", and Sam goes on to try and make plans with Tara because she's had a bad therapy session and being with her sister will help her feel better. / ALSO this is just such a small thing but the number of locks on their apartment door. / The way whenever things feel hopeless or dark, she lets Tara pull her away from it.

6 Sam & Tara: The way Tara refuses to let Sam go alone to the police station even though she blew up at her TWICE in like the past hour, and then the way she bumps into Sam as she's trying to listen to the phone call, as they're on the way to the police station. / The whole stealing a police car thing, Sam winding the window up and going "shall we use the sirens?" and Tara being like of course. (side note were the keys just like just in the car? that's not very safe.)

Obviously just... the entire third act. The way they protect each other while they're being circled by the Ghostfaces, the "you have to let me go", Tara stabbing Ethan, Sam's "looks like you're down another brother", the whole Ghostfacing Bailey, the way Tara gives Sam permission to end it and the way she watches, the conversation on the stage.

Also there's such a comparison to be drawn between the soft way Sam whispers "here it comes" to Richie before she slices his throat, and Tara's "now die a fucking virgin" after stabbing him in the mouth.

[apocalypticavolition]

Let's (re)Read The Great Hunt! Chapter 20: Saidin

Welcome back to my reread folks! It's almost Christmas so let's tell a story about the big man himself (pictured above). He might just have a present for you! I also have one: the usual warning that this reread has spoilers for the whole of the series. Don't keep reading if you don't like that.

Once again we have a painfully obvious chapter icon. This chapter is called saidin. It's got the Dragon's Fang. I literally don't know what to say.

Rand kept them moving through the night, allowing only a brief stop at dawn, to rest the horses. And to allow Loial rest. With the Horn of Valere in its gold-and-silver chest occupying his saddle, the Ogier walked or trotted ahead of his big horse, never complaining, never slowing them.

Poor Loial. We have been drawing a lot of attention to his horse-free shenanigans at this point. I wonder if he's wondering why he even brought the damn horse.

Rand was sure she was no older than he, but at that moment she suddenly seemed as old and as cold as the mountains, and more regal than Queen Morgase at her haughtiest.

She is in fact older than most extant mountains.

“All I want is to see it in the light of day. I won’t even touch it. You hold it. It would be something for me to remember, you holding the Horn of Valere in your hands.”

I'm honestly not fully sure what she's up to here. Is it part of a plan, a way to try and establish her control over Rand, or is she just so power-hungry that she can't control herself?

He had never seen an Aes Sedai act the way she did, and she looked young, not ageless.

Considering that Jordan doesn't seem to have decided that the ageless look is the result of the Oath Rod yet (we'll cover that more next book I think), I can only assume that his intent was either becoming a Darkfriend interfered with that look or that the Mask of Mirrors weave's main purpose in bygone days would have been to hide channeling ability at all.

It was a kind of smile that always put his back up—but at least it was a smile.

Really there's a great deal of emotionally abusive tactics in Lanfear's arsenal, though frankly Jordan doesn't seem to fully recognize them as such considering how so many women act in the same ways. There's a lot that we could break down there but I think l'll leave it be.

“A village inn,” Selene sniffed. “Dirty, no doubt, and full of unwashed men swilling ale. Why can’t we sleep under the stars again? I find I enjoy sleeping under the stars.”

It's a common topic in the fandom about the hilarity of the Forsaken finding themselves in the current conditions, but I don't think it gets highlighted enough that Lanfear finds the modern era so repugnant given the choice between it and outright camping, she prefers camping.

Selene met his sally with silence and an unreadable look. After a moment, they started on again.

Lanfear suffers from the same affliction of many smart people in that she's very clever but not the least bit persuasive, nor good at figuring out how others will respond to her persuasion. She's probably so used to just using Compulsion and brute force to get what she wants at this point that it's hard to tell if she was always like this or if she was a better people person in the AoL.

Out of the clay at the bottom of the pit slanted a gigantic stone hand holding a crystal sphere, and it was this that shone with the last sunlight.

Ozymandias eat your heart out. Getting completely buried until now probably helped the male Choedan Kal a great deal; considering that the female one has spent the last three and a half thousand years partially exposed. We know that Portal Stones can be worn down too, so honestly I wonder if that exposure is what made the female statue much less reliable than the male.

Selene rode close and took hold of his arm. “Please, Rand, you must come away.” He looked at her hand, puzzled, then followed her arm up to her face. She seemed genuinely worried, perhaps even afraid.

Honestly this situation has got to be completely terrifying. The Choedan Kal could absolutely obliterate Rand if he tried to use it directly and Lanfear wouldn't even have enough warning that he was doing it so she'd get fried too. And of course, she can't just tell him because there's too many lies between both of them already.

“Till shade is gone,” he mumbled, “till water is gone . . .” Power filled him. He was one with the sphere. “. . . into the Shadow with teeth bared . . .” The power was his. The Power was his. “. . . to spit in Sightblinder’s eye . . .” Power to Break the World. “. . . on the last day!”

If you don't agree that this is one of the most badass sayings in this series, please unfollow me immediately.

“Did I . . . do something?” He frowned, trying to remember.

Something happened Rand, but honestly even I'm not quite sure what. Genetic memories gave you the willpower necessary to survive? Lanfear did some kind of trick to separate you from the sa'angreal? A safety mechanism within managed to still function after all this time and rejected your connection without a key? The Wheel realized there was literally no logical way to prevent your demise and so just kinda skimmed over what should have happened next?

I seriously have no idea what happened. Makes it hard to talk about this chapter to be honest because even the Wiki only gives me a "he breaks free" explanation and while obviously Rand does get better I'm not sure that "breaks free" is the correct description. I even checked Leigh Butler's reread since that's pretty on-point. Nada.

What the fuck happened here?

The people eyed the newcomers curiously, with no sign of hostility. A few stared a moment longer at Loial, an Ogier walking alongside a horse as big as a Dhurran stallion, but never more than a moment longer.

I doubt very much that there'd be much traffic through here (the Hunters for the Horn mentioned next chapter are clearly exceptional), since there's not really any civilization for miles past this point, but maybe the stories of Ogier hold on a little stronger in these parts since they're such a big part of Cairhien?

