#LET THE WOMAN DO WHATEVER SHE WANTS IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS FFS

[thiziri]

WHY are people that bothered with Anne's hair? I don't get it????????

[catherineflowers29]

Hi! I'm the anon from before! Oh, thank God. I was worried I upset you because JB shippers get so defensive when someone is critical of their ship or Jaime (btw I'm a Brienne stan before a JB shipper.)

I think your story is so great and feminist... the fact that Brienne was allowed to be angry at Jaime and make the choice to fuck Addam and still be the doting mother and a warrior who inspires women (also thank you for no boring Sansa/Brienne friendship). I loved how she said "fuck that" to any of Jaime's weakass explanations and whenever that bitch was like, "are we good? have you forgiven me? can we fuck?" and she just went like "wtf no you're the worst." like YES. It fucking bothered me the way those S8 apologists defended Jaime's "addiction" and liked the offensive disgusting white book scene. FFS LET WOMEN BE ANGRY. LET WOMEN HAVE A STORYLINE THAT ISN'T TIED TO SOME GARBAGE MAN. LET WOMEN SLEEP WITH MEN INSTEAD OF THEIR ASSIGNED LOVE INTERESTS AND LET THEM ENJOY IT TOO. LET WOMEN BE BITTER AND UNFORGIVING AND COMPASSIONATE AND MOTHERLY AND BRAVE AND AWESOME AT THE SAME TIME. ALL THESE THINGS CAN EXIST IN ONE WOMAN. IT'S ALLOWED. AND BRIENNE IS NO BETTER OR WORSE IF SHE CHOOSES TO BE UNFORGIVING. I HATE DUDEBROS.

I don't think you should be unhappy with your story! Your story has amazing dialogue and internal thoughts, well-rounded characters, and Brienne of Tarth being awesome. If anything, you were too nice to Jaime by having him be happy and giving him a purpose. You should subvert my expectations, lovely author! Don't have Brienne forgive Jaime and get into a relationship with him! Make her kick him to the curb! Break his heart! Piss on his corpse! Probably JB shippers will be mad at you but I've got your back. The REAL Brienne fans know that Jaime did Brienne so dirty, and no bs addiction or duty can justify that!

Ok that's enough... and WTF why would people think your fic is controversial. IMO we should bully the writers who had Brienne easily forgive Jaime and take him back just like that. Fuck them all. I only respect YOU. You got me into shipping Addam/Bri and also validated my anger. Also I was busy, didn't know you updated your fic. Gonna read it now. Not gonna lie, I'll be a little upset if she chooses Jaime because I thought the glass throwing scene was written to show the tragic end of their relationship and how there's no coming back, but I did want to know your thoughts.

Bless you, kind reader. 

I’ve had a lot of thoughts about why my fic is considered controversial. The subject matter in it really isn’t that “dark” in the traditional fic sense. There’s no rape or major character death, it’s not torture porn or anything. And yet, there was rage about it on Reddit, it was banned from being discussed on Discord, and a BNF decided (very hurtfully, I might add) to call me out on Twitter because she had formed a judgement based solely on my tags. I have also been blocked by numerous people in the fandom that I have never so much as had an interaction with. I’ve also had a LOT of shitty comments and anons here and there from people who seem really angry that I had the temerity to write this fic.

That genuinely surprised me. I knew it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea - what fic is? But there have been times when I have felt like a total pariah and not wanted to interact with other members of the fandom in case they feel the same way. Whatever way you slice it, that’s shitty behaviour.

Largely, when we ship something, particularly when it’s an OTP, we think of that relationship as an ideal. It’s escapism, it’s perfect in ways that our real relationships never can be. I think that’s why, for so many of us, 8.04 was really devastating. Jaime and Brienne are also a ship about acceptance and understanding, of a deep connection that transcends surface impressions - they both see each other for who they really are. That means a LOT to us, I think. I think we all long for that kind of relationship and exploring it in our fandom gives all of us so much happiness. We are in love with their love.

In their portrayal of the JB relationship, D&D ABSOLUTELY got that wrong. I absolutely do not dispute that. I think a LOT of people were angry with me because they confused what I was writing as being supportive of D&D’s take in some way, because I treated it as canon. Some writers were able to paper over the end of the show, dismiss it as bad writing and move on, or write fic where Jaime changes his mind, Brienne forgives him, and then they carry on with what we wanted.

I just couldn’t do that. God knows I tried. But if I had been in Brienne’s position, I absolutely would have been as pissed as fuck about what Jaime did. I don’t accept that he went back for Cersei as a brother, or that Brienne wasn’t crying for herself but only for him and his lost honour. Being dumped HURTS, particularly when you loved someone and thought you had a future, and then he walks out in the middle of the night without saying goodbye. Brienne had SO MUCH backstory about being hurt and humiliated by men, having the first man who loved her, the man she gave her virginity to, treat her that way would fuck her up.

I’m not saying that anyone who disagrees with me is wrong, and I never have. I don’t have the definitive knowledge of these characters, none of us do. I only have my take, my experience, my style.

I just couldn’t write about their relationship as being idyllic and perfect any more. Is it a reflection of who I am as a person and as a writer? That’s certainly been the accusation several dozen times. Maybe. It’s certainly a reflection of how I feel women put up with too much shit from men and are expected to be kind and forgiving in return. I HATE that with a passion. 

Angry women are really controversial. They make people of all genders feel very uncomfortable. Sexually confident women do, too, and I think my story was the perfect storm of those two elements, really. People who want escapism from realistic relationships where people don’t live happily-ever-after really took exception to its very existence.

I don’t hold it against anyone for it not being their cup of tea, or if they disagree with my take. God knows there are kajillions of fics out there that aren’t my bag too. Things I’ve rolled my eyes at, things I’ve fundamentally disagreed with, things I’ve been horrified to read. But not once have I ever felt the need to be a public douchebag about it. I’ve never felt the need to make a writer stop writing.

So thank you so much for taking the time to send me this. It does make a really nice change to get an anon be so positive and affirming to me as a writer!

I really hope that you enjoy the end of the story. And that you will enjoy the reboot in a few weeks where we stick with Brienne’s POV and I turn the volume down on some of the elements that I don’t like about the story myself. Not the rage though, or the Addam banging. That’s staying! 

[docstark]

Ignite (Avengers/Bucky Barnes Fanfiction) Chapter 1 - Everyone Has a Beginning

Hello!

I am going to start off with a little sidenote before we get started here. I started this as a side blog so it is not my usual writings (I usually write kpop ff) but I have been feeling the Marvel writing vibes lately so thought that I would put myself out there with what I've had in my google docs so please be kind.

Also, I appreciate constructive critisism, it helps me write and mold my characters/ideas and I also just love hearing what you think. I'm a bit rusty right now with my writing and there may be times where things aren't consistant with updates cause I'm getting back into school soon, but here we go!

Sincerly, Doctor Stark

Oh, I almost forgot...

If you have seen SHIELD you know who AIDA is but in this story she is the equialent of FRIDAY.

Also you'll see that my OC has the same power as Quake/Daisy Johnson because I was like "WHAT POWER COULD MY CHARACTER POSSIBLY HAVE?!"

N/N = Nickname

Warnings: None...some language?

"AIDA, if anyone calls please just send it to voicemail...I really don't want to hear from the New York Times for the...." I stopped as I set my keys on my kitchen island, "AIDA?"

"Doctor Stark, it seems that my security protocols have been over run," AIDA finally replied, "I tried contacting you but it seems that he has also managed to cut into my communications."

By now I had noticed the figure that was sitting on my couch and I cautiously approached my living room like I was entering the room with a wild animal.

"Should I try to see if I can get through to Mr. Stark," AIDA questioned.

"No," I said as I finally made eye contact with the man on the couch, "He came all this way instead of fleaing the country immediatly...he has questions. You won't hurt me, will you Bucky?"

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

Let me back up for a moment and introduce myself, my name is Y/F/N M.I. Stark aka N/N Stark better known as Doctor Stark. For the longest time I was just Howard Stark’s genius daughter who people barely remembered existed. I rather liked it that way though, while Tony spent his time in California soaking up the sun, partying, sleeping around, getting kidnapped for 3 months, doing some work on the side, and now becoming Iron Man (have no idea how Pepper does it)...I spend my time in New York between working at Stark Tower and doing some side consulting in DC and some...other business that takes place during my consulting. But other than that, I tend to stay in the shadows. Well, I used to be able to stay in the shadows. Then of course Tony decided that be would become Iron Man and I become someone that everyone had questions for but they weren’t going to get answers from.

Currently I live in New York just outside the city which has its perks; I have a decent sized house customized for my own needs, a yard, a pool, a fence (iron with perimeter security), a gate for my driveway, and neighbors that I can chat with.

You know, feel normal even if it’s just for 5 minutes.

Downfall is the commute. But since I am one of the owners of the company, being a little late isn’t that big of a deal for me unless I had something planned.

Now, even though Tony was Iron Man I couldn’t blame him completely for all the calls I get now. Now after the powers that I now have had been seen during the whole drone fiasco at Stark Expo. And that is something that should really be explained...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ever heard of an Agent Peggy Carter? She’s a wonderful woman and a close family friend, so close in fact that growing up I started to call her Aunt Peggy; after my parents died and Tony just about completely separated himself from the fact that he had a little sister who was 15 and in college, I could always count on Aunt Peggy when I needed someone to talk to. But as we know, a good Agent keeps her secrets and only reveals them when the time is right.

By the time I turned 21 I had completed my PhD in biomedical engineering and electrical and computer science as well as a doctorate in biochemistry (7 years of college and sleepless nights, taking more classes than I probably should have, but I did it). At the time I was just getting myself acquainted to my new office space at Stark Tower (during that time I only occupied the 80th floor) and my research and projects at a slow pace.

“Don’t feel like you have to run,” Tony said only half paying attention to me, “Start slow, you know Stark Industries just as well as anyone, you’ll be running the tower before you know it.”

I had to admit that he was right; I had been in Stark Tower thousands of times it seemed but this was new for me. But then Aunt Peggy came along and gave me that extra push that I needed.

She had said she had an office warming gift for me; what I wasn’t expecting was the almost 30 boxes of old files, some dating as far back as 1939.

“Your father was a great man, a fool at times, but a great man,” she started, “Throughout his career as both the founder Stark Industries and of SHIELD, meticulously hid his files and personal work in different places. He once told me and Edwin Jarvis the location of all the information and who to give it to should something ever happen to him.”

“Shouldn’t this be going to Tony then?” I questioned, “If this is his work then-“

She held up her hand and I stopped, letting her continue. “I remember one very particular evening when your parents had invited me out for dinner. You had just gone off to college...his little girl.”

I snorted trying to imagine my father gushing over his kids like any regular dad would and in my head it just wasn’t happening.

“He didn’t show a lot of emotion because he wanted you two to be able to face the world as it is...but for him it was hard seeing his little girl off to college even earlier than most dads would. But we did have a conversation that leads to the elephant...or should I say boxes in the room,” she said as she walked over towards them, “He said that both his children were born protégées, both were born to carry on what he had started. However, while they both possess the talents to change the world, one is more so the leader and the other the backbone.”

She opened the box in front of her that had a large ‘(Your Initials)’ written on the front of it. “He said, First born or not, had he not felt like Tony had the potential to lead, you would have become the head of Stark Industries,” she said, pulling a book from the box and holding it out to me, “Your father believed that you are the backbone to the very company that you stand in today, which is why I am now giving you these, just as he asked...keep them safe.”

And in Aunt Peggy style she left me to soak in the information that she had just told me, and to move the boxes to a room that only I could get into. I spent every waking moment going through the boxes, sorting them, trying to find what had gone wrong to make him tuck certain things away.

I found some items that I wondered why he even kept. Was it a reminder not to mess with it? A way for someone to know what to do should they see one? I didn’t know but it was staying under lock and key, that was for sure.

The book that Aunt Peggy had given me was essentially a journal, maybe even a diary, whatever you want to call it, it held the detail of things that had gone wrong, things that had gone right, and the one that she had given me wasn’t the only one. In the same box with my initials were more journals, just like the rest and there were almost 3 exclusively for Project Rebirth…

I don’t know how long I went through the boxes labeled ‘Project Rebirth’. The story of Steve Rogers, of Captain America was regular bedtime story for me.

My mother once said I should stop asking him for Captain America stories and at 5 years old it was the first time I had really seen my father get defensive about anything.

“If she wants to hear those stories then I will tell them, Maria,” he said.

But reading how long he searched the frigid waters, hoping for a signal to find his friend, I now know the look I saw behind my father’s eyes...sadness and grief.

For a time I stepped away from my file room, my workload getting heavy, ideas that my father thought of being brought to life but in a new and better way. As my projects expanded, my need for space grew, and to everyone’s surprise I now took up 5 floors in just five years, and with lab assistants and AIDA to help with the calls, I got a chance to finally step back into my file room.

I had barely touched the files over the last 5 years, but what I can say is that there was one box that I was avoiding. It was a wooden box, nothing intricate about it. It almost reminded me of my mother’s old jewelry box, a gift passed down in her family. But this box was odd. There was no mention of it in any of the journals, no note, nothing.

So I had to take my life into my own hands at that point and I carefully opened the box. When I opened it I gave a sigh of relief. Carefully cradled in the box was a vile of purple liquid, and of course, now that I have gotten past a close call with a heart attack, I found a note...taped to the inside of the lid.

“Out of the many things that I have come across in my time...blah blah blah speech about his accolades...while Dr. Abraham Erskine created the Super Soldier Serum for Project Rebirth, it was not the only serum that he created. The Terrigenesis Serum was created to react with the body’s own DNA and essentially bring forward any supernatural abilities that might be laying dormant within someone, should they have them.”

I stopped and ran my hand through my hair. They didn’t know when to stop, did they?

“Should you find this one of 2 things can be done; hide it or take it to SHIELD and only if they know what A21K609S means, are they to know about what you have….I suggest you start with the top.”

For the longest time I hid the Terrigenesis Serum, we didn’t need someone with superpowers who might be unhinged, running around.

But after I had started consulting with SHIELD for a few years and when Tony got kidnapped...my emotions got the better of me.

And I went to Fury…

He knew what the code meant, he questioned me over and over again telling me that there was a chance that I could die.

“IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE DO IT I'LL DO IT MYSELF!” I remember screeching at him.

I was taken to a lab and strapped down on the bed, since no one knew how the serum would affect me, on the screen of one of the computers I saw that Fury had pulled up the old file that SHIELD had on the serum.

I remember seeing Natasha up in the observation room looking down at me. By then we had become friends and by the look on her face I could tell that she did not approve of this.

But it was too late now…

The purple liquid traveled into my body, making me feel like every vein and artery was being shredded as it circulated. I couldn’t even tell if I was screaming, I knew my mouth was open but I could hear nothing.

I felt hands on me as the lab assistants and doctor who had been permitted in the room tried to push me back flat on the bed but there was this loud bass like noise and the hands were gone and everything went black.

When I woke up a few hours later the only person in the room with me was Fury.

“What’s this thing around me?” I asked looking purple, glowing substance around me.

Fury took a pen and threw it at the substance and it bounced back. “Some sort of shield that surrounded you after the serum took hold in your body...I suggest you try and figure out how to make it go away.”

Closing my eyes I tried to tell the shield that I was fine, I was safe, and that it could come back to me. It took a good hour but I figured it out and finally Fury was able to undo the straps that were holding me down to the table.

“So what? I’m some sort of human shield?” I questioned as a lab assistant came into the room and cautiously lifted the head of the bed up so that I could sit up. I finally got a good look at the room; equipment was knock over and strewn around the room, there was broken glass in the observation windows, and there were cracks in the walls. I gulped upon seeing this. “Did I do all this?”

“Vibration manipulation,” he replied, “Congrats Doc, you created a small earthquake right here in this lab. Not to mention you scared the hell out of the SHIELD science division when they got blasted back from that force field. But either way...looks like we have some work to do.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

Next Chapter>>

[ravenforce]

Manhattan 2

Word Count: 3583

Warning/s: None. (Would you believe that? Lol.)

A/N: Thank you so much for everyone who likes, and follows this story. You guys are amazing. Please leave your reactions, bloody or otherwise, on the comment section. My inbox is open too if you’d like to pop by. Oh, and please note the ff:

1. If there are any grammatical mistakes I’ve still overlooked, I apologize.

2. Since you’re already reading this part. Please, be careful out there. Protect yourself from NCOV. Wear a mask if you’re going outside. Wash your hand regularly, and bring alcohol everywhere you go. Take your vitamin C seriously, and stay hydrated. If you feel flu-like symptoms, get yourself checked by experts. Don’t self-medicate. The world is a better place because you’re here. Stay with me. Xx

Manhattan Parts: 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8  | 9

*** 

The Morning After - Lou’s POV

Lou can faintly see that the sun is already up and peaking through her curtains. Rather than get up, she shut her eyes tighter, the events of the night prior rushing to the forefront of her brain. She sighed happily as she remembers how soft you were against her hands, how obedient you were, and how beautiful you sound begging her to go faster, harder, and most especially when you screamed her name. She groaned when she remembered how you moaned as you come undone in her mouth and hands. She rolled on her back like she’s been struck by lightning when she remembers how you look in her bed, sated and peaceful.

She was disappointed when she found your spot on the bed empty. She sighed, no one leaves her in bed. It is her that always leave, and the other party begging her to stay but she never does. She sat up, she decided she’s not gonna wallow and think that you leaving is some sort of karma for every girl she left satisfied, yet heartbroken. She decided she’s going to shower because you both did plenty of dirty stuff last night, and then she’s gonna come downstairs to find her brothers and their merry gang of beautiful misfits and have breakfast with them.

Dressed in a crisp white button-up shirt, dark jeans, and black boots, Lou barged into the service kitchen where she knew everyone was holing after a night of partying.

“Good morning, children,” she greeted happily. Amidst being disappointed about your departure, she’s still positively lighter. 

The soft morning conversation came to a stop. It took a minute for everyone to process her presence, that Lou, their big sister is home for once. She’s rarely home ever since she opened the art gallery, The Heist, in Manhattan with Debbie, Daphne, and the crew.

“Sestra,” Loki greeted when Lou rounded the corner towards the coffee machine. “Your after-sex-glow can be seen from outer space.”

The Avengers choked on their breakfast items, Loki and Lou started laughing. 

“Loki!” Thor admonished after successfully gulping down his french toasts. 

“What? She looks great!”

“You could have gone with that,” Tony complained, blushing profusely and pointedly not looking at Lou. They’ve all been close to her, growing up with the boys but they still don’t like being privy to Lou’s sexual affairs.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Loki, ever the sassiest, said. 

Thor watched his big sister for a minute, and the three of them have been closed enough to know that Loki’s right. Lou’s definitely glowing. 

“Please tell me you didn’t pick up a random college girl from the party last night,” Thor said warned jokingly. 

Lou smirked and intentionally didn’t answer the question as she makes her coffee.

“Lou?” Thor asked, squinting his eyes at his sister’s back. 

Lou turned around to look at her blonde sibling with an infuriating smile on her face. 

“Well,” she started, intentionally pausing a beat or three to annoy her brother. “I didn’t actively look for her. She stumbled on my lair, what am I supposed to do?”

Loki and the rest of the gang laughed, while Thor continued mumbling and complaining about having to look at the poor girl sulking at school because the legendary Lou Odinson won’t pick up their calls.

”Besides, how am I supposed to walk away from her? She’s breathtaking,” Lou said with genuine fondness. 

***

Heavy Breakfast - Your POV

Before everyone can grill Lou on who she slept with, you barged in the service kitchen looking slightly dishevelled and with a deep frown on your face. The conversation dropped, while the tension rises. Everyone looked surprised that you’re on-site, their collective gaze fell on Nat and Carol in an instant. The two looked terrified and wholly unprepared for your arrival. They still haven’t quite polished exactly what they wanted to stay, even though they’ve been trying to reach you since the sun started to rise.

“God, Odinsons’ your house is insane,” you said dramatically.

“I went outside to make a phone call, and I got lost on the way back,” you ranted before looking up from your phone and quickly looked at your friends. 

Your perfectly constructed poker face nearly slipped when you saw Lou standing behind Tony and Maria by the coffee maker. She looked mildly surprised but more entertained at the idea of being in the same room as you and the two women she helped you forget - temporarily - last night. You held back the urge to roll her eyes at her. 

“You’re not the first to complain about that,” Lou quipped. “I told the boys to put up signs but I guess they’re both lazy idiots.”

You cracked a smile remembering how she called her brothers that last night before threatening to beat them up, assuming they made you cry. Tony and Maria caught the smile, no matter how small it was and quirked an eyebrow.

“Putting up signs around the house is ridiculous,” Thor complained as you walk towards the coffee machine. 

“Not to mention tasteless,” Loki backed his big brother up. 

Lou handed you her mug of coffee before starting a fresh brew. Thor and Loki stopped talking in an instant, as everyone watches you drink from Lou’s cup. You let out an ungodly moan as you let Lou’s perfectly brewed black coffee with two sugars wash over you, and warm you inside out. Your friends are watching the two of you like hawks. You can hear the cogs in their heads turning, piecing every action and reaction together.

Any minute now, you thought.

“You look good in my shirt,” Lou commented, full-on grinning now. 

“Holy shit,” Tony exclaimed. 

“What?!” Thor yelled as he stumbles out of his stool. 

You just shrugged before turning to your friends. You don’t care much that they know. You’ll tell them eventually, anyway. You just worry that you sleeping with Lou will change your dynamics with Thor and Loki. Wanda looked surprised while Maria looks worried for a second, she knows you best. So, she knows you slept with Lou as a coping mechanism.

Loki and Tony look impressed while Thor looks like he’s still processing but he doesn’t look angry. Nat and Carol looked pissed as hell.

“You slept with Lou?” Nat asked, voice clearly on edge. You frowned, not liking the tone she’s using. “Why?”

“Because I can,” you answered simply, voice neutral. “And I wanted to. Last time I checked I’m free to do whatever and whoever I want.”

“We know we fucked up last night,” Carol started to say. “But this retribution is brutal.”

You can feel your blood starting boil at that. You wanted to yell that you didn’t sleep with Lou as revenge for them kissing Steve and Val, you did it for you. You did it to forget, sure but you did it also because you’re attracted to the woman for fuck sake. You wanted to scream so many things, some of them probably spiteful but you weren’t able to as Lou’s warm, soft hand landed purposely on the small of your back. Everyone caught the action, Nat and Carol’s frown dipped deeper as they watch all your anger dissipate. 

“I can’t do this right now,” you sighed before putting Lou’s mug on the sink next to you. 

Lou just nodded at you before stepping away from her. You walked towards Maria and Wanda before planting a soft kiss on both their cheeks with a soft promise that you’ll explain everything soon enough. You walked towards the Odinson boys next, pulling them both out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Once out of everyone’s prying eyes, you tugged the boys into a hug which they immediately reciprocated, sandwiching you between them.

“I’m sorry about all of this,” you whispered. Thor’s hand landed on the small of your back, while Loki placed his around your shoulder. “I hope we’re cool?”

The boys can hear the worry and hesitation on your voice. Loki smiled at you, before tucking a loose hair behind your ear. “I’m cool with whatever you and Lou are up to. I ship it.”

You smiled at the raven-haired boy before turning towards Thor.

“I don’t understand it but it’s not my business. I just hope you understand what you’re getting into,” Thor said, worry lacing his voice.

The truth is, he secretly ships it as well but he knows her sister’s reputation in New York. She’s been living in Manhattan for a couple of years now, and never had Lou ever dated anyone seriously. He knows her sister’s not the relationship type. She beds girls that caught her interest for a small amount of time until she gets bored or until the girls started developing real feelings for her; then Lou bolts.

She doesn’t care how long the arrangement has gone, if romantic feelings are involved, she’s out. She doesn’t care much if it hurts. For their sister, it’ll hurt worse if she pretends she can give them something she couldn’t. For their sister, it’ll only hurt worst in the long run because what she gives won’t be enough. Lou has been leaving a trail of broken hearts everywhere she goes that’s why Thor worries about you.

You sighed happily. All things considered, you know you’re gonna be okay now that you’ve secured your friendship with the Odinson boys. You were about to leave when the door opened revealing Nat and Carol.

“Wait, Y/N. Please stay,” Nat pleaded. 

“Let us explain,” Carol added. “Let us try and fix this, please.”

You wanted to ignore both of them but the sadness in their voice stopped you on your track. You turned towards them and saw the two woman you truly adore nearly in tears. 

“I can’t,” you started. Nat and Carol visibly deflated. “Not right now. I need to go home and get ready. I have an interview for the internship program. We’ll talk after, I promise.”

“Okay,” they answered smiling softly at each other.

At that moment, you decided that there’s no point holding on the hurt and anger. No matter what, you still love Nat and Carol but you decided you’re not gonna be a player in their game anymore. When you met the two, you knew they still have feelings for each other but they’re too stubborn to admit it, yet you still willingly played. You decided though that if you can’t be with them, you’ll help them get who they deserve.

No more running away. No more mind games, no more using other people to make each other jealous. No one else is gonna get hurt, just because Nat and Carol can’t be honest with each other but that’ll have to wait after your interview. 

***

The Heist - Lou’s POV

“You’re late,” Daphne stated the obvious as Lou walked in leisurely in the conference room two hours after she’s supposed to be in.

Debbie noted the soft smile on her best friends face but said nothing. Lou just shrugged as she plopped down on her designated chair beside Debbie.

“I’m sorry,” Lou said but didn’t offer any other explanation.

She didn’t really have to explain how she stayed up all night just to make you come undone. She didn’t really have to explain how she offered to drive you home as an excuse to spend more time with you. She didn’t feel like sharing how she drove leisurely back to Manhattan because a part of her wants to stay in Ithaca, and risked being teased by her friends for immediately having a soft spot for a girl she barely knew.

9Ball looked up from her laptop to regard Lou for a moment, then every one to check if they’re seeing exactly what she’s seeing.

“At least one of us had a good weekend,” 9ball said with a smirk.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with an after-sex-glow, like ever,” Tammy said making everyone laugh and Lou to roll her eyes playfully.

“Agreed,” Debbie seconded.

“See, even Debbie agrees,” Constance said, “So who’s the lucky girl?”

“There’s no girl,” Lou lied. She knows that Debbie can tell she’s lying but she doesn’t care. She’s not ready to share you with her vulture friends yet.

Before anyone can call her out on her bullshit, the gallery secretary, Charlie poked her head in the conference room.

“She’s here,” she said looking at Debbie.

“Saved by the bell,” Amita teased, prompting everyone to start giggling again. Debbie shushed them after a minute. Charlie who has been working in the gallery since it opened didn’t bat an eye on her bosses weird antics. She just waits patiently for instructions.

“Send her in,” Debbie instructed before Charlie nodded and scurried away to get the last interviewee for the gallery intern position. Whoever gets the job will join her, and the second gallery assistant, Kurt at the bottom of the corporate ladder.

Lou looked at her best friend with a silent question but before she can answer, the door opened and the applicant walked in.

***

The Interview - Your POV

You stopped dead on your tracks when you saw Lou, while the other paled a little.

Holy shit, you thought to yourself.

When Lou said she’s a businesswoman, it didn’t occur to you that she might be the owner of the art gallery you’re applying for an internship. You internally cursed the alcohol you consumed the night before for missing dead giveaways that Lou owns the Heist, like the number of artworks and art pieces in her home office, or the magazines on her coffee table featuring her and her crew. 

You were pulled away from your internal musing when 9Ball jumped out of her chair to tackle you softly in a hug. 

“Y/N!!” 9Ball exclaimed as she rubs her pretty face on the side of yours. Lou frowned at the action.

“You know each other?” Lou asked carefully keeping her voice neutral. 

9Ball extricated herself from your person before dragging you to the table. “This is Y/N Y/L/N, she’s my friend from MIT. She’s eighteen when we graduated uni,” 9Ball bragged. 

“We know, nine. We read her file” Rose said smiling.

Lou frowned because she doesn’t know, she forgot to read your file. She meant to do it yesterday but well, she met you instead. Though she knows things about you, it would be inappropriate for her to divulge them in this interview. She had to bite her lips to stop herself from smiling, thinking about all the tiny details she knows about that isn’t in your resume. Daphne caught her though but decided it’s not the time to discuss what’s going on. 

“Y/N you’ve been vouched by Nine, and your credentials are spot on,” Debbie started to say, using her CEO voice. “So I’m wondering why you still want to do this interview rather than just get the job?”

You smiled up at your potentially new boss. You can easily see that Debbie is the level-headed one in their group. 

“I work great with Nine. You all work great with Nine but that doesn’t mean you will work great with me,” you said softly, confusing everyone some more. 

“I need you to assess me as a person, not just my credentials.” You paused to let that information sink in. 9Ball looks at you with pride in her eyes. 

“I’m great in the paper, sure. I possess the technical qualities to perform an excellent job, but I believe all of it is to go to waste if you find my personality doesn’t match yours.”

Smart. Debbie noted on your resume without breaking eye contact. She smiled at you, clearly impressed. She looked around the table to assess her team’s reaction, and by the happy look on their faces, she knew they liked you as well. Everyone was enamoured by you if their attempts to engage you in a conversation all at the same time is to go by. 

“What do you think?” she whispered towards Lou. 

Lou didn’t take her eyes off you as she answers. “I think she’s perfect…for the job,” Lou caught her slipped up early on but by the look on Debbie’s face, she knew she caught it.

Debbie cleared her throat to draw everyone’s attention back to her. She looked at you intensely, the pregnant pause is giving you anxiety. “Y/N, when do you think you can start the job?”

You heaved a great sigh of relief. “Can you give me until next week to find an apartment, move, and get settled?”

Debbie nodded before standing up, walking to you and shaking your hand.“Welcome to the Heist,” she said smiling. Then everyone came over to congratulate you and give you hugs, except Lou.

***

You were standing at the side of the gallery entrance, texting Maria the good news when someone stood toe-to-toe with you. You’ve seen that boots this morning but you opted to finish your text with Maria before looking up at Lou.

“Would you prefer if I turn down the job?” you asked tentatively. You’re a little worried that she didn’t come over to congratulate you awhile ago.

“What?! No! Unless you don’t think you can’t work with me,” she teased. You laughed softly.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Ms Odinson.”

“Miller,” she said. You tilted your head confused. “I don’t use Odinson here. It attracts too much-unwanted attention.”

You wanted to make a joke about how such a face would attract a lot of attention but the seriousness in her voice prompted you to let it go.

“Well don’t flatter yourself, Ms Miller,” you corrected yourself, trying to imitate the way she talks. Lou laughs at your antics. You’re such a child but instead of running for the hills, she’s craving you more and more.

“Anyway, do you have plans tonight? Thought maybe since you’re here, we can celebrate.” Lou wanted to smack herself for being unable to resist vomiting her words. She doesn’t do nervous but something about asking you out, platonic or otherwise, feels daunting to her.

“I can’t tonight. I promised Maria and Wanda I’ll be home for dinner,” you said with a frown. “And you know I promised Natasha and Carol we’ll talk too.”

Lou mirrored your frown. Something about you, and Nat, and Carol in one sentence ruin her good mood. “Okay. Some other time, maybe?”

“Now, who can’t get enough of who?” you teased, effectively eradicating the frown on the blonde woman’s face.

“Shut up.”

You laughed. She started laughing too while hailing a cab for you. When the famous yellow car pulled up on the curb next to you, you bid her farewell. You stopped before entering the vehicle to look at her.

“Maybe you can help me warm my new apartment soon.”

It wasn’t a question. It’s an offer, and Lou knows it.

She smiled broadly at you.

“It’s a date,” she said before the yellow taxi rolled you away.

Taglist:  @kaytoopio​​​ @marvelfansince08love​​​ @marvelb00kwolf​​​ @shycucumbersandwich​​​ @subject7creed​​ @inkstainedhandsofgold​

[summahsunlight]

The First Step

Word Count: 3320

Characters: Tim McGee, Tony DiNozzo, others mentioned

Summary: Sometimes we just need a friend to help us get back on our feet. Tony and McGee friendship fic.

A/N: This was the first ever NCIS fic I wrote.  Originally posted on FF (which I’m slowly moving away from to AO3). Link to the AO3 story is posted below. As I post more NCIS stories, I will create a master list. Enjoy!

AO3

Timothy McGee could not believe he was about to do this, but he steeled himself and banged on his partner's door—loudly.

It had been four days since anyone had spoken to Tony DiNozzo. He was ignoring cell phone calls, landline calls and emails. Effectively the federal agent had shut himself up in his apartment and off from the world. Abby was in tears most of the time, Gibbs snarled at McGee at every opportunity he got. The poor green agent that had been assigned to the now empty desk had only lasted a day before she ran from the building in hysterics herself.

Everything had fallen apart four days ago. And he wasn't even embellishing like Tony. Ziva's abrupt departure had thrown them all into a topsy-turvy, spiral, where some of them were fairing better than others.

"Come on, DiNozzo, I know you're in there!" Tim hissed. "Abby traced your cell."

Slowly the door to the apartment opened and all fight left Tim as a hallow look peered back at him from heavy lidded hazel eyes. It appeared Tony had not shaved—or showered for the matter—in a week. An unkempt beard covered his face, his skin, which usually had a healthy tan to it, was a gray pallor, and his breath reeked of stale beer and whiskey. "Tony?" He gasped, pale green eyes widening. "What the hell?"

"Oh, nice to see you too, McGee" Tony snapped but there was no bite behind it.

Tim realized he was looking at a man that was defeated. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen Tony quite like this. Not even after the break-up with Jeanne had the man gone on what was most appropriately deemed a bender. Tony was warped into a man that Tim didn't even know anymore. "Listen, I'm sorry. That came out wrong. But your appearance…it's not what I'm used too and we've been worried about you since we got the news that Ziva was leaving. Ducky said you needed your space. But Abby wanted to storm the gates—this was the compromise."

Tony grunted a response and threw open the door, allowing Tim access to his domain. The usually neat and orderly apartment was in disarray. Dirty clothes were tossed everywhere, pizza boxes towered on the dining room table, and beer bottles accented as many empty surfaces as possible. Ironically the only thing that could be considered clean was the goldfish bowl. Kate the goldfish happily swam around her bowl, in pristine water, and Tim realized that there was a sliver of hope that deep down Tony was still Tony—he still cared about something.

For a moment Tim watched as Tony plopped back down onto his sofa, eyes focused on the screen on some movie that the younger man had no idea about. There was a bottle of Jack Daniels on the coffee table and he winced at the implications of that. His partner had moved on from beer to the heavy stuff. He supposed that all men had a breaking point—he just never believed Tony DiNozzo was amongst them. Abby had once said that he was a solid rock. It took a lot to chip him and everything just rolled off of him and he kept going.

But was that a fair description? Tony was, despite the juvenile nature, very complex.

"So, um, Abby and I were wondering if you'd meet us for drinks later," Tim ventured.

Tony reached for his bottle of whiskey and took a swig. "Got plenty of drinks here."

Tim winced. That had been a dumb question. It was obvious that Tony had been drinking since he'd come back from tracking down Ziva. He knew it was none of his business but he desperately wanted to know what she had said to Tony to shove him on this self-destructive path. "We can do pizza and a movie. Or Chinese. It's been awhile since we all hung out. And I think…I think we all need it."

His partner shrugged his shoulders. "Don't feel like hanging out, Probie. You and Abby go and have a great time though. Suppose she's upset."

"Well, yeah, I mean she had to deal with us all resigning and we're not exactly coming back whole, are we?"

"Nope. We're not."

"Listen, if you need to talk about it."

Tony glared at him and Tim backed down. There was a dangerous look in the senior field agent's eyes and Tim was not in the mood to explore it. After all, Abby had requested that he get Tony to come out of his apartment for a few hours, not make matters worse.

Tim looked around the room, listening to the old movie playing in the background. "We can go bowling. Sister Rosita and the nuns bowl tonight. They'd love to have us."

"Sorry, but no thanks. My back hurts."

"Come on, are you going to hole yourself up here for the rest of your life?" Tim sputtered. "It's not the first time changes to our team have been made. You once told me that you suffered through a rotation of agents and then as a two-man team with Gibbs before Kate joined. We'll get through this. It's not reason to drink. We survived Kate's death, we can survive this, Tony."

"This is different," Tony mumbled.

"Of course it's different. It's better, right? I mean, Ziva isn't dead. It's not like she can't come back and visit us."

"She won't."

He was a little tongued tied. "You psychic now?"

Tony shook his head, another swallow of whiskey. "Nope. She made it clear that she needed a clean break. If she comes back, it won't be any time soon. Tell Abby she can stop emailing and begging Ziva."

"How...never mind, it's not important that you knew this," Tim said, putting his hands up in surrender. "What's important is that we get you out of this apartment and...and functioning again."

"Saying I'm dysfunctional McGee?"

Tim's mouth hung open for a moment. "Well! Look at you!" he gestured to Tony's bum like appearance. He really didn't know what else to say. It was the last card he could possibly think to play at this point.

Tony quirked an eyebrow and swirled the amber liquid around in the Jack Daniels bottle. "Guess I have let myself go."

"You guess?"

"Alright I have. Just a little."

"Just a little?" Tim spat, the pitch of his voice raising. God, I need a mirror so he can see.

His partner didn't offer any counter argument to that and leaned back into the cushions, watching the movie on his plasma television screen. He was really starting to worry Tim. Had Tony been this messed up after Kate died? Tim couldn't recall but at the time he was still fairly new to NCIS and had easily accepted whatever Tony told him. He should have known that Tony did not cope with Kate's death by eating junk food. Tim rubbed his temple for a moment. "Come on, Tony. You need to get out. Hiding away here isn't doing you any good."

Tony threw his head back and took another long swig of the whiskey. Wiping his mouth clean of the alcohol with his sleeve, he narrowed his eyes at Tim. "I know what I need—to be left alone. I'm not going to bounce back like you or Abby or Jimmy. I'm not going to let this roll off my shoulder like Gibbs or Ducky. Because it's different this time. This isn't just a partner leaving. She meant more to me than a partner, than a friend. And forgive me, if I feel like drowning my sorrows in alcohol and old movies."

Suddenly the gravity of his words hit Tim full bore in the chest. He saw the pain, the betrayal and the longing in his partner's eyes. He'd been turning a blind eye now for years. Sure, he'd always known that Tony and Ziva's relationship was different, he just didn't think-or refused to believe-Tony had actually fallen in love with her. Lord does he have a way of falling in love with the wrong woman, Tim thought as he found the easy chair and sat down. "She was Mossad, Tony. You didn't actually think…it was every going to work out in the end, did you?"

"Not when she was officially with Mossad, no," Tony muttered, closing his eyes tightly, "but she left them, to join us because…foolishly I thought it was because she wanted to start anew."

"And you thought, someday, it would work."

"Yeah. Should have known it wasn't going to end any other way. Once Mossad, always Mossad, eh?" Tony spat, bitterly. Another swig of whiskey. "Just another notch on my stupid things I've done belt."

Tim shook his head. "It wasn't stupid, Tony. We can't always control who we fall in love with."

Tony peered at him, thoughtfully. "Look at you, McRomeo. I take it that fair Delilah is treating you well."

"Don't change the subject—this is about you," Tim admonished him. "And besides, you'll bounce back—you always do."

"No, I don't just bounce back. I'm not a rubber ball."

"I don't understand."

Slowly Tony let out a breath, and looked right at Tim. "After Wendy left, I didn't eat for weeks. Gibbs almost literally had to shove food down my throat, pick me up and dust me off," Tony mused. "It was years before I actually went on a date again. Just around the time we met you I think. Oh, don't look that surprised. You've known for a while now that most of the time the women are just apart of the act."

Tim had to admit there were times he was certain that Tony's stories of his dates and his little black book were just that—stories. But hearing first hand affirmation of that shocked him. "And after Jeanne?"

Tony shrugged. "Pretty much the same, except for Gibbs picking me up and dusting me off. I kept the pain private, made it look like that I really had been acting and that I never did love her. Truth was, I loved her—a lot. If we had met under different circumstances, say, where she knew the real me, I might have ended up making a life with her."

"EJ?"

"It hurt that she didn't trust me. Ran from me all the time. But I couldn't let people see how much it hurt. Have a reputation to maintain after all, McGee."

"Tony…why didn't you…God, we would have helped you."

Silence fell between them for a moment, before the SFA put the bottle of whiskey down and looked at his partner, sternly. "You already don't think very highly of me, McGee. I didn't want to give you anymore ammunition to use against me if you saw how weak I'd become."

Tim looked away, embarrassed. It was true. He wasn't always nice to Tony but somewhere throughout their eleven years of working together, the man's goofy charm had grown on him. It was true that at times Tony annoyed the hell out of him, but as of late, he was finding that he really missed the oddball joke or movie reference just to break the tension. "Yeah. Guess I owe you an apology."

Tony shook his head. "No. You don't. I didn't make it easy for you."

"I'll say," Tim mumbled. He heard Tony chuckle for the first time since arriving.

Again they fell into silence, the only sound in the apartment that of the old movie playing on the television, and then the clunk of the Jack Daniels bottle as it was set down onto the coffee table. Tim watched as Tony rubbed his hands over his scraggly face. "What am I doing, McGee?"

Tim cocked an eyebrow in curiosity. "You mean besides locking yourself away, drinking at all hours of the day and watching old Cary Grant movies?"

Tony smiled, sadly. "Impressive, McGee. Didn't know you were familiar with Cary Grant."

"Well, Ducky says you fancy you self the modern day Cary Grant with your dress," Tim replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "But back to the point, since your ADD has sent us off track again. What do you mean, what are you doing?"

"I'm sitting here wallowing over a woman that I was never in a relationship with."

"Come on. Not the first time a guy has wallowed over a woman that wasn't his."

Tony grunted, lowly. "Don't try to make me feel better, because this is how I end up—again and again. In the movies it's the pretty girl crying over the jock breaking her heart. My life—it's my heart that's been broken over and over. Wendy, Jeanne, EJ—Ziva—they all left me."

Tim absorbed that bit of information. "Come on, you must have ended a relationship before."

"I've ended a lot of one night stands and long weekends, relationships that really do not qualify as one."

"I could drop a horrible cliché here and say, everything happens for a reason."

Tony shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "Horribly cliché. Not sure the reason why my heart being broken over and over again is. Guess I should just come to terms with the fact that I'm probably going to be alone the rest of my life. I'm married to the job."