“The Nine Rings” had been one of his favorite adventure stories when he was a boy; he supposed it still was.

Now what could that be a reference to?

“I can’t, Selene. The Horn. . . .” He looked around. A man looked out his window across the way, then twitched the curtains closed; evening darkened the street, and there was no one else in sight now except Loial and Hurin. “The Horn is not mine. I told you that.”

Another temptation rejected, I suppose. Poor boy's gotta be doing a lot of that lately, and he's really only going to get worse at it for awhile.

Next time: Light-hearted inn shenanigans.

[flowerprincesscherryblossom]

marionette

pairing: OT7 x Female Reader word count: 1558 warnings: angst, character death, lot of suggestive themes left for interpretation AO3 A/N: i don't know why i wrote this Hope you like it and that you have a wonderful day wherever you are💜

From the moment she was made there had always been expectations from her.

She needed to be perfect, beautiful, and willing to do whatever it was required of her. Hair shinning as bright as the Sun, skin clear and without a single flaw, bodice tight enough with barely any room to breathe, skirt short and showing her collants covered legs until it reached her ballet shoes.

Her creator made sure her lips were as red as blood but they always used to say that her eyes were her best feature - dark as the night sky but big and wide as the most innocent child. Strings resembling piano wire attached tightly to her wrists and ankles - the creator saying that they were needed so she wouldn't run away from them.

Once finished they put her on a shelf, wanting her to be exposed for everyone's eyes - telling her each and every single day how beautiful she was and that it would only be a matter of time until someone took her from them.

And so she waited and waited.

Always watching the world move and people pass by her but nobody ever stopping. The creator didn't help in the situation, forbidding anyone from touching her unless they had the intention of keeping her and loving her in the same way that they did.

The day she had lost hope was also the day everything in her life changed.

The first master was the owner of a restaurant.

Incredibly handsome with broad shoulders he stared at her a moment too long before deciding that he wanted her. The creator was reluctant of parting with her but after most persuasion, she belonged to him.

"A beautiful girl for a beautiful man." he used to say, wanting to show her off in his establishment. Everyone saw her and she loved every second of attention, especially when it came from her master.

The happiness didn't last long however for the master was the type of person that loved attention as much as her, always surrounded by various women.

It worsen the night she saw him with one of them, after closing hours and using one of the tables for their indiscretions.

The first master and his mistress were found dead the next morning, a gas leak leading to the burning down of the restaurant.

She was found near the dumpster, a burn on the back of her right leg.

The second master was a music producer.

A shut-in that would only leave his house to buy food and to walk his dog. It had been said dog that had found her, forcing the master to take her back with him since the animal refused to leave her.

The master resembled a cat in many ways, something she found adoring about him.

Days passed and both of them fell into a routine - he worked day and night on his computer while she remained on his bed, being the only spectator to his creations.

He didn't treat her nicely, ignoring her for the most part and taking out his anger and frustration on her whenever inspiration couldn't be found.

The second master was found dead weeks later after the landlord broke into the apartment due to a smell complaint, exhaustion being labeled as the cause.

She was found near a corner of the room while the apartment was being cleared, bruise-like marks filling both her arms.

The third master was a dancer.

Excited like a puppy, he found her when clearing the previous one's apartment.

He kept her to which she guessed was a way of keeping a memory from a lost friend.

He danced like his life depended on it, always showing her his moves and talking with her. He even took her to bed with him, where he would wrap himself around her, not letting her escape from his grasp.

He took her everywhere with him, never letting her out of his sight.

The third master died at the hospital after succumbing to the injuries he suffered after being run over hours before.

She was found near him, her left arm bent and broken. She was brought into a public library, left in the lost and found.

The fourth master was a poet.

Tall like a tree but caring and loving like a koala.

He found her and took her with him, taking care of her as best he could, changing her hair to his liking, and making her feel beautiful once again.

He wrote the most amazing and wise words she had ever heard. Other times he would read to her, telling her the most wonderful stories.

Although clumsy and destructive whenever his hands were on her, he was the most careful person in the world.

But there was a darkness to him, something she always saw cracks no matter how much he tried to keep hidden from her, pushing her way too many times and seeking her for comfort on dark and lonely nights, taking her multiple times as the night turned into day.

The freedom of the night and the moon no longer brought her comfort.

The fourth master was found mere minutes after the sound of a gunshot was heard. Assumption was that he couldn't take to life anymore and put a never before seen gun to his head.

She was thrown out into the streets once more, a darkness impossible to clean escaping from between her thighs.

The fifth master was a photographer.

His face resembling what angels must've been.

He found her when she was laying in the grass of a local park, loving the view so much that he took a picture of her, saying that "Everything is a picture waiting to be taken."

He adored taking her to many places and taking her picture. A bright light in his life he said.

His favorite pictures however were the ones where he made her do many positions in his bed, many of them while he was with her. Those pictures he would put online, wanting everyone from around the globe to see her.

The fifth master had his house ransacked, a crazed fan of his taken into police custody on the charges of homicide.

She was given to somebody else, the mark of a handprint on her neck.

The sixth master was a painter.

Quite professional in his work but with the innocence of a child, always giving her a boxy smile.

A friend of his brought them together. Much like before he would put her in various positions for long periods of time while he painted her.

Whenever he painted soft music filled the studio, a stern and concentrated look on his features as he did art that could rival those of Van Gogh.

He had many lovers, always getting rid of them before the final touches of his next piece, using a special that only they could offer for it.

He didn't care much for her, taking what he wanted and then leaving her by her lonesome. She didn't know why he kept her around.

The sixth master was caught in the middle of a police shooting. The men in blue invading into the studio after anonymously receiving evidence of his indiscretions. He cursed her with his last breath.

She simply took her surroundings while everything was happening, a bruise of a shackle on her now broken right foot.

She was left forgotten in there until a new person occupied the space, who then abandoned her at a gym.

The seventh master was a professional boxer.

He resembled a tiny rabbit, tattoos completely filling his arms and piercings adorning his face.

He was very competitive and loved to show off his strength to her. Leaving her in the locker room and treating her as a good luck charm, always touching her before and after his matches, going on an unbeatable streak.