Tim didn't know why but his partner's declaration of damning himself to solo life, stung. Tony didn't deserve all that had been thrown at him over the years and as he sat there with him, Tim was beginning to wonder why the mental breakdown had taken so long to grasp him. Of course, maybe it was always that the thought that someday Ziva would feel the same way about Tony and everything was going to work out that they would get their happy ending. Who knew that the womanizing, play boy, Anthony DiNozzo was really a hopeless romantic at heart? "You just haven't met the right girl yet."

"Ya think, Probie?"

"Listen. If it's going to happen maybe you shouldn't be looking for it."

"Wasn't looking for it when I fell for Ziva."

Tim rubbed his temple. They could easily go around in circles for hours. Tony was good at that. "You said Ziva was different. She was different because she was your partner for eight years. You survived all different kinds of hell with her. There's a small possibly that you love her but you're not in love with her."

Tony reached for the bottle of Jack and took a long sip. "You're not making any sense, ."

"Hear me out."

"Fine."

Tim took a deep breath. "If you were in love with her you would have stormed off that plane in Israel and told her. If you were in love with her you would have stopped her from going on that suicide mission to Somalia. If you were in love with her you wouldn't have waited for Gibbs silent signal to go after her when she stormed out of the cabin in May. If you were in love with her you never would have let the relationship with Ray get that close to marriage and that was only stopped because the guy killed someone."

Tony looked away, briefly. "You forget I went to Africa to avenge her death, I disregarded protocol to protect her when Rivkin was in town, and I spent all those hours trying to track down those damn opera tickets but had to settle for a recording. Does someone who isn't in love do that?"

"You did all those things because you care about her. You didn't want her to lose her job when Rivkin was compromising her, we both went to Somalia to avenge her death, and we both know how much honoring Tali means to her. You leave Nutter Butters on my desk all the time, bring me coffee late at night and Chinese food. Abby gets roses and cupcakes on her birthday, and whenever she's down, I can usually find her here, curled up on your sofa with you watching a movie—does that mean you're in love with us too?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Probie. I do that because I care about you guys."

Suddenly a look of understanding passed over Tony's face. Tim finally felt he'd broken through. God, Tony was stubborn, and Abby was right that he was a rock—but he was a rock wall that needed to be chipped away in order to get to him.

In that moment the senior field agent's shoulders eased and it was as if he finally came to accept that Ziva wasn't coming back, that he needed to move on with his life no matter how much it hurt. Tim wasn't stupid. He knew that Tony wasn't going to heal overnight, but at least he could go back to NCIS and report to Abby that he broken Tony out of his fog.

Maybe now he would come back into work. Vance was being awfully lenient with all of them, giving them some days to sort everything out before returning to work. Tim and Gibbs had not taken the days offered to them, but Tony had. It had surprised them both if they were honest.

"So. What are you going to tell Abby when you go back?"

"Oh, ah, that you just need some time…and space."

His lips pulled into a small grin. "Like Abby's going to listen to that. She'll be here tonight," Tony replied.

Tim winced. "Yeah. Probably. I'm really sorry, Tony."

"Don't be," Tony said, pulling himself from the sofa. "Gives me an excuse to finally clean the place up, maybe shave and take a shower."

"Maybe? You smell like you've been lost in the desert for weeks."

Tony lifted his tee shirt to his nose and sniffed. He made a vulgar face and agreed. "Yeah, maybe I'll shower first."

Tim felt some relief wash through him. "Want me to stay and help?" When Tony threw him a questionable look, he clarified, "I mean with the cleaning."

"Put the pizza boxes in the trash chute on your way out?"

"Sure."

Tony moved towards the bathroom but paused. Slowly he turned while Tim was gathering up the pizza boxes and bit down on his lower lip. "Probie."

Tim glanced up from his cleaning and looked at his partner expectantly.

"Thanks. For picking me up and dusting me off."

"No problem, Tony."

"You do realize that if you tell anyone about our little heart to heart here I will have Abby kill you without leaving forensic evidence?"

Tim couldn't help the goofy grin that plastered his face. It was great to have a semblance of the old Tony back. "Yeah. I know."

Tony grunted and disappeared into the bathroom. Tim gathered up the pizza boxes, left the apartment with the door slamming shut behind him and tossed the trash down the chute. On his way out of the building he shoved his hands into his pockets. He knew that Ziva leaving was going to linger with Tony for a long time but at least now he was moving beyond sitting on his sofa drinking the days away.

And that, he reasoned, was a the first step.

[kurtty-drabbles]

The Omen au (part 20)

N/A: Something short but straight to the point. Time to show Mephisto.

@djinmer4 @dannybagpipesarecalling @bamfoftheundead @everykurt

Amora is busy and while Mephisto could make his presence known, but, considering Thor is there and they have bad blood among them, Mephisto decided he can do this on his own, after all, Mephisto is a powerful demon if nothing else.

If nothing else…right my dear Mephisto. Her voice is taunting him again and Mephisto trembles at he know full well what she is and what she wants and yet…she always manages to surprise him.

Is a talent of mine, my dear, and what you´re planning to do? Don´t lie to your mother.

“You´re not my mother…” Mephisto then rethinks this statement. If he denies what Zaorva is to him…does that mean he´s embracing his human side? “You made perfectly clear am I not your son!”

Guilt-tripping me? tsk tsk, one of LK´s kids tried to do the same…Pennywise, the dancing clown…a mother shouldn´t let a child misbehaving and Penny pick the wrong kids to kill.

Mephisto trembles again as he can feel, no, he can even taste how Celestial Mother is not happy with whatever Penny did, time to change the subject.

“I …not sure what you´re to me…but I know that my plans don´t concern your worry, Celestial being” Mephisto tries to sit on his throne and he can hear her laugh again, too amused, too high and it makes Mephisto sweat again.

Don´t be afraid, confess to me your plan…I love antichrist´s stories and I know how it may play out, still, if this plan won´t affect my own…why not share?

“As if I could deny you anything, literally” and Mephisto sighs as he decides the smart decision here is to reveal the plan to one and only Zaorva. “You see, I need a son”

Opa, you have lots of sons and daughters.

“True, but, they are not the real antichrist, all of them lacks the blessing you bestow for so few” Mephisto frows at that. “Damien is a strong one, even if he´s a hero of sorts, but, he´s not as powerful as my last son…Michael Darkholme” he concludes.

Why wait so long to have a child blessed by me?

Her question is full of mirth and Mephisto can sense this is all a test and frankly, Mephisto is not sure how the score is going. “I fear you, I sometimes hate you, but, I fear you more…however, I know this could be my only chance to finally get back at Belasco and have my title as the ruler of Hell taken seriously”

Ohh is all about a title? Very well, You presume too much, Mephisto. Why Michael would help you? You´re an absent father for so long and Raven is as neurotic as one could be in this situation.

“Wait a minute, I couldn´t exactly take the baby with me, you know this, besides, I know he would grow healthy and is ready to explore his real powers and I …” Mephisto stops as he can feel her tentacles on his lips.

Shush, you put all your eggs in one basket and now the basket may be broken. Mephisto, Mephisto…kids blessed my touch have their powers and those powers are theirs, not yours. Got it? If Michael does choose your side …it will cement you as a good and smooth talker nothing more or less.

“Have I ever told you how much you frighten me?”

124555 times, actually, and in thought is much more.

Mephisto takes courage to make a request. “Mother, may I be excused to go to the mortal plane?”

hahaha saying you fear me but is asking for my permission? Ok, Mephisto, you have my permission to leave your realm and visit your son…remember, his power is his own…you can´t steal his powers …do I make myself clear?

“As always, mother!”

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Rogue is not having a great time and Remy is doing all he can to help the woman who´s at the verge of crying and again, Remy never saw Rogue crying and much less in such state. One week has to pass by and Prof X is declared dead and Scott is revealed to be Prof X´s heir and now Storm is the defacto leader and well, no one is complaining nor celebrating as the school is in repairs.

“So…you knew this would happen?” Ororo asked Jean who is not denying the plan nor her involvement.

“Prof X thought Michael was the real antichrist and needed a proof he was worth saving any proof, so he stages for Kitty to be kidnapped and Michaek should pick between Rogue, his sister or Kitty, the right answer” now Rogue pipes in angrily how dare this bald man tries to manipulate her little brother?

“WHAT? He put Kitty in danger just to prove my brother was worthy?” and Rogue was about to take her glove out and cause damage but Storm prevents this as Ororo raises her hand and let Jean continue, however, is important to note how Storm has no warm in her face.

“The right answer would be Michael wanting to save both of them…but, he somehow manages to see the illusion the White Queen and Prof X crafted along with Kitty being able to resist the illusion and …well, the rest is the rest”

Storm closes her eyes clearly disappointed in Jean. “I´m not happy to know you knew and let it happen…your hands may not be covered in blood, but, still don´t make you innocent…however, we won´t expel you…we have more important matters to deal with”

“YEAH, LIKE FIND MY BROTHER” Now Rogue is facing Storm and she´s furious. “My brother was driven by your folks’ manipulations and…” Storm arch one eyebrow.

“And your mother locks him in an attic for all his life, yes, he told us that. Your brother may not want to be saved”

“WHO YOU KNOW?”

“You never saved him before…” and Rogue would have preferred Storm to strike her with a lightning bolt.

“Ah didn´t. AH made mistakes and just want my brother…just that” Rogue falls on her knees now.

“We don´t have contact with Latveria, but, the FF have” now Storm speaks in kinder ay as much the situations allow it. “And the FF owns us a favour that we´ll charge if you want to save your brother trust in us…we´ll try…but, sometimes …we can´t save someone that does not want to be saved…”

“Remy told me something like that…maybe he is better off without me…either way, I just want to apologise if nothing else” Rogue explains and rose from the ground as she goes to Remy´s side.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Raven Darkholme is a woman who can be anyone, but, deep down, and this is something she can´t forget, you can´t change what makes her Raven Darkholme and right now as she is facing with Sabertooth she´s dealing with one of her many mistakes who can only smile at her as if nothing else happened.

“I know is you, Mephisto!” Raven explains and with a snap of his fingers his disguise is over and his crimson glory is present.

“Hello, Raven…how life´s treating you?”

“What you want?”

“Our son…you knew this would come”

“He´s not here…and you can´t enter Doom´s domains” she replies and now Mephisto laughs amused and Raven is not getting why he´s laughing.

“Raven, darling, I have something Doom wants more than anything…and he´ll help me”

“What? power?”

“I have his mother”

[quarterfromcanon]

2019 Fic Writing Roundup

I was tagged by my lovely friend @catty-words.

Total 2019 Word Count: 58,159

Total 2019 Hits: Asdfghjkl; Oh gosh, it’s much harder to tell when the work is only on Tumblr!  I’ll tally up the notes from there to get the closest approximation I can. It looks like there are 174 total (a mix of likes and comments) on the pieces that I posted from this past year.

Other 2019 AO3 Stats: N/A, although I did finally join AO3 *this* year, so next time around there’ll actually be things to put here! :)

Total 2018 Word Count: Published? None. I think I might have tried writing a little bit of something for myself somewhere in there, but I didn’t get back to any kind of public fandom writing until 2019.

Total 2018 Hits: None. What a difference a year can make! I look forward to comparing 2019 to whatever’s yet to come in 2020!

Other 2018 AO3 Stats: N/A

links and titles to 2019 works

Oooh, this is actually a good opportunity to list them chronologically rather than in publication sequence. Let me see if I can get them sorted. (If, however, you’d prefer to read them in the order that they were published, you can click here and simply open the installments in reverse, since Tumblr displays things oldest-to-newest.) All of the following were written for the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend fandom and feature Heather x Valencia as their central pairing.

1. Barrier  [1,385 words] - Following where we last saw them in 1.09, Josh and his friends continue their beach day now sans Rebecca’s presence. Consequently, Valencia’s critical eye falls on the only other woman in their company - Heather.

2. Unexpected [3,003 words] - The conclusion of 1.18 leaves Valencia with a lot of emotional baggage to unpack. As one of West Covina’s most frequented locales, Home Base is the first place that springs to mind where she might chase away her sorrows (or perhaps just air them out verbally while all other involved parties are away at Jayma’s wedding). Heather finds herself pulled into comfort and commiseration despite her efforts to avoid involvement.

3. Lost Control and Tumbled Overboard Gladly [3,265 words] - Heather goes to her parents’ home for the first holiday visit since moving out on her own. She has her new friend Valencia in tow. Sincere conversation and the rare allowance of vulnerability break down Heather’s walls with an ease that takes her by surprise.

4. Such Sweet Nothing [1,362 words] - Valencia and Heather return to V’s apartment after their Labor Day afternoon of story-swapping and quality time together. Valencia revels in the joyful acquirement of the second gal pal of her adult life. Heather contends with the dawning realization that her interest in Valencia may not be purely for friendship.

5. There’s A Reason Not to Want This (But I Forgot) [2,418 words] - Internet sleuthing with Rebecca pulls Valencia right back into a Josh fixation spiral. Heather must also face some unresolved feelings: namely, a crush now so intense it can no longer be denied.

6. Habits [3,599 words] - The desire to protect Valencia’s heart overrides the instinct to shield her own, and so Heather ends the self-imposed avoidance of her company. She arrives on V’s doorstep with a helpful cover story and some unfortunate news that needs to be broken gently.

7. I Want Not to Want Anything [1,314 words] - Heather Davis gets Santa Ana Winded.

8. Breathless [3,673 words] - A talk with Heather about Rebecca’s impending marriage to Josh leads Valencia to reassess what matters to her. A rosé-fueled jaunt to a local green space gives rise to the persistent inkling that what - or rather who - she really wants may be a lot closer to her than she’s ready to admit.

9. No One’s Really Got It Figured Out Just Yet [3,289 words] - Valencia throws the bachelorette party for Rebecca. Gurl Group antics and H+V flirting tactics set to hits from the mid ’90s and 2000s ensue. 

10. Evading [2,207 words] - In the wake of events from 3.05 and 3.06, Heather and Valencia have a much needed heart-to-heart. They put some important truths into words while treading lightly around a few unspoken facts so delicate they’re best left in the margins.

11. How Long Do You Plan to Keep Me at the Back of Your Mind? [2,442 words] - An evening welcoming Valencia’s girlfriend Beth to be an honorary member of the Gurl Group doesn’t go quite as smoothly as planned when Heather has a difficult time harnessing her lingering feelings.

12. You and Me, Always Between the Lines [1,828 words] - Now that she has spoken with all of her immediate family members and closest friends, Valencia is prepared to announce her first romantic relationship with a woman on social media. In Beth’s absence, she seeks the moral support of her best friend. Heather is readily by her side for this next big step in Valencia’s coming out journey.

13. Gradation [2,503 words] - Valencia’s time with Beth is at an end and, in her hour of heartbreak, she returns to the same place for comfort as the previous occasion when she found herself suddenly single: across the bar from Heather.

14.��Rough Draft [2,625 words] - Valencia and Heather FINALLY get together. Valencia experiences her own “Oh My God, I Think I Like You” freak out.

15. Strategy [1,212 words] - Heather and Valencia have a stay-at-home date night featuring deliberately cringey pick up lines and tangled limbs on a couch in the dark.

16. Verity [3,834 words] - Heather temporarily resumes her role as Valencia’s assistant coordinator when they plan a vow renewal celebration for Paula and Scott. On this night, the recently remarried couple may not be the only two pouring out their hearts in a room full of loved ones...

17. Different and the Same [1,035 words] - Valencia and Heather just moved into their own place. They spend their first morning there together and make good use of the privacy and freedom this new residence affords.

18. Finishing Touches [1,157 words] - Heather and Valencia personalize the interior of their new living space. The situation soon devolves into paint-splattered hijinks.

19. Patterns in the Light [1,058 words] - Despite the fact that they are literally cohabitating and have professed their feelings for each other, Valencia remains a clumsily flirty nerd and I love her for it. Heather does, too.

20. Sage [1,324 words] - After being trapped in a car with someone she didn’t want to be trapped in a car with, Heather returns covered in a dead woman’s ashes. Valencia’s time as a ghost-beleaguered home energy cleanser has arrived at last. She is uniquely qualified to save the day.

21. Portage [1,707 words] - Heather has plans for a couple’s trip with Valencia. The only obstacle is keeping it a secret between the two of them.

22. The Courage and the Strength I Need [1,957 words] - Valencia struggles during Heather’s business trip because it is their first time apart since becoming a couple. They FaceTime to ease the pain of distance and talk about their future.

23. Wanna Be With You All Alone [1,237 words] - Heather comes back from the aforementioned work travel to find that Valencia has made special welcome home arrangements.

24. Midnight, Fright and Candlelight [1,426 words] - A quiet evening is interrupted by a power outage. Heather and Valencia find a surprisingly wholesome and G-rated way to pass the time. 

25. Next to You [1,550 words] - The big yearly Davis Family Reunion quickly approaches. Valencia prepares to accompany Heather to this event and be introduced to many members of her extended family.

26. Warm Whispers [1,683 words] - Heather and Valencia just want to be all cute and domestic and spend the morning fooling around. Their cats disrupt these pursuits in typical feline fashion.

27. “When We’re Together, Darling, Every Night Is Halloween.” [1,228 words] - Heather and Valencia get ready to attend a Gurl Group Halloween party. Their second annual couple’s costume? Gomez and Morticia Addams. 

28. #afewofmyfavoritethings [2,838 words] - Nathaniel, Rebecca, Valencia, Heather, Paula, Scott, and Tommy all rent a cabin for vacation. This piece follows them through a day of wintertime fun. Pure fluffiness here and I had the best time writing every second of it.

Favorite Fic: Probably #afewofmyfavoritethings. I packed it with elements I personally love and moments I was hoping my new friends in the fandom would like. Plus, it was honestly just so good for my soul to write these characters in a soft world where they could engage in classic snow day activities and enjoy each other’s company.

Hardest Fic: I knew there were a few installments of Femslash February where I wrote whole paragraphs or even pages I didn’t keep/decided to revise, but I was pretty sure I also remembered at least one where I wrote an entire separate piece. My sleep schedule was, shall we say, not advisable during February but it was also easily the most exhilarating month of my year. I tracked down the evidence of that rewrite and it turns out the incident I recalled was for Unusual Kiss (the prompt for Day 4 of FF). The original involved something to do with butterfly kisses because, evidently, my inclination to link Valencia to winged beings knows no bounds. I’ve got to admit that I’m still fond of the concept of Valencia giving Heather a subtle “kiss” during a hug in that painfully frightening time before Beth when she was afraid to outright kiss a woman in any way that couldn’t be dismissed as platonic. There’s a good chance an interaction of that nature could appear somewhere in the full story. I am notoriously drawn to that angst period of undisclosed pining so the temptation is quite strong. Still, I’m glad I used the version I actually posted and saved elements of the first draft for later. Fragments of their conversation from the original will probably make it into the final tale, but I think I prefer to sprinkle them across several exchanges instead of divulging them all at once.

Do You Plan to Take Prompts in 2020? Sort of yes and sort of no. I am participating in the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Valentine Exchange, which involves a prompt-esque note from the participant each of us were assigned as our guide to spark inspiration for the gift. It’s also possible that there’ll be some writing prompt list posted somewhere along the way just like Femslash February was last year, and I’ll end up wanting to join the fun. Other than that, though, I’ll mainly stick to the one writing project in an effort to hone my focus.

What was the best thing about 2019? I’d definitely say the bonding and interactions with other members of the fandom. The encouragement and support I received from them remains the primary motivation for me to keep writing and chasing after the ongoing goals I set for myself.

What was the worst thing about 2019? The most honest answer that my mind immediately supplied is death of a close relative. While that isn’t the sole reason for the dip in my creative output (especially since there were multiple months between my last published fic and the passing in question), I know it could certainly be counted among the contributing factors to an overarching writing problem I had. Even before my family’s loss, there was a shift in my thought process that only got worse once there was more on my plate in my personal life. There were many times I sat down wanting to write again but it felt too difficult and intimidating to commit words to the page. I couldn’t seem to transfer them from my mind to the keyboard and I’d invariably switch to doing something else. I developed this terrible internal conviction that insisted the larger fic I wanted to write wouldn’t work as well as the shorter installments. That gnawing insecurity would have me believe one month’s worth of well-received efforts was already such a marvel that anything beyond that point was somehow pushing my luck. Where did the mental voice originate and why couldn’t I shake it? It’s difficult to parse out but what I do know is that I’ve firmly decided 2020 is going to be a year I put it on silent. I know what it’ll mean to me for everything that’s been floating in my head to finally be told in one cohesive format, and to have the satisfaction of giving my favorite characters the ending my heart says they deserve. It’s a sense of closure that’s worth the pursuit.

Any last thoughts for 2019? The bad parts of the last twelve months made me want to essentially say “good riddance” to the year, but the good parts were far too treasured to wish all of 2019 away. I am so grateful for the new people I met and friendships that solidified during that time. I especially owe my most heartfelt appreciation to @catty-words, @notbang, and @monaiargancoconutsoy. Thank you for everything. <3

Goals for 2020

Finish. The. Fic.

I believe everyone I know who writes fanfic has already been tagged but, if you haven’t gotten the chance to look back over your writing year, by all means, use these questions to give it a go! :)

[punkscowardschampions]

Jude & Jac

Jude: are you alright? Jac: Not particularly Jude: talk to me then Jac: No offense Jac: but that really isn't going to make me feel better Jude: so do it to make me feel better Jac: What do you want, Jude? Jude: idk Jude: everyone's talking but they're not saying stuff that makes sense Jac: No one knows what they're talking about Jac: they should try minding their business Jude: bit unlikely Jac: I'm not going to give you anything more to report back Jac: I've said all I know already Jude: oi! I ain't running a story for the school paper or owt like that Jude: I'm about the angle whereby you're my sister and I've known your mates for time Jude: it's personal, like Jac: It happened to Is Jac: not me, not you Jac: we can't sit around making it about us, it's not productive Jude: productive? Jac: Don't start Jude: can we get to a place where you tell me what's going on with Izzy or what? Jac: I don't know Jac: some lad creeped on her at the party last night and now her mum is on a mission about it Jude: she's your best mate, how're you not camped out on her front garden?! Jac: Oh great, make me feel bad Jac: she doesn't want to talk, I'm not going to force my presence upon her to make myself, or any of the rest of you, feel better Jude: she needs you, not her ma, what's that woman gonna do? what does she get about anything? Jac: What do you think I'm gonna do Jac: for goodness sake Jude: fuck all if you ain't there Jac: There's nothing to be done Jac: it's happened Jude: that's cold Jude: there's like comfort you could give her Jude: you could be someone that listens to her, if her ma's on such a mission Jac: Like I said, you know nothing Jac: that's all very well you proposing all these nice ideas but I told you, she doesn't want to talk Jac: so this is a pointless conversation Jude: like you heard me say, why aren't you there waiting on her for when she does? Jac: I'm not sitting outside her door Jac: I don't know what you're getting at, to be honest Jude: she'd do it for you Jude: you know that Jac: You're far too concerned with hypotheticals Jac: Like I said, I'm actually trying to be productive here Jude: nah, you're looking out for yourself Jude: being a shitty mate in the process Jac: Fine Jac: happy now? Jude: yeah that's proper cheered me up Jude: ffs Jac: Frankly, you're the least of my worries right now Jac: and that apparently suits you fine so Jac: if we're done here Jude: are you gonna keep replying like this is a business email? Jac: I've got nothing to say Jac: that I haven't already Jude: you've said nowt to me Jac: ask mum and dad Jac: I've got stuff to do Jude: what stuff? Jac: Talk to Sav, everyone else who was there Jac: see what they know Jude: it was her boyfriend's house, yeah? that bit's true? Jac: Yes Jac: it was just a normal house party Jude: did he invite that lad or did he gatecrash? Jac: He was invited Jac: he went to our school, everyone knows him Jude: do you? Jac: Yeah Jac: obviously Jude: if it's who I heard it was then I reckon I do too Jac: Who did you hear it was? Jude: Carter Murphy Jude: he used to be a massive deal far as winning shit for the basketball team but that's not why I know him Jac: I'm not going to confirm or deny Jac: not going to spread the rumours when it's already running rampant Jude: spreading rumours ain't what I'm about either, tah very much Jac: I just meant I'm not saying either way Jude: And I'm just saying if it was him I never reckoned there was anything that off about him Jude: no more than any other older lad who chats to me at parties Jude: wondering if I should've Jac: I don't know Jac: maybe there isn't Jude: but it's not like he'd be rocking a sign saying 'top at beer pong and banter but might force himself on you' at any rate Jac: Well yeah Jac: there's two sides to every story Jude: hang on, you're saying Izzy is lying? Jac: No, I'm saying it's impossible to ever know for definite in these situations Jude: it shouldn't be impossible to take her word for it, unless you've got a reason not to Jac: its hers against his Jude: why would she say he forced her if he didn't? Jude: her ma ain't THAT strict Jac: She was drunk Jac: you know you can think a thing happened one way that isn't necessarily how it was or how the other person saw it Jude: Yeah Jude: but this is a bit different from me getting pissed off at my mates for none of 'em catching me when I thought I'd told 'em I was gonna jump and I'd never Jac: I can have personal opinions Jac: it's not as if I'm talking to anyone or doing anything with it Jac: if her ma wants to take it legal then that's for her to decide Jude: I dunno, maybe you're right Jude: legally, it is her word against his Jude: add in the drink, even if she didn't have that much, it's bollocks but it's bollocks they'd still use Jac: Everyone knows it's pointless going to the police Jac: regardless if it happened or not Jac: don't need to know exact prosecution rates to know it's a waste of time Jude: poor Izzy Jude: whatever happened, everyone's gonna have a personal opinion Jude: and they'll put it about more than you Jac: It's shit Jac: it'd be a better use of time finding a decent counselor Jude: you could tell her that when she's talking to you again Jac: Yeah well Jac: maybe everyone needs to stop trying to tell her what to do Jude: alright, fair Jude: I didn't need to go off on you either Jude: my bad Jac: You aren't the first Jac: don't worry about it Jude: I am though Jude: I don't wanna go out, I don't want you to go out Jac: Come on, don't be stupid Jac: it's not as if there's a maniac on the loose Jac: a boy pushed his luck at a party, it's nothing new, nothing to be scared of Jude: a lad I reckoned was alright Jude: like I said, nobody's got a sign on Jude: everything's gone weird now Jac: People can't be trusted Jac: if you've been going around thinking they can, you're lucky nothing bad has happened to you Jude: some people Jude: you trust Sav, don't you? Jac: I know her Jac: properly Jac: she isn't some random at parties Jude: you didn't know her from birth, like Jac: nothing is ever airtight Jac: obviously Jac: but if she was anything close to what that lad was, it'd be out by now Jude: but if you knew what that lad was like why did you let Izzy go off with him? Jac: Who said I did? Jac: not trusting people as a default doesn't mean I know they aren't to be Jude: well yeah Jac: If she wants to go off with a lad, it's not my place to stop her Jac: or do a background check before she does Jude: would you let me? Jac: We would never be at the same party Jude: I'd never be at one of Sav's Jude: she's at like a 4/10 at this point Jac: I don't care what you think Jude: bit rude Jac: You are Jac: this conversation has nothing to do with her Jude: why are you being so touchy about her? Jac: because this conversation was already close to pointless so I don't need it to get any further off track Jude: I'm bringing some normality back to it Jac: I don't have time for this, seriously Jude: my bad, AGAIN Jude: come on Jac: I'm sick of it Jac: I don't want to talk about this anymore Jude: I know but it's shit when we don't talk Jac: Well Jac: there's not much else going on with me today so Jude: is there owt I can DO then? Jude: dad's camped by the kettle already, like Jac: Keep them busy Jac: I need to go somewhere Jude: no challenge in that Jude: are you going to see Sav? Jac: Tah Jac: yeah, might take a while Jude: is she alright? Jac: No, she's really upset Jac: and her family are driving her crazy Jude: I have just the thing up my sleeve to keep ours busy for time Jude: on you go Jac: Good Jac: in a bit Jude: later then Jude: [skip skip skip] Jude: is Sav still upset? Jude: cos mum and dad are driving me crazy now Jude: they're FUMING 😡🤬 Jac: It's safe to say we're past the point of you needed to distract them Jude: I've got a good work ethic Jude: if a job's worth doing Jac: Very impressive, like Jude: tah, makes one of us Jude: meant to chuck your phone 🚮 you rookie Jac: I have Jac: check the IP address if you really fancy it Jude: 🤓 Jude: how long you gonna take the piss for? Jac: It's not about that Jude: what's it about then? Jac: having time and space Jude: everyone's saying Sav broke up with her boyfriend cos of what happened to Izzy Jude: if she's chucked her phone too she won't know Jac: She broke up with him before then Jac: you can spread that if you wanna Jude: it's nowt to do with me, just saying in case you wanna warn her Jac: Well she's not there to have to listen Jac: if people are tarring Tyler with the same brush as Carter, it'd be the decent thing to do to put that out there Jude: you can't stay away forever Jude: but alright, cos they're saying bad shit about him and all his mates and I don't fuck with that Jac: People might learn to keep quiet if they realize they could be next Jude: bit unlikely Jac: not really Jac: Ty and his friends are popular Jude: not right now Jac: that's my point Jude: yeah I got that Jude: nobody thinks any of this bollocks is gonna land at their feet, that's mine Jude: everyone wants to be special, untouchable and so on Jude: 👑✨ Jac: well if the ⭐s ain't then no one is Jude: I'm here for that, fuck cliques, this ain't America Jac: Unlikely Jude: 🙄😏 Jac: I'm serious Jac: I don't care what anyone at that school thinks now Jude: you don't, your best mate might Jac: She doesn't Jac: it's way below where our concerns are Jac: or have ever been Jude: he's her well recent ex Jude: everyone knows she loved him Jac: Like I said, you can defend his innocence Jac: She dumped him Jude: alright Jude: you ain't found time or space to be less touchy, I get it Jac: I clearly don't want to talk Jac: take the hint Jude: nah Jac: Jesus Jude: you don't get to just do one so easily, take that hint Jac: well I have Jac: and I can log off any time I want Jude: this isn't how you handle shit, anyone with a clue would put money on me legging it before you Jac: then, again, you'd all be wrong Jude: it was all her idea, yeah? Jude: if her family are that relentless you know they'd let her stay Jude: it doesn't have to be some checked in to heartbreak hotel moment Jac: No, it was mine Jac: I don't want to be there Jac: I don't know how you don't get that Jude: nobody wants any of this to be happening but it is Jude: it was you who told me to face up to the fact, how long ago, like? Jac: And I told you, I had things to do Jac: This has little to nothing to do with Isabelle Jude: ❌ running off into the sunset with Savannah off your list then Jude: you ain't missed a day of school in such a properly long time that my mates had that bet running for ages and all lost, remember? Jude: you're the weirdo that goes in 😷🤒🤕🤢🤮🤧💀👻 Jac: Some things are more important Jude: what's so important you need a room with an expensive view to do it in? Jac: Staying sane Jac: not being around to listen to that bullshit and worse Jude: it'll be here when you have to come back Jude: be my sister and pull the 🩹 off Jude: none of this is Jac behaviour Jac: Maybe you don't know me as well as you thought Jude: if in your own words this has nowt to do with Izzy, it's nowt you can't handle Jude: things were bad when you fell out with Mills, you stayed sane and around for that Jac: She didn't get assaulted by nobody Jude: it wasn't your fault that Izzy did Jac: That's not how it feels Jac: or what everyone will say Jude: nobody's saying it and I'd stop it if they were Jac: I'm sick of being treated like I did something wrong Jude: massive dickheads are the only ones who'd try and 1. I'm not gonna let 'em 2. you don't care what people like that think Jude: you're stronger and braver than their bullshit Jac: It's all of you Jac: asking so many questions Jac: Sav's parents want to lock her up Jude: it's mum and dad's job to worry and lay the law down, like Jude: I could've done better with it, alright, I know Jude: but if you reckon Sav's parents are headcases now, leaving it even longer ain't a decent plan Jude: you're the family genius, come on Jac: You worry them, they start to listen Jac: instead of saying how it is and how it's going to be Jude: you're the oldest, everyone knows what that means Jac: We aren't coming back until this calms down and they're willing to be reasonable Jac: that's that Jude: running away don't calm down anything 💥🔥🌪 Jac: Then we won't be coming back any time soon Jac: they're the adults and that's what they need to be about this Jude: what about school? Jac: It doesn't matter Jac: it's not like we have exams or anything soon Jude: school's what mattered most to you since you started going 🤓 Jac: So, I'm smarter than everyone else Jac: I don't need to worry about falling behind Jude: it IS you! Jude: I'm not just talking to a drifter wearing your skin Jac: 🙄 Jude: 😜 Jac: You're an idiot Jude: you'll miss me when you've had your time and space Jac: Unlikely Jude: 💔🥶 Jude: give Sav my love cos she'll 100% miss me Jac: Hilarious Jude: I'll be here all week 🤣🎤 Jac: Sorry to hear that, like Jude: I'll live, like Jac: Would you like me to 💔? Jude: don't fake owt for me Jude: rarely works out Jac: So I hear Jude: well those of us who ain't in the top % have books to read and not like, doodle all over or make planes out of Jude: ✌️😝 Jude: you know where I'LL be if you need ME, we're only fucked on the vice versa Jac: I'd like to say that was a nice try Jude: me too but Jac: Piss poor is more like it Jude: 🥉 Jude: [skip skip skip again] Jude: I can't knock all night, our dear brother will throw his other 👟 at me Jude: you're scaring me Jude: use some big words I can't get my head round Jac: Leave Jude: Jac Jac: No Jude: what happened? Jac: Nothing Jude: something has cos you weren't this person, like, a day ago Jude: and you said you weren't coming back for ages Jac: Here I am Jude: where's Savannah? Jude: you know I'll ask her Jac: No you won't Jude: use a full sentence then Jac: Do not talk to her Jude: why won't you talk to me? Jude: what could be this bad? Jac: Just go Jac: please Jude: I'll be back tomorrow Jude: 🩹 yeah? Jude: longer you leave it Jac: Don't bother Jude: I ain't about to ignore the state you're in Jude: how did she hurt you? Jac: She didn't do anything Jude: who else did? Jac: No one Jude: Then what? Jac: I'm fine Jude: bollocks! Jac: I am Jude: nah Jude: you came in looking like you'd seen a 👻 Jac: don't want to be here Jude: did you and Sav have a fight or what? cos I don't get why you're back if you don't wanna be Jac: she had to come back Jude: do you want me to give her a ring? get her over? Jac: no Jude: you ARE mad at her then Jac: I'm not Jude: if you ain't 🗨 it's cos you're face-to-face Jude: something's off Jude: don't need to be the family genius, like Jac: she's not done anything Jude: have you? Jac: [does not reply] Jude: you can tell me Jude: I'll help you hide her body Jac: Shut up Jude: you talk and I'll listen Jude: what did you do? Jac: I can't Jude: whatever it is, it won't be as bad as it feels right now Jude: she's your best friend, she'll come back round to that Jude: she just needs to be dramatic for a bit Jac: You have no clue Jude: clue me in then Jac: I don't want to Jac: this is my business Jac: what part of this don't you get, just stop it Jude: alright Jude: you still know where I am Jac: 👍

[writingmilo]

Maya: chapter 4

Part 3 of Flipped AU

TRIGGER WARNINGS: ABUSE, MANIPULATION

Maya woke, opening her eyes to only more darkness. She then moved her hands, trying to find the light that should have been next to her. It was then she realised that she couldn’t move, and that she wasn’t lying in bed, but sat up on a chair. She was about to call for help when she heard the voices around her. 

“What should we do with her?” It sounded more inconvenienced than concerned at the girl tied up in front of them.

“I don’t know! What do you think Henrik? Do we wake her or leave her?” Another voice, softer, but still void of care. Both had been tinged with an irish accent, something Maya hadn’t expected, but she knew that these must be the same people she had seen when she had arrived. Maybe they had Jackie somewhere as well. Surely if they had the chief of police, people would be out looking for them.

Footsteps broke her thoughts, and they grew louder and louder as the person approached. She tried to fall limp and continue her deep breathing, as if she were still asleep, but she couldn’t stop her muscles from tensing and her breath catching as the footsteps stopped. She couldn’t sense it before it happened, but a hand came out of the darkness, and landed on her neck. It was held there for several seconds, just enough pressure to be uncomfortable. They were checking her pulse. She felt her heart speed up as she realised she wouldn’t be able to keep up the pretense of being asleep any longer. 

Could she try and catch them off guard? Kick at them in the hope of hitting a target? That would work if she hit, and if there was only one of them, but she knew there were at least three, and that all of them would be able to overpower her alone.

While her mind was flitting through the possible escapes, she didn’t notice the hand at her neck moving. Neither did she notice it finding the knot of fabric behind her head. However, she did notice when the fabric fell limp around her mouth and it was removed.

“Are you going to speak or should we put it back on?” The voice was callous: cold and removed from the situation as if it wasn’t bothered. It was also new, indicating that there were now at least four men involved in whatever was happening to her. 

“I-I—” Maya stuttered over her words— “I’ll speak.” It was all she could do to not burst into tears.

“Keep going.” She was prompted by the same voice, but she had nothing left to say.

“Okay… What can I say? What do you want from me?” She felt a tear slip from her eye, but it absorbed into the blindfold before it could escape down her cheek.

“Talk about yourself, we just want to get to know you Maya.” A small chuckle bounced around the room as Maya cringed at the use of her name.

“Okay... my name is Maya, but you know that already. My papa is dead. My mother is also dead. I go to Trinity West middle school. I have no siblings, and I live outside of the city. I don’t know where I am, and I am scared. I know that there are at least four people with me, and that I can’t see them. One of them took my pulse. They tied me to a chair and blindfolded me. One of them is Jackie Lewis, the chief of police in the city. I think another is a doctor, because I was sedated instead of knocked unconscious. I haven’t eaten since an hour before I was taken. I am hungry and thirsty. I don’t know anyone in this room, and I don’t think that they know me.” Maya’s string of trivia was interrupted by a hearty laugh coming from Jackie. “I’m so-” he fell back into hysterics for a while before pulling himself together. “Sorry, please continue.”

“These men don’t know me very well. But Mr Lewis said they were my uncles, so they possibly know me somewhat. I’m almost certain that they aren’t prepared.” The four barely had time to pass around confused looks before Maya glitched out of her chair, taking a fighting position next to it, with the blindfold and rope coiled neatly exactly where she had been sitting.

Four men stood in front of her, shocked. Even Maya was unprepared, having never been able to control her glitches before. Maybe it had come as a survival instinct. 

Despite none of them being prepared for the action, the men were quicker to react, readying powers and weapons, despite it being mainly for show. The fifth and final brother, Jameson, had been stood behind Maya the whole time, and grabbed her around the waist before she had a chance to react. Despite her arms being trapped and her feet stuck to the floor, she still tried to fight. The other four closed around her, ensnaring her. Chase drew a breath. 

“How rude of me, Maya. Let me introduce myself, I am Chase Brody, your papa’s brother.”

“Marvin Turner, brother of Anti Murphy.” Marvin accentuated his introduction with a little bow, and Maya swore that his eyes flashed the same electric green that her papa’s did when he found out about the bullying.

“Doctor Henrik Von Schneeplestein, MD, PhD, MVP, FFS. Brother of your papa. You may call me Henrik.”

“You already know that I am Jackie Lewis. Eldest brother of Anti Murphy.”

The person behind her was the last to speak. “I am Jameson Jackson, elder brother to Anti, youngest besides him.”

With everyone having said their piece, Chase spoke up again.

”Well, now that everyone knows each other, let’s get down to business, shall we?” They all nodded, waiting for Maya’s approval or disapproval. Eventually she nodded, hesitantly, signalling Chase to draw a breath and his arm.

“You don’t ever glitch again, you freak. You hear me?” Maya nodded, but his fist had already been launched towards her face. As it hit her cheekbone, a small crack was heard, and her head snapped to the side, causing her to fall to the floor as Jameson let go of her.

For some reason, even though she understood what was being said, the others piled on top of the opportunity of violence, one dragging her back up onto her feet only for another to punch her to the ground again. When it was decreed that she couldn’t be kept on her feet anymore, she was left on the ground and they decided to kick and stomp on her instead. 

Eventually, the physical assault subsided, and she was left on the ground, snivelling and unable to move.

She wasn’t sure if she blacked out or not, but she was startled to some form of sense by the clicking of stiletto heels across the cold floor.  Eager for help, but too scared of another attack, Maya remained still, only allowing a little squeak of pain to escape her lips as a signal of her existence. The clicking steadily became louder, but it never sped up.

After what seemed like forever, it stopped, but Maya couldn’t see the wearer of them, what with her facing away from them and being unable to move. A hand touched her shoulder, and Maya shuddered at the contact, running pain through her body. She couldn’t make out the words that the woman was mumbling, but one phrase was loud enough for her hazy brain to translate: “My poor baby girl, what have they done to you?” 

Having barely had time to process the sentence, the woman presses a hand over Maya’s eyes and laid her other on Maya’s stomach. What was she doing? Why was she doing it?

Who was screaming?

@honestlyitsjustkenna @thelunarmasquerade @goldenoceanaart @kate807 @the-yandere-kitsune @unsuredoodles @bloodygoldensam @septicuniverse @innocent-angel3 @simsepticfan @friezzzboiii @jessiitjiia @atomicsepticeye @theluckoftheclaws

[sugarless-suki-writes]

100 Arms, 100 Years

Fandom: Inuyasha Rating: M Word Count: 2,341 Chapters: 2 of ?

Read on FF||Ao3

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Chapter Two

Kagome wasn’t sure why she was still here. She had just been planning to go down to the river to bathe when she happened upon them. Inuyasha and Kikyō were sitting underneath a large tree, cuddled up against each other, holding hands and whispering to each other. Her heart ached, and she knew she was intruding on an intimate, private moment, but for some reason she hadn’t been able to turn away.

It had been Kikyō’s giggle that had initially caught her attention, and from that one sideways glance, she had been trapped, stuck, hurt, yearning. She watched as Inuyasha pressed a kiss to the top of Kikyō’s head, the action causing her heart to constrict quite painfully; like a knife was being twisted deep into her chest.