He had a lot of violence in his heart, using his adversaries as a way to take out his anger.

Sometimes she got caught in the crossfire. Violence and sex were his way of living.

The seventh master fell during one of his matches, never getting back after receiving many punches in the head.

She was in the locker room seeing her reflection, her face showing a black eye and a busted lip.

The creator found her there and took her back with them, putting her on a shelf once again, but this time on the back where no one would see her except for them.

They constantly demonized her. It all broke when she saw that they had replaced her with a new one, who was as pretty as she had once been, showing her off to anything who would pass.

She had been broken, used, and abused and now, she was no better than a doll who belonged in the trash.

The creator's house burned down that night, no indication of how it had started. The fire took everything, leaving nothing in its place.

She was once beautiful and willing to love whoever would take her, the world made her into something nobody would ever want.

As the flames surrounded her she still had hope that maybe one day she would find someone.

But for now, she was alone and miserable, only someone as ugly as she was could love her.

[ficsandgiggles]

Not Alone

So, these last couple days have been incredibly shitty for my mental health. Tonight I decided to write this to help get out my feelings. Please be warned that there is a mention of s*****e and it is a little depressing at the start. But there is a happy ending. Enjoy and stay strong friends. ❤️

Yelena watched as you once again walked right past her, heading straight to your room and slamming the door behind you, laying on your side on the bed and blankly staring at the wall ahead.

You had been shutting yourself away for quite a while now, you concluded that it was best for the entire compound if you just stayed away from them. They probably secretly hated you anyway, why wouldn’t they? You spent the last few days snacking on a few things you had in your room and only briefly leaving to use the bathroom, you always made sure that no one was around before you made that sneaky trip. You cursed to yourself when you came out the bathroom just now to see Yelena.

The two of you were on casual talking levels, but you never had chance to spend time with just the two of you together. You were quick to conclude that it was because she didn’t like you, and left it at that, so didn’t bother trying to be friends with her.

However, Yelena had a completely different opinion on you, her heart sunk when you walked past her as she was on her way to check in on you. She had wanted to be friends with you for a while now, but she had been so busy that she hadn’t had chance. She saw how sweet you were around her older sister Natasha, and wanted to join in on the action, but she knew you were anxious, so didn’t want to push things too far.

She decided to keep going on her mission, and followed you to your room, taking a small breath before knocking on the door, opening it a little.

“Y/N? Hey, it’s Yelena, can I come in?” She asked, her voice soft so she didn’t make you anxious. You simply shrugged in response, not looking away from the seemingly fascinating wall. The blonde didn’t take that as a no and entered the room, sitting on the floor next to you and putting a hand on your arm.

“How are you? I have not seen you in a couple days and we are all getting worried.” She told you, rubbing your arm gently as you rolled your eyes.

“Why? Because they haven’t had my cupcakes for a few days? I doubt anyone has missed my stupid company.” You responded dryly. You were a pretty good baker and everyone loved your cupcakes in particular, you assumed that was probably the only reason they tolerated you.

“You do make a pretty mean cupcake but everyone misses you as an actual human being, it is weirdly quiet without you, uncomfortable, even.” Yelena told you, but your blank expression told her that you didn’t believe her at all.

“That’s hilarious, Yelena. We have barely spoken before now and now you have probably drawn the short straw to come up and pretend to care about me. I bet you are all having a wonderful time without my stupid existence being a burden on you all.” You told her, sincerity in every word, you had a strong belief that everyone put up with you because Natasha had took you in after finding you almost dead in the HYDRA headquarters. Sometimes you wish you were left there to die, at least everyone would be happier.

“What? Nonono Y/N that’s not the case at all.” Yelena told you gently, now holding your hand and squeezing it gently. “Y/N everyone here loves you, and I haven’t tried to get to know you because I know that anxiety is a bitch and you already seem overwhelmed, I did not want to add to it.” The blonde Widow started as she gently brushed your hair out of your face so she could look you in the eyes.

“Not only that, but the vibe around here has been so different, and not in a good way. Your kind, funny and sweet presence has made this place numb, like a ray of sunshine has been whisked away. We’ve been trying to think of what to do for a while and after a lot of persuasion, they let me come up and work my charm on you.” Yelena explained, giving your side a gentle squeeze during the last few words.

Your gazed moved to Yelena as she spoke, you were able to tell that she meant what she was saying. You didn’t realise that you did actually bring something to the Avengers other than doom and gloom. The thought of it made you soften a little, nodding silently in response.

“Sweet Y/N, is there anything I can do to cheer you up? Cookies? Games? Hugs?” She offered, willing to do pretty much anything to help you feel better.

You thought for a moment, remembering the brief squeeze to the side Yelena gave you earlier. You were often the target for random tickle attacks around the compound, and you didn’t necessarily hate it. You saw Yelena get Kate and Peter a few times, and you’d be lying if you didn’t wish you were the one getting tickled by Yelena when you watched the wrecking.

Deciding it would cheer you up, you bit your lip and hesitantly held Yelena’s hand and put it on your side, hoping she would catch on.

Yelena smirked and raised her eyebrows, immediately understanding what you wanted as she started to spider up and down your side. “Oh? Is this what you wanted?” She asked with a teasing grin, jumping up to sit next to you on the bed, adding her other hand to squeeze just above your knee.

You immediately broke into hysterical giggles, nodding in response as you kicked and curled up, not realising that Yelena was always taking notes whenever Natasha or Steve tickled you, so she knew all your worst spots.

“Awww! There’s the giggly Y/N we all know and love!” Yelena teased, smiling brightly as she gently pulled you so you were laying on your back, she gently shook her fingers into your ribs and grinned.

“Ahahaha Yehehehehelenahahahah!” You cackled and arched your back, gently shoving at Yelena’s hands as you squirmed from side to side. The two of you knew that you weren’t using your full strength to try and push Yelena away, so she quickly moved to dig gently under your arms.

“Yessss? What is it little Y/N? Huh?” She asked teasingly, leaning down to blow a tiny raspberry onto your next as her nimble fingers moved to dance up and down your ribs, grinning proudly as she watched your face light up as your giggles continued to pour out.