She pressed her change of clothes close to her chest and finally managed to tear her eyes away and continue on her way to the river. Tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she did her best to will them away. She wasn’t sure why she always felt so hurt when she saw them together. She knew that there was no chance, and she was happy to be friends, but it seemed that her heart was just determined to betray her.

The tears spilled down her cheeks then and Kagome muttered a curse under her breath. She sniffled as she furiously wiped them away. Get a grip Kagome... there’s no point in getting upset over this. Despite her sound logic, it still hurt. She hated that it hurt this much. It just wasn’t fair.

Kagome grumbled as she broke through the trees and walked to the riverbank. She took in a slow, deep breath, held it, then slowly released it. She was going to take a nice, relaxing bath, no matter what.

She set her things down on a nearby rock and started to undress. She set her dirty clothes on the ground in front of the rock and then turned toward the river. She untied her hair as she watched the water flow, letting it calm her. She set her hair ribbon down on her clean set of clothes and then walked towards the river. She dipped her toes in and couldn’t help but shudder slightly at the cold. She sucked in a breath and continued to walk in.

Even though the water was absolutely frigid, it was fairly refreshing; it certainly woke her up and helped to clear her mind. Once fully submerged, she let out a contented sigh. She relaxed for a small moment before dipping under the water and soaking her hair and face. She went about getting herself all cleaned up, and once she was done, she got out of the river and dried off. She then went about getting dressed, and as she was tying the strings on her hakama, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Miko.”

She squeaked, turning around and finding the wolf youkai from several days ago step towards her. When had he gotten her? She hadn’t felt his presence at all...

“Wolf.”

An impossibly large grin worked its way onto his face. “What are you doing out here?” he asked.

“I could ask you the same thing.” she replied, adjusting her haori.

“No guard dog today?”

She froze at that, biting her lower lip as her heart constricted, remembering how tenderly the hanyou had been holding Kikyō.

“No... not today.” she muttered, turning away from him to pick up her dirty clothes.

His brows furrowed at the change in her scent. Had he touched on a sore subject? He had figured the two were close, based on how the mutt had been so protective of her. Had he gotten it wrong? He shook his head, clearing his mind of the thoughts. A smirk curled his lips.

“Well good, that means we won’t get interrupted then.”

Kagome whipped back around, eyes narrowing suspiciously. “And what does that mean?”

Kouga took a couple steps forward and Kagome ground her teeth, cursing the fact that she hadn’t thought to bring her bow and quiver. Stupid...

His tail swished behind him. “You interest me, miko.”

“How so?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out...”

For every step he took forward, Kagome took two backwards. That is, until her back hit the rock. Shit... Soon, Kouga was standing right in front of her, his grin never faltering. Kagome was practically plastered against the rock at this point. Kouga leaned in and Kagome readied some reiki in her palm, just in case he decided to try something.

He continued to lean in closer, and Kagome did her best to keep at least some space between them, but the damned wolf was persistent. She was likely to get a crick in her neck at this point... Just as she was about to snap at him – potentially zap him with a bit of reiki as well – she heard him take a couple sniffs. She couldn’t help but freeze. What the hell?

Kouga then pulled away, a huge, almost triumphant, grin on his face. Kagome’s brows furrowed in confusion. The look on her face almost made him laugh, but she was rather cute like that...

“I’m gonna make you my woman.”

She blinked. Had she heard him right? “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You’re mine now, and wolves mate for life.”

He somehow snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Kagome blamed it on her being too shocked to fully register the action at first. Once she did, however, she was struggling to get out of his hold.

“Get your hands off me! I’m not just some kind of object!”

It was then that she was able to break free, and the last word out of her mouth was further accentuated with the sharp slap across the face she gave him. And boy, did the slap have a bit of a bite to it, seeing as she had unconsciously slapped the wolf with the hand she had gathered reiki in. Truth be told, she hadn’t meant to slap him, much less with her reiki charged hand. But there was no taking it back now...

“I’m a person, not some.. some... item you can stake a claim on! I have thoughts and feelings of my own!” she snapped.

Kouga stood there for a moment, eyes wide and cheek stained red with the miko’s handprint. Kagome swallowed past the lump in her throat. Gods... why was she so stupid?! Today just really wasn’t working out in her favor... 

Before the miko could spiral into a mild panic attack, Kouga’s head turned to look at her, a grin slowly curling his lips.

“Well, you certainly are fiery...” He leaned in slightly, but was sure not to get too close this time. “I’m definitely going to make you mine one day, Kagome. Mark my words.”

He’s crazy, he has to be, there’s no other explanation. She couldn’t even really speak at this point, only give him an incredulous look. Though what really got her was the fact he had remembered her name. She was fairly certain he had only heard it once.. She had heard his name several times, thanks to his two pack members he had been with, but if she remembered correctly, Inuyasha had only said her name once.. no, twice actually.. but still. It was one thing for her to remember his name; not many things happened around the village, so she did her best to try to remember as much as she could.

But what about him?

What was his reasoning? Was it possible he was interested in her from the start? She looked him in the eye, trying to find any sign that this was all fake, a joke in some way. A flash of his fangs quickly drew her attention away, however.

She blushed furiously, realizing she had been staring for far too long and, incidentally, playing into whatever fantasy he had going on in his head. She scoffed in a very Inuyasha-like fashion and turned her back on the youkai to finish gathering her things.

“Whatever, it’s not going to happen. Even if I wanted to ‘be your woman’ – which I don’t!” She was quick to turn around and glare at him at that, to which he simply smirked at her. “I have a duty, and it requires my full attention.” She frowned as she picked up her now folded clothes, holding them close to her chest. “I’m not allowed romance, especially not now...”

Kouga’s smirk fell as he noted the change in her scent: despair, jealousy, longing... “Does this have something to do with old mutt-face?”

She turned to shoot him a glare, but there was no heat, no fire to it, just despair. “His name is Inuyasha, and it’s none of your business.”

She pushed her way past the youkai then and started to head back to the village. Much to her annoyance, he started to follow her. Kouga easily fell into step beside her, but he was quiet, which surprised her. They walked through the forest in silence, and she’d be lying if she said her annoyance hadn’t faded. Though, she did have to wonder...

“Why are you following me?”

“I told ya, didn’t I? You’re my woman.” he replied with a cocky grin.

She was tempted to slap him again. Kouga chuckled at the murderous look she gave him. He was going to have fun chasing her, she had a lot of spirit, especially for a human.

“And I told you I can’t, even if I wanted to.”

 “Why not?”

Kagome groaned. Why was she indulging him? “I’ve been tasked with the duty to protect.... something.” She couldn’t very well tell him what she was guarding; he might want to steal it if he found out... “And there has to be at least one person guarding it, and with the way things are looking... it’s going to be up to me.” She couldn’t keep the dejected tone from her voice.

Kouga frowned. Her scent was churning with despair and envy, so much so that his beast was stirring, urging him to track down who hurt her like this and end them. He did his best to calm himself, however his beast was not having it. He took a couple quick strides before stopping in front of her. An annoyed look quickly worked its way onto her face. He simply smiled and took her free hand into both of his, clasping them together in a firm hold. She couldn’t stop the blush that stained her cheeks. His hands were so large and warm...

“Then run away with me, before things change and it’s too late.”

Her mouth hung open in shock. Anything she might’ve said died on her tongue. Wha... what? Is he serious? She simply blinked up at him, her mind blank. What was she supposed to do in this situation? His eyes were alluring, and his aura was most certainly captivating... however...

She opened her mouth to speak, to try and turn him down gently, but his head suddenly turned away. He was looking into the distance, and she realized he must’ve heard something she couldn’t.

After a beat, he turned back to her, flashing her a wolfish grin. “Think about it.”

He brought her hand up to his lips, removing one of his hands to press a kiss to her knuckles. Her breath caught in the back of her throat and before her brain could fully register what just happened, he turned on his heel and was running off at an impossible speed.

Kagome blinked. What... just happened? It took a moment for her brain to process, but once it did, she was a flustered mess. She dropped down to the ground, her free hand covering her mouth as her face burned. Had she just... been proposed to?

The miko wasn’t super well versed in youkai customs, especially those of the wolves. But if she had to hazard a guess, having a wolf call you his woman and offer to whisk you away was their version of a marriage proposal. Gods, what had she gotten herself into?

She eventually managed to pick herself up off the ground and made her way back to the village, her mind racing. She walked into the hut she shared with Kikyō and set her things down. She needed to wash her clothes, but her mind was still occupied by Kouga. That youkai was going to be the death of her, and she barely even knew him!

Kagome let out a huff then, the shock finally wearing off and turning into frustration. She continued to grumble under her breath until she heard someone clear their throat. She turned around and saw Kikyō standing there, next to her futon. How long had she been there?

Kagome blushed. “H-Hi Kikyō. How long have you been there?”

“Before you came in. Something rather big must be on your mind for you to be so unobservant.”

Her blush darkened. “Yeah...”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Kagome chewed on her cheek. She would love nothing more than to confide in someone right now, but could she really talk to Kikyō about it? She already had a feeling of what her fellow miko would say. She’d tell her that she has a duty to uphold, and that her duty came before anything else. And then Kagome would have to swallow her anger at the hypocrisy of her words.

In fact, just thinking about it made her angry. Kagome let out a sigh and shook her head. “No, I’ll figure it out. Thank you, though.” She gave Kikyō a weak smile, to which she received a slight nod in response.

Kagome took in a deep breath then, trying to calm herself, before slowly releasing it. She returned Kikyō’s nod with one of her own before exiting the hut. She needed to find something to do to distract her from both Kouga and Kikyō. She needed work to do.

[juminsmysticmc]

Jumin with Mc at a family Meeting and Mc meets Jumin’s siblings for the first time

This is a free use card! Make whatever headcanon or one shot that you have the inspiration for! You can use this for one character (or more) of any choice I’m sorry for the pun

Want to use it for angst? Go ahead! Fluff? Go ahead! Want to make everyone see at your skills and creativity? Go ahead!

Hugs from me! ❤️

Hi my babe! Thank you so much for this change! I think without you this FF would have rotten in my notes, lol! So, I hope you guys love this FF, perhaps there will be a second part if you guys want, lol! Enjoy you all! 

,,I‘m ready, Jumin.“ you told him when you finished your makeup and stepped out.  He looked at you, you could already see that he was stunned by your beauty.  You had to chuckle at his reaction.  ,,Would you tell me what’s so amusing, my love?“ he laughed himself. Of course he noticed that you were laughing because of him.  ,,Nothing nothing.“ you laughed.  You took Jumin‘s hand and together the two of you walked to the car which was already prepared by driver Kim.  You were really excited to meet Jumin‘s family.  You already knew Chairman Han but you were a bit afraid that he didn’t like you because of the accident at the party. 

But your husband assured you that everything was okay.  ,,He should be angry at me, not at you. So don’t worry.“ This made you feel a little better.  But not completely.  ,,How many siblings will be there today?“ you asked him.  ,,Everyone will be there. All four.“ he told you.  You gave him a nod and stayed silent for the whole drive.  He was caressing your hand while your head was resting on his shoulder.  You were chatting in the group chat.  Saeyoung was making fun of Yoosung and Zen was talking about himself.  Jaehee....well. Jaehee was probably enjoying her free day. Thanks to you she now had less work and more vacation.  You were Jumin‘s second Secretary after all.  Jumin was against it at first but now he kind of liked the idea. And the best was that neither you or Jaehee were overworked.  ,,We‘re at the wished destination, Mr and Mrs Han.“ driver Kim told you.  Then he opened your door to help you out.  You thanked him and entered the Restaurant with Jumin.  Chairman Han was sitting next to three men and three women.  Who is who...? You thought and looked at Jumin who smiled.  ,,Welcome, Jumin. Hello Mc. It’s nice to meet you outside of the RFA.“ your soon father in law greeted you.  ,,Yes. It’s also nice to see you outside of the workplace, Sir.“ you smiled.  ,,Allow me to introduce my two sons and two daughters and their partners.“  A young man and a woman smiled at you. The man looked like Jumin just a little bit younger. The woman resembled Jaehee with long black hair.  ,,This is my second son, Joon Wo and his wife Mi So. They have a little hotel outside Seoul.“ he explained.  Both of them looked really kind and Jumin‘s Brother greeted Jumin really warm. Even Jumin was smiling.  ,,Hyun! I don’t see you since age! I‘m happy to see that you‘re taken! Now I can talk with someone about a husband‘s pain!“ he joked.  ,,Watch your mouth, little boy.“ Mi So snapped and pinched her husband.  ,,Hello Jumin! You look well, everything okay?“ she asked him and Jumin responded her with a yes.  ,,Now now. My third daughter Ha Ni and here‘s my fourth child, Seo Yeon and her husband Young-Jae as well as my last son Jum“ Chairman Han told you.  Well, it was okay you thought you could handle the new persons. You knew for sure that  Yoon Wo was one of the nice siblings Jumin had. And also his wife seemed a decent person. Who scared you a bit was the last boy, Jum. He looked annoyed and didn’t stop to glare at Jumin.  The other two sisters looked arrogant and weren’t even nice enough to talk to you.  But something was for sure, they either had rich partner or were successful. And not to forget that Chairman Han over floated them with presents.  ,,Come and sit down. Here are two seats free.“ Mi So smiled.  Jumin let you sit first just like a gentleman would do.  You all talked about how the things should go on now and you quickly noticed that none was okay how the things were now.  While you wanted to ask Mi So why everyone was so gloomy, you saw how her eyes began to glare too.  Only Jumin seemed relaxed but looked at his siblings.  You took his hand and he smiled at you. Although it was a sad smile.  This family was weird.... 

,,Jumin, I hope that your marriage won’t hold you back from inheriting C&R.“ Chairman Han laughed.  ,,No, Mc and I work wonderful together.“ Jumin responded.  Oh Ha Ni glared at you and Mi So looked away.  But luckily the food came and none talked about business anymore.  ,,If you excuse me, I need to call someone.“ you excused yourself.  ,,Yeah. We‘re going to the restroom.“ the two sisters said and got up.  You on the other side went out to call Seven. 

,,Yes Mc, did you decide to leave Jumin and hide?“ he joked.  ,,No, Luciel. But could I beg you to find out something about two people?“ you asked him and gave him the details.  Afterwards you wanted to go to the toilet too.  What you didn’t know was that the two sisters were in the cabin too and so you entered the cabin and the two sisters stepped out.  ,,Mi So is like always faking her kindness. And this shit head of our father left the company to Jumin.“ Oh Ha Ni snapped.  ,,Yes, that’s so unfair“ Seo Yeon agreed.  ,,Don’t think that you would have inherited the company just because you‘re married.“ Oh Ha Ni laughed.  ,,Yeah. Probably Jum or...how was his name? Yoon Wo?“  You were surprised, how come that they didn’t even know their brother’s name?  But you quickly remembered that the two sisters were the only one with the same mother. You really wanted to step out of the cabin and tell them to shut up. But you didn’t know why but something told you to stay back.... When they finally stepped out you left the restroom and went back again.  The evening went by a bit boring. 

Jum was talking about a topic you didn’t even remember and the two sisters were giggling.  Probably about you.  ,,Jumin....?“ you whispered while everyone was in a conversation.  ,,Yes my love?“ he asked you.  ,,Is your meeting always like that?“ you asked him.  ,,Unfortunately yes. But don’t worry. It will be over soon.“ he assured you.  And he was right. Because as soon as the desert came, everyone had to go back home.  You looked at Jumin with a surprised face.  ,,The bill.“ he just whispered.  ,,I will pay, father.“ and so it came that Chairman Han still payed since he invited everyone. 

,,How did you like the evening?“ Jumin asked you in the end.  ,,It was okay. I just didn’t expect that none would talk to us.“ you told him.  ,,Yes. I‘m sorry but beside father none will talk to us since I‘m the first born. And don’t let you get tricked by the appearance.“ Jumin told you.  ,,I‘m sorry. To be honest I-"  ,,Luciel already told me. You told him to investigate on them. Don’t worry. I would have done the same. And besides now we know that we shouldn’t let our guard down.  Not now when Seo Yeon lost almost her whole money and Mi So and Yoon Wo messed up with the hotel.“  You and Jumin were sure, one of them would make a move now that they were in trouble. Neither of you knew what would await you but it was certain that danger would await you. 

[seriouslyhooked]

Scoring Your Love (Part 10/?)

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six,Part Seven, Part Eight. Story also on FF here and AO3 here. Banner by the wonderful @timetravelandfairytales

Modern AU where Killian is a world famous soccer star who has hit rock bottom and been sentenced to the place where ‘football’ legends go to die – America. While here he crosses paths with Emma, an up and coming musician and film scorer who challenges everything he thought he knew and makes him want more than the game he’s always loved. Will be filled with fluff for days, and eventually rated M.

A/N: Hello again, friends! So as promised we finally get to the M rating in this chapter, but we also get another important check in before then. I mean come on, you didn’t think I was just going to forget about Liam, did you? Well he’ll make an appearance of sorts in this chapter, and though we’ll end in my usual fluffy place, we’re sowing some seeds of intrigue for later. Hope you all enjoy and thanks so much for reading!

In all his years playing in the professional leagues, Killian had managed the intensity and the strange schedules of a sportsman’s life better than most of his fellow teammates.

To be sure there were some more destructive habits he had formed, drinking a bit too much, surrounding himself with the kind of people who were interested just in the fame and the fortune, but on the whole he hadn’t fallen victim to the same bad moods that most other men did. Leaving home for so long and being apart from family took a toll on anybody, but Killian had never felt he was leaving too much behind. Since it was only ever Liam who he had as a given in his life, and since his brother was also his manager and as such was on the road with him more often than not, Killian didn’t feel the weight of separation.

Now, however, things were changing. One might argue it was because he was on the American circuit and his new games weren’t in enthralling places like Paris or Milan, but in small suburbs outside cities he’d never thought to see. Yet Killian knew that the real reason for the change was simpler than that. The problem was home – or rather Los Angeles – had a certain person in residence who did not get to come on these trips with him, and the more he got to know Emma Swan, the harder it was to take these jaunts out on the road for the sake of a game. It was likely crazy to feel this way, but Killian wouldn’t lie to himself. He missed Emma when he was gone, and finally he understood all that regret other more settled teammates had been feeling all these years.

It was of great comfort to him then that tonight he was back at his place in LA once more. Minutes ago he’d said goodbye to Tiny down stairs and now Killian was filled with anticipation and a need to get things going. He could do with a shower straight away, and food would probably be a good thing this time of night when he’d had none so far, but any unpacking could wait until morning. Right now Killian was hoping to speed things up as much as he could to get to Emma. He pulled out his phone and started to craft a text seeing if she was still up. It wasn’t too late yet, and he knew from their conversations this morning that she didn’t have any early morning commitments tomorrow, but he’d hate to call and disturb her if her plans had changed. Unfortunately just as he was about to press send on the text, a call came in disrupting him. A picture of his brother and Liam’s name appeared on the screen and Killian groaned at the interruption, but decided to answer in the hopes of conducting a speedy conversation.

“Liam, I’m sorry I haven’t checked in the past few days, but I’m actually just -,”

“You’re not seriously blowing me off are you, Killian?” his brother asked from where he was half a world away, and though to others it might sound a bit standoffish, Killian could sense his brother was actually in good humor. He could envision the smirk Liam had going there across the pond, and he was glad things had started to calm between them since Killian was first shipped off to the states. “It’s been a whole week at this point.”

“Aye, it’s bad form to be dodging my manager, I know,” Killian agreed.

“Ha! Your manager – I’m your brother first Killian, as you well know. Question is, what’s got you so busy. You’re ‘on a roll’ as they say over there. Stats are looking good and there’s still a buzz about you over here. But are the States so entirely exhausting that you can’t call your family?”

“Not quite,” Killian said with a smile of his own as he looked about his apartment figuring he could kill two birds with one stone. He could straighten up a bit on the off chance Emma could come here later and also touch base with his brother.

“So what is it then?” Liam asked and Killian hesitated, not because he had any shame over his relationship with Emma. On the contrary, he was thrilled that the two of them were progressing as they were. Instead his worry came from Liam’s potential reaction, and that worry was proved of merit when Liam spoke again. “Oh for fuck’s sake, tell me it’s not some woman.”

“Liam -,” Killian wanted to immediately correct his brother’s resentfulness and assure him Emma was different and unlike anyone he’d known before, but he didn’t have the chance with Liam fully blowing up at the realization.

“God, I knew this ‘new leaf’ was too good to be true! Here I am campaigning for you, working my arse off to get your image back where it needs to be for a proper team return, and you’re shagging some random American woman and throwing it all away!”

“I’m not throwing anything away. And she’s not just some woman,” Killian growled back, his hand balling into a fist and his body tightening in anger at his brother’s harsh iterations.

“Oh I bet. If you’ve glommed on to her she’s bound to be a total disaster,” Liam said haughtily. “Let me guess: she’s a great lay right? But with her sexual abilities there’s always some kind of rubbish. My bet its either a fully-stunted personality or some sort of fucked up gold-digging ambitions. Am I right?”

“No you aren’t bloody right, and I’m telling you Liam if you don’t stop talking about Emma that way you will regret it.”

“Oh Emma is it?”