“NAHAHAHAH RIHIHIHIBS!” You cackled out, squealing as you arched your back and kept kicking out. Yelena just smirked and shook her fingers in swiftly.

“Yes Y/N! I’m already at your ribs, you silly thing! I can go faster though.” Yelena smirked, shaking her fingers in between the bones and up and down them so every single part of your ribs got wrecked by Yelena’s mean fingers.

“OHOHOHOHOH SHUHUHUT UHUHUP!” You laugh, not appreciating her sarcasm as you thrashed around from side to side, squealing helplessly as you proceeded to cover your face with your hands to muffle your giggles and hide your bright smile.

Yelena paused, smirking fondly as she took one of your hands, then the other, grinning as she bit the bottom of your shirt to pull it up, revealing a strip of skin.

“You do not tell me to shut up.” She told you with an evil grin before blowing a huge raspberry on your belly, nuzzling her face in like she’s seen her sister do to you a million and one times.

You screeched with laughter and attempted to kick the blonde Widow away, which simply earned you another raspberry. You shook your head from side to side as you squirmed around in hopes your shirt would fall down over your belly. “YEHEHEHELENA I’M SOHOHOHOHORRY!” You screamed out in one last attempt to get her to stop before your laughter went silent, your body went weak and no longer pulled at Yelena’s gentle hold, which prompted her to let you go and pull you into a hug.

“I guess you are forgiven, young Y/N. You seem to have cheered up enough.” Yelena smiled and kissed your cheek, wrapping her arms around you even tighter and rocking you from side to side to help can you down.

You’re quick to relax into the feeling, loving Yelena’s comfort as you felt close to her for the very first time, and you felt like you could happily glue yourself to her arms forever.

“Thank you, Yelena… I don’t feel like a burden as much anymore.” You tell her quietly when you had recovered enough to be able to talk. The blonde gave you an extra squeeze as she kissed your head this time, rubbing your back gently.

“You aren’t a burden Y/N, ever. You know you can talk to any of us if you feel that way, okay? We all love you and want to be here for you.” Yelena reassured. “You’re not alone.”

Those three words put a small smile on your face, as for the first time in what felt like forever, you didn’t feel as alone. You melted into her touch as the two of you fell into a comfortable silence before eventually settling in your bed and cuddling each other until you fell into a deep sleep.

[fictionadventurer]

For the Cinderella asks, I want to hear more about Paper Wings!

This was a Cinderella story set in my Lost Library universe, where humanity exists on the shattered remains of continents that float in the sky and have only recently developed flight technology to travel between different lands. It's a mix of Edwardian aesthetic and technology (we have early electricity and planes) with Age of Exploration swashbuckling.

Except that this story ignored most of that in favor of a small domestic tale that came from combining Cinderella with Mansfield Park and Persuasion. The premise was that Cinderella's father was an airship captain undertaking dangerous exploration to faraway lands. He left her in the care of an aunt and provided money for her upkeep, but he doesn't come back when promised, the money runs out, and the relative resents having to house Cinderella on her own dime, so she makes Cinderella do menial labor to earn her keep. It's now been years and everyone assumes he's dead, but Cinderella feels she can't leave for another place, because if her father does come back, how would he find her?

Meanwhile, an irresponsible flirt of a prince comes into the neighborhood. (Cinderella's aunt cares for a library connected to a university, and he came there to study). Cinderella's cousins try to charm him, but he becomes intrigued by Cinderella, who heavily disapproves of him. True to Mansfield Park form, it becomes a matter of honor for him to charm her into falling in love with him, until he unexpectedly falls in love with her instead.

The "paper" part of the title comes from Cinderella having a genius for crafting things out of paper, and (in some versions of the idea) befriending people who run a stationary shop that also sells things like paper decorations and adornments and toys that are very popular in this land. The ball is a festival that features lots of these paper ornaments and Cinderella wants to attend, until her aunt forbids it, and then a godmother character (and/or the friends at the paper shop) arrange for her to attend with a dress decked out in lots of paper flowers.

But to get back to the point--at the ball, to Cinderella's consternation, she catches the attention of the prince, who insists on dancing with her, and who publicly proposes to her at midnight. Cinderella, horrified, flees just as a rainstorm comes up that wrecks most of the adornments on her dress. The prince comes to her the next morning to return her lost slipper and to push his suit again, and despite strong urging both from him and her aunt, Cinderella absolutely refuses to marry him. Things get much worse for Cinderella after that, because her aunt think her even more of a burden now that she turned down a marriage proposal from the most eligible possible man. I wavered on whether she'd stay with this family and continue to endure poor treatment from them, or if this turn of events helps her to find her strength to head out on her own and get a job elsewhere.

Well, anyway, this story was supposed to explore whether the prince ever could reform in a believable way. So years later, he comes back into Cinderella's life. After his disappointment in marriage, he took the other path his father demanded in his quest to make him to take up responsibility, and he got a job. As a mail pilot. Which is prestigious and glamorous enough for someone of his rank, thanks to the danger involved. Getting into a lifestyle where your hard work and skill is all that gains you respect--and where you're in constant danger of death--has a way of rearranging your priorities, and he comes back as a much more honorable and noble person. Cinderella doesn't believe it, but his work with the mail intersects with her work at the library (or the mail job she took after leaving the library), and so they have to interact. And since he doesn't renew his attempts to win her, she gets to have lots of little Pemberley moments showing that he has truly reformed.

Eventually there's another much more informal dance at the airfield, where Cinderella finds herself actually falling in love with him--only for some disaster to interrupt the festivities and her prince having to run off into danger to save the day, and Cinderella helping him somehow. And then Cinderella does fully fall in love with him and she accepts his proposal and they live happily ever after.

There's a lot in this story, and it felt like at least two separate Cinderella retellings. I couldn't choose between the possible paths, or figure out where to start the story or what elements to cut, so it fell into the background. It's more a loose collection of possibilities than a story. But I'm fond of some of those possibilities, and so it lingers in my brain despite the small chance that it'll ever come together.

[lanternlightss]

for the fake fic title game- my first thought was "the brave and the stupid" for some reason?