“Aye, Emma,” Killian said, releasing a breath and trying to be the bigger person here. He could admit that he had made bad choices in the past, and the fall out of those choices had made Liam’s life and job no doubt more complicated. Rationally Killian knew that he was the one the burden fell on to be the bigger person, but it was difficult when his elder brother was giving in to such theatrics. They both knew Killian hadn’t been in the habit of sleeping with every eligible lady in the whole United Kingdom, that was all a part of his unearned reputation, but hashing that point out in this moment would do nothing. What needed to be said was of an entirely different nature. “I hadn’t planned to get into this just now, I was hoping to introduce the two of you when you came in a few months so you could see that she’s different. She’s everything.”

“Everything? Christ, Killian, she’s just a woman!”

“No, she’s the woman, brother,” Killian said aggressively, and then it dawned on him – this wasn’t worth his time. If Liam was coming at this with such combative, head-strong energy he was never going to listen. As such they were just moving towards a larger fight, a bigger blow out with more hurt along the way. It would be better to shut it down now and deal with the fall out later, at least that way the whole night might not be ruined and he might yet get to see Emma. “You know what, let’s just call and end to this. It’s been a long day, and I’m not interested in whatever judgment you’ve got rattling around in your brain right now. You don’t know Emma, Liam. You don’t know us together. Hell you don’t even really know me anymore. So let’s just say I’ll call you in a week, or better yet you can email me any business particulars and I’ll see you when I see you.”

Killian ended the call before Liam could respond and turned his phone on the ‘do not disturb’ setting. Was it rude? Yes, but it felt warranted under the circumstances. He didn’t need that kind of negativity in his life, and when his brother felt a little more compassionate and a little more interested in trusting Killian’s judgment they’d speak again. For now, Killian returned once more to the text he was about to send Emma only to hear a knock at the door. Now who could that be this time of night?

“Can I help you?” Killian asked as he opened the door to his apartment. A young man with a bike stood before him and the kid nodded, handing Killian a package and a tablet for a signature.

“Delivery for Jones.”

“Right. Thanks, mate,” Killian said as he accepted. He shut the door behind him and examined the parcel. He knew he hadn’t ordered anything but when he saw the return address he grinned. It was from Emma. But what could it be?

Opening it up Killian discovered it was of all things a cassette tape and an accompanying player. Thank God she’d thought to include that last part because he certainly didn’t have one, but before he could listen he had to search for a note. He found a short one attached and read it as quick as he could.

‘This song wouldn’t exist without us.’

Killian felt his pulse quickening as he maneuvered the tape out of its holder and into the player, his conversation with his brother all but forgotten. It was a Walkman style set up, something straight out of the 90s but the fun of the nostalgia was undeniable. He was already in the best mood possible by the time he had the headphones on, but then he pressed play on the tape and he was awed into something else. 

The music that came through the device and into his ears was unexpected but brilliant. It moved him in a way he truly hadn’t seen coming. This was no mixtape of throwback songs, this was something new, something bold, and something truly remarkable. Killian was certain it was one of Emma’s own compositions, and he stood there surrounded by the essence of her music trying to fathom how one person could have such talent. Too soon the song came to an end, but just as Killian was about to hit rewind to play it again Emma’s voice flittered through the air giving the name of the song, ‘Ready for You,’ and the intended scene it should go with on the series she was working on with Tiana.

Another realization dawned at that part, not just from the title, but from the purpose of the song as well. He’d been speaking with Emma on and off all week about the orchestrations she needed to work on, and one of them was the theme for one of the show’s heroines and her love interest. According to Emma the two characters (neither of which were played by Ruby) were ‘endgame,’ and he was now sworn to secrecy because no one knew of that except for Emma and Tiana. So to have Emma saying that it was their relationship that sparked this kind of music with this intended meaning… well it was just about the clearest way he could think for Emma to show him that she was in fact ready for the next step between them.

Understanding now what Emma’s intention must have been Killian moved swiftly, abandoning his original plans and throwing on his leather jacket once more. He grabbed his phone, debating as he walked to the doorway whether or not he should call Emma on the way. Such debate was not actually needed, however, because when he opened the door again he very nearly ran into the woman he was trying to get to in such a haste.

“Emma,” he declared, shocked that she would be here but so bloody grateful he couldn’t find the words.

“Hey. I was hoping you were back by now, and I got the delivery receipt for the package, but I didn’t think you would have plans already,” Emma said as she took in his appearance that was ready for departure. “I shouldn’t have assumed. I’ll just -,”

Not wanting Emma to doubt even for a moment that he was thrilled she had come, Killian pulled her to him and kissed her out there in the hallway. He felt her wariness slip away the instant their lips met and through some sort of coordination he couldn’t actively control he maneuvered them both inside of his apartment. Words weren’t needed as he got them inside and pushed Emma against the now closed door, his body fueled by the feel of hers beneath him and the way she held on to him like she loathed the very thought of being parted. There was no space between them, no end to the passion in sight, but Killian wanted one last affirmation before they took this final plunge.

“Stay with me tonight, love,” he whispered as his mouth remained just inches from hers. He watched her eyes open, the jade color now darkened from the exchange they’d just had but they lit with the smile she shared at his request.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

With her approval Killian locked the door and now the decision wasn’t one of how far to go but just exactly how to play it. He’d fantasized about this almost since their first meeting, concocted at least a hundred scenarios in his head and imagined each corner of this apartment as having some kind of potential, but the first time he was truly with Emma, Killian knew it had to be in bed. That wasn’t to say they were in any kind of rush though, and the build up, of which he was planning quite a lot, could happen anywhere she damn well pleased.

Emma, meanwhile, had no problem indicating what she wanted. She was unwilling to break away from him, kissing him surely as she had been, both of their hands roaming, leaving trails that inspired more hunger along the way. It was as if they were famished for the connection and too long denied the promise of this part of their chemistry. In no time at all Emma had managed to rid Killian of his jacket and most of the buttons on his shirt while also leading them to the living room. She was making good time, trying to tear away the layers that separated them until they were all gone, but it seemed it wasn’t fast enough, as Emma looked at him and let out a frustrated sigh of air.

“Something wrong, Swan?” Killian asked with a grin, knowing full well there was nothing the world over that could possibly be calculated as amiss when he and Emma were like this. No, her frustration was all of a sexual nature, and he watched as his words, rough from the need he had for her, washed over her skin and sent a shiver through her.

“This is taking too long,” she said with what might have been considered a pout and Killian chuckled as they moved in through the kitchen and come up against the counter. Then he surprised her by spinning her in his embrace and coming right up behind her, his hands clasped on her waist to pull her back. 

Killian pushed her blonde hair over her shoulder, his lips trailing down from her ear lobe and lower, finding a spot at her neck he’d noticed that she was sensitive at before. He took slow, torturous care of riling her up in a way that had her wanting all the more, his hands moving across the delicate dress that clung to her figure. He knew in his heart she’d worn this for him, in the hopes of pushing things further tonight, and he had no more ability to resist. This scrap of red silk was beautiful, but it couldn’t compare to the woman underneath and Killian was ready to reveal his prize. He unzipped it with just enough patience to tease them both and then he let the garment fall as he pushed the straps off her bared shoulders.

“We have all night, Emma,” he assured her as his fingertips traced her now mostly naked flesh. “And far longer too, as you well know.”

Killian watched the harsh swallow that came at his words, but Emma wasn’t running from his actions or his words. Instead she turned back around in his arms and took control back once more, pulling him in for another needy kiss that he caved into immediately. So much for slowing this down, Killian thought to himself. Now Emma was even more set on finding release, and he was right there with her. 

“I know we have time,” Emma said when they came up for air again and her eyes locked on his, her hand trailing down to the button of his slacks, grazing down his bare chest and abs in the process and making his already undeniable ache to have her grow. “And trust me, I’m happy for it. But we’ve already waited so long… I don’t think I can stand to wait anymore. I need you, Killian. I need you now.”

What more was there to say? When the woman he loved made her wants and wishes known it was Killian’s job to see to it that he did everything he could to procure them for her. It was in no way a hardship given how much he wanted her as well, and besides, they could have the slow and steady seduction he’d anticipated later. Far, far later after he’d wrung out every last drop of passion from her tonight.

They hurried back to his room, both of them of the same mind this time and now words weren’t needed any more. Their remaining clothes were stripped away, and by the time they’d hit the bed they were both beyond rational planning or design. This was pure instinct, and all Killian could think was that he had to make her come, had to satisfy every last desire his Swan could have. He knew he was on his way to accomplishing that as he moved above her, his lips tracing down her body past the tender peaks of her breasts, over the gentle swell of her stomach, and down to the space between her thighs that had been driving him mad for weeks.

“Killian.”

Emma said his name not in warning or in censure but as a sigh of need. His eyes flicked back up to hers and he saw the nearly wild appearance that had settled in them. Lust had consumed her, and Killian had known as much without even looking. Every sound, every movement that came from Emma told him exactly what she wanted, and he was nothing if not persistent when it came to reading the signs. Because of this he knew that even as she pleaded for him to sate her desire immediately, she actually wanted just a touch more anticipation. He bit lightly at her inner thigh, feeling her jump and then shake underneath the soothing of his tongue after. He did the same thing to the other side, moving closer to her sex, and only after a few more heartbeats did he give in, tasting her on his tongue as she let herself go to the sensations.

It was an out of body experience to know he was giving Emma so much all at once. Nothing could compare to it, and he didn’t even think to try and draw connections. This was already so much more than a simple shag; it was intimacy designed with meaning and with purpose. Every flick of his tongue, every suck, every kiss, was all done in the name of seeing Emma reach heaven itself, but when she finally fell into the ecstasy she was seeking it was Killian who was flush with fulfillment. It became clear that this was rapidly becoming an addiction, and as he kissed his way back up her body and came above her, looking at the pink that had crept into her cheeks and the satisfaction that swam about her gaze, Killian realized there would be no coming back from Emma Swan. This woman had run away with his heart completely and he was fundamentally changed from knowing and loving her.

Their tender moment was short lived however, for Emma had sacrificed none of her energy in finding her enjoyment. Indeed she surprised him, switching their positions and undertaking a perusal of her own that left him reeling. Damn she was a siren, a bloody minx who was hell bent on riling him to a state that would be unforgiveable, but how could he blamed when she had her mouth on him? It was sublime and indescribable, but when he was just at the edge of falling apart himself he stopped her and took back the reins once more. The time for waiting was over. All he could think about was filling her, sheathing himself inside her and never turning back.

“Fuck,” he grunted to himself as he paused just before taking what they both wanted.

“That’s kind of the idea,” Emma said with a laugh that turned into a slight moan from her still lingering desire. “What’s the hold up here, Jones?”

“I left the condoms on the counter. Just a minute, love.” He moved to get them but Emma held tighter and shook her head.

“You don’t have to. I’m on the pill.”

Holy shit, he didn’t know what to say to that and his hard length jerked at the words. The thought of being with Emma without a barrier was enough to drive him mad. If things were already blindingly glorious between them, what indescribable ecstasy would be procured from taking her bare?

“Are you sure, Emma? I’m clean of course. Just had my physicals with the new team doctors, and I’ve never actually gone without…”

“Me either,” Emma replied softly as her hand came to brush some of his hair from his forehead. “But I want to. With you.”

Since that want was of a fully mutual variety Killian offered no rebuttal, only giving in and taking what they both were craving so desperately. The moment he filled her was too fantastic to put to words, and he could have stayed there forever if Emma hadn’t begged him to move. The rhythm they set was perfection itself, crafted from a bond needed between two people that couldn’t ever be contrived. It made the claims of stories and fairytales, the ones about soul mates and perfect matches seem a little more realistic, for surely this could never be this way with another. This love he felt for Emma was cosmic, causing a shift Killian swore he could feel down to his bones, but when it came to an end and they both cried out in relief, it was the aftermath that truly took his breath away.

Holding onto Emma and having her in his arms cuddled beside him was a luxury he knew she rarely bestowed on others. Emma was guarded, cautious, and careful with her heart. She had been wary at the start, and with good reason, but as weeks went on Emma admitted that getting close to people always scared her. Truth be told Killian had often felt the same way. Love was a means of getting hurt, a fanciful notion that distracted from the game and never worked out in the end, but his old cynical notions of love no longer held water. For in this moment there was no way to deny what was between them. Tonight both Emma and Killian had shed the last pieces of doubt and of caution, and now they were truly in this together.

“So that was…” Emma paused as her fingers traced over his chest and a smile bloomed upon her lips. “Definitely worth waiting for.”

“On that we most certainly agree, love,” Killian said happily, seeing the call of sleep washing over Emma and feeling a similar tug into slumber himself.

“And I’m waking you up in a few hours for more,” she joked with a yawn. “You promised, no more waiting.”

“Aye, Swan. No more waiting. Not any more.”

He pressed a final kiss to the crown of her head, and a few moments later, as sleep finally claimed them both, Killian fell asleep smiling, knowing that life held so much promise now that he had Emma. And no matter what came next, and no matter where their paths might lead, Killian would do whatever it took to keep them like this – happy, connected, and together – for now and for always.

Post-Note: So there we have it. Another chapter come and gone and we find our couple just about in the happiest spot they can be. Rest assured this story, like all my stories so far, intends to give CS truly happy situations, and while there will be some bumps in the road ahead, it’s smooth sailing for the time being. Anyway I thank you all so much for reading, commenting, and messaging me! Your enthusiasm has been wonderful and I love hearing your thoughts. Hope you have a great rest of your weekend and thanks for being fabulous!

[rosaguard]

AERIS GAINSBOROUGH RP PLOTTING CHEAT-SHEET!

Want new-and-exciting plots for your character? Long to reach out to more of your followers, but don’t know where to start? Fear not! Fill out this form and give your RP partners both present and future all the of juicy jumping off points they need to help you get your characters acquainted.

Be sure to tag the players whose characters YOU want more cues to interact with, and repost, don’t reblog! Feel free to add or remove sections as you see fit. Template here.

mun name: summer. ooc contact: feel free to message me through IMs or asks. discord is reserved for friends and more serious plotting.

who the heck is my muse anyway?

    aeris gainsborough is one of the main protagonist from final fantasy vii and the last living cetra, an ancient race that is able to speak to the planet directly. when she was only an infant, aeris’ father, once the former head scientist at the shinra company, was murdered so that aeris and her mother, ifalna, could be captured. the first seven years of her life were spent as a prisoner in the shinra building so her and her powers could be studied closely for shinra’s own selfish gain. eventually, her mother was able fight her way out of the shinra building but was fatally wounded in the process and the two were eventually found on the steps of the sector five station by a widow named elmyra gainsborough. knowing that aeris was finally in safe hands, ifalna leaves her daughter with a heirloom, the holy materia, before she passes on to join the lifestream. in the years following her mother’s death and being adopted by elmyra, shinra would continue to track her movements but mostly let aeris be as she got older. 

   the use of mako, an energy source that was drained from the planet’s essence, would also rise in prominence during this time and various groups formed to oppose shinra’s methods. the most notable and active group were the eco-terrorists, AVALANCHE, and aeris’ life changes completely when one of its members nearly crashes on top of her in her church. a short walk to sector seven ends with aeris adventuring through a red-light district, midgar’s sewers, and finally kidnapped by the turks. feeling responsible for her capture, cloud, tifa, and barret break into the shinra building and are able to rescue the flower girl before hojo can use her and another innocent creature ( red xiii / nanaki ) for another one of his twisted experiments. once she is safe, the group’s attempt to escape fail and they’re locked away….only to be mysteriously freed where they discover that nearly everyone in the upper floors of the building murdered, including president shinra himself.

   while the group mostly intended to save the planet by destroying shinra, aeris and the others soon learn that there is an even greater threat to the planet: sephiroth. due to be wanted in midgar, the ragtag group of strangers leave the city in order to search for the elusive former general in order to figure out his intentions. this moment jumpstarts aeris’ journey of self-discovery and learning more about her ancestors ⎯⎯⎯⎯ something that she had deliberately avoided until now. as she the group continues to travel the world, aeris slowly begins to not only understand her role as the last cetra but she finally learns of the true purpose of the heirloom her mother had given her all those years ago…

things you should know:

aeris does not die in my portrayal. my blog is canon divergent and is meant to explore how she ( and the story as a whole ) would change if she were to live. i’ve already written about what the differences between the events at the city of the ancients are in my blog canon.

the original game will always be my base. with the remake coming, there will more than likely be changes that i’m willing to adapt to but her personality will always remain faithful towards the OG in case the remake is not. i also pick and choose which parts of the compilation ( crisis core, advent children, etc. ) i wish to acknowledge.

aeris can ‘hear’ other planets too. she might not fully understand what it’s saying as its words might sound muffled or completely like gibberish to her but she can hear it.

my aeris is brown. when describing her in a thread, please don’t describe her skin as pale or white because it is not. she is the equivalent of a south asian woman visually, not western like nomura has stated she’s designed to be ( here is an example of her skin tone if it helps ).

what she’s been up to:

main verse: after being rescued from shinra, aerith quickly becomes a new member of the AVALANCHE crew once they decide to leave midgar. during this period, she and the others travel across the planet to hunt down sephiroth and uncover his true motivations for seeking the promised land. until aeris, along with tifa and barret, leave the main party to travel to the city of the ancients alone.

where to find her:

sector five church:  aeris’ home away from home is an abandoned, dilapidated church in the sector five slums where she has managed to do the impossible: make flowers grow in the slums. children often visit her to play in her church or help tend to the flowers while she’s away.

the upper sectors: towering over the slums is the plate that holds the foundation of midgar. despite popular belief in the slums, people of various wealth live on the plate - from the middle class to the most wealthy.  it is the flower girl’s main place of business and you’re most likely to find her selling flowers on loveless avenue in sector eight.

the highwind: despite the wounds earned during the clash at the city of the ancients, aeris remains with AVALANCHE until the end. once meteor is finally summoned by sephiroth and tifa and barret are rescued in junon, the others return to icicle inn to retrieve aeris. after cloud is found in mideel, aeris remains at the hospital to be treated by its doctor while tifa watches over their comatose leader. after cloud returns to his former self, she mostly stays on the airship whenever they leave to fight.

current plans:

kill sephiroth / save the planet: this is pretty straight forward to be honest.

desired interactions:

if the ff rpc wasn’t so d-e-a-d, i would mostly say canon interactions? i would really like to go more into her general feelings regarding well…everything post-stabbing. it would be a difficult time for her since she’s just been stabbed, she failed to protect the planet, etc. ( there’s also processing what happened at the temple of the ancients: tseng might be dead, we know he’s not, but she thinks so and cloud attacked her ).

more friendships / family / whatever. i’ve actually haven’t gotten into shipping until like…the past year? it’s been nice but also want to make sure all my interactions aren’t just romantic.

this section will be updated™ over time.

things that bother me:

receiving starters about aeris’s flowers or something related to flowers. while it might not seem like a big deal to you, imagine receiving 6 starters and four of them were about the same exact subject. it’s just…really boring so please don’t write about her flowers unless it’s something you really feel is unique enough.

having your muse ‘save’ aeris. unless we’ve discussed this and i’ve agreed to it happening, don’t write it for me. aeris is not weak. she does not need your muses’s protection unless she asks for it. in the original game, she states multiple times that she can handle herself and gets visibly annoyed when people underestimate her: cloud: you gotta be kidding. why do you want to put yourself in danger again? aeris: i’m used to it. cloud: used to it!? ……well, don’t know… getting help from a girl… aeris: a girl!! what do you mean by that!? you expect me to just sit by and listen, after hearing you say something like that!? // cloud: how could I ask you to go along when I knew it would be dangerous? aeris: are you done?

literally everything about crisis core!aeris. having her entire design be retconned because a guy told her he liked pink on her is bad. having him be the one to suggest she sell flowers when she literally lives in straight poverty is bad. having her spend four years writing letters to the equivalent of a high school crush is bad. having so much of her relationship with cloud taken and recycled for zack ( falling in her church, just one date, etc. ) is bad. having her, a person that is literally connect to the planet and has limit breaks that deal with nature itself, be scared of the sky is not only bad but stupid. none of this means that i hate zack as i would still be willing to write ze.rith if there’s chemistry but it would have to be heavily plotted and discussed.

tagged by: no one, i rewrote an old one i did.

tagging: anyone who wants to.

[lassluna]

Freeing the Witch (12/20)

Beta read by the glorious @notoriouscs

Once Upon a Time, there was Emma Swan the Savior and Killian Jones the fearsome pirate Captain Hook. But this is not that time, this is not that place, this is the time of the Dark Swan and a cowardly Deckhand who dares to think he could save her and live to tell the tale…Especially when things get complicated.

ff Ao3

Chapter: 12

Makings of a Monster

 “A word, Emma?” Ingrid asks. It isn’t a question. Ingrid waits until they’re out of Killian’s earshot before voicing her concern. “Someone’s been in his head,” she tells Emma, glancing at him suspiciously.

Emma doesn’t like how she’s looking at him. Emma’s still livid after seeing Ingrid with her hands on him. He’s her sailor, no one else’s.

“We encountered a Jabberwocky,” she tells the Snow Queen, getting in between her and Killian. “It did some damage. He doesn’t have the magic to bounce back like we do.” That’s why she thinks he seems different, less kind-hearted, angrier, hurt. Killian is oh so hurt.

Ingrid smiles condescendingly. “It’s something else,” she insists. “I understand he saved you, but you need to be wary. He may be compromised.”

Don’t ask her why, but this makes Emma furious. How dare Ingrid doubt her sailor! It’s like she thinks it’s crazy that anyone could care about Emma. He must be plotting something to put up with the likes of her.