(ask game)

OH HELLO…. the brave and the stupid, that’s so good….

immediate thought of: oh, some kind of royalty au. but 🤔.

hmm… thinking about nameless bard, who is so determined and yet reckless. nameless bard, who is probably very smart but is also very likely to execute plans in a way that makes you wanna grab him by the shoulders and shake.

a fic about exploring and studying nameless bard’s character, perhaps!! how he was essential to setting the rebellion on track to win (he probably recruited a lot of people, imagining he’s almost as subtly persuasive as venti is. also, like, he more than likely took out more than a couple of decarabian’s guards and knights—)

something like……. (fic under the cut, a little long XD)

“That was very brave of you,” Amos says.

The Bard wipes at his nose, wincing at the red that streaks across the white fabric. This will be, say, the fourth time that week he has to wash the blood from his clothes?

“Brave?” He rolls his shoulders. Ouch, that fall hurt more than he thought. “Lady Amos, I only caused a distraction by shoving one of the knights away. I do believe that title of “brave” should go to you and Sir Ragnvindr for standing on your own against so many of them.”

She turns, sharply, and he nearly jumps out of his skin when a hand lays itself on his shoulders, and a face appears right in front of him!

“Little bird,” Amos begins. He has to suppress a smile at the nickname—they thought it would be rather funny, and fitting. “You should have seen yourself. You got us out of there, making sure to keep us unharmed in the retreat.”

“That?” A snort. “That was nothing, see; they had all gathered together, leaving three, to four, if we were backed into an even tighter corner and wished to be risky, exits for us.”

Tilting his head back, and desperately trying to keep any more blood from spilling, he continues. “The one that we went with—the one I made a distraction for? They were quite moronic, thinking that they could overwhelm us. It made them clumsy, made them spread out their forces more than they should have, made us a path out. It left that knight as the only one in our way, the others we had to weave past.”

He chances a glance at her, a little surprised to see the expression on her face. Warm, and… fond.

“What?” The Bard asks. He wipes at his nose again when something warm trails down. “Was I wrong? Ah, do not tell me there was an another potential exit, I knew those bricks looked—”

She laughs, soft, airy, almost as fond as her eyes were.

“Only you,” she says. A second of hesitation, before her hand lightly squeezes his shoulder. Light enough, that it doesn’t aggravate the bruises likely to be there. “I do mean it, though. It was very brave.”

Amos goes to grab—he is not sure, perhaps one of the candles from the table?—when a voice echoes through the room.

“Do not forget,” it says, “that it was godawful reckless, too.”

Amos rolls her eyes at the sound, and the Bard huffs at it—the both of them a little amused.

Ragnvindr appears besides them a moment after, a wisp trailing after him. He kneels down, and presses a pile of papers into the Bard’s chest. Then, (and Bard knows this was Ragnvindr being cheeky, the little—) a quill is dangled in front of his face.

There is a squeak of protest, and the quill is blown away. A very, very indignant wisp rustles Ragnvindr’s hair, before flying up and placing themselves in front of the Bard.

Luckily, the quill is snatched out of the air, at the same time a handkerchief is offered to him. The Bard accepts it graciously, pressing it to his nose.

“What is this?” Amos says, pointing the feathered tips of the quill at the warrior.

“Adjustments.” There’s a grunt as Ragnvindr stands. “Gunnhildr and I went over a few of the maps, a few of the other lists and to-do’s. Thought you might want to see them.”

[bugsbenefit]

ST is much more inspired by Stephen King than we tend to acknowledge and i mean MUCH more

Warning: Major spoilers for Firestarter by Stephen King (also Carrie, IT and the Talisman but only teeny tiny one's)

some parallels on the show get talked about a lot, especially with how the writers are very vocal about them/them getting verbally mentioned in the show:

IT, by Stephen King, for example, gets constantly referenced in ST. it's an aesthetic inspiration: small town, townsfolk doesn't know about the HorrorsTM, kids riding around on bikes taking it into their own hands etc. they also took massive inspiration for Vecna and his visions -> classic Pennywise move. but even more specific things, like the balloons at the snowball exploding in blood, or the painting plot of receiving a love confession that gets attributed to the wrong person, are IT plot points

also easy to catch is, the Talisman, by Stephen King, since it gets read out loud by the end of s4. it will for sure somehow play into s5. even just with it's main premise being two worlds that are identical mirrors of each other and having to defeat the evil on the other side to save your own

those two parallels are obvious. but as someone who read Way too much Stephen King growing up, those two are not the only two works that were referenced heavily in the writer's room

for example: Carrie has crazy parallels to ST, especially El and Henry and the concept of powers as a whole. a really quick rundown of themes that get reflected in ST or even incorporated to some degree: (short, because i'll make an actual in depth post on this when i finally find the time to reread it properly)

the religious imagery and fanatic religious followers, the way powers seem to work to begin with (with negative vs. positive emotion as their source playing a big role), the way people respond to the powers (fear, attributing them to a demonic source, isolation as both punishment And a breaking point for Carrie) her relationship with her mother (an abusive parent), bullying tying into powers, and of course, Carrie's main rampage the book is famous

BUT. what i think is one of the biggest parallels on the show for how obvious it is -> the lab and El as a whole are 1000% inspired by Firestarter. i'm so serious it's not even a small reference. it's literally the exact same in large parts

the parallels of ST to Firestarter are absolutely Insane so to show how OH it is, here's the general plot summary of Firestarter (spoilers):

a couple takes part in an experiment while in college because they need the money. (can't remember if it was MKultra explicitly or just implied but yeah, it's MKultra) as a side effect of the substances and hallucinogenics (LSD) they were given the mother develops minor telekinetic powers and the dad has some form of mind persuasion abilities afterwards. they go home with the money, however, get continuously observed by the organization to monitor any additional effects but then they have a daughter who has Big psychic powers because of the tests done on them. the organization who did the original experiment finds out and tries to take the girl. (the mom dies as the husband and child manage to flee) long story short, after being on the run for a while, the daughter gets taken by the men and locked up in a lab facility. where she's confined to a room, has guards that keep her from leaving, and has to participate in "tests" where scientists try to figure her powers out. especially intense though is the director of the organization, who becomes obsessed with her and her powers while at the lab, the man, who was hired to kidnap her in the first place, now takes interest in her and assumes the identity of a worker in the facility, a janitor, to appear more harmless and get access to her. he manages to gain her trust with this disguise and convinces her to actually demonstrate her powers, which have become incredibly powerful and destructive after some HorrorsTM she witnessed prior later she manages to escape the facility when her dad shows up to get her back. however the "janitor" claiming to be her friend kills her father which causes her to express powers on a level never seen before with which she kills both the "janitor" in disguise and the obsessed organization leader (while also having almost everyone present in the building die as a result of her exploding it and any military vehicle approaching as she escapes) PS: she and her dad hide out from the organization in an old abandoned cabin of his in the woods for an extended period of time PSS: the book ends with her going to a newspaper and planning to reveal what has been going on at the lab to blow their cover and get them to finally stop hunting her down

it's LITERALLY THE LAB. IT IS. it's one of THE most obvious parallels in ST imo and i'm shocked i've never seen Anyone bring it up (also need to reread the book soon and make a longer post about it because there's SO much there) but this is literally the conception and later downfall of the lab in s1-2. and now with s4 it even covers some of the general conditions there with the tests and guards and Henry and. just. hhh. it's the SAME. Brenner, Henry, Hopper, Terry, and El are all in this book

also fun fact: the book is called Firestarter bc the girl is able to, duh, start fires. but it later turns out that her powers actually Aren't just pyrokinesis. she has general powers (very similar to Carrie). the fires only happen because of the insane energy levels she's able to channel, they're just the Side product. she can also just use normal telekinesis -> even robs an airport coin telephone at one point (El stealing is fun Hopper and Will let's commit fraud Byers would be proud of her)

Stephen King books like IT and Carrie seem like obvious inspirations for some elements of ST. but Firestarter especially is such an obvious inspiration and for Sure the blueprint of Hawkins lab it's not even funny. Stephen King in general seems to be a BIG influence on ST as a whole which makes sense with the way the Duffers talked about him before...

but i'm so serious, when i say Stephen King is probably the place where you'll consistently find The Most ST references and spoilers for future plot points, i MEAN it

[merv606]

So Terry definitely took Daniel's phone after beating him up and spammed his camera roll with photos of himself. Presumably he bundled Daniel into his arms and also took couples pictures of them together as well.

Okay so - This is fuelling my Dark AU idea

Apologies if this is not what you were expecting but this idea has been in my head and will not let go.

He takes Daniel’s phone because he ALSO takes Daniel back to his.

The next few days pass by in a haze of pain killers and sedatives for Daniel.

Terry has to ensure Danny gets his rest (and more importantly that he doesn’t try to leave when he starts to feel better so maybe the mild sedatives play out for a lot longer).

Terry really didn’t mean to he lose control like that and hurt him that badly BUT he’ll make sure Daniel understands that (one of the first things on his plan for his Danny boy) AND that it won’t happen ever again (as long as Daniel plays his part and toes the line)

There’s a nurse there - to help - he was in bad shape and Daniel had a spark of hope, when he was finally coherent enough, until Terry tells him, “oh and Danny don’t bother asking the nurse to help you- she won’t understand you, she doesn’t speak English.” This choice was done deliberate by Terry - his Danny boy can be quite persuasive and people fall for those beseeching big brown eyes (Terry did after all).

Of course he keeps the phone and answers Amanda when she finally responds to Daniel saying she’s ready to talk.

Posing as Daniel he Convinces Amanda that he has some issues to work out and he needs to do it himself - he doesn’t want to hurt their marriage and he’s sorry he dragged her and the kids into this so he’s going to stay away or encourages her to stay with family and don’t worry if you don’t hear from me.

Everyone else gets the same excuse and given his weird behaviour, well, it’s not ringing alarm bells until it’s too late.

Daniel knows this of course - Terry delights in telling Danny all the new developments in his marriage (which is canon actually lol)

So instead of Amanda helping him recover it’s Terry, and of course when Daniel gives into the Stockholm well Terry makes sure Amanda is the first one to gets videos of who’s warming her husband’s bed now.

Until then, Daniel is watched 24/7 to ensure he doesn’t get too far.

There’s also the super super dark route of Terry straight up threatening his family if Daniel tries to leave etc et.

Plays right into Daniel’s self sacrificing nature.

[casitafallz-a]

Decay AU | A week past.

The five days that passed had thankfully been uneventful but Abuela knew it was time to get the family back to work… at least a good portion of the family back or change the schedules a little to meet their needs.

She needed Luisa back more often and Camilo certainly would be by Mirabel’s side; his gift wasn’t as required so it was probably more prudent to have him available here anyway to keep an eye on Antonio too when he wasn’t at school

Julieta for sure needed to spend less time in town as well. She wasn’t too worried about Pepa; her gifts were only really required for watering the fields in the morning so her timetable was open as any.

Either way, Abuela planned to keep at least one person at Casita at all times, more so if Mirabel and Isabela were both here. She’d not allow them to just leave them both here alone. Not again. In fact, she’d try to keep two people in Casita at all times.

Isabela’s absence… that had already been picked up notice and it made Abuela nervous to come up with a reasonable excuse which, so far she had none for the long-term. She had already told a few people that Isabela had come down with a passing illness that…Mirabel had caught too; the family had to care for the both and make sure to not spread it into town.

But that excuse wouldn’t last for any longer, especially now that Mirabel seemed better enough to leave Casita; she could resume what she did best there, though Abuela knew she had been…out of touch with Mirabel it was only really now that she had little idea of what Mirabel did down there so she had to hope she wasn’t overly missed in her recovery.

The break-up with Mariano was already spreading which meant she had to be quick in talking to Dolores about options; she had given it enough time so she hoped Señora Guzman had spoken about it to him, assuming Mariano wasn’t too upset.

Abuela knocked softly on Dolores’s door before she heard her granddaughter’s voice echo softly and Casita opened the door.

Inside, Dolores was at her desk, closing up a book sharply as she set down her pen though didn’t look panicked so Abuela had to assume she was writing out a few things she had heard but couldn’t share and didn’t seem relevant.