Emma wishes she could just blow her off. Ingrid has tunnel vision when it comes to her family, and sure she likes to pretend that Emma is a part of it, but they all know she isn’t. Emma isn’t blood.

“Why don’t you mind your own business?” Emma spits. “And keep your grubby hands off Jones.”

Ingrid nods. “Ok, I will. But heed my warning. From what I gather from Elsa’s tale, you two…you are from vastly different worlds.”

Nothing new there.

“If you think he could ever understand you, you’re wrong. You will never fit into his world, nor he into yours. He’s afraid of you.”

Emma laughs. “Why should I listen to you? You tried to kill me, then abandoned me. You lost the right to give me any sort of advice.”

With that, she walks off.

What does Ingrid know about love anyway? Just as much as the Jabberwocky, that’s for sure. Whatever she has, or could have with Killian, it’s none of Ingrid’s business.

The next day Emma is pleased to have the distraction of their stop in port. She’s looking forward to masking her identity, exploring, see Killian in his natural habitat, or at least as close as he could get to one on land. As a deckhand, he is accustomed to ports, to sailors, to restocking ships. She can see it in the way he smiles a real smile and stands confidently without having to fake the swagger. She wants to see this side of him, learn more of exactly who Killian Jones is.

“I also have a friend here,” Killian says.

She looks at him in surprise. He’s never mentioned friends, although he is a likeable guy, she supposes. She’d like to meet his friend. They tend to be good indications of character.

“I’d like to go see him by myself, if you don’t mind.” He is looking at her, asking her permission.

“He’s afraid of you.”

Isn’t she stupid, thinking, even for a second, that things could be normal between them. She isn’t normal. She is a royal villain, and he is a deckhand. They belong to different worlds. Just because she’s inviting him into hers, doesn’t mean he has to do the same, doesn’t mean he even wants to.

“Don’t let me stop your social life,” she mutters. “I’ll go by myself to get the supplies we need.”

She turns away from Killian, not wanting to see his happiness at the chance to get away from her for a couple of hours, nor let him see how hurt she is that he doesn’t want her along for the trip.

“He may be compromised.”

Could Ingrid is right, and Killian isn’t really a cowardly deckhand who magically transformed into this…brave sailor? Maybe it’s a trick of her mother’s to find the dagger? To hurt Emma yet again? Perhaps today’s meeting is a rendezvous with his secret employer?

It doesn’t take her superpower to tell she’s lying to herself.

Emma just wants an excuse for her current activity, tailing Killian from the shadows. She uses magic to keep herself hidden, and watches him talk to some other sailors near the docks. He laughs slightly, rubbing bashfully behind his ear. He moves along to a tavern, where he smiles at some of the bar maids, a little too brightly for her liking.

He is clearly looking for information. And who better to answer his questions than the women supplying alcohol to the men of the town? He slips a gold piece and a scandalous wink to a dark-haired girl.

When she first met him, Killian didn’t curse, or apologized if one slipped out in her presence. The Killian she met would never have flirted like that, never even spoken to the maidens in the first place. What changed? Has she been such a strong influence already?

She doesn’t have much time to ponder, as Killian takes off quickly out of the tavern and down the street. She follows, wondering what he’s up to. He stops at a door on a street farther from the docks than she expected him to venture and knocks feverishly.

Emma holds her breath in anticipation as the door opens to reveal a woman.

Should have known he picked this place because he had a sweetheart stashed here, she thinks bitterly. The winsome lady with blonde curls embraces Killian, and he eagerly returns the hug. She welcomes him in warmly. He looks happy, more animated than he’s ever been in her presence.

It doesn’t take much imagination to imagine what’s about to transpire between Killian and that tramp.

Emma can practically see the woman’s hands in his dark hair, his hands roaming over her slender frame, their lips pressed together.

She has half a mind to rush in and snap the little thing’s neck and pull him out by his heart.

If I want to take your heart and have my wicked way with you, then I will.

She warned him, after all. That was the very nature of her parents’ relationship. After her mother’s teenage love was killed, Snow tracked down his twin brother and stole his heart so she could pretend, in the dead of night, that her lover still breathed.

Emma is still considering performing an abduction of her own when someone clamps a hand on her wrist.

“Witch! Witch!” a voice shouts angrily.

She pulls away instinctively.  You just messed with the wrong girl, buddy.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replies, backing away. Emma turns, wanting to blast her attacker to kingdom come, set the whole town ablaze in her efforts, but willing settle for fleeing in the interest of discretion. She can come back later to stake her claim on Killian. He is her sailor, and no tramp is going to change that.

“Don’t try and deny it!” the man retorts. “Your friends sold you out. You have magic! Dark magic!”

She blinks, coming back to reality at his words. Someone told these townsfolk that she has magic? She’s been watching Killian the entire time! She would see it if he’d betrayed her, the guilt would be written on his face.Who could –

Elsa. That ice bitch is going to melt.

Emma looks at the gathering crowd. People are staring. Most citizens of Arendelle share their dead king’s blind hatred of magic, and clearly this group is no exception. “Who needs enemies when you have friends like that?” she says with a shrug. It’s about time to make a dramatic exit. She calls up her magic, preparing to poof right out of there –

Nothing is happening. She suddenly notices on her wrist, where the man grabbed her, a piece of leather remains. Now that’s she’s aware of it, she can feel it tight against her skin.

“Those are anti-magic cuffs, given to us by the Wizard,” the man explains while drawing his sword.

Like usual, she’s surrounded by hypocritical fools, the magic they wield to make her helpless is fine, but her magic is a problem. She’s always hated Arendell for this.

“Prepare to die.” The man says and lunges.

She dodges, trying to pry off the cuff, but it won’t budge.

The man lunges again, catching her side with his blade. Bright red blood splatters on the cobblestones. He obviously knows what he’s doing with a sword.

Without magic or a sword of her own, Emma’s in trouble. She looks around for an escape route, a weapon, anything of use.

The crowd around her is growing. She turns around just in time to see two of the onlookers step forward to block her only escape route.

The man who cuffed her slams the hilt of his sword against her head. “You can’t get away,” he sneers.

Emma collapses to her knees, but he doesn’t stop his assault, delivering a kick to her ribs. Her instincts flare, and she grabs his foot as he goes in for a second blow.

“I’m not aiming to go anywhere, swine,” she hisses, yanking his leg out from under him hard enough to drop him flat on his back. She dives for his blade, but two other villagers latch onto her arms, pulling her back. With her restrained, the first attacker gets back to his feet.

He raises his blade.

Emma closes her eyes.

The clang of metal catching metal sounds.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing attacking my sorceress?” demands a voice. Emma knows that voice.

Killian.

Her happiness at his arrival wanes as she notices the way his vest is buttoned incorrectly, jacket tossed on without his usual care. She doesn’t want to know how far he got with the blonde, how sweet her kisses were, how much he’d rather kiss her then –

“Your sorceress?” the man questions.

“The law of this region states that no magical being is allowed to walk freely. But this one is bound to me, which makes her mine. The law does not allow you to attack another’s property, magical or not,” Killian declares with a rare bout of boldness.

Emma suppresses a growl.

She belongs to no one.

“Prove it,” the man demands. “Make her do something.”

If he thinks I’m just going to play along –

She sees a flare of anger rush through Killian. Clearly, he is willing to play the part of her master, but the thought of anyone actually controlling her infuriates him. The formerly-timid sailor strikes out at the man, who hadn’t quite lowered his sword yet. Killian’s disarms him with a quick move.

“Prove it? Do I need to prove to you which house my gold pays for? Prove which woman I chose to bed?” Killian doesn’t need acting skills to radiate anger. “Do you dare to doubt my honor, asking me to make her jump and dance for your amusement?”

He jabs the tip of his blade into the bully’s neck, not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to make the man stumble backward. “Perhaps instead I should prove to you that I am strong enough to cut your throat like an animal.”

Damn.

The man stands back up shakily, hands raised in surrender. “My apologies,” he stutters before fleeing.

Emma watches Killian turn his dark gaze to the men still holding her.

“Release her before I decide to have her tear out your hearts and feed them to you. Trust me, she’d enjoy it,” he growls.

Deciding to have her own fun, she bats her eyes and giggles crazily. “Aww, I never get to have any fun!” They drop her arms like she’s on fire and flee along with the rest of the quickly disbursing crowd.

Killian bends to grip her shoulder, hauling her along a bit more roughly than necessary.

“You followed me,” he grumbles.

“Having fun with your girlfriend?” she snaps. “I didn’t need your help.”

He barks a laugh at that whopper, leading her into the house she had seen him enter before her little…mishap.

She doesn’t want to meet the woman responsible for Killian’s semi-dressed state. She wants him to stop leading her inside the tramp’s house, to stop whatever this is between them.

“Oh Swan, how much you don’t know,” he chides, pulling the cuff from her wrist.

“Get your hands off me!” She yanks her arm away, elbowing him in the ribs. “I know enough. I saw you!”

She expects an angry retort but doesn’t get one. Instead, he sucks in a pained gasp, hands clutching his side. “Damn it, Swan,” he curses, hunching over. “When will you realize that all I’m trying to do is protect you?”

“I don’t need protection,” she snaps, but it gets lost in Killian’s loud groan.  He nearly collapses, but Emma catches him, supporting him over to the couch. Her harmless elbow move should not have caused that much pain.

The woman Emma was hoping to avoid comes around the corner.

“Oh! You found her? That’s great, Killian,” says the lady sweetly, but her tone changes when she spots Killian. “It reopened again, didn’t it?” she demands.

Turning to Emma, she says, “Here, lay him down. I’ll go get Victor.”

Emma does as instructed, despite Kilian’s complaints. “What reopened?” she asks him once he’s settled. “I didn’t see anyone get you with their sword. Did I miss something?”

Killian shakes his head, eyes scrunching in pain. “Before…before I came to get you out of the tower, perhaps a day or so, I was injured. And I haven’t exactly been on bed rest since then.”

“So it��s been bothering you this whole time? Why didn’t you tell me! I wouldn’t have been so rough when we fought!” she says, outraged. “Has it opened up before this?”

“Just once after the fight with the tower guard…and again the morning after we sparred…” he trails off, embarrassed.

 Emma’s heart tightens with guilt.

“I’m sorry, I…I didn’t know,” she manages. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

His reply is cut off by someone else’s clipped, “Because he’s a stubborn arse.” The blonde woman comes down the stairs followed by a thin, slightly taller man with ashy brown hair who is wearing a long white coat. Emma backs away from Killian as he pulls up a chair near the patient.

“Now, next time I tell you to wait until I finish, are you going to listen?” the man asks, exasperation clear.

Killian smiles sheepishly. “Am I going to live?”

Emma watches in silence as the healer pulls up Killian’s vest and shirt, revealing a nasty cut under his ribs. It looks slightly healed in places but is currently bleeding heavily. Emma can see the pain in Killian’s face.

“Lizzie, get the rum. He’s going to want to be hammered.”

Killian struggles under the man’s grip. “No. I’m fine. Just do it already,” he insists.

“I know you hate feeling drunk, but last time I listened to you, you kept moving,” the man argues back.

Emma decides this is the perfect opportunity to step in. “Here, let me,” she says, placing a hand on his chest. Healing is a pure light magic, something beyond her ability, however it just takes a simple spell to remove his pain so the healer can work. Her fingers glow faintly.

“Swan –“ but his complaint dies as her spell spreads through his chest. “Never mind,” he murmurs, eyes fluttering shut.

The man nods a thank you to Emma and begins stitching the wound. Emma watches him work. He is more skilled than any healers she has seen before, at least around these parts.

“Oh! You’re bleeding too!” the other woman exclaims, taking Emma’s hands. “Come, I’ll patch you up while Victor finishes with Killian.”

“Now sweetie, come, take off your coat so I can see what those men did to you,” she continues.

Emma hesitates. “Who are you? Who is he?”

The woman laughs. “Whoops! Where are my manners? My name’s Elizabeth, Elizabeth Whale.” She shakes Emma’s hand. “My husband over there is a doctor, but that doesn’t mean anything to you here.”

“I know what that means,” Emma says softly. “I’ve been there.”

Elizabeth’s eyes go wide before she nods, a silent understanding passing between them.  

“Wait, you said you and Victor are married. Does that mean you and Killian are not –“

The woman looks at her blankly.  

Doesn’t Emma feel like an idiot. She is just glad that this Elizabeth seems too sweet to understand what she was asking.

Emma finds herself losing her cloak and vest, and pulling up her blouse to reveal the deep red wound on her skin – the first real injury she’s ever seen. Most of the time, her wounds heal in a matter of minutes, but this one clearly isn’t closing itself.

Emma hisses when Elizabeth starts patching her up, pulling away at the unfamiliar feeling.

“Stay still!” Elizabeth admonishes. You’re worse than Killian.”

“How do you two know each other? You and Killian, I mean?” Emma asks as she fights to keep her body still while the woman cleans her cut.

“Killian’s brother helped my husband when we were in…a peculiar situation.” Elizabeth chooses her words carefully. “After Liam’s disapearance, Victor promised to watch out for Killian. He deals with all of Killian’s ‘falls,’” she mutters, irritated. Her stitches are getting sharper as she goes, her unhappiness expressing itself in Emma’s skin.

“Falls?” Emma asks.

“I’m a kind person, Miss Swan,” Elizabeth says with a sigh. “I would never wish harm on anyone. The Captain, however, he I wouldn’t spit on if he were on fire. Killian deserves better.”

Now that has Emma curious. Killian spoke of “the Captain” the first day or so, worried about getting back so the Captain wouldn’t be angry.

“What did the Captain –“

The blonde shakes her head. She isn’t going to elaborate. “You have a broken rib right here,” Elizabeth explains, touching Emma’s chest, making the Dark Swan gasp. “Killian said you have magic. Shouldn’t it be healing already?”

Emma doesn’t like people asking about her magic. She is about to issue some dramatic threat about what her magic is capable of, but she stops herself and looks at the gentle woman, seeing  nothing but well-intentioned curiosity in her gaze. “Whenever my magic is represssed, it takes a while for it to readjust. It might be hours before I’m back to full strength,” she admits instead.

“Do you care for him?” Elizabeth asks next, surprising her.

“What?”

“Killian. He’s like a brother to us, and he’s had very bad luck with women,” the woman explains. “I don’t want him hurt again.”

Emma avoids Elizabeth’s eyes, but finds herself spilling more than she expects. That wound must have opened more than just flesh. “We’re too different to be anything more than…” Friends? Acquaintances? Accomplices? “…what we are.”

But her answer doesn’t fly with the observant woman. “I am no fool, Miss Swan. I know devotion when I see it. I know what it’s like to care about someone so whole-heartedly that you don’t think of the risks. You don’t think period. You just need to be with them,” she says softly.

“I’m not –“ Emma tries, but Elizabeth cuts her off.

“I’m not talking about you, Miss Swan. When he thought you were in danger, Killian panicked.  He ran to help you without stopping to think about it. He didn’t have to help you, you know, but he did. He did because he cares about you.”

Emma shakes her head. “He shouldn’t though. He shouldn’t. You are right to worry, Mrs. Whale. I’m not good for him. I’m not good for anyone. I’m a monster…”

A hand comes up to rest on her shoulder. “I’ve seen monsters, and you, Miss Swan, are not one of them.”

Emma can see experience behind the woman’s eyes, before she pulls herself back to the present, smile brightening. “They should be finishing up right about now,” Elizabeth says, waving Emma off to check on Killian.

Emma proceeds around the corner slowly, listening to the men’s conversation while Elizabeth is occupied sorting through her supplies.

“You lied to me!” he hisses. “Does she know? Is my entire life some bloody joke to you?!” It’s Killian speaking. He is fuming mad, even under the pain-reducing spell Emma had cast.

“Keep your voice down. No, she doesn’t. I did the best I could with this bad situation,” Victor says in a hushed tone.

Killian laughs darkly. “Bad situation. That’s rich coming from you, Frankenstein. I thought we were friends. I thought you were helping me because you saw me as family.” He is trying to get up when he locks eyes with Emma. He forces himself to relax, but turns away from both her and the doctor.

“We should leave Killian to rest for a bit,” Victor says, noticing Emma’s entrance and putting a clear stop to the previous conversation. “Dark Swan, can I talk to you in the other room? I can check out your other injury.”

Emma nods politely, giving the injured deckhand a searching look.

“Please, not now, I’ll…” His voice breaks as he tries to catch his breath, eyes pleading with her. “I’ll explain everything, I promise, just not here. Go get seen to. I’ll be here.”

She turns and follows the doctor out.

“Come on in, and shut the door,” Victor barks. “I take it Liz sewed you up?”  

He approaches her, and she tenses instinctively.

“Relax. Tension isn’t good for healing,” he says, attempting to lighten the mood. “Let me see.”

Emma sighs, pulling up her shirt. He presses something cold and hard to her skin. It’s a small metal disk attached to a shiny tube that connects to his ears. He moves the disk every few seconds, telling her when to take a deep breath.

“Luckily, there’s no internal bleeding,” he mutters darkly. “Or perhaps I should say unlucky for us.”

Emma pulls away, yanking down her blouse. “Great bedside manner.”

He smirks. “Liz doesn’t know what you are, but I do. She always liked fairytales, mostly the  Disney kind. Give me your hand.”

She does as he asks, not bothering to question what he meant.

“What were you and Jones arguing about?” she asks.

“None of your business,” he shoots back. “But I would have thought that you of all people would let fate take its course.”

She doesn’t understand, nor does she like his tone.

“You’re changing him,” Victor says, looking over the bruise the leather cuff left on her wrist. He  pours something over it that makes Emma hiss.

Whale ignores her discomfort.

“He’s acting more like Liam than even Liam did,” he continues. “Contrary to Killian’s belief, Liam was not a good man.”

Emma remembers the utter rage she saw in Killian after he killed Hans. He had changed quickly, making a complete personality swap in only a few days. She thought he was getting braver, more confident. But maybe…maybe there is more to it.

“Why are you telling me this?” she asks.

“Liam was not a good man, but he was strong. He was stubborn, and he would never condone half of the things Killian has gone through,” the doctor answers. “I don’t know if becoming like him is good for him in the long run, but maybe, just maybe, it’ll help Killian find his own path, his own bravery.”

Emma still doesn’t understand. She wants to ask more questions, but Whale gets up and holds the door open for her. The conversation is clearly over.

Killian seems even more mysterious than he did before.

He is standing by himself when finds him, rubbing and scratching at his tattoo.

“All good?” Emma asks, crossing her arms.

He freezes, looking up at her warily. “Why did you follow me?” Apparently he’s taking the direct approach. “Elizabeth isn’t here. She went out to get the supplies you were supposed to be buying while we wait for the villagers to forget all about you and your magic,” he adds sharply.

“I wanted to know who you were meeting,” Emma responds. “Why did you visit a healer without telling me?”

He tenses. “Why? Why do you care who I visit? Worried I’d leave you and the Ice Queens without a captain?” he demands. “I told you I’d come back, so I will.”

Emma rolls her eyes. “Because you gave me your word, right? That’s the only reason you have, your damn insistence on good form.” She averts her gaze for a moment, and when she looks up again, he is closer, just a step away.

“Why did you follow me?” he asks again, softly this time. “Why do you keep pulling away from me? One minute you’re telling me…secrets, just as I am confiding in you. The next minute you’re accusing me of sleeping with my friend’s wife.”

Emma should push him away, snap something about him not deserving a single answer from her. He should have just asked her to come with him. He should have trusted her to behave herself with his friends.

“Why should I trust you?” she asks instead.

He can probably  hear the hidden question in her voice, the question that Emma can’t voice, not even to herself. “Why did you kill Hans? You didn’t have to.”

He could have ran away, he could have escaped. He didn’t have to get blood on his hands for her.

He doesn’t flinch. “He was hurting you. I didn’t want that.”

She bites back a gasp. He doesn’t have magic, but he still seems to be able to read her mind. His blue eyes don’t move from hers. She didn’t know how alluring eyes could be. She never wants to stop looking into them. She drops her arms, and her walls, ever so slightly.

“And what exactly do you want Sailor?” she dares, just like that first day, only softer, almost a whisper. Emma expects him to avert his gaze, trip over his feet, blush to the tips of his ears. She expects him to say that he wants to find his brother, that she is a means to an end, that she is only useful for her dark magic.

“What do I want?” he repeats, closing the already-small distance between them.

She can smell the leather of his jacket, the one she found stored in the bowels of the ship that seemed to bring out his pirate persona as soon as he shrugged it on.

“What do I bloody want? Are you really asking me that?” His anger returns, red hot. Or is that passion? Emma can’t tell. Maybe it’s both.

“What do I want? You.”

She opens her mouth to respond, to question what in the world he means. But she doesn’t get the chance to form words. Killian crashes his lips against hers. Surprised, she freezes for a moment.

Killian pulls back, face morphed from fiery to flushed with embarrassment.

“I’m –“

But Emma isn’t.

She grabs the lapels of his jacket and yanks him back to her mouth for a real kiss. It’s positively electric. She can feel his hand in her hair, the other gripping her waist. She hasn’t been kissed with this much want, this much passion…maybe ever. For the first time in years, Emma feels like a woman, not a creature. The way she presses against him, tracing the muscles in his shoulders as they flex to mold her even more tightly to him, it’s…

When they part, she’s breathless.  The Dark Swan is never breathless. With the Huntsman, kissing was enjoyable at best. This...Emma stares at Killian, who is peering back at her in disbelief, his fingers pressed to his lips.  This…deckhand makes her feel alive.