“Abuela.” Dolores straightened up, “What can I help you with?”

Abuela stepped into her room, “I’m…sure you’ve ready guessed by now, but I think it’s time I actually approach you with the topic directly.”

Dolores’s eyes widened a little though there was a slight rise of colour to her cheeks. “About… Mariano?” Her voice was carefully crafted.

“Si.” Abuela took the offered seat gracefully, “It’s…no mistake that news would have reached other ears aside from yours that…with him no longer in a relationship with Isabela, he’s now available. Would he be of…interest to you?”

Dolores’s eyes widened, a soft squeak echoing though the colour remained in her cheeks. “As…a boyfriend?” but she didn’t look displeased but…restrained. More than what she expected.

Abuela pursed her lips though nodded, “Yes. But… only if you’re both willing of the notion. I’ve suggested this to Señora Guzman but… I figured we should make sure no one takes too much of an interest before you’ve made up for mind.”

Dolores licked her lips. “I do want him.” Her voice was firm with a surprising amount of emotion behind her statement though her eyes widened a fraction more at her confession, “I mean… I am very interested in him.”

Abuela blinked a little, her eyebrow-raising; sure she’d have to be a little more persuasive to get the girl to open up more but.. this lightened her burden a lot more. Dolores was interested and…looked just as much.

But Isabela had looked so open about it as well…

“Very well, I shall… talk to Señora Guzman later today. But… please keep in mind, Mariano may not yet be over Isabela.”

“I know…” Dolores inhaled deeply, a sheepish smile flickering across her lips, “he’s… a bit like Isa. His mother suggested Isabela after you did… he thought Isabela liked him so… so he thought that was what she wanted. He did like her… he did want to make her happy.”

Abuela’s head tilted but… it made sense, as misplaced as her thoughts of Isabela were for him. She just…wasn’t ready for him.

“If you do not want him, at any point. I want to know. Dolores.” Abuela said firmly, “I don’t want a repeat of Isabela’s actions happening again.”

“Si, Abuela.”

-

Leaving Casita felt like both a breath of fresh air to escape the metaphorical cloud above her own head and also one of anxiety at the possibilities of what she’d missed. Mirabel knew the children would have missed her and the week's absence was going to take a lot to explain.

“Mirabel!” Alejandra’s voice echoed before Cecilia and Juancho seemed to appear out of thin air at her call and Mirabel put on her best smile, letting them grab her hand and lead her onwards.

“We were so worried, your Abuela said that you got sick and that the whole family came down with it! And someone said you almost died! Is that true?!”

Mirabel swallowed the wince. “I’m fine, better than fine now that I’m out!”

“Are you contagious?” Cecilia asked. “Couldn’t you Mama fixed you?”

“No, it was only a passing bug. Mami’s food heals injuries, not illnesses such that.”

“Did you get a new shirt?”

“Err…” She spared a look down to the blank shirt. “So, children, when you’re sick….don’t wear white, some stains just won’t lift.”

“Eww!” all three seemed to understand her insinuation there but thankfully, they began to drag her along and fill her in on the last week; a welcome distraction as any. A distraction she needed and town had a lot of it. Better than coming back to Casita so soon.

-

Agustín sighed out as he sat back with Felix, glad to see Mirabel out of Casita but he was worried…about Mirabel as he major one but also about his other daughters. Isabela’s punishments were in full swing and…he was relieved she was taking it with a high head but… he didn’t know why something felt uncomfortable about it.

Perhaps it was the subverting of his expectations. He expected more resistance, he expected more looks to be thrown and more…attitude. He expected her to turn down jobs she didn’t like… not that they would have had her slack off but…there was none of that in the last week. She still struggled with her gift no matter how many times tiny grey flower petals were found so he had to come to the assumption, there was a fine line with how much she could do in holding it back; petals were harmless and easy to sweep up but he did his best to hide them.

She didn’t talk… not a lot and now he noticed it at dinners or when they had to do the mopping.

He was worried about her.

But… he was worried about Mirabel too given how she was…solemn and distant. Still helpful as she tried to be when helping with her mother or around the house and working on her old skirt after re-dying it to get the full, original colour back without stain markings and was a third way back in getting the new decorations back on.

The matter was… Mirabel was terrified of Isabela.

A notion that…made the air between the family dinners more tense, even as the two were seated furthest from each other, neither of them acknowledging each other, either one leaving first before the other and… it pained him to live with this.

But there was little he could do to help and… Mirabel deserved to feel so much safer in her own home but… they couldn’t achieve that and…he didn’t know how to.

“You okay?”

Agustin sighed softly at Felix’s question. “I don’t know what to do to help my family.” He admitted glumly. “Isabela’s…actually doing her punishments without complaining, Mirabel can’t stand to be in the same room as her and…Luisa’s just stuck in the middle.”

He certainly wouldn’t forget his middle child; to be stuck in that conflict… he could see the struggle. Luisa put on a brave face but… he needed to talk to her more. She couldn’t keep this to herself and he…didn’t want her to blow up with the pressure of all of what happened.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Felix’s hand rubbed his shoulder. “Let Abuela worry about Isabela. You and Julieta worry about Mirabel and Luisa.”

It wasn’t a surprise that Felix knew about Abuela’s suggestion of overseeing Isabela herself but… the idea of abandoning his eldest to her displeased Abuela was… uncomfortable, as logical as it was.

“I don’t know how to make things better for Mirabel either… she won’t talk about it to us… Abuela has to push her to talk and even then…didn’t get far.”

Silence lapsed between them.

“Abuela wants to move Isa’s door. It’s the closest one to the nursery.” Felix piped up, “I’m…not fond of that idea given Casita’s foundations will shift a lot and her tower will move but… it could be a necessary distance Mirabel needs?”

“No.”

Felix looked at him but it was with a soft gaze. “Gus… she needs to start somewhere to heal.”

“I know that but… moving Isabela will do nothing. They’re under the same roof regardless.” But, he supposed his next course of action would be to move Mirabel instead; the girl had been living in the nursery. “We should get a room built for Mirabel. It…won’t be magical but... I think it’s been long enough for her; she deserves her own room and it'll be far easier on Casita.”

Felix’s face softened into a smile. “I bet she’d love that.”

Agustín nodded. “Between Luisa and Julieta’s room should work before the stairs. Luisa’s door might have to move down to put her between her room and Isabela’s but… I think it’s the ideal location. I doubt Luisa would mind.”

“Run it by Abuela first; she can talk to Casita.”

The boards under their feet fluttered, almost like an agreement to their conversation but Agustín wasn’t sure but for the first time in a week, it felt like there was some good in all of this.

Mirabel would finally get a room…hopefully.

-

Dolores twitched as she hovered outside Isabela’s door. In both dread and excitement but she knew she had to do this for this to…feel any sort of right about this decision. Abuela was one thing but…she needed this from Isabela too.

She couldn’t condone anything of Isabela’s behaviours and even Isabela knew that which itself was a relief; she had an understanding and intended to change. Her actions so far had been in following what was expected in her punishments and Dolores could see the effort she was putting into it; Isabela did regret it and was trying to atone.

Dolores…wasn’t dreading of what Isabela would do… but what she’d say. She had to hope that… that Isabela wouldn’t hate her for wanting him. Isabela didn’t want him so…surely she couldn’t get upset about it?

The last week alone; from the golden seat of Abuela’s pride and joy to… the deep shame. The family felt different now but… Isabela’s life had been doing what other people say; no element of control over what she did and expected to do so without complaint. Isabela had no say over…anything right now, even as she bit her lip and carried on with a bowed head.

As already said, Mirabel felt like she had taken Abuela’s affections from Isabela…her attention and.. that was true in a way. Isabela had lost it all. Dolores was worried about how this…loss was affecting Isa. She didn’t want to…take anything from Isa, even as unwanted as Mariano was to the girl.

Dolores took a quiet breath and knocked, keeping an ear out to make sure no one else stirred; she had waited purposely to make sure everyone else was asleep or in bed before making this trip. She didn’t know if this was allowed or not but there was really no better time for Isa too.

Inside, she could hear the ruffling of the bed sheets, the shaky breath as Isabela tried to calm herself from her late-night sob-release before the sounds of crinkling plants got closer until…

The door opened softly before the tired face is Isa peeked around the door, her eyebrows drawing in before she heard the girl swallow and pulse pick up a fraction.

“Dolores?”

“Can…Can we talk?” Dolores asked nervously.

“S-Sure but…you’re not allowed in.”

“Abuela said adults are. We’re adults.” She pointed out. Abuela needed to be more specific on how she classified that, adults in terms of age or adults in terms of, no grandchildren so she’d take advantage of the first statement if questioned; neither her nor Isa would get into trouble with that. It wasn’t her fault for the lack of parameters given so she’d see If Abuela would make adaptions.

Isabela paused though after a moment, nodded and the door opened up more and allowed her entry.

Inside was…a mess. Plants that weren’t her typical brand were…spread out and there was that distinct smell of decay that…tingled her nose unpleasantly but there was a clear smell of pollen that felt like it was only trying to cover the dead stuff.

It tugged at her heart but… she knew this was a natural response to loss. Pain painted across her room. A mess now but…Isabela would heal as the family did…

“What…what did you want to talk about?” Isa asked nervously. “Am I too loud? Did I do something?”

Dolores shook her head though she wanted to sit down and talk, she didn’t want to come in closer than a few feet from the door; her shoes would get covered in gunk.

“No.” She turned to face Isabela fully, “I.. I was going to ask if…it’d be alright with you if…” She paused, her cheeks flushing. “Look… I—“

Isabela’s face didn’t change, she just stood there patiently which made it a little harder to read her face; to see how she’d react.

“I like Mariano,” Dolores spoke in a rush, taking a second pause for this to sink in with her prima.

Isabela blinked. “What?” She ran her fingers through her dark locks, “You…like Mariano? As is…like like him?”

Dolores couldn’t help the heat that flooded her cheeks, her eyes flickering away.

Isa let out a soft breath. “I see.” A slight irregular pace echoed from her prima’s chest.

“I… I want to date him but… I want to ask…for your…blessing.” Dolores squeaked, trying to ignore how her own blood pumped through her ears oh-so loudly.

A look of surprise broke through the girl’s composure. “My blessing? You…you don’t need my blessing, Dolores.”

“I want it… I don’t…want to feel like I stole him from you. Abuela… she’s asked if I’m open to him and… I am but… it doesn’t feel right to just…accept. You didn’t break up with him by choice so I thought….” She trailed off, not knowing how to finish the mutterings.

The heart of Isa’s heart was fast, but not as hyper as it had been through the flush of blood to her cheeks wasn’t obvious though her breaths were a little further between before she took in an abrupt sudden breath in, her back straightening up.

“If you want him, Dolores, you have my blessing on dating Mariano.” Isabela croaked, her hand hurried to wipe her eyes, “at…at least you two have a better shot at happiness than I would have had.” In her hands, a bouquet of white orchids, Blue hyacinths, Cyclamen and even a few daffodils formed. Isabela looked at it for a moment before tying the bundle together easily with a thin vine-like plant.

Dolores gave her a puzzled look though took them nonetheless.

“For Mariano…I know he can’t come and see me and… I think he should know enough about flowers to understand their meaning.”

Dolores’s eyes flickered down, surprised at her prima’s thoughtfulness but…this made a lot of sense; her permission to Mariano that she was okay with this. With her and Mariano. Dolores’s shoulder relaxed though her head tilted as she heard Abuela shift around on her bed before she heard her get out, disgruntled by something.

“Abuela’s getting up. I have to go… I don’t want an awkward crossing with her.”

Isabela nodded though her lip curled up only by a fraction. Dolores balanced the flowers carefully as she left; they’d be fine for the morning; she was sure Isabela would touch them up again if need be but she had a vase of water to use in the meantime.

“Oh, Dolores..” Isabela called, at her door softly.

Dolores turned with a final look.

“Thank you for asking. I…” she paused, “I do appreciate you asking.”

Dolores smiled at the notion before she carried on, her guilt lifting for now. This was okay.