“That was…” she breathes.

“Aye…it was,” he echoes.

She searches for something to say, neither one able to break their stare

“Vicky, Killy, Dark One, I’m back!”

That does the trick. They practically leap away from each other like flustered teenagers.

“Now just what did I walk in on?”

[phati-sari]

Arshi FF: Charade - Chapter 8

Chapter 7 // Read on FFnet // Read on Wattpad

Chapter 8: Collar

Khushi

"Khushi-ji ... I mean, Khushi-bhabhi, Anjali-didi has called everyone into the hall."

She followed Om Prakash-ji after giving Lakshmi-ji a final pat, trying to swallow down her worry for Nani-ji. Everyone was already downstairs when she arrived, arranged on the plush sofas and focussed attentively on Anjali-ji.

"It's good that you've arrived, Khushi-ji," she greeted, "Now we can begin."

Khushi stood behind the seat her husband had chosen, noting that he'd showered and changed since she'd last seen him. She toyed with her dupatta as Anjali-ji approached her.

"Khushi-ji, you will not be accepted as this household's daughter-in-law ..."

The world seemed to shrink. Suddenly dizzy, Khushi twisted her fingers into the fabric of the sofa as Arnav-ji stood.

He moved in front of her and faced his sister, "Fine, if this is what you—"

"—I'm not finished Chhote," Anjali-ji's tone was steel, "Don't interrupt, this is not your office but your home."

Khushi trembled, hating that she'd come between her husband and the most important person in his life.

"Khushi-ji, you can't become the Raizada family's bahu," Anjali-ji started again, "until you complete the Griha Pravesh and all the post-wedding customs."

Hope, dim and fickle though it was, surged with her.

Maybe I can still find a place here, maybe this can be my home too, even if for a short while.

Arnav-ji's eyes found hers in the shocked silence, but she was distracted by Anjali-ji before she could decipher the storm in his eyes.

"Change into this bridal outfit," his sister instructed, "and then we'll observe all the rituals."

Khushi ran her fingers over the soft fabric, the vivid reds and vibrant greens bringing tears to her eyes. It was everything she wanted and everything she couldn't have all at once.

###

Khushi used his bathroom to change into the outfit, acutely aware that he sat just outside, fiddling with his phone. They'd barely spoken, despite everything that had happened, so she prepared herself for a long overdue conversation by mentally rehearsing the things she wanted to say to him. But a knock sounded just as she emerged from the bathroom, and she breathed a sigh of relief as Arnav-ji opened it.

Anjali-ji stood at the door, jewellery boxes in her hands, "Wear these and come downstairs. We're ready for the Griha Pravesh."

She deposited them on the bed before glancing at Arnav-ji, but left without speaking to him. Again, Khushi felt wretched for tearing them apart. She settled in front of his mirror to thread on the earrings, affix the maangtikka, and slip on the necklace. She pulled her mangalsutra out from behind it before opening the second box.

Bangles.

A memory slammed into her, and she was out of her seat and rushing out of the room before Arnav-ji could utter a sound. She found the small bag she'd left in the guest room untouched, and rummaged through it until she found a long, slim box. Then she slipped on the orange-red bangles, uncaring that they didn't match the outfit and fighting tears as she recalled the way he'd smiled in victory as he'd confirmed that she'd worn his gift.

Where did he go, the man who became a waiter for me, the man who bought these bangles for me, the man who kissed me at the poolside and challenged me to do the same?

She was beginning to understand that what he'd seen and heard on the terrace had destroyed the foundations of whatever it was that had held them together.

Maybe irrevocably.

Arnav-ji wasn't in the bedroom when she returned, so Khushi sat on the bed until Anjali-ji came to fetch her. Downstairs, her husband looked up as they approached, and for a second she imagined that his expression matched the one he'd worn on the night of the photo shoot. But it was gone in the next instant.

There was none of the happiness or fanfare she'd imagined for her wedding when Anjali-ji performed an aarti to formally welcome them into Shantivan as a married couple. Instead, there were the disapproving looks from Mami-ji, tears from Jiji, disappointment from Anjali-ji. And Shyam-ji's jealous stare.

"Now you two can enter the house," Anjali-ji invited.

Kicking over the small vessel of rice, Khushi made to step forward when Anjali-ji spoke again.

"Stop. Our family has a tradition. Chhote has to carry you into the house."

Dread swelled inside her, knowing that he wouldn't agree. And sure enough, he protested, "Is this really necessary, Di?"

"It's tradition, Chhote. You must."

"Aakash-bitwa had to carry this Khoon Bhari Taang too," Mami-ji interjected, "Though how would you two know, busy as you were with your own personal marriage?"

The guilt that had been her constant companion since last night swelled inside her chest.

When Arnav-ji looked at her, asking a silent question, she tried to nod her acceptance. He hoisted her up in a smooth, practised motion. Her hand trembled as she lifted it to grip his collar, the familiar act seeming suddenly too intimate. But then he seemed to soften, his gaze warming slightly as he noticed the bangles she wore, and he carried her over the threshold and into the house before depositing her near the stairs.

She stumbled, cursing the too-long skirt of her borrowed outfit, and had to grab onto him for support.

"Careful, Khushi."

She righted herself, somehow finding it within herself to blush, as Anjali-ji approached.

"Chhote, wait here," she said, "and we'll prepare for the next ritual."

It wasn't until they were in his bedroom that Khushi realised what the next ritual was. Shyam-ji was already there, and the bed was decorated with a curtain of flowers.

"Anjali-ji, this isn't—"

"—We must complete all the rituals, Khushi-ji, even if you and Chhote have rendered them meaningless."

Khushi blushed crimson at the insinuation that she and Arnav-ji had already observed their Suhaag Raat, and she realised with dawning horror that her own family must have come to a similar conclusion. A shiver of revulsion shook her frame as Shyam-ji paused in his work to stare at her. She pulled her dupatta around herself, watching Anjali-ji shower the fresh white sheets with red rose petals. The lights and roses and candles seemed to mock her with everything she and Arnav-ji weren't.

Khushi shook as Anjali-ji helped her onto the bed before arranging her skirt and dupatta. Shyam-ji stood to the side, delicate rose petals crushed in his fist.

"I'll call Chhote," Anjali-ji announced when she was done.

Horror brewed within her at the prospect of spending the next few minutes alone with Shyam-ji, but Anjali-ji called him over as she left. Her relief was short-lived, however, because he paused at the door to stare once again. She suddenly felt filthy, every bit as disgusting as Arnav-ji had said, arranged on a bed in a bridal get up while another woman's husband leered.

Arnav-ji strode up the corridor just then, his eyes narrowing at Shyam-ji, and the other man left without a word. Relief spread through her even as she noticed that he was yet again full of rage.

But why wouldn't he be, she asked herself, when his sister's husband is so despicable.

"I don't know how I'll stand it," Arnav-ji turned away as if the mere sight of her nauseated him, "sharing a room with your for all these months. Breathing the same air as you. Disgusting! When I think about it I want to ..."

Khushi scrambled off the bed, her heart suddenly heavy.

"You know why we're doing this," she said softly, "It's not like I wanted this either ..."

But this was clearly the wrong thing to say.

"I know what you want," Arnav-ji barked, suddenly towering over her "and I won't let you have it."

He dragged her forcibly to the poolside, "We'll act like a happily married couple outside of this bedroom, I know you're adept at acting. But inside this room you're insignificant. You mean nothing to me."

And with that, he slammed the glass doors shut and disappeared into his bathroom.

Chapter 9

[bluejello]

Swan Queen Week Day 4: Soulmates

Title: Of Flowers and Numbers Pairing: Swan Queen Rating: T Summary:

Regina started noticing the marks when she was in high school. She was sitting in her business class when black lines started to appear on her wrist. Her attention shifted from the discussion to what was being drawn - a simple flower.

At lunch, Kathryn immediately pointed it out.

“Looks like someone’s soulmate is getting artsy!”

[Soulmate au where when you write something on your skin with pen/marker/whatever the hell you want, it will show up on your soul mates skin as well.]

FF/AO3 

Regina started noticing the marks when she was in high school. She was sitting in her business class when black lines started to appear on her wrist. Her attention shifted from the discussion to what was being drawn - a simple flower.

At lunch, Kathryn immediately pointed it out.

“Looks like someone’s soulmate is getting artsy!” she said with a smile.

Regina simply rolled her eyes. “More like giving themselves the potential for ink poisoning— would that affect me as well?”

Kathryn simply laughed in response.

——

The flower was starting to fade when the next drawing showed up. It started out as simple curling line, and as the time went by it became more intricate, with dots and leaves being added on.

Regina had to start wearing long sleeved shirts to cover it up. The last thing she needed was her mother noticing.

——

Regina sat in her bed trying to keep herself from crying. Final grades had been released, and she had received a B+ in her geometry class. Her mother found out and yelled at her for it. And yelled. And yelled. And gripped Regina’s arm so tight she was pretty sure it would be bruised.

She was reaching a hand out to grab a tissue when she noticed it.

There was a little heart drawn on the side of her wrist. She smiled at it, silently thanking her soulmate, who had no idea what she was going through but was there for her anyway.

She fell asleep looking at the heart, hoping that one day she’d be able to see the artist in person.

----

“…When we leave here today, who knows when we’ll see each other again,” Regina said, addressing the crowd in front of her. “None of us can say where we’ll be, who we’ll be with, or what we’ll be doing in the next few years.”

She paused as she noticed circles being drawn around her fingers. She smiled at the sight. “What I do know is that we’ll be ready for the future, thanks to the teachers, friends, and family who have helped us get to where we are today, and will continue to help us in the future…”

——

The years passed and Regina continued to smile whenever doodles would show up. She considered writing something back, but in the end the nerves got the best of her. Especially with how much negativity there was amongst her friend group on the idea of soulmates.

“It’s just a load of shit,” Marian told her at a party once. “Honestly like who wants their lives to be dictated by some stupid romanticized idea of fate?”

Regina unconsciously pulled down the sleeves of her shirt, covering up her hands, where a couple of smiley faces had been drawn. “Yeah,” she said with a weak smile. “It’s really stupid.”

——

When Regina was a senior in college, a detailed flower appeared on her wrist, but this time, it didn’t go away.

Kathryn was the first to comment.

“Ooh! Did you get a tattoo?” she asked as she pulled Regina’s wrist towards her to get a closer look.

“No,” Regina said, “but I think my soulmate may have.”

Kathryn looked up at her. “Have you ever considered writing something back to this person?”

Regina shook her head. “I wouldn’t know what to even say.”

Kathryn shrugged. “You don’t have to say anything. It could just be a doodle, like what you’ve been getting this whole time.”

“I suppose I could,” Regina said, pretending to consider it for a moment. But she knew she wouldn’t.

——

Two months passed since Regina received her unintentional tattoo. And she hadn’t seen anything since.

She started to worry that her soulmate may have died, but Kathryn said that all marks disappeared when they were dead. Regina still had her tattoo, so she tried to remain hopeful.

It was unlike her soulmate, though, to not draw anything. It started to make Regina feel guilty for the lack of drawings on her own part.

She sat at her desk, twiddling a sharpie in her hand, debating on whether her brain was capable of making sane decisions at this point. Probably not. But at this point Regina didn’t care.

Taking off the cap to the sharpie, Regina placed her left arm on the desk, palm facing upwards. She looked at the tattoo and gained a little more confidence. Slowly but surely, she took the sharpie and started to write directly underneath the tattoo. When she was finished she capped it and admired her work.

I miss you.

——

Nearly a year passed before Regina saw another drawing appear. It was a simple heart drawn underneath the flower. Regina impulsively drew one next to it.

——

After that, there started to be less drawings, and they slowly became more simplistic and weren’t the decorative ones from Regina’s youth.

Until one night when a phone number appeared with a winky face written next to it. Regina panicked and wrote the number down on a piece of paper in case something happened.

She waited until the next morning to dial the number. Her heart was racing and she felt like she was going to vomit, but she could also feel the excited butterflies dancing around in anticipation.

Finally a voice answered.

“Hello?” a gruff voice answered. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

Regina glanced at her clock. It was only ten in the morning. Maybe her soulmate was in a different time zone? “I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was early where you were.”

“What do you want?” the voice asked grumpily.

“You… you told me to call you,” Regina said, feeling the vomit feeling start to overpower the butterflies. “You wrote it on your hand.”

“I what? Lady I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the man said. He paused. “Oh, wait, are you talking about that soulmate shit?” He guffawed loudly. “Hell no! I didn’t write anything on my hand! Oh wait—” There was a scuffling noise on the other end, and then a deep chuckle that sent uncomfortable shivers down Regina’s spine. “Yeah, yeah I wrote my number on a hand. Not my hand though.” His voice dropped even further. “No, I wrote it on the hand of the pretty little blonde number I picked up last night at the club. Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but she definitely isn’t a dyke—not with the way she was moaning my name over and over again as I fucked her—”

Regina quickly hung up the phone, her heart racing even faster than before. She felt even more sick to her stomach at the man’s words.

She had some answers, at least. Her soulmate was blonde. And a woman. And she apparently went to clubs to pick up men. Rude men.

Maybe the soulmate thing really was a bust.

——

There were no more drawings after that. It was like her soulmate was doing everything to avoid her, even though they’d never met.

Regina didn’t try to reach out again. She didn’t think she ever would.

——

It was not a good day. First, her secretary had stumbled over nothing and spilt her coffee. Rather than have the intern go and get her more and potentially screw up her order (again), she had chosen to just go and buy it herself. Then, she noticed that her stockings had a run in them, and she had just bought them a week ago. Now, she had to walk into the coffee shop with shoes that were soaking wet because a car had driven by and the puddle had drenched everything below her knees.

She quickly ordered her coffee and chose to sit at a corner table near the window to sip on it. She sighed and rubbed at her temples, trying to alleviate the headache that was forming. At least the coffee shop was fairly vacant and the only noise came from the workers cleaning up tables and preparing for the lunch rush in an hour. The only other customer was a pretty blonde woman sitting a couple of tables over, who was jotting down notes from what seemed to be a textbook.

Regina’s phone rang at that moment. She sighed again and answered it. “What?” she snapped.

“Sorry, ma’am,” her secretary said. “You told me to call you as soon as Mr. Gold called back with the order number.”

“Yes, I did,” she said, trying to somewhat comfort the skittish woman. “Let me get out a piece of paper and a pen first.” Regina started to dig through her purse. She found a pen. But no paper. “I don’t have a piece of paper with me—”

“I can just keep it here and you can get it when you come back!” the secretary offered.

Regina shook her head, even though she knew it wouldn’t be seen through the phone. “No, I need to call Whale now with the number.” She sighed and clicked the pen. “Whatever, I’ll just write it on my hand or something.” She listened to the number as it was recited to her, writing them down neatly on the back of her hand. It felt almost juvenile. “Thank you. I should be back within the hour.” She hung up the phone and was starting to search for Whale’s contact information when she felt like she was being stared at.

She looked up and her eyes connected with the wide green ones of the pretty blonde. “Can I help you?” Regina asked.

The woman stood and walked over, her mouth open the whole time, glancing down at her hand. She didn’t say anything, instead just holding up her hand, which was marked with the exact numbers that Regina had just written on her own hand.

Regina opened her mouth in shock, her eyes darting between her hand, the woman’s hand, and the woman herself. “You’re my soulmate?” she asked quietly.

The woman smiled and gave an awkward wave. “Hi.”

————

When Emma was young, she had heard of soulmates from a foster sister. The sixteen-year-old girl was crying about how her boyfriend wasn’t her soulmate, because markings had started to appear on his hand but she wasn’t writing anything on hers.

The next day the girl had said she was going to be proactive about finding her soulmate, and so she started to write little messages on her hand, waiting for them to be answered.

Emma admired her perseverance, so she decided that was going to start doing the same thing when she was old enough.

And so she did.

Starting on her fifteenth birthday, Emma began doodling on her arms. She drew flowers, vines, celtic knots… anything that meant she would have something marking her skin.

She didn’t receive anything back, but she didn’t mind. Some people just weren’t as artistically inclined as her.

——

The other kids in her foster home (the ones who still had their parents, who had the privilege of living with them and being loved by them) mocked her. One foster brother said that her soulmate hated her just like her parents did.

She punched him for saying that.

And then she ran.

——

She continued drawing on her arms, even as she was chastised for it. She’d deal with ink poisoning if it meant she had her soulmate by her side. Someone who would love her. Someone who would stay with her.

Someone who wouldn’t leave her.

——

She didn’t know what would happen when she got a tattoo. But she got it anyway, laughing at the idea of her soulmate getting an unexpected gift. She wondered if her soulmate was into tattoos.

Hopefully, considering she just got one. And her soulmate probably got it, too, but for free.

She wondered if maybe this would make the person respond.

——

She should have figured that Neal would con her. No one ever stays. No one ever loves her. She knew he wasn’t her soulmate, so why did she still trust him the way she did?

Why did she love him?

She sat alone in the jail cell for a month before the miscarriage happened.

Another month passed and she woke up to find something written below her tattoo.

I miss you.

She smiled and started to cry.

Maybe there was still hope.

——

The second Emma got out of prison, she went to the store and bought a pen, drawing a heart next to the tattoo. A thank you to her soulmate for finally responding.

Shortly after a heart appeared next to hers, causing hopeful flutters in Emma’s stomach.

——

She fucks up. She fucks up real bad.

She could blame it on the alcohol, but she really wasn’t that drunk. She was mostly just horny and the man seemed so nice and he wrote his number on her hand and she didn’t even think anything of it until the next morning.

The sun was streaming through the windows when she woke up as she felt someone holding her hand before dropping it back down on the bed.

And that’s when she heard the man’s voice filter into her senses.

“No, I wrote it on the hand of the pretty little blonde number I picked up last night at the club,” she heard him say. “Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but she definitely isn’t a dyke—not with the way she was moaning my name over and over again as I fucked her—” He stopped and started laughing to himself. Emma opened her eyes and squinted up at him through the harsh light. He looked over and noticed she was awake. “Wrong number.”

She had never left a one night stand that quickly before.

——

Emma didn’t really know what to do after that. She saw the man’s number on her hand and realized that her soulmate must have seen it too.

Her soulmate was on the phone with the disgusting man she had hooked up with.

And now they probably hated her. She probably hated her, if his rude assumption about her sexuality was anything to go by.

Emma was disgusted with herself. She scrubbed and scrubbed at the number, wanting it off of her skin as soon as possible.

She stopped drawing on her hands, and she stopped waiting for answers.

——

Years passed. Emma finally started working towards a college degree in social work, with a minor in art. She was sitting at her usual spot in the coffee shop when she noticed a newcomer. An annoyed looking brunette was sitting in the corner table, in Emma’s direct view.

The woman’s phone rang and she answered it with a bite in her voice. Emma felt bad for whoever was on the other line— she’d certainly been there before.

“I don’t have a piece of paper with me,” the woman said.

Emma considered offering up a piece of her notebook paper, but then figured it would be best not to reveal that she was eavesdropping on the only other person in the shop.

“Whatever, I’ll just write it on my hand or something.”

Emma snorted a little to herself at that. This woman clearly found her soulmate if she was so comfortable just writing down random information on it.

That’s when the numbers started to appear on Emma’s hand. Perfectly synchronized with the movements of the woman’s hands. And then the woman recited the numbers, each one matching up with the ones written on Emma’s hands.

Her heart started to race. She looked up at the brunette and stared. She knew she was gawking and that it was rude but holy fuck this woman is her soulmate.

The woman hung up the phone and looked like she was ready to dial another when she looked up, her eyes meeting Emma’s. “Can I help you?” she asked.

Emma tried to speak but nothing came out, so she instead chose to stand and walk over, still in shock that this was happening. She held up her hand, showing the woman the numbers that she had already written on her own hand.

The woman’s mouth dropped open, her eyes flickering between their hands and Emma. “You’re my soulmate?” she asked quietly.

Emma finally gained control of herself a little, giving the woman a smile and a little wave. “Hi.”

——

Emma smiled as she stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching her girlfriend chop vegetables for their anniversary dinner.

It had been three years since they finally met at the coffee shop. Three magical years that proved to Emma that all of her childhood dreams about soulmates had come true.

She had someone who loved her. Someone who wasn’t going to leave her.

And now she wanted to confirm that Regina was that someone who would stay with her forever.

Emma grinned to herself as she pulled out a sharpie from her pocket, uncapping it and drawing an infinity sign on the ring finger on her left hand with a question mark next to it. She capped the sharpie and waited for Regina to notice.

It didn’t take long. Regina stopped chopping the vegetables and lifted her hand.

She turned and noticed Emma. Her eyes looked watery, but she smiled and stepped forward, standing directly in front of Emma and taking the sharpie from her hands hands. Regina’s hands shook a little as she drew a heart around Emma’s drawing before giving tucking the sharpie in the back pocket of Emma’s jeans.

“Is that a yes?” Emma asked quietly.

Regina rolled her eyes and smiled. She leaned forward and gave her answer in a kiss as she intertwined their marked hands. “Of course it’s a yes, you idiot.”